[ { "movie": "saw_VI", "reviews": [ "editor-turned-director kevin greutert shows confidence behind the camera -- still , one can only hope that jigsaw 's gruesome pecksniffian pedagogy gets a taste of its own blade soon .", "for the next installment , i think jigsaw should time travel into the past and mess with the ancestors of his enemies . that would be cool !", "sixth film in revenge series is just as bloody as the rest .", "the saw series long ago cannibalized its cleverest bloodbath gimmicks , but now it 's figured out a new way to torture us : by taking a barb-wire stab at political relevance .", "headache-inducing , and featuring one of the worst d-movie performances of the aughts from costas mandylor , the latest `` saw '' franchise addition is more of the same torture-punishment-rehab-porn audiences have come to expect .", "saw movies and halloween go together like ho and hum .", "when torture porn becomes as snooze-inducing as lecture hall , it 's time to call it a day .", "a clear improvement over its two most recent predecessors ...", "MOV is , pardon the pun , a cut above the rest but not , sadly , by much .", "if you have n't followed the series up until now , there 's not much point in trying to catch up .", "a welcome return to enjoyable horror fare for a series that seemed to have lost its way .", "it 's been three films since they killed off jigsaw , the putative psycho-killer of the saw series of slasher films . so at this point , they literally are beating a dead horse .", "` MOV ' proves to be the one to pull the series out of its tailspin . film no. 6 is not only good , it 's really good .", "would make a good co-feature with michael moore 's ` sicko , ' as self-righteous maniac jigsaw -- apparently a fan of the public option -- plays his bloody , lethal ` games ' with health insurance professionals who deny coverage to the needy .", "MOV 's story is now so ugly and bent out of shape , it 's impossible to follow - more fool you for trying .", "it 's strange that a few people have been saying that this entry is a step in the right direction for the franchise . the only right step this franchise could take would be to end .", "it 's funny , but the thing that the series seems to have lost track of amidst all the soap opera and moralizing is the idea that these are horror films .", "thrives on extreme , ghastly gore as its primary motivation , making all other concerns secondary ; in essence , it 's more an endurance test than it is a movie .", "do n't have a desire to see victims ripped limb-from-limb , cut in half and watch their insides spill out onto the floor ? avoid MOV at all costs .", "MOV is the sixth saw i 've seen , and maybe the sickest .", "they keep reviving dead characters to keep the poor excuse for a story going . when will it all end ? jigsaw is dead , everyone 's dead . please make it stop ! paul chambers , cnn .", "embora ainda n\u0103o tenha assumido o tom de auto-par\u00f3dia que eventualmente envolve toda franquia do g\u0119nero , a s\u00e9rie j\u00e1 come\u00e7ou h\u00e1 muito a provocar risos involunt\u00e1rios .", "for lionsgate , it remains a good time to be in the saw business .", "MOV does n't come close to reigniting the spark of the original , but at least it approaches coherence , which is more than can be said for the last several installments of the series .", "a vast improvement over the previous two installments of the series taking on the health insurance industry in the series ' first overtly political statement .", "revenge of the uninsured in this health insurance horror , and we 're not talking medical malpractice . while death panels and death penalties alike abound in this surgical slasher spree without benefit of anesthesia , and that goes for the audience too .", "after six installments , it 's not exactly cutting edge .", "who knew that the franchise 's creators would eventually find a plot twist that made sense ?", "at one point , i did roll my eyes and think that the movie might be going too far . but then i realized they had been going too far for years . that 's what makes them still edgy .", "adding a layer of social significance is n't the worst strategy for a franchise that keeps piling on the convoluted mythos , yet has n't changed its risible mix of mechanized death and tongue-clucking morality .", "parental content review", "... one of the best and most fascinating in the series .", "where saw 6 earns a few points over its predecessors is in its devotion to simple but effective gallows humor .", "new director kevin greutert does something just a little bit different , and more daring , with the level of tension and the payoffs .", "the never-ending saw horror franchise continues . sigh . fans and non-fans will get exactly what they expect , and not much more .", "would it kill these producers to take a few chances for the next adventure ? it 's easy to loathe a saw picture , but to be utterly bored by one seems an unpardonable offense .", "the tension missing from recent installments is back , thanks to an inventive narrative that manages to tie up the ever-evolving saga 's loose ends .", "a film so frighteningly familiar it could well be called saw it already .", "in what was originally slated to be the final chapter , the latest installment keeps the traps interesting but leaves the back story running thin .", "who can expect something worthy of good reviews after the sixth installment ? that said , i 'm assuming the creators of saw walked into the movie deciding , ` we 're going to make a stupid , gory movie and everyone will watch it because it 's halloween ! '", "the usual critiques apply : terrible acting , zero suspense , laughable logic and the promise of another one next year .", "michael moore would have a field day with this latest installment , where the writers tackle the health care system with jigsaw as an answer .", "a triumph -lrb- a very relative triumph -rrb- for two reasons : first , it is not so confusing as saw iv , and second , it is not so sleepy and wholly pointless as saw v.", "this script , by marcus dunstan and patrick melton , has a more lyrical bent , and a more satiric bite , than any of the other saw sequels .", "the best entry in the series since saw ii .", "intense , relentlessly horrifying , disgusting and often implausible , but surprisingly intriguing at times .", "the tawdry use of important real-life social issues in the service of what amounts to nothing more than another exercise in malignant sadism makes this picture even worse than earlier episodes .", "while the social commentary is as shallow as ever , the film 's overall quality is better than the last two installments . that is n't saying much , but it 's something .", "MOV plays like the last gasp for relevance of a heavy-metal series that has not only gone regurgitation-rusty but seems lacking much of a will to live .", "in the sixth installment the series gets political , pointing a finger at the health care system .", "these movies lack a whole lot of panache .", "... a worthy and faithful entry in a franchise which at this point seems expressly designed to document people dying in increasingly inventive ways .", "the series has done worse , but on the annual tradition fun scale saw still ranks somewhere between filing taxes and throwing out old , rotting pumpkins .", "`` saw '' movies gave up on being scary several episodes ago , but there 's no suspense or surprise either . watching its grim procession of carnage is like sticking with a favorite pro football team for the last 8 games after it 's already clear they 're doomed .", "in the end , MOV is faithful to the franchise and the twist/finale are 100 % satisfying . saw fans will walk out of the theater with their fists in the air with the feeling that they 've reclaimed their beloved franchise .", "no longer just gruesome but also morally bloodied , this franchise about games of death aimed at those who need to understand the value of life - grinds along , wringing out whatever cash is left in the original idea .", "MOV is able to stand on its own as a wild and brutal thrill ride .", "the nicest thing that you can say about it is that it is n't quite as contemptuous of its audience as the incredibly lazy and unnecessary `` saw v '' was .", "the latest installment of the movie franchise is as customer-service-oriented as ever .", "the good news : it is easily a step up from the worthless , dirge-worthy likes of saw iv and saw v . the not-so-good news , then , is that the film is still unnecessary and convoluted , the series having long since run out of steam and freshness .", "well , i guess there 's something more frightening than life-threatening , mutilating ` games ' you 're forced to play as you struggle to remain alive . and that , of course , is the state of health care in the united states .", "... this more straightforward sequel finally ties up the loose ends , without the gratuitous red-herrings or continuity distortions that have become tedious trademarks ." ], "summary": "it wo n't earn the franchise many new fans , but MOV is a surprising step up for what has become an intricately grisly annual tradition .", "id": "770797724" }, { "movie": "beyond_the_mat", "reviews": [ "this is the best documentary since hoop dreams", "the film is more interesting the more intently one looks at it .", "a center ring extravaganza of smackdown movie entertainment .", "sometimes , you find material for a good movie in the most unlikely place .", "for the first time in the history of our sport , a filmmaker has finally had the foresight to focus on the very contradictions that make professional wrestlers so damn interesting .", "a fascinating new documentary .", "a hilarious and heartbreaking documentary .", "surprisingly riveting .", "a very good film that both wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans will enjoy .", "barry blaustein takes a long , hard look at pro wrestling and , while not making me a newborn fan of the sport , he taught me the intensity and sacrifice of those who enter the ring .", "a gently and genuinely observed film whose subject is a garish , artificial display of mayhem .", "we tour the all-pro wrestling school in california and philadelphia 's fearsome extreme championships , but it 's the studies blaustein makes of several wrestlers that root the film .", "blaustein , foley and funk layeth the smack well and truly down .", "documentaries are almost always more interesting if the filmmakers fess up about their relationship to the subject , as unabashed pro-wrestling fan barry blaustein does in this naively made , compelling homage to the sport .", "wwf documentary is ok for older teens .", "am engrossing watch , but it 's far from the most fascinating and incisive look at its subject .", "soft , repetitive to a fault , and narrated by its maker in tones of wistful awe that seem totally inappropriate to its subject .", "a fascinating and often funny look at a world many of us have never imagined , let alone seen .", "MOV is crazily entertaining .", "to my own immense surprise , i find myself giving the thumbs-up to hollywood screenwriter-turned-director barry w. blaustein 's documentary about professional wrestling .", "it 's hard to explain why a movie about wrestlers is so compelling , but it 's probably the same thing that makes the wwf itself so popular .", "surprisingly candid , comprehensive and , most of all , emotional expos\u00e9 of the wrestling business .", "so tired and dated .", "i guarantee you will never watch smackdown without thinking about what is going on MOV .", "the film is sometimes riveting -- and sometimes hard to watch .", "MOV takes all the fun out of the insanity that is wrestling .", "the wrestlers are cannier than blaustein probably gives them credit for ; they seem to be offering up their backstage lives to him in ways that mimic the soppiest of melodramas , and he falls for it .", "it 's too close-up .", "blaustein suggests wrestling 's appeal -- as a kind of primal spectacle closer to parades and pageants than any accepted form of sport -- without wondering at all why he finds it compelling .", "a biased story of a billion-dollar industry that must have tons of skeletons in its closet . but it did n't even open the closet door .", "a surprisingly engrossing , behind-the-scenes look at some of wrestling 's current and former stars .", "MOV is frighteningly , grippingly real .", "it 's the most entertaining look at its world since pumping iron took on body-building .", "the real meat of the movie comes in the many intimate moments that blaustein 's camera catches .", "it has a hypnotic quality .", "fans of roberts or funk may be interested to see what these men are like when not performing , but others may find it simply boring . their stories are not especially compelling in the human-interest department ; they 're for fans only .", "it centres on the distinctive , disturbing , weird , unnerving universe that is american wrestling which primarily presents legitimised violence as entertainment .", "MOV does what the wrestling game , with its manufactured personas , does n't . it stays with the wrestlers until we start seeing them as people .", "it may be more than you ever wanted to know about the subject of professional wrestling .", "the rampant hucksterism of big-time wrestling is in a long american tradition , and MOV is a very smart first step in opening the subject up to clearer view .", "blaustein paints a complex picture of professional wrestling and shrewdly transforms the ridiculous into the sublime .", "MOV wants to blend thrills and pathos , getting at the many sides of what is , as mr. blau stein describes it , a carny act . the problem is that he does n't articulate any of his own thoughts beyond a few slight asides .", "turns out to be less interested in the cartoonish brutality of pro wrestling than it is with the lives of the people who make their living in the ring .", "the first part of the film is more than worth the price of admission .", "MOV is an eye-opening experience .", "the film manages to put a pin on pro wrestling 's harsh realities .", "MOV studies the forces that drive men to continually climb in the ring to hurt each other -- the action may be choreographed , blaustein emphasizes , but the blood is real .", "it grabs professional wrestling by the throat and rarely lets go .", "an unexpected little gem .", "blaustein 's documentary about championship wrestling is as voyeuristic , artificial and perversely compelling as the sport itself .", "hugely entertaining and genuinely informative .", "it 's a fascinating , if ultimately depressing , look at this violent , incorrigibly-low-brow sports entertainment .", "the documentary is quite easy to watch .", "unfortunately blaustein is n't an experienced enough film-maker to make much of such material .", "... an easygoing , straightforward film without too many surprises", "every bit as good as the best docos of the last five years .", "entertaining and twisted .", "blaustein and his film have at least put a human face on those monstrous countenances that snarl out from our television sets on saturday afternoons .", "MOV transcends its subject , pro wrestling , to become a wrenching , sobering , emotional glimpse at the lives of some men trapped by the aging process .", "this film 's grizzled exterior masks a sensitive , family-oriented personality .", "MOV thoroughly evaluates the non-sport from a fan 's point of view .", "this is a first-rate documentary , and one of the few which is worth going to the theater for .", "funny and touching documentary .", "friendly , soft-hitting documentary .", "two broken thumbs up .", "blaustein 's respect for his subjects and the sensitivity he applies makes this an involving and even uplifting humanisation of a grotesque form of entertainment ." ], "summary": "even if you are n't a fan , MOV provides a riveting , perceptive look into the world of professional wrestling by taking a closer look at the people beneath the personas .", "id": "17875" }, { "movie": "crouching_tiger_hidden_dragon", "reviews": [ "within five minutes of the opening you 'll wonder when was the last time you felt so alive , so excited in a cinema .", "it 's fantastic !", "the smartest and smartest-looking action movie of the year .", "it 's abundantly clear that lee , in conjunction with fight choreographer yuen wo-ping -lrb- famed for the matrix -rrb- , has brought to these standard tropes his own elevating , near-feline sensibilities .", "it 's a feeling akin to seeing peter pan fly for the first time or watching the first light-saber duel in star wars .", "ang lee 's crouching tiger , hidden dragon mixes in the mood for love 's unobtainable romance with dancer in the dark 's selfless-to-the-end philosophy .", "... my expectations were high , and i was n't disappointed .", "lo and behold . an action movie that is n't about ` seize the day ' or ` follow your heart ' opportunism .", "you 've never seen a martial arts film like this one .", "a haunting , tragic fairy tale for the ages .", "coolly elegant , slyly humorous and visually breathtaking ... if there 's such a thing as inspired silliness , this picture surely embodies it .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon will make you fall in love with film all over again .", "defines the term ` something for everyone , ' and , what 's more , it accomplishes this rare feat in a way that will leave you breathless .", "rare is a film of such incontestable quality and effervescent potency that the viewer immediately wants to watch it again .", "crouching tiger is a fine introduction to the genre for newcomers , though specialists might find it thin in comparison to the real thing .", "whenever crouching tiger , hidden dragon resorts to flying fists or soaring sword battles , the force is definitely with it .", "packed with some of the best martial arts yet filmed .", "a sumptuous , sexy , sensational experience that richly deserves to be acclaimed as one of the top films of 2000 .", "bruce who ? once you enter this dragon , you 'll quickly realize there are some serious new masters in town .", "a magnificently-crafted hybrid of chinese historical epic , f/x-enhanced martial arts spectacular , mystical romantic tragedy and live-action anime .", "as soon as the action stops , the actors start to slowly , painfully slowly , drone on with some of the most lifeless dialog of the year .", "awesome , awesome battles , beautifully shot and an okay story .", "love , pathos , fear and humour are all brilliantly evoked -- for this is not simply a great martial arts movie , this is an ang lee film .", "once we get a taste of that action , we want buckets of it .", "with its gift for showing things that ca n't be described , crouching tiger 's blend of the magical , the mythical and the romantic fills a need in us we might not even realize we had .", "fun to watch because it does n't take itself so seriously , while maintaining high production values .", "a near-masterpiece , replete with marvelously fanciful images and a touching love story .", "the class act of action movies .", "the most exhilarating martial arts movie i have seen .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon is a magical dream of a martial arts epic . it surpasses any you 've ever seen .", "lee has made more than an exotic yarn . he has liberated conventional moviemaking .", "once in a great while , a movie engages us so thoroughly that we slip the surly bonds of earth and experience a rare moment of transcendence . crouching tiger , hidden dragon is such a movie .", "one of the best adventure movies of the last decade , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is also gravely , eerily beautiful : poetic and moving in ways that we usually do n't associate with violent genre films .", "crouching tiger is like an animated calligraphic scroll and taoist painting . you can feel physically empowered , yet your spirit is seduced by something more subtle .", "lee 's supreme achievement , an elegant film that both physically and spiritually redefines its genre .", "may be the one kung-fu film that legitimizes the genre as bona fide cinema without selling out entirely .", "even nonfans of martial-arts movies will want to cheer the fight scenes , which are sheer visual poetry .", "simply blow away every martial arts flick ever made .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon is what hong kong film fans have been waiting for : a martial-arts movie for adults .", "ang lee 's crouching tiger makes up for the disappointment of phantom menace .", "an astonishing movie , a melodrama of passion and loss that literally lifts you into the skies .", "the film has a stately and dignified feel that 's only enhanced by the solid performances .", "the screenplay delivers with several story lines intermingled , all evoking the full spectrum of human emotion .", "a good story , attractive and likable stars , and great action do make this one of the season 's best entertainment values .", "a feast for the eyes and ears that rarely slows down .", "even without the exhilarating action sequences , michelle yeoh 's powerful , stoic performance is a wonder to behold in itself .", "-lsb- an -rsb- incredibly rich story of courage , love , and identity along with some dynamite fight sequences .", "so good , it reminds you how the best films transport you to another world .", "ziyi is a force of nature .", "astonishing choreography and action .", "going into the film , i was prepared to be awed by the spectacular martial-arts sequences . but what caught me by surprise was how emotionally invested i became in the characters .", "a film of sublime beauty , poetic mystery and rousing spirit .", "forget all your preconceived notions of what martial-arts films used to be like . this is what all future martial-arts films should be like .", "it is poetry in motion , a dreamwork .", "one of those wonders of imagination and craft that confirm your wildest dreams about the magic of movies .", "by tapping into responses so primal they feel like magic , lee 's movie reminds you that the medium is never more powerful than when it makes myth feel fresh and new .", "the first fight scene , which brings all the principals together , will make you want to applaud . and each action sequence builds on what has come before , increasing the stakes with a dignified hilarity .", "the film never ceases to dazzle our eyes and arrest our attention .", "an epic work of accomplished skill and grace .", "you need a roadmap to find the hidden masterpiece .", "despite the high-wire acts above the roofs and trees , ang lee brings sense and sensibility to these energetic scenes .", "an action picture with a huge heart", "it 's the matrix spliced with david lean", "a ravishing fairy tale/epic , and the best movie of the year .", "this is an exciting , mystical , romantic surprise of a film that really puts the ` art ' in ` martial arts . '", "it 's pure indiana jones fun with an unexpected sense of consequence .", "it 's pulp fiction presented in a grand , knowingly humorous style distinguished by star power , a strong female slant and the latest in stunts and effects .", "it is truly one of a kind , and that is why it stands out .", "if you 're in the mood for a beautifully photographed melodrama punctuated by dazzling martial arts sequences , then get ready for some big fun .", "if you ca n't find something in this movie to set your heart aflutter , call the doctor .", "with his latest film , lee has created a lyrical fairy tale for adults , a sublime synthesis of martial arts action with dramatic sophistication .", "the film has so many different elements that there 's enough in it to appeal to almost everyone .", "there 's an ethereal dramatic effect here that transcends a primary function of imagination and storytelling .", "often imitated , never equaled , `` crouching tiger '' soars because it showcases culture as much as cutting-edge martial arts . unfinished business , unspoken passions and unwanted prejudices stand beside fists -lrb- and feet -rrb- of fury in a lyrical film .", "lee brought a distinct elegance to the wuxia genre of mythic , lyrical martial arts pictures ... a breathtaking visual and emotional experience for the viewer ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the movie is good , sometimes very good , but i suspect it 's a masterpiece only for those who have n't seen all the earlier masterpieces that equal or surpass it .", "a film that works on many levels , be it action , drama , or romance , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is recommended viewing for anyone who likes their martial arts with some heart and soul .", "i 'm glad to join the ranks of fans who continue to be breath taken with this incredible epic .", "ang lee 's crowd-pleasing martial arts actioner is captivating and thrilling from beginning to end .", "amazing , magical martial arts fairy tale .", "high art meets high spirits in a rapturously romantic epic that really kicks butt .", "a truly stunning blend of classic chinese martial-arts moviemaking and modern psychodrama .", "what is pleasantly unexpected is how effortlessly ang lee 's low-key dramatics mesh with the kinetic sword battles .", "a nearly perfect film , and at this writing -lrb- december 17 -rrb- it looks to me like the best of the year .", "el tigre y el drag\u00f3n es simple y sencillamente una obra maestra y una de las razones de la existencia del bien llamado s\u00e9ptimo arte", "this one has it all : adventure , romance , spectacle , morality .", "the cast was superb .", "it 's an action movie that does n't try to blow you out of your seat ... , but rather it captures you in suspended awe for prolonged periods of time .", "successfully applies its fantastical elements to develop story , character , and a kind of poetic license that captures the beauty of its own spirit .", "both an exhilarating action movie and a sweeping romantic epic .", "within age-old contrivances emerge deeply affecting characters . poetry .", "success is destined for this movie because it has a mix of romance , fantasy , and action that will appeal to all audiences regardless of age , sex , or whether they watch many subtitled films .", "a film that takes you on a bareback horse-ride waltz through beauty .", "ang lee tries a little martial arts on for size with jaw-droppingly exhilarating results .", "the fight scenes are as enchantingly imagined as they are astonishingly executed .", "soaring and romantic , wild and serene , feminist and gutsy , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is one of the best movies of the year .", "just might be one of the best kung fu movies ever made .", "a finely wrought flight of fancy .", "splashes across the big screen like no other martial arts movie you 've ever seen .", "it is such an imaginative melange with such spectacular effects that it makes the matrix look rote by comparison .", "it 's wondrous the way this movie cooks on so many levels at once .", "chow reveals astonishing depths . but the revelation is yeoh .", "it 's rare to find a film that satisfies our craving for pop while giving us the transcendence of poetry .", "it 's a sugar high , fast , simple , polished and energetic .", "you may never see a more beautiful movie - and certainly no more majestic film has yet been made .", "you could search long and hard and not find a more magnificent dragon . it will catch you when you are n't expecting it and pounce on you like a tiger", "a captivating , thoroughly enjoyable , romantic romp .", "`` crouching tiger , hidden dragon '' is a mythical story with modern ideas . each image is beautifully crafted and memorable .", "sit down to watch crouching tiger , hidden dragon , and enter into ang lee 's enchanted cinema .", "the entire thing is a tapestry you can stare at for hours .", "despite scrupulous attention to expository detail , lee fails to dramatize the conflict within jen , or any of the characters .", "banish all thoughts of chow yun fat and michelle yeoh as shoot 'em up action heroes .", "the film is a composite of so many genres , techniques , and age-old conceits that it ca n't help but miss each and every one by a mile .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon kicks all living ass .", "think back and try to recall the last time you saw a hero on the screen who stepped aside to serve others by making himself a zero .", "like being absorbed into the pages of every adventure story you loved as a child .", "beautiful and elegant ; marvelously shot and directed ; touching , humorous , and thrilling , crouching tiger , hidden dragon is the movie of the year .", "not since sandy duncan 's version of `` peter pan '' has such a cinematic masterpiece been caught on film .", "its breathtaking landscapes and tense physical confrontations feel like throwbacks to spaghetti -lrb- sergio leone -rrb- and bread and butter -lrb- john ford -rrb- westerns .", "our new century is n't very old yet , but the remaining 98 years will be hard pressed to find a more rapturous movie than ang lee 's sumptuous new triumph .", "quite simply , it blew me away .", "a firebrand of a movie , bold , dramatic , and haunting .", "os personagens da hist\u00f3ria acabam tornando-se mais not\u00e1veis do que suas pr\u00f3prias qualidades como lutadores .", "the mixture of poetry in motion combined with the hair raising thrill of the cliffhanger are what make crouching tiger , hidden dragon one of the best films of the year .", "the crossover hit that -lrb- quite rightly -rrb- started all those high-flying wire-fu action pictures . with the redoubtable chow yun-fat and michelle yeoh .", "a movie that casts a flickering spell from the very outset , not with colorful excess but with restraint .", "you have never seen a movie like crouching tiger , hidden dragon because there has never been a movie like it .", "calling crouching tiger , hidden dragon a religious experience may be overstating the case a bit , but ang lee 's rhapsodically romantic martial arts enthraller certainly redeems a slew of sins in this lackluster movie year .", "-lsb- if -rsb- you 've always turned up your nose at martial-arts films . you may find yourself converted .", "masterpiece .", "crouching tiger , hidden dragon is n't just one of the best movies of the year ; it 's one of the best movies , period .", "a first-rate chinese action film that can stand with the best .", "the film satisfies on both visceral and emotional levels .", "a terrific movie .", "a waking dream of truly operatic dimensions ." ], "summary": "the movie that catapulted ang lee into the ranks of upper echelon hollywood filmmakers , crouching tiger , hidden dragon features a deft mix of amazing martial arts battles , beautiful scenery , and tasteful drama .", "id": "10267" }, { "movie": "the_story_of_the_weeping_camel", "reviews": [ "gentle and amusing .", "there are few animals on this planet more photogenic than camels , with their big expressive eyes , comically lumbering gait and ungainly humps .", "it 's astonishing , really , just how resonant and universal the young camel 's struggle for its mother 's affection is , not to mention how easily viewers can ascribe human emotions to the camels ' behavior .", "mixing documentary and staged footage , -lsb- the -rsb- movie is irresistibly beguiling , in large part because of the simplicity of its story .", "part ethnographic study and part fable .", "just a little too slow moving for me .", "an unusual , captivating and crowd-pleasing semi-documentary .", "it has the cute quotient , but it does more than spur cries of ` awww . ' the film is a healthy dose of cultural enrichment .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he truly hypnotic aspect of this austerely beautiful film is the exoticness of its landscape , both geographical and cultural .", "it 's a beautiful blend of documentary footage , dramatic tension and traditional storytelling , highlighted with social commentary and plenty of camel folklore .", "a touching curiosity", "this wonderful mongolian film is a total delight from start to finish ; it speaks volumes about the ties that bind human beings and animals together .", "the title of this movie is n't a metaphor . the filmmakers have actually made a movie about a pale and needy newborn camel whose mother ignores it .", "beyond its rare visions of remote vistas , camel 's great charm lies in its seeming simplicity .", "it is a zen movie experience par excellence .", "it 's a sad , funny , sometimes brutal look at the way in which the animal world and human world occasionally intersect to their mutual benefit .", "the vivid fictional specifics , and the simple loveliness of the artless performances by nonactor mongolian nomads , attest to the filmmakers ' abundant artistry .", "a rhythmic ode to togetherness , non-cynical communication , and the power of mother 's milk .", "a film of quiet depth and lyrical beauty .", "it 's a tale of two coexisting species , camels and humans , and it 's surprisingly fascinating , funny and emotional .", "from an animal lover 's point of view .", "as unique as the title animal : unrushed as a donkey , shaggy as a llama , sturdy as a horse -- and , it turns out , with a sensitive soft spot for music . who 'd ` a thunk ?", "un relato extraordinario , revelador de la naturaleza humana -lrb- y animal -rrb- , a medio camino entre el registro documental y el realismo po\u00e9tico .", "this quirky docudrama speaks a more universal language : who does not feel for a child abandoned by his mother ?", "exudes a subtle spiritual power .", "a charmer", "as the film unspools at its slow , observational pace , the effect is almost therapeutic , like sinking into a warm bath .", "not a lot happens , but it 's different and watchable -lrb- in a ` day in the life of a nomad ... next on the discovery channel ' sort of way -rrb- .", "simple yet charming .", "beautiful and compassionate tale of nomadic peoples that ranks with the best of robert flaherty 's documentaries .", "the film works reasonably well as a travelogue , an interesting glimpse into a culture few outsiders have seen .", "the film 's success rests largely on the shoulders of this engaging clan who , unlike most reality television stars , pays no attention to the cameras .", "it 's hard to find anything negative to say about such a sweet picture without feeling like a horse 's *** .", "a beautiful little film that hovers somewhere between eye-popping documentary and warm-hearted fable .", "to read review visit www.emanuellevy.com", "like flaherty 's work , the film traverses a narrow line between dramatic staging and the observation of real life in a way that ... reveals a unique cultural identity .", "a quiet , generally absorbing tale that immerses its viewers in a community of camel herders and goat farmers that still puts great stock in ancient legends and rituals .", "maravilhosamente fotografado , este document\u00e1rio de formato at\u00edpico emociona gra\u00e7as \u0155 vida simples de seus protagonistas e ao drama de um pequeno camelo branco . surpreendente .", "it 's an awe-inspiring vacation that sends us back to our homes with a better sense of the world 's mysteries and magnificence .", "mystical documentary ; one of the year 's 10 best", "surprisingly moving stuff .", "lovers of the discovery channel should find this adorable .", "stately and slow , the human and animal protagonists win us over in this plainspoken , non-manipulative film .", "this is a delightful honestly fascinating piece of work . beleive it or not , the camel deserves an oscar .", "a fascinating docu-drama set in the gobi desert at a time when old folkways still hold sway over encroaching modernity .", "a graceful plaintiveness that positively reverberates with authenticity .", "could have made a really sweet short documentary , is , instead , a long , relatively uneventful film that tries viewers ' patience .", "the truths shown here about the shared human experience are as big as the story being told is small .", "the characters are charming , the colours of the carpets in their yurts colourful and the emphasis on family inescapable .", "... a little magical true-life fable , probably as strange to most of us as video games to dude and ugna .", "chances are , if you 're susceptible to this movie 's gentle charms , you 'll weep when the camel does .", "a simple and radiant piece of humanism .", "its slow , delicate pacing is hypnotic .", "like many animal-centric films try to be , this one is sweet and joyous and wonderful .", "this first-ever film in the mongolian language is a masterpiece , a simply told story of a two-humped bactrian camel and its calf and the family in whose keeping they thrive .", "you 'll make friends with ikchee and his extended clan from the off , wishing that you could spend just one night under the cover of their yurts .", "fascinating and beautiful film .", "the touching finale might insure that the camel wo n't be the only one doing the weeping .", "does for camels what `` bambi '' did for deer .", "an unusual film that is part ethnographic documentary and part narrative film .", "an astonishing , mesmerizing film about a vanishing way of life", "an excellent job of portraying the everyday life of the nomadic family . ... it 's a cut above anything on animal planet , and definitely worth seeing on the big screen .", "one hump or two ?", "this look at a culture very different from ours is refreshing .", "-lsb- the directors -rsb- , without anthropomorphizing their critters , evoke primal mother-and-child emotions that will make anyone shed a tear or two .", "a film of simple rigor and heartfelt emotion .", "while it is n't always easy to get used to the slower natural rhythms this film celebrates , its cumulative effect is undeniable .", "the most sincere and heartfelt camel movie in years , maybe ever .", "a peaceful , unforced film , and it inspires a feeling of relief and joy that 's hard to describe .", "... while the film has an appropriately calm pace , befitting the lives it depicts , there is also an elementally powerful narrative drive ...", "watching camel is like watching a movie about an endangered species , and i do n't mean the camels .", "it 's actually quite sweet and exotic and engrossing .", "a beautiful and delicate reminder of the myriad ways in which life is lived on this huge planet of ours .", "strange and beautiful tale .", "quietly moving .", "with its emphasis on harmony and its implied criticism of the decadence of consumerist society , this study of tradition is a rewarding experience .", "... plays out like a naturalistic fable in an austere , timeless land in which ancient traditions co-exist with modern technology .", "this movie is for everyone .", "a cinematic oasis , both refreshing and thoroughly life-affirming .", "a window on a changing world most of us will never see .", "who knew that nomads ' yurts were so cozy and colorful , or that camels could be so soulful ?", "like `` atanarjuat , '' gives an inside look at an exotic lifestyle ... davaa and falorni 's drama may be slower paced than kunuk 's murder story , but it is every bit as primal .", "byambasuren davaa and luigi falorni have created a `` narrative documentary , '' much in the spirit of the groundbreaking works of robert j. flaherty -lrb- `` nanook of the north '' 1922 -rrb-", "a modest pleasure - a quiet little oasis in the blockbuster desert .", "whether this is filmmaking or recording is always up for debate ; that it 's fascinating is n't .", "strangely moving film .", "like himalaya , weeping camel essentially lets native people tell their own unforgettable story .", "anyone who feels like they 're drowning in their own polluted , godless , reality-tv-choked , errand-ridden consumerist life will find a momentary escape from modernity in MOV .", "speaks of perfect simplicity and small pleasures .", "an entrancing story of how the neglected reconnect with the mother culture .", "i have n't been this moved by the ineffable wisdom conveyed in the eyes of beasts since robert bresson 's transcendent au hasard balthazar -lrb- 1966 -rrb- .", "movies were n't made for cats and dogs -- they were made to show camels . seriously , try sitting through a nanosecond of the new garfield after these monumentally hairy guys have drifted into your life .", "uneasily positioned between fictional drama and cultural documentary .", "transcends genre to become a deeply affecting allegory about the importance of patience and acceptance .", "a joyous movie .", "a simple tale of animal estrangement and reconciliation that in its own quiet way manages to be soothing , hypnotic , even magical .", "MOV is rigged toward a sentimental conclusion and overpopulated with cutesy touches , but there are many remarkable sights along the way ." ], "summary": "delightful and strangely moving .", "id": "10174" }, { "movie": "clueless", "reviews": [ "writer-director amy heckerling 's new film is totally adorable and often quite funny .", "as appealing as alicia silverstone is -lrb- and she possesses that ethereal ` star quality ' which is sadly lacking in many of today 's up-and-coming performers -rrb- , her presence ca n't quite elevate this breezy comedy to the level of a modern classic .", "MOV has a witty script with one great line after another and has an exquisitely charming performance by silverstone . what more can you ask for in a comedy ?", "an unquestionably dismal look at the wealthy teen 's life in the mid - '90s .", "what should have been a clever movie disguised as a shallow one , it is in essence a shallow movie disguised as a clever one .", "rarely do you find a film so aptly titled as this one .", "the movie is aimed at teenagers , but like all good comedies , it will appeal to anyone who has a sense of humor and an ear for the ironic .", "a candy-colored comedy and an able chaser for any heavy cinematic experiences that have dogged you lately .", "while cher and the other characters here may seem vacuous and spoiled , heckerling -- who wrote the script as well -- is a gentle satirist .", "parents are traditionally invisible and/or lame in teen flicks , but dan hedaya , as silverstone 's sharklike litigator dad , does a drop-dead robert shapiro , biting off some of the best lines in the movie .", "sly , witty comedy .", "quickly becoming a teen-angst classic .", "a very funny movie that elevates its genre .", "the fact that you instantly like these spoiled little rich kids is a testament to amy heckerling 's skills as a screenwriter .", "the movie 's simple yet spot-on characters and performances make the laughs timeless , no matter how firmly the film is set in 1995 .", "smug and self-loathing .", "... although the movie is n't quite the classic it 's been made out to be , it 's a mindlessly diverting way to kill 97 minutes .", "silverstone makes cher 's insularity appealingly innocent -lrb- even in the midst of crisis , she ca n't resist checking out the latest fashion lines -rrb- , and an attempted seduction scene is sweetly hopeless .", "totally girly-girly !", "if not classic and generation-defining , then pretty dang close .", "by the time you skip out of the theater , you 've had a great time but ca n't remember a single reason why .", "silverstone is a winner . and so is the movie , which also functions as a lunatic update of emma , the 1816 jane austen novel .", "while miss silverstone guides cher through the witty costume changes that serve as character development , she 's backed up by a solid supporting cast .", "the film is funny , even though it is difficult to relate to kids who live in a world that is so far apart from the norm . the movie does finally connect , i think , because of the love story that underlies the rest of the plot .", "who does n't like MOV ? it is n't a masterpiece , but it still feels indispensable .", "a gem .", "fresh , witty , funny and even touching , this is a movie you ca n't help but love .", "snappy and clever film about a privileged beverly hills teenager .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is n't particularly memorable film , but it is still able to entertain those who happen to watch it .", "this movie is so five minutes ago , but still fun !", "alicia silverstone displays a heretofore undiscovered comic flair , and adds substance to her well-meaning but light-headed protaganist .", "silverstone guilelessly glides through her role like a pam-sprayed charge card .", "MOV is a comedy , of course , though adults in the audience -lrb- who will be there only if they have wandered into the wrong auditorium -rrb- may cringe from time to time . but there are some amusing gags , and the charming cast is more than capable .", "a gag-inducing four loko misfire .", "` MOV ' is a sweet , comical , satiric , knowing film , and it 's anything but MOV .", "offers some of the best humor , entertainment , and social insight the teen comedy genre has to offer", "its goal is humble : to walk the line between bubblegum pop that indulges trends , and a halfhearted critique of shallowness . i do n't think this is what feminists mean by `` having it all '' ...", "a fresh , disarmingly bright and at times explosively funny comedy well worth a trip to the mall , even if it eventually runs out of gas .", "the summer 's most compelling movie about teenagers .", "there 's such a gaping discontinuity between her physical beauty and her vacant , gum-snapping personality that she 's like a walking advertisement for everything that 's right and wrong with america .", "the most surprising thing about MOV , given how enthusiastically it indicts its characters and their universe , is how much fun it is .", "MOV is a happy bubble , and alicia silverstone comes into her own as a confident young comedienne .", "though this drifts at times as storytelling , it 's mainly lightweight but personable fun ." ], "summary": "a funny and clever reshaping of emma , MOV offers a soft satire that pokes as much fun at teen films as it does at the beverly hills glitterati .", "id": "11124" }, { "movie": "1029830-witches", "reviews": [ "a minor but very enjoyable nicolas roeg fairy tale .", "some kids will love it , some may find disturbing .", "deliciously cruel to children , roeg remains true to dahl 's underlying sense of real horror .", "a wildly entertaining fairy tale .", "a skewed , dark adaptation of roald dahl 's story featuring one of anjelica huston 's most energetic performances .", "as in his best films , here mr. roeg is a master of capturing the slightly off kilter sense of an apparently normal world . his camera is unobtrusive , and then suddenly it tilts a bit to jolt .", "the wizardry of jim henson 's creature shop and a superbly over-the-top performance by angelica huston gives the MOV a good deal of charm and enjoyment .", "strange and scary enough to fascinate parents and offspring alike .", "a truly magical film from nicolas roeg that finally gets undermined by muppetry .", "quite the entertainer . it 's a little scary , but not too frightening for children .", "the MOV has an engrossing story populated with many amusing characters .", "there are moments of genuine charm and solid invention , but it ` s a film that does n't believe enough in itself .", "it 's not a film for small children . but for precocious first-graders with a warped sense of humor and an appetite for chills , thrills and spills , nothing could be better .", "filled with grotesque MOV and mouse stunts , this is a wild fantasy for both children and adults . harry potter was never like this .", "real darkness seethes beneath the `` once upon a time '' surface , mostly due to henson 's seemingly curious selection of the brilliant and audacious roeg to direct .", "based on a roald dahl book , nicholas roeg 's the MOV is a film surprisingly faithful to the creepiness of the original .", "roald dahl 's book about a little boy on a seaside holiday who discovers a MOV ' convention plotting to annihilate children is brilliantly brought to life in this fantasy adventure by director nicolas roeg .", "what a lot of fun is the MOV . a few days before labor day , it is safe to say that it ` s the most enjoyable movie of the summer .", "the scenes of magic and mayhem are peppered with sly surprises , and anjelica huston plays the wildest wicked witch since dorothy got back from oz .", "the MOV is a slow-to-get-going but ultimately entertaining yarn about a nasty coven conspiring to turn britain 's entire populace of single-digiters into mice .", "do n't miss anjelica huston 's deliciously vile transformation from beauty to beast . and do n't miss this film .", "the best thing about nicolas roeg 's film of dahl 's book the MOV is its dark vision .", "in this extended good time of a fairy tale , there 's something for everyone .", "a wickedly funny final bow for muppeteer jim henson .", "-lsb- huston -rsb- dominates the film whenever she 's onscreen , pulling out all the stops without ever going over the top . that 's no small task , considering her character .", "it is a nice fantasy and deserves some credit for not aiming specifically at a youth or teenage market . it is just a decent fantasy film that is there for whatever audience it finds ." ], "summary": "with a deliciously wicked performance from angelica huston and imaginative puppetry by jim henson 's creature shop , nicolas roeg 's dark and witty movie captures the spirit of roald dahl 's writing like few other adaptations .", "id": "10115" }, { "movie": "obvious_child", "reviews": [ "the film tiptoes around the issue as much as something like `` knocked up '' did - it just tiptoes around the other side .", "slate is adept with biting remarks and self-deprecation , and she balances donna somewhere between flightiness and innocence .", "MOV is so much more than just the abortion movie . it 's a strong character study of a modern woman in new york city .", "before long she has something to remember their night together though , and has to face the most terrible decision that can occur to a grown-up during an unplanned pregnancy : telling her mom .", "that she makes the audience empathize more than judge is testament to slate 's skill . obvious frontrunner for indie comedy of the year .", "a small , offbeat dramatic comedy that deftly -- and humorously -- explores touchy territory .", "a prime example of what `` indie '' means , mid-2014 .", "robespierre has realized a thought experiment on film : how would knocked up play from the perspective of seth rogen 's female equivalent ?", "as a character , donna stern proves to be a mirror reflection of the movie surrounding her : intelligent , spirited , honest and more than a little awkward .", "although its overt pro-choice stance is germane to the story , as opposed to political grandstanding , the film does little to earn the sympathy it craves .", "the humor is balanced with small dramatic beats that lend authentic emotion to the proceedings .", "even at a scant 83 minutes running time , the film has some big voids filled with wasted scenes ... a better use of the time would have helped give the movie a little more depth .", "... does n't run away from the subject of abortion like most movies -lrb- and some movie reviews -rrb- do . if you go into it looking for a hammer with which to batter writer-director gillian robespierre , well , she has left plenty lying around .", "MOV significantly lifts the romantic comedy genre from the predictable rut it has fallen into .", "a wonderfully offbeat film about , yes , an abortion .", "there are many reasons to love this film , not least because it 's gutsy and genuinely funny , but perhaps MOV 's most admirable quality is that its feminism is very real .", "fizzing with neurosis and nervous gags , jenny slate 's winning odd-couple romance with a gawky jake lacy carries the movie over the odd comic misfire .", "sharp , funny and feeling , this is n't just juno-meets-girls but a smart film that tackles real-life issues with rare frankness .", "you root for donna , because she 's got a redemptive measure of self-awareness , and because robespierre and slate offer such a warm and authentic portrait of a screw-up .", "actor and stand-up jenny slate shines in this romantic comedy which faces up to the realities of abortion .", "for many women who see it - and quite a few men too - it will instantly become a landmark moment in cultural history .", "it 's a small , modest film that does n't act like it 's groundbreaking . but it is .", "it seems less like a film about characters using humor to mask misery than a film not ready to deal with the misery it 's brought up .", "smart , irreverent , edgy romcom about complex choices .", "the beauty of MOV is that there 's nothing obvious about it .", "` MOV ' is a small-scale but winning comedy from writer-director gillian robespierre and leading lady jenny slate .", "jenny slate demonstrates the gift that sets apart the great actors from the good ones : the ability to move you to tears without saying a word .", "a fantastically frank and very funny comedy about the messy parts of life .", "watching all of these people listen , talk , behave , react , think , work stuff out ... that 's the genius of `` MOV , '' that 's the strength and beauty of its unique wavelength .", "quirky , funny and gutsy .", "`` MOV '' enters territory rarely trod by romantic comedies - it 's clear donna 's in no way ready to have a child - and does so with warmth and wit .", "a foul-mouthed comedy with an immature heroine has treated a thorny issue with remarkable candor .", "director gillian robespierre arranges this as slice-of-single-life comedy , and it works well ...", "slate is too pretty a face and robespierre is too limited a writer for MOV to rise above conventional romantic plotting or to make its low comedy meaningfully transgressive .", "MOV takes the same shape as its elfin lead actress ; it 's just a slip of a thing , and it slips easily into different guises , from coarsely funny to gloaming-gloomy .", "the movie takes a refreshingly honest look at the nuances and realities of unplanned pregnancy in a way few recent movies have .", "robespierre has conceived something you do n't see every day : a feminist rom-com that unapologetically allows its flawed protagonist to let it all hang out ... but -lsb- it 's -rsb- one of those pictures that 's just good enough that you dearly wish it were better .", "robespierre and company deserve high praise for tackling a story with such a difficult subject at its heart , with a combination of grace , humour and courage .", "-lsb- slate -rsb- shows surprising range as an actress . she 's captivating whether she 's telling cringe-worthy jokes on stage or weepily climbing into bed with her mother .", "a cross between a woody allen farce and a one-woman show by sarah silverman .", "the only agenda that MOV has is to be true and funny , and it succeeds impressively at both .", "a fresh-faced , faux-messy romantic comedy with a refreshingly economic take on the usual meet-cute / separation crisis / resolution arc .", "MOV might hail from the same grungy sorority as frances ha or lena dunham 's girls , but it has a bounce and vitality that is inimitably its own .", "it 's both funny and serious without trying too hard to be either , and by trying above all to be honest .", "a celebration of oversharing , abortion-related or not .", "life is awkward , emotions are unfiltered , it all unfolds with a raw , r-rated edge .", "the heart of the film lies in what it manages to say , without boldface or italics , about how hard it is for donna , like so many of her anxious cohort , to make genuine connections , to break free of narcissistic constraints and become a stand-up grown-up .", "a dark romantic comedy that has plenty of the first , a little of the second and none of third .", "MOV is a romcom with a sting in its tail . and slate is a dynamo , nailing every laugh while showing a true actor 's gift for nuance .", "a well-realized , straight-ahead rom-com , one with the potential to reinvigorate a genre that 's been flagging for decades .", "jenny slate 's engaging performance keeps us along for the ride .", "it zigs when you expect it to zag .", "had robespierre been consistently tough-minded , MOV might have been just as funny but could also have risen to the level of a really good movie rather than a pretty good one .", "as conventional as its bigger california cousins in so many ways that except for its raggedy look it 's virtually indistinguishable from them .", "edgy , female-centric romantic dramedy . for a sophisticated audience , it 's refreshingly revealing .", "MOV is such an anomaly , such a shaggy and brave black sheep , that it 's hard not to embrace -- especially when it 's got puffy red eyes and mucous all over its face chanting `` love sucks . ''", "`` MOV '' covers some tricky and touchy territory , but it does it with such wit and warmth that only the most diehard pro-life fanatic could take offense .", "sorry , partisans , but there 's nothing obvious about `` MOV . ''", "it is unlikely to change any hearts or minds in our perpetually and permanently polarized times , but the film has the courage of its convictions , which likely limits appeal to a like-minded audience .", "the MOV feels fresh for a number of reasons , not least its straight-on tackling of the abortion issue .", "slate 's jaw-dropping turn as the affable protagonist surely marks the arrival of a fierce new acting talent .", "it 's a small film but should provide a big launch for jenny slate . now i want to see her in a comedy with kathryn hahn .", "there 's something old-hollywood about slate 's dizzy-dame charm , and at the same time , something very modern about her unapologetic ownership of her own sexuality .", "it 's hard to warm up to a movie when you hate its central character and it 's also frustrating when a comedy about stand-up goes out of its way to be so unfunny .", "if you see disregard or irresponsibility when you watch MOV , you 're not looking hard enough .", "touching on a red-hot issue , `` MOV '' is agreeably gentle , and even wise .", "laughter may be the best medicine , but in `` MOV , '' it 's also a helluva cure for dealing with a serious topic .", "maturity -- what a concept ! that 's the humorous , self-lacerating notion at the core of gillian robespierre 's MOV .", "... MOV flits from belly laugh to belly laugh on the strength of its delightfully shocking dialogue and a freewheeling lead performance by jenny slate .", "slate fits the role so well that her persona already seems fully formed , like athena bursting from the skull of louis c.k.", "if nothing else , MOV proves that rom-com conventions require no apologies , at least when they 're invested with honesty and sharp humor . also , a few fart jokes never hurt .", "writer-director gillian robespierre and star jenny slate team up to create a fine portrait of a twenty-something comedian dealing with life as a struggling performer in new york city .", "this generous , hilarious character study suggests jenny slate has more still to offer .", "there 's a raunchy , female woody allen-from-the-1970s vibe to MOV that rings an overfamiliar bell . we 've seen much of this before , but it goes down easily enough this time .", "slate , who had a brief and unremarkable tenure on saturday night live , proves a winning companion ; it 's a hang-out movie , and she 's fun to hang out with .", "slate erases the boundary between a good comedic performance and a good dramatic one : her wit is most palpable when expressed verbally , but the most essential stuff , the growing wisdom , is conveyed without words .", "hats off to any film that tries -lrb- and succeeds -rrb- at presenting challenging , off-putting characters from whose palms i 'm reluctantly persuaded to eat .", "as we laugh and wince at her heroine 's behavior , robespierre gets the tone exactly right in MOV .", "credit writer-director gillian robespierre and her star , jenny slate , for doing something fresh and witty within the problematic romcom formula .", "somehow it all still works . MOV is like one of those kid 's paintings where the riot of irreconcilable elements is unified by the charm and madness of a skilled naivety .", "beneath the clinical , sarcastic wit , there is a depth to her treatment of the story that builds gradually into a poignant , mature understanding of her central characters and the world they inhabit .", "simply a bad rom-com .", "gillian robespierre 's debut feature is a provocative , amusing comedy -- provided you cotton to the main character .", "anyone curious about the state of women in film or just women in general must see gillian robespierre 's MOV .", "despite its controversial topic , it manages to be desperately romantic-maybe the biggest shock of all .", "by placing the abortion in the context of a much broader series of events , robespierre normalizes it .", "raunchy humor laced with gradually revealed vulnerability makes for a winning combination in MOV , a wildly funny and appealing female-centric comedy that launches very promising talent on both sides of the camera .", "obvious is the word .", "hats off to robespierre and slate . they 've managed to deliver a film with actual edge , which somehow retains the characteristics that any successful romantic comedy should have .", "an oddball comedy about a screwed-up 28-year old stand-up comic who tries to get her life back on track after learning that she is pregnant .", "whatever your foreknowledge of low-budget brooklyn dramedies , it 's impossible that gillian robespierre 's film wo n't lob you at least a few curveballs .", "it 's astonishingly , wonderfully refreshing .", "the movie is smart and it is very funny .", "-lsb- slate is -rsb- fittingly cast here , playing donna detached and irreverent in one scene , confessional and needy in the next .", "an independent film with characters you 'll care about as well as a rare silver screen attempt to at least begin to try to understand the nature of abortion .", "how wonderful that a film that is so unapologetically frank should simultaneously feel so warm and delightful .", "it 's bold , but it 's not a film that 's just trying to be bold ; it 's just trying to be real -- and it is .", "robespierre does a nice job of balancing the seriousness of this situation with the no-boundaries irreverence of donna 's comedy background .", "robespierre is reaching out to other women about the value of sharing our experiences in this weighty and hilarious comedy .", "MOV is bound to connect with lots of young women .", "robespierre 's direction of the many fine actors she assembled is assured , her sense of pacing nicely loose-limbed .", "it is an awkward , cynical film that clearly knows little about the romantic comedies its main character says she despises .", "whatever talent or care robespierre has goes into guiding the actors toward real gentleness , including slate , who spends the movie with big , untamed hair . her affect is brazenly ungroomed .", "MOV is well-made and wickedly bold , but i still found myself wishing for a little more subtle maturity on the part of its characters and creators .", "either the perfect vehicle for jenny slate , or evidence that jenny slate can turn anything into a profound , hilarious performance . i 'm willing to believe the latter .", "this film deserves to be seen as a major breakthrough for jenny slate who commands the kind of humor and honesty that stars possess .", "jenny slate shines in a romantic comedy that dares to consider the subject of abortion suitable for date-night crowds .", "a movie that feels risky and forgiving and , despite its traditional rom-com contours , refreshingly new .", "what it lacks is dramatic interest . there 's no zing in it .", "the heroine ca n't seem to come up with any material that does n't involve bodily functions ; she never goes near the subject of motherhood , which proves that the filmmakers are scared to death of their own story .", "moment to moment , you believe what 's happening in robespierre 's film , which is funny and rueful in roughly equal measure without being despairing in the slightest .", "it 's a well-written rom-com with rascally charm , a modest story of an awkward brooklyn girl making a go of life .", "the movie does n't present itself as some kind of secular equivalent of a moral lesson . it 's not callous or weepy or preachy - or self-consciously not those things . it 's a naturally told story .", "the humor gets dark but the future looks bright for robespierre and slate .", "i want to hug this movie .", "MOV is a genuine attempt to drag the moribund rom-com genre into more relatable and mature territory , and while it sometimes falls short of its aims , it 's an admirable step in the right direction .", "robespierre and slate deserve credit for nudging the abortion narrative away from scaremongering horror , and back towards , if not an entirely happy ending , then at least something a girl might get a joke or two out of .", "beautifully redresses how the realities of women 's lives are too often ignored on film ... and does so with startling raw power and humor .", "just reading about this film will make some people feel sick . i adored it .", "in MOV , stand-up comedian jenny slate plays stand-up comedian donna stern , a brooklyn hipster who puts absolutely no filters between her most intimate , embarrassing thoughts and her shtick on stage .", "MOV 's radicalism lies in its lack of radicalism : there is no grandstanding in the manner of if these walls could talk , no naughty trolling \u0155 la sarah silverman .", "robespierre 's admirably forthright romcom remains good-natured as it flies the flag for a woman 's right to choose ...", "writer-director robespierre 's low-budget comedy-drama is both caustic and heartfelt .", "i left ` MOV ' thinking not of donna , the story 's heroine , but of jenny slate , an intriguing screen presence who deserves better material .", "an inventive take on the rom-com genre , this genuinely hilarious film is even more engaging because its characters and premise are unexpectedly honest .", "`` MOV '' is being promoted as a groundbreaking topical comedy about abortion . but it 's less than that . and more . and , basically , not .", "it 's that sense of normalcy that makes the film such a subversive success in terms of addressing a political debate that ... it otherwise goes out of its way to avoid having .", "insightful , hilarious , and filthy as all get-out , MOV promises big things ahead for director gillian robespierre and star jenny slate .", "one of the first american films to take an unabashedly pro-choice , relatively drama-free look at one woman 's decision , it 's also an endearing and even poignant comedy .", "MOV plays as though gillian robespierre and jenny slate watched the `` knocked up '' debate from the sidelines , turned to one another , and blurted out , in unison , `` challenge accepted ! ''", "virtue and vulgarity fight to a draw via a film that should put the vivacious jenny slate and director gillian robespierre on everyone 's indie radar .", "a briskly feminine , staunchly independent , deliciously coarse effort , MOV plays like a lost track from exile in guyville .", "like woody allen 's early , new york city set comedies , only raunchier , more potty-mouthed and more like tv . slate is terrific .", "jenny slate ? here comes a great comedy star in a smart , conversational , bluntly funny , certainly subversive romcom .", "even if the easy shorthand of `` abortion comedy '' is understandable in a way , the labeling of MOV as such diminishes what this movie is really about", "despite a few too-cute moments , the movie is both smarter and more sympathetic than that glib shorthand .", "as a rom-com , it 's so safe and unchallenging that it wo n't stick in your brain long enough for the message to matter .", "a smart , candid , foul-mouthed and thoroughly charming subversion of sugary romantic fantasies and stereotypical representations of women on screen .", "a modern , human comedy that tackles a controversial subject with ease .", "beneath the film 's frequently sardonic front -lsb- ... -rsb- is a sobering maturity , one contextualized with quotidian poetry .", "a comedy alternately caustic and sweet .", "MOV succeeds as a concise comedy unafraid of quarter-life malaise , an affecting debut from an emerging talent , and a star vehicle for jenny slate .", "the sisterhood is here and seeing it at work , getting on with the business of living , is actually very moving .", "slate is truly something to behold .", "robespierre is at her most assured in her handling of donna 's stand-up act : this is a rare example of a film about a creative type in which the process of transforming life into art is shown plausibly and in some detail ." ], "summary": "tackling a sensitive subject with maturity , honesty , and wit , MOV serves as a deeply promising debut for writer-director gillian robespierre .", "id": "771371895" }, { "movie": "all_about_steve", "reviews": [ "MOV struggles mightily to find its loony essence . but bullock 's apple-cheeked larkishness is all flailing limbs and bug-eyed reaction shots -- there 's no there there .", "normally the core message of being true to yourself is a virtuous one , but when ` yourself ' is quite literally the most annoying person in the world , the opposite is true .", "one is tempted to feel bad for the usually likable bullock -- who looks fantastic here , we must note -- but she 's one of the film 's producers , so she ca n't be too ashamed of herself . i am embarrassed for her , however .", "it 's a celebration of brazen nonconformity centered on an insufferable flibbertigibbet who makes the worst case for nonconformity imaginable .", "i 'm not sure who kim barker is , or what her credentials are . but she has written two of my least favorite screenplays within the last two years .", "one might be tempted to call it perfectly dreadful if it did n't seem inappropriate to utter the word ` perfect ' anywhere within miles of it .", "... really all about sandra bullock .", "sandra bullock plays a stalker in unappealing romcom .", "it 's dreadful .", "sandra bullock give it that old college try but the movie still flops", "it fails at everything it attempts to do . there 's simply no point for it to exist .", "a talented director might have made bullock seem like a comic genius , but phil traill has no control over tone , leaving the audience unsure whether to laugh or cry .", "it gets into mcconaughey territory , worse than the ugly truth .", "movies do n't get much worse .", "an interminable series of gags based around the shrillest , most obvious characters imaginable .", "not without its good bits . even if you have to watch some supposedly nice guys be mean to get to them .", "this kind of premise is touchy , cause it 's that kind of humor that comes from awkwardness . it 's kind of sad and a little dark . it needs to be handled just the right way , and quite frankly director phil traill falls flat on his face .", "irritating and inexcusable , it 's a total waste of time and talent .", "although i laughed at a couple of slapstick gags , the rest of this comedy did n't seem very funny to me .", "a painfully bland , vapid , irritating and consistently preposterous comedy that 's low on laughs and satirical bite .", "mistaking cute and quirky for teeth-grindingly obnoxious , MOV is one of the most irritating moviegoing experiences of the year . shame on you , sandra bullock , you know better than this .", "stick with the premise . the idea behind MOV has some potential , but then it slides off into hokey-ville .", "MOV is painful , unfunny and easily one of the worst films of 2009 .", "it 's not MOV . and even if it was MOV , it still is n't a good story . why ? steve is n't interesting . neither is mary horowitz , the woman stalking steve .", "the film is n't merely unfunny and stupefyingly inane but a depressing waste of money , energy and time , yours included .", "a salute to stalkers not recommended for cops , celebrities or anyone else .", "the results are n't quite anchorman , but they 're worth a chuckle .", "an actress should never , ever , be asked to run beside a van in red disco boots for more than about half a block , and then only if her child is being kidnapped .", "MOV , an unfunny , annoying , badly written , badly acted comic fiasco , may be the worst movie in bullock 's career .", "it 's a sort of anti-romance romantic comedy , and though uneven , it 's a lot smarter than most films in the genre .", "maybe a sitcom laugh track would have helped . at least it would provide a hint of where we 're supposed to chuckle .", "a screwball comedy missing more than a few crucial screws .", "oops , sorry , we 're not supposed to think of mary as mentally ill , psychologically unbalanced , or any of those painful things , just full of gumption and sunny determination .", "here 's a scorching idea for the producers of the `` saw '' franchise : a `` sandra bullock slapstick comedy '' death trap .", "when mary tearfully confesses that she wears her red boots because they make her toes `` feel like ten friends on a camping trip , '' the viewer does n't know whether to explode in laughter or die from the osmosis of sandra bullock 's own humiliation .", "putting a marshmallow on top of a pile of cooked spinach , is still not a dessert . MOV is no comedy , and just might be the worst film of 2009 .", "but the main message ... is that movie studios think a lot of people will pay good money to see sandra bullock humiliate herself yet again in front of the camera .", "there 's something pathetic about mary", "MOV is offensive , absurd and pointless .", "with its commercial imperatives and subversive ambitions working at cross purposes , this puzzling movie does n't have a clue what it 's all about .", "this surreal creation is built around one of the most maddening and borderline unbearable characters ever conceived .", "let 's say you 're the kind of person who has a morbid curiosity for films that defy logic , the ones that blow your mind with their badness . then i can wholeheartedly recommend you see this one .", "just when it seems MOV could n't grow any more insufferable , it turns strangely sentimental .", "fasten your seat belts , it 's going to be a bumpy review .", "it 's so bad , you might feel a little sorry for bullock -- but do n't take pity on her . watching MOV will only make you feel worse .", "kooky ? hardly . cringing ? most assuredly .", "MOV is a messy assemblage of clumsy sight gags , winking reaction shots and disingenuous populist genuflection to the idea that there 's no such thing as normal . we all see a little bit of mary in ourselves , do n't we ? do n't we ?", "on paper , a crazy romcom starring sandra bullock and bradley cooper could only be a good thing . wrong .", "bullock , as both co-producer and star , makes sure MOV sparkles with easy laughs .", "a head-scratcher of a comedy starring the increasingly enigmatic sandra bullock .", "mary 's supposed to be a plucky free spirit , but mostly she 's a chatty bore who 's emotionally clueless .", "somewhere , like the pea in the bed of the princess , is an idea that could be interesting . unfortunately , it 's smothered in 20 mattresses of awful and 20 more of dumb .", "why would such talented actors as bullock , cooper , thomas haden church and ken jeong sign on for something so dreadful ?", "just the latest entry on a long list of movies that are n't even close to the great screwball comedy bullock is capable of making . may it be the last .", "we could care less about the characters in this dreadfully bad comedy .", "while bullock is often cast as the kook you want to hug , here she is a nut you want to run away from .", "if you ever wanted to know what kind of movie plays deaf children falling into a sinkhole for laughs , look no further .", "since bullock coproduced this masochistic venture , it seems she buys into the idea that fluffer-nut ditziness is what she does best . except it is n't .", "a head-banging excuse for a comedy .", "... features the singular most awful line of dialogue in a movie this year ...", "if bullock in her comfort zone is a thing of real , if modest pleasure , watching as she contorts herself into a role that 's all wrong for her is singularly excruciating .", "MOV is constructed as a romantic comedy , but mary 's tireless , stalker-like behavior suggests that this ought to be a horror film .", "a disappointingly disposable romantic comedy ...", "the film 's complete failure to engage on any level , much less comedic , lies entirely at the feet of bullock .", "MOV is survivable . you 'll never see such passion for a crossword anywhere else .", "one of the ropiest would-be screwball comedies conceived recently .", "mary is a memorable comic creation for all the wrong reasons : glibly written , offensively characterised and bizarrely dressed , she 's the classic screwball ditz taken to grotesque and at times unwatchable extremes .", "this deeply unfunny comedy misfires at every turn .", "it 's baffling that some of our favourite actors would sign up for this slightly creepy , desperately unfunny twaddle . do n't encourage them by watching it .", "whatever disturbed and previously untapped audience this is meant to find , it 's certainly novel .", "a film that looks as if it 's been through 1,001 test screenings , script drafts and reshoots , each unfunnier and more muddled than the last .", "the movie is trying to show the power of words and that there is no such thing as a `` normal '' person . it should garner a boatload of nominations for razzie awards that are given to the worst movies of the year .", "my biggest surprise is scanning the credits and not seeing the name wayans or prinze jr. anywhere .", "bullock sells her part of the film , and church throws in some good , hearty laughs , but ultimately , this is just an `` eh . ''", "this is easily the single worst film that sandra bullock has been involved with and bear in mind , i have seen `` speed 2 . ''", "with a protagonist that nobody could like , admire , or sympathize with , this is one of the worst movies i 've ever had to sit through .", "which of these characters is even recognizable enough in the sphere of human existence that we might be able to think , yes , i get him/her -lsb- ? -rsb-", "there 's not much to MOV but it 's a part bullock does well : the tomboy , the goofball , the cute but weird ugly duckling ...", "a total misfire from the first scene to the last .", "misfiring on every conceivable front , it 's that rarest of comedies -- one whose stabs at humor fall painfully flat , while eliciting unintentional giggles every time the film seeks to be serious or deliver a message ...", "not just dumb , it 's dopey , moronic , doltish , obtuse and thick .", "frantic , inane , moronic and obnoxious , MOV ranks among the very worst movies of the year . the decade , even .", "he 's the thing that lets mary -- and the movie -- off the crazy hook . it quickly devolves into one of those ` what 's normal anyway ? ' stories , and bullock 's dedication to the role is ultimately undermined .", "easily one of the worst movies of the year -lrb- if not the decade -rrb- , there is not one redeeming quality to MOV , an offensive film morally , socially , and to the institution of comedy .", "despite her downward-tilted head and her nattering ways , mary really does want to connect . watching her realize this is n't deep but it is sweet .", "this is easily one of the worst films i 've ever had to review .", "clueless .", "there 's nothing wrong with MOV that a rewrite could n't fix , as long as the rewrite involved a different writer , a different character and a different story .", "i was praying for the ghost of paul newman to save me .", "bullock , easing into her mid-40s with box-office mojo intact , remains the star attraction as the annoyingly endearing mary . you simply ca n't imagine another actor of her stature pulling it off .", "it seems incredible , but the grimly unfunny comedy MOV might just be the worst movie on sandra bullock 's r\u00e9sum\u00e9 .", "when you learn that sandra bullock produced as well as stars in MOV , you ca n't help wondering , `` what was she thinking ? ''", "in which sandra bullock flails through another non-com of an awfulness she seems unerringly inclined to repeat .", "a comedy so irritating and cheerless that you wonder if the cast were blackmailed into appearing .", "a witty satire on tv news ? no . an inspiring lesson about following your heart ? nope . the worst comedy you 'll see all year ? oh yes .", "make no mistake , this is one mess of a film and yet if you forgive it some of its bewildering failings there is still a weird charm to its madness .", "sandra bullock turns in an excruciatingly kooky performance in this ill-conceived stalker romance .", "this weirdly unfunny comedy is like clint eastwood 's play misty for me seen through the eyes of the stalker , and played unsuccessfully for laughs .", "romcom ? send-up ? romcom send-up ? no one seems to know , least of all director phil traill , whose failure to deliver a consistent tone - or , y' know , any laughs - leaves his capable cast hung out to dry .", "the film is such a misjudged farrago that it makes miss congeniality seem like a masterpiece .", "director phil traill and screenwriter kim barker should take some credit for attempting something original , but ultimately what they come up with is an ensemble cast of non-entities and the overriding feeling that they 're exploiting the lead character .", "a handful of wry tv news graphics provide welcome amusement , but bullock has never been worse and the rest of the cast are left to solve the puzzle of their own presence .", "amounts to one compelling character surrounded by a bunch of stuff that 's not so great .", "there 's no footing in reality . nothing about it feels authentic : not the blathering mary , not the lifeless secondary characters , not the bromide-happy dialogue or the plot that twists less often than it spasms .", "plopping a 45-year-old actress ... into a role clearly intended for , at best , a 23-year-old is a bizarre way to deal with the role shortage -lsb- for older women -rsb- .", "breath-takingly awful in every way .", "... this is , without a doubt , one of the biggest wastes of celluloid this year .", "a special sort of trainwreck that unfolds like some fever-dream mash-up of anchorman , mad love , heather graham 's committed and a tossed-off improv sketch . a terrible movie , meriting debate only insofar as whether personal preference r", "a romantic comedy so lunkheaded and ill-conceived that it makes your average , idiotic kate hudson-matthew mcconaughey outing look like the reincarnation of hepburn and grant .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unwatchable , unbearably unfunny farce in which sandra bullock hits the lowest point of her career ...", "parental content review", "i suspect that this is a film that speaks to those who believe every breath you take is a love song .", "the taint of desperation lies so heavily on the entire exercise .", "despite the cringe early on there is a validation about finding your emotional and intellectual match , not just the fantasy dreamboat .", "if terrible movies were car crashes , this 101-minute horror-show is a coachload of orphans slamming headlong into the hoover dam - and 2010 is unlikely to serve up anything worse .", "MOV wo n't appeal to everyone but it 's by no means the disaster its terrible reviews are making it out to be and is ultimately worth seeing for its attempt to do something different .", "as hollywood 's most box-office-friendly female star , surely it 's about time sandra bullock started challenging herself with something more worthy of her comic talents .", "from the outset the film swings from one lame gag to another and the usually spot-on bullock fails to find her groove .", "` i 'm going to eat you like a mountain lion , ' says the sex-starved bullock as she attacks cooper in his van , moments after meeting him , in one of several appalling scenes that represent director phil traill 's idea of cute .", "were you thinking `` deaf kids '' , `` sinkhole '' ? no ? i defy you to write a dumber screenplay .", "sandra bullock bulldozes the line between a socially awkward character and an annoying human being in a monstrous turkey that can genuinely make a claim to being the worst film of the year", "her most irritating and unfunniest film to date .", "four stages of acceptance of 2-star movie : 1 -rrb- embarrassed for lead character . 2 -rrb- embarrassed for actor playing lead character . 3 -rrb- admiration for movie 's all-out , gawky commitment to awkward comedy . 4 -rrb- annoyance with usual rom-com schmaltz-injections .", "-lsb- a -rsb- refreshingly quirky comedy .", "if it did n't come from a major studio , i would think the film is a satire of romantic comedies , or at least some kind of avant-garde experiment in testing the limits of audience identification", "packaged as a romantic comedy but devoid of comedy or romance , this baffling train wreck stars sandra bullock as a tediously kooky constructor of crossword puzzles for a sacramento newspaper .", "... hopelessly harebrained ...", "a good idea lurks in the latest sandra bullock comedy but it quickly falls into a deep hole .", "one of the leading candidates for worst film of 2009 .", "a sad excuse for a film which meshes too many ideas without sticking to one , leaving sandra bullock once again flailing in a ridiculous role .", "disaster is an eight letter word that aptly describes this grossly misjudged , overplayed , unfunny comedy about a hyper crossword constructor who stalks her blind date . filled with low points worth of eye-rolling ...", "an unmitigated disaster .", "in the final 30 or so minutes it turns deadly serious , which is about the only time this mess gets any laughs .", "easily the worst movie of the week , month , year , and bullock 's entire career . it is to comedy what leprosy once was to the island of molokai : a plague best contemplated from many miles away .", "the only laughs elicited by the film are those of incredulity ." ], "summary": "MOV is an oddly creepy , sour film , featuring a heroine so desperate and peculiar that audiences may be more likely to pity than root for her .", "id": "770680913" }, { "movie": "premonition", "reviews": [ "how many times can the nightmare that is sandra bullock keep recurring ?", "interesting premise but by the weaker third act the audience is left wodnering if they care about any of it .", "devolve into a film that only feigns the pretensions of popular entertainment but instead wants to delve into all sorts of family issues .", "the level of apparent disinterest from everyone involved is astounding .", "a gripping psychological thriller that will have you guessing from start to finish .", "i had a strange sense before i walked into the theatre that this was n't going to be all that good ... and that 's exactly how it happened .", "unfortunately in the end this movie did not live up to the trailer shown .", "it may be a mediocre thriller , but it 's a nice drama about rekindling the spark in a dying marriage . if you do n't buy that , consider it a 110-minute fashion show , with more clothing changes than project runway .", "just a rehashed ` twilight zone ' plot stretched over 90 minutes while sandra bullock stumbles around working on her ` baffled ' face .", "the screenplay by bill kelly is a lot like the title character in mr. townsend 's famous rock opera , which is to say it does n't know what day it is .", "save your money and time . if it were n't for the special effects blowing up the budget , this would have been just perfect as a lifetime movie .", "the trailer provides ` MOV ' with a dose of its own prophetic recipe . having seen it there 's no need to see the film .", "someone should have figured out what this movie was really about before they even started .", "... a confusing mess , a puzzle that ca n't be solved .", "an intriguing , if not entirely original premise to be sure , but MOV never quite builds up the momentum that seems so inherent to its narrative .", "if only bullock could have foreseen how bad MOV would turn out to be , she would have spared herself -lrb- and us -rrb- a lot of agony .", "MOV is enjoyable enough for the first 70 minutes or so but it 's completely ruined by a terrible final act that fails to exploit the film 's premise and leaves the audience feeling cheated .", "instead of cranking up the suspense , the film turns into mush .", "MOV barely remembers to create suspense .", "had it been easier to comprehend at the beginning , there 's no telling how bad MOV might have been .", "i had a feeling this movie was n't going to be any good , and as it turns out i was right ... both confusingly opaque and frustratingly simple-minded .", "bullock 's affable performance starts strong then muscles up as a faint but lifesaving strain of humor creeps into the material .", "sandra bullock 's latest time-shifter goes nowhere , slow .", "after the setup , the movie starts to lose momentum fast , like a birthday balloon poked with a sharp object .", "pacing stutters as bullock reorganizes her tangled web and dreams of miss congeniality 3 .", "although aspects of MOV tantalize , other elements frustrate , and that makes for an uneasy final result .", "in an attempt to be unconventional and surreal , the film has no arc , and everyone talks in shorthand . but ms. bullock gives MOV a truthful center .", "ohmigod - ya feel that ? that rumbling in your ribs , that hiccup in your heart , that frigidness in your frontal lobe . it 's a MOV that the act of buying a ticket to `` MOV '' will result in tragedy .", "movies like memento , told backward , are so six years ago . MOV complicates it all by throwing the whole calendar week out of order .", "i receive premonitions too : low opening gross ... rotten tomatoes rating below 10 percent favorable ... a short ride to the video store .", "someone connected with the psychological thriller MOV should have been clairvoyant enough to realize that when you do n't have a good finale , it does n't pay to substitute two bad endings .", "stronger style and atmosphere would have greatly benefited a pic that seems to abandon its own supernatural aspects to sheer plot mechanism .", "is sandra bullock losing it ? just when you thought her taste in film projects and acting skills were improving , along comes this senseless , incoherent thriller .", "second-rate ` sixth sense ' -- devoid of scares and originality .", "damn if the movie does n't work hard , through not working hard at all , at setting some sort of record for dreary ridiculousness .", "blithely unfettered by internal logic , exhibiting the pacing of a banana slug , and boasting a heroine who makes betty crocker seem like a radical feminist , MOV is exactly the reason that the razzie awards exist .", "according to premointion , being an atheist means you get superpowers , which means some pretty great things are just around the corner for me .", "a thrill-less psychological thriller .", "the most irritating thing about this film is its overall lack of clear direction . bullock is always running around in a sort of a fog , dashing from scene to scene , but with no sense of purpose .", "she 's confused . we 're confused . so is the movie .", "movies obsessed with keeping us guessing can miss out on providing reasons to keep us caring .", "pay real money to see this feeble fiasco only if you 're in the mood for groundhog day without the laughs .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gimmicky and nearly suspense-free fantasy/thriller .", "MOV is both dreary and absurd , suffering from a lack of intrinsic logic and terrible pacing , a one-two punch that kills off any chance of entertainment value .", "MOV maintains a chilly grip on the viewer , almost in spite of the spotty storytelling .", "considering that nothing adds up in the end , it is difficult to understand why a star of sandra bullock 's caliber would agree to get involved .", "if you 've seen the ads , you 've seen the movie .", "MOV is a dour groundhog day for desperate housewives .", "the script and direction are so humorless that the film becomes unintentionally funny , and , perhaps inevitably , the story falls apart once we know what 's really going on .", "may i suggest that it 's time to declare a moratorium on movies about time ?", "can you suffocate by constantly stifling yawns ? if so , MOV should be labeled a public health threat .", "fans of horror , thrillers , and the films of sandra bullock will find MOV puzzling since it fails to honor any of them .", "`` seven days to live '' is an ok country song , packed with faith , family and fighting for what 's important . oh , wait , that 's what `` MOV '' should have been , instead of a preposterous thriller that wastes sandra bullock 's time , and ours .", "this faceless frightfest begs the only one genuinely true psychological question at large : what prompted bullock to be drawn to this mindless , moping mystical material ?", "if sandra bullock is concerned about being in too many time-travel movies , well % u2026maybe it 's too late .", "a messy movie but one that at least cares enough about its central character .", "if the director seems to show sandra no mercy as she 's instructed to run around breathlessly for two hours in circles through the past , present and future in no particular order , imagine the even greater toll this movie takes on the exasperated audience .", "by the time the requisite , and somewhat silly twist end comes around , we as an audience no longer care .", "a time-twisting drama that ties every detail together in a satisfying conclusion . sandra bullock gives one of her best performances to date .", "sem conseguir se definir como suspense , fic\u0437\u0433o cient\u043dfica ou drama , o longa finalmente revela seu v\u0431cuo criativo ao entregar-se a uma prega\u0437\u0433o pseudo-espiritual tola e superficial .", "could have been a darn snappy thriller , but the listless relationship at the story 's core , plus ham-handed handling of the essential flashback / flash forward scenes doom it .", "offers its moments of requisite thriller twists that will appeal to fans of that genre .", "i think the actress smiles a total of once in 100 minutes on screen . granted , it 's radiant when she does , but that 's not enough to save the film .", "at times intriguing , often confusing and ultimately frustrating , MOV jumbles the past and present as sandra bullock 's young wife and mother tries to change fate .", "not exactly a thriller , never quite a chiller , hardly suspenseful , it is , at best , a sandra bullock vehicle made of vanishing vapors .", "though smarter than your average , inexplicable supernatural happening , and despite ticking every box on the fears-of-women exploitation checklist , MOV almost never grabs or shakes .", "i have a MOV you wo n't give a damn . i sure as hell did n't .", "MOV is a thriller almost completely without thrills , with a puzzler that raises questions it never bothers to answer .", "MOV is a thriller with a major gimmick , a few moments of suspense and a profoundly unsatisfying ending . as such , it plays much like a c-grade cable thriller .", "the psychological thriller MOV is neither as beguiling as you might hope nor as moronic as you might fear , floating comfortably in that gray , maybe-we-can-get-it-from-netflix territory .", "MOV is an odd little thing , with a protagonist in a protracted fugue state and a plot that does n't know whether its coming or going .", "bring on those razzie nominations .", "at least all this uncertainty is leading up to a spectacular twist ending -- oh , wait . no , it 's not .", "our sympathies gradually shift from feeling sorry for the character and her dilemma to feeling sorry for this appealing actress , swimming against the current in murky waters .", "perhaps sensing the chaos , bullock acts as if she 's standing just outside herself , not quite vested in the role , her mind seemingly elsewhere .", "this film wants to be a twisty thriller but ends up something of a misogynistic mess which leaves its leading lady stranded .", "dark bullock deja-vu thriller wo n't interest kids .", "the film does n't have any meaning . not just because it 's bad . because at the very end , it 's very obvious that there was n't any point to anything .", "one can still hear ebeneezer scrooge lament , `` why show me this if i am past all hope ? ''", "largely ridiculous but terribly serious .", "like a lot of mediocre movies it 's not about much more than the immediate emotional response it 's trying to generate . the filmmakers realize this and make an effort to shoe horn some themes in ... it just makes an already muddled movie even more muddled .", "thank god the local priest puts everything in perspective with a string of family-values clich\u0439s .", "sloppy filmmaking as a whole .", "this feeble attempt at a mind-bending thriller has a vaguely interesting premise , but its potential is soon lost thanks to dreary execution .", "a kinda supernatural , kinda psychological thriller that establishes a perplexing situation and never gets around to figuring it out .", "the convoluted setup does n't produce a payoff worthy of the attention this film demands .", "MOV works hard at wearing out its welcome , with numerous scenes that do n't seem to add up and too many characters who feel underwritten .", "could it have been worse ? yes , it could have been 120 minutes .", "when we get to the top of the roller coaster , the film stalls and slows down .", "somber but soulful , MOV has a strong dramatic performance by sandra bullock and a gimmicky plot that does n't grate until the end .", "the script 's vague , silly `` explanation '' for linda 's experiences -- nature abhors a spiritual vacuum , so weird stuff happens to the faithless -- is the icing on the irritation cake .", "it never pays to think too much about movies constructed to make you think .", "MOV , for all its far-fetched nature , never lets go of its momentum and holds the audience every inch of the way .", "MOV could have been memento on estrogen . instead , it 's too poorly paced and ultimately too antifeminist to air on lifetime .", "with her tetchy screen persona , sandra bullock is well served by brainteasers like the lake house and this passable thriller about a woman who seems to be bouncing between two alternate realities .", "MOV is probably two-thirds of a good movie , and sometimes that 's enough . but i have a , well , MOV it may not be , especially when it comes to those all-important opening-weekend grosses .", "the scene in front of the funeral home where bullock goes over the edge is inappropriately hilarious .", "-lsb- a -rsb- hackneyed supernatural thriller that plays like a cross between a lifetime network spinoff of final destination and the infamous bobby-in-the-shower episode of dallas .", "this seals it : sandra bullock ca n't tell time .", "the movie does deserve credit for sticking to an ending no one at the studio could have wanted . we would , however , like to premonish that the conclusion is equally unlikely to satisfy the audience .", "as MOV slowly creeps toward a ridiculous faith-based climax or two , you may feel compelled to take a nap yourself . when you awake , it may all seem like a bad dream -- but why is your wallet missing $ 11 ? scary .", "hitchcock would have had a wonderful time with this .", "the sloppy , absent-minded MOV is a step back in time and a giant leap backward for sandra bullock .", "the script could have used some analysis itself . after proceeding for an hour in its fairly obvious supernatural path , suddenly the movie decides to get religious .", "confusing , convoluted and yet gripping and emotional almost in spite of itself MOV is the first movie sandra bullock has successfully ` carried ' in years .", "MOV is just an incredible mess from start to finish , filled with so many logical inconsistencies , it 's practically impossible for the audience to sustain the necessary suspension of disbelief for long .", "if you 're into smartly made movies , avoid MOV at all costs .", "unfortunately , not even sandra bullock 's ability to make us almost forget the ridiculous plot forced upon her can save ` MOV . '", "the acting is perfectly fine , and everyone , especially the two kids , manages to rise above the sub-par script , but unfortunately , not that much .", "since all those high falutin ' bloggers are too busy handicapping the oscars , here 's a scoop from the other end of stick : this one 's a lock for the ivar theater next february .", "i like that they use crows , because the stink of this carrion has flushed out a few guilty jackdaws .", "as MOV zigzags toward its solution it loses its head completely , packing a risible final reel with left-field religious disquisitions and heartfelt warnings against infidelity .", "yes , in the end MOV slips through our fingers , but by gum , it 's interesting , and one of the most abstract mainstream releases i 've seen in a long time .", "one of the film 's weak links is the casting of sandra bullock . ... for a woman who has supposedly lost her husband , she displays very little emotion .", "MOV has its merits , as a film about the need to love one 's spouse today , for you never know what tomorrow will bring .", "the problem here is not so much that there 's no explanation for what 's happening to her as that the filmmakers have n't figured out what to do about it .", "bill kelly 's script adds a graceful touch of the spiritual , but it ca n't overcome the holes in story logic during linda 's groundhog day of a week .", "MOV falls apart because the script turns stupefyingly boneheaded during the most crucial scene .", "as wednesday morphs into tuesday , flips over to friday and moseys back to monday , the audience suffers moderate confusion and mild annoyance at bullock 's failure to address her condition in any meaningful way .", "so full of logic flaws , continuity errors ... it 's amazing the screenwriter or director could n't foresee the train wreck of a film it becomes", "here 's a MOV for you : this ill-conceived thriller is n't going to do anything for sandra bullock 's career .", "tries diligently to blow your mind and leaves you shaking your head instead . ... what happens when a promising screenplay degenerates into total incoherence ? to quote the magic 8 ball , ` outlook not so good . '", "... feels like it was concocted in some sort of hormonal haze , say maybe in the seventh month of a pregnancy .", "bullock has overcome dozens of similar turkeys in her career . for example , it would be nice to be able to forget ` speed 2 : cruise control . ' yapo , however , will have to cure cancer , aids and leprosy before viewers will forgive him for this movie .", "time traveling to the future is n't the same thing as a `` MOV . '' but maybe calling it `` nonsense '' would have been just a little too honest .", "you 'll feel both cheated and nonplussed at the conclusion after sitting through an hour and a half watching sandra bullock slowly morph into gladys kravitz .", "MOV is the kind of movie where you can keep a running count of the films it 's ripping off -- but you may need more than two hands .", "... your gimme-a-break meter will probably be red-lined long before director mennan yapo drags you over the shaggy-dog finish line .", "julian mcmahon is sandy 's husband , and he really needs to do something about those eyebrows . they do n't even cover his eyes % u2013 they 're more like eye-postrophes than brows .", "bullock may be easing away from her kooky miss congeniality persona and into more substantial material at just the right time in her career .", "an hour of boring confusion followed by thirty minutes of a laughable ending", "breathtakingly stupid movie .", "linda 's routine looks pretty much like updated donna reed : no wonder she wants out .", "sandra bullock morphs from the shopping mall rom-com queen to the sixth sense psycho but ca n't pull it off in this solo performance of woman 's intuition gone bad .", "in MOV , sandra bullock plays a woman going through a horrifying experience . she keeps waking up in this movie .", "MOV is so bad , there 's even a scene mirroring the time when the old nighttime soap dallas jumped the shark with bobby ewing in the shower !", "one reality bullock unfortunately ca n't change is the ineluctable trudge toward the appallingly boneheaded ending .", "its biggest failing - and the ultimate one for a lightweight entertainment such as this - is that it 's a deadly bore from start to finish . even more annoying is its blind-alley structure resulting in an unsatisfying mind game for the audience .", "the picture ca n't decide between cheap scares or deep thoughts , so it goes for both .", "answers most of its mysteries , even if the resolutions are disappointingly vague", "`` i do n't know what to fight for , '' a tortured bullock tells her local priest . my suggestion would be better scripts . a couple more like this one and i can see `` speed 3 '' on the horizon !", "it may be the first time you ever find yourself as confused as a contestant on are you smarter than a 5th grader .", "a lethargic thriller that appears to just give up several times over , even foregoing the twist ending it seems destined for .", "screenwriter bill kelly has some wild ideas for this mental time bomb , but he has problems organizing the thrills and the chills in the correct order for maximum unease .", "you know those ` in a world where ... ' movie trailers ? well , MOV 's would start out : ` in a world where no one has ever seen groundhog day ... '", "this is a much dumber movie than the lake house . in fact , the script is an ungainly mess and ultimately a shaggy-dog story .", "ageless beauty sandra bullock gives her typical automated performance in a superficial cross between the recent `` deja vu '' and bullock 's own excruciating movie `` the lake house . ''", "MOV is a shoo-in for my list of the year 's worst films , assuming that i can even remember what it is nine months from now .", "so there you have it : go to church , keep your husband 's gaze averted from stray blondes , try not to think about the future , and all shall be well .", "surprisingly slow and relentlessly absurd ...", "it 's a pointless race against time .", "this first american film by german director mennan yapo drags by like a friday afternoon at work . several of them . over and over .", "MOV 's way of dressing its marital crisis material in twilight zone garb grabs attention but looks flimsy upon further inspection .", "i just returned from the immediate future , like two minutes from now , and i have a strong feeling i 'm about to give this movie a big thumbs down .", "MOV is annoying , mind-numbing , unoriginal , and it 's certainly not entertaining .", "comparisons to other time-bending pictures -lrb- `` memento '' -rrb- are easy , but what are missing are suspense , cleverness and common sense , despite a supernatural premise . instead we have family drama that bounces between terror and mysticism , to zero effect on eith", "i had a MOV this might be a forgettable mediocrity , but i was wrong . it 's actually a laughable turd ." ], "summary": "overdosing on flashbacks , and more portentous than profound , the overly obtuse MOV weakly echoes such twisty classics as memento , the sixth sense , and groundhog day .", "id": "371353718" }, { "movie": "10010694-season_of_the_witch", "reviews": [ "it takes place during the 14th century , but everyone speaks in contemporary language , which might have been acceptable if the dialogue were clever or intelligent or funny or , you know , good .", "great song . bad movie .", "stop me if you 've heard this one . a priest , an altar boy , two crusaders , and a con artist walk toward an abbey with a suspected witch in tow .", "the first reveal of nicolas cage sporting a blond wig with ringlets that makes him look like a shirley temple drag queen impersonator after a post-medieval-party-themed blackout is the sort of fright probably not intended by its makers .", "MOV is n't quite jonah hex or little fockers bad , but it 's one helluva shoddy way to start off the year in movies and yet another crummy entry in nicolas cage 's woeful post-oscar filmography .", "not only bad in predictable ways , it 's obscenely lazy .", "a cheerfully terrible january time-waster .", "this is how ` monty python and the holy grail ' would have turned out if it had been funny unintentionally instead of intentionally .", "a 14th-century road movie with 21st-century cuss words .", "a cgi freakout at the finale ca n't save this mundane medieval thriller about witches , devils and disillusioned knights .", "MOV is a fine example of a film that would 've been great fun if only its creators had a sense of humor about the wild brew of absurdity they had percolating .", "think of it as a modern iranian adultery trial as imagined in 14th century europe by a terminally silly dreamer .", "it 's part fairy tale-gone-wrong , part recycled legend , part panto horror . think the wolfman , or van helsing , only worse .", "it 's entertaining in a cheerfully ridiculous way , though cage fans will be disappointed that he does not really lose his rag , despite some serious provocation from the lord of darkness .", "the stench of plague is all around , unless that 's an aroma emanating from the script .", "a mediocre knights-and-witchcraft b-movie that 's somewhat cheesy , somewhat intriguing , and ultimately just not all that involving .", "directed by the perennially hollow dominic sena from a script by bragi schut , `` MOV '' is all seams . it never balances out its competing desires ...", "welcome to the january dead zone .", "while ` witch ' might not be the worst thing i see this year , it 's apparently been riddled with its own case of the black plague since day one . every inch of the movie is infected with bad decisions that spread throughout each and every frame .", "not nearly funny or weird enough to see with friends after a few drinks , and despite impressive locations does n't have enough visual appeal to simply watch on mute .", "lacking any sort of energy and the weak premise at its core means there 's very little anyone or anything could have been done to salvage it .", "a nicolas cage movie where nicolas cage does n't lose his shit . avoid .", "avoid it -- wait for it -- like the black plague .", "it 's a bit cheesy but there is action and tension and strong graphic effects - and even a deadpan moment", "just how big was that irs bill , anyway ?", "anti-oscar-movie people , this one is for you .", "it 's amazing how little entertainment value there is in watching nicolas cage and ron perlman play world-weary crusaders in a movie called MOV . come on ! it 's ghost rider and hellboy !", "for long , long stretches , -lsb- it 's -rsb- too leaden and dour to be any fun at all .", "director dominic sena sets a quick pace ; the dull moments are brightened by the unexpectedly likable team of cage and perlman .", "guns are fun in movies , but bashing about with broadswords speaks to the 12-year-old in all of us .", "god 's teeth !", "cage is effective as a falling down drunk in las vegas or a treasure hunter navigating goofy road trips but not as a disillusioned champion of the church going one-on-one with a demon . steven seagal would have been more believable .", "poor plot twists and cgi-heavy action further muddle what might have been an intriguing story of fanaticism and superstition .", "from script to editing , this witch does n't float .", "nicolas cage = modern day bela lugosi in declining years", "spellbinding it 's not .", "witch 's spell only partially effective", "director dominic sena is more like a less amusing uwe boll than ingmar bergman .", "dominic sena directs all this stuff and nonsense with a paucity of fun unbecoming a loopy tale of medieval witches starring nicolas cage and ron perlman .", "begins with a bang -lrb- a hanged witch rises from a watery grave to dispatch her tormenter -rrb- but ends with a thud -lrb- a bungled exorcism releases a silly-looking computer-animated demon -rrb- .", "this painfully earnest and overblown medieval swords-and-sorcery road movie is unlikely to warm the cockles of any but the most die-hard fans of cage 's stentorian growl and arch overacting .", "cage 's disappointingly subdued performance stands as the proverbial straw that broke the camel 's back ...", "although i will likely be disemboweled from my toes to my nose -lrb- metaphorically speaking only , i hope -rrb- for this proclamation , i did n't think MOV was all that bad ! *", "after a while , the movie tires of the witch business and trots out a plot twist that permits the effects department to spend money .", "not the stinker that everyone says it is , but you do have to ignore its flaws in order to be entertained .", "the filmmakers try to use special effects to cover up the weaknesses of the story , but even on that point they fail pretty badly .", "cage merely stands around looking glum , letting his hair extensions do the acting for him .", "i may be in the minority of critics to think so , but MOV is an enjoyable medieval thriller that 's well-made in spite of some moments of silliness .", "have low expectations for this movie and you might just be surprised .", "it 's an uwe boll kind of film that 's been directed with a certain degree of competency by previous cage collaborator dominic sena .", "another forgettable trifle from cage .", "makes the last airbender look like avatar .", "the only time i was even modestly entertained was when the 10-year-old boy sitting behind me -lrb- obviously taken out of school to see the film by his model parents -rrb- started belching unrelentingly at the screen .", "while certainly no witchfinder general , it does n't deserve to be burned at the stake .", "did they really say `` i 've saved your ass '' in medieval europe ?", "MOV suffers from a general laziness .", "it 's centurion deux without the second-coming-of-carpenter pretense , though you still wish the trashiness were more distinctive .", "a cursed abomination ... as a priest observes , ` we 're going to need more holy water ! '", "how many mediocre movies can nicolas cage make and still have a career ? i guess we will wait and see .", "this is the puffy-faced nic cage . the one who fights for christ and little debbies and not necessarily in that order .", "` MOV ' entertains , but do n't get me wrong , it 's a bad movie .", "-lsb- video -rsb- this movie sucks so awfully that you 'd think it was a vicious prank .", "it will probably be the worst reviewed movie of the year , it may break up couples mid-date night , and fraternities are sure to use it in tandem with contraband beverage four loko for hell week hazing . but come on , it 's not that bad .", "authenticity takes a back seat . swordfights , wolf-punching and zombie monks clamber into the front seat and smash a hole through the windscreen .", "you 've seen more convincing medieval performances from guys at ye olde pancake house after a larp scrimmage . with all the dead birds and fish , this might seem like a timely piece of apocalyptic fiction . but such pestilence is annual par for nicolas cage .", "we need a serious suspension of disbelief to accept these two aging actors as faultless warriors in tip-top shape .", "disregards characters , emotions and even dramatic tension in favour of an endless parade of ` cool shit ' to impress its perceived audience of 13 year olds .", "it 's the seventh seal meets get him to the greek meets lord of the rings as if filtered through uwe boll 's hack-tastic brain .", "even an actor like nicolas cage can not elevate such a disappointingly anachronistic and incoherent religious epos .", "you 'll want to spend lots of time checking out those costumes , because , perlman and lee aside , there 's not much to watch in the acting department .", "if it 's january , it must be time for another nicolas cage film", "despite some terrific locations in hungary and the austrian alps , this ho-hum 14th-century history lesson remains routine and unconvincing right up to its all-hell-breaks-loose cgi-heavy finale .", "you 've probably never heard of first time screenwriter bragi f schut . and , after wading through this 14th century swords-and-witches hokum you 'll probably never want to see his name again .", "dull : the last thing a freakin ' period-piece action-adventure occult thriller should be .", "more like a troubled nap than a compelling flick", "i could n't shake the feeling that it might have been conceived and filmed as a comedy , then edited so that it plays like a thriller .", "because this is the first release of 2011 , it would too be easy to crown `` MOV '' the worst film of the year , but i 'm sure it will live up to that title for weeks to come .", "another movie is turned into a turkey .", "even the most dedicated of nicolas cage 's fans will find little to enjoy about the historical-fantasy-action romp MOV .", "as the stakes rise , time for buddy-comedy drops ; the jolts are too minor to register , the action mostly unimpressive .", "cage alternates between leaden line readings and thunderous outbursts , making his accomplished costars ulrich thomsen and stephen campbell moore look even better . but the movie 's worst aspect is the cgi , which packs no scares whatsoever .", "just wait for the viral video highlights , coming soon to a computer screen near you .", "the film is not altogether dreadful , although it 's far from good . and that 's not good . classic stinkeroos are rarer than masterpieces , and we all need a laugh now and then , even if the laughs are inadvertent .", "it 's not quite nutty enough to be a guilty pleasure .", "rather than elevating this wanna-be hammer horror flick , cage somehow lowers its quality .", "a mishmash of horror and history genres that 's not as bad as its trailers but ultimately is dragged down by , of all things , its star .", "audiences considering `` MOV '' should heed the timeless advice of its ancestor `` holy grail '' -- run away !", "good production values almost rescue this overwrought medieval tale .", "off the top of my head , i 'm guessing that `` MOV '' claims a place in the top five all-time bizarre and pointless homages to art cinema .", "this is n't a documentary about christine o'donnell 's recent senate campaign in delaware . that would be a lot more entertaining ... it may remind you of the movies of uwe boll .", "it 'll come as little surprise to anyone who follows cage 's career that he 's picked yet another dud . yes , after knowing , bangkok dangerous , g-force and next , the follically-challenged actor has done it again .", "is `` felson '' not a moniker more appropriate to a sitcom second banana than a fierce warrior ?", "the screenplay is like a transcription of a dungeons and dragons session ... the ` performances ' are like clueless imitations of monty python by actors who do n't understand comedy .", "MOV is as bloodless as a starved vampire . instead of a review , it deserves a stake in the heart .", "disappointing , sluggishly directed medieval thriller with poor special effects , a plot that manages to be both dull and nonsensical and not even a bonkers performance from cage to liven things up .", "not a good film by any stretch of the imagination , but far from cage 's worst .", "worst . d&d session . ever .", "p.t. barnum and h.l. mencken remain inarguably correct in their assessment of the public 's gullibility and appetite .", "it 's the crucible , except with real magic creatures , copious cage bon mots , and the incomparably ridiculous sight of perlman head-butting beelzebub .", "does to the medieval era what cage 's wicker man did to anthony shaffer .", "cage plods through the story with a stiffly restrained , exaggeratedly earnest performance that makes him look like the most awkward amateur in the local society for creative anachronism troupe .", "if you can sit through an uwe boll movie , and be genuinely entertained ; then run , do n't walk , to see MOV .", "did either cage or sena even bother reading bragi f. schut 's patchwork script , before adjusting the wig , flicking on the camera and cashing the pay cheques ?", "there are almost no laughs to be had in MOV . that 's unfortunate , because the only chance that this overproduced yet still shoddy piece of early-january multiplex fodder had of being entertaining was as an unintentional comedy classic .", "really , at its worst , the whole thing 's a little bit like `` monty python and the holy grail '' - minus the jokes .", "a middle-of-the-road bore , with only occasional flashes of the fun that could have been had the whole way through .", "ever since bergman 's `` the virgin spring '' was remade as `` last house on the left , '' his work has suggested a rich mine for homage .", "the scariest thing about MOV is the movie itself , an abomination of bad filmmaking and terrible acting .", "cage 's old pal dominic sena is a decade removed from their `` gone in 60 seconds '' directing glory , and he gets nothing out of this script that is n't pure hokum .", "it 's got videogame-from-hell f/x , plus jousting , plus cage in tangled long hair he seems to have mistakenly put in the washing machine .", "unchallenged and over-wigged , cage is merely biding his time with this serving of horror hooey , obviously more interested in hearing the sweet sound of `` cut ! '' than trying to make a tepid screenplay shuffle .", "it is a hopeless mish-mash that feels like they were making it up as they went along . it 's also dull .", "MOV begins in a crusade taking place after the crusades , in a 14th century for dummies about as immersive and real as the ohio state renaissance festival .", "it 's creaky , predictable and frequently idiotic . but for a tipsy saturday night , this should tick all the right boxes ." ], "summary": "slow , cheap-looking , and dull , MOV fails even as unintentional comedy .", "id": "770816170" }, { "movie": "proof", "reviews": [ "paltrow gives a coiled , impressively internal performance .", "somewhere in the translation from stage to screen , david auburn 's powerful pulitzer prize-winning play was transformed into a goopy gwyneth paltrow movie .", "it 's deep , to be sure , but also light , something that takes a deft touch to pull off successfully . more than anything , it 's good to see paltrow getting her swerve on again .", "MOV plays cleverly with the arcane mysteries of game theory , and if it 's only a game , happily , it 's one worthy of exhibition . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a respectable but mild , drab little film .", "paltrow is pretty commanding , even if madden pushes things toward airlessness by keeping the camera so tight . the anguish on that lovely , haggard face -- you 're right there with her , yearning for the moment you both can finally breathe .", "miscast yet marvelous , paltrow and the rest of the cast hold you to the movie , even when you intuitively sense something is lacking .", "like the best play-to-movie adaptations , it leaves us feeling that we 've had a powerful and enriching theatrical experience .", "i liked it better on the stage , though the performances -lrb- especially paltrow 's -rrb- are exceptional .", "the material is formulaic , however cerebral .", "an elegant adaptation to the screen , with the play 's qualities largely intact and great performances from paltrow and hope davis , as her sister . jake gyllenhaal and anthony hopkins complete a dream cast .", "MOV is something of a puzzle , an all-star drama that has the feel of a sunday afternoon film . think curiosity , not must see .", "as a story about personal and family dysfunction , and about coming to terms with life 's uncertainties , MOV is n't bad .", "a subtle , slow-burning mystery that does justice to its themes of identity , sanity and sacrifice .", "madden stages the action with a minimum of imagination and gets a career-worst performance out of davis in a key role , but the material still sputters to life on the strength of the writing and paltrow 's commitment to the part .", "full review in greek", "timid staging faithful adaptation = no cinema", "offers a convincing demonstration of the theorem that good writing and sensitive performances can equal an engaging and nuanced piece of cinema .", "MOV is a smart film , but it tries too hard . it wears its heart on its sleeve , and the pathos becomes a bit much because there is little to balance it out .", "a limp , and utterly pointless melodrama that 's never as intelligent as it thinks .", "if you know nothing about differential equations or prime number theories , well you 're probably not alone , but it wo n't affect your ability to appreciate this movie .", "you get the feeling -lrb- paltrow -rrb- craves emotionally traumatic scenes in which snot can drip from her character 's nose .", "crackling good work , emotionally and intellectually interesting and grandly entertaining , saved from pomposity a good deal of the time by its sense of humor .", "MOV now joins 1984 's amadeus , 1985 's made-for-television version of death of a salesman and 1988 's dangerous liaisons on the list of the best modern movie adaptations of the past 25 years .", "emotions are built around acts of betrayal never truly felt by the viewer , or that register as phony or overblown .", "the play , with all of its key surprises and biting exchanges intact , is up there on the screen . but given the depth and fascinating pull of auburn 's writing , that 's a good thing .", "somehow the formula fails . almost everyone involved in this production seems to be off their game .", "MOV that you can drain most of the juice out of a play and still have an enjoyable night at the movies .", "another movie that toys with ideas but forgets to establish a credible atmosphere .", "flattened onto the screen ... everybody always seems to be saying exactly the wrong thing to poor gwyneth , which gives her the right to be insufferable .", "an extraordinary thriller about matters of scholarship and the heart , about the true authorship of a mathematical MOV and the passions that coil around it .", "the story 's genial unpretentiousness has been darkened and weighed down , and what 's left is less than prime .", "the story 's emotional stakes are such a grab bag that it 's difficult to feel much urgency about the outcome .", "blessed with crisp dialogue , bright wit and a strong lead performance .", "intelligent middlebrow entertainment with a few juicy roles to feed talented actors .", "the film version is a powerful adaptation with fiery performances , plenty to decipher and enough yelling to give anyone 's brain an ache .", "` MOV ' is brilliant enough as a play that even if you only capture some of the genius on film , as john madden has done , you 're still left with a pretty good movie .", "paltrow is left alone , much like catherine , suffering and longing for someone - anyone - to come up to her level . no one ever does .", "catherine is an infinitely less convincing version of arcadia 's girl genius ; the MOV is just a macguffin ; it runs out of plot and has not one idea in its head .", "a thoughtful , intelligent film about brilliant but troubled people ... works on both an intellectual and an emotional level .", "the trouble with MOV is that , however efficiently it completes its task , you have to ask whether the job was worth starting .", "just as he kept shakespeare in love years ago from leaping into greatness with his banal direction , madden similarly keeps things stately and sleepy here .", "the emotional heft of MOV is considerable , even with some problems inadequately worked out .", "the sparks go out in john madden 's film version , with a script by auburn and rebecca miller and starring a wan gwyneth paltrow .", "paltrow gives a moving , realistic account of the emotions peculiar to caregivers ; a heavy , thought-provoking , involving film that left me exhausted but invigorated .", "-lsb- paltrow is -rsb- great in this .", "an elegant , intelligent drama of a breed increasingly rare in mainstream american movies .", "it explores issues of love , trust and family wonderfully through the inner life and ironic wit of paltrow 's character .", "despite paltrow 's mediocrity and madden 's middlebrow tone , MOV still manages to deliver a cereberal yet emotional tale about genius and madness in academe and personal life", "for a prime audience , it splendidly dramatizes an esoteric and brainy subject without testing your knowledge of math theorems . `` MOV '' proves it can be done .", "for patient viewers , it does offer a carefully considered and ultimately inspiring examination of how the need for order and logic is less important than a willingness to embrace chaos .", "it 's a quiet kind of triumph . i know no one saw it but i hope more people will .", "paltrow stars as a woman who may or may not be around the twist . having named her real-life child after a piece of fruit , that 's what i call inspired casting .", "... the story reveals a lot less substance than there appears to be .", "sadly , the impact of the clever parallelogram of emotional and philosophical concerns in auburn and rebecca miller 's screenplay is deadened by the director 's overly literal -- mechanical -- cinematic interpretation .", "a masterpiece before it reached the screen and maybe the highest praise that can be offered in celebration of this film version is that it remains one .", "intense and compelling , MOV is an absorbing film that shows the intricacies of the human mind are as complex as a mathematical equation .", "smart , well-acted , and wonderfully directed .", "sure , the play won the pulitzer prize , but that does n't mean it makes a great film , in my opinion . maybe it just works better on the stage .", "we are invited to believe that hopkins , paltrow and gyllenhaal all have , in their various ways , alpha-brains . they look to me like they could n't recite the three-times-table without smoke coming out of their ears .", "gwyneth paltrow gives the greatest peformance of her career .", "engaging in a way that math rarely is .", "for adults who can appreciate the intellectual qualities as well as the emotional power .", "MOV is a stirring motion picture that challenges our views on a great many things about life , some of which we take for granted .", "the graceful discipline of math theory sits in stark contrast to the ugly realities of dementia , a collective contrast crackling with melodramatic vigor .", "strong performances distract from an often convoluted story .", "MOV ca n't conjure a single legitimate thread , or an emotion to back it up .", "judging by how it provides its cast with showy moments amidst the sweet little oblique nothings , i 'm guessing that MOV is mostly about winning awards .", "somewhere between a beautiful mind and wonderboys , we get MOV a very good film that among other things explores the link between youth and genius .", "so few movies even attempt to engage viewers in a conversation this deep that i 'm ready to celebrate paltrow and forgive many of the film 's other flaws .", "astonishingly intelligent , richly compelling drama , exploring the thin line between insanity and genius .", "in MOV , -lsb- paltrow -rsb- seems to be drawing upon a fund of real pain and it does wonders for the film .", "MOV , the movie , is alive and sulking .", "gwyneth paltrow plays the daughter of a famous dead mathematician in john maddens terribly serious film adaptation of the much-admired broadway play .", "it 's hard to quarrel with the way MOV depicts mathematical genius as an unknowable abstraction . otherwise , we might need advanced degrees to watch it .", "the delights are in the details , and in the way the convoluted story unfolds by bits and pieces .", "MOV is a winning drama that oscillates with confidence and emotional tension .", "hopkins , his hair and beard gone white , unravels with gorgeous precision .", "john madden 's competent , monotonous film version , not exactly stagebound but hardly freewheeling , only underscores its mechanical nature .", "paltrow gives the performance of the year , and perhaps of her career .", "-lrb- john -rrb- madden and -lrb- gwyneth -rrb- paltrow are , once again , simpatico as collaborators .", "surrounded by thespians who 've been knighted and married to rock stars , davis steals the show as the self-absorbed , well-meaning but annoying big sis .", "madden does a competent job transferring the film from stage to screen .", "the argument MOV makes in its cool , sophisticated way is that sometimes it is difficult to clarify the line between insane individual and insane genius .", "intelligent and well-realized but lacking much of an emotional charge .", "... `` tasteful '' is probably the operative word for the entire thing . it 's hard to fault anybody 's work here . if there is a problem , it is an insubstantiality in the source material ...", "a decent film that ... remains married to its words and bound to its limited sets .", "-lsb- a -rsb- n infantile fantasy ... of not just being daddy 's favorite but being chosen , by some mysterious power , to inherit his gift .", "paltrow 's inward performance is of a piece with her stunning work as sylvia plath in the biopic sylvia .", "jake gyllenhaal brings a certain geeky sweetness and enthusiasm to his role as hal . there 's also genuine chemistry between him and gwyneth , even if she seems a little too old for him .", "aided immeasurably by paltrow 's ace performance , it 's the poignantly-felt human drama and delicate relationships in MOV that make the film a worthwhile experience .", "-lsb- paltrow 's -rsb- is a performance that redeems everything else about this film , and allows for the hope that there will be many more to come in this gifted actress ' career .", "a cozy , middlebrow production putting an acting spotlight on paltrow , surrounded by an unchallenged hopkins and jake gyllenhaal as a liberating love-interest spirit .", "MOV is a very emotional and engaging movie almost all the way through , but it loses it at the end .", ". . has n't shaken the feel of its floorboards , -lsb- but auburn 's -rsb- characters still come alive with complex relationships that hang in the balance of every exchange of his words .", "you leave the theater appreciative of the movie 's dramatic yield , but not truly swept up in reverie . the way most of us feel about middle and high school math , i guess .", "presents a knot of questions , twisted up inside a knot of delicate performances and a fragmented narrative .", "hits the mark as an exploration of a woman who gives away her gold to others and must find a way to acknowledge her own genius .", "its themes of trust , the depth of filial responsibility and concerns about genetic inheritances are explored with depth and intelligence .", "something went terribly wrong here and one of the fine theatrical experiences of recent years turns into celluloid dross .", "some plays are better left as plays . as my MOV , i present MOV , which is as tedious on the big screen as it probably was gripping in the intimacy of a theater .", "MOV offers evidence -- if not MOV -- that there 's still intelligent life in the movies .", "here 's an interesting , sometimes frustrating , film about who really wrote a mathematical MOV and how it affects those involved in the mystery .", "despite a stage-bound script , this story of family politics and mathematical genius is intriguing and fairly involving", "... -lrb- MOV -rrb- pushes the story beyond a mere romantic entanglement ... into one of finding -lrb- one 's -rrb- direction and the confidence to pursue it ...", "were it not for paltrow 's rafter-rattling rages and the occasional engaging moments between catherine and hal ... the film could easily serve as cinematic sominex .", "paltrow overcomes her ingenue actress image and does a good job with a role of a deeply troubled and perhaps brilliant woman , the daughter of a schizophrenic mathematician who was one of the great lights of modern mathematics .", "as with many film adaptations of stage successes , david auburn 's pulitzer prize-winning play about mathematics and madness , MOV , loses something in its translation to celluloid .", "a melodrama is a melodrama , even if the people in it occasionally announce something like , ` i figured out how to get a lower bound for h. '", "among the startling revelations : math is precise but life is sloppy .", "MOV proves you can watch a flick about depressed , schizophrenic people concocting complicated math equations and still enjoy it . i swear !", "the freedom film affords has allowed auburn and co-writer rebecca miller -lrb- the ballad of jack and rose -rrb- to open up the material and , remarkably , deepen it , adding a layer of pathos to catherine 's angst .", "those who did n't see the theatrical production -lrb- myself among them -rrb- might be left wondering if the material looked this phony on stage .", "what theater critics unanimously described as brilliant on stage is oddly flat and unemotional on screen ; instead of being pulled into the piece by the throat , one tends to admire certain aspects of the screenplay from a considerable emotional distance .", "MOV is like its own page of badly done math homework . it shows all work , all right . but it feels cribbed from an answer sheet . and it never proves a thing .", "while scrupulously intelligent , literate , and sardonically funny , john madden 's reportedly faithful adaptation of david auburn 's broadway hit never quite breaks free enough of its theatrical origins to feel like a bona fide film .", "too much of this adaptation of david auburn 's pulitzer prize-winning play feels static , staged and largely unbelievable .", "MOV will put a lot of viewers right back where they left off in 12th-grade calculus : asleep .", "when it counts , MOV wins points for subtlety and keeping its answers closer to the chest .", "although she tends to get actressy in her work , paltrow 's catherine is a believable portrait of loss and grief .", "-lsb- an -rsb- emotionally rich and honest drama that makes for a quality big-screen experience for demanding grown-ups daring to go back into theatres once the summer 's silly heat has died down .", "you could n't find a role more comfortable for paltrow , who is at her best , ranging effortlessly from seething anger to trembling tenderness .", "it 's not just that -lsb- paltrow -rsb- has trouble playing the part of a math genius ; she seems to have trouble at times playing the part of a human being .", "although it probably worked a lot better on the stage ... MOV is an intriguing story .", "paltrow played catherine on stage in london and is at her best here since she last performed under madden 's direction in shakespeare in love .", "few movies regard the psyche with such sober discernment .", "unconvincing MOV deflates the mathematical experience through a morose script and a pacing that is melancholic .", "less than the sum of its parts .", "many of the very attributes that made david auburn 's MOV an award-winning stage play hamper it as a film .", "despite a great cast and an interesting premise , MOV feels more like an outline for a movie than the real thing .", "the result , like so many stout travellers from stage to screen , is respectable . stolidly , bloodlessly , yawningly respectable .", "paltrow and davis give remarkable performances ... -lsb- but -rsb- hopkins , playing a man dealing with his mental decline , is overly imperious , too much lion and not enough winter .", "... academic subject matter given an emotional treatment .", "madden has assembled some powerhouse talent , and particularly in the second half of the film , he cuts between present and past with a frenzy that ratchets up the suspense of this romantic whodunit .", "what was perfectly calibrated and compelling on stage seems mechanical and perfunctory on film .", "one wonders how transcendent the film might have been in the hands of a more versatile actress than paltrow .", "resolutely uncinematic , auburn 's tale of a maybe mathematics prodigy feels thin and underpopulated . some plays are better left on the stage .", "'m going to make a prediction and you can hold me to it : gwyneth paltrow is going to get an oscar nomination . no ifs ands or buts . she 's going to get one , and she deserves it .", "director john madden 's emotionally rich , intellectually exciting MOV is a throwback to a time when pulitzer prize-winning plays routinely were made into movies .", "once you get past that golden swag and curtain of hair , paltrow 's performance is devastating , cutting to the pith and marrow of parent-child relations ." ], "summary": "gwyneth paltrow and anthony hopkins give exceptional performances in a film that intelligently tackles the territory between madness and genius .", "id": "7585" }, { "movie": "rocky_iv", "reviews": [ "proves once again that all the world loves an underdog .", "-lrb- no quote available . -rrb-", "boxers are noted for their hubris , but stallone , perhaps still punch-drunk from the early success , would have been better advised to have quit rather than suffer the body blows of this nonsense .", "a far cry from the delights -lrb- both large and small -rrb- of its illustrious original .", "the crazed flag-waving would be a lot easier to take if it were n't so clearly a commercial calculation meant to salvage what is otherwise a crass , careless , shamelessly padded film .", "... suffers from a vibe of superfluousness ...", "film reduced to the barest of three acts .", "the film 's only major disappointment is a lack of screen-time for a pre-foofy foofy brigitte nielsen", "predictable and corny . when the soviet fans as well as the soviet government officials stand up and cheer rocky at the end , you ca n't help but roll your eyes in disbelief .", "fourth in series has lost most of punch", "his vacuous post-bout speech indicates why boxers with 75 professional bouts are rarely called upon as public speakers .", "there are simply too many ludicrous elements to ignore : paulie 's robot ; brigitte nielsen , even less expressive than the robot ; about a thousand music-video-styled montages ; lundgren 's delivery of drago 's deadly dialogue ; etc. .", "the new film 's narrative is stripped down to essentials , which gives it an emblematic quality .", "though it 's impossible not to get caught up in our hero 's russian training programme , or to root for his climactic victory , the mawkish montages accompanied by blaring music are no substitute for plot shading .", "this is grim and witless storytelling , and what makes it so depressing is that it has n't improved by so much as a chemical trace since the days of the first rocky .", "the outcome of the film is predetermined by the formulaic scripts of rocky ii and rocky iii . stallone boxed himself into a corner with this one .", "padded with clips from earlier rocky pictures , adding nothing to his mythic , let alone human dimensions , it lacks even the primitive suspense and crude capacity to release underdog emotions that permitted its predecessors to conquer one 's better judgment .", "-lsb- stallone -rsb- creates credible villains worthy of his heroic character .", "sylvester stallone is really sloughing it off shamelessly in MOV , but it 's still impossible not to root for old rocky balboa to get up off the canvas and whup that bully one more time .", "ridiculous jingoistic nonsense .", "even the hint of political power that rocky garners by the end of this latest battle is made to seem like more of the same empty glory .", "cold war metaphors delivered with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer dampens the storytelling .", "a camp classic , funny for all the wrong reasons .", "i know it 's awful , but i ca n't look away !", "more action , and less plot let 's makes rocky 's latest bout entertaining , but far from groundbreaking .", "should have stopped at three . four , no more .", "fist-pumping , heart-jumping , chest-thumping fun .", "if you ask me , it 's mostly about 1985 , a time when you could fill 90 minutes with nothing but machismo , excitement and montage .", "while this derivative and shallow sequel might weaken the credibility of the series , there 's no denying the satisfaction of watching a fight of such seemingly impossible odds .", "even sylvester stallone seems to be getting tired of the series ; as the writer and director , as well as the star , he puts himself through the same old paces ." ], "summary": "MOV inflates the action to absurd heights , but it ultimately rings hollow thanks to a story that hits the same basic beats as the first three entries in the franchise .", "id": "11576" }, { "movie": "cast_away", "reviews": [ "one-man show", "tom hanks ' powerful , brutal and mature story .", "as melancholy as it is affirming , `` MOV '' tells a darkly comic , occasionally punishing parable about what happens when humans lose sight of humility in life 's grand scheme - an interesting thematic twin to tom hanks ' own `` joe vs. the volcano . ''", "remains one of the more vividly transporting films i 've come into contact with . it 's heartbreaking , darkly comedic , bravely observational , and ultimately , pure emotional poetry .", "a gripping survival drama and one of my favorites of 2000 .", "the beginning and ending of the film are a bit underdeveloped , but that 's just quibbling .", "zemeckis ' tranquil control never wavers .", "i wish that all of the film 's 144 minutes were spent alone with hanks .", "this is mr. zemeckis ' most confident directing to date . if he only had as much faith in his audience .", "thoroughly entertaining and skillfully rendered .", "an exquisite film that gratifies our senses and our emotions .", "zemeckis is a capable director , so despite the misguided concept , the movie is anything but inept .", "movies that are supposed to be about the ` journeys of the heart ' very rarely have real heart . MOV is a major exception .", "a gripping tale of a man against the elements .", "a brave film , and a surprisingly absorbing and finally affecting one , partly because it 's about that least american of trinities -- silence , solitariness , and the spiritual deepening impossible to achieve without both .", "a blockbuster with the soul of an art film , MOV is an enormously gratifying surprise ending to a generally disappointing year at the movies .", "in terms of story and pacing , the whole of MOV is a lot less then the sum of its parts .", "as a fedex troubleshooter who survives a plane crash , hanks performs a bravura solo spin .", "director robert zemeckis and screenwriter william broyles jr. do a great job of keeping the cut-and-dried formula from , well , getting too cut and dried .", "although MOV is very much hanks 's extreme everyman solo , his inanimate man friday deserves recognition as one of the year 's best supporting actors .", "MOV is a sad movie of the sort that hollywood almost never makes : not three-hankie sad , not ` go have yourself a good cry ' sad , but the kind of thing that , if you let it in deep enough , can send a shudder to your very soul .", "tom hanks does a superb job of carrying MOV all by himself for about two-thirds of its running time , but is n't much helped by additional characters in the opening and closing sequences .", "a moving and artful odyssey , a reminder that no matter how much we try to beat the clock , time will grind ever forward .", "touching .", "MOV is , in many ways , a bold , adventurous bid for oscardom . unfortunately , what it delivers for audiences , as opposed to oscar voters , is a little questionable .", "dig deep and you 'll find a film that 's even richer than what its handsome surface seems to reveal .", "this second section is a masterpiece of filmmaking and a tour de force of acting .", "daring and accomplished .", "the producers of survivor only wish they could come up with a story as compelling and ultimately human as MOV .", "beautifully crafted .", "an eloquently told story that leaves around it enough space , and enough time , so that we can fill in the ironies on our own .", "completely engaging .", "MOV has a marshmallow middle that feels empty at the core .", "another impeccable piece of craftsmanship from zemeckis .", "tom hanks is in nearly every frame of MOV -- for more than an hour of the film , he 's literally the only human being on the screen -- and yet you never grow tired of watching him .", "if you 've seen the trailer or the commercials , you know the story , but that does n't mean you 've seen the movie .", "MOV is not a great movie , but it showcases a great performance as rich in subtlety as it is in depth .", "hanks and his collaborators deserve all the praise and awards that surely will come their way .", "in the end MOV is good enough that you 'll forgive -lsb- zemeckis -rsb- for making contact , forrest gump and what lies beneath .", "this is no holiday , and certainly no game show . the movie has depth .", "while MOV works as a simple saga of survival , the film plays on deeper levels too .", "hanks ' physical transformation also sets MOV apart , but what 's most compelling is the way it gives the audience credit for being able to put the pieces together .", "MOV amounts to little more than an unprecedented showcase for its star .", "the scenes of hanks ' complete isolation on the island , where barely a sound is heard for minutes at a time , are the best thing about MOV .", "MOV is worth your while long before you reach the anti-climactic ending .", "while hanks ' performance is masterful in this tale of survival , the movie runs out of steam , and direction , at the end .", "quite entertaining , and well worth seeing , if only for hanks ' sensational performance .", "thoroughly absorbing .", "tom hanks stands three coconuts above the cbs whiners and gives an astounding performance as a modern-day robinson crusoe .", "has no shortage of compelling moments .", "MOV has the smooth , steady , luxury-car elegance of an outing shaped by people at the top of their craft .", "something we 've long suspected turns out to be true : you really could put tom hanks on a desert island , film it , and wind up with an entertaining movie .", "an interesting and courageous experiment ... -lsb- but -rsb- risk-taking in itself does not guarantee a great film", "... fascinating , moving , full of meaning and well worth investing 143 minutes of your life .", "come to this film with an open mind , and enjoy its compelling mood , its exotic , deadly danger-in-beauty-of-nature setting and tom hanks ' riveting performance .", "picture any other actor in this virtually one-man show and ask yourself if you 'd be interested in spending two hours alone with him on an island .", "this is a good film ; if it had stuck to its guns , it could have become a cinema classic .", "i felt like the real ending had been MOV .", "this is one of those love it or hate its ... i completely loved it . even its unorthodox ending ... i find hanks mesmerizingly talented .", "hanks ' sympathetic performance and broyles 's detailed script are above average and not a bad way to spend a few hours during the holidays .", "... an odd and unbalanced undertaking that pays distinctive attention to the appropriate elements but then draws back at all the wrong moments ...", "MOV is a significant achievement of this , or any other , year .", "it just so happens that `` MOV '' is one of the best films of the year .", "hanks deserves a lot of credit for tackling this role , not only for the physical hardships he endured . yes , it 's best actor nomination -lrb- and possibly a third win -rrb- time for america 's favorite thespian again .", "it 's not just a movie -- it 's an experience .", "a gung ho fedex systems engineer stranded on a deserted island cultivates the spiritual practice of hope and learns to respect the mysteries of the present moment .", "zemeckis tells his story ... with a control magnificent in what is n't shown as much as in what is .", "the major fault of the film lies in the capricious ending ...", "may ultimately underachieve , but the soul that hanks brings to the role -- and the film -- must not be underrated .", "this is a better story than the platitude that it seems to build up to in the final scene . but it was not all the film it could have been if zemeckis would have realized where his best material lay .", "a cinematic triumph , a motion picture so rich with honest emotions and ideas that it comes as a relative surprise that this is a big-budget , star vehicle .", "hanks delivers one of the best performances of the year . he did this despite great difficulties , among them : zemeckis and his collaborator , broyles .", "hanks conducts a master class in acting by showing a man losing his sense of himself in fractional gradations .", "the bottom line is that MOV is reaching for so many cosmic truths that it never achieves the emotional kick that any survival story must have .", "... a good title , good acting , good effects , plentiful bonus features , three mediocre stories , and a volleyball . and they say 2000 was a bad year for films !", "a film that soars above the standard big-budget hollywood fare .", "for much of the time , hanks is on screen by himself , his only dialogue addressed to an inanimate ball . a lesser performer would have made it an unendurable ordeal .", "tom hanks does an exceptional job as the only real character in the film", "all problems aside , `` MOV '' delivers some amazing moments of cinematic beauty .", "it is testament to the acting prowess and undeniable humanity exuded by tom hanks that he can carry long stretches of the film literally by himself", "es un filme sobrecogedor y motivante que dejar\u00e1 una honda huella emocional en quien tenga la oportunidad de experimentarlo", "the filmmakers risk your impatience to take us inside almost every detail of the marooned man 's life , and the risk pays off .", "you will not be bored for a second .", "is nothing less than the best movie of the year .", "an unforgettable film .", "what a better cinematic palette we would have if stars wielded their clout like this more often . ''", "MOV 's finest moments consist of hanks alone with his surroundings .", "worth the trip .", "under the direction of forest gump director robert zemeckis , hanks performance is marvelous .", "hanks and zemeckis begin with an intriguing premise ... and , by the film 's end , smother that premise under a tidal wave of sentimentality and schmaltz .", "the script is insightful and unafraid to tackle very serious issues head on . and the performances are brilliant .", "if i did n't know any better i 'd say that this film was written in order for tom hanks to win yet another academy award . yikes ! he may pull it off .", "if the stuff on the island is very , very good , let us at least admit that everything else could have been a lot worse . i mean , ron howard could have directed it , right ?", "one more project like this -lrb- or gump -rrb- and this could be the best actor/director team since deniro and scorsese .", "MOV is n't the first to recognize our modern need for primal tales , but it is among the most accomplished . it plugs straight into our unplugged fantasies .", "there 's something inherently compelling about the situation , even if the movie screwed up on the specifics .", "two hours of good movie were only moderately spoiled by thirty minutes of nora ephron-style dreck .", "thank god there 's no friday .", "i found MOV very transporting , all the more so the second time around .", "one thing is bound to come out of MOV -- a deserved best actor nomination for hanks .", "a film brimming over-the-top with realism and features one of our most treasured -lrb- and likable -rrb- actors , tom hanks , in an incredible , virtually silent performance as a survivor .", "for a critic quite prepared to dismiss the movie as robinson blew so , this comes as the season 's most delightful surprise .", "the choppy narrative makes chuck 's ordeal seem more brief than it is . as shown , it 's merely the world 's worst layover .", "a handsomely made , instructive but finally tedious blow-by-blow training film on island survival that it throws the entire venture out of balance , capsizing the enterprise and making it difficult to keep any kind of message afloat .", "hanks turns in an oscar-worthy performance yet again .", "a tour de force , a courageous and surprisingly un-self-indulgent exercise in pared-down acting that makes hanks , yet again , a likely oscar contender .", "MOV is an adventure movie of extraordinary simplicity and power .", "pulls the audience in with sure-footed storytelling and a commendable performance by hanks in a very demanding role .", "a model of restrained storytelling that 's studded with a series of pure emotional peaks .", "the usually flashy and fun-loving zemeckis opts for an almost documentary-style approach here , with cunning use of silence , darkness and the sound of pounding rain to convey chuck 's disorientation and desperation .", "a technical marvel with indelible scenes that linger long after the movie has ended .", "hanks fans may very well love this movie , but it does not fulfill its promise .", "an awesome movie .", "in addition to hanks ' superb acting , amazing cinematography by don burgess helps lift this movie above the ordinary .", "MOV remains daring and quite unique even though it could have been even more , and hanks ' performance is really something to be seen .", "hanks 's everyman quality has never been more aptly utilized : he 's the perfect stand-in for all of us who never made it to eagle scout .", "the challenge to the character is matched by the challenge to the actor ; for most of the movie mr. hanks is the only human being we see or hear . he tackles the job with stunning confidence in a performance stripped of gimmicks and driven by need .", "chuck has flashes of ingenuity that filled me with the thrill of discovery and invention , and stretches of failure that i felt just as acutely .", "h\u00e1 um filme bel\u00edssimo escondido em n\u00e1ufrago . infelizmente , ele est\u00e1 enterrado no meio de duas extremidades que deixam muito a desejar .", "zemeckis does an excellent job of finding visual means to express chuck 's isolation and thought process .", "takes admirable risks while avoiding pitfalls .", "a heavy-handed hymn to the human spirit , and a pretty joyless one at that .", "it was the tail of the tale , the last 25 minutes , that left me marooned .", "has all the hallmarks of a great motion picture : well-developed characters , solid drama , non-traditional adventure , and an intelligent script .", "unusual and remarkable .", "tom hanks does an incredible performance in this role , as you would guess .", "can a movie that spends about 80 % of its runtime alone on an island with one man actually not be boring ? you bet .", "hanks has little besides his body at his disposal , and the actor still creates one of the most poignant and tragic characters ever committed to celluloid .", "zemeckis pulls off his best directorial effort yet , and that 's quite a statement considering the films he already has under his belt .", "an enjoyable , moving drama in which you 'll believe a man can love a volleyball . highly recommended .", "hanks made more faces and walked around with his mouth open more than i might have liked , but he has a way of revealing his thoughts without words that kept me intrigued .", "while his philosophical ventures seem stuck in the shallow end of the pool , zemeckis takes an important step forward as a filmmaker .", "this is n't a first time a long-awaited movie has turned out to be a crushing disappointment and it wo n't be the last , but the loss is made even more wrenching when one considers how little it would have taken to make MOV a great movie .", "though hanks comes across as blandly as ever , at least his solid performance shows he 's up to carrying half a movie on his own , and zemeckis ' direction is at first as busily efficient as the protagonist .", "it 's really kind of ironic . the old chuck 's life is ruled by the clock . once he 's learned better , we do n't get enough time with him because the author 's decided it was time to go . oh , well .", "if all of MOV were as gripping as its long midsection , it would be overwhelming ; still , even with its flaws , it marks another milestone performance for tom hanks as well as for robert zemeckis .", "MOV says what you -lrb- yes , you -rrb- would end up doing if you were on a deserted island .", "it 's a risky venture , and a fascinating , straightforward glimpse into the soul of a man .", "when i prayed to the film divinities that i wanted less tom hanks at the movies , i did n't just mean that i wanted him to be thinner .", "as thought-provoking as star-driven blockbuster fare gets .", "add in chuck 's deteriorating hold on sanity -- evinced by the inspired conceit of his relationship with a volleyball on which he 's drawn a face -- and you have a long middle section of bravura filmmaking .", "this is something you 've got to see even with the flaws .", "on those rare occasions when hollywood tries , it can still produce great films .", "it 's easy now to take hanks ' acting for granted , but his work here is astonishing , among the best in his illustrious career . if MOV disappoints , it 's only because the presumption of excellence is so strong .", "at its best , MOV , like titanic , awes us with its sheer oceanic sweep and its cosmic apprehension of human insignificance .", "first-rate .", "zemeckis does a sturdy , absorbing job with the island and ocean scenes .", "as they did in forrest gump , zemeckis and hanks go big theme hunting . this time their prey eludes them .", "even those who perceived gump as nothing but a smug affirmation of mealymouthed platitudes , and thus hated it , may well be surprised at the subtleties and emotional depth that MOV eventually reaches ." ], "summary": "flawed but fascinating , MOV offers an intelligent script , some of robert zemeckis ' most mature directing , and a showcase performance from tom hanks .", "id": "12777" }, { "movie": "bread_and_tulips", "reviews": [ "strands its beatific heroine far too early in the going .", "this frothy , charming parfait of a motion picture will endear itself to many of those who seek it out .", "this wonderful italian comedy pays tribute to the deep yearnings we all have for a life of adventure , romance , and intimacy .", "soldini 's movie gets away with more than it should on warmth alone -- most of it emanating from licia maglietta .", "a feel-good movie well-suited for those who do n't require roll-in-the-aisle comedies .", "completely by-the-book in its light feel-good ways .", "a delightful feature that is as charming as its title and as beautiful as its venetian setting .", "seeing MOV may not be as good as having an actual holiday in italy , but it 's close .", "a charming comedy with enough surprises to counter its lightness .", "fun and romantic , with beautiful scenery and characters whose lives we 'd like to live if we had the nerve ... or if our passports were n't missing .", "though there 's no denying that MOV is just a feel-good movie , it is a delightfully executed , simple , and unassuming film ...", "a slight tale , charmingly told .", "a feel-good helping of cinematic tiramisu -- it 's sweet and spongy , but rather clammy and artificial .", "charms the viewer as it communicates a noble message about the need to remove oneself from the meaninglessness of daily life in order to appreciate its full worth .", "an endearing romantic daydream , but misses the bus where matters of reality are concerned .", "like a pleasant , gentle book that , once finished , makes you think , ` gee , i could have spent that time reading something better . '", "it 's all very sweet , but the film goes in too many directions .", "an airy , scrumptious valentine of a romantic fable .", "the heart knows what it wants in MOV , and so do the filmmakers . every eccentric character , plot-twist and contrivance is a means to that end .", "as for star licia maglietta , the appeal of the film is nearly all in her presence .", "every one of the characters is caught up in the real world of missed opportunities and broken souvenirs .", "as summer ends , this delightfully frothy italian romantic comedy is a beguiling getaway for mature audiences .", "sweet but uneven", "a sweet-spirited , extremely well-cast little comedy .", "i found it rather comparable to a typical television sitcom , which is n't exactly a glowing recommendation .", "though lightweight , it 's irresistible .", "pretty much the standard indie formula : an oppressed housewife miraculously discovers herself as an independent woman .", "if you ca n't get away for that romantic summertime italian vacation , do n't worry , just take this sweet comedic trip .", "a scenic , gentle diversion .", "characters ' eccentricities feel contrived and the wackiness seems forced .", "a well-crafted crowd-pleaser .", "we traipse into this magical world as tourists , but mr. soldini , with graceful good humor , invites us to pretend that we 're natives .", "a charming little film , filled with eccentric characters and ingratiating performances .", "it casts a pleasant , amusing and touching spell .", "i found something soft in its attempts at whimsical humor .", "unfulfilling and relentlessly saccharine .", "maglietta gives a wonderful performance as a vibrant woman emerging from a cocoon of suburban malaise .", "as a charmer the movie is not a klutz . some mild excesses of whimsy are to be forgiven , even savored , like nibbling a few extra olives on your plate of antipasti .", "offers a delightful fairy-tale solution for those feeling trapped in a pre-assigned role , a momentary escape into the imagination .", "an unsurprising and leaden effort that does n't even show off the beauty of this wondrous setting .", "we 've seen this film way too many times in countless permutations , and its lack of originality is injured by the general poorness of the direction .", "it 's a feel-good movie to see with a friend on a rainy afternoon when you both need a little getaway .", "soldini ... exploits the premise for schmaltz and easy laughs .", "maglietta is the secret of this film 's romantic charm , because we like her so much .", "see venice and sigh .", "it 's maglietta 's loveliness of spirit that grounds this strange movie .", "a slow-going but very , very sweet movie .", "although maglietta 's appealing as rosalba , cowriter and director silvio scoldini 's movie is a little too shopworn and pokey to be more than a respectable european diversion .", "a well-intentioned , warm movie that becomes increasingly saccharine and silly .", "i ca n't recall ever having seen this actress -lsb- maglietta -rsb- , but here she commands the screen .", "um filme charmoso e cativante .", "the last 20 minutes of the film include some of the most romantic filmmaking in a long time .", "a feel-good film with a schmaltzy love offering of tulips and bread .", "... the words that come to mind are `` sweet '' and `` charming . ''", "it is a very positive film in many ways . it argues that just about anybody can be redeemed .", "leisurely paced and very easy to watch .", "it 's almost as if solidini ... figured that all he had to do was put a crowd of eccentric characters together and magic would occur .", "sweet , delicately comic and a complete delight ." ], "summary": "MOV is a sweet-natured comedy offering gentle , escapist entertainment .", "id": "10490" }, { "movie": "phoenix_2015", "reviews": [ "`` MOV '' takes its time and leaves us guessing until the final electrifying scene .", "a thoroughly entertaining movie that probes our most painful history and provides a scalpel of a plot .", "you may not buy all the story twists , but perhaps the script is not meant to be taken literally .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's engrossing enough to keep the doubts about the story itself at bay .", "beautiful and mysteriously powerful from beginning to end .", "`` MOV '' is an intoxicating witches ' brew , equal parts melodrama and moral parable , that audaciously mixes diverse elements to compelling , disturbing effect .", "the cinematic equivalent of a page-turner , no more and no less .", "... not only a cinephile 's treasure trove , a throwback to the film 's of the forties touched with a modern sensibility , but a canny psychological portrait of a defeated country .", "richly compelling -- despite its unlikely story -- neo-noir drama of unusual emotional and psychological complexity . another best-of-the-year contender .", "sometimes implausible and always engrossing , `` MOV '' takes us to postwar berlin , a shell of a city where concentration camp survivor nelly is a shell of herself .", "the three performances , especially the sadly tender one by hoss , keep us connected .", "petzold 's filmmaking is atmospheric and suspenseful .", "`` MOV '' is the best excuse yet to dive into the filmography of this important director .", "MOV is an extremely well-made picture , with fine lead performances by hoss and zehrfeld , who acted together in petzold 's fascinating barbara .", "-lrb- t -rrb- he cinematography and production design are outstanding , realistically capturing what germany was like immediately after the end of wwii ... this is not a film for everybody , but the acting and photography are worth the sit , despite the lack of pace .", "MOV is a death-defying melodrama of rare emotional obsession . it carefully pushes its conceit to the very limits , practically begging for the truth , or better yet , reconciliation .", "it works , due to a combination of petzold 's spartan restraint and a lovely performance by actress nina hoss .", "zehrfeld is note perfect as the gruff , single-minded johnny , oblivious -- or at least in denial -- about the true identity of his new roommate .", "this wholly absorbing , even mystical , holocaust tale has the most shattering concluding scene you 're likely to see this year .", "the movie is n't a thriller , but it still generates a strange sort of emotional suspense - an incredibly intense drama that makes you hold your breath .", "christian petzold never luxuriates in all this film history , but rather channels the artifice and affect it embodies into new insights .", "the film 's intimacy brings this societal critique right into our bedroom , exposing all the ways that marriages are their own form of subtle betrayals and self-preservation .", "so beautifully made that it comes close to perfect .", "combines naturalism and the quasi-fantastical into an assured , confident dirge .", "`` MOV `` is as much a portrait of a woman longing to find herself again as a portrait of an entire nation longing for a way to re-build .", "a preposterous narrative convulsion is played with such conviction and sincerity that all reservations are swept to the wind .", "petzold builds the film to a stunningly executed finale that serves as a potent metaphor for the way the performance required by denial ca n't hope to suppress the truth from revealing itself .", "if it does n't quite reach the level of barbara , MOV still perpetuates one of the best contemporary director-actor collaborations , one that carries on the existential quandaries of the german new wave in more accessible form .", "the warped narrative functions as an allegory for the stories that people and nations recount to themselves in order to go on surviving .", "hoss is perfect in a challenging role , a woman trying to recover bits of the person she once was , but having to do so in service to a greedy scheme that robs her of the very identity she is trying to recover .", "the film , which seems to be designed to address the mainstream and art-house spectator , is thoroughly dramatic but also thought-provokingly allegorical .", "petzold 's best film , and an early contender for one of the year 's finest .", "MOV 's premise is so questionable it 's downright unbelievable .", "german director christian petzold 's examination of berlin , through nelly 's eyes , just after the war , is somber , as is nelly 's story .", "there 's no point in explaining where all of this goes . but petzold is in command of it .", "-lsb- nina hoss ' is -rsb- the kind of performance that makes you appreciate the turmoil of emotions that can be conveyed in a look .", "nina hoss is stunning in a beautifully realized variation on a theme of hitchcock 's vertigo with a holocaust twist .", "riffs on a classic theme in significant ways that resonate beyond its melodramatic trappings . one of the best and most haunting films of 2015 .", "provocative , profoundly moving and the acting is virtuosic .", "there is intrigue . there is suspense . guilt -- a man 's guilt , a nation 's -- hangs heavy in the air .", "a simple but powerful parable of rebirth involving love , loss , betrayal , guilt and greed in a post-war germany where the enormities of the holocaust are still immediate and unresolved .", "it is touching , wonderful , filmmaking .", "petzold grows more and more into the role of a master of the cumulative power of elegant drama ... but also of the smashing payoff . MOV rises above influence , transforming itself into melodramatic heaven on its own magnificent flight .", "a thrilling , seductive game of deception fit for film noir , where lies seek to unearth truths that would rather stay buried . throughout it all , petzold concocts images that will sear their way into your memory .", "a gripping study of treachery , identity and survival .", "bleak , yet somehow brimming with hope , MOV feels like a one-off . catch it while you can .", "like its heroine , `` MOV '' speaks low but with bitter clarity .", "if it fails to consistently transcend its narrative troubles MOV does , on occasion , take flight .", "the jazzy approach takes time to settle into a groove , but the longer its themes commingle , the more MOV harmonizes into something unforgettable .", "mr. petzold has made a suave and suspenseful entertainment that does n't seem entirely sure that it wants to be - or is able to be - more .", "a profound commentary on the lasting effects of the nazi era on the german people .", "all of this plays out in a way that is restrained and understated to a fault , but hoss is quietly devastating and there are one or two affecting moments .", "a taut , atmospheric , engrossing and slow-burning noir thriller with a radiant performance by nina hoss .", "MOV is full of ambiguity and intelligence .", "vintage setting for the moral ambiguities of film noir , while creating a new showcase for petzold 's frequent muse nina hoss to create an indelible character .", "is n't stylish escapism , but a psychological drama that touches on betrayal in the aftermath of incalculable tragedy , finding petzold in command of mood and reveals , while hoss delivers exemplary work in the lead role .", "the intensely thoughtful director of yella , jerichow , and barbara has returned with his favorite actress , nina hoss , for another of their immaculately realized dramas of psychological suspense and social culpability .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gloomy , implausible noir , set in the ruins of divided postwar berlin .", "a noir-ish and complex emotional thriller .", "the plot is just implausible enough to keep the film from greatness , but director christian petzold -lrb- barbara -rrb- stirs up a powder-keg metaphor about rebuilding after war .", "german director christian petzold has come up with a splendid work of mourning and melodrama in `` MOV . ''", "we buy the premise because of the film 's dreamy quality : MOV 's berlin is a rubble-strewn labyrinth and its inhabitants walking ghosts haunted by the recent past .", "this is an amazing piece of work that transcends historical document to become art . using the filmic language of noir , petzold crafts a story of a culture caught in the aftermath of horror .", "one of the best new movies i 've seen this year .", "an ingeniously plotted and rather heartbreaking movie ...", "if the film at times feels more interesting in theory-for what it evokes , cinematic and otherwise-then all is forgotten once MOV arrives at its destination ...", "true to genre and to the history it peels back , MOV boldly offers us a war without heroes , only ghosts of broken people moving through a broken world , searching in vain for their former selves .", "borrows tension , look and conventions from postwar film noir , and the hitchcockian doubles , reversals and atmosphere of suspicion unbalance expectations of which character -lrb- if either -rrb- is cat or mouse .", "both performances are terrific in support of a screenplay rich in period detail and thematic texture , leading to a haunting final twist .", "beneath the playful genre trappings lurks something much darker - an investigation of guilty memory and wishful forgetfulness in the wake of unspeakable national horror .", "... the movie ends with one of the most memorable and spellbinding final scenes in recent cinema history .", "se estabelece como algo mais do que um melodrama , um noir , um estudo de personagem ou um romance .", "even if the pacing of petzhold 's low-key and at-times lull-prone story occasionally gets away from him , there 's no denying the power in his tale .", "`` MOV '' is a film that starts slow , gathers momentum and hits you with the force of an express train at the end .", "a deftly executed , suspenseful drama from germany .", "MOV mines a hitchcockian vein , but it is hoss ' sensitive performance and petzold 's intelligently paced direction that makes this film shine .", "MOV has a plot that hangs on the edge of believability but injects enough tension at the right moments to keep the film from tripping over itself .", "hitchcock 's vertigo has been invoked repeatedly as a comparison for christian petzold 's mesmerizing drama , but while he 's adapting a french novel that has already been turned into a film once before , absolutely nothing here feels second-hand .", "petzold slowly sketches out a world struck dumb by self-imposed amnesia , and MOV ends at a wallop of a destination , but it 's not an especially compelling journey .", "christian petzold 's MOV is a darkly melodramatic tale told in a very unmelodramatic fashion .", "the mistaken-identity trope has been used to comedic , dramatic and even horrific effect , but perhaps never in the deep noir tones of MOV , the latest from german writer/director christian petzold .", "a flawed human canvas candidly divides the characters into people facing brutal moral realities they can not transcend . while some go along to get along or succumb to identification with the oppressor , or immense heartbreak relieved by self-obliteration .", "a haunting , morbidly romantic melodrama with obvious links to vertigo , but from a reverse angle .", "the sheer magnitude of what nelly has experienced is evident and deeply felt in nina hoss ' every sad glance and hesitant gesture ." ], "summary": "tense , complex , and drenched in atmosphere , MOV is a well-acted , smartly crafted war drama that finds writer-director christian petzold working at peak power .", "id": "771387864" }, { "movie": "breathless", "reviews": [ "modern movies begin here , with jean-luc godard 's MOV in 1960 . no debut film since citizen kane in 1942 has been as influential .", "godard 's attention to nuance and detail makes this influential classic a must-see for any film lover .", "decades later , this seminal work of the french new wave is still one of godard 's freshest , most innovative , and most accessible films with a stunning performance by jean paul belmondo channeling bogart .", "even if some of MOV remains inaccessibly arty and obtuse , it 's nonetheless a film of watershed importance .", "who does n't like MOV ? it 's some kind of free-wheeling comic experiment in cool , and it works the whole way .", "a stunning classic .", "this film , a first pic by a film critic , shows the immediate influence of yank actioners and socio-psycho thrillers but has its own personal style .", "shot on a shoestring and none the worse for it , jean-luc godard 's gritty and engaging first feature had an almost revolutionary impact when first released in 1960 .", "beautiful .", "regardless of how one feels about jean-luc godard 's later , less accessible works , it would be hard to find a more audacious debut feature .", "if you 've never seen MOV , see it now -- but do n't expect an easy ride . if you have n't seen it for ages , see it again and be surprised at the fresh reactions it provokes .", "almost every frame looks smoky and luscious enough to be a nation to which lovers and young dreamers might hope one day to emigrate . it 's a film that will never wither , always inspire .", "influential . innovative . incredible .", "there is simply no other film which demonstrates so perfectly what it feels like to be young and in love .", "it 's especially impressive how completely jean seberg owns MOV considering what she 's up against .", "MOV has the proportions wrong . too much rambling , too little point .", "this movie liberated the cinema -- the stories you could tell and the ways you could tell them -- as clearly and cleanly as picasso freed painting and the sex pistols rebooted rock .", "even 50 years later , it 's easy feel how vivid a game-changer MOV must have been when it arrived .", "it 's like a bullet from the future of movies .", "MOV feels like it was -lsb- made -rsb- tomorrow .", "the camera lavishes black-and-white love on paris , strolling up the champs-elys\u00e9es , edging across caf\u00e9 terraces , sweeping over the rooftop skyline , mozart mixing with cool jazz riffs in the night air .", "it 's energy over substance .", "MOV makes alienation look like it was a lot more fun in 1960 than in the ponderous gravitas or ante-upping brutality of indie film today .", "if you miss out on this print , you are truly missing out on another life .", "it actually seems more daring now than ever before and all the more vital as a result .", "one of the most famous and influential movies ever made .", "even in an early work that blushes with the narcissistic pleasure of obsessive cinephilia , godard knew enough to look on the dark side .", "a half-century has softened the impact , but ` MOV ' still holds its own .", "though rarely discussed as either a love story or a political film , MOV maintains fascination because it is equally both .", "the actors do n't inhabit characters so much as occupy a middle ground where play-acting and fan ardor replace the embodiment of set emotions and personality traits .", "say this , in sum , for MOV : it is certainly no clich\u00e9 , in any area or sense of the word . it is more a chunk of raw drama , graphically and artfully torn with appropriately ragged edges out of the tough underbelly of modern metropolitan life .", "it stands apart from all that came before and has revolutionized all that followed .", "it 's as innovative as it is entertaining . it 's clever , hilarious , amazing ... you just ca n't miss this !", "MOV became a kind of existential hipster classic , a cool flick as well as great cinema .", "a stunning success", "it works great on a theoretical level , but it does n't really make for an exciting or all that interesting viewing experience .", "a revolution swept french cinema into the 1960s , and this film seized the public by its throat .", "fast and loose , with a buzzing sense of the potential of the cinema undercut by the beginnings of godard 's intellectual rigour .", "the film that launched the french new wave , MOV remains an outstanding testament to the great ideals of fun filmmaking that infused the movement .", "with MOV -lsb- godard -rsb- is attempting to break down the rules of the form he loves so much , in order to let us know that it is all on the table now , from subject matter to form .", "a unique hybrid , both the realization of years of critical writings by godard and ... also a film made by an unabashed cinephile .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- goddard arrived at a kinesthetic technique of jagged cutting during the editing process as a way to speed up the action - to prune out the boring stuff .", "it retains its brilliance both as entertainment and as a groundbreaking work of art .", "MOV jumps to its own rhythm and pokes holes in its idols even as it worships them .", "vivre dangereusement jusqu?au bout .", "together , like their countermelodies , michel and patricia form a zero-sum game-nothing matters . but with michel 's death , she is left behind to ponder the consequences of their indifference .", "as his career progressed , godard 's films became more mature and accomplished , but rarely , if ever , did they pack such an immediate , visceral punch .", "on its fiftieth birthday MOV remains fresh and exciting , although its revolutionary approach has long since been absorbed into the mainstream , and the years do show on it a bit ." ], "summary": "MOV rewrote the rules of cinema -- and more than 50 years after its arrival , jean-luc godard 's paradigm-shifting classic remains every bit as vital .", "id": "17078" }, { "movie": "youngheart", "reviews": [ "regardless of your age , you 'll leave young at heart with a big smile on your face . this musical is sheer joy and infectiously happy . it 's one of this year 's best films .", "an extraordinary documentary about a senior citizen chorus that reveals singing as a spiritual practice that opens our hearts , provides fresh energy , and connects us with others .", "to observe a fluctuating group of about two dozen singers whose average age is 80 perform in the documentary young@heart is to be uplifted , if slightly unsettled .", "young@heart 's worst enemy is its director , stephen walker , whose incessant pushing and prodding strives to manipulate in ways both needless and trite .", "anybody who thinks the rolling stones are old should check out the charming documentary young@heart , which features a group of rock performers whose average age is around 80 .", "sure to be a hit not just with the aarp crowd , we 'll surely see a lot of the film 's ready-to-be excerpted videos .", "the film 's appeal is at once sentimental and perverse : it 's not every day that you get to see a 92-year-old woman soloing on ` should i stay or should i go . '", "though the group members are hilarious and their stories effortlessly touching , the clumsy filmmaking and manipulative editing muddle what should have been a simple human story .", "how can we be uplifted by a james brown classic when the singer in fact does n't feel good but actually has a painful-looking spine condition ?", "what makes young @ heart work well is the way director-narrator stephen walker focuses on how great music transcends age and generational shifts .", "moments of high comedy and deep tragedy make this more than the average rehearsal and concert film .", "sure , these ` zesty ' , ` lively ' old folks are enjoying themselves . the question is why on earth we should be expected to watch .", "a lovely little film .", "that might be because the film has already been shown on the bbc - a fact that , along with the unprepossessing production values , rather begs the question of why bother with a cinematic release at all ?", "if this film were any more heartwarming , your chest would melt .", "judicious trimming would have improved the movie , but johnny cash-voiced fred knittle 's opening night rendition of coldplay 's `` fix you '' , dedicated to the recently departed members , is guaranteed to leave not a dry eye in the house .", "they more than justify a film which , despite its faults , makes the winter of life less terrifying than it 's made out to be .", "a worse film might be dismissed as sobsploitation . but stephen walker 's documentary - a labour of love inspired by walker 's first sight of the group in a london west end show - touches the mind as well as the heart .", "it will make you feel wonderful , and if you 're like me , whose emotional barometer responds in the positive with tears , take plenty of tissues .", "heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure , young at heart is a good antidote for cynicism .", "the result is a feel good documentary that has us laughing and crying with our new friends .", "... such a hilarious , moving and uplifting piece of work the only thing left to do after seeing it is to start campaigning the academy of motion picture arts and sciences 's documentary arm to change their rules ...", "we get to know these folks , their love for life and performing -- and yes , we even start to see them as more than a mere novelty act .", "the best film i 've seen so far this year and easily one of my favorite documentaries ever .", "this charming offbeat docu about a chorus of young-spirited senior citizens is not a great film but it 's touching and poignant , contesting cultural stereotypes about old age , love , and creativity ; worth seeing , preferably with old members of your clan .", "a choir full of -lrb- very -rrb- old people get down with the rock music . sweet , funny , touching stuff .", "this entertaining and often moving documentary should help even the youngest of viewer get in touch with their own mortality and make it clear that life does n't have to end at 60 .", "an irresistibly joyous , tearful and , most importantly , musical doc about a band of senior pop singers .", "nothing prepared me for the unexpected resonance of this life-affirming , death-defying group portrait . their advanced years have the effect of rejuvenating the lyrics and meaning of every number .", "charming , exuberant and poignant documentary ... you 'll probabvly come out of it with a spring in your step .", "-lsb- director -rsb- walker has found a delicate , thoughtful , respectful , witty way to convey both the dignity of the individual men and women singing , as well as the ineffable power of determining to live fully until there 's no breath left .", "full of passion and honesty -- two emotions that are rarely found in life , let alone cinema", "it shows that no one has more reason to stick it to the man with rock music than people who are most defiantly not going gently into that good night .", "at the base of its premise as a documentary , young@heart seems like a ca n't - miss proposition . but what really emerges is an essence and poignancy that goes beyond the black and white of just singing the rock songs .", "it sounds dubious and cutesy , but within minutes it reveals itself as the real thing and doubt gives way to unbridled enthusiasm .", "documentarian stephen walker 's brisk , ironic style of narration and frank inclusion of himself in the observations contribute mightily to the enterprise , which is also aided by his honesty .", "i love this film !", "here is revealed the true and unimpeachable gift of age and it is not just a revelation in this context , it is also way cool .", "despite the director , the film is damned wonderful", "you wo n't believe the world of young@heart , but you 'll have a hard time resisting it .", "the young@heart chorus has all the characters -- and character -- that any documentarian could ask for .", "not only is it enjoyable , young@heart is a heartening and poignant affirmation of the transformative power of music .", "young @ heart would have been a wonderful newspaper feature . unfortunately , it 's a nonfiction film -- and merely a middling one .", "one of the most delightful movies to come along this year .", "music can move you , no matter what style , no matter who performs . that 's the most poignant lesson of young@heart .", "makes you want to go out and join a chorus -- whatever your age may be .", "the ` are n't these geezers adorable ? ' approach ends up diminishing his subjects rather than honoring them .", "it 's certainly a film that 's cruel to disagree with , but for all the goodwill and positivity it brings , there 's a hollow , gimmicky quality left behind that does n't sit well when the picture starts to take matters seriously .", "what makes young@heart such an ingratiating experience goes far deeper than the novelty of seeing old people singing hard rock tunes .", "in many ways , this serious side of young@heart is what ultimately makes the film memorable .", "no beautiful people here , just a beautiful story .", "an undeniably sweet mix of disarming honesty , inspired gumption and brutal reality , young@heart somehow manages to avoid the maudlin while enhancing the obvious with its portrait of a chorus of senior citizens who sing contemporary rock songs .", "inspirational , funny , sad and very satisfying .", "a chorus -lrb- average age 80 -rrb- prepares for a springtime tour , putting their signature spin on classics -- classics like the clash 's `` should i stay or should i go . ''", "the members of the young at heart chorus might not offer the serpentine strutting or bacchanalian back story of the rolling stones , but their vivacity , dedication and courage would give any rock idol pause .", "while there is a significant cute factor built into that conceit , the strength of young @ heart is it takes the music seriously .", "the group is a testament to the healing capabilities of music . the choir itself deserves four stars ; if the film had delivered the same grit and poignancy , it would have too .", "the project reeks of commercial calculation , which is just tolerable until walker , in search of a story arc , follows two chorus members with serious illnesses into the hospital .", "a film that proves that age is only a state of mind , stardom is only a social security check away and wine and cheese are n't the only things that get better with time .", "young@heart eschews the clich\u00e9s about old people for something that we can all relate to : our own mortality .", "funny and achingly sad .", "truth is , any heart that 's open can connect with this vital , amusing , good rocking and very inspiring story .", "in young@heart , the prison is old age , and every song 's a jailbreak .", "the doc may indeed be too cute for some , but walker knows when to step back and let life , with all its harshness and disappointments , into the picture .", "it 's an emotional tapestry , sure to both delight audiences and move them to tears .", "one of the most remarkable scenes you will ever see in a documentary is the chorus of elderly men and women -- average age of 80 -- singing bob dylan 's ` forever young ' before convicts in a massachusetts penitentiary .", "the film 's emotional peak comes at the end when the chorus performs for prison inmates who must be , on average , well under half the age of the singers . it 's a liberating experience , for both sides .", "despite the flaws of the filmmaking , the characters who populate the young@heart chorus shine through , inspiring young and old alike .", "develops into a poignant reflection on community , mortality and how we all need to stop and smell the roses . recommended .", "it 's a pity that director stephen walker , who also narrates , imposes so much of himself on the material , asking at times the most insensitive questions .", "as an interviewer walker is habitually condescending and sometimes downright inane ...", "funny , touching and life-affirming .", "this film shows the triumph of the human spirit and the strength of will .", "ya got ta love these guys ! how could you not love these guys ?", "if it ... verges on being just slightly patronising at times , that 's a quarrel with the filmmakers , not its participants .", "despite the director 's smarmy narration and interviews , the bemused equanimity of these folks who 've seen it all could inspire each of us to what `` we can can '' do as we age .", "the devil may have all the best tunes , but it 's the elderly who nail them . charming , heartwarming and totally kick-ass , you 'll never look at your grandparents in the same way .", "the wonderful members of the choir , truly young at heart , overcome the occasional clumsiness of the filmmaker and you come away from this film feeling genuinely uplifted .", "the soothing , all encompassing power of music and song - its ability to unify , offer pleasure , fulfill the artistic bent , communicate , and much more - is vividly demonstrated in the documentary young@heart .", "-lsb- y -rsb- ou can not come away from this charming and inspiring documentary ... and not vow to never , ever give up on life , or on anything you really want to do , no matter what great age you manage to achieve .", "it works as both a concert film and as a case study in people who literally live for music .", "the chorus members in young@heart do n't trash hotel rooms or bed groupies . but they also are n't going gently into that good night .", "it 's like the 50-year reunion of high school musical .", "evolves into an unforgettably inspirational film filled with joy and disarming honesty .", "if you 're looking to see a documentary this season about old people singing , the rolling stones ' `` shine a light '' is not your only option .", "a rare feelgood film that actually made me feel good .", "a more genuinely sweet and uplifting documentary i have not seen in quite a while .", "whether you know it yet or not , this will be one of your favorite movies of the year .", "an uplifting account of elderly people we should all emulate !", "their `` specialness '' is the hook by which the film extols their representativeness .", "young@heart is a classic . may we all live to be so youthful in spirit and soul .", "its subjects are so compelling that young @ heart becomes a blisteringly funny and deeply moving meditation on music and mortality .", "young@heart is nothing less than an ode to joy .", "`` young@heart '' plays like a 100-minute version of one of those `` on the lighter side '' news feature segments that end a local newscast .", "a tribute to this nation 's elderly , an ode to the power of the arts , and a salute to david bowie , bruce springsteen , jimi hendrix and the other musicians whose songs have found new rhyme and reason thanks to these geriatric rockers .", "the group 's enthusiasm , natural talent and undeniable chutzpah effort-lessly translates to the screen in stephen walker 's winning new documentary .", "... joyous and brimming with life ...", "there 's something really enjoyable about seeing a group of 70-something , 80-something and 90-something amateurs performing with the energy of people who are half -- or even a quarter -- of their age ." ], "summary": "full of endearing characters , this doc about a choir of `` seniors behaving badly '' is uplifting and delightful .", "id": "770681101" }, { "movie": "from_up_on_poppy_hill", "reviews": [ "the film maintains an optimistic tone without succumbing to nostalgia , and as always with studio ghibli , the company miyazaki cofounded in the 80s , the hand-drawn animation is gorgeous .", "the film has charm but overall is a little slight .", "inspiring , romantic coming-of-age tale about '60s teens .", "it 's a gem of classical 2d imagery that stands out in a world turned upside down by the digital revolution .", "the jury 's still out on whether goro miyazaki can sustain his father 's legacy as storyteller , though with its beautiful visuals and songs , poppy hill finds a deserving , if modest , place among its studio ghibli peers .", "those gorgeous , hand-drawn images bring lightness and grace to a story that might seem drab and pedestrian in the real world .", "soft , warm animation and resonant reflections on death , moving on and growing up ca n't fully overcome slighter plot points and erratic music choices .", "the artistry is peaceful and comforting to the eyes but not especially stirring . given the pictorial extremes that studio ghibli has gone to in the past , `` up on poppy hill '' is weak tea .", "`` MOV '' is frankly stunning , as beautiful a hand-drawn animated feature as you are likely to see .", "the charming and nostalgic `` MOV '' is as lushly illustrated and vividly realized as memory itself .", "a sweet but rather bland coming-of-age story .", "a departure for studio ghibli - an emotionally nuanced , nostalgic look at the past that is grounded in everyday reality but retains the humor and delight that are part of the studio 's trademark .", "there 's definitely enough here to provide a quick fix for older studio ghibli fans , though children will probably be bored .", "ghibli 's latest is its most local and historical , like a gorgeous-looking manuscript plucked from a town 's archives . a school-film about personal space and preserving place in a japan on the cusp of a new era . but it 'll lack spark for any non-ghibli fan .", "the film refuses to apologize for honor , decency , politeness and modesty ; it celebrates stoicism , not self-indulgence ; it assumes that these finer qualities are the norm , not the exception .", "from the studio that brought us classics like spirited away and howl 's moving castle , this animated drama feels unusually low-key and realistic .", "goro 's expressive artistry is fleet , fluent and tenderly affecting . with a worthy story , he might breathe the old man 's rarefied air yet .", "the sincerity and sentiment of this film are there to be basked in . yet audiences outside japan may find the subject too serious and yet too slight ; there 's a reason why films about potential incest are n't often as cute as this .", "not on a par with ghibli 's greatest work like totoro or spirited away but not without charms of its own . a solid second effort from miyazaki junior .", "winsome , winning entry from studio ghibli , with a nostalgia-suffused , unstressed ambiance that packs a potent if subtle appeal .", "it 's the sort of movie that can prompt daydreams about inhabiting its world of flowers and hills , passing ships and harbor lights , where there 's no internet and romance happens face to face .", "not the most enthralling studio ghibli animated feature , but the restrained story of a boy , a girl , and their beloved high school campus , circa 1963 in yokohama , nevertheless creeps up on us emotionally in the best ghibli fashion .", "is there a japanese word that combines `` pretty , '' `` demure '' and `` boring '' ?", "this is a gentle film , hand-drawn with irresistible colors , that exudes nostalgia in a lovely way .", "although simpler and less mysterious than the great hayao miyazaki movies , the gently melancholic MOV is still a must see at a time when family entertainment is too often synonymous with blandness .", "-lsb- a -rsb- study of how the tolls of war reverberate through generations .", "poppy hill is more a short story than a feature , almost unbelievably optimistic , but it offers a surprising , innocent window on an era usually associated with nuclear anxieties , cultural neuroses , and juvenile delinquents .", "it 's a minor work . there 's no argument around that . still , it 's got a good heart , and likable characters .", "as in so many studio ghibli films , the tension is between renovation and cherishing of tradition.the movie is staged during a beautifully chosen moment of transition-the months right before the tokyo olympiad .", "like his old man , the younger miyazaki favors limited character animation and luscious water colors . unfortunately , he lacks his father 's storytelling skills .", "rest assured , the younger miyazaki has clearly earned his stars , as poppy hill offers just the same intimate , ultimately life-affirming kind of storytelling we 've come to expect from the family name .", "it 's a lively , touching story , full of sadness and optimism , drawn with an unaffected simplicity .", "even with no wood sprites , witches or spells , there 's plenty of magic in this coming-of-age charmer .", "the magic is found in the everyday details of domestic life .", "it 's really hard to go wrong with a studio ghibli film , and MOV is no exception . it may not be their very best work , but it 's still good work , full of charm and fun .", "a lovely japanese hand-drawn animated film with a female heroine .", "MOV may be able to boast about its outstanding music and smooth animation , but it 's far too flat to leave much of an impression .", "the story will undoubtedly appear slow moving and uneventful to those used to the pizzazz of pixar , but allow the richly detailed hand-drawn animation to work its charms and the film 's mood of gentle nostalgia proves surprisingly moving .", "there are no real villains in this story . all the people are basically good and they try to do the right thing . the artwork is beautiful and the film also has considerable emotional power .", "if this ghibli creation is smaller in scale than many of the company 's films , it certainly does n't lack for heart or soul . i was swept away in it .", "a rather mediocre film ... and yet , even with all of its faults , i still find myself oddly swept up in its familial drama .", "some third-act revelations may really test the scales of plausibility , but poppy hill ultimately is not about its story as much as the emotional states it probes .", "MOV is at once old-fashioned and innovative , an exquisite evocation of yokohama in 1963 that dares to treat teenagers with both gravity and grace .", "although they 've dabbled in earthbound matters before , studio ghibli serves up a refreshing reminder of their singular animation gifts , offering a spare but endearing effort that 's absolutely enchanting .", "a gently lyrical diversion for ghibli die-hards ... a gentle snooze for others .", "goro miyazaki has made a sweetly old-fashioned anime with fine painterly compositions .", "the animation is pretty and clean , reminiscent of other studio ghibli films like `` whisper of the heart , '' but never achieves wondrous artistry .", "the film 's perfectly fine , but it 's not a patch on `` spirited away , '' `` my neighbor totoro , '' `` princess mononoke , '' and other studio ghibli classics .", "shows a different side of the japanese animation house , one that finds equal wonder in comparatively mundane affairs .", "miyazaki , yes , but goro and not hayao", "gorgeously animated , with rich color scapes and detailed mise-en-sc\u010dne , goro miyazaki 's sophomore outing incorporates lovely , introspective imagery of , say , a cloud passing in front of the moon or smokestacks shot at a steep angle .", "MOV , studio ghibli 's latest , is decidedly earthbound in comparison to those transportive earlier films , though it 's not without its charms .", "`` poppy hill '' proves to be more than just a visual feast . its seemingly slight storyline has a warm emotional resonance , tapping into both the uncertainty of a japan caught between past and future .", "what limits MOV is its seeming whitewashing of some tough subjects , including the unseen consequences of war and the role of women in post-war japan .", "goro miyazaki has a style that 's both more painterly and more cinematic than the cartoonish norm , while his father 's screenplay is a classic coming-of-age story that seems suited for a live-action remake .", "a wonderfully gorgeous and nostalgic film whose story does n't live up to its look .", "in the wisdom of this artfully rendered film , umi and shun - and the viewer - come to learn that the past and the future should go hand in hand , that the best way to move forward is to reflect , and respect , what came before .", "it 's strange to see so much focus on the details of the backgrounds , which are exquisitely rendered , when there is so little attention to the expressiveness of the characters .", "the story of a girl grappling with first love , the absence of her parents and the anxieties of an on-rushing future in 1963 yokohama has all the earmarks of a miyazaki classic .", "it ... arrives with the vast reserves of patience , optimism and artistry we 've come to expect from this studio .", "beautifully precise architectural sketches , endearingly warm nostalgia , gentle teen romance and genuine intrigue .", "MOV finds goro miyazaki sitting much more comfortably in the director 's chair , but fans of studio ghibli 's fantasy epics may find this fanciful delight to be lacking the familiar magic .", "an interesting way of tackling everything from understanding parentage to the atomic bomb which devastated nagasaki .", "joyously warm and gentle ... though perhaps too gentle to be entirely satisfying .", "you do n't watch a studio ghibli film so much as sink into it like a hot spring , with groans of delight .", "not up there with the ghibli masterworks of yore , but still a bounty of ideas and emotions .", "the incest-scare subplot never trips up the movie 's charm . and there 's a haunting reverberance , very hayao miyazaki , to the war memories that empower the parental back-stories .", "your kids may well fall in love with it , if you help them find it .", "the film shows the younger miyazaki going off in a new , slightly older-skewing direction while still firmly working in the gentle hand-drawn style with which the old man has been dazzling filmgoers for decades .", "the gorgeous score and subtle visual craft save this entry in the ghibli canon from mediocrity . but given what the studio is capable of , it 's not everything fans will be hoping for .", "MOV 's protagonists emerge as unexpectedly facetless , especially from a studio with such a vibrant and morally complex back catalogue .", "lovely , sentimental , but a conventional nostalgic melodrama that had no compelling reason to be filmed as anime", "the story arc is somewhat facile , and its lesson about preserving history instead of demolishing it to make way for new , shiny things is too obvious .", "sunny days , blue skies , and rippling blue waters lined with greenery ... plain nice , and there 's nothing wrong with that .", "both genuinely emotional and blithely engaging .", "while this story might 've been just as engaging in live action , miyazaki 's animation does clear away the extraneous detail , re-creating the world of 50 years ago and instilling it with the poignancy of a family snapshot .", "a film about many things-so many that the magic of studio ghibli 's past has been displaced by exposition and earnest discussion .", "based on the jolly , jazzy score that keeps MOV lively , the latest from studio ghibli appears to have missed its calling as a broadway musical .", "the screenplay deftly balances the characters ' intimate concerns with the nation 's historic growing pains , resulting in a story that 's as engrossing as the visuals are breathtaking .", "a full awareness that it 's kind of a cheap melodrama -lrb- one of the characters even says so -rrb- does n't change the fact that it is but the young miyazaki 's visual palette is notably beautiful and the voice work is strong throughout .", "its visual magic lies in painterly compositions of foliage , clouds , architecture and water , and its emotional impact comes from the way everyday life is washed in the colors of memory .", "likely to appeal to young audiences - especially teenagers - and possibly even to jaded adults , who may look back on their own first yearnings of puppy love with nostalgia and affection .", "with its modest story and lack of cute magical furballs , MOV is a tad too uneventful and prosaic to match the best of studio ghibli but it 's lovely all the same .", "the studio 's stunning textures and vibrant details still give poppy hill that ethereal quality sure to mollify nostalgic ghibli fans , but its strengths are fastidiously undone by a predictable and underwhelming plot ." ], "summary": "gentle and nostalgic , MOV is one of studio ghibli 's sweeter efforts -- and if it does n't push the boundaries of the genre , it remains as engagingly lovely as ghibli fans have come to expect .", "id": "771253145" }, { "movie": "case_39", "reviews": [ "ferland 's fine performance aside , MOV is bafflingly stupid and poorly executed sub-horror fodder .", "an aggressively inept demon-seed chiller starring a bunch of grown-ups who should 've known better .", "pandorum director alvart summons some scares here : ferland is persuasively weird and hornets are utilised to skin-crawling effect . most of his ideas are second-hand , though .", "miscast , poorly-directed , and just-plain boring , MOV never clicks into place .", "it 's as lame as can be , and despite sitting on the shelf for four years , it 's not even bad enough to be unintentionally funny .", "if i 'm to understand the movie as it is presented , demons do not enjoy passive aggression , it only enrages them further , and to avoid a demon , it 's best if you 're neither a nice nor smart person , because then the demon has nothing to work with .", "on the strength of MOV , zellweger could easily play den mother to a brood of hillbilly psychos in a film by rob zombie . that would be horror worthy of the name .", "this is one of the least scary , dumbest movies i 've seen in a long time .", "... the scares go top-notch thanks to a creepy performance by young jodelle ferland .", "MOV is basically a poor man 's orphan - which was n't that good anyway .", "this ramshackle movie features a preposterous plot , dodgy direction and clunky editing , and yet it 's great fun to watch the actors squirm with fear .", "quite scary at times , intriguing ideas and a good cast , including ian mcshane and adrian lester , are used badly .", "daft , throwaway tosh that does n't even qualify as a guilty pleasure .", "it is universally terrible in virtually every department , save for the creepy charisma displayed by young ferland .", "this is a nasty and morally repulsive film .", "MOV is slow , painful and one suspects for both cooper and renee zellweger full of regrets .", "one of those movies that 's bad enough to make it worth seeing .", "this overly familiar , wholly unoriginal would-be psychological thriller provokes few reactions outside of boredom and -- in , sadly , too few moments -- derisive laughter .", "the devil made them do it , but that does n't mean you have to see it .", "this supernaturally tinged tale only goes skin-deep and is proud of it , wasting little time in establishing narrative basics and getting to the good stuff .", "not as bad as i was expecting .", "by the time the killings start , it 's clear that ray wright 's screenplay is more interested in following formula than in breaking new ground .", "from a bevy of cheesy jolt scares -lrb- alarm clock ! barking dog ! -rrb- to the embarrassing sight of zellweger and ian mcshane treating this orphan-style b-movie silliness with grave seriousness , the film proves to be one hokey-horror riot .", "about as scary as a shadow puppet , MOV is more fun as a modern procreation parable , and a total kick as ren\u00e9e zellweger 's attempt to enter jodie foster territory .", "o que houve com ren\u00e9e zellweger ?", "the only redeeming feature of this clunky demonic horror film is the assured turn from professional scary child ferland .", "MOV has been forlornly gathering cobwebs in the proverbial filing cabinet for over a year . understandably so - it 's terrible . we 'd be embarrassed too .", "it would have been better for all concerned if this ` case ' had remained closed .", "takes a potent subtext about the terrors of unprepared parenthood and wastes it in a rote creepy kid flick that displays both iffy internal logic and a trifling execution", "if you liked last year 's orphan , then MOV has your name written all over it - it 's not quite as slick or as scary as orphan but it 's enjoyably over-the-top and delivers the requisite trashy thrills .", "directed by christian alvart -lrb- pandorum -rrb- with a less than giddy hand , MOV is truly terrible . but at least it scores a few ` so bad it 's good ' points .", "a deftly made horror thriller with plenty of scares , MOV may be predictable and somewhat heavy handed , but it ticks all the boxes for the genre .", "while the viewer will remain one step ahead of the story at all times , director christian alvart manages to keep the emotionally charged events moving at a fair clip to gloss over the mounting credibility factors .", "manages to be both very silly and highly forgettable . only for those who collect killer-children films .", "hilariously inept , absent even a drop of everyday logic , and mistakes rowdy thespian reaction for suspense ... ca n't seem to make any sense of itself , to a point where the whole endeavor just gives up .", "`` MOV '' is n't quite as good as `` orphan , '' but it 's plenty creepy for a run-of-the-mill suspense film . zellweger , cooper , and mcshane more than pull their weight to make the movie enjoyable .", "this ludicrous outing from helmer christian alvart and scribe ray wright takes its psycho-satanic babble much too seriously , and should elicit more laughs than frights .", "this is horror hokum of the cheesiest kind . rent ` orphan ' instead .", "director alvart knows how to shoot chilly and unwelcoming , bleaching his movie with a grey-blue finish .", "strictly by-the-numbers supernatural horror ... that does n't solely rely on its taboo subject matter for all the shocks , boasting moments of genuine suspense .", "i 'm sure it will do decent business among the undemanding weekend-horror crowd and zellweger fans when it eventually sees the light of day . nobody else need apply .", "stale reheat of the creepy kid genre . no point investigating . case closed .", "only the procession of unintentional laughs and an unflinchingly confident turn by youngster jodelle ferland as lilith emerge as reasons not to bury your head in a bucket of popcorn and rue the regrettable moment a certain vault was unlocked .", "shlocky and ridiculous it may be , but this horror-thriller really is gleefully gruesome and undeniably entertaining : smart work from german director christian alvert .", "directed by christian -lrb- pandorum -rrb- alvart with a crazy bevy of random overhead shots , it wins 2010 's first genuine place in the so-bad-it 's - good honours list .", "as far as major studio supernatural thrillers are concerned , this one is pretty darn good , a well-crafted , aesthetically artful suspenser .", "paramount has little faith in this supernatural fright film ... and with good reason", "unremarkable except for its subversive subtext .", "MOV is too bland , with scares that are so polite they almost take their shoes off to avoid dirtying the hallway carpet of your mind .", "it 's all been done before , of course , and MOV is let down by too many of those jolting boo ! moments , ropey special effects - check out a badly-animated hornet attack - plus a plot even casual horror fans can predict .", "with some parents hurting their kids in real life because they believe they are possessed , the whole tone of this absurd movie is inappropriate .", "it does n't help that zellweger has become so hard to like , horribly smug and pious when things are going right , abjectly hysterical when she sees the error of her ways .", "-lsb- plays -rsb- like one more piece of multiplex in-box clutter , ready for the circular file in our moviegoing consciousness .", "just how old is this picture ? let 's just say that when filming began , david o. selznick was still combing the country for the perfect scarlett o'hara .", "that pounding you hear is the sound of nails going into renee zellwegger 's career coffin", "what do you do with a crummy horror movie that has been sitting on the shelf for a couple , or maybe three , years ?", "... before the movie is half over , the usual cliches take over ...", "its time to put the nail in the otherworldly evil child genre until someone comes up with something original . the only thing supernatural about MOV is its ungodly presence on this planet .", "what do you do with a crummy horror movie that has been sitting on the shelf for a couple , or maybe three , years ?", "as demonic children movies go , it?s really not bad -- and the acting makes it seem a little better than that .", "neither so awful as to be enjoyable nor eerily artful enough to be anything other than a snoozy also-ran .", "what starts out as slight and fairly obvious turns into a frequently colorful horror tale .", "... we get a couple of moments of genuine suspense combined with a whole lot of cheap thrills .", "it 's a bummer when the audience is smarter than the protagonist .", "a mess of a horror movie that spent several years sitting on a shelf and should have remained there .", "in the meantime , director christian alvart went on to make the effectively moody `` pandorum , '' but this movie is a dud .", "the end of zellweger as we 've known her .", "while it 's able to pull you in at some points with its eerie mood , it needed a lot more originality and better scares than the cheap kind of just having things pop up out of nowhere .", "a soulless amalgamation of several horror classics , and marks another dud in the career of renee zellweger .", "despite its initial premise showing promise , MOV turns out to be boring , predictable and nothing new .", "about as fun as watching paint dry and as tense as a game of bingo ...", "not only is MOV deplorable and morally off-center , the film is dull to boot .", "-lsb- a -rsb- dumb thriller .", "... a decent little horror flick ..." ], "summary": "director christian alvert has a certain stylish flair , but it 's wasted on MOV 's frightless , unoriginal plot .", "id": "770680570" }, { "movie": "bridge_to_terabithia", "reviews": [ "MOV is the most moving , intelligent drama with children for a decade .", "a movie that shows kids the value of imagination and gets them talking with their parents is good , even if it 's tough .", "an understated , touching and largely faithful version of katherine paterson 's pre-teen novel .", "i ended up being slightly disappointed by it .", "MOV is a brave film but a disturbing one , and even though it is inspired by real-life events , it feels like a cheat .", "thanks to its subtle touches and strong character development , MOV is not only entertaining for the family but for anyone who wants to leave reality behind for a little while .", "MOV 's scope is surprisingly broad for a family film : it deals with identity , family , the nature of courage , the difficulty of being an outsider and even god . but its main thrust is friendship .", "the characters , especially those of the two ten-year-old protagonists , ring true and when , just past the midway point , tragedy strikes it 's quite devastating .", "this screen adaptation of katherine paterson 's now-classic novel for young readers tells its story with agreeable simplicity in between computer-generated monsters .", "MOV is not only faithful to the novel but also stands to become a beloved family movie .", "the kids are good ; the effects are appalling .", "narnia fans might find some enjoyment in this children 's fantasy adventure .", "it 's shamelessly manipulative , but also deeply moving .", "an engaging portrait of childhood , this well-meaning family film rises above its flaws , and delivers a surprisingly hefty emotional punch .", "the invented world is stolid , the logic of its relationship with reality muddled ; but what really kills the film is the way it wears its uplift on its sleeve .", "worth a look .", "probably the best family film you 'll see all year .", "smart , sprightly and sensitive , this is like a junior-edition heavenly creatures , complete with ace chemistry and tragic twist .", "a thoroughly pleasing family film with fine performances and honest , affecting real situations mixed with joyful adventure .", "an affecting inquest into the nature of courage , mortality , grief and the healing power of faith .", "far from a computer generated escapist fantasy , this film is an unpretentious and touching tale of preteen companionship and loss .", "this is easily the best family feature of the early year .", "effortless performances from the two young stars ultimately make this movie worthwhile , regardless of the age of the kids watching .", "while a mostly sturdy adaptation of a much-loved book , it is n't quite as secure a structure as it might have been .", "the imaginary world dreamed up by two youngsters in katherine paterson 's coming-of-age classic has been realized imperfectly , but with intelligence and sensitivity nonetheless , in MOV .", "a tenderly executed adventure-fantasy .", "a good story , filled with positive and realistic messages , it is a fine family film that deserves a wide audience . take your kids to it . you 'll all enjoy it .", "a sensitive and moving teen drama about dealing with bullying , loneliness and grief .", "despite an odd choice to inject computer animated wonder , MOV is ... a loving tribute to the best and the worst moments of adolescence ...", "it 's not often that a kiddie-flick will elicit genuine emotion in the audience", "you ca n't tell a book by its cover , and you ca n't tell a movie by its trailer .", "this is a film that is by turns wonderful and heart-breaking . do not expect a big special-effects fantasy . fantasy and its power is just one theme among several well-presented themes .", "MOV is a beautifully written and acted film with a big heart , but also with the uncompromising reality of death . it is impossible not to be charmed and moved by this film .", "it has crossover as more than kids ' fare because it 's smart about childhood .", "understands that a kids movie that 's `` for adults too '' means `` mature , complex themes , '' not `` fart jokes and sexual innuendo . ''", "it 's for bright , inquisitive children -lrb- and attendant adults -rrb- who subscribe to the theory that imagination is one of the most wonderful tools available .", "a ` family ' film that is more convincing , honest and intense than most ` adult ' movies .", "... follows two young friends who create a fantasy world in a forest as a way to escape from the bullies of real life , and it 's mostly a joy to be able to escape with them .", "a top-drawer screen adaptation of a newbery award-winning novel about two children who become friends and use their imaginations to transform their everyday world .", "the third act goes necessarily dark , maybe a little too much so for the youngest of viewers , but the sense of loss that it conveys ensures that terabithia is that much more compelling .", "the trailers make it look like a third-rate narnia knockoff , but there are no talking lions , magic kingdoms , or mystical prophecies in this movie .", "while the filmmakers have beefed up fantasy elements from the book , this is a very human story .", "honors the pesky hormones , the inevitable bullies and the sweet and scary reality that comes with being a pre-teen .", "moving and well acted , the film is a throwback to the days , back in the '60s , when disney -lrb- one of the film 's producers -rrb- made ambitious live-action family films .", "-lsb- uses -rsb- talented kid and adult actors and a remarkable attention to detail to perfectly capture the delicate , minute rites of passage that define growing up .", "in MOV , the two middle schoolers who stumble onto a whole new world do n't seem all that wowed . and the movie ... never decides if it 's a fantasy or coming-of-age story .", "it 's an appropriate thing this film is about the strength of imagination because you 'll be needing yours if you plan on surviving until the final credits", "-lsb- director gabor -rsb- csupo does n't condescend to his audience ; the complications of grade-school life are extremely serious business to the people experiencing them .", "-lsb- director csupo -rsb- succeeds in keeping his main characters well-rooted in their daily lives , and his restraint in creating terabithia is commendable . with no gratuitous rainbows , elves or unicorns , it somehow is believable .", "this is a horrible little movie , stupid and clunky and obnoxious through and through .", "while it 's admirable that MOV is n't sugar-coated , more often than not it plays as miserabilism for kids .", "it 's rendered in a very touching and authentic and beautiful way .", "it redeems itself by being good-natured and sincere , and by touching the viewer 's heart without manhandling it .", "as much as anything , bridge is about how powerfully friendship can transform children .", "the visual effects in ` MOV ' are underwhelming and prevent a magical cinematic experience .", "haphazardly adapted from katherine paterson 's popular 1977 coming-of-age children 's book , `` MOV '' is a problematic movie held together by its charming child actors .", "a gem of a movie that is coming out at a time when we are usually saddled with hollywood 's dregs .", "extraordinarily close to the book by katherine paterson in many ways , the film may even surpass it by showing how a shocking instance of grief can draw a family together .", "there are trolls and magical creatures , but they are the parsley on the plate . the film is a real human story about love and imagination and loss , infinitely superior to most of hollywood 's machine-stamped fantasies for children .", "the most heartwarming , enchanting family film since stand by me , october sky and e.t. : the extra-terrestrial . it 's the first ` must-see ' movie of 2007 .", "MOV is a film most children should see , but it 's so dully aestheticized they may not care to .", "one of the most grounded , realistic kid films to come along in a while . it 's comical , cute and adventurous , but it also shares true-to-life emotional issues that many preteens face .", "in a story that supposedly sings the praises of the power of imagination , you 'd think csupo and his writers could dream up a better ending than the downbeat one that paterson so tactlessly tacks on", "the beloved children 's book has not just survived but thrived in its adaptation to the screen , its delicate combination of coming-of-age angst , tragedy and fantasy handled with assurance and taste by first-time live-action director gabor csupo .", "enchanting , transcendent and profoundly moving , MOV is a masterpiece .", "elaborately mounted , expensively produced and filmed with style and empathy , it 's an adaptation of paterson 's newbery medal-winning book that manages to expand the original vision , yet preserve much of its intense emotion .", "emotional but not mushy , smart but not precocious , MOV is based on the idea that children feel things just as deeply -- and , often , have ideas just as interesting -- as adults .", "this is csupo 's feature directorial debut , but as creator , producer , and writer of rugrats and the wild thornberrys , among several other series , he 's had a long career in animation , and he handles the cgi setpieces masterfully .", "most pleasantly , the movie does n't overdo its special effects . weta digital bring jess and leslie 's imaginations to life slowly and in to-scale fashion .", "MOV is much less than it 's being advertised as , which makes it much more of a good thing .", "MOV is a real anachronism in today 's family-movie landscape , if for no other reason than it simply and accurately portrays the interior life of adolescents .", "csupo ushers in an exciting and emotional action-adventure product that enchants and motivates the active imagination ... terabithia radiates with engaging enthusiasm .", "as humane a hollywood film as we 're likely to see all year .", "it will break your heart , mend it , and then make it cheer .", "what a wonderful , sorrowful film .", "the beauty of MOV was always about the friendship , and that aspect remains the focal point of the film as well .", "one of the best family films in years .", "oh , devastating , devastating and lovely and bittersweet and entirely wonderful , this enchantingly old-fashioned movie ...", "sometimes feels like a rudderless movie meandering along without a plot , but you can enjoy the ride , and feel the emotional wallop waiting for you at the end .", "like the original novel , MOV does not shy away from tackling heavy issues and by doing so treats it young target audience with the integrity that they deserve .", "stays true to paterson 's subdued , melancholy coming-of-age masterwork .", "visually , the terabithian world is impressively wrought and holds some surprises . under director gabor csupo , the technical side never overshadows the live action or the character-driven story .", "strangely the part of the film that takes place in the real world in more interesting than the segment in the imaginary .", "you take your kids to night at the museum or charlotte 's web , and you 've employed a temporary babysitter . roll them over to MOV and you 'll feed their minds with a rich tapestry of emotional investment .", "cheap and ordinary . this is n't art , it 's product .", "a wonderfully heart-wrenching love story for tweens , teens , and even adults who fondly remember when a friendship could be ignited by a gesture as simple as offering a stick of juicy fruit .", "one problem with terabithia is that the director , gabor csupo , puts too much stock in the abilities of computer graphics to make things real .", "a family film that recognizes that there are some interesting , intelligent fifth graders out there who are n't obsessed with fart jokes or potty humor .", "the story is a pleasant enough diversion with a positive message about seeing the troubled person behind the bully and the importance of keeping an open mind .", "-lsb- actors -rsb- robb and hutcherson are the keys to the film 's success : she has a refreshingly offbeat charm , and he smoothly handles emotional material that would be too daunting to many more experienced actors .", "for all that MOV does to encourage children to exercise their imaginations and pursue the arts , the movie 's producers give only glimpses of the wonderful creatures and magical kingdom dreamed up by two children .", "there 's a lot to recommend bridge for a young crowd . hutcherson and robb have excellent chemistry , jesse 's palpable hunger for his father 's approval is quietly poignant , and a third-act tragedy deepens and sweetens everything .", "MOV is no wizard of oz . it 's more like pan 's labyrinth lite -- and there 's nothing wrong with that .", "despite its small scale , bridge offers a lot of things you wo n't see in most children 's movies , including honest dialogue , actions that have consequences and some truly moving moments .", "the adroitly calibrated life lessons include a chill gulp of death , and terabithia proves to be soulful , even healing . what most delivers is the efficiently just-right cast , the charmed bonding of kid stars robb and hutcherson .", "refreshingly , MOV finds most of its strength in its very human , live-action sequences , and less so in its limited special-effects fantasies .", "any film celebrating the power of imagination is always welcome . due to its rather pedestrian execution , however , the MOV ultimately comes up short .", "pleasing magical coming-of-age kidpic .", "una pel\u00edcula entretenida y emotiva sobre la idea de la p\u00e9rdida , el dolor , la culpa , y sobre todo de la imaginaci\u00f3n como v\u00e1lvula de escape . no es el t\u00edpico pasatiempo inocente que promete ; es mucho m\u00e1s interesante que eso .", "the screenplay retains the gritty emotion of its source but gets ponderous in the iconic third act .", "pretty much a religious sermon attempting to jab at impressionable viewers about god , heaven , and spirituality .", "the special effects suggest a narnia-like romp , but the movie has a darker , more sorrowful landscape to explore and it does so brilliantly , with true nuance and heartfelt sincerity .", "it 's an emotionally rich testament to the life-changing power of friendship .", "radiates with youthful imagination and the joys of using it to abandon the everyday .", "sort of awful , but it goes places most conventional children 's entertainments fail to go", "the fantasy scenes ... do not resonate with the mythic power of those in pan 's labyrinth , but this is as moving a coming of age story as one could want .", "the film , though , takes us to a world in which imagination comes to life , with lavish cgi special effects giving the magic of terabithia a palpable presence it never had in the book , even in jess and leslie 's imaginations .", "terabithia has buckets of gentle sincerity . since there are n't any dumb jokes or hip visuals , it 's easy to get caught up in the simple messages : be good to your sister , do n't be a bully , use your imagination in a pinch .", "a fanciful , emotional and entertaining movie .", "-lsb- director gabor -rsb- csupo understands that what 's really important to this story is n't the fantasy , but the reality -- he 's especially shrewd at showing us how keenly jess feels his family 's money troubles .", "MOV the movie , like the book , is buckets-of-tears sad . director csupo and company manage to get that -- the simple power of a story about kindred souls , about loss , about the limitless possibilities of a lively mind -- just right .", "beloved kids ' novel makes it to the big-screen unscathed , with very real childhood relationships , surreal special effects and a big weepie ending .", "it pulls no punches from the harder aspects of the book , particularly the central tragedy that makes MOV the tremendously sad , albeit redeeming , movie it is .", "MOV blew me -- and my cynicism -- away . even though i was drawn in from the beginning , i kept waiting for terabithia to let me down , but it never did .", "everyone involved genuinely seems to believe in the power of imagination to enliven -- and enlighten -- the darkest realities , and that 's a magic this film captures beautifully .", "pan 's labyrinth for kids ... such a story can be just as powerful without the gore and war .", "terabithia picks up a lot of emotional punch as it rolls along , and anyone leaving the theater with a dry eye should be checked for a pulse .", "the filmmakers do a nice job keeping the enchantment level high while -lrb- pardon the phrase -rrb- keeping it real .", "daleko od eskapizma", "a bittersweet , if ultimately uplifting , coming-of-age tale touching on a litany of themes , including fantasy , friendship and family .", "i was alternately charmed and disappointed ... the movie is certainly light years ahead of the mediocre television adaptation but it is not quite the definitive version of the story , despite the strong screenplay and fine lead actors .", "a champion of imagination .", "it 's a rare film that gives children an honest voice that does n't talk down to them . yet at the same time , there 's also a solid film inside for adults to enjoy as well .", "it 's the sort of movie i admire more in retrospect than i did while watching it .", "beautiful lesson in friendship for young and old .", "... there 's a third-act twist that brings some much-needed gravity to the proceedings .", "i liked the seriousness with which it has been made , the willingness to grant deep feeling to its young characters , and the way it avoids of a lot of the cliches ... but the failure to enchant in the scenes in the woods leaves a hole .", "charming , touching and refreshing , this is a film the whole family will enjoy .", "if you 're not afraid of your child 's developing critical thinking skills , then you should give them the book and take them to see this movie , too .", "a strong cast and imaginative story make MOV a movie well worth checking out . it may be a little too intense for younger kids , though .", "consistently smart and delicate as a spider web , MOV is the kind of children 's movie rarely seen nowadays .", "imaginative , touching and keenly attuned to the coming-of-age genre , MOV is a welcomed breath of fresh air in the stale family movie arena .", "a decent adaptation of paterson 's novel , and at times it is quite moving .", "paterson 's lovely , sweet story locates unexpected emotional power ...", "terabithia itself , only imagined on the page , is brought to life with imagination and heart . we only get glimpses , but they are tantalizing and witty , with glimmers that show us how even the most fantastical creations are grounded in our own thoughts and", "... a movie of homespun all-american beauty ...", "follows in lock-step with the book and populates its titular fantasyland with cgi creatures ... neither idea was very good .", "director gabor csupo does a fine job of weaving together the realities of life for ten-year-olds with the magical world jesse and leslie share .", "... from an adult 's perspective , i found the film lacking in the very creativity that its story line promotes .", "-lsb- full review in greek -rsb-", "robb spreads her energy around like it comes from a deep well at exxon ... . and everything is affected by it .", "a magical tale that does n't become maudlin when many films of its ilk could have . a beautifully touching performance from annasophia robb", "adapted from katherine paterson 's novel , this beautifully drawn family friendly film explores the power of the imagination , bonding two like-souls as they create their own world , far away from their bleak everyday .", "enjoyable , superbly acted drama that will appeal to kids and adults alike .", "the makers go easy on the special effects and the picture has a tragic dimension that young children will find upsetting . but if they watch it in the right spirit , and the right company , it could prove emotionally enlarging .", "it 's not a film that need unduly trouble grown-ups .", "here 's an old-fashioned children 's film that should suit the once huge family audience very well .", "while the visual-effects team conjures up a suitably spectacular vision of terabithia ... what 's most impressive about the movie is its sympathetic handling of some difficult real-world topics .", "less of a liberal hippie preach-fest that the book was , but still needlessly depressing for a kids ' movie", "smarter and warmer than most family-friendly fare .", "there 's enough emotional truth in MOV to make it a worthy addition to big-screen children 's literature , if not to propel it into the realms of a childhood classic .", "has inspired moments but too often feels like an extended after-school special , albeit one with good production values .", "through computer-generated imagery , the imagination becomes literal , and in some sense , this feels like a robbery of what lives inside the heads of children .", "the movie contains surprisingly little cgi , instead focusing on the kids , their unique bond and the powerful life lessons that come as a result of their adventures .", "very sad things prompt very big questions , and this movie is smart enough to avoid very easy answers .", "if you have n't read the book , i suggest you see the movie . it 's worth the bucks .", "although this family flick is being sold as the second coming of the chronicles of narnia or lord of the ringsbe warned that advertising can be deceptive ." ], "summary": "MOV is a faithful adaptation of a beloved children 's novel and a powerful portrayal of love , loss , and imagination through children 's eyes .", "id": "387371589" }, { "movie": "boyhood", "reviews": [ "and there 's a sadness in that you just do n't want MOV to end , with the film a remarkable accomplishment that wo n't be forgotten anytime soon .", "perhaps never has the long arc of the journey from childhood to college been portrayed as cohesively and convincingly as richard linklater has done in a film that can be plain on a moment-to-moment basis but is something quite special in its entirety .", "a quite remarkable piece of cinema .", "this is a movie where not much happens that probably has n't happened to you , but which , in the aggregation of these moments , becomes something utterly profound .", "MOV is the summation of richard linklater 's entire career ... a moving and masterful evocation of what it means to be a family , and all the hurt and hope that comes with it .", "from the moment a train pulled into a station filmmakers have been trying to present life to us -- to tell us its story -- and linklater may have now come the closest .", "linklater 's third masterpiece in the past decade should only affect anyone who 's ever been someone else 's sibling , child , parent , lover or friend .", "it seems appropriate that MOV was always in the background , charting its filmmaker 's growth from tape to before midnight . as mason grew , so did the man who kept returning to his story .", "MOV truly is a film about the human experience , and this is something everybody can relate to .", "captured in vivid images and told in linklater 's typically astute , observational style similar to his ` before ' movies , perhaps the greatest achievement is how natural it all flows together given the fractured manner in which the film was constructed .", "it 's a bit of a gimmick movie , sure , but it 's a brilliant gimmick . a coming-of-age movie where the characters actually come of age , imagine that .", "so , while it 's tempting to say that nothing happens in MOV , that would be wrong . what happens is everything .", "it is the details that are the story here , giving it a unhurried yet mesmerizingly enthralling feel and an unexpected power .", "those who bemoan cinema circa 2014 for being out of ideas : prepare to meet your match .", "to say MOV would n't be that special if it were shot in a conventional manner is kind of like saying that elephant in the zoo would n't be so big if it were n't so big .", "the originality of MOV clearly extends beyond what we see up on the screen , and it 's this film -- even more so than the career landmarks of slacker and the before trilogy -- that will earn linklater a place of immortality in the history books .", "`` MOV '' is a stunt , an epic , a home video , and a benediction . it reminds us of what movies could be and - far more important - what life actually is .", "a soulful movie about soulful people . you just ca n't help but fall in love with it .", "linklater 's writing is typically warm and insightful , and the cast is uniformly excellent , including ellar coltrane as the quiet , down-to-earth hero .", "MOV is a monumental achievement of guts , nerve and thoughtful craft , one of the sharpest films about texas and texans ever made and easily one of the year 's most important movies .", "if i have any quibble at all with richard linklatter 's glorious film , it 's the title . because while the ambitious concept is to follow one MOV , the movie is just as much about a family and about america .", "it 's an extraordinary achievement marked by simply wonderful performances .", "the result is it 's a wonderful story .", "an authentically awkward , ordinary life , scrupulously observed .", "both rewards and challenges our expectations of a coming-of-age narrative , delivering a portrait of growing up that is both poignant and poetic", "i became so interested , so invested in these characters that i kind of wished they were real . i wanted to know more . i wanted to be able to follow them after the final scene .", "MOV is an observant and sometimes profound marriage between fiction and reality .", "but the film 's best bits do n't give us nearly enough to justify those accolades or dispel the feeling that you 're being taken on a leisurely meander through lives short on surprises and revelations .", "linklater casts a spell that defies you to not be moved , and captures the incredible complexity , richness and emotion of every one of our unique lives in the process .", "this heartwarming and complexly layered drama is n't just one of the best films of the year , but one of the best of the decade , the kind of deeply touching experience that feels like a one-off .", "an indie film epic the likes of which have never been seen before . and yet , as with before midnight , it 's the project 's emotional authenticity that ensures that it really hits home .", "not a single line feels like a written joke , although the film is entirely scripted , and all of the humour feels observed rather than created . it is a technically astonishing , completely written fiction that feels like real life .", "thanks to the astonishing consistency of linklater and the cast , and the faultless editing of sandra adair , all this happens in MOV much as it would in reality , as a continual unfolding , without on-screen titles or chapter breaks .", "unshakable , witty and deeply felt , the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long , long time .", "richard linklater 's latest is an impressive feat of filmmaking even before you consider the narrative . that the 164-minute runtime rarely feels sluggish or padded is also a major achievement .", "not just a coming-of-age movie , but the definitive coming-of-age movie ...", "MOV is a narrative drama , but it unfolds like documentary truth .", "the film has that deadpan linklater tone of slacker haphazardness , but you could also say that it 's almost joycean in its appreciation of the scruffy magic of everyday life .", "there 's a rough-edged , organic quality to `` MOV '' that recalls the work of those european helmers linklater so admires : fassbinder , bergman , bresson .", "genuinely poignant , profound and relatable with a strong beginning , middle and end . why ca n't hollywood make films like this anymore ? now critics need only worry about their other 9 best films of the year .", "the film gives every appearance of happening exactly the way life does , and exactly the way life does , it makes you care .", "MOV proceeds in brisk , implacably linear chronological fashion , and despite its 165-minute running time , is astonishingly minimal .", "the meandering nature of MOV may not be for everyone , but it 's a unique and emotionally affecting film with a huge heart .", "i have long maintained that richard linklater is the most gifted and audacious director of his generation . his new movie , MOV , which runs 2 hours and 44 minutes , is a stunning reconfirmation .", "it 's a wonder , on every level , that a movie like MOV can exist . it 's even more amazing that it can be as good as it is , while coming together under impossible odds .", "when coming of age movies are measured years from now , MOV will be the benchmark for artistic achievement and cinematic scope .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- just when you thought there was nothing new under the sun , richard linklater goes and makes the most anti-hollywood movie ever conceived .", "this 12-year undertaking is one of the most intriguing narrative film projects ever conceived . richard linklater has quietly become part of the foundation of american cinema .", "a marvelous , minimal epic of a movie ...", "an audacious coming-of-age tale unique in the history of cinema ; deeply moving and beautifully authentic .", "at its heart , though , MOV is less about MOV than parenthood . much of the viewer 's empathy lies with patricia arquette , who plays a mother struggling to raise two kids mostly on her own , with the occasional incursions of men .", "maybe only linklater could do a radical narrative experiment that 's also just another low-key slice of life . obviously , MOV required rigorous control , but never does it give off a sense of the filmmaker clutching it too tightly .", "these moments are almost cliches , but only because so many of us have lived these scenes in the course of our own lives , and that 's what makes them so powerful .", "watching the film , i was n't exactly as moved as i 'd hoped i would be , and that was at first disappointing . but then i remembered that richard linklater does n't really do big emotional indicating , that you have to listen a little closer .", "the film is at once of a piece with linklater 's other pictures -- as temporal as the before/after series , as philosophical as waking life -- and also more universal than anything else he 's done .", "it 's a film you ca n't stop watching . until it ends . and even then you wish MOV was only the beginning of an extraordinary work in progress .", "this is one experimental film that is a total success .", "richard linklater 's MOV is in most respects a traditional realist film -- plainly shot , devoid of plot gimmicks , aiming to approximate life as it is actually lived .", "by all means , enjoy this movie for its evocation of childhood , but let 's also appreciate how linklater calls for us to reimagine how we might treat movies and childhood : less judgment , less organization , more daydreaming .", "MOV is proof that a strange magic can still bloom amidst the tragedy that buffets human life .", "linklater and his team have done something incredibly difficult and made it look effortless . the result is easily one of the best films of the year .", "the minute events that linklater puts onscreen are endowed with meaning because they 're contextualized in the larger scope , which streamlines the most epic experience of all .", "it 's a collage of ordinary fragments that , in the end , add up to a greater whole .", "to sit with this movie and witness the concentrated passage of time is to watch , in a true , moving way , your life unspool before your eyes , without fanfare or idealism or romance .", "in completing this simple , beautiful project linklater took his time . and he rewards ours .", "MOV is perfectly imperfect , and surely not the last exploration of feature filmmaking as the ideal form to encapsulate duration and unities of location to come from the dogged , invaluable writer-director .", "one of the most interesting movies ever made , but also , perhaps , one of the most anticlimactic .", "a stunning and mind-blowing testament to the relentless passage of time .", "MOV , at its best , boasts qualities that are usually under-valued in avant-garde work : tingling observations , unforced comedy and quirky , enduring charm .", "the genius of MOV is that while watching it , you simply forget about the head-scrambling logistics of the project .", "one of the most remarkable moviegoing experiences i 've ever had .", "richard linklater 's coming-of-age tale is the best movie of the year , a four-star game-changer that earns its place in the cultural time capsule .", "i kept wondering what i was supposed to be enjoying about this film and i 'm still wondering .", "it 's the casual ease of `` MOV 's '' construction , its lack of a specifically lofty artistic objective , that makes it so effective .", "it 's the gimmick film to end all gimmick films . it 's linklater on a bike , holding his breath , crossing his eyes , puffing out his cheeks , going full speed at that ramp yelling , `` look , ma ! no hands ! ''", "MOV is as immersive as it is observational , and at the same time inescapably self-reflective . in terms of manipulating the relationship between viewer and screen , there is nothing quite like it .", "to call this drama `` audacious '' is an understatement . it 's a downright masterpiece and a film that will be studied and celebrated in the years to come .", "linklater 's filmmaking here is groundbreaking ... . but in terms of thematic originality it ca n't hold a candle to some of the other films from his incredibly diverse canon .", "a truly groundbreaking experience and a standout film of this or any year fully deserving the tag of a modern classic .", "less of a movie and more of an experiment . arguably , an experiment that ultimately works . but i would never sit through it again .", "a one-off masterpiece , the likes of which has never been done before , and will never be done again .", "if you support your family picking lettuce , your life is more interesting than linklater 's family .", "a heady film experience packed with so many telling details about life in the united states over the past 12 years - and one that makes you care such much about the struggles and foibles of its imperfect characters .", "there 's not a parent alive who will be able to shake the haunting beauty of linklater 's latest film , a flawed but vibrant masterpiece ...", "... will have you reflecting on your own life , all those moments big and small , many of which represented crossroads you may not have seen at the time .", "an extraordinarily intimate portrait of a life unfolding and an exceptional , unconventional film in which not much else occurs . never has so little meant more .", "filmmaker richard linklater has long since earned his reputation as an original thinker but his latest work , ` MOV , ' is in a class by itself .", "it 's an acheivement unlike anything i 've seen before , so i got ta go big : 5/5 schmoes for `` MOV '' . to paraphrase another linklater film ... your first priority of the summer should be to see this movie . -lrb- then lay back and crank some foghat . -rrb-", "-lsb- linklater -rsb- has fashioned a drama that feels far more authentic than any other coming of age movie .", "extraordinary in form , ` ordinary ' in content , MOV is ambitious , intimate and unforgettable . it might just be the apex of linklater 's life 's work .", "there is n't anything else quite like `` MOV '' in the history of cinema , although that would n't matter one-fifth as much if it were n't a moving and memorable viewing experience in the end .", "a tale that has been scripted and expertly shaped by linklater into a richly textured , completely winning human story .", "film , by its very nature , is meant to capture nuggets of time , but MOV is all forward momentum and growth . the weight it attains in its last hour is no accident . it 's the weight of existence itself .", "wobbly at times but still magical in an everyday way ...", "this is a film that 's as epic as it is minutely domestic , and reminds us that the banality of the everyday is what makes a life . how it can remind us of this , without being banal itself ? exactly . that is its phenomenal achievement .", "it is difficult to imagine after this movie how any film-maker can resort to the conventions of multi-decade storytelling -- ageing make-up , dusty wigs -- without appearing unforgivably lazy .", "MOV shimmers with unforced reality . it shows how an ordinary life can be reflected in an extraordinary movie .", "`` MOV '' is a transporting experience about the simplest of subjects . the movie telescopes artfully - but never pretentiously - the experience of growing up .", "richard linklater 's latest feels more like living a life than watching a movie . it 's a one-of-a-kind experience .", "MOV understands the tumult of childhood and adolescence as well as it does the hurdles and satisfaction of raising children .", "the film is lengthy -- almost three hours -- and without much plot , but i sat rapt for every minute .", "on rare occasions a movie seems to channel the flow of real life . `` MOV '' is one of those occasions .", "revolutionary in its approach and quietly transformational in the way of all great art ; experiencing it will change you .", "linklater uses life itself to his advantage by finding a clever way to capture its scope .", "the year 's most captivating narrative experiment , and possibly the most engrossing coming-of-age movie in the history of the genre .", "is it dumb to say , `` wow ? '' i do n't care . wow .", "is n't this what good therapists do -- help people understand trouble , hurt , hopes , and dreams by digging deep into memory and experience ?", "linklater has crafted what may be the most ingenious film of the century here and given it a tone like no other ...", "there is really nothing like the strange visual power of `` MOV '' in the cinematic history - full , though it is , of performers whose familiar faces pop up like weathering signposts on some highway of time .", "MOV is a noteworthy accomplishment - and an unparalleled movie experience .", "it is interesting even when nothing much happens , which is for most of its 3-hour running time .", "it 's an ambitious experiment that paid off big-time , both for linklater and his audience . i ca n't say i 've ever seen anything quite like it .", "arquette in particular unearths meaty pockets of raw emotion along her character 's journey through a performance that reminds us of her immense talent .", "linklater took a risk on an ambitious way to relate an oft-told tale , and in his newcomer lead and career-best turns from arquette and hawke , he succeeds .", "it 's a simultaneously modest and massively ambitious undertaking , so original in its conception and so successful in its execution that it deserves to be remembered as a landmark achievement .", "linklater bridges the gap between these more art-oriented projects and contemporary narrative cinema . he offers us a new sense of knowing time by inviting us to be present as it unfurls .", "the sweetly appealing coltrane shoots up before our eyes and does n't buckle under the scrutiny , but if mason is our ostensible focus then his mother olivia -lrb- patricia arquette -rrb- is the movie 's unsung heroine .", "linklater here is full of optimism , as always , but he remains a doggedly unsentimental realist .", "these are people you know , maybe people like you .", "it 's an honorable and obviously artistically successful project , my personal quibbles notwithstanding .", "a fiction film version of michael apted 's landmark 7 up series , writer/director richard linklater 's MOV is one of the best films he has ever made -- a linear , at times surprisingly poetic portrait of a modern american childhood .", "MOV is an epic masterpiece that seems wholly unconcerned with trying to be one .", "MOV is not just a genuine epic , not just beautiful and moving , it looks like a classic already .", "MOV is an epic of the everyday , as uplifting as it is universal .", "linklater has allowed an enormously engaging , deeply moving saga to weave its tendrils about the loose structure .", "for all of its contained and implied profundities , MOV succeeds in large part thanks to a virtually unnoticeable sleight of hand .", "by shooting this film over 12 years , writer-director richard linklater is able to explore family dynamics in an intensely involving way that 's never been seen on-screen before .", "MOV is an astonishing body of work : a unique cinematic experience that condenses over a decade of life into three blissful hours . the kind of movie you want to swim in .", "full of empathy and fully realized detail , its specificity transforming into universality , an achievement of time and love that 's already among the best films about childhood -lrb- and parenthood -rrb- you 'll ever have the pleasure to watch .", "the film ends and the credits come up and you ask the same question that you ask at the end of an evening spent with old , dear friends : where did the time go ?", "recommending a movie without a plot sounds ludicrous . that is , unless the movie is ` MOV ' and the movie was written and directed by richard linklater , whose ` before sunrise , ' ` before sunset ' and ` before midnight ' are beloved by so many film-goers .", "`` MOV '' a subtle , powerful meditation on life .", "while it is really an exploration of 12 mundane years in the life of a fairly ordinary american family , it is never boring and rarely makes you think that anything that happens was forced .", "one of the most emotionally powerful films of this or any other year .", "a wondrous exhibition of the intangibles that make a film great : tone , pacing , authenticity , subtext . but it 's most masterful at capturing the bittersweet passage of time .", "watching the film is less a matter of observing characters than spending time with friends .", "one of the great films of modern times .", "there is something quite extraordinary about richard linklater 's film as it depicts a fictional representation about growing up , family , relationships and life 's choices - using real time as its bookmark and calling card .", "there 's never been a movie quite like MOV , and it may be years before anyone works up the gumption to match its achievement .", "i can think of few feature films in the history of the medium that have explored the power , and the melancholy , of film 's intimate enmeshment with time in the way richard linklater 's MOV does .", "a unique and quite wonderful cinematic experiment which somehow manages to capture the intangible essence of life , in all its sound and fury , perhaps better than any film in recent memory .", "looking back on his accomplishments to date , it becomes clear that linklater is one of the grand pioneers , explorers , and expanders of contemporary cinema .", "... by the end you 'll feel like this massive time capsule was just injected into your soul .", "a film that i love more than i can say . and there is hardly a better , or nobler thing a film can do than inspire love .", "the film takes the audience on a visceral trip back to childhood partly because it shows a real child mature on screen . what completes the effect , though , is masterful writing and directing , by linklater , and editing , by sandra adair .", "rarely has anything like this been attempted in cinema , with a filmmaker intentionally setting out to watch a young person grow up on screen .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- plays like a lyrical series of snapshots , capturing the kind of shared moments in time that seem to resurface almost randomly in our memories .", "the closest thing to a lived life that fictional cinema has yet produced .", "it 's one of those offerings that grows on you the more you think about it long after walking out of the theater . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "captures the bittersweet , sublimely humdrum process of growing up in a way that no other single movie has done .", "it truly is an epic account of anyone 's / everyone 's simple life story .", "despite the wrinkles in linklater 's time tapestry , he has given us one of the most memorable movies of the year , and probably his own masterpiece .", "linklater sculpts drama out of time , demonstrating that the fleeting moments we experience day in and day out are actually telling the story of our lives .", "once again , linklater achieves that easy-going , seat-of-the-pants realism .", "there 's not a great theme , a great performance or even a great scene in MOV . but i think it might be a great picture .", "it 's an astonishing achievement .", "a whisper short of three hours , the film and its plot are so lithe yet robust you can hang anything on them .", "a seemingly limitless stream of pure empathy runs through richard linklater 's transcendental movie event/social experiment/life-affirming headtrip MOV .", "MOV is a quiet marvel that follows its characters with a fondness that builds and a necessary distance that aches in its verisimilitude .", "like other linklater films , MOV is sunny and optimistic but not without its rocky moments , driven by dialogue that 's often funny and insightful but always natural .", "this is the best american movie i 've seen in years -- and one of the very best movies about america ever made .", "a word about the film 's epic length . MOV is 166 minutes long . yet it is so affecting , so much a thing of wonder , that it could run forever and i would still keep watching .", "its complete submission to those nothings , mediums , beautiful portraits of life 's fabric is what makes MOV unprecedented .", "the ambition at play here even makes linklater 's fantastic `` before sunrise/sunset/midnight '' series pale in comparison .", "one of the loveliest things about MOV is how much of it makes those long-forgotten strings of childhood vibrate within you . it reminds you of what it was like to be a kid .", "linklater 's casual hand at storytelling , dealing out reel after reel of naggingly forthright enlightenment , turns this simple tale of a mother trying to do her best into something worth every second of the time it took to produce .", "it 's a journey , seldom seen on film , that will fascinate and move you with every step .", "a portrait of the process of becoming who we are , and the people and events that pingpong across our path during it .", "watching these characters orbit in and out of one another 's lives gives a sense of actually watching people -- not canned archetypes , but fully formed people -- get older .", "linklater strings these ordinary moments together like christmas lights to make an entrancing portrait of life .", "a masterpiece of independent filmmaking , MOV is nothing short of an emotional epic , one that is relatable and moving and entirely unforgettable .", "an exceptionally well-crafted coming-of-age story .", "this film hits you in personal ways that have more to do with your identity and memory than with the film itself .", "adjectives really do n't do this one justice . richard linklater 's 12-year project is brilliant . and bold . and innovative . and not to be missed .", "too realistic to be inspirational but too genuine to fault , `` MOV '' is , against all odds , a cohesive cinematic feat not likely to be matched any time soon .", "a work that easily breaks free of the shackles of `` just a gimmick '' and emerges as a superb motion picture in its own right .", "it 's not every day you see something you do n't see every day . the day you experience linklater 's remarkable new work , i guarantee , will be one you wo n't soon forget . it 's perhaps the most artful and audacious experiment in the history of film .", "the movie is n't as here comes the big cry as the trailer and the concept would make you think ; it 's far too smart and wise for that . yet i still bet it makes you bawl your head off .", "an intimate epic as fresh and thrillingly alive as francois truffaut 's films of antoine doinel , who was wrought in five movies beginning with the 400 blows . MOV is but one movie , and it 's just as subversive .", "you 've undoubtedly never seen anything like this before .", "here is a film that captures the essence of memory .", "a quiet stunner of a movie that yields to time rather than try to bend it to its will .", "touching , funny , big-hearted and recklessly ambitious .", "could reveal itself as linklater 's defining cinematic statement .", "by the end so much has changed - a whole life seem to have been lived , and yet there 's still so much left .", "MOV is a coming-of-age film not quite like any other .", "-lsb- richard linklater 's -rsb- magnum opus is at once intimate and epic .", "as genuine as MOV feels , it falls short of really flooring you with greatness . so many life lessons seem to fall on deaf ears without more conflict or bad luck being thrown in along the way .", "rich in charm , meaning and heart , it stealthy worms its way into your being , triggering your own recall button on how growing up would be so much easier if adults would stop getting in the way .", "it is almost as if the audience is a part of the family in `` MOV . ''", "the very things that others love , the meandering , unfocused essences of the movie , were the things that i disliked . variety is the spice of life , right ?", "few filmmakers ever make a great movie . fewer still ever make a movie that expands what movies can express . richard linklater does both with MOV .", "it really is a movie unlike any other .", "far from a handicap , the film 's disjointed narrative elements become its greatest strength , showing that life 's -- and especially , childhood 's -- grand plot points never fall where we expect , and are often the result of elements beyond our control .", "richard linklater 's naturalistic , bittersweet , coming-of-age alternative to studio productions .", "any film that takes twelve years to shoot should be commended for its stamina alone ; yet no sense of grind , still less of fatigue , attends this richard linklater project .", "i ca n't help but think there may have been a better movie still lurking in his accumulated footage , one that with a mild shift in emphasis might have been titled , more ambitiously , adulthood .", "MOV is one of those extraordinary flicks that 'll remind you just how life-affirming a trip to the cinema can be .", "MOV proves we 're never the same people that we were when we were children . and it also proves what the old people always sighed about : `` they grow up so fast . ''", "terms like `` epic , '' `` ambitious , '' `` one-of-a-kind '' and `` career-capping '' normally sound pretentious . not here - this is a special , special film", "both a conceptual tour de force and a fragile , unassuming slice of movie life .", "linklater 's beautiful film is an extraordinary achievement - tender , funny , wise and wistful , full of warmth and humanity .", "one of the best and most memorable films ever made about the art of improvisation as a path of wisdom , creativity , and personal renewal .", "clocking in at close to three hours , MOV overstays its welcome a little ; but strong performances , an evocative soundtrack together with the director 's flair for off-the-cuff profundity ensure that fans of quality movie-making wo n't be disappointed .", "if there was ever project that demanded to be informed by the history of its making , `` MOV '' is it . epic in scope yet unassuming throughout , linklater 's incredibly involving chronicle marks an unprecedented achievement in fictional storytelling", "there 's a universal appeal here that 'll resonate whether you 're a son , daughter , father , mother or sibling . simply put , MOV is a masterpiece .", "given the fractured nature of the shoot , the film is remarkably fluent , and fortunate that young ellar coltrane is mostly an intriguing focus .", "believe the hype : richard linklater 's decade-in-the-making epic is a remarkable achievement .", "with a brilliant filmmaking experiment that works beyond belief , linklater continues to prove himself as one of the strongest character-driven filmmakers out there .", "not just a great stunt , but a deep and moving portrait of childhood , family , and growing up . the best picture of the summer", "as he has throughout his career , linklater proves himself as a filmmaker unconcerned with flash and dazzle but thoroughly compassionate and empathetic to a wide range of characters .", "intimate and insightful even in its weaker moments , linklater finds strength and value in normality .", "ambitious and an absolutely excellent endeavor .", "in the end the story just did not amount to much .", "richard linklater 's fascinating look at twelve years in the life of a young boy whose family life is far from perfect . the gimmick seldom feels like one .", "sorry i 'm a party pooper for a film most think is super .", "... a different and daring kind of cinematic experience , something rare enough in american popular cinema .", "MOV is the closest we 've ever come to narrative cin\u00e9ma-v\u00e9rit\u00e9 -- and the results are just a little mind-altering .", "time and change are the universal themes here , embodied and particularised in linklater 's dramatic study of a divided and mildly dysfunctional family ... this is one for the -lrb- and all -rrb- ages .", "MOV : concept : a execution : c --", "this is not only a great film , but an important landmark in how great films can be made .", "cinematic poetry ... as that greatest of screen rarities -- a potentially mainstream experimental film -- the writer-director earns a bit of slack in gratitude for the strange and wonderful gift MOV is ...", "director richard linklater accomplished something truly visionary with MOV . it 's nearly three hours long , but it moves by nearly as quickly as life does .", "... a truly memorable and singular cinematic experience that 's well worth the wait .", "cinema has always been the best place for time travel , but rarely has it been so anchored in reality than in richard linklater 's MOV .", "this is more than a groundbreaker : it 's a new american classic .", "while everything about MOV is done with extraordinary care , the master stroke was clearly the casting , 13 years ago , of a little texas boy named ellar coltrane .", "we can quibble with small stuff in MOV . supporting performances are variable , the sister drops out as a dramatic character ... i could go on . but the cumulative power is tremendous .", "it 's like a time-lapse photo of an expanding consciousness .", "what an astonishing achievement ; what a beautiful movie .", "probably one of the most unusual coming of age films you 'll ever hope to see .", "we ca n't help feeling inexorably attuned to these people ... as if the idea of sitting down to dinner with them is not only possible , but de facto .", "MOV , which started filming in 2002 and continued off and on for twelve years , is the greatest coming-of-age story ever put to film .", "MOV is dizzying and dazzling , messy and mesmerizing , an ambitious and singular movie that grapples with towering questions about life itself - and finds profundity in how it not fails but refuses to provide all the answers .", "MOV fills you with openhearted happiness and awe at its scope and daring . it 's a low-key masterpiece , a wistful comedy that never forgets to keep genuine emotions foremost .", "it 's a linklater picture all around , treating an impossible cinematic mission with all the urgency of a leisurely conversation . MOV sinks in slowly instead of demanding attention .", "director richard linklater approached this decade-spanning project with a novelist 's ambition and patient determination -- it 's unique in its rhythms .", "an absolutely brilliant film about the stuff of day-to-day life .", "richard linklater 's film is an experiment in time , and one that 's attentive to the audience 's sense of empathy .", "MOV is an oversized and sprawling smorgasbord of a movie , blending the beautiful with the irritating in a rich and messy tapestry of growing pains and pubescent grumbling .", "it just moves so quickly , which , i suppose , is the whole point . for those of us who were already marking time by tracking ethan hawke 's facial hair , it 'll be a startling experience .", "MOV is not only a masterful film but a culturally rich one as well , a cinematic equivalent to the mark twain coming of age classic `` the adventures of tom sawyer '' yet made for a new generation .", "for as down to earth as the material is , linklater elevates it into something important , making a study of not only childhood and human development , but the rigors and vicissitudes of adulthood .", "MOV is a one of a kind experience .", "`` MOV '' is not just a great movie , it 's a landmark achievement in film .", "it captures the essence of an american family with an accuracy and intimacy unseen in a feature film before .", "as a film that dares to honor small moments and the life they add up to , `` MOV '' is n't just a masterpiece . it 's a miracle .", "forget 3d ; MOV reaches out to touch your soul .", "an instant classic twelve years in the making , striking in its tender tone and stunning in its cumulative emotional impact .", "it 's close to three hours long , there 's almost no plot , the star is someone you 've never heard of and , yet , `` MOV '' is mesmerizing .", "it 's easy to watch the film and recall similar moments in your own life . that 's not enough ; the film needs to inspire reflection , not just recollection .", "... chronicles the colossal significance of the everyday .", "it is nothing short of stunning to watch `` MOV '' unfold . richard linklater 's magnum opus offers more than what one has any right to expect from a film while simultaneously illuminating the infinite boundaries to which cinema is capable of going .", "`` MOV '' is a cinematic gift , a compassionate and sometimes amusing drama about growing up that extracts truths out of what appear to be life 's most random moments .", "as is linklater 's custom , MOV is profound in such a casual way that its weighty themes feel nonchalant , effortless . this movie might make you cry for reasons you ca n't quite articulate . you wo n't be alone in feeling that way .", "it 's a slow-burn drama that works well over its epic length , exploring the nuances of those around mason rather than lurching for the dramatic spikes and revelations we normally associate with the mislabelled `` coming-of-age '' sub-genre of teen films .", "the effect is uncanny and heartbreaking , yet exhilarating , not depressing . mom sums it up , when mason celebrates his 15th birthday : ` i 'm so glad you were born . ' we 'd like to think she 's speaking to all of us .", "an amazing , time-capsule-worthy portrait of MOV", "linklater 's bold experiment pays off", "um road movie no qual a estrada \u00e9 o tempo .", "what MOV lacks in terms of story development and pace , this inevitably flawed but compelling experiment compensates by showing its central cast experiencing real life and growing considerably older without the need for special effects and prosthetics .", "it may be two and a half hours , and it may avoid the normal conventions of plot , but it has a weight and substance that feels like nothing else ... a truly singular movie-going experience .", "the real reason for this film 's high level of realism and drama is its screenplay -lrb- this film is written and directed by richard linklater -rrb- which is refreshingly adult , realistic , dramatic and reflective of today 's society .", "so much could have gone wrong over the years , it 's insane that any filmmaker would have tried this . but if anyone could pull it off , it would be linklater .", "this is an intimate , poignant film that makes you feel a little sad . but there are lots of loving and funny moments - such as when mason and his kids campaign for barack obama - and the overall effect is life-affirming .", "linklater 's MOV is a must-see film for any lover of the movies . it 's the type of film that was imagined when they invented film .", "a period film shot in the present , MOV also provides us with vivid cultural snapshots from the recent past - including queuing in robes for the latest harry potter novel and obama 's 2008 election campaign ." ], "summary": "epic in technical scale but breathlessly intimate in narrative scope , MOV is a sprawling investigation of the human condition .", "id": "771373348" }, { "movie": "10011016-messenger", "reviews": [ "the MOV is always just left of straightforward , which keeps it interesting .", "-lsb- foster and harrelson 's -rsb- interplay , on the job -lrb- ruining the day of one unfortunate person after the next -rrb- and off ... provides the backbone of this erratically paced film .", "alejado de cualquier rastro de patriotismo , desnudando la complejidad emocional detr\u00e1s de un drama hist\u00f3ricamente recurrente que ha sido retratado con frecuencia por el cine norteamericano , aunque esta vez de manera un poco m\u00e1s intimista .", "i know several folks in military service who would n't watch this movie if you paid them .", "it 's a shame so few people will see this on the silver screen .", "it never feels contrived or overwritten , managing to deftly pack emotional punches through the strength of its performances and direction .", "do n't let the fact woody harrelson got an oscar nomination tempt you anywhere near the MOV - the message here is about as welcome as a death knock on a wet sunday afternoon .", "the MOV takes on a warmth and plangency that rewards viewing .", "although it stumbles on the storytelling , drifting rather repetitively around the lives of its haunted protagonists , it 's a rewarding , humane picture .", "an intelligent , superbly acted and moving drama that manages to say more about war and its consequences than most films set on the front line .", "... a poignant tale of redemption that counts as one of the very best films of the year .", "what the MOV has going for it is some sober , straightforward direction from oren moverman and a few strong performances .", "% u2026 while several -lsb- irag war movies -rsb- have touched on the soldiers ' internal experience , none have stayed with it for the duration of the film the way the MOV does .", "harrelson received an oscar nomination for supporting actor for his grim and volatile performance , but it could just as easily have gone to the quietly seething foster .", "a sobering drama that at its core is a heterosexual love story between two men . to be clear , there 's no homoerotic undercurrent here but it 's a love story of opposites falling for each other nevertheless .", "hero without a cause", "the MOV 's clipped insight that war is hell is just the sort of line straight from the manual that the film strenuously cautions against .", "there is n't a single glimpse of battlefield action in the MOV , but foster conveys the intensity of warfare in a long speech revealing how will was injured .", "a film that never forgets those who most feel the pain of loss during a time of war .", "... a stunningly sad and sobering movie about the inevitable personal costs of national bellicosity .", "harrelson gives us layers of hurt under a callous yet needy crust . it may be the best performance of his career and certainly deserves oscar consideration .", "the MOV is the first film from oren moverman as a director , and it 's a fine piece of work .", "although hollywood has dealt with the war from various perspectives , moverman 's film offers a new angle that brings the horrors home about the decision to go to war .", "another dark , gloomy drama about home life during wartime , this film features some seriously great performances and a theme that will resonate powerfully with thoughtful audiences .", "for all the film 's gritty verisimilitude , the MOV is not the great iraq war movie that kathryn bigelow 's the hurt locker is .", "intelligent , graceful , and touching filmmaking .", "no quote available .", "this is a great anti-war film examining the residual effect of war on the people who fight it and the people who are left behind .", "woody harrelson and ben foster dominate every inch of the screen .", "the worst job in the army is n't cleaning latrines or disarming roadside bombs , it is being back home telling people that someone they love has been killed .", "the MOV , showing humanity under siege , opens wounds inflicted by the iraq war -- not on the battlefield but in the hearts of the families of soldiers who never made it back home .", "a worthy addition to the canon of iraq war films , the MOV has a gentle humanity that creeps under your skin .", "shame nobody told writer-director oren moverman not to shoot the MOV ... before giving the script a good rewrite first .", "there 's essentially very little to take from the MOV if you 've already got it into your head that emotions are complicated and people are flawed .", "it 's a tough job but someone 's got to do it in a moving look at one of the armed forces ' most harrowing details .", "together , under the assured direction of first-time feature filmmaker oren moverman , these three actors tell a story that is at once hard-hitting and bizarrely gentle .", "the two leads give nuanced , lived in performances that unfold slowly but with certain determination .", "the film does lapse into cliche with foster 's descent into alcohol as a means of coping with the daily trauma of the job , but israeli director oren moverman keeps the film rich in raw detail .", "a sobering , well-acted look at a reality for thousands of american families .", "foster and harrelson have a winning camaraderie as they develop a bond of trust and friendship . both performances are memorable and deserve year-end awards consideration .", "the beauty in foster 's portrayal is that it never completely explodes , but anger and aching seethe behind his eyes . harrelson , meanwhile , is a good old boy with a bad old job .", "just do n't watch this and the hurt locker back to back or you 'll need to refill your anti-depressants when you 're done .", "the miracle of this film is in its insistence on finding a way back home -- to fragile new beginnings giving way to new friendship , perhaps even new love .", "harrelson gives what might be a career performance as a jaded mentor who tries to conduct each notification using a well-rehearsed set of rules of engagement .", "the best war movies do n't preach against war : they remind us of the costs for soldiers and families and ask us to consider whether those costs are worth paying .", "gripping but uneven home front war drama .", "the MOV involves difficult subject matter , but it 's not hard to watch . it 's sad and sobering , but also humorous and touching at turns .", "because of the nature of its subject matter , ` the MOV ' is emotionally charged , but director oren moverman and his able cast prevent it from feeling phony or manipulative .", "co-screenwriter/director oren moverman slowly peels back the layers to the characters , with the game cast helping considerably in that regard .", "... -lsb- the MOV -rsb- highlights the gulf between those who have served in iraq and nearly everyone else they deal with after returning home .", "moverman 's scripting is subdued and emotionally authentic .", "grief is universal , and watching soldiers deal with complex emotions seems to me universal too .", "as powerful and restrained a drama as you could wish for ... a film of both great sadness and great redemption .", "this is a fully felt , morally alert , marvellously acted piece of work . despite the grim subject , it 's a sweet-tempered movie , with moments of explosive humor -- an entertainment .", "a penetrating assessment of post-war readjustment .", "the MOV manages to be both practical and patriotic in the same breath , zeroing in on one of the most painful aspects of wartime .", "this richly conceived powerhouse drama about life and death is ultimately about the search for a sense of family , whether in peace or war , and what binds humans together despite the most unendurable horrors at hand .", "a well-performed example of male bonding in the army .", "what could have been a grim , depressing iraq war drama of men who deliver dreaded news becomes in moverman 's promising debut a tale of grief and survival , a balance of grave issues and humor .", "a n intricate dual character study .", "... a powerful perspective on the casualties of war .", "the MOV drives home the point that war is a losing proposition , which has nothing to do with who is victorious on the battlefield . they 're the everyday losses of life , of family , of friends .", "the massage is important , and the acting from harrelson is incredible .", "it 's sublime to see woody harrelson become robert duvall , with grit , gusto and muscles visibly twitching beneath his head . `` the MOV '' is draining , but not numbing - an agnostic anthem to the impossibility of applying predictive methods to grief .", "the film is poised , unforced and powerful .", "the film does n't tread a predictable , easy path , but stick with it because it has something to say and it is refreshingly different , mature and memorable", "with deftly drawn characters and beautifully understated performances , this engaging drama is tremendously moving .", "a beautifully rendered and necessarily painful window onto an overlooked reality .", "nice acting . solid direction . worth an investment of your time . paul chambers , cnn .", "a powerful , ptsd psa for ` do n't ask , do n't kiss and tell ' advocates .", "the MOV delivers what it has to say without sensationalism or political posturing . that restraint , along with the quality of the performances , makes it all the more powerful .", "a forcefully acted and peculiar emotional drama ...", "foster leaves you hoping that will finds his way home .", "there is a complexity to the story and characters that i want more insight on and i really believe that the movie might grow on me with a repeat viewing .", "this film does n't take political sides -- and it 's all the more heartbreaking because of its restraint .", "whenever writer-director oren moverman moves past these scattered and admittedly voyeuristic moments into the lives of the two soldiers , the movie drifts into received wisdom and unconvincing romance .", "this is a wholly different look at the fallout of the iraq war and its effect on soldiers and civilians . it is also a gentle portrait of grief , friendship and solace .", "individually , none of the mini-dramas in the MOV would be enough to blow you away . but grouped together , they 're so beautifully and specifically written that they make for a convincing picture of the first stages of grief .", "one of the rare movies that communicates honestly and artfully about the real casualties of war : the surviving combatants .", "it brings home the horror of the iraq war in a way that much of our tv news media have failed to do .", "a powerhouse performance full of tragic comic undertones while looking at the psychological effects of war in an original storytelling manner ...", "-lsb- an -rsb- unpredictable , episodic , deeply resonant character piece .", "the oscar-nominated script pursues a grimly honourable task into its grim and not always honourable byways .", "this worthwhile drama reports from the home front as the war on terror continues .", "it 's a welcome addition to the increasingly interesting movie canon dealing with the downside of the war .", "intimate , powerful filmmaking .", "an intelligent and well-acted film which deserves its outing here .", "foster and an oscar-nominated harrelson effectively convey the outward steel and inner fragility of these men of war but the film is slow-moving and maudlin .", "stumbles a little , loosening its grip in the bromantic final stretch . but if impenitent heartstring pluckage is what you 're after , this is where it 's at .", "it 's a film of quietly assured dramatic clout , a strong and sober reckoning with american conscience .", "it 's worth seeing for foster 's performance anyway , and for a brief and excellent one from steve buscemi as a mourner .", "viewers will appreciate the work ethic up there on the screen , and how it finds a number of fresh and telling angles on the complexities of the grieving process .", "the MOV is a successful examination of the harsh realities of war that too often are put in the back of people 's minds .", "messengers with the worst possible message , they nonetheless manage to be human and alive ... . in a film that itself bears sad tidings about the costs of war , that is an affirming , even an inspiring , gift .", "moverman understands the deep , powerful struggle that must accompany such constant grappling with death .", "a fine bookend to katheryn bigelow 's the hurt locker , showing another side of how the war at home can be just as rigorous as the one abroad .", "oren moverman 's sober and satisfying drama shows how the wars in afghanistan and iraq have created a fissure in american society .", "a somber drama about intimate wartime tragedies , oren moverman 's debut feels more respectful than real .", "poignant and insightful .", "this character piece may be for the arthouse , but the artistry has a gaping wound , large enough to allow credulity to seep out .", "a shoddy , shouty bore . a piece of flummery .", "i 'm not sure how morton made sense of her character 's ebbs and flows , but i never doubted her . she 's a mariner in uncharted seas of emotion .", "powerful and resonant , this is a film that asks us to look at the human cost of war . ben foster is a revelation .", "in an indirect sense , this film is also about the reality of war as opposed to the illusions about war .", "the MOV is a film about shock and healing . forget awe . in a world that avoids the realities of war , the MOV casts a flickering light on some of the human cost of war .", "as suspenseful -- in its less-violent way -- as ` the hurt locker , ' as the soldiers bring their bad news to the homes of unsuspecting family members in a series of devastating vignettes , beautifully wrought by director oren moverman .", "with the insight and sensitivity of an insider , the MOV illuminates the sometimes invisible victims of war -- the survivors -- and a pain that is tolerated but never quite healed .", "the MOV makes it -lsb- the death of a soldier -rsb- personal . and it is uncomfortable . well-done movies about the tragedy of war and its impact on ordinary lives are that way .", "well acted , bare-bones look at homefront horror , but it 's not quite in the same war league as the hurt locker .", "implies without stating , allowing us to understand and interpret the men as we will , without having anything forced down our throats .", "valiantly brings all wars to their ultimate endpoint : death and its effects on the fallen 's loved ones .", "this is the kind of film people might skip due to the preponderance of war movies out there , or forget in the wake of flashier end-of-the-year output , but the MOV is one to watch for great performances .", "the MOV knows that even if it tells a tearjerking story , it does n't have to be a tearjerker . in fact , when a sad story tries too hard , it can be fatal .", "a universally relatable drama instead of just another story about iraq .", "one of the most powerful and moving films about the human cost of the afghan-iraq war and about those of war in general to appear in years .", "director oren moverman 's feature-length debut is a little like the hurt locker in the way it uncomfortably probes a little-known military organelle .", "this is a poignant war movie , but it 's also a buddy movie with a difference , one that 's both funny and bleak .", "the scenes are rendered by director oren moverman with an authenticity and realism that makes them as harrowing and heartrending as they deserve to be .", "some jobs are dirtier than others , and after seeing director and co-writer oren moverman 's beautifully acted new film the MOV , you 'll be better acquainted with some of the most grueling work a human being can be called upon to perform .", "the MOV is a privileged glimpse into people 's private pain , a drama shot with the simplicity and immediacy of a documentary .", "a stunning debut , an effective , expertly-made and performed drama about the common human ability to deal with tragedy and loss in unique , unpredictable ways .", "do n't call it a comeback because woody harrelson never went away ! this film that will remind everyone how good of an actor he is .", "i used to think working at the salt lake city hooters was the worst job in the world . boy was i wrong . that dubious occupational honor goes to working for the army 's casualty notification service .", "this is the type of original film that should be pulling in the box office numbers . harrelson and foster deliver completely natural and raw performances . see this movie now !", "it 's hard to believe that an actor of ben foster 's caliber is just now getting a leading role .", "beyond the interesting subjects , moverman does n't have a definitive place for his film to go .", "foster is a revelation , while harrelson has arguably never been better .", "an emotionally affecting drama about the birth of compassion in an iraq war hero assigned to work for the casualty notification office .", "like `` the hurt locker '' , calculated to sell tickets to tea-baggers and moveon.org alike . informed by the clint eastwood/paul haggis school of bad didactic screenwriting .", "this is a powerful war film that never needs to enter the battlefield for you to be fully absorbed .", "yes , you 're going to have to look for the MOV . but the fact it 's one of the best american films of 2009 makes that search worthwhile .", "at its center lie three accomplished performances , by ben foster , woody harrelson and samantha morton , that are not to be missed .", "so bungled up with fashionable ambivalence about the iraq war that every single behavioral detail is not just prejudicial but wrong .", "these largely self-contained vignettes are harrowing , the source of a font of raw emotional release that could never be otherwise captured except through a presumably invasive documentary process .", "in his directorial debut , moverman is a very confident filmmaker , one who can sustain unbroken scenes of over 10 minutes without making it seem self-indulgent or gimmicky .", "harrelson 's calm performance anchors the film , and whenever the story drifts back to him and his cautious friendship with foster , the flick feels true .", "this film will be too much for some viewers because of the spot-on antiwar statement but the story is tight and the performances powerful .", "as the lonely , complex and friendly stone , harrelson evokes the experience of the MOV as sturdily as a freshly pinned medal of valor .", "the MOV honors those who fought and died in iraq by acting out , with an anguished handheld immediacy , how large each of those sacrifices really is .", "a story that strays about without finding its center .", "a devastating debut helmed with immense power and control ... foster , a rising talent whose career brings to mind edward norton , is tremendous .", "many scenes in the MOV feel merely illustrative , not designed to develop characters and story so much as to make the point , over and over , that the home front can be as harrowing as the front lines .", "it 's foster 's movie .", "the film is premised on the verbal communication of urgent information , yet its many non-verbal moments provide the greatest strength and clarity .", "... foster and harrelson 's respectively striking work is alone justification for the film 's existence .", "the bombshell is the news of a soldier 's death and the delivery of that message is the heart of this unsentimental , yet deeply moving , story .", "the first warning bell sounds when woody boasts of his aa membership , as i do n't believe anybody has ever seen harrelson stay sober for an entire movie ... or even an afternoon .", "the vignettes of reactions to montgomery and stone 's grim visits are the meat of the movie .", "a tremendously moving drama , filled with heartbreak , humor and , most importantly , humanity .", "delivering the news to the families of soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice , a repressed will is drawn to one empathetic widow .", "there is great power in examining raw human emotions , especially when it 's done so gracefully and honestly .", "a wrenching and superbly acted character study ." ], "summary": "a dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/directer owen moverman and superbly acted by woody harrleson and ben foster .", "id": "770780130" }, { "movie": "1006234-dracula", "reviews": [ "certainly it is lugosi 's performance , and the cinematography of karl freund , that make tod browning 's film such an influential hollywood picture .", "MOV deserves its status as a classic , although one might be tempted to append the word ` lesser ' to that label .", "bela lugosi is inspired in the role of the vampire . one can no longer label it a good performance or a bad performance . lugosi embodies the role .", "while lugosi is of course memorable , do n't forget helen chandler 's mina , who communicates more through her eyes than virtually any other actress caught on film .", "after lugosi , all vampire performances are doomed to be compared against him as either homage or departure .", "it haunted no one as much as dear bela ...", "-lsb- the music -rsb- contributes to tod browning 's marvellous tone of restrained horror and stylish after-life .", "there is a reason why bela ended up in ed wood movies", "once you get into the rhythms of the film , you 'll discover a masterpiece .", "not by any means the masterpiece of fond memory or reputation , although the first twenty minutes are astonishingly fluid and brilliantly shot by karl freund .", "the opening scenes , set in MOV 's castle , are magnificent -- grave , stately , and severe . but the film becomes unbearably static once the action moves to england .", "the atmospheric opening is the best part -- moody and full of sinister potential . after that , it 's stilted drawing-room talk , variably acted , except for the cultish over-the-top dementia of dwight frye .", "bela lugosi gives the performance of his life in a role that might have been written just for him . highly atmospheric throughout , this remains a milestone in horror movie history .", "all time horror classic starring lugosi ; still creepy as blazes .", "creepily beautiful .", "MOV -lrb- 1931 -rrb- is one of the earliest classic american horror films from universal pictures - an acclaimed masterpiece directed by tod browning", "a sublimated ghost story related with all surface seriousness and above all with a remarkably effective background of creepy atmosphere .", "an exciting melodrama , not as good as it ought to be but a cut above the ordinary trapdoor-and-winding-sheet type of mystery film .", "... it 's clear that the movie simply does n't hold up terribly well all these years later .", "it remains the most subtly romantic and highly atmospheric rendition of bram stoker 's tale about the transylvanian count , with browning orchestrating the opening scenes to macabre perfection .", "it 's a case of lightning-in-a-bottle casting and there 's no way of telling if anyone else as MOV would 've become the model for every single MOV that followed .", "bela lugosi gives his greatest performance as the mesmerizing menace from transylvania . MOV chilled audiences in the 1930 's , and it still gives me goosebumps .", "a classic despite numerous flaws .", "stark , cold , and deeply sensual , `` MOV 's '' atmosphere and intention is rooted in a fear of unknown lust and desire from which there can be no escape . to view `` MOV '' is to be bitten by the vampire 's desperate attack .", "a perfect example of the worst traits of hollywood films in the early sound era .", "lugosi 's seminal performance and the striking opening act are what distinguish browning 's version of the classic tale .", "with mr. browning 's imaginative direction and mr. lugosi 's makeup and weird gestures , this picture succeeds to some extent in its grand guignol intentions .", "despite its reputation as a horror classic , MOV is tedious , stagebound and dull ; saved only by lugosi 's perfomance .", "MOV takes place within the confines of the parlors and drawing rooms of london society , which bears a striking resemblance to americana circa 1931 .", "bathed in an atmosphere of nightmare , dread and otherworldliness that is unlike anything else in american horror cinema .", "campy by today 's standards , but still the melancholic master of fright flicks .", "still the best american take on the infamous bloodsucker .", "... the film survives as a classic horror tale largely because of lugosi 's distinctive portrayal as MOV .", "when bela lugosi died he was buried wearing one of his original silk capes . forever cloaked , he casts his shadow still .", "\u00e9 uma pena que o vampiro absoluto das telas , bela lugosi , n\u0103o tenha estrelado um filme perene como a lenda em que ele se tornou .", "... a motion picture for people who love motion pictures , their history , and their evolution . it is a self-recommending classic ." ], "summary": "bela lugosi 's timeless portrayal of MOV in this creepy and atmospheric 1931 film has set the standard for major vampiric roles since .", "id": "18413" }, { "movie": "dark_days", "reviews": [ "it 's distinguished by remarkable intimacy , with none of the arty distance or aesthetic pretension a veteran filmmaker might have imposed . singer 's subjects feel more like collaborators , an ensemble cast .", "as superficial as MOV was , the subject is singular enough for the film to be memorable .", "i would love to see a kind of 14-up sequel : what 's happened to these people in the interim ? a tough , compassionate movie .", "a black-and-white hymn to the energy of the dispossessed , made in the late 1990s , but still horribly relevant .", "the movie , as heroic as it may have been to produce , is more noteworthy for its intentions than its execution .", "complemented by its black-and-white photography and a moody dj shadow score , this is a gritty yet often tender look at society 's margins .", "the ending stumbles , but not enough to tarnish this study of life lived under society 's radar .", "a work at once intimate , irreverent and respectful , from which unforgettable characters emerge , beautifully shot in black and white and with a soundtrack by dj shadow .", "a deeply humanistic documentary about nyc 's `` lower depths '' .", "shot in stylized black-and-white , this docu about the homeless was the winner of multiple awards at the sundance film fest .", "MOV remains a vital documentation and representation of a continuing , widespread problem , the resonance of which is heightened in these fragile , economically troubled times .", "a remarkable film , and an unmissable rediscovery .", "MOV is a well-paced look at an undeniably riveting subject .", "while director marc singer 's dedication is admirable , the film itself has trouble shedding light on its subject .", "one of the best films about the homeless ever made .", "singer 's grainy ... photography lends the film the evocative aura of something that has been unearthed , while the spare , haunting soundtrack by dj shadow perfectly captures the sense of otherworldliness that pervades this remarkable film .", "revealing , if occasionally frustrating .", "the lives of these people inside their shacks are full of surprises as well as grim confirmations , but the things we do n't know about them also significantly shape our experience of the film .", "singer deserves credit for attempting to put a human face on such tragic circumstances , but he appears to have gotten so close to his main subjects that he seems unwilling to make them , or their desperate situation , look too bad .", "some of these hardy souls have lived this way for years , decades even , and they 've lived not just to tell the tale but to suggest that they 've created a viable alternative existence . at times , MOV almost makes you envious . but only almost .", "marc singer 's documentary MOV absolutely blew me away . it takes the viewer on a thoroughly engrossing journey to the heart of darkness .", "the documentary is amazing .", "this is the world discovered and illuminated by gonzo documentarian marc singer , who spent a good part of two years living with and chronicling the lives of a half-dozen tunnel dwellers for his remarkable first film , MOV", "moving and memorable .", "the virtue of MOV is that it provides a forum for its subjects , who turn out to be funny , charming , acerbic , annoying , callous , kind and , ultimately , fully human . the movie 's other quality -- a dewy romanticism -- is both an asset and a detriment .", "mark singer 's astonishing debut is a stylishly shot black and white 16 mm documentary which focuses on the homeless who inhabit the subway tunnels beneath manhattan .", "director singer actually lived in the tunnels himself for a while , so the result is fascinating and never patronising .", "MOV is so engrossing it 's easy to forget you 're watching a movie . it 's a film whose subject matter is so much larger , so much more interesting than sitting in a theater -lrb- or on your couch -rrb- , that it 's practically impossible not to get caught up .", "looking to have your preconceived notions shattered at the movies ? take in MOV , a truly astonishing documentary about the homeless people who inhabit a deserted train tunnel beneath the streets of new york city .", "marc singer 's film shows an extraordinary world that exists below the streets of manhattan .", "MOV is an engrossing account of a world most of us could not have imagined inhabited by people whose fates we care about .", "the result is an eye-opener that takes us into singer 's experience and turns our perceptions of the homeless inside out .", "told from deep inside by people who trusted singer enough to be open and candid , the film treats its subjects straight-on , without the kinds of patronizing or romanticizing that often mar generically well-meaning documentaries on the dispossessed .", "an unromanticized and fascinating glimpse of the lives of a community of homeless people surviving in a train tunnel in manhattan .", "if any urban setting conjures up an image of the bowels of hell , surely this is it . and ` MOV records it in stark black-and-white pictures that stir the most primal fears of subsisting in a world without light .", "these are not mole-men , these are people who once had lives like everyone else . in the cold , in the dark , it 's all too easy to forget that . singer makes sure that we do n't .", "marc singer 's feted 2000 doc about a manhattan subterranean community has lost none of its power since its debut .", "singer achieves remarkable intimacy with his subjects , who share their experiences and joke around with the man behind the camera as freely as they do with their peers .", "singer captures intimate moments in the lives of his subterranean protagonists in their strange , crepuscular world .", "a portrait of the homeless community of `` mole people '' who lived in sections of disused underground tunnels in new york , this is a singularly powerful account of the lives of the dispossessed and desperate .", "singer 's stark black-and-white photography renders their world with the abstract horror of a german expressionist film , yet he 's equally skilled at coaxing the grim personal stories of life underground .", "it 's hard not to get caught up in these people 's lives , or to be impressed by their resiliency .", "as we come to know the residents , we find their lives , and yearning for home and safety , as tragic , funny , and involving as anything in a scripted movie .", "a fascinating , beautifully photographed portrait of a vanished community : a group of homeless people who built a shanty town in the train tunnels beneath penn station .", "if you want to know where to find the truly dedicated filmmakers , you have to see documentaries . it 's there you can find true commitment , from the likes of filmmakers like marc singer .", "as a chronicle of midnight and dawn in the great human day , MOV ranks among the most moral of films .", "simultaneously uplifting and shaming .", "marc singer 's camera hustles and chills along with them all , documenting their lives in black-and-white as high-contrast as the days above to the nights below .", "the documentary feels like it surreptitiously removed another barrier to more direct relations between those behind and in front of the camera .", "designed neither to warm your heart nor shelter you in the comfort of liberal guilt , the movie does what so many style-conscious , `` subjective '' documentaries have long forgotten how to do . it shows you a world , and stays the hell out of it .", "-lsb- singer -rsb- is granted such candid interviews and such complete access to these people 's lives that even if it were not an adroit piece of filmmaking with an attention-grabbing style , MOV would still be engrossing to watch .", "shot in black and white , marc singer 's compassionate film introduces the audience to the tunnel 's many inhabitants .", "a haunting account of outcasts forging their own definition of home on the very margins of mainstream society .", "a celebration of human resourcefulness , MOV is also an indictment of the society that makes such resourcefulness a necessity .", "this exploration of the dark does n't shed much light .", "with an ending that is surprisingly upbeat , MOV is , in the long run , a tribute to its characters ' indomitable spirits .", "haunting documentary about the homeless beneath new york 's streets", "a gripping collection of vignettes that show a side of life most of us will hopefully never have to witness first-hand .", "a superb film that , unlike so many others , will make you realise the value of what you have .", "the raw honesty here is startling -- these people open themselves up to the camera in such a candid way that we ca n't help but be drawn into their world .", "MOV attacks our wastefulness and insensitivity to the underprivileged , and is enhanced by the use of humour and understatement .", "a noble film worthy of attention", "it 's a near-great film , reminiscent of the early frederick wiseman movies like welfare and hospital that left you both aghast and exhilarated at what human beings are capable of ." ], "summary": "marc singer 's documentary about a group of homeless people living beneath the streets of new york city is haunting and uplifting in equal measure .", "id": "18506" }, { "movie": "sweet_smell_of_success", "reviews": [ "its script posses some of the sharpest dialogue ever written , and even if it 's not exactly naturalistic , it 's stylized in the best sense .", "a fizzingly clever big-city satire and deeply strange late noir classic .", "an ambitious and self serving group bent on their own self survival make for a crisp script . lancaster at his larger than life best ... a classic .", "lancaster-curtis saga of manhattan 's amoral media has spark and a wicked bite .", "brilliant performances by burt lancaster and tony curtis , and james wong howe 's glowing black and white photography , are the perfect compliments to the rapid-fire screenplay .", "loose , sleazy , brilliant and hyper-cool .", "a lean , mean amorality tale that still goes down like a cookie laced with arsenic .", "the main incentive to see this movie is its witty , pungent and idiomatic dialogue , such as you never hear on the screen anymore in this age of special-effects illiteracy .", "uses every aspect of filmmaking to perfection .", "its pleasures are almost obscenely abundant .", "sweet smell , which could have been offal , is raised to considerable dramatic heights by intense acting , taut direction -lrb- by alexander mackendrick -rrb- , -lsb- and -rsb- superb camera work -lrb- by james wong howe -rrb- .", "... one of the most lacerating and vicious visions of the predatory urban world in the american cinema ...", "the film is a masterpiece , intelligent hollywood cinema at its best .", "a masterpiece .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- here lies the defective foundation of the american dream as viewed from an implicitly american viewpoint - bert lancaster 's company produced the film .", "new york never looked as thrillingly sordid as it does in this scabrous masterpiece .", "it all begins with the title . the irony aside , its lightness and alliteration suggest the last breaths of one of the film 's victims .", "a meandering drama about the lure of success and the ignominious aggression of defeat .", "masterful direction and cinematography are shown off in this restored version , with bernstein 's apt jazzy score nailing all the right notes .", "mackendrick 's nighthawk landscape is compellingly , poetically bleak .", "still remarkably pungent .", "cruel and unflinching , this movie is partially responsible for bringing winchell 's career down . excellent cinematography , acting , dialogue , and scoring -- a must see .", "engaging , at times vicious drama w/lancaster as acidic gossip monger , curtis fine as wimpy sidekick .", "james hill 's production , locationed in manhattan , captures the feel of broadway and environs after dark .", "the screen was rarely so dark or cruel .", "with some of the sharpest dialogue ever cut in hollywood , only on the most superficial level is this a movie about gossip and publicity . we 're talking show business . we 're talking america . we 're talking cast-iron classic .", "it 's about hype and , although it was made decades before the word was coined , it still has eye-opening things to convey about the slippery business of celebrity journalism . such is the value of first-hand experience .", "a cruelly cynical take on the seamy side of new york city 's swinging nightclub life .", "excellent drama containing one of tony curtis ' greatest performances .", "sizzling dialogue , incendiary performances .", "lancaster is monumental .", "a true classic . lancaster at top form , curtis is great as his toady . a cynical masterpiece .", "MOV -lrb- 1957 -rrb- is an ascerbic , dynamic and intense film that exposes the diseased under-side of new york city 's glamorous night life , revealing ...", "one of the sharpest and corrosively perceptive films to emerge from hollywood .", "one of those rare films where you remember the names of the characters because you remember them -- as people , as types , as benchmarks .", "captures the sleazy allure of manhattan like no other film ." ], "summary": "MOV boasts a top-notch cast , sharp direction , atmospheric cinematography , and an appropriately jazzy score , making it one of the best noir crime thrillers ever made .", "id": "19162" }, { "movie": "passion_of_the_christ", "reviews": [ "the basic message of christianity -- love your brother -- is obscured under torrents of blood to the point of benumbing the audience .", "gravely intense and the work of a man as deeply committed to his subject as one could hope for or , for that matter , want .", "the MOV is the jesus story that 's been begging to get made since charlie heston kicked off his robes and sandals .", "whether you enjoy the film or not , it is undeniably something that will generate good discussion and that makes it worth checking out .", "it 's almost impossible not to be moved by jim caviezel 's vulnerability as christ , even if the idea that he is no ` mere ' man is never in doubt .", "hey , i do n't believe it literally , but it is a movie , after all -- it 's a great story , too , certainly as compelling as `` dead man walking . ''", "gibson turns the thing into a bloody shock spectacle ; he implicates the viewers like the jews who watched the crucifixion and beatings as entertainment .", "i found the film more numbing than moving , as if the transformation it charted was not from human to divine , but from man to carcass .", "and any power these explicit scenes have is in any case undermined by the absurd tweeness of the final moments .", "it 's a head-bashing experience , by turns exhausting , exhilarating , and infuriating .", "i wanted to be moved . really , i did . a lot . instead , i left cold .", "like a ballet where physical movements are used to show pain , heartache , evil and suffering", "with a pervasive nc-17 level of gore , its simplistic and relentlessly pedantic but effective with its single theme that christ suffered . but where is its spirituality ?", "in the end , one can respect gibson 's high intentions and dedicated work , while remaining spiritually and dramatically unmoved by the result .", "despite controversies swirling around the movie , one can not deny that gibson has made a stunning film , beautifully photographed in contrasting dark and golden hues by caleb deschanel .", "watching it is an act of self-flagellation .", "for a filmmaker who wants to create an adaptation of the story of jesus , mel gibson 's motives seem ironically impure .", "gibson has made an extraordinary , focused movie with blinders on , showing mostly one color -- blood-red -- from the full christian spectrum .", "bloody to the point of gruesome , moving without being inspiring .", "it 's just bad storytelling .", "the director claims he had no intention of making an anti-semitic film and we tend to believe him , in much the same way we believe larry flynt when he says he 's not misogynist .", "gibson has succeeded in making the definitive look at the final 12 hours in the life of jesus , with a movie that is gut-wrenching in both its violence and inhumanity .", "controversy aside , the passion is ultimately a movie -- and a masterful one at that , obviously the work of an extremely talented filmmaker .", "one of the things that happens while you watch a man slowly beaten to death is that the fact of his life is reinforced . this happened , gibson is saying .", "in expressing his own blend of masochism and piety , mel gibson may well have created a jesus uniquely apt for our time : bloodied , tormented , alienated and alone .", "will rightfully be considered a landmark achievement not only for the passionate responses it is causing but because gibson was able to give one of the oldest and best-known stories in literature such contemporary resonance and power .", "one thing is certain : gibson has delivered a film so visceral , so unwavering in his commitment , that it makes most other jesus movies look pale and tepid .", "does one really have to so debase christ 's story in order to make it relevant to today 's audiences ?", "jesus is confronted by king herod of judea who appears to be a boy george impersonator . herod asks jesus for a miracle : can cher please be born 2,000 years earlier ?", "if you want to get offended by a mel gibson movie , nothing is worse than the portrayal of slavery in the patriot . yeah , everyone is a happy free voluntary worker .", "beautiful , violent -- and also funny for all the wrong reasons , and boring .", "the entire event is gut-wrenching , but mel gibson makes a movie that gives you the guts without the wrench . his jesus is a whipping post .", "la conmoci\u00f3n deja paso al rechazo o a la admiraci\u00f3n con que los maquilladores lograron esas heridas en el cuerpo del actor -lrb- lo que se asemeja mucho a la indiferencia -rrb- .", "pretentious cinematography and gritty realism aside , there 's not a whole lot in this torture chamber to be passionate about", "this problem of truth -- how it might be defined , known , or told -- underlies most all of mel gibson 's film .", "when audiences walk out of theaters in stunned silence , i 'm not sure it is for the same reasons director mel gibson wanted .", "`` the passion '' is big , physical , violent and unflinching . it 's unlike any biblical film ever made and it 's impossible to watch it with a trace of passivity .", "-lsb- gibson 's -rsb- film , virtually stripped of jesus 's incandescent views , is little more that a record of one of the thousands of barbarities committed by the romans in judea .", "a high-gloss exploitation picture , obsessed with the death jesus conquered , rather than the life he gave -- and gives .", "this graphic depiction of the crucifixion of christ misses any spiritual meaning to this seismic event .", "instead of being moved by christ 's suffering , or awed by his sacrifice , i felt abused by a filmmaker intent on punishing an audience , for who knows what sins .", "i was moved by the depth of feeling , by the skill of the actors and technicians , by their desire to see this project through no matter what .", "a very dour , pedestrian picture .", "mel gibson 's personal vision of the persecution and death of christ is relentless , brutal ... and brilliant .", "saturated with vengeance , betrayal , and melodrama , mel gibson 's sadistic take on jesus ' final twelve hours screams bloody murder .", "impressive filmmaking -- but it takes a lot of wincing to watch mel gibson 's version of this powerful story .", "even though it is relentlessly intense , at times even deeply moving , the passion ultimately leaves you numb .", "a filmed bloodletting like no other on record , essentially a terribly graphic two-hour torture sequence .", "there are scenes in the passion that will remain forever with those who see it .", "does have its share of very powerful moments , and it boasts some strong performances . whether audience members will be able to concentrate on them amid the ultra-realistic and excruciating violence , however , is questionable .", "gibson makes many of the key scenes work .", "a film of artistic ambition and devotion .", "the cinematic equivalent of a rorschach inkblot : you will probably see in it whatever you choose to see in it .", "religion is always a delicate and personal issue , but great filmmaking is great filmmaking , period .", "viscerally powerful , but if this were a horror film instead of an ` edifying ' religious drama , it would have been sent back for cuts or had an nc-17 slapped on it .", "one can not rely on any critic for this film because a biased opinion lies behind every review .", "mel gibson 's passion , though well-acted , technically impressive and initially moving , is for the most part not beautiful and certainly not ennobling .", "in the gospel according to mel gibson , blood does n't lie . it 's the only truth that exists . which means the agony is the ecstacy in the MOV .", "an unquestionable work of conviction that should outlast the controversy and trigger constructive dialogue for years to come .", "while this is clearly the most controversial film of the year , but i also happen to think it might also be the its most brilliant as well .", "passion might be a courageous , visceral , boldly artistic motion picture , but that it does n't make a very convincing dramatic experience .", "the MOV is something of a masterpiece , terrible to behold , unfit for children , certainly , but very much the work of a director in the throes of his own distinct passion .", "overall this is a remarkably unremarkable film , lacking in subtlety and enshrouded in that depressing sense of catholic guilt which gibson no doubt wrestles with every night .", "gibson dwells on the gory details of laceration -- one whipping after another and another and another -- until it 's the viewer who 's tortured , hurt , defensive , and , finally , numb -lrb- if not driven to retaliate -rrb- .", "there 's no denying gibson 's passion in bringing his vision to the screen , no matter how dodgy his religious beliefs .", "if gibson imagined that this extended detailing of sadism would somehow be inspirational , he needs to be taken off his biblical steroids .", "mel 's rockpile is akin to taking oliver twist -lrb- another well-thumbed literary tome -rrb- and focusing entirely on the scene in which bill sykes bludgeons nancy to death .", "gibson ... seems determined to prove that jesus suffered more than anyone who has ever lived , a tiresomely literal argument at best , an exercise in sadomasochistic bullying at worst .", "mr. gibson has gone to a lot of sweat and expense to make a movie that does n't say much of anything new .", "gibson may have given us the most profitable version of this story ever made , but he 's also given us the most amateurish , absurd , politically suspect and obsessively violent .", "il est ind\u00e9niable que le film est puissant par moment mais ...", "controversy aside , it is dramatically intense , skillfully constructed and often harrowing , in ways that should have an impact on people of any or no particular faith .", "controversy over whether it will inflame anti-semitism guarantees huge audiences , and many people may be profoundly moved . but as a film it is quite bad .", "it leaves one with the impression of a human race so violent it justifies all the fears critics have expressed about potential modern-day reactions to the film .", "the MOV is at once a well-crafted film , a merciless excursion into motion-picture ultraviolence , and a regrettably cramped historical account that stays doggedly on the surface of its overwhelmingly important subject .", "the MOV is so relentlessly focused on the savagery of jesus ' final hours that this film seems to arise less from love than from wrath , and to succeed more in assaulting the spirit than in uplifting it .", "in terms of films based upon outlandish stories , i 'm way more worried about how alfonso cuar\u00f3n is going to handle the next harry potter movie .", "less reverential than razzle-dazzlin ' , more an episode in the history of show business than a religious epiphany .", "the ultimate contradiction ... is that a film about the prince of peace is violent enough to earn an r rating .", "shockingly violent , chock full of scenes drenched in blood , this movie earns its r rating many times over .", "... captivating and provocative in its exquisite spirit . the MOV is an ambitious and visceral undertaking that demands acceptance .", "a two-hour bloodbath .", "this is a movie so singular , so intense , so overwhelming that it simply has to be experienced .", "emotional , violent , extreme and very gory , mel gibson 's controversial the MOV is a difficult and grotesque experience for most viewers .", "if i were a christian , i 'd be appalled to have this primitive and pornographic bloodbath presume to speak for me .", "jesus stumbles under the weight of the cross so many times , you begin to swear the editors are recycling the same footage over and over again .", "it will spare you no mercy .", "... up there with the greatest films of the genre , -lsb- although -rsb- the director 's approach may be somewhat excessive in terms of violence .", "the overriding virtue ... is the film 's conviction in its own material .", "the film 's lack of discretion robs the viewer of his or own conception of christ 's crucifixion . it is an exploitative disservice to `` the greatest story ever told , '' that reduces that illustrious narrative to an extended torture episode .", "with a passionate zeal and the budget to back it , mel gibson has created a religious epic which is equally unique , inspirational , and repellent .", "gibson 's passion is all over this film ... but his resorting to mawkish , superficial tactics blows the tone off-course from time to time .", "extremely violent , and powerful ; for mature teens .", "more sensational than spiritual , this blood-soaked take on the stations of the cross retells the gospels as a horror movie . you ca n't help asking : where has all the love gone ?", "i emerged from the MOV depressed and spiritually bruised .", "all -lsb- gibson has -rsb- done ... is to trade in the hollywood conventions of yesteryear for the crasser , more bloodthirsty conventions of today .", "it 's a shame there is n't a good movie deep down in this excuse for gore and sadism .", "if art is to be measured by how it provokes , the MOV may end up being the closest thing to art we see in our lifetime .", "the richness of the jesus material is diluted to broad , shallow brush strokes ... scant dialogue and ... no plot or character development ... gibson delivers the broadest clich\u00e9s .", "if what you are looking for is an overwrought , hyper-violent reenactment of jesus ' final hours , that is what you will get here , and no more .", "this is the true gibson story version of the death of christ , in all is re-created gory .", "like my reviews for the `` harry potter '' series , my review of `` the MOV '' will come from the perspective of someone who has not read the book .", "takes one of mankind 's key tales of grace and redemption and reduces it to horror .", "this is one of the most powerful and emotional films i have ever seen .", "is gibson trying somehow to shock us into believing ?", "the style and mode are a little too heterogeneous to come together right , even though some images have a pared-down majesty , and the main line of the film is tough .", "gibson se concentra em uma passagem que ignora totalmente a compaix\u0103o e o amor - dois sentimentos preciosos para algu\u00e9m que , de acordo com a b\u00edblia , morreu por nossos pecados .", "gibson 's artistic intentions and interpretation of the gospels have created a film that is both moving and horrifying .", "this is a good film , well-made , well-told and it is clearly a personal triumph for mel gibson .", "the most compelling message of this unflinching , powerful , and haunting movie is that in jesus ' name we are obligated to extend our compassion to victims everywhere .", "i ca n't bring myself to condemn this film ... -lsb- gibson -rsb- made the film he was inspired to make , which included writing , directing , producing , financing and marketing -lsb- it -rsb- himself", "the MOV is a rare thing indeed , then : a work of art that succeeds as a film , as a message , and , yes , as a labor of love .", "as a true reading of the gospels -- the director 's much-vaunted aim -- the film falls abruptly short .", "the passion does n't suffer from the airless , pious airs that drag down most biblical dramas : it has a muscular , pounding energy and lyrical , almost gothic beauty .", "a powerful , wrenching experience that makes all previous films on the subject , from the king of kings -lrb- 1927 -rrb- to jesus christ superstar -lrb- 1973 -rrb- , look like sunday school pageants , and it 's not for the squeamish or the immature .", "preaching to the choir and doing so in shorthand .", "it 's as if gibson is measuring god 's love by the amount of blood he shows on the screen .", "it 's a brutally beautiful -lrb- or would that be beautifully brutal ? -rrb- , unnerving , and frustrating film that will undoubtedly offer up more questions than answers .", "if you come seeking theological subtlety , let alone such modern inventions as psychological depth , you 'll walk away battered and empty-handed .", "intense .", "the buzz is that this film is a life changing experience , and is anti-semitic . i disagree on both counts . it is however , a powerful and effective illustration of john 3:16 .", "if jesus actually received the amount of punishment dished out in this film , he would have been dead three times over before arriving at calvary .", "a high-art snuff film ... an unhealthy , inhuman , pornographic , masochistic torture mechanism .", "... a powerful presentation .", "as a religious experience , the MOV makes a damn fine movie .", "amid the controversy and accusations of excessive violence that surrounds mel gibson 's the MOV lies a good movie .", "retains a real sense of power . its message never wavers , always visible beneath the gore .", "mel gibson 's labor of love about the death of jesus is incredibly labored , recasting his crucifixion in crimson , slo-mo cliches .", "has such anti-semitic possibilities and no upside for anyone but believers in mel 's vision that the execution of christ is more important than his life .", "as a film -- and more importantly , as a document of faith -- it is a dismayingly simplistic , obvious , overbearing waste remarkable only for the quantities of blood it spills .", "it 's not the second coming of christ , but it 's a finely crafted piece of work that should not be missed .", "a big , bold , nightmarishly beautiful film not just about the dawn of the christian faith , but about the awful tendency of human communities -lrb- wherever and whenever in the world they may exist -rrb- toward self-preservation , intolerance and mob rule .", "after all the debate about this film ... what gibson has delivered is his own passionate vision .", "one of the most overpowering experiences i 've ever had in a movie theater , the film is a brutal , blood-soaked plea for compassion and forgiveness in the face of monstrosity .", "a film so narrowly focused as to be inaccessible for all but the devout .", "i kept thinking : when is this going to be over ? this is not an easy movie to watch .", "whereas the words say love , love , love , the sounds and images say hate , hate , hate .", "it 's not an instructive or illuminating experience ... but a visceral and vicious one . -lsb- i -rsb- t 's mel gibson on a bloody pulpit preaching to the converted .", "the movie 's biggest sin lies not in where it chooses to cast blame , but in its bungled attempt at manufacturing what i suppose you 'd have to call an epiphany of excess .", "general jesus christ is reborn , awarded the most earned purple heart in history , and summons his christian soldiers to march forth and fight whatever battles he calls us to .", "as a film for true believers , passion is zealously self-righteous ... in the beginning was the word , and the word was agony .", "blood gore pain !!!!!! wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !", "the power of spectacle overrides spiritual insight .", "` is mel gibson `` wacko ? '' ... you 'd have to be wacked out of your mind to cultivate the desire to create the most realistic depiction of the crucifixion in the history of cinema . '", "from a technical standpoint , the film is impressive . from a narrative or message-bringing standpoint , it left me wanting . and the violence ...", "irrespective of your religious beliefs , mel gibson 's brutal depiction of the most renowned story of sacrifice and love is distressing to the very core .", "the MOV , while not a perfect film , will touch many emotions in those who see it . some people may be offended , while others may be inspired .", "emerging from the job-like endurance test of this film 's unrelenting horror , it 's impossible not to be moved by its visceral impact ...", "how anyone could call gibson 's filmic account anti-semitic is mindboggling in its confused narrow-mindedness .", "unrelentingly anti-semitic , excessively grotesque and overly narrow in its scope", "how you react to it depends mostly on what you take in with you .", "no other film in history has even attempted such a concentrated interpretation of these unimaginable events let alone do so with what i call such reverential explicitness .", "an inspiring film , no matter what your faith .", "it 's a crucifiction .", "despite gibson 's efforts to hide caviezel 's european heritage behind a prosthetic nose and darkened eyes , jesus comes off looking like all other movie depictions-whitewashed .", "an impressive , ultra-violent -- and deeply troubling -- take on jesus ' final hours .", "passion affords exactly the moviegoing experience gibson intended : an appreciation of christ 's sacrifice via an explicit rendering of his suffering .", "a triumphant masterpiece . is gibson this millennium 's saint paul ?", "this most human of tales is sadly lacking humanity .", "sick .", "one of the best films of this middle-aged decade .", "incredibly intense , unflichingly realistic and powerfully moving ... one of the all-time great cinematic achievements ... god bless mel gibson .", "a negative and spiritually underwhelming experience .", "a tormented movie about torment ; loopy , over-reaching and occasionally suspicious . simultaneously , it is a daring artistic endeavour .", "director gibson tends toward populist impulses without much artistry or invention ; he prefers bombardment to poetry .", "mr. gibson has plucked at the rawest of nerves yet i can not blame him . he is expressing himself through the medium of film and using the text of his bible as the basis .", "by giving us the feeling of experiencing jesus ' thoughts , and by making us privy to his prayers , the passion draws us toward christ 's full humanity like no film before .", "easily the most controversial film of the year , gibson 's fil is a visually bold , relentlessly violent epos that suffers from a shallow , undernourished narrative and no characterizations to speak of .", "as a movie , it feels incomplete - yes , it 's incredibly intense and powerful , but i wanted to see a little more about the compassionate man and a little less bloodshed .", "a dramatically powerful statement .", "if this were any other film and any other subject , the passion would have been slapped with an nc-17 rating faster than you can say `` council of nicaea . ''", "it definitely makes the viewer suffer -- but it 's debatable if by itself that 's a truly enlightening contribution to one 's understanding of christ 's message .", "although it 's very good at showing jesus ' suffering , the movie treats him as a prop", "bears the same relation to other biblical epics as a charnel house does to your local deli .", "as a work of cinema , the MOV possesses a majestic beauty within its horror , one that comes most effectively through a tiny , solitary teardrop .", "lost in a labyrinth of stomach-churning pugilism , the spectacle is a hefty cross for audiences to bear .", "the MOV plays like a blend of a political-theology lesson and a snuff film .", "the bottom line is that the MOV is an astonishing cinematic achievement , utterly riveting from start to finish .", "a very specific film made for a very specific audience .", "so obsessively and so graphically bloody-minded that it comes perilously close to the pornography of violence .", "this is a two-hour-and - six-minute snuff movie -- the jesus chainsaw massacre -- that thinks it 's an act of faith .", "strangely remote and uninvolving on both emotional and spiritual levels .", "a gripping , powerful motion picture -- arguably the most forceful depiction of jesus ' death ever to be committed to film .", "the movie is a compendium of tortures that would horrify the regulars at an s&m club .", "a story of betrayal and vindictiveness leading to a mind-numbing gorefest that provokes exhaustion more than it inspires the ` tolerance , love and forgiveness ' which is one of gibson 's stated aims .", "a film about the last hours of christ that is both reverent , but also frighteningly realistic and frequently daring", "if gibson 's central wish was for people to discuss jesus , mission accomplished . if you can manage to disregard the hype , you 'll witness a wonderfully made film .", "whatever demons fueled mel gibson 's longtime passion to mount this work , no redemption is to be found in the one-dimensional result .", "gibson 's obsession with the pain and suffering of jesus , sublime and terrible , does not transubstantiate into spirituality ; rather , the brutality of his film at first repels , then numbs , and finally titillates .", "as a film it is nothing but a long third act with no story and , most importantly , no character development for anyone other than pilate .", "in a world that has lost grasp of the real values in life , the MOV is a timely piece that makes you reflect on the true worth of faith and love .", "gibson has basically taken the greatest story ever told and turned it into a snuff film ... it 's kill bill for the churchgoing crowd .", "watching this is a shocking , grim , harrowing experience . audiences should leave in the spirit of exaltation ; instead , they 're simply exhausted .", "puts us in a situation where we ca n't help but feel jesus 's pain . if only gibson had taken the time to tell more of us why it mattered .", "the MOV is painstakingly true to its source material , neither editorializing nor embellishing upon what is taught each week in thousands upon thousands of churches across the globe .", "it 's tough not to describe without using the word `` powerful . '' for pure cinematic artistry it 's a masterpiece showing man 's inhumanity to man , or in this case , the son of man", "to see the MOV is to feel brutalized .", "poetic filmmaking drawing on -- and continuing -- a long tradition of religious art .", "this is a powerful film .", "it 's too turgid to awe the nonbelievers , too zealous to inspire and often too silly to take seriously .", "the MOV is a tremendous film and if you look at it through those eyes you may believe that too .", "to put so much time , effort and money into something that 's ultimately so lifeless seems like a waste to me .", "il est int\u00e9ressant de voir que le film s ` attarde surtout \u0155 d\u00e9montrer la mesquinerie de l'homme plut\u00f4t que de glorifier le christianisme .", "father forgive them - jesus whipped", "might be mistaken for an instructional video on meat-tenderizing techniques for cannibal chefs . mel 's a muscular christian without a philosophical bone in his head .", "an ambitious , great , and flawed film ... -lsb- it -rsb- reminds us that this man never quit loving us , never quit forgiving his enemies , even as they tore him to shreds .", "to give gibson credit , with the passion he 's passionately striving for art , trying to paint the modern equivalent of a caravaggio canvas on an actor 's body . but in a world engulfed by holy war , it 's one scary picture .", "i do n't know how non-believers will react to this , but for me it was an affirmation and strengthening of my faith .", "whatever else it is -- however flawed we find it -- the MOV is a work of art .", "mel gibson , the lord love him -- and i believe he does , has succeeded in producing the first major motion picture ever that is both spiritually and historically challenging .", "a magnificent story well told ... for most christians the crucifixion has become sort of a clich\u00e9 , something they know happened without really appreciating what agony it was .", "gibson has made a movie for nobody , really , but gibson .", "diminishing returns set in after the first series of beating , but the film is a stunner , a must-see whatever your beliefs .", "blood-soaked pop theology for a doom-laden time , its effect that of a gripping yet reductive paradox : it lifts us downward .", "overall , it 's just another movie , and it can be dismissed with the same short critique we so often apply to other movies : the book was better .", "never dull -- no mean feat , given that it spends two hours telling a story whose end is widely known -- and features performances that range from coarsely effective to phenomenal .", "may have succeeded in exploiting jesus 's death for its most highly pitched emotion and drama . but in the process , for many believers , it may have served only to trivialize and further obscure the story 's most central and sacred mysteries .", "as it plays out , the brutality brings about more numbing revulsion than the revelatory empathy that mel gibson intends .", "gibson places his faith in christ 's suffering , and is determined to make the moviegoer suffer in jesus ' name as well .", "it is difficult to know who would want to see a film this violent .", "a preeminently important cinematic expression of faith -- probably one of the most important religious films of all time .", "this is the most powerful , important and by far the most graphic interpretation of christ 's final hours ever put on film .", "there 's no doubt that jim caviezel was put through the wringer here , and he gives a spiritual performance that 's offset by the physical ordeal he had to endure during the torture scenes and the crucifixion .", "an all-consuming force . it never lets up .", "regardless of how you feel about the movie 's message , you 're certain to leave the movie feeling something about the movie itself .", "powerful and heart-wrenching , gorgeous to look at , and fascinating to contemplate . all issues of religion aside , those components generally result in a film worth seeing .", "it is a film worth seeing and talking about , for better or worse . it gets some things very right , but the violence threatens to overshadow the message .", "gibson has too much belligerence in him to capture the prince of peace at his and our most glorious moment .", "by turning the greatest story ever told into the goriest story ever told , director mel gibson breaks the filmmaking commandment thou shall not overkill .", "for moviegoers who do n't share mel gibson 's religious agenda , it 's nothing but an unpleasant experience .", "the passion is a beautiful film , but an empty one .", "until things get splatter-film bloody and christ starts looking like a jackson pollock painting with exposed ribs , the passion seems inspired less by the holy trinity than by gibson 's other favorite trio , the three stooges .", "if gibson 's use of blood and violence makes his audience squirm in their seats and allows the audience to question his film - then he 's done his job as a filmmaker ...", "this is n't a movie : it 's a theme-park ride for jesus freaks . see the hunks of flesh ripped from jesus ' side ! experience the stations of the cross like never before !", "` the MOV ' invigorates because gibson 's artistic choices have serious theological implications .", "this work of obvious devotion may well be the first spiritual splatter film . it makes gladiator and braveheart -- even friday the 13th -- seem mild by comparison .", "dead languages and horrific violence aside , this is a film everyone should see , whether they hold any religious beliefs or not .", "` bien filmada , mejor actuada y s\u00f3lidamente dirigida . vale la pena todos y cada uno de los centavos de su producci\u00f3n y del costo del boleto de entrada . '", "as a work of devotion and faith , `` the passion '' is a success . as a piece of filmmaking , it is a failure .", "more of a bludgeon of evangelism than a work of art .", "it 's like a bloody renaissance painting come to life . but the dvd is a disappointment .", "those with a spiritually vibrant personal relationship to the story may find it as affirming as it is oppressive .", "a powerful , artistic expression of one of the most pivotal moments in the christian religion .", "... the director spends so much time recounting in minute and realistic detail the agony of christ that he neglects the stronger , spiritual message , of love and kindness .", "una cinta por instantes hermosa , casi siempre demoledora , pero sin duda alguna , profundamente pasional .", "a work that is as horrifying as it is beautiful , as disturbing as it is gratifying , and as powerful as it is controversial .", "the movie gibson has made from his personal obsessions is a sickening death trip , a grimly unilluminating procession of treachery , beatings , blood , and agony .", "serves as a powerful condemnation of any organized religion that aspires to governance or allow clerics to preach contempt and whip sheepish followers into a frenzy .", "-lsb- gibson -rsb- has made a serious , handsome , excruciating film that radiates total commitment .", "-lsb- a -rsb- stunning film , sometimes remarkably moving - at times sublimely beautiful , often sickeningly brutal , but never banal , nor specifically blameful .", "this is one man 's vision of that time and as a movie ... it 's pretty damn good !", "the MOV is powerfully moving and fanatically obtuse in equal doses .", "what graphic sex is to the use of the body in hardcore porno , graphic violence is to destruction of the body of christ in this passion .", "powerful and upsetting .", "mel gibson shows once again that he 's skilled at depicting violence . but you 'd be hard pressed to find evidence of ` tolerance , love and forgiveness ' that the producer-director-co-writer insists he 's trying to communicate .", "using ancient languages , vivid images and visceral violence , gibson has brought new life to one of civilization 's oldest narratives .", "i expected to leave my viewing of the film feeling battered and bruised , but instead i felt very peaceful . seeing the strength required for forgiveness uplifted me .", "jesus christ is remote , a superman among men , and his teardrops shake the earth .", "working with premier cinematographer caleb deschanel , gibson effectively hurls us into christ 's living nightmare , creating a mesmerizing twilight zone that is creepy and utterly unforgettable .", "instead of letting his reverence broaden him , gibson uses his action-movie expertise to reduce the crucifixion to something kinetic , literal and merely tragic .", "a labor of conviction that comes remarkably close to faith-based sadism .", "gibson ultimately seems to be preaching to the choir , rejecting standard storytelling conventions such as introducing his characters , assuming his audience already knows everything he 's about to tell us .", "the extreme violence does not teach a lesson ; it 's an end in itself , more suited to the s&m crowd than to anyone seeking an uplifting sermon on everlasting redemption .", "you may not believe in the events that transpire in the MOV , but it 's hard to deny the grim potency with which they 've been captured .", "` a biblical snuff film '" ], "summary": "the graphic details of jesus ' torture make the movie tough to sit through and obscure whatever message it is trying to convey .", "id": "12891" }, { "movie": "swimming_pool", "reviews": [ "the payoff is so murky that audience members will recognize they have been fooled , but not with what that trick ending actually means .", "tends to stay with you ... for days , weeks even", "you 'll leave entertaining pleasant theories of what just happened , but not feeling bewildered enough for your head to hurt .", "ozon simultaneously manages to make his film lazily sexual and crisply suspenseful .", "ozon even steals from himself ... eventually , -lsb- his -rsb- compulsion to imitate becomes an end in itself , taking his movie in directions it has n't been built to travel .", "one of my favorite films of the summer .", "two parts psychological thriller and one part pretentious french art-house head-scratcher that leaves you mumbling , ` duh . '", "the basis is classic mystery , yes , and that should be respected , but ozon is using the form to arrive at a much deeper character study in a manner that is almost polanski-esque .", "it 's a provocative experience , one that floats peacefully yet makes us wonder what might be lurking beneath the surface .", "an erotic thriller , with an emphasis on eroticism , presumably because ozon could n't come up with real thrills .", "it 's sagnier , a young bardot , who lifts the movie , and rampling , 58 , who gives it nuance , not to mention a nude scene that shows off a body demi moore would envy .", "MOV has the edgy chill of early polanski .", "tricky thriller .", "whether through manipulation or skilled filmmaking , MOV mesmerizes long after the movie is over .", "it 's worth seeing twice just for the privilege of watching rampling and sagnier match each other stroke for stroke .", "with a little sex , some mystery , a little sex , an appealing title and a little sex , france 's MOV has what it takes to become an art house audience magnet .", "a moodily effective thriller that in the end also works as a clever commentary on the creative process .", "ozon means to have perversity speak for him , but in the end , it does n't have a lot to say .", "like other ozon movies , it feels lifeless and freeze-dried -- in the end , it 's more about its own ideas than it is about actual characters .", "... partly about a novelist 's seach for inspiration , but it 's mostly about the sort of inspiration that can come from watching ludivine sagnier stretched under the sun in a barely there bikini .", "this is sophisticated , sultry noir for those who fancy this sort of thing , but then , who does n't ?", "-lsb- ozon -rsb- treats his actresses like ruined objets d'art , fallen older goddesses -lrb- or corruptible youthful ones -rrb- who are just grist for his pop cultural mill .", ". french director francois ozon is a real tease , playing his audience before revealing the final knockout . .", "big-bosomed , small-waisted french actress ludivine sagnier parades topless for more than half of francois ozon 's thriller . surprise is , `` MOV '' is not sexy or thrilling", "bracingly adult and ripe with an ambiguity that will promote coffee-house conversations for hours afterward .", "a titillating and unhurried character drama with all the trappings of a thriller , but with erotiscm substituted for danger driven tension .", "the MOV in the film , as depicted by ozon , is a self-reflexive epicentre ...", "the film is enthralling while it lasts , even if it does n't completely hold together on further reflection .", "a sexy , stylish mystery that thrives on ambiguity .", "rampling and sagnier are superb . the former is in top form with her portrayal of sarah 's metamorphosis , while her co-star is sensually cool as the elusive young woman .", "MOV seduces and annoys .", "MOV is a slick psychological blender with an ending that causes a re-evaluation of everything that preceded it .", "... primarily a movie about the disruptive and empowering effects of female nudity -- which is kinda cool . too bad about the ending .", "a watchable , provocative film .", "MOV is more an exquisite art object than an involving movie . so be it .", "unsure of the correct solution but aware of all the possibilities , the only conclusion i could come to was how i did n't give a hot damn about any of them .", "an elegant , brilliant and rapturous work ... a languid cinematic treatise on the beautiful mystery of creativity that possesses the swirl of an involving dream .", "a taut , psychological tete-\u0155-tete that rivets us and keeps us guessing .", "sex , murder , mystery , psychological drama , vintage rampling , sensuous sagnier , and a summer house in provence -- here ozon has all bases covered .", "visually arousing and perceptive in its sexy cynicism , pool allows one to dip more than just their reluctant toe in the cool and calming turquoise waters ... provocative", "charlotte rampling 's superb performance and the film 's artistic , enigmatic ending will haunt me for a long time to come .", "providing his two favorite actresses with departure roles that have a captivating culmination , ozon 's appreciation of their talents is completely contagious .", "one wishes orzon was less impressed with his cleverness , and had given some thought to how it would actually play for audiences .", "is this a mystery thriller or a very slow comedy ? whatever it is , the two lead actresses make the task of finding out delectable .", "... provoking and stimulating to a fault , a movie that genuinely seems to care about its messages and the people it involves .", "the twist ending is unsatisfying and the daughter 's role underdeveloped -lrb- even if her body is n't -rrb- .", "ozon 's first english-language film is a blend of fantasy and reality that is cleverly constructed and nearly seemless .", "stick around for the surprise finish ; it 's a good one , even if the rest of MOV stays close to the shallow end .", "for a story about the boundlessness of the body and mind , it 's told with an asphyxiating conservatism .", "a dazzling film that plays tricks with your mind .", "unlike hitchcock , who was forced to curtail his fetishes behind the movie code , ozon lets it all hang out .", "an erotic , pate de foie gras-flavored thriller .", "an inconsequential film ... still , there are a lot worst things to do than sit in the dark and admire sagnier 's phenomenal figure .", "ozon blends sexual tension and quirky psychology to great advantage , setting the stage for a series of incidents that speak to the incomprehensible grey between fantasy and reality .", "here 's the art house version of caddyshack , also known as ` the slob versus the snob . '", "MOV is an entertaining act of provocation that lingers in the mind like iridescent fabric : turn it one way and it yields this ; turn it another and it 's a different story .", "if `` under the sand '' was ozon 's take on one of polanski 's psychological dramas and `` 8 women '' his ode to john waters , with `` MOV , '' the director enters claude chabrol territory", "MOV is being positioned as an art-house film but there is absolutely no reason why it could n't play in multiplexes along with t3 or the hulk .", "MOV is surprisingly deep ... giving us that special fun that only the very best movies provide-the pleasure of diving in again and again .", "i loved every inch of this movie .", "in taking one sort of movie and seemingly teasing it into another , the director and his leading ladies have made a lovely argument about where the real mysteries lie in our lives .", "works as a character study and a quiet thriller .", "ozon takes a long time setting up his story , but the interplay between sagnier and rampling is electric .", "well-acted , nicely shot , slick and certainly sexy , MOV may be all foreplay and no climax , but what the heck -- there are worse ways to be teased .", "clever and exceedingly well-acted .", "deftly mixing eroticism , psychology and art , ozon has made a provocative movie while adding another stunning performance to rampling 's collection .", "MOV comes by its ` erotic thriller ' label honestly , not merely because the women are naked , but because they deploy their sexuality in a way that 's crucial to the narrative .", "-lsb- a -rsb- solid , somewhat decadent treat .", "offers an inside-out twist on tv 's murder she wrote .", "a deeply layered murder-mystery that keeps you thinking about it in the hours , and even days .", "at the press conference for MOV , the wondrous ozon is asked `` how many women will you put in your film next time ? '' `` i will think about it '' , he laughs .", "stands as the filmmaker 's most satisfying and contained work to date .", "however elegant and feral the film appears on the surface , it 's constantly betrayed by ozon 's cultural reductivism .", "the 57-year-old charlotte rampling reveals a body that most teens would die for .", "as in chabrol , the plot 's not the thing : what drives MOV is the transformations that take place within its characters . rampling is a pleasure .", "the movie shimmers with sexual energy .", "... sensual and enigmatic", "tiene que ver con eso de la ficci\u00f3n y de ser espectadores , y hasta qu\u00e9 punto creemos lo que se ve en la pantalla como una realidad y no como el antojo de un director de cine .", "-lsb- an -rsb- interesting character study of the two women -lsb- portrayed -rsb- .", "although copious amounts of french nudity constitutes , to some degree , its own reward , MOV is marred by stupor and a fake-as-lee-press-on-nails coda .", "confusing thriller is absolutely not for kids .", "this is a very well directed with a good story , great characters , and involving engrossing performances from charlotte rampling and ludivine sagnier .", "rampling and ozon clearly enjoy working together . rampling relishes psychologically complex roles . ozon respects his leading ladies enough to give them challenges .", "charlotte rampling is engaging in this intriguing little whodunit that seems more intent on exposing internal paranoia than it does on real world murder .", "rampling and sagnier are very good in roles that demand very different things of them , and ozon 's mix of peril and playfulness make for a seductive cinematic diversion .", "MOV is full of nudges and nuance .", "as in her previous ozon film , rampling carries nearly the whole thing .", "shimmering with eroticism and simmering with the tension of unfamiliarity - we never know , right up to the flourish of its end , quite where this film is going .", "MOV is far from a conventional whodunit ; we know ` who , ' but there may be no ` dun . '", "think of it as a box of chocolates , with sagnier being the chocolate-covered cherry . and you know the problem with chocolates : they 're great to eat but they offer no nourishment whatsoever , and afterwards you feel guilty for the indulgence .", "the combination of sunny cinematography and an ominous score creates an interestingly offbeat trouble-in-paradise vibe .", "erotically delicious .", "women will have to explain what happened to the men on the way out , as they 're pushing their spring-loaded eyes back into their sockets .", "a delicious little thriller about an uptight , ill-humored english mystery writer who becomes enmeshed in murder , MOV is at once comical , contrary , resourceful and ambiguous .", "the narrative logic of MOV slips through our hands like cool water , shimmery and light-dappled , leaving behind the pleasures of summer heat and goose bumps .", "works well enough as a stylish bit of titillation as well as a showcase for its two marvelous actresses .", "whether the movie leaves you confused or angry , you will be stimulated to long discussion afterward . how often does that happen these days ?", "a brace of superb performances elevates french writer-director francois ozon 's first english-language movie .", "MOV is a lark of a thriller , and a mesmerizing one at that .", "sensuous and deceptive .", "the suspenseful set-up never pays off , but rampling continues the impressive collaboration with ozon that began with under the sand in 2000 .", "rampling 's stuffy performance is fine , but it 's sagnier 's sexually charged , emotionally messed-up turn that makes this tale a juicy one .", "a mesmerizing and imaginative psychological thriller about the delights that can come when we explore aspects of ourselves that we have previously ignored or covered up .", "-lsb- the tension -rsb- grows by increments , until you realize the movie , in its quiet way , has you snared entirely .", "a sexy tease .", "fran\u00e7ois ozon 's sexy but grimly pedestrian `` MOV '' is as obvious as it is uninspired .", "like a good summer book , MOV may not be weighty with profound issues . but it 's a heck of a fun read .", "we float lazily for much of the movie in familiar , seemingly shallow waters . just as we get comfortable , we feel the bottom drop away and paddle frantically to get our bearings .", "the story occasionally wanders , but MOV is definitely worth a dip .", "nudity and intelligent musings : what more could you ask for ?", "rampling is at the top of her game here .", "ozon takes us for a dip into a MOV that is as tempting as it is out of reach for those who prefer diving into deeper water .", "a deft , straightforward character study with an ozon twist", "a delectable and daring psychological drama .", "this movie shares with under the sand , ozon 's previous collaboration with rampling , a sense of mystery and languid eroticism .", "mr. ozon 's first english-language film , is simultaneously a thoroughly mannered , mischievously artificial confection and an acute piece of psychological realism .", "MOV smolders with held-back eroticism and brain-teasing enigmas .", "this is the first film ozon has shot in english , and his attempt to explain sarah may be a bid to soften her and help the film 's commercial viability . luckily for him , his actress stays in character .", "what had been character-driven drama becomes plot-driven and gimmicky , undermining all of the promise of the first half of the film .", "it 's visually interesting and demands you leave the theatre talking about what just happened .", "if the payoff does n't live up to the set-up , ozon 's latest remains an intriguing , fascinatingly unpolished film .", "MOV is as lulling as a dead man 's float , but you come up for air realizing there 's no deep end .", "a fine sunlit noir , oozing sensuality and menace .", "take a dip -- the water 's fine .", "had ozon stayed with his mid - film story , he would have had one of the year 's best films on his hands .", "director francois ozon fabricates an engrossing mystery thriller by throwing disparate samples of the female gender together and finding a way to make the mixture more explosive than forcing oil and water to go into solution .", "rampling and sagnier play women for whom danger means different , opposing things , women who become unlikely allies in a tidy little mystery . inspector durvell -- and alfred hitchcock -- would approve .", "messy and inconclusive as a mystery thriller .", "refreshing and bracing but increasingly murky the longer you stay in the water ...", "... it 's really a shame that the movie becomes as silly as it does .", "the dangerous byplay between rampling and sagnier gives MOV a surprising depth .", "a well-acted film that examines the creative process in a fairly crafty manner .", "MOV offers something few other movies this summer can match : a dreamy , intoxicating sensuality .", "shares a heightened reality with -lsb- ozon 's -rsb- sugar-coated musical mystery 8 women ." ], "summary": "a sensual thriller with two engaging performers demanding our undivided attention .", "id": "15321" }, { "movie": "princess_diaries_2_royal_engagement", "reviews": [ "would succeed with the pre-teen set ; nothing here for adults .", "either marshall is tone deaf to punch lines or he thinks audiences are , for nearly every gag ... gets underscored at least twice .", "lazily plotted bachelorette for tweens .", "it 's the movie equivalent of a sticker scrapbook filled with rainbows and unicorns , featuring guaranteed girl-pleasers like a princess , a romance and a slumber party .", "there 's no spark of life in the story ; nothing that will charm kids and their parents .", "lumpish excuse for a contemporary fairy tale .", "this princess falters before getting to the altar . once that near-magical event happens -lrb- especially , if you 're a little girl -rrb- , the kingdom is enchanted once again .", "a prime example of the `` sequel slump ''", "it delivers the same bland adolescent fluff and feel-good family values its predecessor provided ... this could get interesting -- but it does n't , not really .", "blows through the better stuff quickly and settles into a routine romance .", "fans of the first princess diaries will find enough laughs and diamonds in the rough to sustain them .", "definitely appealed to my inner 12-year-old self .", "sometimes charming , sometimes a tad too silly and all the time predictable , princess diaries 2 gives you what you 'd expect and does n't take many chances besides allowing for the possibility that a princess might be okay without a husband .", "panders to the worst traits in the target audience of spoiled third-grade girls .", "marshall , working with a lousy script by shonda rhimes , amazing for its lack of wit , has mind-numbing tackiness oozing out of every frame here .", "bland and canned , the sequel disappoints repeatedly , not least in its uses of the first film 's energetic supporting players .", "despite all the excessive overlays of set-design , costuming and sugary sweet sappiness , this sequel is a dead artifact .", "obviousness is what does the princess diaries 2 in . everything in this plot marches along to a prefabricated beat .", "even the long-awaited sound of music coming from julie andrews is uninspiring .", "being neither 12 years old nor endowed with x chromosomes , all that held my attention was wondering what in the holy underwear paul williams was doing up there .", "unlikely to appeal to anyone , regardless of their thoughts on the first film .", "a chocolate-box sequel whose rose-tinted view of constitutional monarchy will provoke hoots of derision this side of the pond .", "saddled with the sort of dialogue that would fell a von trapp .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- runs an insufferable two hours , leisurely chugging toward an ending most of the audience will have predicted 15 minutes in .", "the princess diaries 2 : royal engagement is unapologetically aimed towards young girls , making this review virtually moot .", "the larger message -- that you should marry for the right reasons only when you 're ready -- is one everyone can applaud .", "was there a point of a sequel to a movie that was just decent after all ?", "a fun romp for girls of all ages .", "constantly opts for contrived cheesiness , slathering on the cuteness with a trowel .", "if you are a prepubescent girl with a five-year old intellect , this is a smash hit . if you 're not , bring a good book .", "though the picture is often trite and occasionally exasperating , the leading ladies give it a spoonful of sugar and a hint of enchantment .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- unfair to allow grown-ups to wander into this alleged comedy without letting them know a few things first . one , that small children will be bored . two , that they will be bored . three : that they will be bored . four : zzzzzzzzzzz ...", "starts out rather awkwardly but succeeds almost in spite of itself .", "all is disney and cute and up .", "offers enough glossy good cheer to appeal to everyone .", "the movie is undeniably cute . but it 's also often a gooey mess , with a plot that manages to be both wearisome and preposterous -lrb- to grown-ups , that is -rrb- .", "so lame .", "it 's an 8-year-old girl 's fantasy of adulthood , right down to the purple-and-scarlet uniforms worn by the genovian national guard .", "a cheesy-looking sequel to 2001 's sleeper hit that lacks anything resembling genuine charm , wit , or heart .", "like the first film , this offers contrived preteen wish fulfillment with greeting-card sentiment and simplicity .", "-lsb- the movie tries -rsb- too slavishly to duplicate the original without taking it in any new directions .", "princess diaries 2 has plenty of returning cast members and the same competent if bland direction . yet why does it feel like an infomercial for the soundtrack ?", "the film had a goofy sense of humor , some deft casting ... and , best of all , a genuinely charming , star-making performance by anne hathaway in the lead role .", "mia is still better suited to the sensibilities of 5 year old girls than anyone else .", "its royal claim is dubious , and if i were allowed to make proclamations , and i ca n't understand why i ca n't , i 'd have to proclaim it seriously unfunny .", "princess diaries 2 charts the selfish quest of a 21-year-old american to have-it-all .", "there 's not enough story in it to fill a shoebox .", "too blandly insubstantial to expand its appeal beyond its target demographic .", "we all love a good fairy tale , but the enchantment is missing in this predictable sequel .", "good-natured but overstuffed .", "tiresomely plot-driven and unnecessarily drawn-out , royal engagement is the prim and proper cousin to its comparatively anarchic predecessor .", "the real treat , though , is seeing anne hathaway come into her own as an actress . able to play both drama and broad comedy , she really carries the film on her shoulders .", "it 's not the sweet gem the original film was . but it 's still a nice shiny bauble of a movie .", "gentle fun .", "there 's perhaps 60 or 70 minutes ' worth of material here at best . however , that has n't stopped marshall and the screenwriters from padding it out with nonsensical , often painfully unfunny attempts at humor .", "like the first movie , princess diaries 2 relies primarily on the chemistry and screen appeal of andrews and hathaway to elevate the storytelling above the level of mush .", "the problem with this sequel , unlike , say , spider-man 2 or x2 : x-men united , is that no one was interested in making a better film .", "young girls will go bananas over this . the parents however , will find themselves quickly disengaged .", "the film 's generic feminism pales beside its bloated sense of privilege , only underlined by a nonstop cabaret of sideshow acts .", "may have no objectionable material parents will find offensive for children , but just about every viewer will be offended by the patronizing hooey stuffed down their throat .", "it 's a spoonful of julie andrews that helps the melodramatics go down", "contradicts and betrays its previously positive messages about feminine independence by making mia settle for a man she loves only for his looks", "when it 's not annoying , it 's cloying , and in both cases is so acutely irritating that one longs for the passive delights of mere tedium", "an improvement over its inelegant original .", "while there 's nothing in princess diaries 2 to offend your eyes or ears , there 's plenty to insult your intelligence .", "the princess diaries 2 : royal engagement picks up right where the 2001 hit original left off -- not only in its story line , but in its appeal to young girls .", "too squeaky clean to be offensive but far too long to be entertaining .", "a number of the goofy set pieces fall flat but tweens should be too busy swooning at midnight horse rides and bling-bling walk-in wardrobes to notice .", "ought to charm its loyal subjects , or at least their less demanding little sisters .", "hathaway makes it all seem more palatable than it really is , and the presence of julie andrews does n't hurt either , lending the movie a regal grace it otherwise does n't deserve .", "the princess diaries 2 may not be quite fit for royalty , but it does n't make viewers feel as if they 've been sent to a dungeon either .", "still going strong at the respective ages of 69 and 68 , director garry marshall and his singing co-star julie andrews are the true royal couple of this straightforward sequel .", "it 's hollywood hokum at its most glamorous and effective .", "a royal pain .", "ardent fans of the first film will be royally disappointed in princess diaries 2 : royal engagement .", "if you only have one month to live - go see this movie -lrb- because every minute will seem like an eternity -rrb- .", "a corny , dumbed down fairytale that garners pre-teen laughs from gags involving a disapproving poodle and a gay fashionista with a penchant for avant-garde hair .", "who greenlit this lame script ? and why ?", "does n't measure up even to its mediocre predecessor ; it 's a shallow , predictable effort that evaporates as soon as the images hit the screen .", "royal engagement -lrb- the title alone suggests a `` wedding '' installment can not be far behind -rrb- is a plebeian affair that is unlikely to court any new fans", "princess diaries 2 gives you plenty of reasons to hate it ... however , the charming lead actors save the film from becoming dreadful .", "` runaway bride ' moved from rural maryland to the mock-european setting of genovia ... it 's a triple-deluxe marshmallow sundae of a movie , and that 's exactly as it should be .", "director garry marshall continues his reign as enemy of women ... with his depiction of mia ... as a naive child ...", "the entire exercise is about ` fun , ' of course , but marshall and co. are so intent on shoving it down our throats that the first instinct is to rebel and be grouchy .", "this movie is so intent on going nowhere that it introduces new characters just to give them nothing to do .", "scenes end abruptly , laughs are as rare as yetis , and the overarching question seems to be : can we turn this into a franchise ?", "simple romantic fluff that at least does n't shortchange its target audience in the usual condescending manner .", "toy tiaras for orphans ! -lrb- the first one 's always free -rrb- ... another day , another dollar for disney 's lucrative business of breeding...ever-longing dream princesses .", "follow the fun in this excellent sequel that i liked better than the original .", "dear diary : mia 's return engagement is anything but engaging .", "-lsb- a -rsb- needless but charming sequel .", "sadly , the film leaves you with the feeling this was done just for the money this sequel would possibly bring .", "this threadbare sequel takes a page from such revisionist fairy tales as shrek and ella enchanted , movies that assume we 've grown so weary of the same old cinderella story that they go out of their way to invert the formula .", "sure , the characters are very basic , the situation has been seen before and you can practically write the script from frame one . but that does n't stop it from working .", "i admit , i 'm more or less hardwired to dislike this movie , but even by garry marshall 's abysmally low standards , there is n't much to recommend the princess diaries 2 .", "the theme song and spirit was diana ross ' i 'm coming out . this time , the theme is more like i 'm running out . of ideas .", "made for all young girls who 've ever had a princess fantasy . the charm of the cast keeps it mildly entertaining -lrb- or at least tolerable -rrb- for anyone else who tags along .", "you shed a tear that andrews ' good will has been so horribly misspent on this disneyfied schlock .", "this tepid sequel is a compelling argument for royal family planning .", "the princess diaries 2 combines a classic storybook scenario , in which the former ugly duckling refines her swan standing , with the usual self-help uplift .", "with the chemistry between anne hathaway and julie andrews he discovered in the first film , marshall would have needed superhuman effort to screw up their appeal .", "the film is like a homage to the cliches and obligatory stereotypes of its genre .", "anne hathaway and julie andrews again star and garry marshall returns as director ; the only things missing are a script , a pulse , and a reason why .", "a movie that proves fairy tales can come true ... twice .", "a movie with the appeal of a book of paper dolls ." ], "summary": "anne hathaway and julie andrews bring charm and elegance to the movie , but there 's not enough material for them to work with in this sequel .", "id": "9454" }, { "movie": "1170009-conversations_with_god", "reviews": [ "resembles a vanity project that looks as though every frame was submitted by producer-director simon to mr. walsch for his approval .", "the facial hair that actor henry czerny is forced to wear in MOV is ludicrous , even laughable -- as is much of this film .", "the film is professionally mounted , smoothly constructed and carried with ease by czerny 's assured performance .", "a coda after the closing credits , encouraging divine dialogues in general , does little to dispel the hagiographic aftertaste .", "a terminally muddled movie , uncertain as to whether it 's promoting neale , god , mammon , putnam books or the capitalist exploitation of spiritual need .", "an amateurishly assembled movie-of-the - week-calibre feature with little dramatic energy for the depiction of a life-changing epiphany .", "the cinematography has all the flair and depth of your average episode of `` yes , dear '' ; the score is a giggle-inducing juggernaut of obviousness ; eric delabarre 's script contains virtually no believable dialogue ; and stephen simons ' direction carries the s", "... boils down to the assertion that god is that voice in your head , a fairly innocent concept until god starts telling you to do something wrong .", "although stephen simon 's film has the mawkish trappings of an inspirational tale , its unseemly emphasis on monetary matters makes walsch seem less interested in the spiritual possibilities of his celestial networking skills than their financial benefits .", "b movie w / good heart . not everyone will buy into the spirituality dogma , i 'm not sure i do . but , there is a definite need for all of us to take a deeper look into our souls .", "it 's an agreeable enough tale right up until god butts in and starts talking ; even if you can swallow the premise , it is n't particularly cinematic to watch a guy endlessly scribbling on legal pads .", "what 's most glaringly missing in this self-promotional marketing tool is , of all things , god , who gets only a bit role as walsch 's muse in a few scenes . he really oughta fire his agent .", "the film treats its subject to a hagiography rather than a dramatization .", "the story of walsch 's travails never strains credulity , though helmer simon 's predilection for spiritual vistas with light breaking through clouds , arrested close-ups and endless long dissolves often skirts kitsch .", "bomides of the most banal sort ... if you do n't already belong to the choir , the preaching is n't likely to make much of an impression .", "corny and harmless .", "what walsch 's message ultimately amounts to is for theologians and consumers to decide , but this uninspired presentation certainly drains it of some mystery and risks turning his writings into the ultimate self-help guide .", "a conversation with god should be inspirational and moving , but this conversation loses some of the magnificence and glory when it 's channeled through this very ordinary movie .", "simon has made a garish , lumpy , melodramatic and altogether unconvincing film about a man hitting bottom and then hearing a voice that helps him regain a place in the world -lrb- and a pretty rich place , at that -rrb- .", "this film adaptation of neale donald walsch 's best-selling book series plays more like an infomercial than a thoughtful exploration of religious issues .", "what he does want , according to walsch , is for us to have jobs we really like , and to make money . lots of money .", "there 's nothing particularly objectionable about the film -lrb- other than its inert movie-of-the-week structure -rrb- until walsch takes his god-spokesman role too far in the final act .", "me : i 'm a little embarrassed to say this , god , since you 're featured prominently ... i do n't really recommend this film . god : -lrb- sigh -rrb- just between you and me , if i were in line at the multiplex i 'd buy a ticket for scorsese 's the departed myself .", "the film has nuggets here and there , which hint of something more , but all we get are situation and opaque , one-dimensional characters .", "what is unclear -lrb- to me , at least -rrb- is the process by which walsch answered ` yes ' to god 's question and suddenly became a writer , doing what appears to be automatic writing of his first book .", "the ` god ' in MOV acts like a psychotherapist and talks in the buzz-phrases of self-help speak .", "MOV . nice work if you can get it , and you can get it if you try .", "it 's just a depressing parable about a fellow who sinks lower and lower in life until he figures out a nebulous new way to sell god to the masses .", "the movie claims the ` god inside me ' concept is rooted in compassion , but it plays like nondenominational narcissism to me .", "spirituality is big business , especially on the printed page , but in movies we like the big message in the form of metaphor or allegory rather than a hammer over the head .", "it may appeal to those who get teary eyed over hallmark cards , but will bore anyone who views religion with passion and maturity .", "guess it 's comforting to believe that god might make contact in even the blandest of conditions . but i ca n't see this movie meaning much to any but the already converted .", "watching czerny 's version of walsch struggle , it 's hard not to connect with him , even if you do n't connect with his message .", "one of walsch 's precepts is that you should never make a living doing something you hate . if i 'd known that , i might not have felt obliged to sit through every excruciating minute of this sanctimonious infomercial .", "i do n't doubt that walsch 's book has touched people . i do n't even question whether he actually spoke to god . i just wish the movie itself shared some of his miraculous message with audiences .", "writer eric delabarre and director stephen simon deliver walsch 's apotheosis without any trace of irony . but their treatment of his misfortunes has some of the ring of truth , even though the movie lingers far too long over its own epiphanies .", "if god did start speaking to some random homeless guy , would n't he come up with some better material ?", "MOV is a bad film about good things that many people will find enlightening . its message is admirable , its filmmaking as bland as a communion wafer .", "god , if you exist , why do you keep letting morons like walsch get rich ?", "someone advises at one point that dreams do n't have deadlines , and yet the famous cover jacket of waslch 's books could n't flash on the screen fast enough .", "a hackneyed , melodramatic travesty is certainly to be expected from the cinematic rendering of neale donald walsch 's simplistic , best-selling self-help tomes .", "MOV is not a movie ; it 's a brand extension .", "it 's inspiring to see how walsch conquered the odds , but at times MOV feels like a subliminal advertisement for the book .", "ok , lord ... for starters , since when do you talk like dr. phil ?", "for those of us who want to know who this guy really is , what he 's about , where he came from , the film is as vague as the voice walsch hears ." ], "summary": "at some point in the conversation , god must have asked for a subtler , deeper film .", "id": "357424997" }, { "movie": "antman", "reviews": [ "paul rudd rules .", "here comes ant-man , bringing all the surprise and joy we got when we wandered into the first iron man or guardians of the galaxy . and fun ! yes , fun .", "... fails to have enough fun with its one unique element : the sense of scale .", "the film has a nice mix of action , drama and comedy , aided by a very effective villain , darren cross -lrb- corey stoll of ` non-stop ' -rrb- who is a lot like the evil corporate character that jeff bridges played in ` iron man . '", "at the end of the day ant-man ranks as one of the franchise 's better efforts", "the most typical film yet made in the now 12-picture marvel cinematic universe . it is up to the individual viewer to decide if that 's a compliment or a vicious & lacerating criticism .", "extracts from the disney attractions are dreadful but personality wins the day in this light duty superhero tale .", "next to guardians of the galaxy , ant-man is easily the most enjoyable , unashamedly fun and least pretentious superhero film to emerge from the computer-generated clutter of the marvel movie universe .", "ant-man symbolises american accomplishment . it is about people transcending the physical limitations of the human body and it is also a comedy variation on the political idea that the smallest person can change the world .", "treads the line between the funny and the exciting with notable dexterity", "a movie that feels like it came off an assembly line , which makes it that much stranger when it keeps attempting comedy . aw , look , the widget has jokes !", "although ant-man is superficially shackled to the necessities of the mcu , it 's snappier , lighter , and sharper than marvel 's more overblown films of late .", "the movie 's almost self-deprecatory sense of tongue-in-cheek humility is matched by the fact that all the pleasures it affords are very small indeed .", "an enjoyable , intermittently inspired effects-driven comedy and a welcome antidote to the over-burdened world-saving that seems to define big-screen superhero stories .", "not only one of the more entertainingly human fantasies to come out of the studio , but it also defies the bedrock fanboy aesthetic that you do n't want to merely watch the superhero-you want to be the superhero .", "yawn .", "it 's `` the incredible shrinking man '' via `` them '' crossed with `` toy story '' set in a super hero world .", "marvel has n't made a movie this fun - this bright , this charming , this joyful -- since the first iron man , in which robert downey jr. 's entitled smirk was its most lethal weapon .", "... it 's understandable why edgar wright might have wanted to keep it insulated ... - that reed manages to make it feel that way most of the time even when it is n't is a deft feat indeed .", "just another run-of-the-mill marvel origin story that surprises with bursts of flair and humor , as if remnants from wright and cornish 's script managed to fight their way into the final cut .", "marvel delivers once again ... it 'd be nice to see more -lrb- story -rrb- innovation before it becomes too obvious the same plot structure keeps getting beautiful new coats of paint .", "with a lighter delivery coming with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor , `` ant-man '' plays friendlier and more fun than the darker slate of superhero movies coming down the pike .", "ant-man is a lark . it 's a lighthearted , human-scaled matinee adventure that feels like an antidote to this summer 's dour avengers : age of ultron and its droning marathon of destruction .", "a formidable character with high stakes and global consequences , partly by rooting it firmly in a post-avengers world .", "it 's difficult to shake the sense that the film was assembled hurriedly and somewhat haphazardly . which , from all available evidence , is exactly what happened .", "just in time , the first time ant-man shrinks down to ant size , it 's such a wonder of marvelous cgi magic that everyone in the theater wakes up like an alarm has gone off .", "it 's certainly competent and amusing when need be , but not much more than that .", "after the overkill of avengers : age of ultron , it 's nice to see marvel return to a comparatively small-scale effort -- in more ways than one .", "is it a winner ? the answer 's yes , but only if you consider not losing to be winning .", "this is the sort of movie where you see the effort and say , thank god .", "this acceptably diverting superhero outing keeps threatening to break free and become something special , but in the end , there 's just too much at stake . and that 's a shame , especially for paul rudd fans .", "ant-man is thematically thin , but it uses its small size to its advantage , crafting a winning comic adventure with spellbinding special effects .", "a film that will surely be popular , given marvel 's marketing might , but one that 's woefully short on coherence and originality .", "rudd is ideal for ant-man 's aw-shucks , i 'm not into this hero business playfulness . he gleefully riffs on it .", "with its small-scale action and tongue-in-cheek irreverence , ant-man is a welcome relief from the large-scale destruction and save-the-universe shenanigans of recent superhero movies .", "one of the summer 's most entertaining ... one of only a handful of comic-book movies to transcend the limits of that increasingly cookie-cutter genre .", "extremely likable , with a few moments of proper wonder .", "fast , fun-packed -lrb- but never frivolous -rrb- and riotously , raucously enjoyable .", "when your most memorable character turns out to be thomas the tank engine , featured in two hilarious scenes , you know your picture about a tiny superhero has big , big problems .", "like `` guardians of the galaxy , '' last year 's off-brand marvel hit , `` ant-man '' dabbles in the bright , playful colors of the superhero spectrum , reveling in moments of cartoonish whimsy and smirky humor .", "glides us over trouble spots in tone and pacing . the little bastard from marvel 's second-tier gets the job done .", "for the comic book geeks , this is manna from cinematic heaven . as for the rest of us , this a lesser but fun effort .", "it chugs along happily enough , but never kicks into the higher gear you keep waiting -lrb- and hoping -rrb- for .", "to find a smarter bug-man saga , you 'd have to go back to `` the metamorphosis . ''", "rudd acquits himself well in his superhero debut , and the finished product is marvel on training wheels , an introduction into the superhero universe for the youngest moviegoers ...", "`` ant-man '' is proof that pretty good things come in small packages .", "macro-marvel ... wisely marketed at the small fry . it 's closer to ` antz ' than the mutant radioactive variety -lrb- in ` them ! ' -rrb- .", "the film is transcendental-meditation low-key and just too damned nice .", "not so f-ant-astic , then , just a little ant-iclimatic .", "the balance is just right : hanging a lantern on the silly stuff but not dwelling on it for too long , while making sure the plot feels high-stakes and the characters believable .", "fast-paced , character-based , and appreciably energetic .", "what , if anything , holds `` ant-man '' together ? first , paul rudd , who is laughably unheroic , and has the grace to know as much ...", "this is a film that never loses sight of its title character , even when that character literally falls between the cracks .", "neither exciting action movie nor exuberantly silly comedy in the vein of guardians , ant-man is mildly amusing but frankly a little dull ; essential viewing only for marvel completists ...", "one could take a magnifying glass to `` ant-man , '' but the results would be disastrous . this is a superhero movie to be enjoyed in the moment .", "brisk humour , keenly felt dramatic stakes , and invention over scale . you know : small pleasures .", "a ridiculous , overacted , confusing and too talky but audience friendly comic book thriller from marvel comics .", "a rapid-fire superhero adventure , ` ant-man ' earns a place alongside marvel studios ' other superhero movies .", "ant-man is the first marvel film - and the first of this summer 's pixels-go-kablooey time-wasters - to get better as it goes .", "-lsb- snapping -rsb- from big to small to big to small , special effects transform rudd into a micro-bruce lee . he appears to be having a blast . i know i was .", "one of the few marvel superheroes you 'd happily take down the pub .", "ant-man cares more about setting up the future than addressing the present , and for that , paul rudd 's best efforts as the wise-cracking insect companion are overshadowed by what 's to come .", "poking fun at itself while still treating it 's subject matter with respect is no easy task , but the stars handle it magnificently . `` ant-man '' is one of the most unexpectedly fun rides you can have in the mcu ... or anywhere else for that matter .", "the tie-ins with the mcu are abundant but we never feel like `` ant-man '' is leaning on it 's big brothers too much ; as a stand-alone movie this is the very reason i go to the theater at all : great action , big laughs and entertaining as hell .", "if you can hang in there an hour and a half , this latest marvel installment does , finally , deliver . but why do we have to wait so long ?", "a looser , funnier and lower-stakes story than marvel 's typical world-ending spectacles .", "certainly someone with more action experience could do justice to the character 's flexibility and sense of honor . in reed 's hands , `` ant-man '' feels about as small as its main character .", "` ant-man starts weak , but finishes strong . what starts as a drizzle becomes a hurricane of action and special effects as ` ant-man ' kicks into high gear during its second half .", "ant-man is n't so much watching , as living through weekend at bernie 's . peyton reed and co. come and parade the soulless and lifeless corpse of an edgar wright film .", "the ant-man movie is nonstop exposition up until the third act , so about 90 minutes . what fan of anything would want a whole movie explaining how it works ? you want to see it in action , not spend the whole movie trying to convince nonbelievers .", "from the bongo-heavy heist music , to the deft sight gags , to little details like the scratches scott lang leaves while he 's tiny , there 's no shortage of great stuff to see and enjoy - no magnifying glass required .", "ant-man fits neatly into the overall marvel formula , even though it follows the beats of a traditional heist movie .", "we 've had so many superhero movies in the last decade that it 's amazing one can still feel surprising . ant-man does . in that sense , it 's a triumph .", "you walk in with no expectations and leave satisfied . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "in the end , ant-man is a film that entertains , thrills and closes phase 2 of the mcu in a dignified way . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "`` it feels like the lead up to yellowjacket was all cut out . i hope that 's the case . honestly , i expected him to say ` mwahaha ' at one point . ''", "ant-man just is n't that great an idea and the film exists only because the marvel machine is working so remorselessly through its massive back catalogue .", "while boasting all the dazzling special effects we 've come to expect from the iron man , captain america and thor series , this is marvel in modest form - and small turns out to be beautiful .", "in its medium-stupid and mismanaged fashion it 's not so awful .", "ant-man 's unlikely charm is just enough to stop it from being squished at the cinematic picnic .", "when it 's on its game , ant-man does some of the best stuff ever in a marvel movie .", "as it dutifully marches toward its special-effects-driven conclusion , ant-man has enough charm to be engaging if not particularly memorable once the end credits roll", "the film is n't terrible but it makes earlier marvel outings look like masterpieces . there 's hardly a trope in it you have n't seen before , and done with far greater flair . it feels like making a mountain out of an anthill .", "when the essence of a story is shrinking -lrb- and enlarging -rrb- , the computer-generated effects department had better be on top form , and here , predictably , they are .", "the best thing about `` ant-man '' is that , for much of its running time , it does n't seem like a marvel comics superhero movie . the worst thing about it is that it eventually does .", "funnier than trainwreck and far better-told than avengers : age of ultron , as most movies are .", "the finale is something else - a symphony of comedy and action mayhem that outclasses every single second that comes before it . nothing else in the movie even comes close .", "it 's delightful and almost miraculous the way this movie manages to work as a comic heist picture on a huge scale , and with a comic science-fiction picture blended into it ... while managing to cohere to the whole , you know , marvel thing .", "with its playful use of scale , ant-man drops a dollop of lewis carroll whimsy on the usual clashes of good and evil .", "ant-man is an entertaining blend of a superhero origin story and a caper film , the funniest and most grounded marvel movie to date .", "for a small movie , `` ant-man '' has a lot going on . rudd makes it work .", "not just one of the more entertaining marvel movies - infinitely better than joss whedon 's overstuffed avengers : age of ultron - but a genuinely fun and clever deconstruction of the genre , too .", "` ant-man ' will appeal mostly to ant-people . translated : children . factor in fans of paul rudd and marvel superheroes , and you could have a box office community picnic .", "yes , it 's fine , but not much more than that . which is good news for marvel , which must have wondered if it had an ant problem .", "guaranteed to feature 2015 's best climactic battle atop a train set -- pardon the terrible pun -- ` ant-man ' is freaking f-ant-astic fun and the year 's most pleasant surprise .", "taking itself seriously without being too serious , the film proves fun all the same , confirming that it is possible to side with a superhero who is the size of a fingertip without once feeling the need to laugh at him .", "there 's a decent amount of fun to be had ... but considering marvel 's stellar track record and the comedic wonderfulness of its star , paul rudd , ant-man is more than a little disappointing .", "not the marvel misfire that fans of the titular tiny guy might have expected , but it 's still lumpy and trifling .", "tou do n't need to know the avengers from the justice league to enjoy this weird romp starring paul rudd as scott lang , a burglar with a heart of gold .", "i wish the film had gone even further into loopiness . like ant-man , the film , directed by peyton reed , comes in two sizes -- it 's sometimes big on laughs but often small on risk-taking .", "in the end , it may be more comedy than grand superhero epic , but marvel and disney should still be laughing all the way to the bank .", "with the likable paul rudd buffed up to portray scott lang , former cat burglar-turned-superhero , `` ant-man '' has a self-deprecating and witty edge .", "ranks , on every front , as one of the best from marvel 's universe !", "these mini superheroes and villains are as serious as captain america is earnest , which brings the funny when they 're shown to scale .", "it 's enjoyable enough . the current critical buzz , about how it starts slow but ends strong , unlike so many other superhero-origin films , is relativism gone slightly mad .", "ant-man is a pleasant surprise for this summer and one of the best films from marvel and disney . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the combination of a charismatic lead , a solid supporting cast , and the debut and dramatization of a new -lrb- to moviegoers -rrb- superpower -lrb- or two -rrb- has proved a winning formula for marvel studios for the last , oh , 10 or so films now , and it 's no different here .", "a formulaic marvel superhero origin tale but ant-man gets a boost from a good ensemble cast and an overall tone of fun and creativity from director peyton reed .", "ant-man has all the right parts , but in ultron 's wake and at the forefront of a long upcoming lineup of films , it really is time for marvel to start doing better .", "` ant-man ' is a blast . it is funny , clever and its view of the world in miniature is often spectacular .", "while ant-man may not have mastered giving its hero a soul , it reminds us that you can still have a blast at the movies even when the good guy and bad guy are having a life-or-death fight that can be contained inside a briefcase .", "reed and rudd 's film is proof that no matter how silly some ideas sound at first , good things often do come in small packages .", "reed might lack the pop-art pizzazz and unruly ambition wright might have provided -lrb- yes , that 's a lot of `` mights '' ... -rrb- , but he nails the comedy/drama/action balance and slam-dunks the set-pieces .", "half-assed mentions of the avengers , as well as a few cameo appearances sprinkled both within the feature and in its credits stingers , exude less shame than a crowd-pandering politico .", "comic book movies are getting pretty deep into the b-list . so whatever its b-movie charms , this one never feels like it can play with the big boys .", "ant-man emerges only as a minor hero - fine for occasional gags and cameos in upcoming marvel ensembles , but undeserving of all this attention . and his movie feels , not like a well-deserved launch , but a contractual obligation ...", "ant-man is , well , ok , and maybe that 's enough . i wanted more , and those moments where it looked like i was going to get it , only to have things not quite come to fruition , makes the film as frustrating as it is enjoyable .", "a funny and fast-paced superhero film that serves as a welcome breath of fresh air compared to the typical end-of-the-world summer blockbusters .", "if more of these would include nods to the wallace and gromit short ` the wrong trousers ' then a future of endless marvels would n't seem so grim .", "powered by rudd 's goofy , good-guy sentimentality , ant-man filled me with something that 's become a rather rare commodity in superhero movies : joy .", "never thought i 'd type this about a comic book movie , but ant-man needs to take itself more seriously .", "this is the sorbet . imperfect and perhaps creatively-compromised , ant-man nonetheless reinvigorated me , and , for the first time in a while , made me ready for more . no small feat .", "like all great heroes , ant-man arrives in the nick of time ... for an entire genre .", "you ca n't have a good ant-man movie without a good ant-man , and in the genial and charming everyman paul rudd , the filmmakers have done it right .", "ant-man is fun but surprisingly conventional .", "while its shrunken special effects are stunning its screenplay is overloaded with melodrama and an unreasonable amount of unfunny humor .", "the result is a film not quite sure of itself , like it 's wearing clothes a size too big .", "the thing has got big laughs , a real heartbeat , and a modesty of scale that , next to the mega machinery of most marvel movies , is kind of a relief .", "although its origin-story machinations get the better of it , ant-man is n't a bust .", "the attempts at overt comedy are hit-and-miss . the heist elements are derivative and not nearly as inventive as one might expect given the possibilities . the action sequences are variable and the dramatic moments ... the less said , the better .", "there 's nothing snarky or air quote-ish about the story , but there is a recognition that this is a superhero the size of a grain of rice . in this case , that 's super enough .", "another cog in the marvel machine , it runs smoothly , with douglas providing the necessary gravitas and stoll giving emotional viability to his unbalanced villain .", "ant-man does some things very well , like letting paul rudd inhabit a comic-book character in precisely the same way iron man put a goatee on robert downey jr. and called him tony stark .", "mostly the film keeps to the lighter side , aided by michael pe\u0144a in a comic-even-more-relief role , and by his criminal buddies kurt , dave and gale .", "i 'm not entirely convinced the character will mix well into the overall marvel cinematic universe when he inevitably starts to crossover into other superhero films , but as a standalone adventure , `` ant-man '' is undeniably entertaining .", "might be the biggest surprise of the summer .", "it is fun and frothy and convinces as a worthy part of the marvel canon .", "for once the bad buzz and worse trailers were wrong . this hero deserves a movie all his own .", "the weakest marvel movie since the incredible hulk .", "... it 's becoming more and more apparent that marvel simply has no idea what they 're doing within the blockbuster genre .", "director peyton reed has a lot of fun with the concept , though epic battles on tiny scales can be a bit less breathtaking .", "ant-man is this year 's guardians of the galaxy . it focuses on a peripheral , wisecracking member of the marvel universe , adding a generous dose of humor to its superhero action .", "cheeky , good-natured , clever and even a little on the subversive side , ant-man is that rarest of comic-book movies -- one that manages to be personal and does n't take itself too seriously .", "both an entertaining and eminently disposable superhero movie , ant-man rounds out marvel studios ' much-vaunted ` phase two ' of its masterplan to maintain world domination of mainstream cinema .", "the comedy is muted , the action scenes are slick but forgettable and the character 's usp is largely wasted .", "it 's a heist movie . that 's all it is , a fun heist movie with powers and explosions and awesome costumes and ant armies . it 's also extremely well directed .", "the plot 's the same old thing . mad , mad , mad , mad science ; imminent apocalypse ; parent/child issues ; blah blah blaggidy blah . the tone of ant-man , however , is relatively light and predominantly comic .", "refreshingly simple and loads of fun , ant-man maximizes on its point of difference of its smallest super-hero by coating it with lots of laughter and a likeable vibe", "funny , charming and very family friendly , ant-man is a solid debut for what will almost certainly develop into a meatier and more assured trilogy .", "ant-man has a suitably small-scale story for its tiny hero , which was a breath of fresh air when compared to the other more bloated entries in the mcu .", "a charming and eccentric heist film with a great sense of humour .", "marvel 's tiniest hero stars in the marvel cinematic universe 's smallest movie so far , one that loses paul rudd 's charm among familiar comic-book action .", "it has a big heart , it 's a lot of fun , and that vibrancy is infectious .", "the narrative is leaden and lumpy in a way that suggests prolonged script-tinkering .", "rudd 's charm and easygoing sense of humor keeps us engaged , even though ` ant-man ' is the least clever and ambitious of the recent spate of marvel movies .", "unlike the two-dimensional pages of a comic book , and unlike it 's two-dimensional marvel comics movie character cousins , ant-man is three-dimensional fun .", "in more ways than one , `` ant-man '' is smaller than most of the rest of the mcu . the fate of the world is not immediately at stake , and that 's a refreshing change .", "the increasingly stale marvel formula gets a blast of fresh air in this rollocking adventure movie , which combines a steady stream of character-based comedy with action sequences that are integrated seamlessly into the plot .", "ant-man is a load of a fun , a light-hearted superhero heist film with a sense of humor and playfulness that will make you forget just how silly the whole thing is .", "if you 're worn out by superhero movies featuring apocalyptic battles in which cities are leveled , may i present `` ant-man , '' in which the climactic showdown takes place aboard a thomas the tank engine train set . and not even the deluxe version .", "it might take another ant-man movie -lrb- you know it 's in the works -rrb- to see his character grow once the suit 's luster has worn down , but the framework is there to create an interesting superhero .", "i always thought this was the dumbest idea ever , and i was wrong .", "the best thing about `` ant-man '' is that is starts small and stays that way .", "ant-man is n't much more than pleasant -lrb- peyton reed directs limply -rrb- , but anything marvel that does n't feel marvel-ish makes me smile .", "it 's a film that always feels this close to being unique , and funny , and thrilling . which is why when it misses its mark , over and over and over again , the sound of its failure resounds that much louder .", "this is the most straight-forward and fun marvel movie for ages .", "pretending there 's a more fascinating version of this film out there somewhere , like the richard donner cut of superman ii , is a great way to come to terms with how rote and unremarkable ant-man is .", "rudd 's charm and an overall sense of silliness make for breezy summer fun . it 's also marvel 's most kid-friendly movie yet .", "why , oh why , must these movies telling the story of the beginnings of a superhero do the same things over and over and over again ?", "ant-man does n't even try to break the mold , but at least it 's less busy and bombastic than most marvel offerings .", "when you get right down to it , there is something rather amusing about watching a protagonist the size of a fingernail doing ambitious stunt work while he attempts to survive dangerous obstacles .", "-lsb- ants are -rsb- pests , and that 's just a weird place to start for a superhero , especially if he never strays too far from his origins .", "it may boast the world 's smallest superhero but marvel 's ant-man is big on fun and ingenuity .", "divertido , mas esquec\u00edvel .", "what is somewhat surprising is just how hilarious it actually is , even becoming a challenger to last year 's laugh-fest guardians of the galaxy in terms of impressive comedic chops .", "ant-man 's best quality is that it does n't try to be a superhero movie yet it endulges all the craziness in them . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "one of the biggest pleasures is its overall subversion of the superhero genre . it still feels like a marvel product , and it suffers from a typically one-dimensional bad guy , but it also has a lot of fun turning expectation on its head .", "any film that references the incredible shrinking man so beautifully deserves its moment on the stage .", "most marvel movies are too much . this one is just enough .", "ant-man is entertaining because it uses big-movie tricks without big-movie hyperbole .", "pick a formula . include a wonderful actor . make everything work in spite of the unoriginality that 's working against it . you get `` ant-man . ''", "it is refreshing to encounter an action-adventure with a lilliputian lightness of touch . the downside , though , is that ant-man seems very insubstantial fare by comparison with iron man , captain america et al. .", "-lsb- a -rsb- lesser entry in the marvel series , but hardly microscopic .", "although the story dynamics are fundamentally silly and the family stuff , with its parallel father-daughter melodrama , is elemental button-pushing , a good cast led by a winning paul rudd puts the nonsense over in reasonably disarming fashion .", "jokey rather than funny , and a bit forced when it 's trying to be sincere , ant-man has plenty of enthusiasm but not a lot of inspiration , reed unable to conceive the film in such a way that it establishes its own niche in the big-screen marvel landscape .", "succeeds well enough as a genial diversion and sometimes a delightful one , predicated on the rarely heeded hollywood wisdom that less really can be more .", "free of the bloated running time we 've come to expect from summer movies , it 's a hugely entertaining superhero comedy that 's a refreshing break from marvel formula .", "marvel has done it again ... it 's delightfully unexpected in its willingness to scale down , yet in doing so shows us how remarkable and important the smaller things in life truly are , after all .", "there 's no sensitivity , no eye for movement , no feeling for the way a camera can create emotion out of nothing , no heart beating beneath its celluloid skin .", "marvel 's `` ocean 's eleven '' meets `` iron man '' m\u00e9lange does have its fleeting pleasures , but is ultimately a minor , milder mcu effort .", "the result is a lighter , more overtly comedic effort than most marvel films , and wright 's influence is still all over the finished product .", "everyone involved can proudly declare , `` honey , i shrunk the marvel cinematic universe . ''", "it could have been a lot worse and that in itself is a small miracle .", "a better than average caper with some really great performances and unique style that also further expands on the breadth of the marvel cinematic universe .", "it is lighter and less pyrotechnic , more friendly and entertaining than other marvel products . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a very fun epic story . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "marvel wins big by going small in its latest adventure .", "i enjoyed `` ant-man '' most as small-scale spectacle , a high-tech update on `` honey , i shrunk the kids '' cinema ... the plot , it must be said , rewards not thinking about it .", "the cast is better than solid . directed by peyton reed , the action is a zippy pleasure . the more scott shrinks , the bigger the fun . the visual effects are witty , especially when he begins making allies of various ant colonies .", "a rousing 3-d sci-fi adventure that celebrates the teamwork between a man on an important mission and a band of insects .", "a fairly straightforward , conventional superhero story , where a mere mortal gathers the ability to be extraordinary and then becomes a hero . this is no way to sell me on a story about a guy who can make himself the size of an ant .", "go ant-man , more fun than the last avengers movie by a long shot . converted 3d still looks awful , however .", "when one of his pet ants is killed , scott -lrb- rudd -rrb- threatens the villain with a wee fist : `` you 're going to regret this ! '' this movie about shrinkage has a nice sense of proportion .", "it does n't rise to the screwball audacity of `` guardians of the galaxy . '' or `` antz . '' or `` a bug 's life . '' but it 's an endearing exercise in style - a playful , small-scale crowd-pleaser that parodies its bombastic marvel precursors .", "clever , funny , cool marvel movie has lots of sci-fi action .", "it 's exactly what the mcu needs right now : a creative dose of fun .", "this new feature takes issues of absurdity and scale to heart in many ways ; it is modest as well as ambitious , and its title character is played by paul rudd , the most appealingly self-deprecating of actors .", "ant-man is a salvage job but a good one . in common with guardians of the galaxy , it exhibits a b-movie nuttiness not permitted in the studio 's flagship films : your iron man , your avengers .", "` ant-man '' is n't your typical marvel bombast . instead of a sensory assault , it 's more content with taking a quiet-and-quaint approach to introducing one of the stable 's lesser-known superheroes .", "as with all of marvel studios ' movies , the action , humour and innate silliness is tempered with something a little more thoughtful and meditative , making for a highly entertaining mix .", "thanks to a perfectly cast leading role by paul rudd and a hilarious supporting choice in michael pe\u0144a , `` ant-man '' is a much funner-than-expected summer blockbuster that 's as kid-friendly as it gets for the superhero genre .", "a heist movie at heart , where the safecracker can also shrink to the size of an ant , it 's got a true lightness of touch that makes it compelling and even heart-warming .", "like its predecessor , `` guardians of the galaxy , '' `` ant-man '' plays with the marvel universe without upending it . it manages to make fun of the superhero genre while still fully embracing the emotions that make the genre powerful .", "two father/daughter stories - with splashy simulations , using macro-photography and motion-capture technology .", "to say the least , this is a movie with a few bugs in it .", "light and entertaining .", "at long last marvel studios offers up a superhero smaller than its artistic ambitions .", "the overwhelming , self-serious sense that we are watching something very important blissfully does n't exist in ant-man . it 's just plain fun : light , breezy , simple and enjoyable .", "for the second straight year , marvel 's late-summer entry is an inventive , very enjoyable action film .", "fun -lsb- but -rsb- it lacks both the artistic touch and character traces that would have transformed it from an episode into a movie .", "even with such a weird concept about a guy who can shrink and then communicate with ants ... there 's way too much that feels familiar here .", "clunky and strange but refreshingly simple .", "as generic as comic-book movies come .", "you can see , especially in that final , hilarious m\u0119l\u00e9e scene , where ant-man could have gone right . -lrb- where it could have gone wright ? -rrb- but the film is too timid to fully take the wilder turns , to become its own distinct creature .", "watching it is like channel-surfing between hot fuzz , a duff early 90s michael douglas drama and the very schlockiest bits of interstellar .", "ant-man works within the framework of the larger marvel cinematic universe , but also delivers a streamlined , fast-paced , lively and -- frankly -- utterly charming story .", "even the jokes that do work leave some laughs on the table , and the impulse to play things safe proves emblematic of a film that shrinks in the face of a challenge .", "serves up jokes that do n't land and thrills that do n't thrill .", "not only working as an out and out comedy , ant-man proves its originality by being the first heist movie included in the marvel franchise .", "it all adds up to a film that is just so much brilliant funtimes .", "`` ant-man '' becomes the first marvel movie to deliver a third act that 's better than the first two .", "there are some clever and nicely conceived sequences , and some bursts of wit - though given the writing firepower involved , there should really have been more wit .", "colorful and creative . one of the better marvel movies . paul rudd is perfectly cast .", "director peyton reed tries to piece it together but there 's just no way to make the scenes with rudd seem like anything more than a rejected saturday night live skit .", "thankfully never takes itself too seriously and is n't interested in bashing characters through buildings and streets like an out of control video game . -lrb- full content review - violence , sexual content , profanity , etc. - for parents also available -rrb-", "the second half of this nearly two-hour film is a pure delight - fast-paced and funny and filled with special effects and humor as great as any recent marvel movie , with the possible exception of `` guardians of the galaxy . ''", "ant-man is infectious , silly entertainment , a popcorn flick that knows what it is and does what it does to an intoxicating degree .", "ant-man is a neat package , that comfortably wears its connection to the marvel cinematic universe without labouring the point .", "yes , ant-man awkwardly vacillates between broad comedy and earnest adventure , and pena 's cartoony sidekick seems to belong in some other less serious movie . but ant-man works . in spots , it works well .", "we start with carefree exhilaration . ... but - wages of bingemanship - we then proceed to boorish silliness and finally stupor .", "despite a story that sometimes strains under cliches , several supporting characters shine and the action-humor combinations will leave you smiling always and laughing often ." ], "summary": "led by a charming performance from paul rudd , ant-man offers marvel thrills on an appropriately smaller scale -- albeit not as smoothly as its most successful predecessors .", "id": "770680853" }, { "movie": "margin_call", "reviews": [ "a wall street version of ` glengarry glen ross ' in which the weak are whisked aside and the alpha dogs stick around long enough to fill their pockets with millions of other people 's money .", "gets the little details right , the way everyone is one bad week away from being homeless , the way you can have a conversation with a colleague with the cleaning lady standing in between you and no one will ever even acknowledge that she 's there .", "a well-told and credible look at the economic collapse from the perspective of one company 's employees .", "MOV is wall street for now . that a sexy gordon gekko-type villain is no longer anywhere to be found shows just how much worse things really are today .", "at times , the film becomes just a series of static , over-determined conversations held in lofty offices and gleaming toilets .", "wily humor and sly observations about the lives of these high rollers are the highlights ... it 's when those give way to issues of morality that the film disappoints , just a little ...", "maybe the financial collapse went down something like this ...", "in MOV , first time writer-director jc chandor creates a humanizing insight into the lives of the bankers who discovered the fall of the economy .", "es casi imposible identificarse con alguno de los personajes . y el director y guionista lo sabe , por eso dota a su \u00f3pera prima de una tensi\u00f3n propia de un thriller , y de una mirada c\u00ednica y desencantada .", "MOV ca n't beat the street , missing the mark in a major way given the massive expectations .", "writer-director j.c. chandor then plunges us into a dark night of quietly nasty reckoning as it becomes clear to the firm 's honchos that the calamitous risk assessments one of their own was working on might well be true .", "this may be the first post-2008 feature film to dramatize the crisis itself , rather than using it as a backdrop for an outraged harangue against the banks .", "if only the movie 's cast of ordinary working stiffs were n't quite so bland and , frankly , dull .", "some of the dialogue 's a little too on the nose , but it 's a really compelling story .", "MOV manages to put a human face on the current economic crisis-but i wish it was as good as its trailer , which is forceful , well-edited , and dramatically scored ...", "chandor 's film is not a tale of the plots and counterplots of conniving bankers . it is a disaster movie , in which even the masters of the universe are running for their lives .", "buoyed by a strong cast and a smart script , MOV raises vital ethical questions about the intersection of `` doing what 's right '' and `` making a lot of money . ''", "benefits hugely from sophisticated plotting and dialogue .", "` MOV ' a good investment .", "the actors make the material interesting , even if you do n't always understand what they 're talking about .", "it 's a fascinating film that reveals much about its characters and provides food for thought for all of us who live in a capitalist society . greed may be good for the avaricious but it 's sure as hell ugly when it comes at any cost", "what makes it engaging is that the oscar nominated screenplay explores the people who make the decisions from a moral point of view . and finds them wanting .", "-lsb- it -rsb- gives us villains that , rather than being sympathetic , are well-argued and reasonable . it gives us heroes that , whilst idealistic , make immoral choices for their own betterment . MOV is complex , fury-inspiring , and thoughtful .", "with a script void of shouting matches and preachy monologues , j.c. chandor makes the brave decision not to demonise these characters .", "taut wall street drama takes an inside look at financial and human meltdown .", "intelligently written and brilliantly portrayed , MOV delves into the belly of the beast where consequence is given no conscious and the line between good vs evil is blurred amongst a sea of numbers .", "MOV 's a tightly scripted , intensely acted , skillfully directed , character piece that illuminates the depths of moral and ethical corruption at the epicentre of western capitalist society .", "this is chandor 's triumph , and marks him out as someone to keep an eye on in the future .", "chandor underplays the human drama and the anonymity of the wall street office building so much it risks slipping into doldrums , but the stakes are too great and the actors too sharp to let that happen .", "smart , sharp and dark , j c chandor 's ensemble drama - eliciting defined , defiant performances from an a-grade cast - summons the spirit of david mamet 's glengarry glen ross .", "though fictionalized and understated , `` MOV '' effectively voices the same outrage that the occupy wall street movement is so loudly proclaiming .", "a smart , harrowing and mordant drama set inside a fictional wall street firm at the trip-wire moment just before the 2008 financial collapse .", "it sees its characters not as villains but , simply , as business people - with all that means .", "the only thing i wrestled with was `` do i care ? ''", "it 's a tightly enclosed movie . all the better to make the characters -lrb- and you -rrb- feel trapped like rats .", "do not expect mayhem , shootouts or high speed chases but do expect a corporate thriller that shows how our lives have been impacted by the inmates running our financial institutions .", "the project feels constricted , more suited to cable tv than the big screen . summing it up : these days , we need more than small change .", "`` MOV '' is a terrific film no matter what side of the police line the viewer is on , with a fantastic cast and sharp and smart writing that attempts to explain what went wrong without getting bogged down in details .", "it 's all fairly entertaining but also confusing for anybody who does n't get the wall street lingo .", "the real strength of ' -lsb- chandor 's -rsb- debut feature is how persuasively it depicts the fishbowl world of high finance , whose executives seem incapable of seeing past their towering salaries and privileged lives .", "MOV takes what could have been a complex and boring subject and serves it up as gripping entertainment .", "with the employment market such as it is , it 's remarkable how ` of its time ' MOV feels .", "strong acting props up this emotionless process film . it is like something david mamet would make , slick and clever , but lacking in real feeling or drama .", "a commendably sober and even handed drama , that gives the much loathed bankers human faces -lrb- tethered to animal metaphors , notably fat cats and dead dogs -rrb- , while noting the culture of profligacy and flippancy within which they operate .", "a solid and serviceable financial thriller , shot in the washed out palate of currently trendy scandinavian film and tv and with echoes of all the president 's men .", "this is thriller , horror story and human drama in one .", "it 's a smart , entertaining film , and an impressive debut from the director .", "greed is n't merely good here , it 's god ; and he 's about to smite his acolytes with blazing old testament relish .", "it feels a little stagey , but this is the film wall street 2 should have been .", "a shrewd and confident drama .", "chock-full of terrific performances , MOV is the kind of gripping , grown-up film that these days is usually found on the small screen .", "a gripping , sophisticated , adrenaline-fuelled attempt at humanising today 's folk devil , the banker ...", "it 's a slick , well-made film about a catastrophic set of events that were catastrophic to everybody but those who actually caused them .", "MOV is a compelling human drama that is n't just about numbers .", "chandor proffers a cross-section of a lehman brothers-esque company as the realisation dawns that sub-prime speculation has brought the market to an ominous tipping point .", "impressively directed and superbly acted , this is a surprisingly engaging , frequently tense and ultimately depressing drama that would play well alongside financial crisis documentary the inside job .", "the claustrophobic , vdu-illuminated isolationism of the financial services industry is cleverly implied , as the central disaster is humanised by individual ones ...", "it has intelligence and dry wit , but also a sly wink of designer trashiness .", "like the social network it grippingly dramatizes a dry , seemingly impenetrable subject that has huge implications for the way we live .", "fine acting and sense of purpose , if occasionally a little too equivocal .", "basically , one company messed up their formula , so they sold all their assets knowing the value would quickly decline and the buyers would be left with worthless investments . that 's why i always say do n't invest .", "there have been better movies set in the financial world , but for a rather contained ensemble drama , it generally works , though it 's no inside job", "chandor 's debut feature audaciously asks us to empathize with obscenely overpaid risk analysts and their bosses , a gambit that fails ... largely because his characters are little more than mouthpieces for blunt speechifying and mamet-like outbursts", "escalation is the main thing MOV has going for it , as more substantial actors are trotted out to have their way with chandor 's realistic-sounding boardroom dialogue .", "spacey does some of the best work we 've seen from him in a while as a once-confident man who 's now questioning everything upon which he built his cushy life .", "the atmosphere is evocative and the story reasonably tense , but the movie as a whole is surprisingly dry ...", "paints a portrait of a world where money equals status and ambition is a currency of its own .", "highlighted by terrific performances by spacey , irons , and baker , this film brings out the basic tartuffery of sellers of financial instruments without explaining anything .", "a 24-hour meltdown of meetings and dark-night-of-the-soul speeches that would have been better suited to the stage .", "MOV may not be telling things exactly as they were , but it 's close enough to provide an uncomfortable glimpse behind the curtain . and it 's an engrossing `` thinking '' thriller as well .", "an investment firm facing extinction in the 2008 fiscal crisis has less than a day to navigate its inevitable crash . writer-director j.c. chandor 's debut feature is as powerful as it is topical .", "timely , topical and intriguing - with a release as fortuitous as ` the china syndrome ' was to three mile island .", "a riveting drama that puts oliver stone 's latest wall street movie and the hbo `` too big to fail '' to shame .", "the entertainment value is high .", "... a neat little morality play about the few whose actions caused the collapse of millions .", "MOV is the best fictional treatment of the current economic crisis .", "j.c. chandor makes his feature writing and directing debut here , and it 's a very strong effort , suggesting a huge talent on the rise .", "solid performances and an accessible script make it resonate .", "a film like this -- with a large cast and a big subject -- needs a clear , concise vision , a strong hand , and MOV just does n't have it .", "all of those on either side of the greed equation will admire director/writer j.c. chandor 's taut tale of wall street brokers at their worst .", "chandor presents these characters not as indifferent masters of the universe , nor as vampires , but as people - and his film is the stronger for it .", "chandor is more interested in the banality of greed and opportunism and the ease in which principled employees are swayed to engage in unprincipled acts .", "in what could arguably be called - sadly - a season of consumerism comes `` MOV , '' a realistic , dialogue-driven drama about the unraveling of an investment bank within 24 hours .", "-lsb- video -rsb- that chandor tells the story without demonizing the criminals whose heads have yet to role is the film 's double-edged sword .", "a hell of a picture . and shrewd .", "chandor knows his stock market and brokerage houses but the staging and reliance on unending dialogue `` scenes '' cries out stage play .", "though stagey , the film incisively explores a crisis in a financial house .", "what could have been a dynamic narrative instead ends up as baffling and quite often as boring as an economy 101 textbook .", "avoids fantasyland boardroom heroism while lucidly assessing the indomitable persistence of unchecked greed .", "drama about a long day 's journey into night and catastrophe in 2008 as high-ranking members of a prosperous financial firm deal with its imminent collapse .", "chandor makes good use of his acting assets and there 's no doubt that he knows how to direct , but ultimately , the dullness of the script is just a little too toxic .", "chandor 's script fuels intensity by packing the drama into a tight window .", "MOV might have lost me completely if it were n't for spacey , who delivers his meatiest , most nuanced work in years .", "the film wall street : money never sleeps should have been .", "chilling and enjoyable in unequal measure . entertainment predominates , but entertainment with smarts , and a well-honed edge .", "-lsb- it -rsb- brings this dangerous numbers game back to the trading-floor desktops and mahogany-covered conference tables where it belongs .", "`` MOV '' employs an excellent cast who can make financial talk into compelling dialogue .", "`` MOV '' is on the facile side , but it 's well-crafted and smartly acted .", "chandor writes monologues for seemingly every member of the ensemble , which gets a bit wearying , but is also how i 'm guessing he attracted this stellar cast .", "pulses with understated professional restraint ... centered on the quiet arrogance that allowed large institutions to shoot themselves somewhere more painful than the foot .", "this is a form of business kabuki where everyone knows all the moves ahead of time and must strictly follow form . but his cast is strong enough to convey the turmoil beneath .", "it is a tale of greed , vanity , myopia and expediency that is all the more damning for its refusal to moralize .", "within the artful fluctuations of heroism and villainy , spacey stands out with a performance that evokes memories of `` glengarry glen ross . ''", "it captures how our financial institutions became secret havens to a selfishness so undiluted it was sociopathic . you watch this drama of big money with a tingle of toxic fascination .", "as a movie , it 's so tightly framed you gasp from claustrophobia . as a film of cryptic boredom , i can not believe the actors were able to say their lines without cue cards .", "the credits are the most fascinating part of `` MOV . ''", "spacey is mesmerizing as sam , a weary , aging lion losing his appetite for antelope . and irons plays the villain with magisterial ease .", "kevin spacey is flat-out brilliant as a company lifer in the awful position of knowing what 's coming but being powerless to stop it .", "a taut , smart and remarkably timely thriller ...", "the protection of the individual at the sake of our society always kills me . but , what are you going to do ? throw money at it . no really , throw some money at ` MOV , ' it 's worth it .", "imagine inside job adapted for the screen by david mamet and you 've got the general idea .", "ultimately romanticizes the traders it pretends only to humanize , and validates the enterprise it is attempting to scold .", "carefully crafted performances and taut pacing carry the day .", "a methodical , coolly absorbing boardroom thriller .", "topical drama about the financial crisis lacks the visceral punch to grab an audience .", "MOV seems remarkably fresh -lrb- it 's not as if the economy has bounced back since ' 08 -rrb- . and the morality play in a milieu not associated with morals makes for cool dramatics .", "humanizes the cause of the current recession", "it opens with a bloodbath , builds to an apocalypse and ends with a gravedigger doggedly excavating the earth . by the time the story is told , the blood -- sorry , red ink -- is surging down long corridors like a tidal wave .", "how good is j.c. chandor 's debut ? so good i was ready to buy what he was selling even though i did n't entirely understand it .", "as an attempt to humanize the disaster , it 's successful , bolstered by an outstanding cast able to communicate the gut-rot squeeze of fraud and the sickening launch of its permanent impact .", "chandor keeps enough of the real story to keep things vivid and meaningful but does not get mired in jargon .", "a lesson in market dissolution", "the severe imbalance between argot and emotion makes it impossible to care much about most of what we see .", "`` MOV '' takes ripped-from-the-headlines events and dramatizes them for all they 're worth . which turns out to be quite a lot .", "if you really look at `` MOV '' you can see chandor making important criticism in small and subtle ways ...", "MOV is rife with smart , sharp performances .", "chandor 's impressive debut film does indeed capture its cast of high-powered bankers as human beings , and features one of kevin spacey 's best screen performances as the firm 's middle-aged ace salesman .", "... a series of increasingly alarmed faces looking at papers and computer screens .", "there are a lot of sharp performances here , a chief pleasure of the film .", "MOV is an explosive drama that speaks lucidly and scarily to the times we live in .", "a tense but contemplative exploration of being on the other side of one of those mirrored skyscraper windows , of being in a precarious place of privilege , power and , most important of all , carefully guarded remove .", "MOV might not always be perfect , but it does a nearly perfect job of painting a shakespearean portrait of both a financial and human crisis . let 's hope we can learn from it .", "that chandor manages to find the blood in each character is accomplishment enough ; that he manages to make his drama both relevant and timeless portends a bright future indeed .", "MOV is the movie oliver stone tried to make with wall street : money never sleeps , only a lot less flashy and melodramatic -- and sharper , smarter and with a much stronger cast .", "MOV opts to show us that there are no heroes and villains , only villains and victims and poor souls weighing the merits of a faustian bargain .", "hour by hour over this 24 hour period , the tension builds as to who will give in to what ethical lapses and how each will face the future .", "we all know how it plays out , but that makes it no less compelling and maddening .", "part truth and part fiction , this yarn of financial meltdown in the executive boardroom is great entertainment from start to finish .", "it 's a realistic take on what happens when high-flying money speculators suddenly hit ground . it 's also a great calling card for j.c. chandor , the writer/director making his feature debut .", "so well made it 's hard to believe it 's j.c. chandor 's first feature film .", "with a cast as stellar as this , even the most banal striations of greed and fiscal amorality become readily evident .", "low-key and plodding , it 's at least earnestly acted ...", "a terrific piece of entertainment .", "-lrb- MOV -rrb- has the makings of a fine , fascinating experience . unfortunately , it never finds a way to be wholly compelling .", "MOV carries itself like an important movie , which it is n't . neither is it pulpish enough to be considered entertaining , which it could be . where 's oliver stone when you need him ?", "chandor keeps MOV visually and emotionally fluid , staging the entire ordeal like an escalating disaster in which fiscal , rather than physical , violence is the looming threat", "as pure drama , without reference to the wider moral issues it skirts , it 's compelling structured and played by an expert ensemble working at the top of their game .", "an absolutely fine thriller with its brain firmly intact .", "MOV puts human faces behind the masks of big business . it is a bit static , but its dialogue and performances are electric . MOV is a plaintive cry in the night of the soul .", "given the assist of a most impressive ensemble cast , MOV is a fascinating and nimble little movie that walks us through the first 24 hours of a financial crisis .", "MOV 's rigorously modulated tone , while it gives the actors time to breathe , also gives the audience more than enough time to lose interest .", "MOV is one of the strongest american films of the year and easily the best wall street movie ever made ." ], "summary": "smart , tightly wound , and solidly acted , MOV turns the convoluted financial meltdown of '08 into gripping , thought-provoking drama .", "id": "771225052" }, { "movie": "8_mile", "reviews": [ "eminem comes across as very genuine . it is his charisma , and his music , that make 8 MOV worth seeing .", "8 MOV is worth a look if only to watch eminem on the big screen . even when a film 's a bit lame , it 's always fun to be there when a star is being born .", "what 's pretty amazing here is that hanson has managed to take scott silver 's lameass script and mediocre acting and turn it into something special .", "if juice gave you an appreciation for spinning vinyl , 8 MOV will put you in awe of the art of rhyme .", "8 MOV should satisfy eminem 's legion of fans and , at the same time , affirms rap 's power as an artform , as real beat poetry , for the uninitiated -- and even for the actively resistant .", "the movie is a success on its own terms because the director does n't condescend to pop music .", "a fascinating , surprisingly entertaining stand-off that has adroitly managed to satisfy both of its constituencies , allowing all sides to legitimately claim victory .", "8 MOV is not much in the story department . its star is born framework is reassuring at the expense of being original , and the movie lacks narrative drive .", "set in detroit 's 8 MOV , the dividing line between the city limits and the northern suburbs , 8 MOV is an exciting , well-crafted movie , loaded with urban atmosphere .", "backed by a smart story that avoids easy answers and pat endings , the rapper may be in line for some real acting recognition .", "the pleasant surprise of 8 MOV is that , despite the conventional structure of scott silver 's script , curtis hanson has n't made a film about rabbit transcending his underclass roots , but embracing them instead .", "eminem gives a sincere , heartfelt , genuine performance as rapper jimmy smith -lrb- rabbit -rrb- in the detroit hood .", "it has been over 25 years since aretha demanded r-e-s-p-e-c-t from her man and marvin declared ` war is not the answer . ' are we to consider our journey down the ' 8 MOV ' road progress ?", "a solidly built , rather old-fashioned yarn about a plucky underdog who triumphs in the face of adversity .", "there 's no power fantasies here , no ego trips or fairy tale stories about a loser made good . in this case , the persona serves the story , not the other way around .", "effective , if not more than a little dishonest . think blue crush with swear words .", "everything that happens feels inevitable , achingly obvious -- the abuse , the betrayals , the arguments , the reconciliations , the tiny defeats , the bigger victories .", "the script is uninspired , the picture 's characters are stick figures , its dialogue is lackluster and the star 's performance seldom rises above the adequate .", "eminem 's skill still lies in turning an inventive phrase : filled with characters who lack depth , his film debut falls victim to its own modesty and is often insubstantial and boring .", "a canny , and largely successful , attempt to broaden the star 's appeal .", "who could have predicted that a rap movie starring eminem would , at its best , be one of the year 's sweetest joyrides ?", "i would imagine most of the exaggerated praise MOV has received is in direct correlation to the stupid pictures most rap-rock-pop stars have made in vain attempts to become movie stars .", "pop-music biopics have a great history , but 8 MOV is for eminem fans only .", "wounded and enigmatic , eminem is a worthy focus .", "` 8 MOV ' ... does n't justify the hateful violence in eminem 's lyrics , but it does help you understand where that rage comes from .", "basically recycles all the old , tired cliches that abound in every story about the rise to stardom of poor but talented youngsters who overcome terrible obstacles in their drive to succeed .", "this movie is all about the dingy glamour of self-pitying rage .", "the way this movie is made , the way this story is told , this is what is meant by the phrase `` keepin ' it real . ''", "middle-aged folks may not be attracted to the film 's rap base but the built in youth demographic will love it .", "as music star movie debuts go , 8 MOV is hardly a hard days night , but it 's not crossroads , either .", "you have to question the time and care you want to invest in a character whose goal is to excel at insults", "even if ... your idea of -lrb- w -rrb- rapping has more to do with leftover bologna than improvisational street slang , 8 MOV still goes the distance .", "in the singers-who-can ` t-act sweepstakes , britney spears -lrb- crossroads -rrb- is still on top , edging out eminem , who is about on par with mariah carey -lrb- glitter -rrb- .", "despite the weak story , hanson commands a strong performance from eminem and showcases both the rapper 's newfound acting abilities and his musical talent .", "if not strictly autobiography , the movie is close enough to eminem 's story that he knows how this character feels . if this turns out to be the only role he ever plays -- which i doubt -- he can be happy that he played it to the limit .", "director hanson skillfully creates the oppressive nature of urban poverty with the dirt , grit , and darkness that remains prevalent throughout ...", "una producci\u00f3n es interesante en m\u00e1s de un sentido . buen debut de eminem .", "there are brawls enough to provide the flavor of how life in the darker reaches of motown can be .", "8 MOV may have corniness in its bones , but there are ambiguities enough here for a whole other movie .", "for a pop star vehicle , it certainly ranks among the better ones and eminem does have a strong screen presence . unlike purple rain , this movie will probably hold up 18 years from now .", "eminem summons things from deep inside himself to shed away ego and portray a calm , frustrated , worried kid who does n't even talk too much .", "it 's a movie that showcases director curtis hanson working at the very height of his craft , but only to break even .", "the problem is eminem himself , who has clearly been drilled by the director to play to what will have to pass as strengths : stillness , cool , control .", "while no masterpiece , it is infinitely superior to the sad movie debuts of britney spears and mariah carey .", "take away the napalm spread of profanity , impromptu scenes of steamy sex and the myriad joints that get smoked , and 8 MOV is basically a disney sports movie with rap as the athletics of choice .", "following l.a. confidential and wonder boys , this makes a remarkable hat-trick for hanson and is a personal triumph for eminem .", "8 MOV is an entertaining film that will please all .", "i 've been curious about `` the eminem movie '' for months . and while i have gotten the chance to see 8 MOV , little of my pondering has been quenched ; eminem remains an enigma .", "the whole film ... coasts from colourless family melodramas to wacky-kid-hijinks ... 8 MOV is an uninteresting shell of a movie .", "regardless of the hype , 8 MOV is a classic underdog tale with real bark .", "this eminem melts in your hand and not in your mouth .", "com sua estupenda atua\u0437\u0433o neste filme , eminem poderia facilmente buscar uma carreira no cinema .", "better than average rags-to-riches story , but expect to get pinched for a special edition dvd later .", "una buena pelcula , un ms que digno debut actoral para una estrella de rap , y una estupenda banda sonora . nada mal , eh ?", "8 MOV is among the best studio films of the year 2002 .", "like his wizardly lyrics , eminem 's performance and his film have unexpected depth .", "the movie does n't feel authentic and i think it 's because of all the white folks involved .", "a hesitant presence whose vulnerability pulls you in , eminem emerges as a mainstream movie star and effectively lays to rest the spooks of slim shady : impressionable parents will love this eminently responsible film .", "when the climactic rap battle takes place , it 's one of the most mesmerizing scenes from all of 2002 .", "it is more just a pleasure to watch eminem perform . he is fiercely talented and has a natural charisma ; the camera loves him . but , like most of the story , we knew that before we saw the film .", "the film is really no more than a two-hour prelude to a climax in which our hero ... rhythmically tells people off .", "at its best , 8 MOV illuminates the culture out of which rap springs , at once an art form , provocation and survival mechanism .", "eminem is quietly effective without ever displaying much emotion . it 's a commendable film debut and he never falls into the vanity trap that many artists find when transferring their talents from the music stage to the screen .", "hanson 's enthusiastic participation in the project is bewildering given how pedestrian the story is : poor , white kid keeps getting beaten down before a final showdown ...", "eminem does a credible roughed-up urban ghetto impression of james dean", "some eminem worshippers may be slightly disappointed to find that ' 8 MOV ' does n't make full use of his verbal vitriol until late in the game . the payoff , however , is definitely worth the wait .", "rapper eminem 's film debut is far better than you 'd think -- and a pure demonstration of the power of charisma .", "book-ended by two pivotal and compelling sequences , 8 MOV , like its star , is best when it focuses on the music .", "the story is all right : the picture 's real excellence is its portrait of the society in which it takes place .", "making the city look grimy and lonely , dark and wasted but still alive with people who care , the film gets you rooting for the guys who want to make ` mo ' -lrb- short for motown -rrb- a major player .", "say what you will about him as a person , but as a performing artist marshall mathers -lrb- a k a eminem -rrb- has talent to spare . and one more thing -- his acting 's not too bad , either .", "like the recently released ` welcome to collinwood ' from cleveland 's russo brothers , curtis hanson 's ' 8 MOV ' brings affection and honesty in equal measure to its tale of impoverished middle-americans determined to get a better life -- on their own terms .", "8 MOV goes the distance , and it proves that not every musician turned actor goes down a road paved with glitter .", "8 MOV continues the director 's visual tour of america 's underbelly that heated up with l.a. confidential and continued with the pittsburgh of wonder boys .", "uneven but watchable .", "we are hardly started in 8 MOV , and already we see that this movie stands aside from routine debut films by pop stars ... like prince 's purple rain , it is the real thing .", "while it 's doubtful that eminem could run out and perform shakespeare tomorrow , his talents on screen -- in this role -- are astounding .", "fittingly , avid eminen enthusiasts and other targeted moviegoers will gleefully run this 8 MOV race and enjoy the antics of a misunderstood foul-mouthed rapping icon with layers of complexity", "believe it or not folks , this is the feel good movie of the year !", "a brilliant , engaging examination of people who dream of escape .", "if the part is not much of a mental or emotional stretch for him , -lsb- eminem -rsb- acquits himself well enough for me to want to see him in other films .", "in many ways , the movie is just one big clich\u00e9 , but hanson 's style gives it more weight and heft than it might otherwise have .", "curtis hanson knew exactly what he was doing when he made 8 MOV .", "can eminem act ? yes , i am happy to report .", "even a rapper needs to punch things up a bit , and 8 MOV , for all its hip-hop braggadocio , is a pretty weak riff .", "can eminem act ? who knows ? but his star turn in 8 MOV , as an aspiring rapper growing up poor and white in motown , is memorable -- even if we 've seen it all before .", "8 MOV does everything it 's designed to do .", "8 MOV is a movie about youth and race and sex and growth that has no respect for youth , has a disturbing undercurrent of hatred for blacks , thinks all women are whores and for which growth is as simple as not being too afraid to let your voice out .", "is eminem a movie star ? only when he raps .", "thanks to eminem and the rising rap momentum , 8 MOV is engrossing .", "-lsb- 8 MOV is -rsb- more funny than foul , more inspiring than infuriating , more touching than not . in many ways , 8 MOV is a rocky-like tale of determination and long odds that will appeal even to those who are turned off by most rap .", "eminem delivers a performance of considerable passion and depth .", "the film is emotionally charged , almost naturally so , with hanson 's direction stressing the pop rapture that music can provide in a world that 's dirty and ugly .", "you ca n't stop him or crop him/he 's in widescreen and large/he ai n't playing when he 's baggin ' curtis hanson for sarge ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "ends on a high note , but it does n't negate the tedium of the number of false and mostly flat ones that precede it .", "writer scott silver and director curtis hanson dig deep into the subculture to deliver a terrific movie .", "-lsb- eminem -rsb- goes the MOV demanded of him and he emerges a certified winner this time out .", "reactions to 8 MOV may be tempered by predispositions for or against the rapper , but the film can not be faulted for lack of trying and may seduce skeptics with its energy and tone .", "another fine effort from a director currently on a critical roll . hanson is great at teasing the audience with little samples of his star 's lyrical dexterity as he builds towards the finale .", "because it rejects easy victories , this may be one of the few inspirational movies that could actually inspire someone , somewhere , sometime .", "what screamed a ridiculous idea or vanity project when you first read or head about it is the exact opposite - a well thought out and realised film which never thinks too much of itself .", "as unlikely as an insightful and riveting film about a poor white detroit kid succeeding beyond his surroundings through rap music might be , `` 8 MOV '' is that gloriously gritty movie .", "... rocky with a rap beat ...", "eminem 's edgy , graphic quasi-biopic is not for kids .", "i was able to guess what would happen to most of the characters most of the time and come through perfectly .", "it 's easy to like jimmy smith as well as to admire him , because mr. mathers lets us in , with no sign of calculation , on the kindness , even tenderness , that jimmy conceals from most of the people around him .", "in the tradition of rocky and fever , the movie is a shrewdly engineered piece of proletarian pop -- a story of triumph -- but , like eminem 's enraged lyrics , 8 MOV has its own kind of vile candor .", "in addition to showcasing mathers , 8 MOV makes a case for rap as a creative rebel yell .", "what saves all this from being purely conventional is the filmmaker 's keen sense of rabbit 's essential solitude as an artist , even when surrounded by friends .", "on it 's own , `` 8 MOV '' is a slightly above average mixture of `` good will hunting '' drama , `` rocky '' sports suspense and `` purple rain ' '' musical moments . on a slightly deeper level , it plays as a white fantasy about black acceptance and how talent being colorbl", "all this hoopla about eminem 's so great , is it any more of a stretch than prince in `` purple rain '' or babs in `` a star is born '' or woody in any movie where he 's having an affair with a younger woman ?", "it ai n't eminem : the movie but it does showcase eminem : the actor -- easily the best rapper-cum-thesp since tupac shakur .", "the climactic 20 minutes or so represent the most electrifying depiction of rap that the multiplex is likely to see , a torrent of word-slinging packed with atmosphere and ribald drama .", "since his ascension to pop-culture royalty , eminem has transformed the messy emotions of his life into musical black comedy . in 8 MOV , that life becomes an equally riveting drama .", "elegant and tough , unpretentiously directed by curtis hanson , it does n't for a second pander to what is supposed to be the star 's target audience .", "eminem wipes away his hubris , revealing a trembling , self-doubting kid on the way up .", "-lsb- nothing -rsb- more than an elvis film , except there 's a lot more sex and violence than blue hawaii and the music video sequences feature creative profanity instead of surfboards .", "it 's 8 miles of bad road , i 'm sorry to say , even for fans of eminem 's music -- we are left `` doing time '' waiting for his `` wicked rhymes '' till well beyond the point of patience .", "after just a few years in the spotlight , eminem has accomplished something elvis , madonna , michael and mariah have not : he 's made a great movie .", "is it worth a look ? sure . is it begging to be parodied ? without a doubt ... somebody alert the wayans .", "director curtis hanson puts a new spin on the familiar `` triumph against the odds '' theme with this slick showcase for the talents of superstar rapper eminem .", "eminem plays a guy named `` rabbit , '' and he does n't get any respect . maybe going by the name `` rabbit '' is n't the route to respect , yo .", "8 MOV is a great musical but as an inspirational drama it 's trouble . given that it revolves around a world where `` keeping it real '' is a permanent motto , it is , ironically enough , suspiciously phoney .", "then there are the rap sequences where eminem displays an energy close to unrivaled by any performance this year . in these scenes , he and the film show what they 're really made of .", "about 3 miles to long and if you 've seen purple rain , american anthem , rocky , saturday night fever and to an extent coyote ugly and glitter , you 've seen 8 MOV .", "8 MOV probably wo n't win converts to rap , but it should thrill eminem fans , so thumbs up .", "eminem himself comes fully to life only during his raps -- which the film unwisely confines to the last 20 minutes .", "a powerful film that shows us the frustration and desperation of an entire emotionally neglected sub-class , its bravura ` rap battles ' offering up the strongest prima facie connection between hip-hop 's chest-thumping and adolescence 's shoe-gazing .", "if eminem is a genius then tiny tim must be god .", "what makes 8 MOV transcend the formulaic nature of its plot is the way it makes these rap competitions compelling even for those unfamiliar with rap music , and its scrupulous , loving rendition of a grim , wintry detroit circa 1995 .", "for all its grit , 8 MOV ends up radiating a joyful , hopeful vibe . it 's an old-school charmer .", "essentially a downtrodden-teen - makes-good film ... that 's not a bad thing , but it 's nothing to rap home about , either .", "8 MOV wins because it does n't try to impress you with mega-stars and made-up stories . instead , it tells a simple story of trial , error and triumph .", "it 's raw , it 's intense and it 's very engrossing .", "eminem is such a commanding visual presence , diversely eloquent of patience , ire , and weariness , that his silent poses and solitary interludes become many of the film 's most effective scenes .", "8 MOV has the pop star of the moment , eminem , and a hip-hop soundtrack that 's as current as it is contagious , but , at its core , the movie 's spirit is as old-school as it comes .", "merely a solid , conventional drama , because it ultimately loses sight of one very important fact : eminem is at his best when he 's making people angry , not when he 's asking for their sympathy .", "say what you want about eminem , but the guy has passion and a gift with words - the finale at the battle simply rocks the house .", "the story of 8 MOV is n't far removed from eminem 's own self-mythologized life -- a jerry springer-style saga out of detroit -- but the unslakable anger is gone .", "despite the predictable formula , screenwriter scott silver wisely avoids taking the easy route every time ; there are several small twists you may not expect , and the ending is n't entirely a happy one .", "the movie has some of the braggadocio of its white-trash hero , building to its competitive climax as if it were a gladiatorial sporting event , and it carried me all the way .", "the profane one 's performance in 8 MOV is more britney than brando . as with ms. belly button in the vapid crossroads , eminem plays himself , albeit a cleaned-up , deep-thinking , saintlike version .", "-lsb- eminem -rsb- does a lot of things right . so does the movie .", "a by-the-numbers storyline , complete with character actions that do n't make a lick of sense because of how underdeveloped they are .", "packs as much humor , hard truth and vitality as the rapper 's lps .", "so paper thin that the former ` king of controversy ' was able to cram the entire plot into one little crossover rap song that 's currently playing at a radio station near you .", "8 MOV is n't about race or hip-hop as much as it is about making a valuable commodity more palatable to a mainstream audience .", "certainly the best first film ever by a musician crossing over to the acting world .", "a movie that will capture the attention of anyone who remembers what it was like when music was a crucial component of their daily existence .", "there are a lot of stale -- and nefarious -- clich\u00e9s in 8 MOV -lrb- universal -rrb- , but most of the time they 're overwhelmed by the pulsing , grinding , hopped-up camerawork and the soulful star turn of eminem .", "there is a quietude to the film , even though it is punctuated by a lot of music and even more yelling . its mood is soft and even humble .", "who wastes time watching tiger woods/when real action comes from the boyz in the hoods ?", "some movies , a very few , possess the purity of myth , and they do n't have to be great to be greatly important . the wild one is an example ; saturday night fever is another . now add 8 MOV to that short list .", "8 MOV '' becomes tedious and tiresome in the first hour .", "the sex scene between jimmy -lrb- eminem -rrb- and alex -lrb- brittany murphy of `` riding in cars with boys '' -rrb- is hot enough to melt the gum under the seats of any theater .", "eminem 's performance as the struggling actor is very impressive .", "if this movie had been directed by someone other than curtis hanson ; i 'm talking some nobody shmoe or some flashy music video director , critics would have dismissed this as just another singer-turned-actor star vehicle with no more depth than a shot glass", "em 's lowdown , dirty diatribe may sound like treason , but you might discover that his rhyme is the reason .", "first adam sandler 's in an art film . now eminem 's in a `` sports '' movie ... go figure .", "however you view it , it 's a story that 's been told before . and yet , it works .", "if you took the ` f ' word in its various permutations , ` yo , ' ` man , ' ` dawg , ' ` word ' and the phrase ` my bad ' out of curtis hanson 's 8 MOV , you 'd have a silent movie -- and that might be an improvement .", "a decent , american , inspirational , rocky-esque story .", "eminem 's compelling , assured , workaholic performance lifts `` 8 MOV '' above its standard fare convictions .", "8 MOV stands as a deeply flawed excursion harbouring a couple of deep satisfactions .", "by its crowd-pleasing finale , 8 MOV is well on its way to becoming redundant at best and facile at worst .", "eminem proves capable of carrying the lead , at least when the material is tailored to fit . rather than show great range in his first outing , he gives an effective slow burn .", "the payoff comes after an hour and a half of a long , criminally tiresome setup .", "eminem steals the picture from a cast with snap down to the smallest parts .", "8 MOV proves to be a bumpy , but entertaining ride .", "what 's most disappointing is the thoroughly cliched story .", "underwhelming .", "eminem , much to the dismay of his detractors , turns in a rather fine performance in 8 MOV , a flawed film that still manages to make a powerful point .", "both in film and music , he tantalizes us with autobiographical detail while dazzling us with wit , grit , insight , profane humor and mind-boggling wordplay .", "the triumph here is that hanson and screenwriter scott silver have found a fresh way to tell this story .", "funny , well-acted and surprisingly engaging .", "unfortunately , 8 MOV does waste a lot of time dawdling over just about everything else ... until it finally begins to sputter at about the 6 MOV mark .", "8 MOV is entertaining to an extent . our enjoyment is muted because the movie has an agenda .", "8 MOV has an authentic feel that transcends the phenomenon of eminem ; this is a realistic story about a guy trying to use music to escape a dead-end life .", "as a vanity project , the film is more tolerable than purple rain but it 's every bit as obvious and redundant .", "we 've seen these character types before , but through the lens of curtis hanson , we suffer , carouse and dream right along with them .", "even -lsb- eminem 's -rsb- most devoted admirers likely will be surprised by his ability to keenly render and compellingly sustain a character throughout a feature-length film .", "it 's disappointing , sort of like if madonna had released her `` sex '' book without the sex .", "that the final rap battle feels so electrifying rather than merely coming across as the usual rah-rah climax taps directly into the energy emanating from eminem as he gives his character a real presence .", "i have to go back to james dean in elia kazan 's east of eden and nicholas ray 's rebel without a cause in 1955 to find a comparably jolting piece of male aggressiveness coupled with bottled-up vulnerability .", "extremely enjoyable film , with a winning performance from eminem -- essentially this is the hip-hop version of rocky . in a good way .", "eminem manages to take all that we think we know about eminem and inject it into his character without turning the character into a simple screen version of himself .", "the unique format of the motion picture shows how valuable it can be , for what else can be used to so vividly capture the most important element in a story like this -- its cultural setting ?", "eminem proves himself on the big screen with this extremely well-made film loosely based on his own life in innercity detroit .", "eminem gives a focused , intelligent performance .", "not since rocky brought silvester stallone to virtually instant stardom has there been a more effective attempt to repeat the phenomenon .", "tony manero , rocky balboa , eminem . it 's a dazzling debut and an important movie .", "a movie that will satisfy hip-hop and eminem fans in ways they never expected ; even more significantly , it will touch people who thought they hated hip-hop and/or eminem in ways they would have never expected .", "gritty and electrifying .", "o.k. , so i 'm the wrong audience for this teenage junk .", "qualifies as a cinematic event by tapping into the roots of eminem and the fury and feeling that inform his rap .", "rabbit 's story is galvanizing and eminem is a superstar . but hiphop has more and other stories to tell .", "eminem is magnetic playing a version of himself .", "as the center of the movie 's universe , eminem is seriously lacking any sort of gravity that can hold the pieces together . it 's no wonder , then , that 8 MOV falls apart .", "eminem kept his cool , and his new movie was straight dope .", "the dialogue sometimes gets so silly and redundant when trying to push bunny rabbit 's talent that i expected to see waterboy 's rob schneider pop out and shout `` you can do it eminem '' ." ], "summary": "even though the story is overly familiar , there 's enough here for an engaging ride .", "id": "13198" }, { "movie": "whats_love_got_to_do_with_it", "reviews": [ "as a powerhouse showcase for the acting talents of angela bassett and laurence fishburne and as a potent portrayal of wife beating and the emotions that surround it , it 's quite a show .", "the movie makes us all want to stand up and cheer , `` shine on , tina . shine on . ''", "powerful , troubling and ultimately inspiring .", "angela bassett does a good acting job as a person in tina turner 's position , easily winning audience sympathy .", "what 's love got to do with it is a rough-and-tumble show-biz biography that has many of the cliches inherent to this genre . but it also boasts two stunning , oscar-worthy performances .", "it 's a story of pain and courage , uncommonly honest and unflinching , and the next time i hear tina turner singing i will listen to the song in a whole new way .", "fishburne is excellent in a very unsympathetic role . ike turner could so easily have been portrayed as one-dimensional , but the talented fishburne gives this frightened wife-beater some depth .", "angela bassett shakes her tail feather with aplomb and pins down the singer 's gestures with amazing precision . top honours , however , belong to fishburne 's swaggering , savage portrayal of ike .", "as tina turner , angela bassett gives a powerhouse well-deserved oscar-nominated performance , but the biopic has more than its fair share of showbiz cliches .", "a passionate personal and professional drama that hits both the high and low notes of an extraordinary career .", "powerful bio of tina turner with domestic violence , drugs .", "a splashy , volatile , crowd - pleasing rock-star melodrama that makes up in sheer emotional wallop what it sometimes lacks in finesse .", "fishburne and bassett are both extraordinary , and though the story is inevitably slanted to tina 's perspective , fishburne makes ike a complex and compelling presence .", "it 's an astonishing movie , first because despite the pathology of the relationship , it 's not only about victimization ; it 's a celebration of spirit , both religious and human , about a woman who finally found the guts -lrb- and the faith -rrb- to say `` no more . ''", "you do n't have to be a tina turner fan to appreciate this movie , but , regardless of your opinion of her music , what 's love got to do with it can not fail to impart an impression of her courage and inner strength .", "a powerful , joyful , raw , energetically acted bio-pic detailing the joys and pain of the on - and offstage lives of blues rockers ike and tina turner .", "brian gibson , who directed the script by kate lanier , seems to have trouble taking charge of his material as he skips through the years .", "a handsome woman with the lanky appeal of katharine hepburn , bassett brays and bruises with equal effectiveness .", "a melodrama of starry-eyed love and black-eyed beatings , exhausting road tours and the singer 's even harder road to self-realization , the movie contains its emotional highs and lows in the hermetically sealed bio-pic format .", "angela bassett gives a superbly versatile performance as the heroine , and laurence fishburne 's portrayal of ike turner consolidates his status as one of the most expressive and intelligent actors in movies today .", "basset genuinely holds your sympathy as the little country girl anna mae bullock , singing and suffering her way to superstardom and personal liberation , -lsb- and -rsb- fishburne is sensational .", "-lsb- fishburne 's -rsb- performance is the one x factor in what 's love got to do with it , which in most respects is an entertaining if conventional pop star biography .", "their nuanced performances give a spectrum of emotional shadings to a black-and-white script that casts tina as the beauty to ike 's unreconstructed beast .", "a powerful portrait of emotional endurance , propelled by the outstanding performances of bassett and fishburne , both of whom lend a crucial dimension to the gradual redundancies of kate lanier 's otherwise insightful screenplay .", "what ` s love got to do with it is sizzling film fare .", "agreeably camped-up biopic , ringing with righteous sentimentality and brassy defiance , with a furiously good central performance from bassett .", "though the picture rightfully belongs to bassett , a final word must be said about fishburne , who never fails to make ike seem human if not defensible . even in defeat , he is remarkably compelling .", "fishburne 's astonishing portrayal of ike is what holds the movie together . the actor builds , in precise increments , a devastating portrait of a macho control freak ; he even finds a kind of ghastly humor in the character 's madness .", "angela bassett is a wonderfully sympathetic screen presence who may have a big career ahead of her .", "depressing but also terrific . bassett stuns .", "angela bassett , despite bearing little physical resemblance to the singer , is very convincing in her role . her partner laurence fishburne is even more impressive ...", "this biography of rock diva tina turner 's turbulent life is filled with energetic musical numbers and emotionally charged moments , all anchored by two outstanding lead performances .", "could have been a made for tv movie but elevated by the work of bassett and fishburne .", "incendiary performances by fishburne and bassett .", "the perfect combination of stellar turns and sensational music", "a revealing musical melodrama that shakes as radically as soulful tina turner 's sweet hips . both bassett and fishburne deliver energetic , oscar-worthy performances !", "the brilliant , mercurial portrayal of ike turner by laurence fishburne is what elevates what 's love got to do with it beyond the realm of run-of-the-mill biography .", "a celebrity biopic rendered with heartfelt respect ; it never shies away from the ugliness in turner 's life , but neither does it exploit it for cheap emotional effect .", "both stars deserved their oscar nominations for virtually carrying a picture that looks and sounds great , but is a little oversimplified dramatically ." ], "summary": "with a fascinating real-life story and powerhouse performances from angela bassett and laurence fishburne , what 's love got to do with it ? is a ca n't miss biopic .", "id": "13236" }, { "movie": "replacements", "reviews": [ "the games , while plenty rowdy and profane , are n't very realistic .", "seems longer than a rainy super bowl .", "a new low in the career of director howard deutch .", "there is n't a rocky-esque clich\u00e9 the film does n't tackle , throw gasping to the ground and flog to death .", "mind-achingly mediocre in every regard .", "achieving the dull veneer of your standard tv movie shot on the backlots of burbank , the MOV lets hackman work at about one-fourth his talent level . that still gives him a big lead over reeves .", "the game scenes have little coherence or momentum .", "so thick with cliches that it 's almost suffocating .", "the joke about the cheerleaders recruited from a strip club is funny at first but gets musty the ninth time it 's repeated .", "the MOV does have its moments . there just are n't enough of them .", "reeves shows as much emotion as a baked potato .", "the MOV tries to set some kind of record for regurgitating sports movie cliches faster than any film that 's run before .", "the MOV , as with just about everything else coming out of hollywood , merely reconfigures the same predictable gross-out jokes , sentimental platitudes , and decorative sex that figure into half the screenplays in circulation .", "it 's a puppy-dog of a movie : not worth much , but at times quite amusing and always trying its darnedest to please you .", "there are good sports movies , indifferent sports movies , and bad sports movies . the MOV in nestled somewhere between the latter two .", "it 's like a standard sports movie , but with every point made twice or three times -- as if we 'd never seen one before .", "a deep sea of clich\u00e9s and stereotypes .", "comes off like an amateur production .", "the incisive , close up photography by the sixth sense 's tak fujimoto outclasses the story by yards .", "i could 've sworn i 'd seen keanu reeves running around in a football helmet before , but i could n't find the film on his resume .", "director howard deutch drops the ball , trying to pass off a derivative hodgepodge of clich\u00e9s as escapist entertainment .", "how do you respect a film whose idea of jock jam is i will survive ?", "it is a giggle here at the testosterone posturing , and a chuckle there at the goofy cheerleader tryouts .", "the MOV deserves replacement as quickly as possible .", "just like a low-budget football comedy , only with money .", "the jokes are fusty and/or unpleasant .", "a soggy comedy .", "plenty of red meat here but also so much script rot that both ought to be recalled by the fda .", "a hokey mistake of a football film .", "a barely coherent comedy .", "it 's kind of predictable , but the acting is good and mckewin 's script is a hoot .", "one of the most enjoyable entertainments of the summer .", "the film is a smooth and polished product .", "a frankly formulaic but agreeably funny comedy .", "it 's as american as apple pie .", "it 's just plain good fun , good solid dialogue peppered with plenty of grins , and a lot of football action .", "has no real surprises , but the audience has fun .", "an agreeably and unapologetically lightweight late-summer blockbuster .", "hardly a landmark in the annals of pigskin cinema . but for sports fans seeking relief from a lackluster summer of baseball , even this sloppy exercise can evoke a needed chuckle or two .", "for a movie with no surprises in it , the MOV manages to be a fun experience .", "the MOV is a bad movie , but a likable one .", "football flick has a great lineup , but fumbles the ball .", "... what we have here is your basic feelgood comedy about scabs . .", "wearing the same blank expression that 's become his trademark , reeves proves that after 15 years in movies he still ca n't deliver a joke .", "average lighthearted entertainment ... to be queued up more than normal in the coming months with a potential nfl lockout and strike looming", "there is n't a football cliche `` the MOV '' does n't tackle , but its all-star cast and easygoing approach make it one of the more enjoyable recent sports comedies .", "at least the ending does n't cop out . there is no big happy ending where everyone gets a pro football gig or a big nike ad campaign .", "lightweight but likeable football story .", "plenty of smartly-choreographed gridiron drama , as well locker-room laughs .", "there is n't a single bone of originality in its entire 110-minute running time , yet it just almost works out of sheer force of will .", "this negligible comedy might as well come with a bouncing ball so members of the audience can recite the dialogue along with the actors .", "howard deutch keeps this archetypal hollywood movie humming along with predictable comic bits and the antics of its colorful characters .", "silly , diverting .", "the MOV does n't amount to much , but it 's hard not to feel rather fond of it .", "i dare you not to enjoy it .", "often entertaining despite itself , thanks mostly to a screenful of surprisingly engaging performances .", "a real crowd pleaser in spite of being as predictable as a modern-day national political convention .", "surprisingly likable .", "it 's hard not to cheer for a film so confident it can win the day with a third-rate script and the matrix 's fascinatingly untalented keanu reeves leading the team .", "an engaging cast makes the the comic scenes work .", "the MOV is pretty good when it sticks to comedy . unfortunately , it does n't .", "a retread of an oft-used hollywood plot .", "an entertaining game , but strictly minor league .", "the epitome of predictable .", "do n't be fooled . the movie is bad -- very , very bad .", "you can write the script yourself , just think nursery school . then simplify .", "relentlessly mediocre .", "utilizing state-of-the-art methods in the science of statistics , i have determined there will be virtually no audience for the MOV .", "is dang near the worst picture in hackman 's lengthy -- and fairly spotty -- resume .", "it 's almost entirely indistinguishable from every other sports movie ever made .", "there 's nothing to distinguish it from the pack of sports comedies and feel-good underdog stories .", "for a movie as predictable as the MOV , it offers an astonishingly funny , well crafted story line capturing the visceral pounding of football .", "the football games are a hoot .", "despite a cliched set-up , a politically incorrect position on a labor dispute and predictable action on the playing field , it comes out a winner .", "a good , solid field goal of a film .", "you wo n't take much home with you , but it 's fun while it lasts .", "better-than-average .", "entirely predictable but utterly entertaining .", "a winner in its self-proclaimed minor league .", "the replacement players are having a blast with their brief moment on the stage , and we are vicariously enjoying it with them .", "this film works .", "a haphazard film about half as sophisticated as the average beer commercial .", "you will watch this movie and find it so familiar , you 'll think you wrote it .", "recycled humor -- and recycled heart -- from a host of former sports dramedies dating back to the bad news bears .", "a field goal , not a touchdown .", "a shabby patchwork of a film , one that lip-synchs it 's way through an old and timeworn situation without any attempt to add something new or interesting .", "settles for mere fluff when a solid sports film could feature all the bone-crushing body crunches while still investigating real issues .", "a pretty anemic piece of work .", "while there 's plenty in this movie that 's mildly funny , the MOV is nothing more than a high school romp .", "the setting of the MOV is professional football but its intellectual context is high school .", "what could have been a good football comedy does n't even meet the level of personal fave ` wildcats ' , or even the more recent ` varsity blues ' ." ], "summary": "the cliched characters and obvious outcome make all the fun and excitement amount to nothing .", "id": "10271" }, { "movie": "revenge_of_the_nerds", "reviews": [ "the real secret of this movie 's success lies in the charm of its leading men .", "okay teen comedy , but nothing special .", "compared to most of today 's gross-out extravaganzas ... this exceedingly upbeat saga seems almost wholesome .", "a teen-sex comedy with a brain !", "a low-caloric comedy .", "it was an 80 's thing .", "MOV does n't do much for movies or nerds .", "the ultimate 80 's teen comedy ... carradine and edwards are gut-bustingly hilarious !", "hope for 4-eyed computer experts who let their mother 's dress them .", "one of the landmark tits and ass films of the eighties , and surprisingly a comedy with a lot of humor and even some heart .", "this funny movie is about 10 rungs above the usual teenage-college films .", "even as a summer throwaway , this college comedy about nerds , those born-to-be-victimized souls , is pitifully thin .", "the kind of movie you saw on video when it was still forbidden fruit and loved it , only to find it much uglier with the rose-colored glasses removed .", "it 's clear , too , that the movie 's almost complete dearth of laughs plays a significant role in its downfall ...", "the underlying intelligence of director jeff kanew glimmers through at times , and is reflected in a couple of nice performances .", "if you 've seen porky 's , animal house , d.c. cab , or police academy , you 've seen nerds . and if you liked the prototypes , you 'll like the latest of the genre , low humor and all -- belching , mooning , panty raids , peeping at girls and booger jokes .", "it 's one of the great unfathomable mysteries of hollywood that this unspeakably awful comedy was successful enough to spawn no less than three -lrb- count 'em -rrb- sequels .", "there is a theory that every hollywood star has a turkey or two in their closet , so today , step forward anthony edwards , star of the hit tv series er .", "works mainly for the hilarious script , and very unique characters that are able to connect with audiences .", "advances an interesting pro-diversity agenda : the ` nerds ' are n't just brainy geeks but outcasts , including a flamboyant gay black man . -lrb- when big block letters that spell nerds are set on fire outside the nerd house , you 're reminded of burning crosses . -rrb-", "racy college comedy has heart ; ok for older teens .", "the nerds perpetuate a nasty streak of behavior toward women that violates the film 's general live-and-let-live attitude , and it stains what is otherwise intended as raunchy but lighthearted fun .", "simple-minded romp about a group of freshmen outcasts does n't qualify for the dean 's list , but MOV shows more than enough smarts to deserve passing grades .", "although the time period may feel ambiguous , its message of everyone feeling like an outsider and just wanting to belong , is universal .", "it 's got everything for this kind of film % u2013 nudity , sex , swearing and dirty jokes .", "somewhere in all the fluff and garbage is just enough heart to make MOV one of the forefathers of a generation of light-hearted comedies like american pie , american pie 2 and american wedding .", "the best t & a teen comedy", "a questionable classic at best .", "pocket-protector fans , unite ! some funny moments .", "the only worthy successor to animal house .", "a classic example of the teen comedies that dominated the 1980s . it 's not particularly smart , but it 's still a good time .", "the conflation of discriminated-against minorities and discriminated-against nerds is something of an uneasy pairing , but it does bring out the fact that predjudice is prejudice , no matter who it 's aimed at or for what reason ." ], "summary": "undeniably lowbrow but surprisingly sly , MOV has enough big laughs to qualify as a minor classic in the slobs-vs . - snobs subgenre .", "id": "142470458" }, { "movie": "i_am_love", "reviews": [ "it 's a bold experiment rooted in tradition . it plays like smart opera and looks like a marriage of poetic documentary with classical european drama .", "tilda swinton could rivet us by reading the telephone book .", "it 's melodramatic stuff , but it 's beautifully filmed and swinton is outstanding .", "tilda swinton unleashes her diva and italian cinema gets a powerful new voice in this operatic melodrama .", "with her vividly otherworldly and almost extra-terrestrial screen presence , swinton is perfectly cast in this elegant , if over-determined and slightly desiccated piece of cinema .", "tilda swinton is ridiculously enjoyable to watch in the italian drama MOV , dressed in colours you want to drink , and exploring her puzzled , porcelain allure in ways that make the screen fairly quiver .", "a lavish italian melodrama with echoes of the godfather and the leopard , MOV is sweeping , operatic and more than a little silly .", "one of the most beautiful pieces of cinema we 've seen in a good while", "this lavish italian melodrama has had festival crowds and critics cooing , but it 's hard to see what all the fuss is about beyond the luscious visuals and american composer john adams 's off-kilter score .", "a bold approach to both story and themes makes this film deeply involving and utterly unforgettable . but it 's rather oblique about its themes , so whether you like it or not will depend on how deeply you let it engulf you .", "swinton triumphs .", "though intelligently constructed , the film never could excite me or get me to care that much about any of the characters .", "swinton saves the day .", "daytime television serials such as `` the young and the restless '' and `` days of our lives '' are more adept at telling an attention-grabbing story with interesting subplots and complex characters that you can either love or . .", "a film i was n't waiting for by a filmmaker i was unaware of just shows up and blows me away . i like that .", "exaggerated yet elegant , opulent and sensual , it 's a leisurely-paced european art-house melodrama that 's made its way into the cineplex .", "gorgeous , utterly ravishing cinematic wallpaper", "despite a superb cast and a fabulous look , the picture collapses under the weight of its lofty pretensions , especially in the black hole of the last act , where it topples into near-absurdity .", "with MOV , italian director luca guadagnino waits almost an entire hour before letting the plot get into gear . depending on your patience , this is either the shrewdest or most foolish thing he could have done .", "a foreign import whose initially chilly demeanor will melt away for any viewer willing to stick with it .", "luca guadagnino 's lopsided film plods along in the first hour then plows through the climax .", "beautifully directed and superbly written , this is an extremely stylish melodrama that packs a powerful emotional punch thanks to a terrific central performance from tilda swinton .", "i am bored .", "MOV is such a lush , deeply textured banquet of sights and sounds that it deserves more than a movie review .", "if you are fascinated by how movies convey meaning , and if you get off on wondering , `` why did the director show me that ? '' and `` what 's the camera doing there ? '' you will be astonished by how jam-packed this daring , gorgeous movie is .", "in an american film , you live the story . in a european one , you 're an outsider looking in . ah , but what a beautiful view .", "it 's yet another variation on the `` loveless middle-aged woman finds happiness in the arms of a younger man , '' a trope of melodrama and television soap operas .", "a pall of deadly self-indulgence spreads as the story moves from operatic passion to soap-opera melodrama . it 's as if director luca guadagnino filmed a synopsis of the script rather than a fully realized screenplay .", "the visual depiction of the ecstatic .", "the best sex you will get all year , if that 's what you crave in your moviegoing , is between tilda swinton and a prawn .", "you have an actress that plays just every moment for keeps without milking it .", "luca guadagnino did just a wonderful job of conveying this woman 's emotional gathering storm .", "how do you say , ` i am lust ' in italian ?", "a cinematic repast so delicious that one can only stand back in awe at its sheer artistry and hail it as a masterpiece .", "ponderous from beginning to end .", "swinton makes short work of stuff like this . without her , guadagnino would not have a movie , but that 's reason enough to be glad he does .", "a wondrous anomaly .", "overblown , european , operatic , indulgent , patently absurd and somewhat wondrous , MOV works for one reason and one reason alone : tilda swinton .", "there is never a moment the viewer is n't on edge ; so much tension mounts over the film 's two-hour running time , the entire audience literally gasped as the end credits began .", "`` MOV '' is undeniably soap opera , especially when it takes an operatic third-act turn , but it is soap opera of a high order .", "guadagnino salts his film with deliberate anachronisms , and mixes up his cinematic styles , so you 're never sure what is coming next .", "swinton 's nuanced , aching performance is downright revelatory .", "cinematographer yorick le saux 's elegant images of buildings -- stony exteriors , lux interiors -- and weather-worn statuary suggest centuries-old tradition but also invite a meditative or appreciative silence .", "despite its flaws -- including an oddly unwieldy finish -- this is an epic project , crafted with intimate precision .", "bold , weird , and a little stalkerish in its intensity , luca guadagnino 's third feature is an open cinematic buffet , as ready to satisfy as it is to displease , depending on your taste and appetite .", "words like `` lush '' and `` gorgeous '' do n't even begin to scratch the surface in describing MOV , italian director luca guadagnino 's retro-styled melodrama .", "the moment when tilda tastes the prawns prepared for her by the studly bearded soulful chef guy is a deliriously high art moment of food equalling sex .", "`` depicts the events at hand with bold cinematic flourishes , resulting in a movie specifically attuned to the powers of the medium '' .", "i got into a bit of an intellectual tussle last night with a fellow critic who was absolutely stunned to hear me insist that damn straight , i certainly could condemn a movie for its morals .", "tilda swinton is a daring actress who does n't project emotions so much as embody them . MOV provides an ideal role for her , in that her actions speak instead of words .", "MOV is somewhat a case of style over substance but at least that style is rich enough for it not to matter .", "it is not to everyone 's taste . but if you like the lush film operas of rainer werner fassbinder , douglas sirk , or luchino visconti , this one 's for you .", "it 's hokey , but it 's also alive and unique , and probably a must for fans of swinton , and who is n't one of those ?", "the characters seem reasonably interesting , and so we continue to watch them . but at no point do we care about them any more than we might care about attractive strangers sitting at another table in a restaurant .", "MOV , easily one of the most sensual films i have ever seen , is ravishing , an operatic melodrama of stunning beauty and luxuriant texture .", "this is a beautiful film , moving , stylish with a sensual romance at its heart .", "gloriously melodramatic , MOV is an opulent delight .", "despite an elegant and impressive visual style , the narrative of this slow-paced film is uninteresting and full of clich\u00e9 .", "like its central character , it moves with its heart better than with its head . how much you enjoy it , will depend on which you choose to follow .", "MOV is n't just a bedazzlement to the eyes and ears . it 's a feast -- or maybe just a small but divine dish of prawns -- for the soul .", "MOV is a raving piece of filmmaking but its technical beauty is in the service of a story that too often feels clich\u00e9d and contrived .", "one of the most visually stunning films of the year -lsb- but -rsb- from an emotional perspective the narrative falls flat .", "it 's not self-consciously arty . each shot and cut seems designed for a specific emotional impact .", "the grand architecture of milan and the icy rhythms of composer john adams set the tone for this elegant italian drama about the suffocating power of family , wealth , and tradition .", "a high class soap opera", "... a frustratingly uneven bit of over-the-top filmmaking ...", "the marriage of music and image seldom gets better than this .", "anybody who wants to experience cinema at its most cinematic and grand should rush and experience it for themselves . it is a truly stunning motion picture and one that ranks as the best film 2010 has so far offered .", "the predictable end , which comes with an abruptness that feels altogether too constructed , completes the fantasy of transgression that 's at the heart of the movie 's appeal , however elaborate the trappings .", "though a flimsy melodrama -- so overdone that it often collapses under filmmaker luca guadagnino 's ineffable sense of bloat -- swinton saves the day .", "tilda swinton shines in overcooked melodrama .", "for me the obvious attempts at enhancing lushness , rapture , and emotional swings were not connecting . i could n't help noticing it was trying too hard .", "tilda swinton is both imperious and vulnerable ... in this lush romantic melodrama that harks back to the heady days of visconti and antonioni .", "the film is almost deliriously stylish , which helps mask the silliness . but the bellowing music , by john adams , is infuriatingly intrusive -- which undoes the visual good .", "elegantly directed and exquisitely photographed , the movie is a triumph , and so is -lsb- swinton -rsb- .", "worthy of visconti , the movie spells out the end of a family 's glory days ; it 's the impress-your-date film of the summer .", "swinton always attempts bold milestones , but MOV makes one long to go back to the old landmarks .", "... a european melodrama drunk on its own artistry . the mix of swinton 's cool and guadagnino 's fire makes for a unique cinematic experience .", "what keeps the story fresh is n't so much guadagnino 's swooning sense-reveries , which sometimes flow with dreamlike wonder and sometimes just drag ; instead , most of the power comes from swinton ...", "so thoroughly indulging in baroque aesthetic gestures -lrb- especially with regards to the intrusive , overcooked score -rrb- that the film becomes a flamboyant caricature of itself .", "like -lsb- tilda -rsb- swinton 's performance , MOV is a bit of a show-off .", "luca guadagnino 's visually ravishing third feature suggests an epic that visconti and sirk might have made after they finished watching vertigo and reading madame bovary while gorging themselves on aphrodisiacs .", "while you revel and bask in the beauty and elegance of his mise-en-sc\u010dne , you wish director luca guadagnino had given as much care to his characters ' development .", "there 's no getting around the fact that this is elegant soap opera , . it wo n't appeal to every taste . but it 's sensational to look at , powerfully acted , and delivers a bang for the emotional buck .", "i 'm calling ` MOV ' the best movie of the year to date ; a companion viewer called it ` repulsive ' ... does one opinion invalidate the other ? the movie is complex enough to invite such questions , and rich enough to resist answers .", "you get the feeling guadagnino wanted to send the same thrill up the spine of jaded modern moviegoers that audiences got at the movies a half-century ago , and in this `` MOV '' succeeds wildly .", "the highest praise is that it lives up to its extravagant title", "grandiose family drama packed with rich scenery , stirring performances and comprehensive camerawork - if only the rest was n't so boring .", "... there are times that guadagnino 's symbolic imagery takes on the risible baroqueness of an extremely well-made duran duran video . yet through it all , swinton is impeccable , and maybe ostentatiously brave .", "full review at movies for the masses", "when the picture ends in full-blown , melodramatic , raise-the-roof fortissimo , we realise everything that had come before -lrb- the highs and the lows -rrb- was a tantric tease of a crescendo , leading up to an almighty finale .", "i am not a fan of romantic movies but MOV dives into its romance with such reckless abandon and such an over the top affection for cinema that i could not resist .", "MOV is like an impressionist painting , an artwork of thoughtful brushstrokes , each one adding a richness to the overall effect", "there 's always been something otherworldly about swinton , and the director captures her woman-who-fell-to-earth exoticism .", "swinton is one of the finest actresses working in contemporary cinema , but guadagnino , who developed the project with her in mind , has created a film that literally luxuriates in her talents .", "the splendid photography and tempestuous john adams score can not quite conceal that the film is uncomfortably close to being an extravagantly elongated , fendi-clad episode of dynasty .", "a stunning achievement .", "swinton carries guadagnino 's risky , ambitious melodrama .", "by the end of this often soaringly beautiful melodrama , which closes with a funeral , emma 's face will have crumpled into a ruin . but it will also be fully alive , having been granted , like pygmalion 's statue , the breath of life .", "exhilarating .", "tilda swinton gives an intelligent , compelling performance that elevates this sumptuously mounted european art film way above its melodramatic trappings .", "in a modern filmic sea too often characterized by superfluousness and apathy , MOV is something of a miracle .", "a stylish and erotic italian drama about the sensuous and sexual awakening of a middle-aged trophy wife .", "the screenplay is spare but yorick le saux 's cinematography and guadagnino 's precise , imaginative direction speak for it , as does the chugging and vaguely threatening music of john adams .", "exquisite parts of locations , set decoration , costumes , and editorial gymnastics , but to absorb it all in one single sit requires a heroic , possibly superhuman patience that i 'm not convinced guadagnino has earned .", "sumptuous , overheated , and ridiculous , love is a visual delight -- the opening montage of a snowy milan alone make it worthwhile", "MOV is a bold and thrilling masterpiece -- the introduction of a major talent to the world 's stage .", "beautiful . that 's the word that most appropriately sums up MOV % u2013 the film is a portrait of beautiful people in beautiful surroundings , and it has been beautifully made .", "the movie is n't flawless -- a bizarre post-credits bit is nigh-impossible to make out -- but -lsb- guadagnino 's -rsb- skill with visual poetry makes a strong impression .", "operatic in scope , luca guadagnino 's mesmerizing MOV chronicles the carryings-on of an aristocratic italian family from one grand meal to another .", "its central story and its tributaries are rich enough to overcome much of the director 's odd and arguably unmotivated catalogue of visual and aural trickery .", "bold , thrilling , and undeniably sensuous melodrama uncannily invokes the pleasures of smell , taste , and touch ... everything dances here : the camera , the colors , tilda 's eyes , even pollinating bees during a sumptuously shot sex scene .", "tilda swinton again proves herself one of the great actresses of her generation .", "MOV falls into the select category of films that are easier to admire than like .", "this intense and almost operatic italian family melodrama recalls the best of douglas sirk .", "the overripe ending , heated by the percolating music of john adams , is heavy seasoning on a delicate dish .", "swinton is incredible .", "MOV is a handsomely mounted , structurally sophisticated and richly atmospheric cultural artifact that portrays how even dizzying luxury can not protect one from the consequences of one 's actions .", "if you 're not in the mood , the whole thing will probably seem pretty silly . but if you are -- oh , if you are -- MOV may be the richest , tastiest truffle you 're likely to savor all summer .", "an intimate , quiet and even slow movie , its subtle shadings veil turbulent emotions .", "-lsb- swinton -rsb- keeps the film from becoming a glorified evening spent with a coffee table book , a playlist heavy on the symphonic stuff and some olive garden leftovers .", "the more heightened the emotions become , the more the movie feels like a magazine spread rather than an involving story .", "a glorious epic that feels a little bit like luchino visconti 's the leopard by way of paul thomas anderson 's magnolia" ], "summary": "it stumbles into melodrama , but MOV backs up its flamboyance with tremendous visual style and a marvelous central performance from tilda swinton .", "id": "770817666" }, { "movie": "1053779-mask", "reviews": [ "carrey is the ultimate party dude , and like the masked man says , this party is smokin ' .", "in the end , those viewers who are n't big fans of carrey , diaz , or comic books probably wo n't miss much if they do n't watch this film .", "cg overkill salvaged by carrey 's maniacal performance .", "despite everything , it 's still a marvellously energetic movie .", "a wacky and eye-popping -lrb- literally -rrb- combination of live-action comedy and computer animation .", "even without the state-of-the-art , boundary-busting computerized effects from industrial light & magic , carrey 's a human cartoon , and his spontaneous , avery-esque , anything-for-a-laugh outrageousness makes this otherwise blank MOV a must-see .", "does n't have any more material than a tex avery cartoon .", "carrey has yet to find the perfect vehicle for himself , but the MOV , while hardly as fantastic as it should have been , is a step in the right direction .", "the results are easy to watch , though awfully familiar and simpleminded .", "though the story has a certain universal appeal -- who has n't felt like a useless jerk and wished to wake up capable of anything ? -- the execution is oddly sour and distasteful .", "adroitly directed , viscerally and visually dynamic and just plain fun .", "the MOV is highly enjoyable -- if you can bear carrey 's constant tics and mugging .", "cartoony fun with a bombastic jim carrey .", "the design is bright as a button and the transformation scenes real eye-poppers , but the film 's best special effect is putty-faced carrey with his razzle-dazzle star turn as the affable stanley and his manic alter ego .", "-lsb- it -rsb- would n't have been possible without jim carrey , who commands the physically demanding lead role with exuberant confidence .", "this special effects extravaganza is s good star vehicle for jim carrey , exhibiting his skills and his shticks ; in a small part , the sexy cameron diaz is bound to become a leading lady .", "exuberant fun .", "a highly imaginative film .", "as a comedy , the MOV is genial , but its recycled plot is far too thin for the film to succeed as either an adventure or a spoof .", "the MOV would be a loud dud without jim carrey 's unique talents .", "depends entirely on your tolerance for carrey .", "the story is unoriginal and dull , and the direction does n't break anything .", "gimmicky , tiresome , and without any redeeming qualities . diaz is nothing more than a pretty , smiling face .", "who was that masked pet detective ?", "you 're kidding ? you mean carrey had assistance from cg ? man , i thought that was all just him .", "carrey was born to play this role !", "a wild movie and a dazzling debut by cameron diaz", "bright-eyed , crazily intense , irrepressibly silly , mr. carrey can be funny without fireworks . he deserves material clever enough to let him do just that .", "though a bit slow in the in-betweens -lrb- you might get a somewhat antsy -rrb- , the MOV is a cute clean film for the whole family .", "a sloppy but entertaining film thanks to", "not only is he adept at physical humor , the kind of knockabout stuff that recalls the classic silent clowns , but carrey also has a bright and likable screen presence , a lost puppy quality that is surprisingly endearing .", "if a movie star was born in ace ventura , he is christened in the MOV . quite simply , this is the best and freest crazy comedy to come along since beetlejuice .", "carrey , the star of the surprising hit ace ventura : pet detective and a regular on tv 's in living color , acquits himself well in a part of sublime goofiness .", "carrey and his aggressive overbite are back , but this time he 's better used as an ingredient instead of as the plot .", "the gangland plot is flimsy -lrb- bad guy peter greene wears too much eyeliner -rrb- , and the jokes are erratic , but it 's a far better showcase for carrey 's comic-from-uranus talent than ace ventura .", "when his face turns green and his limbs get limber , carrey 's pretty much unstoppable . this cartoon-y creation is an amazing fusion of physical comedy and state-of-the - art cinema illusion .", "adults should also be advised that the previews show most of the good effects , and are 100 minutes shorter .", "carrey may be the finest comic to come along since robin williams .", "... a kind of roger rabbit on steroids that still holds up well after all these years .", "carrey now has the clout to find a vehicle worthy of his hyperactive gooniness . when he does , we 'll see if he 's truly a jester for our time or simply the moron of the moment .", "the MOV is a perfect vehicle for the talents of jim carrey , who underwhelmed me with ace ventura , pet detective but here seems to have found a story and character that work together with manic energy ." ], "summary": "it misses perhaps as often as it hits , but jim carrey 's manic bombast , cameron diaz ' blowsy appeal , and the film 's overall cartoony bombast keep the MOV afloat .", "id": "11568" }, { "movie": "gonzo-the-life-and-work-of-dr-hunter-s-thompson", "reviews": [ "gonzo is a fascinating history lesson and a bit of a cautionary tale about how fame can turn into the scourge of talent .", "the documentary doubles as a jukebox of banality .", "it 's more thompson-for-beginners than an exhaustive inquiry , but as introductions go , it 's thorough and thoughtful .", "my favorite thing about alex gibney 's entertaining documentary , gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thomspon , is that it makes me want to read what thompson wrote .", "doctor 's orders : `` buy the ticket , take the ride '' with gonzo .", "gonzo is a painstaking account of a man who was more and , ultimately , less than the infamous raoul duke .", "may not be the definitive doc for which thompson 's fans may be hoping , but it is a worthy contribution to the ongoing popular legend of a distinctive american personality .", "alex gibney 's documentary ca n't decide if it 's a eulogy for fans or a primer for acquaintances .", "it is all you could wish for in a doc about the man . but it leaves you wondering , how was it that so many people liked this man who does not seem to have liked himself ? and what about the hangovers ?", "gibney also wants to honor what it was that made thompson a celebrity in the first place : his brilliant , blotto writing , and his ability to smell out the liars and the hypocrites and expose them for the feral beasts that they were .", "gonzo shows the man , warts and all .", "neatly balancing full-hearted celebration with evenhanded examination .", "an amused and affectionate look at the writer who formed a crucial link between the new journalism of the 1960s and today 's blogosphere .", "i was curious to see why we needed a two-hour documentary about the three-hit wonder who cast away his career halfway through life and coasted on celebrity status for 30 years . after seeing gonzo , i 'm still not convinced we do .", "reading his books will give you better insight , but it 's hard to imagine a better primer into thompson 's outlaw life .", "-lsb- director -rsb- gibney assembles a wealth of thompson memorabilia and first-person interviews for this often insightful and sometimes overly indulgent chronicle .", "if you really want to understand and appreciate -lsb- thompson -rsb- , you 'd be better off reading his books .", "it 's nice to be reminded , as shakespeare taught us , that truth comes from the most unexpected places , even the booze-ree", "thompson created a rebellious niche for himself in a business that more often than you might think channels its writers into conformist routine .", "at its worst , the film takes a long detour into thompson 's admiration for an utterly banal 1974 carter speech -lrb- the powerful were sticking it to the people again -rrb- as a way to make us feel virtuous , political and leftish .", "another fine addition to gibney 's filmography that successfully achieves its purposes , despite the extended tangent into the '72 election that almost derails it .", "for all of its illumination of one of the most enigmatic figures in american literature , `` gonzo '' mistakenly paints hunter s. thompson as a writer whose star burned out decades before his long foreshadowed suicide in 2005 .", "gonzo is a must-see for everyone .", "while the evidence of his spotty post-1970s work is hard to refute , gonzo proves what a vapid , overvalued commodity edginess is , championing thompson 's best work for brass-tacks insight more than brass-balled outrage .", "just enough relevancy to lift the cable-ready doc above the biography norm , even though the filmmaking could 've used a little more of thompson 's renegade spirit .", "multiple phantasmagorical scenes from fear and loathing in las vegas often reduce gonzo to an over-spiced pudding of pastiche and talking heads . matters are hardly helped with some cloying musical interludes .", "in its fairly straightforward but energetic way it captures a good deal of what made thompson a unique figure ... revealing , honest and -- most of all -- genuinely engaging .", "gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson is a valuable reclamation of the political from the personal .", "the documentary , narrated by johnny depp , keeps the action moving along , even when there are only audio recording or still photos available to illustrate points - it 's visually arresting as well as attention-grabbing .", "the good doctor is family around these parts , so cheers to alex gibney for not screwing up this mesmerizing documentary about the people , places and substances that altered the mind and battered heart of the kentucky-born inventor of gonzo journalism .", "accessible , entertaining and hugely kinetic , packed with memorable songs from bob dylan , jimi hendrix and many more icons of thompson 's era .", "it 's a fond warts-and-all portrait of a writer who stands alongside jack kerouac and walt whitman as an american original .", "watching gonzo , it 's hard to like thompson much , but even harder not to be dazzled by his talent .", "gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson is a mesmerizing look at the mythic quality and anarchic spirit of the irreverent and rabble-rousing journalist .", "gonzo , the documentary by alex gibney , taps the full fascination of its subject : dr. hunter s. thompson .", "gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson , is documentarian alex gibney 's effort to present that fellow in all his quirks , contradictions and , yes , foibles . if you know nothing about the writer , this can be an absorbing work .", "while gonzo makes a familiar case , that thompson frequently lost himself in celebrity , it also argues for his legacy , not cynicism but optimism .", "` gonzo ' banks on an adolescent delight in seeing the debunking of the powers that be , but , like thompson 's run for office , that 's of no help in the final tally .", "a dense but enthralling biography that manages to keep its focus on the rolling stone journalist while exploring gibney 's political obsession at the same time .", "... runs two hours , but , thanks to gibney and his contributors , it never feels overlong .", "crackingly entertaining documentary .", "thompson must be looking down , or up , from his afterworld thinking : `` the worst success is a failure to keep alive the spirit of offendedness and outrage . ''", "this soft-headed hagiography is a disappointment , and at least half an hour too long .", "gibney says the film took so much out of him that he limped into the sundance festival with a ruptured disc , a green liver and spots in his eyes that will not disappear . i hope he now thinks it worth the trouble . i 'm pretty sure watchers will .", "this documentary about his life by alex gibney , though entertaining in many ways , is oddly uninterested in his strengths or otherwise as a writer , the very gift for which thompson earnestly wished to be known .", "director alex gibney has plundered 200 hours of audiotapes , hundreds of photos and personal testimony from an impressive roster of thompson 's colleagues and family to put together an even-handed portrait .", "a straight-line journey through the good doctor 's loopy myth and madness , but one that does n't push far enough into uncharted territory . fine as a primer , but gibney leans more towards admiration than examination .", "the film is content to laugh affectionately at thompson 's bad boy exploits , giggle at the impatience of a man who went hunting boar with a sub machine-gun .", "superbly directed , hugely entertaining documentary that 's a treat for both newcomers and aficionados of thompson 's work .", "with a wealth of archive material , documentary filmmaker gibney assembles a remarkably astute and comprehensive look at the life of one of the most notorious journalists in american history .", "never really lives up to its title .", "a biographical documentary does n't get any better than this .", "gonzo is as energetically flawed and rivetingly reckless as its subject , and somehow that seems exactly right .", "hunter s. thompson gets definitive docu treatment in gonzo .", "it is at once a celebration of a genre-busting writer/rabble-rouser , and an elegy for a time period when a freak like thompson could get access to political leaders and actually affect some kind of radical change .", "its heady mix of excess and inquiry does n't really take off until the reptiles overrunning the casino strip go from projections of a substance-lubricated brain to manifestations of journalistic fury .", "over the course of its 118 minutes , the film delves into enough uncomfortable , tantalizing mix-and-match material that even dr. gonzo might have approved .", "docu walks a fine line between critical evaluation and mythic canonization of thompson , but it sheds significant light on the emergence of new journalistic style and on the power of reporters to set the political agenda and cause social change .", "a tender , even-tempered elegy to a writer who at his peak could ingest staggering -lrb- literally -rrb- amounts of drugs and alcohol and transform , like popeye after a can of spinach , into a superhuman version of himself .", "... a film that preserves thompson 's words verbatim but only occasionally taps into the restless spirit that fueled them .", "as informative as parts of it are , the movie is not nearly as colorful as longtime aspen , colo. , resident thompson .", "though thompson 's long slide into irrelevance in the 80s and 90s is duly noted , most of the movie covers his glory days during the vietnam era , when he was arguably the most exciting and important literary talent in america .", "thompson admirers will enjoy the film the most , of course , but even the uninitiated will surely find him a fascinating character , if not always a likable one .", "filmmaker alex gibney had access to those who knew the guy , the famous , the infamous and the obscure , and he paints a picture of a serious journalist who saw himself documenting ` the death of the american dream . '", "far more insightful than typical rose-colored-glasses eulogizing , the subjects are as brutally honest about thompson 's successes and shortcomings as thompson was as a writer .", "it 's altogether as fascinating as a train wreck , and gibney makes a convincing argument that thompson was a true american original and an important literary figure shaped by the idealism , romanticism , politics and drug culture of the '60s .", "in the manner of such key thompson works as ` fear and loathing on the campaign trail ' 72 , ' the movie links entertaining personal biography with fascinating cultural history ...", "as a diverting documentary , gonzo lives up to its subject matter - it is indulgent and witty , filled with a thousand little insights and ultimately sad . thompson seemed obscure to his family , cartoonishly overblown to his friends .", "it 's good stuff , and serves as a valuable piece of recent history to be documented .", "gonzo director gibney frees himself from the heady topicality of his recent documentaries ... and dives right down into the deep -- and dark -- end .", "alex gibney 's documentary -lrb- aligns -rrb- the gonzo 's descent into madness with the decline of american values .", "gonzo 's brilliance is in showing thompson warts and all , without taking anything away from his greatness even as it shows his many deficiencies .", "thompson is dead but his skepticism survives . in the land of endless corruption , the muckraker is king , if only in the moral sense .", "this movie has confirmed my suspicion that people need to leave hunter s. thompson 's story alone for a while .", "a definitive , accessible , even inspiring screen biography put together with thought and vitality .", "the film 's plea that we need thompson now more than ever is a little misty-eyed : thompson 's day was long gone by the time he put a gun to his head .", "alex gibney 's documentary about bad boy journalist dr. hunter s. thompson is both a memorial exaltation and a lament . gibney 's masterful style balances verite and dramatic effect . he does n't does n't tell you what to think , but spurs you to think .", "a colorful documentary about the famed journalist and author , hunter s. thompson , spiced up with movie clips of `` fear and loathing in las vegas '' and other works based on thompson 's writings .", "much like the man himself , it 's quite a piece of work .", "gonzo is much more than a tribute to a maverick and genuine pioneer . it 's a lament for the gaping hole that thompson left behind . the only obvious weakness is gibney 's reluctance to engage fully with thompson 's toxic personal life .", "i wanted more unearthed footage . but if you are looking for a tribute to the man , you wo n't find anything better .", "the movie is full of itself and fun but nonessential .", "too much time in this overly long film is spent on minutiae .", "it 's a fascinating portrait .", "gibney thus has to negotiate a treacherous path . its easy to romanticize a larger-than-life personality like dr. hunter s. thompson , gonzo journalist , and it makes for compelling viewing . however , dr. hunter s. thompson , gonzo journalist , was not exactly", "the rare documentary that puts you in a headlock to pin you to your seat , gonzo : the life and work of dr. hunter s. thompson is a bracing masterpiece .", "gonzo is an excellent reminder that thompson was more than just a wild man . he was , at least for a time , a first-rate writer who covered his times and helped shape them .", "a seminal work of talking head biography", "-lsb- gibney -rsb- is never quite able to get beyond the familiar in order to give viewers a new and penetrating look at the subject of thompson and his work .", "the worshipfulness obscures the sadder aspects of thompson 's life , which is perhaps why gibney focuses on the writer 's 1965-75 golden years ." ], "summary": "while not the comprehensive profile of the man that his die-hard fans might have hoped for , gonzo remains an insightful introduction to the life of rebellious writer hunter s. thompson and his influences .", "id": "770682510" }, { "movie": "a_dangerous_method", "reviews": [ "here is a director talking about a subject he 's covered many times before in a totally new way .", "the film radiates intelligence through clever direction and strong performances .", "david cronenberg 's focus remains , as always , on issues of mind/body invasion , corruption , and rebirth .", "-lsb- video -rsb- a lush character study and history lesson that tenaciously explores the personal conflicts of ego and id between jung and freud .", "to say MOV is a david cronenberg misfire is an understatement but not the end of the world . i applaud him for trying something new even if the end result is dead on arrival .", "it unfolds as a loquacious essay on the origins of psychoanalysis -- enlivened by some wry repartee from viggo mortensen , who steals every scene as sigmund freud , and gets more mileage out of a cigar than anyone since groucho marx .", "gets away from what we 've come to expect from the filmmaker who started out by making some of the most disturbing genre films .", "MOV feels drained of meaning and artistic intent .", "if it has a tendency to explicitly state its own themes , the film nevertheless unsettles with its lucid visions of release and repression", "on some level , MOV is cronenberg 's first out-and-out comedy ...", "it is -lrb- keira -rrb- knightley who is the firebrand that grabs you and compels you to watch . even during the times she is off the screen , she is in your head .", "the doctors become heralds of a savage century in which unconscious urges find such destructive expression that even kids who 've barely heard of freud can identify bombs and missiles as phallic symbols .", "splendid performances by michael fassbender and viggo mortensen highlight david cronenberg 's terrific take on jung and freud the early years .", "a delightful juxtaposition of intellectual and carnal impulses , like watching dry history from old textbooks brought to vivid , neurotic life .", "the repressed passion of the main character is all too representative of this repressed movie .", "`` MOV '' makes a ... journey from lunacy to intense and compelling and is surprisingly entertaining as it does .", "director david cronenberg is almost always compelling . many of his movies have potent , startling shock . but MOV does n't shock ; it nags .", "the pleasure of cronenberg 's movie is hearing these characters speak so eloquently on the subject of sex , and watching actors raise their game a bit for it ... MOV is a movie believing the most formidable sex organ really is the brain .", "the true story is extraordinary ; the film is not , although the actors are all fine .", "but what makes it such a compelling film is n't its accuracy , but its measure of the human toll exacted on those who are the first to venture into a new scientific and medical frontier .", "as freud , who believes the basis of all insanity is sexual repression , and jung , who is monogamous and resistant to such extremist views , the miscast male stars are bland as dust and look like a box of smith brothers cough drops .", "a david cronenberg movie about sigmund freud and carl jung is n't nearly as kinky as you 'd think . it 's more of an early 1900s `` fatal attraction '' - albeit an extremely literate one .", "`` MOV '' is full of ideas about sexuality - some quite provocative , even a century after their first articulation - but it also recognizes and communicates the erotic power of ideas .", "the only truly dangerous element here belongs to keira knightley , who dares to offer the most off-putting performance of the year .", "MOV is one of the best dramas i have seen all year .", "MOV is probably the tamest film david cronenberg will ever make , but it is nevertheless worthy as a well-acted skewering of overreaching psychology .", "the actors give it their all , especially knightley , whose jaw - jutting , heavily accented and unfairly criticized portrayal gives this erotic mind-bender its fighting spirit .", "has sexy freudian and jungian dialogue .", "like every director , cronenberg has made boring movies before -lrb- m. butterfly , naked lunch -rrb- , but he 's never made one this crushingly dull and anonymous .", "sharply written and superbly directed , this is an engaging and thought-provoking drama with terrific performances from all three leads , though it runs out of steam a little in the middle section and the climax is underwhelming .", "the sexuality of the spielrein character - who takes centre stage for much of the film - tips the balance in the fight for our attention and interest", "sex is the subject matter of david cronenberg 's riveting depiction of the relationship between jung and freud , although it is words , not passion that bring the sizzle", "cronenberg spares us few of the gory details of the patient who brought the two fathers of psychoanalysis together and helped tear them apart .", "the birth of psychoanalysis might seem to be a dry subject for a 21st-century movie , but director david cronenberg and writer christopher hampton ... force us to think again .", "the film is understandably talky , but there was enough passion and drama in it to hold my attention . it is a good primer on psychoanalysis .", "both michael fassbender and viggo mortensen are impressive , but the film belongs to keira knightley , who gives a quite astonishing performance , one modelled closely on existing film of women patients who suffered from this kind of hysteria .", "all in all , this film is impressive : the attention to detail in the costuming is wonderful , the lighting is brilliant , and the cinematography is gorgeous .", "restraint is not something we 've come to expect from david cronenberg . yet here , the canadian sticks with his more measured tone of late .", "an artfully composed portrait of intellectual one-upmanship .", "MOV features three potentially fine central performances , but each one is undermined by the weight of some often heavy duty dialogue .", "although the performances are exquisite , they still require undivided attention to grasp the concepts and stop the interest from waning .", "cronenberg has created a drama of male hysterics with no interest in diagnosing their own condition - perhaps the career of each is a continuous , elaborate symptom .", "cronenberg dissects the early days of psychoanalysis here in a precisely plotted , superficially genteel costume drama , but one in which eruptions of kinky violence are never far off .", "when you start to feel nostalgic for the late ken russell , you know something is wrong . . .", "keira can act ! she really can .", "-lsb- an -rsb- engrossing and thought-provoking drama ...", "... a cold , hopelessly uninteresting endeavor that marks an obvious low point within cronenberg 's uneven filmography .", "in one scene , freud turns to jung and says , `` do you realise we 've been talking for 13 hours ? '' . he could just as easily be referring to the film itself .", "an oddity , but a very watchable oddity , this makes for essential viewing for cronenberg enthusiasts and surprising viewing for those expecting a conventional period piece .", "infinitely assured moviemaking .", "these characters ' big brains can never quite control their unruly bodies , and when the sex finally erupts , it 's like something from one of the canadian filmmaker 's early creature features .", "`` MOV '' is a deeply political cautionary tale from a staunch atheist about the price of conformity and repression .", "there are some plays that are meant to remain on the stage . this is one of them .", "it makes for an absorbing drama and leaves the mustiness of cigars in the theatre .", "while -lsb- it -rsb- offers up the kind of creepy , carnal delights we usually enjoy in a cronenberg flick , i found myself more intrigued by the matters of the mind that are more fleetingly addressed .", "MOV is beautifully crafted and abundant with subtext but it 's also sterile , dramatically turgid and at times , kind of a drag .", "exploding the era of the costume drama with both its style and its ideas , david cronenberg 's MOV pushes repression to its breaking point at every turn", "cronenberg does n't go in for any exploding heads this time , but the surging emotions and heady ideas on display in his adaptation of christopher hampton 's play the talking cure are equally combustible .", "cronenberg 's comments are largely constrained to the subtle placement of his actors in the frame , to suggest the ever shifting power dynamic between the characters , who form a kind of love triangle .", "for cronenberg fans who did n't desert him after he stopped blowing up heads and started exploring them , it 's yet another intensely calibrated portrait of repression and expression .", "easily the masterful director 's most straightforward work in some time -lrb- possibly ever -rrb- , this is a worthwhile piece that nonetheless disappoints in the context of the rest of his filmography .", "perhaps cronenberg 's most transgressive movie yet , one in which ideas - rather than their fetishistic signifiers - possess more energy and verve than the most calculated shock effect .", "it might feel almost too quiet , if not for knightley 's manic , borderline-over-the-top depiction of mental illness ; she 's unafraid to deploy an almost comic , grimacing underbite and a desperate , unfettered sense of panic .", "`` MOV '' begins where other films hope to culminate .", "are you ready for some `` sexual healing , '' david cronenberg-style ?", "that it 's a cronenberg film means that it 's precise , smart , crisp , intelligent and daring : you know , good .", "-lsb- contains -rsb- ineffable moments of beauty and emotion , some drawing on cronenberg 's previous themes and images , and all partaking of the chaos of the human soul , which no analytical method can contain .", "what could have been , and should have been , an electrifying subject matter , has been ground down to a laborious exercise in pseudo psychoanalysis .", "knightley 's performance is effective precisely because it is so unpredictable and alienating ; she single-handedly turns the movie as a whole into a deranged chamber piece .", "whatever the elements , cronenberg has made a good movie from them , with outstanding performances by michael fassbender and viggo mortensen .", "... a deftly handled historical drama in which the darkest demons are hauled out on stage for all to evaluate .", "fassbender 's transformation from a young idealist to a haunted , cynical veteran is sharply observed .", "david cronenberg 's career-long fascination with matters of the mind manifests itself in compelling but determinedly non-mind-bending fashion .", "it takes some getting used to , as we do n't often see films that are so dependent on dialogue to express relationships . but if you avoid it because you do n't like `` talky '' dramas you will miss some of the finest performances of the year .", "while `` MOV '' is handsomely-produced and - designed , what should have been an intriguing story fell pretty flat for me . cronenberg directs with no particular flair .", "knightley 's performance calms down eventually , and a good thing , too . if she maintained that early pace , she would have burned up the couch and herself along with it .", "MOV will feel like cronenberg in a corset . the director sticks so close to the documented facts that there is little room to breathe , making for a smart film that feels a bit too literary .", "it 's a fiercely thoughtful film , a movie of ideas that understands how powerful ideas can be .", "the harder you look at it , the wilder , and more disturbing , and more moving , it becomes .", "low-key and curiously cerebral , perhaps too underwhelming to attract much of an audience", "while very much a dialogue-heavy historical film , all the recognisable elements of cronenberg 's preoccupations can be found in MOV .", "if you 're up for some solid intellectual stimulation and do n't mind having to work hard for it , this one will really give you something to discuss with friends afterwards .", "MOV is masterful filmmaking on all levels , but alas , it also leaves you dreaming that fassbender and mortensen will return to these roles in a more focused story on the fathers of psychoanalysis .", "it 's little more than repetitious conversation - conversation that uncovers little new or titillating on the topics of sex , madness or the process of psychoanalysis .", "while the moments of psycho-sexual interplay allows cronenberg to indulge in his obsession with the kinky , the canadian auteur shows a surprising restraint that his own written works do n't have .", "for the sake of your own mental health MOV should be avoided , but the cronenberg curious might want to endure it to prevent any onset of mania .", "... knightley 's histrionic performance verges on the embarrassing .", "fassbender provides a solid tortured performance alongside stand-out support from mortensen ; unfortunately the film hinges on the sabina character that in knightly 's hands lacked the necessary punch to elevate this film .", "its eye for detail makes things so real and worthy of a work of scholarship .", "is remarkably restrained , sometimes to a fault . in fact , there are no obvious visual cronenberg flourishes , and maybe some surrealistic touches might have upped the ante a little .", "precise , lucid and thrillingly disciplined , this story of boundary-testing in the early days of psychoanalysis is brought to vivid life by the outstanding lead performances of keira knightley , viggo mortensen and michael fassbender .", "a dangerous mind feels heavy and lugubrious . it is a tale that comes marinated in port and choked on pipe-smoke .", "a satisfying drama of historical speculation , substantially researched and shrewdly dramatized ...", "perfectly acted sex , lies and conversation .", "mirrors its title in being -- like all of cronenberg 's work -- superbly methodical , but also captures the dangerous undercurrents implicit in the understanding of man that freud and jung were instrumental in creating .", "using a dialogue-heavy approach that 's unusual for cronenberg , his film is skilled at the way it weaves theory with the inner lives of its characters .", "director david cronenberg has done nothing to vividly bring this story to life . he sets his actors adrift and hopes for the best . the best never comes .", "an intelligent historical speculation that captures the spirit and potential destruction of discovery .", "this is a movie with too much talk and not enough sensation .", "when at one point jung spanks his patient , you may completely miss the erotic content and simply think what i thought - that somebody , finally , was punishing knightley for this performance .", "it 's a handsome and stimulating film , noteworthy more for its terrific acting and provocative ideas than for any kind of dark cronenbergundian genius .", "mr. fassbender is entirely persuasive , not to mention extremely attractive , and mr. mortensen is intriguingly nuanced .", "for all its formal restraint , the film is just as subversive and as disquieting as predecessors such as crash and the naked lunch .", "poised for the sort of surprised , congratulatory attention cronenberg enjoyed for his relatively restrained the history of violence , with the true-ish historical heft adding to the film 's cache .", "even when wading most deeply into contortions of human flesh , cronenberg considers the psychological aspects and so `` MOV '' continues his themes , embodied most fully in keira knightley 's edgy performance", "... for the film buffs , it is a must see - especially for knightley 's powerful performance .", "this psycho-sexual melodrama is a mixed bag , well acted -lrb- oscar-caliber turns by fassbender and mortensen -rrb- and elegantly shot , but too theatrical and not provocative or unsettling by cronenberg 's standards .", "cronenberg and his actors do their best to show that there is no such thing as normalcy since jung , freud and spielrein , can not cure themselves any more than they can guarantee to help their patients .", "anybody can rip off the corset . shred it and turn it into a new article of clothing entirely ? that 's how you take it to the next level .", "cronenberg continues being fascinating as a director showing you things you were n't sure you wanted to see but will not soon forget .", "the acting is worth the price of admission . mortensen gives a remarkably pleasing performance as freud , and fassbender is a satisfying jung .", "the film snails along as a high-minded discourse that does n't know when to shut up .", "a dispassionate film that left me cold .", "with phenomenal performances from knightley , fassbender and mortensen , and a rich and complex script , there is a depth and power to this terrific feature .", "even with the spanking , this is a bit of a bore .", "however , the excellent performances count for a great deal , and the conversations are exceedingly intelligent , offering up provocative arguments on sex , the ego , and the concept of destiny .", "originally called `` the talking cure , '' that title was a misnomer ... and better suited to the sequel that might hopefully remedy this verbose exercise .", "never quite the psychosexual barnburner that typically emerges from cronenberg 's vast appetite for disease , but it remains something unnerving , getting under the skin , hitting a few remarkable notes of thorny human behavior .", "MOV simply feels rushed and incomplete , a cliffsnotes version of events where a novel was required .", "in truth , mortensen has a far more intimate and palpably emotional relationship with freud 's omnipresent cigar than he does with fassbinder 's jung", "like psychoanalysis , `` MOV '' takes its time as it circles an opening to unexplored depths .", "david cronenberg goes merchant-ivory . or maybe it 's last tango in switzerland ... as an examination of psyche and desire , MOV is smart and sophisticated stuff . as drama it fails .", "i think i know less about psychoanalysis now than i did before going into the cinema .", "MOV is a suave chamber piece : a series of glimpses of two 20th-century intellectual titans , in friendship and separation , and the story of a remarkable woman who history had swallowed up , brought into the light again .", "cronenberg 's clinical approach to hampton 's too on-the-nose dialogue makes for a very static drama ; it 's as if the filmmaker is much more comfortable dealing with eroticism as subtext than text .", "cronenberg has reached the stage of his career where he does n't feel it necessary to pander to expectations . instead he seeks to engage us , and he succeeds .", "a mostly fascinating character study and depiction of the compelling power of ideas", "scenes built on line after line of historically accurate but awkward , overly mannered dialogue distract and eventually grate .", "finds cronenberg working in startlingly generic period piece mode , without a hint of the dread and weird fascination that usually permeates even his weaker films .", "it 's knightley that one remembers , for a full-on portrayal that is gutsy and potentially divisive in equal parts .", "probably the most fun you 'll ever have watching a movie about carl jung and sigmund freud duking it out - and nurturing a deep-rooted but fragile friendship - in early 20th century austria and switzerland .", "david cronenberg 's take on the relationship between sigmund freud and carl jungis not just a fascinating look back at the developments of psychotherapy , but very much a remarkable love story , one between two men and the woman who drove them apart .", "restraint is generally not a word used to describe david cronenberg 's films , but it is the guiding factor behind MOV .", "knightley makes a lovely lover for carl . if sabina is a vampire , then she 's edward cullen , the creature who knows too much , to his bella swan , naive but game for a toxic twilight romp .", "as cataclysmic as it is , this historically scrupulous science-fiction romance concerning the discovery of the unconscious mind might have been titled war of the worlds or the beast from 5,000 fathoms .", "it 's fascinating to see the exceptionally charismatic fassbender squeeze himself into the role of the aristocratic , restrained jung , and it 's just as enjoyable to see mortensen bring an unexpected virility to his sybaritic , cigar-chomping freud .", "cronenberg has made a wholly satisfying case study , but not quite enough of a movie .", "as a biographical film , method gives real insight to its subjects , especially jung .", "spitting and stammering , clawing and convulsing , her jaw jutting forward and her eyes popping out of her head , keira knightley is a frightening force of nature in MOV .", "caring more about the journey than the destination -lrb- neither of which are particularly interesting -rrb- , the film is ultimately nothing more than a freudian slip-up .", "it 's a period piece about the origins of psychoanalysis and the sexual confusions of its progenitors that is eloquent and handsomely made , if never quite revelatory .", "MOV probably wo n't tell you anything useful about jung or freud or how their relationship fell apart . what it will provide are sterling performances and classic cronenberg repressed sado-masochism and sometimes that is enough .", "it 's a movie of ideas , but there are n't nearly enough of them .", "this is a freaky thing to behold : knightley 's wildly physical rendering of a mentally unbalanced soul .", "MOV is well cast with michael fassbender as a pent-up jung and viggo mortensen as freud . keira knightley inhabits the fits and fury of spielrein .", "knightley 's portrayal is feral and unsettling .", "like knightley 's performance , it 's not entirely successful but it 's always compelling .", "pivots as much on political gamesmanship and intellectual dominance as sadomasochistic urges and infidelity .", "trouble is , freud and jung 's meeting of the minds is never quite as compelling as the collision of the two bodies back in zurich .", "MOV barely nudges the freak-o-meter .", "`` MOV '' presents a vivid portrait of pre-world war i europe that 's at a considerable remove from the types of madness usually seen in cronenberg 's films .", "most of this talky film just feels like a debate between two experts , trying to answer a question few of us had asked . when the real question is , where 's david cronenberg ?", "a kinky undercurrent of sadomasochism certainly does n't hurt in preventing the film from slipping into the stodgy bio-pic abyss .", "cronenberg delivers a cold , clinical and at times stagebound film in MOV , but it 's one that will nevertheless keep you thinking about it long afterward .", "it 's a smart study of the root causes of destructive human behavior , but there 's a flat quality to the dark impulses on display .", "a cerebral trip with jung and freud , sex and cigars , the talking cure and adventures beyond .", "the charisma of the actors ... helps communicate escalating tensions in changing relationships ... in the hothouse of the freeing force of the unconscious .", "MOV did n't have to be another naked lunch , but freud plus jung plus cronenburg should have equaled something a little more dissonant and troubling .", "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar , and a prestige piece is just a well-intentioned bore .", "if the movie falls just shy of our highest mark , this is because cronenberg is tamping down on his usually naturalistic performances -- everything feels vaguely mad-scientist-ish .", "is n't likely to entirely appeal to cronenberg 's core fans -lrb- whatever that is at this point -rrb- , but it 's a richly rewarding -- and sometimes disturbing -- film in its own right .", "the talky emphasis may alienate , but cronenberg 's psychoanalysis session offers wry writing , elegant direction and fine leads .", "worthy performances . yes . but it 's just not enough . my analysis drs. freud and jung : your patients and students just wo n't care .", "at its core , there 's a provocative story lurking here about the delicate and fragile dividing lines between mind , body and soul .", "knightley gives a fair performance but lumbers herself with a distracting accent , and her gurning in the early scenes may be too much for some to bear .", "it never really gets under the skin in the way cronenberg does at his best .", "ultimately , there 's no danger of being deeply moved by this film - it 's just a tantalising glimpse of part of what makes us human .", "it is knightley who walks away with the film , delivering her best work since never let me go as a live wire hysteric ...", "for all its strengths , MOV never becomes much more than a pleasant watch , with its studied formalism preventing viewers from ever truly connecting to these characters ' situations .", "strong performances from fassbender and mortensen are n't enough to help cronenberg 's techically sound by overly talky film ." ], "summary": "a provocative historical fiction about the early days of psychoanalysis , MOV is buoyed by terrific performances by michael fassbender , keira knightley , and viggo mortensen .", "id": "771203681" }, { "movie": "then_she_found_me", "reviews": [ "genuinely clever and amusing ... may itself be hard to find , but it 's worth a search .", "it 's the kind of film that practically invites you to forget about it two days after you 've seen it .", "honesty without cynicism . now that 's something i could watch a lot more of .", "hunt 's debut as a film director makes me glad she found us .", "an impressive directorial debut for helen hunt that takes an intelligent look at the ways we survive unspeakable grief and play hide and seek with love .", "it 's like an animatronic reproduction of a jewish mom relationship erected at the world 's most racist amusement park .", "a few plot turns too many undermine helen hunt 's MOV , and that 's too bad , because hunt shows some nice touches here both in front of and behind the camera .", "hunt , who also co-wrote the screenplay from elinor lipman 's novel , scrupulously avoids anything that smacks of tv sitcom humor . this is admirable , but the result is one of the glummest romantic comedies in recent memory .", "helen hunt probably could have made this into a delightful little comedy or a thoughtful drama . but the clumsy mixing of those elements makes for an awkward mess .", "midler plays an extrovert with heart and brains , but the twists and turnarounds in this mother-and-child reunion arrive right on schedule ; in the end , she 's less a mother than a show-biz fairy godmother .", "given its cast and source material - elinor lipman 's highly-regarded novel - it all makes for a highly disappointing experience .", "the loudest laughs in this `` serious comedy '' came from three brief appearances by author salman rushdie as a doctor .", "all in all , not quite as good as it gets .", "unendurable american middle-aged whingeing .", "unexpectedly sharp , light and appealing ; a testament to hunt 's skills behind the camera .", "trying to establish a serio-comic tone is a task best suited for seasoned directors . given that a boom microphone drops into the film frame at least twice , hunt has more basic production elements to master .", "hunt 's lovely voice , pitched in that diurnal-dizzy limbo between mezzo and soprano , is perfect for mid-life crisis . so is her gawky , strung-out , tragicomical body language .", "everyone acts decently and you have to praise hunt for her tenacity . but this suffers from some fairly dire cinematography and a manufactured air that prevents the watcher connecting to the whole thing .", "it 's a glum and amateurish business on the three-in-one subject of adoption - being adopted , having your child adopted , and adopting one .", "this is not without its attractions - an occasionally waspishly witty script and some unexpected dramatic tangents - but the characters never seem more than a casually bagged collection of tics and mannerisms .", "the material is n't much different from a woody allen film , but , unfortunately , the execution is .", "to its credit , this is a romantic comedy with a more serious side than most . but in her seriousness , hunt loses sight of the need for laughter .", "from the looks of things , the actors were simply let loose as themselves .", "one of the best , most intelligent movies out there right now .", "about the most interesting thing about this uninteresting nervous dramedy is the casting of controversial writer salman rushdie as a gynecologist .", "MOV is a commendable but not very exciting feature-directing debut by actress helen hunt . although she wields most of the creative power on the film she does n't turn this into a vanity project .", "the overt stylistic flourishes are so few that they have a special impact , particularly the moment when the camera slowly tracks towards april after she receives a piece of devastating news .", "both role and movie fit -lsb- hunt -rsb- as comfortable as a favorite bathrobe , and she wins us over long before the final tiny twist of the ending .", "... might be viewed as a symptom of a hollywood system in which women of a certain age are devalued and ignored .", "resembles a heartfelt but out-of-tune karaoke version of ` i am woman ' .", "stylish yet deeply sensitive , lifting your spirit . no one will come away without a smile .", "hunt 's performance is terrific and far more nuanced than her oscar-winning turn in as good as it gets . as an actress , she helps make her director look very good indeed .", "MOV will do just fine as quirky filler on women 's cable networks , but considering the talent involved there was reason to expect more .", "the anxieties and angst of middle-class , middle-aged women remain rich , underexplored cinematic territory , but hunt 's instantly forgettable film does little to make this deep vein of cultural experience seem vital or exciting .", "it 's mad about you with home pregnancy test swabs .", "... a smart and capable debut for hunt as a director who has found herself a plum role . it 's a perfect mother 's day pick .", "MOV , a serious comedy , is more impressive for what it refuses to do than for its modest accomplishment .", "helen hunt deserves better .", "a bizarre , overcooked broth .", "too familiar by half to be indie/arty/edgy and too anemic by another half to surface as mainstream/commercial .", "a funny and touching story about the way we create families both by blood and by choice .", "an uneasy mix of baby mama , my big fat greek wedding and a few of woody allen 's domestic comedies , and is even messier than that makes it sound .", "suffers from , if anything , a lack of pure confidence in the story , the actors or the audience .", "tries to say too much all at once , but great performances from firth and midler carry it .", "looking an anorexic 15 years older than her character , she grabs onto her role with a grim , two-fisted attack . while the supporting cast in this dramedy swims toward comedy , hunt drowns in tragedy .", "as unhealthy-looking as a dust bowl migrant in a dorothea lange portrait , hunt appears to have wandered onto the set in hopes of finding something to chew .", "helen hunt stars in , directed and co-wrote MOV , and she handles each chore beautifully .", "other than perhaps being a little long in the tooth to have colin firth 's character convincingly going gaga over her , helen hunt has done a decent job of directing a ` chick flick ' which ought to be a hit with the distaff demographic .", "it 's a romantic `` dramedy '' that treads some familiar ground , but does so smartly and thoughtfully .", "mature dramedy interesting , but meanders too much .", "even midler ca n't redeem it from terminal lifetime-movie-dom .", "as MOV moves along it takes on some of the same sweet , loopy tone of waitress and the story has a similar arc . it does n't have the lush , dreamy look of waitress -lrb- or its sounds -rrb- but it felt just as satisfying .", "this serio comedy about the ups and downs of a schoolteacher is the feature debut of helen hunt , who 's not as self-indulgent as other thesps-helmers , but the film is pedestrian and hunt lacks technical skills .", "in her first shot as director , hunt seems direction-less .", "with subtle laughs but solid emotional thrust , it will play very well with older audiences .", "sometimes charming , occasionally funny , it never draws attention to itself as the work of a director with training wheels on .", "sharing ace chemistry with hunt , midler 's scenes are the jewels of the film ; a reminder of how impressive her talent is and how much her recent career direction has failed to capitalize on her gifts .", "gaunt , grim and wound as tight as a ukulele 's string , april epner -lrb- helen hunt -rrb- , the elementary schoolteacher undergoing the mother of all midlife crises in MOV , is a stern challenge to an audience 's collective sympathy .", "dialogue is a blunt-force trauma in hunt 's directorial debut , which behaves like some avant-garde theatre production where all the stage directions are spoken aloud .", "helen hunt effectively combines comedy with melodrama in a story of a woman whose biological clock is ticking .", "a low-key comedy in which characters always seem just one misstep away from full-out tragedy .", "april and frank are mired in angst , for no discernable reason , other than having the misfortune of being stuck in a downer of a movie .", "it 's the kind of film that only a mother , which is to say my mother , would love .", "helen hunt proves herself to be a highly capable filmmaker with this charming and mostly enjoyable dramedy that sometimes achieves its desired blend of humor and pathos , but not always .", "if it 's not a completely satisfying film , it 's not a completely mediocre one , either . see it if the subject matter intrigues , or you 're a fan of one or more of the actors .", "... a charming and downright delightful spin on the romantic comedy genre .", "what ought to be a bittersweet movie about a woman 's momentary unraveling feels like a workout class : cardio melodrama .", "by the closing scene , i felt privileged to be along for april 's emergence from the deep waters of daughterhood and her realization that when love knocks , the heart opens wide .", "the result is n't overacting -- some of the acting is quite good - but a failure of modulation . big emotions can make a movie , but a succession of them can impede flow and stop a story in its tracks .", "while hunt 's directing debut is promising , if understated , it 's her performance as schoolteacher april epner that impresses the audience .", "hunt has what it takes to direct ; you can see it here , in small doses . in an arena filled largely with men , it will be interesting to see what she does next .", "overall MOV , though earnest and clearly heartfelt , just feels tired ; like hunt 's sad-eyed april , it lacks spark .", "where it really matters -- working with actors -- veteran filmmakers could learn from hunt .", "this adaptation of an elinor lipman novel is hunt 's feature directing debut , and under the circumstances she might have been wiser to give the lead role to someone else .", "there 's a gentle realism that makes room for laughs , drama and the slightest touch of farce , never spilling into the comically cheap and managing to explore subtler issues involving adoption", "the experience of watching MOV could n't be as agonizing as the trauma onscreen , but it 's close .", "the tut-tuttingly dull script refuses to supply a single happy line until hunt squares up to the sudden arrival of bette midler .", "it 's not the only misstep in oscar-winning actress helen hunt 's first film as director , which is a shame because she does a lot of things right .", "there 's food for thought in the pregnancy plot , although the narrative drags its heels towards a misty-eyed conclusion .", "hunt 's film does soften the heart , not least because of its honesty and its sensitivity to some unfashionable dilemmas .", "helen hunt makes an impressive directorial debut and gives a defiantly vanity-free performance in this engaging drama that also features strong support from colin firth and bette midler .", "a bittersweet combination of comedy and drama , this sensitive film has enough strong material in it to make it worth seeing , even if it sometimes feels under-developed and a little too heart-tugging", "what at first seems a morose if witty romantic comedy for adults ends up being an altogether more serious piece about a woman acquiring children but leaving behind childish things .", "colin firth ... he steams a bit for a change in a tale that 's strictly so-soap .", "a mildly embarrassing vanity project .", "a highly satisfying old-fashioned comedy-drama ... -lsb- with -rsb- a strong undercurrent of religion and philosophy that helps hunt make her film profound in a way that sneaks up on you . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "without strong guidance , the self-conscious lines make the characters sound like , well , characters rather than actual human beings .", "a smart little bittersweet comedy .", "for a `` personal project , '' it 's all fairly impersonal and predictable . by the second act , you know everything that 's going to happen in the third . and by the third -- well , i almost found myself missing meg ryan .", "helen hunt 's directing debut , an adaptation of elinor lipman 's novel , is neither particularly flashy or innovative . it is , however , filled with just what the academy award-winning actress , who also stars , knows a good deal about : good acting .", "a heartfelt dramedy that 's not ` as good as it gets ' but still commendable .", "... hunt , in her directorial debut , ca n't seem to decide whether she 'd rather make a spicy ethnic dish or bland comfort food .", "it 's a romantic comedy , it 's a mother-daughter drama , and most importantly , it 's an unpretentious , gentle , moving film .", "with the screenwriters alice arlen and victor levin , hunt adapted the story from a 1990 novel by elinor lipman , and has turned the material into a fine , tense , unpredictable comedy of mixed-up emotions and sudden illuminations .", "MOV is uneven , but entirely watchable , and hunt gets terrific performances from both bette midler and colin firth .", "hunt writes , directs and stars in a rough-edged indie alternative to baby mama .", "uncomfortable moments and near-nervous breakdowns transition into oxygen-channel cuteness , which we 're supposed to read as some sort of approximation of ... messy real life ? not quite .", "a nifty story about some sympathetic and idiosyncratic characters struggling with love and reaching out for their small share of happiness .", "there 's nothing exceptional about it , but there 's a warmth and intelligence here which sets it aside from most other romantic comedies around .", "addresses thinky topics like religious faith , motherhood , and adoption , always intelligently and maturely .", "helen hunt , as she allows herself to age authentically , may have a good second career as a director , based on the surefooted handling of this comedy-drama .", "happily , helen hunt takes the `` ick '' and `` ick '' out of chick flick .", "words get in the way of true emotions in this comedy drama that marks helen hunt 's directing debut .", "a grim , grey little affair of people who are n't interesting failing to achieve catharsis in the banal , depressing problems of their lives .", "everything about hunt 's directorial debut % u2013 she also co-wrote the script and served as one of the 13 producers % u2013 is obnoxious , to say nothing of arch and artificial .", "finding a way to compartmentalize your bitterness while keeping your heart open to enlightening relationships is a more difficult task than facing ivan drago . in russia . on christmas day . for no money .", "hunt draws some good performances from the cast and wisely chose a low-key personal story for her directorial debut .", "the plot , as hinted , goes strictly by the how april got her groove back book , but it must be said that the performances push it a notch above pedestrian .", "this is the sort of movie that gives ` chick flicks ' a bad name .", "clearly committed to the material , hunt extracts exquisitely subtle performances from her accomplished cast-especially firth and midler-in this self-assured directorial debut ." ], "summary": "a threadbare story anchored by strong performances , MOV is a mostly successful directorial debut by helen hunt .", "id": "770677948" }, { "movie": "we_are_the_best", "reviews": [ "coco moodysson 's script captures the banal flow of events with just the right mix of humour and pathos , while director lukas moodysson 's straightforward , un-garnished direction gives this period '80s movie the right overall tone .", "one of the funniest and happiest movies i 've ever seen about early adolescent girls and their wayward , fitful joyousness .", "warm , joyous , and excellent , lukas moodysson 's MOV ! is an honest and refreshing celebration of young girls ' friendship , with a few playful punk punches thrown in .", "sometimes too faithful to teenage aimlessness , MOV ! can be shapeless and uneventful . but the movie often jolts to life , whether with outbursts of hostility or moments of gleeful female bonding .", "the unpatronizing way their growing pains are portrayed , while not ever losing a sense of perspective and humor is a key element of what makes the film so beguiling ...", "MOV ! is an infectiously funny coming-of-age story , led by three invigorating , nuanced performances from its young cast .", "there just are n't enough films about teen-age girl punk bands made by left-wing feminist swedish christian males .", "there are sweet moments and grosin 's dynamic performance percolates , but `` MOV ! '' is more tedious than anarchic .", "MOV is , well , one of the best and without giving anything away , i can assure you that its grand finale is as wonderfully satisfying as any ending that i have seen in a long time .", "MOV ! is hardly the best , but these girls just might be .", "MOV ! is smart , funny and real , an honest peek into the secret lives of girls .", "what we have here is an exhilarating blast of a movie , full of heart but still punk rock ... MOV ! is loud , crude , socially irresponsible and totally irresistible .", "the film 's winsome , self-satisfied comedy will no doubt appeal more to viewers who prize juvenile hi-jinks over the cultural moment it depicts .", "audiences can be pleased to find a story in which its young female characters are n't victims , or even pretty little liars , but just friends . and good ones , at that .", "the movie is refreshingly sensitive to gender , but also transcends it . what unites the three clashing heroines is their resistance to conventional cliques and schoolhouse conformity . in more ways than one , they 're a band of outsiders .", "when the girls chant the film 's titular mantra , not only do we feel like it 's true , we feel we 've earned the right to chant along .", "MOV ! scrapes , if sometimes a little lazily , for its spiky heroines to be appreciated on their own terms , half-understood though they might be .", "tests of friendship , boy troubles and a climactic show at a rival community centre ensue . and though the story meanders , moodysson wins us over by capturing the restlessness , confusion and excitement of being young and finding your voice .", "there are movies with much bigger budgets slamming into theaters , but i 'll be you wo n't see one with more honest exuberance or spot on charm than this one .", "if ever a movie earned the exclamation point in its title , it 's lukas moodysson 's `` MOV ! ''", "you do n't have to like punk rock to fall in love with MOV ! ; if a more joyous film comes along in 2014 , then it 's a good year indeed .", "the film 's surface is as spiky as its protagonists ' hair and wardrobe , but the overall effect can only be described as downright endearing .", "it portrays the kind of rush of unfettered , probably crap inspiration that one relishes before self-criticism and self-doubt kicks in .", "no film i 've seen so far this year has provided the sheer moviegoing pleasure of `` MOV ! ''", "it 's a being-of-age story , in swedish with english subtitles , the age being early adolescence , when kids with throbbing hearts and incompletely wired brains are full of passion and blithe illogic .", "despite the unruly music at its center , the filmmaker has crafted a uniformly gentle ode to growing up .", "sweet and rambunctious ...", "swedish auteur lukas moodysson returns to his roots here with a charming coming-of-age drama .", "so add MOV ! to the growing canon of excellent girl-band movies ... and in this film , being in a band is a way to find yourself .", "-lsb- ... -rsb- MOV ! captures both the spirit of the early 1980s and the way pre-teens and teens have their own ideas of what 's important .", "lukas moodysson makes a sweet , spirited return to form with this utterly delightful evocation of early teenage life .", "sly , fun and irresistible .", "a joyous celebration of youth , friendship and rebellion", "MOV ! charts this troubled yet exhilarating period of transformation in a trio of 12-year-old girls , while milking the social and historical particularities of the setting - sweden , 1982 - for all their nostalgic worth .", "moodysson 's charming and winning journey into adulthood , accompanied by a music style that encourages a venting of mixed emotions ...", "a gift for the blurry-eyed filmgoer", "an exuberant rock 'n' roll comedy in which three of the most memorable movie teens ever embrace their adolescent angst and give it screaming voice .", "smartly told , it 's a quiet riot .", "a bright , breezy and thoroughly enjoyable story of three teenage punkettes who strain and struggle to life , love and music in stockholm in the early 1980s .", "what makes it so special is its mix of barbed humour , tenderness and its adrian mole-like insights into what teenage years are really like .", "extracting naturalistic performances from all his young stars , moodysson seems to revel in these spirited characters . and you should too . it 's a delight from start to finish .", "a joyful bubble you 'll want to re-enter .", "there is a bugsy malone feel to MOV ! , a spectacle of children playing at being adults , and doing it inevitably badly . but not as badly as the actual grownups .", "there may not be a great deal to the film other than a little slice of time , but it 's bloody delightful - a warm , spiky hug .", "at 45 , moodysson is working completely without pessimism or sentimentality .", "lukas moodysson scores a crowd-pleaser after a few years in the wilderness with this return to the tender , bittersweet nostalgia of the rep-making together .", "a very welcome return from moodysson . the music is wyld stallions-grade , but the charm and spirit of the three girls will have you moshing in your seat .", "delightful , uplifting swedish comedy that marks a long-awaited return to the form ... for writer-director lukas moodysson , thanks to a warm-hearted , witty script and a trio of terrific performances from its three young leads .", "the heightened emotions and off-kilter logic of childhood feels totally lived in . it 's funny and sometimes beautiful to see .", "`` MOV ! '' captures the chaos of youth with a funny and profane energy .", "a proudly feminist middle finger to conformity , and a celebration of youthful rebellion .", "MOV ! is as unique as chips and chocolate . it 's also as universal as cosmic pubescence .", "but this is not a movie about kids learning the value of intense practice and dedication . instead , it 's a movie about the major and minor tumults of growing up .", "full of adolescent energy -- vibrant , untethered , and kind of bonkers -- the new movie from swedish director lukas moodysson is a gentler version of childhood than he 's recently favoured .", "the young actresses are just flawless and i think lukas moodysson really tells this story well .", "moodysson has brought these non-conformists delightfully , sensitively to life with design and cinematography reflecting the recently departed 70 's .", "in its evocation of the early '80s stockholm middle-school girl punk rock scene , `` MOV ! '' could hardly be more specific . but in its depiction of the joys and sorrows of adolescence , it could hardly be more universal .", "so far this year , one of the most warmly inspiring films ... sheer smile-on-your-dial factor . moodysson absolutely knows what he 's doing ... becomes funnier and funnier .", "the performances of all three young actors are superb , soulful , honest and full of joy . their dialogue is often ridiculously funny and there 's no sense of manufactured drama .", "three female teenagers trying to stick together in a world that is stacked against them in stockholm , circa 1982 .", "era-specific but never nostalgic , tender but never sentimental , MOV ! , like all good films about teenage girls , finely illuminates the emotional extremes of this tumultuous development stage .", "exclamation points seem entirely apropos : it 's the best !", "a classic coming-of-age story that embraces the messiness and stubbornness of adolescence , delivering a drama that is alive with attitude , humor and heart .", "the movie has the confidence of an artist who 's survived some wild years himself , experimenting with style and dispassion and realizing that sweet abandon is more than enough .", "a charming delight that 's going to leave you wanting to form your own punk band on leaving the theater .", "MOV ! captures perfectly the aimlessness of adolescence , the waiting to become something that 's so often intertwined with the desire to make something , to leave your mark on the world in some small way .", "funny and frank in its observations , the film is a delightful snapshot of female friendship at that age , from the giddy highs to the melancholy funks , from the sustaining bonds to the jealousies and stinging betrayals .", "lukas moodysson 's film allows its trio of girls to express themselves through gender , certainly , but not undermine their desire to be heard as artists first .", "punk has never been so adorably , girl or swedish", "MOV ! is a delightful film about the friendship between its three young protagonists , set to an amusing and convincing punk music backdrop . i spent half the running time with a grin on my face .", "the three girls are full of life . they have a lot of fun just being kids . they are excited about their potential and their possibilities . this movie is a tribute to the spirit and optimism of youth .", "the pic has a blast poking fun at society , and in a crude way siding with the rebels .", "it 's a film for seeing familiar things being done well , not for being surprised or challenged .", "a pallid and terminally cutesy movie that succeeds by stoking blandly happy feelings .", "the beautifully authentic performances by the three bandmates capture that brief life moment when nearly everything can feel like a scary , joyous act of rebellion .", "watching MOV ! is a genuinely positive experience , one that leaves you smiling inside and out even days later as you think back not only on scenes from the film but also to memories of your own life .", "the music here is really just a macguffin , a way into moodyson 's real subject : the complex and often unequal dynamics of adolescent friendships .", "for all their moodiness and irascibility , the girls come across as warm and believable , and there are funny moments when they take to the streets to raise money for a new guitar .", "moodysson gives his characters the perfect mix of love , protection , and freedom", "MOV ! is a low-key pleasure . it is perhaps not a project that tests moodysson as a director but it resoundingly shows his brilliance at directing young performers .", "utterly charming , fresh and funny , MOV perfectly captures what it feels like to be young and misunderstood .", "swedish filmmaker lukas moodysson returns to the improv-style charms of his earlier films -lrb- like together and show me love -rrb- , a welcome break from his more recent grim experimental dramas -lrb- see mammoth or lilya 4-ever -rrb- .", "punk rock has never been this bubbly on screen , but that 's what happens when you cast three actresses with infectiously effervescent personalities and deep-rooted chemistry .", "a look at three middle-school aged kids ostracized by their peers for being non-conforming , punk band aspirants . well acted by the young trio but they are simply not interesting enough to rivet my attention .", "with fantastic performances by the three leads -lrb- only one of whom is a professional actor -rrb- , the film fluidly alternates between the messiness and warmth of female friendship .", "if this film were a pair of knickers , they 'd be the kind of knickers you 'd think twice about hanging on the line .", "you 'd have to have a heart of arctic ice to finish the film not smiling with joy .", "it offers arguments for rebellion and for creative aggression . it sparkles with the unpredictability of youth .", "performances from the central players are uniformly remarkable and help distract from a slightly disjointed , episodic structure . content is fairly lightweight and the movie runs out of road towards the conclusion , but it is fun while it lasts .", "the whole thing is very smart and sweet , as are the performances .", "as played by three sparkling newcomers -lrb- mira barkhammar , mira grosin and liv lemoyne -rrb- in scenes that rely heavily on improvisation , they burst with a vitality that ca n't be faked -- only allowed , encouraged and lovingly savored .", "the great charm of lukas moodysson 's MOV ! lies in its total lack of pretension and adult editorializing .", "the spirit of genial youthful rebelliousness has seldom been expressed with such effortless glee .", "it may not be very punk , but these girls just want to have fun . and , crucially , moodysson is having a good time too ; there 's joy in every frame .", "MOV ! is the rare film about childhood friendship that seems to take place inside the world of children , not filtered through an adult scrim of nostalgia .", "propelled by its energy and sheer enthusiasm , lucas moodysson 's film about a would-be teenage punk band is a vibrant shot in the arm . moodysson captures all the unbridled spirit , optimism and chutzpah of youth and tosses it into the air for us to catch", "an unexpected charmer about friendship , identity and the liberating power of making a racket .", "captures the dynamics of adolescent friendship to perfection . funny and full of bluster , it 's an exuberant tribute to punk rock spirit , and to the experience of being thirteen .", "impeccably , nay astonishingly , performed by mira barkhammar , mira grosin and liv lemoyne , the film sweeps us into their world", "it 's impossible not to root for these appealing if flawed youngsters .", "the longer we spend with these three middle-school outcasts , the more we care about them .", "sweet-spirited and sometimes meandering but always working in the service of its young protagonists ' perspective .", "moodysson 's gift for lifelike misfit ennui here seems exalted by specific inspiration .", "a coming of age frolic with lessons for all ages .", "the youngsters playing bobo and klara have a lot of energy and presence on the screen .", "`` MOV ! '' should bring a smile to the face of anybody , regardless of gender , who recognizes themselves even a little in these savvy , indomitable characters .", "-lsb- moodysson -rsb- captures the crushing urgency and emotional craziness of youth . it 's not blood that flows through these girls ' veins , it 's nitroglycerin .", "`` MOV ! '' is a messy , congenial empowerment story that knows how aggravating adolescence can be when you refuse to fit in .", "it 's a title that makes quite a statement . few viewers will be inclined to argue .", "hate sport ! moodysson 's 1980s middle school punks are the perfect alternative to godzilla and tom cruise .", "a note-perfect coming-of-age story masquerading as a behind the music documentary", "MOV ! seems like -lsb- moodysson 's -rsb- clearest vision to date .", "relentlessly upbeat ... captures the peripatetic energy of youth .", "the young actresses are flawless , and their ear-banging music , which remains awful throughout the film , is nonetheless full of static electricity .", "this is a knowing film , and a liberating one .", "the teenage actors nail their natural , giddy-sad coming-of-age performances and moodyson flavors the film with fine direction of its young stars .", "although the movie often goes cross-eyed trying to figure out how to slip out of scenes , it retains joy and a rich sense of curiosity , brought to life through three terrific lead performances .", "three girls , three chords in three acts , that 's ` MOV , ' an invigorating coming-of-age comedy perfectly capturing the electrifying jolt punk rock instills in teens looking to expel their anger and frustration .", "director moodysson revels in the way his young cast alternate between being children and adults , back and forth like a lenticular image . the film is irresistible -- conveying the pleasures of being a spiky nuisance in a maddeningly calm society ." ], "summary": "sweet , empathetic , and shot through with a palpable joy , MOV ! offers a tender tribute to the bittersweet tumult of adolescence .", "id": "771363530" }, { "movie": "el_aura", "reviews": [ "... a tightly constructed thriller ...", "the film 's taciturn observer , played by ricardo darin -lrb- the strutting con man of nine queens -rrb- , delivers perhaps the most inward performance of the year .", "bielinsky does a remarkable job of both revealing and withholding information , so that , even after 134 minutes , the film never drags .", "in the end , the film 's bigger challenge is n't its length , or its deliberate pace : it 's that it 's overly freighted with symbolism and meaning .", "the aura holds together as a dreamy variation on reservoir dogs ' heist-gone-wrong fatalism and the know-thyself confrontations of david mamet 's homicide .", "... this intricately plotted mystery ventures into darker psychological territory and never misses a step .", "the heart-attack death last year of fabi\u0155n bielinsky ... makes the posthumous release of the aura , his mysterious drama about an argentinean epileptic taxidermist caught up in a vivid crime , that much more poignant .", "the movie 's mood is haunting , and its central image of a man able to shed his morality as easily as an old raincoat hints at a filmmaker who had deeper concerns than mere thrills .", "whereas nine queens was a movie of clockwork precision and blindsiding reversals , MOV is more internalized and digressive but no less striking , in large part thanks to darin 's mesmerizing performance .", "the aura works as a thriller , but it 's also a character study of a man with nothing to lose . even at more than two hours , it never relaxes its grip .", "the movie is cause for both rejoicing and despair . the good news it 's an absorbing , intelligent film . the bad is that there will be no more from the gifted -lsb- late director -rsb- bielinsky .", "it 's tough to get behind a character who does n't even seem to care about himself .", "visually , the film is almost perfect , with a weird , expressionistic sensibility considerably more sophisticated than the low-fi street shooting of nine queens , while the imaginative piano score trickles between pastoral harmony and primal discord .", "a haunting character-study-cum-crime thriller that marks the maturation of a significant filmmaking talent .", "the flavor is a decidedly mournful one , unusual to find in a crime thriller , but adding layers of rich atmosphere and psychological depth to a familiar but nerve-wracking genre tale .", "the aura is richer and less showy than nine queens , and it lifts off from the gangster genre to contemplate deeper mysteries . reminiscent of antonioni 's the passenger in its obsession with fate and choice .", "bielinsky also is a most expressive director , achieving considerable nuances and depths of emotion with characters ' looks , gestures , body language and silences .", "a somber mood of bleak lives is enhanced by muted colors . the many unusual aspects keep the aura continually intriguing .", "once the story is fully engaged , the suspense never lets up ...", "the world of the aura is , quite obviously , a heightened and stylized version of reality , but its governing emotions of dread , suspicion and moral confusion are bracingly real .", "a fuzzy attempt at significance that seems as aimlessly lost in the woods as its heist-plotting characters .", "a delight to look at , and full of both beautiful music and beautiful silences .", "this character-heavy crime thriller from argentina occasionally gets off track , straying into territory that has little to do with the main story line . but they are interesting digressions , and it 's sort of nice to have a movie that 's so unpredictable .", "a startling psychological drama with plenty of unexpected twists , a worthy follow-up -lsb- to -rsb- fabian bielinsky -lsb- 's -rsb- riveting debut nine queens .", "i have to admit i was more than intrigued by a film featuring an epileptic taxidermist with a photographic memory who fancies that he can commit the perfect crime .", "it 's intriguing and absorbing , this thriller about a lonely taxidermist caught up in a shooting accident , a case of mistaken identity and a heist .", "if less neatly realized than nine queens , the aura is the more ambitious film . it is all the more haunting for suggesting narrative possibilities that bielinsky was just beginning to explore .", "tense and twisty , this is what thrillers should be about .", "with `` the aura , '' his final picture , the director adopts a moody atmosphere to convey an original heist thriller set in the mysterious patagonian forests .", "it 's less a deconstruction of the heist film than an ambitious contemplation of our fascination with the genre ...", "argentinian writer / director fabian bielinksy -lrb- nine queens -rrb- creates a character with an intriguing set of traits that inspire an equally intriguing plot .", "a psychological thriller about a wannabe gangster who ends up with overwhelming regret after becoming enveloped in a whirlwind of terror .", "a top-notch heist thriller set in patagonian forests and southern argentine cities , a film full of dark , moody atmosphere and richly imagined , indelibly etched characters .", "the moody ambience suggests noir writers david goodis and jim thompson ...", "this is a start-to finish thriller that delves into a different world than the usual heist drama", "infused with a whiff of the outsider 's stale regret .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- dif\u00edcil recordar un thriller con tan poco di\u00e1logo , en el que los silencios y las contemplaciones sean mucho m\u00e1s importantes que los enunciados de los personajes .", "the voyeuristic focus and camera acrobatics may remind you of hitchcock , but the aura is also highly original .", "... sublime psychological thriller ...", "the aura is a reflection upon the thriller genre rather than an actual thriller itself .", "there 's lots of suspense here , and the ending is actually perversely satisfying .", "with the aura , fabi\u00e1n bielinsky replaces nine queens ' flashy mamet-esque posturing with downbeat melville/antonioni noir existentialism .", "a hypnotic journey into the head of an epileptic taxidermist with a photographic memory .", "-lsb- the aura -rsb- might be the most original new thriller i 've seen since memento .", "gives off scents of melancholy and dread that are rarely seen in heist films" ], "summary": "the aura is a highly original and cerebral thriller that maintains its suspense from start to finish .", "id": "335715866" }, { "movie": "touch-the-sound", "reviews": [ "you may find your own sense of hearing transformed by this global tour of the senses .", "-lsb- t -rsb- his is a film that leaves strong reverberations and a pleasant , sense-scrambled high .", "riedelsheimer gives the viewer not only glennie 's music , but her own experience of it .", "MOV is a completely joyful moviegoing experience and , like the best movies , it takes you to a place you 've never been .", "bold and often thrilling film .", "you 'll either sail along with it contentedly , or you 'll start to think halfway through that maybe the movie could have been a lot shorter and made its points just as well .", "unfortunately , a good deal of touch the music is devoted to vacuous interviews with glennie , who seems positively incapable of saying anything substantial .", "they get some amazing sounds from unusual sources ... this film is a visual and auditory experience .", "... he often assembles gorgeous , abstract visual montages that recall godfrey reggio 's - qatsi trilogy .", "we 're led to experience her life as she does -- as an adventure in which setbacks are not challenges , but illuminations of untracked paths .", "a film that succeeds both as biography and poetic travelogue .", "an often-lovely impressionistic look at the life of a famous avant-garde percussionist who generates a wonderful world of sound , despite being deaf .", "innovative sounds and striking visuals combine to form an exquisite cinematic work that 's both a portrait of hearing-impaired percussionist evelyn glennie and a radical reexamination of sensory experience .", "arrestingly beautiful .", "a potent and imaginative creative biography of virtuoso percussionist glennie .", "it 's a clich\u00e9 to find inspiration in other people 's disabilities , but the truth is that glennie would be inspiring whether she could hear or not . her joyful enthusiasm for life is that great .", "it 's rare that a documentary conveys an artist 's worldview so compellingly , but then glennie is no ordinary musician .", "educates in exhilarating ways , ways that are immediately applicable to how one lives one 's life .", "this impressionistic documentary is a mystical exploration of the sensory world as experienced by a musician who lost most of her hearing as a teenager .", "it will be frustrating if you expect narrative and linear development . but if you take it on as a new point of view , valuable even if you do n't completely comprehend it yet , MOV is worth the trip .", "the movie makes an interesting addition to what could become riedelsheimer 's evolving and extraordinary gallery of movies that bring the creative process to life .", "it does n't help when glennie tries to elucidate her feelings about nature and music in holistic , broad strokes that border on nonsense .", "thomas riedelsheimer 's portrait of deaf percussionist evelyn glennie is an absolute masterwork , both of filmmaking and of musicianship .", "a coy yet worthy profile of celebrated scottish percussionist evelyn glennie .", "-lsb- a -rsb- fascinating portrait .", "it 's a contemplative piece of work that will leave you questioning the nature of what is audible -- particularly those parts that ` hearing ' people tend to tune out or ignore .", "MOV is remarkable not only because of glennie 's story -- a clinically deaf grammy-winning musician who has played with the world 's great orchestras -- but for the way riedelsheimer uses sound .", "riedelsheimer sees glennie as an angel of hyperawareness and possessor of special spiritual wisdom .", "a documentary that artfully blends sound , image and biography .", "call this a profile in courage .", "riedelsheimer succeeds in showing us glennie 's world as she feels it .", "a feast for the senses .", "this ` sound journey ' -lrb- as the subtitle of the film calls it -rrb- has much to like and recommend .", "like superior tracks on an exhausting double album , the individual moments of wonder in MOV are too powerful to dismiss .", "beautifully shot and filled with gorgeous music , but one of the most inspiring things about it is the way it erases the idea of glennie 's deafness as a handicap .", "we listen to this film more intensely than is usually the case .", "glennie and reidelsheimer prove equally adept at tapping into found sound and transforming it into art .", "a nice introduction to an artist mostly unknown to the general public ... but one that needs to focus more on its strengths and less on outside influences .", "there is a maddening sense of dislocation through much of the movie -- a feeling that genuinely fascinating questions have been squeezed out by woo-woo philosophizing and material -lrb- like glennie 's brief return to the family farm -rrb- of only minor import .", "it 's a spacious , hauntingly meditative film that thankfully does not dwell on the implications of glennie 's deafness .", "the film is a paean to the variety of sound in our world , sound that we experience very differently from how evelyn glennie does .", "this concentration on the physical quality of sounds is a mesmerizing corroboration of glennie 's belief that tones , timbre , and tempo are in `` everything we see . ''", "glennie 's accomplishments in music are as unexpected and against all norms as are lance armstrong 's in sports .", "exquisitely beautiful for the eyes as for the ears .", "it 's a cinematically masterful portrait even if its subject falls short of expectations .", "does n't touch glennie 's greatness .", "evelyn glennie hosts a surrealistic ride through the waves of her preternatural percussion as she invites the audience to feel as they hear .", "fans of the grammy-winning musician will revel in the proximity to their idol , though second pic from talented helmer thomas riedelsheimer plays a tad long to those unfamiliar with his , or her , work .", "rewarding , thought-provoking and subtly visceral ." ], "summary": "not only does this documentary introduce viewers to glennie , it gives them a taste of how she perceives the world .", "id": "6929" }, { "movie": "best_of_enemies_2015", "reviews": [ "new documentary explores the public intellectuals ' televised spats .", "`` MOV '' is one of the most interesting and revelatory documentaries in years . it blows last year 's oscar winner , `` citizenfour '' out of the water .", "there is something about the siren call of the tv camera that can turn even big thinkers into brawlers . it was true then and it 's true now , and `` MOV '' serves as a thoroughly enjoyable reminder .", "for better or for worse , we 'll never again see television quite like that documented in the compelling `` MOV '' ...", "`` MOV '' makes a strong case that the vidal-buckley debates were a sort of gateway drug that led to our insatiable craving for the sort of all-heat , no-light exchanges that form the backbone of today 's 24-hour cable news universe .", "did anyone win ? most say vidal , since buckley descended to physical threats . but really , has anyone won in any of this endless bickering ?", "the high point of the debate was ... never mind . see `` MOV , '' and find out for yourself .", "spending 90 minutes with two insufferably arrogant men is n't an easy recommendation to make , but `` MOV '' is generally quite successful identifying the remarkable nature of the debates .", "like its two subjects , `` MOV '' is lively and smart . unlike them , it 's even-handed .", "MOV offers a bracing view of a pivotal time in our recent history , as vietnam and race riots scarred a nation 's soul , and as the establishment and the counter culture exchanged epithets and blows .", "like the debates it concerns , MOV entertains to a degree , enlightens to another , and asks us to ponder the relative merits of polar political ideologies and two complicated men who very publicly represented them .", "MOV ' detached , sportish depiction of their feud only explores their influence in the shallowest manner .", "vidal vs. buckley-or , as i prefer to think of it , alien vs. predator-has not improved with age . which combatant you cleave to is beside the point , since both of them teeter on the brink of the insufferable .", "one of the gifts of neville and gordon 's -lsb- doc -rsb- is that you do n't need a completist history of the pair and their politics : the electrifying spectacle 's up on the screen for all to see . the assured editing is by chicago 's own aaron wickenden .", "our ability to speak the same language has long been fractured , and MOV tracks the faultlines of that social temblor with remarkable precision .", "`` MOV '' is a riveting , often quite funny , viewing experience -- in black and white , no less .", "it 's great television , but it has been available on youtube for some time now .", "television stops imitating life and becomes it in the first reality show of all time .", "MOV leaves you with an overwhelming sense of despair . it 's not just a great documentary , it 's a vital one .", "cowriter/directors robert gordon and morgan neville show how to take one notorious flashpoint lasting less than 30 seconds from a debate of almost 14 minutes and spiral outwards to build a compelling story .", "engaging , but i wish the film ... went more into -lrb- vidal 's & buckley 's -rrb- personal upbringings to better understand what made them tick .", "MOV does a good job of framing the ten debates with modern talking-head interviews ... in their socio-economic context while relating it to ours .", "MOV plays not only as a lively document of an engaging - and insanely entertaining - intellectual rivalry , but as a lament for the very idea of the public intellectual in contemporary life .", "the film positions those debates as a harbinger of the ideological sword-crossing that has become a staple of tv news . except what we have now , as opposed to the vidal-buckley confrontations , is a lot more yammery than eloquent .", "MOV bowls along smartly , with clips from the tapes spiced with intelligently snarky asides from friends and adversaries of the two men , and spliced with archival footage of the tumultuous times they addressed .", "a timely but unsatisfying exploration of a series of exchanges between conservative buckley and liberal vidal makes its case too little and too late .", "it 's just as equally entertaining and provocative as vidal and buckley 's debates .", "... -lsb- not -rsb- a celebration of intellectual combat , it 's an original-sin tale for where tv news went wrong .", "`` MOV '' is an undisciplined but still interesting look at those two men , and their extraordinary feud .", "`` the MOV '' provides a rich , extraordinarily fascinating account that 's sure to have many viewers ' minds constantly shuttling between then and now ...", "the idea may not seem so radical , in this day and age of reality tv excess and internet outrage : giving a national broadcast forum to two highly opinionated intellectuals to argue about politics .", "the arguments about sex , war , race and culture have hardly quieted since 1968 . buckley and vidal may rest in peace , but the rest of us have stayed plastered .", "as an introduction to a pivotal moment in how the media frames politics , it 's essential stuff : this is the moment when pundit culture was born .", "fleet , brutally funny and ultimately mournful for the lost art of informed public intellectuals brandishing wounding insights , the film is a fizzy bath of expertly organized archival footage and commentary ...", "not only does this riveting documentary skillfully portray the debates , it also deftly examines how the debates affected vidal 's and buckley 's personal lives and the future of political discourse in general .", "this deliciously feisty doc contextualizes their verbal brawls and the odd love-hate -lrb- mostly hate -rrb- rivalry between two men who seemed able to regard their own sense of heroism only through the other 's villainy .", "a must-view film for our media-besotted age ...", "MOV is , in the truest sense , a delicious entertainment of real-life deep-seeded resentments perfect for any size screen .", "the doc 's centerpiece - the series of debates , which escalated as the protests outside did the same - is giggly stuff . but it 's the postscript that takes it to another level .", "this account of the incendiary debates between william f. buckley and gore vidal during the 1968 republican and democratic conventions recalls a time long gone .", "witty , nasty and laugh-out-loud hilarious", "morgan neville and robert gordon 's gripping doc is structured like a boxing movie , but in this case the pugilists are intellectual heavyweights", "builds to a stunning final confrontation that changed the lives of both men .", "a fascinating , hugely enjoyable essay on media history - and on intellectual vanity .", "it 's fascinating . it 's horrible . it 's fascinatingly horrible .", "a must-see for anyone seriously interested in our political history and the current ` culture wars ' afflicting our nation .", "a must-see account of the birth of passionate , television punditry .", "the bruises inflicted that summer are now visible daily on so many channels , but they 're often inflicted by combatants who are far less mighty .", "the fascination and tragedy of MOV is that these two great minds squandered what might 've been their best chance to show the broadcast media how to have a vigorous , entertaining , useful argument about where the country was headed .", "`` MOV '' illustrates how even literary swashbucklers can be reduced to schoolboy behavior .", "it 's a first-class primer on how political news commentary had its true start . long before it became something to ridicule on comedy central .", "watching the modern day clips , you keenly feel the loss of both vidal and buckley , although this riveting , impressively crafted and thought-provoking film at least provides a fitting tribute .", "politics : this time it 's personal .", "a brilliant , hilarious , exhilarating look at the gore vidal v. william f. buckley paradigm-busting 1968 debates that changed tv journalism for the worse .", "MOV tell the story behind the gripping and often howlingly funny sixties television debates between two american intellectuals : william buckley jr. and gore vidal .", "some may argue outside events - antiwar protests , civil unrest - are pushed to the background , but this is a documentary about hugely erudite , larger-than-life personalities .", "these debates are a fascinating , lost minuet of personal and political disdain .", "outstanding account of a pivotal moment in small-screen history .", "a fascinating , supremely well-judged and unexpectedly touching documentary .", "a documentary about the exchanges that started the trend of shouting matches passing themselves off as political talk .", "by engaging celebrity worship rather than using these figures for deeper claims about media-dominated information cultures , morgan and neville reinforce to the very circumstances they outwardly condemn .", "for american viewers of an intellectual/historical persuasion , there could scarcely be any documentary more enticing , scintillating and downright fascinating than MOV .", "a juicy and thrilling documentary about two intellectual titans who truly loathed one another .", "the two men made serious policy discussions wickedly entertaining and decidedly personal , and neville and gordon knew that they had a gold mine in the debate footage that is the centerpiece of their movie .", "unfolding over the course of a month , these debates were a game-changing event in american politics and unscripted television , which left both men continuing to trade barbs for decades .", "there is great pathos and tragedy in both men 's lives , and as much humor as there is in the film , it is underlined with a sadness .", "terrific archival clips of the debates , spot-on talking head commentaries from familiar well-loved , far cooler urbane heads from jack paar and dick cavett to christopher hitchens . what a fun ride !", "reminiscent of when we were kings , neville and gordon set up the prize fight and then let the two intellectual heavyweights deliver the blows .", "it 's a fascinating tale that 's exhilarating and engaging , an entirely fitting and vital showcase for the film 's iconoclastic subjects .", "by drilling down into these two men and their conflict , MOV ends up having a lot to say about how we talk about politics and how we relate to -- and hate -- each other .", "the on-camera clashes between william f. buckley jr. and gore vidal are vividly and entertainingly recounted in this fascinating documentary .", "almost as smart , funny and vicious as buckley and vidal themselves .", "MOV is effective as both a chronicle of a fraught era in american history and an origin story of the modern state of american televised news journalism .", "-lsb- a -rsb- delightful account of the infamous televised debates between liberal firebrand gore vidal and conservative gadfly william f. buckley , jr. , during the 1968 republican and democratic conventions .", "smart , insightful , thought-provoking and wildly entertaining .", "between the hyperbole and fudged history , the directors deliver a rather insightful , evenhanded profile of two know-it-alls who never knew when to shut up .", "it worked because both participants knew how to produce witty remarks on cue ...", "the details of what went down are fascinating , but the ultimate focus of MOV is television and this demonstration that it can be both eminently viewable and illuminating .", "what followed -lsb- in the debates -rsb- was not so much a clash of well-articulated ideas as a clash of highly articulate persons who regarded ideas as ammunition .", "it goes down easy enough , and in this day and age , waiting until the end credits to include the obligatory jon stewart clip classifies as restraint .", "from a modern vantage point , the level of their conversation is astonishingly high -- at least until it degenerated . but then , that degeneration has its share of fascinations too .", "works so well because the filmmakers understand that the personalities at the center of the fray should anchor things .", "MOV , like most documentaries , generally feels as though it 'd be more at home within a much shorter running time , and yet there 's no denying that the movie provides an eye-opening look at two intensely compelling -lrb- and competitive -rrb- figures .", "neville and gordon do especially well to capture the emotional gravity of the political situation and demand the audience 's attention .", "MOV is a spellbinding story , a poignant tale of foibles among greatness , and a vivid portrait of events that were like the year they occurred -- a stark line between what was , and what thereafter would be .", "the film revolves around the famous feud between political pundits gore vidal and william f. buckley jr. . it feeds our urge to be flies on the wall in the midst of such a fight . and it sheds light on why we all share that dark desire .", "a riveting look at a tv revolution .", "sadly , for a film at least partially about the impact of evening news and political coverage , little importance is given to the actual political content as compared to the results .", "reminds us how thrilling and provocative an intelligent debate can be .", "entertaining look at two gigantic egos in conflict on national television -- and of historical significance as the birth of the political tv pundit .", "a smart , engrossing documentary about a political and media moment in the united states in the 1960s ; a moment whose resonance is topical and whose reverberations have been enduring .", "-lsb- a -rsb- colorful and entertaining a portrait of that moment -- and the fascinating personalities who created it .", "an often spell-binding account of the culture-changing television debates that took place in 1968 between conservative william f buckley jr and liberal gore vidal ... compulsive viewing .", "... more measured and less fun than the encounters between buckley and vidal . that 's not the film 's fault -- the live events were charged with a suspenseful energy , the sense that real violence could break out at any moment ..." ], "summary": "smart , fascinating , and funny , MOV takes a penetrating -- and wildly entertaining -- look back at the dawn of pundit politics .", "id": "771412027" }, { "movie": "what_would_jesus_buy", "reviews": [ "seeing wwjb ? in a theater is not necessary , although seeing him and the choir hijacking a mall in person would be better than beowulf in imax .", "reverend billy is a charismatic presence , even if his shtick is too silly and the documentary too unfocused to motivate any serious change in the nation 's holiday spending habits .", "these bits of information could have been shocking in about 1940 , 1980 and 1990 . but by now , americans who do n't know could n't care less .", "talen runs the risk of losing his purpose amid his performance .", "this funny , yet thought provoking film asks many questions that have plagued consumerism for decades . while much of the ground tracked over is old , it fits perfectly into the modern economic situation .", "in wwjb , we do n't really feel like we get to know anyone that well , not even the primary subjects of the film : billy and his choir .", "the shopaholic wages of sin are ... the shopocalypse !", "so we need a better movie about this subject . as usual .", "having illuminated the many dimensions in that vast universe between the flat affect of creative depression and the modish affectation of emo posing , corbijn manages control with elegant , understated veneration .", "the good reverend and his crew do their best to get busted at assorted corporate shrines -lrb- disneyland , the mall of america -rrb- , but their media-driven antics serve only to underline spurlock 's add-water-and-stir approach to political documentary .", "fake collar or not , he makes a pretty good preacher .", "it 's a wickedly effective indictment of america 's consumer compulsion , our mindless shopping and the multinational corporations controlling it all .", "at the very least , the documentary MOV ? might make a viewer think twice about that next purchase at the gap .", "MOV ? is must-see viewing for anyone who thinks of christmas as just a mall and its night visitors .", "wwjb ? encourages viewers to think outside the big box of super stores such as wal-mart .", "if you 're going to live by the word of the church of stop shopping , a smart first step would be to avoid buying tickets to this film .", "MOV ? is a wonderful film . it 's a must-see pre-christmas , or at any time of the year .", "possibly the feeblest entry yet in the anti-corporate theatre-of-muckraking genre .", "MOV ? is paved with good intentions ...", "my take is that it should be renamed the church of stop yelling at me because you 've made your point .", "an entertaining and eye-opening christmas documentary .", "MOV ? is one of those all-too-common issue-docs that 's so clear about its point that it 's practically pointless .", "with a provocative title clearly designed to get viewers ' attention , it 's disappointing that -lsb- the movie -rsb- does n't actually have much to say .", "rob van alkemade 's hilarious , eye-opening documentary MOV provides a simple and surprisingly powerful directive to the american people : stop shopping .", "most viewers will be left to wonder whether the message is connecting .", "the film gets a little heavy handed , but it 's an important message .", "merry capitalism !", "this rob vanalkemade film has a good title and no focus .", "it is impossible not to be impressed by their sincerity and commitment .", "a comical cry in the silent night against , as george burns ' old song put it , the trend towards using people and loving things - instead of using things and loving people .", "the movie offers both intriguing portraiture and probing cultural analysis .", "this is n't just an easy shot at consumerism , it becomes , instead , an incisive look at the cognitive disconnect of the public at large , that hates the stress , emotional and financial , of the holidays , but nonetheless whole-heartedly joins in the mayhem", "one of the producers of MOV ? was morgan spurlock , and the film is very much in the spirit of his super size me .", "if gary busey ever played elmer gantry , he 'd look like reverend billy , the real-life fire-and-brimstone preacher who embarks `` on a mission to save christmas from overconsumption . ''", "this production is slick , well-paced , and tremendously entertaining .", "genuine and meaningful provocateurs like talen are vital , and his message is a glad one to anymore who abhors the walmart-ification of america .", "while the movie may be a good vehicle for rev. billy 's points , it 's too tied to his point of view .", "an amiable but also angry documentary .", "and as far as sermons go , it 's a good one . you just wish the director had found someone else to deliver it .", "it 's not much of a film , but it 's a swell opinion column .", "obvious or not , heeding reverend billy 's anti-shopacolypse gospel could make your holidays a little simpler , sweeter , and saner .", "while you can appreciate what the choir and the film are trying to say , too often they get bogged down in trying to spread that message . they also take themselves a little too seriously at times .", "i really like the message the movie has to say ... i just wish the whole package were good enough to recommend as a gift to give yourself instead of another hour and a half at the mall .", "watch it , then cut back on your credit-card purchases and say hallelujah ! to reverend billy .", "my nomination for a new christmas perennial : MOV ?", "in a strange way , `` MOV ? '' might actually be the most heartwarming holiday movie out there this year .", "the choir might have more impact if they did n't seem like a traveling theater troupe led by some odd blend of an electrocuted quentin tarantino and poison 's c.c. deville .", "not bad for a fake preacher .", "you know that deflated feeling you get after you 've spent a lot of time and money shopping -- and have little to show for your efforts ? this disappointing biography , about performance artist reverend billy , does an awfully good job recreating it .", "the passion that is evident in the stop shopping gospel choir is contagious and admirable . many christian churches could learn a few things from this secular outfit .", "part horror movie , part agitprop theater , MOV ? is a documentary on a mission ." ], "summary": "wwjb is an eye opening doc about consumerism that manages to be both funny and informative .", "id": "770678747" }, { "movie": "compliance_2012", "reviews": [ "if a movie 's success is measured by its ability to get under our skin and provoke a reaction , then this might be the film of the year . designed to make us furious , this drama pushes us to the brink as we shout at the characters for being so naive .", "a punchy and effective drama .", "an effective , nasty little film from craig zobel .", "an uncomfortable , provocative little drama that really gets under the skin and will not be for all tastes .", "well as the film is performed , particularly by dowd as the manager attempting to make order out of chaos , you can scarcely credit what happens .", "i admired its courageous realism , the fact that it dares to be unpopular yet truthful . unlike most movies , it will give you plenty to think about .", "the film edges forward diffidently , never quite matching strength of craft to strength of idea . it 's creepily beguiling even so ...", "zobel 's morality thriller offers uncomfortable commentary on the sport that can so easily be had at the expense of those on the lower rungs of the social ladder .", "zobel 's feature film brings out the creepy , banal horror of this culminating event , and the awful contemporary insights .", "needs more than its `` based on a true story '' disclaimer to short-circuit our sceptical instinct .", "get ready to cringe or crawl under your seat -lrb- that 's a compliment -rrb-", "-lsb- zobel -rsb- forgets that less is often more and his film loses credibility ... in the end everyone just seems excessively stupid because we have never been complicit .", "a wickedly compelling thriller , a skin-crawling , stranger-than-fiction examination of the darkest power of authority .", "... the intent is clearly to provoke a strong reaction . but once that is elicited , what 's left ? not enough for my liking .", "watching MOV recently , i also began to squirm and talk back , but not because i disliked the movie , which i think is brilliant .", "the picture has a calm neutrality that makes the unpleasant events we witness even more disturbing .", "it 's a highly political work about how some people can be made to do vile things just for the wispiest promise that the powers above will go a little bit easier on them .", "incredibly thorny issues of morality , responsibility , loyalty , trust and resentment are in play here .", "` MOV ' offers a compelling case that we may not be quite so freethinking as we believe .", "skirts the credibility line , occasionally coming off as a stretch and other times so eerily plausible it might as well be a documentary .", "snapshots of greasy fries and slimy grills pump up the unsavory atmosphere , while heather mcintosh 's ominous , cello-driven score plucks our nerves and stirs our stomachs .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has a sharp psychological point and a ca n't - look-away quality even as it turns horrifically dark .", "MOV is torture to sit through . it 's also indispensable filmmaking . this fact-based movie is going to present you with questions that will haunt you long after you leave the theater .", "the only film of 2012 that had me actively booing its villain - a mundane monster who does n't need to touch his victims to scar them for life .", "despite the limited setting , MOV is often unbearably tense .", "it 's a deeply moral movie about the failure of morality , as grueling to watch as it is necessary .", "too condescending to be trusted , too manipulative to be believed , too turgid to be enjoyed , too shameless to be endured and , before and after everything else , too inept to make its misanthropic case .", "a harrowing , gut-wrenching fable about power and authority that shows that even the most well-adjusted , ordinary person could be tempted to degrade and dehumanize their neighbor .", "it 's a milgram experiment for the viewer .", "zobel makes his setting feel immediate and real , from the gum-smacking employees to the dowdy manager who just wants to do the right thing .", "ultimately what is fascinating about MOV is its suggestion of the near-universality , and ultimate mundanity , of the totalitarian reflex .", "MOV ends up being about certain things that it would rather not be about .", "a thoroughly disturbing , sometimes mean-spirited indie narrative film .", "there is a level of stupidity displayed by the people in this movie that beggars belief . their behavior is to stupidity as the death star is to a doughnut .", "an upsetting film . . if you 're looking for a film that shoves you way out of your comfort zone , this one will do the trick .", "gripping indie drama unsettles the audience with its study of human behavior manipulated by a bogus authority figure .", "zobel has proposed an intriguing , disturbing concept . but he makes leaps . MOV is a good film . i wish it had been a little better .", "taut , edgy , at times almost farcical yet remaining incredibly powerful , this is a small scope film big on execution .", "MOV is one of the toughest sits of the movie year 2012 . but it 's an uncompromising and , in its way , honorable drama built upon a prank call that goes on and on , getting worse and worse for the people on the other end of the line .", "director craig zobel delivers a hard-hitting and tense study of morality with MOV , a menacing drama meant to provoke strong reactions and discussions after the credits roll .", "calm on the surface but the subtext is ferocious with the shocking way people succumb to savage impulses when people in positions of power are morally tainted", "it 's a squirm-in-your-seat kind of experience . but it deserves to be seen .", "it 's a creepy and frightening demonstration of the risks society faces when accepting authority without question . and it 's made visceral by the astonishing performances", "it 's a creepy and frightening demonstration of the risks society faces when accepting authority without question . and it 's made visceral by the astonishing performances", "this little independent american film might be the scariest thing you see this year ... a shattering film about human psychology of which the young martin scorsese would have been proud .", "the implications are frightening and the premise fascinating as we are able to see how something like this can spiral out of control . yet zobel stretches our patience and tests the credibility of the narrative - mostly to its detriment", "this psychodrama of ill-advised behavior may well leave you feeling dirty ... for what you 've watched helplessly and perhaps for what you 've countenanced as an american citizen .", "this is one insistent film , more evocative of human behavior than movies that take fewer risks ever could be .", "there 's a humanity here , even for the restaurant manager . but that still does n't make `` MOV '' easy to ingest .", "... a sadomasochistic mind-trip ... it has the lingering impact of a gruesome freeway pileup you do n't want to look , but you ca n't help yourself .", "MOV will leave you shocked and offended , but it misses out on any opportunity to be anything outside of a dramatization .", "MOV is a difficult film to watch -- walkouts have been reported at more than one screening -- but it 's also a calculating and intimate deconstruction of the greater social ills that our fast-food nation faces as a whole .", "one of the most deeply disturbing movies of recent vintage .", "there 's the adage that life is nasty , brutish and short . it 's even worse when you 're half-naked and locked in a supply room with your boss .", "its skillfully constructed scene-setting montages , its fraught , gliding camera moves and attractive compositions seem judgmental , suggesting the filmmakers are superior to and more sensitive , certainly , than the characters .", "` MOV ' takes an extremely unpleasant and nauseating experience for everyone involved and puts this masterful spin on it to make it not only watchable , but a really solid piece of film overall .", "a fairly deliberate and effective piece of provocation .", "the movie 's frightening momentum ca n't be denied ; indeed , it 's the whole point .", "MOV is a disturbing , exciting and instructive film about matters we should all be prepared to face .", "zobel is canny enough to gradually intensify the level of discomfort to ensure the characters ' increasing irrationality feels honest in the situation , regardless of how out-of-whack it seems from a distance .", "that the events in MOV are taking place in a fast-foot restaurant is equally resonant . the junk food we see being prepared could n't be more disgusting . surely , you ca n't help but think , anyone prepared to swallow that will swallow anything .", "the perfect companion piece to your copy of fast food nation .", "it 's all but guaranteed we 'll each arrive at different breaking points while watching zobel 's pressure-cooker of a movie .", "MOV is a horror movie with no sudden frights , no gore , and not a single scream . it 's a surveillance video , capturing us with all our blemishes ; a reminder that how we see ourselves is so rarely in line with the truth", "a frightening look at the power of authority and the human desire to avoid conflict .", "... a movie that feeds on collective emotions -- anger , denial and , most of all , fear -- but also triggers explosives along the faultlines of class .", "dark , disturbing , confrontational stuff . also a damn good film .", "MOV is diminutively sufficient and blandly adequate with no additional layers that elevate its small independent nature . it feels rather one note riding on the promise of a distinctive tale that never totally comes to fulfillment .", "a thriller worthy of a viewing , and a shower to cleanse yourself , afterward .", "MOV functions as a fascinating and mortifying glimpse at how readily and illogically people will submit to authority , whether it 's law enforcement or a boss .", "-lsb- it -rsb- leaves you in a dark moral place you 'd really rather not be .", "it might make you a tougher person after watching it .", "zobel 's film shocks , but leaves the viewer to uncover the real story for themselves .", "this is a squirmy watch - but of course , it is supposed to be .", "MOV , for its sheer nerve in tackling such difficult , yet need-to-know material is a terrific film .", "a riveting , horrifying film , shot through with beautifully observed moments of unwelcome truth .", "the film ultimately feels exploitative , especially in its schematic selectiveness about what to show or not .", "impressively directed and superbly acted , this is a gripping and disturbing thriller , made all the more horrific by the knowledge that this actually happened over 70 times .", "the point of MOV , which caused walkouts and shouting matches when it premiered at the sundance film festival , is how we are programmed to do things that go against our natural instincts as long as we believe we have the law on our side .", "dowd 's performance -- showing sandra 's eagerness to please the `` cop '' and her hesitancy to follow orders -- burns in the mind long after the movie 's over .", "morally complex look at human behavior leaves you shaking your head in disbelief", "about as far from an easy watch as you could imagine , MOV is a seedy little story that you 'll wind up watching between the cracks in your fingers .", "without a single bullet in sight , craig zobel has crafted an ingenious , dizzying conversation piece of a thriller .", "MOV strips bare the fallacy of equivalent free will . it gets under one 's skin in a manner few films do , but sticks in one 's head the same way all great ones do .", "i admire the workings of the movie , in the same cool way i might regard a machine gun as a work of art ...", "irritating one-note indie film .", "a brilliant psychological thriller that i 'd struggle to watch a second time .", "based on real criminal cases , this is one of the year 's most powerful , squirm-inducing , unsettling dramas .", "among the highlights -lsb- of bamcinemafest -rsb- ... provocative !", "psychologically astute and brilliantly executed , `` MOV '' is a challenging film that cuts to the heart of difficult ethical questions about the nature of power .", "... an aggressively manipulative piece of work that 's been shamelessly designed to shock and provoke the viewer .", "zobel has created a tale that will leave audiences angry if not downright nauseated by journey 's end .", "disturbing in that it feels so damn real .", "it seems as if craig zobel wants to implicate the audience in these proceedings , but he does n't have a very clear idea how to go about it .", "MOV develops an intriguing premise intelligently , inquisitively and uncomfortably .", "`` MOV '' is a very uncomfortable movie . it makes us question our own readiness to allow strangers at airports to grope our nether regions through our clothes , or even to strip search us while we act like defenseless victims .", "zobel shoots his queasy little psych test with i 'm - just-the-messenger documentary neutrality , challenging as he goes : do you want to look away now ? how about now ? will you walk out ?", "MOV is a fascinating and deeply unsettling version of true events , but it goes past that , with art and honesty .", "it never loses sight of its goal to persuade us to be more aware , more questioning of our leaders and institutions , from politicians to priests to , in this case , the police .", "that the thriller is based on real incidents only magnifies its effect .", "one watches in horrified fascination , and a greater horror comes when one realizes that , placed in the same kind of situation , one might react in the same way .", "the intimate setting ratchets up the suspense without turning exploitative .", "you 'll spend the bulk of the film squirming in your seat .", "shows good intentions gone bad -lrb- and bad intentions gone horrible -rrb- , with characters persuaded to bite off inch by inch until an entire yard is gone .", "a film designed to provoke social as well as cinematic comment .", "we feel like gutless witnesses to a crime .", "filled with superior performances , MOV does everything within its power to make a far-fetched situation believable .", "a thriller that permits you to stay two or three steps ahead of it . it 's a film that makes you yell at the screen , to shout `` come on ! '' at many a moment that seems to defy credulity .", "fails its first test , which is that the audience believe every word of it .", "in taut , gripping and deeply disturbing fashion , writer-director craig zobel measures the depths to which rational individuals will sink to obey a self-anointed authority figure in MOV .", "the cast here is so terrific that they turn a movie that takes place almost entirely in one dingy room into rich theater ...", "it 's not just about some woefully misguided fast-food employees : it 's about the scared , intimidated and unquestioning follower in all of us .", "it 's remarkably well-crafted , as it looks good and sounds good and features a tight , economical script .", "as disturbing as it is , it 's even moreso when you realize it 's based on true events .", "craig zobel fashions tough , challenging material in the guise of a dark comic thriller and those too willing to dismiss it or drum up unnecessary controversy are part of the problem and not the solution .", "i ca n't say i liked sitting through MOV , but i can say that i think it 's significant , and that it cements zobel 's place as a serious filmmaker with an important voice .", "almost every frame of the film is squirmy , alerting every part of your brain that what you are seeing is just plain wrong .", "likely to spur discussions about workplace safety , employee rights and broader awareness of sexual predation , MOV is also a suspenseful psychological drama for viewers prepared to tolerate its extremes .", "as a portrait of what people are willing to accept simply because other people are going along with it , `` MOV '' is an almost endlessly fascinating study of human behavior , disturbingly unflattering as its conclusions may be .", "a disturbing , fact-based look at the ways in which people can be bullied into bowing to the demands of authority figures .", "bravely uncomfortable and sure to inspire heated post-movie -lrb- and likely mid-movie -rrb- conversation , MOV is haunting , positively enraging when it sinks in that this was no nightmare , but a reality .", "zobel 's masterful direction and screenplay heighten the distress of authority figures possessing unseen persuasion over naive employees , exposing a disturbing and haunting look at what some workers are willing to do in order to follow orders .", "zobel , a second-time feature filmmaker , has put together a skillful , sympathetic but unsparing re-enactment of a small-scale atrocity , and his cast plays it out with natural , understated performances .", "like a john hughes movie hijacked by roman polanski , this troubling indie effort lays bare the sadomasochism of the american workplace .", "so long as you can tolerate the frustration it fosters , it 's hard not to appreciate such intelligent provocation .", "for once , the title card `` based on true events '' is not some cheap gimmick to lend a story importance ; it is a despondent cry of shock , disbelief , and , above all , outrage .", "perhaps the most disturbing movie of the year . not a horror film , but given that we ca n't excuse the behavior as belonging to illegal aliens or felons eluding of the law ... maybe it 's a new strain of horror after all .", "this is a well-made film , with plausible performances by all the leads , especially ann dowd . we feel we know people like this .", "we think we 're more world-wise than these people and that this could never happen and then zobel brilliantly forces us to come to terms with those judgments .", "disturbing and unlikely as it may be , this stuff actually happened , and pretty much as craig zobel relates it ." ], "summary": "anchored by smart , sensitive direction and strong performances , complicance is a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that 's equal parts gripping and disturbing .", "id": "771267239" }, { "movie": "harry_potter_and_the_prisoner_of_azkaban", "reviews": [ "everything they screwed up in the first two harry potter movies they fix in the new one .", "just about everything plays better this time .", "-lsb- cuaron -rsb- leaves his mark without betraying the source material .", "the film 's disarming blend of freshness and darkness should please the potter faithful and win new followers .", "MOV proves that a new director with a different perspective can freshen a series that could otherwise resort to stale repetition .", "it 's much darker in mood and look than its predecessors , and it moves much faster , refusing to coddle or spoon-feed those who have n't seen the first two movies or read the books . this is both asset and detriment .", "in cuaron 's hands , the world of harry potter does n't feel like a synthetic movie theme park anymore . it 's almost real , hogwarts and all .", "almost everything about this movie looks and feels right .", "prisoner of azkaban sustains the good vibe of harry potter 's previous screen appearances , while also being blessed with a wand 's worth of cuaron 's movie magic .", "MOV offers what neither of its predecessors , for all their wand-waving and witch-brooms , had : real magic .", "with MOV , director alfonso cuaron has wrought a wondrous fantasy that 's light on its feet and full of heart . this movie targets the funny bone and tingles the spine .", "there has n't been a truly great harry potter movie yet , but this is a step in the right direction .", "darker , edgier and more artful than its predecessors . what 's even more surprising is that it 's actually very good !", "harry potter is 13 now , an awkward age for anyone -- even a boy wizard armed with magical powers . but MOV , the third film in the series , could n't be more self-assured .", "the third installment in the harry potter series , is everything the first two films were not : complex , frightening , nuanced .", "... has exactly what the earlier ones lacked - a sense of magic of its own .", "the third time 's the charm with this visual confection .", "did we mention chris columbus did n't direct this film ?", "it just chugs along briskly , riding a wave of wonder and enthusiasm .", "the other films felt like nothing more than companion pieces to the novels , illustrations to go along with the words ; this one stands on its own .", "this is a true adaptation , giving the impression of filming the whole book while carefully choosing what to include and leave out -- and thus it feels more complete and satisfying .", "the first true harry potter movie -- the first to capture not only the books ' sense of longing , but their understanding of the way magic underlies the mundane , instead of just prancing fancifully at a far remove from it .", "it helps that i 'm a huge fan of rowling 's harry potter books , and love the core story so much -lrb- especially azkaban -rrb- that i 'm apt to overlook some minor quibbles .", "all hail harry potter !", "the third edition of this classic tale brings thrills , chills and a new direction .", "-lsb- e -rsb- ven if you 're never read a word of the potter books and you have n't seen the first two films , azkaban stands alone as a creative triumph .", "as in `` princess '' and `` mama , '' cuaron explores the secret lives of young people forging identities in an adult world that alternately wants to ignore and to control them .", "-lsb- a -rsb- whimsically solid entry . cuaron creates a harry potter universe that is visually more stunning and sardonic in content ... a viably entertaining creepy coming-of-age saga", "`` while still riveting and wonderful in its mythology , is somewhat clunky and confounding in execution . ''", "le meilleur , ou le plus mature au minimum , des films de la s\u00e9rie .", "the adults may like it as much as any of the children in the audience . but the series is reaching a point of diminishing returns .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n has fashioned j.k. rowling 's imaginative text into a visually and emotionally satisfying stunner .", "this is n't the grade three incarnation of harry potter anymore .", "troubling and turbulent as any coming-of-age saga worth its agony must be . it feels absolutely true , and absolutely magical .", "it is n't worth sitting through almost two-and-a-half hours of a movie without enough for anyone other than a certified potter fan .", "the sets are spectacular and the effects largely seamless .", "there are some pretty nifty scenes and special effects .", "the darkest , most heavily plotted and handsomely crafted film of the three , but what 's missing without chris columbus in the director 's chair is the gee-whiz sense of wonder .", "un renacimiento de la saga , el brinco inevitable a la pubertad y el puente sin regreso del mundo de la magia inocua , a la fant\u00e1stica esfera del horror y lo desconocido .", "despite a meandering middle and an anti-climatic ending , this installment is better than its predecessors in nearly every way .", "potter 's third year is his most inventive yet .", "like the first two movies , this is loaded with computer-generated imagery , but for the first time there 's a sense of dramatic proportion balancing the spectacle and the story line .", "fantastic , but kids are older , themes are darker .", "cuar\u00f3n filigrees his film with brilliantly outsized projections of harry 's fears and underlying realities . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "just like the books that the films are based on , this franchise gets better with each installment .", "the best of the franchise so far ...", "for the first time , the non-converted may actually see what all the fuss is about .", "this is easily the best harry potter film yet , though a few qualifiers need to be added to that endorsement .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n brings a darker , edgier , scarier feel to this installment .", "given arguably the best book of the series to work from , new director alfonso cuar\u00f3n has turned out the best film to date , too .", "younger children might be put off by the darker tone of this movie , but the franchise 's new direction holds promise .", "for the final hour of the two-hour - and-21-minute azkaban is the closest any of the films has gotten to capturing the enormously pleasing essence of the potter books .", "stretching the pg rating to its breaking point , mr. cuaron has directed the creepiest and scariest potter picture yet -- and to my mind , the best .", "until now harry potter has been a great book character and a functional movie hero . with cuaron leading the way , harry has burst from the printed page to soar on-screen .", "it is perfect evidence for the obvious truth potter fans must face . the only great harry potter movies will be those we create in our minds as readers .", "harry potter and the wizard of azkaban is precisely the kind of invention the franchise needed .", "the silliest , as well as the most contrived -- and confusing -- of them all .", "an entrancing experience for potter fans .", "an influx of terrific british actors , the oncoming adulthood of the film 's three young stars and the fabulous effect that is the hippogriff sock this one over", "the world of harry potter remains delightful , amusing and sophisticated .", "cuar\u00f3n 's involvement should have made this the best of the series , but '' ` prisoner ' '' once again falls prey to author rowling 's tendency towards a lack of sophistication .", "despite a stronger appreciation for the characters ' psyches , prisoner of azkaban gets messy when cuar\u00f3n feels rushed .", "while i confess to being almost utterly lost within the narrative within about 20 minutes , i could n't take my eyes off the screen .", "this chapter leaves me little enthused for the future .", "a harry potter picture that flirts with -- and possibly even achieves -- greatness .", "cuar\u00f3n ... uses his enchanting vision to send rowling 's third installment down its dark , wondrous , often captivating road in grand style and with a generally steady pace .", "the most magical thing is how much older and bigger our young movie stars are", "harry is confronted by the dementors , ghastly prison guards who feed on every good feeling , every happy memory , and every repeat showing of the shawshank redemption on tnt .", "now that the groundwork has been laid , the series is free to really explore some compelling themes .", "the visual imagination on display in this film is head and shoulders above the first two films .", "cuaron leaves peter jackson and his bloody hobbits choking on his dust .", "rowling 's prose unwittingly resembles the monster books that try to eat the students .", "darker than the first two installments though not too scary for the youngest in the audience .", "nothing much happens to enhance any of the characters aside from the tenuous hand-holding of ron and hermione - and azkaban generates very little energy along the way", "the first movie in the series with fear and wonder in its bones , and genuine fun , too .", "cuaron 's resume all but guarantees he 'll be given the free ride that columbus never enjoyed . yet the truth is that , while far from a dud , this is the weakest of the films .", "cuar\u00f3n has also taken more narrative liberties than columbus did , and all of them are good , restructuring the film 's chronology for increased dramatic impact", "the third harry potter movie is the first one that actually looks and feels like a movie , rather than a staged reading with special effects .", "a convincing exploration of adolescence when one is tossed and turned by doubts about self and others and exhilarated by fantastic energy and derring do .", "a marvel of special effects seamlessly hitched to a powerful coming-of-age story .", "this latest film is a lot darker in tone , and thanks to the new director alfonso cuaron , it 's also a great deal scarier .", "best just to sit back and marinate in the richness of the movie 's texture and ignore the sloppy screenplay .", "here , finally , is a harry potter movie i 'd happily see again .", "in a series that 's episodic by definition , too many of these episodes lack any climax or payoff .", "you could call this one harry potter grows up . at the very least , the transition from chris columbus to alfonso cuaron has helped propel j.k. rowling 's hero from childhood into the difficult teen years .", "it 's arguably the most fun harry potter film to watch : inventive , quick-moving , playful , beautiful .", "what makes prisoner of azkaban so successful is that , like the earlier films in the franchise , it actually adapts the book from which it takes its name .", "prisoner of azkaban lacks the depth that those of us old enough to drive may have enjoyed in the earlier potter installments .", "cuar\u00f3n brought to the potter franchise a quality curiously missing from the two previous films : magic .", "ok , so the narrative may be a tad shaky , but what lends azkaban its edge is the unabashedly creepy tone that cuaron conjures .", "turning 13 suits our intrepid hogwarts students just fine in MOV .", "it 's the most moving and inventive live action children 's film in years -lrb- and therefore , just as magical for adults , if not more -rrb- .", "the right word for MOV is wondersful -- as in full of wonders , great and small .", "cuaron delivers a genuinely spooky and emotionally involving adventure which gives the world of potter much-needed character and atmosphere .", "if the first two films could easily have been tightened up by a half-hour or so , this one left me wishing that there were an ` extended edition ' dvd coming .", "cuar\u00f3n is ... having fun with the neverwhere between childhood and adolescence in a deliciously metaphoric way that chris columbus would n't or could n't venture near ...", "how ironic that a story dealing with an escaped prisoner actually manages to set this franchise free .", "showing more depth and range than in the first two harry potter movies , radcliffe , grint and watson have all come into their own .", "`` prisoner '' ironically feels much more unrestrained by the pressure of translating j.k. rowlings ' novels into films and is easier to just enjoy as a movie .", "audiences wo n't be wild about this `` harry '' with its dark , humorless approach", "everything a harry potter movie should be , an awesome visual world housing the volatile heart of a teenager .", "it 's a dazzling , magical cinematic experience .", "the best harry potter adaptation so far ... more emotional , scarier , and demands more from the actors portraying the young wizards , but they all deliver .", "an adaptation worthy of rowling 's marvelous creation-a chapter that spins the story to ever more thrillingly dark , treacherous heights .", "those who feared the franchise might grow as stale as batman or alien need not worry , as cuar\u00f3n proves there is still a little magic left up potter 's sleeve .", "MOV is the best entry , yet , in the series", "the best book in the series is now the best film in the series . we all have a better movie in our heads , but i had a blast seeing what lurked inside curon 's .", "while voluptuously bringing to luscious life the kid-lit world of witchcraft , wizardry and bizarre creatures , has script and plotting as bland as the hardy boys .", "more adult , and seeing this series become gradually more sophisticated , along with its three stars , is a real treat .", "... the most multifaceted and intriguing harry potter film yet .", "... feels at once more magically childlike and grimly grown-up ...", "even though azkaban in many ways is a far more accomplished film than its predecessors , it comes dangerously close to shutting out the nonreader .", "the potter movies have an endearing and light-hearted spirit of whimsy from which a certain other , recent fantasy trilogy -- more overwrought , overlong , and overrated -- could have greatly benefited .", "cuar\u00f3n has imbued this film with his own style and dramatically changed the look and feel of the potter universe ... which i see as a marked improvement .", "in azkaban , cuar\u00f3n has made a character-driven film almost completely devoid of a big , senses-shattering , hollywood climax . even more amazing , you never miss it .", "it 's not a stretch to see emma watson as her generation 's jodie foster - she 's that good .", "the story was a little harder to follow for novices like me", "bring on the geek hate-mail , but MOV mops the floor with lord of the rings", "let 's peek inside harry potter 's inbox , to see what day-to-day life is like for the protagonist of the edgy new prisoner of azkaban .", "... no matter what i say you 're still probably going to see it anyway .", "our wee little wizard is growing up so fast ! ... much like the child actors in the harry potter movies have grown up ... this film and story have grown with them .", "depth of character , cunning humor and hair-raising chills come shining through the visual blitzkrieg of special effects ... far and away the best harry potter movie yet .", "this time , harry potter is in a movie , `` MOV , '' not just a translation of a novel .", "the boys look considerably less interesting whenever hermione 's on screen , she being , again , the creature most in-between .", "a change in directors brings the third installment of the boy-wizard saga even closer to greatness .", "-lrb- director alfonso -rrb- cuaron has created a darker , more sinister world for harry , while also opening up more of the grounds around hogwarts .", "this film tells the exact same story more effectively than j.k. rowling .", "cuar\u00f3n brings a greater sensibility to his topic than did his predecessor chris columbus in the two previous harry potter movies .", "less a proper story in itself than a reminder to enjoy the wonders -lsb- j.k. rowling -rsb- has conjured .", "the literal sensibility that director chris columbus gave to the first two potter films has been replaced by cuaron 's richly cinematic one .", "a highly entertaining epic - arguably the best of the films to date - and one that will entrance fans of the books as well as newcomers .", "at some point you have to start asking with all the mystical potions and gifts of foresight , how do these wizards keep fingering the wrong people for these crimes ?", "i 'm bewildered and frightened to find myself reporting that it 's a very good movie , and it might have been a wonderful one .", "so much time is spent on including juicy little inventions from author rowlands ' pages that the story tension dissipates and the audience 's mind travels to other regions .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n imprime -lrb- ao filme -rrb- um aspecto sombrio , sem , com isto , perder a caracter\u00edstica mais fascinante da s\u00e9rie : o invencionismo de j.k. rowling .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has moments that come alive , but is confined by an attitude that fantasy need n't pertain to anything beyond itself .", "a shining improvement over the first two potter installments and , in a comment i never thought i 'd say , i would actually love to see azkaban again .", "hogwarts never felt so real . stunning and delicious .", "cuaron replaces the glossy sheen and rote mechanics director christopher columbus brought to the first two films with a dark , rich intensity .", "moves with a new confidence . it 's less scrubbed and disinfected and throbs with a more nightmarish excitement .", "alfonso cuar\u00f3n has successfully brought a harry potter book to the silver screen without losing the magic that made the series an international phenomenon .", "the third time 's the charm . or maybe it 's the second director . either way , `` azkaban '' proves the boy wizard 's most bewitching big-screen adventure yet .", "the prisoner of azkaban is basically a routine vehicle that plods its way through details without giving much incentive to feel engaged by the specifics .", "it 's lupin , with his shabby dignity and tender concern for harry , who 's the emotional counterweight to the teenager 's sadness and anger , and thewlis brings great warmth to his father-figure role .", "a masterpiece .", "it 's far less self-conscious about how to please an audience and is n't as slavishly interactive with its source material .", "cuaron tries to touch on a couple dozen of the subplots that so delightfully and leisurely unfold in the book , but here come off like a fast-forwarded highlight reel .", "a visually ravishing , narratively crisp treatment that represents a major advance on the earlier installments ... not just a good harry potter movie ; it 's a good movie , period .", "the third harry potter movie is the best yet , seemingly less dependent than its predecessors on cinematic gadgetry , and stronger in conveying its characters and story .", "a new filmmaker provides his take on the third book by author and creator j. k. rowling , providing a darker tone that meets the book halfway for its ... wiser student wizard .", "though harry 's now a teenager , daniel radcliffe has n't grown an inch as an actor . no charmer , radcliffe is barely the british version of macaulay culkin .", "this is one long sit , made all the more so by a turgid story , a dour visual palette and uninspiring action .", "cuaron achieves what the first two films failed at : creating an empathetic , human dimension for both harry potter and the entire world of witchcraft and wizardry .", "the first -lsb- of the series -rsb- that really accomplishes what rowling 's books do so well -- respect the intelligence and imagination of harry 's young audience .", "this time out the spell that 's cast is actually a potent one . cuaron 's talent is the magical ingredient in this concoction .", "he 's great , , the dementors are great , everyone else is great and the film is great .", "brilliantly conceived , harry potter & the prisoner of azkaban is a fantastic step up from the first films .", "where cuaron really succeeds is with the actors .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- esta tercera entrega de harry potter luce mucho m\u00e1s fresca y atractiva , casi como una renovaci\u00f3n .", "the third time is less charming and more serious , yet MOV easily meets our requirements for a bewitching adventure .", "-lsb- alfonso cuaron -rsb- has never made a special-effects movie before , and he 's careful to balance the ooh-ahh moments with human interaction .", "an utter delight .", "in cuar\u00f3n 's hands this fantasy has gone from the wildly absurd into the delightfully real .", "thanks to director alfonso cuaron , a dazzling storyteller with a keen eye for whimsical detail , the third film in the potter franchise is a visual delight .", "... the most emotionally effective film in the hp series ...", "a deeper , darker , visually arresting and more emotionally satisfying adaptation of the j.k. rowling literary phenomenon .", "this is the best harry potter film to date .", "-lsb- cuaron 's -rsb- dark touch gives the latest chapter a fresh bolt of energy and - at last ! - a rush of inspiration .", "azkaban is a great adventure , a work that 's marvelous as part of the franchise and on its own .", "pardon the pun , but when it comes to harry potter films , the third time 's a charm .", "a tremendous achievement in production design .", "prisoner may not be perfect , but when it 's good , it 's very good indeed .", "comes very close to soaring .", "here , at last , harry potter and the movie adventure hauls itself up to the standards set by the brilliant books .", "what 's interesting about MOV is that it is both darker and funnier at the same time than the earlier films .", "a refreshing change of pace . sophisticated and distinctive .", "a picture that 's not only a franchise peak but a high point of the whole summer . for the first time in four years of half-trying , i 'm gathering what all the fuss is about .", "the most powerfully entrancing children 's film in years .", "more thoughtful , but still entertaining .", "the overall look is purposely grim and downbeat .", "... a good , atmospheric stepping stone in the potter chronology , with yet something missing to make it an entirely satisfying movie on its own . -lrb- ultimate edition , blu-ray -rrb-", "just like hagrid when he 's faced with the certain death of his faithful pet buckbeak , the audience falls into the emotional trap that cuar\u00f3n creates .", "this is the best of the harry potter films . it 's not that there 's more magic , it 's just more magical .", "a well-paced tween movie that feels modern , timeless , funny and frightening all at once .", "a great continuation of the series and immediately available for viewing in imax ! see it that way if you can !", "a spell whose effect - though effectively and expertly cast - will not likely last much longer than the time it takes to watch it .", "this is n't a radical departure from the previous films . solid entertainment for fans .", "much like a child going through puberty , the maturation of the harry potter franchise has yielded awkward growing pains for the third film in the series .", "not only is this the best harry potter movie , it is the first harry potter movie that actually qualifies as cinema .", "suitably imaginative visuals and a knack for hitting the high points of the plot without missing a beat ... a fabulously wild ride", "pace , acting , composition , cinematography , moody lighting & score create a magical cinematic experience with greater depth , grit and maturity than the previous two .", "anxiously paced and happily embellished , the prisoner of azkaban trades in conflict of the internal variety . it 's also the first harry potter film worth a damn .", "a dark and sombre film that is spookier but less amusing than the first two .", "assured , visually triumphant filmmaking that is n't simply a joy to look at , but also bewitches with its tightly conceived plotting .", "cuar\u00f3n 's appointment to this franchise is quite simply the most inspired hollywood gamble of the year .", "harry potter fans , stand up and cheer for alfonso cuar\u00f3n , who in taking the reins for the third film in the series , has finally infused energy and vitality into the franchise .", "as magical and adventurous as ever , but perhaps just a smidgen darker than its predecessors , and deliciously foreboding .", "until an even more impressive chapter comes along , MOV looms as the apex of the phenomenal new film franchise based on j.k. rowling 's celebrated series of novels .", "it 's hard to imagine that any harry potter movie will ever top the enchanted achievement of prisoner of azkaban .", "the series ' child actors are now teen actors , and the franchise is growing with them .", "fast , fluid and absorbing .", "a marvelous adventure .", "a big , marvelous entertainment we can feel proud to love .", "a different kind of harry potter movie , a better kind .", "` est llena de magia , diversin y personajes que cuarn ha vuelto ms que entraables . felicidades , alfonso ! enhorabuena . '", "the other films had magic brooms , but this is the first picture that flies .", "at long last , here is a film where the computer-generated imagery actually serves the magic rather than being the magic .", "` something wicked this way comes ! ' promises the tagline -- and it delivers !", "entertaining , but it drains any kind of suspense from harry 's adventures by giving the magicians every variety of spell that they need just when they need it .", "i 'm really happy with how this installment turned out . i can easily recommend that you grab the kids and catch it on the big screen .", "consistently glorious to the eye .", "this is a luminous movie -- luminous , imaginative and affecting . for harry potter , at least , the third time is the charm .", "growing up is hard enough for us muggles ; it certainly ca n't be any easier for wizards and witches . this is the first potter movie that examines this .", "despite generic constraints and audience expectations , cuaron has succeeded in making a personal film", "visually marvelous .", "one of the best films so far this year and a big step up from two previous solid efforts .", "cuaron has imbued a touch of the night into harry and rendered the series a good deal more intriguing .", "the ordinariness of the magical world is a theme that runs throughout the film . where columbus went to great lengths to highlight every fantastical thing about this universe , cuaron treats it matter-of-factly .", "cuaron finds the perfect balance of individual style and faithful representation , darkness and light , and delivers the strongest installment in the potter series so far .", "more magical than its cinematic predecessors .", "a mild upkick in pacing and texture can be credited to director alfonso cuar\u00f3n ... who avoids chris columbus 's mastodon-like setups and knows a bit more about whipping up atmospherics .", "artful , fast-moving and engrossing .", "easily the most clever , emotionally affecting and involving of the adaptations so far .", "a fast-paced , suspense-filled adventure that takes viewers on a wild , mesmerizing , magical ride regardless of their age .", "the most atmospheric , heartfelt and elegantly eerie installment so far ... ` mischief managed ' -- marvelously .", "a whole lot of fun , even for those of us who have n't read the books .", "the effects are a wonder to behold .", "as good a movie as anyone will ever make out of j.k. rowling 's revered novels about the boy wizard .", "scarier , funnier , filmed with real style .", "cuaron has more than done it justice , delivering an enjoyable , beautifully directed film that is comfortably superior to its two predecessors .", "a great film -- not just a fun treat or a solid adaptation , but a wonderful movie .", "not only is this dazzler by far the best and most thrilling of the three harry potter movies to date , it 's a film that can stand on its own even if you never heard of author j.k. rowling and her young wizard hero .", "the potter universe is finally imaged with magical perfection . any chance cuar\u00f3n could re-do hp1 and hp2 ?", "it 's all rattling good fun .", "a darker , scarier , more mature film than either of its predecessors , in my book , better , too .", "the best of the films to date .", "cuaron has done what few sequel caretakers ever manage , refreshing the characters and stories for a long potential run .", "the potter movies come of age .", "the childlike whimsy of the previous potters is dead , replaced by an encroaching loss of innocence and a foreboding sense of darkness . a new punch of life for the series .", "two and a half hours of neck-cramping semi-entertainment .", "... there is very little about this bloated package that delivered anything of great impact , particularly its story-line ...", "a menagerie of menacing and morphing computer-generated special effects make the movie worthwhile .", "rather than a brand new sense of adventure , there 's a sense in this sequel of a rerun , a tendency that even harry 's extreme magic ca n't seem to overcome .", "regardless of its cinematic shortcomings , the harry potter film series still has a ton of life in it .", "ultimately the success of the film lies in the characters , and the emotions that they trigger in us .", "what we 're treated to is less a story than a series of vignettes .", "compared to its predecessors , this is a more wintry , thoughtful and rewarding movie .", "-lsb- director -rsb- cuar\u00f3n 's imagery delights again and again", "cuar\u00f3n has produced the most terrifying and darkly humorous movie adaptation of rowling 's stories to date , giving it a visual flair sorely missing in the previous installments ." ], "summary": "under the assured direction of alfonso cuaron , MOV triumphantly strikes a delicate balance between technical wizardry and complex storytelling .", "id": "10014" }, { "movie": "best_of_youth", "reviews": [ "the MOV more than earns its running time .", "its storytelling style is as close to the novel form as you 'll find on film , both a strengh and a weakness .", "i dropped outside of time and was carried along by the narrative flow ; when the film was over , i had no particular desire to leave the theater , and would happily have stayed another three hours .", "despite many charming elements , this movie is not an example of good storytelling .", "for six hours that seemed more like two , i was wrapped up in a human drama that was also a historical drama and a genuine wonder of filmmaking .", "it avoids the pratfalls of easy melodrama by maintaining a psychological distance from its characters ; there are never any obvious explanations for their choices or behaviors .", "an all-encompassing , life-affirming cinematic experience that resembles no other .", "those who see it will , quite frankly , not believe their luck . it is that satisfying , that engrossing , that good .", "here 's the way you want see the film -- the first two hours in your 20s , the middle two hours in your 40s , and the last two hours in your 60s .", "when the movie concludes , you can talk about these characters as if you actually know them -- which wo n't be far from the truth .", "unfolds like a novel full of characters we ca n't help but care about .", "it maintains a defiant optimism that the actions of individuals matter .", "by the end , we know these characters so well that just seeing any two of them meet draws tears", "a family that seems as real as your own relatives .", "its point is this : that every nation , like a family , is made up of many people who are often at odds with one another , but that ultimately , we are all one .", "MOV has the textures and depth of characterization of a great novel .", "few films have ever made better use of combining social and political history with romantic melodrama and suspense .", "there are some beautifully modulated performances from a vast cast of compelling characters .", "among the least cynical and most humanistic features of recent times .", "extraordinarily ambitious and effacingly accomplished , this is both an affecting domestic drama and a provocative political epic that is never anything less than intimate , intelligent and involving .", "it 's a vast , sweeping epic that thrillingly sets its characters ' lives against a wider backdrop of profound political , historical , and cultural change .", "an incredible experience .", "as a movie-going experience la meglio gioventu leaves much to be desired . if you are interested , buy the dvd instead .", "an impassioned epic that sweeps up its characters in nearly 40 years of human drama and social history , intertwining the two with a master seamstress ' delicacy .", "by the end of this haunting , hypnotic film , you feel you have watched lives being lived , not just imagined .", "this six-hour italian drama spans nearly 40 years in the life of one family , and in doing so , channels half a century in the life of a nation .", "the story this six-hour film from italy tells is full of nuance and complexity , but it is also as accessible and engrossing as a grand 19th-century novel .", "this epic elegy to family and country is a towering work of narrative fiction .", "a story that 's less like fiction and more like the way that families -lrb- and countries -rrb- actually age .", "a touchstone of italian cinema", "works in the engrossing fashion of a good pulpy novel ... using whiskery melodramatic staples to digress into a whole slew of differing scenarios and moods .", "the MOV is no masterpiece , but it has enough truthful , moving moments to make it worthwhile .", "an astonishing , deeply engrossing italian family saga that happens to be six hours long .", "you weep , laugh , celebrate and mourn with the characters throughout the six hours , which at once seem like an eternity and an instant .", "revealing too much of the narrative would spoil the pleasure of learning where matteo and nicola find themselves . `` youth '' sells us on the idea that life is a gift and that beauty and rejuvenation can come from even seemingly unbearable lows .", "a major cinema event of the year , a masterpiece of italian film traditions in social/political realism and historical family epic .", "if you have better eyesight and a stronger lower lumbar than i do , you might confront the challenge of reading six hours and six minutes of subtitles with more enthusiasm than i did . but it 's still six hours and six minutes out of your life .", "traces the quiet failures and proud struggles of everyday lives caught up like driftwood in the currents of history ... conjures up an exultant , slice-of-life authenticity .", "with the six-hour running time , giordana gets the space to let the characters live and let their shared story unfold like a good novel .", "the MOV runs , though never dawdles , for an easy six hours , with barely a false note .", "by the end of the film , it 's as if i know these people , and i want to sit with them again for a few hours . or six .", "a slowly flowering miracle : an epic of normal life .", "a brilliantly orchestrated ode to the heart and soul of modern-day italy .", "in the end , you 'll be savouring an emotion not often engendered by film : tranquillity , a calm acceptance , tinged with joy and flecked with sadness , of life 's up-and-down journey .", "giordana 's redemptive vision provides a sense of discovery and a well of hope in the most devastating of troubles , and beautiful surprises in love , friendship and family .", "a brilliant , sprawling piece of cinematic art , and perhaps the best film of the year .", "this film is either a profound investigation of recent italian history and a loving look at the national psyche -- warts , poetry and all -- or else it 's a really superb soap opera .", "a beautiful , sprawling , wonderful story .", "so in-depth , so appealing , so easy to sit through and so anomalously grand scale that few who see it will ever forget it .", "all the pieces converge in a powerful rush during the second half .", "this is the sort of movie you 'll recommend to friends and they 'll go , ` six hours ! are you nuts ? ' and then call you up and thank you in the middle of the night .", "not to be missed by anyone who cares about the joys , sorrows , and challenges of living in the modern world .", "the result is that valued rarity , an intimate epic .", "a graceful and enveloping feat of filmmaking .", "after all the observations on heartache , politics , art , commerce , passion , identity , mortality , even mental health , six hours begin to seem downright compact .", "rarely have six hours spent doing anything seemed so rewarding .", "it 's a human-scale saga you 'll remember .", "the movie has the addictive episodic intimacy of great tv .", "got a spare six hours ? well , it would be a shame if you did n't , because this sweeping italian drama is worth every minute .", "it is , in short , the best of cinema .", "its themes are for everybody , though this wonderful drama must surely hold a special relevance for the graying boomers who went through those wild years ." ], "summary": "earns its 6 hours running time by telling an engrossing story with compelling characters .", "id": "277029659" }, { "movie": "1142872-sky_high", "reviews": [ "the flick is best in its bittier moments -lrb- watch for the stellar cameos -rrb- , and there 's nothing to trouble the tots .", "a derivative and unappealing comedy about superheroes and their sidekicks in training .", "takes the tried-and-true route of bullies , pg-rated house parties , nerd-dunking , `` that 's my boy '' winking , and vapid teen romance .", "silly and sweet , MOV is a delightfully over-the-top kids ' movie that is a good antidote for the typically pretentious super hero picture .", "a clich\u00e9-dependent disney cheapy that aims no higher than the unsophisticated standards of its pre-adolescent target audience -- and somehow succeeds in spite of itself .", "MOV is funny , smart , energetic , subversive , and has a few substantive things to say .", "any time you can get the strong chins of bruce campbell and kurt russell in a movie together you should .", "while there 's little substance in front of the camera , there 's somehow less behind it .", "a likable mix of laughs and wacky action sequences .", "an engaging and surprisingly sharp allegory about high-school hierarchies and adolescent growing pains .", "a good-natured and witty mix of two modern film genres , MOV is classic disney filmmaking -- fanciful , family-friendly and , most importantly , fun .", "to be honest , the whole thing looks a bit like an episode of television 's power rangers .", "less discriminating , younger viewers may find MOV amusing , but actual high school students are way beyond this kid stuff .", "cheesy as it is , the family comedy MOV does n't even approximate the texture of kraft plastic-wrapped singles .", "this is , indeed , another teen flick , a spotty , stodgily directed , though occasionally clever one , with several cardboard performances .", "the climax , which involves the homecoming dance and a death ray , is frenzied in its effort to entertain , yet ultimately underwhelming , much like the movie as a whole .", "yes , the idea sounds derivative -- ` the incredibles go to hogwarts ' -- but -lsb- the -rsb- script spins that idea into interesting configurations .", "high school sucks , especially when the bullies can toss you from wall to wall or throw fireballs .", "a clever , cotton-candy - light self-parody to the superhero genre that 's both effective and refreshing .", "takes camp to new levels of self-aware mediocrity .", "MOV is a blast-off into good fun for the kids .", "with a crisp and snappy visual style and its smartly paced story , MOV pulls an incredible feat in an age of dumbed-down kids comedies ; it 's as down-to-earth as it is super .", "funny , clever and even a bit inspirational , hinting at the potential for heroism in all of us .", "the formula fizzles when you skimp on the ingredients . MOV never achieves liftoff .", "MOV may set a record for ripping off more movies in just over an hour and a half than any other film in history .", "flying high on fun . superhero teenage movie hilarious .", "smartly written and sprightly played , MOV satisfies with a clever commingling of spoofy superheroics , school-daze hijinks , and family friendly coming-of-age dramedy .", "a didactic disney kiddie comedy that filters run-of-the-mill high school through comic-book superhero conventions .", "harmless family comedy with welcomely loopy asides .", "bright colors contrast the usual superhero dark mode . that 's a plus . but a script-by-committee turns MOV into a john hughes high school clone .", "merely child 's play .", "it 's definitely for the kids , but there 's enough in it to make it a watchable diversion for the rest of us .", "because MOV opens with a fantastically entertaining half hour , it 's hard not to be disappointed when the film morphs into a routine high school drama ...", "... an unexpected treat , crossing the superhero saga with the teenage ` coming of age ' comedy . it 's a clever and often surprising mix that works .", "the film makes up for the paper thin clich\u00e9d story-line by having fun with superhero mythology .", "` MOV ' includes enough funny scenes and colorful characters to hold the interest of adults and youngsters alike .", "we 've already had `` the incredibles , '' `` harry potter '' and a half a dozen other films in similar veins over the past couple of years . we do n't need this .", "it 's inoffensive and sports a positive ` be yourself ' message that 's obvious enough to be seen from space without benefit of hero-vision , but really , there 's very little that 's super about it .", "MOV is not quite what it could have been , but its positive attributes manage to overcome the villainous forces of boredom and lameness .", "it is subversive enough for kids to enjoy and mild enough that parents wo n't feel threatened .", "any film about superheroes should be redundant but this movie offers a fresh , new take", "exaggeration works for MOV .", "quaint , but funny , a clever and well-acted story plugged into a worn formula .", "... un film de disney avec juste un tout petit peu plus de mordant qu ' \u0155 l'habitude .", "-lsb- a -rsb- pure , sweet pleasure ... it 's fun . and given its baldly hybrid premise , that 's pretty super in itself .", "unfortunately , there 's too much deadweight in this listless , unfunny dreck - and it starts with the lead .", "it 's the sort of kid 's fare that parents love to get : genuinely smart , genuinely funny , genuinely fun all around .", "a pleasant enough collection of derivative predictability that 's not without some minor charm of its own .", "there 's nothing groundbreaking here , yet the film is light and fun , and there 's a positive message for kids .", "mike mitchell directs scenes in big , bright comic-strip panels : colorful and exaggerated , with everything spelled out in veritable word balloons .", "a dull , kid-friendly regurgitation of readily available -lrb- and superior -rrb- iconographic comics", "although it aims for spy kids and the incredibles territory , this family entertainment is strictly for those too young to attend the titular institution .", "a lively and lightweight adventure that finds the elusive middle ground between comedy and comic-book heroics that the makers of ` fantastic four ' never did .", "this zippy disney adventure-comedy asks that age-old question , ` is there life after high school ? , ' and answers it with a cheerful ` not really . '", "director mike mitchell deftly blends two genres -- the high school romance and the special-effects-laden superhero comic book adaptation -- and manages to spoof yet salute both with a refreshing lack of pretension .", "MOV is too hopelessly contrived for its actors to be able to make it work .", "an amiable and satisfying romp that will put a smile on the face of viewers young and old .", "it cleverly puts the perils of adolescence on the same level with fights against monsters and giant robots and bad guys who want to take over the world .", "this movie about a high school for superheroes is so good-natured and self-deprecating that it 's virtually impossible to dislike the thing .", "witty , wacky and played with conviction ... MOV soars with a vigor missing from 95 % of movies released so far this year .", "my 12-year-old self would have liked this movie a lot . the 25-year-old me likes it a bit more than he cares to admit .", "stan lee might not approve , but the script , by newcomer paul hernandez and kim possible creators mark mccorkle and bob schooley , gets off some good lines", "a winning combination of teen melodrama , quirky characters and superhero fantasy , almost tailor made for a long run as a saturday morning tv show on the disney channel .", "a very bright , amiable , warmhearted disney family film that is hard not to like .", "finally , a summer family film that can -lrb- and did -rrb- hold the attention of my 5-year-old nephew without getting me in trouble with his parents .", "bright and eager to please , it reworks themes and situations from teen films of a generation ago in a manner that makes a surprising amount of sense today .", "in MOV normalcy gets equated with privilege : this is teenage angst and competition as the kids of bigwig hollywood players must have experienced it .", "i anticipated going to this movie with a dread that was nearly `` MOV . '' but what a pleasant surprise !", "hogwarts for superheroes - the best family film of the year . miss it at your peril ; you never know how many super-villains are living on your street .", "the film struggles constantly just to maintain mediocrity .", "it 's harry potter meets the incredibles minus the memorable characters , hearty laughs , great writing and all around movie goodness .", "disney 's kid flick about a superhero high school is n't groundbreaking , but it is great family fun with a strong cast and a nice sense of entertainment .", "the humor is not necessarily subversive , but it is often subtle and cleverly conceived , which is a super feat indeed .", "a family-friendly and legitimately enjoyable disney flick .", "i had a ball with MOV , and i suspect that lots of stunned moviegoers are going to walk out of the flick feeling the exact same way .", "director mike mitchell and his writing team have a lot of fun tweaking the conventions of the contemporary teen movie .", "the incredibles it ai n't , but MOV will do nicely .", "... a potentially puerile disney movie turned into something we all can enjoy .", "a not-so-subtle metaphor about popularity and puberty .", "there are enough characters in the clean cut satire ` MOV ' to spin-off a dozen saturday morning tv series .", "this inventive superhero movie hybrid -lrb- the incredibles meet the x-men via harry potter -rrb- is one of the most entertaining family films of the summer .", "... a movie based on a high school for super-powered teens may not have seemed like the savviest idea . fortunately , MOV is n't bad . in fact , it 's surprisingly good .", "the film adds a superior level of irreverence that reminds me of films like galaxy quest .", "the script crackles with funny , quotable dialogue and the plot has a lot of fun with the usual teen movie staples .", "MOV pokes gentle fun at growing up , entering a new school , joining cliques , adjusting to friends and parents , dealing with peer pressure , and learning who you are .", "while originality is hardly the film 's strongest suit , its agreeable mix of knowing spoof and kid-pleasing fantasy makes it considerably more engaging than some of the ` straight ' superhero blockbusters we 've suffered recently .", "even though MOV is aimed at kids , everyone else should see it .", "... as far as bringing a superhero angle to the real world , the spider-man franchise has done a more convincing job than this sitcom approach .", "i never thought i 'd say it , but i ca n't wait until this is turned into a tv series ...", "carefully pitched to be watchable by the breakfast club generation and their young kids .", "MOV is adolescent , in the best , age-appropriate sense of the word ; it 's like a john hughes movie , but for tweens .", "just kind of a mildly entertaining footnote .", "i 'm a sucker for comic book movies , and `` MOV '' won me over ...", "it might be aimed at teens , but MOV is fun for parents , too .", "here , teen empowerment takes on a very literal form , even if events never stray far from the world as envisaged in a john hughes movie .", "cartoony high school superhero drama ; ok for tweens .", "MOV is the latest disney teen comedy about the pitfalls of adolescent life , but is much , much better than it seems like it should be in large part due to its strong cast and assured direction .", "... achieves a miraculous level of kitchy zip thanks to its creative casting of kurt russell , lynda carter , and bruce campbell .", "surprisingly clever , spirited and joyful", "confident and strong , directed with enough of an edge to be interesting , written with heart and a genuine wit .", "a brightly entertaining teenage comedy as frothy and predictable as cotton candy , but also just as sweet .", "the creators of MOV have their finger expertly placed on their movie 's pulse .", "the clever script finds the fun while michael angarano keeps the emotions real as a kid who learns that real friends do n't care if you 're a star .", "MOV does n't make any big statements . in fact , modesty is a big part of its appeal - even its cheesy special effects add to the warm , homey quality it strives for and achieves .", "worried it might be redundant given incredibles ? worry not . MOV stands mightily on its own , albeit employing a standard formula . i had a great time .", "MOV is a diverting family comedy that at its best aims to be a live-action incredibles and at its middling a live-action episode of kim possible .", "by today 's whiz-bang standards , may seem a tad tame and old-fashioned , but it 's a harmless trifle whose easy-going , undemanding tone should appeal to younger viewers .", "... avoids originality as if it were an infectious disease .", "a lighthearted , albeit sanitized , teen movie that marries 1960s kitsch to 1980s angst with sharp one-liners , sight gags and a lunatic-fringe supporting cast of comedians .", "high schoolers -lrb- who are shown chugging only soda pop at a supposedly rowdy party -rrb- will rule this movie lame , though early grade-schoolers might bite .", "MOV has n't a single original idea in its bird brain .", "the movie offers good-spirited fun with a family tilt .", "surprisingly fresh and entertaining .", "if you thought hogwarts was the only secret school for extraordinary kids , welcome to the amusing , yet cheesy MOV .", "there 's nary an original bone in its cinematic body ... and it is movie-licious nevertheless : very clever and visually hilarious , it 's a simple , charming delight .", "squeaky clean , but not to a nauseating degree , MOV is engaging enough for the whole family to enjoy .", "this is essentially an innocuous disney gimmick movie , not entirely juvenile but still completely dependent on formula .", "dissatisfying to an adult audience accustomed to more sophisticated parody ... will resonate with young viewers on their way to high school .", "MOV soars" ], "summary": "this highly derivative superhero coming-of-age flick is moderately entertaining , family-friendly fluff .", "id": "2127" }, { "movie": "santa_clause_3", "reviews": [ "magical -lrb- if mindless -rrb- family holiday fun .", "you look at a movie like this and wonder how some screenwriters can have the temerity to go on strike", "special effects are in abundance , but none of them are very well-produced , much like the film on the whole .", "it 's sad to see the life sucked out of a series that started so well .", "short 's skill and total commitment to his role make him no straw-dog villain , and his chemistry with allen helps the movie 's santa feel like a real live person and not an imperturbable icon .", "frost turns the occasion into a swag-saturated consumer orgy , which the film condemns even as it hams up product placement for red bull .", "while it may concern elves and christmas , ` the MOV : the escape clause ' is more dreary than cheery .", "there is no escaping the banality of it all .", "a little muddled and derivative but what do we expect , really ?", "christmas cheer is in short supply in the MOV : the escape clause , a feeble festive farce that 's more no-no-no than ho-ho-ho .", "the third though probably not the last in the successful clause franchise , this latest installment again stars tim allen as the everyman turned father christmas .", "what is seriously missing here is any sense of fun and warmth , which the other movies did possess . this one looks like work .", "so bad , it makes me want to convert and celebrate hanukah this year .", "an ugly , dispiriting , prefabricated lump of coal . with any luck , the MOV will be but a distant memory by the time december 25 arrives .", "has some cool glimmers of what the series did best , showing a real guy reacting to the mythology of santa claus . unfortunately , more than 2/3 of the film is made up of silly , cartoonish antics that are more embarrassing to watch than they seemed to perfor", "the pogo vibe of the first two films is missing from the new picture , but what it lacks in bellylaughs in makes up for in reliable entertainment value - an increasingly lost art .", "it 's all as genuine as tinsel and as stale as last year 's candy cane , but there are a few very mild pleasures , including alan arkin and ann-margret as scott 's in-laws and a loony dance number with short backed by elves .", "you play santa claus once with enthusiasm , twice with affection , three times for a paycheck .", "there 's little in this unnecessary sequel to put you in a festive mood -- unless you just love bad canadian jokes , farting reindeer and manufactured ` magic . ' humbuggery !", "nuance surely is n't MOV : the escape clause 's name , but its performances are pleasing % u2014 martin in particular brings a smirky , self-centered glee to his role % u2014 and its story is n't condescending . it 's brisk and colorful , right on", "you 've got to hand it to director michael lembeck ... he 's succeeded in persuading studio bosses to let him make not one but two sequels from premises that were dead in the water from the word go .", "badly written , shockingly acted and appallingly directed threequel that will please precisely no-one .", "santa 's traditional cry of ho-ho-ho has never sounded more like three stab wounds of pain and horror .", "cinema is far too powerful a medium to be graded on a curve -- even when tim allen is involved .", "the movie is more cute than funny . smiles are plentiful , but outright laughs are widely scattered .", "oh how the executives shook with their chortles as millions poured in through each cinema 's portals .", "... there 's little doubt that the santa clause series has finally run out of steam .", "a desperately lazy and unoriginal exercise .", "the MOV strikes out .", "the scriptwriters have continued their inventive treatment of humanising santa , while keeping the fantasy intact . colourful and bright , funny and witty , it 's a magical fantasy that will please young and old", "it 's time to send this one-trick reindeer to the glue factory .", "fans of the first two films in the series can expect more of the same in this serviceable yet unduly bland g-rated comedy that 's all too reminiscent of those by-the-numbers sixties-era disney films that usually starred either fred macmurray or dean jones .", "bah , humbug .", "i liked the first two , but this franchise has expired .", "bah humbug ! the MOV is a lump of coal in your stocking . it 's at the top of the `` naughty '' list . it 's about as appealing as a stale fruitcake .", "shot almost entirely on a single set possibly left standing from the last film , it features what looks like first-take performances and a script that 's inane even by kiddie-movie standards .", "tim allen seems bored with his own franchise . at times , he looks downright morose , cranky enough to kick an elf .", "the movie 's as icy as jack 's hair , as lifeless as its animatronic , flatulent reindeer .", "allen and short seem to be having so much fun that their enthusiasm is entirely contagious . let the season begin .", "mrs. claus having a baby is creepy . at least we do n't see the birth , the sight of mrs. claus in stirrups would have been too much to bear .", "the characters are all two-dimensional , or maybe one , except martin short as jack frost .", "the MOV is holiday filler , stuffed with unearned emotion and trite sentimentality . the good news is it runs just over and hour and a half , which means parents wo n't have to glance nervously at their watches .", "this movie is either going to warm the coldest cockles of your heart , or you 're going to throw up all over yourself before slipping into a diabetic coma .", "if there is truly an escape clause in this movie , use it .", "it 's like a family channel movie escaped and hid out in a movie theater .", "although we 've barely had enough time to finish clearing the halloween cobwebs , those hardworking elves at walt disney are already here to shove a little christmas down our throats .", "allen looks silly , tired and bored this time in the fat suit and beard , while the movie presents the irritating martin short as jack frost , nipping at your nerves as santa 's nemesis in a bid to take over and -lrb- gasp ! -rrb- commercialize christmas .", "kids , you can tell how much your parents love you by how far away they keep you from this worthless fiasco .", "the gag reel that plays over the end credits is funnier than this slushy comedy .", "i always say if there 's anything the santa claus legend needs , it 's a time travel component .", "jack frost gains control of santa 's workshop and turns it into a las vegas-style theme park -- supposedly a hideous inversion of christmas values . so blandly commercialized is the movie 's vision of the holiday that you can hardly tell the difference .", "it 's very , very difficult to care , because the movie is structured so poorly .", "perfect entertainment for five-year olds and sheer torture for the unlucky parent -lrb- s -rrb- accompanying them to the theater .", "the santa clause films may speak to the need for family connections , but this third movie represents another part of the season : the need to move product .", "ok , so MOV is n't the stuff classic christmas movies are made of , but the franchise still manages to invoke some genuine yuletide spirit . hard to believe , but it 's true .", "kids in elf drag , not very funny comedy on scrupulously antiseptic sets , and that faint wave of nausea that passes for a tug at the heartstrings in corporate filmmaking .", "this styrofoam snowman of a sequel overdoses on its own candy-cane-colored sugary cheer .", "as a full-service holiday movie , the MOV : the escape clause gets you into the mood to shop early and often by making the north pole look like a shopping mall with a never-ending school pageant .", "despite martin short 's highly entertaining turn as jack frost , this second sequel lacks the charm of the first two ` santa clause ' movies .", "a gaudy but bland lump of coal in this year 's cinematic holiday stocking .", "rather than cheer your favorite winter character , you 'll more likely search for an escape clause of your own , as this overstuffed three-quel milks the reindeer dry one last time .", "MOV : the escape clause , with martin short as jack frost , means we 're getting a turkey and a ham for the holidays .", "a thing of consummate craftsmanship , a smoothly engineered and fundamentally lifeless object that 's nevertheless capable of giving even the grinchiest moviegoers a brief attack of the warm-and-fuzzies ." ], "summary": "playing jack frost as an evil cross between liza minnelli and liberace , martin short is a welcome presence , but this tired series continues drawing from its bag of bland gags and dumb slapstick .", "id": "353654309" }, { "movie": "to_be_and_to_have", "reviews": [ "MOV works in the grandest tradition of documentary filmmaking -- it keeps company with a small , specific place going about its business , and from it parses the whole world .", "this heart-wrenching documentary about a french village schoolteacher at work offers the comedy and pathos of great drama and the visual magnificence of painting .", "contains some of the most stirring footage i have ever seen on the act and art of teaching children .", "one of those unassuming films that sneaks up on you and stays with you long after you have left the theatre .", "at once a testament to the divine calling of education and a demonstration of the painstaking process of imparting knowledge .", "in a way , the film feels like a breath of fresh air , but only to those that allow it in .", "deep , honest and unforced .", "amounts to a rare gift and an opportunity to appreciate the end of an era .", "inspiring and beautiful .", "philibert and his crew remain invisible throughout most of the this film 's running time letting a way of life that is surely short-lived speak for itself .", "the fly-on-the-wall method used to document rural french school life is a refreshing departure from the now more prevalent technique of the docu-makers being a visible part of their work .", "the director 's patient approach pays real dividends , in the way he observes the kids ... at work and at play in such a beneficial environment .", "it 's not as if we really need another reminder about the importance of education . but it 's still nice to see something like MOV , which manages to impart that message with subtlety and more than a little poignancy .", "you wish it would have been a little more ambitious .", "beautiful documentary .", "a fascinating and necessary movie , a document that preserves a pure form of teaching before it slowly fades away .", "it 's a perfect show of respect to just one of those underrated professionals who deserve but rarely receive it .", "an unhurried model of nonfiction filmmaking and a vision of life at its most persuasively humanistic .", "the american school system would do well to take a page from mr. lopez 's slow-but-steady curriculum .", "it is n't just an ode to teaching -- it 's a lesson in growing up .", "this is a film that all aspiring teachers should see , as well as veteran teachers who might have lost track of what teaching is all about .", "as touching as goodbye , mr. chips -lrb- 1939 -rrb- , this is an excellent companion to spellbound , another beguiling documentary about children .", "it demonstrates without overreaching what an actual teacher can do to shape lives .", "one of those rare movies that works as a humbling experience .", "the beauty of MOV is that lopez 's loss is n't the audience 's . this movie is a portal , leading to a living museum of childhood .", "the most unvarnished cinematic portrait of childhood i 've ever seen .", "the magical dynamic we witness , of recitations and math problems and disciplinary chats and vocabulary drills , all of it performed with exacting sympathy and focus , is genuine to the touch .", "the small triumphs and frustrations these children experience are more affecting than a thousand life-and-death battles between adults .", "auditing a class has never been more fun .", "more often than not you may find yourself unexpectedly smiling .", "one of the year 's most engaging films .", "fails to do justice to its potentially fascinating subject .", "simple but deeply touching .", "warning : as you note the incredible rapport this teacher has in a one-room schoolhouse , you may well become enraged at the way our cities are cramming thousands of kids into each of our education factories .", "a deceptively simple french film about teaching that keeps enlarging as you watch it , becoming beautiful and inspiring in a way most films never touch .", "MOV feels like a deep , sweet pull of spring water .", "exhibiting the same sort of patience as his sensible hero , philibert has created an extraordinarily humane portrait of a partnership between one adult and his very fortunate charges .", "nicolas philibert observes life inside a one-room schoolhouse in northern france in his documentary MOV , easily one of the best films of the year .", "a film that is a portrait of grace in an imperfect world .", "so superb , so graceful , so strong -- another beauty in this year of good documentaries -- that i do believe it will influence career choices , sending inspired viewers to study pedagogy , or cinematography .", "a testament to the scary responsibility of primary education , and a powerful tribute to the nobility and unselfishness -- and vital importance -- of the teaching profession .", "watchful viewers -- particularly those with fond memories of a favorite teacher -- will be deeply moved by this film .", "as quiet , patient and tenacious as mr. lopez himself , who approaches his difficult , endless work with remarkable serenity and discipline .", "a wonderful french documentary about a diligent teacher in a one-room classroom who revels in those magical moments when learning yields insight and delight .", "the film is as tiny as an altoid and as curiously strong .", "one of the most compelling documentaries of the year .", "a counterintuitive film about a small schoolhouse in rural france , MOV gets its punch from simple scenes and conversations .", "MOV is a movie every teacher should see , and every parent , too .", "at times , it feels as stultifying as watching paint dry , without the recompense of sniffing fumes .", "-lrb- lopez 's -rrb- teaching is simply one of the purest expressions of love i 've ever seen on film .", "philibert unobtrusively captures the priceless looks of concentration and confusion that come from a total unawareness of the camera 's presence .", "sweet , ultimately poignant portrait of a year in the life of a one-room school in auvergne ... an evocative , observant portrait .", "reveals ... the teacher 's - and the director 's - love for the children and an aching nostalgia for a way of life that 's on its way out ...", "in its discussion of the natural , essential roles of learning and teaching in life , \u0119tre et avoir is an elegantly shot , eloquently stated , first-class report ." ], "summary": "a small , sensitive , and moving portrait of a teacher and his students .", "id": "18562" }, { "movie": "from_russia_with_love", "reviews": [ "much of it borders on the inept and the embarrassing , and that goes for the title song sung by matt monro , the `` singing bus-driver '' .", "one of the finest bond outings , this flourished in the paranoia of the times before the franchise was devalued by an over-reliance on gadgets , camp quips and a skittish lack of focus or direction .", "creative cold war bond thriller is best for teens and up .", "it 's not too different from the non-bond action thrillers of the same era , in which company it falls well short of the top film , north by northwest . plenty of period charm , though , and a few of the bond franchise 's most austin powers-esque moments .", "it has more in common spiritually with le carre than fleming . only after james bond 's vulnerabilities have been further exploited than in `` dr. no '' does he succeed . `` russia '' is about as far as it gets from the biggest bond , but it 's easily the best .", "one of just a couple bond adventures that is genuinely great as cinema .", "everything that worked in dr. no is fully realized here . sean connery is 10 times more confident here as 007 , oozing charm and masculinity .", "the second bond is one of the best in the series , due to the intriguing plot , sinister villains , and fabulously staged fight aboard the orient express .", "the film lacks the exotic , colourful flamboyance of the best of its successors . so shoot me .", "the stylish second bond film MOV now looks as if it was shot yesterday .", "with a tight , witty script and unforgettable baddies , this is one of the very best entries in the series , stylishly cementing the formula -- for good or ill .", "for my money , still the best bond , with a screwball plotline that keeps the locales changing and the surprises coming .", "standing at the pinnacle of the series , MOV shows how good a bond film can be when all the ingredients mesh .", "... more outright suspense and excitement than any of the newer concoctions .", "the narrative is plodding , time has not been kind to set-pieces that were once so thrilling and now seem oddly perfunctory , and 007 's misogyny and casual slapping of several women is more than faintly repellent .", "honestly , nobody does it better . .", "this is probably the best bond film made .", "sean connery 's second outing as james bond became his personal favorite , and that of many bond fans around the world . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... a pivotal entry within the series ...", "sophisticated ? well , not really . but fast , smart , shrewdly directed and capably performed .", "MOV is a preposterous , skillful slab of hardhitting , sexy hokum .", "frwl has character and dash , and even something of a conventional plot , all worth revisiting for this pin-sharp restoration .", "bond 's still finding his legs in this adequate entry , not quite lost in the shadow of the subsequent goldfinger .", "one of the shiniest examples of bonds from golden connery era .", "it 's one of the franchise 's highlights , and if the dated action can be forgiven , a cracking cold war story .", "any bond film starring connery remains a delight to watch .", "a thrilling espionage adventure chock full of iconic characters , set pieces and one-liners .", "as a non-fan of the ian fleming super spy and a moderate admirer of such films as moonraker , i find that the essential point of enjoyment to be the films ' very flaws : the admiration of their kitsch factor .", "a fantastic spy thriller , connery is bond", "one of the best of the bond films .", "a james bond movie with the sensibilities of a classic cold war thriller", "ce deuxi\u010dme opus continue d'exploiter avec un plaisir coupable les possibilit\u00e9s infinies de cet univers cin\u00e9matographique fonctionnant uniquement \u0155 la testost\u00e9rone", "only `` goldfinger '' was a better bond for connery .", "007 is very much with us again , and anyone who has n't yet got to know him is urged to do so right away !", "3.5", "this film began the fine tradition of deviating from ian fleming 's novels , which gave us the suave , sophisticated bond over fleming 's monosyllabic misogynist .", "connery 's best bond . never again would he be this assured . this is closer to a classic spy thriller than any other bond .", "classic bond . more plot heavy , but still has a great gypsy fight , train fight and helicoptor boat chase . rosa klebb is a classic .", "the best bond ever . period !" ], "summary": "the second james bond film , MOV is a razor-sharp , briskly-paced cold war thriller that features several electrifying action scenes .", "id": "10737" }, { "movie": "don_jon", "reviews": [ "the fact that one can think of a movie about a guy hooked on porn as charming is high praise .", "the screenplay is generally predictable in its story of redemption , and it does n't have an ounce of subtlety .", "it 's difficult to rate a movie that does n't really start until its last half hour .", "an impressive debut as writer/director/star .", "MOV has attitude , conveyed as much through the solid performances as it is through the director 's unflinching approach to some complicated subjects .", "i find it a film that 's much easier to admire than actually like .", "joseph gordon-levitt has teetered on being the next big thing . he 's finally there with ` MOV , ' a grownups-only movie about addiction and compulsion in which he stars . he also wrote and directed this movie about a man 's obsession with pornography .", "this is a very funny , well-written film . unlike most romantic comedies , it is both thought-provoking and introspective .", "very funny and with some social commentary , `` MOV '' is an admirable first effort for gordon-levitt behind the camera .", "if MOV does not offer a lasting d\u00e9tente in the war of the genders , it does smartly delineate the gap between men 's and women 's respective fantasy lives .", "joseph gordon-levitt has turned out to be quite a good director . he has a very powerful style of editing and incorporating sound and music cues , with a light touch that 's so important in communicating with an audience .", "a bold choice", "MOV 's addiction is a fun , occasionally flabby romp that should find its audience .", "often light on its feet , bolstered by the reliable charms and writing chops of its leading man .", "much like its main character , this comedy is good-hearted , a bit clumsy , endearing , and incredibly rough around the edges .", "... propulsive and thoroughly watchable ...", "a truly original character piece , hilariously funny and poignant , with enough humor and heart that more people will be able to relate to the characters than they 'll care to admit .", "it 's an admirable effort and a lot of fun . i only wish it were n't trying quite so hard , or that by trying so hard it does n't still manage to undermine its own lesson .", "gutsy , sexy , and hilarious . MOV 's addiction bulks up the body and career of joseph gordon-levitt .", "an assured directorial debut as we 've seen in recent years , gordon-levitt 's comedy is vibrant and poignant and moves like a shark with nary a dull second .", "offbeat , frank and often surprising gem .", "joseph gordon-levitt and scarlett johansson give smashing performances .", "filled with frank conversation and gutter language , mysogynistic with misandry thrown in , it 's probably not possible to make a tasteful movie about a subject as distasteful as masturbation , but this movie does n't even try .", "it 's julianne moore 's character who most allows MOV to upgrade from being a humorous and perceptive movie about naughty internet connections into a heartfelt and perceptive movie about necessary human connections .", "joseph gordon-levitt has firmly cemented his place among hollywood 's elite .", "if you can handle the porn , go see this movie , if for nothing else than to experience how very talented joseph gordon-levitt truly is .", "gordon-levitt has delivered a lively , timely , and decidedly adult look at love and sex that is both uncommonly mature for a first-time director and very fresh .", "a romantic comedy with edge . joseph gordon levitt makes an impressive writing and directing debut . scarlett johansson is terrific .", "technology has enabled this don to do what the original don juan may have ultimately wanted : to be pleasured alone , giving nothing of himself .", "it 's a strong picture with substantial sexual imagery -lrb- earning its r-rating -rrb- , but also an effort that miraculously finds the core of the lead character .", "the movie takes a roundhouse punch at male shallowness , but jon , in and out of his clothes , is not an interesting enough man to be emblematic of anything .", "the movie is a broad ethnic comedy , but there 's nothing broad about the wicked-smart way it 's executed . even long-played-out stereotypes take on new life .", "not just good for a film directed by an actor or a first-timer - it 's a solid , entertaining film . period .", "the year 's best comedy to date focuses on a lothario who is able to rise to many occasions .", "any revulsion the viewer might feel toward jon 's solitary cyber-sex is counteracted by the sheer charm gordon-levitt exudes as MOV , and by the light touch he brings to his beautifully paced script .", "the dialogue 's frank and much of what we see is explicit enough to make this a film exclusively for grown-ups . luckily , the emotional places gordon-levitt takes his characters are pretty grown-up , too .", "the self-assured helmer shows genuine affection for his characters , balancing their openly satiric qualities with a disarmingly sincere human center .", "crude , repetitive and rigorously single-minded , the popular actor 's writing and directing debut lays it all on a bit thick , as the few points the film has to make are underscored time and time again .", "despite its promising risqu\u00e9 premise , `` MOV '' is a relatively conservative paean to monogamous relationships .", "for his first time behind the camera , gordon-levitt is already showing signs of great promise . it 's a stereotype that actors-turned-filmmakers focus solely on performances , and while MOV is certainly a well-acted movie , it 's also a good-looking one .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's directorial debut , MOV , does for porn-dependence what shame did for sex addiction by offering a surface-level look at the effects of its specific pathology on its lead male character .", "it 's amusing but not especially insightful .", "-lsb- gordon-levitt 's -rsb- skills as an actor , and those of co-stars scarlett johansson and julianne moore , keep us watching , even as public-place modesty makes us want to look away .", "one of the most adventurous actors of his generation , gordon-levitt has a good sense of just how graphically he can depict jon 's addiction and maintain the sympathy of both men and women .", "every detail of this modest film is well thought out and executed , from the spot-on casting to the canny use of sound and music ...", "a sharply funny and insightful examination of modern love .", "MOV is so friskily risque , with teases of what turns jon on and frank dialogue to match , that you do n't notice the movie is stuck in a rut until julianne moore shows up late , offering jon an older , wiser perspective on sex and relationships .", "when you look past MOV as gordon-levitt 's movie cotillion , it 's a painfully superficial and paint-by-numbers story that offers very little character development .", "a perceptive and often funny story with a refreshingly mature attitude about sex .", "gordon-levitt has crafted a whip-smart , richly cinematic film with some very funny moments and a lot of heart .", "MOV is like watching a far more well behaved jersey show . it takes the same beats presented on that awful reality show and polishes them for a more compelling and complex experience .", "-lsb- moore is -rsb- touching , johansson is wonderfully awful and gordon-levitt is electric , making it easy to forgive the movie its meannesses .", "funny , witty , honest and eventually heartfelt , without having to pander to saccharine fantasies or gross-out raunch humor that have become mainstays of rom-com cinema .", "MOV '' is obnoxiously funny , effortlessly identifiable , unusually tender , obscenely amusing , and an enjoyable r-rated comedy that is sure to captivate both sexes .", "from ` pillow talk ' to pornography in three generations ! sleazy yet seductive , joseph gordon-levitt cleverly distinguishes the different between lust and love .", "-lsb- gordon-levitt -rsb- can act , and there 's a possibility he can also direct , but there 's no evidence in MOV that he can do both at the same time .", "`` MOV '' is a lark , but an enjoyable one with a full-hearted finale , and it further reveals the considerable talents of gordon-levitt .", "for a first time feature filmmaker , this is a brave attempt to examine the clich\u00e9s of a modern romance .", "levitt somehow pulls off the oxymoron feat of a feminist chick flick porn comedy . and with no small credit for this hollywood upstart , owed to his parents from my own alternative radio network . thus his enlightened upbringing for this meaningful movie .", "not a great movie , but a filthy-funny , sweet and smart one with a third act punch that will take your breath away .", "even when his story starts getting serious , gordon-levitt always keeps it funny , and his cast is in on the joke .", "merely ends up trading one beefcake delusion for another .", "`` MOV '' is hardly as slick as its main character fancies himself , and that 's ok . after all , as gordon-levitt 's movie takes great pains to illustrate , what we constitute as perfection often proves to be a deceptive illusion .", "unconventional in the best ways , MOV is a charmingly smutty story about a man , his porn , and a much deeper struggle within .", "joseph gordon-levitt makes an auspicious filmmaking debut with this somewhat risky romantic comedy .", "never before has gordon-levitt disappeared into character as he does here .", "the biggest problem is jon . he 's unlikable from the start and never improves .", "gordon-levitt 's roots in culture go deep ; he chalked up his first tv credit at age seven , and he was already a seasoned performer when 3rd rock from the sun came along in 1996 . with MOV , he proves just as adept behind the camera .", "brave , bold and bone rattling , gordon-levitt 's MOV makes for a bumpy -- but undeniably satisfying -- cinematic ride to the dark side , and back .", "if `` MOV '' feels like a film that is spread too thin amongst multiple genres , it only goes to hint that gordon-levitt might be as talented behind the camera as he is in front .", "`` MOV '' proves that joseph gordon-levitt is one of the best and most versatile actors working today , and shows promise for a future behind the camera as well .", "this is the kind of american movie that comes along far too rarely . it 's funny and entertaining , but it remembers who we are as human beings , does not shy away from our many flaws , and finds something endearing in all of it .", "before it flies off the rails in the final act , joseph gordon-levitt 's first self-penned , self-directed star vehicle , MOV , is an uncommonly provocative spin on familiar rom-com tropes .", "the movie becomes increasingly soft-edged and sappy .", "MOV deals quite beautifully with the idea that real love can often be distinct from other phenomena that are commonly mistaken for love -- like the narcissistic desire to be loved .", "it 's somewhat hypocritical that the movie has it in for romcoms , but what are you gon na do ?", "this is a sweet , lively and funny movie rather than a fully realized one , but it makes clear that gordon-levitt has a natural feeling for cinema and should do more of it .", "MOV is visually interesting without being overbearing . the script finds a witty way to confront serious issues . and levitt-gordon takes on the personality of a guy straight out of jersey shore .", "it all still works , despite its obvious problems , in large part because of its likable lead . but gordon-levitt should probably find a different writer next time .", "sexy , insightful and maybe a little twee , MOV is about to hit its demographic like a toy commercial on saturday morning .", "gordon-levitt proves a natural filmmaker , nimbly staging jon 's highly amusing catholic confessions , along with porn montages that mimic the dopamine-charged editing of requiem for a dream .", "on page and screen , gordon-levitt mostly fails to transform his bulky title protagonist into a multi-dimensional figure . he belongs in the final 15 minutes of an snl episode , not at the center of a full-sized comedy .", "the sound of one hand clasping .", "the final moments hint at beauty and grace in jon 's new relationship , but for the movie , it 's already too late .", "in his writing-directing debut , actor joseph gordon-levitt fails to identify a purpose that might bring audiences into his passion project .", "the messages of the film are stark and genuine , much more so than one might expect having seen the promotional material .", "the strange spiritual journey of a young porno addict who shifts his perspective and is set on a different path .", "undoubtedly raunchy , but it 's also pretty funny -lsb- and -rsb- far more mature and insightful than the frat-boy gross-out farces that come down the pike every week or so .", "versatile actor joseph gordon-levitt turns to writing and directing with this smart , sexy , sweet , and hilarious comedy about the difficulties of forging and sustaining relationships .", "the result is a bit confused but shows a genuine talent at work .", "a sharp turn on the romantic comedy , a movie about flawed people doing flawed things , often in funny fashion .", "gordon-levitt is no slouch when it comes to taking risks as a filmmaker . i ca n't wait to see what he does next .", "it 's a dark comedy about matters of the heart , and how far some people go to take their minds off such matters .", "-lsb- although -rsb- gordon-levitt says a little bit about a lot of things , ... MOV is a continuously entertaining and fitfully provocative first-time effort .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- a bruisingly funny , bracingly smart comic dare that marks a stellar feature directing and writing debut for joseph gordon-levitt , who plays jon with humor , heat and sneaky heart .", "gordon-levitt demonstrates he is a filmmaker with promise who blends a good ear for dialogue with fine pacing and an eye for making a good-looking picture .", "the end is satisfaction enough to justify the initially explicit means .", "alas , i did n't buy a word of it .", "the entire movie seems to recalibrate and rebalance itself around -lsb- moore -rsb- , shifting convincingly into something more than a surface-heavy evocation of sterile on-screen onanism .", "a film that should be compulsory viewing for all preteens , sexual content be damned , as it may just save them a lifetime of disappointment .", "it 's refreshing to see a movie so visually undemonstrative .", "despite a contrived and sentimental ending , this is an entertaining riff on men and fantasy .", "this certainly wo n't find a mainstream audience but it is fresh , well executed and entertaining .", "there 's little here to care for or about : what promises to be a friskier version of shame winds up closer to a very special episode of jersey shore .", "with this writing-directing debut , joseph gordon-levitt delivers a remarkably assured comedy-drama while also giving himself a role that 's far against his usual type .", "starts mischievous and moves into maudlin .", "not exactly an original idea . but gordon-levitt goes at it with gusto , and style . give the guy some props .", "in the end , `` MOV '' offers the promise of progress without pat answers . it also offers the promise of the future work of an undeniably talented actor-turned-director .", "it gets harder and harder to support this passion for porn .", "a thoughtful , original and provocative feature-length directorial debut from joseph gordon-levitt .", "`` MOV '' deserves praise for wearing its message lightly and yet for daring to present such a lecture in today 's internet-drenched environment .", "gordon-levitt 's confidence is appealing , even if the film itself mistakes redundancy for profundity .", "gordon-levitt is on top form , as is johansson as the type of girl who only takes her gum out to eat .", "wondering what exactly is revealed as a cure to MOV 's addiction ? why , good sex , of course ! thanks , geniuses !", "thankfully , the women of the film are what save the movie , bringing something fresh to the table-for jon , a chance at lasting love , and for us , some seasoned comic chops .", "MOV is no kind of resonating masterpiece , but it 's intelligent , thoughtful , funny , and dedicated to the cause of finding a personality and sticking with him through the excess of his addictions .", "it 's in movies like the ribald but surprisingly endearing sex comedy MOV that gordon-levitt has connected best with audiences .", "writer-director-star joseph gordon-levitt is so savvy about the workings of our small minds that he knows just how to reel us in -lrb- sex -rrb- before schooling us on the important things in life -lrb- love -rrb- .", "gordon-levitt 's characters feel real and `` MOV '' is a convincing , authentic , funny , modern romance .", "hearing the star of `` who 's the boss ? '' drop about 500 f-bombs is one of the film 's few pleasures .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's debut as a writer-director-actor resembles a porn addict 's groundhog day , and not in a good way .", "although the film 's character portraits are vividly drawn , they remain largely one-dimensional .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's porn addiction topic may not be for everyone . however , it 's a great first movie from a terrific young actor and now writer and director .", "a ` saturday night fever ' for a new generation .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he movie has no clear idea who this man is .", "at least 80 % of it is snappy , droll fluff , while the other 20 % is what you get when you persuade julianne moore to be in your movie : in a word , better .", "one of the best of the year .", "MOV humanizes the jersey shore type by burying itself beneath the muscles and hair gel with a story about learning how to connect with another human being .", "smart , witty and more than a little melancholy , MOV is a fist-pumping success .", "though MOV succeeds in being funny at every turn , it is less successful in being a movie with something important to say .", "as a director , gordon-levitt demonstrates considerable technical flair through stylistic flourishes and coaxes great performances out of his co-stars .", "a lively , savvy film with some great performances from some surprising quarters .", "the naff accents and exaggerated mannerisms become very tiring over 90 minutes .", "the work of a young director reaching to impress without having fully formed ideas ...", "in a bravura performance , gordon-levitt sleazily revels in the role of bad boy ... but it 's a character undistinguished by light or shade and becomes wearing , a sex drive that ends up a cul-de-sac .", "these are caricatures rather than characters , and neither levitt nor moore ever quite lock step with the film 's snappy sitcom tone .", "a minor triumph that manages to raise some big laughs while delivering a thought-provoking message .", "a superbly acted and sporadically amusing character study , but it 's let down by an overly repetitive script , painfully underwritten female characters and a lack of chemistry between gordon-levitt , johansson and moore .", "the film manages to be extremely efficient , conveying its points , making the audience laugh , getting viewers invested and even breaking our hearts in just 90 minutes .", "actor joseph gordon-levitt does double duty , making his feature writing/directing debut with this terrific and unusual comedy that taps into this year 's cinematic focus on porn while following the basic groove of `` saturday night fever . ''", "rarely has a film offered such raw and honest talk -- with visuals , too -- about male sexuality .", "r-rating aside , it should be required viewing for every 15-year-old boy on the planet .", "writer/director/star joseph gordon-levitt takes an intriguing subject - human attraction - and nimbly probes it with wit , insight and a disarming forthrightness .", "by the time jon learns that `` you have to lose yourself in another person '' -lrb- a nice turn of phrase -rrb- , it 's too late for us to lose ourselves in the movie . `` MOV '' is already gone .", "-lsb- a -rsb- deceptively sincere movie about masculinity and its discontents that mr. gordon-levitt , making a fine feature directing debut , shapes into a story about a young man 's moral education .", "it 's never boring , but the film plays like a thesis on the modern condition more than a genuine depiction of a romantic relationship .", "joseph gordon-levitt 's writing/directing/starring debut is like its diamond-in-the-rough title character . it shows a lot of unrealized potential , with enough charm to ease you past its shortcomings .", "an overheated disquisition on the pleasures and limitations of masturbation .", "gordon-levitt 's cracking directorial debut depicts porn/sex addiction infinitely more realistically -- and rollickingly -- than 2011 's absurdly-overrated snoozefest shame .", "i wish gordon-levitt had done a lot more with this material . there was definitely potential there . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "who would have thought one of the most amusing and oddly insightful romantic comedies would be built around the power and the potent pull of porn ?", "the movie has a keen understanding of how easily we can hurt other people by not considering them .", "funny at times and touches on some interesting issues . but the jersey caricature is so embarrassing that it ultimately sinks the film .", "really , `` MOV '' could have - should have - gone on another 20 minutes . then again , when was the last time you felt that about a romantic comedy ? or any movie ?", "much like my high school geometry homework , gordon-levitt gets the answer right but he fails to show his work .", "smart , funny , contemporary and sharply made .", "gtl comparisons aside , jon 's sublime journey extends well past the shenanigans along the jersey shore 's old boardwalk .", "irreverent romcom about porn is insightful but very graphic .", "joseph gordon-levitt turns the gym-tan-laundry routine into an art form with MOV , his vibrant and viciously profane directorial debut .", "jgl . dtf . sorta .", "MOV is a solid debut , but my guess is that joseph gordon-levitt will have some more exciting cinematic adventures for us as his career behind the camera continues", "a fascinating and often compelling film , and a clear sign that gordon-levitt is a filmmaker of note whose future is bright if he continues to not play it safe", "MOV is a terrific directorial debut from gordon-levitt - funny , moving and with something to say about family and relationships .", "gordon-levitt shows promise as a director and his debut has bags of cinematic swagger .", "joseph gordon-levitt has not yet reached the `` star '' level where he can carry a movie .", "gordon-levitt has such a charismatic screen personality we can forgive him - to a degree - for most of his storytelling faults .", "joseph gordon-levitt makes an assured debut as a writer-director with MOV , a cultural critique of the expectations placed on relationships in an environment saturated with media misrepresentations of both women and men .", "a film with tense , ironic energy in the way that scenes flow and shots collide , but in a way that feels a bit overfamiliar and safe .", "`` MOV '' is bold and clever . very sophisticated and mature in the way it showcases the sexuality of men and women .", "as a director , gordon-levitt 's not just going places-he 's already arrived .", "MOV is a most unconventional romantic comedy . what 's not so obvious is it 's also one of the most relevant romantic comedies you 'll ever see .", "by treating jon with sympathy but without sentimentality , gordon-levitt has given us a daring portrait of modern masculinity .", "the sophisticated outrageous adult comedy we 've been waiting for all year . it 's smart , funny and has a charming message while hinting at joseph gordon-levitt 's seemingly limitless potential .", "gordon-levitt enlivens MOV with such a sense of swagger , as a director , writer and actor , that the film feels fresh .", "unexpectedly bold and finally endearing , an impressive first directorial effort from a performer who has clearly learned a lot from being on television and movie sets all his life . gordon-levitt is the undeniable real deal .", "MOV is a bold , sexy , and completely original comedy that proves gordon-levitt can do pretty much anything he sets a mind to .", "johansson walks away from MOV with one her best performances to date .", "gordon-levitt keeps things riotous for the film 's first hour , and if he eases into an ending that 's a little hollywood-standard , after having so much fun tweaking form and content , i 'm guessing audiences will cut him some slack .", "a barn-door broad burlesque of joisey stereotypes and holy-cannoli accents . it 's saturday night fever drawn in crayon ." ], "summary": "MOV proves to be an amiable directing debut for joseph gordon-levitt , and a vivacious showcase for his co-star , scarlett johansson .", "id": "771325165" }, { "movie": "tarnation", "reviews": [ "powerfully moving , revelatory , cathartic filmmaking .", "one of the most powerful examples of film as self-healing , ` MOV ' astonishes both as art and as testament .", "background is provided by affectless , unemotional words that seem to float on-screen , adding to the sense of dislocation , of fractured fairy tale .", "a documentary on the making and selling of MOV - its most fascinating selling points - could have been more cohesive and compelling than the movie itself .", "a fluid , emotionally acute movie full of soul and raw energy .", "MOV may not always be pretty , but it 's pure , powerful stuff .", "it 's one of the best movies of the year , and simultaneously one of its oddest .", "utterly absorbing and accessible .", "heartbreaking film .", "mesmerizing .", "feels as if it was thrown together , that an amateur was looking for ways to learn about new gadgets", "half self-indulgent and half excruciatingly self-aware .", "getting so close to real-life mental illness , via footage that spans many years , renders MOV a uniquely potent experience .", "` MOV ' does not engage the spectator . one is uncomfortable but , with no point from which to approach , no more than that .", "i did n't enjoy MOV , i did n't like it , i did n't particularly want to stay and watch it - but i respect it .", "a film that defies description . i 'd call it some kind of miracle .", "hey , it 's not every 11-year-old boy who wants to grow up to be ellen burstyn .", "an unusual documentary about a young man who has been a good steward of his childhood suffering and pain , creating out of it something that may prove to be helpful to others .", "not only very good indeed , but something bracingly new : a home-movie phantasmagoria that 's simultaneously an uncompromising autobiographical confession , saga of tragic family dysfunction , touching love story , and hypnotic avant-garde collage .", "... it seems fairly obvious that the movie would 've been far more effective had caouette reigned in some of his over-the-top directorial choices .", "a kaleidoscopic found-art project that looks to redefine the nature of documentary filmmaking .", "i do wonder if it 's possible to review MOV without fearing that you 're complimenting the emperor on his new wardrobe", "profoundly intimate , disturbing and compelling ride through caouette 's autobiographical , trauma-filled emotional roller coaster .", "caouette has crafted 19 years ' worth of home movies , video diaries and answering machine messages into a bracing autobiographical fever dream .", "MOV coalesces into a pop-art diary , the self-made soap opera , the arthouse version of a reality show . a fascinating but bloated movie .", "as a first-time experimental filmmaker , caouette displays remarkable directing and editing skills .", "undeniably compelling , it 's proof of the therapeutic potential of filmmaking , but also of our limitless propensity for morbid curiosity .", "a soul-baring scrapbook of a film , its audacity surpassed only by its tragedy .", "here 's hoping your kids ' home movies never look like this .", "although aggressively unconventional , it 's never pretentious .", "you should n't go see `` MOV '' because it was made so cheaply . you should see it because it was made so well .", "an astonishing multimedia diary ... all accompanied by a scrolled family history that is as harrowing to read as a ransom note .", "MOV is visually inventive , even dazzling at times , and the music is terrific , but the subject matter is hugely depressing and weirdly narcissistic .", "a haunting , riveting film that 's as self-serving as it is revelatory . it 's movie-making as therapy , and i hope it worked .", "a disturbing self-portrait limned from the filmmaker 's relentless narcissism and his fetishization of mental illness , family dysfunction and personal suffering .", "caouette lifts his story clear out of the victimized whine that bogs down so many confessional memoirs and offers the viewer instead an intimate look inside his ravaged yet loving head , at once street-smart and haloed by the naivet\u00e9 of a young saint .", "as raw and personal as a movie can be , the equivalent of a cinematic journal or diary . but it 's also artfully constructed and articulated , written , edited and musically designed with often jolting brilliance .", "the images are hypnotic and unnerving , elevating what might have been a masturbatory exercise into something transcendent and genuinely moving .", "MOV is some kind of triumph of personal expression -lsb- but -rsb- also maddening at times in caouette 's lack of restraint ... defiantly -lsb- is -rsb- what it is : one of a kind .", "it is a remarkable film , immediate , urgent , angry , poetic and stubbornly hopeful .", "a masterpiece .", "caouette 's movie succeeds because of its cinematic showmanship , injecting the personal documentary form with an urgently expressive avant-gardism .", "caouette deftly overcomes all such labels with his new film MOV , a surprising , shocking and genuinely compassionate look at his own life .", "the film is moving and disturbing at the same time .", "MOV is a collage of pain that breaks over you like a wave .", "caouette 's triumph over his harrowing childhood and adolescence is itself a huge accomplishment -- but with MOV , he has used art , wit and a huge heart to forge his experiences into an unqualified masterpiece .", "certainly one of the strangest and most interesting movies of the year , and i suspect that in years to come a number of other strange and interesting movies will show traces of its influence .", "caouette has taken the broken pieces of two lives and slowly , painstakingly , pasted them together -- and created one superb work of art .", "the results , cuisinarted but coherent , are an entrancing , egocentric trip into a life so unfavored by fortune its owner would be forgiven for believing in past-life crimes and karmic retribution .", "a tale of overwhelming sadness and fierce histrionics .", "as caouette lays out events in storybook fashion , what pulsates through MOV is that life , even at its most hellish , is a thing of perilous and desperate rapture .", "it 's one of the best debut films in recent years .", "harrowing , extremely disturbing at times , but brought to the screen in dazzling pop-art images that make the movie 's grim content very much worth watching .", "a bold , painful memoir located in an innovative middleground between conventional documentary and homemade home-movie collage .", "it 's a riveting high-wire act by a young man on the verge .", "the film is in the may program of the charlotte film society , and even the cfs has offered few pictures this compellingly strange .", "como toda confesi\u00f3n , en la que alguien desnuda su intimidad sin pudor para quien quiera escuchar , MOV es capaz de generar desde la fascinaci\u00f3n curiosa hasta la incomodidad y el rechazo .", "full of real humanity and occasional insight , this is not the most feelgood movie you 'll see this year , but in its total honesty it does manage to be important and moving .", "a twisted pastiche of pain , suffering , and narcissistic indulgence .", "an original , personal , emotionally touching documentary , which represents a new type of indie , based on innovating filmmaking .", "witness his hilarious high school musical rendition of david lynch 's blue velvet : much like the documentary itself , it 's a heartbreaking , beautiful monstrosity .", "jonathan had plenty to be woeful about , but the movie is best when it slips quietly into the pockets between his family 's dramatic episodes .", "as performance art born of personal pain , `` MOV '' stares teary-eyed into how genetics , culture , environment and susceptibility conspire to trigger mental illness - a documentary more to be experienced than simply viewed .", "nearly impossible to watch , thoroughly unpleasant yet strangely arresting .", "there 's no doubting the deep love caouette feels for his troubled mother , nor his achievement in forging such a rawly emotional film from his own traumatic experiences .", "the mesmerizing , trippy and thoroughly heartbreaking result of two decades ' work .", "often this is like watching a film by a diane arbus who grew up in the video age .", "both enlightening and creepy in almost equal measure , but it 's more than a stunt : it 's a cry of anguish you 're not likely to forget .", "no film has ever , ever affected me as much as this one did . i do n't know whether it 's a great movie , or just particularly good at hitting all of my buttons .", "a sometimes heartbreaking , sometimes frustrating , never less than convincing peek into a family that takes the fun out of dysfunction .", "tinged with nostalgia and flooded with narcissism , this is n't easy to watch . but caouette 's fractured history is imbued with heart-crushing sincerity .", "MOV leaves the viewer in a positive state of mind .", "an unflinching self-portrait that traces difficult lives and does n't back down from the emotional rawness of the subject .", "it 's just devastating stuff .", "a kaleidoscopic vision that is often heartbreaking in its raw depiction of real-life events , but it can also be exhilaratingly impressionistic .", "both nakedly revealing and irrepressibly arty , it 's a therapeutic home movie made as form-redefining documentary morphed into aesthetic object .", "a remarkable and remarkably compelling document .", "a daunting blend of head trip , cin\u00e9ma verite , music video , and auto-therapy .", "it is to be hoped that mr. caouette can make many more films of all kinds , but he will probably never again be able to cut to the bone of his existence with such sublime feeling .", "a lacerating portrait of a family in free-fall .", "by all odds , MOV should have been an unwatchable , masochistic morass , but caouette 's love for the broken renee -- which is the true subject of the film -- is awe-inspiring .", "it 's almost hypnotic , as the family members do a dysfunctional two-step with each other , and MOV will sweep you up with a style unlike no other documentary .", "a tortured , inspired , convulsively beautiful film memoir .", "it transcends the recent trend of self-revelatory documentaries and becomes something rare : art .", "it 's disturbing , funny , uncomfortable , heartbreaking , and absolutely facsinating .", "not for all tastes , but for those who come to the table with an appetite for something different they will be treated with a special home cooked meal .", "its fierce emotional honesty ca n't be denied .", "it is a brave personal statement .", "for all the horrors MOV exposes , it 's ultimately a supremely uplifting experience for the simple reason that jonathan caouette survived .", "the movie climbs inside your head and rattles your consciousness .", "in making beautiful peace with a difficult past , caouette has delivered a promising vision of a future .", "MOV is a kinetic kaleidoscope , an explosion of expressionism . it 's the product of a mind blown apart , but not completely away , by tragic circumstances .", "a genre-busting creation , a breakthrough in filmmaking that 's strange and raw and difficult to watch .", "a hopscotch through the looking glass in whose shards caouette has chosen to define and explain himself .", "both deeply touching and aesthetically powerful ." ], "summary": "using music and home video footage to great effect , jonathan caouette has made a very personal and moving film .", "id": "17160" }, { "movie": "mechanic", "reviews": [ "with `` the MOV , '' statham has found a vehicle nicely suited to his narrow but nevertheless real talents .", "less frenetic than your usual jason statham action franchise film , this remake of the 1972 charles bronson/jan-michael vincent vehicle is more of the kind of character-driven suspense audiences often say they want .", "a sputtering remake in need of a more powerful recharge .", "... services its action like an insensitive lover - hard , rough and fast . but its one-night-stand approach to the genre probably wo n't attract the loyalty luc besson 's seductively euro-trashy transporter flicks have earned .", "`` the MOV , '' 2011 edition , is a striking-looking work , combining an arty inkiness with a retro-graininess that more or less screams 1970s , albeit without the cliches and flatness . if only you liked the people in the picture .", "considerably more fun than the rather lethargic original .", "statham has at least three more movies coming out this year . i bet at least one of them will be better .", "even by the sloppy , soulless standards of hit man movies , `` the MOV '' is a mess .", "the auteur who gave us con air ... is back , extending his cinema terrible of violent , unthinking nihilism and brutal , pointless action . oh , and misogyny for fun . hoorah !", "jason statham does n't stretch much as an actor . he does n't have to . his taciturn delivery and bullet-headed intensity make him the perfect star for the current amped-up trend in action movies .", "statham has my respect for two reasons : 1 -rrb- he 's one of the few remaining action stars who is n't claiming his pension , and 2 -rrb- he has yet to star in a disney movie in which he must babysit projectile-vomiting children .", "statham convincingly breaks faces with effortless ease . it 's as if he studied at the lee strasberg institute of badassery . he is the stanislavski of neck-stomping .", "some slack was needed for hard edged thriller the MOV to truly blossom into a thing of brutal beauty , rather than the cold action film presented before us .", "it 's a boys ' movie with a big bang finish", "it never pretends like it 's going to be anything more or better than what you expect , and it never gives you anything less than totally entertaining gun blasting , car crashing and face smashing . lots of it .", "the MOV is like a beretta loaded with blanks -- quick and brutal but ultimately empty .", "in the end , the MOV proves that while revenge is a dish best served cold , revenge movies are best served with fire in the belly .", "if you enjoy senseless and creative slaughter , the sound of gunfire , the sweet embrace of explosions and the well-muscled-testicle-like visage of jason statham , then this movie may well be for you .", "the assassin gets a conscience in this fast-paced action thriller that offers a few interesting twists between its huge stunts , ''", "am i the only one who would n't mind seeing jason statham play something besides a coolly efficient butt kicking machine ?", "slick , swift and edgy enough to keep you glued .", "engineered to do exactly what you want : smash , crash and gurn . another b-movie franchise for the stath ? quite possibly .", "people who think they do n't make movies like they used to should check out the MOV , a persuasive replica of a 1970s b-film with much of the same genre splatter .", "when it comes to the vehicle of an action movie , statham is a first-rate MOV .", "an intermittently arresting , mostly standard action entry that deals death noisily more than cleverly - a lot like the original .", "overly stylized and slick , with a few moments of brutal simplicity .", "over the past decade or so , jason statham has morphed from french connection clothes-horse to brit-pic also-ran to international action hero - and after sitting through the MOV i can semi-see why .", "... may be preposterous at times , but it exudes style and swagger .", "while that pop mythology was still relatively fresh back in bronson 's day , it 's so played out at this point that not even the enjoyably no-nonsense statham can pump any life into it .", "to paraphrase roger murtaugh , 43-year-old jason statham might be getting too old for this bone-crunching , head-smashing , action-thriller nonsense", "exceedingly violent action remake also has sex , drinking .", "-lsb- the -rsb- plot feels like a standard issue r-rated action picture from the 1970s , which is not a good thing when the current year is 2011 .", "tomb raider maestro simon west 's remake of the 1972 action thriller ca n't be bothered with nuance , intrigue , or piquant detail .", "a mixture of hackneyed script , explicit violence and a plot with no thrust .", "like the original , it is a moody , atmospheric film , one boasting significantly more depth than your typical blow - 'em - up .", "a solid , unremarkable action movie and there 's absolutely nothing wrong with that .", "nobody delivers the action thriller goods better than jason statham", "if the action did n't work , it would be as forgettable as the film that spawned it . but simon west 's shiny and swift direction , inspired by tony scott sensationalism and invigorated by a louisiana blues score , just about manages to grip .", "it 's nuts-and-bolts action cinema , of the kind that does a job come saturday night : on the stath-o-meter , nothing so delirious as crank , but a marked improvement on the transporters .", "wo n't win any prizes at charm school but delivers the goods .", "it proves middling , and occasionally muddled , on almost every level .", "a summer popcorn flick for the winter : this loose remake of the 1972 charles bronson actioner is an unpretentious generic feature that delivers the basic goods and serves as suitable star vehicle for jason statham", "the company men with guns , but no families or pensions . all they have is their job , and retirement literally equals death .", "glitzy trash , a violent bauble so ludicrous and over-the-top that it reeks of luc besson 's influence .", "a sleek , brutally succinct thriller that showcases jason statham 's sly talent for being just that little bit better than he has to be in roles that favor brawn over brains .", "how much longer can statham keep afloat unremarkable action pictures ? will he ever burst out of his comfort zone and surprise us ?", "statham and foster play off each other nicely , and director simon west strikes a playful balance between carnage and conviviality , gore and gregariousness .", "it 's a fairly entertaining action flick , fun for the superficial swill that it is .", "it 's about gunplay and pricey sports cars bursting into flames while three or four cameras capture the moment . in slo-mo . cue the cool music .", "there 's really no clear reason why a remake was warranted or why statham , so exquisitely calibrated to action-comedy weirdness , would sign on to rehash the -lrb- far better -rrb- past glories of humorless seventies action flicks .", "-lsb- video -rsb- anything you do , do n't underestimate `` the MOV . '' this is one badass movie .", "if you called it dumb fun , you 'd be half right .", "credit this action flick with self-awareness : it does n't try to dazzle with deep meditations on aging assassins filled with regret . this is a movie devoted to celebrating mayhem , which it does with straightforward flair .", "yet one more formula flick about a taciturn killer who , despite his penchant for slaying and maiming , actually turns out to be the kind of nice guy you might consider friending on facebook .", "takes a few moments for social commentary in the form of a zaftig cult leader with a weakness for double-fudge cake and 18-year-olds , but the point of the exercise is a rollicking good time", "statham is a model of control ; he 's steely and graceful in his action scenes , and his interplay with the wiry foster delivers the goods .", "its black heart is in the right place .", "the MOV provides a killer fix for a boring afternoon .", "ramping up the action , and forsaking a bit of credibility , may seem like a cop-out , but it 's an enjoyable one all the same , albeit , hardly groundbreaking as action films go .", "a substantial improvement over its impossibly dull predecessor ...", "a serviceable , if brutal assassin action pic whose formula flaws are easy to overlook with jason statham and ben foster involved .", "` the MOV ' is kind of a remake of a 1970s-era charles bronson movie . and it 's kind of a vehicle for jason statham , who has cemented his reputation as a tough-guy action star in the ` transporter ' and ` crank ' series .", "clinging to false heroism and terrified of anything too dark , the MOV is a tough-guy movie for wimps .", "better than the transporter but not as much fun as crank .", "have n't we already had enough movies about solitary , enigmatic hit men ? is there anything possibly left to do with the genre that 's new ?", "let 's not denigrate the term `` action film '' by applying it to the remake signed by director simon west . this is a violence film , not an action film .", "standard statham stuff .", "this is a superficially chic offering , which skips along pacily enough but leaves very little impression .", "a MOV seems like a thinking man 's occupation . the MOV , though , barely has a thought in its head .", "the movie has about as much of a story and character motivation as the video game pac-man , but that 's ok .", "adding more explosions and gunplay does n't make the story any more interesting .", "`` the MOV '' tells a story as old as `` hamlet '' in a style as new as unbaked bread . what 's the point ?", "the look and feel of this version has a gritty seventies edge that makes it feel less like a remake and more like a tribute to the original .", "` the MOV ' is the prototypical early year action movie-nothing more and nothing less . statham , who again plays an infallible , lethal bad-ass , seems to have carved his niche as the current go-to guy for b-movie action flicks .", "donald sutherland and ben foster : you 're so good you 're distracting me from the film .", "watching statham in action is always worth the price of admission .", "i feel more comfortable forking over my twelve dollars for a movie by jason statham than i do for a movie by just about anyone else .", "the remake of the mechanichas no guts at all . it wants to make a happy , shiny , feel-good hit man movie while pretending to be all badass .", "the MOV threatens to deviate from the statham action movie template , but only for about 40 minutes .", "the 2011 film , by comparison , is a tightly wound , more stylish creature .", "the new stunts are explosive , over-the-top and a sign of the times -- action fans are n't happy these days , it seems , unless at least one scene involves a jackknifing 18-wheeler and a fireball .", "the MOV is well acted and provides plenty of gunfights and explosions but the action sequences are underwhelming , the plot lacks focus and the overall effect is disappointing .", "director simon west makes statham and foster sexy , sexy , ruthless killers . i want this to be statham 's next franchise . foster sexiness vibrates through a lousy haircut , bad facial hair , and a creepy cap .", "while i would n't go so far as to call the MOV truly dull , it 's definitely missing what has made other statham action vehicles stand out so well : creativity .", "frantic , numbing redo of the charles bronson original for hardcore statham and action fans only .", "mostly , the MOV creaks and groans as it goes through the motions , and not even its lavish violence -- which includes much smashing of heads and a nasty screwdriver stabbing -- is particularly electrifying .", "the MOV is ham-fisted pulp , like robert rodriguez 's machete taking itself seriously .", "statham is , in his understated way , a satisfying action star , stoically going about his business . foster is just a flat-out good actor , as anyone who saw his work in `` the messenger '' or `` 3:10 to yuma '' can attest .", "the new version delivers in a far more conventional way , but it does deliver .", "while the MOV does n't retool the formula of a hit man movie , it certainly serves it up better than expected .", "depth of character is an afterthought : the principal dilemma our heroes face is , how best to eliminate the next faceless goon that enters our path ? to which the answer invariably is : use the gun .", "the MOV is adequate light entertainment for those who enjoy thrillers , but it is uneven and the underwhelming ending will disappoint those who enjoyed the delicious irony served up by its predecessor .", "statham , the british star of the transporter and crank films and an old favorite of guy ritchie , has a quietly fierce physicality , a stylish masculinity that makes him appealing to both men and women .", "the MOV is my kind of action movie : nasty , brutish , brisk and ass-kicking .", "-lsb- simon west -rsb- goes for headshots , stabbings and other dispatches that are the antithesis of modern pg-13 action filmmaking .", "if you 're looking for substance , character development , and an engaging storyline , you 'll sadly be disappointed as this film is seriously lacking in all three of those areas .", "a brainless and easily-forgettable thriller .", "somewhat faithful to the original , but a stupendously violent fiasco that weasels its way into being unlikable .", "the MOV will be a decent time-killer for statham fans , but it 's another black mark against the name of director simon west .", "... a minor pleasure to see an action film that makes a virtue of lean , mean action stripped to the essence .", "statham , he of the chiseled physique and sexily receding hairline , holds his own here , doing what he has to in scenes and no more -- which is perfect for a movie like this .", "statham has slowly become this generations ' bruce willis , combining a quiet and sly screen persona with the ability to kick major ass when called upon", "a passable , but emotionally empty , action film that fails to capitalize on its interesting characters .", "jason statham is quickly becoming the 21st century 's bruce willis -- i am convinced that when the apocalypse comes , the only things left surviving on the planet will be cockroaches and this derbyshire-born bloke .", "the MOV is revenge served up well enough to blast the winter blues away .", "this is a movie you seek out for action rather than acting and character development . it provides a great escape from the winter doldrums .", "ben foster knows how to simmer as well as go berserk on camera with the best of them , and his performance here gives him plenty of opportunity to show off those acting chops .", "contains the line : `` i 'm gon na put a price on your head so big , when you look in the mirror your reflection 's gon na want to shoot you in the face . '' that 's pure action-movie dialogue poetry . no way am i not giving a film with that in it a thumbs up .", "if you do want an ambiguous thriller about the inner lives of hitmen , watch the original MOV . if you just want a flashy modern action film , the new one will do .", "an efficient thriller with certain intellectual pretensions .", "there 's nothing to the plot and to describe in detail the action scenes would take the fun out of the experience for action fans who could n't care less what the story 's about anyway .", "if you are the best of the best , it 's probably not a good idea to add a drunk psychopath as your partner .", "check your brain at the door and enjoy .", "this is pulp fiction territory , where torturing people to get information is par for the course , and opening fire may summon your victim 's bodyguards but never the police .", "an impressively made action drama that is tense , exciting and excellently performed .", "you wo n't get better than average with the MOV , you 'll get exactly average .", "when it 's smashing up the joint , repelling from skyscrapers , or spraying bullets , the film is hypnotic , deploying a sure hand of violence that keeps matters visceral , splattering blood everywhere .", "the MOV has the right tone for an action movie . the characters take it all seriously , but the story just goes wildly over the top for the sake of creating awesome set pieces .", "sure , we 've seen the whole `` criminal caught in a moral crisis '' before . luckily , this time around , everyone ignores the ethos and just kicks ass .", "that scowl on jason statham 's face may not have budged a millimetre since lock , stock and two smoking barrels , but his latest action flick proves that his grim cockney-lout routine can still be plenty effective .", "expecting logic from the director of the wonderful con air is not the wisest move , yet simon west frequently depicts events in such a baffling manner that one wonders whether someone snuck into the editing suite with a pair of scissors .", "despite the dependably uber-cool presence of jason statham , the MOV does n't wield enough inventiveness or attitude to fix its overriding sense of familiarity .", "depth of character is traded for bloody broad strokes .", "based on the 1972 thriller starring charles bronson , this MOV is a far more nuts and bolts job , eschewing the surreal atmosphere of michael winner 's original .", "mindless brutal mayhem , signifying very little", "` the MOV is your basic action movie - earning its r-rating via sex , nudity and violence . everything you could ask for , other than an engaging story or characters that will keep you interested throughout the entire film .", "a solid if unnecessary and compromised remake of the 1972 existential hitman thriller ...", "the result is just good enough to pass as an action flick you watch with the forgiving gaze that comes from too many beers and too little sleep .", "if you 've already seen the bronson vehicle that was released almost 40 years ago -lrb- or if you 're an action fan in general -rrb- you wo n't be in for many surprises , but that does n't mean the new rendition is lacking in entertainment value or nail-biting suspense .", "... a thrill ride , running on an empty tank .", "granted , this is not oscar material , and it is very violent , but i enjoyed it for what it is -- a fast-paced , shoot-em-up that 's meant to help you forget the winter doldrums", "it 's all a bit convoluted and preposterous , but statham and especially foster make a great tandem of assassins .", "there is a line of dialogue said by tony goldwyn 's character that is worth the entire price of admission ! other than that , the rest of the film is mediocre at best .", "jason statham , with his growling , british accent and his working class looks , is one of the best action heroes in years , and he steps easily into charles bronson 's shoes .", "not nearly as fun as an action movie starring jason statham from the director of `` con air '' should be .", "west 's slick , fairly faithful new remake gives partial screenplay credit to lewis john carlino , who wrote the original `` MOV . '' but the picture is n't likely to do for jason statham what the 1972 film did for bronson .", "with its unrelenting violence and obligatory bonking sessions , this is one for avid ` stath ' fans only .", "the only hitman movie i 've ever seen that has a `` taking your puppy to a coffee shop '' montage .", "what are we supposed to take away from the film ? director simon west would probably prefer that we not bother to think about it , or anything , at all .", "mr. statham , the specialist in english tough guys who was so affecting in `` the bank job , '' has more to offer than `` the MOV '' has the grace to receive .", "the film does n't break a centimeter of new ground , but its stripped-down mayhem and more-nuanced-than-necessary performances are a modest surprise .", "to the extent it makes sense , it 's a collection of time-honored cliches , and to the extent that it 's original , `` the MOV '' is insane , bordering on gloriously insane .", "if more dutiful than dynamic , it does fix what was previously broke , making over its subpar predecessor into a generic yet serviceable statham vehicle .", "as a january time-waster you could do worse , but it 's long past time to start demanding more of this genre than shoddily-written revenge stories shot with the bungee cam .", "betrayal , sympathy and regret are central to the story , but there 's hardly any room for such feelings amid the clockwork carnage .", "if bronson moved to the cadence of a death march , a drawn-out requiem for an executioner losing his taste for the work , statham 's hurtles toward a climax that 's less diabolical but more satisfying .", "the MOV is marked by relentless blood-letting and violence , with in-your-face crashes and explosions and all the other wild-eyed and utterly illogical activity that makes good action/adventure so exhilarating to watch .", "the interplay between dry arthur and crazy , caustic steve is what makes the movie fun .", "the arthur/steve relationship at the movie 's heart is what lifts the MOV above the common run of kablammo ! action thrillers .", "the elements were in place to do much better , and the MOV eventually succumbs to its lost potential .", "a weak script and a fumbled climax seriously deflate what could have been an explosive thriller .", "there just is n't enough consistent energy to light up the glum , generic plot or enliven the one-dimensional performances .", "jason statham needs to get a tune-up , switch gears and hit the gas .", "despite all his high-octane assignments , the only imperfection statham receives is the crow 's feet on his face . that 's because his invincible shield protects him from all the rest of the body-razing annihilation that his person should have endured .", "the first legitimate action film of 2011 .", "why hire simon west and then not let him try to make another con air ? that 's just cruel , for all concerned ." ], "summary": "jason statham and ben foster turn in enjoyable performances , but this superficial remake betrays them with mind-numbing violence and action thriller cliches .", "id": "771022182" }, { "movie": "other_sister", "reviews": [ "the surprises are interesting , but not enough to save the film from itself .", "warm-hearted but ultimately soft !", "a torturous endurance test !", "never manages more than a glib , tv movie-of - the-week glance at their lives .", "everything is reduced to a transparent formula . and everyone plays their schematic part .", "a neatly wrapped made-for-tv homily !", "for what is supposed to be a poignant love story , the MOV fails to show much spark .", "giovanni ribisi could be his generation 's dustin hoffman ... he could also be his generation 's richard benjamin ...", "grotesquely sentimental , shamelessly manipulative and fundamentally bad .", "the film pushes the outer limits of just how long anyone with a normal i.q. can watch what should be a tv sitcom .", "builds toward an emotional crescendo that will fill you with tears , many of joy .", "impresses with its hardy ability to tickle and tear its audience .", "it 's as dull as a butter knife and slowed to interminable mediocrity , and inadvertently brings to mind the title of marshall 's autobiography : `` wake me when it 's funny . ''", "this movie offers itself to us like a cow with too many udders .", "the press notes describe the MOV as ` uplifting ' and ` bittersweet ' ; a more accurate description would be ` insulting . '", "it has all the right cast members ... but it cripples them with the screenplay .", "has neither the imagination nor the reach of forrest gump .", "instead of frank talk about real issues , `` sister '' stubbornly accentuates the positive , offering up gorgeous houses and a sweeping pop soundtrack instead of any sort of insight into the problems a woman in carla 's situation might face .", "lewis is terrific !", "lacks the depth of thought this complex topic deserves .", "beautifully acted !", "the charming innocence in this unusual take on first love and first heartbreak gives the MOV its special quality .", "mostly works thanks to lead performances .", "it pirouettes past problems , exuberantly celebrating two folks who fall in love .", "watchable fun .", "lewis portrays carla with a purity that is innocent and winning !", "one of the most genuinely sweet love stories to come along in quite some time .", "shameless in its use of mental retardation as a gimmick , a prop and a plot device .", "so over-the-top maudlin that it makes patch adams and stepmom look stoic and reserved .", "there 's a word for this vulgar family-therapy movie : retarded .", "not only is the film way too long , but it often comes across as extremely haphazard with many scenes seeming too random , unattached to the greater picture and/or orphaned midstream ." ], "summary": "made-for-tv drama evokes anything but real emotion .", "id": "10244" }, { "movie": "lost_boys", "reviews": [ "a supremely watchable example of something the '80s did right .", "for the most part , the movie is goofy fun .", "the movie may not offer a lot in the way of serious frights or even originality , but it is most definitely weird and decidedly funny .", "it laughs at the form it embraces , adds a rock-and-roll soundtrack and , if you share its serious-satiric attitude , manages to be very funny .", "killing bloodsuckers was enough to make fright night a hit , and it will probably do the same for the crass , obvious MOV .", "ultimately , this is a film for nostalgic fans and for kids with the appropriate dark leanings , but it 's not going to wow anyone else .", "did i mention both coreys are in it ?", "directed with a cavalier disregard for intelligibility , this has to be one of the most anaemic vampire flicks ever made .", "the MOV is not a movie you want to put in a time capsule or even revisit , unless your name happens to be corey .", "a coffinload of dvd extras to sate your MOV bloodlust !", "when everything is all over , there 's nothing to leave the theater with -- no real horrors , no real dread , no real imagination -- just technique at the service of formula .", "it 's often sloppy and thinly plotted , but this is , after all , a summer movie , and if it 's nothing to really sink your fangs into , it 's often very funny .", "there 's always room for fancy trash , and this movie -- about a gang of punk vampires terrorizing the new kids in town -- seems capable of providing some . then the characters open their mouths .", "a horrifically dreadful vampire teensploitation entry .", "though there is enough gore in the film to satisfy the typical bloodthirsty filmgoer , its strong suit is deadpan humor .", "schumacher falls far short of the talent for pop wit that joe dante showed in gremlins and the howling .", "a master mold of horror and comedy ...", "southern california is n't exactly transylvania , but the settings are effectively spooky . and there 's some amusing satire on the horror-pic genre . the plot is weak , though .", "the MOV , which attempts to be funny while preserving the shock value of the vampire legend , aims somewhat higher ... and misses .", "the MOV is heady , cutting-edge vampire stuff . mind you , it 's also very tongue-in-cheek . so watch out for those fangs , gang .", "joel schumacher 's 1987 teen vampire flick is ageing well . part of that is down to the sexy blend of bad lads , bloodsuckers , camp comedy and carnage , but the quality of the cast plays a huge part too .", "while it 's not quite as original or witty as it could have been , this unashamedly glossy take on vampire mythology has a clever script that 's packed with twists , and builds to a surprisingly tense climax .", "a corn-ball '80s vampire classic ! starring the two corey 's !", "a schlocky and stylish teen-oriented gorefest that 's humorously off-kilter and frothy -- it 's something worth sinking your fangs into !", "overdirected and junky , but mildly amusing .", "gothic style , humor and sexy stars -- a cult classic", "the picture affirms that the only thing truly important is this image of the older brother with his arm around the younger .", "with its cool cast and classic kiss-off ending , the MOV will forever be a cultural touchstone of '80s cinema . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "one of the best thrillers of our time ... rocks as well as it rolls", "arguably joel schumacher 's finest film .", "it has n't aged well . at all .", "a hugely enjoyable picture that proves joel schumacher really can direct and that not everything about the 1980s was awful .", "despite its flaws , however , the film is an interesting addition to vampire cinema .", "an exhilarating hybrid of horror and suburban comedy .", "schumacher ` s sputtering , short-term approach to the material is a disappointment , because there 's something in it that ought to make for a good movie , and from time to time makes the MOV good enough .", "that schumacher handles the transitions between very light horror , comedy , teen romance , and action as well as he does is evidence of a sure hand found nowhere else in his filmography .", "... a passable yet unspectacular relic of the 1980s .", "scary '80s vamp film . older teens only .", "it starts slow , but finishes fast with some clever plot twists . in the end , all is not lost with these boys .", "probably the guiltiest of the guilty pleasure vampire flicks .", "this is , however , a cinematographer 's film and while everyone else seemed to be putting in half-hearted efforts , the cinematographer was working overtime ." ], "summary": "flawed but eminently watchable , joel schumacher 's teen vampire thriller blends horror , humor , and plenty of visual style with standout performances from a cast full of young 1980s stars .", "id": "13088" }, { "movie": "faceoff", "reviews": [ "i think i finally isolated what irritates me about this movie : it is the fact that it promotes the idea that you can indulge in hatred and vengeance with a positive result .", "john woo 's face/off puts the acting into action flick ...", "face/off is the kind of action film that gives summer movies a better reputation .", "face/off is a masterpiece equal to the action classics seven samurai , the wild bunch and the good , the bad , and the ugly .", "in face/off , woo sweeps us away again , into a world of wild action , heroism , villainy and double faces that turn deadly .", "with face/off , john woo , the hong kong auteur -lrb- the killer , hard boiled -rrb- , has made his smartest , wildest , positively woo-siest american thriller .", "the film succeeds in overcoming its implausibilities because director woo offers such a tantalising package .", "i wo n't pretend that i completely enjoyed it , but it certainly has a few elements that i 've never seen before . action aficionados will undoubtedly slobber all over themselves .", "face/off is a giant step for a filmmaker known more for action sequences than psychological insight .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gorgeously shot , repetitively violent , occasionally repellent , sometimes silly and consistently trashy fantasy .", "an engaging and at times sophisticated story of identity and behavior , wearing the leering face of a farcical action cartoon .", "for all its fiery explosions , face/off just kind of implodes .", "what really makes face/off tick , what sells the movie more than anything else , are the dazzling performances from the two leading men .", "woo more than delivers in the overblown action stakes . it 's also patently evident that both stars are having a ball sending up each other 's mannerisms .", "it 's sick , slick and sensational .", "it 's difficult to describe the jolt his films deliver when -lsb- woo -rsb- 's on , and he is on with a vengeance here .", "a slam-bang-in-your-face action thriller with big explosions , multiple bullet storms , spectacular stunts and -lrb- get this -rrb- , great performances , interesting characters , an intelligent script , witty dialogue , a strong female presence , and an intriguing premise", "... director john woo takes an incredibly silly premise and despite its limitations turns it into an entertaining thrill ride .", "ai n't it cool -- indeed .", "the dramatic scenes have emotional gravity , while the exhilarating action sequences defy gravity .", "this is your action movie on drugs -- any questions ? -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "typical for woo , the sheer force of the imagery is supposed to carry viewers past plot absurdities ... while at the same time , the director wants the audience to buy into the emotional lives of his obsessed and haunted characters .", "sets new standards for a genre which plays it safe and predictable too often .", "this brutal , stunningly choreographed spectacle weaves together lyrical beauty , blasphemy , sadistic cruelty and grotesque sentimentality with breathtakingly smooth assurance .", "while it still ranks as the best john woo hollywood film ever made , it 's not quite the action masterpiece that most remember it being .", "watching travolta and cage play dual hero and dual villain roles remains the most enjoyable aspect", "overwrought , sci-fi crime thriller . not for kids .", "here comes a mega-movie that actually delivers what mega-movies promise ...", "you see what thickets this plot constructs ; it 's as if travolta adds the spin courtesy of cage 's personality , while cage mellows in the direction of travolta .", "face/off , john woo 's third hollywood movie , is the maddest , most enjoyable blockbuster of the summer .", "a $ 100 million movie with a $ 3 plot .", "... with face/off , -lsb- woo -rsb- wonderfully balances bloodbaths with plot and depth .", "face/off is smarter than many other action movies , but it lacks heart . it 's interesting to ponder , but it does n't suck you in .", "florid , passionate , frequently hilarious and loaded with messy emotions that nobody in his or her right mind should even attempt to explain , it 's operatic in its nutball intensity .", "capable of moments of rare cinematic perfection", "thank god for john woo , the best action director in the world .", "for something with such a bizarre premise , face/identity swapping , kind of like freaky friday on lsd -- woo pulled this sucker off .", "travolta plays the over-the-top , oddball villain with gusto , but it is cage who really impresses , striking no false notes in the more difficult , subtle , emotional role .", "john woo is showing signs of maturing as a filmmaker .", "travolta and cage then had the acting difficulty of adopting the other person 's mannerisms while retaining their own voice and body . there are both superb at it ...", "it could be argued that this movie 's callousness toward human life is nihilistic and nasty . but woo takes everything so absurdly far that audiences laugh at what horrified them moments before .", "the story is completely nuts , the characters bigger than life ...", "watching face/off , i was reminded again and again of the great artist who made those great hong kong films .", "if there has been a major hollywood release with a higher body count , i do n't remember it .", "scenes of high-voltage action vie with wild hilarity as two guys with guns switch faces and identities .", "arguably the best action director in the world , woo also manages complex emotional content and a deft way with music .", "garbage of the finest vintage .", "the cop , more messed up than the criminal he chases , ignores his family and becomes almost as twisted as the criminal he is seeking . woo makes these characters and themes refreshing ...", "what we have here is the first , true american john woo movie .", "this is grand moviemaking with grand acting .", "the concept of face/off is a multifaceted benchmark : it is john woo 's best american film , a requisite entry in the library of action films , and it is an actor 's dream .", "all in all , mr. woo has made face/off into an eye-popping magic show .", "a knockout new thriller by john woo .", "face/off is a full-blooded , movie-going experience . it 's 100 percent movie .", "-lsb- woo -rsb- benefits from the dual performances of john travolta and nicolas cage , who alternately glower and boogie their way through creepy material that would have been far beyond the reach of lesser stars .", "the visuals are impossibly glossy and the sound impossibly loud . every frame glistens with that antiseptic precision of advertising . even the slightest emotional vibration is writ in 100-point type ,", "almost indefensibly violent , the film is one of those whirligigs of wit , barbaric energy , blood spatters and firepower that will be adored by the morally retarded among us -- like me -- and loathed by the morally superior .", "this is the ultimate woo movie , but while his fans will enjoy every minute , others will find it too long , repetitive , and violent .", "face/off is the best action movie of the summer .", "cage is good , travolta is better . there is a glee to his performance , a sheer joy at playing two roles in one . he 's having a rip-roaringly good time , and so are we .", "woo es probablemente el mejor director de acci\u00f3n que existe .", "after seeing this numbing action flick , i 'm still stumped what all the hype is about . so many critics and viewers arond the country marveled at this movie , but for what ? it 's not a horrible movie , but it certainly is n't very good .", "travolta and cage are exceptional , performing as their own characters and each other 's .", "though the plotting is preposterous , this is john woo 's most successful american movie , demonstrating his unique signature as auetur applied to a a blockbuster .", "possibly the greatest , and definitely the most exuberant , action film to come out of the studio system in the '90s", "woo 's poetic-kinetic style has evolved , if not to the point of abstraction , then to delirium : he makes a virtue of incredulity .", "stars cage and travolta are fine in their roles .", "... a nihilistic thrill ride ; a breathless ultra-violent fantasy with real characters and smart actors", "the premise is , of course , absolutely ridiculous . it also is absolutely brilliant , and incredibly subversive .", "a truly original plotline and a magnificent cast", "face/off proved not only too be a massive hit but also demonstrated that there was plenty of room in the hollywood action movie for more than a little bit of eastern promise .", "an action picture that finally pleases the mind as well as the eye .", "the biggest screen thrill of the year .", "stars john travolta and nicolas cage and director john woo are all at the top of their game in face/off", "watching john travolta and nicolas cage square off and literally exchange roles brings back the old-fashioned pleasure of astutely judged movie star pairings in a major way .", "a dizzying , beautiful ride .", "... it is as elegantly made as it is violent , mating movie mayhem with bits of poetry , opera , psychology and the abstract .", "face/off works like a charm right on down the line thanks to brilliant , exhilarating performances from cage and travolta ...", "the biggest kick is watching two charismatic actors at the top of their form essentially play each other .", "face/off makes bad movies look worse and makes the making of good movies look like the most thrilling work in the world .", "crash , bang , woo !", "style overwhelms any hope of discerning story or acting through the haze of burning , crashing , bleeding and exploding ." ], "summary": "john travolta and nicolas cage play cat-and-mouse -lrb- and literally play each other -rrb- against a beautifully stylized backdrop of typically elegant , over-the-top john woo violence .", "id": "13172" }, { "movie": "north_country", "reviews": [ ".", "MOV does a good job in ratcheting up the tension and unfairness until the audience is brought to the breaking point .", "studded with wasted performances , what should have been an important addition to popular films about women 's rights winds up being the most insulting courtroom drama since ally mcbeal was put out of its misery .", "if there was ever any thought that perhaps whale rider was a fluke , MOV should erase all doubt .", "director niki caro -lrb- whale rider -rrb- - - can make an intelligent , involving movie about sexism in the workplace without it feeling merely like a screeching , heavy-handed polemic .", "MOV delivers an emotional wallop and a couple of performances worthy of recognition come award time .", "caro is both subtle and a deck-stacker .", "rewarding and sensitively rendered , the studio-produced MOV might revive a worthy subgenre last visited , in tarted-up fashion , by erin brockovich .", "MOV , a potent -lrb- if didactic -rrb- drama , loosely based on a landmark court case involving workplace sexual harassment .", "MOV ca n't help but be compared to such other women-against-the-system movies as norma rae , silkwood , and erin brockovich , though it easily holds its own with all three .", "... there 's little doubt that the movie would not come off even remotely as well as it ultimately does were it not for the effectiveness of the cast .", "os realizadores de terra fria se revelam bem mais repugnantes e perigosos do que os mineiros retratados em seu filme supostamente liberal .", "works as both deep focus on a critical historical moment , and a more intimate and sorrowful tale about growing up female in america .", "though tough and heavy-handed at times , MOV is engaging -- not one of those films about an important subject matter that you feel you should watch .", "would have you believe it 's no more complex than a playground quarrel between boys , girls , and cooties .", "while the performances are flawless , michael seitzman 's screenplay is embarrassingly sophomoric , so much so that the film 's denouement completely obliterates its feminist message .", "so `` inspirational '' it should mate with cinderella man and give birth to a litter of baby oscars", "the road to cinematic hell is paved with this sort of banal effort borne of bland good expectations .", "issue movie that blatantly examines power and sexual harassment in the workplace", "MOV is the unfortunately overly-dramatized hollywood version of a story that has a chance at being truly important and even uplifting , but thanks to extreme heavy-handedness , ends up being mostly shrill instead .", "an earnest yet powerful cautionary tale of scarred and strip-mined lives , and how they are restored .", "MOV may be a simplistic account of a hard-won battle , but it will have audiences cheering .", "theron 's truly raw and impassioned performance as josey - - ca n't save the film from its own gradually slowing pace and seriously compromised third act .", "niki caro , director of whale rider , has made a classic underdog-vs . - the-system story , rendered in the harsh blue-grays of a minnesota winter .", "it 's a memorable and touching portrayal of a certain kind of woman who is vital and determined instead of neurotic and victimized .", "in the end , the no-nonsense direction by caro -lrb- the new zealander who directed whale rider -rrb- , the terrific actors and the pitiless visuals by the great menges more than carry the day .", "what gives MOV urgency is that it 's about how a man comes to understand that it 's bad for him and for his community to deny his daughter privileges and prerogatives he 'd grant his son .", "she 's -lsb- caro -rsb- got a good story to tell -lrb- based , loosely , on a real-life case -rrb- , and a marvelous cast to help her tell it .", "director niki caro was a critical darling for her first feature , whale rider , and her hollywood debut confirms a legitimate talent .", "MOV is crisp , efficient , often familiar in form , but exceptional in some ways . it 's effective , for instance , in exploring how different women behave differently in the face of abuse .", "studio filmmaking can make an event as fantastical as an alien invasion look like reality , and it can make something that actually took place feel as fake as crocodile tears . which is what happens with MOV .", "often plays like a widescreen made-for-television movie , albeit a good one .", "a good-for-you movie that 's going through the motions .", "MOV has a sensational story , it 's just a crime the filmmakers elected to write the script with crayons .", "depicted with minimal clich\u00e9-rattling , niki caro 's MOV is one-sided enough to make clarence thomas stand up and shout - ` now that is some sexual harassment . '", "there are stretches where it builds nicely , but eventually it comes as close as any movie ever has to simply exploding right there on the screen .", "paints some of the most shocking and loathsome landscapes of sexual harassment conceivable", "MOV is one of those movies that has oscar-bait written all over it , and it 's worthy of the praise .", "at its best , MOV conveys what it 's like to be a small-town social pariah and to fear for yourself in the workplace .", "theron has once again deglamorized herself for a meaty dramatic role , and she gives a persuasive performance that surely will not be overlooked during the coming award season .", "it 's disappointing to see a movie start off as subtly and restrained as MOV only to get progressively more heavy-handed in its second hour .", "if you can take MOV as a movie , not a news report , you 'll find a moving work that explores sexual harassment with unusual candor .", "holding it all together is director caro , who seems to have a knack for immersing herself in different cultures and finding the pressure points that release a story 's power .", "it 's an interesting story , no question , but it 's good where it could have been great .", "despite its serious subject matter , MOV is a crowd-pleaser at heart .", "director niki caro whale rider and screenwriter michael seitzman have crafted an old-fashioned story about sexual harassment that delivers the obvious message ... without a shred of nuance or subtlety .", "in overdoing the theatrics and hammering the clich\u00e9s MOV does artistic injustice to its own important argument .", "MOV is in the tradition of workers-rights films like norma rae and silkwood in that it sends its message through a convincing character whose temerity and courage are accompanied by less heroic baggage .", "there 's nothing cool or dispassionate anywhere in this film . it radiates waves of heat .", "for all MOV 's blockbuster elements , the film remains a curiously uninvolving affair .", "a strong film with much to recommend it , even if we 've seen the same movie before", "it infuriated me . it broke my heart . it convinced me that caro , who 's from new zealand , is a strong , clear-voiced filmmaker , who can bend courtroom cliches to her will .", "in retrospect , the movie seems weaker than it did in the theater .", "if you want to see good performances and cinematography wasted in a mediocre movie , that would be MOV .", "MOV is without question a riveting and powerful film .", "minimizes the scope of -lsb- the real plaintiff 's -rsb- legal battles by placing them in a neatly tied package that resolves the way most courtroom dramas do .", "MOV is one of those movies that stir you up and make you mad , because it dramatizes practices you 've heard about but never really visualized .", "MOV is a relentlessly discomforting movie . nowhere does it let you settle into the lush cushions of a typical hollywood entertainment", "properly spare and earnest , which prevents it from becoming obnoxious oscar bait .", "a solid film that 's worth seeing in the theater , but the oscar buzz is questionable .", "if the whole of MOV had maintained the tensions and angst that were so well built up in part one , it could have been a pretty remarkable work .", "the one-sided , formulaic storyline and laughable courtroom histrionics are eclipsed by peripheral material involving theron 's brooding teenage son and penitent father .", "MOV centers on theron 's work , and she is truly wonderful start to finish .", "north veers south with movie clich\u00e9s during the courtroom climax , but otherwise it mines terrific dramatic territory in its quieter relationship scenes .", "elegantly filmed and intelligently written .", "despite charlize theron 's efforts to play more than a saintly martyr , the film 's director niki caro continually overstates the case .", "so melodramatically one-sided and shamelessly in search of oscar nominations that it accomplishes the colossal rarity of insulting both genders equally .", "victorian melodrama in feminist workduds .", "the narrative may not be exact in its details ... , but it is undoubtedly true to the spirit of the real events .", "enjoyable drama that 's impressively shot and features a strong cast but is ultimately hampered by a fatal weakness for courtroom clich\u00e9s .", "the similarities to erin brockovich are obvious , yet MOV plays like a glossy soap opera , despite strong performances from a superb cast .", "with `` MOV , '' theron and caro strongly suggest that `` monster '' and `` whale rider '' were n't one-offs .", "sexual harassment is generally a complex topic -lrb- see david mamet 's ` oleanna ' -rrb- , yet ` MOV ' presents much of its material in cut-and-dried , black-and-white simplicity .", "occasionally inspired but much more often didactic .", "MOV shows us that it 's never easy , but that one person really can make a difference .", "watchable and engrossing , even when it does exactly what you expect it to do .", "skillful filmmaking standing on a soapbox and pandering to the broadest audience possible .", "leave it to theron and her impassioned , earthy performance to single-handedly carry the film from the realm of lifetime network social propaganda to earnest drama .", "an emotionally potent story told with great dignity .", "feature films about sexual harassment are hardly a dime a dozen , so niki caro 's north country-gawky though it may be at times-comes as welcome .", "the film is at its best when putting viewers in the position of feeling the smart of the abuse as the women do -- moreover , its persistent and accumulative effect .", "MOV is about as subtle as a sledgehammer . it has a message ! and that message is simply this : men are pigs .", "niki caro is one of the brightest and best directors working .", "how do you handle a movie that 's suppose to be realistic , but resorts to such hoary and oft-parodied devices as the slow clap and the `` i 'm spartacus '' group solidarity stand ?", "despite its flaws , ` MOV ' delivers a story worth hearing , a documentation of profound unfairness and the need to challenge abusive behaviors .", "makes norma rae 's travails look like a walk in the park .", "MOV packs a solid familiar punch .", "too long , and too heavy-handed .", "... full of dynamic performances .", "an emotionally-charged drama that showcases another top-notch performance from theron", "there 's no polite way to say it : MOV goes bonkers -- inadvertently trivializing its own admirable agenda .", "single-mindedly and calculatedly devoted to conveying a relentless feeling of sexual terror , caro 's crusade of righteous indignation misrepresents the hostility of the world .", "given the battle 's enormous toll on the women 's physical and psychological health , it 's a perplexing irony that the movie ` inspired by ' the case suffers such a bizarre failure of nerve .", "makes a convincing case for sexual harassment laws and the power of a united front , but its structure front-loads the evidence in flashforwards , weakening its climax", "caro sneakily joins the ranks of academy-prestige with a politically-grounded horror film .", "hits like an emotional sledgehammer .", "-lsb- theron -rsb- is the wounded heart of the film and helps carry some of the less successful material of the film on her shoulders .", "theron anchors the film with a complex performance that balances josey 's strength and vulnerability , and successfully portrays her as a reluctant working-class hero .", "sometimes a story is so timeless that it deserves to be told again . such a story is `` MOV , '' a fictionalized account of events in the 1980s at a mine in the midwest .", "even if you side with caro 's humane message , you 'd be within your rights to object to her methods ... you can almost hear helen reddy singing `` i am woman '' in the background .", "for all its issue-related fist pumping , the movie is suffused with the tender and heartwarming story of a man coming to terms with the love for his only daughter .", "instead of articulating injustice or honestly portraying the legal system , MOV seems content with exploiting humiliation for effect .", "could become the classic text for a filmmaking class called ` crafting the message picture 101 . '", "MOV wins its case with powerful moments and exceptional performances .", "even with some quibbles , MOV is a relevant and important account of a landmark class action suit that changed the face of the country 's workforce .", "there is not a scene where the words `` submitted for your consideration '' do n't seem to be scrolling across the action in a bid to soften up academy voters", "charlize theron gives an excellently modulated performance as josey aimes .", "a compelling drama set in a 1989 minnesota mining community where the misogyny and chauvinism in the workplace will make your blood boil .", "a really good soap opera . ... the ending is both predicable and satisfying . expect many audiences to cheer .", "MOV does what it sets out to do : inspire and uplift .", "proving her remarkable versatility , it 's no light compliment to say theron 's performance surpasses her oscar-winning `` monster . ''", "amazingly powerful .", "an unusually taut film about misogyny that , for the most part , escapes the clich\u00e9s that often bog down the battle of the sexes .", "intriguing -lrb- true -rrb- story of a female iron miner who sues the company for ignoring sexual harassment .", "i 'm even willing to forgive this rousing drama its coy , flirty ending , if only because its heroine has the grace not to drive her pickup truck off a cliff .", "while caro has a graceful touch and MOV never really missteps , neither does it try anything new or entertaining .", "while the film showcases moments of enormous power , there is something missing ; perhaps it 's subtlety , or perhaps it 's the emotional connection the movie so desperately wants to make , but in the end , ca n't quite achieve .", "even when the film borders on melodrama in its final courtroom confrontations , ms. caro navigates the camera with skill .", "... succumbs to a number of oscar moments -- you know , the sort of grandstanding scenes that ... play beautifully as clips at an awards show .", "MOV is the most riled-up movie of the year .", "caro knows how to push viewers ' buttons , and she does so every chance she gets . the weather in the movie might be chilly , but she makes sure our blood is boiling .", "this is nuance-free moviemaking , a drama about mine-workers with barely a glimpse of what the work entails .", "presents to you a beautifully-painted , one-dimensional pi\u0144ata it knocks around for a couple of high-falutin ' hours until you 're showered in a welter of righteous candy .", "calls on men to stand up with women against attitudes they 've allowed for too long ... a well-crafted , often powerful film that usually refuses to follow hollywood 's script .", "you can not help being stirred by the reach and depth , the constant rebuffs to sloppiness , of a strong ensemble .", "contrived fantasy . only in hollywood could harrelson get theron 's nemesis to recant his inadmissably irrelevant tale on the stand with such meager questioning .", "in spite of theron 's excellent , impassioned performance , `` MOV '' nevertheless tends to go south .", "while its message is undeniably important , it 's also so obvious that the film does n't have any real resonance .", "` MOV ' could be used in a sensitivity training course .", "it weakens the film 's case to have the villains portrayed so one-dimensionally ...", "the performances enhance -lrb- niki -rrb- caro 's david-versus-goliath material .", "... my feminist soul is taking a beating since - damn it - it did n't work as a movie .", "the film , revisiting social injustice , is not unpredictable . but , it is a worthy effort in its updated revival of `` norma rae . ''", "despite its good intentions and some very strong acting , ` MOV ' proves a frustratingly unsatisfying destination .", "... feels simplistically manufactured and manipulative ... caro is never able to elevate MOV beyond the pedestrian confines of a melancholy lifetime tv movie", "director niki caro deftly intercuts josey 's story with the anita hill-clarence thomas hearings , a smart , subtle move to tie in the things all women have had to go through .", "overall MOV is too self-consciously scaled as an anthem for the human spirit . we can spot where this movie is headed right from the beginning .", "quick , someone feed this movie some a.d.d. medication .", "a wobbly fiction about a real pioneering sex-discrimination case , MOV is an unabashed vehicle for its modestly de-glammed star , charlize theron .", "MOV is powerful and then some .", "MOV is a `` message movie '' with a target so big that it 's impossible to miss , which is part of the trouble .", "charlize theron gives an intelligent and honest performance as a woman miner in the emotionally powerful MOV .", "director niki caro , whose whale rider demonstrated a gift for capturing the essence of a unique place , does it again with MOV .", "essentially a shrewdly crafted soap opera .", "instead of sticking to the undeniably moving facts , this movie veers off into distracting and soapy subplots .", "people in the film biz have been calling this one erin brockovich goes to fargo all along , but that is n't quite fair . it 's norma rae goes to fargo .", "theron 's acting goes beyond cosmetics as she once again gets into the head of the unchaste heroine she portrays and gives a winning performance .", "as much as the movie means well , it does n't trust viewers to keep up .", "... before anybody goes off on theron uglifying herself again to win an oscar , it should be pointed out that the rural trash look is not necessary unattractive to many of us .", "MOV works as a portrayal of social injustice , yet it also works as a compelling character portrait . one of the best and most powerful pictures of the year .", "MOV has a ton of powerful moments , so it is an odd choice that it falls back on the ` based in fact ' element .", "-lrb- charlize -rrb- theron 's josey does n't quite have the dramatic starch of aileen , the man-hating hooker of monster . it has more nuance , though .", "MOV is more than an award trolling piece - it 's a heartfelt gem steered by threon and mcdormand that takes sevral true tales to create a helluav drama !", "a realistic , emotionally resonant film made for grown-up audiences in a time when most theatrical releases are aimed at the teen demographic .", "though the dirt and grime in MOV are artfully applied , it 's purely cosmetic and skin-deep .", "some of the dramatics are almost overkill , but it will stir you up and you ca n't deny the powerful performances of charlize theron and richard jenkins .", "too bad theron won an oscar for a weak film like monster , in which she was splashy , as her part in MOV is far more impressive and deserving of oscar" ], "summary": "though sometimes melodramatic and formulaic , MOV is nonetheless a rousing , powerful story of courage and humanity .", "id": "8841" }, { "movie": "we_are_what_we_are_2013", "reviews": [ "worth a look for horror fans possessing the patience required to process its heady themes . for those brave souls , the reward is a film with the power not only to get under your skin , but to prompt deep discussion about the pitfalls of human nature .", "mickle 's script , co-written by `` stake land '' star nick damici , could have used some tightening . ride it out . there 's a demented climax waiting on the other side .", "the original was nothing special , but at least it had a sense of humor and a modicum of social insight .", "an intelligent , surprisingly mature gothic drama where the human capacity for inhumanity grabs us by our collective throats with such realism that this story could have been gleaned from the front pages of local newspapers .", "a superb grief-soaked horror set in a desperated , godless universe , wawwa is unnverving and moving in equal measures , easily eclipsing the original .", "a crunching , visceral transplant for this cannibal tale from its urban mexican setting to an american milieu .", "if , in the end , it does n't really work , there 's still plenty to admire in the gothic exploration of the timeless conflict between family tradition and modernity .", "mickle never seems in a hurry , so there is time to take note of the detail . `` we are '' is rich in that regard .", "a shrug of a movie .", "mickle prizes credible characterisation above everything else , and casts extremely good actors , who succeed in making the parker clan feel both frail and somehow stuck out of time , like freak survivors from the 19th century .", "an atmospheric cannibalism horror featuring an impressive performance by julia garner , but it 's let down by a slow first act , weak dialogue and an unsuitable score .", "mickle has fashioned a melancholy american gothic tale set deep among bleak , misty mountains .", "a rare example of a remake that is as good as , if not better , than the original .", "stupendously dull : dull with that blend of overloaded effect and under-supplied affect that bad horror alone truly offers .", "even though this is an extremely well-made film , it 's difficult to know who will enjoy it , as it 's far too arty for horror genre fans and much too grisly for arthouse moviegoers .", "this social-realist take on the cannibal sub-genre makes for a surprising lyrical and quietly profound piece of filmmaking .", "who can resist a good cannibal movie ?", "another pointless remake .", "and sometimes we are who we eat .", "remakes may get a lot of stick in hollywood , as filmmakers can be accused of being somewhat lazy and uncreative in that regard .", "a provocative film about the horrors we can find within the usual comforts of family and tradition .", "another welcome entry in the ongoing revival of horror movies that rely on character and setting rather than shock and gore to chill audiences to the marrow .", "mickle and co-writer nick damici give themselves plenty of time to tease out their themes and ladle on the tension .", "jim mickle 's savvy re-imagining of the 2010 mexican art-house horror marks a quantum leap forward in maturity and style for the stake land director .", "an ambitious -lrb- if somewhat uneven -rrb- slice of downbeat american gothic which interweaves grim melancholia with pointed satire , doomy portent and moments of gnawing revulsion .", "some of the film is gruesome in the extreme but there is always lyricism and pathos alongside the bloodletting .", "MOV pits the ideas of personal choice against the influence of our upbringing in a story that simmers slowly until coming to an explosive boil , overflowing with savage brutality .", "MOV is just a great yarn , well-acted , elegantly shot and put together cleverly so that even its more visceral delights feel well-earned .", "the movie saves most of its modest number of jolts for its last quarter or so , which makes them all the more intense . they stick in your craw - and be warned , they 're not for the squeamish .", "like all good horror stories mickle 's film is really about something else , and the two female leads give terrific performances as cloistered teenagers struggling to come to terms with their place in their world .", "a horror film that takes considerable risks and generally makes them work .", "despite the film 's aqueous motifs of rain , showers , floods and tears , here in the end blood runs thicker than water .", "the film looks picturesque as can be , is well-acted , and very smartly plotted .", "it 's all a little silly , but mr. mickle 's restrained gravity stifles the impulse to laugh .", "this will , without question , be one of the best horror films of 2013 .", "the cast is uniformly excellent -- including an extended cameo by top gun 's kelly mcgillis , qt regular michael parks , and genre director larry fessenden -- and is buoyed by a particularly unobtrusive yet unsettling score from jeff grace and darren morris .", "in MOV , an americanized , more methodically plotted version of the 2010 mexican shocker ... jim mickle really brings the goods .", "a -lsb- horror -rsb- film where ambiance , glossy imagery and performance are more effective than the splatter .", "a rich , dark horror movie with a pervasive atmosphere of dread and corruption .", "plays less like a contemporary horror film than an increasingly gruesome drama , building to a climax-completely original to this version-where the movie 's core themes are expressed through grotesque imagery .", "it is n't until the ending , which turns the squirm amplifier up to 11 and exceeded even my horrific expectations , that we finally see the story 's potential realized .", "works as not only a compliment to the original , but also as an impressive complement .", "an unusually thoughtful , even compassionate , and well-done horror tale .", "one of the best american horror films of the year .", "a family implodes with a biting commentary on patriarchy .", "it 's about transformation and transgression , and , when all 's said and done , it 's about family .", "both an excellent choice for a movie and a lousy choice for dinner and a movie .", "it 's really a movie about family and obligation , and that 's what makes it scary .", "barely mediocre but at least worth the watch for the finale , alone .", "genre fans wanting more gore and less fancy atmospherics will have their gratification delayed but certainly not denied .", "if nothing else , director jim mickle should be commended for his subversive attempt to turn his slow-burn cannibal horror flick into a moody meditation on matriarchal power and the uncompromising demands of tradition .", "this existential disquiet and melancholy prove welcome antidotes to the tiresome ` look ! surprise ! ' brand of horror that 's currently in vogue .", "the movie stays elegantly restrained just long enough for the true horror of what they 're doing to sink in .", "we 're starved for adult horror that 's this mature and sure-footed , and when it does come along , we have to sing its praises out loud . this is a wonderful , riveting , unsettling film .", "MOV is a film that ought to feel like an amusement park terror ride , but instead comes off as a poor attempt at fine art .", "`` MOV '' is such a patient , trusting film it may take you a while to figure out it 's a horror film .", "MOV is built around sloppy yet fantastic kills with a fairly satisfying explanation for everything , but it jerks the viewer around with awkward jumps in violence and its overbearing tepidness shouts over everything else in the film .", "the horror thriller MOV earns its chills gradually , turning the knob on our nerves so imperceptibly that you may not notice until , by the bloody conclusion , you 're prying your fingernails from the armrests .", "a campy and sometimes elegant american gothic horror story .", "at 72 , parks turns in one of the most tender performances of his career - before reminding us , in the end , that he 's still a guy who can sit across a table and make you tremble in fear with a stony gaze .", "MOV does n't waste time with cheap scares . mickle keeps his story on a steady , slow simmer , transporting us minute by minute into the very heart of dread .", "mickle and damici have come up with a couple of very imaginative details to adorn their tale , but in the end the story itself feels preordained , everything slowly unfurling exactly how you 'd expect", "MOV will satiate your hunger for palpable suspense , horror and intrigue . it 's one of most effectively terrifying remakes in years .", "there 's some fun to be had , as long as your idea of fun includes being grossed out .", "stylishly macabre .", "it 's a sinister , wistful and even sad portrait of one family that has followed the insanity and bloodthirstiness of american history into a dark corridor with no exit .", "despite the occasional failure of the film to let the atmosphere and subtle performances stand unadorned , MOV is an impressive entry from director mickle .", "MOV has elevated the horror genre into first-class moviemaking .", "this deliberately paced remake of the superior 2010 mexican film of the same name has some stylish atmospheric touches , although it could use more of the twisted sense of humor it only flashes in spurts .", "this looks like a horror movie that terrence malick might have made -- assuming that malick went off the deep end .", "outside of its cracked psychology -lrb- well conveyed by papa bill sage -rrb- , MOV is horror leftovers , neither inedible nor piping hot .", "jim mickle plays the scenario deadly straight and unintentionally exposes all of its attendant absurdities , leaving the cast stranded .", "a refreshingly mature genre entry that plants queasy dread and unleashes a good dose of scares , tempering its gruesome bloodshed by wrapping it in serious-mindedness .", "for horror fans who prefer their terrors served cold , this is a tense , unsettling experience that offers very little gore but nonetheless knows how to turn the stomach .", "there are some terrific performances in this film , most notably from childers and garner , who move seamlessly from wide-eyed naivete to fierce protectiveness . and man , is this a gorgeous , well-put together film .", "genre buffs will dig in with gusto .", "MOV is a re-make that succeeds superbly while remaining true to the strange and sad intimately grotesque spirit of the original .", "the film is stunningly beautiful , and ryan samul 's work here as cinematographer is impressive and overwhelming throughout .", "the doom , the gloom , and the horrific truth kept just out of the audience 's reach make the build up in MOV a potent motion picture , and mickle films it with genuine class and moderation .", "MOV devours expectations even as it satisfies the best of them .", "`` MOV '' is a first-rate example of good storytelling and well-timed - while not excessive - gore .", "one of the more remarkable horror films of late-one that does not rely on sudden shocks or outrageous gore to get under the skin of its viewers ." ], "summary": "a compelling story cleverly told , MOV quenches horror buffs ' thirst for gore while serving up serious-minded filmmaking and solid acting .", "id": "771325072" }, { "movie": "joan-rivers-a-piece-of-work", "reviews": [ "the portrait that emerges is of a woman who is vain , anxious , profane , reckless , honest and frequently brilliant .", "you really do get the sense that she is tuning out the camera half the time and you 're getting honest glimpses of everything .", "joan rivers : a piece of work is -lsb- a -rsb- testament to the enduring resilience and indefatigable wit of its subject . age can not wither her , nor botox stale her infinite hilarity .", "joan rivers : a piece of work is one of the smarter , more unexpectedly touching documentaries of the year , and i recommend it to you whether you love rivers or loathe the very thought of her . how is this even possible ?", "stern and sundberg made the devil came on horseback -lrb- about the massacres in darfur -rrb- and the trials of darryl hunt -lrb- about a wrongful incarceration nightmare -rrb- , and they have a fine eye for detail .", "rivers comes across as a consummate professional but also a genuine person , ruthlessly honest about her life decisions and utterly devoid of self-pity .", "a wonderful microcosm of the peaks and valleys of life in showbiz , and a truly surprising film that may turn some viewers ' hatred of rivers into respect , if not fondness .", "she remains one of the funniest , dirtiest , most daring and transgressive of stand-up comics , and she has n't missed a beat .", "an entertaining and lively portrait of a performer whose contribution to comedy is often , and probably unfairly , overlooked", "revelations that the 75-year-old comic is needy , hard-driving , and relentlessly self-flagellating are n't all that surprising .", "i had no idea how hard she works and how funny she is . show business may be easy for some people , but it is tough for joan rivers .", "... a well made , sporadically fascinating documentary ...", "dying this past september , rivers failed in her longevity goal , but has left a legacy of unforgettable comedy that was never afraid to piss people off even as they howled till their sides split .", "it 's interesting , it 's funny , it 's heartfelt , it 's heartbreaking , and it 's dirty . everything rivers wants to be known for .", "this delicious documentary did teach me about one of joan 's most important assets , and that 's her dirty , dirty mouth .", "it 's amazing to look into her world and see the chaos in which she inhabits", "rivers ' story is an inspiration , regardless of your background . if there is anyone who is aspiring to be in the entertainment industry , this is the doc to watch . joan rivers ' life is the blueprint for any artist , comedienne , or actor .", "laugh clown , laugh . even though your heart is breaking ...", "this is a woman who 's taken any number of private and public punches and keeps on going . the portrait here is neither flattering nor unsympathetic .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sad , startling exploration of the vagaries of fame , the insecurities of celebrity , and the realities behind the typical ` but it 's just a joke ' excuses that prop up cheap , vulgar humor .", "reflective , insightful and exhilarating , the filmmakers reveal rivers ' inherent vulnerability and dependence on the approval of others .", "acting is about honesty , and there 's something evasive about both this film and its subject .", "one of the most depressing films ever made .", "yes , there are moments of pathos and glimpses into the sadness of rivers ' life , but they 're all but obliterated by the comedy .", "the film 's unacknowledged true storyline is the coarsening and cheapening of popular show business itself .", "more or less what you 'd expect : charitable , shrill , redundant , hit-and-miss funny .", "the audience will feel like a fly on the wall in a no-holds-barred approach in which no topic is off limits . the filmmakers condensed more than a year of footage into 84 fascinating minutes ...", "joan rivers the comedian can be an acquired taste . it gets old hearing her asking celebrities on the red carpet `` who are you wearing ? '' joan rivers the human being , however , is a fascinating person to follow .", "the key word here is `` work . '' if she is n't out there making somebody laugh , rivers feels she no longer exists .", "welcome to the on-screen psychoanalysis of joan rivers , of which she seems equal parts willing participant and antagonist .", "the undeniably fascinating and entertaining documentary that looks at the audacious entertainer in the seventy-fifth year of her life .", "a piece of work does a solid job of deepening our understanding of rivers , but its accomplishments pretty much end there .", "-lrb- o -rrb- ne of only a handful of women who ever got away with saying the types of things she says on stage . with that comes the insecurities all comedians know , plus aggressive self-pity . rivers is n't easy to like , and she 's proud of it .", "riveting doc dishes the dirt on the legendary queen of comedy", "rivers comes across as someone much more complex and vulnerable than her abrasive `` can we talk ? '' persona . there 's a real woman under there , and she 's pretty great .", "a compulsively watchable look at rivers , show business and the price one pays to try to continue succeeding in it .", "the smart , funny and occasionally foul-mouthed documentary feature shows what rivers has gone through in both her personal and professional life to get to this point .", "a funny and touching look at the self-crowned queen of comedy .", "-lsb- her -rsb- resolute raging at the twilight is what humanizes rivers and gives ricki stern and anne sundberg 's film heart and potency .", "an entirely sympathetic portrait of the artist at an advancing age .", "stern and sundberg definitely fulfill the prime directive of every celebrity documentary , which is making a famous person -- especially one the audience `` knows '' and has strong feelings about -- seem recognizably human .", "the results are a truly original doc and one of the year 's best -- heartfelt and funny and thoroughly entertaining .", "inspiring , sobering and very funny .", "a piece of work is funny , heartbreaking , and casually profound about the insatiable need for validation and approval that fuels so much stand-up comedy .", "you do n't get winsomeness , innocence and cuddle-me charm . nobody will ever tap her to play doris day . but you do get one unique dame with a love she does n't sell cheap , and a hidden heart bigger than her botox budget .", "it 's easy to think of comics , especially time-tested ones like rivers , as mechanical laugh-generators . stern and sundberg allow her to reveal the deep-rooted humanity of those ever-present quips , and the effect is humbling .", "she 's a teller of hilarious gutbucket truths as surely as lenny bruce and richard pryor ever were . yet while they were consumed by their demons , rivers is just the opposite . letting her demons run wild is what saves her , every day .", "nothing -- not even daughter melissa 's assessment of all comedians as `` damaged '' -- validates this worshipful portrait of craven showbiz .", "i know people who love her and people who hate her . but , no matter how you feel , after seeing joan rivers - a piece of work , you ca n't help but admire her .", "for all the frenzied activity , joan rivers is less informative dish than infomercializing clich\u00e9 .", "if you think it 's going to be as hilarious as a joan rivers standup routine , you 're wrong . the self-mocking jokes are funny , but almost make you feel guilty for laughing .", "this behind the scenes , behind the makeup , behind the plastic surgery documentary catches rivers hard at work , ridiculously hard at work .", "unvarnished documentary .", "the new documentary on joan rivers is so in your face , so fraught with harrowing , oversized personal stuff , you might want to get a theatre seat a couple of rows behind where you normally sit , to safely take it all in .", "i laughed , i cried and i was inspired . delivering far more than you expect , this knock-out doco spits out the essence of joan rivers , who admits she is only truly happy when she 's on stage", "if you want an insight into human nature , stand up comedy and stand up comedians are a great looking glass , as long as you 're prepared for all that pain . all great comedy is cruel , and joan rivers does cruel really well", "this is a fiercely intelligent , maniacally driven , crushingly funny comedian who comes across as less a human being than a sentient career .", "`` a piece of work '' displays a comedian who is much savvier , much more vulnerable and frankly much funnier than we usually see on the small screen .", "... you may not come away from ricki stern and annie sundberg 's -lrb- blisteringly funny -rrb- chronicle of a year in the life of the comedian ... liking joan rivers , much less understanding her , but by gosh this movie is going to force you to respect her .", "the film shows that she is vulnerable , professionally calculating and , except for the people who work for her , alone .", "the comedienne 's wholehearted embrace of the project gives it an intimate feel , sprinkled with small moments and revelations that shed a new , compelling light on the icon .", "emphasizes the dog-eat-dog nature of show biz ... -lsb- but fails -rsb- to illuminate , or apparently even investigate , the early source of its subject 's hungry void .", "a gut-bustingly funny , endearing and unflinchingly honest documentary that finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them intellectually as well as emotionally .", "a sobering deconstruction of an enduring showbiz career by an introspective icon whose been at it non-stop since ' 66 .", "a portrait of passive-aggressiveness writ huge % u2014river 's too cynical , too jaded for a hagiography", "a fairly candid portrait of a workaholic driven by insecurity , resentment and fear .", "this is a smart , sharp woman with a full life under her 20-year-old skin . go ahead and make fun of her -- just try harder .", "to their credit , the filmmakers do n't try to make her look good , and while they omit some of her uglier routines , they do n't -lrb- perhaps ca n't -rrb- ask you to love her . that 's a wise move .", "we get a superb tour of joan rivers ' world , in which there 's death and then there 's life ... which is n't worth a single breath if you ca n't stand up and deliver .", "joan rivers : a piece of work compellingly presents a strong woman with no shortage of anger , resentment and regrets -- but not an ounce of self-pity .", "if you think you know who joan rivers is , stern & sundberg will give you a different perception . or two . maybe three .", "doc proves that j.r. is still one of the funniest comedians we 've got .", "here is an honest portrait of a workaholic performer and her bumpy but long career ...", "this rather fine documentary reminds us that , yep , even those `` old '' celebrities we do n't have much use for anymore are actual people .", "what is most surprising is not the dilligence with which sundberg and stern set about following the course of rivers through a year of her life - although that is certainly in evidence - but how incredibly welcoming she is to their scrutiny", "doc provides plenty of laughs while proving there 's more to rivers than plastic surgery jokes and red-carpet chatter .", "co-directors ricki stern and annie sundberg observe a year in the life of a woman who trailblazed for today 's female comics and remains as driven , hard-working and career-focused as ever .", "this is a thoroughly exhilarating , thoroughly depressing portrait of the agony and ecstasy of celebrity .", "there 's plenty to laugh at in stern and sundberg 's picture , both in the footage of rivers on stage and in front of the filmmakers ' camera .", "it 's one of the best documentaries ever made about show business , about what it really consists of and what it demands .", "if this ` piece of work ' is more workmanlike than revelatory , it 's an engaging portrait of a feisty lady .", "`` oh grow up , '' rivers used to snap . you wonder if she ever will .", "joan rivers is a comic force of nature , and this no-bull documentary offers a profanely hilarious peek into the 75th year of her life , on the road and off . fasten your seat belts .", "a piece of work is about an individual and about a career , but it 's also about the nature of work , and about our fears that when the work stops coming in , we 've outlived our usefulness .", "she is by turns blue , bitter , hilarious , unbroken ; a hollywood-style portrait in infinite ambition . in that role , rivers is unforgettable .", "who would have guessed that joan rivers : a piece of work would turn out to be a stirring portrait of indomitability ?", "the strength of stern and sundberg 's film is that they let her bomb sometimes . rivers certainly can be wickedly funny , but not always , as anyone who has watched her over the years knows .", "watchable and fascinating", "... had me laughing uncontrollably .", "a witty , inspiring portrait of a life in constant reinvention .", "joan rivers : a piece of work , a hilarious and unsettling look at the rewards and costs of compulsive celebrity , shows rivers in all her multifaceted glory .", "i 'm neither a fan nor a nonfan , but i found her fascinating .", "by the end of stern and sundberg 's portrait , you feel a great fondness for this tough cookie , who says she plans for her career to outlast george burns ' -- who was still working in his mid-90s .", "a piece of work is not about revelation or expos\u00e9 . it is , instead , about joan rivers ' business .", "the insecurities that seem to feed rivers 's often angry humor -- and that have left her face looking like a mask frozen in horror -- are left unexamined .", "it 's like a deluxe episode of kathy griffin 's reality show my life on the d-list and it 's just as galvanizing and dishy .", "a fascinating , enlightening look at the dark side of show business and the issues that come with being a part of it for decades .", "were james brown still with us , he 'd have to at least share his `` hardest working man in showbiz '' honors with rivers .", "it 's one of the best movies ever made about the brutal and unforgiving world of show business , and what it takes to survive in it for decades ." ], "summary": "penetrating rivers ' coarse image , this compelling documentary offers an honest , behind-the-scenes look at her career -- and at show business in general .", "id": "770859300" }, { "movie": "teeth", "reviews": [ "given how thoroughly all the subtext spells out the message , then , it seems unnecessary to make the actual text so raw , grotesque and graphic . granted , a horror movie about vagina dentata was probably never destined to be tasteful , but lichtenstein 's comp", "star jess weixler , exerting the command and persona of a young meryl streep , grants enough earnest innocence that instead of fearing dawn , you fear for her .", "writer/director mitchell lichtenstein tosses in thematic elements of incest and pedophilia as so much narrative hamburger helper , but by then the movie has already worn out its welcome .", "seriously dude , no means no .", "you 'll have to forgive the pun , but it simply lacks bite .", "a well crafted clashing of sub-genres and themes that works to its advantage , making it an instant cult classic ...", "a witty satire that explores the state of the -lrb- female -rrb- body politic , spread-eagled between the puritanical and the priapic in a culturally confused america .", "it all works well enough that i wish it had been less of a cartoon .", "lichtenstein has a lot of ambitious ideas for his debut film but lacks the skills to pull any of them off", "given how thoroughly all the subtext spells out the message , then , it seems unnecessary to make the actual text so raw , grotesque and graphic .", "whether you view it as a primordial image from the collective unconscious or a practical warning against promiscuity , vagina dentata makes an indubitably memorable impression -- and an ideal premise for a tongue-in-cheek teen horror movie .", "dawn may be the heroine of MOV , but in the end the movie is still a little afraid of her .", "the tone of the film wavers between satire and horror-comedy , but that does n't diminish the entertainment value of what plays like a tongue in cheek celebration of a woman who turns her imperfection into empowerment", "this is an incredibly unique , dark , smart , and humorous story of a woman discovering what she is capable of .", "it 's the stuff of primal phobia and nightmare , and , by presenting it in a way that makes us laugh as well as scream , MOV actually takes it easy on us , no matter how explicit its presentation may be .", "MOV is both different enough from the usual teen trash to earn itself distinction and bold enough to go where other horrors would n't dare venture .", "as amateurishly made as it is , MOV runs on a kind of angry distrust toward boys .", "i 'm not sure i 've ever seen rape , incest or abuse dealt with so vapidly .", "while probably too lurid and graphic for the mainstream 's tastes , it 's one of those films that has a genuine shot at acquiring cult classic status .", "we have n't had a good vagina dentata movie in theaters lately , so it 's a pleasure to see MOV filling that particular need with such obvious relish and style .", "it 's like a punch in the face .", "writer-director mitchell lichtenstein 's low-budget horror film is ... more satirical than scary ... however , he ultimately delivers the gory goods .", "MOV is a unique hybrid of black comedy and horror movie send-up that is great good fun .", "i 'm of the opinion that audacity is something to be admired in today 's cinematic world , and MOV has audacity to spare .", "after dawn comes to understand her remarkable genital gift , it 's pretty much one can-you-top-this gross-out scene after another .", "ultimately , MOV will probably never become the late night cult film it aspires to be , but it does achieve an overwhelming sense of castration anxiety", "writer-director mitchell lichtenstein is onto something really fresh in his feature debut , flipping a graphic warning for men into an empowering fable for women .", "there 's no scarier myth for males , and -lsb- director -rsb- lichtenstein turns various images of emasculation into a black comedy that flirts , fairly tediously , with pornography .", "the film 's mix of cheap gags , macabre coming-of-age story , social satire and cronenbergian body horror is apparently meant to gel into black comedy , but it never quite does .", "the picture is unfocused and indistinct ; there 's a noncommittal quality to the filmmaking . MOV hinges on one strong idea but does n't know quite where to take it , wobbling awkwardly between going for laughs and making its semi-delineated points .", "actor turned writer-director mitchell lichtenstein has bitten into one of the oldest myths in human folklore with MOV , an imaginatively demented horror-comedy .", "any movie about a girl with an actual vagina dentata had better be either very scary or very funny -- or , preferably , both . unfortunately , `` MOV '' ca n't decide what it wants to be .", "writer-director mitchell lichtenstein 's pop culturally aware blend of horror , comedy , teen exploitation and '50s monster movies comes off like an unholy alliance between john waters and todd haynes .", "a feminist horror movie , an updated version of old-fashioned exploitation that lobs a few gentle barbs at the way we are now .", "the gratuitous and often overly garish mayhem is made more palatable by the assured comedic turn by weixler .", "campy , shameless and sophisticated , lichtenstein 's debut is gutsy and original .", "lichtenstein makes an impressive debut as director of a provocative coming-of-age horror tale , inspired by the vagina dentate mythology ; in the lead , the beautiful weixler gives a striking perfromance .", "light-hearted , yet subversive , displaying a surprisingly wicked bite ... literally .", "MOV is a solid first effort that makes you extremely curious about the filmmaker 's next project .", "much like dawn 's ill-fated gyno visit , a peek beneath the folds of this clever and surprisingly amusing little horror comedy holds a few surprises for curious gay viewers .", "-lsb- keeps -rsb- the viewer entertained with a mix of suspense and humor , but not exactly ` date night ' material , because it 's doubtful anyone will be having sex right after seeing it .", "extremely funny , very clever and still packs some cover-your-face bloody thrills that top any saw or hostel movie .", "-lsb- the -rsb- castration scenes are n't nearly as excruciating as his awkward timing and worse-than-obvious pacing .", "every time the scary music kicks in and another dumb male clutches his crotch , the theater bursts into uncertain giggles like a needed release", "MOV 's whirling moral compass actually provides the perfect metaphor for the teenage sexual urge in postpubescent overdrive .", "MOV bites off more than it can chew .", "MOV works so well and is so original for at least the first half that it makes the slight fumble near the end zone forgivable .", "daring , funny and unabashedly indie , MOV is an original and ingenious creation . grab a bunch of men and go see it , just make sure they have enough room to cross their legs .", "that the movie manages to successfully transcend shock value is probably its greatest accomplishment .", "it 's definitely not for aunt minnie , but cult movie mavens will appreciate director mitchell lichtenstein 's willingness to push the boundaries of bad taste .", "in one of the great light bulb ideas that could only happen in association with making movies , along comes MOV to bite us hard . if you think the rhetorical illustration of the events defy logic , just wait to actually sink your own MOV into it .", "lichtenstein 's low-budget effort concentrates on black comedy ... with the gore effects timed perfectly", "the film 's first half contains a series of sharply satirical scenes .", "a smart and convincing film with a lot to say about the power of female sexuality and the cultural forces that try to stifle it .", "debuting director mitchell -lrb- son of roy -rrb- litchtenstein creates a lot of dread but not a consistent tone .", "dawn grits her MOV .", "teenage horror-movie spoof , john waters parody , no nukes protest movie : mitchell lichtenstein 's clever , crude comedy , MOV is all these and more .", "... a fun exploration of feminine sexual power seen through the twisted kaleidoscope lens of a horror-comedy .", "a game , disarming lead performance from jess weixler , who won a jury acting prize at sundance , goes some way toward making palatable this mish-mash .", "lichtenstein takes the myth of vagina dentata and gives it a kitsch horror/comedy makeover , to surprisingly smart and sassy effect .", "a spoof of b-movie monster flicks , a satire of modern-day puritan ethics , and a tongue-in-cheek female-empowerment story .", "a tongue-in-cheek amusing movie -- but being literally tongue-in-cheek can sometimes be dangerous .", "though good for a few laughs , the one-note MOV is just another trite rape-revenge fantasy .", "it 's safe to say that he -lsb- writer/director mitchell lichtenstein -rsb- has made the boldest debut of this admittedly young year .", "in MOV , mitchell lichtenstein makes the old v.d. the centerpiece of a gory female-revenge black comedy .", "a twisted inversion of the standard rampaging murderer story .", "credit writer-director mitchell lichtenstein with making a first feature that every man in america will watch with his legs crossed ." ], "summary": "smart , original , and horrifically funny , MOV puts a fresh feminist spin on horror movie tropes .", "id": "528392454" }, { "movie": "winnebago-man", "reviews": [ "what makes the film so enjoyable is how it keeps defying expectations in its survey of the rough edges , sharp mind and iconoclastic personality ...", "when the director laments , `` i feel like i 've stepped into the MOV outtakes , '' we can only concur .", "MOV , which appears to be notably less staged than other documentaries of this ilk , does n't relentlessly explore all the corners of rebney 's life -- which makes him an even more fascinating subject .", "it is n't perfect , but hell , neither was the winnebago .", "a hilarious film .", "absorbing and thought-provoking .", "the film is less about jack , his reputation and performance , than it is about itself . real or not .", "filmmaker ben steinbauer went searching for the man behind the rants . against all odds , rebney manages to emerge with his dignity intact .", "perhaps the most disturbing issue raised in ben steinbauer 's fascinating and often hilarious MOV has to do with the internet 's awesome ability to reduce complex and apparently dangerous behaviour to the level of banal spectacle .", "steinbauer does n't shy away from the moral queasiness of that arrangement , and that 's what gives MOV a lot of its appeal -- that tension between the considerable laughter it provokes and the questions raised about that laughter .", "a shrewd , entertaining , fascinating and surprisingly touching documentary .", "a fun little addendum to a profanity-laden chapter in new media history .", "an earnest and occasionally poignant attempt to penetrate rebney 's potent man-on-fire image and explore the impact of becoming an internet sideshow .", "turns from a simple idea into a complex look at cultural iconography and public perception", "entertaining , but steinbauer never really seems to work up either a cogent thesis statement or tack of inquiry -- his work bears the marks of a serial noodler .", "an often funny and finally poignant documentary about the bizarre nature of modern fame -lrb- indeed , infamy -rrb- and the healing powers of community , human connection , and , yes , laughter .", "both the man and the film had reached outcomes that no one could have foreseen .", "this strange , darkly funny documentary investigates the story of jack rebney , a winnebago salesman who achieved notoriety based on outtakes of a corporate video he shot in the 1980s .", "hilarious .", "MOV becomes a much more interesting and troubling film when rebney , a former journalist , demands to reclaim control of his messaging .", "surprisingly , steinbauer finds a way to make sense of the competing agendas and feelings expressed throughout MOV .", "the movie becomes oddly deep and even poignant .", "although we find out a lot about this virtual hermit and develop an admiration for his cantankerous principles , the movie leaves some questions unanswered .", "the film lacks a point of view , but it sure establishes the catharsis in watching a guy speak his mind with brutal , $ # & * # & % honesty at all times .", "there is a genuine , human sympathy for his frustration and lashing out that goes along with the laughter .", "brilliantly encapsulates the transformative power of the online video boom .", "-lsb- director ben steinbauer 's -rsb- blend of exploitation and sincerity proves remarkably efficient , and helps illustrate how new media have democratized the arts .", "-lsb- a -rsb- frustrating , borderline exploitative , madly entertaining documentary .", "good fortune smiled on this film , but the feeling persists : this triumph belongs to rebney , not steinbauer .", "i know this film sort of deals on a fine line of humiliation and admiration , but i thought it pulled it off .", "i think this is a disingenuous and shallow movie about a fairly interesting guy .", "... a terrific character study . it also airs provocative meditations on the ramifications of living our lives via media . steinbauer accomplishes both in this thoroughly entertaining feature debut .", "what 's next , a full-length documentary about the life and times of chris ` leave britney alone ' crocker ?", "the age of youtube is an unforgiving one .", "steinbauer is as significant a character as his subject , and MOV emerges as a documentary as much about rebney as the making of the film itself .", "the film ends with a semi-touching reaffirmation that everybody 's in showbiz .", "do n't laugh too hard at those youtube ` fools . ' that 's you and me , do n't forget .", "a hilarious and surprisingly touching profile of a fascinating character .", "the filmmaker never makes it about him % u2014 it 's clear throughout that he 's onscreen because that 's the most direct way to tell this story , and he wants nothing more than to serve as a conduit between what he sees and what he wants us to see . you do n't", "you 'd think angry MOV , jack rebney , was garbo herself , the way one callow filmmaker and legions of youtube watchers carry on about this basically decent , very serious loner of a man , who inadvertently become a viral video star .", "adulation -- even barbed adulation -- is irresistible .", "what started as an underground goof ended up becoming a fascinating foul-mouthed curio ; though it aims for profundity , MOV seems destined to suffer the same fate .", "this engrossing documentary widens to consider the phenomenon of viral videos and the humiliation they can bring to their sometimes unsuspecting victims .", "one of those thrilling instances where reality grabs a filmmaker by the lapels and drags him -lrb- and us -rrb- to unexpected places .", "reasonably amusing doc about a salesman whose strong -lrb- read : weak -rrb- language gains fame .", "i guess i enjoyed MOV , but i knew it could have been more .", "raises intriguing questions about our culture of online humiliation and the real-life destruction it can leave in its wake .", "the germ of steinbauer 's apparently harmless , seemingly brainless doc goes right to the heart of the community-building aspect of the internet .", "MOV is an intriguing look at the effects on one man 's life ; whether they 're worth the cost is something steinbauer leaves up to us .", "... an interesting and entertaining look into the life of jack rebney % u2013 if you can take the language .", "for a growing legion of youtube boobs and mouse potatoes , MOV is all the medication we need to laugh away overdue bills and genital infections .", "there 's a pathos lurking around the edges of MOV , and it has nothing to do with issues of fame or the power of the web and everything to do with aging and alienation , neither of which the documentary seems able to comprehend .", "what this film is really about is how interconnected we all are , like it or not , on the internet , and how alluring and alarming this can be .", "whenever rebney gets to be rebney -- be it insulting , sweet or wearily perturbed -- MOV shows a full tank of irascible charm .", "that mr. rebney is a real character comes as no surprise . what 's odd , given mr. steinbauer 's obvious intelligence , is the director 's blinkered view of his subject .", "was it all an act -- or is this ? pay your money and find out .", "at once scabrously funny and uncomfortably poignant ..." ], "summary": "though it does n't quite answer all of the questions it raises , MOV is nevertheless a fascinating , hilarious , and surprisingly poignant look at a geniunely colorful internet celebrity .", "id": "770809072" }, { "movie": "becoming_jane", "reviews": [ "the film seduces . beautifully produced , from production design and costumes to music and performances , it 's also faithful to the genteel spirit and repressed passions for which she 's known .", "explains austen 's art simply and neatly : too simply , in fact , to do justice to such a brilliant observer of social manners and hypocrisies and weaver of complex , romantic moral tales .", "ponderous , despite a couple of nice performances .", "the story is touching , the dialogue clever , the cast is great and the period detail is impressive .", "the director , julian jarrold , is comfortable with the material , and it is comfortable with him .", "deeply pleasing in a connect-the-literary-dots manner .", "this ` have n't we seen this before ? ' sensibility is anything but a downside . it 's the draw of director julian jarrold 's good-looking , entirely pleasant revel .", "you have to be patient with the movie , but the payoff is good .", "this limp late-18th-century doodle sullies our memories of austen 's books and warps our impressions of the writer with pedestrian comedy-drama .", "a totally enchanting costume drama about jane austen 's yearning for love and a place in the literary world dominated by men .", "the tender emotion , delicacy of feeling and above all brilliant inspired flashes of brash female wit , render the truth or exaggeration of the tale simply secondary .", "it 's worse than male fantasy : it 's austen for idiots .", "it 's a bland , stilted , stuffy costume drama masquerading as a chick flick .", "not to put too fine a point on it , but this movie throws like a girl .", "another bland , passionless costume drama as stuffy and oxygen-depriving as its corsets .", "it 's all very spirited without getting anywhere near the spirit of austen herself -- at least as we know her from her work .", "what i witnessed was corporate greed : a savvy team zeroing in on an audience that goes gaga for the english costume drama , hoping to cash in on the popularity of young hathaway after the enormous success of the devil wears prada .", "anne hathaway has learned to ease up on the mugging and let us come to her . she 's no jane austen , but she 's got the gumption of an austen heroine .", "about 20 minutes in , you realise you 're actually quite enjoying this ; and , horror of horrors , anne hathaway 's actually doing a rather good job at this regency lark .", "the style of masterpiece thetaer is applied to this reimagining of the making of writer jane austen , which will upset purists due to its liberties with austen 's real background .", "it 's a classy package , all right - just missing the extra spark .", "a charming , intriguing biopic , given extra depth and sparkle by attractive performances from its superior cast .", "despite the fact that this is a beautifully-shot , dryly funny period drama , some audiences might prefer to stick to the sheer escapism of austen 's fictional work , which follows a similar formula .", "austen 's fans will recognise something of the author 's playful wit in the film , and forgive the dramatic liberties .", "think austen in amour , \u0155 la shakespeare in love . a warm , charming , bittersweet romance - destined to make a thousand dates .", "the supporting cast are all terrific , as are the irish locations .", "the very idea of jane austen with a broken heart may be thought vulgar and pedantic by her modern readers , and the way the story pans out is not convincing .", "a finely tooled brit-lit costumer that , like anne hathaway 's flawless accent as the young austen , lacks only that final convincing 5 % .", "it 's a good-looking film .", "while there is little that is fresh in this costume drama , it is well done and anne hathaway makes a delightful jane , who is unafraid to defy convention .", "the movie is eminently watchable : the production values are blue-chip , the script is often funny and cute , hathaway is reasonably charming .", "was austen really a smarter , feistier carrie bradshaw in more sensible shoes , longing for love even as she failed to hang onto it ? MOV would have been more honest if it had been called no sex in the country .", "short on emotion .", "MOV has its felicities ... mcavoy and hathaway work well together despite being saddled with dialogue that is not remotely in austen 's league . but then again , what is ?", "-lsb- a -rsb- moderately engaging pseudo-brit-lit piffle .", "after the invigorating cinematic brio of 2005 's pride and prejudice , it 's disheartening to see the austen brand retreat back into costume drama 101 ...", "the script 's lively , modern points of departure give it a few surprises .", "... a beautifully directed film from julian jarrold that draws as much strength from the depiction of the 18th-century english countryside -lrb- ireland , actually -rrb- as from the performances of anne hathaway as austen and james mcavoy as tom lefroy .", ". mcavoy shines in the role of a good-hearted rogue , and director julian jarrold -lrb- `` kinky boots '' -rrb- depicts 18th-century england with a convincing less-is-more approach .", "has a burnished feminine sadness , and the director , julian jarrold , gives it a creamy-dark visual flow .", "thanks to the combined charm of the leads , this remains a most agreeable cinematic portrait .", "we ca n't quite shake the feeling we 've seen this all done before , and better .", "unlike an austen story , MOV does n't suffer from a predictable third act , and the characters are n't quite so schematic .", "-lsb- mcavoy is -rsb- perfectly fine as the prickly metropolitan exiled to the provinces after a dust-up at a london law school .", "hathaway and mcavoy are appealing , but bland . the scenes that hark back to pride and prejudice are not so much evocative as hackneyed . it is all very pleasant , but it is also a bit of a bore .", "the film is still charming enough , both for its performances and its lovely look at jane austen 's most devoted suitor of all -- a pristine page , begging her attention , wanting nothing but her words .", "hathaway is too good an actress not to deliver more than just a grand star turn and she 's able to carry the story of austen 's .", "-lsb- mcavoy -rsb- and hathaway simply are n't given much to do together , and they have two long hours to do it in . screenwriters kevin hood and sarah williams seem reluctant to risk the ire of austenites .", "hathaway and mcavoy bring some genuine , if discreet , sparks to their secret romance , but there 's something fundamentally lifeless about director julian jarrold 's shallow gloss on pride and prejudice .", "there 's a lot to recommend MOV , particularly the performances . hathaway does more than survive . if she does n't seem like a literary genius , she at least seems like a worthy austen heroine -- intelligent , independent and brave .", "the movie has an immense charm that sneaks up on you . ultimately , it 's a delicate ode to love and honor -- and to writing and reading .", "the story quickly slips into austen formula .", "a triumph for anne hathaway , who brings to the young jane the same jittery wide-eyed intensity she displayed in the devil wears prada along with a secure british accent . she and mr. mcavoy inject a keen intelligence into the couple 's verbal jousts .", "contrived and hokey where austen 's work is effortless and romantic ...", "it 's a charming , peaceful picture ; a perfect diversion for those who like their corsets tight and confining and their romance kept behind a fence of social judgment and impossible odds .", "the mixing of vague historical anecdote and pure hollywood fantasy do n't quite mix .", "one can appreciate ` MOV ' without knowing anything about the writings of jane austen or the speculation about her hidden life .", "a painful experience for anyone who gets easily annoyed by the formulaic nature of austen 's writing .", "writers hood and williams conjure up a plot worthy of ms. austen herself , using austen 's real-life brothers and sisters for scandalous and tragic romantic subplots .", "the cinematic equivalent of a nice retirement facility", "dilutes one of the loveliest voices in english literature into chick lit .", "there 's something refreshingly spare and rough-hewn about this big-screen experience .", "if you 're a jane austen fan , your sense and sensibility will demand you check this out .", "an enjoyable appetizer , albeit for a meal that one could argue already has far too many courses .", "the squeaky clean love story of jane austen fails to make hay of either women 's liberation or the miracle of creative writing , sticking to lush estates and courtly costume finery instead", "fails to capture either the sprightly spirit and poignant pathos of its subject 's famous works .", "MOV takes a stab at being a historical romance in the vein of shakespeare in love , but something key is missing .", "a smart film about manners , money and marriage , `` MOV '' offers a fictional glimpse at the all-too-brief life of author jane austen .", "captures that certain romantic jane austen-esque spirit .", "the sole pleasure i got was in gazing at the fancy costumes and taking in the lush grounds of the snobby lady gresham 's estate .", "MOV may fudge the facts , but it finds the more compelling emotional truth .", "inevitably exudes a kind of hand-me-down quality , the feeling of being a second-rate copy instead of a true original , at once too clever and not clever enough .", "for realism 's sake , jarrold checks in with the usual muddy hems , misty green fields and chickens clucking underfoot . and if you\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- re an austen reader you can have an okay time just playing i-spy pride and prejudice ...", "if MOV is a little light in the head , it gives anne hathaway a chance to show herself off more delightfully than she did in the devil wears prada .", "for people who do n't know the rules of cricket or concern themselves with the romantic problems of the upper class , MOV is far from a classic .", "a charming period romance which casts jane austen as a budding young authoress stifled by the pride and prejudice of her time .", "lay back and do n't think of england -- or austen -- is the best advice i can give for prospective viewers of MOV .", "slow , boring , and i still know nothing about the real jane austen .", "unfortunately , lead actress anne hathaway is not suited to the role . her jane does n't seem like the main character in her own story .", "MOV attempts to please the purists and the dreamers , but only results in disappointing both .", "thank goodness there was a man around to stimulate jane 's creativity ! such is this film 's retrograde premise ...", "although the film does eventually give up its referential conceits , it comes far too late in the game to salvage any real emotional investment in the characters or their plight .", "MOV becomes a rather ordinary , though sporadically entertaining , game of dress-up .", "this never rises above a date movie , but it 's functionally literate -lrb- the lovers have some pleasant banter about the realistic merits of tom jones -rrb- and features a fine supporting turn from ian richardson .", "hathaway delivers a fine british accent and high spirits as austen .", "taken as speculative fiction , it is thoroughly satisfying .", "early on , a character remarks that `` wit is the most treacherous talent of all '' and based on the evidence contained within , the minds behind `` MOV '' are among the least treacherous people that you are likely to meet .", "if only jane 's fictional life had half the wit as what she put on the page .", "that the film overlooks austen 's imagination becomes understandable when `` MOV '' reveals itself to be a rather unimaginative second-rate copy of a jane austen novel .", "once you admit that the jane austen depicted onscreen bears scant relation to any person named jane austen , living or dead , the film fulfills its purpose .", "MOV is n't purposefully cynical but if you stop to consider it , it rather undermines austen 's great talent .", "-lsb- c -rsb- aptures both the aching romanticism and the cold , hard practicalities of austen 's fiction ...", "neither the best nor the worst of the jane austen adaptations . however , nor is it likely to be remembered for very long after it passes across your eyes .", "the movie goes down easy , but there 's a thin line here : is this an homage or a parasite ?", "after approximately fifteen minutes into the film , however , i forgot about the accent and realized that anne 's exuberance and dramatic range are fitting for this portrayal of the celebrated literary figure .", "... more ` chick flick ' than recent oscar-nom ` ed austen adaptations , but it 's cut from more or less the same cloth , albeit less durable .", "clearly embraces the spirit of the beloved novelist .", "one can only hope that MOV will inspire moviegoers to find out more about this beloved literary great . or hopefully revisit one of her classic novels .", "... drops the ball almost immediately by emphasizing some seriously hackneyed plot twists and an overall atmosphere of predictability ...", "something of a disappointment , thanks to some dreary photography and a boring , unimaginative script that completely wastes a talented supporting cast .", "another british writer is given the worthy cinematic treatment , complete with an american actress in the title role and sentiment that overwhelms what should be a gritty story .", "... it seems uncharitable to deny poor jane austen this chaste , hypothetical affair", "the central idea in MOV is that `` pride and prejudice '' may have been autobiographical . not a bad idea , except that the film plays more like a new adaptation of that book than as an outright examination of austen 's inspiration .", "take jane out of the equation -- replace her with any of your basic period-piece-romantic-costume-drama heroines -- and you 're left with mere trifle .", "the film 's romantic conventions are not nearly so bright or inspiring as what austen became , in her own words .", "not only is that a huge stretch of the facts , it makes for a dull and overly familiar melodrama .", "while MOV is too much of a prologue to the writing austen , it is an impeccably crafted imagining of a young woman seeking love at a time when women were so often ` better than their circumstances . '", "think of this scenario as a smart , witty , well-acted romance novel that has sprung to life on the big screen with some restraint and a decent amount of dignity .", "mostly just a second-rate jane austen story .", "hathaway never makes us think the woman could write anything more complex than a diet book .", "the reality of love 's disappointments enriches the film 's heroine , who never married in real life , and brings a 200-year-old figure into living focus .", "anne hathaway concludes the thorough evolution from disney princess to serious actress . with commanding wit and a deft british accent , she 's more than convincing as a wickedly intelligent woman restricted by proper society .", "empty , empty-headed , anf full of cliches . do n't expect austen brilliance from this pedestrian film .", "utilizing a lovely british accent and a graceful way with words , hathaway communicates austen 's predicament beautifully . when she was creating her immortal heroines ... the real jane austen must have pictured someone like hathaway .", "an evocative portrait of an artistic temperament in defiance of propriety and of how , when such things are repressed , passion and personality are revealed in acts of private ritual and public performance .", "the film 's familiarity is pleasant enough , and screenwriters sarah williams and kevin hood flaunt a strong working knowledge of austen 's work , peppering the movie with what amounts to inside jokes for readers familiar with the writer 's six novels .", "austen comes off here more as stenographer than writer .", "a smart and well-acted drama that is a refreshing change of pace from this summer 's overblown blockbusters .", "... a diverting game of spot-the-reference ...", "an agreeable period romp , missing the spark of the high-end austen adaptations but firmly in command of its own romantic devices .", "the film 's notion of austen 's great works being nothing loftier than the result of failed puppy love suggests the filmmakers perversely believe that gross oversimplification is a virtue .", "a witty , winning austen bio for tweens and older .", "an den to ` heis barethei -lsb- to story -rsb- tis alles ena ekatommyrio enniakosies peninta ennia hiliades triakosies eikosi dyo fores poy to ` heis ksanadei -lrb- i , an den to ` heis ksanadei -rrb- , magkia soy kai kali diaskedasi , prodomenos de tha bgeis .", "... there 's a feeling with MOV that we have seen it all before ... . many times .", "a dull exercise in deconstructing jane austen 's life to provide a life experience basis for her novels .", "without a pretext and knowledge of the classic author , much of the richness of this movie got lost", "even though it looked great and was moderately engaging , something was also always missing .", "with a spot-on accent and altogether charming performance , hathaway makes another convincing statement that she has grown , as a woman and as an actress .", "director julian jarrold -lrb- kinky boots -rrb- struck a unique and lovely tone , managing to maintain a conventional merchant-ivory type look but successfully infusing it with some rather modern humor -- hathaway and mcavoy verbally sparring like an 18th century trac", "unless you have something new to say do n't say it all . lesson learned from yet another jane austen re-tread that trots out its tired themes with 18th century goodness .", "MOV is not as good as the best austen films , but is much better than most mainstream movies on tap .", "you 'll enjoy it if you 're the artistic , romantic type who can be seated for 120 minutes without cgi or anything getting blown up .", "jane austen did not live the life of elizabeth bennett , but even if she had , there was no reason to be this bland in presenting it ." ], "summary": "although MOV is a well-crafted period piece , it lacks fresh insight into the life and works of jane austen . the film focuses too much on wardrobe and not enough on austen 's achievements .", "id": "460343705" }, { "movie": "darjeeling_limited", "reviews": [ "-lsb- anderson 's -rsb- movies , even if you think the stories are slight , are full of the joy of seeing . i could watch them with the sound off and still be completely happy .", "like a once in a lifetime trip that only grows grander with the passage of time , the MOV is idiosyncratic filmmaking at its finest .", "may not deliver on the emotional context of tenenbaums but is more than funny enough to forgive it 's heavy-handed dramatic metaphors .", "in the anderson oeuvre , it feels minor : although it hits its goals , it does n't necessarily aim big this time .", "although the MOV pales in comparison to anderson 's best film , rushmore , it 's still a vast improvement over the director 's last and worst film , the life aquatic with steve zissou .", "the usual pleasures of anderson 's work are all present in the MOV , which creates a gorgeous palette out of local color .", "amid all this self-conscious cleverness , the one sequence built around primal emotions feels hideously out of place , its gravity diminished by the self-consciously kooky antics that surround it .", "unstintingly fussy , vain and self-regarding . but it is also a treasure : an odd , flawed , but nonetheless beautifully handmade object as apt to win affection as to provoke annoyance . you might say that it has sentimental value .", "if anderson 's films really are an acquired taste , then darjeeling is cooked to perfection .", "the jewel in wes anderson 's crown !", "when that story takes a dead serious turn something only alluded to in previous movies it becomes clear that anderson can do pretty much anything ... that does n't involve the life aquatic .", "the movie finds anderson straining to peel away his mannerisms and respond to a world outside the ones he usually so meticulously designs .", "anderson 's signature style is feeling the pressure of the law of diminishing returns -- a law as menacing to the artist as that of gravity is to the balloonist .", "after approaching self-absorption in the royal tenenbaums and the life aquatic with steve zissou , anderson completely disappears up his own preciousness in this road trip .", "wes anderson 's movies are hothouse flowers , delicate but vivid blooming , fragrant but short-lived .", "... the sort of pretentious empty exercise that gives arthouse films a bad name .", "here anderson , like his heroes , learns the real adventure is in getting deliriously lost .", "wilson , brody and schwartzman are each fine , but if you found yourself stuck in a train compartment with their characters , you 'd vamoose .", "the screenplay does have ambitions to say something about brotherhood and spirituality , but anderson 's sense of style is so strong that sincerity and emotion struggle to be heard .", "what of the characters ? well , there are n't any , really .", "wilson shines as the oldest brother of three in perhaps his best performance to date .", "it 's very much what i think anderson intended - a light travelogue of small consequence , with a slight , though sincere and concerned effort to bring a heart back into his films .", "by now , you know exactly what to expect , which is both good and bad . to my mind , anderson reached the acme of this formula in the first go , in tenenbaums , and has now replicated it twice , evoking smaller pleasures each time .", "this is a handsome , intriguing and subtly funny character study that almost leads to enlightenment .", "wes anderson transports his arch , pristine , melancholic sensibility to india , where three estranged brothers meet after their father 's death and hop a train in a quixotic attempt to heal their spiritual wounds .", "anderson 's gentle parody of westerners who lob into an ancient culture expecting to pick up enlightenment and peace as easily as a shoe shine or over-the-counter painkillers is very funny .", "there 's -lsb- anderson 's -rsb- usual goofy celebration of silent dark-eyed melancholics and shaggy oddballs , of absurdist realities and blindingly unexpected insights . taken as a whole , it 's incontrovertible evidence of anderson 's own free-wheeling talent .", "-lsb- this -rsb- oddball odyssey stuck with me well after the final long , hypnotic shot of the magic train rolling through the indian landscape .", "none of this is as amusing as the writers ostensibly imagine it to be .", "the MOV is a step toward maturity for anderson , too . his visual ideas are still overcalculated and the tone is often precious , but emotionally he seems to have expanded .", "what this movie has going for itself in spite of its cloying pleas for indulgence is a playful and interesting narrative structure that precludes much development and comes to the fore only toward the end .", "painful to watch .", "it 's far more streamlined and focused than the director 's recent stuff .", "while the MOV is n't perfect , it comes so close to hitting the mark that even when the film begins to fall off the rails , you 've already made up your mind as to how you feel about it .", "it 's not top-notch anderson , but it 's a step in the right direction .", "maybe anderson needs to shoot someone else 's screenplay , to get outside his own head for a while and into another 's sensibility . it 's telling that his funniest and liveliest recent work was a commercial for american express .", "the MOV , the latest self-satisfied exercise in style over substance from writer-director wes anderson , will amuse his cult followers -- as well as anderson himself and his pals , of course -- but probably nobody else .", "anderson creates a deluxe train set , for sure . all he neglects is building up an electric current or a head of steam .", "arguably wes anderson 's most compassionate , mature film , `` darjeeling '' dances around disconcerting what-ifs : if they were n't your brothers and sisters , would you voluntarily befriend them , or do you tolerate quirks and annoyances because blood links you ?", "like anderson 's other work , this is light comedy -lrb- albeit comedy that flirts with an appealing ridiculousness -rrb- that carries with it a satisfying intelligence .", "being faintly disappointed by a new wes anderson film -- films whose primary form of emotional address , after all , is faint disappointment -- remains one of the few consistent pleasures of american moviegoing .", "as ambiguous and frustrating as it can often be , the MOV is a film of great art and passion ; vibrant , charming and poignant , it 's a ride you wo n't want to get off , no matter where it takes you .", "anderson is evidently encumbered by his own cargo . louis vuitton it may be , but the overriding sensation here suggests the endless revolutions of a baggage carousel .", "wes anderson manages to make the exotic indian countryside seem like a suburb of houston .", "though it never arrives at the desired destination , the MOV offers a rewarding journey -- but one that 's hard to recommend without a few disclaimers .", "while many people make films like anderson , anderson makes films like no one else .", "falling back on such clich\u00e9s , the emotional catharsis of the whitman brothers nevertheless remains hard-fought .", "the film as a whole operates in mr. anderson 's patented , semi-precious zone of antic and droll . it 's not as if the filmmaker has gone off the rails . he 's just not solidly on them .", "filled with the sorts of humane generalities and optimistic possibilities to which only a misanthrope could object .", "if you hear the music , you 'll recognize that beneath anderson 's hipster veneer is the low keen of loss and wounds that never close .", "can a movie be both cartoonish and authentic at the same time ? that 's what anderson achieves , always , and it 's bittersweet and hilarious and makes you want to cry with the perfection of it ...", "hurtling towards an ending that is far less pat than expected , the film ... is too mobile and busy to be forced into a single compartment .", "even those invested in the idea that the journey is the destination may feel they 've taken a train to nowhere .", "this film is indeed limited -- in appeal , sincerity and substance .", "it 's an affected film about disaffected people , and no cast in the world could save it .", "dysfunctional families have long been the favorite subject of filmmaker wes anderson , but he has rarely approached the topic with as much heart as he does here .", "for all its quixotic quirkiness , `` the MOV '' is little more than artifice for the art house set .", "the whimsy of it all does a passable job of covering the dull stretches , and the actors , to a one -lrb- bill murray has a cameo , anjelica huston shows up -rrb- make it watchable .", "with more style than substance , the story is so thin it evaporates like a puff from a hookah .", "it is repetitive , but it 's still very clever writing , maybe sometimes too clever , really good acting .", "a moderately amusing shaggy dog story that evokes director wes anderson 's love for human beings with quirky personality traits .", "wes anderson does n't make movies like anybody else , which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes not . his latest , the MOV , combines what 's best and worst about him .", "meticulously stylized and nimbly filmed on a retrofitted indian train , it 's a spicy , lyrical cinematic feast .", "the first thing my friend said to me as the credits began to roll : `` loved it ... but the film wo n't make a dime at the box office . ''", "anderson is still a maddeningly cool filmmaker . he 's remote from his characters , which makes him remote from his movies . there 's also a way in which he uses race as a novelty , suggesting an assertively white-kid view of the world .", "the auteur 's best work to date .", "a wonderful mix of humor and humanity , vintage wes anderson that 's fine and funny as he takes us on a soul searching magical mystery tour .", "it 's bliss for the anderson devotee ; a lateral cinematic move for the filmmaker , but one of immense merit and continuous enchantment .", "`` the MOV '' is a dud where even its lame attempts at slapstick comedy fall flat .", "the MOV , by comparison , feels like a more comfortable fit than its predecessor ...", "it 's time wes anderson moved beyond the mixture of damage and quirky creativity neglectful parents can cause .", "wilson , brody and schwartzman have their charms , but the script gives them little to work with . anderson and his co-writers have come up with an ordinary road movie that is dependent on lame running jokes .", "the MOV works best when the level of artifice is at its highest and most overt .", "real life comes crashing into anderson-ville ... and for the first time in his career , the filmmaker seems to be playing the pain for real , without any sight gags or ironic distance to cushion the blow .", "dripping with wes anderson 's patented blend of whimsy and melancholy , the MOV is the story of three brothers traveling across india in search of themselves .", "brothers and other strangers ride the MOV , wes anderson 's captivating road movie that views life as a great train of being .", "if you 've seen anderson 's other films , this will feel like a repeat . a good repeat , sure , but still a repeat .", "filmmaker anderson does not disappoint his diehard fans .", "infused with rich writing , strong performances and symbolic undertones , darjeeling explores how people behave when living in the moment but out of the comfort zone .", "quirky is the operative word here . you have to go with the flow on this wacky train ride .", "it 's hard to know ... whether i 've simply had it up to here with anderson 's archly cute portrayals of the troubles and eccentricities of the fabulously well-to-do .", "never before has wes anderson seemed so indifferent toward how the film will be perceived , and , consequently , it moves as gracefully and as organically as anything he 's done .", "unless he branches out into new territory aesthetically and thematically , anderson 's best days may be behind him , not in front of him", "wes anderson is an acquired taste . but those who liked the royal tenenbaums and even the grossly uneven the life aquatic may find this serio-comic tale about three brothers on a train journey through india a satisfactory diversion from everyday reality .", "o curta hotel chevalier , que precede o filme , \u00e9 infinitamente mais eficaz que o longa : se for para mergulhar num universo esteticamente fascinante que n\u0103o tenha muita coisa a dizer , \u00e9 prefer\u00edvel faz\u0119-lo em doses menores .", "this is india as in one of those highly coloured paintings of a hindu god . it 's absolutely gorgeous but every so often the train stops and we go outside , into the dusty yellow plains of rajasthan , where reality is more present .", "a wes anderson film is like a snow globe : it 's hermetically sealed , precious , and pointless .", "working through -lsb- jason -rsb- schwartzman as an alter-ego seems to recharge anderson 's ability to marry pitch-perfect style to emotional honesty .", "the way indian life is portrayed is nothing short of remarkable , and is perhaps the highlight of this laid-back , droll film that may not be everyone 's cup of tea , but will certainly be appreciated by anderson fans", "anderson packs an extraordinary amount of incident and observation into a mere 90 minutes .", "easily the slightest of anderson 's four feature films .", "this quirky , aesthetically-pleasing ride is one worth taking", "a wonderful film -- both funny and affecting .", "if the outcome is foreseeable and the film overstays itself a little even at 91 minutes , the pilgrimage is commendable though not enlightening .", "a touching , sweet tale about an adult trio of brawling brothers who go to india and bliss out tackling sibling rivalry issues , while essentially getting in touch with their divine if somewhat goofy inner mystics .", "a spunky spiritual adventure story about three american brothers traveling through india and trying to connect with each other and come to terms with the past and death .", "the MOV is so reflective of personal experience -lrb- within the context of rarefied pop antecedents -rrb- that it returns common emotional power to today 's fragmented , disingenuous popular culture .", "this is familiar territory for anderson after rushmore and the royal tenenbaums . but there 's a startling new maturity in darjeeling , a compassion for the larger world that busts the confines of the filmmaker 's miniaturist instincts .", "at a stage in -lsb- wes -rsb- anderson 's career when he should be moving on , he is instead circling back .", "a companion piece to tenenbaums more than a step in new directions , darjeeling is a movie about people trapped in themselves and what it takes to get free ...", "hit and miss , but its tone of lyric melancholy is remarkably sustained .", "somewhat funny , but in strange and subtle ways , even by anderson 's standards .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- has a kooky , laid back charm and is full of anderson 's trademark themes and surreal eye candy , but ultimately , for all its offbeat wit and road-to-enlightenment send-ups , it feels a little thin .", "the MOV is like an artist attempting to play back the exact same song , note for note . it 's almost always better the first time .", "it is a delight to look at , with its vibrant colors , iconic images and exotic setting , and the film has a meandering feel that captures the sense of trekking across india .", "entertaining and engaging , and also deliberately strange .", "wes anderson 's best film so far .", "the director and co-writer -lsb- wes anderson -rsb- has some deep thoughts going on in his head that are translated to the screen .", "this is as good a ride as anderson is likely to produce and most fans will think his variation on tongue-in-cheek comedy hilarious .", "anderson 's strength - he 's a consummate visual stylist , a natural born scene maker - is also his weakness , in that he favors obvious constructions , representations and meanings in his scripts .", "if anderson 's personal style is such that we can always tell a wes anderson movie from the outset , then the style has become commonplace for him , and therefore no longer a proper judgment point for us as an audience .", "the evidence of talent persists in anderson 's work , but the prognosis of terminal solipsism and emotional dilettantism draws ever fuller support .", "the technical prowess of wes anderson is still top-notch , with the best example being the train showcasing all of the characters at the end .", "lo que podr\u00eda haber sido una original road movie en tren termina diluy\u00e9ndose en una experiencia caprichosa , carente de humor y sensibilidad , y finalmente algo irritante .", "it eventually goes somewhere , but i 'm not sure where . it is a pleasant enough trip for the most part .", "... a nice sense of fraternal affection under the frustration , playful details in the margins , a bouncy energy , and anderson 's idiosyncratic tastes in fashion and music .", "though anderson is covering the same terrain , it 's different from , and better than , most of what 's out there . and it can still take an unexpected turn toward the revelatory .", "the melancholy is mostly notional and entirely unearned , bought ready-made in '60s songs", "it 's not so hard to believe that even the most naive and clich\u00e9d-seeming spiritual quest may be at least partially redeemed by fraternal good will .", "apart from having thus created the first road-picture homework assignment , anderson is n't breaking new ground here . but he and his actors appear to be having a larkish good time .", "wes anderson 's latest may be limited , but even the director 's lesser projects are worth our while .", "anderson 's films have been a series of diminishing returns after the delightful rushmore . the MOV is easy to admire but hard to like .", "here , as in his two prior outings , anderson 's arch , highly artificial style gets in the way of character and emotional development , rendering pic piquant rather than profound .", "a train ride without laughs or charm .", "going to india and working with 2 writers do little to reenergize anderson because he imposes the same themes -lrb- broken families , lost souls -rrb- , self-conscious approach and seriocomic sensibility on the new feature , further confined by being set on a train .", "full of fantastic individual moments .", "the ingredients that have increasingly defined wes anderson 's films seem , with the MOV , to have become something like limitations .", "for those familiar with anderson 's work the MOV offers nothing new under the sun -- except that its an indian sun .", "a highly flawed personal vision , containing what the screenwriter 101 's among us would deem various and sundry `` third act problems . ''", "a better film -lsb- than life aquatic -rsb- , warmer , more engaging , funnier and very surrounded by india , that nation of perplexing charm .", "the preciousness of this new enterprise pollutes the human relationships until everything seems like a pose .", "an easy movie to admire but more difficult to like . technically and thematically , there 's a lot in the MOV to arrest the attention . emotionally , there 's a void .", "a frustrating movie , a work of immaturity from a director who should be past the empty gestures and self-protective distance of his early work .", "the movie runs deepest when the brothers finally deal with their baggage , both real and metaphysical .", "each scene feels like its own little hotel chevalier , contrived for the mere purpose of seduction and nothing more .", "what 's offensive is the way anderson has used an entire country and its people as set dressing . poverty and reality do n't enter into the picture .", "saddled with a one-track plot and dry performances that never really go anywhere , even when the story literally goes off the rails .", "none of it rings true ; the unifying element is self-consciousness .", "an extraordinary movie , filled with splendor , laughter and a touch of cosmic wisdom . you wo n't forget it .", "... delivers no more and no less than what one might 've expected ...", "those who relished anderson 's candy-coloured bittersweet style in the life aquatic should enjoy the trip .", "the MOV is anderson 's most technically accomplished film , but his subject matter must evolve .", "quirky comedy-drama idiosyncratically directed by wes anderson .", "everyone who pretended to love aquatic because they were afraid of hopping off the anderson bandwagon because deep down they hoped it was just a little career hiccup ? do n't lock your knees when you jump because you 'll wreck 'em .", "`` the MOV '' is a quirky , sophisticated movie that 's kind of a comedy and definitely a road trip with very little plot .", "wes anderson tackles mature brotherly baggage .", "hugely enjoyable , delightfully quirky comedy drama from director wes anderson , featuring a witty script , gorgeous photography , a superb soundtrack and terrific performances from its three leads .", "it 's a movie about luggage .", "about as close to perfection as you 're likely to get .", "here 's another wes anderson movie . i say that with all due respect .", "the film about three brothers in the wake of their dad 's death is a pleasurable journey to nowhere , but it 's worth the ride .", "the MOV has its charms , chief of which is watching three terrific actors evince with unforced ease the rewards and resentments of brotherhood .", "captures the wistful woe and longing that drove the best parts of rushmore and the royal tenenbaums .", "however irregular the beat , this one has a heart .", "unexpectedly fresh , if indisputably minor .", "dysfunctional families are as common on screen as off , but director wes anderson has a flair for making his clans seem bizarrely unique and yet recognizable too .", "the MOV , which is based on a worthy story that ultimately needed more density , shines during its naturally peculiar scenes but blots out its own sun with contrived injections .", "anderson 's best and most satisfying work since rushmore", "limited is exactly what wes anderson proves himself to be .", "brody ... has a comedian 's gangly limbs and a tragedian 's melancholy face . for the tragicomedies of wes anderson , that 's a perfect combination .", "wes anderson returns with another love-it-or-loathe-it comedy , this time starring owen wilson , adrien brody and jason schwartzman .", "it may not have you weeping in the aisles , but it will be with you for days after you see it .", "owen wilson , jason schwartzman and adrien brody all get their comic timing just right as three wealthy brothers on a journey of discovery in india .", "a precious , self-admiring and fatally misjudged serio-comedy .", "for all anderson 's pleasing , refreshing auteur tendencies , the overwhelming feeling delivered by ` the MOV ' is of frustration , d\u00e9j\u0155 vu and little progression .", "want social realism ? you 're in the wrong place . want a witty , whimsical comedy ? climb aboard ...", "a tall tale of mishaps and misadventure that settles into a thoughtful , moving journey . by turns funny , smart and poignant , it 's one of the most satisfying films of 2007 .", "pleasant , especially on the design front , but a lack of narrative substance makes the whole a little too indulgently whimsical .", "`` the MOV '' is director wes anderson 's -lrb- `` the royal tenenbaums '' -rrb- latest vision of flawed relationships .", "funny peculiar and funny ha ha , with a spontaneity and energy that gather up a powerful emotional head of steam as it chugs along .", "the magically compelling MOV strikes me as the fullest blossoming yet of anderson 's talents as a total filmmaker .", "arguably the most self-indulgent and silly of his five-film oeuvre ... the emperor 's new clothes have only gotten more expensive and asian-inspired .", "if wes andersen ever decides to treat his characters with the same loving attention he treats his props , he will make better movies . oh the tschotchkes in this movie ! it 's like a long , loving j. peterman catalogue commercial .", "the MOV is a pleasant trifle , and that 's it . individual moments shine but they do not make a satisfying whole .", "midway through the film takes a shift to a darker and more thoughtful tone - revealing hidden depths to anderson 's film-making that are a welcome surprise .", "finds anderson back in fine form .", "though light on revelations , this well-acted film offers entertaining and touching moments .", "there 's never a moment when you 're not conscious of the movie 's artifice -- its set design is part of its entertainment -- but the experience is n't exactly off-putting , either .", "anderson 's now-overly familiar tone and style feels all the more twee when paired with a thin story .", "it looks wonderful ... but feels thin and weightless , as pretty a bauble as a christmas tree ornament and ultimately just about as durable .", "anderson continues to examine damaged lives with whimsy , humor and bittersweet compassion . no matter how serious the themes get , anderson and company keep the tone deceptively light .", "it 's a hard film to shake , and there 's an awful lot to be said for that .", "anderson 's most wispish work to date ... but it offers enough modest charms to earn it a mild recommendation .", "imagine the three stooges if they had gone to yale .", "whether you will enjoy this movie depends on your tolerance for anderson 's unique sensibilities .", "next stop , minor disappointment , followed by growing appreciation .", "only on screen for a few moments , anjelica huston provides the most moving experience in this odd , self-indulgent film about oddness and self-indulgence ." ], "summary": "with the requisite combination of humor , sorrow and outstanding visuals , the MOV will satisfy wes anderson fans .", "id": "770670652" }, { "movie": "queen_and_country", "reviews": [ "filmmaker boorman 's stroll down memory lane does not bowl us over with rapid-fire hilarity . it soothes us and then melts away unobtrusively .", "to watch `` MOV '' is to get the impression of a man who has gone through life and actually learned something , which not everyone does .", "i hope boorman follows through and makes a trilogy .", "tonally , the movie ca n't decide whether it 's a comedy , a romance , or a wistful wartime madeleine . what it 's missing is the sense of joy and wonder of its predecessor .", "for a movie shaped by the harsher mercies of martial pursuits , it 's incredibly light and frequently hilarious .", "MOV reveals itself as a prime example of the stale storytelling and ignorant ideologies audiences waved good riddance to years ago .", "MOV is the film of an old master -lrb- boorman directed his first feature in 1965 -rrb- who still has one of the most magical eyes in the business .", "rambling and unfocused but not without its moments , john boorman 's 19th feature film , MOV , represents a very belated sequel to the director 's 1987 feature hope and glory .", "the strength of boorman 's film is that it reminds us of what a service comedy is-the spectacle of cogs rising up against their machine .", "far from a searing drama yet seldom takes the glib way out .", "sweeping , witty , delightful and charming while brimming with warmth and humanism .", "a perfectly enjoyable service comedy , playing like a defanged british version of m * a * s * h that never actually gets to korea .", "once more unto the breach for writer-director john boorman , who revisits the semiautobiographical characters from his superb wwii dramedy hope and glory in the beautifully bittersweet MOV .", "while it took 27 years between films , MOV proves to be a lovely counterpoint to hope and glory .", "the film lacks an ability to construct significant instances of character drama as symbolic of larger concerns pertaining to nationalist dilemmas .", "a sequel to hope and glory set in postwar england that proves to be an impressive coda to english writer/director john boorman 's illustrious career .", "it 's solid , albeit generic , filmmaking that satisfies mostly in fits and starts . in other words , this time there 's less hope and even less glory .", "a little too silly to be taken seriously , yet also too heavy to get all the laughs it very clearly craves , `` MOV '' at least shows where boorman 's schizoid , if less than wholly satisfying , sense of storytelling comes from .", "boorman is 82 ; `` MOV '' is being called his final film in a career that included `` point blank , '' `` deliverance '' and `` excalibur . '' if this really is it , congratulations -- and regrets that bill rohan did n't appear in a few more movies .", "in short , -lsb- you may realize -rsb- how expert presentation can draw you into a world , immerse you in the lives of others , and make you sorry to leave when it 's over .", "MOV finds exhilarating comedy in places usually reserved for drama , violence , loss .", "the director gets all the period detail exactly right and there are plenty of historical and cultural references that evoke a sense of nostalgia .", "the actual antics feel as tonally dated as the story , school-boyish shtick that went corny even before m * a * s * h married screwball shenanigans to wartime bleakness .", "the movie is a sweet-natured , easy-going bit of storytelling , and while bill may be the central character , MOV is really a movie about england . and it 's a love letter to a particular time and place", "a worthy follow-up to a classic .", "there 's no way around the fact that this is a lesser endeavor than `` hope and glory , '' but when it 's good , which is often enough , `` MOV '' glows with a master storyteller 's sense of memory .", "sturdy , moving , nostalgic in a good way .", "charming but mature post-wwii coming-of-age drama .", "boorman grasps this opportunity in a war movie , to mount an incidental battle of his own internally against a national belief system without a soul - ridiculing a military hierarchy ranging from nasty to nonsensical , and pulled off with malevolent glee .", "entertaining enough , but military hi-jinx and romance are just not nearly as fresh a premise as was his sense-of-wonder-view of world war ii through the eyes of a boy .", "one of a handful of great movies that look at world war ii through the eyes of a child , `` hope and glory '' is distinguished by mischievous good humor and by the unashamed acknowledgment that war can be fun as well as horrible .", "boorman 's movie oozes fond memories but does n't quite know how to make them relevant .", "a deeply personal memoir , so well written and carefully observed that it draws the viewer into the ambience of postwar england with a persuasive power that makes you feel you 're part of the same experience .", "for cinephiles who 've followed this 82-year-old british filmmaker 's long and sometimes eccentric career with interest and admiration , `` MOV '' will be a sure winner .", "... a light , nostalgic military coming of age story with mournful undercurrents . while the film may feel slight compared to its precursor , boorman deftly manages shifting tones while preserving post-war memories in a very specific time and place .", "not as engaging as ` hope and glory ' but more deceptive in its modesty .", "modest but still disarming ...", "boorman skillfully takes major historical events and filters them through small , personal moments .", "it works , but not entirely .", "a direct sequel to 1987 's hope and glory -- and the best thing that john boorman has made since .", "with a wildly inconsistent tone , this makes for an emotionally disengaging film that is ultimately rather unfulfilling .", "queen & country is hardly reinventing the wheel , but it 's charming , evocative and...well-performed ...", "boorman has not lost his skill for deploying actors well .", "MOV is an entertaining and sympathetic guide to a lost world : a rite of passage that britain was to find it could do without .", "john boorman 's sequel to his masterful ` hope and glory ' does n't equal its predecessor , but still offers a vivid snapshot of army and family life in post-war england .", "admittedly modest , but the epitome of jolly , this is like the companionable second volume of an autobiography in film form - you 'll whip through it in no time , and come out wanting more .", "MOV is a truly entertaining flick forged by a master storyteller and the acting is polished , even in the smaller roles .", "a lovely movie , as achingly bittersweet as all nostalgia , marked by surprising moments of commonplace beauty - a brilliant morning sky , a gently burbling thames - and real rough emotion .", "less vibrant than the original , but equally thoughtful and funny .", "do n't let the british pedigree and nostalgic trimmings fool you : this is no masterpiece theatre exercise but a broad , high-spirited , riotously funny service comedy , on par with m * a * s * h and stripes .", "queen & country , like hope & glory , is anecdotal and episodic , but hope & glory added up to something .", "will john boorman turn his pair of -lsb- personal -rsb- films into a trilogy ?", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- boorman 's unfussy approach to his youthful past creates a warm sense of familiarity with the characters he presents , however quirky their motivations may be .", "it 's not hopeless , but it 's surprisingly slack , unfocused work from boorman , who aims for a scattered tonality that reflects the madness of the moment , but mostly loses his way .", "there 's a muted calm to this lovingly cast , beautifully shot time capsule , capturing passing time instead of -lsb- boorman 's -rsb- recurrent project of undertaking the making of primal myth .", "the fundamentally episodic nature of the narrative limits its impact somewhat , but boorman again finds a spark in a frisky coming-of-age story that tracks the growing pains of an entire nation .", "i was n't especially amused by the anecdotal plot .", "once again boorman has tapped into a particular sort of nostalgia that his audience truly feels , even if the experiences of his characters are nothing like their own .", "boorman returns to the classical style of the movies he enjoyed at a young age , again showing his flexibility and commitment to finding a story 's ideal tone .", "it has taken john boorman almost three decades to make the sequel to his much-cherished `` hope and glory , '' but `` MOV '' turns out to be well worth the wait .", "barely passes muster", "a wartime comedy of manners , it 's a delightfully whimsical portrait of 1952 england , a time and place of class discord that 's both uproarious and politically pointed .", "MOV is a fitting , intimate curtain call on a long and a hugely dynamic and influential film career .", "boorman 's point of view and on-screen alter ego seemed stylistically in sync in the first film , but `` queen & country '' - though often charming - has a tendency to wander and strain , which might say enough about capturing '50s england .", "it 's never going to be more than a footnote to the far superior hope and glory , but sometimes , when you 're feeling nostalgic it can be fun to dig out the other , less interesting photo album .", "it 's a modest pleasure of a film that leaves you hoping it is not the last word from the octogenarian boorman .", "it showcases boorman 's great humanity , but -lrb- like hope and glory , for that matter -rrb- it is almost entirely free of the mild derangement that characterises his best work .", "this is a deeply personal film which also stands as an intriguing record of a period not often revisited in film -- that drab period postwar and pre-suez in which the country itself , like the flailing young hero rohan , is struggling to define itself .", "everything you 'd expect from distinctive film-maker john boorman : a heartfelt story told in arresting visual tones through a melange of conflicting accents and strangely theatrical staging .", "the tone jumps awkwardly between soppy romance , serious drama and carry on-style comedy .", "this is the sequel to 1987 's hope and glory , a coming-of-age yarn awash with illicit passion .", "inconsequentially pleasant .", "it has a certain period charm , but somehow adds up to less than the sum of both its vaguely comic and moderately poignant parts .", "it 's a string of little jewels masquerading as a story . the army-life japes and escapades , climaxing in the stealing of an officers ' mess clock , might seem picayune . but they form a cumulative glitter .", "what a shame boorman chose to dramatise a fairly dull stretch of his life instead of going for what clearly should come next : his first steps toward becoming the director who would go on to make 1967 's point blank and 1972 's deliverance .", "MOV is john boorman 's autobiographical sequel to the wonderful hope and glory and a rather softer affair .", "a welcome , thoroughly enjoyable follow up -lrb- to `` hope & glory ' -rrb- . john boorman has n't lost his touch for finding humor and even wonder in the seemingly mundane experiences of life ." ], "summary": "graceful and bittersweet , MOV finds writer-director john boorman revisiting past glories with warmth and wisdom .", "id": "771315961" }, { "movie": "bruno", "reviews": [ "this is our cultural conversation right now , and MOV minces in , ready to demolish preconceptions in every direction .", "it 's a funny , funny , funny movie . it 'd just not revolutionary anymore .", "wilder and riskier but also more calculated than borat , MOV shows outre sexual images , and how can you not like a gay austrian who decides to repent after realizing that our top stars , cruise , travolta and spacey share one thing , they 're all straight", "br\u00fcno is like milk , but with a talking penis .", "the crown of the reigning king of bad taste must pass from john waters to sacha baron cohen .", "the fallacy that baron cohen 's comedy is politically pertinent derives from its pandering to lefty biases .", "those who go in with their jaws clenched are bound to find offense . better to focus on the stuff that works outrageously .", "outrage is entertainment !", "if MOV is not quite up to the lofty standards of borat , it is daring and sometimes insightful .", "... it feels funny enough -- and that may be the unkindest thing of all you could say about a comedy", "too often , br\u00fcno feels like borat 's weak-wristed brother , too much of it just a gay cliche aimed straight at the american bigot belt .", "sacha baron cohen might be a one trick pony , but he sure knows how to give the audience , ahem , a good ride .", "certainly , the film is worth seeing if only for the fascinating range in reactions -lrb- give 'em something to talk about indeed ! -rrb- .", "baron cohen 's daring and fearlessness as a cultural critic is in as grand a form here as it was in borat , his last adventure in ... lampooning ... kneejerk ignorance and superficiality .", "... provokes half as many laughs in a seemingly less improvised comedy that goes twice again as far as borat in goosing sexual sight gags designed to make even the most numb audience members blanch .", "the way the film exposes , tries , convicts , and administers punishment to homophobes - through humor rather than preachiness - had me laughing for 82 straight minutes .", "those who last beyond the first few minutes will be treated to a film that 's more focused than borat , with more jokes , less fluff , and enough social awareness to step on some toes . and it saves the best stunt for last .", "jive-talking robots and ben stiller ` going full retard ' be damned . br\u00fcno is easily one of the most offensive films in years , and that is what makes it awesome .", "a sporadically funny comedy that often shocks and disgusts , but falls flat with tedious and lazy humor .", "unless you are really , really , really , really difficult to offend , you will be upset by something in this film . seriously , count the `` really `` s. do the math . prepare yourself . sacha baron cohen does not pull punches . if you were disturbed by borat , you are", "get ready for more shock waves . with MOV , sacha baron cohen again pushes the sociopolitical comedy envelope as far as he can .", "sure , the shine is off as far as cohen 's particular modus operandi , but this is a funny comedy with both the capacity to make you think and genuinely recoil .", "but by pointing out how low some people will sink to hit the heights of fame , baron cohen can raise as many valid discussions as he can squirms .", "there 's good bad taste and then there 's just plain bad bad , which is what describes most of br\u00fcno .", "a hit-and-miss brand of humor , as likely to leave you squirming from embarrassment as howling with laughter .", "shock and awesome . we are co-conspirators with MOV when we know where he 's headed . let 's keep borat out of this .", "baron cohen and director larry charles are maestros conducting a symphony of discomfort .", "there 's a love story at the heart of this and it 's not necessarily a feature film , but it is a film phenomenon and he is a master at self-promotion , you 've got to admit .", "call me a grouch , but i found myself on side with harrison ford who , when stalked by MOV for an interview , tells him exactly where to go .", "MOV is not nearly as ambitious as borat , where cohen 's talent to outrage ranged far and wide . he 's no longer a saboteur . he 's become part of the machinery .", "it can be entertaining , in a scattergun way . but its most extreme moments feel forced rather than revealed . even its over-the-top finale , with echoes of borat 's rodeo escapade , seems over-calculated this time around .", "it 's a bubbling potion of the staged and the real that supplies a suitable comfort zone for cohen to manufacture his most outrageous character : a hulking gay fashionista with a tireless libido and a limited appreciation for personal space .", "a movie that will make you laugh so hard you 'll gasp for breath ... the formula is familiar , but baron cohen still finds ways to shock you into guffaws , over and over .", "a funny , fearlessly absurd comedy but a shaky satire .", "cohen holds up another mirror to american society , and if anything we 've only gotten uglier since borat . or maybe we 're just uglier when it comes to homosexuality .", "starts off as a hilarious lampooning of fame and the pursuit of celebrity , but cohen and the gang run out of material .", "a patchy , hit-and-miss comedy with a few outrageous highs and a lot of just-okay padding , br\u00fcno suggests that sacha baron cohen 's in-your-face fool routine sadly is n't working any more .", "'t is the season for summer camp , and this one fits the bill as well as any other .", "it 's essential - but hardly comfortable - viewing . you 'll watch most of it through splayed fingers , and at times you 'll need a spare hand to pick your jaw up off the cinema floor .", "there is also a pronounced nasty streak to the innumerable provocations staged by the title character that curdles the laughs and wears out the flamboyant austrian fashionista 's welcome within the picture 's brief 82-minute running time .", "we all knew borat . borat was a friend of ours . MOV , you 're no borat .", "the second hour of MOV is a laugh out loud satire that will make the world a better place . that 's what we want from sacha baron cohen ... lots of people do funny . i 'm glad he still transcended and took the bad people of the world down a peg . ''", "while the film is n't as consistently funny as borat , MOV should still pull in a sizeable audience .", "even at 82 minutes , br\u00fcno feels stretched-out with stitched-together filler .", "inevitably , this follow-up to cohen 's guerrilla mockumentary hit is a substantial letdown , lacking the novelty of its predecessor .", "skeptics might not swallow it all , and thinner-skinned folks will surely be offended . but no one will deny that baron cohen is fearless in his pursuit of rowdy laughs .", "in br\u00fcno , most of the stunts feel staged , more like the hills than cultural learnings .", "ribbing for your pleasure , br\u00fcno is crafted to cause a flurry of varied reactions , even within a single viewer .", "br\u00fcno never comes close to the inspired comic/cultural lunacy of borat , or even the dunderhead fearlessness of ali g.", "br\u00fcno is no borat .", "ich laughed , ich cringed , ich pitied paula abdul .", "more envelope-pushing and funnier than borat , baron cohen 's perilous brand of agit-comedy takes us from meetings with terrorists to acrobatic penises . how did this get away with an r rating ?", "for sheer shock value - and that 's really why people go and see a film like this - MOV delivers . it 's clear , however , that the formula is wearing thin , and baron cohen need dig deeper into his bag of tricks for his next outing .", "may be the funniest film of the year thus far , but it does n't come close to reaching the comedic heights of his previous effort , borat .", "rated r for rude , raw , ribald , and repetitive , br\u00fcno delivers sacha baron cohen 's brand of commando comedy , but little else .", "baron cohen is a genuine comic guerrilla , charging right to the front lines of the war against prejudice and sanctimony .", "yes , MOV is in ` gay face ' if you will , but when going beyond the surface , he is clearly turning the mirror on us and saying , ` do you see how stupid these stereotypes are ? '", "you should know by now whether MOV is your kind of movie . i had high hopes , but confess to leaving the cinema somewhat disappointed .", "MOV is well worth seeing for a good laugh , even if it is a hit-and-miss affair . after all , i doubt any negative reactions will stop baron cohen pulling the greatest prank of all -- pocketing millions from willing suckers like us .", "where borat was an innocent abroad , br\u00fcno is just broad ; sacha baron cohen makes br\u00fcno the self centred and self obsessed centre of the film , which is not so much a story as a series of sketches designed to shock , disgust and outrage", "i watched in superficial fascination , chuckled a couple of times , quickly became bored and found the 80 minute running time dragged like a one-note joke that outstays its welcome", "the only thing cohen can do is to throw the character 's sexuality in people 's faces , but there are several brilliant sequences of baiting and utilizing american gay panic that really hit the satirical button .", "for all of its button-pushing , the end result is almost as superficial as its egocentric hero .", "there are more consequences of his situations than there are laughs derived from them . not everyone around here is a howard stern .", "what `` MOV '' may lack in setup innovation , character conviction or `` borat 's '' inherent sweetness , it makes up for by pushing things beyond points of comfort or , in some cases , personal safety . successfully uproarious in slaying social stratification .", "as outlandish as the central character is , he uncovers some biting truths that no comedy writer could invent any better .", "in the end , MOV simply is n't as funny as borat . ... mr. baron cohen is too often forcing the issue instead of letting the humor emerge organically .", "illustrates not the public 's gullibility but a comic 's waning sense of danger", "MOV has one crucial element borat lacked , a satirical point of view .", "artificial e cruel quando deveria ser espont\u00e2neo e instigante , finalmente acaba cometendo um erro fatal para qualquer com\u00e9dia : leva o espectador a sentir d\u00f3 das `` v\u00edtimas '' de seu astro .", "as with borat , there are plenty of outrageous moments that will make you simultaneously laugh and squirm ...", "while the film may not be as consistently funny as borat , MOV takes the win for one of the most shocking and hilarious films in years .", "br\u00fcno is a brave and necessary comedy . the film will appear to be a succ\u010ds de scandale , and will outrage many people , but it is actually just a success , a film with an instinct for naming and shaming a host of overprotected wrongs . go and see it .", "merely a collection of supposedly shocking jokes about homosexuality and gay sex .", "you can watch MOV purely as outrageousness or you can view it while pondering where the line is - or should be - between incisive social commentary and misanthropy .", "the first 45 minutes -lsb- ... -rsb- might be the most concentrated bit of cinematic hilarity since aqua teen hunger force colon movie film for theaters .", "-lsb- homophobia -rsb- deserves confrontation , but when done in the manner of the movie here , it is less enlightening than it is just plain squirmingly funny .", "there are very little or no examples of comedic genius in this film", "staged or not , cohen still displays a fearlessness and commitment to character unparalleled in the comedy world today .", "a plot synopsis does n't quite capture the visceral thrill of our hero 's bizarre and shocking adventure .", "the only thing cohen can do is to throw the character 's sexuality in people 's faces , but there are several brilliant sequences of baiting and utilizing american gay panic that really hit the satirical button .", "sacha baron cohen 's latest shock comedy MOV is a nasty , tired and pointless retread of the gifted comedian 's previous work .", "if mixed martial arts fans who view the film are forever after afraid of fighters getting aroused during a ground-and-pound session on the mat , then baron cohen did the job right .", "i do n't know how many more times baron cohen can go undercover , but it looks as if he 'll never run out of bigotry , idiocy and hypocrisy to spoof .", "when moments seem like setups with actors , they turn tame . but when things feel real -- as when MOV conronts an arkansas wrestling-match crowd -- they can get scary-real .", "it 's an odd cop-out for so fiercely gifted a comedian ... . this is not a man who is doomed to be allen funt , or for that matter , ashton kutcher . he does n't need to rely on the easy titillations and voyeuristic pull of reality tv .", "cohen has come up with some marvelous satirical motifs ; elsewhere , he 's just showing how far he 'll go to get a laugh .", "for all his idiocy , kazakh journalist borat sagdiyev was a more likable jester than br\u00fcno , who is the sum of his nether parts . one is a naif in a strange land . one is a jerk no matter where he travels .", "not all of the jokes are complex , or smug . some follow the pure , simple slapstick route to the belly laugh , and there are enough of those to please many cohen fans .", "if you liked borat , i 'd recommend it . and i 'd recommend you expect it to be only 2/3 as good .", "there 's not much to br\u00fcno beyond some very old limp-wristed clich\u00e9s that are as hostile to gays as the people baron cohen mocks .", "the bad outweighs the good and the cringes outnumber the laughs in br\u00fcno , a disappointment from sacha baron cohen , whose borat was one of the funniest movies of the decade .", "an enormous schwanstucker of a comedy - hilarious , raw , shocking . sign me up girlfriend . two snaps up . way up !", "one of the funniest things you 'll ever see .", "for the majority of its short running time br\u00fcno is a masterpiece of comedy by embarrassment .", "putting his hairless self in harm 's way , sacha baron cohen sets the bar for guerilla comedy as high and as low as it can go .", "with as many gasps as laughs , and arguably less pleasurable than borat , br\u00fcno succeeds by sheer dint of cohen 's unrivalled ability to conceive , and then bravely enact , the most jawdropping stunts imaginable .", "he 's fearless , dedicated to his art and there really is n't anyone else out there who does this schtick half as well . a third helping of fake interviews might be pushing the gimmick too far , but br\u00fcno is as hilarious as it is terrifying .", "br\u00fcno is guilty of being both unbelievably crude and side-splittingly funny . while it 's certainly very close to borat at times , as well as the proverbial bone , with sacha baron cohen in such fine form almost anything is forgivable .", "that 's not to say that there are n't funny moments here because there are some really choice moments but they are lost in the mix of purile and often uncomfortable moments that really are below what you 'd expect from the team behind this .", "there is no braver satirist than sacha baron cohen today , working in any medium , and i salute him . this movie is going to be as big as borat , and deservedly so .", "a mixed bag - obvious targets sitting alongside worthy demolition jobs - but it 's never less than amusing ... and often excruciatingly funny .", "as phoney and frustrating as it is funny . baron cohen 's comedy-outsider schtick is slick but well and truly found out . the clothes may be new and more fabulous , but the emperor seriously needs to go shopping .", "what 's lacking in the presentation , baron cohen makes up for with sheer ballsy , outrageous bravado . he bulldozes you with shock tactics . br\u00fcno is a mesmerising invention , by turns repulsive and compelling .", "mostly entertaining ; but it 's not very memorable , insightful , probing , or revolutionary .", "while decidedly more secular -- and bordering on the x-rated -- baron cohen 's flamboyantly gay austrian fashionista serves a scripturally-prophetic function of sorts .", "let 's just get this over with : this is the filthiest movie i 've ever seen on the big screen .", "i 'm sure there are plenty of people who will find it offensive ... i was too busy laughing .", "br\u00fcno is wall-to-wall jokes , but it never loses sight of its targets , which are many and in the end all-encompassing .", "this film is probably yet another bit of fallout from that blight on civilization known as reality television . god help us all .", "the film 's one authentic moment has him stalking harrison ford , who tells him in no uncertain terms where to go ; frankly , i was with ford .", "the new sacha baron cohen movie , `` MOV , '' really is n't a movie at all . calling it one is sort of like calling mutton the new white meat .", "to paraphrase lloyd bentsen 's smackdown of dan quayle during the 1988 vice presidential debate : `` MOV , i screened borat ; i knew borat ; borat was a review of mine . MOV , you 're no borat . '' perhaps not , but there 's still plenty of laughs to be found .", "it 's a shallow and silly thing that has every right to exist but no profound purpose . it is just a $ 40 million practical joke , and like all practical jokes , it has at its core a hard kernel of cruelty .", "it 's funny stuff , but more in a `` look at how outrageous we 're being '' sort of way than one that comes close to engaging in meaningful social commentary .", "claims that the film is a social satire are as empty as br\u00fcno 's pretty head , there 's no arguing with the fact that the film is staggeringly rude and very , very funny . the laughs build and build : it 's like surfing a tidal wave of hysterical bad taste .", "br\u00fcno is thrillingly funny , establishing sacha baron cohen as a comedian willing to go further than any other to show us what needs to be shown .", "baron cohen is an astonishingly focussed performer ; we have no idea how he does n't crack a smile .", "sacha baron cohen 's latest outing is undeniably hilarious and you ca n't help but admire the sheer chutzpah involved in making the film .", "better than borat ? no . but easily just as good , and twice as outrageous .", "it 's properly ridiculous , mad entertaining and , dare we say it , laugh-out-loud silly .", "there are a lot of big , cruel laughs in this but it was a lot easier to warm to the innocent borat than the self-absorbed br\u00fcno and the film begins to overstay its welcome even at a trim 80-odd minutes .", "but oh my , puerile and ragged as it is , and to some extent because it 's so ragged and puerile , i doubt if a more screamadelically hilarious film will be released in 2009 .", "cohen 's new one-star show is appalling and funny and sometimes both simultaneously .", "you could laugh so hard you wo n't be sure what will split first - your head , sides or `` kugelsack '' .", "howlingly funny , staggeringly rude , brutally incorrect and very often just brilliant .", "cohen does n't quite reach the same five-star genius as his kazakhstan phenomenon . we kind of know what to expect now . still , you 'll laugh out loud , an awful lot .", "borat remains sacha baron cohen 's masterpiece . but gag for gag , br\u00fcno is every bit its equal . so is it the best comedy of the year ? without a doubt .", "br\u00fcno 's greatest outrages here will still elicit howls and shrieks , as well they should . but our fabulous austrian friend is no comedy revolutionary , only a cruel and silly stereotype in leopard-print underwear .", "intolerance and outrage has never been funnier , and nobody incites it better than br\u00fcno , borat or baron cohen .", "whether you believe br\u00fcno is the caustic comedy of a political prankster or the rude humor of a smart-aleck , it 's hard to deny that there is a subversive intelligence at work .", "it 's an exercise in offensiveness , an exploration of over-the-topness and a gleeful working of both sides of the street . what brings br\u00fcno down , though , is sinful behavior . mr. baron cohen commits the cardinal sin of unfunniness .", "the reason MOV does n't rise to the level of cohen 's earlier work % u2014 besides the inevitable diminished returns of revisiting now familiar territory % u2014 is that this time around the film is more interested in making fun than in making a poin", "while there are some big laughs to be had , MOV ultimately fails at its more grandiose intentions as a sharp satire about our obsessions with celebrity and tendencies towards homophobia .", "yes -- if you 're asking -- br\u00fcno is quite possibly the most uproarious , groundbreaking , and shocking comedy of the past decade -- and that includes its sister film which showcased the jew-phobic borat .", "a condescending picture that always takes aim at easy targets , fires away with a blunderbuss , and then pretends to be courageous for what it 's done .", "funny , yes . astute in its satire , not as much .", "sacha baron cohen uses his guerilla tactics to ` expose ' the vanity and vacuity of hollywood and the american south . his high-wire humor can be very funny , but here the groans often drown out the giggles .", "sacha baron cohen 's smiling and gregarious borat , as opposed to his haughty and selfish MOV , scores much higher on the likeability scale .", "the film 's weakness is obvious : it has exactly one trick up its sleeve , and merely repeats that trick over and over for its entire 87-minute running time", "i thought it was hysterical . i 'm just not sure i 'll respect myself in the -lrb- metaphorical -rrb- morning .", "i do n't know if there are any comedians working today as fully dedicated to a joke as sacha baron cohen .", "MOV 's quest to become the most famous austrian star ` since hitler ' is shocking , vulgar and shamelessly defamatory . it 's also downright hilarious .", "undeniably funny , but the targets are far too obvious .", "an expose of the sham values of celebrity worship and tinseltown ambition largely unaware that the producer/director/writer and lead actor exemplifies those very values to the hilt .", "worth your time , but be prepared to be shocked and possibly disgusted in between the laughs -- or even during the laughs .", "the movie is laced with edgy , eyebrow-singeing ` shock ' moments , but MOV himself belongs to a long tradition of english-mangling funny ` foreigners , ' as portrayed by peter sellers , sid caesar , danny kaye and armies of radio and vaudeville comedians .", "i do n't think cohen 's targets are even being particularly homophobic , they 'd just prefer if this crazed , half-naked circus freak would just put his penis away and stop invading their personal space", "as funny as some of this is , though , even with a running time just shy of 90 minutes , br\u00fcno often feels as if it 's straining for effect .", "MOV is not for the easily upset but if you roared with laughter at borat the chances are that you will find the gay austrian model even more outrageously funny .", "as social satire , ` br\u00fcno ' is boorish and scattershot ; as farce , it is obvious and erratic .", "you have to give baron cohen 's publicists five stars , though the film itself falls short of that .", "not since lenny bruce has a comedian pointed a spotlight on people with such observational precision .", "MOV is curiously ineffective , a sort of middling effort that fails to liberate itself from the stereotypes that provide the character 's foundations , even if it also does n't deliberately or harmfully reinforce them .", "if you 're na\u010fve , in high school , or a dedicated follower of scatology , you 'll think this is genius . anyone with world experience , however , will feel left out of the loop .", "there 's laughter but it 's empty , mean-spirited laughter . MOV makes fun of people for no other reason than it can , not because it has something to say .", "sacha baron cohen has nearly succeeded in his quest to be the film equivalent to howard stern . crude and crass rather than challenging , shocking rather than stimulating , cohen does n't seem to care what he does so long as he gets people talking .", "it is proof positive that this emperor of comedy has no clothes , a fact that he seems depressingly eager to demonstrate throughout .", "the movie is a toxic dart aimed at the spangly new heart of american hypocrisy : our fake-tolerant , fake-charitable , fake-liberated-yet-still madly-closeted fame culture .", "controversial , uncomfortable , and hilarious", "a politically-incorrect savior , that rare comedy that revels in bad taste while also actually having something worthwhile to say about the world we live in and the senselessness of stereotypes .", "the problem with MOV comes in mistaking blatancy for comic gold .", "producer/star sacha baron cohen keeps trying to mine humor from the same type of jokes . and in terms of story structure , it 's pretty much the same movie as its predecessor .", "br\u00fcno is a smarter , savvier and all-around funnier movie than its predecessor .", "while cohen has teamed up again with director larry charles , br\u00fcno feels protracted . when the filmmakers ' luck dries up , they resort to staged fish-in-a-barrel events that make the movie a more desperate , less surprising exercise .", "borat got some pretty uncomfortable and surprising behavior from people . br\u00fcno shoots fish in a barrel .", "br\u00fcno hinges on how uncomfortable we are watching a homosexual minstrel show ; our pc excruciation is as crucial to the formula as the good ol' boys ' irritation", "while cohen 's samurai satire has lost some of its edge , he can still leave audiences howling -- when they 're not gasping in disbelief .", "no stoop is too low for a cohen gag .", "MOV has enough gay heat to toast a pop tart in the pope 's ass .", "a vapid , empty and relatively hateful flick . and this is from someone who loved `` borat '' .", "a giddy mash-up of social , sophomoric and shocking humor .", "a brilliantly rude , deliriously insane closeted sexual politics on steroids mockumentary . boasting MOV as the anointed white obama , waxed rectums , defense moves against multi-hued dildos , and ron paul as peeved object of erotic desire .", "MOV is no borat !", "the pic is all about cohen goofing on others he feels superior to .", "while cohen 's taboo-breaking audacity remains in full force throughout MOV , his ability to keep the big laughs on a roll has waned this time around .", "borat feels like a story , br\u00fcno comes off more as sketches , very funny sketches . it 's like an r-rated daily show .", "i felt bad for some of the folks , such as ron paul and the poor preacher he picks on . i wanted lightening to strike others , such as the parents of the babies he interviews for a casting session .", "there are sequences of comic genius but you suspect that the huge dollop of cruelty in cohen has got out of hand - and then the movie wilts .", "with his previous work , baron cohen has already proven he 's a lot smarter than this", "cohen no longer has freshness and novelty on his side , but he 's retained the power to shock , offend , provoke , unsettle , and most importantly , entertain a jaded , desensitized public .", "br\u00fcno offers both succor and sucker bait for liberal-minded viewers who may feel harassed by prevailing and ever-shifting cultural sensitivities .", "MOV is a one-joke character in a one-joke movie , and it 's a joke baron cohen beats into the ground .", "like swift 's gulliver 's travels , br\u00fcno defies you not to see yourself in its funhouse mirror . and then dares you to laugh it off .", "for those of a non-puritanical mindset , it 's hard to deny that br\u00fcno succeeds in being both outrageous and outrageously funny , and it 's hard to damn a comedy , regardless of its faults , for those qualities .", "although br\u00fcno is sometimes a wickedly funny flick , the dubious techniques and repellent protagonist produce fewer real laughs than its predecessor .", "if sasha baron cohen is an acquired taste , i 'm sipping the kool-aid .", "the needle on my internal laugh meter went haywire , bouncing among hilarity , appreciation , shock , admiration , disgust , disbelief and appalled incredulity . here is a film that is 82 minutes long and does n't contain 30 boring seconds .", "for a portrait of a monomaniac , it 's alarmingly random . for an expose of charlatans who range from a psychic to celebrity-charity consultants , it 's maddeningly shoddy .", "even more insane and hysterical than borat , sacha baron cohen 's hilarious follow-up is also far more coherent and effective at using shock factor to get you laughing .", "sacha baron cohen is the most fearless comedian around . culturally , he is pushing people forward kicking and screaming .", "` MOV ' is just as much filthier and certainly more bodacious than any comedy you 've seen .", "it 's certainly not that there are n't a few funny moments in the film . there are , but overwhelmingly , MOV 's stunts are demeaning , they are insulting and they are really cruel .", "there are lots of moments in this movie that are genuinely funny .", "wholly unsuitable for children , yet propelled by a nagging puerility that will appeal only to those in the vortex of puberty , or to adults who have failed to progress beyond it .", "cohen probably did not consciously echo the magic christian , but he would have done well to learn from it .", "for those willing to endure the shocks and actually think about them afterwards , the film 's jokes work on multiple levels , although it is hard not to feel that there is some diminishing return this time around", "br\u00fcno is hit or miss for its first half or so but picks up steam as it goes along .", "even worse than i thought it would be", "parental content review", "MOV is outrageous , sick and offensive but pretty damn hilarious .", "of course , there are laughs , and if audacity were the only principle by which film-making achievement were judged the movie would be a knockout . but having groaned and winced through most of its 83 minutes i could n't wait to get out of there .", "whether it 's outrageously offensive or offensively outrageous , it 's laugh-out-loud funny .", "sacha baron cohen 's MOV is shocking , outrageous and uncompromising in its willingness to get a laugh . it 's just not very funny .", "all the cautions and qualifications in the world are blasted out of your head by some of the film 's astoundingly hilarious ideas and sequences .", "a crude , cringe-worthy , and intermittently funny affair that triggers the gag reflex .", "kudos to the amazing sacha baron cohen who offers one of the best characters since 2006 , an actor who can remain in character even with a gun to his head .", "simultaneously funny , infuriating , daring , cruel and tasteless .", "even if this is the end , we must applaud his audacity , even if we ca n't always bear to watch it in action . is this comedic genius ? as br\u00fcno would say : ich think so .", "some of the scenes do beg the question of if they were staged or not , but after the first ten minutes or so you 're laughing too hard to really care .", "baron cohen 's instincts for outrage are spot on . it 's not insight we need at all right now , but a very sharp bonk on the head .", "more gut-bustingly funny than anything else out there right now .", "outrageous , unnerving , brave , topical , revealing , appalling and consistently hilarious , br\u00fcno manages to be both cutting-edge cultural commentary and post-modern comic genius .", "most of it is inspired silliness .", "it 's a thing , not a movie -- if , that is , you believe a movie should be more than an accumulation of prankish set-pieces flimsily strung over 80 skimpy minutes ." ], "summary": "crude and offensive , but with ample cultural insights and gut-busting laughs , MOV is another outlandish and entertaining mockumentary from sacha baron cohen .", "id": "770771641" }, { "movie": "mary_shelleys_frankenstein", "reviews": [ "something more substantial than hollywood 's typical , fitfully entertaining fluff .", "as this movie switches , unevenly , from swashbuckling adventure to classic horror to frilly-shirted romance to campiness to graphic gorefest , there 's no telling what you 're watching .", "a bloody mess -lrb- in both artistry and gore-level -rrb- and is extremely difficult to watch .", "branagh does n't evoke terror , only repulsion .", "branagh 's directing style is soupy and derivative of all the wrong movies .", "it 's an odd and uneasy mix , but the look of the film is dazzling and the performances are all first-rate .", "it does ... suggest that branagh is a filmmaker who is continually extending his reach and truly seeks to reinterpret source material in a uniquely cinematic language .", "the creature is on target , but the rest of the film is so frantic , so manic , it does n't pause to be sure its effects are registered .", "it is , in a word , dullsville .", "uma das mais fi\u0436is e complexas adapta\u0443\u0448es da hist\u0437ria original , respeitando seus temas principais mesmo que desviando-se , aqui e ali , de pontos espec\u044cficos da trama .", "kenneth branagh has indeed created a monster , but not the kind he originally envisioned .", "watching the movie work itself into an operatic frenzy , one remains curiously detached : the grand gestures are there , but where 's the music ?", "different look at the old frankenstein story , directed by branagh .", "branagh is very obsessed with chewing the scenery . so much so that he even manages to outdo robert deniro .", "branagh 's ambitious take succeeds as a cautionary tale about true monstrosity : hubris and man 's inhumanity to man . but one man 's operatic style is another man 's unintentionally comical excess , and ... frankenstein certainly tempts fate ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "clearly , one person 's authentic homage is another person 's overwrought teeth-gnashing fest , as branagh 's film never hesitates to slop on the melodramatic mustard .", "i 'm inclined to give it an 8 now . the more you watch , the more you appreciate how branagh was able to faithfully retell shelley 's novel while still managing to make it fresh and make it relevant .", "a weirdly muddled and embarrassingly over-the-top fiasco .", "a sub par effort on one of the most frequently ill adapted stories ever made", "a noble failure , but a failure nonetheless .", "visceral and energetic sceen translation of this literary classic .", "as wrongheaded as coppola 's dracula -lrb- in different ways -rrb- , frankenstein is all bluff , bombast and bargain-basement borrowings from ken russell 's gothic .", "an interesting concept by branagh , and a touching de niro performance . it is hit-and-miss at times , a bit overwrought .", "an oddly moving father-son love story .", "mr. branagh is in over his head . he displays neither the technical finesse to handle a big , visually ambitious film nor the insight to develop a stirring new version of this story .", "not frightening , just silly .", "what can i say ? i found the bravura and chest-thumping intriguing . i do n't even feel guilty saying that .", "for all its attention to detail and special effects , this version lacks the pathos and tragedy in the complex and ambivalent relationship between the father-creator and his creature-monster ; de niro is misguided by director branagh .", "it 's greek tragedy , and when its characters utter invocations to the gods in turn , it manages to feel cheesy in exactly the right way ." ], "summary": "mary shelley 's frankenstein is ambitious and visually striking , but the overwrought tone and lack of scares make for a tonally inconsistent experience .", "id": "13389" }, { "movie": "10011268-oceans", "reviews": [ "succeeds brilliantly with a visually dynamic component that is nothing less than dazzling", "perfect for families and exquisitely shot , this entry from the disneynature division is even better and fresher than last year 's earth .", "the movie could -- should -- be a symphony , and it frequently makes excellent use of spare classical music . when brosnan pipes up , he is as welcome as a car alarm .", "for all MOV does to please the eyes and ears , it does nothing to engage the brain .", "there 's a been there/swam that feeling to MOV .", "MOV is a bit slow at times but perfectly captures the beauty and brutality of the ocean without being overly political . make sure you use the restroom before watching it .", "MOV floods us with stunning visuals of the panoply of sea life . but without a compelling story , or a strong point of view , or mere information , we can only ` ooh ' and ` aah ' so much .", "i never thought i would like anything made by two dudes named jacques unless i could eat it for dessert or buy it from a truck stop men 's room vending machine .", "you 're torn . is this a work of nature pornography or consciousness raising ? the movie thinks if it overwhelms us with the former , we wo n't notice the relative absence of the latter .", "there have , over the years , been a lot of terrific undersea documentaries , but if you want to know what distinguishes this new one , it comes down to a single word : technology .", "needs more information and more stunning images that speak for themselves , not another earnest monologue from captain obvious .", "exposing humans to the rich ecosystem that produced and sustains all life makes MOV inherently valuable .", "slight but undeniably beautiful documentary on the MOV from the makers of winged migration .", "MOV contains some of the most beautiful imagery ever seen in a feature-length documentary .", "hits all the right buttons , focusing on the cute -lrb- like the seals and penguins -rrb- to the dangerous -lrb- like the sharks -rrb- and the majestic -lrb- like the whales -rrb-", "enthralling , enlightening , meditative and often humorous , this is a wonderful documentary about the MOV and those who live within it", "new technology has helped these filmmakers to build new tools for underwater cinematography that enables them to be more flexible , faster in the water , which is how they captured profile footage of dolphins speeding through the water , for example", "compactly profound , appropriately humbling , and this is just the tip of the iceberg .", "a visually stunning plunge into the life aquatic ; shame about the narration .", "if the film does have a standout quality , it would be its meditativeness .", "where 's spongebob squarepants when you really need him ?", "a beautiful -- at times breathtaking -- visual examination of the undersea world", "stunning images of some of the most breathtaking and fascinatingly odd creatures of the sea . no cute story added , or needed .", "it is highly unlikely that you ever would have the opportunity to witness such spectacles in person ; perrin and cluzaud scoured all five MOV to bring them to you .", "boasts extraordinary images rendered with a clarity sure to become a touchstone for nature docus ; even viewers who do n't care about fish will find plenty to exclaim about .", "the one real problem is the rambling narrative and some too-intrusive voiceover narration . -lrb- brosnan is fine , but frankly , the pictures do a better job of speaking for themselves anyway . -rrb-", "it comes to american theaters saddled with narration by pierce brosnan , who purrs through the gratingly vague script like the world 's plummiest old half-drunken uncle .", "the voice-over almost manages to turn the majestic into the mundane . almost .", "with a subject as literally vast as this one , it 's essential to either narrow the focus -lrb- make the film about one particular species , or region -rrb- or carefully construct the approach -lrb- group footage by theme -rrb- . MOV does neither .", "though never quite as stirring as march of the penguins or winged migration , it quickly establishes its own gentle pace .", "while it may not plunge deeply enough , MOV continues the worthy efforts of explorers such as jacques cousteau , reminding us to respect nature and preserve the myriad life forms that rely on the ocean to survive .", "a regrettably scattered , slapdash affair that holds none of the narrative flow and only a fraction of the visual majesty found in disneynature 's first effort , 2009 's earth .", "despite the talents of jacques perrin and jacques cluzaud -- the oscar-nominated duo behind winged migration , who once again contribute their amazing , in-the-midst-of photography -- the most striking thing about MOV is its banality .", "the ocean floor fight sequence between the mantis shrimp and hermit crab is one of the tenser action sequences i 've seen in quite some time .", "the film 's rigorous commitment to probing the undersea kingdom 's oddities separates it from the usual tepid discovery channel fare ...", "the wow factor alone makes MOV a great earth day/earth week at the movies .", "sublime . astounding . fantastic . i do n't think i can find enough superlatives to describe the incredible `` MOV , '' the gorgeous disney documentary released in celebration of earth day .", "dazzling nature doc chooses poetry and wonder over storytelling and effects .", "serene and sublime , MOV is the best nature doc since march of the penguins -- kids will love it !", "gorgeous educational docu dives deep for facts ; kids ok .", "the movie unpretentiously and effectively shows how our cultural , personal and environmental history not only shape us but affect our decisions .", "MOV is simply amazing at times , a truly remarkable and extraordinary journey under the sea that takes us places we have never been before .", "`` MOV '' is a stunner !", "this monumental documentary gets intimate enough to hear a crab sneeze .", "there are life-and-death dramas , moments of playfulness and tenderness , which create an ever-increasing sense of wonder .", "horseshoe crabs scuttle like possessed nazi helmets and a school of fish morphs from dreidel to disco ball , as if choreographed by busby berkeley .", "MOV is more of a random collection of images from the deep . but , boy , what images .", "an almost miraculously photographed showcase of some of the seven seas ' least seen and most incredible specimens .", "each amazing shot of marine life is as visually stunning as what preceded it , and lo and behold , we do n't need 3-d technology to enjoy it .", "it fulfills jacques cousteau 's statement that ` the best way to observe a fish is to become a fish . '", "this gathering of images is mesmerizing .", "MOV is a stirring and beautiful experience .", "this really is a film that manages to show us things we 've never seen and make what we have already seen look different and new .", "assumes a far more consistent depiction of the titular habitat . at least this one does n't feel like i just happened upon it flipping from the food network on my way to an episode of ninja warrior .", "this year , `` earth day '' -lrb- a day to `` inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth 's environment '' -rrb- is marked by the release of `` MOV , '' a lush documentary about the magnificent waters that cover more than 70 percent of the earth 's surface , and the vast n", "... does have some beautiful imagery , but it is randomly put together , fails to identify about half the creatures we see , and features some often nonsensical narration .", "this hypnotically photogenic journey into the depths of the ocean blue exists to appeal to the imaginations of young and old alike .", "in the end , the film is something of a gift . if ever there was a movie needed right now to underscore the importance of preserving our world and its life-giving waters , this is it .", "my new favorite freaky thing is the wack-eyed mantis shrimp , a testy little fellow who gets violently territorial with crabs loitering around his front door - as one learns to its grief . get off my lawn , punk .", "a movie so bursting at the seams with images , it ultimately lacks focus .", "its visual splendor more than makes up for its intellectual poverty .", "visually stunning , intriguing and inspirational .", "parental content review", "oh , it 's amazing .", "visually -lsb- it 's -rsb- quite seductive .", "MOV works best as a series of pretty pictures , each more beautiful and jaw-dropping than the one before it . if you want context , get online or head to a library .", "magnificent", "MOV presents the superb underwater photography and cool critters we have come to love from the best nature documentaries .", "fantastic creatures , fantastic photography", "could the script have been less informative ? could it have been more soporifically read than pierce brosnan 's rendition ? i do n't think so .", "quite the beautiful picture to look at , but the person who swims with the great white is totally insane ." ], "summary": "MOV adds another visually stunning chapter to the disney nature library .", "id": "770805763" }, { "movie": "bad_lieutenant_port_of_call_new_orleans", "reviews": [ "herzog , who seems to be drawing on the audience 's affection for him as an inspired madman , may not care to tell a story straight anymore .", "sensationally entertaining , darkly comedic , witty and refreshingly bizarre . a guilty pleasure . nicolas cage is in top form .", "the iguanas are like the frogs at the end of paul thomas anderson 's magnolia , only better .", "nicolas cage , a born hollywood skin-walker , somehow hints at a spiritual dimension to all this lunatic mayhem .", "-lrb- the film -rrb- has a hard time settling on such simple things as characters ' motivations , needs and accents -lrb- cage 's changes inexplicably midway through -rrb- .", "no quote available .", "we have to go all the way back to junior brown , the psychopathic strip club owner in kiss of death -lrb- 1994 -rrb- , to find a meatier heavy in cage 's filmography .", "cage acts , at times , as though his head is about to explode . and not the character 's head ; it 's cage himself who seems in danger of self-immolation .", "the new film has much in common with some of herzog 's crazed past masterworks like aguirre , the wrath of god .", "like the water snake that slithers by during the opening credits or the baby crocodile from whose point of view we observe one roadside scene , this movie is a freaky little swamp thing .", "despite his strangely receding hairline , bug-eyed demeanor and hunchback stance , cage somehow avoids making this police lieutenant a caricature .", "a one-of-a-kind experience that boasts a twice-in-a-lifetime performance from nicolas cage .", "bad lieutenant : port of call , new orleans is a magnificent mess of the sort only herzog can get away with making .", "like the late klaus kinski , who so often played crazies in herzog 's earlier movies , cage is in your face all the way . laughing maniacally , lying with no sign of a conscience , he pushes the character 's frequent tantrums beyond over-the-top .", "cage can be loopy , weird and at the same time sympathetic -- crucial to our response to this character -- and herzog draws one of his better performances here .", "frankly , the story is n't remotely as interesting as cage . nothing is .", "do fish have dreams ? do they dream of ominous iguanas , perhaps ? or maybe the disembodied breakdancing souls of freshly capped gangsters ? more to the point , will nicolas cage ever make another movie that makes sense ?", "cage returns to resplendently weird form .", "the movie could have ended without the last few scenes and been far more tense and suspenseful . as it stands now , bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans plays as if schindler 's list ended with an energetic musical performance by the muppets .", "nicolas cage is so gleefully over-the-top as the troubled cop of the title that you will either be repulsed or fascinated by his performance and , since it lives or dies by it , the movie itself .", "this thriller is among the cleverest , most innovative films of the year . it proves that even a mediocre , b-movie script can be made memorable by a strong director and brave leading actor .", "as a police procedural , it 's a generally dull affair . as an exercise in silliness , it elicits a fair few laughs . but whether the joke 's on herzog or on us is anybody 's guess .", "there 's a dark , dark humour throughout that keeps the film from plunging into over-the-top farce . in the end , blt is a rambunctious , ridiculous feat of cinematic excess .", "any reservations that this is a straight forward remake of abel ferrara 's hardcore catholic redemption drama should be left on the wayside , for this bad lieutenant is a different monster all together .", "cage 's lieutenant mcdonagh is a parody of not just the actor 's own performances in recent years , but a gaudy exaggeration of every bad-cop clich\u00e9 out there .", "this will be remembered as one of cage 's finest performances . maybe he has just needed the right director and in eccentric german genius werner herzog he 's found him .", "i 'd rather rot in a new orleans jail than watch it again . and yet its epiphanies are outrageously sharp , it is beautifully shot by cinematographer peter zeitlinger and the ending is a joy .", "becomes bizarrely comical as it gets increasingly depraved . but herzog 's deliberately bonkers approach , matched by cage 's hammy performance , is strangely entertaining .", "herzog has found a perfect partner in crime with nicolas cage .", "for me , ferrara and keitel will always be the bad lieutenant , but werner herzog is probably the only director qualified to take this on , and his bizarre reboot has a fascination all of its own .", "if the new film commits the sin of entertainment , it 's redeemed by a sense of life 's contradictions and distinguished by surreal flourishes that include a pair of iguanas , slithery witnesses to terence 's mania .", "because so much of the film is ` oh , no , he 's not really going to do that oh yes he is ! ' fun , it 's impressive when herzog suddenly starts taking it all seriously .", "it 's cage 's best work in years .", "there can only ever be one bad lieutenant : harvey keitel .", "like a jumpy , coke-fueled pied piper , cage takes viewers to the very precipice of depraved self-abasement , while preserving just enough self-conscious humor to keep from tumbling in .", "the film is both a police thriller and a drug addled fantasy with an iguana for a guide and cage plays it like hunter s. thompson with a badge .", "there 's a valuable lesson to be learned from bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans : two wrongs do n't make a right -- it takes at least three .", "it 's a rare and precious thing when a filmmaker gets funding for a script that features a coked-out , oxycontined-out , sleep-deprived cage with a .44 magnum in his waistband , spewing lines like `` shoot him again ... his soul is still dancing . ''", "bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans -- why port of call ? what does that mean ? -- is no masterpiece , but it is undoubtedly the work of a master .", "cold-blooded reptiles are lurking everywhere in the slick new noir bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans , with snakes , iguanas , gators and especially nicolas cage at their slithering and cynical best .", "this is n't as over-the-top as , say , the wicker man . but it is an engaging cop caper complete with cage craziness , and that 's enough .", "even when the movie is not working , it 's never less than eye-catching . it 's also a perfect setting for cage 's curiously compelling art .", "it 's not always easy to sort out the legitimately inspired touches from the merely campy ones , but the film has a deranged , go-for-broke spirit that makes such distinctions irrelevant .", "a perfect , perfect prank .", "cage 's receding hairline and hunchback performance evokes conrad veidt -- a klaus kinski-like maniac -- because this is , in fact , a german expressionist horror film and comedy .", "drags harder than when herzog tried to pull that boat over a mountain", "herzog has found his ideal interpreter , a performer whose truth lies deep in the artifice of performance : ladies and gentlemen , nicolas cage , at his finest .", "finally , a role that makes sense for cage to play ... locking into the exhausted craziness he has unintentionally perfected in a handful of terrible movies .", "no one is better at this kind of performance than nicolas cage . he 's a fearless actor . he does n't care if you think he goes over the top . if a film calls for it , he will crawl to the top hand over hand with bleeding fingernails .", "outrageously enjoyable ... turns the genre conventions on their head to often uproarious effect .", "add director werner herzog to the mix , a guy who knows a thing or a hundred about obsessive protagonists , and we 're in for quite the ride -- wild and weird and blackly comic .", "herzog 's acting advice to cage to `` release the pig '' -lrb- ostensibly a bavarian saying -rrb- has resulted in perhaps the most memorable performance of cage 's career , and certainly the most over the top .", "making a bad movie this good is harder than it looks .", "the film is an exasperating bore .", "this time , it 's not nicolas cage 's fault : werner herzog has lost his mind .", "leave it to werner herzog to shoot a film in new orleans with not one image of the french quarter % u2013 and to harness nicolas cage 's razzie-worthy acting into something meaningful .", "the pairing of nicolas cage , one of the world 's most out-there actors , with werner herzog , cinema 's reigning madman-visionary , is a match made in looney-tunes heaven .", "a movie that ultimately has more cult than mass appeal , how much you enjoy bad lieutenant will probably come down to how much you like werner herzog rather than nicolas cage . a notoriously eccentric director , his latest film is nowhere near as mainstream", "i 'm pretty sure this would have made total sense if i was on some of the drugs that mcdonagh was taking", "it almost makes one angrier to think about the time cage has wasted on crap films when he should be doing interesting ones like this every single time .", "a fascinatingly complex film with intoxicating cross-currents of cynicism , tragedy , and absurdity .", "bad lieutenant does n't go where you expect , but it has a stubborn , trippy logic .", "your reaction to the whole thing probably depends on your general feelings about cage : fans will relish his unique brand of scenery-chewing ; non-fans are likely to be irritated .", "cage dives headlong into the madness . it 's plain fun to see the actor give himself so fully to a character after several years of mostly forgettable action movies .", "may not result in a coherent whole but nonetheless delivers bursts of random , inspired madness .", "it may not have the wounding thrust of ferrara 's , but it shares with that film a bottomless compassion for its crazies , to say nothing of the exhilaration of seeing a fearless director and a fearless actor pushing each other beyond extremes .", "it 's perhaps 2/3 of a good movie and 1/3 of material that feels out of place or is derivative .", "instead of plumbing the depths of spiritual degradation , herzog 's movie is -- largely due to cage 's performance -- almost fun .", "if there 's a sure thing in movies , it 's that if you cast nicolas cage in a role in which he goes crazy , he 'll rise to the occasion and keep on rising until he seems even loonier than his character .", "refreshingly loopy , as only nic cage can loop .", "... a b movie worth seeing , but there are times the weirdness seems forced and the only thing that feels authentic is the suggestion that cage might be more than a little mad .", "centered on a detective on the wrong side of the law , the film is manic its execution of plot , performance and photography .", "there is really no way to describe the playfulness and exquisite timing of the comedy in this film . it is partially herzog 's zany artistry , and partly cage 's masterful control of facial expressions and comic timing .", "it really is a jungle out there , and nicolas cage delivers a mesmerizingly unhinged performance as herzogian madman . .", "somehow this is fun -- a result of a unique synergy between cage and herzog .", "this is the perverted delirious bad lieutenant to see .", "certainly , it 's not a stretch to suggest that herzog has in cage found his most simp\u00e1tico lead since the great klaus kinski .", "iguanas aside , cage 's performance is the film 's centerpiece . he starts at over the top and climbs ever higher ...", "a tragedy replayed as farce , and probably the funniest film i 've seen all year .", "although it shares a title and a certain seedy charm with abel ferrara 's 1992 `` bad lieutenant , '' this remake really marches to the beat of its own , jittery , crack-addicted drummer .", "surely this is not meant to be taken seriously ?", "no film by herzog has ever been so defiantly mainstream - and yet this remains one of the director 's craziest , most outlandish affairs . finding a way out the other side of that contradiction is half the fun for the incredulous viewer", "... a surprisingly compelling piece of work that 'll undoubtedly -lrb- and deservedly -rrb- earn itself a cult following in the years to come ...", "a powerfully loony portrait of american rot .", "just as ridiculous as the title implies , this ill-conceived sequel to abel ferrara 's masterpiece -lrb- `` bad lieutenant '' - 1992 -rrb- picks up some grains of muscular grit under the unlikely werner herzog 's guidance , but flails every step of the way .", "barely a remake of ferrara 's superior 1992 indie , herzog 's sleazy , erratic , often silly policier is enjoyable on its own terms , and the main reason to see it is nicolas cage 's wildly eccentric , justifiably over-the-top performance .", "there 's much to be said for a movie that portrays as much imperfection as life itself and , clearly , herzog and company have a ball in creating it for us .", "it 's powerful material for werner herzog , a premier chronicler of the madness of men , and nicolas cage , who brings a fevered intensity to every project he takes on .", "bad lieutenant is all kinds of wrong , but it feels oh so right .", "if you 're wondering just how bad a bad lieutenant can be , let 's just say that nicolas cage 's 21st century re-incarnation of abel ferrara 's original 1992 cult version , to say the least , renders harvey keitel 's bad apple psycho cop a saint in comparison .", "is redemption possible for this bad lieutenant ? at one point , he orders that a dead man be shot again because `` his soul is still dancing . '' if you find god in that line , then welcome to your movie heaven .", "despite the snake slither-swimming through the bars of a flooded cellblock , the injured alligator and the iguanas that seem to be crooning johnny adams ' ` release me , ' star nicolas cage may be the most reptilian presence here ...", "-lsb- cage is -rsb- hilarious , scary , contorted , mournful , mean and weirdly , monstrously lovable -- the perfect actor to work with one of the world 's most stubborn , bold , idiosyncratic filmmakers .", "nicolas cage 's deliriously unhinged portrayal of the film 's titular bent cop ranks right up there with his most memorably off-kilter performances .", "sometimes a scene is a set up for a future plot twist , and sometimes werner herzog just wants to film some alligators . who knows what 'll happen ? it 's like filling your underpants with salamanders .", "if herzog had chosen realism over surrealism , this film would have been predictable and unentertaining . as it is , i found it oddly captivating . this is one weird movie .", "herzog wades deep into the swampy funk of new orleans , which in this post-katrina setting might as well be an end-of-the-world movie . he 's clearly turned on by -lsb- its -rsb- weirdness , the casual corruption , the gangsterism and the southern gothic outrageousnes .", "this movie has no focus , no point of view and nothing to say . is this a sendup ? is this an actual thriller ? is this just a look into the soul of a drug addict ? i have no idea , and i do n't think werner herzog knows either .", "perhaps it took a director as crazy as werner herzog to control -lrb- and ultimately unleash -rrb- the madness that exists within cage ... they craft a character not unlike a modern day daniel plainview .", "bad lieutenant , bad !", "cage and herzog have created a superbly memorable lead character , and if the plot itself is curiously unmemorable , certain images will stay with you to the grave ...", "cage does bad so good . here\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s hoping he keeps the crazy coming .", "as his 1996 oscar for leaving las vegas proved , nicolas cage is at his best when sailing close to the edge with substance abuse , though some viewers will baulk when he takes out his misdirected anger on a defenceless old lady .", "in fusing european experimentalism and hollywood boldness , herzog has created a genuine oddity , a furious and unforgettable hybrid which may well prove to be 2010 's most purely enjoyable moviegoing experience .", "it 's every cop show clich\u00e9 reflected in a hall of mirrors -- wholly indecent fun .", "herzog has unique flair , but it 's out of synch with the genre . as for cage , he is a flailing madman and the only polite thing to do is look away .", "viewers will fall into two camps -- those who think it 's a mentally unstable mess , and those who think it 's a work of insane genius . ca n't it be both ?", "as always with herzog , the more eccentric scenes have an eerie , hilarious mastery . and only someone with the metaphysical \u00e9lan of herzog could pull off a film noir that takes place mostly in fierce sunlight .", "despite ... minor gripes , this is cage 's best film in years , an anarchic gumbo of subverted cop thriller clich\u00e9s and surreal set-pieces that 's destined to become a cult classic .", "nicolas cage gives one of the best performances of his career in this borderline insane film ...", "herzog is having every bit as much fun as cage here , toying with renegade cop movie cliches and working in a pulpy mode he has n't touched for a while .", "a vividly acted and directed movie that stretches the boundaries of its genre and keeps you in its ever-unpredictable grip throughout .", "original , offbeat and rewarding cop story with nicolas cage in great form .", "what makes this film truly different is the unique tone introduced by director werner herzog .", "the film is offbeat , silly , disarming and loopy all at the same time , and viewers will decide to ride with that or just give up on it , according to mood and disposition .", "a depraved , perfect storm of cinema .", "the script has some scuzzy , jokey appeal , and i like it that instead of trying to hide them , herzog tosses the movie 's ridiculous coincidences right in our faces as if daring us to duck .", "a bizarre amalgam of source material , director and star that 's just nutso enough to work", "cage and herzog click together better than just about any first-time actor & director combination in recent memory .", "nicolas cage is out of his mind in the bad lieutenant : port of call -- new orleans . and it 's wonderful to see .", "while watching cage in bad lieutenant i felt like a crack fiend myself : no matter how much i got it was never going to be enough .", "as usual , herzog works the madness for any poetry he can find ...", "i think i had more fun watching bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans -lrb- twice -rrb- than i did at any other movie this year .", "thisbad lieutenant 's pain is less punishment than righteous realignment , a reflection of the nutty , debased , and utterly chaotic world around him . he 's not deviant . he 's the new normal .", "even if it 's not classic noir , this high tension , fast-paced film about an extremely unsympathetic character is still entertaining .", "cage 's increasingly crazed and manic performance is very watchable .", "werner herzog 's bad lieutenant remake is a hugely entertaining , brilliantly directed and completely insane thriller with a hilarious script and a gloriously bonkers performance from nicolas cage .", "diferente do original em tom e estrutura , este novo filme do mestre werner herzog carrega propositalmente na bizarrice de seu protagonista , suavizando sua deprimente decad\u0119ncia a ponto de torn\u00e1-la grotescamente divertida .", "you 'll go a long way to find anything playing right now that 's as downright peculiar as werner herzog 's the bad lieutenant : port of call -- new orelans .", "no one can breathe life into a crazed character like nicolas cage can .", "nicolas cage goes off the deep end even more than usual in the crazily entertaining , werner herzog-helmed bad lieutenant : port of call new orleans .", "a vicodin-coke-heroine habit propels nicolas cage 's warped detective as the big emoter scores in the big easy . werner herzog 's bad lt. is genuinely weird entertaiment .", "sometimes director werner herzog - a master , for nearly four decades , at blending the bizarre and the mundane - does let you in on cage 's motives . but just as often , he delivers a life , and a world , of random mayhem .", "in a year filled with audacity -lrb- antichrist , inglourious basterds -rrb- , nothing is cheekier and as out and out ballsy as the bad lieutenant : port of call - new orleans .", "cage , who usually goes gonzo with gusto , underplays this monster . that spoils the fun ." ], "summary": "befitting its unorthodox origins , this bad lieutenant benefits from werner herzog 's typically fearless direction and a delightfully unhinged nicolas cage in the title role .", "id": "770783617" }, { "movie": "mr-nobody", "reviews": [ "` mr. nobody ' jumps around in a rather haphazard way , so it seems too chaotic most of the time . it 's creative , but quite perplexing .", "most viewers will have settled into a state of detached admiration . in the end , mr. nobody 's title is simply too apt .", "the only truly graspable notion the film can be said to put forth is one of increasingly tedious sci-fi-romantic genre busy-ness .", "this sprawling , ambitious sci-fi epic has a keen visual sense and a genuine interest in its deep topics .", "too strange for wide release , too provocative and arresting to sit on the shelf", "a thoughtful investigation into the different variations of all our lives : the daydreams , the anxious worst-case scenarios , the futile digressions that went nowhere .", "messy but intriguing science-fiction film .", "the aptly titled nobody is just a white ball bouncing around the roulette wheel , as likely to land on this number as the next . it 's fun to watch `` mr. nobody '' go round and round , but where it lands does n't really matter to us .", "this big-budget english-language co-production shows that europeans can compete in the sci-fi realm where high production values are king .", "jaco van dormael 's most ambitious film to date is a mess and a miracle at the same time .", "never mind that several characters seem to gain or lose british accents throughout the course of the film . the lack of continuity only enhances the sense of deliciously dizzying disequilibrium .", "a passionate , thoughtful , and inquisitive exploration of the meaning of life .", "while visual excess and occasional thematic bombast softens mr. nobody at times , the film nevertheless has poignant , often profound things to say about fate , mortality , consequence and love .", "ambitious as all get out and a wonder from start to finish .", "too clinical to have an emotional impact , not romantic enough to engage a standard audience , and not smart enough for viewers looking for an intellectual experience .", "complex , visually stunning , and pleasantly convoluted , this is a film that seems like it ca n't be confined to one genre and while time flows in one continuous direction mr. nobody makes it a point to constantly pedal in the opposite direction .", "there are times when the film is entirely lucid in the points it wants to get across on love and the various choices we have to make throughout our lives , while at other times it seems lost in its overabundance of possibilities .", "-lsb- writer-director -rsb- van dormael seems unsure of what exactly it is he 's trying to say , and thus mr. nobody rambles on for nearly two and a half hours .", "at the 44-minute mark -lrb- i checked -rrb- of ` mr. nobody , ' i loudly sighed and asked , `` good god , when the hell is this movie going to start ! ''", "as philosophy , mr. nobody seems sillier than it is profound . but in a parallel reality , more movies would have this degree of insane ambition .", "this is thought provoking without pretentiousness , full of ideas and passion that deserves a wide audience ... giving oneself over to the film is a pleasure that 's not soon to be repeated .", "expect the unexpected . try to answer the unanswerable question that writer-director van dormael poses . it is a worthwhile exercise .", "a film that has a beating heart underneath its messy -- though breathtakingly designed -- exterior .", "van dormael 's almost avant-garde modus operandi cements the movie 's place as a love-it-or-hate-it proposition .", "i relate to most movies by thinking about my past . mr. nobody has me evaluating my future .", "while mr. nobody contains some truly moving scenes , it eventually starts to try your concentration when you suspect all the space/time continuum shuffling may never become more than the sum of its parts .", "both overblown and half-baked , too long and not edited enough , mr. nobody describes exactly the kind of audience it will likely get .", "with the film 's maddening circular structure and often thudding visual expositions , the experience of watching it is n't quite as enjoyable as a description might augur ." ], "summary": "mr. nobody 's narrative tangles may bedevil as much as they entertain , but its big ambitions and absorbing visuals make for an intriguing addition to director jaco van dormael 's filmography .", "id": "770682443" }, { "movie": "rois_et_reine", "reviews": [ "a welter of narrative complication and piercing drama shot through with a rich vein of absurdist humor .", "taps into universal themes and archetypes .", "there 's no ready capsule description of kings and queen , but its fluid , dynamic approach to melodrama and two compelling central performances create an impressive portrait of intertwined lives .", "devos , in her calm , intelligent way , leads you through this rock pile of intimacies and enigmas with a magnetism that fastens you even as the fatigue becomes laborious .", "the movie , directed by arnaud desplechin and written by him with roger bohbot , begins as such a straightforward portrait of ordinary life that it 's unsettling to find layer after layer of reality peeled away .", "kings and queen is a marvelously textured and civilized study of two tormented souls finding redemption not in each other , but in themselves and in other people .", "it is the story , with its sleight of hand manner of making you believe one thing only to have the truth be something very different , that makes kings and queen special .", "somewhere buried in the plodding morass of kings and queen exists a taut , twisting psychological puzzler .", "the film is delectable and keeps you eager to see what 's served next , but also is ridiculously rich , overly long and difficult to digest . still , it 's a feast you wo n't want to miss .", "a richly observed study of the sticky complexities of family dynamics .", "if the film is less than the sum of its parts , then some of those parts are touched by genius .", "this movie , however incomplete and frustrating , is also fully alive and extraordinarily intelligent .", "it 's terrific filmmaking .", "features royally messed-up , complex characters magnetically portrayed by devos and amalric .", "it 's hugely ambitious , with a sweeping range of character types , frequently shifting moods , stylistic flourishes of many kinds , and some mighty wry satire , aimed largely at the world of psychotherapy .", "this tragic/comedic hodgepodge remains unconvincing , mostly due to the casting .", "devos , as nora , does much to hold it all together with a layered performance . almaric has powerful moments as well , notably in a climactic rambling monologue about life he delivers to the boy .", "an emotional jigsaw that will keep you engrossed for days , maybe years .", "arnaud desplechin 's sprawling drama exudes a go-for-broke determination that is frustrating and exhilarating .", "an abundance of characters in a film that skillfully combines melodrama with comedy .", "` kings & queen ' has the makings of two decent movies but is helter-skelter overstuffed for one .", "might be -lsb- desplechin 's -rsb- finest film to date .", "arnaud desplechin 's marvelous melodrama sprawls far and wide before coming finally together in a richly satisfying end .", "while these characters ' lives are melodramatic , individual scenes burst with kinetic energy from fast editing and an script that deftly underscores the destructive nature of male-female relationships .", "this is a first-rate melo-dramedy under the influence of director arnaud desplechin .", "... desplechin pulls his elements together like some kind of grand symphony", "a complex , character-driven film that never allows its themes - madness , love , coming of age - to become reducible to pat formulae , or over-sentimentalisation .", "a highly unstable compound of melodrama and offbeat comedy that elicits more shrugs of confusion than sighs of satisfaction", "desplechin 's big , bold , iconoclastic feature MOV is a disconcerting film that can turn your head at the oddest moments .", "its novelistic breadth , pitched intensity and on-the-fly shooting style pull the viewer smack-dab into the middle of these lives .", "i ca n't quite get my head around it ; ismael is too cartoony and nora is too icy .", "funny , absurd , often mocking itself and always quoting cultural history .", "the film proves , at the very least , that desplechin is a director that garners due attention", "-lsb- m -rsb- ixes with aplomb equal measures of intellectual screwball comedy and dark metaphysical tragedy , though part of the joke may be that one often ca n't tell which is which ...", "kings and queen , full of passion and humor , madness and grief , is close to a masterpiece .", "his scenes ripple with undercurrents of awkward emotions ... creating a film both devastating and uplifting , but he passes no judgments .", "both leisurely and breathtakingly immediate .", "kings and queen is at times compelling , at times devastating , and at times long-winded .", "it is well-acted and written with a rigorous effort to skirt cliche , and it has the savor of real life throughout .", "great filmmaking and , as does not always follow , a great film .", "there 's a looseness to the camera work and storytelling that 's appealingly breezy : this film feels , for better or worse , like real life .", "heroic and absurdist ...", "an extraordinary work with depth , suspense , startling surprises , a unique combination of perspectives .", "arnaud desplechin 's domestic comedy-drama spins emotions like plates in a variety show .", "by tempering the mania and offsetting the edginess of the deeply imperfect characters in this ambitiously free-form film , desplechin offers that most old-form of balms -- compassion .", "kings and queen is a fascinating french film filled with keen observations on sexual politics , psychology , and family roles .", "contemporary and specific ... but the melodramas also play out on a universal plane , like the lives of the gods .", "it 's a puzzle of a film , but not the kind that intimidates you with inscrutability so much as one that beckons you into its antic eccentricity .", "an intelligent story is being told here in a very artful manner . that 's quite a worthy accomplishment . i think .", "the film is a soap opera that through layering and texture is made into something rich , strange , and unforgettable .", "this enjoyable french pic welds together drama , melodrama and comedy in a blend with potentially strong european audience appeal .", "an extravagant doodle dealing with family and mental illness , this is arnaud desplechin 's most straightforward and scattershot film to date .", "desplechin 's fascinating characters are not always in sync with the demands of the story ; it wants to be told in less than 2 hours and with a greater focus on its core themes .", "-lsb- desplechin -rsb- gives these characters the time to develop , to display their nuances , to establish their relationships with each other , to talk out their destinies .", "category-defying film that 's as smart and emotionally resonant as it is entertaining ." ], "summary": "a dryly comic , stylistically brave film .", "id": "17164" }, { "movie": "the_place_beyond_the_pines_2012", "reviews": [ "gosling and cooper in a movie ? yeah , you should go .", "by the time director and co-writer derek cianfrance gets to the third act , it 's a soap opera and not a very good one .", "the mythically tinged final scene brings events full circle in a way that is superficially satisfying while also conceding that the movie 's chief concern is men and the art of motorcycle maintenance .", "it allows you to really observe its characters and to ponder the themes that fuel the plot . for that reason , it is a film that makes a deeply emotional impact .", "dove into deep psychological turf but without coming up with significant insights .", "`` it 's up to the actors to figure this out , and they try ... but MOV displays a strange paternalistic streak . ''", "the most satisfying cinematic experience we 've had at the multiplex thus far this year , and largely through its disinterest in playing along with movie trends .", "a film of two distinct halves and it works to provide a dual character study of paternity and legacy", "great cast but the script meanders and ends up nowhere .", "not since steve mcqueen has any man looked cooler on a motorbike . men admire him , women adore him , ryan gosling proves again , he is the most dynamic film star working in cinema today .", "the movie settles into conventional rhythms once the focus shifts to bradley cooper and completely loses its way after that .", "this triptych about fathers , sons and the determinism of class is two-thirds of a terrific film . the last part is a letdown because the first are so powerfully believable .", "as schematic as a family tree .", "the picture plays out almost as ritual -- a dark , hypnotic experience .", "this entire saga climaxes in an a moment of catharsis that feels remarkably pat and simplistic .", "structured as a triptych , the movie is novelistic , earnest and somewhat exhausting - an ambitious effort that tries to be many things .", "its ambitions - even its unrealized ones - are a great part of its power .", "the movie is intimate in its telling , sweeping in its issues and stumbles only occasionally .", "for the most part ... this is self-serious stuff , seething with ambition but almost devoid of spontaneity , and ultimately drained of genuine energy .", "each chapter of MOV gets successively less interesting than the last ...", "the film is so velvety textured and dreamy , i would 've stuck around for more . that is cianfrance 's special talent .", "cianfrance handles these large leaps in time with grace ; he does n't seem to leave anything out . his camera lingers generously over small moments so that no character gets lost in time .", "MOV is a deeply affecting family drama about paternal responsibility , a riveting crime story , a cop movie and a tragedy .", "... the best kind of film : big enough to be bracing , but small enough to draw you right in , and then exercise a firm , vice-like grip .", "it 's the interesting characters and their thought-provoking choices that make this film so compelling .", "an ambitious and twisting crime drama about fathers , sons and responsibility .", "cianfrance creates a layered and moving portrait of working-class life , of people trying -- in many of the wrong ways -- to improve lives for themselves and the generations to come .", "this ambitious tale of tragedy and redemption among fathers and sons is told in three parts and , despite a superb performance from ryan gosling , is less than the sum of its parts .", "gosling delivers his most assured performance yet , in an ambitious , near-operatic drama-thriller that boldly unfolds across two distinctly different hours .", "with the final act , as we see the longer term impact of earlier actions , the film attains something akin to epic status , stirring notions of classic greek tragedy before scaling back and completing itself as a contemporary morality tale", "mike patton 's grumbling song the weight of consequences eloquently reflects the hard-hitting theme of this provocative and gripping film in which three troubled roads are travelled", "if , in the end , the film ca n't quite sustain its epic vision , it does , along the way , achieve the density and momentum of a good novel .", "it 's one of the best and most ambitious films of the year .", "an immensely thoughtful and well-constructed evolutionary analysis of the origins of crime , and how it subtly perpetuates throughout generations .", "a three-part epic of fathers and sons , criminality and the law that is beautifully crafted . unfortunately what could have been a great film becomes contrived when the filmmaker turns his focus to his first generation 's progeny ...", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- a beast of a movie , an emotional roller coaster that threatens to go off the rails , and does .", "this is a big movie with a lot on its mind . slowly , it unfolds into a kind of epic .", "the movie , which holds your attention from moment to moment , by the end leaves you grasping for the experience you have n't had .", "this emotionally ambitious mess has faults to spare , but there 's also something fuzzily honest about it .", "although MOV is not an unqualified success , when cianfrance stumbles , it 's because he 's reaching for greatness ...", "to the film 's credit , it 's damn near impossible to imagine where MOV will end based on where it begins , even though its ever-widening scope causes it to lose some of the grubby intensity of its early scenes .", "the movie looks great throughout , blending action , urban drama and family melodrama with a dark , thrumming undertone that holds them together .", "it 's a good movie , no doubt , but it 's nowhere close to the achievement `` blue valentine '' was .", "the reach of ` MOV ' exceeds its grasp , and the result is intermittently powerful but ultimately disappointing .", "while it is still a rewarding film on face value , MOV offers additional pleasures for viewers keen to delve further .", "bleak , raw , epic and vibrating with energy , pines is a film to haunt your dreams , and , so far , the best thing i 've seen in a cinema in 2013 .", "would pines have worked better as a 13-episode cable drama ? probably . yet its atmosphere comes through beautifully on the big screen .", "a memorable , thoughtful tale ; a thriller with real meat on the bone .", "by linking -lsb- three vignettes -rsb- , cianfrance explores larger themes that enrich the otherwise patience-testing 140-minute experience .", "while it feels frustratingly disjointed , MOV also possesses moments of real power .", "a huge leap forward for cianfrance , who is rapidly distinguishing himself as a true auteur .", "`` place beyond the pines '' will not lift spirits . yet there are hints of hope attached to the film 's view that change is possible -- if people can just get out of their own way .", "the film is unfortunately front-loaded with more art movie cliches than you can count , but once they get out the way the trans-generational story does close its grip on you .", "cianfrance uses the film 's gritty visuals to enhance the character 's experiences , starting with a vibe reminiscent of a 90 's thrash metal video clip , then moving into police footage territory before ultimately setting a wistful tone for the third act .", "the quality of the filmmaking is irreproachable ; swathes of originality outweigh the odd recourse to clich\u00e9 ; and the merit of the storytelling at times matches the film 's colossal ambition .", "if there are better films this year , then we are in luck . if it opened in december it would seem a major event .", "an action thriller of alienation and broken dreams passed from generation to generation make this a thoroughly entertaining 140 minutes .", "`` the place in the pines '' -lsb- is -rsb- a case of steadily diminishing returns .", "`` MOV '' earns every second of its 140-minute running time .", "you watch what happens , often dreading the worst . even when the worst comes , though , it comes with honor and a kind of grace .", "it 's ambitious and unusual , to say the least , but i think it works because it 's honest .", "attempts to depict a vicious circle of anguish that 's as profound as a stacked deck eventually tipping over .", "while the cumulative effect is modest , the ideas are difficult to dismiss .", "MOV is ten pounds of film stuffed into a five-pound movie .", "honestly , they could just call it bluer valentine : drive faster ... see , in one movie he 's a stuntman who drives getaway . in this movie he robs banks with a motorcycle , so it 's totally different !", "overlong and under-conceived .", "the result is an oddly broken-backed narrative , with three distinct chapters and no central character to carry the narrative . the ambition , to tell a complex story over two generations , is laudable , but the result is n't entirely satisfying .", "morality is flexible and self-interest is paramount . another terrific collaboration between director and star .", "an epic soap opera obscured by high style and buoyed by ryan gosling 's 8-pack abs , MOV is really nothing more than delicious drivel masquerading as a serious drama .", "the film never reaches a climax because it 's always in one , distilling the lives of its characters to their tensest moments .", "a sweeping , bold and admirably ambitious crime movie triptych , which almost compensates for its occasional overreaching with sheer bravado and fully committed performances .", "most every element of the film is impeccable .", "an unbalanced dual narrative plays out in derek cianfrance 's -lrb- `` blue valentine '' -rrb- unsteady attempt to extract universal truths about unintended legacies passed down from father to son .", "while cianfrance 's overambitious narrative and crash-y conclusion come perilously close to bringing the film to its knees , the electrifying first half more than compensates .", "with MOV , derek cianfrance definitively establishes himself as an up-and-coming filmmaker with serious potential ...", "stretches the scope of the film well beyond crime thriller .", "`` MOV '' is a great example of daring storytelling and easily qualifies as one of the year 's best .", "bites off a little more than it can chew in that respect , but it 's still a deeply affecting drama with a powerful impact .", "derek cianfrance 's MOV is an epic film that towers high above the rest as the very best film of 2013 .", "writer-director derek cianfrance gained considerable attention for his 2010 drama blue valentine , and he has created an even finer movie with MOV .", "the movie is constructed like a three-act saga , with only the third part failing to satisfy .", "terrifically captivating , whether delivering breathless action , knuckle-whitening suspense or moments of quiet intimacy .", "an ambitious and thought-provoking film with a beautiful score and some of the biggest narrative twists of the year .", "motivation is the weak link here , with characters major and minor making choices that do n't compute and/or serve mainly to advance the narrative down the next twist of track toward the tragedy looming on the horizon .", "it feels like an act of subversion in the movie culture of the moment ... to create a film this satisfyingly meandering , as if it 's discovering how loose and confounding reality can be as it goes along ...", "you ca n't say cianfrance lacks ambition and reach , but you start to wonder if the writer-director lost interest in his own project , or someone told him to hustle his bustle and forced him to race to the finishing point during the script stage .", "cianfrance places himself alongside paul thomas anderson , robert altman and other masters of storytelling on a grand scale .", "go in knowing as little as possible and prepare to be blown away by derek cianfrance 's american crime drama masterpiece .", "carefully observed and consistently compelling , it feels like an instant american classic , if a minor one .", "with an extra hour 's runtime this could have been a masterpiece . as things stand , it 's an admirable curiosity .", "other than a somewhat vanilla ending , and a question or two that goes unanswered , `` MOV '' grabs hold and never lets up .", "MOV is impeccably crafted and mike patton 's orchestrations beautifully underscore the inner turmoil .", "a beautifully shot , emotionally engaging smalltown crime drama with a pair of terrific performances from ryan gosling and bradley cooper ...", "`` MOV '' is a defining accomplishment for cianfrance . those 47 days filming in schenectady really paid off .", "with a dash of gritty crime drama , truly compelling characters and top-notch acting from cooper and gosling , derek cianfrance 's `` MOV '' is a must-see .", "try to imagine ` crash ' as written and directed by james gray and you might come close to conceptualizing this beguiling film .", "a film this well-constructed , superbly acted , and thoughtfully humanistic is rare ; it 's the kind of movie many people say ca n't get made any more .", "melancholy , mature drama explores father-son themes .", "a technically brilliant film , but a bummer that 's more about inevitability than possibility . sidenote : the baby actor 's name is `` anthony pizza jr. . ''", "the crime and police genres used to give `` pines '' its forward motion are rarely seen with such a remarkable degree of sensitivity .", "like a four-hour miniseries crammed into a 90-minute time slot .", "place beyond the pines manages to illustrate the ravages of family and legacy almost as effectively as blue valentine did the ravages of romantic connection .", "... promising way more than it can ever hope to deliver in what suddenly seems like a too-short two-and-half-hours .", "a brilliant , towering picture , MOV is a cinematic accomplishment of extraordinary grace and insight .", "a superb drama that is focuses unflinchingly on the often anguished relationship between men and their boys , between men and other men , and between men and themselves .", "there is true beauty in the despair that pervades `` MOV . ''", "MOV is ambitious and epic , perhaps to a fault .", "my admiration for cianfrance is all the greater for the melodramatic risks he 's willing to take , whether or not every last one of them pays off .", "lengthy and dense film packed with a handful of great performances , MOV has great ambition but not nearly enough accomplishment .", "a film so thematically and dramatically rich , soulful and suspenseful , it carves itself into your consciousness and refuses to leave .", "an epic crime sage that constantly subverts audience expectations.incredible .", "the opening chapter with a compelling ryan gosling as a motorcycle-daredevil bank robber is the strongest element of this three-part drama about fathers , sons and fate .", "gosling gives his most open and engaging performance yet , his sleepy , woozy mannerisms developing into a complex interior world of hurt , resentment and disappointment .", "this is great american cinema of the type we keep worrying we 've already lost . behind its puppy-dog eyes burns a fierce intelligence .", "cianfrance and his sterling cast keep it all together , vanquishing doubt and soap suds . there 's a palpable sense of teamwork that brings out the best in all of these players .", "this is a story about legacy , the sins of the father , the restlessness in our souls . it 's powerful , it 's bold , it hits you hard .", "-lsb- its -rsb- `` sins of the father '' theme is vaguely reminiscent of `` the godfather . '' but it 's really about the way the safety of our family is always on our minds but usually out of our control .", "fathers , sons , and motorbikes .", "`` MOV '' is an ambitious drama about the ways in which one bad decision can reverberate across generations .", "its three stories are so loosely connected , its themes so scattered -- morality , justice , fate , fatherhood -- that it never manages to make a point .", "MOV has an unpretentious power that sneaks up on viewers ; it 's over before you realize it 's one of the year 's finer films so far .", "it 's an intriguing , long , imperfect film that loosens in the middle and then again towards the end - but those are the parts some will come out liking the most .", "with the arrival of MOV , the american dramatic film has found a loyal , gifted advocate in director derek cianfrance .", "MOV is both unique and satisfying in the way it comes full circle and is so engrossing thanks to how lugubrious it is in nature .", "MOV is one of the most ambitious and accomplished films of the year , a sweeping , searing family drama that packs a devastating emotional punch .", "in trying to tell an enormous amount of story it can spread itself too thin and leave some strands feeling unfinished , but when it 's at its best , this is beautiful and bold filmmaking .", "more thematically dense and ambitious than any crime film you 'll see this year and with an incredible ensemble , MOV is the kind of daring , adult drama that critics bemoan does n't get made nearly enough .", "the cumulative result is a picture that explores interesting themes and features solid to strong performances , but takes a few missteps along the way . -lrb- complete content details for parents also available -rrb-", "as the sum of some admittedly imperfect parts , `` MOV '' still manages to cast its own haunting , sorrowful spell .", "in a bold follow-up to his controversially rated , critically lauded blue valentine , derek cianfrance continues his exploration of family ties with MOV .", "a little too convenient at sorting out its plot threads , but nevertheless remains a tough , compelling , uncompromising experience .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he passage of time highlights the passing of our emotional connection .", "not nearly as strong as cianfrance 's previous movie , but it comes across as an interesting dramatic storytelling experiment that ultimately pays off .", "` MOV ' comes readymade with a heft ... as if students have been banging out essays on -lsb- it -rsb- for years .", "it sounds ungrateful to complain that MOV is ambitious to a fault . but cianfrance is capable of shapelier cinema .", "it 's a masterpiece , this thing , but it 's exhausting to take in .", "`` pines '' is hardy stuff , but it 's at its toughest when gosling 's on screen .", "MOV is hackneyed and dull : not a single moment rings true .", "smart and challenging , it 's one of the best movies of the year .", "cianfrance traces a tale familiar in its outlines but fascinating in its particulars .", "the ... stories mesh uneasily , even though the film-making is smart throughout and the acting often more than that .", "with wonderfully drawn -- and acted -- characters , it becomes an engrossing and compelling drama built on a powerful sense of emotion .", "cianfrance has n't figured out what he wants to say , but he spends a lot of time and energy trying to say it .", "gosling is phenomenal , the direction is inspiring , and it 's incredibly ambitious . but it is a little too ambitious for its own good , and that 's what holds it back from being great . still , i would say it 's definitely worth your time .", "fine , fine , it 's an epic . now let us up for air , please .", "despite incomprehensible miscasting of cohen as the son of cooper and byrne , this is an engrossing film . the acting of the entire cast is superb and cianfrance directs with a deft touch .", "an impressive piece of american filmmaking that 's every bit as compelling as it is annoyingly flawed .", "140 minutes , but a safe bet if you 're in search of entertainment ...", "-lsb- a -rsb- thoughtful and often powerful film ...", "with more than 50 speaking roles , the film easily could have sprawled out of control into a predictable epic . but `` MOV '' holds enough intimacy - and surprise - to satisfy .", "there is an inevitability to the story , which builds tension like a snowball propelled by an avalanche . cianfrance invests it with a sense of tragedy that 's shakespearean .", "an interesting movie , followed by a less interesting movie , followed by a third movie that 's even weaker", "there 's a distinct feeling that the movie is trapped in its own pop psychology .", "sure to inspire indifference and cultish admiration in nearly equal measure , this extravagant mess may someday be re-evaluated as a misunderstood masterpiece .", "-lsb- ryan -rsb- gosling duly burns up the screen during every wonderful second he 's on it -lrb- ... -rrb- the film 's first half is truly mesmerising . you ca n't take your eyes off its leading man .", "all three parts come together to make `` MOV '' a beautifully shot film ... it 's the story that fades , and no amount of photography can create enough distraction to overlook those .", "this naturalistic drama is ambitious to the point of being unwieldy ... but once the story has advanced from one generation to the next and its thematic sweep has become apparent , these flaws seem much more tolerable .", "it 's a movie that makes you think -- if not outright say -- you 're a good guy . you do n't have to do something this stupid . oh , now look what you 've gone and done .", "somber and suspenseful , if self-indulgent , identity story about fathers and sins .", "the good parts are so good , and the bad parts are so bad , that there 's not even a way to calculate an average .", "derek cianfrance leads us on a long , gritty , humanly flawed , densely emotional journey beyond the pines , but it 's hard not to recognize his brilliant vision and execution upon reaching the final destination .", "an over-stuffed , hyper-pulpy , and mostly trite trifurcated drama about family , crime , and moral ambiguity .", "MOV wants to be a deep-dish meditation on fathers , sons , and the consequences of the decisions we make . but it 's a slow-burner that burns so slowly its wick completely fizzles out .", "even when the story falters , cianfrance has assembled a pretty great cast to give his ideas life . you may not always buy the movie , but you buy the people in it .", "`` MOV '' aims admirably for an epic sense of greek tragedy , and it does have some powerful individual moments , but the characters are all so underdeveloped that the whole effort feels like studied posturing .", "mr. cianfrance 's artistic vision catapults it above the limitations of contrivance and into a realm of constantly evolving shifts of tone and mood .", "it 's easy to roll your eyes at the film 's overreach , but every movie should be so flawed", "... strives to be a moving , epic family drama spanning 17 years , two families , two generations and 140 minutes . alas , it loses both momentum and impact the further it ventures into its broken narrative .", "i absolutely loved `` MOV '' right up until i hated it .", "a powerful , towering , yet intimately-told epic with excellent performances , a unique structure , and a story told with as much passion and angst as the myriad sons in the film .", "by the third story , in a movie that is two hours and twenty minutes long , i had grown weary of the film 's heavy-handedness", "what cianfrance has written has scraps of surprise and a fine chase sequence , but it does n't reach for the stars or the emotional cosmos -- or , at least , it does n't know how to get there .", "cianfrance does n't always connect , but when he does , watch out", "derek cianfrance could probably be a great filmmaker if he was n't trying so hard to be a great filmmaker", "utterly compelling with a magic wand of storytelling from writer/director derek cianfrance along with co-writers ben coccio and darius marber , MOV is one of the more natural and stylistic endeavors of 2013 .", "MOV is n't a bad movie ; it 's three bad movies strung together by implausible logic .", "a jumbled triptych that frequently meanders without finding its center .", "MOV is a heart-wrenching epic poem that quashes the delusion that sons wo n't be affected by the actions of their fathers .", "shot in melancholic , muted tones , MOV paints a gorgeous portrait of rural america , surrounded by expansive views of the countryside that hint at a deep history .", "mainstream audiences may be disappointed that this is n't a gritty thriller pitting the acting talents of gosling and cooper against each other , as it 's instead a boldly artful , often moving drama .", "somehow , perhaps to the credit of the disarming gosling and even cooper , who perfectly delivers the hero-cop-turned-pariah , cianfrance keeps us absorbed through three very intimate and heart-rending character studies .", "the actors lift the story above and beyond .", "pines intrigues then pulls its punches", "basically a two act play , `` MOV '' attempts to be a clever puzzle but by the time the pieces are put into place you just want to sweep the whole thing off the table", "roger ebert once said , ` it 's not what a movie is about , it 's how it is about it , ' and that applies 100 percent to this movie , a haunting film that makes something new out of the tradition of sprawling epic tragedies told in linear fashion .", "a great film that captures how every decision you make has its repercussions .", "like cianfrance 's blue valentine , which also starred gosling , this film deepens with a second viewing , the repeats , coincidences and echoes in scenes creating almost a genetic memory of a previous life .", "duck out at the 110 minute mark and do n't look back .", "a somber and striking drama that takes some wrong turns but features a charismatic performance from ryan gosling in the leanest and best of its three sections .", "cianfrance shows a continuing maturity in his filmmaking style , and once again shows a talent for narrative complexity .", "a film for sinners that ca n't even bother to see the fun and comfort in sinning .", "MOV is an engrossing , extremely well designed and acted film .", "you 'll definitely feel the 2-plus hours run time , but i was more than happy to do so .", "a worthy endeavor that is still good , however i bet that falls short of it 's lofty goals .", "the segments are essentially monodramas , so sketchily written that the big moments feel less like recognizable human behavior than recognizable screenwriter overreaching .", "MOV is classic melodrama ... the kind hollywood made in black and white", "the film dazzles , surprises and amazes if , ultimately , it turns into a moody , meandering thriller-drama that falls slightly short of the mark and its bold , epic ambitions ." ], "summary": "ambitious to a fault , MOV finds writer/director derek cianfrance reaching for -- and often grasping -- thorny themes of family , fatherhood , and fate .", "id": "771272420" }, { "movie": "twilight_saga_new_moon", "reviews": [ "the irony in this movie about vampires is that the only thing doing any sucking is the movie itself .", "in the mood for two glossy hours of adolescent yearning and buff , shirtless dudes ? then this movie is for you !", "if the first instalment of the twilight saga was a celebration of teenage sulkiness , then this sequel positively drowns in it .", "new moon lacks the chemistry and passion that made twilight so special . the sequel focuses more on the gratuitous sex appeal of the two lead male stars .", "gives fans what they want -lrb- hot young dudes who do n't wear shirts -rrb- , and might surprise a few people who did n't expect much", "there 's little in the way of forward momentum until the final 30 minutes ; stretching out this picture to longer than two hours was indefensible .", "i enjoyed new moon . it has occasional longeurs , for sure ; it lurches from the sublime to the ridiculous -lrb- that 's a clich\u00e9 , but this film does just that -rrb- ; but it also has joyous moments .", "depending on your gender , age and twihard-ness , this good-looking angst party is either a solid meyer adaptation with quiver-worthy moments of hotness ; or a wet , ludicrous , unintentionally-funny pile of steaming bathos .", "overall , it delivers on everything twi-hards will want , but that in itself is this film 's failing .", "new moon flirts with various treatment methods - rehab , alternative medication - before giving us the fix we crave . fans will not be disappointed .", "the boys preen while the girl sulks . and pouts . and sulks . and pouts .", "most of the movie is concerned with the glum , lonely bella , who just does n't know what to do with herself - and it looks as though the film-makers were similarly stumped .", "the pop culture phenomenon that resembles star wars much as the prime minister of belgium resembles the president of the united states -lrb- respective box office ranks of these two films in their respective decades : 71 , 1 -rrb- .", "there 's some hope that the series will improve over time , effectively righting every last hardwicke wrong . this is not a quality film by any means , but it 's a step up , and that 's a relief .", "a lugubrious harlequin romance with fangs and paws instead of bosoms and bodices .", "where the first film 's director , catherine hardwicke , plugged into meyer 's vision of supernatural teenage lust with abandon , chris weitz is stuck with a sequel that 's a morning-after mope-fest .", "alexandre desplat 's overwrought musical score will appeal to viewers who already agree that bella and edward 's love is glorious . others wo n't be persuaded , no matter how much he insists .", "all three lovers are so joyless , it 's hard to imagine why any of them would want to spend eternity together .", "it may be some kind of catharsis for the target audience , but all others are warned to venture forth at their own risk", "parents : if i can -lrb- poorly -rrb- discipline a 16-year-old cat to not howl before sunrise , you can teach your kids to not emulate bella swan .", "new moon will undoubtedly be a blockbuster at the box office , but is really quite weak as a film .", "never has a man 's shirtlessness been so essential to a character 's development .", "considering lautner 's acting improved so much sans shirt , i wonder if there might have been oscar buzz had he taken off his pants", "seu \u00fanico atrativo dram\u00e1tico reside no fato da mocinha estar sempre prestes a ser destru\u00edda pelo mocinho . mas isso n\u0103o \u00e9 o bastante ; se fosse , algu\u00e9m j\u00e1 teria lan\u00e7ado um filme chamado a lesma e o potinho de sal .", "-lsb- director chris -rsb- weitz seems to have taken the vampire thing a little too seriously -- his bland brand of hollywood polish sucks the life out of the movie .", "pseudo-religious nonsense , with fangs .", "the special effects are much better and the film has a more epic feel . as chick-lit to chick flick movies go , new moon does the business . fans will love it .", "it 's stronger on dream logic than plot ... yet knows its audience exactly : about 30 of its 130 minutes consist of slo-mo lingering on pattinson 's preternatural jawline and lautner 's preposterous abs .", "if you loved the books and the first movie , ignore this review . if you did n't -- and do n't get what the fuss is all about -- new moon is unlikely to change your mind .", "tedious , long-winded and not so much undead as almost entirely devoid of life .", "this second bite is stale .", "new moon suffers from a mild case of second-chapter syndrome ; symptoms include the laborious establishing of conflicts , a general air of drift and pointlessness , and a cliffhanger ending . an unappealing formula , but oddly effective .", "it is n't quite as enthralling or as soulful as the original but it still persuades you that such a far-fetched premise should be taken seriously - which is no mean feat .", "uncritical celebration of that overwrought , obsessive passion that is the hallmark of immaturity , that subordinates all sense of one 's own identity and readily leaps to suicidal impulses and fantasies .", "the first half is laboured and feels like a bridge for the third instalment , but there 's still plenty of cast chemistry and great set pieces .", "weitz brings a few more flickers of humour to the narrative , but the essential , appealing earnestness of the book remains , whole-heartedly embraced .", "this is a film for the fans . fans of the books . fans of the first film . if you enjoyed that , you 'll enjoy this . if you did n't , you have no chance here . it 's a new moon , not a new dawn .", "watching twilight saga : new moon is a bit like having your own real-life sulky teenager living under your roof ...", "made primarily for the fans , new moon is not better than twilight , and it also suffers from a indulgent , overly long narative and a pretentious , gloomy mood -- the main attraction remains kristen stewart .", "for anyone on the outside looking in , the insulation of the characters from real danger makes it a bit of a drag .", "the screenplay feels padded and the different strands of the storyline do not mesh together seamlessly . performances however , live up to expectations with stewart and pattinson exuding the magic that reminds us why we care so much about their relationship", "the stakes are higher and the intensity deeper this time , despite a plot that approaches the ripest of melodrama - and which occasionally provokes unintended laughter , as does the terribly twee soundtrack .", "the twilight saga : new moon plays like a 130 minute trailer for a movie called the twilight saga : new moon .", "weitz takes a looser approach than the series ' last director , catherine hardwicke , did . he has a better sense of humor , too .", "though an improvement over the first twilight film , this sequel -lrb- both based on stephenie meyer 's best-selling books -rrb- drags and sputters , even in scenes meant to be infused with passion .", "weitz 's efforts result in a movie that 's a little less insular and self-involved , though in the end , still probably one only the true fans could love .", "wisely new moon brings back screenwriter melissa rosenberg , who continues to prove she has a much better way with english than the author of the books , stephenie meyer .", "director chris weitz proves that the golden compass was no fluke : he really is a non-master of action .", "sexier , darker and funnier , new moon rises well above the anemic 2008 film version of stephenie meyer 's twilight .", "vampire movies should suck but not like this . some will want to drive a wooden stake through my heart . it 's a waste of time . ask anyone who knows me . i do n't have a heart .", "it 's slow and not particularly fulfilling -- a half-an-hour or so of drama stretched out for about two .", "the twilight saga : new moon takes the tepid achievement of twilight , guts it , and leaves it for undead .", "the soundtrack will be smothered by the sounds of screaming girls , and laughing at them may be the only pleasure you get out of this arduously edited angst fest .", "for me , nothing in ` new moon ' matches the visual excitement of the vampire baseball game in ` twilight . '", "a landmark cinematic event in 280 words , or one for every $ 500,000 of weekend box office .", "if only director chris weitz had managed to tease out the real drama -- bella 's fear of aging -- instead of a tired one .", "` dogs , vampires ... my miserable life would be so much less complicated if i were ugly or maybe french , ' exclaims bella .", "new moon has more humor , more action and fewer extraneous characters . long story short : it glides where the first film galumphed .", "ferocious werewolves suppressing their inner humans , up to no good undocumented undead illegally crossing borders for no reason than as possible filler , and sexy vampires that make panting girl hearts flutter and swoon across america .", "the relational knots of emo heroes and dreamy hunks are making it start to feel rather soapy", "a perfect movie for pre-teen and early teen girls but a letdown for the rest of the audience due to its slow pace and whiny tone", "a review-proof adventure certain to keep its intended demographic enthralled for a couple of hours .", "there 's little dramatic tension and , despite the fact that bella is being stalked by the vengeful vampire victoria -lrb- rachelle lefevre -rrb- , not much sense of danger .", "weitz is more awkward than hardwicke with the casual teenaged interactions . melissa rosenberg 's dialogue has n't improved , though she gets a boost by using quotes from shakespeare 's romeo and juliet .", "new moon indeed feels new , often in ways that are good for the series .", "in spite of its wealth of conflict , new moon suffers from a dearth of accompanying tension and excitement , thanks to the increasingly tedious relationship at its center .", "even with a decent director at the helm , the twilight saga always will be hampered by meyer 's juvenile prose", "a long , melodramatic slog , hardly scary at all and missing the offbeat touches and disorienting passion that made the first so surprisingly enjoyable .", "you almost feel sorry for those actors playing various off-the-hook monsters who , for the second movie in a row , have little to do except stand aside waiting for their few lines of dialogue .", "vividly captures and conveys the intense yearning of a teenage girl and her desperate desire for the deep intimacy of love .", "it 's strictly for devotees who wo n't balk at plot absurdities , clunky dialogue and patchy characterizations . i suspect loyalists will be pleased , but i ca n't imagine anyone else wanting to jump into the tale here .", "it 's too long , it 's poorly acted , the story 's clunky and the dialogue is laughable .", "this second screen installment of stephenie meyer 's bestselling series focuses , somewhat convincingly , on the emotions of an 18-year-old coping with her undying love of the undead .", "a juvenile , overly dramatic love story that takes the romeo and juliet theme , duct tapes it around a giant , cartoonish hammer , and slams it into your head for 130 minutes .", "enjoyable sequel to last year 's smash hit with a stronger plot and better performances , though it still suffers from the occasional dodgy moment and some amusingly rubbish special effects .", "incoming director weitz is a smart choice for the material .", "there 's a bit more meat on the bones of meyer 's story and less meandering schmaltz , but -lsb- ... -rsb- it 's still a gruelling endurance test for anyone with a y chromosome .", "that flip tone -- the gags and one-liners -- get us past the longing , the depression , the sulking , the almost comically swooning moments .", "this episode is as repetitive as the first , with endless scenes of kissus interruptus punctuated by moody indie-rock songs .", "constrained by the plot of the novel , the film keeps the two lovers apart for quite a spell , robbing the project of the crazy-in-love energy that made twilight , the first entry in the series , such a guilty pleasure .", "there is one thing to be said about the way weitz handles time travel . he can make two hours and 10 minutes seem like a thousand years .", "the actors appear at sea on more than one occasion , and some of melissa rosenberg 's risible dialogue does n't help them .", "leaden pace leaves new moon lifeless .", "mostly keeps going by reels and reels of moping from bella and edward -- the two have more mood swings and changes of heart than the entire cast of gone with the wind .", "bella cullen . mrs. edward cullen . mr. and mrs. edward cullen . ms. bella cullen . mrs. jacob black . jacob and bella black . mrs. bella black . ms. bella swan black . mrs. bella swan cullen .", "`` new moon '' is a terrible , terrible movie that is essentially `` transformers 2 '' for the training bra set with pseudo-soulful glances from bare-chested boys substituting for giant robots blowing things up .", "had the audience at my screening heaving and sighing so often , here 's a recommendation : bring an oxygen tank . you 'll need it and a mask , particularly in the presence of so much heaving and sighing and busy shirtlessness .", "for true twilight believers , the slow moments are more opportunity to gaze at pretty-boy young men playing characters who 're both the best and worst boyfriends a girl could ever have .", "chris weitz 's film caters as well as the previous movie did to pale , fantasy-loving teenage girls , while adding a bit more humour for the rest of us .", "the film takes itself rather earnestly , the heroine is more than half in love with easeful death , and the lighting by spanish ace cinematographer javier aguirresarobe is impressive .", "romeo and juliet it ai n't , but as a solid love story , new moon gets the blood pumping .", "so tedious and stupid that it makes last year 's twilight seem like nosferatu .", "if this is the world 's next generation of womanhood , that 's a century of female emancipation down the drain . bella 's more likely to polish her chastity belt than burn her bra .", "kristen stewart brings such raw vulnerability to the screen that she makes moping attractive .", "... it fulfills the expectations of fans and followers of the franchise but nevertheless still falls short of forming something transcendent and meaningful to everyone else .", "so distressingly po-faced that even the funny bits smack of faux teen gravitas .", "the first sequel to twilight has the feel of a placeholder ... but twi-hards , like bella , have mastered the art of willing themselves to see only what they want to see .", "the most surprising thing about new moon , the second film in the twilight series , is how much worse it is than the first .", "if you 're a romantic at heart who does n't mind shelling out $ 12 to watch a couple of adolescent boy hotties strut their stuff , you might as well just go and enjoy the eye candy . 'cause it 's kind of worth it .", "if you buy in to the central romance , you 'll laugh , you 'll cry , you 'll swoon . otherwise , the lingering glances , lip-chewing and regular de-shirting may cause uncontrollable giggles .", "` new moon ' is little more than a skilful soap opera , but it 's still enjoyable escapism - even if you 're old and wise enough to see through it .", "the second installment in the hugely popular twilight saga is darker and a bit more violent than the first movie , but not enough to make it inappropriate for teens .", "new moon knows what it is , what it is n't and how to quench fans . it ca n't say the same , though , for outsiders .", "walking out of new moon , i was struck by the odd sensation that i was living in an alternate universe peopled by vampires and the movie we 'd just seen was their version of days of our lives .", "if you 're out of high school , a person of color , do n't have teen daughters , a feminist , or a heterosexual male , new moon will probably disappoint . but , what do i know -- this is the same audience who loves miley cyrus .", "extreme moping by hollow actors makes the film feel like it stars robots stuck on their 'em o ' setting .", "new director chris weitz injects more humor and visual style than catherine hardwicke did in the original , but the twilight saga : new moon sags and lags like the first one as it senselessly runs on for more than two hours .", "what a bloated , self-important , crashing bore !", "this swoony adaptation of the second installment in stephenie meyer 's young-adult series is a potent stew of fairy tale and romance-novel fantasy .", "even the appearance of dakota fanning as a red-eyed bloodsucker capable of inflicting intolerable pain on others falls flat : when one of the presiding vampires mutters `` let 's be done with this , '' you ca n't help but agree .", "so we 've got a paper cut and a phone call , and a romance that never feels as big as the movie tries to make it seem .", "not as intense as it 's predecessor twilight , but still manages to shine . ''", "the scenery is still there , but just about everything else that worked in the first film does n't in ` new moon . ' for one thing , the structure is a mess .", "as she ponders her future , bella is less aware than you are that she has very similar effects on the monster boy rivals for her affection -- glowing eyes , rising tempers , pronounced teeth , ungodly strength , usually demonstrated on others of their ilk or f", "the entire film seems to consist of three thoughts , cycled ad nauseum : do n't leave me . i ca n't live without you . make me a vampire .", "i am not ashamed to admit that i will be the first in line for twilight part three .", "bella could go down in literature as one of the dullest , most self-obsessed geeks of all time . pick a wolf , pick a vampire , pick someone in the animal kingdom , and get on with it.the first film was tolerable . `` new moon '' just needs to go away quickly . p", "bella 's tedious moping takes center stage until a poorly delivered telephone message -lrb- what a lame dramatic device ! -rrb- sends everyone to italy to confront ` the volturi ' ...", "around about here , pattinson gets to bare his own chest -- a bad idea in a movie that also features taylor lautner - and we notice that while his face is heavily pancaked , his torso is of a normal human hue . whatever , i suppose .", "despite the focus on young , shirtless werewolves and well coiffed vampires , the second installment of stephanie meyer 's immensely popular series comes off as a tepid adventure in zombieland .", "the movie 's script and production values represent a big step up from the nearly unwatchable predecessor and make it suitable viewing even for people who are n't twilight nerds .", "memo to director chris weitz and screenwriter melissa rosenberg : just because you make a movie about vampires does n't mean you suck the life out of your story .", "will probably give fans what they 're looking for -- which is n't to say it 's great , only that it 's basically successful at achieving the not-very-lofty goals it sets for itself .", "fans will quiver and sigh ; everyone else will shrug , and move on .", "... as lautner 's stock rises , pattinson 's falls .", "mopey , draggy , and absurdly self-important , the movie nonetheless twangs at some resonant affective chord .", "new moon , for at least an hour , is laughably silly and unfathomably dull .", "like a teenage girl trying to adapt her diary into a one-woman show , rosenberg has turned stephenie meyer 's work into something that thinks it 's shakespeare but never resonates with an ounce of true emotion .", "despite superb cinematography and special effects , -lsb- it -rsb- overstays its welcome and lacks palpable excitement , thrills and suspense . its mediocre performances and dumbed-down screenplay add insult to injury .", "i 'm fairly certain none of the millions of fans of the twilight movies could give a rat 's ass what a jaded film critic thinks about it . and so , i 'm not going to be one .", "i did n't hate this movie ... if only we could get rid of edward and bella , i think i might actually become a fan .", "watching new moon is like being trapped in a room for two hours with a moody teenage girl who wo n't stop whining about how her boyfriend dumped her .", "the narrative is choppy , the pace is slow , it 's way too long and , well , not a lot really happens .", "edward is still a walking mannequin , and his emotional range is so limited that the connection between bella and edward seems strained and at crucial times unconvincing .", "if you 're not a teenage girl or do n't swoon at the sight of robert pattinson or a shirtless taylor lautner , then surprise , new moon was n't made for you . an event movie for girls in the same way every michael bay movie is a guilty pleasure for guys , there '", "a big bowl of adolescent romantic mush garnished with horror-lite action scenes and a rushed road trip , the twilight saga : new moon is a mess .", "depressingly old-fashioned verging on misogynistic .", "weitz catches the spirit of the story and allows the natural chemistry between his leads do the rest .", "the net result is boredom unless you 're already heavily invested in this series and bringing your own enthusiasm to the table .", "unfortunately , but not unexpectedly , new director chris weitz has decided to be generally faithful to his source material despite the problems it 's going to give him through a narrative that could delicately be described as ` sprawling . '", "the twilight saga 's new moon is not terrible , despite featuring some excruciatingly lazy storytelling , atrocious performances , listless direction and a core storyline that is both uninteresting and somewhat disturbing .", "... a marked improvement over its decidedly uneven predecessor ...", "entertaining for what it is and the alpha male werewolves end up being a lot more fun than the brooding , moody vampires .", "the brooding and sulking is so palpable in `` new moon , '' the latest film in the twilight series , that you could probably cut it with a knife . if the filmmakers thought that this would be enough to carry a film for over two hours , they were sadly mistaken .", "ostensible heroine bella is such a weak , needy , pathetic co-dependent who stirs up so much sh*t for those she purportedly loves that it 's hard to muster much rooting interest for her .", "so long as there are people , there will be love stories -- i hope they all feel as lush and lively as this one .", "robert pattinson and his stomach cramps - i mean , aching unrequited love - are less oppressive , but the trade off is taylor lautner and his relentless shirtlessness .", "poorly structured , poorly paced , poorly executed cgi in places and characters that are unlikeable , despite the fact that we should be rooting for them . an inaccessible mess .", "oh god ... make it stop .", "niz propu % u0161tenih prilika da film postane zabavna samoparodija", "new moon was fully satisfying for the fans . i just happen to not be a fan .", "superficial soup for the teenage soul .", "my main problem with the twilight series so far is that bella does n't have much in the way of admirable qualities . what 's her distinction ? she pines a lot .", "i did find this film to be a little better than `` twilight '' because of the romantic triangle aspect . that , and other plot developments add some complexity and suspense , making the film a bit more interesting .", "for pity 's sake , direct-to-video cheerleading competition films have more genuine intrigue than this .", "new moon is only after the affectation of emotion , of swoon-worthy poses and faux-momentous aesthetics .", "full review at movies for the masses", "kristen stewart does herself no favors by following her performance in adventureland with this mope-a-palooza retread", "i ca n't comment on the acting because i did n't catch pattinson , stewart and lautner doing any . they basically primp and pose through the same humdrum motions they did before .", "new moon comes dangerously close to self-parody on more than one occasion , but it seems blissfully unaware of this and soldiers on with a seriousness that 's unintentionally funny .", "while the teasing cliffhanger of an ending is intended to make fans hungry for more , the truth is the franchise is already running on fumes . fans may care , but casual viewers wo n't .", "new moon is n't good enough to seduce new fans , but it 's not bad enough to break off relentless infatuations .", "its defects include cumbersome dialogue and ludicrous plotting - its lack of sophistication is total - but who 's going to notice with all those shirtless wolf-men flexing their pecs ?", "the sequel will not disappoint the avid readers of stephenie meyer 's bestselling four-book series or the rabid fan base of women , especially teenage girls . the strong storytelling keeps you engaged even if you have not read the book .", "alternates between grueling amounts of bad dialogue and silly humor for the teen set ; except for a few moments involving the werewolves and the volturi , it 's fairly dismissible drivel .", "it never feels as profound as highlander , and rest assured , highlander is not my high watermark for metaphorical drama .", "the movie gives the ` twilight ' fans exactly what they want but does n't offer too much for the rest of us .", "yes , this is a very relative and qualified compliment , and yes , the snarksters will still find plenty to pick at , but this time around , even a complete demographic outsider like myself could at least vaguely comprehend the series ' basic appeal .", "it 's shakespeare on training wheels made for future lifetime viewers .", "it 's intellectually and socially detrimental to both literature and cinema , simultaneously . the fact that so many girls will see this movie and drink up the messages like poisoned kool-aid depresses the hell out of me .", "hollywood 's second foray into the twilight zone features enough fantasy and romance to satisfy most devotees , but just as many viewers will notice this is too often a case of the emperor -- or , more specifically , buff teenage boys -- wearing no clothes .", "despite an abundance of nude male torsos , new moon has n't enough swoony romance for its female demo , action thrills or cleverness anywhere in the production , dragging on eternally like its vamp undead .", "for easily impressed audiences that equate big lowest-common-denominator box office receipts with quality , here is a perfect movie for them to constantly check their cell phones as they sit in the dark ...", "one ca n't really complain about delivering what the fans want , can one ?", "despite melodrama that , at times , is enough to induce diabetes , there 's enough wolf whistle in this sexy , scary romp to please anyone .", "because of this new , but thoroughly chaste love triangle , `` the twilight saga : new moon '' is inept and annoying in a different way than its predecessor .", "if they spent more time on the scripts , coaching the actors and finding less distracting hair and makeup , they might earn what they have but do n't deserve : the fans ' unconditional love .", "the massive target audience of femmes -lrb- who nearly swooned when edward and the incredibly buff jacob bare their chests -rrb- is going to love new moon .", "those who ca n't get enough of either stephenie meyers ' ` twilight ' novels or the first movie will no doubt be in hormone heaven over ` new moon . ' for the rest of us , ` new moon ' is 2 hours of cheesy , adolescent lust wrapped in werewolves ' clothing .", "shallow , vapid and cheesy , proving that melancholy eternity themes can sometimes be drenched in tedium - except for ferocious twi-hards .", "seldom has a film disparaged the state of virginity as much as has this lethargically - paced , often inane , paean to thwarted post-pubescent horniness . believe me chastity can be fun . ask doris day .", "being cast as edward , the hawtest vampire of them all , has , ironically , done robert pattinson no favors .", "` new moon ' is also a less pretentious movie than its predecessor . writer melissa rosenberg , who wrote the screenplay for ` twilight ' as well , has loosened up a bit ...", "like twilight , new moon is strictly for fans of the book % u2013 for the rest of us , it 's actually worse than the first film .", "a triumph for twilighters .", "`` new moon '' is basically a 130-minute chick flick during which the three main protagonists spend a lot of time looking with cow eyes at each other 's faces .", "if this is the best the franchise can do creating wolves , i 'm not looking forward to what they do with a certain character central to the final twilight story , breaking dawn .", "because bella does a half-hearted attempt to understand jacob 's lycanthropy compared to the half-assed job she did trying to comprehend edward 's vampirism , it has less than half the intrigue of the first movie .", "parental content review", "inept cinematography ? oh , yes . dark and moody is one thing , but this is so murky you have to squint to figure out what 's going on .", "twihards will be omg , omg , omg . the rest of us ? rotfl .", "new moon offers few of the juicy , go-for-broke romantic pleasures of its predecessor , and the movie is so badly shaped that it 's hard not to blame weitz as a director .", "weitz goes for an appealing , slightly old-fashioned look , one in which the near - constant rain nicely mirrors bella 's internal weather conditions .", "the cinematic equivalent of a jonas brothers concert , the twilight saga : new moon is slickly packaged entertainment that 's nonetheless predicated on a creepy vision of teenage sexuality that is desiccated of , well , sexuality .", "attempts by director chris weitz and screenwriter melissa rosenberg to inject more humor and lighten the tone go horribly awry . -lrb- the supposedly `` serious '' dialogue is funnier than any of their pop-culture references and such . -rrb-", "if you want to see that sparkle again , wait no longer.edward is back .", "the number one killer is that it 's two hours and 10 minutes long and the plot recycles itself over and over again .", "bella 's confusion about the mystery of boys , adrenaline and testosterone matches her confusion about her soul . for weitz , it 's all just f/x .", "boring , but i 'll say this about new moon : it appears to have been made by people more familiar with the craft of cinema than twilight was .", "weitz 's pacing is so limp you 're going to need the electricity generated by a live audience to keep from yelling , `` hurry it up ! ''", "... despite a better than expected attempt by -lrb- chris -rrb- weitz , this is a story that lacks any real quality .", "it has an amazing kind of emotional integrity and intensity .", "new moon does n't have much of a plot ; the bulk of it is bella moping around . but director chris weitz knows a thing or two about love ...", "bella swan is loathsome and not aware how insipid , self involved , narcissistic and whiny she is .", "one of her suitors stays out all night with his weird friends . the other does his `` brokeback mountain '' thing with his buddies in the woods .", "twihards will appreciate director chris weitz 's faithfulness to the source text , even as he improves on it .", "benefits from greater romantic tension emanating from a love triangle , the inclusion of werewolves , and kristen stewart reducing her lower lip biting by at least fifty percent", "this overlong adaptation of the stephenie meyer bestseller is notable for setting itself rules and then breaking them .", "after a terrifically enjoyable start , the twilight series is settling into a somewhat predictable groove , with its tragi-romantic motif of not having sex becoming a bit gimmicky and worn .", "the big tease turns into the long goodbye in the twilight saga : new moon .", "if you fixate on funny things like plot and character -- in movies , anyway -- too bad .", "alone of all the earnest players in this turgidly euphemistic melodrama , sheen seems to grasp that the only way you can keep a straight face through this choked-up virginity is to carry it way into camp .", "the tension between bella and edward was the main appeal of the first twilight , and is sadly missing here .", "new moon nearly convinces non ` twilight ' fans to embrace the teen franchise , but the final half hour is a stake through the film 's heart .", "considering it 's about vampires , it 's ironic the whole affair is mostly bloodless and decidedly toothless .", "therefore little effort has been made to improve upon the first picture . as before , a lot of the acting is shonky , the production values are cheap , and the pacing rarely breaks out of a ponderous plod .", "lautner is a banal screen presence who is reduced to furrowing his brow to indicate his moodiness ; his pectoral muscles are more expressive than his face ." ], "summary": "the twilight saga 's second installment may satisfy hardcore fans of the series , but outsiders are likely to be turned off by its slow pace , relentlessly downcast tone , and excessive length .", "id": "770801331" }, { "movie": "many_adventures_of_winnie_the_pooh", "reviews": [ "their charm is undeniable , though it mainly resides in the source material : the late 60s , when these were made , were disney 's darkest days for craft and commitment .", "quaint and fairly lovable kiddie adventures .", "what a peculiar genius was a.a. milne ... milne 's distinctive voice retains its quality in with a clarity and integrity exceeding that of any other author disney adapted .", "... it 's always nice , anytime , to renew one 's acquaintance with a.a. milne 's delightful characters .", "the product of marketing genius , but at its core , this movie is entirely true to a.a. milne 's wonderful storybook intentions .", "while blustery day won an oscar , all three cartoons deserved it .", "one of the most charming of all disney features ... like anyone else , when i see it i am swiftly and inexorably carried back to childhood , in accordance with the drippy clich\u00e9s .", "-lsb- blu-ray review -rsb- lush and lovely to look at with a number of solid extras , `` the MOV '' on blu-ray is easily recommended for both the young and the young at heart ." ], "summary": "perhaps the most faithful of disney 's literary adaptations , this cute , charming collection of episodes captures the spirit of a.a. milne 's classic stories .", "id": "9403" }, { "movie": "0878835", "reviews": [ "nobody loves messy , human imperfections quite like writer-director nicole holofcener .", "the characters and their varying viewpoints on the haves and have-nots are entertaining and thought-provoking .", "nicole holofcener is frequently lauded for writing vivid female characters , but such praise does n't really do justice to her full game .", "touching , intelligent and full of charm and wit .", "-lsb- the script is -rsb- sharp and witty , but never forced , and features some of the best pure dialogue you 'll hear this year .", "a tremendous leap forward for filmmaker nicole holofcener ...", "there are laughs and moments of pain and many instances of embarrassing -lrb- and deeply human -rrb- behavior throughout , but there 's also delicacy and grace ...", "a funny and pointed take of class anxieties from the woody allen school", "please give is an almost perfectly rendered slice of life , buoyant with wonderful performances .", "while the characters contend with their precarious self-images , we ca n't help but reflect on ourselves as well . to borrow a cautionary phrase about that mirror : ` objects may appear closer than they are . '", "holofcener always gives us more to chew on than originally meets the eye in her films and she writes female characters with an intelligence , sensitivity and realism that blows the sex and the city foursome away any day of the week .", "an edgy , somber , beautifully written manhattan fable of guilt , shame , infidelity , death and real estate .", "an engagingly high-strung comedy about lack of empathy and the gnawing guilt that can attend it .", "it 's a tricky kind of social satire , its possibly cloying self-absorption cut only by some winningly awkward characters .", "the fourth teaming of gifted indie filmmaker holofcener and talented actress keener is a timely , sharply observed , femme-driven serio-comedy about postmodern capitalistic lifestyles with all their joys , guilts , complexities and contradictions .", "ah , the guilt of the privileged .", "of a piece with nicole holofcener 's three other films -- talky , urbane ensemble flicks that elicit quiet but deeply sincere smiles and laughs , and just as often showcase hushed moments of pinprick vulnerability .", "the tone is low-key but very funny . yet , at the same time , the film also manages to have a sardonic edge .", "solid ensemble work with an especially good catherine keener .", "a witty and observant comedy of manners , please give is another understated gem from writer-director nicole holofcener .", "the film 's premise yields a story that 's insightful and engaging while touching on many other matters of love and money .", "some filmmakers make movies that hold up a mirror to nature . nicole holofcener makes seriocomedies that hold up a magnifying glass to human nature .", "there 's nothing wrong with asking audiences to make up their own minds , but please give does n't even ask .", "the combination of good-nature and light snark -lsb- make -rsb- please give maybe the strongest film of holofcener 's career .", "please give is one of those movies that can be enjoyed simply for its funny portraits of human foibles and fumbling grasps at intimacy -- but it 's also deceivingly profound .", "there 's no movie around right now with a subject more pertinent . it 'll hit you hard .", "holofcener has n't made a great movie yet , but she has n't created any bad ones , and her gentle humanism is to be cherished .", "it 's a movie about guilt and family and what we mean when we say something is valuable , all of which are great subjects .", "please give is a series of such set-piece scenes , a breezy , though not negligible , exploration of the contest between avarice and empathy .", "it 's a wonderful movie full of people you wish you knew in real life , and like most of holofcener 's movies , it 's a remarkable combination of comedy and tragedy .", "-lsb- holofcener -rsb- has real sympathy -- characters that might have been brittle , mockable creations in another writer-director 's hands gain resonance here .", "one of the best movies ever about guilt as the guardian of our goodness and a sign of our yearning to belong to the larger world .", "please give is specific about its middle-class , white , manhattan characters but it 's also universal in the way one social class ' anxieties are understood rather than simply celebrated .", "holofcener 's deliciously understated film takes a miniaturist 's pleasure in getting the details right .", "some people might find it distasteful to make a movie about guilty rich folks who give themselves permission to splurge . others will rightly appreciate the honesty .", "keener , peet , and hall are so strong , so empathetic even at their weakes", "with the romantic notion of the deceased ` haunting ' their furniture ... , the director at once adds some ethereal spirituality and an earthbound connection between people and their possessions .", "listening to the banter in please give feels like eavesdropping on natural conversations , shaped and selected by a skilled storyteller .", "holofcener 's humorous interest in yupscale entitlem.ent and its discontents mark her as a descendant of woody allen", "at a time when every penny counts , where do they come up with the money to finance a movie this boring ?", "forget the dreaded `` sex and the city 2 . '' holofcener 's wonderful new film about mammograms , marriage , infidelity , child-rearing and waiting for the old lady next door to die so you can buy her sprawling , pre-wwii apartment is the most sophisticated america", "please give is a moral comedy that feels at times like one of the late eric rohmer 's deceptively breezy miniatures , or a mid-period woody allen movie minus the fussiness .", "only rebecca hall comes through with a genuineness that rises above holofcener 's doodlings .", "please give proves that a film can be a spectacularly rewarding experience by just providing time spent with well-written , believable adult characters .", "it recognizes that a film about unpleasant people need not be unpleasant itself as long as it remembers not to make them uninteresting as well .", "as she has in four previous films , holofcener smartly relies on keener 's talent to create a layered character who is neurotic and often inappropriate , but still good at her core .", "far from challenging , the film consoles the complacent , saying basically that you can do whatever you want , so long as you feel -lrb- or pretend to feel -rrb- a little guilty about it .", "holofcener has sprinkled in quite a lot of humor , without which the film may have been too overbearing . but it 's not , and we enjoy the characters , partly because , in this 90 minute effort , they do n't wear out their welcome .", "yet another ramble through the tiny world of the affluent and the idle , a particular fascination of holofcener 's . the only difference this time is the increased emphasis on morbidity .", "while holofcener 's scenes are profoundly accurate and wildly amusing , they hit home like a sledge hammer to those of us who share these feelings .", "one of the best movies of the year so far . an insightful , darkly funny and multi-layered character study about class and family .", "few american filmmakers create female characters as realistically funny , attractively imperfect and flat-out annoying as does ms. holofcener .", "hardly a treasure , but it offers some modest rewards .", "two possible ways of regarding please give : it 's shallow . or maybe it 's deeply shallow .", "if giving is always a relationship , giving also entails taking , whether in business , romance or family interactions .", "please give is holofcener 's best movie to date . the slender plot presents itself without fuss , a slice of manhattan life , a la woody allen 's early , most engaging work .", "this gorgeous film , always tender and sometimes dark , is a deeply resonant comic drama that 's concerned with nothing less than life , death , love , sex , guilt and the urban logic of mortality .", "such fine-tuned observation requires the ideal interpreter . keener has always been holofcener 's muse , and once again offers the sort of fully crafted portrait that reminds us how shallow most movies really are .", "with her new film , the poignant and funny please give , holofcener is at the top of her game .", "sometimes -- and far too rarely -- a film will hit all the right notes , with sharp , original dialogue , brilliant casting and an absorbing story . so caught up in its spell , you dread seeing the credits roll . please give is that movie .", "holofcener 's touch is n't light , but it is funny in its exploration of materialism and guilt , vanity and aging .", "fleetingly amusing , charming and harmless with a terrific cast , but often meanders , lacks bite , and unevenly juggles comedy , drama and romance .", "the movie is about imperfect characters in a difficult world , who mostly do the best they can under the circumstances , but not always . do you realize what a revolutionary approach that is for a movie these days ?", "this is one of those rare movies that made me want to thank the person who did it .", "holofcener explores the contemporary female experience with a camera that is at once empathetic and merciless .", "in its casual , disarming way , it 's as deep and as grand a film as you 'll find", "brutally honest about the way people behave , and often devastatingly funny in its observations .", "-lsb- although -rsb- i think holofcener 's work is always interesting , i think this is the least satisfying of all her films i 've seen .", "funny and heartbreaking .", "do n't be put off by the bitchy-familiar chick-flick wrapper . this one 's a keeper .", "holofcener writes , and helps to shape on-screen , characters we often do n't even like , and what do we do ? we invite them home with us . talk about a soft touch .", "keener , one of the most reliably entertaining actresses currently working , specializes in sardonic , flawed characters -- a perfect fit for holofcener 's image of the modern american woman .", "please give is quintessential holofcener -- a loopy , episodic ensemble story of women dealing with marriage , money and men , but it 's also her smartest , most disciplined movie to date .", "writer-director nicole holofcener seems to get better with every film , and now she 's cruising along the well-trodden path of neurotic new yorker comedy-drama with grace and comely confidence .", "life-goes-on movies usually do n't electrify the senses , but this one stimulates moral imagination .", "nicole holofcener , who writes the most interesting female characters in the movies , delivers another dazzling role to her muse , catherine keener , in please give , a delightfully dry dramedy about guilt .", "keener has become holofcener 's artistic alter ego . in please give , the sharp-eyed filmmaker sends her vibrant representative out into the world to explore what it means for a woman to be lucky and still feel itchy .", "a stroll with these characters is a refreshing break from from the usual film exercises .", "wryly humane", "the acting quality is strong , especially from the ever-reliable catherine keener as kate , but it 's almost impossible to care about her character 's dilemmas .", "in both please give and friends with money , she wrestles with our all-to-human desire for nice things but judiciously avoids ridiculing her characters for sharing a longing that is as universal as it is regrettable .", "this plot less movie lacks any momentum and you get no feeling of empathy or sympathy for any of the characters . the ensemble acting is sound with guilbert standing out with a nostalgic trip down memory lane for viewers .", "as holofcener charts the telling little developments in these randomly connected lives the film offers wry smiles , smart repartee , mild whimsy and some plaintive , poignant moments .", "a spiky , sophisticated , grown-up comedy ...", "it sparks laughter by crossing the wires of human motivation , letting you see the hazards that exist in trying to be a good person .", "writer-director holofcener cleverly keeps the emotions gurgling right under the surface of this engaging interpersonal comedy . it 's more about smiles than laughing out loud , but the superior cast members get terrific characters to play with .", "touching : that 's what makes holofcener 's films so lovely . they are beady-eyed satires , sure , but they 're also fundamentally kind-hearted .", "this is a small film , which , if you 're open to it , will draw you into the lives of people you quickly forget are fictional .", "it is well-observed but morally stunted , in that it suggests that charity is just another form of self-medication", "a well-written , well-acted dramatic comedy that is light on plot but generous in spirit .", "the film lives at that uneasy intersection between affluence and compassion , where the well-meaning well-to-do try to figure out how much of their wealth they need to give away to make a difference .", "it 's involving and often gripping with wonderful performances by a top cast , although the sum of its parts is less than the story as a whole", "the main problem with the film , though , is that it seems to assume that self-obsessed and charmless people are automatically interesting - just for being people . there 's definitely a flaw in that logic .", "please give is n't laugh-out-loud funny , it is witty and clever-a pleasing tale where not much happens , but spending time with the film 's characters is enough .", "keener never lets us lose sight of something possibly redeemable about kate , a move which ultimately saves her performance from lapsing into an easy social caricature .", "the film is more emotionally incisive than it initially appears to be , but equally it ties together a little too neatly when it already has such a concise running time .", "holofcener takes pretty much everything you 're not supposed to talk about at a dinner party and spins it into a ruefully awkward , bone-dry comedy .", "its conclusions are thoughtful and non-judgmental ; satisfying even if it pulls a few punches .", "does n't have much plot , just characters interacting and developing , and its lack of a need for drama is refreshing .", "you have to be smart and funny and really aware of yourself to write and direct a film like this , which is exactly what director nicole holofcener is .", "holofcener allows her strong ensemble room to really explore their characters . keener and hall are the obvious standouts , but fresh-faced sarah steele is particularly good in support , as kate 's teenage daughter .", "comes close to justifying the praise it has received -- close , but not entirely .", "nicole holofcener creates open-ended characters whose ordinary lives are so fascinating that when the credits roll you 're wondering why transformers gets a sequel and not them .", "ms. holofcener 's observant talky comedy resonates with plenty of oomph as a believable modern-day fable about urban life .", "real joys and sorrows must be bigger and deeper than this .", "compare these wonderfully flawed , beautifully insecure and wholly believable characters with the preprogrammed mannequins seen in such chowderheaded efforts as , say , the back-up plan or killers , and the contrast is startling .", "an upper east side slice of navel gazing", "it ends with this exchange : ` thank you . ' ` you 're welcome . ' how often do those simple words carry weight in a movie ? at that moment , i loved those characters , and i loved this movie .", "if you 're hoping for huge dramatic payoff or more than mild laughs from cynically satisfying script , then you 're panhandling without a styrofoam cup .", "nicole holofcener 's lovely please give is a small , modest movie , full of the sort of characters we might know , or be .", "holofcener 's biggest ally against nauseating self-pity is keener , her screen alter ego .", "smart and touching , this is a must for lovers of human drama .", "maybe things get worse , but movies like this at least make it easier to handle .", "there 's the rare occasion where the boldness of the dialogue is laid on a little thick and it drags you out of the moment , but it does n't happen often , and the odd excess is more than forgiveable given just how well the rest of the film works .", "trifles , trivialities , frippery and froth . we 've got plenty of words to describe things that do n't matter . and now , we also have a film . please give .", "beautifully played and sharply-written , the pleasures on offer here are apparently throwaway but the authenticity of the characters freights the story with a light-hearted realism .", "nothing earth-shaking goes on here , and holofcener has the good sense not to make her issues seem all that important . this is a lightweight comedy about mostly likable people who are a bit too wrapped up in self-analysis .", "three dimensional characters , direct no nonsense dialogue and a dry sense of humour combine to create an understated thoroughly enjoyable feel-good film that leaves viewers with an invisible glow .", "here 's a sentence i 've typed before : rebecca hall is the best thing about this movie . the british actress raises the level of every production she touches .", "director/writer nicole holofcener goes back east for please give . it is an auspicious move .", "give thrives because of these professional efforts , which help to mold something strangely poignant and thrillingly neurotic out of a plot that should rightfully be nothing more than a cinematic air horn .", "in a holofcener film , the usual rules of screenwriting do not apply , which lends her work a lifelike quality that 's particularly refreshing in this era of formulaic remakes and sequels .", "while please give is a film about conscience , it 's also slyly funny , with piercing moments of insight and warmth .", "in please give , keener is at her best . let 's hope her creative partnership with holofcener continues .", "happily , the joy outweighs the guilt .", "an indie with real pedigree and smarts , holofcener 's comedy of manners is well-observered and well worth watching .", "exploring class , generations and misbehaving bodies , holofcener 's dramedy refines its character studies with warmth and wit as she creates warts-and-all individuals whose flawed humanity we warm to .", "enjoyable , emotionally engaging comedy-drama from writer-director nicole holofcener , featuring a sharply written script , likeable characters and terrific performances from a talented ensemble cast .", "starved for whip-smart dialogue and characters who do n't behave as though they 've just stepped out of a cartoon ? holofcener 's latest is guaranteed to please . give it a look .", "keener manages to flesh out her character more deeply than the sometimes stage-rash behavior holofcener demands .", "a muted , almost rohmer-like moral tale that does n't quite dive deeply enough into its several characters .", "like holofcener 's previous pictures , please give derives its narrative energy less from a series of plotted incidents than from its keenly observed interplay of clashing personality tics and worldviews .", "keener , peet and hall all shine as women plagued with self-doubt who respond to those insecurities in strikingly different ways ." ], "summary": "nicole holofcener 's newest might seem slight in places , but its rendering of complex characters in a conflicted economic landscape is varied , natural , and touching all the same .", "id": "770856682" }, { "movie": "mars_attacks", "reviews": [ "this messy masterpiece is the year 's funniest comedy and a weird , winking affirmation of the power of the people .", "as sci-fi spoofs go , MOV ! may never be topped .", "despite the very slow start , MOV ! delivers the goods .", "an acquired taste .", "a skewed marriage of mainstream pop and burton 's own eccentricity", "like a well-constructed bad painting , there is much to admire in the film , but the net effect leaves you dispassionate .", "as light entertainment , MOV ! gave me more pleasure than most other recent movies i 've seen .", "just when you 're about to give up hope , suddenly the aliens land , the gags start flying faster and faster , and the movie gets great in a hurry .", "a throwaway piece of pop ephemera , like a '90s casino royale , momentarily arresting and soon forgotten .", "a stillborn affair that could have been -- and should have been -- a whole lot hipper and funnier .", "a bizarre combination of eye candy , warped humor , social satire and comedic ultraviolence .", "hilarity never seemed so tedious .", "when the film 's energy kicks in , though , so does burton 's flair for black comedy .", "MOV ! is packed with memorable sights and hilariously ridiculous ideas .", "MOV ! wants to be the dr strangelove of alien b-movies , but is n't up to the challenge . instead it 's a paceless , overlong , and campy film partly redeemed by a number of hilarious and gruesome alien invasion skits .", "this may not be a christmas movie , but it sure captures the elusive spirit of the season , and the simple pleasure is contagious .", "MOV will keep you laughing from first to last .", "como parodiar algo que j\u00e1 n\u0103o se levava muito a s\u00e9rio originalmente ?", "a holiday film with no conscience whatsoever , MOV ! will make you laugh , it will make you cry , and it definitely will make you wonder about earth 's ability to defend itself in the face of higher life forms .", "not as much fun as it should be .", "john waters will weep with envy .", "oaded with wit , nifty little ideas and an extraordinary sense of design , but its allure is of quite a particular nature , much closer to that of ed wood than of burton 's earlier , and far more commercially successful , works .", "burton 's only failure .", "there is plenty of imagination in mars attack ! , but the ideas prickle rather than tickle .", "alien-invasion satire for older tweens and up .", "the pinko commie independence day , burton 's film orders an invasion of little green men not to reinvigorate our all-american bloodlust , but to make us look like complete and utter boobs .", "perhaps they do n't create quite enough deeply funny earthlings to go around , but a thoroughly meanspirited big-budget movie is always a treasurable rarity .", "since the movie is obviously designed to be a larky romp through low-culture cheese , it may seem mean-spirited to complain that in the end burton 's spectacle is a bit hollow .", "... a sadistically silly spoof that uses a cheesy ray gun to blow away the tropes of science-fiction past .", "yes , it 's over-the-top , but there 's a terrifying truth in how politicians would want to spin this or media would want to angle it .", "an over directed and poorly written farce ...", "tim burton 's tribute to the b sci-fi-alien genre of the 1950s is sharply uneven , but the top-notch cast , dark humor , and production values offer some pleasure .", "unlike burton 's tribute to b-movie director ed wood or mel brooks ' parody young frankenstein , this movie 's self-awareness does n't work .", "flaming white hot death to anyone involved in this crappy film !", "first he made ed wood , a tribute to the man fondly recalled as the worst movie director of all time . now tim burton seems to have made a tribute to wood 's work .", "the film 's penchant for repetition is faithful to its '50s source material and is the very quality that turns MOV ! into such a marvelously unstable comedy .", "a knowing and loving tribute to those cheesy b-movies .", "galactic hoards of fun , but slightly disappointing bubble-gum sci-fi flick .", "MOV ! is not so much a spoof of ` b ' science fiction films as it is an homage to them . but those ` b ' films were usually bad , and this homage to them suffers for the same reasons .", "while MOV ! may not have been as good as it could have been , it is definitely one of the better sci-fi flicks to have headed our way in quite a while .", "with MOV , director tim burton has created not only an instant cult hit , but a very offbeat black comedy that parodies martian invasion films , disaster films , and many aspects of our popular culture .", "a very disappointing effort by director tim burton .", "a frantic , funny love letter to an era of entertainment gone by , but also a top-notch example of modern comedy .", "a most unpleasant surprise to all those who based their expectations on burton 's previous work .", "just a parade of scattershot gags , more often weird than funny and most often just flat .", "unfortunately , it 's not very good .", "this may not be the best or funniest effort by burton . it is his biggest , and a lot of fun , too .", "burton is at his funniest when the martians are zapping away like brats playing a video game .", "it has a silly juvenile appeal in its unrelenting and subversive camp satire of the pop culture scene .", "each step is away from the imagination that made the cards exciting to adolescents and towards a sort of smirking patronization of the spirit of the source material .", "nothing much is funny in MOV ! , whose mildly amusing war of the worlds story can best be described as ... MOV .", "if movies have pop cult i.q.s , MOV scores somewhere beyond 200 .", "MOV ! is the film that independence day wanted to be but never could be .", "only moderately amusing .", "it 's got attitude , goodness knows ; it has stars by the fistful ; and it certainly was made with technical skill . what it does n't have is enough of a story to fill an hour and 46 minutes .", "sadly empty exercise .", "probably the biggest let-down since the second season of twin peaks ." ], "summary": "tim burton 's alien invasion spoof faithfully recreates the wooden characters and schlocky story of cheesy '50s sci-fi and ed wood movies -- perhaps a little too faithfully for audiences .", "id": "10454" }, { "movie": "we_own_the_night", "reviews": [ "as flat-footed as writer-director james gray 's script often sounds , his cops-vs . - mob tale can be strangely mesmerizing .", "time will tell , but from where i 'm sitting this deceptively routine cop movie runs deep . in fact , it already looks like a classic . cagney and tracy would be proud .", "gray keeps his picture interesting with a handful of inspired action scenes", "in many ways , MOV is a lite version of our favorite urban cop dramas -- or maybe it 's just that writer-director james gray is a martin scorsese lite .", "the gripping , entertaining , rock-solid mob thriller feels like a throwback to a bygone era .", "for all the competence in craft , there 's no real urgency and distinctiveness to sufficiently mask that we 've seen this all before -- and indeed we have from gray himself alone .", "everything old does n't necessarily feel new again .", "this one hangs on the notion of fate , and once you 've figured out whose fate is the central issue , the outcome -- even with those clumsy plot twists -- is fairly predictable .", "bobby 's decision-making throughout is operatic -lrb- with grand gestures and tears and sensational lighting -rrb- , but also crude and flatfooted .", "writer/director james gray uses the strengths of his top-notch actors to transform `` MOV '' into something more than a standard-issue cop tale .", "adequately acted and flecked with the required quota of action to satisfy genre fans , pic recalls numerous good police dramas of the 1970s , but mostly in superficial ways that bring nothing new to the table .", "if anything makes MOV worth watching , it 's phoenix and wahlberg .", "james gray again tackles his familiar family themes again within an overly familiar cops-gangsters genre .", "it 's a solid , if unremarkable piece of storytelling .", "MOV is defiantly , refreshingly unhip .", "the whole project feels workmanlike , an exercise in neither offending nor impressing .", "too long and anti-climactic , how derivative is this ? the final d\u00e9nouement is straight out of james fenimore cooper 's the prairie -lrb- 1827 -rrb- .", "-lsb- with so many -rsb- plot twists and turns , it 's almost like a bad parody of a western .", "the film is n't exactly boring . but nor does much of it feel necessary .", "this movie is spellbinding and i found myself captivated throughout .", "gray 's characters are weighty and dimensional enough to allow the viewer to overlook the generic nature of the story .", "you 'll want to get lost in the dark world of `` MOV . '' good performances from a great cast blend with an intriguing script in this adult thriller/melodrama .", "another example of -lrb- crime -rrb- business as usual .", "unravels from about the twenty minute mark on and makes no attempt to recover . rather , it becomes more clich\u00e9 and ham fisted as it rolls along .", "takes enough interesting turns and twists to earn and keep your attention , all before an ending that sacrifices credibility for the sake of convenience .", "heartfelt performances from all the leads , certainly . top 80s tunes and a thrilling car chase in the pouring rain .", "the kind of movie you feel you 've seen before when you 're watching it for the first time , gray 's latest never once surprises . but it 's intelligent and well-crafted enough to make you prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt .", "a sombre , intelligent , feeling crime drama set in a working-class new york characterised by striving and shabbiness .", "the stand-out set piece is an agonising car chase in the rain , replacing the full-throttle showmanship of the bourne series with a foot on the brake , a shotgun pointing out of the adjacent car , and a series of tight close-ups on the terrified phoenix .", "offers little that scorsese does n't offer with more \u00e9lan and wit .", "it is a little cumbersome with plenty of macho-sentimentalism , and the ending is frankly contrived . but go and see it for the car chase .", "stylishly directed by james gray , this dark film does a great job portraying the violent gang scene of 1980s new york . more sophisticated than most cop flicks .", "the always charismatic phoenix is the highlight ; he carries the film , rising above the occasionally uninspired dialogue and plotting to give a powerhouse turn as a man caught between ambition and duty .", "quality actors joaquin phoenix , mark wahlberg and robert duvall do their best to breathe life into a deeply average cop thriller/family drama .", "a grown-up thriller about morality and the consequences of choice , MOV harks back to an earlier era . a cast of heavy-hitters give it all a solid , polished sheen .", "a good idea executed badly .", "an obviously talented director relying on an obviously limited screenwriter/scenarist .", "i gradually found myself respecting and admiring the film and its creator , writer-director james gray , for its willingness to observe the rules of classic cinema construction without coming across as too self-consciously retro for its own good", "whomever owns it they can keep it cause we 've all got better things to do at night than to see a virtually unconscious film that makes johnny dangerously look like angels with dirty faces .", "despite a powerful chase scene and some affecting performances , the movie 's retro slant makes it simplistic and superficial .", "overall , it 's impossible to shake the film 's gloomy sense of eternal repetition .", "MOV confirms james gray 's position as a major american film director .", "... it 's the utter familiarity that keeps MOV from standing out on the screen in the same way it undoubtedly did at the pitch meeting .", "well-acted but very bloody crime drama .", "... successfully harkens to the best cop dramas of the '70s , when brutal realism shocked audiences and over-the-top action was confined to car chases .", "ngaging , impressively directed crime thriller with a sharply written script and strong performances from its three leads .", "tawdry , pulpy , nuts-and-bolts cop thriller .", "this just ca n't compete in an arena with the likes of the departed - which at least makes a point of its contrived storyline - let alone the high watermark set for cops vs. drugs drama by the tv series the wire .", "a desperate violence and urgency spills out in the film 's flash-point set-pieces - not least a sensational car chase , shot through a windscreen , hammering rain and a blur of fear .", "as a whole , the film feels both too earnest and overly simplistic in its approach to the various moral dilemmas .", "with a few tweaks here and there it could have been something special .", "once again finds gray breathing gritty , electric life into a conventional tale .", "... suffers from an overly deliberate pace that ultimately prevents the viewer from fully connecting with the material .", "gray loves actors , and it shows .", "taut , intelligent and confidently unpretentious about what it sets out to , and does , achieve within the crime-thriller mold .", "at its core , it 's an exploration of the demands and obligations of brotherly love , staged with honesty , originality and a surprising spark of intelligence .", "at times solid and suspenseful , at times dopily implausible and woefully familiar .", "it somehow manages to squander an impressive roster of a-list actors on material so uninteresting and formulaic that you 've seen the whole story in the trailers .", "a sluggishly regurgitation of the noteworthy 70 's - style cop dramas . the nocturnal naughtiness behind gray 's mean streets saga begs for a compelling ounce of creative daylight", "this dramatic crime-thriller never lives up to that potential . in fact , it 's considerably less than the sum of its parts .", "one of hollywood 's moldy oldies -- brothers on opposite sides of the law -- gets yet another spin in this lead-footed crime drama by james gray .", "instead of playing to the strength of its leads , the script almost seems to highlight their weaknesses -lrb- in other words , you do n't see wahlberg 's abs once -rrb- .", "phoenix is unquestionably the star of the film . his journey is particularly angst-ridden , and he shows it every step of the way .", "the theme of this absorbing crime drama centers on a simple idea : blood is thicker than powder .", "gray includes three truly breathtaking action sequences , the equal of any action blockbuster made this year .", "god knows -lsb- writer-director gray -rsb- has skill and integrity , but perhaps it 's time to acknowledge that he could use script help .", "wahlberg , unfortunately , is over the top , and not in the good way he was in scorsese 's the departed .", "a diverting enough time-wasting thriller .", "gray 's craftsmanship is admirable , which shows some old-fashioned reverence for the triangulated composition of scene , character , plot and avoids , by and large , the snazzy edits and visual bling that pass for a cinematic imagination these days .", "fans of gritty , intense cop films wo n't be bothered by ... significant flaws ; others will have the pleasure of seeing accomplished actors dig into meaty roles .", "file this cop family drama movie under films-we-never-need-to-see-again .", "some great acting and stunning suspense sequences elevate this so-so tale about a police family 's complex relationship with russian mobsters in 1980s new york .", "if gray had put as much effort into his script as he puts into -lsb- several -rsb- scenes , he might have made a film to rival scorsese or cronenberg . as it is , he\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s tugging mightily on their coattails .", "too slow to be a guilty pleasure and too dumb to be an innocent one , MOV does n't say a lot except we own a lot of scorsese dvds .", "gray 's skill with meting out suspense pays considerable dividends .", "it 's not surprising , but it 's engaging enough that most patrons will likely cut the director some slack for the out-of-period details and convoluted plot contrivances that make the film seem at once sloppy and too neat .", "gray assumes rather than dramatizes the depths of his characters , scanning for gravitas where there are only rickety clich\u00e9s", "although MOV is never as suspenseful as it wants to be and can be a little formulaic , it never comes close to being boring , and that 's something you ca n't say too often about movies these days .", "a generic thriller that aims for deeper resonance , MOV is an intriguing feature , undermined by a plot that stretches credulity , yet which still manages to conform to predictable gangster flick clich\u00e9 .", "director-writer james gray makes it all seem more urgent than it has any right to feel , because he knows how to make tense , violent dramas that are soaking in mood .", "an intriguing blend of mainstream audience-pleaser and a more subtle , even intellectual agenda .", "if MOV is flawed and somewhat choppy , it served notice that gray , once he refined his technique , would be a force to be reckoned with in the cinema world .", "this is a man 's movie : gritty , macho , and lacking in grace .", "the pace may be a shade plodding at times , and the dialogue frequently does disservice to the subject matter . yet the performances lift it out of the rut ...", "-lrb- MOV -rrb- was terribly written and just such a waste of great actors .", "it 's a roller coaster , mainly because a good scene is typically followed by a bad one . for every thrill , there is a melodramatic moment that just does n't work .", "lovers of good straightforward thrillers should find plenty to enjoy here .", "these are some of the finest actors in america , so it 's no surprise that they deliver the goods and create solid , complex and accessible characters we can understand .", "the drama gains momentum in the second half , so the film gets better , but it 's never too far from cliche .", "eva mendes seems to basically be around just to work hard feeding her man joaquin 's erotic fantasies for some relaxation on his down time , in this grim , meandering excursion through brooklyn 's mean streets .", "MOV declaws the organized crime genre .", "traz v\u00e1rios bons momentos que o transformam em um exemplar de g\u0119nero acima da m\u00e9dia , a come\u00e7ar por alguns excelentes di\u00e1logos .", "-lsb- gray 's -rsb- feel for dialogue has rarely failed him , and it does n't here .", "you probably wo n't hate it , but that 's because you probably wo n't feel much of anything about it", "haraktires poy tha mporoysan aneta na perasoyn arketo hrono akoma se skoteina syrtaria , mpas kai mporesoyn na skoteiniasoyn arketa oi idioi gia na metamorfothoyn se kati esto endiaferon an ohi diaforetiko", "it could n't have taken seven years to write a screenplay this leaden and uninspired . surely something like this could be churned out in a weekend .", "it 's a sensational picture , best received by minds open to generous cinematic brush strokes of right and wrong ... undeniably thrilling on primitive , fist-clenching level .", "helpless with comedy , heavily reliant on coincidence , and out of step with all current cinematic vogue , MOV finally resonates as a beautiful , dolorous nocturne .", "leave the gun . take the blini .", "an old school character-driven police drama that comes from the heart of a filmmaker who 's clearly in complete sync with his cast and crew .", "falters under the strain of clumsy plot turns , banal dialogue and cliched characters .", "gray is a far better director than he is a writer . he 's got the talent to make great movies . he just needs to stop trying to .", "MOV brims with raw feelings and elegant filmmaking .", "the whole thing is so generic , so been-there-before , that i spent most of it asking myself nitpicking questions .", "this is an atmospheric , intense film , well acted , and when it 's working it has a real urgency .", "the plotting is so rickety that the action hinges on suspicions roused by a character carrying a cigarette lighter and matches .", "joaquin phoenix and mark wahlberg do a lot of the talking , great mumbling . two of the movies ' master mutterers , they supply a double tour-de-force of indifference to enunciation , steamrolling the english language until it sounds like some other dialect .", "MOV is a bloody , passionate melodrama , self-consciously shakespearean -- or biblical , or greek , take your pick of atavisms -- in its intentions .", "-lsb- the movie -rsb- shines as it illuminates that haze of conflicting emotions and motivations within the confines of a powerful police thriller .", "gray really does offer nothing new here . we get the same old statement of blood being thicker than watered-down business associations .", "so meticulous , observant and generous in the details , that i was almost saddened to see the story start up in earnest and inevitably limit the film 's scope .", "it would be nothing more than sturdy entertainment were it not for the presence of joaquin phoenix and mark wahlberg .", "as cop/crime dramas go , this one offers little that 's new but it takes the time to develop the characters and that 's where its strengths lie .", "the story remains oddly unaffecting , and gray 's camera sense is visually lethargic outside the two big action sequences .", "as always , phoenix is an arresting presence on screen , but do n't expect any departed-esque fast talk from wahlberg , who is oddly inert in a role that should crackle with brotherly ambivalence .", "the movie would seem ripe for tnt , but action this unexciting ca n't even compete with law and order .", "acting is strong -lrb- i like these stars -rrb- , the direction passionate , but the film is bleak and laborious with unbelievable and-or undeveloped progressions in the telling .", "we 've been down this road before , but somehow the scenery looks new .", "... is n't interesting until it 's almost over .", "it 's not that it 's done poorly -- though this kind of movie has definitely been done better -- but rather that there is nothing here that you have n't seen before . and when we say nothing , we mean nothing . at all .", "when the bodies are sorted out , though , gray wants us to feel the sting of loss , and it 's just not there .", "all the picture really needed , though , was a little more sweat and grit and a little less concern about its own self-importance .", "between the clubbers and the dealers , they only seem to be renting the night at best .", "a world shrouded by danger , suspicion , and family disloyalty comprised of commonplace characters brought to life by exceptional actors .", "powerful drug dealers may be evil , but i doubt they 're as stupid and oblivious as depicted in ` MOV . '", "this is not the usual conventional cops and robbers film that some critics like to call it ... .", "well acted but merely a competent police drama with family overtones .", "a competent , quasi-profound but ultimately shopworn tale of familial loyalty , directed with television-drama flatness .", "at cannes film fest , this melodrama about fathers and sons , cops and criminals in the russian milieu , was dismissed as overly familiar , a genre flick done many times before on tv and the big screen , including james gray himself -- and with the same actors .", "-lsb- s -rsb- o drenched in raw , ineffable male anger and love ... that it howls with authenticity .", "the work of a dedicated and intelligent filmmaker who knows and understands the turf that provides the detail for his stories and the inspiration for his art ...", "MOV may not feel any more special than watching a rerun of the sopranos or the wire , but as a serious adult crime yarn , you could do far worse .", "a robust , respectable cop movie .", "may not have much new to say about the war on drugs ... but it says it awfully well .", "it 's not a flashy film , but gray is a gifted visual storyteller .", "highly derivative of 1970s films . sometimes ` good enough ' just is n't good enough .", "earnestly acted , typically dour but dully formulaic crime drama .", "you can almost see them give up about halfway through , beaten down by a script that gives them almost no character development or interesting action .", "in many ways this traditional-looking flick gives off a vibe of been there-seen it but at the same time it pulsates with a raw energy and rhythm all its own .", "you do n't judge artists by where they find their inspiration ; you judge them by how they realize it . and in MOV james gray hits the bull 's - eye .", "gray deserves some credit , though , for making a movie that seems deeper and more resonant than it turns out to be .", "MOV plays like gangbusters .", "like the yards , MOV is broody to the point of anesthesia and operatic to the verge of bombast . and like its predecessor , the new film takes itself far too seriously ." ], "summary": "bland characters , clich\u00e9d dialogue and rickety plotting ensure MOV never lives up to its potential .", "id": "770670992" }, { "movie": "treasure_planet", "reviews": [ "inventive alien creatures are voiced by top-notch talent like emma thompson , david hyde pierce and martin short , while the lack of songs and updated character issues , including single parenthood , money and juvenile crime , keep the whole thing pretty hip .", "i think kids will find it really entertaining , and parents will find it amusing enough .", "not since mulan -lrb- or , quite possibly , even the hunchback of notre dame -rrb- has there been a disney cartoon so casual about its own brilliance ...", "most disney flicks work on an adult level ; i do n't feel like i need a kid to lug into the theatre with me . this time , i felt like i needed a kid .", "the studio may be taking a monetary risk by straying from its musical formula , but it can rest assured that in doing so it 's delivered a pleasing entertainment .", "half star wars and half classics illustrated , disney 's MOV is a total blast , filled with animation dazzle and imaginative storytelling .", "where we kids of all ages ought to be eagerly running out , hearts pounding and faces flushed with excitement , to hoist the jolly roger in the backyard , all we can do is reel from having the warm fuzzies mercilessly pounded into us .", "the overall tone of this rocket-paced updating is exhilaratingly giddy , making it by far disney 's best animated film since mulan .", "while the artwork in the film is very good , the story is curiously cool and emotionally uninvolving .", "MOV is certainly suffering from creative schizophrenia .", "`` MOV '' is unfortunately more like a saturday morning cartoon , even with a running time of eighty or so minutes . it 's no `` lilo & stitch , '' but it 's worth a matinee if only to see it ; too bad there could n't have been more to feel .", "will grab your children by the imagination and amaze them and amuse them .", "MOV moves like the story 's rocket-powered flying ships taking viewers from one breath-taking adventure to another , but always making room for laughs and even some poignant life lessons .", "has its moments , but it 's pretty far from a treasure .", "MOV is a handsome picture , with lots of nifty borrowings from the star wars galaxy , but it 's never particularly compelling as a story or as a vehicle for emotions .", "sci-fi meets sea-faring fantasy , and the mix is n't half bad .", "what makes the movie work is disney 's reliable artistry , superb as usual .", "if MOV falls short of lion king 's classic status , it still proves there is plenty of room in animation for movies that are n't geared exclusively to 8-year-olds .", "it 's doubtful the ` tweens ' they 're aiming at here still embrace disney , and little kids do n't care about back story .", "better than ok , but no spirited away .", "as action-adventure , this space-based homage to robert louis stevenson 's treasure island fires on all plasma conduits .", "as family films go , this one offers an engaging and exciting 90 minutes .", "no matter how confused the story gets or how unclear jim 's motivations are , we still have long john silver , whose is-he-good - or-is-he-bad complexity is so fascinating that he 'll make us stick around for any movie he yo-ho-hos in .", "viewed on its own terms , MOV is better-than-average family entertainment , but true fans of the stevenson 's novel will likely prefer disney 's more faithful 1950 live-action swashbuckling classic .", "MOV is just a reminder of how much i liked the original template from which all these cheap knockoffs have come .", "many entertaining characters , a rockin ' space adventure , plenty of eye-catching animation .", "a winningly fresh take on a tale that has never gone out of style ... disney has done stevenson proud .", "the film 's signature imagery is impressive and there are some good set-pieces .", "it 's not one of disney 's greatest , but it 's solid entertainment .", "in attempting to update the novel , disney filmmakers have dulled the characterizations and dialogue and given us instead a lovely series of picture postcards from outer space .", "this is disney animation at its best : a witty and swashbuckling tale of adventure .", "there is almost no coherence to the plot points , leaving another technically sound but disposable product that awaits its straight-to-video sequel .", "hey mom , i went to another planet and found money for you to buy back the family farm . sure , i blew up the planet in the process , but are n't you proud of me ?", "... just the sort of fast-paced adventure flick that today 's kids are n't getting enough of .", "esta curiosa releitura do cl\u0431ssico de robert louis stevenson conta com um visual impressionante e boas seq\u044c\u043ancias de a\u0437\u0433o . ainda assim , est\u0431 longe de se equiparar aos grandes cl\u0431ssicos da disney .", "lends itself to the narcotizing bland -lrb- sinister , though not nearly so sinister as the biennial disney girl movie -rrb- machinations of the biennial disney boy movie .", "disney guarantees a certain standard of entertainment that will doubtless satisfy several hundred thousand families .", "without the pizzazz of computer animation you can see how it will struggle to find its target audience .", "despite more betrayal and loyalty than a chris carabba box set , there 's no real good or evil here .", "-lsb- a -rsb- raucous adventure into infinity .", "as literary desecrations go , this makes for perfectly acceptable , occasionally very enjoyable children 's entertainment . you 'll forget about it by monday , though , and if they 're old enough to have developed some taste , so will your kids .", "a truly wonderful tale combined with stunning animation .", "like its source novel , ` MOV ' brims with the spirit of discovery .", "disney 's updated , animated version respects its source material while aiming at kids who grew up with extreme sports and edgy music .", "for anyone who grew up on disney 's 1950 treasure island , or remembers the 1934 victor fleming classic , this one feels like an impostor .", "moody , involving and endlessly inventive , MOV lacks only the element of delight , of joyfulness that marks the very best animation has to offer .", "not as good as lilo and stitch or spirited away , but worth actually going with the kids .", "one wants good storytelling from animated films , and MOV is working with a good one . but , like pirates hoarding gold , it gets greedy trying to wow us with too much .", "this is one of the more exciting disney animated features . it moves quickly and has some good , distinctive voice performances .", "it 's no lilo & stitch , not even close . it does n't contain a single memorable line and has only one memorable character .", "at about 95 minutes , MOV maintains a brisk pace as it races through the familiar story . however , it lacks grandeur and that epic quality often associated with stevenson 's tale as well as with earlier disney efforts .", "a spiffy animated feature about an unruly adolescent boy who is yearning for adventure and a chance to prove his worth .", "one of the most gorgeous disney films ever .", "the techs are , simply , outstanding in every way .", "this is a good script , good dialogue , funny even for adults . the characters are interesting and often very creatively constructed from figure to backstory . the film will play equally well on both the standard and giant screens .", "although the plot is marginally faithful to stevenson , a considerable helping of the usual disney ingredients have been tossed into this pirate stew and they do n't always blend easily .", "it 's a fun adventure movie for kids -lrb- of all ages -rrb- that like adventure .", "it 's all quite vividly imagined , down to the tiniest details .", "we 're not talking a disney treasure here , but if MOV falls short of gem status , it should provide youngsters with a reasonable amount of diversion .", "its sense of adventure is a minor saving grace in a flawed movie", "the movie is paced with precision . although we spend plenty of time getting to know the characters , there 's never a dull moment , and the transitions from one scene to the next are particularly smart .", "disney 's animated pirate tale has masterful visuals -- and an amateur 's script .", "a movie that will thrill you , touch you and make you laugh as well .", "visually rather stunning , but ultimately a handsome-looking bore , the true creativity would have been to hide MOV entirely and completely reimagine it .", "safe entertainment and a visually impressive piece of work .", "there 's loads of eye candy , but nothing that 's terribly engaging . it 's not bad , but no classic .", "while pixar can do no wrong with its cutting edge cgi originals , disney is falling back on old formulas", "inspired visuals and fluid animation , even blown up on imax , were n't enough to prevent me from being bored out of my skull .", "given the amazing artwork , if a better character -lsb- than a cyborg john silver -rsb- had been inserted , we 'd be talking about `` MOV '' as another disney classic .", "the addition of an insufferable robot named b.e.n. -lrb- martin short -rrb- cripples much of the film 's momentum and renders many of the latter scenes unwatchable -lrb- a friend once dubbed b.e.n. `` the jar-jar binks of animation , '' and she was absolutely right -rrb- .", "outer-space pirate treasure hunt lots of fun ; fab animation .", "the awkward trappings of this disney adventure mechanize and blunt the tale 's humanity . it pops and squeaks and rumbles , but MOV lacks the strength to transport audiences . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "by following its story as closely as they have , the filmmakers have retained much of what made the novel a classic .", "like stepping forth , in an explosion of colors , weird body shapes and bad comedy , into somebody else 's migraine .", "swashbuckling , intergalactic fun .", "it 's laced with literate humor , and the directors cite n.c. wyeth 's illustrations for the 1911 scribner 's edition of treasure island as the inspiration for their marvelously detailed fantasy world .", "enjoy the spectacle .", "looking at MOV is a wondrous thing , but listening to it is another matter . the disney team makes an uncommon mistake by casting actors with distracting voices .", "the plot 's clearly mythic structure may owe more to disney 's strong sense of formula than to the original story . but while the highly predictable narrative falls short , MOV is truly gorgeous to behold .", "this is a good ride . take the kids or go by yourself .", "some of the computer animation is handsome , and various amusing sidekicks add much-needed levity to the otherwise bleak tale , but overall the film never rises above mediocrity .", "MOV does n't have the charm of disney 's last homegrown release , lilo & stitch , or the dazzling artistry of spirited away . but it 's a capable and diverting holiday season adventure for a family audience .", "when the disney people go after your holiday dollar , they do n't leave anything in the paint box .", "it 's a pleasant enough way to mark time , which is exactly what the rest of the disney crew is doing -- until inspiration , like a beam from the far end of the galaxy , strikes again .", "a rousing good time that should entertain kids and adults alike .", "do n't look for gravity-bound logic here . this is cartoon fantasy , not a literal translation , although in its way it stays pretty close to stevenson 's characters and storyline .", "fl\u00e1tula es tal vez el mejor idioma para expresar mi valoraci\u00f3n , algo que me da tristeza y no gusto decir ...", "a perfectly competent and often imaginative film that lacks what little lilo & stitch had in spades -- charisma .", "a cluttered mishmash of conflicting styles and times .", "i 've got nothing but praise for the work put into the art of this film , including the coloring , details , excitement and originality .", "imaginative , ridiculously anachronistic and distinctly masculine , this is disney 's best traditional animation effort since the emperor 's new groove .", "disney gambled on the whimsical but oddball idea of catapulting a rickety old boat into space . and on some levels , it works .", "although disney follows its standard formula in this animated adventure , it feels more forced than usual .", "it 's a rollicking adventure for you and all your mateys , regardless of their ages .", "although there are some minor problems in the script and storytelling plus the characters seem assembled from the disney cookie-cutter conveyor belt the kids wo n't mind .", "only occasionally succeeds in transposing the romantic spirit of robert louis stevenson 's 1883 adventure classic to the far reaches of the galaxy .", "one of the better efforts to come out of the mouse house 's traditional animation departments in recent years .", "it 's yo-ho-ho and a bundle of fun , along with an abundance of imagination and a bounty of spectacular imagery , a family film in the very best and most inclusive sense of that often misused term .", "-lsb- there 's -rsb- quite a bit of heart , as you would expect from the directors of the little mermaid and aladdin .", "a moviegoing pal of mine calls it ` disney goosebumps , ' the awestruck , think-i 'm - gonna-cry feeling evoked when the alchemy works and image and music fuse with your imagination and longing to transport you to another world .", "with its inventive art direction and stunning action sequences , not to mention sophisticated hilarity and no small amount of tongue-in-cheek homo-eroticism , this may be the sci-fi space pic for the grown-ups to see this holiday season .", "a film that will enthrall the whole family .", "martin short gives as much energy and flair to this film as robin williams did to aladdin and eddie murphy did to mulan . he is a pure joy to watch and will make you laugh out loud on several occasions .", "this is an enjoyable though forgettable film , brightly animated but allowing itself to descend into slapstick , fart jokes and flippant humor .", "MOV is the rousing action-adventure disney tried and failed to produce in last year 's atlantis : legend of the lost empire .", "this might please the 8 year-olds , but more discerning fans of animation , and adventure are likely to be disappointed with how slack and tedious this latest disney offering is .", "abounds with kid-friendly thrills .", "there 's enough meaty plot and character left beneath the fancy effects to make watching the film a satisfying experience .", "it 's a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy .", "delicious aesthetic , zippy dry dialogue , and some great adventure . superb voice casting .", "in visual fertility MOV rivals the top japanese animations of recent vintage .", "it just may inspire a few younger moviegoers to read stevenson 's book , which is a treasure in and of itself .", "this version does justice both to stevenson and to the sci-fi genre .", "though families will enjoy the classic story with a cosmic twist , the most valuable gem is the beautiful mix of hand-drawn and computer animation .", "contains a lot of cool little ideas ... but is lacking the one big idea that opens up the possibilities of animated story telling .", "the genre 's recent past has set the bar quite high , and MOV does n't quite make it over .", "the adventures that youngsters act out on the french fry-littered seats of the family minivan will surely be more exciting , and more imaginative , than the film itself .", "once you excuse the silliness of the concept , the movie is actually entertaining enough to win over this old pirate .", "retaining the swashbuckling spirit of stevenson 's novel but adding megabytes of computer-age cool , MOV is the one holiday thrill ride the whole family can enjoy .", "like atlantis , it 's one of those disney adventure cartoons that takes too long getting to anything really exciting -- and once there becomes too frenetic to effectively wow .", "sucking all the ` classic ' out of robert louis stevenson 's treasure island and filling the void with sci-fi video game graphics and disney-fied adolescent angst ...", "if you 're searching for a treasure , look elsewhere .", "there 's no mistaking the fact that this hybrid misses the impact of the disney classic , and even that of the excellent 1934 mgm version .", "this is exactly what animation should be about , presenting us with a thrillingly imaginative adventure that is utterly liberated from trivialities like the laws of physics and possibility .", "each scene looks wonderful , and the action is energetic and exciting enough to keep us hooked . forget where it came from and it 's not half bad .", "fine family fun .", "dazzles and delights , like a billion bits of gold bullion strewn about the caves of a rampaging buccaneer .", "splendid", "if you do n't have a youngster handy to give you an excuse to see MOV , hire one , just so you can step off this mortal coil in turmoil for 95 minutes of terrific adventure , with hardly any corn or schmaltz to distract you from a ripping good yar", "the film failed to be imaginative enough .", "disney 's MOV adds a unique spin to a classic story which has delighted readers for generations .", "it 's beautiful , it 's funny , it 's colorful . but somehow the magic is n't exactly there in full measure .", "akin to an extremely well-made saturday morning cartoon -- great for hyperactive four-year-olds or hungover students , not worth a trip to the pictures .", "there is nothing in MOV we have n't seen in recent animated efforts such as `` titan ae '' and disney 's own `` atlantis : the lost empire '' ...", "the most original and thrilling animated feature the studio has turned out in years .", "treasure island may be a much-loved story , but you would never know it from viewing the uninspired castration that is MOV .", "a typical trip that resembles the goonies as much as it does stevenson 's novel", "it brings to mind the bookish charms of undervalued disney cartoons like the rescuers and the black cauldron .", "owes more to the swashbuckling serials of yesteryear cinema than it does to cold , steely science fiction ponderings of the future .", "directors john musker and ron clements , the team behind the little mermaid , have produced sparkling retina candy , but they are n't able to muster a lot of emotional resonance in the cold vacuum of space .", "` treasure plane ' starts with the clever idea of transforming the story into an old-fashioned space opera , and the animated visuals are handily up to the studio 's best . yet the film 's total appeal may be undercut by a script that rarely feels inspired .", "... spiced with humor -lrb- ` i speak fluent flatula , ' advises denlopp after a rather , er , bubbly exchange with an alien deckhand -rrb- and witty updatings -lrb- silver 's parrot has been replaced with morph , a cute alien creature who mimics everyone and everything around -rrb-", "anyone who 's seen titan a.e. will have a hard time not feeling deja vu , even though disney 's effort is slightly better .", "this concoction , so bizarre to the adult mind , is actually a charming triumph where its intended under-12 audience is concerned .", "you could nap for an hour and not miss a thing ." ], "summary": "though its characterizations are weaker than usual , MOV offers a fast-paced , beautifully rendered vision of outer space .", "id": "10781" }, { "movie": "die_another_day", "reviews": [ "you leave feeling like you 've endured a long workout without your pulse ever racing .", "does n't fully recapture the magic of the connery films , but avoids the torpor which has afflicted most of the later ones ... there 's a pulse in the old boy yet .", "like most bond outings in recent years , some of the stunts are so outlandish that they border on being cartoonlike . a heavy reliance on cgi technology is beginning to creep into the series .", "i expect more from bond , so thumbs down .", "all in all , screenwriters : neal purvis and robert wade have managed to keep us from suspending disbelief and the film from self-destructing .", "half frivolous fun , half tedious .", "a meandering , over-inflated , everything - but-the - kitchen-sink attempt to one-up and wear down .", "the niftiest bond movie in years -- fresh , funny , and jammed to the rafters with demented stunts , boys ' - own gadgetry and brazen promiscuity .", "after `` MOV '' i 'm not opposed to hearing the line `` bond , james bond , '' again . after all of these years , even though he has n't changed much , we can still rely on 007 to give us an adrenaline rush .", "MOV gives us the coolness , the action , and the sex appeal in satisfying doses , which is enough to make it a solid bond entry , if not a spectacular one .", "the kick in the pants the bond franchise so desperately needs .", "brosnan is more feral in this film than i 've seen him before and halle berry does her best to keep up with him .", "it plays around and still delivers the goods .", "if anything , MOV shows that brosnan makes a good bond . i 've thought that since goldeneye , and i 'd hate to see this outing be his last , if only because it 's my least favorite of his stints so far .", "`` MOV '' makes you long for the days when roger moore played 007 . and who would ever admit to that !", "`` MOV '' was better than the last bond installment but that 's not saying much .", "MOV never quite finds real excitement or genuine wit .", "it 's a stale , overused cocktail using the same olives since 1962 as garnish . not only is entry number twenty the worst of the brosnan bunch , it 's one of the worst of the entire franchise .", "there 's just no currency in deriding james bond for being a clich % ufffdd , doddering , misogynistic boy 's club .", "too soon , the toys , gadgets and stunts for which the franchise has become famous reclaim it , and MOV becomes indistinguishable from the other faceless action films that seek that same audience .", "the most satisfying bond movie since the spy who loved me .", "prefab and formulaic all the way .", "when it 's good , it 's very good , but when it 's bad , it 's awful .", "MOV is the best bond film of its generation . really , it 's the best bond film without sean connery in it , period .", "007 shows he still has the double-o goods in MOV .", "despite an overabundance of obvious computer-generated effects , MOV shines as the best of the brosnan bonds .", "MOV is only intermittently entertaining but it 's hard not to be a sucker for its charms , or perhaps it 's just impossible not to feel nostalgia for movies you grew up with .", "that this bond will be smarter is clear from its title sequence , which leaves you both shaken and stirred .", "thankfully , bond returns classed up and decked out from his dismal last outing . this time , the fleming crew wisely take on the axis of evil for an action flick of the new world order .", "many aspects of MOV seem cribbed from previous bond films .", "no doubt tamahori has risen to the occasion in assuring the box office staying power of james bond and his recurring jolting journeys . MOV is indeed a view to a thrill .", "bond 's imminent obsolescence has been underlined by all the talk about franchise expansion .", "the very first movie i have seen in the secret agent series to warrant a recommendation .", "... there are some inspired sequences , such as an egomaniac 's sword duel from hell ... but next time , somebody needs to trim the fat to keep the superspy and his film a little less overindulgent .", "there is enough for the bond fan to like and enough for a critic to dislike .", "james bond is back again and this time he must stop a madman from taking over the world .", "whether it 's because the series ' thunder has been stolen by years of imitators and parodies or because the film 's script barely finds a pulse until the last 40 minutes , `` MOV '' too often feels as if it 's about to die that very day .", "may be far from the best of the series , but it 's assured , wonderfully respectful of its past and thrilling enough to make it abundantly clear that this movie phenomenon has once again reinvented itself for a new generation .", "it 's flawed , but it 's the best 007 flick in 20 years .", "bomb . james bomb .", "the formula is still in place , properly mixed and sufficiently varied to keep the fans happy for a couple of hours .", "` i say , ' said 10-year-old jimmy bond as he stepped into the glory of an english summer afternoon on royal albert street in the village of little balderdash , ` what an absolutely corking day for an adventure ! '", "an often derivative , often clever , and all too often agonizingly boring spy story .", "fans of james bond wo n't be disappointed by MOV", "with four films comfortably tucked under his tuxedo , brosnan has established himself as the second best bond next to sean connery . that 's hardly faint praise ; it 's kind of like calling him the second best home run hitter next to hank aaron .", "holds our interests longer than bond 's latest adventures .", "dead-on in so many respects that it is difficult to dislike .", "MOV comes at a time when the marketplace is already full of action-heavy spy movies , some of which out-bond james bond .", "director lee tamahori , who made his mark as a director of substance with once were warriors , is now completely substance-free .", "MOV delivers pretty much everything you could comfortably expect from a bond movie .", "one of the better bond films since pierce brosnan assumed the role .", "at this stage in the series , the formula is so rigid that the stunts pop up like clockwork , and the characters have become interchangeable parts of an assembly line .", "there 's a visual freshness to 007 's latest outing . those gorgeous iceland sequences blew me away .", "to appreciate MOV you need to suspend more than disbelief . you need to suspend disbelief over a hotel balcony with a sheet on its head .", "being the james junkie that i am , i ca n't help but accept this middling fix and hope the next one 's better .", "this is one of the sillier bonds , but the actors seem to be having fun , the pace is quick , and there 's a lot to look at . at least it 's not a bore like tomorrow never dies .", "arguably the best bond film in nearly 20 years ... glorious fun .", "it took 19 predecessors to get this ?", "make it half an hour shorter , and it 's the perfect bond flick .", "the film is so fraught with explosions and chases that the action eventually feels numbing .", "a tough , high octane bond determined to build momentum as he moves into his fifth decade .", "this bond film goes off the beaten path , not necessarily for the better .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he movie as a whole suggests the 40-year-old franchise is finally showing its age .", "it 's easily the fastest , meanest , funniest , edgiest bond of the brosnan era .", "as one clunky explosion piles on another , you picture how much more fun it would be if we could just watch austin 's version of the mayhem in , say , shag another day .", "a bit like watching a champion fighter win a title bout on points rather than a satisfying knockout .", "when the action stops , so does the movie .", "bond is keeping up with the times in everything but his story ideas , which seem as determined to keep cold-war anxieties alive as 007 is to get out of his latest scrape .", "a nice new step toward changing bond back into his older , tougher incarnations in a way that the audience wo n't revolt over .", "while certainly not without its charms and clearly not a chore to sit through , the film is n't as fun or engaging as it should be .", "if this outrageous espionage-podge did n't have the bond label on it , you 'd swear it was a jean-claude van damme flick .", "this movie has the usual impossible stunts ... but it has just as many scenes that are lean and tough enough to fit in any modern action movie .", "surely it will not be giving things away to tell you there 's absolutely nothing new about the latest episode .", "it 's better than the last film , the world is not enough , but it does n't really recapture the old vim and vigor .", "the first installment of the new millennium , maintains the franchise 's standing as the ultimate cinematic guilty pleasure .", "the title may assume that the series will MOV , but to me , it just flat-lined .", "with pierce brosnan combining the best of all the actors who came before him in the role , we have a worthy bond to begin the journey into the next forty years .", "one of the sturdier and darker of james bond films .", "i ca n't figure out the folks behind the james bond franchise . they keep making noise about wanting to update or inject more life into the series , but continually fall short in frustratingly obvious ways .", "MOV is both skillful and playful , and that 's about as high a compliment as i can give a 007 film .", "good last outing for brosnan", "how anyone else could sit through its 2 1/2 hours and not drop at least a dozen iq points is beyond my comprehension . particularly now that i 've seen it .", "brosnan 's best mission as bond yet , and the most satisfying installment of the franchise in recent memory .", "one thing remains the same -- the vital fun that a bond movie brings .", "what makes this the best bond in years is the surefootedness of brosnan 's performance , as well as tamahori 's fanboy insistence on covering all bases .", "a loving reminder of just exactly what it was that made us like martini swilling 007 in the first place .", "it 's as if austin powers never happened .", "regaining his bearings after that `` look how angry i can be '' turn in the world is not enough , brosnan finally plays bond as if he no longer has anything to prove .", "more sexual innuendos than the last ten bond pictures combined .", "while the action and exotic locales are intact , the dialogue is unbearably bad . some lines are so bad that when delivered , they 're schwarzenegger-ian .", "if i ca n't return to the past , i 'll happily follow a bond this reenergized into the future .", "this series should have died long ago , but they keep bringing it back another day as punishment for paying money to see the last james bond movie .", "damned if MOV does n't score , injecting some color and verve into a series badly in need of it . the story cracks and pops unlike any of at least the past six bond movies .", "as professionally mediocre as its predecessors .", "there 's only so much ridiculousness the human mind can take , and director lee tamahori crosses that line by a good 20 minutes .", "there 's much to love -- and more to puzzle over -- in this curiously science-fiction-style outing for 007 .", "pierce brosnan was born to play james bond , but he 'll never make the role his own if an intelligent script does n't pass through his mail slot soon .", "another rent installment for the ian fleming estate .", "the best of the pierce brosnan james bond films to date .", "it 's the best bond film in the last few years .", "the traditional heart and soul of the bond movies may be getting colder and darker , but the gimmicks , tempo , and excitement are intact .", "bond is back with a bang !", "it 's the 20th bond film and one might say they 've had their run .", "halle berry gives a go at the 007 franchise , working with pierce brosnan to show us a ripping good time .", "with its contemporary feel and set pieces galore , this bond will leave you both shaken and stirred .", "this bond does n't stop for donuts or martinis ... exhume MOV and you 'll find a fascinating allegory about the 2002 second coming of the bush presidency .", "the spy whom we all loved is looking less human and more like a videogame character ... . MOV is just another bond for the attention-deficit generation .", "in boldface fact , ` MOV ' is the best bond in years , and arguably ranks with the vintage sean connery set . any connery/bond fan knows that is high-spy praise .", "this is the first james bond film in a long time that i found entertaining .", "remember when bond had more glamour than clamor ? no more .", "tamahori 's visceral instincts ca n't guide him through a fantasy-land where agents outrace avalanches and swim unharmed through arctic waters .", "sexy , funny and spectacular , bond 's first mission of the new millennium is one of the best of the series .", "agent 007 is back in his 20th film adventure , and things are darker and more serious now .", "fuerte , golpeado , sexy , sangrante , explosivo ... se puede pedir ms a james ?", "dissing a bond movie is quite like calling a dog stupid , but when it has the temerity to run over two hours , you feel like winding up with a kick .", "could move president bush 's attention far to the east of iraq .", "with there being no end in sight to mike myers 's austin powers franchise , how will james bond now reconcile that he 's become a parody of a parody of a parody ?", "until -lrb- the -rrb- superfluous ... epilogue that leaks suspension of disbelief like a sieve , MOV is as stimulating & heart-rate-raising as any james bond thriller .", "should satisfy both diehard fans , who liked the plotting and interaction of early bond films , and die hard fans , who prefer bond shaken and stirred by massive explosions , vehicular crashes and gunplay befitting a central american revolution .", "there 's a heavy stench of ` been there , done that ' hanging over the film . it 's everything you 'd expect -- but nothing more .", "` MOV 's ' special effects will make your eyes open so wide your contacts might fall out , but the spy caper is double-crossed by a stupid script littered with one-liners so dumb that 007 actually makes xxx -lrb- vin diesel -rrb- sound like he 's clever .", "the bond films never make sense , but some of the plot twists here are ludicrous even by the usual standards .", "it 's a movie that tries to have it both ways -- and for the most part , succeeds .", "if you watch movies chiefly for stunts and special effects , this bond is for you . if you watch to see a beloved formula regurgitated , make tracks .", "MOV is still slick , entertaining and exhilarating enough to ensure that bond will live another and another and another day .", "vintage james bond .", "too loud , too long and too frantic by half , MOV suggests that the bond franchise has run into a creative wall that 007 can not fly over , tunnel under or barrel through .", "a tiresome movie that is at turns grim , overly violent and patently absurd .", "there are so many ridiculous ideas that defy the laws of biology and physics , yet it still manages to be fun ... once you get past all the groaning and eye rolling", "an eye-popping , edge-of-your seat flick that you will all but forget an hour later , but is fun while it lasts .", "only the last action sequence seems too far off-base from reality even for a bond movie . i say that intellectually , but it still keeps you on the edge of your seat , watching . you ca n't help it .", "the results are often leaden and even campy .", "interpretado por brosnan , 007 consegue at\u00e9 mesmo controlar seus pr\u00f3prios batimentos card\u00edacos . resta agora conseguir controlar a qualidade dos novos cap\u00edtulos da s\u00e9rie .", "` no es la mejor cinta de la serie , ni la mejor con brosnan a la cabeza , pero de que entretiene ni duda cabe . '", "not quite the birthday party we were expecting , but it 's a diverting enough spectacle .", "tamahori pumps a tremendous amount of energy into his bond movie , and it 's an electrifying ride .", "the batman & robin of the bond series .", "i 'm not sure if this is a compliment or not , but this bond flick is no worse or better than all the others .", "in a movie that 's distinguished by some higher heights than most recent bonds , and some new lows , MOV also sees bond do battle with obviously artificial digitally created backgrounds and effects .", "the problem for me is that the story is so entirely at the service of the special effects .", "bond flick pushes the pg-13 limits .", "bond has lost his charm and there seems little chance for amelioration .", "there was absolutely no choice but to dial it down afterward but not because `` MOV '' is an abomination of which to be ashamed . alongside `` you only live twice , '' it 's bond at his most aggressively outlandish and shamelessly entertaining .", "an old bond for a new century , in which 50-year-old brosnan , just starting to show his age , has to share time with an amazing glut of awful cgi .", "an attractive cast , silly gadgets , bad puns , worse cgi and a totally ludicrous plot make this the least of the brosnan bonds , but it all paves the way for an injection of grit with casino royale .", "face it , MOV simply blows the competition away . if you want excitement , laughs and pure sex appeal , remember one thing : bond 's really do have more fun .", "no one 's going to accuse MOV of being a sophisticated spy movie . it 's an over-the-top action movie that is to be enjoyed best with a big bucket of popcorn .", "berry 's saucy , full-bodied performance gives this aging series a much needed kick , making `` MOV '' one of the most entertaining bonds in years", "neal purvis and robert wade mix a relevant story with clever tributes to franchise films . their robust throwback obviously ensures bond will survive on screen way beyond `` another day . ''", "brosnan , in his fourth time up at the bond bat , hits this one out of the park .", "while ` die ' is hardly in a class with the best bond blockbusters , it 's a substantial improvement on the thoroughly mediocre 1999 installment ` the world is not enough ' ...", "oh , james ! your 20th outing shows off a lot of stamina and vitality , and get this , madonna 's cameo does n't suck !", "a midrange series entry that sports some tasty scenes , mostly in the first half , but also pushes 007 into cgi-driven , quasi-sci-fi territory that feels like a betrayal of what the franchise has always been about .", "an action movie which the word `` blockbuster '' was practically invented for , super spy james bond , as portrayed by pierce brosnan , returns for his twentieth adventure and strives not to mess with a good -lrb- or financially successful -rrb- formula .", "i 've been dining out on this story for years , and the meals seem to be getting poorer .", "the new movie lacks something , a special something .", "MOV has cute amusements , but seems to die every few minutes .", "you may feel a slight sense of opportunity lost , but you 'll leave the film satisfied , perhaps more than you 've been by any bond film in a decade .", "... only bond can save us from the latest eccentric , super-wealthy megalomaniac bent on world domination and destruction .", "about an hour into MOV , i started looking around for fat bastard .", "the latest and least of the pierce brosnan bonds .", "another bond film that turns out to be an unspectacular spectacle , at times winking and fun but too often plodding and hackneyed .", "a lot smarter than your average bond .", "the most thrilling , lavishly designed and imaginative bond picture in years .", "MOV is stylish and state of the art , and bond aficionados will love the anniversary homages to previous films .", "this 20th entry in the 40-year-old series easily emerges as the best of the brosnan bonds .", "this one will please the most loyal -lrb- forgiving -rrb- bond fans ...", "a good solid entry in the bond series , an enjoyable escapist adventure with end-to-end action .", "delivering on every count , MOV is one of the best bond films ever . action-stacked , this roller coaster of thrills combines a riveting narrative with the ever-seductive recipe of innovative gadgets , breathtaking stunts and beautiful women .", "-lsb- the digital effects -rsb- reminded me of terry gilliam 's rudimentary old monty python cartoons , in which he would cut out figures from drawings and photographs and paste them together .", "it fulfills its essential mission to entertain for 2 hours and 12 stunt-filled minutes in its patented , formulaic , satisfying way .", "MOV , the latest entry in the series , almost rejuvenates the franchise because it jettisons bond 's safety net early on .", "this is fun stuff . not brilliant , not enlightening , but fun . finally , a bond film has once again found that crucial balance between modern action and some good , old-fashioned bond fun .", "surely britain 's suavest secret agent can pick up more than this ! i mean , madonna 's in the movie and he ca n't even bag her !!!", "MOV is best processed as an over-the-top symphony of the most absurd elements these movies have to offer .", "this is a sharper , edgier bond , in which first-time bond director lee tamahori allows a smidgen of character work to creep in .", "the first bond movie in ages that is n't fake fun .", "after a summer of tired spoofs and lame imitations , it 's nice to sit back and enjoy a movie that 's bond , pure bond .", "`` MOV '' is a worthy entry in the pantheon of james bond movies .", "this is a train wreck of an action film -- a stupefying attempt by the filmmakers to force-feed james bond into the mindless xxx mold and throw 40 years of cinematic history down the toilet in favor of bright flashes and loud bangs .", "i can hear the collective sighs of little boys and little boys-at-heart across the world : `` whoooaaaaaa . cooooool . ''", "visually stylish .", "disappointing ... -lsb- it -rsb- just lumbers along until periodically someone calls for the stunt men and women .", "a thunderous ride at first , quiet cadences of pure finesse are few and far between ; their shortage dilutes the potency of otherwise respectable action . still , this flick is fun , and host to some truly excellent sequences .", "a fun james bond movie and an entertaining popcorn flick .", "license to kill ? bond has a license to offer barely adequate entertainment .", "to appreciate just how well done it is , compare it to the dumbed-down ersatz bond of xxx . MOV has style and at least a veneer of sophistication .", "there 's no real reason to see it , and no real reason not to .", "welcome back , 007 . it 's about bloody time .", "despite some spectacular action sequences , MOV is n't the strongest entry in the brosnan era of bond films .", "passably entertaining but also mechanical and joyless .", "MOV never escapes the urge to play with everything that 's come before it -- so much so that it forgets to give us something of its own . this is n't a bond film so much as an amalgamation of bond 's greatest hits ...", "brit wit writ by yank wank stank .", "while it has n't reinvented the series -lrb- would we really want that anyway ? -rrb- , there is enough ingenuity here balanced with the staples of the series to keep it , if not entirely fresh , at least from going stale .", "i 'm glad they decided to let james bond MOV because this was one 007 flick that i 'm glad was made .", "james bond movies are like first dates with empty-headed beauty pageant contestants : you get something beautiful to look at but through the course of the evening , you find there is not much depth or substance to match ." ], "summary": "its action may be bit too over-the-top for some , but MOV is lavishly crafted and succeeds in evoking classic bond themes from the franchise 's earlier installments .", "id": "10530" }, { "movie": "princess_and_the_warrior", "reviews": [ "tom tykwer reunites with franka potente for another exploration of fate , chance , and metaphysics , but what sounds like a surefire recipe for success ends up falling short .", "the MOV is an unpredictable , mythic tale about haunted outcasts that is both dazzling and disquieting .", "an inquisitive , aggressively stylistic film , sympathetic to its characters and eager to take risks .", "one of those rare movies that continually reinvents itself while building on what has gone before", "tykwer bails himself out with a strong , imaginative conclusion that delineates his themes of salvation and grace .", "does n't lack for ideas , nor for images that will sweep you up in their boldness and have the resonance of dreams .", "formalistically elegant and meticulous , yet ultimately unengaging .", "this is a love story , but it is n't one you 've ever seen before .", "nowhere near as dynamic as the title implies .", "what 's special about the film is at a deeper level , down where -lsb- tykwer -rsb- engages with the souls of his characters .", "it 's just over two hours long but feels like much more .", "blends elements of romantic thriller , heist movie , and several other genres into something original and unexpected .", "its two characters remain figures , merely symbols .", "an overlong , overdirected mess , which is only sporadically watchable .", "tykwer works hard to cover the emotional ground that he only hinted at in lola . it 's intriguing to watch his characters , because each is in the process of piecing together a broken human being .", "potente and furmann give fine performances in their respective tortured roles .", "it starts to feel like tykwer is drawing things out in artistic fashion merely because he can .", "often fascinating but bizarre and , ultimately , unsatisfying .", "pops with energy .", "playful but ultimately pointless .", "crawl , lola , crawl .", "twyker manages to make a bank robbery sequence , complete with gunshots and death , endlessly dull .", "another winner from writer/director tom tykwer .", "despite its storytelling skill and shimmering visual polish , the MOV is a curiously dispassionate film .", "is n't as playful and giddy as run lola run , but ... it may stick to your ribs longer .", "once in a while a picture comes along that captures not just love , but romance in all its fear , yearning , fantasy , eroticism and unexpected epiphanies .", "it 's a fascinating mix , even when the straight-faced melodrama clangs against such wicked , poker-faced absurdism .", "potente proves her versatility as an actress here with a much more subdued character , but is still capable of delivering powerhouse emotional scenes", "... a film that 's gorgeous to look at , but completely hollow and devoid of compelling characters .", "how do you follow up with one of the most kinetic films ever made ? the obvious answer would be to slow things down , take a more introspective and less visceral approach . in short , do something different .", "it 's hard to think of another movie that satisfies in such unorthodox ways .", "if i could have found more about the human condition uncovered that was plausible , i would have been more receptive to the quirks in this film ...", "an endurance test of overly long sequences bereft of impact .", "una pel\u00edcula muy regular , despu\u00e9s del sabor que nos dej\u00f3 corre lola corre .", "an uncertain and aimless effort that strives for a more character-centered drama while demonstrating very little facility with normal storytelling .", "a slow trudge up a sadly shallow hill .", "this is bravura filmmaking and a movie not to be missed .", "gets better and better as it goes along .", "`` a contrivance and a fraud ... obvious and lazy . ''", "princess wo n't leave you as breathless as did lola 's , but that does n't make it any less astonishing a trip .", "MOV is a botch , but it 's the kind of bad movie that can only happen to a good-and potentially great-filmmaker .", "princess is an exercise in languorousness , with each scene sauntering along with the energy of a three-toed sloth on codeine .", "slack where lola was airtight , gimmicky where lola was stylish .", "while `` the MOV '' contains some beautiful imagery , in the end it covers no new ground", "potente is almost unrecognizable in an incredibly visceral performance as sissi .", "twisty , wittily visual , amazingly fractured fairy tale of fate .", "compelling and decent , but not great .", "you do n't have any idea what 's going to happen next .", "every person 's behavior , tykwer demonstrates with a flourish , is ultimately a matter of chance .", "mesmerizing fable of frozen grief and stubborn love .", "perhaps the greatest surprise is just how the film brings you inside these characters , who on their surfaces look so strange .", "part fairytale , part romance , part self-awakening , part bank heist , there are just too many parts .", "a ghostly , lyrical portrait of things happening accidentally on purpose .", "an original story with an ingenious narrative structure that gradually lures the viewer into its two main characters ' introspective journeys .", "this unconventional love-and-crime yarn will give -lsb- tykwer 's -rsb- admirers plenty of food for thought .", "run lola run had a good beat , and you could dance to it . the MOV , on the other hand , is a little turgid .", "unlike hollywood directors , tykwer takes his time letting us getting to know the characters and to judge whether they are heroes or villains .", "has one of the most thought-provoking and intelligent scripts of any movie i have seen in recent months .", "the boldness of its ambition is matched by the masterful quality of its execution .", "ultra-slick , but ultimately shallow .", "potente ... proves her work in lola was no fluke .", "full of sleek and often stunning images and thrilling effects set to the constant throbbing of an electronic score .", "it 's dreary and self-indulgent but has its crystalline moments .", "if a love miracle is happening in wuppertal , it 's fatally swamped by laborious delaying tactics and glum-glam affectations .", "potente proves she has more than good stamina with this role .", "the MOV is not without strangely interesting characters or scenes , but the overall effect is disappointing and glum .", "takes itself far too seriously .", "in terms of intellectual and emotional stimulation , who could ask for more ?", "a captivating piece of work from an excellent team .", "we wait for the build to climax and pay off , and it never really does .", "a highly imaginative effort which is grounded in the reality of being disturbed .", "the movie ultimately comes across as processed cheese .", "a heady yet disciplined work , a dazzling fable of love , destiny and redemption ." ], "summary": "more slow-moving than run lola run , this film nonetheless offers an intriguing storyline about love and fate .", "id": "13966" }, { "movie": "water", "reviews": [ "one of the best movies of the year with its extraordinary depiction of plight of indian widows and their yearning for liberation .", "artful in showing the positive side of belief and the negative responses to freedom and free thinking", "compelling in the way it gradually opens up , beginning as the story of a little girl 's plight , wedging in some supporting characters , expanding to add some cultural perspective , and finally encompassing no less than the future of india and its people .", "here 's yet another example of people confusing an honorable message with a good movie .", "the film 's visuals hold almost as much power as its story does .", "with none of the joyous zest for life we encountered in fire , or the emotional power from earth , this intense story set in an ashram for widows almost drowns us with sorrow .", "this work of gorgeous fury , about the virtual imprisonment of millions of hindu widows in the years before independence , transforms mehta 's feminist rage into an eloquent testament to the hunger for freedom .", "it could really use a dose of fire 's heat .", "` MOV ' glows from rich and natural lighting , warm and radiant colors , and powerful symbolic imagery .", "unjustly victim to the same religious system to which the main character is faithful , her confines are a strange necessity to her as is the MOV to the lilies .", "... politically provocative ...", "... hitches some of the most irresistible conventions of hindi movie melodrama to an earnest agenda of social protest .", "watch and be stunned .", "... the incessant references to gandhi keep gumming up the class-war love story .", "an exhilarating , intensely moving film of bold , unwavering vision , MOV brings meehta 's elemental trilogy to a triumphant close .", "mehta has inspired her cast to rise from one dramatic challenge to another , and her film is charged throughout with the tension between the wisdom of accepting one 's lot in life and the urge to resist it .", "as chuyia sees this simple pleasure loom so crucially for auntie , the girl 's face shows that she comes of age in a way at once wrenching and inspiring , rendered in details of framing and glimpsing .", "... an involving , moving piece of work with the gloss of an old studio epic .", "... MOV is an exquisite film about the institutionalized oppression of an entire class of women and the way patriarchal imperatives inform religious belief .", "becomes another round of ammo in the argument that a society 's unwillingness to adapt to the changes brought on by an evolving , shrinking world causes much of its misery .", "taken as a whole , MOV presents a damning view of this aspect of fundamental hinduism .", "... an important movie that captures the beginning of modern india in scenes of gandhi preaching his message of freedom .", "... deepa mehta 's controversial new epic is driven by a scorching urgency whose intensity exceeds even the previous two installments of mehta 's elements trilogy of indian romances .", "lyrical imagery is matched with subtle performances .", "it 's a heartbreaking film , and we can see why the powers that be in india are so angry .", "a tribute to all the dispossessed in our world and an amplification of their silent screams", "-lsb- c -rsb- aptivating from the very first frame to the last .", "pretty amazing stuff . pretty incredible movie .", "... a gorgeously shot , melancholy drama about a 7-year-old girl sent to live in a ` widows ' house ' in 1938 india .", "although MOV is easily ms. mehta 's richest and most complex film , it is still the work of a humanitarian , made with incredible tenderness and real concern for the plight of her female characters .", "MOV does n't fully capture the pain and hardship of these repressed women , but it 's a powerful saga of the suppressive force of certain cultural customs .", "like india 's greatest filmmaker , satyajit ray , mehta is a great pure-hearted storyteller and a maker of shining naturalistic images .", "the film is lovely in the way satyajit ray 's films are lovely . it sees poverty and deprivation as a condition of life , not an exception to it , and finds beauty in the souls of its characters .", "succeeds in its central goal : to turn a forgotten class of women into real , memorable human beings who deserve a different life .", "below its surface , MOV is n't about religion , politics or even india . it 's about timeless and universal divides between people , when humanity is eclipsed by self-serving subjugation .", "it levels its criticisms within a climate of respect , a combination that creates a work of true humanity .", "profound , passionate and overflowing with incomparable beauty .", "MOV runs deep because mehta is an able -- if somewhat gloomy -- storyteller .", "tedious as a high-school health-class movie", "it is superb and strange at once , a discreet and self-disciplined attack dog of a movie .", "surprisingly , not much has changed in the last 70 years . the tradition of sequestering widows continues in india . mehta deserves praise for spotlighting this situation . MOV is one of the year 's best films .", "one of the best films of the year .", "full of lush , fluid cinematography and evocative music , MOV is an important look at a social injustice , and mehta 's most accomplished film yet .", "though it 's a story told with feminist sensitivity , it 's also the most relevant perspective for such injustice to women .", "powerful tale that unfortunately fails to provide any kind of real historical context for the oppression of indian widows .", "mehta explores the politics of religion to highlight how religious hypocrisy is used to ensure women are undermined and made subservient for economic purposes .", "... the incidence of violence against women at home or in institutions give mehta 's 1938 tale a currency that confirms the old notion `` actions change , but attitudes do not . ''", "perhaps the adversity of making the movie allowed the filmmakers and actors to empathize more fully with the subject and characters of MOV .", "quite possibly the best picture of the year thus far , with no fewer than three of the most luminous female performances i have ever seen onscreen .", "... gorgeous and heartbreaking ... full of glorious , unforgettably pretty images ... but they do not overpower mehta 's involving drama or the exceptionally fine performances of her stars ...", "detailed and graced with irreverent humor and fine performances , mehta 's film deals powerful blows to economic injustice and misogyny .", "an unforgettable film of devastating beauty", "every moment that is exquisite here ... is tinged with a profound melancholy ... for every beautiful moment ... there is an ugly counterpart ...", "the final chapter in mehta 's feminist trilogy -lrb- fire , earth -rrb- , is , alas , the weakest .", "the humane and courageous clarity of mehta 's storytelling works on you like a hard spring rain .", "packs a punch that is difficult to parry .", "-lsb- mehta 's -rsb- graceful direction keeps MOV from feeling like medicine .", "you 'll leave the theater with a lot to think about , especially regarding the plight of women around the globe .", "mehta 's most powerful film to date", "reminds us that mehta is a filmmaker of courage -- she refused to abandon this film even after fundamentalist protestors shut down the production in india -- and singular style , telling stories that have never been told on screen .", "ebbs and flows with devastating truths and profound insights into the hypocrisy of extremism in any religion .", "mehta 's film is courageous and reticent , a shout masquerading as a whisper .", "beautiful yet sad , a tale drenched in centuries of stagnant , holy MOV that cleanses the body but putrefies the soul .", "mehta has made a film of jaw-dropping beauty and eye-opening insight . it 's not to be missed .", "unfolds with the clean , simple lines of a fairy tale , and if the characters initially seem to be too black-or-white to be believable , the moral complexity of the story reveals itself in a gradual , subtle manner .", "in an elemental way ... the film always works .", "haunting and outraged , it 's a compelling cry against inhumanity .", "this is one of those great foreign films that you wish hollywood would make so more people would go see them .", "a lovely and compelling film .", "works on a large , almost operatic , scale but , instead of seeing its world in simplistic terms of heroes and villains , it 's a tapestry of immensely complex characters motivated by historic forces and quirks of personality .", "like bandit queen and maya , MOV bravely delves into outmoded social traditions of india , thus roiling the waters of religious fundamentalism , which might mean that deepa mehta 's film will never get past the censors in that country .", "both the plot and its symbolism are transparently basic , yet mehta handles them with a quiet , lyrical assurance .", "mehta 's conventional direction fails to do proper justice to this disturbing reality .", "mehta has concocted a potent mix of politics , historical conflict , religion and philosophical questioning .", "an exquisite drama brimming with life and laughter and great tenderness and wrenching tragedy .", "with `` MOV , '' a subdued but moving and emotionally powerful masterpiece , deepa mehta ends her `` elements trilogy '' movies .", "deftly balancing epic sociopolitical scope with intimate human emotions , all polished to a high technical gloss , deepa mehta 's MOV is a profoundly moving drama .", "mehta prevailed , and this scandalous , beautiful and very moving tale of repression , hope and a tragedy is her triumph , and hindu india 's shame .", "controversial for exposing the rigidity of the hindu religion .", "both a high-minded glossy soap opera , in the tradition of a darryl f. zanuck forbidden-love potboiler like ` island in the sun , ' and a fierce expose of the mistreatment of women encouraged by fundamentalist religious tradition ...", "MOV simmers at the injustice heaped upon these women because of religious tradition .", "all the pat plotting and discourse in the world ca n't extinguish the fire of a film this well-intended , sensitively acted and beautifully filmed .", "for those who can accept mehta 's approach , it 's a remarkably rewarding film .", "... you 're an observer to a real dialogue and not merely a viewer in an audience watching a scripted drama and plot unfold .", "the movie 's sentimental vision rests on the flimsy idea that ` real ' religion never sanctions cruelty .", "it slowly builds in emotional power .", "a heartbreaking prism through which to understand the absurdity and cruelty of this practice ." ], "summary": "this compassionate work of social criticism is also luminous , due to both its lyrical imagery and cast .", "id": "98836619" }, { "movie": "1063452-pocahontas", "reviews": [ "as for the songs , they 're guaranteed to keep your shoes glued to the floor", "both resplendent and restrained .", "adult viewers , spoiled by what has come before , may feel that this film , which relates the legendary romance between a chief 's daughter and english adventurer john smith in the new world , is more by-the-numbers than inspired .", "disney deserves praise for raising the ante on its ambitions in animation . next time , though , a little less civics lesson and a little more heart .", "disney 's 33rd animated feature is so good that it deserves to follow in the beautiful footsteps of beauty and the beast and earn an oscar nomination for best picture .", "true to the film 's idealized spirit , directors mike gabriel and eric goldberg similarly fend off history .", "imagine a cult disney cartoon , for this may be it .", "an animated movie of incredible beauty .", "MOV is the best-looking of the modern disney animated features , and one of the more thoughtful : it is about real issues , even if it treats them with naive idealism .", "as long as republicans are in power , the line `` you think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you '' will remain relevant .", "one of the most scattered of the studio 's famed animated features .", "... being away from its high-powered predecessors , it has marched on well on its own .", "a good one to explain tolerance and diversity to the young ones in your family .", "the disney artists have created a vivid palette for the picture .", "all disney has really done in its disappointing 33rd animated feature is revive the stereotype of the noble savage .", "MOV ca n't get stirred dramatically for political correctness , the finale will please nobody , and the songs are duff . that said , there are enough incidental felicities to pass the time pleasantly .", "why make a disney cartoon and take all the fun out of it ?", "taking advantage of the studio 's breathtakingly intricate animation , directors mike gabriel and eric goldberg have breathed vitality into this , the fifth ` new wave ' disney animated picture .", "with an original score by alan menken and gilbert and sullivan-ish songs by menken and lyricist stephen schwartz , the movie is the cartoon equivalent of a full-scale , high-quality broadway musical .", "overall this seems like a reasonable stab at an impossible agenda .", "overall , MOV is a triumph as a visual experience -lrb- though the music is unusually bland -rrb- , but a disappointment as a film .", "`` MOV '' is n't an a-movie in the disney catalog , but it 's a solid second-tier film that , despite its romanticizing of the `` noble savage , '' nonetheless features themes that are wholesome and consistent with disney 's messaging .", "it 's hard to excuse the reconception of the eleven or twelve-year-old MOV ... as a statuesque supermodel , especially as kids do n't need their stories to be hung on romance to deem them , err , shapely . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the film of the disney renaissance likeliest to elicit a shudder of dismay from all but the most maniacal disney buffs .", "fine for kids ; just do n't expect a history lesson .", "forgettable .", "just about everything in this lavish , animated feature is for the pigtail set .", "-lsb- a -rsb- handsome , deeply felt , even more deeply reverent animated musical .", "not only historically dubious , but the dullest disney animation for years .", "a surprisingly understated and mature romantic drama that just happens to be animated .", "though released during the disney slump that came post-lion king , MOV was the last truly quality disney animated film until tarzan came along a few years later . it does n't touch the aforementioned lion , but a worthy part of your collection .", "horrible . racist . an affront .", "this is one of disney 's best .", "any damage such revisionist history may impose on young minds is offset by the honestly inspiring thoughts MOV offers .", "enjoyable , but does n't measure up to disney 's recent standards .", "another disney feature destined for the classic status", "... belittles the true historical figure of pocohantas by reducing her to the status of sexy native american barbie .", "centers upon a heroine whose soul and spirit are worth emulating .", "disney 's 33rd animated feature , and its first with characters based on real people , is a stunning movie with clever twists , vivid characterizations , insightful songs and a surprising harvest of revisionist history .", "a refreshing combination of old-fashioned animation and contemporary technology , MOV is less about story and more about the artistic possibilities of color , detail and striking reality .", "one of the worst animated films in disney history , you 'll get more genuine history out of a pop-up book", "disney 's well-meaning solemnity seeps over the characters like spilled ink .", "with MOV , the artists at disney once again prove that when it comes to animation , no can hold a candle to them .", "MOV is a touching tribute to the power of loyalty , courage , cooperation , and , more than anything else , sympathetic understanding ." ], "summary": "MOV means well , and has moments of startling beauty , but it 's largely a bland , uninspired effort , with uneven plotting and an unfortunate lack of fun .", "id": "9544" }, { "movie": "1109257-others", "reviews": [ "a film that has much to recommend it despite its shortcomings .", "y es que no se trata de una cinta de terror o de miedo constante , y esa es la virtud obvia e inmediata : los temores son los propios , la elegante forma de ...", "los otros representa un nuevo cl\u00e1sico del g\u00e9nero , y el tiempo seguramente le dar\u00e1 el justo lugar que merece .", "a masterful film that reinvigorates the long forgotten genre of the female gothic .", "a welcome change of pace from most contemporary scary stories , where the shocks come with all the subtlety of flashers jumping out of park bushes .", "as surprising a gem as you can find in what seems like an increasingly tired genre .", "with a top-notch lead and a talented director , it delivers some smart summer chills that serve as a nice tonic from cgi-laden banality .", "amen\u00e1bar racks up the tension to unbearable levels in a spooky shocker that 's worthy of any comparison with m night shyamalan 's the sixth sense .", "one of the most enjoyable , artfully-constructed films of the year .", "thanks to a deft directorial hand , a wonderful attention to detail and some gloriously entertaining performances , the MOV ranks among the best movies of the year .", "nicole kidman 's brilliant turn dominates this sumptuously made supernatural thriller , which sustains creepy tension without relying on gory violence or special effects .", "the MOV is a modern horror film with an old-fashioned touch , relying on suggestion and suspense to generate fear .", "good but creepy ; may be too intense for some .", "it 's obvious that amen\u00e1bar is trying to subtly build layers of ghostly tension , but man , till it nears the climax , this movie crawls .", "in this elegantly crafted , chillingly effective tale , -lsb- everything -rsb- is significant . nothing in the writing or directing is left to chance .", "a must see - or should that be scream ?", "the ending is rather predictable , but the rest of the film is very skillfully wrought , with excellent performances by adults and children alike .", "the MOV , like its popular predecessors the sixth sense and the usual suspects , keeps us -lrb- here , literally -rrb- in the dark for the entire movie and then , just before everyone packs up to leave , throws a shocking curve our way making us rethink everything we", "the final reel of the MOV is reasonably captivating , but the 85 minutes that come before it are mostly just dull and atmospheric .", "for every dozen slasher films , there is one genuinely innovative and hair-raising horror film that dares to take chances and force you to rely on your imagination", "mr. serling would be pleased .", "the fact that the big surprise is so obvious makes the deliberate pacing seem painfully slow .", "a disquieting , classy , superbly realized horror tale .", "an enjoyable , well made thriller for those who like things that go bump in the night", "creaky , foggy , pale .", "a classically elegant , yet gut-wringing ghost story with a brilliantly conceived twist ending", "the film geek inside of me is satisfied , but the scaredy cat in me is n't .", "a horror film that proves you ca n't have your screams , and substance , too .", "nicole kidman shows off impeccable acting talent .", "rarely has one absorbing premise unraveled so quickly under the weight of the ludicrous twist .", "a tantalizing spine-tingler .", "it 's atmospheric , stylish , and spooky . the plot is well thought-out and its secrets and mysteries are unveiled slowly . unfortunately , it is also cold , distancing , and moves at a glacial pace .", "i saw the ending a mile away and could n't have jumped higher .", "creeps into your bones and makes you shiver .", "the MOV is that most atypical of hollywood productions : it is magnificently understated and dedicated to earning its reactions through that holy cinematic trinity of script , direction , and performance .", "it 's that most rare of spookshows : a literate and mature ghost story that works on multiple levels simultaneously .", "kidman hits perfect notes of stubbornness , desperation , denial and terror as the film builds to its climax .", "this is some of the giddiest , creepiest fun i 've had in a while .", "a simplistic one-trick film i 'm sure to forget about entirely within a week-very much along the lines of the sixth sense -lrb- without its charms -rrb-", "`` my god , was the MOV scary . ''", "a second outstanding performance from nicole kidman in just over two months .", "a welcome throwback film to an era when the thriller belonged to actors and the genre was manipulated by directors , not special effects wizards .", "overall , almenabar offers too little , too late in the story for viewers who like a sporting chance to out-think their thrillers .", "something that giants such as steven spielberg , ridley scott and tim burton have not been able to match so far this year .", "worth seeing more than once .", "is caught in its own netherworld , twixt somber and somnolent .", "refreshingly , the film never resorts to special effects to be spooky .", "one of the year 's best films .", "kidman , who gave a fearless , generous performance in one of the year 's other most original works , moulin rouge , proves equally adept here at the other end of the spectrum .", "the most sophisticated and satisfying ghost story on film since the sixth sense .", "unlike most films about the supernatural , this spellbinding psychological thriller creates suspense through character-development and atmosphere , not by relying on creepy special effects .", "writer-director alejandro amenabar has assembled a chiller that 's thoroughly engrossing without ever grossing us out , and he 's gotten an intense , masterfully modulated performance from kidman that easily ranks among her finest .", "good ghost story ... genuinely creepy .", "like a stranger following in the blackness of twilight , the MOV creeps up on an audience when they least expect it and leaves them breathless and dreading . it 's a throwback to psychological terror films of yesteryear . there 's no blood or foresee", "watch it , and see what was wrong with the zemeckis/ford/pfeiffer flop what lies beneath .", "the sound effects editors and cinematographer ... had a field day with this film .", "hey , shymalan , de bont ... this is how you make a haunted house/ghost story !", "muitos filmes s\u0103o capazes de provocar sustos ; poucos , por\u00e9m , conseguem causar arrepios como os outros .", "-lsb- kidman 's performance turns -rsb- amen\u00e1bar 's simple genre piece into a suggestive fairy tale meditation on mothers and their children .", "... relies as much on the evocation of mood as it does on things that go bump in the night .", "the acting is fine all around . kidman makes for a hair-raising neurotic , and the child actors give subtly nuanced performances .", "everything is designed to service a finale more complex than what preceded without it .", "a tense and fascinating ghost story .", "the director 's technical rigor , in other words , outstrips his conceptual discipline , and midway through the film he crosses the thin boundary that separates mystery from muddle .", "an elegantly crafted entertainment , balanced between the psychological and the supernatural .", "in drawing out his effects , amenabar is a little too confident that style can substitute for substance .", "the MOV stands apart merely for recognizing that animatronic gargoyles are no substitute for unhinged neuroses .", "amenabar , a master of suspenseful pacing , takes his time allowing the layers of perception to be removed .", "the MOV is what the haunting and the sixth sense should have been .", "eschewing the mayhem of most hollywood horror stories , alejandro amenabar makes the fears of grace and her children vivid and palpable .", "its pleasures are subtle and suggestive -- it sticks with you because it knows that the scariest things are the ones you ca n't see .", "amen\u00e1bar expertly lays on the atmosphere and suspense , guiding the action ever-so-subtly until it raises the hairs on the back of your neck .", "too polite , too subdued for its own good .", "when it comes to turning the screws of psychological terror , amenebar is an expert technician .", "if you want a good scare , you should see this .", "even at its most plodding , the film causes more gasps than yawns .", "this narrative-twisty story is helped by strong performances .", "a stylish attention-getter , the movie eventually wears you out without offering that much .", "the film is beautiful to behold but lacking in any kind of palpable dread or suspense .", "the movie has a scary/seductive visual allure , and the mystery of the invisible boy gains power as amenabar allows it to deepen , ever so slightly , from scene to scene .", "the MOV is a thoughtfully chilling movie . it is not the action , but the look , sound and feel that make it nerve-racking .", "creepy-verging - on-campy thriller with a great payoff , but a lot of broken promise .", "favors too much teasing delay spiced by arbitrary insinuations -lrb- war guilt , marital discord , etc. -rrb- and a ` surprise ' topper that could have made even rod serling squirm .", "a thinking person 's horror movie .", "this is the sort of old-fashioned , but highly effective horror / suspense picture that puts any and all ` slasher ' films to shame in both eliciting the goosebumps and delivering the scares in an intelligent fashion .", "clever as the film is , though , it turns out to be an exercise in narrative withholding that 's more headache provoking than suspense laden .", "bumpy at first , with a few too many clich\u00e9s and an awful lot of doors opening and closing . but by its final image -- a beautifully fading portrait through a window -- i was swept in .", "a delicious little ghost story that takes place within the confines of a single haunted house and recalls such minimalist classics of the genre as the innocents and the original version of the haunting .", "an unconvincing , pretentiously artsy pastiche of just about every hoary old gothic thriller you can think of .", "coming near the end of a summer season filled with overproduced , underwritten movies , the MOV feels like a small miracle .", "kidman has thrown herself into her role as if it were lady macbeth on the london stage , with formidable results .", "scary on occasion , cold to the touch and downright creepy at times .", "the film has everything you want in a supernatural thriller except thrills .", "a substantial , evocative piece of cinema and a superior one for its genre .", "it is sure to take a place alongside the creepiest classics .", "suffers from an easily predicted ` twist ' ending that spoils the chill factor .", "the MOV might suffer slightly because it 's similar to other recently told ghost stories , but its single-minded vision and pungent mood go a long way toward tickling the subconscious .", "instead of cheap scares , -lsb- amenabar -rsb- uses atmosphere and light and dark contrasts to build suspense and tension .", "all in all , amenabar has created a ghost story as evocative and authentically english as the mist on the moors .", "throughout the MOV , what you do n't see is more dreadful than what you do .", "sets out to be a classic ghost story , but fails to grasp that special something that makes such films more than layers of mist .", "the creepy joy of this film is in the capacity it has for astounding even the most jaded movie lover .", "an old-fashioned , goose-pimply movie .", "it gives you a case of the creeps oh-so slowly , then hits you with a clever , mind-warping way of saying , ` boo ! '", "the MOV has so many touches reminiscent of the sixth sense that it becomes distracting .", "the gimmicks , in the end , are too arbitrary to tie together in a memorably haunting fashion , though they do culminate in a big twist , a nifty one that almost -- but not quite -- makes you want to see the movie again .", "there 's just enough mystery to keep the audience guessing .", "the MOV is a horror movie in which the scary elements are all psychological , but that does n't mean it does n't sometimes jolt the senses .", "the MOV ... would be unshakably bone-chilling even if you blacked out everything on the screen except nicole kidman 's porcelain face , her eyes frozen wide with fear .", "what it lacks in slick computer graphics is more than made up for in creepy dramatic cliches .", "aims less for subtlety than something out of a horror-movie grab bag .", "an instant classic amongst supernatural thrillers with a finely crafted surprise ending and a hot nicole kidman to boot .", "this one gives you all the requisite chills and thrills , and still manages to be about something .", "the real star of the movie is the atmosphere , presented beautifully by cinematographer javier aguirresarobe and the unknown gaffer , as well as the house itself .", "one of the elevating strengths of the film is that amenabar is telling more than a ghost story . he 's methodically building a character study .", "actually had me wrapped up in the progress of its story and the fate of its heroine .", "packs a formidable fright simply through the time-tested special effect of atmosphere .", "like the best ghost stories , it 's frightening because of what you do n't see ; suspenseful because we anticipate disaster , not because it has struck .", "while most horror movies aim for the stomach , the MOV is made to tingle the spine .", "prioritizes human drama above horror-film gimmickry ...", "a very cool , very creepy , very dark ghost story .", "one of the most elegantly suspenseful ghost stories in years .", "this much i can guarantee , as you keep trying to guess where the story is headed , you will not be disappointed when it gets there .", "this is one scary movie , not because we see ghosts or monsters , but because kidman makes us feel her fear as our own .", "though it creates tension and manages a few effective jolts , ... after it 's over frustrated viewers may be inclined to call it ` the sixth nonsense . '", "a fertile meditation on the human fixation for control over the chaos of life , interwoven with moral certainty in military and existential battle with moral relativity .", "the clever twist almost works to dismiss the tough wait it takes to get to the ending .", "begins with a scream and ends with the best goosebump-inducing finale since the sixth sense .", "the low-key , handsomely photographed production drips with atmosphere and barely suggested menace .", "the MOV evokes a hierarchically-informed spirit world where chaos and acceptance is par for course on one 's way to supreme enlightenment .", "the spookiest movie since ` the sixth sense . '" ], "summary": "the MOV is a spooky thriller that reminds us that a movie does n't need expensive special effects to be creepy .", "id": "75458665" }, { "movie": "1116086-trapped", "reviews": [ "` es en verdad una pena que mandoki est\u0439 realizando cintas tan malas desde hace alg\u044an tiempo , pues talento tiene , pero qui\u0439n sabe d\u0443nde lo tiene escondido . '", "a sleazy , exploitative thriller that milks its child-in-danger premise for all it 's worth .", "it comes off as so silly that you would n't be surprised if ba , murdock and rest of the a-team were seen giving chase in a black and red van .", "i 'm half-convinced it 's a very poker-faced comedy . then again , i may be giving the filmmakers way too much credit .", "... so many directions with so much silliness that a surprise no longer surprises .", "nada poderia preparar o p\u044ablico para o caos que toma conta da produ\u0437\u0433o em seu ato final , que , aparentemente , foi escrito enquanto o roteirista encontrava-se b\u043abado .", "the manner in which this film flies completely off the rails is undoubtedly amusing , but its also disappointing , considering the fair competence of all that came before .", "i do n't mind admitting that the movie , for me , became about courtney love . that 's the effect she has ...", "what started out as a taut contest of wills between bacon and theron , deteriorates into a protracted and borderline silly chase sequence .", "un thriller manqu\u0439 qui tombe sur les nerfs presque d\u0438s la premi\u0438re image .", "point blank : sitting through this feels like being held for ransom .", "the title MOV turns out to be a pretty fair description of how you feel while you 're watching this ultra-manipulative thriller .", "a good , albeit over-plotted thriller with one major twist too many .", "what might have been a tight little thriller is ruined by excess plot contrivances and a badly bungled over-the-top conclusion .", "adapting his novel 24 hours , first-time screenwriter greg iles has neglected to include in his plotting a sense of impending doom , a lack of purpose that is n't helped by the arid filmmaking style of director luis mandoki .", "the movie is a negligible work of manipulation , an exploitation piece doing its usual worst to guilt-trip parents .", "a reasonably efficient mechanism , but it offers few surprises and finds its stars slumming in territory they should have avoided .", "MOV wo n't score points for political correctness , but it may cause parents a few sleepless hours -- a sign of its effectiveness .", "taut , well made ... and memorably performed . it also happens to be thoroughly unpleasant .", "great character interaction .", "never engaging , utterly predictable and completely void of anything remotely interesting or suspenseful .", "brisk hack job .", "the movie is so contrived , nonsensical and formulaic that , come to think of it , the day-old shelf would be a more appropriate location to store it .", "there are individual scenes that pack a real punch , but they are usually followed by something pretty heavy-handed or over-the-top .", "MOV presents a frightening and compelling ` what if ? ' scenario that will give most parents pause ... . then , something terrible happens .", "feels like the faceless product of a hollywood screenwriting computer program , one that provide everything but personality and a brain .", "another disposable kidnapping thriller .", "the smash 'em - up , crash 'em - up , shoot 'em - up ending comes out of nowhere substituting mayhem for suspense .", "a predictable , manipulative stinker . the story passes time until it 's time for an absurd finale of twisted metal , fireballs and revenge .", "there 's one thing that you can say about the generic suspense thriller MOV in that the title aptly captures the claustrophobic feeling one will get in viewing this uneventful kidnapping yarn .", "neatly constructed thriller .", "a tightly drawn , propulsive thriller .", "charlize chases kevin with a gun . courtney chases stuart with a cell phone . the sound of gunfire and cell phones ringing .", "entirely suspenseful , extremely well-paced and ultimately ... dare i say , entertaining !", "true to its title , it traps audiences in a series of relentlessly nasty situations that we would pay a considerable ransom not to be looking at .", "indifferently implausible popcorn programmer of a movie .", "for a good chunk of its running time , MOV is an effective and claustrophobic thriller .", "a relatively effective little potboiler until its absurd , contrived , overblown , and entirely implausible finale .", "this one is probably best seen as a rental . from the looks of things , it should n't take that long to make it to the video store , either .", "`` MOV '' is one of the most hilarious movies that 's hit the big screen this year . unfortunately , it 's supposed to be a dramatic thriller .", "it 's hard to believe these jokers are supposed to have pulled off four similar kidnappings before .", "a direct-to-void release , heading nowhere .", "i felt MOV and with no obvious escape for the entire 100 minutes .", "not really bad so much as distasteful : we need kidnapping suspense dramas right now like we need doomsday thrillers .", "though there are many tense scenes in MOV , they prove more distressing than suspenseful .", "there is no pleasure in watching a child suffer . just embarrassment and a vague sense of shame .", "splashes its drama all over the screen , subjecting its audience and characters to action that feels not only manufactured , but also so false you can see the filmmakers ' puppet strings .", "plays better than your standard kidnapping thriller , thanks to luis mandoki 's taut direction and writer greg iles ' compelling twists and turns .", "nasty , repellent and dull ... a sleazy , sensationalistic but curiously boring kidnap tale that wastes the talents of its starry cast .", "the actors must indeed be good to recite some of this laughable dialogue with a straight face ." ], "summary": "with its plot about child kidnapping and endangerment , MOV is an exploitative thriller , more queasy than suspenseful .", "id": "14131" }, { "movie": "the_life_and_times_of_hank_greenberg", "reviews": [ "a warmly human look at the career of major-league baseball 's most famous jewish star .", "hank greenberg is a cozy affair that leaves the impression of a filmmaker too close to the material .", "valuable as history and resonant with meaning for today .", "educational as well as fun -- a product worthy of its subject .", "for a treatise on u.s. anti-semitism in baseball , aviva kempner 's MOV sure is pleasant .", "the film opens and closes with the marx brothers singing ` take me out to the ballgame ' in yiddish . and how could you resist something like that ?", "a bulging photo album of carefully cropped idolization , its saving grace that the affable , unaffected greenberg appears a worthy recipient of all that devotion .", "a wonderful and much needed tribute to the great jewish baseball player .", "MOV is a sprightly , lovingly researched , rather misty-eyed sports documentary that 's steeped in ethnic pride .", "rousing and humorous .", "the movie commendably and honestly spends almost as much time on greenberg 's failures as his successes .", "were jews the only fans of greenberg ? i doubt it , though the film makes no indication otherwise .", "kempner 's documentary , which has some very funny moments too , weaves an affectionate portrait of the larger-than-life ballplayer into the complicated layers of prewar america .", "an unusually rewarding documentary from director aviva kempner .", "as the director makes abundantly clear , this legendary player -- nicknamed hankus spankus and hammerin ' hank for his awesome ability to spray a baseball around the yard and over the fences -- was more than just an athlete .", "kempner has taken twelve years to complete her loving biography of a baseball legend . hank greenberg would have enjoyed the music and loved his terrific movie .", "aviva kempner 's documentary MOV does what a historical documentary should do . it tells an inspiring story while bringing the past to life and illuminating issues that persist today .", "aviva kempner 's documentary celebration of the detroit tigers first baseman defines one of those instances -- rarer than sportswriters admit -- in which a champion athlete becomes a genuine , all-around hero .", "hank greenberg is an unabashed paean and just a joy to watch . it should be required viewing for all modern athletes who disregard their role-model status .", "greenberg seems down-to-earth and likable , and director aviva kempner slips in just enough baseball history for nonfans to follow greenberg 's story without getting bogged down in diamond minutiae .", "kempner 's lighthearted yet not apolitical collage conveys how greenberg 's success as an athlete in the 30s and 40s contradicted an ethnic stereotype .", "this gem will lift the spirits of baseball fans .", "as good-natured and inspirational as its subject .", "emphasizes the positive moments in his career , and the film is loose-limbed and ingratiating\u00e2 `` much like greenberg himself , who appears in interviews throughout his career .", "a fine , straightforward tribute to a sports giant who faced blatant prejudice and paved away for the likes jackie robinson , hank aaron and other minorities ...", "sharing its subject 's virtues , it is a lovely addition to the annals of the greatest generation .", "one of the most lighthearted documentaries to come out in ages .", "the film is most touching in its 47 interviews with the likes of attorney alan dershowitz , actor walter matthau , baseball greats bob feller , ralph kiner and charlie gehringer , and sen. carl levin .", "for once , the image and the reality make for a perfect fit -- the man and the symbol are one .", "while it preserves his baseball feats , it looks beyond them to clarify greenberg 's place in american culture .", "a touching homage to a man who triumphed over bigotry to become a baseball legend .", "aviva kempner 's warm and intelligent mash note to a man who clearly deserved it .", "greenberg led by quiet example -- and left an indelible mark on thousands of young lives , not to mention a plaque in baseball 's hall of fame .", "aviva kempner hits a grand slam in her thrilling documentary about baseball , about a great baseball player , about jews in america and about the country itself in the 1930s and 1940s .", "MOV is a gem of a baseball documentary because it illuminates what the hall of famer 's splendid career meant away from the ballpark .", "MOV is precisely what a documentary ought to be : engaging and revelatory , turning forgotten footnotes and discarded minutiae into the stuff of riveting drama and poignant laughs .", "a moving tribute to an overlooked american icon who invariably exhibited an admirable combination of integrity , humility and loyalty .", "kempner demonstrates how the star 's success and dignified bearing inspired a generation of jews to fight through the ethnic barriers in all fields .", "writer-director aviva kempner crafted this love letter to greenberg by imaginatively weaving interviews with great footage from newsreels and feature films .", "former detroiter kempner infuses her portrait of hank greenberg with such a joie de vivre that it 's a delight for the already converted and nonsports fans alike .", "it 's an adroit manipulation of interviews and stock footage , mostly along the lines of establishing not so much what hammerin ' hank did for himself , but what he meant to american jews .", "kempner puts cole porter standards to movie clips from pride of the yankees , woman of the year and others , providing the right amount of baseball nostalgia .", "it is the quintessential version of the story of the classic mythic hero , one who begins as underdog without a chance , and faces insurmountable challenges and hurdles to become a champion , doing it all with grace , grit and style .", "aviva kempner serves up a loving portrait of a man whose hall of fame baseball career is matched only by his enduring status as a jewish folk hero .", "MOV is informative and fun and one does n't have to be a baseball expert to appreciate its fervor and genial charm .", "an excellent example of the kind of sound , conventional documentary that 's consistently interesting and informative , even if it never tries anything new .", "kempner 's movie is not for baseball fanatics only . ` greenberg ' paints a vivid portrait of america in the first half of the century ...", "it seems too much to ask a movie to entertain , inform and inspire . for it to also work as sports story , social history and biography is a home run with men on base .", "if you 're a baseball fan , you should n't miss this film .", "kempner is content not to question his heroism , which is usually a suspicious practice for a documentary , but a myth as powerful and sustaining as greenberg 's is better left unpunctured .", "i 'm from detroit myself and i used to go see tiger games as a kid , and i really enjoyed this fascinating documentary .", "despite its limitations , this very conventional documentary is a satisfying study of a man who faced immense challenges with courage and integrity .", "the story is a winner and so is this film by aviva kempner .", "you do n't have to be a fan of the sport to appreciate kempner 's vivid , exhaustively researched film , or greenberg himself .", "through its carefully researched and selected film clips , it reveals a lot about what america was all about in the early 20th century .", "a marvelous pastiche of a legendary sports hero , a compelling and fascinating tribute to one of baseball 's great figures , in size -lrb- six feet four -rrb- and accomplishment .", "it becomes a look at the social and political climate of america just as much as a baseball biography ." ], "summary": "MOV is an affectionate , often very funny portrait of a baseball pioneer .", "id": "11136" }, { "movie": "agent_cody_banks", "reviews": [ "an entertaining film for kids and young teens .", "-lsb- muniz 's -rsb- cute , was paid $ 2 million and should start pondering the career arc of mickey rooney .", "the concoction does n't taste like anything special , but a has refreshing hint of sweetness .", "MOV provides the kind of high-quality entertainment one would expect in an adult action adventure that is expected to rake in major bucks .", "dedicated to helping kids make a transition , smoothing the way between boy 's life readers and maxim readers .", "those who are n't part of the 10 - to 13-year-old target audience will probably also find it witless and derivative .", "unfortunately for MOV , someone already made a movie about spy kids , and it was called ` spy kids . '", "a wasteful , if painless , diversion .", "although the original spy kids worked , MOV proves that things seldom taste as good a second or third time .", "overall , the film will probably be enjoyable for younger viewers -- especially fans of muniz -- but otherwise is n't as successful at putting the spy kid through the teen years .", "one of the more satisfying youth romps in recent memory .", "this sure is n't a movie for kids . director harald zwart is obsessed with angie harmon 's cleavage . it 's as if he could n't decide whether to rip off james bond or `` the graduate . ''", "believe it or not , the action sequences are pretty darn great , from nicely choreographed fights -lrb- against school bullies , of course -rrb- to nail-biting chases on snowboards .", "a high element of sleaze and a low element of intelligence .", "MOV has a tv movie feel to it . the special effects are kind of hokey , the jokes pretty lame and the stunts looked like they 're performed by stunt performers .", "in this generation of family-friendly secret agents , cody banks is agreeably entertaining , better than the first spy kids , not as good as the second and not nearly as clever as cats & dogs .", "fairly typical and overly gadget-oriented spy business .", "the premise and the casting are pure kids ' stuff , but zwart and company have littered the film with enough adult images to merit a pg-13 rating .", "every fun moment is cancelled out by an unimpressive action scene , or the painful over-acting of several cast members .", "... presents passable entertainment for most anyone under 12-but that 's about it .", "it 's as though for every good idea the movie has , someone from the writing committee jumped in and said , ` yeah , but let 's put a fart joke right after that . '", "never quite as funny as it could have been , MOV is nevertheless far too genial to dislike .", "se voc\u0436 quer conhecer jovens espi\u0448es que realmente mere\u0443am sua aten\u0443\u0441o , as melhores op\u0443\u0448es ainda s\u0441o os dois pequenos espi\u0448es e o tenso os her\u0437is n\u0441o t\u0436m idade .", "muniz is an extremely likeable actor and the fact that banks is meant to be pathologically shy around girls offers a handy point of identification for its target audience .", "will kids enjoy this ? well , does a child like candy ?", "when -lsb- muniz 's -rsb- cody gets close to a girl , there is an eager terror on his face and in his body language that hits the adolescence angst nail squarely on the head .", "a childish version of the james bond story about an awkward teen thrust into a mission to save the world .", "has a surprisingly grown-up feel to it ... which makes it more entertaining for everyone watching .", "there 's just something about muniz . he 's so gosh darn cute with those big , blue , sincere eyes .", "although director harald zwart does fortify this intentionally cheesy high-tech showcase with a sledgehammer of energetic flair and silliness , his juiced-up narrative can not overcome the inevitable comparisons to the far superior spy kids flicks .", "a lot more enjoyable -lrb- for kids and adults -rrb- than most of what passes as kids entertainment nowadays .", "... essentially a mediocre rehash of various spy flicks .", "welcome to our second annual spring frankie muniz morally problematic spy kids rip-off movie , featuring hilarious hijinks offending each year against a different one of the ten commandments .", "mostly fun and playful , but occasionally strays from its own sense of innocence .", "a wholly uninspired spy kids knockoff that squanders some decent high-tech gadgetry with its slipshod plotting and clunky pacing .", "MOV reimagines your average james bond flick as kiddie porn .", "strives to be a james bond spoof but fails to find its niche .", "there 's nothing really wrong with MOV . parents will find it a harmless and reasonably efficient time-killer , i suppose . but it 's unimaginative and passionless .", "just another threadbare , gravely puerile james bond movie but marketed directly at your children ... which is something to think about .", "the movie seems to be set against the silvery backdrop of the sharper image catalog .", "just too familiar and unimaginative to be anything more than a forgettable time-waster for undemanding family audiences .", "while its plot does n't stand up to even a modest amount of logical scrutiny , the flick has a comical , junior-james bond spirit that 's hard to resist .", "the stars of tv 's malcolm in the middle and lizzie mcguire make a dashing pair of big-screen leads in this junior austin powers fantasy .", "bond-worthy gadgets to see -lsb- cody -rsb- through his first assignment , but what he really needs is a third-act rewrite .", "the film is smartly done and suited for family viewing .", "had the movie chosen to go the campy route , muniz probably would have shined , using his face and vacant delivery to their fullest potential . but most of the time , everything is played ridiculously straight .", "an enjoyable kid spy spoof with likeable characters .", "... cody banks is a little older than the spy kids and , consequently , more into the girl thing . i 'm not sure it improves the picture .", "only a kid could love it , but they do .", "muniz and duff seem to be two perfectly normal teenagers thrown in the midst of an elaborate fantasy , and they pull it off beautifully .", "dreadful , witless and pointless .", "a bland and condescending adaptation of an adult action film for a younger audience .", "zwart pulls out enough stops in action sequences involving jet-propelled skateboards , stunt drives and mountain rescues to keep the ball rolling nicely .", "the movie is bouncy and colourful , and cheesy in a nice way , but it outstays its welcome in the last half hour .", "a formulaic hollywood ` crowd-pleaser ' that can be summed up in three words -lrb- ` teenage james bond ! ' -rrb- .", "this may be a case of mission unaccomplished , but the future looks brighter for cody banks than it does for austin powers .", "teen spy tale is another success for young frankie muniz and is backed by a broad spectrum of unexpected talents .", "what makes this bond spoof great fun for grade-school kids and older , as well as adults , is the casting .", "the idea is a cute one -- but it was cuter when they did the same thing in spy kids . ''", "-lsb- muniz -rsb- has an endearing blend of self-deprecation , innocence and smarts that works well here .", "this elaborate and good-natured entertainment is never as funny as it should be , but it 's also never wanting for energy .", "this frankenfilm comes lumbering out of the laboratory of the danish director harald zwart , any trace of personality surgically removed and replaced by a fully road-tested cliche .", "MOV may be targeted at teens , but even their grandparents might consider it fun .", "is it entertaining ? you bet .", "... less about gadgets and spies than the awkward , hollow feeling a boy gets in his stomach the first time he calls a girl .", "sure , maybe it 's formulaic and hardly original , but like comfort food , it satisfies .", "the repetitious script -- cobbled together by no fewer than five writers -- shows interest in nothing beyond action-centered plot gimmicks and tame romantic shenanigans .", "illogical , thrown-together claptrap .", "sorely lacking in suspense , humor or originality , MOV aspires to the lowest rung of the peanut gallery .", "this movie is so wearying in its mediocrity , the inappropriate ronica almost registers as dramatic relief . i said almost .", "uninspired and unabashed rip-off of spy kids .", "it 's not smart enough or exciting enough to be an action movie , and it lacks the childlike goofiness that the spy kids franchise has by the boatload .", "the movie will be compared with the two spy kids pictures , and looks more expensive and high-tech but is n't as much fun .", "so slick and preprogrammed that even its preteen audience may dismiss it as formula .", "the adults may have some problems getting excited about this movie , but it 's entertaining for the kids .", "this juvenile take on the james bond films feels more like a heavily watered-down vodka martini than a genuine offering for kids .", "muniz and duff have a huge following , but they 're at the service of endless meet cutes and a violent finale that could easily be dubbed ` explosion parade . '", "its likeable cast and characters make this pic a tolerable undertaking .", "director harald zwart and his team of writers score with fast-paced fun , if scant originality .", "as unoriginal as it is , it 's still watchable . wait to rent it .", "muniz must carry this movie alone -- and he 's equal to the task .", "-lsb- muniz -rsb- keeps cody banks watchable on energy alone but his scenes with the pallid , uncharismatic duff are as dull as watching two actual pubescents meet at the mall .", "banks takes a nice premise and does absolutely nothing original with it , instead burdening a plot derived from too many james bond movies with cheap special effects and flat jokes .", "this is director harald zwart 's first foray into the action genre , and he 's clearly out of his element .", "some special effects toward the end may scare the little ones , but for the most part , this is charmingly innocent , good fun .", "kids attending MOV wo n't need candy . the film itself is a 90-minute sugar rush .", "the writing 's too adult in places and to ` childish ' in others . this makes the whole thing uneven and stupid .", "a mundane , kid-empowerment fantasy distinguished only by frankie muniz 's agreeable blend of haplessness and heroics .", "a listless , tween james bond wannabe .", "the film is cute but never much beyond that .", "too violent for children and too recycled for adults .", "a painless hour and a half .", "while lacking the zip and imagination of robert rodriguez 's spy kids movies , cody banks is an amiable enough mixture of james bond-lite adventure and chaste teenage romance .", "unlike last year 's unimaginative and boring big fat liar , cody banks is enjoyable and clever .", "an amusing diversion .", "it 's not a great movie , but it 's fun entertainment ." ], "summary": "should satisfy young teens , but offers nothing new for those who are familiar with the formula .", "id": "11505" }, { "movie": "pitch_black", "reviews": [ "it may not linger in the memory any longer than your last nintendo session , but it 's an exhilarating two hours .", "hmm , where have i seen this kind of thing before ?", "even though it 's riddled with some of the lamest , dumbest dialogue imaginable , MOV is a total guilty pleasure .", "a flashy , moderately creepy sci-fi monster flick .", "MOV is the kind of b-movie you hope to discover regularly but find only once every few years .", "moviegoers rejoice ! the first fun movie of the year has arrived .", "though highly derivative of alien , this handsomely photographed , briskly directed sci-fi fright picture is enjoyable enough on its own limited terms .", "worth sitting in the dark for .", "decent , suspenseful entertainment .", "we are living in a world populated by ` alien ' knockoffs , you know it ... the good news is that this is a knockoff with style .", "some hard-core science-fiction fans might nit-pick over details in MOV , but for the average moviegoer looking to be entertained , this roller-coaster of a film should not be missed .", "at least as much as the blair witch project before it , MOV shows us how disconcerting total darkness can be .", "lackluster both as science-fiction and horror .", "one of the best of the sci-fi spectacles cut from the alien cloth .", "a solid entry in the genre of science fiction horror .", "the action scenes are good , if sparse .", "manages to surprise and delight , thanks to its small-scale attitude .", "hey man , it 's february . you 've already picked through all the leftover oscar-bait you can take , so it 's no time to be picky .", "MOV deserves to be recommended as a solid piece of genre entertainment .", "the derivativeness of the script keeps any tensions from building into any kind of scariness .", "dumb , direct and derivative .", "ferocious attacks by the planet 's monstrous creatures manage only partially to alleviate the tedium that defines the movie .", "neither scary nor exciting nor much of anything , save eyestrain .", "-lsb- the actors -rsb- are graduates of the arnold schwarzenegger school of emoting .", "laughable plot points .", "the screenplay , credited to twohy with jim and ken wheat , for a scary movie has n't a scary idea on any of its pages .", "lowbrow story line .", "you wo n't waste your time watching MOV . but there are better things to do .", "a routine sci-fi/horror action-adventure , takes us where we 've been countless times before .", "director and co-writer david twohy has stolen from so many other movies in order to cobble together the paltry MOV .", "full of such illogical moments .", "to say the movie could have been great is most accurate ; unfortunately , neither the characters nor the story have anywhere to go once the nightfall has settled in .", "we 've seen this movie before .", "sadly , MOV was directed by the man who made the best science fiction movie of 1996 , the arrival .", "a tiresome experience .", "while MOV offers plenty in terms of cheap thrills and jolting scares , there 's little else to justify it as a worthy moviegoing experience .", "there 's lots of promise for this twohy guy , assuming he gets hold of a more audacious story -lrb- maybe not his -rrb- next time around .", "logic is definitely not the strong suit of MOV . but then , neither is consistent characterization , smart dialogue , originality , subtlety or any of the other benchmarks of quality filmmaking .", "made to please those who ca n't get enough rote , cheesy sci-fi , MOV promises to make us long for the glory days of species 2 and deepstar six .", "in the movie 's last hour , writer-director david twohy pretends to explore his stick figures ' moral choices , and he forgets to deliver the thrills .", "an enjoyably tense sci-fi horror show from david twohy ...", "despite the scientific and logical lapses , it is a pretty good adventure yarn with some interesting twists and turns .", "MOV is relentless in its integrity ; it 's lean and mean and it does n't waste time .", "it is an entertainment and quite a good one too .", "MOV is the movie of the season for sci-fi and horror fans !", "this is filmmaking that 's lean , mean and -lrb- in diesel -rrb- boasts one hell of a fighting machine .", "-lsb- david twohy -rsb- tweaks this formulaic escape-from-hell story with just enough original touches to give it a lift .", "it 's not an especially challenging part , but diesel handles it with aplomb .", "proving that low-budget genre-based entertainment can be just as easily ferociously inventive and character-driven as its big-budget competition can be lazy and boring .", "the film works because it 's strong on fundamentals : fear of the dark , fear of helplessness , fear of the unknown , and fear of unpredictable human behavior .", "-lsb- it -rsb- may be another alien rip-off , but it 's a rip-off with class , style and a lot of heart .", "against all odds , MOV hit me in the right places , and i believe that those who are lucky enough to give it a chance wo n't forget it either for at least one reason ... vin diesel .", "the alien and space-flight fx are impressive , and diesel and fly girl radha mitchell are likable , but the cheap cinematography and a story line that 's been pitched too many times already signal a career in eclipse .", "it may not be original , but it is smart . more importantly , it 's scary .", "MOV is action science-fiction that barely qualifies as action and not at all as either science or fiction .", "by no means an excellent movie , or even a reasonably good one , but it is much better than most of its sic-fi brethren today .", "-lsb- a -rsb- derivative , plot-hole ridden sci-fi flick , redeemed only by the blazing star-in-the-making quality of vin diesel .", "features some lovingly crafted effects -- notably director of photography david eggby 's bleached colour palette -- and some vivid characterisation .", "with a witty script and a cool sense of building dread , MOV is a surprisingly entertaining sci-fi thriller .", "the script is a compendium of science-fiction clich\u00e9s , familiar in hollywood movies since the early fifties .", "a better example of this type of movie than most .", "MOV will leave you with the sudden urgency to leave the hall light on .", "a mediocre but nonetheless entertaining copy of the alien films .", "infinitely more watchable than the bloated , baffling supernova .", "the latest film from writer / director david twohy , a man whose career seems aimed at proving that low-budget genre-based entertainment can be just as inventive and character-driven as its big-budget competition can be lazy and boring .", "as seat-jumping popcorn movies go , it 's pretty cool .", "vin diesel rocks !", "makes a better platform for a beginning astronomy class than action-packed thriller .", "despite far too many video-game moments and annoying taglines , the scifi thriller MOV just may be the most entertainingly derivative movie of the millennium so far .", "if MOV is a likable sci-fi thriller , it 's because it has the heart of a cheeseball '70s disaster movie beneath the horror trappings of computer-generated mutant bats and winged demon aliens .", "MOV is so jaunty , so limber , and so visually self-assured that art peeks through where crap has traditionally made its home .", "although this script never met a clich\u00e9 that did n't fit like a glove , there are potent moments to send your popcorn flying .", "despite its rip-offs -lrb- mostly of alien -rrb- , MOV delivers not only on thrills and suspense , but on artistic direction and clever plotting .", "vin diesel 's demeanor is refreshing and the combination of his voice and physical build make his character memorable .", "it has no aspirations to be more than what it is , yet another alien ripoff with a half-baked premise . it just wants to be a really good alien ripoff with a half-baked premise .", "do n't take MOV too seriously , and it will scare you silly .", "flawed and ambitious , MOV 's murky challenge to sf-action heroic conventions is its most redeeming feature .", "even those who shun the gripping effect of horror films might find MOV a challenge worth taking on .", "a visual winner .", "director david twohy , who made the aliens-among-us thriller the arrival , keeps things moving .", "under the circumstances it 's not really fair to blame the actors , whose amateurishness seems appropriate to the material -lrb- although diesel 's stolid machismo is so over-the-top as to be pretty laughable -rrb- .", "a smart , suspenseful sci-fi movie from director twohy , whose underrated 1996 film , the arrival , also brought visual imagination and intelligence to the genre .", "a noisy , nightmarish waste of time and money , the producers ' and yours .", "it is easy to root for the aliens to possibly , against all odds for such formulaic films , pick off all the survivors of the spacecraft .", "a cut-above the b-movie fare which pollutes the genre .", "nothing here breaks any new ground .", "original riddick pic is violent , with teamwork rewarded .", "contains unpredictable nuances that make for thrilling amusement", "MOV is such a stinker that it makes twohy 's previous sci-fi thriller , the arrival , look halfway decent .", "a solid creature feature , but not at all a revelatory one .", "a fairly efficient science fiction monster film , somewhat in the mold of an old 1950s b-movie .", "if only there had been as much time spent on creating believable aliens as there obviously was on the landscape .", "... your typical run-for-your-life-the-monsters-are-coming science fiction adventure that requires one to park his brain at the front door of the theater before entering .", "one of the better sci-fi movies to come around in a very long time .", "barely intermittent , reminding us that the b-movie is still very much with us .", "this movie is so disposable and indistinctive that i do n't want to review it -- i want to briefly mention it in a conversation about silly sci-fi and then forget it forever .", "in the thrills department , MOV is a hands-down winner . it has a good setup , and all of the suspense sequences are perfectly paced .", "catch it on cable .", "was everyone so gung-ho on making a stylish sci-fi flick that it never occurred to anyone how nonsensical and even amoral the whole thing was ?", "the dialogue and performances are flat when not laughably bad .", "a filmmaker just ca n't have it both ways when he decides he wants to make aliens meets les miserables .", "a step backward from the arrival .", "MOV is one of those annoyingly noisy outer-space thrillers where you ca n't figure out the characters ' names at first , and when you finally do , they are either dead or you hate them .", "a very streamlined exercise in interplanetary mayhem and the logistics of the body count ." ], "summary": "despite an interesting premise -lrb- and a starmaking turn from vin diesel -rrb- , MOV is too derivative and formulaic to fully recommend to sci-fi or action fans .", "id": "17596" }, { "movie": "solaris_1976", "reviews": [ "a visionary science-fiction film that takes us on a profound voyage into both outer and inner space .", "there was so much to think about afterward , and so much that remained in my memory .", "this movie is divine like an italian cathedral : it 's solemn , huge in scope and deeply meditative .", "ambiciosamente filos\u00f3fico , MOV \u00e9 uma reflex\u0103o maravilhosa e fascinante sobre o conceito de realidade , felicidade e tamb\u00e9m sobre a pr\u00f3pria natureza humana .", "draggy , but compelling , if you 've read the book .", "meditative cinema .", "... -lsb- tarkovsky 's -rsb- camera lingers oppressively on things that mean absolutely nothing .", "a million light years removed from the pseudo-religious grandstanding of kubrick 's acid-trip space odyssey , this takes kelvin -- and us -- on a journey into the uncharted depths of inner space .", "the most pop film the great russian filmmaker ever made .", "some movies are like dieting - you got ta stretch some muscles if you want the most satisfying results .", "a masterpiece for those willing to work for it .", "the second half of the film poses such utterly fascinating questions that any early stodginess is more than redeemed .", "the third feature in tarkovsky 's brief , shining career will deliver you from the mundane to the sublime .", "it is , along with 2001 , the best science fiction film ever made .", "the sort of film that gets better as it progresses and once you 're into it can be very rewarding in the end .", "did i understand it ? no . is it nonetheless a must-see of any sci-fi obsessive ? absolutely .", "haunting , provocative , beautifully shot and infused with an irresistable , tender sadness , this is sci-fi , and indeed cinema , at its most powerful and mysterious .", "... addictive , serenely maddening", "one of the great movie mind benders .", "tarkovsky 's speculative visions enfold the mysteries of death and rebirth , the lost paradise of childhood , the power of art to define identity , the menace of science as destructive vanity ...", "viewers with patience will find ` MOV ' mesmerizing , visual and emotional food for thought even if such thought is open to a rainbow of interpretations , or to none .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- andrei tarkovsky 's prodigious ability to conceptualize grand-scale narrative structure with a fluid sense cinematic time continues to influence filmmakers even if few rise to such dizzying heights .", "the effects are scanty , the drama gloomy , the philosophy of the film thick as a cloud of ozone . the plot is not all that original either .", "its discussion of passion and obsession , regret and reconciliation is consistently challenging and offers few easy answers .", "in andrei tarkovsky 's MOV , we have made contact with the aliens , and they want you to call your mom .", "proves the yin to kubrick 's yang , not out of contrarian longing , but because that was the form best suited for the content tarkovsky wanted to explore .", "a thought-provoking sci-fi drama that makes the point that the mysteries of inner space are as awesome as those of outer space .", "la escena final es una de las secuencias m\u00e1s poderosas que se han filmado jam\u00e1s ...", "to view the work of andrei tarkovsky ... is to look into the face of god .", "a pulsating , frustrating , enigmatic science fiction masterpiece , a film of great metaphysical weight that demands multiple viewings and an open mind .", "this complex and sometimes very beautiful film is about humanity but hardly at all about politics .", "the larger theme of MOV is communication itself , particularly the failure of communication between people .", "a dazzlingly imaginative work with awesome production values and special effects that bear comparison to those of 2001 .", "with its paucity of special effects , umpteen changes in film stock and deliberate pacing , MOV upends sci-fi 's propensity for making a fetish of technology .", "more an exploration of inner than of outer space , tarkovsky 's eerie mystic parable is given substance by the filmmaker 's boldly original grasp of film language and the remarkable performances by all the principals .", "once you accustom yourself to its pace -- it takes probably the first hour -- it 's a hypnotic experience .", "it 's a smart response to the superficial excesses of the sci-fi genre .", "it 's unique : a sci-fi feature wherein most of the exploration is done within the human soul , a kind of obverse of what we usually expect from the genre .", "make sure to see the long version -lrb- 167 minutes -rrb- of tarkovsky 's provocative sci-fi , one of the best of its genre", "a brilliantly imaginative work of art .", "slow , but ravishingly beautiful and charged with a real poignancy .", "andrei tarkovsky spins a strange , slow but absorbing parable on life and love in the guise of a sci-fi theme ." ], "summary": "MOV is a haunting , meditative film that uses sci-fi to raise complex questions about humanity and existence .", "id": "22501" }, { "movie": "seres_queridos_2006", "reviews": [ "while disaster ensues , the directors have the sense to avoid the obvious , finding trouble in the least predictable of places .", "only human , a vigorously paced modern screwball comedy ... explores family values , and leni and rafi 's mismatched cultural backgrounds , with a refreshingly light touch .", "if you do n't have a family of believable jewish characters to begin with , the whole thing falls apart .", "moves along briskly , with several laugh-out-loud moments .", "all too often emphasizes tired , unconvincing shtick at the expense of substance and genuine wit .", "sounds like basic sitcom stuff . but the story is carried out with a composure best exemplified by the performance of toledo , an agile and graceful comic actor who sometimes suggests an owlish cary grant .", "thoroughly satisfying ... manages to tackle its serious moments deftly and without losing momentum .", "there 's nothing subtle about pelegri and harari 's culture-clash romp , but it 's sometimes frantically funny .", "what could have been an 85-minute tutorial in judeo-arab relations is an exuberantly acted farce .", "-lsb- a -rsb- cheery , expertly constructed spanish farce .", "a smart and dark comedy from spain , only human manages to say cogent things about the nature of intolerance and love while being fitfully hilarious .", "the irreverent comedy of family feuds , impulsive leaps of -lrb- il -rrb- logic , and temporary amnesia is more screwball eccentricity than social satire .", "there 's a political and social clash at its core , but the laughter comes from a deeper , human place -lrb- see title -rrb- .", "a familiar situation of a beloved daughter bringing her intended home to meet the folks is pushed to sublimely silly extremes .", "offers passing amusements , for sure , but the gap between its brilliant potential and its final execution is frustrating .", "a spanish comedy that is n't quite as frenzied or farcical as its husband-and-wife writer-director team clearly intended it to be .", "amiable , and occasionally even insightful , but also sometimes just silly and at others a trifle tasteless ... a mixed bag that , unhappily , does n't deliver quite enough .", "it lets frantic get so far ahead of funny , the latter gets lost in the dust .", "mines the comic possibilities of the classic setup of introducing the fianc\u00e9 to the family , with results that are playful , charming and surprisingly thoughtful .", "there are many amusing moments in only human ; the film is never dull .", "an energetic , colourful farce that attempts , in its own small way , to figure out why people find it so hard to live in harmony .", "the only lesson it has to impart is that a gifted , charismatic cast can elevate the most tired material into something closer to mediocrity .", "the secret to only human 's appeal is that the silliness is performed matter of factly , so it becomes a new , cracked definition of normal .", "only human -lrb- MOV -rrb- , generally speaking , does n't work .", "while the comedy is at times sharp but mainly chaotic in that frenzied european style , it seems the filmmakers actually intended to make a statement about jews , arabs , and the possibility that love can out maneuver politics and overcome unimaginable histo", "... well-intentioned and charming , a deliberately downsized film that despite its high concept finds humor in the domestic more often than the political .", "a fresh and funny spanish take on the classic family screwball comedy .", "writer-directors dominic harari and teresa pelegri have penned an amusing script and , as directors , inject a delicate human texture into the story 's intermixing of capricious zaniness , frank sensuality and mideast politics .", "the laughs more than make up for the familiarity .", "more than just a spotlight on wacky family members and screwball situations ... a simple statement about some absurd perspectives on the israel-palestine conflict .", "a rare , optimistic ray of hope about the prospects of jewish-muslim relations .", "the joy in watching ` only human ' comes from outrageous situational humor and perfectly delivered dialogue by actors having fun doing what they do .", "the results are dubious , but ultimately , the litmus test for whether individual viewers will enjoy only human depends more than on their tolerance for shrill meet the parents-style discomfort comedy than on their views of middle eastern poli", "teresa de pelegri and dominic harari , making their feature debut , are as interested in the realistic drama of the situation as they are the clash of cartoonish characters , and they lurch uncertainly from one to the other .", "the more i write about this film , the more ridiculous it sounds .", "although it has its undeniably funny moments , the film sacrifices its credibility in its strained attempts to achieve a level of screwball comedy that requires a level of wit and pacing , not to mention some credibility , that is not reached here .", "winningly human , and wonderfully funny .", "the writing is excellent , the acting is superb -- all of the components necessary for a successful comedy .", "... amusing , but not overwhelming , farce ...", "shines a glaring light on sibling rivalry , cultural rifts and filial devotion without ever descending into pap or sentimentality .", "there 's some silliness , but what the heck ? you 're entertained for an hour and a half .", "combines a deftly-turned script , fine perfs and a feel-good message to mostly delightful effect .", "at times irrepressibly hilarious , only human milks every possibility of clash with dark humor .", "for all its boisterous chutzpah , there is little charm in this .", "the story 's funny familial crisis takes on the dimensions of the israeli-palestinian conflict .", "an energetic farce about a family 's response to a jewish-muslim marriage engagement", "this engaging film wins us over with its sharp humour and surprising warmth . and its brave timeliness .", "succeeds in its bewildering dark sentiments but pushes them farther than they need to go .", "well-meaning but forgettable .", "not very funny and mildly antisemitic", "it 's been a long time since a movie got this much comic mileage out of the devalued reaction shot ." ], "summary": "a cheerfully energetic screwball comedy , only human milks laughs from its culture-clash premise .", "id": "155655065" }, { "movie": "man_without_a_past", "reviews": [ "finnish filmmaker aki kaurism\u00e4ki 's serious sense of social compassion does n't get in the way of great dark jokes in the MOV .", "kaurismaki is finland 's greatest filmmaker , and never has he more artfully balanced his patented blend of deadpan humor , low-key melodrama , and toe-tapping music .", "an understated but weirdly grabbing portrait of a man who loses his memory after being mugged and cobbles together an alternative existence with minimal means .", "sublime , with a touch of the ridiculous .", "although this 2003 oscar nominee did n't take the golden boy home -lrb- nowhere in africa got it instead -rrb- , this is definitely a film with a great future in the art-house circuit .", "an extraordinarily good-natured movie .", "a surprisingly quirky and touching romantic comedy .", "hopeful about the ability for man to persevere in a capricious world .", "offers a surprisingly touching and simple story about human dignity in the most trying of circumstances .", "-lsb- a -rsb- warm and utterly beguiling fable .", "one of kaurismaki 's more pleasant and likeable films .", "it is at once artful and unpretentious , sophisticated and completely accessible , sure of its own authority and generous toward characters and audience alike -- a movie whose intended public is the human race .", "it 's impassive , impressive stuff from kaurism\u00e4ki , who creates a heart-warming tale set against his nation 's blighted economy .", "this film finds the finn at his sunniest and most accessible .", "this is a very simple story , but it builds beautifully to an endearing and witty romance .", "the problem is , the humour of the material does not combine as well as it should with the filmmaking style . the method is absurdist , and so are the characters , and there 's nothing straight to play off .", "kaurismaki 's originality makes his man both extremely affecting and engaging .", "a magically dislocated world quite unlike any current filmmaker 's , one that provokes laughter , sadness and uplift all at once .", "this may not be kaurism\u00e4ki 's masterpiece , but it is a movie of sustained stylistic integrity -- and it has the power to make you laugh .", "provokes thought and provides joy in equal measure .", "that rare thing : a movie that makes you feel good by sharing some of your pain .", "it 's a movie that genuinely makes an audience happy -- kaurism\u00e4ki understands , and shows us , how a lost past can be redeemed by a hopeful future , and how an unknown place can become a home .", "the director has found a way to make an amusing fable about the costs and possibilities of freedom .", "this is the first amnesia movie in which we root for the hero not to get his memory back .", "too rich , too intelligent , too deep and too accessible to ignore .", "delightful and clever .", "-lsb- kaurismaki -rsb- trusts us to find the humor and the humanity that coexist in his world and in the process retains a purity of style and intent .", "it manages to build slowly into a whimsically charming story about finding love and making do with what life throws at you .", "for a world that 's increasingly globalized yet also increasingly fragmented , the MOV resonates deeply as a bittersweet fairy tale , resplendent with the hope of salvation .", "-lsb- kaurismaki 's -rsb- a humanist bearing witness to the human parade . to be part of that parade is to be touched by his perspective , and to have your world altered -- magically , fleetingly , memorably .", "leaves us to admire the technique and the music without giving us much more to care about .", "a delicious blend of hilarity and heartbreak .", "the film is sporadically hilarious in a chilly , unemphatic way . but for what may be the first time here , kaurismaki also seems to be genuinely enamored of every mushy , underlying sentiment he might once have held up to withering examination .", "droll , reticent , flawlessly filmed fable of generosity .", "the prolific kaurismaki 's sweetest slice-of-lifer yet .", "an engaging , absorbing , strangely illuminating experience .", "it 's wonderfully refreshing .", "this underclass fable is slight , finally , but its miserable/waggishly optimistic worldview leaves you feeling a little more alive .", "in vibrant color , accompanied by mutated finnish rockabilly and possessed by kaurismaki 's trademark bleak hilarity , it includes all the deadpan delivery , heavy drinking and bad luck of his earlier films .", "offers up a subversive comic sensibility , one that somehow combines buster keaton 's deadpan stare with frank capra 's tireless optimism and filters them both through a black-ice finnish point of view .", "moments which draw on innocent charm are prevalent .", "deliciously slow-paced film .", "this is a film that allows you to discover its intent , style and meaning while denying you anything that can be called immediate gratification .", "a deadpan delight ... a graceful , quietly humorous tribute to the sort of fringe-dwellers rarely seen in mainstream movies , let alone treated with such affection and respect .", "a full-bodied , melancholy-tinged ode to the resiliency of mankind .", "no , i refuse to label it a comedy . i refuse to classify it so easily . as far as i 'm concerned , this is a movie about humanity .", "while others labor in the digital vineyard , kaurismaki forges modern antiques out of unfashionable materials that , like a jukebox from a junkyard , are still in working order .", "wry , whimsical and sure of tone , dry in all of the right ways and without an ounce of condescension .", "less involving than it could be .", "kaurismaki does n't favor heavy strokes on his cinematic canvas , and there 's little else to the plot . but what 's there is plenty for this talented writer-director to explore .", "a gentle , surprising little movie whose rewards lie in what its characters do n't say as much as in what they do .", "this movie ... may matter to you more than you think .", "full of deadpan humor .", "with the most meager tools , kaurismaki has made us invest ourselves in someone else 's world .", "the characters are funny because they 're only human", "nearly from the start , there is the sense of rebirth and resurrection -lsb- in `` the MOV . ''", "a compassionate and darkly funny shaggy-dog story .", "a dour-faced but sublime comedy .", "you can feel tickled into a finnish shade of pink .", "if you can get used to the low-affect approach , you 'll likely be charmed by writer/director aki kaurism\u00e4ki 's gentle , affectionate portrayal .", "a sublime work , at once comic , melancholy , meditative , liberating and philosophical .", "without question , one of the finest films to be released this year ... consummate filmmaking", "the MOV earns amusing comic points without seeming to strain for them .", "a more sublime viewing experience you could scarcely hope for .", "though his engagement of silent idiom recalls chaplin , his leisurely pacing brings to mind jarmusch .", "a scruffy and endearing film about the adventures of an amnesiac on the fringes of society where he finds more kindness that he can handle .", "the cavalier attitude of the movie seems utterly unconcerned with whether or not the audience picks up on any of the jokes , all of which are delivered with an unaffected , deadpan style .", "to vindicate a much-maligned term , it 's a nice picture .", "one of the warmest and funniest films of the year .", "lo grandioso de el hombre sin pasado es que es una pel\u00edcula simple , sobre cosas simples , y sobre personas simples .", "a slow-paced film , it certainly has its rewards for the patient viewer , but it is not the kind of film to knock your socks off with its sparkling comedy .", "should please those who can live with the droll acting .", "a wistful , romantic concoction served straight-up , with no chaser to brace you against the strong kick of reality ... . unforgettable .", "what sets this film apart from other quirky adventures is its internal coherence -lrb- both in terms of storytelling and visual style -rrb- as well as the humanity of its characters .", "m 's past ... is almost an irrelevance , for kaurism\u00e4ki 's film is really concerned with the possibility of wiping the slate clean and replacing globalised , corporate living with the values of a utopian community of barter and free association .", "kaurismaki 's affection for and faith in people shines through even in the darkest moments", "with its rusty railroads and dingy metal canisters where the downtrodden dwell , -lsb- the movie -rsb- finds color , surprise , and joy in the simplicity of these struggling helsinki outcasts .", "... bleakness juxtaposed with bemusement ...", "peltola -lsb- gives -rsb- a deadpan performance that combines the comic gravity of buster keaton and the sweet sentiment of charlie chaplin .", "a totally strange , beguiling , sadly humorous and humorously sad little film that 's apt to linger in your memory far longer than many a more immediately impressive work .", "kaurismaki 's movies can tickle you with the briefest of statements , the smallest of gestures .", "as in the films of charlie chaplin , ` past ' presents the downcast and needy as human beings of worth , humor and dignity ...", "it 's an oblique film , so quiet that at times it seems barely more than a whisper . but do n't mistake that for fragility . it boasts a hard , clear voice .", "this may be the most accessible of kaurismaki 's films .", "like the better films of frank capra , this movie combines irony and a humanist outlook with substantial social criticism .", "a powerful film made with minimal means , it 's a story of poor people on the fringes of society , done without sentimentality or condescension but with wicked humor .", "at the end of the MOV , i felt a deep but indefinable contentment ." ], "summary": "kaurism\u05d4ki delivers another droll comedy full of his trademark humor .", "id": "11931" }, { "movie": "lincoln_lawyer", "reviews": [ "with at least three-too-many endings , paper-thin supporting characters , and predictable twists , the MOV does n't deliver as a thriller even if its title character is one of the most interesting of the year to date .", "after getting through its three different climaxes , each one more ridiculous than the last , the film supposedly settles into its moral statement about a man who learned his lesson and is now ready to do pro bono work for drug farmers .", "works a bit of humor into a crime story .", "... the film is mildly diverting , even if it 's a `` jagged edge '' -lrb- 1985 -rrb- wannabe and wears its manifold cliches on its sleeve .", "the next step in matthew mcconaughey 's inevitable march to network television is the MOV , a pilot disguised as a feature-length movie , with an entire season 's arc crammed into two hours .", "a slice of sub-grisham silliness that offers nothing that even the most casual consumers of legal thrillers have n't seen a dozen times before", "a solid , adult thriller . mcconaughey 's best role since a time to kill .", "this is rock-solid entertainment . mcconaughey , a cunning mesmerizer in the courtroom , steers this lincoln into what could be a hell-raising franchise .", "matthew mcconaughey , freed at last from several awful movies , seizes his chance impressively .", "a classy cast juice up this workmanlike but compelling courtroom saga , with matthew mcconaughey - so long starved of a decent lead - on fire .", "reminiscent of the legal thrillers of the 1980s and '90s , the MOV is a slickly made , well-acted and executed morality play . ... even when the movie devolves into formula in the latter half , it still keeps you grounded in its characters .", "it 's nothing revolutionary , but it 's so far ahead of most legal thrillers and mcconaughey vehicles that it might as well be .", "most fans of the novel would probably tell you mcconaughey is n't someone they had pictured in the lead role , but he works out just fine , his laid-back , breezy charisma exactly what mickey requires to do his job .", "-lsb- mcconaughey -rsb- makes the film move briskly and watchably ... with the same battered pretence at old world stylishness as his title-inspiring car .", "in `` the MOV , '' mcconaughey once again takes off his shirt , but only for a minute . i 'm happy to report that he spends most of his time acting , while clothed .", "return to old school court room who done it .", "a courtroom drama about a wheeler-dealer defense attorney caught in a tight squeeze that tests his ethical integrity .", "the MOV is an enjoyable piece of pop entertainment .", "solidly enjoyable , pleasingly old fashioned legal thriller that succeeds thanks to a satisfyingly twisty script , a terrific cast and a superb leading performance from matthew mcconaughey .", "-lsb- mcconaughey -rsb- still looks great arguing in a courtroom , still delivers his lines with a variable drawl implying barbecue for dinner .", "it jumps through the twists and turns of michael connelly 's story with grace and confidence , trusting that the audience is smart enough to follow .", "... the fun is watching mcconaughey slip the traps and outmaneuver the judge , the prosecution and his own client .", "for people just looking for a bit of entertainment , mcconaughey 's performance offers a fair amount and the plot is twisty enough to keep murder-mystery fans hooked . as long as you do n't think about it . at all .", "just when you thought matthew mcconaughey had settled into pre-retirement content to play the -lrb- dry-aged -rrb- beefcake in a string of dippy romantic comedies , the actor comes roaring back with some real acting .", "briskly paced , nicely noirish and populated by many actors you trust , the MOV is a solid crime drama worth seeing .", "that the premise of the film does n't make a ton of sense should n't dissuade you if you 're in the mood for a little escape .", "the MOV is not a feat of genre-breaking design . but it is a well-oiled machine .", "the ride can be a bit bumpy , but the MOV gets you where you 're going .", "legal thriller entertains but is too dark , heavy for kids .", "it would be more fun if the hero were a little more colorful . all matthew mcconaughey 's haller has to his character is his cockiness , and that gets a bit tiresome .", "-lsb- video -rsb- michael connelly 's spin-off mystery book series provides the basis for a sturdy but rushed legal thriller .", "matthew mcconaughey carries the MOV with sheer credible willpower and personality . mcconaughey has to survive fitful direction and a choppy script , but he emerges with his likeable faculties intact .", "as devoid of spontaneity as a d.a. 's defense strategy , this adaptation of fiction machine michael connelly 's 2005 legal thriller is both convoluted and completely predictable .", "a shrewd legal thriller that is as much detective story as courtroom spellbinder ... a movie that stays one step ahead of the viewer - and pays off in the end .", "a do n't - miss cinematic page-turner with enough twists to fill five movies .", "a modest , mid-range legal thriller , in which every element , including mcconaughey 's physical presence and acting , are put in service of the rather engaging plot .", "... a pretty decent entertainment , although it does have a pretty challenging time covering up the fact that the genre has n't got a whole lot of new tricks in its bag .", "it 's not ambitious , but this sleek , commercial legal thriller is much more engaging than i expected it to be . mcconaughey adds his extra dash of roguish charm .", "a solidly impressive thriller with newcomer brad furman directing with flair , keeping the momentum up as mick realises he 's dealing with a master manipulator .", "mcconaughey must still think he 's starring in television commercials , his original forte .", "a fast-paced intelligent legal thriller .", "it moves as a nice pace , is a smooth ride and does n't require too much energy .", "a much better version of this movie may exist somewhere in the editing-room blender , to be excavated by cine-archeologists of the future .", "the MOV has one of the best ensembles of the year . we get a great performance by matthew mcconaughey and a truly exciting story .", "matthew mcconaughey is the only actor in hollywood who can swagger while sitting down . this is one role where that works , to perfection .", "the whole falls short of the sum of impressive parts .", "... a perfectly serviceable legal thriller that passes the time and gets the job done ...", "crackles with crisp dialogue , a juicy plot punctuated with titillating twists and turns , and a strong cast of familiar faces .", "... one of mcconaughey 's strongest performances .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- packed with great performances , intrigue , and gasp-worthy moments .", "maybe this flick could actually spawn a movie franchise . at the very least , it could work on tv . the gimmickry is in place , reminiscent of ` burke 's law ' and the chauffeur driven rolls .", "there 's a reason potboiler paperbacks do n't make good movies -- there 's too much outlandish plot , even for hollywood .", "mcconaughey gives a good performance , but the film , while entertaining , falls short of connelly 's 2005 book .", "there 's nothing that gets you more juiced than a good story well told , with strong characters well acted , and that 's what the MOV offers up .", "as nondescript as its title , brad furman 's slick legal mystery , adapted from a michael connelly novel , plays like an above-average tv pilot until it gets greedy and runs 20 minutes too long .", "mcconaughey 's confidence fits like a glove -- it 's the role he 's been waiting for , and coupled against philippe 's easy-to-hate playboy and a great supporting cast , the film turns out to be one of this season 's better movies .", "a first-rate legal thriller for its first two thirds , before going off the rails at the end .", "welcome back , matthew mcconaughey", "there is never a dull moment during the two-hour running time . the best compliment has to be that the film comes close to mirroring the page-turning suspense of the source material . if you need a break from ...", "occasionally approaches the gritty , profane , and darkly wise legal thriller that it wants to be , but never quite knows how to get there", "the film devolves into the cozily predictable world of tv legal dramas , abandoning the moral uncertainty of its opening scenes ...", "`` MOV '' is a no-frills legal drama delivered by a team of pros , and it 's nice to see mcconaughey bring his a game for a change .", "lincoln is smart , juicy entertainment , but it 's the kind of straight-up legal drama that hinges entirely on crafty storytelling and across-the-board solid performances .", "criminal-defense attorneys are often viewed with disdain , and while director brad furman 's adaptation of michael connelly 's 2005 novel wo n't do much to change this , it does allow matthew mcconaughey to give his best performance in years .", "`` the MOV '' moves through its paces as smoothly as mickey strolls through a courtroom .", "charismatic and oozing oily self-confidence , the character mick haller dovetails perfectly with mcconaughey 's skill set and dazzling grin . after a string of desultory romantic comedies , this actor once again has a winner .", "it 's a world of cynical lawyers cutting deals , careworn cops and cons brooding over sinister secrets . how about letting director brad furman adapt something by carl hiaasen or elmore leonard ?", "brad furman 's movie is shamelessly entertaining and the best thing in it is mcconaughey 's mickey haller , known as `` the MOV '' because his office is his town car .", "the script is legal boilerplate bolted to mundane characters , the acting is baked-ham buffet , and the direction is basic cable mediocrity incarnate . it 's the most unrewarding two hours you could spend in a theater , short of a total power outage .", "while it does n't match ` primal fear ' for spellbinding misdirection , it 's certainly a skillfully-made if lightweight legal puzzler .", "who knew cheesy one-liners and pro-bono work could simultaneously represent the worst impulses hollywood has to offer .", "a complex , entertaining story about a cynical lawyer and a rich client .", "mcconaughey gets a pitch down the middle and he does n't miss . he hits it out of the park .", "the MOV sees matthew mcconaughey rise from the embers of hollywood mediocrity like a phoenix , soaring like he has n't in years .", "my only real complaint with this movie was the little-utilized chemistry between macy and mcconaughey . they are smokin ' when they are on screen together -- i wish we had been given more of them .", "the plot takes mcconaughey beyond superficial traits to a place he rarely visits in film -- a drastic change in demeanor . he has to show a wide range of emotions to be effective , and he does it with panache .", "-lsb- not -rsb- the cartoon its star would appear to promise , and that 's mostly down to mcconaughey bypassing his usual method and not gadding about onscreen like he 's just rolled out of a really good three-day bong-and-beer party ...", "it 's a slick , cleverly plotted thriller with plenty of twists , smart hard-boiled dialogue and fine supporting performances ...", "haller 's a twerp , he 's a twonk , he 's a slick-haired smoothie who plays by the `` does n't play by the rules '' rules to the letter .", "this is a grand vehicle for mcconaughey .", "there 's a solid supporting cast , including a long-haired william h macy and a shamefully underused marisa tomei as haller 's ex-wife , while mcconaughey more than holds his own in the lead .", "enjoyably twisty but too shallow to be fully satisfying .", "matthew mcconaughey should always play lawyers . there 's something smirky , cocky and untrustworthy about his demeanor -- he slides through every movie like a greased weasel , but in the MOV , it works .", "blessed with a character who loves to showboat , mcconaughey is a pleasure to behold -- not since the actor was battling dragons in reign of fire has he been so much fun to watch .", "admit it , when you hear the phrase `` a matthew mcconaughey movie , '' your expectations slip into the basement , yes ? yes . on that score , this adaptation of a best-selling michael connelly crime thriller is an improvement .", "matthew mcconaughey returns to form in this well-executed but all-too-familiar legal thriller .", "matthew mcconaughey does a fine job in legal thriller the MOV - an overall solid and entertaining film .", "surprisingly corny for a story that spends so much time dealing with prison and rape .", "i imagined the worst . what i saw was a completely different matthew mcconaughey - gaunt , mature , compelling - in an enthralling , gritty crime drama from an utterly fresh new talent : young director brad furman .", "gets greedy , attempting to provide more than what the audience ultimately needs . it 's one thing to supply all the answers , it 's another to force-feed them to viewers , taking the mystery out of a serviceable whodunit .", "this is a tightly-written thriller that at the same time creates a tricky legal puzzle .", "the MOV has very little soul to speak of , but it 's got swagger to burn .", "... a movie as smooth and slick as its protagonist ...", "crackerjack plotting and characterization -lrb- credit the source novel by michael connelly -rrb- compensate for tired , even annoying visuals -lrb- blame the add camerawork and oversaturated color scheme on director brad furman -rrb- in this entertaining legal thriller ...", "it has nothing to do with the capital of nebraska or the former president . while you 're watching it , though , you 'll wish it did .", "this just looks like a cop show .", "typically , the MOV uses black pop culture to bring urban consciousness and street cunning to a hollywood film 's slick surface .", "the MOV is something we have n't seen in ages , a cracking good courtroom drama that is filled with ingenious twists and compelling characters .", "the best role mcconaughey has had in years and he does it proud . this might just lead to a mickey haller franchise .", "mcconaughey , an actor much given to showing off is well-defined abs , here refrains from that in favor of showing off a superb performance of considerable depth that is both understated and effective", "`` the MOV '' is workmanlike , engagingly acted and entertaining .", "it marches at an efficient pace , but there 's too much collateral damage to believability .", "mcconaughey 's smoothness works pretty well here , conveying a sense that haller can wriggle out of tight legal squeezes that would defeat a more scrupulous man .", "the spotlight is firmly on mcconaughey , but he earns all the attention .", "one of the year 's most delightful hollywood surprises .", "mcconaughey is well cast as mickey . he has the surface , slightly seedy charm of a trial lawyer .", "even though it does n't break any new ground , the MOV is an intelligent mystery .", "fellow jurors , let 's remember the MOV at its best and deliver a generous verdict -- an innocent entertainment , with extenuating circumstances .", "resembles a mundane two-hour episode of `` law & order : los angeles . ''", "by the time the climactic courtroom scene ... arrives , much has happened to little effect .", "MOV presents a solid case .", "a cheesy , hard-boiled police procedural , tracing its antecedents back to raymond chandler .", "the MOV mines most of its success from a talented stable of actors , especially that of lead matthew mcconaughey .", "it 's really just a solid courtroom drama , but these days moviegoers should take what they can get .", "the MOV is a solid - albeit unremarkable - entry into a genre that has provided us with far worse . as a matt mcconaughey movie , well , it 's one of the best .", "the plot details are ingeniously handled and structured , the rhythm of the film is just right and the tone is pitch perfect", "not since john grisham 's the firm has there been such a stylish lawyer tale as this", "brings together the numerous narrative and thematic threads that make such stories , even when being told for the umpteen-millionth time , really work", "all of those who count ` a time to kill ' among your favorite courtroom dramas , raise a hand . now use that hand to grab some money and run out to see ` the MOV , ' another riveting legal thriller starring matthew mcconaughey .", "fans of well-regarded gavel-pounders like jagged edge and primal fear will enjoy this one as well .", "do you believe in the resurrection ? well you should . matthew mcconaughey is back from the dead .", "what happened - did matthew mcconaughey roll out of bed one morning and decide that , after smiling through one too many schlocky movies , playing the pretty boy opposite sandra-kate-jennifer , he wanted to do something decent ?", "a solid l.a. crime story that once again proves mcconaughey as a leading actor to be reckoned with .", "... a well plotted legal thriller with a low-down r&b style .", "a return to form for matthew mcconaughey .", "if you long for the days of legal eagle thrillers such as jagged edge or basic instinct then the MOV is for you .", "mcconaughey is the definition of a movie star here , sitting back and allowing his charm to imbue the entire film .", "while furman shows a mostly steady hand with his actors , the narrative flow trips things up considerably . connelly 's book turns out to be too much for screenwriter john romano to handle .", "this screen adaptation of michael connelly 's clever legal thriller is stylish , suspenseful and thoroughly entertaining .", "this pungent neo-noir can be sleazy and over-familiar , but like the protagonist , it 's so smart and crafty that you may forgive its flaws .", "while it sticks to the courtroom thriller formula , this is an entertaining ride thanks to a terrific screenplay and matthew mcconaughey 's magnetic lead performance .", "some fussy directorial touches do n't seriously get in the way of a tricky plot with a suspenseful denouement and there 's an excellent use of locations in the los angeles area .", "the MOV is a smooth thriller that offers decent twists and intriguing subplots .", "this slick but uncharismatic cat-and-mouse game between maverick lawyer and rich client , is courtroom drama far too fascinated by its own sense of cool to be anything more than easy on the mind television", "the film does take some predictable turns - even with its `` surprise '' twist - but it 's a perfectly enjoyable time killer .", "though the MOV occasionally plays like a cracking tv pilot that has somehow lucked into becoming a movie , mcconaughey 's emphatic connection to his role allows the production to continually defy most -lrb- admittedly low -rrb- expectations .", "it 's nice to see mcconaughey getting relatively serious instead of coasting through yet another witless romcom , with or without kate hudson .", "the MOV is a well-crafted , well-cast adaptation of michael connelly 's best-selling novel , shot on interesting los angeles locations . it 's a crime thriller with ...", "matthew mcconaughey keeps his shirt on and leads an excellent ensemble cast through legal murky waters in the court room thriller the MOV .", "about as good a case as hollywood can put together for a stay of execution for the big-screen legal drama .", "a good-old-fashioned courtroom thriller , the MOV offers modest but sturdy pleasures , chief among them a strong cast and a page-turner of a story .", "stylishly sexing up the criminal justice system and then some , the MOV mixes nasty sleaze and sassy attitude with serious , provocative political moves . and burrows into the seedier side of the la legal system with candidly brutal finesse .", "a perfectly average legal drama . i trust that the book is exactly like this , totally programmed to hit standard beats in the plot . it 'll serve its purpose in theaters just like a paperback novel does .", "a moderately entertaining crime drama from people who know their way around a bloody knife or suspicious evidence .", "the MOV is a quintessential airport-novel kind of movie , possessing no great qualities or ambitions .", "that this mystery-thriller does n't add up feels more than a little contrived says something about compromises made to keep the filmgoer from recoiling from the heel hero .", "well-written , appropriately sour modern crime story .", "sprinkled with just enough humor to keep from getting too self-serious , it 's briskly paced and gives mcconaughey 's fans something to brag about ... again .", "emerges as a cool , slick and entertaining courtroom drama with enough punch to hold its own in an overcrowded genre .", "full review at movies for the masses", "it feels like the best work -lsb- mcconaughey has -rsb- done in years and if there 's a sequel i wo n't mind one bit .", "while not as significant as the oscar nominated `` michael clayton , '' `` lincoln '' is an efficient and entertaining legal thriller .", "a delicious but not too-smooth take on la noir . tight shots keep us close to the ratcheting action , and there are just the right bits of grit , and the right pace to the twists , to make the MOV a steadily seat-gripping cinematic cruise .", "in a nice twist , the central mystery of the plot is solved about halfway through the movie and it then becomes about some clever legal maneuvering on mick 's part .", "a solid thriller with mcconaughey doing what he does best .", "like its hero , this is a slick and polished piece of work .", "the MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a decent airplane read -- an easily digested page-turner that keeps you occupied but does n't demand much .", "a fiendishly twisty crime-thriller ...", "even those who do n't normally dig matthew mcconaughey should give this a go as he leaves his annoying manchild rom-com persona behind in service of a noirish thriller .", "fingers crossed that this turns into a franchise , as mick haller is such a charismatic and intriguing character with many layers still to be peeled .", "it 's no surprise michael connelly 's devilishly clever 2005 novel makes for a devilishly clever film , full of unpredictable twists and turns , and some memorable one-liners .", "calling big-screen legal thriller `` the MOV '' the best tv pilot i 've seen in a while really is n't meant as a putdown -- the truth is , there 's more good stuff on the tube these days than in theaters , especially at this time of the year .", "an amazing cast , some fun mystery , twists and turns that will entertain you and matthew mcconaughey reminding the audience why they like and root for him .", "mcconaughey has struggled to launch any plausible franchises in the past decade - sahara did n't work . we could do a lot worse than see him in more films like this .", "`` the MOV '' just may have the makings of a terrific franchise , if only because it finds mcconaughey so clearly in his comfort zone after a string of forgettable romantic comedies and action pictures ." ], "summary": "it does n't offer any twists on the predictable courtroom thriller formula , but with a charming matthew mcconaughey leading its solid cast , the MOV offers briskly enjoyable entertainment .", "id": "771021934" }, { "movie": "vacancy", "reviews": [ "trite and opportunistic in its feints at intellectual weight ... best , in fact , to mine from the crumbly ore of MOV a drinking game plated in gold .", "every cheap trick in the slasher-flick book is crammed into the movie 's measly 80 minutes , and pretty much bungled .", "kit out the bates motel with surveillance cameras , replace anthony perkins with the ineffectual frank whaley , and you 'd have the location for this irritatingly cheapjack snuff-horror thriller , starring luke wilson and kate beckinsale as a depressed couple", "while initially resembling the `` victim porn '' of hostel , MOV into a nice , well-done psycho riff .", "my expectations were met early on , but fell flat in the end .", "a paint-by-numbers affair that is not only tired , but looks as if it was written by a computer program .", "watered down studio schlock .", "the movie is 80 minutes of mostly entertaining tension , punctuated by violence engineered by a creep using criminally outdated technology .", "replicates the horror movie experience by placing its leads in a dark , boxlike room where they are menaced by loud surprise noises and scary images on a screen ...", "starts well but never goes anywhere with its grisly set-up .", "it 's not pretty , but it 's certainly vacant .", "this stripped-down chiller has some decent jump-frights , but a dearth of memorable moments .", "check in to `` MOV '' if you want to see the acting chops on `` the other wilson . ''", "MOV enjoys a cracking pace , all thrills and no frills , leaving viewers barely enough time to catch their breath let alone to dwell on the odd hole in the plot .", "a nastily effective , rough-edged gem of a horror-thriller .", "what starts out as a slick but generic urban legend meets slasher film turns into a surprisingly enjoyable thriller", "though MOV plays as gruesome horror in its own right , it 's also director nimrod antal 's criticism of how suffering has become the selling point in recent horror films .", "the best that can be said is that it is what it is , and is competent at being that .", "i know , you could n't make it up . but someone did .", "an effective assembly of familiar chills diminished by its unfortunate mainstream feints .", "terrific turns by all make this a tense , if slightly predictable , treat for terror fans .", "with shades of psycho and the birds , MOV sure is n't up there with the master 's finest work but , given that we have n't had a decent horror all year , it 's a pleasantly creepy surprise .", "nothing in MOV manages to come anywhere close to the quiet and steadily mounting dread of the real thing , much less the purview of norman bates or his beloved mother .", "well , however much i wanted to love it , the same old sorts of things happen , and the rigorous plausibility and consistency on which everything depends are thrown away .", "MOV is an enjoyable , pleasingly old-fashioned thriller with strong performances and some expertly handled suspense sequences . recommended .", "this more than slightly familiar scenario does n't give the principals much scope for acting .", "MOV 's an audience divider - a predictable yet occasionally classy film . depending on your mood it 's an efficient exercise in popcorn frights , or a cynical b-movie ...", "director nimrod antal settles for a more generic horror-ride as the imperatives of stalk-and-escape take hold . for a while , though , this is first-rate second-hand material .", "snuffed .", "it 's only in the last act that things begin to get a bit flaky but up till then MOV does what it sets out to do without any pretenses .", "MOV may not be the most wholly original thriller but it has some heart to it and is directed with gritty , old school style by nimr\u00f3d antal . coupled with the good work done by the leads , MOV is worth checking into .", "MOV is a fun and violent ride , in the best possible guilty-pleasure sense of course , that suffers from only minor flaws . if only it ended 4 minutes sooner ...", "-lsb- director nimrod -rsb- antal does such a good job that you almost overlook the absurdities built into the screenplay .", "MOV is a no-nonsense , no ambition thriller , but sometimes that 's more than enough to please .", "once the fight-for-their-lives plot kicks in , unfortunately named director nimr\u00f3d antal keeps the action intense and well paced .", "an unpleasant and hardly entertaining creepy horror road movie that comes up as vacant as an empty room .", "un pasatiempo eficaz que recupera parte del esp\u00edritu de la clase b al servicio de un relato tenso y por momentos perturbador , sin mayores pretensiones .", "MOV is n't a commentary , just another graphically violent horror movie , traveling a well-worn path -- urbanites wandering into the countryside and being accosted by rural weirdos .", "very creepy .", "all things considered , not half bad . indeed , it 's much less than half bad ." ], "summary": "MOV 's restraint with gore is commendable , the thin characters and b-movie cliches less so .", "id": "594324614" }, { "movie": "tabloid_2010", "reviews": [ "with its cutesy cut-out graphics and mock-emphatic headlines , MOV sends up the hysteria of supermarket-rag coverage , but that 's also the fuel that keeps it running .", "the viewer is left with no clear indication of what really happened , but with a vibrant portrait of a compelling character . that 's what morris is after .", "morris 's subject is sexual fantasy and a particular kind of american stupidity-the ability to substitute self-justification for self-knowledge . his tone is merry .", "it is quite simply one of the craziest stories ever told , made all the crazier by the fact that it 's true . or at least some version of it is true .", "william carlos williams wrote `` the pure products of america / go crazy , '' and the funny , freaky MOV captures that contrast , that promise , that curse .", "MOV , errol morris ' latest wild and woolly portrait of human self-delusion , is a scandal-sheet dream come to life .", "the movie is guilty of condescending toward its subjects , though most of them appear to be having a fabulous time telling tales .", "does n't tell us anything about sleazy journalism or the insatiable thirst for gossip that we did n't already know . far-fetched and overblown just about sums it up .", "a tale of obsession and abduction , self-delusion and sexual confusion , errol morris ' MOV stands as an almost giddy affirmation of the old cliche : truth is stranger than fiction .", "`` MOV '' is the hilariously strange-but-true documentary of joyce mckinney , a media-savvy nutcase decades ahead of her time , thank the lord .", "it 's an amusing 90 minutes even if the subject does n't really merit this level of attention , and if you enjoy laughing at people who ca n't seem to help themselves you 'll have a great time .", "i have some misgivings about morris ' playful approach to a woman who seems to be ill , but the film is beautifully made and the story is a knockout .", "morris realizes he has a genuine character in mckinney , and gives her the spotlight .", "morris is clearly fascinated by her mega eccentricities and lets her go on at great length telling her side of the story .", "morris adds to the hilarity with his signature device of superimposing key words onscreen in giant type ; the movie is a welcome reminder that he got his start immortalizing american oddballs .", "a thought-provoking picture raising the question : can a woman rape a man , or is it merely assault with intent to please ? you be the judge .", "a wonderfully crafted and incredibly entertaining nonfiction film with all the wily narrative surprise of a tawdry b-movie run amok .", "mckinney , a born performer , is in her glory as she spins her version of the affair .", "MOV spins a heck of a yarn , while implicitly warning viewers not to be so entertained that they believe every gamy detail .", "although he has tackled many serious subjects -lrb- and finally won an oscar for the fog of war , his gut-wrenching portrait of former secretary of defense robert s. mcnamara -rrb- , filmmaker errol morris has always had a fondness for life 's oddballs ...", "first-tier documentarian errol morris finds himself slumming a bit with MOV .", "mckinney may well be a madwoman , but morris connects so deeply to her obsessions that the film 's tone never seems exploitative or mocking .", "MOV is nothing more than a lark , the equivalent of glancing at the goofy headlines in the checkout line and then forgetting all about them .", "morris clearly invested so much time and energy in mckinney 's story because he saw her as emblematic of our crazed times . others might wonder whether the sad saga deserves quite this much attention , but there 's no denying the film 's morbid fascination .", "it 's all very amusing , but maybe the film 's keenest insight into MOV journalism is morris 's own exploitation of the pitiful , perhaps delusional mckinney .", "morris is a storyteller of the highest order , and within seconds , he draws us into his subject , doling out details , making us wonder what will happen next and dropping bombs for maximum impact .", "... while `` MOV '' is undeniably entertaining , hilarious at times , it is also a little troubling ...", "another of morris ' alternately hilarious and disturbing inquiries into the slippery nature of truth .", "a provocative , captivating and surprisingly funny documentary . joyce mckinney deserves to be nominated for best actress of the year .", "`` MOV '' shows that an oddball lead character and a smirky style do not necessarily add up to a complete movie .", "like a sensationalistic flavor-of-the-month crime or hollywood scandal , the film is sure to capture the viewer 's attention while it plays out , but is just as destined to lose its luster the second the saga in question has run its course .", "for fans of morris 's work , which often grapples with the nature of truth and memory , it 's a must-see film .", "it 's all compelling , in the way reading trashy gossip usually is . but without any new perspectives , what 's the point ?", "` MOV ' never rises above -- in fact , it becomes -- the absurdity it depicts .", "errol morris 's documentary was made , and scheduled for release , long before the news of the world story broke . the smart part is that the film dissects those excesses deftly with a quasitabloid style of its own .", "what is real and what is fiction , in this reality show that preceded all others by over 20 years , is a matter of conjecture .", "the sheer heterogeneity of human experience is one of -lsb- morris ' -rsb- enduring preoccupations , and he has found , once again , an impossible and perfect embodiment of just how curious our species can be .", "compared with morris ' best and most provocative documentaries , like the fog of war , MOV is just a trifle . it 's a silly little thing that goes down easy and is forgotten almost instantly .", "while it makes for a compelling tale , the only thing that separates this from a segment on inside edition is morris ' whiz-bang skill as a documentarian .", "errol morris 's most intimate work since fast , cheap , and out of control", "it 's a guaranteed good time at the movies , but i can think of at least three other morris films that have stuck with me longer .", "morris ' most flat-out enjoyable picture", "morris is such a savvy , irony-tinged master of the essayist documentary form , mckinney 's own perspective becomes a tabla rasa for all sorts of sexual , voyeuristic and media desires .", "a wild and weird errol morris documentary about the stories we tell ourselves to cope with life 's disappointments .", "the enjoyably wacky scenario of errol morris 's `` MOV '' is cookie-cutter material for the documentarian , but morris wields his cookie cutter like a pro .", "hugely enjoyable , frequently funny and luridly fascinating documentary that 's utterly riveting from beginning to end .", "a compelling story told with morris 's usual flair .", "morris gets to have his cake and eat it .", "operates as both an examination of the dominating media mentality at the time and an embodiment of it , no less keen on delving into the juicy details now as MOV rags were then .", "mesmerizing ... in joyce mckinney , morris has found a fittingly weird and funny muse", "MOV is totally fascinating . it features brilliant editing and pacing along with well thought out concepts that are expertly executed . a must see !", "mckinney is no robert mcnamara , but there are lessons to be learned from this fog of sleaze .", "a vivid picture of the way we lived then .", "morris suggests that you can sometimes find profundity in triviality - and though joyce condemns herself out of her own mouth , it is always possible to feel sorry for a woman whose obsession has so totally ruled her life .", "it 's a bizarre `` where are they now ? '' story of a rather unedifying kind , and one feels ashamed of laughing at this sad exhibitionist .", "-lsb- morris -rsb- tells us nothing about the prurience and gutter morality of the MOV newspaper industry that britons have n't heard every day and that the world , in the murdochgate era , is now hearing likewise .", "morris 's doc is less about what really happened than exploring the lifespan of one of those stories that kept on giving .", "a lark , maybe , but a truly disturbing work .", "errol morris ' MOV is bonkers in all the best possible ways -- a welcome return to perverse portraiture after a lengthy sojourn in the realm of more serious-minded subjects .", "MOV stories may be a dime a dozen , but documentaries as amusing and entertaining as MOV are n't so easy to find .", "documentary maverick errol morris stays quirky and goes trashy ... style here surpasses content , but there 's entertainment aplenty to bring audiences to the table .", "evading the issue of what used to be called `` yellow journalism , '' morris ' depraved method prevents us from ever getting out of this swamp .", "errol morris is one of the true masters of the documentary form .", "a weird , somewhat funny , considerably disturbing exploration of an unreliable narrator and a hungry media that eventually turns a convicted criminal into a celebrity .", "morris ' spirited pacing and the jaunty score from john kusiak help maintain a tone that 's part mocking , part suspenseful .", "MOV becomes an elaborate game of he-said-she-said that winks at the viewer with enough self-consciousness to share the joke .", "as with any of morris ' documentaries , MOV is thematically rich beyond the bounds of its central focus .", "complex , intriguing and always entertaining", "... a film with meager production values about an odd woman and what she did to inspire the british tabloids ... not for everybody , but for some it might have a morbid fascination .", "morris traces this perfect MOV tale in all its hilarious , sad and bizarre particulars ... while suggesting that the truth is both hostage to media interests and hidden in a fog of love .", "... fairly lightweight . but it 's nevertheless one of the most entertaining movies that will hit theaters this year .", "mckinney is mesmerizing : the vain , expressive , motormouthed star of an elaborately structured drama of self that qualifies as one of the more astonishing first-person cinematic tours de force since ` eddie murphy raw . '", "MOV is such a mirthful , fascinating and fantastically entertaining documentary that you ca n't help but get caught up in all the sordid fun", "at 88 minutes , MOV is short and sweet -lrb- it 's pure movie candy -rrb- , but by the end we 've forged an emotional connection to joyce mckinney at the deep core of her unapologetic fearless/nutty valor .", "a bizarre coda turns what begins as a playful expos\u00e9 of the british media 's sensationalist excesses into a surreal voyage into a warped mind no reporter could invent .", "this is a lighter , less significant work than his ` standard operating procedure ' or ` the fog of war ' , but it 's engrossing and pleasingly slippery with the facts .", "a truly bizarre tale , MOV is enjoyable but not as compelling as some of morris ' previous documentaries ...", "compelling , weird and queasy documentary on the eccentric joyce mckinney and her stranger-than-fiction story .", "a hilariously bonkers saga ... a story whose twists are unthinkable .", "expertly guided by errol morris , and featuring a wholly compelling subject , this is a fascinating exploration of truth and memory .", "a lot of fun ; morris himself is clearly unconvinced about joyce -- and no wonder -- but she 's a funny woman and hers is a ripping yarn if ever there was one .", "as is often the case with morris , we can never be sure what he thinks , only that he wants to baffle us with the impenetrable strangeness of reality .", "when man bites dog or woman rapes man , that 's news : and errol morris knows how to put the latter across .", "the truth is an ever elusive concept , especially in the films of errol morris .", "morris ' choice of title may be ripe with ironic intent , but the film is what it is : an arrogant , obscene , inexcusable example of MOV exploitation .", "MOV is candy for voyeurs . we laugh like mad at a nut whose only mistake was being born in the last century , too early to have made real money .", "gotcha sleaze , bondage , lapsed libido and sacred mormon underwear . and no different from trotting out the disfigured for amusement , at circuses of thankfully bygone days . more to the point , what in the world happened to errol morris ? MOV , indeed .", "morris ' lightest , most amusing film since 1997 's fast , cheap & out of control .", "a far more light-hearted approach than some of morris ' other recent work but just as layered and thorough in terms of getting to the heart of a story and leaving you thinking afterwards .", "absurd as it sounds , joyce 's conviction is not only convincing but contagious . so , too , is her elastic sense of reality-a 90-minute immersion in her world is enough to make you question your own .", "... the canny methods -lsb- errol morris -rsb- uses to get deep inside his subjects are , as usual , utterly riveting .", "sadly , this is a master going through the basest of motions .", "MOV is a documentary that proves conclusively that the truth really is stranger than fiction .", "any film that elicits wide-eyed comments like , `` what a story ! '' afterward is inherently successful .", "errol morris hits the doco jackpot with a story that is both resoundingly human and resoundingly ironic about an ex beauty queen with a shady past who falls in love with kirk anderson , a young man whose strict religion forbids sex", "a scandal involving a beauty queen , sex-in-chains , a religious cult , kidnapping and the tabloids are the ingredients of this bizarre true story that gets more fantastic as it goes along", "you may see -- and perhaps already have seen -- better documentaries this year than errol morris ' MOV , but i doubt you 'll see a more entertaining one .", "MOV is a nice commentary on -lsb- errol morris ' -rsb- particular style of ` truth-telling ' and objectivity . in the end , we 're all lying simply by telling our version of the truth .", "on first look , errol morris ' documentary appears to tell mckinney 's story , drawing from the story reported by british tabloids in 1977 . but it 's also about truth and storytelling more broadly , the ways stories escape their tellers .", "if `` MOV '' feels like a minor morris work compared to `` the fog of war '' or `` mr. death , '' it is still entertaining , with a sly sense of humor and an empathetic eye for the bizarre that harkens back to earlier movies like `` gates of heaven . ''", "errol morris is a genius , a gifted documentarian who has made better movies than `` MOV , '' but none so entertaining .", "morris has found a real character in mckinney , but to what end , i could n't say .", "errol morris succeeds against all odds in besting his previous olympians of quirkiness .", "the film around -lsb- joyce -rsb- mckinney is n't quite sure of what it 's about , at times ... but mckinney herself is the sort of arresting figure that you do n't shake easily .", "in addition to his admirable qualities , morris also seems to find his subject to be hilarious . and she is .", "fascinating , whimsically humorous and poignant , all at once .", "a magnificently unsettling and funny-sad portrait of the arguably sick relationships that are forged between celebrities , the media , and their audiences", "though the events MOV recounts took place in the pre-digital age , the film also functions as a kind of prehistory of modern celebrity culture and MOV journalism .", "it 's a titillating yarn told with verve , but it does n't shed much light on how tabloids create and encourage such stories , nor does it , finally , tell us much about human nature -- other than , perhaps , to illustrate an extreme case of it .", "`` MOV '' is tantalizing , but like yesterday 's headlines , it 's a fleeting flirtation .", "morris compellingly unfolds the story and clearly means for us to see our own untoward qualities writ large in joyce and the circus surrounding her .", "the celebrated filmmaker has created a meta-tabloid of sorts , surrendering to the idea that the truth is absurdly unknowable ." ], "summary": "it 's far from his most thought-provoking work , but MOV finds errol morris as smart , spirited , and engaging as ever .", "id": "771208471" }, { "movie": "frank_2014", "reviews": [ "there 's a giddy pleasure in seeing so much conceit and treacle-eyed greed ritually sacrificed at the butt end of genius . it 's a welcome whiff of frankness in a largely frank-less world .", "bat-dung crazy , in a good way , lenny abrahamson 's MOV is the story of a pop star who really lets his art go to his head .", "always interesting , largely thanks to an entirely committed cast and a writer willing to play with themes like a band improvising until it finds the right tune .", "a funny , goofy movie with some serious things to say about art and madness , band dynamics , broken dreams and selling out .", "less quirky than deadpan and absurdist , even darker than it initially lets on .", "even if MOV is a little too smitten with its own quirkiness , the film 's examination of what matters in music - fame , money , sanity ? - works as a kind of behind the music peek at a band 's struggle for identity and devotees .", "it 's not going anywhere terribly important and is in no hurry to get there , but `` MOV '' is an accumulation of memorably offbeat moments , like an album made up of b sides and lost demo tracks that you stumble across and ca n't stop replaying .", "that fassbender plays the role of the disguised rocker fits well with the movie 's tone : putting one of the biggest actors in hollywood behind a mask lends a further rebellious streak to an already sardonic film .", "it 's the songs that are the film 's biggest surprise . abrahamson and his musical cast have made MOV 's unpronounceable group soronprfbs sound like a real band .", "MOV is probably the best film about what it feels like to be in a band since slade 's flame -lrb- no , honestly -rrb- .", "it 's not the sort of festival favorite that will change an industry , make hundreds of millions or earn oscars . what it will do is charm viewers who appreciate rough gems .", "what chutzpah it takes to hire one of the world 's most recognizable movie stars and then render him completely unrecognizable .", "abrahamson is a filmmaker with a nuanced sense of tone , and he handles the shift from surreal comedy to something deeper and more complex with a typically deft touch .", "it 's a punchy , eccentric , zestily confident fable about the dividing line between having talent and having it not .", "by surreal indirection , it gets closer to the dreams and dynamism of rock wannabes than many a film with a more frontal , frowning brief .", "MOV works as satire , as memoir , as comedy bromance , but it works mostly because it is just so weird : an anti-dumas fable about a man who never removes a fake head .", "the movie has no clear through-line and an ambling nature that inspires more impatience than whimsy . but fassbender is so good the whole thing still pays off .", "it 's a music movie and a depression movie , and a standout performance by michael fassbender even though he 's wearing a silly paper mache thing on his head", "pleasingly and perhaps surprisingly , given the extremities of the material , the cast plays crazy with cool , measured aplomb .", "it 's heavier than a comedy about a gibberish-spewing guy in a giant head ought to be , but that 's what makes it a thing of heartbreaking , oddball beauty .", "oddballs , this is the oddball movie of the year .", "fassbender was courageous to take on the role , and it may well come to be looked back on as among his greatest performances .", "if you only see one movie this year that features an avant-garde band led by a man in a fiberglass head , please make it this one .", "even disguised , fassbender is amazing , often revealing MOV 's emotional extremes through body language alone . it 's really something . and the music is awfully catchy .", "fassbender , his beautiful face hidden from view , gives a nuanced performance , relying on voice and body movement to convey MOV 's mercurial moods .", "MOV could never carry the this risky movie were he not embodied by a superb actor .", "a likely future cult-favorite . fassbender gives the best performance ever given by an actor in a papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 head mask .", "the most unlikely music biopic you 're ever likely to find .", "a memorable piece of cinema , that marks the continuos rise of one of britain 's most promising directors .", "a story of musical chaos and mental instability that 's often hilarious and ultimately really quite moving .", "the film has many charming and affecting moments , but ultimately amounts to an uneven and tonally confused disappointment that is less than the sum of its parts .", "if you 're willing to go with that - an affectionate character study of a bloke in a massive papier mache head - you 'll find MOV to be a richly rewarding film , and the title character to be one you ca n't help but fall in love with .", "the film plays with our assumptions about the mythology of the pop star . gleeson 's character is constantly looking for his inspiration , but he 's never quite on the right wavelength .", "darkly funny , whip-smart , impressively original and boasting one of michael fassbender 's most towering performances to date , MOV just about has it all .", "endearing enough to plaster a smile on any face hiding beneath its own ever-grinning facade .", "in the end , the film feels like a bit of a mashup , a mix of genres and tunes and tones that do n't quite mesh , but nonetheless as experimentation is far from uninteresting .", "taking us beneath the prop mask , in psychological rather than physical terms , fassbender astounds with how much he 's able to convey through movement and tone of voice , capitalising on dialogue that 's extremely effective in its minimalism .", "now , about MOV . abrahamson has done something quite brilliant with the casting here , akin to spike jonze using scarlett johansson 's voice in `` her . ''", "dreams of rock stardom become a warped reality in this barking-mad but affecting comedy about the side-effects of being a non-conformist genius .", "fassbender 's faceless performance offers a masterclass in body language , and that wide-eyed , open-mouthed mask invites band members , and viewers , to project their own readings .", "an idiosyncratic glimpse into music and mental illness , `` MOV '' falters more than it soars , but it 's intriguing watching this film follow the beat of its own unusual drum .", "off-beat and punk-spirited , sievey would no doubt approve of the tone and style of this movie .", "if you 'll pardon the cleverness , MOV takes time to wrap your own cranium around , faults and all , and that 's a wonderful thing .", "the bizarrely brilliant MOV demonstrates that quirkiness need not be a four-letter word in the language of movies .", "a faceless michael fassbender stars in this weird and wonderful musical comedy from director lenny abrahamson .", "a very meaningful film , but it also has a good beat .", "the film finally demolishes the old rock 'n' roll stereotype that mental illness can bear the fruit of creative genius . i suspect the truth is closer to what one character says : `` it slowed him down . ''", "the whole thing is in danger of becoming arch and quirky , yet abrahamson steers the final act of his drama toward a sombre , unhappy rumination .", "fassbender is brilliant beneath that absurd head , conveying all you need to know about MOV 's joys and woes and troubled soul by his body language alone .", "at its best , it 's a quirky curiosity . at its worst , the film takes a compelling idea and cops out in the end .", "this is a strange film for sure , but it 's also a completely sincere and affecting one .", "MOV is a film of questions , not answers .", "MOV is profoundly weird -- and perhaps also weirdly profound .", "it 's sweet , just pithy enough , and brings a touch of critical sanity to the question of insanity as performance-it 's a film that , you might say , has its head screwed on right .", "`` MOV '' has a wry sense of humor , the ring of authenticity and glimmers of genuine wisdom .", "it 's weird , but in the most embraceable of ways , thanks to the presence of the always likeable domhnall gleeson and a more-vulnerable-than-you 're - used-to michael fassbender .", "syd barrett ... this one 's for you .", "call it an offbeat psychological comedy , an off-balance dramedy with instrumental backing , a study in psychopathy , an amusement from a dark mind , or an adventure with a wannabe musician who gets a gig in the wrong -lrb- or , right -rrb- band .", "`` MOV '' is a true original , a film that heads in one direction only to veer off in another , yet never loses sight of where it 's going .", "if van gogh had picked up an acoustic car , he 'd be MOV , the eponymous rocker in this idiosyncratic irish film from the talented gaelic filmmaker , lenny abrahamson .", "a functioning , funny , weirdly touching fable of artistic angst and aspiration , a meditation on fame and its terrors and the metaphoric usefulness of masks and huge fake heads .", "compelling and funny , thanks to the yin-and-yang dynamic of its two primary characters .", "ping-pongs between amusing and tiresome .", "... the hello kitty effect : just as the mouthless kitty feels like you feel , so the unchanging expression of the plaster head that is MOV 's primary feature can reflect whatever feeling you ascribe to it .", "one gets a big head watching `` MOV . '' not to mention a swollen heart . but does size really matter ? you bet it does , especially when it concerns michael fassbender .", "constantly engaging with a finale that will resonate in the hearts of everyone , MOV is a fascinating and touching exploration of music and sound that only a special kind of person can tune into .", "MOV , like its central figure , is deeply weird , but in that special way that you simply ca n't avert your eyes from .", "a film ought to have something more to recommend it than a high degree of strangeness , but being strange is what this film is all about . resistance to this film 's goofy charm is futile .", "these characters end up feeling more than the sum of their parts even if the film containing them can never quite manage the same feat .", "MOV is a movie so bizarre and strange that it 's practically a miracle it got made at all", "it 's an amusing examination of fame and the creative process with a most enigmatic character at its center .", "a very touching and funny musical story about not selling out .", "fassbender sings music from the fringe", "it 's the rambling middle section that sticks out , partially because of an emotionally satisfying final turn that keeps things appropriately dark . being artistically pure is no simple thing , and frankis an apt symbol for outsider artists everywhere .", "an engagingly troubling film . highly entertaining , wonderfully challenging , and clever in the way it subverts audience expectations with a macabre sense of glee .", "there 's more to the absurd than just amusement", "both llewyn -lsb- davis -rsb- and MOV may embody the spirit of the difficult musician , but MOV ... is a more empathetic and engaging character , making MOV , the movie , a more bleakly funny yet ultimately touching film .", "straddles the line between being a quirky examination of creativity and a distressing look at mental illness , without ever truly committing to either .", "there 's a perseverance to `` MOV '' that 's also uplifting , a true spirit of unity among the damaged .", "a movie that raises questions about creativity and mental illness in a celebrity culture .", "though packaged for relative ease of consumption , MOV does manage to investigate the frontier between indie quirk and mental illness , the volatile combination of tortured soul and personality cult .", "a diverting but vaguely penetrative picture that 's so concerned with idiosyncrasy , it 's missing consistency .", "a quirky , weirdly funny tale with an underlying layer of deep melancholy , about the fragility not only of art but of the human psyche .", "a likable but ultimately slight arthouse comedy .", "a quirky , utterly engaging film that manages to be amusing , dark , surprising and poignant without wasting a single one of its 95 minutes .", "the movie 's hipness quotient far outweighs its laugh quotient , though there 's really no limit to the amusement of seeing someone bump around blindly in an oversize head .", "fassbender gives a finely textured performance both in and out of the head .", "`` MOV '' is a genuine original in a summer sea of sameness , and a darkly comedic manifesto against the cultural status quo .", "the film slowly gets away from quirky and gets darker and darker , but never loses it 's comic sensibilities .", "MOV shines most brightly in its pitch-black moments .", "fassbender proves his range whether he 's a mutant wearing a helmet ... or a quirky lead singer wearing a mask .", "being so close to these deeply miserable people made me feel smothered , and desperate for escape .", "strong performances from gleeson and fassbender -- both deviating from their respective rom-coms and oscar-baiting dramas -- give us a quirky film about the maddening pursuit of fame .", "a weird but accessible tale of a man who refuses to remove his mask .", "as playful as it is , lenny abrahamson 's film is mostly a surprisingly earnest story about the compromises and conflicts of art , stardom , and mental illness .", "you 're in for something funny , touching and vital . director lenny abrahamson knows his way around eccentrics .", "a strange and wonderful movie drawn from an even stranger and not quite so wonderful real-life story .", "MOV manages to get beneath the mask and the skin of its eponymous antihero in a manner that bridges the gap between absurdist laughter and all-too-tender tears .", "subtle and wryly amusing , this is a sympathetic glimpse into the ever-musing mind of an off-kilter genius ... but how much it 's an accurate reflection of the real chris sievey -lrb- who died of cancer in 2010 -rrb- it 's difficult to say .", "beneath those puppet-headed antics , and true to its title , MOV is improbably , disarmingly honest .", "michael fassbender spends the majority of lenny abrahamson 's irreverent comedy `` MOV '' buried underneath a giant plastic head , but the honesty of his performance is on full display .", "fassbender spends 99 % of MOV wearing the over-sized head , commanding the room with eccentricities and musical chaos instead of handsome looks .", "since watching the film , MOV has grown on me because of the weight of the ideas about creativity and complacency .", "the film tries very hard for quirky , but -lrb- barely -rrb- manages annoying .", "an oddball rock-and-roll-themed comedy-drama in need of the cult it may never attract .", "a finely grained ensemble piece , more sober than it needed to be , and more complexly engaging .", "michael fassbender is fantastic .", "for all its dissonances , MOV is provocative and affecting .", "perhaps chris sievey would have appreciated the punk sensibility behind this approach but surely not MOV 's inability to connect with anyone , outside his troupe of broken bandmates ?", "expect the unexpected in this extremely strange and off-the-wall tale in which music bonds a group of creative types who see the world through their own misshapen prism of expression . as for fassbender , it 's a masterful performance ,", "the film 's desire to reduce its cultural and artistic conflicts to simple one-on-one propositions gives the film a know-it-all air of superiority , likes it 's the worst kind of rock snob journalism .", "with the soulful gleeson and a sweetly menacing fassbender -lrb- under a giant helmet-head -rrb- at its center , the movie never loses its acerbic edge or its oversize heart .", "what they 've managed is a fair portrayal of group dynamics among weird , artsy types ; that it does n't venture onward to any further points is mitigated by the fact that it feels real , if not profound .", "it 's intriguing to contemplate the nature of fassbender 's performance , focused on voice and body language , as a fragile man who finds life easier to endure when he 's both hidden and highly visible at the same time .", "MOV is n't so much a film but a place where weird characters gather ; and it 's worth a visit .", "if michael fassbender wears a giant papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9 head for most of a film , is he still mesmerizing ? happily , yes ...", "here 's a seemingly twee movie that ultimately , surprisingly argues that some music is n't for everybody , some people are too broken to fix , and some would-be artists are better off in the audience .", "with jon , rather than MOV , as the film 's focal point , ` MOV ' flails about trying to establish a consistent rhythm , but mostly ends up striking false notes .", "adorably , touchingly and musically ... weird .", "the film boldly raises the unanswerable question of whether it 's better for an artist to safely isolate his work or tweak it a bit so as to share it with the world .", "as compelling a film about music and its mad masters as they come .", "a big group hug from the oddballs", "`` the question of why MOV 's wearing a giant mask becomes deftly overshadowed by a host of potentially richer questions that turn the mirror on the audience . ''", "a funny , first-class satire on the pop music business in which an avante garde band headed by a lead singer with a huge fake head he never takes off -lrb- michael fassbender -rrb- wrestles with the prospect of becoming popular .", "the last-act turn into seriousness is a drag , but the movie rebounds with a final bit of uplift , so it leaves you a good taste in your mouth .", "michael fassbender covers up in MOV , though you could say that of any film he 's done in the years since shame .", "music and mental illness collide in a comedy-drama that 's weird but not always wonderful .", "while this comedy-drama is sometimes wilfully absurd , it 's also exhilarating cinema , telling its story with conflicting amounts of warm emotion and prickly abrasiveness .", "despite his exaggerated , expressionless appearance , fassbender subtly conveys the sadder elements of this story about a man whose head begins to weigh heavily on his shoulders .", "MOV 's so quirky , it 's a foible .", "not like the usual music biopic ... and profoundly the better for it .", "MOV is a sweet , funny and deeply weird comedy with a winning performance from domhnall gleeson as a naive innocent negotiating the eccentric wonderland of rock and roll notoriety .", "an askew , bitter dramedy of artistic pretension and creative desperation that has something sneakily marvelous to say about what it takes - and what it does n't - to be an artist .", "the most impressive aspect of MOV is its seriousness about psychological illness .", "acutely weird anarcho-punk mayhem .", "this is a fundamentally sad film , yet one full of slapstick , silliness , and laughter .", "MOV is a tribute to a way of life as much as to an individual .", "in small movements - the twitch of a hand , a wobble under a door frame , a beer and straw held uselessly by his painted mouth - fassbender gives us glimpses of what MOV 's isolating genius has cost him .", "the movie roots the mask in mental illness without scanting MOV 's artistic playfulness and power . the result is that rarity , a genuine pop tragicomedy .", "in the subgenre of movies that capture -lrb- or at least artfully dramatize -rrb- the birth of beautiful music , MOV is a stunner .", "things go from cutesy to clever to grim , from the band 's country shack to the road , and it takes too long to get everywhere .", "director lenny abrahamson finds plenty of humor in his band of misfit characters , but the movie does n't treat their odd behavior as mere fodder for slapstick . the movie 's heart lies in its understanding of their fragility .", "a delightful , oddball surprise .", "the soronprfbs may be the best fake on-screen punk band since the stains .", "`` MOV '' might be a less cute movie without the mask but it would probably be a better one .", "odd , offbeat , somehow endearing , the bleakly comic `` MOV '' has its own kind of charm as well as some pointed , poignant things to say about the mysterious nature of creativity , where it comes from and where it might all go ." ], "summary": "funny , clever , and endearingly unusual , MOV transcends its quirky trappings with a heartfelt -- and surprisingly thought-provoking -- story .", "id": "771371770" }, { "movie": "sandlot", "reviews": [ "there 's a snappy change-of-pace gag involving a little guy and a nubile lifeguard , but the screams and barks and fraudulent emotions grow wearying .", "` the MOV ' always struck me as a more kid-friendly version of ` stand by me . '", "a solid double rather than a grand slam , the MOV remains a refreshing antidote to the daily round of contract squabbles on the sports page .", "you feel as if you 're being smothered in cotton candy by a director obsessed with infantility and who can not bear to face the reality of childhood .", "in the MOV 's nostalgia for simpler times , a single-sex world seems to be a key component .", "the kids even have their own treehouse , which means that the production designer is the only person connected with this project who actually went out on a limb .", "the MOV is a safe , wholesome , patriotic family picture about baseball , and if there is an original scene , it escaped my attention .", "in this well-crafted movie , a strong cohesive ensemble makes the team likable . guiry as scotty is especially good .", "any of charles schulz 's baseball-oriented peanuts strips contains more understanding of baseball and more insight into children , as well as more pointed fun .", "several of the hard issues involving childhood -- getting accepted in a new neighborhood , getting accepted buy a new stepdad -- are handled with sensitivity .", "predictable as the movie is , the field of dreams quality is not the only thing to like about the MOV .", "old baseball wisdom : the best teams win with strong fundamentals . so do the best movies .", "ever since stand by me , it seems that every boy 's own yarn is deemed incomplete without a nostalgic , pseudo-ironic voice-over waxing lyrical about the mythology of short pants and acne .", "nothing about his modest coming-of-age comedy demands anything like this awestruck approach .", "good , with flashes of very good , overlaid with a particularly thick wash of nostalgia that stubbornly refuses to go obnoxiously cloying . it 's a nice film , that 's what it is .", "field of dreams for tweens .", "sweet and sincere , the film is also a remarkably shallow wade , rife with incident and slim on substance .", "the MOV is a kids flick that will always stand the test of the time and be a movie that you can watch over and over as you grow older . it never loses its touch .", "for kids of the 1990s , there is no greater baseball movie than this coming-of-age tale about a lonely fifth-grader who makes lifelong friends by playing neighborhood baseball games .", "this is a movie for anyone who has ever loved baseball and for anyone who enjoys the american graffiti/stand by me style of narrative . highly recommended .", "the comedy is broad , cartoonish , and quite funny in a faux little rascals manner . the movie is almost completely derivative , but that 's part of the fun .", "for every field of dreams there are a dozen lesser , completely incomprehensible baseball movies . this is one of them .", "the MOV is n't well made but it 's alive with dopey , summertime spirit .", "this is a movie ... that allows its kids to be kids , that shows them in the insular world of imagination and dreaming that children create entirely apart from adult domains and values .", "the MOV is a movie with a comfortable working knowledge of the term `` family entertainment . ''", "a wondrous , true-to-life comedy .", "an adventurous ode to growing up .", "this is one of the best family entertainment films to come out in recent years .", "... touching ... heartwarming ... sentimental and funny ... innocuous but sweet , i could n't help but smile through most of it .", "its messages of anti-bullying , befriending losers , and pretending the fat kid stuffing ho-hos into his mouth does n't make you sick are as timeless as they are trite .", "older kids and overgrown ones too probably will notice that nothing much ever happens in this belabored suburban variation on the little rascals .", "if you can accept `` the MOV '' on its own terms , as a sentimental , nostalgic look at growing up ... you 'll have fun . more importantly , young audiences will have fun ." ], "summary": "it may be shamelessly derivative and overly nostalgic , but the MOV is nevertheless a genuinely sweet and funny coming-of-age adventure .", "id": "10193" }, { "movie": "fargo", "reviews": [ "MOV stands out as the coen brothers ' warmest , most accessible offering to date -- despite its frosty minnesota setting .", "in the fascinating MOV , writer-director joel and writer-producer ethan have come up with a film that is either an oddly funny crime drama or an ultra-deadpan comedy , depending on how you look at it .", "as great a film as the coens have made . and that 's saying something .", "it 's a miracle : a tough , honest , bloody film set so far from the bright lights it feels as if it 's on a different planet , yet knowable and absolutely compelling from start to finish . MOV is great american movie-making .", "the coen brothers , director ethan and producer-cowriter joel , have finally latched onto a story strong enough to carry their eccentric mix of black humor and self-conscious style .", "the performances by mcdormand -lrb- bringing a great screen character to life -rrb- and macy are superb .", "as is typical coen brothers entertainment . `` MOV '' offers incredibly complex characterization along with very memorable dark comedy .", "dark , gritty , and brilliant . not for kids .", "`` MOV '' is the kind of black comedy you can rediscover over and over again . the laughs and shocks never fade .", "quite simply , MOV is the best movie the coen brothers have ever made . and that 's saying a lot .", "uniquely fascinating .", "MOV has been hauntingly photographed by roger deakins with great , expressive use of white-outs that sometimes make the characters appear to be moving through a dream .", "has a murder mystery , a heist gone wrong , tragedy , comedy , and well flushed out characters that are both simple and complex at the same time .", "like every other critic i 'm aware of , i loved this movie .", "the filmmaking duo of joel and ethan coen turn in yet another of their mini-classics with this dark-humored drama of debt , ransom and murder .", "works like a charm . a really weird charm , that is .", "this may be the warmest movie the coen brothers have ever made .", "a crime gem that is darkly funny even when it 's chilling -- and certain to become a classic .", "with MOV , joel and ethan coen return to the glory days of 1987 and raising arizona .", "mcdormand is brilliant , macy terrific , presnell perfect , buscemi fabulous . and stormare is fascinating as one of the deadliest and most horrid big-screen killers in recent memory . MOV is a down-and-dirty doozy .", "the result is a modern masterpiece .", "you have to grant the coens their due as creators of suspense , mood and plotting , and for their ability to color the most monstrous crimes with an undeniably funny sense of the absurd .", "from the camera angles to the set design , everything is calculated to make the viewer feel superior to the cloddish , geeky characters on display .", "it 's another daring black comedy by one of the most consistently inventive moviemaking teams of the last decade , brothers joel and ethan coen .", "returning to the horror-comic vein that launched their careers , director joel coen and producer ethan coen pepper their new picture with so much humor that the occasional bursts of sheer mayhem seem more ridiculous than revolting .", "a small , supremely satisfying film . heck and you betcha , it is .", "a few scenes go around in circles , as if snow-blind , and the humor may be too inward and contorted for some tastes . but mcdormand brings order to the weirdness and warms it up .", "deceptive in its storytelling choices , economical with its plotting , and sly with its dialogue , this oscar winner is truly incredible .", "if MOV could make up its mind what kind of movie it wanted to be , it might find meaning in its tangle of surface caricatures and impeccable technical stylistics .", "the hot news about joel and ethan coen is that they have made a tolerable film .", "the joy of MOV is that everything that goes wrong does so in a perfectly realized universe of icebound minnesotan understatement , a landscape so muffled by snow and scandinavian-bred , low-affect courtesy that even murderous passion comes out goofy .", "-lrb- the coen 's -rrb- assured steps from darkness into light is a cinematic balancing act", "this is the film 's genius , its emulation of true crime 's obsession with prosaic or spectacular minutiae , coupled with a refusal to make such details cohere into master plans and meanings .", "it 's easy to admire what the coens are trying to do in MOV , but more difficult to actually like the film .", "the coens remain effortlessly ahead of the american field .", "one of the more entertaining films of the 1990s .", "kidnapping , larceny and murder have seldom been funnier than in MOV .", "the coen brothers have always loved to go far , a tactic they do n't forgo in MOV . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the most complete film the coens have ever made , it 's nothing short of a movie for the ages .", "the best movie heroine in years .", "MOV , with its grotesque murders and cheery detectives , is a cold gem that takes us to the far north . its seemingly pitiless light opens up the realms of darkness concealed beneath that world of white .", "MOV is a strikingly mature , uniqueentertainment that plays on many levels ... all satisfying .", "it combines a sheer energy of satire , comedy and thriller that it seems at first glance an impossible movie to make .", "much less vain , flamboyant , and showy than their other pictures , MOV bears the thematic influence of samuel beckett and the stylish coolness of finland 's aki kaurismaki , but the violence is all coens .", "-lsb- marge is -rsb- a good cop because everything abnormal stands out like a stain against her white-on-white sanity ... -lsb- h -rsb- er incomprehension -lsb- of criminality -rsb- is not only her strength as a detective , it justifies the deadpan style of the movie .", "a quirky violent comedy that 's worth watching .", "to watch it is to experience steadily mounting delight , as you realize the filmmakers have taken enormous risks , gotten away with them and made a movie that is completely original , and as familiar as an old shoe .", "overall , the movie 's plot-line is so-so , the acting is above par , the soundtrack is original , and some memorable scenes reside .", "even a lunch pulled from a buffet adds texture to the film .", "whether these characters are lovable or detestable , they 're lovable or detestable in a tv way -- defined by a minimal set of traits that are endlessly reiterated and incapable of expansion or alteration , a fixed loop .", "the danger in portraying characters you consider significantly less interesting than yourself is that too much superiority and not enough affection can lead to a fatal snottiness .", "it is stylish , lacerating as a social insight and extremely well-acted by the entire no-superstar ensemble led by frances mcdormand .", "finally , -lsb- the coens -rsb- have given us characters we can care for , a story that keeps us wondering , hoping and guessing , as well as the distinctive visual style that marks all coen productions .", "i could have done without the blood -lrb- including a scene with a person being fed into a wood chipper -rrb- , but the comedy is hilarious .", "funny , frightening and pointed in its explorations of human behavior .", "she 's a sharp cookie .", "any movie that can do that and get away with it as efficiently as MOV does is something to treasure .", "... one of the most hilariously twisted murder mysteries to come along since , well , since never .", "MOV -lrb- 1996 -rrb- is a self-proclaimed `` homespun murder story '' set in the white-washed , winter wilderness of the frozen and bleak upper midwest .", "flat-out great .", "funny without really trying to be , and it proves conclusively that fact is stranger than fiction .", "thank you , brothers coen . you have renewed my faith in the serious talent who can not be lured into the pecuniary heavens of hollywood .", "one of those rare pictures about which i have nothing negative to say .", "gunderson -lrb- frances mcdormand -rrb- -lsb- is -rsb- the most endearing , hilarious and wholly feminine heroine since thelma or louise .", "filled with the coens ' trademark graveyard wit and unique camera angles , MOV rockets along without a dull moment ; it 's by far their most tightly constructed picture since raising arizona .", "this mordant , macabre look at the american obsession with fast food , television and murder is icily funny .", "do you have to be a minnesotan to really get MOV ?", "a nifty bit of nastiness from two of our most dependably provocative filmmakers .", "with the subtle , homespun and ironic performances of macy and frances mcdormand ... the film becomes a darkly laughable tale of small town normality going awry .", "the coens have n't been this sharp , focused and fluid since their first film .", "written and directed with the verve , painstaking nuance and outrageously black humour that have become the mainstay of a coen movie .", "chief gunderson was created by the coens specifically for frances mcdormand ... and they 've been rewarded by a brilliant and unblinking comic performance .", "all attitude and low aptitude . its function is to italicize the coens ' giddy contempt toward people who talk and think minnesotan .", "it brilliantly moves from comedy to poignancy to tragedy and back constantly .", "this is truly a brilliant film , the kind you do n't see often . intelligent , raw , funny , daring and unique , pure cinematic delight from start to end .", "um dos grandes trunfos de MOV reside em seus di\u0431logos . o problema \u0439 que estes duelos verbais travados entre os personagens perdem muito durante a tradu\u0437\u0433o para o portugu\u043as .", "the beauty of the film is in the subtle detail of the dialogue and performances which continue to enchant on repeat viewings .", "MOV shows coens ' film-making ability at its best .", "for all its blood , the movie contains large doses of humor and not a little sweetness and hope .", "-lsb- the coen brothers ' -rsb- very best film , crammed with memorable characters and quotable dialogue .", "an odd , intriguing , and entertaining film .", "the brothers have returned to their roots , both visually and literally . their new film is reminiscent of their debut movie , blood simple , and its wry look at murder .", "this is a near brilliant/near masterpiece -lrb- if not an outright masterpiece -rrb- .", "it 's good storytelling ... hilarious , disturbing , tragic , and hopeful . but it 's not for the squeamish ." ], "summary": "violent , quirky , and darkly funny , MOV delivers an original crime story and a wonderful performance by mcdormand .", "id": "104762093" }, { "movie": "killing_fields", "reviews": [ "one of the most potent politically-charged dramas ever made , managing to honor both the epic and the intimate aspects of its drama . one of the top films of the '80s .", "powerful , unsettling , factual ; oscar caliber acting all around .", "first time feature director roland joffe shoots the drama with an unforced realism lent a terrible grace by the handsome images and smooth , unobtrusive long takes ...", "without doubt one of the finest british films of the last 50 years .", "the screen is swamped by a bathetic , self-preening sententiousness .", "a deeply moving film .", "the intent and outward trappings are all impressively in place , but at its heart there 's something missing .", "the film 's overall thrust -- angry , intelligent , compassionate -- makes this producer puttnam 's finest movie to date .", "a mighty accomplishment , and possibly the bravest britflick yet made .", "epic and heartrending .", "a gripping romanticized and somewhat fictionalized adaptation of an eyewitness magazine piece by new york times journalist sidney schanberg .", "the movie is too conventional and fictionalized to qualify as a genuine political epic , but it 's emotionally touching in describing the friendship between the ny times reporter and his cambodian translator .", "one of the great films from what proved to be a great year for cinema , the MOV has n't lost any of its power over the ensuing 30 years .", "every scene of the MOV -lrb- and every participant in its making -rrb- is in service of showing how abruptly a seemingly safe and vital individual can have everything essential stripped away .", "if you see no more than one film a year , make this the one for 1984 .", "ngor 's naturalistic and empathic portrayal of his character 's desperate fight for survival is the key to this film 's visceral power .", "few feature films have captured a nation 's agony more dramatically than roland joff\u00e9 's the MOV .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gripping , intelligent , provocative drama .", "se a primeira metade impressiona pelo virtuosismo t\u00e9cnico , a segunda fascina pela coragem em observar sem sensacionalismo a magn\u00edfica for\u00e7a de vontade de um sobrevivente , beneficiando-se ainda da maravilhosa performance semi-auto-biogr\u00e1fica de ngor .", "it must be nerve-racking for the producers to offer a tale so lacking in standard melodramatic satisfactions . but the result is worth it , for this is the clearest film statement yet on how the nature of heroism has changed in this totalitarian century .", "the movie is diffuse and wandering . it 's someone telling a long , interesting story who ca n't get to the point .", "the best moments are the human ones , the conversations , the exchanges of trust , the waiting around , the sudden fear , the quick bursts of violence , the desperation .", "the story is powerful , the script intelligent , the cinematography beautiful and the performances nearly flawless .", "`` unforgettable and unshakable ''", "the MOV -lrb- 1984 -rrb- is based upon a true story , and follows the historical events surrounding the us evacuation from vietnam in 1975 .", "a powerful portrait of how the atrocities of a world gone crazy tested the friendship and loyalty of two men", "the director , roland joffe , and his photographer , chris menges , capture all of this with a realism that has n't been so poetically convincing in a nondocumentary context since gillo pontecorvo 's battle of algiers ." ], "summary": "artfully composed , powerfully acted , and fueled by a powerful blend of anger and empathy , the MOV is a career-defining triumph for director roland joff\u00e9 and a masterpiece of american cinema .", "id": "13358" }, { "movie": "hancock", "reviews": [ "successfully mocks goofy superhero conventions while affectionately reveling in some of the best-loved clich\u00e9s of the genre .", "a ton of potential , but ultimately a mess .", "MOV is horrendously disjointed and barely manages to tell a story , but i was delighted by its charisma and will smith 's unexpected middle-finger timing .", "MOV is a hodgepodge of intriguing ideas that , if developed further or presented as more than throw-ins to a confused production , might have made for a unique superhero film .", "in this highly superheroic summer of iron man and the forthcoming the dark knight , MOV can offer only an a-list headliner in a d-list project .", "MOV is a film that starts off promisingly , but takes a left turn about halfway through and literally comes apart at the seams .", "the set-up is there , but the big payoff is a huge letdown .", "-lsb- smith -rsb- should have pushed for a rewrite as `` MOV '' only flies so far before degenerating into a lame and illogical `` my super ex-girlfriend . ''", "with great power comes great -- irresponsibility .", "part of smith and berg 's subvert-your-expectations game plan involves a major midfilm shocker , one that takes the movie to larger mythological places unrelated to MOV 's self-improvement quest .", "it 's like dating britney spears . too much drama .", "something big and different during that time of the year when something big and different is so rare .", "do n't expect to laugh more than five times and you wo n't be disappointed .", "a slightly messy movie , but it 's also one of the year 's best .", "the shaking and almost random cutting destroy the movie 's timing and humor , though smith is skilled enough to sneak a few laughs through .", "`` MOV '' is a mess of a movie , a bizarre combination , believe it or not , of `` my super ex-girlfriend '' and `` breaking the waves . ''", "-lsb- a -rsb- bout three-fifths of the way in , things take a sudden turn ... while this switcheroo has put off many critics , it is precisely what i found most interesting ...", "feels like they shot the story treatment without ever bothering to turn it into a screenplay ... the film is full of empty patches : not plot-holes exactly , but spots where it seems we are n't getting a full movie .", "MOV is a rarity . it 's an action yarn that feels like a drama and , alternately , a drama that takes our breath away with bursts of eye-popping action .", "MOV is not the light and fluffy comedy you may think it is - it 's dark and coarse , but well worth checking out .", "drunk superhero comedy turns into ... something else , not all that successfully .", "MOV can fly ; MOV can punch ; MOV is bulletproof . regrettably these things do n't hold true for MOV as a film , which starts promisingly enough , but ultimately gets knocked off course by a reveal of dubious dramatic value .", "even will smith 's jerky superhero -lrb- and another winning supporting turn from jason bateman -rrb- ca n't save the latter half of this film 's messy script .", "the second half gets so worked up over itself that MOV becomes nearly unrecognizable as the movie we were all enjoying twenty minutes earlier .", "MOV is a lot of fun , if perhaps a little top-heavy with stuff being destroyed .", "MOV is still worth seeing , if only for a glimpse of what might have been a truly innovative idea .", "as for smith , he 's on fire . there 's nothing like a star shining on his highest beams . you follow him anywhere .", "passable if profane , MOV chugs along right up to that when this comic superhero engine goes off the tracks , and pretty much off a cliff .", "i 'm willing to give a superhero film some leeway in terms of realism but a film has to remain true to its own inner logic and this one keeps changing the ground rules .", "the problem is that director peter berg , aided and abetted by smith and theron and third banana jason bateman , seem to have made it literally , not realizing its out-of-whack tonalities and grotesque plot twists were meant to be played for laughs .", "the good cast does what it can with the weak material , but the waste of talent only makes the film 's total failure that much more regrettable .", "MOV leaps fluidly from comedy to action to romance . and it has bigger surprises in store .", "as soon as the hero becomes another wounded demigod brooding on rooftops , the movie loses its sting .", "ill-conceived and oddly executed , this will smith vehicle perplexes more often than it entertains .", "MOV makes for one unexpectedly satisfying and kinky addition to hollywood 's superhero chronicles .", "there 's a great idea here , but it 's buried within a muddled story that lurches between dark comedy and maudlin drama .", "a fun , fairly crisp opening hour gives way to a muddled , entirely unsatisfying ending .", "this is a different take on the superhero genre with an interesting , offbeat twist .", "what an odd movie !", "... an engaging and thoroughly innovative spin on the superhero genre ...", "a few actors such as clint eastwood , marry substance and popularity . but very few . most actors ' egos lead them to slum in the box office . i 'm reminded of this often when a major , talented actor opts for popularity instead of substance when the latter beck", "i have no problem signing on to recommend this . get it ? signing on ... john MOV ... nevermind .", "kicks into tired oh-it-sucks-to-have-superpowers territory and opens up a can of racial issues it has no intention of investigating", "MOV is what happens when you have talented people working on quality material : it 's really a no-brainer that it works so well .", "and if you 're still not willing to forgive MOV , and least there is the scene where he shoves a guy 's head up another guy 's butt .", "MOV is funny and pretty fresh but finally gives up on idiosyncrasy , leaving you nothing much to discover .", "MOV is an irreverent hero for our times -- perhaps reflecting our own national zeitgeist , with america 's previously untainted superpower image suddenly a matter of debate rather than fact .", "`` MOV '' is not a bad movie , just an underachieving one . it lacks a `` wow '' factor . it is bland and routine and flies off in too many directions .", "a floundering action comedy with an interesting premise that self-destructs in its second half .", "... in spite of its flaws , i very much enjoyed MOV , for both its interesting and creative storytelling and smith 's great lead performance .", "the first half is diverting and inventive . but the filmmakers use the second half as a box-office insurance policy . they fill it with the conventional super-heroics and heartbreak that they spend the first 45 minutes gleefully deconstructing .", "since the pursuit of happyness , actor-producer smith has made no secret of his desire to make movies that entertain in that big-studio way but also dig deeper . MOV is a rousing measure of that intent .", "a few more films like these , and this will be remembered as the beginning of the end of his blockbuster career .", "will smith and a great cast are not enough to keep this from becoming a soaring disappointment in this summer 's superhero movie sweepstakes .", "audience members willing to hop aboard this emotional roller coaster ride will respond to the resultant pathos far better than viewers wondering why the laughs suddenly went mia .", "as delivered by director peter berg , MOV is never as serious or funny or poignant as it could be . and despite clocking in at a reasonable running time , it has a big sag in the middle that nothing could have fixed .", "almost any moviegoer should be able to find something to enjoy , but it 's hard to imagine anyone liking this mishmash from beginning to end .", "train wrecks are intrinsically spectacular , and will smith 's new movie offers a doozy . two of them , in fact .", "a relatively satisfying ending that leaves just enough of an opening to warrant a sequel if the box office receipts are right .", "it becomes an entirely different film , one not really premised on the bad-superhero comedy idea , and the film is then oddly without a sense of humour , and its vague interest in satire vanishes completely .", "the strain of messianism in will smith movies is becoming ever more pronounced .", "while the film never quite reaches an alan moore-level deconstruction of the superhero mythos , it has a fun time offering up all the joy of a big-budget action movie without taking things too seriously .", "the fourth of july will not be the only day for fireworks , july 2nd will definitely heat up at your local theatre when MOV is released . be sure to check it out .", "will smith , fourth of july , superhero . it all seems to add up to a great combination . but they only made half a film .", "smith and bateman are great , and the first half of the movie is terrific . the second half ... well , you 'll either go with it or you wo n't .", "has plenty of funny , even tender moments until it veers in a different , messy direction an hour in .", "the most adult of the new wave of superhero dramas .", "this misguided attempt to wring a novel twist on the superhero genre has a certain whiff of the last action hero about it .", "for a robust action story about three people from very different backgrounds attempting to make a positive influence on their world , `` MOV '' is a step in the right direction .", "if will smith can pull off this hodgepodge of a movie , an ill-conceived poorly executed effort that tries to be all things to all people , then he really is hollywood 's most bankable star .", "smith clearly has fun sending up his image .", "no surprise to me , because i fully expected it to be awesome .", "there 's enough good stuff to justify action fan attendance .", "great concept , shaky execution .", "MOV suggests the colin powell ` pottery barn ' argument , but before it gets really interesting , veers wildly off course .", "MOV is a movie that tosses the genre cookie cutter under the bus .", "most of MOV 's faults can be forgiven because will smith creates a quintessentially american hero : flawed , frayed , but always sacrificing for the sake of others .", "`` MOV '' is two films jammed together . the first part , deserves an `` a '' -lrb- kudos to jason bateman -rrb- , but the second part is clearly a b movie . i 'll average only to a b .", "less like a complete movie , MOV plays out more like the first two episodes of a television series shown back to back .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- una buena idea no hace necesariamente una gran pel\u00edcula , y MOV est\u00e1 lejos de ser perfecta . a\u00fan as\u00ed vale la pena y will smith est\u00e1 perfecto en su rol titular .", "it 's definitely a mish-mash , but really good performances .", "squeezing every bit of originality out of its concept , MOV fails on so many levels that it 's surprising the film is n't a bigger success with audiences .", "it 's let down by a disappointingly uneven plot , painfully underwritten characters and dodgy effects .", "smart enough to use the cgi madness in service to the story , rather than just ending and scene or conflict with a big effecty showdown . -lrb- i 'm looking at you , transformers ! -rrb-", "a strange but cool comedy .", "even with smith 's considerable charm and his proven track record as independence day weekend movie god , MOV does n't succeed as a truly satisfying holiday-movie blockbuster .", "the bottom line , of course , is will smith who carries the film and salvages things even while the story falls apart all around him . the guy has charisma to burn , and makes MOV appealing", "most of the film is zippy , funny , and fascinatingly strange -- all qualities that are often lacking in some of the more bloated action blockbusters .", "the superhero genre screams for a makeover , or at least a smart deconstruction , but MOV is n't that movie . it just ups the foolishness ante .", "the strain of sadism that 's crept into mainstream american movies eventually overtakes and undercuts MOV , which should embarrass the filmmakers , who pay lip service here to gooey idealism .", "a fascinating film about exploitation as it applies to blacks and the entertainment industry .", "while MOV certainly is n't lacking in ambition , unfortunately it does lack coherence .", "between the jittery pseudo-realism of peter berg 's direction and the maudlin undercurrent to its hero 's redemption , all MOV can summon up is the faintest sensation of nausea .", "another great departure for smith to put his charm and popularity to the test , offering more than a few solid laughs within an original superhero premise .", "fatally compromised -lrb- but -rrb- ambitious and clever ... it reminds us of the way majority america treats black men in particular , with a humiliating mistrust that 's never far behind the admiration expressed for those who ` earn ' approval through their talents ...", "MOV tries to reinvent the superhero movie - until it loses interest in its own story .", "it 's a pointless , plodding and just plain ugly effort which fails on just about every level .", "MOV is n't by any means a dead loss , but it could have been a lot better .", "MOV endures by finding the right rhythm to match its star , and by lashing enough amusing moments together to provide a trim 92 minutes of entertainment .", "the phony mythos turns into equally spurious pathos that plays like bathos because not one iota of the sentiment or sympathy has been earned .", "smith 's invincibilty at the box office may come down , for this film is a mess . not even his charm and personality can save this train wreck .", "` what are those jammin ' sounds ? is it a musical jetstream of crunk ? `` no , it 's MOV on approach ! use runway six left , MOV ! all jiggy for landing ! '", "the structure of MOV is a bold risk that supplies more storytelling ambition than your more typical summer popcorn blockbuster .", "there are more problems afoot than just its misleading rating , beginning with the story itself .", "there 's a game-changing plot twist that is at first fascinating , but ultimately infuriating because the movie never capitalizes on it .", "the attempts to deepen the emotions turn MOV into a strange , conflicted and often joyless film .", "smith 's pictures deliver familiar pleasures ; they work with efficiency but not inspiration , honoring the time-honored movie platitudes that will neither shock nor stretch an audience .", "it 's worth it just to see a ready-made superman-sized superhero in action without all the baggage of decades of retellings and reworkings ; even looking at familiar faces working through a familiar genre , it 's nice to be surprised for once .", "credit must be paid to director peter berg for pulling off such a tricky balance of such diverse elements while delivering an impressive and affecting superhero adventure with as much heart and soul as sound and fury .", "MOV the jaunty , jokey riff on the screwed-up inner emotional life of a traditionally ironclad superhero becomes MOV the icky lesson in the importance of personal responsibility , loyalty , and continued family togetherness .", "this is an open letter to director peter berg . i just wanted to say , `` good job ! ''", "but for most of its running time , MOV is a refreshing piece of cinema that should be another solid summer hit for smith .", "there are some moments when it looks as though it is somehow going to work but then , much like its anti-hero , it comes crashing back to earth , leaving nothing behind of note besides a giant mess .", "MOV is a giant mess of a movie . it 's not just misguided , it 's insulting .", "i 'm not so sure berg is losing faith that his audience can follow along ... but in the face of so many comic book films entering theatres , it seems a poor choice to differentiate yours by way of tacky tv-level antics .", "sadly , the bar is set too high and the movie implodes under the weight of its own ambitions .", "subtlety and nuance take a summer vacation .", "sheds essential exposition in a mad , foolish dash to the finish line .", "a clumsily executed , forgettable mess that 's too dark for kids , too dull for teens and too dumb for adults", "i love surprises and would happily be led up the garden path with will smith , but there 's a fatal flaw to MOV , with alien-sized plot holes and worse still , characters behaving out of context .", "a bunch of strange , vague ideas crammed into a movie with nowhere to go and absolutely nothing to show us .", "frenetic , forgettable and unfulfilling . even will smith looks uncharacteristically uncomfortable .", "the action comedy , a biting satire of superhero mythology and the comedy that results from its real-world applications , makes you love the guy for his brutally logical demeanor .", "MOV suggests new visual directions and emotional tonalities for pop . it 's by far the most enjoyable big movie of the summer .", "an unfocused , ill-conceived , and rather ridiculous smith vehicle ...", "a disappointing mishmash .", "the special effects feel rather synthetic for a big-time summer blockbuster . when the smoke finally clears MOV emerges as just another routine riff on the superhero genre", "an interesting idea , but it falls a bit short of being a compelling story .", "while by no means a perfect film , i still found a lot to enjoy here . there have been at least two dozen superhero movies in the last six or seven years . it 's kind of nice to see one that looks at things from the other side of the coin .", "uma varia\u0437\u0433o interessante sobre um g\u043anero que vem surgindo com freq\u044c\u043ancia cada vez maior nas telas ... e ver um super-her\u0443i massacrado pelo peso de sua responsabilidade \u0439 um conceito que , por si s\u0443 , j\u0431 merece aplausos .", "after a frenetic and funny first half , ` MOV ' falls apart , devolving into a sentimentalized and scattershot piece short on integrity and sense .", "a strange hybrid of a movie ; a film that never congeals and is the first misstep that i can recall smith making since he refused to kiss eric thal on screen in six degrees of separation 15 years ago .", "it feels like a couple of reels are missing ... devoting an enjoyable first hour to our dirtbag crusader 's unlikable antiheroics , before jumping to the conclusion without benefit of a second act .", "it 's certainly the most complexly ornery superhero flick we 're likely to get this summer .", "director peter berg knows the difference between cartoon violence and the real stuff , and MOV mixes both to good effect .", "you have to admire any summer blockbuster that freshens and subverts the superhero genre , and you 're in fine hands with these actors .", "part of the joke lies in seeing a megawatt star embrace his inner grouch with fantastical blunders , and part of the anticipation lies in seeing MOV become , well , will smith .", "to be sure , MOV mines the superhero mythology and pays homage to the rich folklore on which it feeds and sustains itself , but what it does with the raw materials is thoroughly , refreshingly unique .", "it does n't take itself as seriously as it should , and undercuts a final act that should have and so could have packed a mighty emotional wallop .", "despite having a few ` wow ' moments , this is one of the more frustratingly inconsistent movies in recent memory .", "a new movie that makes the previous pandemonium seem downright restrained .", "there were many moments where i was going from nail-biting to knee-slapping .", "no one can tell a coherent story anymore , and before long no one will notice .", "setting out to be both a parody and the very thing that it 's parodying , the movie comes up short on both accounts .", "the filmmakers can not resist embracing the conventions they were tweaking . MOV turns from a moody , darkly funny character piece trimmed out with a bit of engaging action and veers into a poor impersonation of a standard superhero movie .", "MOV 's light-hearted comedic elements sit uncomfortably next to its more ` adult ' cussing and violence ...", "MOV has about 50 minutes of action and dark , edgy humour before it veers off into cheese land .", "it 's the sort of role smith ought to be able to pull off easily . but even his superpowers apparently have their limits .", "there are many joys to be found in MOV , not the least of which is smith 's effortless performance ...", "if you thought you were in for something light-hearted , prepare yourself for more superhero angst than batman begins and hulk combined .", "by the expedited conclusion it all feels less like a peter berg film and just another chapter in will smith 's tentpole history of major creative failures .", "the premise alone is worth the price of admission and the first hour is some of 2008 's most intriguing cinema .", "MOV tries to be several things at once , but fails to be anything at all ! i was hoping that this was going to be a fun take on the superhero genre , but instead it 's easily the worst film of the summer !!!", "director peter berg mounts a special-effects extravaganza that 's very boring indeed , and does n't quite deafen us to the inadequacies of the script , while smith pretends to be a grumpy git but , naturally , winds up begging us to love him .", "for anyone who thinks spider-man 3 needed more superhero angst .", "here 's a movie filled with bright ideas , crammed uncomfortably into a story burdened by confusing and often contradictory exposition .", "his symbol is the eagle . he beats up on little frenchmen . he is ` the only one of my kind , ' the world 's lone and lonely superpower . MOV is a clever metaphor for america in the world .", "see-saws between straight superhero movie and parody , with layers of soap-opera fudge in between . a lot of solid scenes - but MOV lacks the power of super-coherence .", "the dynamic between the sullen smith and sincere bateman may be the best thing in the peter berg 's movie , but it 's a tough call because the whole popcorn fest is flat-out fantastic .", "there are lots of interesting ideas and some fine work on display , but it never gels into a fully satisfying movie experience . like its titular super-anti-hero , it only works sometimes .", "the more we get to know about MOV and how he acquired his name and mysterious powers , the less entertaining it becomes .", "the acting matches the action", "morally bankrupt . and this is coming from someone who thinks ted bundy was misunderstood .", "... a tale of redemption hard-won , and all the more rewarding for that .", "... the bottom line is that , as far as botched movies go , MOV is a painless way to pass a couple of hours enjoying a mindless summer popcorn movie .", "remember wild wild west ? well ...", "too bad it 's brought down by the most dreaded form of cinematic kryptonite % u2013 the fear of going against an audience 's expectations and giving them the same old superhero song and dance .", "has a promising premise .", "this antihero merely spreads his suckage filmwide .", "even smith needs good material , and it 's fitfully supplied here .", "only half a good movie -- the whole of it becomes confusing , disappointing , and non-sensical .", "MOV is either a brilliant disaster or an often uneven masterwork .", "as daring and audacious as its eponymous hero , venturing into realms of mythos and sentiment with equal dexterity and erudition", "a super-dud .", "best as a comedy and worst when it tries to get serious .", "a promising idea about a superhero with an existential crisis wobbles through wildly misjudged moments and then has something of an existential crisis of its own .", "what does one say about a movie that wants laughs from a shot of one inmate 's head up the derriere of another ?", "it 's a strange feeling to see the summer 's most promising premise self-destruct into something bizarre and unsatisfying , but that is the MOV experience .", "what starts out with a sense of quirky fun loses direction and devolves into a mishmash of story lines .", "initially , it seems like MOV is going to have some fun with the superhero paradigm , but this dark , muddled and tedious noise machine winds up being an inferior copy of that genre 's highlights .", "thanks to smith , it 's a story about movie stars -- and why the multiplex-going humankind needs to have them kicking around , too .", "MOV is the sort of fourth of july cinematic fireworks celebration hollywood dreams about but rarely achieves .", "that pain in your neck is cinematic whiplash .", "this superhero saga fizzles .", "leaving behind the laughs for schmaltz , MOV chickens out at the last minute , lurching toward a cop-out happy ending that gives every indication of having been reshot at the behest of test audiences . well , at least you wo n't be bored .", "the final third seems all shot in a strange blue light that makes even the gorgeous theron look consumptive , and is , in a nutshell , no fun at all . are n't fourth of july movies supposed to be fun ? no fireworks this time , will .", "the promise is dangled yet never developed . rather , the narrative slips into a backstory that alternates between confusing and contradictory .", "why on earth anyone would want to waste a summer matinee afternoon with MOV when they could get wasted with shakes the clown in the dvd privacy of their own lair ?", "while not a total failure , what would the result have been had director peter berg been able decide what he wanted his movie to be ? as it stands , MOV is a wildly uneven ho-hum affair that really should 've have been much more .", "this summer has been defined , over and over , by boys maturing into men ... MOV is by far the most thoughtful exploration of this issue .", "there 's a good chance MOV will still rake in the cash over the next few weeks solely because of smith 's marketability , but as a whole the film is his most deplorable project since 1999 's wild wild west .", "about halfway through the film it shifts gears ... one wishes -lsb- they -rsb- had focused on a single story and saw it through .", "a superhero movie with soul , a magically endowed boozer , and quirky chemistry fueled between those two dramatic heavyweights , will smith and charlize theron , who go at it like hillary and obama duking it out at a presidential primary .", "a peculiar and occasionally charming poke in the ribs of the superman myth .", "as popcorn movies go , this is fleet , funny , and even thoughtful : its central question , nicely underplayed by director peter berg , is why power and altruism never seem to intersect .", "with superhero films as hot in 2008 as psychedelics were in the 1960s , the new blockbuster superhero film MOV fits with the label but without any of the ancestry . the 1983 film the return of captain invincible is flipping in its grave .", "fate , mythology and even racism in america are tossed in to a climax so grim it 's like watching `` men in black '' morph into `` requiem for a dream . '' the movie does n't earn that drama , feeling cobbled together from earlier , less-commercial drafts .", "... where -lsb- director peter -rsb- berg makes it work is by refusing to sacrifice the integrity of his characters for an easy ending .", "MOV is still a lot of fun . will smith remains one of the most likable of movie stars , and he 's a virtuoso of underplayed sarcasm .", "has action , heart , but superhero is an alcoholic .", "the tragedy of `` MOV '' is that will smith is so damn good in it .", "yet because it 's smith , you know that MOV ca n't be all bad , and as the film spends the next hour trying to rehabilitate him , proceedings slowly starts to fall apart .", "john MOV is a black superhero desired and derided by crowds who are informed by spectacles , stereotypes , and fear .", "-lsb- ... -rsb- it 's always nice to see someone revisit christopher reeves ' drunken man of steel act from superman iii .", "if MOV did n't try so hard to be `` edgy '' and `` different '' it could have been a winner . instead with the only villain in the movie being a whiskey bottle it barely registers as a blip on the radar .", "MOV is a mess that is n't even fun to enjoy for its little pleasures .", "flashy and funny , but extremely uneven , this superhero action comedy lets its gifted cast stroll through a series of ill-defined characters" ], "summary": "though it begins with promise , MOV suffers from a flimsy narrative and poor execution .", "id": "770679092" }, { "movie": "family_man", "reviews": [ "mildly entertaining , thanks to cage 's fine work , some romance and humor .", "sure , -lsb- it 's -rsb- pop pabulum -- but is n't that what people want ? no one wants to think too hard at the movies , anyway .", "it 's contrived schmaltz , but it 's well-oiled contrived schmaltz ...", "at times , i wish i had fallen asleep and woke up elsewhere .", "leoni absolutely sparkles .", "while the film fails in many ways to reach a memorable conclusion , it just might carry enough soft-hearted cheer to make a tired old married couple smile on christmas eve .", "too much of the movie is pure formula nonsense .", "the outsize ticky tackiness of jack 's new life has been stitched together out of the broadest possible series of middle american clich\u00e9s .", "the absolute choices it forces on its hapless hero are far too mutually exclusive to be credible .", "it 's the sort of steamroller seasonal entertainment calculated to make us average folks out here feel temporarily warm and happy about our averageness .", "the movie is bogus , but weirdly involving .", "modestly entertains and uplifts us .", "a surprisingly charming fable .", "-lsb- the -rsb- playfully woven combination of cool comedy and realistic romance provides audiences across the board with one of the few films this season that is likely to entertain almost everyone .", "in the end conventional sentiment , rather than any actual morality , is all that the script for the MOV ... has to offer .", "the movie is sweet , light entertainment , but could have been more .", "aimed at the unfussy consumer of christmas schmaltz .", "mostly it 's a reminder of better movies in this genre .", "it seems that every few years the studios release movies that seek to offer christmas magic but end up feeling forlorn and empty .", "not even a sincere and heroic effort by nicolas cage can redeem the film 's essential phoniness .", "yes , this movie is schmaltzy -- but ... so what ? it 's also heartfelt , a great date movie and perfect for the holidays .", "nicolas cage gives a performance that invites audiences to lay cynicism aside .", "the movie has intelligent dialogue and fine lead performances , but it could use a few supporting characters to distract us from the fact that , at every minute , we know exactly what will happen next .", "a romantic fable , which is a polite way of saying it 's full of bull .", "it 's pleasant enough stuff , but lord knows , we 've seen it all before .", "for a holiday movie , it does n't have much about giving or sharing .", "it is leoni 's kate who grounds this enterprise and gives it some soul .", "despite an aura of d\u00e9j\u0155 vu and a too-neat fadeout , this time-warp comedy feels fresh and original , and not a little heartfelt .", "a holiday fable that 's not destined for immortality but goes down more easily than most of the pap hollywood tries to feed us every christmas .", "although the rhythms of the movie directed by brett ratner ... are familiar in terms of the story , cage and leoni make it offbeat .", "even as the writers spin their entertaining suburban legend , there 's a lingering feeling perhaps even they do n't really stand behind the statement they 're trying to make .", "demonios ! , y yo que estaba tan bien en mi soltera !", "cage and leoni are cute together and struggle mightily , but they ca n't overcome this sinking ship of a script by david diamond and david weissman that telegraphs the ending in the first 20 minutes .", "there is not a lot wrong with the MOV , except for an almost total lack of surprise and a nasty attitude toward exactly the people who are supposed to pay money to watch it .", "okay , so this is kinda corny but hey , it 's a christmas movie , what do you expect ? plus , it 's so well done that it does n't matter that it 's formulaic and not very deep .", "i was disappointed with its overly sentimental tone and rather questionable message . are married men with children actually more deserving of happiness than single guys ? according to this movie , yes .", "redeems itself with raw emotion and the evocative force of love .", "a holiday film joe lieberman could love , unembarrassed by its wholesome , sugary pro-family message .", "cage 's delivery of the big final speech is strained and uncomfortable , and the film 's ending is unsatisfying , offering a conflicted message and only a meager chance of hope .", "perfect feel-good christmas-period family entertainment . highly recommended .", "what was once inspirational has become inevitable ; what was once meaningful now reeks of the mundane .", "a real contempt hovers just below ratner 's superficially sympathetic presentation of suburban family life .", "the familiar can be awfully entertaining if it 's done well . and here , for the most part , it is .", "a string of cliches , clearly intended for a season that sells those cliches .", "conjures up only lukewarm family feelings .", "the over-the-top bigness of cage and the understated honesty of leoni refresh this well-worn story .", "an entertaining romantic comedy that delights despite -lrb- or , others may feel , because of -rrb- its high mush quotient .", "an easier movie to tolerate than it should be if , like me , you 're in love with t\u00e9a leoni , who ... rescues the movie from the tar pit of irrelevance .", "a film brimming with good intentions that , unfortunately , lacks conviction .", "has enough moments of veracity and humor to keep it entertaining .", "once we get past the initial appearance , everything about the MOV is recycled .", "it is the peculiar generic cinematic gag gift of the season .", "nothing more , or less , than a cheap , dirty grab at our christmas spirit .", "a warm , glossy holiday fable that hits some surprisingly sweet notes .", "like a pair of comfortable old shoes one wears around the house when no one else is watching . regardless of how those shoes look , they still feel pretty darn good .", "it 's beautifully adorned with two shining ornaments : nicolas cage and tea leoni .", "will undoubtedly run alongside a christmas story on cable stations around the christmas season for years to come as a staple of the season .", "this predictable christmas pudding actually possesses a little flavor , thanks almost entirely to its key performers .", "highly compensated hollywood types who make calculatedly commercial movies are the last folks who should be telling us we 're unworthy , unfulfilled people if we do n't sacrifice everything to raise a family .", "cage and leoni have great chemistry together and little ms. vega is cute as a button .", "for all its obviousness , there is a sweetness in this movie that really got to me .", "like most holiday movies , the MOV is meant to have a very positive message , but it 's a message that is troubling too .", "a pleasant change of pace for both cage and director ratner .", "despicable and insidious", "es de esos filmes que est\u00e1n en el l\u00edmite entre ser considerados como una buena o una malas pel\u00edcula", "slow at times , but never dull . you 'll be thinking a lot on the way home about that special someone who got away , got thrown away , or incarcerated before his time .", "most of the jokes are stale and flat -lrb- new jersey as a concept is not that funny -rrb- , and the ultimate moral in this supposedly hip fairy tale feels like some sort of 1980s yuppie guilt trip .", "exists only to provide middle-class , middle-brow entertainment .", "if a movie is going to operate in such an obvious structure , it should do it well . the MOV does not .", "brett ratner 's often -lrb- surprisingly -rrb- watchable collision of it 's a wonderful life and a christmas carol .", "ratner assembles enough small , bright moments of earnest amusement and sweetness to eke out a victory , thanks largely to talents of cage and leoni .", "it is n't nearly serious -lrb- or entertaining -rrb- enough to even beg for comparison to its forebearers .", "it 's a likeable film .", "if you like feel-good movies that try to uplift and inspire at whatever the cost , then the MOV is an excellent choice , especially as a holiday selection .", "the screenplay is effective enough to get us thinking about a few philosophical issues ... while it tells a worthwhile story .", "what makes this film work so well is two absolutely terrific central performances from leoni and cage .", "nicolas cage is always worth watching , and jack campbell 's changes , until even his wary daughter accepts him , are well developed for most of the way .", "it 's quite a tightrope act -- they manage to both pander and condescend to middle america simultaneously .", "ratner ... mines the story 's comedic and wistful elements effectively while avoiding the potential mush factor .", "rests on its charm , never falling short of pleasant .", "warm and soothing , `` the MOV '' is not a perfect film , but it 's a perfect film for the holiday season .", "the predictability factor did n't spoil our good time . it might yours ... but then , again , it might not .", "perhaps the MOV would be more palatable if it played up on -- or even acknowledged -- its female revenge fantasy aspects .", "try not to throw up as hollywood preaches about the evils of money .", "if it were only predictable , syrupy , and overlong , the MOV might still be worth watching for the appealing performances from leoni and cage .", "o programa ideal para a \u00e9poca do natal .", "thoroughly engaging yet nothing new .", "a series of moments , sentimental and comic , that never do add up to a coherent fable .", "so undernourished and one-dimensional that it begins to drag long before the misty-eyed conclusion .", "... a feel-good romantic comedy with serious overtones that we 've all seen before ... predictable from start to finish .", "despite some predictability and some awkward construction ... the movie is a holiday pleasure .", "i had to laugh as jack experienced it all for the first time . you could tell the audience was laughing because they could identify with it , too .", "it makes the point of demeaning the middle class at every turn .", "it 's reduced a frank capra film to , frankly , crap .", "a veritable glacier of treacle , oozing inexorably on for two hours , gradually swallowing the actors , the screen and the audience as well .", "while it may be wholly unoriginal the MOV is also surprisingly touching and funny .", "a slickly produced slice of sentimental hokum that borrows freely from a half-dozen or so other , better feel-good fantasies .", "why is it that when a film blatantly steals from a classic -- it 's a wonderful life , in this case -- the characters almost never acknowledge it ?", "the movie 's got a big heart , plenty of humor , a dash of romance , a nice score from danny elfman , an interesting story and well-developed characters .", "its sparkling cast and a few inventive riffs on an old outline make this a welcome holiday entertainment .", "ratner , to his credit , gets the job done and makes it bearable .", "the film has so many spiffy individual scenes .", "high on schmaltz and low on real feeling , ratner 's film is a hollow happening that , in more intelligent hands , may have achieved the kind of complexity it strives for .", "the more ` subtle ' and ` understated ' scenes are overplayed , and cage goes so over the top that he seems to be acting in a completely different movie .", "desperately needs a more centered , consistent performance from -lsb- cage -rsb- .", "drags along with not much in the way of spirit .", "the way in which the cast and crew put a fresh spin on it is nothing short of entertaining and quite enjoyable .", "while this surrogate existence is one that the filmmakers encourage jack to accept , it 's also one they repeatedly mock , sending mixed messages about what actually makes living worthwhile .", "holiday moviemaking by the manual .", "ratner probably thought it would be capra-esque , but , really , it 's just boring .", "nicolas cage is at his best coping with crisis situations , even dirty diapers , less comfortable with warm , cuddly moments , and tea leoni is radiant and lovely , breathing life into a role that could have been one-dimensional .", "the best date movie of the year .", "you 'll be land-cruising the kids to gymnastics practice with a smile on your face and a song in your heart , even as selected neurons short-circuit , snap , sizzle and leave the building with elvis .", "a perfect film for the christmas season , its messages about the meaning of success and the importance of family is presented with straightforward and genuine warmth .", "aside from the premise , the film is not likely to become a perennial christmas mainstay , due to its uneven tone and flawed .", "one of the few films this season able to offer something likely to entertain almost everyone .", "the makers of the MOV were trying to do a kind of reverse it 's a wonderful life without ever realizing that it does n't work on paper , much less on the screen .", "ratner is n't a capable enough director to work the alchemy needed to make this cheese into gold .", "leoni is a revelation . vibrant and gorgeous , she plays her role of the determined mother in love with teasing , salty charm , providing just enough grit to save the film from ratner 's slushy direction .", "its emotional core makes it easy to appreciate as a classical -lrb- if not classic -rrb- entertainment .", "pleasant movie despite some predictability .", "i voted for the happy ending , thusly , my enjoyment was diminished .", "if you 're looking for a heartfelt , feel-good holiday movie , just give in and enjoy .", "a hunk of sentimental fluff that boasts an often-overstated performance by cage and an annoying turn by leoni .", "it 's rare that an american movie lets slip such a snobbish distaste for the humdrum lives of its blue-collar audience base , but of course it does n't last ." ], "summary": "despite good performances by cage and especially by leoni , the MOV is too predictable and derivative to add anything new to the christmas genre . also , it sinks under its sentimentality .", "id": "10203" }, { "movie": "im_going_home", "reviews": [ "a touching drama about old age and grief with a tour de force performance by michel piccoli .", "speaks eloquently about the symbiotic relationship between art and life .", "this is one of oliveira 's most engaging , most accessible films to date .", "wonderful performances and beautiful camera work .", "a masterful film from a master filmmaker , unique in its deceptive grimness , compelling in its fatalist worldview .", "it will break your heart .", "a different movie -- sometimes tedious -- by a director many viewers would like to skip but film buffs should get to know .", "the movie is a trove of delights .", "a poignant , artfully crafted meditation on mortality .", "oliveira trusts the intelligence of his audience ... in the life of the city he suggests the ongoing life of humanity , the context in which individual mortality must be contemplated .", "watching this gentle , mesmerizing portrait of a man coming to terms with time , you barely realize your mind is being blown .", "while this gentle and affecting melodrama will have luvvies in raptures , it 's far too slight and introspective to appeal to anything wider than a niche audience .", "a miraculous movie , i 'm going home is so slight , yet overflows with wisdom and emotion .", "piccoli is superb as an aging actor named gilbert valence .", "few films seem so wise and knowing about the fact of age and the approach of the end .", "a work of devastating simplicity and poetic tact and grace .", "escaping the studio , piccoli is warmly affecting and so is this adroitly minimalist movie .", "piccoli gives a superb performance full of deep feeling .", "one of the greatest films i 've ever seen .", "subtly powerful .", "ample proof of the director 's great wit and wisdom .", "elliptical as it is perceptive .", "stylistically adventurous .", "a minor film with major pleasures from portuguese master manoel de oliviera ...", "the kind of quiet masterpiece that fully registers only after you 've seen it .", "an understated film that touches on greatness .", "a realistic look at the ways in which mortality plays into the conscious and subconscious plans of the living", "a rarity , a film about old age that is neither a celebration or lament of of lost youth , nor an anticipation of impending death , but simply an unsentimental meditation on the ambiguous present , on aimlessness , isolation , and infirmity .", "there 's something poignant about an artist of 90-plus years taking the effort to share his impressions of life and loss and time and art with us .", "like a precious and finely cut diamond , magnificent to behold in its sparkling beauty yet in reality it 's one tough rock .", "gives you the steady pulse of life in a beautiful city viewed through the eyes of a character who , in spite of tragic loss and increasing decrepitude , knows in his bones that he is one of the luckiest men alive .", "oliveira seems to pursue silent film representation with every mournful composition .", "michel piccoli 's moving performance is this films reason for being .", "piccoli 's performance is amazing , yes , but the symbols of loss and denial and life-at-arm 's - length in the film seem irritatingly transparent .", "if that old bromide about the universal power of simple storytelling seems to bear repeating , it 's because every powerful story simply told seems new in the telling .", "it reaffirms life as it looks in the face of death .", "at the film 's centre is a precisely layered performance by an actor in his mid-seventies , michel piccoli .", "de oliveira creates an emotionally rich , poetically plump and visually fulsome , but never showy , film whose bittersweet themes are reinforced and brilliantly personified by michel piccoli .", "what a role this is for piccoli , who plays the hubristic king , the bereaved husband , the grand artist , in tones that range from thunder to whisper .", "in i 'm going home , de oliveira , as alive as any filmmaker , captures the way that tragedy can eat away at even those who 've long outlived it .", "de oliveira gives us a witty , moving , yet unsentimental study of mortality that ranks among the best work of his career .", "judging from the strength of this superbly enigmatic film , oliveira himself seems far from ready to go home .", "ostensibly pedestrian in its depiction of valence 's foibles on and off stage , the film studiously avoids cinematic and emotional grandstanding in favor of extremely subtle but generally effective portraiture .", "if it seems like a minor miracle that its septuagenarian star is young enough to be the nonagenarian filmmaker 's son , more incredible still are the clear-eyed boldness and quiet irony with which actor and director take on life 's urgent questions .", "a film of precious increments artfully camouflaged as everyday activities .", "greets the inevitability of death with remarkable candor and depth .", "an old man 's film in terms of its subject , star and protagonist , 76-year-old michel piccoli , but not in terms of its rigorous style or its austere denial of sentimentality and self-pity .", "de oliveira seems not only to have read john berger 's famous essay on looking , but also to have taken it as his personal instruction manual for filmmaking ." ], "summary": "i 'm going home is a masterfully subtle and poignant exploration of mortality .", "id": "21421" }, { "movie": "martyrs", "reviews": [ "MOV is an unforgettable -lrb- not necessarily a good thing -rrb- endurance test of a movie that provides a quasi-philosophical spin on the torture porn genre .", "the stylishly mounted first half zips along at a rate of knots while the gruesome make-up work will keep your gag reflex in violent spasm .", "young women are brutalised to a place beyond pain , as part of an eschatological experiment . you really do n't need to see this .", "you may well feel in need of a shower after sitting through MOV , a slick essay in gallic torture porn .", "MOV is a five star example of what modern horror can do , or a one star mugging of all that is decent . forgive us if we go with the former .", "` MOV ' is initially shocking and strong , but eventually falls apart once we are informed about what the hell is going on .", "arthouse ? grindhouse ? the passion of joan of arc : unrated edition ? defying all boundaries , MOV relentlessly dishes the visceral pain and emerges as a work of not just ceaseless terror but also gravity and beauty .", "it will most definitely divide audiences , having already done so all over the world . but laugier has contributed a brave , brutal and original horror film for all to witness .", "o inquieto roteiro , que parece mudar sua trama de dire\u0437\u0433o a cada 20 minutos , acaba fornecendo uma justificativa narrativa intrigante para toda a pavorosa viol\u043ancia que testemunhamos , embasando seu lado gore em uma tem\u0431tica metaf\u043dsica surpreendente .", "despite fancy writing , it 's just another gore porn flick , out to shock for the hell of it and designed for loners who attend film festivals .", "film should score ok with hardcore gore fans , but others will expect martyrdom for sticking it out until the end .", "MOV is this year 's inside , both films are legendary in their own right ... the only negative thing about laugier 's film is that once you see it , you 'll never be able to see it for the first time ever again ...", "you do n't have to be catholic to shudder at pascal laugier 's bitterly apocalyptic MOV , but it helps .", "MOV se veut un film vicieux qui ose \u00e9norm\u00e9ment . parfois m\u0119me trop , d'ailleurs .", "... ultimately comes off as an unusually provocative horror effort that 's sure to leave viewers thinking and talking about it long after the end credits have rolled .", "french horror cinema that does n't shy away from the rough stuff and aims to bring a few extra layers to the typically anemic slash-and-smash concept .", "a sadistic , religiose french horror movie .", "the air of pretentiousness and the whiff of lesbian chic suggest that the bunch of nihilists who produced this garbage will claim something for it . all it really demonstrates is that there is something seriously rotten in the state of france .", "brutally well-conceived ... for about 40 minutes , and then `` MOV '' flips on its own bloody axis and falls apart , existentially .", "MOV is a groundbreaking work - it challenges the audience to endure heinous acts yet to emerge spiritually cleansed ; to witness man 's willingness to abuse , degrade and manipulate , yet leave the theatre more enamoured with humanity than ever .", "it turns out to be concerned precisely with the nature and reception of extremity , posing uncomfortable questions about what it is that one really seeks in choosing to ` witness ' scenes of horrific human abjection .", "some call it torture porn , others might call it aggressive moralising , more still have say it 's boring and pointless . in my view this level of dissent marks it as worthwhile .", "ultimately a very off-putting one-trick pony", "perhaps more than any other horror film , MOV demonstrates the range of the genre 's capabilities to find ways to excite , provoke , and disturb us .", "MOV marks new ground in the horror genre - just do n't take that as a sign it 's worth your time .", "MOV is an absolute recommend , but only to those who are willing to accept the film on its own uncompromising terms . all others are advised to stay well clear away ." ], "summary": "a real polarising movie , this gallic torture-porn is graphic , brutal , nasty and gruesome and not to everyone 's taste .", "id": "770783658" }, { "movie": "clerks_2", "reviews": [ "clerks ii 's sound look at stunted growth does n't get around that these personalities are less likable in their 30s than in their 20s .", "it has a more authentic everyday feel than a lot of movies . but it 's also very talky and philosophical for a comedy , which would be okay , except the philosophy is kind of shallow .", "it 's a horrible sequel , on par with , say , caddyshack ii in terms of desperation and comic failure .", "... lewdness for lewdness sake ...", "smith has nothing original left to say and no original ways left to say it .", "ultimately , smith finally achieves that perfect balance between humor and heart that he 's been dancing towards with all his films .", "even as the lone wolf reviewer who considers jay and silent bob strike back a guilty pleasure of the most shameless order , it saddens me that i ca n't offer kevin smith 's latest jersey hurl similar props .", "simply a pretty darn good , utterly and honestly raunchy comedy with a heart like minnie the moocher 's -- as big as a whale .", "most of the dialogue is geared towards young teenagers who mindlessly argue about things that really do n't matter in real life .", "i ca n't say i 've spent the last dozen years desperate to catch up with these guys . but it 's nice to have them around again .", "a tender , scabrous and very , very funny comedy that picks up 12 years after the original .", "the most hilarious , emotionally honest and poetic -lrb- yes , poetic -rrb- film kevin smith has ever made .", "smith 's hyperliterate lead-assed wiseacres deserve their place in indie-movie history , no doubt , but when even the fart jokes fail to pop , it may be time to draw the curtain .", "when film theorists of the future take stock of kevin smith 's oeuvre , here 's hoping clerks ii is remembered as the worthless travesty that cemented the auteur 's irrelevancy .", "despite not achieving the level of the original ... this is the most amusing comedy to arrive in months .", "so is clerks ii as good as its predecessor ? not as good , but pretty doggoned close -lrb- or as randal would say , pretty @ % $ # & close -rrb- .", "what was scabrously funny and charmingly amateurish in the 1994 black-and-white clerks is now less so in the color bigger-budgeted sequel , a mediocre follow-up to a zeitgeist film that was a personal-aesthetic manifesto .", "smith 's heart is in it , but it 's sort of a broken heart now ; clerks ii feels as though it was made by a man who needs a change but is n't permitted to make one .", "lacking the grubby authenticity of its predecessor , the movie feels clueless and out of touch . sometimes you ca n't go home again .", "wickedly irreverent and bone-tickling funny .", "while the film is n't nearly his best , it 's undeniable fun to see the clerks ranting again and rattling off the kind of raunchy , spot-on observations only smith could think up .", "would n't it have been nice just to wonder whatever happened to dante and randal ? instead , clerks ii gives us answers .", "this joyous jeer-athon , filled with...dirty-word laden depth and instantly quotable moments ... is a love letter to the unbridled ecstasy in speaking one 's mind .", "randal and dante were funny 12 years ago ; now they look and sound like myspace predators .", "the adolescent vulgarities are just a smokescreen for a more serious discussion of a kind of mid-life crisis .", "i loved `` clerks '' and i was reluctant to see `` clerks ii , '' but smith manages to revisit his stomping grounds in genuine sophomoric fashion , while leaving it with a nostalgic maturity at the same time .", "clerks ii strikes its deepest chords when it appeals to the emotional security of a passionately provincial status quo .", "clerks ii is just as raucous , rude , crude , vulgar , random , and shockingly funny as you would expect , but it is also surprisingly moving at times .", "you ca n't go home again . but it sure is nice to visit .", "the mildest and sweetest of the jay and silent bob canon .", "clerks ii would make for an appropriate end to smith 's lackluster career .", "has kevin smith gone soft ?", "ok , kevin smith . all is forgiven . obviously , jersey girl was just a silly aberration . you not only have not lost your comedic touch -- you 've taken it to new heights .", "kevin smith 's sequel to his 1994 indie classic about two aimless new jersey buddies is as dead-end as their jobs .", "funny , flip , frequently shocking , sometimes appalling , and always engaging .", "the point of clerks , either number , is talk -- speedy , competitive , clever banter that recalls , in its profane way , the rhythms of old ben hecht comedies .", "just as clerks was smith 's statement of misspent youth , clerks ii is his declaration that your 30s is when you have to find your path and start moving .", "... clerks ii is mostly appealing in its familiarity , from the rat-a-tat cussing to the cameos from smith 's repertory company to the extended riffing on star wars and geek culture .", "the film 's loose structure incorporates a little bit of everything ... about the only thing conspicuously absent is political correctness .", "has a huge been-there-done-that factor as smith tries to recreate the magic of the original", "yes , it 's clunky , silly and often downright obscene . but there 's a depth of character that makes it well worth seeing .", "smith 's politically incorrect references are never malicious or fueled by anger .", "while the film is rude and raucous throughout , it does n't have a bad bone in its body , providing a joyous , celebratory swansong for the beloved characters .", "despite a handful of great jokes , this is ultimately disappointing - it 's badly plotted , badly acted and occasionally downright embarrassing .", "the laughs are still there .", "... as humorous as diphtheria .", "a film with both fart and heart , and is highly recommended for the willing and able .", "the duds-to-gags ratio is way too high and the general aesthetic -lrb- visual and verbal -rrb- way too crummy .", "... less profound than it is uneven , an intermittently satisfying mix .", "raunch only works well if there is an undercurrent of substance at hand to lift the bottom feeding . `` clerks ii '' has no problem plunging into its messy depths while also , somehow , generating a groundswell of affection for its messy characters .", "while jay has always introduced silent bob as his `` hetero life mate , '' it is actually randall that is connected to dante . it 's obvious that he will miss his friend , and anderson makes us miss him too .", "... probably the funniest film smith has done since the original - it 's chock full of childish humour and witty observations on pop-culture - but there 's something real beneath all of that as well . something , dare it be said , touching .", "the emetic outpouring of buddy love in the last reel deserves the adults-only certificate that the rest narrowly escapes .", "what 's truly unforgivable is the willful regression", "more empire than jedi .", "notably dubbed as the `` gayest film ever '' when it premiered at cannes , `` clerks ii '' is nonetheless a slight improvement on smith 's original film .", "clerks ii will resonate with viewers in smith 's age range -lrb- mid-thirties -rrb- in a way that goes beyond comedy .", "smith 's `` edge '' is noticeably mia in his cash-in-er-sequel , and it shows painfully .", "smith 's attempt to get all introspective about growing up yields a plot that is at core rather mawkish and cliched - but when it comes to writing hilariously juvenile lines , he still has the old magic .", "deliberately disgusting , scatological , profane and vulgar , which makes this critic a bit embarrassed to admit that he found himself frequently laughing out loud at such offensive and obscene material .", "as long as all easily offended souls stay away from clerks ii , everyone ought to be happy .", "you have to wonder how long smith plans to hang out in front of the big-screen quick stop , telling the same kind of jokes and copping the same old attitudes .", "clerks ii is not a return to the roots . it 's just a cartoonish trip in the way-back machine outfitted with a questionable moral .", "clerks ii is dumb . clerks ii is brilliant . clerks ii is a rehash . clerks ii is surprisingly fresh . clerks ii will disappoint you at the same time that it keeps you fully entertained .", "clerks ii repeats all the charms and flaws of the original with a far less forgivable outcome , since smith is now in a position to do far better .", "smith may be an acquired taste , but clerks ii is his most consistently funny film since the first clerks , a dozen years ago .", "for casual fans of writer-director kevin smith , his new film , clerks ii , feels a little like the new pirates of the caribbean -- a similar wet fizzle of a sequel for sequel 's sake -- but what do we know ?", "clerks ii is neither the best nor the worst installment in smith 's jersey-centric ` askewniverse , ' but fans will find plenty to feed their obsession .", "if you 're a fan of clerks ... then you 'll probably want to see clerks ii .", "a dozen years later , clerks ii has a much higher budget -- but , happily , the same snarky attitude and snappy slacker repartee .", "what makes clerks ii both winning and -lrb- somewhat unexpectedly -rrb- moving is its fidelity to the original clerks ethic of hanging out , talking trash and refusing all worldly ambition .", "i do n't think smith could have made a worse movie if he tried , and keep in mind , i 've seen jersey girl .", "unless you 're a die-hard fan who hangs on smith 's every word -lrb- or silent bob 's every expression -rrb- , the proper response to clerks ii is ` no sale . '", "a big fat value meal stuffed with profane ravings , in-joke movie geekery , and virtually non-stop raunch -- but somewhere in act iii , MOV also gets a little ... sweet . and it actually works .", "for a guy who will evermore be associated with slackers , kevin smith is quite the dynamo .", "clerks ii finds smith up to the profane , raunchy , profoundly humanist mischief of which he alone is the master .", "here the storytelling , smith 's great strength , is 90 percent riff and 10 percent theme . should n't the characters be more memorable than the punch lines ?", "juvenile ? yes . silly ? yes . but it 's also often hilarious .", "the slackers of clerks have lost their wiseass flannel-shirted charm in kevin smith 's feeble attempt to translate his day-in-the-life-of '90s cult film to 2006 .", "clerks ii is more sentimental and ruder than its predecessor , though its brand of raunch tends to curdle halfway out of the characters ' mouths .", "it 's easy to rag on clerks ii for all the same reasons critics bag all of smith 's movies , but it 's impossible to deny the fun that clerks ii ultimately is .", "clerks ii brings smith back to his roots , and his strengths as a writer-director .", "clerks ii will find kevin smith 's detractors saying that the filmmaker simply regurgitates the past , while his loyal fan base will applaud his return to the tried and true .", "smith wo n't win any new converts with clerks ii , but he 'll satisfy the devoted core audience .", "this movie put a broad smile on my face , virtually from the start .", "makes a surprisingly convincing case for dante and randal as characters worthy of a revisit once a decade .", "another raunchily funny , mildly sad and brutally candid purging of -lsb- smith 's -rsb- demons and dreams .", "with smith , you have to take the crass with the inspired , but unlike quentin tarantino , smith has something to say . sometimes it 's worth sitting through a ton of sick jokes to hear it . clerks ii is one of those times .", "i like trashy humor , but there is not much here to chuckle at .", "smith 's commentary track for the new `` road house '' dvd is riotous -- it 's got more laughs than his past two films combined .", "all is well with the clerks world when these stoners take the screen ... and prove that guys can grow old and stay immature forever .", "it 's funny and poignant and not for the easily offended .", "whatever your expectations , they will almost certainly be exceeded by smith 's hilarious and creative return to low-budget cinema .", "they say you ca n't go home again , but writer-director kevin smith did n't get the memo .", "while it 's the sadness of the aging geek that resonates most potently throughout clerks ii , the movie itself is far too glib to let anything that bleak get close enough to the surface to bubble over and stain the counter .", "frankly , there 's something more than a little sad about the spectacle of men blowing through their thirties with the same aimless torpor they brought to bear on their twenties : the future is catching up to dante and randal , and it 's not a pretty sight .", "although it has , hands down , the single funniest scene of the summer , clerks ii is a roadside bomb in the culture war .", "though it will be of little interest to anyone who has never seen its predecessor , clerks ii should delight smith 's fans .", "clerks ii is as insightful a comedy about reluctantly growing up in modern-day america as you 're likely to see this year . attend it with your best friend from childhood , even if his name 's dupree .", "clerks ii is neither awful enough to go berserk about , nor good enough to recommend , even to hardcore cultists .", "not just an all-around growth experience for kevin smith and his characters but a film that is in several ways actually better than the original .", "but smith 's also infused clerks ii with an unexpected amount of heart and sweetness , resulting in an emotional payoff that one would never have anticipated from the filmmaker .", "kevin smith has done it again . clerks ii is his temple of doom ... the emotional parts of clerks ii are like the satanic parts of temple of doom . i mean that in the most positive way .", "smith manages to navigate these rather traditional plot threads with a kind of irreverent glee , splashing into them like a kid into a mud puddle .", "a bit warm , fuzzy , and soft ... it forms the surprising heart of an outwardly bawdy film .", "... has the most hearty laughs of any film this year , and turns out to be a fitting and surprisingly touching ode to thirtysomething underachievers .", "if you go in simply expecting the movie to be better than jersey girl , you 're not likely to be disappointed -- but you wo n't be blown away , either .", "when it 's on , it 's really on : sharp , funny and geeky , just like you remember .", "clerks ii has at last put kevin smith on my radar .", "twelve years after kevin smith arrived on the film scene with the profane and hilarious clerks , he returns with a bookend sequel which shows he 's grown up as well .", "there is grist for comedy there , of course , though i do n't know if anything smith conjures -lrb- watch out for the promiscuous donkey -rrb- , is quite as funny as seeing dante and randal -lrb- jeff anderson -rrb- aged and fattened some 12 years .", "with apologies to the much discussed donkey show , perhaps best among the random bits is a rant , delivered by randal , about reclaiming the phrase `` porch monkey . ''", "clerks ii is a perfect example of what a sequel should be . it takes characters and situations that were created in the original , then expands and deepens them .", "some gags are hilarious , others flat , but the scatological mood is worth the visit .", "not that butch and sundance -lrb- or even harold and kumar -rrb- are going to sweat their place in the buddy movie hall of fame .", "what -lsb- smith -rsb- knows , better than anyone out there , is how rudely funny and deliriously self-deluding those types can be .", "kevin smith proves that the combination of minimum-wage misery and vivid vulgarity still packs a punch , as long as it 's done right .", "-lsb- dante and randal -rsb- are still minimum-wage slaves working in the service industry , where ignoring and abusing the customer is second nature , and they are still as profane , politically incorrect , and vulgar as ever . it 's a beautiful thing .", "if you laughed a lot at the irreverence and wackiness of clerks , ditto clerks ii . is n't that 's all you can ask of a sequel ?", "though clerks ii is in color , the acting is just as amateurish and the directing just as awkward as the black-and-white original . dawson gives the only competent performance , and only becky and the abused donkey are sympathetic characters .", "... this is a solid movie with laughs galore , pop-culture references galore , vulgarity and sexual connotations galore and even a cute romance ...", "if clerks ii does n't have quite the scabrous kick of its predecessor , the chance to revisit a classic premise must have renewed the writer in smith , whose banter here often achieves a sharpness and quality .", "smith is able to revert to his low-budget origins and strike a genuine sequel .", "fans of the original movie will applaud this resumption of their antiheroes ' insulting customer service and often outrageously frank gab about life and sex .", "somewhere underneath the filth , clerks ii is really a very sweet movie about growing up .", "-lrb- kevin smith -rrb- fans young , old , and ten thousand strong on myspace -lrb- yes , they 're listed after the credits -rrb- will get every penny 's worth ...", "my only lingering question is this : is the ending a serious and legit scene of true male bonding , or is it another ***** slap at the lord of the rings ' suspiciously effeminate d\u00e9nouement ?", "wonderfully oddball", "-lsb- director/writer kevin -rsb- smith is out to shock , titillate and entertain you and pretty much succeeds .", "kevin smith has grown up , even if his films have n't . that might explain why clerks ii ca n't quite decide how old it wants to act .", "if you 're looking for the funny kevin smith more than you are the sappy kevin smith , you should n't be disappointed .", "... more of the same , with just a hint of soul searching between the pop-culture wrestling matches and scatological tirades .", "clerks ii is much better than most might expect , a sign that the slacker flag may be slightly older and slightly wiser , but is still flying high .", "the patchy work of a director stuck in an uncomfortable purgatory between his old-school comedic crassness and newfound dramatic mushiness .", "i 'm a kevin smith fan , but these characters are getting tired . he needs some new material , because he 's done all he can do -lrb- and more -rrb- with this bunch .", "kevin smith comes full circle and finds closure ... often showing a refreshing , uncharacteristic maturity .", "the question to be answered is : is clerks ii something that is watchable for those who are unfamiliar with kevin smith `` askewniverse ? '' no .", "it 's hard to believe anyone could actually be offended by the material . still , it 's not for everyone and the film is better off without those sticks in the mud .", "clerks ii is still a treat , and should be appreciated as one of the few films to take the idea of leaving your extended adolescence behind with respect and dignity , even if it 's sandwiched between sequences of a man having sex with his donkey .", "-lsb- smith -rsb- has found a way to connect to an audience that prizes his scruffy sensibility and geek love . this film is evidence that he loves them back .", "the turning point is dante 's serious conversation with becky about his future plans . from there , the movie finds its narrative center and becomes a real story about real people and , suddenly , you find you even care about randal .", "the movie feels as if smith the writer-director is saying farewell to some old friends , that it is time to move on to other adventures and pack away those childish things .", "tasteless , toxic re-hash of the original", "some very funny stuff , but also a lot of crass , juvenile humor , profanity , bad acting and a desire to shock rather than to entertain .", "just like the new star wars trilogy before it , my youth has been raped once more by another large man sporting a beard . thankfully this one does n't wear flannel .", "smith , an inherent optimist , has made a movie full of crude humor that also manages to explore the enduring qualities of friendship .", "i like these characters a lot .", "although it 's as funny as any movie this summer , clerks ii has to struggle to achieve the level of universality that the original `` clerks '' seemed to hit effortlessly .", "kevin smith heads back behind the counter for the amusing but largely unnecessary sequel to his 1994 hit .", "skewers political correctness within a profane framework that unwaveringly champions middle class values with an infectious verve", "smith still has nothing to say , at least nothing printable , either as writer/director or as the dumb -lrb- as opposed to dumber -rrb- half of jay and silent bob .", "` today is the first day of the rest of our lives , ' says randal , but ` clerks ii ' suggests withdrawal rather than momentum .", "a more than worthy display of smith 's ear for dialogue , pop-culture intelligence , and ability to push the envelope of decency to the breaking point , and , yes , it is utterly hilarious in an alternately gut-busting and wry sort of way ." ], "summary": "clerks ii dishes up much of the graphic humor and some of the insight that made the 1994 original a cult hit .", "id": "190815877" }, { "movie": "crow_the_city_of_angels", "reviews": [ "why did n't the producers save all the money they spent on these great sets and brilliant special effects for a script worthy of them ?", "fans of both o'barr 's source inspiration and brandon lee 's initial embodiment may want to nit-pick , but this crow has something to crow about .", "vincent perez is game , but he -- nor anyone involved in this sloppy production -- can erase the fond memories of the late brandon lee .", "i highly recommend watching the original , instead of this dud .", "looks pretty , but bad scripting makes this an incoherent sequel to the goth classic /", "worst of the crow franchise , which should have ended with brandon lee and the entertaining first film .", "memo to edward r. pressman : gloomy goth teens like the romeo and juliet stuff , not parental devotion from beyond the grave .", "even for teens hooked on the grandiloquence of death-metal masochism , the movie may seem closer to an endless sunday in church .", "although the setting has moved from detroit to la , the stylised urban wasteland , morbid atmosphere and basic plot remain the same .", "stunningly awful .", "this dark and brooding sequel is an absolute pain to watch .", "suffice to say , when people think of the moribund , brooding eric draven , they think of brandon lee , and this sequel is n't going to change that one iota .", "substitutes brutal violence and gore for character development , probably hoping audiences wo n't notice what a confusing nightmare this whole mess really is .", "this is a terrific debut for pope , and city of angels is the perfect antidote to the increasingly fluffy batman films .", "what really stymies this sequel is the lack of the melancholic air of loss and mourning that bolstered the cartoon histrionics of the original .", "a pseudo-spiritual rock video for the symbolically challenged .", "one of the year 's most grueling cinematic ordeals .", "the city of overacting , the city of bad writing and the city of truly dreadful sequels .", "more than anything i 've seen from hollywood lately , city of angels smacks baldly of product -- it 's a movie with a lousy script but a great look .", "comes across as a scattershot video with corny and contrived action scenes .", "little more than a subpar remake of the first outing .", "utterly devoid of energy and shock value .", "despite poetic overtones , this film is a hack job -- an overlit , underdirected , barely scripted longform music video celebrating violence and bastard amber gel .", "it verges on the misanthropic and necrophiliac ; more in love with the absence of characters , their demise , than with flesh and blood ." ], "summary": "the crow : city of angels is a sloppy pretender that captures neither the mood nor energy of the original .", "id": "16817" }, { "movie": "playtime", "reviews": [ "my all-time favorite movie , this 1967 french comedy by actor-director jacques tati almost certainly has the most intricately designed mise en scene in all of cinema .", "one of cinema 's truly unique visions ... animated with a new kind of screen life .", "sure , tati 's script may have been small , but there 's such depth of content in each setup .", "utterly unconventional and strikingly unique ; it begs not to be watched in the same manner as a conventional narrative film . like a great painting , it is meant to be savored , pored over , observed from different angles and revisited in time . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "an extraordinary combination of observational comedy and technical virtuosity .", "jacques tati 's most brilliant film , a bracing reminder in this all-too-lazy era that films can occasionally achieve the status of art .", "comic choreography , nimble filmmaking and trenchant jokes . a masterpiece .", "a film comedy directed with the grace of a ballet , the painstaking detail of an action painting and the affection of a love song ...", "comedy has rarely been so intricate , incisive and inspired .", "for this remarkable 1967 comedy about man and his modern world , jacques tati attempted nothing less than a complete reworking of the conventional notions of montage and , amazingly , he succeeded .", "for all the overweening ambition there 's an intimate charm about it ...", "MOV ... is ... a minor entry in 1960s international cinema , and yet it 's also one of the era 's great films ,", "jacques tati 's 1967 masterpiece still holds up as a feast of subtle sight gags , playful noise and , above all , visual wonders .", "MOV is a work of unparalleled genius .", "it took jacques tati close to ten years to realise his greatest achievement , but it left him virtually broke . no wonder .", "for my money MOV is the greatest film ever made .", "tati 's despair is modulated by a sense of wonder .", "jacques tati 's MOV is an astringent antidote to paris movies that are as sickly as macaroons and stuffed with views of the eiffel tower by night .", "this film delivers exactly what its title promises . it 's a panoramic frenzy of elaborate sights and sound design .", "tati is constantly fiddling with his images , constructing sets and placing his camera in exactly the right place to execute a visual transformation of space .", "simple , yet profound , observations of human life in the increasingly alienating modern world", "one of those rare films that has earned a following through its architecture", "MOV is an adamant vision whose failure is integral to its philosophy . it is a befitting fate that tati 's art was not endorsed by popularity .", "it 's much like a silent movie , following in the giant footsteps of chaplin and keaton .", "MOV is a peculiar , mysterious , magical film .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is so richly conceived and choreographed that its lack of a plot is compensated by a wealth of memorable incidents , sight gags , gestures and satiric notions .", "` it is a new way of seeing the world around us , both life affirming in its vision and brilliant in its satire '", "with MOV 's monumental decor and complex choreographed gags taking place simultaneously in a constantly mutating space , tati explored the possibilities of 70 mm as they had never been utilized before .", "tati mimics american idealism with the tour bus women 's ` golly-gee , wow ! ' attitude , and is n't any easier on the french 's to-do , prim-and-proper persona .", "... recreates a supposedly perfect metropolis and then watches as it comes undone by man 's inherent folly .", "the setting is a relative of metropolis and blade runner , its fictional urban landscape brilliantly representing problems of modern life through steel and glass .", "tati 's attempt to answer this question : in the midst of an increasingly impersonal world , how do we keep our humanity ?", "bravo , m. hulot ! -lrb- and watch that umbrella ! -rrb- .", "his mechanical monsters are more annoying than harmful and the beings who control and are controlled by them are not villains and victims but , invariably , innocents as guileless as they are hapless .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- leaves you smiling and feeling good about the way we humans have of demolishing order wherever we go .", "at a time when most comedies seem created for knuckle-trailing sensibilities , we can use as much sophistication as we can get .", "pic takes to the 70 mm process with an extraordinary impressionistic outdoor set of a new paris , and is an observant romp during a one-day stay of a group of tourists ." ], "summary": "a remarkable achievement , MOV 's packs every scene with sight gags and characters that both celebrates and satirizes the urbanization of modern life .", "id": "20767" }, { "movie": "stranger_than_fiction", "reviews": [ "the place where the film runs into problems is in trying to decide , like harold , as to whether or not it is a comedy or a tragedy . as we know , comedy sells much better and that 's the direction the film leans .", "MOV is not a fluff film . far from it . literate and engaging , it may parade around in nonsensical clothes , but just scratch the surface and a vast reservoir of post-modern existentialism is revealed .", "the movie\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s unforgivable logical flaws and gummy platitudes don\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t sink it ... thanks to ferrell\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s fine and humane performance .", "the actors and the filmmakers all take a more restrained approach than you might expect , keeping the humor gentle , and the jokes mostly as literary as the premise .", "MOV never rises above its eye-catching premise , ending up as nothing more than a great idea with absolutely nowhere to go .", "no es ni una comedia , ni una tragedia , ni una historia de amor , ni una f\u00e1bula . es ni m\u00e1s ni menos que una idea original mal desarrollada , que no entretiene lo suficiente y que conduce a ninguna parte .", "a literate , literary film with a hollywood high-concept hitch .", "though there are enough interesting moments to keep it refreshing , mr. helm 's script never rises above its conceit to reach the giddy charlie kaufman heights to which it aspires .", "MOV has a self-regard that can grate , but ferrell and thompson give winning performances that suggest the film 's aim is true .", "an endearing comedy about the spiritual transformation of a rigid , shy , and lonely i.r.s. agent whose life is upended by forces beyond his control .", "MOV might be film , but it moves like a novel : a literate , unhurried tale marked by softly wrought reflections on the self-made life .", "so , in lieu of the usual cookie-cutter movie , we at least get the cookie itself , a nice-light treat .", "forster 's original serio-comedy , in the vein of kaufman - jonze meta-narrative cinema , is an existential yet heartfelt film about creators and their characters , life and death , and even taxes , inviting the audience to participate in the filmmaking itself", "the picture pleases while remaining unchallenging to a broad audience .", "MOV would be pretty close to a perfect movie if the ending were n't so weak . actually , it 's still pretty satisfying , but there is a perfect ending out there that surely occurred to helm , but it is missing in action .", "willfully eccentric , odd in tone , it is an english major 's comedy , a wry exploration of plot , narrative , character and a writer 's imprint on her or his work .", "i loved the little schematic diagrams that track harold 's too-linear existence . zach helm 's script is very funny and occasionally shocking .", "it seems like the screenwriter may have suffered a shortage of ideas and remedied the problem by watching charlie kaufman films .", "with its musings on free will and god , the story may not be original , but caring about its hero is automatic for the audience . that 's more than most movies can say .", "it has a nifty premise and outstanding performances from ferrell , as the protagonist-in-progress , and emma thompson , as his blocked creator .", "MOV may not be the typical crowd-pleaser , but it 's a sweet , funny , intelligent film that showcases just how much ferrell can do , even when he 's doing less .", "MOV is odd and eccentric , but in the end it finds its heart . after all , if there 's hope for a drone like harold crick , there 's hope for all of us .", "a sharply clever script , witty direction and terrific performances across the board .", "brilliantly written , thoughtful and frequently hilarious comedy with impressive direction and terrific performances from the entire cast .", "what starts out as a complex , intriguing movie turns stale quickly .", "it could have been great . but it 's just okay .", "some of will ferrell 's biggest fans might find it overly tame and subtle , but it 's interesting , enjoyable and a revelation to see he can keep his pants on and still entertain .", "forster lards over his whimsically feeble film with sentimentality .", "suggests how cleverness can suffocate people", "`` MOV '' is a sterile and pedantic comedy that tells much more than it shows .", "inventively inverting `` adaptation . 's ' '' anxiety into light romance , `` fiction '' is one of the most intelligent , lively , charming and beguiling concept comedies since `` groundhog day '' and a perfect seriocomic splinter of will ferrell 's big-baby shtick .", "touching dramedy is heavy ; wo n't interest most kids .", "`` it 's not the best piece of english literature of the last ten years , '' dustin hoffman says of emma thompson 's newest novel , `` but it 's not bad . '' that just about sums up MOV , too .", "intriguing possibilities , except helm and forster are n't quite kaufman and jonze . once their parallel narratives converge , those hoping for a mind-bending meta-pile-up may feel the movie lacks the courage of its fatalistic fiction .", "the film struggles under its increasingly weighty pretensions to literary credibility and even tragic status , stumbling towards an unconvincing and cloying conclusion .", "the deader the deadpan the better . when ferrell and hoffman do their thing together , a charming bit of whimsy becomes something more . it becomes really , really funny .", "while MOV traffics in a bit of darkly funny existential anxiety , it also finds room for romantic fantasy and sentimental uplift .", "besides being inventive and witty , MOV is a tribute to the power of literature . but art is not its only domain . it also delves into the world of ultimate certainties : death and taxes .", "this is a ferrell you 've never seen before , nailing a role that calls for breakneck humor in the final race against the clock and touching gravity in the love scenes with gyllenhaal .", "if the charlie kaufman-like writing theme suggests adaptation. , zach helm 's script really says little about authorship or form , settling for positing rather than explaining a capricious universe where a giant steam-shovel can bite out one 's living", "a fresh and original fantasy love story entertainment that will arouse all the literary dna we possess .", "ferrell does n't give his typical over-the-top performance here , but rather creates a terrific , understated character that produces a huge amount of empathy and likeability .", "while some of the film 's literary motifs and devices might at first be a bit confusing , on whole it 's pretty amusing and rewarding - and certainly one of the better vehicles to star will ferrell .", "a comedy that takes itself too seriously to be truly enjoyed .", "a wondrously funny modern fairy tale , MOV manages to blend romance , satire and fantasy into a story that 's both fully satisfying and patently absurd .", "much as it strives to be an intelligent story about intelligent people , MOV is basically adaptation for dummies .", "MOV is uptight . -lsb- writer zach -rsb- helm is clearly pro-love and happy endings , but he 's short on loose , fresh ideas .", "MOV just might be the most cunning comedy of the year .", "will ferrell delivers a moving and surprisingly delicate -- though not so surprisingly funny -- turn as the lonesome bureaucrat bedeviled by a voice only he hears .", "-lsb- director marc -rsb- forster 's sweetly engaging concoction bends our minds without too much strain , and even those moments that feel mildly familiar never breed anything close to contempt .", "MOV makes for pretty tepid prose .", "it remains inventive and funny to the end , features fine performances from will ferrell and especially emma thompson , and offers enough to enjoy and dispute to make it a good b.o. attraction .", "... a clever ode to creative constipation on par with charlie kaufman 's ` adaptation ' -lrb- to which it owes a great debt -rrb- .", "there 's no denying the movie has a surface allure .", "will ferrell and emma thompson give brilliant performances in this metaphysical , kafkaesque dilemma ... far too deep to be viewed as a frivolous comedy .", "will ferrell in a reserved , highbrow comedy ? now that is MOV .", "crisp , eccentric and exhilarating .", "the movie is clever , but a little too pleased with its own clockwork intricacy .", "a striking implosion of incongruent themes .", "-lsb- the -rsb- performances succeed where harold fails : gaining a life independent of their author .", "a jaunty little existential oddity .", "it takes a great premise and runs with it , neither wasting opportunities nor going off on tangents . it features strong work from both the main and supporting actors , and manages seamlessly to incorporate both humor and poignancy .", "when it flies , it soars . but it develops leaden feet as it spins over into a convoluted , overly long wind down . this is an intelligent , engaging film that gets it right , for the most part , before ultimately capitulating to the demands of hollywood .", "ferrell breaks the mold in this pleasantly surprising , terrific film .", "-lsb- j -rsb- ust the kind of numbskull movie that critics call ` smart ' .", "screenwriter zach helm 's comedy has some quirky points , but it 's very sugary and sentimental , and feeble compared to the work of those who have done the same sort of thing better : woody allen or charlie kaufman .", "a concept film , but wow , what a concept !", "consegue desenvolver sua hist\u00f3ria de forma sempre interessante e com uma sensibilidade que certamente surpreender\u00e1 aqueles que forem ao cinema esperando assistir a uma com\u00e9dia -lrb- algo que este longa n\u0103o \u00e9 -rrb- .", "writer 's block has never been so entertaining .", "it 's a shame that MOV does n't quite sustain its premise , but it 's so entertaining that you might not even notice .", "an uncommonly plastic bit of hallmark sentiment-mongering , with exactly the kind of new age psychobabble ending you\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- d expect .", "ferrell rules in this film . i take back my words of prejudice . this is the smartest film in town .", "this is will ferrell 's being john malkovich or eternal sunshine of the spotless mind , but not as good as either of those other comedies of the mind .", "who has n't imagined that they 're a main character in a book or movie ? perhaps it is this manic egocentric nature of my personality that made me fall in love with the film .", "such a featherweight nothing that it engenders only indifference .", "everyone can handle sitcom and they do .", "awfully good stuff ...", "... a charlie kaufman movie with actual characters and a storyline worth following .", "an amusing little quirky vehicle that not only entertains , but actually contains a few thought provoking scenes .", "unlike the brainier kaufman stories , it 's easy to understand how matters are proceeding here without an air of pretentiousness .", "arguably one of ferrell 's finest two hours on film ,", "ultimately it 's about fully embracing life rather than staying locked in our habits and comfort zones , hardly a new moral to the story in the history of cinema , but MOV brings vitality to the shopworn message .", "cute title , but a snappy opening dissolves into a relatively simplistic tale of a wet noodle learning to stand up for himself .", "despite its pretensions to be unusual , oddly imitative and ordinary ... less like a story you find clever and surprising than like a book you 've read before .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- springs to life whenever it drops the cute pirandello-like premise and focuses on the simple business of ferrell finding love .", "there are a handful of really nice moments in fiction , and almost none of them have to do with helm 's outrageous setup .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- teems with ideas both literary and existential , which might make it unbearably precious , were it not redeemed by woozy charm and some serious acting from will ferrell .", "a fantasy , so it 's not obligated to be logical , but it should at least have internal logic and follow its own set of rules . a failure to do so untethers the film .", "MOV is the most original comedy of the year , a mind-bending tale with one foot in the real world and the other in pure fiction .", "a good movie but not a great one , MOV is reminiscent of the films of charlie kaufman .", "a darkly whimsical dramedy that manages to walk the line between mainstream and unconventional .", "its brand of dry humor may catch ferrell fans off-guard ... much closer to jim carrey 's ` the truman show ' or nicolas cage and meryl streep 's ` adaptation ' than it is to the usual ferrell fare .", "in many ways , harold does not come across as a real character . he is more of a conceit than anything , defined entirely by quirky character traits , rather than simple humanity .", "the movie 's vigorous efforts to channel charlie kaufman and andrew niccol , leave it looking rather familiar , not strange at all .", "give ferrell as many roles like this as he can possibly handle .", "MOV is more high-concept than high-brow ; a comedy heavy on gimmick that falls a little short of cunning .", "MOV is not clever enough to reach adaptation 's upscale audiences or funny or entertaining enough for more mass consumption .", "never really makes sense of its metafictional conceit , but at least marc foster refuses to accept the current hollywood conventional wisdom that movie comedies should be as visually bland as tv sitcoms .", "it might be charlie kaufman lite , but this is a great date movie for the discerning - smart , ingenious and heartwarming .", "instead of finishing with a bang it peters out , but this existential yarn is still fresh and funny enough to justify taking two hours out of your life .", "for all its faults , it blazes new trails in mixing popular entertainment and philosophy , not to mention metaphysics , with enough panache to make it all seem eminently sensible .", "it may not be a masterpiece like -lsb- the writer 's -rsb- new novel , but it 's an entertaining story .", "it 's a clever script with some very sweet moments , and an inspiring message . i liked it !", "the progress harold makes in this unconventional romance is the peak of MOV .", "you could imagine MOV as a repeat of the truman show as adapted by adaptation author charlie kaufman . early on , harold 's story clicks . but zach helm 's script reaches the end before harold reaches his .", "it 's the kind of middlebrow film that pretends it 's arty and thinks it 's so smart .", "finally , a charlie kaufman movie for people who are too stupid to understand charlie kaufman movies .", "this bland and energyless production stars will ferrell , who sleepwalks through his part with the same stoic expression . it 's a performance almost guaranteed to induce slumber .", "beautifully written -lrb- the passages from eiffel 's book are stunningly good -rrb- , acted and directed , there 's not a false note in MOV .", "a film well worth seeing and savoring .", "a backhanded compliment to call it the first real disappointment of the season .", "smarter than the usual comedy and the romance is more powerful than one would expect from a romantic comedy .", "movies with terrific ideas are a rare commodity in hollywood . the idea behind MOV is the kind of charlie kaufmanesque conceit that sounds a lot better than the way it 's played out .", "there 's no joy in seeing ferrell play an office drone , and the life lessons he learns are of the `` all i really need to know i learned in kindergarten '' variety .", "yes , MOV is a head trip . but it 's a very friendly one , and well crafted at that .", "a movie that begins with a challenging premise but ultimately settles for a more accessible `` carpe diem '' kind of message .", "the blending of the intellectual and the emotional that MOV achieves is so rare , and so rarely done this well . so few films are so fully satisfying on every level like this one is .", "MOV is no eternal sunshine . but if you can look past its clunky attempt to be exactly that , there 's great pleasure in watching ferrell , like harold , turn into someone you never knew he could be .", "MOV is a movie that brims over with characters who are too complicated , prickly and interesting to fit within the boundaries of a conventional film .", "it 's not the original story we signed up for -- or thought we did .", "sometimes i think movies like MOV do n't experiment with narrative and character as much as cop out on them .", "if you 've really paid attention to ferrell 's career , this role is not a stretch . he brings great humanity to a character , and a movie , that ends up being more of a sentimental romance than the silly quirk-fest you might expect .", "the movie , like life , has no simple answers , and for the first time ever , a will ferrell movie will not only make you laugh , but make you think . if it means i do n't have to see him in tighty whiteys ever again , i 'm all for it .", "provides a pleasant evening in the theater .", "this creative film presents a whimsical story that entertains us while also making us think about our own mortality and what 's important in life .", "... a nice story , with a whimsical metafictional touch , but it 's a long way from mind-blowing .", "there may have been some room for improvement , but the movie still has a lot of things to recommend it . MOV is funny and poignant at the same time .", "until this unsatisfying ending , however , the movie flows exactly right .", "a sweet comedy , an antidote to the over-the-top , vulgar and politically reactionary ` borat . '", "this slightly fantastical , tragi-comic idea ended up in the care of precisely the right people .", "when i left the theater , i got in my car , turned off my perpetually running radio , and thought for a long time before i moved . it 's been a while since a film has done that .", "it 's the trippy process of storytelling that counts .", "most of the movie 's comedy falls very flat . another director might have masked the inadequacy of the script in a way to make the enterprise marginally fun , but -lsb- marc -rsb- forster just did n't have the goofy flair required .", "it manages to be smart and surprising and provides this season of serious movies with a much-needed shot of whimsy .", "... the film also closes on a less than inspired note , but the filmmakers fail to take advantage of the literary irony .", "as natural as milk and cookies", "the link between comedy and tragedy is closer than ferrell believes but the line is n't as clever as it should be and not nearly as profound as it believes it is .", "will ferrell is great with a restrained , earnest performance as a guy who is n't the life of the party , is n't bombastic and loud , but is just a shy guy trying to make it through life without getting hurt .", "this is a genuine marvel of a movie .", "the picture is an overworked trifle : there 's so much going on in it that it becomes hard to care about anything that 's going on in it .", "the star , fittingly , for this meditation on the power of stories , is the script -- exceptionally clever , knowledgeable about literature and narrative structure , filled with sly humor but also as warmly delectable as one of pascal 's cookies .", "for all of the film 's narrative intricacies , it 's love in bloom that carries the day .", "MOV is both about a novel and like a novel ; you eagerly await the turning of the pages .", "MOV seems like an old episode of the twilight zone , and the idea would have worked better as one of rod serling 's half-hour epistles on human foibles .", "MOV is subversive in its own , low-key way .", "it does n't coast on its premise but follows where it leads , which is into some serious territory . what might have been a joke with a tagged-on sentimental ending becomes instead a sensitive movie that affirms the value of life .", "will ferrell is a more than worthy heir to lemmon , hanks , brazil 's jonathan pryce and something wild 's jeff daniels .", "ferrell proves just the right choice , nicely underplaying for a change and ratcheting up his game opposite major talents .", "a trippy trifle from the charlie kaufman/michel gondry school of pop metafiction .", "satisfaction comes from the small moments , the simple pleasures . at least , that 's the argument MOV makes - and it presents a pretty convincing case .", "this movie is to ferrell what the truman show was to jim carrey , the film that allows the comic to put both feet on the ground -- and to stimulate a full range of emotions .", "hanging on a high concept never fully supported by its story , MOV stays aloft thanks to an exceptionally appealing cast .", "... just another run of the mill , disappointingly mediocre comedy .", "fiction is one large false start , unable to claw out of the pit of its own toxic self-awareness .", "it 's sweet and romantic in the good way .", "never self-consciously wacky or cloyingly sentimental , MOV is instead a breezy , sweet comedy .", "forster has a strong eye for detail and a keen visual sense .", "MOV is a meditation on life , art and romance , and on the kinds of responsibility we have . such an uncommonly intelligent film does not often get made .", "for much of the film , ferrell must suppress his showman instincts to pull off the schlub act . that 's good for the film , but it 's bad for fans who expect him to scream obscenities and run down the street naked .", "screenwriter zach helm and director marc forster take a great , out-there idea and make it into something that feels true and magical .", "as a philosophical study , it 's shaky beyond belief , but as a humorous trifle , it admirably makes up the difference .", "a surprising , pathos-generating performance by ferrell ... for the first time in a long time i really hoped a movie 's main character would n't die .", "take a cool premise , a smart director and a top-flight cast , then throw an ex-tv sketch comedy knucklehead into the mix - and voila , a thinking person 's dramedy that grapples with issues of fate and free will , love and liberation . look out , oscars .", "MOV is a poetic and thoughtful rummage through the cosmic closet with a comic actor best known for less intelligent fare . now that 's MOV .", "if MOV has a central flaw , it 's overly sentimental . although the story would work better as a tragedy , forster and helm ca n't resist tacking on a mushy love story , involving crick and combative tax cheat ana pascal .", "it 's feel-good for real , uplifting in a meaningful way , and i loved it .", "a decent premise caves under scrutiny , exposing -lrb- fiction -rrb- as one long setup that lacks a punch line .", "sure , -lsb- crick 's -rsb- more a caricature than a fully fleshed out person , but he reacts to his increasingly unbelievable situation with unexpected ... believability .", "not the most satisfying of films , and it may not be as profound as it wants to be , but there are moments here that make it well worth a look .", "MOV promises a heady experience , but it ultimately heads for the heart instead .", "in a movie full of surprises , the biggest may be ferrell 's perfectly deadpan performance .", "indulge the movie 's excesses , and it rewards the viewer 's intelligence with humor mingled with insight , warmth and painless lessons in literary theory ." ], "summary": "a fun , whimsical tale about an office drone trying to save his life from his narrator , MOV features a subdued performances from will ferrell that contributes mightily to its quirky , mind-bending affect .", "id": "343950173" }, { "movie": "10008785-appaloosa", "reviews": [ "the film is more trenchant character study than thrilling showdown , and it confounds as many generic expectations as it fulfills .", "it is n't a bad film , but the pacing drags it down to the level of just another horse opera when it could have been so much more .", "the first hour bored me nearly to tears , but i 'm glad i stuck it out , since the last half hour is fresh , diverting and original in the context of a neo-western . or a neo anything .", "a gentle , warmly human and quietly compelling western with a wry sense of humour and some engaging performances from a group of fine actors .", "viggo mortensen 's brilliantly cool performance engenders enough good will to see `` MOV '' through its pokey meandering to an intriguingly philosophical conclusion : a look at modern outsourcing , capitalism and progress through a western prism .", "a fine cast produces a surprisingly low-key outing . it sports a plot like a western from 45 years ago , but pacing familiar from lonesome dove .", "ed harris does it better than anybody .", "it was at times incredibly slow and even poorly edited , and i 've never understood the appeal of renee zelwegger .", "no ordinary oater .", "the film 's subtle humor and detailed character studies reflect careful attention to detail and superb craftsmanship .", "the bullets may not be comparable to the yuma remake or kevin costner 's underrated open range , but the men holding the guns are still the same . so what if they 're just a little bit different ?", "too authentic to be populist , yet too familiar to transcend the genre and hang with the bona fide classics .", "MOV shows a square jaw and a steely gaze , but also a smile and a wink .", "the top-heavy plot takes over , and the picture makes a beeline back to tepid convention .", "a satisfying journey that does n't require too much examination , just an appreciation of the scenery and what it took to get by during this period of american history .", "in the early going , MOV does an efficient job of establishing the tense standoff between lawmen-for-hire ed harris and viggo mortensen , and a tyrannical rancher -lrb- an extravagantly sinister jeremy irons -rrb- .", "bring back hopalong cassidy and randolph scott and you 've got the making of a respectable horse opera .", "MOV is gripping entertainment that keeps springing surprises .", "if you 're someone who orders the usual and is just happy when it comes out warm and fresh , i reckon MOV will sit with you just fine .", "crackling eccentric verbal wit as harris ' marshal seeks to ` button up this town tighter than a nun 's corset ' while overcome by zellweger 's irresistible flirty charms , because she ` chews her food nicely and even takes a bath before going to bed .", "a better than average western in the clint eastwood tradition", "ed harris ' howler of a vanity piece .", "nothing new or groundbreaking here , just a lot of talented people coming together for a well-made and entertaining western .", "... provides enough variety to keep the heart , mind , and adrenaline on alert .", "i give thanks for westerns . every time they seem to be about to gasp their last , dusty breath , one comes along to give them a bit of renewed life . bless it , the western genre will not die . last year it was the excellent remake 3:10 to yuma . this ye", "it is as though harris could not decide whether he was making the classic western of his boyhood dreams , or merely a pastiche of it . the result , falling somewhere between the two , ends up being neither here nor there .", "a terrific bread-and-butter western .", "MOV is ideally suited for fans of the genre for whom quiet drama speaks as loud as big guns .", "uma produ\u0437\u0433o correta e que prende a aten\u0437\u0433o especialmente gra\u0437as \u0430 din\u0432mica entre harris e mortensen , mas que , no fim das contas , n\u0433o exibe nada que a torne diferente do convencional .", "a western bromance .", "where the film lets you down is in the boundaries of the dramatic map which needs a more dynamic -lrb- and cinematic -rrb- driving force .", "can ed harris , of all people , save the western for this generation ?", "in another era , harris -- and mortensen , for that matter -- would have already starred in several westerns . harris should do more of them ; only next time , much less carefully .", "squinting zellweger ruins it . i liked the hats .", "these are horse-opera fundamentals ; having given them short shrift , the film just shuffles down its lonesome trail into the horizon and out of your memory .", "a western that moseys along in amiable style , largely thanks to the chemistry between harris and mortensen .", "this is no revisionist western designed to shock life into an unfashionable genre , rather a film that respects the conventions of the traditional western .", "photographed handsomely with wide-angled majesty , the film does precious little myth-making , though harris subtly twists some of the genre 's conventions .", "a pity that harris 's homage to westerns should be compromised so intrusively . for most of its length , in terms of its themes , pacing and visual sweep , it 's a treat .", "as comfortable as an old saddle and as sharp as an apache arrow , this a western for the modern era .", "MOV has a solid enough opening , and it should be fun just to watch things play out , what with the shootouts , the trains , the swagger at gunpoint . but the script -lrb- co-written by harris -rrb- is alternately dumb and lifeless .", "MOV will probably just ride off into the sunset without much of an impact , but it will sate your fix for horses , guns and slapping leather . you know , if you 're into that sort of thing .", "the various symbols never coalesce into metaphor so much as they stand stagnant and hollow at the edges of the frame .", "in all , MOV is good as far as it goes -- everything in it feels true -- but i wish that harris had pushed his ideas further .", "MOV is entertaining , certainly , but it feels rather slight and feeble next to some of its more superior recent cohorts in the western genre .", "harris and mortensen are out to get irons , and their plan appears to be to talk him to death . it took a lot of stretching to get this to last for two hours .", "a smart and funny script , highly entertaining from the first draw , MOV is a taut , captivating tale of the old west with enough bite and modern edge to draw in both fans and non-devotees of the cowboy genre .", "jeremy irons is miscast as the film 's politically driven baddie , but the easy rapport between harris and mortensen more than compensates for the minor misstep .", "the parts of it that work , work very well ... so much so in fact that the parts which do n't simply ca n't keep up .", "ed harris and viggo mortensen have mastered the art of subtle communication , amplifying the believability of their relationship in this ruggedly male bonding tale .", "the best western since 3:10 to yuma , which is to say it 's a western .", "while there 's nothing particularly original about the plot , the characters and the way they interact with each other are strikingly played", "this is an honest tale of the camaraderie between a pair of lawmen simply trying to do a job .", "these days , westerns are a dying breed , uncommonly found in multiplexes . MOV is the latest reason why .", "too much romance makes the movie sag near the end and the plot could have gone in a more interesting direction . but if you are wild about westerns , saddle up for MOV .", "in all , it 's a magnificent ride and certainly one of the finest films of the year .", "enjoyable , frequently offbeat western with an intriguing script and terrific performances from harris and mortensen .", "this , though , is not so much a comedy as a western with the ironic undertones that someone like hawks would appreciate while telling a story such as rio bravo .", "if a western is going to be this slow , it needs to have a lot more tension , and deeper meaning , than this one .", "a classics-steeped western that rams home tradition over reinvention , MOV kicks it hard as a buddy pic on horseback . harris and mortensen 's study in laid-back companionship is the principal pleasure , leaving zellweger mired in role that does her and", "with a cast and director like this , you would expect greatness . what you really should expect is a cup of coffee so you can stay awake .", "i love a good western , so i am not very enamored with MOV . i guess you can say i just want to be friends with it .", "hardly a fresh perspective on genre traditions , it 's still got the performances and glorious landscapes to win you over .", "a fine dramatic comedy with fresh characters , witty dialogue and a keen interest in how relationships must have developed among frontier folks , tyrannical ranchers , no-nonsense lawmen and -- oh , yes -- the complicated women on that frontier .", "actor turned filmmaker ed harris wants to go back to the days of simple sagebrush storytelling , and with one major exception , everything he does ... is nothing short of brilliant .", "harris proves that there is still some life yet in a genre that has essentially been left for dead for nearly four decades at this point .", "`` MOV '' doesnt re-invent the western , and thank goodness for that .", "... one heck of a western , one that will join the ranks of `` unforgiven '' and `` 3:10 to yuma '' as modern classics .", "... a well-told , thoroughly enjoyable and refreshingly direct buddy western , and that 's more than enough .", "MOV is one of those movies that creeps up on you after the fact .", "ed harris , working from a robert parker novel , has crafted a meticulously detailed , newfangled old-fashioned morality tale of hard men who go soft when a woman comes between them .", "with wayne 's gruff arrogance , eastwood 's squinting revenge eyes and stewart 's ambling cool , harris carves a daunting figure .", "ambition is a great quality in a filmmaker , especially when it 's realized . yet there is something to be said for just telling a story , and with MOV , harris does a fine job of it .", "what is seductive about MOV is its easygoing rhythm .", "takes the old western conventions and juggles them in very odd but mostly satisfying ways .", "harris 's adoration for the genre is clear , and his MOV is a fine addition to a growing list of neo-westerns incorporating a respectful tone , ideal aim of violence , and heartfelt observation all in the same breath .", "-lsb- harris 's -rsb- performance as the usually quiet but quick-to-action gunman is terrific , and he 's smart enough to leave much of the narration duties and such to the soft-spoken mortensen .", "there is plenty of plot but not enough story . and the film unfolds in short scenes strung together that beg to be expanded into more detailed examinations of behavior .", "vastly entertaining in the old-fashioned ways : fun story , fun characters , fun everything .", "MOV is an archetypal western with touches of the modern buddy comedy . though it falls short of these classics , it is a little bit destry rides again and a little bit more butch cassidy and the sundance kid .", "` MOV ' might be described as a routine western , except that in the moviegoing culture of 2008 , there 's nothing routine about the pleasures of a well-made and entertaining western .", "a suitable slow burn punctuated by sudden acts of violence ; it fairly oozes off the screen like bloodied molasses , and then , heated , bubbles up and over , all smoke and fire and endless clouds of new mexico dust .", "the movie brings back the danger and the humane humor of strong , silent men of action .", "a warmly made , slightly offbeat movie about friendly devotion . it also happens to be a western , and every man in it is grizzled or wizened or both .", "filled with dusty light , craggy facial features and broad landscapes , it 's a solid story that honors the traditions of the genre as it reworks them .", "... a classical western that invites us to savor no-nonsense camaraderie between two shootists for hire .", "standard western finds comfort in its familiarity .", "... a classy entry that 's as much about the moral choices facing the characters as the horses and six guns .", "MOV is a familiar story told well enough that it 's worth seeing , but wo n't truly linger for any but the most diehard western fanatic .", "for its first hour or so , MOV is a crisply paced pleasure , mostly thanks to the interplay between harris and mortensen .", "brush away the dust and you 'll find a sense of nostalgia and romanticism about lost american values and altered social hierarchies .", "harris has made himself a reputation as a mark of quality ... like pollack , MOV has the best of both worlds , with harris both in front of and behind the camera . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a droll western with an odd romantic triangle .", "old-fashioned western features great performances .", "old-fashioned but simple and effective entertainment", "a dusty , old-fashioned western with a dusty , old-fashioned vibe . you can all but smell the saddle soap as the story unfolds .", "there 's considerable pleasure in MOV 's respect for the undramatic . it does n't go where you 'd expect ...", "true , the film is a little long , and it loses momentum at one stage , but generally speaking this is a most enjoyable return to what was once the cinema 's most popular genre .", "viggo mortensen is a trustworthy ally in the project , an actor whose extraordinary range enables him to move his performance along the scale from 0 to 100 at will .", "wearing not only his actor 's lawman hat , but also that of director and co-screenwriter , ed harris delivers a splendid film , filled with nuances , complexities and substance", "it is the romance that sets MOV apart .", "when you 're lookin for an olde time , pistol-wieldin ' , rootin ' , tootin ' varmint , hire somebody other than jeremy irons . what is this -- bonanza revisited ?", "MOV demonstrates a better sense of history than paul thomas anderson 's hysterical there will be blood . but harris is n't a good enough director ; he loses the mythical air that drives home a great western 's point .", "MOV is a pleasingly spacious piece of work , but for all of its little tangles it never musters the kick of a psychological duel .", "it could be said that harris and his co-writer , robert knott , have n't done a whole lot of writing , but as cole himself might say , there 's no need to get all fancy with what 's plain and true .", "MOV satisfies all its requirements but never breaks a sweat .", "... modern in its playfulness while never seeming not of its period . harris and mortensen are good enough together to warrant another adventure .", "while he thankfully avoids the actor-filmmaker avenger fantasies of the three burials of melquiades estrada , harris does n't have the genre chops to fill MOV 's empty spaces .", "it 's high time for the western to be resuscitated as a genre ; a picture that just pokes along amiably is n't enough to get the job done .", "ed harris reunites with viggo mortensen , his co-star in a history of violence , and the chemistry is easygoing and understated . but he should have left the direction to someone else .", "it 's a pleasure to watch such gifted actors interact in a classic genre .", "mannered , episodic and slow .", "a finely textured , riveting western that marks a welcome return to a classic american genre . bristles with violence and humanity", "old fashioned western , a meditation on honor , courage and camaraderie , is well helmed and acted , but commercially , it might fall between the cracks : it 's too grown-up for young viewers and too familiar as a psychological western for adults .", "mortensen should certainly do another western , soon . preferably he should do one with a real sense of danger to go along with all the neat , tidy , highfalutin ' honor and decency .", "in its own quiet way it delivers the goods .", "after MOV establishes its slightly modern characters in a traditional setting , it has nowhere to go but toward the completely expected .", "harris directs with a steady hand and sharp eye for the best in his fellow actors .", "from its first , mournful brass theme , ed harris 's MOV nails the look and feel of a classic western . this is an old-style , laconically macho , six-shooting horse opera made with an obvious and unapologetic love of the genre .", "emotionally MOV shoots blanks .", "there 's a refreshing vein of understated humor running throughout the production . it 's neither forced nor unnatural and it keeps things from becoming too somber , even when the bullets start flying .", "it lacks the substantial story that would make it memorable .", "harris co-wrote , directed and stars in the film , which is filled with humor , action and clever turns .", "MOV carries a whiff of feminism . or at least an awareness of what life was like for women on the frontier .", "if it feels a bit like an old howard hawks western -lrb- no slacker with the subtext himself -rrb- -- that 's not a bad thing .", "plays on conventions so smoothly that we 're never distracted from the ride .", "the chemistry of ed harris and viggo mortensen makes ` MOV ' a huge film in the way it gets under your skin and into your heart .", "harris and mortensen radiate a rugged integrity ...", "very disappointing -- i was so in the mood for a great western !", "we just want the movie to ride off in the sunset to rest among all the other disappointing westerns in boot hill .", "a welcome return to the roots of the western genre .", "MOV takes the traditional notion of a lone lawman fighting injustice and turns it successfully on its head .", "sometimes MOV seems bent on exploiting the standard cliches of the western genre ... while at others it seems striving to be a modernist update full of ambiguity ...", "for those of you who yearn for westerns like `` 3:10 to yuma '' and `` tombstone , '' here 's another one you should reach for .", "luscious enough photography and fun to watch , `` MOV '' brings nothing new to the table . as a collection of things that have been done before who will watch it over the originals ?", "throughout , the repartee between harris and mortensen never feels less than broken-in and believable .", "harris displays a quiet , unshowy confidence and a genuine fondness for the genre , capturing the horses and guns and saloon glasses in a soft , almost-sundown light .", "it 's deliberately paced , but this non-western-fan loved it .", "harris follows his strong helming debut pollock with a contribution to the western movie revival that looks and sounds like a classic .", "it 's both dull and preposterous , which neither dean semler 's somberly handsome score nor jeff beals ' pushy , cornball score does anything to ameliorate .", "beautifully photographed by dean semler , MOV is the best western since open range and shows there 's still life in this most unfashionable of genres .", "ed harris has the kind of head that would look great on a coin , but it looks even better on a movie screen , as he turns his chiseled features this way and that .", "it 's unfortunate for everyone concerned , and for the film , that the train chugs into town one day .", "though the leads do fine work , their efforts often feel slightly futile .", "zellweger 's allison zaps virgil of his almost superhuman qualities and the film eventually becomes ordinary when the love of a woman interferes with the law .", "... so old-fashioned it even carries a troubling dose of old-fashioned sexism .", "clearly not worried about modern action conventions , harris ' movie is a traditional western in every sense of the word , and it seems weird to call it ` new ' at all .", "it 's a rousing , efficient western that is about the friendship of two men , just as much as it is about getting the bad guys .", "ed harris ' labor of love is a welcome return to the classic westerns of yore .", "harris ' easy byplay with mortensen , his economical dialogue and his stately camerawork of the new mexico landscape combine for a smart , dynamic western .", "dialogue , much of it lifted straight from parker 's novel , proves mostly engaging .", "MOV is firmly grounded in genre orthodoxy even as it teases at the edges of nonconformity . the results are decidedly mixed ." ], "summary": "a traditional genre western , MOV sets itself apart with smart psychology , an intriguing love triangle , and good chemistry between the leads .", "id": "770684024" }, { "movie": "libertine", "reviews": [ "though dunsmore , depp and jeffreys ' conceits work more vividly as ideas than as filmmaking , they 're ruthlessly true to themselves and grimly powerful .", "depp is stunning as a man who squanders his soul , his talent and his body , while malkovich is exceptional as charles ii , underplaying the role to beautiful effect .", "a seductively entertaining , fangs-bared historical comedy .", "it 's not that we do n't like the 2nd earl of rochester ; it 's that we simply never come to understand the man known as the MOV .", "... while depp seems the obvious choice for this ribald role , this is the first performance he 's let get away from him .", "the characters ' florid , hyperbolic , elliptical , punning manner of speech rings true to the restoration era , as both mirrored and modeled in the stage plays of the day .", "depp 's is a murky performance in a murky movie .", "for all the larking and swiving and the odd orgiastic tableau , the MOV is an extremely sombre , thoughtful work .", "this might be worth viewing if the film 's characters came to life or its abundant philosophical and moral observations went more than pockmarked-skin deep .", "the advance word on the MOV was so bad that i was rather surprised to find it -- unterrible .", "johnny depp 's beauty and talent salvage this rigorously stagy film on the life and bad-boy times of the second earl of rochester .", "depp has a wonderful time as the earl , and why would n't he ? the movie plays to his deepest boyish desires to jump into the dress-up box and emerge with a frilly shirt and one of mom 's discarded wigs .", "this film is n't pretty , but it has some kick : it is to shakespeare in love what wild pheasant is to chicken mcnuggets .", "... more of a gothic horror movie than an arresting biographical drama .", "though wilmot 's life hardly wants for interest , screenwriter stephen jeffreys -lrb- adapting his own play -rrb- does n't know where to place his emphases , giving us scattered , disconnected scenes .", "nasty is n't necessarily a bad thing , there 've been lots of really fun film that are nasty as hell , but this is just shock for shock 's sake and is in the long run rather boring .", "such a torturous mess that it winds up doing something i had n't thought possible : it renders johnny depp charmless .", "it 's depressing to think how much better this could have been in the hands of a skilled director .", "with its emphasis on muddy streets , muddier language and raunchy behavior , MOV is a trying experience .", "disagreeable , unlikable , unwatchable .", "`` the MOV '' in question here is john wilmot , earl of rochester , a poet and member of the reformation court of king charles ii .", "... the subject matter and marginal execution make it a hard sell to all but the most ardent fans of depp , who treats the MOV as a personal acting workshop .", "stumble away from this film as quickly as possible .", "newcomer director laurence dunmore does not show the experience necessary to pull off this period piece and lets depp 's performance fall by the wayside", "the story , like the cinematography , is overly foggy and under-illuminated .", "the performances are impeccable , but what might have been a handsome period drama , is compromised by a drawn out screenplay and over-stylised grainy production ... this dark tale of excess is pure theatre .", "mesmo em filmes irregulares como este , johnny depp \u00e9 sempre capaz de despertar o interesse do espectador .", "historical accuracy is a liability instead of an asset in this painfully exact recreation of 1670s london ...", "this ugly creation uses graphic sex , bad hygiene , mud , diseased features and depp wetting his pants -lrb- we get to see the puddle -rrb- to illustrate the perils of hedonism .", "for all its attempts to startle us with its vulgarity , this underdeveloped movie never locates a defining method to its messiness ; ultimately , it possesses all the shock value of a toddler yelling , `` poopy ! ''", "when the movie is done it really does n't matter whether we agree that we like the earl or not . we can all agree on liking that the movie is over .", "has some choice words to say about following one 's heart in matters of art .", "... had wilmot not actually existed he could have been imagined by jean genet .", "if you thought depp went overboard with his keith richards impression in pirates of the caribbean , here he goes whole hog into the sty .", "too occupied with shocking the audience with its over-the-top dialogue to notice that it 's not working .", "wilmot is so thoroughly committed to being so awful that his debauchery has a kind of purity about it .", "the story 's familiarity does n't reward its gloom , but it 's lifted by an amazing performance .", "john wilmot , the second earl of rochester -lrb- johnny depp -rrb- , is always the smartest guy in the room .", "the filmmakers would rather sentimentalize their debauched hero than convince us there was insight in his cynicism or artfulness in his obscene verse .", "a bawdy restoration romp that does n't . romp .", "in dramatic terms , constantly being told about rochester 's talent but never seeing it makes the movie feel as pointless as its subject 's life .", "might be the least-sexy film about a hedonist ever made , unless bawdy and bewigged somehow add up to erotic .", "despite its challenging central character , the MOV offers a curiously entertaining look at a true original , as well as a glance at a fascinating age in english history as a society goes bonkers after a time of repression .", "the point seems to be that too much of a good thing leads to a vast sense of nothingness and bleak cinematography . alas , it also results in transforming a film about a sensualist into a remarkably sexless enterprise .", "depp is stuck playing a witty rake who is n't remarkably witty or even all that sexy .", "what emerges from the bilious murk of first-time director laurence dunmore 's film is a sad picture of an intelligent and talented writer who opted for self-indulgence and gratuitous insult over anything more meaningful .", "as the character grows sicker and quieter , the drama 's energy fades .", "from time to time , a gem-like line shines from the squalor , but in general , it 's merely the film 's suffocating cynicism that registers .", "as a dramatic enterprise it 's stillborn . not to mention depressing in the extreme .", "dunmore slogs through the story with an overripe sense of gravity that , when mixed with the film 's carefully botched look , makes for one murky moviegoing experience .", "a movie that serves up what its debauched subject would never have countenanced -- sanitized smut with a moral attached .", "depp 's depraved character does have twisted poignancy .", "quick , literate , funny and filthy , a head-turning mix of high thoughts and low schemes .", "it 's a bit too muddy , dismal-looking and smoky to beguile us , too fixated on filth and too dreary-looking to really shock us .", "rochester may have been a cultural visionary , but the movie reduces this notion to a parable of bad-boy celebrity hitched to an uninteresting love story .", "depp really does his best -lrb- or perhaps that should be his worst -rrb- to make his character unappealing and unlikable .", "without context and reason to care , i never understood why i was lurking about here the first place .", "depp portrays wilmot , who was also remembered for scandalous poetry and theatrical satire , as a careless and generally unpleasant fellow , who is neither funny nor profound . and we 're supposed to spend two hours with this guy . ugh .", "stinkers this rapturously self-assured do n't come along often , and when they do , they deserve to be honored with the proper giggling disbelief .", "-lsb- director -rsb- dunmore creates a memorably grimy london , but the moral grime covering the film proves less memorable .", "i enjoyed it - or much of it - for reasons that have everything to do with johnny depp .", "under the veneer of another fine/creepy depp performance , the film falls flat .", "a difficult film to watch , but one that speaks to our own invidious world .", "based on stephen jeffreys ' play , about 17th century iconoclastic poet the 2nd earl of rochester -lrb- johnny depp -rrb- , `` the MOV '' fails to pay off on its promises of taboo sex .", "it feels both overlong and incomplete .", "slightly pretentious , but original enough to be a bit interesting , and buoyed by strong performances from depp and morton , the MOV is a decent telling of a historical footnote , most interesting because of its strong feminist message .", "completely unshocking", "if johnny depp 's barmy stumble through the yo-ho-hum pirates sequel was playtime rehash , then his loathsome portrayal of the pestilent aristocrat earl of rochester shows an actor still daring to push the margins of his persona .", "big dull drag of a movie .", "first-time director laurence dunsmore ... enjoys his wallow in london murk and mud , but nobody else will .", "as presented , wilmot is so vulgar that he does n't care even for himself until the final reel , and few people will care to follow his story that far .", "depp transforms a potentially repellent character into another glittering portrait in a gallery of lovable rogues ...", "loquacious , though -lrb- the -rrb- characters are talking in circles .", "... will likely leave viewers as frustrated with rochester -lrb- johnny depp -rrb- as his contemporaries were .", "sadly , this is a movie about the consequences of debauchery , and about johnny depp making long-winded oscar-bait speeches while slathered in nasty pancake makeup .", "the MOV could be one of the most atrocious films you will ever see in your entire life .", "features another stellar johnny depp performance , but stagy dialogue and dreary cinematography mar the effectiveness of this murky period drama .", "any movie top-billed by a star as hot as johnny depp that somehow manages to sit on a shelf for more than a year after its completion is bound to be a stinker .", "it is depp , as the debauched and decaying restoration rake , who holds the camera . it 's a strong , sturdy performance , but one that asks more of the audience than it might be possible to give .", "depp performance certainly makes the film worthwhile by itself .", "an exquisitely shot period piece with enough filthy dialogue to make a dirty shame seems rather pedestrian .", "plain and simple , the MOV is depp 's effort to pull a charlize : defined as a preternaturally gorgeous actor attempting to portray a visibly repulsive person for award-worthy attention .", "depp opens the movie by looking into the camera and announcing , you will not like me now , and you will like me even less as we go on . that turns out to be true .", "you will not like the second earl of rochester . but you will not be able to take your eyes from him . having made his bed , he does not hesitate to sleep in it .", "we are supposed to thrill to the devil-may-care attitude of this byronic rebel-gent , yet we never find out what he 's about or what he stands for . he 's a self-impressed question mark .", "the MOV is an unpleasant film to watch , and it should be , since it zeroes in on the pain of not being able to connect to other people .", "depp , the movie star , is to be applauded for not ambracing dumb action flicks or brainless blockbuster wannabes , but at this point , he has gone too far in the other direction .", "depp achieves one of his mightiest feats , rescuing the overly theatrical MOV from itself .", "there follows much groping and fondling and talk of debauchery , all of it slightly less erotic than integral calculus .", "one of the few films to maintain an air of stuffiness even while sharing intimate details of debauchery .", "this is an irritatingly unsatisfying and unappetizing profile .", "this has got be one of the least erotic and grungiest films about hedonism ever made .", "not only incessantly talky , but talky in that arch , affected fashion that not only sets one 's teeth on edge but induces deep drowsiness as well .", "a substantial first outing", "a fine feature debut for director laurence dunmore , the MOV is more of a calling card for his future work than a fully rounded triumph in its own right .", "the prologue is probably correct : you will not like wilmot the person . but you may like depp enough to be curious about his portrayal of this MOV .", "the MOV 's libidinous charm makes most of its faults instantly forgivable .", "a supremely distasteful piece of work that squanders time , talent , and one of the more eccentric literary legacies", "johnny depp does some pretty despicable things , yet you do n't dislike him . there 's just something about him that draws you in and wins you over .", "what depp ca n't help is the film 's vulgar uselessness .", "it 's a grotesque , repellent , macabre costume drama . if you want depravity , watch re-runs of the mini-series `` rome '' on hbo .", "an honorable misfire .", "the film built around depp 's performance is leaden and monotonous , crusted in the faux-realism of handheld cameras , muddy streets , and dingy castle hallways .", "depp is a raunchy wonder , especially in a time-capsule-worthy opening monologue .", "for those who can stick with it , the rewards are considerable .", "the second half , especially , grows dour and maundering , and by the end the movie seems to flail in desperation , more like a work in progress than like a finished piece .", "despite depp 's bold turn as the scandalous poet , this disappointingly overwrought , poorly directed costume drama has more in common with quills and stage beauty , all flawed movies about `` deviant '' artists who broke taboos .", "it 's always fun to watch depp be flamboyant , but the story is often murky , and the cinematography even murkier .", "the cheesed-up life and times of one john wilmot , the second earl of rochester .", "this is the kind of film that depp loves , understands , and unfurls his nastiest acting regalia for .", "depp gives a dazzling tour de force as a man who loses his soul , then his heart , then his body .", "it 's a mess of -- toward its end -- almost epic proportions , and it 's nowhere near as vulgar and shocking as it would like to think it is , but the MOV is riveting nevertheless .", "it takes an actor in complete command of his charisma to get away with this kind of murder -- exposing the sick blackness of his soul with a sultry smile . shame about the movie , though .", "director laurence dunmore films everything through a corrosive brown fog , obscuring and muffling the film 's life force .", "for all the overstuffed corsets and garters snapping to and fro , it 's about as bawdy as a c-span appropriations committee meeting .", "the scenes between depp and morton throw off sparks , but the movie as a whole needs focus , oomph .", "... one of those supposedly daring erotic dramas that could actually work as a video touting abstinence . the sex is that soulless , that dingy , that diseased .", "here 's a movie that 's done well , with quality performances . and i have no idea who will want to see `` the MOV , '' a sometimes digusting , always adult look at debauchery during the restoration .", "a daunting , challenging film that dares the viewer to like it . and , it 's not the easiest movie to like , but it 's impossible not to find disturbingly fascinating .", "an odd composition of stolid chamber drama and manic acting by its magnetic star , the movie makes for an occasionally invigorating experience that is too predictable and mannered for its own good .", "dingy and dark , using the trappings of rot to mask its central goody-two-shoedness .", "the film relies heavily on depp 's performance , but it 's so over-the-top that it 's just not that entertaining ." ], "summary": "despite johnny depp 's zealous performance , muddled direction and murky cinematography hinder the MOV .", "id": "9370" }, { "movie": "midnight_cowboy", "reviews": [ "superb performances and a compelling script have made this film a strange mix of oscar-winner and cult classic .", "definitely a film to see .", "gripping , gritty and overwhelmingly depressive and unpleasant , ultimately this is one of the most exciting , exotic and different films to ever win an academy award .", "gritty and disturbing - there was a reason for that x-rating ... and the oscar !", "gritty and absorbing all the way through .", "hoffman and voight are amazing . the film , too , is amazing . it 's all terribly weird -- but amazing .", "it is ultimately a moving experience that captures the quality of a time and a place . it 's not a movie for the ages , but , having seen it , you wo n't ever again feel detached as you walk down west 42nd street .", "sometimes a time capsule never dates .", "it only takes a movie like MOV to point out the limitations of a rating system : how can a measly four stars convey the magnificence of this acknowledged classic ?", "drove its spurs into the bucking bronco of 1970s cinema .", "schlesinger 's frenzied style and visual pyrotechnics -lrb- new wave influence -rrb- are less impressive than the characters and the central friendship between joe buck and ratso , splendidly played by jon voight and dustin hoffman .", "what has happened to MOV is that we 've done our own editing job on it . we 've forgotten the excesses and the detours , and remembered the purity of the central characters and the voight and hoffman performances .", "a classic film that shows a great work has no era ...", "a maverick effort .", "what is most amazing about the film is its refusal to age .", "one of the more overrated films of modern ` hip ' times .", "it might have been fun , but it 's condescending and stupidly mean-spirited instead .", "not every classic film lives up to its fame and i 'm not sure as a whole if i 'd say MOV does . pieces of it though are brilliant , especially the performances of its two leads .", "a buddy movie of rather unlikely characters falling into a rather forced friendship .", "hoffman gives a performance as ` ratzo ' rizzo that stands as the finest in an extraordinary career .", "brilliant filmmaking .", "MOV 's peep-show vision of manhattan lowlife may no longer be shocking , but what is shocking , in 1994 , is to see a major studio film linger this lovingly on characters who have nothing to offer the audience but their own lost souls .", "the performances by hoffman and voight are big .", "i appreciate the performances by jon voight , as joe buck , and dustin hoffman , as enrico ` ratso ' rizzo , as well as their relationship .", "this multi-oscar-winner nails its characters , time period , and locale so perfectly that it becomes even more compelling as time goes by .", "outrageously overrated at the cynical end of the swinging sixties .", "a film you wo n't soon forget", "MOV -lrb- 1969 -rrb- is an ultra-realistic film -lrb- shot on location -rrb- with sordid , downbeat and serious content . it portrays the unlikely companionship", "MOV is quite a film and one that looms as an adult attraction of truly blockbuster proportions .", "um filme exemplar que deve ser visto por todos aqueles que apreciam o bom cinema .", "brilliant character study time capsule", "still powerful story of two losers in new york .", "in this film the scenery is lovely and only the human race is vile .", "the movie is locked into a sixties stylistic approach that can feel dated , but hoffman 's performance can prevent one from ever tiring of the film .", "an impressive and enduring evocation of time and place , this is a moving low-life drama built around oscar-winning writing and performances .", "talented englishman schlesinger had an unerring eye for capturing the grimy reality of new york , even if his directorial style is more jittery than is really necessary .", "the acting , showy and instinctual , is most of the movie ; the visual style is too forced and chicly distended to let the drama acquire much natural life of its own .", "great performances from jon voight and dustin hoffman cap this bravest academy awards best picture choice in history .", "strip away everything else and it 's the performances that make MOV what it is .", "the attempt to wring tender laughter from such a topic strikes me as being itself a kind of commercialized vice .", "we can identify with them without false sentimentality and it is impossible not to do so .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tawdry , strident yet deeply affecting tale .", "MOV moves beyond realism into an archetypal tale of the big city destroying dreamers . joe and ratso , like of mice and men 's george and lenny , are quintessential failed , lower-class , buddy-dreamers .", "classic oscar winner has explicit material , mature themes .", "even with every foot of grim realism and some humor , MOV is rather a sad picture .", "no amount of obfuscation can obscure the film 's vaulting performances .", "as dark and unflinching as it can be , it also fiercely believes in the dignity of its downtrodden characters .", "i can not recall a more marvelous pair of acting performances in any one film .", "`` MOV '' is an exquisite time capsule . the film is filled with dark social and political commentary . only through his problematic friendship with ratzo can buck reclaim his humanity ." ], "summary": "john schlesinger 's gritty , unrelentingly bleak look at the seedy underbelly of urban american life is undeniably disturbing , but dustin hoffman and jon voight 's performances make it difficult to turn away .", "id": "13053" }, { "movie": "funny-ha-ha", "reviews": [ "while the film has a true lived-in feel , and demonstrates a burgeoning talent on the part of its young auteur , its portrait of young slackers lacks the freshness to overcome its all too vivid malaise .", "by simply re-creating what he has observed , bujalski has created a tender , funny and stealthily affecting portrait of youthful powerlessness and frustration .", "MOV is a jagged bite of real life , shambling about with humor , sadness , boredom , excitement .", "bujalski has a knack for letting scenes build and then cutting out abruptly , duplicating the flow of a life in flux .", "-lrb- bujalski 's -rrb- easy naturalism creates an unexpected comic lightness for something so laced with ambiguity .", "the film 's acutely composed dialogue is at once disturbingly empty and brutally poignant .", "an honest portrait of twentysomething dating -- and one with lots of heart .", "dollenmayer 's low-key naturalism is a perfect compliment to the camera 's hand-held gaze , presenting a touching combination of amiable nonchalance and emotional yearning .", "made on so frayed a shoestring that it looks like a dogma project minus the glitz and about as vacuous as its array of clueless twenty-something characters .", "the tagline says , ` this would be sad if it were n't so funny ' , well guess what , it 's not that funny , so it must be sad .", "it 's just , like ... well , a lot like real life for 20-somethings .", "a movie that locates the momentous in the mundane .", "this thoroughly engaging little movie takes unexpected paths with nary a false step", "unquestionably refreshing .", "for reasons bujalski fails to dramatize effectively , his characters are stranded in a banal state of gummy-beared , flip-flopped infantilism .", "each stammer , hesitation and nervous laugh reminds us of who we once were , still are or even hope to be .", "MOV is a reality bite of a story that 's as substantial as the gummi bears the befuddled characters eat .", "a small , plain movie , shot in 16 millimeter in dull locations around boston ; but also , like its passive , quizzical heroine , it is unexpectedly seductive , and even , in its own stubborn , hesitant way , beautiful .", "smart , subtle and excruciatingly honest .", "refreshingly unpolished , the film uses pained silences like punctuation .", "not actually that MOV , but a sensitive and unforced little film about the aimlessness of post-graduate life .", "low budget and intimate , perhaps to the point of belonging on the small screen rather than the cinema , its still an intelligent and unpretentious slice of life true american life .", "is n't much more than a promising calling card that should take director , cast and crew to the next level .", "one of the most accurate portrayals of post-collegiate disillusionment", "bujalski 's subtly well-constructed film reveals a charmingly idiosyncratic sincerity .", "this is an undoubtedly modest yet wholly pleasurable tale about the difficulties that come with letting go of youth .", "if bujalski 's goal was to create a `` you are there -lrb- and eavesdropping -rrb- '' sort of narrative , he 's done a fine job of it .", "with marnie , dollenmayer has managed to transform a sad sack into an indie screen goddess .", "like his heroes mike leigh and john cassavetes , bujalski has a knack for the genuine moment : using rudimentary lighting and a lively ensemble of nonprofessionals , he creates a convincing slacker landscape .", "MOV is the kind of film that you just do n't want to end .", "an indelible film .", "an ebullient sliver of a movie .", "it raises so many little questions and offers so many quiet insights that one sitting is n't enough .", "a pitch-perfect romantic comedy slice of life film .", "a beautifully observant and wholly unpretentious film with roots more in cassavetes than sundance-style showbiz .", "this is n't improvisation , but rather an adroitly achieved randomness -- the perfect syntax for a generation-defining work about a generation marked by its very lack of definition .", "a smartly observed , unpretentious , and unconventional comedy of manners .", "it oozes a palpable sense of miserable , soul-sapping post-collegiate torpor ." ], "summary": "this modest , unpretentious character study astutely captures the emotional states of the 20-something slacker .", "id": "20369" }, { "movie": "joshua", "reviews": [ "a brilliant house-of-horror tale with hitchcockean flair .", "boasts enough in the way of sharp acting , as well as visual and musical smarts , to give the psychological twists and turns a respectable aesthetic context .", "builds to a number of gripping climaxes that leave the viewer quite shaken by how subtly and effectively this movie delivers on the thrills .", "if there 's a better model of passive-aggressive than this MOV kid in a recent movie , i 'd like to know of one .", "in good quality horror , fear and suspense arise from a deepening sense of character , not a noisier sense of one .", "even though the story covers familiar ground , it provides enough tension and humor in the presentation to make it worth watching .", "using well the paradigm of the outsider , here the impact of a new baby on a seemingly perfect family , this elegantly made , often sophisticated psychological thriller marks ratliff 's smooth transition from docu to feature filmmaking ; he 's a talent to watch", "father and mother no longer know best .", "... certainly succeeds in bringing a fair amount of depth to an admittedly familiar storyline .", "when the film falters , it 's when it pulls its punches and gives us conventional horror that we can hold off at a safe distance , rather than uncomfortable insights that we can unsettlingly recognize from our own household experience .", "the nerve-shattering ending will have you hugging your children when you get home - but only if there are witnesses present .", "run-of-the-mill psychological thriller .", "if you strip away all the meddling that MOV does , it 's clear to see the family is dysfunctionally psychopathic from the start", "the movie 's eerie vibe is genuinely disturbing and difficult to shake off . that 's a good thing in this genre .", "the creepy child genre has n't had a movie this much fun in a long time .", "bad seed ? the whole dang garden is rotten in ` MOV , ' a psychological horror film that demonstrates that the poison apple does n't fall far from the toxic family tree .", "scenes that are meant to be scary end up generating laughs .", "MOV might have been delicious if it were n't so blatantly hateful toward women , queers , and religion .", "i 'm not sure whether MOV 's campiness outweighs its offensiveness - it 's got both in spades - but there 's no getting around the fact that ratliff 's creepy-kid thriller is seriously awful .", "george ratliff , who gave us the -lrb- much more frightening -rrb- doc hell house , works on hoarily familiar territory here and does n't bring much new to the party .", "with deliberate pacing , well-placed scares , and a pitch-black sense of humor , -lsb- george -rsb- ratliff keeps us guessing until the stunner finish .", "works best as a drama of family decay .", "if you can appreciate complex , slow-burn dramas and forego the buckets of blood , then you 're likely to agree with me when i say that MOV is among the best of films of its genre to come along in quite some time .", "a by-the-numbers , would-be thriller that 's just never scary . about the best that can be said of it is that it reminds you of better movies .", "perhaps the scariest thing about MOV was the feeling i got at the end that i had just sat through some kind of weird gay panic movie .", "we can buy that this kid is a dangerous weirdo ; it 's harder to buy him as an example of superhuman strength and mental fortitude .", "-lsb- w -rsb- hy is it so hard to make a scary flick about evil kids these days ? the omen remake was pretty hilarious , and MOV is ridiculous , though they are apparently attempting to re-position it as a `` black comedy ''", "an unnerving thriller that has a lot more on its maniacal mind than giving us the willies .", "at once familiar and yet startlingly inventive and thrilling .", "sickeningly creepy .", "if you 've never wanted to punch a child in the face , see MOV and discover a whole new side of yourself .", "fairly absorbing film .", "spooky , relatively realistic , grounded in psychology rather than displays of gore , it could be just the thing to rejuvenate the fading horror genre .", "a fascinating , if chilling , break from the season 's usual summer movie thrills -- especially for parents-to-be .", "writer-director george ratliff may have intended to make a movie no one would enjoy . he 's succeeded .", "a darkly comic , squirm-inducing portrait of everyday familial dysfunction amplified by an unusual element .", "fails miserably .", "a trippy film that falls somewhere between tired genre picture , hilarious satire and ingenious game of cat-and-mouse .", "i 'm reluctant to give away too much about this terrifically tidy thriller as i think an audience should be able to watch a film without knowing the twists and surprises that the filmmakers intend .", "subtle and sinister - it 's evil , yes , but not very scary .", "a haunting and evocative motion picture that stays with you .", "the contrived script expects us to believe that MOV 's fainting spells , his nocturnal home videos of his sleeping family and his acts of violence on crowded new york city streets fail to raise suspicion until it is too late .", "it 's subtle and it 's terrific .", "there 's a definite `` bad seed '' vibe going on in this sophisticated psychological thriller that unfolds with such precision you 'll want to see it a second time just to catch its many degrees of nuanced escalation .", "watch this movie on a night when you do n't think you need birth control .", "ratliff 's movie almost succeeds in hurtling over the trenches it digs for itself in an increasingly ludicrous third act . but not quite .", "director george ratliff has crafted a pretty intelligent film that exploits that conceit without going to the over-the-top extremes as such other bad-seed films as `` the good son '' and , well , `` the bad seed . ''", "MOV does grow a bit repetitious -lrb- it lacks the cathartic climaxes of a horror film -rrb- , yet it has cool and savvy fun with your fears .", "MOV survives its muddled experimentation with homage and mystery primarily due to the ability of its cast to play it straight through all the mood changes .", "while ratliff deserves credit for trying to use real demons - postpartum depression , child abuse - as elements of horror , MOV fails to thrill because it never feels remotely realistic .", "it 's the carnival-fun-house kind of entertainment : genuinely creepy in some places , giggly in other places , and sometimes both at the same time .", "this stylish and sophisticated film loses its way in a frustratingly vague third act that 's more unsatisfying than unsettling .", "it 's played in the most straight-faced fashion , with little humor to lighten things up . the heavy-handed film is almost laughable as a consequence .", "as the film wears on , it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the dry humor from the supposed chills . consequently , MOV drifts into camp .", "it 's a beautifully crafted , superbly well-acted suspense-filled tale that will creep you out .", "it 's regrettable that MOV veers into outlandish omen/bad seed/good son territory .", "a tense , visually interesting tale that is ultimately a bit barren .", "makes the omen look like daddy day care .", "it should be mandatory viewing for right-to-lifers and prospective parents as well as fans of creepy , crawly filmmaking .", "you can tell the movie wants to be a kind of rosemary 's baby or the omen . but it wants that all too desperately .", "a psychological thriller that 's not only lovely to look at but also intriguing enough to keep you guessing until the end . and even then you may not have figured it out .", "MOV is a psychological thriller so devoid of value , it makes one wonder if someone in the acquisition department at fox searchlight does n't have a drinking problem .", "the ` horror ' here is dosed with humor and false starts that keep it remarkably and deceptively light .", "harrowing , controlled and diabolically self-assured , MOV leaves filmgoers teetering on their own emotional precipice , wondering just where pathos ends and pathology begins .", "director george ratliff plays pitch-perfect on the tautly wound strings of our innermost fears that nothing -- not love , wealth or intelligence -- can protect us from the monsters we harbor .", "MOV is a reason for applause .", "supremely assured ... a creepily black comedy that eschews huge campy shocks in favor of a bunch of little nonchalant stings that add up to something fierce .", "the stress that mounts throughout this strangely tame and quietly spooky horror thriller has a masterfully palpable asphyxiating mood to it that the director exploits for maximum audience discomfort and unrelieved dread .", "sinister sibling-rivalry drama is majorly creepy .", "anyone who 's ever heard -lrb- or just imagined -rrb- troubling sounds coming from a fuzzy baby monitor or fretted while their fifth-grader traversed a big-city crosswalk will have their nerves seriously jangled by MOV .", "an absurd and unconvincing fright pic .", "we 're finally left holding a handful of air at the end .", "easily written off as an `` omen '' retread at first glance , this unfairly passed-over piece of slow-burn terror disarmingly chipped away at ideas of parental readiness with mounting dread and gruesome humor . it burrows beneath the skin and stays there .", "... a bewildering extension rather than a retread of this played-out subgenre .", "as horror flicks go this is both smart and suspenseful .", "the film is the ultimate birth control . if you plan on one day having kids , do n't see this film . if you already have children , you will never look at them the same way again .", "ratliff never acknowledges that his audience has likely seen this setup dozens of times before , making the film feel laborious and unsurprising .", "a genuinely unsettling film about a sociopathic child ... an enjoyably decorous creepshow .", "little MOV will never haunt our dreams like damien or the lost child from do n't look now .", "all of this goes down very , very slowly . MOV aspires to be a kind of rosemary 's baby 's older brother by way of gaslight , but it lacks the dynamism and atmosphere of either of those inspirations .", "it 's refreshing to see a horror film based on adult anxieties : the terror of the baby cam can only be overcome by more terror .", "a twisty , chilly vision of haute-yuppie parenting as unrelenting nightmare , an ingenious reworking of the demon-seed genre in which the evil child is not the real villain .", "part of the fun of MOV is the skill with which -lsb- director -rsb- ratliff juggles horror and realism , feeding one into the other until we become part of the unraveling of the cairns ' perfect life .", "clever performances and great atmospherics compensate for the gaps in logic .", "one of the better entries in the creepy-kid genre , MOV is a bit like the omen without the supernaturalism .", "shows its cards too early and then tells you what they are in case you missed them .", "ultimately predictable .", "-lsb- director -rsb- ratliff captures an eerily too-realistic vision of hellish new york motherhood", "despite such creepy moments , the film 's fundamental narrative is more wearying than horrifying .", "it 's not exactly light summer entertainment . with its emphasis on paranoia and perversion , MOV is closer in spirit to fringe films like eraserhead than mainstream horror movies like the omen .", "a formulaic thriller too in love with its own intelligence to bother with the lowbrow business of being scary .", "overall it delivers some genuine old-school chills -- something that was missing when macaulay culkin played a similar role in the good son .", "uneasily straddling age groups and genres , MOV is a highly effective family drama cloaked in the stale tropes of the demon-seed thriller .", "there 's no reason jacob kogan ca n't grow into a better actor in the future . right now , though , he ca n't anchor this movie with the evil flair it requires , and which might have made it worth seeing .", "a psychological horror film that 's a bit light on both the psychology and the horror .", "it 's the omen without the goofy looking kid or supernatural elements . if you can put up with the glacial pacing the payoff is almost worth the wait , it left me haunted for days .", "... the kind of movie that makes you want to yell at the characters : ca n't you see what your crazy kid is doing ?!?!" ], "summary": "though MOV is ultimately too formulaic , its intelligence and suspenseful buildup heighten the overall creep factor .", "id": "528348514" }, { "movie": "1090789-haunting", "reviews": [ "the best reason to see the MOV is the sheer sumptuousness of its creepy-crawly set designs .", "has an unseen enchantment , so aptly sets spinning like a huge magnificent gyroscope on a string", "in the MOV , the moviemakers succeed in something very difficult : creating a haunted house with real personality and terror .", "all the stops are pulled out to provide a state-of-the-art , slam-bang movie experience .", "looking terrified and screaming is really all that 's required in david self 's inane script .", "director jan de bont , known for the razzle he put into the exciting movie speed and the subsequent dud twister , proves himself unable to break away from depending on dazzle to substitute for substance .", "to my surprise , i find myself recommending the MOV on the basis of its locations , its sets , its art direction , its sound design , and the overall splendor of its visuals .", "it 's all hokum from beginning to end .", "a flat , draggy exercise in cheesy special effects and grandiose art direction palming itself off as a horror film .", "more hokey than MOV .", "when the MOV finally limps to its conclusion , you may feel like booing the screen .", "this all-flash , no-substance -- and no scare -- thriller is a textbook example of soulless , money-burning hollywood hype products .", "one of the most misguided big-screen diversions to come along in some time , considering the clear potential it has .", "so thoroughly misguided and muddled dreamworks , the studio foisting this bomb on the public , ought to hire a special corps of ushers to hand out sympathy cards to patrons as they exit the theater .", "this is as far from the poverty row gasps of the blair witch project as you can get , and more fun .", "one of the stupidest movies you 'll ever see . bad , bad , bad .", "the idea that this film is supposedly based on the classic novel by jackson is an insult to the author . the words ` insinuated by ' would be more factual .", "so breathtakingly bad , so unintentionally funny that it could take on the status of a camp classic .", "clumsy , bloated and wretchedly overdone !", "loud , obvious and without a wisp of ambience !", "it is missing the coherent story , credible characters and literate dialogue that can make any film , no matter how outlandish the dramatic circumstances , involving .", "shockingly lethargic !", "does n't try to spook you as much as it tries to browbeat you into a defeated , whimpering submission .", "... testament to the fact that well enough should be left alone .", "i would n't waste more than the price of a video rental on this one .", "a psychologically apt thriller with the message that love is the only true antidote to fear .", "unfortunately , the film 's sets and special effects overwhelm its plot and cast .", "the bombastic overkill that helped make de bont 's speed 2 the most disappointing sequel of the decade is in full bloom here .", "when you 're not yawning at the digital ghosts , you 're watching a cast of fine actors dogpaddling in cliches and terrible dialogue .", "high-tech remake is dumb and overblown .", "a passable piece of summer hokum , but it underlines how difficult it has become to make an effective horror movie .", "all logic is deadened by the obnoxious special effects !", "once the screaming begins , so will your laughing", "glossy but lackluster .", "it 's just a conglomeration of cheap fright tactics and a booming bass track meant to get you to jump out of your seat .", "the only thing scary about the new version is realizing that someone keeps giving director jan de bont money to make movies .", "this is one MOV that will only haunt its fledgling studio and de bont 's career as a director .", "an exercise in missed opportunities and bad filmmaking !", "the characters are on the dramatic equivalent of death row .", "the MOV is a muddled mess that defies any rationality .", "not very scary .", "the more this new MOV tries to impress with its state-of-the-art techniques , the more it recalls how much wise accomplished with eerie lighting effects and mysterious noises on the soundtrack .", "most of the blame for this butchery goes to de bont , who shows less interest in relating a simple haunted-house story than in engineering a theme-park ride of pure overkill .", "although the MOV gets funnier , dumber , and less suspenseful as it goes on , it never loses the power to frighten , because it never had it .", "you can spend millions instead of thousands on a production , and still have nothing more than a b-movie .", "shockingly short on suggestiveness and restraint .", "worse than awful !", "an overpriced mess !", "if you crave horror , you 're better off seeing the blair witch project a second or third .", "a blaring kitsch project of a horror film .", "there are few truly frightening moments in the film , little tension or real sense of menace , and the camp humor that is suggested in early scenes dissipates fairly quickly .", "this film relies on special effects instead of suggestion , plot instead of mood , and explanation instead of mystery .", "the actors are basically helpless with this .", "frightening in only a genteel kind of way , and some of the dialogue is hoot-worthy .", "a lavish illustration of how to take a fairly modest black-and - white horror film from 1963 and amplify it so relentlessly that the sight of the flying cow in twister would not be all that amiss .", "the MOV is entertaining enough in its excessive , fun-house fashion .", "a mess , a jumble of fancy special effects that are supposed to be scary but are really just fancy , further decorated with dribbles of dialogue , most of which are unintentionally hilarious .", "director jan de bont may have made a cow fly in twister , but he ca n't keep the howling dog called the MOV from spinning into fx excess .", "most of de bont 's effects , particularly the busts of children , are more amusing than they are frightening .", "director jan de bont pathologically forgoes subtlety for special effects bombast which , though visually impressive , is quickly desensitizing and raises nary a goosebump ." ], "summary": "sophisticated visual effects fail to offset awkward performances and an uneven script .", "id": "10954" }, { "movie": "john_rambo", "reviews": [ "those going in knowing what to expect will likely welcome this send-off", "... at this rate , what can we look forward to ? cobra : back in the hood ? son of judge dredd ?", "it would probably feel more at home on a cruddy vhs tape with bad tracking problems ...", "well , MOV 's at it again , and here 's sylvester stallone again . but `` rambo '' is n't nearly as rewarding as stallone 's recent `` rocky '' romp .", "an old man and his knife , sweet", "it 's unsubtle filmmaking , laying out every nuance for us and playing around with some pretty serious ideas without digging very deep .", "a neat little farewell to a very silly action hero .", "there is next to no dialogue in the film 's final 30 minutes % u2013 just a torrent of killing , blood and violence . the film 's target market of young testosterone-charged males will no doubt be eager to immerse themselves in this blood-fest of stunts and sp", "stallone is in desperate need of reinvention , but he seems myopically focused on rehashing the past rather than exploring the future .", "this film is like a bull in a china shop -- it just keeps charging forward , destroying everything in its path .", "the enemies so comically monstrous and their deaths so gory , that you may just throw your head back and roar with laughter .", "rambo hits his stride in the film 's second half , meting out justice in an unjust world and ultimately the movie works best when warbling its out-of-tune greatest hits .", "spare is good : so spare that essentials are missing is not .", "a grim , hyperviolent send-off that could give you post-traumatic stress disorder .", "no longer is rambo killing for a cause , but for kicks . and his portentous blather , even by rambo standards , becomes unintentionally hilarious .", "`` so they send in the devil to do god 's work , '' says a hulking australian mercenary , part of the rescue attempt . `` it 's ironic , is n't it ? '' highly ironic . the implications of that irony are not explored in the movie .", "stiffly written , woodenly acted , and indifferently directed .", "if bringing back rocky and rambo opens him up to more ridicule from the likes of me , it\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s also the kind of challenge at which he excels . idiotic as rocky balboa was , the punches landed , and rambo works on its own debased terms , too .", "this violence contains a movie , but only intermittently .", "a brutish , brutal and simplistic orgy of violence .", "torture , depravity , kidnap , massacre , and gore abound . you 've been warned .", "proficiently made , deeply offensive and undeniably cruel , like a popular restaurant serving fresh-roasted puppy .", "never , not even in the aftermath of pearl harbor , has hollywood depicted asians with more prejudice . to what end ?", "none of this is beyond what you 'd expect -- or fear -- from a rambo movie . what is inexcusable is the moral self-congratulation the movie trades on , attaching itself to the plight of the burmese people .", "a far cry from ted kotcheff 's original rambo movie first blood , which was ostensibly a serious rumination on the fate of the people we train to kill once we 're done with them .", "the man has n't turned into hostel director eli roth , but for all the rape , torture and blood-letting on display in rambo , it would n't be far off the mark to call -lsb- stallone -rsb- roth 's spiritual godfather .", "stunningly , unrelentingly violent .", "it 's an unfortunate ending for a once-great screen character who deserves to be known for more than the waste he laid to others .", "this time , it 's impersonal .", "the mouthiest mercenary , a surly brit , is given the best line to snarl at our hero : `` you can drop that thousand-yard stare . i 've seen it all before , and i 'm not impressed . '' we could n't have said it better ourselves .", "sly may be a crass tyrannosaurus , but he 's not a fake", "stallone uses his iconic character here to explore the necessary evils of violence through a brutal pop lens .", "do you want disembowelment and decapitation with your popcorn ? is gore glorious ? is brutality orgasmic ? is spurting blood the fountain of fun ? if so , rambo is 4 u.", "light on plot , heavy on violence - rambo is n't for everyone , however i think it perfectly appeals to the video game crowd .", "straightforward wish fulfillment -- imagine what crimes against humanity we could punish if we had real , indestructible rambos .", "the orgy of violence , as ghastly as in any video game , should go a long way toward erasing whatever goodwill stallone earned with his sentimental rocky balboa .", "now we are no longer observing the icon ... we are the icon .", "it 's not the perfect rambo film i was hoping for , but it was a pretty entertaining one .", "-lrb- rambo -rrb- really only has 3-4 minutes of redeeming entertainment .", "i know my credibility could take a hit here , but i am man enough to admit that i enjoyed watching rambo once again don his famous headband and shoot enemies with his trusty bow and arrow .", "it 's not a movie . it 's an adrenaline pump and purveyor of raw carnage .", "a literal goulash of gore , and i was quite taken with the fearlessness of it all . the overall responsibility of the film is open for debate , but nobody can say that stallone did n't reach for the bloodied brass ring with this splendidly bonkers concoction .", "rambo is what it is and , like rocky balboa , does it with the spirit of its predecessors .", "stallone 's previous film , rocky balboa -lrb- 2006 -rrb- , was a highly personal and surprisingly touching film . but rambo shows no such justification for its existence .", "the movie is neither cathartic nor entertaining .", "... fans of the -lsb- action -rsb- genre flat-out owe it to themselves to check out the movie theatrically -lrb- if only to encourage the studios to quit making watered-down garbage like hitman and live free or die hard -rrb- .", "has the gritty realism of the first film and a sadder mood for our hero but still continues rambo as a soldier for hire involved in a standard plot .", "melgibsonly violent , with a higher bodycount than the other three flicks - put together !", "the action here is repetitive , derivative , and clunky . then there 's the subtext , which embodies enough jingoistic imperialism to make kipling puff up his chest with pride", "one of the most grotesque , gruesome and gory movies you will ever see . i started having ` nam flashbacks , and i was n't even born then . i need to rent cinderella , so i can feel clean again .", "makes first blood look like bambi .", "the hero 's iconic inertia is photographed against molten skies or judgment day sunsets , providing moments of mythic repose between the pell-mell battle scenes .", "quando comemorei o retorno de stallone \u0155 boa forma art\u00edstica , n\u0103o imaginei que empregaria sua rec\u00e9m-reconquistada influ\u0119ncia para realizar algo t\u0103o abomin\u00e1vel quanto este rambo iv .", "however you parse the character 's evolution , rambo the film shows a peculiar understanding of changes in the industry .", "i love stallone , but this is n't any fun . i 'm also concerned because he 's starting to look like the cloverfield monster . no more hgh !", "while rambo is certainly not for everyone , it succeeds at being exactly what it sets out to be % u2014 a nostalgic , actionpacked , gore-splattered ode to the antihero of a bygone era .", "the film does for the myanmar genocide what i now pronounce you chuck and larry did for same-sex marriage ...", "suspiciously wrinkle-resistant stallone in comeback , a rambo in serious need of anger management and not too shy to get into a little ripping out of throats with bare hands and selective disemboweling too .", "` rambo ' is pure adrenaline , a frenzied rush into the heart of a jungle where the prevailing darkness is far more horrific than anything kurtz could have imagined .", "luckily , rambo 's years away from war have n't dulled his ability to rip out a man 's throat with his bare hands .", "all we get is unintentionally hilarious dialogue in which the characters speak lines that not only seem to have been torn straight from the tag lines of movie posters , they seem to have been selected exclusively from films that went direct-to-video .", "at its best when it considers the shell of a man its hero has become ; the ways that war and violence have become a part of his being , and what that has done to him .", "rambo is exactly the film you want it to be . it has little dialogue , plenty of action , and a nice load of blood and guts splattered throughout .", "for those who loved all those idiot action films of the '80s -lrb- or want to know what they were like -rrb- , rambo is the real deal .", "it 's a quick , stupefying movie but a fun one and a showcase for the latest in squib technology .", "talk about mixed movie messages -- i fear the more important part of the movie gets buried in the bloodshed . you could say that rambo shoots himself in the foot .", "a brutal , insanely excessive successor to grindhouse pictures of yore .", "he 's still dirty , ripped and rough around all the right edges . unfortunately , it feels as if we 're drawn back to the theater to fill hollywood 's pockets in exchange for bouts of purely gratuitous violence without a strong plotline .", "torture porn probably makes this movie seem quaint .", "stallone is smart enough -- or maybe dumb enough , though i tend to think not -- to present the mythic dimensions of the character without apology or irony . welcome back .", "einai eggyimeno oi palmoi soy na piasoyn ta rpm ton mydraliobolon poy gazonoyn o , ti melapso brethei mprosta toys , ki anoigoyn trypes megalyteres ki ap ' tin oikonomiki krisi tis amerikis , gia na soy serbiroyn ahnista lahtarista antera shimatikon sadiston a", "qualms about rambo 's contextual appropriateness aside , this guns-ablazing movie works on a primal level , but stiff performances and a musty script has it firing its share of blanks too .", "clearly a vanity project , it 's graphic and blood-drenched . stay out of the jungle !", "rambo delivers big-time and simultaneously gives a big , blood-covered middle finger to all the neutered action movies of late .", "stallone still looks terrrific , but ` rambo ' spends too much time showing how much carnage the big screen can take .", "stallone has never made a movie as purely intense and visceral as this .", "stallone knows his audience and he does n't disappoint . you get exactly what you pay for , including graphic violence without much dialogue .", "this is the schindler 's list of b-list butchery .", "with rambo , you know what you get and you get it . the big question is : what countries will he save when he 's 70 ? 80 ?", "geriatric rambo , aarp poster boy , still saves the day !", "rambo earns the red badge of carnage .", "it 's a middling movie both in terms of the franchise and in terms of action movies in general .", "the battle sequences are so muddled in execution that we ca n't tell who 's killing whom . which may have been the point , but knowing stallone -- and rambo -- one doubts that very much .", "stays on the verge of being a rousing dumbass flick at all times -- you 've never seen so many mid-air organs -- yet its combination of outrageous bodily trauma and beagle-eyed moments of reflection never quite makes it go over the top .", "after the moderate success of rocky , sly is desperate to revive his other popular series , but this actioner , which exploits burma 's politics , is so retro and poorly executed that it 's not even fun as mindless entertainment .", "stallone is back . rambo is back . it even ends with a nice bookend to first blood . you might pick apart some of the plot or some of the mercenary dialogue , but that 's not the point . the point is to give rambo fans the ultimate rambo movie .", "if you do n't want all the schmaltzy stuff , there is plenty of a ** - kicking to make you happy .", "the original rambo movie was actually titled first blood ... this one should be called entirely too much blood .", "it 's confusing . rambo makes you root for the wrong things .", "just like the actor playing him , our hero no longer looks or acts like his predecessor . oddly enough , as long as he covers his tracks in the entrails of his enemies , we could really care less .", "if i had a penny for every screaming explosion in rambo , i 'd be dead .", "crass exploitation of a serious issue , yes , and also the type of comic-book cartoonishness that the series has always peddled , regardless of the grim aesthetic and tone employed throughout this installment .", "the end result of rambo iv is akin to that of the dead pool , the fifth -lrb- and probably final -rrb- dirty harry movie . yes , it is the least of the series , but years later , fans of the character will be glad it exists .", "i suppose this is what we get for encouraging the man .", "sylvester stallone may be eating at the 4:30 buffet and paying with his aarp card , but he can still make one hell of an action flick .", "its rainy murk is as oppressive as its non-stop brutality , which is monotonously undifferentiated .", "stallone , smarter than he looks and possessing fierce determination , pours as much heart into this one-man-army saga as he does movie blood .", "rambo ranks as the overall series ' second-best entry .", "well-shot and well-edited violence porn .", "the problem is , even as mindless violence , the movie fails .", "stallone -lrb- who looks fit but mostly keeps his shirt on -rrb- has no intention of bogging the action down , but it 's still a notably cheerless exercise , without knowing winks or stabs -lrb- pardon the expression -rrb- at humor .", "someone finally got it ; a violent action movie that delivers violent action , popular conventions be damned .", "for a brief moment in this alarmingly grisly fourth rambo movie , it seems as though sylvester stallone might be -lrb- literally and figuratively -rrb- trying to say something . turns out , not .", "the movie might satisfy bloodthirsty action fans , but for most people , this is one stallone do-over we could have done without .", "rambo combines an unapologetic return to the grand action-movie tradition of blowing **** up with a saw-era interest in close-ups of human viscera . the problem is that the moral meaning of the gore keeps changing .", "non-stop violence is too overpowering for kids .", "sorry sly , not this time .", "hollow , hopeless , horridly written and wholly unpleasant . one would be hard-pressed to imagine a conventional narrative being any thinner than the one in rambo .", "i ca n't imagine that anyone but the most stodgy and difficult-to-please critics -lrb- and those that are really offended by blood -rrb- will not be able to find something of merit to like about rambo .", "after lying low for 20 years , rambo massacres 1000 men . best sequel of the series . i 'm looking forward to rambo v.", "a cynical cash-grab , made not because stallone had some good ideas for the character but because he wanted to capitalize on it .", "... creates only the facade of a social conscience because the series ran out of relevant things to say after first blood .", "as vehement in its stereotyping as world war ii propaganda .", "last blood -lrb- fingers crossed -rrb- .", "to quote joseph bologna in `` my favorite year , '' ` what a stinkburger ! '", "like america , it 's both excited by and ashamed of its bloodlust .", "a sloppy , ugly splatter flick .", "no matter how reluctant and torn the killer , ` rambo ' is an apologia for brute force .", "watching rambo and sarah on screen together , one is reminded less of rick and ilsa and more of kong and ann darrow .", "on one level rambo delivers what you 're expecting : hard-to-hear dialogue married to hard-to-watch action . but this outing is uncomfortably gruesome and blatantly manipulative . despite grander aspirations , only leather-tough mayhem-lovers will be satisfied", "it 's far from a perfect movie , and some will get too caught up in the debate over the use of such a war as the subtext for a popcorn actioner , but stallone has delivered the movie rambo fans would have asked for .", "rocky balboa eventually aged gracefully but rambo remains mired in gratuitous violence , dubious ideology and cheap sentiment . if anyone sees stallone contemplating further adventures , do n't push him .", "less a war movie than a turkey shoot in a ketchup factory .", "little more than a cartoon , rambo caters only for those still smitten by the rat-a-tat of continuous gunfire .", "at times there is something weirdly comforting about the film 's no-frills , fundamentalist zeal .", "the fourth and , amazingly , the most meat-headed adventure yet of the killing machine MOV can safely be recommended to people who hate intelligence and love exploding body parts .", "stallone may believe that he can turn back the clock to the golden era of his career , but i 'm not convinced that this kind of brutal , bellicose naivety sits so well with audiences any more .", "90 minutes of violence . no more , no less .", "rambo could have been a satisfying romp - wherein bad dialogue and cardboard characters can be forgiven - but for the sin of making the main man step to the sidelines in favour of charisma-free fillers . bad move , sly ...", "as the current obsession with reagan suggests , it 's back to fantasyland !", "the lack of irony or humor -- except for the occasional unintended chuckles provoked by certain platitudinal one-liners -- here separates the violence from tarantino films or graphic novel adaptations that often use their bloodfests to parody or to bemuse", "` thanks to my plastic surgeon , now i literally do have the eye of the tiger ! ' exclaimed sly . ` poor tiger ! '", "rambo shows stallone ran out of ideas after penning 2006 's rocky balboa .", "it is an effective action movie , but it is awfully bloody .", "the very brutal violence that opens the film casts a pall over the very movie-fake violence that follows .", "i wonder if he 'll remake `` rhinestone '' or `` stop ! or my mom will shoot '' next ?", "damned if stallone does n't get us rooting for rambo to kick bad-guy butt one more time , the same way we cheered on rocky 's improbable return .", "as a piece of crude , ejaculatory guerrilla pulp , the movie is at the head of its class -lrb- or lack thereof -rrb- .", "it loses all meaning and becomes a numbing barrage of blood . we end up wondering how the special effects were achieved instead of investing in the outcome ." ], "summary": "sylvester stallone knows how to stage action sequences , but the movie 's uneven pacing and excessive violence -lrb- even for the franchise -rrb- is more nauseating than entertaining .", "id": "770670295" }, { "movie": "new_york_doll", "reviews": [ "a fascinating study of a man who once had fame and fortune , lost it all , but was able to get a second chance", "surely there have been filmmakers who knew less about music going into their first music documentary than greg whiteley , but none springs to mind .", "more music , fewer talking heads , would have been better .", "a fine documentary which earns mileage on the charm and sincerity of its subject while losing points for occasional lapses into evasiveness .", "one of those rare documentaries that begins right and ends even better , providence endowing an already compelling project with even more remarkable real-life twists and turns along the way to a conclusion that rivals even the most imaginative fiction .", "a charmer .", "at 75 minutes , you ca n't afford to skip this one .", "whitely , to his great credit , unfolds this tale simply , just as it was lived .", "rocking , warm , funny , touching and even heartbreaking . just like arthur .", "as the credits roll , MOV transforms from a puff piece about an aging rock star into a moving rumination on a man 's final grasp for redemption .", "it 's hard to imagine much of an audience for this film outside of the limited ranks of dolls fans , or those who swoon over any whiff of celebrity ruin and retrieval , regardless of how conventional .", "one of those stories so incredible that even the most creative hollywood screenwriters could n't have come up with it .", "-lsb- a -rsb- respectful and subtle look at the difference faith can make in one 's life .", "becomes a lovely portrait of a man coming back to himself , without forgetting what else he 's become .", "an intimate portrait of a man who has lived the hard life and finally opted for serenity . things do n't turn out the way you expect , but that 's part of what 's surprising and moving about this film .", "you need n't be a fan of rock and roll to be both amused and moved by this documentary ... a winningly bittersweet little film .", "MOV is still a revelation , and a fine companion piece to end of the century , the edgier and uglier history of another post-dolls band , the ramones .", "the late johnny thunders did n't write you ca n't put your arms around a memory until after the dolls had broken up , but this lovely little heartbreaker of a movie takes the sentiment as its own .", "the details , the personalities and the final twist grab you until you 're left truly shaken and inspired .", "in the end , it is hard to not feel that god does work in mysterious ways , if the life of arthur ` killer ' kane is any example .", "a stirring film that -lsb- turns -rsb- arthur kane 's largely heartbreaking rock and roll life into a small monument to the power of friendship and the wonders of the spirit .", "a nimble , handsome film that also happens to be about a noteworthy guy : the late arthur ` killer ' kane .", "a tribute to and stroking of its subject ... and by canonizing kane , displaying this hulking angel with such innocence , the film is soulless .", "excels at telling the extraordinary story of a bizarrely ordinary man .", "the doll in the title of the fine , touching documentary MOV is far from a supermodel .", "touching and funny , with an unforgettable ending that could not have been better if it were fiction . one of the best films of the year .", "poves that mormonism and makeup-adorned punk rock are n't oil and water entities .", "whiteley delicately balances both kane 's newfound devotion and his more glamorous rock 'n' roll past and pays respect to both .", "the odyssey is atypical and historically fascinating , but philosophically and structurally lopsided - - a textbook example of the right-place-at-the-right-time school of filmmaking .", "a tender take on life after stardom .", "the best advertisement for the mormon faith since my ten wives .", "a straightforward rockumentary that is as heartwarming as it is rockin ' .", "i have to admit , even though i was barely out of diapers when the dolls were in their heyday , it was great seeing them play live .", "greg whiteley 's small , tender documentary portrait looks at life after rock 'n' roll as experienced by the original bassist for the new york dolls .", "a bittersweet little film .", "doll chronicles what happened when morrissey came calling to reunite the dolls for one show in london .", "the film paints an affectionate portrait of a wry , somewhat addled man whose hard-partying past was in stark contrast with his later life -- a fluffy cat nestles in his guitar case while he explains his nickname .", "MOV has a killer surprise ending that may leave even hard-core punkers reaching for the kleenex .", "this might be the only documentary that will appeal to punks and mormons alike .", "poignant and moving , with an ending no screenwriter could improve on , MOV is like the best episode of vh1 's bands reunited ever .", "makes for a modestly touching journey .", "a funny , exhilarating and ultimately bittersweet paean to an era and a man .", "as journeys go , this is one to treasure ." ], "summary": "arthur kane is a fascinating subject in what ultimately proves to be a touching , bittersweet documentary .", "id": "8920" }, { "movie": "vertical_ray_of_the_sun", "reviews": [ "plays like a holy , erotic mood piece .", "tran anh hung 's cinema of expression seduces our senses and draws us into this chekhovian drama .", "has a rapturous mood about it that evokes vague recollections of dreams you 've had but are quickly forgetting upon waking up .", "every frame looks like a drawing , as the trio try to understand themselves and each other .", "what matters , tran suggests , in this sensual still life of a story , are moments .", "tran anh hung and his cinematographer mark lee ping-bin linger over and repeat the small gestures of everyday life", "clearly the work of a master poet .", "plays like an uneventful three hundredth episode of a soap opera that you 've never seen before .", "-lsb- tran 's -rsb- portrait of a country not quite his own is a gesture of poetry and romanticized memory .", "not only great cinema , it also has moments when it is an unforgettable painting or an indelible piece of music capable of provoking an uncontrollable emotional response .", "the director 's penchant for pretty pictures and his insistence on making hanoi into eden , where only passions intrude , ultimately lessens his story and characters .", "an exquisitely enchanting story that completely envelops the audience in its subtle mystique .", "a quietly busy melodrama , a lush reverie on disappointment .", "this slow paced , beautiful film about three sisters and their shifting relationships with the men in their lives is strangely unfulfilling .", "a sensual poem with its own beguiling rhythm .", "marks a captivating new chapter in the career of the writer-director who was the first to give americans a glimpse of vietnamese filmmaking .", "tackles the problem of happiness in today 's world with a poetic succinctness all too rare in movies today .", "ultimately a remote , emotionally parched piece whose refinement seems curiously at odds with its narrative .", "gentle , ravishingly beautiful and awash in everyday sensuality .", "the most intriguing aspect of the MOV is its setting of hanoi .", "a provocative meditation on the possibility of domestic happiness .", "made of a serene dynamite that 's all but unknown to american film audiences .", "hung ... composes scenes of such delicate beauty that you almost want to climb into the frame .", "in spite of the complicated inner lives of the characters , you 'll wish you could stay and live in this tranquil paradise .", "tear yourself away from the hit parade that so often punishes us , and take adult time for the exquisite gratifications of the MOV . this ray fills more than the screen .", "the film delights the eye and soothes the nerves .", "though tran places special demands on his viewers , those prepared to enter his magical world will hunger to return .", "there are scenes that simply ask the audience to drink in the details , to enjoy the repast , just as much as follow the plot .", "the vertical ray of sun is beautiful , languorous , passive -- it plays like background music for itself .", "so gorgeous you 'd swear it was art-directed by whoever puts together the spare , tasteful pottery barn catalog .", "like all the best international cineastes , -lsb- tran -rsb- puts us in another world .", "gorgeous but oddly unprovoking endeavor .", "the film 's minimalism works against it .", "a film shaped ... around the mundane , endlessly fascinating and humanizing details of who we are right here and now .", "tran is the kind of filmmaker who can find poetry in blowing curtains or in streets flooded by a cloudburst that always make bicycling a challenge .", "a fascinating film .", "as impenetrable as the film seems at times , it 's also visually stunning ... and the performances are uniformly good .", "tran is not judgmental of his characters . no one is a bad guy ; everyone is lost , but only a few steps from the right path , and love can re-direct them to a better life .", "a gorgeous dream half-remembered .", "the story is pure melodrama but tran photographs it with a sense of grace that does n't judge ...", "it is so painterly perfect you could hang it on the wall .", "this might just be the perfect time to soak up some of its calm and natural beauty .", "tran anh hung , who earned an oscar nomination for his first movie , the scent of green papaya -lrb- 1993 -rrb- , has created another exquisite portrait of vietnamese family life ." ], "summary": "the MOV is gorgeously , poetically composed , lulling the viewer into its story of everyday life .", "id": "11899" }, { "movie": "towelhead", "reviews": [ "shocking , then powerful .", "apparently , characters are supposed to be so racist , controlling , and narrow-minded , it 's funny .", "MOV is too eager to shock us , and it 's therefore only stupidly offensive instead of cutting and insightful .", "the most deeply disturbing , downright discomfiting movie about teen sexuality since thirteen .", "it is so disturbing it makes you uncomfortable watching it . for the price of admission , you become an unwilling voyeur .", "MOV needs more breathing room in order to allow the central relationships to grow , but it 's a movie that sticks with you .", "a tiresome and fairly hateful mess that wants to raise hackles but only succeeds in coming across like a todd solondz film sans the wit , whimsy and empathy .", "... -lsb- a -rsb- shocking and subversive coming-of-age melodrama . perceptively blunt and incendiary , MOV is one of the most challenging cinematic efforts of the year .", "-lsb- director -rsb- ball 's trying to be honest about adolescent coming of age , but since he 's dishonest about everything else , the movie collapses in on itself , ending with a laughably pat resolution that renders MOV a bizarro world after school special .", "gripping , disturbing , powerful and likely outright offensive to many people , MOV is an often brutal study of clashing cultures , adolescent abandonment and sexual confusion .", "ball drops the poisonous little voodoo dolls he mistakes for characters into a ... realistic environment , as though that will somehow render his story more `` serious . ''", "it was n't enjoyable at any level .", "a philosophy of the appeal of innocence and perversion in a repressed world ...", "few may have paid attention during its theatrical run , but dvd should offer a whole new life to a smart , engaging film that genuinely has something worthwhile to say .", "MOV is n't a movie , it 's a loaded gun .", "the discomfort zones of a young girl cry for sympathetic toughness , not ball 's snickering at pubic hair and clammy suburbanites", "there is hardly a scene that does not produce exquisite discomfort and a strong desire to be somewhere else .", "deftly sidesteps the muckraking and instead serves up an affecting drama about a lovely child who ca n't seem to catch a break from most of the adults surrounding her .", "MOV makes `` american beauty '' look like a quaint suburban drama .", "as a director -lsb- ball -rsb- amplifies the flaws in his own writing ; his supporting characters are too broadly pitched to take seriously , and he tends to smack you in the face with the point of every scene .", "screenwriter alan ball -lrb- `` american beauty , '' hbo 's `` six feet under '' -rrb- makes his directorial debut adapting alicia erian 's novel from a particularly repellant male perspective .", "MOV is like a great melting pot of writerly self-importance .", "a story that tries and often succeeds in transcending its particulars for a story about the personal and political struggle to come of age .", "ball knows one trick , and it 's sure over .", "amidst the campy twists and unbelievable outbursts there can also be felt an indefinable honesty ; something in far shorter supply these days than mere outrage .", "MOV spreads itself thin trying to tackle too many issues , but the nuanced characters , and an absolutely stellar cast , make this an uncommonly complex and compelling drama .", "a crude but scathing portrait of suburban life .", "screenwriter alan ball is no stranger to daring stories , but in his awkward film directorial debut he seems unable to capture the soul of alicia erian 's novel -- and with a story like this , that 's disastrous .", "if you 're willing to take a chance on a daring film that 's likely to make you laugh one moment and cringe the next , you may find it as haunting as it is uncomfortable to watch .", "although there 's a plethora of iniquity on display in ` MOV , ' no one comes off as completely evil or unsympathetic", "ball has found an insinuating , perversely smooth tone in his script , but his less-adept direction inadvertently adds dissonance .", "as a first-time feature director , -lsb- ball -rsb- seldom lets the material speak for itself .", "MOV tries hard to be incendiary and gutsy , and it sometimes succeeds . but to what gain ?", "an episodic , muddled movie that never quite finds its way .", "a movie that , for all its good intentions , feels thoroughly phony and mildly embarrassing , like an extended psa about inappropriate touching .", "the movie belongs to the fifth-billed bishil , a truly gutsy young actress who captures the essence of young female desire in all its adolescent confusion .", "MOV is definitely not for all tastes , but it shows a bravery that 's increasingly rare in american movies .", "this third-act redemption raises MOV several notches , but it still ends up feeling like a well-acted and well-intentioned after-school special , a long way from the vividness and texture of ball 's television work .", "too much of MOV is pitched on a hysterical , one-dimensional note , with jasira being consistently mistreated in one way or another by pretty much everyone she encounters -- a reverse candide for our cynical times .", "MOV is tough stuff . it 's also brilliant stuff . proceed , with caution , accordingly .", "`` MOV '' is the most disgusting , ethically reprehensible , and irresponsible film to come out of the 21st century 's first decade .", "in a movie that was once more aptly titled , nothing is private , MOV kicks open the suburban bedroom door and exposes often silent personal terrors that are both rudely shocking and uncomfortably familiar .", "the ending may be too pat , but the journey to get there -- bitter , spicy , and poignant -- more than compensates for any last-minute fumbles .", "adapted and directed by oscar-winning scribe alan ball -lrb- american beauty -rrb- , towlehead plays like a kinkier , less-focused riff on theme explored with greater rigor and verve in his 1999 scenario .", "first and foremost a grotesquerie .", "gutsy and big-hearted .", "the film is superbly acted , but it 's hard to know what to feel except , ` how can any girl navigate this oversexualized culture ? '", "a kissing cousin of todd field and todd solondz , ball suffocates audiences with a guttersniping view or suburban life , a haggassian act of exploitation that misrepresents even the most fundamental modes of human interaction .", "an engrossing , unforgettable film , if more than a little incendiary .", "it is kept on track , however , by a courageous central performance from bishil .", "the long-awaited directorial debut of alan ball does not disappoint .", "makes the provocative -lsb- american -rsb- beauty look like a comparative tea party .", "boasting ten-dimensional characters and the sophisticated juggling of difficult themes , ball 's powerful , complex movie is a must-see .", "a clumsy , witless , tedious trudge .", "if there 's a message , i did n't get it . but that does n't mean i did n't dig the flick , especially the performance from macidissi .", "an exceedingly promising first effort from a novice filmmaker .", "it makes sense that the scenes are pitched between icky and titillating , but the lack of delicacy reduces everything to stock sordidness .", "brings up some interesting points , but it 's also too eager to shock and too eager to condemn .", "ball knows how to fit his themes in seamlessly , weaving a charming , dark , funny , thoroughly entertaining parody of americana .", "it 's impossible to look away .", "give bishil props for a truly brave performance . eckhart and macdissi do what they can , as does toni collette as a concerned neighbor who tries to save jasira from eckhart . but the script is n't up to the actors .", "summer bishil turns in a gutsy , quietly riveting performance as jasira .", "this movie will challenge you on a number of levels , including some beliefs you 'd never thought you 'd question .", "an empty provocation that 's about as classy and subtle as its title .", "it is a multicultural lolita that searches for , but still manages to miss , any redemptive core its source material may boast .", "it is certainly possible to make a transgressive movie about children in sexual jeopardy , and to do so in ways that realistically and intelligently depict the abuse while not revelling in it .", "as it becomes clear that ball , in essence , has just restaged american beauty with a socially conscious paint job , the sensationalism of MOV looks more and more like a dramatic tic .", "ball , who ca n't conceive of human motives beyond the hypertrophic , smutty sexuality that 's his stock in trade , primly divides his characters into avatars of sick repression or healthy liberation .", "indeed , MOV 's biggest crime remains the blas\u00e9 belief that audiences want to see a 13 year old engage in well defined adult behaviors .", "racism and abuse sabotage teen 's sexual awakening .", "-lsb- director -rsb- ball throws out so many provocations in MOV that it 's no surprise a few land with a thud . but there 's no questioning his talent for filmmaking . he 's got the gift .", "one of the most original and daring films of the year that puts us in the skin of a pretty 13-year-old arab-american and the challenges and dangers brought into her life by her budding sexuality .", "will give you lots to discuss without necessarily contributing much to the conversation .", "MOV is a familiar playground for ball and his obsession with suburban decay , but remains sharply realized by the cast , who turn pure ugliness into an exhaustive psychological obstacle course .", "nearly a decade after the triumph of american beauty , ball has stumbled to the level of american booty .", "MOV is the worst movie of its kind since little children . it 's another adaptation of a trendy novel 's contrived cynicism -lrb- ` smartness ' in mediaspeak -rrb- .", "nothing is private is transgressive without being effectively subversive , gutsy to no particular end . it simply lacks style , which counts for so much in this sort of thing .", "while such a delicate theme can be made artistically defensible , it demands to be swaddled in subtlety and sensitivity .", "it 's too much , too heavy-handed . disturbing is one thing . prurient is another .", "the coming-of-age molestation drama MOV is beautifully acted and accomplishes exactly what writer/director alan ball set out to accomplish .", "the performances make the material more human and accessible , mainly from the film 's brave young star , summer bishil .", "while it 's onscreen , the film moves , incites , and jabs , all while reminding us how difficult it is to grow up female and sane in this world .", "it 's ball 's complex and frank approach to subject matter normally depicted in black-and-white terms that distinguishes MOV from so many coming-of-age dramas before it .", "the movie takes as its subject grown-ups ' incomprehension of adolescent sexuality , but tells us nothing really new about it % u2014 the picture seems rather uncomprehending itself .", "the film is pretty unfocused and rambling . some good performances ca n't overcome those flaws or the film 's sudden , jarring changes in the tone .", "alan ball 's flair for ironic drama is not the answer for MOV .", "it turns out that ` MOV ' is not a slur , it 's a directive . putting towels over our heads , large enough to cover our faces , may be the preferred mode in which to view this film .", "bad things happen in this film , but ball is not interested in being shocking just for the sake of being shocking .", "racism , teen sex , and war are all hot button issues . in alan ball 's genius MOV , all of those above mentioned subjects go hand-in-hand in a truly wonderful cinematic experience .", "as confronting as the movie is , i saw it as hopeful and a caution , but i admit i 'm biased towards freedom of expression . there are no questions of consent here , only one 's preparedness to be confronted .", "there seems to be a lot going on in this film , but somehow it 's all rather unpalatable and unsatisfactory . the one thing you can say about it is that aaron eckhardt is very brave .", "as a story , jasira 's deflowering and surrounding socialisation issues perhaps make for top reading , but as the film turns a mental image into concrete visuals , it requires much greater finesse to make it cinema", "if you love brave films that are n't afraid to step over the line , you might appreciate this .", "at times , the film feels like it will collapse under the weight of its twists and excesses , but somehow it manages to hang together .", "a gutsy , sometimes tragic , sometimes comic film about racist and sexist attitudes in middle america which have to be negotiated by a young teenage girl .", "-lsb- ball -rsb- succeeds admirably and with dramatic force , blending themes of racism , liberalism , emotional betrayal , abuse , hate speech and pedophilia into a confronting adult drama peppered with shocks and black humour .", "as uncomfortable to watch as it is compelling , this film adaptation of alicia erian 's novel is saved from mere ordeal status by a hopeful and uncliched ending .", "... this loathsome movie sullies actors and audience alike ...", "ball falls prey to his own inadequacies and makes a movie audiences are going to feel awfully uncomfortable watching .", "MOV is one of the more disturbing films to come out in years and to this day , a month after seeing it , there is one particular scene that still shakes me up .", "for a film that presents itself as a broadside against prejudice , MOV spends an awful lot of time flattering the prejudices of its audience .", "i understand what the film is trying to do , but not why it does it with such crude melodrama .", "how is it that alan ball wrote some of the most nuanced , layered , dynamic characters on tv in full review | original score : c", "MOV is a mess , and it 's based on material that demanded precision .", "it 's clever and original with an excellent cast . ball 's script catches a lot of the novel 's pop , often word for word .", "MOV is a curious , sometimes messy mixture of tensions that arise from racial , sexual situations .", "not since splendor in the grass has there been such a candid and sympathetic account of the mixed messages , double-standards , giddy highs and hormonal free falls experienced by teenage girls .", "alan ball 's obsession with the sexuality of teenage girls continues with MOV , and you do n't have to be a prude to be alarmed by it", "a strong , forthright motion picture that accurately offers few cut-and-dry answers and blessedly does n't shy away from its socially demanding subject matter ." ], "summary": "this story of politics , race and , sexual awakening has moments that pack a punch , but overall , MOV never quite achieves the nuance of helmer alan ball 's television work .", "id": "770771087" }, { "movie": "the_prince_and_me", "reviews": [ "paige eventually comes to a self-affirming decision , but the danish interlude succeeds too well in making us feel her boredom .", "something 's rotten in denmark : this movie .", "this is n't a royal treatment of the cinderella story - it 's just average .", "excruciatingly predictable .", "the prince & me proves that the `` opposites attract '' genre of romantic comedy is an all but dead convention .", "... feels more practical than whimsical , more politically correct than sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic .", "... thumbs down for me ...", "contrived , unconvincing , and formulaic . shame .", "the ending , plain and simple , cheapens all that has come before .", "the characters lack consistency ; they are manipulated like puppets merely to serve the whims of the writers .", "a mocinha n\u0103o precisava ser ph.d em dramaturgia , \u00e9 claro , mas tampouco deveria ser retratada como algu\u00e9m com q.i. inferior ao de forrest gump .", "a shallow exercise in wish-fulfilment that wants to have its royal wedding cake and eat it too .", "the script and martha coolidge direction are so play-it-safe formulaic that the film lacks fairy-tale luster . it 's as predictable as an elvis movie-without the music .", "a royal letdown .", "... generally remains a cut above the majority of its contemporary romcom brethren - with the dreaded fake break-up handled particularly well -lrb- the second fake break-up is kind of pushing it , though -rrb- .", "good acting saves unoriginal cinderella story .", "a woeful and predictable outing for cinders and an impossibly twitty prince", "julia stiles is sweet in this charming , but unfulfilling , rom-com .", "this attempt at a modern-day cinderella story is about as pc as a career girl barbie and disappoints due to poor structure , flimsy characterisation and insufficient wit to distract from the above .", "as pleasing as the prince & me can be , director martha coolidge 's film delivers nothing to advance the genre .", "nothing is new about the movie 's premise , but it is entertaining all the same .", "romeo and juliet , this ai n't .", "even its pre-teen audience could use a bit more quirkiness and a little less formula .", "bland and immediately disposable .", "... and the obvious takes it 's inevitable course . yadda yadda yadda .", "stiles is a smart , beautiful , mature actress who has demonstrated a keen taste in projects in the past -- note her much-admired rather minor role in the smart thriller the bourne identity . she 's better than this .", "the primary plot strands in the screenplay were well-worn when sigmund romberg composed his operetta ` the student prince ' 80 years ago ...", "it is really two movies in one , and both are sub-par .", "the sound you hear is the death rattle of the women 's movement .", "even the teens at whom this plodding and predictable romantic comedy is clearly aimed are unlikely to be swept away by its contrivances .", "it 's yet another well-meaning story about following both your heart and your dream , occasionally sweet yet overly familiar and overlong .", "as pleasant to watch as a fairy tale , but it 's smarter than a fairy tale .", "i guess the ` real ' part is that the heroine here is n't a simp as she was in , say , cinderella , and the handsome prince is no longer that handsome and no longer behaves in a princely manner .", "there 's not one moment that 's even vaguely fresh or original in the screenplay , which blithely dispenses with anything resembling logic or plausibility , not to mention wit and heart .", "the script puts the two characters through their paces . blandly .", "the realism clashes with the princess-fantasy story .", "dimwitted .", "sappily-ever-after fairy tale .", "sweet , amiable and often unexpectedly funny .", "interminable and hackneyed fairy tale .", "there is n't a scrap that does n't manage to come across with the predictable thud of a newspaper hitting the porch each morning .", "a predictable exercise in boy-girl mush amid royalty 's seductions .", "it may be rife with cliches , but the romantic comedy the prince & me is still a royal treat .", "wanders around in a state of creative lassitude and finally collapses in an ending that smells suspiciously of market-testing .", "the prince & me has the materials to be a heartwarming mass-market love story , but it does n't assemble them convincingly .", "a movie that mixes contrivance and charm in ways that are genial but all too predictable .", "there 's quite a bit of the seen-it , done-it syndrome here .", "scenes that are supposed to be lyrical lie limp ; chemistry that is designed to be sparked remains dormant ; jokes that are meant to be bright stay dim .", "stiles looks mildly annoyed by the whole exercise , as if she thought this feather-light material was beneath her ample acting talents .", "this is a smart piece of revisionist fluff that dares to question what happens after the royal honeymoon is over .", "churns suds like an industrial washing machine spiffing up 100 pounds of bland", "... an average , formulaic movie that is full of whimsical charm for the first hour , then goes off in a disastrous direction for the second hour .", "the prince & me is made for starry-eyed 14-year-old girls , undemanding moms and kindhearted grannies . each demographic deserves just a little bit better by this point .", "director martha coolidge and her team of writers begin jumping through hoops trying to come up with a satisfying fairy-tale ending .", "most who see this will just want to see a princess movie , and a solid one is what they 'll get .", "a lesson , ladies : sometimes a frog is just ... a frog . toss this baby back in the pond , sweetheart .", "it 's a ` chick-flick training film ' for all the young girls who want to grow up with romantic comedies .", "those easily distracted by escapist romances may find it lightly entertaining .", "delivers the most important thing we ask of a romantic comedy , a charming couple played by charming actors .", "yet another duller-than-golf hollywood rom-com with about 20 possible endings , all of which we get to see .", "the writing never rises above the level of a so-so tv pilot , and martha coolidge 's direction lacks inspiration .", "the minefield of clich\u00e9s is traversed quite satisfactorily , leaving us with a movie that 's far better than its lame premise would lead us to expect .", "this surprisingly intelligent dramedy is largely hung-up on facades and is critical of misogynistic fairy tales promised to young girls .", "fitful corny one-liners and an ambiguous climax can be overlooked due to fresh scripting and the vast appeal of julia stiles and newcomer luke mably .", "totally cliched and nearly two hours long , pic takes forever to get to hopelessly obvious places .", "an unremarkable romantic comedy that gives short shrift to both romance and comedy .", "something is rotten in the state of denmark -- and it 's this movie , a flyweight romantic comedy .", "naive wish-fulfillment fantasy of surface charm .", "sends shivers down my spine . and not the good kind .", "there 's only one way MOV could be any worse - it could have starred kate hudson .", "it 's easy enough to recommend the prince & me as a romantic comedy . the movie wants to be more than that , but the muddled way in which it divulges its themes occasionally makes it suffer from a split personality .", "not an ideal romantic comedy , but at least its cliches are benign ... and at least it has the talented , appealing stiles .", "utterly predictable ... utterly charming", "it 's pleasant enough , but lacks the spark to make it memorable .", "despite a few magic moments , the rest of the film feels stale .", "a unique , new perspective , despite a weak script , filled with cheesy one-liners and a clich\u00e9d conclusion .", "someday your prince will come , and , if you 're lucky , he 'll be smarter than this movie .", "it takes so long to find its own bliss that it ends up being more like the never-ending love story .", "-lsb- stiles and mably are -rsb- so appealing you forgive the film for having too many cliches and even more endings .", "by the time we have to sit through a scene of paige trying on all the crown jewels , they have long since run out of ideas .", "you might say that when it comes to misfires , this prince rules .", "for the most part , the prettily photographed the prince & me is disposable .", "a random approach to the much-abused cinderella tale , offering up a series of implausible events leading to a pat conclusion .", "two vibrant performances by luke mably and julia stiles do n't compensate for the wobbly screenplay and predictable finale .", "naturally in a hollywood movie , any independent woman with no interest in marriage has to be in love and engaged by the end of the film .", "this is a fairy tale in desperate need of some better magic .", "the first half , focusing on paige 's more sensible world , works better than the second , which , despite its precision and attention to etiquette and royal detail , feels heavy and false .", "a blandly diverting , chastely conceived and grammatically challenged fairy tale for our bland , chaste and grammatically challenged age .", "this soggy contemporary fairy tale is a cinematic cream puff with a melted marshmallow inside it .", "the wonderful chemistry between stiles and mably is a joy to behold .", "take it on its own terms and you 'll find it as endearing as the prince and princess charming it 's about .", "... a dry and brittle comedy ...", "julia stiles is adorable , and she 's very easy to empathize with", "note to american screenwriters : the whole world is n't as mammary mad as the u.s. . some people have actually seen breasts -- and not just on half-time shows with janet jackson .", "their romance has the delightful walking-in-another-person 's - shoes ambience of the 1953 gregory peck-audrey hepburn classic roman holiday", "cinderella for households where mom and dad both work .", "director martha coolidge brings us a wonderful romantic comedy .", "to wed or not to wed , that is the royal question . you wo n't need to know shakespeare to guess the answer , only hollywood .", "it 's exactly the kind of movie you want it to be . rent it with your best girlfriends on a blustery spring afternoon .", "coolidge wisely works within the confines of the romantic comedy genre and delivers a quality experience .", "pure fairy tale , but it 's also charming enough to win us over in the end .", "it is impossible to believe that such a bland film could have been made by martha coolidge , whose previous credits have included ` valley girl ' and ` real genius ' .", "some scenes are downright insulting to viewers over the age of ten .", "it 's a fairy tale in the best sense of the word , though the movie is far too hip and julia stiles ' paige too independent the heroine for any pat , happily-ever-after endings .", "stiles is simply delightful .", "a movie that looks like a cosmetics ad and often sounds like one , too .", "a fairy tale that viewers outside its target audience are likely to find corny and clich\u00e9d .", "julia stiles is such a fetching actress that her sincerity camouflages make-believe better than anything you can buy at bergdorf 's .", "the conventional romantic frou-frou -- replete with oppressively alternative singer-songwriter ballads with their plot-mortar lyrics -- ratchets everything down to the level of brain-death .", "falls , finally and irrevocably , flat .", "it 's not torture , it 's actually sort of fun for long stretches -- a shame that the prince & me squanders all that good will in its desire to be ordinary ." ], "summary": "a bland , fluffy , and predictable bit of wish fulfillment .", "id": "10651" }, { "movie": "sliding_doors", "reviews": [ "a rich and imaginative fable .", "this proposition from english writer-director peter howitt is not unique , but i have never seen a film that presents the idea so clearly , so cleanly , so provocatively .", "as long as we continue to find movies there as delightful and breezy as MOV , i 'll be satisfied .", "the viewer is easily swayed to root for one story over the other , but things do n't always work out as you 'd expect .", "deft enough to keep you wondering whether it 's going to end on track a or track b.", "gwyneth paltrow is engaging as the two helens , and i have no complaints about her performance . pity about the screenplay .", "unduly smug about its flashy conceit and otherwise utterly empty , the film plays like lobotomized kieslowski , less blind chance than dumb luck .", "the parallel storylines lend an originality that most other romantic comedies lack", "this should go down a storm with folks who still cherish the hope that the solution to all their problems is just around the corner or in the next lift .", "paltrow contributes a winning dual performance .", "MOV deserves points for being original .", "it 's not so much the tale itself as the slippery interplay between characters that makes MOV enjoyable .", "with a pleasing balance of romance , comedy and drama , MOV is an exceedingly original story that appeals to both the heart and mind .", "se voc\u0119 quer assistir a um filme sobre realidades ` paralelas ' , \u00e9 melhor conferir os infinitamente superiores ` corra , lola , corra ' e ` feiti\u00e7o do tempo ' .", "ultimately , MOV becomes a victim of its own cleverness , shutting down all that early promise .", "a clever conceit , but it 's one that eventually wears out its welcome .", "unfortunately , the novelty of the fresh concept quickly wears off .", "a thinking person 's romantic comedy -- but , hey , do n't let that frighten you away . it 's also lots of fun .", "paltrow gives the first credible evidence since emma that her career may last .", "a clever and satisfying comedy that comes as a blissful relief from more high-minded festival fare .", "paltrow is delightful as the trendy londoner running parallel lives and has a disturbingly accurate english accent .", "if you can let plausibility slide , this tale of two simultaneous realities created by catching/missing a train will be a fun ride .", "MOV is one of my favorite films so far this year . not many pictures entertain you so thoroughly while still giving you something meaningful to ponder .", "good solid british humor with a great cast and i ca n't wait for howitt 's next one .", "unique concept and plot execution , this movie offers many good points , including solid acting , a painfully effective poppy soundtrack , humor , romance , and many insights into the minds of women and the men who cheat on them .", "colorful and energetic , MOV balances its two stories with such smooth dexterity that is has no problem even overlaping them occasionally , just for fun .", "the ending is not altogether satisfying , but it 's certainly an original .", "the script is shrewd and inventive , combining wit , romance , and intelligent melodrama into a crowd-pleasing whole .", "one of the most purely pleasurable , delicious films currently available .", "howitt 's story stalls at that point , and from there on things quickly devolve into soap opera-like melodrama , with some disappointing character revelations and a preposterous ending .", "with its light-hearted spirit , MOV would be a hard film to dislike . on the other hand , if you want more than paltrow 's enchanting smile , you would be advised to look elsewhere .", "having to witness the doomed romance between lynch and paltrow play out twice over is nothing if not dull , as the events unfold with little nuance and few surprises .", "take a supernatural premise , sap cinematic magic of any kind and the result is MOV .", "in the end , the movie 's a clever idea and not much more .", "give the movie credit for being a different sort of romantic comedy , but still one has to regret the failure of imagination .", "what makes the film so unique and rather thought-provoking is how it holds true to the idea of chance while at the same time subscribing to that of destiny .", "once the movie throws in a jolting , late-in - the-game plot twist that could have been borrowed from city of angels , it never regains its balance .", "great script , interesting camera work , superb acting . i can find nothing wrong with it , the more i think about it .", "too often in her past movies paltrow has been cast as either an ice princess , a gloomy grump or a kook , and it 's a relief to watch her get a crack at playing someone down-to-earth ." ], "summary": "despite the gimmicky feel of the split narratives , the movie is watch-able due to the winning performances by the cast .", "id": "12988" }, { "movie": "fast_five", "reviews": [ "i can forgive a lot if you make me leave the theater thinking `` that ... was ... awesome . ''", "even with wooden acting and dreadful dialogue , the action-packed charms of MOV can not be denied .", "does n't make much sense , but its action works", "a balls to the wall action film , and never for a second does it deviate .", "embarrassingly fun , the sort of speedy , senseless , violence-crammed action flick that virtually defines the summer season , with superheroes who are n't gods or crusaders in tights but guys in t-shirts and jeans who can drive cars really fast .", "`` MOV '' is the perfect definition of a guilty-pleasure movie . in this film , what stunt drivers and stunt people do with their machines and bodies defy the laws of physics , nature and reason .", "bold and beautiful in its hard-charging simplicity .", "fifth entry in the series could be the best , with a muy macho cast and delirious action sequences delivering exactly what fans want .", "the supreme idiocy on display really would n't matter if the film just bothered to acknowledge it .", "a paean to reckless driving and fuel inefficency , this fifth film in the franchise is the most spectacular and elaborate yet , bringing new meaning to the term ` muscle car ' by pitting series regular vin diesel against dwayne ` the rock ' johnson .", "if you liked any of the previous movies , you should be even more thrilled by what they 've done this time around with a lot more at play here in terms of storytelling .", "pretty cars , prettier women , insanely absurd action that truly thrills even as it shatters all physical laws , and enough testosterone-fueled violence to satisfy the most-rabid wwe smackdown crowd .", "now this is how you make a summer movie .", "while dopey as ever , the fun factor has increased exponentially now that certain plot elements and subculture porn has been ditched to roughhouse in rio with a band of crooks who 've blossomed into a family .", "well , it 's a more fun trip to rio than rio . as the reckless flailing of a lot of meatheads , MOV is essentially a food fight with sloppy joes .", "these movies are sheer silliness , improbable roadway mayhem interspersed with obligatory fistfights and gunplay , all coated with a noxious layer of adolescent macho posturing .", "the film is basically ocean 's fourteen starring a multiculti version of the cast of jersey shore .", "this episode has the highest velocity and lowest iq yet . see it on the biggest , loudest , dumbest screen you can find .", "heads into the garage for almost the entirety of its sluggish middle section , which turns into a second-rate ocean 's eleven-style heist movie .", "i wish i could say that MOV was the fastest , most furious movie of the series , and that there would n't be a faster , more furious movie all year . i have to be honest though . MOV just was n't fast enough for me , and it 's hardly furious at all .", "attempts to add emotional depth are misguided , but this is an entertaining popcorn flick .", "... a film that 's custom-built to combine the swift horsepower of characters we like with the stylish chrome of fresh changes is a welcome pleasure .", "far less interested in vehicular craziness than the wisecracking repartee of its supporting specialists .", "such was my ` exfivement ' , i could n't remember the last time i was on the edge of my seat during an action sequence like this .", "fast-paced and visually breathtaking .", "for seeing gigantic men beat the hell out of one another and for leering at sexed-up hotties zipping around on scooters you 'll be hard pressed to find any film that 's its equal - until fast six .", "with this latest chapter , i think they 've finally made the film they 've been gearing up to make now for a while , the most completely unhinged mainstream action movie since bad boys 2 .", "inspired action choreography , macho mentality , aggressive stunt work and nimble editing rule . despite a few sluggish moments , it had me and it left me all revved up .", "as confident and charismatic as its lead characters and every bit as fun to be around .", "showing improvement as action director , justin lin has made an unpretentious thrill ride of a movie , one of the few hollywood pics whose characters reflect america 's multi-racial composition .", "when it 's exciting , it is really exciting .", "as the summer of 2011 approaches with the speed of a souped-up dodge charger , i 'm going to take my action-movie blessings where i can find them .", "it 's still a ` check your brains at the door ' action entry , but as a thrill ride it , sets the high bar for the summer 's releases .", "MOV 's final chase sequence involving a stolen vault is , hands down , the best action sequence of the entire franchise .", "watching MOV is like being savagely beaten for two hours and ten minutes by the staff at advance auto parts .", "there 's check-your-brains-at-the-door and then there 's brain-dead . MOV , the improbable fourth sequel to the fast and the furious , falls somewhere between the two .", "making sure the audience knows that the writers `` get it '' with a little humor and some crazy action makes the silliness easy to forgive and fun to watch .", "finally , the rock has come back to the action genre .", "you ca n't say MOV delivers the goods , but it delivers what it 's supposed to .", "with a bit better plot and character familiarity , MOV is more fun than the original and now ranks - at least in this critic 's opinion - as the best of the bunch .", "always preposterous though never actually silly , knowingly funny without ever being self-conscious , MOV is a passable action flick that will more than entertain its core audience .", "MOV is among the best fourth sequels ever - not exactly high praise but more than i expected to dish out .", "the series has found new traction in the heist format -- resulting in a fun and immensely entertaining ride .", "one film was enough , two was plenty , but five is just absurd . undoubtedly , there will be several people who will flock to this film just because it has cars zooming back and forth , so at least some people will be pleased with it .", "... achieves the sort of zen chaos that defines the die hard films", "hard-core fans of the series with enjoy it but others should steer away from this over-the-top action flick .", "forty minutes of this movie are big dumb fun . the other 85 forget the fun part .", "has really transformed this series from camp action cinema to exciting heist cinema .", "the last 2 entries were stupid too , but at least this one was well directed and features some of the most impressive stunt work i 've seen in years .", "MOV boasts incredible action scenes that are all varied and equally exciting . the film is full of clean , well choreographed shots that are easy to watch and the cast works great as a whole unit , making the film 's running time breeze by .", "like a shot of nitro to the franchise and shows there 's plenty left in the tank .", "manages to be more fun than any movie with its outrageous carbon footprint has any right to be .", "it 's possibly the most brainless film of the year . until the third transformers film surfaces , that is .", "what it all comes down to is a skillfully assembled 130 minutes at the movies , with actors capable of doing absurd things with straight faces , and action sequences that toy idly with the laws of physics .", "whenever anyone gives voice to dialogue -lrb- like `` you ca n't keep runnin ' , dom '' and `` people here need to be free '' -rrb- , your hand meets your head in unbelieving dismay .", "beyond implausible , but it works as a live-action cartoon .", "like a proper action sequel , it 's bigger , louder , and sillier than its predecessors , but it 's more streamlined , too , smartly dumping the tired underground racing angle in favor of a crisp , hugely satisfying ocean 's eleven-style heist movie .", "` MOV ' will push all your action buttons , and some you have n't thought of . so what if you hate yourself in the morning .", "`` MOV '' is , so far , the most honest hollywood movie of the year . it 's also the most fun .", "here 's a popcorn flick strong enough for a man and gentle enough for a woman .", "it took ten years , but here , finally , is a worthwhile sequel to the fast and the furious", "if you think you do n't care about fast cars , loads of t & a , bulging muscles , and more car-crashing action than you can imagine ; think again .", "a giant overdose of testosterone mixed with soap opera for muscleheads and gearheads .", "fantastic fun .", "the calendar may say that summer is a few months away , but the escapist entertainment that the season is known for starts today with the release of this rocking thrill ride , one of the most purely enjoyable movies in a long time .", "the action in this movie is the key to what makes it fun . who cares about the plot , character , story or even physics at this point . if it looks cool on screen , it works .", "the film 's plot rarely makes sense and the script is lackluster , but who cares when each chase is composed of the right amount of speed and clarity ? lin never puts his foot on the break until the last possible second .", "that force of chaotic and unsatisfiable desire that freud called the id is much closer to the surface in a movie like `` MOV '' than ever before in action-cinema history , and part of lin 's peculiar genius is that he barely tries to conceal it .", "sure , the plot , dialogue and acting are as silly as usual . but buoyed by a sparkling rio setting and an awesomely staged third-act action setpiece , MOV is the series ' best outing since the original .", "as always , the action combines buff bods , sculpted sheet metal , testosterone , guns , bone-crushing throwdowns , tattoos , revving engines and a `` transformers '' - like delight in having as many things as possible smash into each other", "the whole thing progresses to one of the looniest heists of all time . the result is the most exciting , visually jazzy , and absurd entry in the series .", "the chemistry of the core cast - steered by vin diesel and paul walker - keeps this outing from running on fumes .", "originality is n't MOV 's goal so much as distillation ; lin 's aim is to make the ultimate version of a fast and the furious film and the third time appears to be the charm for him as director . MOV is the best of the series .", "this is what a summer movie should be - knowingly silly , fun , light , thrilling , packed with real stunts and not-so-subtle gayness .", "the biggest , best and most furious fast of them all .", "we will race cars , we will crash cars , and at some point , a large-breasted woman in a low-cut blouse will lean over an engine block .", "in a free-for-all like this , where the laws of gravity and dictates of narrative logic are left to eat dust , it does n't matter when anything takes place or why .", "between this and last year 's overlooked `` faster , '' it 's great to see the rock re-embracing the action genre , and when his clobbering match with diesel finally happens , it 's as outlandishly room-wrecking as i 'd hoped .", "defying laws of physics , laws of acting , and the law of diminishing returns , MOV delivers a ridiculously fun mix of motorized macho mayhem and multicultural bonding .", "patently absurd and yet wildly entertaining ; a marked improvement over its excessively dour predecessor .", "it is n't quite summer-movie season yet , but MOV is already peeling down to its proverbial , sweat-sodden muscle shirt in preparation . it 's ready for anything .", "the last 20 minutes or so of MOV are as immensely pleasurable as anything i 've seen in a movie theater this year .", "all together now ... if you loved the first four furious films there 's no reason on earth why you wo n't dig MOV", "... opens with a bang and picks up speed from there ... spectacular cinematography ... loaded to the gills with high octane music .", "wow , the only way this film could be more ludicrous is if they actually cast ludacris in it . oh wait ...", "stating that MOV is the best of the fast and the furious series is perhaps like claiming that the big mac is the best hamburger served at mcdonald 's : it 's not so much a declaration of excellence as an example of damning with faint praise .", "one of the better entries in the series . that 's not to say it is n't big and dumb , only that its big dumbness is executed with some degree of competence .", "it 's big , loud , dumb , over-the-top and mostly substanceless . but it works , perhaps better than ever before .", "one those exceptional sequels , even better than the original film , ` the fast and the furious . '", "do n't leave your brain at the door like other critics are suggesting , just hide it behind a beer helmet and gleefully guzzle teh stoopid away .", "a dumb , ridiculous movie filled with enough tough-guy stares and male posturing to last you the entire summer . but it 's also high on extreme stunts and crazy car crashes , carried off with minimal aid from cgi , which is actually very refreshing .", "`` MOV '' represents yankee ingenuity of the brutally stupid kind .", "ignoring the rules of physics does n't make a movie more entertaining ; it merely makes the writing easier . if a screenplay can cheat at any time , it encourages sloppy authorship .", "featuring a mere two car-chase sequences and a pointlessly padded run time , it 's an unfortunate low point after fast and furious -lrb- aka part four -rrb- appeared to return things to fine form .", "gets lots of mileage from a combination of high spirits , scorn for the laws of physics , readily renewable energy and an emphasis on family values -- not those of the nuclear family , but of hell-raising , drag-racing outlaws ...", "the film gets much better in its second half when it becomes an `` ocean 's eleven '' type adventure featuring many faces that will instantly be familiar to `` fast/furious '' fans .", "sure , it 's supposed to just be a silly popcorn movie , but treating these cardboard cutouts as people to admire and care about is dishonest and contemptible . that the movie sucks besides is the final insult .", "a slam-bang start to the summer .", "treats interpersonal bonds as a concept that it knows about but ca n't quite come to grips with , considering all the horsepower and crashes upon which it would rather focus .", "if you 're in the mood for the cinematic equivalent of sugar and trans fats , the film delivers with one physics-defying set piece after another .", "it 's the pg-13 bad boys 2 . coming from me that 's a big compliment .", "instead of a vroomer , we get a knucklehead `` ocean 's 11 . ''", "another dazzling display of stunt driving and death-defying car chases involving souped-up , stolen automobiles .", "so long as they 're driving it 's fine , but whenever they stop to open their mouths , it grinds to a halt .", "dom and o'connor repeat the urban ethnic mythology that started with james cagney and pat o'brien in 1930s gangster films at warner bros. studios , but update realities to include contemporary , post-civil rights-era race-mixing .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's more testosterone in the rock 's goatee than in the testicles of 100 lesser men .", "actual effort on a `` part 5 '' is not too common ; results as unexpectedly entertaining as MOV are rarer still .", "vin diesel and dwayne `` the rock '' johnson square off in a movie at last . it 's a cosmic event , like some freak planetary collision .", "for those of us who thought diesel and dwayne `` the rock '' johnson were `` separated at birth , '' these two have a best-of-the-baldies throwdown that rocks our action loving world .", "a screeching , testosterone-propelled fifth installment for this durable , high-octane franchise .", "great action . i just wish ` MOV ' would have been 35 minutes shorter , so then it could truly be called fast .", "`` MOV '' is easily one of the best in the series . fast cars , romance , family ties and a heist comparable to that of `` oceans eleven '' .", "-lsb- the -rsb- fifth lap of the brainlessly macho series should please fans ... while making everybody else wonder why .", "all the characters from the prior four fast and furious films are rounded up to do their own grease monkey version of `` ocean 's eleven '' by chris morgan 's enjoyably ludicrous script , which , by right 's , should have been called `` toretto 's ten . ''", "the ensemble cast creates a really fun atmosphere by embracing the blatant ridiculousness of the films . and is n't that what enjoying a big , dumb action movie is all about ?", "the first sequel to the 2001 `` the fast and the furious '' that 's worth watching , that is n't an embarrassment or a travesty of the original picture .", "it 's when the action slows down that you can feel the brain cells dying .", "the series takes the curious , surprising and rather brave route of ditching the street-racing shenanigans that defined the series in favor of a more standard action-oriented plot . it 's an interesting approach , but the series ' shallowness remains", "a movie with exploding toilets , cars that move sideways and a big chase sequence with walker and brewster fleeing favela goons by crashing through the tin roofs of shanty-town shacks .", "`` the fast and the furious '' 2011 model comes fully loaded , with enough power under the hood to almost compensate for its lack of innovation .", "who knew the fourth sequel to the fast and the furious would not only refuel a flagging franchise , but lead the pack as the best of the bunch ?", "who knew that the best place to put vin diesel would be between the rock and a hard place ? the spot has never been tighter , or righter , and the testosterone never higher than in the hot jacking action of `` MOV . ''", "as a moviegoer , there are times when you want , say , `` jane eyre , '' and then there are times when a movie about really large men who drive cars really fast is just the thing . `` MOV '' is that latter movie , and then some .", "people die , cars collide , things get blown sky high . but none of it feels at all suspenseful . lin is much better at comedy relief , which includes a sexy con by gadot , who beats the all-hands drug czar at his own game .", "sequel number four proves this franchise is n't getting older - it 's getting better .", "even with the over-the-top acting of dwayne johnson and mind-numbing action sequences the film is actually watchable .", "maybe being pretty darn dumb is part of its charm .", "this movie is so drenched with testosterone , it belongs on major league baseball 's banned substances list .", "all that distinguishes MOV from this year 's crop of crappy action films is a modicum of craft , cleverness and restraint .", "cutting right to the chase , MOV is sure to make a furious run at the box office .", "while this is the best in the franchise since the first film , i still do n't like it because watching vin diesel in anything makes me want to punch myself in the face ... and that 's just not healthy .", "occasionally , though not frequently enough , something awesome happens .", "despite the movie 's overlong feel -lrb- it clocks in at 130 minutes -rrb- and its general lack of originality or responsibility , it has enough slam-bang , popcorn-munching action to keep most fans happy .", "seriously fast driving , jaw-dropping action , some unexpected twists and an audacious central heist with an extraordinary climactic sequence", "it 's so fast even the title has shrunk ; the turbo-charged franchise that elevates street racing to sometimes deadly gladiatorial heights is back with a big cinematic v8 version", "you 'd think the fast and the furious franchise would 've run out of gas by now . think again .", "utterly preposterous , but this car-crazy franchise is armor-plated .", "five films in and the fast and the furious franchise finally gets itself into gear with the wonderfully over the top MOV .", "overlong but slick , this still gets away with simplistic dialogue and characters , perhaps because it does n't take itself too seriously .", "fast & furious 5 can be defined as `` good '' if you look at it purely from a guilty pleasure level .", "a huge letdown .", "slow and spurious .", "starts well with dippily exciting action and daft dialogue , but outstays its welcome as it devolves into a deeply daft ocean 's eleven riff .", "for all its absurdity and the family friendly bloodlessness -lrb- despite the copious violence -rrb- , it spins along very smoothly and efficiently .", "where there 's demand , there 's supply , and this franchise will shoot up the box office chart because it 's undemanding and fiercely electrifying entertainment .", "MOV maintains the winning formula and underlines the sad fact that stars vin diesel and paul walker still have nothing better to do .", "with belief soundly suspended and your senses of sight and sound reeling under full frontal assault , this hybrid of action , chase movie sets the bar low - and clears it with ease .", "at the very least , petrol-headed punters wo n't be left fuming by what whizzes past in a blur here .", "as usual , the film thrives on excess .", "fast and furious 5 is far , far from a classic , it 's not even the best in the series , but it 'll spin two hours by with ease and some excitement along the way , even as absurd and silly as it may be .", "it 's not the sign of a particularly good film when the entire cast could be replaced by belligerent three-year-olds and you could expect most of the line readings to remain exactly the same .", "summer roars to a start with MOV which features some of the most spectacular action sequences seen on the screen in years .", "whichever way you take it , all i can say for sure is that i want that cherry 1970 dodge charger . i want it bad .", "though the smash-bang chases make for dumb fun , it all mostly cruises in a noisy neutral . and with his film clocking in at over two hours , director justin lin might have raised his own speed limit .", "-lsb- johnson 's -rsb- skin looks as though it 's been slathered in butter ; his enjoyment is infectious and keeps the movie speeding along .", "cars zoom , guns blaze , and the quips fly with wild abandon , but the biggest achievement to be found here is the pairing of vin diesel and dwayne johnson . about effing time .", "a loud , full-throttled , bombastic heist flick with no apologies for its obsessions with speed , violence , intensity ,", "fifth time 's the charm .", "street racing is dialed down in favour of ocean 's eleven-style heist plotting and favela gunplay straight out of call of duty : modern warfare 2 .", "... a frustratingly protracted piece of work that should have been so much better ...", "` MOV delivers what a dumb , popcorn flick is supposed to and easily passes my standard ` guy-movie ' litmus test -- it makes one want to drive fast after seeing it , high gas prices or not . -lrb- parental content review also available -rrb-", "nostalgic for older team films , and a world in which people interacted face to face", "if there were any more testosterone here , jose canseco could have boiled down the screen and injected it .", "if hollywood can make the rest of the summer as brainlessly fun as this then maybe people will start going back to the multiplex .", "with its sweat glistening off tanned muscles mannerism and hard-nosed bare knuckle bravado , MOV is the perfect cure for a spring season filled with failed attempts at recapturing past glories .", "easily the best film in the series ! if you can turn your brain off and not be too persnickety about dialogue and acting , you will be blown-away by the action !", "the more outrageous it becomes the more impossible the film is to criticize .", "there 's good stuff , but it 's the weakest of the `` fast '' films .", "if you 're in the mood for the cinematic equivalent of sugar and trans fats , the film delivers with one physics-defying set piece after another .", "all i can say is that i am now dreading part six and looking to part seven with something resembling vague optimism , especially if all involved can use the time to steal a better and tighter plot along the way .", "this palpable nonsense , which has a plot that defies all but hollywood 's logic , is so smartly produced and directed that even its inordinate length does n't matter all that much .", "the stony performances do n't really matter , and neither does the blunt dialog . but it 's still great fun .", "by shifting into a previously untapped gear , it delivers the most entertaining `` fast and furious '' adventure while also getting 2011 's summer movie season off on the right lead foot .", "something like ocean 's eleven and its various numerations , except with muscle cars and knuckleheads and without the laughs .", "there 's something deeply unpleasant about this latest flick that prevented me from enjoying all the stuff blowing up real good ... imagine robin hood nuking nottingham castle after tweaking the sheriff ...", "somehow , lim manages to keep you pinned to the passenger seat for over two gas-guzzling hours - with no perceptible drop in testosterone levels .", "the fast and furious roadshow is n't slowing down a bit in MOV , by most measures the best of the bunch , combining fresh casting choices , interesting rio locales and literally smashing bookended action sequences .", "the on-going storyline is now running on fumes , but when director justin lin cuts to the chase there 's enough left in the tank for some spectacular vehicular mayhem .", "make no mistake , this is no masterpiece of the dramatic arts but it is probably the best since the original : lean , spectacular , funny and slightly less risible than its predecessors .", "it 's trying so hard to pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease . but that 's also why it 's entertaining", "for those needing preposterous stunts , laugh-out-loud bad dialogue , testosterone-fueled posturing and an `` ocean 's 11 '' - like plot apparently written by and for 13-year-old boys .", "MOV is grindingly mechanical -- and not just because of all the emphasis on car repairs and retooling .", "forget physics , it 's just a fun blast of action movie ingenuity , as is the film as a whole .", "the jauntier vibe makes for easier viewing between the big high-speed car set pieces , which are every bit as big , loud , and crazily over-the-top preposterous as one would expect and hope .", "it 's about cars , girls and fighting and does n't pretend to be anything else . for sheer gall alone , `` MOV '' provides much entertainment . just not much intellect .", "spins its wheels . shifts between gravel-voiced speeches -lrb- about true family -rrb- and bicep-offs . throttling dialogue , long hard looks , and heist clich\u00e9s skid on for blocks .", "there 's arguably even more gun and car play than in f&f 4 , with the prolonged car chase finale easily chiming in as the best , most imaginative one in the franchise so far .", "it 's not like i 'm asking for the road warrior ... just some basic coverage and a less-than-total reliance on camera movement to generate excitement .", "director justin lin has a spooky , second sense for staging bombastic action sequences , even if he breaks every law in physics to make them work ." ], "summary": "sleek , loud , and over the top , MOV proudly embraces its brainless action thrills and injects new life into the franchise .", "id": "770873459" }, { "movie": "lust_caution", "reviews": [ "unfurls at the same pace as a doomed lotus blossom . and just as beautifully with the year 's most sensuous cinematography", "ang lee 's latest , lust , caution is a sluggish disappointment with a catchy title .", "lust , caution is strangely engrossing but the fairly straightforward plot does not justify the running time .", "isolated moments of high drama and some startlingly intimate sex scenes sadly fail to galvanise a turgid and overlong whole .", "in a film where casting is a vital component in the edgy equation , leung and tang make a picturesque and dramatically compelling couple .", "while some will feel his previous works better illustrate his gift of film , lust , caution creates an unmatched statement of cinematic wisdom all its own .", "lust , caution asks some patience of us , but our patience pays off .", "this juliet if not romeo steamy shanghai erotic spy thriller touching on a torturer 's tainted libido , crosses party lines to contemplate sexual betrayal laced with toxic unrequited desire .", "a downer with no redeeming entertainment value outside of its hot sex scenes .", "what is graphic and raw and adult and disturbing are the roiling , dangerous emotions underlying the hot , sweaty , etc sex ...", "lust - the word that speaks of inflamed passions , repressed longing and seriously naughty sex stands ill at ease with this rather languid exploration of freedom fighting during the japanese occupation of shanghai in the early 1940s .", "you leave the theatre a trifle exhausted but rewarded by a resonance few films possess .", "saucy sex scenes apart , however , it 's hard to get drawn into a slow-moving , drawn-out story that takes two-and-a-half po-faced hours to reach its jarringly abrupt and confusing conclusion .", "a pleasure to watch a film as visually stylish as it is psychologically demanding . i wish it had been twice as long .", "a shocking disappointment .", "for his sheer muscular verve and ambition , lee deserves a standing ovation .", "quietly mesmerising .", "the intensity of the sex is far more honest and revealing than the secrets each lover tries to hide .", "... lee imparts a sense of roiling depths beneath a placid surface .", "as a cartographer of hidden lives , lee may not always find beauty , but he almost discovers and reveals something vital about the human condition .", "a sumptuous and exceptional spy story .", "the film looks gorgeous but the plotting is clumsy and the acting is flat .", "why does this hot-and-heavy love story feel so cold and clipped overall ?", "the primary question in lust , caution -lrb- se , jie -rrb- is : `` what is real ? '' the answers , nebulous and harsh , are suffused with cigarette smoke and punctuated by clacking mahjong tiles .", "there 's too much caution and not enough lust .", "given all the early furor about the film 's nc-17 rating and its much-discussed sex scenes , lust , caution seems curiously sedate and unexciting .", "ang lee 's directing is so engrossing that one abandons the impulse to rationalize and finds oneself completely swept up in the consciousness of the story .", "by the time -lsb- lee -rsb- gets to the lust , it is too late to throw caution to the winds .", "the spy-game maneuverings provide some dramatic heft .", "well crafted and painful to watch . worth paying matinee price if you can shake the discomfort off .", "what lingers is the suspicion that women carry a burden of war they ca n't ever put down , and that even noble idealists can justify turning their girls into whores .", "lee provides no such easy comfort , instead keeping audiences constantly off-kilter , purposefully frustrating them with character behavior that 's just ... wrong .", "la mano experta de ang lee logra sostener el relato durante sus dos horas y media de duraci\u00f3n , con algunos picos de intensidad en un par de escenas brillantemente resueltas .", "for all lee 's meticulous control over this immaculately nuanced melodrama-thriller , there is a surprising lack of emotional draw .", "lovers of genuine cinema will get blue balls", "though his direction is unsurprisingly beautiful , the settings lush and the performances wonderful , no one apparently had the guts to insist lee streamline his rambling story .", "lee is hot , engaged , emotional , sincere and fundamentally looking at any slice of life through a sexual lens .", "lee is hot , engaged , emotional , sincere and fundamentally looking at any slice of life through a sexual lens .", "like the many facets of a diamond , the human heart can find its lustre in dark places . ang lee 's tortuous film about love and betrayal takes passion through highs and lows as it leads us through its tense and riveting journey", "there 's no doubt while watching ang lee 's lust , caution that you 're in the hands of a supreme filmmaker .", "lee 's saucy , sumptuous slow-burner is a complex , elegant seduction , drawing on hitchcock but putting a singular stamp on a rich spread of spies and sex , repression and sacrifice . just do n't try those moves at home ...", "unfortunately , the scenes between the sex and violence , while beautiful , will test your patience .", "beautifully shot , the period detail is exquisitely , and obsessively , realised .", "a mesmerising study in emotional cruelty .", "a beautifully rendered , long , drawn-out but ultimately very satisfying story of betrayal and revenge in an uneasy setting of wartime paranoia .", "its dark romanticism lingers in the mind .", "the drama remains strangely dispassionate . yet just as strangely , it 's never less than entertaining .", "overwrought and overlong , ang lee 's lust , caution nevertheless has some moments of exquisite beauty and a potentially star-making performance from newcomer tang wei .", "ang lee has shown that sometimes art has to be bold . because he presents the sexuality as graphically as he does , lust , caution becomes much richer and more meaningful than it would have been otherwise .", "chugs along at such a slow speed it nearly put me to sleep despite its graphic sex scenes ... .", "superbly written , beautifully shot and emotionally powerful espionage thriller with a terrific central performance from newcomer tang wei .", "both a cannily constructed spy thriller and a grim kind of love story .", "there is plenty of lust exercised in the athletic , do n't - try-this-at-home sex scenes between hong kong star tony leung and the stunning chinese newcomer wei tang .", "there is deception , suspicion and self-delusion , but it all seems rendered at arm 's length , despite the consummate artistry of the filmmaking .", "whatever misgivings there may be about it , this festival-winning film is a mesmerizing , rich experience .", "minus the sizzle of the nc-17-rated sex scenes , there 's not much to maintain your attention in this plodding world war ii spy thriller .", "you 'd be hard pressed to find a movie that 's sexier , or sadder . it 's a tragic film that 's highly successful as both a wartime thriller and a tale of doomed love", "gorgeously crafted with virtuosic patience .", "lust , caution is a major film , but it feels like a minor work in lee 's canon .", "leung turns in his usual fine performance , and tang shows evidence of the kind of chops that will guarantee her a long career . maybe her next film will tell a better story ." ], "summary": "ang lee 's lust , caution is a tense , sensual and beautifully-shot espionage film .", "id": "512902931" }, { "movie": "cave", "reviews": [ "if you got ta rip something off , might as well be a classic .", "it is n't just tedious , it is n't just silly , no , it goes the distance until it actually becomes a personal affront to the sensibilities of everyone concerned", "the first-time director bruce hunt is no stranger to inspired and stylish productions , but his horror-action film fails to inject new life into tired territory .", "a turd held up to the flickering bulb of the projector would be a marked improvement .", "its job is to deliver a few jolty thrills and a couple of laughs and wrap things up before it starts to get too dumb .", "ten things i learned watching the MOV . 1 . ` beneath heaven lies hell . beneath hell lies the MOV . ' 2 . beneath that lies the theater showing the MOV .", "vast and unexplainable , with plenty of places to hide . you 'll want to find one .", "bruce hunt 's directing debut displays a cold-blooded efficiency and refreshing lack of michael bay-ish hyperactivity in what is otherwise a solid if unspectacular action-horror flick .", "the best part is that it takes place in a couple of locales -- spelunking in a MOV and diving underwater -- that we do n't normally go , unless it 's a nature documentary .", "this latest exercise in claustrophobic mayhem is hole-y awful .", "some things , like this movie , are best left undiscovered .", "if you like cold , dark , claustrophobic spaces , i highly recommend you go rediscover the abyss . if that does n't work , just go hole yourself up in a closet !", "bland , boring , conventional , clich\u0439 , and dumb ...", "about what you 'd expect from a low budget , b-movie destined to reside among the direct-to-video releases at blockbuster and the saturday night features on the sci-fi channel .", "the MOV is a decently crafted but unoriginal and uninspiring creature feature with a few moments of true entertainment that the rest of the film never matches up to .", "replete with winged undersea MOV monsters , unlikely mountain climbing heroics and a mutating microbe that turns its victims into creatures-in-waiting `` the MOV '' is a paint-by-numbers thriller lacking in pigment .", "... despite its shortcomings , the MOV does deliver on some of its promises .", "the monsters show up and it becomes another run-of-the-mill creature feature , only one that 's more dimly lit than usual because of the setting .", "o roteiro \u0439 rid\u043dculo , mas o filme consegue criar algumas seq\u044c\u043ancias tensas . ainda assim , empalidece frente ao \u0443timo -lrb- e similar -rrb- the descent .", "... a dull , thoroughly unpleasant horror flick ...", "i would n't even encourage movie-goers who adore this type of film to give it a try because you 'd be much better off renting anything from the action section of your favorite video store .", "rare is the movie in which it 's so blatant that the quest for a lower rating has influenced the aesthetic style so much .", "the whole thing is pretty dumb , and not tongue-in-cheek enough to make the dumbness fun .", "not a classic by any means , but possibly one you might want to add to your netflix queue for a rainy day .", "even among the dogs of summer , the MOV scrapes bottom .", "forgettable .", "look up pointless in the dictionary and you 'll find a movie poster for the MOV .", "the pretty cast gets knocked off in order of attractiveness -lrb- the least cute bite it earlier on -rrb- and the monsters and action are shot in such a way as to maximize the overall incoherence .", "a generic duffer that 's as exciting as a hole in the ground .", "it 's dumb folks , yeah it 's an `` alien '' rip-off , but that 's not a terrible thing , it 's the complete lack logic and decent dialogue that 's the problem .", "shades of moria , batman !", "spare and single-minded , the MOV is an insistently entertaining piece of pulp .", "has atmosphere to burn -lrb- and one lulu of a set-piece involving a rock-climbing piper perabo -rrb- but -lsb- the -rsb- mixmaster editing style drains away much of the film 's urgency .", "every one of its surprises are packaged . people get picked off , the screen shakes , monsters roar , the prettiest survive . `` the MOV '' is hollow .", "characters leap , dive , climb , swim , lift , and run from one scene to the next . the MOV is the celluloid personification of ` outside magazine . '", "fright-wise , the MOV is a dry hole .", "as the group 's flinty leader , cole hauser does a passable imitation of a stalagmite .", "like many subpar efforts of this sort , the cutting in the MOV is so frantic you ca n't tell what 's going on or who 's getting chewed on .", "man-in-a-rubber-suit monster movie ca n't even score a proper columbia release , but gets dumped through screen gems . -lrb- even rob schneider movies get the torch lady . -rrb-", "the monster/action bits are too jerkily-shot to be exciting and character business is 100 % cardboard .", "remember : cpr does n't properly work on women unless their cleavage is visible .", "so very , very stupid ... and so very , very fun .", "romps along on its endearingly dumb , shameless wavelength .", "you will laugh at numerous unintended jokes -- including the baked-in opportunity for a sequel .", "it may dredge up a few frights , but for the most part the MOV is a spelunker clunker .", "it 's all noise and motion that blurs the action to the point of incomprehensibility .", "the good thing is its not too scary ; the bad thing is its not too scary", "contained enough unusual scenery and frightening sequences to keep my mind off its farfetched plot most of the time .", "succeeds in being a horrific failure .", "... it 's difficult to take any of this mess seriously . but even unintentional laughs tend to come at a premium in a movie this cheap and derivative .", "movies such as `` the MOV '' are one of the reasons that box office proceeds are plummeting in record numbers .", "let 's just say that you should go see the MOV - if you 're looking for a cure for intelligence , insomnia or constipation .", "even for a weird creature-feature , this murky , run-of-the-mill scare story is decidedly mundane .", "the film 's creatures are quite derivative , while one of the most intriguing revelations pertaining to them is never convincingly exploited or properly explained .", "constrained and unreadable , the space turns invaders into opportunistic killers -lrb- or maybe just rearrangers , a next step in body snatching -rrb- .", "just watch the last half-hour of the MOV when it hits hbo or cinemax . that 'll be all you need to see , and you wo n't have to waste eight bucks on it .", "so-so ... delivers a couple of jolts before the dopey finale , which takes place in a steamy , flame-filled cavern that looks alarmingly like dante 's go-go lounge .", "not once is the MOV scary , suspenseful , or worth the brain cells you 'll lose trying to dumb yourself down to its level .", "if you enjoy watching flying , bloodthirsty monsters chase people around dark places , you 'll get a kick from the film", "`` i have n't seen a hole like this in a long time , '' one character actually observes . my sentiments exactly .", "years ago , the MOV would have made an adequate bottom half of double bills . but at today 's ticket prices , this is a wait-for-cable movie if there ever was one .", "when scares should start to pop , they barely fizzle .", "the MOV delivers the b-grade thrills its premise and trailers promise and that 's about all we should expect .", "the MOV is an over-the-top horror flick with one novel offering : it 's shot amid a stunning network of subterranean caverns .", "a claustrophobic horror film that provides nothing original beyond its underground setting .", "messy , derivative , and silly , the MOV is , at the very least , oddly likable .", "why would anybody go in the MOV ?", "the MOV is n't just a bad movie , it 's a very , very , very bad movie , so bad that it ca n't even redeem itself by turning into high camp .", "feels stunningly familiar as it goes through the rote edicts of the scientific crew vs. toothy beastie formula .", "none of the characters is developed past his or her first name , and it 's not very scary .", "somewhere deep beneath the carpathian mountains , something unholy stirs : it 's an unspeakable stinker of a movie called the MOV .", "one plot twist provides a creative respite from the rehash barrage , but this MOV is better explored on dvd .", "the MOV answers every question i 've ever had about what might happen when a handful of hotties head deep inside the earth . for starters , the middle-aged and intelligent die early .", "most everyone in the audience , except those rendered unconscious by boredom , will see the ` big twist ' plot turn coming well in advance , although the qualifiers ` big ' and ` twist ' seem overblown and inexact .", "the MOV raises one crucial question : why ca n't hollywood come up with a fresh design for their man-eating monsters ?", "logically , all the monsters would eat all the humans at once , and the movie would be over in about three minutes . in the case of the MOV , that would have been a good thing .", "the MOV has a brisk b-movie efficiency , and not much space for bad acting , but it is blatantly derivative -- alien or predator in a MOV .", "it 's played entirely too straight-faced for its own good , which is to say , deadly serious .", "is the MOV scary ? not especially , partly due to the creatures ' goofy sound effects .", "showing no interest in staking new ground , bruce hunt is content to make his directing debut by aping scenes from better examples of the horror/thriller genre .", "you need to draw performances from actors , pace scenes , keep us aware of what 's happening at any time ; hunt has n't yet learned those skills .", "a high-concept creature feature that manages to fumble the concept and the creature in its sloppy execution .", "` something 's not right here , ' proclaims one of the characters exploring the creepy depths of the MOV . we could n't have said it better ourselves .", "director bruce hunt should n't be allowed to film a birthday party , let alone a major motion picture .", "without ` scary ' and ` surprising , ' what is the MOV left with ? flying amphibian monsters . which are great to have in a movie , i 'll grant you , but not by themselves .", "just barely worth exploring . -lrb- on dvd , that is . -rrb-", "-lsb- t -rsb- he monsters ... are so derivative that they almost seem like old friends rather than a new threat .", "a bottomless pit of lame characters , horror-film cliches and improbable monsters .", "now that hollywood has manufactured enough alien clones to fill a wall at blockbuster , who needs another ?", "despite the occasional chuckles of embarrassment for what the cast -lrb- including morris chestnut , piper perabo , and eddie cibrian -rrb- must endure , the MOV is a dead end .", "this movie unfolds as though the scenes were assembled in random order . at least i think that 's what it looks like ; it 's hard to say because it was so dark and murky looking .", "too generic to offer many scares", "the two kings of last august , morris chestnut and cole hauser , return to the screen for another late summer turkey", "the only truly scary thing in the MOV is the idea , as set up by the ending , that there could be a sequel .", "this should never see the light of day .", "a cheesy , often unintentionally funny , direct-to-video-caliber knockoff of aliens that could n't be more shallow .", "destined to be a favorite ... on cable tv .", "the MOV is a rare find , a film that is pure formula , yet impossible to follow .", "the makers of the MOV must have conceived their plot by googling ` creature features ' and ` recipes for monster mash . '", "the MOV sunk to new depths - it 's totally lacking in humor , imagination , personality , or any real entertainment value .", "if they had packed a little more character development and logic , `` the MOV '' would have felt a little less empty ." ], "summary": "despite its stylized and impressive sets , this horror-monster movie mish-mash suffers from endless cliches and wildly implausible plotlines .", "id": "5617" }, { "movie": "sixth_sense", "reviews": [ "of the big studio films released this summer , it 's hands-down the best !", "the story manages to keep one 's interest engaged all the way through to the exhilaratingly unexpected ending , which effectively breathes new life into all the previous proceedings .", "this ghost stuff works on a deeper level than the gross-out , and it 's nice that hollywood has rediscovered the art of the soul-freezing scare .", "an unusually intelligent thriller !", "the story does n't cheat by resorting to action or scare clich\u0436s . it sticks right to the main conflict and it keeps it in human terms .", "the MOV has a kind of calm , sneaky self-confidence that allows it to take us down a strange path .", "a unique , frightening movie that is never gratuitous or obvious .", "one of the most original paranormal films i 've ever seen .", "a thought -- provoking suspenseful movie !", "a psychological thriller that actually thrills !", "buried inside this psychological thriller , which takes a brilliant turn in its last 15 minutes , is a fantastic half-hour twilight zone episode .", "by treating the mortal and the dead with equal respect , the MOV holds its audience in the highest regard of all .", "a terrific last-minute story twist goes a fair way toward redeeming the MOV .", "it 's hard to recall the last time a film blended story , originality , character depth , genre elements , theme and mood with as much potent synergy as the MOV does .", "the MOV is the kind of flawed movie that 's worth sticking with .", "it 's a rarity for a movie to be willing to try your patience like the MOV does and even more of one for your perseverance to be so amply rewarded .", "but , then again , that twist is really , really overrated .", "what 's best is that in retrospect , you really should have seen it coming .", "while its momentum may be less than driving , like a bad dream , it becomes clear that the MOV is headed to some sort of big pay-off , and shyamalan 's carefully concocted twist ending does n't disappoint .", "a fascinating premise with lots of unrealized potential and a very interesting ending .", "only after the film 's chilling conclusion will you be able to fit the pieces of this ingenious supernatural puzzle together .", "an intense , haunting , often beautifully crafted character study and meditation on the nature of death and life after death .", "the ghost story is alive and well in hollywood .", "that the movie works as well as it does is due primarily to willis and osment , an exceptionally expressive young actor who never resorts to cuteness .", "this is a film with some clever twists and a really good performance by a child actor . this may be the surprise film of the season .", "shyamalan elicits a complex and tortured performance from young osment . the young man deserves a supporting actor oscar nod for his portrayal of a little boy overwhelmed by circumstances he ca n't even comprehend .", "there 's more fright in any 10 minutes of the MOV than the sensory startle effects the haunting produces in its entire running time .", "the problem lies with shyamalan 's plodding pacing .", "the biggest piece of supernatural hooey since estranged wife demi moore 's the seventh sign .", "devoid of terror , a palpable sense of torment , and just plain energy .", "shyamalan seems to have no idea how to dramatize anything .", "too often the film gets lost in overlit opulence and the soundtrack going ` boo . '", "gaggingly mawkish supernatural kitsch .", "i had to employ all of my usual tricks to keep from falling asleep !", "one of the film 's main problems is its pacing ; it craws sluggishly along the entire picture while the audience suspensefully waits for something to happen .", "one of the characters in this pointless movie has supernatural visions , and audience members are sharing the affliction -- unfathomably .", "it might take some kind of extrasensory perception to explain what fills the MOV 's 114 minutes , because i certainly ca n't explain it .", "an eerie drama that loses most of its impact halfway through .", "if there was ever a movie that could be accused of being both too subtle and too heavy-handed at the same time , it would be the MOV .", "here is a movie of long , mind-numbing , tiresome proportions and a brilliant conclusion . no one , however , should be forced to endure all the heartache just for five minutes of audacious footage .", "this will probably always stand as writer/director m. night shyamalan 's masterpiece .", "it 's hard for me to know whether it was the film itself or my constant view of its wires which left me unimpressed .", "even with its potentially interesting supernatural bent , it 's still largely schlock footage .", "the MOV works best when it works its mournful magic alone , without fanfare , using only the flickering fear in cole 's gaze as it meets the compassion in crowe 's .", "bruce willis is making it increasingly difficult for me to assert that he has no acting ability .", "this is much more than a scary movie or a ghost story . it 's a riveting psychological thriller about death and its manifestations .", "at its heart it is an intense , moving , thoughtful drama about the mysterious relationship between an exceptional little boy and a psychologist who wants to help him .", "m. night shyamalan \u0436 , ao lado dos irm\u0441os wachowski , uma das grandes revela\u0443\u0448es de 1999 .", "if you enjoy ghost stories , do n't miss this one .", "billed as a ` chilling , psychological thriller , ' this movie is actually none of those things .", "watching a child prone to intense anxiety attacks and brutal peer teasing fall apart is not my idea of fun , but shyamalan gets the job done .", "its treasuretrove of spiritual meanings set it apart from a host of other so-called supernatural thrillers .", "no better than any dime-store thriller collecting dust over at blockbuster .", "not only does this production contain what is probably willis ' strongest performance and a lot of other fine acting , but it is also one of the best films of the year . and it 's sure to be a movie that the people who see it will want to talk about .", "chilling and new !", "it 's got story sense to spare !", "while the film 's final 20 minutes are not its scariest , the third act piles up one surprise atop another , culminating in a jaw-dropping twist hinted at throughout the film but never fully revealed until the climax .", "one of the greatest horror film of the '90s !", "the year 's most inventive cinematic twist !", "the MOV is unrelentingly somber , yet hauntingly illustrated and unpredictably plotted .", "the MOV has wry wit and raw scares .", "genuinely unsettling , in a way that no other film this summer has been -- and that includes the blair witch project .", "the best movie so far in 1999 !", "intricate , intimate thriller is full of superb performances , deft direction .", "the MOV has more than simple ghoulish chills on its mind . instead , it 's a spooky mind game with a whopper of a twist at the end , a twist that , even when you think about it , makes perfect sense .", "this disturbing thriller is distinguished by the moving performance of haley joel osment .", "it is the only film i 've seen that gives you the creeps and the warm fuzzies all at the same time .", "willis gives an excellent , understated , and compassionate performance .", "i 'd like to say that writer/director m. night shyamalan is a stunning new voice and talent working in hollywood today . unfortunately , that pronouncement will have to wait for at least one more film .", "the MOV will convince you that spooky movies can be exciting , chilling , mysterious , and rewarding .", "much more than a one-trick puzzle movie ... the logic holds emotionally and narratively , and shyamalan brings satisfying closure to all his characters and their sorrows .", "elegantly shot , admirably acted , and well-scored ... but when the MOV leaves the character-study path , its weaknesses and essential arrogance are most obvious .", "shyamalan relies on gradually charging the atmosphere until an electrifying ending .", "a serious , thought-provoking film that contains some of the spookiest , creepiest and eeriest moments i 've seen on film in quite some time .", "it 's clear in both the performances and the supremely moody atmosphere -lrb- ratcheted up by solid cinematography , editing , and sound and set design -rrb- that this picture was in many ways a labor of love .", "sense is a brilliantly crafted little gem !", "one of the best child performances since anna paquin 's turn in the piano .", "the MOV might not scare you out of your wits , but it could reward them .", "wow . what an ending . i do n't think i 've been this moved by a film 's conclusion since the frighteningly shocking end of david fincher 's seven -lrb- 10/10 -rrb- .", "but this movie stunned me . the hair on the back of my neck stood up five or six times in this picture .", "questionable editing aside , the MOV succeeds as a reality-tweaking thriller , and its stark , supernatural imagery will likely remain seared into viewers ' memories long after the curtain closes .", "the cinematic equivalent of a page-turner , the movie keeps your eyes glued to the screen .", "an emotionally deep script !", "while there are certainly some frightening individual scenes , the film is more thought-provoking and evocative than chilling .", "writer and director m. night shyamalan carefully establishes a moody , extremely low-key tone , only to smack you upside the head when you least expect it .", "... creepy and tender and moving", "a good film that shows even better things that lie in the future", "intelligence and substance in a summer horror flick ? who 'd of thought it .", "a poignant study of the searing pain caused by loss , this all-too-human horror film provokes tears as well as fears .", "the screenplay , with its terrific scares and its amazing double-whammy at the end , is a grand achievement .", "an effectively understated and moodily engrossing ghost film with a surprisingly satisfying jolt at the end .", "m. night shyamalan neutralizes willis 's star presence with impressive plotting that 's a fine excuse for the powerful atmosphere .", "mr. willis gives a surprisingly quiet performance .", "a low-key triumph of mood and menace .", "classy , creepy and cunnningly constructed , shyamalan 's film offers melacholy pleasures and some genuinely effective scares . a quality hollywood offering and a massive hit .", "the MOV appears headed for horror -- figures lurking in the shadows , the plaster saints in cole 's makeshift shelter-shrine on loan from carrie . but shyamalan detours into gentler , maybe even more substantially haunting territory .", "but just as scary , or at least as unsettling , is the film 's presentation of human existence as an endless series of tragedies and agonies , relieved only by foolish distraction .", "it is impossible to take your eyes off osment , who vividly conveys the hopelessness of a sensitive , intelligent child who bears burdens beyond all telling .", "it 's hard to say more without revealing the surprises , but the movie 's best and worst features all stem from a highly unusual plot structure that builds to a genuinely startling conclusion .", "osment has since developed the nasty habit of being the best actor in the room .", "with the face almost of a grown man , young osment is all the more touching as a child who has grown up too quickly for the horrors he must confront .", "it 'll be interesting to see if willis can keep up the good acting .", "it 's a quiet , slow movie that builds its scares gradually , leading to a wallop of a surprise ending .", "a genuinely creepy film with a solid story , great acting , and a surprise ending that not even a jaded critic like me saw coming .", "a fun ride !", "shyamalan 's script is a clever construct , but also contains a great deal of sensitivity to the plight of the `` different '' child .", "like kieslowski and others , shyamalan knows that what makes for lousy metaphysics can make for powerful metaphor , and in the end he creates a deeply , surprisingly affecting film out of a little bit of smoke and brimstone .", "a delicate , emotionally attentive , but very scary ghost story .", "i was not only surprised by the film 's final twist , i was n't even looking for one . i just thought i was watching a bad movie . the end does n't quite redeem it , but it makes you think about what you 've seen . that 's a saving grace of some sort .", "constantly on the brink of explanation , the MOV in fact derives most of its fascination from explaining next to nothing .", "great , but sometimes scarier than r-rated horror .", "like the exorcist , this is n't really a gore-spattered shocker , more a slow-burning , subconscious-botherer .", "osment is excellent , as is bruce willis , as a melancholy child psychologist scarred by his failure with a similarly haunted youth , and toni collette , as the boy 's fiercely loyal mother .", "the performances are solid with an outstanding debut from haley joel osment .", "an excellent premiere for new director m. night shyamalan as he packs a punch with a great story , excellent directing , a great cast , great performances , and a surprise ending that will leave you breathless for days on end .", "osment is heartbreakingly true to his character as a boy at a crossroads .", "m. night shyamalan 's unsettling new film is one of the best movies hollywood 's produced in a very long time .", "the sad-eyed willis gives one of his best performances here .", "the film is not perfect , but it is pretty darn good . shyamalan 's direction is tightly controlled and very well executed .", "an extraordinarily well-told ghost story .", "MOV is scary -- and smart !", "the MOV is the movie that really deserves to be called the haunting .", "soulful !", "a slow moving-albeit fabulous flick .", "the MOV deals with death , ghosts , and the effect such things could have a very intelligent little boy in a way that i found refreshing and invigorating .", "plana en sus secuencias durante la mayor parte del tiempo", "an awesome film . perfectly directed .", "it was entertaining .", "though in some ways promoted as a scary ghost story , MOV is really a relationship drama set in a supernatural milieu .", "the MOV is a ghost story and a psychological thriller . but there 's something finer to it than that .", "! -rrb- , i am overjoyed to report that not only is there much more to this film that just its twist , watching the film with full knowledge of its big secret adds new layers to enjoy .", "the ghosts in the MOV will have a field day with your spine and the hairs on your arms .", "a smart , sophisticated and sensitive film that is also , by the way , very spooky .", "amazing , too , how the ending has the sheer power to completely blindside you when the final , ultimate twist occurs .", "i was deeply engrossed in the boy 's anguish , thanks largely to osment 's touching and painfully believable portrayal of cole .", "more than just a scary movie , it 's ultimately about love and death and allowing ghosts to rest . it 's a highly successful film .", "osment 's pinched , old-young face suggests an ancient 's insight without an ancient 's defenses -- a sensitivity so exquisitely morbid that you worry more for his emotional than physical well-being .", "willis turns in a measured and understated performance .", "you leave slightly asquirm . you know it will linger . it becomes a clammy , chilly movie building toward a revelation that you can not predict . as i say : i can not tell you . you 'd hate me if i did . i can only say , do n't look now , but look sometime .", "beyond these startling apparitions , there 's a surplus of mumbo-jumbo in here -- and some ludicrously false notes .", "it takes you on an intriguing , unsettling journey .", "dr crowe gradually comes to believe that little cole can indeed commune with the unquiet souls , who are reaching out to him for help . and , yes , the scenes where cole does so can be very creepy indeed .", "m night shyamalan has fashioned a modern classic here , a chilly , intelligent , emotional ghost story that relies not on the obligatory gore and knifeplay for its many shocks but on glimpses of an afterlife that 's anything but angels and harps .", "another `` could-have-been '' film , another almost successful compromise , another intelligent flick done in by its misplaced and worn-out star .", "if ultimately there is less to sense than meets the eye , director-writer m. night shyamalan -lrb- wide awake -rrb- at least avoids gory cheap thrills in favor of muted chills . he bears watching .", "so transparent is osment as an actor , and so rare , that the pain on his face stabs you in the heart .", "... an unconventional and rewarding look at the unknown . begs to be seen again ." ], "summary": "m night shayamalan 's the MOV is a twisty ghost story with all the style of a classical hollywood picture , but all the chills of a modern horror flick .", "id": "10054" }, { "movie": "u571", "reviews": [ "mostow has fashioned something with an admirable level of purity about it .", "despite its weaknesses , this movie offers two hours of solid , kinetic entertainment .", "u-571 moves like a torpedo .", "the movie concocts just enough genuinely surprising moments to make its own satisfying niche amongst the other examples of the genre .", "begs for credibility .", "an engaging action story", "the idea of men pushing machines to the limits of technical possibility in order to survive is nothing new , but it still makes for compelling drama .", "even a large dose of modern dolby sound effects and digitized pyrotechnics ca n't mask a plot and acting that are both decidedly sub-standard .", "a taut , exciting action film with surprising depth .", "it 's a rah-rah mix of patriotism and genuine suspense that manages to wring a few new wrinkles from a reliable subgenre of war movie .", "this is simply a good action film .", "represents the return of something that i 'd feared was gone for good : the inspired genre magician .", "minute for minute , it is one of the most tense and exciting war movies ever made .", "i did n't gain any great insights from u-571 , but i had a blast watching it .", "resembles more the bulk of war movies before vietnam than it does anything made in the last quarter-century .", "a gripping piece of historical fiction .", "so very few films live up to that kind of exaggerated billing . the claustrophobic submarine drama , u-571 , happens to be one of them .", "good clean silly fun .", "exactly what it is advertised to be : a relentlessly taut , edge-of-your-seat action thriller", "it 's a simple pleasure watching an american movie that respects genre .", "well-made and so extremely suspenseful .", "high drama and intensity through out .", "this one almost sinks .", "u-571 is a crackerjack adventure .", "as a modern-day variation on the classic submarine-movie themes , u-571 is a smoothly crafted nail-biter .", "an old-fashioned blockbuster .", "a sturdy specimen of its waterlogged breed .", "an entertaining action-adventure flick minus the hokiness of most world war ii films .", "there 's no profound message of universalism in this emotional tug-of-war ; it 's just good storytelling .", "while the film lacks plenty in the character study department , it more than makes up for it by being an old-fashioned potboiler that 's jam-packed with lots of edge-of-your-seat thrills and nail-biting excitement .", "u-571 could sure use some depth .", "dead in the water .", "the movie just keeps grinding along , pushing its way through a barrage of boom-boom and a sea of tight-lipped clich\u00e9s .", "u-571 leaves no soggy submarine story cliche unturned .", "as submarine flicks go , u-571 is midrange .", "highly improbable and b-movie weak in almost every department .", "horrendously inept and vapid .", "the acting ... is merely competent , the dialogue humdrum , the direction without sufficient challenge .", "the submarine goes deep but the story never does .", "it 's over before it barely seems to have begun .", "a top-notch , high quality actioner that is destined to hit its male-oriented , testosterone-driven demographic and make a pile of money in the process .", "it 's a wham-bam bumpy ride , great fun in the old-fashioned war movie tradition .", "delivers action scenes that are both visually dynamic and highly suspenseful .", "-lsb- both -rsb- a rousing action thriller ... -lsb- and -rsb- near-parody of the rah-rah american military adventures that filled screens in the '40s and '50s . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a very tense and exciting war movie .", "... more like a star trek television episode", "like the rusted old subs deployed in the story , the picture seems designed to stay in the safe shallows and not to plumb any real dramatic depths .", "without much charge and even less depth .", "the film needs something more to make it interesting and different .", "i 've never seen a movie as dependent on a fancy sound system .", "after the movie finds its sea legs , you wo n't have time to catch your breath .", "this submarine flick has some tense moments and plenty of action .", "a pesar de sus debilidades , nos presenta dos horas de entretenimiento al m\u00e1s alto nivel", "mostow 's direction is taut , with no energy expended that does n't add to the white-knuckle ride .", "a thrill ride of the first rank .", "i thoroughly enjoyed the film .", "irresistible entertainment .", "it 's the adventure that counts here , and this movie has it in spades .", "enormously entertaining .", "you will feel like you 're in the midst of battle .", "stuff blows up !", "sure , it 's at times melodramatic and at times obvious , but it 's not a bad yarn .", "u-571 is capable of taking you on quite a ride .", "come on in . the water 's fine .", "high marks for tension and excitement .", "its perspective is that of a well-drawn , reasonably thoughtful comic strip .", "a ripping yarn .", "its characters are stock and its narrative runs shallow , not deep , but its state-of-the-art illusions help these lesser elements float .", "a slickly crafted throwback .", "straightforwardly entertaining and a genuine nail-biter .", "how can you go too far wrong with action scenes set on accurate renditions of american submarines and german u-boats ?", "rousingly successful in doing one thing : generating pure , unadulterated suspense .", "manages to work up some generic claustrophobic discomfort .", "u-571 is bombastic and anonymous .", "if you 're into ferociously suspenseful , high-tension thrillers : go , go , go !", "in its own corny way it is a fun outing .", "takes us from one almost-impossible situation to another , never allowing the film to rest long enough for the whole enterprise to seem shallow .", "an unpretentious , no-nonsense suspense film ... it 's not art , and it wo n't get a theatrical re-release 20 years from now the way ` das boot ' recently did . but on its own simple terms , it works just fine .", "you can enjoy u-571 as a big , dumb war movie without a brain in its head . but that does n't stop it from looking cheesy .", "it ai n't sunk , but this flick could 've used a life raft .", "when it 's good , u-571 is tense and action-packed . but it 's not good often enough or for long enough to distract you from its problems .", "a sweaty , claustrophobic potboiler that at its heart is not so much an action adventure movie as it is a suspenseful , triumph-of-the-human-spirit-type story .", "a well-crafted , old-fashioned war movie .", "if you 're in the mood to cheer the white hats , you 'll probably like this film .", "u-571 superbly mixes classic touches and brand-new thrills .", "for all its realistic bluster , feels vaguely hollow .", "sharply edited and vigorously directed and performed .", "-lrb- mostow 's -rrb- theme of what it takes to be a leader nearly breaks a surprisingly decent action film .", "this film has the effects and the performances to keep the thrill ride going non-stop .", "it 's really hard to go wrong with a submarine war movie .", "the problem is that u-571 is so overwhelmingly contrived that suspension of disbelief is nearly impossible .", "a strange , volatile mix of history and movie cliches .", "script characterizations so shallow that even a lead actor as dull as matthew mcconaughey ca n't be blamed very much .", "confusion kills it .", "plays like a third-rate disaster movie -- and an assaultively noisy one at that .", "demonstrates that a submarine movie needs some type of inventive subtext to keep it afloat and engaging .", "u-571 is the reason why popcorn exists .", "this is one sub that deserves to sink .", "there are no jokes , even though it could have used some to lighten its torpedo load .", "one-dimensional acting .", "if watching a two-hour submarine movie is this nerve-shattering , imagine what the real thing must have been like .", "a smart , slick crowd-pleaser perfectly pitched to kick off the summer movie season .", "-lsb- the -rsb- skillful execution is enough to overcome some of the film 's weaker aspects .", "get a good night 's rest and take plenty of vitamins before seeing ` u-571 . ' otherwise , you 'll be wiped out by the end of this superb action thriller .", "an action blockbuster film pure and simple , and a very good one at that .", "the film does n't stint on wwii movie cliches .", "the story deserved better .", "it 's essentially just a bit of entertaining , thrilling , heroic fluff .", "alas , it 's a noisy , cliche-ridden , incomprehensible mess .", "it 's an insult , not just to war veterans , but to the audience ." ], "summary": "excellent cinematography and an interesting plot accompanied by a talented cast and crew make u-571 a tense thriller .", "id": "10570" }, { "movie": "last_legion", "reviews": [ "trust me , it 's worth the price of admission to see colin firth , an actor of such steely emotional reserve , play butch for two hours in a mike brady perm .", "we can only hope that the title of this misbegotten swords-and-sandals adventure is prophetic .", "while the swashbuckling content is engaging enough on a popcorn level , the attempts at any sort of epic heft fall way short of the mark .", "not compelling , not mythic , and not exciting", "` the MOV ' is a wonderful adventure/fantasy with great characters portrayed by actors who know how to grab our attention .", "i will at least smile as i recall its harmless idiocy , in much the same way that one smiles at retarded people one passes on the street .", "this movie , for all its quasi-realism , is never as inspiring , interesting , or disturbing as the stories to which it points .", "to say that this is amateurish would be to elevate it to a level of professionalism it does not achieve .", "firth is horribly miscast . i 'll buy him as a romantic lead or the main character in a drama , but he 's almost laughable as an action hero .", "the many faults of the MOV give way to guilt-free popcorn thrills .", "a wannabe sword-and-sandals saga .", "this attempt at reimagining the arthurian legend fails to raise the pulse due to some leaden dialogue and unconvincing performances .", "the action sequences are handled well enough but the cgi is n't up to snuff in a tale that barely merits the retelling .", "crudely mangling arthurian legend into roman history , this creaky swords 'n' sandals romper trundles forward like a hurriedly upholstered tv movie .", "a passably entertaining hodgepodge of sword-and-sandal film clich\u00e9s and arthurian romance .", "while it 's almost certainly guaranteed to be a box office bomb , i 'm suspecting this goofy little adventure will earn a few bemused fans once it hits dvd .", "here 's a strange concept : a goofy , indiana-jones-type spin on the pre-arthur legend .", "... makes a hash of history , but ... just think of it as a nifty adventure dreamed by an imaginative boy who dozed off in his grandfather 's library .", "every once in a while , though , firth 's eyebrow hints , can you believe i 'm wearing this dorky leather breastplate ?", "this take on the arthurian legend is flawed but watchable .", "once you accept the MOV for what it is , namely a saturday adventure matinee show aimed at impressionable 10-year-old boys , then you 'll have a passable time at the cinema ... sort of .", "the MOV is more quaint than thrilling , but it 's refreshing to see an old style sword fighting movie that 's not completely dependent on the use of digital trickery .", "paper-thin characters , stilted conversations and abrupt editing mean this is hard to get involved with , and its link with arthurian legend feels contrived and clich\u00e9d .", "a novel hybrid of swords , sandals , horned helmets and furs , this really is a load of old rubbish , but there 's some fun to be had , especially for boys who like to have mock sword fights with wooden sticks .", "silly and camp .", "a hunk of old brie , left all day in the glove compartment in a car on a hot summer 's day , could not smell more ripe than this absurd sword 'n' sandal roman movie .", "tosh , but disarmingly sincere .", "colin firth is not an actor who projects sparkling joie de vivre at the best of times , and the MOV , a cod-roman reimagining of arthurian myth , is very much not the best of times .", "a good cast wallow about in a story you ca n't believe for a moment .", "no twist is too farfetched for this dino de laurentiis epic .", "there are , after all , aimed at young audiences plenty of movies more mean-spirited , indiscriminate and obnoxious than the MOV . but at the same time there are plenty that are , alas , less frustrating .", "as the roman empire crumbles , undemanding escapist entertainment with wonderful production design and a cast .", "even though the film clocks under two hours , it seems longer than a lord of the rings marathon played on slow motion .", "-lsb- b -rsb- ereft of anything approaching the movie magic it is clearly desperate to evoke ...", "though it 's never wise to underestimate the power or universal appeal of rai 's cleavage and lustrous hair , that 's about all that sets the doggedly mediocre the MOV apart from every other sword-and-sandal epic about the origins of camelot .", "this sword-and-sandal spectacle from those epic-loving de laurentiises might have made a good children 's film .", "this unoriginal picture also suffers from uninspired dialogue uttered by actors who are better than this and a jokey tone that would work if we had n't already heard all the same lines in director lefler 's tv work in hercules and xena .", "the movie rarely feels fresh . even an absurd cage-match like 300 cared enough to be both rousing and handsome . there 's no fun to be had here .", "i have too much respect for kingsley and firth to believe they did this for anything other than the money , and to their credit , they give their best efforts .", "despite the occasional gleam of wit , very little is to be taken seriously -- not the story , not the acting and certainly not the history .", "lots budgetary-challenged battles of the largely bloodless pg-13 stripe with folks in smelly looking leather suits and crepe hair clanging swords and saying ` arrgh ' a lot .", "at best , it 's aggressively mediocre , a movie that passes the time without ever really engaging your attention .", "there is a disconnect that comes with watching firth - who is usually associated with classy british romantic comedies - anchor something so tacky .", "a depressing pageant of bad dialogue , uninspired sword fights , corny getaways , and loads of completely unintentional sexual innuendo .", "an old-fashioned boys ' adventure yarn ... no great shakes as a fantasy epic ... but there are far worse movies out there for young boys .", "in the MOV , rome does n't fall . but it does look like it would rather be lying down and taking a nap .", "the real problem is that the MOV is just too boring .", "all are given swords to swing and mouthfuls of fake archaic dialogue to speak and none of it makes a whisper of sense .", "this anglo-italian co-production has quite a bit of fun finding a direct path from the fall of rome to the birth of arthurian legend .", "put yourself in the proper boy 's - adventure mindset and the MOV 's corny moments will just add to the charm .", "the chief problem with the MOV stems from the filmmakers ' apparent inability to decide what kind of pic they wanted to make , and what sort of audience they wanted to target .", "ultimately , the MOV is n't horrible , certainly not bad enough to keep it away from critics , which its distributors have unfortunately done ." ], "summary": "with miscast leads and unoriginal , uninspired dialogue , the MOV pales in comparison to the recent cinematic epics it invokes .", "id": "680650974" }, { "movie": "kung_fu_panda", "reviews": [ "` chinese ' in the way that springfield-style cashew chicken is ` chinese . '", "it all whizzes along at an invigorating pace and there 's plenty to please a young child but if you 're looking for the kind of insights that made ratatouille such a feast , you 'll have to wait for pixar 's next .", "just like many martial arts movie epics of old , MOV is filmed in widescreen cinemascope : a perfect , vast canvas for an epic set in old china .", "... a solid animated flick for kids , and for any adults who are singing `` kung fu fighting '' to themselves as they enter the multi-plex -lrb- guilty as charged -rrb- .", "this is the finest dreamworks animation effort since the first shrek", "a collision of black 's signature humor with a succession of surprisingly awesome fight scenes .", "this is strictly formulaic animation from dreamworks , wasting a stellar cast and a marvellously high concept idea .", "privilegia mais a hist\u00f3ria e menos o humor f\u00e1cil .", "the rocky template at work here is one of the most dog-eared premises around , but the sense of style and wit at play elevates the film above that premise to something unique .", "-lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- mix black 's good humor with breathtaking animated martial-arts sequences .", "chalk it up to either a newfound maturity or -lsb- dreamworks -rsb- management being asleep at the wheel , but , somehow , someway , it achieves a low-impact playfulness that actually feels kind of ... charming .", "replace the cute ` widdle ' animals with people and you 'd have a generic undiscovered-hero story with a dull script . -lrb- also , it would have to be called kung fu fat kid , which probably would n't test very well . -rrb-", "MOV is generally content to simply coast along on a few zen platitudes and regularly scheduled po pratfalls .", "it 's slick , energetic , and entertaining enough to separate it from most of the in-it-for-the-cash animated products that the studios have been cranking out the last few years .", "po turns out to be smarter than your average bear , not to mention sweet of disposition and amusingly smart-alecky . ... dreamworks ' animated romp proves charming , if formulaic .", "sufficiently entertaining for kids and mildly amusing for adults .", "a hero whose power is gluttony ? i almost missed this part , because i was out in the lobby getting a bucket of popcorn and a 40-ounce soda , so i 'll refrain from comment .", "gravity-defying , action-packed family comedy - it 's chop-socky fun .", "while the movie might not be as artistic as , say , one from disney-pixar , it features better combat scenes than much of its live-action brethren -- including the recent forbidden kingdom .", "while its storyline might seem familiar -lrb- in fact , very familiar if you 've seen the recent live-action jackie chan/jet li hit , the forbidden kingdom -rrb- , there 's enough invention and irreverence to make the film feel fresh .", "the aphorisms creak . the plot 's an open book . but all of those clich\u00e9s are part of the joke in this ebullient ursine coming-of-age tale about a humble panda destined for greatness .", "enjoyable , superbly animated and frequently funny adventure with great voice work , strong characters and some excellent fight scenes .", "hands down the most visually striking of dreamworks animation 's releases , this lively cgi comedy is tailor-made for jack black .", "one fine movie .", "despite the traditional animation platitudes , the film is entertaining and well voiced .", "a fun movie that manages to entertain pretty much the whole way through .", "formulaic , but entertaining and often dazzling .", "this panda delivers a cuddle more than a thump .", "MOV offers little in the way of cartoon novelty . even the battle scenes , given the recent advances in live-action wirework and blending of stunt performers and special effects , are too little kung fu , too much ho-hum .", "it 's still a bit patchy in terms of its pace , and it 's awfully violent for a pg movie , but it also features the best fight sequences the animated world , or any other world , has ever seen .", "sticking to a tried-and-true formula -lrb- hapless underdog discovers he 's the chosen one -rrb- still proves effective when it 's done with a snappy pace , eye-popping animation and a cast of game comedic vocal talents headed by jack black .", "outside of japanese anime - and maybe pixar 's the incredibles - i ca n't think of another animated feature packed with this much exhilarating , ingenious action .", "this computer-animated dreamworks film is infectious and inspiring , despite one 's best efforts to resist its charms .", "MOV is n't the kind of movie that will make you gasp with surprise as it moves toward its believe-in-yourself destination . but it is the kind of movie that will make you enjoy the journey .", "this is well-worn territory , from the cuddly slapstick to the chinese wisdom , but the movie redeems itself with some surprisingly smart and tender moments .", "after a summer of films crashing the two-hour barrier , i could give MOV -lrb- 88 minutes ! -rrb- a big old bear hug .", "it may not be the most original animated feature , but it is a solid , well-crafted one .", "loaded with high flying kung fu action , this animal-filled animated pic will keep youngsters in their seats .", "a gift in a summer that threatens to be seriously short of quality kid entertainment .", "after years of skulking around in hollywood 's shadows , fan-boy culture finally has a movie hero to call its own .", "when the kids are happy and i get to watch a jack black kung fu movie , that 's good enough for me .", "the animation work is dazzling ; it 's lovingly detailed without being overdone -lrb- particularly the opening sequence , which is hand-drawn and looks like prints struck from ancient woodblocks -rrb- .", "there 's something about the look of MOV that is so novel and pleasing . perhaps it 's just that we have n't seen this vintage , far east world in a computer-animated movie before .", "some of it just seems silly , which is fine for a family movie , of course , but there 's silly and then there 's silly . MOV is silly .", "MOV is hugely entertaining , gorgeously animated and expertly cast , with jack black and dustin hoffman doing some of their best work in recent memory -lrb- no joke -rrb- .", "this beautifully designed , cherry blossom-hued cartoon is brighter , breezier and bouncier than most .", "supporting characters -lrb- including jolie , who is wasted as a tiger -rrb- are pallid , and the fight scenes disproportionately long , as if the filmmakers figure the young boys most likely to see panda are just as action-happy as their dads .", "a decent bridge before the wonder of wall-e , MOV will thrill kids and fight nuts alike . shame the big names are underused and there 's nothing particularly new .", "both a surprisingly good kung fu movie and a solid family flick ... the story is sweeter and shows more heart than you might think .", "an energetic and surprisingly colorful family adventure tale that trumps formula through sheer force of personality .", "as the credits roll , the film 's many flaws come sharply into focus . but while it lasts , kung-fu panda is something of a guilty treat .", "the near genius of the film -- big-name stars doing voices to one side -- is that it almost completely eschews the snarky postmodern , pop-culture-referencing sensibility .", "by far the most visually appealing film yet released by dreamworks animation .", "it has more in common with dr. seuss than the dubiously titled dr. seuss ' horton hears a who !", "the strength of this film is its visual presentation . the characters are well designed and they move with the necessary precision and grace .", "black blasts through po , though , and lands on the furry character 's visual surface with all vocal cylinders revving .", "... if nothing else , the filmmakers should be commended for their refusal to pepper the proceedings with crass jokes and pop-culture references ...", "jack black puts the `` pow ! '' in `` kung ' '' pao .", "sure , the story 's ending is completely predictable , but it 's great fun getting there .", "at first i growled at the panda .", "it takes a very worn storyline , infuses it with smart satire and in-jokes and ties it all up in a very pretty package of beautiful artwork .", "an agreeable enough animation with the kid-worthy message to believe in oneself , but the embarrassment of riches that is its superstar vocal cast provides poor returns ... jackie chan hired to make monkey noises ?", "i 'm no fan of casting big movie stars as voices in animated films , but black and hoffman have great fun taking their characters from exasperated adversaries to bedgrudging comrades .", "by all means , gather up the little ones and take them to this perfectly pleasant , very good-looking , modestly funny , dispiritingly unoriginal variant on the nerd-with-a-dream recipe .", "another misfit-makes-good movie with nifty visuals but a sodden script .", "just about all animated movies teach you to believe in yourself , but the image of a face-stuffing panda-turned-yowling bruce lee dervish is as unlikely , and touching , an advertisement for that message as we 've seen in quite some time .", "jack black stars in appealing kid-friendly comedy .", "as summer movies get bigger and bigger , they often make us , the audience , feel smaller and smaller . the bright MOV is a simple and lighthearted exception .", "a nice little adventure that will keep the kiddies entertained for an hour and a half . mom and dad will find some nice moments as well .", "a parade of pain dominates MOV , which forgoes the rigors of character development for lazy , bone-crunching mayhem .", "i had a great time .", "this is a solid family film material , although one suspects the children will get a little more out of it than their parents .", "sure helps scrub away memories of tenacious d and the pick of destiny .", "MOV is one gorgeous movie . if only the story and comedy were half as absorbing .", "with loads of laugh lines , MOV plays with the ying - yang tension of sincerity and irreverance . and it never shirks a popcorn tenet : kernels of wisdom must be tasty .", "very much a hollywood production -- formulaic , made for marketing and never quite as inspired as it could have been .", "the movie has lean , to-the-point simplicity , which is refreshing in an era when so many films take needlessly bloated , talky routes into their story -lrb- for more on this , see indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull -rrb- .", "imaginatively done , full of peril , surprise and even humor .", "dreamworks animation 's best movie since shrek .", "the message -- believe in yourself even when all evidence suggests you should n't -- is annoyingly familiar and frankly overdue for a serious debunking , but it 's not about to happen here .", "the animation is consistently sporty and there are some choice comic riffs on martial arts movies .", "the kung fu scenes overflow with crisp , thrilling and funny moments that whiz by in the 88-minute run time .", "MOV is arguably the best animated movie dreamworks has produced so far .", "... dreamworks animation has finally managed to touch the brass ring of animated storytelling that has been exclusively in pixar 's reach for over a decade .", "it 's funny at times , and quite exciting , but of course you know where it 's going from its opening moments , so no surprises dramatically .", "more original plotting could have bolstered this visually magnificent production .", "the most visually stunning cartoon yet from dreamworks ...", "an amusing and gorgeously designed kiddie fable .", "a panda learns kung fu . if that sounds good to you , then have at it .", "a far smarter movie than anyone could have expected .", "willingly raucous and revved up for your escapist consideration do welcome this plump yet profoundly prancing panda into your thrill-seeking heart .", "filled with abundant slapstick and visual comedy , this family-friendly animation is sure to amuse the youngsters with its roly-poly panda hero antics and inventive effects . ... its predictable and formulaic script is less impressive", "jack black inhabits the animated panda called po with so much of his signature whimsy that audiences get a double dose of black 's comic persona .", "oh heck , this is my favorite film of the year so far -- a ! action , depth , fun , comedy , profound messages and it 's visually gorgeous .", "the movie 's crackpot message -- ` to make something special , you just have to believe it 's special ' -- may best be proven by the existence of this funny , unpretentious , more than bear-able crowd-pleaser .", "even though panda is one of the last animated flicks that dreamworks wo n't be making in 3d it 's still very easy on the eyes and it should help to keep the studio in competition this summer with the juggernaut that is pixar .", "the colorful locale and battles , not the message , are the thing in this hybrid of family fare and martial arts in which jack black is too cute as the chubby misfit-hero but it 's dustin hoffman and ian mcshane who steal the show with their ironic delivery", "MOV may be on the higher edge of the middle rank of computer-animated films , but it 'll still provide your kids with a fairly respectable mix of action , amazement and amusement .", "though aimed primarily at youngsters , kf panda embraces humor that plays well across age groups and nationalities .", "a nice looking but heavily formulaic dreamworks animation entry .", "MOV gets a big kick from the vocal trio of jack black , dustin hoffman and ian mcshane .", "... it creates an enchanting other-world of its own .", "... use -lsb- s -rsb- dynamic animation and slapstick humor to compensate for the story 's lack of originality .", "a real charmer ; a lightweight , generously funny family film that benefits from simplicity and a buffet of asian cinema influences to pick from .", "MOV illustrates the dilemma cgi movies find themselves in : they 're suspended on a rickety bridge between product and moviemaking , and the boards of our interest are beginning to rot away .", "this movie leaves 'em laughing -- and gasping .", "everything about MOV is a little better , a little sharper , a little funnier than the animated run of the mill . it 's one of the few comedies of 2008 that knows what it 's doing .", "manic but hilarious MOV kicks its way onto the scene with irresistible force .", "to paraphrase `` kung fu fighting '' - mercifully heard only once , and in tweaked end-credit form by gnarls barkley - `` MOV '' is as fast as lightning and a little bit frightening but done with expert timing .", "this is one kid 's movie where the grownups should n't have to fight over who has to take the children . instead , everyone should get in on the fun .", "fighting action is as dynamic and creative as any live-action wire-fu match by yuen woo-ping while the story is a refreshingly simple tale .", "no more impressive than anything you could randomly dial up on cartoon network .", "big and bouncy , MOV is another powerhouse family entertainment that means to pummel its young viewers into adulation .", "the open got my interest up because the animation style recalled the emmy-winning cartoon network show samurai jack . unfortunately , when the dream ends , so does the innovative visual style ...", "if comic book guy from the simpsons stumbled onto the steps of wayne manor and alfred said he was destined to be batman , you 'd get something of the are-you-serious fanboy awe of MOV .", "none of it sounds encouraging , but the directors find the right mixture of slapstick , satire , and affection to bring out the best in their material .", "MOV stars a bunch of cute , highly-merchandisable creatures , but the amount of genuine kung fu movie love that permeates the film shines through to anyone who is a fan of top-notch animated filmmaking , as well as the martial arts genre .", "story of a roly poly panda makes movie magic", "pays homage to the hong kong kung fu epic by being true to the fu while making sport of clich\u00e9s", "the movie easily karate chops the weekend competition . a fine , fun film , filled with excellent animation and well-drawn characters .", "it 's elegantly drawn , the action sequences are packed with energy , and it 's short enough that older viewers will be forgiving . for the kids , of course , all this stuff is much of a muchness , and here they go again .", "dreamworks is bringing old school to the new school with MOV , which quietly lumbers around in its first half before proving itself a worthy master of the art in its action-packed second .", "MOV is far more exciting and abundantly more exhilarating than it has any right to be .", "a good-natured , entertaining romp and , in my experience , not a bad kid discussion-starter . you ca n't ask much more from an animated panda kung fu movie than that .", "if the shaw brothers had access to cgi and the post-modern voice talent , MOV would have definitely been part of their stable of wuxia epics .", "this is a nice little cartoon . not a classic , but certainly enjoyable .", "this is the best pg film i 've seen in ... well , forever .", "it 's a howl and amazement for anyone under 12 . as is often the way with middling kids ' movies , parents who grow tired of the film are treated to a satisfying consolation prize : watching their children have fun .", "a pleasant surprise . it avoids easy targets and actually bases its humor in its performances .", "it lacks that final spark of ingenuity or inspiration that would have transformed it from an amusing idea into a full-fledged movie worth watching .", "how an eating disorder paunchy punching bag morphs into an accidental fighter and subsequent dragon warrior by default , literally and figure-atively throwing his weight around . a jenny craig wet dream .", "kid 's will enjoy this movie , but i think kung fu geeks will like it even more . it 's one of the most action-packed movies in theaters now !", "an animated cross of rocky and the karate kid certain to delight this generation of tykes afresh .", "the action tends to blur into a whirlwind of slapstick chaos .", "fast , light , and easy-to-swallow , ` MOV ' is an ideal repast for families to enjoy during early summer at the multiplex .", "there 's an old saying about how a great musical will `` leave 'em dancing in the aisles . '' well this movie provides the kung fu equivalent of that .", "the fight choreography in MOV is the real draw . and , especially in imax , the film is never visually boring .", "-lsb- c -rsb- harming and gorgeously animated ... kids of all ages , including the grownup ones , will love -lsb- it -rsb- ...", "it 's the kind of movie that kids will love -- and so will their parents , since they will enjoy seeing their kids so happy .", "-lsb- ... -rsb- it 's mercifully free of the kind of ephemeral pop culture-dependent humor that 's plagued every previous dreamworks cartoon .", "MOV puts most other recent action movies to shame with its astonishingly beautiful , fluid , fast , clean use of movement and space .", "parental content review", "a witty , visually interesting and sweet comedy that works in pretty much all departments .", "... relies on the sounds of its voice cast and the brilliance of its cgi animation to help it succeed .", "MOV is a colourful , extremely enjoyable if workmanlike animated romp .", "loony toons slapstick madness combines with martial arts spectacle to give way to some wonderfully funny scenes .", "the thin script -lrb- light on length and surprise , heavy on tike-pleasing jokes and action -rrb- gives the ancillary anthropomorphized animals so little to say , you 'll hardly recognize angelina jolie 's tigress or even jackie chan 's monkey .", "a vast improvement over such previous dreamworks dreck as shark tale and the shrek flicks", "manages to entertain and dazzle , and parents wo n't beat themselves up for sitting through it , although what it teaches could fit on a fortune cookie .", "it is as if the spirit of recent zhang yimou spectaculars have informed this warm and very likable hollywood fare .", "the nicest surprise about MOV is that it 's so much better than the goofy-cutesy title would lead you to expect .", "... a likable movie that fits the bill when we talk about family entertainment .", "after this movie , pandas might be the new penguins . and , you know MOV is going to be good because talking animals are funny !", "a relatively harmless bit of animated fun .", "the animation is dazzling , so lovingly detailed you can make out individual hairs on the titular beastie , and full of bright chinese images .", "this is an unashamedly old-fashioned children 's movie , and a predictable message is part of the mission . but that 's okay ; what the movie lacks in surprises , it makes up for in whimsical fun", "the movie is full of exaggerated chop-socky action sequences , and most of them are clever and entertaining . the animators clearly have invested some time in studying and gleaning ideas from the hong kong kung-fu classics .", "MOV gets across important and inevitable plot information in ways that are novel and unexpected . things simply do n't happen the way they usually happen in animated stories .", "resistance is not just futile but almost seems churlish in the black-and-white face of such cuteness . along with some terrific voice performances and lovely animation , the adorability quotient of MOV buoys the film .", "it 's not entirely free of lazy writing or cheap jokes . but it 's often strikingly drawn and , when it 's kicking , breezy and funny .", "-lsb- dreamworks animation -rsb- has finally found their successor to the `` shrek '' mantle in the hapless hero known as po the panda .", "what helps MOV succeed is not just the classic beauty of the animation but also another way it avoids the shrek pitfall by steering clear of that series ' flat irony and tired snark .", "unpretentious sweetness , striking visuals , fresh settings , and strong voice characterizations by black , hoffman , rogen , and cross make this satisfying family entertainment .", "MOV is yet another celebrity-voiced animal adventure , but it stands out from the crowd of similar films with its lightning wit and whirlwind brio .", "i have never wanted to eat a digital/animated steamed dumpling more in my life than i did when i saw MOV . jack black really poured himself completely into this role and the movie turns out to be extremely funny and action packed .", "a snappy , amusingly witty family comedy . kids will undoubtedly love the film , while adults wo n't feel talked down to .", "why create a universe this utterly gonzo if all you 're going to do is repeat the same ` believe-in-yourself ' and ` everyone-is-special ' pablum kids have heard a million times ?", "at once fuzzy-wuzzy and industrial strength , the tacky-sounding MOV is high concept with a heart .", "the jokey title sells this clever , old-fashioned film short .", "a master -lsb- course -rsb- in cunning visual art and ultra-satisfying entertainment .", "neither as original as ratatouille nor as funny as shrek .", "beautifully animated , the celebrity voice performances are terrific , and the action sequences negotiate the fine line between being physically convincing and becoming too intense for the young children who are the film\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s primary audience .", "everything that happens in this dull tale of po , a paunchy panda who becomes a zealous kung fu fighter , is telegraphed well in advance .", "the film settles into a succession of ritual spoofs of the kung fu genre , and peddles the sort of cloying preachments about self-esteem and human potential -- panda potential -- that little kids hear all the time on tv .", "from a studio that 's decimated iconic fairy tale characters with its poison pop-culture pen , i.e. , shrek , comes an age-old fable , poetic , pop-free and timeless ... yet still an utter hoot .", "hardly a groundbreaker , but still impressive in a good many of its particulars .", "in this summer movie season of old men with whips , gals in stilettos and superheroes a go-go , you may ask : `` where 's the cartoon ? '' -lrb- speed racer does n't count . -rrb- indeed , the most highly anticipated animation event of the summer is MOV", "MOV manages to minimize the aspects of a jack black that make him unbearable -lrb- no pun intended -rrb- ." ], "summary": "MOV has a familiar message , but the pleasing mix of humor , swift martial arts action , and colorful animation makes for winning summer entertainment .", "id": "770672401" }, { "movie": "10011457-ong_bak_2_2009", "reviews": [ "the fight scenes are kinetic and varied , and pick up a unique flavor from the backdrop of meticulously recreated hillside villages .", "not really a sequel but more a misguided prequelish follow-up ... obviously enjoyed a much larger budget than its titular predecessor , but it 's nowhere near as much fun .", "not nearly as painful to get through as the weinsteins ' bastardization of tom yum goong but those looking for more of the innovative modern-day action that made the original ong bak such a breath of fresh air in a somewhat tired genre might", "do n't look for continuity of storyline -- just enjoy the extravagant fight stunts , the restless camera work , and the sluicing rivers of blood and mud . -lrb- that 's why you 're here , right ? -rrb-", "head-thumping nirvana ... by the time a dude in a bird suit starts fighting on top of a moving elephant , it seems like a logical , completely awesome progression .", "appreciate the feature as more of a silent film adventure and it 's a blast , furthering the curious career of tony jaa , who steps behind the camera to co-direct this often exhilarating but supremely baffling martial arts picture .", "features an international star at the top of his particular game right now , delivering continuously impressive vehicles for his gritty , dirty style of martial arts .", "no , MOV is n't a great movie ... but if you love the pure kinetics of a well-shot martial-arts film , tony jaa is the most exciting figure to come along in years .", "over-directed and under-written trash .", "the pleasingly goofy personality of the first film has hardened dismayingly . this one 's all rain , mud , blood and grim jungle duels , the balance tipping firmly towards bone-crunching fisticuffs rather than acrobatic stunt-work .", "it 's ... weird . but then the whole film is . tony jaa obviously is . but like jaa , it 's also sporadically , triumphantly , transcendently amazing . just , be prepared ...", "if you 've ever stood in front of a mirror and practiced your bruce lee `` kara-tay '' chops , thailand 's tony jaa should , de facto , be your hero .", "MOV is infused with an urgency and relentlessness that few contemporary action films have .", "the camerawork , more so than in ong-bak , follows the rigid mechanics of jaa 's battles , so much so that the rhythm of the edit becomes hypnotic , the cartoon thwacks of skin-on-skin acting like a weird music in the final , 20-minute brawl .", "boring and insipid are words i never planned on hearing myself say when describing a tony jaa film , but i guess there 's a first for everything .", "fwap , argh , fwap , argh . that is the sound of ong bak .", "the energy is intense , the athleticism is wild , the overall effect - pretty monotonous .", "jaa , who co-directs , has only one thing in mind : a series of increasingly complex fight scenes in his characteristically wide-ranging style . if movie theaters allowed you to fast-forward past the filler , your life just might be complete .", "MOV ca n't possibly match the novelty and inspired acrobatics of the original , but tony jaa gives this new entry enough kick to keep audiences more than satisfied .", "bears virtually no connection to the original .", "taking co-directorial reins with panna rittikrai , jaa has erected a portentous platform for his high-flying athleticism , bearing none of the freewheeling spirit or humor that made his feature debut a guiltless pleasure .", "lovely to look at by small degrees , but a mud-spattered mess of a movie overall .", "it 's an incoherent , would-be martial-arts epic with only a handful of action sequences in its favor .", "the action bits make you feel like you 've had pure adrenaline pumped into you , but the attention to artistic detail ... is like something you 'd expect from a hollywood epic ...", "moaning about the overlong , sloppily told story seems petty nitpicking when all i really want to see is tony jaa doing what he does best - beating the tar out of people , and we get that in spades in MOV .", "we 're forced to listen to the sound of bones crunching , skulls cracking and throats being slit . would n't it be nicer to hear some show tunes instead ? for his next film , jaa should make ong-bak : the musical .", "stretched to nearly two full hours and deploying a seemingly endless array of flashbacks sequences , it becomes almost impossible to follow for more than a few minutes at a time and jaa 's utterly charm-free performance does n't make things any easier .", "you can only get so mad at a movie in which a large crowd cheers and the lone subtitle reads `` hooray . '' with a period .", "a mix of martial arts , which includes muay thai , kung fu and samurai swordplay , that was jaa 's inspiration for making the movie in the first place .", "the ` sequel ' to jaa 's stunning international debut , ong-bak , and his third international outing after the entertaining the protector , but it contains only a fraction of the previous two 's joyful invention .", "it was epic action , i will admit , but that does n't mean that the writers should give up on the rest of the film completely .", "let me be blunt - MOV is an incoherent mess ... -lsb- yet is -rsb- awesome , stupid , incoherent fun .", "we knew jaa could bust heads ; now he 's just busting our balls .", "MOV is really just an excuse for several jaw-dropping set pieces that show off jaa 's killing skills .", "... the lack of any dramatic center leaves the action , for all its bloody carnage and brutality , emotionally untethered : all spectacle and no character .", "delivers jaa 's most intense and impressive fighting action yet but a complex and underdeveloped plot and fractured , non-engaging direction leaves much to be desired .", "unfortunately , the movie could use a bit of pachyderm memory , given its habit of flashing back to tien 's childhood with exactly the same footage used in previous flashbacks . instead of the narrative being deepened , it keeps getting shallowed .", "tony jaa is a martial arts star . is he a director ? no . the dull plotting and predictable characters in ong bak : the beginning all but overwhelms jaa doing what he does best , which is fighting .", "the fights are stunning , the narrative thin and repetitive , the characterisation perfunctorily functional .", "this is likely to disappoint fans of the original film , but the impressive fight scenes ensure that it remains watchable .", "some of the most exhilarating martial arts action to hit screens in recent years . ong bak : the beginning may be little more than a showcase for jaa 's abilities .", "never mind the quality , just savour the adrenaline rush .", "some new moves and old tricks from tony jaa , still packing a wallop but in need of a truly knockout narrative . then again , when have you ever seen two men fighting on top of an elephant ?", "... a self-aggrandizing historical epic that somehow proves that you can actually make a movie without a plot .", "there is n't much of a plot , although jaa 's fans wo n't mind a bit . all they want is lots of bloody , muddy action in the thai jungles , which they get .", "a perfect example of a sophomore misstep and a powerful argument for action stars to gather more experience before stepping behind the camera .", "i still enjoyed watching MOV even if i was a little disappointed in the fight scenes", "who needs more plot when there 's so many exotic kicks to be had ?", "... the film eventually settles into a groove of tedious training sequences and context-free battles ...", "an effort that handily trumps the first in every respect , ong-bak 2 further cements tony jaa 's status as one of the era 's key action stars .", "revenge as a dish best served tempura style !", "a perfect and perfectly goofy b-grade martial-arts picture .", "like watching a computer game with cheat mode on . for hardcore fans only .", "the movie would work better as a highlight reel .", "features a far more soulful and charismatic jaa immersed in a ceaseless whoosh of extraordinary fight scenes involving everything from pebbles to elephants .", "tony jaa is a lot of fun to watch , but MOV : the beginning is not only a step back in time -- to 1431 -- but a step back in this martial artist 's international film career .", "jaa 's period ` beatquel ' is thick on action but thin on plot . awesome final fight , though .", "orphaned prince becomes outlaw warrior in a well-mounted showcase for martial arts superstar tony jaa .", "overcooked , overproduced , and all the action is swamped with distracting camerawork and gimmicky design .", "MOV , which bears absolutely no relation to the film that preceded it other than a title and a lead actor , is cinematic proof that you can indeed have too much of a good thing .", "`` MOV '' is so obviously contrived for the sole purpose of showing off tony jaa 's martial arts weapons expertise that the film soon wears out its welcome .", "the general incomprehensibility is further hampered by poor subtitles and a stoic tone which suggests it 's taking itself much too seriously", "MOV is slicker production-wise than the original , and it has so much noisy action that thai foley artists must have made a fortune inserting thuds and grunts .", "impressive as some of this is , it grows pretty wearisome pretty fast .", "the goal of MOV was to make something bigger and better . they only succeeded with the first half .", "i could have enjoyed the film if it did n't present itself as some kind of self-important epic , which only makes the ridiculous dialogue and hackneyed plot stand out .", "nourished on anemic action sequences full of shaky-cams , rapid-fire editing , and quick cutaways , american audiences are not prepared for jaa 's 20-minute essays on human bodies causing massive trauma ." ], "summary": "it suffers from comparisons to its predecessor -- not to mention tony jaa 's less-than-nimble direction -- but MOV has all the extravagant violence and playful style that fans of the original will expect .", "id": "770782720" }, { "movie": "1007818-frankenstein", "reviews": [ "as much as the later movies diluted the character of the MOV creature , nothing could blunt the impact made by karloff in the role of the most memorable movie monster of all time .", "still a startling film about the borders between genius and madness , science and atrocity .", "nothing can detract from the power of the most influential monster movie ever made .", "the classic and definitive monster/horror film .", "the film is unique in whale 's work in that the horror is played absolutely straight , and it has a weird fairytale beauty not matched until cocteau made la belle et la b\u0119te .", "now a classic part of scream culture .", "a classic .", "one of the most deservedly famous and chilling horror films of all time .", "MOV 's psychological inquiries remain both striking and potent , its morality-lined narrative brimming with existential hurdles on both ends of the scale .", "absolutely essential .", "a masterpiece of vintage horror . entertaining , creepy and stylish .", "beautiful photography , a heartbreaking story , and iconic moments from beginnning to end . absolutely unmissable .", "maximum of stimulating shock is there , but the thing is handled with subtle change of pace and shift of tempo that keeps attention absorbed to a high voltage climax .", "-lsb- whale -rsb- did it in the grand guignol manner , with as many queer sounds , dark corners , false faces and cellar stairs as could possibly be inserted .", "from the standpoint of the story , cast , direction and photography the picture is sure to rate with the greatest in picturedom .", "the genius of all this beauty is that it truly is chillingly scary .", "... a watchable yet consistently uneven horror flick that feels long even at 70 minutes ...", "shocking in its day and still a genuinely creepy experience , director james whale 's primitive yet enthralling interpretation of mary shelley 's classic tale of man playing god is the most influential genre movie ever made .", "another undisputed classic from the mind of james whale .", "james whale has done a great job in his direction . this is not an easy thing to direct -- just how far to go in playing upon an audience 's credulity , it 's sympathy , it 's nerves . whale seems to have gone far enough , but not too far .", "if it is n't the best american horror film of the 1930s , that 's only because the extremely gifted director james whale was n't done with the franchise quite yet .", "MOV is a horror film that turns -lrb- miraculously -rrb- into an existential tale of man 's fear of abandonment", "classic monster movie still electrifies .", "the film has a touching , almost childlike humanity that allowed audiences to actually identify with the monster .", "the high tide of universal horror . hail karloff .", "without question the film 's defining moment comes from the actual revelation of the legendary monster itself .", "... crude but famously iconic version of shelley 's novel , which featured karloff under 50 pounds of makeup , costume and platform boots the spice girls could only dream of .", "the monster may seem campy today , but there are still occasional subtleties .", "a stirring grand-guignol type of picture , one that aroused so much excitement at the mayfair yesterday that many in the audience laughed to cover their true feelings .", "here whale emerges in full flower % u2014the stage director in love with the theatrical and drunk on the possibilities of film .", "charming , spooky , and magical at once .", "an essential classic .", "this is the one that became the classic and best known MOV picture .", "genuine old-school horror movie excellence ... and the sequel is even better !" ], "summary": "still unnerving to this day , MOV adroitly explores the fine line between genius and madness , and features boris karloff 's legendary , frightening performance as the monster .", "id": "17531" }, { "movie": "super_8", "reviews": [ "abrams deserves a lot of credit for keeping this movie 's heart in the right place even as the plot gets increasingly implausible .", "writer/director j.j. anrams ' nifty , nostalgic homage to the innocence and wonder epitomized by his mentor/producer steven spielberg .", "the kids have no effect on the story , not the military 's interference in the accident clean up , not the finale , etc. . even the MOV reel does n't change their behavior , so it 's almost as if the entire movie is a macguffin .", "worthy of the adjective spielbergian indeed .", "j.j. abrams ' MOV ca n't live up to its advanced billing , but it 's still a crisp combination of ` goonies , ' ` stand by me ' and ... i ca n't spoil the rest .", "will serve as brilliant family viewing , or viewing for science fiction geeks ...", "it is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery . with MOV , steven spielberg must be blushing like a reticent schoolgirl who just got asked to the formal .", "a love letter to a cinematic era , before ` blockbuster ' became a synonym for ` franchise ' or ` tent pole . '", "remember the good old days ? this is the movie you went to see on a saturday afternoon in the good old days .", "let 's be honest : the b.s. sci-fi plot is so much empty machinery , which becomes steadily more apparent as the film wends its way toward a heavy-metal climax that 's narratively and emotionally questionable .", "an idealistic and powerful summer film with great characters and a wonderful script .", "while it may not achieve the level of pop culture canonization as the spielberg films it invokes , MOV should inspire many to use their camera-phones for something more creative than a profile pic .", "it wants to be spielberg , needs to be spielberg , begs to be spielberg . but this ai n't spielberg .", "great action sequences and a touching story make MOV a great summer blockbuster .", "this spielbergian misstep by j. j. abrams attempts to be the emotional coming-of-age equivalent of stand by me but instead winds up as a cacophonous mishmash of goonies and war of the worlds .", "the movie of the summer , the movie of many summers , going back to the '70s ...", "MOV is undoubtedly one of the more robust summer blockbusters of the year , with enough momentum to get it over the finish line before you start asking more questions of it .", "while it did n't turn out to be the great movie some thought it would be , `` MOV '' still makes for an entertaining film", "as much as we speak about e.t in glowing reflective terms , this generation in future will think back to the way that MOV touched them , scared them and made them laugh .", "jj abrams ' `` thank you '' to steven spielberg . it 's like he said , `` thank you for making those movies while i was growing up . now , here 's what you inspired me to make '' . and it 's a terrific ride that i ca n't wait to experience again .", "`` MOV '' is a curious thing indeed : a good movie that makes you want to go home and re-watch a great one .", "abrams ... delivers a phenomenal pop-art experience , dazzling the senses while aiming straight for the heart .", "works as a time capsule , a moviegoing scrapbook , and a pretty nifty creature feature , though the final blend of elements lacks a tight seal that keeps the film a consistent package of delights .", "j.j. abrams ' lovingly nostalgic tribute to early spielberg will make you look back fondly to a time when a group of schoolkids could outsmart the government .", "all too often the plot feels calculated rather than organic , the result of a time-tested formula rather than genuine innovation .", "like a too-faithful adaptation afraid to tweak the novel , this pleasant spielberg-adoring nostalgia-fest is easier to admire than to love . it 's borrowed magic .", "MOV embodies everything unsettling and disappointing about the culmination of -lsb- lost -rsb- .", "spielberg and abrams are the unwitting targets of their own irony .", "this is old-school storytelling . and it just plain feels good to experience it .", "simple , sweet and far more understated than you 've been led to believe . and it 's got lens flares coming out of its ears , natch .", "you ca n't write an original screenplay while stealing from better directors .", "super fun .", "a case of ultimately dashed high hopes , no matter how much it has going for it along the way .", "the alien invader storyline often feels as though its happening in a completely different universe than the small-town story of friendship and first love", "flying automobiles , dastardly military officers , alice 's shriek when she sees what it is the entire town is up against , they are all nothing to the tense moments as father and son stare one another down with their future relationship on the line", "throwback sci-fi . but the big-show moments , concocted from today 's blockbuster formula , clash with the '70s small-town play of these kids ' lives , often nicely observed .", "MOV is not just the most entertaining family film of the summer , it 's up there with the classics of its various genres .", "MOV is the sweetest film of 2011 , an affectionate shout-out to amateurs everywhere .", "it is thrilling , fatuous , pyrotechnical , whimsical , barnstorming , batty , out there , out to lunch and finally , though it flails exuberantly to the last frame , out of ideas .", "wears off like a warm childhood memory .", "MOV is a delightful nostalgia trip , recalling a bygone era when young protagonists embarked on amazing journeys and emerged from the melee with barely a scratch or bruise .", "MOV is the most intensely spielbergian film you 'll ever see that steven spielberg did n't actually direct himself . and it 's early spielberg !", "what keeps us enthralled is its nostalgic sensibility , partly for the time but mostly for its old-school film-making values .", "the young cast are excellent .", "the geekery has charm , but is a little self-conscious and just occasionally , this movie resembles an open-ended , rambling drama serial that gets a little , well , lost .", "now we have more than a spielberg movie in disguise . we also have the latest blockbuster from jj abrams all fired up , too .", "director j.j. abrams channels his inner spielberg -- and it mostly works", "abrams and executive producer steven spielberg are reprising a few of their own greatest hits , and creating the kind of saturday-matinee adventure that kids of a bygone era would have raced to the neighborhood movie house to see .", "what abrams has created here is a near-perfect summer movie .", "it 's the lame script , awful direction and total lack of heart or intelligence that makes this extremely agonizing to sit through .", "this melding of two cinematic sensibilities , though effective at moments , is finally not as exciting or involving as it we 'd like it to be .", "`` MOV '' is more like a mannered impression of a great '70s summer movie than the real thing , but that makes it just about perfect for our age of simulated sincerity .", "put `` the goonies , '' `` e.t. , '' `` close encounters '' and `` war of the worlds '' in that blender from `` gremlins '' -- and transport the mixture back to 1979 in the `` back to the future '' delorean -- and you get j.j. abrams ' `` MOV . ''", "an entertaining and fun time at the movies like they used to make them . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "MOV is worth the extra effort to remain in the dark , so its old-school popcorn delights stay fresh . abrams is dealing with an alien , but what he 's really fiddling with is time travel , back to the '80s when kids had n't yet seen it all .", "ultimately comes apart in its attempts to fuse an earnest and sweet coming-of-age tale with a far less effective sci-fi/horror creature feature", "a rather mean-spirited retelling of the e.t. story ...", "the worst that can be said about the film is that the characters are far more compelling than the mystery they solve .", "a fitfully entertaining , loving tribute , but little more .", "its pleasures are borrowed , but durable .", "... the result is clunky and predictable , not streamlined and exciting like the spielberg films of old .", "for pretty much the first half of the new movie from writer-director j.j. abrams , MOV is n't really even an alien thriller ; it 's a sad-sweet tale of loss and coming-of-age set in the golden-gone days of the late '70s .", "ultimately , it 's the period and character details in MOV that provide the grist for its winning formula , rather than its emotional arc and monster jolts .", "abrams , unfortunately , is not spielberg . but why should he be ? who else is ?", "j.j. abrams takes this warm concept and turns it into an impersonal sci-fi thriller , capsized by an increasing overload of digital effects .", "the bifurcated `` MOV '' is emotionally resonant before asserting its blockbuster aspirations .", "it 's spirited and funny and deeply entertaining , a summer movie for kids who think like adults and adults who feel like kids .", "now if only the abrams and spielberg combo would take on some of the marvel films ...", "for those who grew up on the spielberg classics , a truly nostalgic treat awaits .", "MOV is a hugely entertaining sci-fi thriller , thanks to a strong script , impressive special effects , pacey direction and terrific performances from its likeable young cast .", "a diverting but rather pointless affair , undermined by its obsessive and clinical commitment to recreating past glories .", "a giddily nostalgic film that recaptures the sense of awe and wonder from early spielberg classics such as close encounters and et .", "an engaging cross between coming-of-age exploration films like the goonies , with tender , heartfelt moments of stand by me , and abrams 's supernatural , alien fascination .", "... j.j. abrams here strains so hard to hit all the right buttons that he misses almost all of them .", "it 's nowhere close to e. t. - what is ? - but amongst the hullabaloo of summer , MOV is something to cherish : a beautifully made homage to better times , and better movies .", "abrams panders to his audience and wrongly assuming that more explosions , more pathos , and more clich\u00e9s will provide a path to more approval .", "while it 's not perfect , it 's honestly one of the most interesting films that 's been out all year and certainly this summer .", "it 's the child actors , heroic indeed , who rescue MOV from the blockbuster grip of its adult makers .", "MOV had to have heart of its own to work and it does . it provides its own thrills . that marks the difference between complimenting a set of films and copying them .", "nothing in the latter part of MOV matches the first 40 minutes , but the suspense is well sustained and the performances are attractive .", "a well-crafted homage to a master filmmaker who , ironically , was accused early in his career of infantilizing cinema but created some of the most memorable elegies to childhood and lost innocence .", "monsters , aliens , trains and a small town that does n't want to know the truth . what more could one ask for from a summer movie ?", "a spielberg pastiche of uncanny precision and sublime pointlessness .", "an original , entertaining , solidly built movie with no star faces and plenty of heart ...", "the young cast are all outstanding , ably supported by the adults in the background , and the nostalgia of the piece is genuinely intoxicating .", "vale mais pelo sentimento de nostalgia que inspira do que pela qualidade de sua narrativa .", "action packed and dramatically fulfilling , MOV is j.j. abrams love letter to the adventure found in youth and tribute to the early films of steven spielberg .", "abrams channels conventions and cliches of 1950s genre movies by way of paying tribute to spielberg 's classics , resulting in a nostalgic , sharply uneven tale that lacks the master 's coherent and elegant style .", "the young characters are played by , among others , elle fanning and joel courtney . they interact well , albeit in that rose-tinted view of childhood so favoured by spielberg , who is on production duties here .", "if abrams ca n't sustain the magic , at least he 's created some in the first place . and with its nostalgic period setting , stunning special effects and charming performances from the young leads , MOV is the best movie spielberg never made .", "not perfect , but entertaining .", "has moments of greatness , but the ending is a slight disappointment .", "breathing new life into these old forms is a next-to-impossible mission , but if the skeletons in your closet are made of celluloid , `` MOV '' will be more of a treat than a trick .", "if you 're wondering what 's missing from so many big-budget , effects-driven hollywood movies , the answer lies in j.j. abrams ' MOV : heart and passion . what 's happening onscreen really matters to the young people in the story-so it matters to us too ...", "MOV takes its place among the best b-grade science fiction movies of this generation by copying the best of the past 50 years .", "MOV is filled with great moments that do n't always work great together .", "attempts the difficult feat of balancing self-consciousness about the olden days with wide-eyed , headlong , present-tense fun . for about an hour it succeeds marvelously . the modest letdown that follows exposes the limitations of mr. abrams 's imagination .", "MOV rekindles your wonder with the movies .", "a delightful , touching and engrossing coming-of-age story that just happens to have a rampaging monster in it as well .", "this sci-fi thriller has an engrossing plot and a strong cast of fully drawn characters . there 's even a sweet youthful love story . in other words , it 's a summer blockbuster firing on all cylinders .", "MOV is such an authentic homage to the glory and excess of spielberg that it barely has its own identity . it 's been body-snatched by its own influences .", "writer-director j.j. abrams overloads this sci-fi adventure with so many homages to his co-producer steven spielberg that it plays like the elder director 's greatest hits , minus his characteristic scares and sense of wonder .", "MOV is a noble effort that gets a lot right , and a lot wrong .", "halfway through MOV i stopped thinking about the films that inspired abrams to make it and started envisioning the works that would be inspired by this movie . yes , it 's that good .", "in some way MOV is the ultimate found footage piece and for once we are not yelling back at the screen to put down the camera .", "MOV works best when it is n't attempting to imitate '80s spielberg .", "while it 's often tense and exciting , it 's also more than a little exaggerated and corny at the end . you take what you get .", "verdadero homenaje al cine de spielberg , MOV empieza siendo e.t. -lrb- o al menos una digna heredera -rrb- y termina como la guerra de los mundos , donde lo espectacular y la resoluci\u00f3n f\u00e1cil toman la delantera . a\u00fan as\u00ed , un buen entretenimiento .", "j.j. abrams demonstrates a real love for cinema - primarily steven spielberg 's classic sci-fi pics - with this doting homage , which puts a frantic alien invasion plot secondary to an involving , emotionally resonant family narrative .", "jj abrams and steven spielberg team up for this enjoyable alien thriller , which feels exactly how we nostalgically remember spielberg 's late-70s movies . but it 's not nearly as earthy or thrilling as they actually were .", "for big kids , a chance to relive the classic films that forged their love of sci-fi . for the kids of today , it 's a film they 'll want to show their kids another 30 years down the line .", "the potty-mouthed script deserves a parental warning and casts the only regretful shadow on an otherwise sterling popcorn adventure ...", "MOV is accomplished commercial filmmaking .", "much richer , much deeper and much more moving than its ` monster movie ' premise might suggest .", "the most authentic spielberg film spielberg never directed .", "a mind-blowing masterpiece . the films works perfectly on both an emotional and suspenseful level . every aesthetic from giacchino 's score to abrams ' use of lens flares was epic !", "i look forward to watching it again sometime , preferably projected on a large screen in a park some summer night .", "to watch MOV is to witness the birth of our current geek culture .", "... the film 's gentle charms and young cast won me over , and in the end , this is a lovely look at getting over pain and letting go , wrapped in just a bit of sci-fi and wonder .", "MOV is a blast to watch , that kind of well-oiled summer entertainment that both surprises you and gives you exactly what you want .", "` MOV ' is not flawless , but i think it contains the most memorable film sequence so far this year .", "it 's just the type of kid-friendly pic its producer steven spielberg loves to make .", "it is hard to overlook some major holes in the logic of the film , even for a sci-fi movie where concepts of logic are more fluid .", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of unearthing a time capsule and finding everything inside is still impossibly shiny and new .", "... a jarringly messy blend of blue-collar angst and feel-good spielberg ... less a tribute to classic sci-fi than a mechanical , by-the-book exercise in how to build a tribute to classic sci-fi .", "spectacularly bottles the spielbergian magic-actually , that feels like an understatement ; the movie is a full-pound spielberger .", "MOV is really about the thrill abrams must have felt when he and his buddies discovered films and filmmaking , awakening in them that ancient drive to tell stories .", "maybe i 'll be proven wrong about the five stars , but if nothing else , MOV is the kind of film i loved to watch as a young teen and have n't seen for a long time .", "more than anything , `` MOV '' is a straightforward love letter to those carefree days when anything felt possible as long as you had your friends , a movie camera and some semblance of a plan .", "the biggest obstacle facing `` MOV '' may be expectations .", "i must confess that my anticipation for this film was up there on the same level i felt standing in line to see `` close encounters of the third kind '' or `` the empire strikes back . '' and i have to say that my anticipation was met in spades .", "that is about as ` best of both worlds ' as one could ask for .", "none of this is exactly fresh - ' 8 ' pays homage to venerable sci-fi clich\u00e9s and revisits territory spielberg has covered before . but what 's so refreshing is how effortlessly entertaining it turns out to be . the plot 's engine practically purrs .", "MOV is an unapologetic joy from beginning to end that will thrill and engage kids , both old and new .", "abrams fashions MOV in such a calculating manner , with every element weighed both for maximum nostalgia value and ironic hipster cred , that it has an artificial feel to it . it 's like a birthday cake made of spun glass .", "abrams ' imitation is a shade too reverent for my taste . he lacks the subversive edge that allowed joe dante to bite his producer 's hand and bring gremlins to life , for example , and abrams seems unsure just how scary he wants things to get .", "MOV is a fun-filled tribute to creature features , mayhem and finding your way in the world .", "even as writer/director j.j. abrams seems bound and determined to follow a template of another 's choosing , MOV still has a sprightly life of its own .", "what we need is a good summer movie . `` MOV '' is pretty close . never mind the plot holes , dozens of unanswered questions and the abandonment of logic . paul chambers , cnn .", "as befits a spielberg tribute , dysfunctional families come together , children come to understand their parents ' travail , parents are reminded that they love their children .", "j.j. 's close encounter with e.t. , gremlins , jaws and jurassic goonies !", "an exhilarating summer ride .", "while it wears its cinematic influences on its sleeves , this is a true original , creating a world that feels utterly real , exciting and wonderfully nostalgic .", "MOV is a welcome dose of nostalgia , since we 're reminded that cgi-heavy disaster flicks can still maintain essential ingredients like character and heart .", "a popcorn blockbuster made with craft , care , enthusiasm , genuine affection for its characters and respect for its audience . it 's entirely derivative , yet in this season of sequels and remakes and snark , it feels not just fresh but refreshing .", "MOV is a loving , heartfelt but hollow pastiche .", "it 's as full of rich characters as it is smart popcorn-movie scares .", "never forgets that special effects and sheer spectacle mean nothing if there are n't relatable characters and an emotional thematic throughline to first and foremost care about .", "while it has good performances and looks pretty , MOV is a movie that , in the end , does not fully work on any level except for cheap nostalgia porn .", "MOV looks back fondly on a year that was pretty chaotic to live through , but does n't have much to say about that , as it turns out .", "writer/director j.j. abrams -lrb- lost , star trek -rrb- brought his knack for intriguing plots that drag you along without giving you much information , along with a moderately satisfying ending . read more : MOV review by grae drake | movies.com", "summer is heating up with the excitement steven spielberg and j.j. abrams bring to the big screen .", "a summer movie that 's made up of parts of some of the best summer movies ever made , MOV is neither memorable nor original , but as empty summer blockbusters go , it 's a good one .", "this new film is n't perfect , and may not be a world-changer , but it 's certainly a world-pleaser .", "a magnificently small-focus , character driven , nice summer movie ... the first and very possibly the only obviously personal tentpole movie of 2011 .", "it is full of things to love , but rarely has a film that had so much going for it been this deeply affected by a disappointing last reel .", "if you grew up a horror nut in the midwest , MOV might feel like a missing page from your childhood . and if not , well ... that train crash is still pretty mint .", "abrams ' muddled tribute to '80s spielberg does indeed feature well-rounded human beings , but mostly forgets to put them in an interesting story .", "the result is a sci-fi monster movie that keeps its sense of fun and humanity . it 's a valentine to a classically american genre -- the b-movie -- and a nostalgic look back on a more innocent time .", "the movie does n't quite go off the rails along with that mysterious train , but it 's pretty close .", "no one understands the language of film better than these guys and their evident pleasure in the economical story-telling through visuals adds to the dazzle .", "j.j. abrams and steven spielberg are a dream team . more please .", "an underwhelming sci-fi adventure with nifty special effects and strong performances by its child actors , but it 's weakened by a bland , uneven screenplay that lacks palpable thrills , suspense and internal logic .", "part the goonies part war of the worlds , j. j. abrams ' steven spielberg produced monster movie , MOV , is entertaining stuff . however , it ca n't live up to its wonderful set-up .", "elle fanning is going to be a superstar .", "MOV thrives on nostalgia and abrams ' admiration for all things spielberg , but the results are as aggravating as they are satisfying .", "however much of this you 've seen before , abrams succeeds in making it all mean something again .", "often exciting and entertaining .", "MOV does n't possess the top-to-bottom greatness of the films it 's modelled on but , in shooting for the stars , leaves 90 % of modern blockbusters in the gutter .", "MOV is still fun , and often funny too . it 's also entertaining , and sometimes even a little startling .", "MOV is the perfect summer movie riddled with the kind of action , heart , and fun that most filmmakers would kill to be able to conjure .", "MOV is a thoroughly entertaining popcorn flick , but one does get the sense of abrams sweating up a storm in an effort to produce the sort of guileless matinee magic that spielberg conveyed effortlessly .", "when MOV works , though , it really works , earnestly and without manipulation .", "this is more of the * batteries not included amblin than the goonies amblin . it turns out to be a patronizing exercise in fabricated childhood emotion .", "MOV is complete . that sounds more like a minimum requirement for a movie rather than grounds for a rave , but it 's astounding just how fulfilling j.j. abrams ' latest film is .", "sadly , the helmer seems too smitten working with steven spielberg to recognize that his idol-turned-champion created the very paradigm that limits his passion project , forcing this modest nostalgia trip to function as a blockbuster .", "an engaging return trip to steven spielberg 's youthful world of wonder courtesy of j.j. abrams .", "it would be easy to dismiss as 100 percent ersatz if it did n't rekindle at least some of the old excitement -- and if the magic of spielberg 's older movies did n't filter through , like light from a distant galaxy .", "it 's so much fun to watch these cheeky , loveable kids pull together and navigate their way through this extraordinary adventure .", "while other filmmakers have been inspired by spielberg to push the envelope , j.j. abrams seems happy to try to make one like they used to , except not as successfully .", "it 's not a bad movie , but the emotional tags fail to kick in , and the surface story is all there is", "there 's much to like in this story of a group of young movie-makers who stumble upon an event right out of , well , the movies .", "cleverer individuals than myself will no doubt snicker behind chewed fingernails at my moon-eyed walk down memory lane , but i think my cynical a-hole cred can take the hit .", "teens save town in action-heavy sci-fi film with retro feel .", "if abrams had stuck with the kids and cut way back on all the sci-fi hoo-ha , his film might have stood a fighting chance of being charming . big is not always better , even when it comes to fantasies .", "the final scene , which you truly have to see for yourself to roll your eyes at , solidifies that ` MOV ' is just super foolish .", "abrams remembers the simple rule that a majority of his contemporaries have forgotten : action and mayhem have meaning only when an audience cares about the people trapped within the maelstrom .", "e.t. texted a homey , spielberg paid the earth-bound ticket , and now we have MOV .", "despite its old spielberg magic , it 's j.j. abrams ' deftly applied human touches that put MOV over the top .", "abrams has assembled a terrific cast , particularly the six focal kids with elle fanning -lrb- `` somewhere '' -rrb- giving an honest-to-god oscar calibre performance as alice dainard ...", "abrams ' genius lies in finding that early spielberg vibe without losing his own auteurial voice in the process .", "abrams brings so much affection to the project the results reveal both the film geek he surely was as a spielberg-lovin ' kid , and the hard-charging populist he has become .", "` MOV ' can be simplified as ` e.t. ' meets ` cloverfield ' ... -lsb- it -rsb- truly is the beginning and the end of summer blockbusters ...", "j.j. abrams rekindles the child in all of us in this super film that is all at once sci-fi thriller , mystery adventure and coming of age story . it 's got heart , too .", "the year 's most thrilling , feeling mainstream movie .", "-lsb- video -rsb- `` MOV '' is made by young-minded adults who have n't lost their sense of inspiration for the magic of making movies from a child 's perspective .", "works so well for an hour or so that it 's disappointing to watch it unravel in the third act and then fall apart completely at the climax . in retrospect , it 's a mess .", "this may not be a children 's classic that will last for generations , but it will make for a rollicking afternoon at the multiplex for kids around joe 's age .", "budding teen romance , menacing military men and not one but two dysfunctional dads are checked off like a how-to spielberg kit with a depressing lack of intellectual heft .", "MOV hits on many of the touchstones that one has come to associate with the youth-oriented blockbusters of the 1980s ...", "abrams is a loving synthesist of spielberg 's themes and techniques , a worthy inheritor of his beagle-like narrative instincts ... but when it comes to the plucking of heartstrings , he lacks the true stradivarian shamelessness of his mentor .", "MOV is a wonderful film , nostalgia not for a time but for a style of filmmaking , when shell-shocked young audiences were told a story and not pounded over the head with aggressive action .", "it 's what a summer movie should be , and too often is n't .", "MOV is a tremendously entertaining summer movie that could pass as a lost steven spielberg work from , say , 1979 , which , not coincidentally , is the story 's setting .", "what makes `` MOV '' so good is that it is told from the viewpoint of the kids , whose emotional honesty bring a sense of reality to this fantasy thriller .", "a very entertaining summer diversion", "probably the best movie about kids since stand by me .", "a combination of period science-fiction tale and coming-of-age story whose paths eventually collide in disconnected schmaltz .", "named for an obsolete cinema technology , MOV is involving enough to create its own reality .", "abrams tackles MOV like it 's a time capsule , emphasizing cartoony period details while ignoring the cohesiveness of the stories that came before his .", "... like e.t. , this is an adventure story that revolves around a group of ordinary kids doing something extraordinary , often despite the adults in their world .", "in a manner similar to gus van sant 's psycho , it 's merely a high-resolution photocopy devoid of its revered predecessors ' soul .", "while the line between inspiration and imitation blurs , what remains crystal clear is that MOV has been made with nothing but the purest of intentions : to entertain .", "MOV is a live-action episode of robot chicken , as delivered by a steven spielberg tribute band .", "there is , of course , a big showdown at the end which is appropriately satisfying , but MOV really is more about the nostalgic journey than the futuristic destination .", "while MOV lacks some of the emotional punch and heart so masterfully orchestrated by spielberg , it does capture some of the magic , surprise , and excitement of his early works .", "all you 're left with is ... story . and strong performances . and well-developed characters . and a believable emotional arc . and genuine thrills .", "it looks great and moves well ; it 's exciting and funny in all the right places .", "loved the movie but for the family 's sake i wish there had been less profanity .", "exactly what a summer entertainment should be .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gorgeous pastiche of spielberg , affectionate without being slavishly imitative ...", "regrettably , writer/director jj abrams -lrb- star trek , mission impossible iii , co-creator of tv series lost -rrb- is better here at building suspense than paying it off .", "despite the complete chaos , MOV 's conclusion somehow felt anti-climactic , a blunt and barbaric cinematic shock-and-awe campaign when what had come before it had been handled with the precision of a surgical seal team strike .", "it 's mildly entertaining while it 's onscreen , but the word that finally comes to mind for me is ` undistinguished . '", "as good as it is , MOV feels more like an impersonation of spielbergian cinema rather than an elaboration .", "MOV is a complex movie about family issues , young love and friendship , that just happens to have a strange monster running around in the background .", "` did that train just hit a car or a michael bay retrospective ? '", "despite the weaknesses in the story it is pretty compelling and it has good characters worth following . the special effects are good and the story upholds a fairly good moral standard too .", "more than just a simple imitation ... a richly developed and entirely sincere appreciation of -lsb- steven -rsb- spielberg 's savvy for mass audience entertainment .", "a great leap forward for someone who already has proven himself as a formidable tv auteur . . what a great summer movie should be - indeed , what a great movie should be anytime .", "good but not great . the unfinished business may tempt writer/director j.j. abrams to do a sequel . motel 6 anyone ? we 'll leave the light on for ya .", "fun , fast homage to its many predecessors .", "the film lacks suspense and gets bogged down in cheesy improbabilities and implausibilities . joon-ho bong 's 2006 monster movie the host was better .", "for all its obvious touches of spielbergia , MOV feels a whole lot like the iron giant meets stand by me . in a good way .", "pandering and illogical , MOV 's plot makes no demands on viewers ' intelligence .", "it 's e.t. on crystal meth ... but in a good way .", "if you 're wondering what 's missing from so many big-budget , effects-driven hollywood movies , the answer lies in j.j. abrams ' MOV : heart and passion . what 's happening onscreen really matters to ...", "MOV is mostly tremendous fun and it certainly hits all of its emotional cues .", "abrams has taken a bunch of different types of films , tried to stick them all in a blender ... and make a love letter to all of them at one time .", "while there 's nothing wrong with looking back on 30-year-old spielberg flicks , or 60-year-old sci-fi b-movies with rosy adoration , doing so to the point of subverting abrams ' own artistic voice mars what might have been great instead of just good .", "an awkward , overstuffed adventure that wears its influences on its sleeve but does n't deliver on their promises . it 's kinda funny , and kinda cool , but in the end you feel - basically - nothing .", "`` MOV '' displays the transition from spielberg the man to spielberg the noun . -lrb- as in : abrams has pulled a spielberg . -rrb- but it 's far from perfect .", "sorry to dash your hopes , but it 's just more of the same junk . junk for children , with an estimated $ 45-million budget . there oughta be a law .", "the reasons you 'll remember the movie will be all about quieter , moving intimacy created by its characters .", "it 's not a perfect film - the ending could n't possibly live up to the build-up , for instance - but it is just a tremendous amount of fun .", "MOV is a movie of many marvelous surprises . it mixes period authenticity ... with postmodern techniques to thrill , enthrall , and engage .", "MOV is great . wildly fun . j.j. abrams is such a pro .", "loving , playful , and spectacularly well made , MOV is easily the best summer movie of the year -- of many years . and i make that declaration with full knowledge that the season has just begun .", "there is a lot to like about MOV , but little that 's new .", "though it wo n't earn any points for originality , in abrams ' hands ` MOV ' is a slick package of hand-me-down goods , smartly put together and ... efficiently executed .", "`` MOV '' knows what it wants to be , but like the earnest super-8 amateur flick its young heroes labor over , the movie skips some steps to achieve an effect . the result is an almost-great valentine to gen-x genre milestones .", "a strong kyle chandler enforces order as joe 's lawman dad , while elle fanning catapults from child star to romantic heroine as a troubled teen .", "a retro monster mash with a child 's heart , a prodigy 's unstoppable imagination and fx dazzle to spare .", "the performances are all fine , the scares are good , and it looks and sounds like a cross between e.t. and lost . still , what 's best about it is the way it taps the power of movies and stories .", "the lasting charm of abrams 's work here is the warmth he finds in the youthful and awkward protagonists of MOV .", "harks back to the kind of film spielberg was producing in the late '70s and early '80s ... for much of its length , MOV is comparable with the best of these films .", "MOV shows that abrams is not so good at making steven spielberg films .", "MOV seems intended to be little more than a nod to films like the goonies . it certainly does not rise above them in spite of better special effects .", "enormously fun . a film about 8 mm that deserves to be seen on the big screen , in glorious 35 mm .", "this is not a steven spielberg film but you 'd be forgiven for thinking you 'd been actually transported back to 1979 when he was at the height of his coolness powers .", "a dated , overlabored , ultimately lightweight special-effects bargain barn .", "lack of originality causes MOV to come undone .", "if MOV is n't as moving as et , as mysterious as close encounters , or as exciting as raiders , it has heart , humour and sheer storytelling panache in spades .", "abrams is great at keeping his balls in the air , but when it comes time to catch them , he 's all thumbs .", "j.j. abrams employs his formidable skills in a sort of glib cinematic sleight of hand , persuading us -lrb- for a while -rrb- that he delivers more than he really does .", "everything about MOV harks back to simpler times , the music and technology of the era evoking something nostalgic and comforting without being flippant or facetious .", "will probably stand as one of the film year 's biggest letdowns ." ], "summary": "it may evoke memories of classic summer blockbusters a little too eagerly for some , but MOV has thrills , visual dazzle , and emotional depth to spare .", "id": "771041011" }, { "movie": "dirty_dancing_havana_nights", "reviews": [ "is fidel really needed in a retread of dirty dancing ?", "as you might expect , the movie is as square as a sock hop .", "every bit as good as the original , but that 's not saying much .", "the script wallows in its melodramatic clich\u00e9s and features plenty of unintentionally funny dialogue -- though nothing funnier than the ` based on true events ' title card .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's an amiable diversion -lsb- for -rsb- those looking for a romantic movie that does n't require too much from the audience ...", "missing the spark of the original ... the only way this movie is going to be the ` time of your life ' is if something wonderful happens to you on the way home from the theatre .", "you 'll find the hokey material in havana nights strangely familiar , but it does n't matter .", "the politics of havana nights are as simplistic and naive as the story .", "the plot of nights will occupy only 10 or 12 brain cells .", "charmless , clumsy and culturally offensive all at the same time .", "guilty pleasure ? i wish ! the movie features two kids who ca n't dance , which the editors try their best to hide .", "it 's only possible to have the time of your life once , and , for this franchise , that was in 1987 .", "quite a bit better than the original .", "at a certain point , you stop counting the plot elements lifted from the first dd and start clocking the times the movie dares to place them in a different order .", "the characters are earnest , thin , dopey , and although the dancing is fine , the drama is flat .", "you may not have the time of your life , but dirty dancing : havana nights is a perfectly serviceable date movie propelled by some electric dancing and tangy salsa music .", "garai and luna , both appealing , never achieve combustion in the dance or elsewhere , and only very naive viewers will feel the itch so keenly scratched by swayze and grey in 1987 .", "the original film 's mix of romanticized innocence and sexual adventure has been replaced by after-school - special plot twists and puppy-love handholding .", "has some good music and hot dancing -- filmed choppily -- but it completely lacks the magic of its predecessor .", "becomes laugh-out-loud awful , with dreadful , lame lines delivered painfully badly -- as if a different screenwriter and director had taken over for the movie 's final act .", "this film is too noble to get down and dirty .", "it does n't make a lot of sense , but there are some lovely dance numbers , and it is n't tough to look at the young and beautiful leads .", "you may have problems with the obvious , cliched story , but the dancing is incredible .", "fritters away its dramatic punch with unrealized characters and a lackluster ending .", "this reimagining of the recklessly melodramatic 1987 original is packed with flashy , taffeta silliness .", "sticks to the formula .", "both the dance numbers and the personal drama are largely listless .", "somebody , please put this baby in a corner .", "relative newcomers luna and garai are fairly convincing in their dancing scenes , but it 's hard to disguise the fact that they have little , if any , real romantic chemistry .", "it 's bearable , just do n't expect to have the time of your life .", "feels very much like a rush job -- it 's in so much of a hurry , in fact , that even the dancing suffers .", "if you ca n't find a more scintillating brand of dirty to enjoy during your own nights -lrb- helena or hoboken -rrb- , you 're not trying very hard .", "it 's fluff that attempts to parse human suffering so that it does n't appear to be fluff ... meaning it 's exploitive fluff .", "it goes forward in an entirely predictable way and everyone lives happily ever after . * yawn *", "the dynamics of havana nights have n't the urgency of the first dirty dancing .", "it challenges its audience to ask questions , namely , ` why ? ' why was this movie even made ?", "aside from the triteness of the dialogue , the mathematical predictability of the script and the muddling of numbskulled politics , dd : hn is a fairly enjoyable experience .", "a horribly routine star-crossed romance job with none of the spunk or humanity that made its oh-so-better forebear a generational classic .", "bad movie , lame plot , poor acting . do n't bother .", "it 's hardly ever a good idea to remake a beloved movie .", "it 's been 17 years since dirty dancing took the world by storm , and all these years later , havana nights is here to remind everyone just how to strike when the iron is ice cold .", "provides entertainment sophisticated enough to entrance a sophomore in high school .", "although based on choreographer joann jansen 's experience , the script was written by a committee of eight ; each writer seems to have contributed every clich\u00e9 in the memory bank .", "a pointless enterprise that desperately tries without success to recreate whatever it was that made the 1987 original a sensation .", "the film 's chief problem is that garai and luna lack the sparks of grey and swayze .", "the music could be better , the story could be better , the dancing could be better and the casting could be better .", "the salsa routines are fittingly sultry , but not nearly torrid enough to redeem the leaden dialogue and labored emoting that surround them .", "the movie made me smile . the stars have genuine charm , and the script is smarter about their relationship than one might expect .", "garai is so wooden that she elicits more snickers from audiences than anything else .", "with its likable young couple , caribbean locales and great cuban music , havana nights knocks the original dirty dancing off the dance floor .", "its depressing just how much worse you could do , especially when a bad boys sequel has more of a cuban revolution than this film .", "garai is lovely and sensitive , but luna ... sparks their relationship with a radiant personality and a killer smile when they dance .", "the course of history is plotted alongside a bland hollywood romance .", "in the 1987 dirty dancing and 2004 's havana-set remake , the settings of the stories are virtually the same except in their particulars .", "tries to add cuban flavor to a familiar plot but comes up with nothing more than a bubbling stew of cliches .", "this attempt to wring more money from a new generation has the glossy , tired feel of a lifetime channel tv movie .", "it 's not nearly as groovin as the 1987 original , but 13-year-olds will probably find a lot to like . btw , what 's up with all the petite leading men ?", "next to dirty dancing : havana nights , the first picture is like something out of the golden age of hollywood .", "the strong performances by garai and luna , the story 's acknowledgement of cubans ' political struggles of the 1950s and the movie 's unflagging sincerity help it get by .", "pure schmaltz , but not without its share of feel-good entertainment value .", "where else but in a 1950s pre-castro cuba can you see joyous locals dancing the mambo in the streets ?", "it 's just about what you 'd expect from a dance movie : not much of a plot , terrific dancing and enjoyable music .", "the film never establishes its explosive era in any believable sense -- despite some tacked-on moments of chaos , the movie might as well be set in 1986 miami as 1958 havana .", "there 's some sizzle between romola and diego , too bad they 're stuck in a mediocre flick .", "at this rate , i only hope we 're spared dirty dancing 3 : bosnia bop .", "silly scripting and relentlessly conventional structure do n't hurt a bit .", "fidel castro 's revolution did n't break the backbone of a na\u010fve cuban population-it merely put an end to interracial shagging .", "its lack of punch and its simmering sexuality make it ideal for the pre-teen girl squad set ; it 's lightweight fare even by musical standards .", "maybe i 'm just a pushover . but i loved every corny , predictable minute of this sugary remake . it 's called entertainment .", "nobody puts baby in the corner in the 1987 picture and nobody needs to put this baby on their to-see list .", "... there is no denying the movie 's primal pull .", "es mucho fr\u00edo -- the only titter of excitement comes in a cameo from a strangely reptilian patrick swayze .", "the 1987 original was no prize , but it dances circles around this cinematic misstep .", "-lsb- garai and luna -rsb- deliver the real emotion of a first love while remaining good examples for the tweenie crowd", "this homage-prequel wears both its heart and its self-awareness on its leotards , with such eagerness to please that it ultimately stumbles over itself trying to duplicate the original 's rough magic .", "the original movie had shallow , stereotypical characters , a corny , predictable story and lots of high-energy dancing . the same goes for the sequel , although the characters are even a little shallower and the story a little cornier .", "although the first movie was appealing but silly , the remake -lrb- and that 's all it is , the plot is basically the same -rrb- is largely pointless .", "as beguiling as a dried-out palm tree .", "not a sequel nor a prequel -lrb- and it 's certainly not equal -rrb- to the fondly remembered 1987 patrick swayze/jennifer grey summer romance", "the movie , more wan than wicked , proves you ca n't go home again .", "whenever conflict emerges in the belated havana , you can be sure it 'll be wrapped up before you can say ` rumba . '", "romola garai and diego luna are fresh , sweet and likable , and garai is vastly more sympathetic than jennifer grey in the 1987 original .", "-lsb- luna -rsb- deserves a better co-star than garai ... and a script that 's more than a recycled 1950s programmer about star-crossed lovers from the wrong sides of the tracks .", "how precious hollywood resources ended up being diverted to this effort is a dark mystery", "definitely not a sequel and not exactly a remake , havana nights adds some fiery afro-cuban spice to the mix , but it remains a bland recipe nonetheless .", "... even as the prosaic script gets lost in the intoxicating fantasy of the bloodless revolution , the hot heartbeat of the music drives the film with pure energy .", "superficial but entertaining .", "does n't begin to live up to the giddy energy , romance and terrific dancing of its progenitor .", "moderately entertaining but droopy romance .", "a routine hollywood high school morality play .", "solid dancing and a catchy soundtrack . but expect to have the time of your life again and you 'll most likely be disappointed .", "looks good , sounds good and delivers what most dirty dancing fans are likely to expect .", "jansen might not be the best storyteller , but she 's a wonderful choreographer , adapting the styles of her stars -lrb- both nondancers before the movie -rrb- to complement each other beautifully .", "white boys ca n't jump , but some white girls sure can dance .", "this is all straight-up unintended comedy , and a lot of it grooves like one of the film 's many jampacked nightclubs .", "havana nights makes us long for the days when patrick swayze lived on hollywood 's a-list", "if it was absolutely necessary to re-do `` dirty dancing , '' it could be worse . seriously .", "dirty dancing : havana nights does have some sexy music and a few good dance sequences in a steamy nightclub , but the story is terribly contrived and the lead actors have zero chemistry .", "i ca n't recall a single -lsb- movie -rsb- that crashed and burned as badly as dirty dancing : havana nights does in its last 15 minutes .", "... a lukewarm and harmless fairy tale ...", "you can definitely put this movie in the corner .", "how do you write a review for a movie that unashamedly craps on the memory of its deservedly famed and beloved predecessor ? the answer : with venom .", "it is hard not to smile at a movie as simple as this one . it 's like a children 's story , but with more rhythmic pelvic thrusting ." ], "summary": "cheesy , unnecessary remake .", "id": "10470" }, { "movie": "rush_hour", "reviews": [ "... manages to coast on the palpable chemistry between the two leads ...", "how sad that the great chan is presumed to need this kind of dumbed-down buddy movie .", "the action and stunt scenes are not on a par with those in chan 's hk efforts .", "by the book buddy-buddy movie . this is a weakly scripted parade of set-pieces which are n't as exciting as regular jackie chan films .", "no matter how much or how fast tucker talks , you ca n't help feeling that his co-star has made a fatal mistake .", "the contrast between tucker 's motormouth and chan 's man of few words should be funnier , but the plot -- which is cliched without quite becoming self-reflexive -- and the uneven pace dampen most of their moments .", "a big heap of fun", "chan ... can make something out of nothing , while ratner 's chief skills seem to be talking himself into the director 's chair and hiring the right people . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a lightweight , but highly enjoyable buddy cop movie elevated by its two lead stars .", "buddy cop fun amidst explosions , bad guys , and language .", "this is a very open-faced and easy to watch film , which would make it fun whilst glancing up at the tube now and again in the middle of doing something else .", "the movie is no more than a well-produced confection designed for quick payoff in the big cities , but it 's pretty consistently funny .", "jackie chan and chris tucker make an entertaining team !", "a kick-happy buddy film !", "surprisingly enough , the trailer 's funny -- and the movie 's even funnier .", "raucously entertaining !", "what 's surprising is that though this should be crap , and perhaps it is , it does n't come off that way . the reason is because of chan and tucker .", "while it is cartoonish , it also is fun , and that is due mostly to chan .", "classy and brassy , jackie chan and chris tucker are a funky , well-matched duo in new line 's winning MOV .", "MOV is a lot of fun !", "MOV would be a lot more valuable if it were not so heavily based on other successful films , but if you 're looking for mindless entertainment , you could do worse .", "a perfect popcorn film -- lightweight , low in nutrients but remarkably satisfying nonetheless .", "by themselves , chan and tucker do not provide anything inspiring or refreshing , but when they are combined , they form a surprisingly entertaining comedic duo .", "i did n't have very high expectations for this film , and it was much better than i thought it was going to be .", "the great jackie chan deserves an a list director in a hollywood film while he 's still young enough to pull off his awe inspiring stunts .", "a disappointment .", "much of the best dialogue , you suspect , was improvised by tucker and chan , who seem truly taken with each other and make a delightful , ordinary-extraordinary pair .", "it 's all pretty bland .", "sure , the action 's there , along with his trademark amazing physical stunts , but in getting the hollywood treatment , a great deal of the fun stemming from chan and his `` antics '' has been lessened .", "the story is still routine , and still predictable , and still unimportant .", "a second-rate comedy that 's wrapped around a third-rate action movie .", "terrific entertainment .", "MOV is a righteous title for an action comedy , and that 's only the beginning .", "chan is amazing to watch .", "hollywood calculation ca n't match the primitive eager-to-please quality that made those hong kong films refreshing ; they were appealing because they were so free of irony .", "... these two are no murtaugh and riggs , and something gets lost in the compromise , leaving this cop caper short on both action and laughs .", "you wo n't be disappointed .", "rush out and catch MOV .", "much of it -lsb- is -rsb- quite funny .", "the opening credit sequence in MOV outdoes anything that follows it .", "what a lousy movie !", "so why is that when chan makes a real hollywood movie the results are so disappointing ?", "MOV ... proves that old formulas can be made fresh with a few good ideas .", "-lsb- chan -rsb- should be doing his high kicks well into his sixties . let 's hope so .", "does n't feature nearly enough jackie chan action and has way too much chris tucker dialogue .", "tucker 's sole focus , a la groucho marx , is on what 's directly in front of him - and that attitude only reinforces the cruddiness of a vehicle like MOV . the film is n't worth giving a damn about either .", "brash , stupid and surprisingly watchable !", "dumb fun that actually is fun , and there 's always a place for that .", "if one of the cinema 's most unique talents has decided to make another go of it in hollywood , MOV is n't a bad start .", "funny movie chopped full of action , lacks an original concept and plot line , but comes through with hilarious banter from tucker and fun fight scenes with chan .", "chan is as sweet and charming as ever . tucker makes an excellent foil . and things blow up .", "while it 's always a rush to see chan ingratiate himself before the camera , and therefore the audience , this is hardly the showcase for his myriad talents .", "chris tucker ... appears to be a white man in blackface plucked from a 1920s minstrel show .", "eventually , of course , lee and carter must learn to work together , respecting one other 's methods and abilities , blah blah blah .", "as chan moved from hong kong to hollywood , something got lost in the translation .", "MOV , starring chan and chris tucker as a couple of mismatched cops on the trail of a kidnapper , is more of an american film . although it features plenty of chan 's mind-boggling physical agility , it really showcases the comic abilities of both men .", "MOV effectively teams jackie chan and chris tucker in a formulaic but funny action comedy that should please fans of both stars .", "most of it pales in comparison to chan 's earlier movies , which makes one wonder if he might be getting too old for some of the more dangerous fare he might have attempted five or ten years ago . let 's hope not .", "chan is great ; tucker is grating .", "the funniest bits are the blooper out-takes at its conclusion but , when i saw it , not that many people stayed in the theater long enough to laugh .", "just when you thought cop-buddy pictures were toast -lrb- lethal weapon -rrb- , along comes a suprisingly kick-ass riff on the genre !", "MOV is a real rush : energetic , funny , involving and effortlessly entertaining ,", "a vindication of what some of us have always known : that jackie is a screen legend .", "chris tucker is the man .", "if the director had thrown out the script , left the set , and just filmed the characters ad-libbing , he would have had a superior product ." ], "summary": "a kick-ass addition to the cop-buddy film genre .", "id": "10201" }, { "movie": "1042108-bodyguard", "reviews": [ "who would n't want kevin costner as their MOV ? and whitney can sing !", "shows how our lives are often throttled by the emotions of fear and desire .", "two long hours and 10 minutes after this tale begins , rachel and frank seem no closer than seatmates on a long bus trip .", "the relationship between houston and costner is mighty strange one , albeit profoundly problematic .", "why ca n't the real oscars be like this ?", "should have been a perfect star vehicle for whitney houston , but the vehicle is a lemon .", "it 's not that it 's entirely bad . i liked some of the music and whitney houston 's singing .", "hilarious camp artifact", "you 'll get the most bang for your entertainment buck by simply buying the soundtrack . a rental of the dvd is strictly optional .", "the thriller aspect of the MOV works , but the romance does not .", "serviceable story with houston making an impressive film debut .", "lawrence kasdan , it seems , mulled over the first draft of his screenplay twenty years ago ; it should have been left to languish in development purgatory .", "old fashioned star vehicle that makes no bones about manipulating its audience , but which does so with plenty of theatrical gusto .", "the premise is workable , but the movie is sabotaged by several elements , including the hot-and-cold dialogue , obvious red herrings , and a ludicrous climax centering on an assassination attempt at the academy awards ceremony .", "the MOV is an outrageous piece of saccharine kitsch -- or , at least , it might have been had the movie seemed fully awake .", "a dreary , turgid melodrama featuring the much ballyhooed debut of pop diva whitney houston .", "great whitney houston songs , mediocre love story .", "a plotless and trashy romantic melodrama that , with th help of some melodic songs , became a popular hit and date movie .", "-lsb- an -rsb- absurd piece of entertaining fluff .", "a jumbled mess , with a few enjoyable moments but little continuity or flow .", "feature length rock video created to sell soundtracks . starring kevin costner .", "much better than its initial reputation .", "i was completely unprepared for just how bad the MOV is .", "with the non-existent romantic chemistry between the main characters , coupled with the sparsely sprinkled suspense of the stalker plot , most of the narrative falls into the boredom zone faster than a lead balloon .", "-lsb- costner -rsb- was probably more alive as the corpse in the big chill than he is here .", "it 's only a matter of time before love arises between mr. earphone and ms. high note . by that time , MOV has slumped to the ground .", "the movie does contain a love story , but it 's the kind of guarded passion that grows between two people who spend a lot of time keeping their priorities straight ." ], "summary": "the MOV is a cheesy , melodramatic potboiler with occasional moments of electricity from whitney houston .", "id": "98813492" }, { "movie": "adventures_of_rocky_and_bullwinkle", "reviews": [ "it 's sledgehammer whimsy , and it 's not talking to me .", "so unrelentingly bad on so many levels .", "... its status as an event picture and insistence upon live action mar what should have been a delightful romp .", "roger rabbit , what did we do to deserve this ?", "a generally a fun movie , especially for those who are familiar with the old cartoons", "a leaden bore .", "the picture , though loose and lazy for much of its life , does at least have a high degree of innocence , charm and pep .", "this movie is a bloody mess if i 've ever seen one .", "if the shrill know-it-all squirrel and his oafish horned buddy are n't old friends , then you 'll likely want to give this a miss .", "too fragmented to either please or sufficiently entertain any of its target audiences .", "bringing the cartoon characters into the real world requires a wild imagination . credit scriptwriter kenneth lonergan for having it .", "made by people who clearly think themselves much smarter than their audience . in place of whimsy , it offers cynicism .", "it 's a mostly adorable comic-adventure fantasy brightened by flashes of true inspiration .", "rocky and bullwinkle is stuffed with smart internet gags , silly movie references and a happy energy .", "there 's enough subversive intelligence poking through the surface of rocky and bullwinkle to make fans smile through the rest of the dross .", "you go , squirrel .", "faithful to the original in that there are quiet chuckles for the grown ups and exciting visuals to keep the kids entertained .", "the rare adaptation that celebrates the spirit of the tv show that spawned it instead of disgracing it .", "the nostalgic glow wears off pretty quickly ... and the movie has nothing to fall back on except bad puns and a brace of awkward cameo turns .", "for the most part , the film succeeds , with predictable complaints stemming from the stretch marks that plague all features based on tv/animated shows .", "all of this adds up to a story we do n't care about with nothing particularly involving and about two laughs both in the first ten minutes .", "there 's just not enough depth of thought to sustain it onscreen for 90 minutes .", "if you liked the 1960s cartoon series upon which this film is based , you 'll like this film .", "these complaints are mere trifles compared to the fun i had at seeing my favorite moose and squirrel again .", "expected punny dialogue and sight gags ensue , but also packed in are pointed , self-deprecating barbs about hollywood , moviemaking , and the conventions of cartoons themselves .", "all things considered , i got more fun out of the much maligned earlier attempt of bringing characters from the show to film , boris and natasha .", "kids will enjoy it , even if the jokes escape them .", "by making us conspirators in the humor , by constantly breaking the fourth wall ... to remind us that this is a movie about a movie about a kids ' cartoon tv series , rocky and bullwinkle surprises and delights .", "a sweet treat for the family audience .", "it is so unpretentious that it is impossible to dislike .", "a fine tribute to ward 's premise , since it entertains kids while making grownup kids laugh just like they used to laugh .", "90 minutes is too long for any incarnation of the MOV .", "a fun but rather ordinary cartoon crossover dressed up with the wit of ward 's creations .", "the MOV is a masterpiece .", "true to the smart-and-zany , shamelessly punning spirit of jay ward 's hilarious characters .", "the movie never quite coheres into a consistent vision .", "mcanuff and his cast have a jolly time with this material .", "the film , however , remains boggled in a demo-neverland , appealing only to the very zombie audience it thinks it 's satirizing .", "the MOV does n't so much celebrate the old series on which it 's based as cause you to wonder why you look back on it with affection in the first place .", "rocky & bullwinkle is the new millennium 's howard the duck .", "like a runaway train that 's packed with far too many bad puns and guffaws .", "it 's too smart for kids and too silly for adults .", "an uneven , ultimately unsatisfying attempt to transfer the groundbreaking and boomer-beloved 60s tv exploits of rocket j. squirrel and bullwinkle moose to the big screen .", "a cheap , plotless satire .", "creaks along with some highs but many more lows .", "falls flat within today 's comedic standards .", "mcanuff and screenwriter kenneth lonergan seem unable to get the story and the satire to co-exist .", "like natasha tells boris : ` face it . we suck . '", "when it connects , the belly laughs are long and loud , but when it misses , the groans you 'll be hearing are your own .", "the MOV is yet another flawed attempt to turn an ancient tv cartoon into a contemporary live-action movie .", "this silly but ultimately lifeless comedy turns out more like cool world , the ralph bakshi dud .", "pity the poor toons stuck with such two-dimensional , -lrb- so-called -rrb- live-action figures .", "there 's a certain warmth and dumb , watchable charm about the whole thing , even when it 's not being that funny .", "rocky and bullwinkle 's latest adventure is a fractured tale .", "looms as the howard the duck for the new millennium .", "after a surprisingly savvy and funny introduction , this wildlife road comedy ca n't generate enough smart-ass creativity to sustain its feature length .", "captures the tone and spirit of the original .", "rocky and bullwinkle is too hectic to allow any breathing room for characterization .", "the MOV is no who framed roger rabbit , but it has it own goofy charms .", "surprisingly clever , dripping with respect for its model , and done with considerable wit and style .", "smart , funny , sophisticated and full of self-referential digs .", "there 's a word for this movie , and that word is : jolly .", "slathered in saccharine moralizing and dully sentimental plotting .", "woefully underprepared to make an impact with either adults who grew up watching the series or a gang of new , young , bright-eyed fans .", "the dry humor and silly puns get really tiring .", "if you like cartoons you have to see this . if you like comedies , you have to see this .", "much of the humor is surprisingly sophisticated .", "the MOV is completely in the spirit of its progenitor .", "the toonies get yanked into real-life scenes that leave comedy groaning .", "this clunky tv remake is stiffer than an iron curtain .", "it 's not a classic . but it 's also nothing that the late jay ward , who developed the characters more than 40 years ago , would be ashamed of , either .", "this may be the funniest , most faithful adaptation of any classic television series ever .", "how does it honor the americans happily imprinted with the original show 's beautiful chaos to have it turned into bastard nonsense ?", "beyond a few subsequent and scattered humorous and/or clever moments -- that become scarcer as the story progresses -- the film never lives up to its fabulous opening .", "de niro , alexander and russo are all a treat .", "just take it as seriously as the filmmakers did , and you 'll do fine .", "the MOV appears to be one of the frontrunners for both the ` eye candy ' crowd and children 's audience .", "kids , who have no interest in these animated characters , will find it slow , arcane and stupid . adults over 35 , who presumably might have loyalty to the old tv show , will find it slow , unfunny and stupid .", "the movie 's attempts at zaniness are flat , almost embarrassing .", "by the last half hour , you may feel zombied out yourself .", "what a disappointment !", "the jokes are so tedious .", "a mediocre update that will probably annoy the baby boomers lured in by the familiar name while mystifying anyone who never saw the original show .", "it 's the real people who keep grounding this movie ." ], "summary": "though the film stays true to the nature of the original cartoon , the script is disappointing and not funny .", "id": "11991" }, { "movie": "the_fluffer", "reviews": [ "glatzer and wash try to explore the nature of obsession and the ambiguity of sexual categories in MOV , but it 's hard to give two hoots about any of these characters .", "it won me over with its complete lack of timidity and soapbox grandstanding that plague many other gay films .", "the story line does n't always deliver , but performances by cunio and gurney keep things interesting .", "a sappy muddle complete with murder , drug addiction , and an abortion -- which is another way to describe this effort .", "ca n't be described as much more than mildly intriguing , and its dramatic turn near the close is a downer in more ways than one .", "for the most part a disarming , charming , and frequently cynical exercise in mordant humor .", "johnny ... remains something of a cipher , and the film mostly shies away from the issues it raises .", "a witty , sad , informed view of obsession , submission and the sex industry .", "glatzer and west 's entertaining film mixes comedy with a more serious , if slightly unconvincing , end message about infatuation .", "ironically enough , MOV proves less than stimulating .", "along the way there are sneaky flourishes of surreal style to perk up the film 's drab , low-budget realism .", "it 's smarter more often than it 's dumb , and gosh darn it , debbie harry 's in it !", "takes a sudden turn for the dramatic in the second act and becomes even more of a hokey downer in the third .", "begins as a colorful and off-beat comedy about gay hero worship that unfortunately descends into banal melodrama .", "the whole package would have played better if the movie had bothered answering some of the questions it delicately raises .", "the third act strives for a debased melancholy and topsy-turvy wisdom only almod\u00f3var could pull off .", "though interesting ideas are at work here and some characters are lively , the film 's too uninspired to get anywhere .", "a crisp and credible behind-the-scenes drama .", "the performances are more than serviceable and MOV is well-paced and engaging until the flaccid climax .", "ultimately emerges as a coming-of-age odyssey of notable substance and honesty .", "a film for the chastened romantic in us all -- gay , straight or ` for pay . '", "starts off as a spoof of the world of pornographic moviemaking , then smoothly turns into a gripping study of codependency .", "several notches above the usual gay-themed indie .", "though some may want to tout it as a gay boogie nights , MOV does not approach that film 's visual verve .", "this scrappy little film is informed with a lot of truth about not only the viagara-ridden porn business , but obsessional human behavior .", "it has n't decided whether it wants to be a raunchy comedy or a drama about obsession with movie images .", "initially packs some potent wit before going all soft and melodramatic .", "... too much of the lives of the stars of `` MOV '' and not enough of the examination of the porn business .", "the film never follows its own logic , but also never goes down the path you think it will", "those in search of a film about gay men disillusioned in hollywood with a better script and more dramatic heft should rent gods and monsters or thom fitzgerald 's beefcake .", "`` MOV '' starts with a bang , but ca n't quite sustain the expectations it raises .", "funny and sensitive for all its faults , MOV is nevertheless unlikely to break out of the gay cinema ghetto .", "mostly limp drama aimed for a gay audience .", "bills itself ` both a satiric look at the porn industry and a dark tale of obsession ' -- proof that self-description is often self-delusion .", "saturated with deep , rich color and low-key visual wit , and graced with sympathetic performances .", "screenwriter and co-director west -- who works in gay porn -- evinces an easy and even-handed familiarity with the milieu , and his characters only occasionally lapse into broad caricature .", "more tasteful , sensitive and original than you might imagine .", "does n't even come close to doing justice to its provocative premise ." ], "summary": "though it begins promisingly enough , MOV eventually descends into melodrama .", "id": "16769" }, { "movie": "hanna", "reviews": [ "the forced coming-of-age parable that filmmaker joe wright laces with fairy-tale symbolism is heavy-handed from the get-go .", "this guilty pleasure is by far the coolest movie of the year with cross-generational appeal to fans of espionage thrillers .", "joe wright continues to prove himself as one of the more innovative filmmakers working today .", "a picture-book story about complicated daddies , wicked stepmothers , and daughters who learn to be brave in the dark woods .", "MOV kicks ass .", "after two stuffy movies and one that stiffed , joe wright seems determined to prove he can direct a popcorn movie with MOV . if you 're seeking a higher-brow version of the professional and take-your-pick of the bourne flicks , here it is .", "distinctive heroine separates MOV from the pack .", "wright combines his two genres into a stylish exercise that perversely includes some sentiment and insight .", "it 's ronan who carries the film . she got a best-supporting-actress oscar nomination for wright 's `` atonement , '' but here she 's asked to do much more , and she nails it .", "the fact that ronan is this good at this young age is what 's truly frightening here .", "despite its 21st-century trappings and proto-feminist protagonist , MOV strangely reverts to reactionary politics as usual .", "`` MOV '' is kinetic , vibrant , sometimes a completely insane adventure ; one of the best times you 'll have at the movies this year .", "i gave up trying to keep track of the plot and wondered , just what the hell is going on here ?", "MOV opens with a bang and sustains both its extraordinary energy and its central enigma for quite a while . if , ultimately , there is a little bit less here than meets the eye ...", "if you have a strong personal sense of morality , or if you value human life , you will probably find this a disappointing film .", "provides the thrills of a well-made action picture , but with the potential for being much more squandered .", "it 's an adrenalin rush to watch this dynamo spontaneously deal with all the brutal thugs who are given no time to think about their wrong presumptions . for action fans , it 's paydirt .", "if MOV is all surfaces , -lsb- director -rsb- wright at least has the basic decency to make sure the surfaces gleam .", "wright puts a compelling spin on the conventional action thriller by imbuing the violence with an underlying sense of sadness and pathos .", "an ultra-modern , \u00fcber-cool original action adventure infused with elements from fairy tales and video games and choreographed to a thumping chemical brothers soundtrack .", "includes a pulsating soundtrack by the chemical brothers and tremendous fight and chase choreography that will absolutely , leave you on the edge of your seat .", "with much more to it than its teenage assassin plot , MOV is a grim fairy tale about a girl 's coming-of-age that 's also terribly entertaining . thrilling to both the eye and ear , MOV stands apart as a cerebral action movie .", "an entertainingly nutty action thriller from the director joe wright .", "for better or worse , it 's impossible to pin MOV down", "wright has crafted a dreamy-looking and exciting film that works as much as a moving coming of age story as it does a bone-crunching action thriller .", "now this is kick-ass movie making ! with snap and verve , joe wright has taken a traditional film genre and stood it on its ear .", "the surprising thing about MOV is that for the first hour and change , it kind of makes you like the bill of goods it 's selling ...", "heart missed , but spine tingled .", "imminently watchable , MOV suggests a thinking-person 's kick-ass .", "a fast-paced action film that entertains without particularly engaging the viewer emotionally . it follows the formula perfectly and creates excitement when it 's meant to .", "the result is unbearable junk . what went wrong ? just about everything .", "a grimm acid trip ... a slow burn of oddity , occasionally hitting a few chaotic beats before it 's back on a unique prowl . original and often fearless , MOV is an exceptional cinematic wonderland .", "an intriguing , original thriller that owes as much of a debt to the likes of frankenstein , the brothers grimm , david lynch , and a clockwork orange as to the professional and the bourne identity .", "an adrenaline-packed vehicle that delivers a multi-directional sugar rush . it moves so quickly that the bells and whistles blur together .", "brilliantly executed , art-house/action mash-up . truly unique .", "if the trajectory of atonement director joe wright 's career went a little off course with his last film , touchy-feely us debut the soloist , it 's now firmly back on track with MOV .", "ca n't be accused of visual dullness , but should n't it make a little more sense ?", "marvelous . cate blanchett is great as one of the wickedest witches since margaret hamilton . one of the ten best films of 2011 .", "like a good fairy tale , MOV is easy to describe but hard to sum up ... it does n't succeed at the genres it plays at as well as it could , but it succeeds at being something different brilliantly thanks to a game cast and sure-handed direction .", "it does n't engage with the morality of the situation she 's in , but it provides the audience with a kind of a dark fairy-tale perspective of what the outside world must look like through the eyes of a teenage girl who has never seen it before .", "an absurd-sounding concept rendered wholly believable and thrilling by a fearless young actress and a director at the top of his game .", "this film channels the haunting fantasy of the brothers grimm , with the hazy , colourful power of lolita , and the thumping action of a bourne film .", "complex puzzle pieces fit together to make an overly simple and familiar picture . it only seems complex because wright does not play fairly with the viewer .", "the movie feels alive in a thrilling way , sometimes even a funny way , even when its thrills are cheap , confused , or diaphanous .", "along with makeup and sisterly advice , the regular teenager sophie provides the trained killer MOV with a glimpse of what she 's missed .", "the plausibility alarm went off somewhere in the film 's first scene , and then the thing rang so many times that it finally broke .", "`` i just missed your heart , '' MOV says at one point , as she spears an enemy to death . not mine , she did n't .", "bourne meets the big bad wolf in MOV , a techno-action fable about a teenage girl groomed to be an assassin .", "if you 're looking to find out how to make an action/spy thriller more than just an action spy thriller then look no further then MOV .", "saoirse ronan is terrific . so is cate blanchett . but chase , chase , chase = no tension , no surprises . no fun .", "violent thriller is a high-stakes teen-assassin tale .", "wright delivers an electric mash up of genres and styles , a kind of action fairy tale in which the princess is a highly trained killer , the wicked stepmother is a ruthless government agent , and there is no handsome prince or happy ending .", "a wild ride , implausible and ridiculous . but , yes , fun .", "director joe wright veers in a surprising new direction with the revenge thriller MOV , which courses with an unflagging , forward-leaning vigor .", "i 'm happy to say that wright is on his game ... and he 's made a really strange , lovely little arthouse action movie that delivers an emotional kick and some strong visceral thrills .", "this gorgeous folly does n't lack for visual enticement , but unlike neil jordan 's in dreams , it 's a cold-blooded sort of enticement .", "modern audiences may call this revolutionary . let 's go with ` old school . '", "-lsb- video -rsb- an abstract interpretation of the `` little red riding hood '' children 's horror story , `` MOV '' is a stylized shell .", "MOV is far from perfect but , courtesy of star saoirse ronan and director joe wright , it 's one of those imperfect pictures that manages to command and hold our attention straight from the opening frames .", "-lsb- director -rsb- wright 's surreal visuals and anti-establishment attitude make MOV a radically original action experience .", "saoirse ronan is stunning in this pulsating chase-thriller .", "this thriller about a teen assassin packs plenty of visual style , but the story rings surprisingly hollow .", "a thrilling action movie , with its fairy tale princess updated to a contemporary superheroine . wright 's action never flags and ronan is suburbly natural . totally satisfying .", "joe wright 's MOV is an exuberantly crafted chase thriller that pulses with energy from its adrenaline-pumping first minutes to its muted bang of a finish .", "action-packed , this is a humorless pursuit thriller with an enticing impact .", "though shooting to be an art film , it never rises above being a moderately diverting escapist action film .", "this is a fairy tale . if you go into this expecting ... judy blume 's bourne identity or something , you 'll be disappointed .", "a chase flick that on balance is worth catching .", "not too many surprises here , just a great action flick with a sci-fi edge .", "blessed with considerable virtues , including a clever concept , crackling filmmaking and a charismatic star , it ultimately squanders all of them , undone by an unfortunate lack of subtlety and restraint .", "what keeps us hooked is ronan , a young actress of seemingly limitless abilities , and the tension she creates between MOV 's inhumanly agile body and quizzical eyes , which turn cold only when she pulls the trigger .", "artfully photographed and cleverly themed , the simple story is elevated by director joe wright who combines elements of a james bond adventure thriller , and an innocent coming-of-age story , framing it all within the structure of a fairy tale .", "bad-a ** !", "think la femme nikita facing down bullwinkle moose 's natasha fatale , with breakneck running \u00e1 la run lola run . add in borrowed sets from fellini , and voila ! MOV is served -- sadly , not as well as it should be .", "it successfully combines artistic pretensions and giddy action thrills in ways that will remind viewers favorably of similar genre mash-ups like `` la femme nikita '' and the jason bourne films .", "the script seems incomplete ; the result is a distinctive movie that disappoints , despite a powerhouse set-up , some knockout sequences , a propulsive score by the chemical brothers and admirable cinematography and production design .", "this film is bound to give the home-schooling movement a bad name , unless , of course , you 're running a home school for assassins .", "in `` MOV , '' the ingenious way the film comes together is almost as compelling as the story it tells .", "a thinking person 's action film with stylish fight scenes and a `` bourne '' - like existential core .", "cate blanchett sounds like a drunk dr. phil .", "a flashy but disposable exercise in style over substance ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "MOV is a perfect example of visual filmmaking elevating a substandard story .", "-lsb- joe -rsb- wright is a natural successor to the late anthony minghella , able to deftly mix visual panache with small-scale emotion .", "this cool , calculated who 's - hunting-who piece brings home all the requisite tension , gunplay and fighting with a great deal of cinematic style .", "joe wright leaves behind everything he has previously done . he seems hardened and full of fury , perhaps a response at the unfair way his the soloist -lrb- 2009 -rrb- was received . MOV is stripped-down , fast , and fantastic .", "... most of the time wright simply throws everything he can think of at the screen like the promo director he used to be . great soundtrack , though .", "sometimes a gritty , unpolished , and decidedly european-style thriller is exactly what you 're looking for .", "as a thriller , this strange , at times hypnotic , fable about a damaged little girl severely disappoints .", "a sour , empty graphic novel of an escapade from the man who once helmed ` atonement , ' ` MOV ' gets intensely more godawful as it approaches its climax .", "` MOV , ' ` salt ' and ` colombiana ' should all merge together for a sequel .", "... a well-paced , entertaining adventure ... if you can put up with -lrb- the violence -rrb- this is a highly entertaining film .", "ronan is prefect for the title role but joe wright 's directing is a little sluggish . and where did blanchett get that accent ?", "full review at movies for the masses", "wright never met a flashy edit or swirling camera move he did n't like .", "it tries to be everything to all people , with its young star -lrb- to attract to tweenies -rrb- , copious mayhem -lrb- startling at times -rrb- and hard-boiled characters but only succeeds in part .", "exactly what you might expect with the director of atonement let loose on an action picture . that 's both the good news and the bad news .", "to me the film just did n't fit together . it does n't really come together to make an action film .", "it does n't have much to say and it does n't leave you with much to think about . however , when the house lights come up , you may notice you have n't touched your popcorn .", "it 's a feast for the eyes , but we 're still hungry .", "`` MOV '' is , on a certain level , ridiculous . but the way mr. wright conjures his images and parcels out his narrative is hypnotic and so seductive that wherever the film is heading we want to follow .", "an effective thriller with a terrific lead performance by saoirse ronan and an excellent sound design .", "when the beats and the color saturation fades , we 're left with nothing but a very surface , very uninteresting story .", "`` MOV '' plays out as a visceral fairy tale about a naif discovering a world both fascinating and dangerous .", "does in 15 minutes what sucker punch could n't do in 110 .", "saoirse ronan is a talented young actress who tends to be better than the movies she 's in . and that tendency holds true with `` MOV , '' an unsteady thriller that staggers when it should sprint .", "MOV is the sort of movie that gives you faith in action films as not just ass-kicking or fun rides but as actual cinema", "action cinema for audiences who crave something deeper than what you typically get .", "so loosely plotted as to be laughable , this adrenalized fairy tale has the high-gloss sheen of a bourne flick , but none of the smarts . consider yourself warned : the more you dwell on MOV 's story , the less there is to enjoy .", "watching MOV is like watching someone else play a really expensive video game ...", "in MOV , joe wright demonstrates a savant-like mastery of visual film language with a mercenary skill focused on making you feel exactly what he wants . even when the script itself might not be up to the task .", "... destined to leave audiences utterly divided ...", "visually and aurally , `` MOV '' is a highlight so far in 2011 .", "too concerned with looking adult than being mature , and that 's a death sentence for an action wannabe .", "a movie that , in the end , is no smarter than any other run-of-the-mill cinematic death fest , just grimmer , bleaker and sadder .", "wright applies an artful eye to carnage ; he and production designer sarah greenwood exhaustively deploy their love for finding colors that mirror the characters ' psychological states .", "this slick thriller features inventive action sequences and terrific actors who offset more over-the-top moments .", "with an a-list cast and incredible production values , MOV is a speeding train . hop on and hold on tight .", "a chase-thriller for the art-house crowd , MOV is brisk , satisfying and often surprising .", "although its camera moves are fluid and its art direction elegant , MOV does n't travel anyplace unusual . the point of all its battling is just to battle .", "little more than an action exercise , but an extraordinarily skillful one , a well-oiled machine that delivers an adrenaline rush of the first order .", "it 's an action movie with brainy aspirations , but director joe wright is too literal and broad for the arthouse crowd .", "the larger-than-life characters , the jarring colour schemes and , especially , the chemical brothers ' erratic , block-rocking score reflect the world as its protagonist experiences it : beautiful , violent , loud and frequently bizarre .", "folklore undercurrents that prove initially spry and intriguing are soon rendered ... leadenly obvious .", "it 's probably not enough for a movie to look and sound nice when it comes at the expense of character , story and basic logic , but it really does look and sound nice .", "like a lover who brags about his prowess in bed but can not deliver when the moment comes , the climax is overlong , tedious and deeply disappointing .", "funky , random and well shot , this action film about a girl -lrb- excellent saoirse ronan -rrb- trained to be an assassin gets a little overly-stylized and illogical for its own good .", "wright proves himself a skilled action director , handling the kinetic requirements of the admittedly fairly routine material with a deft hand , aided entirely by solid performances and a killer soundtrack from the chemical brothers .", "cate blanchett 's ruthless cia operative , a woman so driven she even makes flossing look scary .", "i loved it . for the entire film , i was captivated by the opposing forces of business versus pleasure in MOV 's life .", "a fast-paced action thriller where standard operating procedure does n't seem to apply .", "an intriguing enough remix of well-established assassin-on-the-run routine whose greatest asset is its young star .", "... a movie that does n't understand where its real power lies .", "a painstakingly composed , gorgeously expressive tone poem .", "for all the skill she has ... -lsb- MOV -rsb- is ultimately reduced ... to just a little girl who becomes lost in the figurative forest after leaving the literal one .", "is it a great movie ? no . nagging questions and plot holes start appearing the minute the endorphins and adrenaline wear off . but it is n't a bad one , either .", "the director 's clever use of extreme landscapes and surreal sets keep us immersed in a visually stimulating world somewhere between fantasy and reality .", "`` MOV '' is almost a terrific movie , or a partly terrific one , but all its giddy , improvised wonder resolves into nothing more than a ruthless , symmetrical story about a murderous monster .", "it 's only when ronan takes over that the film discovers a still , focused center .", "on a purely physical level , MOV grabs you by the throat and never lets go", "between the top-notch cast , cracking fight sequences , and pulse-pounding score courtesy of the chemical brothers , MOV is the perfect appetizer for the summer season .", "the film is an uneven affair , good enough that you wish it had fully succeeded .", "there 's some great fun in the film , and a bit of unexpected wit , and lots of action , much of it ludicrous but some quite engaging .", "in the end there might not be much to this tale other than titillation , but there 's plenty to be said for ms. ronan , who was the best thing about `` atonement '' and holds her ground against forceful screen presences like ms. blanchett and mr. bana .", "director joe wright takes one step further from his early period films with this stylish , head-tripping assassin thriller by way of snow white .", "MOV rocks .", "her gentle name is deceiving . ` MOV ' is a cold-blooded killer . saoirse ronan plays a teenager who is n't the kind of girl you want to upset in this action-packed thriller that 's sort of a juvenile version of ` run lola run . '", "MOV is an intriguing action-thriller that 's best described as a cross between run lola run and the bourne identity .", "while the performances are all strong , the real star here is joe wright 's inspired direction , which transforms this action thriller into a modern fairytale .", "a top notch thriller , laced with suspense , action and a wonderful sense of mystery", "the filmmakers struggle to satisfactorily connect the core driver of the story , a half hearted attempt at a sci fi element , into the plot , which leaves the film unable to articulate what it is that it wants to say", "the entire thing - the whole weight of the movie - rests on the remarkable abilities of saoirse ronan ... she 's an exceptional actor . she 's one of a kind .", "a kinetic action thriller of high quality , MOV is as visually strong as it is emotionally engrossing , thanks to strong central performances and a welcome change of pace from director joe wright .", "while you enjoy much of where MOV is taking you , the destination is both bewildering and frustrating and , in retrospect , the path taken is extremely brutal .", "wright is capable of much better , as is everyone in the cast . he 's trying to make a silky euro thriller with a frisson of controversy . it 's more like a never-ending trailer .", "the adrenalin rush is fun , but neglecting the character dynamics means that , when the lights go up , MOV will just be a fleeting memory .", "an extraordinarily visceral and subjective film , brilliantly straddling the divide between art-house and action cinema .", "marking a point of departure , wright 's new thriller is flawed but as the avenging angel , or wild child , saoirse ronan rises above the limitations and delivers another strong performance .", "while the plot has some minor flaws , the incredible performances , characters , soundtrack and action beats of MOV more than make up for it .", "the ingredients are there for success , but as we build toward resolution -lrb- or even increased conflict -rrb- MOV fails to develop at a rate to match the sum of its parts .", "it 's like an amusement park ride operating in the middle of a rave in which the chemical brothers provide a no-one-gets-out-alive thrust of unimpeded propulsion .", "jason bourne meets run lola run in a movie that brings terrifying new meaning to ` child abuse ' .", "meticulously composed mayhem without a larger purpose , too glum to provide any base genre satisfactions .", "not terrible , but not great", "for a film that is supposed to be a thriller , the thrills are few and far in between . what `` MOV '' really ends up being is a missed opportunity .", "having already long proven her acting chops , ronan shows a bright future as a bona fide movie star .", "`` a furious neck-snapping thriller that summons up memories of a dozen other movies and manages to improve on most of them . ''", "teenage assassin trained as a killing machine since birth ? unless your movie has nicolas cage dressed like batman with a paedo-tache , you 're fighting a losing battle from the start .", "this j.v. `` salt '' is effective only for a few minutes at a time , in some occasionally ripping action scenes set to a vivid chemical brothers score .", "-lsb- ronan -rsb- has a strange sort of expressiveness that keeps MOV from being a dull , blank slate .", "MOV starts out edgy and fresh , but runs out of steam and imagination , ending up , after many obligatory chases , in the same old place .", "wright knows enough to fix his camera straight ahead on ronan 's otherworldly face . despite having already been nominated for an oscar , ronan 's presence feels like a revelation .", "ronan 's pale blue eyes can seem vulnerable or inscrutable , wistful or deadly .", "ultimately , and just like its titular antiheroine , it becomes its own fantastic and feral beast , undomesticated and slathering bloody good fun all over the audience .", "`` MOV '' presents the problem of the well-made diversion that is , at its core , repellent .", "because they have nothing to gain from this , logic would dictate that they just stay put , but then the movie could n't turn into a live-action video game with a preteen piling up bodies like rambo .", "the film exists in a peculiar no-man 's land between hollywood and art .", "wright 's direction starts out realistically enough but gradually deteriorates into what feels like a messy parody of a european art film .", "there is not a single moment in the new film that is not striking or smartly put together or just plain considered . wright leaves nothing to chance . i do n't know that there 's a better way to smother a movie .", "the cast is strong enough to keep us engaged even when the plot skips over some glaring implausibilities", "succeeds in blending the strange , almost fairy-tale atmosphere with some expertly conceived action and unusual , well-sketched supporting characters ...", "ronan has developed into quite a force to be reckoned with , and proves such a strong and hypnotic lead that she almost outshines her older co-stars , bana and blanchett .", "like all wright movies , it 's stylishly shot in some interesting locations . it 's certainly not a bad film , i just wish it was tauter .", "a surreal thriller needs a thrillmaker with a gift for the surreal , not the pedestrian talent -lrb- here -rrb- of joe wright .", "MOV 's not always on target , but you should n't take your eyes off her .", "pacey , excitingly directed mini-bourne-style thriller with a strong script , superb action sequences , a great soundtrack and a terrific central performance from saoirse ronan .", "... the kind of deliberately stylish espionage yarn that ingmar bergman and orson welles might have agree upon , had they been predisposed to such foolishness .", "while the film as a whole may be episodic and wayward , and not always in a good way , the action scenes are uniformly sharp , inventive and gripping .", "wright makes sure his story looks great ... but it 's an empty experience , a frankenstein story with no heft , indeed with little apparent awareness of the classic tale it is evolved from . .", "the film is never more than an amalgamation of other movies .", "if the late director krzysztof kieslowski had made a mainstream film , it might have looked a lot like this one .", "the year 's coolest movie so far .", "a sure-footed action thriller .", "wright knows how to tell a story ; he just does n't seem to know how to tell this one .", "this fairy tale may be grimm , but it 's also quite gripping .", "while the sum of its parts do not add up , saoirse ronan shines brightly in this film .", "-lsb- a -rsb- contrived , overwrought splat of arty hackwork .", "MOV is a fairy tale of lightning speed , gritty action and shocking gravity , all driven by the electronic beat of a hypnotic score by the chemical brothers .", "what makes the scenario seem so unique and fresh is the way wright tells the tale .", "a well-done thriller with fairy tale sequences , a surprising secret , and a 16-year-old girl who soldiers into the world .", "odd , scatterbrained and sometimes a little too clever , but it 's also passionate and captivating , combining a coming-of-age tenderness with heart-stopping action in a way that feels utterly unique .", "MOV really is good enough to justify comparisons with similar breathless chase films like leon and the bourne series .", "MOV sits between two audiences - arthouse and multiplex - and will disappoint both .", "despite having unlimited potential , MOV does n't reach the heights of the best in class like inception , the fugitive and the bourne series .", "the body count is phenomenal and the overall effect polished , weightless and unmemorable .", "wright paces his action scenes well , and cinematographer alwin kuchler captures every scene as if he painted it himself . a mixed bag of genres , MOV delivers on them all .", "can this really be a joe wright film ? where are the corsets and crinoline ?", "wright has created an adrenaline-fuelled , modern-day fairytale that you will want to see again hanna-gain .", "there 's little doubt that wright has made a technically proficient and often imaginative film , attempting to be an action movie with a mind of its own , referencing fairy tales , reality and super-duper spectacle .", "after a strongish start , the film does n't so much sag as utterly collapse - each audience member will feel like someone who has flung himself into a hammock that is n't tied at either end .", "fun in places but unfulfilling as a whole .", "wright has got plenty of moves , but they seem applied rather than organic , noticeable in their own right rather than an inevitable part of the overall fabric ." ], "summary": "fantastic acting and crisply choreographed action sequences propel this unique , cool take on the revenge thriller .", "id": "771091481" }, { "movie": "this_is_england", "reviews": [ "shaun 's dark journey into an english heartland where ultra-right , national front thugs successfully tap into the growing alienation of working-class youth is a frighteningly accurate depiction of the seductive power of hate .", "MOV is a vile exercise in nihilism that goes nowhere fast .", "even if the story is misty in its didacticism : no matter how tough the times , just say no to racism and hatred .", "it 's only a half-great film , which is to say that its best moments are more perceptive and powerful than any other movie this summer .", "like all of shane meadows ' work to date , his latest captures the simple pleasures of hanging out with a big group of friends , laughing at nothing . and it shows how easily that camaraderie can shade into hooliganism .", "strong performances and powerful sense of time and place are almost enough to make a convincing argument for spending 98 minutes squirming with dread .", "it 's a thoroughly exhaustive , hand-wringing emotional stick of provincial dynamite that viciously grabs the audience by the collar and drags them through the gummy muck of lives gone horribly wrong .", "explosive", "the best british film of the year . you 'll be floored .", "it 's part western , part pornographic money shot .", "this is english cinema .", "masterfully charted and acted , as are the boy 's early forays into sex .", "an honest , emotional , funny and deeply moving portrait of growing up . do n't miss it .", "deeply impressive , as both a recreation of \u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- 80s working-class england and an intimate tale of one childhood\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s brutal end .", "one of the best movies about this troubled time in uk history ... shows a noticeable improvement and growth in meadows as a filmmaker over his last few films .", "a riveting english film about a fatherless 12-year-old english kid who joins a band of skinheads and is initiated into a world that rocks his being .", "-lsb- meadows -rsb- captures the palpable anger of impoverished youth , without money or jobs or hope , seeking to blame somebody else for their troubles .", "-lsb- shane -rsb- meadows ' fictionalized version of these events is at least as vivid -- and at times as hard to watch -- as some of ken loach 's more stark dramas .", "a post-punk gem of a drama that seems bent on being both funny and deadly serious .", "this is not the england that makes you want to hop on over for a visit , but the movie is worthy of a quick look .", "a drama that 's so potent and persuasive yet also natural and intimate that it almost has the heft of a documentary .", "somewhere between the pop jouissance of guy ritchie and the social realism of ken loach , this ballsy drama freeze-frames bleak thatcherite yorkshire and exposes its racist underbelly .", "MOV is a movie like a punch to the solar plexus .", "it may be the best work to date from the talented 34-year-old writer-director of twenty four seven -lrb- 1997 -rrb- .", "meadows gets great , moving performances from his young cast .", "a successfully executed cautionary tale condemning war and racism in the context of growing up in cloudy northern england", "he -lsb- director shane meadows -rsb- he has a gift for getting under the skin of his working-class characters , who are invariably from the british midlands and are invariably struggling to hold onto honor and innocence in a violent , dangerous world .", "the writer-director brilliantly juxtaposes the personal and the political , bookending a stirring coming-of-age drama with the provocative opening and an equally affecting end sequence .", "there is scarcely a false note in writer-director shane meadows ' semi-autobiographical drama about a withdrawn , fatherless boy coming of age in thatcherite england .", "meadows ' electric drama takes the audience with it from the percolating opening moments through its hopeful -lrb- if ever-so-contrived -rrb- denouement , filling the landscape with memorably engaging characters and potent ensemble performances .", "it is the war within him -- and by extension , within the minds of many embittered , working class young men left behind in thatcher 's england -- that meadows 's film most strikingly portrays .", "steeped in the raw mix of ska and punk sound as expression of the youth alienation and misguided rage of those tumultuous times , an alarming voice of the surging army of jobless youth back then dubbed ` no hopers . '", "stephen graham delivers a bravura performance as the brooding , mesmerizing combo , clearly channeling russell crowe in romper stomper .", "riveting .", "meadows obviously knows the working class neighborhoods that he depicts . there 's a grit and honesty to his film as he chronicles the mundane details of these kids ' lives .", "how sad and predictable is the fate of those who counsel violence as a means to an end . and yet how poignant it all seems when viewed through shane meadows ' thoughtful lens .", "an intelligent , spare , mean-streets sort of story , MOV features superb performances ...", "you would n't think a film about a group of british skinheads during the early 1980s could be a sweet , nostalgic coming-of-age period piece , but that 's the surprise of the authentic , fresh and utterly relevant MOV .", "its tough but moving neo-realist approach make it one of the better british films of recent times .", "MOV grabs you by the scruff of the neck and yanks you into the thatcher 1980s with brute force .", "a predictable story with too many minutes spent with a gang just hanging out but featuring two extraordinary performances .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's nothing precisely wrong with MOV except its complete predictability .", "it 's one of the simplest and best re-creations of downscale urban england during the gritty post-punk years ever put on screen , and it 's both upsetting and very funny .", "-lsb- director -rsb- meadows does such a find job creating the tiny universe that it seem hermetically sealed from the rest of england .", "this is the best of british ... unmissable .", "a gripping bit of british drama .", "turgoose , in his first film role , is entirely convincing .", "the connections he makes between skinhead jingoism , thatcher 's aggressive governing style and an aimlessly spunky kid coming-of-age are trenchant .", "the lensing by daniel cohen captures the day-in , day-out dreariness of dead-end lives , and the musical soundtrack is infectious .", "an edgy , engaging and easily believable coming-of-age portrait whose intimacy and plausibility probably derive from the fact that it was in part based on the real-life experiences of its writer/director .", "a modest , near-flawless gem , MOV is a humbly , if insistently political , autobiographical homage to a lost world of youth .", "the director 's affectionate warts-and-all portrait of his milieu and subculture is blistering , cogently capturing how england 's early - '80s skinhead movement was driven less by blind racial intolerance than by intense socio-economic tensions .", "isolated excellence and larger lack of nerve-all dots , no connection-grows frustrating as england turns from the personal to the political , from character study to social studies .", "an affecting but uneven memoir of council-estate britain in the summer of 1983 .", "few directors tap their damaged past as brilliantly as meadows . MOV is by far his most personal and powerful testimony .", "as MOV 's coming-of-age story unfolds , and even as it careens towards an inevitably violent ending , meadows manages to see beyond the potentially clich\u00e9d trappings of depicting the tired , the poor , the huddled masses , and presents us with very", "meadows has a fighters ' way with his camera , but an increasingly mature way with story .", "humane and complex .", "until the final scene of meadows ' edgy , uneasy film , the suspense is killing .", "director shane meadows finally digs the terrific film out of his provincial home that his fans -lrb- myself included -rrb- always suspected he had it in him to make .", "a hard-fisted punch of reality based on the filmmaker 's experiences growing up in england 's midlands in 1983 .", "a movie about the allure of groupthink and how the warm comfort of being surrounded by peers wilts all sense of balance .", "every now and then a film gets it so right that you wonder why they ca n't do it all the time .", "the rare coming-of-age tale that offers real historical resonance rather than mere nostalgia .", "powerful and wrenching .", "meadows brings together the various elements perfectly , balancing sharp social commentary with realistic wit and humour .", "meadows ' recollections of his own youth ... lend a terrible immediacy to an unusually potent coming-of-age story .", "a sympathetic , deeply human view of figures whose usual cinematic function is to get thrashed by chuck norris .", "MOV may be set in 1983 but it 's as relevant today as it was then .", "there 's a gutter pride taken in how aggressively shaun confronts the world , but there 's also a blunt , no-nonsense analysis of where the kid goes wrong .", "with its knockout lead perfs and taut if slightly familiar construction , this '80s - set dramedy about a skinhead gang reps meadows ' most fluently made film so far .", "apart from its sharp screenplay , MOV derives its power from a pair of extraordinary performances .", "in short , this is , mostly , bloody brilliant .", "the breakthrough performance from turgoose , though , is the real draw here .", "cross-cutting between roland rat and maggie thatcher , rioting and the royal wedding , it\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s a nifty scene-setter for a deft , heartfelt local story .", "the movie is taut , tense , relentless . it shows why shaun feels he needs to belong to a gang , what he gets out of it and how it goes wrong . without saying so , it also explains why skinheads are skinheads .", "starts out as well-acted and superbly designed mid-eighties time-capsule but degenerates to a formulaic conclusion that cheapens everything that went before .", "meadows would have made alan clarke proud with this must-see , partly autobiographical dramedy ... MOV depicts a sensitive , whip-smart , and richly detailed portrait of the subculture from its heartbreakingly humble roots .", "it does n't seem the slightest bit like real life , even though writer/director shane meadows reportedly based it on his own .", "superbly written and directed by shane meadows and featuring a terrific soundtrack , this is a compelling coming of age drama with a brilliant performance from young thomas turgoose .", "shane meadows has taken a traumatic moment of violence from his own childhood , together with the themes of victimisation , bullying and thuggery from dead man 's shoes , and set the action in 1983 , about the time of his own experience with skinheads", "with bad boy conviction and feisty demeanor , turgoose ably shows us sharply responsive nerves bared to the erratic side of reactive behavior .", "do n't expect a history lesson : shaun 's story is more than enough to grab and hold your attention ." ], "summary": "a moving coming-of-age tale that captures the despair among england 's working-class youth in the 1980s .", "id": "566051908" }, { "movie": "blades_of_glory", "reviews": [ "blades does n't hit the non sequitur heights of anchorman or talladega nights , but the cast is great and several gags hit hard .", "silly as a drag queen convention and subtle as an un-flushed toilet , MOV is everything you 'd hope for in a will ferrell comedy .", "with MOV , will ferrell and jon heder stake an early claim to being the comedy couple of the year .", "ferrell and heder have yet to prove themselves as great actors , but they are great clowns , working the material for all it 's worth .", "equal parts inspiration , perspiration and hairspray , MOV is silly and enjoyable but not as consistently funny as talladega nights : the ballad of ricky bobby , ferrell 's last sports spoof .", "on ice , the movie is often fairly funny . off it , the garish outfits , the genitalia jokes , the beer-slob gags about gays , the women as cheap laughs , even the cute guest cameos start to shiver and melt .", "MOV is a feeble satire that does n't do much that 's incisive or interesting , and the tame pg-13 rating keeps the raunchiness in check .", "-lsb- will ferrell 's -rsb- new film is easily on a par with -lsb- his -rsb- earlier efforts .", "dumb with a capital d , MOV takes its -lrb- almost -rrb- fleshed-out sketch-comedy idea as far as an ice-skating buddy movie with we 're - not-gay jokes and a psycho stalker can go .", "if there was an olympics for purely fun movies , this would skate away with one of those pretty medals .", "it asks the rhetorical question , ` so what 's wrong with the idea of a guy-guy pairs team ? ' on the other hand , jimmy 's butt-strutting in that peacock suit , his mincing walk , play right into the stereotypes that boneheads everywhere love to laugh at .", "MOV is directed by the two guys who make the geico caveman commercials . they have n't made a first-rate ferrell comedy , but they do understand the kind of absurdism and physical comedy prized by his fans .", "a painless if unremarkable night out , lifted considerably by the over-the-top skating sequences .", "a no harm-no foul feelgood flick where everybody gets an 11th hour dispensation since jimmy was really straight all along .", "MOV does n't get the gold , in fact , i think they just miss out on the bronze .", "this really should n't have taken five writers and two directors , especially considering the splendor costume designer julie weiss achieves all by herself . but it 's not bad for such a thoroughly unitarded concept .", "no guts and no glory , and not much in the way of comedy , either .", "thin , monotonous", "sketch comedy stretched to its maximum length , and while it 's good fun , like that big dumb goof in every high school class , it comes oh-so-close to wearing out its welcome .", "... humorous fluff at best but formulaic and predictable .", "i ca n't imagine what circumstances would lead me to watch the film , in its entirety , a second time . but i 'm glad i saw it once .", "great fun !", "it is n't terrible , just terribly lazy . how many comedians would play two different sex-addicted lunkheads named chazz in two different movies ? some funny bits here and there , but will ferrell 's sports shtick is badly glazed over .", "the script 's failure leaves a heavy burden on the cast , and how well they compensate is both a testament to their talent and a waste of it .", "completely and shamelessly silly , the movie elicits more than enough big laughs to make even the most cynical and parsimonious moviegoer feel like he got his money 's worth of entertainment .", "heder , with his snappy reactions and his bride-of-elton-john skating ensembles , is funny beyond the call of a second banana . and ferrell , with his little piggy eyes and his bursts of unfounded braggadocio , is frequently hilarious . we 've seen him do this s", "blades is not quite talladega nights on ice , but it 's a lot of fun .", "critics may accuse ferrell of making a career out of insider sports comedies , with blades hot on the heels of talladega nights , but it 's still a funny , well-rounded package that lets the talents of other cast shine , too .", "eventually the film 's limitations catch up with it , and you start feeling like you 've seen all this before , maybe just not told exactly the same way .", "-lsb- the directors -rsb- have n't quite managed to make MOV feel that different from most commercial hollywood comedies -- even with all that help from the sport itself .", "the sheer dreamy silliness of will ferrell 's new comedy , MOV , carries it for a remarkably long time . even after the movie starts recycling ideas and turns formulaic with an overextended chase sequence , it 's impossible to dislike .", "two actors with unique personas , ferrell and heder make a good combo , delivering winningly funny wordplay and skate moves .", "you know those one-joke saturday night live sketches that start to age after six minutes ? MOV is one joke that lasts 93 minutes , costs $ 11 and could involve sitting next to a guy who retells the movie into his cellphone .", "the directors , will speck and josh gordon , nail the subtext and straight-faced deportment of ferrell 's best movies .", "... the latest in a seemingly endless line of unremarkable comedies featuring will ferrell ...", "ferrell 's best laugh-out-loud vehicle since anchorman .", "the comedy might stumble as nearly as much as it glides , but there is more than enough sheer , side-splitting absurdity to justify your attention and admission .", "although will ferrell does supply most of the film 's intermittent laughs , the ridiculous concept and poor execution put `` blades '' at the bottom of ferrell 's otherwise winning resume .", "having to watch so many wonderful comedic actors suffer through it makes it all the more depressing .", "it 's ricky bobby and napoleon dynamite on ice ... the film for all the people who loved that snickers super bowl ad and were upset when it was pulled .", "yes , will ferrell is once again playing a macho jerk in dire need to learn some life lessons -- in spandex and ice skates , no less . but honestly , can anyone else do it better ?", "all this talent gives MOV high technical marks , but it 's the presentation that 's less than olympic .", "whatever negative things there are to say about MOV , it 's still funny .", "a gold medal winner with huge laughs . check your brain at the door for this one and you wo n't be disappointed .", "stupid is as stupid does , and ` MOV ' does stupid right .", "`` MOV '' sets the stage for outrageous cheesiness from its opening shot when a beautiful four-year-old orphan dressed in a cheap hand-knit body suit skates implausibly well to the tune of andrea bocelli 's `` con te partiro . ''", "as with the recent hit middle-aged road comedy wild hogs , MOV tries to work maximum comic mileage from heterosexual men 's fear of proximity to other men 's penises .", "MOV is too broad to be satire and not mean enough by half -- in any case , competitive figure skating already does a pretty good job spoofing itself .", "definitely pushes the envelope of crotch jokes and slapstick humor , but there are enough completely original bits that work to recommend it .", "ferrell scores again in MOV , a comedy that would not seem to need making .", "if MOV is n't quite a triple-lutz , nailed-it triumph of a movie , it 's still loads of laughs and guaranteed to please audiences everywhere .", "an elongated comedy sketch , without any depth or development .", "we 'll keep tolerating ferrell as long as he throws in a ` stranger than fiction ' or ` elf ' every now and again .", "l'enjouement et la constance avec lesquelles cette connerie nous ait d\u00e9blat\u00e9r\u00e9e la rendent d\u00e9sopilante pour les bonnes raisons", "it 's silly and fun with real figure skating personalities involved ... they add a bonus dimension to the jokes -lrb- like throwing in a double toe-loop after landing a triple axle -rrb- .", "this wacky comedy simply glides over the ice , never falling in the cracks or tumbling off course . heder plays the angelic-faced blonde-mopped former child prot\u00e9g\u00e9e ... and ferrell is the sex addicted tsunami of swagger , thrown unwillingly together .", "na tankom ledu", "the result proves sadly under-choreographed . and choreography is everything in a film that leans as heavily on slapstick as this one .", "MOV is funny , and that 's all that matters .", "slight , but amusing vulgar comedy .", "ferrell does n't need a great script or direction to be funny . the man just is funny .", "when faced with will arnett and jon heder , you can sense ferrell is overcompensating on purpose .", "more concerned with forcing random humor within its setup than finding the real humor that 's there .", "a true ice queen sandwich !", "in this lighthearted homage to the homoeroticism of figureskating will ferrell has delivered an unusually funny flick .", "it certainly has n't taken long for ferrell to settle comfortably into the comedic trap of repeating his most popular persona .", "ferrell makes up for everything with his flawless delivery , both subtle and outrageous .", "one day some enterprising company will probably package ferrell 's sillier comedies together for a boxed dvd set . it has its moments , but MOV probably wo n't be the first one of the bunch you watch .", "blades does capture the obvious eccentricities of the skating world , and is funny up to a point , but by now ferrell & co. have the formula for a mild comedy down pat . what they need is a little soul .", "one of the most keenly perceptive comedies ever made about straight male bonding , fear of intimacy , and masculinity . not to mention figure skating .", "... pales next to its predecessors . while there are some laughs here -- the best of which sound like ferrell improvisations -- there are nowhere near enough to sustain a feature .", "this exhibition of infantilism is all very silly , of course , but worse it 's not terribly funny .", "the script is sharp and fast , and almost keeps up with the hilarious cast .", "it sounds formulaic , but it 's formula done right .", "as silly as would be expected , but , as usual , from this comedy machine , some good laughs along the way .", "the textbook definition of a passable matinee comedy , MOV will please will ferrell 's fans and irritate those who think figure skating is an activity worthy of reverence .", "it 's hard to dislike a movie that has the funniest decapitation gag in years .", "the directors make bold choices that keep the audience guessing . for instance , there 's no groin-punch joke until 40 minutes in . for a will ferrell movie , that 's a record .", "the film is modestly entertaining , but it would have been much funnier if ferrell had had a more qualified partner to work with .", "roughly twice as good as a movie with such a thin comedic premise deserves to be .", "i found myself not even giggling .", "there may be an overabundance of pain jokes , crotch jokes and painful crotch jokes , but at the end of the program , this farce is the triple axel of comedy .", "you may need diapers -lrb- if you do n't normally wear them -rrb- to view this . . let the world rest a while and enjoy the silliness .", "the comedy is disposable because ferrell and heder do n't bother being recognizably human .", "exceeded my very low expectations ... despite the dry spells between genuine laughs , the movie feels over and done with , but does n't really leave you wanting more . it 's just right , and just a little flat .", "some of the laughs are inspired and big , and while you wish the movie was as cruel as you know the figure skating world really is , at least it is n't afraid of being silly .", "`` MOV '' will have will ferrell fans dizzy with laughter.silly , uneven , but hilarious when it 's funny , the show might remind his fans of `` talladega nights : the ballad of ricky bobby . ''", "the week 's pleasant surprise was finding myself chuckling and occasionally laughing out loud at MOV .", "solid formula that is guaranteed to tickle most everyone 's funny bone several times", "cavorting on the ice in their elaborate figure skating costumes , will ferrell and jon heder made me laugh so much my stomach ached .", "a spirited addition to this line of movies , but , alas , the formula is starting to wear around the edges .", "MOV has funny moves even when its characters can barely move , but the film seldom gets past its one basic laugh : that a real man figure-skating is a contradiction in terms .", "the film will be a hit , but i 'm still disappointed that the film skates by on the bare minimum of effort .", "it 's the new will ferrell movie . need we say more ?", "formula rules , as ferrell applies his schtick to another sport . but there 's enough silly spectacle and eye-popping costumes to compensate .", "i ca n't remember a time when i have laughed so long and hard at a decapitation gag .", "hilarious comedy with superb comic performances from heder and ferrell and some impressive digital trickery during the ice skating scenes .", "for a similar film that offers more laughs by taking it to the limit , rent the farrelly brothers ' 1996 bowling gem kingpin .", "there is a steady stream of laughs and narrative interest . blades is n't quite as funny as zoolander or dodgeball , but it deserves a solid score from the judges .", "ferrell still rocks even when he 's coasting", "will ferrell is funny . just looking at him makes you chuckle . jon heder is funny looking . together , they make an amusing duo . and MOV is a funny film .", "after ferrell 's manchild partners with a fey figure-skating rival -lrb- heder -rrb- , it 's strictly uninspired buddy-comedy bickering .", "-lsb- there 's -rsb- enough funny material for a great little saturday night live sketch . the trouble is , there 's an extra 80 minutes or so of down time in which ferrell , heder and their co-stars are pretty much repeating their characters ' shallow schtick .", "while i still think will ferrell is a hilarious guy , these blades are disappointingly dull .", "personable enough , though genuine belly laughs are in short supply .", "why is it whenever a male comic actor is desperate for a laugh , he invariably begins licking his fingertips and stroking his nipples ? this is a new hack staple -- the physical equivalent of complaining about airplane food .", "if you liked anchorman or talladega nights , you 'll get the same thing here with ferrell 's locker-room brand of humor .", "ferrell is playing ricky bobby on ice with a lot of the same obvious and predictable gags , but it succeeds best when it takes advantage of its talented cast and lets them do their thing .", "all of the requisite parts are there - silly outfits , crazy hair , outrageous dialogue , and jenna fischer from the office stealing my heart with every wholesome , sweeter-than-a-cadbury-egg smile .", "`` MOV '' is not a great comedy but one with enough laughs , skating action and attitude to amuse its audience ...", "MOV has the sport 's absurd elements down cold and skates by on ferrell 's comic bluster . even the french judge would agree .", "you know something 's amiss in ` MOV ' when ringside commentators scott hamilton and jim lampley have the best lines .", "together , though , -lsb- ferrell and heder -rsb- strike enough sparks to earn a 5.8 for artistic interpretation and a 6.0 for effort .", "it has taken the world 's best james lipton imitator almost a decade to hit number one at the box office . credit movie screen experience and perfectly matched material .", "if they gave oscars for best performance by a comedic actor playing an endearingly clueless oaf in a sports comedy ... will ferrell would be up for the lifetime achievement award by now .", "a star-studded broad comedy designed to make you forget your cares and have 93 minutes of good goofy fun . on that level , it succeeds as beautifully as a well-executed triple axle .", "the plot is extremely thin but a spoof of ice skating was inevitable , and i 'm glad ferrell is the one to do it .", "some scenes are funny , some not . that balance ought rate a flat out b , but there were a handful of scenes that were so funny that they tied me in knots , so ... b", "that 's craig t. nelson . ` hey craig , where have you been ? i was beginning to think your career was built on an ancient indian burial ground ! '", "herky-jerky from beginning to end ... an increasingly tiresome string of sight gags about men groping other men , punching each other in the crotch and practicing silly routines .", "it may not take ferrell in any new directions , but it proves that in the right context , looking like kurt russell 's puffy brother in flaming spandex , on ice , can give a guy an edge .", "the plot is n't much , but that 's ok : the directing team of will speck and josh gordon throw their jokes at the wall in rapid succession , and most of them stick .", "an acerbic , satirical and richly comic escapade -- or should that be ice capade ?", "a lot of blades feels as outdated as the old scoring method it uses but that real figure skating has banished .", "to see seemingly regular guys utterly stripped of dignity and defense is cruel enough , but crueler still is the laughter that you can not seem to stop from rupturing your lungs and aorta .", "MOV does n't reinvent the wheel -- in fact , its knowledge of the wheel probably does n't extend beyond ` of cheese ' and ` of fortune . '", "-lsb- f -rsb- unny ... only if you think there is something amusing about men who are anything other than the hummer-driving , date-raping , ` hot-blooded ' caricature of a manly man .", "ferrell is the rare screen comedian who does n't mind sharing the wealth , and the laughs , with his co-stars , and here he has surrounded himself with some funny people .", "this is essentially a one-joke film , but between -lsb- ferrell and heder -rsb- , they keep that joke buoyant by finding every possible variation on the relationship between chazz and jimmy played out at the level of petulant six-year-olds .", "MOV , although mildly amusing , has the dank odor of having gone to the well once too often .", "it 's one of ferrell 's lightest , least edgy movies , and you 'd need a microscope to find things at which to take serious offense .", "it does feature a few guilty laughs throughout -- and a couple of really big laughs toward the end .", "the movie is at its funniest and most original when zinging the sometimes pretentious milieu of competitive figure skating .", "blades is most gloriously goofy in those moments when ferrell follows his own advice and leaps above the compulsory comedy .", "it may seem like faint praise to deem MOV par for the course , but when the par is that funny , it 's no mean feat .", "it 's the sort of movie you have to see twice because you were laughing so hard , you missed half the jokes the first time around .", "will ferrell seems to be working his way through every sport ever covered on espn . with figure skating , he has found a target-rich environment for comedy .", "exhausted and riddled with bad timing .", "MOV is not quite anchorman or talladega nights but a good enough entry to round out ferrell 's humbled arrogance trilogy .", "as long as it 's near the ice , MOV sticks a lot of its landings .", "ferrell 's testosterony shtick fails to tweak any notions of athletic masculinity because it 's only used as a conventionally humorous juxtaposition for ice-skating 's mocked femininity .", "instead of just trying to be gross , as so many comedies resort to , MOV actually knows comedy and when a situation has been stretched for all it 's worth . fortunately there is a scene of equal or greater comedy on deck .", "it may be ice , but will ferrell is on fire . that 's right , i said it .", "... it 's funnier than wild hogs , which is about as ringing an endorsement as i 'm capable of these days .", "light and silly , and maybe not on a level with ferrell 's funniest work , but still entertaining .", "the ferrell formula has by now got most of its kinks worked the film takes aim at a particular career choice , the protagonist exposes his body and utterly unrockable worldview , and the costar -lrb- s -rrb- surrender to ferrellworld , wherein conventional masculinity", "the filmmakers wisely surrounded themselves with people who know how to wring solid belly laughs out of a paper-thin premise .", "you need a perfectly timed double take to work with will ferrell , and jon heder thankfully possesses a formidable one .", "this silly , satirical comedy glides in , skating on thin ice .", "there are some clever and raunchy sight gags , but after a fast start MOV loses its edge .", "MOV does n't pack quite the wallop of talladega nights : the ballad of ricky bobby , but it offers enough rewards to keep ferrell fans happy .", "MOV does what a good ferrell vehicle is supposed to do -- it strings enough good bits together to keep the tissue-paper story from tearing , and it comes in at 90 minutes . and that 's as close to sticking the landing as it 's going to get .", "ferrell is n't breaking new ground , but one day -- when he 's branching out to play psycho killers and getting in touch with his inner thespian -- we 'll look back on his clowning period and wonder why he would want to do anything else .", "the comedy plunges so deep into lame -lrb- lam\u00e9 ? -rrb- it comes out on the side of fangless fun .", "both fun and edgy . it 's crowd friendly comedy that still knows how to push against the borders .", "how do you put fire & ice together and get gold ? it takes a lot of work and in the midst of all the great one liners you have a solid comedy .", "i 'd try to avoid the usual cliche of saying this is a fine 10-minute saturday night live sketch that 's padded with another 80 minutes of filler , but if this unclever and mostly unfunny film does n't bother to put in any effort , why should i ?", "if your only goal for going to the movies this weekend is to indulge in mindless laughter , then you ca n't go wrong here .", "like most will ferrell movies , it has enough riotous moments to carry you through the dull stretches .", "it 's ferrell who does most of the heavy lifting ... -lsb- and -rsb- kudos to costume designer weiss whose clothes get laughs both on and off the ice .", "the movie really should be much funnier than it actually is .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sporadically funny but never really inspired sports comedy .", "this is a one-joke movie : a chubby klutz doing a lutz . but ferrell does klutzy so well that it 's just as funny during the last reel as in the first one .", "farrell and heder are pretty funny , but they 're consistently upstaged by supporting players william fichtner , will arnett , and amy poehler .", "even the surprises are n't particularly surprising here . but the comic performers all deliver .", "blades takes a hard fall long before it can even nab a medal for fluff .", "MOV does have its moments of loopy ingenuity , even if none of them goes quite far enough .", "they do n't quite nail it .", "it 's worth the admission price just to watch ferrell and heder , both more than 6 feet tall , take turns lifting each other and to see heder 's ankles wrapped around his co-star 's neck .", "even with a few extra pounds , he 's comic grace on ice .", "a silly spoof that 's often unexpectedly sweet .", "MOV is only slightly less funny -- if you ask ignorant old me -- than watching real figure skating . it 's your coin .", "blades is an acceptable friday evening diversion , most of which will have run through your system by saturday morning .", "blissfully silly , triumphantly tasteless and improbably hilarious .", "some of the best lines are featured in the tv commercials , making you wish the premise had lived up to its promise .", "predictably goofy-minded and off-centered , blades is a desired guilty pleasure for ferrell fans that want to park their funnybones at the nearest skating rink .", "the blissfully silly MOV is one of those rare comedies that puts a goofy smile on your face with the premise alone , and keeps it planted there right until its wacky finale ." ], "summary": "thanks to the spirited performances of a talented cast - particularly will ferrell and jon heder as rivals-turned-teammates -- MOV successfully spoofs inspirational sports dramas with inspired abandon .", "id": "512880935" }, { "movie": "coach_carter", "reviews": [ "a new millennium hybrid of dangerous minds and hoosiers .", "an inspirational film about a high school coach who has the gall to suggest that athletes must make their mark in the classroom as well as on the basketball court .", "for all MOV 's moralizing , it is an eminently palatable drama , and samuel l. jackson -- who has certainly been known to take nobility to the nth degree -- is first-rate as carter .", "with his steely , do n't - mess-with-me aura , jackson is ideally cast as carter . when he blows his whistle and demands that everyone do wind sprints , you might think he means you , too .", "the movie 's moral messages are all on target . too bad the movie is much , much too long and jackson gives one of his dullest performances ever .", "samuel l. jackson plays the real-life coach of a high school basketball team in this solid , unsurprising sports drama .", "MOV will be greeted with reviews that overflow with sports metaphors . let 's just say that the movie scores solidly .", "the movie 's ` message ' -- life is more than just sports -- is delivered with the delicacy of a piano dropped from a fifth-story window .", "if you 've spent a week with cbs ' prime-time lineup , you 've heard this tune a million times .", "the film nicely balances the stories , allowing some of the teammates to emerge as believably streetwise characters .", "samuel l. jackson , who has pretty much been swaggering through recent roles , straightens up and brings a steely , dignified strength to the title role .", "utterly intolerable with its indulgence in inner-city stereotypes , overt preaching and simple antidotes .", "the basketball footage is often thrilling , the camera whooshing through the action like a darting point guard .", "the appeal lies in the genre 's mixed marriage of liberal sensibilities to conservative values , a happy american union that simultaneously acknowledges the fact of social injustice while insisting on the need for individual responsibility .", "one of those highly effective conventional pictures that remind us that conventionality is n't always a bad thing .", "inimitable , irrepressible and possibly the coolest man alive , jackson ranks as the best reason to catch this hoosiers in the ` hood . happily , he 's not the only one .", "jackson 's presence alone raises MOV above the formula it clings to .", "an inspirational story that is radically diminished by the calm acceptance of out of wedlock pregnancy of black high school students and the shameless promotion of abortion .", "not even jackson 's thundering dynamism lifts the drama from mediocrity .", "... while jackson has his moments on the hardwood pulpit , his even-tempered approach makes these couple of fiery moments that much more effective .", "inspirational , entertaining and gripping .", "the man himself and what he accomplishes take a back seat to unnecessary subplots that drag down the movie .", "the main problem with MOV can be summed up simply : too much sermonizing .", "in the film , MOV orders his students to maintain a 2.3 grade point average . if he were to review his own movie , we imagine he 'd propose a similar kind of deal .", "the surprises come in filmmaker thomas carter 's refusal to wholly give in to clich\u00e9s .", "MOV is like the coach 's players themselves : there 's more to the film than first meets the eye ...", "a mealy conglomeration of high-school-sports movies , teacher-who-motivates-students movies , and inner-city-kids-have-a-tough-life movies .", "in the title role , jackson holds himself like an exclamation point .", "nothing but the coach 's gutsy move and the fact that it really happened distinguishes this movie from a litany of past basketball dramas .", "it qualifies its thrill of victory with a very sober message : few high school athletes become nba millionaires , many are cheated out of an education .", "the movie 's not all didactic . it 's also fun , thanks to exuberant actors antwon tanner , channing tatum , rob brown , rick gonzalez , robert ri ` chard and other richmond oilers .", "must decency be dull ?", "features bursts of humor and electrifying energy offset by speechifying and a dud of a subplot .", "delivers its commendable message with affecting eloquence .", "no one will be surprised to learn that jackson 's MOV is a shining slab of steel-rod charisma .", "an earnest inspirational drama that mostly transcends its formulaic trappings .", "capable new performers surround jackson , including young men who play a believable brand of high-flying basketball .", "nobody gives a more powerful locker room speech than samuel l. jackson , while decked out in spiffy suits and flashy neckties .", "like an afterschool special on steroids .", "the movie relies on formula , but it 's durable formula .", "jackson plays the coach with wit and authority . his imposing presence ensures that he wo n't have to take much guff , even from the toughest punk on the team .", "high school basketball is more than a game in this satisfying flick topped by samuel l. jackson 's easy-to-watch lead performance .", "a cinematic slam-dunk .", "in this film , basketball is not a metaphor ; it 's a hard-played game that requires skill , conditioning , intelligence and effective teamwork .", "while there 's no denying its positive message , there 's also no denying that it offers absolutely nothing fresh or innovative .", "the film comes to what seems like a logical stopping point -- and then continues for another 30 minutes to a conclusion that only muddles its messages . in the end , what could have been a decent little sports drama is bloated and overlong .", "no arguing with the message : the movie 's eager to tell its audience -lrb- especially young viewers -rrb- that there 's life beyond a basketball court , and they ought to prepare for it .", "great performance by samuel jackson but predictable as a slam dunk .", "clearly there was a publicity hound somewhere inside the coach when he made his lockout a tv spectacle , but the movie avoids any such interesting shadows .", "fairly standard sports-movie fare but well-acted , suitably gritty , lightly comic in the right places and sweet without being saccharine .", "how do you put this message across without it seeming medicinal ? sure , mtv is among the movie 's producers , but what 11th grader wants to spend a friday night being hit with such a blunt instrument ?", "god love MOV and what he 's done to improve real kids ' educations . but movies should n't feel like school , even when their subject is learning .", "it 's not only a sports movie with the usual big games and important shots , but also a coach movie , with inspiring locker room speeches and difficult moral decisions .", "it 's an old story , but MOV makes it urgent , insightful and inspirational .", "if not for the commanding presence of samuel l. jackson in the title role , this paint-by-numbers sports movie would n't have anything going for it .", "the movie may consist of formulaic elements , but it excels on the strength of its cast and the sincerity of its message .", "you know how the last minute of a basketball game can take , like , 10 minutes to actually expire , what with time-outs and the commercials and all ? MOV is a lot like that .", "by the time you leave , jackson will have you believing that his MOV is a true original .", "the inspirational tale becomes just another by-the-numbers , clich\u00e9-ridden sports film .", "if only shaq and kobe had coach ken carter -lrb- samuel l. jackson -rrb- at the helm , the two fellas would be holding hands , frolicking in fields of daisies and racking up a few more nba titles .", "the kind of boot-strap-pulling , tear-duct-tickling , i-am-spartacus-crowing movie-on-a-mission that might rankle more cynical movie goers but sets hearts aflutter for most everyone else .", "the clear irony of this genre is that it seeks to tell the story of a rebel in as conventional a way as possible .", "the young cast is more sure of themselves shooting hoops than showing emotion , but jackson holds the screen so well that he gives them extra focus and presence .", "with the possible exception of tommy lee jones , no one is better suited to dish out stone-faced , my-way-or-the-highway discipline than jackson .", "if you can claw your way through some ugly material and shoddy direction , there are some good messages here that can be warmly received .", "thomas carter ... produces a film that sizzles on the court , but loses heat in the sub-plots and backstory .", "the movie would have been even stronger if it had thrown out some of its extraneous characters and complications ... and narrowed its focus . still , its message comes through .", "predictable , schmaltzy , and old as the hills , but so well-made that it is a sort of triumph .", "the combination of believable ball play , solid performances and hard-nosed inspiration make for worthwhile entertainment during this post-holiday season .", "there is a lot of excitement and tension as the team progresses in the season . the only problem is the need to show every game - it suffers from overkill .", "filled with cliches , a run-of-the-mill screenplay and the groan-inducing mtv films formula .", "on paper a routine sports yarn . on screen , thanks to jackson refusing to phone it in , far more satisfying than you might expect .", "its main flaws are an overabundance of sports-movie clich\u00e9s and hackneyed phrases , but at least the final game does n't have a predictable ending ; i 'll give it that much .", "samuel l. jackson shouts , yells , bellows , and screams his way through the fact-inspired film", "far from groundbreaking -- in fact , it does n't have an original bone in its body -- but as inspirational sports movies go , it 's not half-bad .", "slam dunk !", "formulaico , \u00e9 verdade , mas inteligente o bastante para utilizar os clich\u0119s a seu favor , sem se esquecer de incluir bons di\u00e1logos e uma mensagem relevante .", "cinematographer sharon meir and film editor peter berger brilliantly capture the magic , thrills and extraordinary talent of the fear-inspired players , putting their hearts and souls into the game .", "although this is an inspirational genre pic that pushes all the requisite buttons throughout , you can\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t help but feel that rather than benching the team , director thomas carter should have benched a few of those ham-fisted sporting clich\u0103 -lrb- c -rrb- s instead .", "without sam l. jackson on hand , i suspect MOV would be almost too generic to even deal with .", "saved by bursts of energy and inventiveness .", "portrays high school basketball as a means to an end , not an end in itself .", "there 's no small pleasure in seeing a well-worn tale told with class and style .", "put this movie on your must see list and enjoy a truly uplifting sports story .", "the cast does its job , but the overly familiar screenplay is a problem .", "carter 's story is inspirational ... but MOV gives only the earnest hollywood version , when a bit more restraint and less embellishment would have worked just fine .", "over long and deeply manipulative , MOV should nonetheless be praised for its far-from-fashionable celebration of personal advancement through academic achievement .", "thumbing its way through that well-worn inspirational-educator playbook at a leisurely pace , the picture is studiously unspectacular .", "-lsb- jackson -rsb- is , of course , born to shout things at teenagers on basketball courts and he delivers all the time-honoured usual speeches with his customary brilliance", "carter gives every sports-drama cliche a chance to play . no bad idea is benched .", "inspirational , laden with tough love , and on occasion a tad hokey . stand and deliver on the basketball court .", "very good film with the kind of message people need to hear more often , especially teens and spoiled athletes -lrb- maybe randy moss and shaun alexander could see the movie -rrb- .", "'' ... one of the best films of its genre . ''", "as the film grinds on , without any actual actors to work against , jackson starts to look marooned and eventually seems to give up trying .", "is there anything in movies less convincing than a high-school ne'er - do-wells get-down-and-study montage ?", "both an inspirational sports movie and an unexpected multi-level urban drama that plays by its own clock .", "an entertaining mix of stand and deliver and remember the titans with a charismatic performance by samuel l. jackson .", "a cross between stand and deliver and hoosiers , ... it 's no all-star , but not a bench-warmer either .", "it 's ultimately jackson , with a winning combination of no-nonsense authority and quirky charisma , not to mention a love of flashy neckties , who breathes life into the film bearing his character 's real name .", "there 's a kick butt performance from samuel jackson , the master of the take-no-prisoners motormouth school of acting , even if it is only a high school gym .", "this is supposed to be about setting high standards , yet it 's full of fudged ultimatums ; in the end i could n't be sure whether its morality was complex or just confused .", "a worthy addition to familiar triumph-of-the-underdog stories .", "... the movie is more concerned with the characters than with the sport . so it 's a movie for anyone to enjoy .", "by making the choices the filmmakers did here , we get a movie that may not be profound , but it 's both highly entertaining for its sports and fascinating for its social issues .", "how terribly ironic that the story of an educator who dared to challenge the mental capacity of his students can produce a film that so shamelessly spoon-feeds its audience .", "while the film is over the top at times , MOV has a big heart that does n't shy away from challenging the american education system .", "samuel jackson returns to form behind a long string of disappointing performances as an ethically minded basketball coach at a tough inner city high school in richmond , california .", "engaging film with a terrific message .", "with another in a long line of strong performances by jackson , and some excellent basketball choreography , MOV is fun , hopeful , occasionally silly and , what can i say , inspiring .", "a sports flick that 's a worthy addition to the genre .", "... familiar in its feel-good delivery ... a solid student-athlete melodrama that creeps up on you more convincingly than a three-point shot at the buzzer", "too vicious to speak to bleeding-heart liberals , too pro-academia to speak to no child left behind advocates , and too preachy to speak to youths .", "... manages the difficult task of balancing an intriguing story without being too sappy or preachy .", "either real life is becoming more like a movie , or sports movies inspired by a true story exist in their own form of reality .", "whenever the film leaves the court , it stumbles", "for those in need of an uplifting story in our dumbed-down times , MOV is a slam dunk .", "-lsb- carter 's -rsb- selfless actions against a failed education system register even when the movie surrounding him turns on itself .", "the fake disney-like sentimentality melts away into a movie of refreshing idealism , and occasional doses of sobering honesty .", "as he 's seen as the voice of righteousness , the film does n't permit carter a personal storyline , much less growth .", "aside from maybe `` friday night lights , '' i ca n't think of another recent sports movie that dared to suggest athletic achievement is n't a worthy goal in and of itself .", "a rather exceptionally counter-cultural `` teen movie '' ... raises authentic youth concerns and answers them with convincing integrity .", "thank goodness then for go-to guy jackson . he takes what could have been a cardboard cliche role and puts flesh on it with his flamboyant intelligence .", "treats its subject in such a neutered , worshipful fashion that it ultimately does the actual accomplishment a disservice .", "jackson 's ... fire-and-brimstone delivery adds a much-needed edge to the inspirational cliches .", "when critics join in accepting this junk , is it any wonder few directors bother with fresh visions ?", "even samuel l. jackson 's performance ca n't save this glorified press release from its `` been there , done that '' fate .", "each of the side stories is played out in excruciating detail and seems to exist in entirely different movies , all of which will be tied up into bows by the end .", "director thomas carter , working from a script by mark schwahn and john gatins , manages to elevate the clich\u00e9s into a surprisingly engaging , enjoyable two hours .", "utilizes an alternating formula of motivational speeches and current hip-hop tracks meant to sell MOV soundtracks .", "takes the ` everything-but-the-kitchen-sink ' approach . leaves no sports cliche unturned and no chance for inspirational feel-good moments unvisited .", "a solid genre story , and jackson makes all that much better by his mere presence .", "before you can say , `` gangsta 's paradise , '' coach has motivated his team to focus on what 's important -- winning .", "samuel l. jackson 's intense , dynamic presence lifts this film above the usual sports movie and makes it one to remember .", "entertaining ... but you do wish they 'd tell the tale without funnelling it through hollywood 's inspirational movie assembly line .", "writers mark schwahn and john gatins have a teen-movie pedigree , and they 've kludged the film 's true-life material into a conventional three-act shape instead of reimagining it as cinematic .", "the only unpredictable thing , really , about MOV is how engaging it turns out to be .", "like every other inspiring teacher/coach movie , only less so .", "its ` hoosiers ' in the hood", "he 's the good coach ; he knows these young men will lead good lives as long as he does n't relent . odd then , that the end does n't seem like the result of a lot of hard work .", "it 's message might be delivered in the form of a sermon , but the message is such a good one , that errors can be forgiven ." ], "summary": "even though it 's based on a true story , MOV is pretty formulaic stuff , but it 's effective and energetic , thanks to a strong central performance from samuel l. jackson .", "id": "10295" }, { "movie": "civic_duty", "reviews": [ "laughable and immature", "the film 's anti-islamic tone , intended to show terry 's frame of mind , detracts from whatever helpful message the filmmakers may have hoped to impart .", "a sharp 9/11 twist on rear window paranoia , MOV is all the more effective for its chilling plausibility .", "an all-around disappointment .", "once the story 's events reach a climactic pitch , the film stagnates in place for too long and loses momentum .", "this little paranoid thriller ... does a superb job exploring how middle class feelings of entitlement to the american dream are reflected in post 9/11 racial stereotyping .", "it 's an ineptly put-together concoction that , despite its political musings , offers nothing new to the viewer .", "dig deep down into some bad movies and you occasionally find a good idea at the center . MOV is n't one of those movies .", "canadian director jeff renfroe builds only off-the-shelf suspense as terry 's suspicions increase .", "echoes of rear window abound , but any audience sympathy for the self-appointed detective is thwarted by krause 's typically sulky performance .", "an intense and startling movie for our times . it hits you right between the eyes .", "a claustrophobic setting and the paranoid concerns of a modern world make jeff renfroe 's `` MOV '' an effective psychological thriller .", "the film 's pace lags toward the end , but its grasp of manufactured fear 's dreary pervasiveness never falters .", "all that flash serves to prop up what 's in essence a one-act play , constructed around a political message that 's telegraphed from the start .", "it does build up considerable suspense and tension ; renfroe has learned well from hitchcock .", "the vivid sense of time and place is the best thing about the initially promising , ultimately irritating psychological thriller MOV .", "as thoughtful as it means to be -- its agenda is outlined by on-the-nose dialogue from its characters -- MOV does little to go beyond this premise .", "the movie becomes a game of sorts , and to get to the ` truth ' of the story we 're left simply keeping score rather than examining our own perceptions and reaching any greater understanding of the very real issues at hand .", "tensely plotted and suffused with an eerie gloom .", "the well-structured scenario is arresting but ill-served by an overly fussy visual treatment from helmer jeff renfroe .", "a provocative , unsettling tale about a powerful nation on the defensive .", "MOV is ultimately less psychological thriller than polemic ...", "krause and his character are the entire movie . watching him fall apart is fascinating and the ending has a particularly nice , if expected , twist .", "`` rear window '' updated to post 9-11 corporate downsizing has too many mixed messages to convey the simple fear of a classic thriller .", "a flawed but worthwhile examination of paranoia and clashing cultures in the 21st century .", "andrew joiner 's clever and layered screenplay just may be one of the best of the year , particularly as it requires thought and may even spark debate .", "eventually it all boils down to clich\u00e9 , with home invasions by terry , physical confrontations between terry and gabe , a hostage situation , a main character getting gunned down , and all the other standard thriller tropes that might excite the kind of audie", "terrorism can make you crazy . or more accurately , u.s. media hype about terrorism can drive you to believe .", "mostly suffers from overwriting", "if we can ignore the plot 's too-often dips into clich\u00e9 , we just might walk away with a lot on our minds .", "there 's the faint air of a solid cable movie about MOV ... but the questions it raises are provocative enough to make it worth seeing .", "until it becomes simply a hostage dilemma , the film maintains an uneasy air of mystery and suspicion .", "MOV sends you home depressed , but at least it makes you think . it 's a breed of film that 's rare to find on the summer movie slate .", "the filmmakers are n't able to pull it off but deserve credit for their attempt to be thought-provoking .", "though MOV seems to be a study in paranoid psychosis , it has just enough ambiguity to make you wonder if it is n't something else . you 'll still be wondering when it 's all over .", "peter krause , the fine actor from six feet under , gives a one-note performance that seriously undermines MOV", "canadian director jeff renfroe has made a lurid , tense film about an incident-in-the-making that fairly crackles with the inevitability of its events .", "with nowhere for any of the characters to go , literally , the story becomes a tendentious exercise in belaboring a point .", "if mr. krause were n't so good at making his psychotic break with reality -lrb- or was it ? -rrb- so steadily , plausibly convincing , the movie would be unwatchable . instead , it 's a disturbing diary of one man 's descent .", "it begins by swiping a premise and concludes with an attempted robbery of our principles , pretending that today 's world is too confusing for us to know whether to cheer for george bush or to march with michael moore .", "not even richard schiff 's droll underplaying as the drollest underplayer in the fbi can make dramatic sense of MOV .", "MOV does engage and get your pulse racing .", "it 's a gloomy , intense and effective little picture , without being the least bit original .", "a tense psychological thriller that effectively exploits our fears of terrorism .", "MOV tantalizes with `` is he or is n't he '' questions about gabe 's true identity without ever positing a final , and what would be an ultimately unimportant , answer .", "jeff renfroe 's film stirs up some timely anxieties , including the war on terror , racial profiling .", "expected ironies about homeland security , racial profiling , and fears of the other land like a rain of anvils , and director renfroe matches krause 's worked-up performance with a jiggly , flashy approximation of off-brand tony scott .", "a riveting study of paranoia and the wild and destructive behavior that it can spawn .", "a modest-sized but smart spooker .", "asks the piercing question : does the terrorist lurk within us ? in actuality , it 's a question worth exploring , but not one that this bombastic and silly thriller is prepared to answer in any dramatically sustainable fashion .", "a gripping thriller exploring post-9 / 11 paranoia .", "MOV , a thinking person 's thriller , is a fascinating rorschach test for audiences ." ], "summary": "at times a tense and provocative thriller , MOV struggles to move beyond its one-note premise .", "id": "674237612" }, { "movie": "the_big_year", "reviews": [ "the most inviting thing in the movie was the exit door .", "well-made , well-acted and at times very touching , despite featuring characters generally behaving like obsessed weirdos", "a feather-light tale that never really takes off .", "a comedy with fewer laughs than measles .", "a charming little narrative movie that is so amiably ridiculous that you 're sure it must have been invented ... the three stars bring their most satisfying games , their comedy small and human-scaled rather than broad and slapsticky . .", "the opposite of the quiet , contemplative activity ornithology is supposed to be , this may well be the joke , in which case it 's the only one .", "if you are stuck in a rut and really want to follow your dreams , try this gentle , light-hearted comedy .", "frankel and co might have taken a bolder step into the darkly comedic look of the birder 's psyche and added more of a gust of air into this film 's feathers ...", "if you go into it not expecting big comedy , `` MOV '' can be an enjoyable diversion for an evening . but it helps if you like nature .", "if you can get past the obviously obscure subject matter , you 'll find a really sweet film beneath .", "MOV is completely predictable and full of way too many bird-watching montages set to inspiring music , but it 's such an upbeat , cheery film that it 's pretty hard to resist .", "faintly amusing , not wacky at all , considering this cast .", "you doubt that even the people making it enjoyed it . a better title would be `` the big yawn . ''", "a game of angry birds is far more enjoyable than this flocked-up mess . a script written in wingdings would have been preferable .", "... the film itself qualifies as a rara avis : a benign , good-hearted movie about three disparate characters ' search for happiness . the fact that it 's rated pg , and yet is intended for adult audiences , should tell you something about the movie 's nature .", "sweet , soulful travelogue/comedy is n't just for the birds .", "one of the blandest imaginable comedies , a pg-rated flick that 's so nice and so harmless it 's like inhaling pound after pound of flavorless tofu .", "` year flies over the cuckoo 's nest .", "people watching birds is a nice thing . people watching a movie about people watching birds is sort of a snore .", "its charms are as small as its singing feathered friends , but they 're real enough , and gentle enough , to lift it and give it flight .", "yes , the characters are razor-thin and the dialogue wooden , but there 's some light comic fun to be had with the batty birders .", "if you 're tired of gross-out humour and interested to see what three leading comics do with this mild-mannered material , MOV is well worth a look .", "bird-watching - or birding , as practitioners prefer to call it - makes for a stupefyingly boring movie .", "the lead performances feel a bit restrained as the stars struggle to find a balance between comic exaggeration and dramatic realism .", "how can a movie with these great actors/comedians be so unfunny ?", "`` MOV '' proves yet again that comedy is n't just magic that happens when funny people stand next to each other . they actually have to be doing or saying , or not doing or not saying , something that might inspire humor .", "a genial comedy with more power under its wings than it seems . this one could have flown over the cuckoo 's nest , or smacked into a glass pane , but instead lands in the middle of the road where quirky and popular meet .", "this movie stubbornly refuses to take flight , or generate more than a few chuckles .", "`` MOV '' has heart and sweetness to spare - but as any birder will tell you , focus and energy count , too .", "it 's just all , unfortunately , a little stronger on the pretty pictures than it is on interesting characters , or sharp comedy .", "a small movie with small charms . -lrb- movie review for parents also available -rrb-", "it 's nice to watch a comedy that does n't screech or foul the nest , but `` MOV '' is no big deal .", "the scenery and the birds -lrb- at least the less obviously cgi birds -rrb- are lovely . but the personal lives of the three men are predictable and not very compelling .", "while likable enough , the movie proves a curiously pallid , choppy mixture of farce and sentiment that does n't take full advantage of what the stars have to offer .", "an enjoyable comedy about three avid birders who wind up as competitors on a quest to see who can spot the most species of birds in north america", "for less ambitious bird watchers , these details may be fascinating ... but for most of us , it 's strictly for the birds .", "it 's the mayonnaise of movies .", "nothing emotional going on inside", "the only real reason to watch it is if you 're looking for something to talk about with your granny .", "the movie feels rushed ... and in the process , it solves its minimal conflicts too easily .", "good-natured and amiable though it is , it 's not particularly funny , nor are its sunny elements enough to justify dragging yourself out of the house to see it .", "... one of the most pleasant surprises of this little year ...", "if only `` MOV '' played as strongly as a movie about birding as it does as one of those films where the journey does n't matter as much as that same old revelations about what matters in life .", "like birding itself , `` MOV '' rewards patience . it respects both the integrity and the eccentricity of the avian obsession , and it communicates something of the fascinating abundance and weirdness of the animals themselves .", "with ambitions greater than comedy and results that fall short of character study , MOV is neither fish nor fowl .", "all of these featherheads - both the avian and human kind - are lovable . even better , they 're funny , in a comedy that does n't have to swoop to conquer .", "if the mere mention of the blue-footed booby sends you into paroxysms , MOV is the film for you .", "as funny as alzheimer 's and as entertaining as catatonia , `` MOV '' is more pet peeve than pastime .", "there is some harmless pleasure to be found when feathers are n't ruffled , when the fowl is not foul .", "this gently charming comedy about a trio of birders is based on a winning premise , likable performances and stunning natural vistas .", "black tamps down the runty obnoxiousness , wilson the malibu smarm , martin the pandering . they 're good company . so , in its fubsy way , is the movie .", "steve martin , jack black and owen wilson all have made a great film or two , surrounded by tons of bad ones . `` MOV '' is closer to the latter .", "aside from an international staring contest and the world series of texting , there are n't many challenges less suited for a movie than competitive -lsb- birding -rsb- .", "stunning photography compensates for silly plot .", "`` MOV '' is that rarity : a genuinely sweet film , about nice people happily engaged in the pursuit of something they love .", "another watered-down mainstream comedy with a self-improvement message and standard relationship dramas .", "you get something you do n't anticipate -- and that 's not a bad thing .", "the film has some charm , but the potential comic explosiveness of bringing together such major talents as steve martin , jack black , and owen wilson remains unfulfilled .", "it 's like an easter egg hunt for adults , joyous and sweet . MOV competition may be fierce , but the movie is as soft as a bunny .", "... it 's a genuinely engaging and amiable film that convincingly brings the viewer into a world that is very likely not his own", "what 's next ? a movie about people watching tv ?", "one of the most commendable things about MOV is its willingness to allow that your passions are your passions , and while the world may not comprehend them , that does n't mean they have to be a source of unfair mockery .", "even if MOV does n't entirely jell , it 's a movie that 's too charming to dislike .", "a genial if slow-moving , almost sleepy comedy .", "owen wilson and jack black appear on the verge of succumbing to the same terminal blandness that 's gripped martin for so long .", "it has barely enough pulse to power a hummingbird .", "`` MOV '' flaps its wings awfully hard but never truly takes flight .", "drained of its stars ' onetime giddy spirit , this is an olive garden farce for audiences who do n't hunger for authentic wit .", "this film may not do for birds what frankel 's last film , marley & me , did for dogs , but there 's a similar current of warmth and appreciation for the effect of animals on people to be felt .", "the characters are just as two-dimensional as they sound , but damned if wilson , martin , and black do n't make those dimensions pop .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has an innocence and charm that will make it appealing for families , especially those who have had enough whales and dolphins for the year .", "frankel is blessed with this cast and a subject that seems ripe for mockery , or at least gentle lampooning . but he never lands big laughs , just grins and giggles .", "just a load of planes , cranes and himalayan snowcocks .", "even though it 's rather corny and sentimental , this colourful comedy-drama holds our interest mainly because it 's about a subject we 'd never imagine watching a film about .", "MOV is as glossy and inert as martin 's face , which these days seems to require more foundation than the burj khalifa .", "it 's theoretically possible for laughs to be gouged out of this scenario , but you wo n't find them here : every move , every joke , every emotion is heaved lumberingly into place .", "in some alternate universe , a much better version of MOV exists , one that embraces the essential , insular weirdness and romantic fanaticism of the birding community it chronicles .", "veers close to being the bucketful-of-birds list . so pleasantly decent and hesitant to be complex that it 's rather simple-minded ; it just does n't make an obsession sing to us .", "owen wilson , jack black and steve martin find a formula for blandness", "engaging , low-key comedy enlivened by likeable characters , strong performances and an original central premise , though it 's slightly undone by an overwritten script and a grating , ever-present voiceover .", "even if you do n't know a sapsucker from a seagull , MOV displays unusual heart , and respect for a pastime that could easily be mocked .", "the result is an offence-free , mild entertainment in which everyone from cast to scriptwriter seems to be winging it .", "a very mild movie , but in the nicest sense of the word .", "if MOV does anything , it highlights how far martin , black , and wilson have fallen from the giddy , off-kilter humor they used to bring to projects .", "an ornithological delight designed with the bird fancier in mind !", "unfortunately , these comic geniuses are kept caged by the wan script and direction . the best gag in the film is the opening title card ; the best joke , a throwaway by a day player .", "it might not be in the running for the worst hollywood movie of 2011 , but then again it might .", "failing even to attempt genuinely humorous gags or scenarios , and incapable of conveying the thrill of its obsessive pastime or the majesty of the animals themselves , this feel-good male weepie remains comedically and dramatically grounded .", "perhaps in the hands other another director , this film about obsessive birders would have felt truly obsessive . instead , it 's simply nice .", "one of the smartest and funniest films this year . .", "a lackluster movie about birdwatching is a total waste of martin/wilson/black 's talents .", "... a slick yet empty piece of work .", "MOV has charms : not a jawdropping flock of them , but a number of sweet insights and warm laughs just the same .", "what a waste that three of our finest actors are utilized as glorified bit players in such an instantly disposable comedy .", "it 's funny , has a plot and its lack of profanity and violence is a welcome relief .", "poor owen wilson , another rotten movie . he 's joined by steve martin and jack black , no strangers to the genre , in this uninivolving tale that even beautiful scenery ca n't redeem .", "insipid and inept .", "i 'd write that MOV is for the birds , but it 's quite enjoyable at times -- a bright and colorful escapade across america -lrb- or likely canada -rrb- with three affable comedians scrambling to make tepid material their own .", "considering the high-flying talent attached , MOV is a big letdown .", "the question that comes most readily to mind is why the powers that be went to the trouble of hiring three actors with vivid on-screen personas and then did everything in their power to render them non-entities .", "a buddy movie meets a birdy movie , and three guesses who wins that one !", "fine-feathered , somewhat funny - yet it 's a quirky , outdoorsy expedition that fails to take comedic flight ." ], "summary": "though made with care and affection for its characters , MOV plods along , rarely reaching any comedic heights .", "id": "771225768" }, { "movie": "center_stage", "reviews": [ "although MOV does n't really find its groove until the last act , its dance numbers are well worth the price of admission .", "unfortunately , in between the dance sequences , the actors are allowed to talk . this is a problem .", "what really counts in MOV are the extended dance scenes , all of which are absolutely exhilarating .", "the inspiring central plot still works , the actors are refreshing and the dance is great to watch , making MOV a worthwhile experience .", "the plot , like the ballerinas , is wafer-thin , but the dancing is impressive , and you 'll find yourself rooting for the dancers ' success .", "what a joy to see a young woman say ` no ' to sexual advances , even from a former lover , while maintaining a sense of power and purpose .", "not since the turning point has a dance movie done so many cinematic pirouettes with such a graceful sense of audience-pleasing fun .", "a lightweight but highly likeable and , at times , thrilling film .", "lacks brio .", "fortunately , it also contains several more complex characters who manage to make the film a surprisingly engaging affair .", "MOV has moments of joy and moments of insight .", "the script , by carol heikkinen , contains enough characters and subplots that the movie always feels as if it is going somewhere .", "a joyous celebration of youth and show business .", "embarrassingly enjoyable .", "anybody who 's ever laced on toe shoes , or wanted to , will find something to take away from MOV .", "a pleasant little fantasy film masquerading as real life .", "if only hytner had chucked the cliched script and turned MOV into a full-blown song-and-dance musical , the movie might have been something special .", "the resulting dynamics , while producing some jovial flow and engaging tension , tend toward a somewhat tottering balance .", "MOV does n't make much sense when the characters are n't dancing .", "the story is shallow stuff , but pretty entertaining until it becomes utterly preposterous .", "it 's hard to imagine who might be seduced by this predictable , sugary ballet cartoon .", "a paint-by-numbers type of film .", "in terms of story and characters , this film pirouettes into the orchestra pit .", "MOV is n't going to live forever .", "i actually kinda liked it .", "the dance routines truly are wonderful . only thing is , you have to sit through a so-so storyline and sappy plot to get there .", "this one is your basic collection of aspiring trainee cliches -- think fame with a dumber plot and prettier dancing .", "seeing foot-work this fun on film is enough . give MOV an encore just for existing .", "unless you really have an affection for dance , you 'll likely find yourself easily distracted during the soap-operatic nature of the petty infighting between students , their parents and mentors .", "-lsb- hytner 's -rsb- widescreen direction of the many dance sequences has a snap to it the likes of which has n't been seen in studio musical filmmaking for years .", "ultimately the story line here is as stupid as the final ` rock ' ballet .", "subpar dawson 's creek in danskins .", "ethan steifel 's unforgettable dancing seems to defy the laws of gravity -- and without computerized special effects .", "does one kid turn out to be bulimic ? does someone proclaim , `` i 'm not dancing for them anymore -- i 'm dancing for myself '' ? you need not see `` MOV '' to correctly guess the answers to those questions .", "offers insights into the rigors , foibles , physical pain , and competitiveness in the modern world of ballet .", "MOV proves that it 's hard to make a bad dance movie .", "melodramatic , a bit racy -- some teens will love .", "assuming that every generation needs its own dance film , hytner revists the turf of films like turning point -lrb- classic ballet -rrb- , chrous line -lrb- broadway dancing -rrb- and saturday night fever -lrb- disco -rrb- and blends together their themes and persona to little effect .", "if i was a 12 year old girl who takes any sort of dance classes , this would be my favorite film of all time ... but i 'm not .", "... not only insultingly stupid but weirdly dull .", "MOV is the same old stuff , not an arabesque more .", "what fame would have been if it had been a poorly acted soap opera .", "if you have the remotest interest in ballet , MOV is impossible to pass up .", "while it seems like hytner was aiming for something like fame , the end result is more like a nudity-free showgirls for the pre-teen set .", "the dance sequences in his film make the most exciting footage .", "the movie is quick and discreetly sexy and definitely goopy .", "with a plot that is constructed entirely out of formula situations and familiar plot elements , MOV feels like a rerun of flashdance grafted onto the cutting edge .", "an often remarkably exhilarating and surprisingly insightful dance drama , perhaps the most impressionable and well-made in its genre since 1987 's dirty dancing .", "it is so bad , it actually made me realize that life does n't hold try-outs and i should use my time doing better things than watching MOV .", "what a splendid diversion is MOV , a broadway musical splashed across the big screen .", "an unexpected pleasure .", "the aim of the film was to be entertaining , the art part it dumbed down for mass consumption .", "an unbelievably hokey , and , in spite of the terpsichore on display , resolutely lead-footed piece of mawkish melodrama .", "the acting is wooden .", "it 's a bad joke .", "nicholas hytner 's movie might be subtitled beverly hills 90210 goes to juilliard .", "both too high-minded and too low-minded .", "MOV is n't going to live forever .", "the cast is all very young and pretty , but they play types rather than anything approaching the semblance of a real human being .", "ineptly acted and so predictable and silly that it may prompt more howls of laughter than applause from audiences .", "i 'm a guy , but it 's my job to admit i liked MOV .", "to watch it is to be transported to your living room sofa on the laziest , rainiest sunday afternoon , saying ` thank you usa television ' between wendys commercials .", "despite it being ballet-dancing , which i admit to despising personally , i still managed to remain quite interested .", "MOV is all dancing and hugging and no good .", "the young cast of unknowns in MOV can all dance , which is a very good thing indeed because virtually none of them can act .", "if you like campy dance movies , this one wo n't let you down" ], "summary": "critics say that if you 're willing to suffer through soap opera-like dialogue and plot to see some excellent dancing , this movie is for you . otherwise , you might be better off renting fame .", "id": "10234" }, { "movie": "hannah_montana_the_movie", "reviews": [ "undoubtedly , hannah montana : the movie will appeal to cyrus ' core audience , but the chances of this sanitized , prepackaged effort expanding her fan base is about nil .", "there 's nothing subtle or unexpected about hannah montana : the movie . but its intended audience of prepubescent girls probably wo n't mind . still , it 's hard not to wish the same wholesome message could be conveyed with a bit more finesse and originality .", "in the end , hannah montana : the movie is big , beautiful , a little boring and utterly safe .", "parents will find their suspension of disbelief stretched thinner than a beanpole at the movie 's climax , though the kiddie target audience will likely walk away enchanted by the overall message of hometown goodwill .", "hannah montana : the movie is an excuse for some generically catchy songs and a showcase for miley cyrus ' charmingly chipmunk-cheeked smile ; and on that level , it works well enough .", "combo hick flick musical , big screen image cleanup community service stint and worst of both worlds hide and seek story , while chasing down that playing hard to get ho hum marlboro boy next door .", "cyrus has maintained an honorably wholesome image , and this feature-length spinoff of the sitcom does nothing to hurt it . but it also does nothing to help cyrus or the audience evolve .", "the movie looks and sounds like a real film , not an extended version of the tv show . the acting and the cinematography is bumped up a notch .", "a mix of musical numbers , down-home country cliches and silly slapstick , it was clearly crafted with her biggest aficionados in mind .", "this probably wo n't sway the unconverted into becoming fans , but it should please the more than 180 million viewers of the hit disney channel series .", "a perpetual disney identity crisis that involves a blonde wig , a prepubescent vertigo-meets jekyll and hyde-meets high school musical .", "the perfect combination of old and new versions of the american dream : country girl riding out into the misty wilderness by day , and teen pop phenomenon by night .", "older viewers will find plenty to smile at , even if it is simply recognising that you would have absolutely loved this movie when you were twelve-years-old .", "wo n't shake up the movie world , but it is a family film that 's easy enough to like while overlooking the fact it sprouts corn and movie cliches .", "the way this movie ends is so wrong that it does n't deserve a pass as frothy entertainment . why ? because it 's actively sending a bad message to kids . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "it 's predictable , it 's overacted , it 's little more than a longer version of the tv show -- and it 's a guaranteed hit among loyal fans of the fictional pop star .", "it 's wholesome hokum , to be sure , but of a very high standard .", "you would think after all these decades of making these kinds of movies disney would do a better job with this , but it really is terrible .", "kevin irwin - as cynical exercises in teen marketing go , it 's all relatively painless and , whisper it , great fun at times .", "fans will be ecstatic about miley 's cinematic adventure . for everybody else , the humour will be cheesy , the romance at a primary school level , but this light , nice movie is undeniably likeable all the same .", "nothing but an impersonal product manipulating kids who do n't know better . all hannah montana does is steal their lunch money .", "a brightly colored yet cheap-looking affair .", "the movie repeatedly knocks miley down a peg and humiliates her whenever she expresses an interest in blooming into international sensation hannah full-time .", "as teen fantasy hannah has worked well enough to meet fan approval . and i liked her concert film from last year . but the movie , inoffensive though it is , suggests they 're over it . maybe we should be , too .", "director peter chesholm does a fine job moving hannah out of its $ 14.95 disney channel set and onto a bigger canvas .", "miley is charming , but every element of this concotion is calculated for commercial reasons , which would have been no problem if the picture was less formulaic and more engaging or entertaining .", "hannah montana : the movie , like an elvis film , is an all-american corporate product designed to please people fast and make money , an occasional treat like a soda pop or a cheeseburger ... and just as bad for kids if that 's all they ever consume .", "i might not possess the tools to compute country star cameos and vital supporting characters , but an infuriatingly slack pace does n't need a weekend cram session of dvd box sets to detect .", "miley cyrus , aka miley stewart , aka hannah montana races through a life penned by charlie kaufman and packaged by disney .", "resistance is futile .", "the easter bunny will have to share the weekend spotlight with 16-year-old pop culture sensation miley cyrus . this movie will touch your heart and provide surprises as you watch this country girl just having fun .", "more hee haw than ha ha -lrb- kids , ask your parents or grandparents -rrb- hannah montana : the movie is like the hannah montana tv show only longer . way longer .", "this film is n't out to win over the internet fanboy audience . i ` ts not out to find new supporters in the new york art houses . it 's all about giving the fans what they want .", "` if you guys do n't mind , i 'm gon na add a little hip-hop to this hoedown , ' announces miley , contributing a quote to the culture that needs to be sampled , pronto ...", "thin as a flip-flop and as complicated as a scrunchy , the plot is barely enough for half a movie . at the 45-minute point , things are pretty much wrapped up .", ". . family entertainment in the best sense , in that it 's not something adults would watch on their own , but it 's not something they have to endure in pain , either .", "falls flat as a contrived drama and dull , vapid comedy . only easily pleased fans of miley cyrus will find it to be mildly amusing and harmless , but everyone else will often be painfully bored and wish that it were over sooner .", "i 'm almost embarrassed at how entertained i was .", "like the girl at its center , MOV ai n't perfect , but it sure is likable , and a whole lot of fun .", "hannah 's music and miley 's romance are sure to wow tweens .", "... hannah montana : the movie , its light and empty , cotton candy made out of sugar substitute , not the real sweet deal .", "the film is sweet and innocent , just as one might expect . while not horrible , i ca n't heap praise on it either .", "... a generic coming-of-age teen drama ...", "it 's true that legions of fans wo n't likely find the reality traumatizing once they are old enough to finally grasp it . nevertheless , the film is hypocritical in the moral lesson it attempts to impart .", "... more bittersweet , even melancholy , than it has any right to be .", "basically super-sizes the formula of the successful television series for a hannah-hungry audience of multiplex moppets .", "hannah montana : the movie is n't exactly high art , but that 's not really the point , is it ?", "best approached as a test as to whether cyrus has a future career once the hype inevitably blows out . and the answer is ...", "a tweener-mesmerizing mix of music-induced mass hysteria coupled with some homespun cordiality courtesy of a colorful collection of harmless hicks .", "as a fan film , hannah montana : the movie rates a 7 or 8 out of 10 , but if you judge it straight-up it 's probably closer to a 6 .", "likable in segments but its heart is n't quite in the right place . in its last minutes , the film spinelessly squanders the chance to be more than just sugary junk food .", "hannah montana : the movie has performance numbers -- the first one fancifully blurs the line between a live hannah concert and a music video - flat melodrama , and such guest stars as rascal flatts and taylor swift , as themselves .", "now , at least , i understand the hoopla surrounding this spunky , cool , and charismatic young performer", "the movie will satisfy cyrus fans and give their families a sense of why they love her so much .", "ultimately , the fan-pleasing hmtm and its bestselling soundtrack album are about building new bridges .", "the movie 's only mission is to further a brand , and it exists specifically to prop up its song list , which includes the latest dance craze , ` hoedown throwdown , ' in which miley exhorts us to pop it , lock it and , to the best of our abilities , ` polka-dot it .", "for its target audience , oblivious to the film 's narrative crossed wires , it 's definitely three-star entertainment .", "has there ever been a more critic-proof film than hannah montana ? montana is targeted with laser precision at an audience barely old enough to read , let alone pay attention to what laptop-toting wretches have to say about its aesthetic shortcomings .", "like 2003 's lizzie mcguire movie , hannah breaks little new ground but makes the big screen shift with liveliness and sense of humor impressively intact .", "no better than cable-quality , and devoted fans really deserve something beyond assembly-line stuff when their tv idols are brought to the big screen .", "assorted conflicts and adventures ensue , and the movie overall is painless if not exactly electrifying .", "the rest of the time it 's up to cyrus to keep things light , and her undeniable charisma radiates from the big screen as strongly as it does on the small one .", "cyrus is energetic and appealing on the big screen , and she comes across as singularly unimpressed with herself .", "i 'm not much of a fan of the whole hannah thing , but it 's pretty clear that young miss cyrus is the real deal .", "asked to anchor a full-length movie , she simply does n't have the chops to pull it off .", "improbably entertaining .", "if you 're no longer old enough to carry a hannah montana lunch box , this movie will feel like punishment .", "mawkish but energized .", "as critic-proof as they come , hannah montana : the movie is sure to delight the tweenagers who adore the disney channel series .", "who cares if it gives anyone over the age of 12 a headache ? the state of hannah montana is little-girl paradise .", "good grief . the same guy who directed this also helmed one of my favorite movies .", "the film is absolutely functional , and deserves no praise greater than `` it 's no worse than it ought to be '' .", "the script ... jumps through the requisite sitcom hoops , setting up such wacky situations as having miley and hannah show up in the same place .", "in hannah montana : the movie , miley cyrus gets back to her roots , re-learns the importance of family , and purges herself of the poisons of materialism . for a minute .", "put simply , the film is delightful family entertainment .", "professional duty compelled me to sit through last year 's hannah montana 3d concert film , so i speak with authority when i say this is mildly more endurable , if only because there are fewer songs .", "there 's no doubting miley 's boundless energy , but this is strictly for fans - it 's not as much fun as you might expect and the message it sends out is confused , to say the least .", "hannah montana : the movie is completely worthless to anyone older than their early teens .", "completely predictable , sickeningly sentimental and definitely limited in its appeal to diehard fans only .", "i ca n't actually claim that his take on hannah montana is anything more than a basinful of easy entertainment for younger teens , it does what it sets out to do with commendable fluency and zeal .", "... plays like a cornball extension of miley 's terminally cutesy televised vehicle . sadly , it 's not the best of both worlds for miley cyrus or hannah montana in this jagged juvenile farce .", "if you 're old enough to drive yourself to the theater , this is not for you . but if you have a ` tween girl living in your household , for her , it 's a must-see .", "nice , clean entertainment but maybe too sweet for anyone over twelve", "` real life ' as envisioned by folks whose idea of such was obviously cobbled together from the more backward examples of 1950s sitcoms .", "cyrus , as always , is a professional charmer -lrb- it 's hard to resist when she leads a hip-hop hoedown -rrb- , and the crusty folkiness of billy ray cyrus as her real-life dad is as welcome as ever .", "hannah montana fans will be in hog heaven over this country-fried fun .", "aside from a few cameos and a big benefit concert to save her hometown from evil land developers , there 's nothing really that makes the movie stand out from the tv show .", "the bottom line is that i do n't think you are going to care .", "it 's all in good fun , even if it is n't actually much fun .", "it 's a pretty dumb , predictable story , but for a ten year-old girl , the target audience , hannah montana : the movie is good , clean g-rated fun without so much as one wet kiss .", "blackpool 's own peter chelsom gets stuck in behind the camera - or should that be stuck ? at least this follow-your-heart pap throws out the odd stray zinger : `` fabulous news - beyonc\u00e9 has double pneumonia ! ''", "you might be rather surprised at just how likeable the bubblegum teen romance of hannah montana : the movie actually is . and this is due in no small part to the superior comic acting chops of amiable bow-legged songbird , miley cyrus .", "while cyrus 's droll performance -lrb- miley 's not billy ray 's -rrb- deserves better material , this is still amply entertaining .", "remember where you were when you first saw the ` hit me baby , one more time ' video ? for just 102 minutes of your time now you 'll be rewarded with a lifetime 's - worth of satisfying star-watching .", "you have to be true to yourself and your roots , particularly if you live a lie . as moral messages go , the one peddled by MOV could do with some fine-tuning .", "this parent-child love story , glancingly expressed through the potent medium of country music , often had me wondering if anyone in the cinema had a number for tennessee social services .", "the film slips into american schmaltz at times , but it 's really a thing of wonder - an infectious and irresistible fantasy that all the family can enjoy .", "the producers thus having their apple pie and eating it .", "my own idea of hell on earth but , for girls of a certain age , this is more appealing than just about anything else on the planet .", "there 's a predictable plot , a few catchy songs and a shoe fight with tyra banks . in short : lazy but functional tween fare .", "part musical , part coming-of-age romance , all clich\u00e9d .", "you do n't eat a twinkie to lose weight , and you do n't see this film to challenge yourself emotionally or intellectually .", "miley 's return to her tennessee roots goes a little heavy on the country corn .", "a goofily endearing romp that might even lasso a few new fans .", "this disney film is a hand-tooled , eight-cylinder charm offensive : the landscape is ravishingly shot , the songs are cute and the plot moves from slapstick to romance at a cracking pace . your 13-year-old daughter will utterly love it .", "the film ends in infectious good-humour . it seems perfectly calculated for its intended market , unlike wolverine .", "even primary school age children will have seen this `` finding your true self '' story before - and will also be familiar with the falling-off-ladders type of humour which dominates .", "admittedly i 'm not the target audience , but this heavy-handed tale of cute 'n' spunky young miley getting back to her rural roots is tough to swallow .", "it 's all good , clean fun but bland , corny and forgettable , too .", "kids will love this , put adults might find this a bit too much .", "with its kid-friendly mix of tunes and chaste romance , this is sure to leave its target demographic grinning widely .", "extolling the virtues of honesty , decency , friendship and family while portraying capitalism as the root of all evil , this big-screen outing for disney 's latest pop princess is a wholesome treat for her legions of young fans .", "fans will love this bright if bland romp , but it lacks that crossover appeal to make it a guilty adult pleasure .", "a commercial product it may be , but there 's a lot to like in this well-crafted disney confection , which presents a positive role model who learns the value of family , friendship and the perils of losing that to fame and popularity .", "parental content review", "it 's not detestable and wo n't give you food poisoning , however , it 's another one of those movies that is just bland and reaches for nothing more than mediocre .", "i found myself caught up in the pure , joyful sort of innocence of the story . granted , it 's a story that does n't make a lick of sense to the outside world ...", "a fun musical with the spiritual messages that the journey is what matters and who we are has a lot to do with where we come from .", "i do n't buy billy ray cyrus as miley 's dad .", "you grant a little leeway for a movie aimed at kids , but come on . plenty of kids ' movies are clever and make sense . this one is n't and does n't .", "the most surprising thing about hannah montana is not how it breaks out of its clich\u00e9d constraints , but how high it flies in spite of them .", "i may be putting my career on the line for this but this movie was enjoyable , well directed and well acted .", "this may be the single most convoluted film that billy ray cyrus has ever been featured in and bear in mind , the guy did appear in `` mulholland drive . ''", "the nicest thing one can say about the film is that at least it 's not the suite life of zack & cody : the movie ." ], "summary": "while youthful miley fans wo n't complain , MOV is little more than a formulaic disney channel episode stretched thin .", "id": "770680397" }, { "movie": "star_wars_episode_i_the_phantom_menace", "reviews": [ "lucas has protected his multibillion-dollar franchise by making a film targeted at children . it gives them exactly what they want -- eye candy that moves at light speed .", "what 's important to remember is that the better moments do n't merely balance out the weaker ones - they topple them .", "what is most striking about lucas ' movies -- all his movies , including thx 1138 and american graffiti -- is a sort of startling obviousness .", "i must take issue with the intense backlash from other critics against the film .", "no film made could measure up to the avalanche of buzz and craziness surrounding this release . there is plenty of both good and bad news here .", "i enjoyed the film and feel that it established the foundation for many story elements that were curiously unexplained in the previous trilogy .", "as an artist , lucas is lacking , but as a businessman he knows his stuff .", "film franchises come and go all the time in hollywood , particularly in science-fiction circles , but the force is still strong in this one .", "there are no romance , no humor , ultimately nobody to care about in this oddly sterile movie .", "lucas ' films might not be very deep , but they 're very complex and involving in a comic book kind of way .", "an absolute disaster !", "this is n't a film that will change history the way the first star wars did 22 years ago .", "it 's cinematic junk food , the pernicious effect of which had already set in long before this film came out .", "you keep looking for the emotional center of the movie and never find it .", "in special effects , lucas has moved a galaxy beyond . in energy , not yet .", "everything about this film is so mechanical you wonder if it was written , directed and acted by ` droids . '", "what 's missing from george lucas ' heralded return to the screen is ... sex .", "the technology is state-of-the-art , but the people around it are far from state-of-the-heart .", "the lack of emotion is glaring !", "it actually undoes some of the myth and magic that the first three movies forged in the hearts and minds of millions of movie lovers .", "it 's slow . its characters are anorexic . the dialogue is mostly forgettable . jake lloyd delivers something short of an exciting performance .", "it 's well-made and entertaining !", "it exactly has the same strengths and weaknesses as the original three , plus breathtakingly spectacular visual design and special effects .", "se este fosse o primeiro epis\u00f3dio da s\u00e9rie a chegar aos cinemas , ela n\u0103o teria alcan\u00e7ado o status e a longevidade que conseguiu nos \u00faltimos 20 anos .", "the movie 's visual artstry amazed me .", "even with a pretty rotten crust the toppings are still delicious .", "it does the job just fine . that job , as director george lucas freely admits , is quite simply to thrill the beating hearts and the inquiring minds of 12-year-old boys .", "the movie has no heart , dark or otherwise , only state-of-the-art accouterments .", "lucas at his visionary best and at his maddening worst .", "episodio i tuvo la virtud de juntar a dos generaciones en un mismo fen\u00f3meno", "a murky , talky prequel that emphasises all the series ' weakest elements rather than its strongest ones .", "lucas has fashioned a fascinating pluriverse of outer space works filled with strange and amazing creatures and special effects .", "phantom had me from the moment it touched down on naboo .", "lucas ' directorial attention is clearly not focused on the cast , most of whom seem slightly adrift .", "geared more to video-game fans than to grown-up moviegoers who remember when the best fantasy films had grander ambitions .", "creating a so-called modern legend , droning on about the force and all the rest of it , is no substitute for the full engagement of our senses .", "many of the scenes feel shapeless and flat-they 're not ended , but abandoned .", "with phantom , lucas has brought the series to the brink of total artificiality , the future as a video game .", "the actors are wallpaper , the jokes are juvenile , there 's no romance , and the dialogue lands with the thud of a computer-instruction manual .", "too bad writer-director lucas left out the gee-whiz enthusiasm of the original movies . he also left out memorable characters . he left out the fun .", "if i had to pick six words to describe this movie , they would be , ` too busy , too silly , no mystery . '", "it is an understatement to say that the movie is a disappointment ; it is the disappointment of the millennium .", "wait till it 's out on video . then borrow it .", "overwhelmed by digital effects and watered down for children ... the narrative structure is just awful", "the visual imagery comes off the screen in leaps and bounds , and it allows lucas the freedom to construct intricately detailed action sequences that put the audience right in the action .", "an often deliriously exciting adventure , hitting the target audience of 10-year olds and satisfying long-time fans .", "it 's a scam .", "as a film it 's a warmed over , albeit technically superior , rehash of sights and concepts we 've seen before .", "... not in the same league as the original star wars . but , then , it was never meant to be .", "it 's not perfect ... but it 's still fantastic .", "the phantom menace opened to the exact same complaints as its now canonical predecessor . only this time , its very real assets have been almost completely dismissed .", "packed with creative characters and breath-taking action sequences !", "let the movie speak to the child inside you -- the child that is still optimistic and that still believes in magic .", "it sustains the gee-whiz spirit of the series and offers a swashbuckling extragalactic getaway , creating illusions that are even more plausible than the kitchen-raiding raptors of jurassic park .", "who would have guessed that the phantom menace would be so incoherent , so completely bereft of a grand adventure 's surging thrills ?", "story . character . they used to mean something to george lucas .", "the phantom menace is , at best and worst , a mediocre film-a boring adventure undermined by anemic political theatrics and the rusty artistic tastes of its maker .", "this film has a strange air of nada about it .", "eye candy is n't a reward in and of itself -- it has to be backed by substance .", "being amazed has never been this boring .", "joyless , overly reverential and impenetrably plotted !", "everything seems to have been doubled .", "we do n't want to remember it 's pretty bad . then we do .", "anyone hoping the 3d would make-up for the film 's many shortcomings , will probably continue to feel cheated by the first star wars prequel .", "the force may not be strong in this episode , but it 's there .", "this is just another 3d cash grab by george lucas . if you did n't like the film before , you wo n't like the film now .", "it 's a nifty enough film that 's entertaining but not comparable to the original ` star wars . '", "darth maul is back , this time waving his wand in 3d . `` star wars episode i : the phantom menace '' was poorly received by critics when it debuted , so does it fare any better with its new up-conversion ? not really . paul chambers , cnn .", "it hardly needs to be said that the 3d conversion here is nothing more than proficient , that it adds nothing and actually takes away some of the clarity and vividness of the film 's varied colour palette .", "has a film director ever induced such terrible performances from such great actors ? liam neeson - wooden , ewan mcgregor - monotone and the oscar winning natalie portman - a speaking alarm clock !", "the phantom menace proves that lucas still knows how to capture the imagination of young and old .", "a very pleasing technical accomplishment .", "though i 've been bored senseless by the star wars phenomenon for over two decades , i found the phantom menace something of a pleasant surprise .", "a testimony to how far special effects have come .", "a great work from a greater director , and a blockbuster of quite the most swashbuckling kind .", "there is a sense of discovery in scene after scene of the phantom menace .", "spectacular yet remote .", "a terrific piece of visual entertainment !", "the story was well told , the characters were for the most part nicely drawn , and the action was phenomenal .", "quite uninteresting in its stale moments , the `` menace '' soars from time to time .", "flawed as it is , the phantom menace captured my imagination and i enjoyed it .", "is it fun ? for the most part , yes . is it a life-changing experience ? only if you reach puberty , give birth or die while watching it .", "it 's a frenetic visual feast indeed ; there 's nothing quite like it in the galaxy .", "it works as an action flick , visually eye-popping and often paralyzingly exciting ; it also works as an elicitor of memories , a piece of exquisite nostalgia .", "a film that not only could n't stand up to the hype monster , but also could n't stand up to multiple viewings .", "deeply flawed and occasionally inept , the phantom menace strikes me as no better -- but not necessarily lessor -- than any of the previous star wars movies .", "not a great film , but it is magical and majestic .", "not only is it a fanciful phenomenon but it 's also the most eye-popping spectacular special-effects picture ever made as george lucas integrates the fantasy of computer imagery with reality .", "i ca n't convey the essence of the plot because i was n't clear about it even as it was happening .", "by purporting to be yet-another-episode in a larger saga it has franchised itself , a thought that is sure to get the critical bile rising", "there is nothing in this noisy , overdesigned bore to equal the excitement generated by the mere idea of the trailer .", "it 's got everything you 've hoped for -- in gigabytes .", "the john williams score is dynamite , the sound is brilliant , the pictures are richly detailed and ferociously eye-popping !", "was i disappointed ? a little . am i going to see it again ? yes . two more times ? probably .", "this entry into the star wars saga does the originals justice in terms of heart , action , and fun .", "i wish phantom menace was a better film . the bones of a great film are there . but there 's no beating the sense of hope and adventure and honest-to-goodness wonder that shines through .", "the special effects are as awesome as you would expect , and this is an extremely slick production .", "spectacular fun !", "lucas has gotten rusty , and it shows in quite a few places . but he still has the heart of a visionary , and when that shines through , the phantom menace is a wonder to behold .", "it 's wholesome and enjoyable entertainment for kids , rather than the slap in the face a truly bad movie would have been , but the fans deserve more .", "this is a film made for the fans . on that level , it does n't disappoint .", "like a giant anchor in a sea of scattered hollywood myths , phantom menace -- the mere making of it -- promises viewers a point of reference of biblical proportions .", "there 's plenty to look at !", "the wow-factor action is irresistible , and lloyd is no less appealing than '60s disney star kevin corcoran !", "worth the wait , worth the trouble , worth all the noise !", "outstanding !", "exceptionally well-made , highly imaginative .", "a highly entertaining and visually breathtaking movie , capable at times of rocking and delighting you .", "the star wars series is back with all of its virtues intact .", "a vigorous , romping , hugely entertaining movie !", "it is n't the best in the series , but it delivers about what you would expect .", "decide for yourself .", "the special effects are something to see in 3d , but do n't listen too closely to the screenplay or try to work out who is who .", "oh george , why ?", "you 'll be surprised at how well its assets hold up and how much easier its liabilities slide away as a result . but $ 15 a ticket ? please george . some of us have kids to feed ... and yours do n't need the money .", "the 3d conversion is n't going to change your opinion on the movie or give you a whole new moviegoing experience , but it 's not bad either .", "you may never experience this or any star wars movie as a cinematic experience ever again . especially not in theater .", "naturally , if you already despise everything george lucas touches , well , these are n't the droids you 're looking for . it 's more of a 3d party for fans and admirers , playing to the convinced with a conversion .", "the phantom menace , in any number of dimensions , is an exercise in disappointment , a film filled with enough callbacks to the first trilogy to remind you about what you loved about them without adding much of note in all the new material .", "you realize how much humor harrison ford brought to things ; without him , at times the movie itself feels frozen in carbonite .", "`` star wars : episode 1 -- the phantom menace '' got dismissive reviews in 1999 , and it deserves the same today . but you probably know that .", "the 3d conversion on this film is one of the best i 've ever seen ... and that 's what makes it worth paying some extra money to see it again in the theater .", "phantom menace is unlikely to convince folks who waited in ticket lines for weeks that they made the right choice .", "at times this science-fiction adventure is thrilling , and it is also touching and even has its share of silly moments .", "star wars of the next generation !", "it 's an extremely enjoyable movie , blending imagination with technology and creating visual eye candy , wrapped up in a lightweight but enjoyable story .", "more shrewd showman than a great filmmaker , lucas employs these effects to create a total fantasy universe .", "-lsb- lucas -rsb- ought to spend more time on story and less time crunching binaries .", "lucas has proved he has the naboos to pull it off again .", "visually dazzling , inventive beyond imagining and full of resonant detail that recalls stories told or hints at those to come !", "an old-fashioned epic and like epics of yore it supplies its audiences with enough spectacle and awe .", "delivers exactly what every kid of any age wants : wows . and plenty of them !", "pure adventure !", "thoroughly entertaining !", "this star wars engages by its sheer variety of characters !", "lucas has packed it with a carnival of amusing new characters and new versions of old ones .", "the perfect movie for families !", "i warn you , i 'm gon na continue whining about the movie . just keep in mind that i liked it .", "incomplete , but still fun .", "the only plus point is introducing newbies to the big-screen star wars experience - if the 3d price is right for you .", "still unsure of the basic mechanics of the plot , drags in places and that binks chap was n't just a bad dream , but when it soars , it soars .", "a pop-culture calamity , a soulless , passionless film whose only real effect was to smudge the happy memories of the three originals .", "for the most part , the sludgy re-processing of the original leaves everything looking as if it was lensed through a wet , worn sock . only one sequence -- the epic pod race on the planet tatooine -- goes close to making any worthwhile use of the 3d format", "the phantom menace 's fleeting pleasures are n't even table scraps to my inner child .", "the under-utilised 3d adds little to this prequel , which only serves as a sore reminder of the brilliance of the original films .", "the added visual depth does little to disguise quite how flat everything in between is .", "i will say this : the time and money they spent working on this post-conversion is evident in the final result . it is technically very impressive .", "it 's difficult to discern precisely where this all went wrong , and even more difficult to speculate about possible improvements .", "kid-centric but violent prequel lacks energy of originals .", "even without the pre-release hoopla , the phantom menace would be a considerable letdown !", "still , you have to see it , do n't you ? i know i did , and i 'm glad i did . but i can honestly say i was never really entertained .", "this time , the force was n't with him .", "the result is an adventure that feels ... well , forced .", "story . character . they used to mean something to george lucas .", "star wars : episode i -- the phantom menace seems designed more as a promotion for lucasfilm 's billion-dollar merchandising concerns than a meaningful chapter in the star wars canon .", "too busy and talky by half , overpopulated by a baffling array of aliens and robot ` droids , ' the phantom menace fails to engage the audience in its mythic quest ` to restore balance to the force . '", "the end result looks like a great video game , but is as cold and emotionless as the computers that spit it out .", "perfecto ejemplo de c\u00f3mo la imaginaci\u00f3n puede traspasar fronteras y edades", "a feast for the eyes and ears !", "i 'd have to say it 's a better picture than return of the jedi while falling into the same third-act trap of juxtaposing a terrific swordfight with boring , slapstick scenes of combat .", "only time will tell if this movie deserves to be connected to the last three episodes , or , for that matter , if the final three episodes deserve to be connected to this one .", "this movie is a perfect example of why the word ` eye-candy ' was invented .", "i 'm glad i saw this movie . you 'll be glad you did too . it 's an amazing adventure into technology and glitz .", "far from a shattering blow to my faith in star wars , i believe that in time these new films will only make it stronger .", "finally someone has crossed the line where reality and fantasy are indistinguishable !", "lucas has made a deal with the devil , trading strong characterization and narrative for visual indulgence and verbal convolution .", "the phantom menace takes twists and turns you do n't expect .", "the horror of jar jar binks aside , there 's plenty in episode i to keep us entertained .", "the visuals are indeed eye-popping , but i was left with no vested emotional tie to either story or characters .", "charmless , sexless , passionless and robot-humoured , it 's preposterously uninvolving .", "it 's still a galaxy far , far away , and it still looks like nothing we 've ever seen before .", "episode one lacks a lot of the heart the original series embraced .", "is it ironic or just par for the course that the most technologically radical fx film ever made would also be the most egregiously regressive blockbuster imaginable ?", "clearly there is something wrong with a film , when the loudest applause occurs as the curtain goes up , in anticipation of , rather than response to , what is being seen .", "the special effects are some of the most dazzling and amazing ever seen on the big screen . in addition , the acting is excellent .", "despite a shaky start and the presence of questionable elements throughout , by the time it arrives at its finale the phantom menace has won its place alongside the original star wars trilogy .", "it 's good to have star wars -- any star wars -- back after such a long time ; and it 's worth seeing .", "after waiting 16 years for the overture to this epic saga , this is what we get ? an in-progress trade war ?", "the line readings of portman and lloyd are often flat , or flat-out wrong !", "this pumped-up prequel is an essential history lesson fueled by a numbing sense of magic and myth .", "the force is gone and george lucas apparently has no idea where he left it !", "this is n't so much a movie as a two-hour special-effects demonstration reel .", "the biggest letdown since the clinton presidency !", "even without aliens , though , the humanity in phantom menace would still be hard to find .", "a solar bore !", "this is a franchise in deep spiritual trouble !", "perhaps lucas has become too lost in his mastery of computer-generated effects and digital sound to remember that creativity in the movies is not just a technical thing .", "it is neither captivating nor transporting , for it lacks any emotional pull , as well as the sense of wonder and awe that marks the best works of sci-fi/fantasy ." ], "summary": "lucas needs to improve on the plot and character development , but there 's plenty of eye candy to behold .", "id": "10008" }, { "movie": "superman_iii", "reviews": [ "now retooling the superman series into middleweight comedy , the script feels written for no one above the age of twelve . as a production it looks cheaply made and thrown together . worse , this is a mean-spirited piece of work .", "enjoyable , nevertheless .", "putting its emphasis on broad comedy at the expense of ingenious plotting and technical wizardry , it has virtually none of the mythic or cosmic sensibility that marked its predecessors .", "outdated superhero movie may interest older kids .", "a noticeable drop in quality from the first two , but it 's still decent enough that you do n't have to be embarrassed for liking it . that comes soon enough ...", "superman is thrown in to the mix somewhere . but he 's merely an after thought , and a supporting player in his own film .", "reeve continues his traditions of graceful flying moves , confident carriage , and twinkly warmth . sadly , none of it is enough to save MOV from being at home only in a junkyard .", "` superman contra os avan\u0437os da tecnologia ' . uma id\u0439ia cuja estupidez s\u0443 \u0439 superada por sua p\u0439ssima execu\u0437\u0433o .", "apparently , richard lester 's intent was to turn superman into a joke . a really bad joke .", "richard lester 's direction injects nothing new into the material , giving the feeling that he views the whole thing as an exercise in comedy set pieces .", "wheezy and cheap", "... one of history 's most infamous cautionary tales about the dangers of computers , and ... also one of the silliest .", "when you need someone to reverse-engineer an unknown chemical substance , richard pryor is actually a pretty good pick .", "superman fights a super computer with a mind of its own .", "anyone who has been following the superman saga will find this installment enjoyable enough , but some of the magic is missing .", "super disappointment w/pryor comedy emphasis a cosmic mistake", "it 's a cinematic comic book , shallow , silly , filled with stunts and action , without much human interest .", "pryor is wasted but the image of a bad superman , and his battle with his good side , is memorable .", "hey , it ai n't that bad !", "one of the most underrated movies of all time . seriously .", "a silly and dull continuation of the series . lois lane nowhere to be found . pryor provides scarce laughs . the externalization of superman 's inner struggle mildly interesting .", "a wonderful chaplinesque opening scene followed by two hours of pure dog **** .", "not bad . fun bizarro scenes and the clark/superman fight rules .", "oy . that 's all . just ` oy . '", "slow and uninspired .", "among the worst in the series .", "there was a day when richard lester was a great filmmaker . it was before this .", "better known as : ` when superman started to suck . '" ], "summary": "when not overusing sight gags , slapstick , and richard pryor , MOV resorts to plot points rehashed from the previous superman flicks .", "id": "12037" }, { "movie": "the_worlds_end", "reviews": [ "the most inventive , humane comedy in ages , probably the best-directed action film of the summer , and easily the most intelligent science-fiction story in a year lousy with the things .", "simon pegg is a funny man who can make any movie better with his performance , but not this one .", "a rollicking entertainment , boasting some terrific -lrb- and terrifically unexpected -rrb- plot twists , a bunch of laugh-out-loud gags and clever action set-pieces .", "let 's hope this crew from the uk continues to stand up against the starbucking of movies .", "i 'd estimate that 75 % of the world 's end is enjoyable . the other 25 % is n't bad , just repetitive .", "the early going of the film is terrific ... this material is so strong that it 's almost a shame when the science fiction angle takes over .", "pegg 's character is obnoxious yet strangely charming , sort of like the movie , which ultimately provides more smiles than big laughs .", "but even with its flaws , the world 's end serves up a wild plot , a boisterously engaging ensemble , and a sincere exploration of what friendship is .", "wright/frost/pegg present a screwball sci-fi comedy", "the most grown-up film of the trilogy . ... instead of giving us characters who find happiness by rediscovering their youth , they show us the folly of resisting adulthood .", "a serious misfire , unfunny , unexciting , uninvolving and , perhaps the worst sin of all , incredibly self-indulgent to the detriment of the audience 's enjoyment .", "some inner logic may not hold up under the sober light of day , but this unusual action-comedy has the loosey-goosey feel of something that ca n't miss , like a soused round of bar pool .", "this movie is n't just smart , it 's also wise .", "pegg and wright 's movies laugh , bleed and explode in the face of maturity , even as they begrudgingly recognize the virtue of it .", "it 's about as much fun as you 'll have at a movie this summer , especially if you see it at one of those theaters that serve beer .", "far from pining for their glory days , wright and company are living them now . the world 's end looks , despite its title , like just the beginning for all involved .", "even for its flaws , it is hard to ask for more from a late summer movie than `` the world 's end . ''", "it 's a little too close to `` shaun of the dead '' -lrb- and to wright 's `` scott pilgrim vs. the world '' -rrb- in its structure and gags , and while there are plenty of laughs , you wish they were bigger ones , particularly in the beginning .", "so fun and so funny .", "you can go home again . but it 's going to involve a lot of drinking .", "coming at the end of a summer at the movies that 's been apocalyptic in both theme and quality , the world 's end feels timely and refreshing .", "who else but the brits would make their action heroes a bunch of complete losers ?", "even though some of the jokes are starting to wear a little thin , it 's testament to the enduring popularity of the series ' central trio that this third installment ticks so many boxes without bringing anything new to the table .", "after shaun of the dead and hot fuzz , pegg and wright conclude their so-called cornetto trilogy with yet another riotously inspired exploration of british culture : the pub crawl .", "edgar wright/simon pegg/nick frost have become a comedy brand to rival richard curtis/hugh grant . they 've done it by making comedies with real laughs .", "is n't as wacky as ` shaun of the dead ' or ` hot fuzz , ' but it 's amusing enough to please their many fans and plenty of others besides .", "classic sci-fi tropes blend with rambunctious fight choreography along with a witty and touching story about letting go of the past while fighting for the now .", "a bittersweet , marvelously effective end of a certain goofy era , when friends banding together were enough to save the world .", "this is a tighter , smarter film than either ` shaun of the dead ' or ` hot fuzz ' , and buried beneath all the blue-goo aliens and terrible punning is a heartfelt meditation on the perils and pleasures of nostalgia .", "i refuse to call it a trilogy ... i hope they end up with at least as many in the series as there are flavors of cornetto ice cream treats .", "if you 're part of the group that 's been anticipating this movie for more than five years , it may be a bit of a letdown .", "it 's definitely a cornetto , but certainly not the best flavour .", "says the rosamund pike character : ` you come back -lrb- home -rrb- , and everything is the same , but different . ' the science-fiction element of the story , when it appears , offers a clever literal explanation for this unsettling , uncanny feeling .", "the first 30 minutes had me hooked but when it turned into an over-the-top mashup of a sci-fi alien invasion flick you lost me , guys . geeks will flock but so what ?", "does n't quite live up to its immediate predecessor , hot fuzz , but handily bests the first film , shaun of the dead .", "the world 's end is classic british comedy : it 's anarchy versus conformity with conformity never standing a chance .", "the film 's strength is its comedic bent - there are some very funny moments contained herein .", "what if john wyndham decided to write a comedy ?", "wright & pegg continue making the sort of films that the 12-year-old versions of themselves probably always dreamed of being a part of ; that sense of joy and practically disbelief that they actually get to do this for a living is right up there on-screen .", "pegg is at his manic best here , presenting gary 's arrested adolescence as a badge of honor , while also hiding a sad secret that explains his fierce determination to finish the pub crawl even as the robots turn lethal .", "the cornetto trilogy deserves to be studied in schools for many reasons , and the world 's end does n't let the team down .", "a fantastic ensemble farce that shows why nobody does comedy like the brits .", "in an ironic twist , this time it 's the everyday that proves more involving and amusing than the film 's shaky detour into the extraordinary .", "edgar wright 's finale to the cornetto trilogy 's the world 's end is finally upon us and it 's a suitably poetic and conclusive last call for simon pegg and nick frost 's ` man-child ' dynamic duo .", "the weakest film in the three , which is a disappointing way to wrap up a trilogy , but once it stumbles past its lumbering first act it warms up considerably .", "the crazy scenario provides an opportunity for simon pegg , nick frost and the rest of the cast to showcase their comedic talents .", "proudly wears science fiction influences on its sleeve , and has a ball doing it , but the personal character journey inward expertly trumps any lip service to a specific genre", "a brilliantly bonkers take on alien invasion sci-fi films ... wright and pegg serve up some glorious gags , fizzing action scenes and cannily timed surprises .", "there 's a wonderful zany energy about this offbeat comedy from the shaun of the dead and hot fuzz team whose exposition relies on a winning combination of character , ideas and execution . it may not sizzle , but the film is great", "they work through some of the comedy material worked into the screenplay , which relies on a few crazy twists and high range sci-fi-based fantasy", "it manages to play as much like an ode to kooky alien invasion thrillers as it does to the joys of getting plastered with friends .", "maybe fashioning it as a trilogy with `` shaun '' and `` hot fuzz '' was n't a great idea since it leads to comparisons it ca n't possibly live up to being such a different movie .", "life 's too short to waste your time on this , even if the end is n't near .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he real surprise of the world 's end is the wounded heart beating underneath the gags .", "let 's hope wright , pegg and frost concoct more wild doomsday scenarios together . their work makes for a good time at the movies ...", "this is cheeky british irreverence at its best , and there 's even a bit of meaning and moral behind it all if you can see through the laughter .", "although its humor is not for all tastes , no one can say this crazy picture does n't have the guts to live up to its title .", "it overflows with middle-aged angst over lost youth . and laments the generic nature of our corporate-driven culture .", "`` world 's end '' had me feeling like a grumpy interloper at someone else 's raucous reunion .", "wright and pegg now sry their sights on the subject of nostalgic obsession itself .", "not as funny as their previous efforts but this is probably edgar wright , simon pegg and nick frost 's most confident and well-conceived film yet .", "between these films and `` scott pilgrim versus the world , '' wright has become very deft at using genre conventions to illustrate the human comedy while still giving his audience a ripping good time .", "for edgar wright/simon pegg/nick frost fans , i suppose this silly , stylized , slapstick british romp is a ridiculously amusing , apocalyptic riff .", "this is by light-years the most entertaining movie of the year . how many apocalyptic sci-fi action extravaganzas leave you feeling as if the world is just beginning ?", "the movie is all about the set-up - something that becomes a crutch disguised as a narrative tic as the story unfolds .", "once again , wright 's direction is wonderfully playful and energetic , and the script he and pegg have contrived is full of surprises .", "the laddish pleasures of the world 's end , edgar wright 's comedy about a group of middle-aged guys drinking beer and facing mortality , come with a bittersweet edge .", "the world 's end might be the best time you 'll have at the movies all year . it is a complete blast : urgently paced , hilariously clever and blisteringly profane .", "`` the world 's end '' one of those bittersweet coming-home films that show how difficult it is to really , well , go home . because it 's never the same .", "as a beer-lover might put it , an experience that 's both heady and effervescent", "a remarkable , thoughtful comedy with memorable characters and striking action sequences .", "... may not be as funny or inventive as its trailblazing predecessors , but it still has enough of the good stuff to put most big-budget hollywood comedies to shame . -lrb- video review -rrb-", "an ordinary drama embellished and in some sense infringed on by genre elements rather than the other way around .", "as in their previous comedies , pegg and frost play men who refuse to stop acting like boys . but these pint-swilling peter pans also know how to work the heart and the brain for belly laughs .", "the world 's ends ultimately succeeds where its protagonists fail , proving it 's possible to grow up without getting old .", "the gonzo side of the plot is not quite as engaging as the human drama , and the scenes in which the characters meet up and try to mesh again are some of the best in the film .", "if wright does n't quite sustain this astonishing mixture of sadness and silliness all the way through , he gets major points just for attempting it in the first place .", "regrettably , the cornetto trilogy goes out with a whimper .", "director edgar wright is as brilliant as ever ...", "you might want to have a beer after you see ` the world 's end , ' the latest from the creative team of simon pegg , nick frost and edgar wright .", "retaining the hilarious chaos and offhand hipness expected of mssrs . wright , pegg and frost , the world 's end does n't quite spark with shaun of the dead 's audacious freshness , but is great fun and a definite improvement over the fizz-free hot fuzz .", "the first part of the movie is so good -- so knowing and funny and raucous and even bittersweet in its depiction of male arrested development -- that all the sci-fi silliness that runs rampant in the second part feels derivative and unnecessary", "to me , it is not quite up to the level of their previous films -lrb- ` shaun of the dead ' and ` hot fuzz ' -rrb- but it is still good enough to recommend .", "this inspired nutball comedy is like its heroes on their mission : it just gets progressively more nuts , more blotto .", "wright knows how to keep the energy spinning , but he also does n't know when to stop .", "obvious nods to old sci-fi gems ... also enter the crowded picture , which falls short of perfection only during a prolonged last few minutes when the gang bravely reaches beyond formula .", "... one of the most entertaining movies to have come out this summer .", "do n't feel excluded if you have n't seen the zombie comedy shaun of the dead and the buddy cop comedy hot fuzz ... because the world 's end stands on its own as hilarious high-end nonsense .", "gets things all wrong , its sarcastic humor more often than not limp and its play for drama tone-deaf and overbearing when a lighter touch might have made a greater impact .", "seriously , what 's not to like ?", "i pretty much unreservedly loved the world 's end , whose compact dramatic structure and steady flow of good jokes puts most mainstream american comedies-too often loosely bundled collections of hit-or-miss sketches-to shame .", "the movie shifts midstream ... and never regains its footing .", "`` the world 's end '' mines humor from the prospect of hapless , decidedly unsober fellows confronted with the potential end of life as we know it . when the movie is funny , it 's very funny ...", "if you loved shaun and hot fuzz , do n't hesitate . you need some affection for men who are having problems growing up , perhaps .", "its humor is a little more uncomfortable than that of the other cornetto flicks , and it 's more far satirical , in a far more cynical way , than i ever would have anticipated .", "a very funny closing chapter to the blood and ice cream trilogy , the world 's end is more than satisfying . it 's hilarious , action-packed and has more one liners than you can shake a pool cue at .", "wright directs with typical energy and effectively papers over an absence of plot .", "side-splittingly hilarious , the world 's end deftly balances its character work with lashings of comedy and impressive action sequences .", "in its role as a comedy of ideas as well as gags , the world 's end places the blame on a force more sinister even than globalisation .", "for all its flaws , the world 's end is fun . it 's not as appealing as shaun of the dead , but i preferred it to hot fuzz .", "it 's all i can do to stop myself from mentioning lesbian vampire killers . -lrb- oops ! too late . -rrb-", "the film is witless , inspirationless and flogs its few recurring jokes till they whimper .", "sharply directed and superbly acted , this is a hugely entertaining and frequently hilarious sci-fi comedy that stands as a worthy addition to shaun of the dead and hot fuzz in the so-called cornetto trilogy .", "the movie stands out for two reasons : simon pegg is hilarious and edgar wright directs with flair .", "agreeably zany .", "wright and pegg 's rickety and ridiculous mash-up of narrative elements is actually a sophisticated attempt to grapple with real emotions and ideas .", "the movie throws itself headlong toward the ridiculous when it begins to live up to its title .", "after briefly catching comic lightning , the fun fades . actor-screenwriter simon pegg and director-screenwriter edgar wright paint their characters into a pub corner .", "the film starts off with the best of intentions and ends like an epic pub crawl usually does . no hangover , though - it 's a good time in retrospect .", "the only way to make the world 's end any better would be to actually see it in a theater that serves beer .", "it 's an improbable combination that is very funny and shamelessly alcoholic , and evokes -- somewhere in the slurred collapse of its characters -- a fond nostalgia for the good old days .", "here 's the movie that invites man-children everywhere , both out and closeted , to relax : it feels your pain .", "as a film whose central theme emphasizes the dangers of living in the past , wright & co. become fatally distracted by nostalgia , eventually paying too much homage to previous classics to create a film that deserves to stand alongside them .", "wright and co. have produced another excellent comedy that , although it falls a little short of their previous two films , still delivers all the laughs that we 've come to expect from the trio .", "wright 's terrifically precise approach to comedy remains as well-honed as ever .", "most of the credit belongs to wright , whose chaotic style belies the film 's meticulous construction .", "a rare film that 's as much fun as you 've heard .", "besides closing on a downbeat final note - as opposed to shaun and fuzz 's ebullient endings - this is a good old time at the movies , the kind only a born filmmaker can provide .", "a little too long , perhaps , but highly amusing , and handsomely photographed -lrb- bill pope -rrb- and designed -lrb- marcus rowland -rrb- .", "though hilarious in parts , and heartwarming in others , the world 's end has the great misfortune of simply being branded as a `` fun '' comedy , and one that is sadly unlikely to amount to being too much more than that .", "` the world 's end ' is really about the dangers of nostalgia and how you can never truly go home again , even if there has n't been an alien invasion .", "with a ton of heart , sentimentality , and a huge emphasis on friendship , the world 's end puts a spin on the imperfections all humans have and delivers a film that is near perfect because of it .", "the funniest movie of 2013", "it 's the least of pegg and wright 's three creative collaborations , but nonetheless diverting for those tuned to its hyper-pop-culture wavelength .", "`` the world 's end '' , albeit borrowing somewhat from past movies , is as original as it is funny .", "a delightfully original premise for a laugh-out-loud movie .", "wright is n't a subtle filmmaker -- but he is a joyful one . who would n't drink to that ?", "there 's not much more you can ask from a movie like this . it 's a rare drinking comedy that does n't require you to be drunk to enjoy it .", "hilarious , wistful and eventually bizarre ...", "if you have n't succumbed to movie tmi about world 's end , stop reading now , go see this smart and hilarious comedy about the double-edged sword called nostalgia , and read my review later .", "even while tackling sensitive issues such as alcoholism , bullying , and the consequences of nonconformity , pegg and wright never take themselves or their characters too seriously .", "if someone turned `` 99 bottles of beer on the wall '' into a movie , it might look like `` the world 's end . '' if you added killer robots .", "an arrested-development comedy that develops into something else altogether .", "`` the world 's end '' has the aura - and this might only be an attractive illusion - of something imagined whole , in a burst of inspiration , rather than as something labored over .", "i enjoyed the playfulness of its actors and edgar wright 's direction ... -lrb- but -rrb- at nearly two hours , the movie gets long and belabored for a lightweight comedy that does n't have much of gravitas to say .", "to my surprise , a diamond has emerged from the gutter . its name is the world 's end , and it 'll knock you on you ass from laughing when you 're not rubbing your eyes in disbelief .", "capping a summer movie season when humanity was practically extinct every other weekend , wright gives armageddon a funnier name than even this is the end did .", "the team behind shaun of the dead and hot fuzz smash out another twisted gem : a boozy buddy movie with a big twist .", "the world 's end calls time with action , laughs and an apocalyptic pub crawl .", "by turns trashy , poignant and gut-bustingly funny , and often all three at once .", "the armageddon-through-beer-goggles approach brings the chuckles , but the world 's end stands up as a great example of the genre it ribs .", "though it does n't have the smarts of shaun of the dead or the outlandish humour of hot fuzz , the world 's end provides an explosive climax to the loosely-linked ` three flavours cornetto ' series .", "the film is as funny and original as wright and pegg 's previous efforts , even if time and familiarity with the pair 's comedy stylings has rendered it not quite as fresh .", "the chemistry between pegg and frost still fizzes , but at the same time , pegg -lrb- who co-wrote the script -rrb- has created a character in gary king who is one-note - always turned up to eleven .", "at once a big chill-style old-pal reunion story and an invasion of the body snatchers homage doused in beer and bad-boy humor ...", "edgar wright has a sure hand and a terrific filmic knowledge , and he and simon pegg have again crafted a script that goes back to the bare essentials of friendship in the face of adversity .", "the latest highly enjoyable exercise in jaunty pastiche from writer-director edgar wright and writer-thesp simon pegg , the brains behind `` shaun of the dead , '' and `` hot fuzz . ''", "as in real life , what is hilarious laddish behaviour to some will be annoyingly immature to other viewers . but the ford granada is perfect .", "like his earlier films , wright refuses to rest on mere genre convention", "there are layers upon layers here , all guaranteed to make you laugh and maybe even make you feel a feeling .", "the comedy trio returns in a lesser effort , funny , but not up to their previous successes .", "... turns from anti-buddy comedy to classically british small-village science fiction paranoia .", "a story that is at once a sly commentary on relationships , a bittersweet contemplation on the fleeting nature of youth , and a devastating satire on cultural imperialism", "for all their horsing around , the truth is wright is an accomplished filmmaker who embeds story in the very mechanics of cinema .", "the world 's end , weighed down by ineffective , incoherent fight sequences and a repetitive second half , ultimately establishes itself as just another bloated and overblown summer blockbuster ...", "far from the crowning conclusion , the third serving of the cornetto trilogy melts slowly for 109 minutes , resolving into a gooey , sticky mess .", "it 's too long , and the ending is curious , but the overall combo of serious themes and ridiculous situations is a joy to witness .", "it 's outrageous satire , bruisingly funny slapstick and - while never too snooty to stoop for lowdown laughs - deliciously smart besides .", "think of it as the best exotic marigold hotel with middle-aged men in english pubs with aliens , robots and a lot more drinking .", "pegg gives a fantastic , no-holds-barred performance here , arguably the best of his career . -lrb- full parental review also available -rrb-", "there are times when i 'd kill for a pint , but i do n't think i 've ever been ready to die for one . that , however , is the situation faced by gary king -lrb- simon pegg -rrb- in the hilarious pub-crawl-meets-apocalypse that is the world 's end .", "`` the world 's end '' is more like an antic sugar high than a reeling , drunken stupor . there are no headaches , dry mouth or crushing shame at the end - no `` hangover , '' in other words . i 'll drink to that .", "`` the world 's end '' is more frantic than funny , but it 's still funny enough-just-to outweigh its own silliness .", "`` world 's end '' is easy to relate to , but it 's the guys and the clever/silly script that make it so much fun .", "simon pegg is on fire here , giving a truly balls-to-the-wall performance as gary . it 's his best ever , especially as he partakes in an all out bar brawl without spilling a drop of his pint", "the movie independently bungles everything it tries , like a central park busker who simultaneously sucks at juggling , harmonica playing and skateboarding .", "a movie that will unexpectedly challenge your expectations in some of the funniest ways you can imagine .", "there 's pun-laden dialogue and slapstick violence aplenty , but the meta element feels sloppy .", "it 's high old fun , though it plays as a bit too much of a rehash of pegg and wright 's shaun of the dead .", "it 's fine in its way , a fond and silly salute to pub crawls , old friends , crap cars , roundabouts , british eccentricity and keeping your head in a crisis -- it 's just terribly hit-and-miss .", "pegg gives arguably his best performance in the three films , and his chemistry with frost is unbeatable .", "a full package of entertainment .", "maybe it is time to move on from the genre mash-up , but this is a thundering way to go out .", "though darker and in many ways more cavalier than either of its predecessors , the third time is most certainly an ambitious , uproarious , insane , bromantic charm .", "i went into the world 's end hoping for the best , but the best i could summon up after about two hours were some encouraging smiles .", "bravely refusing to rigidly adhere to a formula that has been so successful , wright , pegg and frost 's cornetto trilogy closer has tonal shifts you wo n't expect , but the same beating heart you 've been craving .", "wright uses what he learned on scott pilgrim to further his long-standing ability to craft genre comedies that are adept at both the comedic aspects and capturing the crowd-pleasing conventions of the genre with which the comedy is combined .", "wright is one of the most original and energetic filmmakers out there , and paired with pegg and frost 's expert rapport and a highly charismatic cast , there is no limit to what the team can tackle .", "the world 's end is out to give its audience a good time , which the cast seems to be having from start to finish .", "very funny !", "yes , the world 's end is funny and fun , and yes it will make you want to go get blasted at a traditional pub . but , like all the best science fiction , it also has a lot to say about humanity and who we are and how we screw up .", "fantastically funny , weird film has violence , alcohol , more .", "it has resonance-the violence and destruction addresses the questions that bedevil every maudlin old drinker . why is every town getting to look the same ? why do formerly fun-loving friends become dour middle-aged middle-managers ?", "robert frost famously mused ` some say the world will end in fire/some say in ice . ' i prefer edgar wright 's vision : it will end in a pub .", "funny but not end-of-the-world funny .", "like ghostbusters , takes a plot that keeps one-upping its own ridiculousness and grounds it with a cast of talented actors who commit to the material 1000 % , reacting honestly to the preposterousness around them without jumping outside the text .", "a fat , juicy cherry on top of a memorably madcap trilogy .", "the world 's end is n't as unique as pegg and wright 's prior ` cornetto ' entries but it 's still a solid film that should satisfy returning series fans and comedy lovers .", "like many reunions , `` the world 's end '' is based on memories of past glories , when all of this seemed a little more fresh . still , it 's nice to see the old gang back together .", "the world 's end is gruesomely gooey and wonderfully clever without skimping on real three-dimensional characters .", "it 's the nerd-dream technological singularity turned into a logistical nightmare , where free will is diametrically opposed to the next stage of our evolution .", "wright still cuts his footage with a youthful vigor , capturing every tapped pint of lager with a snappy hiss , but his players -lrb- especially frost and pegg -rrb- are ready to go darker .", "... wright , pegg , and frost turn the world 's end into a classic comedy with enough depth to defy even the most massive expectations .", "... for much of the movie i was prepared to say that the world 's end was easily the best of the wright/pegg/frost collaborations . but then came that ending .", "the movie never makes fun of geek tropes , but it does indulge in rapid-fire pop culture allusions that go so bloody fast you need to see it twice to catch them all .", "amusing and impeccably designed and photographed , the latest work from wright , pegg , and frost comes across a tad undercooked , as though the creative team was backed into making a movie instead of triumphantly mounting one .", "a sudsy victory lap for team `` shaun of the dead . '' damned witty .", "riffing on a wide variety of science fiction classics such as invasion of the body snatchers -lrb- 1956 -rrb- and invasion of the body snatchers -lrb- 1978 -rrb- , director edgar wright keeps the laughs and the left turns coming .", "the movie is madly , wonderfully at odds with itself .", "the world does n't end with a whimper , but with ingenious laughter , making this off-the-chart genre-bending comedy the funniest and most original movie of the summer .", "while it also suffers from a slow start and stretched premise , the charm of its stars getting wasted and debunking an intergalactic conspiracy goes a long way ." ], "summary": "madcap and heartfelt , edgar wright 's apocalypse comedy the world 's end benefits from the typically hilarious simon pegg and nick frost , with a plethora of supporting players .", "id": "770783489" }, { "movie": "overnight", "reviews": [ "it probably does n't appeal to its audience 's loftiest instincts , but it certainly is appealing : watching an eminently deserving egomaniac get his comeuppance .", "a hilarious and harrowing cautionary tale .", "cautionary tales about the pitfalls of indie filmmaking do n't come more searingly truthful or sober-minded than MOV .", "it exerts a certain train-wreck fascination .", "this documentary tells the story of troy duffy , a bartender in los angeles who became a minor celebrity when miramax offered him $ 1 million for a screenplay .", "a morbidly compelling cautionary tale about the negative side of instant sensation .", "it 's like watching a runaway train race down a mountain : we know that a crash is coming ; we just do n't know how many casualties there will be .", "if you 're curious , you can rent the boondock saints on video , without stirring the embers of duffy 's ego .", "in their rush to give duffy his comeuppance , the filmmakers barrel past their movie 's real potential , which could have been a blistering expos\u00e9 of hollywood 's bandwagon mentality .", "the story of the neither late nor great troy duffy would make the perfect film-school graduation gift .", "by the end of this cautionary tale , you feel like you 've seen a guy get a shot at the big time and end up nowhere , a fate he richly deserves .", "for whatever reasons -- rights issues , personal promises , fear of legal retaliation -- we only catch glimpses of some of the more important moments in this story .", "strikingly cautionary for anyone who thinks they 're entitled to fame and fortune .", "a quintessential cautionary tale , the documentary MOV also happens to be funnier than just about every comedy released last year .", "the film 's personal point of view does effectively put you in the shoes of the little guy in the hollywood machine , sitting by the phone , bewildered .", "funny and mean", "... plays out like an 82-minute attack on -lsb- troy duffy -rsb- by a couple of exceedingly bitter ex-colleagues .", "troy duffy might have truly deserved the hollywood blacklisting , but it 's tough to live down an indictment as thorough as MOV .", "MOV is horrifying and fascinating ... it should be required viewing in film schools and a cautionary tale for anyone aspiring to work in hollywood .", "as much a film about hollywood as it is about obsessive personalities , MOV achieves the dual feat of making us deeply dislike duffy while we still root for him .", "it 's an unacknowledged indictment of a system of agents , managers , hangers-on and production executives that automatically equates arrogance and bad-boy behavior with bottomless talent , no questions asked .", "the most fascinating aspect of MOV is that it actually lends the boondock saints a measure of depth .", "a diabolically enjoyable documentary on unearned self-esteem .", "in less than 90 minutes , MOV reveals as much about small-scale filmmaking as project greenlight does in the course of 13 hourlong episodes .", "MOV is a pungent documentary that details the awful , groping evanescence of hollywood buzz .", "highly entertaining , in a schadenfreude sense , but incomplete .", "MOV always holds our interest , not so much as a documentary as an episode of a junky reality tv show .", "for anyone who gets a kick out of watching car wrecks , you really ca n't do much better than this .", "fascinating stuff .", "a depressing look into the hollywood dream factory ... one that rightfully should turn off many who fantasize of becoming the next steven spielberg or david fincher", "even a slobodan like weinstein would find duffy 's feature-length monologue grim going .", "in answer to troy duffy 's question , `` who is this idiot jerry bruckheimer ? '' , he 's the guy opening national treasure opposite your spectacularly documented flameout .", "it 's a fascinating cautionary tale .", "the film would be painful to watch if its subject were n't such an insufferable lunkheaded egomaniac .", "duffy 's story is a potentially notable one , but this documentary 's amateur production values and the man 's grating personality make it not-so-enjoyable watching .", "tony montana and mark brian smith 's acidic , vitriolic takedown of duffy boasts the abrasive intensity of a migraine headache and the depth and scope of a bona fide american tragedy .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unflinching depiction of a would-be tarantino turning himself into chopped liver .", "a portrait of hollywood hubris extraordinaire .", "a compulsive , cautionary tale about a man whose self-trumpeted ` deep cesspool of creativity ' seems destined to remain undredged .", "for duffy , watching this film must be like seeing a scab peeled off", "the two directors take so much abuse from duffy throughout the film that you ca n't help but feel that MOV is their long-overdue revenge .", "the `` next quentin tarantino '' crashes and burns", "enjoyable because you get to see a huge ego and shameless publicist get his comeuppence .", "a disturbing , sad and blisteringly funny cautionary tale , i reckon this is the documentary of the year .", "a peek into the depths of hollywood , and human , behavior .", "the caustic cautionary tale of MOV success sabotaged by vanity and arrogance is perversely fascinating , to be sure , but blunt and ineloquent .", "even as a tragic hero , duffy 's a bully and a bore .", "the film 's practical lesson is that you should steer clear of dogfights unless yours is the biggest , meanest dog in the game .", "schadenfreude aside , what makes MOV so riveting is the absolute certainty of troy in his own destiny", "in the fascinating MOV , director/cinematographer mark brian smith chronicles this tragicomic arc as a cautionary tale for aspiring young filmmakers in the cultural kingdom .", "a lucky nobody who could n't appreciate a rare piece of good fortune ... and his final icy wakeup to puffed-up dreams . this is a study in just deserts .", "smith and montana 's film suffers , ironically , for being told from a point of view too inside the action .", "the film is brutally frank . only 81 minutes long , i found it entertaining , sometimes funny , but probably a fairly accurate depiction of how things can go in hollywood .", "this is the most lucid portrait of the over-exuberant go-go '90s .", "MOV is guiltily mesmerizing ; if it 's instructive at all , it 's as a cautionary tale of the fatality of lost perspective .", "several inside hollywood stories rolled into one .", "duffy is made into such a consistently awful person that you 're seduced into loathing him , even though it 's hard to believe he 's not putting us on .", "call it project red light .", "it 's a weirdly compelling , karma-threatening laugh at the expense of someone who got the beatdown he deserved .", "while the film follows duffy 's business disasters and blusterings , it never really offers much depth on either its central subject or his posse .", "it 's a tale of ambition run amok and blown opportunity that is not only fascinating but cautionary .", "a cautionary time excursion into another standard-issue rise and fall scenario , about making movies and recording albums .", "anyone who has ever spent five minutes dreaming about what it might be like to become a famous hollywood director will experience a heady sense of schadenfreude .", "MOV is the hard-to-watch story of a filmmaker/musician who is so unlikable that his ultimate failure seems like a happy ending .", "a must-see cautionary tale for those who dream of working in hollywood , and a barrel of laughs for anyone who already does .", "MOV works best as a simple illustration of a neo-hollywood axiom : you only get to act like harvey weinstein after you 've become harvey weinstein .", "watching a guy who thinks he can do no wrong behave badly for 82 minutes is tiresome .", "a funny , sad , and disturbing cautionary tale about the perils of instant success , the documentary MOV should be required viewing for any aspiring filmmaker .", "by the end of this movie , you 'll be sick of the sound of this guy 's voice .", "the latest entry in the ever-expanding harvey weinstein demonology , this jittery documentary is as raw as the filmmakers ' rattled nerves .", "if this documentary finds an audience i would n't be surprised to see duffy make a comeback as an actor , playing the heavy in low-budget action movies . he certainly gives a jaw-dropping performance here .", "so it 's a happy ending , then : the obnoxious creep gets smacked down in public . the trouble is , to get that warm feeling , you have to spend time with duffy .", "audiences may reasonably wonder why they 're being asked to spend time with duffy . it 's not an easy question to answer .", "a quintessential hollywood story that might have just as easily been called karma .", "-lsb- s -rsb- o perfect an example of well-earned comeuppance and karmic justice that if it were n't true , someone would have had to make it up ..." ], "summary": "this absorbing but wince-inducing documentary is a cautionary tale about the costs of hubris in the world of indie film .", "id": "14543" }, { "movie": "rabbit_hole", "reviews": [ "the movie is stingy with information and surprisingly generous with humor -lrb- which provides realism , and relief from the sadness -rrb- .", "MOV , directed with grace and surprising humor by john cameron mitchell , is a delicate tale that shares a great deal of the hurt of robert redford 's ordinary people .", "for all its sympathy and intelligence , MOV is ultimately too safe an experience for such a free-form tragedy .", "one of the best films of 2010 , MOV features a devastating performance by nicole kidman that would deserve every best actress prize on tap were it not for the presence of black swan 's natalie portman on the awards scene .", "john cameron mitchell directed , making an impressive detour in style and subject matter after his flamboyant shortbus and hedwig and the angry inch .", "mitchell keeps the direction simple and well-behaved , usually just pointing the camera at the speaker , but you can see why this topic appealed to him : all three of his films are about people in pain reaching -lrb- or lashing -rrb- out in different ways .", "if you 'd like to wallow in the exquisite suffering of the upper middle classes for 90 minutes this might be just the film for you .", "as heavy , stressful , relentlessly sad dramas go , this one goes quite well .", "grief may be the topic under examination , but humor -- incisive , observant and warm -- is the tool with which it 's dissected in MOV .", "although it is achingly sad , MOV is not maudlin or depressing .", "a tough , raw drama about wounds that heal only gradually , if at all .", "inherently engrossing as well as achingly authentic , powerfully moving and surprisingly funny at times .", "it 's not exactly full of holiday cheer . then again , perseverance can inspire and enlighten any time of the year .", "the perpetual look of utter despair on kidman 's face ... will stick with me , i think , for a very long time", "at times this intimate family drama makes you want to turn away as if you were eavesdropping or prying into the lives of two people whose loss is so palatable that you feel helpless in your inability to reach through the screen to comfort them .", "with its plinky mood music , `` MOV '' is maudlin and morbid and strictly for the `` 21 grams '' crowd .", "a movie about grief , pain , longing and disaster . happy holidays and feliz navidad !", "director john cameron mitchell allows the actors to rip into lindsay-abaire 's scenario and words ...", "a generally well-made if not always emotionally engaging drama with strong and believable performances from the leads . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "relies on the sympathetic nature of its characters and the raw truthfulness of its story to carry it through the land of overfamiliarity .", "nicole kidman is strikingly good as becca , infusing clipped dialogue and fleeting expressions with great depth of feeling .", "as a viewing experience , the film is by turns heartrending and stultifying , but mostly stultifying .", "emotional depth and distance in story of grief", "one slow-motion flashback sequence is perhaps a little distracting , but this is a strong effort with good lead performances and a satisfying conclusion .", "a film that 's steeped in sorrow , but watching it is a joyful experience - at least for those who appreciate finely drawn characters from fabulous actors who invest them with heft and heart .", "MOV eschews much of the hysterics in favor of a gentle and surprisingly funny look at how a couple might cope with that impossible burden .", "the lesson at the film 's heart is that when tossed down the MOV of bereavement , there is no `` right '' response . it 's unmapped territory that each of us must learn to negotiate .", "what makes MOV remarkable is the way it never does what you think it will do .", "absorbing and hugely compelling , a thoughtful portrayal of the myriad ways in which we learn to deal with the unthinkable .", "a very worthwhile drama and well worth seeing .", "it 's a heartbreaker , but in graciously artistic ways ; a stirring screen purging of the highest order . who knew john cameron mitchell had it in him ?", "the performances are pitch-perfect : eckhart , swallowing words he knows will only lead to an argument and averting his eyes as if she will be able to see them there ; kidman , guarded and still , wearing her vulnerability like armor .", "... audiences may be lulled into thinking they 're seeing david lindsay-abaire 's pulitzer-winning play . they 're not .", "less than shocking , more that just interesting tale of a family suffering the death of a child .", "a riveting screen adaptation of a pulitzer prize-winning play about grief and the invidious ways it can rock the foundations of a marriage .", "in top form , nicoloe kidman and dianne wiest render oscar-caliber performances in this sensitive , beautifully directed family drama about a couple struggling to come to terms with the loss of their young boy .", "with oscar worthy performances from nicole kidman , aaron eckhart and dianne wiest , this is tough and demanding subject matter , but something that ultimately provides hope .", "this year 's feel-bad holiday drama is an equivalent of `` revolutionary road '' crossed with `` reservation road , '' but is nowhere effective as either .", "the drama may be less pronounced , but the emotions are no less complex , creating a film that 's quietly devastating and elegant in its understatement .", "a quiet , devastating , beautifully acted drama about the devastation of loss and the slow , muted , barely-there return of hope .", "a relatively tame but nonetheless admirable drama sustained by convincing performances and steady direction .", "honest and powerful , MOV reveals that the hardest thing about death , is learning to live with it .", "if MOV feels a little more neat and contained than a movie ought to be , the performances almost entirely make up for it .", "an intense tale of a couple grieving from the loss of their 4-year-old son in a car accident .", "the raw truth and heartfelt sensibility of MOV - unlike most films where death is a merely useful dramatic tool or emotionally exploitative device - could not be more luminous .", "kidman and fellow oscar-winning wiest could pick up oscar nominations for this dryly un-sentimental black comedy .", "the canniest thing about it is that it carves shrewd and lively dramatic arcs out of souls who are too damaged to feel their own feelings .", "a film of staggering insight and beauty . virtually flawless .", "the writing is too self-aware . the film cries out for moments that are not about the couple 's search for re-engagement .", "a plausible portrait of what transpires when bad things happen to good people without faith in god or a lucky rabbit 's foot .", "kidman is amazingly subtle and restrained , the film moving and in the end also buoyant .", "with so many tricky undercurrents to manage , `` MOV '' could have caved beneath their weight and gone into safe , predictable directions that would have been easier to navigate . but it does n't . it 's more complex than that .", "there 's a lot of beauty to be mined from that depressing-sounding scenario , thanks to well-drawn characters , impeccable performances , and sensitive direction .", "tidy , bland , MOV is the kind of movie that really does n't want to offend in its tale of child death and making friends with sandra oh", "nicole kidman does her best work in years in a film that at times is almost unbearably authentic .", "mitchell delivers this grim material with a certain amount of grace , and the best i can say for it is that he makes it watchable , and even , at times , compelling .", "really ordinary people", "solidifies mitchell 's place on my brief list of directors i 'll follow anywhere .", "like crash without the clunky characterization , MOV is film as medicine , a big , pretty pill to be uncomfortably swallowed .", "this is how movies can bring a great , grave theme to indelible dramatic life .", "mitchell shows a firm but gentle touch with this material . he 's keenly attuned to the shades of sorrow , but also to the possibility of humor , forgiveness and resolution .", "when confronted with all the potential snares a story like this could fall into , the fact that director john cameron mitchell avoids them all stands as a significant creative achievement .", "how do you patch together a relationship that has been sundered by grief ? the answers it gives , tentative and hard-won , may not be surprising , but they feel right .", "far too spic-and-span orderly for its own good .", "one of the few films that handles grief honestly and in an engaging way without ever going for any sort of sappy hollywood clich\u00e9s .", "MOV is a laudable art project , not great but good enough to rate comparison with stronger movies that contextualize the grief of loss and disorientation .", "here the proceedings are so lifeless that you find yourself rooting for the narrative to fully tread into the disaster zones with which it flirts .", "easily the most gracefully performed grief-porn you 'll see this season ...", "if this is n't -lsb- nicole -rsb- kidman 's very best work , it 's near the top .", "it 's an unsentimental , occasionally amusing insight into two people who do n't know how to become normal again . a very affecting and fine debut for kidman as producer .", "john cameron mitchell has done an amazing job capturing the heart of these delicate characters .", "a very fine domestic drama that avoids the pitfall of becoming maudlin and offers many surprising little twists along the way .", "it might be that this material is simply better suited to the theater , with its enforced artificiality and its crackling , dragging blacks .", "director john cameron mitchell 's restrained handling of the film 's rawest moments keeps it from descending into soul-wrenching lamentations .", "one of the very best films of 2010 .", "quality drama , sure , but it does n't go anywhere unexpected . for a film whose title evokes alice 's mysterious journey through wonderland , it might have amounted to a little more .", "exquisitely raw and painful , sure , but also richly humane and deeply cathartic , for david lindsay-abaire 's pulitzer and tony award winning play is nothing short of a masterpiece .", "a raw and complex character study that challenges our identification and sympathies at every turn", "when nicole kidman has full control of her facial muscles she is unrivaled in her ability to play cold , distant emotionally scarred bitches . its a marvelous performance . that said , the film itself can be so anguished that you will need counseling upon exit", "eckhart and kidman offer two of their finest , most nuanced performances . what could have been suffocatingly gloomy feels authentic and even hopeful .", "with performances like these , the result is not so much an issue movie as a study of human quiddity and stubbornness under siege .", "this drama of pain and loss felt by parents whose children die young may be the best of its kind i 've seen since `` ordinary people '' long ago .", "the film sets us up to judge and then upends those judgments .", "what on the surface seems to possess all the melodrama and photogenic suffering of a banal prime-time weepie instead becomes a lucid , tough , deeply sensitive examination of emotional fortitude .", "the movie is filled with little moments of kindness , brave stabs at connection and attempts to accept the shortcomings of others .", "eckhart works close to the top of his range here -- howie is a guy 's guy ill-equipped to fight something he ca n't see -- but kidman simply goes above and beyond .", "it 's not a documentary , but MOV is one of the most true films to be made in a long time , a beautiful tribute to those coping with loss and trying to make sense of the world .", "MOV is a finely tuned portrait of grief that takes its time unfolding , much like the actual process of mourning .", "the film 's impeccable emotional truth and delicate touches of black humor owe in equal part to screenwriter , director and stars .", "the film is quiet , patient , allowing for lived-in performances that get at the enormous change in the characters ' lives .", "we do n't want fireworks , but we do want a lit fuse .", "MOV is a spare , carefully made picture , but it 's not a bloodless one . and it 's just good enough to make you wonder what mitchell will tackle next .", "kidman does some of her most effective work in a while here .", "MOV is one of the most honest , stark depictions of grief ever committed to film . it 's not easy to get through , but it does offer some measure of hope , humor and catharsis . kind of like life .", "kidman and eckart are terrific", "the piece as a whole feels earnest and well-meaning but rarely compelling , a film that is almost too decorous to be as involving as it should be .", "it 's still painful and sad . it 's a movie about parental grief , after all . but there 's a also pinhole of light and weird punctuating humor , too , and that keeps it all from feeling like an anvil in your lap .", "painful as it is to watch , `` MOV '' engages you , imploring you to care about the characters and think about how complex the human psyche can be .", "MOV is a tremendously sad movie , but it 's also the furthest thing from a miserablist wallow , portraying grief as something that does n't arrive in neat stages , but in unpredictable waves with forceful undercurrents .", "eschewing clich\u00e9s , MOV is disturbing yet refreshing evidence that for some people , redemption takes longer , and for others , the pain never goes away at all .", "this emotionally dense film about grief , coping with loss and finding a way to get life back on track , takes us into heart wrenching territory", "this is one tricky subject to navigate , but -lsb- mitchell -rsb- ably corrals his cast and complements them with a perfectly calibrated directorial touch .", "brilliantly scripted and well acted , this painful and often funny drama avoids clich\u00e9 and feels true to life .", "kidman immerses herself in becca and her pain is almost tangible", "MOV is tender and sensitive where it counts , but also terminally tasteful . and there 's nothing tasteful about grief .", "the script , adapted by playwright david lindsay-abaire from his own pulitzer prize winner , demonstrates an extreme , occasionally comic , distaste for the sentimentality often provoked by other people 's grief .", "MOV is a searing drama that , despite its bleak theme , bravely posits how even the deepest emotional abyss need not become a prison of depression and hopelessness .", "MOV may sound bleak , and it surely is at times , but its refreshingly unhistrionic take on the subject coupled with kidman 's mammoth performance make it a rewarding experience .", "there 's a light at the end of MOV that makes this tearful trek worthwhile .", "it is a complicated and difficult film that is also extraordinarily sincere and honest .", "this searing family portrait is honest , humorous at times and worthy of kudos for kidman and the cast .", "though MOV tells a familiar tale , its goofy , loving feel for human cruelty and rage , for kindness and breakthrough bursts of exuberance , lifts this lovely chamber piece high above the crowd .", "all that emotion never quite manages to inspire the deep , resonant empathy these stricken parents -- and , more to the point , we in the audience -- so desperately need .", "nicole kidman and aaron eckhart give marvelous , shaded performances of grief-stricken parents attempting to move on without forgetting their pain .", "un drama \u00edntimo y conmovedor , narrado con sobriedad , sin golpes bajos y con una profunda empat\u00eda y cari\u0144o por sus personajes . dentro de un notable elenco se destacan las actuaciones de nicole kidman y dianne wiest .", "contrived and manipulative", "john cameron mitchell 's `` MOV '' is a heart-breaking , somewhat depressing film that deals with one of the worst tragedies a couple can face . it is also one of the best films of the year .", "MOV is hardly what you 'd call a date movie , and it 's difficult to see what kind of audiences it 'd appeal to outside of awards season chin-strokers .", "kidman is able to draw you in even as the movie 's solemn , morbid obviousness wears you out .", "-lsb- it -rsb- looks like another american indie film of ugly feelings and beautiful furniture , big acting and small paychecks . it is n't ; it 's one of the best , most human , most true films of the year .", "mitchell is a filmmaker who seems to genuinely like people , a far rarer bird than you 'd imagine .", "john cameron mitchell 's too decorous tale of parental grief and conflict is wise as far as it goes , but tastefully bourgeois to a fault .", "a perceptive and sympathetic film by john cameron mitchell that looks at grief by way of selfish reasonableness .", "-lsb- kidman 's -rsb- beautiful performance transcends the specifics of the script , which david lindsay-abaire adapted from his play of the same name .", "does n't quite make the leap from stage to screen with all its power", "in a tale of tragic loss , unexpected friendships , and finding happiness in whatever that may be , MOV scores big .", "a stirring meditation on grief gives way to some unexpectedly light hearted moments , in the impeccably acted drama MOV .", "this is a film that may haunt you . it 's painful to watch because the characters are in such pain in this show that can be classified only as a tragedy .", "... avoids exploitation at all costs .", "the triumvirate of focal performances -- especially the oscar-nominated nicole kidman as the grieving mother -- will break your heart .", "an absorbing , sensitive drama that feels painfully , and often amusingly , true .", "MOV is a beautiful examination of relationships . it exceeds normal genre expectations and has some fantastic acting .", "it 's a slight , well-acted tale in search of an epiphany .", "the sheer excruciating , stultifying good taste of this movie is almost unbearable - so tasteful it could have started out as a coffee-table book , though actually it is based on a pulitzer-winning play by david lindsay-abaire .", "MOV does n't entertain , inform or even stir the emotions .", "inevitably , MOV is a film that 's easier to commend than it is to like .", "while a little too neat and buttoned-up , it 's an effective character study that actually trends successfully into dark comedy territory during the second act .", "does n't wallow in sorrow ; instead , it tries to explore the many facets of grief and resolution , and that 's what makes it worthwhile .", "an enormously moving film that is , in the end , unexpectedly buoyant .", "kidman , doing her best work in years , just comes at you . her final scene with the splendid wiest , who builds her character with uncommon feeling , is devastating . so is the movie . it takes a piece out of you .", "MOV is n't just well written and beautifully acted , it 's simply devastating .", "MOV has a great script and some terrific performances , but in a lot of ways it 's a difficult project to warm up to .", "you never regret that nicole kidman ended up being the actress who got this made .", "moving , mature drama about loss is too heavy for kids .", "do n't go down this MOV unless you wish to see a superb film that treats a sad topic with unflinching honesty .", "... an unexpectedly powerful piece of work ...", "kidman and eckhart give stellar performances in a quiet tale of grief and -lrb- perhaps -rrb- healing .", "the actors do n't flinch from the task and there is hope at the end , though it may feel like small reward after so much digging .", "while it may be uncomfortable to watch , MOV is nonetheless essential viewing .", "although it 's sad , it avoids miserabilism , because it is leavened by touches of humour and a refusal to wallow . the reason to see it is kidman .", "impressively directed and superbly written , this is a powerfully emotional bereavement drama with a deservedly oscar-nominated performance from nicole kidman .", "will stay with you for days . a moving and truly beautiful film .", "kidman , looking almost anorexic with grief and sharply critical of everyone trying to comfort her , including her husband , is as good as she has been for some time .", "the acting is good - particularly from eckhart and teller - but director john cameron mitchell never quite finds a way to reach beyond the boundaries of its original stage work .", "if you must watch the portrait of a marriage strained to breaking-point , try the recent blue valentine , where you at least feel sorry for the unhappy couple that once cherished and loved each other .", "a movie that respects its audience , this is both poignant and funny .", "the terrain of grief is well mapped-out in american art movies , but MOV finds some subtle new pathways through it .", "the performances from kidman and eckhart are beautifully judged , while the film is as delicate and as finely nuanced as the characters and relationships it portrays .", "not as depressing as you fear ... and that 's no faint praise .", "a portrait of parental grief etched with sensitivity and welcome touches of humor .", "a by-the-numbers adaptation of a stage play that smacks of a thousand writer 's workshops and that is utterly devoid of genuine feeling .", "MOV takes its title from a graphic novel about alternate realities written by one of the film 's characters . the novel is pretty good -- too bad director john cameron mitchell did n't adapt it instead of david lindsay-abaire 's lugubrious play .", "respects the struggle that is the process of grieving and healing without giving way to wallowing or histrionics . it is , in a word , tasteful .", "the kidman in MOV is a revelation .", "MOV is beautifully made and acted , with a life-affirming point of view that makes it an intensely rewarding experience .", "sensitive , superbly acted , subtly disturbing chronicle of suffering and despair for those seeking a vicarious kind of catharsis .", "unlike his earlier works , though , -lsb- john cameron mitchell -rsb- turns the writing task over to the play 's author , lindsay-abaire , making MOV a hired gun kind of film .", "this heartfelt family drama is a return to form for nicole kidman , but it is aaron eckhart who really impresses as a sad dad stretching every which way to also support and find comfort with his emotionally closed down wife .", "his restrained , personal approach - captured in fluid close-ups , illuminated by clear , bright skies - lays bare the burdens of souls stuck as life goes on around them .", "if mitchell 's film had found a way to show rather than tell , MOV could have transcended the theatrically obvious and become cinematically sublime .", "a kidman character should never beg for forgiveness - it 's just not in her .", "plays out with all the subtlety of one of those bum-awful `` issues-driven '' episodes of eastenders . you half-expect an `` if you were affected by the events in this movie , you can call our special helpline '' message to drone out over the end credits .", "this is as clever , funny , foolish and frightening as real life .", "touching and wise .", "a grounded , well-rounded insight into the value of everything from a pet dog to electronic memories , the differences between the sexes when it comes to coping with grief and the future nature of sexual activity in such relationships .", "the problem with ` MOV ' is that it plays at one unrelentingly gloomy frequency : occasional moments of humour or tension are simply unable to puncture the overriding sense of oppressive sadness .", "everyone monologues , philosophises , weeps or does stream-of-consciousness cadenzas . no one has a human quirk or foible .", "it 's an understated , superbly-written drama that is extraordinarily ordinary , deeply moving in its slow , purposeful exploration of human behavior that is so recognizable , it takes our breath away .", "the tears it jerks are well-earned .", "those who venture into MOV with their expectations properly aligned will leave fulfilled and perhaps with a slightly different perspective on a few things .", "the sharp angles and rough edges of nicole kidman 's performance appear all the more vividly .", "mitchell deploys his distinctive directorial style to adapt lindsay-abaire 's play for the big screen . and he brings a remarkably light tough to the heavy subject matter , creating a film that deeply moves us .", "david lindsay-abaire has sensitively adapted his play and with director john cameron mitchell has filled the story with privileged moments , beautifully performed .", "with more patience and lack of affect than rachel getting married , MOV is stripped down to its story and its characters . achieves raw poignancy .", "the film is in a better state of mind than its characters . its humor comes , as the best humor does , from an acute observation of human nature . we have known people something like this . we smile in recognition .", "conventionally made but extremely well-acted . it does what most stage-to-screen adaptations do not . it works .", "wrenching , poignant , and quietly healing .", "it 's interesting to see a movie approach the subject of grief without the payoff of catharsis , healing , the palliative of closure .", "with some of the best performances of the year from nicole kidman , aaron eckhart , and dianne wiest , this is one of the strongest dramas of the awards season ." ], "summary": "it 's often painful to watch , but MOV 's finely written script and convincing performances make it worth the effort .", "id": "770810954" }, { "movie": "see_spot_run", "reviews": [ "this mutt of a movie is a real stinker .", "MOV is just an old dog whose few new tricks are stupid or disgusting .", "movies like this demonstrate that when it comes to stupidity and vulgarity , only the best will do for our children .", "MOV not only exceeds low expectations , but it 's also even a pleasant surprise .", "MOV is so guileless and good-natured that you may just find yourself enjoying it almost half as much as the child who brought you along to the movie .", "ten writers ! so many writers to make so little !", "there 's a general air of good-naturedness about this movie , a cartoonish spirit that informs the proceedings .", "by the time the film ends , everyone -- and i mean everyone -- has been humiliated , abused , and generally reduced to gordon 's level of inanity .", "the kind that 's punishment for weekend dads and whatever adult they drag along to help them keep their wits while the kids scream for more poop humor .", "the result plays terrifically with an all-ages crowd .", "do your kids a favor -- and take them to see something more worthwhile than the relentlessly vulgar and stupid MOV .", "see your life inch 90 minutes closer to death .", "renders a few laughs , but at the same time we can feel our iq dropping to the level of its imbecile characters", "the plot is so ridiculous and the execution so poor that nothing can save this floundering mess .", "it is possible , in fact highly probable , that the writers of this movie are as idiotic as the fat-headed lead character on screen .", "this crowd-pleaser is filled with laughs .", "there are eight credited writers on this rapidly paced jumble of a movie , which could be a record . -lrb- you have to wonder : what movie titles did this octet of high foreheads reject ? -rrb-", "adults will find little to entertain them , but at least it 's not an ordeal to sit through .", "a messy , though mostly amiable , comedy that ca n't quite decide who it wants to entertain .", "too dumb and too vulgar for anyone .", "only young jones and the dog come out of it with their reputations intact .", "an entertaining kid flick with lots of broad comedy and body-function humor .", "if you 're a parent looking for a movie you can take your kids to and genuinely enjoy yourself , this one is a winner .", "the movie looks as if it 's been written by committee and edited with a chainsaw .", "kids probably will enjoy the movie because bad things happen to silly grownups over and over again .", "this is a comedy for kids , not some great drama for fay art\u00edstes , and as such is a complete success .", "dotted with strange seizures of humiliation .", "george gallo , who wrote and directed the recent action comedy doubletake , is one of the writers of MOV , and his signature is all over this silly affair .", "derivative , even desperately goofy in its quest to leave no gag potential unrealized . but you 'll also be laughing so much , you probably wo n't care .", "to explain the extreme , lingering stench of MOV , it might be helpful to think of the movie itself as a dog .", "what 's amazing about MOV is that , granting how wretched it looks from the trailers and tv ads , it 's actually so very much worse even than that .", "the crawling narrative starts out as a version of adam sandler 's big daddy with training wheels .", "... to my surprise - perhaps even horror - i had a good time watching this silly movie .", "because it fails on so many levels , one wonders why `` MOV '' was n't put to sleep during development .", "for kids , this is a crowd-pleaser and a rollicking good time with its cops 'n' robbers and a doggone dog .", "if you find -lsb- arquette -rsb- a bit much in his at&t commercials , be prepared for 90 minutes of his over-the-top mugging .", "the laughs are few and the comic action is a bore -- even the dog looks kind of fed up .", "no bows -- no wows MOV is a must miss .", "too dumb for anyone over 8 and too vulgar for anyone under 12 .", "leaving aside the constant crudeness , this is a bad movie anyway .", "have you heard of the academy awards ? spot 's movie will not be receiving one .", "feebly mixes gangster spoof , buddy flick , home alone horseplay , animal adventure and wan romance , reeks worse than lead david arquette after he slips in doggie doo .", "this is not so much of a ` bad ' movie , as it is just a movie that we 've seen a thousand times before .", "MOV attempts to rationalize its stupidity by proclaiming itself a family film , as if that justifies its consistently low aim .", "MOV would n't be the first movie that tried to get by on the charms of a cute child or a particularly precocious animal . but it just might be the dumbest .", "there 's nothing about it quite so hilarious as the writing credits , which list no fewer than five writers and which , it is rumored , disguise the participation of up to five more .", "eight-year-olds will undoubtedly be on the floor when this scene is over , but every slapstick sequence feels like an uninspired retread of less potty-minded kiddie fare from the disney live-action movie-mill of the '60s and '70s .", "an unfunny farce with nary a clever line and not a single surprising sight gag .", "repeatedly falling in the same pile of dog poop got the most laughs at our screening .", "despite a litany of inanities , the film scores a big hit because it 's just plain funny watching goofy arquette twist his rubbery face as he stumbles into disaster .", "MOV would more aptly be titled see parents run .", "obviously , MOV wo n't go down as one of the great kiddie dog movies . but it 'll have to do for those children and adults who do n't ask for much when it comes to movies .", "MOV is pure hollywood formula all the way .", "MOV is one of those movies that makes you put your head in your hands and mourn the death of popular culture .", "seldom have movie co-stars been ordered to stoop so low in a film 's sorry quest for laughs", "the flick : MOV / it 's a truly bad movie / drove me to haiku .", "see spot stink would be a more appropriate title for this mangey mongrel of a movie .", "happily , MOV has a couple of those that would not be out of place in a jerry lewis classic or in blake edwards ' inspector clouseau franchise .", "not only is MOV tasteless , it 's devoid of originality .", "MOV , the new movie starring david arquette is no good . it stinks , it 's stupid , it 's not funny .", "this knockabout comedy is no more vulgar than most contemporary children 's films , and more good-natured than many .", "the perpetrators of MOV want you to know who in this brutally dumb canine comedy is the idiot . david arquette aside , depending on how long you stick around , it might be you .", "these sorts of films are often hard to rate as they manage to entertain the little ones , yet are n't that well made from an artistic standpoint .", "arquette , who is better in small doses , has just a little too much screen time here .", "a wheezing , underpowered affair that pads two amusing scenes out to feature length with some canned sentiment , lame ad-libs and break dancing .", "it 's a crude , dumb patchwork of worn-out ideas and cliches .", "the movie is directed by tv veteran john whitesell in an unpretentiously snappy style that seems designed to appeal to the affection for vulgarity of the eight-and-up crowd ." ], "summary": "MOV has all the elements chidren enjoy in a movie : a lovable dog , bad things happening to stupid adults , and lots of dog poop . for adults , it 's either hit-or-miss .", "id": "11147" }, { "movie": "final_fantasy_the_spirits_within", "reviews": [ "the only reason to see final fantasy : the spirits within is to gaze in amazement at what the future of film may hold . it 's not a particularly good movie , but it 's a movie that may change the movies .", "where it falters is on the script level . screenwriters distilled so many familiar science-fiction plot lines that nothing exists thematically to rival the groundbreaking visuals .", "a must-see for movie buffs curious about a new technology .", "darned if the thing does n't feel like a saturday-morning adventure cartoon stretched out to feature-length .", "after you 're done marveling at the characters ' semirealistic way of moving and the freckles and minor imperfections that dot their skin ... it 's all too easy to get hung up on the things that make them seem clumsy and awkward .", "for all its capacity for follicular detail , this cool new technology has trouble with intimacy .", "one for the history books , and tremendous fun to boot .", "the film is hands down the best ever based on a video game .", "when we see something with so little difference from humans , it just makes clearer how important that difference is .", "a mesmerizing technical achievement .", "at least the movie tries not to come across like a video game that you ca n't play .", "just sit back , grip your arm rest like it 's a joystick , and enjoy the slam-bang ride through the future-shocked earth of 2065 .", "is final fantasy decent sci-fi ? yes , more than decent .", "like dr. ross and her companions , the movie artfully mimics life without ever truly living .", "it should be seen , not for the movie itself , but for the way it has been made .", "sooner or later , viewers have to ask themselves : if they were to do this film with live actors , would it be worth seeing ?", "a technical milestone .", "it feels as if a computer also wrote and directed the film .", "optically stunning , emotionally cold .", "digital technology allows man to create man in his own image with greater sophistication than ever before , and the ` man ' he creates is a bore .", "just when you think you 've seen every computer trick and gimmick that can possibly stick to a screen , along comes a new advance that puts the ` special ' back in special effects .", "it 's just plain bewildering .", "even in the world of the digitally perfect , a black man seems doomed to be a disposable sidekick , and the heroine must represent every feminist ideal at once .", "it 's all very complicated and makes one lose interest quickly .", "a lot of painstaking work went into this ... unfortunately , the main story becomes nearly incomprehensible ... and the last ten minutes or so just feel like drudgery .", "the plot itself is convoluted sci-fi fare , taking in elements of botany , biology and philosophy , but it makes more sense than pearl harbor and the cast seems a lot more human .", "a delight , rising well above the standard animated action formula .", "it looks like a video game intro .", "visually stunning computer-animated sci-fi flick that unfortunately betrays its video-game origins with poor characterisation , an appalling script and a badly thought-out plot .", "the cityscapes , action sequences and phantoms and the sheer scale of the film are jaw-dropping .", "as a feature film , it ranks right up there with titan a.e. and atlantis for logic and an ability to compel .", "while this completely computer-generated sci-fi tale breaks new ground visually , beneath its sleek digital surface lurks a dull and nonsensical mishmash of cliches , confusion and sterile characters .", "unfortunately , the script is bad compared to the technology .", "this film 's bleak and murky vision , and somewhat incomprehensible spiritual mumbo-jumbo storyline , just did n't do it for me .", "the sight of these characters getting romantic is about as involving as watching two expensive mannequins kissing in a macy 's window .", "the too-smooth skin , the too-tidy hair , the slightly wooden way the characters move -- all of the elements that nudge them from the realm of the ordinary -- only serve to heighten the sense that everything on screen deserves our utmost attention .", "animation breakthrough aside , the main thing about final fantasy is that it is really , really boring .", "truth is , there 's hardly an original idea on display here .", "the film 's greatest strength is also one of its biggest weaknesses . as realistic-looking as the characters are , the flat , expressionless features make them seem emotionally aloof and rather unsympathetic .", "predictable , nonsensical plot , laughably lame dialogue and a surfeit of cloying environmentalist piety .", "technically this movie is really , really excellent .", "tiene el gran valor de ser innovadora , creativa y profundamente arriesgada . seguramente se convertir\u00e1 en un cl\u00e1sico con el paso de los a\u0144os", "the look of final fantasy then provides food for thought : what is `` realism '' and what does it have to do with the movies ?", "... from the first half hour through the final , unbelievably dull moment , the film beats its audience over the head with the same , tired moral .", "the animators put in a lot of hard work here , and they should be very proud of themselves . but frankly , if final fantasy is the future of movies , i 'm taking up macram\u00e9 .", "if human beings were made up entirely of eyeballs , this would be an instant classic .", "despite its strong visual appeal , final fantasy alienates the audience with strange theories that go unexplained , and characters that rival pinocchio 's reality .", "as the first attempt at a photo-realistic animated movie , this is definitely worth seeing on the big screen .", "where `` final fantasy : the spirits within '' falters is not in the stunning visuals , but in its pedestrian script", "an enjoyable film to watch .", "the filmmakers apparently have assumed that the advance in realistic animation techniques will create character , when all it really creates are images ...", "visually awe-inspiring and groundbreaking .", "it 's got a thought-provoking plot , without any clear-cut ` nemeses . '", "this sluggish would-be adventure is further burdened with a turgid , overly complicated plot .", "narratively , thematically , this is a dismissible picture , just another in a long and forgettable line of silly action flicks .", "final fantasy : the spirits within raises the bar for computer-generated imagery , then leaps over it .", "as monotonous as muzak , and when it comes to the plot , both bewildering and trite .", "it troubles you , makes you think , and at times thrills .", "my fantasy involved having the projector break or seeing the theater lights come back on .", "apparently , about $ 100 billion and millions of hours of rendering cycles went into creating dr. beautiful 's hair , and about $ 1.50 and a coffee break went into the script .", "obscurely plotted , emotionally simplistic and cliched in its characterization .", "as a technical achievement -lsb- the characters -rsb- are astounding . it 's too bad they were n't put into a plot that felt less hackneyed .", "the truth is , i have never seen a movie with this much exposition , and i still have no idea what was going on most of the time .", "final fantasy no o melhor filme do ano - isso certo . mas indubitavelmente aquele que entrar para os livros da histria da 7 arte .", "lo que no cambia , se extingue . el cine no es la excepci\u00f3n ; final fantasy puede no ser el primer paso , pero s\u00ed el m\u00e1s dram\u00e1tico .", "with all the effort put in by the animators , this should have been a classic .", "the heroes , though eye-poppingly rendered , remain emotionally as one-dimensional as any computer-game avatar .", "successfully following the plot should earn viewers some kind of trophy ; staying awake should earn them a cash prize .", "you thought reality tv was bad ? how about movies based on video games ?", "made by intelligent people for intelligent people .", "so gorgeous , so able to transport the viewer , that normal sticking points like clich\u00e9d plot and hackneyed dialogue do n't much matter .", "the tricky tale relishes in its japanese-style storytelling and will leave patient and focused hardcore anime and sci-fi fans drooling on their full review", "on a storytelling level , final fantasy is n't very compelling , but on a technological level , it is .", "a movie that does n't quite know what it wants to be .", "plays more like an expanded short story than a full-blown novel , but it 's still a game worth playing .", "the characters are so frighteningly lifelike ... that it becomes distracting , which i guess actually helps the story in a way .", "gleaming , but not without faults .", "these characters are so stiff and dull that you 'd be tempted to use that control pad to make the aliens eat all of them . that would be worth watching .", "the movie feels -- surprise -- hollow and lifeless .", "final fantasy joins tomb raider and the phantom menace as movies whose moronic stories are mere vehicles to get the viewer from one game-challenge sequence -- a chase through canyons , a battle with aliens -- to the next .", "while the action is convincing , the story is garbled and its which-way-is-up climax is too scrambled .", "it succeeds in making the viewer wish for the images of real people on the screen instead of fake ones .", "there 's really only one reason to watch this movie , and that 's to witness the evolution of comuter generated animation .", "too bad the dazzling ` eye candy ' technology was wasted on such a trivial pursuit .", "all the talk of how great this movie looks misses the larger point of how good this movie is n't .", "... has the visionary scope of ' 2001 : a space odyssey , ' and a story so smart and compelling that it had me grinding my teeth .", "photo-realism can only go so far when so little thought has gone into the story the ` synthespians ' are acting out .", "they are both visually very stunning to look at , both a wee on the wooden side , acting-wise , and both a mite forgettable .", "the exercise is so elaborately pointless you 'd think the pentagon had bankrolled it .", "by the movie 's end , i was too busy sniggering at the horrible lines ... to enjoy the visuals .", "a gorgeous , surprisingly meditative look at the beauty of life and the mysteries of death .", "it 's a paradox -- it 's at once exhilarating yet exhausting , thrilling yet boring , masterful yet banal .", "from a strictly visual standpoint , the film is like nothing you 've ever seen . in terms of story , however , you 've seen it all before .", "despite the utterly amazing animation and exciting action , this is nothing like its source material and is very disappointing in the end .", "this bigscreen adaptation of the long-popular interactive computer game is visually impressive if not dramatically cool , and is marked by `` acting '' that is no worse than that found in the majority of sci-fi films .", "i never stopped marveling at the thousands of individually delineated pores and hair strands of the heroine , but the thin story covering her acquisition of one wave after another while narrowly escaping death time and again is strictly for player one .", "it 's possible that the effect might be different if this were not a soggy , derivative sf movie and we had more to engage and divert us .", "in all its beautiful spectacle and skin-crawling ugliness , it is very much something that should be at least sampled , just for a taste of it .", "first computer animated movie to `` star '' actors .", "the human figure , however , remains a challenge to current cgi technology , since the detailing of hair and freckles , for instance , proves rather more credible than the marionette-like impression created by cold eyes and oddly unconvincing body movements .", "the story is well written and incredibly smart , but probably a bit too spiritual for western audiences .", "it 's muddled , hackneyed and torpid , and the only emotional reaction it elicits from viewers is one of tedium .", "the computer animation is very impressive .", "the result is ugly , confusing and boring .", "great animation , third-rate plot , but it still appeals to the geek within .", "crisp , breathtaking battle sequences that nearly put live-action to shame .", "a faux-spiritual spectacle that goes on about guya and spirit waves , all the while delighting in its own big guns and displaying nary a clue about weaving a cogent tale .", "has the capacity to inspire awe , but it 's still a rough draft .", "at first it 's fun to watch the characters ... but then you notice a coldness in the eyes , a mechanical quality in the movements .", "the clumsy script spells out exposition in the most blunt terms and a brave attempt to express subtle emotions in dramatic scenes is doomed by the limitations of the technology and the animator .", "the result is a ground-breaking achievement that could be recommended for its eye-popping visual prowess alone . fortunately , these computerized thespians also engage the heart and mind .", "it 's quite a blast .", "it is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking in the execution of its photorealistic , computer-generated humans .", "not just for genre audiences ... deserves to be appreciated by anyone looking for smart , classy entertainment .", "though the story is confusing and derivative , final fantasy : the spirits within is as visually startling as any fan could have hoped .", "some strong action sequences , a consistent treat for the eyeballs and an early glimpse of the future of animation .", "final fantasy works better as a 2-hour demo reel than as movie , a showcase of what we can do and what we can do better .", "visually stunning , while utterly mentally mundane .", "the story is adequate , if familiar , but after half an hour relapses into cliche .", "the visual grandeur can not hide clich\u00e9d dialogue , thin characters , and a frustrating lack of development .", "the characters in final fantasy are truly artificial in more ways than one .", "there 's an almost evangelical , wave-of-the-future excitement to the film , promising more and better to come .", "it 's more than a little frustrating to be so stimulated visually while being spoon-fed incongruous spiritual mumbo jumbo and force-fed incompatible summer action conventions .", "older kids and adults ... will feel rewarded and blessed to have seen something so intriguing .", "fast-paced and highly watchable .", "wo n't disappoint the die-hard sci-fi fan or video game enthusiast .", "while it entertains & may go down as the best video game film ever , final fantasy comes up a disappointment by not exploiting the full potential of the visuals .", "a frigid and boring -lrb- albeit noble -rrb- adaptation of what is , argueably , the greatest and most profound of rpgs .", "truly robotic storytelling and laughably artificial dialogue .", "serves as yet another illustration of how unimpressive even the most sophisticated effects work can seem when married to mediocre storytelling .", "the real draw for `` final fantasy : the spirits within '' is to the many fans of the video game series and those who are curious ...", "one could recommend the film to sci-fi fans for its groundbreaking look alone .", "the film comes from a video game , and no effort was made to develop the main ideas . this may not be a bother when you 're jabbing buttons or yanking joysticks , but it 's a dead loss onscreen .", "has the stolidness of a video game , from which it is derived .", "spectacular entertainment .", "moviegoers accustomed to hollywood action probably wo n't find this contemplative adventure so appealing .", "ff : tsw , despite conceptual gas that bloats it about 10 minutes beyond its best length , has exciting surge , sweep , detail and dazzle ." ], "summary": "the movie raises the bar for computer animated movies , but the story is dull and emotionally removed .", "id": "10618" }, { "movie": "straight_outta_compton", "reviews": [ "the group members ' stories are overly familiar to rap fans , as are portrayals of the big bad music industry in general , but that does n't take away from the film 's dramatic tension .", "a fierce and awesome movie that morphs into a standard biopic .", "MOV is not just one of the best movies about the music business ever made , but it 's the drama about racism that a modern audience needs now more than ever .", "f. gary gray 's film detailing the rise and splintering of the hugely influential rap group n.w.a. is very nearly a masterpiece .", "buoyed by a soundtrack that 'll have fortysomethings cracking open 40-ounces and recalling a marginally simpler , if still chaotic , time in their lives , MOV 's bark is just as snarly-cool as its bite .", "a certain tendency toward myth-making is inherent in the biopic style . and MOV , naturally , obliges convention with the necessary legend-printing flair .", "there 's way too much inside-baseball money talk here , when a simpler plot -- one about a band whose apocalyptic vision comes to pass -- would have been plenty .", "MOV manages to keep its sharp teeth despite its adherence to form . the movie does n't neuter n.w.a. 's story so much as mold it to a familiar model .", "one can argue that this story might have been told with greater punch , more detail and less reliance on the tropes of the genre , but it 's still pretty solid and vivid as it is .", "in the small pool of big-budget hip-hop biopics , `` MOV '' is near the top .", "the authenticity of the story , or whether any of it was fabricated or exaggerated , is never in question , thanks in big part to the genuineness of the performances .", "f. gary gary returns to the big screen with an invigorating , dynamic , no-holds-barred film led by five newcomers who embody the characters they are portraying with perfection .", "a brash , enjoyable nostalgic rush that also happens to be as timely as tomorrow .", "this is n't your mother 's musical biopic . except actually it is , just titled a couple degrees to the left . kinda like jerz-e boyz .", "because of its heart and spirit , MOV is even for some of those who do n't know the difference between ice cube and ice-t .", "the cinematic equivalent of a nostalgic fanzine designed with die-hard devotees of gangsta ' rap in mind .", "this movie is a live wire that says as much about today as it does the late 80s-early 90s era it depicts .", "absorbing , honest and ultimately heartbreaking , this music biopic expertly shows how an artist 's surroundings can profoundly influence their artistry .", "the temptation to rap my way through the review was -- fortunately -- resistible . this movie , however , is not . great piece of work whether you 're into hip hop or not .", "skillfully written , artfully acted and brilliantly directed - one of the best movies of the year", "rename this flick MOV : the authorised biopic of nwa , and you 'll have no problem slurping up its many pleasures .", "an amusing hook to the story is how it goes from being about the music to being about the music business , with success bringing the guys to blows over contracts and artistic integrity .", "this movie burns so hot that it 's bound to run out of steam . it does . but what stands is an amazement , an electrifying piece of hip-hop history that speaks urgently to right now .", "this biopic gallops through the career of groundbreaking gangsta rappers n.w.a , working its way through a checklist of the major events .", "a must see for fans of rap ... and everyone else too ! -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV that will deffinately will become a cult classic among hip hop fans , however , high production values and acting make it accessible for everyone . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the 2 1/2 hours of compton are fantastically paced -lrb- it feels much shorter -rrb- , full of well-placed humor and packed with moments that make it a time capsule of west coast rap .", "to someone unfamiliar with the american rap scene , MOV will provide an absorbing look at a group of flawed , yet wonderfully talented artists .", "history is written by victorious billionaire rappers .", "it 's a pity the film 's machismo and aggro dominates proceedings because occasionally , but not often enough , some involving elements counter the film 's relentlessness .", "a vital and necessary movie that looks back to the birth of a movement that influences music and american life to this day .", "executes the established biopic formula to near-perfection , it 's well-acted and well-staged , and thoroughly enjoyable even when relying on cliche .", "policemen , journalists who dislike rap and suge knight will find little to enjoy in this movie - all are portrayed as villains with zero subtlety . but the film as a whole is critical of its heroes ' mistakes .", "jackson jr. artfully evokes ice cube 's tough-guy charisma . mitchell 's eazy emerges as the film 's most complicated figure , throwing his lot in with a manager who may not have his best interests at heart .", "a smorgasbord of a musical biopic in which the strength of the individual parts compensates for the flaws of the whole .", "at its worst , the film is agonizingly biopic-ish . at its best , it 's a rise-and-fall movie where the first half is infinitely more compelling than the second .", "the fbi watched them with suspicion . their fans watched them with adoration .", "an undeniable love letter to one of the most influential groups in rap music history , f. gary gray 's `` MOV '' is a vivacious and powerfully timely piece that stands as the single best film of the year thus far .", "... kind of exhilarating .", "this movie about a group of risk-takers should have taken more risks itself .", "watching MOV ... it feels like watching the avengers of hip hop biopics . every character ... gets his own dramatic introduction .", "ice cube has re-written history in a way that 's deeply self-serving and thoroughly entertaining .", "MOV is a victory : in turning a sprawling narrative into a movie , when there are n't many like it , the best thing to do is follow the rules of a by-the-numbers biopic .", "a few electrifying moments aside , this skillfully made but painfully skin-deep film feels like a winners ' history of the gangsta rap glory days .", "it 's very easy to imagine sing-along showings cropping up for years to come .", "director f. gary gray turns the meteoric rise and fractious fall of rap supergroup n.w.a. into a sprawling , exhilarating los angeles hip-hop epic .", "it does for the most part fulfill its mission , breathing life into the origin story of a group whose influence is still being felt .", "unlike most biopics , which rely on our nostalgia for another time , MOV reels us in with its raw reflection of our current reality .", "covers a lot of ground in recounting n.w.a. 's story . it begins and ends on high notes , though it loses its way ever so slightly in the middle .", "underneath the gunshots and the battle raps , `` MOV '' is a fairly conventional movie about a music group , somewhere between hero-making and the honest truth .", "`` MOV '' 's readymade movie-ness cuts both ways : despite a twisty , juicy and compelling story , there remains a staid conventionality that keeps the political and thematic undercurrents from being explored as satisfyingly as one might hope .", "it loses all its edge to become hagiography for these men . it 's as if the cheesy second half does n't trust the more emotional and realistic first half .", "an exceptional young cast and strong direction make this powerful and gritty n.w.a. biopic a cut above most showbiz sagas .", "... an epic biopic that sparks to ferocious life more often than it falls victim to watered-down melodrama .", "there 's an energy and urgency to this nwa biopic that 's nearly impossible to resist .", "not only is this film informative , it is well-written , well-acted and entertaining . the music is electrifying .", "the core of the story is business , the object is power , and the quirks of desire and twists of the unconscious are given no place in the struggle-which the movie sharply carries ahead to the present day .", "as uneven as nwa was incendiary .", "punchy , provocative and packed with attitude .", "it 's fun for fans of west coast hip-hop but suffocates any hope of depth ; what , for example , about the group 's lyrical misogyny and homophobia ?", "it 's like ice cube got in a time machine and traveled back in time , but was still forty because time travel does n't change your age . so he went on a big diet , got some makeup help and starred in a film about himself . it 's just like that .", "films that are this sharply written , expertly directed and brilliantly acted do n't come along too often .", "MOV is more a statement movie than a linear biopic , and while it runs a tad too long , gray 's cast never stops delivering a consistently passionate energy .", "vibrant , rambunctious , and as lopsided as a cake taken out of the oven too soon .", "hard-edged , sometimes difficult to watch ... and surprisingly educational .", "the sheer force of MOV steamrolls its flaws . director gray , who is from compton and made a name for himself directing some of hip-hop 's best music videos , has given us a movie that feels honest and urgent .", "MOV may not fully shake off many of the restrictions of the biopic form , but if anyone deserves to have some mythmaking done for them , it 's n.w.a.", "the casting in MOV is universally pitch perfect , including brief cameos by keith stanfield as snoop and marcc rose as tupac that are fantastically spot on .", "the picture is n't really a biography , it 's an application for sainthood .", "MOV 's ambition occasionally exceeds its grasp , and it 's probably too clumsy to be considered a great film . but it never stops feeling important .", "it 's clear what producers ice cube and dr. dre are most interested in : the money .", "the relatively unknown cast rises to the incredible challenge of portraying some of the most recognizable people in the music industry .", "sometimes buoyant , sometimes soggy .", "a group of talented young actors in a bio-pic that packs a punch in all the right places ... eye-opening and compelling ...", "it twists the volume dial clockwise .", "the seething rage radiating from the screen elevates this above similar movies . but that rage is truncated in ways that are hard to ignore .", "early scenes show clearly how nwa 's music emerged from the war zone of south central la in the 1980s . thereafter , MOV comes straight out of the school of biopic clich\u00e9 .", "holding it all together is clamourous music that achieves something pop so rarely manages : it is urgently of its time and endlessly influential .", "the nwa story is told in the style of a luxe , classic-era studio biopic . and it 's scintillating .", "potent and visceral in its depiction of street life and blinged-up excess alike , MOV delivers big beats of both kinds .", "gray 's camera bobs and weaves around the action like a wary boxer , giving the story an athletic urgency .", "the story of the rise and subsequent implosion of one of the most influential bands in us rap history gets a sweeping , epic , but somewhat partisan treatment in f gary gray 's explosive drama MOV .", "no matter how hard the script tries to artlessly name-drop basic facts or things to come , the movie has a lived-in groove , the actors doing their best to make even the stiffest line sound off-the-cuff .", "MOV is as important as selma in terms of putting the now on a similar plane as the then . it might cover too much territory , and not get the two stars of today too messy , but it is as powerful as it is entertaining .", "if you 're like me , you 'll forgive its more melodramatic clich\u00e9s and just surrender to its raw , brass-knuckle force .", "it 's biopic syndrome ... and it sinks the second half of an otherwise compelling , funny and extremely entertaining film with a beat all its own .", "there 's a grittier , grimier story in here , but it needed a different script and probably a different director than the uncritical f. gary gray , whose resume is studded with old-school rap videos and ice cube projects .", "if you 're not a fan of n.w.a , you 'll still find much to enjoy here . if you are a fan , you 'll love this movie as much as i did .", "though not without its flaws , it crackles with a timeliness and a now-ness that elevates it beyond mere entertainment and into the realm of subtle social commentary .", "good , as close to great as any f. gary gray film is ever likely to be .", "conventional and too long , but rousing and entertaining .", "the highly entertaining and sprawling biopic starts out with its pulse on the nation only to somewhat devolve into standard behind the music backstage melodrama .", "gray 's stroke of genius is to take a wonderfully cheesy , melodramatic rags-to-riches tale and shoot it in the style of an action movie , complete with sex , drugs and violence .", "gray does an undeniably fine job of taming what amounts to a decade-long soap opera , covering a lot of narrative ground with little loss of dramatic steam .", "an outstanding achievement , putting it on my short list of the year 's best films .", "for fans only .", "MOV is an unwieldy , expletive-strewn sprawl of a musical biopic .", "it 's hawkins , mitchell and jackson -lrb- the latter playing his own father -rrb- who really light up the screen , bringing energy and vitality to the film even as it misses the wider picture -lrb- and stirs up old rivalries -rrb- ...", "it never feels less than authentic , directed with energy by f gary gray and acted superbly .", "the young cast are so convincing on stage it 's easy to forget you 're not watching the real thing .", "overall , it 's a well-done film that offers up pointed social commentary as it also delivers a thought provoking history of the group .", "a slick , provocative and timely biopic about one of hip hop 's most iconic groups .", "MOV does not reinvent the musical biopic as a genre ; merely hone it to a razor 's edge , transcending a rote repetition of nwa 's history to make a statement about the world that made them possible and how it must change .", "a sprawling , overstuffed , formulaic but highly entertaining story of pop stardom and its discontents in which the pioneers of gangsta rap are burnished to a high mythological gloss .", "a superb film despite the group 's problematic history , but n.w.a 's past can not be rewritten , for better or for worse .", "a fitting tribute to the world 's most dangerous group and easily one of my favorite films of the year .", "n.w.a. started out as angry young men shouting at the cops , but the film opens up their raider jackets to reveal the humans beneath . perhaps that story 's been told before . but it never sounded quite like this .", "director f. gary gray has too big a story to tell , enough for a tv miniseries -lrb- or a season 's worth of behind the music episodes -rrb- , and you can see him straining to cram everything in even as the film stretches to the two-and-a-half hour mark .", "the first hour is electrifying in all the right ways . its second half trades impact for incident , ultimately rendering `` MOV '' little more than a multimillion-dollar reenactment - albeit a persuasively acted and vividly rendered one .", "the script is sharp , often funny , and compelling . it has one of the best ensemble casts of the year and the performances are superb .", "their stories are largely fictionalized , peppered with the truth that dr. dre and ice cube want you to know . it 's a fun fiction , yes , but fiction just the same .", "there 's little to distinguish the movie from any number of overlong hit-by-hit music biopics of the nodding-approvingly-from-behind-a-mixing-console variety .", "brashly winning and unapologetically self-serving .", "MOV earns its place in the pantheon of biopics that are good , just not as great as the artists who inspired them .", "a fittingly raw and powerful film .", "`` you are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge . '' no , really .", "it 's far from being a full and frank account .", "it also , naturally , has an unforgettable soundtrack and so , ultimately , can be mostly forgiven for lacking the danger and unapologetic truth of the album it 's named for .", "history is certainly written by the victors .", "it 's impossible not to pump your fist .", "it 's rare that a band made famous by controversy can stay relevant even a few years on . but more than two decades later , n.w.a. 's music still has the power to shock and startle .", "MOV wields its maximum impact in a gripping first half : where the group rapidly get their abrasive act together , then rush headlong at an unsuspecting world .", "on the whole , i hope it sparks a cultural shift in what hollywood considers to be important musical legacies that are worth preserving .", "a truly great music biopic to rival the best of the genre .", "despite MOV 's energetic acting and gray 's capture of in-studio eureka ! moments , it never manages to transcend biopic hagiography ...", "exhilarating from its first moments , MOV seizes its viewer and does n't let go . director gray captures the rage and electricity of the era in this portrait of rap legends , nwa .", "MOV is a period piece , but it is not . it 's snapshots of l.a. before and after rodney king ... it 's still a part of that timeline , the legacy of criminalization of black and brown bodies and power-tripping cops .", "MOV functions as both a compelling , damnably topical political statement and a slickly produced piece of commercial art .", "a riveting film about the birth of not just one rap group but an entire genre .", "what distinguishes the film is its spot-on period recreations and some truly fantastic casting . -lrb- full content review - sex , nudity , violence , profanity , etc. - for parents available -rrb-", "rreaches back and recaptures the energy of n.w.a. 's raging , raunchy cultural moment .", "you ca n't get more current or more electric than MOV .", "MOV is so beholden to the appeasement of so many artists and legacies and estates that none of it coheres as a movie .", "while no one will mistake this for a protest film-there are too many pool parties-the movie 's portrait of a militarized police force all too eager to assault young black men ca n't help but resonate in our own moment .", "MOV celebrates the gangsta rap era with a bit too much glee , but it 's mesmerizing every step of the way .", "the film antagonizes . it instigates . just like gangsta rap itself .", "director f. gary gray , whose relationship with ice cube stretches back to the video for it was a good day , cuts through the violence in n.w.a. 's lyrics to drop the needle on the group 's vulnerability , boyish camaraderie and genial humour .", "it 's most towering accomplishment are its set pieces , which manage to be brash , exhilarating , and even occasionally moving .", "despite a few flaws inherent to nearly all music biopics , the long-developing `` MOV '' pulls no punches in capturing the volatility of the era and the group 's often violent rags-to-riches story .", "it 's overlong and sanitized but succeeds in presenting an important part of contemporary american culture to a mainstream audience .", "but as a depiction of a time and place , MOV - from its low-rider chevys on hydraulics blaring hip-hop to police battering ram vehicles crashing into suspected crack houses - nails it .", "a consistently entertaining look at the birth of extremely relevant music .", "`` MOV , '' f. gary gray 's biopic of pioneering gangsta rappers n.w.a. , manages to feel urgent and alive , even as it plays like the coolest episode of vh1 's `` behind the music '' ever .", "one of the summer 's most entertaining and provocative movies ...", "`` MOV '' goes right to the heart of what made n.w.a. one of the most defiant groups of all time .", "it 's a story driven by classic tensions : struggle and triumph , division and conquest , group and individual .", "f. gary gray 's excellent film is as sympathetic as it is bombastic , even when it depicts some of the rough stuff , a lot of the stupid excesses that come with fame , and even some quasi-criminal activities .", "an incredibly ambitious musical biopic that illustrates how a hip hop group sparked a revolution , self-destructed , then regained its original bond .", "once the group as we originally know it from the movie 's story dissolves , so too does the movie 's narrative cohesion and , surprisingly , distinctiveness .", "MOV makes that same thudding power echo in the thrill of a fresh track and the first rhymes from five young men who changed the music landscape nearly 30 years ago .", "an explosively entertaining biopic about the hip-hop group that brought gangsta rap into the mainstream of popular culture in the 1980s .", "if any film should be forgiven its excesses , it 's MOV , which is about the clashes and camaraderie among men whose unruliness sparked a cultural moment that was beyond their ability-and their willingness-to contain .", "the film follows the five young men as they use their music and brutally honest lyrics to express their antagonism about the dangerous and depressing environment around them .", "like its subjects , the iconic late rap conglomerate n.w.a. , f. gary gray 's `` MOV '' starts out strong , peaks quickly , and then gets tangled in complications and compromise and falls apart .", "`` MOV '' ends up juggling more story lines and moods than it can handle .", "there 's some grit at the get-go , and some thrill at witnessing the development of a musical form . but the drama slows down once the money starts rolling in and the rappers ' chief antagonists become each other , and maybe their manager .", "as enlightening as it is entertaining , as sobering as it is exhilarating , `` MOV '' reminds viewers not only who n.w.a. were and what they meant , but also why they mattered - and still do .", "despite its occasional whitewash of facts , `` compton '' thrives both as a reminiscence for longtime fans and an introduction to those who are n't yet privy .", "MOV aims to cross cultures and sanctify the wisdom of the street-to make a universal underdog story . it succeeds on a visceral level .", "a movie that can launch a thousand conversations and , sadly , as pertinent now as n.w.a. 's record was in 1988", "suffers from standard biopic formatting , but there 's still a whole lot to appreciate here .", "a well directed and powerful musical biopic with some great performances and a presentation that will make the fans go wild", "an energetic , continually engaging biopic . if you do n't know the n.w.a. story , you 'll be fascinated by its many twists and turns . if you do , you 'll admire the respect with which it 's told .", "MOV hurtles toward greatness , only to fall short in execution . yet , aiming high and falling short still results in a very good film .", "the beats are fly , the story is nitty-gritty and the timing is spot-on , reminding us of just how shocking , raw and impactive n.w.a. 's music was 25 years ago -- and how powerfully it echoes even today .", "while the movie itself is a mostly warts-free depiction of the group 's rise and eventual dissolution , the circumstances described by the band have n't gone away .", "this biopic does n't come close to matching the impact of the titular album , but the material is so riveting that it 's nearly enough ." ], "summary": "MOV is a biopic that 's built to last , thanks to f. gary gray 's confident direction and engaging performances from a solid cast .", "id": "771305050" }, { "movie": "ride_with_the_devil_1999", "reviews": [ "given the flat performances and schamus 's overexplanatory script , MOV has the feel of undergraduate costume drama .", "lenthy and zigzagging narrative .", "the film is less than the sum of its parts .", "the script is as flat as a kansas cornfield with characters that are as memorable as well ... a kansas cornfield .", "james schamus ' flat , arid screenplay only further undermines this intimate tale .", "politically astute , visually breathtaking but emotionally inert .", "a film that would inspire useful discussion in a history class , but for ordinary moviegoers , it 's slow and forbidding .", "visually arresting but dramatically flat .", "oddly distant and uninvolving for such a blazing subject .", "ambitions only get you so far , and then it 's a matter of dynamics -- dynamics of story , character , plot , which failed lee in the ice storm and fail him again here .", "moving , gorgeously filmed .", "admirably expressive .", "schamus , mightily adapting from daniel woodrell 's equally blood-soaked and far more delusional novel , woe to live on , has revised the book 's revisionism to restore to the war its fighters ' freewheeling single-mindedness .", "even if this is n't the best civil war film ever made , it 's one of the most interesting and least dogmatic .", "ang lee is amazing .", "simply put , a gorgeous and enduring piece of work .", "an intimate epic .", "lee and his team bring the period and place to life brilliantly , in its every frontier main street , homely speech pattern , and burnt gunpowder fog .", "entertaining , effective .", "ang lee 's MOV is a film of monumental ambition .", "the main characters , despite their various complexities , are never particularly compelling and therefore fail to draw us into -lrb- or help us make sense of -rrb- the film 's abstract themes", "bucolic scenes of men at rest in beautiful wild landscapes and families gathered over meals in manors and homesteads are shattered by battles ...", "like too many other young men in too many other wars , maguire 's jake roedel sees too much , and grows up too fast .", "the lawrence massacre provides no catharsis , only a sense of despair at the state of the human condition and at young men turned psychopaths .", "lee is a master storyteller .", "sustains a standard of realism that can induce extraordinary tension .", "` it ai n't right ; it ai n't wrong ; it just is . ' that line , in a nutshell , pretty much sums up MOV .", "this is n't the usual civil war tale of learning to respect a man regardless of his race ... . it 's about how true freedom comes from love , from respect , and from self-sacrifice .", "MOV moves with its own methodical rhythms .", "... unexpectedly watchable due mostly to the above-average performances from tobey maguire , jeffrey wright and even jewel -lrb- in her film debut -rrb- .", "does for civil war movies what 1991 's mobsters did for gangster movies .", "from a technical perspective , MOV is nearly perfect .", "MOV truly succeeds .", "the performances from the young cast are excellent .", "sadly , wright 's is a great performance wasted in an otherwise forgettable historical epic .", "fine performances -- including one from jewel -- highlight this ang lee western .", "unengaging !", "it 's simply a collection of familiar dull moments from a variety of bad historical dramas .", "a remarkably beautiful film .", "it is fresh and insightful , and it is visceral cinema .", "an impressive cast energizes lee 's smartly balanced themes of innocence and treachery .", "the production of the film is outstanding ; the settings , costumes , imagery , and soundtrack add a strong dose of reality to the characters .", "this rip-roaring adventure story presents a little known slice of civil war history ,", "there 's absolutely no emotional or sexual heat between maguire and jewel ; they seem like kids playacting at grand passion .", "neither outstandingly good , nor bad . it 's a reliable choice for the historical action keener .", "while the movie intermittently revs up for some showy combat scenes , its real m\u00e9tier is a texture of fine-grained observation that brings history to life on the molecular level .", "lee appears to have been torn between making a character study and an action movie , so both elements get short shrift .", "lacking the charisma of a truly great film ... MOV manages to succeed more in principle than it does in the moment .", "lee has cast his film with the cream of rising actors .", "the intriguing -lrb- if not always successful -rrb- result is an oddly contemplative picture about a horribly bellicose time .", "MOV works on the simple level of action and classic drama .", "the cast is attractive and proficient at handling the fancy dialogue the filmmakers offer up as period vernacular .", "a sublime contemplation of the american character at a particularly revealing time in our struggle to become a nation .", "a film that asks the viewer to stop and smell the spent gunpowder rather than wallow in pyrotechnic spectacle .", "it is a violent film that fails , at times , to be dramatically engaging ...", "wright is the real find in the ensemble cast ." ], "summary": "a well-acted , eccentric civil war film , ang lee 's MOV is often more visually striking than it is emotionally engaging .", "id": "13875" }, { "movie": "anchorman", "reviews": [ "ron may be an idiot , but MOV is no dope .", "funny in a roly-poly , shapeless way . sort of like ferrell 's gut .", "it 's a long string of heavy-footed sight and sound gags that must have seemed a stitch at the drawing board , but made me squirm in my seat .", "-lsb- n -rsb- inety endless minutes of some of the most stunningly incompetent filmmaking i 've ever seen ...", "dumb , dumber , dumberest !", "surprise surprise , the movie outplays its trailer . picks up big well-deserved laughs in between ever decreasing non-funny moments .", "rent it if you must , but do n't say i did n't warn you .", "if you do n't like will ferrell , i do n't understand you . i mean , this movie might just change your mind .", "ferrell is at the top of his game , giving us a character who is utterly shallow , silly , and vainglorious , yet completely likable .", "balances its social satire with some outlandish visual gags and moments of surreal hilarity", "the good news is - the film is fresh , imaginative and full of laughs .", "the period vibe is basically the whole point to this charming and often very funny film .", "generally , the film makes good on its humorous potential .", "this is ideal friday night fodder if you 're in the right mood .", "does n't quite live up to the promise of its admittedly funny trailer , though it does have several good laugh-out-loud gags .", "a ` stupid comedy ' that gleefully celebrates the absurd and actually trusts its audience to be smart .", "the whole exercise has the smug feeling of a kevin smith film -- a cameo dumpster that does n't even have the wit to kill danny trejo .", "the humor of MOV is planted deep within a surreal 70s landscape where the jokes zing by so fast , you have zero time to ponder how out there they really are .", "while malapropisms and anachronisms do have their places in cinematic comedy , it 's very tough to make them the foundation for a story .", "it is not as maniacally uninhibited as old school or as dementedly lovable as elf , but its cheerful dumbness is hard to resist .", "it 's a flat , dull picture marked by sporadic flashes of ridiculous brilliance .", "this is a wobbly comedy rooted too deeply in three - or four-minute tv-style set pieces , which misfire more often than not .", "remember the `` spanky and our gang '' episodes where the boys would n't let darla into the treehouse ? imagine that plot in the all-white-guys world of 1970 's television news .", "little more than an extended saturday night live skit with better wigs , real locations and a script that sputters as soon as its one-joke premise is exhausted .", "hammers away at the same comedic notes like an 8-year-old pounding out ` chopsticks ' on a parlor piano .", "will ferell makes it big", "this goofy , energetic comedy flattens out at times but milks its 1970s setting and characters for numerous huge laughs .", "this is a masterpiece of comedy , ready to be watched , re-watched , quoted and imitated for years to come .", "-lsb- a -rsb- very funny , silly , and well acted comedy that must be watched for the great laugh out loud performances , and gut busting gags .", "incredibly silly yet often hilarious ...", "it 's nearly perfect .", "silly comedy that 's definitely not for kids", "laughs galore follow the well-paced humor as cameo performances by jack black , tim robbins , and luke wilson spice up the buffoonery ingeniously smacked at by the rest of movie 's talented ensemble .", "by no means ... a great movie . but i not only understand why some people love it , i think i 'm even beginning to love it a little myself .", "some of the material works , some does n't .", "relentlessly silly but not quite funny parody of 70s network news never quite lives up to its promise .", "MOV may be uneven , but will ferrell 's ron burgundy is a character worth revisiting", "gags are n't allowed to develop ; the characters are shuffled from location to location and from conflict to conflict without building momentum .", "it 's hardly breaking news to tell you will ferrell 's funny , but MOV 's flights of lunacy need a little more story to keep us engaged .", "a comic idea that never finds the comic wellspring or anything resembling a sure source for laughs .", "the laughs arrive on stale crackers of the easy , breezy and familiar .", "will ferrell headlines a great comedy cast in a story that is as ridiculous as it is hysterical .", "wonderfully silly all the time .", "you will laugh . then you will laugh some more . then you will laugh still again .", "a surreally dopey comedy that is refreshingly ribald without resorting to gross-out humor , and its '70s - savvy soundtrack may be worth the price of admission .", "at its best it plays like modern-day marx brothers in which every single thing that happens makes no sense and serves no purpose and nothing happens for any reason at all .", "occasionally , it entertains us for three minutes or so , but it lurches from one skitlike scene to another , charting out like this : funny , not funny , not funny , funny , not , not , not , funny , not , funny , not , not .", "while the film is sporadically funny , it was done much better on the small screen , decades ago .", "may cause hysterical fits of laughter -- stay tuned for further details .", "like most of these sofa-spud comedies , MOV bears its attention-deficit disorder proudly , as it shifts tone and abruptly sidetracks .", "`` MOV '' is so deft and suave at selling us on its preposterousness that we give in , and laugh at the sheer gall of it all .", "the results may not be coherent , or even consistent , but they are often hilarious .", "good dumb fun can be lowbrow without being lazy , but bite-sized episodes of creative lunacy are not enough to qualify MOV as the kind of dumb worth paying to see .", "so many ways to go with something witty , sharp , or just plain fun ... the filmmakers instead went with pointless , dull , obvious , and sophomoric", "it 's the kind of movie that makes you laugh despite yourself , its inconsistent dummheit redeemed by a try-anything approach that somewhat transcends the usual aura of a tv sketch stretched to feature length .", "... burgundy barely qualifies as a character . better to think of him as a living one-liner , albeit a very funny one .", "instantly quotable and destined for classic comedic status .", "even though it feels the need to lapse into juvenile clowning around every once in awhile , MOV is still gon na make you laugh -- hard .", "will ferrell shows that even he is not immune to looking bad when faced with bad material , even if it 's his own . possibly one of the worst directed films of the year .", "the movie succeeds because there are so many goofy little moments that rise up out of nowhere and catch you off guard .", "will ferrell 's commitment to sophomoric comedy is encroaching on religious zeal : `` MOV '' is ferrell at his best .", "proving that even infantile humor can be funny , MOV : the legend of ron burgundy does make you laugh even if you hate yourself for doing so .", "ferrell has seized on a clever concept rife with possibilities -- namely , women breaking the glass ceiling in male-dominated tv news during the '70s -- and smartly surrounded himself with a topnotch cast .", "it 's difficult to resist a hero who believes that the name san diego , derived from german , means `` whale 's vagina . ''", "... the laugh ratio is about 50 percent , but that 's still pretty good .", "word is ferrell got the idea for the film one night while watching a documentary on the male dominated world of 70s television news . his fans should thank their lucky stars the comedian happened to catch it .", "takes a joke and runs with it -- sometimes too far , but usually long enough to wear you down and force you to submit to its craziness .", "... somehow will farrell manages to hold the whole mess together .", "there has n't been a movie this silly or funny since austin powers .", "a crude , funny satire that tackles local television anchors and their newscasts . those are easy targets to skewer , but the movie mines more truth from its subject than some in the biz will want to admit .", "... like a ` saturday night live ' skit that got out of hand , a good idea that kept going and going but never quite jelled into a story .", "ostensibly modeled on the egomaniacal ted baxter of the old mary tyler moore tv series , this adventure 's protagonist is less comical , less endearing , and generally grates on the nerves .", "some of MOV is the kind of giddy , nonsensical stuff that can only emerge from a genuinely deranged comic brain .", "ferrell 's manic energy takes it beyond parody and into a brilliant dance of buffoonery .", "MOV : the legend of ron burgundy shows that the past has bright future in hollywood comedies .", "it solidifies ferrell 's place alongside jim carrey , jack black and , when called on , johnny depp , as our best comic actors .", "it seems like ferrell can take just about any idea , however threadbare , and make it funny .", "the desperate and frantic slapstick of MOV : the legend of ron burgundy is closer to hysteria than hysterical .", "as much credit as ferrell deserves for keeping this nonsense from slipping off the screen , applegate deserves as well .", "nothing more than an extended skit , and a lame one at that .", "most of it is n't even as funny as those supposedly humorous features that local news broadcasts sometimes end with .", "ferrell is funny spouting his weird stream-of-consciousness rants , but too often the plot leaves him hanging and he resorts to just yelling really loud .", "the celluloid equivalent of a throwaway summer pop anthem , the sort of catchy-yet-agitating tune that has you humming in spite of yourself .", "a mighty silly send-up of a mighty silly era .", "there is n't a second that goes by without ferrell filling it with some form of comic shtick - a well-turned punch line , a goofy facial expression , a pratfall or some other kind of physical comedy business .", "add it all up , and you get something that often meets the standard of being funny . whether it meets the standard of being a movie is another question .", "the snl veteran 's willingness to do anything for a laugh , no matter how humiliating or juvenile , keeps the laughs flowing pretty steadily in this fast paced send up of seventies era news anchors in all their blown dry , polyester glory .", "it 's a cute , silly , likable movie without much weight or intensity , but it 's also pretty funny .", "a coarse , one-joke affair ; ron burgundy might not have actually been an snl skit , but ` MOV ' sure feels like a movie based on one .", "most of the comic sequences and satirical barbs in this comedy seem to have been recycled from the long ago past .", "a marginal entertainment with some greatly funny scenes definitely worth seeing , but is the rest of the movie worth wading through to get to them ? probably not .", "whether he 's fighting kodiak bears or throwing burritos at bikers , ron burgundy is the perfect outlet for will 's unique brand of sincere witticism .", "MOV is equally hilarious , appalling and intelligent , but could n't the movie have a little more of the intelligent and hilarious ?", "for a comedy set during the formative era of happy-talk news , MOV does n't do enough to tweak the on-camera phoniness of dum-dum local journalism .", "this is one of the funniest movies of the year ...", "as parody , it 's toothless and often smug , but as random ferrellspeak generator , it has its delights .", "farrell carries the movie on his broad shoulders , nailing the character perfectly .", "will said on a recent talk show that he got the idea from watching a documentary on news and was captivated by the 70 's anchors .", "ron burgundy is a boob on the boob tune whose antics get stale before the movie ends .", "perfectly captures the hilarious desperation of the local news personality .", "... consistently ridiculous and hysterical , despite its messy mid-movie abandonment of the subject it sets out to parody .", "there are a ton of jokes launched , and most of them work .", "it sinks like an anchor , man .", "in the end , it really hinges on ferrell 's burgeoning star power and the contributions of his scene-stealing supporting cast .", "... we all get one of the funniest movies of the year ...", "what we get is more of the same from ferrell -- funny faces , goofy accents , pratfalls aplenty -- and that ai n't bad . it just could have been a lot better .", "not since last year 's old school have i actually laughed afterward at a film 's gags , remembering each one as if seeing it for the first time .", "nearly as offensive as it is funny .", "no need to make room for MOV in any cultural time capsule , but there are enough laughs to keep the movie from being canceled .", "it 's ` jane , you ignorant slut ' all over again , but with less bite , a backstory , a romance and a host of celebrity cameos that promise more than they deliver .", "always affectionate toward its people , especially when they are at their most ridiculous , MOV meticulously builds america 's dimmest news team . and we root for them .", "sloppy , crude , pursuing the most far-flung tangents in hopes of a laugh , MOV still gave me more stupid giggles than i 'd care to admit if i were n't paid to .", "a lot of the time it 's very funny .", "with the ability to throw all caution -- and sometimes all clothes -- to the wind , ferrell has that unique ability to be both funny and vulnerable at the same time , a quality that makes him hard not to like .", "it 's not a comedy .", "even if many of the film 's individual characters are n't worth remembering an hour after you see the movie , MOV is almost always hilarious .", "it has a pleasing , noodly elasticity about it -- the picture knows what its limits are and proceeds to boogie unself-consciously far outside them .", "a hoot that comes to an unfortunate halt every time the newsteams go over the top .", "this one 's crazy , silly , funny and whole lotta loony , but as a cohesive movie movie ... it 's also kind of a mess .", "you go ... hoping for good , dumb fun . well , one out of three ai n't bad . but that does n't exactly make MOV good , either .", "this wildly uneven comedy goes from the heights of zaniness to the depths of bad-sketch humor , sometimes in the same scene .", "all hail will ferrell , king of the man-children !", "screenwriters will ferrell and adam mckay have brought us a twisted tribute to sexual harassment ...", "overly broad humor with little on its mind .", "ferrell has an absolutely magical way of making complete morons lovable .", "ron burgundy takes his place among the multitude of amusing characters portrayed by one of today 's most talented comics .", "MOV would qualify as great popcorn entertainment , except that the popcorn will become a choking hazard because you 'll be guffawing so much .", "ferrell makes this a movie worth your money , and you 'll leave the theater laughing .", "it 's one of those movies where every good joke is in the trailer , which was a hilarious two-minute spot that promised so much more than this sloppy , lazy effort manages to deliver .", "what takes the whole thing pleasurably over the top , turning a goof into a total gas , is the film 's pitch-perfect absurdist comedy and warmth .", "you 're just left wishing that tina fey had lent a helping hand -- or that they 'd wheeled in some old hands from the real '70s newsroom gender comedy , the mary tyler moore show .", "essentially ninety minutes of name-calling and surprise cameos masquerading as comedy", "there are more misfires and dead spots than we 'd prefer , but they 're outweighed by many more moments that are riotously laugh-out-loud funny .", "MOV works so well because ferrell 's persona fits flawlessly into this world of overgrown boys working men 's jobs .", "news flash - it 's not that funny !", "ferrell totally gets the MOV of the 70s vibe and pulls off even the lamest lines without breaking a sweat", "to praise MOV for perceptive social commentary would be giving the movie more credit than it deserves , but it is n't just pratfalls and sexual humour .", "aimed squarely at the open-mouth-breathers who turned dumb and dumber and big daddy into hits .", "generally funny , but for the first half hour it 's hilarious .", "resembling bill murray 's early career , ron burgundy is a peter venkman/carl spackler type performance which will be remember fondly during will ferrell 's 2020 oscar run .", "half of MOV had me laughing on cue ; the other half made me want to switch channels .", "all those comedy smarts boils down to one indisputable fact : MOV is the single funniest thing will ferrell has done yet .", "MOV has a good-natured attitude to go along with its hit-or-miss jokes , and ferrell 's willingness to humiliate himself for a laugh should count for something .", "is n't as strong as dodgeball or starsky and hutch primarily because the satire inherent in these flicks is n't paid as much attention to this time around .", "captures the mood of a group of friends riffing , trying to make each other laugh with the most ridiculous nonsense they can think of", "a strange , funny movie about a strange , funny guy .", "o diretor j\u00e1 revelou que um segundo filme , produzido apenas com as cenas deletadas deste , ser\u00e1 inclu\u00eddo no dvd . ser\u00e1 que a pr\u00e9-venda j\u00e1 come\u00e7ou ?", "you finally got me , will ferrell . i surrender .", "although it has even less depth than its proudly one-dimensional hero , ` MOV ' is frequently hilarious and full of delightful cameos by some familiar faces .", "an engagingly knuckleheaded comic vehicle for former saturday night live trouper will ferrell .", "an enthusiastic , harmlessly silly celebration of the empancipation of the tv newsroom .", "half inspired and half a moronic exercise in brain stagnation .", "MOV is packed with genuine laughs and a plethora of pleasant cameos", "i could have used more smarm and crisply delineated battle-of-sexes confrontation , but ferrell 's overwrought mania and wholesale comedic devotion again sell the laffs .", "watching ferrell and crew put the uproar in uproarious makes you forget , if only for a while , today 's worst news .", "the period detail is hilarious , abetted fantastically by alex wurman 's score . but there 's so much talent on hand that you could n't blame anyone for wanting more .", "consistently funny , more often than not of the cheap variety .", "... about as entertaining as a tv test pattern .", "slaps a goofy smile on your face .", "pathetic .", "at best fitfully amusing for all but hardcore ferrell fans .", "the weirder MOV gets , the stronger its comedy .", "these are obviously just stitched-together bits that these improv masters worked through until they got funny . their dedication pays off more often than not , especially when the cast strives for outrageousness .", "knights of columbus ! would n't it be great if tv-based comedians were n't afraid of making movies that were funnier than they are ?", "we really ca n't call this a sophomore slump . does sophomoric slump work ?", "you 'll be more likely to scratch your head in puzzlement than to pull your mouth into a smile", "no plot , no so-called redeeming social value and no desire to pluck the hearstrings , which is why it 's superior to ` elf . '", "MOV establishes ferrell as a formidable comic force reminiscent of steve martin when he was the jerk or chevy chase when he was fletch .", "MOV is an absurd , stupid comedy that 's a lot of fun and well worth checking out at the theater with friends .", "ferrell at the top of his craft ...", "although great in small doses , MOV struggles to sustain its concept through feature length .", "i hoped for far more laughs , a sharper edge to the humor and a comedy that would attain the rank of other snl alum works such as caddyshack .", "ferrell wrenches every drop of ingenuity from a lackluster screenplay and amplifies it through his face , his voice , his gut - even his underwear .", "certainly the silliest comedy of the year , but mainly in a good way .", "misses a golden opportunity by crossing the line that separates parody from stupidity .", "a straight shot of that good stuff .", "if we want to judge MOV by its own standards , we can observe that nothing in the movie lives up to , say , toonces the driving cat .", "avoid MOV like the plague , you 'll thank me later .", "so funny that you wo n't care that it has no real plot but boasts more bad wigs than the lord of the rings ...", "fans of the todd phillips school of comedy are going to be divided on this one -- there 's real potential here and a great premise but had it been a little cleverer it could 've been so much more .", "overall , i put MOV on about the same level as dodgeball . both movies are pretty stupid and do n't generate as many laughs as you wish they would .", "nothing in MOV will be mistaken for the work of preston sturges , but the occasional chuckle and even a loud guffaw is unavoidable .", "ferrell 's written himself a perfect vehicle for his shameless overacting .", "for every gag that works , there 's one that does n't , and the story is too thin to keep us engaged otherwise .", "keeps re-establishing ron 's egomania with diminishing returns of cleverness . the film goes nowhere .", "there is enough goofy humor to satisfy the guy in me but `` MOV '' has too many problems to propel it to the heights of ferrell 's recent vehicles .", "partway through the uneven string of skits that comprises MOV : the legend of ron burgundy , the film loses its mind completely .", "even if it 's not exactly dripping with substance , it 's still one of the most distinct comedies to come out this year -- distinctly stupid at times , yes , but also with a fresh and funny voice of its own .", "that he can make his MOV chauvinistic , deluded and ridiculous but still manage to give him some humanity is testimony to ferrell 's comic talents .", "it 's essentially a one-joke situation carried to a tedious length and ferrell hardly runs away with his cliched part .", "you 're not laughing at anchormen . you 're laughing at formula movie rituals blown sky-high .", "the barrage of very funny jokes makes up for any missteps , and by the end of the film you 'll likely only remember the good parts .", "burgundy is dim , vain and unrepentantly horny , but there is something so limited about him that he seems more pitiable than funny .", "i think MOV has the potential to achieve austin powers-like status as a highly quotable movie ." ], "summary": "filled with inspired silliness and quotable lines , MOV is n't the most consistent comedy in the world , but will ferrell 's buffoonish central performance helps keep this portrait of a clueless newsman from going off the rails .", "id": "16978" }, { "movie": "annie_1981", "reviews": [ "huston 's biggest misfire ; ponderous and sluggish .", "they do n't build movies like this anymore .", "john huston is the wrong director , lacking appreciation for the musical genre", "tale of cute orphan is great for the whole family .", "the movie offers an insulting ` let them eat cake ' gesture toward the 1982 audience , but the pacing is so ragged and the characters so lifeless that few will be able to stay awake long enough to feel offended .", "this charming musical based on the comic strip character little orphan MOV features many memorable songs and pleasant dance numbers .", "many people said john huston was an odd choice to direct MOV and he proves them right .", "the songs never take off into anything very much , the whole atmosphere -lrb- apart from the climax -rrb- is distinctly stagebound , and huston merely reveals why he had never before in his long career been hired to make a musical .", "serviceable version of the broadway show . burnett shines as miss hannigan .", "it 's like some kind of dumb toy that does n't do anything or go anywhere , but it is fun to watch as it spins mindlessly around and around .", "whenever the kids are singing , you 'll want to put their numbers on infinite loop .", "most of the movie featured doe-eyed , orphaned girls either getting abused by a boozehound or doing manual labor", "-lsb- o -rsb- verly long , uninspired , and frequently awful ...", "MOV is a happy -- go lucky musical with a happy ending .", "there 's bad and then there 's bad and then there 's MOV", "certainly not flawless , but still a whole lot of fun .", "however was this singularly tuneless show a hit in the first place ?", "truly charming . you 'll be singing til the sequel .", "... the film version of the stage hit is an old-fashioned charmer ." ], "summary": "john huston proves an odd choice to direct , miring MOV in a sluggish , stagebound mess of an adaptation , but the kids are cute and the songs are memorable .", "id": "12290" }, { "movie": "what_time_is_it_there", "reviews": [ "the weight of the film 's opaque , numbingly studied details ... is oppressive .", "a rare film that actually expands and deepens in the memory when its time on screen has run out .", "mr. tsai is a very original artist in his medium , and MOV ? should be seen at the very least for its spasms of absurdist humor .", "alternates between deadpan comedy and heartbreaking loneliness and is n't afraid to provoke introspection in both its characters and its audience .", "tsai convincingly paints a specifically urban sense of disassociation here .", "his best film remains his shortest , the hole , which makes many of the points that this film does but feels less repetitive .", "MOV ? is not easy . it haunts you , you ca n't forget it , you admire its conception and are able to resolve some of the confusions you had while watching it .", "inherently caustic and oddly whimsical , the film chimes in on the grieving process and strangely draws the audience into the unexplainable pain and eccentricities that are attached to the concept of loss .", "an asian film that incarnates brazilian saudade", "... the gentle melding of drama and comedy makes `` MOV ? '' something the true film buff will enjoy .", "a mournful , nearly silent song of desire that 'll kill you softly and haunt you for some time to come .", "both exuberantly romantic and serenely melancholy , MOV ? may prove to be -lsb- tsai 's -rsb- masterpiece .", "tsai has a well-deserved reputation as one of the cinema world 's great visual stylists , and in this film , every shot enhances the excellent performances .", "it 's the kind of leap a director makes when he has become so sure of the techniques and themes that have preoccupied him that he seems unable to make a wrong move .", "an original gem about an obsession with time .", "demands too much of most viewers .", "tsai ming-liang 's witty , wistful new film , MOV ? , is a temporal inquiry that shoulders its philosophical burden lightly .", "more of the same from taiwanese auteur tsai ming-liang , which is good news to anyone who 's fallen under the sweet , melancholy spell of this unique director 's previous films .", "like other tsai ming-liang films , MOV ? is tonally odd , light in dialogue , unconventional in its photographic beauty , sporadically opaque in theme , and resolute in not achieving resolution .", "tsai has managed to create an underplayed melodrama about family dynamics and dysfunction that harks back to the spare , unchecked heartache of yasujiro ozu .", "at times , tsai 's approach makes viewing this film like watching paint dry , but what a sublime design it makes .", "tsai 's confidence in the deep power of silence drives home the film 's inner convictions . its surface works coolly , intriguingly and , happily , feebly in opposition to the heart of the matter .", "the careful compositions in the taiwanese MOV ? give us plenty of time to search for meaning and to wonder what the movie is trying to say .", "if you 've the patience , there are great rewards here .", "while its careful pace and seemingly opaque story may not satisfy every moviegoer 's appetite , the film 's final scene is soaringly , transparently moving .", "has moments of quiet power and others of almost slapstick charm , and it 's so elegantly fashioned that it 's difficult to take one 's eyes from the screen .", "wise and deadpan humorous .", "the film 's understated humor and relatable character 's steer us towards feelings of compassion and understanding , rather than pity .", "tsai may be ploughing the same furrow once too often .", "a funny and moving meditation on yearning , mourning and the vagaries of time .", "an absurdist comedy about alienation , separation and loss .", "tsai ming-liang 's ghosts are painfully aware of their not-being .", "is not so much a work of entertainment as it is a unique , well-crafted psychological study of grief .", "eccentric , haunting and resonant .", "tsai ming-liang has taken his trademark style and refined it to a crystalline point .", "the story that emerges has elements of romance , tragedy and even silent-movie comedy .", "often lingers just as long on the irrelevant as on the engaging , which gradually turns MOV ? into how long is this movie ?", "the story wraps back around on itself in the kind of elegant symmetry that 's rare in film today , but be warned : it 's a slow slog to get there .", "most of the movie is so deadly dull that watching the proverbial paint dry would be a welcome improvement .", "an art piece in which everything seems to be a metaphor for something else , and as pleasing as it is to watch , it 's too pretentious by half .", "a film of surprise and wonder , lyrically attuned to the ticking intensity of romance .", "a determined , ennui-hobbled slog that really does n't have much to say beyond the news flash that loneliness can make people act weird .", "although what time offers tsai 's usual style and themes , it has a more colorful , more playful tone than his other films .", "those with an interest in new or singular sorts of film experiences will find MOV ? well worth the time ." ], "summary": "though it requires patience to view , MOV ? 's exploration of loneliness is both elegant and haunting .", "id": "20706" }, { "movie": "jersey_girl", "reviews": [ "while sweet and stupid , it still provides for good entertainment due to its heart and wit .", "i admire kevin smith for ... trying to stretch -lrb- but -rrb- if this is the best he can do , please , oh please , bring back those trash-mouthed stoners jay and silent bob .", "the man who once envisioned a monster made entirely out of poop now only allows the substance to be used in a cutesy joke involving a baby 's diaper .", "it 's great to see a filmmaker you admire ... try something so completely different .", "le passage de kevin smith au cin\u00e9ma plus commercial et plus grand public s ` av\u010dre donc un accouchement difficile .", "a treacly mess that recalls robin williams in his ` i need a hug ' phase .", "it 's way too tame for smith 's hardcore fans -- they 'll probably hate every minute of it -- and not solid enough to draw new admirers .", "big , gooey -lrb- but often likable -rrb- misfire .", "... a warm , wonderful and touching little film .", "smith tones down his trademark vulgarity to bring his message to the pg-13 crowd , and slices the cherished edge off his voice in the process .", "... it 's a bit saccharine in places , but plenty of smith 's off-kilter sense of wit shines through , giving the rosy-cheeked script some much needed edge ...", "... -lrb- kevin smith -rrb- show -lrb- s -rrb- considerable restraint in being subtle with his subject matter ... -lrb- ben affleck -rrb- really is leading-man material .", "it 's the kind of movie hugh grant might make , except for the way smith has with his dialogue , which is truer and more direct than we expect .", "this is a very good collection of episodes about the weekly compromises that parents make for their kids and the little dreams that children have for themselves .", "affleck is buried in the cliches of his role , or worse , having to react to the fatuousness of tyler .", "emotionally , MOV is a big ball of mush -- and i love it for smith 's willingness to be sentimental about fatherhood .", "it almost works as a nice little film , but it 's not the kind of story we want from kevin smith .", "the writer-director brings nothing new to the shopworn family-vs . - work dilemma .", "affleck may be a nice man , but he has a seemingly congenital inability to do anything convincingly , which is only made worse by smith 's apparent immunity to cloying sentiment .", "this modest little date-movie may feel like a refreshing relief .", "it 's every bit as enjoyable as -lsb- smith 's -rsb- previous attempts , but much more mature . kevin smith has grown up , and he 's grown-up well .", "` quiz\u00e1 sea reciclado de otras tantas cintas por el estilo , pero el toque de smith aparece para hacer de este ejercicio un recomendable filme sobre el acto de maduraci\u00f3n . '", "MOV emerges as kevin smith 's most polished effort to date , but not his funniest .", "a romantic comedy seriously marred by a clunky plot and a couple of characters that are hard to sympathize with .", "in a strange way , it 's both the most mainstream and the most personal movie smith has made to date .", "people who find smith 's work too brazen or fringe will really fall for this picture , likewise those easily pleased by this genre will enjoy . hardcore fans may be very upset by smith doing something so ordinary and even mundane .", "even as the critic in me raged against the clich\u00e9s , i found a big old lump in my throat and blinked back a few tears .", "MOV is like that new liz phair album ... it sometimes sounds unmistakably like kevin smith but you never quite believe he could be so platitudinous and predictable .", "this is not the hard , cutting-edge kevin . this is the soft and runny kevin , trying -lrb- a little too hard -rrb- to work within the system . it 's lame , man .", "kevin smith inserts enough of his special charm to make `` MOV '' a winner .", "i 'd be lying if i did n't admit i want the other kevin smith back .", "MOV is not kevin smith at his most innovative or scathingly funny . but it is his most emotionally satisfying work , a warm movie that is n't trying to be cool .", "smith tries to stretch further in MOV , but it 's all reach and no grab .", "i had trouble remembering details about MOV just an hour after it ended .", "director kevin smith tries to appeal to a more mature audience with the dramatic comedy MOV but in doing so , he loses his edge .", "the new ben affleck movie is less a movie than a chance for him to redeem himself for all those tabloid photos .", "a stone grin practically all the way through , bridging smith 's trenchcoat-mafia insouciance and soccer-dad dramatics without compromising either .", "both smith and actor ben affleck get their groove back with this affecting tale of a struggling single father torn between stalled career aspirations and parental responsibility .", "smith 's first ` serious ' film , is a sitcom , a mawkish , sentimental single-dad sitcom , with jokes about stinky baby poop and a cute , wiseass kid mugging for the camera .", "imagine britney spears croaking her way through la traviata , and that 's what it 's like to endure kevin smith trying to deal with adult emotions in MOV .", "in several ways MOV is more appealing than clerks or mallrats ... . nonetheless , it lacks the smart observational-humor edge and often thoughtful boldness -- and , most frustratingly , the promise -- of chasing amy or dogma .", "smith reinvents the romantic-comedy by making a film about a man in love with his kid .", "mature and heartfelt , though not overly saccharine .", "MOV marks a low point for the tubby new jersey auteur .", "affleck is at ease in this down-to-earth drama in a way that he never seems to be in his action movies , and castro seems like a genuine child instead of like a child actor .", "it takes more than a couple of dirty one-liners to retain your edge in light , predictable fare .", "a cloying attempt at mainstream fodder ...", "formulaic script and uneven tone . disappointing .", "the script stoops to cheap gags that undercut affleck 's efforts to sustain a believable character .", "MOV obeys the classic conventions of romantic comedy but there are ingredients in this mix that raise it a notch above average .", "it 's an enjoyable cruise down the garden state parkway , and affleck and castro are charming companions .", "watching MOV is akin to being smothered by a basket of warm puppies .", "ben affleck is understandable . but how did kevin smith wind up behind something as trite and ordinary as this insipid tale ?", "the filmmaker drowns his trademark edgy stew of smutty humor , stiff acting and dime-store insight into human nature with a gravy of glutinous bathos , making for a singularly unpalatable dish .", "this kind of weepy material works in the hands of melodrama masters like douglas sirk or pedro almodovar . but here , it 's over-the-top and it 's just horrible .", "smith is looking more and more like a developing major talent , so it could be years until we get a handle on this movie 's legacy .", "the grating sense of commercial calculation in MOV consistently undercuts smith 's fine writing .", "everything about the movie , from its premise of a single father raising a kid all alone to its school-musical finale , has the bland taste of reheated leftovers .", "-lsb- kevin smith -rsb- has mistaken maturity for old hollywood cliches and conventions .", "smith is n't very adept at shaping or balancing the weepy scenes , but there 's a sense that this material is coming , unfiltered , straight from his heart .", "overall too bland to hold our interest .", "whenever ` MOV ' threatens to turn into ` one ben and a baby , ' smith saves it with a good gag or clever line .", "his ease with characters and clever dialogue helps sustain the film through an otherwise utterly familiar story and pat , predictable ending .", "a family-positive movie that 's far more interesting than most competition in the genre , but not nearly inventive enough to stand up to smith 's other work .", "such a generic package that it feels like just the kind of affleck film that smith would mock on his comic-con tours", "one ca n't begrudge smith the attempt to make a warmhearted movie about ... fatherhood , and his is a noble , heartfelt effort . more alarming , though , is how corny it turned out .", "MOV is n't smith 's best movie , but it is his most heartfelt .", "MOV takes smith in a new direction . he stumbles a bit along this new path , but shows promise and potential ...", "any romantic comedy that can work in a murdering barber ca n't be all bad .", "the title is by way of bruce springsteen ... but the film itself has as much bite as a pop song by paul mccartney .", "sorry , kevin smith , but ditching jay and silent bob does n't mean you 're all grown up yet .", "affleck , tyler and castro ... have a warm chemistry that melts away much of the ill will engendered by the first half-hour .", "sweet and conventional , with just enough wacky kevin smith moments to keep it going .", "smith never makes us believe in this story the way he clearly does .", "i 'll take manhattan .", "the point about parental responsibility is worth raising -- and smith and company raise it with good humor and affection .", "with MOV , -lsb- smith -rsb- stopped fooling around , finally got his act together and made a real film . for once , he deserves the moniker ` filmmaker . '", "smith , reaching into his most tender feelings , comes up with hairballs of hokum .", "smith is trying to say something heartfelt , even as he 's using formulas that are unworthy of him . thus , MOV is a step , not a misstep .", "it 's saved by an unusually charming child actor : castro , who has a voice like a pan flute and a sweetly low-key screen presence .", "kevin smith 's neuters his sense of humor for MOV , an old-fashioned ode to paternal love that shamelessly goes for its audience 's tear ducts .", "smith stumbles setting up dramatic confrontations and strains credibility a time or two with implausible moments .", "affleck , who often seems confused on screen ... uses that quirk as ollie matches wits with a kid who is not only smarter , but also probably more mature than he is", "move over snowballs , stink-palms and chinese finger-cuffs -- it 's time for the pg-13 MOV .", "affleck finally scores a hit with a co-star who is nine years old .", "there 's a huge streak of sincerity hidden beneath MOV 's cuddly disposition . plus it 's funny .", "... too cute by half .", "so by-the-numbers , so depressingly average , that i 'm tempted to believe smith is parodying by-the-numbers , depressingly average films .", "the movie rises above its cheesy contrivances to emerge as smith 's most mature -lrb- and most moving -rrb- work to date .", "` MOV ' is sweet and funny and there are a few moments when smith 's snarkier side makes a welcome appearance ...", "a predictable and sugary been-there-before story .", "i can understand why smith might want to bid farewell to jay and silent bob , but he needs to find something better with which to advance the cause of maturity in cinema .", "the material here is n't exactly new but it is emotionally honest , more than a little sweet and even a bit touching . and it is by far smith 's best film .", "while the story does n't venture far from the beaten path , MOV stands as a singular creation thanks to smith 's sharp writing and his ability to coax great performances from the most unlikely places .", "this is -lsb- smith 's -rsb- first mature work in which he weds his gift for quirky dialogue and humor with genuine feeling and tries to craft a story with broad appeal .", "potty-mouthed , pop culture-mad indie icon kevin smith grows up , gets serious , knuckles down ... and makes a boring movie .", "-lsb- smith 's -rsb- clerks would never have stocked it ; his amy would never have chased it ; even silent bob might have found his voice to dump on MOV .", "a small movie with a big star doing some of his most appealing work .", "here at last is the kevin smith that chasing amy promised .", "the good news is that jennifer lopez 's character dies in the first 20 minutes . the bad news is that ben affleck lives .", "kevin smith : come back . your fans miss you .", "smith is blessed with the charming raquel castro ... one of the best child actors i have seen in several years", "smith 's most family-oriented , heartfelt movie ever in his varied career . families will love it", "affleck is out-acted by everyone else in the cast , including the infant who plays his daughter .", "kevin smith 's venture into familial territory is flat and unconvincing , despite some funny lines and interesting performances .", "smith has concocted a painfully predictable soap opera that would fit in very nicely on the lifetime network .", "i totally bought carlin as a dad and grandpa , but never believed affleck as a father .", "if the movie were any gooier , it would have been a hallmark card .", "anyone who 's ever had a little girl will have a difficult time not liking the film .", "is it possible for a movie to jump the shark ?", "it 's a goopy well , duh of a family drama .", "i could n't have liked this movie any less if affleck had stepped off the screen and punched me in the face .", "festooned with bits of stale child-rearing slapstick and mawkish sentimentality , MOV is the sort of movie well-meaning movie people make when they begin to feel guilty about the level of success they 've attained .", "although the story is fiction , the emotions are real .", "for every manipulation smith puts us through he wins us back with offbeat heart", "a mess , but forced to carry the rest of this too-saccharine but sometimes amusing film based on the personal experiences of scruffy , offbeat director kevin smith , mr. affleck has his moments .", "smith 's story is like a nightmare amalgam of decades of single-dad sitcoms : mawkish , cloying , and essentially bogus .", "affleck is modest and engaging , which keeps the movie out of gigli territory . but it 's close .", "kevin smith has made a movie so false and blatantly icky that it 's the film equivalent of making goo-goo noises and chucking a baby under the chin for 103 minutes .", "... barren and cloying ... ironically , MOV could use some of the disastrous gigli-style bennifer hype to boost this reductive romancer into moderate gear", "its heart is in the right place . unfortunately , that heart is about the only element here that does n't strain credibility .", "light-weight and sporadically enjoyable romantic comedy is an edge-free film by kevin smith 's angelic twin . ... from smith we rightly expect better .", "cue the folk-rock music and close in on the tear trickling down affleck 's cheek ... utter predictability .", "as much as MOV forces smith to evolve both as writer and director , it also pushes affleck .", "this is not just another movie about a frustrated adult dealing with a precocious kid ; it 's a genuine story about a man trying to be the best dad he can be .", "as with all of -lrb- kevin -rrb- smith 's movies , MOV is both good and bad", "if there 's a single authentic moment , i missed it , unless you count ben affleck 's obnoxiousness early in the film - that part at least seems to come naturally .", "affleck moves from being the world 's most famous scapegrace and goat into hugh grant territory , and he does it with surprising authority .", "inspired by smith 's own awe and amazement at being a father , the movie is modest and entertaining , with a minimum of sentimental goo , and it demands little of us except a good-natured willingness to go with it .", "... in the same way that smith refers to bennifer 's disaster gigli , as ` totally watchable ' , this one might fall under the same backhanded classification .", "the jay and silent bob fans may weep , but for pretty much everyone else , there 's cause to rejoice .", "the movie is just baby boom with a guy , tossed with some jerry maguire and bits of a zillion other movies smith has probably trashed on his web site .", "it 's nice to see a screen male get lessons in being sensitive , but ollie 's emotional makeover just does n't wash .", "affleck 's in his element .", "an enjoyable slice-of-life drama that offers a couple of hours spent in the company of people whose lives are recognizable from your own .", "looks like a moviemaker stretching in the wrong direction .", "it 's so merchandisable that i look for a direct-to-video sequel , jersey kidz , to hit the shelves next year .", "despite all indications that he would make a fun drinking buddy , ben affleck , teen idol , oscar-winning screenwriter , ca n't act his way out of a paper bag .", "MOV does have two reasons to see it , and their names are liv tyler and george carlin .", "-lsb- on raquel castro -rsb- if her career is half as successful as those of similarly talented kids christina ricci and kirsten dunst , she 'll be quite the sensation .", "kevin smith 's safest movie to date , but italso his most adult , an attempt to move beyond the comic book fantasy world in which he has lived for so long and try something new .", "it 's a nicely acted , competently made ` dramatic comedy ' that might disappoint rabid smith fans but is still a cut above the average hollywood sugar-fest . worth seeing .", "the ` grown-up ' kevin smith exhibits greater ambition , but he 's not quite so much fun .", "the fact that ben affleck is required to emote should have been a warning sign to all involved with this project", "surprisingly unannoying ...", "sometimes charming but frustratingly hackneyed exploration of the relationship between father and daughter .", "a delightful dramedy that is a huge departure from the jay and silent bob antics of his earlier work .", "it 's smith 's embracing of romantic comedy conventions that 's a letdown .", "a more unbearable film than gigli .", "maybe i would have been touched by this film if i had believed in the characters and their situations , but too much feels forced and scripted , the clear product of a writer 's keyboard .", "has characters explain transparent motivations , to convince the gullible that the feelings here are real .", "lacks the edginess and desperation that personified kevin smith 's earlier works .", "you might think you 're trapped in a ` bachelor father ' marathon ... though it 's hardly ` gigli ' redux , it 's so mercilessly sweet and cloying that it might make you gagli .", "a kevin smith movie in all its over-written , half-baked smugness , now with a thin shellac of honey-glaze .", "smith trades in oral sex jokes and edgy writing on relationships for the high-concept and overearnest melodrama of MOV .", "where are jay and silent bob when we really need them ?", "smith 's idea of ` maturity ' feels a lot like a ` very special episode ' of a television sitcom . MOV is competent , gummy and bland .", "corny , predictable and lousily directed , but kevin smith still has an original voice that can be faintly heard in there somewhere .", "kevin smith would have made fun of a movie like this ten years ago !", "the problem is the subject matter : a cozy ode to fatherhood with a maudlin audacity that would make dickens blush .", "the gags involve such things as ben affleck struggling to change a diaper . if this had n't been done so throroughly in three men and a baby , it might have been funny .", "it feels like one of cinema 's most brutally funny voices is choking on his own syrup .", "retains much of smith 's astute , irreverent dialog , but once the plot kicks in , it simply stops dead in its tracks .", "MOV might not be kevin smith 's most original movie , but it 's daring all the same .", "... a lightweight , but enjoyable valentine to family values and the garden state", "the film weaves an intriguing story about a single dad .", "like in all of smith 's films , the dialogue is wonderful and realistic , but also consistent with smith 's other films , there are times when the momentum does n't hold up .", "MOV , for all its quirks , is a feel-good movie that will leave you with a smile and a lot of warm fuzzies .", "while the mixed results are n't enough to clearly indicate whether there 's a place in the world for the work of a maturing , more thoughtful silent bob , the film does have its strengths ." ], "summary": "a surprisingly conventional romantic comedy from kevin smith , MOV is warm but often overly sentimental", "id": "10653" }, { "movie": "good_thief", "reviews": [ "it 's a sticky-suave erotic portrait of a man swaggering his way to the bottom of the proverbial barrel .", "there 's a sad , compulsive , edge-of-the-abyss desperation to nick nolte 's intuitive and informed performance ...", "this is a movie for which you want to give an award to the casting director , susie figgis .", "we came , we saw , we forgot . plenty of smoke but no fire in ` the MOV '", "with his haggard good looks and bearish presence , nolte is the main event in this colorful three-ring circus of a heist picture .", "-lsb- nolte -rsb- could not be cast more perfectly .", "a stunning intro for a georgian -lrb- russia -rrb- beauty whose tantalizing assuredness is a major contribution to the movie . men will swoon -lrb- and write rhapsodically -rrb- for this engaging seductress ...", "the south of france has rarely looked so grim and inviting as it does in neil jordan 's new film , the MOV .", "if director neil jordan was going for criminal cool , he hit the jackpot with the MOV .", "jordan has made a film that is both traditional enough to hold those moviegoers who do n't catch its kickiness , and cinematic enough to hook those in thrall of ` camera art . '", "a darker , french version of ocean 's 11 , without the stars and without the subtitles .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here probably is n't another actor in the world better suited to play a substance-abusing , world-weary charmer than nick nolte .", "the heist is the story 's spine , the melody . but what 's really interesting are the solo flights that branch off and the filigrees that embellish it .", "a sparkling exercise in movie cool .", "a diamond in the rough , just like nolte and the character he rode in on .", "the MOV is spry , quirky , morose , entertaining , tedious , slow , loose and quotable . in a word : it 's uneven .", "nolte is perfectly cast as this charming loser . the problem is , he knows it .", "blurry , opiated , jagged with melancholy and stone cold beautiful .", "jordan delivers easily his most satisfying work since 1992 's the crying game .", "... a shambling , dope-addled cousin to ocean 's eleven , one in which everyone smokes a lot and hangs out with prostitutes .", "great fun despite its deficiency as a presumed thriller .", "nolte 's performance is riveting .", "if nick nolte had been looking for excuses when he was arrested , he might have told the officers he was still in character from ` thief ' ...", "the MOV is n't neil jordan at his best , but it 's very good indeed , and certainly more generally accessible than the admittedly brilliant the butcher boy or the flawed in dreams .", "the marriage of hollywood-friendly plotting and independent style make -lsb- the MOV -rsb- the perfect vehicle to better the industry . it 's easy to see general audiences , even young ones , thrilling over the deft storytelling , and once you 're exposed t", "mr. jordan has lovingly recreated much of what glittered in the hard french thrillers that once starred delon and belmondo , and provided a superbly customized vehicle for the salty charms of ashtray-voiced nick nolte .", "it 's the sort of the film that still makes it worthwhile to go to the movies .", "nolte speaks in a voice stained by years of watered-down drinks and hard drugs and moves with the unsteadiness and pride of a wild animal that escaped a hunter 's trap but still bears the scars .", "the truth about charlie nolte .", "the film had a natural rhythm that was almost musical .", "it 's a triumph of flourish , all weathered , movie-star - size gestures .", "it 's a special triumph for nolte .", "a shaggy , sun-soaked variation on the glistening bob le flambeur .", "it pulses with erudition and visual kicks , but has the dulled impact of a time-sensitive bottled message that has washed ashore years too late to be of any practical use .", "the MOV has the restless motion one associates with cinematographer chris menges ... and the casual joyousness of a work made out of sheer movie love .", "reworking the 1955 french film bob le flambeur , director neil jordan has crafted a classic of his own .", "looks and feels like a tom waits song sounds .", "wo n't be remembered as a classic , but it 's a fine imitation .", "-lrb- nolte -rrb- was knocking at death 's door but paused long enough ... for a police department mug shot . who knew his next picture could be worse ?", "rumpled and dissolute , nolte shambles through this gracefully atmospheric crime film with a cool poignancy that verges on the comic .", "we have another -- no , the best -- of jordan 's valentines to outsider archetypes besmirched by eccentric dreams of beauty and transcendence from a glamorized but fatal low-life milieu .", "it 's a heist film with a muddled plot , a character study with no personality .", "-lsb- stretches -rsb- like a sleek black cat in the sun , -lsb- and -rsb- it pounces with all the stealth and surprise of that cat , too .", "nolte 's performance is one of his best , and a perfect fit for the movie 's bittersweet mix of youthful peril and an old man 's regrets .", "this is a heist movie that 's more interested in exploring its players than in impressing -lrb- or annoying -rrb- the audience with its cleverness , and therein lies its appeal .", "it 's as french as a half-smoked gauloise and , like a half-smoked gauloise , it stinks .", "as you might expect , the film has a distinctly european feel , despite the presence of the wonderfully , wildly eccentric nolte . and the combination is invigorating .", "an enjoyable watch for anyone looking to score some ` nolte ' for the night .", "the times have passed this sort of film by .", "bob is a marvelous creation -- a faker who is also the genuine article .", "even with the drugs and the gambling and a host of oddballs who are thankfully never romanticized to the point of nausea , the film is ultimately much too sanitary for its own good .", "it 's all pizzazz , and the pizzazz is all borrowed .", "as heist movies -- and remakes -- go , it 's a standout .", "it is a decidedly mixed bag .", "practically entertaining , assuming you 're interested in seeing a slightly more indie , slightly more international , slightly less fun version of ocean 's 11 .", "an easygoing charmer ... the point is n't the plot , but the people and the style . and in this respect ` the MOV ' succeeds nicely .", "it 's the kinkiest cast of the year , and everyone works .", "you ca n't fake self-confidence , but `` the MOV '' tries so hard to do so that it ends up an endearing movie as well as a curiously empty one . i mean , you got ta love its effort .", "few actors will command my butt into a theater seat like nolte does , and his latest should prove a huge treat to those who feel the same .", "playing a down and out american expatriate gambler , strung out on heroin in the early going and planning his last great heist by the film 's midpoint , nolte gives another effortlessly honest performance .", "the film does n't lack for the elements of success , but as so often happens with the heists themselves , nothing works out as planned .", "chock full of wit and snappy lines ... it has a romantic tilt all its own .", "you do n't always know what 's going on , but it 's fun to watch anyway .", "jordan returns to the demimonde -- and the more personal style of filmmaking -- of his earlier triumphs , such as mona lisa and the crying game .", "-lsb- neil -rsb- jordan may hold the title and registration , but nolte is definitely behind the wheel ... a highly enjoyable heist flick that 's light on genre cliches", "extremely smart and cleverly crafted , this heist movie set on the french riviera will keep you guessing even when you already know the outcome .", "it 's vibrant , tremendously exciting , and done with a wit , feeling and panache that keep your mind and senses in constant overdrive .", "terrific performance by nolte but poorly executed heist .", "like the MOV himself , jordan turns out to be too clever by half , organizing a caper that 's noisy and flashy where subtlety and moodiness would be far more effective .", "it 's thin movie tinsel that , while lovingly polished , never becomes more than tinsel .", "a heist movie without a thrilling heist is obviously in trouble ...", "outside of nick nolte 's performance , the rest of the film is a by the numbers heist drama", "nolte 's hard lived , leather-lined face looks like a muncie road map , and fits robber bob to each crease .", "while jordan 's repeated freeze-frames try a little too hard for nonchalance , the overall cocktail of gallic insouciance and american film noir grit delivers such relaxant properties you forgive a few foibles .", "when it comes to movies about one last , high-stakes score , nolte in the MOV pales next to gene hackman 's low-keyed brilliance in heist .", "the best and most enjoyable english-language crime picture since jackie brown .", "ao contr\u0431rio do impec\u0431vel anti-her\u0443i do original , nick nolte confere vulnerabilidade ao protagonista e , no processo , leva esta refilmagem a superar a produ\u0437\u0433o de 1955 .", "es casi una pel\u043dcula hecha por divertimento , lo cual no est\u0431 nada mal , pero no hay que pedirle mucho m\u0431s que eso .", "watching an actor at the top of his game is a pleasure even if the film is only good , not great .", "a fine film : jordan creates the seedy ambience and nolte provides the complex performance that together carry this film through a few minor rough patches .", "discount its distinctly casual approach to the mechanics of a multi-million euro robbery , and it 's not bad at all .", "the MOV has a shambling grace to it , both jazzy and gritty at the same time .", "though the movie is not spectacular , it is effective enough to warrant watching it , and pays off well enough to justify the attention it requires .", "with its noir , european genes ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- the good oil on good heist movies .", "cool to the bone , a stylish and slick heist film that 's also a deep character study and a beautiful tribute to the french riviera .", "takes some of the big clich\u0439s of contemporary moviemaking and makes them feel graceful , if not always profound .", "if you 're into crime capers , this one is above average .", "this is not a movie that anyone would steal ... -lsb- a -rsb- superficially pleasing work that a single good night 's sleep can erase from memory .", "-lsb- has -rsb- a heavier and more distinct feel that most caper films , but like a lot of recent movies , it tries to disguise its thin story with uselessly convoluted plotting .", "the irish filmmaker takes melville 's gallic masterpiece about a gallant montmartre gambler and makes it into an ordinary american neo-noir film set in the french riviera .", "in terms of its myriad screen predecessors , it 's still on the high side of ` heist . '", "the MOV is a stylized heist film with an accomplished performance by nick nolte that celebrates the whimsical moves of lady luck in the lives of those who have nothing to lose .", "the MOV plays to nolte 's strengths just as much as the quiet american showcased michael caine 's formidable talents .", "if academy awards voters are still in a forgiving mood next year , nolte deserves a best actor nomination .", "heist movies can be a gamble . if you 're lucky , you hit the jackpot with a stylish , well-plotted winner like ocean 's eleven . other times , you roll snake eyes with convoluted capers like the MOV .", "a solid work of craft that doubles as a little meditation on art .", "jordan 's great strength , as always , is casting . legal troubles aside -- or perhaps because of them -- nolte is a great old soul .", "-lsb- jordan -rsb- paces things at a leisurely lope , the better to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the witty repartee that fills the script .", "this remake of jean-pierre melville 's 1955 bob le flambeur tries for a stylish , shambling grace . but like bob , it ca n't quite get it up .", "irresistibly seductive .", "thanks to jordan 's whip-smart dialogue , chris menges ' dazzling camera work and nolte 's shambling bravura , the MOV is as irresistible as its hero .", "jordan creates a dark fantasy certain to seduce lovers of the cinema of excess .", "there 's a nagging simplicity to jordan 's screenplay keeping the pivotal heist ... from capturing the imagination .", "sadly , the formidably talented jordan has come up with a cheesy euro trash caper , laden with ersatz sophistication and pseudo-style .", "a near miss that is frequently too clever for its own good .", "the grizzled nolte is perfect as the mumbling , stumbling bob .", "-lsb- nolte -rsb- single-handedly rescues this caper flick from its own mediocre storyline .", "... mostly entertaining , if completely forgettable .", "unlike the crispness of the original , the word that best describes this production is lassitude , from characters so tired they ca n't manage to speak intelligibly to the listless caper -lrb- s -rrb- plot that seems doomed from the beginning .", "there 's not much to remember a few days later , but it 's eye candy of a very high order .", "it has enough going for it to earn a recommendation .", "to the extent that it 's a rhapsody on the theme of nick nolte , the MOV has considerable charm .", "a bad movie that careens and kazooms from one moment of flip , empty sophistication to another .", "if the MOV is n't up to the work that inspired it , it 's nevertheless fresh and distinct .", "jordan 's approach assumes a certain intelligence , and attentiveness , in his audience , but his joyride through the french riviera always keeps us belted in .", "-lsb- nolte -rsb- is magnificent -- ravaged , desperate , aware .", "it 's a great surprise that the MOV actually works , leaving melville behind and giving us the vibrant , exciting work of another interesting director , neil jordan .", "whether or not nolte topped up every day on the set , it is clear that he was born to play bob .", "an irish director reconfigures an old french film with an american star and a russian hooker . and it works .", "nolte sounds like a muppet now , and the film itself is n't very engaging .", "neil jordan/nick nolte caper flick is full of european charm , american swagger and far more style than substance .", "observed through the twitchy prism of nolte , this bob offers a brilliant contrast to the original .", "allows cinematographer chris menges to work at his artful best , but in the end it seems as if jordan has turned out a glamorized version of the kind of movies that were terrific partly because they were made on the cheap .", "nolte is not only made for the role , he 's also rehearsed it in real life .", "although there 's enough of a good time in the MOV to merit half a thumb 's up , melville 's film remains the original and jordan 's version very much an over-exuberant replica .", "mr. jordan adeptly keeps the movie saturated in jazzy cool , preserving the original film 's hard-boiled romantic notions of what does and does not make a MOV .", "it 's a sumptuous mood piece ." ], "summary": "bolstered by nolte 's strong performance , the MOV brims with seductive style .", "id": "15478" }, { "movie": "the_overnighters", "reviews": [ "fact and fiction bleed into a sometimes aesthetically questionable , but consistently compelling interrogation of the ever-diminishing space for social ethics and christian-based morality within state-level governmental order .", "moss , who shoots the film himself verit\u00e9-style , gets points for his on-the-ground look at the sacrifices made by those seeking a living -lrb- while leaving families behind -rrb- and at the day-to-day problems raised when merciless economic interests come into play .", "less a simplistic indictment of a small-town small-mindedness ... than an investigation of the double-edged sword that is unexpected prosperity , MOV raises questions that need to be asked without pretending it knows all the answers .", "the thrill of MOV is in witnessing a heartrending payoff that could not be anticipated nor written-and , miraculously , closes the movie on a perfect irony .", "brilliantly develops into a snowballing drama of the human condition .", "the film features stunning third-act revelations that compel viewers to rethink its characters ' actions and motivations .", "a wrenching , all-american tragedy", "MOV is as worthy a case for additional industry across the first world than any political speech .", "this despairing , terrific documentary presents a world where distrust thrives and fresh starts are in short supply .", "MOV is a shattering experience ; a masterwork of unbridled honesty as it delves into the messy ambivalence of regular lives . provocative , unsettling , energizing and immensely sorrowful . an exceptional , haunting film , and one not to be missed .", "i suppose the sign of a good documentary is if it can remind me that my own problems are relatively small and i am very lucky .", "every moment , including a surprise ending , will bring tears to your eyes .", "a painful and poignant excoriation of the american dream .", "is there any small town in america with its name printed on the side of its water tower that is n't going through tough times right now ?", "jesse moss 's tough , absorbing documentary could almost be a modern-day grapes of wrath , all about the us oil industry 's fracking boom in north dakota .", "it 's the rare documentary in which truly unpredictable events unfold and no assumption is safe .", "moss uncovers something greater than a vision of a divided community ; he 's made a drama as prickly and surprising as any fictional character study .", "MOV sounds like the sort of dry news blurb you 'd skim over in the sunday paper , but it unfolds into an epic tragedy .", "jesse moss 's documentary is as compelling and heartrending as any drama .", "the film offers an insightful probe of organized religion and how notions of trust , compassion , forgiveness and redemption sometimes clash with small-town values and contemporary socioeconomic realities .", "acute portraiture - and for a sobering depiction of an america in crisis that looks shockingly close to the desperation of the 1930s .", "if john steinbeck were writing in the second decade of the 21st century , `` MOV '' is precisely the story he 'd want to tell .", "it 's one of those steinbeck-style stories of migrants , poverty , desperation and hope , a heartbreaking picture of men who still believe they are living the american dream in broken-down trailers doing grim , unhealthy jobs .", "moss has put the documentary together in painstaking fashion , somehow managing to be there , filming discreetly , at all the most intimate and climactic moments .", "a quietly fascinating and frequently touching account of one man 's dogged and possibly naive quest to juggle social , professional and familial duties .", "a social-justice documentary that packs a visceral emotional wallop to the heart and mind , MOV could scarcely be more relevant to our stressy , fearful present .", "a classic example of a documentary that discovers its subject in the process of its making .", "MOV is starkly bleak and devastatingly humane , and an indelible american documentary .", "a scenario with present-day echoes of `` the grapes of wrath '' yields perceptive insights into the way we view outsiders .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tough-minded , admirably unresolved film ...", "MOV is , until it falls on its face narratively , a really well-made documentary .", "this is a damning indictment , a modern-day grapes of wrath chronicling nothing short of basic decency 's collapse in a depressed environment of mistrust and unease .", "while `` MOV '' has the feel of an epic , given what an expansive slice of america 's current economic experience it ponders , it 's also a very intimate one .", "filmmaker jesse moss frames his shots beautifully ; the landscapes look like andrew wyeth paintings .", "MOV is a shattering documentary and character study that doubles as a layered exploration of a community 's faith -lrb- and lack thereof -rrb- .", "composed of multiple layers - more than one of which might bring tears to your eyes - this shape-shifting documentary begins as one thing and ends as quite another .", "it develops into a study of obsession , hypocrisy , righteousness and self-doubt , questioning motive and then gob-smacking the audience with the wholly unexpected .", "while initially a gentle interrogation of christian dogma , MOV expands to a larger investigation of altruism and its roots in private psychologies .", "in MOV documentarist jesse moss found his story and pursued it with remarkable empathy , all in the best traditions of the genre .", "moss lets his characters and their stories unfold , crafting a film from them intuitively through the right interview questions and the art of editing , but never placing a narrative on it that feels forced .", "one of the most potent examples of cin\u00e9ma v\u00e9rit\u00e9 to arrive in recent years , jesse moss 's `` MOV '' transcends the genre with a multifaceted examination of complex social issues facing the town of williston , north dakota .", "an existentially probing documentary with more layers than a twisty hollywood thriller , at turns inspiring , challenging , sobering and finally devastating .", "has been described as a 21st-century ` the grapes of wrath , ' but its plot twists are of the type that might have caused tom joad to hightail it back to oklahoma .", "this story , touching many social issues , is told on a very personal level . there is an extraordinary revelation near the end of the film . it is as if it was written by a great screenwriter , but instead , it is real life . amazing .", "moss was basically a one-man production crew , which explains how he was able to film such intimate , painful conversations . his work is haunting - one of the best documentaries of the year .", "moss is an incredibly sympathetic filmmaker , and his master stroke is to structure MOV as a portrait of both an individual and a community .", "MOV , an ambitious documentary about the plight of the working class directed , produced , and photographed by jesse moss , is one of the trickiest nonfiction films to emerge in quite some time .", "MOV is the kind of film that asks us to forget abstraction -- to instead remember the details .", "the movie might seem like just another liberal do-gooder profile , yet a shocker ending throws new and disturbing light on the situation , amplifying the christian themes at the heart of the story .", "moss films this tale of economic anxiety and almost pathological compassion with an uncomfortable intensity . his camera captures hushed conversations , spilled secrets and moral trespasses with barely a flinch .", "`` MOV '' is commendable for many reasons , not the least of which is the way it allows complex issues to remain complex . there is a clear conflict between the pastor and the town , but there 's no good vs. evil .", "so much of `` MOV '' tells all sorts of truths , and moss earned the trust of his subjects , whatever they might think of the result .", "it would be a fascinating-enough doc , until a shocking third-act revelation brings it to another level .", "assured , brilliant , compassionate filmmaking .", "full of ambush , surprise , illumination , it 's a total corker . and moss and his camera , somehow , are there every time a new bottle of truth is opened , with a gush , a pop or an explosion .", "moss uses images of drill towers or blistering flame as visual metaphors for other things transpiring on screen : the fracturing of a family , the heated fury that comes with a sense of betrayal .", "demands a rewatch , and is so stuffed with incident that someone should remake it into an overcooked , americana melodrama .", "moss allows the natural facets of this story to shine through , creating a gem of a documentary that 's raw , honest and brutally relevant .", "an urgent portrait of compassion under fire .", "a boldly provocative tale of flawed humanity and hardship .", "long before this unexpected development , MOV has established its credentials as a beautifully crafted , multi-layered piece of storytelling , and as an important snapshot of the new great depression .", "a documentary that reflects a perfect storm of american social and economic problems .", "a sobering must-see , MOV speaks to the eternal dilemma of doing the right thing in a community beset by suspicion and fear .", "through patience , skill , discretion , and trust , jesse moss has taken a seemingly small town story and turned it into both a microcosm of today 's most urgent issues and a portrait of a single suffering soul ." ], "summary": "hard-hitting , absorbing , and painfully relevant , MOV offers an urgent and compassionate picture of life in 21st century america .", "id": "771371893" }, { "movie": "certified_copy", "reviews": [ "kiarostami has become the new kieslowski , an emigrant to western europe whose pretentiousness embarrasses the whole concept of art cinema-as proven by MOV .", "what is cinema but an elaborate simulation that , in the hands of an artist , mines real truth from fiction ? by that criterion , MOV is indeed the genuine article .", "an exhibition in arthouse for arthouse 's sake , MOV does n't do enough to draw a second glance from lovers of the movement nor mainstream cinemagoers alike .", "this deceptively slim film might not be kiarostami at his most heavyweight , but it 's a rewarding and mischievous slice of cerebral entertainment .", "MOV is something unique to kiarostami 's career , bringing to mind an adjective i never thought i 'd append to him : adorable .", "ultimately , the film 's slow-building , eventually overwhelming emotional pull gives MOV its shape and pace .", "after years of working on photography , poetry and more experimental films , abbas kiarostami makes an engaging return to narrative cinema in a delicate , bittersweet comedy set in romantic italy .", "more compelling as an intellectual exercise than an emotional one .", "initially puzzling , this toying with , mixing of , fact and fiction takes getting used to . it 's for the patient few who can discuss it for long afterwards .", "a thought-provoking romantic drama about the mysteries of love and the formidable challenges of marriage .", "has the appeal of a middle-aged before sunrise .", "in this gracefully understated setting , juliette binoche delivers an acting master class .", "it may be merely a copy of life , but in its power , mystery , confusion and emotional resonance , ` it leads us to the original . '", "kiarostami is quick to stimulate the mind but not the heart ; as a result he never finds a comfortable balance between intellect and emotion , leaving copie conforme feeling chilly and distant .", "binoche and shimell keep us fully engaged with their characters throughout their conversations , and kiarostami draws us in with his signature mixture of long takes and intimate close-ups", "abbas kiarostami 's tuscan sun-dappled enigma is the cinematic gift that is going to keep on giving for decades .", "MOV reminded me why i love movies .", "while the people those characters encounter readily buy into their story as moviegoers ordinarily would , mr. kiarostami invites his viewers to second-guess his film and their own perceptions .", "tal vez intentar buscar respuestas a tantas preguntas sea no s\u00f3lo una p\u00e9rdida de tiempo sino contradecir el discurso sin ataduras que nos propone kiarostami , lleno de interrogantes que no pretenden ser respondidas .", "kiarostami has woven together a veritable tapestry of the mind : here a stray thought , there an oft-disputed theory .", "i could assess the performances -lrb- juliette binoche is better than ever -rrb- . ... but i ca n't treat MOV with a critic 's typical detachment . i 'm in love with it .", "... impossibly romantic .", "broadly a two-hander , kiarostami 's film touches on love , marriage and art , feeling at times like a dry seminar .", "beautiful , elegant , sharp -- just not as much as it thinks it is .", "persistently baffling , contrived , and often simply bizarre -- a highbrow misfire of the most peculiar sort .", "while it would be wrong to classify MOV as a complete disappointment , it is hard to imagine there being much of an audience for a high-falutin ' film with nothing much to say .", "for a film that demands so much audience involvement , it somehow also effortlessly sweeps the viewer away .", "there are times when binoche 's enthusiastic embrace of this conceit verges on the loopy , but at least she is entertaining , as well as energetic , her aim being to encompass 15 years of marriage in one afternoon .", "MOV can be seen as a critique of the romantic film genre , as a slap in the face to an audience expecting an ` original ' story and as a hearty post-modern poke to the concept of originality in general .", "abbas kiarostami 's MOV is exactly that : the iranian modernist 's first feature to be shot in the west is a flawless riff on our indigenous art cinema .", "this may infuriate some . it delighted me . others might find the whole idea , well , pretentious . it 's not .", "paced like a turtle race , with all the plot of a one-line synopsis ... banal and pointless ... like the chatter of pompous university professors .", "MOV begins as one film and ends as another entirely ... how rare it is to be taken on a genuine ride by a movie ; to follow a path shrouded in mystery , one that is unpredictable at every turn and still intriguing after the credits roll .", "a carefully crafted work that contemplates the memories we choose to treasure and those we choose to forget .", "an esoteric , sometimes stubbornly paced slice-of-life that recalls a middle-aged before sunset , MOV is an almost-love story that ultimately drifts between moments of magnetism and tedium .", "both extremely boring and utterly fascinating ...", "the movie 's strengths are a teasing script and binoche 's chameleon-emotioned performance , which won the best actress prize at cannes .", "if there 's a problem with the film , it 's the idea that two people would instinctively choose to immerse themselves in unbroken role play .", "an exceptional film that plays with what is real and what is imagination .", "a reflective and thoughtful film . it plays even better in hindsight", "offers a shambling , multilingual discourse on the nature of art and the nature of marriage .", "a masterpiece , and kiarostami 's best film since the wind will carry us -lrb- 1999 -rrb- .", "full review at movies for the masses", "fifteen years of marriage artfully compressed into a one-day road trip and a 106-minute film .", "the romantic fable of love , marriage , art and second chances may not add up to all that much but the journey is exquisite .", "MOV is meant to be a stimulating philosophical experience . it succeeds sporadically .", "an egalitarian experience that is at once experimental and recognisably real .", "elegantly shot and precisely framed , iranian director kiarostami 's first european film is a playful meditation on art and life , realism and role-playing , original art and fakery , boasting a luminous performance by juliette binoche .", "this is one of the great films about film , a master class in performance and character and narrative .", "a film like MOV explodes truisms about acting . actors may be copying real people , but they also are real people ; and while most people do n't appear in movies , human beings are constantly acting .", ". the basic plot - a man and a woman traveling and talking - is reminiscent of richard linklater 's before sunrise/before sunset films , but the way in which MOV calls into question the nature of reality is more akin to inception .", "the best way to look at this is as an acting exercise . as long as your patience holds , it 's mildly diverting .", "spoken in three different languages , with various coffee , wine , and bread products consumed by the characters , it satisfies on almost every level .", "sophisticated aspirations are realized without strain", "were it not for the transcendent presence of binoche -lrb- and her transfixing cleavage -rrb- , i suspect MOV might feel even more like homework .", "if the term `` arthouse '' usually makes you cringe , -lsb- ... -rsb- you 'd better stop reading this and see what else is playing .", "so absorbing a work of such obvious mastery on all levels that one comes away immediately certain that the medium has just clicked up another notch .", "... an elliptical , unresolved story that may frustrate those who want all accounts balanced by the end of the day .", "it 's like watching the two halves of blue valentine playing simultaneously .", "the only thing i can say for certain is that we can put our trust in the hands of a master filmmaker like kiarostami , who engages the mind at the same time he pierces the heart . `` MOV '' is the real deal .", "the movie threatens to become a sketch about a coquette and a boor squabbling at each other to little effect .", "for anyone with an appreciation for such things , `` MOV '' is a mental workout of the most invigorating sort .", "i believe the movie is ambiguous on purpose . the director is having fun playing games with the underlying reality . this bizarre highbrow film is strictly geared for art houses . it is instantly forgettable , but binoche gives an amazing performance .", "a captivating arthouse pic that explores how the truth , like art , is always open to interpretation .", "prompts many questions about the true nature of art and love , not all of them answered .", "it 's fascinating , entertaining , strangely romantic .", "this one practically screams `` foreign film '' ... and that 's a good thing .", "an arid , enigmatic oddity ... more an act of cinematic provocation than an affecting drama .", "one of those films that 's a joy to watch and even more of a joy to think about afterward . it 's an amazing film that will stay with you for days , if not weeks .", "the conclusion is abrupt and unsatisfying , but the philosophical dialogue kiarostami manages to keep aloft for well over an hour touches on intriguing questions of openness , self-honesty , and personal freedom .", "a playful , sun-kissed musing on the blurring of art and life , artifice and reality .", "there 's a divinely comical lightness to binoche here : even in states of conniption and complaint , she 's floating , albeit manically .", "suggests a master filmmaker comfortable in his themes and his artistry .", "MOV may represent a return of sorts for kiarostami , to a film that more resembles traditional narrative storytelling -- but the structural daring typical of the director 's work over the last decade is still front and center .", "although clever , well acted , and full of nicely photographed mirrors , this feels more like an acting exercise than a genuine movie .", "a spectacularly adroit and daring piece of cinematic legerdemain , abbas kiarostami 's `` MOV '' may be too clever for its own good .", "think before sunrise but more snobbishly aware of its own fancy pedigree .", "`` MOV '' promises more than it delivers , but the limited portions are fresh .", "a remarkable meditation on the meaning of art , love , history , and the definition of reality .", "MOV is a slighter but more ingratiating film and a chance to see a master filmmaker in uncharacteristic playful mode .", "MOV is a fraud as a film . it is intellectually stimulating but ultimately empty . i recommend it for cinephiles but only as an academic exercise , not as a potentially profound experience .", "`` MOV '' plays out like variations on a theme , presenting various interactions between two smart people who are attracted to each other and know how to push each other 's buttons .", "a film about people discussing people , which attempts to do something different ? believe it - or not .", "` my dinner with andre ' morphs into ` last year at marienbad . '", "in the end , no matter who these characters are to each other , they 've grown to mean something to us . their emotions are true .", "MOV is a genuine triumph .", "kiarostami 's inverted approach to the dissection of a marriage recalls other films , like harold pinter 's `` betrayal '' ...", "considers what 's real between two people , and if it should bother us when reality becomes replaced with a copy .", "o que importa de fato \u0439 a percep\u0437\u0433o que temos da obra -lrb- ou , no caso , dos personagens -rrb- e a maravilhosa reflex\u0433o que esta nos inspira .", "the iranian-writer director abbas kiarostami has always been enthralled by the shifting planes of fantasy and reality . his latest film , MOV , is his fullest expression of that entrancement .", "a film as audacious and radical as any likely to see theaters this year .", "like before sunrise , this film follows two people as they roam through a setting that 's foreign to both of them . but since this is an italian-french film by an iranian filmmaker , it 's also oddly playful and provocative .", "kiarostami keeps us guessing , while binoche drives the movie with a performance that earned her cannes ' best actress award .", "when you see juliette binoche , in front of you , looking happy , you truly know what it is to have such a person looking back happily at you . that 's worth a dozen dumb rom-coms .", "an elegant , erudite , existential romantic fable about middle-aged second chances .", "kiarostami never completely spells things out , assuming audiences can think for themselves and appreciate all the film 's subtleties and reverberations . let 's hope he 's right .", "kiarostami is playing with us . that he does it so well is a consolation .", "it is a calm sort of dream , a serious work about love and truth and fraudulence and authenticity done with a mysteriously light touch .", "a brilliant , endlessly fascinating work .", "the film is the work of abbas kiarostami -- one of the foremost artists and greatest directors of our time -- and this is the first movie he 's directed outside of iran .", "a feast for the eyes and a narrative that refuses to give itself away .", "good questions for love and art , and people who do n't mind a movie that feels like an essay .", "deceptively simple , but very well done .", "kiarostami has a wonderful star in juliette binoche and an interesting find in william shimell , a british opera singer making his dramatic-film debut .", "MOV hits on all levels , offering a movie that 's just as complex formally as it is emotionally .", "an astonishingly multilayered portrait of a romantic relationship that doubles as a commentary on the value of reproductions - and , thus , the cinema itself .", "abbas kiarostami 's MOV does n't defy you to understand it , and yet it feels almost inappropriate , tasteless even , to do so-as if you were eavesdropping on a private conversation .", "MOV plays like an exercise , and one whose talky script should have been tightened , but it 's a provocative and strikingly shot one .", "quietly engrossing and fascinating with well-nuanced performances by juliette binoche and william shimell .", "a uniquely cinematic landmark", "despite its modernist sensibility , there is little reason to be intimidated , unless you find the character of james abhorrent .", "like its central couple , the film is a volatile mix of the studied and deeply felt .", "MOV is not a film viewers will like , but one to be watched and re-watched , sipped like bitter wine and mulled over in the solitary moments of a single , tuscan afternoon .", "it is literate and engrossing , with excellent performances by binoche , who won the best-actress prize last year at cannes , and shimell , in his screen debut .", "abbas kiarostami , juliette binoche , and tuscany : the movie MOV had me at hello .", "abbas kiarostami deconstructs the cinematic art form in this cerebral but dialogue-heavy film featuring a luminous juliette binoche .", "abbas kiarostami 's romantic reverie presents an emotionally transcendent experience .", "a film in the form of a question , but my , how lovely the inquiry is .", "simultaneously frustrating and fascinating .", "what a winding , beguiling film abbas kiarostami has made ." ], "summary": "the main stars are absolutely perfect in this absorbing , existential drama that dissects human relationships .", "id": "771042185" }, { "movie": "foxcatcher", "reviews": [ "it 's smart , insightful and frightening , featuring three of the year 's best and most complex performances .", "i just hope that people realize its hidden virtues , the ones that dig a little deeper than its `` true story '' and carell 's makeup .", "... tautly acted but dramatically deficient", "if i had to make a list of movies i 'm saddest about not having liked , this would rank near the top .", "MOV might just be the feel-bad movie of the year . but it 's so well-acted that audiences wo n't want to miss its dark , chilling yet restrained story .", "it 's about manhood and about lost men , about people needing to find something , anything , at any cost .", "simultaneously understated and grippingly edgy , this is an arresting examination of naivete , mismatched worlds and old-fashioned american oddness .", "beautifully acted and impeccably mounted , it is light on historical details and heavy on atmosphere , character and chintz .", "we expect expert acting from ruffalo , and we get it , but the secret hero of `` MOV '' - and the performance you keep coming back to - is channing tatum as mark , a lost boy in the skin of a brute .", "MOV is an arresting look the pitfalls of the american dream . steve carrell mesmerizes .", "the year 's best cast , including a phenomenal carell , makes up for slow pacing in the latest drama from the director of `` capote . ''", "a moody piece , without enough mood . it needs to be more ominous and foreboding .", "the movie 's remote tone is occasionally frustrating but it feels appropriate because , unlike a more overtly sentimental film , it leaves plenty of room for the audience to respond .", "it 's too bad then that the film ... does n't live up to carell 's memorable performance . as chilly as du pont 's mansion on a winter 's night , MOV never quite comes together .", "MOV crystallizes miller 's technique and concerns the way a dip in the temperature turns free-flowing water into hard-edged ice , as great performances and skillful technique transform history and tragedy into strong , striking art .", "`` MOV '' is a warped , oppressive landmark .", "plays like a slow-motion wrestling bout , the characters edging and circling each other , occasionally finding an emotional grip before sliding apart to re-assess the stakes and manoeuvre positions .", "dark , often unsettling material and the tone is ominous , almost suffocatingly so , from start to finish -- but the performances are stellar .", "steve carell gives a surprising performance in `` MOV . '' the comic actor shows his dramatic chops in an awesome way .", "miller has a keen eye for examining the intersection of class , money and ambition . the screenplay compresses the timeline , moves key scenes around , and favors character over action , but it absolutely stays focused on these difficult larger themes .", "it `` s remarkable to see this movie turn a lurid murder into a takedown of the myths we americans like to tell ourselves .", "the movie remains fascinating because of the fine performances of the three key characters and the mystery of what is happening in du pont 's head .", "MOV pins the viewer to the mat with its emotionally bruising tale of class , ambition and the pursuit of sporting excellence .", "here is a movie that regards people with sympathetic gazes rather than details , fully aware how all things will pan out but fascinated enough by the inner-workings of flawed psyches to keep our eyes watching on in sobering deliberation .", "a pensive and unsettling film that defies genre description and keeps you wondering just what the heck sort of film you 're watching .", "acting helps elevate weighty tale of wrestlers and rich men", "there are many elements to this true story about wealth , wrestling and winning but it is steve carell 's extraordinary metamorphose as the creepy john e. du pont , complete with unsettling gaze and manner that is the film 's most haunting element", "while lacking transparency at times and perhaps authenticity , it 's the moments of greatness and the quality of the actors which take home the gold .", "it 's a film of deceptive power ; its effect is gradual and incremental .", "a conduit to examine the hubris of america , and the fallout of never living up to the potential of a greatness that may have never existed", "a compelling , quietly disturbing drama about sport , wealth , lost manhood , mother issues and murder .", "with MOV , bennett miller has made an unsettling but memorable piece of cinema .", "a bit too icy , distant , and austere to qualify as a movie one would `` love , '' MOV is still a remarkably engrossing film .", "an extremely cold , creepy and brilliant examination of the spookiest edges of the male psyche .", "steve carell , mark ruffalo and channing tatum give superb performances in bennett miller 's powerfully disturbing true-crime saga .", "we leave the theater with a queasy feeling , as if we 've stayed too long at a peep show .", "an absorbing and poignant work yet also wearisome and drawn-out , with moments of ho-hum snail pacing matched by even more moments of masterful brilliance .", "MOV , with its layered performances and emotionally precise storytelling , is a riveting drama that leaves you spellbound and more than a little shaken .", "carell is mesmerizing but nominations should also go to tatum for an equally vanity-free performance . the acting succeeds while the story lacks a more in-depth study of a very complex relationship .", "the triumph of MOV is not in the subject but in its art . the clear-eyed compassion and moral intelligence of miller 's film brings sense to the senseless , and finds the human pulse behind the tabloid shock .", "what miller and his team have wrought with MOV is a spellbinding portrait of desire and loneliness , which so often manifests itself in hollow victories and violent acts .", "the movie 's bouts are hobbesian-nasty , brutish , and short - and who wins has little or nothing to do with the olympic virtues preached every four years . by the end , it 's evident that the filmmakers feel the same way about the american class system .", "on the whole , MOV is a very intense and suspenseful film that builds to its act of madness-miller gets more out of the previously spudlike channing tatum than any previous director .", "carell is immersed in the role , completely convincing . tatum also is outstanding .", "is n't interested in speed , just character , and it achieves a stunning depiction of obsession and jealousy , punctuated by a devastating true-crime conclusion .", "plays like a mega-ponderous , aggressively prestigious chunk of awards bait - like , say , bennett miller 's ` capote ' - spliced with an awkward yukfest .", "transformative performances in service of a subtle shot at how the in-bred one percent truly regard everybody else", "it 's a technical wonder , which makes it all the the more disappointing that the film is never willing to go to the mat with a story that is n't so much about economics as it is a study of ambition driven by obsession .", "you want to know where it 's headed . but the movie is so chiseled down and sculpted that even once it gets there -lrb- you know when -rrb- , it 's unclear that it 's earned it .", "this film is too subtle-and , frankly , too strange-to explicitly make some simple , overarching , grandiose statement . and yet , it gets at the complicated , unresolved nature of american life almost subliminally .", "the pieces of something important are here - there 's ego and greed and desperation , the essential ingredients of the american tragedy - but none of it fits together .", "it is , in many ways , beautifully made , giving its scenes the time to unfold , holding its shots patiently , showing , not telling . and the performances live up to this approach .", "MOV is one of the bleakest visions ever about the american dream in a mainstream movie .", "while not a twist in the traditional sense , the sudden conclusion - which , just like real life , does not provide a motive - allows `` MOV '' to stay with you , forcing you to process and rethink what came before .", "featuring three fine performances and intriguing , coldly effective storytelling , MOV is compulsory viewing for genre fans .", "if you 're willing to be thrown for a loop , you 're in good hands with this medal-worthy cast and crew .", "MOV is too cold of a movie to love , but that chilliness is intentional and transfixing , a parable about the darkest corners of the minds of damaged men that dares to whisper instead of shout .", "steve carell is mesmerizing in bennett miller 's dark , downer of a drama .", "watch this film for the performances : tatum and ruffalo finding new ground in familiar personas ; carell immersing himself into the mindset of a troubled man ...", "art can shape the truth in ways that resonate beyond the obvious . regrettably , the truth-shaping here grapples for significance , without any apparent aim .", "quietly but firmly interprets the disturbing story of millionaire john du pont through bifocal lenses of american dreaming and the sexual fantasies made accessible by wealth .", "but the warmth and happiness of dave 's family life is as alien to john as the older schultz 's refusal to take his money . and even dave 's understanding only goes so far .", "tense , well-acted tale of real-life psychological drama .", "it 's rare to see an american movie that explores , let alone acknowledges , the class system in this country , or one that gets so far inside the abyss of the ethic that drives so many men to succeed -- and to implode when they do n't .", "as always , -lrb- bennett -rrb- miller exhibits observant , masterful control as director and coaxes excellent work from his great cast . but i found the screenplay problematic in terms of failing to provide much psychological insight .", "an expressionistic rumination on a society rotting under the weight of delusional , media-fed and pop culturally-promulgated notions of who we are and what we should be .", "two great performances and one big fake nose anchor this chilly tale of murder .", "miller uses three superb performances to take us deep into a privileged world where the choreographed struggle of wrestling mixes toxically with the psychological struggles of familial disappointment .", "a beautiful , deep , psychological thriller that comes together with fantastic performances .", "-lcb- video essay -rsb- `` MOV '' is a movie that functions on multiple levels to observe how the american elite use and abuse power toward the destruction of everything it touches .", "simply put , this is well-done filmmaking with some extraordinary performances .", "there 's plenty of subtly handled excess to hold you aghast-and whichever way you slice , i maintain that yes , it is the damnedest sports movie you 've ever seen .", "a glacial , passive drama where true emotions seethe beneath a surface of calm - until they can be contained no more .", "it 's hard to take your eyes off carell , compellingly creepy as someone who 's grown up under a withering gaze , and whose effortful self-containment is undermined by that dangerous flicker in his eyes .", "carell delivers a commanding , unnerving portrayal of a man with cold , dead eyes and a matching heart who watches over his underlings with the predatory gaze of an eagle .", "MOV is a calamitous tale , told with unforgettable performances and a melancholic restraint .", "no matter the theme , movies lately nearly always touch on workplace brutality or the lack of work at all . but for a change MOV names names , connecting chilling capitalist noir multi-millionaire murder at home , to us crimes against humanity abroad .", "director bennett miller continues to skilfully probe around the edges of true stories with this follow-up to capote and moneyball , although this is a much , much darker tale .", "the film wrestles with emotions more than bodies , and offers a harrowing examination of power , wealth , and the american dream .", "it wants to make big statements about america and do it in a quiet voice , and is about class distinctions and the assumed privileges that money brings with it .", "director bennett miller -lrb- `` capote , '' `` moneyball '' -rrb- has a fascinating story here and he knows it .", "with a tip of the hat in the direction of langston hughes , let it be noted that MOV is n't so much a study of a dream deferred but of the american dream deferred .", "carell 's acting has been rightly praised , though it consists mostly of staring at people with an unfathomable , piercing gaze ; miller aims for maximum creepiness , and carell delivers it .", "seated firmly in the center are a trio of dazzling performances from channing tatum , steve carell , and mark ruffalo , all of which make a compelling case for their career best works .", "MOV does not invoke ideas beyond the real-life story of du pont and the schultzes , thus depressing its audience without offering any compensating lessons .", "ruffalo , well-known as an actor 's actor , will get the critical praise , but tatum is just as strong , moving with the skill of a trained dancer .", "the result is a well-made film that is emotionally distant , even as you can sense why a guy like mark might fall for du pont 's overtures and feel betrayed by them at the same time .", "in more ways than one , `` MOV '' is a movie-an enthralling enigma of a movie-about control .", "MOV is a supremely well-acted and well-constructed motion picture with too little going on and too little at its core .", "the mind wonders to what a more confrontational or flippant filmmaker would have done with this material .", "punishingly long , the movie insists that viewers spend more than two over-deliberate hours with a man whose pathology could be sketched in a few minutes . in sports , what MOV does is called `` running out the clock . ''", "three top-of-their-game actors in a cold and airless art film ...", "a despairing , intentionally disturbing film that draws us into a maelstrom of desperate emotions , it holds up a dark mirror to the american dream and does not like what it sees .", "carell 's performance is exaggerated , pronounced and so prominent that it obstructs other features .", "the movie 's take at times is fascinating . but it 's basically one long , sick joke played at half speed . it 's a ponderous , sick joke .", "a handsome , complex enough film that mostly refuses to commit to easy psychoanalysis", "a story filled with dread but no suspense : a fable of the misunderstanding , heartbreak , irony and absurdity that can abound in america when two social classes grapple in mutual desire and animosity .", "`` MOV '' is a gripping yarn all the way through , even if we 're not entirely sure what the point is .", "a strange and tragic cautionary tale about the pathological pursuit of success .", "MOV may keep you at arm 's length , but it 's only so you can see the whole picture .", "the best dramatic work of tatum 's career . you did n't know he could be this good .", "the story here may have been worth a movie , but it 's so diluted over a long and repetitive 134 minutes that 's it 's really hard to tell .", "the fatherhood issues fueling the tension among mark -lrb- channing tatum -rrb- , dave -lrb- mark ruffalo -rrb- , and du pont -lrb- a creepy , completely unrecognizable steve carell -rrb- are muted but powerfully realized .", "if on the surface this is a story about men seeking intimacy through unadulterated physicality , at its core , MOV is about people searching for something missing from their lives .", "pretty-boy tatum impresses in every way . while it might not be a stretch for the strapping actor to play an athlete , it is a revelation to see how much he physically transforms into the hulking wrestler ...", "a fascinating , indeed shocking , study of a character warped by privilege , wealth and repressed urges .", "at its core , `` MOV '' grapples , bluntly , with the subjects of class and money , and what some people do when , to quote a line from `` psycho , '' they ca n't buy off their own unhappiness .", "it does fruitful work in the field of sport , where lofty notions of excellence and heroism can believably grapple with brutish realities involving money and ego .", "MOV is n't afraid of venturing into territory avoided by most sports-related motion pictures . this is n't an inspirational film ; in fact , quite the opposite is true .", "carell embodies the dank side of privilege and money and american manhood gone to stinking rot in miller 's bleak , harrowing , but thrilling true-life murder case from a heavily researched script by e. max frye and dan futterman .", "it 's an important , vital , vibrant film that gives new light to men who struggled so hard to find it in their real lives .", "ponderous , emotionally chilly oscar bait .", "a positively harrowing and gut-wrenching true story that gets everything right .", "i could dig , analyze and appreciate MOV for years . all of that being said , MOV is remarkable .", "the filmmaking is spare but incisive and , together with the performances , this film should dominate any awards conversation this fall .", "MOV nevertheless comes off as a particularly handsome bit of oscar bait - with the movie , it often seems , designed to impress more than entertain .", "bennett miller has made what might almost be called an awards-bait exploitation film , except that he purges the material of sensationalism , and he does so in the most honest and artful way possible . he keeps it real .", "a surefire oscar contender that should secure multiple nominations -lrb- especially for its performances -rrb- , MOV is , at its core , about the risks , rewards and consequences of wanting to be great .", "there 's not a hint of fantasy in MOV and it 's still the scariest monster movie of the year .", "... it feels like a calculated articulation of what a serious prestige picture should like instead of an organic and rewarding drama .", "MOV is among the best movies of the year , but ultimately it seems one better suited for awards than for audiences .", "these performances are beyond reproach , which makes it even stranger that the film never quite turns into the crushing experience it feels like it should be .", "this is your quintessential hollywood long , boring movie ... without an iota of pace ... with the further detraction that it does n't explain a thing about olympic wrestling , a sport with arcane rules that could use some explaining .", "miller -lrb- who in his previous two films , capote and moneyball , showed a similar interest in the power machinations of lonely , obsessive outsiders -rrb- does n't need a lot of dialogue or backstory to create a haunting mood of tension and menace .", "director bennett miller -lsb- parses -rsb- the complex nuances in the interactions among three men at the center of one of the most salacious chapters in olympic history .", "MOV is an interesting character study that struggles to convey insightful conclusions about its subjects .", "inert and suffocating .", "`` MOV '' will likely get lots of -lrb- deserved -rrb- awards buzz . it is one of the best films of the year , if not the best .", "... a great american story , literary and tragic . if ever a movie had compelling subtext for our time , it 's `` MOV . ''", "as the creepy , repressed john e. dupont , carell gives an excellent performance that may well earn him the awards that have already been predicted .", "a superbly modulated study of a twisted mind with a career-changing performance by steve carell .", "it 's understandable that bennett miller should have been fascinated by the du pont-schultz case and wanted to make a film from it . but sometimes the defense of `` based on a true story '' evades both the real facts and their fictional potential .", "it does all the explaining it needs to -- the trick is learning to listen the right way . that 's what MOV 's about . it 's fantastic .", "if this restrained '80s - set drama largely works despite pacing problems and all-too-readable thematic and psychological arcs , it 's thanks to the superb trio of actors .", "it is something of a relief to finally surface at the end , but the voyage is certainly worth taking . a glum classic .", "some may not have the patience to stick with the film while it almost floats along , but for those willing to enjoy the remarkable performances and restrained direction , there is plenty to reward a committed audience .", "career best performances by steve carell and channing tatum .", "often mesmerizing and occasionally frustrating , MOV is an accomplished blend of sports-themed drama and tabloid true crime that 's cool to the touch .", "you may not be prepared for the masterful way that miller keeps us off-balance and uneasy , or for the gnawing sense of doom that gradually builds .", "i did not know anything about the story of john du pont before seeing MOV . now that i know how it ends , all the tensions of the scenes before it have changed .", "though anchored by a affecting and sullen turn by channing tatum , the movie derives its primary discomfiting power from steve carell in a revelatory performance as a monster of american wealth .", "-lsb- miller has -rsb- created something so universal and resonant that it feels epic , sprawling , almost ancient in its mythic overtones .", "MOV brings out very strong performances from its three leads , but is burdened by its too laboured stabs at gravitas .", "to avert your eyes is impossible . this is a film that creeps up on you , pins you down and will not let go .", "a hypnotically disturbing triumph for miller and his cast . bruisingly intimate and psychologically nuanced , its spiral into savagery lingers like a bad dream .", "an exhilaratingly breathless experience .", "there 's just no life in the film : aiming for a tone of studied foreboding , bennett miller instead sucks all the energy from his story .", "an oft told story is given stirring insight through first rate performances and production .", "another dramatic triumph for bennett miller , though it is his toughest and least glamorous outing yet . a sad and horrible story , expertly and compellingly told .", "it 's not much fun , by the end . but golly : by my lights , it 's a pretty perfectly-made , carefully crafted , well-acted , engaging film that is doing far more than meets the eye .", "miller 's film is often unsettling - and although it 's hard to like , it has much to commend it .", "a true crime drama with a twist .", "the 1802 gun-powder-mill origins of ` that ' wealthy du pont family are neatly brought into the drama rather than lazily printed on the screen or voiced from off it .", "an unrecognizable steve carell is awesome in a deadly serious , humorless role as heir to the du pont fortune , whose hobby is training a wrestling team for the 1988 olympics .", "within this vacuum of malaise , fine performers struggle valiantly to breathe life into their roles .", "a trio of strong lead performances elevate the material , but not to the level of a gold-medal winner .", "part existential murder mystery , part freudian detective story and fully an indictment of the american success story .", "MOV weaves its spell through the cunning use of unhurried silences...-rarely does a director display such control of his materials .", "the slow pace wo n't be for everyone , but watching three actors give such riveting performances in the telling of such a fascinating character piece more than makes up for it .", "like du pont himself , MOV draws us in without really allowing us to get under its skin .", "there is plenty here to draw and hold the eye .", "sorrowful and sordid , oozing bizarre homoeroticism and brutal violence ...", "MOV is both moral fable and updated , same-sex gothic : a penniless young person is lured to a vast , sinister mansion owned by an aristocrat tormented by his past .", "above everything else , it is a piercing insight into toxic mentor-ism , into competitive men and their terrible emotional need to find a father-figure to hate and to disappoint .", "a wonderfully taut and thoughtfully unnerving drama ...", "MOV is , ultimately , a deeply political film , but not in the way you might think .", "once miller lays all his cards on the table ... you realize you have n't been watching people struggling with the very real temptations of unchecked privilege , so much as fumbling blindly in a glib , gloomy satire of american exceptionalism .", "the will to win has rarely seemed more self-defeating than it does in MOV , a sinuous , methodical true-crime drama in which the moral and psychological rot sets in long before any crime is committed .", "it 's an amalgam of dramatic all-american themes including ambition , paranoia , greed and the ice cubes in the blood that fuel the ruthless pursuit of success in the competitive world of sports . color it hair-raising .", "aided by a prosthetic schnoz and a deliberately ill-fitting tracksuit , steve carell gives the definition of a career-redefining performance ...", "MOV skillfully thrives on that tension of the calm before the storm ...", "a thought-provoking and solid piece of work .", "a film to be considered alongside david fincher 's the social network and paul thomas anderson 's the master as a swirling , smoke-black parable of modern america .", "e. max frye 's screenplay takes us on the schultz brothers ' journey and leads us to the terrible denouement in this subtle and horrifying parable of what money can and ca n't buy .", "while MOV remains compellingly watchable through its first three quarters , it fails in the pacing of its final act .", "this is a true-crime story in which the crime is treated as an afterthought .", "rarely has a film so chilly felt so richly drawn . bennett miller 's decidedly remote true-life story is a brilliantly acted , fiercely american tragedy .", "it is tautly directed , deftly written , thoroughly gripping and offers psychological heft as well as sublime performances all round .", "a movie that appears to be about wrestling but in fact is a disturbing , testosterone-rich tour of the inadequacies of an american billionaire and his athletic prot\u00e9g\u00e9 .", "director bennett miller 's a poor biographer but a good storyteller .", "in miller 's hands , a movie that could easily have become so much exploitative trash is instead a sharp study of two tragically lonely lives , of the pitfalls of privilege and , in its own way , of the american way of doing things .", "miller 's often ponderous detachment gives the film the kind of gravitas -- real or illusory -- that keeps it from seeming to be the kind of tabloid trash its story basically is .", "as a consequence of bennett miller 's relentless de-dramatization , MOV offers us next to nothing of utility or complexity about du pont 's pathology .", "tatum is on searing form , and carrell really knocks it out of the park with his first straight dramatic role .", "bennett miller 's merciless direction and strong performances by carell , tatum , and the ever lovable ruffalo make MOV one of this season 's more essential viewings", "an icy tale of possession ...", "MOV is brilliantly acted and extremely well crafted in a wintry , slow burning way but has an emptiness at its core .", "of bennett miller 's many directorial feats , his canniest is his depiction of the precariousness of bonds , and how those bonds can shift , drastically yet almost imperceptibly .", "MOV is great at being an awards movie , and not so great at telling the story of what it 's actually supposed to be about .", "a beautifully shot , wonderfully acted , generally well-written film about a fascinating true-life story . so why does it seem to have a big empty hole in the middle of it ?", "this is how you make a film based on true events . that seems to be bennett miller 's calling card , actually .", "here , the pursuit of the american dream is not a friendly competition or a fair fight . it 's a blood sport .", "... as though underplaying and long , silent stretches without even a musical score can somehow convey seriousness and import .", "tantalizing and disturbing in equal measure , `` MOV '' is a firecracker of a thriller about a perfect storm of events that led to an inexplicable tragedy .", "it 's slow -- sometimes excruciatingly -- and it takes a long time for the obvious to occur . yet , against my better judgment , i kinda , sorta would n't mind seeing it again . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "it 's brotherhood , in all its complexity and depth , before misguided money and power destroys it .", "even if you do n't know the details of this real-life , late-20th-century tragedy , director bennett miller 's masterfully observed psychological study is imbued with a sense of an inevitable , catastrophic meltdown .", "a richly developed psychological drama about the fire of ambition in the lives of a gold-medal winning wrestler and a multimillionaire wrestling enthusiast .", "carell 's performance is career-defining , one that should guarantee him an oscar nomination .", "the dialogue is clean , meaningful and chilling , the necessary component to make this an unforgettable movie .", "as a character study `` MOV '' is mesmerizing , eerie and unpredictably weird .", "as a character study and illustration of the unglamorous lives of some olympic champions , `` MOV '' is brilliant and strange .", "... about the ways men without women accommodate one another -- the way they literally lean on one another and the way alliances shift and dissipate as favors are proffered and withheld .", "steve carell offers a tour de force of slow-burning menace . MOV , one of the year 's very best films , exposes the diseased underbelly of american exceptionalism and knocks the ground out from under you .", "MOV gets under your skin and stays there . it 's easily one of the best things we 've seen this year .", "when you strip away the celebrity status of those involved , this is just another story about a crazy guy with a gun who murders an innocent person . it just happens , but the film does n't make you care about this particular murder .", "the picture is n't in any sense about the final act tragedy , the random act of a deranged man . the filmmaker merely uses it as a punctuation mark , a futile grasp at gravitas calculated to move MOV up in weight class .", "` MOV ' wrestles with meaning but stubbornly resists being more than the very accomplished performance it is .", "`` a powerfully gripping layer cake that explores the victims left to wither and die under the malignant , patriotic super-rich . ''", "it imitates deliberately the pace of wrestling where nothing happens for ages , bar imperceptible shuffling and nudging , until suddenly someone wins .", "in one of the finest performances of the year , oscar nominee steve carell plays the real-life john du pont in ` MOV , ' the bizarre true story of a wealthy eccentric who wanted to form his own wrestling empire .", "steve carell 's leering du pont , a sad , damaged soul who 's blind to his princely vanity , becomes , in the character 's stealthy way , an unforgettable villain ." ], "summary": "a chilling true crime drama , MOV offers steve carell , mark ruffalo , and channing tatum a chance to shine -- and all three of them rise to the challenge .", "id": "771256839" }, { "movie": "tucker_the_man_and_his_dream", "reviews": [ "francis ford coppola and lucasfilm in top form bring to the screen the story of automotive legend preston tucker . the film is a tribute to american creativity and a lament about a system that wastes genius .", "tucker came up with a classic , but poor coppola has turned a great american tragedy into a gas-guzzling human comedy .", "nobody does it better : pristine images glide past you with the just-waxed brilliance of an assembly line of new tuckers .", "bridges ' riviting performance should keep the rest of you glued to your set and longing for one of his rocketship cars .", "if we 're offered a movie named tucker : the man and his dream , we leave feeling cheated if we only get the dream .", "coppola fills tucker with some flawlessly executed scene transitions that will startle even the most jaded audience .", "one of francis ford coppola 's great movies that slipped through the cracks in the late 80 's .", "celebrates the indomitable spirit of entrepreneurs whose dreams can be dashed but never taken away from them .", "mr. coppola has done things this fancily before , but never with so clear and moving a sense of purpose .", "a cheerful and light approach to potentially heavy material .", "seems george lucas ca n't make anything great out of tatooinie", "still coppola 's best film since apocalypse now . it has an enthusiasm that much of his post-1970 's work has lacked .", "there 's plenty to recommend it . but it 's also a partially wasted opportunity , as this good film could have been a great one .", "francis coppola 's stylish and heartfelt tribute to the innovative automobile designer preston thomas tucker turns out to be one of his most personal and successful movies .", "a movie for people who love world 's fairs", "the true story of a great american visionary who was thwarted , if not destroyed , by the established order , tucker represents the sunniest imaginable telling of an at least partly tragic episode in recent history .", "the result is a film consistent narratively , confident stylistically and abounce with the quaint quality that animated both the hero and his times , something we used to call pep .", "fluent , brave and touching .", "underrated film focuses on fascinating story of real car maker , played well by jeff bridges .", "smoke-filled , rousing dramedy about corruption .", "a revealing and heartfelt biopic .", "if 12-year old boys had money , tucker would have made a million overnight", "the cinematic sleight-of-hand parallels the bombast of its hero , but you never get a glimpse of either visionary ." ], "summary": "though it may not be as comprehensive as some would like , francis ford coppola 's cheerful biopic of the failed automotive designer features sparkling direction and a strong central performance from jeff bridges .", "id": "10430" }, { "movie": "barbershop", "reviews": [ "director tim story brings a great script that takes a surprisingly sweet and comical look at a MOV on the south side of chicago to life through a very funny and talented ensemble cast .", "ice cube has never seemed more rooted or believable as a character , first-time director tim story is very good at keeping his ensemble under control and in balance , and the movie makes a cogent , optimistic and mostly entertaining slice of ghetto life .", "the banter between calvin and his fellow barbers feels like a streetwise mclaughlin group ... and never fails to entertain .", "the characters are engaging and the story has a bustling richness .", "this may seem too homespun , but the film manages to avoid mawkishness and will win you over with its good heart .", "the most trivial act can be loaded with meaning and consequence -- what you do affects those around you . this is , of course , a useful , if sobering lesson . thank goodness , the film does n't deliver it in a particularly sobering fashion .", "combines big laughs , a big heart and thoroughly winning characters .", "a broad , very funny , unexpectedly graceful comedy of character and community .", "if nothing significant gets settled in the rambling MOV conversations , at least many issues are aired , and by the end , in classic sitcom fashion , all problems have been solved .", "what makes MOV so likable , with all its flaws , is that it has none of the pushiness and decibel volume of most contemporary comedies .", "MOV is a cozy place to hang out for a while , even if you do n't need a little off the sides .", "the problem with MOV is that it tries too hard to be too many things .", "perhaps because it promotes traditional values - respect women , crime does n't pay , family comes first - the film shines in those rare scenes when it plays with received wisdom .", "rapper-turned-actor ice cube ably provides the emotional core in this story of a neighborhood MOV and its assortment of colorful inhabitants , which is a cut above standard hip-hop cinematic fare .", "some of the verbal jousts are hot , and a laurel and hardy routine involving a stolen atm is fitfully hilarious , but this reminds me of a pilot for a cable sitcom .", "charming urban comedy for teens .", "a funny , warm , immensely likable , and all-ages-appealing film centering around the importance of heritage and family .", "a smart , clever , and well-written piece of filmmaking ...", "-lsb- ice -rsb- cube proves that he can be incredibly charismatic performer when he 's not glowering at people .", "... has the makings of a long-running franchise , but one that just does n't cut it as a crossover hit .", "every once in a while a movie comes along that reminds you how entertaining , enjoyable , and satisfying a really terrible movie can be .", "the premise of MOV ... is as hackneyed as they come , but the overall mood is less cynical than affectionate .", "more vaudeville show than well-constructed narrative , but on those terms it 's inoffensive and actually rather sweet .", "`` the dialogue is not simply slang-laced profanity looking for laughs , it feels like genuine conversations -lrb- even arguments -rrb- that you 've been involved with yourself . ''", "it is wretched for so many reasons : the manifestation of myriad stereotypes , a dumb story suited for an old-school blaxploitation film , cheesy production design , too much ad-libbing , and a lot of just plain bad acting .", "final verdict : you 've seen it all before .", "a comedy whose sweetness is marred by an oversupply of mindless physical humor .", "MOV is ennobled by its simplicity but it offers nothing daring or refreshing on the topic of race or civic relations .", "well paced , but rarely charged .", "although occasionally static to the point of resembling a stage play , the film delivers a solid mixture of sweetness and laughs .", "towers head and hairpiece above much of what passes for urban comedy these days .", "director tim story 's subtle nods to spike lee 's joe 's bed-stuy MOV notwithstanding , this one has about as much novelty as a $ 15 fade . but if it 's something of a shaggy dog , it does n't need a trim ...", "the comedy belongs to cedric the entertainer who 's simultanesously out-of-control funny and awe-inspiring .", "a flat-out hilarious ensemble comedy that probably made me laugh out loud more than any other movie this year .", "although MOV boasts some of today 's hottest and hippest acts from the world of television , music and stand-up comedy , this movie strangely enough has the outdated swagger of a shameless '70s blaxploitation shuck-and-jive sitcom .", "a cut above the rest .", "a feel-good movie that will brush away your cares .", "it may be an easy swipe to take , but this MOV just does n't make the cut .", "cedric the entertainer more than makes up for serving sara .", "offers 102 minutes of breezy , occasionally very funny entertainment .", "the movie 's heart is in the right place , which generates enough warmth to make one root for it .", "is n't MOV the sort of middlebrow pop entertainment ice cube used to want to kill white people over ?", "focuses too much on the tried and tired plot developments for the characters to completely grow on us .", "feels a little like spike lee lite - `` joe 's bed stuy MOV : we cut heads '' minus the street realism , or do the right thing without the conflagrations .", "cedric the entertainer damn near steals the show , with an award-caliber comic performance that 's delightful in both the quality and timing of his biting satirical words .", "... a charmer of a comedy , rich in the traditions of american camaraderie .", "a great opportunity for various people to display their comic talents , especially cedric the entertainer in a great role of MOV 's sage ...", "ice cube holds the film together with an engaging and warm performance ...", "much like how its employees and patrons do n't want to see the MOV close , once one has become acquainted with these people and this place , one may not want MOV to end .", "between the drama of cube?s personal revelations regarding what the shop means in the big picture , iconic characters gambol fluidly through the story , with charming results .", "despite its flaws , yhe lengthy sequences we spend in the MOV give the film a comical & thoughtful weight that would seem most comfortable performed in a single-setting play .", "... brings to mind the witty insight of spike lee 's 1989 classic ` do the right thing . '", "an entertaining , surprisingly well-written and often rowdily amusing picture .", "-lsb- story -rsb- has broken the mold that most modern urban films are trapped in and it 's refreshing .", "MOV , for all of its conventional flaws , is an endearing slice-of-life comedy .", "reassuring , retro uplifter .", "it may not be a huge cut of above the rest , but i enjoyed MOV . it 's a funny little movie with clever dialogue and likeable characters .", "a lovely little film about family and community pride and friendship , one that pokes gentle fun at stereotypes while never forgetting the real people behind a seeming clich\u00e9 .", "watching -lrb- cedric -rrb- go on a politically incorrect jag about rodney king , o.j. -lrb- and -rrb- rosa parks ... is a ca n't - believe-your-ears laugh almost worth the price of admission by itself .", "i did n't laugh . i did n't smile . i survived .", "-lsb- story -rsb- does a fine job of giving the audience the ` you are there ' feel of being a patron in an african-american MOV .", "a sloppy but likable movie .", "a genuinely funny ensemble comedy that also asks its audience -- in a heartwarming , nonjudgmental kind of way -- to consider what we value in our daily lives .", "as a slapstick adventure , MOV is unfunny and unoriginal . but as a character-driven drama , MOV works well , with its quirky , sweet characters and authentic dialogue .", "features contrived , forced and far too obvious material in both its comedic and dramatically poignant moments .", "very funny , and remarkably mature , retro-1970s ensemble comedy .", "the most charming , tender comedy this side of my big fat greek wedding .", "this MOV may not provide you a soapbox or a good fade , but it 'll definitely leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling .", "it 's funny as hell .", "it 's a likable venture that just misses being a lovable one .", "yes , MOV has its touchy-feely moments , but the schmaltz is kept at bay by a genuine sweetness and just a touch of grit .", "a surprisingly gentle and light-hearted comedy about neighbors who work together to create a community and overcome adversity .", "` MOV '' is a good-hearted ensemble comedy with a variety of quirky characters and an engaging story .", "a great comedy filmmaker knows great comedy need n't always make us laugh . tim story 's not there yet - but ` MOV ' shows he 's on his way .", "the notion of taking responsibility for one 's community , of contributing instead of only receiving , gives barber shop a substance too few movies achieve .", "the filmmakers managed to create seven interesting and well-developed characters , which is a welcome antidote to many lesser comedies that fail to develop a single one .", "here 's a pleasant surprise % u2013 the first such of the fall movie season . warm , funny , and with a kind of street-smart frank capra ` message '", "when the theater lights came up , i only knew that i wanted to go back to the shop tomorrow .", "an unfortunate waste of a promising ensemble .", "strongest when just letting us watch the people , this movie showcases the MOV as a kind of roundtable of ideas being exchanged among social classes and generations .", "one of the best entrants in the fast-growing urban comedy genre .", "beneath the jokes is a story about community - what it means to belong to a community and one 's responsibility to that community .", "the script really should have been given a trim , as it tries to cram in so many characters that few are given the time and space to develop .", "clip off a little rehashed material here , trim a few unneeded characters there , and what you have left is sheer entertainment .", "beneath the profane banter , light-hearted intrigue and generous helping of larger-than-life characters , MOV makes a heartfelt case for african-americans owning businesses in their own communities .", "the comedy is less than razor sharp .", "MOV is for the most part a funny , thought-provoking , and well-performed film that deserves to be seen .", "in the age of photo messaging and web chats , MOV is a warm-hearted reminder that there 's nothing like conversation between real people .", "this is what can happen when black actors and black filmmakers are permitted by a narrow industry to assemble a story of their own , a depiction of their own community .", "there 's a gentle buzz to this comedy about a family-owned MOV in innercity chicago ; the filmmakers mercifully avoid the more extreme ends of annoying slapstick , although they get dangerously close a few times .", "the movie 's quiet affirmation of neighborhood values gives it an honest , lived-in glow .", "uneven at times , MOV wins you over through random moments of vitality and joy .", "the film did n't convince me that calvin jr. 's MOV represents some sort of beacon of hope in the middle of chicago 's south side .", "an entertaining drama about an african-american MOV owner who makes the startling discovery that true wealth comes from investing in others .", "this was a close shave , but it just did n't cut it for me .", "like car wash -lrb- 1976 -rrb- , this loosely structured comedy is less about plot than character , and its characters are carefully drawn and flawlessly played .", "frank capra meets friday", "once folks started hanging out at the MOV , they never wanted to leave . chances are you wo n't , either .", "pratfalls aside , MOV gets its greatest play from the timeless spectacle of people really talking to each other .", "manages to offer a heartening lesson about communal triumph over personal gain , while shearing away all the gloss , dreck and dry ends that normally comes with so blunt a message .", "entertains by providing good , lively company .", "this feature debut from tim story would have been much better had it proceeded on a much smaller scale , with fewer barbers and more time to develop the relationships between them .", "attempts by this ensemble film to impart a message are so heavy-handed that they instead pummel the audience .", "while there are certainly smarter slices of african-american life to be found on the screen , MOV is several fades above the average run of street burlesque and middle-class family dramedy .", "a nice way to spend a couple of hours . you 'll feel like a longtime customer .", "amid the new populist comedies that underscore the importance of family tradition and familial community , one would be hard-pressed to find a movie with a bigger , fatter heart than MOV .", "it excels because , unlike so many other hollywood movies of its ilk , it offers hope .", "by far the most mature film to come down the pike in which the name ` cube ' appears more than once in the credits .", "consistently funny , and celebratory of its chicago setting .", "like the original friday , this movie is overflowing with outrageous characters that will make you smile . just watching them interact is worth the price of admission .", "boisterous , heartfelt comedy .", "one of the most refreshing things about this movie is the way it gives free reign to the sort of freewheeling debate that actually rages in some barbershops over what are accepted orthodoxies right outside the door .", "as warm as it is wise , deftly setting off uproarious humor with an underlying seriousness that sneaks up on the viewer , providing an experience that is richer than anticipated .", "ice cube is sympathetic as the star , and cedric the entertainer tends to steal the show .", "why ca n't we all get along ? MOV says , respectfully , that we can .", "a stage-y but likable ensemble piece .", "ice cube , as usual , is an appealing presence , but the rest of the cast shines as well .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's certainly laudable that the movie deals with hot-button issues in a comedic context , but MOV is n't as funny as it should be .", "like a veteran head cutter , MOV is tuned in to its community .", "despite the fact that you can see every plot twist a mile off , director tim story keeps the script by mark brown , don d. scott and marshall todd rollicking with a jazzy spontaneity ." ], "summary": "besides bringing on the laughs , MOV displays a big heart and demonstrates the value of community .", "id": "11030" }, { "movie": "stay", "reviews": [ "more bewildering than entertaining .", "the final twist does more to unravel what 's come before than to tie it all together , making what 's come before feel like a cosmopolitan goose chase .", "pretentious claptrap .", "ultimately , it 's a whole lot of style at the service of a story that adds up to nothing more than a great big ` gotcha ! '", "you the viewer have the dubious privilege of deciphering what shreds of internal logic the story holds , an exercise that quickly loses its mystique given the sensory overload of imagery and the flatness of the characters .", "MOV is a heartless puzzle that builds no empathy for its characters , no pathos at all , as it is giving us many cryptic clues that do n't really lead to that finale . it 's an intellectual exercise , not an emotional one .", "there 's no payoff as things drag along to a ludicrous ending that reeks of contempt for its audience .", "too bad that when it comes time to finally produce a rabbit from his top hat , all forster can manage is a mouse .", "MOV has all the signs of a look-what-i-learned-in-film-school movie .", "if you do not like MOV , it will not be because of the quality of the acting or the physicality of the setting they work in . instead , it will be that you can not or will not understand what forster & company are on about in their surreal drama .", "forster 's disjointed cuts and camera angles fail to spice things up as intended . instead , he seems to be killing time until the film 's trick ending .", "some people find this twisty and twisted psychological thriller arty and pretentious . i find it arty and provocative .", "MOV is crowded with layers and symbols , probably too many for one movie , and it ultimately wears out its welcome . but its images are compelling , even as its story fades away .", "a pretty package that 's empty on the inside .", "it 's all very deep , but in a tricked-up , art-directed sort of way .", "the movie is so carefully made and well-acted , it 's never really unwatchable and gosling has been playing pallid , tremulous special-case guys so long he could do it napping .", "a richly detailed , fascinating , and insightful puzzle that should prompt many to go back for a second look", "s lot of talent gets expended in MOV . -lrb- i 'm not including whoever dressed mcgregor . -rrb- too bad the movie they made , while effective in short spurts , is almost a complete waste of time .", "you know you 're in trouble when even the film 's title remains a mystery .", "sometimes artful does n't make up for annoying .", "forster presents to us the despair of the world as a soulless , euro-trashy video installation .", "be prepared for punishment and confusion ; otherwise , MOV away .", "talented actors mcgregor , watts and gosling are wasted in a pretentious thriller that 's located in a space between reality and illusion , life and death , in other words limbo .", "it 's rare that movies are made with such devotion to detail , even if the details are more frivolous than significant .", "more of an abstract than trick , MOV is a satisfying examination .", "audience members probably fluttered their eyes in disbelief at this convoluted tale .", "there 's a lot of talent at work here from the cast to the screenwriter to the director and the visuals , but it 's all so arbitrary and cheap and the payoff is so , so lame .", "it demands you to keep thinking about it after its through with you .", "very stylish , nice to look at , but a good cast and good director , does n't always mean it 's a good movie . it does n't draw you in and make you want to MOV through the end .", "its sole purpose appears to be to confuse , to muddle and to blow our minds .", "a more appropriate title for MOV would have been go .", "films like this do n't allow you to anticipate what 's coming , deciding to instead sneak into your body and astound you with the widest range of emotions", "was the conclusion unforeseen ? definitely . did it make me think about or learn something about the human condition ? not really .", "there 's very little pay-off to this overlong and murky psychological thriller .", "MOV is interesting , but it 's hard to recommend to anyone but the small cadre of david lynch devotees who will inhale anything with a whiff of similarity to their favorite auteur 's scent .", "MOV away !", "in marc forster 's humorless thriller , going insane is an exciting , luxurious affair .", "perhaps the most challenging film released this year .", "if dreariness were high art , MOV would be a permanent fixture in the louvre .", "a far better movie than you 'd think .", "another nail in the coffin of ewan mcgregor 's career .", "this is the kind of flop that makes even the popcorn taste lousy .", "what forster 's missing is an emotional connection - identification with something primal beneath the surface disorientation .", "the intent is to rivet the viewer 's attention , but the movie is so relentless in imposing its deliberately dazzling technique that audiences are liable to be annoyed instead .", "forster should be commended for attempting something as daunting as the overreaching MOV .", "ok , all you folks who loved the bizarre `` mulholland drive '' as much as i did . you 're in for another mind-boggling , brain-teasing treat .", "foster 's payoff is so chintzy it would make even freud run away .", "-lsb- r -rsb- edeems itself so tremendously in the end that the final five minutes more than make up for any doubts you might have had along the way ...", "whether the lack of story clarity is a weakness or a virtue is an individual response , but the filmmakers do not hesitate in playing up the cinematic flourishes .", "revela-se apenas mais uma varia\u0437\u0433o de uma premissa utilizada por v\u0431rios outros filmes .", "a disaster from beginning to end . if you 're going to MOV anywhere , MOV at home .", "a psychological thriller in a category by itself .", "... there is nothing interesting about the payoff ; it seems like little more than a convenient excuse for a director to have fun , throwing a bunch of wild stuff up on the screen .", "most will likely sniff this one out for what it is , a would-be mystery thriller with pretensions to being something more that actually delivers a good deal less .", "a great big blurry mess .", "MOV , it wo n't .", "after an hour or so , despite the heroic efforts of cast and crew , torpor and impatience slither between the movie 's trapdoors .", "rod serling would have wrapped this mysterioso story about a psychiatrist and a suicidal patient dislocated by time , space and a lot of crazily raked angles into a tight half-hour episode .", "MOV means to unsettle us , and it does .", "a woozy , pretentious would-be thriller that aims to be mind-bending but instead is patience-trying .", "the visual effects , especially those used to enhance the metaphysical elements , are impressive , but the story lacks that certain something .", "gosling and mcgregor deliver beyond-the-call-of-duty performances that hold you riveted even when the story goes silly .", "though visual prodigies abound , the nightmare never gets real enough .", "a very sad story with great potential , but what 's pulsating through its veins is a double-assed twilight zone that somehow manages to tell it from the wrong point of view .", "watts is under used and wasted . more naomi = more waffles , no matter how bad the movie might be", "people who have never seen a movie using this gimmick may be impressed , but for those who have - or can see it coming - there is n't very much point .", "there are no surprises to get excited about , and forster 's stylistic choices tend to push the film into tedium", "... a striking piece of work , one that stays with the viewer long after the end credits have rolled .", "MOV is worth seeing for its powerful performances , excellent direction , and beautiful visuals .", "the movie demands that its viewers put the fragmented images and information together like an intellectual jigsaw puzzle , but it never gives those viewers a good reason to do so .", "... for a film so affectingly steeped in loss , resignation and the ghosts of memory , the revelation ... lacks emotional resonance .", "MOV away .", "ultimately empty .", "you could attempt to summarize the plot of ` MOV ' -- or could try to catch the morning fog in a butterfly net : either activity would produce the same results .", "after it 's over , the nagging feeling will hit you in the parking lot that it really does n't make any sense .", "part thriller , part mind-bending absurdity , it will definitely leave you scratching your head . but try to MOV until the end -- it might make up for the rest of it .", "works best as an intellectual cinematic essay on the veiled subject at hand -lrb- and a director-driven art film at that -rrb- , rather than as a narrative drama .", "it is neither deep nor mind-blowing . but we should n't deny the very concrete delectations it offers .", "it 's worse than bad . it 's mediocre .", "a gorgeous , textured , meaningful , multimedia shadow play ; appreciate it as deeply as you like", "forster keeps us from drifting off with inventive camerawork ; in this case , that 's like saying a hideous suit has well-stitched lapels .", "when the movie is over , and we know all that is to be known , it deserves some thought .", "the style of MOV is no different than a 15-year-old goth 'd out chick about to be sentenced to boot camp on maury povich - it 's weird for the sake of being weird .", "a metaphysical film that has no existential thoughts in its head .", "maybe he 's also sam . or an aspect of sam . or else sam is an aspect of henry . maybe henry is an aspect of lila . maybe what we think is reality is all an illusion . maybe illusion is actually reality . maybe we 're all jacked into the matrix .", "... fussily enigmatic .", "the viewer 's confidence and attention are not only undermined , but completely disregarded . you get the same feeling as charlie brown when lucy pulls the football away .", "a steaming compost heap of high-art pretense and half-cocked psychoanalysis .", "forster 's symbolism goes from clever to exasperating to , finally , sort of klutzily endearing - the work of a gifted art student who ca n't resist piling on the glitter .", "all of this leads up to a promising reveal but what we get is a great big `` huh ? ''", "it 's a puzzle that tells you not to blatantly trust what you see . it just asks you to trust the wonders of the imagination -- from whatever direction it comes .", "MOV attempts to justify the entire price of admission with its ending twist .", "left me yearning for the parking lot .", "pretty to look at , tough to follow , and , ultimately , difficult to swallow , MOV certainly is n't a bad film ... but it sure as heck is n't one you 'll be raving about anytime soon .", "the technical virtues of the film may outstrip the content , but it 's an entertaining film , nonetheless . you might want to MOV around for this one .", "a sappy melodrama touted in a supernatural angle ...", "it is both straightforward and abstract , using cinematic tricks to put the audience in sam/henry 's headspace . the result is a bit a sense of intentional vertigo that may cloud the films ultimately humanist point .", "the effect is something indescribably cinematic , as the inner mechanics of the mind 's eye are vividly translated onto the big screen . beautiful , haunting and ultimately transcendent ...", "ewan mcgregor , naomi watts and ryan gosling all lower their box office merit with this unbaked psychological thriller about a suicidal man -lrb- gosling -rrb- taunting his eccentric psychologist -lrb- mcgregor -rrb- after surviving a horrible car accident .", "ultimately the film delivers such a weak payoff that it makes nearly everything that came before it seem rather pointless .", "MOV wants to be good , creepy fun , but by the middle of the film , i was so uninterested in the plot i became obsessed with mcgregor 's pants", "so often , i have seen films like this that try to walk the fine line between creativity and confusion . director marc forster manages to walk that line with precision .", "a head-scratching thriller ...", "this one is more headache-inducing than mind-blowing .", "another exercise in alienated chic , MOV plays like an impenetrable collage . the movie 's chilly moods and eerie suggestions do n't amount to much , and all the weirdness leads to a pip-squeak of a payoff .", "MOV is a cheap trick . avoid it .", "how could anyone think that this movie is totally ridiculous ?", "MOV is all dressed up with no place to go , an eye-popping exercise in lavish style unattached to any discernible content .", "takes us down a rabbit hole and loses us there .", "whether you guess the ending early or have it smack you upside the head , the result is the same : you 'll be out the price of a ticket .", "it 's hard to imagine a film more perversely obtuse than this dark , grim exercise in cinematic sleight of hand .", "the brain power you expend making sense of it is better spent elsewhere .", "it all leads to nowhere involving or revelatory or particularly entertaining unless you are interested in forster 's hip , eccentric tastes ." ], "summary": "a muddled brain-teaser , MOV has a solid cast and innovative visuals but little beneath the surface .", "id": "8842" }, { "movie": "hero", "reviews": [ "MOV is one of the most visually poetic movies i 've ever seen .", "MOV dazzles with its visual storytelling", "the elegant precision of the ravishing images gives each scene a timeless beauty .", "unfortunately , it 's overdone . subtleties have been abandoned in much of the fight gymnastics ...", "put simply : this is one of the most stunning experiences ever .", "a feast for the eyes .", "truly beautiful , but undeniably resigned to peace through tyranny .", "a masterful tale - a tapestry of extraordinary color .", "... so stuffed with stunts , so bare on plot , you might as well call it crouching tiger , hidden story .", "yimou explores themes of honor , loyalty , love and intrigue ... he 's not afraid to sweep aside expectations and create a complex , unconventional story .", "so deliriously chockablock with high-flying , color-coordinated fight scenes that non-aficionados may find it all a bit bewildering -- a gorgeous abstraction . it sure is gorgeous , though , and it has a dream cast .", "zhang yimou may have dipped his cinematic pen in mere genre , but in doing so , he has inscribed a masterpiece .", "it 's every bit as dazzling and spectacular as crouching tiger , hidden dragon .", "instead of reinventing this genre , zhang opts to dazzle his audience with his assemblage of technical and aesthetic wonders .", "displays a rare level of artistry , thematic depth and emotional resonance .", "the amazing film is loaded with swordplay , fantastical color and cinematography , and a battle of thousands like no other you have seen .", "this is definitely a film worth seeing on a big screen with great sound . while it is a technical marvel , it does have deficiencies that will wear heavily on those raised in the west .", "MOV is elliptical , radically disjointed and female-empowering . everything a wu xia should be ... and then some .", "MOV 's thrilling mixture of the audacious and the exquisite offers the viewer a myriad of treats .", "spectacle , in dazzling display , in what 's on the menu . the special effects are -- and this statement is not made lightly -- some of the best ever committed to celluloid .", "a stunning epic of china that serves up both a visual feast and fascinating narrative .", "this film has some of the more astonishing scenes of individual combat in recent memory , even rivaling the superhero action sequences in spider-man 2 .", "a brain-teasing , eye-delighting , pulse-pumping marvel .", "zhang yimou 's film MOV is a ravishing beauty , an elegant , sinewy creature blessed with such art and grace that the visual poetry of the piece literally leaves you breathless .", "full of passionate performances , sizzling swordplay , bold and dazzling hues , and breathtaking landscapes .", "if you found crouching tiger a stunning bore , you probably wo n't fall under MOV 's spell . but the rest of us , well , we 'll be more than happy to savor every moment of its strange , ravishing beauty .", "though yimou never achieves the romance of ang lee 's dabble in martial arts , he reaches new heights of spectacle with the combat .", "a film that should entrance the eyes and move the soul of anyone capable of appreciating true filmmaking art .", "MOV is not a long movie , yet it is persuasively epic .", "breathtaking masterpiece .", "while consistently watchable , yimou 's movie is infused with a dirge-like tone ... making it a somewhat wearisome and sluggish experience", "dishes up some of the most extravagant doodling in cinema .", "this intriguing , intoxicating martial-arts epic about the unification of china during the third century b.c. is a visual masterpiece .", "... one of the best films of its kind and one of the most beautiful films ever made .", "in what may be the movie 's most spectacular set piece ... zhang pits the sword against the pen and fends off war with knowledge and non-violence .", "better experienced than discussed -- and better seen two or more times .", "zhang weaves a complex and interesting story but the ultimate strength of MOV is its poetic beauty .", "when we are not left agog by the pristine production design and costuming , we marvel at the various staged conflicts , each one bringing a new level of proficiency and polish to an already overripe genre .", "a visually stunning martial arts epic in the wuxia tradition .", "without the clarity of story , we begin to lose connection with the martial action , and it starts to seem repetitive .", "regarded as a cinematic hybrid of ballet , martial arts , acrobatics and painting , MOV is a triumph .", "yimou 's films have always showcased some of china 's finest actors , but he has struck gold with this cast .", "for those like me who lack the background to judge martial arts action , the stunning beauty of the film will be enough to captivate .", "it 's not too much to say that MOV is one of the most ravishing spectacles the movies have given us .", "that rarest of cinematic feats : a genre martial arts flick that also happens to be one of the most striking visual films i 've ever seen", "a terrific piece of work .", "the heavy drama that i did not find engaging is overcome by the wonderment of visuals -- all those deadly arrows flying lethally through the air , just thousands of them .", "a colorful visual feast with some universal themes appealing to a wide audience .", "not even ` what dreams may come ' can match this pic for pure color .", "a picture of astonishing beauty .", "MOV is a real kick -- to the head and the heart .", "the action of MOV is rousing , its drama is heartbreaking , and its final message is inspiring .", "an exemplary feat of filmmaking .", "on one level , MOV represents a return to wuxia convention ... yet there 's nothing even marginally conventional about its overpowering visual splendor .", "less about history per se than it is about its construction , its justifications , delusions , and deceptions .", "more than 90 minutes of gushy joy , of old-time movie pleasures .", "MOV glorifies a warrior who thinks equally with his head and his heart , and asks us to consider the benefits of such a balance , how rare and wonderful it is .", "as a technical achievement , MOV finds zhang at the height of his powers , effortlessly expanding into complex genre filmmaking without losing his command . but in light of his earlier work , the film continues a sharp decline in urgency .", "gorgeous martial arts movie for older kids .", "the austerity of MOV makes you realize how cluttered other action movies are .", "what makes MOV special is that it has so much more going for it than just the superb fight sequences . there are a satisfyingly complex plot , passionate romance , cool special effects and strong performances .", "as they move through the martial-arts sequences , the performers leave the impression that the laws of gravity are subject to amendment . the rules of love and war -- all 's fair -- are , MOV makes clear , immutable .", "the result is not so much a historical epic as a kind of highly determined ballet : dreamy with bloodless violence , relying less on shades of character than on magnificence of gesture .", "the result is both thrilling and thoughtful , offering imaginative action sequences as it considers questions of loyalty and the individual 's role in history .", "intoxicatingly beautiful , structurally enigmatic and decidedly brief .", "sumptuous and breath-catching , MOV blends the elegance of fine visual art with the more familiar cinematic jollies of attractive people engaged in crunching punch-ups .", "zhang yimou 's MOV is a true martial arts epic -- a spectacle of movement , color and sound that will leave you awe-struck .", "although MOV may not engage the emotions as fully as the senses , it is nonetheless a film of such breathtaking artistry that you 're willing to forgive its narrative lapses and flagging pace .", "as brilliant and ephemeral as a fireworks display .", "an epic , evocative of another epoch and of landscapes beyond time .", "... an astonishingly graceful ballet performed with swords , arrows and fists .", "visually MOV is stunning . the telling is operatic in style but becomes muddled . ... it certainly is a film that can be appreciated by wide audiences .", "a gorgeous and sweeping epic delivered with exceptional style and mesmerizing imagery .", "what 's remarkable about the fight scenes is that they are presented in a largely nonlinear fashion , emphasizing the emotional weight of the choreography .", "camerawork , colored costumes and choreography make this film a visual feast", "an idealized dream world where ancient warriors suck down massive amounts of helium before they fight and then do silly over-romanticized things like battle in their hearts .", "this is a fantastic film .", "director zhang yimou takes film art into a tapestry of kinetic movement and colour as monumental as 2001 : a space odyssey , fantasia and kurosawa 's ran .", "... rife with beautiful location scenery , incredible production design , intense cinematic beauty , and above all engagingly beautiful fight sequences .", "martial artistic . that 's the new term demanding to be coined for director zhang yimou 's astonishing period drama .", "its 96 minutes of tongue-torching , soul-scorching wonders may leave you able to utter only one word in delirious exclamation . zhang !", "everything about this movie is larger than life . it 's a dramatic epic of love and honor , death and betrayal - all in the midst of a kick - *** action movie .", "the film transforms fighting and killing into something artful , balletic and even color-coordinated , but is somewhat weighted down by a self-conscious patina of quality ...", "... less a movie than a swirly palette , one on which the paints have intermingled to create a work of art all their own .", "drawn in simple strokes but evoking a sense of awe on par with anything seen this year .", "the cinematography is more dynamic than the many fight sequences .", "the simple fact of the matter is this : MOV is the best martial arts movie i have ever seen .", "... while MOV is essentially a nonstop ninety-odd minutes of sword fighting , it is one of the most visually beautiful films ever made .", "chagall martial arts", "shot for shot , frame for frame , beat for beat , this could very well be one of the most gorgeous films ever made .", "it gives me chills just thinking about how amazing MOV is ... . i 've never felt uplifted by a movie about people fighting before .", "yimou 's work here is absorbing and fleet , and all the actors score ... but i would be more careful than most critics have been not to oversell it .", "a fanciful martial arts extravaganza with too winking a nod to hollywood westerns , hong kong actioners , music videos and the market economy invasion .", "an inconsistently entertaining film , just a small notch above average .", "portrays the myth behind the unification of china with a visually sumptuous palette and elemental grandeur .", "MOV est une r\u00e9ussite compl\u010dte qui fascine les yeux et l'esprit .", "a dazzlingly lensed , highly stylized meditation on heroism and the point at which individualism conflicts with the common good .", "every bit crouching tiger 's visual equal .", "even if MOV did n't have a suspenseful story , its coffee - table-book loveliness would hold you rapt .", "yimou plays his images like a visual symphony , and turns a potential costume pageant into an exhilarating national myth .", "one of the most sumptuously photographed movies you 'll ever see , every shot of MOV should be in a coffee-table book . good thing , because the story sorta stinks .", "a knockout .", "` MOV ' could have been a landmark film ; as is , it is nothing more than a lot of pretty pictures in the service of a storyline far too muddled for its own good", "though the film begins as cheesily entertaining mytho-historical claptrap , it quickly becomes a uniquely compelling mystery that builds suspense in both the past and present .", "MOV is a beautifully crafted movie , but unfortunately it 's also carelessly revisionist .", "a movie just good enough to keep nurturing rooting interest as you watch it .", "you can feel the movie 's sensibility and its powerful emotions in every aching image , which leaves you so caught up in these ancient times , you 're loath to return to present - day normalcy .", "strikes a mildly resonant chord .", "MOV is a visual , emotional , and poetic masterpiece .", "` po\u00e9tica y sobrecogedora , es una obra de arte que nadie que ame el cine puede dejar de ver '", "the crisp photography makes the movie what it is . the camera catches the beauty and devastation of each scene with a sharpness that rivals the greatest works in cinema history", "an assured , loving cinematic tone poem to the martial arts genre .", "each scene is a painting ; within those paintings is a ballet of movement , in the guise of wire-aided martial arts .", "MOV is filled with vibrant colors , well-choreographed fight sequences and a stylish script , all rolled into one unbelievable experience .", "the film 's art direction , fight choreography , music , acting and especially cinematography are top notch , making this a movie i would highly recommend .", "a silly and bloated fable that takes itself too seriously .", "h\u00e9roe no ser\u00eda todo lo interesante que es sino estuviera filmada de la manera como est\u00e1 filmada .", "ang lee , you got served !", "brimming with the magic-realist action that made ang lee 's somewhat similar couching tiger , hidden dragon a hit .", "an action movie for the ages .", "truly an innovative work of art .", "zhang and jet li are a match made in kung-fu heaven in MOV .", "roll over , chairman mao , and tell the comrades the news : in MOV , the history of the empire now comes wrapped in kaleidoscopic kung fu cool .", "MOV is without question the year 's most beautiful film .", "from beginning to end , MOV is a painting in motion , its fight scenes a ballet with blades .", "it 's easy to become bewitched by sheer movie grandeur .", "filled with unforgettable scenes .", "MOV is what ang lee 's crouching tiger , hidden dragon might have looked like if it had been directed by the late japanese master akira kurosawa .", "led by director zhang yimou and dazzling cinematographer christopher doyle , the unseen MOV production team has made what just might be the most artistically sophisticated , most formally beautiful martial arts film the genre has seen .", "stretching the envelope for imagery we 've never seen on the big screen before", "stands well above zhang 's lesser works while not ranking among his masterpieces , the redundancies of its plot redeemed by the spectacular poetry of its battles .", "an epic visual poem that attempts to intertwine passion with national destiny", "the film is exquisite . the costumes , the colour palate , the cinematography there is so much on the screen to just gape at in awe .", "it was like watching paintings and poetry come to life ... intermixed with sword fights .", "i would n't have missed this spectacle for the world , and neither should you -- despite an admitted quirk in my political sensibility in these contentious times that keeps me from admiring the film wholeheartedly .", "an orgy of color and movement , MOV 's balletic but virtually bloodless violence harnesses the forces of nature in a thoroughly unique way .", "the film 's exquisite beauty is nearly destroyed by the ugly totalitarian message buried underneath .", "one of the two or three most exceptional , spectacular and beautiful martial arts movies ever made .", "one of the most beautiful and involving films of the year .", "zhang yimou 's `` MOV '' is another stirring example of how beautifully rendered films with subtitles stand a chance of hitting paydirt in the multiplexes .", "the film is a stunning achievement . nearly every shot is beautiful , impossible , or both .", "demonstrates how the martial arts genre transcends action and violence and moves into poetry , ballet and philosophy .", "cries out for an easy one-word review of ` wow ! '", "... one of the most beautiful , enrapturing movies ever made ... -lsb- despite -rsb- a distasteful ideological stance .", "... une exp\u00e9rience cin\u00e9matographique compl\u010dte , qui remplit autant les yeux , la t\u0119te et le cur .", "in spite of people who want to view it as an example of a martial arts movie with depth , it 's actually best appreciated on the surface .", "as if a good story , well acted and directed , is not enough , yimou takes it a dimension further with the spectacular behind-the-camera work", "MOV reminds us all why filmmaking is called an art .", "a ravishing , seductively alien fantasy .", "zhang successfully subverts the adrenaline charge of combat to the thematic explorations of art , human emotions and history .", "the images in ` MOV ' are often so magnetic you might find yourself forgetting to read the subtitles , but then this is definitely a movie that deserves a second viewing anyhow .", "a film of images , not emotions .", "there are interesting questions about what constitutes true heroism in the aptly named MOV but it 's the aesthetic splendor and weird kineticism that you remember .", "mortal wounds are delivered and received like love letters . even the plot is a piece of poetry , intensely formal and hopelessly sentimental", "you 'll be hard pressed to find anything as visually dazzling as this in cinemas ever .", "it has gorgeous photography and some terrific fight sequences , but the story fails to engage on an emotional level .", "MOV is a picture of beauty and elegance , both of which are sorely lacking in most american filmmaking .", "introspective , subtle performances work beautifully with the film 's graceful sense of movement and the fiercely relentless fighting styles .", "what leaps off the screen in MOV are the astonishing cinematography , the superlative action sequences , and the vivid colors of a world uniting just as it busts apart .", "visually spectacular but slight on story .", "MOV is pretty . it 's bursting with color , masterfully crafted views and natural splendor .", "this movie is a pompous excuse for special effects ... , a disappointing plunge into fantasy instead of an accurate telling of a vital part of chinese history .", "stunningly stylized period actioner in which the pen really is mightier than the sword .", "the truly jaw-dropping thing about MOV is how it instantaneously turns from ` crouching tiger ii ' to ` honey i shot the dissidents . '", "few other movies this year will match this one 's ravishing visuals .", "the action is wittily aestheticized , with swordplay variously compared to music , calligraphy , and theater .", "voluptuous and amazing , this is n't a martial arts film -- it 's the apotheosis of the martial arts film . and it 's a stirring national epic , too .", "a balance of colorful visual and aural poetry , elegant plot structure , and battles marked by a swift graphic intensity and epic scope .", "MOV 's overly complex story line and emotionally remote characters may disappoint those art-house audiences who fell for crouching tiger , hidden dragon .", "this is an amazingly stylish and vivid motion picture , where images move the story forward more forcefully than the traditional methods of exposition , dialogue , and character development . if there 's a drawback , it 's that the plot is trite .", "one of the most beautiful works of cinema to be presented in american theatres in this lifetime ... it is a perfect film .", "looking for a gorgeously choreographed , stunningly unbelievable and downright amazing kung-fu film ?", "maybe the most beautifully-photographed movie i 've ever seen .", "... -lsb- not -rsb- precisely up to crouching tiger , hidden dragon 's style and completeness , but it does tell a compelling story in the most artistic means possible .", "the movie is a marvel of coordinated special effects , martial artistry , costume design and set design .", "it 's impossible to over-praise this masterpiece from chinese 's geinus zhang yimou .", "the relentless beauty becomes numbing , and the plot just barely sustains interest .", "... it offers magnificent visuals , exciting kung fu fighting and excellent performances ...", "first and foremost , this is a film that exists for its sheer visual beauty -- and in that , it 's nothing short of breathtaking .", "even if you 've never been attracted to this kind of film before , you ca n't help but be impressed by zhang 's visuals .", "the criticism does n't affect one fact : no current release can rival the visual splendor and cinematic poetry of this historical epic .", "una hermosa flor f\u00edlmica cargada de poes\u00eda , cortada con delicadeza con una espada milenaria a una rapidez vertiginosa , y que libera su aroma \u00e9pico entre flechas y tinta .", "so self-consciously beautiful that it 's distracting , but it elevates the material nevertheless .", "for a lot of people , there 's nothing better", "using china 's natural beauty as a palette , MOV boasts a dazzling array of vibrant colors and action sequences that are as graceful as they are lightning-fast", "if you miss MOV , you 're missing a peak of cinematic spectacle -- on par with 2001 : a space odyssey , apocalypse now , and the lord of the rings .", "beautiful !", "MOV is a poetic masterpiece , a film filled with grace , nobility and action .", "beautiful , strange and utterly fascinating , it 's no wonder that `` MOV '' took asian audiences by storm two years ago .", "bursting with luscious color and stunning visual effects .", "the writers seem more interested in their rashomon-style tale than they are in the people telling it . still , eye candy this ravishing should n't be sniffed at .", "a film of one memorable movie moment after another .", "your eyes may widen even as you yawn .", "one of the most beautiful films ever as far as imagery .", "a feast for the eyes and the heart .", "if martial arts movies have always seemed like musicals with full body contact , zhang yimou 's MOV is the closest the form has yet come to a full-blown vincente minnelli mgm extravaganza .", "a beguiling blend of traditional martial arts epic and operatic western a la sergio leone .", "MOV soars on the tragic lyricism and poetic passion of zhang 's vision and the heartfelt performances of his cast .", "ravishes the eye without quite touching the heart ." ], "summary": "with death-defying action sequences and epic historic sweep , MOV offers everything a martial arts fan could ask for .", "id": "10038" }, { "movie": "71_2015", "reviews": [ "you can almost feel a trickle of sweat start to form as director yann demange and his crew evoke a nightmarish world in which trust is a luxury that only the foolish can afford .", "having settled on belfast , the film-makers revel in the artificial fibres , shaggy hair , and nicotine-yellow ceilings of a particular place at a particular time .", "with o'connell 's arresting lead performance backed by a gritty supporting cast , '71 marks an impressive feature debut from director yann demange , who uses jittery hand-held cameras to give the action cinema verit\u00e9 urgency and immediacy .", "it 's beautifully shot , smartly written and packed with suspense . but top boy director yann demange and black watch writer gregory burke do slightly over-egg the plot .", "a formidable debut for tv/commercial director demange", "yann demange 's film most backgrounds the politics in favor of nervy suspense , you-are-there verisimilitude and strong characterizations .", "demange and burke jack up the tension by subverting the stranger-in-a-foreign-land aspect of the plot in ways that smartly and subtly tap into the specifics of the situation .", "the film 's more interested in the politics of war , rather than the specifics of the conflict ; the idea , to paraphrase richard dormer 's ex-army medic , that rich **** s use stupid **** s to kill poor **** s.", "1971 was one of the worst years of the troubles and many of us would be forgiven for not wishing to return to that very grim time in our recent history . however , '71 is a sensational watch , a must-see for film goers in northern ireland .", "the mix of genre contrivances and docudrama can be queasy at times . you wo n't have a moment to dwell on such faults thanks to stealthy direction by newbie demange , who keeps the action moving between scenes and standoffs that are lurid and visceral .", "gregory burke 's script makes enough order out of the chaos to bring home the point that armed conflicts are never as simple as official reports and soothing government press releases would have us believe , especially when religious rivalry is in play .", "o'connell gives a compelling performance and the film , even when the details are confusing , is never less than gripping and , in its depiction of internecine warfare , tragic .", "jack o'connell is our current saint of cinema suffering .", "everyone has a least favorite bad dream , and hook 's may be yours : the nightmare of being hopelessly lost in a place where time has stopped and hope has vanished .", "in his harrowing debut , demange transforms quaint hamlets into nightmare labyrinths and supercharges the suspense with a premise as minimal as it is electrifying-a man running for his life .", "takes the simple ` behind enemy lines ' concept and turns it into something that resonates strongly within the historical context of the political instability of the troubles", "part historical drama and part action thriller , '71 makes for gripping viewing .", "while the film benefits greatly from having such a reliable performer , it does n't live and breathe by his performance , which only speaks to the intensity of the filmmaking .", "the real breakout from this impressive thriller is director yann demange .", "the violence in '71 is sudden and devastating and immediate -- you feel it -- and although the characters are often a little light , demange navigates this 1970s urban war zone with the intensity and clarity of a born filmmaker .", "'' ' 71 '' is a well-crafted , tense film and an excellent debut for its authors .", "a perfectly paranoiac score by david holmes and downright stunning camerawork , courtesy of cinematographer tat radcliffe , enhance and embody hook 's manic flight .", "a terrific action movie that also says something painfully true about the deceit and double-dealing that poisoned peoples ' lives during the years of conflict in northern ireland .", "shot by first-time feature director yann demange on the gritty streets of sheffield and liverpool in a style that puts the viewer in the crosshairs of the action , '71 is bracing from beginning to end .", "a deeply impressive thriller where the deeds are frightening yet the momentum is bracing .", "the grainy , grimy , shadow-strewn look is right for this sort of military noir , and the women who haunt the edges of the conflict are splendid icons of both conscience and crushed humanity .", "it may not be fair to call yann demange a great filmmaker after just one feature , but that feature , ' 71 , just might be a great film .", "scenes take on a surreal nightmare quality , sometimes with no accompanying sound , as even the camera seems dazed by what it is witnessing .", "o'connell is terrific .", "this is n't a story about religious differences . it 's a thriller - gripping , almost abstract and carefully assembled by filmmakers who appear to know more about creating tension than explaining it .", "when it comes to vengeance and murderous intrigue , the belfast in '' ' 71 '' is a small world .", "a `` war is hell '' movie that wo n't give up .", "'71 lacks the easy payoffs on many war films , but it 's all the more absorbing for that .", "'71 is n't trying to impress anyone with its action violence , and that 's an incredible quality .", "the film does n't take sides , but shows how conflict stirs the pot of human emotions and how quickly things can get out of control . and it shows that in war , no one is right .", "lean , mean ... director yann demange and screenwriter gregory burke -lrb- the prominent scottish playwright of black watch -rrb- twist the knife by serving gary with constant reminders of boyish innocence corrupted ...", "people died , but it 's more than the bombs , bullets and bodies . the more fascinating damage was done to psyches and souls , and demange , with ' 71 , comes for yours .", "demange 's feature debut miraculously distills the often byzantine nature of the power politics behind the troubles in a deeply intimate chamber piece about a single day in the life of a british soldier .", "if you are in the mood for a confusing and thoroughly depressing immersion into irish history , you ca n't do better . but that would be a very odd mood to be in .", "the movie excites , but intelligently , without stoking blood lust or old testament revenge impulses .", "a riveting film about a british solder adrift in 1971 belfast , a dangerous war zone filled with zealous partisans of all types .", "o'connell is an eloquent actor who can do more with less .", "demange has crafted a thoroughly convincing picture of 1970s belfast -lrb- actually filmed in blackburn and liverpool -rrb- that could almost be a bleak newsreel from the era .", "stumbles at the last , but this is strong work from demange .", "in revisiting the troubles , what this film finds is a wasteland of shattered trust , and the only objective it comprehends is getting out alive .", "this is a taut thriller , with great control of action and pace , and an outstanding re-creation of the west belfast war zone .", "the film 's mix of hard-nosed realist drama with more heightened genre elements - action , certainly ; horror , even - means that it 's always distinctive and has you in its grip from start to finish .", "remember this name : jack o'connell . he is magnificent in one of the most remarkable portraits of soldiering in recent memory .", "you 're hooked to the very final frame .", "a brutal army thriller that feels like the truth , thanks to take-noprisoners storytelling and a tell-no-lies performance from jack o'connell , brit-grit 's heir apparent .", "o'connell continues to bring equal measures of toughness and vulnerability to his characters . despite his good looks , there 's an everyman 's quality to him , which he uses to full effect in '' ' 71 . ''", "a tense thriller from britain that so adroitly joins physical intensity , emotional authenticity and political acuity that you may find yourself forgetting to take a breath .", "... offers a powerfully immersive examination of morality and humanity inside a blue-collar war zone .", "director yann demange and screenwriter gregory burke take a thoroughly new approach to look at the early days of ireland 's troubles by casting an innocent in the garb of an invader into dangerous territory where allies may be enemies and enemies allies .", "within its limited compass , '71 packs a punch , and the lack of political bias does give it a more encompassing feel .", "'71 does n't always work , but when it does , it 's a blistering , gripping tale of a boy lost in a war gone horribly wrong .", "it 's only march , but this could be 2015 's most invigorating directorial debut .", "it 's a master class in structure , a meticulously built period piece , a powerful anti-war film , and rarest of all , a thriller whose tension and suspense feel genuinely earned .", "such is the plot 's momentum ... that we scarcely notice the jolts of implausibility .", "it 's a riveting , man-on-the-run genre movie , almost a combination of `` black hawk down '' and `` after hours , '' rather than an allegory or a historical treatise .", "a perfect historical thriller . jack o'connell is a future mega star .", "this is confident , fascinating filmmaking .", "... demange 's many , many attempts to generate tension fall completely and hopelessly flat .", "it distinguishes itself from pual greengrass 's films by virtue of its close attention to political and moral ambiguities .", "there 's a fluidity to the way one small conflict bleeds into the next , with neither the main character nor us getting much of a chance to slow down and take a breath .", "there is certainly enough about this young filmmaker to suggest a bright career beckons .", "the unconventional and multidirectional approach '71 takes in exploring a moment in history more than makes up for its mixed success as an action movie .", "do n't expect the speeches or political bombast of ` bloody sunday . ' think of the survivalism of ` the naked prey . '", "gripping , mournful , suspenseful .", "one of the early surprises of 2015 , and hopefully will expand to more theaters and the wider audience it deserves .", "succeeds as a riveting historical drama that features winning performances and first-rate direction .", "it 's a tense , introspective action movie , not the broad look at the geopolitical and on-the-ground realities that one might expect out of the sweeping title . and that 's fine", "burke is interested in people not politics , keeping the focus on the sudden outbreaks of inhumanity and humanity in the madness , expertly crafting his thriller from the swirling fog of war .", "the best moments of '71 plop us in a scary situation , alive with the uncertainty of chaos as it happens .", "it 's a stylish , intense vehicle for rising star o'connell , whose disillusionment is the emotional center of a movie that knows nobody gets out clean .", "if you 're looking for the top big screen debuts of the year , you 'll find two straight off the bat in the nail-grinding thriller , ' 71 .", "it 's a potent , visceral experience , but it does n't offer much historical context , and its depiction of the ira is fairly simplistic .", "this is a brisk , frightening movie about recent history and it 's well worth a look .", "the movie is an affirmation of o'connell 's talent and an announcement of demange 's .", "remarkably even-handed amid the hyper-violence . an anti-war film that puts you off war by making it seem nightmarish and brutal .", "the troubles have rarely been more troubling onscreen than they are in ' 71 , a vivid , shivery survival thriller that turns the red-brick residential streets of belfast into a war zone of unconscionable peril .", "a big part of -lsb- demange 's -rsb- achievement resides in the casting of such a veteran crew of character actors in the first place , but credit is due for coaxing such subtle performances .", "'' ' 71 '' is a claustrophobic experience , as gray and imposing as the film 's muted color palette .", "a tense and exciting action-drama about a young british soldier caught out of his depth on the mean streets of belfast in northern ireland in the early years of the troubles .", "few movies show the rage between the british unionists and the irish republican army as effectively as '' ' 71 . ''", "a tense , nerve-racking drama set primarily over the course of one night in belfast .", "when the action slows down just enough for dialogue that extends beyond gruff , hollered exchanges , gregory burke 's brilliantly economical screenplay does n't mince words .", "the tension this movie keeps going throughout its 99-minute runtime is nothing short of remarkable -lsb- ... -rsb- there is not an ounce of fat -lsb- present -rsb- .", "a supremely effective nail-biter , but its greatest value is a sense of you-are-there commotion , envisioning a time and place with a screen ferocity that leaves lasting marks .", "demange 's feature synthesizes the speed and dynamism of early kathryn bigelow-directed films ...", "yann demange tints the midnight alleys of belfast like an irish flag dragged through the mud : black skies , sickly green lamps , and the orange flames of torched cars .", "'71 rarely stops for breath ; the threat of sudden violence hangs over every mundane conversation , and demange expertly sustains the tension , allowing anxiety to build , briefly ebb , and then build again , over and over .", "'71 may not illuminate all that much , but it consistently electrifies .", "mr. o'connell runs away with '' ' 71 , '' in which his character 's every emotional , psychological and physical hurdle makes for kinetic cinema .", "big-screen storytelling stripped to its dramatic and visual essentials , and the result is nothing less than shattering .", "a private in the british army finds himself stranded on the streets of belfast in 1971 . demange 's film , spiked by an all-stops-out o'connell , makes politics unnervingly personal .", "visceral , vivid...pulse-pounding .", "its pitilessness is matched only by its economy", "it 's an extraordinary cinematic debut for director yann demange , whose unflinching lens quickly establishes an environment that seethes with danger and menace ...", "the villainy is , perhaps unavoidably , somewhat signposted , but this is a tense , gripping thriller that combines real-world relevance with high-concept entertainment . in a superb ensemble , o'connell is outstanding .", "'71 brings a fresh perspective and a piercing urgency to a well-worn scenario .", "yann demange 's brilliant debut feature is an honourable companion piece to carol reed 's 1947 classic , odd man out .", "'71 gives us just enough background detail and hints about the complexities of the conflict while still keeping an eye on what is essentially a ` behind enemy lines ' story .", "for all its flaws '71 offers a lapel-grabbing , immersive viewing experience likely to shake up audiences who could n't otherwise care less about the boredom-factor whys and wherefores of northern ireland 's bitterest years .", "both an intensely personal odyssey and an exploration of the impact of conflict on communities , this sharply involving thriller marks an auspicious debut for director yann demange .", "a blistering , disturbing portrayal of one british soldier 's attempt to get back to his belfast barracks after being stranded behind enemy lines during the troubles .", "an extraordinarily tense adventure story that recalls john carpenter 's escape from new york as much as paul greengrass 's bloody sunday .", "'71 hurtles along , visceral and daring .", "even if you 're a total newcomer to the subject matter , '' ' 71 '' is a first-rate thriller that i highly recommend .", "a superb debut feature from director yann demange , who expertly captures the mood of ragged violence and the naivety of british forces arriving in the midst of a deeply complex political conflict .", "never quite comes together as a compelling whole .", "exciting and very effective war thriller set during `` the troubles '' in northern ireland . more thriller than political , but very well done .", "the unconventional thriller is nearly as full of disillusionment as it is tension and suspense .", "outstanding , tense , nail-biting thriller set in the cauldron of violence and deprivation that was belfast in 1971 ... director yann demange stages some vivid sequences and knows how to escalate tension to breaking point .", "for those who know nothing of this bitter conflict , the movie is a good start .", "demange keeps the tension high throughout nearly the entire film .", "'71 is more about its dark , brooding atmosphere , its high tension and memorable images , rather than posturing as a detailed character study or a history book .", "as with most first-class war movies , '71 is undeniably anti-war ." ], "summary": "powerfully directed and acted , '71 stays true to its fact-based origins while remaining as gripping as any solidly crafted action thriller .", "id": "771374324" }, { "movie": "changing_lanes", "reviews": [ "it has all the right ingredients -lrb- but -rrb- 60 percent of the movie is spent trying to make a rich , lying , conniving , completely unprincipled manhattan lawyer seem sympathetic .", "`` MOV '' does hit a few minor potholes along the way , but it 's a pleasure to experience hollywood come off of cruise control .", "even if the ride 's a little bumpy , with a final lap that 's all too suspiciously smooth , you got ta give director roger michell , best known for the superfluous notting hill , credit for trying .", "a pretty darn good movie with two very darn good stars .", "a story and character-driven reminder of the classic paranoia cinema of arthur penn and alan pakula ; if only it ultimately displayed the courage of the same .", "a teasing drama whose relentless good-deed/bad-deed reversals are just interesting enough to make a sinner like me pray for an even more interesting , less symmetrical , less obviously cross-shaped creation .", "you 've probably had the experience of reading a book nobody likes but that turns out to be interesting to talk about . the movie , MOV , is like that .", "when so many hollywood films actively discourage higher brain functions , you have to give MOV credit for giving you food for thought .", "roger michell , who did an appealing job directing persuasion and notting hill in england , gets too artsy in his american debut .", "a film that dares to probe , intelligently , into some of those most essential , difficult american issues : race and class .", "banek is one of the more complex characters affleck has attempted , but the performance comes off flat and uninvolving .", "MOV is primarily jackson 's movie , a treatise on racial tension that is seldom black-and-white .", "definitely erratic , this thing -- all in all , it 's the sort of commercial vehicle you might want to stay well back of .", "blows a tire and careens off the road of sensibility before it reaches its final destination .", "directed with purpose and finesse by england 's roger mitchell , who handily makes the move from pleasing , relatively lightweight commercial fare such as notting hill to commercial fare with real thematic heft .", "one of those rare films that come by once in a while with flawless amounts of acting , direction , story and pace .", "as a meditation on the way sadistic impulses can destroy men , MOV sails onto the open road and away from the traffic jams .", "despite some serious script problems , the film works , which may have as much to do with the timeliness of the subject matter -- the forgotten art of common courtesy -- as the skill of the director and the efforts of a good cast .", "if it 's not conventionally speedy , it is almost always gripping .", "this is one of the best movies of the year .", "one of the best films i have ever seen , constantly pulling the rug from underneath us , seeing things from new sides , plunging deeper , getting more intense .", "the pleasure of watching affleck forcibly relieved of his security and complacency will be relished by anyone who enjoyed seeing cary grant sullying his suit in north by northwest ...", "inside the film 's conflict-powered plot there is a decent moral trying to get out , but it 's not that , it 's the tension that keeps you in your seat . affleck and jackson are good sparring partners .", "it 's a bit contrived , but this is a strongly acted two-hander ...", "dog-eat-dog urban drama has great script , direction -- and unexpectedly smart performances from affleck and jackson .", "fantastic !", "MOV is a good movie built on a dumb premise . but it 's a good movie all the same .", "how often do you go to a hollywood movie and still find yourself thinking about it on the way to work the next day ?", "while roger michell 's film does indeed take a bad detour in its home stretch , it is on the whole a brisk and absorbing morality play .", "despite its strong start with a plausible situation gone disastrously wrong , MOV lectures audiences and devolves into the corniest of melodramas -- there 's nothing subtle about it .", "when affleck starts talking in metaphors toward the end , you do n't want to change lanes -- you want to change theaters .", "MOV is an anomaly for a hollywood movie ; it 's a well-written and occasionally challenging social drama that actually has something interesting to say .", "assured performances and quality behind the camera make this more than routine .", "... passable enough for a shoot-out in the o.k. court house of life type of flick . strictly middle of the road .", "rarely have i seen a film so willing to champion the fallibility of the human heart .", "after viewing the blistering thriller MOV , there 's a whole new meaning to the phrase `` driving each other crazy '' . director roger michell pieces together a robust and energizing social drama", "director roger michell mounts this thriller as an action-packed , sometimes tongue-in-cheek celebrity death match .", "a combination of `` falling down '' and `` the game '' but without michael douglas ; is there a down side to this ?", "it 's watchable and compelling , and works on more than one level .", "the intensity of watching two men constantly teetering on the brink of total peace and utter chaos will keep you on the edge of your seat until the film 's unexpected ending .", "a thought-provoking drama that explores the ethical choices at the foundation of our social relationships .", "exceeds expectations , provoking serious thought while skillfully telling a compelling , character-driven story .", "a studio film willing to ponder such things as corporate ethics , individual responsibility and self-destructive behavior makes for a fascinating drama .", "the movie challenges traditional notions of entertainment . it lasts a little more than 1 1/2 hours but puts you through such an emotional wringer that it feels much longer .", "although dampened by intermittent preachiness and an unconvincingly pat and uplifting resolution ... MOV nevertheless taps into emotions so convincing it elevates the movie above its own shortcomings .", "a pretty good film in spite of the fact that it has a few too many coincidences for its own good and its characters make several nonsensical decisions .", "you never know where MOV is going to take you but it 's a heck of a ride . samuel l. jackson is one of the best actors there is .", "time and again , however , MOV subversively upends expectations .", "director roger michell does so many of the little things right that it 's difficult not to cuss him out severely for bungling the big stuff .", "a bleak and complex moral thriller .", "the movie goes for the throat and keeps squeezing .", "far richer than you 'd ever think possible .", "a provocative study of the human condition ... handled in a fully challenging way that never once talks down to the viewer .", "`` MOV '' asks how far we 'd go not to lose what 's ours , but it 's a morality play with hope for d\u00e9tente rather than any destructive force . gavin and doyle are two severely flawed men whose best intentions are knocked about by their worst impulses .", "emotionally violent thriller for mature teens .", "turns into a much more thought-provoking movie than you might otherwise expect", "evitando o manique\u00edsmo , o roteiro cria dois personagens complexos e amb\u00edguos ao mesmo tempo que recheia a narrativa com di\u00e1logos bem constru\u00eddos e instigantes .", "themes about corporate ethics , greed , corruption and our vulnerability in the face of determined evil have a falling down finality that is weakened by unconvincing character arcs .", "combines a knack for storytelling with a rare instinct for exploring ideas within the framework of a major , star-driven hollywood movie .", "a slickly shot , intelligent thriller , it 's buoyed up by an exceptional performance from jackson , who brings crumpled dignity and pathos to his habitual loser .", "one of the most impressive movies of the year ; taut and compelling .", "... an extraordinary film with a level of moral complexity and attention to detail that are rare today ...", "michell is willing to explore a drama that has no heroes , just broken men trying to find some hope in the darkness , some meaning in the madness .", "a refreshing and unexpected experience , rife with ideas and observation .", "for all the hubbub , the messages here are dismayingly simple-minded .", "neither gipson nor banek makes much of a poster child for the danger of civilized behavior devolving into savagery , since neither of them seems quite stable from the outset .", "in addition to gluing you to the edge of your seat , MOV is also a film of freshness , imagination and insight .", "i do n't go to the movies with the hopes of being spiralled into a depression . nevertheless , that 's what i got when i saw MOV .", "morally complex .", "too smart to pander to the instincts that would demand a hanging-by-the-fingernails climax .", "the two stars ? they 're exactly right .", "a surprisingly acid-tongued character study that has a good deal more on its mind than cheap thrills .", "with a cast like this i expected much more - like to be entertained . i was hoping that they would just kill each other so i could get in my car and go home .", "that rarest of films -- a vehicle for two big stars that is also smart , deep , and well-written .", "`` roger michell -lrb- `` notting hill '' -rrb- directs a morality thriller . ''", "sometimes god likes to put two guys in a paper bag and just let 'em rip", "the movie understands - and depicts - the self-destruction inherent in trying to make somebody else pay .", "the ending is guaranteed to aggravate any self-respecting new york driver .", "that a high-profile movie with big-name actors could inspire such philosophical reflection is impressive .", "-lrb- a -rrb- frank , adult depiction of human nature ...", "the engaging tale , solid performances and the thought-provoking questions presented in an unconventional cinematic package make this a film worth checking out .", "it is slickly made , with excellent production values , quality acting and an intelligent script .", "it pulls the rug out from under you , just when you 're ready to hate one character , or really sympathize with another character , something happens to send you off in different direction .", "one of those movies where you walk out of the theater not feeling cheated exactly , but feeling pandered to , which , in the end , might be all the more infuriating .", "like an accident on the side of the freeway , this adept and stylish pileup is hard to not look at .", "the movie 's heavy-handed screenplay navigates a fast fade into pomposity and pretentiousness .", "a compelling story featuring warring heroes who earn our respect while trying our patience .", "it is so dishonest that the title MOV can just as well refer to the cheaply contrived turns in the film .", "MOV never stops moving . but sometimes it heads in the wrong direction .", "a frustrating yet deeply watchable melodrama that makes you think it 's a tougher picture than it is .", "it is entertaining as a legal yarn of the john grisham variety , but just as generic despite grander aspirations .", "MOV will not make cinematic history . but it is brisk , sometimes enjoyable and delivers an entertaining 90 minutes .", "succeeds both as taut drama and as a thought-provoking examination of how ordinary people struggle with ethical dilemmas in their everyday lives .", "MOV is a surprise .", "illustrates how easy and tempting it is to take the path of petty revenge , and , conversely , how difficult it is to choose to do the right thing .", "there 's something to be said for a studio-produced film that never bothers to hand viewers a suitcase full of easy answers .", "a not-so-smart , swiss cheese slice of a morality tale about utterly unlikable people doing dumb and/or despicable things .", "an interesting idea , though affleck is miscast -- watchable , but it could have been a lot darker .", "` si el filme hubiera terminado 10 o 15 minutos antes , hubiera sido una dura cr\u00edtica a la amoral y desquiciante sociedad , pero solamente se queda en un buen filme , entretenido y bien actuado . '", "pese a sus peque\u0144os huecos , MOV es una grata , grat\u00edsima sorpresa", "MOV is an anomaly for a hollywood movie ; it 's a well-written and occasionally challenging social drama that actually has something interesting to say .", "the story is nothing new -- and the ending is just too trite .", "solid performances , a script which never substitutes style for substance , a well-paced unfolding to proceedings , and a simple and believable setup all combine to give the drama a more grounded realism than most hollywood thrillers of this type .", "by the time the dual dilemmas are neatly resolved in a contrived ending that clumsily invalidates its cynical view of american life , the movie just seems like one more hollywood cop-out , and a waste of our original emotional investment .", "MOV -- despite some solid acting and cinematography -- mistakenly turns what should have been a fast-paced thriller into a cerebral sermon about the slippery slope of corporate law .", "brimming with ethical dilemmas , `` MOV '' sometimes errs on the side of convenience , the same vice it vehemently condemns .", "MOV explores human behavior with unsentimentalized and uncommon directness and honesty .", "it is plainly less interested in particular characters -lrb- their trajectories are pretty corny , in the end -rrb- than the abstract concepts they embody .", "helps us see that `` the place of the squeeze '' -lrb- as buddhist pema chodron calls situations involving obstacles -rrb- is a reset button that can propel us to transformation .", "the story loses its bite in a last-minute happy ending that 's even less plausible than the rest of the picture . much of the way , though , this is a refreshingly novel ride .", "good , solid entertainment for adults who like to have something to chew on while enjoying their bubble-gum .", "a seething , searing tragedy of unmannerliness .", "an inventive , absorbing movie that 's as hard to classify as it is hard to resist .", "movies like this make an audience feel numb after being put through so much in a short amount of time . it 's unbelievable and relentless .", "it winds up as one of the most cogent and moving films i 've seen in recent years on the precariousness of human relations .", "a thrilling ride but also a thoughtful one , it 's a movie that does manage to do more good than bad by the end of the day .", "viscerally engaging as you cringe at their actions & reel in surprise at the result & the new information ... a nice little movie that also redeemed both actors a great deal .", "had the conclusion been bitter , the message would have been the same -- and maybe even more powerful , because the audience would have gotten the message on its own .", "i took an early exit on the movie , but the acting was outstanding .", "it sticks with its characters and does n't exploit them in order to orchestrate some grandiose revenge scenario befitting a c-grade thriller .", "shamelessly preachy , but so slickly made that it works despite itself .", "coincidence piles on top of coincidence in such rapid succession that the film becomes exasperatingly funny . the whole movie % u2013 with very little alteration % u2013 could , in fact , be played for comedy .", "at its most powerful ... when it shows us the complexities of moral decision making in a fast-paced world that leaves little time for such choices", "the director pulls it off but is constantly right on the ragged edge of losing his audience .", "a provocative and engaging morality tale of the sort we 're not accustomed to seeing at the local multiplex .", "a thought-provoking , sophisticated drama that explores the motivations behind our split second decision-making and the consequences that result .", "an indicting , cynical trip into how crappy our world actually is .", "despite slick production values and director roger michell 's tick-tock pacing , the final effect is like having two guys yelling in your face for two hours .", "a decent movie with some great talent behind it , but it just was n't my cup of tea .", "a rare example of studio filmmaking evocatively concerned with the nature of morality .", "an ethical thriller about two men whose biggest enemy is not each other , but their unwillingness to take responsibility for their own actions .", "good theme , good sound effects , slightly above average film that stumbles on the opportunity to be something very fine .", "a whip-smart thriller that begs comparison to the gritty mood pieces of the 1970s .", "a good lane to change into .", "a fresh , thought-provoking and challenging film .", "thanks to a tight screenplay by chap taylor and michael tolkin and the unflagging pace set by director roger michell , MOV does n't feel overburdened by all its drama .", "at its best , watching MOV is like watching controlled madness .", "finally , a thinking person 's thriller .", "the story begged for a darker , more biting resolution , but that might have been deemed too bleak for a movie that is almost entirely bile .", "where MOV comes up short is the writing . a trio of scenarists are credited , and they ca n't pin down a tone or focus or moral for the story , even as they gamely steer it away from the predictable .", "engaging , in a coldly intellectually fashion , but depressing sociologically , emotionally .", "the central and supporting performances are what make changing lines so compelling .", "an exceptionally interesting film experience ." ], "summary": "though some may find its conclusion unsatisfying , MOV is a tense , well-crafted exploration of meaty ethical dilemmas .", "id": "13986" }, { "movie": "magic_mike", "reviews": [ "a smoothly distilled collaboration that balances mr. tatum 's heat and charm - and ambitions that are as transparent as mike 's - with mr. soderbergh 's cool , cinematic intelligence and ongoing preoccupations .", "though tatum 's moves will put butts in the seats , it 's his blues that brings a surprisingly dramatic twist to all that sweaty flesh .", "riddled with show-biz clich\u00e9s , stick-figure studs and re-heated ideas , MOV thrusts its junk in your face despite having a very empty g-string .", "a weirdly guilty pleasure .", "if filmmaker soderbergh had paid as much attention to relationship dynamics as he does to dance number mechanics , this film would have gotten closer to living up to the magic in its name .", "half wish-fulfillment fantasy , half after-school special , MOV is in many ways an unserious movie -- but like many of soderbergh 's slicker entertainments , it 's not without its moments of substance .", "i really enjoyed the movie . solid cast , great performance by tanning and soderbergh 's style makes you feel at ease when you should n't . if you have a problem watching a movie about male strippers , pretend they 're comedians , pretend they 're magicians .", "MOV is sure to be one of the guilty pleasures of the summer . to paraphrase the old dorothy arzner movie : dance , boys , dance .", "the film 's portrait of self-delusion and gradual awakening makes for compelling viewing , even if it 's eventually somewhat undercut by a pop-romance ending that seems undeservedly tidy .", "it 's a lighthearted girls ' night out movie and a funhouse mirror turned on american sexual attitudes and economic anxieties .", "see it with someone you might feel like dry humping later .", "go in search of hen-party diversions and you will be disappointed . venture out in search of blotched , stylish pseudo-realism and you should be modestly satisfied .", "the film is n't especially original and takes few real risks .", "director steven soderbergh makes sure his movie about male strippers is packed with pecs . but there 's plenty more beneath its well-oiled surface .", "the boy can move , and , in news that will be only barely significant to much of the audience , can act pretty well too .", "on the scale of chick flicks , MOV is probably a 10 , combining large quantities of male stripping action in a nightclub setting and a soppy romantic tale", "plenty of entertainment value and some titillation especially for female audiences , even if it does not quite provide the orgasmic hit we crave", "dropping dollar bills on a bank loan officer 's desk is more humiliating than tucking them into a dancer 's g-string in this wily crowd-pleaser ...", "gah , bare flesh pecs on screen drool cup need quick !!", "tatum elevates to star level with this performance . he gives his all -lrb- and his clothes -rrb- to the energetic stripper routines , but he adds a surprising emotional punch to the drama .", "certainly delivers on its promise to titillate but does n't offer anything much different than the 1981 tv movie for ladies only -- audiences apparently still craving the same old song and lapdance .", "steven soderbergh follows the by the numbers haywire with a flashily choreographed but ultimately , emotionally flat look at the world of male strippers .", "i could barely hear the dialogue for the screams of the women . i think they were women .", "once you get past the idea that `` MOV '' is not the breezy , bawdy comedy of its marketing campaign , there 's lots to like .", "the dramatic cop-out , like the incomplete finish of a strip-tease , is a little disappointing ... but the movie has its compensations .", "if you 're looking for a romance with 100 percent prime beefcake ? get your singles out and ready , ladies . `` MOV '' is in the house .", "soderbergh 's film clears a new space for the playing out of human dreams and desires .", "soderbergh and tatum concurrently knock us out with some highly impressive moves both behind and in front of the camera .", "the unease builds imperceptibly , until what seemed ecstatic and liberating early in the film becomes profoundly disquieting . the precision with which soderbergh executes this shift is astounding .", "-lrb- tatum -rrb- builds on the comedic goodwill he earned with this year 's `` 21 jump street '' and also proves himself one hell of a dancer .", "i 'm just surprised the film was n't shot and presented in 3d to take full advantage of all those oiled-up six pack abs and bare bottoms . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "channing tatum impresses by taking the stage flipping and gyrating for the screaming women in the audience . chicks will love it !", "horrible . no story , overt homoeroticism , and the death-knell for mcconaughey . is this the same director who did the fabulous haywire ?", "soderbergh 's direction - he 's also the cinematographer - is largely loose-limbed , the film enlivened with bravura moments , including a decidedly spacey , eye-twisting orgy scene near the end .", "unlike showgirls , the men are in on the joke , making all the village people-inspired numbers hella fun .", "some wildly entertaining dancing -lrb- and stripping -rrb- underscores several impressive performances .", "steven soderbergh has made a movie that works as both intimate character study and party film .", "MOV takes a familiar story and transforms it into something modern , unique and beautiful to look at -lrb- and i 'm not just talking beefcakes , here -rrb- .", "engaging and sensitive", "once you get past the thongs , the uniforms , and the sleek choreographed stripping dance routines -- admittedly , the main attraction of MOV for most audiences -- it 's just another day at the office for steven soderbergh", "the sexy mischief and the darkness and the earnest character beats all fit together in one terrifically entertaining , perfectly pitched success .", "raucous , funny and disgracefully entertaining .", "musings on the nature of capitalism wrapped in a very pretty package ... MOV is a film for adventurous audiences of all persuasions .", "the few moments wherein MOV calls american institutions into question are undercut and overshadowed by the film 's dated insistence on the dream of legitimacy .", "if MOV does n't quite attain the hedonistic stature of twin cautionary tales boogie nights and the campy showgirls , it ca n't be faulted for wanting to satisfy on a deeper level .", "come for the stripping , stay for the high-caliber filmmaking .", "shoulda been big fun , but a deadly combination of no script and a strange lack of sexiness renders this male-stripper tale an aimless , although very commercially calculated , bore .", "i never imagined that i would see the full monty re-envisioned by the oscar winning director of erin brokovich and traffic . but yup , here you have it : steven soderberg has created his stripping opus .", "MOV is far from perfect , but that 's the fun . whether you think soderbergh is winking at the audience or the movie is `` so bad it 's good , '' MOV is one heck of a good time at the movies .", "soderbergh 's most enjoyable film in a decade offers the same kind of raunchy and visual pleasures we derived from iconic tales like saturday night fever and boogie nights , which also depict distinctive subcultures .", "-lsb- tatum is -rsb- just mesmerizing : confident , creative , acrobatic and , above all , seductive . ` cause that 's the whole point .", "MOV features great performances from tatum and mcconaughey ; it 's well guided by the assured directorial eye of soderbergh but the slavishly conventional resolution made me keep the larger bills in my pocket .", "MOV works with a boogie nights-esque structure , showcasing a glowing cash-strewn catwalk empire before eventually urinating all over it .", "target missed , opportunity lost .", "you go to see seven spectacularly formed male bodies but the movie turns out to be all sculpted , too . soderbergh 's best film since erin brockovich", "after its overly drawn out introduction -lrb- featuring far too much stripping -rrb- , the movie rushes in its final stages .", "... the meandering atmosphere -lsb- is -rsb- eventually -lrb- and perhaps inevitably -rrb- exacerbated by a reliance on eye-rollingly hackneyed elements and plot developments .", "the crotch fireworks from the dance sequences are huge but once they settle the plot is as thin as a piece of material going up a male exotic dancer 's backside .", "MOV is n't going for heart like the fully monty ; it 's going for titillation , with a small side of post-gfc commentary if you care to look .", "MOV is solid if slight , with some good laughs , interesting characters and career-best turns from tatum and mcconaughey .", "thankfully , there 's enough of a decent story shoe-horned in between all the gyrations and abdominal close-ups to keep MOV from turning into an unofficial update of the full monty .", "come for the half-naked hunky guys , stay for the expertly crafted story and gorgeous direction . no , i said `` direction '' , now get your mind out of the gutter .", "it 's medium-strength soderbergh , which is better than the full-strength stuff most filmmakers can manage but not exactly the brand that keeps you coming back for more .", "tatum , soderbergh and team appreciate the real reason audiences showed up , and the film provides just enough character and plot to validate the plentiful pecs and abundant buns that serve as its main attraction .", "soderbergh gives the film a distinctive look and an almost verit\u00e9 feel that produces some effective sequences over the story 's early stages .", "reigning men on a physical , philosophical and psychological level , steven soderbergh 's MOV also completes the transformation of channing tatum from mumbling toy-boy to thinking man 's beefcake .", "as mike , tatum is a pillar of integrity , a hard-working stud with his eyes on the end game .", "MOV is just fun , and it 's fun because it 's good .", "i was gunning for showgirls only as show boys . instead director steven soderbergh did something normal and classy , which are two words i associate with his other films and did not want to describe this film .", "soderbergh lets scenes develop in a raw , natural way that makes the stripping scenes hilariously entertaining to watch", "it 's `` showgirls '' for girls , but with its camp knob tuned to a much more tolerable and skilled frequency ... it 's pretty awesome", "it 's good to have another soderbergh movie , and one that 's completely different from anything he 's done before . but beneath the magic , `` mike '' is ultimately meh .", "a vanilla panorama of beefcake for rent", "a breezy , slyly noncholant romp through the world of male strip revue . the bold men of mike leave it on the floor ... and by `` it '' i mean `` your panties '' .", "... the director , the unpredictable steven soderbergh , gives the clich\u00e9s a surface gloss of credibility .", "what works in the movie are its cast , locale , and unique milieu . we 're shown the behind-the-scenes workings ... the same way we become privy to the workings of wrestling in the wrestler , although it 's obviously much , much more fun being a stripper .", "mcconaughey goes for broke , rolling and writhing on the stage while women grab at him and throw cash . i would 've handed over my credit card .", "MOV has a conventional structure , yet a teasing question percolates beneath : if selling yourself is as much fun as this movie makes it look , what could be wrong with it ?", "soderbergh pulls out every trick in the book to make magic mean something beyond its parade of shaved backs and tanned buttocks , but it 's a lost cause , endeavoring to bring meaning to material best appreciated for its surface appeal .", "despite all these old chestnuts , soderbergh turns in a fresh film . he 's less interested in hitting the plot points as he is exploring the spaces between .", "works half a movie . the other half has too much mike and not close to enough magic .", "a fun , ribald time that 's also a a nuanced take on a man who is all-too aware of what his life is missing .", "the dance numbers , choreographed by allison faulk , are inventive and athletic , but not really erotic ; soderbergh never lets you forget that , for these men , dancing is above all a job .", "strippers r us : channing tatum brings everyman charm to steven soderbergh 's MOV .", "director steven soderbergh uses every trick in the book to keep the movie visually interesting ; the editing is particularly dynamic . but it 's difficult to care about these characters .", "i expected more from director steven soderbergh . surely the world of male erotic dancing has darker sides to explore , but then , why ruin a good strip tease ?", "eventually , ` MOV ' just peters out .", "unexpectedly revealing . a funny and often sad portrait of temporary living , featuring some of its cast members ' best work .", "impressively directed and superbly edited , this is a hugely entertaining drama with a strong script and terrific performances from channing tatum and matthew mcconaughey ...", "by way of remarkable sleight-of-hand , steven soderbergh 's MOV both is and is not the freewheeling , fun-loving , male stripper extravaganza its trailers peddle .", "this update on the sordid world of male strippers does n't offer much in the way of an earth-shattering revelation , but it sure does provide some very enticing eye candy for the ladies .", "soderbergh wisely directs the film in the same vein as some of the great dark dramas from the 70 's , like saturday night fever and -lrb- especially -rrb- the gambler .", "cheerful stripper comedy is too sexy , mature for kids .", "strange as it may sound , MOV 's male stripper money shots are less a celebration of tatum and company 's impressive pecs and abs and more the jaded reflections of an artist who 's lost faith in his career choices .", "too long and dramatically flaccid . it 's well-shot and initially compelling , but ultimately suffers from style over substance .", "soderbergh titillates the demographic , and does little else", "tatum nails his role .", "tatum , whose talents have been the subject of debate , also makes mike genuinely affecting , not to mention articulate within the bounds of a sketchy script .", "what soderbergh and producer/star tatum are shooting for here is a portrait of a subculture , and that portrait crackles with energy .", "it 's one of the year 's best surprises , and so is its frequently underrated star .", "steven soderbergh 's breezy dramedy serves up something for every taste .", "if mcconaughey got any better at playing himself he might cause some sort of paradox .", "arguably the raunchiest , funniest and most enjoyably nonjudgmental american movie about selling sex since boogie nights , its obvious if considerably darker precursor .", "for those who want to surrender to a good time , let these well-drawn fellas and soderbergh 's attention to detail entertain you .", "-lsb- it feels -rsb- curiously rudderless , its off-stage journey pale and enervated in contrast with the cheesy , ebullient dance numbers it makes room for .", "soderbergh has created a spicy yet lucid , surgingly high-energy yet smartly modernistic musical .", "the best movie about dudes disrobing since brokeback mountain .", "soderbergh 's talent can not elevate this woefully shallow drama about the rise and fall of a pair of male strippers , which serves merely as eye candy for a select audience that only goes skin deep .", "the eye candy is worth every penny of your ticket price .", "the promised goods are delivered within reason ... and tatum and mcconaughey provide enough sexy charm for the ladies and self-satirical charm for the guys that most viewers should be entertained .", "a late turn for would-be weightiness is as unconvincing as it is abrupt .", "shows some life onstage , but off is dull soap opera .", "a good script , sure direction , and a star turn by tatum may not be enough to make it ` the citizen kane of stripper movies ' but you do get is n't half bad .", "purest corn , `` MOV '' nonetheless has a human pulse and a sense of humor to go along with its willingness to entertain .", "MOV looks great , and soderbergh 's offhand approach to composition cuts through some of the clich\u00e9s .", "... they 've got something really charming and smart here , and it deserves to be one of soderbergh 's biggest hits in years .", "`` MOV '' starts as fun and grows steadily darker ; soderbergh and cast tell a realistic , vivid story .", "soderbergh walks the line and comes up with a film that is surprisingly fun and entertaining . `` MOV '' is the kind of chick flick that morphs well into a date flick .", "soderbergh colors freely in the margins and delivers a movie that 's a little darker and a little deeper than all the glittery thongs would suggest .", "for a movie about guys taking their clothes off , MOV is rather tame , and rather dull . magic it certainly ai n't .", "i think `` MOV '' is a fascinating film , one of -lsb- soderbergh 's -rsb- best in recent years .", "does a better job of mixing chippendales-style guilty pleasures with reality-based cautionary tales than you might expect .", "it 's hard to think of a movie in which steven soderbergh has loved his characters as much as he does in `` MOV . '' the affection is contagious .", "what 's probably most impressive about the work steven soderbergh does , directing from reid carolin 's script , is that it 's got the glitz and the heavy character study , without sacrificing either .", "despite the tawdry strip scenes , soderbergh has actually returned to his roots when he rocked the independent film scene with sex , lies and videotape .", "channing tatum makes great eye candy for the ladies but the plot of the movie is a downer .", "a traditional love story , combined with raunchy male stripping routines , makes for a strange combination , but it works .", "while -lrb- director soderbergh -rrb- does fine work with what he 's given , it ultimately amounts to little of substance . you may be able to pad a stripper 's pouch but not this film 's barely mediocre script .", "it 's not a major soderbergh project , on paper , but it transcends every possible expectation , and his wrangling of the cast is so impressive that just about everyone comes out smelling of roses . well , roses and baby oil .", "for all the titillation the stripping scenes may have for the film 's core audience , MOV also has a well-told story worth telling .", "less of a saturday night fever and more of a friday evening shrug .", "this is terrific entertainment with a sideline in wry melancholia and testosterone-fuelled philosophy .", "like any good strip tease , the film has a way of clouding your judgment . though it may not have you throwing dollar bills at the screen , it is likely to leave a smile on your face .", "MOV is an allegory and its appeal lies in part in its message . you do n't have to be a stripper to recognize what the filmmakers are saying .", "a perfectly solid film but you do n't walk away feeling like you 've gotten the entire story about what it 's like to be in this world .", "steven soderbergh 's funny , exhilarating , down-and-dirty celebration of a different breed of costumed superstud ...", "to say this is a movie about male strippers is to say boogie nights is a movie about porn . steven soderberg has delivered a mostly thoughtful , funny , beautifully edited story .", "`` MOV '' has much in common with previous soderbergh efforts in that it glides along at a terrifically entertaining pace .", "the closest thing to a crowdpleaser that -lsb- soderbergh -rsb- has put his name to in a great many years .", "a raunchy r-rated beefcake feast", "i know , you do n't just want to make the male stripping movie , but if you fill your story with banal clich\u00e9s , you might as well just make the stripping movie .", "i would n't say `` MOV '' has gravitas , but soderbergh gives it enough grit to keep it from turning into `` showgirls . ''", "` MOV ' might be an exploitation picture , sure , but in the way ` two-lane blacktop ' delights car enthusiasts or ` fat city ' is for boxing fans .", "there 's a lot more than banana hammocks and vigorous thrusting ...", "a magnificent hybrid of clever and comical that very few directors could pull off .", "MOV is raucous , often ludicrously indecent and quite likely to send home women home thinking they 've just had the cheapest hen night out in history .", "it finds its charm not so much in originality as in sly dialogue ; cinematography as slinky and energetic as its dance routines ; and two very effective lead turns .", "it represents a triumph of hollywood marketing , which has successfully presented it as the ultimate girls ' - night-out flick . but is it a triumph for the director ?", "boogie -lrb- nights -rrb- wonderland .", "tatum easily holds the screen whether 's he 's showing off those old hip hop moves or flustering female customers and loan officers . he 's a hustler with a heart .", "the cast are terrific . mcconaughey 's a law unto himself as the semi-crazed ringmaster and he gets his own show-stopping moment on stage .", "a mess of soderberghian devices so dense that it must surely be considered his definitive work .", "... meanders on and on and on with no place to go , or even pass through , interspersed with enough male pelvic thrusts to last several lifetimes .", "fans of beefcake wo n't be disappointed - but for everyone else , it 's expertly staged and absolutely hilarious", "soderbergh 's creative shot composition and off-kilter pacing elevate some of the story 's prosaic elements , but he does n't take enough narrative or stylistic chances .", "`` MOV '' is so much better than it needs to be that it 's sick .", "you can almost see director steven soderbergh at odds with himself , torn between making a mainstream film or a gritty indie , and ultimately doing neither .", "an entertaining workplace comedy with a dark -lrb- and well-oiled -rrb- underbelly and some predictable romance to leaven the raunch and swagger .", "even when MOV is skimpier than a g-string it soars on daring , as if soderbergh asked himself who could possibly make a good movie from such offbeat material , answered `` i can , '' and did .", "those were n't magic wands that those guys were holding , though many of the women at the screening i attended seemed inclined to disagree .", "if the final act of MOV does become more of a straightforward morality tale , it 's not without having established the particulars of the characters ' motives .", "what takes this out of the category of fluff is the way the story is unaffectedly located in the reality of the economic struggles of the area and our time .", "softer than expected but more involving than some may be anticipating , `` MOV '' squeaks by on its own low-key , sneakily perceptive accord .", "females rejoice ! your avengers is here !", "at the very least , it is exceptional and one of the best and most original pictures to come along in 2012 .", "what sets `` MOV '' apart is that the hotness is equaled - occasionally even surpassed - by the humor .", "this movie is so cheesy and beefy they ought to sell it at taco bell .", "a compelling character study not to be missed , if only to witness the gutsy , career performance delivered by the ever-improving channing tatum .", "if you 're expecting any frontal nudity , you 'd be disappointed . although there is a quick shocking moment of a fluffing device , it 's not like the frontal nudity in the last of the `` american pie '' movies , or other r-rated movies . it does n't go that far .", "... a near-miss , with a few good performances and enough power to hold your interest for a while before finally running out of steam .", "when the lights are up , you 've got both tatum and mcconaughey burning up the screen and an engaging love story that is well crafted thanks to a very talented director .", "it 's a well-handled , engaging , lightweight picture .", "like all soderbergh 's best films , from sex , lies , and videotape onwards , MOV is a kind of interactive text .", "director steven soderbergh lays bare this tragically empty existence populated by lost souls . and a lot of toned male torsos .", "when you realise how anodyne and banal the plot is becoming , it 's a disappointment - but the plot is hardly the point .", "but after a raunchy ad campaign will director steven soderbergh 's strip show prove to be an entertaining expose or a disappointing cover-up ?", "while watching `` MOV , '' which plunges into the false glamour of male strippers , you search in vain for a reason why you 're there .", "easily the best film ever made about male strippers .", "steven soderbergh 's guilty-pleasure for sexually frustrated housewives fails to accomplish its modest thematic aspirations .", "sexy fun", "it 's a good behind-the-scenes film that becomes a little ordinary in the end . loved matthew mcconaughey , though i 'm not convinced he knew the cameras were rolling .", "the first part of the film is raunchy fun , but MOV slowly degenerates into a simplistic cautionary fable .", "it 's guilty of some sleight-of-hand hokum , but in pulling the rug from under the norm , `` MOV '' turns a trick .", "... most interesting for channing tatum 's performance and the way director steven soderbergh emphasizes an overall air of economic desperation .", "while the ads are selling it as a romp -lrb- and crowds include girls ' night out groups -rrb- , the movie turns in some grim but too obvious directions .", "it 's as if soderbergh expects the film to mostly resolve itself , rounded out by the asses-in-the-seats appeal of the material , rote thematic underpinning , and ample charms of the cast .", "this is destined to be either embraced as `` real '' and `` authentic '' or condemned as lacking a certain erotic quality , especially in the man meat department .", "a movie in which the most nuanced performance is given by a body part has real problems .", "soderbergh brings a surprisingly light touch to a movie that boasts heart and affection for its characters .", "MOV may carry a big shtick , but it speaks softly in unexpected ways .", "soderbergh , tatum and mcconaughey strip this world of glitter and body oils . they let us know that for all the supposed fringe benefits , these guys work hard for the money ...", "it 's a nicely balanced blend of comedy , drama and athletic dancing that plies its trade with winking , unforced self-assurance ." ], "summary": "MOV 's sensitive direction , smart screenplay , and strong performances allow audiences to have their beefcake and eat it too .", "id": "771242005" }, { "movie": "1153341-breakfast_on_pluto", "reviews": [ "the writing , direction , music , and acting are all fantastic , but the film ends up being a little long and centers around a main character that 's a little hard to embrace .", "a technicolor 'd bird , flashed at the ridiculous capriciousness of life and sartre 's other people .", "depressingly predictable", "jordan and mccabe 's real triumph here , however , is the tenderness with which they imbues ` kitten , ' and the astonishing grace with which the extraordinary murphy pulls it off .", "as meals go , this breakfast is filling . in every way , jordan 's return to action is a triumph .", "the twittering main character quickly wears out his welcome .", "in -lsb- jordan 's -rsb- new film , MOV , he 's trying for a much more elaborate version of -lsb- the crying game -rsb- .", "the cast , camerawork and soundtrack are outta this world , but pluto 's orbit is too erratic to make this offbeat odyssey worth the journey .", "beneath the film 's monotony , one senses a whiff of cop-out , of playing it safe : patrick , for all his tender yearnings , shows no lust , no messy ego . he 's a saddened saint in pouffy shirts , and jordan turns his crying game into one big , long whine .", "the movie 's drastic shifts in tone sabotage any attempt at sustained emotional engagement .", "perhaps too audacious for some and too coy for others , MOV is one of those mercurial movies where you really have no idea where it 'll take you next . like its star , it 's smart , mischievous and fearless .", "-lsb- jordan -rsb- successfully grafts two irish literary modes , snappy social satire and gloomy dirge .", "MOV may seem a fairy tale at times -lrb- no pun intended -rrb- , but this kitten has claws .", "there 's a thin line between innocence and willful ignorance . MOV stomps all over it .", "MOV has its tongue lodged so firmly in its cheek that it nearly chokes on it .", "like kitten and everything else about MOV , it 's altogether too overstated and obvious , but at least it does n't pretend to have any significance whatsoever .", "whimsical to a fault .", "MOV , like its cross-dressing heroine , is appealing yet irritating , fun company at times but just as often a bore , occasionally quite touching yet frequently fey and self-indulgent .", "the result is immensely enjoyable from start to finish .", "too shy to reveal anything meaningful .", "while there are moments that are quite amusing , by the end of the movie you 're apt to be wondering why this was a story that needed to be told .", "... a colorful , poppy paean to a bitter time through the eyes of an incurable innocent .", "there 's so much good stuff in here you 'll wish it all fit together somehow .", "a charming , winsome slice of seventies pop kitsch .", "the movie tries to be upbeat and find humorous ways to look at some very serious subject matter , but the fairy tale quality gets literally blown away .", "the whimsy is so forced , a half-dozen mitzi gaynor references occur during the first 15 minutes .", "-lsb- t -rsb- his is one of those crying-on-the-inside comedies , and cillian murphy 's sublime performance as patrick is as touching as it is funny ...", "it does one of the best things a movie can do : it makes you feel good .", "if anyone 's qualified to make a movie about a transvestite who gets mixed up with the ira , it 's neil jordan .", "the film is downright aggravating .", "the film does not shy away from the chaos or the madness available , but you could see a love letter to ireland in kitten 's indomitable spirit . it 's a letter you 'll enjoy reading .", "-lsb- jordan -rsb- adds yet another uniquely beautiful soul to the list of otherwordly beings he has summoned to life .", "it 's a film in and of its own world , sparked by a wicked performance full of wide-eyed wonder .", "a cunningly crafted fairytale ...", "thanks to a feathery script and murphy 's sentimental , love-me performance , the bustling conceits of breakfast turn into a load of burnt toast , sprinkled with glitter and sugar .", "-lsb- a -rsb- playful , meandering , dreamily comic and yearning story about irish transvestite patrick ` kitten ' braden .", "the overall film lacks a sense of urgency , as if patrick had all the time in the world to get where he 's going .", "pure blarney , but it 's well-meaning blarney , told by a master cinematic storyteller and boasting an eye-catching lead performance .", "ultimately , the film 's detachment is its inspired idea and its inherent problem .", "enchanting and hopeful .", "held together by a brilliant fiber of obscure pop songs from the era , MOV may be jordan 's most agreeable mixture of wisdom and whimsy .", "... ambitious and endlessly intriguing ...", "it 's a champagne cocktail of a film , with a giddy performance by cillian murphy carbonating it from within .", "... despite the movie 's bouncy ebullience -lrb- courtesy of a terrific period soundtrack -rrb- and dashes of fantasy , the film quickly becomes an endurance test .", "if you 're in the mood for an edgy , raucous , music-driven gender-bender , rent hedwig and the angry inch instead .", "jordan is the kind of director you follow out of trust , even when his movies are n't perfect .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he performance by cillian murphy ... is terrific .", "like cillian murphy in high heels , MOV totters along with unnerving hesitancy .", "cillian murphy makes an uncomfortably beautiful woman in this rambling tale that never congeals .", "MOV ambles along nicely , but feels as if it 's never going to end .", "MOV is definitely one of the most unusual , compelling films i have seen in quite some time .", "it may not have the epic scope and complexity of forrest gump , but MOV a small gem .", "moderately entertaining fare .", "roaring with real life , MOV belongs in that treasured subgenre , the gender bending memoir ... cillian murphy gives a career high performance as kitten , so silky , so tough , so completely real that it haunts us .", "this is a long film that audiences will either love or dismiss .", "another cross-dressing flick from jordan , but this time with a wry sense of humour and whimsy , coupled with a fine soundtrack of uk bubblegum 70s tunes .", "murphy 's turn as the irrepressible kitten is simply mesmerising - outrageous , tender and full of the sort of deep pain that no amount of make-up can conceal .", "`` kitten '' is one of the most admirable characters ever depicted on-screen .", "celebratory subversion", "rambling romance about a man truely in love with himself . cilian murphy has great talent , but not in this loser directed by neil jordan . my advice to murphy ... speak up and stop mumbling .", "murphy has played two deliciously perverse villains this year , and it 's a measure of how amazing he is as kitten that i never once thought of those earlier antagonists .", "this is not for everyone , jordan 's stuff never is , but if you 're into good acting it 's worth a look .", "it 's as coy and callow as you 'd expect from a movie with a lead character nicknamed kitten .", "so horribly misconceived and shoddily structured that its good intentions are worn out in the first twenty minutes", "kitten -lsb- murphy -rsb- is like the bouncing ball following a singalong ... without adding any interpretation of her own .", "an honrobale failure , MOV is a tweener , neither epic nor intimate enough , neither campy nor earnest . though dense in ideas and images , the film is too sprawling , lacking a discernible pov .", "the problem is that the coy kitten never really develops as a character and , as the film unfolds , your interest in him wanes .", "the very characteristics that keep him alive and kicking are the ones that keep you at arm 's length . no surprise , then , that even the satisfying and semi-satisfying conclusions to various narrative threads do n't quite satisfy .", "pluto 's story is scattershot , though it occasionally resonates .", "i could n't help but feel that i 've already seen this character , and always portrayed in this similar manner -- fey , fanciful , indefatigable .", "effortlessly nailing coquettish mannerisms and employing a hilarious come-hither vocal quality , murphy is magnetizing , fascinating , and eminently likeable .", "if an eventful life journey does n't produce maturity or just simple insight , it does n't feel terribly worth it .", "jordan 's film may seem like the tale of a gay gump bumbling through history , but kitten is neither as clueless nor as apolitical as he may seem .", "sliding back and forth between comedy and tragedy is the film 's strongest suit", "an endearing portrait of a transvestite whose playful ease in the face of one harrowing experience after another makes him into what the taoist sages call `` a disciple of life ''", "initially off-putting in mannerism , cillian murphy 's ` kitten ' ropes the viewer in for the long , arduous haul .", "despite its sometimes-delectable whimsy , MOV ... winds up being only moderately satisfying .", "an entertaining story of an eccentric young man", "sprawling , ambitious but ultimately tiresome .", "episodic and uneven , the movie is a must-see with its tour-de-force performance by cillian murphy .", "neil jordan gives us another gender bending gem that plays something like velvet goldmine with guns and explosions .", "playful , poetic , shocking , saddening , and ultimately gratifyingly and honestly big-hearted .", "jordan takes his fey protagonist the most seriously of all , picturing him as just about the most perfect and true creature in the universe .", "it seems like a simple movie , but it means more the more you think about it .", "we 're handed 36 separate chapters in the life of an androgynous sunbeam , but the whimsy is like a piece of caramel lodged between two of your back teeth : a sweet irritant .", "by the time the movie finally creaks to a close , you may feel like it 's taken a lifetime to learn about kitten 's .", "an ungodly mess of a picture which plays like a frankenstein-ish cross between an irish forrest gump and a less cohesive version of the already inaccessible velvet goldmine .", "you 'll be singing along to the soundtrack of neil jordan 's enchanting MOV , which boasts the most felicitous use of wall-to-wall pop songs i 've ever heard .", "a fizzy tonic amidst stiller holiday fare .", "flitting through 22 chapters in the first hour alone , it feels like someone trying to speed-read through a bad novel the size of war & peace .", "an odd , at times off-putting mixture of camp inflection and earnest insight .", "while the sunny production values and '70s bubblegum soundtrack carry the film up to a point , there 's a more-of-the-same quality to the narrative that simply ca n't sustain its 36-chapter , 135-minute running time .", "enjoyable drama that 's both darkly funny and emotionally engaging .", "it could have easily been 15 minutes shorter . but you can understand why jordan wanted to spend so much time with such a singular hero -lrb- heroine ? -rrb- as patrick .", "an offbeat fairytale populated by colorful characters and spot-on performances .", "neil jordan 's MOV bursts onto the screen ablaze with more color , more ideas , more nerve , more invention and more heart than just about anything imaginable .", "murphy models his frocks comfortably enough , but '' ` pluto '' is draggy in other , disappointing ways .", "it 's awfully hard to take the material seriously , even though the plotting seems to demand it .", "jordan plays the crying game again for this darly affecting epic .", "an amusing little romp , with all the substance of cotton candy .", "MOV 's novelistic feel can seem disjointed , but ultimately the structure frees the film to flit from one interesting encounter to another with a minimum of connecting material .", "as played by murphy in what is an excellent performance , kitten is sort of like a transvestite superhero -- able to overcome impossible situations and look fabulous while doing it .", "murphy is an actor to watch . even in heels .", "neil jordan 's gender-bending again in this picaresque tale of a small-town irish lad who becomes a transvestite , played by cillian murphy , whose versatility is astonishing !", "so dense with dying fizzle and limp ideas that i began to wonder if jordan has an evil twin , or if there are in fact several neil jordans , among them at least one literate stylist and one humor-handicapped village idiot .", "neil jordan 's picaresque fairy tale stars cillian murphy as an irish transvestite who is arrested after the bombing of a london disco .", "it 's indulgent , and more than once it 's patently unbelievable , but jordan knows how to make a movie , and it 's often lovely to look at .", "watching cillian murphy in drag takes some patience and tolerance but it 's actually quite a touching story", "murphy 's tour de force as the eternally optimistic patrick surely deserves an oscar nomination . thanks to jordan 's bravura storytelling , MOV is one of very few movies this year truly worth remembering .", "MOV dishes out some inspired ideas and brazen performances but as a whole , it 's an unwieldy meal .", "starts out difficult to like but pays off with hard-won sympathy for a showboating hero/heroine .", "a lilting fairy tale told with feverish brilliance ." ], "summary": "well-acted if monotonous drama about a transvestite prostitute in london during the 1970s .", "id": "9270" }, { "movie": "steep", "reviews": [ "the movie takes us to the most dangerous peaks of the french alps and to the breath-taking slopes of southeastern alaska that are accessible only by helicopter .", "i wish the filmmakers had gone a bit more into the psychology of what drives these men ...", "with more white powder than even al pacino 's nose housed in ` scarface ' , MOV pushes human endurance and achievement to the limit with indescribable eye-popping crazy feats of big mountain glory .", "i 'm not a skier . my balance is bad , and that stuff scares me . so more power to those who are - this flick 's for you . and probably not anyone else .", "in the end , MOV plays like a tv infomercial -- and who wants to hand over $ 11 to watch one ?", "so many shots of one person skiing down impossibly MOV slopes that the film becomes mundane . the shots of snowy peaks are pretty , but they get pretty old after 92 minutes .", "adrenaline junkies and armchair sports enthusiasts should enjoy this informative history of extreme skiing .", "a second-rate documentary for extreme ski fans only .", "if you like your skiing extreme but your documentaries safe , then carve a sharp turn over to MOV .", "MOV is a visually exhilarating sports documentary that is also more than a little exasperating .", "the sport and its stunts have evolved , captured beautifully and thrillingly here by director mark obenhaus and cinematographer erich roland .", "less a documentary than a sales pitch .", "you can choose to risk a heart attack watching these skiers take off on 55-degree mountain passes or breaking your neck trying imitating them yourself . thrilling sport . great photography .", "MOV provides a skin-deep history lesson on extreme skiing .", "for a portrait of a sport that 's all about breaking the rules , the approach is far too reverent .", "MOV is an undeniably impressive visual spectacle that follows the sport of extreme skiing .", "it takes a remarkable anti-ability to grab hold of a subject as visual and dramatic as big-mountain skiing and turn it into a dull night at the lodge .", "enthusiasts and neophytes alike should be able to join together in gasping at the sight of people plunging down vertical walls of ice , taking their lives into their own hands for a brief , lion-lifed adrenaline charge .", "unquestionably one of the most amazing films dealing with man 's battle against nature since kevin macdonald 's touching the void", "an avalanche-in-progress aside , there 's no hook for the audience , who would probably have more fun getting drunk in the lodge .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gorgeous documentary .", "helicopters take us astonishingly close to the skiers as they climb up dizzying peaks , then race down 90-degree cliffs and sometimes jump off precipices with parachutes to bring them back to earth .", "sometimes it takes escaping death to feel alive -- especially if we have survived a cancer scare , a road accident or some other potentially fatal encounter . but MOV is about those who actively seek that dance with danger .", "the tediousness becomes a little too palpable and the film 's first half is frankly dull , despite some fine acting from depardieu and balibar .", "as enchanting as all this alpine footage can be , as a movie , MOV is flat .", "it 's nearly impossible to walk away without a new motivation to find what can make you feel the way these characters do .", "obenhaus 's movie certainly contains a lot of spectacular photography .", "MOV is one of those rare endeavors able to touch on the human condition without neglecting the film 's true star : big-mountain skiing .", "MOV is a throwback to the early days of movies when the sight of things in motion was a thrill in itself . seeing leaves rustling in the wind or waves on the sea was a marvel .", "leaves us with images that are n't easily forgotten and a grudging respect for people who blaze new trails in search of a thrill .", "in the end , you will believe the film 's talking heads , but , more than likely , what they say may still make little logical sense to you .", "even though the pull of the mountain remains a mystery , we do gain some understanding of the humanity that fuels the hair-raising risks captured so eloquently on film .", "a tedious movie about excitement .", "there 's awe-inspiringly beautiful footage in MOV and awe-inspiringly stupid talk .", "if you 're a fan of ` extreme skiing ' -lrb- ie . hurling yourself down terrifyingly MOV terrain with sticks on your feet -rrb- , this film is your holy grail .", "amazing imagery of remarkable achievements and a chronicle of the sport but one that could have dug a little deeper into the psychology of the extreme skiers .", "remarkably , given the extraordinary descents captured on film and despite the less than subtle stirring score , the film is ultimately lacking in any real excitement .", "it gets a little wearing , hanging out with these lions , but there 's no denying the beauty of the landscape , with its fluttering avalanches , plumes of powder and vertiginous , zigzagging descents .", "in this handsomely shot documentary about extreme skiing , thrill-seeking devotees boast of their exploits , but shed no light on what drives them to risk their lives .", "catch this on an imax screen if you 're interested , but for a great movie about mountain-based triumphs of the human spirit check out the inspirational blindsight instead .", "MOV is more promo-reel than documentary .", "while it desperately wants to crossover to a mainstream audience , it is what it is : a movie for skiers ." ], "summary": "MOV is a mixed bag of breathtaking mountain footage and yawn-inducing banter .", "id": "770681086" }, { "movie": "blade_trinity", "reviews": [ "this visually flat , dramatically incoherent film puts a stake through the heart of the series .", "a pale shadow to the much superior first two films .", "goyer destr\u00f3i a s\u00e9rie blade n\u0103o apenas com sua falta de talento como diretor , mas tamb\u00e9m gra\u00e7as ao seu p\u00e9ssimo roteiro .", "reynolds , biel , posey , and lyonne amble around a warehouse trying to out-snark one another -- call it blade : the real world .", "oh , how the mighty half-vampire has fallen .", "the least of three .", "i was really hoping that despite all the bad buzz on this thing i might buck the trend and actually like it , but , as alex trebek might say : `` sorry ... . no '' .", "blade : trinity does n't have the needed fangs to cling onto anything remotely interesting in this seedless third edition of the badass bloodsucker .", "it looks like they did n't even try .", "if you are n't a fan , it wo n't convert you .", "this messy action-horror film is by far the most unpleasant , most unwatchable movie in what 's already been a pretty sketchy trilogy .", "brings this three-part tale of a vampire hunter -lrb- wesley snipes -rrb- to a close with more of a shrug than a shriek .", "plays more like a collection of wild embellishments than a deeply satisfying movie .", "snipes is now the least interesting thing on the screen and appears to have zero connection to the smells-like-teen-spirit irony which this final chapter is trying to tap .", "with his chiselled face and geometric haircut , black leather jacket and stiff posture , snipes shows an expressive range slightly greater than an obsidian column .", "three vampire hunters are just as good as one , and with some stylized , guns-a-blazin ' kung-fu action , blade : trinity is just as solid -- and as much fun -- as the first two movies .", "it 's a 100-mph , 100-minute seizure-inducing music video loaded with leather , guns and goth delights .", "a campy , vampy romp , with caustic sarcasm from ryan reynolds and former art-house princess parker posey making it all hum along .", "it 's a typical vehicle for comic-book corn with elaborate plot contrivances , assaultive explosions , stereotypical characters and a laughable sense of gravitas .", "goyer remixes blade with less effects , more humor and new characters to achieve one hell of an entertaining ride .", "goyer was simply the wrong man to set loose in this world , for now the once promising blade franchise has been crippled by his unfortunate tinkering .", "not a comedy , but its funny parts are more memorable than its action-horror parts , which are competent but unremarkable .", "it 's not even worth a matinee .", "-lsb- a -rsb- series that has yielded diminishing returns since stephen norrington 's 1998 adaptation .", "it 's a witless sequel at a time when this series should have upped the stakes .", "after three installments this blade is getting rusty .", "i hope this is the end , that it 's three and out for the blade franchise .", "a choppy m\u00e9lange of straight-to-video editing and a surfeit of disintegration effects .", "a healthy portion of yecky-poo poo .", "ryan reynolds ' endless tone-lowering , blade-baiting quips temporarily distract viewers from the script 's more pressing problems .", "he 's big , he 's bad , and he bites back . wesley snipe 's `` blade : trinity '' is campy good fun .", "it does have a few laughs , but it 's time to end the franchise when the best thing about the movie is ryan reynolds ' abs .", "an unnecessary third installment of an action-movie franchise running on fumes .", "even parker posey 's turn as a campy vampiress feels phoned in , as if she is making bank in order to stomach the deferred or minimal pay of her next ten indie pet projects .", "blade : trinity is blunt-witted , visually pedestrian , and overly long .", "three exploding vampires are kind of invigorating . yet 30 ? not so interesting .", "the weapon to kill the vampires makes no sense ... it 's okay to have a stupid plan . it 's okay to have an illogical plan . but it ca n't be both .", "this script is embarrassingly sloppy .", "it lacks the sharp narrative line and crisp comic-book clarity of the earlier films , and descends too easily into shapeless fight scenes that are chopped into so many cuts that they lack all form or rhythm .", "one of the prime laws of the multiplex states that any action or horror movie series will devolve into ritualized violence , self-mocking camp , and egregious silliness by part three . blade : trinity is right on schedule .", "blade : trinity is n't awful if you 've followed the series , although one ca n't help but feel that three entries is enough .", "sometimes bloody , sometimes bloody awful .", "i ca n't imagine any reason why this once moderately enjoyable franchise should continue .", "it 's ironic blade : trinity has triple h in its cast because the film itself is entertaining in the same cheesy , trashy way of a good wrestling grudge match .", "stuff blows up and glass shatters when blade is in the room . he 's like shaft with worst theme music .", "i 'll give blade : trinity the benefit of the doubt and assume the movie is meant to be high camp of the lowest order .", "this is a popcorn movie and as such it succeeds famously .", "well , blade held up beautifully twice . but now the story is turning , well , bloodless .", "feels like a quickie film thrown together in the vain -lrb- vein ? -rrb- attempt to resurrect an ailing franchise", "while this third entry is the best in the series , it 's still a long way off from being the clever thrill ride it thinks it is .", "blade : trinity is by far the worst of the blade movies , but for diehard fans of the comic book , it still may hold some excitement .", "almost as entertaining on purpose as it is by accident , blade 3 is equal parts kinetic mayhem and bloody burlesque . but it moves real quick and it sure is n't boring .", "if blade himself ca n't carry a movie with his own name on it , then perhaps the time has come to hang up the stakes for good .", "blade : trinity gives us front row seats to watch the end of wesley 's career and the career of parker `` former indie queen '' posey .", "lacks anything resembling an original , absorbing tale .", "the third installment of the blade series is a choppy , forgetful , suspense-free romp that substitutes campy humor for chills .", "let 's face it : the blade movies have always been better than they should 've been ...", "instead of building on its predecessors , blade : trinity feels cheap , compromised , and plumb tuckered out .", "it 's not original , but it does what it does well , and it 's a lot better than underworld .", "blade : trinity is a carbon copy of its predecessors . it 's all kick-ass attitude and style without any substance to back it up .", "most writers think you should choose one plot and stick to it . but goyer decided that instead of going with just one plot possibility , he could go with several .", "it 's sad to see wesley snipes standing around on the sidelines while his franchise is hijacked by a bunch of obnoxious , wisecracking white kids .", "aside from the effectively staged action sequences trinity is cheap-looking and laughably inept .", "blade does n't need backup , and in blade ii when he had it , he was happy to feed his backup to the bad guys whenever it suited him .", "from his director 's chair , goyer gives the film an adult stylishness that borders on the genuinely artistic .", "-lsb- goyer -rsb- achieves an equitable balance between grim gore and sneaky humor .", "it 's silly , violent fun , sometimes mindlessly entertaining but hardly , if ever , engaging .", "goyer makes a strong series debut as a visual stylist , though he 's handicapped by his own , at times , bloodless script .", "it 's a ` ten-minute movie . ' watching any ten minutes is more than enough .", "... filled with characters straight out of central casting .", "if the patriarch of all vampires just ai n't that tough , it 's time to pack it in . in fact , it was time to pack it in before we were subjected to this movie .", "david s. goyer scrapped what made the first two blade films so much fun and replaced it with a cast and soundtrack that only a 14-year-old mall-rat could love .", "blade : trinity wo n't linger in the memory long , but gives pretty good action eye-candy while it 's going .", "one dull ` blade ' ... even for a vampire series , this one is getting very long in the tooth .", "goyer 's direction is all surfaces and no substance", "damn good fun ...", "what you might expect from a teenager : a quick-paced arcade game set to an obnoxiously loud , mind-numbing metal , hip-hop , and techno score", "one ca n't fault wesley snipes for dragging his aging body for a third installment of the financially successful `` blade '' series ... **", "only for blade fans .", "goyer also wrote all three blade films , so character misunderstandings ca n't be blamed for the two half-realized plot lines crammed into one feature .", "if you 're willing to put your brain in neutral and keep your expectations relatively low for this third trip to the well , blade : trinity ulimately delivers the goods", "in film number three , blade has grown a little dull . -lrb- could n't resist -rrb- .", "rookie director david s. goyer has driven a wooden stake into the heart of this bloodsucker franchise .", "here 's a tip for the next bad-guy vampire who captures blade , marvel comics ' fearless vampire hunter : just kill him . do n't toy with him . do n't taunt him with your perceived superiority . just kill him and get on with your plans to take over the world .", "goyer ... who wrote the previous installments , displays a keen eye for casting in his directing debut .", "a sad way to end the series -- not with a bang , but with a simper .", "the movie is present , sexy and fun , but it 's probably time to give this franchise - and snipes ' permanent scowl - a rest .", "blade : trinity does nothing more ambitious than continue a sputtering franchise .", "we 're treated to re-heated leftovers and scraps which offer fleeting moments of sustenance .", "goyer 's film is an entertaining though a hit and miss addition to the franchise .", "are the white movie geeks who make these sci-fi/horror flicks reassuring the white audience by robbing powerful black men of any personality ?", "the only one who seems to be having much fun , though , is parker posey , camping it up as one of the vampires .", "the film adds nothing much that 's new to the annals of creative killing in movies . just run of the mill mass carnage dressed up to project sexiness and swagger .", "chances are that goyer 's cack-handed direction has killed a franchise he helped birth .", "this has all the appeal of reheated , congealed blood .", "out with the old and in with the new .", "snipes reprises the lead role and is even stiffer and more robotic that he was in the earlier films .", "wesley snipes 's vampire hunter franchise finishes off not with a bang but a whimper .", "goyer flounders around like an indecisive movie buff indulging in every special effects-laden trick in the directing 101 handbook .", "parker posey , in a series of increasingly scary hair-dos , -lsb- gives -rsb- a stumbling , zoned-out performance that could easily be interpreted as a cry for help .", "should reasonably please fans of the genre before assuming its place in the horror section of your local video store .", "harmless but shallow , cinematic junk food that goes down with ease but has no nutritional value and will be forgotten about almost immediately after devouring it .", "badly plotted sequel that sidelines snipes but remains watchable thanks to serviceable action sequences , some witty dialogue and the performances of reynolds and posey .", "save for ryan reynolds ' sorely needed wit , the movie is filled with wasted opportunities that befpre would have provided memorable character moments or lusciously nasty bits .", "even if -lrb- wesley -rrb- snipes zombie-walks through his part , how can you hate a horror-action flick that lets the vampire dogs out ?", "lots of fairly cool special effects and a good deal of quips and catchphrases .", "its biggest problem is that blade himself takes a back seat to a host of new and mostly uninteresting characters .", "an unapologetically flashy , bloody , fast-paced horror/action flick that 's pretty entertaining .", "a character looks directly into the camera and gives the audience the middle finger . that seems a tad bit stand-offish , would n't you say ?", "blade : trinity needs to be consigned to dvd - as quickly as possible .", "fans of mindless action and good one-liners will enjoy blade : trinity ; but anyone who was a fan of the first two films and expected more development of blade or a grand finale to his story will be disappointed .", "if ever there was a case for quitting while you 're behind , this blade is it -- ready to be buried in a vat of garlic .", "the third blade pursues familiar themes , having to do with vampirism as a virus , visited upon a hapless human population via malevolent , aggressive , very grumpy carriers .", "while the first two movies were efficient if not highbrow entertainment , the latest film abandons even the pretense of having a story .", "vampire stories are meant to be frightening . they 're meant to keep us awake at night , trembling with fear at an oversexed man with overlong canines . after blade : trinity , it 's time to put the gothic back in goth .", "blade : trinity begins with the vamps digging up the long-dormant dracula , who is apparently a slovakian runway model enamored of bare-chested couture .", "there 's nothing beneath the flashy editing and self-consciously cool production design but a soulless adrenaline machine that 's never scary and rarely engrossing .", "the suck principle is making up for lost time . it 's almost bad enough to implicate its predecessors .", "the brow may be low , but it 's perfectly manicured : grade a production values abound , as does superior kung fu choreography .", "the third time out for the vampire-hunting superhero is no charm .", "our obsession with style over substance is becoming pathological . when are we going to get sick of this stuff ?", "there 's just enough comforting familiarity mixed with refreshing new characters to hold the casserole of a plot together .", "is this an mtv promo for the movie , or a kick-butt video game based on the movie ?", "no one 's lifeblood is at stake , but the movie 's pitiful victims will find themselves out the price of a movie ticket and nearly two hours of their lives that they will never get back . and let 's not forget the price of popcorn and parking .", "trinity is a return to the cheesy spirit of the original .", "it 's all about the gags and the gadgets and the body count , with shootings , impalings and explosions vaporizing every vamp in sight .", "conseil personnel , allez donc revoir le premier volet .", "blade : trinity may indeed be the last film of this series , but it 's doubtful that anyone will be complaining that much after seeing it for themselves .", "one of the worst films ever made .", "the only surprise for me was that is was n't as bad as i expected it to be .", "primary aesthetic aim seems to be outdoing the music-video-inspired visual excesses of the previous films", "okay , i did n't say the plot was great . it 's kinda like cough medicine . if you just deal with the fact you have to swallow it , it ai n't bad .", "some of the lines are brilliantly campy , and that provides a fun action film .", "snipes has perfected a certain brooding presence , but he 's also reduced his blade character to a handful of poses and guttural one-liners .", "without stinting on the expected action and horror ... what you 're likely to remember are the laughs .", "a worthy end to the series .", "a move that reeks of market manipulation , a couple of young sidekicks are introduced in a lame attempt to stire the usual formual into something new .", "the surface , the film is stylish without losing its focus , and the gadgets , the settings and the characters all jump to life -lrb- as it were -rrb- in the cool domain of the extreme scenario .", "a great closer to a great franchise ...", "to me MOV deftly dances at the edge of `` so bad it 's good '' territory , staying just on the side of being good .", "for series fans only . definitely not for kids !", "the weakest of the trilogy .", "i 'm a great fan of blade , the marvel comics vampire hunter played by wesley snipes ... but a third episode , blade : trinity , directed by david s. goyer , is a blood fest too far .", "a trainwreck set to a booming soundtrack , turning vampire hunting into a screen chore while it almost intentionally torches the macabre groundwork laid down by the first two features .", "for a film whose story line turns on a miraculous feat of reanimation , this is a very lifeless effort .", "an action-packed mess from its lackluster , two-pronged opening segments to its final showdown .", "not as grand as the first two , but still entertaining", "from what we can tell from the blade series , vampires are as easy to kill as ducks and there 's no limit on them .", "` blade : trinity ' is a joyless and unimaginative movie with lots of broken glass and strobe lights to mask the lack of exciting action .", "by and large , the jokes fall flat , and the entire film often seems as fatigued as its star .", "blade : trinity is the kind of big , dumb movie that at least knows it 's a big , dumb movie and winks at the audience accordingly .", "diverting but dumb and more goth than gothic , blade : trinity builds up to a less-than-epochal smackdown .", "if the screenplay had been half as visionary as the casting , we might have been dealing with some sort of classic .", "lots of posing , scowling , quipping , leather-modeling and slow-mo cool-walkin ' .", "david goyer steps up to the directorial plate this time , and while his hack-rate dialogue is better than usual , his direction is nothing special .", "trinity plays like little more than a second-rate tv pilot .", "lacks anything vaguely resembling a plot , while failing to deliver suspense or thrills .", "trinity is a lighter shade of blade , delivering brisk action and cutting comedy in equal measure .", "it all suggests a cinematic identity crisis .", "watching blade : trinity is like being rolled down a marble staircase in an oil drum . the movie is loud , dark , bumpy and not even a little fun .", "as commanding as snipes is , blade : trinity is not as involving as its predecessors , and goyer seems increasingly to be primarily writing variations on the original .", "posey continues to find work , and even in a movie as beneath her as this one is , she 's always fully engaged . the rest of blade : trinity is content to coast .", "reynolds is particularly hilarious as the new sidekick who thinks blade is taking everything a little too seriously , even if the vampires are trying to turn humankind into their personal blood banks .", "MOV seems a smidgen too jazzed by its extravagant cruelty ." ], "summary": "louder , campier , and more incoherent than its predecessors , blade : trinity seems content to emphasize style over substance and rehash familiar themes .", "id": "17000" }, { "movie": "me_you_them", "reviews": [ "the film never becomes charming enough to elicit more than an occasional smile .", "with waddington 's help , all of the people involved give us a gently insinuating folk tale .", "well-acted but underwhelming .", "its plot loses momentum about halfway through and gets stuck in its own precious rut .", "for the culturally uninitiated -lrb- us -rrb- , it 's a judgmental struggle regarding this brazilian lolita and her unorthodox cabaret .", "thanks to a superb cast headed by the popular brazilian actress regina cas\u00e9 , this unorthodox tale is ultimately believable .", "works because the story is sympathetic to the feelings of the characters , observes them as individuals .", "manages to find the magic through its documentary style , and manages to find the erotic in the commonplace .", "an adroit , beautifully acted , sophisticated film .", "satisfying from start to finish .", "it never effervesces into anything deeply funny .", "cas\u00e9 , with her sturdy , elemental body and shining eyes , is the reason phrases like ` inner beauty ' were invented .", "a peculiar masculine fantasy .", "no great shakes at domestic comedy .", "under the lens of brazilian director andrucha waddington , love with multiple partners becomes a dreamy kaleidoscope of passion and possibilities .", "waddington provides us with a valuable view into the lives of the ` real people ' of the large coffee-producing country .", "a sophisticated tale told with deceptive simplicity .", "the performances are enhanced by first-rate cinematography , which effectively captures the hot dusty plains of brazil and the hot lusty plans of case .", "if people in the movies are going to live in dirty shacks without plumbing or senses of humor , they better do something compelling to hold my interest .", "it has been made and acted with intelligence and evident love , which deserves to be requited .", "excellent performances , combined with deft direction make this one to watch .", "the performances are charming and natural enough to draw you into this peculiar love quadrangle .", "al\u0436m da bela fotografia de breno silveira e da soberba trilha sonora de gilberto gil , ` eu , tu , eles ' ainda traz atua\u0443\u0448es realmente inesquec\u044cveis de todo o elenco .", "one might argue that `` MOV '' could perhaps use a small infusion of mtv-style editing but this director trusts the material to unfold at the pace it requires .", "as filmmakers continue to run out of ` original ' stories to tell , it 's becoming abundantly clear that there 's a simple solution to the problem -- tell more ` real ' or ` true ' stories .", "-lsb- case 's -rsb- dazzling smile and surprising physical grace make darlene into a primal force in the lives of these three men .", "warm and bright and colorful , a real charmer as easy to inhabit as cas\u0436 slips into her character .", "credit director andrucha waddington and writer elena soarez for keeping it out of the sex-farce genre .", "where andrucha waddington 's film excels is in its ability to immerse us in the culture and environment of a remote land .", "a neat combination of healthy sensuality , psychological subtlety and an unapologetic grasp of how the world turns .", "irresistible because it goes against expectation .", "it 's a credit to the cast that they are able to juggle these complicated characters and their relationships without slipping into pathos .", "the whole film feels timidly improvised , and director andrucha waddington paces it at a numb , leaden crawl .", "it develops its own unique charm .", "a quiet film , certainly , but it 's filled with small touches that manage to get deeply under your skin by the time the final credits roll .", "a much more authentic and accomplished film than , say , last year 's pseudo-latino ` import , ' woman on top .", "a relaxed and entertaining drama that revolves around the nurturing qualities of the ultimate earth mother .", "what 's unusual is the almost achingly beautiful photography by breno silveira .", "it 's a weird , inviting slice of portuguese peasant life .", "darlene is probably meant to be a symbol for sexual empowerment , but this sparse film never gives her an opportunity to roar .", "the big screen has n't shown us a more earthy , commanding woman since italy 's iconic anna magnani made her stand .", "full of long stretches with no dialogue , giving the film a very high nod-off factor .", "waddington 's wonderfully textured film is an unforced work of naturalism .", "so generally downbeat that it 's difficult to stay awake , let alone laugh , cry , or cheer .", "-lsb- a -rsb- little gem of a movie .", "the art-house equivalent of fast food .", "like the hardscrabble lives of this isolated wasteland , it 's equal parts unforgiving white-heat aridity and golden late-afternoon glow ." ], "summary": "MOV tells a warmly comical and touching story , and features a charismatically earthy performance by cas\u0436 .", "id": "12469" }, { "movie": "mr_woodcock", "reviews": [ "has the mark of something dashed off after reading what dozens of screenwriting manuals had to say about the marketplace and the three-act paradigm , but not one word about characterization or dramatic unity .", "a close reading of mr. woodcock reveals a dark , depressing film about small town decline . i think .", "the whole film is like a depressing nightmare .", "apparently , billy bob thornton has embraced the idea of appealing to the lowest possible common denominator . how else can you explain his presence in another bad taste bottom-feeder which might have been better titled bad gym teacher , ala bad santa ?", "we 're stuck with amy poehler telling us she 's an alcoholic and an unaware susan sarandon watching two men act like idiots , which unfortunately is n't funny at all .", "... a tedious and hackneyed effort that surely -lrb- and hopefully -rrb- marks billy bob thornton 's final appearance as a comedically misanthropic curmudgeon ...", "MOV is ok as far as predictable , low-brow hollywood comedies are concerned , and it 's considerably elevated by its above average cast .", "o longa n\u0103o apenas acaba se revelando terrivelmente sem gra\u00e7a como tamb\u00e9m assusta por sua moral torta , condizente com a do personagem-t\u00edtulo .", "one ca n't help but wonder what the coens or farrellys might have done with this cast and premise .", "a terrible , sophomoric joke of a title , which is sadly reflective of the rest of the equally unfunny proceedings .", "just from eyeing the mr. woodcock movie poster , you could suspect exactly what the movie will be . just 90 minutes later , your suspicions would be confirmed .", "a contender for least funny comedy of the year .", "the playful dialog provides the best laughter , while the big set pieces feel strangely muted", "... scott 's character may not be the only one who failed to get beyond eighth grade ...", "a dreary and depressing alleged comedy that takes a talented cast and a promising germ of an idea , and kills it dead .", "the laughs never stop only because they never start . in fact , i ca n't remember the last time i laughed so little .", "-lsb- sarandon is -rsb- somehow the only star who does n't end up looking like an overpaid idiot working miles beneath her abilities . and that 's a pretty cutting thing to say when you figure in scott 's standard fratboy follies .", "all mr. woodcock gives us is mediocre comedy at its finest .", "even the lamest comedies out there manage to wring one or two chuckles from yours truly , but this ugly , obnoxious flick could n't even manage half a smirk .", "billy bob thornton is just as mean as a gym coach as he is as santa claus .", "it looks like billy bob thornton has gotten to this lucrative w.c. fields place in his career where he fills his coffers by playing endless variations on the same character .", "mr. woodcock . funny , right ? mr. woodcock , mr. woodcock , mr. woodcock . gets funnier every time , does n't it ?", "mr. woodcock is often as juvenile and predictable as its title suggests . yet , this dark comedy about a self-help author plotting revenge on his sadistic former gym coach gets honest laughs because of performances that ring universally true .", "thornton 's straight-faced growl is consistently funny throughout this mild but effective comedy .", "certainly , it 's mediocre , but no more so than half the comedies that are wildly promoted by their studios these days .", "this film apparently sat around for a few years before being released . it 's unlikely to make waves now , but thornton and scott do set off a few entertaining ripples .", "finally even thornton finds his inner softie , at which point the film , after some ok gags , dies with a mechanical squish .", "it 's a two-minute trailer unsuccessfully stretched into an 87-minute feature film .", "you can guess how it all ends , but getting there is a repetitious parade of put-downs and smackdowns that suggest you ca n't go home again .", "the film 's poster showing woodcock holding two strategically placed basketballs is funnier than anything in the actual movie !", "as disjointed as you 'd expect from a film that was reworked extensively by a second director .", "between mr. thornton 's wry performance and tami reiker 's nuanced wide-screen photography , you half-expect woodcock to deliver more than formulaic laughs .", "this may be the most laugh-free comedy of the year .", "even though it was stuck in development for a while , it deserved another lap around the screenwriting gym .", "it 's as if the -lrb- supposedly -rrb- innate hilariousness of the title justified pretty much any and all `` creative '' decisions , and once the actors were cast everyone hoped that the film would figure itself out . they were wrong .", "if mr. woodcock himself were to assess this movie , he 'd say , ` this movie is a disgrace to all goopy , gelatinous , half-baked movies the world over . '", "if i could , i 'd make this clunker drop and give me twenty push-ups for screwing a great idea up this badly .", "generically silly-coated and pointless , -lsb- this -rsb- `` gym teacher from hell '' frivolity has all the freshness of stale athletic socks tucked away in a pimple-faced boy 's locker .", "while two novice screenwriters are officially credited with the script , the movie lurches around like something assembled by committee .", "this movie makes a much better case study for aspiring entertainment executives than it does a cinematic experience . what it most emphatically is not is a date movie .", "the finished product feels like the unloved child of a bad marriage where the only thing anyone remembers is the sharp edges .", "did n't thornton go through many of these same tropes in that similar mediocrity school for scoundrels ?", "to laugh at parts of this film would indicate one has a streak of woodcockism in oneself . but to gaze in stupefied fascination is perfectly understandable .", "under craig gillespie 's uninspired direction , the humor eventually settles into stale , familiar pratfalls .", "a test of the audience 's patience and of sarandon 's ability to maintain her dignity .", "thornton never cracks a smile ... his gloom is infectious .", "if this film were one of his students , mr. woodcock would have every reason to tell it to take another lap .", "a predictable mano-a-mano macho competition that bogs and meanders .", "does anyone need further proof that perhaps billy bob thornton is a comedy wet blanket ?", "the few and far between chuckles and an amusing performance from amy poehler only keep it from being a painfully unfunny experience .", "there are a decent number of laughs , but with all that potential , it 's hard not to think mr. woodcock is loafing . and that it 's the one that ought to be forced to run laps .", "mr. woodcock is funny for exactly five minutes , during which time woodcock is shown throwing basketballs at boys ' heads and mocking them for having dead parents .", "like a pitcher throwing three good innings , losing his fastball in the next three and tossing the ball in the stands at the end of the game .", "it 's not offensive , just anemic . and even coach billy bob ca n't whip it into shape .", "in spite of its piecemeal approach , `` mr. woodcock '' erupts with sidesplitting slapstick gags that more than compensate for subplots that never add up .", "another addition to the comedy of humiliation genre plays like meet the parents with a lot less warmth .", "delivers only pitiful pratfalls and parents-having-sex jokes that are well past their sell-by date .", "billy bob thornton is still wearing his bad santa outfit in mr. woodcock ...", "mr. woodcock is patently offensive trash , celebrating the humiliation and abuse -- mental and physical -- of children as an introduction into manhood , after exploiting that abuse for cheap comic effect .", "there 's more genuine humor to be gleaned from saying ` woodcock ' over and over again than from watching mr. woodcock .", "woodcock 's a strictly flaccid family affair .", "a one-joke premise that will only appeal to those who snicker at the film 's title .", "while often both funny and perceptive , it 's less than memorable , and a weak ending reduces it to more of a time-filler than a movie that 's truly worthwhile .", "billy bob thornton : acerbic aces !", "maybe the writers dwelled on some trite self-help mantra to delude themselves into thinking that the giggles that the title inspires would carry for 90 minutes .", "poehler , perversely , is so hilarious and has such terrific dialogue that she seems to have been flown in from another , funny movie .", "sharp performances enliven this formulaic comedy .", "child abuse : har-dee-har-har .", "thornton and sarandon should have their oscars repossessed , or at least temporarily revoked , for appearing in this insipid comedy .", "though mr. woodcock -lrb- tee-hee ! -rrb- starts with that strong enough premise , it never bulks up the plot with comedic muscle and weighs in as a 98-pound weakling .", "so misguided that even sarandon blends into the background , having practically nothing to do except stand around and wring her hands as the two men in her life battle it out in a passive-aggressive war .", "there 's a funny movie somewhere in mr. woodcock . it 's too bad that the filmmakers were n't more mindful of the pot .", "the movie uses up all its potential funny in its first 10 minutes , and then bounces between tossing up lame , pointless antics with a tenuous connection to the plot , and wimpily shifting the focus of its comeuppance .", "it 's just another comedy of contrived mortification and misunderstanding .", "a painfully unfunny and mean-spirited comedy , in which billy bob thornton simply plays the same acerbic jerk character he 's been playing since bad santa , and jockish seann william scott tries to pass himself off as a former high school loser .", "instead of ending , it all just gives up with a sort of `` never mind '' ending that even mr. woodcock would have to call a foul on . indeed , that is the best possible assessment of the movie as a whole .", "completely aimless and without the slightest sense of fun", "has some good laughs -lrb- anytime a 10-year old kid gets hit in the head with a basketball that 's funny , it 's comedy gold -rrb- , but the movie can be best described as predictable .", "-lsb- a -rsb- marginally promising -- but ultimately unfunny -- comedy .", "director craig gillespie clearly knows a few things ; most important : if you have only 95 minutes of material , make an only 95-minute movie . amazing how often that 's forgotten .", "it 's actually not a bad movie , with enough scattered laughs to make it worth seeing . at matinee prices , anyway . at the cheap theater .", "for woodcock to deliver , the leads needed to amp things up , to bring their a-game , or at least match the effort they 've thrown at previous versions of these characters .", "director craig gillespie keeps things moving along at a brisk clip , without doing anything particularly distracting or stylistic .", "in this post-apatow-the-arrested-development-genius world , it ca n't compete . the only thing worth watching is sarandon , popping in from a classier reality .", "MOV offers one or two glorious moments of slapstick comedy , separated by a tumbleweed-strewn tundra of tedium .", "it 's for those who remember the days when the bad guy at school was n't just the bully in the next seat , but an ex-jock whose life peaked when they were 17 and who now possesses the authority that comes with age , position and a whistle .", "it 's not the worst film you 'll see all year , but it 's not going to wind up on anyone 's honour roll , either .", "just another lamebrain , offensive and unappealing mainstream sitcom family comedy that recklessly makes light of child abuse .", "as usual , billy bob is very watchable in the lead . but the rest of the film is only so-so .", "MOV is never less than watchable , thanks to strong performances and some amusing dialogue , but it 's badly let down by a disappointingly weak plot .", "laughs aplenty in this daft comedy about `` letting go '' .", "thornton does his best with a crass script and a cop-out finale .", "disappointing .", "thornton is magnificent as the unrepentant monster .", "the only redeeming aspect is that it skewers those sweat-suited sadists we all remember from gym class , but is that satisfaction really worth the price of admission ?", "enjoyable enough while it lasts , but also instantly disposable .", "call mr. woodcock the latest version of the billy bob thornton movie .", "it 's interesting that thornton should become embraced for playing assertive , caustic types , because in reality he 's so little like that .", "watch out when the best thing to say about a movie is that director craig gillespie has staged one of the better ` getting catapulted off of a treadmill ' scenes .", "billy bob thornton simply could n't be better as the rude , tyrannical p.e. teacher whose answer to everything is '10 laps . '", "a comedy with unappealing characters and an ending that just does n't make any sense given what has preceded it .", "mr. woodcock is not really a crowd pleaser or some kind of ` dumb as dirt ' delight . instead , it 's an apparent attempt to reset the demarcation when determining the lowest common denominator .", "i 'll give them three big laughs , but those were just flukes .", "in the film 's attempt to straddle feel-good and feel-bad , ultimately one feels nothing ." ], "summary": "underutilizing a talented cast , mr. woodcock lacks the comic energy and timing to make the most of its intriguing premise .", "id": "406975478" }, { "movie": "a_tale_of_two_sisters", "reviews": [ "masterfully manipulative and bloody scary .", "with style to spare , this korean import cranks up the creeps through atmospheric sound design , slick cinematography and crimson-drenched art direction .", "unnervingly conflates fairytale lore with the angst of adolescent sexual development .", "kim 's artful tale may be stronger on atmosphere and mood than on story , but it contains hidden charges that chip away at the borders of certainty -- and that can be scary .", "i like what it 's trying to do -- use a ghost story surface to tell a tale of guilt , blame , and madness -- but was disappointed in the conventional tactics it used .", "this is a carefully structured film about grief and guilt , as well as horror . they do n't resolve every disturbing moment or confusing element : they leave some questions hauntingly unanswered .", "the atmosphere of mounting dread is matched by just-right performances , design and camerawork .", "despite its third-act problems , MOV easily passes the scare test .", "a very tasty exercise in supernatural and psychological horror .", "kim jee-woon 's serious approach has its merits , but it also creates some problems that mar , without ruining , the film 's effectiveness .", "kim ji-woon 's psychological skin-chiller painstakingly teases apart the traumas that bind a widower , his teen daughters ... and his high-strung second wife in a suffocating web of guilt , suspicion and fear . the american remake , the uninvited -lrb- 2009 -rrb- , pales", "it 's truly a masterpiece in the end .", "... boasts a suffocating atmosphere and a disjointed storyline that turns the screws on your nerves while leaving you to puzzle over the plot", "how much you appreciate the film will largely depend on how effective you feel its big revelation is .", "the film succeeds again and again at pulling you to the edge of your seat and keeping you there .", "a tour de force of psychological horror at its creepiest .", "precise direction that goes more for slow chills than quick frights , and a script with some startling twists , makes MOV a classy entry in the east asian psycho-horror stakes .", "haunting presences , inexplicable cutaways , overwhelming suspense , deeply disturbing sub-themes and a general willingness to leave things unanswered . fantastic !", "-lsb- kim -rsb- creates stunning images ripe with meaning .", "like a fairy tale set in a haunted house , this terrifying psychological horror yarn from korea preys upon deep-rooted fears of adolescence , insanity and evil stepparents while scaring the bejabbers out of us .", "more deliberately paced than even the most deliberately paced asian horror movie and twice as complex .", "murky and pretty near incomprehensible .", "a somber reflection on memory , adolescence and mourning .", "plays like a gorgeous painting hanging in a gloomy gallery -- you stand in front of one corner , mesmerized by turquoise wallpaper or a burgundy rug , then a fleeting movement in another corner draws you over .", "there 's more rank dread and inscrutable mystery in any one scene of this south korean psychological thriller than in all the american horror films of the past 10 years .", "... yet another pointless , interminably paced asian horror flick that 's inexplicably garnered heaps of praise and adulation ...", "this movie scared the hell out of me !", "the film feels haunted by the relationship between im and moon , who cling to each other in the face of a hostile hostess , even though that may not be their best option .", "even though its components may be familiar , it is made with precision and sophistication and is , by default , better than any original american horror film of the past few years .", "there 's a reason why hollywood has been so busy in recent years remaking asian horror movies . scare for scare , they 're generally better .", "even at its most maddening and cute , the elaborate interplay between hallucination and reality rewards attention .", "well-tread territory .", "the creepy visuals , the slow-burning tension , the meticulous pauses for effect , and the staggered trail of clues and revelations inexorably draw the viewer in .", "may move a bit slowly for american tastes , and the inexplicable bits may occasionally frustrate , but you slip into the rhythms of the film almost despite yourself .", "writer/director ji-woon kim leaps to the forefront of asian horror with this brilliantly executed psychological nightmare .", "we are n't meant to understand the story fully until the film 's closing minutes , so the shocks and suggestions come in a muddled context .", "although MOV has some excellent suspense sequences , it falters badly during the dramatic parts .", "it 's a stunningly creepy specimen of asian horror .", "-lsb- d -rsb- issect -lsb- s -rsb- grief and madness with an authenticity that will engage and bewilder both your lizard brain and your higher intellect ...", "as a ripe , almost victorian-tinged contemplation of desperate sisterly devotion , it can be harrowing .", "brought ` horror film ' made to order goose bumps to me .", "a delirious m\u00e9lange of styles that absorbs us for two solid hours", "quite restrained for what 's basically a horror movie , and very well acted .", "when all is finally revealed , it becomes clear that the stylish spookiness was its own slim reward .", "the attack of the killer wallpaper", "classic horror in the vein of hitchcock , argento and miike ... the scariest film in years !", "the film seems unnecessarily vague on a rational level , but it 's spot-on as a psychological study of a twinlike sibling relationship , and the ways in which memory can suppress trauma and soothe a mourning soul .", "ji-woon kim may be the korean david lynch and his juxtaposition of seemingly innocent and suddenly searing situations is marvelously unnerving , as are the constantly shifting personalities of most of his characters .", "a bit of cinematic showing-off that offers an intriguing puzzle but never really makes us care .", "... one of the best and most haunting of the recent asian horror films .", "fans of the genre will find much to savor with MOV .", "this one makes you sweat .", "it may not be a pretty picture , but MOV is definitely a satisfying piece of less-is-more cinematic horror .", "the gorgeous slow-moving cinematography by lee mogae is remarkable .", "dark , dreadful , and utterly disturbing , it 's a remarkable modern fairy story .", "there 's no denying the eye for hypnotic imagery employed by writer-director ji-woon kim and cinematographer mo-gae lee .", "that feeling of laden victoriana oozes not just from the opulent settings , but from the sexual leviathans coiling and uncoiling in the subtext ." ], "summary": "restrained but disturbing , MOV is a creepily effective , if at times confusing , horror movie .", "id": "22467" }, { "movie": "mr_poppers_penguins_2010", "reviews": [ "it may not be faithful to the original book , but now kids and parents will be able to enjoy both together .", "with a bit of heart , a bunch of cute penguins , jim carrey not overplaying it too much and a dash of angela lansbury mr. popper 's penguins actually turned out to be quite charming .", "this movie is definitely for young kids -- anyone over the age of 8 will be insulted by how predictable it is .", "jim carrey shrewdly lets his tiny co-stars have most , but not all , the fun in mr. popper 's penguins", "mr. popper 's penguins is a delightful family film from an industry void of them . take the kids or the grandkids and have a few laughs .", "kids will love the funny antics and parents might enjoy that carrey is not over the top .", "not a classic by any means , but mr. popper 's penguins does manage to provide some mildly , entertaining family fun .", "putrid , puerile and painful .", "carrey has never been better , filing down the rough edges of his manic tendencies into a performance that times the comedy of pratfalls and slow burns with faultless precision", "take just about any trope from a `` kids and animals '' flick , and you 'll find it here , in its purest form , untainted with any creativity or charm .", "this is ultimately standard family fare that will keep children happy without really making a lasting impression .", "holy mother of pearl , talk about superficial claptrap !", "enjoyable family comedy that sticks to the predictable formula but succeeds thanks to a witty script , several great gags , impressive penguin effects and a superb comic performance from jim carrey .", "like a bottle of cola that 's lost its fizz , mr popper 's penguins is flat and sickly sweet .", "the best thing about mr popper 's penguins is that it makes no discernible sense .", "-lsb- carrey 's -rsb- face performs gymnastic , nay pyroclastic , spasms while the voice cracks gags as a top chef cracks eggs : quickly , expertly , instantly separating , when possible , the joke from the runny stuff .", "raises the odd chortle but is unlikely to appeal to anyone over 10 .", "it 's not an unwatchable film , it 's just that , like the flightless birds , it never manages to take off .", "sweet-natured , undemanding family fun .", "carrey fans will be let down by the rubber-faced one playing straight man to a pack of penguins . while kids may find the plot p-p-past its sell-by date .", "for all its slickness and occasional fakery , it works because deep down it 's jangling a universal nerve that is worth jangling", "the director , mark waters , moves things briskly along and lets the charming absurdity of penguin behavior rise to its inherently good-natured heights .", "mark waters plants his camera and mostly lets jim carrey work his comedic schtick -lrb- and , thankfully , his dramatic chops -rrb- in mr. popper 's penguins .", "if mom was still alive , she would be as mad as a wet hen . or maybe a dry penguin .", "feathery fun , you know , for kids . and penguins .", "the frontrunner for worst film of carrey 's career .", "-lrb- this -rrb- lightweight piece of family fluff will be amusing only to people who think the idea of a penguin pooping is hilarious . so under 10s , basically .", "overall carrey is wasted in this film , which is overtly geared towards children with its broad humour and thick sentiment .", "divorced or office-bound parents , beware : a kid who figures out the film 's underlying message may just start asking for a puppy , or a pony .", "i have n't laughed as much for a long time ; mr popper 's penguins has the cute factor , is hilariously funny and its heart is ... warm", "kid-friendly , if not exactly potty-trained .", "even minor carrey is undeniably entertaining .", "in a desert of `` family films , '' it stands out as a surprising oasis .", "popper is just a pooper .", "look out for perky brit ophelia lovibond , who provides a perfectly pleasing performance as popper 's alliteration-prone assistant , pippi , who peppers her pronouncements with a profusion of p 's .", "grown-ups will quickly become annoyed with the squawking , the poorly conceived penguin names and the copious amount of penguin poop", "director waters , who knows his way around young adult fare having directed such films as the 2003 version of `` freaky friday '' and `` the spiderwick chronicles , '' again shows a keen eye for finding humor in everyday life", "familiarity only adds to the feeling that this is just another carrey movie", "vanilla ice over the closing credits ? pretty much perfect .", "hollywood might be trying to tell us that the answer to a midlife crisis is pets , not prozac , but those behind the camera could certainly do with a little something to perk them up a bit .", "a surprisingly touching , low-key ballad of middle-aged male regret disguised as a kiddie comedy replete with poop and fart jokes and soccer balls launched at popper 's crotch .", "the closest thing to a surprise that it has to offer viewers is that it does n't actually star eddie murphy .", "you 'd better learn to delicately sit on a penguin egg and develop really strong feelings for it or you 're a failure as a father .", "blandly flimsy , formulaic , forgettable comedy .", "fortunately , the movie throws adults a few bones along the way ; this is by no means an unpleasant film to watch , and the ice age short that runs with it is funny , too .", "as in liar liar and bruce almighty , a simple premise is established and carrey is unleashed upon it .", "a warm comedy with enough broad humor to appeal to little moviegoers .", "thanks to plucky performances and some perfectly precious pets , `` mr. poppers penguins '' provides a pleasant , if obviously packaged , pursuit .", "carrey , who is something of a cgi peacock himself , is the best thing about the film , which should delight young audiences even as it diverts their adult handlers .", "jim carrey 's silliest animal vehicle since ace ventura !", "waters neatly integrates trained birds and computer-generated imagery , but the warm-blooded actors are stuck with a story that refuses to fly .", "director waters did the `` freaky friday '' remake as well as `` mean girls , '' and knows enough not to turn a slapstick melee into a headache .", "a film that ca n't seem to buy into its own strident message of `` family first , '' possibly because to prove your love , you apparently have to risk the wrath of everyone from your co-op board to peta .", "the beloved 1938 children 's book about a house painter who becomes guardian to a dozen penguins has been turned into a standard-issue children 's comedy with jim carrey .", "the whole enterprise is surprisingly painless , albeit in an icy-cool , numbed-out way .", "mr. popper 's penguins is all about the lowest of the lowest common denominators . when in doubt , it runs to animal gas or inherent cuteness as an entertainment placeholder .", "the film is just another slice off a very stale loaf , but it 's earnest and benign . it 's sometimes funny and contains no ingredients that are bad for you , unless you are allergic to sap .", "be prepared to spend long , nerve-wracking months telling your progeny that there is no way they are ever , ever going to have a pet penguin .", "mr. popper 's penguins is a stupefying dumb family movie proving that penguins have limited charisma as pets .", "flightless and foul .", "as family entertainment for the summer holidays it is n't bad , and britain 's ophelia lovibond does well as popper 's perky assistant , though carrey is fundamentally subdued .", "jim carrey 's latest is a perfectly pleasant if predictable picture about a part-time pop who learns his priorites after receiving a package of penguins .", "carrey can single-handedly kill a good comedy with his ott shtick , but this time he reins it in and the film is all the better for it .", "it 's not an awful film but , in the end , it 's nothing much at all .", "remember adam sandler in click ? robin williams in hook ? eddie murphy in the haunted mansion ? then congratulations , you 've already seen this movie .", "this is jim at his most carrey-esque , back in ace ventura territory .", "much of the plotting is perfunctory but the slap-stick is fun and carrey , toning down his usually mugging , shrewdly lets the penguins steal the show .", "the laughter is intermittent and is ultimately overwhelmed by a wave of sentimentality .", "a saccharine family-oriented comedy , which hammers home the central message about parental responsibility and love triumphing over adversity with all the tenderness of a nasty case of frostbite .", "sadly , this is a one-joke film which carrey can not keep afloat ...", "`` mr. popper 's penguins , '' a mildly amusing flight of fancy for the family crowd , is far better for its penguins than its popper .", "despite humor that relies too heavily on bird farting and pooping , the sometimes-sweet penguins does n't stink .", "... the movie 's very lack of surprises has its own cozy comforts ...", "might be the closest jim carrey will come to making a third ace ventura film .", "a particularly plain , patly penned picture preoccupied with penguin poop .", "the message of valuing family over work feels half-baked because the film defines doing the right thing as breaking penguins out of a zoo and harboring them in a high-rise .", "mr. popper 's penguins bears almost no resemblance to the classic children 's book of the same name . but that 's not necessarily a bad thing .", "it used to be that a comedian had to make an armed services comedy . now , we stick them in domestic stories about daddies who learn family is more important than work .", "everything about the idea of `` mr. popper 's penguins '' sounds lovely , and everything about the actual movie is ugly .", "be prepared for the oh-so-real possibility that your kid -- or your wife -- is going to want a penguin for christmas after seeing this movie .", "a slick , soulless adaptation of the children 's book classic ...", "it 's yet another variation of the uptight character who loosens up through the intervention of -lrb- blank -rrb- . but the transition of popper turning from corporate raider to familial guardian -lrb- and back and forth again -rrb- is unconvincing .", "... based on a 1938 novel that it appears to have little in common with , presumably because poo and fart jokes were not in vogue back then , not to mention that modern yet already moldy cliche of the dad who works so much , he 's lost sight of his family .", "whatever fond memories audiences have of the atwaters ' work , hollywood wants to poop all over them .", "everything about it is synthetic except for the occasions in which carrey can rouse himself from the somnolence of family-movie slop .", "a mildly amusing specimen of a genre that has produced some of the most unspeakable atrocities of recent cinema .", "this is a purported comedy , loosely and irresponsibly based on a children 's novel , that only leona helmsley could love .", "... has so many cgi penguins that we might as well be watching the latest version of angry birds .", "my heart was warmed by gratuitous moments when mr. carrey clowns for clowning 's sake -- in the best of them , he makes a slo-mo entrance to a press conference , even though the camera is running at normal speed .", "see it for the air conditioning and cheap babysitting , but stay for a shred of surprising charm .", "jim carrey 's farts-and-flippers comedy , which , though exceedingly dumb , is at least very smart about what appeals to 4 - to 10-year-old kids , fans of happy feet , march of the penguins , and youtube animal videos .", "` mr. popper 's penguins ' is hollywood formula , but it 's well poured and goes down easy . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "infantile family comedy ... a cutesy , by-the-numbers mixture of slapstick and sentiment .", "a bland family film where your struggle with consciousness will be the most exciting thing happening in the theater .", "it totally delivers on having jim carrey and penguins in it . really not much to say here . the movie does everything it promises to , it 's cute , it 's light and that 's fine .", "such a brazenly moronic and uninspired example of a family movie that you 'd swear it was a parody of brazenly moronic and uninspired family movies .", "mr. popper 's penguins finds carrey in an agreeable groove , gliding smoothly .", "why is jim carrey standing around watching penguins be funny ? why is n't he in a movie where jim carrey is funny ?", "as bastardizations of beloved children 's books go , this one is n't terrible-certainly not as offensive as the cat in the hat , for instance-but it has the potential to be a genuinely good movie and blows it . that 's a real shame . in a total ...", "carrey 's penguin antics are predictable but still funny .", "fervently panders to an under-10 audience with carrey 's main requirement only to mug in a variety of reaction shots to his beaked sidekicks ' mischievous hijinks and to provide name-brand legitimacy to a dim and unfunny project .", "despite gags that fall flat and potty humor going for easy laughs from the kids , mr. popper 's penguins offers generally enjoyable and harmless family fun .", "all of this would be simply banal if not for waters ' surehandedness and carrey 's clever inserts . this is staccato carrey , throwing in lines and rubbery faces in between the kid movie machinations .", "director mark waters manages to wring some charm out of the film , and out of jim carrey .", "a goofily endearing family flick . it 's nothing that wo n't be just as much fun on home video , but a pleasant enough time waster while kids are out of school .", "-lsb- video -rsb- you probably wo n't come away from the movie with any newfound appreciation for penguins , but you 'll get what you came for from jim carrey .", "while the story is formula cornball , director mark waters sells it confidently , handling the unruly antarctic denizens as amiably as he handled lindsay lohan in his freaky friday remake and mean girls .", "in spite of his adorable cg fish-eating accessories , popper is just another lazy , family-friendly stock patriarch in a long line of clueless but basically well-meaning fathers that carrey has played over the years .", "with , say , eddie murphy as the star , mr. popper 's penguins might have been a glorified paycheck contrivance . but carrey is so naturally stylized that he coaxes the film 's gentle , creature-feature insanity to life .", "mr. popper 's penguins has hatched a refreshing , hilarious and heartwarming movie for everyone .", "carrey looks frozen out of his own movie -- a stiffer and less elastic version of the younger dynamo . he could have used some of that cgi magic himself .", "an explicit shot of a penguin doing its business on a man 's face -lsb- is -rsb- an apt metaphor for what the movie has to offer family audiences .", "yet another almost ghastly film wrapped around the gigantic talent that is jim carrey .", "`` mr. popper 's penguins '' the best family film this year and a must for the summer !", "it 's an old-fashioned movie , gentling its way toward satisfying familial reunion , fueled by almost always endearing penguin antics .", "it 's awkward .", "mr. popper 's penguins ranks as just another in a long line of disappointments from carrey .", "theoretically , hilarity ensues . in fact , the laughs , such as there are , are mild and sparse . . if carrey is less manic than you anticipate , he 's also a lot less funny .", "-lsb- carrey 's -rsb- always `` on , '' even when the character is supposed to be off ; by the end of the movie , there is n't a piece of scenery that does n't bear his teethmarks .", "it stokes memories of an era of clever , adventurous and genuinely sweet movies for kids , on one hand , while planting a future memory of quality for today 's tykes .", "although the mix of real gentoo penguins and cgi tricksters will keep youngsters entertained , we spend a lot of time waiting for the movie to shake a tail feather .", "a formulaic family comedy with little to offer other than prepackaged life lessons and carrey going through the motions of lame slapstick and a half-hearted catch phrase .", "come for the penguins , stay for the four fart jokes , four defecation gags , one shot of testicle trauma , and a series of sketchy messages for the wee ones .", "somehow it kind of clicks .", "carrey generates zero laughs with one penguin . then five more penguins arrive , and even youngsters should know the product of six times zero .", "what the heck became of carrey 's career as a comic genius ?", "it 's not very good , but it works better than it has any right to because carrey never ever phones it in .", "following his terrific performance in the r-rated i love you phillip morris , carrey has turned to a soft pg vehicle , and shows too much strain to make the comedy viable .", "the six penguins cast in this amiable fox family comedy steal the movie -- along with any fish they can find -- although the film 's star , jim carrey , does manage very nicely to hold his own .", "this is carrey phoning it in , without any of the usual carrey hi-jinx that makes these films worth watching .", "mr. popper 's penguins will certainly delight the kiddies , but their parents might wish for a tad more jim carrey irreverence .", "march of the penguins plus puerile people . there 's the cute-animals schtick , lazy toilet humour , and a squawwwking message about rediscovering both inner child and family .", "the good news is that , even though one must pace oneself through the dull parts , usually involving mr. popper 's dullish family , -lsb- carrey 's -rsb- in pretty good form whenever he 's getting physical", "just when you think penguin mania is over , here comes ` mr. popper 's penguins ' starring jim carrey plus the cutest bunch of penguins ever to waddle across the screen and steal your heart .", "pitch perfect fun .", "carrey modulates his comedy for a kid-friendly audience", "mr. popper 's penguins has enough originality -lrb- and silly physical comedy -rrb- to make it stand out .", "jim carrey 's warmest , funniest movie in years and its perfect for kids and adults .", "not nearly as dismal as it could have been ." ], "summary": "blandly inoffensive and thoroughly predictable , mr. popper 's penguins could have been worse -- but it should have been better .", "id": "771217266" }, { "movie": "catch_and_release", "reviews": [ "-lsb- garner -rsb- is moving up the likeability ladder to sandra bullock/julia roberts levels .", "that this movie does n't find a way out of the morass of clich\u00e9 and triviality is n't surprising , but it is disappointing .", "the mark of a good romantic comedy is whether it can make you care if the couple in the poster wind up being an item by the final reel . at the end of ` MOV , ' cupid 's intrigues and caprices are less involving than a typical state of the union", "ugh .", "MOV is a little one that gets away .", "sadly lifeless .", "it does n't end with a mad dash through an airport , for example . but nor does it bother with thinking of anything much better .", "i was pleasantly surprised .", "much , much better than it has any right to be .", "an archetypal date movie with a good heart .", "the cliches can be grating at times , and even as a typical romantic comedy it never reaches the level of , say , the truth about cats and dogs .", "... a likable romantic comedy that delivers enough laughs and star appeal to fare reasonably well in the date-movie department , even if it does n't entirely live up to its ambitions .", "for those who 's receptivity to a bit of romance between attractive people is strong enough to prevail against vacuous literary flotsam .", "unable to work as a comedy , romance or drama , this film is n't to catch or release . best to just let this one swim on by .", "the film suffers from a style that settles for pleasant or touching at the cost of spontaneous or impassioned . too bad , because ms. garner is a genuinely pleasing presence .", "given the film 's complicated and ambitious opening , it 's that more disappointing when it settles into the rut of ` happily ever after ' cliches .", "were it not for -lsb- kevin -rsb- smith 's mildly amusing antics , it might have been necessary to attach a warning to the movie about the dangers of watching it whilst operating heavy machinery .", "a strange fish of a film , susannah grant 's directorial debut MOV glitters and reeks .", "if anyone could make death a delight , it 's jennifer garner .", "the kind of movie that just ca n't seem to have enough annoying self-absorbed people around to rattle on about their life woes . catch this release at your own peril .", "it 's such a bland example of its genre , it may as well have been titled a romantic drama starring jennifer garner .", "there 's barely anything new in this well-designed , prettily shot piece of fluff hewn from the realm of tragic-comic romance immemorial .", "a chick flick , but all the chicks are guys . the dialogue among these girlymen is so unmanly and unrealistic it increases the cringe factor geometrically .", "do you hear that clinking noise ? it 's the chains of the plot left dangling .", "if it should happen that one day netflix includes MOV among `` movies you 'd also enjoy , '' consider cancelling your subscription .", "i just do n't know any chick who will make sense of this flick -- it 's that blitheringly out of touch with present psychosexual -lrb- never mind feminist -rrb- time and space .", "unappealing , inert and overlong inane romantic comedy .", "... kind of the inverse of last year 's you , me & dupree jammed together with an old bette davis weepie .", "despite the film 's attempts to imbue garner with spark , she simply disappears into the supporting pack in a film that does n't know if it 's rom-coming or going .", "why jennifer garner was eager to play the lead in this film is anybody 's guess .", "the sense of new age romantic serendipity and zen whimsy writer/director grant strives to invoke in ` MOV ' just does n't register .", "romantic comedies lately are surpassing the threshold of good taste , with death brought into the equation more often . though susannah grant showed some insight into the plight of troubled women through her scripts for `` erin brockovich '' and `` in her shoes , ''", "the predictable concept strains credulity . throw it back !", "we left this giggling over all of the bad fishing jokes we could use in our review of the film , which is telling ... it 's certainly not the catch of the day .", "the star of tv 's alias , garner would have been wise to use a false name .", "if you 're looking for a predictable but inoffensive film , `` MOV '' is about as middle-of-the-road as you can get .", "it 's an orgy of product placement that gives you 've got mail a run for the money .", "catch & release ? nah . try net & forget .", "the floundering MOV is not a keeper .", "complete misfire .", "mostly forgettable romantic comedy for teens and up .", "release yourself from boredom by giving it a miss .", "by the conclusion of the film , MOV transformed itself from a risk-taking romantic comedy with a darkly humorous lining into a stereotypically syrupy outing ...", "viewers may find its mix of pathos and humor loose and lumpy , but then is n't that how life is ?", "MOV will not cause ben affleck any husband-envy . it 's a harmless romantic comedy that will garner garner no awards and middling success at the box office .", "suffice it to say that when the best thing you can say about a movie is the soundtrack was decent -lrb- catch the old lemonheads tune in the beginning -rrb- , it 's not worth the trip to the theater .", "a story of self-discovery MOV is ... well it 's horribly , horribly dull is what it is . it 's like an entire season of a mediocre primetime soap opera squeezed into a couple of hours .", "... harbours a secret crush on gray but , hey , so does everybody , since gray has fairies and butterflies flying out of her vagina .", "MOV is an all-too-appropriate title for the glum new jennifer garner movie . this fish should be thrown back .", "jennifer garner may possess the hardest working eyebrows in show business , but kevin smith gets the acting kudos in this bittersweet romance .", "garner is likable , but the film is so leisurely and meandering that it never quite builds a pulse to engage the emotions the way grant so obviously strives .", "even with smith involved , MOV is n't the sort of film a guy would generally go to see alone , but it does make for a decent date movie . she 'll enjoy the romantic elements and he 'll likely find it unobjectionably entertaining .", "the chick comedy-drama MOV may look bland , but it 's not . it 's worse . to rise to the level of blandness , it would need to have a few gallons of tabasco dumped into it .", "a film that a talented veteran of romantic comedy would have had trouble pulling off , let alone a screenwriter -lrb- susannah grant wrote erin brockovich -rrb- who has never directed a film before .", "every time -lsb- kevin smith -rsb- comes on screen , he perks things up a little . he makes the time pass faster , and the flaws recede . he turns what might be a forgettable movie into a halfway decent one .", "the romantic comedy MOV is refreshing for what it does n't have . there is no whiny , spoiled golden girl and no baring of claws .", "neither a comedy nor a drama but existing in that comfortable space in between , MOV , the feature-directing debut of screenwriter susannah grant , is an oddly appealing , if innocuous , movie of considerable charm .", "from scene to scene , it careens back and forth between honest emotion and contrived absurdity , the net effect of which is to make even the most credible bits of behavior feel suspect and the whole package annoyingly unengaging .", "MOV is a puzzle missing a few critical pieces , and as a result , it never really connects .", "this wan , by-the-numbers romantic comedy , which marks the directorial debut of screenwriter susannah grant , is so superficial and formulaic that even garner 's mega-watt grin ca n't completely save it .", "screenwriter susannah grant -lrb- in her shoes , erin brockovich -rrb- makes her directing debut by cramming every conceivable genre into one mess of a movie . it 's as if she did n't think she 'd get another chance .", "for the most part , MOV is involving and occasionally endearing .", "this one is n't even worth catching . just throw it back .", "despite possessing a few effective and affecting scenes , MOV is a mess and the methods it uses to bring closure to its diverse storylines feel trite and contrived .", "it 's passable entertainment that you do n't have to feel totally guilty about enjoying . in late january , we 'll take it .", "neither here nor there , neither offensively bad nor anything special , MOV inspires little more than a shrug .", "cockamamie .", "susannah grant 's disappointingly lugubrious directorial debut is a tweener , a cliche ' dramedy neither humorous to qualify as comedy nor substantial enough to be taken as drama ; hopes for a fresh female voice in telling romantic yarns are defeated .", "MOV has a magazine-spread polish that sometimes tricks you into thinking that it 's a more distinctive romantic comedy than it actually is .", "forgettable seriocomic blather from writer-director susannah grant .", "does n't move things along so much as let them float in an abyss of romantic comedy jell-o that congeals from the get-go .", "deals with serious issues -- sudden death , grief , infidelity , deception -- in a fairly lighthearted way . what makes that worse is that there are a few moments when the film actually approaches some kind of emotional or dramatic truth .", "MOV is an unfunny , undramatic comedy-drama that asks us to care about lying idiots making implausible choices .", "garner and -lsb- writer/director -rsb- grant work hard to push the picture into unexplored territory , and the cringe-worthy moments are easy to overlook .", "however diverting are garner , smith and the scenery , the ricochet-romance aspect of grant 's film is , frankly , icky .", "MOV seems both too long -lrb- at nearly two hours -rrb- and too short -lrb- with under-developed plot lines -rrb- . still , you may enjoy gray and sam , and even fritz , enough to stay involved .", "MOV is a perfectly likable romantic tragi-comedy , and therein lies the problem . if the essence of drama and comedy is conflict , what do you get when you wash the conflict away in an effort to make everybody ` likable ' ?", "MOV has been described in the trades as a romantic comedy , but the rambling , episodic movie defies classification .", "calling this a chick flick is maybe too easy . the film is for people who want to leave the house but watch tv without going to a bar or hotel . bring along a remote and you can be fully comfortable .", "susannah grant 's movie is rough around the edges , but once you get used to the laconic pace , the plot grooves along nicely .", "screenwriter susannah grant makes her directing debut with a romance that wants to respect the mess of love and loss but winds up smoothing all its rough edges with a hollywood pumice stone .", "MOV is overlong and unfocused but not entirely unlikable . unfortunately , its least likable element is its lead character , gray , played by jennifer garner .", "a film with a fishing metaphor for a title should have come with sharper hooks .", "although extremely slow moving and hard to sit through , ` MOV ' focuses on characters who genuinely care about each other .", "... nothing particularly noteworthy or innovative ...", "can we really be expected to invest in a budding relationship between a woman and the best buddy of her dead lover ?", "the multiple story threads make it a little unfocused from a thematic standpoint , but it 's a generally well-executed lark , neither too serious nor too silly for its subject matter .", "at times i was entertained ; other times , i just scratched my head .", "the film 's slight , quirky characters are driven by a soundtrack designed to tell us exactly how to feel . and perhaps that 's not such a bad thing -- in this case , something had to .", "disappointing film that ca n't decide whether it 's meant to be a romantic comedy or an emotional drama and fails at both as a result .", "a ghastly sort of nora ephron-ish good taste pervades this romcom-tearjerker .", "juliette lewis helps break the monotony with a sparkling turn as a ditsy skeleton in the dead fianc\u00e9 's closet and kevin smith spouts a few good zingers as the slacker housemate . sadly it 's not enough to catch and keep hold of your interest .", "a big-hearted light-headed story that is n't as deep as it wants to be , but still manages to entertain .", "grant 's debut as a director is less than impressive and soon will be consigned to the dvd outlets where perhaps it should have appeared first .", "in the first half-hour of ` catch , ' you may wonder what the movie 's focus is going to be ; 90 minutes later , you still wo n't have a clear answer . ... while it 's all nicely acted and sometimes funny , it 's also utterly disjointed .", "a film that focus on real-life possibilities and whose characters traverse the highs and lows of their lives . the perfect valentine date movie .", "the film ends up caught in the middle between characters that have a unique way of life about them and a story that feels bolted to the floor of convention no matter how much grant struggles to free herself .", "MOV draws its title from the fishing philosophy of gray 's fianc\u00e9 and buddies . the humane thing to do is throw this film back too .", "suffers from trying to be too many things to too many audiences and tastes .", "reportedly cut down from an unwieldy running time , it feels like a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing that forms a picture that was n't worth waiting for .", "if it was brad pitt carrying the coffee and halle berry saying she 's not serious about him to a buddy , this movie would make over $ 100 million .", "in her directorial debut susannah grant has made a romantic comedy that flounders and fizzles with bad acting and unappealing characters .", "jennifer garner leads an enormously appealing cast as the bride who wore black .", "there are some interesting , if less than original , ideas stuck between all the comic banter and the unlikely romantic relationship you see coming a mile away , but the film never finds a way to marry the less-than-convincing melodrama with the melancholy .", "a noteworthy mess for the sheer mass of talent it squanders , MOV is best not caught .", "writer-director susannah grant , of erin brockovich fame , mixes in the funny with the sappy . all in all , a good date movie with a nice twist -- even if you saw it coming .", "the romantic dramedy MOV is off the mark in so many respects one wonders if it would have been more humane to release this one directly into the dvd stream .", "this fish-themed romance flops wildly all over the place , from heavy poignant moments to slapsticky comedy , with a healthy dose of soapy melodrama in between .", "in spite of the material , lewis really finds a natural rhythm to her character , almost as if she were in a separate movie . too bad she is n't .", "a romantic comedy-drama with little comedy , no drama and less romance than your average youtube video .", "MOV tries to hook audiences by changing gears between drama and comedy . it 's a formula that 's proven successful for many so-called ` chick flicks ' , but here it fails to reel you in .", "feel free to throw it back .", "lachrymose and lugubrious , this drippy dramedy tries to mix laughter and tears but earns only an exasperated frown .", "the film 's a pleasant enough daydream before it turns all squoodgy at the end .", "like a girl falling for the wrong guy , -lsb- writer/director -rsb- grant has fallen for her own inadequate material . her overstuffed story feels under-explained .", "... the rare chick flick that defines its heroine on her own terms , not in terms of the husband or boyfriend she wants or has .", "kevin smith has a commanding , affable presence that hints his acting career may surpass his considerable directorial successes . it 's a performance that would land an oscar nomination , if only the film it came from were n't so weak .", "this is one of those chick flicks with nice characters and little plot , so boyfriends had best beware .", "-lsb- b -rsb- eautifully crafted ... creates an aching loveliness of psychic empty space ...", "at best a mildly diverting effort that wants to be more than it is .", "a romantic non-comedy .", "that MOV does n't amount to much is because it treads lightly on big emotions .", "if grief were as easily overcome as it is in MOV , prozac sales would be in dire trouble .", "one of those movies where the small pleasures stack up high enough to dwarf the disappointments .", "the movie takes subject matter that seems depressing and infuses it with humor and warmth .", "a well-acted , truthfully written film -- there 's just too much of it -lrb- about 20 minutes too much -rrb- .", "take heart : you may feel that it takes forever , but the movie will eventually end .", "the poor man 's julia roberts , garner boasts a similar coltish , awkward physicality and vaguely aquatic mouth ... just none of the movie-star charisma .", "MOV is another middle-of-the-road romantic dramedy , neither offensively bad nor terribly inspiring either , despite its best efforts ." ], "summary": "a romantic dramedy with boring , stock characters and contrived situations .", "id": "387348368" }, { "movie": "terribly_happy", "reviews": [ "word is that danish director henrik ruben genz is planning to remake his latest film , MOV , in english . there 's not much room for improvement .", "moves swiftly and offers just enough creepiness and conflict to keep things interesting .", "... has a lot in common with david lynch 's `` blue velvet . ''", "genz creates a distinctive look and feel in the film . the town is drab , the people wrung out , and the moments of passion are smoothed back down into the tired routine .", "we can spot every single plot turn coming across the tidelands from five kilometers away . certainly someone deserves to get shot .", "MOV , directed by henrick ruben genz , is all moodiness , midnight black comedy and noir mystery .", "it may not sound funny , but there 's a bleakly comic air about the story , and a bit of surrealism , suggesting the most caustic side of the coen brothers .", "the movie is so artfully constructed that it gives you the sweats right up to the end .", "a polished , entertaining affair that spins off in unexpected directions .", "a taut , intriguing and refreshingly well-crafted crime thriller brimming with many clever twists and turns .", "finds the sweet spot in that realm of disturbing , unpredictable drama tinged with the blackest possible comedy ... a deliciously dark and offbeat surprise .", "this is one avant-garde western -lrb- and film noir and psychodrama -rrb- that no one , pig bodine or otherwise , need recommend .", "an eerie spellbinder featuring inbred folks from a small , evil , danish town .", "it is wonderfully unhinged , and a painstakingly constructed meditation on a place where good and evil meet , mate , and make sour times sublime and , dare i say it , beautiful .", "the characters are intended to be slightly stupid , but the writing is n't necessarily smarter .", "genz 's amoral , sadistic black comedy recalls the coen brothers in blood simple mode ; it 's fascinating to watch as the hapless characters are sucked into a morass of diabolical fate and their own vice and folly .", "genz and erling have constructed a story so clever that the pleasure of following its twists is enough in itself .", "... a mystery thriller from start to finish that goes in unexpected directions and it is an enjoyable ride all the way through .", "no noirish yarn this good stays obscure long", "an american remake is said to be in the works ; see the original before someone lesser than genz -- or the coens -- gets their mitts on it .", "ganz cooks up a compelling paranoid mood , but there 's not enough to sustain the tone , and eventually the movie burns itself out .", "MOV is a gripping morality tale , one that uses macabre humor and sudden reversals to show how seemingly little mistakes can become life-changing disasters .", "MOV must surely be the greatest danish western ever made .", "with its fascinating story , perfect pacing and superbly moody camera work by cinematographer jorgen johansson , MOV takes you by a slow , purposeful surprise .", "such dark doings wo n't be for everyone , but fans of similarly dry nordic fare - like the works of aki kaurismaki - will be happy to have found it .", "based on a novel by erling jepsen , this offbeat drama wrings suspense and mordant wit in equal measure from a situation that spirals quickly out of control .", "genz seems to delight in keeping viewers off guard . nothing is as it seems at first , and nothing ever plays out the way you expect .", "beneath the poker face of this wickedly entertaining film lurks an insinuating smirk on the verge of widening into a grin .", "an odd and enjoyable small-town noir from denmark", "this is a smart , melancholy crime picture , which takes its cues from the title of the perverse old standard christensen plays on her stereo at night : `` you always hurt the one you love . ''", "een the story 's sudden swerve into melodrama has the nightmare reality of film noir at its best .", "cedergren is a little too bland , but that works with hansen 's air of haplessness and sets him apart from the colorful locals .", "a strong crime-thriller on par with some of the films from the coen brothers , one that keeps you captivated with every twist and development .", "not terrible , not happy .", "obviously , the dark nature of the story will turn off some audiences . but the film will appeal to those who love the thriller genre ...", "something is rotten in the state of denmark .", "it has been aptly compared to the coen brothers and films like blood simple -lrb- 1984 -rrb- .", "entertaining and full of surprising twists , this highly cinematic tale of a copenhagen policeman working punishment duty in the provinces plays with genre in a manner that can be compared with the coen brothers or david lynch .", "a nearly surreal scandinavian crime thriller with noirish shades of a stockholm syndrome kicking in , this creepy delight unfolds on the border somewhere between the nordic boondocks and the twilight zone .", "MOV is a comedy of misdirection of the blackest hue ...", "lurid and stylish , this 2008 danish feature plays like a cross between the postman always rings twice and high noon , with a dash of gothic thriller .", "`` MOV '' is a little light on the plotting , going on narrative autopilot for the last third of the film instead of giving us a few extra turns of the screw for good measure .", "not quite a comedy but as darkly comic a crime drama as you 'll find , this offbeat modern noir ... is a weirdly compelling portrait of a town that has its own sense of justice ...", "the setting is stark and simple - a semi-deserted , two-street town amid long , flat marshland - but director henrik ruben genz infuses it all with a dark , twisted beauty ." ], "summary": "led by henrik ruben ganz 's assured direction , this knotty danish noir thriller steers audiences into some nicely unexpected territory .", "id": "770783497" }, { "movie": "material_girls", "reviews": [ "certainly does n't bode well for either duff sister if this is the best script coming their way .", "is anjelica huston in need of work ? is that why she 's in this piece of crap ?", "as a film that sets out to poke fun at the la , st tropez tan , famous for being famous , stupid small dogs lifestyle , its far too candy-coated and lacks bite , while the comic timing is off .", "save your allowance , kids -- a mall trip would be way more fun than this ditzy duff fluff .", "the movie , which was not screened for critics , makes a joke of everyone who is n't wealthy , white and pencil thin .", "the duff sisters are pleasant personalities , but the vapid bimbosity of their characters quickly becomes grating .", "along the way , self-discovery bangs 'em over the head .", "fans of the duffs finally have a film to look forward to while they 're doing their nails and staring off into space .", "an insipid mess not worthy of the tweens who flock to such flicks .", "a brain-numbing , fluffy flick for tweens .", "welcome to adulthood , hillary and haylie duff . here are your t-mobile sidekicks and tabloid news stories . leave your personalities at the door .", "even anjelica huston as a rival cosmetics magnate struggles to inject any venom into the proceedings .", "lessons about social responsibility are submerged in a bubble bath of innocent glamour ; amy heckerling 's clueless looks like a mordant social satire by comparison .", "the scariest part of MOV comes when you 're sitting in the dark theater and start considering the possibility that young women might find these characters sympathetic .", "a duff movie indeed .", "forced to endure such casually offensive nonsense , the viewer ends up slumming it far more than the duff protagonists .", "i liked it better with brittany murphy .", "an incompetent spin on the poor-little-rich-girl story , the film involves a lot of wardrobe changes and product placements , and a smidgen of intrigue and some chaste romance .", "i barely buy them as sisters , let alone as whoever these characters are supposed to be .", "it 's not clueless , just clueless .", "woe is the marchetta sisters !", "as if one duff was n't enough for us .", "martha coolidge 's direction treats the whole adventure with more respect than it deserves , which also makes one wish that she 'd been able to work with the duffs on something much more worthwhile .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is n't some light send-up of materialism . it 's a light endorsement of it .", "the fact is , neither hilary nor haylie have any flair for subtle comedy .", "it succeeds on its own terms . these days , even pre teens live in a material world .", "light but listless .", "there is no edge to the movie at all , and that blandness will render it forgettable to anyone over the age of 12 or so , but for all that , it is pleasant enough , and occasionally even fun .", "madonna 's anthem was only good-naturedly arrogant , but the socal twins , like the film 's script , are arrogant , ghastly immature and offensive to any audience that is n't all of the above .", "nonsensical from the get-go , the girls ' fish-out-of-water routine grows interminable .", "stays true to its name , all right , but there 's no reason the film also had to be an embarrassingly unfunny and aimless chore to sit through .", "at the very least , material answers the question everyone wants to know : yes , haylie is the better actress .", "a superficial tween comedy that mocks celebutantes like the olsen twins while simultaneously pushing stars hilary and haylie duff as their replacements .", "you may find yourself longing for the intricate plotting and ensemble acting skills of the olsen twins movies .", "paris and nicky hilton exhibit more character nuance . and they 're vaguely more entertaining to watch .", "the film opens with the duffs huffing and puffing their way through a remake of madonna 's ` material girl , ' an ode to gold digging that madonna sang with a touch of wry humor ; the duffs perform it as if it was ` the battle hymn of the republic . '", "this is indeed one dumb film .", "with the exception of anjelica huston 's regal supporting turn , ` MOV ' is an immaterial movie .", "it 's sort of reassuring that although madge has seemingly given up starring in bad movies , her company is still financing terrible scripts .", "even by the low standards of the genre it represents , this female teen comedy represents a new nadir .", "the villain -lrb- a greedy corporate man of some sort -rrb- is n't very fleshed out , but it 's hard to believe that he 's any worse than the two self-serving , appearance-obsessed protagonists , with whom the film asks young girls everywhere to identify .", "a few funny lines spool out intermittently , but it 's the inane-ness of MOV that grates . while hollywood sisters haylie and hilary duff tell each other money does n't bring happiness , their actions speak otherwise", "finally drives a duff vehicle into the land of beguilingly awful .", "maybe immaterial girls would have been a more appropriate title .", "you might remember it from may when it starred lindsay lohan and was called just my luck .", "there 's a happily ever after ending complete with cute new boyfriends . but on the way there , the movie has a surprising number of inapprpriate and ugly choices considering the target audience and the pg rating .", "messy , patronising and tonally confused , this vanity project - timed to co-incide with hilary duff 's perfume launch - quite frankly stinks .", "watchable enough and by no means as bad as the perfect man , although there 's not much here that 'll interest the over-12s .", "the film 's sole purpose is to promote , with chilling lack of irony , hilary duff 's own brand of perfume -- oh , and there 's her single as well .", "under the circumstances , anjelica huston and lukas haas manage not to embarrass themselves , but only because they 're pretending to be in a different movie .", "frankly movies like MOV sicken me ; they 're base and soulless and entirely unworthy of the celluloid they were filmed upon .", "seems more of an ode to paris and nicky hilton than a decent vehicle for these sisters", "haylie and sister hilary duff just do n't have the comedy stylings to sell this half-baked story of heiress sisters battling to save their dad 's cosmetics empire from ruin .", "`` this thing is screwier than courtney love ! '' whimpers hilary in her usual chihuahua-on-helium whine . even she , however , manages to shine next to her aggravating older sister , saddled as she is with all the comic timing of a mortally wounded elephant ." ], "summary": "plagued by paper-thin characterizations and a hackneyed script , MOV fails to live up to even the minimum standards of its genre .", "id": "277848908" }, { "movie": "more_than_a_game", "reviews": [ "there 's no `` i '' in team . but there are two in stultifying .", "belman does n't look into the bigger problems of james ' team jet-setting across the country during the school year , or the spectacle allowed to build up around him .", "keeps the hype at bay long enough to create a story about real characters , rather than indulging in glorified player profiles .", "it 's an inspiring tale not just for lovers of basketball , although the games featured are so thrilling and tense that it 's a challenge to remain sitting placidly in one 's seat .", "deeply inspiring . that said , for every young kid who sees MOV and thinks they are the next lebron james -- it should be mandatory to watch 1994 's hoop dreams .", "sometimes the narrative suffers from a surfeit of hindsight -- earnest sermonizing on the importance of friendship , family and dedication in the boys ' development . the sermons are worthy ones , though , and mr. belman 's film dramatizes what it preaches .", "` MOV ' is a riveting , emotional and inspirational documentary that captures the ups and downs of five young men who bonded as friends and teammates .", "somewhat engaging and well-edited with stylish cinematography and great music , but it ultimately falls short in terms of offering insightful and provocative revelations .", "the footage is terrific , and all the guys make for charismatic heroes . but belman barely addresses the stories happening off the court .", "teamwork , not victory : that 's the message of MOV and it 's a worthy one that makes for exciting filmmaking .", "the skilled editing eventually brings out the personalities of all five players , adding an emotional stake to the footage of key games .", "there is dazzling basketball here and an interesting father-son relationship -lrb- coach dru joyce was father of the shortest player on the team -rrb- .", "around the halfway point when the lebron james crew runs into some adversity beyond the socioeconomic circumstances that get short shrift in the movie , it starts getting pretty good .", "while MOV succeeds in depicting the friends ' deep mutual affection , the edges of the lebron james story are too often smoothed to a dull , inspirational point .", "a superb , slam-dunk documentary about young boys achieving personal and team goals on the basketball court .", "it 's always risky to mix sports metaphors , but it 's hard to resist the notion that the basketball-themed MOV is a knockout of a sports documentary .", "even non-basketball fans should enjoy this terrific human interest drama of skill , loyalty , and passion .", "conforms to the classic three-act story structure of unexpected success followed by hubristic downfall followed by triumphant return .", "an inspiring story that works very hard to remind you it 's an inspiring story at every opportunity .", "good game footage , a few clear looks at the kids behind it , but mostly as processed as space jam .", "lebron becomes a high school star , and this doc entertains without getting too heavy .", "an inspirational bio-pic about the transcendent magic of friendship forged in pursuit of hoop dreams .", "MOV is a documentary , but it 's every inch a triumph-of-the-underdogs fairy tale .", "belman only skims the surface ; even his depiction of the admirable joyce -lrb- who ditched corporate america to chase his dream of being a mentor -rrb- shows a preference for tidy sound bites over intense inquiry .", "let 's start with the title , which is problematic by nature : there is nothing MOV on display here .", "it 's especially effective in exploring the pressures on the boys and their fragile dreams .", "utterly captivating for the humanity at its core .", "the film is pretty superficial in its reporting and is by-the-numbers in its storytelling . if the subjects were n't interesting , the movie would be a complete snore .", "what 's almost as impressive as james 's talent on the court is his poise and character .", "you 'd be hard-pressed to find a better documentary about on-court dynamics and off-court camaraderie ; but as journalism , it 's less than thorough .", "despite opening with a statement that basketball should be a means to an end rather than an end in itself , the film itself is about 99.9 % basketball .", "the filmmakers go a little too far with the superlatives , at times trying to portray these gifted and often immature players as bigger underdogs than they appear to be in real life . but the movie is comprehensive and interesting ...", "like a gambler with an inside bet , you can know the final score , but still enjoy every second of the game .", "it 's a resonant story about four boyhood friends , determination , sacrifice , overcoming obstacles and the mentor who guides them from rough beginnings to the national basketball championship . it 's about victorious lives , not games .", "maybe belman 's film will instill in youngsters an interest in documentaries , of which this is a generally fine example .", "expertly orchestrated and unavoidably moving , MOV is nevertheless your standard inspirational sports story about spunky kids who defy the odds to become champions .", "MOV is more than a feature-length profile of lebron james , and that 's good news .", "not exactly your average sports saga , filled with extraordinary characters and equally extraordinary circumstances that hollywood could craft no better in any feature script .", "evoted fans of the game , and especially of lebron james , will love MOV . the skeptical and the curious may find themselves wanting more .", "the story itself would be largely untold if belman had n't wheedled his way into their trust , filming his own footage and being granted use of a wealth of home-movie material .", "really , it 's just an extension of the lebron james brand , released to coincide with a book on the same subject and designed to explore the star 's humble roots even while further buffing his galactic glitter .", "while not a particularly great documentary , it succeeds hugely at what it sets out to do , aided by a dramatic storyline that would probably be dismissed as too fantastically implausible if it was in a fiction film .", "what a cool documentary . what a cool memoir .", "there 's plenty to both cheer and ponder .", "what 's amazing , and what belman captures perfectly , is how coach dru achieves his dream of becoming a head coach by being a role model to these boys in need .", "it drags in places , becomes repetitive and could use a more rigid hand in editing , but it also has a kind of pleasing earnestness that would be lost in a more sophisticated effort .", "no make-believe hollywood script could match this once-in-a-lifetime , all-american story ." ], "summary": "though the film may not delve as deep as some would prefer , MOV is an inspiring documentary featuring likable youngsters , a positive message , and some exciting in-game footage .", "id": "770797973" }, { "movie": "you_can_count_on_me", "reviews": [ "it is a rarity to find a film willing to tell a story through an exploration of the relationship , the romance , between a brother and a sister .", "you wo n't meet a nicer dysfunctional family all year .", "a score of bach 's unaccompanied cello suites befits siblings accustomed to solitude - passages of mourning and joy given life by characters with proper proportions of antagonism and affection . unresolved yet complete , it 's about replacing fear with truth .", "the lead characters are extremely well played by laura linney and mark ruffalo . yet above all it is kenneth lonergan 's writing and direction that left the biggest mark .", "this feature debute , which gives good name to american indie cinema , is worth revisiting on dvd for the performances of mark ruffalo and laura linney .", "well structured without resorting to flashbacks", "a quiet , amazingly sharp character study .", "lonergan avoids the faults of many american storytellers by refusing to cast characters in a judgmental light , giving each enough dignity to be convincing and sympathetic .", "stylized showmen do rain man and forrest gump , but it takes a natural actor like ruffalo to pull off this strange beauty .", "linney and ruffalo 's rapport is warm but raw and unsentimental , capturing the unconditional tough love dynamic that can only exist between siblings .", "a fountain of narrative surprise . you never know where this thing is going . and it 's such a pleasure to tag along with these characters .", "one of the best films in many a moon about the passions siblings call forth from each other .", "a remarkable , heartfelt and hilarious journey that will leave you homesick with recognition .", "when terry describes scottsville as a town full of ` dull , narrow people ... with no perspective , no scope , ' he might have been describing the film 's characters .", "la pel\u00edcula est\u00e1 tan maravillosamente bien escrita y narrada , que al salir de la sala se respira un aire de esperanza ...", "MOV is one of the best movies to see this year . but more than that , it 's also one of the best to simply listen to .", "hollywood does n't usually make films about brothers and sisters and i can understand why . who would want to watch a story about me bickering with my sister ?", "it is visually flat and uninteresting and too often feels like a -lrb- leisurely paced -rrb- filmed play .", "this film offers a literate script and is sensitively directed , it 's a brilliant debut as a director for playwright kenneth lonergan .", "it compares poorly to stuff like five easy pieces .", "there was an emotional reality that i admired .", "it is a simple , low-budget film that succeeds because of a great script and good performances .", "the best domestic comedy-drama in ages , a genuine american beauty without all the flash of american beauty .", "a spare -lsb- but witty -rsb- rumination on the interconnectedness of independent life and dependent family -- how we all need a place to drop anchor and exhale .", "unconditional love is a beautiful theory , lonergan suggests , but putting it into practice can be exasperating .", "... feels as natural as a conversation between two people who have known each other their whole lives . one of the year 's best .", "a pleasant motion picture , offering a solid evening 's worth of entertainment .", "a subtle and often surprising study of the relationship between damaged adult siblings , full of mordant humor and dramatic invention .", "the characters in MOV have been freed from the formulas of fiction and set loose to live lives where they screw up , learn from their mistakes and bumble hopefully into the future .", "the small scale of the film is challenging on a big screen ; but the performances ... transcend that scope and make it a small story worth seeing .", "thoroughly modest in its means and ambition , MOV is one of the best pictures i 've seen all year .", "as cinema , it is n't much , but as a story , it 's enough to set the town hall buzzing .", "do n't expect this film to answer all the questions , but do n't be surprised if a few moviegoers call home afterward just to say , ` i love you . '", "by all means , seek out this jewel of a movie .", "MOV is one of the best movies you 're likely to see this year , or any other year , for that matter .", "one to see .", "one of the best american films of the year .", "this is a movie to cherish .", "lonergan shows us what our movies rarely do : real people suffering real pains and joys -- in the small , cluttered ways that real life mostly brings .", "a drama that embraces the ambiguities and contradictions of family ties and human nature in all its irrational glory .", "fashioned with ... remarkable economy and restraint .", "beautifully acted .", "lonergan serves his superb screenplay well .", "-lsb- lonergan 's -rsb- screenplay and direction are marvels of subtlety and nuance .", "with warm humor and perceptive writing , director kenneth lonergan displays a gift for creating realistic characters and a compelling story .", "gives us not so much a slice of reality as a big picture window , polished and gleaming , through which we can see things that matter .", "satisfying in every respect , it 's a piece of blue-collar chamber music , never treating the characters cheaply , allowing them a complex entwinement of emotions .", "a smart movie with a lot of love behind it .", "the only problem with this special film is its stark reminder of all the mediocrity other movies count on us to accept .", "lonergan has two exceptional leads to carry the film through its rough patches .", "this is a subtle , moving film , with great performances and a deceptively clever screenplay . i 'm not educated enough to do justice to the brilliance of this film .", "the key to lonergan 's success ? he has faith in the intelligence of his audience . it 's that simple -- and encouraging .", "works well at conveying complex familial relations", "MOV is the kind of good movie people say is n't made anymore .", "may not be the most imaginative filmmaking , and the plot may drift into a disappointingly conventional resolution , but the performances ... are beautifully pitched .", "an ensemble character piece , MOV counts on great performances , and linney , ruffalo , culkin and broderick deliver .", "offers as rich and satisfying an emotional experience as any film this year .", "a little movie concealing surprisingly big emotions .", "so naturalistic and enjoyable is the interplay among ruffalo , linney and culkin that you wish you could go look up terry and sammy after the closing credits and buy them a beer .", "tone , tact , balance , wit and charm given force by substance -- it 's rare to find that in a movie .", "kenneth lonergan ... has created a set of characters who slowly come to life before our eyes , imperfections , conflicts and all .", "ken lonergan adds just enough unpredictable dialogue and creativity to make this movie the real deal .", "superbly executed .", "what 's most important to lonergan is that we care what happens to his characters -- and we do , very much .", "if you see MOV , you can count on a good , emotionally satisfying experience .", "linney and ruffalo deliver wonderful performances .", "kenneth lonegran brings such authentic humanity to this relationship it would be hard to not feel a involved and invested in these people 's lives .", "it 's simply a quiet and heartbreaking look at the dynamics of one family . that 's the beauty of it .", "a surprising film that will reward patient viewers .", "a simple , beautiful story .", "completely engaging .", "one heck of a great film .", "i never thought i would say this , but i am starting to think that laura linney may , in fact , be a very good actress .", "this funny and involving film presents its well-drawn characters to us pretty much the way we would encounter them in life .", "gem of a movie .", "only a few minutes into it , and we feel like we 've known and cared about these people all of our lives .", "the cast is terrific and true .", "so timid and clumsy in its deployment of picture , sound , and editing that you have to wonder if executive producer martin scorsese bothered to give notes .", "in this modest but brilliant little movie , we find ourselves immersed in life itself .", "beautiful , compassionate , articulate .", "the characters are so likable and the situations so universal that you ca n't help but be won over by this low-key charmer .", "some of its best moments are so painfully familiar that their overall theatricality is easily forgiven ." ], "summary": "MOV may look like it belongs on the small screen , but the movie surprises with its simple yet affecting story . beautifully acted and crafted , the movie will simply draw you in .", "id": "13769" }, { "movie": "ip_man", "reviews": [ "MOV is a highly competent , even slick biopic , but by reshaping its protagonist 's life story towards cinematic convention , it ends up being just another martial arts movie .", "there 's a pleasingly old-fashioned air to all the flying drop-kicks and straight-finger jabs , even if it lacks the cinematic agility we have now come to expect from this kind of thing .", "the movie is clearly hagiographic , but this aspect and its general function as a martial arts movie are supported greatly by yen .", "first and foremost , MOV is an excuse for yen to demonstrate his newfound mastery of the wing chun style . on that front , the film succeeds brilliantly .", "the action is enthralling even if the storyline does n't always have the ring of truth about it .", "yip 's film benefits from crisp cinematography and an engaging ` seven samurai ' - style storyline , but it 's sammo hung 's superbly choreographed kick-ass fight scenes that dazzle .", "yen 's handful of duels do delight ; it 's everything surrounding them that feels tired and trite .", "legend trumps fact in MOV , a kickass fictionalized biopic of the titular grandmaster of wing chun martial arts and mentor to bruce lee .", "the astonishing fight scenes are some of the most exciting ever filmed in a martial arts movie that raises the bar for the genre . for any martial arts fan , `` MOV '' is mandatory viewing .", "it 's all quite conventional ... and nonetheless rousing .", "if you 're looking for great action scenes , you 've found them . but if you desire more than eye candy , such as character and plot development and historical accuracy , you 'll have to look elsewhere .", "as an exaggerated , myth-making martial-arts movie , MOV is often thrilling .", "it remains an inexplicable , contextless bit of kung fu historicosploitation -- albeit a very satisfying one .", "not only is it one of the most entertaining and exciting movies out of hong kong for many years ; MOV is a bona fide martial arts classic .", "a period piece filmed on obvious but eye-pleasing studio sets with wall-to-wall kung fu and a simplistic , philosophical message .", "an explosive exercise in bare-knuckled myth-biography .", "first-rate martial-arts film about bruce lee 's real-life teacher .", "the fanboys and girls wo n't notice such failings amid the displays of wing chun kung fu -- the extras and body doubles do some truly impressive acrobatics -- and those with a taste for big historical tearjerkers will be happy as well .", "a dazzling , exhilarating , refreshingly character-driven and thoroughly captivating experience that must be seen on the big screen . it 's unlike any martial arts film you 've seen before .", "wilson yip has crafted a gripping , rousing , beautifully structured yarn , built around a calm but charismatic star performance by donnie yen and magnificent action sequences choreographed by the legendary sammo hung .", "a terrific true story , clearly elevated to mythical proportions , this film benefits hugely from the lucid fight direction by the master sammo hung , which gives the film a remarkable resonance .", "a respectful biopic designed to pay cinematic homage to one of the great kung-fu masters and spread the word about the man .", "the film 's hagiographical simplicity makes the rocky movies look profound , but this is still a spirited tale with excellent martial-arts scenes .", "an enthralling , and at times moving , tale , told by hong kong action director wilson yip with considerable theatrical flourish .", "man 's extraordinary biography makes for an awkward , inauthentic-feeling biopic ." ], "summary": "at once beholden to the established conventions of the genre and delightfully subversive of them , MOV is one of the most exciting -- and refreshingly character-driven -- martial arts films in years .", "id": "770801544" }, { "movie": "the_diving_bell_and_the_butterfly_2007", "reviews": [ "thanks to bauby 's courageous and honest writing , and schnabel 's poetic interpretation , what could have been a portrait of impotence and suffering becomes a lively exploration of consciousness and a soaring ode to liberation .", "qualifies as a masterpiece of sensual cinema and poetic subjectivity .", "it 's a haunting , emotional experience that ranks with the best of the year .", "here is the life force at its most insistent , lashing out against fate with stubborn resolve . and also with lust , hunger , humor and all of the other notes that this man once played so easily .", "if a movie about the human spirit does n't do it for you , the diving bell thoroughly doubles as a movie about the cinematic spirit .", "MOV tells one extraordinary man 's story so well that it reflects vividly on our own .", "... transcends the sappy trappings thanks to schnabel 's adventurous , virtuoso direction .", "it is wonderful : a rhapsodic adaptation of a memoir , a visual marvel that wraps its subject in screen romanticism without romanticizing his affliction .", "julian schnabel 's telling of the story is ingenious .", "dazzling visually .", "the most successful of schnabel 's encounters with cinema to date .", "there is something cinematic about bauby 's situation . like the moviegoer stuck in a seat in the dark , he can only observe the action in front of him . his comments are unheard by the people who move before his eyes and attempt to manipulate his emotions .", "for optimists , it 's a movie proving that where there 's life , there 's hope . yet for others , seeing that there 's no chance for recovery , this is a real life horror story .", "the repetitive nature of the screenplay drags a potentially great 80 minute picture way down .", "one of the most challenging films in the recent memory ... however , it 's definitely worth it to stick with the film .", "this is the second best films of 2007 and by far the most moving .", "a striking depiction of human courage .", "MOV is ... a sensational cinematic canvas created by a man who understands the inherent beauty in form , function , and now filmmaking .", "an almost excessively beautiful aestheticization of misery .", "the unique pov is not a gimmicky technique but a transferring of creative responsibility .", "boasting a beautiful , surreal-like style , this biopic of elle 's paralyzed editor continues schnabel 's exploration of misfit artists , begun in basquiat and continued in before night falls .", "an arresting true story and a ravishing visual creation , but the two remain separate entities that do not support one another but get in each other 's way instead .", "a deeply affecting film .", "MOV transcends the uplifting movie-of-the-week story through schnabel 's artful direction and deep empathy .", "this uncommon story about an uncommon man is gentle , it is patient , it is compassionate and -- from a technical standpoint -- it is stunning .", "screenwriter ronald harwood turns this first person novel into an intensely first person movie . there are times when it seems impossible that a camera could even be present , the surroundings are so perfectly interior to a man . amazing .", "-lsb- a -rsb- s intellectually gripping as it is emotionally compelling ...", "lingers long after the lights come up . we can be grateful that films of quiet , unique beauty continue to be made .", "while the result is a stirring homage to the power of imagination , memory and the human spirit , it is also an insightful approximation of the creative process itself .", "taking us from great depths to ethereal heights , this extraordinary true story is an inspiring reinforcement of inextinguishable inner strength and determination in the face of unimaginable adversity", "in spite of the rawness the film 's subject , schnabel wisely did n't create a weepy -- far from it . this is a film about a flawed womanizer with little time for his children who comes to face himself by the vehicle of his own memoir .", "a poignant reflection on what it means to be alive and , visually , a true cinematic experience .", "... it is infused with bauby 's sarcastic sense of humor and engages us with questions of what makes a life worth living .", "with the help of cinematographer janusz kaminski , director julian schnabel goes so far toward cinematically capturing the claustrophobic condition of his paralyzed and mute protagonist jean-dominique bauby -lrb- mathieu amalric -rrb- that the artifice of his point -", "most compelling in its attempts to re-create the experience of paralysis onscreen , gorgeously lensed pic morphs into a dreamlike collage of memories and fantasies , distancing the viewer somewhat from bauby 's consciousness .", "director julian schnabel and screenwriter ronald harwood have performed a small miracle in adapting for the screen jean-dominique bauby 's autobiography MOV .", "steadfastly avoids reducing the notions of perseverance and heroism to convenient catchphrases .", "it is a testament to schnabel 's skill and the power of metaphor that he was able to fabricate a film of such universal relevance from the life of a man whose situation was unique .", "in his brilliant new film , MOV , painter/sculptor/director schnabel -lrb- basquiat , before night falls -rrb- defies dozens of moviemaking conventions to tell the true story of jean-dominique bauby .", "it is amazing that a story as sad as this one inherently is could be so uplifting , but that 's exactly what it is .", "it 's a subject and a film that perfectly blends the tragic with the triumphant .", "the magnificence of bauby 's accomplishment as an author is reflected , shimmering strangely , by a film that awakens a trapped life with the kind of poetry only the camera can write .", "it 's an unthinkable fate , but schnabel 's film manages both to give us a palpable sense of it and to lead us to appreciate the humanity of it . in that sense , it 's a tale of triumph .", "the results are emotionally charged but not manipulative .", "you do n't want to blink : you wo n't want to miss a second of it .", "bauby , harwood and schnabel are probably the only people who 'll be our guides on a journey like this , and better ones could not be found .", "in MOV , director julian schnabel and his gifted lead , mathieu amalric , take us on an indelible tour through the highest and lowest points of the human experience .", "yes , it 's in french and it 's arty -lrb- in good ways -rrb- - but i promise you wo n't have a more viscerally emotional experience at the movies this year .", "of all the movies generating award buzz this season , MOV was the most surprising to me and perhaps the most special .", "the film is certainly rich in imagery , and its immersion into the subjective is a daringly successful conceit , but it never quite pulls all the pieces together .", "movies are a lot more than a bunch of pictures , no matter how ravishing , and the strong cast is key here , especially the three women who dominate bauby 's life .", "what 's fascinating is that it is the very restrictions the story imposes on a director that allow schnabel to turn it into such an eerie stunner of a movie .", "-lsb- schnabel is -rsb- drawn to the plight of the imagination struggling against limits , and bauby 's beckett-like extremity has inspired his best film to date and the best film of the year .", "una pel\u00edcula realmente conmovedora que logra trasladar a hermosas y sugestivas im\u00e1genes la experiencia real de un hombre paralizado f\u00edsica aunque no mentalmente .", "the picture is so beautiful to look at that it 's practically buoyant .", "triumph of the human spirit to the miramax , predictable in its crowd-pleasing , middlebrow vulgarity but with a few inventive , free-floating passages", "an inventive , challenging , at times emotionally bracing film , audaciously staged and laudably anti-clich\u00e9d in its character particulars , yet destined to be more admired than beloved .", "julian schnabel and cinematographer janusz kaminski fundamentally retool the template for the biopic to create one of the greatest portrayals of the mind 's eye ever put to film . a discomforting but inspiring struggle for one enduring , final expression .", "unlike last year 's acclaimed film , ` the sea inside , ' this film does not follow the path to suicide , but rather to a triumph of sorts .", "paralyzing to watch . at times , you 're just as frustrated as bauby ; you want him to communicate , you want other people to understand what he is thinking , and above all , you want him to pull through it .", "an exquisite metaphor for the redemptive power of cinema . without an ounce of cheap sentiment , this true story is as profoundly moving and dreamily beautiful as any film in recent memory .", "you 've heard of my left foot . are you ready for my left eyeball ?", "feeling reduced now to a `` zombie , '' denied what he most wants , sensual pleasures and connections , bauby is angry and grateful at once . that gap is the movie 's most affecting dilemma , unresolved by its many aesthetic effects .", "with breathtaking sentiment , the film masterfully shows how bauby was able to write the perfect final chapter of his life .", "the movie 's small powerful moments are worth more than the entirety of your average noble-sufferer weepie .", "... a film about a stranded man that bustles with vigorous energy , an exploration of the oceans inside human consciousness .", "we never sympathize with bauby , because , for much of the film , we are him .", "while introducing artistic elements that border on fanciful , the filmmakers also insist on realism , resulting in a film that is always relatable , never sappy .", "tough to watch ? sure . worth it ? absolutely . perhaps the most inspiring film in many years .", "beautiful , sometimes ecstatic , sometimes blurry , sometimes mournful ...", "julian schnabel deftly sidesteps all the traps inherent in the illness movie genre , creating a stirring movie about a man 's emotional awakening that takes its immobile protagonist on a journey from boyhood to infinity .", "like bauby 's memoir , schnabel and academy award-winning screenwriter ronald harwood 's adaptation is far from a mushy exercise in never-say-die optimism -- it 's suffused with bauby 's terror and bitterness .", "the film , based on the memoir of jean-dominique bauby , handles delicate subject matter with sensitivity and imagination .", "it is the 2000 belgian drama thomas est amoureux that is really the closest in spirit to schnabel and screenwriter ronald harwood 's masterpiece .", "the movie has done what those who 've cherished the book might have thought impossible -- intensified its singular beauty by roving as free and fearlessly as bauby 's mind did .", "with MOV , julian schnabel demonstrates his own imaginative freedom in every frame and sequence .", "an inspiring tale of one man 's triumph over adversity often devolves into a cinematic clich\u00e9 , more earnest than truly moving . thankfully , diving bell avoids those pitfalls .", "the survival of the human spirit against almost insurmountable odds is nowhere illustrated more clearly than in MOV .", "a film of rare imagination ; a collage of unnerving images and great artistry .", "MOV would seem to be the last word in affliction movies . but it goes against that movie formula at every turn and proves to be a unique experience .", "MOV is n't about feeling better about terrible things , but about cherishing imagination as the force that sustains life .", "may well be the best movie of the year .", "it is a masterwork on both an artistic and emotional level .", "a film that haunts and inspires .", "there are some heartbreaking and gut-wrenching scenes , but they 're balanced with beautiful moments and the fact that jean-do never loses his sense of humor .", "MOV may be the most unusual movie experience of the year . and it 's unquestionably one of the best .", "the film is a triumph of empathy .", "left me wondering if schnabel 's arty efforts were really worth the trouble when the real-life story itself was so moving and did n't need such artificial gloss .", "the sea inside meets my left foot .", "not a movie that you shake off easily -- maybe ever -- and one that makes you want to go out and gulp down every ounce of life you can squeeze into your glass .", "the film is a visual and auditory feast .", "the visual lyricism and irascible humor of julian schnabel 's screen adaptation make for a life-against-the-odds drama like none you 've ever seen .", "the putative film adaptation reaches well beyond the contents of that book , expanding its philosophical resignation into a grim but beautiful visual poem .", "butterfly colors inside the lines but it does so with a dandy sense of personal rhythm .", "diving bell , though uncompromising in its own way , comes across as aggressively watchable .", "a small-scale film on a grand-sized canvas : director julian schnabel and his cinematographer , janusz kaminski , meet the challenge of adapting ... bauby 's 1997 memoir .", "astonishingly beautiful and self-consciously so .", "MOV is the most beautiful movie ever made about a man who could only move one eyelid -- almost dangerously beautiful .", "less cloying and superficial than other movies of its subgenre and directed with true showman 's flair .", "even if schnabel 's films utilize a rolodex as burgeoning as their film 's visual inventiveness , they still do so playfully and with a sense of the fun of moviemaking that so few films of similar lineage display .", "a classic in the literature of illness brought to the screen with all its creative juices intact , the film salutes the firepower of imagination as a life-giver and a life-sustainer .", "a claustrophobic and imaginative treat .", "by delivering bauby 's story in an appropriately straightforward tone , the filmmakers behind `` MOV '' prove that engaging stories work best without artificial sweetening .", "an astonishing , deeply moving film , schnabel 's third film is also his masterpiece , thanks to extraordinary direction , stunning camerawork , a terrific script and an oscar-worthy central performance from amalric .", "by turns terrifying and humane and even funny .", "the remarkable story of a man almost totally incapacitated who creates a best-seller by blinking his left eye is about the creation of art as much as it is the tale of human tragedy .", "... a film that 's as emotionally devastating as it is engrossing .", "a textbook example of a director prizing himself over his material .", "engaging , moving , and even has a good message , but it 's also a film that slips in the follow through .", "this genius collaboration between director of photography janusz kaminski and schnabel immerses you in bauby 's situation so that it becomes your reality .", "a remarkably fluent and genuinely uplifting picture about a paralyzed man ... no solemn , calculating tearjerker but a marvelously rich and fluid evocation .", "one terrifying scene involves the sewing up of bauby 's paralyzed eye . he can still out of it but ca n't blink to lubricate it . the scene 's as scary as anything in a horror film .", "while the diving bell is based on bauby 's elegant , well-wrought words , -lsb- director julian -rsb- schnabel 's film is so steeped in the visual that it is surely the purest of cinema .", "the style feels utterly organic ... rigorous yet unforced , always giving the sense that this is not only the best way , but the only way , to tell this particular story .", "director julian schnabel uses his skill as a painter to assemble a collage of fantastical images to reveal the exquisite physical wreck that bauby has become .", "profoundly moving .", "it would be inhuman not to empathize with the actual man 's plight , but the movie is a sophisticated prod , pushing us inside its own bauby .", "-lsb- director julian -rsb- schnabel is n't going anywhere astounding in this film ; it is , after all , about a man who ca n't move . but he is exploring the vast potential of both imagination and spirit .", "MOV keeps opening up , its structure mimicking the awakening of its extraordinary protagonist 's mind .", "tells a real person 's life story so inventively you might forget how rotten recent biopics have been .", "-lsb- director schnabel 's -rsb- best film yet , a high-wire act of visual daring and unquenchable spirit .", "a gloriously unlocked experience , with some of the freest and most creative uses of the camera and some of the most daring , cruel , and heartbreaking emotional explorations that have appeared in recent movies .", "the film is a masterpiece in which `` locked-in '' syndrome becomes the human condition .", "stylistically engrossing and compassionate , it 's a testament to the indomitable human spirit .", "astonishingly lyrical and profoundly moving .", "the film , aided by amalric 's pitch-perfect performance , reveals the range of jean-do 's emotional life , his anger , joy and wry humor .", "every once in a while , a movie comes along that has the power to change your life -- or , at least , make you feel grateful for the one that you have .", "it is a work of art , with no apologies for that word .", "this is a special motion picture that achieves its higher agenda of doing much more than idly plucking at a few heartstrings .", "an intense , maddening , claustrophobic and awesomely inspiring film .", "from its relentless visual distortion to its wearying parade of felliniesque fantasy sequences , schnabel 's film wants you to know that it 's art with a capital ` a. ' it 's also disability porn with a capital 'd . '", "imagine a spike jonze-charlie kauffman-michel gondry-style film but with a warm , beating heart instead of cool , detached hipster irony .", "schnabel 's visuals are so confident , so moving , that i wished he had truly taken charge rather than being led around by a screenplay that ca n't cut the mustard .", "the sea inside by way of lady in the lake .", "haunting and gorgeous .", "as close to perfection as you 'll get for a movie dealing with a subject matter that might seem impossible to handle in an entertaining way .", "by the end , MOV achieves a victory over difficult material , but celebrating that fact does n't preclude recognizing the story is not a natural for movies and remains an uneasy match .", "... kind of film that surprises you when the credits roll .", "within ten minutes the film had effortlessly knocked the chip from my shoulder . this is a very , very good film .", "-lsb- director julian -rsb- schnabel has an alert , imaginative and unsentimental cinematic eye .", "as a writer , i admire it greatly ... as a moviegoer i 'm less certain about the movie 's effectiveness .", "the film is so stuffed with visual poetry and moving turns of phrase that it practically takes flight .", "reveals that the human capacity for life , for love , and even for joy is not dependent on circumstances , but is embedded in something far deeper and far more spiritual .", "while punishing to watch at times , it 's something you ca n't quite keep your eyes off of .", "bauby 's horrific situation , and the purposefully muted reactions of the people around him ... speak for themselves with spare eloquence .", "in a perfect match of director and subject , artist julian schnabel adapts the memoir by late elle editor jean-dominique bauby into a compelling and intense look at one man 's experience with locked-in syndrome .", "screenwriter ronald harwood has cracked a book largely thought unfilmable and director julian schnabel working with dp janusz kaminski has created a uniquely visual film about one of the most difficult movie subgenres , the biography of an author .", "nothing in director julian schnabel 's career so far has anticipated the sweetness , sadness , maturity and restraint of this lovely movie .", "how does an actor act when he can use only one eye ? you 'll have to see the film to find out , but rest assured that there are sufficient flashbacks to give the remarkable mathieu amalric a chance to use the usual actor 's tools as well .", "MOV is one of the best movies of 2007 , but i 'd argue it 's also the one most in tune with what this season of goodwill and tolerance is supposed to be all about .", "an emotional tour de force that is simply stunning all around .", "the camera techniques used actually give the audience just a hint of what it must be like to live with a fully aware mind , and one working eye .", "diving bell is modishly slick , visually inventive and vaguely immaterial but ultimately moving because , well , how could it not be ?", "um testamento profundamente tocante da for\u00e7a do esp\u00edrito humano .", "delves into the horrific destiny and triumphant creative , if not physical struggle of this french celebrity , whose stroke left him completely paralyzed save for interior silent monologues , and the furiously blinking eye of this ill-fated ravaged cyclops .", "amalric 's performance is selfless and accomplished .", "thanks to wonderful direction , editing , and cinematography , schnabel convinces us of this perspective with a stroke of brilliance ...", "after i recovered from my initial horror , i was almost able to enjoy the experience of watching this discomfiting , entirely unique narrative .", "the best parts of the film are when the two men work together , schnabel providing reams of unconscious images and amalric commenting on them .", "with the help of brilliant french actor mathieu amalric , spielberg 's longtime cinematographer janusz kaminski , and screenwriter ronald harwood , schnabel has made a marvelous film that uses images with as much grace and flair as bauby used words ." ], "summary": "breathtaking visuals and dynamic performances make MOV a powerful biopic .", "id": "770672126" }, { "movie": "freaky_friday", "reviews": [ "curtis and lohan shine in their roles , bringing layers of comedy , drama , romance and , yes , sentiment just when needed most .", "MOV may be insubstantial , but what 's there is remarkably watchable .", "no academy awards here , but thanks largely to jamie lee curtis it provides a good time .", "extremely enjoyable , sharply scripted family comedy with superb comic performances .", "it 's cute , and jamie lee curtis is wonderful as always , but this disney remake just is n't funny enough . take your family , not your critical sensibilities .", "updated and overly sexed , this remake is heavy on the set-up and light on laughs .", "a funny and energetic body-swap comedy , with a nicely warm and sympathetic approach .", "despite the awful history of parent/child switching movies , MOV strikes gold with funny , first-rate performances from jamie lee curtis and lindsay lohan .", "aside from the awkwardness of having the lohan-aged boy interest fall for her in curtis ' appearance , MOV remains a squeaky-clean generic romp ...", "it 's a conventional but pleasantly cosy remake of the 1976 jodie foster body-swap comedy . and in the oldest tradition of disney moviemaking , you can be sure of a few life lessons thrown in between the laughs .", "` creaky friday ' is more like it ... at its best the movie is no more than an amusingly retrograde retread of an idea that 's been done all too frequently on the screen .", "blame freaky screenwriters heather hach and leslie dixon for the yellow-peril fantasies , and instead curl up with rodgers 's novel and its sequel , a billion for boris , which remain eminently enjoyable today .", "as assured a screwball comedy as hollywood has made in decades .", "pretty darned funny .", "curtis and lohan are so clearly enjoying themselves that they are fun to watch and the story moves along so briskly that its logical flaws barely get in the way .", "in a year that has tortured us with such family movie duds as a family affair , the in-laws and spy kids : 3-d , this film is positively welcome .", "the freakiest thing about MOV is that it does n't suck .", "MOV is motion picture cotton candy -- sweet while it lasts , easily disposed of , and insubstantial .", "directed at an almost breathless pace by mark waters , the movie leans heavily on the comedic skills of curtis and lohan , both of whom are wonderful .", "such a sublimely fun-for-all matinee delight that it cleansed my palate of the sour taste of every bad movie i 've seen this summer .", "the morals of the story are presented with a degree of craftiness generally unseen in most modern-day family flicks , and there 's a refreshing lack of push-button pablum that one normally sees in movies of this sort .", "a lightweight but occasionally clever comedy that surprisingly treats its premise as more than a punch line - and does it with a big heart .", "waters seems to have a knack for creating families on the edge", "another likable -- if predictable -- disney retread .", "this is not a bad remake at all . updating this story to the current day only shows how relevant the concept was to begin with .", "it 's a movie that gets by on a lot of charm from its two leads , but it also has a nice message about selfless acts of love for a family member in need . a perfect summertime outing for parents and their children .", "the best of all the many body-switching offerings - and it 's by disney no less ! go figure .", "` thanks to some decently staged , opposites-based comedy scenes and those finely nuanced performances by lohan and particularly curtis , this effort overcomes a shaky and less than promising start to emerge as an entertaining winner . '", "curtis slinks back toward adolescence , then grooves on it as the regenerated hormones start kicking in .", "does n't offer much in the way of new insights into this most peculiar of subgenres .", "one of summer 's better surprises .", "a sitcom formula film that tries too hard .", "it 's a gimmick that 's been adapted or copied countless times , but director mark waters fills the screen with color and the soundtrack with punky songs .", "-lsb- a -rsb- delightful movie .", "while it 's a perfectly competent and affable film , the new version does n't have anything to prompt much enthusiasm .", "this third version of MOV gets it right .", "MOV triumphs by successfully striking comic notes when it could be making loud screeching noises .", "what could have been another teen/tween knockoff is transformed by curtis , who puts her venerable , classy mug right in front of the camera .", "when it comes to light , kiddie fare , you could do a lot worse . and compared with the original MOV , the remake is a freakin ' masterpiece .", "a showcase for the buoyant , antic spirit of jamie lee curtis .", "a lot funnier than most movies you 're currently watching at the cineplex .", "a fast and funny movie .", "frantic fun", "there 's enough intelligence and wit here to sustain your interest , especially when curtis and lohan are in peak form .", "plays the obvious gags in ways both surprising and imaginative .", "MOV is warm-hearted without being treacly , and a comic delight without delving into cloying theatrics . it also happens to be one of the summer 's most refreshing cinematic delights .", "good fun , with a timeless generational understanding theme tossed in for good measure .", "this is a warm , charming and entertaining movie that took me by surprise .", "somehow people have got it into their heads that this is a good movie .", "MOV is fun for kids , teens and parents alike .", "offers enough all-around entertainment for most any teen , or even adult , to appreciate through its quick 90-minute run .", "it 's meant to be a fun kid 's movie , and it 's a must see for mothers and daughters .", "i now understand why i 've had to sit through all the truly awful movies i 've seen this summer . the almighty was preparing me for MOV .", "... hardly a classic -- neither was the original -- -lsb- but -rsb- good-natured enough that you 'll be willing overlook the terrible chinese accents and the obligatory smarmy speeches .", "' ... jamie lee curtis and lindsay lohan get their freak on with a sublime synchronicity that matches the original . '", "it 's not as good as the 1976 original , but it 's still a lot of fun and i think adults and kids will enjoy it .", "disney 's new MOV may be a remake , but it ripples with far more creative zeal than this summer 's slew of uninventive sequels , which are basically remakes in themselves .", "MOV is a most pleasant summer surprise , a funny and sweet family comedy .", "director mark waters and first-time screenwriter heather hach have given a fresh sensibility to an oft-told fable of walking in another 's shoes .", "watching curtis gently cut loose is one of the low-key pleasures of the winsome generational comedy MOV .", "has plenty of good one-liners and laughable situations .", "MOV is blandness personified .", "an unexpected delight .", "MOV is disney 's best comedy in years .", "freaky features plenty of visual distractions , including flashy , funky outfits , accessories and music .", "cute , energetic and fun .", "deliciously acted and good-humored to its core , it 's one of the summer 's very best surprises .", "MOV is a snappy comedy that hits the mark with its wry observations on youth and middle age ; in addition it salutes empathy as a bridge-building virtue .", "should thank god for its female leads , who provide enough comedic energy to carry a week 's worth of body-switch movies .", "remade disney flick charms with loose comedy , unforced heart and two fab female leads .", "spiffy and thoroughly charming .", "comedies rarely get respect ... but these two ladies do some extraordinary acting , and that deserves to be recognized .", "through solid acting , careful pacing and strong writing , MOV never condescends , simply because it 's not a meticulously handled shot at one demographic .", "fleet and funny ,", "curtis ' and lohan 's performances are unpredictable and inspired , much fresher than the movie they 're stuck in .", "mildly entertaining .", "jamie lee makes this movie sparkle .", "the movie is laugh - out-loud funny and surprisingly touching .", "watching curtis rock out is very nearly worth the price of admission .", "jamie lee curtis gives good , goofy fun in this affable remake of a remake .", "the trailers were terrible . the poster is even worse . but the movie ? not so bad .", "MOV pulls off the unexpected and offers one of the best family-friendly comedies in a summer that is rife with family movies .", "sweet , if predictable .", "director mark waters whips up a sweet and thoroughly modern version of the '70s movie that caters to young adults without being crass .", "this movie is entertaining and charming , it may be as unexpected as waking up in your mother 's / daughter 's body .", "the movie 's predictability takes little away from its fizzy entertainment value .", "... a minor treasure : a family-friendly remake funnier , fresher and more affecting than the flavorless original .", "the remake of MOV is pretty freakin ' good .", "how a remake should be done .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- delivers scenes we can anticipate , but with more charm and wit than we expect .", "i 'll bet my dvd collection that barely anyone 's ire will be raised over the insensitivity shown to asians in MOV . it deserves to be greeted with a fair degree of disgust .", "... `` MOV '' comes through .", "the ideal remake -- funny , good-hearted and loaded with genuine charms of its own .", "although the role reversal genre has been done to death , snaps to MOV for unearthing plenty of fresh laughs .", "stories about role reversals are usually about teaching both sides a lesson in humility and appreciation . here , all the lessons are for frumpy adults who 've forgotten about rock and roll .", "a rousing good time .", "the light and breezy comedy works very well for the most part , and the film 's emotional climax is surprisingly powerful .", "i 'm forced to hold back my usual criticisms when the end product turns out to be actually pretty darn good .", "a pop-punk re-up of the lively , amusing 1976 disney original that stands as a credibly entertaining family film due chiefly to the presence of its two deft , personable comediennes .", "for dumb movies about body-to-body switcheroos -lrb- a frighteningly well-represented comedy sub-genre -rrb- this disney remake is pretty darn good .", "a one trick pony .", "at the film 's end , i realized i had completely escaped into the fantasy and comedy laid out before me for 90 minutes . now , any movie that can do that is doing something very right indeed .", "the old switcheroo still has the juice to teach and tickle .", "thanks to the inventive performances , smooth direction by mark waters and fresh script ideas by heather hach and leslie dixon , it actually has something to offer since the 1977 original .", "-lsb- the -rsb- filmmakers actually manage to improve on creaky material .", "in happily embracing its contrivances , -lsb- the movie -rsb- proves mildly diverting .", "good , wholesome fun with no pretense .", "wise but not too preachy , warm but never snuggly , it 's also one of the funniest films this year .", "despite the film 's oversimplification and occasional lapses of logic , one ca n't help being charmed by its genuinely sweet , good-hearted approach .", "no need to wait till friday , this one 's good any day of the week .", "nothing 's really wrong here , but nor are there surprises .", "cute and innocently funny , with engaging turns from a beautifully silly curtis , and lindsay lohan as a 21st century high school heroine .", "surprisingly decent .", "mother-daughter switch is fun comedic chaos .", "what should have been a bland disney remake has somehow ended up as the most satisfying family comedy for a long time .", "a fun , very well-acted and laugh out loud funny remake .", "the film 's strong suit is the fish-out-of-water generational gags , and director mark s. waters does well to keep them coming at a rapid-fire rate .", "the two featured females offset these distractions by having so much apparent fun that it becomes contagious .", "maybe it 's only adults who 'll get teary-eyed -- kids just wan na have fun . and they will .", "a hilarious , heartwarming remake .", "the premise provides a fine showcase for the two appealing actresses , who appropriate each other 's vocal and physical mannerisms with dead-on accuracy .", "cheerful , energetic and on the money .", "it 's really a family film , deftly updated for the 2003 market , but still sweetly funny at its heart .", "freaky , yes . and it 's also frantic and fun .", "it 's the playful jamie lee curtis who makes this movie . a rare time where the remake is better than the original !", "-lsb- curtis is -rsb- wonderfully silly , but the rest of it is mostly forgettable .", "it 's always great to see a good actress at work . with disney 's remake of 1976 's MOV , audiences get to see two of them .", "wryly funny enough for adults and zany enough for little kids .", "a likable but flimsy retread that 's barely worth the effort .", "the material here may not be the freshest , but screenwriters heather hach and the redoubtable leslie dixon have buffed the dialogue until it sparkles like the finest cubic zirconium , and the cast is game from top to bottom .", "a pleasant surprise .", "it 's refreshing to find a quaint comedy extolling the virtues of thoughtful consideration and selfless love this pleasantly entertaining .", "moms and their teenage daughters have struggled for centuries to connect . bridging that yawning chasm is the yin and yang of this cheerful , well-executed charmer .", "MOV is a fun family film , with all generations ' foibles presented in equal measure .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t took me by surprise how affectionate i felt toward the characters .", "completely satisfying , entirely unsurprising , and says all there is to say about itself by the fact of itself .", "jamie lee curtis and lindsay lohan have a ball portraying a mother and daughter who are forced to swap bodies in this surprisingly entertaining remake .", "-lsb- MOV is -rsb- lighthearted summer fun and nothing gets blown up and no one gets shot .", "who 'd have thought that a wholesome comedy could entertain adults as much as their kids ?", "after a summer filled to the brim with lousy sequels and toothless action movies , there 's something incredibly refreshing about a movie like MOV .", "a funny , shrewd , no-bull family comedy .", "the two actors effortlessly pull off the feat of depicting an alien inside the wrong body -- you immediately believe that this switch really happened .", "someone actually sat down and thought about this .", "i laughed long , hard , loud and often ." ], "summary": "jamie lee curtis and lindsay lohan charm in mark waters ' nicely pitched -- and disney 's second -- remake of the 1976 hit .", "id": "10349" }, { "movie": "real_steel", "reviews": [ "will sylvester stallone receive residuals from MOV ?", "delivers a powerful dramatic punch without ever feeling like it needs to dumb itself down to win over its audience .", "the element that lingers longest is a subtle strand ... of recessionary anxiety .", "MOV is my kind of action movie . the story is engaging , the characters are fun and the robots are freaking cool .", "the movie really comes to life during the marvelous boxing sequences , which are often drop-dead exciting .", "a toy tie-in , an overlong movie that takes on some of the grimy veneer and colorful characters of a `` boxing picture , '' sanitizing it for children .", "MOV is a well-made , well-managed family fighting fantasy that combines high tech and low aspirations to go the distance in fairly lightweight fashion .", "the robots punch all the problems out of this story .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- a big , expensive-looking entertainment masquerading as a modest , straightforward one , and sometimes the illusion works .", "MOV is definitely worth checking out . if you like robots or hugh jackman , you 're going to really enjoy this movie . it has ended up being one of my favorite movies of the year .", "atom is complimented by a ringside announcer for displaying a fighting style that 's `` almost human . '' this is about the highest praise the mechanistic , spare-parts melodrama of MOV deserves .", "only those with a heart of tin could resist .", "feels as if it were made inside the mind of a kid obsessed with robots .", "MOV is a cross between rocky and the champ . it 's formulaic and unashamedly manipulative , but it 's played with sincerity ... and it works ...", "what it lacks is the human element . charlie is more of a rat than a rascal , and instead of working hard to build and operate his robots , he 's literally going through the motions .", "it 's so virtual , so distant from the thrill , that you wonder what the point is . do you really want to pay to watch an actor playing a kid who in turn plays what amounts to a video game ?", "a slightly soggy tale of father-son bonding , crossed with an action-adventure flick about high-tech battle-bots .", "the story remains sadly mired in botdom , which leads to some boredom .", "strong production values and another charismatic performance by triple-threat talent hugh jackman help keep this heavy-metal offspring of rocky and transformers out of the cinematic junk heap .", "little more than a loud and glossy collection of faintly rusty pieces-parts salvaged from movies that came before it .", "it 's 10 percent lovable underdog hokum , 23 percent sentimental family drama and 67 percent rivet-popping punch-ups .", "its remote-controlled emotional responses leave little room for genuine uplift .", "think of MOV as robot rocky with a heartfelt father/son overlay and you ca n't go wrong .", "MOV is simply made for imax viewing , especially with the metal-verses-metal clashes in the ring .", "better than transformers . i fear that if i lower the bar any further , i shall pinch my toes .", "the script does n't do enough with the father-son element to keep us involved , and the cgi robot fights are n't sufficiently exciting to make us care about the rest", "even with my sense of humor firmly intact , i 'm not sure that i 've seen a more crassly manipulative movie this year . as cold and calculating as movies get -- a glossy , soulless piece of junk that wants you to cheer along , but it does n't earn one ounce .", "hugh jackman refuses to let audiences leave MOV without being entertained , no matter how silly matters get .", "battling to be heard above the metal-on-metal clangour is a heartwarming -lrb- read : terribly soppy -rrb- story of a broken family .", "this is a ridiculous movie . and yet , i enjoyed the hell out it . not just because hugh jackman is in it . in imax . though that does n't hurt .", "there 's a certain poverty of imagination at work .", "levy 's flick is cohesive and mostly enjoyable ... a shame that goyo nearly undoes all the film 's good work by being super-irritating -lrb- his hip-hop dance routine with the robot is a low point ; not just in the movie , but in all of our lives -rrb- .", "the father-son narrative is given as much prominence as the muscular action story , giving the film a satisfying and entertaining tone - with a payoff", "although the marketing looks like transformers 4 , MOV is the real deal , a rocky with robots that ought to have audiences standing up and cheering .", "a father-son family yarn that shares the same sweet sentiment as the recent crazy , stupid , love : that the best things in life are far from free - or easy - to obtain .", "a tremendous technical polish is brought to bear upon what is frequently a rather awkward grafting of family drama and overblown , futuristic boxing tale .", "although the film is only marginally better than the average feel-good sports drama , it hits the right notes almost every time .", "MOV is real junk - megamillion-dollar , computer-animated , state-of-the-art junk .", "it 's hard to buy into the notion that fans could ever be as rabid to watch a couple of machines tear each other apart as they are to see two men sweating and straining and bleeding on the canvas . without human consequence , where 's the drama ?", "director shawn levy pulls everything together beautifully and jackman triumphs again", "hugh jackman is the only reason to see this picture , which is essentially a retro , old-fashioned father-son melodrama .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- borrows so much from other films that it might better be titled reel steal : not only from the champ , but from rocky , the transformers movies and even some star wars .", "you 've probably seen toy commercials that present a more thoughtful dystopian future . and yet , in the moment , this film will make you want to do nothing except stuff your face with more .", "it was so cheesy , i was ready to call it a feast of fromage . yet , amazingly , shockingly , in defiance of everything i hold dear , MOV did n't stink .", "given that it 's a story about a father and son who bond over outsized games of rock 'em sock 'em robots and is directed by the guy who made the night at the museum movies , MOV has surprising heart and intelligence .", "the fighting ` bots deliver an exuberance of spirit that beats down the leaden human drama . and given all the borrowed storylines , should n't it be called real , um , steal ?", "handcrafted for the 8-year-old video game junkie inside us all , MOV is an overloaded , underthought empowerment fantasy with a bright shiny chassis and a lemon under the hood .", "rocky sock 'em robots anyone ?", "a bit more enjoyable and entertaining than i would have ever imagined . -lrb- movie review for parents also available -rrb-", "ridiculous at times , but always entertaining and fun .", "while the sappy boy-and-his-robot drama pales next to the terrific `` the iron giant , '' the actual ` bot battles are vicarious fun .", "hugh jackman and dakota goyo manage to pull off the father-son redemption story amid all the visual effects . and , oh yeah , the robots look awesome .", "big , dumb , but certainly fun .", "i do n't like fighting robot movies .", "` i was the only boxer who knew every song to rodgers & hammerstein 's carousel and had my own tommy tune tribute band , ' said hugh jackman , whose career has taken him from wolverine to glucosamine .", "the explosive punches of the metallic trojans would count for nothing were it not for the performance of one little boy .", "MOV has the kind of joyful silliness of a film like face/off or mission impossible , coupled with a good dose of genuine heart .", "a heavily clich\u00e9d but nonetheless enjoyably feel-good drama that pushes all the right buttons , thanks to a decent script , some impressive special effects and winning performances from hugh jackman and newcomer dakota goyo .", "taking the best from `` transformers/rocky/the champ '' makes `` MOV '' the real deal .", "watching this movie feels like sitting next to a kid , and watching him play a video game , knowing it will never be your turn to have fun .", "satisfyingly sturdy and no-nonsense , a multiplex monster smartly constructed from tried-and-trusted parts .", "all things considered , it is a well-wrought piece of entertainment , confidently paced , although its necessary subplots are little more than dutiful filler sandwiched between fight sequences .", "the visual effects are a slick combination of real robots and cgi , and -- especially on the new blu-ray release -- the result is gloriously seamless .", "by no means is MOV an original film , at least in terms of its base story , but that does n't mean it 's not an effective , tear-jerking kids movie .", "MOV envisions a future where boxing has evolved into giant fighting robots . great special effects and cool fight choreography makes this a must-see .", "good thing we all love hugh jackman so much", "all this swiping from stallone , and they could n't find room for a cameo by paulie 's birthday robot ?", "this movie about robot boxing needs more robot boxing .", "... the film benefits substantially from the inclusion of several unexpectedly engrossing robot-on-robot fight sequences ...", "wow , they actually made rock em sock em robots - the movie ! even more surprising is how amazing this movie is . filled to the brim with heart , soul , grit , and fun . one of the best movies of 2011 .", "MOV offers plenty of fun and engaging moments -- of both the human character drama and giant cgi robot battle variety .", "`` MOV '' just never gives us a reason to care , and for two hours that can be quite detrimental .", "it 's relaxed , casually assured , and just plain well-made .", "this is the ` boy and his robot ' movie that transformers always should have been .", "this punishingly predictable tale will test whether sci-fi action fanboys can stomach having their cherished genre infiltrated by sentimental hokum about a down-on-his-luck dad and his spunky long-lost son .", "though set in a future where boxing has gotten so intense only high-tech robots have what it takes to compete , MOV still trusts a good , old-fashioned father-son drama to deliver the thrills .", "-lsb- video -rsb- hugh jackman breaks an obvious sweat attempting to hold together this `` rock 'em sock 'em robots '' kids ' fantasy adventure movie . the surprising thing is that jackman 's hard-won efforts pay off .", "just awful . did n't i see this movie in 1987 starring sylvester stallone ?", "i was left with an uncomfortable feeling that MOV is stranded somewhere between a children 's film and a violent action film .", "`` i do n't think this is something your average 35-year-old couple will go out and see on a date but if you 've got kids , it 's great .", "rocky with rivets .", "packing a fistful of metal and dripping with rusty cheese , MOV successfully blends action and sentiment while paying tribute to the classic films of sylvester stallone .", "the movie uses every trick it can to pull this off , which means using us . but to paraphrase bill withers , i want to spread the news that if it feels this good getting used , then keep on using me until you use me up .", "i did n't care which robot won the fight . and i did n't care about the people either .", "it should be disastrous . it should suck on wonder bread with a side order of craptastic to wash it down . and yet ... and yet ... my god , is there actually a good time in there ?", "at least the depressingly similar transformers franchise serves up its soullessness with a side order of crazy . MOV just piles on the schmaltz .", "yes , it 's unapologetically sentimental -lrb- and sometimes unapologetically cheesy -rrb- , but shawn levy 's film has an irresistible force .", "patently ludicrous but undeniably rousing .", "MOV can be filed under ` big dumb fun ' . it telegraphs its punches , but they 're still powerful when they land .", "let me put it this way -- if you are savvy enough in regards to the genre to have recognized the title `` robojox '' when i dropped it earlier in this review , you are definitely too advanced for this one .", "there 's nothing real about MOV except its shameless desire to please by going where better and more successful movies have gone before .", "MOV is a movie of simple ideas and even simpler pleasures .", "the robot has the heart and the human has to learn to feel again in this unabashedly cheesy but irresistible fairy tale .", "it 's all very heavy-handed , but maybe kids of about ten to thirteen will be more taken with it .", "... probably a little too generic -lrb- and long -rrb- to win over a grown-up audience rendered blas\u00e9 about movie robots by the transformers movies , but kids should respond well to its finely calibrated wish-fulfilment story .", "the action is so immersing that i dare you not to cheer for the mighty atom in the ring as he takes a lickin ' and keeps on tickin ' .", "featuring sharp performances from its cast -lrb- both human and metal -rrb- and some outstanding special effects , `` MOV '' is best described as `` rocky '' meets `` the iron giant . ''", "there are no big surprises in this movie , other than the fact that it 's done with conviction , skill and special effects that are all the more spectacular for being presented in a matter-of-fact way .", "it is safe to say there will not be a dry eye in the house . the technology may change but the emotional tug of an all-american tearjerker is eternal .", "the fight scenes themselves are dead dull . two motorised robots slugging it out ? big deal !", "it 's an incredibly cynical movie , written and acted by robots , and boasting the most flagrant piece of product-placement for a certain soft drink .", "relies heavily on time-tested , heart-tugging disney signature themes juiced with a familiar twist of kid-spunkiness that might reflect steven spielberg 's participation as one of the project 's 12 producers .", "flashy and smashy , with some great paternal chemistry MOV is hugely derivative yet pretty enjoyable .", "even if the story in `` MOV '' is n't new , it is a crowd-pleaser , told with humor and pace . and those distinctive robots are the real deal .", "MOV has the underdog boxing feel of a robot rocky paired with the story of a lovable lug who learns that being a dad is even better than winning a big fight .", "giant robots punching each other : the movie , starring hugh jackman .", "MOV is ridiculous , but it is not dispiriting . if you 're going to make this movie , it should be made just this way , with commitment , verve and a complete disregard for physics , robotics and environmentalism .", "every clich\u00e9 from sports movies , underdog stories and father-son dramas is trotted out and played with a straight face .", "there 's really no excuse", "the reason we are here to see `` MOV '' is the rockin ' robots . the deft use of cgi , motion capture and animatronics makes the action look real and believable -lrb- in a bombastic hollywood way -rrb- .", "mostly it 's dopey . the movie just begs too many logical questions for its own good .", "MOV is what happens when people who know nothing about science fiction make a science fiction movie .", "for a big , brawling , robot-boxing action movie , it spends a crazy amount of time trying to make you care about whether or not obnoxious hugh jackman and his equally irritating , estranged son -lrb- dakota goyo -rrb- , will bond as a family once again .", "robot boxing sounds like the kind of premise that ca n't fail . there are robots ; they fight each other ; what more do you need ? examine it closely , though , and you see the problem .", "in spite of its by-the-books plotting , MOV solidly and confidently delivers the crowd-pleasing goods .", "with the heart and soul of rocky , MOV really packs a wallop .", "more successful as a rock 'em , sock 'em ` rocky with robots ' vehicle than as a potent family drama , MOV is a scrappy but warm-hearted film which should nevertheless appeal to just about every boy under the age of 12 .", "after all the ` transformers ' exposure over the last few years , who would have guessed more battling bots would hook our interest ? maybe it is because ` MOV 's ' bots need humans to think for them .", "big hollywood names aside -lrb- jackman , spielberg and zemeckis -rrb- , this family film overcomes an initially harebrained-sounding plot with just enough thrill , modern-day ocular wizardry and heart-warming emotion to convert most initial skeptics into believers .", "family-friendly , inspirational action drama with a recycled wii-redemption .", "those robot boxing bouts are exciting to watch , but it 's the impressive performances by hugh jackman and dakota goyo that make ` MOV '' something special .", "sure it runs too long and is completely predictable , but despite its flaws it still manages to pack an entertaining punch .", "MOV works so well and the concept is so obvious -- what kid out there has n't wanted their own robot ? that it 's surprising hollywood has n't made robo rocky before .", "though the premise of fighting robots does seem a plausible and intriguing extension of the contemporary wwe world , MOV is hampered by leaden , clich\u00e9d moments in which a stubborn boy teaches his childish father a valuable lesson .", "sincere but silly - i could have done without the cringe-worthy dance routines between boy and robot - MOV is a rocky version of the rocky template .", "it 's not quite in balboa 's weight class , but MOV at least has some heft .", "a science-fiction family film in which nine-foot-tall boxing robots are greased not with oil but with schmaltz .", "the tear-jerking in MOV is as shameless as its product placement . we 're being hustled .", "most viewers over the age of 12 will feel they have stepped into a confused , unambitious piece of futurama weighed down by shawn levy 's uninspired and limp direction .", "lovers of blood sport action ... are going to enjoy the well-staged fighting sequences ... while tender hearts seeking emotional depth will find the father-son conflict reasonably engaging .", "neither as bad as it sounds nor quite as good as it could be , although the 9-year-old bruiser next to me pummeled the armrest , spilled his soda and screamed `` awesome '' through every one of the fight scenes .", "an old-fashioned potboiler made up of cinematic spare parts -lsb- that -rsb- work -lsb- s -rsb- in a crass , manipulative way . but ... anybody without a bleeding heart will probably be giggling rather than cheering by the final fade-out .", "real heart trumps MOV !", "cliched underdog sports movie , that 's predictable , contrived and its familiar derivative plot line is put to poor use .", "the woman is a slow-burning incendiary device , a brutal satire on the sanctity of the nuclear family and its conservative `` values . ''", "and i expected so much more from the director of the cheaper by the dozen and pink panther remakes .", "it would appear that there was more consideration given to keeping the dr. pepper cans in frame than was given to plot , character or meaning .", "at the time of writing , this is definitely a real film and not a satirical story on the onion news network .", "while most of the characters are not very appealing , young dakota goyo really carries the day . he keeps this film afloat when none of the other characters seem to be worth watching .", "action-packed and genuinely moving as it aspires to be , and is , more than a live-action version of a popular 60s robot boxing game", "MOV should not work on any level , but it succeeds on many , thanks to its appealing , unpretentious and deceptively involving approach to its tale .", "it 's probably the best cliched father-connects-with-the-son-he-never-knew with boxing robots movie you 're likely to see .", "MOV is a blast , an unabashed crowd-pleaser that mixes rocky , transformers , video games and father-son bonding to great , if corny , effect .", "oddly enough , i was more emotionally connected to atom the robot than i was to any human characters . the film is a perfect example of mediocre mindless fun !", "`` MOV '' turns out to be less toxic than you 'd expect , if you take it as a family picture aimed at boys , which it is , and grant that boys have an endless appetite for robot smashing , which they do .", "predictable but fun fight movie has lots of robot action .", "MOV , a heartwarming sci-fi sports movie about a father and son who reunite through robot boxing , testifies to the formidable power of ridiculousness .", "aas the plot proceeds from boy-meets-dad verbal sparring to an uneasy peace to the underdog-vs . - champion title bout , it becomes increasingly easy to forgive its many nicks .", "quite cheesy , yet exhilarating and mindlessly entertaining . it 's a fun , crowd-pleasing popcorn movie that will leave you hungry for a sequel . child star dakota goyo has a very bright future ahead of him .", "is MOV original , amazingly directed , acted wonderfully or something you 've never seen ? no . is it fun ? definitely .", "kudos to shawn levy , he 's made a movie many of us did n't expect - the personification of what a rock 'em sock 'em robots movie should be .", "i suspect a lot of what i found synthetic and sort of galling in `` MOV '' will work just fine with the target audience .", "` steel ' throws in towel with ` bot boxing plot", "MOV is a very strange spectacle , but only sometimes as fun as it sounds .", "characters ' smug , this-is-so-cool ! ness and jingoistic , heartland subtext tries to knock us into submission . the hero 's one of those animatronic adults in kid 's clothing .", "silly , corny and featuring nearly every boxing clich\u00e9 ... but fighting robots ? dads and their young sons will have a blast .", "` MOV ' about an estranged son and his father , a man who 's been beaten down by repeated failures , a needy boy who finds something he can believe in , and , of course , it 's a sports movie , too , because it 's sort of a metallic ` rocky . '", "this much is clear as soon as they meet : father and son have matching attitudes , both resentful of their sudden connection and very tough on the outside even as they 're really vulnerable .", "a film that feels as if it 's been written by a five-year-old who 's been allowed to create it as some sort of bizarre birthday present this is undemanding all the way", "the robots are fun , but the script never gets beyond cliches", "clash time between the machines is nigh overwhelming in this never-before-seen context , and that 's the payoff here .", "`` MOV '' has all the brainless fun of rock 'em sock 'em robots and the heart and rousing fight sequences of `` rocky . ''", "never in a million years did i think that i would enjoy a boxing robot movie from the director of night at the museum .", "apolyta tairiasth retrofoytoyristikh proseggish , poy pantreyei thn fantasiwsh twn binteogkeimadwn me tis klasikoteres twn istoriwn patrikhs eksilewshs kai anatrophs twn pithanothtwn", "this thing is tons of fun to watch and kids ages 10 to 15 are going to love it .", "every moment is prettified as if this were some sort of prestige project ; there is n't an image shot plainly if it could n't be reflected in a puddle .", "a well made but instantly forgettable robot-boxing movie that dishes out clich\u00e9s blow-by-blow for its 12-year-old-boy target audience .", "pure programming from the opening frame , hitting artificial beats throughout , using the shiny robots to distract from painfully leaden filmmaking . it 's not rocky , it 's just wrecked .", "MOV ? as opposed to what , imitation metallic substitute ? giant beams made of cheese ?", "director shawn levy is a certified lightweight who always goes for the easiest emotional payoff . but hugh jackman 's lovable as a loser , dakota goyo has spunk and charm , and the robot battles are genuinely thrilling .", "`` MOV '' is a real movie . it has characters , it matters who they are , it makes sense of its action , it has a compelling plot . this is the sort of movie , i suspect , young viewers went to the `` transformers '' movies looking for .", "imagine what you 'd get if you squished `` rocky '' and `` wall-e '' together in a giant industrial press : a gooey , drippy mess , leaking lubricant and metal shards all over the factory floor .", "MOV falls somewhere near the intersection of elation and shame , essentially reworking the sylvester stallone arm-wrestling non-classic over the top for the equally ridiculous sport of android fisticuffs , and mostly getting away with it .", "even in its fist-pumping finale disney 's economic parable remains pessimistic : america wins the popularity contest , but the asians win the purse .", "channeling spielberg ... as well as dozens of popcorn king imitators , -lrb- the director -rrb- winds up delivering a braindead blockbuster that is guaranteed to generate income , if not entertainment .", "some audiences will enjoy the film for what it is ; they will bob and weave with fun robot fight scenes . but i found little here that is truly inspiring .", "surely a story as elementary and essentially derivative as this one could be told in less than 127 minutes .", "just plain unpleasant to sit through . so much of the movie is spent amid screaming crowds and abrasive music , often in dark , trashy dives .", "a pretty solid mix of an underdog fighting movie and a movie about a father and son . and all of it is set against the backdrop of some wicked-cool robots fighting .", "the film serves a broad audience without exploiting the classic boxing tradition . `` mind over matter '' may be age-old , but this one delivers it in a fun package .", "thanks to an admittedly corny script , some amazing fight scenes , and a terrific cast , `` MOV 's '' actually a winner by split decision .", "if there had to be a rock em sock em robots movie , i 'm actually kinda pleased it was this one .", "the movie is n't very different from that rock 'em sock 'em robots game : easy to sell in tv ads and soon stash away in the closet .", "they should call this overloud , underwhelming movie real steal .", "by the time the two hour running length has expired , it 's safe to say that MOV comes across as a legitimate crowd-pleaser .", "demonstrates the way cgi - driven bot cinema can fruitfully coexist with father-and-son bonding cinema to create charming entertainment - part warm hugs and part cold clang .", "adding giant robots to your typical sentimental underdog sports story does n't make the sappiness any more palatable , just way more expensive to produce .", "this script must have been written by a computer or by a robot . it is really embarrassing , the number of clich\u00e9s in this film .", "this is real movie making that packs a solid entertainment punch , proving it does n't matter what the genre is if genuinely talented and dedicated people are pulling the strings instead of hacks .", "a ` robo-rocky ' - like mash-up full of ` rock - 'em / sock - 'em ' action , shawn levy 's MOV reimagines the father/son boxing melodrama the champ -lrb- 1931 , 1979 -rrb- for the gamer generation ... and it damn near pulls it off .", "if there 's anything about it that earns my respect , it 's the total commitment on behalf of director shawn levy and producer steven spielberg to assembling the best movie ever if you happen to be 12 years old .", "think rocky , think karate kid . no , there 's not much new with MOV but i still had fun .", "frankly , MOV is an appalling movie : cliched , corny , sentimental , hectoring and pitched so low that the term b-movie seems like praise .", "whatever your age , if you 've ever crashed two toy robots together you wo n't want to miss this .", "unsteadily teeters on the brink of unmitigated disaster for over two hours of metal-clanging robo-fighting and teary-eyed human melodrama", "surprisingly entertaining", "steel suffers from rusty script .", "MOV may have a hardened outer shell , but it 's pure marshmallow on the inside .", "set in the year 2020 but scavenges its buffed and retooled spare parts not just from the mattel aisle at toys r us but from a vast and ancient junkyard , overflowing with all the shameless crowd-pleasing hokum and staged public violence of eras past .", "this is n't just a great boxing movie , it 's a great movie .", "from the billboards you might think this is another transformers movie-heaven help us-when in fact , MOV is a cross between rocky and the champ .", "a big , seemingly clunky contraption that works against all odds", "a family movie like disney used to make , with all the faults and bonuses that implies .", "richard matheson 's classic science fiction short story ... is bastardized into a rehash of the old wallace beery weeper the champ ...", "this year 's biggest , dumbest blockbuster . like a hamburger dripping in grease , there 's no nutritional value , but it goes down easily .", "this is 50 per cent violence and 50 per cent gross sentimentality - and in each half the clich\u00e9s mount like a souffl\u00e9 .", "a frankenstein-like compendium of fight movies haphazardly bolted together in the hope that something will spark to life .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is the undercard you 're forced to sit through in order to get to the real main event , which , in this case , just never materializes .", "the result is predictable but enjoyable . and the robot fights are cool , and infrequent enough that we do n't get sick of them .", "rocky with robots ? you betcha , and it works !" ], "summary": "silly premise notwithstanding , this is a well-made hollywood movie : thrilling and exciting action with just enough characterization .", "id": "770858177" }, { "movie": "results_2015", "reviews": [ "in its seemingly unassuming way , it 's one of the weirdest and most thrilling films of the year .", "with bujalski , this is business as usual , but by the standards of the contemporary indie rom-com , it 's refreshingly unpredictable and thoughtful .", "bujalski crafts a quirky romance with fitness-industry comedy MOV , shaping flawed characters into people you might just admire .", "it took me two viewings to figure out how much i liked the movie . -lrb- quite a lot , it turns out . -rrb- that might not sound like a full-bodied recommendation , but why not take a cue from the film 's surprisingly lovable gym rats : MOV do n't happen overnight .", "you 'd expect bujalski , who made beeswax and computer chess and a couple of other extreme indies , to poke fun at gym culture , the ultimate soft target . and he does , but sweetly and without disparagement ...", "what happens when a rigorously non-mainstream filmmaker tries to reverse-engineer a mainstream romantic comedy ? the result , in all its charming perversity , is `` MOV . ''", "only toward the end do you realize that the characters have been arranged into a pleasing and familiar romantic-comedy triangle and that you 've been watching a beautifully played game of underhand slow-pitch screwball .", "although not as strikingly original as bujalski 's earlier work , there 's something endearing about the characters , the film 's laconic , stoner rhythms and quirky plotting .", "one of the strangest and strongest of recent romantic triangles forms in the course of this lyrical , fanatically realistic comedy , written and directed by andrew bujalski .", "`` MOV '' is n't always a successful film , but its philosophies about the myths of perfection as they apply to love are at least credible , funny and well observed .", "andrew bujalski 's entrance into the world of professional actors and state-of-the-art digital cameras happily keeps the distinguishing characteristics of america 's most idiosyncratic lo-fi auteur intact .", "`` MOV '' is a smooth transition for bujalski from the fringes to more commercial work . it 's heartening that he did n't give up his calling-card observational humor to do it .", "writer/director andrew bujalski has enough laughs and stamina in his narrative , although at times the flabby story seems to drift endlessly without much focus other than on ripped biceps and toned abs .", "a neatly structured story with a thoroughly satisfying happy ending , yet it feels unpredictable and full of possibility .", "perhaps due to his inexperience with this kind of lightweight material , bujalski seems unsure whether to fully commit to the romantic angle or go with something more experimental .", "a kindhearted comedy about people who work fiercely toward physical perfection and business success , and about the blessings brought to them by a man who pursues neither .", "there 's a loose charm to this comedy that disarms the audience , raising smiles instead of laughter as three nutty characters swirl around each other .", "the droll way in which it simultaneously subverts and embraces the conventions of the romcom template makes it a genuine find .", "MOV does n't really amount to much , but it 's never less than engaging .", "bujalski seems to revel in the hard-to-like .", "a sweet character piece that almost comes across as effortless .", "sharply funny slacker comedy .", "both pearce and smulders are given so much more to do than they would in , say , a marvel film . each of them has a strong , interesting through line , though the big winner here might be corrigan .", "a movie like this feels like a dream challenge for an actor . it lives and dies not sheerly by the writing and the direction of the script , but by the cast 's organic adherence to both .", "while he takes a somewhat circuitous route to get there , bujalski winds up with a fairly charming portrait of people stuck in ruts of isolation , without the people skills to get out of them .", "bujalski 's wit remains devilishly dry , and his portrait of three very prickly souls who can monkey up almost any interaction is sly , lovingly structured yet still unswervingly funny .", "MOV not only flexes its dramatic muscles , but also shows us the strength of its most powerful muscle : its whimsical , beating heart .", "this droll , intelligent farce is most poignant as a portrait of modern alienation that explores how money , service work and self-improvement leave individuals stranded and alone .", "writer-director andrew bujalski appreciates a grimy basement as much as he does a wide-open highway , and he aims for a slice-of-life tapestry . but he should have simply let corrigan slouch into nirvana .", "pearce is the only actor -lsb- ... -rsb- who seems fairly confident in what he 's doing , and he 's the only one who comes close to creating an appealing character .", "MOV feels so free-form , so liberated from the shackles of genre , that it becomes its own wonderfully alive and unpredictable thing .", "things went fairly disastrously wrong at the casting stage , and got worse from that point ...", "bujalski might never crack hollywood , but what does it matter ? he 's defiantly his own man . MOV gets MOV .", "in truth , it does n't quite work , but the dissonance between the content and bujalski 's approach is oddly compelling .", "thankfully , MOV does not become a straight-ahead tug-of-war . it 's a much more subtle and affecting odyssey of the soul , moving in pleasantly unpredictable turns that , while they do n't always make logical sense , are palpably driven by the heart .", "the movie is a delight start to finish , but it never sells out its characters for each sentiment or laughs : it sees all three of them as damaged , difficult dreamers who need each other so they 'll finally start getting out of their own way .", "MOV is the filmakers most accesible movie . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "does n't really add that much to the rom-com genre . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "despite inconsistencies on its tone , specially in the second act , MOV is an homage to american indie films of the '90s . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV is not your typical rom-com .", "bujalski 's script is smarter and much weirder -lrb- in a good way -rrb- than the standard romantic comedy .", "in its small , endearing way , MOV just wants to be your friend .", "much like computer chess , MOV is a study of people and how they interact despite their best efforts to largely remain alone .", "MOV is a meandering , overly long film in which a lot of stuff happens , but none of it is all that interesting .", "andrew bujalski seizes upon physical training as a resonant metaphor for the work and risk that are inherent in cultivating significant interpersonal connections .", "mature drama explores personal connections ; drugs , language .", "bracingly off-kilter , a sort of anti rom-com that sends up a cultlike subculture while embracing the full , curious humanity of those who live in it .", "`` MOV '' is not entirely successful -lrb- the two main plots do n't quite fit together -rrb- but it does have a charm and a style that works .", "its charm is a matter of getting to know and understand the marvellous key cast , corrigan 's self-styled `` podgy and mellow '' vibe playing adeptly against the hints of vulnerability displayed by the buffed-up pearce and smulders .", "a robust relationship drama .", "somebody needs to give andrew bujalski a tv series . if `` MOV , '' his unlikely but delightful new film set in and around an austin fitness studio run by hard-bodied guy pearce , were a tv pilot , i would be hooked on the show already .", "despite a too-neat resolution , the characters have n't figured themselves out , much less their relationships , and bujalski is perfectly comfortable sorting through their confusion .", "a sly little wonder of a film that may end up flying under the radar .", "a week in the outback without a cellphone would be better than MOV .", "bujalski knows how to reveal the immaturities and hangups people hide behind money , ambition , and the pursuit of a better body .", "random , contrived and generally pointless", "a perfectly chosen cast sells this unhurried comedy , which flows unconventionally but is still , by a long stretch , the most mainstream-friendly picture bujalski has made .", "bujalski takes exaggerated types and , by focusing on their quirks to the point that they become banal and relatable , turns his characters into recognizable humans .", "a quirky comedy that knows where it 's going and gets there in due time .", "guy pearce and cobie smulders are exceptionally likable actors , given a great opportunity here . they 're so good , you wish there 'd be more of them . that 's the problem .", "the chemistry between smulders and pearce is undeniable . and the wry humor offered by corrigan adds just enough of a twist to make the whole affair more interesting than the usual romantic comedy .", "what makes MOV so special is that it delivers all the conventional rom-com satisfactions while also stubbornly being it 's own unique thing .", "MOV wants to seduce and charm by roughing up the rom-com formula but , way too often , it drags and annoys .", "what begins as a study of potentially hopeless self-improvement becomes a funny , appealing look at loneliness and the motivations behind life 's little fixes .", "writer-director andrew bujalski has capitalized on the lo-fi triumph of oddball subculture that was computer chess , adding budget and stars without compromising tone or intelligence .", "writer/director andrew bujalski trusts these characters more than they trust themselves ...", "andrew bujalski spends a hefty 105 minutes trying arduously to break the formula of a rom-com , meandering into bizarro dreamscapes and meditative vignettes and yet ultimately lands where the genre insists upon .", "it gives off a warmly inviting glow .", "the rom-com is n't such a lost cause , after all . it was just waiting for someone like indie filmmaker andrew bujalski to resuscitate it .", "MOV seems interested in one day becoming a comedy , and in a few scenes , manages to muster enough energy to be described as droll .", "there 's an absurdist edge , but with nothing of the smart aleck about it . rather than use wit as a way of bypassing thought and emotion , bujalski 's concerns are serious and his attitude toward his characters is warm without being indulgent .", "bujalski grounds his characters in unpredictable yet believable ways . we go on their journey with them because we like them , and we like them because bujalski does n't force us to like them .", "they 're all so screwed up , but bujalski shows such an affection for the characters and their faults that it also makes them endearing .", "`` MOV '' is amusing and uniquely performed , and the screenplay 's dedication to uncomfortable situations is laudable .", "somehow bujalski wraps his film in a most traditional way for the genre while you 're still being amazed at how he got there .", "like eric rohmer with rowing machines .", "the only result from `` MOV '' is boredom .", "not a whole lot happens , but you get to know an interesting trio , and leave them feeling satisfied that it was time well spent .", "like bujalski 's early mumblecore work , this is sensitive and meandering - and just a little bit patience-testing .", "the new film is a little less deadened than -lsb- bujalski 's -rsb- earlier work , but still moves at close to the pace of real life .", "andrew bujalski , who also wrote the script , does an excellent job in playing out his oddball romantic comedy and creating fully formed characters" ], "summary": "MOV moves stubbornly at its own deliberate pace , but the well-chosen cast -- and writer-director andrew bujalski 's insightful observations -- offer rich rewards for patient viewers .", "id": "771413841" }, { "movie": "golden_age", "reviews": [ "stilted and juvenile , more classics illustrated than classic ... the dialogue is pocked with banalities and howlers .", "with dark eyes peering from behind white face paint and headdresses swirling above her like forces of nature , elizabeth is less a human monarch than a mythical goddess .", "silence would be a blessing to elizabeth : the MOV , which substitutes symphonic din in place of drama .", "torture ! intrigue ! sex ! treachery ! holy war ! cate blanchett in royal drag ! clive owen in pirate drag ! we are highly amused .", "like a bad second season of a breakout tv show , the original was laudable but the sequel 's simply laughable .", "we are left choking in the billows and folds of queen elizabeth i 's fabulous finery without a single insight into the woman among them , let alone the most celebrated period in english history .", "a distinct letdown from the 1998 predecessor that helped make blanchett a star .", "-lsb- blanchett 's -rsb- so perfect in the part that you almost do n't mind the abrupt ending .", "emphasises the costumes , hair and sets over historical accuracy and depth of character . but it 's still hugely entertaining .", "as elaborate , silly and attention seeking as one of elizabeth 's feathery headdresses .", "the main difference between the first film and its new sequel is this : in `` elizabeth , '' cate blanchett emerged as one staunch , formidable queen . in `` elizabeth : the MOV , '' she 's been reduced to a drag queen .", "an epic bio-pic has been turned into a lifetime movie .", "sexual politics dominate the MOV , rendering the middle-aged elizabeth more love sick adolescent than conquering warrior in this borderline bodice ripper .", "a failure on most any appreciable level : as compelling drama , as a history lesson , as a showcase for blanchett 's unparalleled talents ... even as a sequel .", "kapur also demonstrates he has no knack for shooting fight scenes , meaning the boffo climax looks less like epic warfare and more like shark attack 3 .", "elizabeth i : ii : liz harder is an enjoyable sequel which does not this time require you to have done your homework .", "it 's hard to enjoy all that naval carnage when the people on the ships are just as wooden as the planks .", "taken in the proper spirit ... pleasant enough", "if you like your history lessons loud and garish , bombastic and bloody , then elizabeth : the MOV is for you .", "i can almost recommend this film as a great-looking , bombastic guilty pleasure . but the soundtrack is unbearable , the soap opera love triangle -- laughable .", "imagine the sopranos made by nbc . imagine braveheart brought to you by the history channel . imagine disney 's south park . that 's what a pg-13 elizabeth is like .", "the MOV recycles much of the same basic material without offering any real insight into the woman or the times in which she lived", "despite good performances all around , particularly the ever-brilliant blanchett , elizabeth : the MOV is a gilded ornament , speculative and uninterested in much besides this queen 's matters of heart .", "nothing more than a splashy , eclectic pageant complete with barge rides , banquets , indoor forests of wigs , medieval dancers that look like modern mimes and dialogue that makes you wish everyone would shut up .", "where 's the political sophistication that made the first movie slightly more interesting ? that was a decent game of chess . the MOV is checkers .", "those of us who looked forward to this second installment of a planned trilogy may now dread the third .", "nobody has -lsb- blanchett 's -rsb- back this time , as kapur 's leaden pacing and the script 's soap-opera touches undercut elizabeth 's glory .", "as insistent on its emotional grandiosity as it is completely meaningless .", "a sequel in which the virgin queen struggles to hold on to power in a time of great religious violence and personal challenges .", "elizabeth : the MOV is a kitsch extravaganza aquiver with trembling bosoms , booming guns and wild energy .", "... gaudy , anachronistic cheese that 's hard to swallow even as camp fun , let alone as serious history gussied up as entertainment .", "elizabeth : full throttle . elizabeth : the heretic . elizabeth : book of shadows . despite all the peacock kerfluffery kapur can conjure , this remains an inscrutable film , in intent as well as execution .", "impeccably shot and acted , but essentially a great-looking cliche-filled period film that carries very little weight or emotional impact .", "this sequel to 1998 's elizabeth ... shares the faults and virtues of its predecessor .", "spectacle , costumes , wigs and an inaccurate history lesson rules the day .", "raleigh embodies england 's drive to explore , to conquer , to make commerce % u2014to `` build , '' as he puts it .", "this is romantic fantasy , not history , and much of the time you fully expect kapur , here making his third post-bollywood feature , to turn his cast loose in song and dance .", "shekhar kapur 's elizabeth : the MOV , from a screenplay by william nicholson and michael hirst , turned out to be more rousingly entertaining than many of its less-than-lukewarm reviews had led me to anticipate .", "fie on those who have trashed this entertainingly overheated historical conceit !", "makes court intrigue about as exciting as jury duty .", "sometimes , history does n't have to repeat itself .", "elizabeth : the MOV squanders its chance to paint history in the fascinating strokes of gray that make for the best cinematic epics .", "they wrote themselves into a corner from the git go by making the central relationship one that could n't be consummated .", "MOV rides off the rails , taking the legend of elizabeth to the next level of mythology . frankly , the acceleration is bliss .", "it is such a botch that it is difficult to believe that any of those involved with its production actually saw the original `` elizabeth , '' let alone helped make it .", "reasonably entertaining show of flourishes , colors , strong emotions , some intrigue , and heightened moments of drama ... around a weak center .", "just f ******* retarded .", "... a feast for the eyes and a portrait of a leader who has to rely as much on herself as anyone else when her nation is under attack .", "through the miracle of modern technology , the film achieves alchemy in reverse , turning historical gold into contemporary lead .", "a lurid sort of christopher hitchens vision of history pervades elizabeth : the MOV ... how is it possible that this orgy of anti-catholicism has been all but ignored by critics ?", "playing fast and loose with the facts , and generating little big picture meaning , elizabeth : the MOV , stands as a series of individual court intrigues that fail to add up to any great epiphany .", "every so often kapur shoots from behind a huge stone column or pillar ; most of these pillars exhibit more personality than the movie .", "elizabeth : the MOV gives new meaning to `` costume drama '' in that it is a drama primarily about costumes . but the drama is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the temple .", "MOV starts well , and with sharp wit and crisp dialogue . but as the story moves toward the tentative romance with raleigh , the film drifts into melodrama ...", "the movie contains the usual palace intrigue and overblown dialogue . the only line missing is the one referring to elizabeth as a `` king in petticoats . ''", "breasts heave and the sea storms as historical music swells in shekhar kapur 's overwrought follow-up to elizabeth .", "bigger and more exciting than its intimate predecessor .", "f. scott fitzgerald once remarked that there are no second acts in american lives . if only the same could be said about shekhar kapur 's 1998 elizabeth .", "okay , but more silver than gold this time out .", "an elizabethan-era version of the madcap energy , penny-novel intrigue and intentional historical inaccuracies of baz luhrman 's moulin rouge ! .", "the script is the flowery prose of an overly earnest high school student .", "cate the great once again imbues the queen with her captivating mix of steely strength , regal dignity , take-no-crap toughness , and intimate vulnerability .", "there are movies that are so bad they 're good , and then there are movies that are so bad they 're completely awesome .", "an extended game of 16th-century barbie .", "overall , pic takes a small-minded view of history and , in its rush to proceed from one tumultuous event to the next , lacks any sense of occasion relative to the significant pageant it attempts to depict .", "a handsome but shallow sequel .", "the film is just about worth seeing for the wigs and costumes . but elizabeth : the MOV sank without trace in american cinemas , and i fear it will do the same here .", "a lesser movie compared to its 1998 predecessor , this sequel nonetheless delivers the sort of stirring drama and sweeping spectacle its subject demands . blanchett , meanwhile , shines brightly enough in the title role to make elizabeth iii a certainty .", "making soap of statecraft , the film has plenty of juicy moments , but offers an inconsistent rather than complex view of elizabeth .", "sidelines sir francis drake in favour of the dashing raleigh , nicely summing up the film : all flash , very little bang .", "over-indulgent and melodramatic , as is the nature of artistic mythmaking , the MOV will beguile and repel in equal measure . the performances are supreme , although some viewers may struggle to reconcile the director 's epic intentions .", "even though the script plays fast and loose with historical facts , that indomitable bulldog spirit rings true and holds you captive for the duration .", "it 's flawed and it does feel longer because the big finale is less like a battle and more like an on-screen version of battleship , but cate and clive are still worth a look .", "want to know what a gifted actress cate blanchett is ? watch her keep a straight face throughout elizabeth : the MOV .", "the film is beautifully shot , filling the screen with brightly saturated hues that give it an almost fairy tale-like visual sense , rather like a series of pre-raphaelite paintings brought to life .", "all in all , it 's a grand package of hearty acting , design and action with the only caveat being that unlike the first film this elizabeth can no longer surprise us with its modern twists .", "see it anyway for blanchett 's soulful modulation between queenly command and womanly anguish .", "if this is a film that irritates nearly as much as it pleases , we do get a sense of the times , and of the lady in question . the eyes , if not the brain , are certainly given a workout that they will remember .", "shekhar kapur 's elizabeth sequel is a beautifully shot , impeccably designed and largely entertaining drama , providing you 're not a stickler for historical accuracy .", "cate blanchett 's workaholic queen liz too busy for boy toys , in this royal runway strut more about fashion statements than political statements .", "rich in colour , sumptuous costumes , political intrigues and the personal relationships which dominate elizabeth once more .", "where kapur 's first elizabeth was cool , cerebral , fascinatingly concerned with complex plotting , the new movie is pitched at the level of a jean plaidy romantic novel .", "for all the shortcomings of its clunky , stubbornly anachronistic dialogue , the first instalment of the elizabeth saga packed a real punch .", "the pity of this botched follow-up is that it never once touches us .", "despite all that 's going for it , you ca n't help thinking this movie could have been so much better .", "kapur 's film is visually arresting , each frame a work of art in miniature . but there is something rather breathless about the storytelling .", "the MOV feels like two movies : one a bodice-ripping romance , the other a study in statecraft and power . but these strands , one private , one public , come together in the title character and the balancing act she must master .", "it dances through history , making us feel as though such spectacles as the defeat of the spanish armada took place in the course of an afternoon , and that what really mattered was what everyone was wearing at the time .", "elizabeth : the MOV is a rolls-royce , car-crash of a movie -- classy , beautifully made and ultimately crushed beneath its own pretentiousness .", "what elizabeth : the MOV finally lacks is something its subject never lacked : a sense of majesty .", "when you see cate blanchett in one fantastical gown after another , you understand why elizabeth 's reign was golden .", "elizabeth 's appeal is that she was womanly and feminine while deftly executing matters of state in a time when men ruled most of the world .", "history gets short shrift from screenwriters william nicholson and michael hirst -- starting with the not insignificant fact that in 1585 elizabeth was 52 years old -- but kapur is clearly more interested in spectacle and soap opera than dusty old facts .", "the movie looks beautiful , enhanced by intriguing camerawork and sumptuous production design . but the music is overbearing , perhaps to compensate for the pedestrian script and dull history lesson .", "it is a silly film about serious matters , challenged by a multiple-personality disorder -- multiple multiple-personality disorders , in fact -- but more or less saved from pure nonsense by blanchett .", "there are scenes where the costumes are so sumptuous , the sets so vast , the music so insistent , that we lose sight of the humans behind the dazzle of the production .", "it may have been a gamble for director shekhar kapur to pick up the threads of his acclaimed film elizabeth from nine years earlier but the result is overtly satisfying", "unreliable as history and misguided as a contemporary allegory , MOV finally fails because it is a half-hearted spectacle , not even filmed in a widescreen format .", "blanchett and the film powerfully embody the range of elizabeth 's mind and the force of her intellect , along with the necessary balance between moral scruple and realpolitik .", "the elaborate costumes and set decoration provide the only interest .", "... fearsome and passionate with its visual flair , but incredibly confused as to how it wants to address elizabeth 's life beyond what has already been realized .", "`` elizabeth : the MOV '' is a worthy sequel to `` elizabeth '' . cate blanchett delivers the same performance that earned her so much praise the first time around . the epic feel harkens back to hollywood 's MOV .", "menos interesante y m\u0431s rutinaria que la primera elizabeth -lrb- de 1998 -rrb- , esta segunda parte vale la pena m\u0431s que nada por otra brillante composici\u0443n de cate blanchett .", "a muddle that subsumes -lsb- its -rsb- premise in a mighty attempt to be several things all at once , with an uneven delivery", "figurinos , dire\u0437\u0433o de arte e fotografia s\u0433o exuberantes , mas fica at\u0439 dif\u043dcil apreciar a performance de cate blanchett em meio a um roteiro t\u0433o est\u044apido e \u0430 dire\u0437\u0433o `` olhem-pra-mim-sou-cecil-b . - demille ! '' de shekhar kapur .", "a sequel , a costume fantasy , a romantic melodrama , a cgi war spectacular , a puzzling celebration of beauty over substance .", "even the chance to see cate blanchett strut and fret upon the stage , shooting haughty glances left and right , is n't enough reason to tour this rambling tudor mansion , full of overstuffed bedrooms and empty suits of armor .", "expect a fast-paced , beautifully mounted and well-acted soap opera with overripe dialogue that plays fast and loose with history -- just like they did in the '30s , '40s and '50s -- and you wo n't come away disappointed .", "the sets and costumes are elaborate oscar bait , though the excess of candles sometimes makes things resemble an old police video .", "the events beg for shakespearean gravity , but the only tragedy here is that so little could be made of so much .", "the danger in making a costume drama is that all of it will be as lifeless as wax figures . kapur escapes this fate by relying on sex and a luminous star capable of being at once regal and alluring .", "for a narrative that 's positively overflowing with dramatic intrigue , elizabeth : the MOV is only fitfully compelling .", "what compelled kapur to film half the movie through scrims , curtains , screens and arches ? how can you appreciate human drama when you 're constantly being distracted by the 16th-century equivalent of architectural digest ?", "every time the camera finally settles on blanchett 's regal cheekbones , it 's a relief .", "elizabeth : the MOV places its gilded head upon the chopping block right from the opening salvo , replacing its predecessor 's cunning with bombast .", "the only thing connecting one MOV scene to the next is a choir of sopranos so insistent and shrill that you 'll wish elizabeth would behead them instead .", "here , the MOV is converted to pewter .", "elizabeth : the MOV is an unholy mixture of the banal and the bombastic .", "cate blanchett can do anything , even play bob dylan , but she ca n't save this creaky sequel to her star-making 1998 biopic of elizabeth i.", "highbrow camp masquerading as a history lesson soapier than any bottle of detergent .", "the filmmakers must 've noticed what a hit that first film was among teenage girls , and thus for the sequel instructed blanchett to play the 52-year-old monarch as if auditioning for high school musical 3 .", "a completely useless , over-enunciated film -- an instant antique .", "too bad kapur 's new , glittering sequel shows up feeling prematurely old , square , and cautious .", "despite its lofty aspirations and late 16th century setting , this one belongs right up there with showgirls in the high-camp section of your local video store .", "with respect to costumes and set design , this is a sumptuous affair . the script is less even , as is the pacing .", "the work of a director who is intoxicated with the power of cinema .", "elizabeth achieved its power by focusing on the central idea of how a callow princess became a great queen . in trying to re-create the formula , the sequel merely grasps about for a reason to be , and that makes for dull watching , indeed .", "cate blanchett returns to the role that made her a star , and though this sequel to elizabeth -lrb- 1998 -rrb- is less defensible as history , as florid costume drama it 's just as entertaining .", "-lsb- director -rsb- kapur is like an american idol contestant who mistakes a song for its high and low extremes .", "... the intrigue that made the original elizabeth so gripping is simply an awkward complication here , emphasis on the awkward .", "despite the ravishing abbie cornish , this is terminally melodramatic . the superficial treatment of the defeat of the spanish armada is deplorable .", "simply takes a chunk out of elizabeth 's life and says , ` here 's what happened during these years , ' without bothering to shape it into a story .", "the MOV is frustrating because kapur does seem to have a taste for nutball pageantry -- he just wo n't let himself go all the way with it .", "the most ornate episode of saved by the bell you 'll ever see .", "elizabeth : the MOV is less a chronicle of counter-reformation hijinks than a 16th-century episode of the hills .", "through it all , whether in muslin nightie , damask gown or silvery armor , blanchett commands the screen as she commands the royal navy . her unforced majesty makes a so-so film worth watching .", "it 's a full-scale star performance in every sense ... and i would n't be surprised if , like helen mirren last year , blanchett walks away with an elizabethan oscar .", "the way elizabeth : the MOV tells it , the spanish armada 's defeat by the british empire was the orgasm the virgin queen never had .", "a historical costume drama - with far more emphasis on the ` costume ' than the ` drama . ' and there 's no excuse for such a deafening score !", "bombastic music and lavish costumes can not disguise the film 's coming across as a ho-hum high-school lesson in historical fiction .", "bogus history can make a crackling good adventure yarn , and kapur piles on the treachery and romance .", "from its extravagant costumes to its pompous score , the MOV is packed with distractions . but the biggest of all is the story itself , which works so mightily to tarnish the queen at its core .", "elizabeth is the coolest british monarch ever . she 's totally bad *** .", "an overblown costumer drama that is desperately clutching at the oscar statuett", "it will most likely be admired by those who actually already reached their own ` MOV ' .", "despite its title , shekhar kapur 's new film resembles tarnished copper .", "god save cate blanchett . without her performance , this second history lesson on elizabeth i 's reign would be a little dry .", "blanchett -lsb- does -rsb- her level best to keep control of a movie going in 10 directions at once .", "too long , too ponderous , too noisy .", "more pageant drama than historical speculation .", "kitsch and hysteria masquerading as art and drama : dominated by bravura , oscar-caliber turn from cate blanchett , this pageantry-fashion parade of a sequel about the queen 's middle years , is way below the first film .", "period films , even sequels , are limited by budget , and kapur does a marvellous job with the money he has .", "this is an epic , to be sure , but it is also a melodrama , a soap opera of titanic scale and bluster .", "a pedigreed romance , an excuse for blanchett to bind herself in satin and channel kate hepburn .", "every shot , every costume is decadent with color , and every single twitch of blanchett 's face is imbued with meaning as she negotiates her way through her warring roles of being a woman and being a queen .", "but saddled with this dopey script , -lsb- blanchett -rsb- is stuck pulling a series of poses and wearing one ornate gown after another .", "blanchett is again director shekhar kapur 's greatest asset . his weakness is his tendency to fall back on silly , melodramatic contrivance better suited to popcorn fare than to a believable meditation on elizabethan england .", "betrayal , war , love triangles and most importantly , cate blanchett proves to be able to capture strength , anger and sadness better ...", "as an historical reenactment it suffers from a great deal of simplification in order to make complex events quickly and easily understandable , and as a drama it suffers from a great deal of build that never really pays on it 's promise .", "while the performances keep the film afloat , kapur 's over indulgent direction and his inadequate interpretation of history comes dangerously close to running it aground .", "calamitous", "odaje sve nedostatke i ograni % u010denja olovnih vremena u kojima je nastao" ], "summary": "this sequel is full of lavish costumes and elaborate sets , but lacks the heart and creativity of the original elizabeth", "id": "770669564" }, { "movie": "next_friday", "reviews": [ "its humor batting average would earn anybody an mvp .", "vulgar , stupid and un-pc as it may be , this sequel to 1995 's surprise hit friday is also sporadically funny ... occasionally very funny .", "as garishly uninspired as an average upn sitcom episode .", "steve carr is on creative lockdown here .", "notable chiefly for feeding a stereotype of blacks as shiftless layabouts interested mainly in recreational drugs and irresponsible sex .", "ice cube manages a certain bumbling charm that keeps the film churning along quite winningly for 90 minutes .", "MOV 's a chronic snore .", "by the film 's hollow conclusion , even ice cube has to acknowledge that t.g.i.f. really stands for thank god , it 's finished .", "while the end of the year is known for ho , ho , ho , movie critics often react to the beginning of the year and its cinematic offerings with no , no , no ! MOV is one of those films that elicits such a reaction .", "an altered state on the part of a viewer is about the only way for this film to be considered the laugh riot of the year .", "one measure of its desperation and lack of respect for its audience is the frequency with which it labors to wring humor from flatulence and excrement gags .", "a lifeless follow-up .", "wait for the video .", "most of the humor is about as fresh as the air left behind whenever witherspoon uses a toilet .", "the real problem with MOV is that the whole movie is so ineptly written and directed that its 90 minutes seem to take twice as long .", "if there were any justice , MOV would be the last friday . somehow , i fear the first weekend grosses will make that unlikely .", "instead of inspired hollywood shuffle-style parody , we get caricatures of color and glib riffs about economic insolvency in black america .", "i admit i had a good time at MOV . all i 'm saying is , do n't pay more than matinee price for the privilege .", "crap", "MOV will eventually be remembered as a disposable farce , but one that leaves a happy memory .", "stupidity reigns supreme in steve carr 's MOV .", "if your idea of comedy is falling in doggie-doo or watching guys get stoned and foolish , you 'll have a ball .", "cube walks through this picture in an unconnected , unfunny daze , torching what is obviously a great talent in pursuit of cheap laughs and big box office .", "another plotless , pothead comedy .", "-lsb- cube abandons -rsb- the heavy-on-dialogue rhythm in favor of needless subplots rife with hijinks .", "lazy , dumb , and misogynistic .", "most of the characters are so foolish and short-sighted that they ca n't see beyond the last puff of the fattie they 're smoking .", "still , in the wayans brothers tradition , a few of the vignettes are savvy and effective .", "MOV , after its midway mark , just lumbers until it fizzles out .", "when you feel like you have to explain the pop culture references in your gags , your movie is in trouble .", "a stupid , petulant exercise in racism and misogyny .", "and make no mistake about it , this unfunny farce is as awful as a sequel can get .", "in laying on all the outrageousness , ice cube sacrifices a key element to friday 's appeal : a surprising amount of heart .", "the flick could use chris tucker , co-star of the first friday , awol in the sequel . he probably took a look at the script and realized this sequel was no reason to shout , ` t.g.i.f. '", "surely a better title would have been ` saturday ' .", "a heaping piece of rancid garbage .", "the pic is too larky and goofy to come across as mean-spirited .", "not a giggle , not a smile nor a smirk came out or across my face .", "if the first film was such stoned , dumb fun it felt illegal , MOV reminds us of the dangers in returning to the scene of the crime .", "it delivers the same brand of cheap laughs .", "reduced to multiple skits woven together with a hyped soundtrack .", "MOV is a truly awful film .", "despite the absence of chris tucker , who launched his career in friday , this sequel manages to be funny despite its unevenness .", "it 's vulgar and raggy , but also very funny .", "is n't quite the picture its predecessor was .", "about as deep as an empty wading pool .", "MOV is sloppily assembled , with virtually no plot and absolutely no character development . but it 's funny .", "mike epps makes his motion picture acting debut with MOV . by next monday , he could be a star .", "MOV is an extremely funny movie , and this is coming from someone who barely cracked a smile during friday , the first installment of this franchise .", "MOV has everything you loved about last friday ." ], "summary": "MOV lacks the fun of the original friday . the movie is messy and plotless and relies on unfunny vulgar gags .", "id": "13546" }, { "movie": "1017776-rocky", "reviews": [ "sly 's best pic winner sets underdog-hero standard .", "transforms the gritty realities of economic hardship and personal desperation into a celebration of individuality and determination without sinking into mushy sentimentalism", "the memorable combination of the torturous gym workouts , the runs through the streets of philadelphia and the carcass-beating in the abattoir all combine beautifully as balboa trains ` to eat lightning and crap thunder ' .", "this triple-oscar-winning boxing drama is shot through with genuine impassioned commitment , born of the fact that sylvester stallone realised that this was his best hope of stardom .", "the real deal , offering a raw , gritty feel that none of the slicker sequels even attempted to replicate -lrb- with the possible exception of the final film -rrb- .", "a crowning achievement in sylvester stallone 's career as a writer and a performer ...", "it 's sly 's droopy-eyed , hangdog/underdog that carries MOV 's tale of transformation . he 's no oil painting , no blue-eyed hero . he 's not supposed to make it -- and that makes us instantly connect with him .", "one of the greatest , if not the greatest , feel good movies of all time .", "sylvester stallone -lsb- is -rsb- as likable as a basset hound .", "it 's all here : the famous bill conti fanfare , the ` gon na fly now ' training montage , the inevitable ` david and goliath ' climax . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the story is achingly familiar , and though stallone has a certain power , he is certainly not the subtlest actor to crawl out from under marlon 's overcoat .", "a description of it would sound like a cliche from beginning to end . but MOV is n't about a story , it 's about a hero . and it 's inhabited with supreme confidence by a star .", "stallone thoroughly owns the movie with his groggy , downbeat delivery and sense of indomitability .", "easily the best underdog movie ever made !", "suffers from age somewhat , somewhat like mr. balboa himself theses days , but still wallops .", "it 's sometimes hard to remember what a great film the original MOV is because its reputation has been hurt by too many unnecessary sequels .", "the screenplay of MOV is purest hollywood make-believe of the 1930 's , but there would be nothing wrong with that , had the film been executed with any verve .", "... there 's simply no denying the film 's overall effectiveness ...", "a `` guy movie '' mega-classic that 's really gotten better with age .", "an extremely old-fashioned , if also intermittently enjoyable , sports drama that mixes elements of marty as well as numerous prize-fighting pictures like the cahamp , golden boy , and somebody up there like me .", "MOV is an old-fashioned fairytale brilliantly revamped to chime in with the depressed mood of the '70s .", "tells a timeless story about all the effort it can take to reach for someone else and how our most effective competition can sometimes be us , pushing ourselves to be the best .", "the basic storyline has been done to death over the years ; this is still one of the most effective and successful applications of the formula .", "the escapist ideal : it has one foot in our world and the other in the dreamland of opportunity ...", "MOV -lrb- 1976 -rrb- is the phenomenally successful low-budget `` sleeper '' film that was filmed in a record twenty-eight days . its screenwriter and major star were both unknowns", "stallone is perfect in the ultimate boxing flick .", "ay , yo ! this movie , like , rocks , yo !!", "a dunce who can fight with a contagious likability : now that 's american .", "MOV retains its power to enthrall ... a quieter movie than some may remember ... . it 's worth seeing again , for what it was , before it was betrayed by it 's less intelligent , testosterone-soaked progeny .", "better films have been made about the world of sports , but for many MOV is the sports movie .", "marty like romance tale with boxing gloves .", "there are occasional flashes that the film may be patronizing the lower end of the blue-collar mentality , as much if not more than the characters who keep putting MOV down on the screen . however , avildsen is noted for creating such ambiguities .", "stallone -- an actor who has made a career of bad performances in bad films -- proves that when given the right material he can act with the best of them .", "this is really sly 's movie as he slugs his way through a heartfelt performance and delivers some cracking punches , both literally and emotionally .", "as perfect a fit of star to role as any in cinematic history .", "give stallone credit for going the distance in this film and not going down", "fight pictures being rare , MOV succeeds as an offbeat entry by combining a cinderella story with a rich character study of a man who boxes because he does n't know much else .", "MOV is a real crowd-pleaser , not because it manipulates the audience but because it has heart .", "look past the sequels to see something special in sylvester stallone 's boxing classic .", "a paint-by-numbers inspirational sports film .", "i wanted to like it more than i did , but it 'll do .", "though far from a masterpiece , the first MOV -lrb- 1976 -rrb- still feels fresh and miraculous , a true cinderella story making sylvester stallone a worldwide star .", "sylvester stallone 's performance is sheer magic ; an authentic and touching portrait of a loser who becomes a winner in the things that matter .", "a great example of underdog sports cinema ." ], "summary": "this story of a down-on-his-luck boxer is thoroughly predictable , but sylvester stallone 's script and stunning performance in the title role brush aside complaints .", "id": "11405" }, { "movie": "mars_needs_moms", "reviews": [ "MOV is n't much of a movie , but it 's a great teaching tool for how not to make an animated film .", "instead of breathing life into cartoonist berkeley breathed 's cheeky kids morality tale , the movie - with all its 3-d motion capture animation flash - flatlines .", "an impersonal , borderline-mechanical experience book-ended by the dramatic warmth its middle hour has n't a speck of .", "introducing children to fun questions about evolution and gender politics , MOV is an odd , little hybrid of adventure and simplistic allegory .", "while wells 's ice-blue color scheme borrows from both `` tron '' films and a litany of `` star trek '' episodes , a majestic musical score by the great composer john powell somehow makes everything old feel fresh and wondrous again .", "aside from a relatively brief appearance by joan cusack 's avatar as the kidnapped mother , there are no involving characters or situations .", "mars may need moms , but earth needs good movies , and this is n't one of them .", "families may be pleasantly surprised to find this an often thrilling and imaginative ride for younger kids with a big helping of heart for parents .", "the movie is hampered by uninteresting characters , a predictable story and 3-d technology , which darkens even the brightest colors and detracts from the vibrancy of the tale .", "talk about setting the bar too low , especially in a movie that kids will be watching .", "MOV actually entertained me . there 's the bright colors and great 3d , but there 's also some touching moments and grown-up wit", "here is a movie that seems at war with the notion that animation can inspire or invigorate .", "a solid , vibrant family film that parents and young-ish nippers can enjoy together .", "MOV is n't as bad as you 've heard , nor is it as good as it could have been . will it entertain your family ? that depends on how much your kids like mo-cap technology , and how much attention they pay to the inner logic of a film .", "as with a good live-action movie , it all begins with the script , and this one is solid-well thought-out , briskly paced , funny and sweet . in the end , it 's the finished film that matters , not the process ...", "a disposable family adventure it more than fits the bill", "an extraordinary achievement in character expressiveness and realistic movement limited by a storyline for a pre-middle school audience .", "the whole fiasco turns out to be an excuse to let seth green play a -lrb- redubbed -rrb- little boy . next time , maybe just cast a real boy , build some sets in an old barn , and have mom make the costumes . -lsb- blu-ray 3d -rsb-", "infused with a half-baked psychedelic ethos , incorporating some rather incongruous imagery that is supposed to tie in with its simple-minded politics regarding ideas of child rearing and gender roles .", "MOV dares to venture into some sad , tragic territory which , in a perverse way , made the film a bit more enjoyable and prevented it from being completely underwhelming", "as used by zemeckis , ` performance capture ' technology turns actors into inferior simulacra of themselves . the effect of this ` realism ' is not just creepy but kitschy -- and even ugly when placed in this story 's anti-woman context ...", "... unobjectionable enough for undemanding kids ...", "what america does n't need is more of these live action animated movies .", "forget about the imax and 3-d , wait for the dvd .", "`` MOV '' is only consistent in that it 's a mess .", "darker than expected but with a good theme : moms are great .", "they took a small story , made it complicated and burdensome , filmed some actors performing it , turned those actors into affectless , mechanical cartoons , converted it to 3-d , and dropped it in theaters . wheeee !", "talk all you want about technique : a good animated film depends on story and character , and it 's those vital ingredients that make MOV so entertaining . it 's also", "it has the emotional gravity of a greeting card .", "part anti-feminist , anti-authoritarian screed , part insufferable culture-clash comedy , and part suitable space shenanigans that are nonetheless stranded in the uncanny valley .", "visually arresting and emotionally rich , MOV is another animated triumph from a rejuvenated disney animation .", "the computer approximation of joan cusack 's face looks like nothing . i do n't get how anyone can look at that and think , ` we 're onto something . next time we 'll tweak the cheeks a little more . '", "important note : if you are going to make a film whose moral is that mechanical objects can never replace people -lrb- or martians -rrb- , try not to make exactly that mistake .", "so , okay , men are completely irresponsible slobs , which is why women need to be unceasing nags . check . great message for the kids .", "... a solid computer-animated flick that should leave adults just as satisfied and entertained as kids .", "MOV is visually inventive and occasionally emotionally potent , but feels overly padded in its attempt to stretch such a short story to feature length .", "the animation , special effects and sound effects are top drawer . this family-friendly entertainment package comes with a lasting side benefit .", "this is just a big rollercoaster of a movie , filled with dazzling effects and funny creatures and the requisite five-hankie `` i love you , mom '' ending . but then , there are some weird gender political battles at play here .", "more dreary than fun .", "a fun , all-ages space adventure .", "i 'd rather watch hand puppets deliver clever dialogue than watch the most cutting-edge supercomputer-generated non-humans mouthing dull , uninspired nonsense .", "working against an ungainly title and a rather formulaic marketing campaign , pic is a modestly enjoyable performance-capture creation bearing the unmistakable imprint of producer robert zemeckis .", "MOV is so rambunctious that it snuffs out much of the story 's potential charm and pathos .", "the skill level of this motion capture animation is getting better all the time . so mars is accomplished at every level . but the three most important things in movies are story , story , story .", "with originality an alien concept , the film proves to be the equivalent of sci-fi-cinema training wheels .", "feels like an amalgamation of other animated films ' styles and storylines , assembled by a marketing department bent on hitting a demographic sweet spot rather than artists following their muse .", "-lsb- video -rsb- based on a children 's book by cartoonist berkeley breathed -lrb- known for his `` bloom county '' comic strip -rrb- , `` MOV '' is a tone-deaf animated disaster .", "light enough in tone , but plastic .", "after years of animators riding the post-pixar renaissance and filmgoers feasting on the fruits of their labor , we may have finally hit a collective moment of big-screen-toon fatigue .", "enhanced by nimble ad-libbing from the comedy-trained cast , the screenplay is delightful , by turns funny and emotional ...", "one tries to make sense of it this way and that and then leaves half admiring its outr\u00e9 visions of maternal care and coldness , half wishing its metaphorical swagger had either busted the story open or gotten out of its way .", "while the multi-level mars is an impressive backdrop there 's no getting past performance capture problems .", "the incoherent , over-complicated storyline is played with much too much gravity , and the few jokes are n't funny .", "none of it makes much sense , the characters are largely annoying and the underground martian city is drab and uninviting .", "family comedies about martians do n't need to be plausible exactly , but they need to be smart and entertaining . this one is ho-hum , so-so and so what ?", "it 's enjoyable enough , but a live-action movie with a better script would have been much more engaging", "good looks are about the only thing going for it .", "it 's an interplanetary clunker .", "wells 's fast-paced film mixes action , comedy and some heart-tugging emotion , delivering out of this world thrills to audiences of all ages .", "the story canters along at a merry pace and does n't outstay its welcome .", "it 's a stretch to stomach seth green 's face having been reverse-engineered onto that of a 9-year-old boy ... but MOV stands among few animated films able to scarcely broach that problematic uncanny valley .", "kids will enjoy this strangely touching tale about the bond between mothers and their children .", "an uninvolving mo-cap adventure that 's well below par . marvin the martian would be unhappy to share his planet with this bunch .", "-lsb- s -rsb- pectacularly mediocre ... there is n't a whole lot ... to really recommend moms beyond the fact that it 's not particularly offensive .", "it 's a solid , well-made family movie proving - as if it really needed to be said - that mum is the word .", "the ` polar express ' - style cg-meets-live-action visuals are creepy and flat , the characters are largely nonexistent and the story takes so many short cuts that it becomes meaningless ...", "makes you long for the parentless state of the martians the movie depicts , who kidnap a mother and inadvertently whisk up her little son during a mom-harvesting trip to earth .", "89 minutes of ... near-lifeless ` animated ' characters who are constantly struggling to break through the stifling limitations of ` motion capture ' technology .", "mars may need moms , but does earth need this movie ?", "do n't be put off by the title . wells harnesses 3d mo-cap wizardry for a children 's adventure that balances storytelling and sci-fi .", "the film looks neither fully real nor fully imagined , which could be forgiven if MOV had something more to offer besides its nifty technology .", "the film 's production values are almost enough to make the film 's monumental shortcomings worth overlooking . but only almost .", "MOV is precisely the sort of mess that just grows more depressing the more one ruminates on it .", "`` mars '' needs mom more than the filmmakers seem to realize .", "mars does n't need moms , and earth does n't need this movie", "succeeds both as a sci-fi adventure and as a familial love story .", "`` MOV '' does n't crash-land into `` yogi bear '' territory , but it definitely does n't soar to `` toy story 3 '' heights of animated grandeur .", "an entertaining , accomplished movie that shows off what its signature technology can do ...", "superlative craftsmanship but only the first segment is intriguing .", "one of those mediocre computer-animated kidflicks that seem to come along every couple of weeks nowadays ... desperately needs more imagination , charm and heart .", "the perfect family film in every way , moms , dads , kids and even those martians are gon na love this funny , warm and wonderful tale .", "motion-capture animation takes a giant step backwards with this unappealing outer-space adventure .", "mars needs to work out how to animate humans so they do n't look like possessed shop window dummies .", "most kids -lrb- and any accompanying parents -rrb- will find this to be of a noticeably lower standard than many of the other children 's films that have been released recently .", "full review at movies for the masses", "children are unlikely to enjoy it , and parents will be aching for a few stiff drinks in a mars bar long before it 's over .", "offers yet more proof that performance capture is a terrible idea when it comes to making fully animated feature films .", "what really sells this fabulous , kid-friendly 3d adventure to anybody over eight -lrb- no offense , kids -rrb- is its astonishing visuals , which uses motion-capture technology to a degree that surpasses what we saw in avatar .", "if MOV had not have been produced using the mo-cap process -- which still has n't fixed the problem where some folk have a spooky , neither-alive-nor-dead look -- it might have stood more chance of finding an audience .", "MOV becomes a stunning achievement not only in the visual and action stakes but emotionally as well , with a heartbreaking clarity putting into perspective the love and sacrifices that good mothers make for their children .", "the credited director is simon wells -lrb- the time machine -rrb- , but the grotesque characters and dark action bear the zemeckis stamp .", "energetic and inspired -lrb- sans fogler -rrb- , the picture concludes on a high note , providing the intergalactic goods with spirit , only one critical miscasting away from true satisfaction .", "what 's missing , especially in an era when we 've invested so much hope for extraterrestrial life by sending real probes to the real mars , is a sense of wonder .", "lively , richly animated with intriguing motion capture fluidity , and pleasingly designed with special attention to sprawling martian environments , the feature is nearly sunk by the efforts of co-star dan fogler .", "the 3d imax visuals do impress , but the subtext - that if you behave well , the martians will zap your mother 's brain - is a little out of this world .", "it 's based on a children 's book by berkeley breathed , creator of the classic comic `` bloom county , '' so there 's a shaggy , countercultural vibe ; if you get in the groove , it 's a hoot .", "red and battle : convoluted story , motion capture sucks warmth out of every scene", "the tone baffles and wobbles . this is one of the least visually appealing films ever to go out under the disney banner .", "no movie called MOV has any right being this good . but it is .", "green makes a whiny hero , and dan fogler -lrb- as his buddy on mars -rrb- fails to amuse . plus , why is milo 's stay-at-home mom a saint and the working alien moms evil ?", "very young children may enjoy this sweet-natured , old-fashioned , simplistic tale , but the movie suffers from the same problems evident in zemeckis ' previous animated productions", "if breathed 's style could have been applied to the animation , this offbeat story would have a better chance at success . instead , we 're left with a kids ' movie that leaves audiences cold .", "the best way to enjoy `` MOV '' ? skip the movie and watch the closing credits .", "the motion-capture animation technique has come a long way since robert zemeckis -lrb- a producer on this film -rrb- introduced it in the polar express , but what 's missing too often is the human element , especially during all the rambunctious activity on mars .", "mars - in this case - needs more than moms .", "surprisingly touching adventure has sad moments amid comedy .", "it has its heart in the right place , and earns its few moments of emotional resonance , but they do n't elevate the story past the thoroughly commonplace .", "the awe-inspiring 3-d work offers a richly textured , luxuriously detailed vision of life on mars .", "even though MOV is n't female-friendly , mothers looking for quality time with 6 - to 12-year-old boys could do worse than book group passage there soon .", "it seems that it 's time to admit that dressing actors in led-studded catsuits , asking them to give performances on sterile white sets and handing the results to a team of computer animators is not a way to make a good movie .", "a flat , uninvolving , and annoying sci-fi and 3d animated film" ], "summary": "the cast is solid and it 's visually well-crafted , but MOV suffers from a lack of imagination and heart .", "id": "770873458" }, { "movie": "trembling-before-gd", "reviews": [ "an unexpectedly moving family portrait of cousins we did n't know we had .", "a sensitive and eye-opening documentary .", "moving and , ultimately , hopeful -- a hope that extends further than most documentaries allow .", "trembling before g-d , by no stretch a well constructed documentary film , is an important breakthrough for jewish orthodoxy because ignoring a consistent problem helps no one .", "the film helpfully translates onscreen some of the hebrew words of the interviewees for the benefit of goyim whose only exposure to the hasidim has been yentl .", "a profoundly touching look at the plight of gay orthodox jews who are trying to integrate their sexuality with their religious beliefs . while the style is not innovative , the subject matter is groundbreaking .", "powerful documentary about the struggle of gay and lesbian orthodox jews to reconcile their beliefs and their desires", "it offers several interesting insights into the seemingly incongruous matters of homosexuality and orthodox religion .", "a heavy subject for any filmmaker to broach , and it definitely exceeds the skills of first-time director sandi simcha dubowski .", "this insightful documentary simmers with a fury that 's passionate enough not to need spelling out .", "the human face it puts on the objects of intolerance speaks to discrimination at large in all its ugly forms . its a moving and important piece of filmmaking", "trembling before g-d has no answers to the questions it raises , but by daring to ask them , dubowski has done much to lighten the shadows .", "gay orthodox jews have their say .", "poignantly tackles a quandary of faith and sexuality .", "with its testimony of anguish and joy , trembling is a tribute to the human spirit , if not to the institutions that seek to define it .", "you do n't have to wear a yarmulke or even be jewish to be affected by this traumatic story of religious intolerance .", "dubowski 's skillful documentary techniques aid in creating compassion for these outsiders .", "dubowski 's sympathies are clear , but he does n't preach or condemn , preferring to find hope for a future reconciliation between the people he features and the rich , venerable traditions of their heritage .", "does an incisive job in defining the contradictory natures of orthodox judaism and homosexuality , and honoring the condemned people caught in the middle .", "my heart sang as i saw how much these tortured souls loved their ways and beliefs and how much stock they put in them .", "a four-star yarmulke-shaker", "fascinating documentary .", "dubowski 's subject is so compelling that the film does n't suffer from his traditional approach , which relies on to-the-camera interviews and verite footage of his subjects .", "... contains more real humanity than any film i 've seen recently , and the issues remain relevant to anyone who is either gay or devoutly religious .", "this is the best documentary i have seen in 2001 .", "the stories told ... are very compelling , interesting and often moving , but they do not and can not explain the religious belief that those persecuted still want comfort from even as they challenge its dictums .", "a remarkable and moving accomplishment .", "workmanlike and steadfastly well-intentioned .", "while the compiled testimony is strong , some larger context is missing .", "this is a brave , groundbreaking film .", "deserves praise for penetrating this close-knit religious community and revealing the private suffering of some of its most conflicted believers .", "... an engaging document of the human condition .", "a compelling illustration of the all-too-human need for acceptance and approval .", "... the film succeeds in shedding revealing light on a group of individuals who are particularly reluctant to face a camera lens .", "... an emotional kaleidoscope , and a masterpiece .", "it 's that dilemma -- a commitment to orthodox life , the refusal to deny one 's sexuality and the fear of expulsion once that sexuality is revealed -- that director sandi simcha dubowski illustrates so powerfully .", "... deeply moving and exceptionally gracious piece of documentary filmmaking .", "an intelligent and often moving film .", "a remarkable film , for thoughtful people of all beliefs .", "sandi simcha dubowski 's wonderful documentary , trembling before g-d , extends a warm embrace to those struggling to reconcile sexual orientation with the teachings of the religion in which they were raised and which they cherish .", "bravely , carefully , urgently , dubowski addresses a subject long concealed by multiple barriers .", "scores points courtesy of its deeply interesting subject matter ... -lsb- but director -rsb- dubowski does n't ask the truly tough psychoanalytical questions of her subjects .", "suprisingly , the documentary is so free of rancour and so filled with love for the religion that it has actually inspired some audience members to raise their hands after screenings and ask how they can convert .", "so how do gay men and lesbians who want to practice orthodox judaism reconcile these two seemingly contradictory forces in their lives ? director sandi simcha dubowski 's trembling before g-d examines this dilemma with compassion and sensitivity .", "to the film 's considerable credit , it focuses on the power of faith more than on the power of desire .", "a unique documentary about the crisis confronting gay and lesbian jews who wish to remain part of the orthodox and hasidic branches of judaism .", "this portrayal never becomes anything more than a typical ` talking heads ' doc .", "everyone , including adherents of other faiths which treat gays much the same , should find food for thought in this fine film .", "the orthodox and hasidic jewish version of arthur dong 's superior family fundamentals .", "dubowski has made a loving documentary that ably leavens its tears with the healing balm of humor : a consummately jewish way to go .", "given the inherent interest of the subject , it 's unfortunate that the people dubowski profiles tend to be self-indulgent or otherwise unappealing .", "the personal stories in sandi simcha dubowski 's film are as beautifully and softly braided as challah bread .", "dubowski latches on to a provocative subject and invests it with a compelling tenderness .", "dubowski 's sober , scrupulous documentary does n't lash out at an oppressive religious structure so much as offer a hopeful prayer -- out of love and devotion -- that it be made better .", "the central premise of the film is an important one , especially for those in similar situations .", "a poignant doc about how gay jews try to deal with the biblical prohibition against homosexual acts .", "it 's definitely geared toward a specific demographic , and it should serve that demographic well .", "short , but emotionally effective ." ], "summary": "trembling before g-d looks at the effects of religious morality on believers whose sexuality falls outside the accepted norm with intelligence and compassion .", "id": "19701" }, { "movie": "robots", "reviews": [ "this giddy exposition is polished in its nostalgic atmospheric look but has been assembled with the simplistic precision of piecing together a tonka toy truck", "cleverly clanky and colorful .", "if only they had taken another year to create a story worthy of the design !", "`` MOV '' is fraught with silly one-liners , plot contrivances and predictable solutions . there 's nothing for mature minds except toilet humor .", "... in a world populated by living machines , not a single soul can be found ...", "mechanically solid , and that 's all most youngsters will care about .", "although MOV has great animation , wonderful visual invention , and a few clever jokes , it has no compelling characters or story to hold them together .", "priceless special effects of the cast talking about doing the voices of these mechanical ` bots with a heart ...", "the story holds it back from the `` classic '' status ... all the same , MOV is cute and colorful . kids will love it and parents will be entertained enough not to mind .", "does not suffer from shark tale syndrome ; instead a good story with a good message and great performances .", "full review in greek", "far more interested in yelling ` look what we can do ! ' than in developing any of its characters or livening up its recycled story .", "the movie 's admirable theme , that there are things more important than profit , comes across under the virtuoso visuals that peak when endless falling dominos turn into a veritable ocean of the little black blocks being surfed by a robot .", "the film is very imaginative and you need to see it several times to appreciate the humor .", "a fun ride with plenty of laughs , excitement and touching moments about living out your dreams no matter your make , model or build .", "an innate awareness that generating underarm faux flatulence is difficult when you 're made of metal , but not impossible , is just the spirit we need to see more often .", "a computer-generated animated adventure featuring few product placements , which is quite a departure from the norm for such children 's fare .", "the subject of MOV is reduced to a cute story rather than being motivated by a substantial theme .", "endearing `` follow your dreams '' story with plenty of laughs .", "a technically fine looking yet dull-as-drill-bits movie whose busy animation creates 90 minutes of chaos onscreen ." ], "summary": "MOV delights on a visual level , but the story feels like it came off an assembly line .", "id": "22" }, { "movie": "the_wicker_man_2006", "reviews": [ "nearly all of what made the 1973 film such an unforgettable cinematic experience is lost in translation .", "cage lumbers around in full-on shouty mode and his character is never particularly likeable ... whilst decent actresses like frances conroy and ellen burstyn are given very little to do beyond trying to keep a straight face .", "neil labute -- who never met a story he could n't turn into a paranoid castration fantasy -- dumbs things down enough to insult the stupid .", "by the time he 's running through the woods in a bear suit , it 's hard to take any of it seriously .", "bad idea . bad film .", "MOV 's long journey through the decades and across the ocean has led somewhere no one could have predicted , or wanted .", "neil labute 's remake of the british horror classic is as wooden as its titular effigy ... and wholly unnecessary .", "the '73 film is brilliantly constructed and ends with a punctuation mark that was shocking in its day . labute 's movie attempts to shock , as well , and does : given the names involved and the casting of cage , it is shockingly bad .", "click to read full review", "labute 's remake could be an atonement , a perversely clever way of turning the gun on himself ... or a conspiracy theorist 's invective against a gender he fears and loathes .", "neil labute 's remake is a disastrous miscalculation , shucking religion completely and instead fashioning the tale as a battle between upstanding male dominance and wicked feminist doctrine .", "let 's just say that sometimes the best-laid plans of mice and men -- and movie-makers -- go up in smoke .", "this film falls into the ` good wierd ' catagory-even if you do n't care for it , you will love telling people about it .", "a castration-anxiety companion piece to ` the da vinci code , ' only this time the ` suppression of the female ' is responsible for a murderous island cult of goddess-worshipping honey harvesters ...", "the blatancy of the outcome siphons any intended suspense , already padded by an overbearingly atmospheric score .", "i 've seen many ill-advised horror remakes in my time . MOV may be the worst ever .", "part of the original 's effectiveness derived from the main character , whose strong religious convictions were ultimately used against him in the most sinister of ways , a dimension the new film is sorely lacking .", "neil labute 's utterly misconceived remake of robin hardy 's 1973 cult horror film is a boring , fright-free catastrophe .", "so hilarious it 's entertaining , `` MOV '' is fairly aflame with ridiculous moments .", "so bad that it 's scary .", "rotten , risible , rubbish . one of the year 's worst films .", "MOV occupies some silly , nebulous middle ground between mystery and horror .", "i may be alone in this -- and you 'll have to give it the benefit of a lot of doubt -- but i thought it was interesting .", "... does n't much bother with such niceties as a credible creed or an internally consistent plot .", "the plot is nonsensical but the cast and edenic setting is worth a look .", "despite retaining significant chunks of shaffer 's dialogue to go along with the basic story structure , labute has transformed the eerie , disturbing psychological thriller into an unintentional comedy .", "`` every time i turn my head , '' he sputters , `` there 's something that does n't make any sense . '' exactly .", "... intentionally or not , in reimagining this classic he 's created in the company of women without the satire .", "two train wrecks ' worth of silliness and a couple carloads of nonsense .", "i do n't know whether this remake is faithful . did the original include a scene in which the leading man puts on a bear costume in an effort to infiltrate cultists ?", "idiotic , presumptuous and definitely unnecessary .", "MOV is comically inept as a horror movie , unable to even manage an effective false scare , or sustain suspense for more than a beat or two .", "to his credit cage plays it with an admirably straight face , even when mugging a woman for her bear costume . but then he must have known from the beginning he was backing a loser .", "the whole movie is a wicker doll % u2013 competently constructed and empty in the middle .", "nic meets his ex-fianc\u00e9 , willow , whose submarine-sized lips seem to be gradually folding around her head like a collagen venus flytrap .", "the movie 's depiction of an evil matriarchal society is so over-the-top ... one almost wonders if labute is intentionally aiming for laughs .", "watching cage karate chop leelee `` made-for-tv '' sobiesky into submission is almost worth the price of admission . well , assuming admission was free .", "i 'd look more kindly on neil labute 's profoundly silly movie ... if i thought he meant any of it in jest , if any of it were winking at us even a little .", "unintentionally one of the funniest movies of the summer . too bad it 's supposed to be a thriller .", "labute 's meandering and goofy-minded horror/suspense thriller wicker will garner more spontaneous chuckles than an overactive feather tickling a sensitive underarm .", "strips away all that was fascinatingly subtextual and deliciously provocative about that unforgettably moody 1973 cult masterpiece , and then pisses on its bare corpse .", "there are also moments that are so unintentionally funny i wish they 'd bring back mystery science theater 3000 to give this movie a good ribbing .", "instead of maintaining a mysterious tone to follow its suspenseful opening scenes , ` MOV ' soon turns into something almost laughable .", "... burstyn simply should have known that any film that required her to make up like mel gibson in braveheart and run through fields flapping her arms was a bad move .", "human sacrifice and a stringent lesbian cult ... what 's not to like ?", "labute 's art-house misogyny + warner bros ' need for a late-summer horror flick + a niche mood exercise that does n't exactly scream for the multiplex treatment = one big mess .", "ill-advised hollywood remake .", "though downgraded perhaps in comparison to the 1973 original , this version is competent enough and holds sufficient suspense .", "the whole thing is transparently a concoction , and so even though the movie holds you , its climax lacks that tingle of madness . all that 's burning is some sticks .", "the original wicker man had its flaws , particularly in the lumpy pacing . labute 's thoroughly inessential remake not only lovingly reproduces those flaws , it introduces a slew of new ones .", "this certainly wo n't be a favorite of gloria steinem .", "labute saves his big guns for the ending - but by the time you 've seen cage in a bear suit and burstyn in braveheart blue-face , no ending is going to save him .", "the film is being marketed as a horror thriller , but it lacks suspense and is never particularly scary . it 's just weak , and the misogyny that has always animated labute 's work is really tired . man , give it a rest already .", "the wicker mangled .", "labute 's remake is an interesting idea that never transforms into a particularly satisfying movie .", "this was n't a horror film the first time around , and labute makes sorry feints at effective creepiness .", "for viewers , the biggest challenge may be holding back screams of laughter as summersisle is revealed to be the island of awful acting . ... the original film ended with a sudden shock , this one climaxes with high hilarity .", "if a successful marriage were ever engineered to join this artist 's personal heaven and hell , these late cinematic offspring might finally be as vigorous as his firstborn .", "the first wicker man was about a cult . the remake is more about a dolt .", "cage over the years has more than earned a reputation as an actor who is not afraid to embarrass himself , but in the cause of MOV , that seems less a commendation than a horrible misjudgment .", "holy psychosexual issues , labute-man !", "critics will readily seize on the new film 's quirks and deem it a turkey . but the film has many -lrb- moderate -rrb- strengths .", "it is perhaps a tad unreasonable to recommend that actor nicolas cage and writer/director neil labute be burned at the stake for what they 've done to MOV , that most british of cult movies .", "bracket the summer with this warner bros. flop and that opening disaster , poseidon and you ca n't help but notice how long it 's been since warners did anything worth noting that was n't a remake .", "MOV is misconceived , miscast and , where suspense is concerned , thinner than a katie couric publicity photo .", "really could have used a few musical numbers and more cavorting naked women .", "i had no idea MOV remake was a comedy .", "writer-director neil labute 's remake of the 1973 british movie MOV should have had ` do n't make me ! ' stamped on the first page of the script .", "the funniest bad movie since aeon flux .", "i can see where labute is going ... but the end result is unintentionally hilarious", "in the final act of MOV , when nicolas cage has donned a bear suit , you have to wonder just what it is you 're watching .", "... there 's just something inherently entertaining about watching -lsb- nicolas cage -rsb- one-up himself every few minutes ...", "laughable , awful , and downright ridiculous .", "nicolas cage gives the worst performance of his career opposite kate beahen in this useless update of robin hardy 's far creepier 1973 original suspense movie based on anthony shaffer 's novel .", "when MOV offers more laughs than talladega nights , it might be a sign for the auteur to switch brands to comedy", "labute has replaced the seduction of the first film with a general sense of bewilderment and loss ; it 's good for building tension but does n't fit with the payoff . the plot elements lead where they need to go well enough but do n't mix particularly well .", "an exploitative mystery horror film in which edward woodward overacts his heart out .", "sometimes a movie hits the rarest of heights , in fact , some may refer to it as a low . a film that 's so utterly bad it 's actually good .", "... features an over-the-top leading man utilizing every single tic in his arsenal that has ever been impersonated by a comedian , and doing so seemingly with gleeful abandon and blissful unawareness", "it 's a troubled strangeness - the uncommon sight of a literate studio film extolling messages most literate audiences ca n't get behind - that makes the movie 's whole presence fascinating .", "yet another needless 're - imagining ' of a '70s cult fave that , truth to tell , is better remembered than actually viewed , neil labute 's folly follows the basic plot outline of the 1974 brit horror opus of the same title .", "all in all , i would categorize MOV as an interesting failure .", "a half-compelling , half-goofy and half-redundant piece of remake revisionism . -lrb- yes , that 's three halves , but it 's that weird a movie . -rrb-", "the sense of dread that should pervade every frame of film is nowhere to be found . it plays like an expensively produced commercial for some organic product grown with loving care by devotees of all-natural farming and/or animal husbandry", "-lsb- labute -rsb- turns shaffer 's compelling war of beliefs -- doctrinaire calvinism vs. dogmatic animism , each as rewarding and demanding as the other -- into a wishy-washy clash between ` normal society ' and womynist weirdos .", "all the fertility rites in the secluded pacific northwest island of summersisle ca n't bring life to neil labute 's barren remake of 1973 's MOV .", "it 's never as scary or suspenseful as it aspires to be , but it might just be the greatest bad movie of the year , with its clunky writing resulting in some surprisingly entertaining kooky moments .", "nicolas cage 's finest hours are not spent frantically running through a forest in MOV , especially when he must do so dressed in a bear suit .", "ahhhhhh , what a waste of talent ! for shame !!!!", "far more ambitious and stylish than most of today 's horror crop , neil labute 's remake of the 1973 u.k. cult classic MOV unfortunately still falls far short of its mark .", "in the remake , labute has cage beating up women with karate kicks , and has placed an insulting coda on the film that screams of studio intervention of the worst kind . this is not progress .", "something wicker this way comes ... and you 'd be advised to stay away .", "the gimmicky horror-flick conventions ultimately drag the film to a screeching halt .", "the most risible backwoods thriller since m. night shyamalan traveled to the village .", "when he was reading the script , and saw the part of the movie where he is supposed to run through the forest in a bear suit , i hope cage asked for a huge pay raise .", "... you wonder if maybe the filmmakers know they 've cooked a turkey and have decided to just embrace it -lrb- surely they could have found cage a less ridiculous animal outfit -rrb- .", "this is the kind of film for which golden raspberries were invented .", "labute does a decent job of translating it to 2006 , but the idea behind it just is n't as cool as it once was .", "the pacing of MOV never escaped the velocity of a trotting horse . think of an old man making his way across the room , on a walker , to get at the jello cups .", "a truly odd , yet unmistakably engaging , remake ." ], "summary": "puzzlingly misguided , neil labute 's update MOV struggles against unintentional comedy and fails .", "id": "287864910" }, { "movie": "1046129-fugitive", "reviews": [ "in a genre where one is almost always asked to allow leaps of logic , the script repeatedly astonished me with its intelligence , its attention to detail and its respect for the audience .", "if you were expecting subtlety , you should have your head examined , but this money machine works like gangbusters .", "frenetically-paced , nail biting action . rarely do an anti-hero -lrb- tommy lee jones -rrb- and a hero -lrb- ford -rrb- blend with such tense and charismatic perfection .", "the pacing is terrific and the action always kept on a realistic level , even when it 's clearly over the top .", "as nail-biters go , this one will have you down to the nubs .", "both stars have toughness and restraint that make their characters ' battle of wits truly hypnotic , and in many ways more credible than it was on television .", "... still stands up today as it did eight years ago as the definitive example of how to make a summer movie right -lrb- heck ; how to make any movie right -rrb- .", "good but overrated . exciting , but mystery falls short . bad guy comes out of nowhere .", "this swiftly paced who-dunnit is about as good as hollywood action-thrillers get .", "not only did they get their smarts by casting harrison ford and the engimatic tommy lee jones , they wrote a script -lrb- screenplay by jeb stuart and david twohy -rrb- that was filled with tension , sprinkled with suspense , choca-bloc with action , and for the most p", "fast-paced and slickly enjoyable chase thriller .", "overrated , but fun .", "excellent battle-of-wits thriller led by stars harrison ford and tommy lee jones .", "the opening scene is powerful and puts you on the edge . this film works !", "ford and jones make admirable adversaries , ford a resourceful but vulnerable hero and jones a tough and relentless cop with a touch of compassion ...", "a hair-raising , adrenaline-charged chase movie .", "a fast-paced action-adventure picture written large upon the screen . it 's helped along , in this case , by a couple of things : some fine performances , especially from the two leads , and the collective cultural memory of lots and lots of baby-boomers .", "relentless action + strong ford and tommy lee performances make this a classic .", "very good , but not perfect .", "one of the most exciting , intelligent , and all-around brilliant action films ever to hit the silver screen .", "a glossy , formula chase movie with the requisite number of extravagant action sequences -lrb- most notably a massive train crash -rrb- .", "in a morally confused age , a take-no-prisoner , seemingly heartless predator like tommy lee jones ' gerard could easily be elected to high political office .", "the film treats this profoundly preposterous plot as if it were a serious idea .", "while there are actors in this film , there is n't much room for acting . the rapid editing and near-absence of dialogue reduces the actors to action figures with colorful labels pasted on their foreheads .", "the MOV is a super-adrenalized stemwinder , a crisp and jolting melodrama that screws the tension so pitilessly tight it does everything but squeak .", "it 's a pleasure to find a thriller fulfilling its duties with such gusto : the emotions ring solid , the script finds time to relax into backchat , and for once the stunts look like acts of desperation rather than shows of prowess .", "i 've already seen the MOV twice . i 'll probably see it again .", "the MOV runs hard and true the whole way through .", "thoroughly engaging , edge-of-the-seat entertainment .", "a sparkling suspense picture .", "harrison ford is awfully good , as usual , looking genuinely frantic and haggard for the first time since , well , frantic .", "`` innovative '' is not a legitimate description of the MOV , but `` entertaining '' is .", "davis paints with bold visual strokes so that the movie rises above its action-film origins and becomes operatic .", "a juggernaut of exaggeration , momentum and thrills .", "heart-pounding thriller with great acting .", "it is n't just a high-powered summer blockbuster . it 's something cannier -lrb- and rarer -rrb- : a suspense thriller rooted in character .", "the film is so stylish , so funny and so heart-stopping in its suspense that the audience simply does n't care about flaws .", "a terrific thriller that may stretch the credulity of the audience at times , but leaves them well-entertained for better than two hours .", "directed for maximum impact by andrew davis , this contains enough suspenseful set-pieces , clever red herrings and spectacular stuntwork to satisfy most thriller aficionados , yet what really makes the movie work are the performances by ford and jones .", "an action film heavyweight and purely excellent masterpiece ...", "working from a tight script by jeb stuart and david twohy , director andrew davis has fashioned a crackling , intelligent thriller .", "in many ways the MOV represents the pinnacle of a genre not much in style any more : the suspense/action picture .", "the film is little more than a well-oiled machine that serves a strictly limited function , but like a precision timepiece , it is a thing to marvel at , even under close scrutiny .", "for dynamite suspense loaded with thrills and wicked fun , you ca n't beat the MOV .", "andrew davis provides some memorable set-pieces in this impressive adaptation of the '60s tv series. ;", "just when you thought the movies had been given over to special effects departments and the high-tech fantasies that sustain them , along comes the MOV -- a good , old-fashioned drama with unsettling shivers of suspense .", "ford is fine as the innocent surgeon who is wrongfully convicted of the murder of his wife and sets off to find the real killer . but the movie is stolen from under his nose by tommy lee jones , who gives an oscar-winning performance .", "no fewer than six editors stitched his shots together , giving the most hard-hitting scenes a furious rhythm that contributes greatly to their impact .", "... as far as the chase genre goes , there have been worse films -lrb- better ones , too -rrb- .", "a flurry of stunts , close shaves and deeds of desperate daring , it easily transcends its television origins to become a stylish pacemaker-buster on the order of `` die hard , md. . ''", "one of the better attempts at turning a tv show into a movie .", "tommy lee jones offers the fun and drive of this largely implausible but highly enjoyable remake of the popular tv series .", "a consummate nail-biter that never lags , it leaves you breathless from the chase yet anxious for the next bit of mayhem or clever plot twist .", "the performances transform this otherwise orthodox cat-and-mouse movie into a gripping experience .", "though it 's a good half hour too long , this overblown 1993 spin-off of the 60s tv show otherwise adds up to a pretty good suspense thriller .", "harrison ford mostly just runs and fights , but that 's o.k. running , after all , is what fugitives are supposed to do .", "a rare example of everything in the hollywood machine coming together in the right way at the right time and working perfectly .", "taut , effective serial-chase story .", "real escapist cinema .", "a first-rate thriller ." ], "summary": "exhilarating and intense , this high-impact chase thriller is a model of taut and efficient formula filmmaking , and it features harrison ford at his frantic best .", "id": "12168" }, { "movie": "cobb", "reviews": [ "it 's unclear just how much sympathy we are to extend the unrepentant and bullying title character .", "shelton 's film is about the nature of truth and popular myth , about the single-minded pursuit of glory , and the horrors within . it 's also very funny .", "MOV turns into a noisy , cantankerous buddy picture .", "the result , whether MOV is wailing about greatness or ruminating about the dark circumstances around his father 's death , is a performance too operatic and out of control .", "-lsb- jones -rsb- lets it all loose here . it 's the performance of a lifetime : full of menace and venom , eloquence and fire , rot and pathos , crackling rawness and realism .", "jones ' on-target portrayal of the dying athlete is mesmerizing .", "this is a messy movie , sometimes repetitive , sometimes too compressed and allusive . but that 's like saying ty MOV was not a very good sport -- irrelevant in comparison to the horrific fascination of his story .", "the movie never equals the performance , but still fascinating to watch .", "massively underrated .", "it 's the kind of film where you admire the craftsmanship and artistry while questioning the wisdom of the project itself .", "it 's such a potent and courageous wreck of a movie that it 's worth more than most ` successes . '", "tommy lee jones is superb in the title role , but writer-director ron shelton unwisely chose to structure the film as a two-character piece , thus placing undue attention on the lackluster character of MOV 's biographer , al stump .", "of all the good and great movies that have slipped through the cracks in recent years , none has been treated as appallingly as MOV .", "pleasant ? no . but the new biographical film MOV , about baseball great ty MOV , is certainly engrossing -- primarily due to a smashing lead performance by tommy lee jones .", "it 's not enough , and you end up feeling -- despite jones ' dead-on performance -- like you 've been cheated . it looks good . it feels right . it gets the job done ... . but there 's nothing there . just like MOV . maybe that 's the point .", "director shelton is a master at locker room drama , and helped by a towering performance of snarling egomania and drug-fuelled bitterness from jones , he tackles the dichotomies of -lsb- MOV -rsb- with engaging enthusiasm .", "when jones is front and center , the movie mesmerizes .", "shelton 's strong , stinging film -- one of the year 's best -- wants to get at something ingrained in the american character : the irrational desire to make saints of sports heroes .", "completely enthralling from first frame to last , MOV is a fascinating , uncompromising portrait of a rage-filled , contradictory man fighting his own private war with the world .", "tommy lee jones gives an uncompromisingly volcanic performance as the psychotic bigot , one of baseball greatest players , known for his aggressive conduct , racism , and sexism .", "completely uncompromising in a way that films , especially sports films , just are n't .", "if you 're looking for a sugary-sweet baseball hero story , this ai n't it ; but it is an entertaining story about a great ex-player who could make albert belle look like mother theresa .", "even allowing for the intentional excesses of such an episode , delicacy is a casualty here .", "despite jones ' performance , it 's a disappointing biopic", "an enjoyably gruff and candid baseball biopic .", "this movie is two hours of jones acting badly and wuhl looking drawn .", "um excelente trabalho de tommy lee jones .", "this histrionic portrait of the most celebrated cur in sports history comes across like a fly ball that thuds on the ground .", "MOV 's accomplishments on the ball field would make for an absorbing documentary , but it 's the passions and pitfalls of his private life that dominate ron shelton 's melodramatic film .", "MOV cuts right through the winner-take-all ethos of american athletics . it 's a raw , inspired , audaciously funny , and unexpectedly moving collaboration between the writer-director ron shelton and tommy lee jones .", "unfortunately , the movie just makes stump look like a self-important jerk , possibly a bigger jerk than MOV , and wuhl 's affable , weightless performance does n't help .", "stump is well-played by affable robert wuhl , who has the unenviable responsibility of representing the one sane man in ty 's crazy universe .", "to watch tommy lee jones re-create the persona of the hall of famer in MOV is to encounter the greatest sob ever to come down the pike -- in or out of the domain of sports . the trek is hardly entertaining .", "while the story of MOV himself is a worthy one -lrb- shelton 's treatment , believe it or not , even has its similarities to orson welles ' citizen kane -rrb- , shelton shortchanges the very game that made the man famous .", "most biopics mistakenly try to take us from cradle to grave and end up skimming the surface . the wisdom of MOV is that writer-director ron shelton knows that the close study of a single day can decode a human life .", "a curiously gripping amalgam of patton , citizen kane and melvin and howard .", "tommy lee jones gets mad respect for this .", "ron shelton , whose bull durham and white men ca n't jump were jokey tales of disillusionment set in the sporting world , here redefines the life of an idol with a certain honest savagery .", "ty MOV is such a towering figure in this motion picture that it 's easy to overlook al stump -- and robert wuhl 's feisty , witty performance in the thankless role ." ], "summary": "tommy lee jones 's searing performance helps to elevate MOV above your typical sports biopic ; he 's so effective , in fact , that some may find the film unpleasant .", "id": "13673" }, { "movie": "monsters_vs_aliens", "reviews": [ "MOV is skilfully animated and spasmodically funny , but you get the impression the film 's seven -lrb- ! -rrb- writers ran out of ideas two-thirds of the way through .", "... the first really memorable film of 2009 , and clearly the most fun .", "engagingly nerdy movie in-jokes are clearly a step in the right direction for dreamworks after the rather crass and bombastic approach of the shrek movies .", "a comprehensively entertaining package . if there 's a lack of originality , the film is bolstered by the sheer verve of the animation and effects .", "the movie never grows a heart , which does n't stop it trying to tattoo one onto its chest . by the whizz-bang climax inside the alien mothership , i was fidgeting like a four-year-old at cosi fan tutte .", "it 's all very good value , although i have a vague feeling that a gallery of freaky sci-fi creatures , as in monsters inc , may not engage the young audience 's sympathies as much as humanoids . great fun , anyway .", "despite being second out of the 3d traps after bolt , their first special-specs-required outing is at least as eye-catching as pixar 's oscar-nominated pacesetter . occasionally , it 's even better .", "heart and soul are sacrificed for sequences of loud characters pinballing across the screen in search of an easy laugh . the whole endeavour is an unsubtle , in your face cg-animated assault from dreamworks .", "a snappy script and some neat 3d make for an above-average romp with plenty of in-jokes for cineastes and fan-boys alike .", "dreamworks animation tries something new , but we prefer its talking-animal comedies madagascar and kung fu panda .", "this is a typical dreamworks animation -lrb- to be seen in 3d -rrb- : light , playful , self-reflexive with nostalgic view of 50s sci-fi and horror , in which the freshness is not so much in ideas as in the actors and voices , dominated by sexy and shapely witherspoon .", "a host of minor issues , none of them too debilitating on its own , combine to create a feeling of moderate underachievement .", "as with any good cartoon , the animators mix visual stunts with rimshot-worthy one-liners and verbal gags .", "by the dvd release -- and definitely by next year -- audiences will demand more effort than everyone at dreamworks -lrb- excluding the animators -rrb- seems willing to exert .", "sure storytelling takes second place - the visuals are always the main event , but there 's plenty to keep youngsters and their parents engrossed ...", "jumping yet another notch , this 3d animation is great technology in service of entertaining storytelling -- the result is a jaw dropping fantasy in which the filmmakers have happily kept the novelties of 3d to a minimum .", "cute and clever and often entertaining , but never quite lives up to the potential of the premise nor is it as funny as you might hope based on the talent involved .", "classic creatures from the 1950s get a high-tech makeover , with a healthy amount of attitude , in the 3-d animated monsters vs. aliens .", "kids and their parents will thrill at the sheer loud spectacle and inventiveness of it all ...", "with a witty script and a collection of adorable characters , monsters does n't have a lot of emotional depth , but it 's a well-designed crowd-pleaser .", "the humor is dry , the sentiment unapologetic , and the absurdity sublime", "the grandeur of the effects -- the honest-to-god spectacle of the thing -- elevates monsters vs. aliens to something approaching art . it 's not a masterpiece , but it 's most certainly a milestone .", "it 's not great -- but it 's not bad -- and it 's the first dreamworks animated flick that wo n't feel dated by the time it hits home video .", "the action scenes are downright thrilling , the storytelling is brisk and witty , the homages to alien and monster movies funny and affectionate .", "this is probably the family film of the year so far and it 's one that has enough grown up -lrb- and by that i do n't mean rude -rrb- gags to ensure that adults enjoy this too . the script is razor sharp and the voice cast is spot one .", "the kids may not get all the references , but they\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- ll enjoy the spectacular action and broad comedy , especially if they manage to see it in 3d .", "they 're outweighed by moments of real , albeit surreal , charm - like when gelatinous bob chats up a dish of pineapple jelly at a pool party - that would melt the heart of even a sentient blob of gloop .", "the voice cast has been well chosen , with everyone delivering their lines with just the right mix of satire and seriousness . it all makes for a horrifyingly humorous hour-and-a-half .", "it should do well for a kids ' audience , with a few laugh-out-loud funny moments and a smattering of kitsch 80s references for adults ... nothing particularly inventive about it , though .", "ginormica is a mighty female role model in more ways than one . she , and this film , are tremendous .", "dreamworks still has a lot to learn about the superior powers of immersion exerted by a well-told story .", "since this is a film for children , we know with virtual certainty that nobody we care about will come to harm . but there 's no reason this deft fantasy should n't appeal to adults as well .", "just because digital 3-d technology is improving does n't mean animated movies are getting better .", "besides a big heart , it has outstanding 3-d action sequences", "this easter digimation romp is big on action and slapstick , small on charm , tiny on wit and endurability ; unless you are nine , when anything goes .", "while the jokes take a back seat to the action in the film 's big climax , there are earlier moments that rank among the most fighting-for-breath funny stuff i 've seen at the movies in ages .", "evidence that 3d animation is here to stay , monsters vs. aliens is a blast of eye-popping color and goofy characters that tips the scales a tad too far into violent realms to validate its purpose .", "the dirty little secret is that 3-d is frequently painful . -lsb- but -rsb- it 's a sweet little movie , which is easy to enjoy once your eyes adjust .", "this film has hidden depths , especially for adults who mistakenly think monsters vs. aliens is only for kids .", "this tale of a plus-plus-plus-sized lady taking on extraterrestrial enemies with the help of some equally oddball friends is an entertaining , funny and emotionally resonant adventure for audiences of all ages .", "it looks good , has some talented people behind the mic , and is visually engaging , but there 's nothing memorable about the script at all . the 3d may pop , but the story is flat .", "as willfully chock-full of the familiar as the animated feature is , it 's also a hoot .", "a big , silly spoof of an animated film , fast and funny and visually dazzling .", "the cool stuff -- like 3-d and collapsing bridges -- may get filmmakers halfway there , but to make it all the way home , they need the usual movie elements , like a good story and vivid characters , and here monsters vs. aliens comes up short .", "overall , monsters vs. aliens is pleasing without being especially hilarious . some lines fall flat , and a few bits involving b.o.b. are overused . but a lack of zingers is forgivable in a movie of such visual accomplishment .", "shooting a chaotic action scene in an extra dimension definitely adds to the clutter , but does zilch to subtract from the tedium .", "it 's funny and uses newfangled 3-d effects smartly , and if it feels a little thin at times it never drags , lags or preaches .", "the script -- an affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi -- is funny , exciting -lrb- especially in imax 3-d -rrb- and has a nice visual texture .", "you do n't need a child as an excuse to see monsters vs.aliens , a delightfully goofy sci-fi spoof with a strong voice cast and a consistently witty script .", "a lightweight saga about not being a doormat to egomaniacal men and embracing your , um , inner superpowered 50-foot-tall monster ?", "a 3d animated family film that allows us to cheer for a female superhero and her companions .", "a cracking animated comedy that takes wonderful care of its characters and pace , presenting a brisk , frequently hilarious romp that rarely pauses to reflect . the simplicity is refreshing .", "if the difference between a movie and an ad is substantial character , excitement and story , then monsters vs. aliens is officially a toy commercial .", "a surprisingly dull affair .", "the movie ably disguises its conventional kids ' fare premise in a clever satiric shell .", "the standards for this genre are much higher than they used to be , and unhappily this movie , though amiable enough , just does n't scale the heights .", "it also contains a -lrb- very big -rrb- surprise : a female hero , the sort which hardly ever appears in movies like this .", "the animation is spectacular and the action full on . the monsters are cute and lovable even though they 're still pretty ugly .", "funny , insouciant and loaded with charm , monsters vs. aliens is the kind of blockbuster spectacle you wish came along every summer .", "with a sharply funny script , vivid characters and eye-popping imagery , this is a raucously enjoyable animated film", "... has a shlocky , sci-fi title that 's straight from the 1950s , and the more affection you have for that period , the more you 'll appreciate the movie .", "the film lacks the soft , friendly edge of something like monsters , inc and sags a little after the first big fight , but it 's gigantic fun nevertheless .", "this lively story about a young girl who gets hit by a meteor on her wedding day that turns her into a giant is certainly wacky enough .", "fast-moving and sweet-natured with some healthy messages about tolerance and female empowerment , MOV is a lot of fun .", "aficianadoes of 1950s monster movies should have a ball spotting all the references . all anyone else requires is a taste for good fun .", "monsters vs. aliens sacrifices soul and edge for safety and bland blue goo .", "sure , the film is sweet and harmless but , take away the 3d , and all you 're left with is a generic kids ' movie .", "monsters vs. aliens has amazing 3d , solid gags , wacky concepts and great animation ; i just wish that at some point along the way someone had been as passionate about the story as they were about the spectacle .", "spielberg references , action , humor , romance and 3d . what more do you want from a family-friendly flick ?", "MOV is still unlikely to blow your mind , but it will make you bust a gut laughing , and that 's certainly something worth celebrating in animation .", "in terms of generating pure , monstrous laughs this is the year 's funniest comedy so far - animated or live action .", "true , the story does n't amount to much , but the plot tends to take a back seat when you 've got a not-quite-50-foot version of reese witherspoon duking it out with a mighty alien robot alongside the golden gate bridge .", "at the altar ... susan sprouts to just under 50 feet tall , taking out the church roof and steeple in the process . next time , raise higher the roof beam , carpenters .", "with all the terrific animated movies we 've seen in the past few years , this sort of tossed-off dreck is simply not acceptable .", "i do n't think there are any characters here that a child would love .", "homage to '50s alien flicks too intense for youngest kids .", "see it for the dozens of homages to old movie monsters and movie genres .", "all in all , monsters vs. aliens has enough colour , motion and mayhem to keep the kids entertained for the required 90 minutes", "heavily touted as an industry breakthrough for 3-d , dreamworks animation 's clunky and wildly unimaginative monsters vs. aliens really does n't have a clue what to do with the technique .", "the 3-d animation , occasional gross-out jokes and way-cool beasties and robots play to every 10-year-old , chronological or just in spirit .", "... for kids monsters vs. aliens has a lot of color and action , and it 's not too scary . fair enough . as long as you 're a kid .", "not as wonderful as kung fu panda , monsters vs. aliens is the next best thing that dreamworks animation has produced .", "inked more by its influences than originality , `` monsters '' gets exhaustive with its rapid-fire references . that said , if this works as a shiny primer to one day introduce children to classic sci-fi , satire , fantasy and anime , well , more power to it .", "me qued\u00e9 con hambre de m\u00e1s y es que siento que dreamworks , fuera del verde shrek , no ha encontrado la f\u00f3rmula para darle verdadera batalla a disney pixar .", "the film has some serious problems , the first being - and yes , i feel ridiculous for even attributing this complaint to a film with the above title - a completely pat narrative that seriously lacks character development", "a mad magazine style action adventure film ...", "monsters vs. aliens may lack a bit of heart , but it more than compensates with intelligent humor .", "a typically slick effort from dreamworks animation ...", "fond 3d salute to old-fashioned monster and alien movies , with a little girl power adding to the demographic , should be a solid hit for dreamworks animation .", "monsters vs. aliens is possibly the most commercial title of the year . how can you resist such a premise , especially if it 's in 3-d animation ? very readily , in my case .", "visually awesome and eye-popping , particularly if you catch it in imax 3_d .", "has one character that really matters - ginormica - and no relationships to speak of ... as a tale of female empowerment and male comeuppance , monsters might have been provocative , like , 50 years ago .", "children wo n't get the references to atomic-age monster movies , but the film offers more than nostalgia : there are slyly funny performances by seth rogen as an omnivorous blue blob and stephen colbert as the u.s. president .", "the result traffics in rote truisms -lrb- love the skin you 're in ; leave no man behind ; etc. -rrb- that are admirable but perfunctory .", "the real reason to see this movie is the stunning 3-d craftsmanship .", "a happy , family-friendly movie without a mean bone in its mutated body , even though it features a giant killer robot machine and its four-eyed alien squid master , a megalomaniac who 's out to kill and/or enslave all of humanity .", "it 's a predictable updating of the 50-foot-woman idea , but it does n't go very deep . dreamworks go for jokes first , action second , resonance third or not at all .", "visual gimmicks and puns change from decade to decade , but worthwhile ideals go on forever .", "a brightly colored mash-up of pop-culture gags that speeds at you so fast and furiously that it feels like a rush even if you ca n't remember much about it the next day", "a terrific idea with the heart sucked out .", "i think many young children will learn from this film without even realizing they 're being taught something .", "MOV comes so close to being something truly special , but even as a movie that 's just enjoyably above average it beats the pants off everything else that dreamworks has done so far .", "in what other movie do you get shout-outs to `` close encounters of the third kind '' and `` beverly hills cop '' in the same frame . `` monsters vs. aliens '' might be a better time capsule of kitsch than an actual movie .", "on the bright side , it 's short .", "3-d debris -lrb- both animal and mineral -rrb- fly out of the screen every minute or so . best wear an apron if you 're suggestible .", "there 's nothing really wrong with it , but there is a lot that is n't quite right .", "the 3-d effects look great , no doubt , but the film ultimately falls victim to a contrived , unoriginal plot that just shows once again how far behind disney/pixar , dreamworks animation is .", "in the case of monsters v. aliens -- henceforth to be referred to as ` monsters vs. aliens ' -- we find in favor of monsters .", "enjoyable , frequently funny comedy with strong , likeable characters , impressive animation and a script that 's packed with both terrific gags and subtle movie references for film fans .", "the multilayered picture tends to have a gently immersive effect , akin to a stroll through the world 's most expensive diorama .", "a pleasant experience that 's never annoying but also rarely more than mildly thrilling .", "it 's lively and even dazzling , but it 's also more than willing to lazily distract its audience rather than trying anything new .", "a wispy-thin but suitably quick-witted homage to the science-fiction genre , monsters vs. aliens is not up to par with the best of pixar and disney , but it is a step in the right direction .", "the bigger-than-life concept , out-of-this-world voice cast -lrb- led by reese witherspon -rrb- and eye-gouging 3-d visuals make mva worth attacking .", "monsters vs. aliens tries very hard to entertain every demographic in the audience , although it 's at its most enjoyable when it 's not trying quite so hard .", "-lsb- i -rsb- s n't trying to be deep : that 's just an unintended side effect -lrb- and one the audience can safely ignore , if it wants to -rrb- when you riff on just about every monster movie ever made and do it this cleverly ...", "an amalgam of the vintage sci-fier attack of the 50 ft. woman and pixar 's monsters inc. , monsters vs. aliens is a goofy computer-animated romp that works just fine in the traditional moviegoing format .", "jaunty , jokey , and absolutely bursting with visual energy , it is unquestionably a treat . if it had a more substantial story , it could be a classic .", "the latest computer-animated production from dreamworks is a perfectly acceptable family movie .", "it 's an affectionate , fairly funny riff on 1950s sci-fi movies , which often featured aliens , sometimes in the form of gelatinous glop , trying to take over earth before earthlings , usually of the military variety , save the day .", "as i took off my gray-lensed 3-d spectacles at the end of monsters vs. aliens , i felt not so much immersed as fuzzy with exhaustion .", "-lsb- the voice cast -rsb- really delivered funny line after funny line throughout this .", "in short , if you 're going to see monsters vs. aliens , the only way to do it is in 3d . looking back , i think i 'd be miserable just watching a 2d screening of this movie .", "shallow , lighthearted , funny romp , but aimed more at juveniles and adults than young children .", "MOV made me feel like a big kid again .", "the jokes are good ; the animation is fine ; the 3-d is awesome . but still the film fails to make a monster or an alien as powerful a character as the little clownfish marlin from finding nemo .", "the 3-d enhances the movie rather than detracting from it and that is not always the case .", "with a title like monsters vs. aliens , -lsb- it -rsb- tells you exactly what it 's going to be . yet so did snakes on a plane , and somehow that movie managed to disappoint as well .", "i was hoping monsters vs. aliens would turn out to be a documentary about the trial lawyers association against the taliban . maybe both sides would get wiped out ?", "as a child who loathed the wholesomeness of disney and wholeheartedly embraced the madcap antics of bugs bunny , wile e. coyote and daffy duck this film was perfect for me .", "kids will adore the flash 3d visuals , brilliant action sequences and ace sight gags . mums , dads and others will relish the quickfire dialogue-some of the best we 've heard for a while in any film-and the affectionate nods to sci-fi of times past .", "pilfering everything from mothra to attack of the 50 foot woman to men in black and monsters , inc. the script piles on the mayhem and forgets the funny .", "as ` monsters vs. aliens ' demonstrates , 3-d technology is finally coming into its own , used to create a dazzlingly lifelike spectacle that seems to jump off the screen and into the theater beside you .", "do see this movie in 3-d if you can , and do n't hesitate to send the kids ; there 's just enough silly humor to keep them happy .", "a clear example of sensational style over underbaked substance", "an animated funhouse that delivers on its title and ups its scary-comic impact if you see it in 3-d .", "the dreamworkers can be satisfied with having produced another crowd-pleasing , expert-babysitting vaudeville turn .", "the biggest battle in monsters vs. aliens is banality vs. originality , and banality carries the day .", "an expert blend of silly fun , action that is mostly more exciting than scary , a few clever barbs , and some sheer bravura visuals .", "... sparkling animation ... a slam dunk staging of a monstrous battle at the golden gate bridge and seth rogan 's charming vocal interpretation of b.o.b. make this one fun if not fantastic .", "while it has a crisp 3-d look and nice vocal performances , this action-comedy will seem fresh only to 8-year-olds -- though it may give parents an excuse to introduce some of the '50s horror movies it parodies .", "do n't overthink monsters vs. aliens . just enjoy it .", "pleasant but often pedestrian .", "this uber-high-concept piece of computer-generated animation is so good-natured that you want to like it , but it is not nearly so all-fired exciting and funny as it intends to be . fortunately ... you will be rewarded with enough great moments and old-movie", "attack of the 50 foot shrug .", "monsters vs. aliens is a fine rainy-sunday diversion , but if you want real monster and alien fun , hit up netflix and rent some of the classics that inspired it .", "a loud , rushed , choppy , silly , colorful nintendo game of a movie . and it could have been dreamworks ' version of `` the incredibles . ''", "hollywood is going overboard with animated films this year and it 's going to wear thin really quick . this is n't a bad movie it 's just really generic .", "a wholesome family flick that everybody can enjoy , provided mom and dad are willing to turn off their brains when they put on the 3-d glasses .", "monsters vs. aliens is genetically engineered to appeal to young and old alike . that 's not how you make an animated classic , though .", "there is something magical about watching a well-made 3-d feature film -- even one with a less than stellar script -- to listen to the ooh 's and ahs and giggles generated by kids in a sold-out theater .", "the ongoing advances in animation make it easier for filmmakers to create worlds we can get lost in , which is exactly what happens here .", "funny , but stumbles from scene to scene kind of like lindsay lohan stumbles out of the roosevelt hotel on a friday night .", "what begins as a promising homage to classic sci-fi silliness turns into the unwanted answer to the unasked question `` what would a joe dante film be like without joe dante directing it ? ''", "mva is n't , and is n't pretending to be , as ambitious a project as pixar 's almost universally lauded wall-e was . but does it have to feel like something that 's just rolled off a conveyor belt , made according to an exacting but dull set of specifications ?", "seth rogen as an animated blob is awesome , just like this action packed animation .", "the super-duper-3-d-big-screen-imax-deluxe extravaganza that is monsters vs. aliens has bells and whistles , superb technical sophistication and dazzling visual effects , sound , fury and reese witherspoon . what it does n't have is heart .", "three-dimensional sequences , whether animated or live action , can feel more gimmicky than integral to the tale . happily , such is not the case with the entertaining monsters vs. aliens .", "a highly competent , smartly engineered delivery system for the very clich\u00e9s it pretends to subvert .", "`` nice '' is the adjective that seems to surface most in trying to pin down the film 's most salient quality , which means that while the film is enjoyable enough , it is unlikely to become a classic for us , or a shrek sort of franchise for dreamworks .", "another fast and funny digitally animated dreamworks kid flick .", "the voice performers are clearly having fun . witherspoon has n't sounded this free and easy in years , and stephen colbert steals scenes as the voice of the u.s. president .", "... fun , funny , and a genuine for-all-ages animation .", "not only spectacularly well made but frequently very funny .", "a film that relies more on gimmicks than on plotting .", "it continues to be a banner year for animation , with `` monsters vs. aliens '' proving to be a fast-paced and witty family adventure that simultaneously pays homage to and pokes fun at all those cheesy science fiction films from the 1950s .", "this movie was comfortably middle of the road . while dreamworks has frankly annoyed me to the point of almost-boycott , they ca n't forever turn out such drivel , right ? MOV is not poo at all , it 's not bad . it 's not going to set the world o", "monsters vs. aliens has plenty of lively animation and a handful of solid jokes . it is not of a caliber of most of the pixar films , but , at times , it comes close .", "monsters vs. aliens still packs a sufficient amount of jolting jocularity that is sure to satisfy the entertaining mindsets of youngsters and oldsters alike ... a zesty escapist treat", "the girl power undertones , like much of the movie itself , is not unwelcomed but feels uninspired .", "it 's too bad the new 3d glasses ca n't fix sloppy writing .", "moiazei me mikser poy o kathenas petakse mesa tin idea toy me ligo seloteip gia na kollisei", "you 'll probably take your kids to see monsters vs. aliens , but you might have more fun seeing the movie without them .", "all the great animation and swell 3d effects in the world ca n't save a movie with a dull , uninspired storyline .", "original . clever . brilliant . insert your own adjective here . monsters vs. aliens is flat out the funniest flick of the year .", "as the first out of the gate , this family-friendly movie is a legitimate contender for best animated feature film .", "now , i know i ca n't predict the future , nor do i have a magic 8 ball at my disposal , but i just do n't see how up will be able to outperform the sensational monsters vs. aliens , which is one monster mash that truly is a graveyard smash .", "MOV is a step backwards in storytelling , compared to the studio 's own shrek film franchise or any pixar production .", "it 's about a tenth as entertaining as , say , monsters , inc. -- one of the lesser pixar movies -- and it does n't reach the same heights as dreamworks ' previous monster franchise , shrek .", "plenty of giggles and thrills to keep the kiddies happy while a clever script filled with nods to the alien invasion movies of the 1950s will keep their parents in stitches .", "this is an example of a mainstream studio blockbuster done right % u2014it effectively balances humor and action , as well as small character beats with big set-pieces .", "i am strong , i am invincible , i am woman takes on a whole new meaning at 50 feet tall .", "dreamworks proves it can be a force in the animation genre with its highly entertaining effort here .", "monsters vs. aliens is visually pleasing but a sad attempt at entertaining kids . the film is riddled with tired jokes and wasted talent . wait for the cable viewing .", "the directors , rob letterman and conrad vernon , who also wrote the shabby gag-book script with four other conspirators , simply throw everything at the wall and see if it will stick .", "directors rob letterman and conrad vernon push so hard for three-dimensionality that they basically have their animators putting sightlines before storylines .", "the new 3d animated feature film from dreamworks is really less of a kids ' movie and more of a witty science fiction comedy aimed at fans of cheesy 1950s sci-fi films .", "as often happens , the best parts are the smallest -- throwaway moments shine -lrb- i particularly enjoyed the self-doubting self-destruct mechanism on the alien ship -rrb- while the big set pieces are quickly forgotten .", "the true saviors here are the computer artisans and voice actors -- e.g. , seth rogen and rainn wilson -- who bring the story to life .", "despite spectacular visuals and sporadic thrills , monsters vs. aliens lacks the consistent fun , inventiveness , wit and big-heartedness found in superior , unforgettable cgi action-adventures such as the incredibles .", "it does take a long time to explain the story for a movie that 's totally summed up in its title .", "for a 3-d movie , monsters vs. aliens is appallingly one-dimensional .", "sure there are some good jokes here , and the voice talent is stellar , but the words coming out of their mouths and the combination of all of the ridiculous elements make for a very forgettable experience that will do nothing more than serve as a 90-minute", "susan is a character with real , um , weight ...", "this bright and lively computer-animated 3d comedy-adventure gives the masters of animation at pixar a run for their box office riches .", "the voice casting is superb , with hugh laurie and seth rogen the standouts along with witherspoon . there 's also plenty of amazing action . the epic battle over the golden gate bridge is as exciting as any top live-action movie .", "given that the film was sold as the biggest kind of spectacle , it 's disappointing though not surprising that it 's so barbarically typical .", "monsters vs. aliens targets smart-ass kids and is overly referential , but provides decent family entertainment .", "monsters vs. aliens is both a spoof and celebration of mid-century creature features , offering positive , if well-worn , `` messages for the kids . ''", "if you are looking for a diversionary flick you can take the kids to and everybody comes out having had a good time , this is perfect .", "the latest cartoon from dreamworks is n't a classic , but it makes the grade for easter viewing .", "there 's something about susan .", "for me , the other characters in ` monsters vs. aliens ' fail to measure up to b.o.b. -- who 's voiced to amusing perfection by seth rogen .", "this is a movie that will more than delight the younger tykes .", "though the movie 's action beats are underdeveloped , they 've successfully poured all of their creativity into making us laugh .", "i liked it more than anything pixar has made the last five years ." ], "summary": "though it does n't approach the depth of the best animated films , monsters vs. aliens has enough humor and special effects to entertain moviegoers of all ages .", "id": "770781791" }, { "movie": "end_of_days", "reviews": [ "many sins have been committed in the name of religion ; MOV ranks as the latest .", "the film never really escapes mediocrity .", "taken as pure popcorn-munchin ' fun , days is an enjoyable , if sometimes bumpy , ride .", "if you do n't think about it too hard , it 's kind of fun .", "it 's not strong on substance -lrb- though it could have been -rrb- , still , i do n't think you 'll have a bad time .", "overwrought .", "with endless violence and gratuitous sex , MOV has something to offend everyone .", "the movie is as bloodless as a cyborg , and it feels as if it has been assembled according to diagrams supplied by someone who studied every successful sci-fi action thriller and then multiplied the findings by 10 .", "loud , lurid , bloody and ridiculously entertaining .", "um filme de a\u0443\u0441o incessante que traz arnold schwarzenegger em uma das piores atua\u0443\u0448es de sua carreira .", "displaying precisely the imagination that gave the world such epic achievements as the star chamber and the relic , hyams dusts off america 's designated import and goes with arnie schwarzenegger his own self .", "director peter hyams propels MOV with a series of crash-and-burn sequences that express the archetypal link between satan and fire .", "an effort which will join true lies and raw deal in the dustbin of schwarzenegger history .", "if you liked the exorcist , the omen , and rosemary 's baby , do n't miss this one .", "sloppy , dull and unintentionally funny .", "let us be sustained by the knowledge that in just 38 more days , all this millennium nonsense will be over .", "MOV is n't complete waste of time but all those who watch it would probably agree that this film 's days were numbered long time ago .", "sort of like listening to that old toto album tucked away somewhere in your music collection . you remember thinking you used to like this kind of stuff , but you ca n't quite recall why .", "part of the degraded charm of MOV is its buffet-table derivative approach .", "starts by stealing bad ideas from other movies , then it putsthem together in the wrong order and casts the wrong actors to play the parts . in other words , it 's one of the worst movies i 've seen this year .", "the plot is such hooey ... and the plot holes so gaping that MOV proves more exasperating than enjoyable . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "never rises to the realm of exciting .", "tired dud of an over-the top violent action movie .", "the movie pits arnold schwarzenegger against the devil -lrb- gabriel byrne -rrb- , with director peter hyams delivering tense moments of action amid not-so-subtle choices for character development .", "nothing but groans and yawns .", "a lot of fun , but not a great movie .", "idiotic beyond the point of redemption , this sinfully stupid farrago manages to insult audiences and critics , christians and satanists alike , reducing 2000 years of fertile mythology to the level of an incoherent pop video .", "more watchable than some critics would have you think .", "ungodly stew .", "movies like this are particularly vulnerable to logic .", "this tedious movie offers little in the way of wit , originality or even competence . it 's two hours of purgatory .", "days is a movie full of punches but no spark .", "there 's no justice in the world - finally we have a film involving religion that is really deserving of someone to protest it and it opens with nary a picket line .", "pretty bad . but for camp value , you are n't going to find a better bang for the buck than MOV .", "hyams overloads the film with action sequences that are n't particularly thrilling , horrific scenes that are n't very scary and dramatic moments -lrb- including one with schwarzenegger crying ! -rrb- that are n't even slightly moving .", "MOV is an overblown , overspectacular , oversold movie without an original idea in its head .", "think of MOV as hollywood 's own y2k bug .", "MOV is definitely in the top two or three worst studio films of the year .", "es una soberana tonter\u00eda , pero eso s\u00ed , bastante entretenida", "easily one of the worst movies of 1999 , MOV is absolutely insufferable .", "you 'll walk out of MOV wanting to pick a fight with arnold schwarzenegger . that 's how bad this flick is .", "reasons ? to hell with reasons ! let 's just blow stuff up !", "regardless of their religion , everyone has good reason to avoid this lame and pretentious garbage .", "predominantly a failure , and the finger points to peter hyams , who helms this monolith with little grace or subtlety .", "reasonably entertaining .", "85 percent explosions and editing idiocy -lrb- a window ca n't break without director peter hyams cutting between five different angles -rrb- and 15 percent arnold trying to grow a third dimension .", "the movie is so full of hackneyed ideas , imagery and dialogue that it 's unintentionally quite funny .", "this is of interest only to the hard core of schwarzenegger 's army .", "the acting is hammy , all the 666 book of revelations stuff has been worn out since the omen , and the film never quite focuses on anything long enough to build up any pseudo-religious creeps .", "arnie 's batteries seem to be losing their juice .", "barely better than the pitiful omega code .", "this could be devilish fun , but director / cinematographer peter hyams slows the action to a ponderous crawl .", "it 's too lurid , exploitative and , on some level , just plain silly .", "this film is like an overflowing pot of how to make a bad movie stew .", "the biggest problem here was the script .", "arnold , arnold , arnold , what were you thinking when you signed on to do this ?", "suffers from a glaring lack of imagination .", "is n't a bad movie by any means ; it 's just a reasonably silly one that , in one form or the other , has been overdone to death .", "wretchedly bad .", "as incoherent about its mysticism as it is about anything else .", "drab and depressing .", "MOV keeps asking whether faith or force will save the human race , before hedging its bets and insisting on both . neither will be enough to save relics like hyams and schwarzenegger from their long , affluent drift into irrelevance .", "the movie is frequently silly .", "this movie gets stuck in purgatory .", "it 's just dreck ...", "i do n't know who grimaced in pain more during the film , arnold schwarzenegger or me .", "a studio-manufactured product with no reason for being other than to exploit millennial angst , this film is better titled end of schwarzenegger .", "... a run-of-the-mill supernatural thriller .", "anyone who likes action will be gripped by MOV .", "full of sound and fury , signifying absolutely nothing , MOV is the loudest and least of the year 's end-of-the-world movies .", "schwarzenegger fans will probably be pleased , action lovers wo n't be bored , and the catholic league will be angry . everyone else will see MOV for what it is : a deliciously bad motion picture .", "dim-witted collection of recycled scenes and themes from rosemary 's baby and the seventh sign , not to mention the omen , the exorcist and all of their infernal sequels .", "we 're treated to such a broad panoply of godawful dialogue , righteously shoddy acting , and , worst of all for an action blockbuster of this sort , subpar effects work , that it 's all you can do not to giggle helplessly .", "action scenes become bland clones of 1,000 movies that we 've seen before , and suspense scenes turn into , well , bland clones of action scenes that we 've seen 1,000 times before .", "the movie equivalent of the fruitcake you get every year from the folks back home . it 's brick-heavy and full of nasty bits you do n't want to put in your mouth , lovingly wrapped in pink cellophane .", "there are moments in MOV when schwarzenegger seems to be gunning for an oscar . those moments play like comic relief .", "a loud , busy , apocalyptic extravaganza that 's as relentless as it is preposterous .", "hyams seems able to establish a rhythm and keep the sequence clear . it 's when people talk that he tends to get into trouble .", "arnold schwarzenegger 's latest vehicle , MOV , is such a witless , bombastic , by-the-numbers hunk of millennial hooey it made me nostalgic for commando .", "a depressingly shabby excuse for a movie .", "in a performance that is among his worst , -lsb- arnold -rsb- seems to have trouble with his lines and does n't get to make his trademark wisecracks .", "it delivers slam-bang action for the genre 's fans -- as long as they 're also willing to put up with a strong dose of corny movie logic and lots of pseudo-religious posturing .", "ahnuld 's latest action dud is one huge millennium bug bomb , a sad , pyrotechnic rehashing of yet another the-devil-takes-a-bride concept ..." ], "summary": "an overblown thriller with formulaic action scenes and poor acting .", "id": "13682" }, { "movie": "lawless_heart", "reviews": [ "as heartbreaking as grief itself and as unexpectedly lovely as that warm certainty that our beloved friends and family continue to inspire us even after they 're gone .", "draws a consistently witty and heartfelt portrait of contemporary british lives .", "would perhaps make a watchable pilot for a drama series . as a feature film , it 's dull .", "for these gifted directors and their fine ensemble , the notion that every life forms into a mosaic of intimate , largely unobserved details is the story most worth telling .", "it is so adroit in its structure , so insightful in how it explores its vivid characters that it forces us to acknowledge not only how complicated all lives are but also how easy it is to be self-centered and miss those complications in everyone else .", "writer/directors neil hunter and tom hunsinger -lrb- boyfriends -rrb- have crafted a circular triptych which changes audience perceptions of people , places and things depending on whose point of view we see them from .", "it 's frustrating because it is so well made and acted but can never find much of anything to say .", "it 's dedicated to a fuller understanding of the human condition , a deeper appreciation of everything we take for granted in even the messiest melodramas .", "it thins out until the repetitive format begins to seem , well , repetitive .", "the characters are full-bodied and authentic , capable of surprising themselves , and their dialogue is written with a good ear for how smart people try to be truthful and secretive at the same time .", "a ruminative ensemble dramedy suffused with humanity -- probably the most unassumingly exact film so far of 2003 , a movie whose robust sense of completeness slowly accrues over the course of its running time .", "honest , poignant and occasionally very , very witty .", "it 's a glum tale , withal , but the highly intelligent performances also help it to reward in the end .", "what seems like a politely repressed british drama on first viewing becomes deeper , more eloquent , and more piercing the more it expands in your mind 's eye . about three days after you see it , the movie pops into three-dimensional profundity .", "there is a real honesty to this british comedy-drama that is appealing , and which also makes its soap-opera plot a bit easier to swallow .", "complex but never confusing -- thanks to the three-act structure , which replays the same moments from different perspectives .", "a guy 's flick whose charms are many and faults are few .", "a modern and mature story about love and loving , a film as intelligent as it is charming .", "mildly engaging melodrama that 's more sharply written than directed .", "subtle in its use of cause and effect , MOV is a light-hearted study of relationships and regret , of last chances and lessons in love .", "the skill with which these temporalities are connected is considerable .", "never shouts out its emotional explorations . instead , it employs a soft , secure voice , and the viewer is lulled even more by the authentic , unadorned performances of a strong ensemble .", "like so many british movies , it seems made for actors who make what they humanly can of it , their expertise meshing .", "MOV is so well crafted , so original , that each overlapping scene swells with new life and interpretation .", "good , sophisticated , warm-hearted fun -lrb- poor dan excluded -rrb- , and should be seen .", "the storytelling structure is far more interesting than the story itself .", "a miniature triumph of understatement .", "i loved this movie for its melancholy spirit and its beautiful attention to the details in life .", "hats off to hunter and hunsinger for their robust and rounded treatment of the emotional education of three vulnerable men who are not used to dealing with their deepest yearnings .", "it takes a while to get used to the fractured narrative , but once done it is easy to put your mind on autopilot and go with the offbeat characters and events .", "as it stands , tim 's story rescues the movie , but barely .", "the filmmakers use the characters to talk about ... issues without being pedantic .", "the humor is hit-and-miss , and your laughter ratio will depend on your affinity for subtle , dry british wit .", "an impishly funny , melancholy , absolutely delightful english ensemble drama .", "shows us small revelations only an opened heart can grasp .", "a small , funny and quietly effective movie that makes a beguiling virtue of modesty .", "the situations are forced ; love blossoms way too easily ; and the characters are downright daft .", "soap opera fans will recognize a kindred spirit here", "teems with insights into the human condition revealed by an unusually smart script and a wonderfully committed cast .", "the writing-directing pair of neil hunter and tom hunsinger create a fairly seamless patchwork , although the novelty starts to wear thin by the third layer .", "stale offering that confuses the concept of being droll with being dull .", "it 's an ambitious attempt , but one which too often puts form ahead of story .", "like grieving itself , the film is awkward , messily honest , and sometimes darkly funny .", "this low-key affair is graced with fine performances and a decidedly grown-up view of the world .", "leaves you with the impression that it could go on and on , picking up loose threads and exploring stray implications . more remarkably , you find yourself wishing it would , because these absolutely ordinary people turn out to be infinitely interesting .", "despite its leisurely pace , this unpretentious , character-driven picture is a low-key charmer .", "a beautiful , moving mini-masterpiece that 's a strong contender for the british film of the year .", "it 's an intriguing experience .", "a lyrical , affecting survey of modern romance with a decidedly english accent ." ], "summary": "unconventional and refreshing , this strikingly un-hollywood film takes a quiet and heartbreaking look at the warmth and inspiration of friendships lost .", "id": "770673389" }, { "movie": "cry-baby", "reviews": [ "criminally underrated ; one of waters ' most enjoyable comedies", "it 's worth a rental , if you 're in the mood for something offbeat but less filling , but do n't expect a revelation .", "tears for fears ? nah , it 's johnny depp 's . when will this waters gem be adapted for broadway ?", "john waters at his most accessible -- which is still really odd .", "johnny depp is a rockin ' revelation", "unhinged and inventive", "mr. depp , who smolders naturally when he is n't trying so hard , acts this role about as well as elvis would have ; under the circumstances , that 's fine .", "altogether a joyous outburst of watersian creativity .", "better than grease . overlooked but fabulous john waters ' musical .", "waters goes mainstream . johnny proves he has depth .", "showcases the very best of waters 's sense of humor and enthusiasm for details , crafting a loving parody of already goofy efforts .", "campy '50s parody has mild sex references , violence .", "there are some funny moments , but this may be the first time the director 's scabrous , anarchic wit seems vaguely depressed .", "a delinquent joy-ride , though without the hard-core distaste of previous waters flicks , which may or may not be a bad thing .", "as waters moves to a more conventional type of satire , he is losing some of the edge that gave his earlier films their crass appeal .", "john waters progressed from the truly disgusting -lrb- `` pink flamingoes '' -rrb- to the truly funny -lrb- `` hair spray '' -rrb- only to now hit the mainstream wall .", "cry-baby takes digs at jailhouse rock in a musical number that elvis would have loved to do .", "cry-baby does n`t have a subject , but only a format-a rickety framework erected to support a few broad gags and a few indifferently filmed production numbers .", "johnny depp is extremely well cast in john waters ' sweet-natured fable about rebellious youth", "waters ' hole card is johnny depp , the winsome tough from tv 's 21 jump street , who radiates big - screen grace and swagger as cry-baby -- no easy trick , since he is guying his own image .", "if cry-baby has a message , it 's that cry-baby and allison deserve each other because they 're young and they 're beautiful , which certainly runs counter to waters ' affection for the grotesque , the bad and the ugly .", "the wizard of odd still runs amok .", "for a while the actors seem intimidated by the '50s references , but the film eventually develops a musical energy that carries the day .", "cry-baby is often sweet-spirited even when its crummy , but there 's also something fetid in its foolery .", "waters 's feeling for the mid-50s does n't really match his sense of the early 60s , and his plot moves seem increasingly formulaic .", "the nostalgic delights in waters 's reform school drool are often more subtle than his other period offering , hairspray , but it 's still a polished debunking of pop culture from the `` pope of trash '' .", "it all adds up to zany , wide-eyed , quintessential waters havoc -- the `` kinder , gentler '' 1990s brand , perhaps . but the genuine article , nonetheless .", "i do n't quite know how waters did it -lrb- and i have absolutely no idea why he did it -rrb- , but the fact that cry-baby is fun suggests that the filmmaker possesses an instinctive understanding of what made those elvis pictures so successful in the first place .", "it has a great score of obscure '50s rock and doo-wop . it has the candy-colored look of a '50s musical . what it does n't have is a moment of anything that seems remotely real .", "waters 's writing is woefully uneven . it 's as if sam kinison had decided to tell knock-knock jokes -- sterile , unfunny knock-knock jokes at that .", "successfully works in fits and starts .", "everyone is clearly having a ball in cry-baby , and one can only imagine what the nightlife was like on the set", "great campy fun . how many tears will johnny shed ?", "waters ' finest film to date , a worthy successor to hairspray which exudes teen angst and young lust from every pore .", "waters is just as offbeat as any of his film characters - and he surrounds himself with creative people who would n't at all be out of place in a john waters movie .", "pink flamingos fans will find cry-baby decidedly tame , but it 's one of my favorites .", "john waters ' mischievous satire of the teen exploitation genre is entertaining as a rude joyride through another era , full of great clothes and hairdos .", "the film is high on energy , color and camera movement and , as usual in waters 's world , everything is styled within an inch of its life , capturing all the fun and fever of the 1950s .", "it 's a satire that functions the same way the stuff it 's satirizing does .", "cheerfully camp , terrifically enjoyable teen parody that ranks among waters ' best moments . oh , and world -- meet johnny depp !", "some of the musical numbers are fun and there are some good gags here and there , but for the most part this one is pretty weak .", "even diluted waters is better than no waters at all .", "one of waters ' most accessible oddities .", "a strangely off-putting musical farce .", "basically the filmmaker reminds us of his affection for social misfits , but without much conviction . he 's simply too hip to commit himself to his beliefs , and a relentless frivolity prevails .", "if there is one constant in recent social history , it is that we feel nostalgia for yesterday 's teenage badness even while we fear today 's ." ], "summary": "john waters ' musical ode to the teen rebel genre is infectious and gleefully camp , providing star johnny depp with the perfect vehicle in which to lampoon his pin-up image .", "id": "10100" }, { "movie": "coming_home_2014", "reviews": [ "chen and gong , two of china 's most respected actors , offer two great performances in a film about love , loss and perseverance that will nearly break your heart .", "daoming just manages to keep the material from turning into a sentimental variation on `` waiting for godot . ''", "intriguingly , the director has successfully woven a kafkaesque metaphor into a classically chinese melodrama .", "a modern yet timeless tragedy that 's desperate , sad and rich with devotion .", "technically gorgeous with a half baked story , MOV is far from yimou 's best ...", "historical resonances aside , `` MOV '' functions well as an impeccably crafted , compellingly acted tale .", "... a poignant bittersweet romance with some powerful sociopolitical undertones .", "-lsb- yimou zhang 's -rsb- latest film MOV is something of a return to his roots , a family drama seething with undertones of sociopolitical frustration , more reserved than his early work but with characteristic gushes of emotion .", "zhang yimou is now 64 years old , and the personal pain that permeated his last film to deal directly with the cultural revolution , to live , has faded to a sad resignation and a mood of tender forgiveness in the emotional MOV .", "heartbreaking in its depiction of ordinary lives affected by political upheaval , this ode to the fundamental values that survive even under such dire circumstances has an epic gravity that recalls another great historical romance , doctor zhivago .", "the beautifully composed shots are studies in shadow and sunlight , drizzle and grime .", "`` MOV '' is a bittersweet tale told with deft skill by zhang yimou and his cast and crew . the film deals with real issues as well as a critical historical look at his native land .", "an impressive chinese melodrama about love , reconciliation , and the multiple meanings of home .", "this miniature of a family in crisis -lsb- ... -rsb- is richly rewarding , even without fiery battles , lavish set-pieces or high drama .", "it 's a cause for rejoicing .", "one could even call it a shameless weepie . still , it 's a welcome throwback to one of the most emotionally wrenching actor-director partnerships in film history .", "this is politically-fueled melodrama of a higher order .", "MOV can be understood as both a nicholas sparks-style weepie , and a social commentary about the cultural revolution .", "MOV sinks into a conventional tragic romance rut that not even engaging performances by gong and chen can save .", "MOV stays remarkably grounded , anchored by fine performances and unsullied by oversentimentality . it may move you to tears , but it wo n't push you there .", "less shocking than -lsb- director yimou zhang 's -rsb- previous effort , but no less heartbreaking .", "amnesia is one of the more hackneyed of plot devices , but it still resounds because memory signifies so much - history , identity , and what remains when time takes everything away .", "for a film with only three main players , MOV feels gargantuan in its emotional toll on the characters and audience alike .", "bangs on those piano chords too hard , as if trying to drown out gong and chen 's quietly wrenching performances .", "beautifully shot , leisurely paced and moving film", "a very well made , moving soap opera .", "it 's a little disappointing that zhang yimou has chosen a dramatically tepid melodrama as his vehicle for examining such a destructive political upheaval .", "`` MOV '' itself is graceful and modestly scaled , forgoing the historical sweep and the operatic fervor of some of mr. zhang 's previous work .", "MOV is an affecting pocket magnum of a melodrama : it looks small and hits big .", "the idea of a loved one being erased from memory provides an obvious but still potent metaphor for the social engineering of the revolution , and zhang heightens its poignance by underplaying its political significance .", "for all its big emotions , the low-key MOV is a less a melodrama than a mellow drama .", "zhang yimou has long been celebrated as one of china 's greatest living filmmakers , and his craft is no less evident in MOV .", "i 'm not sure if there 's room in the new chinese film world , which like american cinemas is now dominated by big-budget special effects films , for another series of gong-zhang films . but they should forge ahead . they 've recaptured the magic .", "as lu and feng struggle to reconnect , and find themselves settling for the oddest of dependencies , it 's hard to be unmoved .", "... a simple and sad story of a family torn apart by mao zedong 's communist movement ... the film 's final image is a testament to marital love and devotion .", "zhang steers `` MOV '' toward a poignant study of immense distance in small spaces .", "marred by a refusal to deal with politics -lrb- possibly a function of the novel it is based on -rrb- , it is a moving story about the toll that the cultural revolution exacted on a family .", "elegantly touching ...", "emotionally gripping , somber , well-acted and brimming with humanism .", "saddest of all ... given the film 's promising start and world-class director/actor pairing , is the missed opportunity for something of greater depth .", "for old fans , there 's much to recognize here - an almost sirkian respect for melodrama , a natural empathy for women , a refusal to forget the past . some new approaches , too ...", "as beautifully shot as all the director 's work , the film has a hypnotic quality complemented by simple yet powerful music .", "as it builds toward its beautifully heartbreaking and tender last scene , chances are you 'll be reduced to a sobbing puddle of tears .", "a melodrama , but it 's an accomplished one , reflecting a time and place with minimal moves , yet sustaining a feel of heartache that 's engaging , even when it offers decidedly bittersweet moments .", "MOV is a film in which everyone 's dreams are irrevocably broken , the pieces too small to grasp , let alone pick up .", "i 'm unembarrassed about giving in to MOV . sometimes you just have to ask yourself one question : why else go to the movies ?", "what this film may lack in terms of visual flamboyance , it more than makes up for in telling its simple and direct story with a raw , emotional power that does n't need lavish spectacle in order to get its point across .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- superb performances by the incomparable gong li -lrb- zhang yimou 's reliably brilliant stock actress -rrb- , and the wonderfully understated chen daoming , are electrifying . . .", "zhang dabs on salve and comforts the afflicted . he lets this intimate , bittersweet reconciliation implicitly stand for the nation at large ." ], "summary": "the rare tearjerking melodrama with sociopolitical subtext , MOV plucks the heartstrings with thought-provoking power .", "id": "771379420" }, { "movie": "chandni_chowk_to_china", "reviews": [ "less a bollywood bonbon than a pan-asian fusion dish , this combination of indian musical and chinese chopsocky is , nonetheless , delicious fun .", "if slumdog millionaire 's success has hollywood thinking american audiences are ready for the authentic indian movie experience , MOV could quickly put the kibosh on that notion .", "it 's a kung fu action comedy played out to a bollywood beat .", "if only it were as much fun as its trailer !", "this is a pretty entertaining work for the most part despite its unevenness and for those who have never experienced an authentic bollywood film before , it will serve as a perfectly good introduction to that style of filmmaking .", "MOV seamlessly adds kung fu to the usual blend of comedy , dance and melodrama .", "the movie 's ostensible distinction is its coupling of bollywood and kung fu , but it 's really a self-realization course dressed up as kinetic comedy .", "this indian/chinese cinematic hybrid is likable and entertaining but overlong and occasionally hokey .", "if MOV is not exactly original , it steals wisely , resulting in a movie that moves and entertains -lrb- even if it 's too long by at least a half-hour -rrb- .", "in fact , at two hours and 34 minutes , cc2c is too much by a half : too much dancing and fighting and too much footage of the great wall of china .", "if MOV were a person , it would need valium .", "chandni has martial - arts montages and bollywood song-and-dance numbers . as tacky as the latter are , they 're the sweet -- and only ? -- draw of the movie . they also give this slight comedy-adventure its epic and unearned length .", "chandni chowk is n't going to appeal to those not already entertained by bollywood and kung-fu movie clich\u00e9s . but it could turn the charismatic kumar into a global star , making the prescribed happy ending even sweeter for warner bros. .", "chandni chowk is the kind of madness to which you surrender unconditionally or not at all . you 'll find the trans-asian journey from the market street in delhi to the tyrannized village in china bewitching or bewildering , with little room in between .", "MOV is bollywood 's all-singing , all-dancing , all-hindi bid to conquer america .", "results are wonky , with its detriments mainly attributable to its indian influence .", "MOV never captures our imagination the way those twin tarantino films did , mostly thanks to a lead character who 's too dumb to root for , much less believe in .", "... so energetically off-the-wall that the sheer novelty alone makes it entertain much of the way .", "if MOV is any indication , a combination of bollywood and kung-fu movies is something the world needed without even realizing it .", "any hopes of stylistic experimentation or genre fusion are quickly dashed and it becomes evident that this is simply two films : the first half singing , dancing bollywood and the second a middle-of-the-road martial arts flick .", "brimming with talent , technically masterful on many levels , this overwrought bollywood/martial-arts caper should please fans of both genres ready to be happily assaulted for two-and-a-half hours .", "MOV is a fresh , invigorating mashup of bollywood and asian martial arts epics . then , it stays around a good half hour too long . way too long .", "this is a fun movie , as well as an interesting peek into what entertains audiences in a different culture .", "tries to juggle bollywood musical with martial arts action and slapstick comedy and fails at all three .", "so , here 's the deal . do n't send us any more chandni chowk movies , and we wo n't send you anything with adam sandler .", "half bollywood , half chinese , all nonsense spectacle . nikhil advani 's sprawling action-comedy has the feel of great ambition designed by committee .", "a wholly missed opportunity to broaden the hindi film fan base in america .", "packs enough entertaining moments in its 154-minute running time to whet our appetite for more films from the subcontinent , but its sloppy audio and low-rent visual effects will likely prove distracting to american audiences accustomed to more polished fa", "an energetic , if uneven , movie masala whose ingredients include broad comedy , fists of fury , dark family secrets and musical numbers .", "there 's hollywood and bollywood , but MOV respresents something new -- follywood .", "like the cinematic equivalent of someone appearing on mr. blackwell 's ten worst-dressed list , the movie is a garish mix of conflicting styles and genres , cross-pollinating overproduced musical numbers , cheesy melodrama , and kung-fu .", "insufferable . burdened with insipid plotting and lame comedy .", "shapeless , shameless , and slapdash .", "MOV supposedly is the ` the first-ever bollywood kung-fu comedy , ' which makes me pray fervently that it will also be the last .", "spectacular stunts and special effects can not save this fusion of indian and chinese culture from coming across as a movie with little originality or wit .", "MOV has something to offer every discerning film taste . and that 's its major shortcoming .", "crass , schizophrenic , culturally insensitive , horribly paced , and shameless in its pandering to the lowest common denominator .", "long story short : there was plenty that i liked about chandni . but i also could n't wait for it to end .", "the first-ever bollywood kung fu comedy qualifies as deliriously and endearingly bizarre .", "it will appeal to the large indian audiences in north america and to bollywood fans in general , who will come out wondering why this movie , of all movies , was chosen as hollywood 's first foray into commercial indian cinema .", "a deafening , slapstick-drenched , exaggerated bit of hokum , chandni is an endurance test for the bollywood uninitiated : a curry-flavored three stooges comedy via the shaw brothers playbook .", "there simply is n't enough indian spice to make this ancient chinese recipe fresh .", "MOV is the first bollywood movie to be released in the u.s. in the wake of the bollywood-inflected slumdog millionaire . let 's hope it 's not the last .", "think of the title of this bollywood/martial-arts mashup as a riff on north by northwest . and like that preeminent american entertainment , cc2c is stylish , slick and full of fun .", "chandi chowk is fun but somewhat exhausting , with several elaborate production numbers , a bullet-proof umbrella that also serves as a parachute , a magical potato -- plus a running time just over 2 1/2 hours , which is short by bollywood standards .", "MOV is an energetic mess .", "sold as a groundbreaking convergence of asia 's leading cinematic influences -- kung fu flicks and bollywood extravaganzas -- it can only be termed genre-mashup overkill .", "children and undiscriminating adults may enjoy the flurry of eye-catching activities that storm incessantly across the screen for its 2 1/2 hours , but the reigning stupidity of the enterprise is liable to tire anyone else in attendance .", "if you can get into the frenetic rhythm of the thing , it has its charms .", "after a while the film chills out just enough , getting by on the sheer force of its grandeur and good humor .", "to appreciate this scenic spectacle requires a leap of faith that will test even die-hard bollywood fans ." ], "summary": "a thin plot is disguised by high octane dancing and action in this bollywood crossover comedy .", "id": "770800803" }, { "movie": "500_days_of_summer", "reviews": [ "a refreshingly sweet , charming and heartfelt romantic comedy with just the right combination of wit , humor and tenderness .", "the couple 's fluctuations between amorous rapture and wounding are matched by the film 's own seesaw of poignancy and irritation", "it 's all about the architecture of love .", "in a cinema season overflowing with ho-hum rom-coms , it 's a delight to come across one that moves off the well-beaten track and entertains at the same time .", "it comes replete with all the try-hard affectations of the whimsical american indie film - a third-person narrator , quirky animated title cards , an obligatory shout out to belle & sebastian - but manages to transcend its influences enough to appear fresh .", "i loved -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV for many reasons , but for this one the most : i felt more during this movie than i have in any other romantic comedy in years .", "the fox searchlight house style perfected and taken to the brink of self-parody .", "a charming , funny and wonderfully inventive romcom that 's easily one of the best films of the year .", "comparisons with woody allen are misplaced - the lines do n't punch the way woody 's used to - but the cinematography does a good job of making unfashionable corners of los angeles look like allen 's manhattan .", "just when you thought hollywood had run out of original ideas for quality rom-coms comes this slice of witty , smart loveliness .", "sparklingly funny , beautifully heartfelt , wonderfully uplifting and brilliantly performed . in short , it 's the best romantic film since ... well , what exactly ?", "hits every emotional nail in the head so perfectly ... you 'll not be able to walk away from this movie at least not somewhat more enlightened than when you walked in .", "there 's no real drama when the inner life of the female lead is so shrouded , even if that 's the point .", "thanks to two wonderful , offbeat performances by joseph gordon-levitt and zooey deschanel , this movie has charm to spare . it looks you right in the eye and tells the truth .", "a fresh and appealing romantic drama brimming with heart , creativity , and panache .", "it is so annoyingly cute about the smartness of middle-class young white people in love that one quickly realizes it is only about that -- not love nor passion as everyone experiences it .", "what is unexpected is the sincerity beneath the modest conceit that , yup , love hurts .", "it 's the kind of romantic tragedy that 's distinct and empathetic enough to be embraced by audiences who were born during reagan 's second term . or clinton 's first .", "scenes slide in and out , musical montages lift your heart , and the frequent witty jokes and well-timed edits earn some of the most genuine laughs of the summer .", "probably the closest this generation has come to having their own annie hall .", "it 's as close to perfect a romantic comedy as i 've ever seen .", "i feel for tom , i commiserate with him for his tragedy but , for me , 300 MOV would have been more than sufficient .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is clever , thoughtful and well-acted , and it manages to refresh a genre grown stale through repetition .", "probably the most honest thing in the film is the breakup scenes feel like real breakups , much more than they resemble the contrived obstacles to love in most romantic comedies .", "the movie keeps leaning toward some awful truths , only to sheepishly retreat into the safe comedy of fakey shopworn devices .", "the film does a lovely job of balancing emotional clarity , formal trickery , pop sweetness , and heartfelt narrative .", "this is movie magic most unexpected .", "the film 's postmodern path takes us through touching , tender , hilarious territory before winding up at the most beguiling part of any love story . the beginning .", "it is so absolutely adorable that , as the ending credits were rolling , i had the overwhelming urge to wrap my arms around the movie and never let it go . ... the best film of the year .", "-lsb- a -rsb- visually witty , flawlessly played romantic comedy .", "this movie has flighty warmth . it makes delirious use of one of hall & oates ' boppiest tunes . it has a bluebird of happiness , for crying out loud .", "... it does a nice job of charting the rise and fall of a relationship with heart , soul and a recognition that it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all .", "we have been trained by hollywood to react a certain way to a certain kind of movie and 500 MOV seeks to un-train us through shock therapy .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is as close to perfect as a movie gets . a highly subjective claim ? sure , but so are all movie reviews , and this is hardly the time to get into that argument .", "zany visuals and spirited performances makes 500 MOV an entertaining chronicle of the making and breaking of a modern secular relationship .", "an endearing , well-acted film that takes a conventional premise and turns it into something wonderfully unconventional .", "sweet and cute , but capable of so much more .", "hopefully writers neustadter and weber have already got another project in the works .", "this is the movie the breakup was advertised to be .", "gimmicky love story that 's not saved by its bittersweet ending . acting is more than just cooing with your eyes . it seemed like 500 days allright . paul chambers , cnn .", "the film 's bruised yet clear-eyed romanticism is refreshing to find in a genre that often settles for something less than truthful or passionate .", "has a refreshing honesty about the messiness of break-ups .", "rethinking rom-com conventions , 500 MOV is an immensely pleasurable love story about two young people with a deep connection but an uncertain future .", "just sincere enough not to seem target-marketed , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is a charmer of both semi-classic and partially derivative proportions .", "bittersweet , a movie whose many laughs are balanced by the moments of heartbreak ... i 'd call it a date movie -- except it 's likely to cause more arguments than agreements .", "conventional ? not at all .", "i ca n't speak highly enough about this really inventive romantic comedy .", "flawed though it is , 500 MOV is still a fair cut above the average piece of hollywood fare both in terms of its laugh quotient and offbeat romance .", "it offers us the kind of friendship that comes with a brilliant soundtrack , a story with a solid mixture of fantasy and truth , and the bolstering sort of hopefulness that we might , by accident , fall into a version of its world someday .", "joseph gordon-levitt is great as a hopeless romantic , and zooey deshanel embodies a cold-fish charmer whose mod girl styling is but a clever disguise for a person looking for a better deal .", "offbeat and original , marc webb 's feature debut is a charming serio comedy that views love and romance from a strictly male pov , reversing both hollywood and societal norms .", "-lsb- it -rsb- does what other romantic comedies can never seem to do convincingly : it celebrates those special little moments that two people can share together , whether -lsb- they -rsb- end up creating a substantial and long-lasting relationship or not .", "one of those rare highly touted movies that 's sometimes even better than the touting would have you believe .", "... actually dares to invite comparison with annie hall ... -lsb- and -rsb- manages , against all odds , to stand up under it .", "the kind of movie where telling people to see it is n't enough . you physically want to drive them to the theater so they 'll be there in time for the next showing .", "it 's a movie that makes me wish i were still a film critic so i could beg tens of thousands of readers to see it rather just the few who will read this post .", "this broken affair is more entertaining than most successful ones .", "the beauty of this utterly winning picture is that it does n't live in a generational vacuum : like the best films of its kind , its tale of young love -lrb- and all the accompanying trials and tribulations -rrb- will speak to all ages .", "a simple , refreshingly honest comedy .", "the film contorts its characters to prove that true love with mr. or ms. right awaits every man or woman patient enough to stumble into it .", "a warm-and-cozy romantic stroll built upon the everyman appeal of joseph gordon-levitt and the refreshingly original storytelling approach of director marc webb .", "falling in love or falling out ? this film offers a helpful tonic for either condition .", "the playful generation y story -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV goes against the grain by wisely substituting delusion for deception . boy meets girl . boy thinks he understands girl . boy oh boy .", "almost everything first-time director marc webb explores rings true here . the comedy never seems forced , and the romance always feels real .", "captures with such immediacy the elation and anxiety of new love , the tingle and the terror , the profound sense that you have never been more alive and the occasional wish that you could die on the spot .", "watching -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV feels like being forced to sit still while someone you ca n't stand tries very hard to charm you .", "a whimsical , bittersweet tale of love-gone-awry", "movies like this are the reason why i love movies .", "as summer , zooey deschanel is an enchanting , blue-eyed mixture of nearness and distance . you can see why tom loves her , even as she stomps on his heart .", "inventive , original and hugely relatable , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is the perfect screen deconstruction of a relationship , for once , from the man 's point of view .", "tom and summer may not be the most emotionally stable people on the planet , and if they were my friends , i 'd have little sympathy for them .", "forcedly cute , clumsily mechanical , overdetermined , and undernourished , this ostensibly soulful romance is a plastic void .", "it manages to deliver a love story that gets you invested even though you know it ca n't end neatly with either happiness or tragedy , but rather with a bittersweet mishmash of imperfection -- one that that everybody can probably relate to .", "an unpredictable , immensely satisfying experience , much like love itself .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- days is a funny , seductive , and surprisingly honest dramatization of the ways we snooker ourselves into incompatible love .", "it 's very smooth and well done ; marc webb clearly has a solid visual eye and natural sense of pacing .", "you 've seen this movie before -lrb- just usually with a fakey big-kiss ending ; extra points here for the blunt honesty about breakups -rrb- but this one is just right for right now .", "fast , funny and absolutely delightful .", "an engagingly breezy tale about a guy with a broken heart and the girl who broke it .", "given its focus on the zeitgeist topic of romantic uncertainty and the true wit of its construction ... do n't be surprised if this summer provides at least a somewhat hot season at the box office .", "the independent film 500 MOV is as refreshing as hot air . it 's as formulaic and calculating as the hallmark greeting cards to which it feigns superiority .", "a genuine look at love and lose .", "marc webb directs this film brilliantly and makes us fall in love with everything from all 500 days .", "as with a lot of truly satisfying art , -lrb- 500 -rrb- days asks many more questions than it answers , and does so in such a charmingly sloppy fashion that one 's consciousness is left buzzing rather than sedated .", "there she goes , a chestnut mare who ca n't be lassoed , an elusive butterfly traveling to the beat of a different drum .", "smartly written and refreshingly affecting on its own terms . at the very least , it will make you smile .", "together , -lsb- gordon-levitt and deschanel -rsb- pull off the tough trick of making us root for their relationship to succeed and understand if it fails", "not only is it charming and funny , but it takes a strikingly original approach that leaves a big , stupid grin on your face", "joseph gordon-levitt and zooey deschanel light up the screen in marc webb 's directorial debut -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV . that might sound corny , but they do .", "... one of the most entertaining and flat-out original romantic comedies to come around in quite some time ...", "it 's more like an honest-to-goodness relationship , with ecstatic high points , soul-crushing low points , general uncertainty and emotional torment .", "the lead male character is shy and even gentlemanly , which is not just a novelty but a relief in this age of apatow .", "it is , no , not revolutionary , but miraculous and playful ... the smartest film i 've seen about romance in literally years .", "its strengths negate the preciousness .", "cool as a melty creamsicle on a hot summer day and a sweet surprise in the middle of blockbuster season . gordon-levitt 's performance is as starmaking as john cusack 's in the romcom opus , say anything .", "what saves 500 days from terminal shallowness are gordon-levitt and deschanel , who are not the usual picture-perfect androids peopling these young-love idylls .", "tom is a prime example of what happens when you grow up listening to too much sad british pop music : unrealistic expectations for romantic love and a taste for skinny ties and sweater vests . now he 's fallen , and fallen hard , for summer . how could he not ?", "charming yet brutally honest . . offers a certain mainstream appeal for anyone who 's experienced love 's thorny and persuasive illusions .", "a true re-invention of the romantic comedy genre for a male skewed audience , complete with realistic lead characters and hilarious insight .", "heartbreak is rarely enjoyable , but in this case , it 's very easy company -- as are joseph gordon-levitt and zooey deschanel .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is a classic independent film , taking a bunch of risks and trying to break as many rules as possible , yet it is in many ways a traditional ode to love , and it will leave you yearning for the opportunity to be dumped yourself .", "despite the tricky punctuation , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV might be the most truthful rom-com about the sort of people you 're likely to know ; not inhabitants of some movie version of fairyland .", "a nicely played but all-too-preciously eccentric romance", "500 MOV never quite convinces , despite the charm of the leads . this is wannabe indie , and these two hollywood names are too ` big ' to play beautiful nobodies navigating a heart-wrenching misunderstanding .", "charm effuses from this quirky love story in which fate , coincidence , dreams , expectations and reality are chaotically intertwined .", "too timid to be truly cynical about love and too eager for box-office success to try to be a really new kind of romantic comedy , the film fails the ultimate romantic-comedy test : not only does it lack enough laughs , but you 're never emotionally involved .", "scratch any cynic and you 'll find a romantic ; scratch this movie 's surface and you 'll discover a typically tepid ode to pitter-pattering hearts dressed up in thrift-store chic and faux-edginess .", "it 's a gen-y annie hall made by a new-style wes anderson who uses his cleverness for humanity instead of postmodern superiority .", "smell that sweet , sweet summer air . this is a simply heartfelt , totally engaging and refreshingly realistic romantic comedy .", "an irresistible feel-good movie about love gone bad . and that really is n't bad at all .", "the movie suffers at times from a surfeit of adorableness in its two leads , as well as clumsy voiceover narration and a general sense that the subsidiary characters have about as much edge as plush toys .", "a buoyant , whimsical charmer that glides by on wry laughs and movie-star magnetism .", "the banter can be a bit self-conscious , but it 's hard not to find most of it charming .", "everything that 's wrong , on the surface , with -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV pales in light of everything that 's going on beneath its surface .", "it 's the oldest bittersweet story in the book , of course , but music-video director marc webb approaches his feature debut with great confidence , flair and a minimum of schmaltz .", "not just the best film of the season , it 's one of the best of the year .", "the film gets by on a few funny lines ... some playful split-screen imagery from first-time feature film director marc webb ... and the real star of the picture , second-billed : zooey deschanel .", "i guess maybe i 'm not tom but summer . i like your looks , and heaven knows i appreciate the energy you put into wooing me , but i do n't want us to be a couple .", "una irresistible comedia rom\u00e1ntica que desaf\u00eda algunas convenciones del g\u00e9nero , gracias a un tratamiento fresco y original , una deliciosa banda sonora y dos protagonistas perfectos .", "abound conventions and the occasional nugget of overwrought wit threaten , but fail , to cripple the leads ' revelatory sincerity .", "full review at movies for the masses", "the two leads are as quirky and likable as the movie itself .", "a near perfect genre defying representation of relationships , infatuation , and getting over the first real love of your life ...", "a kind of woody allen comedy but without the jokes . lots of cultural signifiers to make ivy league couples on a date feel at home , but totally lacking in substance .", "at last , here 's a movie that takes the wimpy , tortured , hopelessly-in-love boys from the other movies and tells them to grow up .", "the film revels in the hip witticisms that swim mostly inside a writer 's head but never come forth in the real world with the timing and execution seen here .", "le tout est ex\u00e9cut\u00e9 avec un tel enthousiasme que nous ne pouvons que nous laisser emporter par cette vague on ne peut plus rafra\u00eechissante , et surtout profond\u00e9ment d\u00e9sarmante .", "this is a story that most people can probably relate to , unless you are one of those lucky people never to have been on the losing end of the game of love .", "the swooningly romantic comedy -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is a movie that will be discovered , embraced and shared with friends like a favorite record album .", "boy gets girl and boy loses girl in convoluted , sometimes cloying but ultimately winning fashion in 500 MOV .", "the writing is often clever and the overall production playful and intelligent .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV knocks several romantic movie clich\u00e9s on their ear , but never loses sight of heart or hope , and it never fails to make the ups and downs between tom and summer matter .", "what the film does right , i adore . and , like a love-struck romantic wearing rose-colored glasses , i think i 'll continue to overlook the flaws of the movie when it comes into my life in the future .", "smart , fresh romcom takes realistic look at relationships .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV '' is the first great cinematic romance of the facebook generation .", "finally , a romance that understands we mark our lives by our scrapes with love , and our defeats , rather than simply white-wedding-cake success .", "full review | original score : 4/5ao", "even with its minor imperfections , summer warmly and brightly defies romantic comedy conventions most of the time and deserves to become a surprise hit while finally turning gordon-levitt into a star .", "it 's a tale you 've heard a million times before . but it 's told in such a relatable , inventive way in 500 MOV , it almost feels like the first time .", "this sweetly engaging trifle goes down as easy as cold lemonade on a hot afternoon .", "much like annie hall did for a previous generation , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV may be the movie that best captures a contemporary romantic sensibility .", "the rest of 500 days sets up as a bit of a mystery , and we look for clues , even as their romance is fresh , for the hairline fractures that might eventually result in a compete break .", "a sharp spin on the usual rom-com formulae , this is funny , sensitive and challenges the genre 's gender conventions .", "by a wide margin the outstanding romantic comedy of 2009 .", "an energetic , enjoyable affair with plenty to say about unrequited love .", "a modern romance for grown-ups ... a sweet-natured , funny , deeply-romantic tale that brims with energy and is blessed with top-notch performances .", "a clever , refreshing , non-formulaic antidote to your average , bog-standard hollywood romcom .", "unabashedly indie heartstring-yanker 500 MOV - while mercifully rejecting the rom-com template - is less than the sum of its well-played parts .", "a playful , witty , disordered telling of a fractured romance . bringing fresh zing to a genre prone to predictability , webb crafts a -lrb- not-in - -rrb- love story about feeling bad that 's infectiously good .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV may not be a particularly happy love story , but it 's a love story all the same .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is an above average rom-com that dares to venture towards an appalling conclusion .", "i 've read somewhere that -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is being called the annie hall de nos jours ; that 's a slur on a great movie , not to say on nos jours .", "500 MOV keeps its audience guessing , hoping , and perhaps most importantly feeling .", "if only some sharp-eyed script editor had run 500 days through the de-sappifying machine , it could have been the first great romantic comedy of 2009 .", "a fresh july breeze among recent -lrb- and mostly stale -rrb- romantic-comedy offerings .", "you are wrong sardonic , omniscient narrator . this is a love story . i am in love with this film .", "by the time we see those first , early moments of heady connection , we realize how the sweetness of those initial feelings will become almost unbearably poignant .", "the film bounces between the relationship 's winning uplslope and its mopey descent , and the intercutting eventually kills the momentum , even though the film 's rousing final minute reclaims some of the early spunk .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is that rare movie about boy meets girl that defeats the oldest nemesis of the rom-com genre : predictability", "a chick flick for guys , a workplace comedy in the billy wilder/cameron crowe mold , a new spin on a familiar genre , `` 500 days '' was one of the best films i saw at sundance .", "this is a film that so respects love -- if it exists -- that it wo n't settle for imitations .", "for all its ambitiousness , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV feels synthetic and derivative , a movie that 's popping with perceptions while searching for a style .", "parental content review", "an ideal version of this film would be painful and playful , and a good deal less cluttered . but the one we get certainly has delightful moments . after any exposure to this year 's unfailingly smelly mainstream romcoms , it 's a breeze .", "despite clever moments and hornbyesque touches of melancholy , it 's let down by sitcom cliches , and by being weirdly incurious about the inner life of its female lead .", "it is hardly the freshest romantic comedy of the past 20 years . taking the best bits from other movies and rearranging them in a non-linear sequence does not make for an original film .", "a new take on romantic comedy that does n't quite live up to its ambitions .", "if it just misses being this generation 's ` annie hall ' , it 's still deliciously refreshing , sweet and fizzy . a sherbet dip of a movie .", "perfectly played , simultaneously serious and light , endlessly inventive , this is a strong contender for the most original date movie of the year . -lrb- terrific -rrb- stuff .", "director marc webb 's debut feature is as far from a sandra bullock or hugh grant vehicle as you can imagine . what better reason to go see it ? from start to end his subtle movie feather-teases your funny spots : it amazes , refreshes and it delights .", "highly recommended either to enjoy as a couple or wallow in alone .", "an endorphin rush of a movie , which even in its saddest moments is uplifting funny .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is a great film - a step in genre and gender development that will be referenced for years to come . and aside from all that , it 's really good fun .", "the movie charmed me enough to send me out smiling , and i can see younger filmgoers taking it very much to heart .", "marc webb 's first feature-length film is an odd romantic comedy , but it 's a romantic comedy nonetheless -- and a non-excruciating one at that .", "funny , poignant and uncommonly perceptive , growing all the more so the longer one thinks about it .", "it goes down smoothly , thanks in large part to joseph gordon-levitt 's grounded lead performance and marc webb 's slick direction , but it seems like every other scene coughs up a dispiriting clich\u00e9 .", "... an excellent date film aimed at those beyond the usual tweenie audience .", "the ending is tidy and way too cute , but -lrb- 500 -rrb- days is otherwise a different kind of love story : an honest one that takes a piece out of you .", "... ends on a meets cutesy note , but what comes before is a giddily original take on the sentiment that ` love is blind . '", "even if -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is n't truly great , it is great fun , from its fresh view of los angeles to its use of music to its charming leads .", "grazes on the fields of gen-y trends and ' 80 's nostalgia to fatten itself to such a degree , it would be impossible to notice the material is only a few menopausal jokes away from your average nora ephron film .", "an experiment you have to admire for the risks it takes even while being disappointed that it does n't quite come off .", "at this moment , 500 MOV is my favorite film of the year and is love at first sight .", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is something seldom seen : an original romantic comedy .", "oh , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV , how do i love thee ? let me count the ways -- out of order , and from a list of , well , 500 -lrb- you 'll know why when you see it -rrb- ...", "awkward offbeat summer to autumn romance .", "exceeds its whimsical indie-film touches because it is rooted in the kinds of recognizable truths that give weight to what would otherwise be simply amusing", "-lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV -lsb- is -rsb- to the best sleeper of the season .", "told in brilliantly written non-linear clumps , it is more of a falling-out-of-love story than a traditional tale of boy-meets-girl , they struggle but live happily ever after .", "this is about 500 times smarter than the average romance .", "deschanel never won me over but gordon-levitt 's star continues to rise", "if you are tired of the standard romances that have infested multiplexes as of late , i urge you to seek out -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV , which kind of feels like the memento of romances .", "highlighted by sparkling performances by deschanel and gordon-levitt , everything about this movie is terrific .", "while perhaps a tad too quirky for its own good , this is still one of the best , most insightful romantic comedies in a very long time .", "the director has his own flirtation issues , as he teases audiences with his unconventional hide-and-seek uncommitted lovebird chronicle , while zooey 's got to do charming when dumping her gloomy boy toy prey over a plate of pancakes .", "an introspective , bittersweet romp reminiscent of the best of woody allen .", "perfect casting and all-around craftsmanship make this delightful , music-fueled contemporary rumination on a big-city romance a big summer surprise .", "in romance , we believe what we want to believe . that 's the reason 500 MOV is so appealing .", "-lsb- director -rsb- webb treats his characters and his audience with respect . the result is something worth savoring regardless of the season in which it is seen .", "-lsb- joseph -rsb- gordon-levitt 's performance is reason enough to recommend this movie ... sure to become a cornerstone of a wildly promising career", "there is more cinematic joy in five minutes of -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV than there is in a packed weekend of mainstream romance movies .", "a romantic comedy that feels like real life .", "this movie had me at hello with its unique and captivating fragmented style of presentation .", "sometimes love is a battlefield ; but in -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV it 's a pillow fight in which the posturepedic puffballs have more personality than the protagonists .", "this is a romantic comedy that makes the concept of romantic comedies appealing again -- that reminds you how resonant and transporting they can be when they 're done right .", "the film belongs to its two stars .", "the film itself is a harmless tale and the performances all around are mostly winning , with the exception of deschanel , whose expression never changes throughout all the twists and turns of the romance .", "smart , witty and quirky but never in a pretentious or self-satisfied way , -lrb- 500 -rrb- MOV is simply a well-crafted romantic comedy .", "forget about summer -- this film is all about tom . gordon-levitt delivers , a one-time child actor grown into a sensitive young man with a natural funny bone , taking us with him on his emotional roller coaster ride .", "they really try to entertain with split cameras , a great narrator 's voice , songs and a classic rainy night moment . this is a great film about how you remember a relationship .", "the film seems constructed to short-circuit your attempts to invest anything in it .", "it is n't hugh and andie or meg and whomever , but -lrb- 500 -rrb- days offers hope that hollywood can pass that romance baton to somebody other than the crude crew of the kappa alpha apatow frat house .", "every moment of this sub-annie hall routine confounds not only audience expectation of a balanced feminine perspective but the very notion of romance itself ." ], "summary": "a clever , offbeat romantic comedy , 500 MOV is refreshingly honest and utterly charming .", "id": "770801801" }, { "movie": "on_her_majestys_secret_service", "reviews": [ "even featuring an inferior 007 , on her majesty 's secret service is a landmark change-of-pace , and an exhilarating and affecting piece of entertainment .", "driven by a series of invigorating and breathtaking action sequences and anchored by a bond of rare emotional depth .", "director peter hunt manages to inject some life into this 1969 exercise with a wonderful ski chase , but otherwise the film is a bore .", "film of break-neck physical excitement and stunning visual attractions in which george lazenby replaced sean connery as james bond .", "artistically , bond 's sixth entry , the only one to star aussie george lazenby , is much better than given credit to , though commercially it was one of the weakest .", "essential bond viewing . it should definitely be among the five bond films to make someone a fan of the series .", "besides not being a terribly good bond entry , it 's also a poorly made film .", "-lsb- concentrates -rsb- more on the man than the equipment .", "even hobbled as he is by a character he does n't entirely get , and peter hunt 's antagonistic direction , and the film 's annoying tendency to remind us of connery ... george azenby puts up a good fight .", "an odd interruption in the bond canon that 's neither an unsung masterpiece nor an unmitigated disaster . it 's half terrific , half terrible - the former most often when george lazenby shuts up and peter hunt 's masterful action instincts take over .", "just as entertaining and as visually attractive as the five previous bond films .", "007 in ski country -- and marriage territory ?", "m\u00e9morable pour ses exc\u010ds beaucoup plus que sa pertinence sc\u00e9naristique", "lazenby is n't all that bad , really . top bond production overall helps .", "the bond films were bad enough even with the partially ironic performances of connery .", "george lazenby took bond 's reins from sean connery in this sixth 007 outing , an unfairly oft-maligned film that , while distinctively different than the rest of the series , is still quite fun to watch .", "certainly no worse than the later roger moore efforts and , if only for curiosity value , is well worth a look .", "ditching flash in favour of character development , this stylish and energetic entry is one of the best films in the series . lazenby woz robbed .", "lazenby is very weak , but the movie is rather good", "one of the more entertaining bond films .", "what are bond 's problems now ? they 're too numerous , as usual , to hold the constant attention of anyone other than a charter member of her majesty 's secret service .", "it 's ironic that this , perhaps the weakest bond film , contains the character 's most important piece of development .", "lazenby makes the mistake of trying to imitate connery rather than giving his own interpretation to the role , and as we all know , imitations just make us yearn for the genuine article .", "it offers supremely satisfying versions of all the conventions we expect from the series ... and then it does the one thing you do n't expect a james bond movie to do : it breaks your heart .", "by no means the premium bond , but an intriguing one .", "if you can look past lazenby in the title role , the story line , action , and supporting cast are well above average .", "buoyed by the fine action scenes and the genuinely good script .", "might have been the best bond if not for the bland lazenby .", "one of the best bonds , usually underrated because of lazenby 's performance and constant comparison to sean connery . but it has withstood the test of time .", "any bond fan will tell you this is the best film in the series . it 's my all-time favorite movie .", "the film is often unjustly treated as an odd footnote to the series , an awkward moment from the series ' puberty that the producers would just as soon forget .", "rigg adds the class to feature that connery usually did . when she 's gone , the action scenes are as fine as any bond 's .", "... lazenby is actually pretty good as bond .", "best of the bonds , thanks in no small part to diana rigg ." ], "summary": "george lazenby 's only appearance as 007 is a fine entry in the series , featuring one of the most intriguing bond girls in tracy di vincenzo -lrb- diana rigg -rrb- , breathtaking visuals , and some great ski chases .", "id": "10837" }, { "movie": "autumn_in_new_york", "reviews": [ "there 's nothing magical about the romance in MOV , and nothing even very tragic about its love affair .", "MOV is saddled with a sappy , silly script .", "ryder looks like she does n't want to be anywhere near gere , no less have him touch her .", "a perfectly respectable weeper .", "this love story never convincingly goes beyond the depth of two good-looking people falling in love based on their looks .", "hardly the all-stops-out tearjerker it strives to be .", "a diaphanous daydream of clich\u00e9s , predictable developments , strained romance , and frequently embarrassing dialogue .", "the movie 's biggest fatality is the lack of chemistry between the two stars . even in their most amorous moments , they seem like a randy uncle and his sad-eyed niece .", "a throwback to conventional soap-opera romance which would be fortunate to find an enthusiastic audience on afternoon tv .", "finally ... the melodrama does take over .", "richard gere and winona ryder are never credible as a couple .", "i could n't help rooting for charlotte 's tumor .", "as old-fashioned , sentimental romances go , this well-played kleenex saga is slightly above average .", "the script feels artificial largely because the main characters ' dialogue comes across unnatural .", "am i the only person who is tired of seeing actors play characters who fall in love with beautiful women half their age ?", "the quintessential chick flick , and it 's not going to seduce anyone who does n't have a taste for this kind of schmaltz in the first place . but for what it is , it 's well done .", "if -lsb- gere and ryder are -rsb- not the most charmless doomed lovers of all time they come damned close .", "a respectable enough love story that holds so much promise , yet does n't seem to have had the screenplay kinks worked out before shooting commenced .", "all style and no substance .", "the picture is a veritable bouquet of ardent cliches and witless sentiments .", "the biggest miracle here would be if this movie is still in theaters come autumn .", "chen ... keeps things so downy soft that you 're parched for a little drama -- a spat here hurts about as much as a slumber-party pillow fight .", "the film works best of all as a vehicle for richard gere , who has simply never looked better or held the screen more securely .", "a movie that teaches respect for `` feelings '' through a cocky middle-aged nyc restaurateur who learns he is capable of love in relationship with a vivacious young woman .", "if the movie ... exhibits a loving eye for manhattan exteriors , it 's undone by its own rigidly old-fashioned conventions .", "a workmanlike product that offers occasional , small moments of satisfaction , but , as a whole , is apt to leave audiences wondering why they should care .", "charlotte and will make a charming couple , but that has a lot to do with ryder 's doomed gamine presence and gere 's world-weary rogue .", "the predictable screenplay overcomes the obvious age difference and eventually generates genuine emotion .", "a pleasant surprise .", "this unpredictable , even rigorous film deserves a chance to find its audience .", "gere and ryder look great , but with sparkless chemistry , and gere spending his screen time making sad excuses for his misguided heart , this one 's colder than , well , a winter in new york .", "if -lsb- chen -rsb- is able to take such predictable storylines and breathe life into them , chances are good she 'll have a long and successful career in hollywood .", "nauseating amount of glucose sentiment .", "just what it promises to be : a love story-style romance .", "weak and unmemorable .", "tax forms have more emotional content .", "melodrama is bad enough , contrived melodrama is worse , and badly written contrived melodrama is MOV .", "were you to watch the movie 's first 20 minutes , you might think you were about to see another variation on gere 's megahit ` pretty woman ' ... once it 's revealed that charlotte is a pretty sick woman , however , the film becomes dour and tedious ...", "a banal and sappy romantic melodrama", "... the feel of an old-school weeper ...", "utterly banal , joan chen 's tediously sappy romance is a kind of modern-day love story -lrb- a better film ! -rrb- with a `` twist '' : richard gere 's suave lover is old enough to be winona ryder 's father .", "to sit through this is to suffer the grossest sweaty-palms-on-the-glass sex scene . funny that the film closes with an overbearing end-credits song by jennifer paige - a one-hit wonder who , like `` autumn , '' is a pop-culture footnote best left forgotten .", "though individually attractive , together gere and ryder are as unappetizing a combo as pimento and peach .", "to be sure , not all of the dialogue is compelling or surprising .", "while MOV is a dreadful film , it 's not substantially worse than a lot of the what spills out of tinseltown during the hot season .", "this is one dog of a romantic drama where nothing works and the efforts are far more likely to induce groans and laughter rather than the intended sobs and sympathy .", "as it turned out , the film was n't so bad , but it was n't much good either . it was just sort of ... there .", "the actors are forced to labor through such laughable lines as : ` love is not a race , ' ` you do n't dance , you float ' and other whoppers no sensible girl would buy for a second .", "has no shortage of howlers and telegraphs its plot twists a mile away - but this ultra-glossy weepie turns out to be something of a guilty pleasure almost because of its extreme predictability .", "sappy and melodramatic .", "enjoyment of MOV depends to a certain degree on a viewer 's tolerance for a mood of luxurious melancholy . at 105 minutes , it becomes too much of an indulgence .", "-lsb- chen -rsb- has a lovely sense of film rhythm and a sophisticated eye for luxe effects , but she fell into this vat of goo and there 's no climbing out of it ." ], "summary": "although the film is n't as bad as feared -lrb- it was n't pre-screened for reviews -rrb- , it 's not that good , either . most noticable flaws are the sappy romantic cliches and lack of chemistry between gere and ryder .", "id": "11409" }, { "movie": "eat_pray_love", "reviews": [ "italians have a phrase - che posso fare ? - meaning `` what can i do ? '' that 's sometimes used when the answer is : `` nothing , just go with it . '' lots of things happen in MOV that only the lonely and book club members will understand . you just go with it .", "it 's about something important , the search for meaning and happiness , about finding one 's inner life amid the clutter and confusion of modern existence .", "roberts is precisely the right actress to play this character : she adamantly refuses to be adorable -- she 'd rather just unleash that crazy , unladylike cackle .", "if you 're in the mood for a julia roberts film that provides two hours of `` calgon take me away '' , this is it .", "the cast , led -lrb- by the nose -rrb- by roberts , is pretty . the men are handsome and sensitive . the scenery is beautiful and the techs and production are first class . i still wish that liz went back to italy and had another pizza .", "while MOV has some enlightening , touching , visually breathtaking moments , you still end up praying it would end .", "rodney -lsb- dangerfield -rsb- may have cracked about `` praying after you eat , '' but this film reflects the need to surfeit before finding balance .", "let the cynics scoff - this is a movie that 's beautiful to look at that will leave you with some food for thought , as well .", "in a summer dominated -lrb- as always -rrb- by male-skewering titles , this is a richly rewarding experience for discerning grownups who would n't be caught dead seeing grown ups .", "it 's a shame the actors have to spoil cinematographer robert richardson 's artistry by reciting the drivel that passes for dialog .", "MOV is a long marathon full of self pity and poor interaction .", "julia roberts continues to be one of our finest actresses , and she makes this film less tedious than it could have been .", "you know exactly what you are going to get , kinda like comfort food for your movie going soul .", "most of what made the book connect with so many is entirely missing here .", "i 've got a fourth verb to add to the comma-challenged title of julia roberts ' how-to-be-happy travelogue , MOV . how about `` edit '' ?", "el mayor problema es el subrayado permanente de lo que suele llamarse `` mensaje '' , eso que supuestamente el espectador debe descubrir en el transcurso de una pel\u00edcula y llevarse al final para su casa y que aqu\u00ed est\u00e1 servido como receta .", "merely good and not great as many fans of the book hoped it would be .", "MOV is mostly a slog ; never giving us a compelling reason why its heroine does what she does , or how she became quite so tiresomely self - absorbed .", "a seemingly interminable romantic travelogue that feels as though it takes as long to watch as the year-long spiritual quest it depicts .", "the film version is pure wish-fulfillment fantasy .", "MOV is overlong and quickly becomes tedious . it features narcissistic , inward looking characters of no interest at all and amounts to a very poorly made film .", "liz maybe the most unlikeable character julia roberts has ever had to play , not because co-writer/director ryan murphy is trying to make her so but because everything the film does pushes her in that direction .", "-lsb- takes -rsb- itself too seriously , even while it contains all the trappings of one of the most lighthearted movie genres , the ` travel romance ' or ` travel therapy ' movie .", "full review at movies for the masses", "julia 's late career seems an apologia for buying someone else 's husband and getting away with it , for the most part , in the court of public opinion .", "during the india scenes , liz accuses richard from texas of spouting a bunch of bumper-sticker slogans ... as though her revelations are any better .", "of course , we should remember that the film delivers exactly what it promises by way of the ultimate romantic fantasy for women over 30 or so -lrb- divorced or not -rrb-", "the result is n't spiritual awakening , but a talky travelogue - like riding a tour bus with a passenger who wo n't shut up about her inner journey .", "about the best you can expect from a 21st century cinderella with a book deal who had probably already optioned the rights to turn her story into a hollywood bio-pic .", "was something lost in translation or was the source material not as strong as book sales would have us believe ?", "liz figures she needs to spend some time with no one but herself . speaking as one who has spent 140 minutes with her , i would advise against that .", "as summer draws to a close , MOV is a pleasurable , sometimes even prayerful , escape .", "MOV is the cure for insomnia . the film is boring and a gigantic advertisement for the travel channel , food network and lifetime .", "fans of the memoir might enjoy this film ; others will be checking their watches more than once .", "despite splendid scenery and an appealing julia roberts , the film of elizabeth gilbert 's best-seller about her year-long spiritual quest fails to capture the humor and uplift of the book .", "the audience may find itself wondering how it is that liz manages to find so many places around the world that can maintain her carefully highlighted hair rather than contemplating the spiritual journey", "i saw it . i did n't feel it . look , i 'm happy for julia roberts to travel the world . i just never felt connected to the journey of liz .", "a nice leisurely pace .", "try not to hoot when the gaunt roberts makes a bring-on-the-flab speech to persuade the equally slender tuva novotny to eat pizza , even if they get `` muffin tops . ''", "a vacuous attempt at chick flick epiphany . for all its postcard prettiness , MOV 's purported life lessons are so self-absorbed , had our shallow heroine been a man , we 'd be booing his caddish behaviour .", "even if you buy roberts as an introspective writer -lrb- i did n't -rrb- , there 's no real sense of an emotional journey here .", "it 's in equal measure patronising , sententious and obnoxious .", "in short , it probably should have been titled ` MOV sleep ' as it becomes increasingly difficult to fight off the latter while watching it . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "hanging out with julia roberts being all glowy and charming -- even when she 's somewhat sad about whatever it is she 's sad about -- is still kind of pleasurable .", "MOV only superficially advocates independence and growth while serving up a steaming pile of pseudo-spiritual hyperbole .", "this film is about a woman trying to move mountains to make herself happy , and the singular quest of every other character in the movie is to serve her in that quest .", "MOV is ultimately charming and inspirational . though it does n't have quite the impact of the book , it will likely leave you pondering your life choices and forgiving your flaws . it will certainly have you forgiving the few flaws in the film .", "mired in a milquetoast aesthetic obsessed with trendy `` healing '' tropes -lrb- meditation , close-ups on delicious looking pasta , hunky javier bardem etc. -rrb- .", "it 's the oprahfication of religion ... liz 's time in india is spiritual tourism , as her time in italy was culinary tourism ; it 's all a self-help consumerist approach to world cultures .", "-lsb- these -rsb- are not the teachings one would find for oneself but things out of a self-help book . they feel planned .", "an insane fantasy for rich people .", "`` MOV '' rests on roberts ' talented shoulders . her appeal and personality overcome most of the film 's defects , including a too-long running time , and some platitudes and words of wisdom that sound as if they were written by hallmark .", "a hornet 's nest of irrational behavior , wrapped up snugly in a smug , shallow , and diseased feature film that does a masterful job brainlessly wiggling around for an interminable amount of screentime .", "the director , ryan murphy , brings only the most obvious sentiments to the borderline intolerable proceedings .", "there?s too much eating , too much praying and too much loving . i should have known given the title .", "narcissistic nonsense , styled within an inch of its life in the manner of food , fashion and travel magazines .", "the fatal flaw of MOV is that for a celebration of enlightenment through travel and the benefits of restorative calm , the end result is so hollow and artificial . do n't mistake entitlement for enlightenment .", "a tiresome , humourless , lifeless , overlong dirge in which the lofty pretention to say something deep about the quest for self and the female condition all gets blown away by an insipid , off-the-shelf romantic-movie ending .", "the chemistry shared by roberts and bardem is alert , alive and alluring : everything the rest of MOV should have been , but shied away from .", "MOV is a two hour and fifteen minute ad for being rich ; it 's a smug , patronising travelogue that -- despite its already apt title -- could have also been called first world problems : the movie .", "on the surface a beautiful film . but those looking for some hidden spiritual meaning be warned - MOV does n't go that deep .", "it 's as though the `` phenomenon '' of MOV got away on itself and , rather than casting a self-deprecating , unknown actress who could embody 30-something middle-class angst , they chose the biggest , richest movie star of the lot .", "MOV ... -lsb- hits -rsb- its target demographic right between the eyes , but in the same way that a self-help book may appeal to thousands , it will never be great literature .", "two and a half hours of staring at your navel , or so it felt . i love julia roberts but this movie made you want to scream at the screen , ` snap out of it ! '", "MOV presents liz 's road to enlightenment in ways that are too reverent , too episodic , and too self-absorbed .", "a female adventure movie aimed almost exclusively at 30 or 40-something women who feel there must be more to life than the way they are currently living it .", "julia roberts is back with her best role since `` erin brockovich '' ! jenkins is amazing , with standout supporting work that deserves serious oscar consideration . the pacing is solid despite a 133-minute run time & you get so caught up with the ...", "exotic , escapist and superficially spiritual , it 's shallow , indulgent female wish-fulfillment , sailing off into the sunset .", "do you always talk in bumper sticker ? julia roberts asks richard jenkins as they banter back and forth at an ashram in india . yes , he does . and so does MOV .", "amounts to the mcdonalds version of spirituality , but there is some -lrb- obvious -rrb- truth in the joy of travel and food , the need for a life of balance and reflection .", "the movie left me with the feeling of being trapped with a person of privilege who wo n't stop with the whine whine whine .", "if only this movie could have stopped at `` eat . ''", "if you 've ever been on a vacation that becomes an adventure of meeting interesting , vibrant people , `` MOV '' will bring you back .", "this is a movie about a self-obsessed woman who seems to learn that the wisdom of the ancients is that she should be even more self-obsessed .", "most of its supposed observations sound more like touchy-feely mumbo-jumbo than honest , useful information and advice .", "the movie , which was shot in chronological order in the countries gilbert visited , is also visually striking , more reminiscent of a travelogue than a hollywood blockbuster .", "`` betray devour invade '' would have been a more appropriate title .", "glibly portrays selfishness as a life choice , ranking gluttony on a par with finding god and a life partner .", "there were plenty of ways for the film to signify liz welcoming love back into her life without the trite conclusion that has been conceived here , and it is the one drawback to an otherwise pretty fantastic picture .", "an ambitious but confused and frustrating film that circles near catharsis , occasionally brushing its hem , but that 's about as close as it ever gets .", "it helps that roberts rides all the turbulent waves with such ease and such grace , that jenkins knows exactly what to do with his internal churn , and that bardem can do no wrong .", "the book 's internal dialogue , that of a good observer with a lively mind , has turned into the extravagantly external and cloyingly earnest quest of a woman in deep distress .", "supply acted and engrossing .", "lives are messy . a little mess in the movie would n't have hurt at all .", "-lsb- roberts -rsb- has a down-to-earth , everywoman quality that adds to the film 's `` you go , girl '' mojo .", "ryan murphy brings elizabeth gilbert 's best-selling self-realization memoir to the big screen as a glossy , julia roberts starring travelogue that gives more insight into where to get a great pizza than the benefits of striving for enlightenment .", "let us not underestimate the contribution of our lead . roberts plays down the glamour and turns up the soulfulness , and her off-the-charts likability makes her winning and watchable , even when liz is at her whiny wimpiest .", "you know your movie 's in trouble when its star is outshined by a bowl of spaghetti .", "an effective and frequently satisfying indulgence , but not nearly as much as the book was .", "its span may be global , but its scope is modest , and it accepts a certain superficiality as the price of useful insight .", "the film knows the aesthetic of enlightenment , the filmmakers demonstrate adoration for their subject , but whether or not the film grasps the principle further is very arguable .", "roberts is the obvious focus here , but she 's enough of a pro to get out of the way and let a scene be stolen .", "vibrant editing , an intelligible screenplay , and a magnetic performance by julia roberts keep eat , pray from dipping too far into self-indulgence .", "the film version 's biggest challenge ? the road to self-discovery is littered with clich\u00e9s .", "only hard-core fans of oprah 's bff will be able to stomach this navel-gazing tripe , which posits `` me-first '' consumerism as the road to happiness .", "roberts ' character is difficult to feel sorry for before she sets off on this postcardperfect self-healing binge . she becomes near impossible to like as it becomes apparent we 're watching a huge holiday video .", "the cast is spectacular : roberts looks relaxed , luminous and credible , javier bardem is suitably rugged as her new lover , while richard jenkins is brilliant as her grumbling prayer pal .", "comes off more like a female midlife crisis fantasy than a substantive search for knowledge and inner peace .", "on and on it goes , 140 minutes of tranquillising non-drama . is there anything to wonder at in its journey to the centre of an ego ?", "roberts is luminous against breathtaking locations including all of rome 's landmarks and colourful , sun-nourished eastern landscapes .", "an insipid slice of take-charge-of-your-life hokum ...", "a film titled MOV should at least capture a spiritual experience and offer romance with some sizzle . this felt more like eat grieve befriend .", "sit , watch , groan . yawn , fidget , stretch . eat snickers , pray for end of dire film about julia roberts 's emotional growth , love the fact it ca n't last for ever . wince , daydream , frown .", "what 's the worst foreign journey you 've ever experienced ? mine is this movie .", "a movie of picture postcard landscapes and ridiculously hunky blokes , this is very much cinematic comfort food where the answers to life 's problems come a little too neatly gift-wrapped .", "in the end , the film is far less affecting or thought-provoking than the book .", "the superficial MOV wants to chronicle a person 's rejuvenation through revelatory life experience , but it feels like tapas for the soul .", "a surprisingly joyless , almost-2-hour fable about finding your joy and starring julia roberts , whose innumerable voice-overs become increasingly grating and unwelcome , the film , directed by ryan murphy , is inert .", "like a 2 1/2 hour infomercial about sharing your feelings that replaces any true emotions with some of the most ridiculous and useless spiritual rhetoric you 're ever likely to hear .", "goldilocks and the three boy toys . while in search of the chick flick demographic , the misguided message is that hedonism is the new feminism . but liz does learn a few things , like mastering the art of guilt-free eating and embracing your inner fatty .", "mostly it 's the pleasant company of julia roberts that makes MOV a benign , sometimes soporific slide into femme fantasy -- a less vulgar shopping trip than sex and the city 2 .", "a sensuous and emotionally cathartic adaptation of elizabeth gilbert 's spiritual journey to personal transformation and love .", "politics and economics hardly exist ; each place is populated chiefly by wise exotics who talk funny -lrb- including richard jenkins ' texan in the ashram -rrb- and exist solely to spout slogans and tell stories that make liz 's problems seem small .", "an overlong bore that either mistakenly thinks it 's something more than a humdrum romance or has incorporated a variety of pretentions as window-dressing .", "MOV will be an intense spiritual experience for many who see it - they will end up on their knees , praying for its merciful end .", "a well-meant , if not exactly transcendent , adaptation of elizabeth gilbert 's beloved , oprah-endorsed memoir .", "watching the relationship between liz and felipe evolve from a comforting friendship to a love that 's both companionable and sexy is gratifying .", "what 's inevitably lost is any real attempt to track liz 's internal shifts , the way her travels jostle her preconceived notions of selfhood and spirituality .", "while it touches the main plot points of elizabeth gilbert 's bestselling novel like stepping stones , it is left to julia roberts ' bewitching smile and javier bardem 's sensuality to convince us that liz 's journey of self discovery is one we want to take", "MOV is like an overstuffed lightweight suitcase , with little room for us to feel the emotional connections liz makes with new friends along the way .", "eat lots of popcorn to distract you , pray for it to end , and love richard jenkins . amen .", "preaching to the converted , fans of the book should be sated . julia roberts is easy to love .", "it is a perfectly competently constructed movie , and an enjoyable one too .", "basically a picaresque rom-com about a girl who needs to feel ok about having everything she could ever want .", "while undeniably a chick flick , this is a classy one bolstered by an all-round excellent cast and well crafted script .", "give me real emotions of guilt , embarrassment and confusion any day over the forgettable trite this film exudes .", "a sparkier and more soul-searching script would have made this a much more satisfying journey .", "MOV lies across the screen like a patient on life support whose ticker is about to tick its last tock .", "a minor and superficial summer diversion that offers female viewers not much more than a two-hour escape fantasy .", "easy to swallow if hard to digest , at 2:20 . it 's like sitting in a warm bath - except that you run out of hot water a long time before you 're allowed to get out of the tub", "overlong , repetitive , too simplistic , and bland despite oodles of breathtaking scenery . it 's like a healthy dish that looks aesthetically pleasing , but lacks flavor and needs a more talented chef .", "at the end of the two and a half hours we get to the same point of all the other stereotypical chick flicks . this is an overly intellectual version of any other jennifer lopez or kate hudson romantic comedy .", "julia roberts boasts a charming presence and a lively mind but she deserves better than this superficial , glitzy and fluffy travelogue of self discovery , which has lots of food , some prayers but little love or sex .", "elizabeth gilbert 's best selling tome has been dumbed down and glossed up . fans of the introspective will be disappointed : those looking for decent , escapist entertainment will not .", "the film 's most crucial constituency -- the book 's rabid fans -- are likely to feel well served by murphy 's adaptation , which hews pretty faithfully to gilbert 's story .", "the film , which admittedly stumbles in the home stretch and just misses out on something like greatness , is nonetheless a visual and metaphysical delight . come hungry , come searching , come lonely .", "at the moment , the only person eating more delectably in italy is tilda swinton in i am love .", "though there are a handful of funny lines , the deeper observations are facile . the whole journey feels like a rich girl gone slumming .", "elizabeth gilbert 's phenomenally popular memoir was funny , insightful , and well-written . amazingly , so is the film .", "this is the rare `` chick flick '' that treats its demographic with respect , never becoming the sentimental or manipulative dreck that so many other filmmakers would have delivered from elizabeth gilbert 's bestselling memoirs .", "the film is a fairly faithful transcription of events , even though liz , as played by roberts , carries a faint air of entitlement . i 'm not sure this could be avoided on screen .", "you can see how it would be fun to spend a year traveling with gilbert . a lot more fun than spending nearly 2.5 hours watching a movie about it .", "murphy 's film version of the story is relentlessly superficial , a slick , empty travelogue propped up only by roberts ' natural charisma .", "like any beloved book with a pretty film version , there will be fans of this film , in spite of its flaws . and bless them . i was , mostly , frustrated .", "despite its flaws , an intelligent , beautiful-looking film about the power of one person to radically change the life of another is an unexpected treat in a season of mindless entertainment .", "enough compelling moments to make one want to grab the book and fill in the blanks that the movie 's script seems to have left out .", "eat , pray , love was more like eat , pray for it to end , gag . sample from its menu at your own risk .", "though many movies have explored eastern culture and juxtaposed it against the american experience , there still is something to learn here , especially because it repeatedly questions what 's important in life .", "it does focus on spirituality , a vital part of most human beings which nevertheless is absent in most films .", "... is -lsb- elizabeth -rsb- gilbert really the selfish , shallow , immature narcissist we see here ?", "you have got to be kidding me .", "go pay suffer", "the absolute best i can say about this movie is that i did n't hate it , i did n't mind watching it and i see no reason to ever watch it again .", "it 's hard to call this a bad movie as it is wonderfully and beautifully shot and directed , but its failure to grasp any meaning in its end and its steady decent into boredom make it a failure as a movie overall .", "roberts has taken a role that could have been played very stereotypically -lrb- lonely divorcee ' searches for love and the secret of life -rrb- and breathes life into it .", "awesome photography but possessing more schmaltz than herring shoppers will find at zabar 's on a sunday shopping spree .", "... an irritating , smug film about a horrible person , a narcissistic destroyer of worlds so caught up in romancing her impossibly sensitive self that she does n't even notice the needless damage she inflicts on her fellow creatures .", "ryan murphy 's film adaptation of elizabeth gilbert 's bestseller about the divorced new yorker 's lone odyssey to italy , india and bali to find meaning in her life is a shallow guilty pleasure : an escapist julia roberts romance and exotic travelogue .", "unlike the book , there 's no big emotional breakdown ; instead , this is a postcard-pretty case of midlife soul-searching .", "the food looks great , but the romance is undercooked , and god remains strictly a bit player .", "a heavily idealized journey of self-discovery with a pretty woman -lrb- julia roberts -rrb- , pretty scenery and a pretty shallow view of eastern spirituality .", "it seems determined to drag tears out of the audience , when the quiet , underplayed moments are the ones that pack the true firepower .", "approached purely on the surface , eat serves a sensual cinematic meal .", "it provides a gorgeous escape , exquisitely photographed and full of female wish fulfillment . yet it also offers sufficient emotional heft and self-discovery to make you feel as if you 've actually learned something .", "if only roberts ' warmth , coupled with javier bardem 's scruffy sexiness as felipe , were enough to compensate for the folded-map flatness of this production .", "too preachy , indulgent , and everybody cries . even the extras .", "MOV is n't a bad movie -- just a spiritually dead one , wearing and wearying .", "rather than winning us over , this protagonist merely annoys . we edge close to aa territory as a friend tells her to `` do the work ! '' he also exhorts her to forgive herself . for what ? boring us to death ?", "for two decades , julia roberts has been a bona fide movie star , and she shines in his gorgeous if overlong travelogue .", "one wonders : was the screenplay presented to julia roberts as a traditional bound manuscript , or as a catalog of bumper stickers ?", "it 's all external trappings trying to express internal developments , and the movie 's hand-holding stridency just emphasizes the artificiality of its fantasy .", "i stopped trusting the movie .", "find-your-bliss film appeals but raises questions , too .", "there 's something ridiculously and deeply sad about what MOV reveals about the deprived lives american women lead .", "goldilocks and the three boy toys . while in search of the chick flick demographic , the misguided message is that hedonism is the new feminism . but liz does learn a few things , like mastering the art of guilt-free eating and embracing your inner fatty .", "it may come as a bit of a shock to some that the most interesting turns in the woman-on-a-quest sojourn do n't belong to roberts , luminous though she is . those are owned by a number of misty-eyed if masculine menfolk .", "the movie is above all a lovely travelogue , plunging us viscerally into the middle of every country .", "eat . pray . love . barf ... a celebration of self-indulgence trying to pass itself off as profound soul-searching .", "if you like roberts and understand what it means to `` smile with your liver '' , this is the film for you .", "the movie is aware of its own riches ; it fills up your plate and dares you not to eat .", "a beautiful , languid travelogue , although with some of the source novel 's empowerment diluted .", "an intriguing story brimming with possibilities is softened beyond all meaning by this glossy hollywood production .", "i admired julia roberts ' grasping for something meatier , but this film sticks her with an unrelatable character that even her coltish smile ca n't beautify .", "MOV has some decent performances and the occasional good moment but it 's ultimately let down by a tedious , self-satisfied script , a shocking lack of humour and a criminally indulgent running time .", "avoid like plague .", "roberts ' gorgeousness is served up sacrificially to 140 minutes of psychobabbling `` insights '' , many of them trite or questionable , all of them wearisome .", "we 're not so much involved in the movie as idly registering it -- eavesdropping , almost , on a conversation at an adjoining table .", "a drive-through take on mid-life spirituality - with lots of food and travel porn", "it 's a thin line between `` self-aware '' and `` self-involved '' and it 's one the movie treads uncertainly .", "... a self-indulgent , annoying and mostly boring movie .", "little more than a self-indulgent wallow in white upper-class privilege feigning depth by cloaking itself in fortune cookie wisdom" ], "summary": "the scenery is nice to look at , and julia roberts is as luminous as ever , but without the spiritual and emotional weight of the book that inspired it , MOV is too shallow to resonate .", "id": "770857925" }, { "movie": "wood", "reviews": [ "funny , awkward , or poignant !", "a refreshing , loving look at friendship and growing up black .", "with tender storytelling instincts and a keen ear for teenspeak , famuyiwa flaunts a knack for feel-good comedy .", "it 's got heart and it 's much smarter and funnier than you 'd be led to believe .", "the MOV paints a fair picture of growing up black , bright and , of all things , without sullen malice or uncorrectable misogyny .", "it 's about time someone made a movie with black male characters who are believable and funny without being buffoonish .", "the growing-up stuff is kind of wonderful .", "a fair and admirable comedy we have n't quite seen before .", "since positive images of middle-class black friendships and romance remain rare while gangster tales , drugs and gang gunfire dominate the screen , the MOV gets bonus points .", "the MOV is a solid debut for director famuyiwa .", "the MOV is n't all that fresh .", "this rambling and episodic autobiographical saga of three friends coming of age in inglewood , calif. in the '80s is so determined to be likable that it forgets to be interesting .", "even the charismatic epps ca n't bail out a script that lacks tension , too often substitutes high-fives for dialogue or action and calls for farce scenes that used to get 'em rolling in the stone aisles of ancient greece .", "artificial , tension-free .", "it simply sits there , motionless , without any notable attributes to recommend , or that are even worth mentioning . it 's unfortunate , but it 's the truth .", "inane coming-of-age comedy .", "is n't particularly memorable .", "by the film 's final toast , one feels as if they are indeed part of the MOV .", "the MOV spends too much time wallowing in arrested adolescence to make you feel you 've traveled anywhere .", "a boring and distancing affair !", "a charmer , a heartfelt memoir full of the buoyant good spirits and free-wheeling fun that , say , american pie never had .", "never delves much deeper into the three friends ' psychology than a sitcom pilot would , though the cast try their best .", "it wants to be boyz in the hood -lrb- boyz in the MOV -rrb- but the obscenity laced dialogue and raw objectification of woman renders it a contrite pretender more along the lines of booty call and trippin .", "choppy coming-of-age story .", "an across-the-board delight featuring a spot-on ensemble cast that treats the most awkward and embarrassing moments in the rites of passage with affectionate hilarity .", "three middle-class african-american men yearn to stay forever young as they struggle with their relationships with women .", "heartfelt honesty and a determined refusal to resort to exploitative stereotypes help make the MOV an uncommonly uplifting experience for audiences of all races and backgrounds .", "a well-intentioned exercise in humanism ... but as art or a successful narrative , the movie is ultimately empty .", "nice , but lacks the substance it needs to make us feel as good as it wants us to .", "what are you waiting on ? go see this one !", "famuyiwa has kicked up fertile new storytelling territory for black filmmakers .", "there 's a lot of good interplay between the leads , and the flashback scenes successfully evoke the '80s .", "it is unremarkable in every way , save one -- the cast is african-american .", "winning performances save it from fading into treacle .", "awkward performances , unsure directing flaw the MOV .", "when will epps , who was in the mod squad , get a picture worthy of his obvious talent ?", "a respectable debut .", "this film 's spirit and charm overwhelmingly eclipse technical pops and sputters .", "a sweet-natured , overly familiar coming-of-age enterprise .", "a gentle , honest and amusing coming-of-age story !", "quaint and refreshing !", "the MOV is a sporadically funny buddy movie .", "part after-school sex comedy , part wedding-blues slapstick , part cornball friends-are-family moralization , the MOV exists as a seldom represented american time capsule , and it 's all good .", "nelson hilariously and poignantly portrays mike 's journey into puberty .", "a savvy , good-natured comedy !" ], "summary": "a charming piece of work with believable characters .", "id": "13063" }, { "movie": "yella", "reviews": [ "MOV uses byzantine business deals , corporate shenanigans and sink-or-swim stakes to dramatise the internal negotiation of a character 's -lrb- and a divided nation 's -rrb- dreams and anxieties .", "the consequences of reunification are explored in this effective metaphysical thriller .", "it 's one of those films that keeps swirling in your brain once it 's done -- thanks both to its somewhat unresolved ending and to the many subtle themes touched on throughout .", "somehow , this tightrope walk between the supernatural and underhanded business deals -lrb- call it carnival of michael clayton -rrb- manages the neat trick of keeping its balance .", "far less concerned with character development than with bludgeoning clues to the drama 's true nature .", "a study of the malaise of corporate culture in modern germany with an unsatisfying ending . up until the conclusion , it is quite rewarding .", "MOV is the kind of movie that tantalizes the mind with possibilities without solving the puzzle .", "its scenes involving the perilous business negotiations offer more genuine intellectual excitement than any cgi-stuffed chase .", "though the film attests that the director can masterfully dredge up metaphysical dread , it also proves that he needs to learn to avoid easy ways out .", "dressing up a socio-economic critique as a romantic thriller only works if there 's enough suspense to keep the audience intrigued .", "german writer-director christian petzold returns to top form in MOV , another precision-helmed , tightly wound , metaphysical thriller that confirms him as one of germany 's finest middle-generation directors .", "too obscure and oblique in its aims to completely enthral , MOV manages to get under the skin thanks to hoss ' bewitching performance as the troubled number cruncher and a final reveal that complicates everything that 's gone before .", "a german metaphorical reunification thriller and political allegory equating a blunt and feverish appetite for sex and capitalism .", "a suspenseful film carried off without the viewer knowing what the suspense is all about . ... the mystery happening in the margins of this story is more interesting than the mainline plot .", "MOV clamps down on the viewer with a psychological hold that does n't immediately reveal itself .", "this crisply made thriller begins as a harrowing tale of a young german woman stalked by her deranged ex-husband , but quickly turns into an investigation of the murkier depths of capitalism .", "MOV is a strange beast : a twisty , slightly surreal mystery wrapped around the tedious art of the business deal .", "the twist ending that softens the blow of this otherwise unique and atmospheric work is not for me to ruin , but it should be said that it shows a chink in the filmmaker 's armor", "petzold , a leading light of the current generation of young german filmmakers , succeeds in making the modern world strange again .", "an edgy , intellectual and enigmatic dream-like metaphysical thriller about living in post-reunification contemporary german as a venture capitalist .", "this unusual film has all the appearance of simply being a well-done drama , but there is considerably more on writer-director christian petzold 's mind .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tightly controlled metaphysical horror movie .", "a strange blend of corporate thriller and supernatural mystery .", "while too lean and unassuming to provide real chills , MOV is a cool , disorienting trip , a meditation on death and the complexity of the human brain .", "a supernatural thriller with much to say on the greed and venality that underpins new europe , christian petzold 's german drama is spookily intriguing .", "the adept performances and sharp direction of this thriller allow the viewer to see the writer-director 's point : that life in communist east germany may have been preferable for some to the more prosperous existence in the west .", "this disquieting parable about trust and risk wrong-foots us at every turn .", "towards the end the symbolism gets heavy-handed , but by then the film has already cast its coldly mesmerising spell .", "MOV comes off as too intellectual an exercise to be thoughtful or serious entertainment .", "exquisitely frigid , menacing , disquieting , with a storyline that keeps you off-balance , marred only by a slightly hackneyed d\u00e9nouement .", "a rich , inventive and atmospheric thriller that is somehow able to reveal the final twist while retaining its mysterious allure .", "christian petzold 's disquieting german thriller feels modest while you 're watching it , but makes a stronger-than-expected impact .", "german writer-director christian petzold transforms the classic american cult movie carnival of souls into a bleak drama about soul-sucking alienation in the reunited germany .", "this german rip-off of herk harvey 's 1962 carnival of souls replaces the junky eeriness of the original with a disassociated pretentiousness that is more irritating than creepy .", "the film feels far too schematic and , even allowing for its unrelentingly mercenary premise , far too cold to inspire much viewer identification .", "in spite of some mysterious circumstances , MOV is directed perfunctorily and entirely without suspense or any sense of urgency .", "makes for interesting viewing .", "strikes a perfect balance between corporate intrigue and metaphysical mystery ; his 2007 drama is filled with suspense but ends in delicious ambiguity .", "MOV is a reserved young woman with unrevealed depths of intelligence , larceny and passion . their gradual revelation makes this more than an ordinary thriller , in great part because of the performance of nina hoss in the title role .", "the german offering MOV begins with an utterly gripping first 15 minutes , follows with a passable drama and ends with a big disappointment .", "an import non-thriller so enigmatic and subtle that it 's inert .", "this calculating drama is firmly on the money .", "a neat metaphysical thriller .", "an expertly crafted thriller which offers a pessimistic , though deeply rewarding , glimpse of a society being haunted by its own past .", "filmmaker christian petzold meets his goal of providing an alienating portrait of the business world .", "a haunting suspense drama , which compares favourably with some of the best continental cinema .", "tricky and insinuating , this german drama has the subtle subtext of a thriller as it follows a woman caught at a crossroads in her life . it 's a little aloof and dry , but very well made .", "like its heroine , MOV is well-turned-out but chilly ; it rarely stirs the emotions , but keeps the attention hooked .", "unfortunately , a gimmicky construction helps the writer-director avoid facing the consequences of the drama he 's set up .", "this is , in places , a deeply disturbing film ... yet the touching scenes , when they come , have a surprisingly emotional depth .", "engaging , well acted and impressively directed german drama , though the ending is a bit of a disappointment ." ], "summary": "chilly and haunting , MOV 's atmosphere gets under the skin .", "id": "770674685" }, { "movie": "kite_runner", "reviews": [ "the silly recurrence of an early-movie villain at the end may make you say , ` hell to the no ! ' for the first time , and the same goes for the awkward emotional coda .", "a film of exhilarating , redemptive humanity , conveying an enduring sense of hope .", "the film has its moments of purity and at times they are exquisite -lrb- they almost seem accidental in their innocence -rrb- , but it is the story and its ultimate disingenuousness that overturns the cart .", "although you 'll likely see more artistically daring movies this fall , few will be as satisfying as the MOV .", "fascinating character study and not about kids flying kites .", "an absorbing story in a setting that is both exotic and universal .", "exceptional and enthralling - with its universal themes of honor and redemption", "the movie 's heart is certainly in the right place -- it 's a quietly outraged work -- but i wish there were more excitement in it from moment to moment .", "forster 's solid , unpretentious movie hits its marks squarely , and is n't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve .", "genuine if not exactly inspiring .", "the afghan boys ' kite-flying contests are the emotional core of the film , and forster and his crew bring the camera into the sky and make it dip and soar along with the kites .", "brings khaled hosseini 's epic vision to gorgeous life -lsb- and -rsb- leaves an equally lasting impression on viewers as the novel did with readers .", "fights a losing battle to reconcile authenticity with performances that vary widely in quality .", "stories of unethical treatment of its child actors by the filmmakers has tarnished the MOV as a film made of the same brand of hubris that its lead character carries for most of the story .", "` the MOV ' is certainly one of the better films in a year of very good ones .", "this is no experimental tale , but a gripping yarn , and the issues it confronts are complicated ones , with many sides .", "both tender and brutal , the sweeping story touches upon such lofty themes as religious fundamentalism , the ravages of war and the overwhelmingly desolate nature of regret .", "afghanistan is a nation tortured by history , but the core feeling in the MOV is heartburning love of the place , its proud people and dusty , rugged beauty .", "director marc forster and screenwriter david benioff fail to capture the full impact of khaled hosseini 's mega-best seller the MOV .", "a respectful adaptation of khaled hosseini 's 2003 novel .", "the MOV is actually a lyrical and understated portrait of life 's journey come full circle , within the context of the immigrant experience .", "some plot turns in the MOV feel predictable and contrived , but there 's nothing false about the film 's overall redemptive flight .", "the MOV is earnest and sentimental and formulaic and obvious . watching it , i could understand the fuss over khaled hosseini 's bestselling novel , but the film did n't make me want to read it .", "if the MOV flies only to flutter and fall a bit , at least it flies for a while .", "does n't rank quite up there with marc forster 's best work , but it still shows him as one of the best filmmakers at work today .", "adapted for the screen with sensitivity by benioff and forster , drawing raw performances from the cast .", "read the novel . or better yet , go fly a kite !", "the pacing is lugubrious , the performances unremarkable , and the movie itself mostly disposable .", "-lsb- a -rsb- pretty good adaptation of khaled hosseini 's pretty good 2003 best-seller .", "the powerful themes of loyalty , shame , and redemption tend to be muted by the same glass-table treatment forster brought to finding neverland .", "if nothing else , though , the MOV does succeed in providing a vibrant window into a region of the world we might not have known and might have felt daunted to seek out .", "it is a big , important work .", "at times brutal , at times touching , the movie stands out as one of the better ` prestige ' productions offered for cinematic consumption during the waning weeks of 2007 .", "it 's okay to be manipulated so long as you do n't feel the strings being pulled . here the tug is constant , and constantly distracting .", "it 's at times poetic , but ultimately the film is yet another draining examination of just how much the whole afghanistan situation really sucks .", "an example of how good intentions do n't necessarily make for a good movie .", "a glossy and admirable condensation of the immensely popular novel ...", "director forster always works wonders with children . it 's what made finding neverland a near-classic . it 's what redeems the intermittent obviousness and flatness of this film about escaping an unforgiving fatherland .", "the filmmakers go by the book in the MOV , a literate , if occasionally listless adaptation of khaled hosseini 's best-selling novel .", "this is one of those stories that , on some primal level , goes straight to the heart .", "the movie version of the MOV succeeds in at least one respect : it does make you want to check out the source material to see what has been glossed over .", "everything good about the book has been removed from the film , and everything trite and unconvincing in the book has been left as the core of the drama .", "a completely captivating and powerful moviegoing experience , a heartwrenching but redemptive story that deftly intertwines the personal and the political .", "by the time it arrives at its final kite-flying scene back in the bay area , the MOV has soared occasionally , but remains too grounded for its own good in the book from which it was supposed to spring .", "director marc forster and writer david benioff might seem odd choices to adapt a book about such a place . but they have respectfully transformed hosseini 's novel .", "uma admir\u00e1vel montanha-russa emocional .", "how often does a single movie seem to capture the very essence of what it means to be alive and aware and imperfect in so simple a story ? this is one of the very best films of 2007 ...", "... an affecting , downright riveting piece of work .", "afghani newcomer ahmad khan mahmidzada 's portrayal of the doting servant hassan is an absolute revelation", "whilst some of the vivid detail in khalid hosseini 's best-selling novel does get lost in translation , director marc forster hits all the emotional high notes .", "a memorable and moving drama about the pain of lost friendship , the yearning for forgiveness , and the freedom that comes from making amends .", "tepid at best .", "a dark tale of gnawing lament and an all-consuming yearning to atone for lifelong shortcomings .", "there have been exemplary movies imported out of the middle east and the surrounding region for well over a decade now , which is perhaps why this u.s.-born-and-bred adaptation ... never exudes the raw , authentic power that such a story demands .", "-lsb- it -rsb- boasts one of the best performances by a child actor , ever .", "the decidedly small-scale finished product does n't quite measure up to the epic scope of its story . fortunately , the film 's heart remains very much intact .", "sure , the movie does n't have the heart of the book , but it does have a solid mechanical pump , strong enough at least to keep a robust story on two-hour life support .", "a humane and enriching motion picture experience that soars and takes flight as a first class piece of filmmaking .", "the movie 's robotic execution does n't match its ambition to tell an adult story for an adult audience .", "what happened to the marc foster who made the compelling indie everything put together ? ... a bland , hollywood production that tells the story the novel 's author outlined without giving it any but the most obvious themes ...", "calls into question why hosseini 's novel was such a chart-climber in the first place other than being one of the first published pieces of fiction to use the taliban as a subplot after 9/11 .", "a sweet and masterful story of survival , transcendence , loyalty and friendship told with striking cinematography . a spiritual piece of work .", "fans of the book are unlikely to be disappointed and people new to the material may find a small film that lingers in their memory much longer than the hyped big ones .", "compelling story , well rendered .", "dolefully faithful to its source in the broad strokes , almost none of the book 's cultural engagement sneaks through .", "a heartfelt saga of cruelty redeemed by belated love .", "the film version of khaled hosseini 's novel is so portentously sincere that you may feel like a cretin for embracing it with anything less than a full heart .", "it may not pack the emotional punch that it could , but it 's an interesting story that 's worth a look .", "it 's a haunting story .", "a good , sprawling yarn that covers a lot of miles and a lot of years .", "a film of deadly serious conviction but undeniable convention ...", "the screen throws the story 's weaknesses into sharper relief than the printed page did , and despite the obvious dedication and craftsmanship , the film finishes as a near-miss .", "you 've got to appreciate getting to live in a city or suburb . things are totally run down in the good areas . the things that make these people happy would make the super sweet 16 kids kill themselves .", "the film has the same weaknesses and strengths as the novel . and its greatest weakness is that the main character is the least interesting and just about the least sympathetic .", "manipulative filmmaking , to be sure , but director marc forster manipulates us so well , we overlook the fact in the viewing and forgive it in the memory .", "i wonder what a different director and screenwriter would have done with the source material .", "the MOV is solid and competently made , but then those are words one always uses when a piece of art falls short of greatness .", "the two young boys are definitely the highlight of the film . their friendship is truly felt , which makes the tragedy that befalls hassan all the more powerful .", "entirely too epic for its own good .", "... a good but not classic movie of a good but not classic novel .", "faked compassion , bland visuals , metaphors dropped like anvils", "a remarkable story with tremendous human interest , about people we think we 've figured out , but about whom we actually know next to nothing .", "the MOV will no doubt warm the hearts of its intended audience , but its nature is one of dubious flattery .", "a skilfully made and subtly powerful film , with a disarmingly human protagonist whose efforts seem all the more real , given his weaknesses and the movie 's authentic feel .", "es un poco inevitable sentir que la pel\u00edcula transcurre casi como un tr\u00e1mite , sin permitirle al espectador una aproximaci\u00f3n mucho m\u00e1s sensible a la historia .", "forster na synehizei na psahnei ti hora toy pote stin paramythenia kampoyl toy protoy meroys , prin perasei sto deytero kommati tis istorias , opoy i prospatheia toy afganoy metanasti na brei thesi sto neo kosmo kai bima na pei tis istories toy , ginetai syn", "the MOV does n't just make us watch the battling kites in the skies over kabul ; it makes us truly see the people below , in many ways for the first time ; that 's the film 's greatest achievement , and ultimately the best reason to see it .", "the MOV is a compelling and uplifting tale that exposes the viewer to an unfamiliar , fascinating culture and a family dynamic that is recognizable and nuanced .", "the MOV has become that most unfortunate of awards-season hollywood casualties : a worthy bore .", "it 's the childhood scenes , and the truthfulness of the boys ' performances , that you remember .", "... comes off as the simplistic oprah-approved gush it always was ...", "MOV remains an effective , deeply felt meditation on forgiveness , and when it stays near the characters , it 's some of the best filmmaking marc forster has ever accomplished .", "in a movie about a storyteller -lrb- amir as an adult in america is played by khalid abdalla -rrb- the storytelling pace moves between deliberate and sluggish .", "like the source novel , marc forster 's film is frequently contrived and melodramatic .", "a dramatic , moving and touching story fraught with danger", "the young actors are quite good , as is homayoun ershadi as amir 's intellectual father .", "the MOV will be loved by many moviegoers for its taste and humanity , but for all the places forster takes us he does n't show us anything we have n't seen .", "this kite soars to rare heights .", "the movie never connects emotionally . there 's something false about the storytelling ; much seems black and white , morally , and there 's a hole where the heart of this thing should be .", "the actors , and the many cultural specifics the movie imparts , overcome the script 's deficiencies .", "the marc forster-directed version of the khaled hosseini novel does one part of the story so well that its success underlines what 's lacking in what remains .", "the movie has two extraordinary characters and performances . non-pro ahmad khan mahmidzada breaks your heart as the innocent , wide-eyed child hassan , and homayoun ershadi makes amir 's father a model of intuitive decency .", "this is more an entertaining than a profound film .", "this movie never gets started .", "there is a compelling movie in this somewhere , but the film as made lacks a certain momentum .", "faithful to the bestselling novel on which it 's based , the MOV is a thoughtful , often heart-wrenching story about betrayal and redemption .", "the power of the film 's key scenes can make you forget the long , long , long trip it takes to get to them .", "... the film is entertaining with superb acting , but a far cry from making the impact that the book did . why it minimizes the brutality of the taliban is mystifying .", "the MOV is a curiosity in that it is a film driven almost entirely by its story , to the point that all the actors - save the fiercely patriarchal homayoun ershadi as amir 's father - seem purely functional , if not negligible .", "the narrative is a tapestry entwined from personal and political threads ; the result is emotionally overwhelming", "alternately chilling and thrilling , the MOV tugs at some emotional strings not often yanked with such frankness .", "the MOV is a film that both soars like its kite metaphor on the air currents of good storytelling , and falls to earth when its credibility is cut out from under it .", "hampered by a dull leading performance , marc foster and screenwriter david benioff 's adaptation of khaled hosseini 's hugely popular novel skimps on the book 's real value in favor of bland melodrama and absurd dramatics .", "a heart-wrenching tale of lost friendship and redemption , `` the MOV '' is as memorable as a movie as it is a novel .", "friendship , loyalty , tragedy , and politics are themes sensitively and sometimes terrifyingly examined . but the film 's hopeful spirit hits home despite the differences in our culture and language .", "hosseini 's over-done melodrama that does n't so much open our eyes to afghanistan as reinforce everything negative we 've already suspected .", "moments feel disappointingly scripted , so it 's especially good news that many of its characters do not .", "yet another coming-of-age story , with complex emotions and developments distilled into simplistic cliches ; it 's as middle-of-the-road as they come .", "the movie slides downhill after its fine portrayal of childhood bonds and cowardice in afghanistan twenty-six years in the past .", "a qualified success .", "... the most cinematic elements of the novel are the weakest parts of the movie .", "a positive and uplifting story about the kind of interpersonal loyalty that not even a terrorist organization can destroy .", "it 's the kind of film whose major accomplishment is to make you think , ` wow , the book is probably really good . i should have stayed home and read it . '", "relies heavily on gimmicky turns in the action leading toward teary crescendos", "mr. forster has been soundly defeated by the MOV . despite the film 's far-flung locations , there is remarkably little of visual interest here ; the setups are banal , and the scenes lack tension , which no amount of editing can provide .", "how long has it been since you saw a movie that succeeds as pure story ? that does n't depend on stars , effects or genres , but simply fascinates you with how it will turn out ?", "the MOV feels authentic in its ethnic tensions , even when the narrative itself , with its handily reappearing and easily avenged villain , undermines that authenticity .", "epic yet intimate , forster 's faithful rendition of the beloved novel is a touching morality tale of fathers and sons , friendship , betrayal and redemption ; if the film becomes a conventional and sentimental fable , so does the book .", "nuanced perfs and standout production design convey story in cinematic terms , preserving the narrative 's emotional power and historical sweep as it spans continents and decades .", "a workmanlike , if decaffeinated version of khaled hosseini 's bestselling novel .", "the third of the film given to the boys ' childhood adventures is excellent , both kids fully convincing as pals who 'll never part .", "there 's a lethargy and a reverence about this film that seem misplaced , as though forster and screenwriter david benioff thought they were adapting a sacred text and forgot they were making drama .", "it 's a brutal second act , really .", "perhaps he might have been tougher but that might have rendered the film less digestible .", "the MOV is dramatically and visually sumptuous", "forster 's self-important direction submarines a film that begins well , but slips into melodrama and plods towards anti-climax .", "there 's something timid and tasteful about the filmmaking which struck me as pretty mendacious , in a story about a blood bond severed by rape and mended , a generation on , by a rather too tidy act of atonement .", "a cracking final 20 minutes leave you realising what an evil bunch of idiots the taliban really are .", "based on khaled hosseini 's highly regarded novel , this story of exile , ambition and betrayal has an emotional power that outstrips its occasional implausibilities .", "the measured mise-en-sc\u010dne is fine for the boyhood scenes . character-building alternates with brief bursts of image music , such as the kite-flying contest that fills the kabul sky with darting , colourful fabric-birds .", "maudlin , implausible and dull .", "the film feels totally convincing in all its technical aspects , including its use of chinese locations to double for the story 's afghan setting .", "... fails to rise above a dickens-like tale of betrayal and redemption", "the film retains the novel 's universal elements , but some of the political specifics get lost in translation", "an absorbing generational story whose lack of a religious agenda in a middle east context is a noteworthy commitment to the unburdened language of art .", "forster 's mix of topicality and sensationalism makes the MOV sentimental , not profound .", "stellar acting by two youths makes believable the theme that you can go home again both geographically and morally .", "forster transforms a presumably brutal and nuanced account of class difference and innocence lost into disney-style kitsch .", "the type of film one would expect from marc forster -- banal , trite and apt to ramrod simplistic symbolism down viewers ' throats .", "well-intentioned but hardly convincing depiction of the haunting afghanistan landscape .", "i wo n't deny that the film is sometimes rushed , oversimplified and skimpy on the details of afghan culture that informed the book . but the tale still takes hold .", "visually arresting , politically controversial , perhaps its greatest virtue is its simple message of making wrong right .", "armed with a capably hands-off screenplay by david benioff , -lsb- forster -rsb- made a drama as bland and beige as its tasteful palette , whose pacing would n't look out of place in the sunday-night slot on pbs .", "gently moving adaptation by marc forster takes off but never quite soars .", "the film 's belief in the power of redemption and its subtle assertion of the need for moral courage in personal -lrb- or political -rrb- conflict , is never allowed to get in the way of its boldly told , intelligent , informed and affecting story .", "forster takes few liberties with hosseini 's novel : it 's a straightforward , anadorned adaptation with the much of the dialogue in persian and a capable non-starry cast .", "an engaging melodrama whose less convincing plot points are superseded by some astonishingly affecting performances from the mostly unknown cast .", "impressively directed and superbly written , this is a moving emotional drama with strong performances from its two young leads .", "showcasing a welcome lack of big-budget attitude , the MOV makes up for its small flaws with an engaging , thought-provoking story and a willingness to tackle some very dark issues .", "an enthralling piece of cinema .", "the film deftly spans the cruelty of afghan history , from the soviet invasion to taliban desolation .", "it would take a viewer with the aesthetic skills of an olympian to overcome the horrendous hurdles placed in entertainment 's way by this well-meaning but misguided adaptation of the famed bestseller .", "the part of the film set in kabul -lrb- actually filmed in china -rrb- is fascinating , breathtaking and exciting .", "-lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- sensitively handle the breakdown of amir and hassan 's friendship -lsb- and -rsb- grasp the tension between the hardship of those who remained in afghanistan and the guilt of those who fled ." ], "summary": "despite some fine performances , the MOV is just shy of rendering the magic of the novel on to the big screen .", "id": "770671962" }, { "movie": "mutual_appreciation", "reviews": [ "director andrew bujalski and his amazing cast create such a unique and addicting experience that these 110 minutes go by in no time at all and the only thing you want when it 's all over is more .", "this new film will likely earn even fewer fans but it 's an even more accomplished work .", "twice now -lsb- director -rsb- bujalski has created a compelling film on a shoestring budget , making me wonder what he could do with some real fiscal backing .", "the attraction here is the naturalistic , dead-on dialogue delivered by articulate , interesting characters who live realistically lower-class lives in underfurnished apartments financed by dead-end jobs .", "the movie is made of small moments ; they add up in your mind to something bigger later , the way life does outside of movies .", "MOV shows life as contingent , conditional , enigmatic , never finally realized , as , in short , everything that the harvey mansfields of the world abhor , and it shows why to accept this kind of life is an act of strength .", "MOV appropriates a seemingly improvised v\u00e9rit\u00e9 style that 's ideal for a cast of characters of no tremendous ambition .", "the kind of movie whose dialogue mostly hews to the rhythms of ` like , you know , whatever ' but then occasionally throws in a word such as ` puissance . ' and , like , it totally works .", "bujalski 's tantalizing cultish films are the best work i 've seen coming out of recent american indie films .", "there is no denying the director-screenwriter 's ability to capture a certain real-life quality on film .", "bujalski 's writing is so good , and every shot and edit seems exactly right .", "one of bujalski 's gifts is his ability to give every part , no matter how big or small , a sense of intelligence and life that extends beyond the frame and running time , and in this his work recalls the best of both mike leigh and richard linklater .", "if this is the sound of a new generation , then it may be the first generation cautious enough to embrace friendship as mightier than love .", "what douglas sirk did for big-budget hollywood melodrama in films like imitation of life , andrew bujarski is doing for the low-budget indie .", "any other romantic melodrama would have them bubbling over with passion , but these characters are painfully tentative and believably so , given that they 're both betraying someone they care about .", "-lsb- bujalski 's -rsb- free-floating comedies of manners -- of rudderless young people who ca n't articulate their feelings to themselves , let alone others -- turn out to be shapely , cunning , and indelibly strange .", "andrew bujalski is officially the real deal .", "a modest step up from its assured predecessor in both content and form .", "bujalski 's most avant-garde device is simply cutting from scene to scene , letting the temporal ellipses fall where they might .", "if john cassavetes had directed a script by eric rohmer , the result might have looked and sounded like MOV .", "you might think of MOV as an emo cover of godard 's masculine/feminine : a meditation on the crisscrossed subjectivities of boys and girls , their mutual comprehension or lack thereof .", "written and directed by andrew bujalski , this wonderful independent film wo n't save or change your life , but it may make your heart swell .", "the painful honesty and geeky cool draws you in , but the film 's sweet-natured humour seals the deal .", "bujalski perfectly skewers what you might call the `` sort-of '' generation : educated , mid-20s white americans hemmed in by their own non-committal uncertainty .", "bujalski is a shrewd comic observer , and astute enough a director to get the most of his engaging actors .", "indebted to the films of jim jarmusch and john cassavetes , bujalski invests this love triangle with real empathy for his bumbling , hyper-articulate characters , and a sly , edgy humour .", "the grainy , black-and-white look and the characters ' ethos dovetail perfectly .", "you 'll either be bored or fascinated by the cassavetes-like reality of it all .", "every scene in bujalski 's films is a little awkward , and just right .", "the focus is narrow , but its scrutiny is absolutely unerring .", "despite their lackadaisical impression , the pictures are quite tightly structured : each scene covers emotional and narrative distance . funny , forgiving , credible and deft , they offer much to appreciate .", "just because you shoot semi-improvised scenes in black-and-white does n't mean you 're the new jim jarmusch .", "just because it 's like real life does n't mean it 's inherently interesting .", "the dark side of a waldorf education .", "already an indie fan favourite thanks to the no-budget romp funny ha ha , director andrew bujalski here slays the sophomore slump with another scruffy but bang-on look at life in the slow lane .", "to capture the mundane rhythms of everyday existence without being tedious is a tough task , which makes the difficulties -lsb- director -rsb- bujalski has had getting his films distributed a puzzling and frustrating thing .", "it certainly does n't help that these characters just are n't worth a two-hour investment . unless you 're a fan of independent music , there 's little chance you 'll want to spend that much time with them .", "the shaggy honesty is bracing and the modest stories of young adults too tentative and nervous to do more than talk around an issue have a perceptive authenticity that does n't shake off easily .", "bujalski stubbornly refuses to stick to the accepted constructs of story structure or character development , content to sit back and calmly carve off a thick , juicy slice of a life that 's all the more sumptuous for its texture .", "alan , lawrence and ellie , intersecting here and there with a circle of acquaintances and strangers , insinuate themselves into the viewer 's heart like good friends .", "the film 's mood and style are pitched somewhere between '60s american indie and french new wave and , as you watch these people , they seem painfully , amusingly on-target .", "shooting in black-and-white 16 mm , bujalski nods to the pre-sundance personal cinema of the '50s and '60s . his little circle of pals , though , offers little to outsiders looking in .", "this second film ... is the more assured of the two ... gives one the feeling of discovery , of finding a diamond in the rough .", "bujalski is obviously a natural born filmmaker , capturing casually perfect moments that build unto an unexpectedly powerful whole .", "MOV is n't much more interesting than hanging out with four smart , nice , semi-confused people in their 20s . but that puts it far above the average movie .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- carries a rush that has rarely been felt in a movie since the early new wave .", "more than an effortlessly perceptive observer , bujalski has honed deceptively stylized visuals to serve deceptively stylized drama . isolated by their lonesome , compositions are so inert as to seem intentionally inexpressive , but altogether , a visual strat", "the latest from funny ha ha director andrew bujalski -- the cinema 's reigning poet laureate of postcollegiate anomie -- is another baggy , charmingly disheveled romp through awkward courtship rituals and uncomfortable silences .", "ladies and gentlemen , welcome to the new awkward .", "you ca n't exactly call it progress , but it is thrilling -lrb- in a low-key sort of way -rrb- to see real young adults looking and acting the way they do , light years away from the toothy flesh-bots that have supplanted them on screen .", "here 's hoping that somehow , this intelligent , uncommonly perceptive film finds the fairy-tale success it deserves ." ], "summary": "director bujalski continues to give cinematic voice to awkward , literate twentysomethings with noteworthy smarts and tenderness .", "id": "326394549" }, { "movie": "lethal_weapon_4", "reviews": [ "while the action interludes are impressively staged and edited , they strain for originality ...", "you know what makes this film eminently more watchable than the last in the series ? two words : jet li .", "a flaccid , unnecessary wrap-up to a once-glorious series ...", "channing gibson wrote the screenplay , and three other writers are credited with the story , which is surprising since there is n't much of a story .", "fourth time 's the charm for the lethal weapon series ; i say case closed and let 's go out on a high note .", "no , it 's not very exciting . and that 's the film 's big flaw .", "i heard audience members yelling out , ` rewind it -- i wan na see that again ! '", "the climactic streetfighting clash between mel and coldly charismatic martial arts star jet li is a bone-crunching classic .", "offers absolutely nothing new .", "a moderately entertaining entry in an overrated series that sorely lacks the hard-edged toughness director walter hill brought to his two superior 48 hrs films .", "i could only recommend this for serious fans of the series .", "you can relax and let the good guys dazzle with stunts and thrills ...", "twelve years later , the franchise shows unflagging energy , inventiveness , humor . 4 rocks .", "a combination of good-natured humor , slapstick , violence and even some maudlin sentimentality .", "i started checking my watch after forty minutes .", "gag sequences run on too long , some character scenes end too abruptly , and most of the action is completely redundant .", "not so much a continuation of the series as it is a present for the fans , just to keep them smiling and laughing along with the characters .", "in short , it 's a mess , albeit a weirdly entertaining mess ...", "MOV has all the technical skill of the first three movies in the series , but lacks the secret weapon , which was conviction .", "just another buddy movie about a pair of cops trying to get the bad guys so they can go home and relax with their loved ones .", "the bad guy plot is dull and tiresome ; the real charm of the film lies in its comedic elements and character relationships .", "... i think the script by television writer channing gibson -lrb- no relation -rrb- is the funniest of them all .", "the franchise itself is now , alas , getting too old for this , er , stuff .", "all icing , no cake .", "more often than not it , seems like a pale retread of its predecessors .", "the very definition of a meaningless , mindless summer sequel .", "a fine ending", "not only is the franchise growing hoary , by now it 's become downright laughable , leaving MOV feeling more like a bad fox sitcom than anything else .", "MOV throws in everything except the kitchen sink -- and that 's only if you do n't count the one that 's destroyed along with the rest of the murtaugh household .", "if not for jet li , MOV would actually be worse than lethal weapon 3 .", "hong kong action plus buddy cop formula .", "with ` MOV ' we find the silliest and most sentimental of the bunch .", "mindless , sadistic violence juxtaposed with rote sentimentality : this is how hollywood has finally solved the family-values conundrum , the question of how to entertain the blood - and sex-starved masses and be morally proactive at the same time .", "cynical and contemptuous of its audience , this lazy sequel oozes an insufferable air of self-satisfaction .", "you 're best advised to put your head in the sand and avoid all three sequels .", "it matters little that the film is rife with non sequiturs , nonsense and nihilistic violence , because its heroes are so darn buoyant and charming .", "fun stuff !", "it delivers the action you expect from this series .", "the ultimate example of a paycheck movie .", "the relationship/humour stuff in MOV is pretty much excruciating , mawkish and inane ... the second part of lethal weapon 044 , the action sequences , are much better .", "explosiva , hilarante , exagerada , llamativa , enredada , cambiante , disfrutable , divertida , muy divertida .", "although MOV is certainly the least of the series , it is a fun popcorn experience .", "there 's no plot worth describing , no repartee wittier than ` oh shut up , ' no acting moments that rise above the level of posing .", "overstuffed and formulaic ...", "the performances are exceptional , richard donner 's direction is still good , and the film is always entertaining , if unfocused .", "one could argue about which lethal weapon is the best , but no. 4 is certainly the funniest , warmest and most idiosyncratic .", "... audiences will laugh and cry and even chew on their fingers during the action sequences .", "even in this fourth go-round , the magic and charm is definitely still there .", "crass , vulgar , childish , ultraviolent , profane , stupid and appealing to the lowest common denominator of movie audiences . and yet ...", "... in their ` bigger and louder is better ' zeal , he -lsb- donner -rsb- and series co-creator shane black have all but forgotten how to tell a coherent story and create sympathetic characters .", "a highly charged action adventure/comedy drama .", "given the expectations that constrain it , MOV is probably the best motion picture that could possibly result from another teaming of martin riggs -lrb- mel gibson -rrb- and roger murtaugh -lrb- danny glover -rrb- .", "pretty hideous entry into the lethal weapon oeuvre ...", "the plot is really just an excuse for some wild stunts and flashy martial arts demonstrations , and MOV does n't compromise on either .", "the surreal opening scene , featuring an armor-clad flamethrower-brandishing villain , is a clear indicator that few things in this film should be taken seriously .", "... solidly entertaining ...", "there 's all kinds of quirks and tidbits that are worth smiling at , but nothing like the original movies , really .", "about four times as good as you 'd expect .", "pardon me for having groaned in anticipation of what , in the full perspective-warping heat of the summer movie season , turns out to be one of the nicer blow - 'em - ups around .", "let me just say , jet li rocks in the kind of american debut jackie chan or chow yun-fat would have killed for .", "no longer lethal , detective riggs is a crotchety middle-aged weapon now" ], "summary": "jet li 's arrival breathes fresh life into a tired franchise formula -- but not enough to put MOV on equal footing with its predecessors .", "id": "13559" }, { "movie": "grzeli_nateli_dgeebi", "reviews": [ "this adroit and understated coming-of-age film reminded me of the new wave of czech films in the 1960s , but with a distinctive poignancy that translates to wisdom .", "this haunting coming-of-age film is set in a country that itself is coming of age .", "despite the seeming inevitability of tragedy and despair , `` in bloom '' remains true to its title .", "among the best features to come recently out of eastern europe , featuring the tough-minded cinematography of romania 's oleg matu , who shot 4 months , 3 weeks , and 2 days .", "the film accurately reflects the girls ' numbness , but it is devoid of sustaining emotional impact . eka and natia 's full pain is oddly remote .", "the world painted by directors nana ekvtimishvili and simon grob is almost relentlessly grim , and even the giggles of two schoolgirls get drowned .", "while `` in bloom '' offers an authentic slice of life from a particular time and place , it never gets close enough to its characters , physically or emotionally , to really hit home .", "like a bomb triggered to go off , in bloom builds in the viewer 's gut , a drama coiled to attack .", "the excellent new drama in bloom , georgia 's oscar entry in the foreign-language category , has the heartbreak and hope of a country slipped inside a coming-of age-story of two 14-year-old girls .", "a fascinating snapshot of a country at war with itself -lrb- literally , eventually -rrb- as seen through the eyes of two teenage girls , whose lives are complicated enough as it is .", "the foreclosure of possibilities provided by the use of the long take assists in the indictment of chauvinism and patriarchal brutality that underpin , directly and indirectly , many moments in the film .", "the site of the action , the pummeled landscape of revolution and war , is n't incidental -- it 's what their generation has inherited , alongside disorder and dissent .", "girls become women as the nation of georgia awkwardly tries on its own independence in this sluggish period piece , set in post-soviet 1992 and alternating earnest emotions and a stunted plot .", "keenly observed , geographically specific portraits of adolescence are always welcome , but there 's definitely something to be said for charging the genre 's usual tender lyricism with an ever-present threat of life-altering violence .", "its two nonprofessional child actors ably reflect the terror of the times .", "an absorbing , intelligently assembled coming-of-ager that revolves around two pubescent gal-pals growing up in 1992 , just after independence was restored .", "first-time writer-director revisits her bittersweet tblisi childhood .", "the double meaning becomes clear early on . what takes longer to recognize is the title 's bitter irony .", "in bloom so triumphantly , albeit modestly , transcends its category that it 's really quite special .", "where the two directors , georgia 's nana ekvtimishvili and germany 's simon gross , excel most is in the performances they capture from the two leads .", "it matter-of-factly lays out the predicaments of its characters , balancing a strong , implicit feminist sensibility with a sympathetic sense of the power of tradition .", "a neorealist jewel about a country unlucky enough to enjoy being `` liberated '' from socialism .", "it 's a universal story that is also , by virtue of its very particular time and place , a singular experience .", "the directors stay close on their characters and let scenes play out in handheld long takes , so that the miseries inflicted never feel distant or clinical , but immediate .", "it 's appropriately weighty and filled with loss-of-innocence undertones and some fun cultural detours , yet the film 's odd flatness makes it hard to invest in .", "in bloom is a beautiful but cynical look at adolescence that argues coming-of-age brings new hardships along with it .", "a tender , heartfelt and understated coming-of-age story that becomes slightly uneven when introducing thriller elements .", "the viewer becomes keenly aware that she is only getting part of the story . but when the truth is so troubling , sometimes part of the story is more than enough .", "the two nonprofessional actresses shine .", "the centrifugal force is supplied by two stunning lead turns by babluani and bokeria .", "as civility and sympathy prove to be in ... short supply , the girls ' unwavering devotion to each other makes for absorbing drama .", "this terrifically engaging work raises important questions about universal experience and cultural context - in this case , the search for independent female identity in a society all but suffocated by the threat of violence .", "bold and brassy , georgia 's best foreign film entry may not be the cheeriest viewing but it 's still a compelling coming-of-age drama .", "unpredictable , never forced , and forever compelling .", "this tense and naturalistic tale of georgian youth in revolt offers a clever new twist on the tired teen movie .", "co-director nana ekvtimishvili 's script , nurtured on memories of her own childhood , becomes more focused , even sourly funny , as it evolves .", "as arthouse coming-of-age films go , this is brilliant -- smart and sensitive with a screw-you feminist streak .", "babluani and bokeria are completely believable as the two teenagers who have to grow up very quickly , and a long , uninterrupted scene in which the former dances , alone , at her friend 's wedding is a highlight of an extremely engaging movie .", "teen life in in bloom is tense , terse , gritty , and galvanising , but for its characters , heartbreakingly , there is no other alternative .", "the young actresses however are sublime in their roles .", "this is a story of adolescence and female friendship under pressure , explored with a quietly engrossing combination of familiarity and strangeness .", "there are moments that are powerful to ekvtimishvili that are more likely merely glancing to the audience , but the unadorned performances and air of unease combine for a film rich in social realism .", "portraying lives a universe away from the malls and frippery of their western counterparts , eka -lrb- lika babluani -rrb- and natia -lrb- mariam bokeria -rrb- cope with food shortages , bullying , bad families , a ramshackle education system -lsb- and -rsb- forced marriages .", "directors nana ekvtimshvili and simon gross adopt the long , contemplative takes of the new wave ; much of the film feels familiar , but the location shooting and period details are nicely drawn , a result of ekvtimshvili 's autobiographical script .", "the performances are naturalistic and severe , especially the highly volatile families , where shouting matches are almost traumatising to hear and to watch . but ... the film ends without having said enough to satisfy us", "the leads are played with freshness and mischief by lika babluani as eka and mariam bokeria as natia .", "this film out of georgia -lrb- the country , not the state -rrb- depicts a society not far removed from anarchy , or the middle ages , for that matter . there 's not much light or laughter in this grim tale of limited choices ." ], "summary": "a coming-of-age drama entwined with a political statement , in bloom underscores its well-worn themes with strong performances and palpable real-world tension .", "id": "771359084" }, { "movie": "cradle_will_rock", "reviews": [ "writer-director robbins serves up a hearty helping of history , politics and star power .", "when the final shot of a modern disney-controlled times square bludgeons the point home one last time , you realize that the cradle rocked , fell and landed with a big , dumb thud .", "a confused , unrefined agitprop movie .", "in his enthusiasm to both educate and entertain , robbins has grossly overreached his abilities to formulate a digestible narrative , piling on stories , characters , issues and political debate such that the film begins to feel incomprehensibly and oppressiv", "willfully superficial .", "proves to be a very apt title ; it sways haphazardly for a while , but it does eventually find its steady rhythm .", "a total celebration of theatre , history and politics .", "witty , entertaining and different .", "rock actually rocks out as one of the year 's most purely entertaining movies .", "if you 've got some time to kill and have seen everything else , put this on your list . ''", "this one 's entertaining and educational .", "cuts to the quick with its portrait of the shadow side of america where fear , greed , racial hatred , and power stifle those who believe in creativity and a fair share for all .", "you 'll be hard-pressed to find a film as bloated and self-important as tim robbins ' MOV , easily one of the worst movies in recent memory .", "trust writer-director tim robbins to know how to tickle an audience while making a political point .", "MOV is a far from perfect film , but it 's never less than fascinating .", "tim robbins ' new deal theatrical fable tries hard -- too hard .", "al final , se convierte en una colorida celebraci\u00f3n del arte como forma de expresi\u00f3n , como compromiso de trabajo y como medio de reivindicaci\u00f3n de justicia .", "art and politics collide in tim robbins ' ambitious but not entirely successful effort to recreate a unique moment in american culture circa 1937 .", "art and politics and ideals ; mature .", "bertolt brecht is probably doing somersaults of joy in his grave or wherever his remains happen to be .", "the movie 's radical stance is that artists should get to do their art without being destroyed by mean rich people , and are n't we just wonderful for agreeing with that ?", "robbins is so convinced of his movie 's political correctness that he could n't see its lack of dramatic cohesion or luster .", "none of the characters are compelling , and , if the movie had aired on television , i 'm sure i would have turned it off long before it was over .", "good entertainment with superior acting performances and a stellar cast .", "my companion got a ba in music , has a ph.d. , studied art & lit of the depression , loves 30 's music & still felt the movie was targeted to a niche more select than himself .", "a reach exceeding robbins ' grasp .", "remarkably complex , funny and thought-provoking .", "unquestionably repetitive and simplistic .", "robbins has made the classic mistake of thinking that art that 's persecuted for its political ideals must be good art .", "the direction of the film is so slow that i got carpal tunnel syndrome from raising my hand so often to check the time .", "the story , being true , is compelling and political enough for robbins to make his point . but the film becomes a bludgeon and the musical , finally brought off , is a farce .", "the unfortunate thing about the film , is that it is not terribly entertaining .", "you 'll marvel at it . . simply marvel . but you may not `` feel '' until the climax .", "a rollicking , joyous excursion .", "knows how to get audiences clapping along .", "a history lesson taught by a truly interesting professor .", "an interesting and vibrant look at american theater .", "as a mixture of drama , humor and history , a m\u00e9lange of seriousness and slapstick , real people and imagined characters , it definitely stands out .", "marvelous , provocative entertainment .", "stunningly cinematic and audacious on every level .", "redgrave , the cusak siblings and john turturro all give exciting performances ." ], "summary": "witty and provocative .", "id": "14150" }, { "movie": "monsieur_lazhar_2011", "reviews": [ "perceptive and humanistic , MOV unfolds in a world that recognizes and embraces complexity and duality , and is n't dishonest about the piecemeal way in which emotional centeredness is often achieved .", "sensitive , imbued with melancholy", "a sensitive and fairly subtle work , with the deceptive simplicity of a well-honed short story .", "a subtle , wise , beautifully rendered tale , with exemplary scenes in the classroom between an amateur cast of savvy children and , as MOV , a great actor , mohamed fellag .", "how do we get past tragedy ? together .", "what could be didactic is rendered life-size and indelible , even with the cards that falardeau has carefully stacked .", "it 's all a bit neat . but whatever the film 's limitations , it 's certainly engaging to watch .", "its purpose is to present us with a situation , explore the people involved and show us a man who is dealing with his own deep hurts .", "the film is rich in naturalistic , tossed-off details .", "a standard liberal tale about an inspirational teacher gradually deepens into a quiet study of how grief works its way through a community .", "like a dedicated teacher , this is a film that stays with you .", "an understated story of coping with emotional blows that offers a compelling portrait of a decent man .", "fellag , an algerian comedian and humor writer , anchors the film as the ineffable bachir , a man who 's so private that even the third-act revelation of his back story does n't fully explain his motivations to us -lrb- nor would we want it to -rrb- .", "an unexpected charmer .", "MOV manages to weave humor into its essentially serious story and reveal layers of its characters ' personalities step by step .", "canada 's foreign-language submission is a searing classroom drama about grief that should be an oscar front-runner .", "... not only a poignant saga of teacher-student relations , but a restrained and hopeful examination of the mourning process on children .", "the french-canadian film MOV has one of the most powerful openings i 've ever seen in a movie .", "do n't be put off by its hokey-sounding subject : this unexpectedly powerful , subtle little film is exquisitely made , enormously moving and politically-charged .", "the movie 's tonic lack of sentimentality binds the various griefs together into something moving .", "fellag has created one of the great movie teachers ... but the film is practically stolen by young sophie n\u00e9lisse , an actress of such maturity she recalls ` mad men 's ' kiernan shipka", "what makes the film enthralling is the wisdom and grace with which it addresses the twin subjects of grief and healing , and the quiet beauty of mohamed fellag 's performance in the title role .", "`` MOV '' sustains an exquisite balance between grown-up and child 's - eye views of education , teacher-student relations and peer-group interactions .", "... a thoughtful film that delves into the grief and horror of the tragic event in a montreal public grade school .", "fellag , a comedian and himself an exile from algeria , makes lazhar both a sensitive and an amusing figure . and the kids are just terrific , especially emilien neron as a boy who carries the guilt of the whole school on his shoulders .", "the film , alas , seems determined to be as careful , as gentle , as lazhar himself .", "this is a quiet movie centered on small moments that collectively form something deep and profound .", "this film deals almost casually with a range of issues and themes , handling with a light and even affectionate touch weighty subjects like grief , guilt , community and love .", "falarde , in adapting a play , has a sweet , humanistic approach reminiscent of bill forsyth 's '80s dramedies that lets `` lazhar 's '' protagonist and his class shine .", "though it 's a bit too early to say that it 's an unforgettable movie , one suspects it is . it 's also about so many things it nearly defies explanation .", "n\u00e9lisse , with her tough , courtney love puss , and n\u00e9ron 's portrayal of a boy 's well-defended torment are extraordinary , as is the film 's realization of the small , temporary world that surrounds them .", "MOV builds hope in the face of tragedy and sheds new light on the question of what is truth and how we find it .", "fellag does for the film what his lazhar does for the pupils : he 's soothing and entrancingly enigmatic enough to keep us fixed to our seats .", "marvelous story of a crackerjack sub teacher with problems greater than those of his class .", "-lsb- an -rsb- intelligent but generally cheery comedy .", "should appeal widely to arthouse audiences and lovers of smart , international cinema .", "falardeau offers a film as believably wrenching , and finally cathartic , as the grieving process itself .", "the film leaves you hopeful , and even exhilarated , that even the most painful wounds can sometimes heal .", "quietly intelligent and respectable , much like its protag .", "algerian fellag plays the title role with an obvious love for young minds finding their place in the world .", "MOV is so discreet that it never quite comes to life .", "this surprising , humanist canadian film about an algerian immigrant seeking solace for his young students and himself is a winner .", "falardeau 's adaptation of fellow qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois evelyne de la cheneli\u010dre 's play honours the power of the written word -lrb- a motif reinforced throughout the film -rrb- , and expands on its stage origins via remarkably-assured cinematic touches .", "in MOV , education can prevail over its literal restrictions . teachers may make mistakes , but the good ones emphasize independence and intelligence . and interpretation . they serve inquisitiveness , not inquisition .", "under falardeau 's inconspicuous lens , life plays out with rare authenticity ; not just its tragedies , but its triumphs , its mishaps and its incidental interludes", "the fact that both teacher and students are in need of protection adds greatly to the poignancy and falardeau delivers an emotionally rich film filled with nuance , grace and subtlety", "beautifully performed by all the actors , not least the youngsters", "MOV is a film that focuses on humanity when at its most vulnerable , with the film itself a warm embrace that will evoke tears of joy .", "very few films offer a moral grandeur , as well as a political foundation ; very few films have such poised and brilliant performances from unknown actors .", "lazhar is something of a puzzle , and much of the pleasure of philippe falardeau 's film lies in the gradual unfolding of his reserved yet impulsive personality .", "phillipe falardeau , who adapted the play into a screenplay , ca n't entirely paper over a few niggling loose ends , but overall this disturbing film is very effective indeed .", "MOV never pretends to be anything but a grown-up fable , and it 's a captivating one .", "MOV is a film to cherish .", "thankfully , the impressive cast of child actors actually behave like children , not like miniature adults .", "philippe falardeau 's direction is a model of the notion that less is more , and this film is a treat well worth savoring .", "while it may not stand out from similar movies , MOV is a sweet film with a simple story and remains engaging thanks in large part to mohamed fellag 's charming performance .", "falardeau had the good fortune to work with a powerfully effective ensemble cast , and martin l\u00e9on 's minimalist ambient score helps set the mood for a satisfying story about the healing effect brief encounters can have on emotional scars .", "guaranteed to have you reaching for the kleenex .", "the film understands the complex bond between teachers and students , and how the classroom is a sacred space they share for a short time before moving on .", "while `` MOV '' is a decent film , i wish it would have done more to stand out from other similar films .", "by the time you realise how invested you are in this tale it is too late : MOV has you . i consider myself a cinematic chuck norris , but this film had me blubbering like a baby .", "this is cinema at its most impactful .", "a caring and compassionate man helps some grief shaken children deal with the suicide of their teacher .", "MOV is a tender and touching drama that captures the pulse of both primary school politics and canadian immigration .", "the film is a small , quiet drama that sneaks up on you and delivers an impressive emotional wallop .", "an exquisite , humanistic and subtly topical work of cinema art that manages to keep the intimate , revelatory sensibility of a one-man play intact while fleshing out the characters and creating a very realistic and richly detailed school community .", "ineffably sad-yet there 's almost no loitering . the film is crisp , evenly paced , its colors bright , as sharp as the winter cold .", "there 's great potential for the kind of issues that are taken on , but nothing is resolved , and the biggest questions , of guilt and shame , the gulf of understanding between the first world and the third , remain unengaged .", "the acting is stellar throughout the film , from the one-named algerian actor fellag 's subtle and warm portrayal of the title character , to the cast of precocious children who make up his classroom .", "... a passable yet mostly underwhelming little canadian drama .", "it 's a tapestry of fraught relationships , weaving issues of parental authority , social taboos and national boundaries . empathy comes through understanding , but it 's not easily achieved . it never is .", "canada 's oscar entry is a sensitively acted , precisely directed drama about children forced to deal with issues of loss and death .", "this is a good movie about teaching , but more importantly , a good movie about the loss of a loved one and how to cope with death .", "with a few folds , this story could have made a script for john barrymore , like topaze , or for chaplin .", "although it raises timeless questions about life and loss , and timely ones about mentorship and multiculturalism , `` MOV '' would rather teach than preach .", "... the perfect school drama for people who hate the hollywood version of the genre , but are open to simple and moving stories about people doing the best they can in a world that does n't always seem to encourage that approach .", "falardeau dances delicately along the razor 's edge of the familiar and the conventional . but he does so with tact and taste and just the right blend of tension and relief .", "this moving film features exquisite performances by fellag and a stunning ensemble of child actors . the movie also gets high marks in cinematography , sound , original musical score and editing .", "as the teacher , fellag suggests robert downey jr. channeling a quietly reflective robert de niro .", "a gentle film can still be searing in its effect on an audience , something that `` MOV '' proves emphatically .", "a humanistic story about how tragedy has different effects on people .", "a naturalistic ensemble drama about the possibilities - and the limitations - of the teacher-pupil relationship ... probably too low-key for mainstream multiplex tastes , MOV is a temperate , generous and deeply affecting experience .", "takes the fairly dreadful ` teacher who makes a difference ' sub-genre and puts an interesting new spin on it that gives it the allure of something fresh .", "tender and sincere , frequently striking a fine balance between the dictates of the `` inspirational teacher '' genre and a more mundane kind of realism that tamps down easy sentimentality and strives for something more organic and genuine", "impressively directed and superbly written , this is an emotionally engaging , deservedly oscar-nominated drama with a terrific central performance from mohamed sa\u010fd fellag .", "some teachers will learn from it . all teachers will find it a reaffirmation of their vocation .", "everything about the film sets exactly the right tone , from the unforced and winning performances by the main children to the wintry cinematography to fellag 's quietly rueful performance .", "there 's a lighthearted inspiration infused throughout MOV that makes it also touching , but never maudlin .", "one of the most touching films of the year . a brilliant tragedy that transcends boundaries of age , country , race , religion and gender .", "the rare sort of movie that chooses not to focus on the dramatic , pivotal moments that happen in life , but what comes after .", "MOV remains tight-lipped about his private life , but the audience comes to learn about the great human loss and danger of deportation that clouds his life .", "fans of nicolas philibert 's immaculate chronicle of the learning curve , \u0119tre et avoir , are sure to appreciate the warm lessons of this award-winning canadian film .", "works awfully well , managing to be sweet and distinctly easy without feeling the need to talk down to the viewer at the same time .", "eloquent drama about contemporary issues like immigration , education , integration and the propriety of physical contact with students .", "only the most obstreperous delinquent could fail to be charmed by MOV , in which an algerian refugee plays ramshackle mary poppins to the kids at a montreal primary .", "the film invites comparison with laurent cantet 's 2008 film the class , which makes it look tame by comparison , but also dead poets society , which makes it look tough .", "MOV becomes a deeply affecting film not for pathos but for the way sadness is conveyed so subtly . it 's a small triumph of restrained compassion , coaxing throat lumps rather than jerking tears .", "canadian filmmaker philippe falardeau 's warm , tidy character study -lsb- is -rsb- gratifying .", "despite its independent credentials , it feels like a softened remake of a rawer , more compelling story .", "a timely examination of violence in our society through the eyes of those who ca n't control it .", "broaching tough material in a tactful , sensitive manner , MOV is a potent , stirring gem of canadian cinema .", "you could almost describe ` MOV ' as a morality tale , but it 's more thought-provoking than debate-provoking .", "notions of class , cultural , ideological and emotional violence - or perhaps a little of each - take on vastly difference meanings in this sensitively woven french canadian journey through algerian exile , student angst and outsider alienation", "an oscar nominee at this year 's academy awards and for good reason , falardeau 's film is moving , smart and sensitive . terrific stuff , in short .", "it 's a subtle meditation on catharsis , and a gentle indictment of over-regulated education ...", "the result is a shrewd look at classroom etiquette and an achingly sad study of grief-stricken solitude , built on ace performances by fellag and the kids ...", "MOV does the best job of summing up the appeal of his own movie : `` a classroom is a place of friendship , of work and of courtesy ... a place of life . ''", "a sad , reflective study of the possibilities , and the impossibilities , inherent in the teacher-student relationship .", "remarkably human , touching , brilliant film that never succumbs to melodrama , finding something truthful in the complex relationship between adults and children forced to grow up too soon .", "a quietly affecting character study ... remarkable for its subtlety , charm , poignancy , and generosity of spirit .", "`` MOV '' is a complex , multilayered tale that reveals new meanings as it introduces each new character .", "`` MOV '' is good . really good ." ], "summary": "monsieur lahzar is a tender and thoughtful portrait of a man with hidden grief and also a compelling exploration of the teacher-student dynamic .", "id": "771253439" }, { "movie": "1155467-glory_road", "reviews": [ "heart and verve in surfeit makes the film rise above its flaws often enough to win you over .", "when a movie this corny still inspires , ` feel good ' feels just right . stay through the credits , when the ` real ' coach and players talk , and you 'll see the real glory in this tale .", "as coach haskins would say , it wins because it sticks to the fundamentals .", "really , the material is ripe for hoop dreams documentary treatment , but instead we get hoop hyperbole from producer jerry bruckheimer .", "the basketball drama MOV is about as smoothly predictable as a well-aimed ball arching from a hand toward a net , but is , still , inspiring .", "MOV abandons the clinical and compelling storytelling of the great recent disney hockey movie miracle , and aims instead for the contrived sentimentality of the slightly less great remember the titans .", "a nice , diverting little picture that takes no risks -- a good movie that could have been a great one .", "somehow , bruckheimer keeps the sentimentality to a minimum and keeps his story moving at a very nice pace : four fast quarters and a halftime .", "in the end , a sports movie is only as good as the adrenalin rush it provides in the climactic match , and there , finally , MOV hits on all cylinders with nonstop action and a powerful emotional impact .", "MOV is a pure hollywood fantasy . as movie fiction , however , i guess it is entertaining enough .", "lacking the gritty reality of the 1994 documentary hoop dreams , this jerry bruckheimer film , directed by newcomer james gartner , converts a year in the life of a basketball team into a very conventional triumph of the underdogs .", "ok , so you really do n't need me to tell you about MOV if you 've ever seen a sports movie before . just get out your sports-movie-clich\u00e9 checklist and a pencil .", "MOV 's strength is the way in which it blends social awareness into the sports genre .", "the fact that it 's loosely based on a historical event does n't change anything . formula is formula .", "only a few quibblers are going to point out that MOV takes a fantastic real story and muddles it with sloppy storytelling that fails to trust the source material", "MOV becomes that rare sports movie that realizes that buzzer-beating shots are n't the only dramatic moments in a game .", "... deals with the issue of race about as realistically as can be expected from a disney movie .", "MOV , the true-ish story of the first all-black ncaa championship basketball team , throws down a 360 slam dunk in the face of racism .", "an appealing disney sports movie that underplays its potential , MOV is at least a more satisfying basketball saga than last year 's coach carter .", "even knowing the outcome , sports ' fans will cheer the lightning-fast , dynamically edited on-court action that 's only slowed by a few lumbering , heavy handed scenes .", "similarities between MOV and remember the titans -lrb- 2000 -rrb- are purely intentional .", "a sweaty package of sports movie cliches .", "do n't demean this picture . this is n't just one of the worst sports movies of all time ; it can hold its own with the worst of any genre . if you 're not a basketball fan , this film is boring , manipulative , and banal . if you are a basketball fan , it 's worse .", "an absorbing film .", "MOV really is n't a bad show - it 's just an obvious one - and one wishes material of this historical import had received a more refined rendering .", "what is difficult to ascertain about MOV is where fact ends and fiction begins .", "just a retread of an age old formula . the film had the potential to do something a little different with it , but did n't take the opportunity .", "disney runs history through the same hollywood melodramatic redo that made miracle , the olympic hockey saga , such a crowd pleaser in 2004 and the rookie a winning baseball film in 2002 .", "remember the titans ? of course you do . and here 's another great sports movie from disney .", "it was only a game , but for these seven young men , it was their way to gain respect from a predominantly white society .", "the movie tries to push every button and please everyone involved , and its expressway of good intentions is little more than just a patchy re-paving job", "where it succeeds is as the story of a chapter in history , the story of how one coach at one school arrived at an obvious conclusion and acted on it , and helped open college sports in the south to generations of african americans .", "that core audience should be generally pleased with MOV , a college basketball story as predictable as north carolina 's old four-corner offense .", "the big game at the end of the film has the momentum and rhythm of a really exciting basketball game . it 's just that the 90 minutes that come before that scene are n't so great .", "at 106 minutes , the slicing off of a slew of choppily interspersed subplots could have made MOV a leaner , meaner , message-delivery machine .", "MOV plays fast and loose with some of the facts leading up to that event . but that certainly gives it dramatic punch .", "about as derivative and forgettable as this genre comes .", "MOV , a stand-up-and-cheer basketball tale taken from real life , is a drama that , almost inevitably , falls short of its subject . but what a subject !", "a few sizes too small for the story it wants to tell ... a picture that leaves no cliche unturned in its journey to a foreordained conclusion .", "disney 's fact-based , sports-movie formula has become so familiar by now that watching another one of these films nearly serves as a sedative - if not outright anesthesia .", "` MOV ' does n't achieve cinematic glory because it fails to add personality or connect with anything below the surface .", "if you 've seen all of the holiday releases , and are looking for something which wo n't make you run out of the theater screaming , this is a good choice .", "it 's a terrific story of a team of davids with hoop dreams running a gantlet of patrician goliaths against a backdrop of momentous social change .", "paved with self-important statements from the opening whistle ... i 'm surprised rosa parks did n't show up for the bus ride when the miners make the ncaa tourney to play the all-white kentucky wildcats", "it 's a terrific story with great performances and players you care about . they shoot , they score , nothing but net in my book .", "grappling with cliches , it 's a sappy slam-dunk , formulating yet another slick underdog sports story .", "it has a vague appeal and a comfortably detached way of storytelling .", "disney probably issues an instruction manual to directors assigned one of its inspirational sports movies .", "it 's a new year , so let 's run through those sports movie clich\u00e9s one more time .", "despite a noble effort this film comes off as ` hoosiers ' lite", "the team 's accomplishments are here diluted into fodder for another of the producer 's feel-good man-weepies .", "first-time director james gartner 's movie is less a study of race than it is a fast break of underdog clich\u00e9s and ` inspirational ' speeches .", "a no frills , by the numbers , formula sports film that will entertain , educate , inspire . credits include interviews w / members of the original team , haskins and pat riley .", "MOV is that annual old dependable , always willing to bring inspiration and good cheer to the cold month of january .", "a slick package with the wrinkles of real life smoothed clean out of it .", "remember the titans ? forget about them ! here 's a new jerry bruckheimer production that places its secular faith in an almighty audience appetite for underdogs , sports , and dramas in which wrongs are righted by good-looking americans .", "the acting is strong , the games are exciting , and despite the serious message about racial equality , it 's actually pretty funny in spots .", "a successful mix of politics , social commentary and sports .", "rages with bleacher-stomping , fist-pumping thrills you 'd expect from an underdog sports movie .", "if the prospect of another reality-based disney sports drama makes you want to pull your fingernails out with pliers , you 'll be pleasantly surprised by this bio of the 1966 texas western miners .", "a great , true story turned into a very mediocre movie ... it is in the editing room where it was completely destroyed .", "a disingenuous , disrespectful reduction of a difficult , often-painful plight into a rousing fairy tale .", "`` MOV '' is structured as smoothly as a well-executed game plan .", "... the real drama of the first all-black starting five to win the ncaa college basketball championship deserves more complexity and character development .", "a great documentary could emerge from this story -- a film that deserves it .", "well-made , well-acted and even well-directed .", "this would be a pretty run-of-the-mill sports movie except for one thing , its historically-significant subject matter .", "it 's a safe and succinct tribute to a powerful true story , a breezy historical drama that aims for the gut more than the heart . and it succeeds in only that dimension , as an inescapably escapist one-course meal . but what history it has to work with .", "MOV is another in a long line of feel-good sports movies about people who beat the odds through hard work and perseverance . we 've seen it before , and we 'll see it again . but that 's ok . these films keep coming back for a reason .", "when dealing with the blatant racism depicted here , a film should be held to a higher standard", "i highly recommend it .", "MOV is a rousing and worthy tribute to one of the most important college basketball teams and one of the most important championship games of all time .", "succeeds at bringing an important part of sports -- and american -- history into the minds of today 's audiences .", "just substitute a basketball for the titans ' pigskin and the predictable , mildly satisfying formula works just fine .", "if you have not already seen remember the titans or miracle or the rookie or hoosiers or coach carter or rudy or the bad news bears or the mighty ducks then perhaps you will love MOV .", "there are far too many `` dramatic music '' cues - you know , the aaron copland-influenced ones that creep in just as the actor is about to say something truly important .", "... reduces a compelling , complex sports story to a fairy tale .", "for all its faults , the film brings back a forgotten moment in racial equality more vividly than a documentary on espn classic .", "like a moderately exciting amusement ride ; occasionally fun , but after years of riding this same plot , the same old twists and turns get awfully tiring .", "until inspirational sports films stop making us feel good , expect several more . this is a fun ride that will make you smile .", "another true -lrb- ish -rrb- story of a vietnam-era sub-mason-dixon line sports team played by and for crackers , and the topsy-turvy struggle they must all undergo when the blacks come and make them all feel intermittently uncomfortable and angry .", "this film fails not because it is conventional , but because it is lazy and dumb -- unworthy of its subject matter .", "familiar , but fun .", "all you need to know : it 's a sports movie about race produced by jerry bruckheimer", "the problem is not that they made the wrong movie , but that the movie they decided to make was n't very good .", "gartner makes a hash of the game scenes and must resort to voiceover sportscasters to explain what 's happening .", "a darn good story , told with enough conviction and impact to connect with people who do n't know the difference between a three-pointer and a field goal .", "the familiar territory covered here may leave you wishing for something that digs deeper into the soul of a sportsman 's passion .", "the true story is fascinating , groundbreaking and inspirational . it 's a shame the cinematic treatment is predictable , conventional and trite .", "it 's remember the titans on the basketball court . count it right up there with the best of disney 's fine sports flicks .", "history wins in by-the-numbers sports flick ...", "... it 's ultimately rather difficult not to get caught up in this inspirational true-life tale .", "determinado a ressaltar a import\u05d2ncia da hist\u05e3ria que est\u05d1 contando , o filme mergulha em erros factuais , manique\u05ddsmos e clich\u05das , transformando algo significativo em puro \u05d1gua-com-a\u05d7\u05eacar .", "an underdog sports movie by the numbers .", "like hoosiers , this jerry bruckheimer film is a david and goliath sports saga that holds just as much suspense and interest no matter how many times you watch it .", "it 's one helluva story , and if this moving , and even thrilling little movie finally brings haskins and a truly great american sports story to light , then three cheers and hooray .", "playing out like remember the titans for basketball fans , MOV is yet another would-be inspirational true story that follows sports-movie conventions .", "first-time director james gartner observes all the rituals -- the coach busting chops , the team sneaking out to party -- but the players are indifferently characterized and the civil rights story has a fake black history month feel .", "like most sports films MOV works best when it is actually showcasing its sport ... off the court , however , it 's alternately flat and didactic . director gartner goes to great pains to drill the films message in , early and often .", "MOV does n't have any of the individual moments that humanized hoosiers , the rookie , and miracle . it 's a feel-good sports movie by the numbers .", "trying to make a sports movie for the entire family is understandable , but it makes a complicated story like MOV feel more like disney than reality .", "this is the type of story that 's better suited to the documentary format .", "why must hollywood lace every african-american drama with elements of comedy , as if black people find everything comical ?", "it is n't meant to be a movie that makes us think , or that makes us uneasy in any way . it 's meant to make us feel good .", "when coach don haskins sent out five african-american starters to face off against an all-white wildcat team , barriers were broken , but MOV just hits the wall .", "the performers serve the story , acting with humility and respect , never going for the glamour or the drama .", "a slick enterprise buoyed by a motown-flavored '60s soundtrack and an appealing ensemble cast .", "a classic crowd pleasing movie full of predictability , but it comes with some good acting , a little humor and a touching story as well .", "there is simply nothing resembling real life in the film , just basic cable motivations and infantile storytelling that somehow lucked itself into a big screen release pattern and budget .", "a fine , family-friendly pic about a white coach who demands perfection from his mostly black basketball team .", "a tepid , artificial , and clich\u00e9-ridden carbon copy of coach carter , friday night lights , and remember the titans .", "a scrappy and fast-paced sports flick set in 1966 that also deals with heart and racism .", "sometimes it takes a sports movie to remind us how far we 've come as a country -- and to marvel at how we got here at all , in our awkward combination of leaps and baby steps .", "by knocking the edges off MOV , bruckheimer has turned a raw , compelling story into bland pudding .", "exacerbates difficult issues by blowing them into underdog sports cliches and , more damning , race caricatures and slapstick , sitcom misunderstandings and pat rapprochements .", "this jerry bruckheimer production , directed by commercial director james gartner in a solid feature debut , should please male fans as well as those who do n't mind a dose of social commentary with their sports heroics .", "debut director james gartner struggles with solidifying the film 's socially explosive period aspects against the exacting demands of recreating a season 's worth of hair raising basketball games surging toward the 1966 ncaa tournament .", "tells the story in the most compelling way possible . and since it takes place before queen , at least here 's one sports movie where we do n't have to hear ` we are the champions ' again .", "we 've all been down this MOV before . but just because we 've already traveled it does n't mean it 's not worth a return trip .", "all involved with the project play the game with enthusiasm and purpose , which is all we really require from a committed team and an affirmative movie like this one .", "MOV does n't live up to its title , but it plays a good game .", "MOV is a ca n't - lose slam dunk of a movie , the sort of film that charges right over its minor flaws thanks to good intentions , fine execution and a breathless air of excitement .", "it 's a well-trod path , this ` via de basketball , ' but MOV makes it worth the trip .", "if the facts of the story are essentially true , their presentation is as formulaic as ever .", "MOV 's greatest strength is that it 's just a great story , acted well .", "to the credit of everyone involved with disney 's MOV , all things familiar still become exhilarating and inspirational .", "MOV could potentially be dismissed as trivial but this is a big-hearted piece of entertainment that overcomes its lightweight sanctimonious vibes .", "yet another in a string of inspiring true stories told with as little inspiration as possible .", "viewed as a re-creation of a watershed moment , MOV is sturdy , efficient , perhaps even worthy . taken as cinema , however , it falls far short of inspiring .", "where was stephen a. smith when you needed him ?", "while bruckheimer and co. stretch the gospel theme too far and leave no emotional waypoint unmarked , MOV largely works .", "this season 's obligatory inspirational coach-centered sports movie finds its true story at a point where sports history intersects with the struggle for racial equality .", "the film is engaging , even if it is somewhat lackluster", "however inspiring the actual events were , the movie feels like an opportunity lost . a powerful , significant true story like this deserves more than the ordinary .", "the players and coaches of texas western changed the sport of basketball forever ; MOV accomplishes nothing .", "interviews with the real-life haskins and others during the closing credits are more interesting than the movie , and suggest the story of this incredible team will be told best in a future documentary .", "the air of deja vu is thick as molasses in MOV , a lively but overly slick and grindingly predictable sports drama that tells the story of the ncaa-winning , cinderella season of the 1966 texas western university miners .", "the fact that this one 's a little muddled , a little messy , often works in its favor .", "MOV is a rah-rah piece of inspirationalism from disney and producer jerry bruckheimer , who obviously wants to go one better on his remember the titans .", "first-time director james gartner fluidly captures the emotional crests and nadirs of such pivotal match-ups .", "MOV ranks near the top of recent ` inspirational ' sports movies , leaping over such efforts as the unsurprising dreamer , and the fine but overly directed the greatest game ever played .", "a well-meaning movie that slides downhill like a runaway ball of cheese .", "MOV delivers both uplifting drama and exciting sports action in a package that 's smarter than it has to be .", "you know the drill . enthusiastic , hard-driving coach arrives at a backwater school and inspires his underdog team to athletic and moral victories .", "in a day and age that has violent slasher flicks gobbling up movie-goers ' box-office bucks , it 's refreshing to see a film that stresses cooperation , effort and racial equality over shock value .", "the story is convincingly told , and first-time director james gartner builds it into a crowd-pleaser that belongs in a league with ` remember the titans ' and ` coach carter . '", "is it time already for another based-on-a-true-story feel-good disney sports drama ? did n't that golf movie , the greatest game ever played , just come out ?" ], "summary": "as formulaic as sports movies get , this underdog story still triumphs on the strength of its inspiring story .", "id": "2864420" }, { "movie": "dodgeball_a_true_underdog_story", "reviews": [ "direct hit !", "a sophomoric , broad-strokes farce , one with likeable characters and an abundance of heart , not to mentions wrenches to the head and balls to the groin .", "zoolander fans will love every minute of this movie . the rest of us can wait until it comes out on video .", "... silly , illogical and downright brainless fluff that , for one reason or another , manages to be both funny and charismatic all the way through .", "a non-stop gagfest around a subject that has no right to be funny .", "dodgeball ducks most filmmaking no-nos and manages to serve up a light-hearted treat .", "entertaining and funny , despite being loaded with clich\u00e9s and groin humor .", "dodgeball , i am shocked to say , rewards you for paying attention . it also rewards you for having totally juvenile sensibility , so it 's really win win .", "a comedy with a crazy bounce , but only if you 're willing to dodge the dumb , dodgy jokes .", "a pretty hilarious movie thanks to stiller 's willingness to let himself look like a complete idiot just for laughs", "reeks of desperation from the start , resorting way too often to the funniest home videos-style spectacle of people getting hit in the crotch with red rubber balls .", "-lsb- stiller -rsb- creates a perfect storm of body , facial and vocal expression for every line of dialogue , and you have to admire his co-players for merely maintaining their balance against the bluster .", "if you hold a perverse soft spot in your heart for straight-to-video underdog junk like ski school , you 're going to love dodgeball .", "while it does n't have enough heart to put it in league with the all-time great sports comedies , the film certainly ranks among the more quotable ones .", "an extremely slight but funny film , a bastard cousin of revenge of the nerds that devotes itself gleefully to every low and cheap laugh it can muster -lrb- as well as some very sly ones -rrb- .", "this lame sports comedy is deflated by clich\u00e9s , from a save-the-farm plot to sadism disguised as slapstick .", "an enjoyable up-with-misfits story that will please fans of underdog comedies like stripes and animal house .", "thurber zings the laughs so fast and relentlessly , you ca n't dodge them all , so you 'll likely end up laughing in spite of your better judgment .", "occasionally , dodgeball is laugh-out-loud funny , which goes a long way toward redeeming the rest .", "aims low -- and happily hits its target .", "in the end , dodgeball belongs completely to stiller ; as white , he brings a comedic smarminess that usually is attributed to actor jim carrey .", "rambunctious when it finally gets to las vegas , where the championships are held and broadcast on not-real-yet espn 8 -- ` the ocho . '", "in no way a great movie , or even a particularly good one ... -lsb- but enough laughs -rsb- to earn it a place on the cult-fave shelf next to office space and old school .", "despite his inexperience , thurber apparently knows just how to make the perfect stupid summer movie .", "rude , crude and not quite as funny as it would like to be .", "more often than not , dodgeball slings its visual and verbal humor with rapid-fire , spot-on aim without fouling .", "there really is n't enough there to cover for the clich\u00e9s , making dodgeball intermittently funny at best , an overlong comedy sketch at worst .", "globo is owned by ben stiller , overacting to the point of apoplexy as white goodman ; his manic performance is consistently funny .", "if you only see one movie about dodgeball this summer - make sure it 's this one ! they take this silly game to a whole new level of silly - and it works .", "half of dodgeball is very funny . the other half has ben stiller in it .", "crude , daft and hilarious , dodgeball is the best mainstream american comedy in years .", "to my surprise , this was a moderately entertaining hour and a half .", "for every good punchline , there are fifteen that sound like they were scraped off the walls of mens ' room stalls .", "... it 's got enough laughs in its ninety-odd minutes to justify the time spent on it , which is more than can be said for most recent comedies out of hollywood .", "provavelmente j\u0431 ter\u0431 sido esquecido daqui a um ano - o que n\u0433o quer dizer que n\u0433o funcione como um passatempo divertido e descompromissado enquanto dura a proje\u0437\u0433o .", "... silly fun ...", "anyone expecting to find something deep and meaningful in dodgeball : a true underdog story should look somewhere else .", "i ca n't remember the last time i laughed so hard at seeing a young man get beaned in the head with a wrench .", "it never gets old watching someone take a dodgeball to the noggin .", "i had a good time with this goofy mess of a movie , but i saw it for free .", "that there even exists a movie called dodgeball : a true underdog story , and that it has sportscasters named cotton mcknight and pepper brooks , makes me happy inside .", "the screenplay 's wit is genuinely impressive .", "no matter what you read elsewhere , do n't dodge this flick ; it 's by far the funniest movie thus far of 2004 .", "this is no zoolander , folks .", "thurber seems oblivious to the hypocrisy of mocking our image-conscious society while simultaneously making fun of the film 's oddball loser characters .", "stiller 's back in top form as a flamboyant male bimbo .", "about half of it works . and when it does , it goes a long way .", "feels far too smug about its underachievement to be a persuasive nerd movie : this is more a film by hollywood frat boys slumming for some quick summer money .", "in the tradition of the greatest sports comedies of all time , dodgeball is a blast and an instant classic .", "there 's nothing new to the old game except snazzy outfits , slick accoutrements and better banter , but like his misfit heroes , thurber aims low and hits his mark .", "modestly amusing teen summer comedy .", "... offers the sort of entertainment that has been found in junior-high gym classes for ages : watching people get beaned in the head .", "a crude comedy that aims low and hits its mark .", "the movie does n't just pussyfoot around conventionality -- it hits it square in the stomach and then leaps around shamelessly in a smug victory dance .", "just when it seemed like ben stiller needed to go away for a while , he hams it up once again with even better results than his last few attempts .", "unlike the herky-jerky ` stepford wives , ' which ca n't decide if it 's a big-screen ` will & grace ' episode or a sci-fi fable , ` dodgeball ' is raucous fun from start to finish ...", "more a concept than a movie , and the concept just is n't as clever as the filmmakers think .", "i dare anyone not to laugh when the balls start boinking off bodies in this smart ` dumb comedy , ' which hits its targets more often than not .", "ben stiller is too over-the-top , but the pic has solid one-liners .", "thurber makes you forget convention and enjoy a genuine yukfest , full of down-and-dirty -lrb- but funny -rrb- gags and one-liners , and memorable scenes .", "the jokes fly as wildly as the titular sports gear , landing solidly more often than you 'd expect thanks to a fast-paced script and a cast of good-natured misfits led by vince vaughn and ben stiller .", "in the end it just felt like we were being told one long joke but were never given the punchline .", "trash comedies such as this are usually more painful than funny , but writer-director rawson marshall thurber pulls enough hilarious gags and cameos out of his gym bag to qualify his first feature as the summer\u0432 -lrb- tm -rrb- s first guilty pleasure .", "stiller is in fine form and just watching his exaggerated , paranoid egocentric white is amusing in itself .", "this masterpiece of modern cinema depends upon a single truism : a guy getting hit in the nuts a hundred times in a row is funny a hundred times .", "stiller gives one of his broadest and best performances to date , and the jokes ping around the screen as fast as the balls on the court .", "white goodman is one of stiller 's craziest creations , a hilariously dim-witted and mean-spirited jock that does n't realize how pathetic he really is .", "the film wants only to pit its common-man heroes against a bunch of colorful , laughable adversaries , and achieves this goal admirably .", "can somebody please stop ben stiller ?", "the biggest laughs come from a cameo , which is never a good sign .", "it 's nearly impossible to watch vaughn in dodgeball and not be reminded of the early days of bill murray .", "it almost feels like a dare : laugh at this , even though we all know this is totally dumb .", "from the same generic mind-set that could just as easily have given us major league : concession stand comes what seems like the 11th ben stiller comedy this year .", "if the devil is in the details then thurber has given up his soul .", "underachieving comedy is a great parody -- and the best smart-stupid laugh we 've had in a long time .", "i actually found myself laughing quite a bit during ` dodgeball ' - more than enough times to recommend it to anyone in a silly sort of mood .", "too many of -lsb- thurber 's -rsb- gags rely on easy grunge humor or stunt casting , or simply misfire .", "dodgeball may not be for children , but it is tailor-made for the childish , and it goes without saying that i laughed heartily throughout .", "yep , a full five stars . i loved every last frame of this inspired little sports comedy .", "did that movie just wink at me ? i think it did . but i 'm not quite sure .", "eventually falls prey to its own stupidity -lrb- including far too many homophobic jokes -rrb- , and to a surprisingly lacklustre performance by vince vaughn .", "stiller does n't know when to stop ; his thoroughly repellent character , whose relationship with pizza makes american pie 's pastry lover seem wholesome , verges on the unwatchable .", "gleefully commingles slapstick and scatology , satire and sentiment , in a free-wheeling farce aimed at making auds laugh until they 're thoroughly ashamed of themselves .", "it 's actually frequently hilarious , but you ca n't help feel a bit disappointed by the outcome .", "every summer needs its share of mindless laughs . this should hold you , at least until we see whether will farrell 's anchorman delivers its share next month .", "non-nutritional , brainless , lowdown , rude fun .", "yes , the movie 's watchable , and there are about six good laughs in it , but six good -lrb- not great -rrb- laughs in 90 minutes is pretty paltry for a comedy .", "it 's not the end of american cinema , but it may signal either the end of ben stiller 's ambitions or the launch of a vendetta against his fans .", "the type of movie that makes you laugh in spite of yourself . it definitely falls under the guilty pleasure category .", "the best ben stiller movie in months , but when all is said and done is that saying anything ?", "c'est l\u00e9ger , souvent idiot , mais tr\u010ds amusant .", "... a laugh-out-loud romp that holds its own against comedy classics like office space and airplane ! , a zinger destined to become a dorm-room essential .", "this crazed sports spoof is silly , stupid and only intermittently funny . i 'd advise waiting for the video .", "the fusion of violence and silliness makes dodgeball a great subject for a sports comedy , and the vaughn/stiller team is casting perfection .", "the most satisfying comedy of the past year -- at least among the ones starring stiller .", "let the grudgy , gross-out , and basically banal competition begin .", "i have to hand it to a comedy that works this hard at being mediocre .", "oh , the movie 's not too bright , but i could n't stop laughing , and that 's the point , right ?", "at a time when many ambitious studio films are aiming high and falling short , here 's one that delivers on its low-pressure promise .", "-lsb- a -rsb- bsurd without being absurdist , preposterous but pointlessly so ...", "as juvenile and lowbrow as the game itself , but it 's surprisingly funny ... if you give it a chance you may finding yourself laughing a lot more than you 'd expect .", "shtick that aims for an airplane - style sense of anarchy but instead hits every below - the-belt spot imaginable .", "a lazy , flabby waste .", "a cheerfully sloppy ode to every underdog comedy ever made .", "truly a team effort , and it 's a winning one .", "once you get beyond nostalgia for dodging red balls whipped at your head , there 's little here .", "less in the `` wow , that 's funny '' category than the `` i ca n't believe they tried that , '' as when a uniform mix-up has the average joes appearing at a match in bondage gear .", "thurber loads up on plenty of tired , male-identified , low-comedy standbys , including homosexual panic , fat girls and racial caricatures .", "bounces along with a dumb , energetic oomph .", "can somebody please stop ben stiller ? ... the -lrb- movie 's -rrb- one vicariously vengeful pleasure is seeing the actors repeatedly take real shots to the head from big red rubber balls .", "most of dodgeball 's considerable humor comes from droopy-eyed vince vaughn watching manic , macho ben stiller wear himself out .", "silly , stupid and fun .", "this is not a stupid comedy . a comedy with this many elements has to be smartly structured and blended .", "there have n't been so many shots of guys getting hit where-it-counts since the heyday of america 's funniest home videos .", "... a hilariously worthy successor to the great goofball comedies of the late seventies and early eighties , movies like caddyshack and meatballs .", "silly , outlandish , and an all-around good time at the movies .", "this is a spoof of sport movies with a misfit dodgeball team taking on the meanest team anywhere .", "dodgeball works mainly because it 's full of colorful characters who are a real hoot to watch as they stumble their way through the movie .", "just watching grown-ups get bombarded by rubber balls , you know ? makes me feel 12 again .", "however foolish thurber 's premise may be , it has goofy-inspired gumption and you have to respect his motive for overseeing such intentional stupidity", "this is definitely how to make a good stupid movie : accept the stupidity , own it , and then have fun with it .", "is it great cinema ? of course not .", "slapstick is n't dead ; it just took until now for someone to realize that being hit in the face with a dodgeball is a lot funnier than a cream pie .", "no more a good movie than dodgeball is a sport . but compared to other recent dumb-on-purpose comedies , it 's something close to clever .", "you can never tell whether the next scene will induce loud laughter or contempt ; for me , dodgeball divided right down the middle .", "sort of reminds of the saddest music in the world , if only guy maddin had a sense of humour about himself .", "ben stiller plays a pumped-up fitness guru in a consistently funny sports spoof that unapologetically roots for the \u00fcber-nerds .", "some movies are funny because they 're smart , while other movies are equally funny because they 're dumb . more rarely , movies are funny because they involve watching enormous wrenches being hurled at people 's groins .", "vaughn is stuck playing the straight man to a collection of stooges , and he looks utterly bored doing it .", "this piece of juvenilia all too willingly embraces the team motto of the movie 's heroes : aim low .", "the main plot is predictable all the way , but the incidentals are clever .", "stiller strives to be a wild and wacky villain , vaughn endeavors to be a likable and average hero , and both fall flat on their faces , like everything else in this unspeakably stupid comedy .", "entertaining , in the way that encourages maximum brain disengagement .", "strong contender for the title of this summer 's biggest throw-away movie", "for viewers who just want to laugh for 90 minutes without having to think too much , the no-holds-barred dodgeball will happily do the trick .", "the premise alone is hilarious , reducing grown men to a child 's game and rallying around a sport where we get to see confident , assured adults beat down by rubber balls .", "stiller and vaughn are about 200 times better than everything else in this movie .", "a comedy so brainless it 's actually kind of brilliant .", "offers about 90 minutes of laughter -lrb- although the movie runs out of steam during its final third -rrb- .", "not sure where the producers get off implying that this sports-movie satire is in any way true , but it 's so preposterous , few are likely to be confused .", "dodgeball has the touch of inspired inanity , the sort that spawns cult followings .", "stupid is as stupid does , and in this movie , stupid does some pretty funny stuff .", "i could watch a guy taking a wrench to the face or a ball to the groin for 90 minutes every day of the week .", "in this goofball sportsfilm spoof there is something for everyone to laugh at - but a few too many cringeworthy own-goals .", "none of the character of , say , a will ferrell movie , or the cyncial wit of harold and kumar .", "the movie dodges laughs as rapidly as it panders for them .", "thurber and his picture-perfect cast manage to deliver a very entertaining and fast-paced 96 minutes .", "an enjoyable friday night comedy that delivers several decent laugh-out loud gags , even if it 's not the movie it could have been with a more thought-out script .", "watching people being hit in the balls has never been so much fun .", "you have to respect a movie that wears its shortcomings proudly on its sleeve", "this is funny stuff , not quite on par with zoolander , but well worth a look .", "much funnier than any movie about dodgeball has a right to be", "it helps to have energetic and gifted actors , but you really need to give them funnier things to do and say ." ], "summary": "proudly profane and splendidly silly , dodgeball is a worthy spiritual successor to the goofball comedies of the 1980s .", "id": "16981" }, { "movie": "mystery_men", "reviews": [ "a refreshing , oddball summer entertainment with a sharp sense of humor .", "this droopy action comedy saps hollywood 's best comic actors of their superpowers .", "a long , shapeless , undisciplined mess !", "could use a little more brain , and a little less spleen .", "great concept , stale on dialogue ; strong climax .", "MOV takes forever to set things up and finish things off .", "the erratically funny film feels more like stiller and his friends got together to get paid for messing around .", "the idea behind MOV is an inspired gag with enough energy to fuel a comic sketch but not a two-hour movie .", "something of a hit-and-miss affair ; but for me the hits clearly outnumbered the misses .", "it simply just is n't all that funny .", "all of the technical credits are first-rate !", "hip and consistently funny !", "impeccable casting !", "an absurd , if overpolished , gem of all-too-human proportions !", "an effort you end up admiring more than completely loving .", "formulaic but fun !", "this is a very satisfying movie .", "who would have thought that this pseudo-parody of comic book movies ... would be better than most of the ` serious ' comic book films to grace -lrb- or stain -rrb- the silver screen ?", "tremendous fun !", "once the team is assembled , MOV kicks into high gear , with a steady blast of sophomoric humor that rarely lets up .", "a funny , funky superhero spoof with an amusing premise , a lot of clever gags and a super-hip cast .", "a loving parody !", "a dream comic ensemble and an almost foolproof satiric concept gets MOV through .", "MOV 's greatest resource -- its terrific actors -- have goofy charm to spare and really know how to put the punch in punchlines .", "loaded with some witty lines , puns and visual gags !", "it 's the details that make MOV such a goofy good time !", "-lsb- a -rsb- mostly enjoyable and colorful comic-book hero spoof .", "excellently conceived and brought to fruition .", "a surprisingly layered and well-crafted film !", "MOV not only offers a funny and satirical look at such ` serious ' comic book adaptions , but also fills the void left by such films ' absence .", "it wo n't revive the flailing superhero genre , but it 's a splendidly stupid indulgence that relentlessly raps at your funny bone .", "here it is , at last , something sharp and imaginative to save us from all those predictable summer blockbusters .", "an overlooked gem .", "MOV is a worthwhile diversion .", "gleefully , goofily over-the-top .", "a loud , frenetic , fitfully witty spoof of super-hero sagas .", "MOV winds up paying clever but vaguely sincere tribute to the idea of superheroes -- that marginal talents can come together for the greater good . their actual talents being far greater , the filmmakers make it look easy .", "for a movie that seems to be spoofing such comic-book based action films as batman , etc. , MOV is a delightful change of pace .", "the source material gets a richly deserved drubbing for its pretensions , but the resulting parody ca n't help but seem a bit glib and secondhand .", "those in the mood for an offbeat satire with a gifted cast will have a surprisingly good time .", "there are enough laughs to recommend MOV .", "sharp , imaginative .", "with a script as solid as superman 's grip and a cast funnier than the entire justice league of america , it 's no mystery why this send-up of some not - so - superheroes is so enjoyable !", "call MOV a sketchbook in search of a movie ; it 's still a super idea in a summer of flackery .", "there is n't much to MOV , but what there is will keep a smile on your face .", "absolutely everybody onscreen is having a ball .", "the screenplay is packed with gags that hit .", "a snarky , wise-cracking spoof !", "this affectionate and astute mockery of the big-budget , star-studded , sci-fi/fantasy crime-thriller genre boasts genius , cameo-bursting casting and frequently hilarious writing .", "this is a likable , enjoyable movie . the filmmakers , just like the main characters , just need a little more practice and then they 'll truly be super .", "the just-us league of america", "usher 's amiable spoof of superhero movies takes a brave stab at rewriting the mythology from the inside out , with lots of witty , mildly subversive stuff .", "even with its super cast , the slow-moving ` MOV ' falters in its attempt to spoof comic book heroes .", "it is good that the film has charm , for after a certain point it does n't necessarily have anything else .", "witty comic-book story is edgy , with lots of potty humor .", "hugely entertaining -- especially for those with a thing for superheroes .", "the characters have been designed to make fun of themselves , disguising the craft of writer neil cuthbert and director kinka usher in getting us to laugh at them .", "fails to come up with worthy gags and one-liners for the able cast .", "an instant cult comedy that does n't walk or talk like anything else out there .", "how many laughs can you get out of a handful of one-joke characters ? well , if your ensemble contains the talents of janeane garofalo , william h. macy , hank azaria and ben stiller , the answer is : a lot .", "MOV is n't just clever - it 's genuinely funny , as well !", "the comedy is blissfully perfect !", "crafty , witty .", "it is n't quite a good movie , but i do admire the effort , and the spirit , that went into it .", "there should be no mystery as to why this movie is so funny .", "an exuberant , hugely enjoyable romp .", "a zany and hilarious comedy about a wannabe band of superheroes .", "surprisingly , this spoof 's heart is genuinely warm .", "for all the name actors and elaborate scenery , kinka usher 's film is amateurish .", "estes super-her\u00f3is conseguiriam arrancar boas gargalhadas - caso n\u0103o tivessem enfrentado um roteirista med\u00edocre que provoca mais estragos que a kriptonita .", "MOV is like its hapless heroes . it 's a wannabe that has the best intentions -- including a pronounced anti-gun stance -- but none of the knack it takes to save the day , or itself .", "director usher should have spent a little more time in the editing room .", "so much time is spent in getting to know everyone , the jokes are few and far between when they should be fast and furious .", "if as a kid you ever put on a costume and imagined you were a superhero , you should have a perfectly good time with this movie .", "a desperately hit-and-miss affair .", "as hip as this dud thinks it is , it 's not fooling me .", "... better than sitting at home on a hot summer night watching the sitcoms . or maybe it 's exactly like sitting at home on a hot summer night watching the sitcoms", "stiller , macy , and garofalo are a joy to watch .", "the movie is so slow and so obsessed with its own jokes that it is ultimately disappointing .", "this bunch achieves peaks of sublime nuttiness .", "how in the name of sweet jesus did first-time director kinka usher get such a first-rate cast to act in this muck ?", "unappealing mush .", "it often scarcely moves .", "embarrassing !", "stretched far too thin for its meager plot , broad characters and lame running jokes .", "if there is a bright spot to be found beyond the unbearable filmmaking stench of desperation , it is janeane garofalo .", "it 's a superhero sendup that snickers and deflates quickly .", "MOV begins terrifically , then dwindles away to overextended ordinariness in its action sequences .", "this year 's the avengers .", "a good example of what happens when a movie becomes what it should be jabbing .", "the sum does n't quite add up to the potential of its parts .", "everything about the movie is extreme , yet the overall pleasure it yields lies exactly in the middle of the current hollywood scale .", "first-time director kinka usher -lrb- the man behind the taco bell chihuahua spots -rrb- drops the ball , allowing his riff on the hollywood 's most shameless commodity to become precisely what it set out to ridicule .", "a fluffy bit of summer camp .", "a kiddie-level clunker !", "strenuously unfunny !", "an overproduced summer bombast .", "usher ... ca n't quite focus the chaotic goings-on in champion city , and a sharply satirical script gets buried under some over-the-top action sequences .", "this is the kind of movie i would give my life for , if my life spared the world from seeing garbage like this ." ], "summary": "absurd characters and quirky gags are brought to life by a talented cast , providing this superhero spoof with lots of laughs .", "id": "10623" }, { "movie": "mr_brooks", "reviews": [ "the few original ideas tend to get bogged down in a plot that 's slow , convoluted and even more schizophrenic than mr. brooks himself .", "overdesigned characters and situations stretch plausibility at every turn .", "-lsb- mr. brooks -rsb- piles subplot upon subplot , making what should have been a taut , disturbing thriller feel bloated and aimless .", "the alter-ego gimmick works nicely thanks to terrific costner-hurt teamwork in this gripping , complex thriller .", "bloody disappointing .", "if our movies are any guide , we 're a nation of latent serial killers .", "though it 's not as smooth as it might have been and by the close has gotten too clever by half , this trashy thriller delivers the goods more often than not .", "exquisitely constructed , mr. brooks is a gorgeous and compelling thriller about a very sympathetic serial killer . ... the story unfolds with the delicious pacing of a carefully prepared feast .", "costner 's best performance ever ! an intelligent , terrific thriller with twists and kinky characters . costner and hurt are a sensational team .", "certainly more genuinely creepy than many recent thrillers , and the supporting cast is effective .", "quite a few plot lines and character quandaries remain unresolved . and yet the movie makes sense as it stands . after all , one can never know what makes a psychopath tick .", "-lsb- director -rsb- evans keeps flirting with a potentially rich idea only to surround it with indigestible amounts of silliness .", "only someone who has n't watched tv for 20 years would think that portraying brooks as a high-minded monster makes him more than a run-of-the-mill thrill-killer .", "interesting twist on `` dr. jekyll . ''", "a unique and surprising movie experience . a strong alternative to the current sequelitis plaguing the industry .", "plays like red dragon reimagined by filmmakers who think they 're too smart or too sophisticated or too high-minded to give themselves over to the sordid , sleazy and flat-out nasty .", "mr. brooks had the potential to be a ridiculous thrill ride , but that requires a director who knows how to shoot a scene with more style than a law & order episode .", "its wickedness is irresistible .", "the last decade has n't been kind to costner , but he returns to form here . this is a fine little thriller that has some nice - but not surprising twists .", "`` mr. brooks '' never fails as compelling drama , but it 's far too busy to ever settle into a coherent focus .", "when your best character is a serial killer 's imaginary friend , you know your movie 's in trouble .", "evans makes mr. brooks the ceo of a box factory -- because who would suspect the ceo of a box factory ? plus he 's pro-life -- how ironic !", "it should provide discriminating audiences the antidote they seek to clooneys-and-caribbean fever , while giving costner 's career a considerable kick in the credibility department .", "smart , funny and wicked ... a combination i would pay to see . mr. brooks may not want to be bad , but with the devilishly cruel marshall by his side , he 's oh so good at it .", "ever wondered why movies made in hollywood seem to appeal to increasingly dumber audiences ? buy a ticket to mr. brooks to become part of the intellectually diminished population that studio execs lower their standards to appease .", "mr. brooks is one deliriously ridiculous movie , and a bona fide contender for status as a camp classic .", "the pretzel-like personality of brooks is expertly weaved and salted with just a hint of compassion to evoke an odd sort of understanding from the viewers .", "mr. brooks is a curious mix of the campy and the intelligent , of high concept and low psychology . in spite of these contradictions , or perhaps because of them , it works .", "a sinful cinematic experience for fans of classy , canny killers like hannibal lecter , patrick bateman , and dexter morgan .", "a clumsy and facile pulp thriller that is never the sum total of its parts .", "preposterous as mr. brooks can get , it 's such a well-crafted , intricately devised thriller that its flaws are easy to forgive .", "you know you 're in real trouble when demi moore 's playing the most sympathetic character you have .", "please do n't tell me it was supposed to be played for laughs all along , because i do n't buy it . too late to save it from doom , the twists and snafus in mr. brooks start coming too fast for the audience to absorb , and the movie turns delusional .", "the movie is a missed opportunity . it has all the ingredients of a delightfully twisted , sleek little thriller . but with all that extra padding , mr. brooks is just one bloated mess .", "turns out , portland has more serial and spree killers than coffee shops -- there are still more that figure into the movie 's increasingly ludicrous narrative .", "mr. brooks does work up some clammy tension . the script has bite .", "not just a guilty pleasure but a truly queasy one .", "there are flashes of near-greatness here , and the moments of dramatic power and aura of moral ambiguity set it apart from just about every other movie out there this season .", "mr. brooks has a crisp , clever script , lacings of black humour , heart-racing pacing and convincing performances .", "costner is sufficiently creepy , yet incredibly down-to-earth as mr. brooks . i must say this is one of my favorite performances of his in a very long time .", "costner proves that , given the right material , he 's as good as anyone .", "the film demonstrates the complexity of human nature and its faculties -- our sinful side is never far removed from our capacity to think and feel .", "there 's an unsettling exhilaration in the way `` mr. brooks '' plows through dark waters and damns every torpedo ... except for the one that sinks it . -lrb- its name is demi moore . there 's the germ of a great movie , but the disease of many stupid ones .", "as long as mr. brooks remains focused on mr. brooks , the film provides a fair amount of thrills and -lrb- intentional -rrb- laughs .", "score one for kevin costner . his dark and disturbingly compelling psychological thriller mr. brooks could give the once powerful dances with wolves star his first hit in many moons .", "a classic guilty pleasure -- a great-looking , weirdly compelling thriller with two pedal-flooring performances from costner and william hurt .", "a fertile example of the studio film gone berserk , where too many characters and too many story lines geometrically progress until a level of blissful absurdity is reached .", "welcome back , costner . the hit-or-miss actor who earned an oscar for dances with wolves but a razzie for the postman shatters expectations with his best performance in more than a decade .", "despite a promising intro and some darkly cool atmospherics , the picture pushes plausibility to the limit with a story that is ultimately laughable , using every studio gimmick and characters that are poorly explored .", "there 's so much unexamined rage in mr. brooks that the movie plays like a training video for psychotherapists .", "the film is overburdened with plot elements -lrb- yet misses various continuity details -rrb- .", "the movie has the air of a project that kicked around hollywood for years earning periodic praise from bleary-eyed script readers duped by its labored quirkiness and from former matinee idols eager to reinvent themselves as brooding method actors .", "mr. brooks begins promisingly , but it grows steadily more preposterous as it goes along , becoming the first feel-good serial-killer movie .", "this is one of those slick , violent , ridiculous hollywood jobs that make little sense as a story , a comment on life , or a depiction of characters , but are moderately enjoyable in their spinning of movie conventions .", "if you broke down mr. brooks in terms of structure , twists and momentum , you might give it high marks . the thing does move . to where is the problem .", "i think waterworld 2 might have been a smarter career move .", "mr. brooks proves an unusual , occasionally awkward blend of suspense , drama and camp that 's surprisingly fun .", "what 's interesting in evans 's approach is the low-key expression of -lsb- a -rsb- classic concept .", "if ever a movie epitomized the term ` overplotted , ' it is mr. brooks .", "totally absurd and equally entertaining .", "in mr. brooks , bruce a. evans ' fitfully subversive approach to the genre , we get a few fresh takes on the psychology of serial killing .", "the kind of movie that rockets so far beyond the line of credibility and so deeply into the realm of utter stupidity , you start to wonder if the filmmakers are n't putting you on .", "the film emerges as a subtle commentary on a disquieting aspect of our current culture -- a commentary on the nature of a masturbatory voyeurism and how it fosters heartlessness by turning other people into objects .", "far-fetched , flimsy and uninvolving .", "i count a baker 's dozen of movie plots here , a tally so impressive that the qualifier -- all of them are inane -- seems almost ungenerous .", "what pushes mr. brooks into ` silly ' territory is the way co-writer/director bruce a. evans piles on way too many subplots that seem to set up future stories .", "what starts out as a delightful black comedy and social commentary ends up , at best , as a guilty pleasure where i had a hard time sorting out the intentional from the unintentional laughs .", "mr. brooks has more tonal shifts than a philip glass concert , never deciding if it 's a thriller , a noir , a comedy or a farce .", "costner seems to be having some fun playing the respectable guy with an evil secret , but -lsb- director -rsb- evans ' murky storytelling just weighs him down . cook has all the charisma of a misshapen mud pie .", "hubiera sido una estupenda comedia negra si no fuera que el director bruce a. evans se tom\u00f3 el asunto en serio . firme candidata a la peor pel\u00edcula del a\u0144o .", "MOV is a new spin on murder-by-numbers : one fascinating character , two outstanding performances , and subplots too numerous for the film 's coherence or the viewer 's sanity .", "although flawed , this remains a blackly funny noir treat thanks to costner and hurt 's double-act .", "a meticulous killer with family issues ; a cop with problems of her own ; secondary murderers on the loose ; a plot with unexplored depths - this could have been a decent tv series .", "everyone involved takes this tat seriously except william hurt , who goes gung-ho as the alter-ego goading brooks ' kill frenzies . if only they 'd cut out the middle-kev and cast hurt instead ...", "despite numerous cutesy twists , it 's the gradual unveiling of a warped morality that lures you into brooks ' world .", "with a terrific cast and a superb script , this is a hugely enjoyable suspense thriller of the sort that they really do n't make anymore .", "there 's plenty to recommend this old-fashioned serial-killer flick .", "twisty and seductive , this classy dramatic thriller has so much going on that we almost forget we 're watching a trashy potboiler .", "there 's more to every character than meets the eye and all the relationships have a twist", "delivers more of a soap opera-like story about everyone 's personal lives , whether you find that interesting or not , and whether these lurid details are important to the plot or not .", "it 's a tasty stew for anyone with a macabre stomach lining . it 's sense of humor is dependent on your ability to connect with your inner psychopath and root for the bad guy .", "reminiscent of patricia highsmith 's ripley novels , and that is flattering praise .", "comedian dane cook provides the real surprise here in a brave performance that more than holds it 's own amongst the list of great talent involved .", "this is that rare hollywood film where you ca n't be quite sure where the story is going to end up .", "if it is not as sadistic as the saw and hostel movies , it is as malignant in its insistence on the omnipresence of evil .", "... the film ultimately suffers from an egregiously uneven vibe that 's compounded by a distractingly overlong running time .", "costner and hurt 's strong performances are surrounded by flimsy plotting , unbelievable sidenotes ... and occasionally absurd ` surprises . '", "... cops a little of the cheerfully sanguine attitude of the showtime series dexter , although there 's no effort to rehabilitate brooks by half measures at work here .", "but for a movie about a guy who plans everything so meticulously , the script is a mess , with impossible coincidences and one big fake-out that is nothing but a giant bloody speed-bump on the way to the who-cares-at-this-point conclusion .", "the audience is apt to forget its own vicarious indulgence in some fairly perverse , psychologically unhinged acted out fantasy , as kevin costner masterminds erotically tinged guilty pleasures .", "a din\u00e2mica entre hurt e costner carrega instinto secreto : exibindo uma imensa qu\u00edmica em suas cenas , os dois atores estabelecem um sentimento misto de tens\u0103o e camaradagem entre seus personagens .", "it 's not that costner is a bad actor . he 's just a one-note actor ... like a male julia roberts . and this just is n't his note .", "a big-budget psycho-thriller that lets two of our more `` sedate '' leading men cut loose with some entertainingly juicy performances .", "it does keep you guessing until the end , but MOV turns out to be mr average after all .", "kevin costner as a schizophrenic serial killer ? demi moore as a hardboiled police detective ? no , we do n't think so .", "costner 's double-act with hurt is a wicked pleasure , like the odd couple with a psychopathic twist .", "costner gives a nicely underplayed performance and the film is well enough made to be watchable , if only to find out what enormity will be perpetrated next , and by whom .", "if you can stomach the psychological codswallop of a serial killer keeping the demons at bay via alcoholics anonymous meetings , it may well be possible to enjoy this taut-ish thriller .", "there 's enough ambition for a miniseries here , and satellite viewers already have the rather terrific dexter . stuffed into two hours , it 's all a bit of a pile-up .", "ultimately , mr. brooks is a little bit like one of the murders in an actual serial killer case : an object of passing fascination for most people who see the broad strokes or statistics , but of lasting or more profound impact only to those affected by or d", "just when it seemed the serial-killer film had been done to death , mr. brooks brings something fresh to the genre .", "a nutzoid chiller devoted to proving the strange , unseemly notion that even bloodthirsty serial killers are more enjoyable company than bad myspace comedians .", "this wannabe highbrow horror-thriller is a graceless , unfocused piece of work with a central narrative as tonally schizophrenic and wayward as its lead .", "mr. brooks spins a web that will wrap you up in nightmares .", "... i wish the writing had been sharper", "i found this movie to be entertaining , but i was almost disturbed to find it so . how many other movies have a serial killer as their protagonist and actually make you root for them ?", "alternately intriguing and ridiculous .", "that thing does n't quite fit a category , it 's not really chilling and only inconsistently satirical or funny . still , it is often entertaining , strange and bumpy enough that you can forgive the stiff parts .", "according to some , we live in an age of moral relativism , and mr. brooks , a clever script with mediocre performances , explores that concept with nicely honed dash of irony", "mr. brooks is driven more by its characters than its plot . and several of those characters are fascinating .", "evans delivers mood , tone and acting in this seductively quiet and unhysterical film , but so overstuffs his screenplay with plot he very nearly upends his own project .", "a meticulous study on the `` how '' of serial killing . it just skims over the all-important `` why . ''", "mr. brooks manages to be deeply loathsome -- no small feat for a film that 's shallowly amateurish .", "preposterous characters surround a serial killer in a strained and unbelievable story .", "it 's an odd piece of entertainment , and requires a viewer flexible enough to journey into the belly of the beast and somehow enjoy it . me ? i found it irresistible at times .", "in the lead , costner -lrb- who financed the production out of his own pocket -rrb- is a long way from the boyish charmer of dances with wolves . but his easygoing star power is intact .", "the film probably tilts the balance too far in favor of mr. brooks at the expense of the uninspired det. atwood .", "there is some refreshingly good , old-fashioned storytelling in this movie .", "-lsb- costner -rsb- gives one of the best performances of his career .", "overall , this is an enjoyable romp -- with some pitch black comic moments and a fascinating figure at its center .", "after its sleek , hard-edged first hour , the second half slides into rote action-adventure scenes , complete with techno music backdrop , that we 've seen in dozens of movies of this ilk .", "it would be nice to report that costner 's bid paid off but mr. brooks , aside from the low-key menace he exudes , is n't much .", "mr. brooks is a killer .", "here are two things to know about mr. brooks going in : 1 -rrb- demi moore plays a millionaire cop , and 2 -rrb- that 's one of the less ludicrous elements .", "there is an actual brain at work here , and it feels refreshing .", "a fascinating and thoroughly unsettling exploration into the mind of a serial killer , mr. brooks could well be the smartest , most astute thriller of its kind in several years .", "intriguing but inept .", "slickly shot , coolly edited , oozing dark , deadpan humor , mr. brooks finds costner at the top of his game . his moves are subtle , his expressions flat , his emotions clamped down , contained .", "what compels is n't the overwrought plot , but the simpler things , the dynamics between the actors , the avuncularity between old pros costner and hurt and the class condescension between costner and cook . it has a fascinatin ' rhythm .", "there 's a smart , tense , creepy inside-the-mind-of-a-psychotic movie here . it 's just too bad that it 's buried under a huge load of ridiculous , over-the-top hollywood claptrap .", "where the character can not maintain well-adjusted behavior over sociopathic indulgences , the film fails to strike a balance between the serious and outlandish .", "with some plot developments that are n't smart and/or believable enough , the film might look good and feature a decent name cast , but it just is n't that thrilling .", "a close to great film that spirals out of control into wildly enjoyable preposterousnes , topped off with a rancid maraschino cherry 's worth of sub-de palma shock coda .", "`` mr. brooks '' is a neat blend of satire and suspense thriller that nearly overcomes its greatest flaw , a ridiculous subplot with demi moore as a rich woman turned cop .", "as psychological thrillers go , ` mr. brooks ' ranks above average because of kevin costner 's riveting performance .", "clever and engaging , mr. brooks contains some of kevin costner 's best work .", "it is entertaining to watch costner and hurt fight for control of one body .", "... a bit contrived and more than a bit gimmicky ... but it all works ...", "if you 're sick of sequels to a sequel of a sequel , then check this out .", "this ghastly concoction blends sleaze , a serial killer and sex in the sort of thing that , were it not rated r , would be a television movie .", "violent and implausible , it 's costner 's dark field of screams .", "... a nice , decent , all-american psychopath like mr. brooks is pretty welcome company for a few fraught and well-crafted hours in the tense and muted darkness of the movie theater .", "like its leading character , mr. brooks suffers from a split personality , and it 's unfortunate that the wrong one comes out on top .", "earl brooks is presented as an admirable killer , because he 's an upperclass , educated white man .", "even its most absurd ideas are tantalizingly creative and sinister , enough to make you want to see them through rather than scoff and turn away .", "the movie is so well made , and so compelling as a portrait of a man at war with himself , that , right up until the end , many people will probably be entertained by its intricately preposterous story .", "serial killers are people too , with hopes and dreams and loving spouses and kids who drive them crazy . that 's the repulsive theme of this revolting film ...", "smith is ... an insufferable , motor-mouthed douchebag that the audience will be begging for someone , anyone , to kill . in short , it 's the role cook was born to play .", "yes , it 's true that before the end the fatigue meter was registering pretty strongly , but if someone had tried to remove me from the theatre i would have put up a fight ." ], "summary": "the setup is intriguing , but mr. brooks overstuffs itself with twists and subplots , becoming more preposterous as it goes along .", "id": "577183017" }, { "movie": "millennium-actress", "reviews": [ "a lovely meditation on memory , movies and the almost magical power of images to fire the imagination and keep the hope of happiness and beauty alive in the face of real-life ugliness and despair .", "... in its own way as structurally inventive as the recent ` american splendor . '", "MOV is an enchanting japanese animated film about a woman whose life is propelled by the yearning in her heart for a mysterious stranger .", "the movie 's narrative can be taxingly ornate , but there 's something beautiful about its metaphorical conflation of politics and glamour , the real and the fictional .", "kon and co-writer sadayuki murai 's cleverly slippery story bursts with real passion , overcoming the lack of technical achievement .", "well-drawn japanese anime illustrates the perseverance of an actress pursuing a man whom she loved at first sight .", "this is a screen trip that actually takes you someplace -- out of the world , around the world and straight to the heart of the world .", "... a well-crafted romantic storyline that will undoubtedly ring true with adventurous moviegoers looking for something off the beaten path .", "it 's hard to imagine anyone who appreciates animation as an art form not enjoying this film .", "it is a lovely valentine to the golden age of japanese filmmaking and an era of gentler , deeper feelings .", "disguises itself as a romance , but it 's really a loving homage to japanese history , as well as a comment on the nature of filmmaking and films .", "a triumphant statement on how fantasies can inform a life and give it meaning .", "the animation in MOV ... and chiyoko 's wistful suffering is made achingly real .", "frequently a stone bore .", "an epic love story , a shorthand history of japan and a visually magnificent study of the relationship between memory and identity .", "given its complex array of fact , fiction , location , character and atmosphere , MOV is almost unimaginable in any other medium .", "a stylish if somewhat disjointed film .", "behold MOV , satoshi kon 's anime answer to mulholland drive .", "a winning combination of humor , emotional resonance and striking , indelible imagery .", "this wonderfully unique film is classic anime , but its story is so ingenious , it seems a genre unto itself .", "a complex narrative strategy is muddied by emotionally stunted characters in this ambitious and visually sophisticated japanese anime .", "an endearingly surreal story romancing romance , poking fun at the clich\u00e9 while squarely falling in love with it at the same time .", "`` MOV '' is about unrequited love , devotion , perseverance and hope told in a startlingly simple manner yet with epic proportions .", "it 's animated , but it 's human and will touch the soul of anyone who has loved deeply .", "a striking achievement .", "-lsb- it -rsb- would deserve credit for being more thematically ambitious than the average animated film if it incorporated those themes with any aplomb .", "satoshi innovates not by pushing off into more extreme realms of adolescent fantasy , but by using all the resources of animation to tell complex dramatic stories , resources that in his hands seem almost limitless .", "as a piece of visual legerdemain as well as a rumination on the place movies have in our personal and collective subconscious , MOV fascinatingly goes where films have not often gone before .", "MOV is a visual feast , but also a mental gymnastics routine .", "satoshi kon and sadayuki murai have dispensed with many of the conventions that plague japanese anime to create an original and compelling animated fantasy that satisfies as both a historical romance and a philosophical drama .", "to watch MOV ' is to witness one cinematic medium celebrating another , an expression of movie love that is wonderfully eccentric and deeply affecting .", "unusual but woozily fascinating ... if kon 's picture may not be a model of narrative coherence , it offers as compensation a large number of magical moments .", "this somewhat surreal anim\u00e9 import is unlikely to earn the same mainstream recognition as last year 's spirited away , but it 's certainly worth a look .", "lack of ambition is not one of the movie 's problems .", "the animation may not be as breathtaking as we have seen in other anime movies , but what it lacks in visual style it makes up for with a good story .", "anime has never been my cup of oolong . or it was n't until satoshi kon 's bold , time-traveling sophomore feature , MOV .", "delightfully warm and unexpectedly , deeply humanistic ...", "the movie 's outer spectacle works better than its story .", "MOV is smart and complex and beautifully constructed .", "paints a vivid portrait , blending pathos and unrequited love with a rich collage of japanese history", "like perfect blue , MOV is about living with ghosts , but where the one is all shadow , MOV is all alight .", "insofar as the movie recreates japanese film history , it 's as a means of exploring history more generally .", "the finest anime film i 've ever seen .", "arty japanese animated drama is too complex for little ones .", "... japan has always been more open to the possibilities of the medium to tell sophisticated , mature stories ; and this is both , in the best sense of the definition .", "this japanese anime import bats a thousand with a textured story that effortlessly skips across centuries .", "MOV has more layers to it than the proverbial onion , but kon 's sure hand keeps things moving right along .", "fails in one critical component : we are never made to care about the main character ." ], "summary": "the story of an aging movie actress ' complicated personal saga unfolds in this sophisticated anime film that deftly blurs memory and make-believe into a meditation on the nature of cinema itself .", "id": "10940" }, { "movie": "1118700-adaptation", "reviews": [ "the unconventional , semi-real narrative structure is intricately woven and the acting is amazing .", "mr. cage and mr. jonze share a casual , daredevil sensibility , and the two of them -- or should i say the three of them ? -- pull off one of the most amazing technical stunts in recent film history .", "features what is surely the funniest and most accurate depiction of writer 's block ever .", "cage in particular does his best work in ages , giving each of the kaufman twins a personality and style all his own .", "weird and wonderful in so many ways , MOV has all of the write stuff .", "if the ending is somewhat deflating , the convoluted mind game that precedes it is crazy genius .", "... a fabulous , daring , intelligent and wild experience , electric down to the finest details and polished by its own shrewd sense of comic intensity .", "scarcely a scene comes down the pike that does n't knock you on your backside , leaving you in an amused daze .", "`` MOV '' will find an audience in everyone as its story - at its core - is about everyone .", "the most overrated movie of the year -lrb- of all time ? -rrb- by people who should know better .", "the pain , loneliness and insecurity of the screenwriting process are vividly and painfully brought to slovenly life in this self-deprecating , biting and witty feature written by charlie kaufman and his twin brother , donald , and directed by spike jonze .", "one-of-a-kind near-masterpiece .", "streep and cooper provide the support structure for two fine performances by cage , which is two more than most pictures can claim .", "fun and decidedly offbeat , but probably not for everyone 's tastes or liking .", "gradually the movie 's one joke plays out , and charlie 's doubts about inserting himself into his own screenplay prove to be well-founded .", "is this really a film to be enjoyed for its own sake , or is it a movie that exists to be dissected over campari and soda at the club ?", "the film is complex , intricate , interesting and almost hypnotizing , till charlie gets stuck -lrb- the screenplay he 's writing is the one you 're watching -rrb- . glad he had the gonads to do what he did then , but it subtracts from the overall entertainment value .", "MOV is simply brilliant .", "watching MOV is exhilarating because it affects how you think about movies .", "nicolas cage and nicolas cage have great chemistry together !", "MOV may not be the first movie to examine the creative process . but it 's the most playfully brilliant .", "despite all of kaufman 's rage , he 's still just a rat in a cage . but at least he 's raging .", "this is epic , funny , tragic , demanding , strange , original , boldly sincere filmmaking .", "benefiting from astonishing trick photography , cage does some truly compelling , funny acting and has amazing chemistry with himself .", "a deft and hilarious blend of fiction and reality .", "i loved it - i got on the phone to tell everyone to see it right when i left the theatre .", "MOV is definitely unlike anything you 've ever seen before .", "any writer , whether novelist , screenwriter , or short essayist worth their salt will kneel at the sharp edges of the script , both the paper itself and what 's printed on it .", "it 's an often hilarious endeavor that 's bizarre without reeking of calculated preciousness .", "i have a feeling that as i see this picture a few more times - which i absolutely will - it is going to take its place among my favorite films of all time .", "a subversive little film that says as much about the audience that 's watching it as it does anything else .", "i hate my review of MOV .", "so , in a nutshell : it wants to be profound . it is n't .", "charlie kaufman is a genius .", "the author of ` being john malkovich ' takes us on a manic journey through the hazards of being true to yourself while being successful . streep , cage and cooper are terrific .", "... truly a wonder , a pile of self-contradictions , a series of wrongs that somehow make a right .", "spike jonze and charlie kaufman do n't just break down the fourth wall so much as completely obliterate it . the result is certainly the most original film of the year , if not since their very own being john malkovich .", "the more serious jonze and kaufman are about the life lessons that their film purports to impart , the more self-satisfied and , yes , condescending , MOV starts to seem .", "an intelligent pic for those who are impressed that the filmmaker did n't dumb the odd story down until the last 20 minutes .", "try as you might to scrutinize the ethics of kaufman 's approach , somehow it all comes together to create a very compelling , sensitive , intelligent and almost cohesive piece of film entertainment .", "there 's a flash of excitement to this clever film and its performances .", "the highlight is seeing cage without his ego . cage has n't been this fun to watch since raising arizona .", "charlie kaufman has in one stroke made his the most recognizable screenwriter 's name in the country . this is the kind of film that viewers can discuss for hours .", "an absurdist black comedy and brilliantly sustained meta-joke on the modern entertainment industry", "part of me wants to acknowledge that kaufman 's script is inherently lazy , but then i think ... it 's more or less the work of a genius .", "few recent movies have conveyed so forcefully how people can feel shut out by their own lack of passion , how they yearn to end the emptiness .", "one thing has been made very clear -- being john malkovich was n't a fluke .", "leaps from one storyline to another chaotically , is constantly -lrb- but intelligently and for a purpose -rrb- self-referential , and there 's a whole lot more going on than the laughs .", "donald kaufman is right ! writing is easy !", "an inventive movie that is ultimately undermined by its own gimmicky mechanics .", "the most lacerating hollywood comedy since the player a decade ago , perfectly capturing the self-absorption of the industry for which it was made .", "it is a happy , heady jumble of thought and storytelling , an insane comic undertaking that ultimately coheres into a sane and breathtakingly creative film .", "almost all of it is funny and provocative in ways many other hollywood movies , especially the adaptations , ca n't touch .", "very clever about being very clever .", "leave it to charlie kaufman , author of being john malkovich , to turn writer 's block into cockeyed art .", "a daring and gleeful rearrangement of film grammar and a zinging ode to the imagination .", "reverberates on so many levels , comic and cosmic , that it is as trippy fun to think about as it is to watch .", "MOV gets an a for audacity and a z for zzzzz ...", "the nicholas cage we once knew and loved is back , and i could n't be happier . all those years of acting school has brought streep to mimicking a dial tone . hilarious !", "-lsb- its -rsb- failure becomes most obvious in retrospect , when the realization dawns that the most affecting , inventive , and honest moments of the film were those that hewed most closely to the original text .", "MOV is one of the smartest films i have ever seen . it 's intelligent , clever , witty , warm and , i 'll spare you the thesaurus , it 's a masterpiece !", "` compleja e intelectualmente retadora , el ladr\u00f3n de orqu\u00eddeas es uno de esos filmes que vale la pena ver precisamente por su originalidad . '", "una pel\u00edcula , se dir\u00eda , m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de toda l\u00f3gica .", "a witty and provocative exploration of the craft that goes into our favorite medium .", "the irresistibly wicked humor of this film is firmly rooted in despair . we can all relate .", "much like as happened with punch drunk love , many audiences will find reason to be disappointed with this film , or at the very least confused . they wo n't get why there 's no big finish , they wo n't follow the nuances of the script . their bad .", "cage gives one of the best performances of his recent career as the kaufmans . he 's a natural in this role , especially when that great horse face breaks into an ingratiating grin ...", "... its exploration of ambition , loneliness and passion is amongst the most emotionally resonant in many years .", "chock full of true-to-life dialogue and inspirational insight , MOV is an ode to the frustrated artist in all of us .", "a strange and fascinating movie .", "it 's the sort of movie that keeps reinventing itself and nudging us in the ribs as it does . you 'll want to see it soon , because everyone you know will be talking about it .", "beyond the doubled cage compulsion -lrb- good acting , even better tech work -rrb- , the film has rich filler .", "a train wreck of a movie , but it 's quite a train , and the crash is spectacular .", "truly a cinematic gem .", "`` MOV '' is a film buff 's dream .", "one of the best movies hollywood has ever made about itself , a extraordinary meta-narrative that continually questions its own ability to capture human experience , disappointment and uneventful loneliness .", "wildly different and incredibly entertaining !", "warped , self-lacerating and giddily hilarious .", "what MOV nails about writing is the soul-splitting duality of it : the combination of arrogance and neediness , of ego and insecurity , of the writer 's lonely inertia with the romantic grandiosity of what they create .", "movies this ingenious are to be treasured , and spending a couple of hours inside charlie kaufman 's brain will reward anyone who has the faintest passion for film .", "a movie far more cynical and lazy than anything a fictitious charlie kaufman might object to .", "a blast and is worth the price of a full ticket . see it .", "wise , cruelly observant of human nature and hysterically funny .", "kaufman and jonze seamlessly blend reality and fantasy into an outrageously original offbeat comedy .", "probably the most creative and noncommercial screenplay to be embraced by a hollywood studio in years .", "the final product is intriguing enough and brilliant at spots but about as sporadic as a wonderful novel missing pages . it 's a prime example of creativity taking a film so far before the cruel reality of cinematic normalcy sets in .", "there are many writers in this film and it is a movie about writing , about authenticity , about inspiration , about the fear of soul-lessness .", "by focusing on fewer ideas , and resisting the urge to bit off more than he can chew , perhaps kaufman can shape his next vision into a more focused work . in the meantime , let 's rejoice that he 's here .", "avoid it like the plague . you may be intrigued until the very donald kaufman-esque climax . who , by the way , is n't even a real person . therein lies both the joke of the movie , and this joke of a movie .", "this loopy comedy certainly scores points for originality -- or at least until it writes itself into a corner during the final half-hour .", "a brilliantly acted , extremely clever -lrb- perhaps too clever -rrb- , multi-layered film that will repay several viewings .", "you may never see its like again - but maybe you wo n't want to .", "MOV es una historia que mezcla de manera sublime el mundo real con el ficticio , las pel\u00edculas con los libros y los alter ego con la vida misma .", "both kaufmans are played by nicolas cage , whose goofy , moon-faced sincerity has never been put to funnier use .", "gets thoughts and sentences rushing down the hallways of the mind , screaming at each other to get past .", "if your tastes run to the slightly bizarre and weird - then `` MOV '' is for you .", "the unique niche of self-critical , behind-the-scenes navel-gazing kaufman has carved from orleans ' story and his own infinite insecurity is a work of outstanding originality .", "ultimately , it ponders the reasons we need stories so much .", "it 's an amazing piece of work .", "great movie . it 's hilarious and mind-boggling .", "careens between fiction and confession , repetition and revelation .", "a 21st century pop angst commentary and a uniquely american masterpiece , MOV is so far the sole major studio film of 2002 to challenge the basic tenets of cinema , to push the envelope for filmmakers and audience alike .", "the collaboration of jonze 's unorthodox direction and screenwriter charlie kaufman 's script has n't been this delightfully solid since their surrealistic joyride in 1999 's wonderfully erratic comedy being john malkovich .", "it 's hard to imagine a movie more audaciously , self-referential and just plain weirdly funny .", "compare MOV to woody allen 's lame hollywood ending , and you can see that kaufman is allen 's true successor-formed by allen but primed to carry the torch a little farther into the swamp of his own neuroses .", "MOV could very well be one of the best films of the year -- it truly is a roller coaster ride of pioneering pandemonium , and should n't be missed .", "for two-thirds of its running time the film is close to genius . but there 's still no third act .", "the geniuses behind being john malkovich show brains -- and heart -- in a self-aware comedy about passion , love and survival .", "at all times , `` MOV . '' carries the thrillingly unpredictable charge of a film writing itself before your eyes . spike jonze matches charlie kaufman 's tumble through time , neuroticism , fact and fiction with depictions of creation at a cellular level .", "a fine accomplishment from all involved , especially charlie kauffman , who has written a bewildering and captivating movie , which bares his mind , heart and soul .", "an impressive follow-up to being john malkovich , MOV is even more playful , amusing , metanarrative and metaphysical than jonze 's first film , plus it has nicolas cage in a dual role and meryl streep in one of her wildest turns .", "adult stuff only but hilarious and fresh .", "some parts of the film are classic subversions of hollywood convention that are intriguing by themselves but do n't quite gel as a whole .", "MOV would all be insufferably clever-clever were its motivation not so genuine . instead it is experimental , funny , with a tightly-repressed anger and a desire to dig out truth rather than take refuge in the usual artifice .", "it 's almost mind-numbing to think how mr. kaufman could possibly follow-up this gem . i 'm just glad i do n't have to write it , but i 'd be happy to watch what he goes through to create it .", "it will confound some and inspire others to riff endlessly on its mysteries .", "the dynamo of spike jonze and charlie kaufman can still shock and `` wow '' us into submission .", "a movie that comes excitingly close to being some kind of masterpiece of surrealism .", "MOV is without doubt the edgiest movie of the year , and the less you know about it the better .", "endlessly enlightening , always fascinating , and nothing short of miraculous , to see MOV is to live , see , breathe , and feel in an entirely different way than any other motion picture released this year has offered .", "une autre brillante com\u00e9die de l'\u00e9quipe derri\u010dre being john malkovich .", "perplexing , exhilarating and often uproariously funny ... its jolting wrap-up is certain to leave you with whiplash of the brain ...", "if you loved `` being john malkovich , '' you 're going to love `` MOV . ''", "would i even like this movie if they had n't sent me this coffee mug ? i should have given the coffee mug to goodwill . but i ca n't be bought by a coffee mug , can i ?", "right up there with such movie industry insider classics as `` the player '' and `` singing in the rain . ''", "oh , i got it , all right . maybe a little too well .", "nervy and sensitive , it taps into genuine artistic befuddlement , and at the same time presents a scathing indictment of what drives hollywood .", "jonze and kaufman 's imaginations may be limitless , but their film could use some intentional grounding .", "kaufman lets is all out here , painful and raw , the battle creative people who 'd actually like to make a living off their creative efforts fight between originality and commercialism .", "for those in on the joke , it 's funny and smart -- a bold experiment in rule-breaking .", "one of the most soulful and loopily romantic movies i 've seen all year .", "the boldest and most imaginative studio film of the year .", "even though the film does n't manage to hit all of its marks , it 's still entertaining to watch the target practice .", "too smart to ignore but a little too smugly superior to like , this could be a movie that ends up slapping its target audience in the face by shooting itself in the foot .", "a wildly original film that is both funny and perceptive about a range of ideas , delivered without a hint of pretension", "` it 's narcissistic -- solipsistic ... pathetic . ' it 's very important that charlie say this , just as woody allen must constantly condemn himself in his movies , on the theory that whatever you do on purpose , or at least knowingly , is art .", "-lsb- charlie -rsb- kaufman could have called this one human nature , too -- or a phantasmagoria of human nature .", "like the last jonze-kaufman collaboration , this film is a mind-spinning and often hilarious examination of identity and connection , playing with the whole idea of cinema in such a way that it keeps us delightfully off balance .", "MOV could very well be one of the best films of the year -- it truly is a roller coaster ride of pioneering pandemonium , and should n't be missed .", "kaufman and jonze take huge risks to ponder the whole notion of passion -- our desire as human beings for passion in our lives and the emptiness one feels when it is missing .", "sean penn , you owe nicolas cage an apology .", "this year 's most imaginative film is a surreal exploration of two characters ' search for passion .", "i literally jumped out of my seat with joy ...", "every bit as clever and surprising as malkovich .", "thanks a lot , charlie kaufman . thanks to you , i and millions of others can no longer use writer 's block as a valid excuse for the sh*t tiness of our writing .", "if you liked the surreal being john malkovich ... then you wo n't want to miss this collaboration .", "it may be dressed up with some clever language and a-list actors , but it 's still the equivalent of the smart kid in class who ignored the assignment .", "blurring fact and fiction more than any film in recent memory , MOV is a brilliantly bizarre and completely unique experience .", "kaufman once again pens a brilliant mind bender chock full of originality .", "really , did we need kaufman to point out how boneheaded hollywood can be ? and does he do all that much better when , ultimately , he looks to mainstream conventions for the means to put the finishing touches on his tale ?", "-lsb- MOV suggests -rsb- that there is something ` not of this earth ' about humanity , that we are meant for higher , better things than mere MOV .", "kaufman is nothing if not brilliant ...", "trazendo nicolas cage em excelente desempenho , o filme faz uma cr\u00edtica \u00e1cida ao modus operandi de hollywood e \u0155 pr\u00f3pria auto-indulg\u0119ncia de seu autor , o genial charlie kaufman .", "... trying way too hard to be unique .", "a comic gem with some serious sparkles .", "the best movie in many a moon about the passions that sometimes fuel our best achievements and other times leave us stranded with nothing more than our lesser appetites .", "MOV is probably the ultimate writers ' film , but it 's also a brash , daring , and dynamic film -- as delicate as an orchid but as durable and malleable as the species .", "cage is very impressive as charlie and donald . his choices for delineating the two unique personalities are contained and so precisely on the mark that there 's never confusion about which brother is which .", "jonze and kaufman are a match made in heaven , as kaufman needs gimmicks to get through his stories , and jonze needs the stories to sell some more gimmicks .", "kaufman 's script is wildly imaginative but only intermittently entertaining , dredging up troubling questions about artistic responsibility that he ultimately does n't answer .", "the genius of this remarkably clever and funny film is how non-confusing it is to watch .", "the team of kaufman and jonze has made another quality film for the cerebral set . i ca n't imagine what they will come up with next .", "self-reference is one of the movie 's strong suits , it 's also a distraction", "but -lsb- kaufman -rsb- finds a way to let the audience in on the joke by opening up a portal to his brain ...", "an imaginative , funny , and highly original journey .", "while i would definitely recommend it for the unreserved originality of the first two acts ; i would dissuade anyone from sticking around for the final third .", "what a bewilderingly brilliant and entertaining movie this is .", "provides a porthole into that noble , trembling incoherence that defines us all .", "demonstrates that kaufman , the real charlie kaufman , has a rare and really weird talent not only for finding portals into other people 's psyches but also for silly puttying his own into the stories he tells .", "i ca n't imagine MOV having much mainstream appeal , but , for those who look for something genuinely off-the-wall in a motion picture , this will unquestionably strike a nerve .", "watching MOV evolve into something profound , if not entirely complete , is certainly beautiful to behold .", "MOV 's success in engaging the audience in the travails of creating a screenplay is extraordinary .", "... the most surreal motion picture experience since ... well , being john malkovich .", "a thin , smug conceit , and one that gets more tired and exasperating as it goes along ... clever , but in a juvenile , self-indulgent fashion .", "playfully profound ... and crazier than michael jackson on the top floor of a skyscraper nursery surrounded by open windows .", "few scripts toss more challenging balls in the air , and jonze juggles them all with artful , light-stepping ease . it 's magic .", "so much talent in this project that even when nothing much is happening on screen , at least you are caught up in the characters .", "the conceit of charlie writing himself into his own screenplay , and by doing so changing the characters and his own destiny , is thought-provoking , funny and sweetly humanizing .", "all three actors brilliantly negotiate the film 's eccentricities .", "mulling a definitive take on the film , you ca n't come up with one . meanwhile , you bask in its ingeniousness , marvel at its acting , writing and structure and laugh at humor that veers from very real to very odd to very obviously odd .", "a brain twister , less a movie-movie than a funny and weird meditation on hollywood , success , artistic integrity and intellectual bankruptcy .", "mired in the inertia of charlie 's writer 's block , as if the real kaufman never found his own passion for the material .", "bizarre but refreshing dark comedy .", "this emperor knows he 's naked and shouts that fact to the world .", "the most bizarrely original film to hit theaters since being john malkovich , which not coincidentally was also directed by spike jonze and written by charlie kaufman .", "it is hilarious because it takes the clich\u00e9s of normal films , exposes them , criticizes them and then has the gall to reiterate them . `` MOV '' and the real charlie kaufman have toyed with our heads and leave us laughing at ourselves as much as the kauf", "a movie that proves all movies , like flowers , can evolve in exotic and delightful and utterly unpredictable ways into something worthy of passion beyond words .", "charlie kaufman breaks every rule of screenwriting , even his own desire not to write a movie about ` guns , car chases , and characters learning life lessons ' , and it still works .", "consider the irony : charlie kaufman -lrb- being john malkovich -rrb- wins best screenplay for a movie that 's essentially about his failure to write a screenplay . that 's worth a gold statuette on its own .", "it will surprise you . it will delight you . it will give you something truly chewy to take home from the theater .", "with MOV , kaufman has found an entirely new way of telling a story , belying the old credo that there 's nothing left that 's new for the movies to show us .", "kaufman 's carefully constructed screenplay emphasizes so many layers of duality , it 's beyond gimmick . it 's a world view .", "it 's the most original , exhilarating and hilarious movie of the year .", "a wickedly funny movie .", "MOV is intricately constructed and in a strange way nails all of orlean 's themes without being a true MOV of her book .", "MOV is perhaps the best film ever made to chronicle the oppressive screenwriting process ." ], "summary": "dizzyingly original , the loopy , multi-layered MOV is both funny and thought-provoking .", "id": "13212" }, { "movie": "milyang-secret-sunshine", "reviews": [ "can a movie traumatize you in a good way ?", "even as the film piles awkwardness and suffering upon its character , it never feels exploitative or emotionally manipulative , maintaining a restrained tone entirely devoid of melodrama .", "it is unlikely you are going to see a more palpable portrayal of grief this year than jeon do-yeon 's magnificent perfomance as shin-ae in this korean drama of the heart .", "a secular hymn to the small triumphs and cavernous tragedies of the everyday , and to our awesome ability to cope .", "perfect for those wishing to enjoy a nice traumatizing time at the movies .", "this exploration of grief in contemporary south korea plods along adequately and intelligently .", "secret sunshine is a frequently beautiful film with a cold , dark heart .", "brilliantly written , acted and directed , this is a work that evokes the russian novel despite being a korean film . treats larger questions of life and death in the serious manner that they deserve .", "-lsb- s -rsb- low portrait of damaged woman struggling against community expectations reveals universality -lsb- in -rsb- extraordinary do-yeon who dramatically shifts gears again -lsb- and again -rsb- .", "an exemplary examination of coping that expands to entail questions of morality , absolution and faith .", "the cinematic equivalent of prose that is clear , elegant and lyrical .", "buried in the year-end rush but one of the year 's best films .", "in a performance as raw and naked as i can recall seeing , jeon navigates the ebbs and flows of shin-ae 's grief .", "there is a natural tendency to appreciate movies that are neat and concise . `` secret sunshine '' makes a striking argument for the antithesis .", "the amount of tragedy delivered by this story would feel abusive if a lesser talent was at its center .", "it quickly dawns as to why jeon won so many awards for this performance ...", "it does n't touch the heart as much as it thinks it does .", "profoundly moving , intelligent and unflinching . it boasts a brave , emotionally devastating performance by jeon do-yeon .", "superbly observed study of a woman 's tortured spiritual odyssey , filled with honest drama , unexpected humor and brilliant revelations .", "a wrenching , darkly comic and immersive work", "an uncompromising experiment in how much suffering a soul can take , both on screen and in one 's cinema seat .", "this fourth film from lee chang-dong , one of the leading lights in the new south korean cinema , begins as a young widow moves to the small town of milyang , where her late husband was born and where she plans to work as a piano teacher .", "in lee 's fourth and most ambitious feature , jeon do-yeon gives a startlingly vivid performance as a woman coming to terms with unfathomable family tragedy .", "emotionally complex tale of a woman 's confrontation with the worst of fates .", "a compelling and poignant koran film about a besieged widow 's journey into the far country of forgiveness .", "there 's more truth and wisdom in secret sunshine than i 've seen at the movies in a long time .", "the film is brave and unsparing -lrb- as is jeon 's performance -rrb- and asks some challenging and disquieting questions ...", "lee has a rare gift for depicting how the minor dissonance of everyday interactions eventually explodes into public displays of rage and despair .", "an ambitious , almost novelistic pic by writer-helmer lee chang-dong that ultimately fails to dramatize its lead character 's conflicts in cinematic terms ." ], "summary": "plumbing the depths of tragedy without succuming to melodrama , chang-dong lee 's secret sunshine is a grueling , albeit moving , piece of beautifully acted cinema .", "id": "770676203" }, { "movie": "1008166-general", "reviews": [ "newcomers will doubtless be surprised at the excellent pacing of the action .", "one of the greatest films of the silent era .", "vastly overrated ; moderately charming but i think i laughed once .", "begins with a single , brilliantly sustained premise and works it into an engaging story with edge-of-your-seat excitement and stunningly conceived stunts and sight gags .", "keaton 's genius has never found more perfect expression .", "silent classic is one of keaton 's best", "its peerless mixture of exciting action and kinetic comedy are one of moviedom 's supreme pleasures .", "keaton 's most ambitious and one of his most rewarding .", "keaton at the top of his form .", "perfection .", "there 's no point sitting on the fence on this one . buster keaton 's the MOV is a work of genius .", "-lsb- keaton 's films -rsb- have such a graceful perfection , such a meshing of story , character and episode , that they unfold like music .", "a jaw-plunging blend of physical dexterity and bravura moviemaking .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- there was only one buster keaton . `` the MOV '' is his swansong .", "one of buster keaton 's most hilarious and most popular comedies", "silent masterpiece is enter-train-ment for all ages .", "in these times when all risk is assumed by cgi effects , keaton 's squealing funny , exquisitely timed , death-defying leaps are all the more breathtaking .", "the film boasts the most sustained passages of virtuoso slapstick genius keaton ever shot , and an unflagging momentum that lets it get away with being a reel longer than most of his best-known pictures .", "a hilarious comedy and a thrilling action film . the MOV has it all .", "this is a silent film worth making a noise about .", "he MOV is the highlight of his career 's tragicomic performances , featuring not just the awe-inspiring stunts that were his bread and butter , but also a level of fluidity only he and chaplin attained at the top of their games .", "keaton proves as endlessly clever and athletic as his screen surrogates...chock-full of hilarious sight gags , including bits of business that incorporate moving trains , cow-catchers , a bear -lrb- and bear trap -rrb- , and a misbehaving cannon . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "an almost perfect entertainment .", "only superlatives will do to describe keaton 's hilarious civil war dramatic comedy .", "amongst the greatest of all silent comedies , the MOV is n't just important , it 's bloody hilarious .", "the result is a flop .", "spectacular chases , fires and explosions are captured with fluid camerawork . there are no stunt doubles for keaton and of course no digital effects .", "the birth of slapstick .", "the MOV is n't likely to be the favorite opus of the star 's purist fans , but it 's the one with the trappings of ambition and historical poesy", "among the finest comedies of all time , it wears its greatness lightly .", "this is buster keaton 's ageless masterpiece .", "sure , it 's got that cornball ' 20 's dialogue and plays the underdog confederacy as the heroes , but it 's a truly fantastic piece of cinema .", "keaton is a wonderful treasure no matter the movie , and the MOV is certainly among his best .", "ranks among the greatest movies ever made .", "an imaginative masterpiece of dead-pan `` stone-face '' buster keaton comedy , the silent civil war adventure epic classic , the MOV -lrb- 1927 -rrb-", "the MOV is inarguably keaton 's most stirring movie , if not his greatest .", "this is by no means so good as mr. keaton 's previous efforts .", "one of the greatest comedies ever produced . it is keaton at his inventive best ." ], "summary": "brilliantly filmed and fueled with classic physical comedy , the MOV captures buster keaton at his timeless best .", "id": "534309484" }, { "movie": "1005371-day_the_earth_stood_still", "reviews": [ "gort ! klaatu barada nikto .", "next time your parents tell you that they do n't make them like they used to , believe them .", "the naivete of some of the film 's thinking is trumped by the virtue that it 's thinking at all , and that it asks us to do likewise .", "this is a superbly crafted , landmark film which invested a much-derided -- and frequently ludicrous -- genre with a welcome degree of dignity and respectability .", "edmund h north 's intelligent script and wise 's smooth direction are serious without being solemn , while bernard herrmann 's effectively alien-sounding score reinforces the atmosphere of strangeness and potential menace .", "very good , but slowish and slightly high-minded .", "the MOV may at first look like goofy , outdated science fiction , but its timeless warnings about violence , nuclear confrontation and the difficulties of policing the planet have made it an enduring cultural classic .", "like most of robert wise 's work , this slickly constructed 1951 science fiction film settles squarely in the middle of its genre , better than some and worse than others .", "superb performances by all involved , restrained direction by wise , and a magnificent and innovative score by bernard herrmann help keep this 35-year-old film just as relevant today as it was the day it was released .", "cast , although secondary to the story , works well .", "classic sci-fi film that still has some power", "one of the top , let 's say , two science fiction films ever made .", "it is a handsome , thoughtful fable with a thriller element and a slightly evasive ending .", "a sci-fi classic", "still fantastic", "though made half a century ago , this film remains a seminal sci-fi and a defining moment in the genre 's history as well as in the visual treatment of fear of atomic bomb .", "the film is very good at showing how effortlessly misunderstandings can develop between ordinary people and between nations and how easily fear can overwhelm reason and understanding .", "long considered a touchstone in science fiction cinema , this stood apart from most of the other 50s sci-fi outings for many reasons .", "made at the time as a plead for international peace , its message should still ring true today where the world picture is more complex and , in many ways , more splintered and dangerous .", "more thoughtful and restrained than most sci-fi of the period , the MOV has aged better than almost all of its peers .", "an enduring film property with an unforgettable catch phrase -lrb- ` klaatu barada nikto ' -rrb- ... -lsb- and -rsb- socially conscious themes . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... remains a cut above the majority of its campy '50s brethren ...", "robert wise looks at the atomic age and wonders : ` what would jesus do ? '", "embora soe ing\u0119nuo e mesmo datado para os dias de hoje , permanece interessante gra\u00e7as \u0155 figura enigm\u00e1tica e superior de rennie e \u0155 amea\u00e7a representada pelo impass\u00edvel gort .", "yes kids , media was idiotic and hysterical long before the likes of glenn beck were around .", "a sci-fi classic that still resonates .", "the title alone inspires awe .", "... dispels any notion you might have about shlocky science fiction .", "iconic from the get-go .", "a true 1950s drive-in classic .", "`` klaatu barada nikto '' are the words that launched a thousand spaceships in this early sci-fi standard .", "absolutely among the top 5 sci-fi films ever . keep going , gort !", "one of the best from the cold war school of space movies .", "a first-rate science fiction classic .", "this beloved science-fiction film shows what happens to the alien klaatu and his robot gort after they land their spaceship on earth .", "i always have to change the channel when this is on for some reason", "today , wistful viewers might ask : where are klaatu and gort when we need them most ?", "the most amazing thing about this excellent film is how well it has held up and how its message is just as true today as it was in the immediate post-second world war years .", "this is no ordinary sci-fi flick .", "it is comforting , of course , to have it made plain that our planetary neighbors are much wiser and more peaceful than are we , but this makes for a tepid entertainment in what is anamolously labeled the science-fiction field .", "it is one of the first films of the period to question the cold war even if on an allegorical basis .", "from beginning to end , the MOV is a lot of fun ." ], "summary": "socially minded yet entertaining , the MOV imparts its moral of peace and understanding without didacticism .", "id": "9396" }, { "movie": "kung_pow", "reviews": [ "it 's not that MOV is n't funny some of the time -- it just is n't any funnier than bad martial arts movies are all by themselves , without all oedekerk 's impish augmentation .", "MOV is oedekerk 's realization of his childhood dream to be in a martial-arts flick , and proves that sometimes the dreams of youth should remain just that .", "oedekerk wrote patch adams , for which he should not be forgiven . why he was given free reign over this project -- he wrote , directed , starred and produced -- is beyond me .", "an incredibly narrow in-joke targeted to the tiniest segment of an already obscure demographic .", "full of flatulence jokes and mild sexual references , MOV ! is the kind of movie that 's critic-proof , simply because it aims so low .", "MOV ! is far too long , with belly laughs quickly turning into bemused grins as the novelty of kung-fu fighters saying silly things wears off .", "this is the type of movie best enjoyed by frat boys and college kids while sucking on the bong and downing one alcoholic beverage after another .", "rarely do i really want to get up and leave only a few minutes into any film -- no matter how bad it might initially seem -- but this one had me itching to flee rather early on .", "the laughs are as rare as snake foo yung .", "did no one on the set have a sense of humor , or did they not have the nerve to speak up ?", "an enjoyable , if unproductive , time at the movies .", "to imagine the life of harry potter as a martial arts adventure told by a lobotomized woody allen is to have some idea of the fate that lies in store for moviegoers lured to the mediocrity that is MOV : enter the fist .", "takes a good idea for a seven-minute sketch and stretches it out for an excruciating 105 .", "it would have made a funny 15 to 20 minute sketch in a format like the very funny short martial arts sketch in `` kentucky fried movie . '", "mocking kung fu pictures when they were a staple of exploitation theater programming was witty . mocking them now is an exercise in pointlessness .", "it could well end up being the worst movie of 2002 . it 's that bad .", "i hated it with every fiber of my being .", "unless you 're as huge a fan of martial-arts classics as oedekerk , this really long joke about continuity errors and bad voice-overs is simply kung p.u.", "the dose is strong and funny , for the first 15 minutes anyway ; after that , the potency wanes dramatically .", "as an entertainment destination for the general public , MOV sets a new benchmark for lameness .", "the concept is a hoot . the trailer is a riot . the movie is a dud .", "must be seen to be believed .", "this is a horrible film .", "never has an 80 minute movie been so long", "i have n't seen such self-amused trash since freddy got fingered .", "as deadly to brain cells as huffing paint thinner , but more delightful !", "eu n\u0103o me surpreenderia caso descobrisse que este filme foi realizado por um grupo de adolescentes b\u0119bados durante um churrasco da escola .", "totalement con et absurde , mais aussi totalement hilarant .", "the year may be young but it 's going to take something extraordinary to top this as the worst film of 2002 .", "naturally , much fun is made of the poorly synchronized dialogue inherent in kung fu flicks , but the gag pales with repetition , especially since billy crystal and robin williams did it better years ago .", "if you like this sort of thing or this kind of genre , kung-pow has its brief yet fun moments .", "the film is so bad it does n't improve upon the experience of staring at a blank screen .", "... an early favorite on 2002 top ten `` worst '' lists . i think i laughed . once . maybe not .", "i basically went in expecting garbage , but color me surprised when it actually turned out to be quite funny !", "this is amusing for about three minutes .", "a bad idea poorly executed .", "hopelessly inane , humorless and under-inspired .", "an inept , tedious spoof of '70s kung fu pictures , it contains almost enough chuckles for a three-minute sketch , and no more .", "a processed comedy chop suey .", "oedekerk mugs mercilessly , and the genuinely funny jokes are few and far between .", "most of the time , this mess is about as much fun as being with a bunch of drunken frat boys who are talking back to a martial-arts film .", "oedekerk 's latest exercise in what i like to call ` the cinema of screechy hellsuck . '", "you 'd have to search far and wide for a movie as gleefully stupid as MOV : enter the fist , but you 'd never find one so bereft of laughs .", "MOV seems like some futile concoction that was developed hastily after oedekerk and his fellow moviemakers got through crashing a college keg party .", "the movie 's plot is almost entirely witless and inane , carrying every gag two or three times beyond its limit to sustain a laugh .", "we ca n't accuse MOV for misfiring , since it is exactly what it wants to be : an atrociously , mind-numbingly , indescribably bad movie . unfortunately , we 'd prefer a simple misfire .", "not since freddy got fingered has a major release been so painful to sit through .", "the concept behind MOV : enter the fist is hilarious . it 's too bad nothing else is .", "i 'd be lying if i said my ribcage did n't ache by the end of MOV ." ], "summary": "a short sketch 's worth of jokes stretched into a full-length feature .", "id": "10677" }, { "movie": "keep_the_lights_on", "reviews": [ "sachs depicts a once-transient culture stumbling toward a design for rooted living .", "bless -lsb- sachs -rsb- for eschewing melodrama in favor of tenderness , but his characters are often left adrift in a sea of conflicting emotions .", "not only does this film gloriously fulfill the potential that ira sachs has tantalized movie-lovers with for years , it also help explains what took him so long .", "more than just a relationship drama of striking specificity , this is a naked confession about addiction .", "authentic ... by turns , heartbreaking and hopeful . thure lindhardt and zachary booth are exquisite .", "unerring acting keeps this film honest , so that , while not tragedy , it is true and far from the gay fluff or doom often offered up .", "it 's hard to recall a film so attentive to the uncertain moments in all relationships : the teary christmas toasts , the slow slide away from patience and tenderness .", "what makes MOV more interesting than your average addiction story is the subtle suggestion that erik 's dependence on paul and his messes is just as debilitating as paul 's taste for drugs .", "lindhardt , sweet and childish and achingly vulnerable , gives a stunning performance .", "long before the eighth fraught reunion between this self-serious drama 's ultimately mismatched -lrb- and uninteresting -rrb- gay lovers , you may find yourself tuning out .", "lindhardt pushes the picture into realms of such exposed intimacy , you almost feel like you 're dating him yourself .", "sachs ' use of a gay relationship does n't cast any particular new light on the subject of addiction , nor does addiction offer new insight into gay relationships .", "a poignant case study in the changing contours of gay life .", "`` MOV '' is both warm and a bit inscrutable . it feels like the work of a man who 's in a better place but still sifting through past heartache .", "sachs creates an intensely intimate stew of fear , anger , longing , and regret .", "a gay relationship story told with subtlety and a sense of insight that comes from personal experience .", "MOV is an intense , haunting and gut-wrenchingly honest character drama about how addiction can tear love apart .", "i suspect it will have particular appeal for those who struggle with addiction .", "when you summon memories of this film , they are almost always of two men in a room , in a default state of discontent .", "the movie over-blurs the line between plain and plaintive . it 's not necessarily craziness you crave , it 's inflection ; it 's need , if not from the characters then from the filmmaking .", "in trying to capture a moment in time , sachs has left nothing uncovered . navigating his darkest moments with unsparing honesty , he finds a flicker of hope .", "a heart-breaking love story and call for emotional transparency in relationships .", "the performances are first-rate , with lindhardt particularly moving as a guy who 's in deep denial about just how much he can expect from a relationship with an addict .", "sachs makes us feel the struggle as he exposes raw , complex emotions while avoiding clich\u00e9s .", "observing erik face the inevitable , that loving a drug addict means always coming second to the substance , is heartbreaking and real .", "an accomplished indie filmmaker -lrb- `` forty shades of blue '' -rrb- , sachs creates a genuinely romantic bond between his actors that feels fresh and free of clich\u00e9s .", "sachs captures erik 's yearning for paul and paul 's addiction-induced indifference with equal force .", "small in frame but large in heart .", "the best film of 2012 ... perfect .", "MOV acknowledges -lrb- without belaboring -rrb- the performative nature of identity ; how each of our claims to selfhood , be it sexual , romantic , or professional , are staged on a shifting terrain of habit , fantasy , and desire .", "there 's a lot to like here , and if you 're a traditionalist who hungers for a happy ending , you 'll find it embedded in the opening credits .", "it feels as if we 're being given glimpses into real lives unfolding .", "a brutally honest , at times embarrassingly raw , attempt to capture a modern day , urban relationship ... bittersweet and filled with memorable details , a huge leap forward for -lsb- director -rsb- sachs .", "an intimate , honest and uncompromising study of the need for love and the addictions to drugs , sex and intense emotion that may accompany -- and sabotage -- love 's pursuit .", "a tenderly observed portrait of a man aching for romance even as he resists the idea of full commitment .", "director-cowriter sachs takes an unusually intimate look at a 10-year relationship in this beautifully shot and performed new york drama .", "delicately tracing the troubled nine-year bond between two men living in new york , ira sachs mines his own memories to sensitive , melancholy if somewhat muted effect in MOV .", "here 's hoping critics and festival programmers can find a way to help sachs MOV .", "a nuanced portrait of emotional turmoil , persuasively acted , richly sensual one moment , wrenching the next ...", "the look , mood and rhythm of the film are exquisitely , even thrillingly authentic .", "sachs ' screenplay does a terrific job capturing the drama shared by urban sophisticates with an understated approach that foregrounds erik 's ongoing confusion .", "a harsh yet delicate tale of two new yorkers whose co-dependent relationship is fueled by sex , drugs and complex longings for companionship .", "a tough , well-acted little indie ...", "-lsb- a -rsb- haunting , melancholy relationship drama .", "such is the stuff of high drama , but `` MOV '' maintains an oddly distant air .", "lindhardt conveys the inability to give up on a romantic obsession and subplots about the rest of his life ... feel natural . but booth 's paul ... is a hollow center .", "a gritty , devastating melodrama that chronicles an intense , complex , and heartrending relationship over the course of a decade .", "gay love story keeps the focus tight and personal , with strong sex scenes and very naturalistic acting .", "it all has the feel of a pretentious film student desperately trying to make a statement with his thesis film . it 's extremely overwrought with laughable melodrama .", "it is a film in which we see snapshots of a long-term love affair that seems doomed from the start . the raw truth of much of it is strong enough to make the sometimes frustrating structure forgivable .", "while not quite on a par with andrew haigh 's weekend , this is still an undeniably powerful piece of filmmaking .", "feels lopsided in its focus on erik , with paul remaining a strangely remote object of the former 's romantic devotion .", "this is a painful drama , but its pain is more studied than emotive , and it demands that we think just as much as it makes us feel .", "a visually arresting and wholly compelling drama , thanks to its gorgeously warm cinematography , pleasing soundtrack and impressive and convincing performances from its two male leads .", "monitoring the peaks and troughs of this fractious relationship is more fascinating than enjoyable .", "every frame pulses with hard-gained experience : it may be the most lived-in film of 2012 , and certainly counts among the most moving .", "a stiff central performance diminishes its emotional impact , but the visually alluring film 's sensuality and tenderness give it a lingering spell .", "the two characters are ciphers , and the script , which sachs co-wrote with mauricio zacharias , is by turns underwritten or banal .", "a complex and mysterious tale of a love affair , one that lacks the tidy story arc of a movie but feels real .", "the cast , uniformly excellent , draws us into a vibrant , energetic manhattan where commitments are forged and broken through sheer chance and those seeking permanence must continually resist temptation and ennui ." ], "summary": "MOV is a mysterious , sexy journey deep into the love affair of two men that always manages to stay true to life .", "id": "771251154" }, { "movie": "starting_out_in_the_evening", "reviews": [ "ut when all is finally revealed it 's gesture -- especially the hands -- that lifts this film into the ranks of extraordinary and ... bears repeated viewings to savour the subtlety and intimate sense of self .", "MOV has a formidable performance by frank langella to recommend it .", "a bravura performance from frank langella blended into a lackluster story .", "awkward and sometimes overly subtle , but compelling performances by a cast of normally supporting actors who make the most of their much deserved chance to carry a film .", "wagner has turned the page on a promising career , and it will be exciting to see what the next chapter brings .", "MOV is thrilling in a way that a movie larded with car chases and explosions can seldom be , because of the way it deals with that basic building block of civilization , the creative process .", "criminally overlooked , this is a great movie , about which i could find no complaint or overt flaw except feeling that taylor -lrb- whom i do love -rrb- was mostly a distraction . see it if you can .", "langella 's nuanced performance saves the film ; the actor has an understated but powerful role , and he takes full advantage .", "wagner 's film is an elegy of sorts for that once-mighty beast known as the new york writer , a creature that now finds itself increasingly marginalized in a world in which readers are getting scarcer and shelf space for serious fiction is dwindling daily .", "it 's langella 's performance that anchors the film .", "MOV is a gentle collection of scenes that work and scenes that do n't .", "MOV is a small gem , and if you 're fascinated by writers or more generally , ambition , make time for it .", "it 's a rare kind of american movie . it gets us arguing about all the characters -- and enjoying the debates every step of the way , because we 're so intimately involved with their dreams and passions .", "much of the film 's novelty derives from its characters , the sort one almost never finds in ` commercial ' films -- both flawed and sympathetic -- and it keeps them vivid , ambiguous , and three-dimensional throughout .", "while the film shares the novel 's stealth appeal ... on the whole it 's better : sharper , leaner and less sentimental .", "it honors values that seem obsolete in our trashy popular culture , obsessed with the sex lives of vacuumheads .", "... another example of a writer engaging in fictional wish fulfillment .", "frank langella is so good and so believable that his performance alone makes MOV worth your time , lifting it above its flaws to be a nice holiday alternative .", "the performances carry the day .", "the film begins a little too much like a woody allen film , talky and overwritten , but it soon finds its groove .", "starting out is a movie for savoring , not one whose flavor explodes on your palate , but its minor-key attractions are substantial .", "time to update your year-end award contenders .", "-lsb- director wagner -rsb- is becoming a major american filmmaker .", "a touching portrait of a man in the twilight of his life .", "wagner 's penetrating narrative is poetically stimulating in its smart approach to its dialogue-driven excellence and standout performances .", "MOV boasts exquisite performances by langella and taylor , and that may provide reward enough for most filmgoers .", "among the cgi monsterfests of the holiday film season , this quiet , humorous drama of oppositional wills from different generations coming to terms with each other is one of the miracles of the season .", "a subtle , quiet vision of brian morton 's award-winning novel of the same name .", "intimate and beautifully acted , it feels more like a satisfying play than a movie -lrb- that 's not a criticism , by the way -rrb- .", "MOV has the feeling of a film in which the actors , left to direct themselves , played into their own self-indulgent instincts , and the only one who resisted was the old pro who knew better .", "complex and satisfying new york literary drama .", "director andrew wagner draws topnotch work from a pro cast in MOV , a wise , carefully observed chamber drama .", "... it 's impossible to overstate the effectiveness of langella 's work here ...", "it would be easy to pass by MOV through any one of a number of possible snap judgments -- too new york-y , too low-budget , too digital -- but you 'd also be missing out on three of the best performances of the year .", "andrew wagner 's mature , sharply observed , quietly intense drama about the shifting relationship between an aging , sickly writer and an ambitious grad student -lrb- one third of his age -rrb- impresses as one of the best in the dramatic competition series this year", "its academic approach , which allows its characters to be themselves and their relationships to crinkle and fold within each other to no obvious end , shows both strength and vulnerability .", "in the end , langella lays his character bare before us but leaves his dignity intact .", "it 's a thinking person 's movie in the best sense of the phrase .", "it 's an intimate drama -- a chamber piece , really -- that deals intelligently with intriguing themes and provocative ideas regarding the ambiguous motives and borrowed-from-life material that fuel the creative process .", "we 're pretty much left waiting in this drifting melodrama about living the artistic life in new york and the ambition it takes to do that .", "langella is superb , and MOV is a classy film ... but it could have used a little less circumspection , a little more juice .", "the more you watch this , the more interesting the characters become .", "one of the year 's most pleasing films , intelligently written and directed , and featuring a veteran actor giving the performance of his career", "it 's about as quiet as a film can get . but for those in search of for nuance , intelligence and fine acting , this is a must-see .", "-lsb- langella 's -rsb- finely shaded performance is the main reason to check out -lsb- this -rsb- gently affecting film that portrays the fragility of life , love and art with sympathy and taste .", "remarkable film , indelibly marked by langella 's deeply felt portrait of a lion in winter .", "self-contained and silly .", "shrewder than it initially lets on , primarily because it refuses to schematically pigeonhole its characters .", "the early scenes are electric with sexual tension , smart dialogue , and terrific performances - especially ambrose 's .", "both empowered by words and inspired by the limitless expression that comes from an articulate , well-tuned argument .", "this wise , observant , and exquisitely tacit chamber piece complicates every may-december , academic-novel clich\u00e9 in the book .", "this is what great screen acting is about .", "its appeal is to a select audience , probably one that reads books that oprah does n't recommend .", "in a role that reminds one of peter o'toole 's in ` venus , ' frank langella is receiving buzz as a potential oscar nominee in the role of an aging novelist emotionally charged by a visit from a graduate student 45 years his junior .", "langella 's `` aging '' as a result of a stroke is even more impressive than his artful revelations of the authorial process .", "MOV is just a movie about a dignified old white man who writes novels , slowly , on a typewriter . clever concept .", "what to do with this light , while it lasts ? -lsb- director -rsb- wagner 's problem is to find an answer to that question and also to offer some resolution to the conflicts of honesty and compromise the movie portrays .", "by and large , MOV is smart and considered and grown-up and credibly human filmmaking .", "just may be the best film of 2007 that you 've probably never heard of .", "this is frank langella 's movie . he 's been given a plum of role , and he bites into it with amazing grace and precision .", "-lsb- frank langella -rsb- is a god of sorts to those who 've followed his career for 30 years with an appreciation for subtle , forceful acting , and he 's at the top of his game in MOV .", "a dry , insightful and sensitive drama .", "a strong cast and a literate script make for a refreshingly subtle film .", "watching frank langella in this film is like seeing a brilliant new actor give his breakthrough performance .", "a film so quiet that just the crunch of buttered popcorn might drown out some of its subtleties .", "-lsb- langella 's -rsb- sometimes halting but always beautifully articulated line deliveries impeccably convey a man for whom words are , literally , everything , including a last line of defense .", "frank langella and lili taylor give great performances in what is essentially another painfully slow and bland digitally-shot indie drama .", "refreshingly subtle .", "a wise , low-key drama where the characters ' humane , accurately written interactions take precedence over all else .", "it really does n't get much better than frank langella 's career-capping per formance .", "a gentle , unhurried drama about how people can connect with each other through conversation , nonverbal gestures , and writing .", "intelligent , involving and conspicuously adult , `` MOV '' is almost shocking in its distinctiveness , its ability to create high drama from an unlikely source .", "sharp dialogue and strong acting , but not much dramatic energy .", "it has the quiet beauty of a late afternoon , late in the autumn , when new york seems to be not just the center of the world but the crystallization of its finest tendencies .", "a poised , surprisingly unsettling film about the half-life -- and twilight -- of a fiction writer .", "unusual and absolutely riveting .", "excellent , deeply introspective performances by frank langella and the phenomenal lauren ambrose inform and enhance MOV .", "a simple but unpredictable story of a man facing his mortality , it is simultaneously unsettling and deeply moving .", "every time we leave his world -- full of mortality , and artistry and that seductive student -- to re-enter his daughter 's , the film falters a little . and bit by bit , the tension fades , like a manuscript left in the sun .", "a small and intimate drama about a seventy-year old new york novelist and his battle against time . physical vulnerability , and being creatively blocked .", "frank langella gives a quietly intense performance as a dignified senior shaken out of his mindset while ambrose keeps us guessing at just what she is up to .", "the picture feels both intimate and immediate , a model for what smart young filmmakers can do with good material .", "a heap of preciousness and pretensions that puts words and literary references to the fore .", "has the patina of authenticity , but wagner 's characters speak in banalities that describe their all-too-familiar plights from the outside without getting inside their skins , as if they are trapped in the expositional stages of an old broadway play .", "director andrew wagner , adapting a novel by brian morton , is sometimes understated to a fault , but his work with the actors , who also include lili taylor , is impeccable .", "a superb performance by frank langella anchors the exceedingly literate , engrossing MOV , a richly drawn and for the most part artfully understated portrait of an aged novelist .", "frank langella 's performance is a compliment to an already brilliant film ...", "MOV is like the opposite of ` mumblecore ' . it 's ` loquacitycore ' .", "this thoughtful character study is like watching a well-written short story unfold .", "a lovely comedy of death and rebirth .", "about each character searching for something , and how human goals change as the aging process wears us down .", "MOV is a ` small ' movie . but in its keenly observed examination of strangers who become intimates -- and of family members who remain , in part , strangers -- it has big things to say .", "slightly too understated , but also thoroughly involving .", "it 's so rich and so textured and such wonderful material .", "frank langella is superb in this modest , awkwardly-titled indie about an aging writer and the grad student researching him ." ], "summary": "MOV features sharp dialogue and moving performances from the talented frank langella and lili taylor .", "id": "528392209" }, { "movie": "dancer_in_the_dark", "reviews": [ "the crazy thing is that , sarcastic as dancer is , it actually works as an anti-capital - punishment tract .", "a film like no other , and even if only to simply bear witness to such a bold , experimental work , it commands a viewing .", "nothing less than a groundbreaking -- and magical -- art house reinvention of a genre that even disney cartoons have been shying away from in recent years .", "as a big fan of bj\u00f6rk , i greatly enjoyed her often stunning work both as a singer and an actor here . in fact , she does a better job of generating sympathy for herself than von trier does for selma .", "this is one special film and in some ways fantastic . -- also interview w/bjork", "von trier shows himself once again as a director with imagination , one who continues to push back the boundaries of cinema .", "raw and invigorating when its risks succeed and disconcertingly flat when they fail , dancer is neither the masterwork its proponents raved about nor the disaster its critics insisted it is .", "one of the best movies of the year .", "this is likely one of the most emotionally devastating films ever made .", "-lsb- von trier -rsb- manages to generate big emotions out of meager material , mainly thanks to the performances he gets from his actors .", "-lsb- bjork -rsb- encompasses all the aspects of this stubborn , sweet , unprotected woman , and she gives the kind of performance that makes it impossible to imagine anyone else in this role .", "such are the exquisite contradictions of this deeply affecting gem that i found myself massaging goose bumps even as i flinched in terror .", "von trier is poking at subconscious safety nets we turn to for reassurance in ways both pretentious and provocative , depending on the predisposition of the beholder .", "is MOV worth the ride ? the brutal emotional wringing it visits upon viewers ? despite its flaws , yes .", "like the movie created around her , -lsb- bjork is -rsb- nothing short of hypnotic .", "audacious and astonishing , devastating and detached , lars von trier 's MOV has the ability to amaze and anger its audience , quite often in the same moment .", "it 's a carefully crafted provocation that both undermines and expands the notion of what makes a movie musical .", "it demands to be seen , and though you might detest it , at least you 'll exit the theater with the bruised sense of having seen something memorable .", "von trier is asking not that you take a leap of faith ; he 's asking you to hold his hand while he jumps off the bridge .", "you may resent some of the tactics von trier uses , but there 's no denying the devastating power of his film .", "the situations that writer-director lars von trier serves up here might be embarrassingly florid , but the coupling of his manipulative skills and bj\u00f6rk 's showy intensity results in a movie with the force of an emotional bulldozer .", "the songs are all written and performed flawlessly by bjork . and not only can the pixie goddess sing and dance , she can also act .", "it is not pleasing to watch , by any conceivable definition of that word .", "everything about bjork and MOV is enigmatic in an uncomfortable dissecting way that shows beauty in the crudest way , and crudeness in the complexity of advanced social mores .", "habitually galling director lars von trier 's musical is a black-swan genre rarity - a 1960s-set sledgehammer to broadway and hollywood 's insistence on sunshiny endings in golden-era musicals about nazis , murder and suicide .", "denmark 's enfant terrible lars von trier finally won the camme palme d'or for this postmodern deconstructive musical featuring a stunning performance by bjork .", "though flawed , MOV is a worthy addition to the filmography of mr. von trier .", "von trier is vicious when it comes to milking the melodrama .", "i was devastated by it . what bothers me is this : it is the easiest thing in the world to do ... move people by destroying something beautiful .", "even without the musical numbers , von trier has given us a compelling story with original characters .", "showcases everything bad about european art cinema , and while possibly worth a look as a curiosity , is still an entertainment-free work .", "this may be a musical , but do n't expect a good time ; it 's a grim tragedy that 's deliberately drab and exceedingly painful to watch .", "so unrelenting in its manipulative sentimentality that , if it had been made by an american and shot in a more conventional manner , it would be seen as a bad joke .", "if this movie were ever to open on broadway , they could hold the opening and closing night parties simultaneously .", "noble , even interesting but also long and ultimately flawed experiment .", "it 's not just that the numbers are berserkly bad ; they also do n't seem to have any emotional connection to this bedraggled , dickensian waif .", "the danish director has made an incredibly dour , music-tinged drama that might break some hearts , but just made me want to break things .", "it hits all the cheap little notes of viewer manipulation that hollywood hacks rely on to wring tears from the dramatically challenged suckers in the crowd .", "-lsb- von trier 's -rsb- work starts to feel bloated , self-important , and boring .", "so exasperating in its contradictions , so frustrating in its fakery , so deeply irritating in its pretensions , it 's frankly hard to know where to begin to dissect it .", "a bitter confection chock-full of rusty barbs and a woeful , inexorable slide into doom and worse .", "falls far short of breaking the waves in nearly every way -- in uneven performances , an implausible narrative , its shallow emotional resonance .", "has moments of unbelievable power and horror ... and these moments make the rest worthwhile .", "some will hate MOV , but i loved every raw , vibrant moment of it .", "a numbing , nearly three-hour musical .", "selma asks for so little , complains so seldom , and is in such perpetual denial about her problems that i find her virtually indigestible as a character .", "it offers its not-so-profound socio-political commentary in a pointlessly showy style thatsays more about its creator 's self-importance than any message he wants to deliver .", "they speak english , but the film does n't feel american .", "it may have some powerful and disturbing moments , but it 's otherwise too self-absorbed and pretentious in showing the viewer just how quirky and moving a film it thinks it really is .", "von trier ... makes a mockery of his actors and his audience .", "seeing it , one does get some sense that the danish emperor of film is wearing no clothes .", "-lsb- bjork -rsb- won the top acting honor at cannes , but as i took full measure of her screen persona , i kept wondering what time she was due back at santa 's workshop .", "what does danish director lars von trier tell his leading ladies ? does he say , ` please , for me , put a daffy smile on your face and paste it there for every scene ' ?", "MOV is that curious thing , a movie that by turns is wincingly awful and heartbreakingly fine .", "much of it comes across as a giant , misshapen ego trip .", "aims right for the heart and aces its target .", "an uncomfortable but significant success .", "the powerful , emotional music perfectly complements the dark , somber tone of the film .", "ultimately , it 's a tribute to the power of cinema .", "at least MOV is bad in a complicated way .", "one critic has been quoted as describing bjork 's acting style as a re-invention of the art form . another bit of hype that turned out to be true .", "a visionary and magical experience . this film is miraculous .", "director lars von trier 's last film , `` breaking the waves , '' dealt with a woman -lrb- emily watson -rrb- who thought she could talk to god . `` dancer '' presents selma as a naif who believes heaven looks a lot like hollywood .", "... a calculated attack on conventional sentimentality and hollywood illusion ; the kind of movie that means to frustrate your expectations rather than affirm your assumptions .", "the turgid soap opera of a plot reveals little of the human truths -lsb- it -rsb- presumably wants to uncover .", "the preachiness is off-putting , and so are the film 's melodramatic plotting and woozy handheld camerawork .", "an arresting , emotionally-charged paean to the insulating power of imagination .", "the genre of the movie musical is in a sad state . this is a genre that did not need von trier 's ` help ' .", "but i had no contract , me and lars , because i come from the punk school of thought . it was all based on trust . so i walked off the set .", "i make no promises about MOV . you may hate it . but i thought it was one of the best pictures of the year .", "bj\u00f6rk is magic in the lead role . it is no wonder she won the best actress award at cannes because of power and subtlety of her performance .", "`` MOV '' is an exciting and daring experiment in musical filmmaking .", "it is hard to resist the suspicion that the whole thing is a ruse to satisfy some deep-seated sadistic urge in von trier 's artistic psyche", "... a magnificent human drama that sends us searching for messages in a thick blanket of emotional pain ...", "i got very little out of this particular freak show .", "i thought the best part about it was the performance of bj\u00f6rk , and my critique is more positive than negative because of her .", "strange , cerebral , immensely interesting and weirdly , thoroughly distancing , MOV is a movie like they used to make 'em .", "powerful -- and powerfully irritating . but love it or hate it , you 're not likely to forget it .", "this movie , for all its flaws , is a unique journey , and needs to be experienced rather than explained .", "it goes well beyond the clich\u00e9s of melodrama and into the realm of near-genius .", "an exhilarating and emotional musical drama which once again pushes the limits of modern film-making .", "no matter how bizarre or off-putting the film may be at times , it is infinitely more engrossing .", "likely to alienate purists but may charm a younger audience drawn by icelandic actress-singer-songwriter bj\u00f6rk .", "it 's great to see a movie so courageous and affecting , so committed to its own differentness .", "rarely is MOV pleasant to endure -lrb- pleasure does n't seem to be a goal of the von trier oeuvre -rrb- , but you 'll do it , spellbound .", "the two-hour-plus running time is quite an endeavor , and bj\u00f6rk ... rises to the occasion , showcasing captivating ability that 'll make you forget this is a musical and just see the quality filmmaking .", "a dark , slow and depressing , but ultimately haunting film .", "the musical is dead . long live the musical ! lars von trier has not only resurrected the form in his latest film , he has reinvented it .", "graced with a particular genius for absorbing the past to suggest an exciting cinematic future .", "a thought-provoking , emotionally resonant , and innovative cinematic experience .", "come to the theater prepared , with a handkerchief in one hand and a rotten tomato in the other .", "this is a film like no other this year , and on that grounds alone you should see it .", "it smashes down the walls of habit that surround so many movies . it returns to the wellsprings . it is a bold , reckless gesture .", "far from unwatchable , this provocative film is still haunting and irritating me days later , and that 's probably the best reaction any artist could hope to elicit with his works .", "although less developed and satisfying than breaking the waves , MOV is ultimately more devastating ." ], "summary": "dancer in dark can be grim , dull , and difficult to watch , but even so , it has a powerful and moving performance from bjork and is something quite new and visionary .", "id": "13269" }, { "movie": "greenberg", "reviews": [ "baumbach may think he 's found a rare happy ending when he puts these two together , but i highly doubt it .", "the engine that drives MOV is this tension between the illusion of our outward projection and the absolute loathing of the worms underneath .", "MOV is inevitably , productively divisive in tone and topical focus-and this in itself strikes me as a good thing-but you can not say the filmmakers are n't trying to use all the resources available to the form .", "baumbach 's movie once again walks a fine line between being off-putting and being fascinating in its character study , and for me the positives win out .", "good luck with yourself , MOV . but i think i want to break up .", "watching the social and family dynamics play out in this film reveals a whole life lived in these rhythms and traps , which is not always pleasant ... but certainly interesting .", "the characters are so socially destructive that it 's difficult to care what happens to any of them .", "far from the usual slapstick laced with smarts comedy , MOV is ben stiller 's punch drunk love .", "roger MOV is not the kind of guy you want to wind up next to at a dinner party .", "full review at movies for the masses", "it 's a character study that builds slowly to a few pointed moments of karmic awakening , not all of which are ennobling . and it 's played with uncanny intensity by stiller , who has almost no vanity .", "... have conceived and brought to life a pair of character studies about two damaged people that , over a bumpy emotional road , find each other", "a bore . no story . about a narcissistic , mean-spirited , depressed 40 year old .", "the funniest and saddest movie mr. baumbach has made so far , and also the riskiest .", "a lot like spending time with friends of friends that are amusing , maybe even fascinating , but ultimately really annoying", "overmedicated , and squeezing lemonade out of far too many lemons . and though there are a few upbeat surprises like a post-operative get well burger , periodic dramatic cpr is highly recommended slouching towards the credits . pass the prozac .", "stiller gives an affecting performance ... his best dramatic turn yet .", "MOV will do a lot for stiller 's reputation and gerwig 's profile , but its awkward , messy humanity and uncomfortable honesty wo n't necessarily do a lot for ticket-buyers more used to lighter , warmer and breezier entertainments .", "baumbach is as perceptive about aimlessness as he is adept at offhandedness ; whether these gifts are ideally complementary may have to remain an open question .", "after several movies ' worth of glib overacting , stiller is more exposed and vulnerable here than he has ever been on film .", "it 's mostly all doom and gloom . fans of baumbach have come to expect that from him lately , but is it so much to ask for a good story and some likeable characters as well ?", "it 's stiller 's job here to indicate why MOV is n't merely repulsive , and on that count he succeeds .", "parental content review", "does well by its hurt and hurtful hero .", "though `` MOV '' recalls `` annie hall '' at times , it is crucially different . allen has an essentially comic view of existence , although there have been exceptions and his vision has grown darker with age . baumbach 's work has been dark from the start and ar", "movies about insufferable people do n't have to be insufferable themselves , but when a tangible arc is lacking and no credible change is made in who they are from beginning to end , the viewer is left to question what , exactly , the point is .", "you may well identify with roger 's relentless irritation . but you probably wo n't like it .", "jason leigh 's acting-writing teaming with baumbach is just as exciting as stiller 's triumphant return to the neurotic kingdom . misery loves company .", "a funny and observant movie that 's quite absorbing and entertaining", "baumbach 's misanthropy may have become shtick by this point , but he keeps returning to the same mode because he 's so unbelievably good at it .", "... in some ways a very funny movie , although i 'm not sure you could call it comedy ... this is an actors ' movie , and the characters portrayed here are authentic , at least to my experience .", "`` MOV '' succeeds mostly because its characters and story are much more interesting , and baumbach left the toilet-cam at home this time .", "through the casual pacing of the script and harris savides ' gloriously brumous cinematography , MOV becomes more about other people 's interpretations of roger than the man himself .", "love is just a screech away as ben stiller bares the soul of a crazy man who seems to like it that way .", "the storytelling may not always be sharp enough , but director noah baumbach 's vision of a los angeles where people with dreams slowly age into bland irrelevance is spot-on .", "the movie labors long , but realistically so , before finding hints of light in a very long tunnel .", "as a portrait of self-obsession , MOV has its moments but the film never gives us sufficient reason to care about roger ...", "american 21st century post traumatic stress and economic desolation gets filtered through the mid-life crisis of ben stiller 's troubled character roger MOV in noah baumbach 's edgy romantic comedy that puts a premium on how we treat one another .", "this is tricky , ambiguous material , seemingly better fitted to a short literary novel than to a movie , and it could have gone wrong in a hundred ways , yet baumbach handles it with great assurance .", "although ben stiller 's brand of nervy comic ticks can prove irritating on occasions , here he is kept in check so that the humor and the pathos shine through .", "the main reason to see baumbach 's serio comedy of one severely flawed , neurotic new yorker is not ben stiller -lrb- who 's reliable -rrb- but the gorgeous-looking and talented greta gerwig as his masochistic love interest , who should become a star .", "MOV is a perceptive look at coming to terms with , if not entirely embracing , the life you were n't expecting and by no means wanted .", "MOV only slightly misses the top flight by settling for too weak a foil .", "you have to hang with it , squeezing pleasure and the occasional chuckle out of its bitter beauty where you can . it 's not for everyone but it rewards those who are open to it .", "the style is observational , the drama is understated , and , when the time comes , it knocks you out with the subtlest of badda-booms .", "baumbach tracks roger without glib condescension . that 's why MOV pulls you in . even when you laugh , like in the climactic party scene , it hurts .", "what saves it , however , is gerwig . the love story ai n't credible , but her performance is , perfectly capturing a young woman who does n't lack confidence so much as a sense of self .", "a film that stays with you if you stay with it .", "it is always difficult to care for a film with a central character who is whiney , self-centered , and pathetic . this movie and MOV the character are no exception .", "the glib stabs at jean eustache-like candor from the squid and the whale and margot at the wedding do n't get any less hollow by being transplanted to california", "writer-director noah baumbach is hilariously acute in his observation of generation x in the early autumn of its years .", "the only thing that stops it from being completely oppressive is greta gerwig 's wonderfully believable performance as the awkward , much younger woman whom roger alternately woos and rejects .", "stiller is expert at playing self-indulgent types unaware of their boorishness , and MOV is no exception .", "while `` MOV '' was n't as funny as i had hoped , i think it 's a great film and in the end is a return to form for baumbach .", "not the feel-good film of the year , but MOV is a powerful account of how a few lost souls can find meaning and direction in life .", "in many ways this is baumbach 's best film , filled with his bitter but often funny misanthropic perspective , but buoyed by the undeniable likability of stiller and gerwig .", "MOV does n't amount to much , really , but it 's an enjoyably amusing character study with plenty of little pleasures .", "while baumbach may not have written roger MOV as his most unlikable character yet , as played by ben stiller that 's exactly what he becomes .", "nothing good happens during the course of the movie -- and baumbach seems to be saying , take it or leave it . i , for one , take it .", "... it is greta gerwig that is truly the beating heart here .", "noah baumbach 's newest serio-comedy is many things , but the word that i keep coming back to is brave .", "as played by ben stiller , the character of MOV fails to transcend his abhorrent exterior .", "an original and endearing romantic comedy about a difficult person who is trying to get unstuck from his bad habits , cynicism , and fear .", "quietly , unobtrusively revealing , and pretty funny too -- a shrewdly observed comic portrait of a thoroughgoing egomaniac .", "bittersweet and beautifully realized , harsh but humane , MOV is a self-consciously small film that nevertheless leaves an indelible mark .", "baumbach fails to create a compelling case for investing oneself in MOV 's quest for self-actualization .", "it 's one of my favorite stiller performances , perhaps precisely because it is such a surprisingly nuanced turn .", "MOV is not an enjoyable movie , but it 's a unique experience that will mostly appeal to cinephiles with insatiable appetites for character-driven small films .", "baumbach 's writing and direction of these characters display more of a novelistic touch ... but the approach produces a deeply felt view of flawed individuals .", "this is more of a character study than it is a real story . the characters in the film are vivid and they make indelible impressions . the acting is excellent all around .", "ben stiller plays the most repellent character i have ever seen in a movie and that includes `` dracula '' . if you are going to feature a repellent character , you have to make him or her interesting . bela lugosi was a huge success by comparison .", "stiller succeeds in a dramatic role but the script underwhelms with a meandering story and an unlikable lead character .", "his sharpest observations are reserved for preternaturally intelligent , hyper-self-conscious outsiders whose existential crises are the failure of the world-and , to some extent , themselves-to live up to their own high expectations .", "obviously there 's running commentary from director noah baumbach -- his characters are never free of context -- but they do n't have epiphanies , they do n't learn and they do n't apologize . it 's kind of refreshing .", "baumbach may paint miniatures , but his films are anything but quaint . they 're as unsettling as meeting a harmless but difficult stranger .", "a typically low-key effort from noah baumbach ...", "from the ever-inventive mind of noah baumbach comes a deep comedy that seems to combine elements from his last two films .", "there 's a terrific character profile buried within this meandering , awkward film . the actors create superbly rounded people , but the slow pace and seemingly aimless script make it rather maddening to watch .", "MOV may be good with wood , but stiller is pure polyfilla as he tries to plug the credibility gaps in a messy script which features one of the most ludicrous sex scenes in history .", "are you a movie star nobody takes seriously ? are you fed-up with being cast in dumb comedies ? do you crave the respect of your peers ? then call noah baumbach , a director with a knack for extracting good performances from the unlikeliest of places .", "baumbach grows up and suggests he 's getting better with age .", "old ben stiller has returned .", "it 's an intelligent , original piece of work that totally flouts hollywood formula while delivering killer lines with the sort of casual abandon that suggests a director totally in control of his material .", "an awkward moment is comedy gold in ben stiller 's hands and there are plenty of those in MOV .", "stiller loses his natural comic appeal chasing after the hero 's frowns and tics ...", "enjoyable character study from writer-director noah baumbach that makes up for its relative lack of plot with a superbly written script and terrific performances from ben stiller , greta gerwig and rhys ifans .", "basically , it 's great .", "MOV scintillates with intelligence , razor 's - edge humor and austere empathy for its struggling lovers .", "to really pull off MOV would require a lead performance from a master actor . the actor it stars is ... ben stiller .", "we can care about irritating characters , sure . but not this one .", "noah baumbach again investigates psychologically screwed-up people , although this time with much less comedic impact .", "i only kind of like it , and i 'll probably never want to see it again , but i respect it on some level .", "woody allen is an influence , but baumbach 's comedy of discomfort is distinctive -- it speaks to the peculiar anxieties of the ` mean ' era that produced it .", "detest may not be a strong enough word to express what surely ranks as the worst movie of 2010 . if you choose to ignore this warning , you may want to jump off a cliff after seeing this debacle for yourself", "droll humored and observant modern-day relationship psychological comedy/drama .", "a film of powerful , memorable moments -- some striking dialogue , some great performances , a handful of beautifully played , bracingly discomfiting love scenes -- in search of a structure and , perhaps , a soul .", "MOV is a groundbreaking performance for stiller who 's unafraid , it seems , to risk alienating fans of his more mainstream movies like meet the fockers .", "it 's gerwig who 's the real revelation ... she 'll be around for a long time , but you 'd be well-advised to get to know her right now .", "like a lot of human relationships MOV is complicated , infuriating , good-hearted , funny , often painful , and well worth the effort . a sad little movie but also a great one , lit by two astonishing central performances .", "there 's a lot not to like about MOV , the character and the film ; and yet , by the end , i found it very touching , and the final scene is so imbued with delicacy and humanity that any stumbles along the way can be forgiven .", "as a study of stasis and of people conscious of not living the lives they had imagined for themselves , the picture offers a bracing undertow of seriousness beneath the deceptively casual , dramatically offhand surface .", "a well-made movie filled with authentic moments of humour and insight , if only the central character was n't such an unlikeable tool .", "some viewers will be turned off by this non-stiller role but i think he 's great . he also gets a few quotable lines thanks to writer-director noah baumbach .", "baumbach avoids the tedious or the overstated , always finding a way to raise the stakes , whether it 's through an unexpected plot development or a performance .", "baumbach sends his signature brand of familial dysfunction west to los angeles in MOV , adding another exceptional character portrait to his resume and excavating unseen layers of depth in his leading man .", "while slightly patchy and too quirky , ben stiller is terrific in the lead role and the film is highly watchable , containing a handful of unforgettable moments .", "MOV is the latest character comedy from writer-director noah baumbach -lrb- the squid and the whale , margot at the wedding -rrb- . for lovers of the genre , it 's a real treat .", "as a film about two misfits , MOV is a bit of a misfit itself : bright , mysterious and not that interested in making friends .", "a beautifully concise and sensitive screenplay -lrb- co-written with jennifer jason leigh -rrb- and insightful direction , inviting us to become involved in the lives of two complex , confused individuals", "MOV would be a heckuva movie if we could just get MOV out of there .", "ben stiller uses his rather large cranium to host his character 's immense ego like a sun he believes all others orbit .", "the movie has the curious vagueness of intent that makes so many `` meaningful '' works of fiction not all that meaningful .", "i never knew who ben stiller was born to play , but now i do .", "cinematographer harris savides captures the relentless , rather terrifying sunniness of la without ignoring the smog . baumbach 's script and direction has brought out the best in everyone on-screen .", "finds room for feeling among the anger ... blooms into a study of relatable people , not just baumbach 's own issues .", "baumbach does n't have much to offer besides the comfort of malaise , which dilutes the gravity , making the film 's uncompromising attitude almost predictable .", "as unlikable as roger is , stiller finds a way to make you see past his bitterness and sympathize with his aimlessness . you do n't like him , but you feel his pain .", "how patient you 'll be depends a lot on how you feel about ben stiller , the reigning icon of squirm-inducing weaselly boorishness . what can i say ? i love the guy .", "true to this chauvinistic genre , gerwig is a vacuum who lives to serve the house , the man and the mechanics of baumbach 's script .", "noah baumbach rebounds in a big way with MOV , a brilliant triumph for all involved .", "this is the kind of low-budget movie that attracts respectful reviews , but tiny audiences . that 's because there 's virtually no story or character development and the main character 's an idiot .", "this is a movie about the awful shock of early middle age , the sudden realisation that you are not one of the young people any more . like a wasp , it delivers a sharp sting of sadness .", "in MOV it 's sometimes difficult to figure out whether it 's roger or baumbach who has lost his way .", "baumbach -lrb- the squid and the whale -rrb- has a knack for creating clever , tension-laden dialogue that feels authentic , and there 's plenty of i.", "there is none of stiller 's usual knockabout comedy -- it is all brilliantly observational .", "baumbach is capable of brilliant dialogue , and certain scenes have a tidy truthfulness that recall woody allen at his pinnacle .", "like the director 's kicking and screaming and margot at the wedding , it works as an almost perfect example of a certain kind of american neurosis .", "see this film for uniformly excellent performances and a beguiling aesthetic , but approach with caution if manhattan-era woody allen drives you up the wall .", "lurching between comedy and agony , noah baumbach 's new film appears to be the simple tale of a man recovering from a nervous breakdown . yet MOV resonates for days afterwards , like a hangover after a peculiar and fascinating party .", "gerwig has an unaffected screen presence that is oddly compelling : a kind of luminous ordinariness", "everybody hurts , all the time , as ben stiller aces his dramatic turn in another witty , discomforting comedy drama from baumbach . no happy endings here , but a climactic note of hope feels hard-earned .", "ben stiller bites reality back", "the dramedy is richly written and stiller 's acting delivers , though his unlikable narcissist may put off audiences . the big discovery , however , is gerwig , whose dreamy blonde -- lost in a post-college haze -- comes off earthy and instantly appealing .", "MOV is a nasty neurotic . florence is a passive victim . if you 're looking for someone to identify with -- well , pray you do n't find one here .", "MOV wo n't be everyone 's cup of hemlock . yet we all know people like this -- the ones who only hear their own motors running -- and baumbach locates and mines a rich vein of appalled comic sympathy .", "stiller 's portrayal is so acutely real , baumbach 's writing so cutting and specific , and the work of gerwig so seemingly effortless that MOV makes you , if not happy to stick around , then at least agreeable to the idea .", "even among the cavalcade of finks and egoists that populate baumbach 's body of work , MOV is a doozy .", "a comedy that is so cozily zen that its subdued laughs might qualify as relaxation exercises .", "ben stiller , greta gerwig and rhys ifans all shine , but the question is : how long can you stand to hangout with the annoying roger MOV ?", "MOV may not win any popularity contests , but for fans of risk-taking cinema , it 's most likely to succeed .", "at times , you 'd swear the movie was improvised -- especially judging by the clumsy , contrived and slapped-together third act .", "stiller plays a monster , and when gerwig goes for him , declaring that she sees his tender side , the development seems like a fond indulgence on the part of writer-director noah baumbach .", "perceptive and very beautiful new film", "MOV 's inconclusive last scene hints at the possibility that even the bitterest basket case stands a chance of finding someone who loves him . that 's sort of my hope for this movie , too .", "MOV is all about that halting , forward movement . maybe there 's no happy ending for roger MOV , but there 's no going back , either , and that counts as progress .", "the clashes between roger and his old friends and bandmates shine a light on the fact that you either have to accept your lost dreams , or fight for them all over again , no matter how much your knees ache or your joints creak .", "gerwig is striking in the role of the unlikely ingenue , her face and body slack and impassive one moment , radiantly expressive the next , and stiller plunges pretty fearlessly into barely redeemed unlikability .", "it has a few quiet , subtle , satisfying moments that sneak up on you from around and between the dialogue , and they make the movie worth pondering .", "the movie has the easy , unforced feel of the temporary timeout in life that roger himself has embarked on . the script is full of funny , observant lines .", "the movie ends on strange note , almost as if even baumbach could n't stand to spend one more minute with the odious MOV .", "as well-acted and sporadically charming as MOV is , baumbach 's consumption with misery keeps stiller 's character , and the film named for him , from being likable .", "baumbach proves he 's as good as anyone at producing the kind of laughter that sticks in your throat .", "baumbach reminds us , like golden-days mazursky did , of the aching elusiveness but absolute essentialness of human connection .", "in l.a. , if you squint your eyes just right , it 's not all that hard to imagine that the house that you 're tending may very well be your own . yet in the harsh delineation of MOV , we 're squinting for a whole other reason .", "MOV plays a lot like mature mumblecore -lrb- which is to say that it has a plot and a script -rrb- , with a familiar theme : it is ultimately your relationships that define you .", "the movie is set up as a quirky romance between two lost souls , but in the end it seems more like a stalemate than a love match .", "unhealthy relationship is focus of darkly funny adult drama .", "failed artists -- more specifically , failed writers -- play a central role in most of noah baumbach 's films . in MOV , baumbach embraces that failure ." ], "summary": "MOV 's title character is harder to like than most , but ben stiller 's nuanced performance and a darkly funny script help take the misanthropic edge off .", "id": "770805910" }, { "movie": "nowhere-in-africa", "reviews": [ "a straightforward epic , almost alarmingly quaint in the telling .", "this quiet , beautiful film from director caroline link puts a different spin on the holocaust film genre .", "this is one of the best films about a person coming to the viewpoint of another , only to see that person have a change in attitude .", "beautifully shot on location in kenya and filled with touching , almost magical moments .", "mediocre , interminable soap opera .", "although the plot stretches thin at an overlong 141 minutes , writer-director caroline link never lets the picture 's african setting distract attention from the human values she wants to explore .", "despite a shaky narrative focus and dramatic reticence , its journey is consistently absorbing .", "stealing scene after scene is the daughter -lrb- played by both lea kurka and karoline eckertz -rrb- , who adds charm to this top-notch effort .", "the story here is more personal and intimate than in last year 's shanghai ghetto , in which an entire jewish community was transported to shanghai .", "audience empathy for the displaced redlichs , coupled with the filmmaker 's proffered charms of wise natives and their mysterious rituals , goes a long way toward making this lyrical travelogue a crowd pleaser .", "unusual in how it expertly blends two popular types of movies to create one seamless motion picture experience .", "writer-director caroline link adapted stefanie zweig 's expatriate memoir gracefully , languidly and with full understanding of its heroine .", "an epic story that deeply explores the lives of jewish expatriots during world war ii .", "caroline link 's oscar winning film has sweeping theme music , stunning cinematography and a well-told story that offers a unique slice of history .", "the acting is wonderful throughout , and director carole link has crafted a tale with the dramatic scope of a great epic . the english patient comes to mind .", "a pretty but unsatisfying trifle , its graceful camerawork and fine acting unable to make an oddly flat story shine .", "una buena historia para decir un par de cosas sobre el desarraigo , los lazos familiares , y la chance de empezar una nueva vida siempre que sea necesario .", "MOV is long enough that each character is meticulously studied and developed while link takes the time also to provide wonderfully patient , artistic moments", "very moving , well-written , and better-acted , but bitterly realistic .", "plods through new terrain in holocaust related subject matter with a shotgun mentality", "unlike most biopics , MOV has a feel for real life , not just the moments of drama .", "this marvelously evocative movie keenly observes the quotidian even as it captures the epic sweep of a tale of displacement and adaptation .", "a likely contender for next spring 's foreign film oscar .", "germany 's oscar entry is a terrific example of the stresses of cultural displacement .", "this is a wonderful adventure .", "the premise makes one wonder what it might be like to grow up in a completely foreign land , surrounded by entirely different customs and languages .", "intriguing story , artfully developed characterizations , and fine performances carry the film to excellence .", "in building a feeling of dissatisfaction and ennui , its pace of time passing is simply too slow and subdued .", "terrific performances all around , especially from young kurka , who avoids the usual traps of child acting to contribute a characterization of unusual depth .", "adapting stefanie zweig 's novel for the screen , director caroline link looks at the struggles of a german family working through social and cultural clashes much like the last film which earned her an oscar nomination , albeit on a more epic and exotic lev", "a ravishing page-turner of an adventure that defies as many expectations as it fulfills .", "bolstered by the cast 's consistently fine performances , MOV packs a hefty emotional punch .", "refined boredom .", "skates on the slippery moral slope of colonial fantasy .", "a physically gorgeous movie that finds deep psychological insights where most filmmakers just go hunting for big game .", "the movie 's real strength lies in its intelligent , sympathetic account of the dynamic , difficult marriage of regina 's parents .", "MOV depicts the magical ways that kenya stirs the soul of a young jewish girl who adapts easily to the local culture and their earth-cherishing practices .", "`` MOV '' is an -lsb- previously -rsb- untold holocaust-era story that is intriguing and often striking in its depiction of a very unusual family of survivors .", "this is an intelligent epic told without special pleading , a film able to cut deep enough to reveal a keen specificity of experience .", "this is intelligent but resolutely safe filmmaking .", "a lovely film with a deeply humane perspective .", "it is so rare to find a film where you become quickly , simply absorbed in the story . you want to know what happens next .", "kohler 's performance drives the film and helps the audience appreciate africa for what it represents to her family : a second chance to live life the right way .", "your next movie destination should be MOV .", "a good story , exceedingly well told .", "link takes few chances as these displaced europeans in africa learn a new sense of self-worth and multicultural understanding , but the details of their experience are compelling .", "this consistently absorbing family saga is primarily a safari of the soul .", "MOV is n't really a dull film so much as an oddly quaint one that seems to find a comfortable perspective about drastic circumstances .", "what rescues the film is ... the quality of the acting .", "some may carp about the leisurely pacing and length -lrb- 138 minutes -rrb- , others about the occasionally didactic tone , but the film 's beauty and the power of the story make up for it .", "superbly acted and brilliantly lensed , MOV is that hard-to-achieve movie where the small picture counts for more than the bigger one .", "with a rich sense of detail and ferocious determination not to simplify the complex , the film explores themes of maintaining one 's cultural identity in a foreign land and the amazing adaptability of kids .", "a well-acted , exquisitely photographed , plot-jammed movie that sinks into melodrama and reveals too little about the african culture and landscape in which it 's set .", "this very fine movie is neither tourism nor special pleading , and its emotions are impeccably developed .", "it focuses too much on the mother .", "an instant family classic to be shared and enjoyed by parents and mature teens .", "if there 's a love story here , it 's the redlichs ' -- and the director 's -- love for the stark beauty of africa .", "worth seeing .", "there 's a lot more to MOV -- too much , actually ... yet even if the movie has at least one act too many , the question that runs through it -- of whether belonging to a place is a matter of time or of will -- remains consistent .", "seesaws frustratingly between the inspired and the rote .", "a worthy , complex and nuanced film .", "it 's beautifully shot and too long , and contains pained references to the holocaust ; it 's a movie tailor-made for awards rather than for personal reasons .", "MOV is a movie of many moods and nuances . in addition to being a holocaust saga , it 's a girl 's story , a woman 's story and the story of a marriage .", "one very fine film .", "absorbing and moving .", "does n't avoid being a bit too solemn and self-important , but its intelligent craftsmanship and good intentions go far to make up for it .", "the pacing of MOV is a mite drowsy , but there are payoffs for the director 's uninsistent touch .", "large in scope and swelling with sentiment .", "running an epic length , it tells a solid but not particularly exceptional story .", "an important and intriguing film that will leave you both entertained and moved .", "there 's a wealth of material here -- all sorts of fascinating details -- that more than fill up the film 's generous two-hours-plus running time .", "the film has the glorious sweep of an epic .", "link creates a complex and fascinating portrait of a marriage under the enormous stress of geographical dislocation and historical trauma .", "do n't expect to see the best foreign-language picture made in 2002 .", "this biography is well made but has nothing new to offer", "... generates its power through first-rate performances , believable character behavior and an accumulation of convincing detail ...", "the acting is excellent .", "a penetrating look at what was lost in ways that are subtle but profound .", "a gloriously heartfelt story about identity , love and cultural divides .", "it 's exactly the sort of import you 'd expect to walk off with an academy award .", "it did n't move me .", "offers an admirably understated study of the family 's constantly shifting desires , fears and allegiances .", "merely watchable .", "while roman polanski 's the pianist may be the most shattering film to deal with the holocaust , MOV may well be the most human .", "excellent .", "populated with personalities so completely rendered that they 're as believable as the people next door .", "everything in the film rings true , is deeply moving , richly photographed , and wonderfully acted .", "it 's poignant , capturing the feeling of a young person 's scattered memories .", "a beautifully shot and honestly melancholy drama marred by a meandering script that has trouble deciding whose story is being told ." ], "summary": "a visually lovely epic with compelling , three-dimensional characters .", "id": "680048" }, { "movie": "jingle_all_the_way", "reviews": [ "ok family fun casts arnold with sinbad .", "if it were n't for the credits ` a brian levant film ' and ` directed by brian levant , ' one would be certain that the director was chris columbus .", "the film is rescued by a strong third act , but getting there is torture .", "in this formulaic star vehicle , schwarzenegger gets to fly like peter pan , act like superman -- and fulfill all the fantasies kids may have about their fathers .", "home alone , this is not , but for a family christmas movie , it 's surprisingly fun .", "still heartless and unfunny and as welcome a part of the holidays as traffic and fruit cake .", "god forbid arnold should have to shell out for one of those spanish-speaking turbomen being hocked in the bad part of town .", "ahnold terminates the holiday spirit .", "the practice of buying indulgences did n't die with the middle ages , it just sort of metastasized into something black and malignant at the heart of our society .", "and one wonders why sinbad has n't made any movies since", "i liked a lot of the movie , which is genial and has a lot of energy , but i was sort of depressed by its relentlessly materialistic view of christmas , and by the choice to go with action and -lrb- mild -rrb- violence over dialogue and plot .", "even the grinch would n't like this one .", "here 's arnie , of all people , playing a bedraggled suburbanite , and his perversely amusing casting boosts a crass , sometimes nasty and finally funny celebration of holiday mass-merchandising and greed .", "deserved better reviews than it got when it came out .", "the overall effect is disquieting - too simplistic for an adult comedy and too angry for a children 's movie .", "a career low-point for arnold schwarzenegger . yes , even worse than batman & robin .", "while there 's some genuine laughs and warm sentimentality to be had , brian levant 's MOV represents everything that 's bad with christmas today .", "you 'll need an awful lot of christmas cheer to forgive arnold schwarzenegger for his fourth , and hopefully last , venture into comedy , a turkey that needs stuffing on the most inaccessible shelf of your local video store .", "MOV wo n't win any awards for believability , but as purely escapist family entertainment on a grand scale it 's a tough act to beat .", "he 's running california and he agreed to make this ...", "MOV wo n't become a holiday chestnut , but it does deserve to be roasted ." ], "summary": "arnold schwarzenegger tries his best , but MOV suffers from an uneven tone , shifting wildly from a would-be satire on materialism to an antic , slapstick yuk-fest .", "id": "10318" }, { "movie": "anvil_the_story_of_anvil", "reviews": [ "i 'm still not 100 percent convinced that this wonderfully bittersweet documentary is n't entirely a put-on .", "a complicated portrait of complicated men , an adeptly assembled character study that shows how limitless fame and fortune might not be the real recipe for happiness .", "gervasi misses a few beats that would elevate this from enjoyable to resonant , but he 's the only filmmaker for the job", "anvil ! is one of the sweetest , funniest films i 've seen this year . also the loudest and most foulmouthed .", "there 's just something utterly winning about the way the guys of anvil hang on to their dream -- and when , in the movie 's final scenes , they find it for a moment , it creates some genuine , headbanging joy .", "anvil ! the story of anvil is a documentary about the moderate rise and long , long fall of their band , where musicians in the two other slots came and went , but lips and robb rocked on .", "the movie is a small wonder , because it 's not the work of a practiced filmmaker - sacha gervasi is a writer and anvil fan who shot the movie on a whim , but he has a great eye , and is evidently an editing whiz .", "anvil ! the story of anvil ca n't help but evoke this is spinal tap , the classic 1984 mockumentary directed by the other rob reiner , in terms of both sheer hair-metal ludicrousness and indignities suffered by a not-so-successful rock band on the road .", "the most stirring release of the year thus far .", "an outstanding rock documentary that is as funny/sad as it is revealing .", "anvil ! is exactly what 's needed to slap the recent rash of doomsayer documentaries in the face - preferably with a studded , fingerless leather glove .", "the guy 's a hero in any musical language , and he deserves this heartfelt , emotive , supremely entertaining tribute . anvil ! we salute you !", "sacha gervasi 's endearing film has a real affection for the band 's indomitable spirit which saves this from being another spinal tap and lends it some real heart .", "a charming , touching and very funny film .", "anvil ! is hilarious and painful by turns , much like spinal tap , but with the added pathos of knowing these guys are real .", "it 's funny , but sad . inevitably , there are too many echoes of this is spinal tap , as its two fiftysomething rockers follow their dream with heroic obstinacy , though everyone else knows that it , and they , are doomed .", "not as interesting as last year 's rockumentaries heavy load or heavy metal in baghdad and is nowhere near as funny as spinal tap .", "the film accepts the bleak comedy of this , yet its refusal to patronise anvil 's endurance eventually becomes quite moving . it 's a study in the blind hopefulness that just drives some people on , through every setback .", "the best film about the world of rock since this is spinal tap .", "sacha gervasi 's film gets to the heart of what it means to pursue a personal passion in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds .", "impossible not to get caught up in their boundless optimism , which seems to counter metal 's nihilism ... as the relationships are much more important ... than the music .", "the inspirational doc concentrates on the group 's founders and mainstays , lifelong buds steve ` lips ' kudlow and drummer robb reiner .", "i care about anvil , i think the documentary needed a little bit more .", "their determination is both charming and inspiring .", "the movie is an intoxicating blend of blind faith and heartbreak , but while it 's very funny , the abundant laughs are only half of what makes it such an unexpectedly inspiring document .", "director sacha gervasi finds a funky charm in this pair .", "anvil ! 's deep kinship with spinal tap is more than circumstantial . both films are , at heart , portraits of a lifelong collaboration between two musicians as dedicated as they are delusional .", "a feel-good film of rockin ' proportions .", "if you 're having a rough day , take solace from these middle-aged rockers , who brave untold setbacks purely because they insist on believing that some dreams never die .", "no matter what travails they face , lips and robb remain good company , invariably upbeat no matter how many cockeyed crises come around the bend .", "what 's so refreshing about ` anvil : the story of anvil ' is that it focuses on a toronto band named anvil who have been playing for 30 years despite having no commercial success to show for it .", "the journey of anvil in the film is one suffused with love and passion ... they are the poster-band for passion , and their story is worth checking out .", "one of the most uplifting and inspirational movies of the year .", "transcends thrash metal culture and becomes a working class tale of doing what you love at all costs .", "anvil is an inspirational documentary which provides witness to the power of the human spirit , played to a heavy metal soundtrack .", "anvil ! es ante todo el retrato de una amistad verdadera , la de dos compa\u0144eros de ruta que a pesar del paso del tiempo y de los fracasos -lrb- ... -rrb- todav\u00eda siguen persiguiendo el mismo sue\u0144o loco de cuando eran adolescentes .", "it 's worth seeing because it 's as dramatic as movies come , and the characters are more real than anything you 'll see in a work of fiction .", "a winning way to thrash out an evening 's entertainment .", "this is one of those movies that makes you want to find out what happens next , and those are the best kind .", "i found more real-life poetry about aspiration and failure in a fictional effort such as the wrestler .", "what a sad , funny , inspiring story . even those who hate metal may appreciate the form when seeing these guys ' commitment to each other and to the music .", "truth is always more heart-wrenching , more fantastic than imagination . the bitch-slap of destiny is a mother % u2013 and it 's applied full force to this band from toronto .", "it 's early in 2009 but you probably wo n't see a more enjoyable , uplifting , simply fantastic documentary this year than sacha gervasi 's great anvil ! the story of anvil .", "after 1984 's heavy-metal satire this is spinal tap started the mockumentary craze , most documentary makers pandered to audiences through sarcasm and propaganda . but the true-life heavy-metal anvil finally -- beautifully -- restores the genre .", "it 's a hilarious , and unexpectedly moving , documentary about the greatest metal band you 've probably never heard of .", "-lsb- a -rsb- phenomenal rockumentary .", "anvil ! the story of anvil , a documentary destined to spark many a tap reference , proves that in the world of heavy metal , the line between fiction and reality is even thinner .", "gervasi uncovers the obscurity blanket from -lsb- these -rsb- veteran canadian metal rockers and gives them a cinematic salute in the outrageously entertaining anvil !", "one of the most enjoyable documentaries you may ever see .", "inevitable comparisons will be made with the cultish spinal tap , but gervasi ' docu-mocku stands on its own merits , offering a touching , loving and funny portrait of the little-known band , which may become more famous as a result of this picture .", "this mildly moving documentary - about the best canadian metal band you 've never heard of - is nearly undermined by its own similarity to countless music mockumentaries past .", "hilarious and achingly touching .", "supplies all the rocked-out comedy and rocky-like redemption you could want .", "sacha gervasi 's powerhouse doc brings humor and fervent focus to toronto musicians , supporting their families with day jobs , who wo n't give up the dream .", "`` a hymn to the human spirit , played in power chords ... it is n't just better than most music documentaries ; it 's better than most documentaries , period . ''", "anvil ! is a stupendous document of perseverance and crushing musical industry realities , brought to life by the two men who somehow managed to keep the devil horns raised for over 30 years of disappointment .", "the biggest surprise is not the pervasive comedy in this compelling rockumentary . it 's the poignant , even heartbreaking , moments that sneak up on you as the saga unfolds .", "the success of anvil ! the story of anvil lies in its ability to make you care about an enterprise you might initially have been inclined to laugh at .", "a paean to artistic hope in the midst of almost complete and abject failure .", "while anvil ! is frequently funny , it 'd be a mistake to call the band a joke .", "an alternately humorous and heartbreaking film .", "anvil : the story of anvil is a brilliant real-life spinal tap , with as much pathos as laughs .", "a european tour fraught with shady venue owners , missed trains and in-fighting , and subsequent efforts to record their 13th studio album are misadventures that a less compassionate filmmaker might have wrung for cheap spinal tap-ish humor .", "if you can forget spinal tap -lrb- hard -rrb- , it 's rather touching the way these 50-year-olds still have the forged-in-fire fortitude .", "you do n't have to give two cents about heavy metal music to appreciate sacha gervasi 's joyous and touching documentary about charismatic canadian musicians steve `` lips '' kudlow and robb reiner ...", "in addition to being an offbeat family drama , anvil ! is also a love story between two men-a pair of canadian kids who dreamed a dream and then stayed true to it with more fidelity than most rockers devote to their actual marriages .", "anvil : the true story of anvil is only 80 minutes long , but it packs a lifetime worth of drama , setbacks and especially friendship into its brief running time .", "director sacha gervasi has created one of the great masterpieces of the music business , a seminal statement of pipe dreams and true possibilities ...", "there 's something heroic about the persistence and self-belief of kudlow and reiner , forever squabbling and making up and director sacha gervasi and his team never laugh at or patronise them .", "an engaging account of the life and times of an obscure canadian heavy-metal band .", "see anvil ! if you love heavy metal , because these guys are legends . see anvil ! if you do n't love heavy metal because this story is legendary .", "the music , heard in economical proportions , is secondary to the unexpectedly deep bond between its creators . their story is an underdog 's triumph that 's difficult to deny .", "anvil ! goes all the way to 11 .", "well , the best movie of 2009 is a documentary about aging heavy metal musicians making a last-ditch effort at fame and fortune .", "its touching human interest story about survival hit me in the gut .", "you 'll learn nothing new here about chasing the dream , but this non-fiction story may convince you to make room in your heart to appreciate the combination of earnestness and doggedness that some people maintain .", "while it 's undoubtedly comical and touching , a pall of middle-aged gloom hovers over the antics of canada 's longest surviving death metal band .", "anvil is rock solid entertainment . whether you 're mad for metal or not , you 'll find the band 's talent , spirit , humor -- and mettle -- a real rush .", "two musical wannabes in a perpetual reach for the brass ring . but where it will lead remains unanswered by anything more than what they 've always had in great quantity . hope .", "let 's be honest : anvil is not metal 's missing link , and `` anvil ! '' has been awfully overpraised . however , it 's worth watching for the frequent moments of warm , humane heavy-metal comedy and the antagonistic push-and-pull of canadian creative cousins .", "hugely enjoyable , frequently hilarious and genuinely moving documentary that plays like a real life spinal tap .", "besides being hysterically funny it 's also an emotional story of two men who find their passion in life and stick with it .", "bitterly funny , uproariously sad , irresistibly human .", "even if you do n't like metal , this is a movie to enjoy almost as much as cut loose and mad dog , their most faithful fans , undoubtedly will .", "funny , sweet and often interesting ... but the desperation is so tangible it proves exhausting", "very entertaining docu is amusing without being condescending , touching without straining for pathos .", "it is impossible not to be charmed by -lsb- anvil lead singer steve kudlow 's -rsb- arrested development and to find yourself rooting for his eventual success even as you laugh at his many failures .", "he-man headbangers beware : `` anvil ! the story of anvil '' will make you weep like a little girl , or at least tear up like some sissy , emo-band singer .", "a winning and surprisingly moving documentary about -- wait for it -- a struggling canadian heavy metal band that apparently influenced a generation of hard-rockers including metallica , anthrax and guns n ' roses .", "presents likeable characters , puts them in tough situations , and illuminates their souls with humor and sincerity . it just so happens that the two men who populate this story used to wear leather s&m gear onstage and play guitars with dildos .", "anvil ! the story of anvil is overflowing with honesty . it is fair to say that it is to metal what the wrestler is to wrestling . it is brutal but , in a way , triumphant .", "comedy , drama , unforgettable characters , good music , and an underdog story . do n't miss it !", "anvil ! has been described as the `` real-life spinal tap '' , but it 's sometimes more like a heavy metal remake of the wrestler .", "incongruous , funny , unexpected and moving , sacha gervasi 's film about the 80s band whose long career is anything but what we expect , is much more than a doco about a band", "this is spinal tap was a mockumentary , but this is for real , a portrait of a band that was very influential on later metal bands , like metallica , but who found the big time elusive .", "a spectacular documentary that displays the camaraderie and passion these two musicians feel for their music in the face of continued rejection .", "an affectionate portrait rather than a sad , derisive takedown , anvil ! the story of anvil finds inspiration in the passion and tenacity these aging metalheads display .", "in the end , we get the delight of a portrait of some guys who never packed it in , and the endorsement of the indomitability of the human spirit .", "gervasi has tapped into a powerful if much-overlooked truth : humanity rocks .", "you may not care a lick for the music that anvil plays -lrb- i do n't -rrb- , but you 'll be captivated , entertained and even ennobled by this utterly engaging portrait of their struggle .", "an engaging account of the life and times of an obscure canadian heavy-metal band .", "a study in the cost of pursuing a dream that 's probably the wrong dream , anvil ! the story of anvil looks for the high notes but does n't -- or ca n't -- shy away from the lows .", "although my fondness for heavy metal music knows many bounds , i still found `` anvil '' to be a charming and enormously entertaining film", "anvil 's plight would be funny if it were n't true . its extent is intimately examined in a film that makes you uncomfortable because it is true .", "the new documentary anvil ! the story of anvil succeeds every which way , as '80s metal nostalgia , as a twisted sort of reality-show attempt at a comeback , as an unexpectedly touching portrait of a friendship .", "it certainly helps that gervasi has a sense of humor ... the band 's adventures often resemble a real-life version of this is spinal tap", "anvil ! the story of anvil is a very funny documentary , following original band members steve `` lips '' kudlow and robb reiner -lrb- seriously -rrb- , on a disastrous european tour and an attempt at a comeback album .", "just before it flies off into parody , it becomes something quite unexpectedly moving .", "an engagingly noisy documentary about the middle-aged members of a failed canadian heavy metal band .", "not just one of the best films ever made about rock 'n' roll , but an astute exploration of the thin border between ambition and dementia , a moving hymn to friendship , and a heartbreaking acknowledgement of the utter unfairness of life in general .", "a touching , gripping tale of friendship and forever-young fantasy in failure 's frontline .", "there 's something endearing about this odd couple traipsing through the slush , gunbelts tethered below their sagging paunches and pates glistening in the weak sunshine , waiting for that elusive comeback .", "this documentary about a canadian heavy metal trying to regain their fame in their 50s is hilarious and heartbreaking .", "gervasi is always careful to balance the tone , never mocking lips and robb but not lapsing into sentimentality either . what we 're offered instead is a triumph-of-the-will story that is just as vibrant and rousing as a chorus of electric guitars .", "a truly uplifting 80 minutes of film , you owe it to yourselves to check out the story of anvil , and you then owe it to the band to buy their albums and help put them back where they belong - at the summit of mount metal .", "gervasi 's film may be too slight to launch an assault on the genre 's citizen kane , the amazing metallica : some kind of monster , but it 's still immensely entertaining , and its nostalgia for an era of big crowds and bigger hair has a pleasing tenderness .", "anvil ! the story of anvil has to be one of the most engaging , big-hearted music movies yet made .", "funny , tragic , brilliantly put together and eventually sweetly uplifting . this is the closest thing we 're going to get to a sequel to this is spinal tap .", "affectionate but revealing ... a deeply human piece that 's hilarious one moment and touching the next .", "there 's humor in all this misfortune . but the more you watch , the more you empathize .", "this is no mock-doc joke . director sacha gervasi deftly introduces us to irrepressible frontman steve ` lips ' kudlow and his ever-suffering lifelong sidekick robb reiner -lrb- seriously -rrb- , who were and remain fine musicians but simply never quite caught on .", "cute if predictable .", "a tight shot of a knob that goes to 11 puts a dent in the illusion that the story of anvil is completely true , but regardless , it 's an entertaining ride .", "the tragicomedy of artistic striving has never been more grittily or more sweetly captured than in anvil ! the story of anvil .", "the film is very funny at times , especially in its use of early '80s archival footage ; the comedy of anvil 's hair , outfits , and lyrics from the '80s are worth the price of admission alone .", "now this is spinal tap .", "it 's an affectionate portrait of performers starving for applause , achingly funny as only real life can be .", "there is something beautiful about people who dream big -- and something foolish . anvil ! the story of anvil gets at both ." ], "summary": "a touching , uplifting and inspirational rockumentary about an aging metal band , both hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure .", "id": "770682454" }, { "movie": "10008655-whiteout", "reviews": [ "the film is all panicky zooms and badly staged action dotted with random forensic gross-outs . and , just for the fun of it , an amputation scene .", "the script for MOV is shockingly boring , centering around a mystery that would n't pass a writer 's meeting for csi : antarctica .", "while the setting can be mesmerizing , little else about this movie is captivating . it 's a standard-issue thriller , with a twist you see coming a continent away .", "no event occurs without a character telling us what we 're seeing . this unwelcome commentary is so overdone that it becomes , by the end , an invitation for audience participation . all together now : it 's a body ! looks like it 's been shot in the head !", "for all its frozen blood , assaults with ice axes and killer weather , MOV turns out to be only a pale imitation of the thriller it might have been .", "the severely nonthrilling thriller MOV moves like winter in antarctica . who the flake greenlit this blobby blur ?", "parental content review", "the most surprising thrill ride of the summer , in that it is adequately thrilling and i did n't expect that .", "MOV offers nothing to satisfy fans of the comic and nothing to satisfy even the casual filmgoer just looking for diversion or escape from the heat .", "MOV conditions do n't translate well to the action genre , either . unless you do n't mind watching unidentifiable snow-suited folks grapple in -50 c conditions with an also-unidentifiable icepick-wielding murderer as cg ice violently pelts down on them .", "has a perfunctory , by-the-numbers approach to its story and its characters .", "those worried this means beckinsale will be wearing parkas and snowsuits the entire time will be pleased they still figure a way to showcase her in her underwear within the first 5 minutes", "... the whole cast delivers numb , almost affect-less performances ; the cold must have got to them .", "we get an irritated nancy drew with a flashlight , stomping about in mukluks through a plot with as much clarity as an ice storm at midnight .", "depicts how a woman u.s. marshal at a frigid station in antarctica is tested on many levels by a murder case .", "the movie then becomes one of those murder mysteries where everyone is a suspect , and the murderer himself is the least likely candidate of all . dispelling all logic , you should be able to figure out this whodunit in the opening minutes .", "a ham-handed murder mystery .", "its worst offense is assuming the audience is so dumb that it 'll be shocked by one of the most telegraphed endings in movie history .", "a predictable whodunnit set in a cinematographer 's paradise .", "even in a MOV , you can see the plot twists coming .", "it takes slightly longer than three minutes for diminished mental capacity to set in during this antarctic murder mystery with a fatally low body temperature . kate beckinsale is unrepentantly lazy , dialogue is awful and its misdirection is obvious .", "it 's pretty poor .", "the screenplay is unusually lazy -- additional investigators -lrb- gabriel macht , purportedly a u.n. detective -rrb- appear literally out of nowhere , in the middle of nowhere .", "starting from a graphic novel , sena has turned out your standard tv crime show bloated with a monstrous fx budget .", "i 'd watch kate beckinsale in anything but even she ca n't make this movie anything better than average .", "where are the penguins ?", "a stupid thriller .", "you 'd think that a movie that opens with a gratuitous kate beckinsale shower scene could n't be all bad . but you 'd be wrong .", "at first i thought they were trying to do a film noir thing with the dialogue , but then i realized that it was just bad writing made worse by horrendous line delivery .", "MOV is not awful , but it is maddeningly mediocre .", "the mystery grows thick while the ice on which the story elements struggle to survive melts away .", "what a stiff .", "setting MOV in antarctica salvages the movie from the cinematic scrap heap .", "the characters based on the -lsb- graphic -rsb- novel never get beyond one dimension and the film moves at the pace of an antarctic glacier . on second thought , the glacier moves faster .", "... an easy enough way to pass time if you 're not too demanding or if the cast or unusual setting piques your interest .", "a tolerably entertaining film starring the weather .", "a lifeless whodunit , it wastes the mystical setting and the always game kate beckinsale on a pedestrian plot that could be set anywhere .", "it has a great cast , an original thriller setting , and a compelling concept , and yet the central mystery is surprisingly limp .", "ice-schlocky - an idiotic wipeout .", "it 's as bad as `` i know what you did last summer '' , except on ice !", "if you want the real MOV experience , just read the book . or ask the manager of your local 7-eleven if you can play clue in the beer cooler .", "all we 're given is a lukewarm mystery where frustrating plot holes give way to lackulster conclusions , and even the most furious cgi snowstorms ca n't obscure the film 's telegraphed `` twist . ''", "MOV 's intriguing setting and storyline would be gripping if beckinsale 's sherlocking around was n't so glossed-over , or alternately spoon-fed to the audience .", "stupefying journey to the bottom of the earth .", "an antarctic-set murder mystery that might have played well on the printed page but emerges as a slushy mess on the screen .", "the only thing to care about is what lotion beckinsale uses to make her skin hold up so well in sub-zero temps .", "dull and draining , MOV should have been offered under one of these preferable alternate titles -- washout , or even better , wornout .", "a dreadful sleeping pill , marching into production with the best intentions in the world , but coming out the other side a jumbled , incompetent , ludicrously underlined whodunit .", "an adequate thriller - complete with scares , red herrings and a nonsensical twist-ending % u2013 which exploits its antarctic surroundings for all their worth .", "an uninspired thriller .", "is best when dealing with the splendors of the natural landscape .", "kate beckinsale , adrift in a blizzard of cliches , does n't have enough star presence or her stevie nicks black leather vampire drag to keep audiences from drifting away . bland and predictable .", "the movie is as inert as the wintry terrain in which it is set .", "the film 's biggest crime is that no obvious effort was made here , everything flows with the rigidity of a check list of genre cliches and safe choices .", "... just predictable routine .", "i was n't entertained , i just wanted out of the supposed cold .", "the misleading trailer suggests ` nancy drew vs. the thing , ' but this graphic-novel adaptation is more ` csi : antractica ' -- a straight if occasionally gruesome murder mystery , boosted by the novelty of its sub-zero south pole setting .", "a relatively mediocre , by-the-numbers mystery thriller that melts from your mind as soon as you step into the sunlight", "the film 's slick and expensive looking but dumber than a dead penguin .", "it 's kate beckinsale on ice .", "when serious moments are accompanied again and again by collective widespread laughter from an otherwise well-behaved audience , it is a tell-tale sign that something has gone very wrong in translation from page to screen .", "we do wish you the best in your future endeavors and that you do manage to find a warmer climate .", "perhaps it would have been better if i 'd blacked out for most of MOV .", ". little more than an extended episode of `` c.s.i. antarctica , '' `` MOV '' is a film that could n't be more boring and uninteresting if it tried and if there is one thing that it most certainly does n't do , it is try .", "the funniest antarctic thriller of 2009 !!!", "like keeping a refrigerator door open , -lsb- director dominic sena -rsb- lets out all the fear and suspense .", "characters flail their way through the snow and we squint to see what 's going on only to discover that what 's going on is pretty much nothing .", "the film 's been sitting on the shelf for 2 1/2 years ; maybe it went bad ?", "it is a mystery why star beckinsale ... keeps wallowing in junk food genre fare ... a might more entertaining than watching snow on your television .", "... feels like one of those movies that never progressed much beyond the concept stage - yet ended up getting released anyway .", "what 's missing from MOV is the pervasive sense of paranoia that you 'd expect , or hope for , from a thriller set on the coldest and most isolated land mass on the planet .", "its worst offense is assuming the audience is so dumb that it 'll be shocked by one of the most telegraphed endings in movie history . on second thought , maybe the filmmakers got their wish : MOV is shocking , shockingly bad .", "a whodunnit set on a scientific research base in antarctica that slowly becomes a `` who cares ? ''", "despite beckinsale 's impeccable features appearing to be rendered in porcelain , her performance is far from lifeless ... she does the best with the material . it 's just a shame the same ca n't be said for the film-makers .", "the sub-standard work from everyone involved means that MOV is very much a missed opportunity that undoubtedly would have been better left on the comic book page .", "devoid of personality and full of characters so one-dimensional that they are n't even worth mentioning in this review , MOV is a movie that sees no-one emerge with any credit .", "john frizzel 's over-worked soundtrack keeps telling us how exciting everything is , but it feels as if we 're frozen in time . not so much a white-out as wipe-out .", "a frozen hellhole .", "at least 10 % more exciting than correction fluid .", "there 's wonderful potential for permanently bleached out vistas to embody a metaphorical emptiness . here it 's just a great big blank .", "it 's a wonder MOV is n't in 3d , what with its initial onslaught of in-your-face flying propellers , crashing planes , and a lingering close-up of kate beckinsale stripping to her skivvies .", "beckinsale gives a standout performance as the smart and tough female protagonist . you root for her to prevail over the bad guys .", "sadly , MOV wimps out , starting out like the thing and winding up like csi : south pole , wasting whatever it has going for it .", "the screenplay by jon and erich hoeber and chad and carey hayes -lrb- too many cooks ? -rrb- is confusing and leaps huge gaps in logic .", "the mystery is not mysterious , the action is not exciting , and the suspense is more like boredom .", "one must assume that rucka 's original -lsb- graphic novel -rsb- is better than this , but only because most things are .", "absurdities are to be expected in `` genre '' filmmaking , but disbelief can only be suspended so far .", "oh , the squandering ! it 's like setting a story on mars and then pretending we 're just out in the arizona desert .", "MOV is a conventionally jam-packed , dutifully ludicrous action thriller .", "it 'll take all day to list all the things that are wrong with MOV .", "lacks sufficient thrills , chills and intrigue as it grows into an increasingly ludicrous and inane mess , even if you 're willing to suspend your disbelief for 101 minutes .", "this generic snowbound thriller desperately wants to remind you of insomnia , but it 's not worth losing much sleep over .", "MOV has a good premise and a likeable lead , but it goes rapidly downhill and is ultimately disappointing .", "apart from a lascivious shot of his scantily clad star , director dominic sena keeps the action fairly swift under blizzard-like conditions : at times we seem to be watching people fight inside a snow globe .", "the first sight the audience gets of the brit star is her stripping to her undies , pointing her perfectly-shaped rear to the camera then stepping into the shower . it 's one of MOV 's three highlights .", "hobbled by a ruinously slow start , an utter lack of excitement and a twist ending that everyone will see coming , we 're left with one of the year 's worst .", "set in antarctica , but unbelievably boring . i kept hoping for something unexpected to show up , like a killer penguin , but it never did .", "with plotholes you could drive a snowplough through and as eventful as an antarctic winter , MOV is less a whodunit than a getonwithit .", "should fade faster than a polar bear in a blizzard .", "by eliminating so many suspects before the obligatory drawing-room denouement and final deadly confrontation , it 's a given that the audience will feel cheated when the real bad guy turns out to be the only possible contender .", "MOV is a colorless wasteland . there 's only one thing that could have helped cover this film up : a flashback that changed the script 's name to wite-out .", "needed : generic thriller in an exotic setting , some gore , possible sci-fi elements , female lead , and an older male star to play grizzled supporting character . must work cheap .", "south pole-set whodunnit is bloody but bland .", "if you 'd forgotten that this title ever existed , well , so have i.", "... it 's painless . brainless , too , but not so much so that you want to throw a shoe at the screen .", "okay , it 's far from the best murder mystery you 've ever seen , but i still ca n't help but liking this throwaway thriller . the ending was no surprise . paul chambers , cnn .", "when the snow starts blowing , it 's impossible to tell who 's who and what 's what . maybe parkas should be color-coded .", "gallons of the titular correction fluid may have helped dominic sena 's abysmal thriller if it had been applied at just about any juncture during the graphic novel-to-feature film script stage .", "dominic sena , whose credits include 1993 's ` kalifornia ' -lrb- good -rrb- and 1996 's ` swordfish ' -lrb- not so good -rrb- , ca n't seem to find anything new under the perpetually obscured sun .", "MOV is n't particularly bad but it does follow the thriller playbook step-by-step with only a little tweaking . a lack of originality is n't the end of the world but it could have been so much better ." ], "summary": "kate beckinsale is as lovely as ever , and does her best with the material , but moribund pacing and an uninspired plot leave MOV in the cold .", "id": "770674765" }, { "movie": "scott_pilgrims_vs_the_world", "reviews": [ "the movie is packed with characters and likable actors , and if you know the source it 's fun seeing how the filmmakers have cast to the cartoon .", "`` scott pilgrim '' devotes itself so firmly to re-creating the look of o'malley 's saga that it forces and fumbles the feel , full of -lrb- indie-rock -rrb- sound and -lrb- kung-fu -rrb- fury , -lrb- emotionally -rrb- signifying nothing .", "this astonishing , exhilarating and funny movie has been fired directly from the world of comic books at the big screen with genre-smashing panache .", "a clever send-up of comic book and video games -lrb- circa 1990 -rrb- , this movie illustrates that writer/director edgar wright can rise to the next level .", "at its best , wright 's film is raucous , impudent entertainment .", "shallow ... repetitive ... still : being really funny and dorky-chic is the goal here and that 's exactly what scott pilgrim is .", "michael cera makes for a fine action hero . and while i 'm at it , keep brandon routh as superman !", "like an animatronic kitten that wo n't leave you alone , scott pilgrim vs. the world wins its audience over on adorable persistence .", "an ambitious , wildly original action-comedy that could prove to be a game-changer for the comic book genre in the same way that james cameron 's avatar was for 3-d .", "edgar wright is cinema 's most inspired mash-up artist , and scott pilgrim vs. the world may be his finest hybridization to date , a romantic comedy recast as a m\u0119l\u00e9e-heavy video game .", "scott pilgrim is about as perfect as it could be . the experience is like looking at a painting . you either instinctively like , dislike , loathe , or love what you are seeing .", "it is a movie fueled by the lunatic inspiration of the very best games and cartoons , awash with stylistic flourishes and exhilarating , anim\u00e9-inspired skirmishes that reflect the director 's passion for both .", "this is a great movie from a great filmmaker . and people turn into coins when defeated . if that 's not a winning combination i do n't know what is .", "another genius turn in wright 's career and filmography , made even more impressive by how impossible this task must have seemed from the offset -- destined to become a beloved classic among the under-30 add generation .", "dazzling , energetic , sharp and endlessly engaging .", "a total blast . a wild comic journey into the head of a true original .", "10 out of 10 . you win -- perfect !", "a 112-minute entertainment contraption -- celluloid that shapeshifts its frames into video games , comic books and sitcoms .", "a film that is a true gamechanger in every way , something so visually spellbinding and inventive that it really proves there is room out there for flat-out originality in mainstream cinema .", "a slick synthesis of graphic novel and cinema ... told in bold strokes and clever tropes . though none of that would matter a gosh darn if it were n't also whomping crazy fun", "the best michael cera movie ever - but this is n't saying a lot as i have pretty much hated just about everything else he has done .", "a crowning achievement in modern nerd culture , a brilliant blending of comic-book imagery , alt-rock music , video-game sensibilities , martial-arts moves and old-fashioned romance .", "... an ambitious big screen cross-pollination of geek sheik and vintage rom-com . it 's the matrix meets the ghost of john hughes . the action is way more than old nes-sy could muster , but in the end it 's too damn much .", "it is by turns zany , silly , and hilarious , and it features the best martial arts action ever seen in a non-hong kong film . why , then , does the film so often fall flat ?", "pretty damn awesome . i was gleeful watching this film .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is the movie that kick-ass wishes it could be when it grows up .", "you need to take a step back to see the emotional heart of the story , an allegory of a generation struggling to exchange the solipsistic xbox triumphs for awkward real-world love and empathy .", "clearly a good director can take the palette of indecision , self-doubt and nerdiness cera brings to the table and use it to paint some interesting shades of grey .", "if you 're under 30 you 'll probably like scott pilgrim vs the world - if you 're over 40 you might think ` like , whatever . '", "the film 's surreal pacing and meandering plot require viewers to hang on tight or risk being left behind . suspension of disbelief wo n't cut it -- you 'll need to actually demolish it if you want to keep up with the humour .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is awesome but it also makes you wonder if there 's more to movies than awesomeness .", "cockiness + 7 .", "another genius turn in wright 's career and filmography -- destined to become a beloved classic among the under-30 add generation .", "an imaginative package but one filled with too much cartoonish fighting .", "for its sheer sense of spectacle alone , scott pilgrim is a treat .", "feels like the first movie aimed squarely at the gamer generation : those who have grown up with videogames as a fact of life and , in some cases , a reason for living .", "an acid trip of surreal fantasy and hyper reality , edgar wright 's film takes a high concept approach to its interpretation of the graphic novels with a jumble of cinematic comic-book and video game inspiration with ninja sensitivities", "magical realism meets mortal kombat , as magical combat and mortal realism fire up a sweet , funny and blindingly original first-love tale .", "the way it sets up and then sustains its internal logic and distinctive style is a remarkable achievement . it is also a consistently entertaining film from beginning to end .", "cinema of the eternally pubescent hits a new low with director/co-writer edgar wright 's adaptation of bryan lee o'malley 's graphic novel .", "scott pilgrim is a young guy who has a serious identity crisis . and so does this movie . which ca n't seem to decide whether it 's a flippant sketchy teen angst weepie , or your basic flamboyant movietoon . .", "who cares if scott winds up with ramona , knives , or anyone else ?", "cartoons , video games , comic books , action movies , music , girls : this is basically all i ever loved packed into two hours .", "while this universe may follow blipvert logic , the characters exhibit the same longing , desire , fear and hope that anyone who 's ever been in love has experienced .", "its speedy , funny , happy-sad spirit is so infectious that the movie makes you feel at home in its world even if the landscape is , at first glance , unfamiliar .", "once you understand its rhythms , it translates into a thrilling mash-up .", "scott pilgrim vs the world is a mash up of pop culture from the past 40 years that 's wound up in a tight package and set to detonate .", "has moments when it is laugh out loud funny and has some truly cool action scenes but it 's overdone , over the top and they are so darn smug and self-aware about everything . ultimately suffers from gimmick overload .", "a package of cinematic pop rocks , a neon-hued , defiantly non-nutritive confection that nonetheless makes you laugh at its sheer bold novelty .", "... its highest ambition is to be the napoleon dynamite of 2010 .", "wright takes the tools of a bloodless medium , the video game , and crafts an action-comedy with a true-blue beating heart . so what if it 's built on 8-bit ?", "one of the most completely entertaining films of the summer .", "clever , entertaining fantasy romance for gaming-era teens .", "wright keeps the cast and the film rigidly in line for such a wild ride , and it works .", "features a lot of old ideas presented in new ways , and that skewed approach manages to make both action and romance seem like the freshest things at the movies .", "it 's a razzle-dazzle compendium of quick-draw humor , superhero stunts and gamer references wrapped around a teen dream love story , starring -- who else ? -- michael cera , the first genuine nerd superstar .", "... an exhilarating burst of adolescence , a youth movement of wit , energy , ingenuity and sweetness .", "audacious director edgar wright -lrb- shaun of the dead -rrb- throws a jolt of energy into the summer movie season with this imaginative and entertaining romp .", "about half way through this film , i realised i had let my guard down . i was having too much fun . my critic 's hat had fallen off .", "writer-director edgar wright has created a pop art feel to his latest work and it is sure to polarise viewers . i liked the effect . i loved the film .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world or its alternate title , `` dude , where 's my attention span ? ''", "if only it was based on an actual video game . then we could finally have ` the best movie based on a video game . '", "fresh , hilarious and effortlessly cool , scott pilgrim vs. the world is mandatory summer viewing . every nerd , geek , freak , otaku and anyone who simply enjoys a good time at the movies should see this .", "it may well be the most fun movie i 'll see in 2010 .", "the first motion picture to successfully translate video game logic to cinema .", "edgar wright experiments with video game as artistic flourish and succeeds despite the weakness in structure and cast .", "perfectly interprets the world of a slacker through the language of all the pop-culture slacker 's consume -lrb- games , comics , music -rrb- also , it 's an epic nerd-splosion of pure molten awesome . ftw .", "... a consistently watchable -lrb- yet all-too-superficial -rrb- piece of work .", "wright immerses his heroes in pop culture 's detritus and diversions , but does n't drown them in it . you do n't have to be dazzled or tickled by the movie , or get every joke , to be touched by it , too .", "if you can stand massive doses of cute and clever , it 's a fine use for your summer-movie dollar .", "in the debate of video games as art , scott pilgrim vs. the world settles the dispute while breaking fresh new ground in the comic book movie and rom-com sub genres .", "the only thing it proves is that nerds can be just as shallow and mean-spirited as bullies .", "a frenzied 8-bit orgy of video game action , fuzzed-out rock and roll , and candyshop color . i entered the theater a man and left it a sugarbombed teenage girl . with a beard .", "wright 's speed and humor are authentic and irresistible . let 's hope that 's not all his admirers see .", "twilight for boys ... it 's the indulgence of everything a not-quite-adult , no-longer-a-kid manchild could want from women ...", "it 's supremely annoying to see the ups and downs of romance reduced to archer-than-arch line readings and bloodless mortal kombat .", "it 's audacious and youthful -- and a film that squarely targets geek culture and revels in it playfully .", "potentially the most fun movie to come out this year -- a kinetic epic that both stands for and gently lampoons the generation it came from . superheroes should be so lucky to get this treatment .", "edgar wright kicks the ass `` kick-ass '' merely grazed by creating a visual style that 's the first to really get into the game boy mindset ...", "knowing self-mockery is the name of the game .", "wright uses split screens , slow and fast motion , violent edits and screen wipes to create an always moving and often disorienting world that will nonetheless be familiar to those who live and play in it .", "what 's the point of being clever if you 're just going to follow it up with enough flaming-sword action and exploding bad guys to make our pupils hurt ?", "there are movies opening this weekend that nobody will care about in a year ; people will be packing theaters for revival screenings of scott pilgrim in 20 years .", "cramming every frame with as much visual and aural material as he can , wright is a guy who gets all the neurons firing .", "this kind of romance does n't require depth ; it 's juvenile , irrational , adventurous - while at the same time totally pertinent . and such is the spirit of scott pilgrim vs. the world .", "you wo n't see anything like this again for a long time . it 's an imperfect film that can get downright frustrating but it displays enough flashes of genius to warrant your time and demand your forgiveness of flaws .", "the style is sega surrealism , the narrative strategy 30 % bunuel and 70 % bally ... . wright throws things at us at such a fever pitch that the experience can be exhausting -lsb- but -rsb- the stuff he 's throwing is so funny ...", "i felt big , pink , fluffy l-o-v-e wafting from me toward the screen .", "ignores the very charisma of the source material to mold something one-note and glossy ... clip reel of console carnage , more tuned into surface delights than treating o'malley 's material with the sincerity and breadth it deserves .", "a zany and wildly creative comedy about the ups and downs of young love .", "the dialogue and the music keep you engaged , at least while the movie lasts .", "it 's a true original .", "the film is -- perhaps surprisingly -- enjoyable , even for those of us who are a little more mature .", "she has too many exes . they should have stopped at four , because it just means these repetitive fights that are the same and they 're all unbelievable and it becomes extremely tedious .", "young adults of today are a different breed . now they finally have a movie that serves as a giant metaphor for their experiences .", "adapted from brian o'malley 's comic-book saga with breakneck stylistic verve by edgar wright , scott pilgrim vs the world is the ultimate geek wish-fulfilment flick .", "it 's loud and brash , but strangely endearing .", "the real star of the show is wright , who makes an effortless transition from ambitious brit genre helmer to blockbuster auteur .", "scott pilgrim vs the world could well become a cultural touchstone for the tetris generation .", "what if life were like a video game ? in ` scott pilgrim vs. the world , ' it is . and things are a lot more realistic , heart-wise , anyway , than you might expect .", "slick , smart and audacious , it 's a film that anyone in their twenties who owns a nintendo will be queuing around the block to see .", "who can resist a story that self-checks its hipsterism ?", "far and away the funniest movie of the summer .", "this is an impressive , anarchic pastiche .", "the calculation could be off-putting if the film was n't executed with such panache . wright cuts the narrative to the bone , establishing a fast-slow rhythm that kills every time .", "scott pilgrim is a breathless rush of a movie that jumps off the screen , spins your head around and then stealthily works its way into your heart .", "frankly , us geeks have never had it so good : scott pilgrim vs the world is modern cinema at its most exciting , and it belongs to us .", "edgar wright and his crew had a daunting task in adapting this great material , but they were able to mix it together just right for the big screen , and have ultimately made one of the best films of the year .", "these are people for whom slacking sounds too ambitious , in an alt-world where two-chord punk rock thrills chicks finding their identities in hair dye bottles ... through it all scott discovers who he is , and that 's just michael cera again .", "to win her , he needs to duel her ex-boyfriends in fantasy sequences based on video games . oh , great .", "full of fresh , sharp touches and nonchalantly brash performances , scott pilgrim vs. the world consistently hits the sweet spot .", "it 's fresh , funny , inventive and unique .", "like the special effects , the characters are sketched out in tiresome cinematic shorthand , as if to reassure the viewer that this joyride really is n't worth thinking too hard about .", "an unrelenting torrent of affectionate but biting music-scene satire , old-school nintendo references , and cartoony depictions of post-adolescent love , scott pilgrim vs. the world is a delight .", "edgar wright 's scott pilgrim vs. the world adaptation cut its adderall with pixie-stix ... to gleeful , great success .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is refreshing , unique , wildly entertaining and consistently funny . i have n't had this much fun while watching a movie in a long , long time .", "while there have been numerous attempts by hollywood to cash in on the popularity of video games , none of those films has felt true to the artistic and creative spirit of those games until now . this one gets it right .", "the cast of scott pilgrim vs. the world represents the best young talent coming up in hollywood today .", "wright proves himself an expert technician with scott pilgrim vs. the world , surely one of the most visually dense pieces of pop cinema ever made .", "the most mind-bending hipster obsessive delight since baz luhrmann turned moulin rouge into a nirvana-spouting , synapse-shocking spectacle", "splashy and stylish , it 's specifically geared for youthful , hyperactive viewers who are familiar with contemporary video game/comic book culture .", "there 's only so much you can wring out of detachment .", "i sympathize with the notion that movies can do more . but more than make us laugh ? there is no higher calling .", "why , given its moment-to-moment surplus of visual imagination , does the film feel so hollow and unsatisfying ?", "michael cera elevates deadpan to an art , starring as a slacker turned action hero in this wildly inventive comedy .", "i marveled at wright 's utter disregard for stage business ; his characters never quite finish menial tasks like washing their hands . i reveled in the imaginative detours of the film 's transitions and garage-rock aesthetic .", "so what if he passes the herculean he-man test the story puts him through ? he still has all the sexual charisma of an untied shoelace . and even a woman who likes the soft touch ca n't do much with that .", "michael cera makes scott pilgrim into an afterthought , so it ends up being edgar wright 's whiz-bang pop culture joy that 's the real star of this sweet , funny , exciting film .", "the film may baffle regular citizens -lrb- and migraine sufferers -rrb- , but it welcomes geeks of all ages and obsessions to its circus tent .", "for those out of the loop , or too far removed from these characters ' headspace , the inventiveness of the film 's execution alone is not enough .", "for all its videogame references , this -- like wright 's previous films -- is at heart a genre satire , reinventing the john hughes 1980s teen dramedy for the plugged-in , post-postmodern mashup generation .", "could michael cera be getting more vaporous with each repeat of his epicene screen persona ?", "also versus coherence , versus maturation , versus real emotion ...", "an energetic ode to youthful preoccupations , as well as a fun 21st century romance .", "in a cinematic battlefield full of inceptions and expendables , scott pilgrim vs the world takes on all comers and kicks ass . one of the best films of the year so far .", "scott pilgrim plays its own tune .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is a film full of sound and fury signifying wtf . it 's slick shtik .", "what it does have is a very smart script and a tremendous amount of visual flair .", "sure , it 's visually whizzy and often very funny , but filmmaker wright loses the story in the scuffle .", "leaves no mediated stone unturned and tosses anything and everything into its conceptual blender with an infectious wild abandon", "add a tablespoon of 500 days of summer , a dash of super nintendo and a pinch of street fighter , and scott pilgrim vs. the world is served . this movie is epic !", "favouring style over substance is generally a deal-breaker in movies like this , but then again , it 's not often you see style this substantial .", "a marvel of technical and screenwriting precision , an off-kilter comic delight .", "anyone who dismisses this film as youth-pandering video game ephemera simply is n't looking closely enough .", "i bet ten years from now this will be the norm . for now , it 's almost revolutionary .", "it 's an obnoxious , navel-gazing , uproarious tribute to a life well wasted .", "it 's so jam-packed with interesting characters , i actually wanted the film to be slightly longer than its 112 minutes .", "a joyless and grating stab at creating a contemporary cult classic that is just as annoying and insufferable as the characters contained within and about as edgy as a trip to the auto department at sears .", "much like the graphic novels that inspired it , the movie is as much a love letter to video games as it is a smart romantic comedy .", "it 's as if wright took equal parts video game culture , comic book culture and rock 'n' roll culture , and threw it all into one giant pop culture blender . in a good way .", "the film fuses an indie/punk rock sensibility with comic-book violence and video game energy , mixed with quirky humor and sassy pop culture references .", "it may be that wright has given us the best video-game inspired film yet .", "it 's heartfelt , hilarious and a highly satisfying adaptation of the book . you do n't have to be a geek to adore it ; you just have to remember being young .", "hugely enjoyable , frequently funny action-pic-slash-romcom that perfectly recreates the manga meets video games vibe of the comics ...", "tarantino , without the extraneous dialogue .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is endearingly relatable precisely because it celebrates the ordinary , focusing far more on the foibles and frailties of the players than on the invincible avatars of a game .", "scott pilgrim tries so hard to be loved that it ends up very trying indeed .", "a consistently entertaining parody of contemporary cultural foibles that are apparently too marginal to be satirized in comedies that actually make money .", "an instant zeitgeist classic and proud bearer of yet another wright-icised genre , as undoubtedly the best king-kong-bob-omb-rom-com you 're ever likely to see .", "it 's a string of scenes , it 's a blur of faces , it 's a heaving great two-hour maelstrom of noise and punching . but it 's not a proper movie .", "visually cool , excellently quirky and exhilarating from start to finish with a frenetic pace that never stops .", "nerd nirvana ! think napoleon dynamite on red bull . inventive , quirky , and occasionally very funny .", "the level-up , super fun , dance-dance , pop culture , max-combo , rock-n-roll romance video game film of , well , forever .", "an unpeggable , one-of-a-kind slice of unorthodox cinematic heaven .", "an instant cult movie , and while it certainly succeeds on that level and members of the cult will embrace it for that very reason , the uninitiated -- though impressed by its style -- will probably be more exhausted than delighted .", "i 'm rooting for the world .", "often funny , delightfully tongue-in-cheek , character-driven and wildly imaginative . it 's a refreshingly witty , diverting adventure that blends fantasy and realism while never taking itself too seriously .", "too schizophrenic for its own good , constantly interrupting and upending its narrative with melees containing all manner of attention deficit disorder tricks .", "the movie tongues its cheek , raises its eyebrows , and nudges our elbow in every area except where it really counts .", "imaginative , fun & funny , and highly entertaining but ultimately a bit repetitive . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "as a piece of action/comedy filmmaking with plenty of retro winks , wright can put another feather in his cap .", "a pop-culture cocktail that is fun , funny and deliciously offbeat .", "an impressive and ambitious achievement , one that manages to feel both meticulous in all its hilarious detail and at the same time , rambunctious and heartfelt .", "colourful , contemporary and akin to cinematic candy , scott pilgrim is continuously funny and endlessly inventive .", "the fun is not so much in who wins or loses the girl -- it 's the playing that matters , and scott pilgrim vs. the world definitely has game .", "when you 're 45 minutes into a two-hour film and you 've only met two exes , you ca n't help but start calculating how quickly the rest will be apportioned .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is not like anything you 've ever seen before . wright mixes the structure of musicals and action films to break up what starts out as a fairly naturalistic relationship comedy with wildly fantastical action fights .", "one of the more audacious and creatively conceived movies of the year though , at 32 , i felt a bit too old for it .", "a film you either love or hate . i did n't love it .", "some of us always knew playing video games was cool . now , thanks to scott pilgrim , everyone else does too .", "the bombardment lasts for almost two hours and by the end of the film , we feel almost as exhausted as the characters .", "it 's the old romcom story - boy meets girl , boy loses girl , boy fights to win back girl . but it 's steeped in pop culture , especially video games , rock and comic strips .", "it understands perfectly the lunacy of being of love -- how , at the same time , it clarifies and deludes , ennobles and fells us .", "if ever a film was guaranteed not to disappoint its target audience , it was surely scott pilgrim vs the world .", "it could have been a noisy , flashy mess , but luckily it 's got heart , which makes it feel fun and unique , and more like a lo-fi , endearing mess instead .", "an original , funny and clever film that 's an assault on the senses .", "precisely drawn hipster farce whose rich characters all have inner lives , motivations and tortuous backstories", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is perhaps the closest any filmmaker has come yet to translating comic book material directly to the movie screen .", "everything hinges on a character so shallow and self-absorbed he 's impossible to invest in", "the film is repetitive , top-heavy : wright blows his wad too early . but a different lead might have kept you laughing and engaged .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world is a dog-frequency movie : enjoyable only to those tuned in to its particular register .", "-lsb- its -rsb- self-awareness is the saving grace . as long as nothing is taken seriously , everything is permitted , from leaps in logic to caddish heroes .", "summons that rarest of responses : it feels like something new .", "if a picture as gleefully vapid as this is what passes for a ` generational milestone ' in 2010 , we 're in trouble .", "i 've spent perhaps 27 minutes of my entire life playing video games , and about that much time reading comic books . yet i liked every minute of ` scott pilgrim vs. the world . '", "... its tricky mix of tongue-in-cheek humor , fantastical battle scenes , romantic ballad-worthy swooning , and geeky signifying is , on the whole , a sweet and wondrous triumph .", "simply put , it 's one of the most unique viewing experiences i 've ever had in my life .", "i have n't read a comic book in five years , and my gaming abilities center on the iphone game `` angry birds , '' but i was smitten .", "the first martial arts-romantic-comedy-action-adventure-fantasy-musical .", "it 's difficult to feel attached to it on anything other than an aesthetic level , but it is satisfactorily geeky , funny enough to recommend , and in the end not quite like anything else you 'll see in the cinema this year .", "... the only real purpose the film could serve is as a kind of cultural litmus test - to winnow out those who do n't get it .", "an example of attention-deficit filmmaking at both its finest and its most frustrating .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- the funniest , most furiously action packed film of the year ; one certain to be beloved by all the boys and girls who share the same passions and foibles as its foolish hero -lrb- myself included -rrb- .", "not only one of the funniest movies of the summer ; its utilization of over-the-top special effects unintentionally puts it up there in the action-blockbuster category it so archly parodies .", "an interesting statement on modern youths detachment from actual human emotions through the advent of technology ...", "visually daring , ingenuous and extremely entertaining , scott pilgrim is virtually flawless .", "i can only say that where some see shallowness , i saw a witty interplay of surfaces and style .", "fitfully entertaining and sometimes brilliantly silly -- just not really engaging , and occasionally objectionable .", "some might see it as a great hipster parable , a postmodern epic for the nintendo generation ; i think it 's simply a triumph of dizzying cinematic style , and it never misses a beat .", "video games taught a generation to fight for what you want", "this one 's geek heaven , a mash-up of comic books , computer games , grunge rock and slacker drama , all a little quicker and droller than anything of the kind before .", "this movie is like the entirety of american youth culture crammed into a single package : it 's about love , alienation , video games , comic books , chord-grinding indie/punk rock , texting , dead-end jobs and evil ex-boyfriends .", "i tried to love it . but after 20 minutes , i sensed i was intruding on the movie 's love affair with itself .", "a fizzy blast that may not offer many lasting rewards but certainly generates an impressive headlong rush along the way .", "there 's not one moment in the entire movie that is n't shot or edited from a `` never quite seen that before '' perspective .", "this is a discouragingly limp movie where nothing is at stake .", "a generational milestone .", "flawless victory .", "an ambitious , one-of-a-kind , fully-realized , smart , sensitive and satisfying work of cinema", "like billy liar and the secret life of walter mitty , scott pilgrim is a pitch-perfect evocation of a youthful underachiever 's thrilling inner life .", "totally geeky .", "the driving force is the snappy , witty script , one of the year 's best , and each actor completely buying into wright 's camp-up-the-comedy kookiness .", "the audience is simply not part of the process . the movie has done all the thinking for you , and by not letting itself breathe , you 're excluded from an emotional reaction .", "perhaps those who lament the influence of comics and videogames on movies should instead decry the bad films themselves and not blame the source material .", "the year 's best romantic comedy - so far - turns out to be so weirdly stylized that if you fall outside the 18-25 demographic you may find yourself scratching your head", "just extraordinary filmmaking ... this is how you can use modern film techniques to create a fantasy world of wonder .", "wright packs each frame with so many nods , winks and nudges that he could be mistaken for a schizoid .", "this is a romantic adventure for the add age , a pop poem for millennials that could just as well be titled scott pilgrim '' vs. the old ways of storytelling .", "be warned that you will not care one bit if the lead man and woman end up together , but you can still have a lot of fun watching them get there or not get there .", "for most of its hour and 53 minutes , it 's a dazzling and thoroughly engaging ride through a fantasy world born of wright 's -lrb- and o'malley 's -rrb- vivid imaginations .", "an infuriating exercise in geek-baiting populated by unlikable characters that grows more frustrating through its 113 minutes , scott pilgrim vs. the world is more like a feature-length adaptation of reality bites : the video game .", "the show is wright 's , and he takes obvious and infectious relish in the goodies the books offer him .", "`` scott pilgrim vs. the world '' arrives and the internerds who fell in love with the 2004 comic book , ahem , excuse me , graphic novel , rejoice . but the film is , like the comic 's creator , tragically canadian . it 's `` kick-ass '' redux .", "cast anyone else in the lead role and it might work . i assume the scott pilgrim of the graphic novels is actually masculine and has all the correct and working body parts .", "there 's no director working today with a better sense of comic timing than edgar wright , who marries intelligent and funny writing and perfectly matched visuals with a savant-like skill .", "essentially amounts to a case of what could have been .", "scott pilgrim is refreshing in its lack of pretension and lack of smirking hipster irony . instead we get something sweet , genuine , and dazzlingly well made .", "proving that the geek shall inherit the earth ... cinema 's \u00fcber-nerd michael cera -lsb- takes -rsb- on all comers in the quest for the girl of his dreams .", "an almost overwhelming barrage of quirks , the adventures of scott pilgrim come at you at a million miles a minute but you wo n't mind because it 's so damn entertaining .", "while o'malley 's storyline and dialogue are nearly intact for the film adaptation , wright 's vision turns it into a riotous spoof of the films that made cera a star .", "scott pilgrim is a film where youth is power and power is music , video games , and confronting your exes with how great your current hook up is , but like most hipsters you meet , it is more impressed with itself than anything else", "scott pilgrim will make your head explode . but in a good way , not with brains and stuff .", "scott pilgrim vs. the world becomes a fatal case of flash over substance . pretty great flash , though .", "the entire film works on just how much you are willing to accept its premise : if you 're fine with people developing amazing powers , characters talking directly to the camera and almost every other trick in the cinematic book , then you 'll do fine", "a film that defines the video game generation and redefines the romantic comedy ." ], "summary": "its script may not be as dazzling as its eye-popping visuals , but scott pilgrim vs. the world is fast , funny , and inventive .", "id": "770782775" }, { "movie": "save_the_last_dance", "reviews": [ "a tepid movie with a few decent dance sequences and a lot of frustrating sexual tension .", "for my money , it 's the girls ' friendship that holds the film together .", "the production disappoints both as modern-day dance film and jungle fever redux .", "there 's a nice little dance movie waiting to step out of MOV . unfortunately , the story keeps tripping it up .", "as one might expect from a film credited as an ` mtv production , ' MOV is one-half realistic portrayal of youth , and one-half pure cinematic pablum .", "-lsb- has -rsb- two really good performances by their respective leads .", "quite a bit smarter , and more entertaining , than the majority of what some people call teenybopper flicks .", "stiles and thomas supply what this movie needs most : a heartbeat .", "overall , MOV profits from well-developed principals , a vigorous sound track provided by mark isham , and a feel for the grit and warmth alike of an otherwise impoverished neighborhood .", "in the spirit of all mtv-spawned productions , MOV is a trite amalgamation of themes and scenes from other , more interesting , movies .", "an admirably heartfelt story with more on its mind than the glory of self-expression .", "a recycling of the cliches created by dirty dancing , flashdance , footloose and saturday night fever .", "that rare modern romance that is actually trying to say something , even though it comes in a purified and derivative package .", "squanders nice performances by julia stiles and sean patrick thomas by confining them and the supporting cast to cookie-cutter roles and hackneyed inner-city subplots .", "a surprisingly flat-footed dance film that does n't stray far from the formula .", "the high school repartee has snap , crackle and pop , but the romantic drama is strictly cornflakes that have been left in the milk too long .", "when stiles and sean patrick thomas find a connection in music , dancing and love , the lesson in race relations is a solid one .", "it pays knowing respect not only to high school social politics , but also to racial politics among today 's young people .", "filled with too many issues .", "the intent is a feel-good film , sort of an american version of billy elliot and i did n't believe a minute of it .", "this movie would sooner see derrick help sara fulfill her juilliard destiny than acknowledge how hard he worked to get into g-town . it 's profoundly square screen writing .", "a decent , well-put-together romantic drama to hold hands to on the weekend .", "stiles and thomas are good together , in a warm and fuzzy , as opposed to hot and heavy , sort of way .", "the routines have been so chopped up -- apparently to disguise stiles ' only limited dance ability -- that they 're incomprehensible .", "sweet teens and near-teens who do n't know any better will probably flock to it . smart parents who know better , however , will smartly stay away .", "predictable teen-dream drama .", "what is it about dancing that inspires such rotten movies ?", "a sometimes predictable , but mostly enjoyable tale .", "looks at interracial relationships from a fresh perspective and gives the audience something real to think about .", "it is like a 12-step program on how a square hick from the sticks can get hip .", "likeable teen romance that overcomes its inevitable predictability thanks to its talented cast and its avoidance of both clich\u00e9s and syrupy sentimentality .", "stiles and thomas redeem this film over and over . and the dancing is fun to watch , too .", "tries to squeeze in a few too many plot elements into too short a time .", "to the film 's credit , it tries , and while it never really sings , it does deliver the dance .", "sara 's got a sense of humor about how very uncool she is , and she proves to be a game girl .", "it 's not courageous enough to deviate from the teen movie formula more than a smidgeon .", "ultimately , this talented twosome -lsb- stiles and thomas -rsb- can only do so much with a script that continually lets them down at about every turn .", "performances throughout are solidly decent .", "as teen melodrama , well , carter 's film is what it is ; but for such a mainstream black-consciousness movie , at least it does n't shy from addressing some touchy issues about masculinity , parenthood , and black attitudes to whites .", "formulaic teen romance with an mtv spin .", "recycles every clich\u00e9 of the genre to sleep-inducing effect .", "for all its dumb clich\u00e9s it offers the basic appeal of teen movies : the pleasure of watching kids be kids , acting as they do among themselves instead of how parents and teachers expect them to act .", "this skin-deep mtv films production is more about promoting soundtrack sales than social causes .", "the playing of ballet against hip-hop gets more than a little corny , but the charismatic young performers make the corn work .", "it 's far from tepid teen fare , thanks largely to the sweet chemistry between up-and-comer sean patrick thomas and leading lady julia stiles .", "it does n't have an original idea in its head .", "the setup promises cliches , but the development is intelligent , the characters are more complicated than we expect , and the ending does n't tie everything up in a predictable way .", "a spirited , dirty dance between the polished inauthenticity of hollywood romance-musicals and hip-hop 's central tenet : keeping it real .", "a teen dance movie you do n't have to remove your brain or be obsessed with getting-down to actually like .", "a strikingly unsubtle film .", "like a series of problem-of-the-week tv movies crammed into a single two-hour span .", "the plot is ultimately more teen drama gimmick than it is an actors ' showcase or a vehicle for altruistic insight .", "i like stiles and thomas together . i did not like the movie in which they found themselves stuck .", "packed with so many stereotypes and clich\u00e9s that it strays into offensive territory .", "the work of julia stiles and sean patrick thomas elevates MOV to a level where it is not only watchable , but moderately entertaining .", "look elsewhere for reality or good drama . look here , however , if you 're in the mood for a good heaping of fantasy and some fun .", "gives off enough energy and light that the audience wants to believe in it even if society 's impacted prejudices continue to say otherwise .", "this wan , formulaic teen movie ... is afraid to pump up the volume on its own interracial , hip hop romeo and juliet story , lest it challenge even one sedated viewer or disturb the peace .", "this is a rare teen romance where the couple seems drawn together less by animal attraction than by a shared sense of openness and possibility .", "it may be the latest teen flick , but last dance has a story and life issues and relationships with bite .", "stiles and thomas are engaging young performers .", "while the resulting romance between sara and derek plays out unremarkably , the surrounding social milieu is treated with unusual restraint and good sense .", "breaks virtually no new narrative ground , yet treads the familiar territory it does cover with grace , style , wit and fun .", "more interesting as a barometer of suburban girls ' fantasies than it is as a movie .", "the movie is flabby and fails to pack a punch , lacking the high-energy numbers needed to boost the tempo and get toes tapping .", "the film has a lot of surface complication but no attention span ; it 's a centimeter deep .", "as a film , it 's no great shakes , and except for the reverse racism subplot , it 's been there done that .", "a teen romance that generates enough honest emotion to play against the predictability of its finish .", "thomas carter 's direction is flavorless .", "seems more concerned with pushing demographic style buttons than creating a story with any depth .", "a refreshingly friendly view of a romance between people of different pigmentation , an area where more respectable pictures still wimp out .", "if `` dance '' stumbles into a few too many subplots and a couple of cliched characters along the way , it also makes some strong points about contemporary attitudes toward the idea of interracial romances .", "there are enough respectable social messages here .", "carter has given us a pleasant enough , if not especially original film .", "ballet meets hip-hop in this warmly enjoyable yet unambitious teen romance .", "an interracial romance between an aspiring ballerina and a hip hop devotee that sets off sparks within the african american community where they live .", "the leads shine and the relationship really grew on me . there 's not much more to ask for in a movie like this .", "told with a refreshing lack of sensationalism .", "a surprisingly effective piece of work .", "lo que salva a la pel\u00edcula de ser un fracaso total , son las s\u00f3lidas actuaciones de stiles y thomas .", "a formula fish out of water , dancer flick .", "with its themes of racial harmony and good high school kids realizing their dreams , pic avoids easy exploitation .", "the core of the movie is a disarmingly shameless lift from half the dance movies ever made .", "the disjointed plotting and afterschool-special dialogue offer scant opportunity for the charismatic duo to work up much chemistry .", "interesting to check into , with well-developed characters -lrb- for the most part -rrb- , some fun hip-hopping , a cute relationship and some tender moments .", "this movie requires suspension of disbelief that is close to complete abandonment of any sense of reality .", "this movie recognizes the value of dance and of love . i walked out of the theater feeling very happy .", "... a worthwhile film that 's an unusually honest portrayal of teen life .", "patronising hybrid of a myriad of other teen movies . do n't bother , just watch them instead .", ". . less self-conscious and more willing to brave the stress and uncertainty of narrowing the racial divide in movies .", "it 's just a pity for the actors and the audience that the theme of conquering one 's background , prejudices , and limitations has to be spelled out in block capitals .", "as original as the foxtrot and as profound as a janet jackson video clip , this film is also immensely watchable and likeable .", "as mtv movies go , it 's got decent work in it , thanks entirely to stiles , thomas , and the fact that there are almost no adults in the picture .", "it ai n't deep , but that 's okay . if we ca n't all just get along in the real world , it 's nice to pretend for a few hours that we can .", "though the movie suffers from cornball plot twists and clunky dialogue here and there , it stays true to itself ... an admirable trait .", "whatever happened to wanting to dance simply because it 's fun ?" ], "summary": "this teen romance flick feels like a predictable rehashing of other movies .", "id": "10398" }, { "movie": "guardians_of_the_galaxy", "reviews": [ "pratt 's charm and presence go a long way to carry the film through a confusing first act bogged down in character introductions , back story and set-up .", "gunn does n't so much reinvent the wheel as reshape it a little , giving the rest of the vehicle a fresh lick of paint in the process .", "the movie is seriously smile-worthy , largely due to the sheer number of jokes throughout .", "the script is tossed through with entertaining banter , the action sequences are spirited and filled with inventive imagery , and the spirit of the whole enterprise is bright and energized ...", "to an extent , the film plays like a mixtape : slowly unwinding , confident in its own rhythms , unafraid to luxuriate in comic asides or hurtle forward the action .", "against all odds , the studio has yet another elegant , extremely entertaining winner on its hands .", "where other comic-book fare has felt like action blockbusters with sprinkles of comic relief , gunn has been allowed to make a comedy that happens to feature comic-book characters .", "these are unfamiliar marvel characters , on the big screen if not on the page , which together with the witty script gives the whole package a welcome freshness .", "while still suffering from a few symptoms of blockbuster-itis , guardians feels more relaxed than your typical corporate summer tentpole . it has a puckish , sideways wit .", "gunn and his cast understand that the interplay among the quirky guardians is what matters . the next avengers movie already looks silly by comparison .", "part george lucas and part chuck jones , MOV has enough scrappy heart and smart humor to make it seem like the best possible kind of product , one where the talent of all involved makes it easy to enjoy their hustle .", "what sounds like a strained miscalculation turns out to be one of the most shamelessly enjoyable pranks ever pulled by a multibillion-dollar entertainment conglomerate . this is what happens when blockbuster filmmaking sits on a whoopee cushion .", "`` MOV '' is a smart , funny movie at war with dumb explosions and other special effects . it also celebrates them .", "pratt is their prime asset for turning the comedy up to 11 . with him playing star-lord , you never question what quill brings to the team : a sparkling , cracked esprit de corps .", "sci-fi has n't been this fun since star wars and it has n't been this funny since galaxy quest .", "there have been few must-see films of the 2014 summer season , but MOV is definitely one .", "MOV may blast off another successful franchise for marvel , but it has a few parsecs left to go before it can truly claim greatness .", "it 's the movie 's rollicking good cheer that ultimately might help endear it to folks who otherwise would n't know the guardians ' rocket raccoon from the beatles ' rocky raccoon .", "galaxy 's great fun but its biggest creative gamble is featuring untested heroes . if that 's cause for celebration then risk ai n't what it used to be .", "buoyed along by snarky banter and breezy 1970s pop , this freewheeling marvel comics movie is a giddily entertaining sci-fi romp .", "the post-george lucas star wars sequel fans of the original trilogy have been hoping for .", "goofy , energetic , space-faring fun .", "gunn 's listless adventure through space is not as uproarious as the iron man series , as thrilling as the spider-man franchise , or as dramatically serious as nolan 's batman trilogy .", "the script has its moments but it lacks the unadulterated sense of fun that was so integral to many of the earlier marvel movies .", "a rollicking , b-movie-style adventure that does n't need to rely on a cameo from the avengers to secure its place in the superhero canon .", "with its quirky humor , weirdly lovable characters , and eclectic soundtrack , there is no other marvel film quite like MOV .", "a vivaciously crowd-pleasing space adventure . of all of marvel 's many phase i and phase ii projects tackled , `` MOV '' is , to date , the most alive with imagination and wonder .", "eentertaining from start to finish , thanks to -- guess what ? -- the writing !", "it 's a summer blockbuster worthy of the moniker .", "watching the zippy , ebullient MOV , you wonder `` why ca n't all comic-book movies be this much fun ? ''", "to see an expensive , big-studio movie freed from creative constraints and directorial cynicism is always a rare and wondrous experience . in a season of bloated indulgence , it 's also fair to call it a marvel .", "what sets this film apart from the less effective summer movies is that director james gunn has put together a cast that can handle the action and the humor .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- the first of the mcu properties that did n't feature a major marvel character . surprise , surprise , when you make the most enjoyable space opera romp since the fifth element , name recognition just does n't matter .", "while not all superhero films are created equal , this comic-book space adventure adaptation is just good enough .", "where it does work is in the lightness of touch director james gunn brings to proceedings .", "`` MOV '' relied too much on the audience already knowing the marvel mythology . call it , in my opinion , an unacceptable shorthand .", "marvel 's sci-fi adventure has it all : laughs , action , charm .", "by playing with sci-fi and comic book clich\u00e9s and assembling a charismatic and likeable cast , MOV is a welcome return to form for marvel .", "a marvelous sci-fi adventure that flies by in a whoosh of nimble action and colorful characters .", "i think they 've really created characters , james gunn and co-writer nicole pearlman , and i think the screenplay is really lovely .", "a near masterpiece , and one with an amazing soundtrack .", "the film begins to stumble , then , once the focus shifts to a narrative that 's almost distractingly convoluted ...", "a piece of wit that makes it 's own niche within the genre . this galactic treat is new world .", "it takes a good hour for -lrb- director james -rrb- gunn to find the proper blend of comedy and seriousness . once it hits its stride , though , the movie offers undeniable pleasures and unexpected emotional heft .", "haters stfu , ` MOV ' is cinematic nirvana ...", "not since han solo and chewbacca hit the galaxy has there been as much raucous energy and sheer fun as in this blast of a sci-fi fantasy involving a daredevil adventurer and a mysterious orb", "it might ultimately break down to nothing but empty calories , but it is always full-on fun . i repeat : always .", "one of the most pleasant surprises of a mixed-bag movie summer , MOV is something akin to star wars on quaaludes .", "fans ... will delight in the wisecracks offered by rocket -lrb- rocky raccoon -rrb- or the profundities of groot .", "gunn ... has found a way to bring funkiness and humanity to a galaxy-spanning blockbuster , one filled with dogfights and floating fortresses , but also with heroes quick with a quip , fast on the draw , and more than a little beaten up by the universe .", "turning andy dwyer into an action-movie star turns out a brilliant move : his earnestness and doltish cheer makes it impossible not to cheer for him and sets a certain zonked tone that keeps everything grounded even when the plot is zipping all over .", "a fun , lighthearted confection that knows exactly what it wants to be and how to execute that mission .", "it 's the funniest of any marvel movie yet , lending the film a lightness that goes a long way toward deflating the grandiosity that sometimes inflates and bloats the studio 's films .", "MOV is too loud , too long and too busy but - here 's the good part - also wonderfully silly .", "if marvel is trying -lrb- in the words of one of the soundtrack 's pop gems -rrb- to get us `` hooked on a feeling , '' its job is done .", "in place of wit , `` guardians '' offers a sort of generalized willingness to be amusing , an atmosphere of high spirits that feels like lots of people pumping air into a tire that has a hole in it .", "`` MOV '' is pop film-making at its purest .", "there 's a strong , likeable start to MOV , but from there , the movie begins a persistent slide into anonymity .", "it 's preposterous , ridiculous , bizarre . whatever . it 's not the most accessible marvel outing , and it 'll take the fanboys to spread the word ; MOV is balls-out fun .", "what gunn does here better than any marvel movie since the first `` iron man '' is to connect his movie with the reason fans love comic books in the first place : because they 're fun .", "in many respects , `` guardians '' ... is a fun and relatively fresh space western .", "it 's like an assistant editors ' month issue writ large .", "MOV is the perfect summer movie , delivering exactly what you want from a comic book adaptation .", "james gunn 's first foray into big-budget movie making succeeds despite focusing on characters largely unknown to mainstream audiences and provides some of the most genuinely affecting moments of any marvel film to date .", "credit too must go to director james gunn who puts his individual stamp on the film while operating within marvel 's house style .", "the thing that makes MOV so wonderful is that it 's completely bonkers .", "MOV is first-class , grade-a space adventure comedy .", "MOV may be the most unique film to come out of the marvel stable so far . if the oppressive weight of late summer has you down , this movie may be just the thing you need .", "gunn keeps the action moving at a pace that 's sometimes exhausting but amidst all the explosions and the crashing spaceships and exploding cityscapes there 's usually room for a quick quip or laugh-out-loud gag .", "wall-to-wall wisecracks notwithstanding , gunn manages to locate a heart in the midst of the lovingly rendered comic-book chaos .", "one of the most exciting things about MOV is that it is a departure from the marvel feature film template . MOV is very much a marvel movie , but it 's also -lrb- way -rrb- out there , doing its own thing .", "guardians succeeds when it proves the marvel formula is malleable ; it fails when it discovers that formula is not yet malleable enough .", "MOV joins the avengers , iron man 3 , and captain america : the winter soldier in the elite tier of greatest marvel films to date . it 's not just as good as you 've heard , it 's better .", "it may be a mess , but it 's an extremely good-natured mess , full of humor and warmth . more surprising still , the very elements that seemed most likely to ruin the movie-the tree-man , the talking raccoon-account for much of its improbable charm .", "with the freedom afforded by the obscure source material , gunn reminds us that blockbusters do n't have to take themselves too seriously .", "MOV is a total treat - funny , exciting , filled with great effects , and containing a few welcome moments of emotion . this is the marvel movie i can see myself watching again and again .", "the audience applauded . all ages , all walks of life , got hooked on a feeling - a feeling of delight - that ` MOV ' delivers .", "when MOV is firing on all cylinders , you 'll think there 's nothing better in this world , or any other .", "the best star wars film since 1980 .", "hovering between irony and sincere enthusiasm , the film is above all a triumph of tone .", "... retro space opera plays more like a bad spoof of a ` star wars ' spoof and even then it 's closer to ` the adventures of pluto nash ' than ` spaceballs . '", "... groot easily steals the show ... equal parts ` farscape , ' ` firefly , ' and the few family-friendly parts of ` pitch black ' while putting an original spin on it .", "may the farce be with you , dude . `` star wars '' meets `` spaceballs . ''", "what makes james gunn 's scruffier and un-spandex 'd band of reluctant heroes so appealing is how they approximate the good-hearted rogues on the raggedy charm of space westerns like joss whedon 's own `` firefly '' .", "think a wild ride through an amusement park with five crazy friends . or star wars meets flying high .", "like so many elements of this film , this narrative arc is all too familiar . but it 's fun to watch it played out with such b-movie gusto .", "an exciting thrill-ride that strikes a brilliant balance between jaw-dropping space scenes , anarchic wit and bountiful belly laughs .", "gunn manages to thread abrupt violence and casual malice into the huge expanses of the outright comedy and fine sarcasm of guardians . and most of the meanness is funny .", "saving the universe -lrb- with tongue planted firmly in cheek -rrb- .", "MOV is solid summer fun - not the mammoth epic we have come to expect from each new marvel release , but a welcome entry into a moribund movie season .", "iron what ? captain who ? the MOV are here to stay thanks to a troma-bred filmmaker crazy enough to make the movie that such a fantastical comic deserves .", "the plot occasionally becomes overstuffed , perhaps packing in extraneous elements in order to set up future installments . yet the zany script by director james gunn and co-writer nicole perlman is sharply funny .", "a wisecracking raccoon is saving the summer .", "really , `` woo-hoo ! '' just about covers it .", "it delivers just what you 'd want from a summer blockbuster . it is fast , it is fun and it is all but assured of making a mint at the box office -- and spawning sequels aplenty .", "for every scene that soars into the dizzying heights of the pop sublime , there 's another that crashes back down into the mundane troughs of studio-mandated formula .", "if MOV is just the latest burger off the fast food conveyor belt , it 's awfully hard to deny that it 's an extremely tasty burger .", "marvel puts its heart on its sleeve with a story about the healing power of friendship , but that sleeve is stained with blood , spit , and other bodily fluids .", "MOV breathes new life into an otherwise stale story thanks to a great script and gunn 's crafty direction .", "... a total blast , with a sense of adventure and mischievous fun that can make even a movie critic feel like a kid again .", "i could watch a `` guardians '' movie that 's just the five of them sitting around a table with a pitcher of beer and a deck of cards . hard to say that about the x-men .", "there 's lots of action , incredible 3d , all the bells and whistles audiences expect from a tentpole film . but it 's the brilliant humor that will help guardians undoubtedly be one of the biggest hits of the year .", "`` MOV '' has wit , energy and zaniness to spare . it will pop your corn and leave you hungry for more .", "formula or not , ` MOV ' maintains its fresh appeal from opening to end credits . the film greatly benefits from chris pratt 's loopy , devil-may-care persona .", "finally , some jokey superheroes .", "if you want a superior successor to red dwarf , blake 's 7 , star wars and , yes , scooby doo then look no further . there are worse things .", "there 's plenty of action , of course , but it 's the heart and humor , delivered consistently throughout MOV , that make this tongue-in-cheek space opera the perfect fit for the 21st century .", "chris pratt , overflowing with charisma , plays the leader of the pack of misfits , and his blissed-out space cowboy -lrb- with a love for seventies music -rrb- is so full of good will that he buoys the film and its requisite whizbang special effects .", "MOV is just an obscene amount of fun .", "MOV is right up there with the avengers as a movie that delivers all the fun and action you want from a superhero adventure .", "the lightly derisive , live-action-cartoon tone robs the movie of any majesty , even of the comic-book type , and the many violent deaths of their suitable gravity .", "these meager pleasures are swallowed up in all the frantic action and overblown cg sequences .", "MOV is deliriously , insanely its own thing , possessed of an idiosyncratic , intimate sense of humour and a magnificently diverse cast , all of whom find exactly the right tone of low-key commitment . everything fits .", "blessed with a loose , anarchic b-picture soul that encourages you to enjoy yourself even when you 're not quite sure what 's going on , the scruffy guardians is irreverent in a way that can bring the first star wars to mind .", "entertaining , clever and often quite funny .", "i did n't enjoy it enough that i will ever want to sit through it again .", "the most fun film in the marvel cinematic universe and a fine start to a new era .", "it 's overstuffed with effects and incident , but it looks great , it feels fresh and it 's sometimes laugh-out-loud funny .", "gunn appears to remember the high of certain kinds of moviegoing , where when the credits are over , all you want to do is get back in line and enjoy the whole thing again .", "the film seems content to be the class clown of the marvel universe , which is all well and good . but like most class clowns , sometimes you wish it would apply itself - because it seems capable of being so much more .", "a rollicking carnival ride halfway across the universe and back that leaves you with a big , goofy , satisfied smile when it 's over .", "there 's plenty of heart in guardians , but it gets its emotional heft largely from the warmth that this kind of comedy inherently contains .", "you 'll laugh because the jokes are good , you 'll clap because the action is awesome , but you 'll get emotional because you truly care about the characters .", "i did n't care about the plot for a second - but i appreciated the over-arching spirit of fun . and the two cgi characters are the best parts of the movie", "it 's the snarking and sniping among the principals that gives the picture its spark .", "it 's balanced work and enormous fun , giving all the brand name superheroes a run for their money now that marvel has cleared a path for the little guys to shine on the big screen .", "by its very construction MOV is trying to both be smug and self-aware , but also heroic and adventurous . for the most part the film manages to pull off this balance , making for a fun and many ways laudable film .", "once touted as their riskiest film to date , it is artistically and politically as conservative a film as marvel studios has ever made .", "with or without whatever comes next , MOV is a fully entertaining and visually overwhelming experience .", "after token story setting the movie goes up like a firework display .", "the movie knows that junk art is still art , that no one is more in need of something to speak for them than the inarticulate - and with that it takes the secret pull of comic geekdom and elevates it to a kind of bittersweet , obsessive romanticism .", "just another rote space adventure . it 's not actively awful , but there is n't a single damn thing in the least bit surprising or memorable about it .", "rofl", "a summer comic-book movie that effortlessly makes you feel like a wide-eyed , happy kid again .", "gunn delivers a pageant of eye candy splashed with the primary-color palette of his funnybook source material . he has the aesthetic down , if not always the mechanics .", "it 's like watching a ` star wars ' movie filled with nothing but han solos .", "MOV is one of marvel studios ' best and certainly the most punk rock .", "it taps into what the first three star wars films knew and the next three forgot : big heart and a sense of humor are what keep heavy machinery running smoothly .", "by refusing to follow the usual formula , filmmaker james gunn has made marvel 's best-yet movie , a summer action-adventure that provides more cinematic fun than the rest of the year 's blockbusters rolled into one .", "after a summer of slick , seamless superhero , monster and robot blockbusters , there 's certainly something to be said for a movie that feels reckless and messy .", "at first i thought , ` this movie is n't as clever as it thinks it is . ' but after a while , i decided maybe it was after all .", "`` star wars '' for a new generation .", "the best debut for a marvel franchise since ` iron man . '", "guardians defies marvel 's house style .", "the movie is naturally thick with cgi . but gunn uses the digital effects to create scenes of striking beauty .", "director james gunn tosses together a dizzying blend of superhero bravado , outer-space adventure and off-the-wall comedy that introduces the strangest and most enjoyable bunch of rogues ever to inhabit the same spaceship .", "an entire movie based on a certain wise-acre tone but without losing sight of how audiences still appreciate characters that wear their hearts on their sleeve .", "gunn has helped take a relatively unknown property and made a film that will surely help blast these incredible characters to a level of fame that will spread across the galaxy .", "the plot is bonkers , and there 's way too much cgi , but the core little group of disparate characters manage to latch themselves to you , and you 're in .", "MOV is n't just a fun-filled , laugh-filled , ripping space fantasy comedy , it 's one of the best , most crowd-pleasing blockbusters in years .", "bravo james gunn ; he took a lesser-known comic book and spun it into the most entertaining ride i 've had all year .", "MOV is at its best when it 's trying to be funny . you could almost describe as a spoof in places !", "if blockbusters are the cinematic equivalent of junk food , then 2014 has been a goddamn ice-cream sundae , and guardians is the bright , sickly sweet cherry sitting on top .", "it all happens about 100 times faster than the original star wars while taking itself about 1,000 times less seriously than the star wars prequels .", "the cast are clever at filling in the gaps the story has to carry , with the romantic attraction between peter and gamora , which begins with some hearty hand to hand combat , given more emotional weight than the dialogue allows for .", "james gunn 's MOV is the best marvel movie yet . i challenge anyone who would place iron man or the avengers over this action-packed and thoroughly entertaining picture that is the definitive summer blockbuster .", "it 's looser , scruffier and more overtly comic than the average marvel action fantasy .", "from the opening credits to the final reel , there 's a genuine swagger about the whole film . it exudes charm and confidence throughout , and is flippant in all the best possible ways .", "this space caper has its head in the clouds and its tongue , firmly in cheek .", "`` a deviation from the marvel formula , a gloriously , defiant weird movie that nevertheless proves to be an enormous crowd-pleaser . ''", "behold ! `` MOV '' is the type of movie where every second sentence starts with `` behold ! ''", "at worst , you can say this new marvel entry ca n't quite compete with its predecessors . still , it 's impressive what the studio can do with even its second-tier material .", "MOV is the unranked underdog that stepped in the arena with the best comic book films ever made , and walked out of the ring with the belt .", "nothing ruins a good movie more than calling it a great one , and while MOV is good , no one will mistake it for a high point in the mcu .", "enormous fun from beginning to end .", "the film is terribly overstuffed and many of the jokes get drowned out by the special effects .", "MOV is an absolutely crackling action-adventure film , a dazzling and engaging bit of optimistic sci-fi melodrama .", "MOV may be constructed as an action spectacle first and foremost , but it also features some of the strongest character work yet glimpsed in a marvel studios production .", "the breezy , character-piloted MOV shows a marvel comics film need not offer big stars -lrb- at least visible ones -rrb- to entertain .", "the film 's fast , amusing , good-looking and not overlong , which is all sensible non-geeks ask of such movies .", "the characters are great and the movie is often very funny .", "good versus evil 's romp through space reeks of star wars and star trek , with a worse plot and better effects .", "it favors jokes and general weirdness over heroism and action , and it 's less indebted to star wars than the cheap , junky star wars knock-offs that followed in its wake .", "entertaining in this or any galaxy . it 's certainly the most fun i 've had in a theater this year .", "without being shackled to fanboy expectations of how iconic costumed characters should be depicted , filmmaker james gunn -lrb- `` super '' -rrb- runs wild with the opportunity .", "as directed by james gunn , MOV never takes itself seriously and it 's often a visual and musical treat . the runaways ' cherry bomb and david bowie 's moonage daydream ? yes , please .", "the motley crew 's repartee makes for comedy that 's surprisingly consistent , yet freewheeling and sharp enough to pinball from kevin bacon to jackson pollock and back .", "a rip-roaring good time", "while `` guardians '' takes you down one after another crazy narrative turn , it also pulls you into - and , for the most part , keeps you in - a fully realized other world .", "possibly one of the funniest -lrb- and strangest -rrb- marvel movies yet , james gunn and his cast deliver an infinitely entertaining space opera that 's really something quite special .", "marvel 's first outright comedy , kin to the deliriously funny and affectionate `` star trek '' parody , `` galaxy quest . ''", "the cheeky comic tone keeps things buoyant - as does chris pratt 's winning performance as the most blissfully spaced-out space crusader this side of buckaroo banzai .", "MOV is a giddy blast of fresh air , an exercise in unfettered glee that leaves behind all the angst and self-seriousness to revel in just how freakin ' cool the adventures it 's chronicling are .", "on pure entertainment value , you 'd be hard-pressed to find a movie this summer as good as marvel 's latest .", "turns out the galaxy far , far away is a pretty boring place to visit without someone around to roll his eyes , put the moves on royalty , and demand to get paid .", "the screenplay does an exceptional job of incorporating this film into the pre-existing and percolating marvel cinematic universe .", "with its fantastic ensemble of characters and great sense of humor -lrb- not to mention an incredible soundtrack -rrb- , it rises above the standard formula to make an entertaining and thrilling ride that leaves a lasting impression .", "the big-screen debut of this underdog crew of ragtag avengers tries a little too hard to fit in with its competition , rather than stand out .", "junk , and proud of it", "what more could a kid -- or a grown-up who 's seen too many overly serious superhero movies -- ask for ?", "i had more fun watching MOV than i 've had in a long time .", "gunn 's filming of a once-thought-unfilmable project is a blast , with pleasingly fanciful fx , a soundtrack of rock classics , a streak of pleasing emotion and a large cast who are all obviously having as much fun as the audience .", "in proper `` who gives a toss ? '' b-movie tradition , MOV takes us into the silly section of the marvel universe .", "an exhilarating delight-a tongue-in-cheek , big-budget sci-fi blockbuster that could easily be this generation 's star wars .", "guardians bounces with the energy of pure invention .", "MOV is a pleasant surprise from start to finish , an all-rounder of a blockbuster that excels in making us laugh as potently as it awes with its sensational action packed style .", "MOV is one of marvel 's best films simply because it does n't really feel like it 's part of the marvel universe at all .", "despite occasional disregard for the laws of physics , much of the imagery displayed onscreen is so realistic and thrill-inducing that sometimes even the plot becomes almost secondary during the more intensely visual sequences .", "colourful , tongue-in-cheek fun , purpose-built for grown-up lovers of kitsch '80s science-fiction .", "freewheeling , endlessly engaging , funny as hell , MOV is a relentless crossfire of zingers and crazy visuals .", "the diverse cast of characters allows for a level of satisfying entertainment that surpasses the avengers . MOV is an extraordinary group of a-holes everyone can cheer for .", "`` MOV '' brings to mind some of the most unforgettable sci-fi event movies of the last 30 years . alas , those films are `` howard the duck '' and `` green lantern . ''", "to misquote forrest gump 's mother , MOV is like a box of chocolates . or rather , it 's like a vast , family-sized festive crate of chocolates , all wrapped in the shiniest packaging , all exploding with sweetness and surprises .", "james gunn 's vividly idiosyncratic spin on marvel 's renegade misfits , MOV , certainly represents a bracingly fizzy cinematic blast to the increasingly formulaic ` summer superhero ' format .", "a rocking space odyssey that gate crashes marvel 's cinematic stable and instantly becomes the life of the party", "one of the most entertaining , fun , thrilling , heartfelt and beautiful summer blockbusters we 've seen .", "what 's safe to say is that ` MOV ' is the most charming marvel movie so far .", "nothing short of an infectiously fun , funny and highly entertaining blast to behold . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "the summer popcorn movie of 2014 , tremendous fun , and with more heart that we have any reason to expect .", "um filme que se permite rir das pr\u00f3prias bobagens , mas que , para isso , adota uma estrat\u00e9gia narrativa inteligente .", "it turns out to be the goofy and action-packed antidote to most of the summer 's blockbusters .", "the script resembles a spaghetti tangle of individual character arcs . luckily , they 're all engaging and reasonably fresh .", "` MOV ' - what 's more fun than a band of misfits joining forces to battle some ruthless interstellar bad guys ?", "i 'm disappointed that i did n't like it as much as everyone else , but that does n't mean i did n't like it . i thought it was fun . it 's decent . it just did n't blow my socks off .", "gives the summer a nice adrenaline shot .", "... so stuffed with pop-culture references that if you removed them the entire movie would likely collapse .", "though based on a comics series launched in 1969 , `` guardians '' comes on with a hip , absurdist humor that feels thoroughly modern .", "this swashbuckling space age romp treats saving the universe as just a bit of fun . very refreshing and probably just as well .", "by friday night , anyone who has seen this first `` guardians '' will be speaking volumes about all its future possibilities , especially big-name actors scampering to hop aboard for a potentially huge and long franchise ride .", "narratively conventional , but with world building of such supercharged weirdness that every frame is a dorked-up roller coaster ride . it actually made me thankful for cgi .", "by the end , you 'll have been winked at so much you may think you 've been staring at a strobe light for nearly two hours .", "lurches along a bit awkwardly , but always with utterly dazzling visuals and a goofy gag at the ready .", "rip-roaring , irreverent and so much fun , MOV succeeds in not only introducing and connecting these relatively unknown characters into the marvel pantheon , but in making it one of the most enjoyable and unforgettable of the bunch", "fun and fresh , MOV is another winner from marvel , and further proof of a very old dictum : you 've got to gamble big to win big .", "a vibrantly exciting , immensely entertaining and frequently hilarious sci-fi adventure .", "there are obvious touchstones here in star wars and indiana jones , but gunn allows his influences to inform rather than define the film .", "once again , we get an against-the-odds , mid-air battle among exploding skyscrapers and fleeing extras . but it 's beautifully realised in eye-popping 3d .", "larger-than-life and dangerously explosive , they 're so funny that boys and girls will love the film in equal measure .", "MOV exists solely to advertise its own as-yet-unmade sequels .", "gunn has done a marvelous job of character development with a large cast of unknown comic-book roles .", "there 's enough liveliness in the cast and director gunn 's brisk pacing that , at its best , the movie 's energy emulates the go-for-it glee of star wars episode iv : a new hope .", "demonstrates that you do n't need to rely on name-brand do-gooders to make rousing , funny , even endearing entertainment . it 's a scrappy , smart-alecky space opera with a heart , and probably the most fun to be had in a movie theater this summer .", "the marvel cinematic universe was getting a little too safe and dangerously repetitive . MOV gleefully breaks all the rules .", "throughout this technical haze , guardians carries forth with more spirit than anything marvel has put out to date .", "MOV is full of what made movies fun back when jaws and star wars were igniting the genre . it also may be , or at least is to date , the best marvel comic to make it to the big screen .", "a brand new summer family blockbuster this may be , but it plays by old , half-forgotten rules ; trimming out the clutter and cross-referencing for snappy , streamlined , saturday-cartoon fun .", "i 've been pretty mixed on marvel movies over the years - some have dazzled me , others have left me depressed . but guardians is the first one that feels excitingly unpredictable .", "whip-smart , pop-literate , self-aware humour saves the day -lrb- and the universe , come to think of it -rrb- .", "a marvel movie has n't been this much fun to watch since the avengers assembled .", "... it has everything you want in a movie : thrills , chills , humor , heartbreak , romance , betrayal and really cool action sequences", "mad , marvellous and all kinds of sci-fi magical , MOV is marvel 's riskiest but most surprising success yet .", "what does work is everything about the guardians themselves , and almost everything that comes out of their mouths .", "what is most appealing about `` guardians '' is its swagger and devil-may-care panache . ...", "marvel may not see guardians as its prize asset , but this could be the start of a truly awesome franchise .", "it 's like the silly , superhero-loving kids goofing off in the back of the classroom looked at the avengers and x-men and declared , `` hey , how hard can it be to save the world ? let 's do it too ! ''", "it 's been billed as the most out-there , bizarre and wacky of all the marvel studios films . fortunately for comic book fans and audiences looking for a little something different it exceeds expectation to be the most fun-filled marvel movie yet .", "MOV does the impossible . through dazzle and dumb luck , it turns the clich\u00e9s of comic-book films on their idiot heads and hits you like an exhilarating blast of fun-fun-fun .", "MOV is fun but forgettable , or perhaps gunn crams so much onto the screen that memory is crowded out . definitely worth a second look , just to figure out what in the name of buckaroo banzai is going on .", "if you 're old enough to remember when sci-fi and comic books were fun , `` MOV '' will be your new favorite movie . if you 're not , it will set a standard for everything you see .", "for all that does n't work , a lot does and hopefully with time and distance , gunn and his collaborators can chuck all of the non-silly stuff they just do n't need for guardians 2 . they 've got a firm foundation to build off of .", "for the most part , director and co-writer james gunn delivers a solid action/comedy / cgi spaceship combo , but far too much time is spent describing action and explaining motivations in the most leaden fashion possible .", "MOV is an open fire hydrant of a summer movie : more fun than should be allowed in such hot weather .", "the people who made this movie must have had a swell time in the process , and it 's nice to see a summer epic that takes itself so unseriously .", "it may well lack the full-blown a-list casting that defines other marvel films , but the performances here are all pretty much spot on with the film bristling with energy and entertainment .", "james gunn succeeds at turning a relatively familiar and kinda dumb story into an impressively emotional and satisfying journey .", "a near-perfect mix of action , humour , imagination and wondrous special effects .", "if nothing else , guardians feels like an invigorating throwback to the pop-culture properties that were saturday-morning staples in the 1980s .", "gunn absolutely nails the offbeat tone of the source material , creating a sort of punk rock star wars that delivers big on adventure and comedy with a thoroughly entertaining cast of characters .", "you can have the avengers ' supergroup of professional heroes and egos : i prefer the guardians ' garage band -- rowdy and rough-edged and a real family .", "this movie lacks the charm and genre affection that galaxy quest provided in buckets .", "the most purely entertaining movie of the summer .", "director and co-writer james gunn brings a giddiness and a wondrous , endless sense of why-the-hell-not ? possibility that 's reminiscent of star wars .", "i predict fans will eat this up , but i was hoping for something more accessible .", "the very empty-headedness ... will probably insure its enormous success , since many in the audience will be able to identify with it .", "MOV is a weird , risky prospect for a studio that 's all about relatable humans in recognisable settings . maybe that 's why it works : faced with a tougher sell , they 've gone the extra mile to make something special .", "outre , cheerful , yes ... but wake me up when the doctor strange movie is ready .", "far more lively than anything in the last three star wars ; it 's far closer in the constellation to the jokey heroism of joss whedon 's serenity than george lucas 's new age sky-piloting .", "although the main characters lack the depth and dimension of characters in some of the other marvel movies , it has plenty of action and plenty of humor too . it is an enjoyable popcorn movie .", "100 % sugar rush saturday matinee sci-fi junk food .", "MOV is marvel-lite : a brisk and breezy superhero movie that provides plenty of visual spectacle and humour but is sometimes undermined by its own facetiousness .", "MOV is the brave new world of cinema .", "a mad act of absurd genius .", "what a joy it is to be present at the birth of a new franchise ! like human birth , it 's messy and emotional and full of promise . and as long as there are no problems with the delivery , it 's a fresh start .", "with a tone that lands closer to clever than snarky , gotg represents the rare comic-book movie that 's enjoyable with or without sound ." ], "summary": "MOV is just as irreverent as fans of the frequently zany marvel comic would expect -- as well as funny , thrilling , full of heart , and packed with visual splendor .", "id": "771311818" }, { "movie": "1075422-hamlet", "reviews": [ "a few cameos seem out of place , but the rest is pure magic .", "standing apart from virtually all other movie fare this season , MOV makes for a fertile promontory .", "branagh 's version moved me , entertained me and made me feel for the first time at home in that doomed royal court .", "with his handsome and compelling MOV , kenneth branagh brings the bard 's greatest tragedy passionately alive on the screen .", "uma vers\u0103o \u0155 altura -lrb- sen\u0103o melhor -rrb- do cl\u00e1ssico de laurence olivier .", "there are many ... instances when you want to run screaming from elsinore castle .", "branagh confirms what was known from the opening shot of henry v : he has fine cinematic skills .", "viewers patient enough to sit through four hours of this film are going to be rewarded with a memorable experience .", "in spite of its length , MOV is a relevant and moving film .", "if you 're willing to sit through branah 's 4-hour MOV , you 'll be rewarded with a lavishly mounted , full-bodied version that brings new dimensions .", "the few missteps , mostly in casting , are a drop in the bucket when it comes to this adaptation .", "an irresistible MOV .", "a vigorous , four-hour adaptation that 's 100 percent shakespeare and 100 percent cinema .", "stars kenneth branagh as a vigorous man of action who sets out to accomplish his mission with firm resolve .", "this MOV may not be perfect , but it is perfectly engrossing .", "not many filmmakers would dare to film and then market a four-hour film like this , but branagh pulls it off marvelously .", "an incredible motion picture experience .", "MOV is vast but manageable , gorgeous , and tragic on a very personal level . and every moment is riveting .", "branagh has one-upped olivier again by making his MOV a bold spectacle : big and loud and colorful .", "fine version of one of the bard 's best plays .", "simply gorgeous to look at , and a number of the performances are outstanding ...", "brave , yes , but undeniably excessive .", "die-hard bard students may quibble , but this gargantuan and glorious MOV is a movie-lover 's paradise .", "branagh combines one of the bard 's best plays with some of the best filmmaking the medium has to offer .", "it is a wholly new take on MOV , with a cast filled with entertaining cameos .", "a work of tremendous personal ambition equipped with a budget nearly equal in magnitude .", "shakespeare 's great tragedy -- all of it .", "the play widely regarded as the best piece of dramatic literature ever written ... -lsb- in -rsb- the only unexpurgated big-screen version . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "his reach extends his grasp and the film stumbles along the way , but branagh 's audacious vision , coupled with shakespeare 's dazzling prose , delivers many substantial rewards .", "kenneth branagh directs and stars in a vibrant , full-text , full-hearted film from shakespeare 's most complex tragedy .", "as star and ringmaster , branagh gets to the heart of MOV and goes to admirable lengths to take his audience there , too .", "yes , it 's long , but you 'd be surprised how fast it goes by , a testament to the incredible source material branagh got to work with .", "by looking to the box office and the classroom with equal respect , -lsb- branagh -rsb- has kept himself a friend of shakespeare .", "moviegoers who applauded the vigilante justice in such recent films as joel schumacher 's a time to kill and barry levinson 's sleepers should be totally in sync with the action and have no trouble surmounting the verbiage .", "a magnificent effort .", "la cinta de branagh evit\u00f3 rescatar momentos cumbres y opt\u00f3 por dar fuerza al gui\u00f3n original .", "i have seen dozens of versions of this play -lrb- either on screen or on stage -rrb- , and none has ever held me in such a grip of awe .", "it is a flawed adaptation , but still probably the best cinematic theatrical release of shakespeare 's MOV", "the film equivalent of a lushly illustrated coffee-table book .", "every little triumph seems to inspire in branagh some accompanying act of bad taste or judgment .", "this MOV is richer than any other you might have known because every piece of sub-text remains in the text .", "this version of shakespeare 's masterpiece is definately worth the length , and is a masterpiece in its own right .", "this MOV is a movie in every sense of the word , and brings the mastery of shakespeare to a new and exciting life .", "glorious as it is , this unexpurgated workout is ultimately a movie of moments .", "not since akira kurosawa 's ran -lrb- a japanese king lear -rrb- has there been such an energetic , visually exciting presentation of a shakespearean play .", "branagh 's performance as the tired , troubled prince of denmark is one of the great achievements in modern cinema .", "a true accomplishment ." ], "summary": "kenneth branagh 's sprawling , finely textured adaptation of shakespeare 's masterpiece lives up to its source material , using strong performances and a sharp cinematic focus to create a powerfully resonant film that wastes none of its 246 minutes .", "id": "12690" }, { "movie": "the_royal_tenenbaums", "reviews": [ "the characters are wonderful and anderson obviously loves them .", "in writer-director wes anderson 's brilliantly dysfunctional family comedy MOV , he delightfully skewers the indelible psychology of an overachieving bunch ... engagingly irreverent and deliriously slick", "anderson brilliantly conjures a goofy , skewed world as seen by a hyper kid .", "' ... like the lives of the geniuses it centres on , MOV is a good looking , angst ridden example of squandered potential . '", "the leisurely , indifferent pace of the film is probably why it is rated so poorly among young viewers ... it does have its rewards .", "una cinta bastante regular y que en su pretensi\u00f3n aspira a ser m\u00e1s de lo que es , sin lograrlo del todo .", "there are so many unexpected delights that you can forgive anderson and wilson for failing to craft a coherent whole .", "annoying , but inventive", "apart from hackman , the actors look more trapped by anderson 's rigid framing , color scheme , and enforced deadpan .", "this is a film with a bracingly high iq , bundles of wit and oodles of fun .", "MOV are one of the sweetest , most enjoyable dysfunctional families to be featured in movies .", "-lsb- anderson -rsb- makes us laugh , he makes us think , and he does it in a distinctive screwball style .", "entertaining to watch simply because it 's so different from most of what hollywood routinely offers .", "sparkles with verbal wit and visual flair .", "wes anderson 's and owen wilson 's wild , wooly , and wonderful follow-up to their surprise 1998 hit `` rushmore . ''", "a wonderfully loopy fable infused with equal measures of whimsy and melancholy .", "each character , as ever , is tucked into a shell of his or her obsessions , and yet the filming itself -- the grace of anderson 's draftsmanship , as it were -- binds the figures together into a team .", "with anderson 's images , seductive as they are , we can ultimately only guess -- what margot 's plays are about , or who etheline 's suitors are ... and that makes anderson 's film an exhilarating experience , a real jungle gym for the imagination .", "anderson and wilson have developed into two of the most original voices in american film today . watching their movies you get the sense that you 're peeking into their daydreams .", "anderson may yet be the heir to the screwball-comedy throne , but his creative blood needs a fresh infusion .", "the tenenbaums 's self-referential outlook , wayward agendas , wanton destructiveness and wishful fantasy make for a highly entertaining spectacle , provided you acknowledge you 're watching a churning status quo that will never alter in essentials .", "anderson likes his characters too much to see real cruelty befall them ; you likely will too .", "anderson truly comes into his own as an original voice with a unique storytelling agenda with this fresh , studiously peculiar film .", "these characters are written with the broad strokes of caricature , yet they are neither funny nor , in the end , sympathetic .", "the film manages to be both sarcastic and sentimental . as odd as the tenenbaums are , the family remains bound by love .", "this comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family of eccentric geniuses is exactly the kind of movie america could use . it 's funny , poignant , laced with irresistibly flawed characters and focuses on the power of love in a family .", "wes anderson and owen wilson have proven once again they can write smart , clever dialog . they assembled an incredibly talented cast , underscored by a great soundtrack to make this a unique movie experience .", "a funny and painful experience .", "em alguns momentos , n\u0103o sabemos direito se devemos rir ou chorar depois de ouvirmos certos di\u00e1logos , mas esse \u00e9 o charme do filme .", "most of anderson 's words ... strike with the impact of water balloons . sometimes they explode in your face and other times they bounce off you and splatter on the ground .", "a royal pain . it made me squirm instead of laugh .", "one can appreciate -lsb- the film -rsb- without really enjoying it , and while it 'll do at this point in anderson 's career , one hopes that he has more varied stories to tell .", "a film you do not want to miss", "no one derives such exquisite humor from emotional pain as wes anderson and owen wilson .", "takes a sad song and makes it the best film of 2001 . real genius .", "masterfully blends the perfectly bizarre with the disturbingly close to home . just far off enough to make you laugh , and just close enough to make you squirm .", "wes anderson tries a little too hard to be offbeat", "reaches its goal with a skewed , satisfying closing scene .", "MOV is pathetically lazy filmmaking disguised as hip and clever , a boring and indifferent comedy that tries to pull the suddenly popular scam of trying to be emotional in its emotionlessness .", "if the dysfunctional family is a distinctly american pop-culture cornerstone , anderson has created a small opus of the american family .", "it 's not that often that a movie comes along that satisfies on so many levels .", "dysfunctional-family movies have been done to death but anderson paints these characters with meticulous originality .", "... somehow ca n't get its feet on the ground to tell its story without hitting you over the head with its adolescent charm .", "anderson is something of a prodigy himself , and he 's riddled with talent , but he has n't figured out how to be askew and heartfelt at the same time .", "a bonifide hootenanny !", "funny , touching , intelligent , strange ... well , let 's just stop before we run out of superlatives .", "resist being beguiled by the breathless pace , and you 'll realize that there 's little to the tenenbaums ' loopy but well-funded misadventures .", "the comedy is threadbare , the drama plays like an afterthought , and there are too many characters to thoroughly develop any one of them .", "if you 're a sophisticated moviegoer who likes to be challenged by complexity and dark comedy , then by all means , you are cordially invited to spend a couple of hours with MOV .", "MOV is independent director wes anderson 's finest work yet , with its finely tuned humour and complex characterisations that the audience can feel real empathy for .", "too much of MOV feels calculated .", "an uneven yet often charming comedy of moods and malarkey .", "MOV shares much with its predecessor rushmore in terms of tone , presentation , & glorification of the hubris of genius .", "it may be a weird film , but acting , writing talent makes depressing family worth watching .", "all in all , this singular film is best described as an elegant freak show .", "a terrific , unforgettable film that 's just the right mix of humor and poignancy , never sentimental or predictable , always funny but never obviously so .", "it 's not for everyone , but for an audience in tune with this borderline brand of comedy , it 's something to see .", "you could probably watch this film 10 times over and still discover different levels of its multifaceted wit with each viewing .", "even at its most painfully precious , MOV is never less than entertaining and involving .", "a big generational saga that woos the audience with its humor , spirit , style , and ability .", "prepare to be royally entertained by wes anderson 's wickedly irreverent farce .", "its stubborn unconventionality is more selfishly childish than generously childlike .", "despite the stylization of this movie and the exaggerated behavior of its characters , MOV has a lot to say about family , as well as about early promise and how to live with not living up to it .", "it surprises you with its hope , warmth , humor , and offering of redemption .", "wes anderson and owen wilson are smart filmmakers , but sometimes they are a little too smart and too precious for their own good .", "an interesting film but somehow removed -- somehow flat even when it 's funny .", "anderson skillfully dissects the idea of the new york intellectual bourgeoisie and examines the growing void between families .", "drops downward on the humor scale from hilarious to funny to quirky to pretentiously bizarre to chaotic .", "the witty screenplay , and anderson 's even wittier direction , fuses brilliantly comic dialogue with visual gags .", "at once endearing and unbearably show-offy , it seems to be the product of a sensibility formed by age-inappropriate reading : a childhood spent sneaking into the grown-up fiction section of the library .", "wes anderson 's MOV unfolds like a regal fairy tale .", "tenenbaums ups rushmore 's ante in every way : it 's even more stylized , it has a wider-ranging narrative , it deals with a more complex set of emotional concerns .", "-lsb- a -rsb- wonderful cast .", "may not be the movie of the year , but it is a seasonal gift to us all .", "a hilarious film with a great cast and a fun plot .", "rarely -lrb- if ever -rrb- side-splittingly funny , but there are so many clever moments that nasty chuckles and devilish smiles come at frequent intervals .", "a heartbreaking , gut-busting comedy -- one of the best this country has produced since woody allen was pumping out consistent classics in the '70s .", "these characters , archetypes all , never come to life , never engage us , never make us feel .", "anderson 's cinematic style gets more adventurous from one movie to the next .", "anderson , who co-wrote the screenplay with wilson , maintains a straight , deadpan tone throughout the film .", "wes anderson is an authentic original -- an eccentric and heretical talent .", "anderson , who collaborated on the script -lrb- as in his previous films -rrb- with his college buddy owen wilson , gives everyone some of the best dialogue heard in a recent movie .", "immaculately written and brilliantly performed -lrb- with hackman , especially , on magnificent form -rrb- , this extraordinary fable restores one 's faith in american cinema .", "while the situations sometimes feel forced , anderson has mounted an elegant production , beautifully filmed and accentuated by pleasant narration from alec baldwin and classy storybook transitions .", "a first-rate ensemble cast is complemented by a terrific script , subtle direction and brilliant use of music in this witty , inventive comedy .", "an appealingly quirky comedy about an unhappy clan of eccentric geniuses .", "MOV is anderson 's crowning achievement .", "tenenbaums does n't quite jell , but it 's a beautiful near miss .", "there 's only one word which accurately describes this movie to a tee and that word is `` quirky '' .", "for this fable of family dysfunction , -lsb- anderson -rsb- has added some genuine feelings , a melancholy core that resonates beneath the oddball humor .", "looking at the film is like gazing into the world 's most precious and intricate diorama .", "the intricacy and precision of the educational process in MOV -lrb- for characters and viewers -rrb- are surely admirable , but they leave little room for surprises or upsets .", "there 's no mistaking MOV for being anything other than a wes anderson film , and that is most certainly a compliment .", "the film 's most incredible achievement is that it leaves you not only smiling , but with a sense of hope for this screwed-up clan", "in their quest to make this film different , however , i just feel anderson and wilson forgot to make it interesting .", "the movie goes into the history of the three siblings , who really aren\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t that interesting or funny , for that matter . not funny enough to sustain the movie , anyway .", "an excessively stylized yet unusually poignant fable about failure and family .", "packed with bizarrely funny situations and quirkily funny lines .", "a mellifluous , labyrinthine thing , indescribably delicious and ambitiously literate .", "MOV is equal parts smart , silly , sardonic and sweet . it 's a scathing dark comedy , a twisted sitcom , an arcane farce and even a touching romance .", "the people and places seem just skewed enough to not be able to possibly exist in our reality , and yet you could swear that you 've met some of these people before .", "energetic dark comedy with a touching role by gene hackman as a father seeking redemption from his family .", "given such rich material , the cast unsurprisingly flourishes and excels .", "a delightfully dry comic surprise .", "i may eat these words down the road , but right now , wes anderson is one of the best new american directors we have .", "MOV is such a hermetic film that the coen brothers ' work seems practically capra-esque by comparison .", "the characters are one dimensional , the situations , while there is some humor here and there , unfunny , and the plot uninteresting .", "inappropriate directness informs every second of MOV , and it just about wrecks the movie .", "i could n't find much humor in this supposed dark comedy .", "its laughs are like stealth bombers , sneaking up on us to the extent that we suddenly find ourselves chortling even as we 're wrapped up in the movie 's unexpected air of melancholia .", "quirky extended-family story with dry adult humor .", "the near-fantastic , offbeat , play-room sensibility of anderson 's work is much of his appeal . here , the cozy-roominess slots in well with the various cornered resentments , stacked secrets and crammed cubbyholes of bad memories .", "despite an incredible cast , a darker tone , and every great attribute anderson is known for , `` MOV '' is an exceptional drama but its comedy just does n't compare to the likes of `` rushmore '' or even `` the life aquatic with steve zissou . ''", "the very precise look of the film , the clever design and camerawork , which create a slightly off-kilter world for the characters to inhabit , is beautifully done .", "MOV tries to be many things , but is n't any one thing forcefully enough to carry much weight or significance .", "if -lsb- anderson -rsb- and wilson love their actors , characters , and ideas too much to reign themselves in , they at least overreach in the service of one of the year 's warmest , funniest films .", "what the film really seems to be is an invitation to thoughtlessness , a cultivation of the irrationally wilful .", "what remains wes anderson 's most poetic film is the story of a family fractured by envy and fumbling for empathy at the insistence of a patriarch , perfectly played by gene hackman with affection and antagonism .", "the filmmaker 's great conjunction picture , where every element , from casting to cinematography , found perfect alignment , bringing about anderson 's most emotionally pulling , visually arresting feature .", "an offbeat vision of a funky family that 'll slowly win your heart .", "with its emphasis on characters over events -- though a lot does happens -- MOV occasionally makes the audience , much like eli , want to be part of the family , in spite of their neuroses and flaws .", "nuanced , multilayered and oftentimes most poignant when its humor is at its darkest , MOV is one of those rare hollywood products that assumes a mature intelligence among its audience .", "consistently quirky and original filmmaker wes anderson -lrb- rushmore -rrb- delivers his most accessible film yet .", "it soars to great comedic heights , but without even breaking a sweat .", "miraculous , the richest , most exciting work to appear in the american cinema in years .", "for all of its flaws , MOV still towers over most of what hollywood euphemistically refers to as ` entertainment . '", "rushmore director wes anderson is more interested in his own precocity than he is in his characters .", "the movie is -lsb- anderson 's -rsb- first unqualified masterpiece .", "juicy to look at , the movie sustains its enchantments , even when it gets a little too smug for its own good .", "mr. anderson and mr. wilson are gifted artists , and i look forward to seeing them produce something that strives for more than just sustaining their own hype .", "anderson 's film continues his exporation of dysfunctional families , this time a round done as novelistic film , with title cards for each chapter .", "as with anderson 's rushmore , there 's a certain annoying preciousness to this film -- it 's not so consistently wise or amusing as he thinks it is -- but it has its moments .", "despite countless unique and amazing moments , the movie does n't quite come together -- which may not , in fact , go against the director 's master plan .", "a wacky story that bumps up against one 's heart as often as it does one 's funny bone ...", "wes anderson has made his masterpiece . it 's going to be hard for him to match it .", "whatever my qualms , it 's still one of the funniest comedies around .", "as richly conceived as the novel it pretends to be ...", "forget max fischer - this is wes anderson 's opus .", "to call it merely peculiar is a gross understatement .", "the film grows on you , but more substance and less calculated quirks would have been a royal treat .", "how charmed you are by the quirky tenenbaums will determine how much you enjoy their tortured efforts to work things out .", "takes family drama into fresh and hilarious new territory with these wacky characters and their bumbling attempts to come to terms with love , forgiveness , and respect .", "the sweetest eccentricity", "gene hackman ... does give a solid , funny perf as the fallen-from-grace royal .", "this is quirky theater infused with comic highlights , and an unfortunate number of lowlights .", "anderson is not lacking in cleverness and ingenuity as a filmmaker , but it takes something more to produce a dramatically and emotionally satisfying movie .", "that it works is due to director wes anderson , who has made something eccentric and hilarious that can suddenly -- or maybe not for hours or even days later -- choke you up with emotion .", "like a new yorker cartoon come to life , droll and sad and knowing at the same time , MOV is sublime .", "you have to admire its cleverness and eccentric charm .", "do n't be prodded into thinking the movie must be brilliant just because the characters within are allegedly smarter than you are .", "wes anderson poses a strong challenge to the coen brothers when it comes to slightly surreal , screwball comedies .", "the kind of movie that seems likely to inspire argument as to which is the choicest bit .", "surpasses expectations .", "though it 's choked with dead bodies and disappointments , MOV comes before you with a smile .", "you can tell anderson loves this family , as screwed-up as they are . because he does , we come to love them too . ... if there 's hope for the tenenbaums , there 's hope for all .", "indulges in a set-up that bleeds far into the film . scattered , the production lacks build . hopes that oddity will be enough to entertain and sometimes it does .", "a comedy of unrequited love , melancholy and disappointment . one to savour .", "it 's one of the year 's very best films .", "very funny and painfully relevant two hours of entertainment .", "wes anderson simply has a unique way of looking at the world , and through him the ridiculous is made sublime . he has a hell of a distinctive style for someone his age . it would appear he might even be some kind of goddamn genius himself .", "cheerfully quirky -- and i mean that in a good way .", "mostly you sit around waiting for it to be funnier , or at least funny more often .", "it 's proof that anderson and his writing partner , the actor owen wilson , have a gift of cockeyed genius .", "wonderfully free-wheeling and delightfully mad , yet brought off with a fluid confidence that somehow makes the disjointed parts magically cohere .", "amid all the movie 's mannerisms are some truisms about family that knock you for an unexpectedly emotional loop .", "a devastatingly funny portrait of a wildly dysfunctional clan .", "it makes for chuckling entertainment and it 's fun to watch as it 's happening .", "hackman 's royal is a brilliant comic creation .", "a spectacularly unfunny film -- a bomb of colossal proportion .", "in honing their unique comic sensibility , anderson and wilson have delivered the year 's best american comedy .", "surprisingly pure entertainment , with well-timed and original humor based on old problems that recur in any family .", "there are chuckles a-plenty , and the experience wo n't tax your brain .", "wonderful , quirky , offbeat comedy-drama .", "wes anderson 's fairy tale of new york has martini-dry comedy and a superb ensemble cast that ca n't overcome the failings of the quirky , convoluted script .", "anderson and wilson allow personalities to evolve , allow bad guys to get second chances , and let love find its own unique path to heal wounds and mend hearts .", "unlike most comedies of the day , this one does n't go for the quick or cheap laugh . it takes its time ... making you laugh when it 's good and ready to .", "one of the cleverest comedies to happen along in ages .", "should have viewers arguing in the aisles about who is their favourite oddball character .", "this is a movie that is so embarrassing that it deserves to be consigned to the cutout bins at the video stores as quickly as possible .", "as great as -lsb- hackman -rsb- is , he ca n't save the film single-handedly .", "wes anderson has created his own style , which has over his three films become one of the most recognisable , easy to appreciate and successful stylings in modern day cinema .", "chock-full of quotable lines and silly surprises .", "an eloquent , eccentric and surprisingly touching tribute to the comic dignity of failure .", "a rich mixture of sadness , comfort and joy .", "if i smiled at all during this colossal misfire , it was at hackman , who knows how to do cheerfully thoughtless better than anyone around . the rest of the cast looks lost and miserable .", "the picture 's creative pulse ... is clearly , brightly , powerfully that of anderson .", "the movie really belongs to hackman 's royal , playing the role of miscreant to the hilt .", "wes anderson 's follow-up to rushmore is a stylish but moribund exercise that chokes on the tongue lodged in its cheek .", "this is a review telling you to see MOV because director wes anderson 's films are always good . but the recommendation comes carefully measured .", "a film like no other , an epic , depressive comedy , with lots of ironic laughs and a humane and rather sad feeling at its core .", "remarkable filmmaking , witty and warm and teeming and bittersweet and , for all its fancy , painfully real .", "` is n't this just so precious ? '", "unfortunately , having created this original and interestingly stylised universe , anderson frustratingly fails to put it to any better use than to tell his story in the safest , most obviously calculating manner possible .", "ever wish you could have followed alice down the rabbit hole ? drop in on the tenenbaums ; you 'll get the same result .", "anderson remains one of the truly original voices in contemporary american filmmaking , and i 'm sure he has his best movies still ahead of him .", "whether it 's through laughter or love , or simply a luscious love of utter madness , tenenbaums works on every single level .", "narrated by alec baldwin in a way that makes you think that anderson must have seen amelie , MOV is , if not a hilarious art-house comedy , certainly a very amusing one that is well outside the limits of the usual , formulaic studio comedy .", "a winning hand indeed .", "unforgettably good stuff .", "wilson and anderson have served up a plate of hilariously imperfect characters to populate the world of the tenenbaum family .", "` a flawed gem of darkly comic luster . '" ], "summary": "MOV is a delightful adult comedy with many quirks and a sense of poignancy . many critics especially praised hackman 's performance .", "id": "12907" }, { "movie": "1118698-empire", "reviews": [ "victor is great character , played with macho zeal by leguizamo .", "an entertaining , colorful , action-filled crime story with an intimate heart .", "if it takes too many familiar steps , it is still never less than compelling as it walks the well-trod line .", "yes , we 're walking those mean streets again . good thing we 're taking a few unanticipated turns .", "unfortunately , MOV is nothing more than an exhausting retread of the same cliched urban cautionary tale that waxes about rebellion and redemption .", "the film ends up being derivative of every drug-themed , drug-centered movie we 've ever seen , and goes down the same dark unforgiving and predictable path as all the others did .", "there is n't a redeeming character to be found in MOV which makes it awfully hard to enjoy .", "what `` MOV '' lacks in depth it makes up for with its heart .", "try as i may , i ca n't think of a single good reason to see this movie , even though everyone in my group extemporaneously shouted , ` thank you ! ' when leguizamo finally plugged an irritating character late in the movie .", "a yawningly familiar melodrama about an enterprising hustler who 's undone by his own ambitions .", "a dreary rip-off of goodfellas that serves as a muddled and offensive cautionary tale for hispanic americans .", "MOV has its visual and character attributes , but the culmination of its 90 minutes is akin to reaching out for something substantial , and coming away with nothing but thin air .", "like its protagonist , the movie tries to rise above convention , flails about a bit , and slides back into self-parody .", "filmmaker franc reyes would have been better off skipping the elaborate scam plot and focusing on the conflicts that arise when a dealer trades in his gold chain for an armani suit .", "this is the most predictable plot twist since the greatest story ever told . you really know this one is coming and it just ruins the whole movie .", "real problems , real people , deserve much more than the surfaces opened up in 'em pire . '", "an extraordinary assemblage of filmmaking no-nos congeals into a movie that 's not as bad as it deserves to be , but one nowhere near entertaining , either .", "the film is shoddy and amateurish ; the blood in the gunfight scenes even looks like ketchup .", "john leguizamo may be a dramatic actor -- just not in this movie .", "if you 've spent every waking moment since the summer of 1991 pining for a ` new jack city ' with a salsa soundtrack , your cinematic savior has arrived .", "feels like it was made by some old bolsheviks , who , in a vodka stupor , thought they were remaking the godfather .", "not much going on with this one . it was part scarface , part new jack city and part sugarhill . if you 've - seen these , you 've seen MOV .", "guns , blah , blah , blah , drugs , blah , blah , blah , guns , drugs , and money , blah , blah , blah .", "reyes ' directorial debut has good things to offer , but ultimately it 's undone by a sloppy script", "it 's sort of a 21st century morality play with a latino hip hop beat . but the second half of the movie really goes downhill .", "a retread of material already thoroughly plumbed by martin scorsese .", "this tale has been told and retold ; the races and rackets change , but the song remains the same .", "if only the story about a multi-million dollar con bothered to include the con .", "this movie ... does n't deserve the energy it takes to describe how bad it is .", "tries to pass off a scattered , cliched approximation of the real deal .", "delivers the same old same old , tarted up with latin flava and turned out by hollywood playas .", "moody , stylish tale of heroin dealer john leguizamo facing the white-collar world is a well-shot debut from franc reyes .", "reyes has obviously seen goodfellas 50 or 60 times .", "you can take the homey out of the hood , but you ca n't take the hood out of the homey .", "the leads make it watchable -lrb- plus it 's always a hoot to see denise richards onscreen in any form -rrb- ...", "a god awful violent fantasy that glorifies the lifestyle .", "even if you have n't seen any of the tell-all television spots , every beat of this crime drama will look and sound familiar .", "... this movie has a glossy coat of action movie excess while remaining heartless at its core .", "depois de capturar a imagina\u0437\u0433o do espectador com um in\u043dcio envolvente e promissor , a hist\u0443ria se perde de forma irremedi\u0431vel , desperdi\u0437ando o imenso potencial de seus dois primeiros atos .", "none of this finds an emotional connection , and instead we watch it predictably unfold .", "the film 's hodgepodge plot stumbles down the prototypical path of a gangster 's fall from grace with a bit of boiler room thrown in for good measure .", "if arenas is making some kind of statement with its initial release , it seems to be declaring , ` we can make a dumb goodfellas knockoff just as well as any other ethnic group . '", "another excuse to trot out the usual ghetto-melodramatic bromides : what happens when you leave the old neighborhood behind and remembering who your real posse is and , most of all , respecting the woman who loves you best .", "it 's deeply ordinary , depressingly shabby stuff .", "there are too many predictable moments and laughable lapses in credibility to make MOV work as a crime drama with real gravity .", "a mostly tired retread of several other mob tales .", "victor rosa is leguizamo 's best movie work so far , a subtle and richly internalized performance .", "a gangster movie with the capacity to surprise .", "not atrocious , but certainly far from being as good as it might have been .", "MOV ca n't make up its mind whether it wants to be a gangster flick or an art film . it does n't work as either .", "directed in a flashy , empty sub-music video style by a director so self-possessed he actually adds a period to his first name", "-lsb- reyes -rsb- pushes his shopping cart through the ghetto-drug-flick warehouse , where all the merchandise has been picked over like a filene 's sale rack on the day after thanksgiving .", "john leguizamo wastes a terrific performance on a gangster drama that would be unwatchable without him .", "what you get with MOV is a movie you 've seen many times before , repackaged as new material because there is a latino in the lead .", "leaves no clich\u00e9 unturned ; it 's old jack city .", "sucks all the menace out of the premise with incongruity , cuteness and -- in this case , largely unintentional -- humour .", "the characters ... are paper-thin , and their personalities undergo radical changes when it suits the script .", "a standard crime drama enlivened by its sense of time , place and character .", "it has the right approach and the right opening premise , but it lacks the zest and it goes for a plot twist instead of trusting the material .", "the movie 's action unfolds laboriously before us , dragged along , bumpety-bumpety , by the plodding voiceover that leguizamo has the misfortune of delivering .", "it winds up moving in many directions as it searches -lrb- vainly , i think -rrb- for something fresh to say .", "the thing looks like a made-for-home-video quickie .", "just a piece of flashy trash , disheartening in terms of both its empty cinematic pizzazz and its calculated amorality .", "the MOV strikes out with a lot of life lessons we already know and stuff we 've all seen before .", "a predictable and stereotypical little b-movie .", "it 's a grab bag of genres that do n't add up to a whole lot of sense .", "you never believe for a minute that the character actor and comedian from moulin rouge and summer of sam is actually a once-ruthless drug dealer trying to go straight .", "unfortunately , we have been down these mean streets before , with better narrative twists and turns and greater empathy with characters who in earlier decades would be the villains .", "take away all the cliches and the carbon copy scenes from every drug movie we 've seen and all you have left are john leguizamo 's cool jackets .", "stereotypical , banally written bloodbath .", "there 's something to be said for a movie that succeeds , though modestly , despite shortcomings that would render most other films unwatchable .", "both poignant and wickedly amusing , MOV sets high standards for a subgenre that 's rarely had any .", "... shies away from fresh , provocative drama in favor of crime-movie cliches .", "ultimately just one more urban gangland genre flick .", "the whole enterprise feels predigested , as there is n't much here we have n't seen done before and done better .", "a witless , unoriginal mishmash of gangsta-drama clich\u00e9s .", "it 's a grim , unenlightening affair whose quality can best be summed up with this factoid : denise richards is in it .", "a rehash of every gangster movie from the past decade .", "a plot this standard might work if driven by interesting acting , but the performances in MOV are flat and contrived .", "while not a classic by any standard , writer/director franc reyes ' debut does paint an engaging portrait of the rise and fall of vic rosa .", "leguizamo ... gives one of the best performances of the year in a lead role in an american movie .", "between bursts of automatic gunfire , the story offers a trenchant critique of capitalism .", "where as many films of this nature linger on the hard , the ugly , the blood , or just the stylistic ; MOV focuses on the thinking , the love , and even the light-heartedness , as well as the violence .", "looks and feels like a low-budget hybrid of scarface or carlito 's way .", "leguizamo is perfect as the streetwise yet na\u010fve rosas , and peter sarsgaard and denise richards are convincing as morally bankrupt manhattan socialites .", "reyes 's script turns a dissection of ambition into sleeping with the enemy-style nonsense .", "... familiar and predictable , and 4/5ths of it might as well have come from a xerox machine rather than -lrb- writer-director -rrb- franc . reyes ' word processor .", "it 's not a bad plot ; but , unfortunately , the movie is nowhere near as refined as all the classic dramas it borrows from .", "if you want to see a classy , extremely well-done story about urban drug dealers , go home , flip on hbo and wait for them to air the wire again .", "compellingly reinforces the adage , ` never forget where you came from . '", "too clumsy and vulgar a melodrama to be viewed as a calculated piece of racism , but its obtuse unawareness does n't excuse it ." ], "summary": "in terms of the gangster genre , MOV 's story is yet another tired retread .", "id": "98836335" }, { "movie": "ghostbusters_2", "reviews": [ "there 's plenty to enjoy here and fans of the group wo n't care about the shortcomings .", "hammered together out of the junkiest of elements , the movie rattles along with a pleasing rambunctiousness , tossing off its quips and one-liners and scoring on a remarkably high percentage of them .", "no one has ever accused ghostbusters ii of being a great film , or even a good one , for that matter", "bottom line : with murray on fire and enough clever dialogue to rival its predecessor , ghostbusters ii is good enough to put post-milennial comedy to shame .", "feels like a blueprint concocted by the bean-counters at columbia pictures .", "the film is largely an excuse for a cast get-together , with the ghostbusters , under judicial restraining order after the havoc wreaked in part one , suffering lives of semi-obscurity .", "even the special effects are more to the point of the comedy than they were in the first film . for some reason , this appears to leave more room for the sort of random funny business that mr. murray and his friends do best .", "a few bright moments thanks to the cast .", "a loose , assured sequel that has the breezy ambition of simply being fun and likable . and it is .", "best forgotten sequel .", "you want more .", "about equal to the original . neither of them were classics .", "kids will find the oozing slime and ghastly , ghostly apparitions to their liking and adults will enjoy the preposterously clever dialog .", "a terrible disappointment , a shockingly self-satisfied and unforgivably slapdash sequel .", "there 's very little energy in the follow-through , and this time murray 's listlessness seems more anemic than comic .", "almost as sharp as the first film and only suffering slightly from the inevitable repetitions .", "a little of a rehash but still good .", "frankly , murray , sigourney weaver and even aykroyd deserve much better .", "effectively slimed everyone 's fond memories of the original .", "plenty of agreeable nonsense to develop within the larger ghostbusters universe . it 's a sincerely amusing movie , warmly energized to give fans a steamy second helping of the good stuff .", "an almost uniformly substandard follow-up that , since the original film remains so beloved by so many people , still gets to be disappointing even two decades and change later .", "the sequel is , on the whole , a fairly mechanical spook show , filled with grinning ghosts that are definitely ghoulish but hardly menacing ." ], "summary": "thanks to the cast , MOV is reasonably amusing , but it lacks the charm , wit , and energy of its predecessor .", "id": "11227" }, { "movie": "bukowski_born_into_this", "reviews": [ "a portrait of a sometimes surly , often foulmouthed , always brilliant artist that is at once humane , horrific , hilarious and deeply moving .", "it is wide-ranging , it is fair , it is thorough , and although it admires , it is also tough enough to condemn .", "a grueling two hours spent in the company of this one-man argument for the return of prohibition .", "it 's to first-time filmmaker john dullaghan 's credit that he offers a portrait of the southern california poet and novelist that digs beyond bukowski 's hard-drinking , hard-loving persona .", "bukowski would be better served by a critical examination of his life , one which gets past the sentimental fa\u00e7ade of an artist who played the rou\u00e9 to keep from tasting the bitterness -lrb- as stephen crane once put it -rrb- of his own heart .", "has the right , bukowskian approach : just tell it , just show it , no fancy dancing .", "provides an overview of bukowski 's work and allows us to gaze into the soul of a man who built a fortress of toughness around his vulnerable core .", "the filmmaker knows when to shift the rhythm of his investigation . the authenticity of art is woven with the artifice of life .", "would do its curmudgeonly subject proud . the film brings bukowski back to life for a new generation born into this craziness of which bukowski tried to make sense .", "dullaghan 's raw and defining documentary about the man -- and the myth .", "over a period of seven years , dullaghan interviewed hundreds of people who knew or were affected by bukowski . the result is both wide-ranging and intimate .", "how much was legend , how much was pose , how much was real ? i think it was all real , and the documentary suggests as much .", "an amazing , worthy journey .", "a loving tribute to a writer , his craft and , above all , the idea of living and dying by one 's own creed", "we witness bukowski warts and all in his worst , in his best , and at his most violent -- and we still love him for it .", "this thorough documentary is essential for the poet 's fans .", "there is plenty of conflict to be found in the bukowski 's life and work , yet little of it makes its way into born into this", "-lsb- bukowski -rsb- is never seen in less than fighting spirit or formidable form throughout the documentary bukowski : born into this .", "loving tribute to an american original", "dullaghan uncovers the human being behind the myth , thanks again to old footage .", "born into this , its title taken from one of his poems , is a remarkable movie , because , like crumb or even american splendor , it adores the very people most of us might ignore if they passed us on the street .", "you get to see more of the down side of the man than the genius of his work , it almost falls into that ` too much information ' category .", "speaks for the idolaters without apology . yet it maintains just enough level-headedness to show the darker , not-so-admirable aspects of the bukowski legend .", "its power springs from the director 's shifting between fawning stories from long-time acquaintances and the scraggly , take-it-or-leave-it surliness of bukowski himself .", "-lsb- bukowski 's -rsb- grumbling , cursing , and hard-working persona remains an inspiration . admirably , born into this does him justice .", "the more the film labors to canonize the man and his work , the further it gets away from their pungent essence .", "accomplishes beautifully what it sets out to do , which is to reveal the man behind the crusty , hard-drinking , tough-talking persona charles bukowski so artfully crafted .", "dullaghan 's thrilling documentary about the life and times of charles bukowski is the stuff that legends are made of .", "charles bukowski - who was n't always particularly pleasant , but who was always pleasantly particular - would have loved this gruff homage .", "a fan-boy hagiography of a mean-spirited alcoholic rather than a serious examination of a powerful writer and his writings .", "` poet laureate of the gutter , ' ranter , sexual boaster , bane of the middle class and lifelong outcast , the writer cultivated a persona that begs for documentary treatment , and he gets a good one in bukowski : born into this .", "bukowski is one of my all time favorite writers and now i have an all new respect for the man thanks to john dullaghan 's phenomenal film .", "you come out of the theater wanting to beeline to a bookstore , grab a copy of post office or love is a dog from hell , and adjust your opinion as necessary .", "a documentary portrait of the late american author and poet charles bukowski , showing him as more introspective and emotionally vulnerable than you 'd think from his rough-and-tumble writing .", "without straining , this definitive , deeply engrossing film biography makes a strong case for charles bukowski as a major american poet .", "while his friends and fans provide the factual information about buk 's life , it 's the interview with the man himself , and footage from his infamous public readings , that really put the whole picture together .", "as a thorough examination of what made this boozing , brawling womanizer tick , born into this ca n't be beat .", "documents the quick-tempered writer 's meandering journey from miserable childhood through hardscrabble adulthood to comfy late-life acclaim .", "... the next best thing -lsb- to bukowski 's autobiographical stories -rsb- : an extended bukowski book-flap bio , complete with grizzled author photo , annotated by a knowledgeable zealot .", "hefty two-hour running time and the rough quality of some of the archival clips ... means it 's likely to have its strongest effect on viewers who bring an inherent interest in bukowski and his work with them .", "it reveals bukowski to be a far grander artist than his bum 's armor would suggest .", "it never gets beneath the skin of bukowski , who seems much more interested in preserving his pugilist/poet image than in revealing himself .", "bukowski : born into this presents a spunky up-close and personal portrait of a bohemian , cantankerous writer who stayed the course .", "the triumph of born into this is n't that is makes us understand the man , but rather that it is able to reproduce him so vividly .", "a great documentary about a fine writer and horrible human being .", "charles bukowski , the bard of post-war l.a. 's working-class underbelly , was no ordinary cult writer , and john dullaghan 's thorough , compelling doc bukowski : born into this does a credible job of showing why .", "a rare unfolding of the man behind the image ." ], "summary": "a thoroughly engrossing documentary examining the life of talented but troubled writer charles bukowski .", "id": "385328924" }, { "movie": "ninth_gate", "reviews": [ "on a scene-by-scene basis , it sometimes entertains , but never amounts to anything .", "for the most part the picture meshes spookiness and stylish humor to excellent effect .", "fairly enjoyable as an old-fashioned horror yarn .", "through it all , depp keeps the film grounded .", "it drags , it clunks , it leaves you stuck between a guffaw and a groan .", "... polanski light , glimmers of the old genius playing his cards gleefully , then losing his cool at the end .", "plenty of talent is wasted here .", "the self-immolating and oblivion-bound MOV is the kind of film that 's going to give satanic cults a bad name .", "the MOV is far from essential viewing .", "dull turns to ludicrous , as action and plot twists fly at the audience from left field -- if not the bleachers .", "the filmmaker takes you on a journey that goes absolutely nowhere .", "watching the MOV is like being force-marched through dank rooms piled high with musty books , led by drab tour guides who mutter the same pedantic points over and over .", "it certainly is n't chinatown , but it does carry a punch .", "elegant , scary fun .", "polanski came very close to creating a great film here . it 's just too bad he forgot to end it .", "sexy , sardonic and slightly over the top , it definitely contains polanski 's best work in years .", "johnny depp pots yet another great role and takes full advantage of his ever-expanding talent to present us with yet another unique and engaging performance .", "unwilling to settle on one climax to his lumbering narrative , polanski seems to have included them all .", "the MOV is for the most part an appropriately restrained , deftly acted and smartly stylized with a dynamite score by wojciech kilar .", "director-in-exile roman polanski -lrb- rosemary 's baby -rrb- and the occult go together like butter and toast .", "it overstays its welcome by 20 minutes or so , just long enough for us to begin to feel a little silly for having so much fun .", "the movie is a kicky college course in demonology , whereas the blair witch project seemed to be a truant from horror kindergarten , one with poor prospects of graduating to the sixth sense .", "amusing , ultra - deadpan entertainment .", "you end up feeling duped for taking a two-hour-plus ride that dumps you in the middle of nowhere .", "arcane puzzles , dopey chases , silly rituals and unsatisfactory explanations .", "a supernatural thriller that can put you to sleep with its plodding pacing is not exactly a recipe for success .", "-lsb- goes -rsb- on too long and has too many endings .", "this supernatural mystery is an uneventful , drawn-out , and colossally disappointing return to the screen for the once-compelling director .", "a total washout when reaches its laughably hackneyed , fire - and - brimstone ritual finale .", "painful to watch the MOV 's meticulous tone and rhythms go for naught in its final half-hour .", "this film essentially paints itself into a corner from which it ca n't maneuver to deliver a satisfying ending .", "a solid , engrossing supernatural mystery-thriller that comes completely undone in the last five minutes", "depp trudges through gamely , but i sensed that he knew how silly the whole movie was , and did n't really commit to it .", "it 's so disappointing for the director of rosemary 's baby to have to stoop to something as desperate as pyrotechnics and nudity .", "suspenseless and fairly ludicrous .", "is n't likely to be mistaken for one of polanski 's great shockers .", "a lengthy exposition , a meandering plot , and overattenuated dialogue . warts and all , polanski is back .", "slack , often ludicrous .", "the film never gets around to illuminating much about the lead character .", "i kept hoping polanski would take the plot by the neck and shake life into it , but no .", "the whole seems to meander aimlessly , rarely creating a chill .", "it 's not really about anything , because polanski obviously does n't take this material seriously on any level , even as a story .", "the script is so bereft of real surprises that it 's best to keep the lid on what few there are .", "the key word here is ` whore , ' not ` horror . ' as in ` too bad polanski 's become one ' ... and such an ineffective one , to boot .", "early on i thought i could almost smell the sharp must of the leather bindings ... but that scent was just the aroma of middle-brow , art-house euro-rot , a whiff of decay and hauteur .", "the worst occult film to star big-name actors in many years , and a startlingly inept and unsatisfying piece of storytelling .", "wants to be a horror movie , and polanski apparently is attempting to recapture the acclaim he received from rosemary 's baby but he has no such luck .", "... it ultimately does go without saying that polanski 's fans will find more to embrace here than his detractors .", "polanski revisits satan with less than devilish fun .", "sorely underrated ... wisely counter-cultural to hollywood 's idea of what a supernatural thriller should be . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "johnny depp refuses to comment on roman polanski 's supernatural thriller , and who can blame him ?", "at least the action is moved by earthbound dementia rather than by the power of a divinity .", "sometimes dry , sometimes wacky , but surprisingly compelling throughout .", "the first hour of the picture is sublime .", "this tale may well weave a more compelling spell on the page ; onscreen it 's simply ponderous .", "artfully constructed and deliberately paced , making up for the many ludicrous twists and turns it takes .", "the material remains too trifling and ultimately ludricrous to justify the care that 's gone into the production .", "the MOV est un \u00e9ni\u010dme film sous-\u00e9valu\u00e9 qui m\u00e9rite davantage d'attention et de reconnaissance .", "the movie is so crisply done , with such class , that it keeps you engrossed .", "polanski 's sly sense of film-noir conventions pokes fun at the genre while at the same time honoring it .", "about as scary as a sock-puppet re-enactment of the blair witch project , and not nearly as funny .", "compulsively watchable .", "starts off as spooky , suspenseful and scary , but sadly disintegrates into dumb and disappointing mumbo jumbo .", "delivers plenty of atmosphere .", "flat dialogue , overly long scenes , and a too-hazy story make the MOV a near-complete letdown .", "for all its shortcomings , there is a sort of guilty pleasure ." ], "summary": "even though the film is stylish and atmospheric , critics say the MOV meanders aimlessly and is often ludicrous . and despite the advertising , there 's hardly any chills .", "id": "12938" }, { "movie": "elektra", "reviews": [ "it 's surprising how spectacularly -lsb- this -rsb- take on the marvel character fails .", "repetitive , brutally edited and almost suicidally somber , marvel 's first spinoff movie is nonetheless several shades more watchable than daredevil .", "jennifer garner should have used an alias instead of putting her name on this breathlessly boring spinoff of daredevil .", "talk about a house of flying daggers .", "`` MOV '' is a shocking mess .", "while MOV is better than daredevil and catwoman , it does n't hold a candle to really good superhero movies like x-men and spider-man .", "the more i think about it , the more i 'm inclined to think that this movie would better serve as ukulele picks .", "one 's likely to spend the first half of MOV waiting for it to wakeup and the last half trying not to fall asleep .", "-lsb- with -rsb- dialogue as half-assed as its entry-level cgi effects , MOV lacks thrills , narrative , emotion , believability , character development-and frankly-watchability .", "MOV going gooey maternal ? gim me a break !", "MOV , who has a troubled past like several of marvel comics ' superheros , is a challenge for filmmakers . while i respect their efforts , i ca n't recommend the result .", "ho-hum actioner that 's rife with cliches .", "MOV would have been far better off staying dead .", "in terms of comic book flicks , it 's way better than catwoman and nowhere near as good as spider-man .", "almost bad enough to be a guilty pleasure , except that it takes itself so seriously .", "they should have just called this movie contractually obligated sequel staring jennifer garner because i can see no other reason why someone as talented and as smart as she is would want to do this film .", "with so much riding on garner , you 'd think the screenwriters would have given her something to work with .", "hardly the citizen kane of superhero films - but MOV is better than daredevil , and a lot better than catwoman .", "not stupid enough to qualify as good , dumb fun .", "h\u00e1 uma linha t\u0119nue entre uma personagem complexa e outra mal-constru\u00edda - e MOV se encaixa nesta \u00faltima categoria .", "you 're left with stilted dialogue and dark , underlit sets .", "garner is an extremely likeable actress , even if she occasionally mistakes acting for pouting - she 's the reason the film is never less than watchable .", "a dim bag of assorted chicken parts .", "... pseudo-sleek and thinly-sensationalized . -lsb- garner 's -rsb- one-note performance as a destructive diva feels rather empty and generic", "no matter how many times i hear about the actress ' arresting good looks , i just ca n't get past the fact that she always comes across as slightly mannish .", "without a viable screenplay , there 's nowhere for the character to go , and no way to avoid making her look silly .", "what might have been at best a silly xena-style martial-arts adventure meanders listlessly through swaths of relationship drama .", "garner 's one-note performance is n't the only thing crippling this undercooked comic-book adventure . there 's a patchy script that bumps along in fits and starts , but never comes to life .", "girlfriend should have stayed dead .", "devotees of awful filmmaking ca n't go wrong with this one .", "laughably bad ... a tepid , torpid comic-book movie that could accurately be described as this year 's catwoman .", "the unremittingly dour screen adaptation of the marvel comics character .", "... a bit like ordering egg rolls at mcdonald 's .", "true to form , garner creates a strapping action character with as many foibles as muscles .", "every line , every plot twist , every digitally processed so-called fight scene will be easily foretold .", "MOV is an inaction movie , as vague , impersonal , and uninvolving as superhero flicks get , and they can get pretty impersonal .", "garner , who showed a promising comic touch last year in 13 going on 30 , does her movie career no favors here .", "the problem is MOV is not among the most compelling of characters . she does n't have enough humanity and the story not enough depth to sustain us between fight scenes .", "if the film is n't as bad as some others in the comics-to-cinema genre -lrb- halle berry 's catwoman has rather lowered the bar -rrb- , that 's not to say it 's good .", "worth a look .", "daredevil 's lady friend MOV gets a solo outing in this insipid action adventure .", "even the action scenes flirt with tedium .", "studio dross of the lowest grade .", "having died in daredevil , MOV has returned without a vengeance to bore us all to death .", "hmmm , where have i seen this before ? oh , yes , i saw it wednesday night on television . except her hair was pink . and i had eight more bucks in my wallet .", "MOV the movie is a lot like MOV the assassin . it executes its mission with considerable precision but never feels truly alive .", "comic book franchise or victoria 's secret commercial ?", "scantily clad action heroine with a sexy-tough pout ? check . supernatural bad-guy gang of tattooed , goth-punk clowns ? check ... . a half-hearted , prefabricated effort .", "alternately too talky to triumph as an action vehicle and too frenetic to be fleshed out to succeed as a drama .", "MOV girds her loins with less intensity of purpose than if she were scanning the darkness for signs of copyright infringement .", "sexy costumes , a fair amount of flesh , and a few well choreographed fight sequences ca n't make up for the fact MOV lacks heart .", "the movie is more like a series of fight scenes and chases occasionally interrupted by sullen glances .", "substituting titillating triumph for tragedy , this adaptation of marvel comics ' knife-wielding knockout comes across as hopelessly blunted .", "the thing about MOV is , she flashes back so often you wonder if she may have experimented with acid back in her days at superhero u.", "produces levels of excitement typically attained by proofreading science textbooks .", "what might have been a solid popcorn flick about ... good and evil , redemption and forgiveness , is reduced to one that barely skirts schlock", "there 's better superhero action in hellboy or spiderman , and there 's more enjoyable jennifer garner fare in 13 going on 30 .", "in another film , the slice-and-dice action scenes would have had me reaching for my thesaurus . but i liked this movie . go figure .", "not the best , but not the worst -lrb- and the upcoming fantastic four movie can only make -lsb- MOV -rsb- look better -rrb- .", "we find that the movie has more plot holes than actual plot .", "billed as the first action event movie of the year , superhero flick MOV is n't so eventful .", "a study in how a ` ca n't miss ' project can go awry in just about every conceivable way .", "it 's shockingly dull for a popcorn flick , and only ardent fans of the comic are likely to enjoy it .", "MOV does have some action in it , which is especially awesome if you 're into bed sheets flying around .", "offers no surprises , and whether or not you 'll appreciate its modest charms depends entirely on whether you too have been anticipating garner 's new outfit .", "when we can get the lifetime network on basic cable , and watch ` alias ' every wednesday night for free , is this really necessary ?", "MOV is n't the carmen electra story , but after a while , you 'll wish it were .", "MOV and mini e do battle against the forces of evil . for non-cbl 's -lrb- comic book lovers -rrb- this is just another silly night at the movies .", "comic book spin-off has a star in jennifer garner , but no script -- which makes it a hyper-cut bore .", "laughable without being entertaining .", "` and i must say that not since rafael kicked butt with the rest of the ninja turtles has a character wielded a sai the way garner does ! '", "giving a spec/polish script to a neophyte director and demanding a low-end vehicle for today 's hot eye-candy is not the way to bring superheroes to life . just ask halle berry .", "garner , adept as she is at physical stunts and action moves , is far more appealing when she 's playing charming and adorable , as she did so winningly in 13 going on 30 .", "MOV succeeds because of garner 's dedication to the character , and her willingness to go along with some rather outlandish ideas for a comic book adventure .", "MOV 's story is as thin and simple as they come , full of genre cliches and established merely to stage one elaborate action scene after another .", "a poorly written collection of comic-book movie cliches that offers nothing new to the genre , generates very little in the way of action thrills and plays like a self-important , humorless rip-off of kill bill .", "jennifer gardner provides some wonderful eye candy for the audience to enjoy and that somehow makes it all worthwhile .", "you 'd think the notion of putting jennifer garner in tight red leather ... would be a no-lose proposition , and you 'd be right . but unfortunately there 's other stuff in this", "MOV 's muddled story and formal unsightliness are n't filmmaking tragedies of greek proportions , just hollywood 's latest casualty of concept over character .", "` jennifer garner tiene el potencial de ser una s\u00faper estrella , pero con decisiones como \u00e9sta el camino va a ser mucho m\u00e1s complicado de lo que deber\u00eda '", "... a pointless , muddled mass of sentiment and clich\u00e9s that elicits mainly yawns .", "comic book fans take it on the chin once again ...", "much like the onslaught of sword-and-sandal epics , the comic-book-adaptation boom has resulted in a decreased effectiveness of the subjects .", "the curse of the new bennifer has birthed a deformed fury that not even sexy red ninja lingerie could save", "could you please create a lead villain whose best move does n't involve flying bed sheets ?", "garner looks great in the MOV outfit , but that did n't do much for the plotting and filmmaking , which is average to worse .", "there 's a tired , by-the-numbers feel to MOV .", "it 's really hard to believe that any of this is meant to be taken seriously , not for a split second , yet there is garner , stalking morosely about as if she 's doing eugene o'neill instead of a dopey fantasy actioner .", "feels like we 're peeking in on a twisted superhero 's draggy therapy sessions .", "it 's opaque where it should be clear -lrb- motivations ; fight scenes -rrb- . it 's clear where it should be opaque -lrb- what happens next -rrb- .", "garner looks as terrific in MOV 's trademark scarlet bustier as halle berry did in catwoman drag , but pinup appeal alone does not a compelling movie make .", "the constant talk and tease of MOV is sure to cause even more male frustration than catwoman and tomb raider , where the femmes were similarly dolled up and then sexed down to appease the nanny censors .", "you only have to endure this package to miss uma thurman , and realize how superior is tarantino 's fleet hipster wit and kinetic showmanship .", "ca n't decide if it wants to be an action-packed , martial-arts romp or a dark and sensitive allegory about love and loss . the film attempts both approaches and succeeds at neither .", "-lsb- garner -rsb- is ... gloriously in gear , ready to kick some hand .", "another inert , soul-dead action drama that turns actors into zombies .", "the latest hollywood movie to give comic books a bad name , MOV stars jennifer garner as a superheroine who dons fetish-wear the color of blood before laying waste to every man in sight .", "it 's listless , lame and sloppy enough to make last year 's catwoman seem agile .", "would it kill a tough girl to crack a smile or eat a twinkie or make a pass once in a while ? does she have to be a squinty jerk with intimacy issues in order to be considered super ?", "nothing says action film like a bad guy monologuing for five minutes . has bowman ever heard of 3 point lighting ? MOV is a failure on almost every conceivable level .", "kill bill without irony , and without quentin tarantino 's flair for cool dialogue and chop-socky action -lrb- and without uma thurman , for that matter -rrb- .", "while MOV does n't reinvent the genre , it 's like ` smallville ' compared to richard donner 's superman .", "watching this is like sitting by a pinsetter at a bowling alley .", "plays like a third-rate knock off of house of flying daggers by someone who has heard about house of flying daggers but has never actually seen it .", "though the attempt is moody and earnest , i ca n't say that it 's smart or memorable .", "a ponderously inert , disjointed drag that 's anything but live action .", "a somehow stupider version of mortal kombat .", "absent an established fan base or cadre of recognizable villains , filmmakers are forced to shoehorn in superfluous back story and excessive inner turmoil .", "never mind giving 1000 chimps 1000 typewriters and having them produce a script in a week . instead , give 1000 chimps $ us100 million and see how long it takes them to come up with a blancmange blockbuster such as this .", "there 's a skeleton of a cool fantasy story here , but the clatter and clunk of its fleshless bones is dispiriting .", "garner may justify her reputation as an action woman , but fails to prove that sais matter .", "a none too marvel-lous spin-off from daredevil .", "during a fight , a character declared `` enough ! it ends now . '' and i thought it 's about time ! now there 's a sure sign of an action movie falling short of its potential .", "MOV shoves frank miller 's eponymous cold-blooded assassin into a pg-13-friendly adventure .", "as for garner , she remains a lovely screen presence , but it 's impossible to buy her as an emotionless killing machine .", "everything comes back to garner , though -- and even when the movie takes itself too seriously , thankfully she never does .", "this does n't exactly set the world on fire , but i was charmed by its old-fashioned storytelling , which is refreshingly free of archness , self-consciousness , or kill bill-style wisecracks .", "what it suffers from most is the sense of offhand storytelling that lies halfway between creative laziness and cost-cutting sloppiness .", "call me squeamish , but this is my problem with MOV , the punisher and similar characters : killers make lousy heroes .", "electric as MOV , jennifer garner does a high-powered , blade-thrusting star turn as marvel comics ' ninja-inspired superheroine , bringing such unbridled energy and sexuality to her performance , one barely notices the movie itself .", "a little the replacement killers , a little tmnt ii : the secret of the ooze and a little mortal kombat . make of that what you will .", "a film for people who might like watching scene after scene of jennifer garner sleeping .", "no one could give a galvanizing performance in a film as unengagingly written as this one .", "despite her valiant front , MOV ca n't separate personal from professional problems .", "that she is in fact a hired assassin on a $ 2-million contract killing is charmingly offset by the fact that she wears no makeup and ties her -lrb- albeit ridiculously -rrb- long brown hair back in a ponytail .", "garner 's moxie ca n't lift MOV above its sluggish storytelling", "sharp yet aimless .", "gaps do n't ruin the film , thanks to garner 's performance and bowman 's apparent enjoyment of his job .", "an illogical , meandering mess .", "garner has no trouble looking sexy , and teen boys should enjoy MOV 's many gratuitous costume changes , but she 's hopelessly unconvincing in this icy role .", "MOV is stripped of the unrepentant ferocity that made her a crossover hit in the first place . here , she quickly succumbs to her gooey , maternal side -- which means if ever there 's a sequel , she 'll have no edge .", "resembles nothing so much as a dumbed-down , pg-13 version of kill bill , put together by a team tone-deaf to bad dialogue , atrocious acting , cheesy special effects and clumsily staged action sequences .", "half of it feels like pure , saturday-morning cartoon show . half feels like an attempt at an actual relationship drama . they should have listened to the first half .", "like big trouble in little china without the laughs .", "the film 's multi-writer screenplay struggles vainly to hide its plagiarized themes and action beats .", "for an action movie , this flick often lags in the action department .", "better than you might expect . but given the ultimate source material -lrb- frank miller 's moody and moving daredevil comics from the mid - '80s -rrb- , it 's a squandering of character and story that would make comic book guy weep .", "the movie 's dominant visual tone is bronzed grunge , and its emotional tone is depressive .", "violent comic book movie with lingerie costumes .", "there is n't a whisper of spontaneity .", "a curiously ponderous affair , with an excess of pop psychology character background and cod-eastern mysticism and not enough fun or action .", "MOV is a strange and emotionally distant picture , redeemed , if not completely , by a nice climactic battle , some moody visuals and a star who seems to be working as hard as she can to heat up a character designed to be chilly .", "for all its slow-mo kick-flying and computer-generated mysticism , the story is tissue-thin and simple to the point of being simpleminded .", "some comic properties should just be left on the page .", "an utterly embarrassing misfire with poor performances , contrived elements , and a weak premise .", "what 's missing in this MOV is a certain sense of play and imagination .", "it felt like i was back in my childhood watching serial chapters at a saturday matinee .", "MOV is crap , but it 's expensive , finely made crap . it 's faberge crap .", "it 's not schindler 's list , but it 's not catwoman either .", "both garner and MOV will likely survive , but that does n't make it easier to watch this opportunity go to waste .", "static and plainly derivative .", "the lithesome action sequences get fatally bogged down by the yak-happy script .", "in a world where hair extensions are licensed to kill , where fredericks of hollywood is the official outfitter of vigilante justice ...", "nothing elektra-fying about garner or this movie", "on s 'em merde pratiquement de la premi\u010dre \u0155 la derni\u010dre minute sans \u0119tre s\u0171r pourquoi .", "awful .", "the sad thing about MOV is that it reveals that for all the millions of dollars now spent on them , comic-book movies are being made with no more distinction than the cheapest old saturday-afternoon serials .", "plays like a collision between leftover bits and pieces of marvel superhero stories .", "the fight sequences are hot .", "-lsb- garner -rsb- does all the stuff you can see her do on wednesday nights -- namely , some of her own stunt work in outrageous costumes -- but without an ounce of zeal , charisma , or purpose .", "a silly spinoff that is far less concerned with telling a worthwhile story than it is with telling the world that garner has a magnificent bod .", "MOV is a mediocre action drama about a reluctant assassin who discovers her nurturing side .", "no one will confuse jennifer garner for meryl streep , but she has a solid turn here as a woman who makes a big show of having withdrawn from the world but really has n't ." ], "summary": "jennifer garner inhabits her role with earnest gusto , but MOV 's tone deaf script is too self-serious and bereft of intelligent dialogue to provide engaging thrills .", "id": "10164" }, { "movie": "lost_in_translation", "reviews": [ "a gemlike movie that 's intimate and moody but never sentimental .", "the first movie to fully exploit murray 's value in a leading role -lrb- groundhog day came close -rrb- , and to get murray to hit a poignant note in the bargain .", "the best movie about cosmic jet lag not directed by wim wenders .", "it 's a sharp , funny , tender and surprising film that pivots on murray .", "sofia has almost surpassed her dad .", "never rushed , never pushed , coppola 's steady hand is felt in almost every frame , gently coaxing her subjects and story to a deeper , invigorating resolution .", "this is a quiet , contemplative comedy whose comedic moments seem secondary in importance to its deeper , more beautiful ones .", "tender and amazing .", "the old adage says that poetry is what 's MOV , but the poetry is all that survives in sofia coppola 's wispy art film .", "it 's a true triumph of observation , evocation , allusion and delicate craft .", "coppola clearly loves these characters , and so we do , too .", "sublimely romantic and subtle .", "writer/director sofia coppola has crafted a mood poem about isolation in a strange environment and the temporary relationships that linger in memory that can be born there", "it 's a movie about disconnection : from your family , from the world around you , even from yourself . it 's a movie about being trapped in that high chair and wanting so badly to be able to reach that floor .", "a film about catharsis , the kind that exists outside of movies : the slow reawakening , triggered by the compassion and like-mindedness of another , that everyone craves .", "... coppola 's more interested in establishing the mood of this foreign land , instead of allowing us to really get to know the two central characters .", "murray , as bob , gives the performance of his career .", "MOV finds something that occasionally happens between people and presents it realistically ... one of the best pictures of the year .", "at this rate , writer-director sofia coppola is poised to become a classic storyteller who is more subtle , if not as grand-scale , as her father .", "nothing happens and there is nowhere to go in tokyo .", "the film is poetically austere in dialogue but thoughtful . like a walk on a spring day , MOV is not momentous but rather pleasantly freeing .", "in a manner that is leisurely in pace , ruminative in nature and quiet in tone ... coppola gives her lonely travellers all the space they need to make this tentative and ultimately magical connection .", "the film crackles with the energy of bob and charlotte 's connection , and their adventures in the hurry-and-flurry tokyo nightlife are glittery , dreamlike , meditative and beautiful .", "exquisite study in emotional and geographical dislocation .", "although a small character piece , everything about MOV is world-class .", "coppola , an assured and confident young filmmaker , has crafted a small poem , about being lost and being found .", "-lsb- coppola -rsb- gives us a film so poignant , so funny , so free of self-satisfied bravado , that one ca n't help but look forward to her next work .", "sofia coppola is a rising star , and this is definitely one of the best films of 2003 .", "sofia coppola developed the concept from a sketchy four-page outline into a 65-page script , which left lots of room for improvisation . and that 's what 's brilliant here . patiently , she trusts her actors and cinematographer lance accord .", "a brave and accomplished study of love and human connections that establishes the young coppola as one of the most acute talents of her generation .", "a magnificent picture because it specifically goes out of its way to avoid the clich\u00e9s and elements would usually expect to see when watching this kind of boy meets girl movie .", "like so many things made in japan , sofia coppola 's new film is smaller and less costly than its standard american counterpart while at the same time superior in most important respects .", "from the casting choices to the soul-soothing musical score to glimpses into japanese visual culture , it 's obvious that sofia pays careful attention that each element of the film stands strong alone , but can also contribute to the whole .", "so far as the central relationship goes , the film is almost european in its subtlety and nuance . cinematic cherry blossom .", "perfectly acted . immeasurably funny . a great second outing for director sofia coppola .", "sofia coppola 's accomplished sophomore work is a personal , melancholy film , based on her own experience , and benefiting from strong chemistry between bill murray and scarlett johansson .", "alternately laugh-out-loud silly and profoundly moving , kudos to sofia coppola for managing to capture an undeniable chemistry between murray and his 18 year-old co-star , despite a certain asexuality .", "the whole tale is told with a dreamy , jet-lagged feel , that part wonder , part nasueous feeling brought about by significant travel . jet lag as a metaphor for love , a delicious combination . simply a must-see film .", "this is another step in mr. murray 's career and one that hopefully gets him the recognition he deserves .", "working this time with her own story , coppola lets it relax and breathe , devoting herself to moods and moments .", "bill murray keeps `` MOV '' entertaining and does a fine job of emoting the exhaustion and frustration of being so far from home and helpless ...", "bill murray is perfectly cast and his performance is understated , like the entire film . he deserves an oscar nomination .", "it 's touching and hilarious , a tour de force for both actors .", "coppola -- who wrote as well as directed -- gives murray room to stretch and is rewarded with some remarkably melancholy clowning .", "an amazing mood piece that captures the characters ' inner turmoil , confusion , restlessness and the strange , surreal surroundings that are the cause for their discord .", "bill 's performance is just fantastic - filled with a confident vulnerability that only he is capable of .", "the best film of the year ... it 's time to see what bill murray 's really capable of . if he is n't nominated for oscars for the film , it 'll be a disgrace .", "bob and charlotte 's relationship in particular is exquisitely portrayed ; a sort of platonic romance , it 's a relationship that exists because of the things that are n't said between them just as much as the things that are", "though the year is 2003 and the world is , in so many ways , at its smallest ... we are , this extraordinary new movie reminds us , ever more diffused , ever less able to make meaningful connections .", "a wistful little film that gradually insinuates itself upon your consciousness .", "a film of dazzling style and gentle triumph .", "... charged with some of the same inchoate longing of hiroshima , mon amour and employs some of the same guerilla production tactics of godard 's breathless", "johansson -lsb- plays charlotte -rsb- perfectly , with the kind of intelligent beauty that could bring krzysztof kieslowski out of his grave to cast her in a new colors film .", "-lsb- murray -rsb- can still do more with a raised eyebrow than anyone since groucho marx , but he 's mellower and sometimes slightly poignant .", "this is an exquisite movie on every possible level , from the script and direction to the performances to the cinematography .", "by far , one of the best films of the year .", "in japan , the most extreme delicacy goes hand in hand with garishness , and coppola offers up both for our delectation . it 's a heady , hallucinatory combo .", "the performances are a bit too underplayed to suit me , but the melancholy film is both funny and fascinating .", "if you 've got patience , you might enjoy it , but this is s-l-o-w .", "as in rushmore ... kindness is the underlying trait of murray 's character .", "the intensity of MOV lies in its smaller , seemingly insignificant , quieter moments . in many ways coppola 's film exhibits marks of classic european art cinema .", "because it lacks focus , as well as confidence in its story and stars , ` MOV ' squanders a good opportunity .", "tart and sweet , unmistakably funny and exceptionally well observed .", "one of the purest and simplest examples ever of a director falling in love with her star 's gifts .", "lightweight and a bit of a let-down , sofia coppola 's follow-up to the marvelous virgin suicides is nevertheless an interesting development in what 's shaping up to be an interesting career .", "remarkably sophisticated , honest , consistently hilarious and very real .", "this is one of the year 's most subtly moving films , and a strong affirmation of coppola 's substantial talent .", "it 's certainly edgier , smarter , than much of what passes for culture-clash comedy these days , even if the phlegmatic murray sometimes resembles every ugly american abroad , mocking waiters and sushi chefs who struggle to get his deadpan humor .", "the joys of sofia coppola 's MOV come from watching murray modify his trademark passive - aggressive style into played-straight comic bewilderment -- and to marvel at his slim new picture - of-health appearance .", "you 'll think . you 'll laugh . you 'll be marvelously entertained . and you 'll be touched .", "attractive and pleasant as it is , there 's no escaping the impression that it feels like an overly hip exercise in soul-searching for those who thought american beauty really did `` look closer '' at life .", "they 'll always have tokyo .", "mysterious and complex , as it muses bittersweetly on marriage , longing and the disconnectedness one can feel from another culture or people .", "a joy to watch", "this tedious vanity piece is enlivened only by the charm of its leading man , bill murray", "like a favorite and enthralling cd soundtrack that takes you places magical .", "the film 's characters see their every disaffection hauntingly reflected onto the sounds and landscapes of the city they inhabit .", "the film works best when the two -lsb- leads -rsb- are having talks together with murray playing it quiet and sincere . sadly there are fewer of such moments than the film needed .", "`` MOV '' is one of the year 's best films , an intelligent , beautifully rendered mood piece that features bill murray at his absolute best .", "esoteric , atmospheric , and far more concerned with mood than it is with telling a legitimate story", "murray is outstanding as the bearer of flawed maturity and gnawing melancholy .", "what could have been one of the year 's best films is tripped up by a couple of sloppy contrivances .", "MOV is delicate , heartfelt , and mesmerizing .", "the title does n't refer to a misunderstanding so much as a state of being .", "never missing a step , it continues the virgin suicide 's vision of the world as a dreamscape of intangible longings .", "another elusive non-story about oh-so-existential beautiful misfits", "a film for any lost soul , anyone trying to figure where their life is headed and if they 're happy about it .", "one of the bests of 2003 with stellar performances by bill murray and scarlett johansson as americans who reach across the age barrier to connect with each other in tokyo .", "an entrancing mood piece .", "this study into the unfathomable depths of human relationships has more honesty than 95 % of the movies i have seen this year .", "it allows scarlett johansson to arrive as an actress at the same time it finally gives bill murray the great role that has always eluded him .", "sweet and sad at the same time it is sardonic and funny .", "sofia coppola 's sophomore film is another exploration of delicate relationships and uncommunicated frustrations , this one in a beautifully composed atmosphere of isolation .", "... a tender visual poem about unexpected friendship , traveler 's angst and the disassociating allure of tokyo .", "if murray has an imposing corner on the comic dynamism in this movie , johansson is no less compelling for her mysticism , self-assurance and charm .", "it gets at something exquisitely human .", "as fine a look at dislocation as you 're ever going to see , and it has the nice bonus of boasting bill murray 's greatest performance .", "a smartly written , confidently directed film that delivers big laughs while developing two of the year 's most earnest characters and some of its most rewarding sentiments .", "it captures uncapturable feelings on film .", "MOV will bring in the new wave of young filmmakers who realise the power of emotion and introspection and the audience thinking for themselves .", "` una cinta tierna , emotiva , estupendamente bien actuada y agradablemente honesta . uno de los mejores filmes del a\u0144o , sencillamente inolvidable '", "murray has been singing songs to us ever since his old days on saturday night live , but never like this .", "like the sort of fleeting , quietly intense relationship that it portrays , sofia coppola 's MOV amounts to a handful of stolen moments -- and a lot more than the sum of them .", "may-december romances have been done to death , but coppola 's tender touch and knack for nuance practically reinvents the genre .", "the movie should have been a masterpiece of mood and character , and it almost is , revolving as it does around two wonderful performances .", "the ending packs an emotional wallop , a moment as magical as anything you will see at the movies this year .", "ser\u00eda terrible quedarse en la superficie y no dejarse arrastrar por las sensaciones que propone esta pel\u00edcula .", "el detalle del susurro pasar\u00e1 a la historia como uno de los elementos narrativos m\u00e1s hermosos que se han filmado jam\u00e1s ...", "coppola 's mood-setting is pitch-perfect ... to be lost and alone in a strange place , full of strangers , feeling kind of sad and wistful .", "something truly special .", "` MOV ' is like a beautiful short story - low-key , smart , direct and , in its own distinct way , close to perfection .", "the details , which flow like a simple string of pearls , are what make the movie endearing from start to finish .", "the man who once stole every film he did , bending it to his comic will , tranquilly inhabits MOV ... understatement is his tool now .", "you 'll see it because you love bill murray . but somewhere about halfway through you 'll realize that you 're watching something much more than a dramatic vehicle for hollywood 's clown prince .", "baubles of humor , gorgeous shots of the city and sparse use of dialogue relay the warm tale , as johansson and murray gracefully embrace the concept .", "absolutely one of the funniest films of the year , and also one of the most deeply sad", "if there were any doubts left as to ms. coppola 's abilities -lsb- as a filmmaker -rsb- ... `` MOV '' should smash down the snickering walls of her doubters once and for all .", "coppola is a master of moments and details , and here they add up to a story that is beautifully bittersweet .", "murray is only one of many superb elements in coppola 's new film , a masterpiece on a level with her father 's best work at the same age : namely , the godfather .", "MOV inspires a unique feeling of optimism , a sense that there are more people than we expect who understand our lifelong conundrums .", "the film 's greatest strength comes from its sad wisdom about relationships and the way its protagonists recognize how precarious their connection is .", "coppola lacks a firm grip on this material , and it starts to get away from her midway through .", "a brilliantly understated romantic comedy .", "it 's as if murray opens the front door to his psyche wide and lets the whole neighborhood in .", "a movie as good as anything -lsb- sofia coppola 's -rsb- daddy ever made -- and yet MOV is a movie he could not have made if he tried .", "-lsb- a -rsb- rich and funny film .", "-lsb- murray -rsb- is effortlessly superb .", "MOV offers such a wealth of wonderful themes that one hardly knows where to begin .", "with MOV , director sofia coppola makes a serious bid to claim her last name for herself .", "with this film it becomes clear that sofia coppola is a filmmaker with eyes all her own .", "transcends its initial culture clash comic riffs to evolve into something altogether more moving by the end . as a result , it 's a work of considerable power and pathos .", "a terrific balance of comedy , drama and lyrical moments .", "a relationship picture with elegant connective tissue ; it 's brittle and real , focused on the nuances of body language and unspoken desire , while indulging in a cheeky bit of knowing absurdity when the mood strikes .", "excellent but mature film about finding a connection .", "depicts a very specific mental state too shaded and delicate for most movies to feel comfortable approaching it .", "very much a mood piece , the film 's deft balance of humor and poignancy makes it both a pleasurable and melancholy experience .", "MOV revels in contradictions . it 's a comedy about melancholy , a romance without consummation , a travelogue that rarely hits the road .", "wonderfully warm and witty .", "an excellent top notch gem with beautiful direction courtesy of sofia coppola ...", "ms. coppola is well on her way to becoming a talent in her own right , and MOV is a great next step in that journey .", "... a brilliant meditation on loneliness and life itself ...", "coppola ... tugs at that feeling of weightlessness you get when you 're in a foreign country , the sense of discovery but also the solitude", "... director sofia coppola does a laudable - but ultimately unsatisfying - job of presenting a ships-that-pass-in-the-night scenario ...", "coppola somehow gets to the essence of human wanting with an amazing efficiency of style .", "despite momentary lags in taste , coppola 's film is funny and sweet , while murray and johannson are , in turn , sublime and affecting .", "coppola , who wrote and directed , creates the perfect languorous mood to match these characters ' emotional limbo .", "coppola reigns in murray 's usual sarcastic schtick and as a result he delivers a truly wonderful performance that is warm , understated and charming .", "bill murray is one of the greatest , least ingratiating comic actors at work today : appropriately enough he once played a modern version of scrooge .", "quiet , solemn , and introspective , MOV conveys so much emotion with so few words .", "an effective mood piece about cultural dislocation and personal alienation ...", "sometimes the experience of seeing a film so powerful in its presentation of human character is worth the arguable sacrifice of narrative tension", "sofia coppola 's stealthy romance about two americans stranded in tokyo is a work of marvelous delicacy -- and offers the performance of bill murray 's career .", "when work this potentially satisfying remains flatly obvious , it 's almost worse than being flat-out bad .", "clever and refined .", "subtly realized and finely nuanced , this is fresh and unspoiled filmmaking .", "this picture moved me to tears three times . there 's a world of hurt under them there laughs .", "bill murray and scarlett johansson give performances that will be talked about for years .", "by the end of MOV , we do n't know much about japan , but we know a lot more about the human condition .", "MOV is a fortunate encounter between a young talent on the rise and an old pro still hitting his stride .", "it 's a wonderful film , all subtlety and grace , from the delicate script of writer-director sofia coppola to the finely tuned efforts of bill murray , who gives a still , laconic yet mesmerizing performance .", "MOV 's artful blend of romance and cross-cultural comedy is just the tonic for audiences weary of big , dumb , loud summer blockbusters .", "coppola 's technique of trusting the actors to find and deliver their moments scores big in telling her story and overcoming its deficiencies .", "johansson is lovely and funny and sarcastic and sincere , and murray is nothing short of great .", "MOV is a subtly moving movie that stays with you longer than you expect .", "it 's a film of few words , not a wacky snl bill murray . an abstract meditation on life , self , marriage w / a few accents of humor shot entirely in japan .", "a smart , stylish portrait of a romance that never happens , with excellent performances and a message delivered in restrained whisper rather than hollywood shout .", "the best film of 2003 .", "a movie of observation and discovery that gives its audience plenty of time to think . not everyone considers this type of experiential film a fun night of entertainment .", "it 's as if someone in blade runner decided to take a left turn away from the part of town where all those robots are killing people , and took time out to be alone", "it tells a clear story with a humorous voice , sharp imagery and an eye for nuance .", "... a film that explores the boundaries and responsibilities of a relationship free of the judgment that outsiders would inevitably impose upon it .", "extraordinary in its beautiful , lyrical simplicity ... coppola 's seemingly effortless , flawlessly fluid command of the film 's moods and unspoken emotions is cinematic bliss .", "there 's not a word or a wistful glance out of place in sofia coppola 's offbeat comedy drama .", "by the conclusion of the story , you 'll think of the strange and sometimes amazing relationships you 've had during your life .", "think of MOV as a beautifully told short story . it does n't have the resonance or heft of a good novel , but it 's slyly seductive and intensely moody .", "it 's no news that murray is a creative comic actor , with films like groundhog day and rushmore on his resume . here he 's at his very best .", "expertly captures a feeling of woozy bewilderment .", "how to sing the praises of MOV without drowning out its subtle pleasures ?", "personally , i had simply read/heard way too much hyperbole about this movie before my screening , so i could n't help but feel a little let down afterwards .", "this film would 've worked really well as a short film , it 's not terribly satisfying as a full length feature .", "you do n't need an interpreter to get that this a good movie .", "bill murray and scarlett johansson make the first classic romance of the new century glow with gorgeous , luminous grace .", "the weight of sofia coppola 's circuitous script is carried on the shoulders of the career-defining performances given by bill murray and scarlett johansson .", "imbued with a blissful nostalgia for things that can never be recaptured , MOV is already poised to be one of the best movies of the year .", "in only her second feature , coppola has made a poised , intelligent film that nicely balances laughs with a poignancy rarely seen in american movies .", "how sorry can you feel for rich , unadventurous americans in a major funk ?", "there 's an almost ethereal rawness to this film that gets way under the skin .", "a fidelidade de sofia coppola \u00e9 devotada a seus personagens , e n\u0103o ao espectador . e esta \u00e9 , mais uma vez , a decis\u0103o correta .", "a thoughtful , moving film that 's a pure delight from beginning to end .", "it 's one of those unique , introverted gems , like the accidental tourist or the piano , that either enfolds you with its generosity of spirit or leaves you cold .", "the power of MOV is in the way it sneaks up on you .", "this bill murray is not only the most human , but in many ways the funniest .", "... -lsb- an -rsb- intimate glossy project with a solid purpose ... -lsb- a -rsb- compellingly warm and intuitive narrative ... imaginative and inherently heartfelt", "MOV is a witty laugh out-loud tale of friendship . coppola breaks through and stands firmly at the edge of her future .", "as a character study , the film works very well . as a romance or drama , however , it is nearly inert .", "a lovely , evocative film ... -lsb- but -rsb- coppola insulates her depiction of bob and charlotte as earnest , delicate souls by making everyone else look pretty foolish .", "a lovely , loopy modern-day ` brief encounter ' that has the wisdom not to push too hard or linger too long .", "it 's about time someone gave bill murray a leading juicy role the talented actor could sink his teeth into .", "in MOV , -lsb- murray -rsb- emerges as a complete character -- honourable and venal , fallible and funny , adding vulnerability to the panache .", "how instinctively we react -- and connect -- when a film captures a feeling that is all too common , and all too real .", "a superbly crafted movie , with knowing dialogue , fine performances and characters that you grow to care deeply for .", "a stylish meditation on alienation and ennui .", "murray has never been better than he is here , but then he 's never had a part that fit him so well , either .", "there is real magic afoot in MOV -- the sort that is created not at the wave of a wizard 's wand , but by the coming together of two wayward souls .", "textured , thoughtful and touching .", "for anyone who has ever felt linguistic , emotional or psychic dislocation . that should cover just about all of us .", "although translation is only -lsb- coppola 's -rsb- second feature , she already shows signs of being a sensei , as the japanese call a master .", "sofia coppola has made the kind of movie that i love to see most .", "before you know it , sophia coppola has wrapped you in a warm , fluffy blanket and you 'll find yourself looking out the window wondering about what 's going to happen with your life .", "director sofia coppola 's second feature film is so smart and , yet , simple that it is nearly perfect .", "a beautiful , lyrical cinematic ode to lost souls finding each in an unlikely place", "-lsb- o -rsb- ne of the most astonishing films i 've ever seen ... -lsb- d -rsb- elicate and longing , tender and bittersweet ...", "it 's that perfect movie that you watch in order to feel that you may not be alone in the world after all . it works like a dream .", "has the languid intensity of a dream .", "of course , mr. murray gets all the laughs with his exquisite timing and wry delivery , but ms. johansson makes an eloquent and charismatic listener .", "`` MOV '' is a movie about almost nothing at all except a tenuous connection between two lost souls .", "i was n't quite as impressed as i was apparently supposed to be , and i feel oddly left out because of that .", "... a deceptively simple study in unrequited attraction that succeeds in spite of minor problems with neglected sub-plots .", "` there is a pronounced bitchiness about the film that sits oddly with the gentle subject matter . '", "lyrical and deeply touching ... as intimate , humane , and heartfelt as any love story this year ." ], "summary": "effectively balancing humor and subtle pathos , sofia coppola crafts a moving , melancholy story that serves as a showcase for both bill murray and scarlett johansson .", "id": "12972" }, { "movie": "the_room_1998", "reviews": [ "MOV , has been maligned as one of the most inept movies ever made when in fact it is a sardonic comedy about sexual politics in the age of terror .", "it 's hard to describe how bad the acting in MOV is .", "tommy wiseau 's film oozes sincerity , which is then slathered in a thick coating of oblivious narcissism , and sadly serves as an example that not everyone should follow their bliss .", "given audience reaction at screening attended , pic may be something of a first : a movie that prompts most of its viewers to ask for their money back -- before even 30 minutes have passed .", "in the dynasty of dung , among the many pretenders to the best worst movie throne , tommy wiseau and his oddly named tragedy truly earns their rotten rep.", "this self-financed flick 's shortcomings go way beyond the standard array of glaring continuity errors , dodgy sets and stagnant editing .", "if you experience brain damage as a result of watching this film , i disavow any responsibility whatsoever .", "and that 's the conundrum of `` MOV . '' it 's so very bad that it becomes riveting .", "mom , interrupted .", "plan 9 from outer space gave me nowhere near as many belly laughs . tommy wiseau is a bit like shatner or schwarzenegger before they became self-aware .", "watching MOV is like crossing over to a counterfactual universe where the rules of film grammar and screenwriting have been written by dan brown .", "cult-phenom amateur melodrama best left to adults .", "as someone who 's watched more bad movies than you can imagine , i 'm mostly immune to the so-bad-it 's - good aesthetic , though i can see how , viewed in a theater at midnight after a few drinks , this might conjure up its own hilariously demented reality .", "the question becomes , how much punishment can the audience take and still keep on howling ?", "to make a movie that 's so bad it 's good you need vision , drive , luck and obsessive vanity . fortuitously , MOV 's writer/producer/director / star tommy wiseau appears to possess all of these qualities , combined with a total lack of acting talent .", "a movie so bad , so inept , so unbelievably painful , it 's almost impossible to comprehend anyone thought it would be great on-screen ...", "what puts `` MOV '' in a class of its own is its overabundant idiocy . while you 're still gasping at one of the film 's moronic lines or vagrant plot knots , another one rises up to smack you in the head .", "trust me , you 've got ta check this thing out at least once , especially if you like football .", "if you like bad films performed by those without talent , films like ed wood jr. cranked out , then this one will do the trick .", "it is a prime example of enthusiasm outrunning talent ." ], "summary": "a bona fide classic of midnight cinema , tommy wiseau 's misguided masterpiece subverts the rules of filmmaking with a boundless enthusiasm that renders such mundanities as acting , screenwriting , and cinematography utterly irrelevant . you will never see a football the same way again .", "id": "722877" }, { "movie": "cropsey", "reviews": [ "the central concept , that we are watching a community respond to the literalisation of one of its most cherished urban myths , ca n't quite stand up against the facts of the matter .", "the latest cinema purgatorio release is really a scary story told in the dark , in the get-this whisper of documentary .", "frequently riveting and certainly creepy .", "zeman and brancaccio structure the film as a sort of homemade murder procedural , where pavement-pounding crowd-sourcing proposes an alternative to the modern cold-case staple of dna evidence .", "with tinkling thriller music and dramatic voiceover narration , this modest but engrossing first-person documentary comes on like a true crime caper .", "infinitely fascinating for the way it lays out -lsb- its -rsb- puzzle pieces as well as the interesting local characters the filmmakers encounter on their way to learning the truth themselves .", "in this thriller documentary , filmmakers barbara brancaccio and joshua zeman discover that the urban legend that haunted their childhoods is terrifyingly true .", "this horrifying documentary stirs up , if not confirms , your worst fears .", "the story of the unsolved abductions and the man who might have become the scapegoat for a community is troubling enough . no big-screen trickery is required .", "... the stuff of horror films , and the way it folds back into the idea of how the MOV stories spread ... that 's the stuff that MOV does best .", "a documentary that delves into what happens when the ghost stories you told as kids , the stuff of urban legends , seem to come true .", "the conceptual , even poetic inquiry that percolates in the opening scenes gives way to flat-footed and unresolvable detective work that makes the filmmakers too important .", "the best , scariest mysteries do n't have definitive answers , and MOV becomes a zodiac-style whodunit of the spookiest order .", "brancaccio and zeman do n't offer any easy answers , merely throwing all of the many issues of the story of MOV into a melting pot of danger , terror , and secrecy .", "begins as the documentation of a terrible legend , but evolves into a true story of a monster , and that 's what makes MOV downright frightening .", "as disturbing as the expertly paced MOV is , it 's not some schlocky spookfest . it 's a well-produced and well-researched bit of investigative journalism .", "films like the blair witch project use a fake documentary format to try and create a horror film about an urban myth that turns out to be real . MOV , though , is the real deal .", "as a clever combination between truth and fiction , it 's a rather impressive little film . creepy too .", "gripping", "the portentous narration and manipulative horror-film aesthetics turn what might have been a portrait of a boogeyman myth 's lingering societal role into merely a crude episode of 48 hours .", "... they 've gone to great lengths to raise questions in the audience 's mind about the -lsb- rand -rsb- case . the answers they 've found are questions , their conclusion , inconclusive .", "on several levels , this film is a real-life horror story that puts most hollywood movies to shame .", "MOV continues what 's been a welcome trend this year toward documentaries with strong , surprising narratives .", "a real-life nightmare , MOV shakes you as well as inspires you to pursue the terrifying truth .", "documentary of a spate of child kidnappings/killings in staten island , new york , in the 1970s , tied thematically to the titular hudson valley boogeyman myth .", "MOV has all the trappings of a true-crime tv special , but with an undercurrent of cultural exposition that is intelligent , profound and unsettling .", "modern horror films rarely capture that pit-of-the-stomach feeling the way this movie does .", "the core of the story is standard tv fare -lrb- and the techniques are n't exactly original -rrb- , but the filmmakers tell it with wit , verve , and compassion .", "perched at the intersection of psychological survey and serial-killer expos\u00e9 , `` MOV '' loosens the girdle of the documentary form to accommodate much more than facts .", "`` MOV '' bridges an essential chapter of american history with a nightmare legend that is still referred to in hushed tones .", "perhaps most chilling is that the movie leaves the mysteries unresolved .", "a crude episode of 48 hours .", "this disturbing true-crime documentary takes its name from a local bogeyman that video makers joshua zeman and barbara brancaccio were warned about when they were growing up on staten island .", "as intriguing as it is downright eerie .", "whether they 're interviewing so-called experts or casual observers -- or even reading from rand 's letters -- zeman and brancaccio confront fear , disappointment , and hope , again and again .", "the film is eerie and thought-provoking , raising worthwhile questions about the pursuit of justice without losing compassion for the victims or their families .", "the filmmakers overreach trying to explain the meaning of a community 's revulsion and rush to judgment regarding the man convicted of one of the murders , but MOV still gets under your skin .", "MOV is a creepy documentary with all the elements of a horror film about a demented serial killer , and an extra ingredient : this one is real .", "disturbing and flavorful .", "nothing is answered definitively here . but if there 's a real MOV to be found , it may be staten island itself .", "it is n't a pleasant journey -- nor one that is likely to be soon forgotten -- though it is a sobering , skillfully produced reminder that sometimes fact can be far more terrifying than fiction ." ], "summary": "riveting and bone-chillingly creepy , MOV manages to be one of the best documentaries and one of the best horror movies of the year .", "id": "770819562" }, { "movie": "jiro_dreams_of_sushi", "reviews": [ "as exhausting as jiro may be , he 's also inspiring .", "the most interesting moments , however , belong not to the chef but to those who labor in his shadow .", "jiro ono makes sushi dreams come true", "as a tribute to the art of preparing traditional japanese cuisine it could hardly be bettered . but it 's arguably even more fascinating as a portrait of one man 's single-minded devotion to his craft and its effect on the next generation .", "any documentary that can make sushi interesting for 90 minutes clearly does something right .", "savory documentary , which is especially appetizing for foodies .", "this documentary strikes a balance between storytelling and food porn that 's hard to come by in foodie flicks . like a proper sushi meal , `` jiro '' left me feeling sated , not stuffed .", "you do n't have to like sushi to appreciate a master", "as simple and elegant as jiro 's preparations , `` sushi '' alternates between the master musing on his cooking philosophy -lrb- good food , he says , makes him feel `` victorious '' -rrb- and footage of the three chefs at work in their minuscule kitchen .", "obsessive , we were saying ? oh my , yes , and that 's what makes the film so compelling .", "with mouthwatering visions of fresh fish wrapped in heavenly white rice , jiro will not only tickle your taste buds . it will leave you with your own dreams of sushi .", "at its simplest level , MOV is a portrait of a master . in its deeper layers , it explores what drives us to make things : beautiful , jewel-like things , or things that delight our palate - or , in this case , both .", "an extraordinary morsel of a movie , and yes , you 'll want sushi afterward . but it wo n't taste like jiro 's .", "the real star of the movie is the delectable sushi itself .", "jiro has a zen approach to his work that makes observing his kitchen akin to something spiritual .", "it 's beautifully photographed and explained at every stage from market to table , a foodie 's dream night at the movies . the gentle shaping of the fish and sushi could lull you into a trance . a hungry trance .", "the movie 's first word is oishi , japanese for `` delicious , '' and what follows is a treat for sushi veterans .", "gelb creates a peaceful , contemplative mood with his long shots of men delicately molding fish onto rice , such that when ono walks past a blaring shopping-mall video-screen at one point , the intrusion of the modern world seems out of place .", "the movie 's larger point is not about sushi or about sustainability but about devoting one 's life to the pursuit of perfection in the service of others .", "like many other such portraits , it wastes valuable time declaring its subject 's excellence that could be spent fleshing out demonstrations , explanations , context .", "director david gelb pulls back the curtain on the kitchen rituals of sushi , inviting us to experience the savory-smooth sensation of `` umami , '' roughly translated as `` ahhh ! ''", "MOV is n't just a film for foodies , or japanophiles . it 's a meditation on work , on finding one 's path in life , and then walking it with singular purpose .", "-lsb- documaker david -rsb- gelb gives us good insight into this culinary world with his crash course in sushi making ...", "a profile of a celebrity chef , a quick cultural immersion and many mouth-watering montages of food preparation in one package .", "with its exquisitely composed visions of sushi and the compelling personal history of tiny , wizened jiro , the film is more likely to make viewers head to their nearest sushi bar to engulf and devour .", "at the age of 85 , the subject of this fascinating documentary not only dreams of sushi but still drives himself to make it better .", "gelb 's documentary about jiro is beautiful , thoughtful and engrossing , drawing a portrait of a man who has turned an often slipshod craft into fine art .", "overall , this is a pleasant and often enlightening journey .", "it is as much a family saga as a visit to sushi nirvana , and that adds an unexpected and satisfying narrative to this visual stunner .", "`` MOV `` is as elegant and tasty as the splendid sushi prepared by the man in the title , and that is saying a lot", "the themes of age and appalling loss give the film a freakishly affecting lyricism .", "MOV sets a drool-flecked new standard in food porn , and makes the moanings and gruntings of nigella lawson look softcore by comparison .", "the exquisite nigiri slices gleam with freshness , and you do learn about the component parts to the perfect serving of sea eel or gizzard shad .", "it 's torture to watch MOV -- if you are on an empty stomach .", "the end result is n't just one of the best films of 2012 , documentary or fiction , but a movie worthy of jiro himself .", "treating his seafood substantially better than oldboy , jiro is a miracle of perfectionism married to expertise . the same can said for gelb 's loving documentary .", "it does not try to make any broad claims about it subject beyond simply observing , this is what he does , this is why it matters , and this is his legacy .", "it 's a simple tale , but one to savour .", "i never cared for sushi , but i have to admit that seeing the documentary film , ` MOV ' makes me want to try the incomparable and expensive sushi at jiro 's place .", "the no-nonsense documentary about a compulsive sushi chef wet my appetite even though i never liked sushi .", "gelb might flit around a bit too much , but his appealing documentary always comes back to its subject 's determination -lrb- sometimes overbearing -rrb- to leave the most meaningful possible legacy to his family and his craft .", "if you have any kind of affinity for the food at all , you will very much want to dine at sukiyabashi jiro , regardless of the distance or cost , after seeing MOV ...", "a dream , indeed .", "you should have sushi in ready proximity ... and it better be good . . joins the pantheon of the great films about food - documentary , fiction or otherwise .", "in MOV , gelb details , among other things , the painstaking process that goes into creating these mouthwatering pieces of sushi .", "an appetizing portrait of 85-year-old jiro ono , the oldest chef to win three michelin stars -lrb- for his 10-seater , sushi-only tokyo restaurant sukiyabashi jiro -rrb- , pic is as clean and simple as one of its subject 's creations .", "-lsb- video -rsb- there 's nothing flashy about david gelb 's serviceable rendering of a man who has achieved an unrivaled mastery of a cuisine he helped invent . you too might come away from the movie dreaming of jiro ono 's sushi .", "a penetrating look at traditional japanese culture , and tasty treat for sushi snobs .", "gelb apparently understood that his subject was itself so taking that he would n't need filmic embellishments to keep his viewers alert .", "yes , it will make you hungry , but it also supplies an understanding of skill and care that 's largely lost in today 's mechanical world . it 's a simple story , yet one with fascinating levels of behavior and expertise to examine .", "the parade of dishes is like one note after another in a symphony meant to be appreciated by all the senses .", "by the time this graceful film is over you understand why japan has declared the bald , bespectacled jiro a national treasure . even if you 've never tasted sushi , the man 's singleness of purpose will inspire you .", "since few -lrb- if any -rrb- of us will ever be able to actually taste sushi chef jiro ono 's cuisine -- minimum cost per person to dine there is roughly $ 300 -- we 'll have to console ourselves with the visual bliss of this entertaining documentary .", "as artful as it is appetizing .", "the centerpiece is a gorgeously photographed sequence showing a dinner at jiro 's restaurant , a `` concerto '' of the many courses -lrb- all sushi , no appetizers -rrb- that will make any foodie 's mouth water .", "thoughtful , gentle and wonderfully restrained , david gelb 's brief documentary MOV is a portrait of an artist in full flower , a master who has achieved a species of perfection .", "the film similarly guides us smoothly from opening credits to closing without complaint or concern , and before you know it , you 've dreamily submitted to 80 minutes of raw fish preparation .", "if you ever wondered what is the art of sushi , david gelb 's intriguing portrait opens up a whole new world , in which we learn about simplicity , balance and what defines ` deliciousness '", "i can imagine that if you are a sushi lover , then you 'll be drooling over the delicious looking scenery , and it maybe even convince you to make a trip to japan just to try some of the food .", "watching jiro work with the decades of experience on his side is like watching a master painter adding strokes to a masterpiece .", "if the wardrobe to narnia led to a restaurant full of world-class sushi , `` MOV '' would be the exquisitely shot documentary that filmed your journey .", "if the ultimate goal of a documentary is to drop you into a location and make you feel it as if you were actually there , consider this the most scrumptious trip to tokyo you 'll ever take .", "like the food on display in beautiful close-ups , the film is a sleek reminder that simple can be fulfilling , and maybe even brilliant .", "a movie as elegant , spare and tantalizing as its subject .", "the movie functions well as high-end food porn , but it 's also an insightful character study of the single-minded jiro .", "delves deep into the qualities of dedication and perfectionism", "even after you 've eaten your fill , gelb 's film is memorable not just as a foodie paradise , but as a lovely , insightful portrait of a man in a lifelong search for perfection .", "it 's an interesting exploration of a particular aspect of japanese culture , which is fathers and sons working together . it 's a very likeable film , and sometimes , that 's enough . if you 're a japanophile or a sushi nut , you 'll likely be in heaven .", "a case study in the phenomenon of mastery .", "float off to oceanic gastro-neverland with the yoda-like jiro .", "as a documentary about world-class sushi , this film is definitive . it runs only 81 minutes , but the subject is finite .", "you do n't have to be a sushi connoisseur to appreciate this mouth-watering documentary .", "the family drama gives jiro its spine , but it 's the kitchen demonstrations that give it soul . this is food porn of the highest caliber .", "the movie 's great moments come when it admires the finished sushi ... gelb 's camera savors it in such a way that we can almost taste it .", "i ca n't recall being this hungry exiting a theater .", "would you be willing to massage an octopus for 45 minutes , until its flesh possesses just the right amount of chewability ? jiro is .", "i really wish tokyo were closer .", "an affectionate introduction to the man and an increased impatience that the technology does n't yet exist to eat items off of the screen .", "a beautiful ode to an artisan and his culture .", "jiro ono 's exacting standards have earned him three michelin stars , but it 's his taciturn nature that spices and sours this documentary .", "i left the cinema wanting to meet the man and eat his food .", "david gelb 's affectionate documentary ...", "you may not dream of sushi , but do n't watch this on an empty stomach .", "taking a minimalistic approach that matches his subject matter , documentary filmmaker gelb delves into one of the most acclaimed kitchens in the world : the tiny tokyo sushi bar run by 85-year-old jiro ono , the oldest chef to earn three michelin stars .", "gelb also provides an education on the different kinds of sushi , the purveyors of premium fish and rice , and overfishing . but it 's his lyrical , lovingly photographed scenes of preparation that elevates the documentary to a work of art .", "subtitled docu about sushi chef inspires and enlightens .", "a film about the pursuit of perfection . and the cost .", "ono may be the center of this universe , but the real star of the film is the sushi , and the exquisite yet frustrating beauty with which the camera has captured it ." ], "summary": "beautiful , thoughtful , and engrossing , MOV should prove satisfying even for filmgoers who do n't care for the cuisine .", "id": "771237317" }, { "movie": "1068461-heavy_metal", "reviews": [ "you have to conclude that its makers should have got out more .", "a wildly sophomoric and stupid cartoon celebrating gore , rape and bad music .", "regardless of its dated stylishness -lrb- which still holds up remarkably well a decade plus later -rrb- , MOV was a pioneering film in 1981 and remains a pivitol and infuential body of art today .", "this is simply exploitation on a very juvenile level .", "some of the animation is first-rate , particularly in the more modest comedy segments , and even the heavy set pieces have greater flash and dazzle than anything ralph bakshi mustered around the same period .", "MOV has been animated with great verve , and scored very well , with music much less ear-splitting than the title would suggest .", "MOV despite all of its flaws and anacrhonisms , nevertheless represents something of a refreshment in today 's sterile climate .", "a bit of a mixed bag . some eye popping animation , chock full of nudity , gore , and alien landscapes . the classic soundtrack is what makes it most worthwhile when the stories fall flat", "wild animation , tons of blaring rock music , and fanboy wish fulfillment fantasies of the freakiest order . good campy fun .", "... visually stunning some of the time and stunningly juvenile the rest .", "this animated movie based on the comics of the same title is fun once you accept it on its own terms , i.e. , brainless and adolescent .", "fantasies that are gratuitously sexist and fascist -lrb- macho whoring and warmongering -rrb- , and whose roots reach all the way back to post-hippie paranoia , feed the tangled plot-lines of a movie that ... should disappoint even the teenage wet-dreamers .", "anyone from the era will love it , while everyone else simply wo n't get it at all .", "asked if i wanted to see it again , i figured , why not ? i would have remembered if it was really bad . but memory does play tricks .", "a genuinely outrageous and occasionally brilliant coupling of american animation and classic early-eighties MOV .", "it 's a mixed bag , but successful in a mindless , adolescent way .", "... an unabashed crowd-pleaser . whenever possible , it goes for the fight scene , the sex joke , the jiggly breasts ...", "archly stunted and incalculably influential", "initial segments have a boisterous blend of dynamic graphics , intriguing plot premises and sly wit that unfortunately slide gradually downhill .", "exemplifies the notion that the euphemism `` adult material '' almost exclusively denotes content which is chiefly of appeal to people other than adults .", "in 1981 , this may have been state-of-the-art animation , but now it looks rudimentary , clunky , and flat . the writing , likewise , is flat ." ], "summary": "it 's sexist , juvenile , and dated , but MOV makes up for its flaws with eye-popping animation and a classic , smartly used soundtrack .", "id": "13299" }, { "movie": "hot_chick", "reviews": [ "the movie 's devices are so feeble , i think it was written on a napkin in a denny 's the day before principal photography began .", "yes , it was bad . but i laughed .", "what 's the most positive thing that can be said about the new rob schneider vehicle ? well , it 's not as pathetic as the animal .", "it 's push-the-limits teen comedy , the type written by people who ca n't come up with legitimate funny , and it 's used so extensively that good bits are hopelessly overshadowed .", "`` freaky friday , '' it 's not .", "enough to make any woman or gay man wish they could beam themselves to planet zoltron .", "the movie spends more time with schneider than with newcomer mcadams , even though her performance is more interesting -lrb- and funnier -rrb- than his .", "-lsb- a -rsb- wonderful pile of stench .", "even for its genre and the possibility of a counterprogramming miracle , it looms a wobbly entry .", "a surprisingly good-natured throwback to the '80s heyday of the body-switching genre .", "by the standards of knucklehead swill , the MOV is pretty damned funny .", "its and pieces of the MOV are so hilarious , and schneider 's performance is so fine , it 's a real shame that so much of the movie -- again , as in the animal -- is a slapdash mess .", "the bodily function jokes are about what you 'd expect , but there are rich veins of funny stuff in this movie .", "too lazy to take advantage of its semi-humorous premise .", "it is silly enough to keep you laughing .", "this unabashedly stupid comedy is , well , unabashedly stupid .", "at more than 100 minutes , this alleged comedy is easily the worst thing schneider 's done to date .", "when it tries to be funny it 's usually appalling , but when it attempts to be sweet it 's truly nauseating .", "it 's nice to have something so outrageously silly to lighten things up .", "several degrees shy of the gross-out contests one expects from current teen fare .", "strictly a ` guy 's film ' in the worst sense of the expression .", "the film is a disaster from start to finish .", "despite this inconsistency and schneider 's one-note turn , the film does offer a few amusing moments . all too often , however , the MOV feels like a cold fish .", "instead of the easy laughs , schneider and brady are going for something a little deeper .", "why not just have a 90-minute montage of schneider falling down the stairs and getting whacked in the crotch ?", "wallows in gender stereotypes , solidifying the impression that schneider ca n't compete with the likes of sandler and fellow snl alumnus mike myers .", "a comedy that surpasses stupidity , and not in entertaining ways .", "the verdict : two bodies and hardly a laugh between them .", "while the result is neither poetry nor politics , it does rather gleefully turn a few dumbass guy 's - guy movie comedy conventions on their heads .", "this is a movie that starts out like heathers , then becomes bring it on , then becomes unwatchable .", "schneidermeister ... makin ' a fool of himself ... losin ' his fan base ...", "if you pitch your expectations at an all time low , you could do worse than this oddly cheerful -- but not particularly funny -- body-switching farce .", "an admittedly by-the-numbers affair , but garners some hearty and unexpected laughs through the machinations of its premise .", "it contains the most insufferably lame outtakes of any movie that i can ever remember .", "yes , the film does have its grosser moments but overall the film is schneider 's best comedy to date .", "schnieder bounces around with limp wrists , wearing tight tummy tops and hip huggers , twirling his hair on his finger and assuming that 's enough to sustain laughs ...", "if you think it 's a riot to see rob schneider in a young woman 's clothes , then you 'll enjoy the MOV .", "the execution is so pedestrian that the most positive comment we can make is that rob schneider actually turns in a pretty convincing performance as a prissy teenage girl .", "the first half hour of MOV , before the switch , plays like soft-core porno from the '60s . the rest plays like a bad saturday night live sketch stretched to the breaking point .", "the movie resolutely avoids all the comic possibilities of its situation , and becomes one more dumb high school comedy about sex gags and prom dates .", "rob schneider 's infantile cross-dressing routines fill the MOV , the latest gimmick from this unimaginative comedian .", "schneider 's mugging is relentless and his constant need to suddenly transpose himself into another character undermines the story 's continuity and progression .", "somehow , schneider enthusiasts will find their needed escapism in a clueless comedy that has more holes in it than rotted swiss cheese .", "i will say this for the film -- it 's in color . and , it was mostly in focus . and i really ca n't say anymore for it beyond that .", "the slapstick is labored , and the bigger setpieces flat .", "one of the most depressing movie-going experiences i can think of is to sit through about 90 minutes of a so-called ` comedy ' and not laugh once .", "deep down , i realized the harsh reality of my situation : i would leave the theater with a lower i.q. than when i had entered .", "half of the humor goes into the `` how could they possibly have thought that was funny ? '' file .", "for those who pride themselves on sophisticated , discerning taste , this might not seem like the proper cup of tea , however it is almost guaranteed that even the stuffiest cinema goers will laugh their *** off for an hour-and-a-half .", "it 's sad and depressing when in order to get a laugh a hollywood movie has to stoop to replaying gags that would have made the three stooges blush .", "rob schneider \u00e9 melhor em criar premissas interessantes do que em desenvolv\u0119-las . em um universo ideal , ele seria obrigado a repassar suas id\u00e9ias para que pessoas mais talentosas pudessem utiliz\u00e1-las .", "the cold turkey would 've been a far better title .", "offensive , vile , and , even worse , not funny .", "i did n't expect a masterpiece , but it 's basic rob schneider at his worst .", "it 's interesting that rob schneider 's comedies are getting progressively worse as they are released .", "there is exactly one scene worth watching in rob schneider 's latest pathetic romp ... is it worth ten bucks ? no way in hell .", "has a few funny moments , but pretty lame overall .", "a farce of a parody of a comedy of a premise , it is n't a comparison to reality so much as it is a commentary about our knowledge of films .", "could n't someone take rob schneider and have him switch bodies with a funny person ?", "basically harmless and grudgingly funny .", "you do n't spend 15 minutes setting up your main character as the most unlikeable person conceivable , only to give her a life changing experience that forgets to change her life .", "even by the low standards of saturday night live-alumni movies , `` the MOV '' is simply excruciating . it is loathsome , offensive , vile , and , even worse , it is not funny .", "jam-packed with literally bruising jokes . every five minutes or so , someone gets clocked .", "does revelations say anything that could be interpreted as ` the end is nigh when rob schneider turns into a woman in a movie that 's funny , sweet and clever ' ? if so , prepare to meet your maker , because the MOV is exactly that .", "avoid at all costs .", "on the surface the MOV full review | original score : 3/5", "another lukewarm comedy .", "loosely speaking , we 're in all of me territory again , and , strictly speaking , schneider is no steve martin .", "marks no discernible improvement on its predecessors deuce bigalow : male gigolo and the animal , though the sight of the deeply unprepossessing schneider all dolled up for girlie business is good for a few shallow chuckles .", "call it tastelessness with a message -- a dubious combination , like , for sure . still , schneider pulls off the masquerade pretty well .", "it 's all enough to make one ponder the question that always comes up when a new king of lowbrow is crowned : why have n't the french heard of this guy ?", "i have n't laughed harder at anything this year , but i would have a hard time recommending this gender-bending gut-buster to anyone who does n't have a high threshold for crude sexual humor and stereotypes .", "a crude teen-oriented variation on a theme that the playwright craig lucas explored with infinitely more grace and eloquence in his prelude to a kiss ." ], "summary": "the MOV 's one-note concept gets stretched thin , and a lot of the jokes fall flat .", "id": "10976" }, { "movie": "far_from_the_madding_crowd_2014", "reviews": [ "sprawling romantic novels such as hardy 's are often best suited to serial television , because bringing heart and mind into sync takes time , so it 's just as well that - apart from the brutal tailoring - mulligan is seamless .", "tom sturridge is too numbly featureless to channel the cruel but sexy sergeant troy ; they do n't call them wooden soldiers for nothing . sadly , his performance is perhaps the perfect counterpart to mulligan 's .", "a well-cast period romance aching with longing", "ridiculously romantic in all the best ways , and more modern , more progressive , and even just plain more grownup that half the movies thrown at us today .", "it 's easy to read this 19th century tale as modern and feminist , but it 's even more exciting is how right it gets sloppy , not always sensible emotions .", "ultimately , this is a romance , so our heroine never strays too far from the appointed path - and its swoony end - but the director also gives her space to explore what it might be like to , well , just have your own piano .", "even if you do n't consider yourself an easy mark for literary bodice-rippers served with a side of sexual politics , this madding crowd gives you plenty of reason to swoon .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- what a difference a remake can make .", "madding crowd will remind viewers of how hungry they are for an epic romance minus the cynicism and snark .", "i was never a fan of the 1967 version with julie christie , but director thomas vinterberg gets it all right this time with this hugely romantic adaptation of thomas hardy 's novel that features a never-better carey mulligan in the lead role .", "it helps that the script by david nicholls captures much of the beauty and ugliness of the hardy novel . vinterberg then put together the right cast to create a first-rate adaptation that gets an additional boost from the stunning english setting .", "although ` MOV ' is saved from being cinematic decoupage by carey mulligan 's thoughtful lead performance , it 's kind of a dud .", "overcomes its ripe visuals and familiar story line with straightforward , actorly style .", "while -lsb- MOV is -rsb- beautiful to look at , -lsb- it -rsb- suffers from inconsistent direction and the miscasting of the lead female role .", "the romantic entanglements of hardy 's novel lends itself to an overtly melodramatic interpretation , but vinterberg 's approach is blessedly restrained .", "the brutality and frankness of hardy 's storytelling may surprise those used to more genteel period adaptations", "splendid as drama and strong on character -- the four leads are exceptional -- this is one of the year 's best films and easily one of the most visually beautiful .", "mulligan breathes life into bathsheba , in a performance that highlights the character 's passion without treating her like a flighty , immature girl .", "mulligan does n't have the aura of unattainability that julie christie did in the 1967 film version of `` MOV , '' but her earthier appeal feels truer to the character and less like the idealized vision of a masculine imagination .", "director thomas vinterberg crafts a handsome film , then lets the string section goo everything up .", "a `` MOV '' in which romance is a matter of audience indifference or benign mystification is an adaptation not firing on all cylinders .", "as a cinematic condensation , it mostly works , even if the pace sometimes feels a bit frantic .", "if there 's one complaint about `` MOV , '' it 's that the chemistry between mulligan and schoenaerts does n't totally spark . but then , how much pizzazz does one really expect from victorian england ?", "this filmed version of hardy 's fourth novel is well worth seeing . it rises head and shoulders above most of what we 've been seeing lately .", "waiting in rapt , nail-biting tension for even the tiniest bit of catharsis equates to wonderful drama , and if adorable hats can also enter into the equation , all the better .", "it struggles , like so many thomas hardy adaptations before it , to find a purpose for itself beyond `` widescreen study guide . '' picturesque and impersonal , it evacuates incident upon incident , as though hardy 's plotting were the runs .", "this is a classic story told with genuine craft , and featuring a truly great performance by carey mulligan .", "this new take on the thomas hardy classic vividly captures the story 's modern themes through complex performances from a sharp cast ...", "`` MOV '' is one the most satisfying , finest romantic period dramas to grace screens , big or small , in awhile .", "will no doubt captivate future generations of tenth-graders who could n't be bothered to read the book , but it flattens the complex characters and grand scope of hardy 's novel into an airless and overly truncated cliffsnotes version .", "carey mulligan is an inspired choice to play bathsheba ... she 's cool and confident ; we come to respect her strength and appreciate that she does n't need a man to be complete .", "it 's beautifully old and atmospheric without feeling dated .", "it 's to MOV 's benefit that vinterberg has a smart casting department .", "the heart of the tale is driven by sheen 's delicately proud , pained performance as the third man . and it 's in scenes with sheen that mulligan is at her sparkling and most seductive best .", "vinterberg 's classical , pastoral aesthetic recalls the heyday of the merchant ivory films , without the corny sentimentality of their lesser imitators .", "a good , solid version of this novel , guided by mulligan , is still an achievement .", "vinterberg 's film offers something rare for an adaptation of a 141-year-old work of literature : it delivers a dose of modern relevance -- and thus resonance .", "this cross between danielle steel and masterpiece theatre will find its audience -lrb- and should -rrb- , yet something 's missing .", "moviegoers often say , `` forget about the book , even if it 's a ` classic . ' how does the film work on its own terms ? '' but that 's the point : on its own terms , it 's bewildering .", "beautifully rendered but the subject that drives the story - english class distinction - is subsumed by the three suitors ' pursuit of the independent heroine .", "bathsheba should be more than a dress-up doll , and the rest more than a potboiler . lost in the gloss is hardy 's weirdness , and with it half his greatness .", "it 's a wholly respectable adaptation , though perhaps a flash or two more of wildness would n't have gone amiss .", "it is also beautifully filmed , offering a vivid sense of both time and place as the camera scans the rugged beauty of the rural landscape , but mostly it is what you want any drama to be : involving .", "for a story that 's all about choice and consequence , the way it rips through plot points in the latter half makes the ending feel more like an inevitable contrivance than a maturation . although , in fairness , the scenery always stays just as beautiful .", "in trying to create a feminist icon out of a decidedly victorian character -lrb- just look at her name -rrb- , the movie loses sight of the actual story it came to tell .", "an enthralling , complex , nimbly acted drama with a sweeping romance that does n't shy away from sexual politics .", "a woman fights to keep her freedom in thomas hardy 's love quadrangle , rendered visually by director thomas vinterberg in a poised , crisp , and actor-centric film .", "pleasant if predictable", "MOV is pretty to look at , even if it is a sort of sparknotes version of thomas hardy 's novel .", "an amazing meditation on yearning and the brimming hearts of three men and the woman they all want to marry .", "mulligan is charming as ever , flouting the rules society has set in place , and sheen 's painfully tortured farmer more than makes up for sturridge 's over-the-top antics . but it 's likely schoenaerts you 'll remember most ...", "a sense of duty and a desire to create pretty pictures ... are n't exactly compelling reasons to mount a cinematic adaptation of a celebrated novel .", "MOV may not be the most ideal role for a woman , but carey mulligan 's an actress who can take this ordinary material and make it sing .", "... an extremely delightful period drama that will make your heart flutter with a beautiful story and rich leading cast .", "sturdy , somber adaptation , a sweeping romance , redolent with sheep-dipping , hay-stacking and windswept moors .", "this is a film i could watch again and again because it so beautiful -- and beautifully acted .", "casting mulligan in this role might seem like a curious choice . but her character combines the smarts , spunk and a sly sexuality that is difficult to ignore . and she is eminently likeable .", "sturdy adaptation of hardy , with some fine work by mulligan .", "a thoughtful literary adaptation that lives up to expectations , MOV breathes exciting new life into a classic story .", "mulligan is fetching and sure , as always , but the smoldering schoenaerts is outright magnetic while consistently low key . take note , hollywood .", "david nicholls deserves huge credit for condensing hardy 's sprawling melodrama into a rollicking screenplay that comes in at under two hours and still hits all the major plot points .", "sure , it 's a literary classic , but when you translate that to film , does n't it usually mean stodgy , old-fashioned and , above all else , boring ? not in this case .", "whatever quantity of soap froths up thomas vinterberg 's presentation of thomas hardy 's novel , it does nothing to fade out the lush colors that stain his gorgeous depiction of the author 's english countryside .", "the lack of real analysis or consideration leaves this perilously close to a goldilocks-style depiction of privileged female indecision .", "MOV is stately , handsome , appealingly old-fashioned , and schoenaerts , with his quiet , broad-shouldered presence and unforced masculinity , is the perfect fellow to hoe this particular row .", "it 's all a little dutiful-seeming , but the making of the movie is carey mulligan .", "nearly all of these developments wind up onscreen , but that only goes to show how the most faithful adaptation , by emphasizing some things and deemphasizing others , can spin the story in a different direction .", "you can smell the faintly salty air , hear the sheep 's insistent bleating , sense the coolness of a spring dew , feel the sharpness of the wind as the seasons change .", "mulligan uses her beguiling smile to defuse the dramatic underpinnings of the story , and sheen adds another shading to his gallery of great performances . but it 's belgian actor schoenaerts who will leave the target audience atwitter .", "thomas vinterberg 's sturdy new film adaptation brings out some of the darker shades , literally and figuratively , in hardy 's proto-feminist tale .", "the newest `` MOV '' is a modern feeling film that is a showcase for the talented carey mulligan .", "the movie , to its credit , holds on to the book 's singular vision of a willful woman undoing several social strata of hapless men .", "carey mulligan is a delight to watch in her authentic recreation of a feminist looking for a man who is able to `` tame '' her .", "for all the bucolic beauty and ravishing romance , we 're reminded that violence is never far from the surface - and vinterberg captures the brewing tragedy magnificently .", "carey mulligan 's commanding performance is an easy beacon to follow : her bathsheba is caught between the vulnerability of youth and the strength of knowing her own value .", "though its social scope is narrower than hardy 's , you do come away from it with a true sense of the shrouded world that he devised , where fate could frown upon even the blithest day .", "extremely well done and well acted , it 's an attractive , appealing , involving adaptation , just not as iconic as the '60s film .", "it 's solid stuff ; well played , affectionately told , and still stirring in its role reversals , both personal and political .", "a loving , faithful portrait of an era which was , let 's face it , a bit dull . it feels like victorians the way they wanted to see themselves more than victorians as they actually were .", "period costume drama done as only the british can .", "carey mulligan captures the effervescent determination of thomas hardy 's literary heroine in this onscreen adaptation .", "content with hitting the high points of the plot as a solid masterpiece theatre presentation might do , -lsb- but -rsb- vinterberg at least treats hardy 's work with respect , if not a lot of imagination .", "only with a final flourish in the last pages does the tragedy relent . this movie , though , does n't leave time to savor the peculiarity of what 's transpired . hardy convinced with the warmth of his writing . vinterberg lacks a cinematic equivalent .", "... more akin to an anonymous bbc production than the work of a once-exciting dogme 95 alumnus .", "this adaptation of thomas hardy 's towering 1874 novel is triply smart . it uses dramatic concision , snappy country-life couture , and bold , graphic-novel colors to bring a contemporary tang to a capacious victorian classic .", "the magnificent mulligan - grabbing our attention from the moment she appears in a tight-fitting strikingly dashing russet leather jacket to gallop across the dorset countryside - rightly dominates this ravishing costume drama .", "bathsheba 's three suitors represent ... intimate friendship , sex and comfortable safety - but the new film flubs the character of the seducer ... one can not help but wonder what , say , robert pattinson might have brought to this role .", "feels like a missed opportunity to do a country romantic melodrama in grand style .", "a thoroughly modern film anyone can relate to - it 's like a `` what a woman wants '' discussion set in victorian times . it 's also an instant classic .", "vinterberg may rush the final act , but he brings out the wild side in mulligan , who can hold a close-up like nobody 's business . she 's a live wire in a movie that knows how to stir up a classic for the here and now .", "the fact that this film prompts not a sob but a shrug is a tragedy all of its own .", "lovers of period drama should not feel disappointed but it does lack some of the wild passion and intensity required truly to capture your heart .", "mulligan is spot-on , the rest hovers between solid and forgettable .", "in the end , this MOV is a handsome but bloodless version of the hardy classic .", "a lovely looking , sweetly scored mid - market diversion .", "just try to stop yourself from swooning .", "vinterberg is clearly more interested in the characters ' emotional , romantic entanglements than in being stuffy or classy .", "a chance to see another fine portrayal by mulligan , and an opportunity to spend a few hours in a fevered fantasy world of prim and proper ladies and hot-headed shepherd boys .", "handsomely mounted , this is a period drama in which both unspoken demands and stated appetites drive the emotions that simmer below the surface from the first frame .", "while the costumes and the scenery look great , there 's not much beneath the surface .", "the victorian-era heroine is cast as a feminist in director thomas vinterberg 's sumptuous adaptation .", "the madding now comes so close on the heels of the gladding and the sadding , that it is n't until the very end , that you realize you 've been artfully shepherded - stampeded , really - right off an emotional cliff .", "a film that feels charged with life and hunger and romantic-erotic energy , with the ever-present danger of fire and storm and financial catastrophe that connected life in 19th-century rural england to the middle ages , and to mythology .", "less ethereal and flirty than julie christie 's bathsheba , mulligan anchors the film and stirs the viewer with her contradiction-filled , flesh-and-blood , dynamic portrait of a norm-busting hardy heroine .", "because mulligan 's bathsheba is such an encompassing portrait , i never felt as if i was watching a `` type . '' bathsheba , with all her warring impulses , is ferociously her own woman .", "mulligan is terrific in this role , her multivalent delivery of the dialogue doing much to enrich her character .", "what viewers are left with is a flop of a film that weakly gestures at ideas that deserve a lot better .", "what does register at every turn is a vibrant sense of time and place that pulls us into hardy 's bygone world even when the drama falters .", "this is an interesting , heartfelt but flawed hardy adaptation .", "nicely served on both sides of the camera , this is a concise and involving rendition of the story of a resilient young woman who comes into property in victorian england 's west country and is courted by three suitors , all of whom have pluses and minuses .", "it 's buoyant , pleasant and easygoing . that 's a recommendation of sorts , and also an expression of disappointment .", "`` MOV '' has its appeal . yet like unrequited love , one ca n't help but lament what might have been .", "all in all , it 's a perfectly decent take on hardy 's timeless tale .", "there is much pleasure in watching these fine actors navigate rough emotional waters , each conveying as much in sidewise glances as they do in direct discourse .", "the story remains gripping and the cast is wonderful , with mulligan proving an altogether less tortured hardy heroine than usual .", "a glowing carey mulligan illuminates the screen as bathsheba everdene in this lush adaptation of MOV .", "i was captivated . carey mulligan gives an oscar -lrb- r -rrb- - quality performance ; it never occurred to me that she was acting ... ably supported by a fine cast and beautiful cinematography . this is one of the best films i 've seen this century .", "the film is at its strongest in the scenes between bathsheba and gabriel oak -lrb- matthias schoenaerts -rrb- .", "there is romance and drama in the story , tragedy and betrayal , but it engages in a bracing fashion with issues of class , honor , and values .", "brilliant counter programming to the impending onslaught of superheroes and excessive noise in the multiplex is this vigorous , melodramatic re-imagining of rural victorian england .", "those looking for a ` downton abbey ' fix between seasons will love this gorgeous , new victorian-era adaptation .", "the new movie version of MOV ca n't compete with its predecessor on any of those fronts , but it does have a trump card , and her name is carey mulligan .", "the story 's arc is pure harlequin - romance , but it 's given a sheen of respectability by hardy 's words and thomas vinterberg 's lush direction .", "the film 's restrained nature may ... -lsb- keep -rsb- it from being a major hit , but for all it loses in marketability it gains in being a suitably emotive experience .", "the current crowd , which is a nice diversion from the summer 's cgi extravaganza , should be a crowd pleaser .", "with the immeasurable aid of a great cast , danish director thomas vinterberg -lrb- festen ; the hunt -rrb- mounts a very honourable adaptation of thomas hardy 's sweeping melodrama about lust , doomed romance and how not to pick a husband .", "one of the best movies this year , so far .", "vinterberg has made a gentle , unintrusive film , graceful and too refined to speak out of turn .", "you know that your victorian england period piece is not working when the most interesting thing on screen is the clothes-horse fashion sense of your leading lady .", "mulligan displays reserves of fortitude to add to her more familiar winsomeness , while vinterberg relishes the challenge of keeping all this timeless and contemporary .", "a film that is both highly controlled on the surface , and molten with lust underneath .", "boasts fine performances and pristine technical credits , but fails to make a deep connection as it jolts awkwardly towards a sweet finale .", "with dashing redcoats , picturesque bucolic vistas and heaving bosoms aplenty , there is more than enough in danish director thomas vinterberg 's gorgeous adaptation of thomas hardy 's classic novel to treat any lingering poldark withdrawal symptoms .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has one great strength : an outstanding performance in this difficult , perhaps fundamentally incoherent , role from carey mulligan , far more intense , compelling and modern than christie , much more intimately filmed .", "a painterly movie with stunning cinematography , ` MOV ' stays faithful to the classic novel by thomas hardy . the story of manners and class distinctions is told with director thomas vinterberg 's focus on environments and costumes .", "buoyed by the chemistry between its leads and the genuine feelings that they manage to convey , this is pastoral life as you like to see it on the screen .", "the melodrama that has room to breathe in hardy 's 1874 novel -lrb- and the 170-minute 1967 adaptation of the story -rrb- is so rushed here that it looks faintly ridiculous .", "it 's an adult rebuttal to so-called modern romances like twilight which are aimed squarely at american teenagers and unrealistically dictate women 's unflinching loyalty and debt to men .", "a visual and engaging tale , filled with visual and emotional richness", "there 's a purity to the performances and what should seem like played-out dramatic tropes feel fresh , reflected in the film 's stunning rural photography and costuming .", "it 's a classy and seductive example of the art of the intimate epic .", "beautifully acted , grandly romantic cinema that nevertheless does n't lose touch with the earth .", "a beautifully mounted , fiercely intelligent , bracingly alive literary adaptation that remains an unabashed crowd-pleaser ." ], "summary": "MOV invites tough comparisons to thomas hardy 's classic novel -- and its previous adaptation -- but stands on its own thanks to strong direction and a talented cast .", "id": "771368269" }, { "movie": "cartel_land", "reviews": [ "without passing moral judgments on either group , `` MOV '' provides a vivid illustration of the dangers inherent whenever a government fails to meet its citizens ' needs to the extent that they take matters into their own hands .", "as a documentary , it 's pretty damned depressing . as a parable of human nature , it 's vital .", "as the film demonstrates , this is far from a black-and-white situation .", "although the film has its shortcomings and simplifications , it 's a bleakly persuasive view of a decades-long combat that respects no boundaries , and seems to hold no prospect of surcease .", "the overall impact is harrowing and , considering the subject matter , appropriately hopeless .", "heineman earns major props for his courage under fire while also capturing striking and indelible images .", "not really an immediate , you-are-there experience . it 's a patient , detached but cryptically horrified study of a true quagmire , and the well-meaning but temperamental gun friends trying to force a straight line out of total chaos .", "a jaw-dropping documentary about two vigilante groups , on opposite sides of the u.s.-mexico border , trying to stave off mexican drug cartels .", "all vigilante groups are not created equal ; here , the nuances sometimes get lost .", "if the key to price in real estate is `` location , location , location , '' the key to success in v\u00e9rit\u00e9-style documentaries is `` access , access , access . '' which is what `` MOV '' has in compelling amounts .", "heineman goes through the gates of hell and comes back empty-handed .", "horribly real , an urgent and alarming account of a crisis so hellishly labyrinthine it 's hard to see how anyone can escape its widening web of violence , extortion and corruption .", "MOV is not a fun watch but it is a compelling one . it has all the larger than life characters , gang violence and government corruption of a fictional crime drama made horribly tragic by its reality .", "matthew heineman 's powerful documentary challenges our assumptions of loyalty -- like you , like us ? -- as well as of good and evil .", "jaw-droppingly intense ...", "lacks the necessary perspicacity , objectivity and trenchancy .", "matthew heineman 's documentary about the mexican drug wars plays like a real-life version of some grim sam peckinpah western in which violence and corruption have become endemic .", "the road to hell , as paved with best intentions , has never looked better .", "thoroughly researched , occasionally engrossing , but ultimately frustrating .", "there 's no doubting heineman and his crew 's audacity as they venture close to the line of fire , but the commitment to observing dispassionately at all times starts to feel a bit like a cop-out .", "director matthew heineman 's camera shows the cost of lawlessness and the power - and institutional powerlessness - of the people .", "what 's missing is a directorial point of view , including about vigilante groups , the so-called war on drugs , and mexican and american policies and politics .", "what you 're left with is the sickening realization that this cycle of violence is as hopeless as it is unstoppable .", "in framing this predicament so vividly , in its gorgeous first scene , MOV ensures that you worry about it throughout follows .", "MOV feels like breaking bad in real life , with characters even more complicated and controversial than walter white .", "MOV -lsb- is a -rsb- spellbinding , verite documentary -- a frontline look at the murderous mexican drug cartels .", "deftly edited , and filmed with a feel for the deadly volatility of drug violence .", "a stunning work of war reportage nestled within a creaky study of ideological purity .", "the results are astounding . MOV is staggering , stunning . the best documentary i 've seen in a very long time .", "heineman 's close-up look at the war on drugs bathes the situation in the personal stakes of the figures enmeshed in these thorny dilemmas on a daily basis .", "a stroke of genius intensify the bitterness of this brutal narrative . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV asks : is law enforcement really fighting against drug gangs ? -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "captures the positives of -lsb- organized vigilantes ' -rsb- grassroots community organizing , as well as their far scarier prejudices that can lead to anarchy and corruption .", "not for the faint of heart , it sometimes puts its cameras right it the middle of gun battles , for a result that is extremely dramatic even if it also leaves a number of important questions regrettably unanswered .", "director matthew heineman 's MOV is a brave exercise in and a fascinating piece of journalism .", "even though it has an uneven narrative , it 's worth watching . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "heinman 's uncompromising camera work makes this a brutal documentary . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "heineman and his crew gain a terrifying level of access , giving us front-row seats to the drug war .", "MOV is a brilliantly exposed snapshot of a hugely complicated situation .", "chilling and compelling , ripped from today 's headlines ...", "this raw and compelling -lrb- if necessarily incomplete -rrb- documentary focuses on the recent battles between drug cartels and vigilantes along the arizona-mexico border .", "there are scenes here unlike anything you 've seen . timely , thoughtful and supremely well-constructed , we 'd be stunned if this is n't the doc to beat on oscar night .", "a vivid and sometimes infuriating portrait of a seemingly unwinnable battle .", "an amazing look at the new world of methamphetamine manufacture and distribution and the losing battle locals are fighting against it .", "-lsb- heineman -rsb- needed either to find a compelling reason to keep the american vigilantes in this film , or keep the focus entirely on the genuinely gripping material in mexico and the far more complex protagonist in mireles .", "MOV offers a chilling glimpse into a world of violence and vigilantism .", "MOV is an unapologetically cinematic take on the crime documentary -- breathless , intense , spectacular .", "vigilantism on both sides of the mexican-u.s. line is the subject of mathhew heineman 's powerful but curiously diffuse documentary .", "shot in times of serious danger , it balances idealism and violence , triggering an adrenaline high and a sense of soul-crushing hopelessness in the same instant .", "`` MOV '' reveals a culture that spans the border , full of death and dismaying behavior on both sides , but thriving all the same .", "a movie that seeks action over analysis and could draw in the type of audience that does not regularly attend documentaries .", "ultimately , MOV hampers its own efforts to meaningfully address its subject .", "looking at the mexican drug wars from both sides of the border , `` MOV '' is punchy and vital but not particularly informative .", "one person 's armed vigilante is another person 's guardian angel and the border between these two ideas is wafer thin and easily crossed as matthew heineman 's beautifully shot and probing documentary shows .", "some documentaries are about answers . others are about questions . `` MOV '' is about the hazy territory in between ...", "it 's nothing short of the wild bunch meets traffic , sans the cathartic denouement .", "it 's one thing to invent a vigilante drama as darkly perfect as this , it 's another to capture it as it actually unfolds .", "there 's half a great movie in MOV , a gritty street-level documentary about vigilante action on both sides of the u.s. / mexico border .", "watching grandmothers face down the military trucks , we might be tempted to hail mireles as a hero . but MOV is interested in how idealism becomes corrupt .", "a worthwhile report on a pressing humanitarian issue .", "startling access yields strong if not consistent results in `` MOV , '' matthew heineman 's parallel portrait of vigilantes policing two different fronts of the drug war .", "-lsb- i -rsb- mpressive filmmaking in the service of dispiriting fact , figures on both sides of the law saying that lawlessness and corruption can not and will not end .", "this is a film that 's both timely and timeless , an examination of what appears to be an unassailable cycle of awfulness ... matthew heineman 's film feels like a peek into a gaping maw of wretchedness .", "`` MOV '' offers up no easy answers or clear calls to action , but just a first-person account of these situations that rule the news and the hand of policy-makers , providing a deeply humanizing element to this incredibly difficult situation .", "the most impressive aspect of `` MOV '' is the trust and access heineman 's crew obtained to the two central figures of his report .", "... an eye opening look at organized vigilantism .", "MOV is essential viewing because it is enmeshed in the haze of reality , not the simplicity of fiction . there are no easy answers .", "heineman was lucky to come out of this project intact . after viewing michoacan 's mayhem from a more comfortable distance , MOV viewers may feel similarly fortunate .", "surveys two different frontiers of the disordered relationship between mexico and the united states without trying to deliver moral lessons .", "by the end of heineman 's rattling 98 minutes , the war on drugs seems more than ever like a war destined to go on forever before being lost on every side .", "what starts as a rousing look at `` good '' citizens fighting to rid their communities of roving gangs of gun-toting thugs , slowly evolves into a disturbing study of human nature , as the right intentions go frighteningly wrong .", "MOV is the rare non-fiction work that routinely keeps one 's nerves on edge .", "MOV combines video journalism and ecstatic beauty filmmaking to devastating effect , like real life framed as a breathlessly paced thriller .", "absolutely essential viewing , as vital and unsettling a documentary as you 're likely to see .", "MOV 's narrative and hollywood shine make this doc a gripping watch ... this is a film of real stakes , real deaths , and real conflict .", "one of the year 's most important documentaries ...", "much of the documentary MOV , an immersion into the mexican drug traffickers and citizen vigilantes , is hair-raisingly intense .", "the production is precise in its nightmarish summation of futility , giving this necessary education an inevitable severity .", "even if it leaves you wanting more , `` MOV '' deserves to be seen .", "i found my heart pounding as heineman , often with bullets flying all around , manages to film sequences straight out of a fictional movie or tv show .", "filmmaker matthew heineman places himself in the line of fire more than once in this shocking and eye-opening real-life expose of the illegal drug industry in mexico ." ], "summary": "raw , brutal , and bitter , MOV offers a ground-level look at vigilante efforts to thwart organized crime at the mexican-american border .", "id": "771412031" }, { "movie": "come_early_morning", "reviews": [ "subdued and deliberate , but also sensitive and quietly moving . and it gives judd a chance to shine as a real actress again .", "if and when MOV ever resurfaces on dvd , order it immediately-and while you 're at it , order chasing amy too , if you have n't already seen it , and enjoy a dandy double feature with two country girls of enormous talent .", "judd surely deserves the lion 's share of kudos for the movie 's success ...", "custom made for judd ; she 's brilliant", "with an honest and starkly minimalist approach , adams paints a vivid , often painful portrait of a woman who has nothing to look forward to except the next one-night stand .", "what MOV does is create an utterly convincing central character , and surround her with a milieu and backstory that is sincere and convincing .", "overall , the film lacks energy and the plot has no driving force .", "the best thing about adams ' film is its unhurried , casual naturalism .", "the writing and directing by joey lauren adams express an admirable naturalness and eschews rose-tinted solutions .", "... nothing less than a minor key wonder of a film , a character study of novelistic complexity with a sure sense of place and purpose that seems akin to movies made before hollywood discovered its corporate destiny .", "the film has a worn , live-in feel , and its unhurried narrative captures the subtle rhythms of small-town life . nothing much happens on the surface , but worlds of hope , hurt and determination lie right behind the characters ' eyes , waiting to be discovered .", "this intensely personal film may not bring either -lsb- joey lauren adams and ashley judd -rsb- widespread acclaim , but it 's a small triumph nonetheless .", "` MOV ' is a terrific accomplishment by -lsb- joey lauren -rsb- adams -- a commendable first effort , making me hope that it 's merely the beginning of a promising new aspect of her career as both a director and a writer .", "judd 's attempt to get lucy 's world-weary down look essentially means not wearing any make-up and combing her hair with a fork .", "the performances are admirable all around , but they 're in the service of a film that does n't otherwise merit much attention .", "the baby-voiced costar of chasing amy proves an effortless filmmaker , turning lucy 's journey into the awakening of a soul .", "it 's a southern story , but not cloying in the way that many hollywood versions of the rustic south are .", "this is a quietly powerful film about small-town southern living that avoids all the usual clich\u00e9s and makes us feel as if we 're dropping in on real lives in mid-stream .", "in fact this film is generally about nothing . there 's an attempt to show some growth in some relationships , but there really is n't any and we 're left where we started .", "this snoozer is so thin that it could gain 10 pounds and still have nicole richie beat .", "beautifully photographed by tim orr , MOV is the kind of small gem that 's becoming increasingly rare in american films .", "in MOV , ashley judd delivers her most natural screen performance since ruby in paradise , the film that pushed her toward stardom in 1993 .", "in intent , this familiar rural tale of redemption of an alcoholic sexually-loose woman brings to mind robert duvall 's role tender mercies and nunez 's ruby in paradise , also starring ashley judd .", "a mostly watchable , somewhat satisfying drama .", "ashley judd 's strong performance redeems an unoriginal movie .", "a modest but not insignificant achievement : a movie that depicts smalltown southerners without condescension , melodrama or caricature .", "actress-turned-filmmaker joey lauren adams 's cookie-cutter contribution to sundance-style cinema .", "MOV is anchored by a deep affection for its very anti-urban locale and an authentic attempt to capture the people populating the milieu .", "MOV is a simple story , yet told with such conviction , delicacy and instinct for truth that is carries keen emotional power .", "in a way , the movie itself is an example of that philosophy put into practice . -lsb- director -rsb- adams clearly did a lot of soul-searching as she wrote the story . her introspective script provides another actress with a great role and a new start .", "despite her efforts and those of a generally talented cast , pic just pokes along and offers nothing out of the ordinary in terms of drama , characterization or insight .", "judd 's delicate portrayal draws a pointed distinction between lucy 's volatile disposition and her genuine independence .", "judd 's typically lived-in performance and the authentic arkansas locations -- cramped bars , dusty roads -- help vaguely distinguish a movie that comes on like a minor-key reprise of judd 's breakthrough ruby in paradise .", "a low-key , country-inflected drama with a striking lead performance by ashley judd", "we 've met characters like lucy before and we 've seen movies like MOV before , but does n't automatically make joey lauren adams ' directorial debut less than a good movie .", "it 's a solid , if flawed , effort by adams .", "adams shows a sure-footedness about emotional transformation , both in her writing and directing , and has a real regard for the place -- her home state of arkansas -- where her movie happens .", "the script is somewhat predictable and the pace is leisurely , but ms. judd makes lucy 's choices seem momentous , and ms. adams gives us several beautiful scenes .", "falls prey to bits of psychoanalytic shorthand and narrative predictability , but it offers the rare , meaty role for an actress in her late 30s .", "an engrossing drama where transformation is the holy grail sought by a woman determined to change her life .", "ashley judd gives a real performance in MOV , but the film is simply not good enough for her talent .", "the kind of small-scale , low-key indie drama that puts blockbuster fans to sleep .", "the plot points verge on the familiar and obvious , but -lsb- joey lauren -rsb- adams 's work with the actors is so resourceful and focused that she makes them shine ." ], "summary": "a quiet but moving film anchored by the unexpected depth of ashley judd 's performance .", "id": "390467926" }, { "movie": "happy_feet_two", "reviews": [ "follows in the original 's footsteps on a more reasonable scale while sparing audiences an emotional ambush .", "... does n't even know how to play to its own strengths .", "penguin sequel has fun musical numbers , a few mild scares .", "as a philosophical krill on a voyage of self discovery , brad pitt single-handedly saves ` MOV ' .", "much like its oscar-winning predecessor , the story focuses on lads and dads , though there are strong mama figures and daughters , too .", "it 's not very good as a film , but there 's no denying its stunning animation , particularly in the service of its two daffiest new characters will -lrb- voice of brad pitt -rrb- and bill the krill -lrb- voice of matt damon -rrb- , and its sheer lunacy can be invigorating .", "other than commercially , more is less in this antic , not so funny sequel to the 2006 blockbuster .", "the disjointed , undercooked sequel to the oscar-winning 2006 hit aims to tell life lessons and celebrate pop music , but this would-be toe-tapper is curiously out of step .", "it 's not that songs like l.l. cool j 's `` mama said knock you out '' or the rivingtons ' oldie `` papa-oom-mow-mow '' are better known . it 's just that they 're better written .", "it ca n't match the original , but it 's not the first sequel to fail on that front , and it still offers plenty of fun and enjoyment in compensation .", "only the series ' bread and butter -- the song-and-dance performances -- are able to occasionally buoy the flagging energy . when the music stops , `` MOV '' flounders .", "if not for a few , new additions to the cast and an oddly effective , overarching theme of existentialism , MOV would be a wholly dismissible sequel .", "it 's hard to resist dancing penguins , but `` MOV '' may make you want to try .", "a penguin movie that even werner herzog might like .", "bright , zany , rollicking , and not at all engaging", "the movie 's bereftness of invention can be measured by how no story element builds on another . instead , `` MOV '' is plotted so that a bunch of disparate things happen , until it 's time to end the movie .", "it 's hard to resist a children 's movie where two comic krill named will and bill toss off a reference to existential angst one minute and make really bad wordplays , as in `` goodbye , krill world '' and `` one in a krillion , '' the next .", "97 minutes of nonstop joy .", "MOV is just too big and overloaded - too much of an almost-good thing .", "the actual narrative - something about following your heart , the importance of family and global warming - is bland and disjointed .", "although appealing to look at , MOV is noisy , busy , and unable to spark much emotional involvement in the viewer other than fear for the characters ' well-being and a touch of existential angst by way of a couple of krill .", "the animation remains impressive , and there are some very funny moments , courtesy of the talented cast . but fans of the original will want to lower their expectations .", "the show-tune-warbling penguins of `` happy feet '' are endangered by climate change in `` MOV . '' while i 'm rooting for the survival of every creature , i would n't mind seeing this movie series become extinct .", "it 's familiar enough not to spook fans of the -lrb- highly profitable -rrb- first , but MOV branches out beyond prefab coming-of-age stories and gimmicky pop-song set pieces .", "centuries from now , cultural historians will look at `` MOV '' and ask one question : what the heck were they smoking ?", "pointless and plotless , though not entirely flightless -lrb- a puffin named sven passes himself off as a flying penguin -rrb- .", "for a computer-animated movie about dancing penguins , it 's surprisingly leaden . not even the impressive voice talent can rev up this clumsy spectacle .", "like father , like son ; like disney , like everyone else . and like first movie , like sequel .", "if it were n't for the comic relief provided by will and bill , tiny shrimplike crustaceans known as krill and voiced by brad pitt and matt damon , this would be a forbidding return to antarctica indeed .", "the best animated film of 2011 with its quirky characters , lively dancing , soaring songs , and the heroism of many different animals banding together in face of an eco-disaster that threatens them all .", "MOV is great to look at , but it goes off on odd tangents that prevent the plot from catching hold .", "it 's a family-friendly food chain in which no one gets eaten .", "the visuals are nice to look at .", "brad pitt and matt damon should have known better", "what MOV lacks in robust narrative is made up in song and dance , which provides the thrills - as well as the stars of the hour , the krills .", "this is it : the collectivist kiddie flick that makes it look like fun to work together for the betterment of all . disgusting !", "youngsters and their families will be captivated by the show and the superb techno-whizzery never ceases to amaze", "more feet , more songs , more music , more characters ... more everything , but less of story than the original . the heart of the film is scattered , but it fails to connect as satisfactorily as it did before", "at its best , this film offers some fantastic panoramic views of the kingdom of the multitudinous emperor penguin .", "while ` happy feet ' focused on the tap-dancing emperor penguin named mumble ... this one spends more time with his little son erik ... who is simply irresistible . if one agrees that penguins in general are cute , erik ups the ante considerably .", "... the magic of the first often fades with part two 's overly long and slightly redundant tale of singing and dancing penguins", "duplicates many of the strengths of the original , without surpassing or even matching its originality and inspiration", "for me , `` MOV '' is pretty thin soup .", "aside from novel and smart uses of 3d effects , the new movie is largely a bore , all but sidelining williams and straining to offset the monotony of a protracted rescue story with the sour misadventures of a pair of fussy krill .", "the original won an oscar for best animated film . i would n't hold out the same hopes for the sequel .", "this is a film smart enough to set up atypically nuanced , supportive relationships between erik and his baby-penguin friends , and dumb enough to regularly lean on repetitive broad physical comedy .", "miller makes nice , subtle points about interdependence on earth . meanwhile , the earthmates in MOV continue to dance , sing , and , yes , charm .", "the script belongs at the bottom of the ocean . the songs belong on ` now that 's what i do n't call music . '", "even though it mimics the original , `` MOV '' is incoherent , and if there 's an actual story here , it 's drowned out by the vapid pop songs , yapping wisecracks and flapping wings of too many characters .", "happy feet 2 may not be blazing a trail as smoothly and distinctively as the original film did ... but you and your kids will find it a pleasant enough journey .", "sticks to the formula of the original while adding enough variety to give it a life of its own .", "preaches acceptance but requires assimilation . you dance or you die . join the party , swim with the swarm .", "the visuals are frequently spectacular and the environmental concerns are admirable , but this simply does n't have the charm of the original .", "a film approximately 48 times worse than the original .", "the plot is flimsy and the script frequently off-key , heavy-handedly dealing with parenting and friendship issues then ladling on sickly sentiment .", "this one is as stupid as it looks , which is saying something .", "a shambles that 's somehow both terribly lazy and hernia-inducingly overcranked at the same time . disappointing .", "effectively , it 's a few computer-generated birds staring into the abyss for an hour and a half . i know exactly how they felt .", "technically accomplished and otherwise uninspired sequel to the 2006 cgi hit about a dancing penguin in antarctica .", "it has its moments and is certainly not a bad film , but it fails to entertain in quite the same way .", "plot-wise it 's a meandering , stuttering mess with tsunamis roaring into life only to mysteriously disappear , a fistful of plot strands meaninglessly loitering about and any sense of danger immediately undermined by all-too-obvious solutions .", "overshadowed by more darkness , menace , heartache and anxiety than any talking-animal picture i can think of since miller 's last family-film sequel , the execrable babe : pig in the city .", "if you are looking for a family fun holiday weekend then `` MOV '' is for you .", "a whirlwind of activity and energy , very little of which makes sense and none of which coheres .", "... perfectly adequate family fare for the holiday season , but it 's very much a second-tier cartoon movie .", "why are these movies so depressing ?", "a beautifully made movie that never matches the freshness and enthusiasm of the original", "if there 's a saving grace , it 's the visuals , especially the beautiful scenes of orange krill . but that 's about all .", "enjoyable sequel with colourful characters , some terrific song choices , strong vocal performances and an inspired and hilarious sub-plot , but it 's slightly let down by a weak central story .", "if the original , academy-award-winning `` happy feet '' left you with your toes tapping , then you 'll leave this one with happy feet , too .", "if miller is fearless enough to spin this morally and logically complex tale , deepening it and strengthening it with tough , dark themes , his technical filmmaking prowess are equal to the task .", "MOV is a fun uplifting family flick that accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do .", "`` MOV '' is to 2006 's `` happy feet '' what `` babe : pig in the city '' was to `` babe , '' a clever and adorable original film remade with most of the charm wrung out of it .", "MOV is a fun uplifting family flick that accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do .", "it shares more in common with the brash lunacy of rango than the safe , flat work of arthur christmas despite the similarly chilly locals of the latter .", "it 's a film that only deals in excess , so unless you 're a deliriously happy person with a serious foot fetish , you 'd best give MOV a miss .", "miller has gone bigger and better on everything - the stakes are raised , the risk is greater , the fears are bigger , and , as a result , the pay-offs are better and the highs higher .", "not a bad film , just a disappointing one .", "the film might be too chaotic for some audiences , but for those willing to sit back and enjoy the rapid-fire ride , MOV will bring a smile to your face .", "top grade animation and entertaining voice performances from its star packed cast saves MOV from drowning in its bigger is better approach .", "back to antarctica for this second helping of `` the dance of the penguins , '' the voices are in fine form .", "this cheap knockoff has the same energy & spirit of exuberance , but the flimsy story is not as strong as its predecessor . the movie suffers from clich\u00e9-ridden dialogue after exhilarating highs from a string of big musical numbers featuring ...", "`` it brings out my happy . '' for kids facing a potentially rough adulthood , it 's probably a message worth hearing , maybe more than once .", "it 's still a lot of fun to see dancing , singing penguins , but the meandering storyline never catches hold .", "if happy feet was tonally unsteady , MOV is tone-deaf .", "while the singing and dancing are still a lot of fun , miller seems to have spent more time thinking of set pieces than storylines .", "gets by largely on goofy energy and good-naturedness , not quote-unquote ` strong writing ' or ` clear ideas . '", "while the film 's 3d animation is pretty enough to look at in its large scale aspect , it does little to distract from a meandering story with very little substance .", "despite some amazing animation and cool song mash-ups , this flat-footed follow-up is as messy and overcrowded as , well , an island packed with poopy penguins .", "for all the noise and flapping , the movie , like its heroes , remains flightless .", "what we have here is a case of very flat ` feet . '", "a moralizing musical that feels the lesser of its oscar-winning predecessor in every way , happy feet 2 dances as fast as it can but ca n't kick up any level of engagement beyond occasional raucous diversion .", "though it retains the buoyant musical stylings and splendid visuals that made its predecessor so distinctive , this chatterbox of a sequel loses its way with a raft of annoying side characters .", "has absolutely everything except the light touch required for unaffected charm -- the mugging is savage -- a single piece of memorable original music , or a production number that 's celebratory rather than trampling .", "like me , you probably like a handful of the pop songs , but would describe the experience of seeing them performed by multi-million-dollar , anthropomorphized animals as not being too far off from watching a graphic training film on venereal disease .", "this new round of toe-tapping musical numbers from the penguin population is shot in eye-poppingly gorgeous 3d and guarantees some very sweet holiday box office returns for warner bros. .", "it has less plot than an hour of sesame street , fewer jokes than a republican presidential debate , and astonishing computer animation , in wholly unnecessary 3d .", "fresh , funny and family-friendly , it 's a cheerful crowd-pleaser .", "a disappointing sequel that retains the impressive visuals of the 2006 oscar-winning original , but lacks its narrative energy and charm .", "lovely to look at despite the 3d , and sometimes bordering on the psychedelic , this crack-brained morality tale blends the sublimely weird and the cloyingly awful ...", "march away , penguins . far away .", "the film reminds viewers young and old that to make a positive change , sometimes the little guy at the bottom of the food chain needs to stomp his feet .", "more than the ice is thin in MOV .", "in a lot of ways MOV resembles the television show glee ; it 's fun and magical during the musical numbers and kind of dull and uninteresting the rest of the time .", "MOV is like the crazy nasty honey badger . it really does n't give a. . .", "mumble is grown up . he has a son eric . the boy is convinced he can fly . if only his movie could fly .", "MOV works because the prospect of penguins singing covers has n't lost its appeal .", "the gotta-move protagonist of the first animated , antarctica-set feature -- a misfit young emperor penguin named mumble -- returns for the sequel . only this time he 's all grown up ... and a lot less fun .", "we get a feeling we 've seen it all before .", "while ` happy feet ' focused on the tap-dancing emperor penguin named mumble ... this one spends more time with his little son erik ... who is simply irresistible .", "happy feet was one of the greatest and most original animated films , but the sequel ca n't even decide what it 's about for the first 40 minutes ." ], "summary": "the animation is as eye-popping as ever , but MOV 's narrative is too noisily incoherent to recapture the oscar-winning charm of its predecessor .", "id": "770858176" }, { "movie": "clearing", "reviews": [ "compelling performances and a manipulation of the narrative keep MOV unclear , which keeps us interested .", "mirren gives a virtual one-woman performance", "... three engaging and rewarding performances .", "the story is redford 's , but with -lsb- mirren 's -rsb- trademark brisk practicality and ease in her own skin , she ransoms the actor from the constrictions of his self-definition as a romantic movie star .", "the MOV is just an ok thriller , full of standard scenarios and cookie-cutter characters .", "what eventually happens will emerge from the personalities of the characters , not from the requirements of hollywood endings . sensing that , we grow absorbed in the story , knowing that what happens along the way will decide what happens at the end .", "it 's a worthy effort , but by trying to do it all , both stories fail to offer a good payoff .", "as fine a performance as mirren gives -- capturing eileen 's apprehension and sturdiness at once -- redford is the chief reason to see the MOV .", "it leans more toward a character study than an action or suspense movie . what you do n't get is the wrenching emotional workout that you would expect from this kind of film .", "there 's nothing happening on the surface -lrb- something cued by craig armstrong 's aggressively inoffensive tinkling piano score -rrb- , and there 's nothing happening underneath , either", "discreetly filmed , slowly paced , looking for deeper motivation in every glance and comment , the MOV never comes up with the emotional gold to justify the dig .", "after an unbearably slow and deliberately long buildup , director pieter jan brugge 's kidnapping thriller the MOV never delivers a payoff .", "a haunting film about the evil that men do .", "... may not be the most exciting or well-focused drama of the year , but it manages to engage our intellect most of the time and keep us guessing well up to the end .", "i just expected a lot more in the end , and really just did n't get it with a routine script , bland plot , and an ending that was too sudden to be accepted .", "good performances almost make it worthwhile .", "... a very good thriller that could 've -lrb- and should 've -rrb- been a great one ...", "it 's pretty bland , even though the trailer would lead you to believe otherwise .", "lo que mantiene el inter\u0439s es el cada vez m\u0431s impredecible comportamiento de la esposa , animada adem\u0431s por una estupenda helen mirren -lrb- la mejor int\u0439rprete de la pel\u043dcula -rrb- .", "-lsb- mirren , redford , and dafoe -rsb- can not get a fire going in this clich\u0439-soggy kindling .", "the first 10 minutes are promising , but then the film , a wannabe thriller , loses steam", "h\u0431 dois bons filmes em ref\u0439m de uma vida , mas estes se enfraquecem mutuamente em fun\u0437\u0433o da estrutura narrativa adotada pelo cineasta .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t remains a mystery why anyone thought that this was a story that needed to be told , or who they thought would be engaged by the problems of these bland , distant people .", "what should make for a taut , suspenseful thriller drowns in an ocean of verbiage .", "by the time the MOV was over , my single greatest feeling was : why did anyone want to make this movie ?", "there 's no urgency in the execution and no point to the resolution -- all in all , a major disappointment for those seeking cinematic sanctuary .", "the MOV is what it sounds like : stripped of ornamentation , undeluded about its subjects , lucid about the limits of human behavior .", "european sensibility controls the MOV , a fact that might frustrate american moviegoers who arrive expecting something more flashy .", "a thriller stripped of thrills -- or , even worse , a thriller that thinks of itself as somehow rising above the vulgar pleasures of excitement .", "talky and mawkish .", "an enterprising but ultimately unsatisfying exercise that promises quite a lot , but delivers very little .", "man , are n't wasps boring ? the movie 's simply not deep enough to be an art film , and nowhere near entertaining enough to pass itself off as a satisfying thriller .", "redford and mirren , two masters of contained emotion , keep us peering intently at their faces , searching for clues -- not as to whether wayne will survive , but whether this marriage will .", "it 's really boring .", "mr. brugge has perhaps succeeded in avoiding vulgar melodrama , but he has hit on something far worse -- a bloodless melodrama , with bottled water running in its veins .", "why would such a murky movie be called `` the MOV ? ''", "one of those films you end up admiring more than you enjoy .", "an unusual combination of the suspenseful and the thoughtful , a character-based drama that grabs hold and digs deeply under the surface .", "brugge 's acutely observant direction and justin haythe 's thoughtful script allow robert redford , helen mirren and willem dafoe to give performances that rank among their best .", "a splendid kidnapping thriller , but its craftsmanship might obscure a subtle , affecting meditation on loss and redemption .", "mesmerizes with its bold treatment of thecontroversial theme of class warfare and its top-drawer performaces by robert redford , willem dafoe , and helen mirren .", "brugge is an astute visual storyteller , the script -lrb- by justin haythe -rrb- goes to some unexpected places before it 's done and the performances are immaculate .", "the acting was very effective ...", "brugge ... builds the tension slowly and carefully , until we find ourselves , like eileen , in the dark woods longing for everything to be all right .", "we are lured into the woods brimming with expectations , but ultimately , we find ourselves looking for the wrong sort of MOV : a way out .", "it stays in character , small , human , bitter and sad .", "this is one of those moderately engrossing movies that seems to collapse all at once during the wrap-up , yet it 's well-acted all around , especially by its star , who once again reminds us why audiences have liked him for 40 years .", "this anti-thriller radiates dread rather than suspense ; it delivers creeping apprehension rather than adrenaline-pumping kicks , and the uniformly strong and finely calibrated performances more than compensate for the absence of technical razzle-dazzle .", "you want to see this one for the acting .", "it 's still worth a look , for the pleasures of mirren 's peerlessly dry performance .", "the brilliance of the MOV lies in its ability to tell parallel stories and make both equally riveting .", "good actors can do much , but they ca n't save a boring movie from itself .", "a thriller nearly devoid of thrills ... despite having great actors and a beautiful visual sensibility , the MOV offers no foundation to wrap them around .", "the benefits of seeing this movie may not be worth the patience necessary to get through it .", "one of the first movies i 've seen in some time where the final 10 minutes could have easily gone in any number of directions and i would have been pleased", "has trouble getting past its plain-jane premise to make the emotional impact the filmmakers are clearly aiming for .", "redford gives one of his best performances ever in this taut , emotionally engrossing thriller /", "-lsb- i -rsb- t all falls apart at the last minute , the script winding down into a woefully underwritten ending that leaves -lsb- the -rsb- veteran cast scrambling for purchase .", "eileen 's emotional and moral difficulties , even including her too melodramatic visit with the mistress , pulse with a kind of believable pain .", "a movie like this does n't need excellent taste . it needs sweaty desperation , and bitter recriminations .", "tension actually lessens , as it becomes increasingly clear that the movie is not intended to be tense or exciting .", "after a taut and involving beginning , it gradually degenerates into an awkward and unconvincing blend of character study , marital drama , and kidnapping thriller .", "the revelations do n't add up to much and pieter jan brugge 's direction keeps you at such arm 's length that you rarely connect to the drama unfolding on screen .", "hollow and slow .", "the performances by the three principals are first-rate .", "it all adds up to an acute character study -- but as a thriller , it 's too cerebral to quicken the pulse .", "when the psychology is incomprehensibly vague , and the thrills nowhere in sight , i 'd say the mess is complete .", "it 's one of those movies that seems to have started out as one thing and ended up as quite another .", "the MOV ? it 's more like the obscuring .", "the film is written , directed and enacted with palpable intelligence . but intelligence can seem dull if unleavened by wit or excitement .", "director pieter jan brugge hands us another heavy-handed drama about the failed american dream .", "redford and dafoe have all the fun , but mirren exhibits the most talent .", "a kidnapping drama that may be too intentionally low-key to qualify as a thriller but that accrues weight and tension as it makes its way through a forest of repressed emotion .", "brugge bobbles the attempt to tell two stories -- the marital-discontent one and the crime drama -- at once .", "everything about it is stultifying , unexceptional and dull .", "it 's watchable only if you do n't mind that there is n't a shock , a surprise or a message in its 91 minutes .", "what had been an intelligent and intriguing thriller loses its bearing , its momentum and , eventually , its audience .", "the lack of a much-needed nail-biting climax relegates the MOV to the status of an interestingly cast so what .", "one of those movies that inspires a , ` what were they thinking ? ' response .", "the MOV delves into deeper issues of failed ambitions and lost hopes than the simple survival plotlines of most thrillers ...", "a motley mix of a film - police procedural , violent thriller , and suburban marital angst - that ends up being less than the sum of its parts .", "competent , but not brilliant , kinapping tale has a great cast", "some nice writing and a commitment to craftsmanship are evident , but the voltage here is simply too low to engage us .", "strives to be more than just a predictable , by-the-numbers kidnapping drama , but that , ultimately , is all that it ends up being .", "though not altogether successful , it 's a commendable first effort that should be of interest to fans of these great film actors .", "an exercise in excellent acting and little else .", "although i liked/respected it in on some level , for sheer entertainment value it 's lacking . wait to rent it .", "the MOV needed the firm hand of a hollywood insubordinate , not a sycophant .", "there is not just chemistry between redford and mirren , but a palpable tenderness , passion , and the kind of comfortable amiability that comes with the passage of years .", "what is essentially a fairly standard kidnap drama takes on extra interest due to its superb performances and an intriguing structure .", "the pleasures of this endeavor , directed with a keen eye for detail by pieter jan brugge , come from what the actors bring to the material .", "the MOV , rather fuzzy in so many ways , is an incredibly slow-moving exercise in tedium .", "brugge has built a character-driven piece that is as sturdy as it spare .", "unfortunately , suffering in silence -- even when you 're doing it as marvelously as mirren does -- does n't make for terribly exciting cinema .", "... the dullest kidnapping-for-ransom drama ever conceived", "the MOV deftly blends three great performances and an intricate character study into a quietly powerful film .", "a poorly paced kidnapping drama that seems to think it 's so prestigious that it does n't need to generate much suspense .", "though performed impeccably by everyone involved , the film 's wall of conceit makes for neither a gripping nor suspenseful viewing .", "a mature , character-based film in which kidnapping is the story , but the people are the substance .", "despite strong intentions and even stronger performances , the MOV 's shallow narrative fails to delve deeply into either of its commendable themes .", "the pacing here might be perceived as too slow by audiences expecting something different , but it 's quietly effective .", "a precise , chilly brand of filmmaking that 's hard to warm up to .", "haythe 's script suffers from what i like to call ` apollo 13 syndrome ' : it 's great when it focuses on the major crisis , but not so hot when it shifts to the people on the ground .", "they all look good , and they carefully recite their dialogue , but not one of them is alive . or worth caring about .", "an intriguing but dramatically stunted psychological thriller about a kidnapping .", "the whole enterprise is too low-key , too diffident to really make an impression .", "a great cast consisting of robert redford , helen mirren and willem dafoe .", "the easy give-and-take between redford and mirren early in the film is flawlessly realistic , but even that could n't stem the tide of this reviewer 's yawns .", "the audience ends up identifying with the privileged wine-drinker -lrb- reford -rrb- and rooting against the underclass cereal-eater -lrb- dafoe -rrb- ...", "robert redford brings to the screen a perfect couple , wayne and eileen hayes .", "well acted , with an accumulative sense of novelistic detail , but it does n't quite fully connect .", "do n't go in expecting a thriller and you might be happily surprised ...", "the mood is atmospheric and the pace occasionally falters , but this is mature and thought-provoking work .", "without -lsb- mirren 's -rsb- performance , it would be easy to mistake the MOV , with its predictable story development , for a lifetime movie of the week .", "stately , reserved and colorless , it can be described as serious and respectable , but also turgid and rather dull . its inveterate good manners are ultimately its undoing .", "regardless of what the MOV wants to be at any given moment-wrenching , thought-provoking , surprising , heartbreaking-all it ever is is tastefully lifeless .", "there 's nothing like being kidnapped to allow you to reassess your relationship with your family -- an adult kidnap pic .", "you 'll be with it every second and intrigued to its last , carefully constructed frame .", "a character-driven suspenser that engages the mind more than the emotions , but neither grippingly .", "... the makers of the MOV could apparently not care less about capturing the youth market , so they 've actually gone with veteran actors who know their stuff", "brugge and haythe fail to satisfactorily pull off either the thriller or the marital deconstruction .", "with the emotional reins of the movie firmly in her grasp , mirren never condescends to her character , investing her with an unshakable poise that unnerves even as it reassures those around her .", "classy but ultimately unsatisfying ." ], "summary": "though it has an excellent cast , this emotionally detached movie is the kind that one admires more than enjoys .", "id": "14327" }, { "movie": "year_of_living_dangerously", "reviews": [ "a rousing and sharp look at a land that 's far from our own in more ways than one .", "outstanding political thriller -- and plenty hot , to boot", "the MOV is a flawed film , but it is richly textured and imbued with enough emotional and intellectual subtlety to make it a rewarding experience .", "weir 's movies are open-ended , stylish dramas that engage our senses , psyche , and wonder .", "a good , romantic melodrama that suffers more than most good , romantic melodramas in not being much better than it is .", "... a reasonably entertaining time-filler ...", "a young mel gibson anchors a fascinating look at the life of a journalist looking for the great war-era news story .", "-lsb- a -rsb- grievously flawed yet compelling tale of political intrigue , certainly a triumph of atmosphere if not of coherent dramatization .", "combining political intrigue , steamy romance , and engaging characters , peter weir 's well-crafted , highly enjoyable adventure is one of the few successful efforts to make a casablanca-like movie for modern audiences .", "weir and his crew expertly recreate the squalor , poverty , noise , heat and emotion of the pressure cooker that was indonesia in 1965 .", "the rest of the film has n't aged nearly as well as hunt 's fun performance ...", "a curiously languid affair , rather than the breathless costa-gavras-style thriller which was the least one might have expected from this kind of material .", "with director peter weir applying the lighter fluid , mel gibson and sigourney weaver ignite with a chemistry that goes ... into the realm of star quality", "biting , tense weir film -- factually based" ], "summary": "both a smart , suspenseful tale of intrigue and a sweeping romance , the MOV features excellent performances from mel gibson and sigourney weaver as a pair of journalists covering political unrest in indonesia .", "id": "12589" }, { "movie": "meet_the_robinsons", "reviews": [ "the fact is MOV is a mess -- a sometimes fun but mostly frustrating mess .", "strikes the right notes as a fast-paced comedy , a touching but not saccharine slice-of-life , and a valuable learning tool for children .", "simply put , it 's terrific .", "persistence pays , so says this rocketeering children 's fantasy . it 's a claim this delightful computer-animated film also proves .", "if you stick with it , it 's an enjoyable film , a futuristic puzzle with an ending worth the trip for those who make it there .", "this 3-d digital adventure cribs from several other films , but its pace , wittiness , and technical brilliance may help you forget all that .", "better than the 3-d movies at disney world but nothing special on the big screen .", "the robinsons might not be a family you want to hang out with , but they sure were fun to meet in this imaginative and beautiful 3-d experience .", "this would be as delightful and attractive a production without the gimcrackery .", "a sharp-minded , plenty entertaining toon that will keep children of all ages wide-eyed and on their toes .", "MOV has six writers credited to a picture that has maybe five good laughs . and at least four of those writers must have had advanced cases of attention deficit disorder .", "it 's got wit , heart , and razzle-dazzle to spare .", "a fast paced , high energy offering ; it passes by in a breeze and is enjoyable enough that i 'm willing to forgive the two awful songs -lrb- one near the beginning , one near the end -rrb- and recommend it .", "the 3-d effects are clean , crisp and fun , and worth seeking out ; although it may increase the sensory overload for the very young .", "the computer animation is fine , and some of the creatures -- an r2d2-type robot , a purple octopus who doubles as the robinsons ' butler , and a bowler hat that has silvery spider legs and designs on taking over the world -- will tweak kids ' imaginations .", "a delightful , quirk-filled riff on back to the future .", "a witty , inventive cg adventure that proves there are still new ideas to explore in the digital animation realm .", "too fluffy to hate , too friendly to condemn , and too sweetly bright not to smile just a little at its antics .", "leave your sense of logic at the door or you 'll be driven to distraction by annoying ` how come ... ' questions .", "the movie is inventive and fun with a significant message that manages not to be overbearing . there are some heart-tugging -- but not sappy -- moments .", "... a movie with its heart in the right place and its computers heading off in all different directions .", "a film of terribly alienating character design -lrb- so many pinchy faces and tiny eyes ! -rrb- blended with very plastic-y backgrounds .", "even with its faults , MOV is fun on its own account whether you see it in 3-d or not .", "meet the robinson tasted like chicken - chicken little , that is .", "flashes of wit and whimsy notwithstanding , the future is just as sentimentalized as the past .", "a baby being left on the doorstep of an orphanage has been done many times , yet MOV makes it feel new again , and not just because of the fantastic 3-d technology .", "a hilarious and adorable science fiction film with great animation , top notch voice work , and sharp humor ...", "... the movie possesses an unusually bright and colorful sense of style that immediately sets it apart from its increasingly plentiful brethren .", "clever time-travel adventure for the whole clan .", "pleasant but insubstantial , and with characters whose eccentricities feel just a tad forced and artificial , this is a mild diversion of a film .", "despite its obvious shortcomings , MOV left me wanting a little more . it 's been a long , long time since a disney film without a little lamp logo at the beginning has made me feel that way .", "3-d is an acquired taste i 've never acquired , but the success of robinsons is n't contingent on effects , but on wit and emotion .", "it 's a real technical breakthrough , a cartoon feature done in 3d computer images of unusual depth and plasticity that creates its own crazy world and then dunks you in it .", "computer-generated ingenuity and a strong story line brighten the zillionth unexamined delivery of ameliorative disney boosterism : never mind the past , always go forward .", "like many worthwhile movies , this one 's about the longings of the heart , and the happiness that comes when those longings are fulfilled . the 3-d and singing frogs are extra . wo , wo , wo .", "offers impressive visuals , engaging action scenes and funny moments .", "giddily inventive , cute , charming , even wry .", "executed with a whimsical light touch and loads of heart , it 's character-centric rather than slapstick , and completely charming", "MOV is surely one of the worst theatrically released animated features issued under the disney label in quite some time .", "if you can adjust to its loopy rhythm and its tendency to digress at every opportunity , ` robinsons ' is enjoyably offbeat and , if you see it in digital 3-d , a dazzling visual experience .", "even if you look forward to meeting the robinsons , after ninety minutes you 'll probably be happy to take your leave of them .", "MOV frequently bogs down into endless exposition , with dialogue that is pleasant but rarely funny .", "MOV an actively spunky futuristic sci-fi showcase ... one can not deny its spry presentation that gives the movie an infectious cheeky charm .", "this wearisome tale of a lonely orphan who travels through time has a wacky exuberance small children will no doubt appreciate . anyone older , though , will merely find it noisy and obnoxious .", "succumbs to the now standard overcaffeinated approach to storytelling that relies too much on rollercoaster thrills to stop the kids from fidgeting .", "brightly animated , inventive and frequently hilarious , this is an enjoyable adventure with colourful characters and a neat back to the future-inspired plot .", "the first 20 minutes of this competently animated kids ' adventure are entertaining enough . but thereafter , the plot fractures , the pace goes into overdrive and the jokes wear thin .", "... more suited to the smaller tv screen and it is only due to the power of 3d technology that the feature is coming to the local multiplex .", "so breathlessly exciting , funny and inventive throughout that even if you are only able to see it in its 2-d incarnation , you are still left with an incredibly entertaining film .", "well , do n't worry . there 's a plot twist , which explains everything , and once we get there , the whole thing suddenly becomes crystal clear .", "the craft of 3-d has come a long way , but with `` MOV '' it continues its tradition as a gimmick employed on second rate features .", "loosely based on a children 's book by william joyce , the film does a lot of twiddling with time .", "frenetic and fanciful - with a confusing `` moving forward '' plot that encompasses abandonment , adoption , embarrassment and vengeance .", "the rest of the time , the movie feels strangely antiquated , plagued by lifeless dialogue and a shocking lack of humor .", "there 's no doubt disney will do it again , and perhaps better next time , but for now , it looks like technology could be its creative salvation .", "family movie perfection .", "without the 3-d effect , MOV is just mediocre .", "feels as though it might be better served as a television series than a movie , but it never bores .", "features some nice time travel-style twists of the sort that made back to the future so popular ...", "the film is less a kiddie adventure in a futuristic world than it is an absurdist comedy that looks like a kiddie adventure .", "whether you see this loony , feel-good comedy in 3-d or in regular vision , it 's a lot of fun .", "there is a strong sense around MOV that the folks at disney are trying to find their bearings . which leaves the film itself looking kind of lost .", "what 3-d does n't do is make the movie terribly interesting for anyone past the age of fearing a violent loss of social status unless he or she gets a movie tie-in lunchbox .", "at times hilariously wacky and deeply dramatic , this engaging adventure romp is entertaining from start to finish .", "the pacing of this 3-d animation film is uneven , from slow and sad to madcap , but eventually all is explained and it turns out to be a decent time travel story .", "an overstuffed movie with a style of storytelling that 's like a kid in a toy store : what 's that ? wait , what 's that ? or that ? ooooh , shiny ! but the film 's achievement is that , between manic episodes , it 's also very touching .", "it 's got a ton of energy , and the 3d animation is nifty . but the humor is scattershot to the max , and the plot lacks focus .", "the mantra in MOV is ` keep moving forward ' , but it 's in going back to traditional narrative and filmmaking values that helps set this animated romp apart from many of its contemporaries .", "something like a douglas adams yarn for kids with add ...", "... too complicated for kids and too plot-holed for grownups .", "suficientemente divertido para funcionar como um \u0437timo passatempo . e pelo menos representa um mais do que necess\u0440rio descanso das anima\u0443\u0448es digitais protagonizadas por animais falantes que tomaram conta dos cinemas nos \u0449ltimos dois anos .", "what might have been a bland back to the future rip-off suddenly hums with a screwball sensibility chockablock with singing gangster frogs and evil bowler hats .", "MOV is a cheerful mess , a pretty good b movie , albeit with a first-class advertising budget .", "unremarkable except that it is the first wide release movie in a long time to use a really effective three-dimensional format .", "a nice adventure that 's years ahead of where disney animation has been lately .", "i was so bored out of my skull than even a wayward reel of raiders of the lost ark somehow slipping onto the projection booth platter probably would n't have stirred me out of my comatose state .", "it 's very expensive to take your whole family to the movies these days and this is one movie that you will not feel as if you 've wasted your money .", "although sometimes too frenetic for its own good , MOV still manages to awe and inspire with its earnest messages and digital 3-d brilliance .", "... lacks the energy and wit of any random episode of jimmy neutron .", "the frenetic pace is a tad bewildering when it comes time to fulfill the movie 's title and MOV", "an eye-popping , madcap adventure with a real heart and great characters well in keeping with the sterling tradition of the disney classics so many of us grew up on", "whatever the movie had to go through to become what it is now , it works .", "some of the best work disney has done in at least a decade .", "tries and fails a few times before getting on track and delivering an hour of comedy that ranges from the slapstick to the surreal , accompanied by some good ol' disney sweetness .", "the best animated disney movie in years .", "even in its messiness , -lrb- it -rrb- at least suffers from wild ambition , not laziness . and i 'd rather have a family movie go over kids ' heads than insult their intelligence .", "adults should only attend if they 've got a young one in tow or are really into singing frogs and goofy dinosaurs .", "MOV is a mess , and a sadistically uninspired one at that .", "entertaining without getting too scary for kids , too dumb for parents or too outlandish for movie lovers .", "clever , fast-paced and kid-friendly , `` MOV '' if you want an enjoyable family outing .", "the animation strives for 1950s sci-fi retro , but the result is that everyone looks like a plastic anim\u00e9 doll .", "click for full review", "the film has a freewheeling , quick-hit absurdism closer to airplane ! than aladdin .", "a sweetly-rendered story that also happens to look terrific .", "typical disney claptrap .", "prone to migraine headaches , i wish the frenzied pace of ` MOV ' had been toned down . still , youngsters will probably love the ride .", "a breath of fresh air after 2006 's `` the wild '' and 2005 's `` chicken little . ''", "this shrine to disney is really the world 's most overstuffed hanna-barbera cartoon , right down to its gargamel-patterned villain .", "never convincing or compelling enough to stop us from keep moving forward past its ultimate position on the video store shelves", "almost as funny as it is hyperactive , the new computer-animated family comedy is luscious to look at and as fizzy as a can of soda popped open in your face .", "despite a relatively simple storyline about an orphan in search of a family , the rather complex machinations keep pushing the narrative ahead so as to not allow too much time to dwell on the how or why .", "it keeps moving forward , even if you 're not always sure where it 's taking you .", "a year of disappointment in american animation leads me to this advice : write a simple story . read your dialogue out loud and hear if it rings true . draw nice pictures to tell it .", "it 's striking not for its originality but for its energy in juggling familiar elements .", "though state-of-the-art technically , i think you 'll find there 's a healthy , old-fashioned feel to this movie -- one that will make you walk out of the theater feeling satisfied , and all warm 'n fuzzy inside .", "grab a 10 year old , your 3d glasses and experience what these filmmakers certainly hope is the next dimension of interactive family entertainment .", "given its retro style and multiple borrowings , there 's nothing remotely forward about this rearward-facing flick . those seven scribes are n't exactly practising what they 're preaching .", "it probably wo n't leave you feeling cheated , but its futuristic bric-a-brac and brainy young hero may not make your spirits soar , either .", "let 's do the time warp again in the imaginative , cgi-animated MOV , in which the past and the future collide , story-wise and technologically .", "this is eye candy with a hollow centre .", "kids will enjoy the colourful animation and fun characters , but adults will wish it all made a bit more sense .", "this thing is one bumpy ride .", "here , the effects spring organically from the story . you feel like you 're immersed in a complete universe , the way the ground slopes toward you or objects seem to come from behind you and enter the screen .", "the characters are beautifully drawn and engaging , and in the madcap world in which lewis is taken , he feels more at home than he has ever felt . and this weird and scintillating family shows him genuine affection", "most of MOV plays like a movie made by add adults for add children .", "the plot is slapdash and derivative .", "it 's certainly one of the more imaginative-looking disney cartoons in recent memory . it also has one of the better stories for a disney-released cartoon produced by pixar , even if portions seem ripped off from the back to the future movies .", "a cartoon that is busy and frenetic yet has little actually going on .", "despite the occasional winning laugh line and beautiful animation , MOV is a disappointing outing for the disney animation studios .", "zippy if forgettable .", "an ideal film for both bookwormy kids and tech-savvy parents .", "any movie that has a chorus of frogs singing big band music and a healthy respect for failure is worth seeing .", "and to think ... this movie might actually get kids interested in science .", "MOV is n't soaked in obnoxious pop culture references , but its vision of the future is as safe to the eyes as a candy land game board .", "flaws aside , the film accomplishes its mission of entertaining the kids while not completely alienating the parents . and hey , at least it does n't have penguins .", "what might the man who brought us fantasia and snow white and the seven dwarfs make of the backwards-crawling tedium of movies like this ?", "a 3-d fantasy that 's lovely to look at but less than delightful to know . it 's insistently , relentlessly busy .", "the mishmash wo n't offend kids , but it wo n't hold their interest for long . if only walt had been around to think it through .", "the movie is a mess .", "here 's to you , MOV . you really have taken digital 3-d animation to a somewhat ho-hum level .", "for the beleaguered disney animation unit , MOV is indeed a step forward , a step in the right direction .", "the bottom line here is that 3-d turns a just-ok movie into a should n't - miss experience .", "MOV is a 3d outing so technically dazzling that you 'll hear people say `` wow ! '' out loud in the theatre during the first few minutes . the problem ? the remaining 98 minutes .", "regardless of what you think of the story and characters in robinsons , the film should be seen just for the technological advancement it represents .", "a rock-solid piece of animated sci-fi comedy that 'll tickle the kids , amuse the parents , and leave everyone walking out of the theater on a sweet little flick-buzz ." ], "summary": "MOV is a visually impressive children 's animated film marked by a story of considerable depth .", "id": "387261632" }, { "movie": "the_witnesses_2007", "reviews": [ "it is a huge credit to the actors that we end up caring about these deeply flawed individuals .", "an ambling narrative , but an atmospheric one that feels authentic despite its unlikely character pairings .", "this film need not be approached with dread or trepidation ; life , as witnessed by this small group of flawed but always empathetic characters , is a messy , ugly , and unfair business , but sometimes still surprisingly wonderful .", "well-served by a varied cast .", "some may think the metaphoric possibilities of an incurable illness that can be transmitted through sexual contact have been all but exhausted . director andr\u00e9 t\u00e9chin\u00e9 almost proves otherwise in MOV , a kind of film opera without music .", "this depiction of the onslaught of aids is curiously pragmatic and a little clunky , but then again , perhaps it is time we all got a refresher course in aids awareness and its terrible consequences .", "the beautifully acted ensemble film MOV sidesteps most of its opportunities for high drama , political sermonizing and the jerking of tears .", "little more than a cursory glance at a particularly eventful period in history , one that deserves art of a more thoughtful nature .", "MOV is a period-piece but feels utterly contemporary through its characters ' urgent , overlapping imperatives .", "andr\u00e9 techin\u00e9 's MOV is one of the finest fiction-film accounts of a free yet frightful moment in time , when the relaxing sexual liberties of the previous decade were being squeezed by the onset of an unforgiving new virus .", "t\u00e9chin\u00e9 proves he remains one of the foremost chroniclers of french life and human relationships in general with his haunting new drama les t\u00e9moins -lrb- MOV -rrb- .", "never polemical , frequently philosophical , occasionally saturnine , and beautifully filmed and acted , this film is a minor masterpiece , and one of the best films about aids to date .", "a fast-moving , engrossing multiple-character drama that brings the aids crisis of the 1980s into laser focus .", "bristling with emotional intensity , this is far superior to earlier aids-related dramas such as the platitudinous philadelphia .", "an engaging drama with superb performances , but it 's slightly let down by an anti-climactic ending .", "in techine 's nuance-sensitive aids drama , the characters feel as real as they are multi-faceted - but they are rarely engaging .", "lots of gab , a little flesh flashing , more gab , and not much action or momentum . french kissing , brokeback mountain style .", "the first 80 minutes or so are really good , but then the movie goes on for about a half hour longer than it needs to .", "techine 's graceful , forceful drama has the tact not to play narrative games with its subject .", "andr\u00e9 t\u00e9chin\u00e9 's film features a strong ensemble cast . the film pulls no punches in its depiction of lives in crisis .", "excitingly convoluted .", "a somber look back , and for americans , a view from somewhere else of a time that might have been just recently forgotten .", "MOV has an emotional maturity that adds richness to its social observation .", "best when it turns from bed-hopping into a docudrama , but its effort to personalize the aids crisis is not emotionally convincing as the characters lose their individuality .", "a welcome addition to a legion of aids related movies and the french perspective , so different from our own , never fails to intrigue", "as in real life , often the main crisis morphs into a continuance that has no slam-bang conclusion . rather , we just see a small hope that awakes to experience another sunrise .", "andr\u00e9 t\u00e9chin\u00e9 is a master at taking life experiences and stripping them of sentimentality , leaving us with only the bare-bones honesty of relationships and desire .", "what the characters in MOV -- and the audience -- pay testimony to in andr\u00e9 t\u00e9chin\u00e9 's urgent , compassionate , and ultimately optimistic french drama are the toll the epidemic has rung , and the responsibility of the living to choose life .", "this movie is more concerned with ideas of life and hope . once we realize that this has been t\u00e9chin\u00e9 's theme all along -- and not just another disease-of-the-week film -- then all the mood changes and banalities begin to come into focus .", "andr\u00e9 t\u00e9chin\u00e9 's MOV -lrb- les t\u00e9moins -rrb- treats the beginning of the aids epidemic , first in the united states and then spreading to the rest of the world in 1984 , as a devastating medical atrocity in a war that is still raging .", "the wealth of emotions and relationship tensions explored here are beautifully calibrated in the knowing hands of t\u00e9chin\u00e9 , a true cinematic humanist .", "with a critical yet compassionate perspective , the great french helmer techine captures vividly the end of an era -- sexual freedom and beginning of aids -- and its zeitgeist through a touching tale of friends and lovers defying conventional mores .", "a moral tale that is n't saddled with moralism , MOV is a novelistic film in the best sense .", "t\u00e9chin\u00e9 's triumph of compassion and craft shames the american cinema 's indifference to gay history .", "MOV does n't pay off with a great operatic pinnacle , but it 's better that way . better to show people we care about facing facts they care desperately about , without the consolation of plot mechanics .", "a rambling but often affecting account of the early days of the aids epidemic .", "unyieldingly pleasant and way too fussy for its own good ... so sunny and polite it makes rent look like cruising .", "it becomes a movie about figuring out how to live a full life , and MOV is necessarily a bittersweet one , since so many people who came of age in the '80s never had a chance .", "director andre techine 's story is one of subtle emotional tones that require the most of an actor , and the cast is uniformly compelling .", "the explosion of aids is the film 's sobering heart , but the manner in which it affects those who witness it makes the story universal and , through each person 's small , life-affirming reactions , hopeful .", "in MOV , -lsb- director -rsb- techine levels his gaze on the '80s , an era of seeming innocence , perhaps license , and one in which biological freedom has led to a loose , even sloppily knit fabric of humanity .", "andre techine is a master at taking life experiences and stripping them of sentimentality , leaving us with only the bare-bones honesty of relationships and desire .", "the film rejects the stereotypes that frequently dog gay characters , allowing them to flourish , although the female protagonists feel less fleshed out", "t\u00e9chin\u00e9 captures the changing attitudes of the times but some characters feel too peripheral ." ], "summary": "french director andr\u00e9 t\u00e9chin\u00e9 successfully weaves five gripping stories in an engaging and realistic film about the early days of the aids epidemic .", "id": "770677059" }, { "movie": "iron_man_3", "reviews": [ "the movie flies by in an entertaining flash .", "MOV is a primer on how not to handle a superhero sequel -- but paltrow 's abs look great !", "MOV is passable mindless entertainment , but even if the film grosses $ 1 billion worldwide the franchise has run its course .", "a great way to kick off the spring and summer blockbuster movie season !", "a bit like tony stark himself , `` MOV '' crackles with personality and humanity , not caring what people may think .", "black -lrb- co-writing with drew pearce -rrb- certainly has a knack for poking exposed cultural nerves . limbless war veterans , terrorist videos and a mass shooting find their way into his fantasy . no wonder iron man has ptsd .", "for half the movie , black challenges what audiences have come to expect from comic book movies and marvel movies in particular . but then in the other half , he falls back on the same-old same-old .", "let the other superheroes fret over the state of civilization , iron man just wants you to have fun and from the look of things there are no signs of rust to slow him down .", "it gives black and his co-writer drew pearce ample opportunity to showcase the natural ease with which downey creates america 's snarkiest of flawed heroes .", "by even posing questions of identity , the film creates the kind of jeopardy we can believe in , and for a superhero movie , that is an accomplishment in and of itself .", "from its anxious protagonist and the battered metal sheaths he dons to save the world to the clattering , fiery mayhem that ensues with metronomic predictability , MOV is less a movie than a final war whoop let loose before utter exhaustion sets in .", "snappy dialogue , momentarily startling plot twists and lots of stuff blowing up .", "what matters is downey 's total commitment to playing stark as a flawed , complex , but greatly gifted character .", "it would be just a special-effects-and-hardware extravaganza , with a dead-end script full of wrong turns , were it not for robert downey jr. and a game and witty cast .", "the third time 's a charmer for this marvel franchise , thanks to a clever script and , of course , its inimitable star .", "MOV follows a psychologically tormented hero who has light-hearted fun while engaging in cartoonish mayhem and uncovering corruption that reflects on contemporary politics . if that sentence sounded like a mouthful , just imagine the movie .", "a fiery extravaganza that is a collision between the comic book world and shane black 's resume of rapid fire action thrillers", "what it does it does quite well , providing a satisfying sense of escapism while reminding us that such pleasures do n't have to be saturated with overkill and completely devoid of relevance", "a generous step up from its predecessor , the various twists are n't exactly as expected , but you 'll still have fun getting there .", "packed with virtually non-stop action from start to finish , `` MOV '' is the best film in the `` iron man '' series and among the best marvel-inspired films ever", "it 's MOV 's sneaky expos\u00e9 of superhero cool -- on the outside , a wisecracking warrior ; on the inside , an anxiety-attacked guy who tries to insulate himself with arrogance -- that brings this blockbuster down to sympathetic size .", "there 's little doubt that iron man three , in its early stages , fares a whole lot better than one might 've anticipated ...", "marvel studios lets director black off the leash for this third installment , and while the result is edgier , sexier , and more dangerous than what has come before , you may not recognize tony stark as the man from the long-running comic .", "funnier and smoother , more surprising , defter at being creative while still working within the confines of the superhero formula .", "robert downey , jr. makes iron man one of the most entertaining superheroes in the marvel movie universe .", "the most mature of the `` iron man '' films by far .", "writer/director shane black ... brings sharp snarky humor and some welcome psychological depth to the iron man franchise , which faded in an exhausting second installment after the exhilarating original .", "the film 's true strength is a snappy , whip-smart wit", "black proves the perfect blacksmith , forging smart new tech and scenarios for the swaggering super-genius . if this does turn out to be downey jr. 's final solo outing , it 's a very strong exit .", "besides rehabbing a hero who overcomes anxiety to save the world and defeat the terror-industrial complex by the simple matter of cloning his body armor , the movie proves that there 's still intelligent life on planet marvel .", "delivers thrilling action , witty dialogue and genuine emotion , thanks to a cleverly crafted script , state-of-the-art special effects , strong , likeable characters and note-perfect performances .", "third entry more than lives up to the promise of the original iron man , and marks an exciting return to form for a franchise that had dipped in quality .", "-lsb- shane -rsb- black is the reason for the season and downey is his santa claus", "MOV is an decent movie that really should have been far better with this pedigree .", "downey is a brilliant actor who somehow manages to portray tony stark as traumatised without losing the character 's laidback and comedic quality .", "MOV is , perhaps by default , the best comic book superhero `` threequel '' yet .", "robert downey jr. is clearly having a blast playing a more sardonic tony stark .", "the movie works mainly due to its acting .", "MOV has good things in it , enough to please the series ' fans -- and yet too many drawbacks to win many converts .", "all in fun , the clatter and concussion of action tropes as syncopated as the dialogue .", "this new iron man movie is probably the strongest of the series . the emphasis is on flip fun all the way .", "a smirky , sardonic sensibility smuggled in by shane black is almost enough to cure these summertime blues .", "while MOV is a huge improvement over the second installment , certain story elements that rip the comics to shreds will anger many fans .", "fewer playboy antics , but still plenty of violence .", "the movie mostly cooks because of downey , who , as always , keeps up a funny , rollicking meta-commentary on the action while engaging right in the middle of it .", "a movie so block-headed , so aimlessly busy , you 'd think michael bay directed the thing . actually , that would be an upgrade .", "MOV feels like an exploitative mulching of present-day anxieties . the script is ambitious but not wise enough to be rightfully cathartic . it 's more cuisinart than art .", "the action , directed by shane black , ranges from passable to interminable .", "though MOV is a better constructed film than its predecessor , ultimately it succeeds for the same reason the first two films did -- robert downey jr. is tony stark .", "as much fun as i had while i watched it , it 's falling apart like tony stark 's armor now that i 'm putting it to the test of ... you know ... making sense . or meaning anything .", "`` MOV '' is rollicking , frenetic and whimsical , mostly because downey , jr. is given many comic lines to recite .", "that is why MOV does a very smart thing , something comic fans have always known is what makes comics great : it takes a superhero and focuses on the man .", "the movie is shrewd enough to skitter along so frenetically that nothing , not even tonal contradiction , can stick .", "whether it marks an ending , a beginning or something in between , it really does n't matter . MOV starts the summer off right .", "the action plays like a video game because , well , it may as well be .", "`` MOV '' suffers an identity crisis resembling that of the title superhero 's alter-ego , billionaire tony stark , played by robert downey jr. .", "what next ? ` iron supplement man ' ?", "the third iteration of a franchise that began so well becomes a hollow hymn to martial gadgetry . the suits and story clank in unison .", "if it were not for -lrb- robert -rrb- downey -lrb- jr. -rrb- , `` MOV '' would be a total disaster , undermined by a haphazard , disjointed and sloppy plot .", "tony still has all his fleshy angles , but his manly arsenal feels a lot smaller than it did before .", "the dialogue is a riot .", "the best entry in the franchise so far .", "often entertaining yet exhausting .", "it 's not without its payoffs ; i enjoyed a lot of it . but overall last year 's avengers delivered the bombastic goods more efficiently than this year 's marvel .", "it 's right there in the credits : we 'll be seeing more of tony stark !", "my best advice when it comes to heading out to a screening of MOV : lower your expectations .", "black still has to hit all the required superhero beats , but he does it with as much personality as he possibly can .", "after a while , the steady diet of tongue-in-cheek starts to taste monotonous as day-old gum .", "black is good at giving his heroes a morbid , self-hating edge and even better at coming up with hateable villains .", "the movie trades on the continuing marvel film universe without expanding it in any appreciable way . ultimately , you will have had enough of tony stark when this one ends and that 's not how tony would want it .", "black chooses to pump up the action to a size that makes it hard to focus the film 's actual excitement .", "with a few good jokes , another committed performance by downey and a fine one by kingsley , this is still great fun , regardless of sequelitis and whether you 're a freak-flag fanboy or not .", "just like he does with those crummy sherlock holmes movies , downey elevates this rather flimsy material with his sheer presence .", "MOV starts off great but crashes and burns in a spectacular way . we get it marvel you do n't give a crap about your comic book readers . you do n't have to constantly rub in people 's faces . horrible 3rd act .", "with great performances from robert downey jr. and ben kingsley , this superhero adventure is a blast and a thrilling kick off to the summer of 2013 .", "shane black here replaces his once-acidic spite for government and bureaucracy with a call for corporate responsibility .", "MOV is not the best marvel studios movie , but it provides plenty of fun and excitement for both iron man die-hards and newly acquired avengers fans .", "this maelstrom of violence is exhilarating , but you 'll forget about it before you reach home .", "as a modern commentary , as a piece of pop culture popcorn pizzazz , shane black has started the summer 2013 season off well .", "director shane black balances superior action and visual-effects set-pieces with passages that depend on the acting chops of the talented cast ...", "MOV is missing that old tony stark spark . not from robert downey jr. , who is still the best thing about this overblown show , with his smarter-than-thou charisma intact even while his character emotionally falls apart .", "MOV packs all the clever one-liners and tons of fun we expect , while contrasting that fun with an authentic sense of menace .", "MOV is innovative , hilarious , and crafted in the same vein of the first film . the closing act is so ridiculously good and gratifying that it 'll give you goosebumps . robert downey jr electrifies in the tony stark role yet again .", "as always in director/co-writer shane black-and this goes back to his cantaloupe-testicled actioners of the 1980 like the last boy scout : why waste energy mocking a convention that it might be better to do without in the first place ?", "yet another state-of-the-art marvel creation that strikes an entertaining balance between heart , swagger , and volume .", "shane black excels at writing witty , self-referential , pop-infused banter , and there is no actor working today who is better suited to delivering it than robert downey jr. .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- expertly melds action , comedy and drama to become the finest iron man movie yet .", "i go to the iron man films , like everyone else , for robert downey jr. . he is the series in the way that few actors , outside of sean connery as james bond or harrison ford as indiana jones , have ever been .", "-lsb- c -rsb- ould be the whip-smartest and most affecting superhero movie yet ... -lsb- shane black and robert downey jr. bring an -rsb- unexpected combination of sweetness and verve and vulnerability ...", "joss whedon gave downey plenty of knockout zingers in last summer 's avengers assemble and MOV finds the star working with another sharp-witted kindred spirit in co-writer and director shane black .", "it features some of the best moments of the trilogy , but it does feel a bit like a missed opportunity .", "this is comic book filmmaking with the emphasis very much on the `` comic '' -- and further proof that it 's possible to tell a meaty story full of high stakes action without getting weighed down by fanboy-courting descents into darkness .", "black largely acquits himself well , keeping the pace brisk , deploying a couple of modest surprises and staging a few undeniably impressive , super-sized setpieces .", "a very entertaining sequel that recaptures the fun and charm of the first film after the cacophonous excesses of iron man 2 .", "feels like a singular , fully realised entity , rather than a glorified teaser trailer for another crossover feature , and has some genuinely inspired and satisfying surprises amidst its familiar trappings .", "it embraces the universe it lives in without exploiting it or letting it weigh down the story , and offers its hero a personal , dangerous challenge without ever losing its popcorn charm .", "those who enjoy comic-book-inspired films merely for the action will find this latest attempt a solid effort . but comic book purists will have to deal with seeing less iron man and some twists that defy the accepted mythology of marvel comics .", "a surprisingly tedious checklist of shane black-isms", "a superhero in film is only as good as his villain . and that 's a critical problem for MOV .", "a clunky debut to marvel 's phase 2 .", "at this point , franchise fatigue definitely takes over .", "se tony stark faz rir com efici\u043ancia , seus momentos dram\u0431ticos soam rasos em fun\u0437\u0433o da sensa\u0437\u0433o de que estamos apenas vendo robert downey jr. interpretando robert downey jr. enquanto este vive stark .", "tony stark , as played by downey , is more than just a rich self-centered inventor . he 's stylishly glib , smart and overwhelmingly cool . downey is what makes the movie tick .", "the most memorable moments in MOV involve stark 's brief and hilarious , yet touching relationship with a young boy -lrb- ty simpkins -rrb- whose own father deserted him at 6 years old .", "does n't break any new ground or transcend its genre . but it 's still very entertaining and never boring .", "the biggest problem is a common one : tmvs , or too many villains syndrome .", "if you 're the sort of viewer for whom black 's strengths more than make up for his weaknesses , the best bits of MOV will make the lesser stuff worth forgiving -- or at least worth enduring .", "dare i say it 's the best iron man film yet ? i dare .", "iron man is starting to run out of juice . walk away and leave while on top .", "prepare to be hoodwinked , thanks to screenwriters drew pearce and shane black . black also directs this terrific ` iron man ' installment , which both exhilarates and exhausts .", "not quite as much fun as iron man the first ... but there are worse ways to welcome summer than with the low-key return of an old friend in good spirits .", "they decided to make a sort of mad james bond film ... except instead of bond , you 've got tony stark ... who , by the way , has a suit of armor .", "not as good as the first iron man film , but better than the second , this iron man sequel is a mixed bag of comedy and action , but it works well enough .", "thanks mainly to robert downey jr. 's performance , this series remains as entertaining as ever .", "the film 's army of digital artists deliver big servings of neuron-numbing spectacle . anyone who thinks that 's not important should avoid this film .", "bounds with buoyant irreverence and serious suspense . the scale is large , the payoffs larger , and the sense of fun is never too far from the angst and anguish stark endures between quips and feats of derring-do .", "while not a complete failure as visceral eye-candy , MOV substitutes schmaltz for inspiration and novelty . it 's disappointing that what appears to be the franchise 's last chapter goes out not with a bang , but with a shrug .", "just things blowing up , a great big endless boring noisy confusing nothingness given occasional zip by gwyneth paltrow in a temper .", "stupid and messy . the most beautiful woman in the world has to go . pepper must take `` happy '' with her .", "shane black 's MOV is darker , funnier , more human , and with a few unexpected twists that will annoy some diehard fans while vastly entertaining the majority of audiences .", "` MOV is one of the best entries in this modern golden age of superhero movies .", "downey is as funny as ever , if not more so . he ensures that MOV is a solid installment in the franchise , and helps to make it seem , at least for a time , that it might be something more .", "downey 's performance is impeccable . he gets that he 's not simply playing a comic book character for the fourth time but a character who is evolving .", "tony stark 's latest adventure is an enthusiastically exciting ride that never loses its humor or its edge .", "crackerjack popcorn entertainment done right , MOV is a robust example of what hollywood can do right when it puts its mind to it .", "shorter and less self-regarding than most marvel movies , MOV is every bit as zippy as we might expect from the creator of lethal weapon and kiss kiss bang bang .", "marvel 's employed a core vote strategy with this movie : it 's about keeping the audience they have rather than building on the one they 've got .", "`` MOV ' has a different feel from its predecessors , and that makes it as surprising as it is exuberant .", "black nicely gives us lighter and darker moments , all wrapped up in one satisfactory standalone iron man story ...", "a no-holds-barred if uneven epic that should satisfy most diehard fans .", "the usual winks and snarks from tony stark , but this edition feels fresher and funnier , thanks to writer - director shane black .", "shane black 's perfunctory , fatigued film will suffice for the fans who have to have their regular cinematic superhero fix , but will leave others generally unmoved .", "comic-strip superhero movies are not exactly noted for intelligence , wit or humour . MOV is the welcome exception .", "the epic action brought nerd tears to my eyes ! shane black delivers a witty , action-packed flick with great twists . see it in 2d as the 3d conversion lacks great depth !", "the `` iron man '' films turned mr. downey into a huge star , but the role has gradually , maybe inexorably , swallowed him .", "the rambunctious MOV is a briskly paced thrill ride until about 90 minutes in , when the excitement wanes . a few late-breaking surprises re-invigorate the tale , however .", "it balances massive , show-offy effects with hip knowingness and quirky human touches . it 's a comic-book world seen not from the viewpoint of a fanboy but a wiseguy adult earthling .", "`` MOV '' is definitely a big perk-up from the almost-but-not-quite-listless `` iron man 2 '' ; maybe hanging out with the avengers was a tonic for him .", "the best in this series and one of the best marvel films overall .", "the level of acting , at one time viewed as negligible in a superhero movie , is top-notch and no one seems to be mailing it in .", "it 's solidly entertaining , with downey 's roguish charm as appealing as ever .", "MOV is over-sized , ear-splitting and relentlessly intense .", "unfortunately , -lsb- its -rsb- sharp-eyed domestic comedy is dwarfed by the far less well-written supervillain crime plot that surrounds it .", "never intending to reinvent the wheel , this high flying chapter happily settles for a big splash into the wheelhouse .", "the film suggests they are still just starting to figure out what to do with this character , and i sincerely hope that the final credit of the film , ` tony stark will return , ' is not just an empty promise .", "robert downey jr. carries this superhero saga with his wit and clever improvised quips .", "MOV is an ominously exciting , shoot-the-works comic-book spectacular .", "like iron man 2 , the movie is generally engaging , occasionally dull , frequently cluttered , and recommended with only the greatest of reservations .", "i 've got 3d , but i want 4d . and 5d when it is concocted .", "iron man continues to set the bar for marvel 's solo superhero films through a combination of wit , charm and out and out entertainment .", "MOV is neither turgid nor zippy . it soars at times , and dawdles in places .", "MOV is a spectacularly fun ride . a superhero movie that is , indeed , super .", "it 's decent popcorn entertainment -- just fine for the summertime , but nothing more than that .", "i have found each of the `` iron man '' films a marked improvement over its immediate predecessor ... primarily due to the trajectory of stark 's relationship with pepper potts and the series ' more fearsome recent villains .", "a worthy addition to the vaunted marvel franchise !", "and so was born MOV , featuring the further exploits of the only superhero who is not dishwasher-safe .", "despite a somewhat slow start and occasional plot missteps , MOV ultimately soars thanks to its charismatic leading man and director shane black 's man-on-wire balancing act of humor and action .", "suffers from franchise rust .", "like the suits tony stark pilots by remote throughout the film , it feels like an empty shell , all sleek and shiny and looking the part on the surface but hollow at the core .", "the third outing for the marvel comics superhero has standout performances from robert downey jr and ben kingsley .", "an outrageously entertaining , cgi-soaked tale of foreboding that transforms into a good-natured send-up of everything that proceeded it , replete with gags galore .", "the big problems with MOV are less specific to the movie itself than they are characteristic of the hypermalaise that 's infected so many current mega-blockbusters .", "far too much of this movie - like tony 's new toys - is running on remote control .", "some eye-popping action sequences at least make this a worthy summer endeavor for movie fans , but it felt like `` MOV '' got such a big lead in the first half , it was content to run out the clock late in the game .", "watching robert downey jr play a charismatic swaggering d*ck is entertaining . watching him play an emotionally damaged swaggering d*ck is compelling . with huge laughs and hugely entertaining twists MOV is easily on of the best marvel movies", "either im3 is a marvel movie in the guise of a shane black action-comedy or the other way around . regardless , it 's an awful lot of fun .", "polished , tart and smart , MOV buffs up to an entertaining , subversive two hours that enjoys supplying rugs simply to pull them from under the audience 's expectations .", "it 's only may - or will be by the time you see it - but cinema santa came early . joy to the nerds - this movie is as good as its photoshopped posters were amateurish .", "the most interesting thing about MOV is n't the movie itself , but the return of legendary screenwriter shane black .", "it 's hard not to wish downey were sparring with his costumed comrades again , instead of trading barbs with the far-less-colorful cast members-old and new-of this busy , sporadically diverting sequel .", "the new film 's not great , but it 's consistently involving because the tonal shifts are so abrupt .", "... the best of the marvel films with its complex story , exciting action , great cast and special effects .", "it sharply fuses the humor and heart of the earlier films with a satisfyingly heavy-metal strength - and a darkness that 's more than earned .", "a clanging approximation of fun .", "`` MOV '' might not be a total bust , but it does result in one big `` meh . ''", "like the best films of this genre , much of the massive budget clearly ended up on the screen and thus diehard fans and even casual moviegoers will certainly get their money 's worth . -lrb- complete content details for parents also available -rrb-", "with superhero movies , over time the mythology gets junked up with tertiary characters and leftover storylines . tony stark & co. have taken the iron man franchise as far as it can go .", "in the annals of superhero movies , this is not the most thrilling , but it does contain two downton abbey jokes , and a stonking performance from downey .", "it 's undeniably entertaining - and worth seeing for kingsley alone - with the misfires never fully overshadowing the moments of glory .", "yeah , it 's great .", "this -lsb- tony -rsb- stark is an anonymous shadow of his former self-promoting self .", "when you are making a smart movie and end up getting dumb because `` that 's the way it has to be ... it 's a studio movie ... they need sequel options ... , '' it 's really a shame .", "the film provides more of the same and nothing startlingly innovative , but what 's here is good .", "one major sequence nearly saves the whole endeavor , but what black has here is flat and overstuffed with contrived comic book business , feeling about as heavy and immobile as stark 's famous armor .", "even though some purists may object to some of the twists and turns black and company have managed to incorporate , for me , these twists are what makes MOV standout from the pack a bit", "not the best of the three but robert downey , jr. is better than ever .", "MOV provides loads of high-flying fun thanks to the immense charisma of the quick-quipping robert downey jr. .", "with its satisfying combination of humor , action and dazzling set pieces , robert downey jr. and company provide everything fans of the franchise expect .", "in the midst of various plot threads with varying degrees of contemporary relevance , black pulls off a crazy plot twist a little more than halfway through the film that 's truly inspired and solidifies it as a comedy .", "same old tired effects to go along with more downey smugness .", "MOV displays no shortage of cocky swagger in-between - and often during - the requisite sequences of high-tech 3-d carnage .", "a lumbering half-assed attempt at self-seriousness with lots of stuff blowing up , a smattering of repartee , one excellent sequence , and a brace of uninteresting villains .", "here , it 's not the suit that makes the man ; it 's the man that makes the suit . and downey is still the star that keeps it-and this multi-million-dollar movie franchise-roaring and soaring .", "the longest film in the series by a handful of minutes , MOV certainly does n't feel like it thanks to its briskly paced screenplay and the wise decision to place some of iron man 's most heroic moments toward the end of the movie .", "watching a shane black movie is like listening to a noisy garage band , where no matter how sloppily they skronk through a verse , when they tighten up and hit that sing-along chorus , the lack of polish somehow makes it sound even better .", "a superhero movie with enough intelligence and personality that it should appeal to plenty outside its intended comic book demographic .", "shane black 's witty , daring continuation of the iron man series defies expectations at every turn , not least because it is , against all odds , a strong contender for the best marvel movie to date .", "with jon favreau , director of the previous iron man films , still around in his sidekick role as happy hogan , continuity is maintained , but black does bring his own , mostly comic chops to the saga .", "paltrow , who plays love interest pepper potts -lrb- and in a much bigger showing here -rrb- said in an interview i heard recently ... that downey improvised hugely in the first two films but stuck more to the script here . they should have let him flow .", "jokier , bloodier , and a bit winded .", "the first post-avengers phase two marvel movie hardly reinvents the wheel , but it 's the most strongly authored film we 've seen from the studio so far , and one that seemingly sees the company move into slightly different genre territory", "a worthy , quirky , entertaining follow-up to the avengers .", "fun for both fans and newbies to the comic book world , the movie may be a lengthy 129 minutes but it does n't feel like it .", "sir ben kingsley 's the mandarin is far and away the finest villain in any of the marvel films .", "there 's so much dumb stuff in `` MOV '' that i expected the credits to say , `` written and directed by thor . ''", "this is n't just the best iron man movie , it 's a recharge to the whole shared universe concept . marvel can make movies that exist together while still having unique , awesome identities of their own .", "it 's lightweight but slow , padded with cheap jokes to disguise how hollow it is .", "this installment actually flirts with satire , sending its hero-in-a-can on a vengeful mission against a mad , bearded jihadist before yanking the rug out from under the neocon story line . there are some good laughs as well .", "a fun summer movie experience , it 's a great ride that gets the season off to a hot start .", "just when superhero movies faced the danger of feeling too formulaic and conventional , along comes MOV to give the genre a much-needed kick in the spandex .", "a lighter variation on the deconstructed superhero mythology found in the dark knight rises .", "go for the thrilling action and hilarious shane black one-liners . as for a compelling story and entertaining villains ? not so much .", "a witty and rather surprising take on the superhero movie .", "MOV carries that ` morning after ' feeling former playboy tony stark is no doubt familiar with ... there are plenty of great moments , but it barely hangs together as a film .", "the third installment in the game-changing iron man trilogy takes all the hard work done by marvel studios in creating a rich , thoughtful but never po-faced cinematic universe , and turns it into a big joke .", "what 's not to like about a super-hero flick that delivers in imagination , excess , humour and star power ? humour is central to the plot but the storyline never loses sight of its commendable themes : good versus evil , integrity , loyalty and courage", "` MOV \u2032 occasionally feels a little contrived - but then , if you 're dealing with one of the best action directors around , you can expect him to draw on the style that he knows best .", "the perfect superhero movie .", "black has an instinctive feel for balancing action set-pieces against the passages of soap-opera that are required to make them matter .", "thrilling , great looking and with a refreshingly comical tone , this is everything a summer blockbuster should be .", "given that so many of today 's action films are crafted from the same mould , it was a pleasant surprise to see MOV taking a few chances and offering a few unexpected twists .", "black restores a light touch to the series , at least until the bloated finale , and puts the focus back on what has always separated this franchise from every other superhero movie : the wit and intelligence of robert downey jr. .", "a palatable entertainment ... rests on the strength of the principals", "are you sick of superheroes ? no , of course you are not , cinema audiences are lapping up any caped crusader movies . but i am , especially when tony stark is an angst ridden shambles suffering from performance anxiety . what 's so super about that ?", "yeah ... it 's good .", "we can trust in tony stark , even when he 's falling apart and ca n't trust himself .", "for anyone familiar with shane black 's work , it 's not long before a strong case of deja vu sets in .", "at times reaches `` avengers '' level of intensity , fun and exhilaration , which makes it all the more frustrating that a few missteps result in it simply being a good movie and not the post-avengers game changer it could have been .", "the real enjoyment here comes when shane black 's sensibilities take over during the middle hour .", "heartfelt and thorough yet lean and effortless , MOV is nothing short of the best marvel studios film to date and a triumph for shane black and robert downey jr. .", "black and downey put a swell spin of wit into it and , in a time of superhero saturation , take a back seat to no one in reserving marquee space for their guy . moreover , they leave you wanting more of the same , please .", "iron man loses his clothes more often than a kardsashian .", "downey is in fine comic form , especially when he 's sparring with young simpkins , who thankfully throttles back on the precociousness .", "MOV avoids fantasy in favor of a hefty helping of pulp fiction . the setup makes way for downey , jr. 's best work in the franchise .", "-lsb- black -rsb- strikes a tone of pseudo-edgy frat-boy black comedy that 's so retro it 's almost charming .", "pepper has always been what grounded tony , what connected him to reality . MOV ultimately disconnects pepper from reality ... whether or not tony deserves better , pepper certainly does .", "not only is `` MOV '' the best of the trilogy , it 's the best marvel film yet . yes , even better than last summer 's uber-blockbuster `` the avengers . ''", "the heavy metal action could never sink the irrepressible downey , but it weighs down the otherwise light joy of `` MOV . ''", "this film resembles its protagonist tony stark : its overblown , convoluted and seemingly disconnected to anything that has come before it .", "exciting and hugely entertaining , it 's an eye-popping spectacle with suprisingly clever , whimsical dialogue and wisecracking one-liners .", "surprisingly surprising ...", "the energy bleeds out of the film ; it 's as if the producers were scared the crowd would riot over not enough digital fakeness .", "MOV is n't a blockbuster , it 's a blandbuster -- boring and safe and riddled with plot holes and filled with product placement .", "to use a recondite term in professional film criticism : whoo-hoo !", "MOV is the marvel film-verse breaking new ground , and it 's easily the best of the trilogy .", "the iron mans have always innately had the superhero secret formula ... but this instalment is even funnier and more thrillingly action-packed than its predecessors .", "downey is at his superhero genius best here , rattling off dialogue both clever and boilerplate with non-repetitive aplomb .", "a summer blockbuster that , in this era of saturating trailers and set-piece spoiling tv spots , genuinely takes you by surprise .", "MOV blasts it way onto the big screen with just the right blend of explosions , banter , bullets and superhero shenanigans to prove that there is still plenty of life left in this metallic hero .", "thanks to director shane black -lrb- who also co-wrote the script with drew pearce -rrb- , it 's a film that rejuvenates the franchise while having some fun with superhero convention into the bargain .", "all in all , it 's an enjoyable third instalment that keeps the marvel juggernaut on the road ... and also underlines who 's the real -lrb- metal -rrb- star .", "funny , twisty and thrilling , this is shellhead 's most entertaining solo flight to date .", "by the time innumerable suits of armor were flying through the air , instantly assembling and disassembling themselves around tony stark while he was running and jumping , i was worn out . but the ride up to then had been a jolt of continuous pleasure .", "a shrug of a film ... that has the diminutive stature of a dvd extra .", "one of the great surprises of the movie is kingsley 's turn as the bin laden-ish bad guy , hamming it up and giving stark a reality check on who 's to blame for all this .", "the stunts are spectacular and the suits - whether flying or fighting - are terrific , while the humans add an edginess to the always fast-paced proceedings . the adults are , as you would expect , well oiled and seamless in their roles", "for the second year in a row , marvel is starting the summer off with a bang . let the blockbusters begin , and let 's see if they can top this .", "it 's a confidently tongue-in-cheek piece of blockbuster engineering , sweetly calibrated to downey 's cavalier appeal and to kingsley 's oddball interjections .", "but for all the clanking armies of iron knights on display to dazzle the eager kid in each of us , this summer epic rings hollow . there 's no one home inside the suit .", "the best scenes are when stark just cuts impatiently through the claptrap .", "changing the writer and director for this third iron man movie turns out to be the best thing that could have happened , because shane black is a much more focussed filmmaker , and he gives this franchise a badly needed kick .", "it 's nothing but a collection of superhero clich\u00e9s made marginally palatable by robert downey jr. 's endless charm and charisma .", "the way black surrenders the movie 's edginess to the generic onslaught of flashy visuals is a mild disappointment .", "the finale is explosive , but iron man has some rusty patches too", "this may be the lightest , most entertaining cinematic exploration of post-traumatic stress disorder yet .", "features an interesting , angst-ridden psychological sub-text rarely found in blockbuster films .", "iron hot with action", "terrorist and anxiety attacks prove equally dismaying to marvel 's ` man in a can ' in this witty , satisfying sequel .", "the elements that were once daring are starting to feel statistically approved - and tired .", "a regression in the usual strong work from marvel studios , MOV suffers from director shane black 's mishandling of this popular superhero character .", "it 's the funniest superhero film , and it does n't feel like it 's pandering . that 's the power of downey , jr. and now shane black .", "... best iron man yet thanks to shane black , who pushes characterization , clever plot twists , not computer effects ... downey , for a change , drops his guard , shows the heart beneath the armor", "the trouble is that , as the plot quickens , any cleverness withdraws , to make way for the firecrackers of the climax . that is not black 's forte , and his movie duly slumps into a mess .", "MOV is like taking a helter skelter ride through a kaleidoscope of visual effects and emotions - bumpy , bright , dazzling and confusing in equal measure ...", "MOV manages to rise above its naked ambitions thanks to ... robert downey jr. 's sly charm ... and ben kingsley 's too-short and ... hilarious turn as the villainous mandarin , a clever update on the comic-book character created in the '60s .", "it has the flash and quips to be a good time , if not the heart to be great .", "the first film might have been able to get by on charm alone , but the mechanical feeling of this entry will more than likely leave you cold and indifferent .", "superhero movies just do n't get better than this .", "if you have no investment in the larger marvel movie universe , it could very well stand as the most accessible , easy-to-enjoy iron man movie .", "like most franchise sequels it goes overboard with supporting characters , plot complications and let 's - top-that action sequences . but there 's never any real sense of drama .", "if you keep your expectations realistic , MOV will not disappoint . it 's a great popcorn movie and a perfect way to start off the summer movie season !", "as compared to the overwrought , too-many-irons-in-the-fire second installment , MOV proves its metal , oops , mettle , once again .", "dark , gloomy , chaotic and basically misanthrophic ... iron man in dark knight territory .", "MOV defies typical third-chapter drop-off and makes it clear that the franchise is in good hands with its new director ." ], "summary": "with the help of its charismatic lead , some impressive action sequences , and even a few surprises , MOV is a witty , entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the marvel canon .", "id": "771217285" }, { "movie": "manderlay", "reviews": [ "... extraordinarily dull ...", "it does n't matter if these ideals are right or wrong ; von trier is a master of challenging an audience ... he reminds us how to use that piece of meat found within our skull .", "MOV is n't as powerful or as intense as dogville , but it is still an intriguing and entertaining film , thanks to bryce dallas howard 's performance and john hurt 's hugely enjoyable narration .", "a slow-burning , deeply disturbing fable that needs to be seen and discussed", "lesser than dogville -lrb- then again , what is n't ? -rrb- , but still one of the best films of the year .", "tastes like cough syrup ; we may not like what we see but we really need to see it", "-lsb- von trier 's -rsb- most streamlined and subversive provocation to date ... be wary of any critic who attacks the filmmaker instead of addressing the film itself .", "with `` MOV , '' lars von trier has finally lost me . he has made an avid fan feel tired and abused .", "a victim of its own coolly artificial aesthetic .", "-lsb- von trier -rsb- has imbued the material with enough dramatic power and relevance that despite its many flaws , it is still essential viewing .", "unstintingly raw and cynical .", "dig that freaky symbolism !", "watching this film is an edifying but frustrating experience ; dull in parts , amusing and illuminating in others . you 'd still struggle to call it entertainment .", "... an anti-american rant that tediously plays out as a misplaced lecture by the pretentious filmmaker .", "the audience 's familiarity with the stylistic devices of MOV should allow the film 's more reflective screenplay to shine through .", "i was intrigued by the intensity and audaciousness of dogville , but MOV feels stagey , earnest , long and pretentious . its grainy , shaky hand-held camera-work only adds to the monotony .", "MOV loses in power what it lacks in novelty , even though it 's more relevant than anything the year is likely to bring .", "MOV is shorter but just as dull , pretentious and condescending as dogville .", "if von trier ca n't be bothered to get out more , he should at least consider picking up a book or just using some real imagination .", "picks at the painful sores of america 's racial legacy while withholding the brotherhood-of-man epiphanies that made the oscar-validated ` crash ' a healing experience for many moviegoers ...", "those eager to lap up what the dogmatic one has to say will readily do so .", "american filmmakers , novelists and artists of all stripes have dealt the perplexing issue of race relations for decades , even centuries . nothing von trier presents here , whether real or imagined , is fresh or new .", "von trier upends the accepted dialogue on race , pushing past stereotypes and correctness .", "the filmmaker uses dogville 's formal devices to lesser effect and his boredom is contagious .", "lars von trier 's second of three proposed films about america being stupid is much shorter , has a much higher body count , and more sex than the first did .", "massive walkouts in toronto . no wonder .", "alabama , 1933-during which time von trier uses the existence of slavery 70 years after its abolition as a metaphor for america 's ongoing treatment of its black underclassman .", "a morally provocative meditation on race in america and the troubles that can come when democracy and freedom are crammed down the throats of others .", "the film 's conceits grow thin and von trier 's mocking , hectoring tone tiresome .", "deadly slow and repetitious .", "MOV certainly has its fair share of sanctimony and the familiarity of old school psychological racial conflict but it effectively works on the hungry psyche .", "dubious intentions aside , MOV is an engrossing piece of art-house cinema , relying heavily on talent to make its points .", "whether we like it or not , von trier 's arguments have a universal social insight that would be detrimental to ignore . there 's always value in seeing something from another 's perspective .", "set in alabama in 1933 , the movie lays out an excoriating examination of the legacy of slavery in the united states .", "another ridiculous anti-american screed by the minimalist danish director lars von trier , who has never set foot in this country .", "if dogville offered up a ham-fisted critique of ` america ' from a plane-phobic dane who 's never visited the place , MOV ups the arrogance ante by bonking us on the head with supposedly searing ` truths ' ...", "as clumsy and ham-fisted as the movie 's narrative process may be , its conclusion , however mordant or unforgiving , ca n't quite be shaken off so easily .", "controversy comes as naturally to danish director lars von trier as breathing , and he 'll use any means to achieve his goal .", "a slightly more ponderous - if less dramatically satisfying - example of a von trier puppet show .", "this great dane backs up his satiric bark with a vicious bite .", "-lsb- it -rsb- raises interesting questions about what can happen in a democracy when its people are deeply corrupt . ... but likely to be more disheartened than enlightened .", "if this trilogy finishes up strong , this middle portion may come to be seen as the weakest , though it 's still forceful and intimate in the von trier manner .", "it does n't offer much insight into america 's race issues , which might seem at first to be its target , but it works very well as a metaphor for america 's intervention in iraq .", "`` MOV '' shows von trier learning from that film 's stylistic mistakes to make an ambitious and thought-provoking allegory about the ways in which `` slavery '' in america was never truly abolished , but rather converted to a different condition of capitalis", "a superior entry to `` dogville . ''", "the second installment in lars von trier 's trilogy , usa : land of opprtunity , is a maor disappointment", "relying on a daring script as executed by a-list actors , offers a potentially transformational experience for any inclined to contemplate an introspective , gut-wrenching meditation on the intractability of the legacy of slavery .", "MOV is an intellectually invigorating analysis of race , class , power and democracy , all while remaining a thoroughly enjoyable -lrb- if harrowing -rrb- film .", "one should be happy to learn `` MOV '' is better than `` dogville , '' if only because it is forty-five minutes shorter .", "it may be that the director has overreached in MOV by trying to deal with racial conflicts in an excessively abstract manner .", "von trier 's obvious bigotry towards the u.s. and the significantly weaker cast makes his revolutionary ideas a harder sell the second time around .", "von trier 's hand is n't as sure in MOV as it was in dogville . his film exasperates and illuminates in equal measure . but no film addict will want to miss his cinematic brilliance .", "i was with him 99 % , but the stupid last-minute usa bashing -lsb- ticked -rsb- me off .", "among the boldest and most original movies in recent release .", "if you liked `` dogville , '' you wo n't want to miss this danish cake of minimalism .", "the most self-important , heavy-handed film since ... well , since dogville .", "MOV , like its predecessor dogville , is a very interesting flawed picture , though both films have very different weaknesses and strengths .", "um belo filme , sem d\u00favida alguma , mas que empalidece frente ao seu antecessor ao tentar igualar-se como discurso sociol\u00f3gico .", "some will see MOV as thought-provoking and representative of the way the rest of the world sees us . if that 's the case , then we 're really in trouble .", "the crucial difference between MOV and the almost unbearable dogville is not that his politics have changed , but that his sense of mercy for the audience has been awakened .", "von trier may not be completely right , but he certainly is n't all wrong .", "this is not lars von trier at his best .", "von trier ... has delivered something so woefully misguided that he 's flirting with something a gleeful , provocative filmmaker most fears : irrelevance .", "another spare , tiresome , pretentious yet simple-minded anti-american diatribe from danish dogma-tist lars von trier ... stale , arid polemic .", "it lacks the thrillingly nuts , outlandish quality of the original , but is also quite a bit more pointed and focused .", "even the basic look of the film -- it was filmed on a stage with every shot set against a bleak , dark backdrop -- underscores the filmmaker 's position as master manipulator , in a laboratory , looking down at his mice running through his maze .", "it is without exaggeration one of the most blindingly boring films i 've seen in years .", "strong enough to interest those who appreciated dogville , but only just ... had more inherent drama in the news reports of john reilly 's cast defection in protest to von trier 's mule killing", "i am glad that -lsb- von trier -rsb- exists , to decry our sins , but , with another sequel to come -lrb- MOV is the centerpiece of a trilogy -rrb- , i am even gladder that he is one of a kind .", "von trier , there 's no doubt about it , has become a taxidermist of america 's sins , but the way he puts those sins on display only to thumb his nose at them marks him as a new style of prankster-hypocrite .", "MOV is pompously didactic from the first of its 133 long minutes -- a harsh and endlessly schematic morality tale in which diatribe is mistaken for story .", "thanks , lars , for a bad movie we ca n't just totally dismiss .", "it 's a visually arresting and intermittently compelling parable about racism and self-determinism that 's ultimately too arch and pedantic for its own good .", "this is clearly an allegory of the war in iraq , pining for the days of saddam , or maybe even hitler , is what seems to be going on here .", "it 's true , of course , that trier still has n't set foot on u.s. soil , but it may be that he sees us , in all our virtue and victimhood , that much more clearly for it .", "the movie 's considerably enveloping success lies in the disarming fashion in which it mixes stark artificiality and naturalism , as well as , eventually , in its marked lack of a hero or heroine .", "it can become tiresome to watch von trier bash the united states while realizing that he does n't have a full understanding of what he 's attacking .", "there 's nothing derivative about von trier 's telling , style and ultimate effect .", "this already controversial drama is yet another anti-american screed from danish filmmaker lars von trier , who 's become more than a little tiresome with all his cinematic bashing of the united states and its political policies .", "the -lsb- plot -rsb- degenerates as quickly as von trier 's crude allegory of u.s. foreign policy ... and the pretentiously vacuous our town-like staging .", "rude , smarmy and sickly hilarious , MOV has a little something to offend everyone ... and i would n't have it any other way .", "not necessarily as pertinent as it attempts to be .", "shocking usage of racial epithets and images of 20th-century slavery do their part to mess with your head . von trier is an intelligent and capable filmmaker , and he presents some fascinating thoughts and questions in his bitter , accusatory satire . problem", "a film with plenty of interesting things to say but an exhausting way of saying them .", "von trier takes minimalism to its most minimalist extreme . the format was intriguing in its originality in dogville . i 'm already tired of it .", "shows that -lsb- von trier 's -rsb- ideological bullying has run its course .", "MOV is a misfire , but a misfire from von trier is still more interesting than a blandly successful hollywood product .", "the unusual von trier film whose formalism is worn lightly , whose performances impress without wearing on the nerves , and whose ethical standpoint is plain for all to observe", "von trier does n't seem as clear on the message he wants to convey in MOV , even though he says it as loud as he can .", "the trouble is the angrier it gets , the more infuriatingly banal it becomes .", "-lsb- von trier -rsb- ratchets up the anti-american sentiment significantly here , but it 's all hot air with very little substance , even more so than its predecessor .", "whereas dogville was a slippery , challenging and ultimately brutal masterpiece , MOV is looser , messier , less serious and ultimately far less effective .", "it 's a movie with more surprising things to say than most about racism past and present .", "there 's a troubling sense that von trier is simply going through the motions .", "MOV is both more coherent and more obvious than dogville , which lacked the clean narrative drive of the new film .", "there are any number of ways to read MOV ...", "... an absurdist comedy with a deadpan delivery and run through with the very hypocrisy that von trier mercilessly ridicules .", "MOV comes off as little more than a droning , embittered curiosity ." ], "summary": "MOV may work better as a political statement than as a film , making its points at the expense of telling a compelling story .", "id": "8325234" }, { "movie": "1158179-devil_and_daniel_johnston", "reviews": [ "this astonishingly well-made movie stubbornly refuses to ask some important questions . are we watching mental illness as performance art ?", "a searing , compassionate portrait of chronic mental illness .", "... an uncomfortably fascinating document of a man whose bipolar disorder and artistic ambitions are inextricably connected .", "devil leads us into that dark , uncharted valley where evil , genius , divine inspiration , insanity -- and other unfathomable mysteries -- commingle .", "you do n't need to be einstein to know that not all geniuses are mad . more to the relative point , not all madmen are geniuses .", "there 's no question johnston is an intriguing person . or that , based on the treasure trove of illuminating or baffling or maddening footage assembled here into a stylishly messy whole , he remains a work in progress .", "might not convince you that daniel johnston is a great artist , but it does persuade you that he 's a fascinating case study .", "an inspired piece of work by someone who knows and admires mr. johnston but does n't cover up the warts . it 's also the rare documentary possessed with an artistry that transcends its subject .", "perhaps feuerzeig wanted to get away from the stereotypical ` talking head ' interview , but by having the subject stop periodically to rinse and spit ?", "it 's little more than a decently-compiled , fan-inspired research project as opposed to something organically resonant or artful .", "a sad , occasionally funny but ultimately merely mildly interesting film .", "really well done .", "johnston gets his own documentary", "jeff feuerzeig , who won the best director award at sundance 2005 for this film , has started with a subject who has filmed himself and been filmed by others for more than 20 years .", "feuerzeig recounts it all with clear-eyed candor , turning to johnston 's battered friends and family for insight and empathy and to johnston 's tapes and drawings for an inside look at his illness .", "johnston 's obsession with self-documenting his life by means of amateur films and tape recordings has yielded a wealth of material from which feuerzeig has fashioned an often fascinating portrait .", "this stunningly powerful tale gets you in its grip and does n't let go .", "it 's an excruciating yet fascinating journey through the life of a very intriguing , yet very ill person .", "johnston 's fringe existence may not speak to the most universal of truths , but the man certainly is n't cut from a cookie-cutter mold .", "regardless of how you feel about johnston 's art , the MOV is worth seeing as a poignant portrait of a troubled life , still in the making .", "demonic and riveting , but i 'm still not a fan .", "heartbreaking , funny and inspirational , in equal measure - it 'll also make you want to buy at least one daniel johnston album and you 'll probably find yourself singing casper the friendly ghost for the rest of the day .", "feuerzeig focuses his attention not just on johnston but on his friends ... who had to clean up the messes left after johnston 's episodes .", "the nature and sound of johnston 's music is an acquired taste , and that also goes for director jeff feuerzeig 's documentary -- though the film is intelligent and approaches the various mental-health issues addressed here in a sensitive manner .", "a documentary with all the suspense , comedy , pathos and surprise of a great narrative film ...", "`` i think he was having fun teasing me . what do you think ? '' daniel johnston 's mother and father are still trying to figure out their perplexing child , even now , when he 's 44 years old .", "at the end of the day , johnston 's childlike stream of unrequited love landed him on mtv , atlantic records , and now a feature-length theatrical recounting of his life . take that , satan .", "you would n't want to be daniel johnston , or even know him too well . but see this film and you wo n't forget him .", "i found the documentary surprisingly diverting as a case study .", "though feuerzeig 's film is n't quite successful at underlining what exactly it is about johnston 's childlike art that makes him so appealing , the documentary works superbly at proving johnston is insane .", "even if you ca n't get into johnston 's music -lrb- count me in that group -rrb- , this is to be filed under `` must-see . ''", "a compelling and obsessive humanization of american eccentricity .", "despite the overstating of his artistic case , i still found jeff feuerzeig 's film account incredibly compelling , in a freaky , ca n't - help - but-stare-at-the - roadside-accident kind of way .", "like capturing the friedmans , devil is loaded with revealing footage , rife with psychodrama , including a creepy home movie in which the teenage johnston plays himself and his overbearing mother .", "johnston 's music has touched many ; his story deserves to reach far , far more .", "the troubled singer-songwriter daniel johnston is the subject of an entertaining documentary .", "rock 'n' roll 's capacity for recycling legend means the stories of johnston 's life , and the way in which they 're told , could easily fall into clich\u00e9 . instead they are original , engrossing and sometimes heartbreaking .", "as a demonstration of how to put a life on screen , it is exemplary in its thoroughness and willingness to allow a multiplicity of views .", "feuerzeig was able to fashion such a thorough , engaging film partly because aficionados such as lee renaldo of sonic youth shot so much footage of johnston performing and acting out .", "this well-done documentary will explain why johnston has never been able to rise above cult status ...", "to share feuerzeig 's loving investigation is to share an insightful study of the destructive and creative capabilities of the mind .", "occasionally slides into a breathless fan tribute , but nonetheless an affectionate and candid portrait of a troubled artist .", "returns repeatedly to the tangled relationship between hipsters and the out-of-control oddballs they enable .", "why he keeps being a called a ` musical genius ' in the film is something my ears could never understand .", "it 's the way feuerzeig walks with him on the line between creativity and madness that digs this haunting and hypnotic film into your memory .", "-lsb- johnston 's -rsb- story opens a window on the nature of art and the power of myth .", "the romantic cliche that all artists are a little bit mad is put through its paces -lrb- if never seriously questioned -rrb- in this documentary about the musician daniel johnston .", "i ca n't tell if the movie means to leave us somewhat hopeful or utterly devastated by the way god treats his own geniuses .", "johnston 's story may seem like another '80s cultural footnote , but just when you think ... you 've seen it all , another fascinating chapter in his eventful life comes along .", "director jeff feuerzeig , extensively utilizing home movies , chronicles the eerie and oddly inspiring story of johnston 's ongoing battles to survive -- both as artist and human being .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- may be a paean to a lost ` genius , ' but it is also a gritty , involving , warts-and-all tale of celebrity and psychosis that leaves a likely unanswerable question : were the naive songs of johnston 's youth a window into his soul , or his disease ?", "this mesmerizing documentary about the cult musician -lrb- his enthusiastic fans include indie-rock royalty like sonic youth -rrb- will do more to sway the uninitiated to johnston 's side than away from it .", "the MOV is an unflinching yet loving look at the outsider musician 's life . it 's also the most revealing look at genius and mental illness since terry zwigoff 's 1994 documentary crumb .", "... a haunting portrait of an artist walking on the edge , that shows his pain in a very real way .", "a haunting , frequently unsettling documentary about the blurry line between madness and genius .", "regardless of whether you like daniel johnston 's music or , indeed , whether you can even tolerate it , johnston is an undeniably riveting documentary subject", "while a bit draggy in places , the film nonetheless holds up quite well as an enjoyable biopic of a underground musical madman . the `` genius '' moniker does get dangled a bit too often , there 's certainly enough beauty and power in daniel jonston 's music to su", "while the movie is interesting as a curiosity , it ultimately reflects on the people who erroneously believe in the heightened quality of johnston 's overrated music .", "resembles crumb in its depiction of damaged souls whose only refuge is art .", "riveting even when it borders on the hagiographic .", "a fascinating look at this epically tortured artist .", "a paean to the artist as a tortured genius . i ca n't deny that johnston has the tortured part down pat . it 's the genius part i 'm having trouble accepting .", "`` the MOV '' is really something special , avoiding easy answers , skirting the expected cliches , drawing us deeper into the life of a fascinating and complex man .", "what makes devil fascinating is the harrowing arc of johnston 's life . this is a story of youthful promise undermined by horrendous mental illness .", "feuerzeig 's kaleidoscopic film is the perfect frame for daniel johnston 's odd world .", "by far the best film of this first half of 2006 .", "... works as a biographical sketch of the artist as madman and as a meditation on the prerogatives of genius .", "a heartbreaking , yet strangely uplifting and inspirational , exploration of the fine line between genius and madness , and how sometimes , one becomes impossible to discern from the other .", "touching , funny and sad .", "there 's something truly illuminating in the telling of daniel johnston 's story and his painful struggle with bipolar disorder .", "since johnston was prolific and a pack rat , director jeff feuerzeig had access to a life 's worth of audio recordings , short films and animation dating back to the formative equivalent of the refrigerator art of johnston 's childhood .", "both riveting and disturbing to watch .", "the MOV is a movie about a man whose demons live with him always , but who has somehow found a way of speaking that can still be heard above the din in his head .", "the film is virtually overflowing with truly memorable scenes of great humor , pain , and inspiration .", "the MOV is a fascinating and lovingly crafted musical documentary that nevertheless misunderstands its own subject .", "the MOV is undoubtedly the best movie anyone could have made about this unwitting practitioner of ` outsider ' art .", "the documentary holds no illusions about insanity as a career move ; there 's a whiff of the freak show in johnston 's latter-day concerts but never in feuerzeig 's approach .", "thornberry , a friend of johnston , reminds us that we can appreciate the van goughs and virginia wolffs of the world , but it 's hard to romanticize mental illness when we are forced to personally deal with the realities of broken bones , hospitals , and pain .", "i viewed this as an outsider to his subculture and the film offered me little .", "daniel johnson 's ` musical genius ' is overblown . his only similarity to brian wilson is his mental illness , which is the true focus of this fascinating documentary .", "brilliantly illustrates how johnston 's innate musical genius was virtually inseparable from his illness .", "pic is particularly well-crafted , managing to avoid the ambulance-chasing tenor that might easily have turned this into a voyeuristic freakshow .", "a delicious character study that attracts and repels .", "feuerzeig tells the story of johnston 's journey from artistically inspired but domestically and socially challenged teen to singer-songwriter to full-blown manic depressive with a great deal of resourcefulness and wit .", "an inside look at the weird world of the cult hero of grunge rock who is , well , weird .", "while feuerzeig 's film works as a discourse on the links between art and mental illness , his subject remains a head-scratcher ... daniel johnston is obviously a legend in his own mind , but how did he garner musical legends as his fans ?", "whether johnston is a genius or a wonderful anomaly remains to be seen , but director jeff feuerzeig has stitched together a detailed portrait of the artist 's life and music that is never less than compelling .", "feuerzeig 's film is as good a portrait of the artist as a beloved basket case as you 'll see , but it 's kept from greatness by the questions it refuses to ask itself .", "the combination of daniel 's personal life and professional career makes for interesting viewing for the first 80 minutes .", "... shows just how easily hype and gossip can dupe a public hungry for anything new .", "it does n't condescend -lsb- to johnston -rsb- , it does n't exploit him . it just tells us about his life .", "an amazing , mind-boggling , disturbing , hilarious , and utterly moving and unforgettable film experience", "as for the serious fans of his work , well , maybe i 'm not getting something , but they seem like the craziest people in the movie .", "devil turns out to be too indulgent and worshipful a film to justify its length -lrb- one hour and 50 minutes , including an interminable section on johnston in high school -rrb- , much less hold our attention for the duration .", "everything a good documentary should be .", "feuerzeig paints a loving portrait of the up-and-down life of the troubled 45-year-old -- sort of a poor man 's brian wilson .", "while the insane details of manic-depressive pop savant daniel johnston 's troubled life make for gripping viewing , the best thing about jeff feuerzeig 's excellent documentary is his refusal to romanticize johnston 's mental illness .", "as its title suggests , the picture is something of a ballad , an ode to an elusive character who 's both quintessentially human and so outlandish he almost seems unreal .", "not so much about music per se , as about the fearfully thin line separating man from madness or , in johnston 's vision , from satan .", "if johnston is joe buck , feuerzeig is his rambling , audacious enrico rizzo .", "` the MOV ' is a documentary that will haunt you all the way home , and into the night .", "the cinematography and editing are often far more creative than the aptly utilitarian work frequently found in biographical documentaries ..." ], "summary": "whether you think this mentally ill cult musician is worthy of being called a `` genius , '' this document of his life is crafted with sincere respect and is fascinating to watch .", "id": "133759692" }, { "movie": "le_passe", "reviews": [ "the past is a compelling mystery tale wrapped in a riveting family drama , with the death throes of a marriage cloaking deeper , fouler things .", "drama for the intelligent filmgoer", "a morally complex mystery , without a detective to stand outside the drama and identify the one truly guilty party .", "as the dark-haired , hot-headed beauty at the center of the action , bejo is a radiant , riveting mystery .", "while not as powerful as -lsb- a separation -rsb- , the past nevertheless is a fascinating , slow-burn depiction of a relationship in crisis .", "while a lot of what farhadi holds up his sleeve is rooted in soap opera , it plays very much like a horror picture , as ghosts from the recent and distant past continue to reveal themselves in shocking fashion .", "iranian writer-director asghar farhadi creates detailed characters in distinctive circumstances , bypassing script cliches of domestic tension .", "quite simply , a superb soap opera , but no more than that .", "sensible and restrained , full of drama but not with histrionics .", "an intense , engrossing melodrama that compassionately unravels the conplex tapestry of contemporary family life .", "the authenticity of the dialogue and the performances gives the material a universal resonance without resorting to cheap sentimentality or happy endings .", "-lsb- `` the past '' -rsb- is not for all tastes but does give a view into the life of mixed cultures trying to make sense of things .", "`` the past '' has something important and powerful to say about the past . it does n't shape or haunt the present . in a sense , farhadi suggests , they exist alongside each other .", "an impeccable work that moves forward steadily and without much dynamic modulation , it 's a movie not for people who want to escape the world but for those who want to understand it better .", "even with a bit of dramaturgical clunkiness `` the past '' is fluid , intimate cinema .", "the push to climax the feature on a note of revelation feels forced , slathered on a film that 's just fine simmering with the family , picking up on nuanced emotions and overdue outbursts .", "unlike most films , farhadi 's do not pretend to have all the answers . his approach to creating stories seems to be : here 's a difficult situation for a bunch of people , and now , let 's observe as they try to figure it out .", "one of the best films of the season , with remarkable dramatic performances .", "a wrenchingly intimate tale of lives torn asunder by forces within and without them .", "even in its measured pacing , the film easily commands attention .", "it 's as if farhadi became too depressed by his own cynicism to keep the drama humming . the movie turns into a dour demonstration of missed connections .", "asghar farhadi tries to unravel tangled emotional connections and disconnections in no less than two broken households in this highly theatrical movie .", "not just deserving of an oscar for best foreign film of 2013 -lrb- iran 's official nominee -rrb- but best picture -- period .", "well-acted , captivating , nuanced and emotionally resonating . not a single moment rings false . one the best films of the year .", "the emotional stakes are large-scale , and farhadi honors them by delving into their intricacies . all the characters in this movie , including marie 's sullen eldest teenage daughter -lrb- beautifully played by pauline burlet -rrb- , are given their due .", "`` the past '' makes conventional movies feel artificial . watching the characters interact in this movie feels like `` here is real life , '' and real life just happens to be strangely compelling .", "there are so many twists and turns as one revelation after another reshapes the truth that `` the past '' begins to feel contrived , like an art house soap opera .", "with patient sensitivity , farhadi expertly elicits sympathy , followed by empathy , for each character , almost in turns , to resist misguiding the audience to easy answers .", "asghar farhadi 's involving , sensitive and suspenseful ` whydunit ' is a better detective story than most .", "there are no good guys or bad guys in the film -- just real people with real flaws .", "almost hypnotically compelling , spinning an intricate web of predicaments , emotional reactions and resolutions in a domestic drama that leaves the viewer reeling by its conclusion .", "the narrative complications can be distracting , at times exasperating , but they 're finally irrelevant because mr. farhadi 's filmmaking is so fluid , and the performers , ms. bejo , in particular , are so attractive .", "effectively grapples with the precarious minefield that is the mind .", "if `` the past '' does n't equal the masterpiece that preceded it , it 's still an exceptional film from a man who is clearly one of the best working directors .", "like his award-winning drama a separation , this french drama from iranian filmmaker asghar farhadi is packed with complex characters who have detailed , full lives .", "writer-director asghar farhad works so well with his actors that everything seems genuine and naturalistic , even the scenes involving young children .", "` the past ' is more enriching to piece together in your head after than it is while in front of you .", "-lsb- a -rsb- brilliantly mounted drama concerning fracturing families , hidden motives and the difficulties of attaining stability in a rapidly changing world .", "what a grippingly made picture it is , with real intellectual sinew ...", "wonderfully shot , though without obvious or intrusive artifice , and it relies on both strong characters and a twisting , entertaining plot to keep the interest mostly pricked .", "there is so much that farhadi and his latest film does right , and does well ... mature and real in a way that dramas rarely aspire too , the past posits that sometimes the only way to move on from where you 've been , is to turn around and face it", "if `` the past '' is perhaps not the same level of masterwork as `` a separation , '' it 's still the work of a master .", "... at its best when there 's less going on .", "the layers have layers in mr. farhadi 's narratives . the title itself is layered with irony ; the past is never past , but always shaping the present .", "writer-director asghar farhadi 's follow-up to the oscar-winning a separation is an intensely gripping emotional drama with a superb script and a trio of terrific central performances from berenice bejo , tahar rahim and ali mossaffa .", "tahar rahim and b\u00e9r\u00e9nice bejo are on top form in this immaculate study of marital disharmony .", "the acting is good but it plays like an upscale soap opera , without any emotional payoff .", "another stunning drama that confirms farhadi 's artistic preeminence in making films that are simultaneously intimate psychological portraits of interpersonal conflict and detailed , nerve-wracking mysteries", "farhadi loosens the valve on a drip-feed of revelations , each one changing any assumptions prompted by the last .", "the film finally feels centreless , stateless , even a little cold : like the first work of an artist in exile .", "if you can possibly imagine an extremely superior episode of eastenders , lasting more than two hours and in french , then you will have some idea of what the past is like .", "farhadi weaves a very sticky web with more than a few ragged edges , but even if the characters -lrb- and more precisely , their actions -rrb- are n't easy to relate to , they are compelling .", "farhadi uses grace and fluidity to tell a story in which no one is quite innocent .", "this is an exquisitely made film which probes away at the rawest , most intimate emotions of its characters with a delicacy and insight reminiscent of krzysztof kieslowski in his prime .", "the machinations fester and ravel in a plot-driven film that , for all its references to detergents , never lapses into soap opera .", "farhadi ably acquits himself with a somewhat overlong but largely absorbing depiction of family turmoil .", "the past further showcases farhadi 's dexterity as a dramatist of uncommon perspicacity and fairness .", "you never feel like you 're in the hands of anyone less than a master storyteller .", "the past has all the strengths of a good play-incisive dialogue , effortlessly natural performances , close-quarters intimacy , and a rich sense of themes and intent-so it 's little wonder that farhadi 's background is that of a playwright .", "the pile-up of twists and red herrings is slightly arbitrary , but farhadi 's sense of pacing is superb , and he has a genuine feel for the way our personal histories entangle us .", "a great novelist-as-filmmaker , farhadi has written another mystery where every plot detail counts , beginning simply and innocuously enough .", "farhadi reveals the discord via the children , in a clear allusion to the legacy of generations who ca n't get things right .", "a mesmerically assured piece of filmmaking , crammed with performances as raw as steak tartare .", "saying it 's not a better work than a separation serves only to compliment a separation . the past is note-perfect .", "there are only so many spats that you can sit through before you realise it 's difficult to care for the outcome , no matter how twisted it is .", "audiences who invest themselves in faradi 's story may feel shortchanged by the writer-director 's ambiguous ending . that does n't stop him from being a modern master of realism .", "comes dangerously close to perpetuating rational man/hysterical woman stereotypes .", "a bold , honest film about family life that showcases a terrifically unpeppy turn from bejo .", "a remarkably grounded french-iranian drama about a broken family trying to mend ; unexpectedly riveting , thanks in part to one of 2013 's best ensembles .", "in the end , so much of the past just does n't have that crucial ring of truth to it . disappointing and underwhelming .", "the movie , which runs more than two hours , takes patience . it is slow-going most of the time . yet , it does not feel contrived or false .", "with the past , farhadi again displays a gift for poking into corners of nondescript lives and discovering unique drama .", "with this quietly gripping domestic drama , asghar farhadi once again demonstrates his ability to turn keen human insight into powerfully compelling cinema .", "` the past ' opens at a paris airport , where marie and the newly arrived ahmad greet each other through a pane of glass . their lips move , but they do n't actually hear one another . this is a state that will be maintained more or less throughout the film .", "... the movie begins to demonstrably run out of steam once it passes a certain point ...", "farhadi 's all-consuming and cerebral emotional drama puzzle the past could be another awards contender , with a scriptwriting prowess matched by an exceptional cast under talented direction .", "like life , the story is messy ; the characters are complicated ; there are no easy answers .", "asghar farhadi navigates his complicated narrative thicket with an apparent ease , but he is n't able to blend the brushstrokes as he has in prior films .", "-lsb- farhadi 's -rsb- gift for pulling us deep into the story , and for conveying the major burdens of these supposedly minor lives , is unimpaired .", "bolstered by performances that convey profound grief and remorse without look-at-me histrionics , the past is steeped in the believable micro details of its scenario while also expanding to universals .", "the past is a mature , intricately crafted human drama about removing the self-imposed obstacles to our own happiness .", "forcing his characters into moral gray zones , the director weakens the notion of objectivity , allowing the viewer 's allegiances to shift freely among the household 's denizens-even if as individuals , none of them is particularly sympathetic .", "solid acting -lrb- `` the artist 's '' berenice bejo proves she can not only talk , but won cannes ' best actress prize doing it -rrb- pulls this sad story along .", "an iranian film about the close encounter of a woman unlucky in love , her unhappy children , her ex-husband , and her new lover .", "farhadi not only has a gift for complicated and elegantly crafted human drama , he understands the way people think and feel , the way they make choices and are forced to live with the consequences of those choices .", "the last film from faradi , 2011 's a separation , deservedly took home the oscar , and this new piece is admirably its equal .", "where an american film would make up our minds for us about the outcome , farhadi lets us make up our own minds .", "the actors playing the boyfriend 's son , still processing the loss of his mother , and marie 's older daughter give fine performances as troubled characters who are as emotionally complex as the adults who made them that way .", "farhadi piles on plot twists and sensational revelations until we realize what we 're watching is soap opera packaged as art . five or ten minutes into hour three , the film reaches a critical mass of preposterousness .", "never strikes a resoundingly false note -- which is a precious thing in movies lately -- and as such is a film that promises moving rewards .", "any short-term illusion of being in charge is at the cost of long-term trust and fidelity . the past stands as a resonate warning to this vicious cycle .", "on paper , the complications sound like plot points in a melodramatic soap opera . but under farhadi 's direction and in his cast 's more-than-capable hands , this knotty family drama never feels false or manipulative .", "the past does n't have the thrilling tempo of farhadi 's previous oscar winning a separation ; but it 's as if you 're cemented into concrete boots and tossed into the chasm of consequence .", "farhadi has pulled off the dysfunctional family mystery trick twice now , brilliantly , and perhaps three times in a row would be too much . but it 's doubtful he will leave behind the fertile ground of family ties and modern messiness . he sees so much there .", "with its sympathies forever shifting among its characters , the film asks whether the truth is ever even objectively knowable , let alone whether honesty is always the best policy .", "farhadi finds his characters trapped , not by the constraints of an overbearing authority but by the spectre of the past .", "it 's a testament to farhadi that i could even consider a movie as good as ` the past ' to be any kind of disappointment .", "um filme povoado por pessoas que tentam encontrar sentido onde n\u0103o h\u00e1 nenhum .", "one of the most impressive things about farhadi 's film is the way he reveals facts about the tale and his extraordinary timing in which he reveals them . the movie unfolds like a surprise birthday gift .", "the revelations farhadi relies on to propel the story are not as compelling as he gives them credit .", "the past is clearly the work of a master dramatist , and precious few filmmakers in world cinema are currently operating at farhadi 's level .", "while farhadi 's eye for detail is as unsparing as ever , his style this time around has begun to look formulaic .", "farhadi 's most thrilling gift , which seems innate and intuitive , is in demonstrating how figures move , are framed by frames , reflected by surfaces , going beyond elementary considerations , describing a vital mathematics of humans in motion .", "this slim and pretty terrific thriller may just prove to be the ultimate antidote to this summer 's bloated superhero onslaught .", "a stirring , impressively acted piece of work , and another detailed account of familial nuance from a director working at a seemingly effortless clip , no matter the locale .", "gossipy and hand-wringing , but graceful enough for you to safely call it art .", "what initially seems fairly straightforward grows increasingly fraught and complex as each successive layer gets peeled away , until it 's nearly impossible not to empathize with everybody on-screen at once .", "give yourself over to the past , because movies this fragile and thoughtful are incredibly rare .", "the plot is the impurest of soap opera , but -lsb- director asghar -rsb- farhadi 's artistry and resonant humanism transcend melodrama and cultural barriers .", "this brilliant dissection of family dynamics and the tyranny of the past weds honesty with slow-burn drama and peerless acting .", "`` the past '' is not as nuanced as its predecessor - and not as impactful , either . but this is still far more complex than most family dramas .", "farhadi handles all these emotions and mood shifts gracefully , emphasized by a nice use of space .", "-lsb- farhadi -rsb- respects that human beings are complex organisms , and that life is full of misunderstandings and different understandings . the past articulates those truths with devastating care .", "farhadi 's new work confirms his unique ability to explore how constant chatter and anguished outbursts obscure the capacity for honest communication .", "deliciously soapy romantic mystery", "do n't be too eager to find a third husband appears the message in this gem , full of twists and turns .", "farhadi is as much of a natural storyteller as he is a neo-realist filmmaker , making cinematic novels where others would create soap operas .", "the past is a beautifully acted and cleverly constructed drama .", "`` the past '' is long and occasionally feels slow - as real life sometimes does - but never false .", "asghar farhadi has a fluid , realistic style , as if we are genuinely eavesdropping on these people 's lives .", "farhadi is a master at unpicking human relationships , revealing that in the end everyone , and no one , is blameless .", "the film is made naturalistically , and music is only heard at the end , yet for all its heartbreaking veracity , it has the tragic grandeur of mythology", "a searing drama in which truths , lies , blame , guilt , actions and consequences collide in a spectacular emotional tour de force", "farhadi is the rare director who can establish an atmosphere of intimacy that resonates with meaning and sentiment .", "all of the acting is first-rate , with bejo winning the best actress award at the 2013 cannes film festival , where the past made its world premiere . but mosaffa 's role as ahmad proves to be the biggest revelation .", "think you 've nailed down a character ? wait another five minutes . it 's rare to see so many characters , including children , afforded so much nuance .", "the past is about people who wish they could erase what came before and just live in the now , but life does n't let anyone off the hook that easily .", "what a teller of domestic truths asghar farhadi has become .", "farhadi all but perfects the art of making mountains out of molehills .", "farhadi crafts another flawlessly designed , engagingly acted domestic melodrama that puts ordinary but unique characters through the emotional wringer .", "farhadi works like a master poker player , carefully revealing his cards and building tension with each new bit of information .", "yes , the past can haunt us , which is why farhadi 's design is so clever because he phrases it like a ghost story , where the audience is forced to walk alongside a group of highly stressed characters as they grope through the shady corridors of their lives .", "a thickly knotted and compelling tale , set in an unglamorous , working-class paris , it churns with complex emotions , suspense , guilt , and regret .", "farhadi proves again that he can craft a domestic drama that has all the tension of a thriller .", "farhadi again burrows deep into his characters to tell an achingly intimate story , spinning grand tragedies out of minor lives in which the past lingers in the air , a perfume that haunts long after its wearer has left the room .", "once its momentum sets in , the narrative spiral of the past pulls you straight down , irresistibly ." ], "summary": "beautifully written , sensitively directed , and powerfully acted , the past serves as another compelling testament to asghar farhadi 's gift for finely layered drama .", "id": "771354932" }, { "movie": "1198124-shutter_island", "reviews": [ "when the big reveal hits , it 's the first big yawn of the film , and the tension dies a sudden death as we wait impatiently for the film to tie up all of its loose ends .", "MOV , is even less ` important ' than the departed . but scorsese is clearly enjoying himself with this old-school throwback to thrillers past . and it 's hard not to revel in it with him .", "multiplex entertainment this distinctive and provocative does n't come along every day : it 's a head trip well worth taking . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "MOV , after an involving and entertaining beginning , settles for a victory by judges ' decision rather than a final knockout .", "a basically just kidding boston offshore yarn featuring fleeing assorted lost and found psychos , born again nazis , and red scare gulag rehab for unrepentant communists on the loose that , well , does n't amount to a hill of baked beans .", "... a creepy psychological thriller ... short on psychology , characterization , suspense , tension , or thrills .", "por momentos excesiva y algo decepcionante , resulta de todos modos un inquietante ejercicio sobre la locura servido con gran habilidad por martin scorsese .", "ilha do medo \u00e9 o iluminado de martin scorsese .", "MOV is second-tier scorsese , but not one of his misfires . it does the gothic horror genre proud , but fails to transcend it .", "as psychological horror thrillers go , it might be flawed , but it 's a technically masterful piece of work .", "haunting and hypnotic , MOV is part fever-dream and surrealist art mixed with an ace potboiler ; like a mickey spillane novel directed by william wellman and photographed by salvador dali .", "scorsese is clearly having fun in this one : it 's part police procedural , part gothic thriller , part sociological drama ... from a director who knows how to get into your head .", "you can almost feel martin scorsese straining to create some magic , given the pounding music , ominous cinematography , jaw-clenching close-up performances and overblown gothic flashbacks .", "fans of psychological horror may have seen the material before , but rarely so much of it and rarely is the tone so perfectly presented .", "for his forty-fifth film martin scorsese crafts a gorgeously stylized psychological thriller full of darkly lush horror that torments its obsessed protagonist .", "an overlong , nauseating thriller lacking palpable suspense and clever twists which ca n't be saved by its exquisite production values and solid performances .", "it is great to be in scorsese 's hands after almost two months of average films .", "MOV is a hypnotic and disturbing thriller . a near-masterpiece .", "martin scorsese 's atmospheric thriller deserves high marks for its fine performances and outstanding production values .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's hardly a spoiler to know that this pseudo-reality is really an overblown fantasy , scotch-taped together into a storyline .", "this is a soul crushing bore that i desperately wanted to walk out on . would have been better if it was called arkham asylum .", "dicaprio memorably transcends scorsese .", "an incidental nod of surrender and a devastating final line should haunt you on your way out of the film and as painful as it might be , you will want to go back to MOV as soon as possible just to clear your head .", "a film that brilliantly balances artistic and commercial considerations in ways that are sure to impress both cineastes and people simply looking for something entertaining to see at the local multiplex on a saturday night .", "if what i think is happening here , is happening here , it better not be ...", "scorsese 's technical proficiency and overall mastery of the cinematic language are virtually unrivaled , even when the project is ` only ' a goose-bumpy b-movie .", "if you 've combined ambien and a braille choose your own adventure book , toked to teletubbies in hd , or taken psychotropic drugs after hot-gluing kaleidoscopes to your eyes , then you 've experienced something similar to MOV .", "a serviceable mystery/thriller that nevertheless feels emotionally scattered and for some , predictable .", "MOV feels disappointingly like a minor work . but hey , who says every film has to be a masterpiece ?", "the script is only barely held together by a combination of scorsese 's formidable command and the sheer , clothespin force of that magnificent furrow in dicaprio 's brow .", "parental content review", "scorsese ... is very much a director who understands how to use the medium to first and foremost tell a story , examine character , and very precisely create a world in which both live .", "... begins as a fun and crazily creepy popcorn thriller , but the movie eventually turns into something far more disturbing .", "it never shakes the sense that it 's tap dancing across quicksand .", "if inglourious basterds is what you get when a moviemaker gets his movie geek on , MOV is what you get when a master filmmaker gets his movie geek on .", "... a dark , moody film that zips through its 138 minute running time but takes us to a place where some viewers , in the end , may not want to go .", "an intense , beautiful looking film from scorsese and dicaprio .", "if scorsese is working within a prescribed genre , he is also presenting us with something that approaches its platonic form .", "about halfway through writing a review of MOV , i was caught by an undertow . i originally thought that the movie was stylistic nonsense . but then i realized that beneath the nonsense were intriguing swirls and tides .", "for those who like their movies wrapped in a tight bow , you 're not going to get it here .", "it comes on strong , but in its bloody heart of hearts it 's no more resonant than one of those old vincent price-edgar allan poe contraptions - and less entertaining , too .", "an empty-headed , grotesquely dissatisfying cinematic journey .", "stranded on scorsese 's island .", "i did n't love it . i did n't hate it . but the more i think about it , the more i want to see it again ... if only to dissect it more .", "as MOV proceeds -- mostly as a series of speeches and set pieces -- what is meant to be mysterious and unsettling becomes just plain incomprehensible .", "from every note of music to every frame of film and each performance , this picture brings a terrifying tale to screen that will stick in your mind for days .", "a haunted-house spooker mixed with an obsessed-detective noir , `` MOV '' is not a great film . but that does n't mean it is n't one of scorsese 's best , and one to be remembered .", "even lesser scorsese is better than 85 % of what you 'll find at the multiplex on any given weekend . still , it 's hard not to be disappointed that such promise went unfulfilled .", "an exquisitely crafted potboiler offering up two and a quarter hours of thrills , chills and leonardo dicaprio freaking out in a nuthouse during a hurricane .", "to say this is hitchcock-esque is an understatement . i wish the whole thing had been shot in black and white .", "showing an explosive temper and a wounded psyche , dicaprio eerily channels the great richard widmark , a film noir giant , as teddy , a shaky world war ii veteran still at war with his memories .", "of course a flat scorsese film is still deeper and more textured than almost everything else out there , so this still ranks up there among the must sees .", "scorsese feverishly works over the script with his typical widescreen gusto , only to end up with a flaccid central mystery barely worth the exertion .", "scorsese , and paramount , appear to have simply thrown as much money at each scene as possible , which makes for some fancy sets , but delivers almost no atmosphere of the sort one would hope .", "narrative rug-pulling has become so commonplace that the revelations of ` MOV ' are more old-hat than snap-brim ...", "scorsese has more up his sleeve than a dead director 's trademarked bag of tricks and with the unique challenges presented by the material he needed them .", "a bleak and disturbing psychological puzzler that 's liberally sprinkled with flashbacks .", "dicaprio and scorcese are a dynamic movie duo but when you add in the brilliant storytelling of lehane you get movie magic .", "mr. scorsese is like buddy rich , dynamically gunning out more tonality , depth and rhythm from a four piece kit than james cameron 's ham-fisted , three-hour solo on his latest twenty-piece contraption .", "a visually handsome movie that lacks any stakes , emotional or intellectual .", "scorsese elevates what could have been a rote bit of narrative trickery into something not quite profound , but intensely engaging and quite moving", "i tried to get lost on MOV , but am sad to say even with its ominous tone and dreary setting i found myself dreading its predictable tale .", "umberto eco wrote , `` two clich\u00e9s make us laugh but a hundred clich\u00e9s move us , because we sense dimly that the clich\u00e9s are talking among themselves , celebrating a reunion . '' MOV is that reunion , and that shrine .", "sadly , a horrible case of reverse-proportion mandates that the actors with the largest parts give the weakest performances , including yet another limp outing from dicaprio .", "... scorcese 's `` spellbound '' by way of classic locked door murder mysteries and every gothic mansion lashed by rain and shadowy tree branches .", "apparently not even scorsese 's artistry can reanimate a thing that is dead on arrival .", "its overripe atmospherics put it in that rare class of failures that can only be made by talented people falling on their face while reaching for the moon .", "it 's only a matter of time before daniels cracks under the pressure of MOV , a dark and uninviting rock that makes alcatraz look like disneyland by comparison .", "overall , it 's mostly effective version of a work that almost seemed unadaptable on the surface .", "the movie is inert , despite the fact that it bombards us with lurid imagery and high-intensity stimuli : frozen dachau victims , dying nazis , beautiful child murderesses , abandoned graveyards besieged by hurricanes .", "`` MOV '' is not from the scorsese who stands astride film like a colossus ; instead , it 's a giddy , gory gift from the scorsese who sits beside us in the theater , elbowing us at the good bits and taking in the sinister spectacle up on screen .", "a luridly effective thrill ride of a movie that leaves no old-dark-house stone unturned , including a host of rats , a series of flashbacks involving doomed children , and water , water everywhere .", "it 's as startling a change of pace for this director as the shining was for stanley kubrick , and often just as unnerving .", "martin scorsese 's latest is a puff of smoke , the type of classic hollywood mystery hailed as art when done by auteurs and dismissed as ham when done by anyone less esteemed .", "this is a long , heavy film , in which scorsese 's aerobic moviemaking turns mannered and uncharacteristically passive .", "an unapologetically derivative film full of visual nods that appeal mostly to movie geeks .", "MOV is a bear hug to cinema while it 's also an occasionally tart valentine to genre . its affections are n't ironic but is n't there something ironic about a love letter to film that takes place in an asylum ?", "an ominous , claustrophobic and , at times , confusing endurance test that audiences no doubt will want to take .", "mr. scorsese 's camera sense effectively fills every scene with creepiness , but sustained , gripping suspense seems beyond his grasp .", "thought-provoking and surprising at every turn , MOV is n't to be missed .", "as an exercise in pure style over clich\u00e9d content MOV weaves an impressive and gripping spell .", "crucially , what scorsese understands about horror movies is that the right location is everything .", "at the end of it , i got a whiff of shaggy dog .", "it 's a wonderfully inventive , visceral horror film , one of scorsese 's most enjoyable pictures .", "at well over two hours , it could have done with some judicious pruning but scorsese still manages to keep the story rattling along with a wry sleight of hand and a masterful manipulation of the narrative .", "as senseless , perverse and unwieldy as it undoubtedly is , MOV might be scorsese 's most enjoyable film in a decade .", "scorsese is capable of making a fascinating psychological thriller , but this effort is sub-tarantino , without the irony .", "unsuccessful but fascinating and often entertaining attempt from martin scorsese to wrangle with baroque pulp fiction - by turns compelling , hysterical and silly .", "the strength of the film , like the book , is that it never allows the viewer to feel comfortable with what he is watching .", "if it only tangentially seems like a scorsese film , that 's because we 've incorrectly pigeonholed a director who has almost always pursued a career of shifts and gambits and new paths .", "if martin scorsese were n't aware of himself as a great filmmaker , he could never have made a movie as bad as MOV .", "... there inevitably reaches a point wherein scorsese 's expectedly self-indulgent sensibilities hinder one 's efforts at wholeheartedly embracing the increasingly convoluted narrative ...", "plenty of chills and jumps and goosebumps but finally it is the questions it raises about our ability to trust the characters and our own conclusions that will haunt us .", "could very well be the weakest motion picture of martin scorsese 's career . just because it looks and sounds good does n't make it any less junky .", "MOV is , infantile as it sounds , akin to the sensation of settling onto a toilet seat that is shockingly , unexpectedly and uncomfortably frigid .", "scorsese is pushing , i guess , for something that combines a '40s horror-thriller with a contemporary psychological tragedy . what he ends up with is more like a hardy boys mystery directed by david lynch .", "scorsese pays stylish homage to classic noir and psycho-dramas , but MOV is a mostly sluggish endeavor , even after the dark secrets are exposed .", "having martin scorsese direct a silly psychological thriller like this is like inviting a famous chef over to boil some hot dogs and open a can of baked beans .", "one of dicaprio 's best performances in an unforgettable psychological jigsaw puzzle .", "a tense psychological thriller that recalls fare of similar genres from the snake pit to the shining .", "... mostly enjoyable along the way ... until the final 15 minutes or so pulls the rug out from under us and retroactively soils much of that enjoyment .", "too predictable to love , too tragically beautiful not to appreciate .", "MOV is popcorn entertainment polished to an unusually high sheen . yes , you could argue the movie is simply a mood piece . but what a mood .", "MOV is hysterical , in the clinical and cinematic senses , followed by plodding , just when a potboiling contraption can not afford to be .", "scorsese still knows how to put on one hell of a show .", "... -lrb- dicaprio -rrb- gives the performance of his career , fighting himself and others in an attempt to stay sane in a truly insane world .", "in MOV , director martin scorsese has created a divinely dark and devious brain tease of a movie in the best noir tradition .", "the dazzling camera work by master director martin scorsese makes ` MOV ' all the more creepy ... not unlike the director 's ` cape fear ' from years back .", "behind the feverish mood there 's only fumbled surrealism and psychiatry 101", "things that go bump in the mind are so much scarier than things that go bump in the night .", "scorsese drops the wiseguys and goodfellas for a creep-filled island .", "offers very little emotional punch to go along with the visual pizzazz , seeming more a genre exercise than a deeply felt drama . it dazzles the eye but leaves the heart cold .", "it 's almost as if the big reveal is actually a foregone conclusion and scorsese knows it . when it finally comes , it allows you to catch your breath . it feels real . it makes sense because you knew it deep down all along .", "great director , lousy material . scorsese shoots a creepy film , but the twist ending was n't that big a surprise to me . the story does n't cut it . paul chambers , cnn .", "MOV is all about the visceral , head-scratching embodiment of questions . who is crazy ? am i crazy ? or are they crazy ?", "an exercise in style so overheated that the controlled burn reignites the gothic 's tropes . slips out of its genre shackles by suggesting we 're eager to drug ourselves on the thriller formula .", "the film 's audio-video barrage ultimately just puffs up corny b-movie material to the point of distension .", "a movie that keeps you guessing to the end and then -- miraculously -- makes the guessing pay off .", "sorry , but the late reward hardly justifies all that punishment .", "acting more kubrickian than ever , scorsese uses the promise of horror to subvert expectations as thoroughly as did the shining , which offers nothing terribly supernatural besides the twin horrors of parenthood and writer 's block .", "there 're more things scorsese 's dreamt of in his heaven and earth than in MOV 's philosophies , i fear .", "one of the better psychological thrillers of its genre .", "it does n't seem destined to earn a place among top-tier scorsese movies , but it does qualify as an essential work , because it demonstrates how craftsmanship can create art .", "martin scorsese has been making good movies for so long that according to the law of averages he was overdue for a turkey .", "MOV might not be one of scorsese 's great movies , but you can tell he certainly had a lot of fun putting it together .", "so while MOV may be flawed , when you consider the lobotomized state of most hollywood thrillers , it 's tough to complain too much about the work of a master -- no matter how schizophrenic it is .", "individual moments and the performances of an excellent cast can take your breath away , regardless of the whole .", "by the time this twisty mystery unfolds its ideas of how the past haunts people , how guilt consumes and how memories shape our mind 's machinery , the result is elegant , creepy , fantastic cinema .", "a gripping , suspenseful mystery whose plot does n't so much twist , as writhe as the viewer attempts to grasp it ... compelling and captivating , a revitalised gothic mystery that is both terrific and thrilling to the last .", "despite its flaws , MOV is worth seeing for the palpably nightmarish and gothic world conceived by scorsese .", "MOV is one of scorsese 's most uneven films to date .", "absolutely fascinating , at times frustrating , too long by half an hour , has pacing issues - and is worth seeing twice .", "the plot does n't so much thicken as curdle with every heebie-jeebie encounter -- we 've taken a u-turn at the terrific cape fear and wound up at cape folly .", "what scorsese brings to the table , having created more than his share of rascally villains , is a renewed sense of horror and despair at the power of evil .", "-lsb- scorsese -rsb- finds smart , lucid ways to preserve lehane 's intricate foreshadowing , the story 's layered narrative and visuals -lrb- take note of fire , water , bandages -rrb- .", "i 'm of the opinion that dicaprio is still far too lightweight a performer to carry the grizzled , haunted character that scorsese is asking him to portray here .", "it may not have any of the technological bells and whistles of the latest 3-d offerings , but no movie in recent memory immerses the audience so deeply in its look and feel as the old-fashioned , two-dimensional MOV .", "the movie does have a payoff , though . and it works , shiveringly well .", "this quasi-horror film has the great director 's usual craftsmanship and a stellar cast , but ultimately it 's an infuriating trick that makes its most provocative ideas disappear .", "if a film is going to pile on the doom and foreboding this thickly , the payoff better be worth the hard road viewers have to slog .", "MOV offers sumptuous , enthralling , shivery gothic filmmaking with a hardboiled heart and a sly line in asylum humour .", "despite its pacing problems and ` i see dead people ' denouement , scorsese 's latest is a brain-scrambling good time", "MOV is a perfect example of hollywood excess : it demonstrates a once significant filmmaker decaying into a big budget , poorly-motivated hack .", "how could this many talented people get so utterly , confoundingly messed up ? how could a director considered such an icon make so much money and demonstrate so little control ?", "i read dennis lehane 's MOV , a 336-page throat-grabbing mystery thriller , in two nearly sleepless nights . martin scorsese 's adaptation barely kept me awake for 138 minutes .", "some may find it emotionally distant and cold to the touch , yet that 's no slight on its superb construction and fine ensemble cast .", "so jump on that ferry and prepare for a stomach-churning crossing . just do n't blame me if you end up marooned .", "it 's not bad , but as scorsese , america 's greatest living filmmaker and film history buff should know , even hitchcock came up short on occasion .", "scorsesejeva stilska vje % u017eba koja zaslu % u017euje daleko vi % u0161e preporuke nego mnogi razvikani naslovi na na % u0161em kino-repertoaru", "an enticing , engaging piece of work , worthy of a second viewing , which is never a bad thing .", "click to read full review", "for all the trickiness and bluster , MOV is dead inside .", "they do n't call him martin scorsese for nothing you know !", "the problem , then , arrives in the film 's hurried final act , where a hitherto steady narrative gives way to an engorged twist that , whilst believable , insults the audience 's comprehension of everything that has come before .", "scorsese packs the film with so many thrilling details , surreal asides and masterful set-ups ... that we ca n't help but enjoy the ride .", "neither scorsese nor di caprio is at the top of their game in MOV , but like all successful teams they know how to win when they 're playing badly . good not great .", "not top-tier scorsese , but still a nicely atmospheric thriller .", "pure and palpable evidence of a master filmmaker who 's having some real fun with some very old-fashioned genre material .", "scorsese 's in pulp fiction mode here , which essentially means that this is one of those pleasing instances when `` b '' - movie material is given the `` a '' - list treatment .", "frantic psychological thriller is beautifully crafted but suffers from a surfeit of plot ingredients .", "like it or not , director martin scorsese uses his MOV to mess with your brain , on all levels , and mostly succeeds in his endeavor .", "scorsese delivers the tension from first frame to last with a deliberately low-key mood that amps up the eeriness . it imbues even the most benign actions with a sinister ambiguity .", "MOV pays homage to film noir thrillers without giving us any new thrills .", "a mixed bag from martin scorsese is still better than most other filmmakers ' best efforts .", "scorsese is known for bouncing between commercial pictures and artistic expression , and MOV falls somewhere in between , for better or for worse .", "for a scorsese film , it 's missing that touch of greatness that 's become synonymous with his name .", "the last third ... takes too long to wrap things up , making this a good , not great , mystery thriller .", "an adult , insightful , tense , complicated psychological thriller .", "you 'll enjoy it casually -- as a career curio , maybe -- but as it stands , it 's a far cry from his best . put simply , scorsese missed the mark on this one .", "although bogged down with its denouement , this is still scorsese , which means genre cinema at its visionary best .", "expert , screw-turning narrative filmmaking put at the service of old-dark-madhouse claptrap .", "clearly flawed but entirely involving , MOV is a superb genre thriller elevated by director martin scorsese 's consummate skill .", "a remarkable high-wire act , performed without a net and exploiting all the accumulated skills of a consummate artist . it dazzles and provokes . but since when did scorsese become a circus performer ?", "the spirit of alfred hitchcock is clearly alive and well , and is currently residing in martin scorsese 's latest film , MOV .", "martin scorsese makes movies as if his life depends on it , never skimping on ferocity and feeling .", "since more attention has gone into filigreeing details into each scene than worrying about the way they 'll fit together , the rattletrap engages you moment-to-moment , even as the overall pacing stops and lurches alarmingly .", "martin scorsese 's MOV walks a fine line between institutional thriller and what-is-reality ? inquest .", "up for having a master filmmaker mess with your head ? then this is the movie for you .", "every detail of the production design is on point for maximum dread and psychic confusion .", "using every tool at his disposal , scorsese honors lehane 's pulp intensity by amplifying the story to the fevered grand guignol of a park chan-wook movie , or sam fuller 's asylum classic shock corridor .", "scorsese and dicaprio , in their fourth film together , again create an intense , provocative film-going experience , where the ride , accommodations , and destination are all first class .", "as hard as MOV works to convince you that is a dumb but flashy thriller when it is actually a fairly smart one , it may well be as hollow as any magic trick .", "story quibbling aside , MOV is high on atmosphere , in large part due to the visuals , and the collaboration between scorsese and -lrb- cinematographer -rrb- robert richardson actually feels like the two men having a blast with their craft .", "scorsese keeps the tension at a pitch of near-constant hysteria . yet when the solution to the mystery is finally revealed , you 're left with a sense of disappointment", "it 's a strong and at times gripping offering from hollywood 's cosiest a-list filmmaker/star pairing .", "... MOV , the fourth collaboration between scorsese and dicaprio , is the best work they have done together .", "one of the best movies of 2009 that was inexplicably orphaned to 2010 no man 's land .", "there are no loose ends or false notes in any of it .", "fortunately , the music chosen to underscore the ever-increasing sense of unease and mystery -lrb- artfully selected by robbie robertson -rrb- is a constant pleasure .", "not the masterpiece i was hoping for ...", "believe it or not , toward the end of the film , leo gets down on his knees , looks up at the heavens and a craning camera and shouts `` nooooooooooo ! '' just like principal skinner .", "MOV is impressively acted , superbly designed by dante ferretti , atmospherically lit by robert richardson , and has costumes by sandy powell -lrb- who won her third oscar last week -rrb- that are almost surreally of the 1950s .", "there 's no doubt that marty 's still got it .", "it is not scorsese 's finest offering by a long way , leaving us disoriented but ultimately unfulfilled as the cops get their answers .", "MOV is too long and its increasingly surreal tone provides an ending that 's a bit of a cheat . but , since it is a scorsese picture , there 's a lot to intrigue on the way .", "ruffalo is underused , some interior scenes resemble a bad sci-fi thriller and with little emotional engagement on offer , MOV just does n't have the legs to sustain its running time .", "luridly entertaining .", "this is one the year 's must-see movies .", "MOV could have been an entertainingly hysterical trainwreck , but the train does n't even leave the station .", "since scorsese is a stylist , the film is enjoyable . it would be more so if you could take out your brain and experience it only with eyes and ears .", "it 's just not exciting .", "not since raging bull has mr. scorsese so brazenly married brutality to beauty . not since kundun has one of his films felt so aspirational .", "scorsese gets stylish , witty performances from his stellar bunch . no one overacts , but they slide as close to it as they can , and the result is vivid , memorable and just plain fun to watch .", "amid all the confusion , MOV sort of invites you to see through teddy 's eyes : peering at uncooperative staff members , frustrated by the doctors ' obfuscations and delays , his rising anger seems righteous .", "i really wanted to like this film . it just lacks the suspense it should have provided , given the circumstances in which the protagonist finds himself .", "`` MOV '' starts with a great deal of promise , but does n't deliver .", "more psychological than horrifying , with an intense dicaprio and scorsese channeling hitchcock and serling .", "... a big , boiling macguffin stew of a movie , a hitchcockian experiment in audience manipulation that slaps its artificiality in your face like a gold g-man 's shield .", "disturbingly , deliberately deceptive , it 's layered with labyrinthine medical , legal , historical and political issues .", "martin scorsese 's elephantine exercise in b-movie badness .", "a brilliantly constructed mystery .", "scorsese 's in cape fear mode here , making his own version of the sort of thing that rocked his world when he was younger ... -lsb- a -rsb- horror film , but with a haunted house that travels on two legs .", "the work of a master at his height . this is scorsese flexing his muscles and cracking his knuckles and making a movie that 's intense and thrilling and engrossing and beautiful and dense .", "while scorsese overcooks the final stages of explanation and recollecting critical events , it does n't alter how grand a job he has done of covering tracks . excellent .", "MOV is the work of a true master who is completely accomplished in the art of filmmaking . an hour later you will be making plans to see it again .", "like a lunatic 's trip to wonderland , it builds suspense with only brief respites , reaching a climax that is truly shattering . hang on tight .", "MOV is a long slog . the sad thing is that scorsese could have connected emotionally with lehane 's narrative .", "martin scorsese 's sure hand directs this thriller with the precision of a brain surgeon and the grace of an artist", "the plot is as dizzying and steep as the circular steps that lead us to the top of the island 's solitary lighthouse ... a breathtaking journey", "MOV sets a tone straight out of the gate with dark , shadowy imagery , a muted color palette , and a splash of noir-esque style peppered across the top .", "scorsese 's gothic horror noir is b level and sharply uneven , with good set-up and closure but weak , draggy middle . dense in image and unsettling in tone , the film is nonetheless thematically lugubrious and visually overwrought , even more than cape fear !", "a supremely well-crafted thriller from an elder statesman whose love of cinema still burns through every frame .", "much will be made of the movie 's sixth sense-like twist ending , but a second viewing will reveal carefully constructed plot , characterization and performances .", "what is real ? what is delusion ? what is montrous ? what is decent ? MOV may not shatter the heart but these are gnawing achievements for a movie about madness and paranoia .", "a dizzying trip through a cinematic funhouse managed by one of the best filmmakers of all time fully employing his most talented collaborators .", "this is among scorsese 's many gifts : even when he 's not crafting a masterpiece , he reminds you that the movies possess visceral and uncanny powers .", "every detail points to a master filmmaker working at maximum overdrive .", "... this is the first great movie of 2010 , a pristine example of cinema at its most sly and seductive .", "`` MOV '' is n't a perfect piece of work , but there are sequences in it that soar and burn .", "i really need more time to roll it around the brain before i can definitively recommend -- or not . today , it 's a not .", "the film 's primary effect is on the senses . everything is brought together into a disturbing foreshadow of dreadful secrets .", "unfortunately , despite clever writing and all of scorcese 's cinematic tricks , this film is not engrossing , compelling or entertaining . it is a slick , but hollow exercise in genre filmmaking .", "scorsese expends some much time and effort creating atmosphere and setting up situations , that when the big revelation finally arrives , expectations are so high that the pay off is a letdown .", "director martin scorsese channels his inner m. night shyamalan .", "` i do n't know who # 67 is , ' said leo , ` but more than one sports illustrated cover model has closed my case-file on # 69 . '", "for over two hours , MOV coasts by on creepy atmosphere alone .", "MOV is a surface movie without even much surface ; it 's awash in stale ideas and character actors like patricia clarkson and jackie earle haley who show up every 20 minutes to give us some handy exposition , and then leave .", "a thrilling exercise in grand guignol -- so operatic in tone one can almost hear the arias during the flurry of memorable set pieces .", "reveals a man who , at 67 , still has film in his blood and bones . scorsese throws himself a real party here , complete with the hurricane of 1954 as an apocalyptic backdrop .", "the cinematic equivalent of a bait and switch scam ." ], "summary": "it may not rank with scorsese 's best work , but MOV 's gleefully unapologetic genre thrills represent the director at his most unrestrained .", "id": "770681152" }, { "movie": "hunt_for_red_october", "reviews": [ "if any film in tom clancy 's jack ryan series stands out as the best -lrb- or even a truly great movie -rrb- , it 's the MOV .", "exciting submarine adventure w/connery , baldwin", "the entire cast down to the smallest role is meticulously chosen .", "with a sharp eye for building tension and edgy editing that forces audience attention from distraction , mctiernan 's hunt should more than satisfy its audience .", "a crackerjack hollywood thriller that makes most other attempts look pathetic .", "delivers its share of honest to goodness thrills .", "regressive old-fashioned thriller of a sort that mostly died out 20 years earlier .", "book-based cold war submarine drama is tense and thrilling .", "it is sean connery who really makes this movie work for me .", "a superbly crafted cold war thriller , with excellent performances , cinematography and tension .", "the movie finally is never very convincing . even the special effects are n't great .", "a leviathan bore , big , clunky and ponderously overplotted .", "while this seems more a readers ' digest condensation of the clancy novel , much scaled down for the big screen , it certainly is a good adventure yarn .", "this tom clancy thriller gets the proper screen treatment here with this first-rate cast and direction by one of the genre 's best : die hard director john mctiernan .", "alas , there are mighty gaffes here that sink a promising idea .", "-lsb- mctiernan 's -rsb- alternation of menace and human interest , technological wizardry and action sequences is subtly calibrated , ultimately hypnotic in its effect .", "the big question hanging over the much-anticipated film version of novelist tom clancy 's best-seller the MOV is how , in the current world climate , this cold war thriller will stand up to the warm glow of glasnost . the answer is : just fine .", "one of hollywood 's better glossy , big-budget thrillers , delivering a solid chunk of tension spiced with occasional frantic action sequences .", "the MOV is a lot better than you may suspect .", "the film mechanically uses the crosscutting technique made famous by kubrick 's dr. strangelove without any of its wit or focused energy .", "in spite of the high level of talent on board and at the helm , the MOV is a heavy-duty mediocrity , sluggish , unwieldy , and instantly forgettable .", "competently made submarine action film , one of the better clancy adaptations .", "the MOV is a happy cinematic event , the first motion picture that allows us to experience the sweaty-palm thrills of the cold war without worrying that the world will blow up this year .", "politics aside , however , the MOV is a thrilling edge-of-your-seat trifle that has admirably withstood the test of time .", "solid if somewhat staid adaptation of the clancy book .", "like the nuclear submarine it 's named after , the MOV is big , shiny , and expensive . but it 's also hard , cold , and cumbersome , just when it 's trying hardest to be likable and even friendly .", "mctiernan does a great job with this submarine thriller . also features a stellar ensemble of character actors .", "a skillful , efficient film .", "a reagan youth 's wet dream of underwater ballistics and east-west conflict .", "one of the smartest action movies ever to come out of hollywood .", "great tom clancy adaptation", "at last , a thriller that assumes its audience is smart -lrb- nice `` russian '' accent on connery , heh -rrb- .", "for all its flaws , it still holds water .", "connery , baldwin , a tom clancy novel ; great fun .", "at its best , with soviets , americans and raimus all at cross-purposes , the movie is an engrossing and exciting battle of wits .", "the soviet captain has a brogue . i 'm okay with it . sue me .", "it is a thriller in some sequences , action in others , but it depends on personal taste , how many thrills you believe a movie should have in order to be considered a thriller", "as for the film 's suspense credentials , you know it 's time to get tense when james earl jones intones , ` mother of god . ' -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the film is a piece of heightened prosaic suspense ; it comes at you in big , chewy gobs of exposition and dialogue .", "the MOV is a terrific adventure yarn .", "one of the most delectably taut , racing thrillers of its generation .", "the first jack ryan thriller adventure is a supremely mounted film , well acted by alec baldwin and sean connery , and vastly enjoyable .", "red october is an idealized , dreamy fantasy of life in the business world-harmless as airplane reading , a bit dull on the big screen .", "the talented supporting cast gives a pleasing sheen to the material , while john mctiernan 's no-frills direction ensures that the tension rarely slips below pressure-cooker level .", "based on tom clancy ` s phenomenally successful techno-thriller novel , the MOV proves that a film can equal , if not surpass , the intrigue and excitement of the story it is based on .", "though hunt shows fitful signs of life , it lacks the human drama of das boot , the technical dazzle of the abyss and the old-fashioned brio of run silent , run deep .", "an exciting techno-suspense thriller with a hollow center .", "the swan song for cold war movies : a final , gripping trip against those pesky russkies with first rate results .", "you may not be limp from accumulated tension when this hunt is over , but its cautiously upbeat global message leaves a satisfying glow and it operates with a crackerjack premise .", "clancy is known for writing difficult books , but the movie makes plausible a preposterous situation because of baldwin 's convincing , low-key approach to being a film hero .", "the MOV is overplotted and sometimes implausible , but mctiernan 's clipped style and lavish budget help it through the choppier waters .", "this is first-rate adventure stuff , an all-missions-accomplished submarine movie ." ], "summary": "perfectly cast and packed with suspense , the MOV is an old-fashioned submarine thriller with plenty of firepower to spare .", "id": "11861" }, { "movie": "kickin_it_old_school", "reviews": [ "kennedy 's lowbrow comedy best for '80s veterans .", "were the filmmakers really so wedded to every scene they could n't find 15 minutes to cut ? besides , should n't we as a culture being moving on to depleting the comic potential of '90s nostalgia by now ?", "i like kennedy but he does n't make it easy for me", "the reunion of the multi-ethnic funky fresh boys triggers a fusillade of un-pc misfires as the not-so-fab four try to alleviate their personal woes by entering an american idol-esque dance-troupe contest .", "kickin ' it old skool aspires to be big with break dancing , but it falls flat on its spinning head . even the break dancing gets tired fast , making the film even more tedious to get through .", "there may be a lot of comedy potential in someone from the '80s waking up in the new millennium , but the writers of kickin ' it old skool are fairly oblivious to it .", "if you were alive and watching tv during this decade , you 'll find something to give you a smirk", "while jamie kennedy 's character of justin is supposed to be an 11-year-old in a 30-year-old 's body , it seems he has suffered irreparable brain damage in his coma", "kennedy has gone from a somewhat promising young actor to a crowd repellent .", "unfunny , unlikeable and unnecessary , `` kickin ' it old skool '' is one of the lamest so-called comedies to limp on to the screen in years .", "if you know jamie kennedy 's work then you know what to expect - a half assed , earnest effort that will trot out some tired jokes and eventually run out of steam .", "the climax set at the dancing competition drags on so long one wonders if the film was n't originally meant to be a miniseries event .", "kennedy seems to think that simply showing up in hammer pants is enough to make the movie work .", "as appealing as acid-washed jeans .", "the film itself seems lost in a time warp -- even its attitude toward the '80s is out of date considering the ongoing revival in music and fashion from that era .", "laugh proof and choreographically blah .", "a pathetically unfunny comedy that should have been shipped straight to video , if not recycled as guitar picks .", "when jamie kennedy wakes up from 20 years in a coma and still thinks he 's in the 1980s , the results are kind of funny -- for about 5 minutes .", "about eight minutes of this comedy is devoted to some terrific breakdancing ; the rest consists of wall-to-wall product placement and politically incorrect bad-taste comedy .", "this ostensible comedy may be a new depths-of-hell low in the emmanuel lewis filmography , but for star jamie kennedy it 's par for the coarse .", "yeah , the plot is cheesy , but i like velveeta every now and then .", "kickin ' it old skool is probably as tolerable as it can be for a comedy with no obvious creative aim .", "jamie kennedy ought to let a bomb-sniffing dog check out scripts for him .", "like norbit , kickin ' it old skool is a film unable to provide its charmingly stupid characters with the movie they truly deserve .", "it 's horrific to watch kennedy and his cast not even care about what they 're putting out into the world . people , we 're getting closer to ow ! my balls ! every day .", "i hope jamie kennedy has a huge fan base because i ca n't see anyone else paying hard-earned money to sit through this .", "kickin ' it old school is actually much more amusing than it has a right to be , considering that you know exactly what 's coming .", "an inauspicious feature debut for director harv glazer and all three scenarists , the big-meets-breakdancing comedy will be kickin ' it to ancillary by swimsuit season .", "this cruddy-looking , rip van winkle-esque slough through 1980s-era pop culture detritus joins an already crowded field of contenders for razzie recognition at year 's end .", "kennedy believes he is one of those performers whose every move is funny , who can keep an audience in stitches simply by falling down or looking confused . he is mistaken .", "high-concept comedy , bottom of the barrel execution .", "jamie kennedy may be becoming the new pauly shore ... ineptitude marks every aspect of the writing and execution .", "each lame-duck gag hits the screen with an audible thud before the director decides to point his camera at something even less amusing .", "despite some legitimately entertaining dance sequences , no amount of parachute pants can disguise the fact that kickin ' is a very stupid movie , with many more failed jokes than successful ones .", "you might think that after kennedy proved capable of emptying every theater in the civilized world with his last two vehicles someone would have said , ` enough ! ' but no .", "although technically a coming-of-age film , kickin ' it is , in every way , regressive .", "kickin ' it old skool equates making incalculable 80s pop culture references with joke telling .", "the writers make sure to fill their script with only the most obvious jokes and cultural references so that their star 's particular comedic talents will shine brightest and he can work his magic without the risk of causing any audience members to think .", "... a little of -lsb- jamie kennedy -rsb- goes a long way ; a lot goes nowhere .", "the funniest thing about kickin ' it old skool , yet another in a long line of not particularly funny kennedy movies , is how little we actually have advanced since the '80s .", "after cringing through son of the mask in 2005 , i was convinced that trying to be funny could not get any worse for jamie kennedy . ... i was wrong that things could n't get worse .", "kennedy is a negligible performer , a hopeless dancer , and his romantic connection to the lovely menounos is preposterous even by the movie 's absurd standards .", "adults old enough to appreciate the choice electro-boogaloo soundtrack and get the ` mr. roboto ' jokes will doubtless find the rest of it painfully dumb ." ], "summary": "kickin ' it old skool is one big unfunny pop culture reference that does n't feature many laughs .", "id": "630715373" }, { "movie": "blue_streak", "reviews": [ "lots of fun , laughs and action !", "the contortional physical shtick familiar from lawrence 's sitcom , laden with a dollop of three stooges violence , should keep the boys happy .", "MOV is a decent action flick packed with laughs .", "lawrence puts his comic timing to perfection .", "lawrence seems trapped in his jug-eared , slightly clownish nervousness , like a sidekick suddenly shoved into the spotlight .", "it 's an inconsequential movie that you 'll enjoy while watching but forget completely by the time you get to the parking lot .", "the film may be routine , but lawrence is anything but .", "a formula picture that never rises above the generic but entertains nevertheless .", "a tepid , often annoying comedy .", "since the characters are pretty simple , and the plot wafer-thin , there 's not a lot for martin to do but fall back on wild histrionics and facial explosions .", "martin lawrence at his most shrill in one of the laziest movies ever made .", "a comedy without the laughs , and an action film with a non-existent level of excitement , MOV is an obvious and misguided effort .", "martin lawrence is a talented comedian , but too often he gets stuck with creaky material , such as the script to this mediocre action comedy .", "the already thin plot stops dead at regular intervals so lawrence can make faces , contort himself and cuss colorfully .", "in the end the spectator is left on the verge of a hilarity breakdown .", "unless you 're a diehard lawrence , you 'll probably tire of the film 's loose and unbelievable approaching at telling its story .", "still , the movie is pretty bad . it 's rush hour meets 48 hours meets bad boys except this time around there 's only one bad boy and the script and direction are subpar .", "apart from lawrence 's goofing , MOV is n't much of a movie and its formula of stunts , anti-authority humor and a chase-and-crash finale is predictable enough to be depressing .", "much of lawrence 's verbal humor is more miss than hit , with the misses certain to come off as juvenile to the uninitiated .", "for all of his comedic efforts , though , lawrence ca n't make this cubic zirconia into the jewel it wants to be .", "no one here is competent enough to reach even stupid buddy-comedy heights .", "the resumes of the minds behind it almost define hollywood formula mediocrity .", "the blatant disregard for reality might have been excusable if any of the execution was actually funny .", "fun and entertaining -- a good time .", "... MOV is simply unable to overcome the scenery-chewing excess of lawrence 's hopelessly incompetent turn .", "pleasant diversion with lots of silly fun for teens .", "MOV falls victim to bad cliches .", "as an action comedy , MOV offers little freshness on either front .", "most of the film is just mr. lawrence goofing around .", "character is precisely what 's missing in MOV , with lawrence coming off as little more than thinly defined cliches of his manic and occasionally hilarious self , and his co-stars nothing more than bland dupes and paper-thin stereotypes .", "a pathetic waste of talent !", "in the wake of a summer of capers and cons , MOV arrives as a dull afterthought and a sorry vehicle for the comic expression of martin lawrence .", "a lifeless farce !", "unimaginative .", "a pooped , poorly executed buddy-cop comedy with more cliches than expletives .", "MOV , loaded with fast-paced , car-chase scenes , is no model of subtle or especially witty dialogue but lawrence brings in the howls whenever he pulls off one of his many impersonations .", "MOV suffers from an identity crisis .", "the result is an action comedy where the comedy frequently hits the bull 's - eye but is overpowered by the action .", "predictable , yet funny !", "succeeds as an undemanding , fast-paced comedy .", "you watch this movie for lawrence 's antics but soon realize he does n't really involve the audience in his comedy , the way murphy did in 48 hrs .", "lawrence has become involved in a film that makes us acutely embarrassed for him .", "utterly forgettable fun .", "sharp comic timing ; a solid supporting cast .", "there 's a pretty decent joke at the center of this otherwise routine action-comedy .", "provides a nifty 90-minute escape and more than a few yuks .", "lawrence nails down the gags and scoots smoothly into the action .", "entertaining and never sluggish .", "assembled with style ." ], "summary": "martin lawrence lends his comedic touch , but the movie is n't much more than standard action-comedy fare .", "id": "11223" }, { "movie": "notebook", "reviews": [ "* there 's nothing about the MOV that is n't either lazy or dismissive of its audience .", "a fine tale that will leave romantics everywhere misty eyed .", "a thoughtful , emotionally rich film in which we see that great love , like deep faith , is forged on doubt , trials , and hardships . only then does it deliver its deepest rewards .", "a sentimental film filled with flashbacks and clich\u00e9s .", "... one gets the sense that director nick cassevetes and writer jan sardi would spray the audience with teargas if they could .", "i can not believe i 'm about to recommend a movie as clogged with melodramatic treacle as nick cassavetes ' adaptation of the MOV .", "whether someone can enjoy the MOV or not depends much of the mood in which the viewers find themselves .", "um romance sens\u00edvel e emocionante que leva o espectador a se importar com o destino de seus tocantes personagens .", "two parts idiotic romance , one part offensive melodrama .", "it 's an interesting piece of counter programming on new line 's part , the only question is why did n't it go direct to cable ?", "i 'd be hard-pressed to imagine why anyone not in need of a fix of 1950s ross hunter soap opera would want to see this handsome , but deadly film .", "mcadams is a breath of fresh air in a movie full of hot air", "if it were a sandwich , it would be two slices of bread without filling . if it were a bridge , it would be two anchorages without a suspension in between . nice anchorages , though .", "if its performers do not always triumph over their material , it 's a struggle that they make worth watching .", "it will have many viewers bucketing tears until they are as dehydrated as egyptian mummies .", "a very soggy movie .", "this film vaults past our defenses . we can see the characters falling and staying in love , feel the reasons .", "cassavetes 's directing style is slow and stilted ... indicating yet again that his notion of moviemaking is the opposite of everything his father , the great john cassavetes , stood for .", "cassavettes wants this to be a love letter to rowlands , his mother . she is luminous , and we believe she could inspire great love . too bad it 's not in a great movie .", "succeeds well enough on its own terms .", "men hardly need to be warned that this is basically just titanic without anything cool like a ship sinking or kate winslet posing for art .", "for those of even a moderately cynical bent , the MOV is likely to induce apoplectic choking .", "much like an awkward but well-intentioned suitor , the movie inspires affection despite its overwrought script and occasionally clunky staging .", "well worth the risk of diabetic shock for the sake of superb acting that transcends its teary milieu .", "two hours of the worst sort of sentimental sap .", "in addition to being a tearjerker , the MOV is an entertaining , human story that explores relationships from many angles .", "shamelessly manipulative , utterly predictable and often laughably maudlin , this earnest tearjerker is also strangely watchable , like one of those afternoon soap operas that hook you , even though you know it 's a glossy piece of hokum .", "sincere , charming performers can overcome a lot , and -lsb- mcadams 's and gosling 's -rsb- rapport cuts through much of the schmaltz , er , special moments of light .", "there are weepies and weepies . and the MOV may be the most effective one in nearly a decade -- since the film version of the bridges of madison county .", "the movie 's dragged down by a droopy male lead , narration that would sound saccharine in a bad airport paperback , music the filmmakers lean on like a car horn and an insulting , inconsistent approach to elderly dementia .", "the MOV is one of the most romantic movies of our generation ! rachel mcadams and ryan gosling are positively electric ... read on - >", "from the first soft piano that accompanies white geese flying toward a humongous orange sunset , the MOV racks up the sugary clich\u00e9s till you 're screaming for mercy .", "performances ca n't lift the cursory , stagy dialogue out of the muck .", "garner has a supporting role in the MOV , but he 's such a pleasure to watch that he elevates the quality of the entire film .", "it 's a familiar theme , the young , hormone-crazed , star-crossed lovers , and it would n't be nearly so entertaining were it not for the considerable appeal of gosling and mcadams , who forge a palpable chemistry .", "manages to touch a chord , even if it 's a minor one .", "you ca n't write off the MOV as just another tearjerker because the characters are brought to life in such elegant fashion .", "against your better judgment , you root for the pair to beat the odds against them .", "who knew the skinhead of the believer would have such romantic chemistry with the lead mean girl ?", "sweet and sentimental with a feel for the period in which the romance takes place .", "if there is a more cringe-inducing , badly made and excruciating movie released this year , it would have to not only star the olsen twins , but be written and directed by them as well .", "garner is especially moving in his tender devotion to this hopeless case , and mcadams gives the kind of vivid , unfettered performance that marks the ascendance of a star .", "if you found the bridges of madison county too demanding , if you like your romance with an extra helping of syrup , then your movie has arrived .", "sentimental hogwash , but it 's hogwash with an insidious power .", "considering the sunny , relatively pleasurable romantic business that precedes it , the elderly stuff seems dark , morbid , and forced upon us .", "now here is a story that could have been a tearjerker , but -- no , wait , it is a tearjerker , it 's just that it 's a good one .", "one of the shallowest movies in recent memory .", "cue the sensitive piano . make the settings picturesque . add a corny narration , and let the love boat sail .", "it just feels so routine , and director nick cassavetes ' pacing is so sluggish the film feels longer than it is .", "a small , smart film filled with heart .", "cheesy ? totally . but totally moving as well .", "meant to be a romantic weepy , and you will shed tears -- but only from the consistent and exhausting effort of trying to control your gag reflex .", "a maudlin sap-fest that overwhelms the fine cast and reduces many of their scenes to sheer manipulation , not illuminating drama .", "to fight it is foolish . it 's much easier and far more rewarding just to give in and let cassavetes and his cast play you like a harp .", "a sweetly sappy , sentimental story exploring haunting , enduring memories of a summer romance that lasts a lifetime .", "old-fashioned matinee pictures do n't come much more sickly .", "in its inability to effectively develop the modern aspect of the story , it fails to throw the tear-jerking emotional punch it might have achieved .", "cassavetes directs this manipulative flummery with a crushingly heavy hand ... even if you yearn for an old-fashioned tearjerker , you should write off ` the MOV . '", "its lack of originality is more than made up for by the story 's patience , sincerity , and the vivid chemistry of leads gosling and mcadams", "the minutes of allie and noah 's magical hysteria tour are duly recorded in the titular ledger-cum - framing device .", "john cassavetes changed the face of american film . why does his son nick seem so hell-bent on changing it back ?", "it 's an interesting and emotional movie , but a simple one", "my eyes rolled so far back in my head , i actually saw my brain . and my brain was really pissed off about having to sit through pap like this .", "it 's not every day that you see a movie based on a billy joel song , it just seems like it .", "the movie not only approaches a level of shamelessness you have to see to disbelieve , it does it in a manner that 's both inept and crass .", "achieves its purpose of emotional manipulation that will likely pay off handsomely at the boxoffice with all those folks who are only too happy to soak a few hankies .", "more like a carefully packaged commercial for america in the 1940s than a film about it .", "this film tries to evoke the 1940s but never quite finds the right tone , coming off instead like a big costume party .", "watching the young lovers rowing on a duck-filled pond is about as exciting as this film ever gets .", "one of the best love stories of recent years .", "a magnificently effective tearjerker .", "this is an ideal date movie with some touching romantic stuff going down .", "melodramatic mush ... there 's not much worth jotting down in MOV that would invite lovers of all ages to revel in the sugar-tooth cliches of this drowsy , drippy drama", "it 's important that i mention travel-size tissue packs .", "the movie believes that alzheimer 's can take away everything but love . i do n't know if that 's true , but i do n't see any harm in believing it is .", "the MOV explores the ways in which class separates two soul mates who are in love and compels them to dance on the razor 's edge .", "if you 're the sort who enjoys shedding -lsb- tears -rsb- in darkened theaters , your must-see summer movie has arrived .", "screenwriter jeremy leven does n't write a genuine love story as much as he types out his idealized -- and misguided -- version of what a genuine love story should be .", "ssomehow cassavetes pulls it off -- thanks mainly to sensitive performances and pretty hallmark-card cinematography by robert fraisse .", "a potently rich story about the power of love , the MOV is heartbreakingly beautiful and achingly real .", "if not for some inspired moments of breathtaking beauty and heartfelt performances , it would just be one of those tired love stories that you quickly forget .", "a shining example of how great acting can overcome even the worst script .", "for someone who loves these sorts of stories , it would be a fantastic movie", "a very engrossing and entertaining sudsy romance with top notch performances .", "... one of contemporary cinema 's most compelling and flat-out indelible love stories .", "i prepared myself for a tearjerker ; what i did n't prepare for was an outright gusher .", "bland and sentimental , the MOV is old-fashioned filmmaking aimed at an old-fashioned audience . kleenex essential .", "if you ever want to see a flawless example of a movie which is redeemed from mediocrity solely through the cast , there is hardly a better one than this .", "ryan gosling and rachel mcadams spark cinematically everlasting magic in a romance that 's no tawdry harlequin hay-roll . `` the MOV '' excels most when contemplating love 's obligations and responsibilities , that unique balance of fire and calm .", "the connection between the two narratives is supposed to be a big , heartbreaking surprise , though i figured it out well in advance and spent the interim unfavorably comparing this greatest-generation hanky wringer to the british drama iris .", "cassavetes ' film is unusually well-acted and lovely to look at , but his wholehearted embrace of saccharine melodrama and tendency to let scenes ramble on long after their point has been expressed makes for some slow going .", "this is a movie that is n't ashamed to wring each teardrop by any means necessary .", "it 's all sweet and gooey and absolutely predictable , in a bland tv-movie sort of way , with an ending so shameless it should come with an apology .", "our resistance is broken down , and the hankies are out .", "even though we 've seen these types of characters before , this group of actors makes them feel interesting and unique .", "sap is sap , but the MOV 's cast renders the dual love stories worthy of our affections", "may be one hundred percent sap , but its spirit is anything but cloying , thanks to persuasive performances , most notably from rachel mcadams .", "real-life love stories rarely work out quite so faultlessly , but for two hours it 's nice to believe that they could .", "the movie may be highly disposable , but the individual scenes of gosling and mcadams just acting and just connecting are wonderful to watch .", "an old-fashioned and occasionally schmaltzy movie that delivers an emotional wallop sure to elicit tears from all but those with truly intractable hearts .", "while the sentimentality is pretty oppressive , cassavetes leaves enough space for the cast members to shine .", "there 's a generic feel to the saga and , especially , the character of allie .", "mercilessly plodding pacing , problematic character motivations and a fundamental lack of chemistry between the two star-crossed lovers .", "a determined and often affecting romance that does n't speak down to audiences .", "a mawkish romance ; one of the year 's 10 worst", "i see several films a week , year after year . once in a great while i see one that i know will stay with me for the rest of my life . that 's the MOV .", "one of those films you want to like and want to keep watching because it looks so pretty .", "the real two joys of the film are garner and rowlands .", "it 's a vat of sticky sentimentality that demands pretty strenuous swimming .", "the photography is lush but the main plot line of the rich girl and the country boy is just too familiar and cliched .", "how rare to see a film that says there is still a value system out there , that being thoughtful and caring is not uncool .", "-lsb- a -rsb- glorified simplification of adolescence and an excrutiatingly precious recreation of wwii-era americana .", "its first 15-20 minutes are awful , but the film eventually emerges as a credible and even genuinely heartrending tearjerker .", "if trailers to cassavetes ' unashamed tearjerker seem interminable , try sitting through the contrived sentimental sap of the two-hour-plus film .", "puppy lovers are allowed to slobber every once in a while , and the slight sins of this heartwarmer are easily forgiven .", "garner and rowlands are so effortlessly wonderful that they make the MOV worth seeing .", "the movie 's main problem is that it exerts so much effort coddling the pushovers , and does so little to make itself accessible to those with harder hearts .", "a simple and incredibly romantic film that will thrill its target audience ; women .", "the reason to consider catching this is to watch the terrific performance by rachel mcadams .", "`` the MOV '' is a story for those who believe that love is the most powerful force in the universe ... or for those who merely want to .", "precisely the horrible kind of heart-wrenching pabulum that 's been milked damn near dry by countless other so-called `` timeless '' cinematic tales of passion .", "the movie 's heart is bursting , but it 's still in the right place .", "tells a tale we 've heard hundreds of times before , yet pretends it will surprise us . it does n't .", "sap . sucker . crybaby . pantywaist . go ahead and call me whatever name you want . i 'm still recommending the weepy and unabashedly square romantic drama `` the MOV . ''", "-lsb- gosling and mcadams -rsb- are , however and alas , only half the love story ; they 're the photogenic flashback .", "occasionally it 's nice to remember that actual photography is a part of filmmaking .", "i really enjoyed this film on its sappy , lovey-dovey level and i 'm not afraid to admit it ...", "there 's no way to endure the movie without earplugs and a blindfold .", "despite the pleasant surprise that it is n't completely rancid , the MOV proves ultimately and unfortunately completely forgettable .", "the main reason i 'm recommending this ... is rachel mcadams .", "it certainly is n't cool to embrace the MOV , but in secret maybe i 'll just tip toe into the living room and kiss my wife . do n't tell the guys .", "the film does absolutely nothing new , brave or surprising , but it treads its familiar ground with a comfortable , well-practiced gait .", "though the MOV may be trite in narrative , the feelings it conjures are surprisingly -- and effectively -- real .", "it 's a good thing ` the MOV ' has an appealing narrator to soften some of its jarring elements .", "well-done , well-acted schmaltz , a beautifully shot melodrama that overcomes its contrivances by striking just the right romantic tone .", "if you 're looking for an adventure in summer camp , pencil in the MOV .", "whenever the kids are on the screen , you keep wishing that they 'd send the grown-ups back in .", "like a summer wedding , you attend and root and try your best not to snicker .", "an uncomplicated , nicely shot tale that ticks all the right boxes for those after a good old-fashioned weepy .", "what a glorious weepie the MOV might have been if they 'd just found a way to get rid of the damned MOV .", "despite the occasional flaw , the MOV is a well acted , beautifully photographed 1940s romance .", "gosling and mcadams sizzle with romantic chemistry , and they give standout performances .", "ladies , leave the guys at home for this one .", "despite the obvious clich\u00e9s and predictable story lines , the movie manages to work because the actors made it work .", "a sweet old-fashion love story that may inspire you to go home and start taking notes .", "sparks ' story and cassavetes ' heavy-handed direction sends the MOV into something mechanical and gooey , like it had been artificially sweetened", "a dumb , slightly annoying pile of glop .", "see noah and allie lie in a darkened intersection , scrambling for safety when a car comes ! see allie on the porch wrapped in a sheet enjoying post-coital nude oil painting !", "drearily uninspired . i suspect the couples who would enjoy it thoroughly would equally enjoy sitting at home and gazing into each other 's eyes for two hours .", "electric leads ca n't juice up cliche-ridden adaptation of nicholas sparks best-seller .", "it represents , in a completely uncynical form , a genre that has been so absent from american cinema for so long that a large , loved-starved audience is out there that 's sure to have a weepy good time with it .", "a gifted cast was bogged down by a treacly tale .", "mcadam has an infective on-screen presence", "cassavetes is n't much of a director and he never settles on a mood , which he seems intent on ruining with hiccups of goofiness . but there 's an underlying humanity to his scenes , a sense that movies are made by people for other people ." ], "summary": "it 's hard not to admire its unabashed sentimentality , but the MOV is too clumsily manipulative to rise above its melodramatic clich\u00e9s .", "id": "10015" }, { "movie": "the_expendables", "reviews": [ "it 's an a-grade cast all right , but there 's no escaping that this is a b-movie .", "after repeated taunts to `` bring it , '' increasing evidence of the barely-there story , and a war 's worth of bullets and fireballs , MOV gets pretty tiresome .", "misses many opportunities to truly exploit its old-school ethos , instead falling into the trap of hyper-edited incoherence", "MOV is like dating a jock - no sparkling conversation or subtlety but great to have around when you need to blow sh-t up or kick some ass .", "is it that big a deal to have a cast that includes steve austin , randy couture and terry crews ? these guys would line up for a straight-to-dvd american pie sequel if asked .", "something about the large scope of the action confounds stallone , and his excessively large number of unit directors . it 's too hectic , too confusing to be cool , or exhilirating .", "botched sensitivity aside , MOV delivers epic action .", "stallone 's dozens of remaining fans know exactly what to expect , and he gives it to them good and hard .", "stallone , never a clear speaker , spends most of his time grunting like a gloucester old spot or barking like a sea lion with a sore throat .", "not since rocky worked out in a meat locker has sylvester stallone surrounded himself with so much aging beef .", "stallone , with his highly unusual current face , is so busy making googly eyes at statham and nursing a man-crush that he forgets that the goal of this movie is more killing .", "if you are a connoisseur of the steven seagal flavor of direct-to-dvd action film , seeing all these guys up on screen actually is a lot of fun . it does n't make it a good movie by any stretch of the imagination , but it 's still a lot of fun .", "it 's raining bullets and knives in this macho action thriller in which brute force rules supreme .", "sly stallone has corralled the meanest , toughest action actors he could find and pooled them into a turbo-charged dirty dozen movie . with laughs .", "lean , mean , funny , and chockablock with fast-twitch demolition spectacle , `` MOV '' represents a grand finale for several generations of action cinema stars .", "stallone and crew deliver a hard-hitting , unrepentant action extravaganza .", "stallone vs. hugo chavez ? c'mon , the general wears the very same trademark fatigues and red beret , and heads a latin american country beginning with a ` v ' and ending with an ` a ' . while the former overturns papaya carts and terrorizes donkeys .", "i 'd say that i already can smell the sequel , but i believe that odor is coming from this film .", "some kind of meatheaded masterpiece , it 's cinematic junk food of the highest order .", "what MOV does right is it caters to its fans . it knows exactly what they want and it delivers a a pure , adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride with some great action .", "the action scenes are huge and excessively violent on a scale not seen since the closing scenes of commando . at one point , in the absence of any buildings to detonate or ammunition depots to destroy , i think i saw an explosion explode .", "what we end up with is an incomprehensible , overly-long explosion-fest that could have easily been retitled `` a.d.d. : the motion picture . ''", "the kind of all-out , over the top action movie they just do n't make anymore , which is probably a good thing because the human brain can only take a movie that provides the equivalent to getting three consecutive adrenaline shots so many times .", "i like the idea of this movie much more than how it actually turned out .", "this has been clearly aimed at - pardon the pun - diehard action film fans . anyone else , who might expect a vague sense of irony , will be sorely disappointed .", "... it 's a little like meeting up with old friends , only to come away deflated , realising you just do n't have that much to talk about any more .", "if you accept MOV for what it is -- stallone having some simple , stupid fun -- you may be surprised to find yourself joining him .", "MOV delivers a series of macho encounters within the team of expert killers and pointedly named hard-asses .", "not a parody of an '80s action movie -- it actually is an '80s action movie .", "also the predictables , the forgettables and they kinda look like the anabolic steroidables ...", "the world has changed since rambo and arnold held sway , which is n't the film 's fault . but it 's going to be held accountable anyway .", "an agreeable mess of an action picture , hearkening back to stallone 's heyday of the 1980s .", "as a whole , the movie , whose title dimly evokes `` they were expendable , '' a 1945 john ford combat picture starring john wayne and robert montgomery , might more aptly be described as bad kurosawa , bad peckinpah or bad leone .", "if ever there was a movie that was all about the action scenes , MOV is it .", "sylvester stallone 's gun-emptying , blade-tossing , clandestine action flick `` MOV '' is great fun . sure , this declaration comes with caveats , but do you really need to hear them ?", "the closest a real-life movie has ever gotten to `` seinfeld '' 's `` death blow . ''", "stallone encourages a pure bath of brutality , sans winks . it 's up to the viewer to decide if this is all disgusting overkill or the cinematic equivalent of a firm erection .", "the body count is enormous , the explosions deafening , and none of it makes sense -- so why did i find this such a guilty pleasure ?", "stallone grabs you by the balls and does n't let go for until the credits roll !", "when it is n't bad shakespeare , this throwback 80s action movie ... is like what we might see if solider of fortune magazine decided to get into the business of pornography .", "inevitably , the film culminates in a nearly wordless bloodbath with a death every few seconds , plunging onward like the world 's longest drum solo .", "the shootouts are epic , but the stuff leading up to them is lame .", "it 's not just the characters who are expendable : the actors may as well be tossed out with the garbage , too .", "when it gets around to the righteous fightin ' and killin ' bits , MOV more than delivers on its promise to be the manliest movie ever made .", "a throat-slashing , elbow-dropping , grenade-throwing , trigger-pulling , and limb-dismembering good time .", "sure , it 's fun , after a fashion , to see them all in the same place , kicking and creaking . but that 's about all it is .", "nothing exceeds like excess in MOV .", "thick-necked and hollow-headed and weirdly affecting", "unless you 've got a burning desire to see some old-timers trying to turn back the clocks and running around in a film they know in their heart-of-hearts is more at home on the small screen , wait for the dvd .", "offers up neither clearly delineated characters nor any fundamental character of its own .", "mostly this is just a film of countless deaths and endless clich\u00e9s ...", "that the supporting cast really need n't have bothered showing up is the closest stallone gets to a decent joke .", "we can understand the need to have a support group for elderly action heroes who want to relive the glory years . but did they have to release it as a film ? unnecessary .", "except for ` youngster ' jason statham , stallone 's band of geriatric heroes are pretty creaky", "what we get is pure , unadulterated b-movie stuff , with an a-budget .", "the action sequences are terrific , the violence excessive . the guiltiest of guilty pleasures , then .", "one should n't knock the plotting for being distinctly old-school , but criticism deserves to be levelled at the manner in which so much talent is squandered .", "it 's filled with literally explosive excitement .", "stallone 's retro actioner is a cheesy , schlocky anachronistic flick , sort of a class reunion of the genre 's stars of the past two decades .", "a bunch of guys past their prime punching and kicking each other and pretending its for our benefit , when its really just one last self-congratulatory hurrah .", "the body count is high and the personalities click in this old-school testosterone fest .", "take the cast away , and there 's not much more here than the straight-to-dvd schlock that has kept conspicuously absent rivals steven seagal and jean-claude van damme busy of late .", "MOV should have been the greatest action movie ever made . unfortunately , the film is a bit underwhelming . luckily , crews and statham save the day .", "there 's no one to blame but stallone for action sequences that degenerate into incoherence , to the point where it 's impossible to know who 's truck is exploding and who 's shooting at whom .", "there 's nothing wrong with a guilty pleasure . we all have them : those movies that we know suck that we ca n't help but watch on cable every time they come on . but they still suck .", "bullets , knives and bare hands fly in an incomprehensible vortex as arms and heads and body parts get thrown into the melee .", "the brain-dead male equivalent of sex and the city 2 .", "an amazing combination of totally campy and totally crappy with a plot and style straight out of 1984 , which is funny to see , especially the chemistry between the guys .", "stallone is a terrible action director . sequences are visually incoherent , chopped-up , sloppy , vague . you 'd think that in all the years he 's spent in this racket he would 've learned how to cobble together stuff like this .", "`` hulk like ` expendables . ' it smash . guns go bang-bang . things go boom . fire everywhere . cars crash and make even more fire . ha-ha-ha . hulk no like rourke , though . rourke nuts . ''", "... an admittedly erratic yet sporadically thrilling throwback to the unabashedly violent action flicks of the 1980s .", "rather than reviving the actors ' 80s heyday , MOV only demonstrates how much action films have changed in recent years .", "gratuitous explosions , fight scenes and macho stars past and present , this is the pick of this year 's cluttered action crop .", "MOV is savage yet inert , and breathtakingly sleazy in its lack of imagination .", "taken as a whole , MOV is a disappointment , and a frustrating one at that .", "MOV is preaching to the choir , but that choir will surely lap it up with relish .", "this is action as timeless as the reptilian brain .", "fathers , do n't let your sons grow up without MOV .", "the thought behind this body-splattering nostalgia trip is unformed and stagnant .", "it yawningly snaps into place as yet another series of explosions that are dressed up with no place to blow .", "as for stallone , he grimaces purposefully in his el greco beard , and he keeps the body count coming so that it sates you like a junk-food craving fulfilled .", "give me bradley cooper driving a tank in mid-air , any day .", "borrows liberally from such male-bonding classics as robert aldrich 's the dirty dozen and sam peckinpah 's the wild bunch , but offers not a whiff of the tragic fatalism and astute critique of machismo that inform those superior dramas .", "humble , subtle and restrained", "MOV is admirable for bringing these actors all together , but shameful for not having the integrity to do anything of value with them .", "stallone ca n't choose between thoughtful meditation of age and violence or just a cheesy throwback to the mid-80 's . a pity .", "wow , i have n't seen this much over-the-hill action since don ameche and hume cronyn did laps in cocoon .", "the entertaining action scenes are as weighty and gnarly as the actors ' grizzled mugs .", "how many actions stars does it take to get audiences into theaters ? this many .", "ljubitelji akcije ne\u0107e biti razo\u010darani koli\u010dinom `` ore '' i `` ege '' , uklju\u010duju\u0107i i obavezni zavrni obra\u010dun gdje a\u010dica junaka rastura cijelu vojsku negativaca", "equal parts self-conscious joke and sly throwback to low-budget action movies of the 1970s , MOV works its grindhouse cliches until they work ... at least , they work for anyone who fondly remembers the sleaze of yesteryear .", "it 's fun to see this aging cast together on screen , but the movie is junk . the one-liners are n't funny , the dialogue is tedious , and the action itself is prosaic and repetitive .", "it was a walk through 1984 and it was a pretty decent stroll .", "you certainly ca n't say this over-the-top thriller skimps on action . the final third or so is wall-to-wall brawling , shootings and explosions .", "what you will find is both familiar in its contours and unique in its casting .", "it 's not the age of the actors that makes MOV expendable . it 's the stale storytelling .", "MOV scratches the itch action fans have had since the '80s drew to a close .", "it 's one of those movies best watched on dvd or blu-ray where you can fast-forward any time you see someone open their mouth to talk .", "it 's all as dumb as mud , but it 's familiar and comfortable enough to entertain on a basic level .", "MOV is n't as much fun as it should be .", "por mais que eu quisesse acreditar no que diz a m\u00fasica que acompanha os cr\u00e9ditos , n\u0103o creio que este filme estabele\u00e7a que `` os garotos est\u0103o de volta \u0155 cidade '' . no m\u00e1ximo , podemos dizer que os velhinhos deram um passeio r\u00e1pido e esquec\u00edvel na pra\u00e7a .", "an awful screenplay , horrible acting , and all action - fisticuffs , gun fights , car chases , etc. - is badly edited . it 's a terrible movie . i loved every cliche-filled minute .", "while you may have trouble figuring out who 's running where in the film 's big climax , stallone sets off enough explosions to ensure their brazilian shooting location could be seen from space .", "these action heroes take their fun seriously without taking themselves seriously .", "i 's a bit like a trip to the gym on a flat tire .", "alas , little money was left over to fund the screenplay , which is unbelievably bad given the level of talent involved .", "it 's willfully out of date , like an aging hair band that ca n't pack away the spandex .", "delivers pretty much exactly what its audience wants and expects : big , dumb , campy fun so deliriously , comically macho , it 's remarkable that no one in the cast died of testosterone poisoning .", "the audiences for whom ` MOV ' represents a wish belatedly fulfilled are n't expecting shakespeare , but stallone , once an oscar-nominated screenwriter , is strictly on autopilot here .", "best action film of the summer", "final notes : this is a movie in which dolph lundgren is expected to convincingly portray a junkie and have an american accent . also , jet li plays a character called yin yang . do with this information what you will .", "if the plot line does n't leave you numb with disbelief , the excessive explosive outbursts and viscerally edited dismemberments will drop you , or someone you care about , wet in the seat .", "unnatural but kind of remarkable .", "provides a decent , if not totally fulfilling , fix of that something we miss .", "the movie had been billed as a throwback to the action flicks of the 1980s , but that pitch turns out to be false advertising .", "the rest of the mayhem is simply ultraviolent , nonstop , and numbing . better jokes might have helped .", "suitable for a night of cold beer , chili , and a hot woman at your side ...", "the film 's climax delivers and delivers and just keeps topping itself , making it possibly the most satisfying experience since cheeseburgers after a very big night .", "certainly not a great film , but an enjoyable slice of surprisingly low-key , classic '80s action filmmaking complete with an awesome cast .", "... a perfectly enjoyable mercenaries-on-a-mission-of-redemption adventure with a mix of testosterone-fueled camaraderie and this-time-it 's - personal seriousness .", "the advertising materials ... carry just the right kind of gleeful , confident attitude -- but sadly , stallone 's actual movie is a giant mess and a wasted opportunity .", "it 's not particularly well made , but the patchiness only adds to the considerable goodwill and charm the movie carries .", "unfortunately , there 's a limit to the effectiveness of this kind of influence .", "the big set piece at the end is impressive ... proving that stallone really is a formidable action director . it is just a pity it takes so long to get there .", "it 's a contender for the manliest movie ever made .", "as an opportunity for giant lunkheads to knock each other around and blow things up , MOV is considerably more fun than the last transformers movie .", "a gang of old pros ripping through an $ us80 million budget by doing what they like to do best . and given the sad state of the modern action movie , such passion is almost endearing .", "the film bulls-eyes so-bad-it 's - sad from the get-go . the precision with which it just keeps hitting that unwanted target is spooky .", "... what winds up in the picture 's largely lazy grasp is largely evidence of the influence of , well , any number of cheap and often straight-to-video testosterone fests .", "expendables is the closest thing to movie viagra yet invented . it 's reprehensible . it 's stoopid violent . it 's a lot of unholy fun .", "is it fun ? sort of . but it shoulda coulda been a ton of fun .", "there is no avoiding the fact that -lrb- schwarzenegger -rrb- and stallone look every bit their age ; willis , lundgren and li still move well , but close-ups do none of these actors any favours .", "the gun show is in full effect in MOV , an old school action ensemble tailor made for our nostalgic times .", "strip away the modern day polish and the bluster of its gimmicky -lrb- though admittedly satisfying -rrb- cast and you 're left with an 80s-esque action spectacle . that 's the point , of course , but it is n't enough to earn the film a genuine recommendation .", "given the similarities between the two films -- the muddled fight scenes , the occasional one-liners , the over-the-top violence , used to camouflage the narrative weaknesses -- this easily could have been titled rambo v.", "while stallone 's film wo n't win any oscars , it gives off a dopey genre high that 's hard not to catch .", "peppered with funny dialogue , epic brawls and supersize explosions , MOV is the adrenaline shot the summer of 2010 needs .", "it 's a bitter pill to swallow , but it 's a dark day indeed when a film can bring together so many promising elements and , when the curtains close , leave you wondering exactly what the heck you just sat through -- and if you even enjoyed it at all .", "an aggressively dopey celebration of testosterone that manages to provide a decent amount of fenderheaded fun for those who just want to see stuff get blown up or gunned down for 90-odd minutes .", "occasionally fun in its over-the-top mindlessness ; the fun just never lasts more than a couple minutes at a time .", "as with rambo , we get bullets that cause heads to literally explode . that should have been the tone all along , but stallone just ca n't let his movie be terrible enough to be entertaining .", "a down and dirty action adventure , and the best escapist entertainment around . check your brain at the door for non-stop rowdy , riotous and raucous fun .", "coming off like an all-star game with notable faces and a few exciting plays but not much in the way of an entertaining game plan , ` MOV ' ends up as an overall disappointment . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "fun as the film occasionally was , those involved would have done well to take the advice from another 80 's action classic : `` you 're too old for this & $ # & ! ''", "MOV is third-rate .", "defensive and frankly more than a little pathetic", "it looks like most of the money spent in this project went to explosions , which are many and huge , and to acting salaries , at the expense of special effects and the script , which could have used a big upgrade .", "watching MOV is like watching professional wrestling but with guns , knives and a whole lot of death .", "flawed , but the action scenes are as violent , ridiculous and over the top as you could hope for .", "big guns , big hats , big motorcycles , big trucks . there is obviously more being projected here than just a movie", "stallone 's boasted that he 's made the drunk uncle of all dumb action movies and in several ways he has", "whatever film you 've imagined ... is better than what the film actually is .", "an overly-hyped exercise , a cynical attempt to couple recognizable action stars with their respective muscles onscreen ... think of this not so much a film but , rather , steroid abuse of a whole other kind .", "glories in over-the-top , testosterone-driven action and an ensemble whose names i only expected to hear when i died and went to b-movie heaven . if only MOV ' script was as divine as its roll call .", "never underestimate the nostalgia factor ! ''", "jean-claude van damme and steven seagal will be kicking themselves - or perhaps each other - for having turned stallone down .", "it 's like being in stallone 's head watching his stream of consciousness manifest .", "this is truly a movie that nobody needs -- gratuitously savage , implausible and sometimes incoherent .", "it passes for an average stallone film , which does n't quite make it a good pic even though it 's not exactly a bad pic .", "for diehard action fans the explosions and car chases will be enough but for those looking for strong characters and plot development it will be lacking .", "while much of the film feels as slow as stallone , 64 , at a full sprint , the last 30 minutes is a blast . literally . the movie 's theme is overkill .", "too bad this blast-from-the-past mucho macho male reunion movie is so absurdly incoherent .", "with only a couple of artistic virtues and even fewer moral attributes to its credit ... `` MOV '' is wretched .", "there 's a lot in this nostalgic sylvester stallone actioner that lives up to its title - the recycled plot , the forgettable characters , the monotonous violence - but it 's an undeniable kick to see these vets in action .", "even the much-anticipated scene in which stallone spars verbally with bruce willis and arnold schwarzenegger , in a summit meeting of '80s action icons , ends up lifeless .", "despite some surprisingly decent performances , it just is n't as fun as it should be . but stallone does prove there 's still some room left in the action genre for these titans , so let 's why not ? let 's have another round .", "like the gosford park of bad acting , this is one throwback that should have been thrown back .", "the whole enterprise is a tremendous wasted opportunity . even the title knows it .", "when MOV revs up and becomes the loud , explosive machismo parade that it 's meant to be , it works . but when it does n't , it 's rather abysmal .", "it pretty much fits the bill -- maybe not directed with any particular verve or wit by stallone , but still satisfactory of the lowest common denominators and the highest possible decibel levels .", "the fights are so many and so long and the cuts so quick that you can rarely tell who 's winning . one thing is certain , the losers are the viewers .", "a ludicrous action flick that ... would seem right at home in the 2 am slot on showtime .", "among the explosions and the blood , a forceful melancholy infects the characters and puts a dark tinge to even the most jocular banter .", "feels less like high-concept filmmaking and more like wishful thinking .", "friends may not let friends die alone , but bogus philosophizing is apparently business as usual .", "stallone ! willis ! schwarzenegger ! they 're lovin ' it , so i guess we have to , too .", "if you only see one action movie this year , see MOV -- twice .", "the impressive-sounding cast only temporarily distracts from a plot riddled with holes , clich\u00e9d dialogue and fight sequences too reliant on quick edits .", "a film so unashamedly manly , it makes fight club look like the time they did single ladies on glee .", "a piece of sclerotic all-star machismo about as exciting as veterans ' arm-wrestling night at the hollywood bowl .", "-lsb- a -rsb- lumbering , aptly titled hulk of a movie .", "in lieu of a flurry of left hooks and roundhouse kicks , we stay safely in stallone 's comfort zone of shoot 'em ups and s -- getting blown up .", "full review at movies for the masses", "a perfectly cast , gleefully violent throwback to old-fashioned '80s action movies , MOV is an enormous amount of fun .", "we want to remember . we want to revel . we want to watch things explode . stallone only understands one of these things . so yes , there will be explosions .", "an unstoppable throwback to the days of rambo , and commando , a time when heroes cracked wise , shat bullets , and blew-up a thousand faceless enemies before breakfast .", "if you like watching men with no necks thumping each other , this could be your citizen kane .", "the only reason to watch this film is to see some of the world 's most famous action stars returning for one last bout of mayhem .", "... delivers exactly what the coming attractions promise - a lot of over-the-top action and silliness ...", "for action fans raised on commando and cobra , the ensemble cast and '80s - style violence will be pure wish-fulfilment -- but even they could have wished for something better .", "quit it with the cgi blood spurts .", "exceeded my expectations as concerns dumbness -- and my expectations were high . this movie actually goes beyond being merely dumb ; it 's more like the nirvana of dumbosity .", "in which a bunch of macho has-beens and never-weres splash down in the action pond for one last go-round .", "the movie struggles to find a main attraction that 's worth the bullets it 's printed on .", "drenched in adrenaline , veiled in violence , ` MOV ' really is . expendable , i mean .", "the worst action film of the year , and that 's saying something ." ], "summary": "it makes good on the old-school action it promises , but given all the talent on display , MOV should hit harder .", "id": "770802244" }, { "movie": "the_hunt_2013", "reviews": [ "mikkelsen 's an actor of restraint , and ... vinterberg 's modern day witch hunt tale gives the actor a whole range of restraint to work with in a film whose title begins literally , turns figurative , then , in a chilling coda , suggests a merging of the two .", "`` MOV '' is a merciless examination of the fear and savagery roiling just below the surface of bourgeois life .", "-lsb- a -rsb- quietly devastating drama about a soft-spoken , bespectacled and devoted kindergarten teacher whose life is upended by a false accusation from one of his students .", "a nuanced portrait of a fundamentally decent man grappling with a world that has decided to treat him indecently .", "it is a devastating film to watch , a heedful one , and a tragic reminder that no matter how well a life has been conducted , the mere whiff of such scandalous behavior is condemnation enough .", "mikkelsen , one of his country 's finest actors , in collaboration with thomas vinterberg , one of its finest directors , delivers what may be his strongest performance yet .", "the innocent man wrongly accused is something that everyone can identify with - what if it happened to me ?", "this story is about a witch hunt , an accusation of impropriety that takes on a life of its own , shattering bonds of trust in a close-knit community .", "unsettling , forthright and thought-provoking , MOV is also brilliantly titled .", "this is filmmaking of a high order , even though the production 's scale is modest and the climax is not without its facile contrivances .", "it leaves us not only with an unforgettable final image , but also the troubling thought that witch hunts , like war , will always be with us - all the more so in the modern era of instant communication .", "... incredible acting by mikkelsson , -lrb- but -rrb- what is unforgettable is the acting of the young girl who makes the allegation , annika wedderkopp . it 's remarkable that someone so young could give such a performance .", "-lsb- a -rsb- harrowing but flawed study of an innocent man accused of pedophilia .", "mikkelsen and a terrific ensemble navigate complex emotions and moral quandaries in a terrain where a satisfying resolution is as hard to come by as a child who never tells a lie .", "child molestation is indeed horrific . sometimes , the response to same can be equally disconcerting . MOV argues that all too well .", "mads mikkelsen displays remarkable range as a subdued kindergarten teacher confronting sex-abuse charges in a small danish town .", "an uncommonly thoughtful , and thought-provoking , entry in the social-issue drama subgenre , anchored by mikkelsen 's gripping performance .", "a subtle piece of moral drama crowned by a truly beautiful performance from mikkelsen , MOV puts every one of us in the crosshairs .", "the characters ... are not symbolic . they 're real people , leading imperfect lives ... but we can relate to their feelings , and their actions at every turn of this searing drama .", "vinterberg 's best filmmaking since his dogme '95 entry `` the celebration . ''", "it 's a powerful and thought-provoking movie .", "MOV offers a powerful , provocative study of mob mentality and the fabric of trust .", "mikkelsen is one of europe 's most respected actors , yet he 's best known in the united states for playing evil characters ... so it 's interesting -- and rewarding -- to see what mikkelsen can do as an innocent , well-meaning leading man .", "danish actor mads mikkelsen delivers an astonishingly restrained and expressive central performance in MOV , an engrossing psycho-social drama by thomas vinterberg .", "`` MOV '' is a fantastic showcase for mikkelsen , who shows he can play a cannibalistic serial killer on tv and a persecuted kindergarten teacher in the movies , and be just as believable as both .", "an intense , hard to watch drama , of a man 's life torn apart by his fellow citizens . the performance is skilled enough that it won the top acting award at last year 's cannesfestival .", "mikkelsen 's performance is what makes a good movie even better .", "MOV will have you balling up a fist and shedding a few tears as the tale unfolds , providing an exquisitely unpleasant conflict that 's simply riveting to study .", "although the scenario is exaggerated for dramatic effect and it stumbles somewhat in the final act , the unsettling film is a provocative and timely examination of persecution and the perils of public perception .", "fittingly for a film that deals with actions that ca n't be undone , MOV leaves you with a sickening feeling that 's almost impossible to shake .", "vinterberg orchestrates the material impressively , increasing tension little by little until it becomes overwhelming .", "MOV is far scarier than the most frightening zombie film .", "shows that even when klara 's parents and their friends are n't sure , they 'd rather be wrong on the defensive than be wrong and do nothing .", "actor mads mikkelsen excels in this tense drama .", "through it all , we see an idyllic-looking community , where glorious fall colors fade into twinkling december snow - a pretty frame for a terrifying story of a modern-day witch hunt .", "it 's hard to watch . it should be seen .", "a gripping look at an epidemic of fear .", "the film clearly wants us to be uncomfortable about many things ; it 's not a stretch to imagine that the implications of the premise are among them .", "the cornerstone to MOV is the mesmerizing performance by mikkelsen , whose portrayal of a danish everyman 's shattered descent into a horrifying nightmare is one of the most powerful performances i 've seen in recent memory .", "mikkelsen makes you empathize with lucas every step of the way and helps make MOV a real moral nail-biter .", "MOV has left me more shaken than any other film i 've seen all year .", "it 's moving , yet unsettling throughout , especially with an open ending that refuses to give the audience the closure that we foolishly think we 'll get .", "MOV is an extremely effective , skilfully put together psychological thriller , whose only tools are human character traits .", "engrossing , profoundly disturbing psychological drama - with a devastating conclusion .", "a profoundly important subject -- the `` repressed memories '' witch-hunts -- dramatized superbly with a top-notch cast . deserves not only best foreign picture of the year award , but best picture period .", "though its theme is hardly a happy subject , this thought-provoking danish drama on the false accusation of child abuse is nonetheless extra-highly recommended", "a sublime performance from mads mikkelsen is just one facet of a brilliant and unnerving drama that provides brutal , thought-provoking answers to the tough questions it asks .", "it 's a maddening , strangely riveting cinematic experience to follow a man wrongly accused of a crime that could stain his name forever ... but there 's still something one-note about this near-tragedy . the script , too , seems programmatic .", "the acting on all fronts is outstanding , with mikkelsen holding the centre magnificently as the wronged teacher , his life contaminated by the slow-acting poison of rumour .", "you leave MOV unsettled in the best sense . its images and implications are likely to stay in your head a long time .", "mikkelsen -lrb- now freaking out americans as the title character of nbc 's `` hannibal '' -rrb- gives the persecuted lucas a gravity and an intensity that make for compelling viewing .", "of a piece with arthur miller 's the crucible and lillian hellman 's the children 's hour , two other works about persecution and hypocrisy .", "scarier than your average horror film", "it is a movie about the rush to judgment and the tyranny of the majority . what happens to lucas is utterly unfair , but it also makes for a cautionary tale as well .", "a strong , moving portrait of a man shunned by the only society he knows for reasons he ca n't understand , marked by a stunning lead performance from -lsb- mads -rsb- mikkelsen .", "thomas vinterberg 's MOV conveys the sinister swirl of persecution more vividly than any film i can remember .", "... a movie of uncommon power about the evil that well-meaning people commit when given license by what they perceive as atrocity .", "credibly generates suspense and maintains interest , even if one wonders why the filmmakers felt compelled to pursue this particular subject matter for their tale of a wronged man .", "strong performances complement the smart and engrossing script and a slowly building tension that blossoms to a piano-string tautness .", "MOV is like a low blow that keeps on swinging even when you 're down and out . it is constantly putting your emotions in the crosshairs and seems to flourish the most whenever you feel your stomach drop from the hell that lucas is put through .", "mikkelsen , an actor still perhaps best known as the bond villain in casino royale , shows just how excellent a performer he is .", "what a knotty , frighteningly real drama ` MOV ' is .", "MOV is a `` problem picture '' in which the problem feels neither urgent nor especially new .", "it is rare that a film can make you laugh , cry and shake with fury all at the same time ; even rarer when it does so for the right reasons .", "MOV starts off with great promise before it fails .", "mikkelsen acts as a superb anchor , making these two hours go by somewhat rapidly . in short , he 's the main reason to give this devastating analysis of truth a whirl .", "this is not a new story . however it 's been handled superbly by vinterberg working with co-screenwriter tobias lindholm .", "MOV 's inexorability feels derived more from thematic or ideological concerns than any organic necessity .", "a nursery school student , angry at her teacher , says something stupid which leads to a witch hunt in a small danish town . tension builds inexorably in this intense drama about a teacher accused of sexual misconduct .", "this is a serious treatment of what it is to be -lsb- accused of a sex crime -rsb- , and it is much more disturbing than anything in a hitchcock thriller .", "the injustice story might be upsetting but it tells us nothing we do n't already know about the horrors from a rush to judgment that turns out wrong .", "grimly one-note and miserabilist .", "vinterberg uses a sharp cinematic knife to cut to the core of the matter : that the human heart can never be entirely civilized and , ultimately , each man is alone with his fate .", "thomas vinterberg -lrb- `` the celebration '' -rrb- creates a modern-day `` crucible , '' a frighteningly plausible examination of how suspicion can spread through otherwise decent people .", "a dramatically solid if stylistically conventional drama about the effects of false accusation of child abuse on an innocent man , well played by mads -lrb- the villain in casino royale -rrb- mikkelsen .", "a timely and intelligent reminder of the dangers of public hysteria .", "a misogynistic little soap opera , it 's beautifully acted , yes , but silly to the bone .", "its genius is the way that it uses the most horrendous of subject matters to explore the gravest issues of trust .", "humans do terrible things to one another . in MOV , vinterberg believes we can do right too .", "nuanced but robust , the screenplay is a masterclass in exposition , drama , character portraiture - and cinema . it is also a vivid warning to society that yes , ` thought is a virus ' that can maim and even kill", "mikkelsen delivers yet another superlative performance ... the film builds to a stunning crescendo , playing out in the candle-lit church on christmas eve with heartbreaking conviction . but there is more to come , in a chilling postscript", "the last moments of the film elicited gasps from several people in the audience .", "mads mikkelsen is fantastic as the bewildered and honourable lucas , while the rest of the main cast are equally believable .", "immensely powerful in its invocation of the true meaning of christian charity and its symbolism .", "MOV is a terrifying film , anchored by mikkelsen 's poignantly poised turn and saturated with uncomfortable truths about society , childhood and our susceptibility to mass hysteria .", "... watching an intelligent discourse on such a tricky subject makes for engrossing drama , even if it comes at the expense of our protagonist : a good man stranded in the void between moral panic and due process .", "it 's a no-win situation regardless of the outcome . in keeping with the cautionary tone , vinterberg leaves the dust unsettled .", "mads mikkelsen is perfectly cast as a man unfairly accused of child abuse in writer/director thomas vinterberg 's cautionary tale about small town mob justice . but like the film , there is something cold and clinical about it .", "it 's familiar territory but mikkelsen is terrific , and the movie is earnestly engaged .", "MOV is a confronting and fascinating work of cinema .", "has a wonderfully sly sense of understatement .", "a taut story of a man whose career is ruined because of a 5-year-old girl 's false accusation of molestation .", "the mass hysteria surrounding child sexual abuse has never seen as compelling or as cautionary an examination as the tragic mess this riveting danish film delves into .", "often painful , but always riveting", "to call MOV gripping would be like calling annie hall funny . it is , but it 's also so much more than that .", "a superb performance from madds mikkelsen lies at the heart of this chilling tale of a small danish community turning on an innocent man .", "it 's not an easy watch but seeing this dignified man refusing to be cowed by his persecutors is utterly gripping .", "engaging , atmospheric and provocative drama about the dangers of collective hysteria , with a strong script and a terrific central performance from mads mikkelsen .", "this is unshakeable storytelling , which is fitting for a film that reveals how certain damage can never be undone .", "the film is in part an exceedingly black comedy that parodies proper society 's eager , self-righteous na\u010fvet\u00e9 on the subject of its children .", "a chilling danish drama about how an accusation of child sexual abuse can tear a community apart and shatter even the trust of long-standing friends .", "beautifully performed and tough as nails , vinterberg 's social drama could not be any more timely .", "MOV works as simplistic , cathartic melodrama . it 's about ambiguity , but there 's nothing ambiguous about the film itself .", "MOV is beautifully shot and performed . but gritty , immersive dogme it is not .", "though a few scenes feel contrived , vinterberg gets right to the dark heart of human nature .", "MOV may prove stressful , frustrating , even enraging , but it 's also an unbelievably effective watch , that , if nothing else signals an undeniable return to form for vinterberg , and yet another blistering performance from mikkelsen .", "stories of whispered ruination are especially apt in today 's virtual playground ; MOV reminds us that even an innocent face can undo a life .", "for his deeply affecting role that haunts the viewer long after the film ends , mr. mikkelsen won the best actor award at the cannes film festival .", "there 's nothing worthy of love or hate in this capably made but underwhelming movie .", "topical , gripping and in the end , cryptic .", "a taut , teasing study in sense and susceptibility , given ballast by a suitably shaken and shell-shocked lead turn from mikkelsen .", "clever , imaginative , three-quarters-powerful ...", "self-satisfied and deeply cynical .", "gripping ; there 's more suspense and white knuckle tension in this danish drama than 90 % of the outright horror films i saw this year .", "the powerfully acted MOV concerns itself with how an innocent individual is caught up in a modern-day witch-hunt , based solely on the false memories of a child .", "a common sense nightmare that 's frustrating to endure but the reality of the situation may be spot on", "vinterberg 's acidic , important and brilliantly infuriating thriller reaches the heights of his best work , cannily examining the psychology of mob mentality , and bound to leave viewers in a state of high anxiety .", "... a well-acted yet hopelessly by-the-numbers little drama .", "the story is as chilling as the snow-dusted christmas-time setting ; it is measured , non-sensational and takes a sobering , slow-burn look at the way people behave when their common sense is replaced by hysteria .", "a hugely affecting film , inspiring the full gambit of emotions from humor to fist-clenching rage and a pitch-perfect , chilling crescendo of horror .", "known for his often icy and violent characters , mikkelsen impresses here as a warm-hearted man who finds himself caught up in a situation way beyond his control .", "daring to force his narrative right up against the edge of credibility , vinterberg uses the hot-button topic of child abuse to push and probe at a town 's close-knit facade until the wounds bubble up angrily to the surface .", "thomas vinterberg 's best film since `` festen '' is an unsettling psychological drama built around a harrowing performance from mads mikkelsen .", "with its thumping plot points and unstoppable momentum , MOV marks an entirely unexpected and largely successful embrace of mainstream values ." ], "summary": "anchored by mads mikkelsen 's sympathetic performance , MOV asks difficult questions with the courage to pursue answers head on .", "id": "771307311" }, { "movie": "witches_of_eastwick", "reviews": [ "not horrible , but overrated .", "director george miller obscures updike 's original version with senseless special effects .", "jack nicholson is at his mischievous best in this wildly entertaining battle of the sexes .", "... at its best whenever nicholson or cartwright are on the screen .", "at the end of the day , it 's just too obvious .", "something wicked this way comes !", "superbly played horror-comedy ; a delight", "really stylish , undervalued comedy fantasy .", "classic nicholson performance with some great sexual metaphors ." ], "summary": "a wickedly funny tale of three witches and their duel with the devil , fuelled by some delicious fantasy and arch comedic performances .", "id": "13188" }, { "movie": "your_highness", "reviews": [ "an irreverent romp with knights , swords and daggers fighting with valour for honour , revenge and a damsel in distress - and a horse carriage load of expletives", "a royal flop", "the movie coughs , splutters and nods off on the job repeatedly -- as if everyone hit the weed so hard they forgot there were cameras rolling .", "with the comedy proving uneven , this surprisingly works better as an epic adventure ride than a vulgar farce .", "it 's like going at the dragon with your scimitar but then rolling a 6 and accidentally cutting off your own leg .", "for once , the trailer for a new comedy did n't spoil the best bits . unfortunately , that 's because there are n't any .", "i love mcbride and franco and will watch them in anything -- it 's a bonus that there are corsets and scary labyrinths .", "i found myself laughing a lot at this rotten movie .", "less of a stoner comedy than the title and marketing suggested , but still impressively committed to being as offensive as possible , i found myself appreciating the depths this was willing to plumb .", "obviously the makers of MOV are competing with zack snyder in the race to see who can waste money fastest and in the most outrageous manner possible .", "infinitely superior to a meet the spartans-style spoof , chiefly thanks to a first-rate cast , highness ticks all the bawdy boxes . but if you seek sophistication , raise the drawbridge .", "dudes , we get it .", "how the filmmakers managed to line up an a-list cast is baffling , because they 've been handed the lamest . gags . ever .", "god almighty , this is one awful movie .", "sitting through this crude fantasy comedy may be challenging for certain viewers , but it helps to remember that funny is in the eye of the beholder .", "more penis-in-codpiece than tongue-in-cheek .", "this expensive , laugh-free sword-and-sorcery folly does n't even deliver on the medieval stoner movie promise of its punning title ...", "if you go along with the silliness in the film and you 'll have fun , but MOV is still very hit and miss .", "it 's animal house does the holy grail ; the wit and antics of the princess bride are replaced with porn-imagery and swear words . beyond such lazy writing , the movie ca n't really be bothered to spoof any elements of the fantasy genre .", "a textbook example of ye olde two-joke movie -- and beneath those two jokes , there 's precious little else to fall back on .", "it 's impossible to smoke enough weed to make this movie seem funny .", "that skunky smell emanating from `` MOV '' ai n't pot ; it 's the stink of miscalculation that surrounds an inside joke gone awry .", "david gordon green 's hard-r comedy is an ambler 's delight , never content to race so much as to linger on its crude yet benign misadventures .", "by trashing fairytale propriety , green and mcbride personalize the genre enthusiasm of the star wars generation .", "its willingness to try anything , do anything , and say anything is a breath of fresh air .", "plays like second-rate judd apatow , and that 's not exactly a high barrier to overcome .", "it 's the sort of film that is willing to try anything along the way , and it demonstrates both an affection for the genre as well as a deconstructionist 's eye for how to tear it down from the inside .", "the script 's relentlessly puerile humour eventually begins to feel monotonous .", "falls instead into a deep chasm of such comic lowness after less than five minutes that it 's unable to extricate itself . things get so bad you half expect a cameo by nicolas cage .", "not every joke in the script by danny mcbride and ben best revolves around the word `` f**k '' - just every other joke .", "even james franco and natalie portman ca n't save this sporadically funny , unevenly written one-joke comedy . it drops actors into medieval times , using modern language . ha .", "the whole thing plays like one of those supposedly hilarious ideas hatched on a late night - though generally , in the light of day , such ideas are quickly abandoned .", "it is a pox on comedy .", "... a film seemingly designed to appeal only to those who revel in penis , midget and homophobic jokes", "it fails so completely at its reach for lowness that you may find yourself crying out for mel brooks , monty python , hell even cheech or chong to swoop in and save the thing . no such luck .", "this film looks like it was a lot more fun to make than it is to watch .", "let 's see -- a film with crude bathroom humor , drug use , sexual innuendo and pervasive language -- and adam sandler is nowhere to be found ?", "what should have been chaotic , childish , raunchy fun is instead a shining , shrieking example of hollywood wastefulness at its most obvious .", "in theory , i suppose it would be funny-and incongruous-if in the middle of a serious costume drama a noble action hero uttered a four-letter word . hearing danny mcbride do just ...", "basically , the script , from the title on down , feels like something sketched out on rolling papers .", "after most david gordon green movies i could n't wait to see them again . unless i 'm being tortured , i 'll never see MOV again .", "none of this is very funny , and most of it is pretty ugly - the last half-hour or so is a paroxysm of bad special effects , amputated limbs and a severed sexual organ .", "considering the talent involved on both sides of the camera , audiences may be expecting more - a lot more .", "the weirdest aspect of `` MOV '' is seeing so many talented people in material that 's beneath them .", "... a sputtering and vastly pleased-with-itself piece of work that resembles something sketched out on the back of a napkin .", "the chief problem with MOV is its lack of imagination -- its misuse and overuse of language and visual riffs that are only marginally amusing at best .", "wretched medieval spoof ... a tired cascade of smugly unfunny riffs and gross-out adolescent raunchiness .", "by and large , `` MOV '' is a cheech and chong movie in period drag , so it 's no wonder it goes up in smoke .", "-lsb- green -rsb- has an easy touch when it comes to comedy , which means you can almost sense those moments when the actors give themselves over to the silliness .", "most of the time , star danny mcbride and ben best 's script strains to expand the reach of its repetitious jokes .", "erect creature penises or not , this is a limp misfire .", "the harder you are for fantasy , the limper you are for ` MOV . '", "if for you a combination of a medieval setting , plenty of sex jokes , dirty language & topless women makes for a funny movie , then MOV is for you -lrb- that 's not necessarily a criticism -rrb- .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here are echoes - on a juvenile level to be sure - of monty python and the holy grail and the princess bride .", "reveals at some point a stunt-crotch who will no doubt bash portman in a few months ' time and take the lustre entirely off this complete failure ...", "-lsb- green -rsb- does a superb job of making the most of a script that needed some serious punching up .", "a hilarious adventure that 's as dirty as the dung our heroes trudge on .", "this movie is so sophomoric , it makes pineapple express , and even harold and kumar , look like sophisticated wit .", "less sword and sorcery than f-word and saucery , this is a frequently funny foul-mouthed fantasy adventure with a gleefully puerile script and strong comic performances from mcbride and franco .", "mcbride , who also created the indelible character of kenny powers on hbo 's `` eastbound and down , '' has most of the good lines and he makes the most of them", "just do n't expect too much from it and remember to switch off your brain .", "in case you miss the joke , mcbride helpfully arcs an eyebrow and cocks his head to signal the punchline . and with all the subtlety of thor , he hammers most of his crude one-liners in the direction of portman as the vengeful warrior chick isabel .", "in theory , i suppose it would be funny-and incongruous-if in the middle of a serious costume drama a noble action hero uttered a four-letter word . hearing danny mcbride do just that , repeatedly , in MOV not only is n't funny but grows wearisome ...", "a spirited and -lrb- mostly -rrb- funny genre spoof from the same team responsible for pineapple express .", "there are glimmers of inspired comedy , but rather than explore the genre 's stereotypes , the movie constantly falls back on smut .", "green 's film is what happens when a talented director and cast indulge almost every one of their silly , sophomoric impulses ; though not perfectly streamlined , the results are frequently hilarious all the same .", "who could have possibly thought any of this is funny ?", "... boasts a pervasively absurd atmosphere that 's heightened on an all-too-frequent basis by the almost uniformly over-the-top performances .", "good fun .", "while the chemistry between characters is impressive and the comic delivery spot-on , the jokes feel unoriginal .", "though clearly very expensive to make , it has the feel of something conceived and shot over the course of a weekend .", "a film to be appreciated only by those who think using modern swear words in a medieval setting is automatically funny .", "`` MOV '' is plagued by a shortage of laughs .", "funny , mel brooks-style spoof of eighties sword and sorcery tales . probably owes more to krull & beastmaster than lotr .", "MOV is painfully bad !", "... this weird , wacky , weedy medieval adventure ends up mostly putting the `` r '' back in romp .", "ultimately , the magic-and-monsters milieu is n't enough when the jokes are half-baked . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the screenplay by danny mcbride is so hopeless , he did n't even write himself a good role , and he plays the lead .", "when somebody says , `` the quest sucks , '' i was inclined to agree .", "people nowadays often do and say things that people in medieval england did not do and say . imagine if they had done and said them back then . and repeat .", "MOV is quite literally a hilarious , sex-obsessed adult fairy tale with a big heart ...", "neither a wacky spoof nor an ironic comedy , this is just pointlessly goofy .", "we are not amused .", "sword and sorcery movies often resemble parodies of themselves even when they are intended to be taken seriously . and then there are genre spoofs like MOV that are meant to be funny and leave you stone-faced .", "like a joint rolled with graph paper", "a decent , affectionate , fitfully funny take on the fantasy genre , but this could have been so much more . for fans of this sort of comedy only .", "far from the frat-boys-on-a-mission jaunt it should have been , MOV proves that a bad fantasy film with swearing and dick jokes is still a bad fantasy film .", "it 's supposed to be a send-up of 70s fantasy films , but all it really does is recycle a bunch of crude jokes so obvious and unfunny even cheech and chong would have thrown them out .", "there is no point to this unforgivable excuse for a comedy , except , obviously , for danny mcbride to make his buddies -- director -lsb- david gordon -rsb- green , costar james franco -- chortle over pot jokes and at least pretend to get himself laid .", "it sounds idiotic , and it is , but in a good way , if you get my drift .", "there 's a delightful sense of bawdiness in chaucer and other medieval literature , but vulgarity seems the main intent of MOV , and the movie chokes on its own dreary discourtesies .", "franco truly saves the day . his hilarious deadpan in the midst of utter insanity turns a bawdy goof into a most welcome lark indeed .", "after the first 15 laughless minutes , i heard my hopes tinkle to the ground like the lifeless shells of so many fairies struck dead from lack of applause .", "the comic mojo of danny mcbride can be a thing of fucked-up beauty . so i was stoked that mcbride signed on as star and co-writer of MOV . but the air goes out of that balloon pretty damn quick .", "`` MOV , '' a largely improvised oddity , is as tired and clunky a movie spoof as you 'll likely see this or any other year .", "low on laughs and a very sloppy piece of work .", "unwatchable -- and , thanks to its high-decibel action sequences , barely listenable -- this misbegotten medieval fantasy/stoner comedy marks a new low for david gordon green , once ranked among the most promising young filmmakers in america .", "it 's like early saturday night live without any sense of wit or timing . that 's probably all well and good for the group it 's meant for , but no one else is going to take much out of it .", "this is a film that wallows in a level of scatology so severe that the farrelly brothers might as well give up on the subgenre for good .", "`` MOV '' is ... built on a flimsy house of profane cards that begins crumbling with the opening narration and never recovers .", "the result is a seemingly endless comedic black hole that feels like a cross between one of mel brooks ' lesser vehicles and what one might get from a bunch of frat boys with a video camera , after-hours access to the local medieval times", "ridiculous fantasy comedy is more crass , violent than funny .", "the highlights of MOV do n't get much higher than low .", "lots of balls . also lots of penis jokes . but too loud and obvious .", "a big fall-off from the inspired zaniness of green 's `` pineapple express , '' `` MOV '' lowers the lowbrow bar .", "it 's bad . it makes mel brooks 's robin hood : men in tights look like a masterpiece .", "monsters , sword-fights , boobs and laughter ? giveth this a ruddy bafta .", "as far as stoner comedies go , MOV might as well be smoking schwag with the hooters bus boy you just bought it from .", "like someone bringing pot brownies to a dungeons and dragons game ...", "fractured fairytale ? half-baked is more accurate .", "the crude language and jokes are patently offensive , but the performances by mcbride , deschanel , and theroux almost make this worth sitting through .", "MOV is what you expect it to be , except it 's not nearly as funny as you 'd want it to be .", "MOV never met a problem it could n't blast with an f-bomb , and pushes the one-note gag of mixing pauncy medieval language with locker-room dirty talk about as far as humanly possible . enjoyment hinges on your weakness for juvenilia .", "fails to please as a comedy , but was fine as a low-budget adventure movie .", "for some bizarre reason , i actually found `` MOV '' to be reasonably funny and entertaining . perhaps it was the sight of sweet , lovely natalie portman spewing such unadulterated filth that cracked me up .", "how big the laughs are depends solely on your tastes , but there 's little argument about whether they 're dumb . but so were the 80s movies being referenced . that did n't make them any less guiltily enjoyable , and neither does it hurt MOV .", "a whole ensemble of talented actors -lrb- franco , portman , theroux , deschanel -rrb- are wasted in this mismash of a movie , a trashy medieval comedy-adventure based on a single idea and few pranks .", "a surprisingly boring throwback to '80s fantasy , with a disgusting amount of potty humor , violence and foul language tossed in to generate the shallowest of laughs .", "if green wanted to make an awesome fantasy film , he should have , and if he wanted to make a great stoner comedy , well , he already did once .", "gratuitous , inventive , and thoroughly outlandish", "a radioactive turd disguised as a sword-and-sorcery comedy .", "there 's nothing inherently wrong with prizing entertainment over art , but what happens when the big , dumb popcorn fare is n't even fun ?", "the only saving grace of this film is the cast , which includes some fantastic actors , slumming it for a paycheck .", "the best way to characterize the film is to call it juvenile , although one has to wonder what juvenile could dream up something this vile and deranged .", "MOV never sacrifices its cheerful , one-thing-after-another absurdity , or its inability to take itself even remotely seriously .", "this is teenage junk trash rendered lovingly . i see no problem with that . and if i ever kill a minotaur , i know what i 'm taking as a trophy .", "quite a comedown and a buzz kill , after `` pineapple express . ''", "MOV hits more than it misses but the effort is substantially lacking , which particularly unexpected considering the gifted people involved .", "it 's time for green to make one of the moody , downbeat , haunting indie dramas with which he initially made a name for himself .", "director david gordon green and writers danny mcbride and ben best have put together a completely unfunny film filled to the brim with non-stop sexual references and other bits of lowbrow humor .", "an oddly charming stoner comedy set in medieval times .", "pot comedies may not be rocket science but a few more script revisions would have probably gone a long way here .", "a medieval comedy that will only appeal to those with a taste for silly accents , anachronistic cursing and jokes about masturbation .", "it 's bawdy , profane and rampantly lecherous . it 's also very funny ...", "i got the idea , because of the title , that ` MOV ' would be a stoner comedy . it is in a couple of spots . more than that , though , it 's a just-serviceable , grownups-only nod to other medieval fantasy movies .", "danny mcbride leads the cast in an immature broad comedy calculated to outrage those nose-wrinklers of a peevish and fastidious disposition .", "an inventory of the preoccupations of 13-year-old boys .", "MOV has been compared to such cinematic disasters as meet the spartans . it 's far better than that but , the sad thing is , it could also have been so much more .", "suffers from a chronically lazy script , irritating characters and dirth of funny ideas .", "-lsb- a -rsb- largely witless medieval farrago ...", "i went in hoping for a more inventive princess bride , or a less uneven monty python and the holy grail . i came out wondering what drugs the cast had been ingesting .", "the movie 's improvisatory recklessness often relies on stock , fallback comedy : scenes lazily punchlined on four-letter words , pot slang , and gay jokes only offensive in their unoriginality .", "the rest of the action elicited only stray chortles , a raised eyebrow , or rolled eyes .", "co-writer mcbride and his collaborators apparently set out on a quest to ram as much coarse language and as many adolescent sexual gags into a movie as possible , maybe to cover the fact that the movie does n't contain much else .", "MOV is n't a serious fantasy epic , but it is n't much of a comedy , either .", "silly , depraved , creepily homoerotic -- and often hilarious .", "with this cast , as well as director david gordon green on board , you expect a lot more than the occasional chuckle .", "the target audience for MOV is at least four years too young to legally watch it .", "when the jokes sputter and the kingdom of MOV is littered with the joint carnage of broad gags , bloody violence , and dorky wizard magic , where , oh where , can a loyal subject look for fun ?", "just different enough to guarantee a sizeable chunk of the audience will walk away utterly baffled by what they 've seen , and that 's too rare to dismiss .", "a really big budget movie full of action and special effects , all to make really immature jokes . i totally support that and i enjoy the exercise . it could be funnier but it 's consistently pleasant .", "what if you wrote a comedy and nobody laughed ?", "and the crowd roars - why , natalie , why ?", "what more could you want ? answer : a script !", "there are too many missed opportunites and too many instances of glaring , easily-fixable problems left to creak and dangle in our faces .", "this is a surefire winner for audiences who are either stoned , aged 15 , or both .", "MOV is a tale of derring-do in the tradition of sinbad the sailor , complete with thrilling escapades , high jinks and some pretty exciting action sequences .", "with mcbride and franco trying on knowingly bad brit accents and the entire cast clearly having a whale of a time , the impression is of the world 's daftest , priciest , least self-serious end-of-the-pier panto .", "so monotonously repetitive that you 'll forget penises were ever supposed to be funny in the first place .", "even as an amiably stupid laid-back comedy , MOV is unforgivably pointless .", "there are funny lewd , crude comedies , and there are lame lewd , crude comedies . regrettably , this is the second type .", "MOV is a well-made but lowbrow period comedy with limited appeal .", "for a few hours after having seen `` MOV , '' i considered the possibility that it was the worst movie ever made .", "a cunning weave of low and high , regal and smutty , splendiferous and splattery .", "so unfunny , it feels like a prank ... and to think , director david gordon green was once a major force for independent cinema . now he 's overseeing the fine details of a rubber minotaur penis . hooray for hollywood .", "a medieval genre goof of impressive physical scale and disproportionately modest comic ambitions , as an entertainment animal , MOV is disappointing where it counts .", "i feel a kind of head-swiveling awe in MOV 's concentration of aimless inanity , in the purity of its devotion to its own louche principles .", "mostly , characters simply reference penises , breasts or pot and wait for laughs . there 's rarely a punch line , just an acknowledgement that penises , breasts and pot exist .", "the film will probably play a lot better in dorm rooms with plenty of beer kegs and bongs on hand , but in the confines of a movie theater , it 's deadly - the sort of bad comedy mel brooks made late in his career , until he finally smartened up and quit .", "stoners may freak out , sober viewers should grow restless , and no one will laugh much .", "a sword-and-sorcery spoof from the pineapple express crew that , like that ode to inhaling , is n't nearly as funny as it seems to think it is ." ], "summary": "big budgets and costumes in service of scatalogical jokes may seem funny on paper , but in execution this is a highly monotonous romp that registers only occasional laughs .", "id": "770815450" }, { "movie": "shattered_glass", "reviews": [ "MOV has the skill and power to make you squirm .", "MOV joins the ranks of first-rate media films , with an authenticity and sense of drama that makes it among the most effective of the genre since all the president 's men .", "a thoroughly fascinating examination of a shameful footnote in journalistic history that many people probably wish to forget .", "one of the more effective recent feature films about the newsgathering process , even if it does n't quite meet the standard set in 1976 by all the president 's men .", "cleverly written , wonderfully acted all around .", "MOV provides a fascinating look behind the scenes at the new republic ... yet , viewers may also recoil from the movie 's reverential and elitist treatment of the new republic and other news operations .", "a sober , wry and often riveting account of an infamous moment in journalism .", "the movie shows a timely aptitude for invoking a vital figure of fear that lives near the forefront of our collective consciousness .", "what are we to learn from this ? not the broad lesson that every line of work has its share of charlatans : the script is way too pious to swallow such a generic pill . and not anything important about glass , since there 's no real character examination .", "fortunately , christensen is surrounded by solid actors who manage to keep the film gripping despite his limp lead performance .", "engaging and fair-minded .", "a compellingly competent telling of the scandalous fall from grace of new republic staff writer stephen glass .", "the pacing is great , the script is witty , and the acting is rock solid .", "one of the better biopics to be released in the last couple of years .", "a lean , suspenseful film that plays like the inverse of all the president 's men on a smaller scale .", "the events unfold with a riveting dread inevitability .", "MOV certainly stirred something up that needed cooking , but it never made it tasty enough to swallow whole .", "a terrific white-knuckler , one that builds up a head of excruciating suspense even though most viewers already know how it ends .", "billy ray ... has crafted an entertaining film , filled it with understated performances , and delivered a small pearl .", "ray succeeds in making the newsroom feel as exciting and as dangerous as a battlefield .", "MOV speaks simultaneously to our humanity and sense of moral outrage .", "like all man-bites-dog stories , MOV is inherently fascinating because it , and steven glass , are the exception to a widely accepted rule .", "a riveting drama spelled out by an excellent cast .", "incomplete . the movie does n't play the story out all the way to its true ending , with glass signing a fat book deal to write a novel based on his own life", "the surprise of MOV is that it 's ultimately a celebration of journalistic integrity .", "through christensen 's economical soft-shoe performance , glass 's zeal and obliging modesty work the same disarming hoodoo on the viewer as they do on his snake-oiled co-workers", "representa uma importante li\u0437\u0433o de \u0439tica para os profissionais de comunica\u0437\u0433o e deveria ser exibido em todos os cursos de jornalismo .", "easily one of the most original and shrewdly crafted movies this year , amidst a glut of hollow , show-off cinematic pageantry .", "where 's the payoff , a new generation might rightly ask , in ethics ?", "we do n't find out why glass did what he did , but ... maybe the why is n't as important as the how . MOV is asking us to stay on our toes .", "while sean penn grabs the headlines for his emotive bluster in mystic river , peter sarsgaard gives a brilliantly measured performance as editor chuck lane .", "hayden christensen ... is charmingly slimy", "even though the story of glass ' downfall has been in the public domain for years now , ray 's makes it seem like a breaking story .", "`` MOV '' is sharp filmmaking ; one of the better independent offerings for 2003 .", "... not a very theatrical film , but still concise and taut without being skimpy on necessary traits .", "a scintillating morality play about the lengths to which some people will go in order to be accepted", "does a superb job in presenting four of the five journalistic ` ws ' of its story : the who , what , where and when . it fails , however , on the essential ` why ' of the tale .", "one of the best films of 2003 .", "its understanding of the complexities of the glass case is sharp .", "the complex flashback structure is cleverly and coherently edited to keep us right with glass through his story", "a next-century all the president 's men , in which the values of enterprise reporters who took inspiration from woodward and bernstein are subject to corruption .", "not since `` all the presidents men '' has journalistic integrity been so entertainingly scrutinized .", "at one point , the glass character defines journalism as ` the art of capturing behavior , ' and that 's also where this movie excels ...", "insanely undercuts exactly the characters we 're most curious about , -lsb- and -rsb- scrupulously avoids the questions that are most pressing within the material .", "an actor 's film free of gimmicks , and a small filmic gem .", "MOV is n't the final word on the decay of journalistic ethics ... but it 's a solid office movie that hints at a different set of problems currently eating away at the profession .", "what a great directorial debut from writer billy ray !", "one of the best films i 've seen this year .", "a powerful drama about real people whose stories carry a crucial message for our times", "a tragedy told sotto voce with a streak of mordant humor added to the mix ... an absorbing drama that just happens to be based on real life .", "it does n't have the shape of a great drama : it has some whopping omissions , and its uplifting climax is an eye-roller . but it makes us feel the way our forefathers must have felt after a really good public stoning .", "while we never find out why glass did what he did , the tale of how it all fell apart is a good one .", "told in dully straightforward terms , there 's nothing here that would feel out of place in an old-fashioned tv movie . that does n't make the drama any less compelling though .", "next to the subsequent jayson blair debacle at the new york times , the glass affair is about as scandalous as a condom found in the parking lot at a national youth christian leadership conference .", "screenwriter/director billy ray manages to keep us unsettled by not always letting us know what is real and what is imagined by glass .", "MOV smolders like the subtle giant , mt.vesuvius . based on the true story of fallen journalist stephen glass ...", "the most entertaining inside-journalism movie since all the president 's men .", "makes the day-to-day routines of a policy journal eminently watchable .", "sarsgaard plays lane with great subtlety and grace .", "whilst not an a grade psychological profile by any means , ray has still crafted a meticulously enjoyable film .", "as an expos\u00e9 it 's grippingly well paced , but what motivated that first step of deception ? apparently , glass is n't worth consulting , and his shrink is n't talking .", "about as well executed as any movie i 've seen this year .", "if all the president 's men was old school in its depiction of the journalist-as-crusader , then ` glass ' is for the new generation where entertainment has replaced facts .", "a film that strikes me as too slick and self-satisfied by half , like its preppie , suck-up hero .", "one of the year 's most compelling films .", "an interesting study of high-stakes reporting that will probably be shown at journalism schools for at least a generation or two .", "una mirada sumamente interesante a ese mundo cerrado -lrb- y bastante sucio desde ciertas perspectivas -rrb- de autores en franca competencia , editores ...", "jack safer wrote , after glass was busted in ' 98 , `` if there 's any moral to be taken from this story , it should be ` no more excuses . ' '' after seeing 1700 of them here , i agree .", "lacks the journalistic killer instinct that could have elevated it above the well-executed but slightly sanctimonious , made-for-tv feel", "what a powerful movie !", "glass 's pattern of deceit is queasily persuasive ; adding catch me if you can psychologizing would only diminish the film 's truthfulness , not enhance it .", "a tension-filled drama with great performances from hayden christensen and peter sarsgaard .", "screenwriter and first-time director billy ray turns the story of glass ' self-destruction into a gripping psychological thriller .", "ranks beside ` all the president 's men ' as one of the great movies about journalism .", "MOV is engrossing drama , every bit as entertaining as the story on which it 's based .", "an eye-opening and gripping thriller that poses some very important questions .", "who knew that a story about a journalist faking his articles could evoke the suspense of a hitchcock thriller ?", "as an investigative drama , MOV does n't break any new ground , but it smashes a lot of illusions .", "like its subject , the movie is self-important yet insipid .", "MOV may be light when it comes to psychological questions , but its detailed accounting of glass ' actions makes for fascinating viewing .", "right from the start , hayden christensen is a revelation .", "MOV is a highly charged moral drama about the deceptions and fabrications of an ambitious young staff writer for the new republic .", "unspectacularly effective and provocative , MOV successfully dramatizes individual dilemma that carries over into major social implications .", "the film is ingratiating , and more dangerous than it seems because of it .", "a fine showtime-like film", "one of the year 's best ... -lsb- a -rsb- meticulously enjoyable film . it 's as gripping as it is disturbing , and as well performed as it is mysterious .", "it 's a thoughtful , well-paced look at one pathetic kid 's lies , and our equally pathetic willingness to accept them as truth .", "an absolutely riveting drama that does n't glorify its subject in the slightest and shrewdly says a lot of very sad things about the state of modern journalism .", "it 's funny and gripping , a story about people that also happens to be about journalistic principle .", "the purpose is not to suggest that some journalists are appalling , but to suggest that some of them are human , which might be even more difficult to believe .", "here 's a verdict that MOV makes abundantly clear : hayden christensen can act .", "although this is a journalism movie , it carries the wide appeal of a modern-day morality play .", "much like the vivid stories glass passed off as journalism , MOV is compulsively entertaining .", "a study in moviemaking that does n't resonate beyond its subject matter .", "it takes craft , insight and expert delivery to make an ` insider ' story interesting to those on the outside . and that 's exactly what MOV does .", "while the storytelling relies a little too much on some clich\u00e9d devices , MOV is still a fascinating , well-acted movie with some very compelling characters .", "christensen is terrific as the deceptively boyish glass , and his performance confirms the notion that people who act badly in george lucas movies -lrb- he 's anakin skywalker -rrb- are n't bad actors , they 're just in george lucas movies .", "reminds you how our culture 's emphasis on success and stardom in any field -- and the betrayal of ethics to attain them -- has a cumulative , corrosive effect on society , no matter how small the stage may be .", "MOV may not break any box-office records , but with a stellar cast , tight script , and insightful direction , it is destined to take its place in journalistic , if not cinematic , history as a warning about the dangers of ruthless ambition .", "` everybody ' knows someone like stephen glass , and we do n't always get what billy ray gives us in his movie : the immense satisfaction of seeing a smarmy , brown-nosing little fake get what 's coming to him .", "... leaves me with a sober feeling about the future of news reporting .", "the film is both seductive and maddening .", "in a day where news develops so quickly , MOV arrives at the right moment .", "riveting .", "as directed by billy ray , the film has an exceptionally tight focus and a fascinating story to tell .", "ray directs for palpable tension ... but has a rudimentary , a-b-c plot .", "i 'm heartened that someone still has enough faith in the fourth estate to imagine this tawdry saga as an old-fashioned morality play in which the good guys come up tops .", "the story is ... fascinating .", "more than being a smart and accurate look at magazine journalism -- no small matter -- MOV is also a compelling portrait of a psychosis at work .", "the best movie about american journalism since all the president 's men .", "one of this year 's very best films ... is a gripping tale that is as fun as it is mesmerizing . of course , i could have made all of this up . you 'll have to check my facts .", "christensen immerses himself completely and chillingly into the skin of glass .", "an astute and surprisingly gripping drama not only about the ethics of magazine writing , but also , more generally , about the subtle political and psychological dynamics of modern office culture .", "while closely following the facts , the film unfolds like a thriller , and the acting is equally exciting .", "christensen is so good in the role ... that you wonder anew what went wrong with his performance as anakin skywalker in the last star wars .", "even if you do n't care much about the responsibility of the press , i think you will find this cautionary tale one terrific movie .", "an impressively compelling film about disgraced journalist stephen glass .", "a satisfying , dramatically absorbing account .", "might not increase enrollment at journalism schools the way all the president 's men did when it came out , but it 's nonetheless a riveting true tale .", "a scarily compelling thriller that puts journalistic ethics on trial .", "the season 's unlikeliest nail-biter -- think of it as an upside-down , black-sheep cousin to catch me if you can .", "a fascinating story , with enough dramaturgical potential to make a rock take notice . unfortunately , MOV is an ignorant rock unto itself .", "joins all the president 's men , the insider and call northside 777 on the list of essential journalism films .", "hayden christensen strikes all the right notes as the talented , charming and very cloying stephen glass , who made a huge splash at the new republic magazine in the late 1990s with colorful stories .", "the interplay between -lsb- stephen -rsb- glass and -lsb- charles -rsb- lane is riveting and rigorous .", "the movie is smart about journalism because it is smart about offices .", "the issues the film raises are truly profound and discomfiting whether you work in the media or just consume it .", "true story about fact , fiction and fakery is a surprisingly well-tuned thriller about morals , courage and honesty -- with a breakout performance by peter sarsgaard .", "like a really good story -lrb- even one that 's made up -rrb- , the movie grabs you from the beginning and never lets you down .", "a deeply unsettling tale .", "the portrait of glass is particularly sharp .", "smart about good vs. evil .", "not only an honest depiction of one journalist 's rampant dishonesty but a compelling movie by just about any standard .", "a good movie about a real-life problem journalist that unfortunately has almost nothing to do with journalism 's real-life problems .", "excels at the kind of straight-ahead storytelling that 's both involving and satisfying .", "MOV functions as a dramatic character study , but not as the galvanizing wake-up call about the sorry state of u.s. journalism that ray says he wanted to make .", "using unexpectedly suspenseful character drama , `` MOV '' elevates itself to the upper echelon of journalism films . unless there 's ever a 24 famous enough to warrant biopic treatment , this will likely be christensen 's only great performance .", "journalistic scandal story best for older teens .", "journalistic ethics are scrupulously explored in this crystal-clear dramatization of real-life `` new republic '' feature writer stephen glass 's meteoric rise and rapid dissolution over falsified articles he wrote for the publication during the mid '90s as a", "perhaps the best exploration of american journalism this past decade has seen .", "not a particularly cinematic story , but outstanding performances justify this production", "an excellent movie with a suspenseful and engrossing story ...", "ray stages the film not as a mystery but as a case study in all-consuming denial and professional and psychological self-destruction .", "cautionary tale for future generations", "small and big lies", "... even when faced with shame and mortification , some people will find it within themselves to do the right thing ." ], "summary": "a compelling look at stephen glass ' fall from grace .", "id": "10701" }, { "movie": "your_sisters_sister", "reviews": [ "`` your sister 's sister '' follows the indie-cinema blueprint to the letter with one exception : one of the film 's characters is a lesbian .", "a funny , small-scale charmer with a trio of dynamite performances .", "who are these people , and why are we watching them ?", "the sisters are merely agents in jack 's maturation in what is ultimately a judd apatow film on a microbudget .", "your sister 's sister gets it just right , aided by vince smith 's string -- accented musical score and benjamin kasulke 's luscious cinematography .", "it 's rare to see a movie that throws around this much raw emotion and still gets laughs .", "this film should come with a warning : do n't watch with a sibling . unless you 're up for some knowing elbow-digs .", "it 's small , but not simple . there are three shocking dramatic twists that feel completely earned .", "in the very best sense , `` your sister 's sister '' almost feels like it 's being made up as it goes along : organic , fluent and true .", "as artificial as a hollywood rom.com ... with a different cast , a bigger budget , and some punched-up dialogue , it might have been made by judd apatow .", "shelton is too much in thrall to improvisation , and letting the actors `` find '' their characters .", "shelton 's work here suggests that mumblecore may be finding its way out of the artistic ghetto it 's placed itself in .", "shelton 's very gifted at avoiding the clich\u00e9s of a story that could have easily weighed it down and made it just another generic mumblecore drama .", "effective evidence that the emotional immediacy in the halting rhythms of extemporaneous speech can often trump the art of the well-chosen word . a film that is both warmly and naturally funny as well as uncomfortable and awkward .", "warm , funny and richly human , your sister 's sister delivers on the promise of humpday and then some .", "... about our desire for family , however unconventional .", "no question that shelton and her cast share a remarkable collaborative rapport .", "... it 's a pleasure to watch these three -lsb- duplass , blunt and dewitt -rsb- navigate complex emotional territory even though the final destination is never in question .", "since it 's essentially a three-character movie , it 's a good thing that the characters , and the actors who play them , can hold the screen .", "the cast certainly seems to have fun with the material but while their improvisation gives the dialogue life , it also lacks a certain refinement that could 've come from more time or a single hand .", "... chick flick city ... a m\u00e9nage \u0155 trois-lite ... agonizing to watch poor emily blunt laugh uproariously at contrived , slice of life conversation made with her sister", "by the end of this graceful little emotional farce , you know these people , their hopes and their panic , and you wish them the very best .", "honest and free-spirited , this romantic comedy is filled with genuine and uncomfortable moments that can only come when a trio of talented actors ... are invited to make it up as they go along .", "shelton and her cast are so skillful that before long it seems we are not moviegoers watching a screen but flies on a wall witnessing real encounters and the beauty of the pacific northwest .", "a very genuine film packed with smart observations about modern relationships .", "an effortless , emotional , funny little indie that few people will see . be one of them .", "all three performers add both tone and , when required , a fierce volume to their interplay .", "the low-budget film relies on character authenticity but ultimately requires too much suspension of disbelief .", "a keenly observed romance whose apparent rough-edged naturalism masks a considerable degree of craft .", "mark duplass has an amiable presence on screen and the film works best when he is in the picture .", "an actor 's movie , offering the small-scale pleasures of a good story well-told .", "-lsb- it -rsb- was shot in a mere 12 days , on a budget that must have been minuscule . a couple of minutes after it 's started , though , you know you 're in the presence of people who will surprise and delight you .", "shelton 's empathy for the characters bleeds through , even at their worst moments .", "finally , the writer-director has become known for effacing a high concept plotline with naturalistic performances and shooting styles .", "it 's pleasant as far as it goes . for all the blithe interaction among the central three performers , however , the material 's conventional and predictable .", "director lynn shelton garners three terrific performances from her leads , but she does so while losing sight of her most promising narrative thread .", "the setup is intriguing , but just as shelton gets her hands dirty with the mess her characters have made , it 's winding down to a seemingly improbable conclusion .", "places too much external pressure on the characters ; the conflict is already there .", "... a deft blending of comedy and drama . it may not be the most credible film of the year , but i found it diverting and enjoyable .", "it 's a tribute to shelton and her cast that they 've made a film about the difficulties of love , friends and family look so easy .", "it 's not rollicking summertime fare , and it wo n't offer easy answers . but it 's an entertaining failure -- just like its characters .", "do n't be surprised if you find yourself nodding off mid-movie , bored silly by a trio of good actors stuck in a dull scenario about a young man caught in a highly implausible kerfuffle involving two sisters and a leaky condom .", "even when the story line tries to wrench the characters in a certain direction , they keep returning to something real and honest . i want these people to be my friends .", "it 's comforting to watching dramatic and comic fiction regarding the things some of us actually have to deal with in life . when done right , those kinds of films are worth your time . your sister 's sister happens to be one of them .", "what could have been trite male wish-fulfillment is instead beholden to genuinely messy revelations : life as a tattered , living quilt we sew and wear as one .", "i think i need a break from mark duplass for awhile . at least , from the mark duplass who is n't arguing about fantasy football with ruxin and taco .", "there is some witty banter and some interesting developments . the acting is solid by the three leads .", "the location of your sister 's sister is lovely , and the performances are top-notch , captured by shelton in the same casually honest way that made humpday such a delight .", "for a film that relies on conversation and connection , it 's awfully plot-heavy , full of `` aha ! '' dramatic revelations that feel more suited to a soap opera than an indie dramedy .", "it 's in the completely natural interactions between this gifted cast that the film really hits its groove .", "right from the get-go , this indie american talkfest exudes a confidence , a composure and , dare i say it , a cool that extinguishes any cynicism in the room .", "deceptively meandering and unexpectedly complex , your sister 's sister combines a poignant , funny directness with a teasing incompleteness .", "a wonderfully funny and uncharacteristically easy take on a genre that has been in disrepair for some time .", "a trident of terrifically earthy performances grounds this sharp , twist-laden romantic comedy .", "one of the most purely pleasurable ` grown-up ' films i 've seen this year .", "your sister 's sister is a fine piece of character observation . it 's low-key , casual , and tremendously insightful . it wo n't be for everybody , but that 's a good thing . it 's a strong , focused piece of work .", "although the action of your sister 's sister soars to an ultimately implausible conclusion , solid performances from emily blunt , mark duplass and rosemarie dewitt keep the overall piece afloat .", "this lo-fi comedy is big on charm but was a little too shaggy for my taste .", "if the movie 's sweetly earnest resolution scene plays a bit too easily , we like the characters too much to object .", "everything that takes place on screen feels convincing as shelton is more concerned with representing her characters truthfully rather than pushing an agenda .", "structured more as a comedy than a drama , your sister 's sister is easy to like .", "movies that start well and end badly occur often enough , and yet even knowing that is no preparation for what happens to your sister 's sister .", "director shelton just keeps getting better . an interpersonal drama , the story 's offset with elements of a modern sex farce , blending and sculpting the whole into a fraught , funny weekend .", "it 's a hopeful , upbeat film about people finding comfort and strength in their loved ones , a rare feel-good movie that truly earns that designation .", "the three leads are pitch-perfect here , loose and low-key yet fully in character .", "shelton is a wonder with actors and she mines some gold from this sitcom setup - dewitt , in particular , showcases a spiky comic deftness .", "for long stretches in its first two acts , lynn shelton 's film is distinguished by a disarming sense of freedom and spontaneity .", "with this convoluted set-up in place , three actors with extraordinary chemistry play it all out to the end , and somehow the feeling deepens , even as the jokes spiral out of control .", "a quiet and well-told movie that wears its big beating heart on its sleeve .", "shelton 's skill involves an ability to explore familiar situations with a flair for ambiguity , but plenty of payoff .", "the superb performances certainly play an instrumental role in triggering the film 's shift from passable to engrossing ...", "a lovely example of what a surefooted filmmaker can achieve with a game and talented cast and a generous , heartfelt story - demonstrable proof that small pleasures can be the most satisfying .", "when the heartfelt professions of love and soul-unloading declarations of betterment are emulsified down to mush , all that remains is a swiftly evaporating run-of-the-mill residue .", "enjoyable but surprisingly conventional contemporary -lrb- i.e. , sexually frank -rrb- romantic comedy ...", "the rom-com twists do n't always work , but it 's easy to fall for stars who clearly love acting together - particularly blunt , who could make a paper bag dazzle .", "the pleasures of this rom-com love triangle come from the performances , which beautifully describe the awkwardness , anxiety , sincerity and humour of the situation", "even amidst the excessive chatter , emily blunt shines most of all .", "an improvised pseudo-farce that tumbles into melodrama -- in between all the long , loooooonng heart-to-heart talks .", "thrives on awkward moments .", "the dialogue feels organic and smart - like everyday conversation , only with words you got to try out first .", "one of the pleasanter surprises i 've had this year .", "your sister 's sister is a very sweet , very human feature that is also very , very funny . much hay is made out of mark duplass ' reaction shots , and that 's just fine by me .", "the performance of mark duplass , who could be called mr. mumblecore for specializing in low-budget indies , is the reason to see this .", "shelton manages to break past the genre 's narrow social parameters to a moving story of grief , betrayal , and devotion .", "your sister 's sister moves far beyond easy conventions , and the rewards are all the richer .", "a spontaneous , engaging character study of three people alone in a cabin in the woods .", "even when things get a little crazy and maybe even too soapy , `` your sister 's sister '' always feels like it 's rooted in a tangible reality , a place of unpredictability and abiding humanity .", "shelton has such sharp timing that it 's hard to believe that each scene is n't carefully planned , instead of discovered in the moment .", "expertly makes us squirm for about half its running time only to soothe us with empty pop-psych declarations .", "barring some late-inning coyness , it 's some of the truest , dinged-heart couples ' circling of the year .", "a small indie with a big heart , shelton 's character study is a more mature and subtle feature than humpday .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- mumblecore standard-bearer lynn shelton -lrb- `` humpday '' -rrb- shows promising signs of maturing with an originally executed romantic comedy .", "this twisted tale has hidden agendas , pillow talk , latent romantic feelings , verbal fireworks and an ambiguous ending . as an avid bicyclist , the movie earns points from me in having jack always wearing a helmet while riding . it loses its goodwill when ...", "there 's a special satisfaction in hearing characters speak as if they just had arrived on the screen from the coffee shop adjacent to the movie theater .", "like a cool breeze , there is a light and fluffy feel to your sister 's sister that makes it the perfect palate cleanser in the middle of a hot , sweaty summer of explosions and superheroes .", "although she would probably have liked a little more plot and polish , nora ephron would , i think , have approved .", "involving and unexpected indie stands out from the crowd", "there is so much good in the first hour that you can just about forgive its poorly written third act .", "such are the pleasures of improv when the players are as sharp and canny as they are here .", "behavior -- a mixture of scripted action and improvisation -- springs from a natural place , and while that can be uncomfortable as well as funny , it never rings false .", "it 's an oddly charming and entertaining film that works because it 's willing to embrace the less savory side of its characters .", "lynn shelton 's fourth feature after her well-received `` humpday '' demands more patience than understanding .", "what sets shelton apart is her interest in the way people can absorb acute discomfort and move on from it , even improving their lives because of it .", "this time out , shelton seems to be playing the part of someone who does n't know how to finish what she started .", "the dialogue was largely improvised during a 12-day shoot , and the chemistry between the leads appears effortless .", "a trio of superb performances guide a plot that pivots on secrets and lies before they fester . your sister 's sister works its way into your head until you ca n't stop thinking about it .", "if humpday , and cyrus hit the right notes for you , i 'm sure you can certainly expect the same from your sister 's sister . perfectly acted .", "the actors create a wonderful sense of intimacy that 's vulnerable to chaos .", "duplass is doing his conflicted mumblecore thing quite elegantly these days , and he 's joined here by blunt 's fragile iris and dewitt 's alternately guarded and abrasive hannah .", "the picture is , intermittently , delightful to contemplate .", "a romantic comedy about two sisters and their friend with three top-drawer and dazzling performances .", "the jabber is maddening , but with all due respect , the actors are wonderful , the performances as natural as inhaling . still , in emily blunt 's case , there is such a thing as too natural .", "much makes the viewer feel they 're a fly on the wall , albeit a fly who has difficulty holding the camera steady or staying in focus .", "the three leads gel intelligently in a scenario that might have been better suited to the stage .", "duplass is wonderful but even he ca n't shine as brightly as emily blunt .", "emily blunt and rosemarie dewitt team up for good indie fun .", "the film 's conceits may be a bit too contrived and conventional , but nothing about these characters ' interactions are forced . your sister 's sister is a welcome guest .", "good performances and a handy screenplay help things along , but these people find themselves more fascinating than i did .", "blunt and duplass show enough star quality to ensure they will have plenty of work for many years to come .", "it certainly shows that fine films do n't need big budgets , capturing some sweet lightning in an arresting bottle indeed .", "romantic , funny , surprising and thoroughly involving , your sister 's sister is the rare film you give yourself over to completely .", "there 's a nice , loose-limbed improvisatory feeling to `` your sister 's sister , '' a quality that identifies it as the work of artisans , not assembly-line professionals .", "shelton 's clearly found her legging in order to create something that stays true to her indie ethics , while also creating something that can be accessible to wider audiences .", "lynn shelton 's follow-up to humpday is an engagingly spiky , pleasingly unconventional comedy-drama with a strong script and a trio of terrific performances from its three leads .", "the film 's strength is in its realistic improvisation , like a window on three , average lives in a cocoon for a brief moment that will be easily forgotten tomorrow .", "likeable enough , but this is shelton playing it safe .", "the verbal agonisings are funny , skilful , revealing .", "this is a smart , moving film that 's also very , very funny .", "do n't expect much , but it goes deep on character .", "your sister 's sister was shot quickly and with an often improvised script , but it has an honesty which makes you care about the characters ' fates .", "it 's rare to find a film so heavy on the naturalistic realism that feels so effortless and unpretentious .", "the acting in your sister 's sister is also top-notch and reason enough to see it , especially if you 're a fan of the lovely emily blunt .", "perfectly fine somewhere between the humor of discomfort and that brutality of the truth , sustaining its feel for family and the bond between loved ones with sure feel for splattery screen communication ." ], "summary": "superbly acted and satisfyingly engaging , your sister 's sister subverts rom-com conventions with sensitive direction , an unconventional screenplay , and a big heart .", "id": "771251352" }, { "movie": "gone_with_the_wind", "reviews": [ "it 's that rare film that has overshadowed its own hype .", "this movie is pure soap opera . but what a soap opera !", "the first new technicolor print in 37 years , digital sound and moments of digitally cleaned-up footage scattered throughout its three hours and 42 minutes all make for a gorgeous sight-and-sound experience .", "let us say simply that there is something in most of us that will always treasure selznick 's flair for old-fashioned , full-bodied narrative even as we pay lip service to the most anemic forms of cerebration in the modern cinema .", "what more can one say about this much-loved , much discussed blockbuster ?", "forget it , no civil war film has made a nickel , producer irving thalberg told louis b. mayer about a melodrama that would break records and become a unique cultural phenom", "even though the habits of movie - goers have changed over the years , it 's easy to see why this film provoked such an outpouring of praise and adulation during its initial release , and why its stature has grown with the passage of decades .", "at the film 's center , of course , is leigh 's strikingly sympathetic portrayal as scarlett o'hara , the irascible , manipulative bitch .", "all of the drama of gwtw is successfully combined with dazzling production values .", "superb acting talent was followed by superb production values .", "one of the truly great films , destined for record-breaking boxoffice business everywhere .", "grand old hollywood at its most magnificent and melodramatic . say what you like about the soapy characterisation and plotting , the spectacle flattens all in its wake .", "coordinating six filming units at once and presiding over 50-hour editing sessions , -lsb- selznick -rsb- subsisted on a regular diet of thyroid extract , benzedrine , and b-12 shots .", "it 's impossible not to be carried away by the rich arterial force of this storytelling .", "terrificly acted , staged and designed , MOV remains one of the greatest period epics ever filmed .", "despite the star power of vivien leigh and clark gable , wind has lost some of its bluster , yet it survives as a glorious technicolored window into america 's dusty , bygone past .", "a lost hollywood art : the epic melodrama .", "a critic-proof movie if there ever was one : it is n't all that good , but somehow it 's great .", "never , never bores me . glabe is fabulous !", "the best remembered and most publicized film in hollywood 's flamboyant history , the biggest of david o. selznick 's grand obsessions , and quite probably the most beloved movie of all time .", "the passionate saga of scarlett o'hara and rhett butler , played out against the flaming red backdrop of the civil war , generates enough romance , historic drama and deep emotion to fuel a dozen great films .", "the film is a monumental job in every department .", "it could be -- and should be -- viewed from a dozen different perspectives , but it is , above all , a story about adapting to the most challenging circumstances possible .", "clear an evening and indulge yourself in one of the few films that can justifiably be called an epic .", "it is still a towering landmark of film , quite simply because it tells a good story , and tells it wonderfully well .", "treat yourself to one of the greatest cinematic experiences ever created .", "the brilliant epitome of corporate filmmaking .", "often , older movies are a bit naive and unthreatening , but this movie is surprisingly fierce and somber .", "mind-boggling for the first time in a theater . too bad that many , like me , see it first on tv .", "undoubtedly still the best and most durable piece of popular entertainment to have come off the hollywood assembly lines .", "it 's a classic because it 's not dated at all ; it has effortlessly stood the test of time .", "boasts epic visuals -lrb- the civil war , atlanta on fire etc -rrb- as sweeping as max steiner 's score .", "it 's remarkable that after spending almost eight hours of my existence in front of this film , i can remember only two points vividly .", "clark gable and vivien leigh create their own sizzle as rhett butler and scarlett o'hara in a lavish four-hour epic that juxtaposes scenes of jaw-dropping majesty with moments of elegant intimacy and playful verbal jousting .", "there has never been a picture like david o. selznick 's production of MOV .", "there are infinite highs , beginning with vivien leigh 's extraordinary performance as scarlett o'hara , one of the most fully developed characters ever depicted in american cinema .", "the film 's subtle racism is insidious , going to great lengths to enshrine the myth that the civil war was n't fought over slavery - an institution the film unabashedly romanticizes .", "running to nearly four hours and boasting at least three directors , this epic american civil war romantic drama is more of a symbol of the hollywood studio system than a mere movie .", "too clumsy a thing to be taken seriously , with its romanticisation of slavery and its problematic approach to rape , MOV is nevertheless a work of considerable power .", "i love scarlett o'hara . she 's so full of life and energy , it 's hard not to be swept up in her personality .", "no one watches MOV for historical accuracy . what keeps us coming back is four-hours of epic romance in gorgeous technicolor .", "brimming with colour and passion , it pulls its emotional kick from tremendous performances , not least from vivien leigh and clark gable as the love-hate lovers .", "MOV endures and deepens with the passing of time because scarlett and rhett are as modern as its open ending .", "ginormous in both scale and emotional wallop , mgm 's epic is still a cinematic event to be savoured .", "the performances of eternally glittering movie stars vivien leigh and clark gable ... exist in a league of their own , demanding rapt attention in scene after scene .", "if ever the phrase , `` they do n't make 'em like they used to '' could fit a film , this is it .", "the golden standard for classic hollywood bombast , this one .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- ... a closer reading finds a cutting commentary on the south 's hypocritical , opportunistic , and racist attitudes that continue to infect american culture .", "the cast , in the main scenes as in the episodes , is excellent .", "possibly the best loved movie spectacle ever .", "one of the classic films that defined american cinema , MOV is a rare example of a collaboration involving hundreds of talents and egos that turned out great .", "rhett butler and scarlett o'hara remain the greatest pairing of irresistible force and immovable object in hollywood romance .", "the epic film that to this day stands as the benchmark against which all other epics are judged .", "the film that perhaps defines hollywood .", "this is a film that never fights shy of clich\u00e9s . rather , it collects them all up in one glorious heap so you can cherry-pick those that appeal .", "... producer david o. selznick 's crowning achievement and a film that stands up as one of the screen 's finest classics .", "it 's so full of iconic moments of plotting and dialog that a feature film could be edited just out of the most quotable moments .", "a seductive mish-mash of epic spectacle , social commentary and pure , character-driven enjoyment .", "MOV is still dated , but it 's a dynamite kind of antiquity .", "the most beloved , enduring and popular film of all time is MOV -lrb- 1939 -rrb- - its script by sidney howard was derived from margaret mitchell 's", "but once the story kicks in and leigh and gable slip into their characters , it 's difficult not to be caught up in what is still one of the most vivid depictions of civil war -lrb- and its destructive aftermath -rrb- ever committed to film .", "it is a bore .", "on the whole , i thought the picture was ok .", "everything old is new again with this re-release of MOV , and it reminds us that the golden age of hollywood was a beautiful time .", "they just do n't make 'em like that anymore .", "yes , frankly , you should give a damn . the performances are legendary , the story is satisfying and the dialogue is still great .", "to see MOV on a big screen again is to weep for the fearlessness with which hollywood once believed the sublime was possible .", "victor fleming 's 60-year-old movie looks like it was shot this year .", "everything about it is big .", "it 's the kind of movie that simply turns a movie reviewer 's brain off . you get swept up in the majesty , the grandeur , the history , and the emotion .", "the movie plays its role in movie history , becoming one of the great box-office performers in the pre-steven spielberg and george lucas days .", "MOV is among my favorite movies of all time , and it would be useless to go on and on about how great i think it is .", "as god is my witness ... it 's back .", "the artistic aspects of the film 's production are as stunning as its acting .", "` it ' has arrived at last , and we can not get over the shock of not being disappointed ; we had almost been looking forward to that ." ], "summary": "filmed and presented on a scale not seen in modern productions , MOV is , if not the definitive hollywood film , then certainly near the top of the list .", "id": "9818" }, { "movie": "metropolis_2002", "reviews": [ "there 's a vastness implied in MOV that is just breathtaking .", "the dialogue is dubbed into english by generic actors , whose phony , emotionless rendition undermines what 's on the screen .", "suffers from the lack of a compelling or comprehensible narrative . still , as a visual treat , the film is almost unsurpassed .", "vibrantly colored and beautifully designed , MOV is a feast for the eyes .", "both beautiful and distant .", "melds derivative elements into something that is often quite rich and exciting , and always a beauty to behold .", "the urban landscapes are detailed down to the signs on the kiosks , and the color palette , with lots of somber blues and pinks , is dreamy and evocative .", "each frame of MOV is steeped in tezuka 's delectably strange retro-future vision .", "the film 's imagination goes sky high , showing us unbelievable buildings , surfaces , catwalks , robots , colors , underground catacombs and , yes , fish tanks .", "a delightful stimulus for the optic nerves , so much that it 's forgivable that the plot feels like every other tale of a totalitarian tomorrow .", "the visuals alone make MOV worth seeing .", "one of the most important and exhilarating forms of animated filmmaking since old walt doodled steamboat willie .", "unlike most anime , whose most ardent fans outside japan seem to be introverted young men with fantasy fetishes , MOV never seems hopelessly juvenile .", "wow . japanese animation reaches new heights -lrb- if that 's possible considering what we 've already seen -rrb- with this superb adaptation of osamu tezuka 's 1949 manga -lrb- comic book -rrb- .", "the imagery with which director rintaro brings this world to animated life is unique and captivating .", "a visionary marvel , but it 's lacking a depth in storytelling usually found in anime like this .", "with elements cribbed from lang 's MOV , welles ' kane , and eisenstein 's potemkin , the true wonder of rintar\u00f4 's MOV is the number of lasting images all its own .", "the movie is for fans who ca n't stop loving anime , and the fanatical excess built into it .", "the film is a dizzying riff on the original MOV and numerous other movies .", "... more evocative than many other anime features , with its echoes of classic science fiction and contemporary cyberpunk .", "there 's so much to look at in MOV you hate to tear your eyes away from the images long enough to read the subtitles .", "while some of the subplots are very sketchy and the motivations of some of the characters are not clear , it is a journey worth taking because of the wondrous imagery .", "... a haunting vision , with images that seem more like disturbing hallucinations .", "belleza , magia , poder , amor , misterio , y gran gran msica y visuales ... qu ms se puede pedir ? ...", "rintaro is out to dazzle us , and he succeeds beautifully with his rendition of this eye-popping , multilevel dystopia .", "... science-fiction fans and adventurous filmgoers will find this ingenious explosion of retro-cyberpunk a compelling dystopian vision with a gleam of hope .", "a striking japanese manga animation , derived from the original comic book variant on fritz lang . this is a remarkable feat of animation from katsuhiro otomo and rin taro .", "a near perfect fusion of computer and cel animation .", "the artwork is spectacular and unlike most animaton from japan , the characters move with grace and panache .", "one of the best animated films i have ever seen .", "stunningly beautiful .", "a hallucinatory tour de force of color , perspective and scale , virtually encapsulates the history of japanese animation .", "one of the most important animated films ever made .", "parts of it are very silly , but it is still extraordinarily powerful as cinema and its meanings grow murkier , not clearer , with what we now know of lang 's life .", "director rintaro ... does a decent job of serving up scrumptious eye candy , but too much of this good thing will leave you itching for a day out of the city .", "one of the best animated films i have ever seen , and it is one of the finest films released in the us last year .", "one of the best looking and stylish animated movies in quite a while ...", "in the end , the story does n't really matter that much as this is really a vehicle for the amazing visuals .", "a film of staggering technical and visual virtuosity , filled with utterly amazing images , that 's also entertaining and engaging for children and adults on several levels .", "if you are a fan of animation you 'll want to watch it more than once .", "brings together some of the biggest names in japanese anime , with impressive results .", "for something as splendid-looking as this particular film , the viewer expects something special but instead gets -lsb- sci-fi -rsb- rehash .", "technically , MOV is as much a breakthrough in anime as akira , princess mononoke , and blood : the last vampire .", "the story suffers a severe case of oversimplification , superficiality and silliness .", "has an almost stupefyingly intense visual impact .", "apart from its own considerable achievement , MOV confirms tezuka 's status as both the primary visual influence on the anim\u00e9 tradition and its defining philosophical conscience .", "a jaw-droppingly beautiful work that upends nearly every clich\u00e9 of japanese animation while delivering a more than satisfactory amount of carnage .", "it 's an interesting genre . it 's not for me , and i think it 's far from great .", "one of the most beautiful animated films ever produced .", "it smoothly blends outrageously diverse visual styles and emotional tones .", "MOV se veut une % u0153uvre impressionnante , \u0430 la hauteur des noms qui lui sont rattach\u0439s .", "otomo 's typically sophisticated script ensures slick pacing , combining humour , terror and pathos , particularly in the final scenes .", "com uma fabulosa dire\u0437\u0433o de arte , uma anima\u0437\u0433o expressiva e temas complexos , o filme representa um est\u043dmulo visual , intelectual e emocional intenso , resultando numa experi\u043ancia fascinante .", "a fairly standard genre exercise , packed with light , detail , color , noise , and motion that add up to relatively little .", "tale of the struggle for personal freedom in a futuristic , tyrannical society is light on action by contempo standards , and pic 's look is uninteresting , apart from occasionally bizarre backgrounds .", "unfortunately , as this movie is a joy in visuals , it 's a let-down plot-wise .", "doubling up on the imagery makes for an interesting , though ultimately somewhat unfulfilling , experience .", "the film works best for this sheer spectacle .", "a fast-moving and remarkable film that appears destined to become a landmark in japanese animation ." ], "summary": "a remarkable technical achievement , MOV ' eye-popping visuals more than compensate for its relatively routine story .", "id": "11593" }, { "movie": "michael_clayton", "reviews": [ "MOV is -- hands-down , no-question , make-your-toes-curl-with-a-creative-crush -- the absolute best , most surprising , most devastating performance clooney has given us yet .", "the film is stealthy , like its characters ; it creeps up on you .", "there 's too much drag time in the beginning to say that this movie lives up to all the hype it 's getting , but it is still worth going to see .", "gilroy has crafted a smart thriller that revolves around a corporate cover-up but does n't burrow into hair-splitting details and stays away from clich\u00e9 .", "a deliberate and measured look at what happens when you wake up one day and realize you can no longer recognize the man staring back at you from the bathroom mirror .", "-lsb- gilroy -rsb- ratchets the tension so imperceptibly ... that you do n't notice how taut the action is . that is , until you notice your fingernails are embedded in the armrest .", "george clooney just keeps getting better and better . his performance here is rich and deep and layered , and seeing him work through his range of reactions is enormously moving . it provides a strong center for the legal thriller swirling around him .", "clooney makes a poor replacement for julia roberts .", "-lsb- a -rsb- mostly decent '70s - style paranoia-fest .", "... a top-notch film that entertains , thrills , and - if you 'll let it - makes you think .", "there 's a great george clooney film in here somewhere , but you have to look mighty hard to find it .", "stop printing the ballots . do n't waste money on those `` for your consideration '' oscar ads . there is but one contender for best supporting actor this year , and it is tom wilkinson in MOV .", "hipster filmmakers keep looking backwards to the 1970s , hoping to disguise how ill-equipped they are to deal with contemporary social issues .", "MOV literally knocks its brains out trying to be clever , but it ends up being the same kind of smart-alecky filmmaking most of mr. clooney 's movies are famous for .", "it 's one of the most satisfying films of the year , recalling a classy breed of studio film more common in the 1970s and the early '80s .", "it 's such a skilled job of directing and writing that the pages and pages of technical talk and lists of names and numbers all sound like actual dialogue .", "brilliantly precise in its deconstruction of dirty work and dirtier secrets , and a surprisingly subtle story of people who often ca n't tell if they 're talking to a friend or an enemy .", "it 's invigorating and impressive on a formal level , but ultimately wearying .", "there 's a good deal less to the movie than meets the eye -- and the ear . but there 's still just enough to make for a close verdict in its favor .", "this loving throwback to the paranoid thrillers of the '70s is a beauty .", "when critics complain about the dumbing down of movies into franchise popcorn , what we 're really doing is yearning for a terrifically engrossing , tethered-to-the-real-world drama like MOV .", "solid , complex character study from the team that 's single-handedly championing the genre . this one finds the ever-improving george clooney as a legal `` fixer '' .", "... contains several great scenes that will stick in your mind long after the credits roll .", "-lsb- a -rsb- lack of fireworks makes MOV refreshing in a sense , eschewing traditional white hats and black hats for more realistic shades of gray .", "as with the bourne films , gilroy has a knack for creating strong characters and situations that resonate with tension .", "each new viewing brings something fresh and insightful with it .", "a thriller of the most sophisticated type , playing the macrocosm of clayton 's professional problems against the microcosm of the soul he thought he had conveniently compartmentalized", "MOV , the re-release : suits in deadly combat may not sound like the ideal setup for an action thriller , especially if the labels are of the pricey designer variety . but hey , this is george clooney , who is n't half bad no matter what he 's wearing", "clooney is just one of a stellar cast perfectly suited to their roles , with tilda swinton , tom wilkinson and sydney pollack sharing his command of the material whenever they 're on screen .", "the cast is outstanding , with clooney giving the strongest performance of his career , which says a lot since he already has an oscar", "a serviceable drama/thriller that starts a little slow , but ultimately gets into a nice rhythm .", "clooney 's glamorous intelligence is deepened by his constant hints that slickness , like corporate integrity , is just an act .", "a straight-ahead suspense melodrama , complete with villain and a climax with satisfyingly clean lines . but gilroy constantly elevates the material with surprise gifts . -lsb- blu-ray review -rsb-", "legal miracle workers or `` fixers '' hide simple truths behind a calculated barrage of extraneous smoke and mirrors , which is exactly the tactic screenwriter-turned-director tony gilroy employs for his directorial debut MOV .", "un drama en clave de thriller sobre la corrupci\u0443n corporativa , a medio camino entre el informante y erin brockovich . estupendo debut en la direcci\u0443n del guionista tony gilroy .", "gilroy demonstra seguran\u0437a invej\u0431vel na condu\u0437\u0433o da narrativa e na concep\u0437\u0433o est\u0439tica do filme .", "clooney looks a little worn , and the shagginess becomes him . he gives a beautiful , modulated performance , and he 's never been more likable . nor has he ever had better lines .", "clooney is as good as he has ever been .", "once the narrative edges toward meeting up with where it began , MOV becomes riveting stuff all the way until the gratifyingly acidic ending .", "a dense trip into the gray areas of the legal world that film fans will go back to again and again like the classics that inspired it . do n't miss it .", "this , ladies and gentlemen , is a movie star .", "there 's sincerity in gilroy 's belief in man 's aptitude for recognizing the error of his ways , as well as in his acknowledgement that realignments of one 's moral compass often require great application .", "literate and convincing .", "... an intelligent thriller that does not have an axe to grind . sure , there is the evil corporate entity and its pitiless lawyers but they are relative fodder to feed michael 's story of redemption .", "a mystery-thriller that is truly delightful to savor .", "so : the crazy people are the truly sane ones . does this sound more like a complex 70s thriller or a dizzy 60s dream ?", "made my jaw drop as i realized i was in for something special", "a resonant throwback with deep roots to the political thrillers of the 1970s ; slick , smart and saturated in dramatic paranoia .", "one of my favorite movies of the year .", "some might see the dark cinematography , the protagonist pursued by demons , and the slow , wordy , incoherent story-telling as tense . i looked at my watch a lot .", "a poignant and powerful thriller about corporate malfeasance that reveals what it is like to face life-shattering moments .", "while in the theatre seat -- i had a great time -- did n't want the film to end . but , when it did end , the aftertaste was n't as sweet .", "deliberate , demanding and character-driven , MOV flies in the face of what sells at the multiplex .", "MOV builds to a fitting conclusion and does n't need surprise twists or cheap theatrics to get to that point .", "full of plausible characters who are capable of surprising - and surpassing - your expectations .", "it will no doubt be said time and again of MOV : best john grisham adaptation ever .", "an engrossing , character-driven , multi-layered legal thriller .", "not a bundle of laughs but a brilliant and compelling drama . this is clooney at his very best .", "... sharp writing from tony gilroy and an intelligent , subtly powerful performance from george clooney .", "a potentially corny plot is stylishly executed , abetted by a perfect cast .", "so bogged down in plot that it has little in the way of suspense .", "melodramatic in tone , complex in thought , this ` clayton ' is a thinking person 's john grisham .", "the real triumph is clooney 's , his award-worthy work confirming his status as this generation 's most watchable leading man .", "clooney has seldom been better as clayton , a man beginning to feel that his skill is not exactly being put to good uses .", "it 's the insider remade and rechristened with all the coiled , white-hot intensity of a crime thriller like heat .", "dude , there 's a bomb in your car .", "there are no real surprises in MOV , just the awareness of a job well done .", "as important as it is entertaining .", "MOV is an intelligent thriller that takes time to explore little crevices of character along the way ...", "MOV may be his first film as a director , but here 's hoping it 's not -lrb- tony -rrb- gilroy 's last .", "with clooney in the driver 's seat , the film tumbles forward in a snapping elastic band of tension and shuddering revelations . the movie starts off grippingly and only grows more intense and thrilling .", "keeps you involved and in suspense until the last moment .", "a somewhat far-fetched , melodramatic ending restores some self-esteem to clayton . but not before we have seen the weariness and anger chip away at that handsome face .", "clooney , for his part , allows his movie star looks to go flabby and soft -lrb- all things being relative , of course -rrb- , and he buries the performance way down in his gut .", "ace work from all involved ...", "MOV is an assured , intelligent thriller , the kind that never depends on clunky exposition and differentiates its heroes and villains only by the choices they make during the film .", "a brilliant debut by gilroy , it takes its time to grab you but -lsb- then -rsb- keeps you riveted to the screen . no one should be surprised if it brings -lsb- clooney -rsb- back to the oscars .", "money hungry men in nice suits stopped being cool in 1982 , and MOV does n't do enough to bring it back again .", "MOV 's only real shortcoming is its name -- seldom has a more complex and interesting story been given a simpler , less appealing title .", "george clooney 's subtle , affecting performance is the chief reason to see this super-sincere social drama .", "a story rich in ideas that does n't blow valuable time proselytizing its message .", "MOV is at its best when it sticks to hard-bitten , this-is-how-the-world-works scenes between employers and employees , fathers and sons , executives and lawyers .", "a slow , moody and insomniac thriller which wears its social conscience very much on its sleeve .", "... the kind of smart , crisp , ` serious ' mainstream entertainment that gives hollywood -lrb- or the part of it influenced by george clooney -rrb- a good name .", "tightly plotted , expertly acted , MOV is a challenging , satisfying corporate thriller", "`` MOV '' is an up-to-the-minute allegory about the devastating power and malicious intent of a corporation that conceals its unethical actions with television commercials featuring close-ups of verdant nature .", "clooney delivers a performance that demands what only a few in the industry can deliver -- a critical , grounded turn that allows the film to savor its well-earned commercial overtones .", "the strength of the film is tom wilkinson 's performance as a bipolar lawyer who stops taking his medication and has an epiphany of sorts .", "MOV simultaneously punches you in the gut and in the cranium because it never sacrifices the thrust of the narrative to its moral posturing .", "MOV wants it both ways . it requires smarts to understand what 's going on , and a lack of smarts to care and not be able to predict the outcome .", "as mesmerizing as michael 's journey is throughout the film , and as much as the film is focused on his essential masculine recovery , karen 's plot is equally compelling .", "the movie requires patience from the audience . in return , it does n't cop out with a cheap twist or turn at the end .", "smart and thoroughly entertaining .", "the perfectly cast clooney gives the term ` star vehicle ' a good name .", "when clooney is onscreen , he is magnetic , pure and simple .", "george clooney wastes nothing in his best performance , and the film is as breathtakingly efficient . specifics and surprises unfold with methodical care , and attentive adult audiences can savor one of the smartest , classiest legal thrillers ever made .", "gorgeous george is wonderfully jaundiced as MOV , an amoral corporate lawyer who has made his name by defending the indefensible .", "a good fix from a good fixer .", "a dark , engaging drama that asks some difficult moral questions , MOV is a classy piece of filmmaking with yet another in a long line of fine performances from george clooney .", "continuing to seek out writer/directors with something to say , clooney 's latest pair-up packs its anti-corporate agenda with enough meat to keep you hooked .", "it 's all very smooth , but the problem is it 's also a bit anodyne and unlikely to hold up in comparisons to clooney 's other ` serious ' films , whose stories have more to offer underneath the polish .", "think old chewing gum with a masculine flavour .", "it 's a cool , intelligent thriller and boasts a closing confrontation between clooney and swinton that is truly stand-out .", "this offers moments of suspense , some pointed scenes and star charisma , but it 's also a touch confused . heads will be scratched before they roll .", "impressively directed , superbly acted thriller , but it moves too slowly to really engage the audience and ultimately works better as a character study .", "... a very effective first effort from a promising new filmmaker .", "out-grishams grisham at his own game , thanks to an engaging plot , fine acting and a pleasing twist at the end .", "this is a crackerjack story with sharp writing , genuine twists , perfect whip-smart acting and a subplot for clooney 's character that actually works instead of just feeling like padding .", "think of this intense drama about corporate shenanigans as the capper to a george clooney trilogy about duty , ethics and professionalism .", "gilroy 's goal is to create a smart , literate thriller , and while MOV is smart and literate , it is n't thrilling .", "the film does n't disappoint . it 's an enveloping thriller with a cool intelligence , the kind of film redford or newman would have jumped at 15 or 20 years ago .", "the story of some nice lawyers who give dozens of pro bono hours working to adopt puppies for orphans before christmas . george clooney plays the headmaster .", "`` man , i could be doing my laundry , '' i groused , as clooney looked deep into the camera 's eyes and gave me nothing .", "... a success because the actors work hard -lrb- but not too hard -rrb- to convey a sense of genuine investment in the onscreen problems , and because the rest of the behind-the-scenes technicians do immaculate , invisible work", "cut from the same cloth as `` the pelican brief '' and `` the constant gardener '' , it is much more of a psychological study than a `` whodunit '' . clooney is excellent in the leading role .", "MOV is that scintillating and rare pop-culture creation , a thriller about character .", "the ultimate showcase for the defining male lead of our time .", "this is gilroy 's first film as director ; i ca n't wait to see what he 's got next .", "it 's about issues of personal responsibility and moral duty .", "in an accomplished directorial debut , gilroy gives the film a shadowy , autumnal hue and combines image and sound in sometimes surprising and ingenious ways .", "this is unequivocally a thriller for adults", "with his focused , charismatic manner and a character whose control is challenged by a colleague 's principles , clooney sustains the tension in a case of corporate corruption .", "while the plot is complex in the telling , it unfolds onscreen with propulsive fascination .", "and while gilroy deploys the occasional exploding car , the film 's climax is all words -- angry , carefully sharpened words -- with the stopping power of large-caliber bullets .", "every performance in this film is spot-on .", "there are more than ample rewards for discerning adults : some of the best dialogue in a recent movie and a gallery of unforgettable performances .", "it barrels through its formulaic story and clich\u00e9d elements with its outstanding cast leading the way .", "... a good last scene can redeem a lot of tedium , and -lsb- writer-director tony -rsb- gilroy provides a doozy ...", "although we 've seen many films about high-profile law firms versus the average joe , watching MOV becomes more compelling every minute .", "confident in the story 's power and the moviegoers ' intelligence , gilroy uses only one explosion to own our rapt attention .", "the acting is top-notch across the board , with clooney and wilkinson putting on a clinic .", "filled with wonderfully conflicted characters , MOV is a masterful legal thriller that never misses a beat . a true diamond in the rough .", "tasty mix of crowd-pleasing action and whip-smart storytelling .", "a throwback to trim , intelligent moral thrillers like the verdict and absence of malice .", "shot and edited well , featuring a large , talented cast , MOV should provide entertainment", "this gripping jigsaw puzzle of a movie about ethics jump-starts our pulses , luring us into the world of corporate lawyers , big business and how the dirt gets swept away", "modeled after intelligent , character-driven paranoia-conspiracy melodramas of the 1970s , feature debut by tony gilroy , who acquits himself more impressively as writer than helmer , is compelling if also familiar .", "the multiplex needs more movies where life , work , morality , and debt comprise the constellation of adult experience , unimpinged upon by concessions to youth audiences and unameliorated by any whiff of romance .", "equates serious inquiry with inert filmmaking", "MOV is a riveting , suspenseful , rip-roaring entertainment .", "there 's a lot of skill involved in MOV and an understated , ambiguous hero that 's becoming rare in modern film . even if under its subtle surface there is n't really much there , the surface is good enough to make it worthwhile .", "MOV is a chilling , intense conspiracy thriller , filled with intriguing characters and great performances .", "grisham for exceptionally bleeding hearts", "MOV definitely has its heart in the '70s .", "if i had to sum this movie up with one word , it would be tense .", "-lsb- a -rsb- smoldering corporate thriller .", "expertly paced , tautly written and superbly cast , it may turn out to be the most auspicious debut of the year .", "malo je gledatelja koji od prve ne % u0107e shvatiti tko su u filmu pozitivci a tko negativci .", "a killer voice-over by tom wilkinson sets the tone for this dramatic thriller , and you 're willing to go on the journey even if you do n't understand it all the time .", "the pieces come together into a stirring portrait of a man reclaiming his soul from a scrap heap of discarded principles .", "there 's nothing sadder than a prestige picture that just does n't work , because these kinds of films so rarely allow themselves to have fun .", "this is a tense thriller even if the basic plot turns out to be a little overly familiar .", "what elevates it above the depressingly familiar storyline are the performances .", "in some scenes , clayton is the kick in the pants the whodunit genre desperately needs", "further proof that george clooney is quite simply the movie star of our age .", "i 've seen a lot of legal dramas over the years ; this is one of the best -lrb- if not the best -rrb- of them .", "this is n't a thrill a minute . but `` MOV '' is indeed an entertaining thriller , although it 's a slow-paced one that 's told mostly in flashback .", "the dialogue may crackle , but the characters are standard-issue .", "audiences , beware you will be drawn in by clayton and will be wondering days later why films are not all this good ?", "erin brockovich -lrb- 2000 -rrb- meets a civil action -lrb- 1998 -rrb- , but featuring a flawed hero with blood on his hands and an ace up his sleeve .", "clooney 's latest venture into panache is thriller style in MOV .", "if MOV 's particular mix of law and commerce gets a little murky , that murkiness also gives the film a shadowy aura .", "the film 's denouement is without question one of the best exercises in sustained and controlled excitement i 've seen in a movie in a long while .", "failing fixer clooney is great but has to fight for center stage next to supporting actress tilda swinton as the ethically maimed corporate attorney . add tom wilkinson , sydney pollock and a dynamite screenplay and we have the thriller of year .", "it is just about perfect as an exercise in the genre . i 've seen it twice , and the second time , knowing everything that would happen , i found it just as fascinating because of how well it was all shown happening .", "just when you thought hollywood might have forgotten how to make a smart adult thriller along comes a film like this .", "MOV is the adult antidote to a torrent of monotonous gobbledygook devoid of poignant messaging .", "instead of the typical john grisham-style connect-the-dots legal thriller , we get a film that 's idiosyncratic , with a time-shifting structure , a surfeit of subplots and characters .", "dark in color , mood and outraged worldview , MOV is a film that speaks to the way we live now .", "george clooney does something unusual in MOV . he looks uncomfortable .", "a taut , exciting and thoughtful legal thriller that is so smartly conceived and executed that to merely call it a `` legal thriller '' almost sounds demeaning .", "unlikely and eerily realistic at the same time .", "clooney 's lined , unshaven world-weary face , graying hair , dark circles under his eyes and wary gravitas all deepen the cautionary tone of a film that would be considerably less engaging without him .", "this does n't begin to deserve the oscar nominations it 's likely to get , but i had a good time with it nonetheless .", "the story is elaborate and demands the utmost of patience , and the final confrontation is one that wo n't soon be forgotten -- particularly if you 're george clooney at the height of awards season .", "some of the strongest performances this year ... -lsb- including -rsb- a rarely better george clooney in a performance likely to be remembered at oscar time .", "broad in its characterizations and message but subdued in presenting them through a complex plot .", "hate the rest of the film , but i ca n't imagine anyone stepping outside of the theater and thinking clooney 's monumental work lacks absolute fire .", "another contender for the award season , surely , and a fantastic turn from clooney .", "MOV is a lot of things - somber , menacing , heartfelt , and heroic . it tells an intriguing tale in a wonderfully evocative manner . unfortunately , there is one thing that it 's not - and that 's great .", "the movie 's plot may be familiar , but its hero is a unique and memorable creation .", "smart and exciting , MOV takes the audience on a ride whose pleasures almost sneak up on you and are all the more satisfying because of it .", "despite all the film 's plentiful talk , it never feels overplotted or convoluted ... or really all that talky . in fact , it 's a rather taut , well-plotted and directed feature .", "an engrossing intellectual thriller with a shrewd grasp of crowd-pleasing storytelling ... the kind of hollywood movie we could use a lot more of .", "the filmmaker , best known as the scribe of the bourne trilogy , wears both director and writer hats here , and the results are electrifying .", "this uncommonly intelligent thriller evokes the great films of the 1970s -lrb- all the president 's men , klute , three days of the condor -rrb- that managed to elicit gritty urban realism while maintaining a suave sense of style and moral complexity .", "though the film ultimately bows to the smiley-face demands of the new millennium box office , it manages to be a spellbinding action-drama , skillfully built upon a scary corporate conspiracy , chock-full of enjoyable downbeat performances .", "with the george clooney-starring MOV , -lsb- tony gilroy -rsb- has not only saved his best script for himself , he 's also turned out a smart and suspenseful legal thriller that comes completely alive on-screen .", "without -lsb- clooney -rsb- , and without some fine playing from wilkinson and from sydney pollack as the firm 's lead partner , MOV would be glossy claptrap .", "insinuating and extremely clever , this insightful , low-key thriller takes a provocative look into the life of a man whose world begins to unravel around him .", "-lsb- gilroy -rsb- shows that it 's interesting to see how much suspense can be generated when one decides to do the right thing , simply because the forces at large will do everything they can to prevent it .", "despite an exceptional performance by clooney , MOV is like watching a drawn-out third act that left the really compelling stuff back in the first two .", "gripping and complicated", "tony gilroy 's MOV feels so fresh , so smart , so different from the standard-issue legal thriller that it is n't until nearly an hour in that you notice how conventional a movie it actually is ." ], "summary": "MOV is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007 , with an engrossing premise and faultless acting . director tony gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience 's attention , but holding it until the credits roll .", "id": "770671488" }, { "movie": "alien_saga_2003", "reviews": [ "it 's still an enjoyable experience revisiting the nostromo and getting reacquainted with its seven crew members .", "a monster movie with class .", "what you will find is that the old mayhem is still masterful and that there is nothing like the big screen for this type of mortally wounded space exploration .", "watching it again reminded me how remarkably the sound engineers did their jobs .", "alien still thrills because of scott 's relentless focus on terror .", "it 's scary , smart , well-acted and just as effective now as it was in 1979 . go see it .", "fuller and scarier", "thrill again to how thoroughly conceived the whole thing is , how impeccably acted and genuine in its suspense .", "turns out not to be one of those movies that improves in the memory , but actually is better than you remember , mostly because it puts its multitude of imitators to shame .", "scott knew how to create tension , and the movie still has plenty of white-knuckle impact , although it 's a little tamer than i remembered .", "though some of scott 's editing decisions in this new version are questionable -- one even violates continuity -- he has left the film 's most suspenseful and chilling moments intact .", "the alien director 's cut should work well for longtime fans and first-time viewers alike .", "whether altered for the sake of incorporating superfluous extra material -lrb- cat fight ! -rrb- or for reasons even less compelling , the editing rhythms here are way off .", "the movie inspired three sequels and remains undeniably frightening . it also marks a significant step in the evolution of modern science-fiction films .", "... one of the few films that can be predicted perfectly , but it?s so well crafted?and so damn exciting?that we just don?t care .", "nearly a quarter of a century down the line , a great film has been made greater .", "alien is a triumph of style over substance , of lean over fat .", "going back to the beginning and seeing where it all began , this film had a lot to live up to in my eyes . in the end , i was just left wondering what all the fuss was about .", "whether this is the first time you have seen alien , or the third or fourth ... the tension never abates - the film never lets you off the hook .", "` a chance to see ridley scott 's ruthlessly efficient shocker back where it belongs , on the big screen . '", "it remains one of the best examples of sustained tension .", "when scott was finished , he thought it was too long and that the added material threw the pacing off . therefore , he cut his own director 's cut . -lrb- alien quadrilogy -rrb-", "for reviewer todd gilchrist , puberty began in earnest when he witnessed sigourney weaver getting physical aboard a doomed spaceship .", "still one scary mother .", "it certainly had innovations , including its idea that monsters may lurk both within and without the human body . but mostly it settled for giving a grisly new look to popular old formulas .", "the original has aged with surprising grace ; despite the rise of digital video and home computers , this is still a convincing future .", "this edition -- clean and tight as scott would have it -- presents a strong case for alien as both the greatest horror film and the greatest science-fiction film ever made .", "a streamlined improvement on the original .", "you know how sometimes you revisit a movie you loved and realize it was n't as good as you remember ? this is n't one of those times .", "a rare and welcome work of genius .", "an authentically scary movie .", "even if you 've seen it a hundred times , alien can still make you jump out of your seat .", "it 's a most satisfying return to one of the few sci-fi films that deserves to be called a masterpiece .", "even 25 years later alien still can make us jump .", "-lsb- a -rsb- chillingly quiet masterpiece of understatement and suggestion ...", "-lrb- the director 's cut -rrb- does n't hold up as well as i 'd anticipated , -lrb- but -rrb- the chest-bursting scene is still a seat-gripper .", "one of the few times a director 's cut has actually improved on the original work , and should be become celebrated by even the most demanding fans", "read the review on the 2003 director 's cut", "terrific filmmaking that plays at the level of instinct and emotion .", "looks more like a classic than ever .", "twenty-four years later -- digitally spruced up , with some scenes shaved and others padded with previously cut material -- scott 's film still shreds nerves .", "this 1979 horror-sci-fi masterpiece still holds up remarkably well on the big screen , a testament to the skill of director ridley scott , who was then working on his first film , and the acting by the talented ensemble cast .", "the first is still the best .", "it 's worth seeing alien , which established scott as an a-list director , in a theater because his brilliant and often expansive visuals have always worked better on a big screen than on video .", "today 's directors could learn from ` alien ' -- ratchet up tensions : do n't start with a bang .", "alien is still a classic well worth a trip to the theater .", "in space , the famous tagline went , no one can hear you scream . in alien , you can hear lessons for the sci-fi future in a great milestone from the recent past .", "a movie that can still give you the shakes , even though most of its surprises have long since passed into popular legend .", "just getting to see this freakin ' frightening and visually stimulating flick on a big screen makes this well worth a trip to your homeworld multiplex ." ], "summary": "director ridley scott re-edits his 1979 sci-fi classic to produce an elegantly re-mastered film that is as terrifying and effective as ever .", "id": "770771403" }, { "movie": "fill_the_void", "reviews": [ "burshstein has managed a small miracle with his gentle film ... . a movie about matters of faith that manages to be neither condescending nor smug ... a surprisingly accessible and satisfying experience .", "eventually reveals itself to be a sort of jane austen romance -- a tale of matchmaking and marriage motivated by the ritual and decorum of haredi judaism in modern tel aviv rather than by the social strictures of 19th-century england .", "both accessible and thrilling .", "like suffocating beneath a thick layer of protective plastic , MOV feels like slow death .", "a nuanced kitchen-sink depiction of an israeli hassidic community which zeroes in on the dilemma of an 18-year-old girl named shira .", "a fascinating and emotionally gripping drama with a sharply written , understated script and a pair of terrific performances from hadas yaron and yiftach klein .", "a warm , watchful slant on marital mores in an ultraorthodox jewish community .", "with honesty and sensitivity , this israeli drama takes us into an unfamiliar subcuture , letting us experience aspects of life in an orthodox jewish community that we 've probably never even imagined before .", "although it lacks a little of the emotional heft of haifaa al-mansour 's work , it 's a well acted and delicately told tale .", "in the end , it 's hard to determine whether burshtein is celebrating or critiquing the insularity and strict traditions of the community that she herself joined in her 20s - but presumably that 's part of the point .", ". . heir funny hats and weird hairdos do n't camouflage the recognisable human characteristics we readily understand . for me , that is the film 's most enduring and most important message", "this is an extraordinary first film , nerve-tingling in its intensity , and assembled with a finesse and control even the great austrian director michael haneke might envy .", "not exactly a hasidic musical but close to it , the film delves into the complicated culture of orthodox jewish arranged marriages . and so to speak , a case of perhaps multiple choice matrimonial options managed in many ways by mom .", "the film is undeniably a celebration of community , but on shira , one gets the disturbing whiff of stockholm syndrome .", "burshtein has achieved a gripping film without victims or villains , an ambiguous tragedy drawing on universal themes of love and loss , self-sacrifice and self-preservation .", "burshtein creates a one-of-a-kind portrait that nonetheless transcends its setting , and even its worldview ; the dynamics are global .", "a sympathetic , layered portrayal , rich with detail , that earns its more complex and resonant conclusion .", "there 's a clotted and cramped feeling to `` MOV '' that 's downright creepy .", "-lsb- burshtein 's -rsb- subject is a woman 's right to choose her spouse , and what a weighty , giddy , confusing , clarifying and , ultimately , sacred choice that is .", "-lsb- burshtein -rsb- vividly depicts a clannish culture that is likely to feel foreign and perhaps off-putting to generations that came of age in a progressive post-feminist era .", "none of the religious rituals feels particularly spiritual , and even the nominally happy ending fails to alleviate the oppressive tone .", "a moody , exquisitely told tale of love and duty .", "a terrifically layered film that really leaves you thinking and wanting to talk about what you 've just watched afterwards", "-lsb- burshtein has -rsb- reinvigorated a familiar narrative by painting it against an unfamiliar backdrop .", "will they or wo n't they ? burshtein draws out emotional communication by secular actors , setting them amidst extras from the orthodox community for convincing mise en sc\u010dne .", "its last five minutes are so extraordinarily enigmatic , you 're certain the subject of innocence , guilt and attraction has been addressed on a deep level .", "MOV is as well-versed in the rules of matchmaking as a jane austen novel , and it bends them as artfully as wicker .", "the film is n't exactly rousing in its conclusion , but it 's always respectful : a serious ethical inquiry into matters of women 's choice , both imposed and seized upon . check it out .", "burshtein 's cinematic experience has more than honed her quietly effective and inherently dramatic filmmaking style , it 's deepened her gift for emotional honesty , for knowing the truth of a situation and how to convey it to an audience .", "a rare and illuminating glimpse of contemporary hasidic life against the backdrop of ritual , purim , marriage , and death .", "there is perhaps something ultimately undeveloped about it , but the film is a well acted , well presented piece of work .", "an intelligent and moving examination of the possibilities of personal freedom within the strict confines of religion and tradition .", "a man and a woman , alone , on a path at night , forbidden to touch , speak , confront , describe passion : the man moves closer . that 's all . the smallest of moves , infinitesimal motion . the world tilts on its axis .", "emotional issues an an insular world", "as opposed to the bleak view of sexual subjugation in kadosh , amos gitai 's 1999 film about hasidic marriage , MOV sees burshtein fortrightly and wittily asserting that this is how her community lives .", "... an entertaining yet uneven debut from a promising new filmmaker ...", "practically an ethnographic film", "trouble is , while the social milieu is nicely realized , other parts of the drama are not . too often burshtein cuts off a scene prematurely , darting away just as the crucial moment of emotion or confrontation appears .", "articulates this society 's constant urgency and claustrophobic decisions .", "from the dense , textured carpet of her characters ' emotions , burshtein draws gorgeous threads and holds them to the light .", "this romantic melodrama , written and directed by rama burshtein , has an irresistible allure despite its bathetic drift .", "for its clarity and lack of pretension alone , void stands apart ... beautifully acted", "beautiful and mysterious , the -lsb- se -rsb- first glimpses are an ideal primer for the israeli film , which never rushes to spell out the meanings of its subtle and quiet moments .", "using the advantage of personal familiarity with an insular religious community of haredi jews in tel aviv , rama burshtein has created a small jewel of a narrative .", "take it on its own terms , as a compelling emotional drama about an impossible situation .", "a subtle , elegant movie that brings us into the structured world of tel aviv 's ultra-orthodox hasidic community to show how one young woman navigates the demands of her religion and her family 's expectations without losing herself in the process .", "a frustratingly bland look at the customs of a complex subculture .", "it 's an artful , character-driven drama that constitutes a minor miracle of empathy .", "the narrative takes place within a reserved , insulated culture where silence is golden , conversations sound like prayers and a single tear can speak volumes .", "a fascinating , and somewhat frustrating peek into the lives of israel 's ultra-orthodox jews , their mating rituals and whatnot .", "a dreary , tiresome dirge about passion and dis-passion , if memorably performed by impressive lead hadas yaron .", "the film unfolds in unhurried dramatic terms that come to take on an almost fatalistic force .", "an elegant miniature , rama burshtein 's `` MOV '' labors under a narrative inevitability , but it 's artful work nonetheless .", "i suspect burshtein achieved what she set out to do with `` MOV , '' but i found it repetitive and frustrating .", "to MOV , means to simultaneously gain and lose . for shira , she is keeping her family together at the cost of her own ambitions . it 's a kind of self-sacrifice not seen in american films . burshtein captures these delicate moments brilliantly .", "i left MOV feeling privileged , however briefly , to have been brought into this world .", "an exquisite , poetic film that is full of both the joy of life , even in grief , and in the fact that life inevitably goes on", "`` MOV , '' a compelling and skillfully made domestic drama , is a rarity , a film that 's both set within , and emerges from , a devoutly religious world .", "director rama burshtein 's debut is nothing less than astonishing . she 's a card-carrying member of israel 's hared community and , with that experience , has crafted a work of moral complexity and visual artistry", "a love poem to the ultra-orthodox world as seen from within .", "it 's the movie 's attention to detail that sells it , especially because the humanity of all the characters shines through .", "israel 's official submission for oscar 's 2012 best foreign language film is a stunning melodrama centered on an ultra-orthodox jewish community and prospects for a tragedy-fueled arranged marriage between a teen and older man .", "few films in recent memory better capture the heartbreak of loss , the agony of indecision or the burden of familial duty .", "buhrstein , whose assuredness belies the fact that this is her first film , captures this dilemma mainly through shira 's eyes .", "`` MOV '' is a fairly somber affair , its dourness only interrupted occasionally by moments of beauty or grace .", "a lesser filmmaker would have condescended to this world , but rama burshtein , an orthodox woman herself , treats it with abiding respect . her movie is a masterpiece .", "tonally , the film awkwardly straddles fluffy comedy and grief-stricken melodrama , hopping from one mode to other scene to scene ." ], "summary": "graceful , complex , and beautifully layered , MOV offers a sympathetic portrait of an insulated culture by exploring universal themes .", "id": "771315025" }, { "movie": "10009624-promotion", "reviews": [ "the acting , not steve conrad 's bland writing and uneven pacing , drives this low-key , mildly amusing , occasionally insightful workplace satire .", "as bad as a severe case of the mondays .", "-lsb- director -rsb- conrad seems to have used whatever clout he got from the pursuit of happyness to fund something personal and sincere -- a story that 's ultimately about victories of character and suppressing your worst impulses .", "the MOV has more work-life truth in it than a month of the office or dilbert .", "reilly and scott richly mine their characters , alternately confiding in and undermining each other . their vulnerability and yearning for the good life is a quiet but powerful statement that will stay with you long after the closing credits .", "the strangely paced drama/comedy never finds much of a groove . elements of conventional madcap comedy butt against more indie-ready scenes of relationship dysfunction , and the end result is more frustrating than interesting .", "screenwriter steve conrad 's -lrb- the pursuit of happyness -rrb- directorial debut is too strait-laced for the knocked up set and too offensive for the will smith crowd .", "the directorial debut of pursuit of happyness writer steve conrad , the MOV carries a deadpan corporate-absurd whiff of office space but never quite scans .", "better than the usual in so many ways", "the MOV skates out onto that thin ice of comedic subtlety . like its characters , it 's not terribly successful , but it 's an admirable effort all the same .", "total and forgettable and unforgivable blandness .", "it 's a little pat and shallow .", "`` the MOV '' needs some career counseling to figure out just what it really wants to be .", "a nasty-hearted little film , and in absolutely the worst way for a film to be nasty : it is absolutely convinced of its own warm spirit .", "the MOV uses the structure of a workplace comedy to pose gentle moral and ethical questions about treating people right -lrb- or wrong -rrb- , about honor and ambition , truth-telling and back-stabbing .", "a bit alexander payne social satire , a bit mike judge 's `` office space , '' `` the MOV '' keeps the laughter mostly low-key while addressing deflating truths about occupational angst - writer/director steve conrad 's sturdy thematic stock-in-trade .", "sort of a dilbert riff , only lower on the food chain .", "the MOV does sacrifice some comedy in its attempt at depth .", "the MOV may not be much , and you get to know that supermarket uncomfortably well by the end of the 85 minutes . but as i say : he 's an interesting writer .", "by taking the time to make that connection with the audience , the MOV ensures we 'll forgive these guys anything -- and laugh along with them -- in their quest to advance their lots .", "a nice little comedy about what it takes to climb the corporate ladder and the toll such actions take on the psyche of a decent individual .", "... an odd yet compelling comedy ...", "a work-retreat sequence is hilarious , thanks to a scene-stealing supporting bit from jason bateman . and reilly 's convincing portrayal of the somewhat self-destructive richard does make the whole thing watchable .", "two things are missing in this debut directing effort from writer steve conrad - a sufficient number of jokes and anybody worth rooting for .", "... sharp and intelligent ...", "director steve conrad probably counts on the natural likability of scott and reilly to make this comedy go down a little easier , but it does n't always do the trick .", "precise , clever , wonderfully strange , and so funny it hurts , it is simply the best studio comedy since the 40-year old virgin .", "if you think latent racism is just plain hysterical .", "not much here is funny , the chicago locations are drab , and the characters , as ordinary as they are , never develop into anything more than premise props .", "by going easy on everyone , -lsb- director conrad -rsb- turns what could have been a searing satire into a lukewarm comedy .", "the film is so restrained and deadpan that it barely seems alive", "although pacing and rhythm of some scenes are wildly uneven , this is a respectable debut behind the camera and a smart independent comedy that needs strong marketing to find the kind of savvy audience willing to give this odd duck a fighting chance .", "fueled by a sense of economic desperation that 's all too familiar , the MOV may wind up being the funniest , timeliest comedy of 2008 .", "it 's one of those off-balance movies that seems searching for the right tone .", "think of it as a polite , tightly muzzled clerks .", "the MOV is n't very original but it is , more often than not , funny .", "the entire enterprise has fallen short of its muddled ambitions .", "add watching the MOV to the geneva conventions ' list of humanitarian abuses .", "despite its gimmicky-sounding premise , the MOV is , like most of conrad 's work , less concerned with matters of winning or losing than with man 's sometimes noble , sometimes deplorable , often futile attempts to distinguish himself from the herd .", "mature satire has unexpected brains and heart .", "the MOV is generally harmless but boring .", "so laid-back that it barely registers , despite starring two guys who have n't exactly been shrinking violets in previous outings .", "easily one of the freshest , funniest comedies of the year .", "the MOV works as a comedy because , in the depths of our dark hearts , we enjoy seeing the woes that beset our comic antagonists .", "bills itself as a comedy , and elements of it do fall into that category , but at its core , this is an incisive and often merciless deconstruction of the american dream", "tone and pace are absolutely crucial to comedy . if the tone is wrong or the pace is off - by even a hair - the comedy will shrivel up and die . and that 's precisely what happens in the MOV .", "fizzles as a comedy and as an exploration of the stresses of work .", "this is one of the more original movies of the year , and it 's the rare film that 's primarily about the workplace .", "two regular joes square off in the MOV , a sly comedy that finds fresh humor in the workplace .", "fails as a comedy because it 's less funny and interesting than it would be to watch stars seann william scott and john c. reilly sitting in lawn chairs and talking for 90 minutes .", "a confident and clever character study about the commonality of dreams from the boardroom to the bag boy .", "this notable , chicago-filmed comedy was inspired by the true events of director steve conrad seeing a store employee at a chicago chain armed only with a yellow courtesy vest break up some unruly loiterers in the parking lot .", "saying the MOV 's tone is all wrong would imply that it had a tone to begin with .", "muted bits of slapstick and verbal insults arrive with more clunkers than zingers , but the performances are adequate and the tone sincere .", "the MOV tries for the dry , low-key vibe of election , but its humor is not so much dry as evaporated .", "the portrayal of employment in america is too close for comfort . or comedy ... not the stuff of lighthearted summer comedy .", "formulaic structure , inconsistent tone , and underwritten roles overshadow the few merits in the feature directorial debut of conrad , who made a stronger impression as the writer of the weather man .", "here 's a weird little comedy ... kind of like clerks in a bigger store , or at least a funny version of employee of the month .", "the MOV edges toward some pretty bleak stuff . then it steps back and laughs , like an office slacker .", "a smart , understated comedy about two assistant supermarket managers making a bid for the one big MOV they both desperately need .", "steve conrad 's wry debut takes place in an urban chicago grocery store , in which an intimate epic of manhood unfolds .", "as a subtle expression of masculine angst , it 's the timid flipside of fight club . as a gentle critique of the american dream 's descent into empty consumerism , it 's a less cutesy , less feminist little miss sunshine .", "there 's something appealingly modest about the MOV . it 's a sweet , human movie .", "there 's still a lot to like here , but ultimately the movie reflects its hapless hero a little too well . while we 're constantly rooting for it to succeed , the finish line seems forever out of reach .", "easily the worst movie i 've seen so far this year .", "is n't as broad as its premise might suggest .", "conrad has the humanity part down . even if his little film is something of a mess , that counts for something .", "not that there are n't some great laughs , but this is far from the laugh-a-minute yuck-fest some might expect .", "at last , we have a completely and profoundly american movie with all the classical skills of timing , editing and character development that we associate nostalgically with some hollywood golden age .", "i predict that when this film is released , lots of critics who miss the point will complain about its muted tone . scott and reilly actually underplay the comedy to great effect .", "a fantastic little comedy , filled with all sorts of weird moments , funny quips , colorful characters , and strange diversions .", "does n't match the brilliance of mike judge 's ` office space ' but has enough amusing moments to merit your look .", "the MOV , beyond what 's a deeper screenplay than some may give it credit for , is consistently funny in a build-up-and-release way that , much like the weather man , supplements those one-liners with uncomfortable behavior and a comedy of manners ." ], "summary": "with a workplace-related theme worthy of satire , the MOV features some sharp witticisms but ultimately disappoints .", "id": "770680521" }, { "movie": "disgrace", "reviews": [ "australian filmmaker steve jacobs also covers himself in glory here , addressing coetzee 's provocative prose with an insightful restraint that was nowhere to be seen in his directorial debut , la spagnola .", "near-flawless casting through the film ensures it will be recalled as one of the year 's outstanding dramas from australia , or anywhere .", "what makes MOV difficult and rewarding , among other things , is its ruthlessly clear-eyed sense of its own terms , its refusal to find easy comfort or solutions .", "it 's hard to believe this film is jessica haines 's first screen role . as lucy , the south african actress proves herself more than equal to malkovich .", "a light , unsatisfying and rather unsubtle version of the famous novel , with john malkovich playing the disgraced academic experiencing the personal effects of social change in south africa .", "this is a most unusual australian film , but a very powerful one .", "though overwrought in its early scenes , the movie quickly settles into an intelligently faithful rendering of a calling to account , whose visceral power and political implications need no hyping .", "malkovich gives a compelling and touching performance as a lit professor who embarks on a journey of discovery and self-evaluation after being involved in a sex scandal with a student , forced to confront the new realities of the post-apartheid era .", "a slight , crude metaphor for south africa 's shame .", "for all the care and perceptiveness that 's gone into this impressive adaptation , malkovich 's essential iciness means the tragedy eludes us .", "this disquieting drama serves as a platform for malkovich , whose eloquent performance draws you in with great compassion .", "it 's a faithful adaptation , but one that 's been indifferently shot by director steve jacobs , whose blunt technique tends to flatten the book 's morose charge . still , the acting is often excellent .", "a worthwhile film which is concerned to do the right thing by a modern classic .", "it 's hard to say what this solid but unadventurous film adds to coetzee 's powerful source material .", "a perfectly cast john malkovich gives a superb performance in a powerful and intelligent study of a man coming back from the brink .", "it 's an enormously complicated story with great potential for reductive schmaltz , but this is avoided thanks to anna maria monticelli 's sharp , sensitive screenplay and superb performances .", "surprisingly successful adaptation .", "this chilly film gets surprisingly close to the tone of coetzee 's precise prose .", "if you know the novel , you 're likely to feel that something has been lost here ; if you do n't , you still have the film 's monotonous pacing to contend with . still , jacobs has directed an intelligent , intriguing drama .", "steve jacobs ' adaptation of j.m. coetzee 's booker prize-winning novel MOV fearlessly pares back the layers of post-apartheid south africa within the microcosm of a father/daughter relationship .", "an absorbing and therefore entertaining piece .", "of all the people one might think of , watching this appropriately disturbing film translation of nobel laureate j. m. coetzee 's heralded novel , i never imagined i 'd be thinking of michael vick . but there you have it .", "a simmering lead performance by john malkovich anchors aussie director steve jacobs ' surprisingly deft screen adaptation of south african nobel laureate j.m. coetzee 's widely-acclaimed 1999 novel MOV .", "individual or societal in thrust , ` MOV ' is hampered by a lack of resolution and the impenetrability of motivations .", "after a compelling opening act and some shocking late-film developments , the film feels disengaged from the action at hand and the issues raised .", "steve jacobs ' elegantly disturbing film follows the exploits - or , more accurately , the exploitations - of 52-year-old professor david lurie , a dissolute aesthete whose erudition does little to mask grotesque character flaws .", "a faithful , compelling screen adaptation of j. m. coetzee 's booker prize-winning 1999 novel .", "i can not tell a lie . i derive great satisfaction watching john malkovich act .", "a powerful and disquieting film about racism , sexism , and the hope for reconciliation in post-apartheid south africa .", "it 's not coetzee 's assertion that the white minority south africans must go a ways toward assimilating into african life to remain relevant that invites deep scrutiny , but the narrow vision presented here of africanization as something akin to wilding .", "the visionary gravity of j m coetzee 's booker-winning novel is perhaps untranslatable to the screen , but steve jacobs 's film is a very creditable try .", "this is tragic inevitability at one mile per hour , extending into a slow , sunbaked danse macabre the drama 's heartbreak and the guilt , anguish and wrath .", "as the last shot lingers , you long to find out what happens next .", "not a comfortable watch ... but still powerful and clear-eyed .", "more convincing as an allegory , but faithful to coetzee 's acerbic , alternative view of s. africa 's future than the usual uplifting themes of reconciliation and forgiveness .", "engaging , powerful and absorbing drama that does n't offer any easy answers but exerts a tight grip , thanks to a terrific performance by john malkovich .", "so packed with big issues that it sometimes feels like a bit too much . but it 's provocative and fascinating , and never offers any easy answers .", "the screen version does not disappoint and features an outstanding performance from john malkovich .", "the movie eventually begins to wilt under the sober , plodding direction of steve jacobs , but the thoughtful screenplay gives malkovich a complex , increasingly reflective character arc that he plays with great feeling .", "a lethal look at the after-shock of apartheid . tough to watch but bearing a powerful message .", "desire and its consequences are at the heart of this complex drama that has the power to shred us emotionally .", "the film is a rich , textured and emotionally engaging experience that challenges our ethical and moral views about south africa", "malkovich 's unabashed performance drives a fierce fable which seems intent on forcing viewers away .", "MOV is disquieting , confronting viewing , and it 's also quite brilliant .", "a focused , absorbing meditation on race , class , history and sex .", "an unfocused and contrived drama that lacks a palpable emotional core , but john malkovich 's raw performance makes it at least marginally engaging .", "MOV '' is an infuriating allegory about a sacrificial victim . becoming a martyr never looked so pathetic .", "i awaited the closing scenes of MOV with a special urgency , because the story had gripped me deeply but left me with no idea how it would end . none -- and i really cared .", "newcomer jessica haines is transparent and heartbreaking as the prof 's unorthodox daughter , a victim of violence as the old ways crumble .", "MOV is an ugly movie , at times torturous to watch . it probably needs to be .", "if the historical context for black anger is lacking , jacobs nonetheless builds tension with excruciating effectiveness and dreamlike detachment .", "demanding but ultimately rewarding ...", "unfortunately , though malkovich remains a compelling and cerebral screen presence , he comes off as too innately detached and prickly to elicit much empathy -lrb- not that his character is asking for it , mind you -rrb- .", "the film struggles in its attempt to balance the thought-provoking overtones with the human drama at its core .", "the person snoring next to me is a perfect example of how colossally insignificant this fatiguing and strenuous flick is with its implausibility , unrecognizable characters and tattered plot line ." ], "summary": "featuring outstanding performances from john malkovich and newcomer jessica haines , MOV is a disturbing , powerful drama .", "id": "770798010" }, { "movie": "marvels_the_avengers", "reviews": [ "the frenetic romp deftly knits together plot strands from earlier films , threaded with tongue-in-cheek humour .", "if you like superhero movies at all , you 'll absolutely love avengers assemble . it 's got everything .", "the teams most important mission is to spit funny one-liners at the face of over-the-topness", "` the avengers '' is neither overwhelming nor underwhelming . what it expertly is , is whelming .", "whedon is on to a winning formula .", "whedon really does know how to handle 3d , combining it with a fluid camera style to lend scale , perspective and drama enough to keep disbelief at bay for astonishingly lengthy stretches of time .", "it takes a while to get going , but once writer-director whedon hits his stride , the film rockets through a series of frantically entertaining set pieces .", "despite a flabby middle-section and an overlong , bang-heavy denouement , the picture keeps its many plates spinning dizzily for more than two hours .", "the story is epic , but rooted in humanity . the direction is slick and large for the set pieces , but intimate to contextualise the heroes . `` we have a hulk '' of a film and we have joss whedon to thank .", "epic in every sense , this sets the bar for the rest of the year 's blockbusters . an absolute triumph .", "it works because joss whedon never loses sight of the fragile humanity of the characters , even in their special effects brawls . it works because somebody finally got the hulk 's blend of rage , guilt and bull-in-a-chandelier-shop fun right .", "`` the avengers '' is done well by joss whedon , with style and energy . it provides its fans with exactly what they desire .", "if you only see one movie this year over and over again , it 'll probably be this one .", "the main event is pretty much what you 'd expect noisy , overlong , wall-to-wall cg effects and arcane superhero lore ... yes , it 's all fairly formulaic , but on a wow ! scale never before experienced .", "a slickly packaged , effects-driven smashup .", "there 's great entertainment in `` the avengers '' - big bold , action-filled silliness with just enough human spirit to sell itself . this is a comic book movie done right .", "it 's a first-class production all around , from the acting to the 3-d special effects to the touches of wit throughout . it delivers , in grand style , the thing we demand most from a comic-book movie : fun .", "if the avengers is n't necessarily the best superhero movie ever made , it is unquestionably the most superhero movie ever made .", "... tremendous fun ...", "there is much humor laced throughout the film , giving it an air of not taking itself too seriously -- which is as it should be in a film of this genre .", "this too-long adventure is a sensory overload -- complete with loud , protracted battle scenes and hunky super heroes who provide the necessary eye candy . it 's also very funny , and highly entertaining .", "delivers big time with everything longtime fans and newcomers alike could possibly want in a summer blockbuster that definitely surpasses the hype .", "it 's all very smoothly done but comes without a hint of surprise or revelation .", "it 's a blockbuster that manages to please with intelligence and fun . whedon makes it look easy .", "the avengers lives up to every last ounce of hype .", "a creative team wow", "in a shrewd move by writer/director joss whedon -lrb- no stranger to a directing an ensemble -rrb- , each superhero is given his or her moment of inner turmoil , a moment of doubt and serious danger , and a moment to shine that spotlights their own unique talent .", "whedon treats the -lsb- action -rsb- sequences like he 's a kid set free in a toy store .", "the avengers lives up to all the hype , embracing the geek in all of us and taking the audience on an incredibly wild ride .", "se sai melhor ao retratar a intera\u0437\u0433o de seus personagens do que a a\u0437\u0433o por estes protagonizada , apresentando-se como uma brincadeira inofensiva e inconsequente . n\u0433o \u0439 uma decep\u0437\u0433o , \u0439 verdade , mas um pouco mais de ambi\u0437\u0433o n\u0433o lhe teria feito mal .", "thrilling when it wants to be , it 's got star power to spare , and the action and effects are top-notch .", "while the avengers exhibits exemplary craftsmanship , joss whedon has n't made a great film .", "it 's quite possible that the avengers has more action than any movie ever made ... -lsb- but -rsb- for all its thrill-ride clutter , the avengers is just about as simplistic as them fightin ' - robot pictures ...", "if you go to wikipedia and type in ` summer blockbuster ' , this is the movie that should come up . it is everything that you need in a summer film . it kicks the season off perfectly and you will feel like a little kid again .", "this is one super-hyped superhero extravaganza that not only meets expectations , but surpasses them .", "puts the ` some ' in ` awesome . '", "a big , splashy movie in which stuff blows up a lot , yet you go home talking about the actors .", "downey 's stark/iron man steals the show because the actor is capable of making the tritest dialogue sound wonderfully witty , but the cgi effects are amazing and , despite its length , the film is very enjoyable .", "it 's an enjoyably absurd and absurdly enjoyable extravaganza , both delirious and surrealist .", "-lsb- marvel 's the avengers -rsb- is such a pure and unadulterated comic-book movie that it will bring you to tears .", "is avengers assemble the best comic book film ever ? that 's a tough call but it 's certainly the most exciting , and a true epic moment in cinematic history .", "if big action so big it 's humongous just is n't really your thing/you may find , as i did , it drags , with its surfeit of cgi bling .", "it 's little surprise this is largely a terrifically enjoyable experience -- one that 'll please both fanboys and the public at large .", "shrug however you might at a story that has to pack so many characters and tangents into 140 minutes ; it will still be difficult for me to see beyond the joyous awesomeness .", "if we must have these box-office behemoths , then at least the writer-director , joss whedon , creator of buffy the vampire slayer , is a lively controlling influence .", "joss whedon knows exactly what comic-book geeks want to see . that 's why `` marvel 's the avengers '' is so immensely satisfying .", "whedon maintains just the right tone of affectionate spoofery - the bickering never too silly or annoying - and gives all the characters , including jeremy renner 's newcomer hawkeye , enough to do to feel integral to proceedings .", "whedon keeps the whole thing aloft with pizzazz -- you expect it to crash to earth like fury 's flying aircraft carrier , but somehow it never does .", "there 's also great chemistry between the principals , who all get their moment in the sun .", "the avengers greatest accomplishment could be this : its ability to make an entire audience feel like children reading their favorite comic for the very first time .", "whedon gives balance even to relative minnows hawkeye and the black widow by giving each their moment to shine .", "the real hero of the avengers is not iron man , thor or even nick fury . it 's joss whedon .", "the avengers will surely rank among the best superhero movies , if not summer blockbusters , of all time .", "the avengers is a fun time at the movies . that 's as important as anything .", "i have a feeling that this will be a comfort film for myself and many other film geeks for years to come , just like the indiana jones or star wars movies .", "whedon delivers a thoroughly entertaining compilation of the best of these heroes while never hiding either his giddy love for the characters or the wry wit that has formed the bedrock of his career .", "the movie engages the viewer from a very strong opening sequence through the two bonus scenes included in the closing credits . the nearly two and a half hour running time passes by swiftly and leaves you eagerly awaiting a follow-up sequel .", "it 's a long ride before jaws drop and the eyeball caressing spectacle of the avengers clicks into high gear", "-lsb- s -rsb- upercool , superfun ... -lsb- a -rsb- real geek 's brew ... of premises and possibilities . all of which somehow work together , do n't feel underdone , and leave us feeling like , for all its absurdity , everything we see is happening in a real space to real people .", "it really is an astounding achievement - a film that juggles an unenviable number of elements ; combining what we 've seen before , slotting them together and then adding enough depth , action and humour to make this a remarkable standalone film .", "rousing blockbuster entertainment that goes down easy .", "creating a script that not only lives up to the hype , but fulfills and even exceeds the expectations of fans is no easy task , but whedon and co-writer zak penn have done so - and in a manner that does not give short shrift to any of the major characters .", "exactly the sum of its parts , a generous and stimulating way to waste an afternoon .", "the avengers is fun , action packed and certainly an enjoyable outing 's entertainment ! hardcore geeks and new fans will eat this adventure up and come back for more .", "hulk is the strongest there is .", "` the avengers ' registers in the red on the nerdgasmatron . it 's a witty , action-packed triumph -- entertaining and coherent for newcomers , yet true to the spirit of its source material .", "since best picture oscars are awarded to producers then the producers of marvel 's the avengers deserve a best picture oscar just for pulling this off . the fact that the movie is freaking amazing is just icing on the cake !", "joss whedon has unleashed a ton of unadulterated popcorn movie fun with his marvelous multi-superhero extravaganza , the avengers .", "a movie that yells at you and geeks out in equal measures .", "it does n't have to be a great movie to provide a great experience .", "it 's the equivalent of a superhero all-star game .", "ultimately , it all comes back to whedon : his clear vision for each character and how they might be profitably intermingled ; his unexpected knack for action choreography ; his funny , tender , immaculately constructed script .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- sloppy in its construction , `` marvel 's the avengers '' has one thing going for it - humor .", "i just wish it was actually a really good , memorable summer movie movie . and it 's not . it does n't suck , but it 's not one of those .", "a winning piece of popcorn entertainment that does better with characters in an ensemble setting than many ever did when they starred in their own vehicles .", "one of the great joys of marvel 's the avengers is its sense of humor about itself .", "this mega-entertaining `` avengers '' film is something comic fans have dreamed of since marvel debuted the title almost 50 years ago .", "all hail joss whedon , the warrior king of this dizzying , dazzling 3d action epic . the avengers is transformers with a brain , a heart and a working sense of humor .", "the whole affair feels like more of the same , just a lot more of it .", "it is easy to get swept away in what may very well be the most engaging and exhilarating summer blockbuster this year", "an action spectacular with a witty script to match its big visuals , the avengers takes the superhero movie to unprecedented heights and establishes joss whedon as a blockbuster filmmaker to cherish .", "comic-con nerds will have multiple orgasms . i had a blast .", "marvel 's the avengers is n't the second coming , though it feels like it 's been in the works almost as long as , but as far as big summer entertainment goes you 'll rarely get much better .", "the avengers is a statement of form : this is not only what all superhero movies should be , it is what all so-called blockbusters should be", "this truly epic action picture positively pulses with panache , wit and excitement throughout .", "a continued run of quality ca n't be guaranteed , but all involved in the avengers experiment should be proud they took on the challenge of redefining some significant pop culture icons , and , from 2008-2012 , actually enhanced them .", "lives up to its immense potential .", "while the film certainly suffers from gigantism , it is a self-inflicted malady , and for fans of the series it is like manna from heaven .", "solid entertainment and much better than i 'd expected from the maestro of midcult , joss whedon .", "never underestimate the entertainment value of the hulk smash .", "while whedon smartly recognizes how key downey jr. 's stark is to the story , he also allows most all of his cast , heroes and villain , ample opportunities to shine , both in dialogue and action .", "if you are a marvel fan , then the avengers will feel like christmas . thanks to the merry doings of the director , joss whedon , all your favorite characters are here , as shiny and as tempting as presents under the tree .", "what could be more effective against interstellar battle than a bow and arrows ? ` you never know when an alien invader is the sheriff of nottingham , ' warned samuel l. jackson .", "while the film lacks the visual imagination of thor or the period feel of captain america , it has more of a sense of structures on a huge scale being blown up by even bigger explosions .", "it 's tough to live up to expectations when expectations are so high , but `` the avengers '' pulls it off , thanks to the clever writing and directing of joss whedon and armies of actors and other artists who made this action extravaganza .", "joss whedon fashions an almost perfect combination of action and humor .", "you 'd have to be either a real grouch or an inveterate hater of the form to deny that this is by and large some really fine explosion-mongering .", "awesomeness assembled .", "this full throttle action extravaganza might have benefitted from an attached ` superheroes for dummies ' cheat sheet , but , hell , who cares ? if its 3-d thrills you want , you 'll have a blast .", "the avengers is simply marvelous !", "whedon is the key reason why this $ 220-million behemoth of a movie is smartly thought out and executed with verve and precision . it may be overly long at two hours , 23 minutes , but so much is going on you might not even notice .", "if you 're a fan of these sorts of flicks or the original comic book series , you 'll likely be in superhero heaven . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "the light , amusing bits can not overcome the grinding , hectic emptiness , the bloated cynicism that is less a shortcoming of this particular film than a feature of the genre .", "mines the collective goodwill of the marvel nation to impressive effect ,", "biff ! bam ! boring !", "this film is stylish , intelligent and , one hopes , influential on the next generation of superhero movies ; it should leave a lasting legacy .", "as entertaining as this movie is , it could have been even better .", "by far , whedon 's funniest effect is the hulk , whose fist here is the equivalent of that city bus which so often takes someone out in a nanosecond edit .", "mark ruffalo was born to the play the hulk . there is a ten second epic action sequence that is worth the entire price of admission and every one of your nerd tears ! hulk smash !", "calling ` the avengers ' the best superhero movie ever made is a little overblown , though it easily is marvel 's best outing since the original `` iron man '' and more than justifies the years of buildup .", "audiences have been eagerly anticipating this first all-hero extravaganza for years . the wait was worth it .", "a flawed first part is forgivable thanks to the exhilarating action sequences climaxing the movie .", "it took nearly a half-century to make it happen onscreen , but the avengers was worth the wait , pairing together the perfect cast and perfect writer/director .", "it 's phenomenally awesome . no review for the film really matters anyway because you 'd be mental to miss the biggest superhero film event since we were pooped out from the big bang .", "a witty , well-acted sci-fi adventure .", "a joyous blend of heroism and humour that raises the stakes even as it maintains a firm grip on what makes the individual heroes tick .", "... does n't have the emotional involvement of the best of sci-fi action films , but it 's a thrashing good big dipper ride and the 3d actually works", "lovers of the genre will be hard pressed to name their favourite superhero or moment : egos , powers & personalities let rip , as extravagant action , awe-inspiring stunts & extraordinary effects fill the screen in a blaze of spectacle . there 's humour too", "marvel 's finest heroes finally come together to set a comic book franchise gold standard that will take some beating .", "writer-director joss whedon has a magpie 's eye for stealing other people 's bright ideas , and an enviable knack for improving them .", "big , brash and very funny , joss whedon 's avengers is equal to the sum of its parts - and for once , that 's no faint praise . suit up .", "whedon pulls off a stunning feat in bringing balance to this superhuman circus , engineered to charm the geek core and non-fans alike .", "whedon has delivered a highly commercial hollywood product that 's funny and builds to a stirring climax . not only fanboys will love it .", "-lsb- it -rsb- carries the mark of a piece of expensively assembled fan fiction , albeit stitched together with a lightness and wit that will just about carry the casual viewer through two-and-a-half-hours of comic geek nirvana .", "really , who cares about another battle ? we know how this is going to end .", "i 'd have been happy to watch these actors sit around eating pastries for two and a half hours -- especially downey and ruffalo , who have wonderful chemistry as a pair of brainiacs with very different control issues .", "whedon , the pop savant responsible for tv 's buffy the vampire slayer , straddles the line between sarcastic gab and pulp solemnity like eli manning on a fourth-down , go-it-alone jag .", "`` the avengers '' is both a culminator and a set-up for more , more , more .", "wahoo !!!", "whedon does n't patronise viewers . he strikes just the right tone and where there are rough edges , he uses iron man 's wry humor to smooth them out . the effect is totally disarming .", "the best thing about the avengers , a multi-tentpole blockbuster that gathers half a dozen marvel superheroes and unfurls them on a baddie from another planet , is that it also unleashes them on each other .", "pulling off the hat trick of finally answering to the embedded teases in five prior films -- all intersecting in this film 's storyline -- is a superhero feat in and of itself .", "`` the avengers '' is an entertaining showcase for the marvel characters . credit for that goes to joss whedon , whose script is witty and whose appreciation for these characters is evident .", "whedon 's obvious love for the avengers ' characters , world and fandom makes for a superhero epic that 's packed with exciting action , faithful details for comic fans and his signature off-hand wit . it 's pure fun and entertainment .", "the perfect popcorn movie that respects its audience , fan boy or not , though the former will be more excited to see the stan lee cameo .", "nothing but 2:20 of special effects and ridiculous fights ... it 's like all the superheroes are trying out at the improv to see who can give the best one-liner , and none of them do .", "fans of all that has come before will weep tears of giddy joy at how crowd-pleasingly cohesive -- and ridiculously fun -- this film is .", "overall , this is as smooth and sprightly a franchise machine as we 're likely to get this summer ; even at two hours and twenty-three minutes it goes like lightning .", "filled with fanboy-wank .", "if you dig thor or cap or hulk , please check out the original sources . support your local comic book shop . you would n't have any of these movies without them .", "the film flows with the momentum of a comic book composed of full-page bleed impact-moment illustrations .", "our basic love of these characters in such an even distribution of involvement and grand context of good vs evil make for maximum enjoyment of a terrific script carried out with conceptual proficiency and , even , sensitivity .", "the trick with ` the avengers ' is to satisfy each superhero 's fan base while simultaneously divvying out each hero 's scenes in equal portions . director-screenwriter joss whedon has pulled it off with muscle flexing aplomb .", "sure to please even the most die-hard fans , and just about everyone else .", "this is the avengers that fanboys have always felt in their bones , and whedon 's camera is constantly in motion and in command .", "a smart , exciting , and engaging superhero story that deftly balances larger-than-life characters , their personal and inter-personal struggles and interplanetary battles .", "you do n't need to be a `` comic-book person '' to find the set pieces exhilarating . but if you are such a person , or a fan of the movies that comic books turn into , `` the avengers '' feels like the moment you 've been waiting for .", "tasked with meeting the many requirements necessary for any avengers movie to work , whedon checks off all the boxes , then sets about creating new expectations for what a big superhero movie ought to be .", "could joss whedon be stan lee 's love child ?", "if you 're not already a fanboy , it 'll turn you into one . it is honestly the most fun i have had at the movies in a long , long time .", "a fun light-hearted summer blockbuster that is weighed down by a forgettable villain .", "the bigger and goofier it gets , the more fun it becomes .", "smart , witty , funny , action-packed and surprisingly cathartic .", "the avengers does have is a solid gold structure that does n't buckle under the weight of its gargantuan expectations and overflowing cast .", "for all who have hotly fan-ticipated this all-star collection of marvel 's superheroes , you have reason to be excited . you can officially geek out now .", "the special effects are impressive but not especially imaginative , and the film is unduly protracted .", "of course it 's about one hundred times brighter than transformers and michael bay 's imbecilic spinoffs , and should keep multiplexes everywhere in its competent grip . but i did n't love it .", "uber-hacks like michael bay and mcg should hang their heads in shame at the sight of what whedon has accomplished here", "if you 're looking to stretch your movie-superhero dollar , here 's some serious blockbuster bang for your cinema buck .", "fast-paced superhero series sequel will be fun for fans .", "after two-and-a-half hours of world-threatening chaos and world-saving derring-do , you leave the theater satisfied , but without so much as a single memorable image -lrb- or idea -rrb- lingering in your mind .", "joss whedon scores by making all of these characters work together . bonus : never hurts to have quick-quipping robert downey jr in your superhero film .", "a movie that can communicate the excitement a lover of the comic book will experience watching it even to those who have never read a single issue .", "whedon knows how to be self-aware without getting overly cute about it . he has fun highlighting each character 's neurosis and knows which personalities clash to greatest effect .", "joss whedon is the real superhero .", "whedon 's story not only reconnects us with each character but also finds the time to flesh out their strengths and weaknesses , with some wonderful paranoid moments of self-doubt .", "joss whedon , with his demonstrated ensemble cast-wrangling expertise , is the only director who could have pulled this off . and he has set a new benchmark in doing so .", "what the avengers really need is something to avenge , some compelling emotion or commitment ; rallying the troops with blood-stained collectible trading cards does n't cut it .", "more than compensates for the story 's averageness with consistently witty dialogue and a stream of terrific moments .", "as a hardcore comic geek i could not have been happier with the results ...", "what makes this anticipated film so absorbing is how the heroes ' internal battles are often more pronounced than their external ones . and when these troubled people interact , it 's electric .", "i want to find joss whedon and give him a manly hug and buy him a beer .", "it gets the job done , but there 's more to good movies than joining the dots .", "although it takes a while to hit its stride , once it does marvel 's the avengers is a razzle-dazzle , rip-roaring entertainment . count on the hulk . once he erupts , the avengers soars across the screen with ferocity and style .", "the action is great , but it 's the interaction that really makes the avengers something special .", "it 's the elements that hollywood usually neglects - the characters , the dialogue and the humour - that makes the avengers such an unadulterated pleasure .", "the scene-stealer is ruffalo , who provides bruce banner with a soulfulness missing in the portrayals by bana and norton . this is also the first film to nail the hulk , who in 2003 looked like a video blip gumby and in 2008 seemed shellacked in plastic .", "writer/director whedon understands the comic goofiness that must be injected into the ridiculous subject matter to balance blockbuster action set-pieces .", "gets the summer movie season off to the kind of start that will make the amazing spider-man and battleship quake with insecurity .", "a roller coaster ride of non-stop action , `` the avengers '' manages to take the different tones set by the previous films and fashion them into one strong voice .", "... there are n't many writer-directors as talented as joss whedon . indeed , it 's the writing that sets this film apart from the crowd , in harmony with perfect casting , first-rate visual effects , and other key ingredients .", "marvel 's grand plan turned out to be a good one . this is a hugely entertaining time at the movies .", "a whole roast of awesome wrapped up in bacony awesomeness", "the movie that all of those iconic comic book characters deserve .", "the job here is to make the big bad go away and to save the genre from boredom . the good news is that these heroes wo n't rest until they 've accomplished both . they happily work overtime for you .", "the long-awaited superhero supergroup is finally assembled , and their film does not disappoint . it 's a smashmouth extravaganza of outsized proportions .", "a slow start , a single star performance surrounded by indifferent acting and an onslaught of computer effects that range from seen-it-all-in - `` transformers '' to a whole sky full of spectacular stuff in the midtown manhattan climax .", "the avengers may be a more modest success than some of us may have hoped , but it 's still very much a success .", "comic geeks can collectively sigh with deep relief : joss whedon has taken their beloved avengers and given them back a well-directed , action-packed , brilliantly written film .", "... tremendous entertainment , confident and complete in a way that none of the marvel movies so far have been .", "a high-octane , silver screen mash-up that finally gets going after the best part of its 143-minute running time .", "five-star comic book gold ; a fanboy 's dreams turned into reality .", "... an amazing entertainment , an experience that rivals the original blockbusters that established the summer season in the first place .", "whedon 's biggest accomplishment may be making the superhero movie once again super entertainment .", "whedon delivers what is pretty much the perfect superhero movie , combining a brilliant script , pacey direction , thrilling action sequences and pitch-perfect performances from a terrific cast .", "this super-charged blockbuster is a mammoth spectacle which takes the genre to dizzying , rarely-seen heights .", "it 's simply a well-executed , highly enjoyable summer popcorn movie , which is exactly what it should be .", "one of the ten best films of 2012 .", "but one of the most fascinating moments in the picture occurs when captain america , referring to thor , notes : `` there 's only one god , ma'am . and i 'm pretty sure he does n't dress like that . '' ah , monotheism versus paganism . can they exist side by side ?", "joss whedon empties everything at his reported $ 225 million disposal to assault the eyes , ears and intelligence with one of the stupidest comic book tales ever put to film .", "whedon must balance the competing storylines and screen time of the actors . he does it nicely , injecting humour and a touch of drama into the action -- and all without so much as a tesseract to his name . some assembly required , and delivered .", "when all is said and done , avengers is all sound and nick fury , signifying nothing .", "was marvel 's ambitious dream for a shared cinematic universe truly worth it ? in my opinion : most definitely .", "whedon has delivered that rare action-packed , special-effects spectacle that is relentless in its eagerness to please and successful beyond its goal .", "it 's summer 's mightiest movie . nuff said .", "honest and loyal enough for the hardcore fans ; smooth and accessible for the newcomer . stunning action , great character , really funny .", "the avengers is one of the best superheroes movies in a long time and is likely to become a classic of the genre . you would need to really hate comic book movies not to get a kick out of this .", "the star wars of a new generation .", "the avengers proves these guys truly are earth 's mightiest heroes .", "yet another brainless , overbloated and mostly underwhelming blockbuster despite marvelous visual effects .", "lives up to every promise marvel studios has made .", "a superpowered crowd-pleaser , marvel 's the avengers wows its way into comics-to-film history as one of the greatest popcorn flicks of its era .", "whedon , a pop-genre magician best known for buffy the vampire slayer , is a master of viewer manipulation - because he never gives up his own seat in the crowd .", "the performances are so well-pitched in the avengers , meshing with such vividness and ease , that it 's tempting to overpraise the good but not great movie that surrounds them .", "the superheroes mashup teased for seven years through five blockbusters is absolutely worth the wait . the avengers is as brawny and lamebrainy as any comic book movie deserves to be .", "it 's two-plus hours of visual brawn , unexpected heartbeats and welcome humor .", "it 's all rather serious and ominous , yet outlandish and mostly entertaining . sounds about right for summer , does n't it ?", "even with the flaws of the final half , `` the avengers '' is grand , brisk fun .", "its primary purpose is not to explore or subvert the superhero movie , but to lay the groundwork for more of them .", "... the filmmakers behind the avengers attack their task of creating a comic book superhero epic with not just conviction , but something almost resembling panache .", "joss whedon marshals matters effectively throughout , without losing sight of that other key demographic : those who dispensed with their comic books long ago .", "whedon gets the vibe and the delights of marvel comic books in the same way that spielberg and lucas intuitively understood the appeal of serials in raiders of the lost ark. .", "this is a movie that knows and deeply loves its audience , but it 's funny , smart and good-natured enough to please the rest of us , too .", "... mewling quim ...", "after years of buildup , it 's a reward to patient audiences who 've been waiting for this team-up for years .", "it 's easy to turn nick fury 's blind eye to the movie 's flaws because at the end of the day the avengers packs big explosions , bigger personalities and hulk-sized punch lines .", "lose hawkeye , and the inevitable sequel will surely attain the orgasmic rush of funny book consistency missing to a certain degree here .", "veined with wit , even as it offers exactly the kind of action that fanboys and normal movie-goers alike want out of something like this .", "herding all these characters together into one big super-pileup required a gifted traffic cop ; and whedon , as we now see , was the ideal man for the job .", "i honestly would enjoy watching the avengers sit around a conference table for two hours trading putdowns and one-liners : `` my dinner with thor . '' and then the action really kicks in . sweet mercy .", "the actors get the ensemble approach and - like their characters - put their egos aside , gel and enthusiastically embrace the fun .", "there are also the fans who rage in the comments , as if men in spandex are as serious as war and the economy . is there a defensive euphoria in seeing your childhood heroes come to life ? is ` the avengers ' a great film ? no . will people love it ? yes !", "josh whedon has pulled together an action movie of real wit , fun and spectacle , with some remarkable setpieces for a director not previously noted for visual flair .", "the dialogue sparkles as brightly as the special effects ; these people may be wearing ridiculous costumes but they 're well fleshed-out underneath . and so in every regard , this movie truly fulfills its hype .", "motors on quips and star charm and the primal top trumps thrill of assembling its protagonists . but there 's no compelling reason for it to exist , no burning tale it needs to tell .", "a shiny , caged beast of a film that delivers on its every promise .", "this is as close as cinema gets to a fairground ride : it 's shiny , noisy and exhilarating .", "it 's one of the best superhero movies ever and excels in terms of three key genres - action , comedy and suspense .", "a lot of fun .", "it 's too long and it lags a bit in spots , but overall there is still a lot of fun to be had here .", "thrilling action , rounded characters , high personal and global stakes , brilliant camera work , a tight script , strong acting and a hell of an adventure .", "it was right the avengers should n't gel right at once , but how that get-to-know-you period is played out in the script gets massively out of hand .", "while it reflects a movie culture that has traded originality for scale - one wonders if there 's a shred of originality anywhere in the film - the avengers is grand , throwaway fun .", "feels like actual marvel comics are being injected directly into your bloodstream . it 's simply jaw-dropping .", "after years of buildup and prequels , `` the avengers '' is merely average .", "without robert downey jr. delivering his witty quips in patented rat-a-tat-tat fashion , the avengers would largely be a soulless shell of a movie that could be mistaken for a michael bay production .", "the filmmakers play a conservative game , not setting out to make a great movie but simply making sure not to screw it up an entire franchise .", "the first great superhero team movie , and a film that captures the essence of what makes the marvel universe great .", "it really is quite something that -lsb- whedon -rsb- was able to take so many characters and put them into a movie where nobody gets left behind .", "`` marvel 's the avengers '' is a visual comic book and it does n't aspire to be anything more than that . as a film version it succeeds-one is tempted to say-mightily .", "marvel 's `` the avengers '' is the super-hero movie to end all super-hero movies . why ? joss whedon .", "brings cinema 's most profitable recent marvel superheroes together and makes them play in a kind of lunatic studio sandbox .", "with snappy writing and a full roster of fleshed-out characters , the whole thing is a smash , from start to finish .", "each hero has ample time in their own spotlight -lrb- ruffalo 's hulk shining brightest -rrb- yet whedon constructs the enveloping sense of camaraderie seamlessly ...", "the film is good enough to keep all the marvel comics crazed audiences out there deliriously happy while keeping the rest of us earthbound types in moderate thralldom .", "whedon can deconstruct the myth of heroism in his sleep , and probably does , but on this occasion he 's here to redeem the cliches , not to bury them .", "that director joss whedon has put them all in the same movie and made it work at all is no mean feat .", "joss whedon is a small-screen storyteller . and i mean that as a compliment .", "a slam-bang comics-inspired blast where the superhero collective fuses seamlessly and works marvelously .", "joss whedon has successfully fulfilled every avengers fanboy 's dream and that alone is a good enough reason to forgive some of the movie 's earlier faults .", "the picture is broken down into narrative chunks that ultimately do n't tell much of a story - what you get instead is a series of mini-climaxes held together by banter between characters .", "whedon 's investment in building this world is so complete that it captures the audience , as well .", "the term `` geekgasm '' does not go amiss here .", "the avengers has a knockout final 30 minutes , all gee-whiz crash and bang and eye candy that makes grand use of 3d and imax and all the other toys . but the transformers movies did that , too .", "the avengers is popcorn cinema at its best .", "even those who do n't know a marvel hero from a dc caped crusader will find themselves having a grand time . that 's because whedon manages to tap the inner fanboy and fangirl dormant in us all .", "a high quality , incredibly entertaining , joyous summer event . if i was 12 , it would be my favorite movie ever made .", "as spectacle it 's big , stupid fun . visually it 's impressive . for comic geeks it 's a wet dream come true . but dramatically it 's inert .", "adjectives used in some of marvel comics ' iconic titles from the early 1960s through today -- amazing , fantastic , incredible -- also describe director joss whedon 's superhero epic the avengers .", "big , loud , ridiculous and eye-popping , writer-director joss whedon 's film is an empty-calorie summertime treat that delivers on all that it promises .", "this supermerger comes together into a thrilling action movie with heart and brains , masterfully melded by the superhero you ca n't see on the screen , director/screenwriter joss whedon .", "a spectacle in the grandest sense of the word ...", "this movie has it all : gorgeously clear action , humor , suspense and even passion . it 's not going too far to guess that no other summer movie will touch it .", "sock , pow , zowie -- plenty of firepower in the summer 's first big lallapalooza .", "in some ways , it feels like the kick-off to the afterparty for a post-iraq war nation , with a sense of `` mission accomplished '' back-slapping buried beneath all the pyrotechnics .", "wildly entertaining yet brilliantly cohesive , wonderfully characterised , deftly humorous and packed with heart , this is an absolute winner .", "the avengers is one of the greatest superhero films ever made . it 's smart , fast , unrelenting fun . an instant , nuanced classic .", "it 's at its most lively late in the game , when hulk finally makes an appearance and gets his simple orders : ` smash . ' good old hulk ... yet the movie 's a surprisingly perfunctory affair .", "the avengers is everything you would want it to be and is the ultimate summer blockbuster . the movie is thrilling and funny without requiring any intellectual heavy lifting .", "like a superior , state-of-the-art model built from reconstituted parts , joss whedon 's buoyant , witty and robustly entertaining superhero smash-up is escapism of a sophisticated order .", "though overlong and inevitably burdened by the need to juggle so many protagonists , the film is robustly entertaining and manages to maintain a playful , crowd-pleasing spirit .", "apparently , bootleg copies of transformers 3 made it to asgard .", "the avengers delivers ! considering the challenges and pitfalls of assembling disparate heroes and subplots , the skillfully-helmed movie is an effective balancing act between individual stories and collective goals .", "comic-book movie delivers the goods", "by the time the utterly routine -lrb- and decidedly endless -rrb- finale rolls around , marvel 's the avengers has unquestionably squandered the potential of its premise and its cast ...", "it 's transformers with better - much better - dialogue .", "joss whedon 's glossy , super-budgeted marvel ensemble flick is the cinematic equivalent of comfort food .", "a nearly complete success . it 's the best action superhero movie since the first `` iron man , '' and the best marvel comics adaptation since `` spider-man 2 . ''", "it 's as big , funny , shiny , explosive , expert , rip-roaringly entertaining an action movie as we 've seen in a long time .", "yeah , it 's all that . a tent-pole cash cow for the studio , a dream come true for fans , and treat for action aficionados , ` the avengers ' comes at you as the first true `` summer movie spectacular '' of the 2012 season .", "wonderful blink and you 'll miss them comic beats in the middle of the finale 's mayhem . and what glorious mayhem !", "the overlong , stale experience barely raises a fast pulse , as the movie quickly stumbles into a standard film structure and does n't even try to break free .", "... the movie is n't so much a work of storytelling as it is a marathon of wish-fulfillment moments for comic book enthusiasts -- punches peppered with punchlines .", "the culmination of four distinct franchises is an exciting and entertaining product .", "it 's the humor that 's the avengers ' strength .", "whedon 's clear fanboy glee is irresistibly contagious to the audience , whether the heroes and villains go at it with fisticuffs or sharp , witty dialogue .", "between a sophisticated script and thrill-a-minute special effects , the avengers easily adds up to the best marvel comics screen adaptation yet !", "the avengers is a good joss whedon film and an excellent marvel film .", "the movie guarantees fast-paced fun without forcing anyone to think about what it all means , which is nothing .", "` hulk , smash , ' is the inner-child battle cry of the comic-book world , and this mash - 'em - up mantra is finally getting its due on the big screen .", "expectations delivered , promises fulfilled : the avengers is everything you could want in a superhero movie , with larger-than-life feats believably and meaningfully executed , and beating human hearts filled with emotion , humor and pain .", "something remarkable : a superhero movie that entertains , excites , explodes , and even takes time to examine itself , and the world in which we live in .", "to watch another comic book transformed into another blockbuster is to `` marvel '' at much and to feel nothing - that 's a safer bet than the converse , perhaps , which may explain the genre 's popularity .", "a saga guaranteed to pass muster with the comic-con cognoscenti , without forsaking regular popcorn munchers who just hope to see the planet get saved with maximum firepower and a few laughs .", "a somewhat subversive piece of work , one that finds hilarity in fake catastrophes and in our very need to imagine the noisiest worst-case scenarios .", "the avengers kicks ass .", "fortunately , whedon spends enough of his time on characterizations to keep us engaged .", "the avengers are the bad news bears of superhero squads , and their epic adventure in responsibility is an absolute joy to watch .", "heroes work together in explosive comic book adventure .", "whedon 's the avengers does what the best films of this genre do : create a fantasy world that you accept as totally real . and then provides a kick-ass good time as well .", "there may be weightier , deeper or richer films this year - but there probably wo n't be any that are as much fun .", "every now and then , director joss whedon executes a quirky camera set-up to assert that the film was created by him and not a team of marketing executives .", "the banter has zip , the effects are fun , the climactic battle is decently spectacular , and if the 3-d is mostly expendable , there are a few scenes where it adds a nice kick .", "thrilling , collaborative action-adventure that 's amusing and entertaining .", "if you 're not much of a marvel comics person but just want to get an early start on your mindless summer moviegoing , well , i guess this picture is no stupider than anything else ." ], "summary": "thanks to a script that ephasizes its heroes ' humanity and a wealth of superpowered set pieces , the avengers lives up to its hype and raises the bar for marvel at the movies .", "id": "770740154" }, { "movie": "garden_state", "reviews": [ "mr. braff , ms. portman , mr. sarsgaard and mr. holm never strike a false note as a remarkably coherent acting ensemble , and it is good to see ron leibman again in the small role of doctor cohen .", "this `` lost souls '' movie will be compared to `` the graduate '' and `` lost in translation . '' but it stands on its own because of its quirky characters and situations .", "i had forgotten that it was possible to laugh at the movies without watching a dog get drunk on scotch or two unwitting teenage siblings make out .", "the film 's saving grace , ironically , is that earnestness .", "an auspicious film debut which features some quirky-yet-endearing performances , a killer soundtrack , and a screenplay far deeper than we should expect from a mere sitcom actor", "ultimately , the graduate could only offer that the young would shut out the old and start over . MOV is about the next season , about getting off the bus .", "it has much in common with the graduate , and unlike so many other films that have followed the 1967 classic , it is worthy of the comparison .", "a decent film and an ambitious directorial debut for star braff , but the movie struck me in just such a way that i was able to see the gears turning and the seams being sewn .", "smart drama for mature older teens and up .", "it 's heart is beautifully expressed through humour , dry wit and honest emotion that never gets sappy at all .", "a funny , if not slightly flawed and overly neurotic . braff and portman bring a real magic to the piece .", "a flawed but funny and heartfelt film that suggests : maybe you can go home again-even if that means coming back to jersey .", "at once exquisitely clever and devastatingly poignant .", "freedom is not having the obey your father .", "MOV is a beaming , unforgettable little masterpiece , creatively alive and emotionally intimate at the same time .", "there are a few films each year that sneak up out of nowhere and totally knock you out ; this is one . amazing !", "-lsb- writer/director -rsb- braff deftly avoids author intrusion by understanding how to imbue his ideas into the fabric of his characters .", "a simplistic and insincere character piece with elements of smug comedy .", "rookie mistakes abound , but braff regards his characters with respectful curiosity -- he 's too sharply intuitive a filmmaker to wreck his jokes by pounding on them too hard .", "it 's a forgettable film featuring a throw-away story with unmemorable characters and unremarkable performances .", "it 's easy to connect with and enjoy such a universal story about pain , loss , love and overcoming roadblocks .", "zack braff works wonders with his spare narrative and funky ensemble .", "braff , who also wrote and directs , tells this story with great flair , lots of subtlety and a wonderfully paced set of revelations that come to us just as they might in real life .", "this comedy works so diligently at being idiosyncratic , it comes off as artificial and forced .", "actor zach braff -lrb- nbc 's `` scrubs '' -rrb- makes an impressive if unsatisfying writing and directing debut with a plaintive post-modern drama that relies on unspoken dry wit to entertain its audience -lrb- think a cross between `` harold and maude '' and `` the graduate '' -rrb- .", "feels too piecemeal and ultimately inconsequential to grab the public where it counts .", "it 's no longer a generational alarm clock , but for those who 've seen loved ones stumble through complacent fogs of paxil , zoloft and the like , `` MOV '' still warns that `` stability '' does n't mean a numbness to anything not emotionally even-keeled .", "there is not a shot in this movie that does n't shine ...", "although flawed , MOV is a good-natured film whose very likeability leaves you willing to overlook its shortcomings .", "the writer-director never stops telling us a tale that 's true at its core .", "unlike so many movies about everything from falling in love to blowing up asteroids , MOV actually feels like someone 's life unfolding .", "it 's good to see natalie portman acting again .", "full review in greek", "zach braff 's appeal ... is his ability to underplay the comedy , to appear befuddled and intimidated as madness surrounds him .", "MOV is a great movie , full of bizarre wit and winning moments , laden with excellent performances and even a few good-natured morals .", "belongs on the short list of modern films like beautiful girls and lost in translation which engulf us in an invisible technique known as storytelling excellence .", "MOV is so full of wit and the genuine heart of characters that you ca n't help but care about what happens to them .", "MOV is blazing a new reputation for new jersey , leaving the jimmy hoffa , traffic , and pollution jokes far behind .", "if you 're familiar with the music of the shins and nick drake , you have a sense of the melancholic-ironic-romantic-euphoric buzz the movie aspires to instill in viewers ...", "a worn rock skipping along a smooth , glassy surface .", "braff 's control of tone , his mastery of image , and feel for creating moments of moments of great sweetness and insight are the qualities of a great film-maker .", "a little gem of a film full of believably offbeat characters and eclectic mood music .", "braff takes the mundanity that surrounds andrew and turns it into something artfully absurd ...", "boring and nothing happens . i did n't laugh once .", "call the whole thing a mixed bag .", "it 's like a perfect pop song -- that thing that makes you smile and tear up at the same time .", "may just be the graduate for the arrested-development generation .", "sincere , funny and entertaining in a way that not only charms but disarms .", "the humor tends to lean a little toward the dark side ... with an undercurrent of sadness that makes the movie feel more real .", "... a picture that i personally connected with , and one that is likely to be appreciated by most anyone who is still ` searching ' for themselves ...", "MOV depicts self-realization in beautifully modulated baby steps .", "what shall we call today 's 20-somethings just discovering anomie for the first time ? maybe ` the medicated generation ' fits best . generation med .", "braff , and MOV , give it the old college try , and at least some , if not all , of the sparks catch .", "zach braff 's writing-directing debut demonstrates that he 's got real talent backing up his ambitions .", "a mash note to love that will speak to generation y as powerfully as the graduate did to the boomers nearly forty years ago .", "so emotionally honest and is so well-done that it 's hard not to take to it .", "impeccably cast .", "cleverly written , sensitively directed and very well-acted .", "likable enough when it is n't trying too hard to be self-consciously quirky .", "succeeds as both a solid sentimental comedy and as a serious statement about the dangers of letting life pass you by .", "i drew traces of cameron crowe out of braff 's gem , from his observant screenplay and witty dialogue to his expert use of gorgeous pop music .", "a wonderful late-summer surprise for audiences to embrace .", "braff balances the comic with the tragic so perfectly that we may laugh and cry , freely and without feeling manipulated , during a single scene .", "one of the best directorial debuts in recent memory .", "boasts a sweet , moody rhythm .", "MOV is n't a great film but is a solid debut on several levels for its creator -lsb- zach braff -rsb- .", "the quintessential product by and for uninspired times", "this is a movie where ` sensitivity ' and ` sincerity ' are signposted by songs by paul simon and nick drake , which i guess says it all .", "while braff 's script may suffer from long-windedness , his direction -- of both cast and camera -- is so confident that this debut could well mark the start of a major career .", "both funny and touching , this is a small film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience .", "es una buena primera pel\u00edcula -lrb- ... -rrb- el problema tal vez sea su incontrolable acumulaci\u00f3n de situaciones ...", "the film manages to be delightfully offbeat while simultaneously providing weight and depth .", "-lsb- offers -rsb- audiences a realistic coming-of-age tale that is n't bogged down by hollywood clich\u00e9s , but rather lifted higher by an incredible cast and an even more remarkable directorial debut by from zach braff .", "it 's the kind of small treasure that drops in theaters once or twice a year .", "-lsb- braff 's -rsb- imaginative if sometimes scattered salute to both -lsb- the '70s -rsb- and essex county , the place of his birth .", "a seductive , genuine , and ultimately heartbreaking comedy .", "a fresh , funny and surprisingly affecting comedy of self-discovery and oddball romance .", "sweet , fuzzy and quirky in a good way -- much like the cracked friendships it engagingly depicts .", "a standard issue , first-movie navel-gaze whose cobwebs braff meticulously sweeps away by directing the bejesus out of it .", "there 's a lot to like about MOV , which , as romantic comedy goes , manages to be both very funny and essentially sweet-natured . it 's daffy .", "this film is somewhat interesting and a good first effort for zach braff in his directorial debut .", "it 's not meant to be a masterpiece , just braff 's take on what summer movies could be if hollywood gave audiences as much respect as they give accountants", "a warm , good-spirited and captivating original .", "features some wonderful performances , chief among them an engaging , even courageous turn from natalie portman .", "there is a little unevenness . but for a directorial debut , it 's amazingly assured .", "braff demonstrates a weird visual flair , but his smug script collapses into contrivance before andrew touches bottom .", "an atmosphere reminiscent of chekov in its finely drawn characters and astute observations of how life can be tragic and absurd at the same time", "portman , a fine young actress , has rarely been used to such good effect .", "stormy twentysomething emotions seethe under a deft quirkfest .", "it 's smart and unconventional , with a good eye for the perfect detail .", "an extremely well-modulated and mature work , especially for a first-time filmmaker .", "a quirky , at times terrifically sweet and well-acted coming-of-age tale .", "too often , compelling moments are countered by meandering edits that lead the story to a sweet but hardly profound conclusion .", "a comedy with so many moments of found insight and irony that it can scarcely contain them all .", "it may not end up making the generational statement it 's grasping for , but it is a thoughtful and eccentric movie that 'll win audiences and hearts with refreshing honesty .", "MOV is the quintessential `` first film '' from a young director : it 's packed to the gills with overreaching themes and relentless style .", "the whole is not even as great as the sum of its quirky parts .", "almost every scene comes with some sweet surprise , something wonderful and memorable , even at the funeral of a family hamster .", "it 's rare for a movie to have so many blooming surprises .", "a charming , funny , melancholy ode to twentysomething angst .", "MOV may not define an entire generation , but it has a sharp eye for the passive aimlessness that can take hold when young adults realize there 's no handbook on how to find purpose and meaning in life .", "the best parts of this droll , quietly witty drama have the ring of truth .", "the kind of movie that reminds you why you love movies so much , a film so filled with unexpected energy and ambition and sly intelligence it gives you hope for the future .", "achingly alive , beautifully written first feature .", "has incidental pleasures , but it 's no cinematic eden ... a picture with nice moments that never connect into an especially enlightening or compelling whole .", "a compulsive liar and non-stop chatterbox , sam -lrb- natalie portman -rrb- is hands down the most appealing character in `` MOV , '' and portman runs away with the movie .", "it 's dispiriting to see such a pandering and clunkily written picture get so puffed up with a belief in its own integrity ; the movie has a shins cd where its heart should be .", "` MOV ' of grace", "for a director who acts in almost every frame of his own movie , -lsb- braff -rsb- acquits himself well .", "the stand-out performance belongs to natalie portman -- the screen literally lights up whenever she 's around .", "every generation needs its own version of the graduate , and this one stars zack braff", "peter saarsgard 's role in MOV is one of the main reasons to see the film .", "MOV is nothing short of genius , as moving as it is hilarious .", "braff views these people sincerely . more importantly , he locates their humanity .", "a witty , wacky , and wonderful trip through the minefield of being twenty-something .", "this is all relatively standard stuff at first glance , but much of the zing of the movie comes from the wobbly curveballs that braff throws at the formula .", "it 's the little moments that make zach braff 's directorial debut a mesmerizing and emotional viewing .", "it 's to braff 's credit as a first-time filmmaker with a suburban - laughing-boy soul that his story is as warm and unforced as it is .", "braff , now a proven triple-threat , is blessed with his own comic chops , an eye for the small details of regular life and a simple , straightforward directorial style .", "it takes the comic-drama MOV awhile to take root , but then it quickly grows on you .", "braff clearly loves these characters , and his enthusiasm for them ultimately carries the day .", "as long as braff keeps making films like this one , he deserves free rein to make out with all the hot , young actresses he wants .", "humanistic and forgiving streak runs through a film that both looks and feels like a labor of love .", "what is method man doing in MOV ?", "-lsb- its -rsb- closest cousin is the graduate , which also discovered beauty in the cognitive disconnect between the things we see and the things we logically expect .", "braff keeps us engaged with a visual flair that indicates a bright future .", "this may make me some sort of traitor to my generation , but i found garden state-the auteur debut of tv star zach braff...-to be a derivative vanity project .", "-lsb- a -rsb- very good film .", "somewhat of a `` harold and maude '' updated . we could use more films with this kind of spirit .", "a sublime and sophisticated debut from writer/director/star zack braff , this year 's `` lost in translation '' with newark , nj standing in for tokyo .", "a bittersweet and wryly funny coming-of-age film of considerable charm and perceptive intelligence .", "the situations may be otherworldly -lrb- even to someone who hails from jersey -rrb- , but the emotions and longings braff manages to tap into are deeply universal .", "while MOV likely wo n't stand up over time beside the films it emulates , it certainly ca n't be faulted for trying . an impressive debut .", "... una perfecta f\u0431bula , una agridulce historia de amor , un canto a la madurez como necesidad , al amor como motor y necesidad , y a la definici\u0443n de lo que somos ...", "` the biggest problems lie in the simplistic nature of the characters and the reliance on quirkiness , rather than genuine , realistic emotion , to connect with its audience . '", "smart , perceptive and funny filmmaking from a genuine talent in zach braff .", "this is a terrific debut film by braff , reminiscent of the classic movie , ` the graduate . '", "se todo jovem ator tivesse uma estr\u0439ia t\u0433o promissora na dire\u0437\u0433o de longas , o cinema norte-americano estaria bem melhor .", "an absolute must see , and most of you who see it will love it enough to pick this dvd up for your collection .", "deadpan , melancholy , and slightly absurd , like donnie darko , or igby goes down", "what makes MOV such a pleasure to watch is its great sensitivity to human detail .", "... a delightfully quirky look at finding oneself and accepting who and what we are and what life is all about .", "illuminates a young man 's overdue coming of age with unexpected depth and grace .", "one of the smarter examples of the form .", "MOV , zach braff 's lyrical directorial debut , self-consciously announces itself as a baby buster generational marker -- and richly deserves the designation .", "braff proves himself a master of modulation , keeping a sure grip as the film 's tone shifts like quicksand from humor to pathos and back .", "delightful , unexpected , intimate , dark , and funny . best value for your dollar !", "a likable if flawed comedy .", "braff makes a striking directorial debut while leading a superb ensemble cast .", "braff shows a keen visual sense and scores directing scenes both comedic and touchingly human", "while not all of the disparate scenes work , the ones that do are amazing .", "as an actor , braff seems to channel ray romano , whose genial , earnest persona was better suited to the small screen .", "quirkily loveable characters plus a dreamlike and hallucinatory sheen make this fantasical romantic comedy bristle with a sense of bliss and wonder .", "any flaws are offset by a genuinely dark sense of humor , understated performances and a rejection of tidy conclusions .", "his movie is sweet-natured and skillful , but its biggest problem is perhaps one braff was n't prepared to deal with : his own performance -- or , more accurately , the decision to place a deliberately flat performance at the film 's heart .", "poignantly portrays a detached man who decides to tackle life -- with all its pain , joys and everything in between -- with his eyes open and his head clear .", "it 's just the kind of story a young writer hoping to reflect the confusion of his entire generation would come up with , but a number of braff 's scenes are surprisingly well written and equally well acted .", "that rarest of things : a quirky film that actually is quirky , and that is n't just working overtime in a desperate attempt to seem that way .", "an offbeat , genuinely moving dramedy", "zach braff should promptly quit his tv show and devote himself to making movies full-time .", "a few overly artsy shots make it look like braff 's trying too hard , but mostly he 's simply trying to tell a heartfelt story .", "while i am aware of the film 's cliches and formulas , there is still something about this film that connected with me in a visercal way .", "an often riotous journey of self-discovery .", "the heart and soul of MOV is zach braff ... i can guarantee my a ** will be in the seat for whatever project he helms next", "braff is in possession of a distinct vision and an acute sensibility , both of which become clearly evident during the course of the film .", "... hardly makes a clean break with the tacky suburban banality it lampoons . even by the end , braff 's clunky sentiments are rooted in a new jersey state of mind .", "braff 's concern for both his struggling characters and how people with low self-esteem never give themselves a chance to grow seemed heartfelt .", "worth seeing for some funny , insightful writing , and some nice character work from the cast .", "a surprisingly assured debut .", "it has an askew sense of humor that 's grounded in honest observation .", "it steals shamelessly from the graduate without indicating a whit of appreciation for the earlier film .", "braff does not use flashbacks to get his point across ; instead , he opts for the ancient art of ` storytelling . '", "braff has an ear for dialogue . ... the pauses , the search for words - the right words - overflow from braff 's script . it ... deserves an original screenplay oscar nomination .", "-lsb- a -rsb- goofy , melancholy , seriocomic slice of life ...", "it offers something rare in the bond between andrew and sam . their connection follows a believable arc from their first awkward encounter to a specific , believable intimacy , without which the movie 's jokiness could have rung hollow .", "a film so dedicated to being different that it disappoints .", "-lsb- braff -rsb- does more than knock it out of the park -- this one reaches all the way to the county line .", "a richly populated if uneven act of comic catharsis .", "a spunky romantic comedy about an enthusiastic young woman who transforms her lover with the good medicine of her personality .", "it 's a hilarious and heartfelt ode to twentysomething angst .", "zach braff 's small , smart , off-kilter comedy is too self-conscious by half , but its struggle to revitalize a cliche ; by turning it inside out is a worthy one .", "somewhere between the prozac and zoloft is a comedy of intemerate charm .", "a strong debut feature from a promising new director .", "... MOV is one of those rare films that manages to speak to an entire generation - much like the graduate and fight club before it ." ], "summary": "delivering a quirky spin on familiar twentysomething tropes -- with a cannily-placed soundtrack -- MOV has enough charm to mark a winning debut for first-time director zach braff .", "id": "12850" }, { "movie": "enemy_of_the_state", "reviews": [ "it satisfies needs of those who crave for quality entertainment as much as the needs of those who like some food for thought .", "preposterous .", "high production values and gene hackman are the only things that stand out in this run-of-the-mill hollywood paranoia thriller . the unimaginative plot consists mostly of will smith being chased around by government agents .", "the movie has plenty of high-tech power , spinning out action so explosive you 'll hardly notice how preposterous the story is or how cardboard-thin the characters are .", "o roteiro bem constru\u043ddo e a dire\u0437\u0433o en\u0439rgica de scott conferem tens\u0433o ao filme , que tamb\u0439m faz uma s\u0439rie de bem-vindas alus\u0445es a a conversa\u0437\u0433o .", "since scott could not make this film snap , crackle or pop faster or more loudly , you might find the evening a bit light .", "it 's good to see an action thriller have a story that has some real meaning and issues that may open quite a few eyes to the fragility of the rights of the individual in a world where things are moving too fast to control .", "a super thriller with a great cat ... er , cast .", "a high-adrenaline , high-concept action thriller !", "tony scott has crafted such a thrilling , edge-of-the-seat roller-coaster ride that you wo n't realize till after the end credits roll how ridiculous it is .", "a smart , action-packed thriller !", "a satisfying techo-conspiracy thriller !", "smith has vaulted himself into worlwide fame and success in less than 10 years and is showing no signs of stopping .", "you 've got to hand it to director tony scott and producer jerry bruckheimer : they know how to please a crowd .", "if you 're getting sick of listening to peek-a-boo testimony and hearing government snoops justify themselves , MOV is good for what ails you .", "all in all , the film is packed with energy and thrills , delivers many decent performances , an intelligible plot with some obvious holes , but does run on for about half and hour too long , and could get repetitive at some points .", "a highly enjoyable hi-tech thriller .", "-lsb- its -rsb- spirited action is balanced by an almost contemplative attitude toward surveillance phobias and the movie cliches they 've spawned .", "as a simple thriller that wants only to excite and intensify , it 's one of the better ones that the late '90s produced .", "decent thriller ; not suitable for kids .", "... it 's the action , not the acting , that is the key to the movie 's success , and that 's where it excels with its constant momentum .", "it 's got some great action moments , just enough energy to jolt you through the exposition deliveries , and a ridiculously colorful cast to keep your eyeballs busy .", "distinctly uneven but generally entertaining ...", "if you want to believe in the dark side of government , we are already past the predictions of MOV .", "handsome , charismatic and funny , smith gives the film a likability it would otherwise lack .", "add smith 's lippy innocent and a host of subcontracted indie fresh faces , and you have the bruckheimer formula : loud , lavish , seemingly efficient ; over-large , over-long , over-plotted . safe and sorry .", "who 'd have thought i 'd miss the subtle touch of the late don simpson ?", "a solid thriller !", "it 's a popcorn thriller with a wonderful performance by the warm-and-fuzzy will smith who proves that you do n't need big muscles , a large piece , or even military training to be an uncommon hero .", "either way , after seeing it , you 'll be more conscious of the technology surrounding you .", "it 's enough to restore my confidence in hollywood 's ability to put out a pretty good movie and a popcorn-muncher at the same time .", "smith is hotter than a pistol these days .", "practically an elder statesman compared to the technobrats bruckheimer usually employs , scott also pays attention to the acting and it pays off .", "MOV is a fun film to watch , even though it does n't have as much substance as it initially seems .", "this political thriller unspools with a quick pace and a mix of clever action sequences .", "from there , with the mystery entirely gone and the thrills fading fast , the rest is pretty much a two-hour chase sequence , culminating in a hilariously maladroit shoot-out .", "this movie plays like a 90 's updating of coppola 's 1974 classic that dealt with surveillance , the erosion of privacy , and the escalating paranoia that you can never completely be alone because someone could always be listening .", "what do you say about a movie that sends you home in a frenzy to search for bugs ? in the new age of big brother , that 's entertainment .", "the latest flashy , sterile package to come off producer jerry bruckheimer 's assembly line", "an exciting if often overheated thriller !", "between the film 's star power and stylistic sizzle , odds are that audiences will have neither the time nor the inclination to focus on plot and credibility holes .", "hard to sit through .", "fast-paced and packed with action and thrills !", "la tecnolog\u00eda actual resulta en muchas ocasiones contraproducente , ya que mientras m\u00e1s tecnificado se encuentra el ser humano es m\u00e1s f\u00e1cil quitarle su identidad propia", "as with a delicious gallon of grade-a milk , it 's sad to see a good movie turn sour .", "five times better than bruckheimer 's previous embarrassment , armageddon . of course , that is n't to say that it 's actually good . it 's just saying that it is n't terrible .", "a briskly paced actioner !", "my mistake was bringing my head into the theater in the first place .", "MOV tries very hard to make us leave the theatre as government-fearing as its jittery protagonist becomes , but it succeeds in only entertaining us , which is obviously its foremost purpose .", "somewhat superficial , but not half bad !", "all-out thriller direction and editing , together with a great score , knuckle whitening action and solid characterisations , make this the best thriller of recent times .", "scott loads on equipment displays , speed-drill editing and the convulsive shocks that can relieve his dead feeling for characters .", "another hackneyed , high-concept action flick !", "points gained for action and suspense , points lost for unoriginal premise and tired cliches .", "all in all , not a bad way to kill a couple of hours , but we expected more from the artist fromerly known as the fresh prince .", "the movie is fast-paced , centered around two big chase scenes , and ending in a clever double-cross that leads to a big shootout .", "how idiotic !", "it 's not as thoughtful as the conversation , but it 's still pretty good .", "it 's a thriller straight through to its sleek , millennial-fever heart , an onrushing , giddily paranoiac roller-coaster ride with bad brakes , clever dialogue , and a reach that only occasionally exceeds its grasp .", "a solid two hours of pure , escapist entertainment .", "the film holds together well and is intense most of the way through . an enjoyable escapist thriller .", "totally satisfying !", "anyone who thinks that the key to will smith 's big-screen success lies solely on his attitude and charisma will be proven wrong once and for all by his work in tony scott 's smart , stylish thriller .", "it has a hurtling pace , nonstop intensity and a stylish , appealing performance by will smith !", "a truly substantial looker for the holidays , it 's that rare bruckheimer project in which style is matched by content .", "it 's thrilling , and it explore an interesting issue , namely the line between so-called national security and invasion of privacy .", "a thriller that did n't thrill me , with heroes i did n't care about , villains i did n't believe and a plot i could not follow .", "it should be called enemy of restraint .", "if the creation of paranoia is entertainment , MOV works .", "... throws believability out the window and happily lets the audience just kick back and have some fun .", "watching this movie is like being wired to a tv set on permanent channel-surf mode !", "if only bruckheimer movies were n't so loaded with recycled , paint-by-numbers story elements and catch phrase dialogue . if only the characters exercised common sense .", "this lethargic paranoid thriller is one film that actually could have benefitted from the trademark bruckheimer bombast .", "one shaky mess !", "the net result is fairly low-tension yet satisfyingly off-kilter .", "it actually wears you out after a while . just like scott 's other movies , this one plays more like a hugely conceived wind-sprint . rest periods are few and far between .", "when a movie 's trailer is more entertaining than the movie , due to its increased lucidity and more relaxed pace , that should be enough to tip off any filmmaker that he 's on the wrong track .", "in case you have n't figured it out yet , you 're being watched as you read this ." ], "summary": "an entertaining , topical thriller that finds director tony scott on solid form and will smith confirming his action headliner status .", "id": "13101" }, { "movie": "death_race_2000", "reviews": [ "corman did n't direct the drive-in hit MOV 2000 , but it bears his imprint of economic utilitarianism .", "... a mindlessly entertaining , thoroughly campy piece of work ...", "fun , fun , fun !", "unwatchable car wreck of an exploitation film .", "superior drive-in exploitation fare , this violent , campy action flick presents carradine as frankenstein , a scarred road warrior in black leather suit and cape .", "the story , about a road race in the not-too-distant future for which the drivers are given points for running down pedestrians , becomes an elaborate and telling fantasy about our peculiar popular entertainments . fine work carved from minimal materials .", "time has tamed it somewhat , but it 's still loads of fun .", "script , from an ib melchior story , makes its satirical points economically , and director paul bartel keeps the film moving quickly .", "overall the movie is n't as synchromeshed as it might be ; the rivalry between champions carradine and stallone is n't very interesting , and some of the gags are n't sick or funny enough . but it 's a great audience film .", "a must see for so many people - science fiction fans , satirists , action movie buffs , 70s film aficionados and anyone who likes an over-the-top film", "it has a comic strip premise which is neverthless wholly credible in a sick sort of way .", "one of king corman 's finest pictures .", "behold the power of cheese !", "director paul bartel perfected his brand of blackhearted humor on this ragged production , overcoming budgetary restraint with inspired moments of b movie spectacle ...", "MOV 2000 is as corman as his b-grade action pics come , with cars flying through the frame , blood spilling behind them , and overnight pit-stops for some sex -lrb- `` navigators '' in each car keep their drivers juiced up -rrb- .", "the conception and execution are top-notch low-budget trash .", "a goofy piece of over-the-top mayhem with half a brain .", "a movie that has a little bit of everything , and it 's easily the best version of itself that could possibly be put together .", "roger corman is the master of doing a lot with a little , and MOV 2000 is but one shining example of the filmmaker 's know-how .", "a terrifically entertaining movie , and a sharp , funny social commentary from start to finish .", "in the end , it reveals itself to have nothing to say beyond the superficial about government or rebellion . and in the absence of such a statement , it becomes what it seems to have mocked -- a spectacle glorifying the car is an instrument of violence .", "an absolute must-see for true film fans .", "this is director paul bartel and writer robert thom at their most deliriously twisted and producer roger corman at his most visionary .", "crazy-violent , chintzy camp classic .", "do n't miss it ." ], "summary": "MOV 2000 is a fun , campy classic , drawing genuine thrills from its mindless ultra-violence .", "id": "13861" }, { "movie": "sicko", "reviews": [ "having been chided in the past for getting his facts wrong , this time he just does n't present very many , preferring anecdotal evidence instead . the healthcare system needs medicine ; all moore has provided is a placebo .", "with less lampooning and satirical asides , MOV may be less `` entertaining '' than moore 's previous films , but it 's also more affecting and effective .", "the film is an alternately depressing and uplifting experience , a documentary whose ironies -- taking sick americans to cuba for cheaper , better health care -- wo n't be lost on anybody .", "MOV , the professional provocateur 's most accomplished and fervent film , is what the movie doc prescribes for temporary relief from the chronic headache that is the american health-care system .", "while so many liberal documentaries are angry and dour , moore 's approach is refreshingly funny and playful .", "MOV is moore 's most satisfying and mature film , with few cheap shots or transparent publicity stunts .", "this is essential viewing -- informative , corrosive , and even sometimes hilarious .", "it may incite lawmakers in a position to help to trumpet their faux proletarian credentials .", "a compelling , tear-jerking look at a vital piece of our infrastructure gone awry .", "a better , more focused effort than fahrenheit 9/11 or bowling for columbine .", "who could be proud of a nation that treats its people this way ?", "the best thing i can say about MOV is that it demands that you think and feel . you can not view it passively . at every turn , the movie is challenging your perceptions and opinions on our nation 's health care system .", "michael moore takes on u.s. healthcare -lrb- or lack thereof -rrb- in this impassioned plea for change .", "in amusing , opinionated and sometimes moving style , michael moore points his accusing camera at health care in the united states .", "` MOV ' is a quieter , more focused and less feral beast than its predecessor , ` fahrenheit 9/11 ' , but that 's not saying much .", "one may quibble with mr. moore 's anecdotal oversimplifications and his xenophilic fantasies , but he has struck a socio-psychic nerve in the body politic , generating a feeling of outrage that seems to be reverberating in every theater .", "moore effectively vents our collective rage , but his cuba is like the buena vista social club , but with better benefits .", "as in his earlier films , he 's making an argument -- for the most part , very persuasively -- and he cherry-picks to support it .", "this is a movie to see in a theater . it ` a group experience . all through the show you 'll hear people laughing , crying , muttering , cheering , sighing , swearing , and gasping . and at the end , chances are they 'll be on their feet applauding .", "even with its weaknesses , MOV is , like all of moore 's other polemics , a compelling piece of work", "MOV is sometimes funny and often poignant .", "less fueled by anger and less incendiary than his former work , MOV finds moore in a lighter mood , serving as a contempo mark twain or will rogers tour guide in a cross-cultural survey of health systems and lifestyles in canada , france , uk , and even cuba", "moore still has n't learned some basic rhetorical skills : will he ever figure out that acknowledging contrary views gives your argument more credibility ? but his movie is shocking , poignant and surprisingly entertaining .", "MOV , an investigation and indictment of a system choking on paperwork , greed , bad policy and countervailing goals , turns out to be a fuzzy , toothless collection of anecdotes , a few stunts and a bromide-rich conclusion .", "overly simplistic and not terribly hard-hitting , but worth recommending for the unflattering mirror it dares to place before the government in charge .", "MOV represents moore 's most mature work as a filmmaker .", "here 's an issue that transcends politics and speaks to basic human need and collective responsibility ; perhaps we need moore 's cudgel to make the case bluntly .", "moore seems to trust his audience this time out , allowing the interview subjects to tell their stories without repeating his cheesy move from the past of stepping into the frame himself , shaking his head in awe .", "you might applaud MOV if you were n't afraid of breaking a finger and having to pay for it .", "though we will differ on the methods of improving the american health care system , MOV 's enduring contribution is the undeniable evidence that the system is broken .", "a galvanizing , infuriating and sometimes heartbreaking look into the red tape-snarled morass of the american health care system .", "moore wisely does n't editorialize too much about what his camera captures . he knows that it does n't matter to the audience whether they live in a blue or red state or if they 're pro-gun control or not .", "MOV is , without argument , one of the most important films you 'll ever see in your lifetime , which might be rather short depending upon your hmo .", "filled with personal stories , the picture jolts us back into awareness and outrage . yet it 's also moore 's most widely relatable film .", "a real breakthrough for moore . combines his customary wit with a real respect for his characters .", "though the focus occasionally strays , the film emerges as a fascinating exploration and powerful indictment of a pressing national problem . this is moore 's biggest , best and most impassioned work .", "sure , it makes some mistakes , but it got the job done . it 's gotten middle america talking about socialized healthcare .", "overall MOV 's core and intentions if not its resolutions are hard to argue .", "it 's potent stuff as moore picks at the scab of health care until it oozes with pus and impertinence", "nobody with a heart and soul could leave unchanged after seeing this scalpel-sharp documentary ... i have three words of advice this summer : seek out MOV !", "metaphorically speaking , it goes straight for the jugular .", "as warped and blatantly anecdotal as it is , it does make strongly a point well in need of making - namely , health care in the states needs an overhaul .", "MOV shows that , at the very least , our health care system is a productive system . after all , it tirelessly defeats plenty .", "what makes MOV such an effective op-ed piece is that it demands that its audience re-evaluate its thinking and ask the question , ` who are we ? '", "moore depoliticizes the health care crisis by humanizing it , and drops the polemic in favor of a plea : for us to care about each other a little more .", "by now , it should only matter that moore has been right about every social ill he 's addressed .", "in trying to decipher how michael moore has achieved his widespread popularity in the face of a somewhat cavalier attitude toward factual precision , there 's no underestimating his savvy choice of targets .", "though his politics are unmistakably left , the documentarian 's targets are almost exclusively the powerful and his work is fueled by optimism rather than cynicism .", "while moore 's sins are n't nearly as terrible or significant as those of the political system to which he stands opposed , his unabashed tendency to talk down to his audience is symptomatic of our culture of mediocrity .", "equal parts laugh-riot and call to arms .", "while much of MOV is certainly propaganda , that should not deter anyone from seeing it or giving some credence to what moore is saying , because what he is talking about is very real and very important .", "saddening while it still bristles with satire , `` MOV '' does dodge some of the larger political questions about healthcare reform . plus , the cuba stunt mars what is , up to that point , a relatively stunt-free film .", "more humble than fahrenheit 9/11 and as enthralling as bowling for columbine , MOV is another target hit square on the nose for america 's premier documentalist .", "soon we realize that MOV hinges not on what michael moore is uncovering , but on what he 's hiding . this is a real shame as he 's a talented documentary maker .", "a persuasive piece of propaganda because it is as entertaining and funny as it is heart-rending and disturbing .", "moore does a damn fine job of bringing `` hidden '' information to light in a fast-paced and surprisingly entertaining fashion .", "MOV is not moore 's best made documentary but he deserves praise for forcing an issue to the forefront of national debate .", "moore mostly lets the sufferers speak , their stories revealing the deep , oozing wounds of a broken healthcare system ... . deliver -lsb- s -rsb- an adrenal shot , a strangely enervating mix of anger , shame and hope .", "the movie plays like an expose that would make edward r. murrow proud . and for that reason , ` MOV ' may be the most significant documentary to come along since hmos were conceived under richard nixon .", "michael moore 's intentions have always struck me as honest and legitimate , even when his filmmaking practices do not .", "the problem with MOV is n't that it 's wrong , it 's that the messenger has become too much like the powers-that-be .", "michael moore has given us an evenhanded , insightful look into the mess known as health care in this country .", "even if you 're in the camp that seethes with anger over moore 's politics , you 'd have to be in a state of extreme denial not to realize that moore knows how to make a movie .", "a patriotic american who believes that no one should be left behind , moore employs his latest film as a bludgeoning tool against insidious insurance companies and the corrupt politicians who let them get away with murder -- often literally .", "this is the best documentary of the year so far . this is michael moore at his one-sided , bombastic , pot-stirring best .", "hard-hitting , informative , wise and engaging muckracking documentary .", "u-s-a ! u-s-a !", "calling michael moore a documentary filmmaker is , at best , a stretch . however , his latest film is entertaining , enjoyable and yes , even a little balanced at times .", "in moving away from the dirty arena of polemics , MOV accomplishes something moore has sought for quite some time : coherence .", "warning : watching michael moore 's depressingly matter-of-fact dissection of the american health care system may have unpleasant side effects . it may make you sick .", "dr. michael moore -- that good old boy from flint , michigan -- is in .", "since most of us have been screwed by our health insurance at least once , we 're more likely to buy into his total lack of faith in the american system of ... health coverage", "like al gore 's documentary hit , moore cleverly prods us to consider and act upon some inconvenient truths .", "no other major filmmaker patronizes his audience this much .", "moore winds up treating the audience the same way that , he says , powerful people treat the weak in america -- as dopes easily satisfied with fairy tales and bland reassurances .", "it works very well .", "despite the accusations of manipulation , condescension and playing fast and loose with the truth , moore 's brand of commentary is difficult to resist .", "if you chose to remain in this country after the 2004 election , then moore 's latest might get you mad enough to want to leave , especially if you 've ever suffered through its inadequate health care system .", "if you get sick , move to canada , france , or cuba .", "in another lifetime , michael moore and george w. bush probably would have been great friends .", "simplista e ocasionalmente sem foco , o filme \u0439 bem sucedido ao ilustrar o horror do sistema de sa\u044ade dos eua , mas falha ao limitar suas respostas \u0430 compara\u0437\u0433o com o sistema de outros paises , ignorando as muitas causas do problema .", "provocative , funny , and all around exceptional .", "MOV is sensational . it 's perhaps the best movie michael moore has ever made", "michael moore 's most accessible and ultimately touching film yet", "pardon the pun , but moore has now become as big , if not bigger , than the issues he takes on .", "MOV is worth seeing -- as long as the big grain of salt needed for it is put on more than just the popcorn .", "even moore 's worst ideological enemies would be hard put to dispute the basic argument of his new film MOV : the american health-care system is a sick joke and has been for a very long time .", "he twists around the truth so messily , it 's impossible to know what to believe and what to toss out as utter hogwash", "MOV may not be moore 's best documentary to date , but it 's most certainly his most important and entertaining one yet .", "unlike his other films , moore finally starts to offer some sort of a solution that involves something other than marking an ` x ' next to a name that does n't say ` bush ' .", "what 's striking about MOV is that moore , for a change , speaks more in sorrow than in anger .", "i enjoyed MOV . it 's just that if i were less informed , i might have made my plans to go ahead and move to cuba after exiting the theater .", "moore may play loose with the facts , but you do n't have to believe every frame in the movie to come away thinking that the message in MOV is not only worthwhile , it is also inarguable .", "his movies may not always be fully accurate in their details , but they almost always spur vital national conversation .", "even people who hate michael moore might warm up to MOV , an indictment of america 's health care industry so damning that it could galvanize citizens from all over the political spectrum .", "a great piece of populist outrage and a dangerously good comedy about a looming american tragedy , as moore details the lock-hold on american health care by drug and insurance companies , and the eagerness of politicians to be bought into submission by them", "moore has finally made a moving , whimsical , infuriating film that wo n't just infuriate the right-wingers who 've made a cottage industry out of hating him nor sing to the liberal choir who supports even his shadiest arguments .", "MOV will scare people , and it probably should .", "`` who are we ? '' might be a better -lrb- if less jazzy -rrb- title for MOV , michael moore 's two-hour meditation on the sickly qualities of american health care .", "moore is not subtle or tidy . he goes after his targets with a blunt instrument . so duck if you work for a private insurance company -lrb- cigna takes a shot -rrb- , big pharma , a congressman , or the white house .", "for the first time , the targets of moore 's film need not fear the bearded , heavyset man ; instead they should be worried about his audience .", "... primarily comes off as an uneven effort that 's sporadically as superfluous as it is interesting ...", "maybe the film will cause a momentary stir and then fade , like moore 's other efforts , because the sickness is not just in the health-care industry but in the system as a whole .", "there 's plenty of grandstanding , most of it very funny . and in this instance , all that sizzle is selling the steak .", "MOV is an interesting film with a lot of very important things to say .", "the priorities are humane by default , and he 's strong on testimony from people who 've been chewed up and spit out by our system -- and not just patients .", "ranks among -lsb- moore 's -rsb- best", "laughs are thin on the ground , but this is a must-see by a film-maker at the height of his powers .", "the body politic deserves a finer thermometer than michael moore 's camera", "michael moore takes on the us health care system . his in your face style may annoy some people , but he lets you know he 's in favor of socialized medicine and , to be fair , he wisely presents ama spokespersons , doctors and others who claim put health care i", "michael moore 's latest documentary-as-soapbox-vituperation is a damning , touching , darkly comical expos\u00e9 on the united states health-care system .", "-lsb- moore -rsb- takes on the american health-care system and makes the enraging , bombastic case that it 's sicker than any patient .", "why give moore a free pass just because you support his ideologies ? in the end , the real loyalty we owe is to truth .", "MOV is moore 's best film : a documentary that mixes outrage , hope , and gonzo stunts in the right proportions ; and that throws an unforgiving spotlight on what is , in both senses , the elephant in the room .", "-lsb- moore -rsb- turns potentially dry material into a film that 's funny , poignant , and a call to arms .", "such coincidence grants moore 's film a narrative structure with a familiar political point : the crises facing regular citizens are connected , as well as ongoing .", "although one-sided , it 's arguably a lot less problematic than the health system it asks viewers to cast a critical eye on and consider alternatives to . and very entertaining .", "moore 's very existence provokes irrational hatred on a level i have n't seen since nikolai volkoff and the iron sheik defeated the us express at the first wrestlemania .", "moore failed , with farenheit 9/11 , to keep george bush from reelection in 2004 . my wish is that he succeeds with his latest quest .", "michael moore is the p.t. barnum of america 's liberals , bombastically attacking his opponents and frequently letting his ego spill out onscreen .", "full of half-truths -lrb- e.g. , the french government his characters praise was thrown out of office after the film wrapped -rrb- , this is just more of moore 's pathetic propaganda", "moore 's simple triumph in MOV is to pump fresh air into the discussion .", "better make sure you can afford cardiac care before you see `` MOV . '' because these real-life stories could rend your heart .", "exposes the u.s. as a very dangerous place to be any combination of poor , sick and old and suggests that the ama ought to consider changing its hippocratic oath from ` first , do no harm , ' to ` first , check the wallet . '", "michael moore must be reading his own reviews .", "nothing like a little political theater to rouse the rabble and to make the indignation righteous . there is no better master of such showmanship than michael moore", "though a debate about practical application would be welcome , moore 's people-person approach and sense of humor make MOV a warm , humane , sad , and funny response to a social crisis .", "moore pauses for a moment , seemingly overwhelmed by the experiences he 's filming in his own movie , to ask , who are we , and what have we become .", "the target is simply too large and too obviously broken to keep the film from hitting home .", "what 's the problem with government health systems ? moore 's movie does n't ask that question , although it does unintentionally provide several answers .", "MOV is moore 's best , most focused movie to date -- much more persuasive than the enraged and self-righteous fahrenheit 9/11 .", "raise your hand if you 've had any kafka-like health insurance dilemmas . yes , that 's a lot of hands . and as it turns out , at least one has been severed .", "moore 's films usually make conservatives angry . this one is likely to strike home with anyone , left or right , who has had serious illness in the family .", "moore could open a lot of eyes with MOV but as the song says , we do n't need another hero , especially one self-proclaimed .", "MOV is a teaspoonful of documentary sugar in a summer of popcorn salt .", "a rallying call to all americans to demand more of our government than we have been getting .", "what will you see in MOV ? heartbroken , worried , angry , feisty , funny and valiant people . they 're irrefutable .", "michael moore takes on the american health care system with grit , determination , and - believe it or not - subdued arrogance .", "that the treatment of patients in america is shockingly inhuman in many cases is obvious , and moore uncovers a huge number and variety of horror stories about it . like much of his work , though , while the film will inspire plenty of discussion through its", "it 's not a perfect movie but it will make you think - and the conversations you 'll have afterwards are worth far more than the price of admission .", "moore 's motion pictures are consistently hysterical , devastating , dynamic pieces of entertainment .", "funny , sad , eye-opening , infuriating , shocking - and pure michael moore . a must for anyone who cares about the state of their health and the health of the states !", "MOV is michael moore 's most mature work to date and almost certainly his best film .", "a blistering and convincing documentary designed to spur reform for a new system of universal health care .", "michael moore is an incurable optimist who believes in the ability of america 's core values to come up to par and exceed other countries in the way our government takes care of its people .", "it takes some skill to present a topic most people might agree with you about already , and actually still be able to move your audience with your story .", "whatever anyone 's feelings may be about michael moore , it 's hard to disagree with his argument that health care in the united states is broken and needs to be fixed .", "it 's more terrifying than any horror movie - and the most important american film of 2007 .", "it 's not impossible that this bitterly funny , bitterly sad call to alms could move reform back up the political agenda . for that reason alone , you owe it to yourself to see this movie .", "has the same level of outrage as most of his other films but a considerably less strident attitude . ... whether you agree with moore 's points or dispute them , ` MOV ' should inspire plenty of lively conversations .", "even though documentarian michael moore is pretty much preaching to the canadian converted , MOV is a biting and funny indictment of the u.s. healthcare system .", "it 's those personal stories , of ordinary lives destroyed one form letter at a time , that make `` MOV '' so powerful .", "le film le plus \u00e9mouvant de moore parce que peu importe ce qu'on pense de l'homme et de ses m\u00e9thodes , il est impossible de ne pas \u0119tre touch\u00e9 devant une m\u010dre qui a perdu sa fillette de 4 ans \u0155 cause des d\u00e9cisions d'une compagnie d'assurance .", "if MOV , like all of moore 's movies , raises more questions than it answers , you do have to hand it to the guy for starting the conversation -lrb- at least in pop culture -rrb- in the first place .", "this is top rate . it 's funny , it 's interesting , and there 's just enough truth in there to make you mad .", "michael moore takes aim at his easiest target to date , and no doubt the hit he scores will become a hit .", "think of this not as a news story but as an op-ed piece .", "horrifying , heart-breaking , often hilarious - moore 's latest shock doc is a potent polemic .", "moore 's commentary can grate , but his most brilliant prank - escorting a group of 911 workers to cuba for free healthcare - manages to be political gelignite and intensely moving at the same time .", "a thought-provoking and often blackly-amusing movie that trumps even fahrenheit 9/11 in terms of sheer entertainment .", "while we all have our grumbles about the nhs , it 's hard not to be caught up in moore 's righteous indignation on behalf of his countrymen , or not to feel a twitch of pride in our own .", "there are several laugh-out-loud moments and moore is one of the few directors who makes politics entertaining .", "mr moore 's excellent new film is a wakeup call .", "an engaging , extremely well shot and edited film that draws on humour and irony to stir simple outrage .", "a bitter but bracing pill . moore constructs a fiery but unfanatical argument that boils down to a simple truth : americans need to stop helping themselves and start helping each other .", "michael moore 's best film to date . entertaining , moving , funny , hard-hitting , right-on . it wo n't silence his critics , but it will give them something to think about .", "entertaining , informative and frequently incendiary documentary , told in moore 's inimitable style , mixing humour , personal stories , on-camera publicity stunts and good old fashioned journalistic research to devastating effect .", "like ` fahrenheit 9/11 , ' ` MOV ' is about a nation 's moral obligation ...", "we 've been indoctrinated with the idea that socialization of any public service is a bad idea , leading to unnecessary bureaucracies and inefficiencies . remember when they used to say , `` if you like the way the postal system works , you 'll love socialized he", "what 's most striking about MOV is how composed , even serene it is compared with michael moore 's previous acts of cinematic insurgency .", "though the title of the film is an explicit reference to our health care system 's sad state of affairs , it may also apply to anyone unable to relate to the struggles of everyday americans who have to pay for overpriced and ineffectual medical coverage .", "this is a movie , not a position paper , and moore aims to entertain as he informs .", "make no mistake : MOV is an explicit call for revolution , and it is a profound and horrifying one .", "mr. moore has hardly been shy about sharing his political beliefs , but he has never before made a film that stated his bedrock ideological principles so clearly and accessibly .", "it is quintessential moore : expertly crafted , eminently entertaining , one-sided and overly simplistic .", "moore 's most sincere portrait of american life in the trenches since the groundbreaking roger & me .", "at the very least , he 's raised a warning flag that should n't be ignored .", "the silliness of moore 's oeuvre is so self-evident that being able to spot it is a basic intelligence test , like the ability to match square peg with square hole .", "MOV , which takes on america 's profoundly profitable and catastrophically inefficient health care system , is moore 's most assured , least antagonistic and potentially most important film .", "it will bring out the michael moore haters . it will have people taking legitimate shots at its logic . however , you ca n't deny MOV is an entertaining and thought provoking movie .", "presenting symptoms : queasiness , fever , hyperventilation , and mood swings . diagnosis : you 've just seen michael moore 's latest film , `` MOV . ''", "the national health-care expose MOV is likely to divide audiences as much as his previous films . but it 's also one of his better works .", "a more responsible and less ` entertaining '' film than -lsb- moore 's -rsb- past work .", "documentary-maker and agent provocateur extraordinaire michael moore turns his gimlet glance onto the much-despised us health service to extraordinary and heartbreaking effect .", "after the screening , i stocked my first aid kit , inquired about buying an mri on layaway and began searching for a barrel sturdy enough to jump niagara falls and stake my claim to socialized healthcare and a life of free zamboni rides .", "those with weak hearts and excitable temperaments should probably not be allowed to see the film", "MOV may just represent the high point in a well-documented resume . if we 're going to be charged thousands for film of our innards , what 's another ten bucks ?", "lots of MOV stands as boffo political theater , but its major domo lost me by losing his sense of humor .", "we americans inevitably feel we know the best way to do everything , but the great accomplishment of MOV is that it is difficult to watch this slyly confrontational film and remain sure .", "if other countries can provide their people with universal health care , why ca n't we ? if we ca n't , who are we ?", "otro contundente alegato de michael moore que -lrb- ... -rrb- conmueve y entretiene en partes iguales , atrapando a lo largo de sus dos horas .", "a devastating exposure of america 's iniquitous healthcare system , coolly marshalled and amusingly detailed by moore .", "moore has again made a film which , though basically sound in logic , sugars the pill in a way which seems suspect in its determination to suggest that , as far as healthcare is concerned , america is bad and everywhere else is good .", "while no rational person would believe castro and hillary are to be exalted , its medical horror stories are absolutely believable by anyone who 's dealt with an hmo .", "moore 's mere presence becomes politicizing , but this film attempts to make people realize the health of people in this country should have nothing to do with income and politics .", "the film contains the usual moore plusses and minuses , now familiar to anyone who 's watched even one of his films .", "prepare to laugh -lrb- nervously -rrb- , cry and be outraged .", "it 's doubtful even michael moore would claim MOV as the last word on the subject . but it is a first word -- a very loud first word -- and while it may have been said better , at least moore said it .", "if moore were a more radical polemicist , he might have focused squarely on this alarming social injustice , but , perhaps rightly , he sees a broader one . even the insured are handing themselves over to a bewildering lottery .", "moore is rightly celebrated for his elaborately staged stunts and this film 's highlight , involving a boat-trip to cuba , is as hilarious as it is disturbing .", "the documentarian/stuntman showcases the catastrophic effects of our dysfunctional health-care system so acutely that the film serves its purpose : it puts a fire in your belly , and rage in your heart .", "it may not be subtle , but it makes for great , heart-on-sleeve cinema .", "may i introduce a new phrase into the franglais dictionary ? c'\u00e9tait un slam-dunk .", "as both harangue and movie tragicomedy , MOV is socko .", "moore ca n't resist over-egging the ironies , or revelling in the absurd . -lsb- there 's -rsb- a strong whiff of sanctimony about moore 's mighty indignation . it draws the sting from his satire .", "in a summer of dumb , shameless drivel , moore delivers a movie of robust mind and heart . you 'll laugh till it hurts .", "moore , despite all the accusations of manipulation and economies with the truth , is hard to resist and few others would be prepared to put themselves so firmly in the firing line in such a doggedly determined way .", "in between the laughter and the tears , it 's an intensely effective , gut-wrenching experience .", "its major drawback is its failure to allow even a single dissenting argument , but moore proves again to be the most entertaining and opinionated documentarian in america and greatest opponent of greed .", "an affecting and entertaining dissection of the american health care industry , showing how it benefits the few at the expense of the many .", "this is the movie where michael moore gets a few michael moore haters off his back ." ], "summary": "driven by michael moore 's sincere humanism , MOV is a devastating , convincing , and very entertaining documentary about the state of america 's health care .", "id": "770670573" }, { "movie": "white_ribbon", "reviews": [ "it 's more of a work of highfalutin sociology than compelling cinema .", "the MOV is a haunting period tale that suggests what the eventual consequences of living in an oppressive , paternalistic , rigid society might be .", "i do n't question haneke 's craft : it 's his ideas that get under my skin .", "our second chance in awards season '09 to watch a world-class film technician and not-infrequent producer of great movies make a big , awkward lunge for that entomology ph.d. he has always wanted .", "a subtle and mysterious look into failing feudalism and the involuntary passing of the baton .", "with some of the most striking imagery of the year , haneke 's film is not easy to dissect and even less so to shake off when it 's over .", "there 's no denying this is a coldly commanding tale in which haneke 's signature obsessions simmer quietly as subtext before bursting into the open in the final reels .", "the film , even while drawing us into its creepy web , also disappoints .", "haneke 's success in maintaining tension is especially impressive in that he does it despite a loose narrative and the necessity of juggling a dozen characters .", "the ends remain loose in the MOV . but that lack of closure is thrilling .", "haneke ... relies on intimidating us into submission with his supposed intelligence . but his superiority and sneering contempt is unearned .", "one hell of a film , made by one of the most brutally clever directors out there . -lsb- but -rsb- one to be admired , more than loved .", "strikingly well-made , with a riveting series of events and a growing sense of depth that makes it disturbingly relevant on several levels .", "this cool-headed , watchful film simply invites us to observe , to imagine , to make up our own minds . that 's another way of saying it treats its audience as grown-ups .", "a film of subtle savagery and mordantly encompassing vision .", "one of the most challenging movies of recent times .", "as strong and memorable as anything haneke has previously accomplished , an austere and fastidious masterpiece that digs deep into what remains of the souls of the children and adults without appearing to strain for significance .", "while crisply shot and loaded with symbolism , chances are your intrigue will be snuffed out well before the credits eventually roll .", "there 's no denying it 's well crafted , but it 's haneke 's silliest and least interesting film .", "it 's haneke 's vision and control that imbues the ever-more suspenseful and harrowing events with an oppressive sense of psychological and historical significance .", "set in a german village on the eve of world war i , the MOV treats a dozen characters so coldly they could be rats in a maze .", "intense and enigmatic , it raises provocative issues abut rigid discipline and the abuse of power .", "its austere gloom feels oppressive and monotonous , undercutting its psychological impact .", "it 's an m. night shyamalan movie with a phd . or maybe an ma .", "captures a shell-shocked ambiance that 's pruned to near perfection by haneke , who presses on the senses with masterful control . the film is a world-class tome of horrors .", "a severe and eerily beautiful german-language drama by michael haneke ...", "i wonder if haneke 's point is that we grow so disturbed by danger that we will surrender freedom -- even demand to . do we feel more secure in an orderly state ? many do .", "watching the daisy chain of events is akin to auditing a seminar on incipient fascism taught by a master filmmaker who speaks in a steely murmur , confident of his research .", "christian berger 's black-and-white cinematography is as gorgeously rich as writer-director haneke 's screenplay is forbiddingly austere .", "just another film by michael haneke , designed to provoke and infuriate , posing hard questions and offering no easy answers .", "haneke demands full attention as a patriarchal community crumbles to the ground and the seeds of fascism are sown . a masterpiece .", "a fantastically controlled , deeply spooky film from one of the most accomplished directors currently working in cinema .", "this is among the most luminous and painterly of black-and-white films , but what 's portrayed will shock or numb you .", "it pulls viewers in with the power of its imagery and the brooding sense of impending menace .", "filmed in ravishing black and white , MOV is hypnotic film\u2011making with a thought-provoking afterglow .", "a hard film to love , but a hypnotic meditation on all the elements - gossip , religion , bullying - that can turn a parish and country bad .", "it 's -lsb- haneke 's -rsb- least aggressive and most mature film - a masterpiece from a director who is increasingly making a habit of them .", "the message of this disturbing , nihilistic film is that we 're all nazis at heart .", "from the meticulous composition of his frames to the subtle sequencing of his scenes , haneke is now at the height of his powers . this is a complete work of cinema , at once engaging and ingenious .", "there 's no doubting haneke is a masterful film-maker , but it 's difficult to warm to his cold worldview .", "up close , it 's a blur of meticulous details that do n't quite make sense ; but step back and its towering ambitions become indelibly apparent .", "the MOV is a striking , in many ways indelible work , and it 's tempting to be carried away by haneke 's craft and assurance as a filmmaker .", "un inquietante cuadro social , filmado en riguroso blanco y negro , y una reflexi\u00f3n sombr\u00eda y perturbadora sobre el origen del mal , o al menos de cierto tipo de males .", "the MOV is michael haneke 's masterpiece . it is not a movie about abstract concepts or a director 's power over his characters - well , at least it 's not just about those things .", "this film is a total drag to watch . it is slow . it is dark . it is depressing , and it seems as though it is never going to end . it is torture to sit through this film . it runs 144 minutes and seems twice that long .", "as for haneke 's handling of the material , his directing is immaculate . every moment is the product of a penetrating mind and a steady talent .", "after reflecting on the film awhile , i found that i had been drawn into its beauty and its mystery too much not to give it at least a slight recommendation .", "it magnetizes us through profound degrees of mystery , psychology , dramatic intensity and perceptive dialogue , and then still retains enough power after the closing credits to leave us in thoughtful contemplation of its more cerebral perspectives .", "haneke knows how violence seeps into every recess of our lives , and he evokes it not to titillate , but to engage and challenge", "a direct and simple human lesson -- that negative reinforcement creates negative consequences .", "michael haneke teases dread and uncertainty from classical form .", "shot with dry discipline in striking black and white , the deliberately paced , consistently unnerving film invites viewers into every corner of its town , from its stately manor to its humblest abode , finding in each an air of unease and discontentment .", "haneke 's best and most humane work .", "engrossing , suspenseful and quietly haunting with exquisite cinematography and meticulous attention to detail .", "evocative and suspenseful , it 's both a masterful recreation of a past age and a remarkable rumination on the constants of human frailty and societal brutality .", "writer/director michael haneke has been exploring the darker effects of society on human behavior throughout his career and , with `` the MOV , '' he has made one of his most chilling and thought provoking films .", "it 's his best ever .", "though no violence worse than a slap is ever shown being committed , the MOV is so steeped in the awful that the proper response is a shudder .", "in crisp , painterly black-and-white , we see crops being gathered , snow falling on churches and homes , people gathered for school or mass. . what 's not seen , not even to the characters , is their own undoing .", "think children of the damned , children of the corn , children of men . think childishly in order to believe that haneke 's ripoffs of carl dreyer atmosphere and ingmar bergman sexual hysteria are at all original .", "these disturbing incidents pound the unsuspecting viewer into complete submission . the luminous beauty of the black-and-white cinematography framing the ugly world suggested here only serves to further shock the senses .", "at his best , as he is with MOV , haneke 's fusion of art and ideas is unsurpassed .", "executed at an incredibly high level of craft and with an off-putting degree of self-confidence .", "... while i appreciate ... the unnerving atmosphere of punitive power and calculated cruelty under the carefully managed pose of piety , i find his sensibility sour and cynical ...", "haneke makes his way through this complex and knotty subject matter with a staggeringly effortless grace . as an expression of philosophy , it 's profound and thought-provoking ; as a work of cinema , it is flawless .", "both sexes suffer from what elias canetti identified in his book crowds and power as ` the sting , ' a psychological hurt -lrb- bullying , abuse -rrb- that must be exorcised in reenactment . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "unlike conventional thrillers , this film does not restore a moral order to the universe . rather , it questions it . it must be seen .", "a tantalising , perhaps slightly frustrating film , but a very impressive one .", "haneke has made a deeply unsettling and gravely beautiful film that tells us very little . but the performances are astonishing , and the faces of the children , caught in long , static close-ups , may haunt you for a long time .", "as with most of michael haneke 's films , a chill hangs in the air of the MOV , the constant threat of upheaval eventually lulling you into a tired state of alertness .", "haneke does n't deign to deliver the genre goods-resolution , catharsis , etc. . that way he can crudely spell out his themes and yet still give the bourgeois audience the finger .", "richly drawn and complexly layered in its crisp and perfectly calibrated black-and-white landscape of shadowy house interiors and beautiful , light-drenched exteriors", "cruelty and paranoia breathe down the neck of this nail-biter , which creates biblical horror out of peace disturbed .", "the story has a perversely compelling magnetism ; you find yourself on the edge of your seat wondering what awful act will be committed by which character next .", "a study of how a small town 's worship of kinder , k\u00fcche , kirche led inexorably into the third reich . it is also an implicit warning about trends in the united states .", "do n't let anyone tell you too much about this spellbinder from austrian writer-director michael haneke .", "the narrator-teacher 's voice and shy personality lull and convince , and approximation becomes acceptable reality .", "a pointless , bloodless cinematic construct obsessed with man 's capacity for cruelty ... the equivalent of watching someone pull the wings off flies .", "alongside filmmakers like lars von trier , abbas kiarostami , and nuri bilge ceylan , haneke displaces narrative conventions to awaken the unconscious . there are no answers in haneke 's cinema , only questions -- very big questions .", "the movie will haunt you for days .", "it is a striking-looking film , and haneke expertly builds suspense . and yet it feels overlong and never generates the warmth needed to keep audiences involved .", "national socialism : the prequel .", "... a wonderful re-creation of a certain kind of old movie ... -lsb- a -rsb- deliberate evocation of antique strangeness ... like the much more playful work of guy madden", "the MOV is a captivating minimalist horror for about 100 minutes , but by the time the movie tries force its way into the historical context of wwi , it feels like bad history textbook fan fiction .", "as always , michael haneke ensures that no audience feels comfortable , using truncated scenes , incompletely framed shots , no underscore music as tools to create the tone and the sense of time and place", "the MOV is an austere allegory about a farming village and its inhabitants in germany that can be interpreted as portending their future . in fact , it invites that interpretation .", "far from enjoyable escapism , the MOV is nonetheless utterly compelling and quite beautiful in its unsettling presentation of this prosaic evil .", "he MOV is unsettling , disturbing and enigmatic ; it 's often horrifying and occasionally eerily beautiful .", "the MOV , disguised as a beautiful and affecting art-house film , is actually a vicious attack on the sort of fascism that rent the 20th century in two .", "the MOV may be haneke-light thematically but it is a great technical achievement .", "it 's clear that this portrait of a sick society is meant to explain , at least partially , the horrendous war that breaks out at the very end of the film , and the fascism that quickly followed in its wake .", "thematically provocative , visually impressive , haneke 's chronicle of the banality of evil and roots of violence in pre-wwi germany is haunting and disturbing .", "a frightening depiction of mortality .", "immaculately crafted in beautiful black-and-white and entirely absorbing through its longish running time .", "with the MOV , -lsb- haneke -rsb- has out-done himself and produced the best film of his career , a tightly-wound , fully-fleshed and thoroughly mesmerising drama .", "a profoundly disquieting movie , superbly acted and directed . its sinister riddle glitters more fiercely each time i watch it .", "made from material that haunts , grips and immerses .", "a meticulously constructed , precisely modulated tapestry of malice and intrigue in a rural village in pre-world war i northern germany .", "disturbing and provocative shocker .", "numbs deepest in suggesting the war and its aftermath fanned flames burning within . it 's clear what '20s and '30s germany will spark the fuse to after haneke 's shown us , tick by tick , the little bombs within little lives and little lies , black and white .", "i do think the MOV is too long , but i also think it 's one hell of a mesmerizing movie .", "a disturbing look at the rotting heart inside a seemingly righteous patriarchal society .", "a typically engrossing mystery -- or should that be anti-mystery ? -- from haneke .", "haneke 's implicit suggestion that the actions of this village reflect the ideologies that would propel the country through two world wars has apparently struck many as brilliant but seems merely facile to me .", "... a powerful film which provides much food for thought while also proving a bit disappointing , particularly if you 're already familiar with haneke 's predilection for taunting his audience .", "the ambiguous ending leaves the crimes and the dark happenings unexplained . the movie will remind you of m. night shyamalan 's `` the village '' -lrb- 2004 -rrb- and lars von trier 's `` dogville '' -lrb- 2003 -rrb- .", "haneke , director of such unsettling films as cach\u00e9 and funny games , gives this 145-minute film a real-time pace that allows its implications to spread slowly like a blood stain .", "the oscar-nominated film may feature thoughtful material and some strong performances , but it starts so slowly and perplexingly that it may lull others to sleep .", "as an anatomisation of the insular envy , malice and brutality that would lead to the rise of nazism , the MOV is clinically precise - but also just a little dull .", "full review on movies for the masses", "another of the funny games auteur 's unpersuasively rigid portraits of man 's venality .", "the slippery nature of the morality on show coupled with the shifting sands of the narrative makes this an uneasy watch - yet it is also a beautiful and masterfully constructed film .", "something of a distant teutonic cousin to henri-georges clouzot 's caustic le corbeau , MOV amply displays haneke 's filmmaking mastery .", "a beautifully made picture about the brutal existence within a pre-wwi german village , but an experience more intellectual than emotional .", "a beautifully shot , chillingly acted drama that is both thought-provoking and genuinely disturbing .", "a dark and foreboding film about the seeds of anger , violence , and hatred in the home that can lead to war and the rise of fascism .", "haneke -lrb- code inconnu , cach\u00e9 -rrb- once more probes hidden evil behind apparently well-ordered lives .", "an utterly nerve-wracking , edge-of-my-seat experience - certain scenes that consisted of little more than , say , a measured conversation between father and son are , in context , unbelievably suspenseful .", "its murky storyline , phalanx of hard-to-distinguish characters , and glacial pace leaves the impression that both haneke and the academy can do better .", "writer-director michael haneke does n't pull any punches , but then he does n't throw any wild ones , either . his filmmaking shows precisely the sort of obsession with control that the movie itself is denouncing . interesting , you 've got to admit .", "a disquieting feeling of apprehension is made palpable in the MOV .", "has the glossy , respectably artistic feeling of a movie designed to win awards , though by all means haneke 's approach to `` awards-bait '' is of a wholly different register .", "a strange , masterful film with an ominous black and white sheen . haneke 's unforgettable close-ups and haunting lighting conjure classics from the 1930s .", "the MOV is a stark , contemplative and hauntingly brilliant film .", "as with all of haneke 's films , the only insight to be had is internal ; your reactions and thoughts say more about yourself than the film .", "you can squirm , for hours , at a haneke film , then flee the theater in relief but find , damnably , that ca n't forget any of it , sometimes for years . it may not be pleasant , but it is most definitely art .", "haneke tells this tale a bit too patiently for my taste . but the metaphors are unmistakable , as is the power of the film 's message .", "the MOV lunges hungrily for serious art-film credibility . do n't be fooled .", "i 've in the past grown impatient and exasperated with haneke 's oppressive sense of control , but there is something in the MOV that feels eerily personal , almost confessional .", "anyone familiar with haneke 's work will know he has no interest in the simple pleasures of genre filmmaking . his trademark sadism extends from his characters to the audience itself .", "the visuals lend an air of eerie calm to the disturbing series of attacks that begin to infect the town 's serene and self-righteous surface .", "the MOV is in black-and-white , but director michael haneke is the least black-and-white filmmaker we have .", "chalk up the MOV as one of those german art films , in which the images are stark and minimalistic , the action languid and slow , and little to nothing is either revealed nor resolved .", "michael haneke 's latest is a great film , but ...", "uninformative and frustrating tale of unrest in a pre-war german village . the ending will have you cursing the filmmakers on the way home ... instead of asking questions about the subject matter . paul chambers , cnn .", "haneke has dramatized his intellectual conceits in an uninvolving , snail-paced movie that illustrates its themes in an obvious , almost banal manner .", "the quintessential art film : slow , demanding , and rewarding for those willing to put forth the intellectual effort necessary to puzzle out its ambiguities .", "the MOV does n't resonate at all . the filmmaker 's doom-laden view of humanity -- that we are all unredeemably awful creatures , easily swayed to do dastardly things -- oozes with contempt ." ], "summary": "the MOV effectively utilizes tension and a bleak atmosphere to deliver a thought-provoking examination of nascent fascism .", "id": "770808692" }, { "movie": "1208806-its_complicated", "reviews": [ "the film is lightweight , likable , rather overlong and a piece of wish-fulfilment .", "it 's really not all that complicated . but it is entertaining . it 's pure , simple fun , with meryl streep and alec baldwin playing doris day and rock hudson as they might have been if they had ruled in the sexually knowing oughts , instead of the virginal ear", "streep , baldwin , and martin are having so much fun in this romantic comedy-drama that it 's impossible not to get swept up in the good time they 're having as well .", "streep and baldwin sell it .", "if a pottery barn catalog had a midlife crisis , it would look and feel something like it 's complicated .", "ao menos \u00e9 consistente em sua mediocridade , errando at\u00e9 o \u00faltimo instante .", "streep finally gets her chance to cut loose -- and her frisky , flirty jane is a comic revelation .", "meyers does n't have to do much besides put these silly dynamos next to one another and let them enjoy riffing .", "rollicking and ribald , ` it 's complicated ' is a comedy about passions and people ` of a certain age . '", "soft , warm , doughy comfort food it was no doubt intended to be . the screenplay is jovial ; the actors twinkle and mamma mia ! fans should love it .", "i enjoyed the spectacle of middle-aged people making spectacles of themselves . and i appreciated the film 's gentle understanding of how the romance of a parent affects the children .", "the truth is that everyone needs a little coddling , which could be the key to ms. meyers 's peculiar talent : she pampers her audience shamelessly .", "something 's amiss in ` it 's complicated ' when steve martin is never allowed to cut loose .", "the romantic comedy about a divorced couple having an affair manages to be both light on its feet and heavy enough to deliver something of a message .", "at its core , it 's another glossy rom-com about a woman dithering in an unhealthy relationship while another , better , meeker suitor waits in the wings .", "actually , hollywood , it 's very simple : if you 're lucky enough to rope pros like meryl streep , alec baldwin and steve martin into a formulaic comedy that 's clearly beneath them , you rise to the occasion .", "nancy meyers never pushes for a hard truth when she can reach for an easy laugh . she 's like an industrial device , stamping out 100 percent pure-plastic midlife female fantasy .", "does anyone else think it 's too soon for nancy meyers to be remaking something 's got ta give , a movie she wrote and directed just six years ago ?", "there 's nothing inherently wrong with a little fantasy ; indeed , a lot of us like gazing at lavishly set tables and meticulously chosen throw pillows . but it 's complicated suffers from terminal niceness .", "even streep does n't seem to know what to do with her character except laugh -- the only person , living or celluloid , in the theater doing so .", "does nancy meyers hate women ?", "it 's complicated has some of the structure of a classic romantic comedy , but really works better as a farce .", "each `` adorable '' yet unreal scene is more offensive than the last .", "it 's simply a good time , a relatively adult and easygoing conveyance for three ace performers of a certain age , working through a few comic machinations created by writer-director nancy meyers .", "meryl streep and alec baldwin do n't elevate this nancy meyers comedy as much as they save it from itself . it has all the earmarks of a door-slamming french sex farce , but without the messy subtitles .", "not much more than an american version of a bad french bedroom farce ... it 's a depressing commentary on the state of american comedy that one as crass and clumsy as this will probably be called sophisticated .", "say this for meryl streep , alec baldwin , and steve martin : they 're professionals , and their relaxed chemistry and good humor together carries the film surprisingly far .", "streep and baldwin have tremendous chemistry , poor martin does what he can with the ralph bellamy role , and the three of them make this bit of inconsequential fluff far more fun than it has any right to be .", "it 's clear i 'm out of the demo for this one , which fetishizes interior design and home furnishings almost as much as the sex . but a substantive plot larded with more laughs would have made my thoughts much less conflicted .", "what is appealing is to see a romantic date movie in which the protagonists are well past puberty and are likely aarp members .", "it should have been titled , `` well , it 's all just sort of manufactured . '' the film is pat , it 's predictable , we 've seen revisions of its story countless times before -- but that does n't mean it is n't enjoyable , which it is .", "as a dramedy , it 's complicated might work better as a dram than an edy , but it works .", "a refined , balanced and eminently funny film , featuring three sublime performances from its incredibly talented leads .", "... an affable and downright breezy romcom romp .", "streep is as enjoyable as ever , and if laughs count for anything , this is one of the better romantic comedies of the season .", "it 's complicated is the kind of wholesome adult-oriented entertainment that once formed the bedrock of classical hollywood .", "a fun and sweet romantic comedy that lands comfortably on the smart side of vacant , along the way offering a pleasant and satisfying diversion for the grown-ups in the room .", "like all meyers ' films , it 's more about interior design porn than real human emotions and drags on for far too long . still , streep , krasinski and baldwin are so good , they almost make it work . almost .", "for me , meyers 's romcoms have been unwatchable because of the utter fakeness of their leading players : but i must confess , baldwin and streep do have that most over-analysed thing , `` chemistry . ''", "no one 's calling it great art . but as an indulgent confection , it 's more filling and less embarrassing than we had any right to expect .", "nancy meyers makes the kind of movies that , when my mom goes to see them , she ca n't remember a thing about the plot or the characters afterward , but she will remember that meryl streep 's kitchen was amazing .", "the stuff in it 's complicated is n't just simple -- it 's simple-minded .", "i found myself wishing for more shallows and fewer depths .", "insipid and borderline insulting .", "meyers has dropped something a bit more subtle than her usual anvil . this one is more like a mere tire iron , but at least we 've got baldwin : he 's the pixie dust that chases away the ensuing headache .", "a romantic comedy in which meryl streep , but not the audience , laughs a lot .", "beneath this movie 's gleaming high-end surfaces beats the heart of a classic screwball comedy .", "meyers uses musical montages and shoots the principals doubling over in laughter in place of crafting witty dialogue . escapism has its place at the movies , but something this slick is like a lavishly wrapped but empty christmas present .", "the empowerment message is obvious , the strain of trying to be `` hip '' and edgy in the script shows . but meyers sets the table for funny people to deliver laughs .", "it 's not complicated : this movie sucks .", "while it may be complicated for the characters , it 's a simple formula for light movie entertainment .", "alec baldwin does the near impossible : he steals a meryl streep film from meryl streep .", "the only thing complicated about nancy meyers ' latest rom-com is its depiction of familial relationships . why do meryl streep 's adult children keep on cuddling and squeezing one another ?", "pointlessly conveys throughout how important sex is in a relationship .", "the oscar talk surrounding it 's complicated is some way off , it 's not a bad film , but it 's certainly nothing to get excited about .", "an occasionally pleasant misfire , a romantic comedy that , despite its bright premise and superlative cast , is n't as smart as it should be .", "yes , there still are movies made for grown-ups in hollywood , few and far between they may be .", "a charming cast of veteran pros are at the top of their comic game .", "meryl streep , reinterested ex-hubby alec baldwin and new boyfriend steve martin are an irresistible love triangle set against the backdrop of beautiful santa barbara .", "with a story that by turns defies and adheres to formulas , it 's complicated ends up being one of the end-year 's best sources of pure entertainment .", "just not a film interested in working very hard", "it 's complicated is a nice two hours of fantasy -- think of it as avatar for eileen fisher customers -- but it 's as predictable as it is pretty , and as totally disposable as it is temporarily distracting .", "there is charm to be found in the simplicity of fine comic performances , which it 's complicated has in its leads and at least one supporting cast member .", "parental content review", "streep spins screenplay straw into movie gold ... just from the power of sheer acting genius and being the truly and deeply glorious person that she is .", "i laughed in it 's complicated more than in any other film this year . comedies , especially those for thinking adults , do n't get any funnier than this .", "for streep , as always , acting is anything but complicated .", "a movie that 's one-third hilarious is better than no thirds at all , but look at the cast : meryl streep , alec baldwin and steve martin . does n't that promise a somewhat larger fraction of laughs ?", "meyers completely fails to find the strengths of the actors : streep is too giggly , baldwin is too bombastic and slapsticky , and martin is too shy .", "it 's as if meyers has given streep an outlet to indulge any vanity her late career surge has instilled in her .", "really ? complicated ? nothing so complex going on here at all , in what is essentially another chapter in the nancy meyers brand .", "it 's complicated rarely rises above the level of a television sitcom but streep is witty and believable and has great chemistry with an ebullient , charismatic baldwin and together they make the film a painless slice of escapism .", "on it drags , simpering the while over the lavish accoutrements of upper-middle-class life as though they contained the key to all happiness - which , in meyers 's worldview , they probably do .", "meyers steers a middle course between saccharine and sentiment with her latest , a warm , witty and wise rom-com focusing on the mating habits of fiftysomething californians . think sex and the city for seniors .", "it 's complicated is the best middle-aged romcom since julie & julia . if you loved streep in that or mamma mia ! , you 're also going to like her a lot in this .", "it 's complicated is another streepshow , like mamma mia , that illustrates the power and willingness of hollywood 's best actress to slough inhibitions like salome 's veils .", "an almost unbearably twee look at three wealthy people in a love triangle .", "while making a few pithy observations about the mid-life condition , it 's no more complicated - or profound - than a racy issue of hello !", "it may not be the saviour of romantic comedies , but this is an enjoyable film with great leads and comic chops . complicated ? not really , but it is a laugh .", "mixing elements of frisky french farce with middle-class american comedy , it 's complicated is a daffy and delectable spree .", "not too sickly-sweet , but not sour either - still , meyers ' sex-with-the-ex comedy is an entertaining poke in the eye for hollywood ageism .", "meyers ' script is as bloated as her work on her past films ... but she has a cast of consummate professionals to dress this up and make it seem like more than it is .", "there are delicious moments of dark humour about the state of being divorced , sex and the divorced woman , and of course , the etiquette of an ex wife being a mistress to her ex husband", "click to read full review", "this film about divorce and late blooming romance was so painful that it made my own divorce seem fun .", "it 's complicated may not be all that complicated after all , but at least it 's entertaining enough , thanks to streep and baldwin .", "a slice of pure hollywood hokum overstaying its welcome by at least 15 long minutes .", "this is escapist fluff , pure and simple , but it 's given a huge boost by some deliciously funny scripting from writer-director nancy meyers and a trio of ace lead performances .", "it 's all very contrived and terminally nice . probably too nice for its own good .", "the erroneously titled it 's complicated revels in reducing smart , intelligent women to mewling morons whose ability to attract the attentions of past-their-prime leading men somehow counts as progress .", "meyers has a finger firmly planted on the pulse of what makes people in the middle of their lives tick , although it would help if she did n't make her characters work so hard to get out from under all of that enviable production design", "watchable , if overlong and underdeveloped romcom that just about survives nancy meyers ' bloated direction thanks to strong comic performances from a perfectly cast streep and baldwin .", "while it 's complicated may not be as complicated as it wants to be , it has just the right amount of appeal to put a smile on your face ...", "a scrubbed-clean fantasy , the story of privileged people living lives taken straight from catalogs .", "the story 's not entirely predictable . yet it 's anything but complicated .", "yes , it coulda had more laughs , but in the spirit of seasonal good cheer , let me predict that the best-chocolate-croissant-making montage in hollywood history is going to help this one clean up at the box office .", "nancy meyers ' latest confection is like a rich dessert that tastes good to start with but gradually leaves you feeling overstuffed .", "cute and clever though the plot may be , everything is played out in the broadest possible terms without an iota of nuance or subtlety .", "i was trying to find the running time on this movie when i realized it rounds to `` forever . ''", "meyers ' usually enjoyable brand of glossy escapism fails her here , resulting in a movie that 's not nearly complicated enough .", "it 's abundantly clear that the martin character , a sweet , sensitive 60-ish man who 's a good listener - and an architect , to boot - is meyers ' version of the ideal male .", "`` it 's complicated '' will be for middle-aged women what the latest `` transformers '' sequel is for teenage boys .", "baldwin , martin and meyers stage an ensemble comedy that 's among the funniest movies of 2009 .", "playing members of an unusual love triangle , meryl streep , alec baldwin , and steve martin mine every possible comic nuance in nancy meyers ' amusing film .", "mild sedative filled with a good run of giggles and the frightening aim of the a-list cast . nancy meyers would be wise to keep corralling this type of acting pedigree . it makes her merlot-stained screenplays more palatable than they have any right to be .", "written and directed by nancy meyers , whose bubbly chick flicks have set a dubious but successful standard in lightweight rom-com fare -lrb- private benjamin , baby boom , etc. -rrb- about women getting into the kind of trouble most women can only dream about .", "we love la meryl , but this is the worst movie of 2009 .", "there 's something enjoyable about silly romantic comedies that centre on middle-aged people for a change , especially when the characters are as well-cast as these . and even if the film is both over-long and rather pointless .", "i 'm not sure i 'd want to download a podcast of meryl streep or alec baldwin reading the instructions to a 1040 form , but i 'd imagine both could make the material become more pleasantly vibrant .", "meryl streep is surprisingly awful in this movie ... one of her very worst performances .", "three gifted actors , meryl streep , alec baldwin and steve martin , are under-used in this verbose and predictable romantic comedy , which is essentially routine tv fare with star power and glossy production values .", "no one cries like meryl streep . and no one can make you laugh better when she 's crying than the guileless icon that 's defied hollywood 's inclination for putting actresses out to pasture at 40 .", "if you 're in the mood for a delightful , middle-aged romantic comedy , this is your ticket . it 's a glossy holiday confection that 's chock full of laughter .", "self-righteous and obnoxiously condescending .", "when a movie with such a high pedigree feels so uninspired , you have to wonder whether there 's any hope whatsoever for the romantic comedy genre .", "a smart , sophisticated and downright hilarious comedy .", "meryl streep is the ultimate sexy role model for women over 50 . who does n't want to see baldwin as the love-sick , fat ex-husband ?", "divorce has never been so much fun in this smart and funny romantic comedy about getting back together -lrb- or not -rrb- long after the happily ever after scenario has dried up .", "it 's adulterated .", "it 's complicated is middle-aged porn , the specialty of meyers , who also set ladies and interior decorators drooling over homes and gardens in 2006 's the holiday .", "writer-director meyers , who 's devoted much of her career to midlife american arousal , that she loses her sense of fun .", "simply put , it 's complicated is a hoot .", "some farcical baubles sparkle , but this have-it-all women 's fantasy otherwise plods along with uneven acting , padded direction and inch-deep characters . thank goodness for john krasinski .", "-lsb- meyers has -rsb- given us her thinnest slice of comic relationship angst yet , proving , i guess , that you actually can be too thin .", "it 's complicated . oh wait , no it 's not . this film is a classic example of rich people 's problems .", "writer-director nancy meyers surprisingly goes too easy on the character of jake , a decision that leaves a bad taste and drains some of the fun out of this otherwise agreeable -lrb- if rarely uproarious -rrb- bauble .", "it may be complicated but it 's not funny and with this cast it should be .", "for all the complicatedness of the emotions streep and baldwin navigate , it 's still a smooth ride to huge grins and hearty guffaws , with excellent performances .", "streep 's dilemma is handled well enough for the movie to accumulate some gravitas as it nears the two-hour mark .", "the movie works because the audience can identify with jane 's life , even if they ca n't identify with her kitchen .", "meyers manages to offset most of the usual rom-com pitfalls just by passing the ball to meryl streep or alec baldwin .", "metaphorically smacking around hoffman 's wimpy priest last year as a shrewish nun in doubt , and dishing out directives for married bliss as ditzy julia child , streep takes on aging starter wife exploitation with lighthearted vengeance in it 's complicated .", "meyers demonstrates , as she did in something 's got ta give and the holiday , an extraordinarily limited worldview .", "a silly but mostly delectable holiday confection guaranteed to put a smile on your face and keep it there .", "the character names are irrelevant as the plot 's a hoary , hokey pretense to gather under the stars .", "you do n't have to feel guilty for lapping up this froth . just do n't expect nourishment .", "snappy dialogue and an up-tempo pop soundtrack add to it 's complicated 's entertaining mix as director nancy meyers proves again that she has a deft hand with rom-coms .", "it 's complicated unleashes an unabashedly , desperately romantic side of baldwin that we have n't seen before . he does n't steal this movie so much as grant all streep 's fluttering and twirling and hand-fanning an exuberant counterweight .", "streep is clearly having fun playing a romantic lead . why she has n't gotten more offers for these kinds of roles is anyone 's guess . she also has a lot of chemistry with baldwin and martin . all three of them are reason enough to see the film .", "streep and baldwin are terrific , and if you like your romance bittersweet you wo n't want to miss this one .", "this is a comfort zone for such viewers even if the characters are no more real than the models in vanity fair ads .", "parents will dig this over-50 romcom , but kids wo n't .", "baldwin steals the film with his gleeful naughtiness .", "it 's complicated is n't . this is straight-ahead , sophisticated comedy , an evolution of what doris day , rock hudson and tony randall did in the 1960s .", "it 's refreshing watching mature adults in a genre usually reserved for the youth market .", "there are some giggles here , but most of them are coming from streep as she goes through her litany of coy indecisiveness ending with the desired reaction .", "streep and baldwin turn in two fearless performances . they play to the film 's strengths perfectly , overpowering its defects", "refreshingly mature , funny and endearing with a terrific cast and razor sharp dialogue . meryl streep sizzles in a sexy , bold and honest performance . it 's an intelligent american romcom with a very french sensibility .", "working from a slight script that rarely surprises , the superb cast makes an otherwise mediocre cinematic exercise into something that , if not profound , at least entertaining , at times , even moving", "it 's complicated is a rearrangement of the goods in nancy meyers ' bakery , and some of them belong on the day-old shelf .", "meyers does her job pretty well . she 's a clever contriver , adept at adding a patina of apparent relevance , even a veneer of feminism , to situations that are otherwise bogus and artificial .", "more sitcom than screwball , meyers ' films are more interesting to talk about -- why are n't more movies aimed at this demographic ? what does the popularity of these films say about mature women and their relationships ? -- than enjoyable to watch .", "meyers has a good feel for contemporary comedy ; it\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s reality , however , that slips through her grasp .", "the only person in the cast who knows how to portray comedy in film is john krasinski ... only when he is on screen does the movie come alive , and that 's not enough .", "it 's complicated thankfully is n't % u2013 as a romantic comedy , that is . it 's pretty straight forward , funny stuff , bolstered by terrific performances and a script that zings .", "there are four reasons to see this movie and writer-director nancy meyers is n't one .", "it 's complicated proves nancy meyers has the aging rom-com genre to herself - and it 's in very good hands .", "there is a line of dialogue spoken by meryl streep that is worth the entire price of admission .", "it 's complicated is basically wild hogs for smart people , big stars playing below their gifts in a crowd-pleasing movie .", "it 's a spirited rom-com with 3 strong leads who can do any number of brilliant comedic turns in their sleep . or in their kitchens . or in an assortment of beds , where the fun truly heats up .", "something that works merely by the infectious nature of the good time these talented actors clearly had in making the film .", "it 's complicated is as middle-of-the-road as you can get . it does n't even attempt to break new ground ." ], "summary": "despite fine work by an appealing cast , it 's complicated is predictable romantic comedy fare , going for broad laughs instead of subtlety and nuance .", "id": "770814954" }, { "movie": "high_crimes", "reviews": [ "conventional , with a twist you 'll probably guess , but absorbing because of ashley judd 's forceful performance .", "there 's a reason why i walked out of a few good men when it first premiered : so i 'd never have to see it again .", "MOV carries almost no organic intrigue as a government / marine/legal mystery , and that 's because the movie serves up all of that stuff , nearly subliminally , as the old-hat province of male intrigue .", "there are few things more frustrating to a film buff than seeing an otherwise good movie marred beyond redemption by a disastrous ending .", "the plot , involving a military cover-up , is n't the most original , but the adroit cast and crew milk it for all its worth . ... you wo n't be disappointed .", "judd ... eyebrow-cocks her way through carl franklin 's witless MOV .", "in a movie like this , if you 're not surprised , if you know what 's going to happen and you can figure out everything then it ultimately falls flat and that 's why it does n't work for me .", "not only does the thoroughly formulaic film represent totally exemplify middle-of-the-road mainstream , it also represents glossy hollywood at its laziest .", "undermined by too many problems -- contrivances , recycled suspense/thriller elements , some bad/rough editing , etc. .", "it becomes evident that the plot is just a machine to jerk the audience around , and a poorly oiled machine at that -- it clanks when it should click .", "a by-the-numbers mystery/courtroom drama for the matlock crowd", "a definite misdemeanor bordering on a felony .", "this script has more holes than a golf course .", "the film is itself a sort of cinematic high crime , one that brings military courtroom dramas down very , very low .", "whenever a couple in a hollywood film is so happy early on , it is predictable a reversal of fortunes is soon to happen .", "this thriller-by-numbers fails to add anything fresh to an already exhausted genre .", "sure it 's a good movie ... if you 've never seen one mystery flick in your entire life !", "a pretty fair -- if twist-happy -- thriller .", "-lsb- judd and freeman -rsb- radiate an intelligence that makes so-so movies seem much better .", "... starts out as a taut and intriguing story but seems to get more preposterous as it goes ...", "military whodunit is n't great drama , but director carl franklin 's skill makes for an above-average thriller .", "this is the work of a director who seems to have been as bored and uninspired making this movie as i was watching it .", "MOV has its fair share of decent courtroom scenes but the legal tussles are far better than the emotional ones .", "mediocre thriller of the betrayed-woman genre .", "hampered by a bad script , this is a middling political thriler that 's not supsenseful or dramatic enough to generate any interest in the proceedings ; the good morgan freeman is totally wasted .", "carl franklin directs smoothly , but except for freeman , the theatrics are pretty pro forma .", "watching the chemistry between freeman and judd , however , almost makes this movie worth seeing . almost .", "MOV is a petty theft of anyone who lays out dollar one to see it on a big screen .", "it 's more than a retread of an ancient formula ; it 's an execution of it with flair and gusto .", "MOV goes out on a note as bland as its title .", "o roteiro n\u0103o insulta nossa intelig\u0119ncia , o que j\u00e1 \u00e9 uma vit\u00f3ria , nos dias de hoje ; mas tamb\u00e9m n\u0103o nos obriga a us\u00e1-la , o que \u00e9 uma pena .", "presents nothing special and , until the final act , nothing overtly disagreeable .", "conforms itself with creating a game of ` who 's who ' ... where the characters ' moves are often more predictable than their consequences .", "franklin only takes the worst from hitchcock -lrb- surprise over suspense and a ` lying ' flashback red herring -rrb- , without adding any style of his own .", "the movie is good and worth seeing - i just would have expected this kind of talent to team up for something more ambitious .", "director carl franklin , so crisp and economical in one false move , bogs down in genre cliches here .", "MOV is hardly high art , but thanks to freeman , it 'll do until something better comes along .", "the fare is all on the standard menu , but it goes down well just the same .", "is n't worth the crayons it took to write the script .", "a formulaic thriller ending that 's so predictable and ridiculous that it 's hard to watch with a straight face .", "there ought to be a law against what they do to morgan freeman in MOV .", "MOV does n't exactly get a high-five from me , but it does n't commit any felonies , either . i 'll give it 2-3 with time off for good behavior .", "this is a lazy , perfunctory movie .", "the talent in front of and behind the camera ca n't overcome the boring , derivative script .", "MOV miscasts nearly every leading character .", "ashley judd is quickly outdistancing sandra bullock for hollywood 's longest streak of bad leading-lady choices .", "sinks so low in a poorly played game of absurd plot twists , idiotic court maneuvers and stupid characters that even freeman ca n't save it .", "our enjoyment of MOV depends entirely on how much we identify with these characters -- our immersion in their lives is precisely what carries us over the large and unsightly wrinkles in the script .", "loaded with false alarms , shocks , and a few twists , the story wends its way enjoyably toward resolution , assisted by a nicely constructed set of revelations .", "it reunites the winning `` kiss the girls '' team of ashley judd and morgan freeman . the chemistry still works .", "consider the film a celluloid litmus test for the intellectual and emotional pedigree of your date and a giant step backward for a director i admire .", "MOV has its moments of chicanery that works intermittingly throughout the plot , but for the most part it 's a mere misdemeanor of a military courtroom drama that never really challenges the audience 's imagination .", "stale and clich\u00e9d to a fault .", "MOV goes a long way on old-fashioned star power mixed with a few new twists . luckily , it does n't have to go any further .", "ashley : you are falsely accused , are n't you ? please do n't tell me i 'm ruining my expensive makeup for nothing .", "for all its surface frenzy , MOV should be charged with loitering -- so much on view , so little to offer .", "complex , lucid and exciting , MOV strikes a near-perfect balance between plot and character .", "superb plot twists and acting keep viewer guessing in MOV .", "MOV steals so freely from other movies and combines enough disparate types of films that it ca n't help but engage an audience .", "MOV , an often pedestrian courtroom drama reteaming ashley judd and morgan freeman , is like a symphony played on cell phones .", "everything else about MOV is , like the military system of justice it portrays , tiresomely regimented .", "MOV badly misses the demeanor of what it pretends to be -- a tense courtroom drama about military corruption , a la a few good men .", "the film 's generic obviousness overwhelms the finer touches usually interesting director carl franklin provides .", "ludicrous , but director carl franklin adds enough flourishes and freak-outs to make it entertaining .", "more good than great but freeman and judd make it work .", "the problem -- a small one , apparently , in the view of the screenwriters , yuri zeltser and cary bickley , who adapted joseph finder 's novel -- is that the twist renders everything that came before completely nonsensical .", "the problem with MOV , acceptable though it is , is that it 's not close to anyone 's best work .", "movies like MOV flog the dead horse of surprise as if it were an obligation . how about surprising us by trying something new ?", "the most grievous offense in the tiresome thriller MOV is the amount of talent squandered .", "-lsb- carl franklin -rsb- has no idea how to enliven junk , so he simply lets MOV chug slowly along .", "the talented carl franklin is a realist , with a great feel for character details and plot nuances , but MOV needs realism like it needs a hole in judd 's perfectly coiffed head .", "a decent-enough nail-biter that stands a good chance of being the big hit franklin needs to stay afloat in hollywood .", "apart from blade ii , MOV is probably the most entertaining commercial movie so far this year . and yet it 's junk .", "MOV fits comfortably into the conventions of the genre , but franklin seems happy to be working with them , not against them .", "much of what happens in MOV is utterly stupid , and almost all of it is derivative . but judd and freeman bring a zip to their characters that goes far beyond what 's on the scripted page .", "how can so many rights make so many wrongs ?", "claire is a terrific role for someone like judd , who really ought to be playing villains .", "MOV shines in the courtroom thriller genre , a genre that has n't seen much noteworthy action of late .", "ludicrous , but director carl franklin adds enough flourishes and freak-outs to make it entertaining .", "-lsb- morgan -rsb- , judd and franklin ca n't save the script , rooted in a novel by joseph finder , from some opportunism .", "MOV has some faults , but it manages to keep its audience either angry or jumpy from start to finish .", "the movie 's ultimate failure has more to do with its poor mastery of the basics , like keeping a tight rein on a complicated narrative .", "with lesser talents , MOV would be entertaining , but forgettable . with freeman and judd , i 'll at least remember their characters .", "i expected better from director carl franklin .", "if MOV were any more generic it would have a universal product code instead of a title .", "thriller MOV is guilty of grossly misusing acting talent .", "judd 's characters ought to pick up the durable best seller smart women , foolish choices for advice .", "MOV works to keep us involved and make us care .", "MOV is a cinematic misdemeanor , a routine crime thriller remarkable only for its lack of logic and misuse of two fine actors , morgan freeman and ashley judd .", "if only all buddy pictures were this good .", "like a stale loaf of bread that you can easily recognize has past its expiration date .", "the film is so vacuous that it may fade from your memory within hours , rather than the customary couple of weeks or perhaps months that it takes for a typical studio picture to be forgotten these days .", "feels like the product of a computer program that 's assembled every cliche and stereotype of court-martial thrillers .", "a military courtroom thriller with a simple , predictable story elevated by a strong performance from judd .", "uniformly dunderheaded .", "while MOV is riveting at times , it relies mostly on adrenaline , not intelligence , to keep us glued to our seats .", "the military courtroom drama MOV has a charismatic cast , a slick look and , judging from his track record , a gifted director -- everything but a subtle , well-crafted script .", "though glossy and formulaic , MOV ... proves highly entertaining .", "both ashley judd and morgan freeman 's performances are riveting .", "if a few good men told us that we `` ca n't handle the truth '' than MOV poetically states at one point in this movie that we `` do n't care about the truth . ''", "it 's a frankenstein-monster of a film that does n't know what it wants to be .", "this flick does the job , and ca n't really be described as either great or shoddy .", "ashley judd was gon na make a good movie , before she got high .", "strong setup and ambitious goals fade as the film descends into unsophisticated scare tactics and b-film thuggery .", "no better than the cheap-thrill , lady-in-distress hooey that 's the mainstay of telemovies ... at best a cinematic misdemeanor .", "it 's a serviceable courtroom mystery , geared for unadventurous saturday night crowds who know exactly what they want .", "the twists and red herrings of the plot are so telegraphed to the viewer that they hit the screen with the detached precision of a bus schedule .", "the movie does n't leave a person looking at his watch every few minutes . but the action is too far-fetched and the ending , in particular , is unconvincing .", "comes off more like a misdemeanor , a flat , unconvincing drama that never catches fire .", "a well-mounted and well-acted suspense movie that , thanks to its illogical script , falls off a cliff midway through .", "another paint-by-numbers , clich\u00e9-ridden hollywood thriller . you asked for it !", "` MOV ' is criminal , criminal filmmaking . it 's bad , and not in that '80s good way , just not good .", "a new type of role here for the great morgan freeman , who plays grimes like a senior hell 's angel on valium .", "its surprises are about as surprising as discovering fruit at a fruit stand . as filmmaking , it 's rarely more than professional . but it works better than it has any right to thanks to the performances of ashley judd and morgan freeman .", "may cause you to bite your tongue to keep from laughing at the ridiculous dialog or the oh-so convenient plot twists ." ], "summary": "ashley judd and morgan freeman make this predictable affair watchable .", "id": "11239" }, { "movie": "mud_2012", "reviews": [ "... a respectful , storyteller 's approach to rural america . no mockery , no hollywood-knows-better , no nonsense . that kind of thing is in shorter supply than the universe 's collective desire for mcconaughey to return to rom-coms .", "MOV is a captivating drama with well-rounded characters and fantastic performances from its three leads .", "MOV combines the poignance of a boy coming to terms with life 's realities with the excitement of top-notch suspense .", "jeff nichols ' script for MOV is a lot like the mississippi river that serves as a backdrop for the tale of unrequited love . there are times it is big and powerful and other times when it becomes so serene it 's easy to forget the depths that hide below .", "with MOV , jeff nichols demonstrates once again that he 's that rare breed of filmmaker who prefers to bury himself in the dirt of rural america rather than carve his initials into the concrete of sprawling urbanity .", "it 's a lovely , coherent piece of storytelling , with a unique sense of place . nichols has carved out a niche as a distinctive film-maker .", "it 's rare that films manage to capture the actual experience of what it is like to be a child , but ` MOV ' seems to nail the ethos .", "nichols weaves it all together with consummate skill and a little black pepper .", "it 's a sweet tale that displays plenty of faith in humanity without ever veering into sappiness and always keeping you on the edge of your seat .", "-lsb- feels -rsb- like an adaptation of a classic novel that does n't actually exist .", "the most immediately involving film that i 've seen in a good long while .", "confirms nichols ' status as a rising talent in the world of independent film who 's yet to make a truly major work .", "... a movie about relationships that are tenuous and inescapable , desperate and fraught with misplaced romance .", "this densely atmospheric film could have used more mark twain-like adventure and less dreary adult intrigue .", "as fable like as MOV can be , with its good luck charms and wards against werewolves and demons and men who salvage using homemade diving bells , at its heart it is about real people going through real things .", "so good - so incredibly good ; a classic in the making - that i promise you wo n't miss the metaphor and abstraction of ` take shelter ' .", "nichols has concocted something ... along the lines of a ripping yarn , with fairly conventional story beats built upon a sturdy , familiar coming-of-age template .", "a coming-of-age tale that 's also a suspense thriller ... this beautifully realized picture is easily one of the year 's best thus far .", "MOV is steeped in a sense of place , and the people inhabiting it . southern . superstitious . suspenseful . sublime .", "the brilliant summer hues and lazy rivers give `` MOV '' an authentic sense of place ; nichols clearly knows this terrain like the back of his hand .", "mcconaughey brings to the film a heartfelt and beautifully realized angst . and witherspoon is excellent as a woman who ca n't help being who she is , regardless of any pain that may cause .", "MOV is a lyrical coming-of-age tale that feels like a mark twain story in a contemporary setting .", "once writer and director jeff nichols ' film about love , lies and loss gets going , it never really stops .", "as far as brawny dramas or ripping coming-of-age yarns go , you could do a lot worse than getting stuck in the `` MOV . ''", "it features another fine performance by mcconaughey , a compelling coming-of-age story , and sturdy filmmaking . it 's definitely a movie that will stick with you long afterwards , and you ca n't really ask for more than that from a movie these days .", "wallow in it .", "though it is unlikely that MOV will live up to the expectations of those who were floored by jeff nichols ' last film take shelter , it is still a powerful film in it 's own right .", "another winner from jeff nichols . has everything - drama , romance , a little action , and at the same time is as powerful an elegy to a disappearing way of life as beasts of the southern wild .", "against a lush mississippi river backdrop , a boy 's coming-of-age is spurred by a friendship with an outlaw .", "MOV is a beautiful , humorous , tension-filled and sad tale with more great work from mcconaughey about learning the hard way that love and MOV can be a synonymous mixture that we will always have trouble running away from .", "you come away from MOV fondly remembering those two boys , especially ellis , who has taken his first steps toward adulthood and discovers it suits him just fine .", "a story about how at one point or another love makes liars of us all , either to others or ourselves .", "-lsb- nichols -rsb- has a rare ability to root his archetypal southern fables in rich observational detail . they remain tangibly specific but take on the larger resonances of folklore .", "the film 's guilelessness in stoking classic themes , folklore and paradigms in american culture would be absurdly self-conscious if nichols did n't have such an original voice as a storyteller .", "mcconaughey , of course , is excellent .", "a fresh coming-of-age tale with an impressive performance by tye sheridan as a sensitive , kind , and caring teenager with a good heart .", "there 's something old-fashioned about MOV , but if you allow yourself to settle into its leisurely pace , it will reward you .", "a modern-day homage to the settings and characters popularized in some of twain 's best loved works .", "the story of a sympathetic fugitive who forges a bond with two teenage boys near a mighty river down south , MOV is shot through with traditional qualities of american literature and drama .", "authentically southern gothic , featuring one of matthew mcconaughey 's best performances ever .", "this is no southern gothic pastiche but a convincing portrait of a south rarely seen onscreen , the south of walmarts and water moccasins , of piggy-wiggly and punk rock .", "i liked MOV . what 's frustrating is feeling as if i could have loved it .", "MOV has some interesting things to say about southern manhood , and is observant about the struggle between head and heart , even if it is less forthcoming on how you get a boat out of a tree .", "a bold , intelligent , 21st century take on mark twain - with added occult tendencies .", "nichols takes his time with the story , dwelling on how the boy is shaped by the killer 's tragic sense of romance , yet the suspense holds .", "MOV is a potent and earnest rumination on love and change that gets muddled by moments of overblown as well as scattered storytelling .", "the setting , characters and situations in `` MOV '' are fully formed and fully satisfying .", "a modern-day huck finn adventure pulled along in the mesmerizing current of a crime yarn and anchored to a teenager 's heartbreaking quest for emotional moorings .", "like great directors before him -- hitchcock , polanski , altman , et al. -- nichols uses duality with real skill and impact .", "poignant coming-of-age tale has some edgy content .", "mr. nichols 's voice is a distinctive and welcome presence in american film .", "it 's a movie that holds out hope for the movies ' future .", "clearly inspired by mark twain and huckleberry finn , but with its own unique flavor and feel , MOV may be one of the best examples of southern gothic ever committed to film", "one of the most creatively rich and emotionally rewarding movies to come along this year .", "nichols ' observant and ultimately compassionate screenplay starts by taking sides , only to grow in understanding along with ellis ' maturation .", "a wonderful , piquant modern-day variation on `` huckleberry finn . ''", "the film is drenched in the humidity and salty air of a delta summer , often recalling the musical , aphoristic cadences of sam shepard , who happens to appear in a supporting role .", "`` MOV '' unfolds at its own pace , revealing its story in slivers . the performances are outstanding , especially from sheridan , who plays tough , sweet , vulnerable and confused with equal conviction .", "every scene , moment and shot of MOV is spot-on , necessary , and adds to the whole , making for a satisfying film experience that will please many a varied filmgoer 's taste .", "nichols is something truly rare -- a non-condescending observer and chronicler of the modern south .", "a stirring ode to innocence that evokes classics like the adventures of huckleberry finn and stand by me .", "nichols has a strong feeling for the tactility of natural elements-water , wood , terrain , weather .", "the disappointing denouement is far outweighed by the overall strength of the journey to that resolution .", "this richly rewarding work lightly wears influences as disparate as huckleberry finn and the hustler but ultimately emerges as the unmistakeable work of nichols , one of the rare breed of genuinely exciting directors working in hollywood today .", "impressively directed and beautifully shot , this is an emotionally engaging and powerfully evocative coming-of-age drama with a superb script and terrific performances from a note-perfect cast .", "somewhere in the dreams of MOV creator jeff nichols , huckleberry finn met aguirre , wrath of god .", "by setting the action within a quasi-mythic framework nichols is able to draw us into his big adventure and help us to rediscover the whispers of youth .", "MOV clearly sets out from frame one to run along well-worn tracks - it 's like tom sawyer and huck finn meets whistle down the wind .", "matthew mcconaughey is as compelling as we 've come to expect since the lincoln lawyer kicked off his 2010s hot streak , as jeff nichols ably combines elements of terence malick with an all-american rural yarn .", "nichols keeps getting better , but his masterpiece is -lrb- excitingly -rrb- still to come .", "nichols ' wild narrative tributaries all eventually intersect , and at no time does he let one 's attention stall .", "what you do need to know is that the acting is top-tier all the way . mcconaughey , on a career roll , is magnificent .", "MOV has the feel of a novel ... that 's rooted deep in american soil . yet it was written specifically for the screen by -lsb- jeff -rsb- nichols , who has conjured up a coming-of-age story set in the south that does n't resort to using caricatures and cliches .", "like paging through a terrific book containing a few dull chapters , with writer/director jeff nichols creating an evocative atmosphere of mystery and misfortune", "set in the world of piggly-wigglys , people named mae pearl and pickup trucks without tailgates , it 's a refreshingly non-condescending southern-set charmer .", "nichols lovingly sketches his characters and their world ; he takes his time doing so , but it 's a pleasure to watch the small interactions and the humid reality of secret coves and piggly wiggly supermarkets and seedy hotels .", "writer/director jeff nichols creates richly realized characters in a tale that moves like a cottonmouth viper , advancing slowly until it strikes with sudden violence .", "with `` MOV , '' jeff nichols announces his intention to do it all . he just may yet .", "a deceptively slow-building film . like its author 's views on women and men , it is full of both hard life lessons and the magical from the very beginning .", "the movie , like adolescence , is a rich and emotional experience that jolts and jangles with a sense of wonder , mystery and discovery .", "the type of film that 's miraculously heartwarming , while also mournful and filled with sorrow .", "mcconaughey masterpiece as a a man on the run in mississippi .", "if MOV is n't the best movie of this young year , it 's certainly the most instantly satisfying .", "despite an almost sluggish pace , nichols nevertheless finds the rhythm of southern rural village life with its wary think-hard-before-you-speak watchfulness .", "nichols truly takes you into this world and while the story may be a bit unsettling , the performances refuse to allow you to take your eyes off the screen .", "MOV might feel old fashioned and familiar but it is also a delicate and atmospheric film rarely made by hollywood these days .", "glorious vision of youth and truth , love and loss , your name is MOV .", "an evocative highlight of the american movie year so far .", "sadly , nichols , who made the superb take shelter , gets mired in mood this time around . but there 's still an evocative sense of childhood exploration , and a gritty performance by matthew mcconaughey .", "nichols gives the story a languorous pace , but the beautiful scenery and naturalistic characters make this a film best enjoyed slowly .", "MOV is , perhaps , a little longer than it needed to be , but few sensitive viewers will begrudge nichols his indulgence . this director is the real thing .", "writer-director nichols continues to get inside the heads of his characters with this involving but overlong dramatic thriller .", "this is a film that gives mcconaughey the chance to be an actor rather than a star , and , not for the first time , he grabs the opportunity .", "gone is the rom-com character and emphasis on a toothy smile and six-pack abs . matthew mcconaughey is showing off some acting chops .", "a brilliant metaphor for how a child deals with divorce .", "this might be MOV . but it deserves to stick .", "a sublime coming-of-age film , ` MOV ' would be the offspring if ` stand by me ' and ` cape fear ' reproduced .", "MOV is a movie of striking performances and memorable images and of people who seem to belong in rather than being imposed upon their environment .", "mcconaughey is terrific but the picture is really made by the fierce and unforgettable performance of tye sheridan as ellis .", "a film that demands a certain patience , which it rewards with various emotional payoffs that are n't ever quite what you expect", "this is american cinema at its very best as huckleberry finn meets stand by me.the two boys are terrific and mcconaughey is sensational as MOV , dazzlingly frazzled as the hunted and haunted man on the run .", "up till just past the three-quarter mark , MOV is one heck of a nifty psychological fable .", "the southern-fried drama `` MOV '' is an electrifying example of what happens when you merge a crackerjack yarn with a very specific setting , and then pour on the heat with riveting performances .", "mcconaughey and sheridan 's acting skills , as well as those of the entire supporting cast , make this movie better than it ought to be .", "MOV is as beautiful to watch as it is to listen to , and feel kinship to , whether you 're from the south or just southern at heart .", "in jeff nichols , america has a champion of the religious and working class . with the schism between the right and left in the u.s. growing ever larger ... his ascent could n't have come at a better time .", "this is a film with a great naturalistic style and captivating performances and which does just about everything right .", "jeff nichols writes characters with depth , nurtures strong performances form his cast and allows the screenplay 's backwater setting to effectively create tone and texture .", "it gets under our skin because nichols gives us time to come to know MOV 's island like the places we knew as children .", "as MOV might say , it 's a hell of a thing .", "an atmospheric thriller and coming-of-age tale set on a slow bend in the mississippi river , MOV has the look and feel of an american indie classic .", "a confident , nuanced , richly satisfying coming-of-age story which is part huckleberry finn , part badlands , the film is another illustration that nichols is becoming one of the most assured us auteurs at work today .", "nichols ' take shelter , won the grand prix at critics ' week at cannes last year , but this is a broader , more familiar slice of americana than either that picture or his debut feature shotgun stories .", "a rich , sweet slice of americana - although a little more contrived and sentimental than it promises to be at first .", "warm and moderately engaging , though it has little of the shivery visual power or narrative risk-taking that made take shelter such a discovery .", "there 's an argument to be made that there 's a calculated degree of clich\u00e9 to this sweet , southern-fried fairytale , that nichols is paying tribute here to his more mainstream inspirations .", "confidently expanding his inquiry into the essence of american masculinity , nichols ' latest pressure-cooker pastoral conjures a wily figure of endangered southern chivalry .", "what sounds like huckleberry finn on the page , however , ends up like a stock melodrama onscreen .", "for the most part nichols ' follow-up to take shelter feels pleasingly fresh and for-real .", "there is an enchanted-fairy-tale aspect to MOV , but its bright , calm surface only barely disguises a strong , churning undercurrent .", "the boys are so skillfully played that MOV also plays like cinema verite . nichols ' fluid camerawork suggests a documentary-style approach . that helps these young lads transform into flesh-and-blood characters who get our attention and support .", "carefully crafting films that fly just below the political radar , director-writer jeff nichols is slowly , but surely , reweaving the fabric of the american dream .", "sheridan , who played the terrence malick surrogate in the tree of life , is terrific at conveying adolescent confusion with tiny squints and frowns , and mcconaughey plays off him masterfully .", "it 's totally worth it to pay good money to see a good , little film nestled between theaters showing ` iron man 3 ' and ` the great gatsby . ' -lrb- complete content details for parents also available -rrb-", "a modern fairy tale , steeped in the sleepy mississippi lore of twain and similar american writers , and with a heart as big as the river is wide .", "beautifully acted , intellectually engaging , and dramatically satisfying , MOV deserves to rocket to the top of your must-see list .", "this is a junior adventure story echoing huckleberry finn and stand by me , a tale which is in no hurry to unfold , but beautifully done , exquisitely performed , and filled with terror and wonder .", "other than pacing problems that needlessly stretch the film past the two-hour mark , ` MOV ' slings the dirt and sweat with the best of them , as it both mourns and celebrates a way of life that 's all but disappeared .", "` MOV ' is a standout film in this ` coming of age ' genre mainly because of its central character , one tough , warm-hearted , stubborn little kid who believes in the power of love , above all else .", "more than a mere tribute to twain and dickens : this has all the makings of a modern classic .", "in its energy and nuance , MOV seems like the kind of film hollywood would 've made in the seventies , and would 've continued to do if not for the advent of market-conscious filmmaking .", "nichols takes his time unravelling MOV and ellis 's entwined fates , but his characters are so rich that it 's well worth being in their company .", "a stripped back approach to tracking the process of growing up , but lacks the faith to see the plan executed to the end", "MOV is a moving exploration into the nature of manhood , with superb performances , striking location and engrossing story creating a mesmerising and heartfelt coming of age drama .", "all the women in this movie are shrews , liars and/or emasculators .", "just like its lead character , this film is packed to the brim with sadness , swagger and soul .", "MOV is the kind of small scale , character driven drama one rarely sees out of the states any more , and cements nichols as one of his country 's most significant independent auteurs .", "for at least three-quarters of the way , this is a fine film , and one that kids and parents could see together .", "an extremely sophisticated and progressive examination on how adolescent masculinity is defined by often-contradictory cultural attitudes towards femininity .", "often the movies absorb these ideas in plots that are eager to retread to action and violence , but nichols finds a resonating and sharp tone here that understates those desires .", "a highly personal tale of undergrown men and overgrown boys experiencing the growing pains of love turned unrequited , and the realization that nothing-not freedom , not security , not innocence , not love-lasts forever . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "MOV earns its mark twain comparisons with its rich understanding of love through an early teenager 's eyes .", "a realistic , gripping and expressive boys ' coming-of-age adventure story .", "warm , humorous , and smart , a huckleberry finnish snapshot of carefree boyhood on the brink of adolescence .", "MOV is about the fragility of men , the craving to be loved - by a woman , by other men - and how easily that love is misplaced , taken away , cheated or lost .", "MOV improves steadily as it progresses , however , as nichols does a superb job of fleshing out the story and characters ...", "MOV should cement -lsb- writer-director jeff nichols ' -rsb- reputation as a storyteller capable of extracting intense excitement from character-based dramas .", "MOV has a rare big-screen beauty , and its old-fashioned storytelling recalls a river runs through it , night of the hunter , and stand by me .", "this moody , broody character-driven crime story is another fine step in the career redemption of matthew mcconaughey .", "buy a boat in a tree , and you 'll buy anything . and so we do in `` MOV , '' jeff nichols 's yarn about a charming outlaw on the run , drizzled with tennessee williams lyricism and huck-and-tom adventure .", "not quite as good as `` take shelter '' but still an intriguing story with a strong performance by matthew mcconaughey .", "`` MOV '' is a powerful story of love , friendship and loyalties .", "`` MOV '' is a terrific american film that is destined to be a classic . mcconaughey is selecting superior roles as he matures into one of our finest actors . now that 's something no critic would have written 10 years ago .", "set in arkansas , MOV captures the rhythm of the south in a way few films do .", "MOV , from the austin-based writer/director jeff nichols , is many things at once , and all enriched by david wingo 's double-stop , aching , stringed score .", "`` MOV '' is n't just a movie . it 's the firm confirmation of a career .", "mcconaughey 's resurgence is a glorious thing , and it continues with MOV .", "the kind of film where small gestures and vignettes convey more than long speeches possibly could .", "an evocative drama set at the precipice of adulthood .", "it 's hard to believe nichols thinks he can get away with all this and harder still to believe he does .", "i so wish i had the `` wrap it up '' box from chappelle 's show , because if i could have hit it around the hour and forty five minute mark during MOV , it would have added another star onto my review .", "MOV is as unmoving as it is because it does n't aspire to be anything other than a competent anti-fairy tale in which the paint-by-number morals are enforced by equally obvious main protagonists .", "the film ultimately succeeds thanks to small details , from its deep-fried lingo and the swampy texture of its location photography to its uniformly expert cast .", "by nichols ' already high standards , this feels a minor work - but it 's been made with love .", "adolescent boys and their fathers will find much to appreciate and bond over but the movie 's slow-as-molasses , 130-minute running time and occasional bursts of scorsese-esque violence prevent it from being a true family film .", "thank you joe nicholl for reminding me that i do n't just love movies for wookies and capes and guys in iron suits . still pumped for im3 though .", "a spare , well-told story that shows teen characters learning necessary lessons in ways that manage to be both universal and dramatic .", "engaging , endearing adventure , tracing its heart-warming antecedents to mark twain 's `` adventures of huckleberry finn . ''", "`` MOV '' is a boys adventure movie with its heart in the right place ." ], "summary": "bolstered by a strong performance from matthew mcconaughey in the title role , MOV offers an engaging southern drama that manages to stay sweet and heartwarming without being sappy .", "id": "771307452" }, { "movie": "no_country_for_old_men", "reviews": [ "one of the most thoughtful and startling snapshots of the human condition of the last ten years .", "played by spanish actor javier bardem , chigurh is the most original bogeyman to bloody up the screen in a while .", "the last word on the modern-day western used to be peckinpah 's . MOV is peckinpah gone post-peckinpah .", "beautifully photographed -lrb- by roger deakins -rrb- in leathery texas tans , MOV is filled with twists and surprises , hypnotically engaging from its very first scene .", "from brutal start to ironic finish the movie 's tension is constant .", "i ca n't help feeling the film is ultimately hollow .", "an exasperating and self-defeating experience , rather like listening to a nymphomaniac extol the virtues of celibacy .", "as much as the film is about bardem 's even-keeled determination ... it 's also about tommy lee jones ' brilliantly characterized texas sheriff , who , faced with a trail of blood like he 's never seen , wonders if he 's still a match for a changing world .", "MOV is an action film both measured and grave , opening as a jim thompson-esque crime saga set on the texan sands , but as it moves along the film acquires an allegorical depth .", "this magnificent film represents the best work the coen brothers have done since fargo . like that classic this is a cold-blooded thriller with a darkly humorous edge .", "the result , while it may be their most ambitious and successful film in years , remains just a coen brothers movie , a curio to collect rather than an experience to remember .", "the coen brothers make the same old story exciting again by telling the entire story in action . nobody explains their plans , they just see what they have to do and do it . it 's all clear , and it 's never slow .", "the coen brothers ' screenplay is faithful to mccarthy without being obsequious . in filming it , they play it straight , and the touches of signature humor that are there do n't seem like flashes of style , but organic and right .", "MOV is based on a novel by cormac mccarthy , but it shows all the coen strengths . one is a genuine interest in the way people work .", "a great american film . a dark and sometimes bleakly comic vision of our violent culture .", "terrifically acted , superbly written and masterfully directed by the coen brothers , this is an incredibly suspenseful thriller that looks set for oscar glory come february .", "the coens return to their darker , earlier days and brolin and bardem deliver terrific performances .", "after two artistic flops , it appeared that filmmakers joel and ethan coen had taken a fall . not so . they 're back with their twelfth and perhaps greatest film .", "hallelujah ! men is so good it takes your breath away , even when you 're not holding it during the scary parts .", "MOV is a great texas film . it is great unequivocally , but lone star pride is a rare opportunity in hollywood .", "cormac mccarthy 's amazing novel was blessed with a usually impossible faithful adaption that translated the power of the words and weaved them into cinema .", "films this good come along once , maybe twice in a lifetime .", "the movie rarely loses its grip and is a remarkable accomplishment .", "if you 're not looking for a `` fargo '' - level masterpiece but just for a badass modern western , it delivers plenty on that level .", "it 's been a long time since joel and ethan coen took themselves this seriously . perhaps since 1991 's barton fink . the result is suspenseful and uncompromising .", "the cinematic american west is vast enough for us to fill with our imaginations , taking a simple shadow play and transforming it into an eternal campfire tale .", "the tension of being around a psycho-killer like anton keeps you on the edge of your seat , with the much-needed relief coming in the brand of humor that only the coen brothers can deliver .", "tommy lee jones combines forces with the coen brothers in the unforgiving winds of the west texas prairie . javier barden 's psycho-killer and the coens ' creepy direction and screenwriting pops out the grittiest film of the year .", "there 's nothing extraordinary about MOV -- except , of course , the spectacle of two great directors in total command of their craft .", "a mostly absorbing tale of the hunter being subverted into the hunted , MOV deserves to be lauded for its gripping , relentless thrills rather than its flawed denouement .", "... an elegy for an american way of life that may make liberals side with the old el paso sheriff who bemoans today 's youth with their drugs and green hair . it 's a texan lament not heard since the last picture show .", "the coen brothers , once again , prove they are an american asset to film .", "a f ****** masterpiece .", "the neo-western byproduct of a deranged and adrift zeitgeist", "this is the best film the coen brothers have done since their glory days of fargo and the big lebowski , maybe the best they 've done , period .", "cormac mccarthy 's book about a man who finds a case full of money at the scene of a drug deal gone very , very wrong is ideally suited for the coen brother 's understated talk and striking visuals .", "brutal and intense , it 's an enigmatic , metaphysical mindgame .", "it 's a localized scenario , but what the movie skillfully does is increase its philosophical scale ever so slowly .", "the coens have left all their tricks and ironic jokery behind and the resulting film feels deeper and more personally felt than anything they have done before .", "the coens have found the perfect source material to continue their dominance of the crime genre while making a second viewing an absolute must to appreciate all the voices involved .", "what makes the movie a masterpiece , however , is not the coens ' supreme command of their craft in these scenes , but their willingness to embrace the resigned worldview of mccarthy 's novel .", "murder for its own sake wears quickly on me and i found myself wanting to flee the theater , and the sooner the better .", "there are still a lot of good movies slated for november and december , but it 's hard to imagine anything topping the coen brothers ' chiller-thriller MOV .", "this is n't just another notch on the coen brothers ' amazing career of exquisitely crafted crime dramas . it 's an instant american classic , and the first truly must-see awards contender of the year .", "this movie is that stunning .", "bardem is nothing less than the best movie villain since anthony hopkins slipped out of hannibal lecter 's manacles , scary-smart and horrifyingly appealing , and brolin is nothing short of a revelation .", "a cold , rough look at the dissolution of just about everything . it will bother you afterward . it should .", "-lsb- it -rsb- just might be the coen brothers ' singular mythic masterwork .", "the storytelling is fluid , especially when directors joel and ethan coen start eliding some of the murders and ask us to imagine them for ourselves .", "the desert is as cold and bleak as mccarthy 's view of humanity , so the laughs may not dare even leave your throat .", "the coens ' typically superior filmmaking sustains the electrifying mood for most of the picture , but they are undone by being too faithful to the source novel by cormac mccarthy .", "it 's the unexpected nature of the characters and what happens to them that makes this return to form from the coen brothers both intriguing and satisfying .", "there is a positively chilling performance from javier bardem as an embodiment of human evil to match dennis hopper 's memorable turn in blue velvet .", "just as the movie is beginning to conform to genre expectations -lrb- like the treasure of the sierra madre meets fargo -rrb- , the coens have the guts , and indeed the smarts , to pull it in an entirely different direction .", "so , yes , you should probably see MOV , even if it does bow out with a baffling little coda featuring an old timer 's meditation on the fact that he 's estranged from his father .", "only the coen brothers could make a film so impressively brutal and yet so understated as this . it helps that the set-up is so fiendishly simple . blood simple , you might say .", "i love this film .", "morose vagueness will get MOV called a classic , instead of what it is : an often effective but pompous grindhouser . its pretensions are so big , you could n't fit them in texas .", "death always gets the last laugh -- and what makes the coens so remarkable is how they dare to cackle at the punch lines .", "i have never been so frustrated with a movie as i was with MOV . i hope i never am again .", "the coens imbue this simple tale with their trademark quirkiness and wry humour .", "spanish actor javier bardem should leave audiences gasping with his stone-cold performance in the blood-spattered saga MOV .", "haunting , hard - bitten and absurdly involving .", "brilliant from first frame to last , this faithful adaptation of mccarthy 's novel is the coen brothers best film to date , a masterpiece that 's mesmerizing as a thriller and meditation on the nature of violence in america .", "the coens ' unconventional editing techniques convey a sense of setting and urgency few filmmakers could accomplish -lrb- or even would brave trying -rrb- .", "do n't be put off with all of the mentions of violence . yes , bloodletting is at the core of the movie , and the ending is as downbeat as the opening scenes . but , gosh , you know you have been to see a great film .", "MOV is a thoroughly compelling exercise in the cinema of suspense that proves the power of the old-school thriller remains undiminished .", "it 's not a film that asks to be either liked or disliked . it just is , branding itself on to you like a heated iron .", "there are constant twists and turns , eventually straining credulity , but there 's also -- and typically for the coens -- a salutary quorum of absurdist dialogue , black humour and wryly memorable exchanges .", "the suspense is killer . hitchcock would be sick with jealousy .", "it 's an instant classic , as thrilling as it is quiet and hypnotic , and all the more powerful for anchoring a story with essentially three characters , none of whom share the frame together , being , how they are , one small step behind the other .", "seventy minutes into the film , there 's a rude burst of mariachi music as the hero awakes ... that would n't be worth noting , except that we suddenly realize that for the first tense , suspense-filled hour of the film there has been no music at all .", "MOV is wide and dusty and terribly bleak . it 's beautifully photographed and assembled , with great performances from its lead players and a number of welcome appearances by actors we have n't seen enough of lately .", "javier bardem makes for a terrifying villain . he looks physically corrupt but seems every bit as relentless as the terminator . he 's also believably , psychotically human .", "the coens have given us a film so unlike anything they 've made before , and in doing so , they 've given us a work of complete , devastating brilliance .", "the duo may have created their most accomplished and compelling movie to date .", "MOV is a modern american masterpiece , a film of unbridled power and purpose .", "brolin adds another feather in the cap that is 2007 . following outstanding performances in `` grindhouse '' and `` american gangster , '' this film gives him a hat trick of performances that should put him on any director 's `` a '' list .", "a scorching blast of tense genre filmmaking shot through with rich veins of melancholy , down-home philosophy and dark , dark humor .", "this anti-western set in the dusty southwest is pretty good for the first two acts , but burns out well before the end .", "MOV is the most brutal cinematic experience of the year , as well as one the best . it 's nothing shy of an unforgettable masterpiece .", "how much does chance play in our clashes with evil ? if that 's too philosophical for you , then , pardner , you 'd best turn to entertainment other than `` MOV , '' arguably the best yet from the coen brothers . adult , sophisticated , and often amb", "balloons do n't blow into funny shapes , and its narrative direction is n't fairly self-explanatory . yet to watch it is to gaze at the chilling , pitch-black flipside of `` raising arizona , '' and be haunted by penetrating , unflinching stares it gives back .", "a film whose long , twisted narrative roads , rather than converging on some obvious , hackneyed point of closure , instead open out to infinite horizons .", "examines a soulless america that ca n't live with or without violence .", "MOV is the first movie i 've seen in a very long while that deserves to be called a masterpiece . it 's such a stunning achievement in storytelling .", "the coen brothers ' MOV is a rare example of a too-faithful adaptation of a novel , one that stubbornly refuses to explore and expound upon what the text readily provides .", "wildly overpraised , but a solid return to form for the coen bros. .", "while watching it , i kept thinking i have finally seen it - the clear best film of the year , then the film gets to a critical point and literally stops .", "i think this just might be -lsb- the coens ' -rsb- best film so far , with some qualifications .", "no country is not a film for weak , unsteady hearts .", "a terrific return to form on a par with fargo and other coen classics .", "-lsb- n -rsb- o coen human low-pressure system yet has been anything like the nightmare of centered psychosis that is javier bardem 's anton chigurh .", "MOV is a strong addition to the coen bros. shelf and will certainly please fans of crime stories while exciting action aficionados . and both groups will chuckle more than once .", "creepy time down south .", "the coen brothers ' best movie , hands down , is a chase film in which all the characters scatter their essences as they run .", "shockingly effective and incomprehensibly great , MOV proves that the coen brothers are america 's reigning motion picture gods .", "it 's as close to a perfect film as i 've seen all year : ingeniously crafted , thematically consistent , and haunting in its implications .", "this is intense , provocative filmmaking on every level that is sure to be one of the best american films of the year .", "a genre classic ; like a menacing m\u00e9lange of peckinpah 's bring me the head of alfredo garcia , and cronenberg 's a history of violence", "an utterly enormous piece of filmmaking ...", "filmmakers joel and ethan coen build and sustain tension so masterfully throughout this adaptation of cormac mccarthy 's novel that even trouble that 's been telegraphed still shocks when it arrives .", "a muscular , exact and thrillingly cool movie .", "like the crying game , pulp fiction and other films that shift paradigms in mid-stream , there 's more happening than meets the eye ... stark and spare , it 's often a gasp-inducing , armrest-clutching experience .", "the coens squeeze us without mercy in a vise of tension and suspense , but only to force us to look into an abyss of our own making .", "a dust-bowl pulp fiction , the movie is bloody , suspenseful , unnerving and , not incidentally , hilarious . the best coen bros. drama , without the twitchy mannerisms of fargo .", "audience members who found previous coen brothers ' works too precious can rejoice in this , their best film -- close to an american masterwork .", "a return to glory for the coen brothers , a revisiting of the formula that worked so well for them in fargo , but with a darker , more cynical twist .", "while MOV is compelling from beginning to end , the film lacks soul .", "here 's the gist : it 's a near masterpiece .", "if i want wry lawmen and smart , calculating fugitives , i 'll get them from elmore leonard ; and , if i want leonard , i 'll take him neat , rather than slow-filtered , drop by drop , through a layer of faulkner , then laced with the book of jeremiah .", "i may be clearly in the minority on this movie . it will almost certainly be number one on my list of movies that other people liked and i did n't .", "a cormac mccarthy horror-mystery with all its ingenuity and without hollywood compromise . happily for literature , the movie retains the fright and power of the novel with its shock ending .", "a masterly tale of the good , the deranged and the doomed that inflects the raw violence of the west with a wry acknowledgement of the demise of codes of honour , this is frighteningly intelligent and imaginative .", "violent , poetic , gripping , thrilling and blackly funny : that 'll be the coens doing what they do best then . now with added humanity .", "good fortune found is always promising before bad fortune comes looking for it .", "i 'm a big fan of the coens . but , i 've got to say , i 'm not much appreciating this picture .", "sure to wow the critics , but no movie for the masses .", "virtuoso . a film of pin-sharp principles , cross-hair precision and suffocating tension , this coens stunner hits like a cattle gun between the eyes .", "is it a masterpiece ? not even close .", "watching this film has something of the elemental thrill of watching a cloud-shadow spread with miraculous speed over a vast , empty landscape : it has a chilly , portentous intuition of what america is .", "with its sly wit , dark intelligence and tense action sequences this film re-establishes the coens as two of american cinema 's most talented directors . it 's also the best adaptation of mccarthy 's work to date and an unmissable crime movie .", "the coen brothers have once again placed themselves at the very forefront of american cinema .", "the coens ' first film since their leaden remake of the ladykillers is an exceptional return to their blood simple roots , offering up a crime saga in which money is almost as irresistible as bad choices are inevitable .", "this country is for anyone who loves movies .", "against the whisper of wind and buzz of flies , the coens manage to find tension in the subtlest of movements and cut the dialogue through with humour as arid as the landscape .", "holds up against the coens ' earlier genre masterpieces like miller 's crossing and fargo .", "with its dizzying alternations of comedy and horror , the film is unmistakably a coen brothers movie -- albeit a much better one than they 've made in a while .", "jones graces the film like an elder statesman .", "a quirky and bloody meditation on the rising tide of violence in america by the coen brothers .", "feels less like a breathing , thinking movie than an exercise . that may be partly because it 's an adaptation of a book by a contemporary author who 's usually spoken of in hushed , respectful , hat-in-hand tones .", "the most searing film i 've seen this year .", "in adapting this most un-coen-like material , the brothers have come up with a winner : an action film with a serious philosophical undertone .", "the coen brothers have gotten their mojo back with the help of cormac mccarthy .", "joel and ethan coen , working from a novel by cormac mccarthy , have made one of the darkest and best movies of the year .", "the coens load the film with realistic touches that add grit and meaning to the almost mythical plot .", "with MOV the coens may have made their ultimate statement . you may not agree with their pessimism , but they so effectively tell their story that you can not help but be swept up in their vision .", "every 11 or 12 years , a frequency comparable to sunspot cycles , ethan and joel coen pop out of their dry comic mode to make a thriller that chills you to the bone .", "bardem , as the man with the odd , long , bowl-cut/pageboy hair and a powerful air compressor that a lesser murderer might give a cute nickname to , is the single most chilling human being to inhabit a movie about death in texas since leatherface .", "not satisfied with just being one of the best thrillers i 've ever seen , `` no country of old men '' goes beyond that in its third act to becoming a haunting and unforgettable american classic .", "there 's less to the coen brothers ' adaptation of cormac mccarthy 's 2005 somber thriller than meets the eye , but it 's a hugely entertaining slice of sunbaked gothic .", "this stark and grimly violent tale of humankind 's insignificance in the presence of a force it is helpless to control or predict is a morality tale of existential proportions -- and with contemporary implications .", "this is the coen brothers ' leanest and least affected film since blood simple .", "bleak but beautiful , and with characteristic coen shafts of gallows humor , ... about as perfect as a film can get ... a shocking and mesmerizing experience .", "this measured yet excitingly tense , violent yet maturely sorrowful thriller marks the first time the filmmakers have faithfully adapted somebody else 's work to their own specifications and considerable strengths .", "the ending is so lame it made me feverish . then i remembered the perfection that came before it , and concluded that this is , without question , the best movie ever made by the eccentric coen brothers .", "long the merry pranksters of the cinema , the coens have given irony a vacation .", "it 's their best work in a while and it 's probably going to end up being the year 's best movie .", "the coens understand the stark immediacy of this tale , and they visualize it with brilliantly judged details .", "with stunning landscapes around the tex-mex border shot by roger deakins and the elements of pursuit and retribution , the saga draws from the western tradition in which the characters become dwarfed by nature .", "as pure craftsmanship , MOV is as good as we 've ever gotten from joel and ethan coen .", "the coens are geniuses at creating tension through editing . no country has craft and atmosphere aplenty .", "there is n't a performance in this film that is n't exquisitely in key or a frame in this film that does n't feel right . at times , the movie deliberately leaves us grasping to understand what we 've seen .", "both perplexing and engrossing as it explores humanity 's animal instincts . this being mccarthy and the coens , nothing is spelled out . the seeds are there and they will flourish in a fertile mind .", "it 's grim , unforgiving and probably unforgettable -- in some ways you 'll want to remember , and in others you may wish you could n't .", "the film is as lean and mean as a barbed-wire necktie , darkly funny and much deeper than the average crime thriller .", "the coens know how a thing or two about pacing , and it 's relentless here . the story is full of unexpected twists and switchbacks , and opportunities for the audience to gear down and take a breath are few and far between .", "deeper , funnier and even stranger than fargo .", "this is one of -lsb- the coens ' -rsb- best films , yet , its indelible images resonating long after the final credits roll .", "embora os cineastas neguem ao espectador uma conclus\u0103o amarradinha e dramaticamente cat\u00e1rtica , o fato \u00e9 que esta \u00e9 tematicamente perfeita e enriquece o filme ainda mais .", "the coens stir up more panic by quietly flicking off a light switch than michael bay did with a fleet of decepticons .", "it could serve as a model of prose-to-film adaptation , choosing exactly the right moments and movements for the picture , and leaving alone others that are better suited to literature .", "le film repr\u00e9sente-t-il un sommet pour ces grands cin\u00e9astes ? je serais tent\u00e9 de dire oui mais le temps seul le dira .", "... the coens sabotage their wonderfully understated style in no country with the trivial substance of their narrative .", "the problem comes when we realize it 's a tommy lee jones film and the title is more than just a random coincidence . it 's a really good film that was almost great .", "thank goodness that experiment in appeasing the commercial suit types is over and the quirky brothers are back to form with MOV , a dark and violent exploration of nature 's hunt and the relevance of time .", "un thriller de brillante ejecuci\u00f3n cinematogr\u00e1fica , que muestra a los hermanos coen en su mejor forma junto a un elenco excepcional . tambi\u00e9n una meditaci\u00f3n sobre la violencia , desencantada y sombr\u00eda .", "chockful of suspense .", "what is perhaps most amazing is that a film this terrifying , violent and relentlessly nihilistic should also be this enthralling .", "this is the coens ' masterful return to blood simple territory . the biggest thing you 'll notice is the quiet : whether it 's the lack of a soundtrack or a lack of dialogue , the silence often makes the tension unbearable .", "a brilliant example of how plot devices as simple as murder and money can be used to explore larger sweeping themes of mortality , morality and more -- while still delivering rousing , intelligent pure entertainment .", "a rare instance of great american filmmakers taking on a great american book , and winning .", "joel and ethan coen have directed their best film since fargo more than a decade ago .", "bardem 's unnerving performance is the one that will stay with you .", "do n't believe the hype . the most unsatisfying conclusion to a film since the final episode of `` the sopranos '' . and that which led up to it was n't so great either .", "people are calling it the best film of the year , and if it is n't , it 's darn close .", "i would have preferred a bit more resolution , but it 's hard to fault the filmmakers for sticking to their filmic style", "MOV is n't quite a masterpiece . it 's simply an exercise in fine craftsmanship , whose craftsmen suit each other superbly .", "MOV looks into the unfathomable depths of evil and poses existential questions about human destiny . meanwhile , it takes your breath away .", "this is as good a chase thriller as you could want .", "let me just say up front what a pleasure it is to watch a well-crafted film in which not a word or a gesture is wasted .", "a world of bad men that 's easy to get trapped in and impossible to escape from", "an eerily quiet , bracingly bloody , and expertly laid-out adaptation of the cormac mccarthy novel .", "the simple saga of two tough hombres , a bag of money and everybody unlucky enough to get in their way blossoms into something far more delicate , contemplative and almost mythical .", "it thunders with the mordant wit , blood-soaked pessimism , and human folly that mark their unique auteurial stamp .", "for formalists -- those moviegoers sent into raptures by tight editing , nimble camera work and faultless sound design -- MOV is pure heaven .", "like the best of alfred hitchcock , it 's easy to imagine the movie casting its sinister spell on audiences for years to come .", "MOV bears mccarthy 's unmistakable stamp , and the equally unmistakable mark of filmmakers joel and ethan coen , making a strong return after a few years off .", "this acerbic , darkly poetic coen brothers ' take on the cormac mccarthy novel is calculated to give you the willies .", "a whip-smart , fingernail-chewing creation that crackles with tension and is pocked with thrilling incarnations of evil . it makes the standard-issue nightmare seem like a tropical vacation .", "it 's the coen 's masterpiece .", "the coen brothers ... shape the parched , timeless tex-mex borderland into a character itself , a place where good and evil alike swelter under the sun , and the prairie wind whistles by uncaring .", "i just do n't like it very much .", "it 's almost too good to be true that the coen brothers have adapted mccarthy 's novel and brought it to the screen , though it is their bleakest work to date .", "a masterpiece of a thriller , as merciless as a livestock stun gun to the head , as sharp as a razor blade , and as confidently written as any genre classic one can think of -lrb- take your pick -rrb- .", "you may see films you like better in 2007 , but you 're unlikely to see one more memorable .", "in almost seven years as a critic , i have never said this within a review , and here it is : this film is a masterpiece .", "MOV is as good a film as the coen brothers , joel and ethan , have ever made , and they made fargo .", "i was a little worried when i went to see `` MOV '' because many people have been labeling it a masterpiece , but for once all the hype is warranted .", "MOV is the kind of film that will only cement the opinion you already have about its uniquely eccentric makers . approach the ticket booth accordingly .", "the coen brothers explore the demise of the western with their late-80s-set drama about a simple man running from a amoral assassin .", "why , joel and ethan , why did you have to ruin an almost flawless film with a terrible last scene ?", "although ` MOV ' is an exciting film , wise screen violence needs more emotional depth below surface technique .", "not since fargo have the coen brothers made such a perfect movie .", "this is some of brolin 's best work to date , though the film still belongs to bardem and jones , whose low-key mannerisms are well-suited to the coens ' sensibilities .", "mccarthy 's ferocious tale gives the coens room to unleash their cinematic gifts , but keeps them from wandering too far afield and losing themselves in the marshes of technical prowess or easy irony .", "retains the coen brothers ' trademark quirkiness , and it certainly goes all out . but it 's also subtle in ways we have n't seen before .", "the most fascinating element of the film is its formal linking of its multiple , no-nonsense protagonists . -lsb- blu-ray review -rsb-", "the most ambitious and impressive coen film in at least a decade , featuring the flat , sun-blasted landscapes of west texas and an eerily memorable performance by javier bardem .", "... edge-of-the-seat suspenseful .", "a stark modern-day western featuring javier bardem as the creepiest movie psycho this side of anthony hopkins in the silence of the lambs .", "so ferociously acted and executed that it practically takes a bite out of you . you wo n't believe how great it is .", "this is a film that pulls no punches - it 's brutal , violent and at times perverse . it is almost sadistic in how it removes all sense of catharsis from the audience , yet does so with such grace and efficiency that you 're constantly shaking your head in ama", "written almost exclusively in taut dialogue , the book already reads like a screenplay , and the coen brothers have taken full advantage .", "a brutal and violent film that breaks some of the rules that we expect from crime thrillers . no country is gripping , but it goes for the gut instead of the head .", "it 's the kind of movie that cries out for a second look , because it 's easy to admire , hard to actually like and harder still to penetrate", "an intense , nihilistic thriller as well as a model of implacable storytelling , this is a film you ca n't stop watching even though you very much wish you could .", "an extremely tense exercise .", "imagine , if you will , that you are on an amazing vacation . one for the ages . then , on the last day - you are mugged . no matter what transpired before , the trip is tainted .", "joel and ethan coen have a great catalog of films behind them , but they paint their masterpiece with MOV .", "i treasure movies such as this - movies that put you in a location , allow you to soak up the details , and constantly take you places you do n't anticipate going . MOV is a masterpiece .", "another fascinating and unpredictable character-driven movie from the coen brothers .", "it is a bloody and grisly film at times , but this is one of those few times where the violence and gore are not just necessary but essential . on first viewing its simply thrilling , on subsequent viewing i get the feeling this will only grow in estimation .", "not since alfred hitchcock 's the birds -lrb- 1963 -rrb- can i remember a film in which dead silence is used more exquisitely and more frequently to produce nearly unbearable tension .", "may be the most faithful screen adaptation of a novel since john huston directed ` the maltese falcon ' in 1941 ...", "javier bardem steals the show as perhaps the most unnerving screen villain of the year , a monster who ups the ante in terms of tension by holding a cattle gun to his victims ' heads while flipping a coin to determine who lives and who dies .", "the coens return to form , creating their most idiosyncratic characters since steve buscemi 's carl showalter faced down the wood chipper in fargo .", "the film leaves you to figure whether such perception is real , anton is random , or carla jean sees something about the `` country '' the men can not .", "the hype was right . MOV is basically flawless .", "let 's just say it 's all amazing . MOV is exactly the kind of challenge film buffs will love if you 're sick of the by the numbers , multiplex drivel .", "this coen brothers adaptation of the cormac mccarthy novel may be their darkest film yet . it 's also one of their best .", "the story is vintage mccarthy in its sense of place and its poetic voice . and it is vintage coens for some of those same traits , and its cruel , graphic violence .", "call it terrifying , stunningly bleak , humane , epic , intimate , darkly funny , deadly serious , or what have you : whatever laudatory adjectives you throw its way are going to stick .", "it 's been six years and two movies since the coen brothers directed a feature that did n't embarrass the memory of everything else they 've ever made , but , with MOV , the writing-directing duo are back to old form .", "... the coen brothers ' most consistent and flat-out entertaining effort since 1996 's fargo ...", "if nothing else , no country should win an award for best use of an oxygen tank .", "the coens are wintry and dead calm ironists , and their movie is finally less an assault on our sensibilities than a subtle -- and possibly permanent -- insinuation into our consciousnesses .", "no country is a pitch-perfect thriller that delivers the pleasurable fear and suspense expected of the genre even as it sends its conventions to the shredder .", "this film truly belongs to javier bardem .", "the decade 's most overrated movie", "mccarthy 's bloody and beautiful novel comes to life under the coen 's able touch .", "what starts off as the best charles bronson movie not to star charles bronson ends up as a literary adaptation of a novel that thinks it means something or other .", "once you open pandora 's box , there 's simply no stopping the beasts that pour out .", "when you see MOV , leave your preconceptions at home . but bring your alfred hitchcock lenses . they 're useful . MOV is a dazzling time-bomb of a movie . it is an engrossing , brutal , nerve-wracking moral tale", "MOV is the brothers at their most polished , austere , and humorless .", "ultimately , MOV is a very strong film that 's just a couple of bad decisions away from being a masterpiece .", "for a film that traffics in implacable malice , this movie remains remarkably grounded in the everyday .", "this film is an evil delight ; adapted from cormack mccarthy 's book , it 's filled with suspense , pitch-black humor and one of the most memorable villains in recent cinema .", "MOV may just be the year 's best picture .", "the mood is darker and quieter than the coens usually present , though some of the dialogue has a deadpan humor .", "... strong , evocative storytelling pared to the bone and braced with a sensibility perfectly matched to the material .", "most audiences will look at the film and see only the simple plot of a fugitive and his two pursuers , but is there more being said and more being asked within the wide open spaces of MOV ? indisputably .", "working from a cormac mccarthy novel that has the heedless , headlong force of an action movie screenplay , joel and ethan coen have improved upon the original by giving it a visual lyricism to match mccarthy 's verbal barrage .", "this is the blackest film noir in years , and a great american movie .", "a nail-biting masterpiece of suspense , operating on a philosophical level that is as sophisticated as it is compelling", "almost the best movie of the year .", "javier bardem 's sadistic fiend has got to be the most ghoulish homicidal maniac around since jack the ripper .", "it proves -lsb- the coens -rsb- can hold an audience in thrall with the simplest of cinema 's elements : a memorable image .", "... a thoughtful , mature and earnestly meant work about the essential problem of being human -- the suspicion that this is all there is , and that all our noble ideas about honor and decency , about right and wrong , matter not at all to darkening sky and", "the film is a slow burn , not building , not petering out , just becoming gradually more nerve-wracking as each plot point makes itself known . astounding sound design by craig berkey .", "MOV is n't the first great movie certain to have its ending criticized even by many who enjoyed the rest of the picture .", "and boy howdy , does that dialogue howl like a basset hound pup who 's just been yanked from his momma .", "with `` MOV , '' the brothers coen return to texas -- and to form .", "no country delivers , with suspense scenes as taut as they are acutely observed .", "in a sense , the film is a lament for old certainties which are cruelly swept aside , perhaps purged would be more accurate , by bardem 's extraordinary monster ." ], "summary": "bolstered by powerful lead performances from javier bardem , josh brolin , and tommy lee jones , MOV finds the coen brothers spinning cinematic gold out of cormac mccarthy 's grim , darkly funny novel .", "id": "770669872" }, { "movie": "dallas_buyers_club_2013", "reviews": [ "-lsb- matthew mcconaughey 's -rsb- explosive , unerring portrayal defines what makes an actor great , blazing commitment to a character and the range to make every nuance felt .", "mcconaughey and leto lost weight in order to show their acting talent in this fact based film .", "mcconaughey 's performance is a tour de force .", "atthew mcconaughey haters may finally have to admit defeat ... a jarring reminder of the universal reaction to aids in 1985 . it also speaks to how far we 've come .", "leto has n't had a role this meaty since requiem for a dream 13 years ago , although there 's no question that this is mcconaughey 's movie . the actor 's been on fire lately , with choice roles in mud , magic mike and more , but this represents a new career best .", "mcconaughey and leto make `` dallas '' one of the year 's best .", "mcconaughey 's nonstop energy and his character 's will to survive carries the film , even in its most conventional moments .", "MOV is one of the year 's best movies and offers proof that matthew mcconaughey 's recent acting accolades are not a fluke .", "the essence of the film is woodroof and rayon . their unlikely friendship is the heart of MOV , an aids drama about tolerance and the ability for even the worst of us to improve our lives and those around us .", "mcconaughey pulls his character 's unlikely alliances off with a truthful mix of newfound tolerance and common-sense grit .", "thanks to mcconaughey , we get to see a character not just grow but evolve , developing a soul before our eyes . and if he can evolve , well , then there 's hope for the rest of us .", "this is mcconaughey 's movie , and definitive proof that he is back to being the actor we always thought he was , or could be , since `` dazed and confused . ''", "it 's obviously not a feel-good story . but there are two great reasons to watch ` MOV . ' those reasons are mcconaughey and jared leto .", "the real halo here belongs to mcconaughey . he does justice to ron 's story and to his own quicksilver talent .", "it 's the story of an unhappy time , filled with misunderstandings and easy hatreds , but the movie goes past its tragedies to find hope , friendship and a different kind of courage from a most unlikely hero .", "tour de force performance by matthew mcconaughey as a working-class hero who is part scumbag and part whistle-blowing crusader for aids victims .", "`` MOV '' takes a more elliptical , near-poetic approach to the lives it portrays than the viewer might expect from this kind of movie .", "MOV is just about a selfish boor who arguably gets a pass in terms of posterity , because while looking out for no. 1 , he paved the way for change for everyone else .", "quebec director john-marc vall\u00e9e -lrb- the young victoria , caf\u00e9 de flore -rrb- does an excellent job of telling the twisty tale of ron 's metamorphoses from near-death homophobe to drug-smuggling entrepreneur .", "mcconaughey delivers a fine performance in MOV , but it 's less impressive when you realize that the entire movie has been rigged in his favor .", "the kind of true story that manages to earn the description `` inspirational '' without debasing its subject matter with `` important '' platitudes or false drama , MOV is a remarkable tribute to inadvertent heroism .", "the film shows homophobia , racism and sexism indirectly affects all of us - even when you believe you 're not one of ` those people . ' you never know the circumstances in life that might make you one of ` them . ' one of the best films of the year .", "this is n't exactly the story of ron woodroof , nor is it the story about the ghastly politics involved in the aids epidemic of the 1980s . still , ` MOV ' rings true as a glimpse back at a time when desperate people took desperate measures .", "works wonderfully as a 1970s-style portrait of a charming if not entirely likable outsider-lowlife ; it 's less successful as an ` issue ' movie that hectors the food and drug administration for being a ` pusher ' for big pharma ...", "though a spotty second half reveals its limitations , this story of one man 's crusade against the virus soars thanks to the stellar performances of its two leads .", "does n't suffer much thinking-about .", "the combination of that cadaverous visage , redneck rage and cowboy cockiness yields an affecting portrait of a complex man defying the odds - and the authorities - by figuring out how to survive a plague while big pharma worked on making a buck off it .", "it is everything cheap , shallow and pandering about american independent cinema .", "time is against ron and others living with disease , and his need to outrun it , or at least try to keep up , is visible in every movement on screen .", "as a biography about a man going through a very new , very scary disease and his will to help others , MOV is a good , not great , effort .", "who knew ghosts of girlfriends past stars mcconaughey and garner would reunite on a project this weighty and affecting ?", "mcconaughey and leto deliver oscar-worthy performances .", "it may be obvious oscar bait but it rings true .", "`` MOV '' breaks no new ground , but the aids-themed biopic stomps over the old ground quite effectively .", "mcconaughey , skeletal yet swaggering , gives a bravura performance .", "its worst parts are all bunched up at the end , which makes it hard to feel great about it ... but the sheer electric force of mcconaughey 's performance puts it over and then some .", "the by-the-numbers narrative ultimately prevents the viewer from working up any real interest in or sympathy for the protagonist 's exploits ...", "this character is a fastball over matthew mcconaughey 's plate . as we 've learned recently , the actor has developed into a home-run hitter .", "if matthew mcconaughey and jared leto do n't garner best actor and best supporting actor nods , there is no justice in oscardom .", "MOV hits every note just right . the film engages both your intellect and emotions . beautiful and inspiring !", "the frailer this character gets the fiercer mcconaughey 's persona barges through ; a drawl turning snake oil into syrup , with eyes impaling our attention .", "who cares about the issues when you have unforgettable characters like these ?", "despite the cadaverous appearance of its lead actor , MOV wants to be pretty , too , presenting a tidy , uplifting history of the years when unconscionable inaction and prejudice toward those with aids were a matter of federal policy .", "a welcome addition to the queer movie canon .", "a still very relevant exploration of an epidemic that 's taken far too many .", "hollywood is mourning the late philip seymour hoffman , but fear not ... others will be waiting in the wings to grab their chance . matthew mcconaughey has even come back to replace himself !", "it follows the template of every bill murray slobs-vs . - snobs comedy from the '80s , except this time people are dying .", "the great thing about MOV is that it proves someone can be kind of an ass and also a great man .", "this movie earns each and every one of your reactions because it brings forth honest characters in a true , captivating story .", "this true story is no melodramatic probe into an ailing cowboy 's soul . not once does mcconaughey look to the sky and ask why him or cry himself to sleep as the clock ticks on his nightstand .", "MOV is n't the kind of movie that would normally attract this much oscar buzz ... but it benefits from a couple of great performances that demand to be seen .", "the performances are physically demanding and mostly sensitive when they could have been ham-filled and dunked in awards-grubbing vanity .", "the story they 're telling is a powerful one ; viewers of a younger generation may be interested -- and shocked -- to see how slowly drug companies reacted to the aids crisis and what ordinary people did to help themselves in that situation .", "an admirable , desperately sad , yet redemptive character study .", "matthew mcconaughey was born to play this role .", "the screenplay by craig borten and melisa wallack does n't yield to pat pronouncements or solutions , refusing to turn woodroof into a huggable savior , even when his views about gays shift .", "MOV is an example of american enterprise in an era in which the quality is perhaps not as evident as in the past .", "script and pacing problems aside , MOV remains an awards-worthy showcase of mcconaughey 's and leto 's ferocious talents , matched only by their astonishing physical decline onscreen .", "`` surprisingly balanced , in terms of the way it treats its characters and concepts . ''", "if mcconaughey and his co-star jared leto do n't earn oscar nominations for `` buyers club , '' i 'll eat my ten gallon hat .", "very nearly great .", "... director jean-marc vall\u00e9e 's -lrb- `` the young victoria '' -rrb- film succeeds on the strength of its performances more than in the telling of the story .", "meaningful and explosively performed , MOV is an oddly inspirational picture that has a little more on its mind than a late-in-the-film-year victory lap .", "does a few things wrong but a lot right , starting right at the top with mcconaughey .", "in many ways , the film is all about matthew mcconaughey , and canadian director jean-marc vallee is wise enough to train his focus on the actor .", "can be criticized for shoehorning its story into a familiar framework to make it more comfortable for mainstream audiences . but the astonishing performances by mcconaughey and leto nonetheless give it a powerful charge .", "mcconaughey 's excellent in a performance that does n't have a big , quintessential oscar moment , probably because he 's an actor who never overplays like that .", "as scrawny , shady texas cowpoke ron woodruff it 's mcconaughey 's swagger and southern charm that shines through more than his good looks in MOV", "however creaky this might be as drama , it 's a fascinating look at an underground economy and the politics of medicine .", "this movie , like mcconaughey 's performance , rejects the sentimentality and prefab heroics that usually afflict such standard hollywood fare .", "it 's really the performances that make this more than just a high-class disease-of-the-week effort .", "an uplifting story of undying hope and unlikely heroism .", "films can be lifted by their performances , just as careers can be resurrected by the embrace of difficult choices . though grounded by a resonant real-life story of struggle and survival , MOV offers an example of both .", "n\u0103o \u00e9 apenas um estudo de personagem , apresentando-se tamb\u00e9m como um retrato angustiante de uma \u00e9poca .", "the movie is n't simply well acted or written ; all of its observant qualities and pitch perfect performances are married to a tone and method that are courageous in conviction .", "lightweight , but not trivial ; funny , but not cheap ; moving , but not pathetic .", "it 's trying to explore a lot of angles and it does a good job , as opposed to a great job .", "a powerfully moving film , and mcconaughey 's extraordinary physical transformation is much more than a stunt .", "leto almost steals the show , while jennifer garner represents stability as the gutsy hospital medic in a film from director jean-marc vallee that is well-paced , involving and thought-provoking .", "this incredible film charts one man 's determination to stay alive against astounding odds and , most tantalisingly , supporting the very people that he despised .", "it is a powerful real-life story , brimming with terrific performances and also punctuated by delightful visual flourishes .", "matthew mcconaughey and jared leto give terrific performances in this riveting and surprisingly relatable true story .", "this is a full-bodied characterization that will take mcconaughey 's already impressive career regeneration several steps further .", "-lsb- mcconaughey -rsb- delivers a twitchy , hostile performance on par with anything he 's done since he escaped the rom com cul-de-sac .", "if the camera occasionally suffers a fashionable case of the jitters , the movie transcends its agitated verismo to impart dramatic and behavioral truth .", "there 's still something undeniably moving about the film 's trajectory , which allows mcconaughey to blossom into an empathetic figure-one whose homophobia fades as his fighting spirit intensifies-without losing his rapscallion spirit .", "at just under two hours , it 's a little long , but the blend of biting character study and campaigning pharmaceutical docudrama is zesty and memorable .", "mcconaughey is the only reason to see MOV , but he 's enough of a reason to see MOV .", "... while the film might not drop the cumulative emotional anchor you may expect ... it 's a smartly entertaining tale , delivered with respect for its subject matter , but also wisely knows you can be fun and funny even in the arena of an aids drama .", "the fireworks caused by pitting never-say-die texas bravado against heartlessness is a powerful mix , and the film manages to be an inspiring tale amidst all this sadness .", "MOV '' explores an era that 's been too-little seen on film : the early aids years , when people were dying and helplessness and fear seemed to float in the air .", "the movie , based on a true story , shows how empathy has the power to destroy intolerance where it stands .", "the simplistic MOV is worth seeing , if for no other reason than mcconaughey 's transformative and touching performance .", "mcconaughey and , especially , leto are not to be missed .", "vallee , working from a script by craig borten and melisa wallack , infuses the film with some humor - woodroof 's posing as a priest as he smuggles drugs from mexico is a hoot - but he never lets us forget that the stakes are deadly serious .", "once we get past mcconaughey 's stunning transformation , we 're transfixed by a performance that reminds us of why this guy became a movie star in the first place .", "mcconaughey delivers the performance of his career , characterized not just by an astonishing physical transformation but by a wellspring of deep compassion and fearlessness .", "a trio of terrific performers imbues a riveting aids drama with heart and mind as well as pertinence .", "for the majority of the time , it wrestles with the heavy material like the cowboys and cattle at the rodeo that frames its events , and mcconaughey proves himself a proficient rider .", "this is the performance of mcconaughey 's newly resurgent career .", "the movie 's often touching and very watchable , but what gets you past the script 's sincere calculation is the growing sense of rage toward a medical-industrial complex that saw aids sufferers as guinea pigs and sources of profit .", "mcconaughey and leto drill down to the roots of their characters . it calls to mind that advice for actors playing drunk : you do it like you 're emphatically sober . neither man plays the disease . they play instead the rage to live .", "it 's a testament to mcconaughey 's newly-resuscitated career that we can call this a minor entry in his increasingly impressive body of work .", "let us praise , brothers and sisters , the era of the mcconaisance .", "it 's impossible not to like and mcconaughey 's ron is a compelling screen creation , a skinny , crazy zealot whose relentless energy seems to come from nowhere .", "now , weight loss does not equal acting , but in this case it forms a central part of mcconaughey 's remarkable dedication to completely inhabiting this role .", "exceptionally well-written and directed , this tough , yet tender-hearted film does n't take the easy road towards winning your full respect and fascination .", "what makes the film so special is its sense of defiance and its scabrous humour .", "mcconaughey is so charismatic that , as a simple one-man-against-the-odds drama , MOV is consistently engaging ; almost , despite woodroof 's intentions , inspirational .", "by turns ornery , obnoxious , dogged , canny , brave and compassionate , mcconaughey is mesmerising to watch .", "terrific performances by matthew mcconaughey and jared leto elevate this socio-medical drama out of the realms of the ordinary into something quietly remarkable .", "like mcconaughey 's woodruff , it is honest and hard-edged and all the more powerful and absorbing for it , yet without sacrificing humour and heart ...", "a calculated prestige picture that never bothers to ask broader questions about the aids epidemic .", "an inspiring and powerfully emotional drama that would make an excellent double bill with recent aids doc how to survive a plague .", "tough , poignant and ultimately life-affirming , this is the way woodroof 's tale deserved to be told .", "we all love a rousing tale of perseverance against the odds , and MOV offers two of them : one on the screen , and another behind the scenes .", "it would be a tv problem-of-the-week movie without mcconaughey 's skill in combining intelligence with pizzazz .", "it is fantastic and matthew mcconaughey gives the performance of his career . in fact , it may be the best performance of anyone 's career . it 'll blow your tiny minds . it blew my tiny mind .", "i have always been a huge fan of matthew mcconaughey even though many of his film roles have failed to showcase his considerable talent . but he finally comes of age with a sensational performance in his new film MOV .", "like a gary cooper in the era of sexual crisis , mcconaughey hits a very sure stride .", "a fascinating , if dated look at the aids crisis of the 1980 's with a central moral that still applies today .", "despite some feel-good conventionality , MOV succeeds thanks to its pragmatic view of its rather pragmatic hero .", "... when people write the history of how cinema processed hiv and aids in the late 20th century and beyond , ` MOV ' will definitely be part of that conversation", "although the pace wavers near the end , director vall\u00e9e does a fine job handling the difficult material , which spans years and countries . expect major acting nominations come awards season .", "without ever spelling it out , the director shows how one determined man can change the world .", "an imperfect film that features some terrific performances .", "`` MOV '' takes audiences back to the worst of the aids crisis , where the disease was a death sentence , and the public 's terror and hostility were at its height .", "one of the most touching mismatched buddy couples ever on screen .", "bucking the system", "amazingly , we do have one member of the cast who upstages mcconaughey , and that 's jared leto .", "effortlessly pulls the viewer into the protagonist 's life , plight and battle against forces far bigger and better financed than him . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "ron is willing to live with the pain because at least it 's living , which , we can almost hear him saying in that texas twang , is better than the alternative .", "mcconaughey , pared down to nothing but grit and sinew , gives a performance of profound sensitivity and scope .", "a moving , always mature account of a personal story that warrants attention . mcconaughey has scarcely , if ever , been better .", "it 's not a perfect movie , but this hard-edged film ends up being fully engaging thanks to another powerful performance from mcconaughey .", "matthew mcconaughey continues to amaze .", "former heart-throb turned indie king , matthew mcconaughey goes for broke with what could well be his most affecting on-screen turn yet .", "mcconaughey sells it with absolute conviction .", "the performances are spectacular , mcconaughey 's especially , so alive in approaching death .", "for all its occasional compromises , MOV shakes off potential disease-of-the-month tv movie status and succeeds at an uncomplicated emotional level .", "his frame is slight , but matthew mcconaughey remains a hulking presence in this riveting true-life tale .", "in telling this remarkable true story , director jean-marc vallee -lrb- the young victoria -rrb- and his gifted cast keep the characters and events so grounded that we ca n't help but get caught up in their story .", "how a reprobate womaniser , boozer , snorter and hustler made a difference . . and how an actor called matthew mcconaughey resurrected the remarkable spirit of ron woodroof , in a performance that swallows the actor - body and all", "in its rough ride though pharmaceuticals provision in 80s america , this well-acted , oscar-baiting aids drama mixes a queer cocktail of rugged individualism and anti-corporate collectivism .", "thanks to a lack of heartstrings being insincerely tugged and magnetic performances from matthew mcconaughey and jared leto ... familiarity never quite breeds contempt .", "two stand-out performances and the claustrophobic depiction of a death-infested reality are the significant elements of MOV . it 's a tough film , based on a true story", "despite its good intentions and moxie-filled performances , MOV is ultimately marred by its impulse to compromise its freewheeling humanity in favor of crowd-pleasing tropes .", "contains the scope of a larger issue and refines it through the steps of one man who made a difference . matthew mcconaughey reinvents himself yet again", "vall\u00e9e 's sensitive direction ensures the relationship unfolds with credibility and , while tenderness between the pair might be fleeting , when it 's glimpsed it packs a heavyweight punch .", "what raises the film above simple smile-through-your-fear-and-sorrow schmaltz it might have been , are performances from two male leads , mcconaughey and leto .", "the cold , documentary style puts the ball entirely in mcconaughey 's court . he plays it beautifully .", "mcconaughey brings a rough-around-the-edges humanity to his character ... whose gradual transition from homophobic swindler to altruist is handled with a refreshing degree of nuance .", "if not wholly convincing as an ` issues ' movie , this memoir is a triumph as an actors ' showcase ; with mcconaughey and leto giving the performances of their careers .", "get this - matthew mcconaughey is currently the most exciting acting talent at work in movies . next up , the simple business of a christopher nolan .", "inevitably , there 's a familiar redemptive arc to MOV , but the crossover to altruism is so sneakily done here that it is irresistible .", "ron woodroof 's story has a universal appeal in that it examines the way in which our greatest challenges call upon us to be more than we are , or ever imagined we could be .", "a powerful film with two equally powerful performances , `` MOV '' is a well made , adult change of pace for moviegoers this holiday season .", "what vaults MOV out of indie hell and lifetime purgatory is the splendid acting .", "MOV represents the best of what independent film on a limited budget can achieve-powerful , enlightening and not to be missed .", "it 's a formulaic story that takes full advantage of these broad , familiar formulas to win viewers , but finds enough unique detail to retain its own identity .", "vallee directs `` MOV '' with a loose naturalism , seedy environs and lively humor that prevents the film from becoming over-sentimentalized .", "despite its downbeat context -lrb- a plague at its height -rrb- , the movie is a crowd-pleaser-graceful and funny enough to distract you from its gaps and elisions .", "what 's remarkable about MOV is its lack of sentimentality . the movie , like its star , is all angles and elbows , earning its emotion through sheer pragmatism .", "MOV fits our breaking bad moment perfectly , offering a difficult hero whose personal code takes on an intriguing coherence .", "having squandered most of this century 's first decade being a movie star , matthew mcconaughey has approached its second stanza as an actor . the results have been salutary .", "dallas buyer 's club does n't want your love , it wants your respect and all the work 's on the screen .", "mcconaughey 's performance should win him a slew of awards -lrb- if not the ultimate -rrb- and plenty of fans that this down and gritty film might not otherwise attract .", "MOV is one of the most compelling films of the year with magnetic performances from matthew mcconaughey and jared leto . supercharged with passion and emotion , MOV is a fantastic drama with an unyielding message .", "this is n't just a characterization of a man going through a transition to the issue of mortality , but it 's also a transformative performance by an actor rising in depth .", "`` MOV '' is a somewhat simple tale , but it 's populated with such fascinating characters and superb performances that you can forgive any narrative flaws it may have .", "perhaps the cinematic equivalent of tough love , MOV may be more feel-bad than it would have been in the hands of the more clich\u00e9-inclined .", "you simply wo n't see a better performance from another male actor this year .", "mcconaughey 's earlier career consisting of fluff films seems like ancient history .", "if it were a text , the film would be bolded , underlined and italicized .", "vall\u00e9e mostly keeps the sentimentalism at bay , opting for a raggedy portrait of accidental crusaders . but as the movie enters its home stretch , the temptation to turn mcconaughey into a hetero champion of aids activism becomes too much .", "played with raw , rattling fury and grace by matthew mcconaughey , woodroof is a tarnished protagonist of the first order .", "MOV works best as a showcase for mcconaughey and leto 's great performances - not so much as a thoughtful examination of historical issues .", "MOV is predictably heart-warming , often slipping into forced sappiness . thankfully , mcconaughey and leto are willing to labor to earn the audience 's tears honestly .", "if there 's a simple truth to be found here , it is how often it is only the most resourceful and self-absorbed of us , demanding to survive no matter what , who come up with new pathways of survival .", "leto 's and mcconaughey 's work will initially be remembered for their physical transformations . but it 's the work they do inside these brittle bodies that is the true strength .", "matthew mcconaughey 's quest to establish himself as one of the finest , most committed actors of his generation continues apace in jean-marc vallee 's fact-based MOV .", "it 's mcconaughey 's spiritual transformation that is most remarkable . his gaze is at once desperate and challenging .", "the problem is that while ron may not run out of steam , the film about him does .", "sometimes the right part comes along at the right time for the right actor , and the film that results from it forever changes his or her career .", "MOV belongs pretty firmly to mcconaughey and leto . their prickly relationship is at the wounded heart of the movie , and it 's their performances you 'll remember .", "though the subject matter inevitably seems a little sexed-up and contrived compared to recent docs like how to survive a plague , director jean-marc vall\u00e9e rarely wastes an ounce of matthew mcconaughey 's gusto .", "for a movie about dying of aids , MOV is really fun . woodroof is beating the system so the process of obtaining and sharing drugs while skirting around federal regulations is engaging .", "MOV -lrb- 2013 -rrb- is a movie you have to be grateful to hollywood for making , but you still wish was a film made not by hollywood .", "i 'd have preferred it to just be more distinctive . bolder . scarier . uglier . queerer . i can see why it 's not , though , which is probably more upsetting .", "conventional but never sanctimonious , it balances out its familiar recovery angle with a healthy measure of sardonic wit .", "excellent . matthew mcconaughey gives an impressively unselfconscious , award-worthy performance as perhaps the most anti-heroic of all the antiheroes who have ever appeared on the silver screen .", "if there was any doubt that mcconaughey is more than just a tawny-chested rom-com stud , there should be no question anymore .", "the film is a sad reminder of how far from such freedoms the country has come , in favor of a thoroughly monitored military state that inspires public shootings more than humanist actions .", "this is all well-intentioned , but it 's still obnoxious hokum , an important story so distilled and stripped of its essence that by the end , it 's not about aids and the fight for new drugs at all .", "a straight-up portrait of a man who figured out a way to cling to life longer than anyone expected and , in the process , learned to let the world in .", "mcconaughey and leto are hypnotic to watch , and none of the above should take away from woodroof 's accomplishment . but one chooses the difficulty of one 's dive , and vall\u00e9e has chosen a very difficult one indeed .", "mcconaughey gives a fearless performance as a trailer-park dude with a shotgun in his trunk , drinking , drugging and volatile .", "one of the best films of the year .", "the aids epidemic was not a happy-ending story . but it was certainly a test of the human spirit . ron woodroof passed that test .", "a solid biopic is made transcendent by mcconaughey , who shed nearly 50 pounds and deserves to gain an oscar for his ferocious , funny performance .", "the movie adds vulgar emotional sweetener . it 's erin cockovich .", "only the downer ending , which never gives -lsb- ron -rsb- woodroof a big moment of triumph , suggests it 's more than a reducing of heady times into a slobs versus snobs battle .", "... more than just a film resting on gimmickry . it is really a solid narrative and one that connected intimately with me .", "props to mcconaughey for overcoming some bad career choices and the perils of superstardom -lrb- naked bongos anyone ? -rrb- and becoming an actor fully aware of his strengths and weaknesses .", "just about everything is right with MOV , beginning with matthew mcconaughey 's literally transformative portrayal .", "there 's nothing the least bit sentimental here . nothing flashy or showy in mcconaughey 's rough-edged portrait . but there is enormous compassion .", "though it 's taken twenty-some years to reach the screen , `` dallas buyer 's club '' has been made with such care and commitment that i 'd say it 's been worth the wait .", "this is a movie that traffics in deep hindbrain emotions : fear and rage and lust and , above all , the pure animal drive to go on living .", "mcconaughey 's string of terrific mid-career performances reaches a new peak .", "matthew mcconaughey and jared leto seem shoo-ins for best actor and best supporting actor nominations .", "as entries into the oscar-bait-melodrama-socially-conscious-message-movie-with-characters-who-are-flawed-into-distracting-perfection genre go , this is a really good one .", "despite its clich\u00e9d elements , `` MOV '' is a fierce celebration of the unpredictable power that belongs to the outcast , the despised , the pariah .", "it 's a remarkable story , vividly and urgently told by french-canadian director vall\u00e9e from a pointed , schmaltz-free script by craig borten and melissa wallack .", "matthew mcconaughey brings a jolt of unpredictable energy to `` MOV , '' an affecting if conventional real-life story of medical activism .", "mcconaughey proves he has evolved from a handsome lightweight to one of the most talented , risk-taking actors in hollywood .", "it 's about the ways we confront our mortality when it 's shoved in our face . that 's powerful stuff .", "-lsb- mcconaughey and leto -rsb- elevate the movie beyond ordinary biography or overplayed tragedy , and give oscar-worthy performances in the process .", "a very strong rendering of a fascinating , historically under-told true story . but it 's driven into the stratosphere by the two main performances .", "mcconaughey brings an unbridled fury and passion to his performance . his woodroof is no saint , but he slowly moves from entrepreneur to a compassionate individual who makes it his mission to try to ease the suffering of others .", "tight as it might now be , matthew mcconaughey 's belt is deserving of another notch thanks to the winning , but safe MOV .", "with mcconaughey 's role in mud followed by this role mcconaughey clearly transforms himself from heartthrob to serious actor .", "i would n't be surprised if mcconaughey and leto get academy award nominations for their performances in this film .", "sexual politics make strange bedfellows , too !", "great performances by mcconaughey and leto , important history and gritty realism save this screenplay from the mundane .", "... unrelievedly downbeat , but provides mcconaughey with his juiciest role yet , that of a good ol' boy hustler/aids advocate ... leto can start honing his oscar acceptance speech . he 's that good .", "a solid biopic , that makes the best of its downer survival story .", "classic ` oscar bait , ' and falls into some of the common traps of exploiting a true story . but it 's also lively , funny , and scary ...", "MOV is an indelible story about one man 's unwillingness to go gently into that good night , and the personal growth he experiences along the way .", "the commitment mcconaughey brings is something to behold ... woodroof 's mix of texas blowhard and eccentric bozo is clearly his strong suit .", "ron 's transition from redneck bigot to emphatic defender of the marginalized does n't feel cheap or forced , instead building up to a graceful , moving moment of classical chivalry .", "unlike christian bale 's freak-show emaciation for 2004 's ` the machinist , ' mcconaughey 's astonishing weight loss for his portrayal of aids activist ron woodruff does n't overshadow the movie . it reinforces the authenticity of this fine film ." ], "summary": "MOV rests squarely on matthew mcconaughey 's scrawny shoulders , and he carries the burden gracefully with what might be a career-best performance .", "id": "771358464" }, { "movie": "1154157-big_mommas_house_2", "reviews": [ "plagiarizes an already very bad movie -- in this case , the pacifier -- and everything that fell flat there is mercilessly carried over for this ill-advised carbon copy .", "bmh2 is a harmless , genial outing , a comedy that is amusing without ever rising to the level of funny .", "aside from the inane plot , big momma 's house 2 is a dish of empty calories .", "passably entertaining , mildly funny and consistently stupid .", "it 's been six years since the original big momma movie -lrb- i guess they hoped we would forget by now how bad the first one really was ... we have n't -rrb- .", "... inconsequential sequel for the undemanding moviegoer .", "an exhausting , not-hilarious , multiple-resolution ending , in which big momma does funny dances with a cheerleading squad , runs on the beach like bo derek and chases down the bad guys -- all while fat .", "big momma 's house 2 lacks comedic momentum to sustain the ridiculousness of lawrence as big momma , but it 's a welcome break from the star 's tough cop act and his abominable family film turn in rebound .", "nothing but all-lawrence all the time , and there 's not a lot more to the movie than the basic idea that lawrence as an obese old lady is intrinsically funny .", "a dreadful debacle made wors by lawrence 's promise/threat : ` keep a lookout . you never know when big momma might be back . '", "consider it to be the cinematic equivalent to taco bell . you might enjoy it to a degree , but you 're still going to end up with heartburn .", "its idiocy is boundless , its senselessness without end , its unendurability beyond description ...", "works about as well as the guys from `` queer eye '' remodeling the neo-nazi national headquarters .", "martin , please stop making films .", "so desperate that barely a half hour passes before we get the inevitable jokes about dr. phil , oprah , al sharpton , tupac and billy dee .", "the poster for this movie shows martin lawrence in fat-lady drag tugging at a wedgie . this is as funny as it gets ... in other words , it 's not just disappointingly lackluster , derivative , and lazy , it 's also out of touch and creepy .", "martin lawrence continues to run around in a fatsuit impersonating a sassy obese grandma in order to take down criminals and slaver over beautiful women .", "the least necessary sequel this side of deuce bigalow : european gigolo .", ".", "martin lawrence is a broad comic performer who sometimes hits the funny bone with a mallet -- and sometimes , well , goes wide of the mark by several yards .", "it 's really just a ploy for some more flaccid fat-suit antics that are as short of inspiration as big momma is of breath .", "the picture just sets up its unimaginative premise and then coasts along through a chain of forced , mostly unfunny episodes to a thoroughly predictable conclusion .", "there 's big momma leading a bunch of little schoolgirls in booty-shaking cheerleading lessons . there she is in bo derek cornrows , bouncing down the beach . and , hey , we already mentioned the spa .", "i was n't big on this on to begin with .", "while there are moments of raucous humor , there 's too much sentimental fluff .", "as warmhearted as the original .", "just like the first film , it 's another basic , unoriginal fish-out-of-water story stocked with predictable plot twists and physical comedy .", "as absurd and blatantly offensive as momma purports to be in its bloated skin , there 's not one genuine funny tidbit to behold in this chunky comedy .", "if you thought big momma 's house was funny , then two things are probably true : 1 -rrb- you are stupid . 2 -rrb- you will also think big momma 's house 2 is funny .", "... the family film vibe does n't suit a manic-tempered comic such as lawrence , whose fat suit and septuagenarian makeup ca n't hide his obvious boredom in delivering more of the same wheezing insults and down-home advice .", "it is n't that house 2 is a complete disaster from start to finish , but more that it 's a completely uninspired comedy", "painfully unfunny slapstick takes precedence over would-be satire .", "mercifully free of excess mania , sexual innuendo and fart jokes , this sweet-natured comedy , ably directed by john whitesell -lrb- malibu 's most wanted -rrb- , has some nice bits of business ...", "there 's nobody in the movie to care one whit about except lawrence . nobody else is interesting , funny or worth noting .", "... unnecessary but genial ...", "the funniest thing about big momma 's house 2 is what i believe to be a grammar error in its press notes .", "putting the ` low ' into low-brow humour , it 's a series of sketches in which martin lawrence immerses himself into a fat suit and a frock and puts himself into ridiculous situations . not funny .", "if you find the idea of martin lawrence screeching `` ooooooh ! '' at the beginning of every sentence in order to sound feminine is a laugh riot , your movie of the year has arrived .", "big momma 's house 2 is an atrocious film . but what 's even more frightening is that hollywood thinks people will find it funny .", "even if you still find the premise funny , how long can you laugh at this same sorry routine ?", "usually , you can tell when an actor is enjoying himself in a role , but i honestly could n't tell whether lawrence was having fun or simply exploiting the character for a second dip at the box office . i just hope he has no reason to do it again .", "it 's all extremely superficial entertainment at best .", "happiness is an actor in a fat suit , or at least that is what hollywood thinks", "lawrence is a comedian with talent who rarely uses it for anything worthwhile , and here he makes a halfhearted , paycheck-collecting effort that 's actually in perfect keeping with the rest of the movie 's tired , recycled tone .", "big momma may be larger than life , but the shtick is older than old .", "probably review-proof for openers , pic is so episodic and flat it should be a letdown even to those amused by the original .", "you 'd have more fun poking out your own eyes . is there a petition we can sign to stop lawrence making any more movies ?", "a partial list of things that are more amusing than big momma 's house 2 : beverly hills cop , fletch , the original big momma 's house , every sitcom currently on tv , open-heart surgery .", "as much fun as tracing patterns in a carpet .", "the mugging lawrence steps out of character to promise that big momma will be back . fine , but someone should hire writers next time .", "it 's a shame to once again witness martin lawrence squander his considerable comic talents under a fat suit and fake breasts in this shoddy sequel .", "perhaps the greatest unnecessary sequel to grace theater screens since underworld : evolution .", "nothing to write home about .", "the bulk of the film is comprised of unrelated , ridiculous set pieces .", "guys who direct snuff flicks in the slums of khazakstan probably look at big momma 's house 2 and think `` hey , i 'm not such a terrible filmmaker after all ! ''", "lawrence has his moments , mostly when he 's not dressed up as big momma ; he 's progressed to the point where he deserves a better vehicle than this . long is wasted , appearing in only a handful of scenes .", "is it too much to hope that the sequel will be `` nanny mcphee vs. big momma '' ? just asking ...", "the audience ca n't help but feel the lack of effort and heart in this film", "even in the visually arresting fat-suit martin lawrence extracts very few chuckles due to don rhymer 's awful script and john whitesell 's flimsy direction .", "it 's thin , but enough to make you forget the cold for 90 minutes .", "this is funny mostly for its brazen disregard of common sense -- specifically , the idea that elaborate full-body prosthetic makeup could be slapped on in seconds by a cop on the run .", "a truly insipid affair that makes the first film seem like classic comedy .", "no logic , no laughs , a classic ` take-the-money-and-run ' sequel which had me praying for a projector malfunction or some other excuse to leave the theater early .", "robin williams , to his eternal credit , never came up with a mrs. doubtfire sequel .", "if lawrence makes you laugh , you 'd be better off watching him do stand-up .", "it 's mildly , amiably funny , in a juvenile way ." ], "summary": "unfunny and unoriginal . in other words , a perfect piece of evidence for opponents of pointless movie sequels .", "id": "2864438" }, { "movie": "avengers_age_of_ultron", "reviews": [ "ultimately , avengers : age of ultron ca n't recapture the charm and majesty of seeing earth 's mightiest heroes assembled for the first time . that said , it 's still a lot of fun and offers plenty of great action and character moments .", "joss whedon sets up the future of the avengers for the russo brothers , but this is no longer exciting . it 's exhausting .", "sure , this is the a team of comic book superstars , but overextended sequences do n't make them any more impressive .", "age of ultron is a western about military service : it 's a call to arms to protect american values like the family and the home from east european types and electronic threats to security systems .", "-lsb- i -rsb- loved most of the exchanges between the characters . appreciated the avengers ' attempts to avoid destruction in population centers . the action scenes were very exciting and clever , but i had trouble keeping up with the visuals .", "writing and directing `` avengers : age of ultron , '' joss whedon proves he has a superpower of his own : mediocrity .", "lovable characters , just the right amount of humor and spectacular action make `` ultron '' a worthy bridge to whatever happens next in the avengers ' universe .", "still light and funny , but the novelty 's worn off , and the bloat and repetition are starting to show", "massive , immersive and wildly entertaining , age of ultron gets the gang back together for a globe-trotting battle against a meager villain . fun will be had by all .", "improves on its predecessor on many fronts even if it does n't fully recapture the magic of the 2012 endeavour .", "age of ultron -lsb- is -rsb- one of the most thoughtfully driven monster vehicles you are likely to see in a summer rammed with powerful , glossy , mechanised beasts .", "an enjoyable , full-sensory superhero romp , it delivers no less than what one would expect from an avengers film . at the same time , it delivers no more than that , either .", "age of ultron , then , shows what happens when an unstoppable force -lrb- joss whedon 's imagination -rrb- meets an immovable object -lrb- the disney/marvel behemoth -rrb- .", "joss whedon shows his considerable gifts for multicharacter air traffic control in a massive 3-d spectacle while demonstrating reserves of insouciance .", "the only thing that adequately distinguishes these films is the all-important banter that occurs during down time .", "as much as you admire the polished , expertly choreographed entertainment ... you feel as if they 're putting on a gymnastics display or an extremely high-tech tap-dance routine .", "when this finally ended i had an appreciation for how it feels to be unjustly convicted of a crime ... and be released after 10 years when it was discovered you were not guilty . sure , it feels good to be free , but who 's going to give you back your time ?", "the thing 's a behemoth . and as the franchise thunders on , it 's also becoming more and more a bore .", "-lsb- the sequel -rsb- has drained most of the joy , fun , and life out of these characters .", "i began to forget the breathless , teetering , tottering , careening , catapulting avengers : the age of ultron about 20 minutes into its 141 minutes ... zoom , quip , wham , smirk , quip , blam ! quip ! oh so much too-muchness on an inhumane scale .", "it is , in short , more disposable than the mere mortal blockbusters it was designed to outpace . this should defy marvel studios mathematics . how can a movie with more stuff than its predecessors be less fun ?", "the avengers return in an epic adventure with a little romance and tragedy to keep the spectacle grounded .", "age of ultron is not disappointing but it is definitely not better than the first one . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's definitely an efficient blockbuster . you will enjoy yourself at the movie theater ... however , it 's the weakest entry of the last 3 marvel movies . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "overall , avengers : age of ultron has everything fans have been waiting for . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "where the film falters is the action sequences , which are exciting and boost the adrenaline , but they have a repetitious , been-there-seen-that vibe .", "a sequel as epic as it is overly ambitious and as sprawling as it is restless .", "avengers : age of ultron has its problems , but on a visceral , pure enjoyment level audiences are going to walk away more than pleased .", "on the surface , all the elements are there for a summer blockbuster , but ... comparing this film to the avengers , there is no competition .", "the sharp , interpersonal dramedy that made the first movie such a delight is again present in flashes , but not infrequently it is drowned out by the noisy , inevitable need to save the world .", "the cast , omg . there are more people crowded in here - either in major roles or in brilliant cameos -lrb- andy serkis , i 'm looking at you -rrb- - than are at walgreens ' on prom night .", "at 141 minutes , it 's a miracle the movie is never merely mechanical , but like jarvis or ultron , it 's not fully human , either .", "formula flick . period . high tech , high voltage action followed by long stretches of boring dialogue before more high tech , high voltage action . it 's too long by 20-minutes .", "sufficiently fun to be worth a look for superhero fans , although it 's kept from greatness by the very nature of the marvel cinematic universe .", "hitting society 's central nervous system through the real fear of ai gone horribly rogue , this complete sequel package weaves together a rich story , rousing special effects and the sacrificial duality of being a superhero versus the layman .", "for the most part , `` avengers : age of ultron '' is the hard-charging , mind-boggling spectacle fans are looking for . smash indeed .", "better than the average sequel , yet less sharp , fresh and energetic than i 'd hoped , there 's still plenty to enjoy about avengers : age of ultron that makes it well worth the tons of dosh it 's sure to pull in .", "`` avengers : age of ultron '' is a kinetic , wicked mix of muscle and magic . look no further if you want a world of superpowered freaks and geeks .", "it aims to please . and , for the most part , this superhero extravaganza hits the bull 's - eye with all the precision of jeremy renner 's arrow-slinging hawkeye .", "while it does feel rushed , and the overabundance of characters threatens to impede the focus , i was constantly engaged with the strong dialogue , humor and breathtaking action .", "at times it feels like it 's a few handfuls of terrific actors away from being a ` transformers ' entry .", "more bloated , but bolder than its predecessor , avengers : age of ultron is every bit the 11th entry in marvel 's winning , world-dominating formula .", "age of ultron is a feast of visual delights , but plot wears thin . if anthony russo and joe russo -lrb- captain america : the winter soldier -rrb- , who are now taking over the avengers series , want to keep the audience fully invested , some re-assembly is required .", "its problems may not have been so evident if it was n't trying so hard to surpass the far better movies that preceded it .", "the film struggles against the rigid formula that typifies the marvel universe , but only does so up to a point .", "pure , uncut comic-book fantasy ... whedon tames the beast into something spectacularly epic , if a bit exhausting : bursting with destructive mayhem but grounded by interesting character beats , rife with dark implications but seasoned with good humor .", "this movie is fine , honestly . i rather liked it .", "whedon 's wit and invention are considerable ... -lsb- but -rsb- the movies keep getting bigger , with diminishing returns . i find myself hoping against hope that ant-man will be really , really small .", "`` age of ultron '' has self-aware laughs , grandiose themes and the best effects that money can buy . but at this point , it will take true vision to plot the umpteen sequels without getting trapped in a time loop .", "as before , the greatest fun is in watching the original avengers , all fine actors who 've made the characters their own .", "by making the avengers snarky rivals as well as brothers and sisters in arms , franchise big brain joss whedon injects exactly what such a noisy spectacle needs : a dollop of charm .", "a whole bunch of blather leads up to the same old climax with imperiled innocents and massive destruction .", "joss whedon again works out a way to make world-destroying forces colloquial , keeping the humanity in superhumans . because of that humanism-it 's a pessimistic film , certain that the sun is setting on the human race-ultron works as mammoth entertainment .", "spader is so charismatic , so purely , quietly and wittily nasty , that he provides a welcome contrast to the rote wisecracking of our heroes , who are so busy trying to one-up each others ' punchlines that they are beginning to come off like `` avengers ' 11 . ''", "as he did in the first `` avengers , '' writer-director joss whedon avoids the fatal trap of comic-book self-seriousness , leavening a baggy , busy , overpopulated story with zippy one-liners , quippy asides and an overarching tone of jaunty good fun .", "enjoyable at times , but there 's just too much going on . too many characters . too many motivations . too many weird allusions to things from previous movies that i barely remembered", "bigger , bolder , and better than ever , the avengers delivers smart , character-driven action-adventure sure to please audiences and break box office records .", "the law of diminishing returns strikes big-time in avengers : age of ultron , an overstuffed mess of one-note characters , gaudy cgi , and bad one-liners .", "the mayhem is clever but , functionally , whedon is serving disney 's branding schemes first and his story and characters second .", "for all its faults -lrb- and yes , there are plenty of them -rrb- , this avengers sequel is still a lot of fun .", "the cast is top-notch , and whedon packs the script and the screen with cleverness as well as ka-pow . but even at 141 minutes , things still feel jammed and crammed .", "at risk of sounding too hyperbolic too soon , avengers : age of ultron might be the best movie marvel has ever made .", "it is likely that this is the best avengers movie that we 'll ever see .", "overall , though , for all of its cheesy fun mixed with doom-and-gloom observations on the plight of humanity , this avengers leaves us with the nagging feeling that we 've been here too many times before .", "age of ultron is part of a franchise that 's going to make a billion dollars by monday . but it still feels like one of whedon 's little sandboxes , blown up to a massive scale without losing any of its intricate resolution .", "world-saving is no longer a surprise to these characters . it 's work . grunt work . for them . for us .", "if this is what the apotheosis of branded , big-studio entertainment has come to look like in 2015 , we could be doing much worse . unlike its title character , `` age of ultron '' most definitely has soul .", "having bent the world to his will , whedon , a modest and self-deprecating talent , has helped marvel unleash a form of spectacle-laden blockbuster that , unfortunately , seems intent on obliterating what he does best .", "there is much to like about `` the avengers : age of ultron . '' there was much to love about `` the avengers , '' and therein lies the difference .", "first , you try to understand what the hell is going on . then you slowly realize that you will never understand what is going on . and , last , you wind up with the distinct impression that , if there was anything to understand , it was n't worth the sweat .", "at this point the marvel superhero movies are as machine-tooled as a prius , and this one sticks closely to the blueprint that 's made them box office titans .", "you can sense that mr. whedon , having helped build a universal earnings machine with the first `` avengers , '' has now struggled mightily , touchingly , to invest this behemoth with some life .", "with marvel 's universe expanding and intertwining at an ever increasing rate , `` age of ultron '' feels less like a sequel than a cosmic event .", "regardless , this time with avengers : age of ultron , our socks were only tugged on , halfway flopping off our collective toes , but never blown quite off .", "writer-director joss whedon attempts to inject just enough human drama into these noisy proceedings to keep it from turning into a transformers-style crashathon .", "the chemistry amongst our heroes is once again terrific to watch , and the action sequences deliver both thrills and laughs .", "that ultron 's vocal delivery packs in more fun and personality than the other characters tells us that `` ultron '' misfires on more than one metaphorical gas-injected cylinder .", "the film is a work of craft , from the actors like mr. downey , who can deliver a comic line with the timing of a mouse trap , to the editors , jeffrey ford and lisa lassek , upon whom so much of the movie 's very elegant fluidity rests ...", "more of the same , just not as good -- lots of sound and fury -lrb- along with some fury -rrb- signifying very little .", "whedon is as interested in how the team works under stress as he is in the way pavement cracks under the collective weight of the hulk and stark 's hulkbuster armor .", "whedon takes a few wrong turns , creating a jumble when the action gets too thick . but he recovers like a pro , devising a spectacle that 's epic in every sense of the word .", "when movies such as this come along which feel more like financial investments than stories , that 's what you get : production line filmmaking in which human beings are incidental and even unnecessary in the face of computer-generated scale and spectacle .", "... tops the original ... yet , somehow it felt like less ... it may be time to take a cue from captain america ii to keep the stock plot outline from showing through ...", "more does not necessarily equal better ; here , more is just ... meh .", "we 've seen this stuff before but whedon does bring a creative touch .", "like most sequels , this one is n't as good as the original . there 's plenty of action and loud noises , but many of the characters seemed weaker and not as well-defined or as vividly portrayed as they were in the first film .", "`` avengers : age of ultron '' is a sometimes daffy , occasionally baffling , surprisingly touching and even romantic adventure with one kinetic thrill after another . it earns a place of high ranking in the marvel universe .", "whedon 's sincere love of this stuff is in most every shot , and that affection is infectious .", "it misses the bar of classic movie greatness but avengers : age of ultron is one of the most exciting and entertaining marvel entries .", "fans of the franchise will be pleased , but those looking in from the outside of comic-book culture may find themselves also looking at their watches .", "it suffers from a bit of transformersitis in laying on the action and effects too thick this time . the thrill may be gone in seeing these comic book icons together but the banter between them still works and it does have its moments of sheer fun .", "... mostly registers as yet another marvel punchplosion .", "-lrb- whedon is -rrb- less a thinker than a teaser , throwing out an inexhaustible amount of ticklish ideas and tasty images that thrill from moment to moment then disappear from memory .", "is n't tony stark/iron man , stumping for ` a suit of armor around the world , ' basically a combination klaatu/gort , endorsing the plan for an earth-patrolling fascist robot army proposed by the alien visitor in ` the day the earth stood still ' ?", "it has color , great delivery , amusing interludes , a cohesive story , and a payoff that does n't betray the sensibilities of its direction .", "whedon 's dense script runs the risk of feeling bloated , but his deft handling of characters and pacing ensure that everybody is where they need to be , and the audience is always right there with them .", "for the semi-initiated viewer , it 's like experiencing a hurricane of story beats and spandex .", "the previous film is arguably the best superhero film ever so there was nowhere for a sequel to go but down ... surely audiences know this , yet expectations were other-worldy .", "whedon is pretty much locked into an overarching storyline and a bland house style here , so instead of bucking the system , he dutifully serves up more of the same bubble-brained gibberish and wanton destruction .", "... the fact that `` age of ultron '' succeeds at all , even if not to the extent of `` the avengers , '' is a major achievement .", "the latest `` avengers '' movie plays its music loud from start to finish . mindless action rules , punctuated only by super hero/villain quips .", "an improvement over the first avengers ; everything feels smoother , the pacing is a bit better , and the overall plot is more intriguing", "on par with its predecessor , joss whedon proves that he 's more then capable of handling this franchise 's biggest film , even if he 's far from perfect at it .", "enough fight scenes and action sequences for three marvel movies , but they are rather nondescript .", "juggling movie stars , plot points and a massive amount of visual effects , whedon manages to put together a sequel that is fast and funny . but befitting the robot of the title , this feels more like a machine than a movie .", "141 minutes of noise and incident .", "avengers : age of ultron firmly confirms its place as the nadir of the marvel cinematic universe - which is no small feat , certainly , given that the studio 's output has been almost uniformly terrible .", "an entertaining package of characters and ideas that manages to be a whole lot more than the first film while also being a little bit less .", "age of ultron can be a little unwieldy , but when it works , it works really well .", "it is the product of a machine perfectly evolved for the sole purpose of annihilating boredom .", "no one needs to be told if he , or even she , likes superhero movies . if you like them at all , you 'll adore avengers : age of ultron .", "a middling film , yet it 's so heavy with joss whedon 's sweat that it never feels like a lazy cash-in -- which for a preordained summer megahit is an accomplishment .", "like a magnificent cake sliced into too many slivers , the movie is at once too much and never quite enough .", "it feels as if this comic book franchise has become a never-ending cinema story . if future films are as well realized as ultron , that 's fine by me .", "sometimes the super-heroism is just brightly colored junk food . and sometimes , it 's a way of giving us a glimpse of how we flawed , messed-up , occasionally monstrous humans can sometimes prove ourselves worthy .", "avengers : age of ultron may be very similar to the original film , but that 's ok , for it still results in an equally thrilling ride .", "the impressive thing about marvel 's avengers : age of ultron is how writer/director joss whedon takes a narrative that is absolutely packed with superheroes and their backstories and all the action in between , and never lets it all feel like it 's too much .", "the fact that marvel announced its entire slate a few months back takes a lot of the impact away . if we did n't know about a black panther film , the mention of wakanda would have been mind-blowing . instead , it fell flat .", "i walked out of the theater feeling like the survivor of an all-you-can-eat buffet .", "bigger and , yes , darker than the first , this is less air-punchingly gleeful but probably more consistent .", "`` avengers : age of ultron '' brings the best of all the marvel worlds for the first explosive superhero thrill-ride of the year .", "a gooey plate of nachos that should n't constitute your whole diet , but is perfectly enjoyable for now , even when it congeals at the end into a wet , sloppy mess .", "-lrb- ` age of ultron ' -rrb- is , to paraphrase an old saying , 10 pounds of movie in a five-pound bag .", "a true ensemble piece of entertainment .", "we have seen the future of the cg-saturated action epic and upon emerging bruised and battered from the local megaplex can say with certitude that it is n't pretty .", "fully embrace this avengers sequel in all its marvel-ousness ! despite some minor flaws , age of ultron packs an expected and welcomed thrill-ride punch .", "mr. whedon seems to rely heavily on forced jocularity in lieu of substantial character development .", "the stakes on the line in this action adventure are not only sky-high but soul-deep . whedon hits both points with an almighty wallop , resulting in a large canvas blockbuster that is as epic as it is profound .", "it ticks all the boxes for a summer blockbuster but you feel spandex fatigue is just being to creep into the marvel cinematic universe .", "avengers : age of ultron is the most substantial and significant marvel film to date that is equally entertaining and electrifying .", "joss whedon seems the best-equipped to manage the sprawling franchise that demands a bigger cast and badder villain each time out .", "like peering into the dead marshes for 142 minutes in imax 3d . all pg-13 robot carnage and no heart .", "james spader , another living , breathing reason we need a special award for voice work and casting at the oscars because he was just the perfect choice for everything that ultron had to offer and performed it incredibly .", "pointless", "fortunately , returning director joss whedon understands how to craft a superhero movie just as well as marvel knows how to sell one .", "the result is a lot of everything , but the film never feels overcrowded : in fact , it 's the interplay between the film 's many different characters , rather than the blow-up-the-world crisis they 're trying to defuse , that keeps you on the edge of your seat .", "avengers : age of ultron is the sequel of a profitable marvel franchise , but it 's far less interesting and powerful than the first instalment .", "joss whedon set a higher bar with the first `` avengers '' -lrb- 2012 -rrb- and tried , in many ways , to top it here . he got close ...", "feels like a bunch of those scenes marvel usually reserves for the credits . it 's more concerned about future films than the one it is actually in .", "... a comic book movie frequently begging to actually be a comic book , with panels allowing readers to pause and pour over fantastic detail that whedon whizzes by ... battle-rattling our senses from start to anticlimactic finish .", "it 's difficult to sit through age of ultron without feeling like a child . it 's fun , touching , exciting , funny , enthralling , moving and spectacular , and it makes the fact that it could be whedon 's last mcu adventure even more upsetting .", "age of ultron is a minute shorter than its predecessor , but it 's a bigger movie in nearly every other regard .", "the avengers , we 're told , are greater than the sum of their parts . avengers : age of ultron is not . but it still boasts some pretty incredible parts . and one heck of a party .", "that sound you hear is the bubble getting near to bursting .", "marvel movie die-hards will come away having found nuggets of pleasure , but those who complain about superhero sagas will find plenty to support their arguments here .", "a thoroughly competent movie , sure ; but its competence is so routine and mechanical as to leave the thing overwhelmingly dull .", "it 's too big . it 's too frenzied . it 's too full of characters it ca n't contain . mostly , it 's just too much everything .", "whedon may still be a maverick but the marvel behemoth proves an ever more levelling corporate force .", "it does n't have the fist-pumping highs of the first film , but age of ultron is deeper , more emotional and all-around better .", "there is so much going on in avengers : age of ultron ... it feels like a minor miracle that not only the film makes sense , but that it 's also somehow enjoyable .", "marvel 's latest is its biggest , baddest installment yet , but it 's the little moments that make it work - in part , because joss whedon is so good at them .", "the movie 's action sequences and sequel-baiting suck up much of its oxygen , and the magnitude of battles dwarf the smaller moments .", "filled with plenty of laughs , great spectacle , and more cool characters than you can poke loki 's sceptre at .", "even though moviegoers looking for nonstop action will get their wish , avengers : age of ultron is really at its best when it 's focusing on the characters .", "in many ways , marvel has grown up and passed whedon by - and his jocular take on the material does n't just feel stale , it feels like a step back .", "any true drama is entirely missing . there is no tension . everything has to stop for the next battle . it is tediously repetitive . and the characters are all one defining trait .", "marvel consistently puts out entertaining films which work towards a common goal - which is why it 's mystifying that avengers : age of ultron , nominally the best entry in phase two , is only mildly entertaining by comparison .", "the film-makers ' understandable inability to take their own material seriously has now pushed the project beyond gentle parody and into broad pastiche .", "not without problems , but continues the avengers tradition of big , bold blockbusters that do n't need to toss away thoughtfulness to remain pure popcorn fun .", "... the film starts out attempting to question the avengers ' place in the world and whether they really make a difference , only to forget to probe for an answer not long after the asking .", "there seems to be a lot of pressure for avengers : age of ultron to more than just a movie , which really hampers its ability to be a movie .", "it 's one you 're going to want to see because when it shines , it shines bright , but avengers : age of ultron is just a little worrying that the universe is already buckling under its own weight .", "okay as a diversion but nowhere close to matching any number of other singular superhero movies . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , violence , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "director joss whedon follows up his billion-dollar superhero smash the way most sequel makers try to up their game : by amping up everything everybody liked the first time around , plus more ! more ! more !", "... a comic book movie , to be sure , but it 's got enough spectacle , wit , and talent on display to make it a most entertaining kickoff to the season .", "-lsb- n -rsb- ails the feeling of sitting and reading a stack of eight comics in one sitting", "joss whedon has said that he 's walking away from the marvel universe after this , and after seeing ultron , it makes sense ; from the looks of things , this movie killed him .", "a lot of movie , where not a lot is special .", "black widow chooses the hulk over thor ? females everywhere say `` huh ? '' the avengers show absolutely no interest in each other . age of ultron is soulless .", "talk about feeding the beast . josh whedon 's never dull chapter in the franchise is practically bursting at its seams , relentlessly serving up just what the fans of this brand are expecting .", "anchored by whedon 's trademark wit without becoming a tiresome zinger-fest , it 's a thrilling and affable slice of impeccably crafted chaos .", "like the worst superhero movies , avengers : age of ultron often feels like not-very-bright kids playing with action toys , holding them up by the ankles and making them fight or kiss or feud at whim and at length .", "while `` avengers : age of ultron '' is n't perfect , and arguably less successful than `` the avengers , '' on a purely enjoyable moviegoing level , it should please fans hardcore and casual alike , and that 's maybe that 's all that really matters in the end .", "avengers : age of ultron succeeds in the top priority of creating a worthy opponent for its superheroes and giving the latter a few new things to do , but this time the action scenes do n't always measure up ...", "despite a densely packed script chock-full of leading characters , there 's rarely a moment where one is underplayed or ignored .", "proves an action movie can have it all : smart without being convoluted , flashy without being shallow , fun without being hollow , and exciting without being dumb .", "joss whedon brings along his `` a '' game for this installment , and it does n't disappoint .", "avengers : age of ultron is smart , nimble and recognises that the one way to make yet more scenes of mass destruction involving is to give the story behind them a little heart .", "it 's hard not to admire how efficiently and enjoyably the myriad elements have been threaded together ; age of ultron is a suitably well-oiled machine with an insatiable appetite for family friendly destruction .", "as gargantuan as blockbusters come ... doubles down on action , sarcasm , and reference-heavy plot .", "while the visuals are extraordinary and the wry humour is welcome , what 's missing is a coherent story with light and shade", "if there is a more perfect movie out there , i do n't know what it is .", "the action scenes are spectacular . but the slightly jumbled story and mob of new characters pulls focus from what makes the film work the best -- the original group of costumed characters .", "joss whedon and his heroes and villains epic offers more this time around -- more characters , more plot points , more action -- and a few reasons for concern .", "spectacularly overstuffed - it 's more spectacle than substance .", "a $ 250 million pile of poo .", "earth 's mightiest heroes are back for a thrilling , fun and , dare i say it , darker film .", "superheroes reteam for entertaining , action-packed sequel .", "avengers strike again -- but not as deftly", "you ca n't escape the feeling that whedon and the gang are having a good time making the film , and want to share that glee with the audience . it 's a franchise that has hit its rhythm .", "the story is wider to the point of becoming unwieldy . but there is fun to be had here , as the heroes kid around with one another against the backdrop of mass destruction and mayhem .", "-lsb- whedon is -rsb- a super-juggler . but on `` age of ultron , '' he seems to have lost control of some of the balls . the new movie succeeds , but falls short of his incredible achievement on 2012 's `` the avengers . ''", "avengers : age of ultron is a big , bold , funny , thrilling , absorbing triumph , and continues marvel studios ' seeming push for world cinematic domination .", "this is joss whedon 's riff on the trope of a darker sequel . joss whedon never met a cliche he could n't deconstruct so this is a wonderful approach to a shared universe superhero team up .", "there 's a lot to like about age of ultron , but the coolest thing about it is the way it reclaims the comic book part of the phrase ` comic-book movie . '", "when ten-cylinder push comes to jet-propelled shove , whedon knows his audience , and supplies the required fireworks .", "an inferior sequel that brings little joy to its grandiosity , `` avengers : age of ultron '' carries the vague aroma of uninspired , box-checking functionality .", "`` avengers : age of ultron '' is supercharged and lifeless , frenetic and stone-cold dead , a barrage of action scenes that look fake , yet make you wonder if fake is the new real .", "although there are some longeurs when whedon feels bound to plot a pathway to marvel 's next tranche of potential blockbusters , the witty repartee between stars at ease in their superhero skin leavens the odd lull .", "whedon weaves theses titanic characters and egos together to bind the bloated universe into a long island iced tea ; the more you savour , the more you come to appreciate all the powerful and seemingly conflicting elements and motivations working together .", "yes , comic-book movies are crowding out everything else , are the eventual heat death of cinema , and so forth . but , man , there 's just so much neat stuff here . boom . kapow .", "it has a definite mid-season feel to it , telling a compelling but never game-changing story while laying the foundations for the epic , two-part infinity war due in 2018 .", "it looks great , but have n't we been here before ?", "there is a significant lack of that human touch in age of ultron 's very fabric , where the winning personalities of its core superheroes feel diminished , defeated and consumed by whatever algorithm keeps these movies going .", "whedon wastes no time teaming them up for a blistering opening sequence that is thrilling . unfortunately that segment is a high point in a film that swiftly becomes an exercise in ever-diminishing returns bar a few moments .", "it would be silly to pretend that avengers : age of ultron is n't good at what it does , that it 's not proficient at delivering superhero thrills for those who crave them most .", "whedon brings a depth and wit to his storytelling that you will never find in a transformers movie . even so , the final showdown is a little anti-climactic .", "it 's hard to muster the attention span to care about earth 's mightiest heroes when we know they 'll just be back to do it all again in a few years .", "avengers : age of ultron is a perfect example of the kind of crowd-pleasing blockbuster that audiences expect in this day and age , though i do n't think it will achieve classic-status like the first film .", "if you 're happy to , as they say , just turn your brain off and watch your heroes fight , it 's fine ... but marvel has set me up to expect stories a bit above that base level", "tons of fun , easy to digest and just really enjoyable . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the plot is simple and the movie does n't live up to expectations . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "avengers : age of ultron plays like an obligation , a box to be checked off on a list before all parties move onto the things they really want to do .", "it gives marvel fans exactly what they want and more . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "delivers as the epic summer blockbuster film of 2015 again and again . avengers fans wo n't walk out the theater disappointed .", "it 's like we 're watching consecutive episodes of a very large , very expensive tv show . you might love the show , but it 's not exactly an `` event '' every time it 's on , you know ?", "if at least nine lead characters get their due in dramatic arcs , quippy zingers , and superhero showmanship , it is inevitable that it will be cluttered .", "a sense of the mechanical plagues this film .", "the climactic act of `` age of ultron '' is full of colossal ka-booms and special effects , but it also has heft and reason and a bass-note of emotion .", "it 's a little overstuffed and a little overlong . one thing it 's not , even a little , is disappointing .", "whedon has pulled off an impressive feat here , sustaining the intensity of a ripping adventure yarn while digging into a few of the characters a little more deeply , finding fresh ground to cover in a more satisfying epic .", "avengers : age of ultron delivers the usual superhero suspects in a slick , if overlong , adventure that bungee jumps between banter and action .", "it is a good sequel that ends with the promise of a better and more entertaining mcu . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "like the first one , avengers : age of ultron was written and directed by joss whedon , among whose many virtues is an indelible , infallible touch with character , which is important because in ultron he has to introduce them at a furious rate .", "a welcome return of the avengers amusing team dynamic and essentially asking `` what more could you want ? ''", "whedon is mostly up to the task of keeping all his balls in the air , though he 's not above using some glib speechmaking and ridiculous action to divert your attention and keep your questions at bay .", "whedon delivers enough fun , action , and engaging team banter that fans will exit pleased but perhaps not giddy with joy .", "is avengers : age of ultron the point where the marvel cinematic universe goes too far ? hel no ! but ... it 's hard not to feel it somewhat missed the mark .", "the movie 's brain quickly catches up with its big body , and writer-director joss whedon tops his 2012 outing with a more emotional sequel .", "darker than its predecessor -lsb- and -rsb- far less witty ... whereas stark seemed to dominate the first film , here the emphasis is ... hawkeye and black widow ... a negative in the case of hawkeye and a huge positive in the case of black widow .", "writer/director joss whedon balances comedy and derring-do with dexterity , and this sequel to 2012 's top grosser does n't stall the franchise .", "it scarcely needs to be said that there 's a certain lack of freshness here , and some plot developments from the original graphic novels that we really did n't need - although , of course , there 's also some seriously cool avenger-ing too .", "this is a film that unfolds with every re-watch and reveals more subtle little grace notes .", "incredibly expensive action scenes full of destruction go on for way too long with little context behind them , leading to overkill and boredom .", "like the first film , what makes the sequel work is how director joss whedon builds the action on this character foundation and injects it with just enough humor to make its personality radiate .", "age of ultron is all rush and sensation with little substance . but what a feeling .", "in the moments where it all comes together , like the sure-to-be-iconic hulkbuster sequence , this is the very model of what marvel 's been chasing since day one .", "ultron is too full , of action and cgi , while also being nearly empty of genuine thrills . a talented cast impresses throughout , but the action ultimately overwhelms it .", "avengers : age of ultron , is a letdown -- entertaining to a degree , but so overstuffed that it may mark the point of diminishing returns for the marvel movies generally .", "an entertaining compromise . overloaded , but the execution of intimate character moments shine in what 's essentially a bridging film", "it 's a superhero cavalcade of energy and fun .", "the marvel that was 2012 's the avengers receives a letdown of a sequel ... make no mistake : this new picture is worth seeing , but the sense of magic is largely missing from a follow-up that subscribes to the bigger is better theory .", "it was like whedon thought about the 1st film and felt it was n't deep enough , not realizing that its success was its comic book shallowness . it was just fun for audiences .", "there are only so many superhero smackdowns a body can take before it all becomes biff bam bore ... the film is most entertaining when it finds the avengers kicking back rather than kicking off , hanging around off duty and indulging in locker-room banter .", "the symphony of destruction works because this blockbuster behemoth has an actual soul .", "when it reaches its extended climax , however , age of ultron perfectly delivers huge action scenes with the requisite smaller heroic beats .", "whedon returns to assemble his team once more in avengers : age of ultron , and the results are at the same time familiar , different and as thrilling as ever before .", "entertaining as much of `` avengers 2 '' is , especially when it 's just hanging out with the gang in between scuffles -lrb- the `` guardians of the galaxy '' lesson , learned -rrb- , whedon 's picture meets expectations without exceeding them .", "`` age of ultron '' proves that a movie with stealth fighter jets , levitating cities and hulk-on-robot fisticuffs can be as freewheeling as a no-budget indie .", "ultron maintains marvel 's record for solid , entertaining blockbusters but falls down a bit in the `` making sense '' department .", "thin on story , crowded with characters and padded with extraneous action . in other words , a sure hit !", "ultron is slyly funny . and it manages to balance this sort of comedy -lrb- i hooted when the hulk listens to maria callas on headphones -rrb- with the tendency towards the sort of whacko-labyrinthine operatic complexity inherent in comic books .", "whedon gets the elastic physical reality of comic books , and he knows how to frame a shot as though it were a splash panel come to life ... but by the fifth digital showdown , the endless cgi spectacle begins to feel a little numbing .", "everything -lsb- whedon -rsb- did so well on the first meeting of these marvel comic book creations he achieves once again , which makes for a movie both enjoyable and somewhat repetitive .", "no one can quibble with the efforts of the actors . marvel cast well , and continues to expand their parts or add fascinating new players .", "`` avengers : age of ultron '' lives up to the hype ... it gets darker than the first , and still manages to be just as funny and action-packed .", "despite the overall enjoyment factor of the film , with this , its eleventh film , writer-director joss whedon seems intent on pushing some of marvel films ' more tiresome elements to the extreme .", "giddy good fun as the marvel movies consistently are-age of ultron 's many battles swoop and clang nicely-they 're no longer novel .", "most of these characters are great fun , and there are still stories to tell . so why not do it , instead of telling and retelling the same tale , only bigger ?", "whedon and his large , capable cast -lrb- even larger for this follow-up -rrb- deliver enough adventure , laughs and flat-out spectacle to ensure that audiences will feel as if they have gotten their money 's worth ...", "the basic gist is easy enough to follow , even if most of the battle scenes , shot in a barrage of quick cuts and extreme close-ups , feel like watching a rugby match from inside the ball .", "you 'd be surprised how much slack you 'll cut a film that features superheroes gently ribbing one another for 142 minutes .", "whedon is still whedon , and the grace notes -- the snappy patter , the team dynamics , the `` man , that was cool '' moments -- go a long way .", "whedon & co. provide more than enough glib jokes , fx spectacles and sweet human insights to make age of ultron a popcorn must for the rest of us in need of a little comic-book wisdom right about now .", "it 's to whedon 's credit that , among all the fighting and property damage , he makes just enough time to focus on the personal lives of some of his characters , but not so much that the movie gets bogged down by it .", "the amazing thing about avengers : age of ultron is that it 's reasonably enjoyable while feeling less like a movie than an epic sowing of seeds for multiple marvel properties .", "age of ultron disappoints not because it 's irredeemably bad but because it fails to achieve the level of its predecessor in nearly every facet .", "there 's still a thrill in seeing all of these comic book characters together in a movie . even when it 's just ulysses klaw .", "though advertised as a darker and more brooding follow-up , the real surprise of ultron is how much in line with the first film 's tone and structural beats this is .", "not everything about age of ultron works ... but long stretches of it are as good as anything marvel studios has produced , suggesting a bolder , more ambitious vision for the studio going forward .", "a marvel blockbuster with more human touches than usual for this kind of fare .", "it exemplifies what marvel has always done , which is make the superhuman more human .", "this is indisputably a sequel in just about every sense of the word : bigger , louder , sillier -lrb- and not always in a good way -rrb- , more ambitious and , alas , less satisfying than the film that came before it .", "the movie is stiff and enervated . it 's all punch-punch , banter-banter , like a sitcom in which cities get leveled .", "it 's not so much what they do , it 's what the avengers say that makes `` avengers : the age of ultron '' worth seeing on the big screen .", "this sequel also represents whedon 's last go-around with the marvel heroes , and while it succeeds in many ways , it 's enough of a comedown to suggest that he 's getting off the carousel at the right time .", "director joss whedon 's strengths - and better writing - really come through in the quieter moments . relish those while you can .", "avengers : age of ultron is a pure popcorn-powered blast to begin the blockbuster season but nothing deeper this time .", "like greek gods before them , superheroes are our modern myths , so why should n't they examine issues of the classic texts in our time ? the end credit sequence actually gives this idea a visual corollary , as it shows a giant hellenistic statue .", "stan lee says , `` excelsior . '' if that does n't get you bouncing off the walls , you 've clearly come to the wrong franchise .", "that is n't to say i did n't enjoy myself . i just did n't feel marvel trying to do anything different this time around .", "it 's possible to approve of how such a billion-dollar apparatus can be this fast and breezy .", "the biggest battle is the one between writer-director joss whedon and the massed forces of marvel studios .", "there 's something to be had here , with such fine actors and seamless interlacing into a mega fantasy world , but overall the embarrassment of riches does n't quite pay dividends ." ], "summary": "exuberant and eye-popping , avengers : age of ultron serves as an overstuffed but mostly satisfying sequel , reuniting its predecessor 's unwieldy cast with a few new additions and a worthy foe .", "id": "771313962" }, { "movie": "jane_eyre_2011", "reviews": [ "given the superb acting , the few sparkling rounds of wordplay , and the gothic haunts that amp up the wilder aspects of the drama , this beautifully-shot jane stands among the best of its gazillion versions .", "wasikowska and fassbender are wonderful together . they have a joking flirtiness that seems just right for a time when public kissing would have been as off-limits as public nudity today .", "the film ... retains the book 's strongest message as a proto-feminist tract , underlining jane 's strength and defiance .", "beautiful , elegant and creepy ! it 's an adaptation worth your time .", "fukunaga 's interpretation takes great pains to accurately capture the period in its language and costumes .", "little sunshine allowed here , with the feature finding fertile dramatic ground in pained expressions and gut-rot frustration ; however , in fukunaga 's capable hands , there 's undeniable beauty in all the misery and turmoil .", "the eyre/rochester romance has inspired happy sighs for 160 years and in these days , when so little is repressed that no one makes time for smolder , it still delivers .", "somehow wasikowska makes it all seem much more personal , more real . with her stark , starched dresses and blunt , elastic face , she draws you in , making both jane 's pain and incredible resolve tangible .", "it 's quite a good film , and well-worth seeing even if you do n't normally go for this type of thing .", "... this is a victorian age stripped of its romanticism . in its stead is passion", "after 160 years , this is a story that still grips the heart and the mind .", "cary joji fukunaga has very likely surpassed all previous cinematic versions of `` MOV . ''", "though there 's enough to admire intellectually here , every `` MOV '' should also deliver some emotional swoons .", "you can almost see the text exploding with energy as the actors bring it to life ... which is why audiences will find themselves enchanted , even perhaps swooning in ` MOV . '", "lovers of charlotte bronte 's classic will luxuriate in the spooky gothic atmosphere , but the film 's pallid jane fails to nail a character who changed how women view themselves .", "drama based on classic novel is moody , complex .", "wasikowska is the revelation here -- her wary , intelligent face tells us volumes about this abused but unbowed young woman . but the small roles are also beautifully cast .", "the lush beauty , poetic storytelling and fresh , vibrant performances from a wonderful cast makes this MOV one of the most mesmerizing , relevant retells yet seen .", "this particular screen version never generates a lot of heat or intrigue", "a splendid example of how to tackle the daunting duty of turning a beloved work of classic literature into a movie .", "by opening their movie with the mature jane , the filmmakers forge an emotional bond between her and the audience .", "our belief in the relationship keeps us invested in `` eyre '' even as its dated gender/class ideas test -lrb- sometimes too much -rrb- our 21st-century sensibilities , and the story rolls out its gothic hooey .", "true aficionados will doubtless wish the film etched every aspect of the bront\u00eb experience but that 's a quibble in light of the movie 's intoxicating charms . it 's impossible not to fall in love with this jane .", "fukunaga performs a quantum leap from tense , topical actioners to sedate prestige productions .", "an atmospheric , absorbing version of the classic romance between an abandoned , plucky orphan and a wealthy , mysterious older man with a seriously gothic secret .", "MOV is a sumptuous , transcendent melodrama-it feels more tragic , more authentic and more alive than ever before . it rings true with the most important critic of all , our heart .", "there is not a drab image or a middling performance in the piece . the freewheeling adaptation drops needless scenes and spurs the story ahead with galloping momentum .", "is it dreary , stingy and strained ? well , yes : it 's `` MOV , '' after all . but it 's also robust and full-blooded and forceful : it 's `` MOV , '' after all .", "what is the one image you remember from reading charlotte bronte 's MOV ? got it ? well , it 's missing from this latest adaptation .", "can a film be true to a classic literary source and still seem fresh ? the answer is yes , and the proof is the new adaptation of MOV .", "a better barometer for the necessity of cary fukunaga 's film , however , might be its less-than-literate box office competition . applying that consideration , maybe we do need this MOV after all .", "it has passion all right -- in the stylistics . those star-crossed love birds jane and rochester are no match for the tracking shots and throbbing violins .", "it 's really strange , this whole weird gothic romance going on and then you turn in into the most kind of distanced , blas\u00e9 material imaginable .", "there is a ready-made audience out there and ... may even attract a new generation of fans for -lsb- charlotte -rsb- bronte 's classic .", "it marks a vivid return to a world defined by antiquated social mores and timeless emotions .", "it captures the elemental bront\u00eb passions yet again .", "with spellbinding romantic performances by wasikowska and fassbender as her elusive love , some guys might find this slow , but i was completely blown away .", "although MOV wants for the depth of passion and heat we might expect from this gothic couple who feel united in their souls , this film can boast a wealth of attention given to other visual and narrative details .", "some wonderful parts in the novel are crudely truncated ; other , oft-omitted material is added without adding very much .", "anchored by wasikowska 's intens -lsb- ity -rsb- , dreams and flashbacks ... maximize her unbending quest for freedom -lsb- and -rsb- to choose who to love ... -lsb- p -rsb- assion comes through look and sound .", "cary joji fukunaga has reanimated a classic for a new generation , letting ` MOV ' resonate with terror and tenderness .", "this MOV is a good-looking film , serious , thought through and well acted .", "wasikowska gives jane such intensity and intelligence that her relationship with rochester feels absolutely right and not , for a change , wish-fulfilment fantasy .", "what is surprising is how vigorous and alive it feels .", "as MOV proves , you still ca n't beat a good story .", "some works of art are inexhaustible , and this is proving one of them .", "the new MOV is notably well-made in almost every respect and should you want to watch an adaptation of the story just now , highly recommendable .", "elegantly adapted for the screen by moira buffini , MOV condenses the source novel into two hours of yearning and regret .", "a time-tested rags-to-riches tale with burning passions and smoldering secrets , spiked with pointed statements about morality , religion and forgiveness .", "a chaste , yet inescapably sexy love story told with depth and passion .", "a film which busily ticks off plot points while failing to capture the aching , class-based challenges that presumably formed the backbone of bront\u00e9 's book .", "fukunaga does more than most to flesh out her days with rivers and his sisters . he keeps bront\u00eb 's theme of religious repression ever present , and he still finds time to watch jane quietly as she cuts flowers and thinks .", "anyone who savours shades of grey will have a feast .", "MOV is like having oatmeal for breakfast - it 's good for you but rather plain and unexciting .", "passable yet unimaginative , a by the numbers re-do of a classic hard to mess up .", "cary fukunaga 's feverishly soulful remake of the multiply remade MOV rises to most challenges -- not the least of which is making mia wasikowska , a golden child of current cinema , look homely .", "there may be some two dozen other tv and film versions at your disposal , but this new MOV , from director cary fukunaga , is a must-see proposition .", "when -lsb- wasikowska and fassbender -rsb- come face to face - his light eyes burning white heat , her porcelain neck quivering beneath his possessive grip - the atmosphere is explosive .", "fukunaga 's adaptation is often superficial and overwrought , fussy about costumes and pre-raphaelite compositions . but his cast is fabulous for the most part , especially the leads .", "while qualifying as the most gorgeously appointed and finely detailed version of the novel so far , still lacks the element of essential fire to make it come fully , even subversively , to life .", "wasikowska and fassbender deliver the fight , the dialogue and the melodramatic plot twists .", "impressively directed , beautifully shot and superbly written , this is a hugely enjoyable , achingly romantic period drama with terrific performances from mia wasikowska and michael fassbender .", "there 's no question it 's stunningly mounted , and wasikowska makes a much stronger jane than alice , but the romance is overripe and the climax underdone .", "this is no plain jane .", "wasikowska probably wo n't win an oscar because the strength of her performance lies in just how unassuming it is - but she should .", "in approaching the material with respect , restraint and simple good taste , fukunaga has created something strangely revelatory .", "this adaptation is balanced , crafted , beautifully acted , though for me without the thunderclap and lightning-bolt of passion .", "spot on .", "those craving gloomy stairways and thunderclap atmospherics might not come away completely sated , but fukunaga 's delicate artistry leaves it hard to ask for much more .", "the film is decently acted , well photographed and sumptuously costumed - but dry , drab and a little dull .", "i doubt anyone 's going to fall in love with this version but it 's a commendable addition to the canon that does a good job of condensing the story .", "mia wasikowska , from australia , is a relative newcomer who must essentially carry `` MOV , '' and succeeds with restraint , expressing a strong moral compass .", "multiple men demonstrate extreme , sudden affection for jane . this , apparently , is what happens when there are only two women in a village and one is judi dench .", "feels strikingly unnecessary . why watch the same tale spun for a tenth time when you could be watching one of the previous nine ?", "careful , respectful and even enjoyable , and yet dry , singularly humorless and played without the lavishness of spirit that makes sense of gothic melodrama .", "a handsome production . it plays the novel 's beats with a special kind of dexterity .", "beauty , along with a sense of mystery , is what audiences expect in a gothic romance , and fukunaga delivers with carefully composed shots of austere landscapes and shadowy victorian opulence .", "luminous in the kids are all right and alice in wonderland , wasikowska makes drab seem rad in director cary fukunaga 's insightful rendering of bront\u00eb 's gothic love story , a new classic version of this oft-told tale .", "to no one 's surprise , the story still works like gothic gangbusters , thanks in part to reliable back-court support from judi dench -lrb- as mrs. fairfax -rrb- and sally hawkins -lrb- as jane 's venal guardian -rrb- .", "this is one of the better jane eyres i 've seen onscreen , a conception that forsakes movie-groomed glamour for a plainer , less compromised beauty .", "some of us are `` MOV '' addicts , and the new movie version directed by cary joji fukunaga gives us just the right fix .", "mia 's marvellous but no plain jane in bront\u00eb melodrama .", "acclaimed director cary fukunaga brings his vision to moira buffini 's screenplay , which while faithful to bronte 's 1847 novel , has in part changed the story 's structure . the resulting fine film envelopes us with the power of its imagery and sombre mood", "the end result is a decent adaptation of a hopelessly uninvolving novel , with the movie 's minor success due almost entirely to fukunaga 's striking directorial choices and wasikowska and fassbender 's magnetic performances .", "following his impressive feature debut , sin nombre , director cary fukunaga has brought his keen eye and humanistic sensibilities to this oft-told story .", "the slow-boiling romance convinces thanks to wasikowska and fassbender 's unwavering seriousness and commitment to selling the story . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a bold choice of director , striking visuals and a rochester to rival orson welles ' ensures this does n't feel like just one more highbrow period piece or stodgy great-book adap .", "fukunaga takes his time with MOV - a rare trait of any book-to-film adaptation - and at no point does it feel like he 's simply ticking off the relevant plot points .", "... this new incarnation embraces the gothic gloom and lonely isolation of the novel but , like its stoic , strong heroine , never gives in to the darkness .", "far from being a worthy and stodgy literary adaptation , MOV is a passionate and romantic love story that feels as fresh as it must have done when bront\u00eb originally wrote it .", "the story is a little too compact at times but the exquisite performance of mia wasikowska makes this film stand out .", "i loved the last theatrical adaptation of this classic back in 1996 , but fukunaga 's version had me falling in love all over again .", "the acting of the two leads , michael fassbender and mia wasikowska , is the best element of this stark , spare , sporadically involving version of bronte 's classic novel .", "young stars shine in gritty , low-key version of the bronte perennial .", "the candlelight flickers exquisitely even as the passions are slow to ignite in this spare , shrewdly acted but not especially vital retelling of MOV .", "-lsb- video -rsb- the alchemy of its ensemble performances present a tart dose of melancholy romance . only those young at heart need apply .", "the umpteenth take on bront\u00eb 's novel takes a unique gothic approach , but the results are grim at times and dull at others .", "despite the well-trod dramatic territory of bront\u00eb 's classic , mia wasikowska and michael fassbender stand out amid the windswept moors and woeful secrets .", "wasikowska 's jane is as watchful as only a damaged soul can be , and , when challenged , frighteningly fast .", "ms. wasikowska works with economical purity within the novel 's 19th-century english setting . jane 's personal power seems entirely her own , rather than some anachronistic notion of self-empowerment .", "there is no dust or pretension here , just a great story impeccably shot and acted , and a film impossible to shake .", "in its superbly spare execution , the newest adaptation of MOV is both faithful to charlotte bront\u00eb 's classic and distinctively original .", "watching MOV , i envied those who have never read the book : what would it be like to watch this movie without already knowing all of the story 's secrets ? miraculously , fukunaga preserves much of the book 's spooky mysteriousnes .", "fukunaga 's take on bront\u00eb 's gloomy vision of class , religious austerity , and the most closely guarded chambers of the heart needs no contrasting or comparisons to earn its rightful praise", "cary joji fukunaga 's romantic thriller MOV is to19th-century literature what black swan is to ballet : a thoroughly cinematic , occasionally exhilarating reimagining of a repertoire standard .", "a blueprint for sexual harassment in the workplace in that time period .", "a good , solid , worthy version of the story , but in one key respect it falls short of its potential .", "a somber yet fiery adaptation of the classic charlotte bronte novel with sterling performances by leads mia wasikowska -lrb- ` alice in wonderland ' -rrb- and michael fassbender .", "a spooky , sexy , streamlined adaptation .", "shooting in the midlands , director cary joji fukunaga conjures an authentically mysterious/beautiful milieu , while scripter moira buffini preserves the elaborately polite -lrb- however menacing -rrb- and formal language that is one of the novel 's chief delights", "respectful to the novel .", "the colors and compositions recall the haunting beauty of jane campion 's the piano , which found a similar tension between the wilderness and a highly mannered society .", "all the ingredients are there in this captivating film .", "heartaching and heartbreaking , and resolute in its even-keeled feminism .", "ruffled my petticoat !", "fukunaga 's superbly executed direction and careful staging speak very rarely , and yet say so much .", "using bront\u00eb 's text as the basis for an inquiry into free will versus servitude , fukunaga mounts a subtly shaded , yet emotionally devastating , examination of what it really means to choose one 's own way .", "will we remember this MOV any more fondly than the last feature or the inevitable next miniseries ? does it even matter ? bronte 's novel will surely outlast them all .", "proto-feminist or merely her own instinctive person , withholding or giving with equal resolve , mia wasikowska 's restrained jane is among those to remember .", "has a few token thunderstorm-on-the-moors scenes but lacks a grand , mythological design . the movie is choppy and prosaic .", "an inventive and fertile screen adaptation of charlotte bronte 's 1847 novel .", "the film builds to a shattering climax that works precisely because all involved fully embrace the melodrama . be sure to bring kleenex .", "you got ta hand it to charlotte bront\u00eb . one hundred and sixty-four years since she gave hyperkinetic victorian schoolgirls their first sleepless nights , she 's pulling them in all over again .", "a spare , visually foreboding and well acted adaptation of one the mainstays of high school reading lists that nonetheless struggles to consistently or cathartically dramatically connect .", "wasikowska is flawless , complex , the most self-possessed jane ever , and fassbender the most romantic rochester in a glorious film that embraces bronte 's wildest emotions .", "with strong performances and striking , well-conceived visuals , in fukunaga 's hands bronte 's tale of love and woe becomes one well worth repeating .", "if the motion-picture industry had existed in 1847 , the year charlotte bront\u00eb 's novel appeared , it might have produced an adaptation much like this one .", "it 's not warm , it 's not fuzzy , it 's not cuddly , but its plenty seriously heartbreaking and it 's got the feeling of a classic already .", "this may be the most psychologically dangerous film version yet of charlotte bronte 's novel .", "admirable attempt - but this modernist , non-linear interpretation totally lacks a formidable leading man .", "-lrb- the movie -rrb- lacks the larger-than-life emotional grandeur that the gothic romance is supposed to elicit .", "it 's not a failure , it 's just not a revelation worthy of a revisit .", "its style of filmmaking is infused with a contemporary vibe that reflects its protofeminist themes while emphasizing the chillier aspects of the ghost story .", "beyond being a great new interpretation of a classic novel , MOV is a superb second feature from fukunaga , a director who 's on track to becoming a major contemporary filmmaker .", "refined , elegant , and just a little bit too tame to capture the simmering passion of the original ... still , among the features based on the book , it stands quite high .", "the sad fact is , charlotte bront\u00eb 's MOV just does n't make for appealing cinema .", "bring tissues . you 've been warned .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- a welcome change from horrible bosses etc -lrb- ... -rrb- in an age of instant gratification , lessons about the value of solitude for long term benefit still ring true .", "the direction by cary fukunaga is real by-the-numbers rote .", "mporeis na thn entakseis sth lykofwtismenh -lrb- i.e. twilight-oplhkth -rrb- biomhxanikh alysida toy hollywood , paroles tis bretanikes ths sfragides", "if fukunaga and screenplay author moira buffini had any new ideas or insight to bring to the well-worn source material , they did n't bother putting it on screen .", "the best adaptation of a 19th century novel , with all the grandiose production design and fussy costumes thereby implied , since pride & prejudice all the way back in 2005 , if not longer .", "screenwriter moira buffini sticks pretty closely to the novel , and director cary fukunaga conjures a drab tone that nicely sets off the characters ' violent but rigidly controlled passions .", "thanks to this beautifully crafted treatment , newcomers and veterans will learn something about the past and more than likely a few things -lrb- wanted or not -rrb- about themselves .", "pretty as a postcard -- a postcard of a dark grey , gloomy , windswept moor", "a rather anemic version of charlotte bronte 's classic novel , focus film and bbc 's MOV favors atmosphere over strong narrative .", "duttiful , for the most part adequate and , as far as i can see , it has no compelling reason to exist" ], "summary": "cary fukunaga directs a fiery and elegant adaptation of charlotte bronte 's classic novel , and mia wasikowska delivers possibly the best portrayal of the title character ever .", "id": "771090722" }, { "movie": "hurt_locker", "reviews": [ "a sudden , extended sniper attack , coming midway through the movie , is the best sequence i 've seen on film this year .", "the movie pays off so well because it places you fully in the shoes of the men , from their fears and obsessions to their paranoia about virtually every iraqi citizen they encounter .", "an important , intense , nail-biting experience -- really quite unforgettable .", "this is a harrowing picture , made all the more disturbing because it 's based in a war that is being waged right now .", "there is much that is fiercely modest about its ambitions . and , for a war film , it is often disconcertingly quiet .", "one of the best-made films of 2009 .", "it is visceral filmmaking at its best .", "the MOV succeeds where others have n't , putting you in the boots of highly trained army personnel . and since they 're experts at defusing bombs , it 's understandable if you shake in them .", "locker is merciless in its wretched view of life during wartime . ieds , suicide bombers , even old-school sniper fire -- all these things are around to remind soldiers that death is imminent at any waking minute .", "the idea of watching people risking being blown to smithereens might not create a box office blockbuster . but this is certainly director kathryn bigelow 's best film since point break in 1991 .", "the kind of uncompromising movie that any politician who claims to support the troops while extending the war and cutting funds for veterans ' benefits -lrb- or any chickenhawk pundit who pooh-poohs the ongoing effects of ptsd -rrb- should be forced to see .", "free of liberal hand-wringing and quasi-political subtext , the MOV is an adrenaline-drenched war thriller which uses a conventional genre format to explore and expose issues of violence , compulsion and masculinity .", "understands the key element in modern warfare : chaos reigns supreme .", "bigelow uses hand-held camera and eye-level character p.o.v. shots to create a gritty sense of being there .", "this is not just a character study . this film has battle scenes of such immediacy , intensity and suspense it puts the battle scenes in most other war movies to shame .", "tensely action-packed and muscularly directed by kathryn bigelow , this tale of an elite u.s. army bomb disposal unit in baghdad is a familiar story in new clothes , targeted at the young male demographic .", "with the help of a well-informed screenplay by journalist mark boal , bigelow dispenses with the red-wire/blue-wire lies hollywood told you and replaces them with a heady brew of documentary realism and action poetry .", "the MOV shows there 's more than one kind of solder fighting the war , more than one kind of story to tell .", "like all the best war movies -- no matter what war , what era -- the MOV goes to the core of human nature .", "parental content review", "are we 100 % positive that this film is not real footage from the iraq war ? bigelow has directed one of the most intense and realistic films to come out in years .", "-lsb- bigelow -rsb- may have finally given the iraq war its definitive identifying film .", "this film is better than any documentary i 've seen on the iraq war . it 's so real , it 's scary . well-written well-acted , well-directed . multiple oscars possible . paul chambers , cnn .", "one of the better iraq war films ever made and quite honestly one of the best war films ever made ...", "there are no clich\u00e9s here . the silence of waiting out a sniper and the silence of consumer excess back home take on disturbing subtexts that defy expectations while laying bare the damage to james ' soul", "the tension of life-and-death situations and of egos that need to cooperate to survive , is manifest in ` the MOV . '", "a kind of ` dr. strangelove : how i learned to stop worrying and love the bomb ' - but for real , this movie ai n't kidding . MOV : war means never having to say you 're sorry .", "bears the mark of a painter , full of deceptively beautiful imagery masking multiple layers of meaning .", "i 'm not sure this is a film that will be easy to sell to the general public , but anyone who is willing to test themselves will find that it 's a dynamic and memorable experience .", "this is a must see film .", "more than any recent movie , this has a ` you are there ' feel to it that gives us a flavor of an iraq we do n't see on the nightly newscasts .", "the MOV has been surrounded by oscar hype since the film was released overseas months ago , and with good reason : it is masterpiece of suspense .", "the MOV becomes like many wars ; a nerve-wracking experience without solid answers for the core question of why we 're there .", "bigelow 's constantly moving camera , often jittery and restless , does well to convey the tension and latent chaos that bubbles beneath the surface of these soldiers ' lives .", "it 's a film about why some soldiers love war , a theme that 's rare in war films made by men .", "the MOV is amazing as a thoughtful action movie but merely really , really darn good as a character study .", "the MOV is set in present-day baghdad , but it could be taking place anywhere in the world , at virtually any time in the last century .", "boal 's script discovers the hollow inside the brave james : the missing part that made him never stop to realize why he did his job . that final revelation is smart filmmaking .", "there are plenty of things in MOV that may tempt you to cover your ears and hide your eyes . if you do , you 'll be missing one of the year 's best movies .", "i think the film works really well precisely because they do n't try to build up some phony narrative arc to hang the whole thing on . the film is very slice-of-life , very observational .", "one of the best war movies i 've seen .", "kathryn bigelow has shown hollywood how it 's done : the MOV is the strongest and most satisfying thriller in years .", "psychologically acute and thrillingly dramatic , the MOV blows every other iraq war movie off the screen .", "just when you thought the battle of iraq war dramas had been fought and lost , along comes one that demands to be seen -- if you can handle the raging adrenaline .", "as unpredictable and tragic as it is genuinely riveting .", "-lsb- the movie -rsb- speaks volumes about war , and the toll war takes on the men who fight and die in uniform , precisely because it says very little about the particulars of this war .", "we 've had good and very good iraq movies for several years now , but the MOV has a fullness of understanding that sets it apart .", "it 's the best war movie since full metal jacket .", "the MOV is episodic and , at times , overwrought . and occasionally its deliberate opacity becomes too cloudy . but the things that shine through are remarkable .", "the miserably visceral exists here not as exploitation but out of the demands of authenticity .", "this is n't just a lacerating drama about the wages of war on a soldier 's soul , but also the most exhilarating , sweat-inducing action film of the year thus far .", "as emotionally involving an action movie as you 're likely to find this year -lrb- much less this summer -rrb- , ` the MOV ' is also a tense , forceful meditation on the addictive nature of combat .", "set in war-torn iraq of 2004 , the pic 's certainly excellent in many ways . but it never asks the question : `` what are these american soldiers doing here ? ''", "the MOV is an action-packed thriller of the first order , the most entertaining movie to be made to date about the iraq war .", "the most literally exciting film you will see this year . forget the off-putting banner of another iraq movie - go , watch , marvel , endure and book in the palliative of a stiff drink afterwards .", "bigelow 's film combines an expert management of tension with a sensitive and journalistic attention to detail : she has one eye on the truth and the other on the multiplex .", "it 's only a movie about men at work in war . yet it seems like a definitive war movie .", "a hardcore depiction of modern war and the brave soldiers who fight , while quietly but assuredly begging the question : war , what is it good for ?", "the MOV is an exciting and visceral work .", "i ca n't think of a recent film , not even oliver stone 's platoon , that has conveyed so vividly what it is to be a soldier today on a front line .", "for , in short , in its gutsy , bare-bones beauty , the MOV is not simply a war movie . it is war poetry .", "a blazingly powerful action movie ... whose unpretentious clarity makes for a refreshing change .", "the MOV is not a conventional approach to wartime heroics but rather a penetrating and harrowing examination of war 's unrelenting damage on the human psyche .", "the MOV is horrifying . it 's hopeless . i want to go see it again .", "the MOV is a masterwork of filmmaking and without rhetoric , reminds us -lrb- again -rrb- that war may be politics by other means but it is always murder .", "this is a film that does n't distract with big self-aggrandizing political statements , but nevertheless succeeds in nailing the horror of the war .", "it is neither an anti-war film nor a pro-war film . it is , simply , a great war film about courageous men working in chaotic situations , and the collateral damage that comes with the job .", "if you walk into a screening of kathryn bigelow 's the MOV with a set of fulsome fingernails , expect to leave with stubs . if you 're a chronic nail biter , except to leave with half your fingers gnawed off .", "the MOV transcends the political slop surrounding iraq and cuts straight to the bone , letting us touch the hard , bloody reality of war without casualties of cliche or naive acts of emotional heroism .", "bigelow , one of the very few women working in the traditionally male-dominated action and war genres , avoids both red wire/yellow wire clich\u00e9 and political preaching to deliver a film that is as psychologically fascinating as it is taut and exciting .", "if you have a chance to see it , you should n't hesitate to do so .", "not only the best film made so far about the war in iraq , but also one of the best thrillers of the year .", "first female best director oscar right here .", "even if you think you 've had your fill of iraq stories , this is one of the worthiest -- ironically because the particularity of the conflict is little more than a footnote .", "what makes MOV truly great is that it 's most interested in telling us an honest story about these soldiers and this war , without servicing any type of political agenda .", "some scenes in ` the MOV ' are as memorable and iconic as those in ` apocalypse now . '", "kathryn bigelow 's films have ranged from near dark -lrb- 1987 -rrb- to near-disaster , but here , for the first time , she forges her mastery of detail , composition , pacing , psychological insight , and perverse beauty into a masterpiece .", "i found it difficult at times to remember that these men are actors . the tension is pulled to just the right tautness to be sustained over time without having to defuse it with a narrative break . and the acting is great .", "in one sense , the MOV is an old school war film % u2013 muscular , focused almost exclusively on men in combat , and not interested in politics or making a statement . but the film 's also very contemporary .", "it is a tremendous film that needs to be seen , and not just by the testosterone crowd .", "one of the most compelling motion pictures in years , certainly among the best war films ever put on film .", "bigelow 's direction is confident -- the action sequences are tense and suspenseful , so much so that the MOV also works as a straight-up war film .", "one of the greatest american films of the decade , certainly the best american movie since there will be blood , shocking , overwhelming and unforgettable .", "for the first hour or more , the MOV boldly forsakes any conventional narrative hook beyond the ongoing tensions between these men and the terrifying grind of defusing bombs day after day .", "bigelow makes a welcome return with a thrilling , edgy and , yes , explosive film about the toughest job in the world . what 's the MOV ? something special .", "kathryn bigelow 's explosive , edge-of-the-seat thriller is one of the best war movies ever made . after years in the wilderness , the director 's stunning return to form is set , fittingly enough , in the arid landscape of a scorched iraq .", "a stunningly realistic , thrillingly intense depiction of extraordinary men carrying out one of the toughest jobs imaginable , graced with a knockout performance by relative unknown renner .", "the visceral impact is intense .", "the action itself is episodic , with every ounce of tension eked from some stunning set pieces where lingering shots accentuate the bleak cinematography and stripped down sound design to draw the maximum heat and hopelessness of this hell on earth .", "a super-sharp , nerve-shredding thriller that reveals more about the realities of contemporary military conflict than most documentaries .", "there is something powerfully convincing about bigelow 's way of placing the viewer in a situation where death is unpredictable , can come from 360 degrees , and is indiscriminate about who it takes .", "here 's the iraq war movie for those who do n't like iraq war movies .", "what pushes the MOV up to top marks is the absence of politics .", "an amazingly powerful movie that will leave you reeling . this mustsee movie is dazzlingly well made .", "it 's not delicate by any means , and it gives an intense look into the lives of the american soldiers in iraq .", "i was n't exactly blown away by it -lrb- no pun intended here at all -rrb- , but it remains an engaging film . there 's certainly a great story to be told in here somewhere , it 's just not the great film i 've been hearing about .", "kathryn bigelow 's the MOV is one of the most thrilling action films i 've seen in the past few years . it features set piece after pulse-quickening set piece .", "the suspense may just kill you .", "this is an outstanding war film because it 's aware that it 's a film , not a polemic .", "her new film , the MOV , is both a structuralist war movie-it could be titled ` seven instances of dismantling an improvised explosive device ' - and a totally immersive , off-the-charts high-anxiety experience from beginning to end .", "it 's in refusing to plant a flag on one side or the other over the iraq war debacle that bigelow may just have made the conflict 's defining film : words are cheap , but it 's action that matters .", "when the picture is n't ramping up your heart rate , it switches gears and becomes an intimate character study in what war does to humankind .", "when it comes to getting an audience 's attention , there 's nothing quite like blowing up a major star within the first five minutes of a movie .", "jeremy renner as the unhinged james is a revelation .", "the decade 's best fictional film about its real war , it 's a unique perspective on the workplace high of delivering containment from chaos . some people kick powerpoint 's ass . sgt. 1st class william james saves his by defusing bombs .", "this film pioneers observational action moviemaking . it sensitizes you to changes in atmosphere that portend danger and convey hidden meaning while furthering the plot and the characters .", "the MOV is so taut , and skillfully focused on character , that it could be retro-engineered into a stageplay and still retain most of its dramatic punch .", "after some disappointing films , the gifted bigelow puts to excellent use her strongest skills in this thrillingly kinetic , tightly-focused , utterly compelling portrait of one bomb squad , a highlight of a weak cycle thus far of iraq war movies .", "its insights and reach extend far beyond what 's happened there over the past several years .", "a brilliantly realized character-driven thriller likely to leave a lasting impression and make you completely forget everything you thought you knew about the day-to-day lives of soldiers in iraq .", "so far , the best fiction films about the iraq war are nick bloomfield 's battle for haditha , irwin winkler 's home of the brave and john moore 's allegorical flight of the phoenix remake . it 's sufficient praise to say the MOV joins that short list .", "instead of setting out to prove a point , it seeks to immerse us in an environment -- something bigelow does with a conceptual rigor usually associated with those directors whose work is confined to film societies and art houses .", "this beyond-the-headlines war movie , a ` ticking clock ' thriller from journalist-turned-screenwriter mark boal , is the first iraq war movie to qualify as more first-rate entertainment than sermon .", "there 's a definite absence of hollywood gloss in bigelow 's film , which was appreciated .", "the MOV is a small classic of tension , bravery , and fear , which will be studied twenty years from now when people want to understand something of what happened to american soldiers in iraq .", "the MOV might be the first iraq-set film to break through to a mass audience because it does n't lead with the paralysis of the guilt-ridden yank . the horror is there , but under the rush .", "the MOV is at once an unforgettable war film and a brilliant character study .", "if the MOV does n't break the curse of the low-performing iraq war movie then nothing likely will , at least not anytime soon .", "extremely good whenever characters keep their mouths shut ; when there 's dialogue , it 's usually heavy-handed and leading .", "bigelow 's camera is impartial and dispassionate , but explosively powerful and unflinching . there is no commentary or judgment , just war and fatigue .", "the question is n't how do you live with the buzz of looming death ; it 's how do you live without it ? no answers are offered , or even suggested .", "employing handheld cameras and very little music , bigelow creates a claustrophobic and palpably dangerous environment in which one mistake could prove disastrous .", "like her protagonist , bigelow is both a meticulous technician and a ballsy showoff . and , like him , she has ice water in her veins .", "never does bigelow falter in her direction , which , by adroitly alternating between muscular and sensitive , reapplies a recognizable face to a conflict that is already slipping from the american public conscious with all the wispiness of a bad dream .", "there is something original and distinctive about the film 's willingness to admit that for some men -lrb- and many moviegoers -rrb- war carries an intrinsic dramatic charge .", "bigelow does not stint on portraying war 's brutality , but the focus is strictly on the individual , not on the bigger picture , and the overall effect is more powerful and devastating for it .", "equal parts bravado-fueled action and pointed political statement . the best film yet made about the iraq war , and the best american film about war since platoon .", "one of the few must watches of the year so far , and certainly one of the most intelligent offerings , the MOV would likely already be boasting a masterpiece label had it been from a high profile director or studio .", "the opening scene alone may well be the most insanely gripping and amazingly constructed cinematic moment you 'll see all year .", "combines white - knuckle tension , sizzling dialogue and poignant insight into the lives of the bravest guys in baghdad .", "a tense , occasionally meandering story about bomb defusers in iraq .", "may be to the war on terror what apocalypse now is to vietnam , and it 's almost as hallucinatory a vision .", "while kathryn bigelow 's taut direction is academy award-worthy , mark boal 's script does n't get far enough beneath the characters ' skin .", "succeeds where so many others have failed , by crafting a compelling iraq war film .", "unable to parse what he sees , james finds meaning , at last , in his misreading .", "the characters are fictional , but writer mark boal spent time in iraq following soldiers who really do this , and the film never feels anything less than authentic .", "the first great film about the war in iraq .", "it 's dysfunctional , but strangely affirming .", "finally , the transcendent iraq war movie .", "one of the best films of 2009 , and one of the better films made in the past few decades about the men and women who serve in the us military .", "the hold-your-breath movie of the year .", "the MOV is a difficult film to watch , brutal and unflinching . you never feel like you can invest in a character because the next second they could be blown away . the film ratches up the tension like few movies in recent memory .", "sharply written , superbly directed and extremely tense thriller with a terrific central performance from rising star jeremy renner .", "these men live , barely , on a cocktail of adrenaline and testosterone , and yet the MOV hones in on the fatalistic psychology of the iraqi war zone more convincingly than any other recent film about soldiers on the battlefield .", "finally , hollywood has made a great film about the iraq war .", "... uncommonly taut and uniformly well acted ...", "do n't be afraid to dive right in for a harrowing , credible and astonishingly made portrait of bravery and brutality .", "like every war before it , the u.s. invasion of iraq has generated its share of movies . but the MOV is the first of them that can properly be called a masterpiece .", "if the MOV does n't capture what it 's like to serve or live in iraq , no film ever will .", "let 's be honest , war movies as a genre have slipped behind sappy scientology sci-fi flicks and movies based on board games . but here comes the MOV , a modestly budgeted movie starring no one you know about a cowboy bomb diffuser made by the", "bigelow has taken the truism that `` movies are life with the boring bits cut out '' to the extreme ...", "this movie sneaks up on you as to how good it is ; it is only when you reach the end that you realize how great the journey has been", "-lsb- it is -rsb- one of those movies where the story arc just kind of sneaks up on you when you 're not looking . it 's a lot like the situation that its principal characters find themselves in every day .", "the MOV is a movie that finds the truth in war without all the political static that too often in the past has kept the voice of the soldier from being heard .", "the closest any film on the subject of the war in iraq has gotten to greatness .", "one of the best movies of the year , with a star-making performance from jeremy renner .", "after 7 previous films , bigelow has finally found a screenwriter in mark boal who not only matches her intensity , but is able to maximize her visual artistry in drawing a fully realized story .", "the film hurts like hell as we sit on the edge of our seats enveloped in tension", "beautifully shot , well acted , and completely unfocused to the point of , well , what was the point ? ... do n't be fooled .", "with politics and philosophy largely absent from james 's tour of extreme duty , it settles into a somewhat comforting pattern of danger and mild relief , which can diffuse the knots in your stomach .", "a must-see film with gripping performances and vivid evocation of urban warfare in iraq .", "a tough war picture in the tabloid journalist tradition of sam fuller , the MOV avoids most of the sentimentalizing and editorializing of other recent films about iraq .", "equivalente cinematogr\u0431fico de una bomba de tiempo , la pel\u043dcula luce como un thriller de suspenso extremo ambientado en la guerra de irak . adrenalina pura , sin cuestionamientos morales y con excelente elenco .", "salta de uma seq\u044c\u043ancia a outra com fluidez , mantendo o espectador sempre inquieto gra\u0437as aos obst\u0431culos cada vez mais amea\u0437adores enfrentados por aqueles homens .", "the fact that bigelow could make such a realistic war movie without the actual combat experience that directors like william wellman had makes this even more remarkable .", "the script 's authenticity and director kathryn bigelow 's cinema verit\u0439 style pull us into the film with a mixture of awe and terror .", "the film opens with a quote from chris hedges saying that war is a drug . ... the film makes that quite clear , but i am not sure it says a whole lot more than that .", "the MOV is a near-perfect movie about men in war , men at work . through sturdy imagery and violent action , it says that even hell needs heroes .", "our american love for mavericks is bound to get tied in knots watching james ' cavalier approach to everyone 's death . he 's a hero and a menace .", "the hybridization of arthouse and action does n't happen all that often , but it should , if mashing the two genres makes for film as riveting and rattling as the MOV .", "a wrenching rush of adrenaline set in a never-ending cycle of occupation and struggle and ever-increasing tension .", "the MOV leaves an impression . it practically leaves a bruise .", "a movie that deserves to stand as one of the defining films of the decade .", "if you 're a cinematic thrill-seeker , this portrayal of the real deal is just the fix you 've been looking for .", "a small but muscular combat classic .", "`` the MOV '' is not only one of the very best films of 2009 , it is one of the very best and most exciting war movies of any kind to come along in a long time .", "by keeping its scale miniature instead of epic -lrb- there are no combat scenes in the traditional sense -rrb- , the MOV keeps its audience in a constant state of tension without risking battle fatigue .", "in the end , bigelow 's point of view is what 's most interesting about the MOV . the picture 's strength lies in the details she focuses on .", "despite its pumped-up admiration for our troops and some scenes that spurt adrenaline like a fire hose , this sort-of-thriller about a bomb squad working in 2004 is stretched both timewise and for plausibility .", "overwhelmingly tense , overflowing with crackling verisimilitude , it 's both the film about the war in iraq that we 've been waiting for and the kind of unqualified triumph that 's been long expected from director kathryn bigelow .", "a brilliant and emotionally powerful war flick .", "the MOV looks and feels like a terrific action film , but there 's a piece of art ticking away within it that goes off inside your head and your heart while you 're watching .", "a first-rate action thriller , a vivid evocation of urban warfare in iraq , a penetrating study of heroism and a showcase for austere technique , terse writing and a trio of brilliant performances .", "a riveting iraqi war film about three members of an army bomb dismantling squad in baghdad .", "offers a fresh take on the war and the men in it .", "if the MOV is not the best action movie of the summer , i 'll blow up my car .", "it 's not too soon to declare the MOV a masterpiece from this gifted and underrated director . but it 's the kind of popcorn masterpiece that people might actually like to see .", "bigelow has successfully built a vision of war rarely seen on screen , a visceral nearly first person perspective of war where the rush of combat is a welcomed relief .", "departing from archetypes set by wwii and vietnam movies , bigelow 's tough-as-nails film develops its own signature . it 's not a message movie , but a tactile experience . it feels gritty , real and current .", "a visceral , heart-pounding experience that is easily the best film yet to made about the current war in iraq and also one of the best war films of the past decade", "the MOV is about iraq in the same way that paths of glory was about world war i or full metal jacket was about vietnam -- which is to say , utterly and not at all . the MOV is a great movie , period .", "bigelow and cinematographer barry ackroyd crank up the tension to nail-biting , gut-churning extremes and the mayhem is powerfully visceral .", "the MOV retains indie drama cred , provides audience thrills and stays respectful to the fact your neighbor 's kid may very well be in the middle east right now .", "do n't believe the hype . this is a cliche-ridden mess which treats iraqis like zombies or creatures from outer space . peace activist chris hedges should have sued the director for allowing his words to serve as an epigraph for this sorry flick .", "a modern-day war classic .", "the major strength of the MOV is that it all feels so real that you can almost taste the sand on your lips .", "a thoughtful nail-biter that inspires us to appreciate the precariousness and relative brevity of existence .", "it 's slang for ` you 're headed for a pounding . ' and so you are .", "just another day at the office ... except these guys might not get home . but a brilliant , technical marvel .", "bigelow 's gripping yet subtle study in the psychology of war is set to the urgent rhythms of a ticking bomb , exploding the myth of the maverick hero .", "one of the most authentic and powerfully believable war movies in recent times .", "a raw and unnerving thriller that gets its impact from taut , intimate suspense scenes low on bombast and high on the potential costs of military duty .", "an affectionate but ambiguous tribute to the career soldier that 's free of condescension , cynicism , or jingoism .", "you wanted some three-act plot structure with your movie ? sorry , they only serve straight adrenaline and dread here .", "the script just is n't as serious as the subject matter .", "outstanding performances across the board , but i thought anthony mackie in particular really , really nailed it .", "as tense and compelling an action drama as you 're liable to see all year .", "a memorable , must-see movie mission to experience , with enough sticks of dynamite and blocks of c-4 to shatter your equanimity . i can promise that you 'll come out of it shaken , but alive .", "less impressive as a whole than in its parts , it 's still a provocative , well-crafted picture ... one of the best films yet made about the iraq war .", "the director , kathryn bigelow , shot with four lightweight cameras , and the imagery is rarely still . the jitteriness is appropriate for a world where everything can suddenly blow to smithereens .", "the MOV probably is n't the ` great ' iraq film which will finally move audiences into theatres but it does play out like fragments of one .", "MOV is a superb achievement that not only constructs some of the finest suspense set pieces of the year , but manages to find compelling , innovative wartime psychological threads to pull at as well .", "if alfred hitchcock was reincarnated for a punt at the war action genre , his finished product might play out like the MOV .", "most poignantly , it offers a different perspective on the war to the generally negative one on the news .", "a film that often makes us flinch from the screen , mainly because of a superbly layered performance by renner .", "this electrifying thriller about a us army bomb disposal squad working in baghdad is n't just one of the best films of 2009 . it is the first film that tackles the iraq war head on , and does justice to the incredible bravery of the troops serving there .", "the film sweats out its truth from its central character .", "there will be other challengers in time , but so far the MOV is easily the best film to come out of the iraq war .", "a film that offers an intense personal perspective on the reality of an adrenaline-rush existence lived in the full knowledge that every day could be your last .", "bigelow crowns several decades of excellent artistic enquiry with a film that everybody should see .", "a coolly elegant kineticist , kathryn bigelow specializes in impressionistic phallus jostles .", "like a modern day wages of fear .", "please give director kathryn bigelow an oscar for direction which pulls the audience into the heart of the story . plus she squeezes every drop of tension out of the most suspenseful , explosive action movie of the year .", "-lsb- bigelow 's -rsb- docu-drama realism complements her cinematically staged action sequences , giving the whole film an exhilarating but believable edge . it 's impressive stuff , intensely thrilling film-making with a pulse and a brain .", "harrowing and horrifying , the MOV delivers the visceral , heart-in-throat action goods , and in doing so , gets at more truths about iraq than its preachy ... brethren .", "often gripping at a straight thriller level , but increasingly weakened by its fuzzy psychology , kathryn bigelow 's the MOV does n't bring anything new to the table of grunts-in-the-firing-line movies .", "this is master of suspense filmmaker crafted by someone who understands the nature of nail-biting thrills .", "filmmaking simply does n't get much more riveting than kathryn bigelow 's incredible the MOV , a cinematic experience unlike any other that you will have this year .", "... this is without a doubt director kathryn bigelow 's best film to date , one which should be oscar nominated in every category it 's eligible for .", "... a super-smart actioner about men in war that 's arguably the best american film of the year .", "an intense , action-driven war pic , a muscular , efficient standout that simultaneously conveys the feeling of combat from within as well as what it looks like on the ground .", "if you 're looking for ferocious , visceral suspense , kathryn bigelow delivers with this graphic , subversive portrait of courage under fire , as adrenaline junkies get high on danger .", "there 's more tension in this gripping tale than in the waistband of oprah 's skinny jeans ... which is pretty freakin ' tense .", "the film supports the idea that extended exposure to certain kinds of experiences have the effect of either galvanizing a participant or breaking them , if they are fortunate enough to survive . in wwii , war was hell , in viet nam it was numbed by drugs , but", "a visceral , gripping and totally absorbing film that follows one man 's life on the front line of bomb disposal .", "bigelow 's handheld camerawork roams like a spotter 's eyes , always surveying , always getting another look ...", "the MOV is an extraordinarily uncomfortable movie to watch , not because it is poorly made , but because it places its audience directly in the crosshairs of hell .", "not only one of the year 's best films so far , it 's also arguably the best feature film made about the iraq war .", "screenwriter mark boal and director kathryn bigelow have made a unique film about war .", "the MOV is a spellbinding war film by kathryn bigelow , a master of stories about men and women who choose to be in physical danger .", "-lsb- kathryn -rsb- bigelow and screenwriter mark boal ... have made the first fictional feature about american soldiers in iraq that does n't fall apart , or preach to a choir , or turn into a position paper .", "your nerves are shot after the first sequence of the MOV , which means you watch the rest of the movie while suffering from post-traumatic stress .", "the MOV takes the viewer by the scruff of the neck . and it embeds him or her in the middle of an explosive ordnance disposal squad in baghdad .", "criticism that bigelow and boal 's relentless focus on the feverish intensity of living with constant danger and the rush that comes from beating the odds is as misguided as reading the movie 's `` war is a drug '' tagline as an endorsement : the MOV is", "bigelow displays a fine hitchcockian skill set , but her politics are muddy-headed at best .", "most startling of all the film 's accomplishments is how it approximates the soldiers ' feeling of utter anxiety as they fight a war on foreign soil", "obligatoria . dura y capaz de tenernos con el est\u00f3mago encogido en la butaca durante casi toda la pel\u00edcula , se trata de una de esas que nadie deber\u00eda perderse .", "with such an able cast and crew , director kathryn bigelow had everything she needed to come up with a defining war movie for the 21st century .", "what the great kathryn 's film accomplishes in its own starkly intelligent way , however , is to make the token war is hell argument , but through the filtered lens of a superior b action movie , her forte .", "the MOV is a frequently gripping film that contains some terrifically detailed sequences ; not only depicting the process of defusing bombs but also depicting just how complex the act of targeting and firing a gun can be .", "-lsb- r -rsb- iveting but not ` exciting , ' not in the sense that action movies have taught us to get turned on by the foreplay of countdowns and the climax of explosions ..." ], "summary": "a well-acted , intensely shot , action filled war epic , kathryn bigelow 's the MOV is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the iraq war .", "id": "770789467" }, { "movie": "baran", "reviews": [ "a well-crafted letdown .", "an aesthetic triumph ... that never fails to retain behavioral realism .", "a poignant story of humanity and love that anyone can understand .", "a tale of unrequited love and maturation so emotionally pure that it seems effortlessly moving , a picture of rare poignancy and surprising depth .", "a far more impressive and affecting piece of filmmaking and storytelling than most movies put out by hollywood this year , and offers , as a bonus , a glimpse into a fascinating , contradictory society .", "majidi 's poetic love story is a ravishing consciousness-raiser , if a bit draggy at times .", "you should pay nine bucks for this : because you can hear about suffering afghan refugees on the news and still be unaffected . dramas like this make it human .", "brings an irresistible blend of warmth and humor and a consistent embracing humanity in the face of life 's harshness .", "majidi again illustrates , as he has in every one of his feature films ... a remarkable talent for crafting simple human dramas to highlight serious social and economic problems in iran .", "light-years ahead of paint-by-number american blockbusters like pearl harbor , at least artistically .", "majidi tells his simple story with dazzling vision .", "MOV depicts the alchemical process whereby a perceived enemy can be transformed into a loved one .", "MOV is the latest in a flowering of good films from iran , and gives voice to the moderates there . it shows people existing and growing in the cracks of their society 's inflexible walls .", "the film is saved from are n't - kids-cute sentimentality by a warmth that is n't faked and a stately sense of composition .", "a tale of unrequited love and a young woman 's courage to make a place for herself in a man 's world , but this is much more than just ` yentl ' goes to the middle east .", "lovely and poignant . puts a human face on a land most westerners are unfamiliar with .", "captivates and shows how a skillful filmmaker can impart a message without bludgeoning the audience over the head .", "the tale is simply but effectively told .", "though the pathos of this fable-like love story feels overcalculated , majidi succeeds in playing the classical dickensian balance , with the sentimental hook justified by the social sweep of the narrative .", "it 's the saddest story of love in a long while , yet liberating in the way it instils a sense of oneness with all humanity .", "the film tells a touching , romantic story , but the underpinnings of MOV -- rain -- are mostly political and mostly heart-breaking .", "matches neorealism 's impact by showing the humanity of a war-torn land filled with people who just want to live their lives .", "it stays with you in fleeting images of gazing faces , muddy footprints , small fires lit against the chill .", "the faces of its inarticulate characters tell the story , and majidi has put some amazing faces on the screen .", "it reminds us of what a film can be when it 's drawn from the heart of an artist who believes in the medium as something more than a product or commodity .", "the film 's sharp , often mischievous sense of humor will catch some off guard ...", "the film is remarkable for the naturalistic acting of its cast , particularly the tender performances of the two leads , hossein abedini and zahra bahrami .", "uma comovente -lrb- e divertida -rrb- hist\u00f3ria de amor .", "filled with honest performances and exceptional detail , MOV is a gentle film with dramatic punch , a haunting ode to humanity .", "a wonderfully warm human drama that remains vividly in memory long after viewing", "this rather superficial arthouse middle-brow film knows how to please a crowd , and that 's about all it does well .", "MOV is n't the most transporting or gripping film from iran -- or , indeed , by its director -- but it 's a worthy companion to the many fine , focused films emerging from that most surprising of nations .", "heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny , sometimes apart , sometimes together .", "further solidifies -lsb- majidi 's -rsb- growing reputation as one of the cinema 's most gifted humanist filmmakers .", "majidi 's portrait of southwest asian poverty is bloodless and fastidiously arranged , his regard for his thin characters negligible .", "a high-minded snoozer .", "sweet and slow like majidi 's earlier `` children of heaven '' -lrb- which i loved -rrb- , but not quite as compelling .", "majidi gets uniformly engaging performances from his largely amateur cast .", "its story is delicate and moving , and the film is a wholly commendable effort , if not quite as successful as majidi 's previous works .", "an impossible romance , but we root for the patronized iranian lad .", "each frame is exquisitely framed , the acting is superb ... and the impermanence of the lives of displaced afghans is hauntingly expressed .", "MOV is shockingly devoid of your typical majid majidi shoe-loving , crippled children .", "... shows majidi 's deft hand at commanding his cast of non actors into giving an innocent , melancholy look at unrequited love .", "plunges you into a reality that is , more often then not , difficult and sad , and then , without sentimentalizing it or denying its brutality , transforms that reality into a lyrical and celebratory vision .", "it shows us a slice of life that 's very different from our own and yet instantly recognizable .", "a hauntingly humanistic film", "a moving and understated story of love .", "an intelligent fiction about learning through cultural clash .", "majidi is an unconventional storyteller , capable of finding beauty in the most depressing places .", "the film has real grace , and it delivers the plight of afghan women as well as any report filed from the war .", "more timely than its director could ever have dreamed , this quietly lyrical tale probes the ambiguous welcome extended by iran to the afghani refugees who streamed across its borders , desperate for work and food .", "at the right time of day , in the right frame of mind , MOV can and should be appreciated as a work of delicate and unmistakable beauty .", "a mix of gritty realism , crisp storytelling and radiant compassion that effortlessly draws you in .", "the movie itself is timeless and universal , at once artless and sophisticated in its ability to engross .", "offers viewers an honest portrayal of the realistic dilemmas confronting its characters and of the inspiring ways by which they learn to overcome them .", "the universal theme of becoming a better person through love has never been filmed more irresistibly than in ` MOV . '", "juxtaposes a vibrant , modern iran against the harsh existence of its refugees for a film that is both political and powerfully personal .", "-lsb- majidi -rsb- makes us think twice about immigrants we see around us every day ." ], "summary": "the lyrical MOV is a moving film , both for its love story and political underpinnings .", "id": "11480" }, { "movie": "good_bye_lenin", "reviews": [ "this is an unusual and tender story about the love of a family for each other .", "hay varios aspectos en los cuales conectar con esta pel\u00edcula , al punto de que casi nadie permanecer\u00e1 indiferente .", "combines fairytale elements with actual documentary footage , and the personal with the political , creating a contemporary allegory of the dreams and delusions upon which the lives of east germans were sustained .", "the real story is how ideologies melt when it comes to affairs of the heart . in that way , the movie has an appeal that goes way beyond its country 's borders .", "succeeds as a comedy , as a glimpse at a tumultuous time in european history , and as a thoughtful look at the great lengths to which people will go for important relationships .", "the real story is how ideologies melt when it comes to affairs of the heart . in that way , the movie has an appeal that goes way beyond its country 's borders .", "un film qui propose \u0155 la fois une r\u00e9flexion intelligente sur la chute du mur de berlin , un divertissement amusant et un r\u00e9cit touchant .", "a political comedy that reaches you right down in your soul , reminding us without any benigni-ish moral frivolity that life sure is complicated , but it is also beautiful .", "an enjoyable comedy about keeping a big thing secret from someone and an interesting drama about family ties and values and politics .", "non-germans will certainly get the essence of the humor but may find the movie long and repetitive .", "formulaic hollywood melodrama and heartfelt european humanism come together with surprising ease .", "a work of surprising warmth .", "good bye , lenin ! fares even better as a straightforward story about a mother and son .", "by turns funny , instructive , and sad , goodbye lenin ! does an admirable job at breathing life into a tumultuous time in -lsb- german -rsb- history .", "` good bye , lenin ! ' is less historical irony than it is a sweet homage to childhood , family love , first love and a concrete time and place .", "careens from comedy to drama without warning , and pivots unsuccessfully between being a straightforward story and an expansive metaphor .", "overlong and a bit tiresome but it 's actually about something -- not so much ostalgie as the conditions that create it .", "goodbye , lenin ! is a well-realized tale of nurturing love and a witty parable about the fall of the german democratic republic and the rise of global consumerism .", "in germany , east is west and west is west and not all residents are happy about that .", "becker 's meandering project muddies the waters and fails to make suitable impact", "an enjoyable time at the movies , and a film that deserves the support of astute film audiences who are not bothered by reading subtitles at the movies .", "funny but not a comedy , serious but never overbearing , emotional in an engaging and bittersweet way .", "smart and funny and surprisingly sweet .", "marvelously entertaining , and occasionally brilliant , political satire .", "wolfgang becker 's social satire has a knobby tone that somewhat mutes its crowd-pleasing ambitions and keeps it from becoming my big , fat life is beautiful .", "this is a very funny picture , though it 's never burlesqued and is , in fact , occasionally poignant .", "the mix of melancholy and possibility that alex and his generation feel is made real , and moving .", "a sweet tale of the love of a son for his mother set against a uniquely nostalgic backdrop", "sappy and unrealistic", "we see what it is like to live in a society whose admittedly rigid and oppressive backbone collapses overnight , along with full employment , the life savings and the trust of the satellite state 's citizens .", "the illusion of a perfect east german state exists solely for one woman 's benefit , the deception a charming display of just how far a son will go out of love for his mother .", "well-acted by sass and the very likable br\u00fchl .", "deliciously offbeat comedy , as wildly inventive as anything billy wilder ever conceived .", "a brilliantly constructed , touching but unsentimental look at the last days of east germany .", "there are many funny lines and situations , accompanied by strong performances all around .", "the overall tone of gentle satire is engaging and becker 's affection for the kerners is contagious .", "a funny and intermittently sharp german satire that musters gentle nostalgia for east german communism while mocking the not-so-distant past .", "a precise , and utterly captivating , socio-political document that simultaneously plays small and big , personal and universal .", "it never quite works as either farce or commentary , and -- like those shabby old socialist goods it salutes -- fills us up without leaving us satisfied .", "wisely understands that it 's our delusions which often get us through this difficult , ridiculous life , and they therefore require something akin to the same nurturing as our deepest , most rewarding loves .", "the impulses to entertain and enlighten are at odds here , and the final result ends up landing somewhere in between : smart , funny , but rarely both at the same time .", "wolfgang becker 's dramatic comedy humorously dissects the social turmoil that followed the unification of germany in 1989 .", "it 's mainly a hunt for ironies , usually playful but occasionally poignant , and the search is definitely successful enough to merit our attention -- although maybe not the two-hour running time .", "becker walks the tightrope between pathos and farce with a completely straight face , and he captures the 20th century 's most climactic moment in such an offbeat but satisfying way that his little film could well become a classic .", "a poignant and amusing look at the nexus where the political and the personal intermingle .", "first you 're laughing , then you 're crying , and you leave with a smile and a strong desire to do something nice for your mother .", "anyone who has ever longed for the good ol' days -- even the ones that were n't so good -- will find resonance in this well-told and well-acted parable of family and political unification .", "a film that 's ostensibly about politics ... turns out to be a love story .", "good bye , lenin ! is a bit long to sustain its premise , but a solid cast makes it seem even better than it is .", "a bold exercise in what-if ?", "becker handles the film 's comedy with fluency ... but he 's even better when it comes to the story 's more wistful dramatic elements .", "beneath the family saga and easy digs at the tackiness of western consumer culture , becker presents a serious critique of authoritarianism and propaganda .", "becker ably milks the premise for irony and amusement .", "good bye , lenin ! beautifully mixes comedy , sentimentality , and cynicism .", "like the east german pickles alex finds for his mother , it 's a tasty but evasive treat , no matter what your taste in politics or movies .", "a deft balance of wistful family drama and drollery .", "its social satire is tinged with affable humor and subtle sadnesses , even when the deception is too-lengthily drawn out .", "it is not a step-by-step chronicle of german reunification , but it gives a perspective of the time . it 's a bonus that this comes as part of an engrossing and well told story .", "combination of comedy and gravity is certainly common enough , but it requires a sure hand and perceptible intent . this screenplay has some neat touches , but it never makes up its mind .", "the fall of communism in eastern europe becomes the subject of a gentle satire tinged with melancholy in wolfgang becker 's funny , touching ` good bye , lenin ! '", "an inventively resonant comedy .", "it is no doubt filled with references and in-jokes we do not quite understand . but the central idea travels well .", "watching becker invent new challenges and new solutions in scene after scene makes good bye , lenin ! a joyous show , blurred by tears of sympathy .", "serves up an odd but intriguing situation .", "it 's a study of a fascinating shift in culture -lrb- the family 's whole way of life changes , literally overnight -rrb- and a story of a son 's powerful faith in his mother .", "becker makes a symbolic statement on the perceptions governments and societies create for us -- and our willingness to perpetuate the illusion .", "a welcome surprise ... combines momentous history with a warm , good-natured story about one family 's life before and after the cold war .", "often hilarious but essentially melancholy tale of a family getting trampled by the march of history .", "while the film has many serious moments the plot itself is more appropriate to a farce than to a semi-serious comedy-drama .", "for a film about the fall of the berlin wall , there sure are a lot of laughs in wolfgang becker 's surprising fourth feature .", "the film seems overlong and drawn out , with variations on the same joke occurring throughout .", "an ironic , nostalgic and often poetic reminiscence about the period circa 1989 .", "good bye , lenin ! does a better job of summarizing the politics and recent history of eastern europe than you might think could be crammed into a movie that runs less than two hours .", "it is a sweethearted comedy about the fall of communism and the lingering nostalgia for an east germany that no longer exists .", "a funny movie that rises above farce to the level of sophisticated satire .", "it 's a sentimental and sophisticated alternative to the standard american view of the cold war 's end .", "a sweet and quirky tale , -lsb- it 's -rsb- a movie in which i never expected to cry , but i did .", "becker stays tapped into complicated and painful truths while keeping us laughing .", "often droll and clever but rarely genuinely funny . its real power asserts itself only in the final reel , when a genuine sense of melancholia settles in .", "the hero 's imaginary gdr is not just a child 's - eye view of a socialist utopia but a literal motherland , contrived for the love of his mother ...", "director wolfgang becker can claim the film 's depth as its greatest achievement . he has taken an absurd situation , a silly premise , and added weight to the humor .", "good bye , lenin ! might slightly overstay its welcome , but it 's one of the few things playing right now that really stays with you after the fact .", "`` the premise runs its course well before the end . but the film more than compensates with its bright good nature and intelligence . ''", "a bit far-fetched perhaps , but much comedy is .", "the story is almost gag-inducingly silly and unlikely , but director wolfgang becker 's film is just sweet enough to help the medicine go down .", "its geopolitical lessons smacked of banality .", "charming and eventually poignant .", "-lsb- director -rsb- becker blends comedy , pathos , political commentary , witty dialogue and beautiful visual elements into a seamless movie .", "a very well-written story with fully-realized characters .", "good bye , lenin ! slides a fascinating history lesson into a clever , heartwarming tragicomedy even if the film - like east germany itself - is a bit inefficient .", "pode at\u0439 n\u0433o provocar gargalhadas , mas certamente manter\u0431 o espectador sorrindo durante e depois da proje\u0437\u0433o .", "the backdrop is snatching at random political significance , and the plot just turns into a stupid and pointless comedy of errors .", "the film 's take on filial love is fresh and affecting . its political savvy yields sharp insights .", "if not as dense as godard 's masculin , f\u0439minin , wolfgang becker 's good bye , lenin ! is an equally playful look at the effects of american globalization abroad .", "heartwarming comedy .", "a witty , thought-provoking and ultimately moving tragicomedy .", "an intriguing concept , hampered only by the curse of all farce : after taking us to the brink of absurdity , it 's difficult to reel us back in for the emotionally fraught conclusion ." ], "summary": "funny and poignant social critique of german reunification .", "id": "13051" }, { "movie": "les_parapluies_de_cherbourg", "reviews": [ "as a filmlover , discovering a masterpiece is like finding buried treasure .", "michel legrand 's music is the film 's heartbeat , and it soars and dips according to the melodrama .", "deneuve !", "this bitter-sweet love story set to michel legrand 's music from writer director jacques demy marks the film debut of the then 20 year old catherine deneuve , whose delicate beauty and screen presence has enchanted the world ever since", "modern -lrb- for 1964 -rrb- opera-musical in french is one of a kind .", "seemingly banal and sentimental on the surface , -lsb- director jacques -rsb- demy has avoided these aspects by tasteful handling and the right balance in emotion , compassion and narrative .", "catherine deneuve won the best actress prize at cannes , but the vocal performances of the entire ensemble are impeccable . pure cinematic magic .", "umbrellas makes escapist play with the stuff of kitchen-sink social realism .", "enchanting from first frame to last , jacques demy 's innovative , oscar-nominated musical , which stars catherine deneuve , celebrates everyday life in song -- all the dialogue is delivered through music .", "deneuve is luminously beautiful throughout , looking fabulously chic even in a maternity dress .", "an original , refreshing , bittersweet yet charming film .", "contando -lrb- ou `` cantando '' -rrb- com uma bel\u043dssima dire\u0437\u0433o de arte , o filme traz catherine deneuve em uma sens\u043dvel hist\u0443ria de amor - que se torna ainda mais tocante gra\u0437as ao fascinante tom oper\u043dstico da produ\u0437\u0433o .", "a glorious romantic confection unlike any other in movie history .", "virtually a genre of its own , this gallic pop-opera-candy-colored-romantic-tragedy should be seen to be believed .", "a surprisingly effective film , touching and knowing and , like deneuve , ageless .", "it 's a glorious sight to behold -- though do n't forget to listen as well .", "the film is likable enough , and it certainly looks decent , but the score borders on tuneless sometimes and there 's little in the way of plot .", "' ... the greatest strengths of director/writer jacques demy 's masterpiece-developing well-rounded characters that stretch far beyond the lyrics and basic plot '", "the actors sing their lines rather than just say them .", "an operatic masterpiece of romanticism .", "everything in the movie is heightened ; watching it , you may feel as if the screen is emitting caffeine .", "a truly unique and wonderful film from a director who stands apart in the french cinema canon .", "as spun-sugar holiday treats go , `` umbrellas '' is hard to resist .", "it is a small picture , a boutique musical . but it 's lovely .", "a number of different factors raise this absurdly simple scenario to the level of highest excellence , but the chief among them is surely michel legrand 's iconic score .", "jacques demy and michel legrand 's reinvention of the movie musical has tinsel , technicolor , and a beating , broken heart .", "it 's so pink this film . if you want a selection of wallpapers to choose from , this film has just about every single one . i think it 's lovely .", "what 's so overpoweringly beautiful about the umbrellas of cherbourg is that it matches human-scaled feelings of regret with the color and intensity of the movies demy loved as a boy .", "the umbrellas of cherbourg is inspired as much by ren\u00e9 clair 's innovative french classic of 1930 , sous les toits de paris , and the prewar pagnol marseilles trilogy -lrb- marius/fanny/c\u00e9sar -rrb- as by hollywood .", "it continues to charm and delight for the same reasons it did back in 1964 .", "this is a picture that looks spectacular .", "it 's enough to make you sigh , and maybe even tear up .", "easily one of the most romantic stories captured on celluloid .", "ranks among my all-time favorite movies .", "far more powerful than one would initially suppose .", "true , it 's soap opera plotting , but the story and characters are so sweet and compelling that only the hardest heart will fail to be won over .", "everything in umbrellas is incredibly bright and colourful ... yet , behind this surface , a rather more cynical worldview is apparent .", "not only has he resurrected the quaint and artificial device of having the dialogue set to music and unrealistically sung , but he uses this operatic method to tell a story that is so banal ... it would n't get beyond a reader in hollywood .", "as great as movies get .", "a new wave masterpiece ... coursing with at first the unruly passion of young love and then the measured , mannered wiseness of adolescence 's surrender to adulthood .", "she -lsb- deneuve -rsb- steals the entire film .", "the umbrellas of cherbourg has stood the test of time as beautifully as deneuve and seems likely to enchant future generations as fully as it has audiences over the past four decades .", "you must love musicals and sentimental romance to enjoy jacques demy 's all-singing film opera featuring the grand melodies of composer michel legrand .", "the perfect blend of playfulness , beauty , and pathos that every musical strives for", "a choreography of the everyday timed to demy 's floating long takes and michel legrand 's at turns jaunty and lachrymose score .", "... the strengths ca n't overcome the fact that the texture of the umbrellas of cherbourg is overly ambitious , and leaves the viewer with a slightly frustrated feeling", "delicately bittersweet ." ], "summary": "jacques demy elevates the basic drama of everyday life into a soaring opera full of bittersweet passion and playful charm , featuring a timeless performance from catherine deneuve .", "id": "22029" }, { "movie": "looper", "reviews": [ "an electrifying time-travel thriller worthy of comparison to the terminator .", "spectacular . packed with intelligence and feeling . the year 's most excitingly original movie .", "the smartest movie of the year and the best action movie of the year .", "a mishmash of futuristic conventions and clich\u00e9s cobbled together as something we have never quite seen before .", "a disappointment from an ingenious and intelligent filmmaker", "an outlandish vision of the near-future which may defy credibility but is bracingly entertaining .", "MOV is a classic piece of sci-fi cinema , riddled with brilliant ideas , a complex and satisfying narrative and , most importantly , a heartbeat .", "there 's a bit of twelve monkeys , more than a dash of terminator 2 .", "rian johnson 's ` MOV ' is one of the year 's best films ... a huge jump forward for a filmmaker whose first two films both exhibited a strong , clear voice .", "nothing quite excites and disturbs us as the prospect of time travel . MOV exploits that tension for all its worth .", "-lsb- it -rsb- may begin as a `` terminator '' - like piece of time travel escapism , but ultimately gathers old testament-worthy force and fury .", "an indie-inflected popcorn movie with major brains , brilliant acting and a highly satisfying payoff , `` MOV '' is the first must-see movie of the season .", "`` MOV '' looks like and is a blast ; what 's really cool is it 's even more than that .", "johnson 's action scenes occasionally stumble , but the devilishly clever script makes `` MOV '' a thrilling , dizzying ride .", "the smart idea at the center blossoms into an equally smart movie .", "as with his brilliant and ground-breaking `` brick , '' also starring gordon-levitt , writer/director rian johnson has an engaging and compelling way of mixing genres .", "MOV is a challenging , fun , serious and action packed movie in all of the right ways .", "johnson - who collaborated with levitt on his brilliant debut thriller brick - has crafted both an intelligent and compelling sci-fi world .", "MOV provides some breathtaking moments of action and food for thought , although we 'd go easy on the latter .", "the dialogue is as clever as the conceit .", "MOV is like a christopher nolan movie with a sense of humor .", "a scintillating neo-noir gem of existential quandaries and inescapable fatalism .", "joseph gordon-levitt , the hardest working man in hollywood for 2012 , continues his journey to the a-list .", "you do n't need time-travel to spot a future cult classic .", "it 's just a shame that a smart , thoughtful movie like this is all too often the exception to mainstream sci/fi action fare rather than the rule .", "besides a challenging time-travel premise , a dark sense of humor , and some thrilling action scenes , MOV has the kind emotional weight that you would n't expect .", "... writer-director rian johnson never stops working , using the science-fiction setup and trappings to delve into the characters and give us a story with some real meat .", "the reasoning behind all this may not reward prolonged inspection , but johnson is smart enough to press onward with his plot , leaving us with neither the time nor the desire to linger over the logic ...", "writer-director rian johnson establishes himself as an original talent who clearly believes storytelling must prevail .", "despite some big set pieces , it 's the smaller emotional moments that get us thinking", "nothing less than an exceptionally satisfying piece of futuristic ingenuity with a great corps of actors . it will knock you out -- in any time zone .", "it 's energizing to watch a fast-paced action film that challenges the audience . the intricate , intelligent storyline demands that you pay attention at all times .", "a delight , a revelation of imaginative storytelling . willis delivers his most assured performance in years .", "`` works on so many levels '' is sort of an inside joke among film critics . no joke here ; MOV really does .", "bruce willis and gordon levitt render terrific , complementary performances in johnson 's third and most fully realized feature , which delivers as sci-fi , thriller and actioner !", "a mind-bending masterpiece that 's a must for more cerebral fans of the time-travel genre .", "MOV is n't perfect , but it pulls off the full wizard of oz : it has a brain , courage and a heart .", "MOV is a delicious movie with some imaginative curveballs ...", "MOV continually messes with your head as the future physically catches up with the past ... i love the boldness of the concept", "from the room-silencing blunderbuss bang of the first execution , MOV 's pleasures are plenty .", "takes the best elements of time manipulation and brings those ideas together in a volley of bullets and drama . wildly entertaining and satisfying for the psyche .", "once you envision how ridiculous the tinseltown version of this tale would be , what director rian johnson accomplishes is all the more special .", "the dystopian setting ... makes for some bold cultural commentary , but as usual with johnson , the engaging ideas feel like affectations rather than products of a fully developed sensibility .", "with his third film , writer/director rian johnson has crafted his most mainstream picture to date , without sacrificing one whit of the dazzling inventiveness or finely detailed characterizations that distinguished his earlier pictures .", "yet another rehash of the first `` terminator '' film , revisiting the time travel genre without bringing a whole lot new to the table .", "a for effort . c and see-me for results and how to improve them for the dvd .", "gordon-levitt is flinty , and willis , on his a-game , is fiery . together , they take us on a helluva trip .", "not just a great movie but a great movie that seems to promise more great ones to come .", "a fanciful film with the patina of hyper-realism , MOV is well served by actors who behave not as if they were dropped carelessly into the future but spent their whole desperate lives there .", "though this is a shadowy , violent film , johnson wisely inserts just enough humor to create shades of gray rather than blackness .", "the most resourceful , vivacious and savage science fiction movie of 2012 .", "it 's complex enough that sci-fi fans can dig deeper over multiple viewings , but thrilling enough that casual viewers can take it all in with one watch .", "the best kind of light entertainment that expects you to be just as intelligent as it is .", "rian johnson makes a loud , dark , highly stylized film that looks good but whose ideas do not really bear close examination .", "... an above-average sci-fi tale .", "the key to enjoying the gruesome violence mixed with a healthy potion of emotional depth rarely found in this genre is to not dwell on the fiction in the science .", "a just about brilliant sci-fi crime-drama-thriller mostly set in the years 2044 and 2074 . rian johnson is a rare director who creates entertainment with depth .", "very entertaining on many , many levels .", "sometimes time travel is just used a cheap device in movies to make them seem different ; this is not one of those films . it 's genuinely unique and fresh .", "as in the very best anthony mann and john ford westerns , MOV at once understands the visual power of violence and is deeply critical of it .", "johnson 's brilliant move is to center his sci-fi around a basic human survival drama .", "johnson establishes the machinery of the time-travel concept , then steadily pushes it into the background in favor of exploring his characters and the difficult questions they face .", "MOV is a tremendous motion picture experience . not merely a `` very good '' one , but a great one .", "i do n't know where you guys found that kid ... was it the same lab where they grew the fannings ?", "time travel makes sense in MOV because writer-director rian johnson keeps it on a short leash , not requiring enough manufactured logic to trip over later .", "MOV is up there with duncan jones ' moon and source code in the ranks of this century 's most genuinely exciting sci-fi films .", "the finish is the cinematic equivalent of david tyree 's super bowl catch ; a conclusion that miraculously - magnificently - manages to close the final loop with an off-the-richter-scale stroke of genius .", "in short , for all its affectionate pastiche , MOV is a humanist movie , and is all the better for it .", "MOV tries -lrb- and fails -rrb- for a love-against-all-odds resonance , but the shortcomings are minimal . johnson 's still got plenty of unlooped time to grab that brass ring .", "joe -lrb- joseph gordon-levitt -rrb- , the loopy MOV , has to time travel into another time to kill himself -lrb- bruce willis -rrb- so that he does n't make bad movies . no , that 's not it . so he can avoid demi moore . no . oh , forget it .", "this is a hugely satisfying , enjoyable and thought-provoking piece of work .", "not quite the time travel story science fiction fans were hoping for , alas .", "yes , it 's a b movie sci-fi thriller , but not many prestige pictures have this much going on underneath the surface .", "as well-staged as some of the action is , it often comes down to gunplay , which is never particularly interesting ... entertaining if not exactly gripping .", "if high-toned futuristic time-travel pictures with a splash of romance float your boat the way they do mine , you 'll have yourself a time .", "the ending is both daring and logical , two rarities in modern sci-fi .", "with a heady script , stunning performances and fist-pumping action , MOV is the most enjoyable combination of immensely watchable yet poignant , even cerebral .", "if it were n't for its gaping plot holes , this could be one of this century 's best science fiction features .", "a fresh , intelligent and action-packed addition to the time-travel anthology .", "rian johnson is a very clever man , if sometimes a bit too clever for his own good .", "this is the real deal , folks - intelligent , humorous , exciting entertainment that happens to be sci-fi but is by no means limited to that genre 's target audience in terms of appeal .", "this is a wildly entertaining film that is n't content with science and cinematic tricks . it desires , and achieves , much more .", "i found myself dreaming of the days when willis would take a rest from die hard-ing to do character cameos of unexpected depth and pathos : pulp fiction , nobody 's fool , and a few others . now he clings to stoic longevity , and shoots people .", "`` MOV '' is a welcome return to smart science fiction . it 's more than just a popcorn film . it 's a drama that uses an age-old genre device to play a fantastic moral game of cat and mouse . a definite must-see .", "it 's a science fiction film that gives you a lot of plot to chew on and some genuine moral dilemmas - about sacrifice , guilt , heinous crimes to protect the greater good and what-not .", "a bold , ambitious sci-fi drama that is destined to be more admired than adored .", "a very fulfilling sci-fi adventure that certainly knows how to close the loop .", "`` MOV '' weaves between past and present in a way that gives johnson and his actors opportunities to create a surprisingly involving narrative .", "loopers really need to unionize .", "johnson knows what he wants you to think about , and he expects you to relax and enjoy the rest . you can draw the diagrams later .", "this is a `` you know what would be cool ? '' movie that considers the real-world ramifications of its science-fiction whiz-bang , and a film of ideas that does n't skimp on the action .", "... a muddled echo of several other films where the filmmakers treated their ideas as something more than a gimmick .", "for all its weighty genre trappings , MOV is really about that existential connection , and in that it mostly succeeds .", "i 'm a sucker for time-travel movies .", "an endlessly creative mind-blowing film that captures everything right about the movie going experience . johnson conjures up the most imaginative action/science fiction film since ` inception . '", "part science fiction , part mob movie , and with a nice infusion of dark comedy at just the right moments , MOV is johnson 's best movie yet , and manages to be hugely entertaining , affecting , and thought-provoking .", "takes us far beyond the film 's high-concept premise into the kind of emotional terrain that too often escapes even the best genre filmmakers", "does n't quite reach the heights of the lofty ideals that it so ardently seeks to expound , but makes up for this with the sheer thrill of the journey rian johnson takes us on .", "ingenious with a fine performance by emily blunt , but far too much cold-blooded violence .", "engaging , exciting , and successfully cross-breeding elements of terminator and even pet sematary , MOV is a solid work of palatable science-fiction .", "MOV 's super . an action-thriller that bothers to have a brain .", "MOV may not take us back to the future as satisfyingly as robert zemeckis ' marty mcfly trilogy or james cameron 's terminator franchise , but writer-director rian johnson does enough right to all but guarantee that he has a future cult film on the books .", "the best time travel films play on emotion rather than logic , and once MOV realises this and drops all the tail-chasing about how time travel works it settles into the engrossing action/drama about destiny it should have been from the get go .", "has more depth , smarts , and heart than the usual sci-fi bluster .", "a spectacularly cool time-twisting sci-fi thriller .", "will render any blubbering sci-fi fan speechless .", "MOV blends visual spectacle with an intelligent , twist filled screenplay that is sure to cement writer/director rian johnson 's reputation as one of america 's most exciting filmmakers .", "it is personal , dark , daring , weird , and refreshingly unique . it is also one of the best sci-fi films of the last several years .", "despite the movie 's downbeat view of the life-is-cheap future , it 's a kick to watch , and makes a virtue of its bleakness by virtue of amusing performances .", "for sci-fi nuts , MOV corrects the past .", "a gripping time-travel , sci-fi thriller indebted to christopher nolan 's memento and james cameron 's the terminator , but with its own creepiness and muscular sense of urgency .", "MOV grounds itself in the commonplace realities of moments ... and then takes off on wild flights of science fiction-y suspense . the combination is cool .", "MOV is a self-consciously good-looking , profoundly silly movie that nevertheless comes off as high-minded .", "`` MOV '' is a superior genre film , an engrossing thriller that engages not only the senses , but our minds as well , just as good sci-fi should do .", "there has n't been much lately for those who crave some brain power along with their effects-driven firepower . now comes MOV , the time-travel tease from rian johnson that is an immensely fun yet thought-provoking ride .", "`` MOV '' shows a good deal of evidence of -lsb- johnson 's -rsb- ability to deal with complex issues in an engaging manner , but it also shows that he knows how to put together an intriguing story with the material .", "`` MOV '' pedals furiously and largely successfully to keep our disbelief from crashing to the ground .", "however long it takes to get your bearings , MOV is worth it . bruce willis expertly blends tough and tender and joseph gordon-levitt is at the top of his game in this rip-roaring mind-bender .", "a clever , clever contraption about trading in your future to feed your present , and the lost boys and regretful men who willingly embrace such a bargain already believe they have nothing to live for or look forward to .", "MOV is so bursting with its own ideas , it is easy to miss how cannily johnson references other movies .", "while it sometimes feels like it 's trying to do much , MOV manages to be a creditable and exciting sci-fi flick that homages the past while carving out a unique identity .", "this is one of those rare genre movies -lrb- like the original terminator -rrb- that reminds us that sci-fi can be smart . it 's much more than just a bunch of special effects and explosions . it 's what all movies should aspire to be .", "a thought-provoking , heart-pounding take on the applications and ethics of time travel which , oddly enough , doubles up as a lesson in the importance of good parenting .", "the smartest , most stylish and most outright entertaining science-fiction film of the year .", "anchors high-concept thrills and captivating ideas in a world of challenging morality and intricate personal consequences .", "beautifully crafted , acted and written .", "... has an irresistible energy and a do n't - give-a-damn unpredictability ...", "much as he did in brick , johnson creates a carefully drawn world in MOV that exists by its own particular set of rules .", "kind of a reverse - `` terminator '' without any of james cameron 's wit -lrb- or wisdom -rrb- ,", "truly imaginative but all the twists and turns make the overall film difficult to follow . plus gordon-levitt has not reached leading man status yet .", "a playful sci-fi thriller on the tantalising theme of time travel and how the future can be altered .", "MOV may be as flawed as hell ... but it has enough brilliance to get it over the hump .", "MOV is one of the year 's most engaging sci-fi films , one that works as both a thriller and a character piece about people faced with making big life decisions -lrb- often at the business end of blunderbuss -rrb- .", "johnson wears his new maturity with confidence , delivering a tense , twisty story with an unexpected emotional wallop .", "-lsb- johnson -rsb- uses speculative and film noir elements to defy expectations of both .", "the second rian johnson movie in a row -lrb- following the brothers bloom -rrb- that looks great but meanders while doing it .", "MOV is n't just the smartest , most ambitious film i 've seen in 2012 , it 's something more : it 's one of my favourite films of all time .", "matching its intelligent and taut thrills with richly developed characters and thought-provoking questions , this is one of the decade 's best sci-fi flicks .", "MOV is a dark , violent and surprisingly intelligent edge-of-your-seat thriller with a similar feel to sci-fi trips like inception and in time .", "with just his third feature , MOV 's writer-director rian johnson reveals himself to be the most exciting and unorthodox filmmaker to splash into the mainstream since christopher nolan .", "it 's an intriguing ride and i really enjoyed it . i think it 's clever .", "ambitious to a fault , but johnson 's vision remains original and initially hypnotic , constructing a wild but winded tale of time travel -- one of the rare movies this year with almost too much minutiae to manage successfully .", "mind-bending science-fiction and proud of it , not just a western set in outer space or a monster movie set on an alien planet . it 's worth seeing twice .", "the most robust pure sci-fi in years - tighter and more fun than even ` inception ' , if not as dizzyingly ambitious in its engineering .", "more than just being atmospheric , `` MOV '' also delivers some awesome action sequences and novel plot twists ... this is a movie that sticks with you and is fun to talk about after the fact .", "so close to being a great movie is MOV that i want to go back in time and chat with writer-director rian johnson about the parts of the film that come up short .", "i 'm definitely going to see `` MOV '' again . but you know what i want even more than that ? i want to go back in time , and experience it for the first time again .", "MOV does a better job of making sense of the nonsensical than any time-travel film since shane carruth 's undervalued primer .", "unusal and intriguing", "gritty action sequences , striking visuals , and a superbly clever script . one of the better sci-fi films of the last decade without breaking a sweat .", "as sturdy as it is stylish -- but most of all flat-out entertaining .", "`` MOV '' is the best action/sci-fi film in years .", "the coolest , most-confident sci-fi flick since 2006 's ` children of men . '", "intelligent , extremely imaginative , visually stunning and constantly surprising , this is filmmaking of the highest order from rian johnson .", "MOV is among the cleverest , most skillfully crafted and entertaining sci-fi thrillers of the past 20 years .", "accessible to a general audience while still having moments that will warm any film geek 's heart , this is the kind of genre film that elevates the form .", "the movie is morally murky , to put it lightly , and that 's a bit refreshing ; we 're made to think about why we want the protagonists to achieve their goals .", "despite its confusing logic and ornate storyline , MOV still grabs the audience with the raw emotional storyline on the farm and the constant popping back and forth in time . it 's a head-scratching ride , but a fun one nonetheless .", "call it the coolest , most complex sci-fi of 2012 and the best movie of its kind since `` inception . '' pow ! what a ride !", "is it derivative ? not really ; just a reminder that cinema , like history , is on a continuous loop , forever repeating itself .", "if the whole thing leaves you rubbing your temples , just a bit ... well , this headache 's sort of worth it .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- may be the best sci-fi thriller to hit the theaters since 1995 's twelve monkeys .", "that first hour cooks . and the second hour brings emily blunt into the story , which is a fine thing for any second half to offer .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- as time-travel suspense thrillers go `` MOV '' is a pinch better than mediocre .", "it 's a thriller with fantasy elements and if you disregard -lrb- or do n't care about -rrb- the internal confusion of its world , you may find it works for you", "a stunner from start to finish -- a smart , exciting time-travel action film that respects its audience , its genre and even its characters .", "awards talk is way premature . but giving a solid , mostly original genre entry its due praise is not .", "while gordon-levitt and willis have a blast with the space-time issues and some funny dialogue , the movie loses steam after a solid start .", "MOV has more heart than brick and the 2008 con-man flick the brothers bloom . both fine achievements , they could also be described as viscerally cerebral .", "the result is a film that is simultaneously a visceral and an intellectual experience .", "brutal and chilling , if not air-tight , it is best to allow the many pleasures of `` MOV '' to sweep over without dwelling too closely on particulars .", "the subplot revolving around cid takes away from the sci-fi and time travel yarn , taking me out of the loop , so to speak .", "MOV is a thinking man 's science fiction film with a bold plot that grabs you from the opening frame .", "other films evoked by ` MOV ' include brian de palma 's ` carrie ' and , inevitably , terry gilliam 's '12 monkeys ' -lrb- 1995 -rrb- , which also stars willis and which is light years ahead of ` MOV . '", "an ingenious , witty film that simply brims with ideas and energy .", "while there are problems aplenty with the logic -lrb- or lack thereof -rrb- of the plot 's various elements and devices , i still managed to be caught up in the characters and the story as they played out . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "a really fresh and innovative spin on the genre that , although it does n't quite result in the next great sci-fi classic , is definitely one of the better contemporary films of its kind .", "you 'll be unravelling its time travel machinations in your head as you walk from the cinema , but there are some scenes that will live much longer in the memory .", "while `` MOV '' lacks the heft of a classic , this wayback machine is worth taking for a spin .", "from the carefully choreographed action scenes to the themes of revenge and redemption , MOV is the work of a visionary . do n't miss it .", "MOV is a rare example of ingenious science-fiction storytelling where the fundamental concepts are so intriguing that their stylish execution feels like gravy .", "it feels like something new and different . futuristic , even .", "creates a world so lively and well-wrought i 'd happily see a dozen more movies set there .", "a hugely ambitious and mind-blowing sci-fi twist on the gangster flick that 's likely to make it one of the coolest movies of the year .", "-lsb- rian johnson 's -rsb- grandly conceived , impressively mounted third feature shows a giddy , geeky interest in science-fiction , then forces it into the back seat and lets the multidimensional characters drive .", "rian johnson 's third and most ambitious feature keeps the action popping while sustaining interest in the long arc of a story about a man assigned to kill the 30-years-older version of himself .", "one of the best films of 2012 . you 'll immediately want to see it again .", "`` MOV '' successfully closes its loop . for some , that will be enough . but the screenplay takes a few shortcuts to reach its destination , hiding behind the truth that when the future is unpredictable , present day is allowed to be vague .", "it 's official : MOV closes the loop on any doubt that writer/director rian johnson is one of the most fascinating filmmakers to appear on the doorstep of the 21st century .", "even with its echoes of sci-fi thrillers past , from la jette to the terminator , rian johnson 's mind bender feels fresh - fresh enough to be forgiven for sputtering off the rails in the final act .", "johnson is strong enough to come in with a great conceptual finish , one which links his loopers to a more universal ` cycle of vengeful violence . '", "it 's safe to predict that `` MOV '' will transform mr. johnson 's career , and give pleasure to popeyed audiences for a long time to come .", "mr. johnson throws a lot at the screen , blasted corpses included , yet little here is as initially transfixing as mr. gordon-levitt 's mug .", "this is a highflying , super-stylish science-fiction thriller that brings a fresh approach to mind-bending genre material .", "faintly absurd , but done up with such confidence that you 're willing to go along for the ride .", "the first half of writer/director rian johnson 's film is gripping , but by the second half it 's all become unbelievably confused and disjointed .", "it will likely have moviegoers gathering outside the theater afterward to hash out details of its intricately constructed universe .", "the leads blend as seamlessly as any young-old character coupling i 've seen .", "this is a genuinely tough-minded and unpredictable movie , one of the fall 's most enjoyable entertainments ...", "it 's nice to have a movie worm its way into your brain and leave you wondering and wanting more , and for the mechanics of the plot hold up to further scrutiny . joseph gordon-levitt 's fake eyebrows , i suspect , would not withstand such close examination .", "MOV marks a significant step forward for time-travel storytelling . johnson 's outstanding vision and execution push at the genre 's emotional and psychological boundaries harder than any sci-fi work in recent memory .", "MOV is an ambitious undertaking . the -lrb- slightly -rrb- flawed result stands heads above as an example of quality sci-fi crafted by an artistic and creative filmmaker .", "MOV is a thoughtful genre-bender that brings science-fiction , action and mystery together in one tight package .", "keeps you mentally hopping , daring you to guess where it is headed , then cheerfully pulling the rug out from under you each time .", "this is nothing less than a consideration of how at every moment , every person on the planet is making one of an infinite number of choices that will lead to an infinite number of possibilities . it 's enough to make the head spin . and it does . sublimely .", "one of the best movies of the year .", "a mind-bending ride that is not afraid to slow down now and again , to explore themes of regret and redemption , solitude and sacrifice , love and loss . it 's a movie worth seeing and , perhaps , going back to see again .", "well-constructed narrative , looping back on itself , spiraling willingly into its own paradoxes and dealing with all the weird overlaps in a way few movies dare to bother with .", "a sci-fi action thriller that 's smart , complicated , and that actually follows through on plot twists guaranteed to make the audience uneasy .", "johnson 's direction builds on the optimistic tone that is inherent in the best time-travel stories : the idea that there are always second chances to fix past mistakes .", "like any good piece of speculative fiction , `` MOV '' ca n't be boiled down into a short plot blurb ... there has n't been a movie quite like it .", "intriguing conversation material but curiously cold and unsatisfying as drama .", "MOV is one of the few modern-day character-motivated science fiction films to -lsb- also -rsb- succeed on levels of action and suspense .", "rian johnson ... has conjured a supremely well-crafted science-fiction thriller that fully delivers on the promise of its out-there premise .", "all of MOV 's ideas , elements and actions loop back on themselves to create a thrilling , fascinating and fiercely imaginative head-scratcher that 's undoubtedly the best sci-fi of 2012 .", "a nifty time-travel thriller that hits the mark .", "i knew this was my kind of sci-fi movie when bruce willis yells at joseph gordon levitt , insisting that they stop talking about how time travel works and just get down to the business at hand .", "MOV imagines a world just near enough to look familiar , and just futuristic enough to be chillingly askew .", "a stylish , intelligent and superbly acted sci-fi thriller with some intriguing ideas and great dialogue ...", "`` MOV '' is thrilling to watch even when it falls apart .", "savvy , nasty fun , then , and seeing brucie still able to pull off the tough guy is a form of time travel all in itself .", "the best advice is to not overthink `` MOV , '' as johnson 's already done that . instead , just sit back and enjoy it .", "good news : not only is the smart , sexy , sophisticated but still slam-bang sci-fi action-thriller not dead , it 's just gotten itself a potent shot in the arm by way of writer-director rian johnson .", "johnson hauls us through a cat-and-mouse chase , peppered with great dialogue and two showcase performances from willis and gordon-levitt , who 's nailed the pained look of befuddlement , the mannered slouch in the walk , that made willis a star .", "the most ambitious , inventive , downright invigorating film you 're likely to see all year . original science fiction film-making at its very finest .", "stitched together with dynamism and precision", "thoughtful , intimate , and deeply moving , writer-director rian johnson 's assured and perfectly-measured third feature is one of the best films of the year .", "while the third act inevitably bogs down a bit in gunplay and chases , there are more than enough moments of visual wonder and storytelling surprise to make it worth the trip .", "johnson does n't explain too much , but he explains just enough about how two people can be one person , and how the younger entity 's actions , in real time , can affect the memory of the older entity .", "... a smart and sharply realized vision of a not-too-distant , not-too-dystopian future -lsb- that -rsb- does n't get too fussy with the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics .", "writer-director rian johnson has come up with a nifty sci-fi hook , and he keeps as tight a rein as possible on the story 's twisty internal logic .", "it 's a head flip of a time trip .", "MOV felt to me like a maddening near-miss ...", "a fashionably sleek , unfashionably smart science-fiction film that tick-tick-ticks along with pocket-watch precision .", "boasts rian johnson 's reverence for cinema past while taking genre movies into a promising future . MOV is that rare thriller that always stays ahead of its audience . you may feel like you need a time machine just to catch up to it .", "this is an exciting , exceptionally well-made futuristic thriller that also happens to be loaded with lived-in touches and punchy ideas .", "the transgression of internal logic suspends a faithfully observant viewer 's disbelief more than mr. gordon-levitt 's glued on eyebrows .", "time travel is tricky . even more tricky than talking time is reviewing MOV and not giving away the tasty time treats awaiting serious and non-serious sci-fi fans .", "exciting and engrossing futuristic thriller - with a solid payoff .", "... re-establishes the -lrb- time travel -rrb- genre in a new and fresh way . and seriously , how cool is it to have an actual blunderbus for an assassin 's weapon ?", "featuring fantastic performances from the entire cast , absorbing cinematography , and one of the most unique concepts for a film in quite some time , MOV is one of the most creative , intelligent , and unpredictable films of the year .", "`` MOV '' is frenetic , loud , creative , entertaining and , of course , unbelievable .", "refreshingly unique", "it might be confusing in its time-travel material , but is both entertaining and somewhat challenging by being so action-packed and loopy .", "do make time for it .", "this all sounds a little too much like the terminator , but johnson keeps things moving and rings ingenious changes on familiar material ...", "best stay focused and avoid a loo break !" ], "summary": "as thought-provoking as it is thrilling , MOV delivers an uncommonly smart , bravely original blend of futuristic sci-fi and good old-fashioned action .", "id": "771186945" }, { "movie": "the_age_of_adaline", "reviews": [ "a middling romance intended as counter-programming before a summer of world-savers and life-takers , MOV is an adequate way to kill a few mortal hours in the theater for romance fans .", "`` adaline '' enchants despite lack of chemistry", "the story itself is hardly epic and certainly is n't romantic , which makes us focus on how ludicrous the whole thing is .", "starved of sufficient comedy or drama , `` MOV '' is a pipsqueak .", "a surprisingly effective fable . blake lively is excellent .", "a preposterous premise treated with great solemnity . lively shines , though , as does ford .", "plausibility , shmausibility . this is pretty schmaltz done right .", "someone should steal this concept and make a decent movie out of it .", "`` MOV '' works best as a simple story of boy meets girl ; girl falls in love ; girl mulls whether or not to reveal that she 'll stay young forever . everything else is just a lot of unnecessary noise .", "as awkward love triangles go , this is second only to the 1989 film chances are , where robert downey jr. discovers that in a past life , he was his girlfriend 's father . -lrb- gross . -rrb-", "fantastical - yet perhaps too reserved and tastefully restrained for its own good ...", "harrison ford himself shows up and does n't disappoint ; although the third act of the film lost it 's way a tad .", "a nice change of pace before we 're swamped by summer 's big budget action flicks .", "a high level of suspension of disbelief -- we 're talking code red -- is required to enjoy MOV , and the film is charming enough and accomplished enough that we willingly give ourselves over ... to a point .", "an elegant , reflective piece of work that may not appeal to everybody - but if you 're out on your first movie date , it may be just the thing to get you to first base .", "this is one of those movies that have you wondering : long before the actors signed up and the locations were chosen and the sets were built and the filming began , how did someone not say , `` um , we have a big problem with this story '' ?", "the type of bittersweet film that can trump the resistance of reason and logic , and sweep us into a story of longing , regret and renewal .", "the conceit endows lively 's regal air of distracted superiority with an intermittent pathos , but the director , lee toland krieger , brings no identifiable perspective , and the screenwriters ... hardly tap a century 's worth of material .", "age of adaline surprises you with its warmth and sweeping romantic notions , despite its severely flawed logic .", "MOV is a `` near miss , '' content to occasionally flirt with the sublime rather than step wholly into the uneasy .", "lovers of the genre will find plenty to love about the stylish age of adaline and may find themselves rooting through pockets for a tissue at points , a romance movie equivalent of a standing ovation .", "it 's a disarmingly affecting film , and very sad at points . a rumination on loneliness .", "during its second half , in which we meet harrison ford and kathy baker , cast as ellis ' parents , it all turns to caramel and its absurdities can no longer be denied .", "MOV may be preposterous , but it 's unabashedly , sentimentally so .", "the movie is so free of irony , so quaint and earnest in its philosophy and metaphysics , that it 's a refreshing alternative to this season 's loud , marketing-approved , studio-built tentpoles .", "you ca n't really call MOV a movie . it 's more like a series of pretty pictures held together by a remarkably idiotic story .", "the makings of an interesting movie are here , but the script , written by j. mills goodloe and salvador paskowitz , collapses on itself in the third act .", "age of adaline rewards viewers who buy into its ludicrous premise with a frequently beautiful , occasionally stirring cinematic trinket .", "huisman is charming , but it 's ford who makes this movie . ford 's been involved with so many action movies , it 's easy to forget his acting talent .", "a supernatural romance that thinks itself far more profound than it actually is .", "what a throwback pleasure director lee toland krieger 's latest would have been , if it were n't so exasperatingly unfocused .", "blake lively holds together a film that deserves to fall apart", "rather than just revel in the absurdity of it all , this film can be accused of being too stony-faced in parts .", "a pleasant and undemanding romantic drama that takes great care not to upset you unduly with strong emotion or embarrassing passion .", "surprisingly smart and moving and much worthier of a viewing than everything about it would naturally suggest .", "harrison ford 's performance is the big surprise in this otherwise wonky , frequently shambling tall tale .", "this pseudo-scientific contemplation of beating the process of aging is questionable from the start , but it 's a bold and risky sci-fi in which logic is n't its primary source of dramatic gravity .", "an unusual , thoughtful drama that takes a novel look at the fountain of youth , and that afterwards will have those seeking nothing more than a little light entertainment commenting , ` well , that was quite nice , was n't it ? '", "by the time its two hours are finished , you might feel as though you 've aged two years instead .", "a muddled mixed bag containing some fascinating ideas , a handful of terrific scenes and some good performances .", "`` MOV '' weaves a fantastical tale within a plausible real-world setting . blake lively gives a performance of remarkable depth and sensitivity .", "a low-stakes , high-concept romance , gifted with warm cinematography and lush period trappings .", "the story 's magic realism is so torpid and affected as to make the film feel as if it , like adaline herself , goes on forever .", "manages to score some select moments of goodwill , but ultimately hampers itself with a severely underdeveloped story .", "lively delivers every line with an arrogant remove , like someone just asked to kiss her hand . it might be the most sepia-toned performance i 've ever seen .", "ultimately , you believe lively as an old soul in a young body , carrying a heavy secret ; you hope , somehow , that love will bring her a happy ending .", "for a movie that emulates literature , MOV never fits comfortably into a particular form-literary or cinematic .", "this ya-style romantic fantasy could have been cringe-inducing ; instead it 's a serviceable fable about the importance of mortality .", "if est\u00e9e lauder made a movie , it might look a lot like MOV , a swooning , fawning romance about a woman who achieves what no anti-wrinkle cream has before .", "aims to be as timeless as its main character , but it ends up feeling like a musty relic .", "i 've never seen a less involving movie become so compelling at the exact moment when you 've resigned to write it off as just okay . what happened ?", "burstyn is as beautiful and emotionally present as always and ford - after so many years of grumpily picking up paychecks - seems delighted to be acting again , and in a real movie .", "adaline is an 107-year-old mash-up of hawking , holmes and mario andretti , all dressed up in gucci with nowhere to go . what a fascinating character the screenwriters never bothered to develop .", "the pic thankfully never goes over the side into full-out hokeyness or , worse yet , maudlin melodrama . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , violence , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "MOV has a fundamental weakness : the tepid romance is supposed to structure everything else , so the film feels disjointed - a series of good , sometimes even great scenes in search of an organizing principle .", "harrison ford rescues this movie like it was a stranded hiker .", "romantic fantasy lacks magical spark , but ok for teens .", "MOV is a modern romantic fairy tale set in san francisco , marred by bad narration and an unnecessary desire to overexplain random magic .", "a strange film , hooked as it is on a character intent on revealing little . lively , smartly costumed and coiffed in a modernized retro look , leans on a mannered way of speaking bolstered with a skittish fragility to embody her timeless character .", "for all its melodramatic mopey-ness , MOV mostly treads water to its anti-climactic conclusion .", "lively is an odd screen presence - somehow both warm and cold , accessible and recessive . she 's long been ripe for a breakthrough lead role that allows her to stretch and surprise .", "lively 's never been better , but `` adaline '' is more interested in what she 's wearing than what her character 's thinking .", "beautiful but shallow , but also beautiful - a spell that only breaks once you turn on your brain , which you should n't anyway .", "adaline is consistently gorgeous to look at-and a good reminder that love , even when it 's complicated or painful or does n't last , is a whole lot better than immortality .", "shameless but mostly well-executed date-night fare , but blake lively seems like the wrong fit for the lead .", "lively 's performance is appropriately mysterious but too shallow to allow audiences to empathize with her character . the fault lies more in the screenplay , which does n't give her character much depth .", "sad , wistfully romantic and featuring maybe the best performance harrison ford has ever given on the big screen .", "MOV is a pearl of a film : intimate despite its century long scale , new and old at once , it 's a small movie to discover and carry with you .", "age of adaline - while frequently preposterous - has just enough pixie dust that it ought to find a fan base among romantic types .", "less a sincerely kooky elegy to lost time than a slightly off-kilter acting out of familiar rom-com bona fides about commitment-phobes missing out on life .", "blake lively is lively in this original with nowhere to go love story . not much else is .", "pretty silly . harrison ford almost makes it real . blake lively looks fabulous .", "despite an almost self-destructive need to be taken seriously , this romantic drama still finds some swoony soul in its odd meditation on the solitude of eternal life .", "a movie that promises an escapist romantic fantasy on one hand , while delivering an affirmation that , even if our bodies grow old , passion can abide .", "like a cross between a twilight zone episode and somewhere in time , MOV is a splendid new romantic drama with a beating heart all its own and terrific performances from blake lively and harrison ford .", "everything is just a little off : the plot is resolved too tidily , and lively appears ill at ease - she 's stiff and self-consciously ladylike , as if she were a little embarrassed by the material .", "this is a film that needs amy adams 's twinkle or sandra bullock 's nervous stammering . it needs a star with life .", "MOV is a ludicrous romantic fantasy , but solid craftsmanship and good acting make it an enjoyable one too .", "there are plenty of problems with this film , however ... MOV still serves its purpose for a date night movie .", "it does manage to pick up the pace in the third act and actually get us somewhat invested , but by that time we 've already seen too much . it 's certainly watchable , but best to wait until it 's free to do so .", "never mind that the story is far fetched , the film engages largely due to a winning central performance by blake lively as the ageless adaline , who spends her life running instead of living because she fears someone will learn her secret", "harrison ford emerges as krieger 's trump card ... it is a raw , vulnerable performance that ensures the film soars and draws fresh reserves out of lively -lrb- the definition of ` supporting actor ' , surely -rrb- .", "indie darling lee toland krieger has managed to pull off this high concept film with an innocent charm that harks back to golden age hollywood romance .", "it floats , like lively herself , in a kind of timeless bubble .", "stay far away if romantic movies bother you . for everyone else , this very much delivers on its earnest intentions .", "in what is likely to be the year 's most deliriously satisfying illustration of what happens when you feed a chick flick steroids , blake lively -lrb- gossip girl -rrb- hits emotional paydirt as a turn-of-the-20th-century gal who stops ageing at 29 .", "director lee toland krieger hits all the expected emotional beats but does n't take many risks or glean sufficient insights about our fascination with the double-edged sword of eternal youth .", "blake lively 's subtle , expressive performance sets the tone for this thoroughly ludicrous , thoroughly enjoyable romantic drama .", "okay , it 's hooey . `` adaline '' is not a documentary . what it is , though , is seductive .", "adaline 's secret is a dramatization of the vulnerability we all resist , and so her love story is n't so much cosmic in its significance as it is miraculous in its familiarity .", "with a steady head on its shoulders and a look as well-crafted as its lead 's , MOV is often hard to swallow but harder to dislike .", "far too often here , adaline 's parade of period dresses , coats and handbags stand in for the richness of human experience .", "the film is as tender and endearing as a lamb , a lamb at rest in a fragrant atmosphere . it 's a film that has a determined , unironic respect for things past .", "via someone who 's not adaline , the film eventually addresses , with elegiacal eloquence , the nexus of never-was or the crossroads of coulda-been to which we can all achingly relate . pity about the nicholas sparks playbook finale & damnable narration .", "again and again , director lee toland krieger -lrb- celeste & jesse forever -rrb- allows shades of a more nuanced movie to pop up along the margins , only to steer instead toward innocent niceties .", "it fails to pursue any of the fascinating questions its premise raises . instead , it dives headfirst into nicholas sparks territory and explores , though not without some charm , adaline 's romantic life .", "a weeper that raises more concerns than true tears", "leave it to harrison ford to pull off a rescue that one of his signature heroes might envy . in a deftly crafted supporting role , ford does as much as lively herself to shape adaline 's strange predicament into something genuinely resonant .", "what eventually saves `` adaline '' from being tossed on the cinema trash heap is the appearance of harrison ford about two-thirds of the way through .", "-lsb- ford -rsb- baker turn a fairly tame two-way relationship movie into a more complex four-character piece . it 's just as preposterous , but engagingly so .", "warmly crafted , with a satisfactory sense of mystery , `` MOV '' resembles a harlequin novel , but offers more spirit than simple forbidden love escapism .", "-lsb- a -rsb- blandly manipulative romantic fantasy -lsb- that -rsb- represents the sort of melodramatic pseudo-profundity that poses as meaningful in hokey novels .", "lively glides across the screen from scene to scene - like the ballroom of a grand old hotel with a suitor in hot pursuit - with all the emotional weight of a model in a perfume commercial .", "oh the horror of spending your entire life looking like a sexy , twentysomething blonde hollywood bombshell !", "for a movie about a 106-year-old - albeit one trapped in the body of a 29-year-old - `` MOV '' does n't have a lot of wisdom .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he movie 's devotion to her current romantic predicament feels like such a wasted opportunity .", "a sweeping romance beautifully wrapped in classy couture and slightly suspect in the way it uses metaphysics to manipulate matters of the heart .", "lively gives a thoughtful , complex performance , with undertones of melancholy and a yearning for connection .", "an unstable combination of melodrama and fantasy that does n't satisfy in any level . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV functions perfectly well as a harmless , fantasy-infused date movie . it 's hard to really dislike .", "an unassuming yet sweet-natured little film that parents can actually enjoy with their children , and these days that 's a rare joy to behold .", "the movie dissolves into a flaccid shaggy-dog tale shambling toward its foregone conclusion .", "a laughably absurd fantasy that goes nowhere fast .", "it 's a beautiful-looking movie with a ridiculous conceit .", "fans of more curious romantic dramas such as benjamin button and the time traveller 's wife will get the most out of MOV , an engrossing if flawed drama .", "staying 29 forever is every woman 's fantasy . but , as `` gossip girl '' alum blake lively finds out in the predictable but endearing love story `` MOV , '' that blessing becomes a burden .", "lively 's cool , timeless poise is perfect for adaline 's melancholy reserve , the aloofness of someone from a different era , wary of letting anyone get too close .", "MOV is salvaged by the performances of lively and ford ; that is if you 're brain has n't been shutdown by fake science .", "lively does a good line in aloof , and if huisman never convinces as the object of her desire then the narrative 's peripheral relations more than fill the emotional gap .", "free of violence , death or graphic sex , this romantic fantasy is an easy-going throwback to women 's films of yore , complete with a smooth narration filling in the gaps .", "ironically , this romantic drama about a woman who ca n't grow old creaks along like a centenarian with chronic arthritis .", "there 's a couple of hokey moments - the faux-documentary style voiceover explaining the science behind adaline 's condition - but this is never less than watchable .", "a quaintly disarming fairy tale , refusing any date that is n't written in the stars .", "beautifully shot and absurd .", "this magical-realist meditation on mortality is untroubled by logic , clarity , intelligence -- anything that might salvage such simple-minded slush .", "a lead performance of mind-bending dullness is given by blake lively , whose surname suddenly looks horribly ironic .", "poor adaline bowman , sentenced to an eternity of looking like blake lively thanks to scientific hoo-hah that wo n't be discovered until 2035 , adaline never ages . her movie gets old quickly .", "like benjamin button , this drama plays around with the human lifespan , is slickly produced and feels far too serious for its own good ..." ], "summary": "MOV ruminates on mortality less compellingly than similarly themed films , but is set apart by memorable performances from blake lively and harrison ford .", "id": "771373149" }, { "movie": "semi_pro", "reviews": [ "there are some ludicrous sight gags and uniquely silly , if foul-mouthed , laughs . the movie falters when it tries to be serious . fortunately , those moments are few .", "the humor is mostly visual while too many of the scenes that are actually written whimper out without a punch line .", "you ca n't help but marvel , and laugh at , ferrell 's indefatigable enthusiasm and willingness to make a complete ass of himself .", "if you 're a ferrell fan , this is probably the kind of movie you want to see him in .", "-lsb- s -rsb- wing -lsb- s -rsb- with thoughtless abandon from one posture to another . bam ! here 's a vomit joke ! bam ! here 's a tenderly romantic moment !", "with all the vertical leap of a pygmy in a pick-up game , `` semi-pro '' is like a movie in the mind of a 10-year-old who 's discovered profanity , pornography and a shoebox of blank mad-libs - funny only to the person coming up with it .", "will ferrell in short shorts . is n't that enough to inspire you to see the movie semi-pro ?", "this '70s - period sports comedy is only funny about half of the time and seems like an uneasy film hybrid . half the time it 's trying to be a will ferrell vehicle , and half the time it 's trying to rip off of earlier , better movies .", "i laughed from start to finish at its relentlessly , energetically profane absurdity and a cast crammed with funny actors in even the smallest roles .", "ferrell is capable of a great deal more than he 's been delivering . it might surprise him to learn that white men can jump . but first they have to try .", "semi-pro may look like recycled will ferrell , outrageous personality and all , but there is an attention to detail and a surreal '70s splash that makes it all work .", "what is most extraordinary about semi-pro is that someone actually provided money to produce it . the funding probably came from someone who did not - or could not - read the script .", "accomplishes a rare feat even for the truly terrible movies in that it does n't manage a consistent level of mediocrity but surpasses it seemingly with each and every scene proving that oh yes , it can and will get worse .", "classic will ferrell", "so clich\u00e9d it becomes the movie it is supposed to mock", "ferrell is still able to wring some real chuckles out of a very familiar blueprint . i guess the guy 's just that funny .", "step on up and see ferrell shoot an air ball !", "... there does reach a point at which one ca n't help but shake their head at the relentless needlessness of it all .", "it 's time ferrell gives these sports comedies a little time on the bench before his big-screen career fouls out .", "`` semi-pro '' is not even semi-funny .", "so far , this is the worst movie of the year .", "will ferrell puts up enough bricks to build a hotel .", "no one will argue that semi-pro is n't crude and lewd . thanks to ferrell and his cast of crazies , however , it plays the lowbrow genre like an all-pro .", "for the first time ever , will ferrell 's performance failed to make me laugh even once .", "foul .", "true to the will ferrell formula , going for the joke trumps plot and character development at every turn , with the trademark humor coming via nonsensical slapstick and such seventies-era fashion statements as cotton-candy afros and loathsome leisure suit", "if all this sounds similar to another sports underdog movie about a certain endangered hockey franchise , rest assured that slap shot 's legacy is safe .", "you take the will ferrell formula and you plug it in , but somehow it just feels kind of uninspired and flat .", "it 's not a very good movie , but you ca n't have ferrell without getting a few good laughs here and there .", "i think this is a case of alternately trying too hard and not trying hard enough .", "semi-pro is the perfect name for this movie , because it feels like a half-baked comedy made by semi-professionals .", "had a script been written , i 'm confident that we could have had a great comedy on our hands .", "will ferrell 's most cluttered film to date ... a few more movies like this , and ferrell could find himself trapped in a creative black hole that might lead to a future of miserable boat show appearances .", "the film is not up to par with some of ferrell 's previous efforts , but there are many very funny moments and scenes here .", "erratic , overlong and repetitive , semi-pro seems not to have been written but sketched out in chalkboard diagrams before the actors took their marks in front of the cameras .", "add it all up , and this movie 's nothing more or less than that huge fake-lookin ' ` fro on will ferrell 's head : untidy , familiar and kinda fun .", "even when the script , by scot armstrong , shoots airballs , ferrell is a slam-dunk .", "ferrell still brings the funny like few superstars in his salary range , but there 's a distinct decline in quality between the hilarious anchorman , the sloppy but funny blades of glory , and this affable , moderately amusing trifle .", "semi-pro is a mess , but it 's a likable one .", "i loved ferrell in stranger than fiction ; liked him in old school and talladega nights . yet , except for a skyhook or two , his work in semi-pro is strictly amateur .", "semi-pro is precisely that : a movie that is sort of professionally made and sort of professionally acted with no serious expectations beyond earning money and offering audience members some passing entertainment .", "a film with funny moments but just as many wasted opportunities .", "it 's long on shorts but short on punchlines .", "ferrell is to the sports comedy what the toronto maple leafs are to the hockey biz : hard-core fans are sure to show up and find reasons to be amused . the rest of us can only hope for better days .", "ferrell is pretty much the whole show .", "aside from kicking & screaming , this is probably ferrell 's weakest comedy to date .", "not even ferrell , spinning his comic wheels here , can save this vapid flick .", "technically , it 's not a foul to shoot a stupid sports comedy . in fact , it 's becoming something of a routine maneuver for will ferrell .", "semi-pro is just will ferrell doing the same man-boy shtick he usually does .", "the formula for a will ferrell comedy , say critics , is becoming painfully obvious : pick an offbeat occupation , usually in sports , add a funny hairstyle and silly name and unleash ferrell . comedy ensues . or not .", "in the end it 's too simply all too familiar .", "semi-pro offers nothing new .", "no amount or combination of shame , absurdity and unflattering outfits seem to dint ferrell 's fierce commitment to character .", "it is n't a good enough sports movie to please sports fans and it 's not an outright funny enough movie to please ferrell 's fans .", "root-canal territory all the way", "will ferrell 's semi-pro is a dreadful comedy . it 's lazy and slipshod .", "semi-pro will likely leave its star with a sore throat and bruised pride but a bulging wallet nonetheless : it 's possibly the first movie ever to be less funny than the products it advertises .", "semi-pro is n't the most well-designed of comedies , it 's far too disjointed without enough thought given to making it work as a whole , but there are enough genuinely funny moments , especially from upstart daly , to make it worth a look .", "you end up with a movie that is way too simple-minded for adults on an aba nostalgia trip , and way too dirty for kids .", "a lot of it is funny , but the problem is that it does n't amount to much .", "after four jock-themed comedies in three years , semi-pro -- his latest reiteration of growth-stunted masculinity -- ca n't help but make you feel it 's time he benched the routine .", "semi-pro is all fancy dribbling and passing , with nobody actually scoring .", "the conceptually canny but narratively disappointing semi-pro finds -lsb- ferrell -rsb- taking one step forward and two steps back .", "for die-hard ferrell fans , this could be the ultimate test . he has been playing variations of elf for five years , and his antics have grown as stale as jackie 's socks .", "an orgy of disco-era excess , it 's also an interminable exercise in beating a dead horse .", "like many of will ferrell 's recent films , `` semi-pro '' finds the sweet spot between sports melodrama and parody , and hammers it for 90 diverting minutes .", "there is n't enough going on in semi-pro , comically or otherwise , to sustain the movie even through its first half-hour . this may be one of the most sluggish sports comedies ever made -- even the supposedly rousing final sequence feels belabored .", "the real problem lies in the character ferrell is playing . aside from the unimportant detail that there really were no former disco stars in 1976 , the character is vague -- and specificity of character is what makes ferrell funny .", "semi-pro goes up for the dunk and misses the hoop , the backboard and the point . instead , it manages to both strike out and get sacked . whose idea was it to remake slap shot a la jerry lewis ?", "the will ferrell man-boy persona , a combination of obstinacy , idiocy and innocence that ferrell has ushered through several successful comedies , finally gets called for traveling in semi-pro .", "affectionate if foul-mouthed locker room method acting , with defensive moves on behalf of the mostly flabby-abs homeboy team concept . and counting all sorts of eccentric , nutty and deeply lovable players , before sports went commercial and big time .", "... pretty much mines the bottom of the barrel for laughs , going with improvisation and cheap shots .", "unfortunately , the outrageousness lessens in the second half of the film , becoming your straight forward underdog movie .", "coming from someone that did n't like ferrell 's last few comedies , i can say that this is an improvement .", "we do n't really need any more of these movies", "qualifies as a sort of cinematic comfort food : it 's the mac and cheese of the cineplex .", "... a film that is bipolar in its intentions , at once trying to make us laugh at jackie and care about the rest of the characters , but it 's a losing battle on both sides .", "aside from the ` fro and his sport of choice , jackie moon is really no different whatsoever from ricky bobby , or whatever ferrell 's character 's name was in `` blades of glory .", "semi-pro stays true to the formula , and it 's a pretty funny , good-looking comedy .", "i have to admit that not much about this movie made me laugh much at all .", "all in all semi-pro dribbles along but never really delivers a comedy slam-dunk .", "chillingly devoid of laughs , and looks like some deconstructionist experiment , deliberately draining the comedy genre of jokes to show the parched , pointless story-skeleton beneath .", "the movie 's absurdist humour and muted ambitions have paved a path for slipshod anarchy , and hinted at greater things to come from future ferrell movies .", "will ferrell fans probably could n't care less that semi-pro fails to take full advantage of an extraordinarily rich premise .", "it puts too big a burden on ferrell to make comedy gold out of rough outlines .", "ferrell ca n't jump in the tepid semi-pro", "semi-pro is semi-amusing and semi-entertaining . it 's a step up from the real turkeys , but like the tropics , it 's never going to be ready for the big leagues .", "well worth a look but this is n't trying hard enough to be as dumb as it needs to be . next time , ferrell , less ambition please .", "semi-pro is the directorial debut of executive producer kent alterman and he exhibits a talent for pacing and gag placement . the production looks a little muddy , but that 's in keeping with its low rent 70 's feel .", "semi-pro is beyond resuscitation thanks to about three decent gags throughout . on the rollercoaster track that is now ferrell 's career , this is close to a new low . and after turkeys like bewitched , that 's saying quite something .", "disappointing , poorly written and essentially laugh free comedy that wastes a strong comic cast .", "it 's certainly funny enough for a late-night out , but it 's just not nearly as good as die-hard ferrell fans will think it is .", "semi-pro is short and sweet . in his own way , ferrell is doing today what martin did 30 years ago : creating a kind of put-on comedy that invites everybody in .", "it does get the funk out ya face for 86 minutes .", "ferrell seems to be running on empty , despite a luxuriant mcenroe afro-with-headband and a past as a one-hit wonder -lrb- `` love me sexy '' -rrb- .", "despite a riotous cast and a battery of what should be hilarious cameos , semi-pro shoots and misses the mark by a wide margin .", "shouting ? big hair ? vague sense of disappointment ? congrats ! you 're watching a will ferrell sports comedy .", "ferrell mugs his way through with enthusiasm , but harrelson looks a bit dumbstruck by it all .", "ferrell 's character comedies spoof nascar , figure-skating and so on ; but these films also reveal a sincere , envious love and fascination for the cultures and skills they mimic . these are wish-fulfillment movies ...", "basically `` the will ferrell show , '' with the second-stringers relegated to the sidelines , fighting for scraps .", "very probably the worst of ferrell 's starring vehicles .", "i do n't think semi-pro is a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination . it just does n't rank as one of will ferrell 's best .", "semi-pro is n't painful , but it 's a very minor credit for everyone involved .", "judging from this low-scoring sports comedy about the mystique of men with balls , will ferrell needs to call a time-out from belly baring to refocus his fan-favorite game of playing clueless male doofuses .", "even with mile-a-minute gags and appearances by several of ferrell 's pals , a lot of the jokes clang off the rim .", "a not-ready-for-primetime tale that should have stayed on the bench .", "when a screenwriter and cast , to the extent they ad-libbed , resort to so much gratuitous profanity , it 's a sure sign of desperation .", "well , it scores about half the time . `` semi-pro '' does indeed have a few laughs . but it also has few surprises . this most likely is the winding-down of the will-ferrell-as-sports-buffoon franchise .", "semi-pro is a bad film , even by traditional will ferrell standards . the jokes constantly misfire , last too long , or try too hard to disgust .", "the problem is that you sit down waiting to laugh , so every time you are n't , it 's really noticeable .", "no more can filmmakers get instant laughs with pong , ascots , eight-tracks and lava lamps . it 's just no longer funny . and for 95 percent of its running time , neither is semi-pro .", "there was trailer before the film for harold and kumar : escape from guantonamo bay , which actually made me laugh more than the entire film of semi-pro .", "a comedy air ball .", "jackie moon is every other will ferrell character in john stockton shorts .", "the semifunny semi-pro is amiable enough , but you never feel there 's much at stake .", "will ferrell can be very funny . this is not one of those times . tired and tawdry , this tedious misfire is a misjudgement on ferrell 's part , namely in terms of material .", "jackie 's vast neediness and ego overwhelm not only coffee black , but also the rest of semi-pro .", "will ferrell has been copying his own parody formula so much after talladega nights and blades of glory , he has become his own joke-eating virus .", "the cast does , though , rise above the top -lrb- or bottom -rrb- of some situations and keeps the film on the positive side of funny .", "-lsb- reaches -rsb- a point of such creative bankruptcy that ferrell stands poised to become as tiresome a screen jester as robin williams ." ], "summary": "semi-pro is an intermittently funny , half-hearted attempt at sports satire , and one of will ferrell 's weaker cinematic efforts .", "id": "770674955" }, { "movie": "stuart_little", "reviews": [ "family films are big business and , on that level , this is wholesome fare . but that selling point is also the film 's downfall ; it 's just too cute .", "the fact of its hero upstages anything the plot can possibly come up with .", "see it over the holidays with your children .", "it 's perfectly entertaining fare , sprightly , funny and never too cloying .", "this wee mouse could roar , stealing your heart for family fare this weekend .", "kids will like this movie , it is funny and heartwarming .", "this is a mostly sweet film whose visual tricks - from the sheen on stuart 's fur and the shadow he casts to the wrinkles in his wool suits - will be seen as amazing by adults and taken for granted by kids .", "this may not be the `` stuart '' many of us remember from our own childhoods , but it 's likely to win over contemporary kids -- and a lot of their parents as well .", "a wonderful movie , one of the year 's best live action family offerings and a great example of non-intrusive cgi .", "it 's too bad that MOV does n't quite measure up to the extraordinary sweetness of the classic children 's book by e.b. white on which it is based .", "hopefully , parents and children seeking theatrical fare will give this movie a chance before seeking out something that 's louder , flashier , and lobotomized .", "it 's highly amusing for grown-ups , too .", "it 's also pretty wholesome , harmless and features a good message about acceptance .", "with real heart and laughs , MOV lets you forget the special effects and enjoy the show .", "the big screen version is a charming and mostly delightful little piece of fluff that should keep kids entertained and parents relieved to find a decent family film the whole family can truly attend .", "sweet without any touch of saccharine , and very , very funny without any of the usual hollywood visual excess .", "it will appeal to everyone who is n't too uptight to enjoy a talking mouse for 80 minutes .", "the voice work . michael j. fox projects the innocence and enthusiasm of stuart , while nathan lane is hilariously coy , hysterically cynical and sinister as snowbell , the jealous cat .", "a delightful charmer for all ages .", "there 's a winking sense of wit about the brightly designed production .", "every imperious toss of snowbell 's head and twitch of his petulantly bowed mouth synchronizes so smoothly with lane 's dialogue that at times he seems remarkably close to being like a real-life talking cat .", "one of the most joyless family films in a long time .", "the most exhilarating passages in white 's book have been omitted .", "this is really a series of set pieces with the logic of seeing what scrapes the makers can get stuart into next .", "a movie that is good for the genre but bad overall .", "MOV betrays a beloved book .", "it 's an unbelievably sick and appalling picture .", "does n't even get close to the spirit of white 's wonder - filled but hilariously matter - of - fact story .", "MOV thinks small , comes up short on charm .", "e.b. white 's tearful prepubescent semi-classic gets the happy hollywood treatment , but with disappointing results .", "the season 's most promising family draw .", "director rob minkoff goes out of his way to avoid a cloying tone , and the writers include funny bits for the parents in the audience .", "intelligent and heartwarming screenplay .", "m. night shyamalan assembled the year 's most memorable cinematic portrayal of a single-parent household .", "guided by famed visual-effects supervisor john dykstra , the folks at sony imageworks have created some furry fun .", "it is a movie that children should enjoy greatly , and that adults will find sweet and lovable and frequent good fun .", "a charming , technically sensational version of e.b. white 's children 's classic .", "MOV is top-notch .", "MOV gives good squeak .", "emotiva f\u00e1bula acerca del valor de la familia", "... never boring .", "it is just as e.b. white envisioned it when he conceived of the children 's story on a train to new york 50 years ago .", "now this is what i call holiday movie fare for the whole family .", "little is big on heart .", "the film is strangely uninvolving .", "this simple story features amazing computer effects to render stuart and a story that will bore anyone over the age of ten .", "-lsb- uses -rsb- class and ethnic stereotypes in support of the idea that it 's best to be adopted by rich white people .", "i found myself caring for the humble little mouse , and that 's the whole point .", "a terrific family movie based on a terrific book .", "a likeable , highly entertaining film that endears in spite of the odd spot of disney-esque schmaltz .", "despite these shortcomings , the lesson is resolved as it should be -- with acceptance .", "carries a lot of heart .", "the screenwriters do a great job of balancing the frightening aspects of the story -- night exteriors in central park with the warmth and coziness of the little home .", "each character , whether a housecat or snotty brat , is filled out remarkably .", "the single best thing about MOV is nathan lane .", "the use of digital effects to create a tiny mouse hero is quite convincing , as are the talking mouths on those cats .", "everyone wishes hollywood would make more high-quality , entertaining family films . thankfully , they still turn up every now and then .", "though the filmmakers never really come close to realizing such lofty goals , they do succeed often enough to keep both children and adults satisfactorily diverted .", "MOV is an exciting fantasy adventure for kids with more than enough verbal and visual wit to tickle adult funny bones .", "lively offscreen -lrb- and onscreen -rrb- performances from michael j. fox , nathan lane , david alan grier and others .", "MOV does n't have the exuberant inspiration or seamless , polished dazzle of toy story 2 , but if the latter is sold out at the multiplex this weekend , the mouse is a passable substitute .", "the story lines are simple , well paced and humorous .", "something that the whole family can love .", "i 'm a huge lover of `` babe , '' but was a bit let down with `` babe ii '' ... if you agree with that , then `` MOV '' is kind of like a `` babe 1.5 . ''", "it certainly offers a sweet , amiable moviegoing experience , and parents who treat their children to it are unlikely to find themselves bored with it .", "michael j. fox is amusingly spunky as the voice of stuart while nathan lane , as snowbell 's voice , is appropriately , well , catty .", "ms. davis infuses her quirky appeal with the warmth she showed in her oscar-winning turn in the accidental tourist .", "the production design is splendidly stylized to reflect the illustrations of a children 's book .", "too bad director minkoff could n't inspire his actors to show a little more energy .", "mouse tale with heartwarming emotion and eye-popping effects is anything but cheesy .", "clever , cute but insipid .", "i would hate to know that this was any child 's first encounter with stuart .", "MOV offers a neat package of warm-hearted charm and sly wit .", "a playful holiday diversion .", "o filme se torna entediante a partir do momento em que nossa admira\u0437\u0433o pela proeza tecnol\u0443gica alcan\u0437ada pela imageworks , criadora do ratinho MOV , chega ao fim .", "a fine and funny family film that adults will relish just as much as their children do .", "this is that rare children 's film that works perfectly for grown-ups as well with its witty story , sharp performances and astonishing special effects that never draw attention to themselves .", "as kid 's films go , this was not too bad . a little obvious here and there to crusty veterans , but a pleasant diversion for the shorter set without totally boring parents .", "nearly everything delightful about the book is erased or painted over here with near-plotless kiddie fare .", "somewhere , e.b. white is rolling in his grave .", "patronizing and predictable .", "there 's nothing in MOV that works on dual levels -- for both adults and children -- as is the case in the two toy story films .", "there 's nothing very involving about this rob minkoff-directed effort .", "in case you were in doubt as to how low american civilization has sunk , go see MOV .", "unfortunately , all of the nice attributes in the world ca n't make up for the script 's cynical betrayal of a classic coming-of-age parable .", "the movie casts off its charm for cheap laughs .", "this is a perfect example of a movie that never should have gone for the pg rating , for in doing so it lost its charm . and a charmless kids ' movie is ... mostly a shame .", "stuart had me pawing for a box of d-con mouse pellets ." ], "summary": "critics say MOV is charming with kids and adults for its humor and visual effects .", "id": "11550" }, { "movie": "urban_legends_final_cut", "reviews": [ "schlock , but amusing schlock .", "the violence in the movie is so cartoonish , at times viewers can only imagine that a large anvil will fall from the sky , squashing a very perturbed coyote .", "flounders in a no man 's land of mediocrity -- pretty bad , but not deliciously bad enough to become a cult classic .", "it delivers bald-faced variations on devices that were originally deployed , albeit with a redeeming glint of irony , in the scream films and in scary movie .", "it 's several , uh , cuts below its predecessors , as well as the modest hit from 1998 it purports to be a sequel to .", "makes the original urban legend look like an alfred hitchcock movie by comparison .", "resoundingly awful .", "by the time the plot unfolds most will want to flee the theater .", "for a movie set at a film school , final cut is pretty much a textbook case on how not to make a movie .", "let 's hope this is the last one .", "to say that the new film is a step above its predecessor is n't saying much at all .", "it 's a decidedly postmodern , self-referential sort of thing . and it 's still not very good .", "how jennifer morrison and matthew davis keep straight faces through it all is beyond me .", "everything in the movie is ripped off from somewhere else .", "derivative slasher movies , as a genre , are over , and you do n't have to be a film school student to know that .", "so predictable that it 's completely shock free .", "i do n't know if you 're tired of terrified girls racing through shadowy basements pursued by masked slashers while the soundtrack pulses with variations on the halloween theme , but i am . real tired .", "the narrative line ... is so hackneyed , so stale , that even the junior high school kids who were admitted to a special advance screening of this r-rated movie ... appeared burned out .", "one of the stupidest movies of the year . that 's right , people . stupid ... just plain dumb !", "the horror film as a genre has but one caveat -- never bore the audience -- and this sequel to the 1998 semi-hit slasher flick ignores that rule to its own peril .", "you 've already seen the exact same thing in scream 2 and scream 3 .", "they should have called this movie ` i know what errol flynn did last summer . '", "the script for urban legends : final cut was the best of 30 different takes from different combinations of writers . that 's far scarier than anything in the movie .", "poorly conceived and executed in nearly every realm of filmmaking .", "psst ... did you hear the one about the movie that sucked ?", "groaning plot twists and dramatic overacting .", "it starts bad , is bad in the middle , has some more badness near the end , and then erupts into a grand finale of badness so bad it makes other bad things look good .", "this horror-and-suspense vehicle , which dabbles pointlessly in reflexivity , does n't do much with its pseudosavvy characters .", "as in the original , the essential effectiveness of urban legends is subverted by the usual slasher movie conventions .", "do n't waste your time .", "a flat and uninspiring slasher flick from the `` scream '' age that just misses on every level .", "the young actors all look like blander versions of more famous people .", "what ensues is painfully horrific and reprehensible as entertainment .", "this horror sequel opens with an out of control passenger plane , then plummets to intellectual ground zero .", "it 's even worse than its predecessor .", "the embodiment of all that is wrong with the horror genre today ... avoid it like raw plutonium", "impossible to follow .", "it 's not just amateurish , it 's completely inept from premise to execution .", "mr. ottman does n't have the firm grasp of tone necessary to make his deliberate ambiguities seem other than simple confusion .", "as if there were n't enough self-consciously cute postmodern horror flicks already in existence , along comes urban legends : final cut to further fill that nonexistent void .", "a gripping ride into terror , embracing the horror genre wholeheartedly and giving us a nail-biting , heart-jolting experience .", "this is the kind of horror that makes you wince from silly slasher music , too much blood and dumb coincidences .", "put the gun to my head , pull the trigger , and put me out of my misery .", "resolved : film students are annoying in person and insufferable in movies .", "just stay away from this piece of junk . you 'll be glad you did .", "if you 've seen one scream rip-off , you really have seen them all .", "there 's nothing here that the scream movies did n't do first and better .", "a dressed-up piece of drivel , a self-referential pseudo-thriller with pretensions to pretensions of classic hollywood suspense .", "there is simply no reason to waste your money on this movie , which would n't be worth seeing if it were the only thing showing in town .", "wants to be like a hitchcock thriller . wants a kick in the pants , too .", "here 's a movie that represents precisely what washington says is wrong with hollywood .", "offers all the gore but few of the laughs or chills of its more successful predecessors .", "no style , no irony and no smarts , just a vicious streak that lasts 90 minutes .", "not what becomes a legend most .", "there are so many killings early on -lrb- remember , we 've got three movie 's worth of killings happening at once -rrb- that we have great difficulty settling in with a storyline .", "hey , ` ja ever hear the one about the guy who was forced to watch yet another teen ensemble slasher flick ? you know , the one where the guy ca n't take it any more , so he runs from the theater screaming ?", "this is pleasantly much less insulting than most films in the genre ... and far more entertaining than it has any right to be after its dire predecessor .", "by the time the facts are finally revealed , you just wo n't care .", "this is yet another scary film within a scary film concept -lrb- surely someone would have pointed out to director john ottman that this has actually been done before ? -rrb- .", "perhaps the most moronic horror film i 've seen this year .", "apart from one returning minor character and a few cursory references , there is no correlation between the two . unless you want to count the fact that they 're both really , really bad .", "you 're smarter than this , but occasionally it tricks you into thinking it might be up to something you have n't considered , like an above-average , extra-bloody episode of scooby doo .", "morrison 's gratifying performance , and her ability to knock down the boundaries of her formulaic role , that carries legends past its forgettable predecessor .", "a relatively classy horror picture , and director john ottman has proven that he can successfully cross over from being , not only a gifted composer , but also a respectable filmmaker .", "it 's predictable , gratuitous and just self-referential enough to believe itself hip and knowing .", "it 's sad to think that any audiences would be desperate enough to seek out something as formulaic as this waste of celluloid .", "as the body count continues to grow , along with the inevitable clues as to who the killer really is , it 's hard not to feel angry that you 've spent almost two hours watching this moronic exercise .", "it 's a tortuously rambling attempt at a slasher pic , throwing random scenes at us without purpose , reason or consequence .", "urban legends : final cut will not win the story 's coveted hitchcock award , since all the scares are made up of sudden surprises without suspense , and there 's nothing special about the production quality , either .", "so stupid and sloppy , it will offend the intelligence of anyone whose age surpasses his shoe size .", "ottman and the cast have done a good job with a limited script and budget , but it 's not worth rushing out to unless your a major fan of teen horror flicks .", "a bad remake of scream 3 .", "the plot is ridiculous and full of holes , but never pretends to be otherwise .", "this new offering keeps the mediocrity alive as it unleashes yet more unsavoury nonsense .", "it 's about as funny as the yellow pages ." ], "summary": "this teen horror movie brings nothing new to an already exhausted genre . and it 's bad . really bad .", "id": "15289" }, { "movie": "beyond_the_gates", "reviews": [ "despite its reliance on the white characters for drama , its biggest achievement is simply in revealing the sheer horror of the genocide .", "a harrowing tale , with john hurt shining as a priest whose commitment to his parishioners and students is informed by christian love and sadness .", "history tells us there was no happy ending in rwanda , and `` shooting dogs '' is not an easy picture to watc", "effectively shows how good intentions without forcefulbackup can lead to impotence and disaster within aforeign culture .", "there 's a fine performance from john hurt as a catholic priest who gives shelter to fugitives in his school , and at the end we 're introduced to various survivors of the tragedy who worked on the film .", "despite a true story that generates powerful feelings of rage and insult , and for all its worthy intentions , the film lacks a dramatic craftsman to make it fully engaging .", "not a definitive cinematic statement on the rwandan genocide but certainly a far preferable dramatic treatment of the atrocity than hotel rwanda .", "honest and moving , ` MOV ' is the best film to date about the slaughter of a million and displacement of hundreds of thousands in africa .", "there 's no way this story could ever have made a bad film , but a script that refuses sentimentality and fine acting elevate it just short of greatness .", "not only does shooting dogs have something worthwhile to say , it 's also incredibly important . that cinema has dared to challenge the truth of the rwandan genocide is to be celebrated .", "movies about africa often fall into this trap . righteous indignation is the exclusive province of non-africans .", "make sure you sit through the credits to learn about the victims who survived and worked on this film -- extraordinary !", "the film grinds inexorably toward its unsurprising and terrible conclusion with infinite grace but no real suspense .", "an intense and gripping drama that makes you realize that this page in rwandan history deserves to be told more than once , lest history forget .", "it simply presents , and assumes that we have the inherent morality to understand that what we are watching is evil .", "though less reassuring and not as dramatically coherent as hotel rwanda , it still packs a hard punch .", "MOV takes an unflinching look at the start of the rwandan genocide .", "this is a spiritual drama , not a political one , drawing a thick line between our good intentions and the selfish choices we ultimately make .", "the film chronicles man 's inhumanity to man during the rwandan genocide of 1994 , -lrb- where -rrb- selflessness and selfishness stand side by side --", "there 's little respite from the terrible history that this film retells just a determination -lrb- made stronger by the faces we see after the credits -rrb- to tell it , to be sure that history does n't forget .", "one of the most remarkable things about MOV is its refreshingly positive view of the role that faith can play even in the darkest of times .", "tense and gut-wrenching , MOV is a horrifying story told with grace and compassion .", "i think MOV is an important film , and it 's too bad that it 's not a very good one .", "the greatest failure of the film is its inability to enter into the lives of the rwandans , tutsi and hutu alike .", "at its center is a core of bitter outrage that will leave at least some viewers in stunned , heart-stopping dismay by the time the lights go up", "trumps hotel rwanda in its you-are-there immediacy and unflinching gaze .", "MOV is tragedy writ large , and an indictment of the international community which did nothing to stop it .", "flawed but worthwhile .", "a compelling drama about the 1994 genocide in rwanda and the moral heroism of a compassionate priest .", "a gripping , terrifying , profoundly touching human drama that 's definitely worth seeing .", "a gripping fictionalized account of a 1994 incident in rwanda that became a shocking emblem of the rwandan hutus ' mass slaughter of the tutsis .", "by keeping most of the action contained to the school grounds and immediate environs , director michael caton-jones creates a claustrophobic atmosphere where fear can fester .", "instead of the latest major studio flummery , do yourself a favor and see this brilliant , low-budget independent masterpiece , one that educates as well as entertains .", "director michael caton-jones does n't go for obvious pathos or simple outrage . he approaches the picture 's theme with a documentary realism that , scene by scene , heightens the drama .", "the movie does suggest that joe 's ignorance and sense of privilege , however honorable his intentions , make a dangerous combination .", "by dodging cultural and political specifics in favor of a thriller-lite framework MOV ends up serving largely as a tribute to the virtues of hindsight .", "shooting dogs falls into the trap of filtering an inherently african story through the eyes of a noble white protagonist .", "for all its righteous -lrb- and rightful -rrb- anger , shooting dogs is itself a curiously detached and compromised experience , unfolding stubbornly from the perspective of its white characters .", "... uncompromising ...", "where hotel rwanda was slick and professional , shooting dogs is both more earnest and more awkward .", "caton-jones orchestrates the spiralling violence with considerable dexterity , revealing a keen understanding of how , in the wrong circumstances , human beings can and do inflict the most barbaric cruelties upon one another .", "a passion project for those involved , it is angry and earnest and highlights an episode the international community have never quite dealt with : how it sat back and watched as thousands of africans were killed .", "earthier and more rough-edged than hotel rwanda", "the bigger political issues and the refusal of the western world to intervene gnaw at the edges of this movie throughout , but it is really the human portraits of the people that keep you engrossed .", "MOV , with its lack of sentimentality , its tough criticism of u.n. inaction , and its cast and crew filled out with real survivors , does nicely -lsb- as a retelling of the rwandan genocide of 1994 -rsb- .", "treads similar territory as hotel rwanda but successfully fills-in the blanks . a fine and welcome addition to the recent wave of african dramas .", "the 1994 rwandan genocide is once again the subject of a movie . even more so than its forerunner hotel rwanda , MOV is unsparing in its depiction of that terrible time .", "if its scenes of tribal violence feel overly familiar to viewers of 2004 's hotel rwanda , its account of desperate choices made in the throes of terror remains emotionally powerful viewing .", "with other african-oriented dramas making the noted rounds it 's definitely warranted for `` MOV '' to tell it like it is ... in all shades of dimming black and white .", "no one would call MOV subtle filmmaking . but the rwandan crisis hardly calls for delicate handling , and this impassioned movie , fueled by genuine outrage , is one from the heart of director michael caton-jones .", "a relentlessly-grim reminder of how the world simply watched when it would have been so easy to put an end to the madness .", "a difficult sell because of the way it clutches its privileged white perspective . but from any perspective , the story it tells is so dramatic , so riveting , that it 's impossible to maintain any judgmental distance .", "caton-jones ' dramatization of an all-too-real story carries an authenticity that often makes it difficult to bear , particularly when one considers that much the same thing is now occurring in the sudan .", "director michael caton-jones does a great job and john hurt just absolutely carries the day as the moral center of the story .", "convincingly revisits the horror of 1994 's civil war in rwanda .", "this depressing if worthy drama can only really scratch the surface of a tragedy that remains unfathomable both for its savagery and for the sheer indifference of the outside world .", "in spite of heartfelt performances from john hurt and hugh dancy , director michael caton-jones -lrb- `` scandal '' -rrb- keeps an arm 's distance from his volatile subject and fails to expand on an epic tragedy that is being replicated in places like darfur ." ], "summary": "complex , human characters and on-location shooting give MOV palpable tension and urgency .", "id": "268612456" }, { "movie": "fast_food_nation", "reviews": [ "you know what they call a royale with cheese in austin , texas ? the big one ... ambitious and a typically satisfying outing for one of america 's most consistent directors .", "this unflinching expose into the dark underbelly of the all-american burger is a thought-provoking cinematic meal .", "this film does serve a valuable purpose in getting us to think and act more responsibly about the way we relate to the creation that god has entrusted to us .", "at heart , the film is a vegetarian manifesto % u2014 a worthy enterprise , perhaps , but , with its overabundance of characters designed to make predictable polemical points , not much of a movie .", "helmer linklater opens your eyes to what lengths corporate america will go to make a buck -lrb- or billions of bucks -rrb- to give our consumption-geared society what it wants .", "there 's a lot going on , but it all proceeds at linklater 's typical laid-back rhythm .", "all linklater can do is play to the rafters , and for a film that 's intended to wean audiences off fast food , you might find yourself purchasing some after the show just to spite this disappointing film .", "as satisfying as a meal at mickey 's .", "not the most naturally flowing film , but it does get its point across .", "rather than looking down on viewers as dumb , blank slates to be taught and converted , -lsb- linklater -rsb- simply invites us to participate in the conversation .", "MOV works far better as journalism than as drama .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sloppy , overarching fiction that tries to do too many things at once . it 's like a three-ring circus in which none of the acts is terribly interesting .", "MOV works best when it 's just hanging out with its far-flung collection of likable , flawed people living off the fat and the lean of the land .", "decidedly spineless and not exactly all that eye-opening .", "effectively balanced between the nonfiction muckraking of eric schlosser 's bestselling expos\u00e9 and the loosely structured character drama of richard linklater 's adaptation , the film is fascinating food for thought .", "the unstoppable director richard linklater -lrb- a scanner darkly -rrb- and writer eric schlosser take the latter 's nonfiction bestseller and rig up a fictitious , sprawling narrative to take up the book 's scathing talking points .", "... a deeply unappetizing experience , sort of like downing three big macs at one sitting . at least it 's more nutritious .", "ultimately , richard linklater 's new film is as messy as the factory floors laced with cow guts .", "to say that MOV the movie is less horrifying than the book is accurate , but not fair to the movie , which is plenty horrifying enough ... . linklater puts a human face on a situation that is so huge that it just about paralyzes you .", "as bad an idea as it is to eat before seeing it , you probably wo n't be very hungry -lrb- at least not for fast food -rrb- afterwards either .", "about as timely as fahrenheit 9/11 would have been if it were released in 2025 .", "takes a documentary-like tone , with the melodrama coming from the system that keeps everyone down , and downing crap-filled meat . it 's all the melodrama that 's necessary .", "you 'd have to be either half-crazy or the most talented director alive to make the book into a film . luckily , the movie version of MOV has a man who 's both : richard linklater .", "linklater and schlosser 's script is uneven and , ultimately , too erratic in focus to make a lasting impact .", "naturally , a subject this right-on draws a right-on cast .", "one leaves the theater certain what linklater 's theme was but uncertain why it was presented so ineffectively .", "a bold muckraking movie that attacks the fast-food industry , corporate malfeasance , workplace safety , and the plight of mexican immigrants and working class people .", "what 's most frustrating about MOV is how much it promises and how little it delivers .", "richard linklater is channeling robert altman -- or at least it seems he 's trying to channel altman -- with his meandering , intertwined plot lines .", "if ` texas chain saw , ' ` prime cut ' and a score of other features that graphically literalized the concept that meat is murder did n't transform moviegoers into vegetarians , what impact will an artful polemic like this have on the national stomach ?", "those astonished to learn that animals are slaughtered to make hamburgers may well find richard linklater 's clumsy MOV educational ; the rest of us may be underwhelmed .", "unlike the book it 's based on , MOV wo n't make you think twice about what you eat . but it may make you think second thoughts about whether it might have made a better documentary .", "richard linklater 's MOV is major . it 's an angry movie that could shame a big mac lover into having a salad .", "many of the film 's subtler points are likely to slip by viewers who have n't first read schlosser 's book . other salient points are shoehorned into the dialogue , rendering key scenes preachy , heavy-handed and dramatically inert .", "this perfectly paced , thoughtfully written , and impeccably acted masterpiece is a gourmet meal from one of american cinema 's master chefs .", "by taking a fictional approach , and drastically easing out of the attack mode , MOV offers about as much bite as a day-old french fry .", "it 's a lot of food for thought -- even if sometimes , a bit too much is on the menu .", "for all the filmmaker 's good intentions , MOV is n't a particularly good movie .", "-lsb- director -rsb- linklater maintains his usual effortless , laid-back charm while railing against corrupt industry as a whole . -lrb- even when you 're being hammered over the head with some point , it 's usually a quiet , polite sort of hammering . -rrb-", "it begins to feel less like a movie than a position paper .", "a rambling but potent ensemble piece .", "these vignettes pay inconsistent dividends .", "a serious subject ; a director who loves to listen to people talk things out ; and the nightmare this must have been in the editing booth , play out in front of us in 100 of the longest minutes you might ever spend in a theater .", "the film is finally an uneasy marriage of his diverting technique -- rich performances , great talk , breezy pace -- and a subject too big and -lrb- ahem -rrb- meaty for him to swallow .", "indigestible .", "where 's the beef ? there is no tasty nutritious plot to chew on , merely lots of cheap info mcnuggets meant to be gulped down quickly without thinking too much .", "no question , these are alarming issues , but i would direct you to schlosser 's book .", "MOV tastes like something everyone says is good for you , but has little flavor .", "MOV would have benefited from a longer running time -- the movie often feels like it 's missing big chunks of plot -- but linklater 's cautionary message gets through .", "though eye-opening , it 's as non-threatening as any film involving sexual coercion , grotesque factory accidents and conveyor belts loaded with cow kidneys could be .", "this was never intended to be a conventional movie , but more like a personal industrial film illustrating the process that brings the corpse of a cow to your dinner table .", "fills us with too much stuffing to digest in one sitting .", "` MOV ' might have translated into a compelling documentary . instead , schlosser 's research is used as a springboard into a sluggish fictional narrative that merely hints at the grim reality .", "alt-weekly defeatism", "avril lavigne even pops up to rail against deforestation . who knew she could pronounce it ?", "preachy", "this is a considered film that lacks the immediacy of a blunt message like the more simplistic super size me , or the punchy , smokescreen climax of a film like syriana to send the audience out feeling enlightened .", "linklater is preaching to the converted .", "it 's about empty calories and empty life - ridiculous insistences that all kids see playing time regardless of on-field performance , the absurdity of porn as background noise , that revolution can start in rec rooms and the woozy lure of neon strip malls .", "distills a non-fiction book about the influence of fast food on the global cultural landscape into a narrative film that touches on the many of the points and populaces of the book .", "richard linklater 's latest is a humorless , glum multicharacter melodrama that plays like john sayles lite .", "a study of contamination in the food chain and in the culture at large , whether the offending microbes spill forth from cattle intestines , the corridors of corporate power or the seat of government .", "MOV is alternately funny and disturbing , and surprisingly informative , even as it sacrifices some of its strength by lecturing to an audience that might be snacking on fake cheese-covered corn chips and calorie-laden cola .", "MOV is a also bit of a queasy mess .", "MOV translates gracelessly to fiction .", "they say you do n't want to see what goes on behind the scenes in the making of sausage or politics . MOV blends the two , and the result may not be a very good movie , but it certainly is effectively disgusting .", "linklater and schlosser have plenty to say . they just fail to say it cohesively .", "the results are mixed but still worth your time .", "too many story threads are consistently ignored or dropped altogether .", "a frustratingly toothless film whose heart is in the right place even if its head is n't .", "to a degree , MOV gets the job done , not least because of a harrowing section , late in the film , made up of actual slaughterhouse footage .", "this is by far linklater 's worst film , which is sad because he 's usually so much better than this .", "the movie , unwieldy to begin with , completely loses its way after kinnear exits .", "richard linklater and eric schlosser 's noble and worthy film about meat processing and consumption smacks of good-guy agitprop and fails as a character-driven narrative .", "characters in linklater 's films may not have all the answers , but they 're never afraid to reveal their own dark curiosity , uncertainty or inquisitiveness .", "to me at least , there were just too many ingredients .", "when MOV is on target , especially showing the plight of the mexican workers who keep the industry going , the movie gives us plenty to chew on .", "our advice - if you do feel compelled to hit the mall to see this movie , do n't go out to eat afterwards .", "the slow and didactic film instructs us obsessively that fast food restaurants are evil , meat packers are more evil still and machines are actually the root of all evil .", "... i could n't help but think as i was watching it how much greater the impact would have been , had we been following real immigrant workers in this situation through the lens of a documentary .", "even if you swear off burgers forever , it wo n't make MOV 's characters come to life .", "i 've never eaten fast food in my life . after seeing this movie , you will join my egg-whites-only lifestyle . for you , it will take the on-screen gutting of a cow to do it .", "linklater has mostly missed a golden opportunity to not only create an enduring work of art but to shame an industry into changing their ways .", "for slicing through the euphemisms and getting to the heart of the matter , MOV is the most important american film of the year .", "carries neither satirical bite nor emotional punch , an indictment delivered in an oddly mellow tone . do n't order a helping .", "MOV poses an interesting critical conundrum : at one point does a film 's ambition make up for its dramatic clumsiness ?", "though `` MOV '' the movie is interesting and revelatory , it 's oddly emotionless and unappealing .", "akin to a socially conscious ensemble film by john sayles , MOV takes aim at corporate america moreso than the mcdonald 's and burger kings of the world .", "MOV makes you really think . it 's also really sad and fairly disgusting . but if that 's the bitter pill we have to swallow in order to look at what we 're doing to ourselves , then it 's a bad taste i can live with .", "linklater tries to tell too much story . we do n't have time to savor each valid piece of what he intends as a conscience-raising cautionary tale .", "blame director richard linklater and author eric schlosser for cooking schlosser 's best-selling book into an unhappy movie meal .", "the fiction that schlosser and the director richard linklater have extracted from the book is a mess , with narrative lines that go astray or simply wind up in the air .", "while the original book assumed an adult level of intelligence , the film pitches itself squarely at the sort of american teenager who would be shocked to learn that a fast food chain was anything but a pillar of the local community .", "more entertaining than a documentary can be , this fictionalized , muckraking pic could dent the fast food industry if enough people see it .", "turned into fiction from the non-fiction bestseller by eric schlosser , MOV sets up a scenario but fails to satisfactorily complete it", "where this year 's mushy tobacco satire `` thank you for smoking '' failed due to its filmmakers ' refusal to take enough of a stand , `` MOV '' has no such pretense .", "engaging , thought-provoking and sharply written , this is an impressively directed drama with superb performances from its talented ensemble cast .", "there are plenty of blas\u00e9 attitudes about the companies who provide our burgers and fries , and with MOV , there 's one more diffident voice to join the chorus .", "it 's less an expose of junk-food culture than a human drama , sprinkled with sly , provoking wit , about how that culture defines how we live .", "MOV is exotic for being a movie about work . its characters struggle with some of the world 's dirtiest jobs -- morally as well as physically .", "timely and unappetizing , it illustrates the folly of unsavory consumption but laid-back richard linklater lacks the necessary caustic tone to make a lasting impact .", "MOV gives you much to chew on and much to expel , but at least you 'll be sick for a healthy cause .", "if the word ` tasteless ' can be applied to a film in the most positive sense , that film is surely the pro-animal activist eco-drama , MOV .", "rather like a fungus-based meat substitute , this film feels as though it 's good for you , but actually there are few lasting benefits .", "a gross and engrossing attempt to humanise a hot-button subject , using a star-sprinkled cast to reveal some unpalatable truths .", "not as hard-hitting and incisive as it could have been but a relatively thoughtful and thought-provoking film nonetheless .", "you wish that linklater had less of the slacker in his filmmaker soul and maybe more of the spirit of early warner bros. .", "it 's a shame that film is as priggish , poorly constructed and plug earnest as it is .", "linklater opted for his typical chatty , meandering , plotless moviemaking to present the non-story .", "it 's the performances and linklater 's devotion to them and not just the nation that make this a meal worth eating .", "`` meanders when it should be on point , gets preachy instead of insightful , and presents cardboard characters at every level of the food chain .", "MOV has its heart in the right place and , even though fictionalized , it will probably open a lot of eyes . it is not , however , as effortless and enjoyable as most of linklater 's films .", "linklater defines his characters by their relationships , hopes , choices and weaknesses -- not , as so many directors do , by their particular socioeconomic circumstances .", "the animals ' deaths are more exploited -lrb- and rendered senseless -rrb- by the film itself than they are by the restaurants and meat packers the film does its best to condemn .", "... has some powerful moments and strong performances ...", "consider this one done medium-well .", "even when linklater does hit the soapbox a little too hard , MOV still becomes the feel-bad movie of the year . and not just in an intestinal sort of way .", "linklater 's inquisitive mini-epic bullies the american way of eating with harsh reality and delicate understanding", "as weak and bland as a mcdonald 's hamburger patty .", "it 's the supporting cast that takes control of the movie and makes the audience pay attention as best we can as MOV falls apart", "MOV is punchless .", "i was n't entertained by this film , i was n't engaged by this film and i definitely did not learn anything from this film ...", "failing to dramatize schlosser 's non-fiction expose , this is a simplistic message film about the fast food industry in which all the characters -- white , latino , and mexican -- are stereotypical and one-dimensional .", "in the end , viewers waiting for an emotional and/or dramatic payoff will be disappointed . as a call-to-arms , it 's highly sympathetic but surprisingly mild-mannered .", "a dramatic movie that 's engaging and provocative in a way a documentary could n't be .", "put over with a good deal of humor , not to mention some gut-wrenchingly graphic scenes in the abattoir and heartbreak tales of the mexican immigrant work force , MOV does not let up its momentum for a second .", "the film adaptation of eric schlossers best-selling book is far too rich and complicated to be understood as a simple , high-minded polemic .", "viewers expecting a blistering attack on the fast-food business , or an altmanesque panorama , will be disappointed , but it 's a sensitive and humane piece of work .", "this movie has taken a firebrand book and turned it into a whingeing piece of defeatism .", "ultimately , MOV is preaching to the converted .", "intelligent and radical , this meaty expos\u00e9 of corporate greed offers plenty to chew on .", "engaging and stimulating .", "this is a must .", "it 's a bit of a mcmovie .", "certainly food for thought then , just a shame the characters are n't as fully-fleshed .", "the stories lack shape , and the procession of famous faces detracts from the low-key , realist tone .", "the large cast is uniformly excellent and the film has been designed to stir the pot ... unfortunately , audiences do n't seem to be responding . global warming is the hot button issue but our food supply and its contamination is just as important .", "though it may well make you vow never to eat a burger again , the film never really holds itself together ." ], "summary": "despite some fine performances and memorable scenes , MOV is more effective as eric schlosser 's eye-opening non-fiction book than as richard linklater 's fictionalized , mostly punchless movie .", "id": "382673779" }, { "movie": "wind_that_shakes_the_barley", "reviews": [ "the MOV may want to view the world in black and white , but it 's honest enough to admit that most of the time the truth is gray .", "the MOV is a multi-layered story , and the more you see those different aspects , the more you 'll enjoy the film .", "a gaelic cousin to spielberg 's munich , it 's haunting stuff .", "while this may be a historical piece , it 's history told in the vivid present tense .", "loach and his cinematographer , barry ackroyd , paint a grim realist portrait in muted tones that captures the solemnity of an ireland turning on itself and the tragedy of two brothers spiraling away from each other .", "honest enough to acknowledge that war has the ability to turn everyone -- despite their convictions -- into thugs and murderers .", "-lsb- loach -rsb- has made an often handsome , always sobering movie that does what the best movies do : leave us a whole lot less sure about what we ought to think .", "raises hard questions about ireland 's uncanny ability to kneecap itself .", "as frequently happens in both loach films and history , the betrayal of ideals , socialist and otherwise , leaves a harsh aftertaste , which made me feel sadder but not much wiser .", "-lsb- loach is -rsb- the master of the docu-drama or the realist social film , and wind is one of his masterpieces .", "this dramatization of ireland 's early struggles for independence falls short of a certain originality or flair .", "the film 's star refused to comment on the similarities between ireland and iraq when he spoke to journalists , but we could n't help talking amongst ourselves .", "... powerful ...", "... you can feel the panic , rage and fear of the participants , and there 's a rare sense in the movie of history being less recreated than relived .", "this is one heck of a scary movie .", "the grain of the title puts me in mind of everything that nourishes you in the film : its frankness , probity , care and intelligence , offered not just in crumbs but as a whole loaf . i wish this could be our daily bread .", "though the film uses a familiar narrative form -- two brothers torn apart -- it does so in a way that leaves the form itself in doubt , heroizing no one , offering no resolution .", "-lsb- director -rsb- loach and -lsb- co-screenwriter -rsb- laverty are still capable of creating moments startling in their naturalism -- almost like a window into the past .", "... despite its length -lrb- over two hours -rrb- and some structural problems , it is an absorbing , worthwhile and often passionate movie .", "... loach tells a horrifying , moving , and completely mesmerizing tale .", "great film . ken loach is such an important filmmaker , he 's made so many great films over the years , and it 's great to see another director , like eastwood and so many others in his 70 's , who continues to be at the top of his game .", "bid for a genuine sense of history unraveling as strict realism , with currents of immense human heroism and courageous suffering in wartime .", "un crudo relato sobre el movimiento independentista irland\u00e9s que confirma a ken loach como cineasta comprometido con la historia reciente y las injusticias .", "will only satisfy anyone whose preferred source of entertainment is watching a&e .", "director ken loach is full of astonishments . in this film , he stages raid and counter-raid , big gunfight and small , with stunning dynamism .", "loach manages to depict the film 's violence , romance , action and politics each with the same gravity and dignity . it 's a crowning achievement .", "the humanity that loach and his compassionate screenwriter bring to their story prevents it from being another polemic about how the british screwed ireland .", "though loach 's film loses some of its dramatic impetus in the second half , it illuminates the events that led to eight decades of tortured irish history .", "at 124 minutes , the heartfelt drama comes across as pedantic and tedious . cillian murpy , fortunately , is such a fine actor , that by the end , his presence accomplishes loach 's mission . he makes the film work .", "winner of the best film at the 2006 cannes film festival , this powerful political saga is not merely a cinematic masterpiece from start to finish but a righteous rallying cry for disenfranchised masses anywhere with nothing left to lose but their chains .", "loach has the gift of finding the intensely moving private emotions in broad , societal dilemmas . he does that with his fine new film , the MOV , and he does a few new things as well .", "this is a classic example of -lsb- director ken -rsb- loach 's work with his longtime screenwriting partner paul laverty , meaning that it blends colorful scenery with meticulously rendered sociology , straightforward family drama and tendentious political debate .", "a passionate and pitiless piece of work that fails only near the end when its internal political dogmatism outstrips and undercuts the story itself .", "wind 's not necessarily for the armchair historian ; it 's more gut-wrenching than intellectual .", "a profound consideration of the fog of wars that rage between not only nations but , all too often , within their own borders .", "a human drama about two brothers that , though questioning our notions of right and wrong , loses its poignancy because of its political sermonizing .", "loach has a long and honored career as a political filmmaker , and the MOV is more accessible -- i.e. conventional -- than most of his other films .", "folks who are heavily invested in stereotypes of thuggish terrorists may balk at loach 's portrait of articulate ira ideologues . but there is no denying his ferocious grip on our emotions . barley is one tough and beautiful film .", "` the MOV ' descends to more old sod cineclich\u00e9 than titanic 's belowdecks .", "a plain-spoken film of true grit that tells the dishonorable heartbreak of war like it is . a gem of filmic honesty in an entertainment world obsessed with heroic actions and simple solutions .", "a stirring lament for good human beings caught in the crossfire of history .", "it is a finely made , finely acted piece of work . for this , and for his remarkable and uncompromising career , loach deserves his golden palm .", "beautifully made it may be , but the wind is a movie that engages the head while never troubling the heart .", "a bold attempt to convey a complex situation that captures the anger and tensions of early-20th century ireland , but falls strangely short on human drama .", "powerfully authentic , gripping and emotionally shattering .", "this account of the british-irish conflict is too conventional as narrative and too detached as melodrama , resulting in a passable work that 's inferior to ken loach 's sronger political films", "atmospheric but pedestrian .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- lacks the involving sweep of loach 's earlier historical-political yarn , land and freedom .", "... the history presented in `` the MOV '' hardly feels like a closed book or a museum display . it is as alive and as troubling as anything on the evening news , though far more thoughtful and beautiful .", "a poignant drama about ireland in the 1920s and the violence that tears apart the fabric of community and pits brother against brother .", "... a wonderfully shot , easy-to-follow primer for those of us who may find the history of ` the troubles ' in ireland confusing and byzantine .", "it does -lsb- make for good drama -rsb- , though at times its didacticism can be a bit wearying .", "it transforms the simplistic polemic of the early scenes into something much deeper and more complex .", "what does come through is loach 's characteristic disdain for cheap romanticism and easy answers .", "a truly irish tale , the MOV demands some work from american audiences .", "the MOV is dense , brutal , with moments of shattering emotional power , and the cast performs with fierce conviction .", "... ken loach 's the MOV may be the most powerful look yet at the guerrilla-styled irish rebellion against occupying british forces in 1920-22 .", "the acting is solid all around -- so convincing that the rough irish accents are appropriately indecipherable at times , and the story itself is as tragic and complicated as that moment in history .", "oh brother , where art thou politically ?", "`` the MOV '' has a sober , authentic , down-to-earth feel to it .", "a film that shows the slow push for freedom as the sticky , messy and lengthy process it really is .", "the intensity of murphy and delaney 's performances is shattering ... ` wind ' never loses sight of the fact that sometimes a victim 's wounds may be invisible to the eye , but every bit as painful as a stabbing ...", "there are moments that stir , and it 's always lovely , but it 's generally too remote to gain hold of you truly .", "while the film has its share of exciting battle scenes , loach captures them with an almost detached , documentary-like feeling , as if not wanting the thrills to overwhelm the essential tragedy he sees in the story .", "loach remains focused on the personal , which serves best to highlight the seriousness of the political with which it intersects .", "director ken loach borrows the title of his 1920s irish insurrection drama `` the MOV '' from a robert dwyer joyce poem , and , in turn , his film is visual poetry .", "a social drama so well built that it can pump out thrills while fueling damian 's motivation .", "a scenic bit of agitprop that can be as easy on the eyes as it is soft on the ear , even when it 's being harshly argued and violently portrayed .", "it 's not a great movie and perhaps not even one of loach 's best , but it is a solidly made , deeply felt drama that delves into the history surrounding this conflict with a relatively clear eye", "loach has made a film of uncompromising , wintry bleakness , haunted by death and ravaged ideals . the days of hope have never been shorter .", "an earnest , handsomely shot and often effective , if overly schematic , drama in the service of a political message .", "you 'll get a buzz out of the sensitive filmmaking , superb , naturalistic performances with touches of improv , and a sense of outrage that informs the film 's mood .", "i liked the way loach let his camera run when his actors flubbed lines , but beyond that , barley is no golden palm winner .", "two or three scenes manage a forceful , punch-in-the-gut quality that wholly crystallizes the clear-minded sense of purpose that loach strives for throughout .", "director ken loach has courageously put death , destruction and discourse all over the screen , succeeding best in the atrocities and coming up short in the scenes of political idealism .", "the film increasingly short-changes the personal for the sake of the political , despite powerful scenes and another impressive performance from cillian murphy .", "it is heartening to see the veteran loach receiving just recognition for a work that ranks alongside his finest .", "murphy is terrific in the central role and his softly spoken , essentially passive demeanour is used to powerful effect ...", "ultimately , the politics outweigh the poetry ... but it succeeds despite its hesitations and far-reaching ambition", "gripping , powerful , heart-breaking .", "gripping old-fashioned political drama .", "a brutal film ... deeply moving yet painful to watch .", "loach delivers a moving and often beautiful story that captures the essence of the conflict , with all its unintended consequences and personal tragedies .", "loach is on fire here . a masterfully executed mix of politics and passion , this is an example of that increasingly rare beast in modern cinema : a serious , thought-provoking film for grown-ups .", "the film 's stark outrage exposes the pussyfooting that these days passes for ` political '", "pickings must have been pretty slim at cannes last year because barley is n't much of a standout piece .", "laverty 's screenplay is not a simple-minded exercise , although there is a schematic aspect to it . he and loach want to be fair to both sides of the irish debate ...", "the performances are shattering , made all the more harrowing by the situations the characters find themselves in .", "refusing the standard flourishes of irish wildness or lyricism , loach has made a film for our moment , a time of bewildering internecine warfare .", "as a document of the shape of political thought , the film is successful ; but as a living , beating heart about a populace living through a time of upheaval and confusion , it 's mediocre .", "... an action-packed , psychologically violent film that captures the little known history of the irish fight for independence .", "the ferocity of -lsb- director ken -rsb- loach 's moral wrath carries the movie , makes it ignite on screen -- at least , until he tries to dramatize the fatal split of ireland through damien and teddy , the brothers in arms .", "this history lesson about ireland 's struggle for independence diffuses the drama under the weight of detail , length and commitment to a one-sided agenda .", "a dramatic interpretation of the irish war of independence that is relevant to today 's world . the lesson is that unless you confront the rich at home and abroad , true freedom will not be achieved .", "ultimately , barley is the antithesis of a feel-good entertainment -- but it is to be commended for its unflinching seriousness .", "it 's a dissertation , not a story .", "the irish dialogue is sometimes difficult to understand butthis is a good primer on the irish rebellion of 1920 againstbritish occupation .", "the film is an exceptional work of vigorous cinematic art filled with dynamic performances by its all-irish cast . at 70 , ken loach is as steadfast a filmmaker as ever .", "no matter your political stripe , this movie will move you to tears .", "gracefully condenses the complicated history of the irish troubles in ways both literal and allegorical .", "director loach , one of britain 's most controversial and socially aggressive filmmakers , here makes a subtle , and surprisingly restrained film , letting the volatility and pain emerge naturally from the sad and violent situation .", "barry ackroyd 's wonderful imagery often gives a sense of vernal moisture , which adds to the sweaty tension .", "it 's unmistakably the work of aging cinema activist ken loach , who wears his social-justice heart on his sleeve ...", "bloody and brutal , evoking obvious , relevant comparisons between ireland 's internal conflicts and the ongoing civil war in iraq .", "alternately winsome and sadistic but always with an eye on the prize : freedom .", "you 'll be heartbroken in the course of the film 's two hours .", "there are large portions here that are universally relatable , particularly the film 's themes about fighting for freedom .", "the MOV is n't interested in being a straightforward or romanticized history lesson . rather , -lsb- director -rsb- loach offers an examination of the very nature of rebellion , as filtered through the particulars of the irish troubles ." ], "summary": "bleak and uncompromising , but director ken loach brightens his film with gorgeous cinematography and tight pacing , and features a fine performance from cillian murphy .", "id": "243241044" }, { "movie": "wonderland_2000", "reviews": [ "despite the often-unappealing subject matter , however , the film remains compelling .", "MOV 's finest asset is its cast ...", "arrestingly beautiful ; you can practically get drunk on its fusion of movement , color , light and sound .", "the film 's realistic approach to storytelling and the strong performances mesh well with winterbottom 's stylistic flourishes .", "-lsb- winterbottom -rsb- ca n't pull this humdrum tragicomedy out of the gutter .", "one slice-of-life movie that 's sliced entirely too thin .", "it 's a wonderful feature debut script by laurence coriat , inspired by robert altman 's short cuts and with a less sprawling nod to magnolia .", "it becomes one of those movies that hurt so good .", "michael winterbottom doggedly excavates the innate sadness of his characters -- to the point of numbing his audience .", "a depressing and ultimately boring story filled with miserable , depressed and lonely characters .", "MOV is so bereft of hope that it 's a chore to withstand .", "an often powerful , and more often bracing , experience .", "in the meantime , MOV is a worthy entry in the three-sisters tradition .", "a beautiful , surprisingly uplifting movie .", "movies like MOV invite me into the screen with them .", "a compelling and rewarding experience .", "MOV is a mixed bag , folding subtle , revelatory scenes into a meandering , melodramatic narrative .", "this is a film to be savoured rather than simply watched .", "a lot of offhand wit and wisdom here .", "it is easy to admire .", "one of those rare films in which everything comes together .", "artfully constructed .", "in MOV , winterbottom has found a script worthy of his passion .", "convincingly conveys the loneliness and the alienation of life in a modern city .", "-lsb- winterbottom 's -rsb- direction finds the small pockets of warmth in a chilly climate .", "winterbottom gives the picture a fresh , textured , hand-held visual style .", "winterbottom and his cast make the characters ' individual journeys involving and rewarding .", "we 've frankly heard it all before .", "these are just a bunch of junkies killing each other and the aftermath .", "the ` oh , wow ' irony of the street name seems to be the prime rationale for ` MOV ' ...", "MOV is well crafted from the editing to the acting , but it often feels like a television pilot for a calculatedly hip soap opera .", "a consistently bewitching experience .", "the acting is as good as it can be under the strictures of the script ; unfortunately there 's not much to be done with this property .", "MOV is a modest tale , but one that leaves a lingering sense of sweet hope in its wake .", "this small-scale saga is blessed with talented players .", "michael winterbottom does some of his best work in MOV .", "it 's lively soap opera , ratcheting up the intensity with freshness and immediacy .", "channels the self-evident symptoms of urban malaise into a movie of authentic textures and seemingly spontaneous gestures .", "you feel as if there 's something in the way of connecting with this story .", "winterbottom 's newest offering is a strange melding of impromptu .", "the material is familiar , and does n't have anything new to say .", "MOV is like some kind of collective punishment for being english .", "MOV feels predictable .", "the energy is sapped by clinging condescension in the guise of compassionate liberalism .", "a film that should be seen .", "the problem is with the script .", "the whole is better than the sum of its parts : the outstanding music and convincing performances make me remember the film as being better than it actually was .", "there 's something wonderful in MOV , after all .", "it 's a neat enough film .", "MOV feels contrived .", "nobody does quiet despair quite like the british .", "director michael winterbottom does a nice job of piecing it all together .", "the film gets a lot of emotional power and tension out of everyday occurrences .", "winterbottom simply spends two hours dispersing the spiteful attitude of england 's ` angry young man ' films throughout the general populace .", "a film of scruffy beauty and spellbinding power , which seems constructed to capture the appeal of eavesdropping ." ], "summary": "a film that tackles something as simple as everyday life and succeeds beatifully . the witty script and clever direction keep the film flowing , while the superb acting keeps it alive . it does n't aim for the sky and for that reason it hits its mark .", "id": "15501" }, { "movie": "after_the_wedding", "reviews": [ "it 's a traumatic journey peeling away those layers of secrecy , repression and regret , but the actors are equal to those hyper-emotional demands . MOV is a story told with unsparing honesty and skill .", "just when we start to find these people interesting and credible , the plot tosses us something we do n't believe for a minute .", "a rare treat -- do n't miss it !", "may be the strangest and most surprising film you 'll see this year , in that its character development runs counter to the expectations aroused by its narrative sequencing .", "you leave the movie feeling exhausted , argumentative and exhilarated , surely the sign of a powerful film in any language .", "bier 's not timid about tossing any number of volatile ingredients into an already-simmering pot .", "an emotional masterpiece whose end is impossible to guess .", "initially threatening to turn into the most shameless of melodramas , it instead builds upon its rickety foundation with such dexterity and grace that it eventually emerges as a deeply moving experience .", "a deeply intimate tale of regret and hope , with characters that will linger in your thoughts .", "director susanne bier is obviously fond of extreme close-ups -lrb- people smoking , people drinking , people licking their lips -rrb- , especially focusing the camera on the actors ' eyeballs too many times to count . i can overlook this annoying little technique becaus", "-lsb- director -rsb- bier 's careful touch and the skill of the cast make MOV an emotional and often lovely film . it 's mostly a series of two-person scenes , delicately filled in with character details .", "the film brings us face to face with the movie 's starkest truth : it 's not whether or not we prevail over the inevitable setbacks in life , but who we connect with along the way .", "who 'd have thought a danish soap opera would be as bad as an american one ?", "there are no guarantees with this sort of thing , but it really is possible that one or two scenes in MOV will stay with you for the rest of your life .", "sounds like a soap opera . but danish director susanne bier builds a high-minded melodrama from this plot material .", "as the premise might suggest , jensen 's dramatic structure is so visible this sometimes seems like a late rod serling teleplay , but bier has proved highly adept at merging conventional drama with the immediacy of the dogma 95 movement .", "for once , the bigger the emotion , the truer the moviegoing experience .", "life 's a mess , it says , but you ca n't sweep up the dirt until you 've taken a good , hard look at it .", "in less accomplished hands might have been dismissed as mawkish and contrived , but ... comes across as surprisingly honest and affecting .", "... star mads mikkelsen is becoming internationally known and while he delivers another fine performance here it is rolf lassg\u013ard who proves the revelation as the billionaire with a huge hidden agenda .", "in my book it 's high camp -- a thrill ride for emotion junkies .", "if what bier and veteran co-writer anders thomas jensen created is melodrama , then so is the stuff of life .", "a serious adult drama that , in the wrong hands , would have certainly been a cloying mess . instead , it 's a riveting character study/soap opera .", "even when -lsb- bier 's -rsb- movie ventures in deepest contrivance it pulls you along like a willing puppy on a gently tugged leash .", "this is a fine tale of families and secrets , and its seemingly cold exterior gives way to something unexpectedly warm and soft inside .", "-lsb- the -rsb- handheld , digital camerawork provides an ultra-realistic , immediate feel , but also highlights the film 's cautious , dramatic sidestepping .", "`` MOV '' has the makings of a melodramatic soap opera were it not in the hands of a seasoned director like susanne bier", "mikkelsen , lassgard , knudsen and christensen seem to burrow into the deepest parts of their hearts and souls to turn the stuff of soap opera into a search for the real self .", "a cast from paradise , brilliantly directed by susanne bier .", "handsome drama that reveals depth beneath its polished veneer .", "-lsb- director -rsb- bier has lots -lsb- of -rsb- surprises up her sleeve to keep MOV humming for two solid hours .", "the characters may suffer once the bride walks down the aisle , but -lsb- director -rsb- bier , -lsb- writer -rsb- jensen and their first-rate cast work together like a match made in heaven .", "it speaks the universal language of high romance in the distinctly unromantic danish tongue . but do n't be put off by that . it is a kind of treat we are only rarely offered these days .", "a deceptively unadorned movie that ends in huge , untidy and enormously satisfying emotions .", "a thoughtful exploration of paternity and responsibility . much of the film 's success lies in bier 's sensitive direction , but credit is also due to the fine cast , particularly mikkelsen .", "a thrilling -- and harrowing , and beautiful -- celebration of the unpredictability of life .", "MOV could be the cinematic equivalent of a coldplay song . and while that is n't necessarily a slam , it is n't a recommendation either .", "bier 's insistence on adding even more melodramatics into the mix feels like a mistake .", "we have rolf lassgard chewing the scenery like nobody 's business , and ms. babett managing to keep up with him . mads mikkelsen tries to keep up , but even though he ca n't , he 's close enough behind to almost keep up with them .", "a paradoxical , if ultimately plausible portrait of a fractured family which deals with baby-daddy drama in a way which puts similar , relatively-flip hollywood fare to shame .", "what feels at first like a quiet , straightforward picture builds into one of the richest and most satisfying of the year so far , in any genre or any language .", "crisply written and acted soap opera from susanne bier , but vague in its intentions .", "a filmmaker who excels in peeling back those delicate layers of human frailty , denmark 's susanne bier returns to toronto , which premiered her previous two films , with another powerful family portrait .", "mikkelsen is fascinatingly angry throughout . he is , after all , the guy who weeps blood tears in casino royale , so he 's already earned his coolness points .", "script takes one melodramatic turn too many , ultimately pushing the film 's characters around like so many pieces on a chessboard . what begins so promisingly ends on a decidedly soapy note .", "the filmmakers pile on a heap of life 's complications but for all the recriminations , the movie remains involving because of its convincing compassion for its characters .", "dark secrets eat away from within , but after 120 minutes of self-loathing this soapy tale fails to engage with either genuine mystery or genuine reconciliation .", "a substantive film about an idealistic danish aid worker who is forced to stretch his own capacities for love and compassion , directing them in new channels that surprise and challenge him .", "every time you think you are going to hit a cliche , the film turns on it .", "MOV is a modern creation with a classic theme involving haves and have-nots , bloodlines and family ties .", "evidently , this bloated piece of oscar-nominated nonsense was a big hit in denmark , which makes me think there 's a glittering future in that otherwise discriminating country for several seasons of days of our lives .", "it 's that paradoxical melodrama that point-blank refuses to acknowledge that it 's being melodramatic , conveying its scenario with enough intensity , psychological acuity and forceful acting to ignore labels and flat-out overpower audiences .", "MOV has a dignity of purpose that is made to feel authentic by the performances .", "MOV 's anguished portrait of family , charity , and mortality peels back layers in the characters that defy their easy categorization .", "a shrewdly constructed narrative and strong lead performances make up for much -- including bier 's irritating penchant for shoving her handheld camera in her cast 's faces .", "there are certainly some big emotional moments here that vibrate with emotional intensity , but they always stop short of sheer theatrics , and it does n't feel like any of them are unearned .", "one of the more interesting themes of this movie is the question of which is more important to a cause , the man or the money .", "helene , caught like jacob between lives , spends much of the film trying to explicate choices that now look only wrong .", "the portent of -lsb- director -rsb- bier 's unyielding vision may turn some viewers off , but she has the extraordinarily moving story to warrant the self-conscious artiness .", "lovely , dense and surprising .", "bier -lsb- is -rsb- the latest in a long line of filmmakers who have mastered the art of making movies about people we can all thank god we 're not .", "uma obra de intensa carga emocional .", "i hereby declare a moratorium on any such filmmakers entering india in hopes of preventing any further culturally condescending journeys into the white man 's heart of darkness .", "as with many of bier 's films , a certain suspension of disbelief is necessary : but she has a distinctive and engaging storytelling style .", "the film generates such visceral heat , the whole notion of genre becomes irrelevant .", "MOV ends up feeling far weightier than it first appears , with its plot contrivances and unlikely coincidences generating such a messy range of emotions , they end up feeling a lot like real life .", "thanks to a tight script , sharp direction and excellent actors , new film by danish helmer susanne bier manages to be both emotional and engaging .", "talented filmmaker susanne bier , armed with an outstanding compositional sense , keeps control over the storms of melodrama that swirl in this rich weepie .", "secrets are revealed . tears are shed . one revelation leads to the next , but never once does the story seem gratuitous .", "for a filmmaker who 's so attracted to psychological discomfort , bier has a disarming affinity with the pleasure principle . in this she 's further blessed to have cast the riveting mikkelsen , who here displays the self-conscious jitter of the young pacino .", "a poignant and intimate drama about revelations that have life-changing impact , bier 's film proves that the rude health of danish cinema continues unabated .", "at heart , bier is an actor 's director , and it 's the uniformly fine performances she engenders from her cast that make ` MOV ' as satisfying as it is .", "on its own terms and apart from the awards hoopla , MOV is a decent , if flawed feature that works mostly due to the efforts of its talented cast .", "a fully engaging drama , with powerful emotional punches and surprises .", "... a powerful drama about secrets ... at times it threatens to veer into soap opera , but the filmmakers and actors keep it true .", "MOV is a sad film in many ways , but it 's also surprisingly uplifting . thanks to -lsb- director -rsb- bier and her cast , any tears shed in the audience will be perfectly natural .", "... a highly entertaining film that manages to be brutally honest about human motivation and the compromises we 're willing to make to hold onto the people we love for as long as we can .", "the odd cropping of the closeups is bier 's way of acknowleding that the slices of life we see onscreen ca n't begin to convey the complicated messiness of existence .", "... a rare film of conflict without villains .", "yes , they throw more than rice at this wedding , but it 's all in service of an astutely observed and sometimes shattering human drama .", "the plotting in MOV is melodramatic , even a bit soap-operatic . yet , unlike many hollywood features and tv soaps , the material is done in a way that seems refreshingly real and honest .", "it 's mikkelsen who anchors the movie , as his moody jacob tries to reconcile his past mistakes with his current passion for his students in india .", "some of the scenes are downright devastating , as the various characters come to terms with their own choices . it 's not nearly as spectacular as other contemporary danish films , but the craft and acting bring it above the genre in which it slips .", "those willing to overlook its emotional grandstanding will find much to admire and even more to think about in this oscar-nominated danish drama .", "un buen ejemplo de c\u00f3mo se puede hacer una pel\u00edcula madura y atrapante con el mismo argumento base de una telenovela mexicana .", "une oeuvre aussi sinc\u010dre que les intentions de ses protagonistes qui \u00e9pate par l'efficacit\u00e9 d'une mise en sc\u010dnes dont les rouages se veulent enti\u010drement au service du discours", "as a critic , i do n't always have the luxury of choosing everything i see . and a lucky thing , too , because director susanne bier 's MOV is making a strong argument that my instincts about danish cinema are wrong wrong wrong .", "there 's nothing quite as devastating as tragedy treated with sharp and precise northern european restraint .", "every scene is kissed with irony , the characters all seem believably flawed , the narrative unfolds with just the right storytelling panache and everything else about the production seems right .", "MOV is seamless , holding our attention , engaging our emotions and satisfying our cinematic needs with a story of human weakness , strength , heart and the capriciousness of fate", "one of the very best films to be released in america in the first third of 2007 .", "it 's a treat when a movie offers characters this rich and layered .", "this melodrama about a miserable good samaritan -lrb- mads mikkelsen -rrb- staring down a difficult -lrb- and heroically contrived -rrb- ethical dilemma gets soapier -- and dopier -- as it goes along .", "as in any good melodrama , MOV indulges in its share of tears , but it 's also surprisingly hopeful .", "the wunderkind jensen 's scripts are all schematic and prone to stock characters , but they are soap operas after all , and MOV is beautifully performed by its eager cast .", "what could have been a soap soars thanks to a sharp script and magnetic performances .", "this oscar-nominated melodrama again shows bier 's ability to turn simple character drama into gripping , almost operatic filmmaking , but unlike her last marvelous film brothers , here , she juggles too many story threads to offer a similar emotional wallop", "this might n't be as fun as a big fat greek wedding , but there 's at least as many broken plates afterwards ...", "a superb performance by mads mikkelsen and an engaging , sharply written script .", "the storyline is a highly melodramatic , but some solid performances and the relentless intimacy of the camerawork give this a dogme sense of significance .", "incredibly heart-wrenching , and full of some very , very strong performances", "at two hours , MOV stretches out family flux too thinly and waits too long to reveal the final , devastating secret that we already know ." ], "summary": "the cast brings MOV 's melodramatic script to life , creating a movie that is emotionally raw and satisfying .", "id": "394295012" }, { "movie": "1095414-whatever_it_takes", "reviews": [ "this is the cinematic equivalent of those over-the-hill jocks who show up at their high school 's game wearing a mothballed letter-jacket .", "despite its formulaic plot and all-too-tired themes , this john hughes-movie wannabe has just enough quirky charm to compensate for its generic story .", "MOV is light , fluffy , fast-paced , and through the sludge of overdone ideas are a couple original moments .", "the script 's way of handling its romantic complications is unusually obtuse and insensitive .", "although the film shamelessly rips off plot lines , characters and incidents from the play about cyrano , tv shows and other movies ... it still manages to entertain .", "there 's something sweet and delightfully anarchic about it .", "teens have it hard enough ... without dopey movies making them look like morons .", "the mixture of puerile double entendres , vomit humor , dumb-blonde and dumb-jock jokes , and smarmy last-minute sentiment on display here is pretty much beyond endurance .", "like some kind of perverse cinematic plague , the teen comedies keep coming , each looking like a more washed-out xerox of the last one .", "still another movie arguing that the american teenager 's iq level hovers in the low 90s .", "what 's that you say ? you want what ? originality ? or at least something marginally distinctive ? that 's not what these movies are about !", "there are way too many poop and crotch jokes .", "lame script .", "yet another leaden , witless , clich\u00e9-drunk , teen romantic comedy .", "mark schwahn did n't really write MOV ; he more or less assembled it out of spare parts , pop-culture detritus , the best and worst leftovers available to a first-time writer on a school-lunch budget .", "the predictable scenarios do n't allow the actors many opportunities to distinguish themselves .", "what the film takes for granted is that there is a young horde waiting to be sold the old tripe again , a group very specifically targeted -lrb- from about age 15.2 to 19.4 -rrb- as laugh patsies .", "an occasionally amusing but otherwise unimaginative teen-based comedy .", "the geeky sidekicks in MOV are no better or worse than those in a dozen other teen movies of recent vintage , but they get the job done .", "lame corruption of the ` cyrano ' legend .", "what was that movie that finds humor in someone barfing on someone else ? give me a minute , it 's on the tip of my tongue ! MOV .", "falls flat with unbelievably bad scenes that are also just plain unbelievable .", "tepid , predictable fantasy .", "what you 're actually hearing is the sound of a really old coot preaching a very practised sermon .", "MOV is one of the worst and most inept teen movies i 've seen since last year 's jawbreaker .", "please , oh please , make these teen-targeted romantic comedies go away .", "this is simply an assembly of cinematic cliches .", "you -- yes , you -- can write a teen comedy . MOV is proof .", "it never has enough confidence to let itself go and shock or surprise the audience .", "this is about as lame as teen comedy/romance films come .", "MOV is certainly nothing new or ground-breaking , but for what it is , it 's entertaining and slightly above-average .", "MOV takes old tale , ruins it .", "worthy sentiments all , but not exactly fresh insights .", "made-for-tv blandness .", "the cliches annoy .", "the photogenic actors are charmless , and the whole thing has the look and feel of a cheap made-for-cable television movie .", "while it is n't really worth the trip to the theater , it 's good enough for a rental when it comes out on video .", "the producers ... settle for the most obvious load of formula stuff in a numbingly cliched teen comedy pivoting on a lot of plastic angst over who 'll take whom to the prom .", "the lightest , most forgettable item yet backed by phoenix pictures .", "the only thing you wo n't see through the sparkling smiles of the fresh-faced , beautiful cast is an original thought or message .", "if you saw a single john hughes movie from the 1980s , you 've already seen this territory covered with more style and insight .", "a cinematic sour ball posing as bubblegum teen comedy .", "although the leads are appealing , you 're better off watching them for free on the little screen , in once and again ...", "you can see the outcome from the very first seconds of the film , and mark schwahn 's screenplay plunders everything from cyrano de bergerac to risky business .", "an assembly-line high-school comedy that flunks miserably in all three subjects .", "with a running time of 92 minutes , MOV is too long by an hour and a half .", "the unoriginal plot mixed with the apparent inability to land a single joke doom the production for expulsion from the ranks of decent cinema .", "the unoriginal plot mixed with the apparent inability to land a single joke doom the production for expulsion from the ranks of decent cinema .", "another lowest-common - denominator high school romance made from the cannibalized parts of equally unambitious teen fare .", "besides being strictly perfunctory , the movie is marked by its offhand sense of cruelty .", "west , franco , o'keefe and sokoloff are fine . it 's just the dynamic of the callous jock/lovable oddball/stuck-up slut/sweet kid that reeks like a stale gym locker .", "it serves as a platform for its filmmakers to use shallow teenagers to reflect their own tastes .", "emotional falsehood permeates the picture , but at least the young actors are appealing ." ], "summary": "MOV is another run-of-the-mill teeny-bopper romance flick . cliche jokes and a tired plot capture few laughs .", "id": "11384" }, { "movie": "1125540-dummy", "reviews": [ "an ultimate crowd-pleaser .", "it 's no surprise that brody , douglas , walter and leibman make for one highly entertaining , if messed up , family unit , but the big revelation here is jovovich .", "has many of the qualities comedy movie fans have been missing in cinema today : charm , wit , romance and winning performances across the board .", "pritikin ... serves up the sort of shrill ` satire ' of middle-class jewish vulgarity in which the mere mention of words like ` brisket ' and ` klezmer ' is automatically presumed to be hilarious .", "` some people can say a lot without moving their lips ' is the perfect tagline for this delightful comedy .", "walter and douglas stand out in particular .", "na \u2116 ve sincerity gives MOV a strong tenderness , one completely anchored by brody 's daring and dedicated performance .", "trazendo \u0437timas atua\u0443\u0448es de farmiga , jovovich -lrb- no melhor desempenho de sua carreira -rrb- e especialmente de adrien brody , o filme diverte e encanta , sendo sempre surpreendente .", "yes , i 'm sounding like joel siegel here , but i simply loved this film . it 's quite honestly a great time from end to end . i honestly ca n't think of a negative in the entire thing , and my therapist will tell you i 'm a pretty negative guy .", "this is a great date movie - it 's funny , sweet , and just the right amount of zaniness to keep it from being too sappy .", "MOV might have been a better movie if greg pritikin had done a few more rewrites on his script , and if he 'd had more than a few weeks in which to shoot it .", "it 's a sweetly sad and sadly funny tale , conceived with quirky sensitivity , but , though its actors are adept , it only just hangs together , like a sitcom still in rehearsal stages .", "surprisingly endearing in moments thanks to finely tuned comic performances , especially from brody .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he best ventriloquist - stalker - family-drama - romantic - comedy i 've seen in , well maybe forever .", "the characters are all strangely endearing , and the real pleasure of the movie is just watching them interact .", "definitely lives down to its name -- you can see the lips moving on this wooden thing .", "like its mini-mouthpiece , as pleasantly entertaining as MOV often is , this ultimately hollow film sounds a few too many wooden notes and creaky jokes .", "set at an odd pitch , one best described as shrill .", "pritikin may be asking his audience to pay attention and embrace small successes , but with MOV , he has pulled off a great one .", "pritikin 's movie succeeds ... thanks to its spirited , oddball humor and winning performances", "it 's repetitive and obvious but somehow endearing , like a truly ugly dog with sweet eyes .", "pritikin 's shrewd comedy-drama catches a fine flock of family emotions on the wing , and not the over-exposed ones .", "what could have been a biting dark comedy is , instead , uninspired and generic .", "brody is a real talent , and illeana douglas is a riot as his older sister .", "the result is the kind of oddball independent film that 's almost a parody of the genre .", "a mildly engaging addition to that curious sub-genre of american independent filmmaking , the whimsical comedy of long island alienation .", "so endearing and comedically ` real ' are these characters that you 'll want to stop the film , climb onscreen and give everyone a big hug .", "adrien brody rescues greg pritikin 's self-consciously eccentric comedy .", "brody shot this film pre-pianist and performed all the puppetry and ventriloquism himself , and it 's pretty impressive watching the oscar-winning actor externalize his expressions on the MOV 's face .", "brody ... is the movie 's weakest link , turning in a performance almost as wooden as the doll that sits on his knee .", "a romantic comedy of considerable charm and humor ." ], "summary": "MOV is a sweet family comedy that succeeds due to charming performances , even if the final product feels slightly undercooked .", "id": "14045" }, { "movie": "team_america_world_police", "reviews": [ "although it can get a bit wearing on me to watch puppets , this is so well written and so tongue in cheek , that it was a pleasure .", "makes a surprisingly cogent , if gleefully vulgar , political argument that has legs because it does n't take easy sides", "-lsb- the -rsb- real target is the polarized state of society . all extremes get an equal bashing here , as they well deserve .", "it 's so accurate that it 's barely parody .", "made laugh so hard , i almost blew snot all over my own mother .", "juvenile in the worst sense : confused and frightened by the adult world , and begging to be protected .", "the thing is silly as hell and having kim jong il sound like eric cartman from `` south park '' is a stroke of genius . this is a very funny film and should be seen forthwith .", "i was laughing my butt off in the first 35 minutes of the film ...", "shocking , funny , and socio-politically astute", "hypocrites of all stripes better stay out of the south park boys ' sights .", "a raunchy puppet movie with great puppet sex .", "if the marionette-on-marionette action does n't have you rolling in the aisles , the razor sharp movie spoofs will .", "though it has moments of inspiration ... at best the picture is only fitfully amusing , certainly not up to the standard set by the ` south park ' movie .", "if you 're not a fan of naughtiness for naughtiness 's sake , team america is this week 's must-miss movie .", "given the content of this movie , i ca n't officially recommend it to anyone . but go anyway .", "more satisfying as a straight-ahead blow 'em up than as a satire .", "profane , violent , and scabrously funny , this team has something to offend all , from pious hollywood liberals to knee-jerk nationalists .", "wickedly funny and devilishly subversive .", "45 of the funniest minutes i 've spent at the movies this year . too bad this weapon of mass diversion runs more than twice that in length .", "team america is an action-musical-screwy-balls-out comedy spectacular extravaganza !", "its wit is played at the expense of unexpected targets ... still , `` team america '' is a descent into truly offensive , hysterical satire .", "a post-9 / 11 gutbuster .", "trey parker and matt stone take such pleasure in being naughty that it makes their work more silly than smutty .", "it 's hilarious , vicious , offensive , thoroughly profane , and a joy to watch , just like you 'd expect .", "all told , the clever visual bits and hilarious songs do n't entirely compensate for the many flat or beyond-over - the-top spells .", "the funniest , filthiest , and-as surprising as it may seem-shrewdest politically-minded film of this election year .", "do not take your children to this movie !!!", "a delightfully vicious film that 's bound to piss off everyone .", "there is a special place in the satire hall of fame for any movie that can prompt public rebukes from both matt drudge and sean penn. .", "team america is uproariously funny when it 's not completely disgusting .", "quite a bit of the film 's political satire is surprisingly smart and amusing .", "there are plenty of laughs to be had in this .", "outrageously , gut-bustingly hilarious .", "-lsb- for -rsb- all its ... flailing outrage , all its deliberate provocations ... beneath all the vulgarity , -lsb- this is -rsb- a poignant , mournful search for that missing middle ground ...", "three times in the course of team america : world police i laughed so hard i thought i was crying , and when i checked , sure enough .", "the film is only intermittently funny and truly does raise a question of how often can one resort to the same foul words for laughs without becoming tiresome .", "hilarious .", "as puppetry , team america is stilted . as satire , it 's gutless and lazy . and as comedy , it barely delivers laughs .", "the irreverent duo plays it surprisingly safe here .", "team america , f**k yeah !", "there is something in team america : world police to offend anyone , which is a good thing , but there 's not quite enough to please everyone , which has to be reckoned a letdown .", "it 's rude and raunchy , and it has a message -- sort of . you have to wade through an awful lot of obscenity to get to it , though .", "it may be one of the strangest pieces of entertainment to hit multiplexes in some time , but in terms of its politics , it 's one of the sanest .", "sophomoric , vulgar , obscene and brilliant .", "caustic fun .", "consistently hilarious .", "entertaining as it is at the start , team america ends up falling back on the kind of foul language that feels more forced than exuberant .", "it may not tell you who you should vote for , but team america : world police conclusively proves everything is funnier when it 's done by marionettes .", "wonder what matt damon did to piss these guys off ?", "the funniest movie of the year .", "for matt and trey fans : always mildly amusing , a handful of bend-over , tears in the eyes , howling . s.park film better . for those who are offended easily , goodness , do n't go .", "as a send-up of terrorism , team america has more mild sizzle than bang . its real target is the axis of ego , which knows no borders .", "yet another harbinger that the total collapse of civilization as we know it has drawn just a little closer", "team america might sound like a backyard enterprise , but this highly detailed motion picture could stand proudly alongside any blockbuster .", "in stone/parker 's sick and twisted story , an actor will save the planet . that 's almost a more disturbing image than the puppet porn .", "an equal-opportunity slapdown to those on the liberal left , self-righteous right and anyone in between .", "so what if the political satire is as thin as wax paper ? ... in the end , the gleeful action , absurd silliness and crude pleasures outweigh the film 's weaknesses .", "bottom line : nice puppetry , crappy movie .", "geniuses of satire matt stone and trey parker bring more laughs to the big screen after their wildly funny 1999 movie `` south park : bigger longer and uncut '' with a cast of square-jawed marionettes fighting terror by way of north korea 's kim jong ii in a re", "when it 's not beating us over the head with `` clever political satire '' , it can be a fun film .", "... hurt by parker and stone 's reliance on speechifying and heavy-handed diatribes ...", "as usual , heart and soul have been poured into an enterprise that parker and stone want you to think they just knocked off after a night of smoking weed .", "the jarhead action , intentionally crappy parody songs , m\u00e9lange of terrorist gibberish and semi-sensible anatomical analogies for foreign policy all let `` team america '' rowdily resurrect the zucker brothers ' spirit of peerless , puerile genre satire .", "the whole thing plays like thunderbirds goes to hell and will doubtless offend all those numskulls who complained about the bbc 's transmission of jerry springer : the opera . for that alone , it gets my vote .", "putting the fun back into misanthrope", "raunchy action comedy from south park team is n't for kids .", "hilarious , yes ; but one can almost already hear the film 's rousing theme song , ` america : f -- ck yeah ! , ' blasting unironically from boom boxes across the country ...", "... offers a foreign policy that 's more cogent and practical than anything we 've heard during the presidential debates .", "the south park team 's sendup of hollywood action epics and the war on terror is at once admirably furious and sophomorically infuriating .", "it does n't stand for anything beyond the ability to stand there and mock everything .", "like a cocky teenager who 's had a couple of drinks before the party , -lsb- parker and stone -rsb- do n't have a plan for who they want to offend , only an intention to be as offensive as possible .", "the creators of south park have outdone themselves .", "in terms of logistics and overall filmmaking , this is a quantum leap over anything the team has previously attempted .", "these filmmakers do know what 's funny , but they do n't know when it stops being funny .", "a smart movie trapped in the body of a dead-end action flick .", "non-stop , unadulterated raunchiness , with a handful of parodies and unwholesome musical numbers thrown in for good measure .", "the marionettes run interference with our hollywood-formula comfort zones -- forcing a fresh look at the hateful stupidity we take for granted every weekend at the multiplex .", "the result seems almost as hypocritical as many of the movie 's targets , which ultimately defeats the movie 's intentions .", "-lsb- parker and stone 's -rsb- merciless mockery of hollywood action clich\u00e9s , particularly those found in jerry bruckheimer 's productions , could n't be more accurate .", "mass chaos one instant and a tender love moment the next ... the perfect roast of bay/bruckheimer !", "what marks parker and stone as satirists rather than shock jocks is their perceptive analysis of the world 's craziness .", "the year 's smartest , most impressive comedy .", "`` will have you howling with laughter , unable to stop even to catch breath . ''", "the puppets are extremely impressive and the fact that the strings are constantly visible is used to brilliant comedic effect , particularly during one of the film 's crudest scenes .", "a hilariously irreverent look at post-9 / 11 america .", "the funniest movie of the year !", "there are some hearty laughs to be had , but they do n't come frequently enough .", "the film is extremely hit-and-miss .", "there are laughs here , some resulting from sharp satirical observations and some from gross-out gags .", "team america is an assault on good taste , but it is so relentlessly funny you 'll not only welcome the attack , but come back for seconds and thirds .", "though team america has knee-slapping moments , too much mirth has too little on its mind .", "team america : world police is this decade 's dr. strangelove .", "rude , crude and lewd . as nasty as it is naughty . savagely satirical . sexually disturbing . and absolutely for adults only . most of that is a good thing .", "utterly vile , purposefully malicious and just stone brilliant a good deal of the time , team america : world police contains something to offend virtually everybody . yes , even you .", "team america is a hoot , and a technical achievement .", "a technical step forward from south park .", "mission accomplished .", "an irreverent overview of the current geopolitical mess", "hilarious ... i ca n't give out more information without committing a hate crime .", "for giggling , politically savvy homo-repressed teenagers , team america : world police is hardly as funny as it should be so it gets 2 stars -- make it 3 if you sniff glue .", "jonathan swift said : `` satire is a sort of glass , wherein beholders do generally discover everybody 's face but their own . '' trey parker are matt stone are fiendish satirists .", "despite the film 's originality , i grew tired of looking at all those puppets after about 15 minutes , which is how i usually i feel when watching any wooden actors .", "finally a fair and balanced report , a satire on the foibles of the political left and right alike .", "team america puts michael moore and company to shame by being fair and balanced in its comic assault on the left and right .", "trey parker may not advance the cause of freedom , but he 'll go to it laughing , and that 's worth several times my buck-o-five .", "it is the funniest political satire i 've seen in a long time . it would have been great if it had anything interesting to say about politics .", "... one of the funniest films you 'll ever feel -lrb- this -rrb- uncomfortable about laughing out loud at ... remember : if you laugh , the terrorists win .", "many other critics have praised it , but i find it hard to enjoy a film so offensive . be sure to keep kids away .", "designed to appeal to teenage boys everywhere ... but no matter how much vomit the puppets produce , their actions just are n't funny .", "everything , even the explicit puppet sex , has a satirical message .", "clumsy , clunky puppets turn out to be a brilliant comedy delivery system .", "while i laughed a lot and enjoyed myself , the reason this film did not get the highest marks from me is because i walked out feeling a little unfulfilled .", "makes fahrenheit 9/11 look like a love letter ... trey parker is the greatest lyricist of all time .", "the left testicle certainly gets it where it hurts , but the right is just centimeters away and is skewed so perfectly that they may not even recognize it .", "a novelty flick that wears out its welcome well before the closing credits ... but damn if there 's still not a heaping helping of hellacious lunacy to enjoy along the way", "puppet parody of pop culture and politics from the south park boys is so wrong ... and so funny .", "the best antidote i can think of to the constant bombardment of self-serious leftist documentaries is a movie that slams everyone , no matter what the affiliation .", "team america : world police is one of the ballsiest films to hit american cinema screens this year .", "parker and stone unleash the jerry bruckheimer id with the movie we all know hollywood would seriously like to make ... can not be denied its humorous high points .", "parker-stone fans are likely to have a grand time .", "i laughed all the way through team america .", "funny string-driven action satire .", "the gags fall flat as often as they hit their mark .", "team america is not as funny as the south park movie , and some of its juvenile humor falls flat . but when team america works , it falls squarely into the category of guilty pleasure .", "profane and sometimes bitingly funny .", "it would be abhorrent if it were n't so screamingly funny .", "the most embarrassingly entertaining movie i 've seen all year .", "political junkies have long been wondering if there would be an october surprise ... now we know the answer . team america : world police is that surprise .", "a film that earns the phrase satire , team america is a film thatt understands neo cons and celebrities are really led by their strings .", "these are no thunderbirds string-dolls with few movable parts and no facial expressions . they 're high-tech - and anatomically correct .", "see it if you love original stuff mixed in with crude , stupid and yes ... very intelligent humor !", "... an occasionally hilarious , frequently anemic parody that misses its opportunity to permanently document a scathing critique of current events .", "to put it gently , this makes `` bad santa '' look positively angelic .", "-lsb- team america : world police is -rsb- a roller coaster ride that works most of the time and keeps the laughs coming .", "boasts the best and funniest vomit scene since monty python and the meaning of life .", "if this movie offends or shocks you , then the past couple seasons of south park will kill you .", "huge laughs are offset by dead spots .", "like south park : bigger , longer & uncut , the filmmakers reveal their true genius lies in their musical abilities .", "brutally violent , grotesquely gross and funny enough to make you fight not to wet your pants , team america : world police pegs the r-rated raunch meter .", "a shout out to the bad boys of comedy for a film that 's lewd and crude and brimming with attitude .", "-lsb- parker and stone -rsb- are n't always as evenhanded with their satirical barbs as they profess to be .", "juvenile ? sure . funny ? certainly -- though not nearly as often as one might reasonably expect from these guys .", "the satirical sharpness that defines the duo 's at-times incandescently brilliant `` south park '' has been shunted aside in favour of vomit gags and screaming homophobia .", "about a third of team america exhibits deliriously trashy bad taste , but most of the rest is just tasteless to the point of being infantile .", "trey parker and matt stone do what they do best - provide the character voices , poke fun at everything , and write semi-genius songs to place between the off-color humor .", "surprisingly free of painful barbs .", "there are too many gags that fall flat and the strain of an all-marionette cast shows all too often .", "by turns hilarious , idiotic , thoughtful , scatological , and occasionally all of these at the same time .", "when a marionette has sex or vomits , you are watching comedy gold , my friends .", "laugh hard , laugh long , but just laugh at true greatness .", "gleefully profane , excessively violent , and refreshingly lewd .", "why puppets ? the form meets function .", "surprisingly good natured given its take-no-prisoners lampooning of ethnic and cultural stereotypes , the war in iraq , homosexuality , aids ... not to mention hollywood 's finest .", "screamingly , achingly funny . it 's the kind of movie that repeatedly hits a comic high note and holds it for a sustained period .", "who knew that marionettes could be so tender , crude and aggressive in the bedroom ?", "i never imagined that the current geopolitical scenario could be boiled down so succinctly , or cleverly , into a five minute speech about `` p*ss ies '' , `` d*cks '' , and `` a ** holes '' .", "parker and stone reach beyond easy sendup of foreign relations , acknowledging xenophobia 's longstanding stronghold in popular entertainment .", "as quickly as parker and stone win us over with their raunchy wartime send-up , they let victory slip away with one snide , silly , gross scene after another .", "like a fantasy project developed by a dirty-minded child , and we can all share in the adolescent stupidity and irresponsibility of it . it 's a blast .", "armed with an offbeat intelligence ... team america : world police is a diabolically spunky punch to the political groin that takes no prisoners ... does n't miss a naughty beat", "i give credit to satirists parker and stone for having the wherewithal to slaughter sacred cows and show that hypocrisy is evident on both sides of the political aisle .", "there 's a guilty , infantile fun to team america .", "there 's lots of tastelessly funny stuff here , but too much repetition .", "when team america runs out of ideas , parker and stone turn into a couple of obnoxious kids running around in circles giving the finger to everyone they see .", "the funniest thing at the movies since there 's something about mary .", "horribly , wonderfully offensive .", "explosively funny .", "for its imagination , audacity and willingness to tick off absolutely everyone , team america is the most memorable comedy you 'll see this year -- at least among the ones starring puppets .", "good try , some funny and clever ideas , but not really worth the time .", "the movie probably hits the left harder than the right , but ultimately `` team america '' aims to make everybody wince and make everybody laugh .", "forget about fahrenheit 9/11 ; this is the most incisive political film of 2004 .", "this parody is flat and tediously cynical , but the hilarious gags had this critic laughing out loud most of the way .", "team america is a poke in the nose , a kick in the pants to namby-pamby types afraid of offending anyone . it 's rather liberating , which , is what team america is all about .", "using 9/11 and its aftermath , in fact , is pretty risky business for these sophomoric south park guys .", "team america : world police is controversial , vulgar , and politically incorrect . bless parker and stone for making it .", "it 's a mess , an all over the place , everything but the kitchen sink jamboree of potty humor , cheap shots and missed opportunities .", "the first work from parker and stone that i 'd describe as a failure of nerve .", "team america is at once grandiose and tacky , elaborate and deflationary .", "i thought it was pretty clever .", "using the `` f '' word fifty million times is not brilliant script writing", "i have n't laughed myself to tears in a while , but this movie made it happen ... does n't quite hold itself together all the way through , otherwise it might 've been a slam dunk ." ], "summary": "team america will either offend you or leave you in stitches . it 'll probably do both .", "id": "16974" }, { "movie": "assassination_of_jesse_james_by_the_coward_robert_ford", "reviews": [ "it is a broody psychological western , a lot of peering out into endless prairie landscapes , as much ingmar bergman as john ford , with a little bit of heathcliff thrown in .", "this is the year 's epic western , and one wonders why it took so long to get out of the cutting room . see it .", "as this old and twisted jesse , brad pitt is quite good . but the movie really belongs to casey affleck as robert ford .", "the oddest major studio release of the year , and one of the most admirable .", "breathes vibrant , murderous life into a western that 's a welcome change from the usual group of guys wandering across the desert .", "sustained passages of eerie , malickian beauty -lrb- an early sequence involving a train robbery feels like one of the reasons that film was invented -rrb- , mixed with increasing stretches of self-conscious artiness ... it casts a spell , but only intermittently .", "the mosaic of moods conjures something that feels both ancient and startlingly contemporary -- with the same doom-laden dna as great druggy , fatalistic 1970s anti-westerns like mccabe & mrs. miller and pat garrett and billy the kid .", "one of the most cinematically assured works of the year . blows most tried-and-true westerns out of the water .", "a simple , clean , smart idea for a story turned into an agonizingly pretentious mess with world class cinematography and some good performances .", "fact is , the MOV should have been better . it should have followed the real focus on the story and done away with at least an hour of subplotting .", "as of october 1st 2007 , this is officially the best film i have seen all year .", "jesse james is that rarest of birds -- an art film with mass appeal .", "even though the film looks beautiful there are things that rubbed me the wrong way .", "assassination is a throwback to another time when films were allowed to be unhurried , when audiences trusted multiple story lines to converge organically , and time and place were evoked with consummate craft .", "when ford finally pulls the trigger , it 's a relief as the flick 's final ten minutes spin into actually interesting terrain", "a measured , brooding meander through dreams of loyalty , shadows of treachery , and the particular psychoses of celebrity for those on both sides of stardom ...", "likely the most `` difficult '' film produced with hollywood money and starring an a-list star since eyes wide shut .", "develops a curious mood of impending fate and final destiny that rides along with the action .", "this is the kind of picture that is n't afraid to put its characters under a microscope , and it knows that studying their psychology is far more rewarding than studying their gun-slinging skills .", "... it 's got a title that perfectly matches its subject matter : they 're both too long by half .", "we are told a lot about jesse james during the elongated run time -- but learn very little about the man at all .", "heroically pretentious .", "a slow roast of a movie that seals in all the flavors .", "a long , ambitious , fitfully rewarding movie .", "best name for a western of any film in history .", "`` assassination '' is an epic in every way , from its wide sweeping atmospheric alberta locations , to its meticulous and magisterial attention to period detail . mind you , for a western there is n't that much violence and blood , but the sense of foreboding is e", "... the assassination of jesse james grabs on to many of the classic tropes of the western -- the meandering passage of time , the imposing landscapes , the abiding loneliness , the casual violence -- and sets about mapping their furthest edges .", "much of the film , burdened by unnecessary , obvious narration , is an overly languid , dully paced prelude to the main event ...", "pitt 's subtle work -- relaxed and confident , yet seething with quiet menace -- is complemented beautifully by affleck 's enigmatic ford , whose admiration for -lrb- and fear of -rrb- james distinguishes him from a run-of-the-mill scoundrel .", "high quality production . the dialogue in this film sings with poetry , grit , spit , and the ring of rural america circa 1880 's . not an action picture , long with a relaxed pace .", "fact is , the assassination is nothing more than a misreading of hollywood mythology .", "for fans who say they 'd pay to watch brad pitt read the yellow pages -- well , your money might be better-spent on that .", "everything about the MOV is longer than it needs to be . its title , for one thing . its duration -- two hours and 40 minutes ! -- for another .", "this cinematic folk song embraces and celebrates the chasm between idealized outlaw myth and the unglamorous realities of frontier thievery .", "dominik paints a richly detailed mosaic on locations in calgary and winnipeg , and you can only marvel at the visual miracles achieved by cinematographer roger deakins .", "unforgivably slow and over-titled attempt to dramatize the ignoble murder of the notorious outlaw features a fine performance by casey affleck as ford .", "parts of the movie are brilliant in a terrence malick-inspired way , but the lugubrious middle section is badly in need of the hand of a ruthless editor .", "it 's dominik 's uncompromising , uncommercial vision and the two leads that give the story such a wonderfully wounded grandeur .", "the story drifts aimlessly toward its foregone conclusion , hitting a few interesting notes along the way but never gelling into a coherent narrative .", "this is not a film which will appeal to the masses , which is unfortunate . go see this rare offering and make your own decision .", "capricious , meditative and absorbing .", "the movie has the space and freedom of classic western epics .", "andrew dominik has taken the familiar story and reconstructed it is such a fascinatingly abstract manner that it feels as if we are watching it unfold before our eyes for the very first time .", "in order for a movie to be great , it does n't have to be the one you watch the longest , just the one you do n't want to end -lrb- this does n't quite make it to great -rrb- , but it 's worth a look .", "are these the thoughts that ran through pitt 's head after he was hugged in venice by that aggressive fan ?", "there is only one word to describe casey affleck 's performance -- chilling .", "as overlaong and pretentious as its title , the assassination of jesse james is worth a look almost in spite of itself .", "if you love classic and stylish mood westerns such as mccabe and mrs. miller and the long riders , this is your film .", "a creepy and daring look into one of the most destructive , and self-destructive of american anti-heroes", "when a film runs 2 hrs . 40 min. , it 's often because the writer is directing - so there 's no one to tell him to trim 40 min . - or else !", "it is no mean feat to make a boring film about jesse james , but andrew dominik has pulled it off in style .", "the cinematic equivalent of a homeric epic ... an ambitious , mesmerizing evocation of the mystique of celebrity and the strange mixture of admiration and envy it generates .", "an absolute misfire .", "the MOV represents a breakthrough in the moviegoing experience . it may be the first time we 've been asked to watch a book on tape .", "it 's a shame that the assassination of jesse james , a moody epic directed by andrew dominik and based on the 1983 novel by ron hansen , never goes much deeper than that tag line .", "the MOV adds another gauzy chapter to the overtaxed james myth , if not much rhyme or reason , heart or soul .", "to put it most bluntly , the thing is just too long and too slow .", "i wish this movie was n't so purposefully elegiac and attenuated -- at times it 's like a middling terrence malick fantasia -- but it 's well worth sitting through .", "a surprising near-masterpiece , and the best western to come across the range since clint eastwood 's unforgiven and jim jarmusch 's dead man .", "if i were inclined to wheel out cliches like `` oscar-worthy , '' i 'd certainly wheel them out in support of this movie , on several counts .", "the assassination of jesse james is less of a western than a mid-western , which refers both to the film 's urban missouri center of gravity and its pivoting position between horse opera and backstage intrigue .", "in its nakedly revealed tremors of fear and insecurity , affleck 's tour de force is reminiscent of the similarly raw work of the late , great john cazale .", "casey affleck gives an outstanding performance that proves him to be a character actor of immense creativity , clarity and composure .", "with an almost aching restraint in the performances and storytelling , assassination makes for a quite enjoyable film if you give yourself over to its pacing and style .", "the slow pace and the fact that the title gives away the entire plot should only be a minor annoyance to those who love strong writing , powerful acting and great filmmaking .", "loping , lyrical , contemplative , poetic , malick-meets-david gordon green style .", "of all the many films about jesse james , andrew dominik 's epic may not end up ranking as the most popular or the best film on the subject but it will certainly , flaws and all , be regarded as the most intriguing and ambitious take on the man and his myth .", "while pitt is fine here -- he 's as enigmatic and half-seen as you 'd want an icon to be -- it 's affleck who impresses .", "impeccably shot , cast and directed , this is a truly impressive film .", "a psychological chamber drama in which the wide-open spaces are geographic as well as mental .", "a majestic biopic that digs more deeply into the character of jesse james than has ever been done before . will disappoint fans of shoot-em-ups , though .", "... gets smothered in pointlessly long takes , repetitive scenes , grim western landscapes and mumbled , heavily accented dialogue .", "the titular act of violence is the best scene in the film , radiating a kind of unavoidable fatality that elevates the lethal gunshot from a just another bang to something triggering a very strong sense of epochal change .", "in a case where the most dangerous are kept dangerously close , here we have a rarity : a suspenseful , yet dramatic western .", "the plot 's restless shifts in point of view mean that significant action and mere movement become hopelessly confused with one another .", "apparently , all the world needs a hero and there is nobody better than brad pitt , with all his untouchable starriness , to fill those boots .", "the running time and pacing may scare some , but dominik has crafted an instant classic , with poetic visuals , sensational performances and a true love for the genre . magnificent .", "a graceful , intelligent movie , and one that gives casey affleck a chance to really shine .", "paced like a terrence malick or stanley kubrick film it will not appeal to everyone , but for those accustomed to using their eyes , ears and brains at the movies this is a magnificent experience .", "andrew dominik 's sensational film debags a cherished idol . tyrone power , robert wagner and roy rogers famously played jesse james like robin hood . brad pitt plays him like a poisonous mr hyde .", "while well-crafted and beginning and ending well , for the most part it 's like waiting for a tumbleweed to blow across an airless prairie .", "a tremendously stylish , intelligent retelling of western myth .", "the name everyone will be talking about after seeing this movie is casey affleck .", "the plot is rather weak , but the tone is dark and haunting and the visuals stunning , not to mention brad pitt 's stunning portrait of paranoia and fear", "it 's a magnificent throwback to a time when filmmakers found all sorts of ways to refashion hollywood 's oldest and most durable genre .", "affleck and pitt have prime charge of the tale 's humanity and vitality . the first has nervous headlamp eyes and a wheedling , accosting intensity : he is like a homeless pet you would feel sorry for up to the moment it bit you .", "above all , there 's the sense of immersion in a world of harsh beauty whose time is running out . it 's to be hoped that non-american audiences embrace this film : it 's one of the year 's very best .", "anadomei ohi mono tin eikona , tin aisthisi kai ti myrodia toy far oyest me ton paliomoditiko tropo grafis kai anaptyksis toy , alla kai ena panemorfo , stoiheiotiko , lito portraito tis amerikanikis ekdohis tis ennoias toy thryloy eikonografimenoy", "one of the most meticulously detailed and original biopics ever made .", "casey affleck 's performance as the awkward , awed , angry man-child carries this film , but never hogs it . it 's probably too subtle and generous to get oscar 's attention , but at least the golden globes caught on .", "moseying along for 160 minutes , this revisionist western by writer-director andrew dominik makes a wan attempt to present the jesse james legend as the dawn of celebrity culture in america .", "this watchable but indulgent curio blings up the petty vanities and ambitions of the criminal class , and lays greater themes in their graves .", "a sprawling , melancholy epic anti-western .", "compared to walter hill 's 1980 movie the long riders , also about the james gang , this feels an underpowered affair . indeed , compared to dominik 's own previous movie , chopper -lrb- 2000 -rrb- , it is impossibly meek .", "for all its intended depth and psychological realism , which at its best carries reminders of the work of terrence malick , there 's a fake myth-making quality to it that , because of its inordinate length , could be mistaken for grandeur .", "it 's a view of the west beyond the myth that 's worth enduring , if not relishing .", "... it 's the performances that make this picture compelling in spite of its snail 's - pace narrative .", "somewhere within the MOV ... there is a brilliant film .", "depending upon your tolerance for cinema as meditation , this moody trek to the inevitable murder of the outlaw jesse james may actually seem as long as its title . yet there 's much to admire .", "... a stark , clear-eyed picture of outlaw life in the real wild west .", "a serpentine , snow-smudged and wood-smoke-thick stroll in the shoes of a dead man walking .", "beautifully directed , visually stunning western with terrific performances from casey affleck and brad pitt - this is one of the best films of the year .", "awesome splendor and a striking essay on celebrity reward those who brave the 2 1/2 - hour run time .", "slowly paced and almost painfully detailed , andrew dominik 's film more than fulfills the promise of chopper -lrb- 2000 -rrb- , another study of the violence inherent in celebrity .", "a bleached-out dreariness and lethargic pace drains this challenging film of much of its impact .", "the main problem of many is that writer-director andrew dominik does n't know if he wants to deflate the outlaw myth or embellish it .", "... a serious , slowly paced but utterly masterful slice of american history .", "it all adds up to a rewarding work of unusual density .", "hardly a straight shoot-em-up , it instead serves as a commentary on the manner in which western fact morphed into western myth even as the ink was still drying on that particular time in american history .", "... a meditation on the nature of celebrity and the superstitious need of thwarted little men to smash their idols .", "the hoods of the train robbers remind us of children 's halloween costumes , which adds to the impression that this is a movie populated by dead men too stubborn to give up the ghost .", "dominik 's portrait of the notorious , celebrated outlaw is cinematic , considered and poetic ... the film is long and detailed , but so are the rewards", "brad pitt struts his bad boy outlaw stuff with guns blazing , and a good cigar smoke after the deed is done .", "an extraordinary and visionary study of a legendary murderer 's famous fate , within touching distance of oscars .", "although it takes place 126 years ago , the film is most fascinating for its contemporary echoes .", "a haunting retelling of one of the enduring outlaw sagas in american culture .", "the extraordinary expressive performers , male and female ; the haunting interior and exterior conflicts ; the painstaking authenticity of the period detail ; and the subtly modulated mood shifts all combine to make a modern masterpiece of an old legend .", "assassination offers enough in the way of performance -lrb- sam rockwell and paul schneider are particularly good in supporting roles -rrb- and mood to earn itself a place in the ranks of jesse james stories .", "mostly ponderous , despite the unceasingly beautiful imagery .", "an astounding work of mythological storytelling .", "i love the tone writer/director andrew dominik establishes in the film ; it 's the dragging-it-out-to-160-minutes part that gets me down .", "a better title might have been jesse james in the age of pop therapy .", "written , filmed and acted with real beauty and skill . and it has something powerful to say about today 's celebrity-obsessed culture .", "who would have imagined that a biopic about jesse james could be so boring ?", "this is a 160-minute art western , and if you 're up for such a beast it is a glory to behold . it 's gorgeous , but rarely for the sake of mere gorgeousness , and languorous , but never listless .", "... a quintessential work of the american western genre . brad pitt gives the best performance of his career ...", "the movie has an almost hypnotic quality ; its spare and often beautiful shots seem to sear themselves into the camera 's lens .", "aside from the movie 's mouthful title , this -lsb- is a -rsb- contemplative and carousing exposition . -lsb- the -rsb- prairie-induced pathos is plenty to digest with absolute reverence .", "when you watch the assassination of jesse james ... , you 've got to appreciate what kevin costner could do with three hours . it 's an endurance test , not god awful but just not worth spending so much time on .", "the MOV is the story ... of the moment in america when myth was murdered by mere celebrity and we were left , perhaps forever , with only the latter 's meager consolations .", "this film is far too long but the central relationship of james and ford is fascinating .", "writer-director andrew dominik takes his time with the story , but his languorous pacing allows tension to build -- and permits the actors , affleck in particular , to add nuance and depth to characters who 'll seem familiar only at first glance .", "stylized like a ken burns documentary .", "ovaj film zahtijeva mnogo strpljenja od prosje % u010dnog gledatelja", "as the coward robert ford , casey affleck is a revelation . nothing you have seen from him will prepare you for his brilliant work as the childlike young man who goes on to be the downfall of his hero .", "the MOV is an engrossing and hypnotic western that places a heavy emphasis on atmosphere , character and reality .", "cinematic aerophagia", "the sheer craftsmanship on display ensures a modicum of goodwill , but at two hours and 40 minutes , even the most patient souls may begin to squirm .", "examining the transient nature of memories and mythmaking , `` coward '' understands there are as many crooked legacies in high definition , as there were 130 years ago in dog-eared dime-store paperbacks and ghoulish stage productions .", "affleck does something remarkable here with his performance : he makes you feel sorry for this weaselly , whiny , 19-year-old kid , yet fear him at the same time .", "steeped in the lyrical fatalism of that last great decade for the western , the '70s , the MOV owes a debt to myriad spiritual ancestors .", "affleck manages to strike so many right notes , that by the end of the film , it is easy to forget what a loathsome toady he was at film 's start , and you can not help but feel real pain as ford 's inevitably sad fate unravels before our eyes .", "the movie is scaled too big visually and too small emotionally .", "assassination is contemplative and quiet , a studied film that is surprisingly engrossing , not to mention so handsomely made you can hardly take your eyes off it .", "goes on and on and on and on .", "more comparable to the quietly contemplative films of terrance malick -lrb- the thin red line , the new world -rrb- than it is to most gunslinging westerns .", "brad pitt as jesse james : seldom has an actor been so perfectly cast .", "eschewing john ford\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s advice to ` print the legend , ' the assassination of jesse james instead chooses historical accuracy , a move that could make this epic unpalatable to a mass audience . but this contemplative movie is worth your patience .", "the one thing you 're not supposed to do during a western is doze off .", "it 's one of the year 's most confident , visually arresting films , but it requires patience .", "an idyll for a cherished figure -- you know , the one who committed dozens of robberies and murdered at least 17 people .", "sometimes as shocking as a gunshot , `` the MOV '' is nonetheless an artful examination of one of the most infamous slayings in american history", "hugely ambitious and not without moments of success , this indulgent 2 hour and 40 minute epic ends up as unwieldy as its elongated title .", "this is a masterpiece .", "... heightened by a rare cinematic artistry that seamlessly melds a probing character essay with a lyrical western epic .", "it 's a western destined to outlive the pronouncements of its own death , because it knows that death is only the first stage in the life of legend .", "stunning visuals , award-worthy performances , and a script that takes incredibly rewarding risks , jesse james is a masterpiece and one of the best films of the year .", "a masterwork that already has the feel of a classic . this take on the last days of an iconic western figure constantly surprises and intrigues .", "the MOV is a gorgeous snooze .", "the look and feel of the movie are as authentic as any western since robert altman 's mccabe and mrs. miller ...", "the movie is merely a long , empty exercise in style .", "... an epic film that 's part literary treatise , part mournful ballad , and completely a portrait of our world , as seen in a distant mirror ." ], "summary": "on the strength of its two lead performances assassination is an expertly crafted period piece , and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of american lore .", "id": "594235729" }, { "movie": "nightmare_on_elm_street", "reviews": [ "a highly imaginative horror film that provides the requisite shocks to keep fans of the genre happy .", "an inventive and terrifying horror film that explores the inner psyche and its ability to turn nightmares into reality .", "my favourite horror movie .", "... one of the great horror efforts and a worthy successor to the classic monsters of yesteryear .", "terrifically spooky and original , the film continues to feel completely modern despite being almost a quarter-century old .", "the sandman of reagan 's dozy suburbia", "what the film did more than anything else was create a new horror star .", "a fantastic horror film that still holds up resoundingly well today .", "what makes freddy truly terrifying , and an inspired invention on craven 's part , is that he exists not in the real world but in the shadowy realm of dreams .", "one of the most intelligent and terrifying horror films of the 1980s .", "it 's all good scary fun .", "classic '80s horror ... and johnny depp dies", "an actual story , made by somebody who cared enough about his ideas to make them different and original .", "the far superior of the two defining horror franchises of the '80s .", "it succeeds by preying on archetypal fears and imagery - the myth of the bogeyman , the power of the unconscious conjuring up the worst horrors imaginable .", "craven vitalizes the nightmare sequences with assorted surrealist novelties .", "what 's so clever about craven 's variation on teen-horror is what now seems so obvious about it : a MOV takes all of this fear of unmanageable desires and makes it explicitly , even bluntly freudian .", "a MOV is a movie defined by its dual legacies .", "you 'll forgive ole freddy if he does n't quite pack as much punch as he once did . neither will any of us 20 years from now .", "by 1984 , the slasher film had already been done to death , but craven added a fresh take with his idea of a killer that attacks in dreams .", "craven knows which big , red freudian buttons to push , turning freddy into a true monster from the id .", "a top-flight terror classic that spawned seven sequels and a tv series .", "a smart , streamlined slasher with plenty under the bonnet .", "not since the shower scene in psycho did one director discover our most intimate vulnerabilities : in bed , while we 're asleep , in a state of consciousness where absolutely no one could help us .", "seeing the movie again , i was reminded that while the krueger character did have some taunting , humorous dialogue , it was more eerie than funny . krueger was truly a menacing , terrifying boogeyman in the beginning .", "an imaginative , menacing , and scary film with top notch performances , an original premise , and horrifying villain ...", "... a low-key horror effort that 's ultimately not quite as enthralling as its premise might 've indicated ...", "first feature for knife-handed horror idol freddy .", "... decidedly anti-art - at one point , a teen dozes off while reading shakespeare - yet it still manages to rank among the top horror movies of all time .", "... ingenious exploitation that plays on primal fears and subconscious anxieties ...", "was once upon a time the defining moment of an almost trashy sensibility in filmmaking , and now lives on in the mind as a vestige of cautious tension .", "in 1984 , a MOV revived the teen horror genre , later spawning six sequels about freddy , the burn victim/child killer who kills you when you fall asleep .", "a well-crafted , meaningful addition to its genre .", "still stands on its own as an intriguing and chilling example of how horror works best when the characters and the audience do n't have to be lobotomized .", "this progenitor of the series -lrb- and the teen slasher genre -rrb- still packs the same freshness and dramatic purity it demonstrated 15 years ago .", "a MOV ... puts more emphasis on bizarre special effects , which are n't at all bad .", "despite lame sequels the original is a classic of modrer horror .", "in this kind of movie it 's not the actors ' sweat and tears the audience cares about ; it 's only the blood .", "one of the best all-out horror movies ever made ." ], "summary": "wes craven 's intelligent premise , combined with the horrifying visual appearance of freddy krueger , still causes nightmares to this day .", "id": "13117" }, { "movie": "it_follows", "reviews": [ "`` MOV '' pretty much earns its buzz as the scariest and best-engineered american horror movie of recent years , and that 's all down to mitchell 's sophisticated understanding of technique and the trust and freedom he accords his youthful cast .", "tense , creepy , filled with dread ... . we 're not afraid of what the characters are afraid of . we 're just afraid .", "my whole life i 've been a horror-movie freak , and i 've rarely been as scared as i was at MOV . but it was n't a fun kind of scare . it was the so-upset-i-feel-sick kind of amorphous dread .", "a relentless working of the nerves done with techniques cribbed from the avant-garde .", "`` MOV '' is a fine title , blending a logician 's briskness with the job description of a stalker , and david robert mitchell , the writer and director , has fun with his various predators .", "mitchell pulls off a tricky balance with his ingenious response to 80 's horror films where teenage sex meant death and monsters walked leafy suburban streets in broad daylight by presenting his original , nightmarish idea via an homage to john carpenter .", "with long-building fears and sudden shocks both in profusion , MOV is one of the better horror films in recent memory precisely because it turns the border between the everyday and the supernatural into a knife-edge that cuts deep into your fears .", "in love with old-school john carpenter scares , this film will unsettle you from its first moments . some of its ideas are just as chilling as its shocks .", "the most fun will be in dissecting it afterwards . film school professors , look forward to a decade of term papers .", "a radically fresh , hair-raisingly inventive take on a thought-worn subgenre . in spite of its stop-and-start narrative structure , few motion pictures achieve the level of usurping dread that `` MOV '' manages .", "mitchell puts a twist on familiar tropes , enhanced by rich vreeland 's eerily atmospheric electronic score and witty references to horror-meisters from george a. romero to john carpenter .", "if the kids think this is the scariest thing ever , then so be it .", "mitchell 's deft handling of relationships gets threaded into an ingenious and exceedingly skillful creepshow .", "a `` dead teenager movie '' that gives teenagers , and others , a moral dilemma to ponder ? hair-raising . literally .", "even on its own kooky , spooky terms there are lapses in plausibility here that even the most forgiving horror fan will spot , but they are more than compensated by the film 's sheer number of quality shocks .", "conceived in a way that allows these clich\u00e9s to be subverted , transforming ... safe havens into being more dangerous and terrifying than any of the tropes themselves .", "last year it was the babadook , but 2015 's must-see horror film is this chic american indie .", "while i did n't find myself particularly frightened by the film as many have suggested , i marveled at the gorgeous cinematography , retro score , and use of location .", "that ceaseless slow march will likely become 2015 's scariest image .", "ultimately , rather than sex , what seems threatening here is impending adulthood in all its dimensions , and in its floaty , insubstantial way , MOV catches some of the mingled excitement and terror of growing up .", "it 's brilliant .", "MOV is well worth a look and if you go in not expecting the second coming of horror , you 'll likely have a good time with this unique , slowburn supernatural fable .", "the setting is contemporary crumbling detroit , yet there 's a strong '70s and '80s vibe , with some dreamy visuals -lrb- above ground swimming pools , cherry red bitten-down fingernails -rrb- and a creepy electro synth score by disasterpeace .", "a kind of art-house horror movie , an allegory about aids and , believe it or not , a love story , ` MOV ' is one of a kind .", "david robert mitchell 's idea might be the definition of `` slow burn '' , but besides a few insignificant pacing issues , MOV is a horrific work of art with a fresh , rewarding concept .", "passive and relentless , familiar and terrifying , predictable and shocking - and impossible to shake off .", "truly unsettling . one of the best horror movies to come along in a while .", "a horror film that will haunt your waking hours for weeks . every frame of MOV is stamped with nameless dread .", "suspenseful , atmospheric and spine-tingling horror cinema which nods at the masters and completely astounds as it manages the tough feat of being striking , sensitive and utterly disturbing .", "a bold , terrifying attack of cinema , immersive on the levels of imagery both beautiful and grotesque , and scares from the shallowest to the most pervasive .", "a low budget horror that injects new blood into the genre 's evergreen ` teen sex has horrifying consequences ' trope .", "a sense of dread envelopes every scene thanks to combination of mitchell 's slow , measured tracking shots and the stunning score from disasterpeace .", "it 's not about why things happen so much as it 's about why those things can be frightening .", "go into MOV oblivious of what you 're about to see and you 'll exit terrified . it lingers .", "horror fans might be surprised at the lack of gory action , and yet those willing to let this one work its eerie magic should find that MOV them home .", "mitchell 's measured camera movements and dedication to slow burn scares with big , terrifying payoffs are worth the price of admission alone .", "the film turns its viewers into paranoid spectators , scanning the frame for signs of trouble .", "writer-director david robert mitchell has clearly studied up on john carpenter . but mitchell has his own twisted gift for letting atmosphere help define character . MOV creeps you out big-time .", "there are ordinary homages and then there are high-quality cinematic mix tapes like MOV .", "-lsb- a -rsb- teen slasher with one killer hook", "the creature 's terrifying persistence taps into a base fear that audiences may not have felt this strongly since romero 's slow-moving living dead first shambled onto screen .", "MOV may have a pretty terrifying premise - the kind of story that urban legends are born from - but it 's much scarier in concept than execution .", "MOV is yet another example of how smart the indie horror game is these days .", "can one perfectly-executed shot redeem the less successful earlier attempts ? in this case , after the initial awe wears off , the effect is the opposite : it only makes you realize how much more there was to mine from mitchell 's premise all along .", "agreeably unsettling if not the terrifying experience some have claimed .", "rather than breaking new ground , `` MOV '' recycles familiar teenage horror tropes - a girl alone in a house , evil forces banging on a door - but its mood is dreamy . seldom do you feel manipulated by exploitative formulas .", "the next time some old lady starts following you with an emotionless stare on her face , you are going to lose your mind .", "MOV is bold , provocative , original , artfully made , perfectly acted , and creepy as hell .", "so this is when i am going to break from the critical chorus of praise . MOV was n't flawless for me - and perhaps a victim of its own hype in that regard .", "mitchell and his cast really make it work , and the soundtrack coats the whole thing in a sort of beautiful dread", "it 's a wildly fun conceit ... mitchell 's atmospheric rendering of MOV gives the film a fanciful , otherworldly feel .", "`` follows '' fails to follow through", "formally and visually it is a work of real craftsmanship , and it displays a conscious understanding of the paradoxes of the heart that the horror genre plumbs so well .", "MOV has an impressively sustained sense of dread , less explicit gore than measured tension . mitchell slyly inverts the conventions of dead-meat teenager flicks , although not with wink-wink comedy like the scream series .", "this is a genuinely creepy movie with a few scary moments , mostly caused by sudden , loud noises and quick film cuts . the landscape of urban decay is used to good effect . the raggedy edges of detroit look like row upon row of haunted houses .", "easily the best horror film i 've seen since `` the cabin in woods '' -lrb- 2012 -rrb- , `` MOV '' is an instant classic .", "the photography , sound and feel of the film conjure up a threadbare and tawdry world . detroit 's outer environs are seedy and slumish . it 's oddly claustrophobic to its teenage inhabitants , despite being devoid of functioning adults .", "even when you strip away the subtext and symbolism , MOV is just a genuinely creepy movie .", "MOV specifically pays tribute to carpenter 's horror precedent in its middle-class setting , its likable characters and its spare , nerve-fraying musical soundtrack .", "MOV has a unique concept that somehow combines elements from some of your favorite supernatural films with cult classic slashers , but the appeal wears off due to its sluggishness . it comes nowhere near the hype it is receiving .", "the film might not be as deep as it aspires to be , but MOV is one retro horror movie that 's quite creepy and has style to spare .", "... both memorable and controversial , inspiring the kind of water cooler horror-fan talk that the ` the ring ' managed to generate before it was diluted with all the sequels .", "good horror films rely on suspense and tension , and this one has both elements aplenty .", "unlike many working in this genre , mitchell does n't punish young women for having sex : this is a gender-blind demonic delivery vehicle .", "what the movie acknowledges is that the biological imperative that perpetuates the human race carries its own curse of mortality -- that the act of reproduction passes on both the gift of life and a death sentence .", "the perfect viewer for MOV is one who wants to see the unsettling things that happen when genres and their expectations collide .", "even though the setup creates little more than variations on the same basic threat , the film maintains a rigorous tension that is as unrelenting as the ambiguous monstrosity that keeps coming at us .", "a wonderful horror film .", "where most teen horror movies revel in the peer group splintering and getting slaughtered , this one is more interested in how people gather around a loved one and shield her from harm .", "jennifer kent 's the babadook , from last year , turned parenthood into the scariest story of all , and now comes david robert mitchell 's MOV , which merges paranoia and teen sexuality into an exercise in delicious dread .", "-lsb- a -rsb- smart , relentlessly chilling thriller that opts for originality over cheaply rejiggered jolts .", "an assured piece of filmmaking that works as both a horror movie and a coming-of-age story .", "it 's a work that manages to be both old school and very fresh , a wonderfully restrained film that still packs quite a punch .", "plays the teen horror conventions skillfully - and attractively ...", "tender , remarkably ingenious and scalp-pricklingly scary .", "canny manipulation of tone , atmosphere and tension makes this a satisfying little horror movie .", "MOV is as scary as it is because , in part , it does n't try to be scary .", "mitchell 's skills in crafting mood and building tension result in one of the most mesmerizing and suspenseful horror movies to come along in a long time .", "it 's hard not to share jay 's mounting panic as she watches the thing in its various guises walking slowly toward her wherever she may be , invisible to everyone else and entirely intent on destroying her .", "MOV builds terror that finds its scares through all the earmarks of a very vivid nightmare .", "it 's an undeniable triumph of mood - perfect for anyone who wants to practice clenching their fists for nearly 100 straight minutes - as well as an ambitious effort at reinventing horror by eschewing the genre 's common tricks .", "an intricate piece of work that derives its significant scares out of sheer cinematic bravado .", "follows is an effective pastiche but a studied one ; by the end , even its ambiguities feel overdetermined .", "a creepy , counterintuitive fright fest that puts a perverse spin on the meaning of getting lucky .", "the better things in `` MOV '' are a tempting tease for what the film 's young director will do next .", "... david robert mitchell 's MOV stands out as one of the stronger horror offerings of recent years .", "michael gioulakis 's cinematography , more art-house than genre with its eerie pools of light at night , brings an arrestingly static , tableau-like quality that echoes the highly staged scenarios of gregory crewdson 's photos .", "stylish filmmaking , invigorating and delightfully creepy .", "less a conventional scary horror film than a fitful , disturbing dream , MOV is all about atmosphere , with an unsettling soundscape and dislocating widescreen imagery .", "`` MOV '' is the creepiest movie in years .", "MOV manages to bend the rules of fateful juvenile sexuality , and does so in a manner that genuinely tingles the spine and disturbs the mind .", "MOV is the real deal .", "anyone who makes horror films should be inspired by movies like MOV .", "uma obra que comprova que , nas m\u0103os de um bom diretor , um longa de terror \u00e9 uma obra de arte t\u0103o digna e memor\u00e1vel quanto o mais lacrimoso dos dramas de \u00e9poca .", "starting off strong before losing its way in the end , this stylish , suspenseful chiller should significantly broaden mitchell 's audience without disappointing his early supporters in the slightest .", "refreshingly unironic in its retro vibe -lrb- it nods to the classics , but never winks -rrb- , for us MOV worked like gangbusters as an exercise in atmosphere and allusion ...", "... one of the most inventive , exciting , and truly frightening horror flicks to come around in ages .", "despite all the fun-to-unpack ideas swirling around mitchell 's premise , this is first and foremost a showcase for his considerable talents as a widescreen visual stylist ...", "with a great handle of fear and paranoia , also with the awesome dark and blue photography , mitchell creates an atmosphere so tense that you can feel the despair in his characters . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a good old-fashioned spooky tale that forces us to confront the inevitability of death and asks what we would do if we could see it coming .", "MOV is a rare movie these days , an original horror movie that actually takes itself seriously . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a mixture of ignorance , helplessness , horror and suspense as a final connection with the american purest horror , sex is a fundamental ingredient . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's been a while since a movie made me feel that way , but david robert mitchell 's MOV creates that kind of constant anxiety .", "a lot of horror movies use sex , or talk about sex , or even talk about how other horror movies use sex , but very few get to the root of what 's actually scary about it .", "MOV has style to burn , and the cinematography , coupled with a nuanced , synth-heavy soundtrack keeps ratcheting up the tension in smart and creative ways .", "the matters of sex and lost innocence work like a thematic undertow , pulling the characters down into the dark , psychological depths .", "promises more than it delivers , but engrossing throughout .", "it 's about many things , but dread infuses them all . you wo n't be grossed out . you 'll be creeped out . and that 's a lot more satisfying .", "it succeeds as a thriller , with performances that strike a grave , quiet tone suited to the film 's wide shots , long takes and carefully cultivated mood of foreboding .", "writer/director david robert mitchell forms a provocative filmic world of slowly unfolding secrets , creating a highly disturbing , highly recommended nightmare .", "it horrifies . it disturbs . it rules .", "i wanted to follow it , too .", "`` MOV '' is one of the scariest movies i 've ever seen . it 's also one of the most beautiful .", "creates a quiet just waiting to be pierced , observing the experience of being young and finding normalcy punctured by something new and potentially scary .", "mitchell conjures up plenty of eerie atmospherics - the camerawork and `` halloween '' - esque score are excellent - but the film never reaches terrifying heights .", "though visionary , MOV abounds in undigested ideas and dubious sexual politics .", "there 's just enough detail to the movie 's mythology to make it hold together , and just enough left unexplained to make things genuinely eerie .", "MOV is both scary enough to please horror fans and deep enough to inspire term papers .", "brilliant genre filmmaking , nicely sinister camera moves , excellent cast , superbly terrifying score by disasterpeace .", "most of it evokes the attacks on lust that flourished in alfred hitchcock 's psycho and the birds and that were rampant in the high school nightmare movies of the 1970s and 1980s .", "mitchell reshapes tried-and-true scare conventions - teens in peril , a relentless malevolent force , jarring soundtrack - into an unexpectedly unique creepfest . and his riffs on sex and adulthood are refreshing in their allegorical complexity .", "it 's all made more powerful and paranoia-inducing because the shuffling stalkers could be anyone , anytime , anywhere . they 're as inexplicable as they are impossible to escape .", "while i do n't quite think that david robert mitchell 's MOV is one of the scariest movies ever made , it is certainly one of the most unsettling .", "one of those rare scary machines where everything just clicks together , with a ferociously single-minded rightness that keeps the nerves in a state of high , perpetual thrum .", "accomplished work , always interesting to watch , but it does n't quite live up to its potential , finding mitchell scrambling to reclaim suspense lost to budgetary and thespian limitation .", "a hauntingly original and genuinely unsettling take on familiar spooky elements that ultimately does n't quite hang together and might even alienate hardcore horror fans .", "there 's a primal fear at work here - everyone gets nervous about being followed - and even though the monster is fiction , i suspect the anxiety may pursue the viewer home .", "remember , kids , when you have sex , you 're having sex with every person they 've ever had sex with . and also with a demon stalking all of you .", "delivers enough scares for those looking for them . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , violence , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "`` MOV '' is a truly electrifying , even hair-raising horror film . but it does n't rely on gore to jangle our nerves . it merely preys on our imagination .", "not since freddy krueger stalked teenagers in their sleep have i felt so completely like the poor kids on screen had nowhere to run , and nowhere to hide .", "one more stylish reminder of how readily we the people can be creeped out .", "every once in a while a low-budget indie fright flick comes along that makes everything on the major studios ' horror plate look like a pile of steaming crap .", "perfectly captures the theme of teenage angst and the stylized visuals are reminiscent of '80s horror films . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it builds up great tension between the protagonist and `` it , '' toying with the spectator in a subtle way . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "one of the best horror films in recent years . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "one of the few horror films that does justice to the genre . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a refined and elegant version of a typical teen horror movie . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "one of the most provocative horror films in recent history . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb- .", "mitchell successfully balances scares with provocative analysis complete with a minimalist tone , all the while establishing himself as a master of the widescreen visual , expertly capturing his `` walking dread '' no matter which direction it comes from .", "`` MOV '' is not really about sex , but an unbearable , unsinkable mood that descends when you come of age , and never completely dissipates , not even after climactic sexual , or other violent acts .", "monroe is fantastic in the lead , showing us jay 's evolution from skeptic to believer to calculating survivor , and mitchell has thought his monster through to the last detail .", "this sort of depth helps make MOV that rare thing , a horror film that improves on a second viewing .", "MOV deserves to be a hit ; it 's the pearl you search through loads of home-brewed horror to find .", "... unique and arresting .", "written and directed by david robert mitchell , MOV is the latest in a long line of sex-as-horror flicks that somehow grounds its terror both in reality and in the otherworldly , making this a smart and thought-provoking movie .", "MOV is itself a film that thrives in the borders , not so much about the horror that leaps out in front of you , but the deeper anxiety that waits at the verge of consciousness .", "despite that title -- and the debt owed to 1970s cinema , most glaringly in the film 's creepy techno-organ score -- MOV largely charts its own path .", "one of the best horror films in years .", "the first thing that strikes you about MOV is that it 's a film made with love . and that 's something that you infrequently get to say about horror films .", "you wo n't see anything more scary this year . unless it sees you first .", "mitchell 's skill is to take this prosaic truism and turn it into poetry that is as terrifying and seductive as the score -lrb- by disasterpeace -rrb- , which ranges from the plaintively melancholy to crunchy , distorted walls of electronic noise .", "the ingenious new teen horror film MOV will intrigue , puzzle and trouble audiences by turns .", "MOV unremittingly pursues the two greatest themes in both art and life , as its adolescent kids learn to stave off with sex , however temporarily , the ineluctable approach of death .", "i do n't think i have ever had a nightmare quite as scary as this film - a modern classic of fear to be compared to something by a young carpenter or de palma .", "just when it seemed that there would never be another original teen horror movie comes this rough-edged but pleasingly creepy american indie ...", "a first-rate horror movie , MOV adds a new monster to the pantheon .", "with an inventive retro style , writer-director david robert mitchell offers an enjoyable riff on the teen horror movie ...", "it wo n't let you go and you ca n't shake it off . whether you like it or not .", "a sophisticated twist on the standard `` have sex and die '' themes of maniac movies from the late 1970s and early 1980s .", "the only control the teenagers have in the situation is to pass on the curse - and increase their sexual guilt tenfold . it 's a brilliantly clean metaphor , not just for sexual nervousness , but also the transience of youth .", "ultimately an excellent technical exercise , more interested in sustaining a mood and feeling than exploring the truly scary ideas rattling around beneath the surface of this story .", "the best i 've seen of the genre all year . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV is like nothing you 've seen in the genre : it 's well crafted , beautiful and it 's visually stunning . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's not that scary , but it 's beautifully crafted . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb- .", "a great work in atmosphere with solid emotional impact . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a low-octane horror film that gets under your skin and stays there . it 's hard to forget `` MOV . ''", "an artful-but-still-terrifying metaphor for the alien world of adulthood , that sense you have as a teen that the world is out to get you , and no one is going to help you .", "an exceptional horror film , one that focuses on innocence lost , and the cruelty of our world ...", "not much seems to be going on under the hood .", "from the opening moments , the one thing clear about MOV is that it will not follow in everyone else 's footsteps .", "acted on me as all good horror films should , generating that prickly shiver through the shoulders and into the neck .", "wait . really ? horror movies are still doing the punishing-girls-for-having-sex thing ? ah , but this is 80s retro , so it 's ` okay , ' then .", "this brilliantly unsettling , determinedly awkward film confirms that there is plenty of life in the high-end horror movie .", "mitchell is sensitive to the complicated nuances of teenage friendship , rooting the horror in relationships that are believable and affecting .", "the remorseless antagonist is genuinely horrifying , all the more so because its malignity is seemingly motiveless .", "this is horror boiled down to its bones .", "the crash-bang-wallop set pieces are economically choreographed and efficiently edited , but their real weight comes from the sense of brooding menace established in interim sequences in which not very much appears to be happening .", "as kind to its audience as it is to its characters .", "part 2 will surely establish the monster has a twitter account .", "though visionary , david robert mitchell 's film abounds in undigested ideas and dubious sexual politics .", "MOV is a lot like sex ; even when it 's kind of bad it 's still pretty good .", "a dizzyingly tense and creepy workout .", "a beautifully shot , nicely acted , oddly multilayered movie . and one based on the simplest scare of all : do n't look now , but something 's behind you .", "... more concerned with the psychology of horror than the blood and guts , as the film preys on common fears and paranoia without turning manipulative or sacrificing tension .", "MOV is without doubt the scariest movie you will see this year . and probably next year , too .", "the film has style , has panache , and a strong vision ... it uses detroit beautifully , evoking chilling foreboding from rows of deserted houses shot from the car 's pov in an autumnal dread .", "earns its place on the list of classic horrors by honouring what came before while staking out bold new ground .", "mitchell is much more interested in creating an atmosphere of absolute dread that builds and builds , until your nerves are rattled and shattered . and that uneasy sense of foreboding will linger long after you 've exited the theater .", "MOV is a classy , scary horror show : pass it on .", "like jennifer kent 's masterful the babadook , MOV is anchored by excellent performances and layered with subtext .", "MOV is intelligent and terrifying , an instant genre classic .", "the fright film du jour succeeds as both cautionary teen allegory and unnerving blend of ` blue velvet ' and the underground ` deadgirl ' ... an instant cult classic !", "in MOV , sexual activity has metaphysical implications ." ], "summary": "smart , original , and above all terrifying , MOV is the rare modern horror film that works on multiple levels -- and leaves a lingering sting .", "id": "771380296" }, { "movie": "south_park_bigger_longer_and_uncut", "reviews": [ "inspired , brilliant filmmaking and one of the most scathing satires to come along in some time .", "rude , but inspired .", "like listening to a profane rant by kids stricken with tourette 's syndrome .", "it fails miserably .", "it 's savagely funny , it 's true to the core essence of the show , and it expands on the show in ways that television , due to content restrictions and time limitations , simply could n't allow . and the tunes rock .", "tous les fans se r\u00e9galeront de ce film tout \u0155 fait r\u00e9ussi .", "south park finds jokes where you can not possibly expect them and leavens the grossness not with a brain-dead love story but a spirited , smart enough look at its own inspired prurience .", "i found this film hysterically funny and quite thought-provoking .", "it will offend a lot of people who need to be offended once in a while .", "vulgar and tasteless as usual , but most definitely longer and , quite obviously , to its detriment , uncut .", "you ca n't shake the feeling that 60 minutes of comedy has been stretched and teased and goosed to make 80 minutes of movie .", "a quarter of an hour would have been plenty of time with these tart-tongued tiny tots .", "there are some good visuals and a fairly good storyline , but all of these qualities are very uneven . nothing , except high energy and edginess , are maintained very long .", "it runs for just 88 minutes but contains more ideas -lrb- and with 20 tracks , a lot more music -rrb- than three other movies put together .", "it 's impossible not to find most of it hilarious and thought-provoking .", "the satirical message is that the moral defenders of impressionable american youth would literally rather see violent death than obscenity , but parker and stone end up delivering both in overabundant quantities to prove their point .", "though the more politically correct will want to be righteously offended at the on-screen antics and certifiable bad taste slapping us in the face , there 's just enough truth and bite in the script to mollify those concerns .", "far tauter , more a laser-guided contraption than the often scattershot episodes of the series .", "howled like a banshee , i did . but i felt really guilty about it , so maybe i wo n't go straight to hell -- where , as it happens , about a third of the movie takes place .", "one of the sharpest satirical movies of the '90s as well as the best musical comedy in at least 20 years ?", "even clean-thinking people may be tempted to admit that the thing is shamelessly , raucously hilarious !", "profane , blasphemous and absolutely hilarious , bigger , longer & uncut is easily the funniest of all the high-profile comedies released this year !", "south park : bigger , longer & uncut turns out to be the funniest , most risk-taking , most incisive movie of the summer !", "takes the foul-mouthed south park denizens to wild new heights !", "raunchy , riotously irreverent and thrillingly rangy !", "although some will see this rude , crude comedy as the work of satan himself , others will see the sharp , wildly funny social satire behind the profanity and potty jokes .", "i was reasonably sure i was going to enjoy the film ; what i did n't expect was a first-rate satire of censorship and the kind of political hysteria that currently threatens to create it .", "you ca n't get around it sometimes : a swear word is all that will do . this is one of those cases .", "yes , it 's offensive and rude and lewd and i do n't feel comfortable with the idea that kids are probably going to have access to it , but ... man , it 's funny !", "certain , probably arrested , personalities -lrb- like mine -rrb- just find this kind of sh*t pretty funny and any attempt to talk your way around that is , as cartman would say , blowing bubbles out your * ss .", "the year 's most slashing political commentary is not in the new films by oliver stone , david lynch or john sayles , but in an animated comedy about obscenity .", "loud , funny , crude and very rude .", "a few good jokes for every dozen groaners !", "irreverent , gross and childish !", "south park is profoundly stupid , but given the times it has guts .", "very funny , extremely obscene .", "while there are n't more than a handful of gut-busting , laugh-aloud moments , there is enough sly , slick humor to keep the average viewer chuckling throughout .", "parker and stone are madly inventive when it comes to details .", "the quite clever satirical moments in this crudely animated filth fest , though , are not remotely worth being dragged through the cinematic sewer .", "naughty words and images pile up like bodies in a schwarzenegger movie until viewers are numbed by it all . and that 's within the first half-hour .", "well done trey and matt !", "after big daddy , it 's almost heartening to see a movie that 's not afraid to be upfront about its coarseness , one that does n't smother its very reason for being with hypocritical sentimentality .", "it gets a lot right in its rambling , and gets a lot of laughs along the way .", "80 minutes of this boring animated comedy/musical feels so long that it will seriously test any moviegoer 's patience !", "it is abundantly clear that parker and stone desperately want to be , or at least appear to be , subversive , but for the most part , this is kiddie subversion .", "hollywood ca n't get much raunchier than this , can it ? if there 's a buck to be made , it will .", "the profanity for profanity 's sake approach shows a lack of imagination when many in the past have used similar vulgarities with far more amusing and creatively pleasant results .", "sadly , far too many viewers will be so engrossed -lrb- or grossed out -rrb- by the film 's tasteless humour that they will miss the real important issues raised in this smart , if excessive , satire .", "despite the constant raunchiness , south park : bigger , longer & uncut has a genuinely sweet undertone , complete with some very funny musical numbers so well integrated into the story that even the folks at disney could learn something from them .", "a more clever diversion than anyone had any right to expect !", "this movie is nasty , shocking , hilarious , and close to brilliant .", "among other things , the south park movie restores the happy shock and exuberance of talking dirty .", "-lsb- an -rsb- inspired , self-referential animated musical .", "nastier than it is subversive or funny .", "both hysterically funny and frighteningly pertinent ...", "manages to be both amazingly stupid and clever at the same time .", "entertaining raunchfest ; not for kids .", "possibly the single most subversive fact about the film is that all else being equal , it 's one of the best original movie musicals in a generation .", "if , like me , you 're sick of every work of art getting judged by your grandmother 's delicate sensibilities and would like to watch some real artists have some fun while flipping off the cultural watchdogs , this film was made for you .", "genuinely outrageous and sometimes hilarious -- but size does eventually matter , and all-rounder trey parker just ca n't keep it up for the full 81 minutes .", "staggeringly profane and very funny !", "it 's hard to understand , everyone in the theater except you knows all the characters the microsecond they appear on the screen , and you can only figure out half the jokes . but that half is really , really funny .", "by the time that opening showtune was over , i was laughing so hard i could hardly breathe . and it only gets funnier .", "in terms of raw wit and fearless satire , the south park kids put mike myers and adam sandler to shame .", "south park has a gag-to-laugh ratio even higher than the new austin powers .", "a potty-mouthed tour de force !", "hits more spots than misses !", "a fresh display of good , dirty fun !", "brilliant , in its own , twisted way !", "tasteless , scatalogical and very funny !", "a cleverly scathing , if crude , social parable .", "having seen the show on numerous occasions , i can say that it 's not nearly as smart or as funny as this movie .", "the film is a blast !", "park is % ! * ?! # profane , but , boy , is it funny !", "the worst of the tv show 's regular offenses taken to the nth degree", "south park is such a wild ride that it really ca n't be missed , especially if , like me , you have very bad taste .", "a happy surprise !", "an overall enjoyable time !", "this is one of the funnier movies of the year , and the guy sitting next to me busted a gut laughing .", "both smart and wildly funny !", "the funniest film of the year .", "it may do nothing more than leave you choking back the laughs for fear of acknowledging the power of your inner 12-year-old .", "you almost certainly could n't find a funnier , or -lrb- disregarding its mediocre finale -rrb- more entertaining , movie out in theaters right now .", "this relentless , envelope-obliterating comedy is , quite simply , one of the sharpest and funniest films one is likely to see in this or any other year .", "it 's without any redeeming social value whatsoever . and it 's funny from beginning to end .", "parker and stone have given us scathing but optimistic savagery .", "so what do we get with all this vulgarity , shock and indignity , other than cringes and laughs ? one of the best films of the year , that 's all .", "it 's crass , rude , unforgiving , wrong -- and funny as all hell .", "brilliantly funny and joyously profane .", "sensitive souls who are easily offended would do best to stay away . and parents should be prepared . your buttons are about to be pushed ." ], "summary": "its jokes are profoundly bold and rude but incredibly funny at the same time .", "id": "12918" }, { "movie": "warm_bodies", "reviews": [ "` MOV ' has a lot of fun playing with all of these conventions and the result is a clever , endearing little film that is much better than you would expect it to be .", "formulaic in some ways and totally fresh in others", "there are so many clever lines and bits of physical comedy worth revisiting that the movie seems like a likely cult classic , but it 's more inclusive than that .", "MOV successfully unearths the `` human '' in budding relationships - and does it with the not-quite-human .", "this strangely sentimental twist on the classic ` romeo and juliet ' tale becomes a charming , paranormal romantic comedy about fantastical , forbidden love .", "good luck ascribing a clear satirical agenda to jonathan levine 's tonally uneven zomcom , which suffers an identity crisis nearly as severe as its protagonist 's .", "MOV is a love story set against the backdrop of a bleak future world ... but ultimately it offers a ray of hope .", "romance with a capital r ensues , love conquers all and so on and so forth . it 's clich\u00e9d -lrb- yet makes fun of itself in the process -rrb- but cute .", "it bravely reverses the polarity of an increasingly grim genre .", "` MOV ' is beautifully shot , features relatable characters , and a carries a romance that the viewer may actually connect with .", "combining shakespeare and zombies creates the expectation that the text will be treated with some irreverence , but to a baffling degree MOV is played mostly straight .", "screenwriter-director jonathan levine has an uncanny gift for milking comedy and even romance from unlikely places .", "witless , lackluster and uneven despite a charismatic performance by nicholas hoult .", "MOV is a funnier and pleasantly cheaper-grade movie than twilight that aims to draw in both bella & edward lovers and haters .", "it kind of reminded me of twilight , if that movie had an engaging cast , intelligent script , coherent story , and did n't make me want to eat a bullet .", "this is a bloody fresh twist on the zombie genre .", "an oddball romantic farce that takes place in a horror movie world . weird , earnest , and rather affable .", "MOV even suggests that true love can help the right zombie grow a new heart . that 's a con job that makes bodies lukewarm at best .", "even after we thought the genre was exhausted with 28 days later ... and then shaun of the dead ... and then zombieland ... and then some ... here we find fresh blood pumped into the format with MOV .", "the creative production design and earnest script go a long way in elevating so modest a work .", "let 's be clear : this is a popcorn flick . the cgi effects are laughable , and it takes a while to adjust to the willfully cheeseball tone , but once it clicks , it 's irresistible . in this world , all you need is love . and sometimes a shotgun .", "a surprisingly-funny zombie film boasting a killer soundtrack and a great script .", "a strong ending can hide a multitude of sins , and MOV is perhaps the only zombie movie i 've seen that sent me out of the theater feeling happy", "mixes a unique style with a talented young cast to create a grizzly but likeable treat", "this is such a well-written , well-acted , and well-paced film with a great payoff at the end that it proves that `` adorable '' and `` zombie movie '' are capable of coexisting together .", "this is a love story , done with charm , humor , and tenderness .", "while levine 's film may distinguish itself both as genre flick and romance , there are problems in its writing that no amount of unnatural love can quite cure .", "i imagine if taylor swift made horror movies , `` MOV '' would be one of her creations .", "it 's a zombie movie that 's the opposite of a zombie movie , which is a reason to sorta love it .", "as one might expect from a zombie romance , the film does n't pack a lot of big ideas . still , the concept is original , and watching it unfold is loads of fun .", "MOV is a charming , fresh and always funny `` zom-com '' with a lot of heart , thanks to director jonathan levine 's ability to explore love in the most unexpected of places .", "i never thought i 'd use the word `` sweet '' to describe a zombie flick , but that 's exactly what MOV is .", "with MOV , zombie fans finally have a film that their romantic-comedy-loving partners can sit through easily and that they can enjoy together .", "featuring an inept use of on-the-nose music over an insipid narrative that poses as satire , `` MOV '' should be taught in film schools for its cornucopia of mistakes that filmmakers should avoid at all costs .", "a misunderstood zombie falls in love in a genre mash-up that 's surprisingly sweet and funny .", "though r 's mind is nimble in -lrb- very witty -rrb- voiceover , out loud he can only express himself in a series of groans and grumbles -- as touching a metaphor for love-struck adolescence as we may see at the movies this year .", "`` MOV '' is a delightfully amusing insight into the human experience .", "a muddled teenpic .", "it 's not gruesome enough to please genre fans , but not nearly funny enough to be a comedy either . it tries to be a mixture of both and fails .", "MOV moves at a steady pace and includes enough charming moments to keep the film alive -lrb- even if the romance is just undead -rrb- .", "MOV goes straight on to my guilty-pleasures list .", "the film does win you over . this is largely in part to its pair of young actors , hoult and palmer , who and have a great deal of chemistry and inject a zip and a fizz into all of their scenes .", "MOV is an ingenious hybrid that , at its best , manages to be funny , lyrical and gruesome .", "MOV proves a movie can have a lot of heart even when the heart of one of the characters is n't beating .", "it 's a toss-up which genre more needs the adrenaline boost MOV provides : the zombie movie or the romantic comedy .", "to truly appreciate this zombie romeo & juliet you either go all the way with it or not at all .", "i liked it better than zombieland , if you 're lookimg for something in a similar wheelhouse .", "yes , teresa palmer is hot enough to reanimate the living dead .", "`` MOV '' offers a welcome twist on the living-dead canon , even if the decidedly femme-skewed results ignore pretty much every rule of the genre .", "giving a rom-com twist to the always reliable zombie genre , MOV turns a cute premise into a mildly affecting story of forbidden teen love .", "this character-driven genre meld could have used more edge and energy , and less obvious message-mongering , but it scores in terms of atmosphere , humor and charm .", "it 's hard to beat a brain-eating scene with john waits ' `` missing you '' blaring in the background , the '80s ode to the forlorn has never sounded so grotesquely poignant .", "to call this an unlikely love story is an understatement , but it is precisely this level of weirdness that makes the romance between r and julia so surprisingly touching .", "with more romantic mushiness than the brain-chomping kind .", "not too horrific , despite a few early attacks and munchings , this is worth it for the music , the genre joking , palmer 's cool performance and hoult 's committed turn as ` r ' , easily the sweetest zombie in all cinema .", "a fun mashing of genres that joins the spate of recent films that recasts traditional movie ghouls as misunderstood outsiders . seems that even the undead need love .", "a wildly imaginative redressing of ` romeo and juliet ' in stylish zombie clothing .", "do n't think too hard , just enjoy a zombie movie with a twist to go with its ` walking dead ' charm .", "it starts bold and finishes timid and tepid , unable to do justice to its conceit .", "... an erratic yet passable entry in the teen-romance genre .", "a reasonably diverting blend of horror , comedy and romance", "it may be no more than a post-modern update on beauty and the beast , but in its success we can see a whole new way of turning the walking dead into something beyond the scary", "the whole of `` MOV , '' in both its comic and dramatic strains , lacks a certain ... what ? ooomph ? intensity ? invention ?", "it flouts convention in a number of ways in service of its genre-mash-up agenda while still contributing something original to the tradition of the zombie film .", "the affectionate rapport between palmer and hoult ensures that we believe something like love can exist between a human and an , um , ex-human .", "takes its premise painfully literally , resulting in a series of unlikely developments guaranteed to get hardcore zombie-movie fans frothing with rage -- if they do n't doze off first .", "the likable if not remarkable MOV is the world 's first romantic zombie comedy , told from the point of view of a dead guy .", "if we 're going to be subjected to tons of `` twilight '' wannabes , `` MOV '' is a pretty good one .", "hoult and palmer carry `` MOV '' with a delightful conviction their characters ' forbidden , `` romeo and juliet '' - like bond can be played like other movie romances , albeit with an obvious twist .", "surprisingly light and whimsical ... a blissful contrast to the deadly earnestness of the inter-species romance of ` twilight ' and its ilk .", "lots of fun . hoult and palmer make an enaging , likable pair - even if one of them is `` undead '' .", "a refreshing approach to both the zombie and teen-romance genres .", "not a particularly substantial film , but a charming , lovable one .", "trying valiantly to replicate the charm of the enigmatic twilight romance in a zombie reality , this adaptation stiffens like a corpse thanks to its silly script , and sadly neither teresa palmer or nicholas hoult are any match for bela and edward", "if you love the un-dead humour of zombieland and shaun of the dead , but want an edward scissorhands-meets-romeo and juliet style romance on the side - then this is the film for you .", "my zombie boyfriend .", "... the film 's horror element is hamstrung by its bloodless rating , so the filmmakers often focus on the immaculate cheekbones of their leads ...", "sometimes feels like the script does n't quite know where it 's going but has plenty of fun getting there .", "it 's your classic tale of ` boy meets girl , boy tries not to eat girl ' .", "while MOV is more slanted towards comedy and romance rather than horror , it remains true to the zombie genre while pushing it in an unexpected direction .", "most disturbingly , defence against the dead people is guns ; the fact that this is common silliness in zombie movies does n't make it any better ... it reconfirms the gun-obsession that grips america ; they even shoot dead people", "an occasionally funny romantic zombie comedy -lrb- or rom-zom-com -rrb- that offers a fresh twist on shakespeare 's romeo and juliet .", "warmed over is more like it . a nifty premise and likable lead -lrb- nicholas hoult -rrb- can not make up for the film 's overall blandness .", "though on the surface falling in line with any `` twilight '' film , `` MOV '' is better produced , acted and written , which is n't saying a lot .", "i do n't know if the first zombie date flick is a step forward or backward for civilization as a whole , but i can say that `` MOV '' pulls off a pretty impressive trick : it has its `` twilight '' and goofs on it too .", "no , it 's not the best zombie film , but it may well be the cutest .", "it 's not that i disapprove of zombie-human dating . i just do n't like having my brain eaten by dead writing .", "if you are a high schooler looking for a date flick or slightly older and chaperoning your niece you could do a hell of a lot worse .", "hoult 's genuinely awkward charm and palmer 's tomboyish wholesomeness disarm an audience overfamiliar with this story .", "a cute if occasionally cheesy love story that manages to tweak zombie lore while raising the bar on hollywood 's supernatural teen romance phase .", "it wants to be funny , charming , scary , and dramatic . it ends up being a little of each but not successful as any one .", "it 's the hello kitty of zombie flicks .", "MOV is a whoppingly insignificant zombie rom-com clearly aimed at scraping up any cash the horror-lite crowd has n't already blown on twilight .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- think of it not as a zombie horror movie , but more of a sweet-natured reinterpretation of the romantic comedy genre ... with added flesh creeps .", "... smart , funny , knowing remix of zombie tropes , post-twilight self-awareness , and youthful yearning for a vague past where , clearly , everything was better . it 's a disarming jolt of february awesomeness and the only valentine 's day movie you need to see .", "despite its stumbling storyline , lack of logic and sparse comedy , this zomromcom has a beating romantic heart .", "a canny reproach to the insufferable `` twilight '' franchise , `` MOV '' is almost certainly the sweetest zombie movie ever made . brain-munching and tender longing make a nice match .", "the film has just enough gooey charm to make up for its infelicitous turns .", "takes the notion of zombie meets girl an turns it into something that 's so crazy that it works", "a funky , fresh tale of adolescent self-doubt and blossoming love funneled through the prism of post-apocalyptic zombiedom , MOV conjures a lovely , commingled tone of wistfulness and witticism .", "i somehow think this `` sensitive parable '' took a little too much from scott pilgrim .", "the movie does n't stand out much in memory - nothing in it really pops - but it 's enjoyable while it lasts .", "one of the most refreshingly creative zombie movies in recent memory .", "it 's got a big heart and high spirits on a low budget and actors who refuse to phone it in .", "the movie has a wry sense of humor that manages to coexist with its all-you-need-is-love theme .", "MOV is a sweetly funny and touching riff on beauty and the beast or romeo and juliet -- if the beast feasted on flesh or romeo came back from the dead .", "the film 's intentions are way too good for its own good , producing bloodless romance and more shamefully bloodless carnage .", "these bodies , whether human or zombie , feel room-temperature at best .", "the weirdness spread around here is best served through intimacy , watching zombie-meets-girl antics up close and personal , inspecting the oddity with a surprisingly open heart and a crisp sense of humor .", "at its best , `` MOV '' - a rather conventional romance , outside of the fact that one of the two people falling in love is n't alive - has an easygoing , modest appeal .", "it 's like the capulets and the montagues all over again - only the montagues do n't have a pulse .", "`` MOV '' is surely the zombie love story of the season .", "derided pre-release as a zomromcom ` twilight ' wannabe , the movie in fact revivifies a tired , dare we say dead genre , returning it to its romero roots : it works best as a screwball social and cultural satire .", "based on the popular novel by isaac marion , writer-director jonathan levine 's film presupposes that zombies can be humanised by love if the call of romance arrives .", "sharp , original and exceptionally funny without sacrificing emotional engagement for cheap laughs , MOV is a substantial step above most zombie films .", "an inventive and witty twist on the concept of star-crossed lovers the picture is a stylish blend of love story , horror and comedy , engagingly performed by the leads .", "a novel take on the beauty and the beast story but this time the beast is a zombie .", "adds welcome doses of romance -lrb- yes , really -rrb- and humor to the zombie genre . nicholas hoult gives his most endearing performance to date .", "it 's all rather endearing .", "MOV has such a sweet and quirky spirit that it 's a shame the movie is n't better . unfortunately , jonathan levine fails to sustain the story 's premise and the narrative pace gets stuck at a zombie shuffle .", "-lsb- c -rsb- ontent -lsb- s -rsb- itself with the mildest of tweaks at both the zombie and the romantic-comedy genres ...", "the zombie genre has been done to , well , death but this has some originality and funny lines , as well as clever make-up .", "an improbable romance sweetened with appealing performances and buoyed by one of the better cute meets in recent romantic comedy ...", "-lsb- levine -rsb- finds strategies in MOV to make what has long been considered a deathless tale undead in a new way .", "just when you thought the zombie genre had shambled off into the sunset bereft of any fresh ideas , a movie like MOV comes along and makes the undead seem , well ... very much alive .", "what levine does have is a gently gruesome way of amusing us , converting the uneasiness of a wooer from another species into the everyday anxieties of a young man around a girl he likes .", "that rare thing in modern studio moviemaking - a consequential universe . hits hurt . people die . small gestures of kindness somersault into bigger things .", "MOV pulls a nifty trick in the red-hot zombie genre : it lacks a brain , though it eats plenty of them .", "for those who gleefully go along with the premise , it 's surprisingly touching and hilarious . those reared on `` resident evil '' games like me , probably ca n't buy into a zombie romantic comedy .", "in doing a little genre bending of romantic schmaltz and horror cheese - some fundamental zombie mythology is turned on its head - the film breathes amusing new life into both .", "it 's so thrilling when all the elements of a film come together just right . chill-inducing cadavers be damned , `` MOV '' is sheer bliss .", "it 's not the next twilight as some people anticipated , and thankfully , that 's probably the best compliment you could give it .", "starting with the least meet-cute encounter ever , MOV injects much-needed life into a genre crushed to a sugary pulp under the juggernaut of nicholas sparks .", "a charmer , but genre purists will likely hate its guts .", "a credible zombie flick that is also sweet and adorable .", "MOV has enjoyable moments , some funny lines and a central idea that works for about 20 minutes .", "thick with postmodern humor and knowing irony , but it never comes at the expense of r and his gradual shift from zombie to the possibility of being human again", "surprise , surprise : MOV is not an abysmal twilight-esque nightmare . it 's sweet , at times perfectly droll , but ultimately very uneven .", "levine , whose script is based on a novel by isaac marion , plays the absurd concept poker-straight and allows humour and tenderness to bubble up through the on-screen relationships , much as he did in the wackness -lrb- 2008 -rrb- and 50/50 -lrb- 2011 -rrb- .", "thrown together and laughably bloodless , its only reason for existing seems to be to cash in on a tween obsession with the romantic entanglements of the semi-living .", "MOV is a film for `` young adults '' of many ages .", "this offbeat romcom about a girl who falls in love with a freshly dead , unusually amenable zombie is smart , entertaining stuff .", "despite violence , book-based zombie romance is ok for teens .", "accessible for a young teen audience , yet charming enough not to make an adult viewer want to rip their face off .", "what the twilight films might have been if the twilight films did n't , you know , suck .", "... not the stale `` twilight '' - with-zombies movie you might think it is . it plays up the comedy of its absurd scenario without completely ignoring the decades of living dead lore preceding it .", "one of those movies that pleasantly surprises you from scene to scene", "the film never quite manages to match the fun , humor and creativity of its opening moments , although the introduction of plenty of charm and warmth mostly make up for the weakening of the funny stuff . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "MOV has elements of true inspiration , but the whole is slightly underwhelming .", "easily the first great movie of 2013 -lrb- yes , really -rrb- ... espouses a healthy philosophy of overcoming all odds in a genre previously dominated by absolute doom -lrb- gloom optional -rrb- .", "... ` MOV ' may be the best film adapted from this current batch of young adult material that hollywood is desperate to get right ...", "MOV is one of the first must-sees of 2013 .", "this film is funny , exciting and fresh , and the strength of its two lead actors is substantial .", "`` MOV '' sounds a lot better in theory than it turns out to be in practice .", "this is hoult 's show , and he steals it admirably , slowly evolving from a shambolic , monosyllabic shuffler to a reliable love interest with enough physical dexterity to kiss the girl .", "as a mild diversion that wo n't bother either person on a date , one could do far worse .", "working from isaac marion 's novel , writer-director jonathan levine bends the rules to make the story work and softens the violence , too , but it 's still a witty reinvention of the genre like shaun of the dead before it .", "a whimsical , charming love story .", "inventive and frequently very funny zomcom with a sharp script and a pair of terrific performances from nicholas hoult and teresa palmer , although zombie movie fans might feel a little cheated in the gore department .", "jonathan levine 's horror rom-com gives the walking corpse genre a twilight twist ...", "it 's all very silly and sweet in that indie-nostalgic way that levine -lrb- ` the wackness ' and ' 50/50 ' -rrb- has made his own .", "a romantic comedy with zombies that has only sputtering comedy that is mostly undersold by its cast , and zombies that never entirely make sense or feel like a credible threat .", "the funniest films in the zombie genre are still ` zombieland ' and ` shaun of the dead ' but this one is not far behind those two . it is an effective romantic comedy .", "a very funny and surprisingly sweet mash-up of a zombie action film and romeo & juliet . it 's a bit like a twilight movie but with better effects and a smarter script . and weirdly , a lot less moping .", "not only did MOV fail to convince me of its central conceit , but the movie 's general depiction of zombie life is shoddy , inconsistent and often downright dumb .", "for all the ill-fitting elements and plot holes , ` MOV ' pulls everything together with a cheery spirit and a sense of - dare i say it ? - heart .", "`` MOV '' does n't break any new ground or change the face of zombie cinema . it 's just a fun , hokey love story ... with a bite . a perfect date film , you know , for those who love to love zombies .", "we 're left with a setup that guarantees only 15 minutes of wholehearted enjoyment , followed by 80 minutes of intermittent mild amusement .", "are you , at least those of you not sick to , uh , death of the undead , ready for the ` romeo and juliet ' of zombie movies ?", "in a genre that 's grown so exhausted - what are we , up to `` night of the resident evil dead part 23 '' by now ? - `` MOV '' not only brings in some fresh blood , but has brains to spare .", "fans of `` the walking dead '' can keep moving ; there 's nothing to see here .", "`` twilight '' fans looking for the next supernatural teen romance might be bummed out that the film 's romantic hero , although a cutie , has a little brain matter caught between his teeth .", "a good-natured romantic zombie comedy that plays like a tamer version of the twilight saga .", "you 'd have to be a zombie not to enjoy it .", "hoult has a blend of sweetness and vulnerability that gives r more depth than the average zombie ... with much of his performance in his limpid , expressive eyes .", "r 's concerns about how he appears to julie are only a slightly amplified version of what we all go through when we meet someone who inspires to be on our best behavior .", "unlike much of early 2013 's dead-on-arrival movie fare , this picture has a pulse , and a brain , and a heart that beats strong .", "it 's a little film that is n't exactly memorable , but it 's a match strike of fresh individuality in a 2013 movie year that desperately needed a spark .", "... breezy and lightweight , but it offers a non-traditional combination of zombie thriller and love story that should satisfy fans of both genres .", "hoult and palmer provide engaging performances and keep things watchable and levine 's soundtrack is admittedly cool . but overall MOV struggles to convince .", "it 's likeable enough , and with more teeth than its vampire counterparts in twilight .", "a frankenstein 's monster of comedy , romance and horror that 's less than its parts , MOV entertains but underwhelms .", "somewhere between the pop-culture deconstruction of zombieland and the skewed romance of -lrb- 500 -rrb- days of summer , this manages to make the apocalypse seem charming . warm is the right word .", "MOV does n't even have the conviction to follow through on its lame ideas , let alone its good ones . it 's a mostly terrible film that misses the opportunity to be a merely mediocre one .", "`` MOV '' is charming , funny and a little gross . it 's got something for everyone . it 's not too scary for those inclined to stay away from horror films ." ], "summary": "MOV offers a sweet , well-acted spin on a genre that all too often lives down to its brain-dead protagonists .", "id": "771238285" }, { "movie": "wild_2014", "reviews": [ "jean-marc valle knows how to draw out raw , transformative performances from his actors , a skill needed in the transformation of `` america 's sweetheart '' reese witherspoon into a wreck of a woman finding redemption , and do so without any pretense .", "once again , valle\u00e9 has taken an obvious awards movie that should n't be very good and made it mostly okay . it 's the kind of movie that makes me want to say `` good job , '' but also `` why ? ''", "for the most part , though , what we understand about cheryl is communicated with great care , in a dreamy , frequently witty layering of sound and images , past and present that lingers well beyond the film 's stirring final moments .", "i 'm not MOV about MOV , but it 's fair to say that it 's a decent film , well shot and performed , with an interesting structure that provides emotional and narrative complexity .", "this is a more-than-obvious bid on witherspoon 's part for a second oscar , and if one can accept the extreme calculation at play here it 's not necessarily a bad thing .", "warm and uplifting , but with an edge . reese witherspoon has never been better .", "reese witherspoon delivers her best performance since she won the best actress oscar for ` walk the line ' a decade ago .", "what witherspoon does with expression and not a lot of dialogue is so good , you wish that there were n't flashbacks or voiceover and they 'd just trust her to tell the whole story .", "it 's an entrancingly lush visual experience , but one which also captures something of the loneliness , the fatigue , and the bleary , squinting alienation that travel can inflict .", "the premise sounds corny , but vall\u00e9e , in collaboration with screenwriter nick hornby , gives the film its energy by pulling the narrative apart .", "the movie gets much of the book and has the added benefit of scenery - lots of it , deserts and mountains and forests spreading out to the far horizons .", "MOV is the rare film to catch the interior life by its wriggling tail .", "intense , grueling and often moving , `` MOV '' is quietly inspiring without trying to be , reminding us that sometimes we must rise above ourselves and be aware of when we ca n't see the forest for the trees .", "what the book communicates better than the movie is just how grueling the pacific coast trail can be ... but that 's only a quibble . like the book , the movie inspires wanderlust , whether the quest is for your body or your psyche .", "maybe the lack of answers is the point . how do you save your life by hiking 1,000 miles ? by putting one foot in front of the other .", "a rare on-the-road movie from a female point of view .", "subliminal editing , seamless flashbacks and evocative musical cues make for a captivating trek that dances off the linear path , even as it marches doggedly ahead .", "a terrific , powerful film about a woman navigating two wildernesses : the physical one and the emotional one .", "nick hornby 's script does n't follow the traditional linear trail ...", "a profound meditation on loss , regret , acceptance and rediscovery , MOV takes some impressive turns .", "witherspoon et al have done justice to strayed 's story .", "it is another survival story , after all , but an affectingly delicate one .", "MOV does n't aim for high inspiration or fussy performances , and it benefits from staying honest and rich , instead of going for big speeches and bigger set pieces .", "strayed is clear-eyed about her responsibility for her life 's unraveling and realistic about what the trail can do . as witherspoon plays her , she is foul-mouthed and tender , broken and strong .", "MOV is a movie that i 'll find hard to forget because of its powerful imagery and how it works on the senses .", "here 's some good news for oregonians : MOV gets our state right , and it does so without a single artisanal letterpress studio or gluten-free doughnut shop . it 's also a rich and affecting piece of filmmaking , independent of any book .", "MOV is a movie of living nature , with witherspoon in the center , showing the most life of all .", "-lsb- witherspoon is -rsb- entirely credible as the worn-down strayed , and the performance grows even more impressive as vall\u00e9e lets us learn where this person 's been and where she sees herself going .", "the thoughtfully rugged MOV is the perfect awards vehicle for the resurgent reese witherspoon .", "witherspoon finds both a mature centeredness and a zen-like openness -- it 's been a long time since we 've seen her this fluidly expressive , this connected to good material .", "in less sensitive hands , MOV could have easily wound up being an oprah 's book club episode writ large , but hornby , vall\u00e9e , witherspoon and dern lead the charge in taking the material to a higher elevation .", "a moving -lrb- literally and figuratively -rrb- experience , a road movie where the road is a trail that sometimes disappears into the trees , or takes a turn onto a jagged precipice .", "it 's a nice change-of-pace role for witherspoon , cinema 's most ruthlessly efficient and with-it blonde since `` election . ''", "it could have been `` eat , hike , love . '' but reese lifts it above that .", "reese brilliantly bares her body , heart and soul as she brings cheryl strayed to life .", "reese witherspoon gives a raw , masterful performance as a woman coming to terms with her reckless behavior and her mother 's death in `` MOV . ''", "blessed with an inherent desire to take full stock of this person , flaws and all , that 's amplified by the dignity and smarts of reese witherspoon 's work .", "there 's nothing particularly MOV about `` MOV , '' a forward-plodding story of redemption that follows reese witherspoon 's determined march toward a best actress oscar nomination .", "not since june carter cash in walk the line has witherspoon been so present to a character . her cheryl is funny and messy , wounded but not without survival instincts .", "swelling orchestral cues , conveniently arrived upon epiphanies , untangled relationship issues . good job everyone , grab a snapple .", "strayed comes across as a real person , witherspoon is a real actor , and the film is a real showcase . but i could n't help wishing for more to change than the scenery .", "it 's a trip worth taking , not the least because you get to spend it in the character of cheryl , played on screen by reese witherspoon in an unshowy but soulful turn , who is one of the year 's most satisfyingly realized female characters .", "what makes its heroine worth caring about - what makes her a rare and exciting presence in present-day american film - is not that she 's tidy or sensible or even especially nice . it 's that she 's free .", "even when `` MOV '' occasionally stumbles , it gets back on track with relative ease .", "witherspoon 's edginess makes her easy-and fun-to read ; her face registers every bump on the path .", "witherspoon , though never quite shedding her movie-star quality , is charismatic and believable . whether quoting emily dickinson , climbing breathtaking cliffs , swearing at a rock , or craving potato chips , she inspires us to go the distance with her .", "-lsb- the film leads -rsb- to a finale that 's meant to be uplifting but instead comes off as smug .", "the story is terrific , and witherspoon embodies it with vigor and gritty commitmen .", "-lsb- witherspoon 's performance is -rsb- a compelling , and fully lived-in , piece of work .", "the adaptation of cheryl strayed 's memoir MOV is more than just a two-hour best actress audition for reese witherspoon , but it 's also definitely that .", "such a monologue of a film depends entirely on the one main actor being pretty much irresistible , however trying her character 's frailties . reese witherspoon is great in the part .", "happily , MOV is scrappy , impressive movie with trippy visuals , a respect for the transformative power of nature , a powerful strong central performance and a deep well of pain .", "what makes MOV worthwhile is the way it draws a parallel between the physical and emotional journeys cheryl forces herself to undertake .", "at its best , though , MOV lets you into her interior , sometimes spectral world , offering a nonlinear roadmap of her life . it 's as though david lynch made a narrative film by way of gloria steinem .", "it 's a fine film , made with poetry and intelligence .", "director jean-marc vall\u00e9e has created a film out of cheryl strayed 's beloved 2012 memoir that never quite matches the blunt audacity of its simple title .", "like its setting , the film has some peaks and valleys , but finds rewards in its patience and perseverance .", "one can not help but wonder whether MOV , a difficult , challenging film about a woman struggling to make amends , serves its star as both personal and professional penance .", "tackling the physically demanding role , and putting vanity and comfort aside , -lsb- reese -rsb- witherspoon delivers a performance that should have her back in the oscar spotlight .", "although inspirational and thought-provoking , ` MOV ' is gruellng to watch . but powerful performances by reese witherspoon and laura dern won me over completely .", "his is a movie that starts with a strong performance by witherspoon that only gets better through the movie .", "from her first hesitant step on that dusty california hillside , viewers are n't just watching strayed 's experience ; they absorb the experience as if it 's their own .", "`` MOV '' is an accomplished movie , and often a beautiful and moving one , but the woman at its center remains warily at arm 's length .", "`` MOV '' earns its emotional uplift with every slow , plodding step .", "with a great performance from witherspoon and a soul-stirring , life-affirming message , this movie is a gift .", "a sturdy feminist character study that should resonate with those willing to overlook its occasional narrative clunkiness .", "MOV captures the quality of real-life thinking and walking , of the physical rhythm of movement sometimes dislodging random memories .", "it 's as honest and affecting a film as i 've seen this year , and witherspoon delivers her finest performance to date .", "the powerful drama stars reese witherspoon in her strongest performance since her oscar-winning turn as june carter cash in 2005 's walk the line .", "this is an all-too-rare woman 's story , and while vall\u00e9e jokingly inserts the word `` feminist '' in a lighthearted scene , halfway through , he also does n't shy away from the realities of being female .", "MOV is more than a showcase for reese witherspoon 's performance , it 's a meditative journey that is refreshingly funny , insightful , and poignant .", "`` MOV '' is ultimately unique for its twist , even if it comes by an unfortunately intrusive narration .", "this is a fine performance by witherspoon , further stretching her range as an actress . the spectacular scenery along the trail also provides a chance for cinematographer yves b\u00e9langer to showcase his talents .", "screenwriter nick hornby understands aimless characters , and his script is a skillful balancing act . it undercuts an overly serious tone whenever possible and layers in a poignancy that rarely seems forced .", "`` MOV '' is a sharp and smartly directed film", "`` MOV '' stumbles when it becomes too focused on the destination , whether that 's the oregon trailhead or the oscar night red carpet .", "a sloggy , new age-y variant on ` eat pray love ' ... instead of survival tips , we get a feature-length selfie ... belongs in the self-help bin at barnes & noble", "beautifully directed and acted , the immersive , moving `` MOV '' is an exceptional redemption movie .", "i hope this the start of a long , good run of quality films for witherspoon .", "MOV is cheryl strayed 's trip of self-discovery . it is getting an oscar buzz for reese witherspoon . she 's good but laura dern 's work as strayed 's mom is much more deserving .", "MOV is about the profound power of nature to provide space to reset yourself .", "MOV is far more than just oscar bait for an a-list star . based on cheryl strayed 's memoir , it 's a galvanizing human-interest story of the highest order , centering on a woman who immediately emerges as one of the cinematic year 's most complex individuals .", "witherspoon does the least acting of her career , and it works . calmly yet restlessly , she brings to life strayed 's longings , her states of grief and desire and her wary optimism .", "this pensive , reflective , complicated witherspoon feels more real than the one she left behind - and more in keeping with how she started , in hard-hitting independent movies 20 years ago .", "for the first hour of MOV , i was wondering why i was watching the movie . for the second half of MOV , i was glad i did n't give up .", "as strayed , reese witherspoon is terrific in a part she should be all wrong for . it 's a great turn , and it 's an even better reminder of when she was one of the most exciting actors in america .", "an exceptional visual version of what could have been largely an interior journey ... manages to tell a tale as large and daunting as the great outdoors .", "this year 's superior movie about a young woman going on a very long walk .", "a triumph for witherspoon , dern and director jean-marc vallee .", "a film full of spectacular landscapes of both the natural world and the human spirit . this is what it looks like when women get to be people onscreen .", "MOV chronicles the completion of a daunting physical challenge while intimating that it 's about something more spiritual , more meaningful . it is n't .", "tending to the nuances of memory and the suffocating weight of guilt , vallee makes MOV very real and periodically profound .", "the flashbacks intertwine beautifully with the present-day scenes , and witherspoon 's performance is full of vulnerability and regret .", "witherspoon , also serving as a producer , is phenomenal as strayed - a demanding , challenging role both physically and emotionally .", "what do you do when your heroine is tough but emotionally hurt , bright but glib , grown but immature ? make a film about her that is both painful and uplifting .", "honest , aching and finally uplifting , `` MOV '' is a human story worth telling .", "MOV may sound like a film about redemption , but it 's more about learning to live with what you ca n't control - and accepting what you can control , which is sometimes just as difficult .", "you need n't be a fan of cheryl strayed 's memoir , `` MOV , '' to think the movie version is terrific . and i 'm the proof .", "an engaging , emotionally resonant piece of filmmaking .", "a captivating , soul-searching , personal redemption adventure picture .", "`` MOV '' meanders a bit , in its trips from present to past and back , but witherspoon remains the constant , doing what sounds simple enough but proves so difficult : soldiering on .", "`` MOV '' is a moving , engaging and deeply sincere story , set against some of the most magnificent scenery on the planet , and most of strayed 's fans should be reasonably content .", "the film overall is tough and physical , thanks in large part to witherspoon 's convincing work as a woman scuffing calluses from her heart with each step of her blistered and bloody feet .", "MOV stands apart from the rest of the fall 's biopics as a sort of autobiopic ; it feels personal and intimate in a way its contemporaries do not .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- `` MOV '' is an unsatisfying self-help drama that exposes the limitations of reece witherspoon 's range .", "MOV is reese witherspoon 's finest accomplishment as an actress .", "a biopic that is both visually engaging and emotionally compelling . but it 's hard to shake the feeling of careful ambition that keeps everything moving forward so neatly .", "a must-see movie , a gorgeous and inspiring film that showcases reese witherspoon at her oscar-worthy best", "in MOV , jean-marc vallee 's raw and noble tale of a young woman 's quest for personal redemption , witherspoon 's vulnerability and charisma prove to be essential for this fact-based drama to succeed .", "for all of its awards-season intentions , MOV happens to be genuine , not to mention good .", "a feel-good story that avoids sentimentality .", "the story MOV cares about , and tells with admirable honesty and cinematic grace , has less to do with the out-of-doors than with the inside-of-head .", "ms. witherspoon carries the whole movie . and she does so with unflagging intensity and remarkable verve ...", "the flickers of terror that register on witherspoon 's face say almost more than any of hornby 's dialogue could about what the trail is doing to her", "witherspoon and vall\u00e9e capture strayed 's flawed life truthfully and without equivocation ... the pacific crest trail is as much a character as cheryl ... fine handheld cinematography provides spectacular scenery and realistic shots of cheryl as she 's walking .", "reese witherspoon has an instinct for the kinds of roles that suit her and it does n't fail her here .", "three-inch heels ? not for this woman , who trekked 1,000 humorless miles .", "reese witherspoon and the unconventional way strayed 's story is told goes a long way to create a far more lasting experience .", "MOV is a simmering pot on the back burner of the viewer 's mind , slowly pulling out the flavours of personal experience to create a hearty , and highly personal , rustic potage of sweet forgiveness .", "witherspoon gives an unvarnished , all-in performance , free of vanity and entirely devoted to telling strayed 's grueling , triumphant story .", "this first-rate adaptation distills the book to its essence , turning strayed 's adventures into a voyage of self-discovery that is only incidentally about the outdoors .", "hiking across the trail , witherspoon cries and swears and scarfs down food with her fingers and licks dew off a tent just to get water . it 's a stripped-down performance on every level .", "vallee has crafted a vivid wilderness adventure film that is also a powerful story of family anguish and survival .", "there 's something about a cinematic road trip that circulates the juices , stirs the pheromones .", "what i like most about MOV is its nuance , its sense of uncertainty and its willingness to leave unanswerable questions unanswered .", "as a new chapter in reese witherspoon 's career , MOV is a positive step towards the future .", "as it traverses familiar territory and covers a distance that the proclaimers would be proud of , it does so with sufficient grace and gusto .", "jean-marc vallee follows up the dallas buyer 's club with MOV , another strong , urgent , raw piece of filmmaking that offers an oscar-nominated turn for its lead actor , in this case reese witherspoon .", "there 's something fiercely feminist about MOV ...", "a solid entertainment that treats the central story of redemption with honesty", "in general , MOV 's ratio of dramatic incident ... to `` just existing in nature '' is nicely judged .", "`` MOV '' is about the renewal of self , but it 's a film made without sanctimony or piety .", "the film is frank but rarely simplistic and vallee , who is becoming an important filmmaker , trusts the audience to do as cheryl did and find the right path to follow .", "as a film about self-discovery , MOV does n't have the beauty , depth or spiritual appeal of sean penn 's modest masterpiece into the MOV -lrb- 2007 -rrb- . still , it is a gorgeously filmed paean to determination and the ever-elusive goal of self-improvement .", "i found it to be a solid piece of work , but only rarely did it sweep me up into any of its emotional moments . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-", "witherspoon plays cheryl - grimy and bruised and sometimes bloodied on her long trek -- without a shred of protective movie-star vanity .", "with an impressive physical and emotional performance from producer witherspoon and a heart breaking yet joyous turn from dern , `` MOV '' is not only a self-reflective adventure tale but a deeply moving mother/daughter story .", "reese witherspoon 's adaptation of cheryl strayed 's autobiography has all the right stuff . so how come i was n't a puddle when it was over ?", "at the end of the long and winding road , between lack of dramatic heft and a character arc that 's as slender as a sapling , we 're left wondering just where the MOV went .", "it 's a movie in which you can feel the spirit of the material infusing the filmmaker both as an artist and as a human being , and what results is that thing that occurs when even the simplest of songs sends sparks to the soul .", "the physical backdrop of the story is the trail , but the far more vital and vibrant one is the repetitive , unceasing terrain of cheryl 's memory .", "witherspoon gives a performance of quiet vulnerability and courage .", "everybody has to come a distance to understand strayed , not least of which is the lady herself , who discovers the simple truth of her marathon march : `` how MOV it was to let it be . ''", "with the help of a scrappy script by nick hornby that allows bursts of humor to break through the darkness , witherspoon cuts to the bruised core of cheryl 's heart , rattling between desperation and determination .", "`` MOV '' never really earns its hard-fought struggle for redemption and personal reinvention .", "witherspoon carries MOV across the finish line", "witherspoon 's MOV is tame enough to maybe actually give her a second act to her career .", "unremarkable films propped up by exceptional lead performances are as much a certainty of the autumnal season as yellow leaves and pumpkin patches .", "it sounds hallmarky , but , as played by witherspoon and sprightfully directed by jean-marc vallee , ` MOV ' comes off tough , rough and funny .", "fueled by the centrifugal force of ms. witherspoon 's dynamic , award-worthy centerpiece performance , it 's one of the year 's most galvanizing cinematic experiences .", "it 'll take more than a bob marley t-shirt to sell us on the authenticity of this particular hiker , epiphany-bound though she may be .", "cheryl strayed 's enormous feat should be celebrated by us all , and witnessed on film .", "emotional tale of self-discovery explores grief , addiction .", "if MOV is an interesting trek , for both its star and its viewers , it 's hardly a feral one .", "while the external scenery is spectacular , it 's the internal landscapes that capture and hold our attention .", "a stunning central performance from reece witherspoon as cheryl strayed , who overcomes physical hardships to confront her inner demons to find her best self : the woman her mother thought she was", "witherspoon admirably captures cheryl 's volatile mix of naivety and stubbornness , vulnerability and resilience .", "i 've always believed nick hornby books make for better movies . here , a nick hornby screenplay was probably better left as someone else 's book .", "vall\u00e9e avoids clumsiness in exploring that internal landscape and witherspoon , too , gives a delicate , sensitive and gutsy performance ...", "this is a true story of human endurance but also a poignant tale of a woman desperately seeking to conquer her demons and cleanse her spirit .", "a film about someone going on a very long walk does n't sound especially dramatic but nick hornby 's screenplay -lrb- adapted from strayed 's book -rrb- brings out cheryl 's yearning as well as the epic quality of her mini-odyssey .", "it is certainly witherspoon 's best performance since line ... but her performance ca n't deliver the emotional punch the film requires", "reese witherspoon effectively balances flashbacks that recall her rom-com star-making roles with dark , sordid material .", "it 's not a particularly interesting journey - although the scenery is terrific - and the movie 's flow is constantly interrupted by some jarring flashbacks , with laura dern playing the hiker 's mother .", "in a career that has seen its ups and downs , it 's good to see witherspoon making a bold step in the right direction .", "vall\u00e9e has taken a contemplative book where , frankly , very little happens and transformed it into a gut-punching drama .", "for the time being , witherspoon - sometimes a wonderful actress and sometimes a maddening one - has found herself .", "cheryl is a thoroughly realized , warts-and-all character .", "we may not doubt that cheryl will finish the hike , but we 're not at all sure what kind of woman she will meet at the end of it .", "if you 're looking for a film that 's contemplative , honest , and engaging , you ca n't go far wrong with cheryl strayed 's trip into the MOV .", "the movie may not be as convincing as the book in depicting cheryl 's journey toward spiritual fulfillment , but MOV 's considerable power is bound up with reese witherspoon 's performance and what we know about her .", "thanks to a powerhouse performance by reese witherspoon , vall\u00e9e succeeds in avoiding those potential cliches again and again and again .", "little adventure or real catharsis in the rather bland , surprisingly superficial terrain .", "this secular pilgrimage has fine acting but wants to be more meaningful than it is .", "thanks to a showstopping performance by reese witherspoon , MOV takes audiences on a beautiful journey full of strength , independence , and the reassurance that no matter how dark life may get , there 's a glowing light if you 're willing to reach for it .", "MOV earns its emotional payoffs honestly , always underplaying where lesser movies would 've lunged for oscar gold .", "you 'll go ` MOV ' for reese witherspoon 's performance .", "this is perhaps marc-vall\u00e9e 's least showy and most balanced film , handling despair , hope and , in one of the film 's most memorable scenes , terror in unexpectedly subtle ways .", "it 's an entertaining picture with enough humor to allay the seriousness without diminishing its importance .", "we feel as if we 're experiencing every step of this expedition along with witherspoon who has , as cheryl strayed , seldom been better .", "... one of the most boring well-made movies to come around in some time .", "MOV does n't trek over new ground , but its stream-of-consciousness narrative style and an oscar-worthy turn from reese witherspoon make it worth a look .", "MOV is at its most interesting when it delves into stayed 's past and explores her relationship with her mother and ex-husband .", "witherspoon , who clearly saw the project as an opportunity to redefine her career , is refreshingly and respectably raw but hardly revelatory .", "winsome witherspoon impresses with a quiet , physical performance . but the real , extreme cheryl seems to have got lost in the wilderness .", "an honest and insightful work .", "a quietly moving coming of age story that resists formula or easy redemption , driven by a strong , unvarnished performance from witherspoon , who deserves huge credit as both star and producer .", "it 's not witherspoon 's personal masterpiece : that is still her high-school careerist in election -lrb- 1999 -rrb- . but it 's still good .", "driven by a committed turn from witherspoon , jean-marc vall\u00e9e confirms himself as the go-to director for triumph-over-adversity character studies .", "obvious oscar-bait is just that . way too obvious .", "in a time when the desire for ` strong ' female characters on-screen can often create perfect-but-plain parts for actresses to play , seeing a complicated female character on-screen here is even better .", "witherspoon uses her own undoubted discomfort with the physical demands of the role to make us feel strayed 's predicament in our bones .", "reese witherspoon pulls on a pair of ill-fitting hiking boots and stomps straight into the oscar race with a raw , wrenching performance as the writer cheryl strayed in this journey back from the brink .", "witherspoon 's more serious talent , last seen in walk the line -lrb- 2005 -rrb- has finally returned ... her first real contender for critical acclaim .", "like `` eat pray love , '' minus the abject loathsomeness . standout work by witherspoon , though", "witherspoon ably assumes the role of a woman who has veered from the path of righteousness to become a wreck who must lose herself in the wilderness to find her way back", "bristles with emotional resonance and enlightenment .", "a soul-stretching movie about surviving in the wilderness , a solid mother and daughter relationship , and bringing out the best in yourself .", "engrossing story of two parts may be witherspoon 's best role yet", "MOV is more than just reese witherspoon 's strong lead performance , and it 's good enough to stand tall even absent its role in the oscar race .", "witherspoon is terrific - low-key and gritty as a woman who 's lost her way and seeks to find it alone . her voice-over narration is evocative , sometimes heartbreaking .", "MOV is a clear-eyed and authentic portrait of a flawed person grappling with an incomprehensible loss .", "MOV is a powerfully moving portrayal of a woman 's physical and emotional journey that serves as a perfect companion piece to the likes of into the MOV and tracks .", "reese witherspoon delivers a raw and real performance as a woman on a 1,000 mile journey looking to shed some baggage , both emotional and physical .", "MOV attempts to show how getting back to basics can arrest the downward spiral of a life pulled out of orbit by the gravity of pernicious influences .", "a satisfying excursion , a secular but spiritual journey of self-discovery .", "reese witherspoon delivers a decent enough performance to singlehandedly elevate an otherwise mediocre adventure to an entertaining one worth recommending .", "an emotional , physical , psychological and spiritual tour de force for leading actress reese witherspoon .", "unlike its female peers , it 's not about rejuvenation at some person 's or culture 's expense . this land is n't her land . the journey itself gets to you , but so does what it stands for . the only way out of the woods is into them .", "`` MOV '' for the most part works just fine , and should serve as a terrific career boost for reese witherspoon , who 's a producer of the film as well as its star .", "witherspoon is excellent in the lead , delivering a contemplative performance and appearing comfortable with just being by herself .", "a ruggedly beautiful and emotionally resonant saga of perseverance and self-discovery that represents a fine addition to the recent bumper crop of bigscreen survival stories .", "` MOV ' is , surprisingly , a very entertaining film .", "behaviors are blunt and gently daubed at the same time . MOV is an unsentimental marvel , following few expected contrails and rejecting the `` redemption '' narrative right in the i. there 's a wealth of kindness in each and every scene .", "witherspoon fully commits to cheryl 's pitiable ways and degrading herself to play them , stripped bare physically and emotionally . the oscar winner has never been better .", "if nothing else , MOV offers a first-rate advertisement for the purifying abilities of the great outdoors .", "the trick , of course , is to keep it compelling nonetheless , and this is where witherspoon , whose face is a captivating amalgamation of emotional depths , absolutely shines .", "an engrossing , moving and/or well-structured movie , made in a manner that evokes every ounce of sympathy for its heroine in her passion and her thirst for absolution .", "witherspoon is very good , not just deglamorized but immersed , and laura dern is every bit her equal as strayed 's mother .", "the tangles cheryl embraces and the movie makes visible , in its layering of time and image , experience and anticipation , are lasting .", "the humour in this film is gently underplayed so not everyone will get it , but it 's more endearing as a result .", "there 's neither cinematic majesty to the vistas -lrb- and i saw the movie on a very big screen and sat very close to it -rrb- nor intimacy to the ground that strayed treads .", "while one can plainly see why an actor/producer of reese witherspoon 's stature would snatch this story up and cast herself in the lead role , the plain truth is that she also delivers some of the best work of her career in MOV .", "witherspoon does really uncompromising work here , playing cheryl without any hesitancy or any fear or any ego .", "an arduous , compassionate , stream-of-consciousness journey of self-discovery ...", "reese witherspoon gives a beautifully stripped-back performance in this epic journey based on the memoir by cheryl strayed .", "though there are occasional stumbles along the 1,100-mile hike , the peaks in `` MOV '' make the journey more than worth it ." ], "summary": "powerfully moving and emotionally resonant , MOV finds director jean-marc vall\u00e9e and star reese witherspoon working at the peak of their respective powers .", "id": "771366595" }, { "movie": "tristram_shandy_a_cock_and_bull_story", "reviews": [ "not only does winterbottom succeed in capturing the novel 's whimsical tone , he effortlessly weaves in a contemporary story , making both equally absurd yet sharp .", "a film as inspired as its source .", "for a movie about movies , it 's surprisingly humanistic , cheerful and true to life .", "... i do n't think there will be a funnier , smarter and wiser comedy released this year .", "even if you never get up to speed on half of what this movie tosses about , the half you do get should keep you laughing all the way to the library .", "`` tristram shandy : a **** and bull story '' is an amusing toss off that is full of tongue-in-cheek british humor for the film buffs .", "... -lsb- very funny , and -rsb- on occasion , mysteriously , genuinely moving .", "it 's pretty funny . you do n't actually watch it so much as indulge it and admire its cleverness .", "it wonderfully evokes the life on a movie set , which for a few weeks or months creates its own closed society .", "what a treat ! ... by the end , you have so grown to love the characters that you 're quite sorry to have to bid them adieu .", "a bold and imaginative piece of filmmaking that also happens to be delightfully droll ... a grand , goofy entertainment in the true sterne mold .", "diabolically clever and nothing short of hilarious ... think being john malkovich meets adaptation as a period piece , and you 're nearly there .", "a delirious orgy of self-reflexive ridiculousness .", "the conceit of this tristram shandy is that it knows it 's a movie , much as sterne 's book knew it was a novel .", "it 's a wonderful extension of sterne 's spirited , frolicsome technique .", "layered absurdist humor abounds within its wonderfully loose format", "a rollicking comedy about a famous novel , movie-making , and the wild chaos of life that frustrates the sober-minded while generating gales of laughter in playful individuals", "it is completely nonsensical , not to mention frequently hilarious .", "a completely mad film within a film , setting narrative aside for a free-wheeling examination of identity", "really funny stuff , especially if you 're into british humor , or appreciate lots of inside jokes about the filmmaking process .", "while its anarchic spirit is closest to helmer 's 24 hour party people , pic 's film-within-a-film structure makes it yet another genre ticked off for the protean englishman .", "order , movement , sense : all become arbitrary , means by which the teller conveys and creates meaning .", "one trouble with the current vogue for meta-cinema is that its practioners , such as winterbottom and charlie kaufman , underestimate the extraordinary difficulty of telling a good story straight .", "you would think -lsb- the -rsb- book would be unfilmable , and you 'd be right . but that did n't stop -lsb- director -rsb- michael winterbottom from taking it on .", "underneath the movie 's tricky hall-of-mirrors surface lies a warm , delicate and , yes , distinctly shandy-esque portrait of the struggle of creation .", "given the strength of the talent and material here , it 's still a workable compromise for fans -- and a confusion tristram himself would understand .", "blithe , brisk , and bouncy", "trying to enumerate everything that 's good about this movie could prove as labyrinthine a task as tristram 's storytelling itself .", "this try to film what 's been called an unfilmable book reminds me of the old ditty : they all said it could n't be done ; they all said he could n't do it ; so he tackled the job that could n't be done ; and , by george , he could n't do it .", "with a subject seemingly so amenable to heartless derision , the film is remarkable for its warmth and generosity and conviviality .", "it is a sign of the film 's success that extraneous moments are essential to a film that is , essentially , nuts .", "a vehicle that somehow manages to provide period and modern amusement with some wit and tribulation . but it also looks like a make-work project for available british thesps .", "the cast -lrb- composed almost entirely of familiar tv faces -rrb- are simply terrific and are clearly having a huge amount of fun , although coogan deserves special praise for sending up his own image so fearlessly .", "a sharp , playful feature .", "not so much a mindf *** as a mindlovemaking .", "... preposterously funny , perpetually inventive , implausibly successful ...", "-lsb- o -rsb- ne of the cleverest deconstructions and modernizations of a work of classic literature cinema has ever achieved ...", "give this anarchic british comedy a shot and you 'll be laughing from start to finish .", "instead of hoping to fool us that we 're watching life itself , they constantly remind us that telling a story is a fragile , silly , impossible process , and an essential delight .", "for those who can appreciate the movie 's ironic , self-referential nature , this is a thoroughly engaging , near-brilliant comedy .", "equal parts literature and lunacy .", "a successful mix of literary adaptation , meta-fictional discourse and inside-showbiz comedy . both funny and clever .", "if you go into this movie expecting a traditional narrative tale , you may get discouraged . you have to throw away your expectations and sit back and wait to see what happens ... if anything .", "a typically rambling , freewheeling effort from michael winterbottom ...", "stands alongside -- if not above -- adaptation as one of the best films about the process .", "coogan and brydon make a beautiful squabbling couple", "director michael winterbottom may not have proved that you can film this unfilmable book , but he definitely proved he can film a funny movie about trying to film it .", "not a movie version of the book but rather a movie about a movie about the book .", "while one does n't necessarily have to have read the novel , it helps to have an idea of its concept . but i can not imagine getting into this film with no foreknowledge of both the novel and steve coogan .", "turns into a lampoon of the filmmaking process , which has its share of highly funny moments but otherwise feels like territory well-tread .", "tristram shandy is going to be a cult classic .", "a proudly esoteric piece of comedy jazz .", "it 's a riot .", "hugely entertaining .", "the whole thing is very fun and gives one a delicious sense of eavesdropping .", "as someone who can always be counted on to play a dark , squirmingly funny strain of arrogance and self-delusion , steve coogan is like a british larry david .", "the movie 's delights unfold like an intricate , exotic puzzle : winterbottom has built a detailed , miniature universe inside a sugar egg .", "cheeky and flippant .", "michael winterbottom may just be one of the greatest directors working today and , to boot , he 's one of the few pure talents that remain unsullied by external pressures .", "... the first great , mind-tickling treat of the new movie year .", "it sounds confusing , but it 's really inventive and bizarre and marvelously entertaining .", "... one of the funniest british movies in years .", "made literal , many of sterne 's japes cease to be funny , but the viewer is carried along by the backstage plot .", "somehow , despite the odds , it all makes a rich , heady and satisfying stew , capable of making you responsive and alive to all the precious minutiae of your own life .", "the tone is lighthearted and the performances are effective but , in the end , the feature is so inconsequential as to leave no lasting impression .", "ingenious and genuinely funny ... breaks down the fourth wall , and then proceeds to knock down the other thre", "it 's all a bit precious and preening , but coogan is marvelous , almost as good as he was in winterbottom 's 24 hour party people .", "a film about a film based on a novel about writing a novel", "... we see around and behind and underneath the stage , so to speak -- peering into the intertwined lives of the people who are caught up in the maelstrom of an untenable subject for film adaptation .", "by all accounts , sterne 's novel is nutty and ribald and utterly defiant of conventional storytelling techniques ... hence this adaptation 's wonderfully meta take .", "what winterbottom has done beautifully is distill sterne 's comic experimentation with the rules and shape of the written narrative and translate it into a lark on filmmaking form and technique .", "un film dont on se d\u00e9lecte autant pour la redoutable intelligence de son r\u00e9cit et le c\u00f4t\u00e9 f\u0119l\u00e9 de sa structure narrative que pour son humour aussi mordant que d\u00e9sopilant", "adventurous , ambitious and downright quirky , this will appeal to those who revel in more than a little bite in their humour .", "tristram shandy : a cock & bull story is a hall of mirrors that does n't tease the brain -lrb- it 's easier to watch than to read about -rrb- so much as goose it into submission .", "the film is complex and droll -- always amusing and often hilarious .", "amusing and often outright hilarious .", "solidifies what project greenlight taught us ; the process that goes into making a movie often ends up being far more entertaining than the finished project .", "a thin slice of a not-very-interesting nothing ... the book they said was unfilmable turns out to be a film that is unwatchable .", "michael winterbottom 's prankish literary adaptation tristram shandy : a **** and bull story has about a dozen layers of in-joke , and up to the eighth or ninth layer , they mostly work .", "a hilariously clever picture about the making of a movie that no one will have the slightest interest in . for an experiment about an experiment , it 's entirely too much fun .", "this british import is a good-natured comedy featuring several laugh-out-loud sequences .", "rest assured , you do n't have to know a thing about the shandy novel -- let alone having read it -- to have a lot of fun with this cock and bull story .", "despite its source in sterne , winterbottom 's whimsy bulls it way past modernism and right into postmodern thievery , especially in its slavish quoting of fellini 's 8 1/2 .", "the film 's playful , subversive and selectively self-referential sensibility is equal parts blarney and bluster , and has the endearing quality of a tall tale told tongue in cheek .", "yet here it is , the first -- dare we use the term that 's all but been stripped of meaning by journalistic hacks -- masterpiece of 2006 .", "never picked up any steam to run with its **** and bull story .", "-lsb- michael winterbottom 's -rsb- goofy , messy version of tristram shandy puts the fellini back in ` fellini-esque . '", "a wildly imaginative foray into spirited comic anarchy .", "a cock and bull story is a grand giggle of a film , well worth your time and money and a game well played for the audience .", "tristram shandy is that best of all worlds : a continual surprise from one scene to the next .", "winterbottom 's conceit may not quite pay off but his risk-taking is exhilarating .", "droll literary humor , genital violence played for laughs , references to german new wave cinema and al pacino impersonations are among the elements that make this one of the year 's most beguiling and entertaining surprises .", "tristram shandy : a cock and bull story is an eccentric hoot of a film , a delight for lovers of nattering british comedy . or the business of moviemaking . or just deadpan , postmodern silliness .", "a highly amusing combination period film and mockumentary .", "tristram shandy : a cock and bull story brims with humor , from a monty python-type take on british colonialism to a winking send-up of the film 's star , steve coogan .", "probably the best-known but-i-digress novel in english literature , the life and opinions of tristram shandy , gentleman , has inspired tristram shandy : a cock and bull story , surely the best but-i-digress movie this side of adaptation .", "a film that will be enormously appealing to fans of british costume dramas , fans of movies about the making of movies and devotees of the likes of peter greenaway and charlie kaufman .", "it 's official : michael winterbottom makes the best cinematic whatchamacallits around .", "the playful british tristram shandy : a cock & bull story is a comedy for anyone fascinated by the movies .", "-lrb- tongue-in -rrb- cheeky and rambling , much like the voluminous tome that inspired it .", "coogan is adept at playing himself as a total jerk ... and his performance here is scathingly funny .", "this material is the most remote from the letter of sterne 's novel , but in its spirit of verbal play , digression and free-wheeling wit , it pays affectionate tribute to his bawdy jokester spirit .", "sometimes it 's the most unfilmable novels that make the best movies .", "even if you do n't get all the inside jokes , and the jokes that go inside the inside jokes , i still think you 'll find this film to be very , very funny .", "blimey , mate , i love british humor as much as the next bloke , but i must admit , i did not find this film the least bit funny .", "this stuff is strictly ben stiller material , but genuine sparks fly when coogan and brydon spar together onscreen .", "`` tristram shandy '' is quite limited to an acquired audience that has the patience and perhaps literary knowledge to appreciate the outcome .", "bawdy behind-the-scenes comedy that neatly straddles antiquated fantasy and contemporary reality .", "for all its post-postmodern use of intersecting narratives , tristram shandy : a **** and bull story works and , in certain spots , works brilliantly .", "any similarity to that quirky , hilarious , raunchy and imaginative albert finney vehicle from 1963 -lrb- ` tom jones ' -rrb- is purely in the mind of the filmmakers .", "a self-referential , keenly absurd comedy with several layers of humor .", "like the french lieutenant 's woman , it 's as much commentary as adaptation , but with a more playful approach and an understated , typically british sense of humor .", "more movie-biz spoof than postmodern adaptation of the novel , but winterbottom 's film miraculously succeeds in doing both goals a degree of justice .", "tristram shandy : a cock and bull story is the most complex movie about adaptations since , well , adaptation .", "a sly , delirious homage to the writers , producers , techies and thespians who assemble with the common mission of telling a tale , and then , many months and meltdowns later , move on to the next project -- and paycheck .", "winterbottom has given plugged-in moviegoers a visceral , mind-bending meta experience , and some good laughs .", "for all the convolutions of the form of the film , it 's actually a gentle comedy with laughs for both the brain and the funny bone .", "it feels made up on the spot , in the mockumentary style winterbottom and coogan deployed in their manchester music-scene goof , 24 hour party people . but that film was n't half as much fun as this one .", "the giddy self-satisfaction of tristram shandy grows tiresome .", "if only literary theory could always be this fun .", "beneath the fun lurks a dry and weary sigh at life 's refusal to match the tidiness of art ." ], "summary": "though laurence sterne 's novel was considered more or less impossible to successfully adapt to film , director michael winterbottom has done it in tristram shandy : a cock and bull story , by making movie about the making of the movie . stars steve coogan and rob brydon add madcap , knowing performances to the mix , and the result is a fun , postmodern romp , before there was any modern romp to post .", "id": "2847503" }, { "movie": "memoirs_of_a_geisha", "reviews": [ "a more fitting title for MOV would have been cliffs notes of a geisha .", "like a beautifully wrapped gift that fails to impress once the box is opened , MOV is gorgeous to look at - - but that 's about it .", "in essence chicago comes closer to capturing that life of artists and performance ; memoirs is just whoring for a little prestige known as the oscars .", "an eastern movie made to resemble the most unchallenging western ideal of what the east is .", "showgirls with a slicker technical package , and none of the spectacular tongue-in-cheek camp when it comes to the relationship between up-and-comer sayuri -lrb- ziyi zhang as nomi -rrb- and her long-in-the-tooth foe , hatsumomo -lrb- gong li as cristal -rrb- .", "robin swicord ... who adapted the novel for the screen , does n't bother much with golden 's prose , apparently because it was n't cliched enough .", "an epic romantic period piece with deeply felt performances , beautiful costumes and exquisitely framed sets , geisha pretty much defines the phrase `` oscar contender . ''", "feels more like a calculated product than a work of art .", "... if ever a movie represented hollywood marketing , this is it .", "the story is pretty simple but the film , like the book , is about the details and this is what attracts to `` MOV . ''", "... a sumptuous visual feast that should n't be confused with the real thing , but ... a fascinating introduction to a part of japanese culture .", "it 's hard to get in the film more of a sense than merely skimming the surface .", "trimming 20 to 30 minutes of material not involving the chairman would have considerably tightened the romantic angle and strengthened the entire film .", "... a movie that delights the eye even as it lulls the mind . and the heart .", "on the surface , everything looks great , but look just below , and it all falls apart .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he movie works off its trio of delicious star performances , its sumptuous production values , its sprawling sets of old kyoto , its sweeping john williams score and haunting cello solos by yo-yo ma .", "for a while , you 're waiting for MOV to start . then you ca n't wait for it to end .", "-lsb- a -rsb- beautiful and lush but thematically flawed and even disturbing portrait of a prisoner who adopts the reality of her captors and of a love stunted by captivity .", "shot for shot , MOV is one of the most beautiful movies in years , with due credit to don beebe 's widescreen camera work , john myhre 's meticulous production design and colleen atwood 's opulent costumes .", "the clothes in MOV are pretty , the women are pretty , the snowstorms are pretty , and the trees are pretty -lrb- there 's a bush that is the catherine zeta-jones of shrubbery -rrb- . but the story ? pretty dull .", "it oozes importance , is heavy with worthiness and lies there , waiting to be appreciated for the beautiful thing it is .", "well worth seeing on the big screen , MOV is ultimately a film you admire , rather than embrace .", "simultaneously gorgeous and forgettable , sentimental and prurient .", "you could say MOV is gone with the wind without the substance , and certainly without the fiery temperament that made scarlett o'hara a lot more interesting than zhang 's geisha sayuri is now .", "this is a movie for the ear and the eye , not the brain and the heart .", "with its gorgeous cinematography , costumes and production design , geisha is a visual feast , but it lacks emotional heft and leaves the viewer strangely unsatisfied .", "these extreme displays of artifice are lovely and a little daunting . they are also rather grimly exalted by the camera .", "a lush , operatic period piece that abounds in detail , incident and spectacle and yet seldom connects on the emotional plane .", "all three acts suffer from sluggish momentum and weak endings .", "in the luxuriant MOV , three of the biggest and loveliest stars of chinese cinema -- ziyi zhang , michelle yeoh and gong li -- sharpen their talons .", "says to hell with subtlety -- but with a pretty face .", "the filmmakers have taken the source material -- arthur golden 's best-selling novel -- and turned it into a glossy hollywood production with the overripe melodrama you 'd expect from a television soap opera , not a supposed epic drama .", "i 've little doubt that swicord and marshall have produced an accurate account of the geisha lifestyle , but i 'm not sure that it feels like a terribly authentic one .", "marshall weaves together an exotically sumptuous production frayed by a disappointing ending that tries to draw a powdered happy face on tragedy .", "always pleasant to watch even as the plot bites off more than it can chew .", "it has to keep reminding us how tragic it is .", "like the dolled-up women , the film is pleasing to the eyes and inscrutable . the mystery , though , is tedious rather than captivating .", "geisha offers a colorful glimpse that is as alien to most western audiences as the dark side of the moon .", "rob marshall does n't know the difference between a geisha and a glass of water .", "MOV is grand entertainment , telling its epic story in bold yet graceful terms without ever descending to melodrama or soap opera .", "it 's lush , stylish and a feast for the eyes and ears rather than the heart and soul .", "titanic fraudulence", "director rob marshall has a sophomore flop on his hands .", "the screenplay was lacking , the characters not engaging , the story dragged on and no real insights on being a geisha . paul chambers , cnn .", "full review in greek", "for all of its inaccuracies and over-the-top mise-en-sc\u010dne , memoirs is quite entertaining .", "as authentic as cheeseburger teriyaki .", "the overall effect is not so unlike mameha 's description of geisha themselves : a moving work of art .", "a beautiful-looking film with an ugly little fantasy at its heart .", "... the film 's achievements lie mostly on the surface , rather than underneath it .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he film is altogether too much like sayuri : trying to overwhelm with surface beauty and unspoken emotion , it never hits deeper than the skin .", "... a fascinating glimpse at a lost world of women with skin of porcelain and spines of steel , and the men in their thrall .", "-lsb- i -rsb- n terms of pure beauty , MOV is among the most gorgeous films ever created , a magnificent cherry blossom of a movie , evoking the lovely mysteries of geisha life .", "ultimately , MOV compares unfavorably with the book , though it offers pleasures of its own .", "in any case , if you judge MOV as a moving work of art , it 's pretty fabulous .", "MOV is everything you 'd expect it to be : beautiful , mesmerizing , tasteful , japanese . it 's just not very hot .", "only occasionally does the camp classic struggling to free itself from the constricting kimonos and white pancake makeup of ` geisha ' claw its way to the surface .", "i ca n't say that memoirs is a good film , and it 's certainly not action-packed -lrb- oh , my , is it ever not action-packed -rrb- , but it 's not without its merits , either .", "rob marshall 's movie version has a harder time hiding the ripeness . and it 's a bit like a geisha 's persona -- visually exciting and emotionally remote .", "... the movie is a well-meaning , vaporous bore , enlivened only by occasional traces of showgirls-style camp and plasticine tears trickling down impeccably powdered cheeks .", "the outlines of the story may seem soapy , but the details of the place , time , and culture used to tell the story elevate it to a meaningful and moving saga of identity , longing , and resiliance , as exquisitely presented as a silk kimono .", "films set in different countries can teach us so much about other cultures . for example , did you know that MOV is japanese for ` sominex ' ?", "not merely bad but pretentiously bad .", "marshall remarkably has established a challenging tone making the audience aware of the world the characters live in beneath the gloss .", "i object to the movie not on sociological grounds but because i suspect a real geisha house floated on currents deeper and more subtle than the broad melodrama on display here .", "... the picture mistakes opulence for importance . it 's like a geisha who is all dressed up with no place to go .", "-lsb- g -rsb- ives you a real feeling of what it must have been like in old japan , especially with all the pretty paper lanterns hanging around , and the beautiful kimonos the girls all wear .", "you 've always got something to look at -- whether its sayuri 's exquisitely painted face or the perfect twirl of a gorgeously flowered umbrella . but the storytelling is soap-opera banal .", "... nary a drop formed in my lachrymal glands ...", "despite his mainstream-heavy sensibility marshall has crafted a textured film companion to arthur golden 's stunning masterwork .", "more like ringling brothers and barnum & bailey 's MOV .", "flawed by the use of chinese actors taking the roles of japanese and for its use of english all around .", "attempts to take the admittedly addicting soap opera that was the book and elevate into something on a higher plane of artistic existence . it fails .", "ziyi is radiant , as real as the script allows -- just not japanese . sweetly shot overall , though a dismal mood dominates . otherwise somewhat simple and soapy .", "mcsushi !", "memoirs loses its taste for risk , and settles , throughout the movie 's subsequent melodramatic turns , for the familiar blandishments of good looks and technical control .", "a would-be cross between showgirls and raise the red lantern , too dumb to cause offense though falling short of the oblivious abandon that could have vaulted it into high camp .", "icky .", "MOV is worthwhile on many levels , although it lacks the depth of feeling that would have elevated it from a good movie to a romance for the ages .", "you have to appreciate the attention to detail and the beauty imbued into every scene by rob marshall and his crew", "even if it 's exaggerated and improbable on every level , the film still manages to grab our eye with its spectacular artistry , and our heart with its simple tale of yearning .", "there 's a lot of emotion and heart .", "this is , in fact , quite an ugly film .", "exotic locations and vibrant colors mask what is essentially a japanese soap opera voiced in english ...", "it does indeed feel like thousand oaks , ca , rather than land of a thousand cherry blossoms .", "as gorgeous as it is lifeless .", "there is spectacle enough in marshall 's movie -- rows of geisha trainees aligned in formation like rockettes , acres of low , cedar-and-bamboo buildings with mountains in the distance -- but nothing that comes close to lyricism .", "it 's not a movie ... it 's a fashion show !", "MOV is one long oxymoronic exercise in attempting to show delicacy through overkill .", "it skips lightly over the surface of its rich material , more preoccupied with making pretty pictures than dipping below the surface so that you can experience the world through the eyes of its traumatized , yet increasingly savvy , heroine .", "sumptuous and exotic , this asian cinderella story unveils an ancient , refined tradition - albeit at a sluggish pace - and stars three exquisite actresses .", "even though the novel is one of my favorites ; the movie did not leave me disappointed . it left me wanting more , but i did n't walk out dissatisfied with what i was given .", "gorgeous to look at but curiously uninvolving and occasionally irritating , this is ultimately something of a disappointment despite strong performances .", "rutinaria adaptaci\u00f3n de un best-seller sobre tem\u00e1tica ex\u00f3tica , con lujos de fotograf\u00eda , vestuario , direcci\u00f3n de arte y hasta m\u00fasica que no disimulan un argumento cursi y previsible .", "the greatest achievement of author golden and director marshall is their delicate capturing of the viciousness of women among women .", "marshall 's film is plucked from the era it represents , the 1930 's , and shoved into our cinema schedules in the hopes of earning its creator another slice of awards success .", "stunning to look at , MOV is worth seeing for the lush visuals alone . the accents and culture clashes may grate , but the insight into this world , where men can be brought to their knees with a single glance , is mesmerising .", "cinematographer dione beebe ... fills the screen with lavish images that constantly amaze the senses .", "n\u0103o \u00e9 apenas seu falso moralismo que o compromete ; como centro de sua narrativa , o longa traz uma historinha de amor artificial carregada de di\u00e1logos cafonas e melodram\u00e1ticos .", "marshall 's approach is simultaneously accessible and exotic , a breathtaking introduction that exposes without spoiling a world of carefully guarded mystery .", "the subject remained interesting enough to this provincial american to accept and ultimately enjoy the film 's well-worn romanticism , even with its resignedly tired happy ending .", "the actors are hamstrung from the very beginning by the westernized material -- everyone speaks english at all times -- and by the bland direction from rob marshall .", "it 's not a great movie , or even a particularly good one , but it 's spectacular .", "a bloated melodrama more interested in poses than inner lives -lrb- according to some japanese-culture-vultures , it gets the poses wrong , too -rrb- .", "what 's wrong with MOV ' is n't the casting ; it 's the film 's languorous pace .", "director rob marshall chicago is so transfixed by all the ritualistic hoo-ha that he never brings the story down to earth .", "arthur golden 's bestselling novel has been transfigured into an overripe romance that manages the not-so-cute trick of being both glitzy and ponderous while straining for delicacy and grandeur .", "slowness does n't necessarily equal beauty or power or profundity .", "the world of the film is so narrow that pre-occupation japan looks like a feudal disneyland , where everybody knew their place and the cherry blossoms were always falling", "spanning two decades and a momentous war , MOV displays all the pomp and grandeur of an epic , but you would n't call it sweeping .", "swathed in silk and longing -lrb- mostly for a bald guy called oscar -rrb- , the big-screen version of MOV arrives with good intentions firmly in place .", "the filmmakers make characters crasser , ignore nuances within geisha tradition and give characters attitudes and dialogue highly unlikely for depression-era japan .", "this schmaltzy adaptation , a throwback to hollywood of yesteryear in its simplistic sensibility , is like taking a visual anthropology course , `` geisha 101 , '' that imparts the most basic facts about a geisha 's life .", "so much to see and hear , yet the magic of MOV is the human way it touches the heart . the cumulative effect is like being knocked unconscious by the wing of a butterfly .", "shows how a small act of kindness , like a pebble thrown into a pond , can send out many ripples , and transform another 's life .", "MOV builds a beautiful garden , then runs an interstate through it to let more people in .", "any doubts about three chinese actresses speaking english with japanese accents vanish in the face of their deeply felt performances and the world marshall conjures with magical finesse .", "though spielberg once almost took the helm , the picture that we have here indicates that marshall was the perfect man to bring arthur golden 's amazing best seller to the screen .", "arthur golden 's international best-seller has been moved to the bigscreen with beauty and tact in MOV .", "mother is greedy . pumpkin is naive . sayuri is determined . hatsumomo is angry . mameha is wise . etc. . .", "instead of revealing the inner sanctum of japan 's traditionalist heart , geisha wades clumsily through a series of beautiful sets , hackneyed plots and stunning costumes .", "a very sterile film , one where we spend a great deal of time with the characters without ever getting to know them -- or , really , what the life of a geisha is all about .", "memoirs brandishes old-school razzle dazzle at the expense of subtlety and contemplation , coating his sound stage sets in delicately applied layers of cherry blossoms and snowflakes .", "an exotic film that feels abbreviated .", "meticulously produced and detailed , geisha is a feast for the eyes , but icy to the touch .", "i was disappointed this was n't as captivating as the book . i was blown away by the trailer , but the movie does n't live up to that dramatic promise .", "if i wanted the story read to me , i would have bought the book on tape .", "excuse me -- the land of the rising sun just lost a social system that had parents selling their female children into indentured servitude , and we 're supposed to feel contrite ?", "plays like a disney version of a zhang yimou movie , though the end result is n't as dreadful as that designation might suggest .", "as it stands , the film can best be described as a gorgeous , convoluted mess .", "the very qualities that made the book a must-read are lost in the translation to the screen . ` geisha ' might have been better served as a hbo mini-series .", "it 's an overlong film that looks great , but might leave you feeling a bit nauseous . wait for it to hit cable .", "comes across as a weird combination of charles dickens and harlequin romance , given a falsely exotic air by an overlay of kimonos and cherry blossoms .", "a bittersweet , cloyingly nostalgic look at traditional japanese society just before rapid modernization and americanization transformed it into the international cultural and economic power of today .", "MOV may be culturally inaccurate and a bit pulpy , but so were some of the best movie-romances ever .", "`` MOV '' is a hollywood-ized version of the far-better novel . still , it 's an enjoyable , lush interpretation of the best-selling tale of deceit , romance and ambition .", "stripped down to its narrative essentials , it often feels like desperate housewives in a kimono .", "golden 's straightforwardly involving prose , while no great shakes , has been replaced by an extremely fussy affair that is , in effect , its own silk-wrapped pictorial novelization .", "everything is beautiful -- even the squalor of poverty , the suffering of war . and nothing , ever , is revealed .", "MOV is n't just drop-dead beautiful , it 's cinematically alive with a spirited way that makes most contrivances forgivable .", "its commercial compromises cripple it as a movie .", "sayuri 's geisha training plays out in formulaic montages , like the karate kid in kimonos . and the cast is allowed to lapse into theatrics that would shame lillian gish .", "MOV , a dramatic miss , is nonetheless worth seeing for the visual feast it provides .", "memories are n't made of this .", "unlike the geisha , this adaptation does wear its heart on its sleeve , but a fine cast , including the regal michelle yeoh , create a picture of composure .", "this is a lavishly detailed memoir in which little turns out to be that memorable .", "for all its vagueness , the story is never less than visually exquisite ... and aurally appealing .", "... good-looking but not quite memorable ...", "MOV , the big-screen adaptation of arthur golden 's best-selling novel , has a lesson to teach : designing a movie is n't the same as directing one .", "it is a lush , blushingly romantic portrait of asian culture as seen through a western lens .", "the performances are good , the visuals are lush , the span is epic , but the film simply never soars ." ], "summary": "less nuanced than its source material , MOV may be a lavish production , but it still carries the simplistic air of a soap opera .", "id": "24218" }, { "movie": "10011582-TRON_legacy", "reviews": [ "it transports us to a world we 've never seen ; showing us heretofore unthinkable cinematic feats and seemingly unachievable advancements in technology ... but all technical marvels aside , there is an unfortunate absence of the human soul here .", "if you examine it closely then the entire film falls apart . but if you go along to enjoy the thrills -lrb- especially when it 's showing in 3d -rrb- and cool action sequences , then you should be thoroughly entertained .", "after the initial awe of the first act wears off , tron : legacy becomes a long , slow , and alarmingly uninteresting ride .", "a fantasy world realized at a high level by a director with a little more on his mind than the size of the pyro budget .", "a vapid and brainless blockbuster that 's exhilarating on a purely aesthetic level , but suffers from laughably stilted dialogue and excessive style over substance .", "garrett hedlund may be the world 's first live-action , artificial actor .", "the main reason to see this is for its stunning visuals , which look great in 3d . they might not look so impressive in mere 2d .", "the `` youngification '' of jeff bridges is downright creepy , but groundbreaking . hedlund does a great job of being the emotional center of this movie . great visuals are matched by a good story .", "in the end , this is a travesty of a story and a failure of a sequel , but an absolute triumph for cgi ... it is to the original tron what avatar is to ferngully .", "... it would have been nice to see a tighter , more action-oriented sequel ... comes dangerously close to drowning itself in back story and narrative .", "it 's a bit like fast and furious , directed by stanley kubrick on holiday .", "-lrb- video -rrb- if you 're young and easily impressed , then `` tron : legacy '' wo n't feel like a rip off . as for the film 's non-window-breaking 3d effects , you 'll be left to scratch your head about why the filmmakers even bothered .", "despite dazzling man-meets-machine design and similar themes , this film does not have the complexity of avatar and for some it may feel rather like being trapped in a long video game .", "one of the best blockbuster experiences 2010 has had to offer .", "although lacking an emotional core and comprehensive plot , tron : legacy is never the less an immersive cinematic experience which features the best that 3-d visuals and special effects has to offer .", "though the film has no lack of technical skill , what 's missing is the spark of imagination", "like its predecessor , the movie has enough dazzling visuals and awesome action to generally compensate for a story that often feels a little thin .", "disc wars is the second best visual moment of the year behind the twisting hallway of ` inception . ' and yes , daft punk nails the musical score .", "a wash of light , colour and sound that forgoes the most basic elements of cinema .", "this comes across as the same kind of pompous drivel that eventually made the matrix films unbearable .", "the first half hour of the film - before it shifts into 3d mode - is pacy and dynamic . after that , it gets sluggish and the visuals - as so often happens in 3d films - are far too dingy .", "all digital dazzle and little substance .", "i 'm actually going to buy a ticket to see it again . i never do that .", "the design of the visuals here reflects the huge advances in computer graphics over the last three decades : the landscapes and objects are beautiful and vastly more detailed than in tron .", "tron : legacy is beautiful but cold , more machine than man .", "this updated story sinks under the weight of its own mystical mumbo-jumbo and pseudoscience gobbledygook .", "an eye-catching 3-d roller coaster ride propelled by a plot and characters of not even passing interest .", "there 's more than a touch of zeus in kevin 's white beard and olympian digs , but , much like icarus , no one in tron : legacy gets to soar too high .", "occasionally self-indulgent and silly , the sequel is an undeniably entertaining flick , a cornucopia of eye candy and family-friendly violence .", "groundbreaking and cutting edge filmmaking in terms of the production design and special fx , and the action scenes are some of the best you 'll see this year .", "remember the last time you yelled at your computer ? it does .", "the geek set will be transfixed by the look of the film , which is a noir-ish , sober `` speed racer '' -- nocturnal battles involving light cycles , light frisbees , etc. .", "a landmark achievement in visual effects , sound and production design , and a disappointment in almost every other respect .", "this holiday season , disappointment comes in fluorescent blue", "there 's such a hollowness and lack of conviction within this new film 's veneer of a story that it 's impossible not to find your distracted thoughts bouncing around chaotically .", "la , la , la , what a vision this movie is . it goes over the top , and then it goes even higher , wider , and crazier .", "it sure is pretty , but it 's also woefully empty-headed , as steely in emotion as it is in its environment .", "disney has once again constructed a digital environment out of cutting-edge special effects , only this time , it is n't merely silly ; it 's as dry and talky as a pbs panel show .", "tron : legacy is a letdown . let 's hope this misfire marks the `` end of line '' for this fractured faux franchise .", "lots of sizzle , not much soul , and very little sense .", "the computer world has rarely felt cosier .", "another weak story with sub-b-movie dialogue , partly compensated for by intensely conceived geometric design and special effects .", "the film is visually dazzling , but the main problem is that the script was left of the drawing board . there are endless questions never answered even if one were to ask .", "tron : legacy validates those who spent the last 28 years defending the original film as a story worth telling .", "tron : legacy is all about the eye candy , and not much else . for the full effect try to get to an imax screening of the film , or at the very least , see it in 3d .", "the film is visually dazzling , but the main problem is that the script was left of the drawing board . there are endless questions never answered even if one were to ask .", "the long-awaited sequel to the 1982 cult favorite retains the original 's visual splendor , but not its endearingly geeky spirit .", "techie reboot is visually dazzling but short on story .", "edward kitsis & adam horowitz toss a bit of frankenstein , every super hero who ever kept is hand in corporate , `` star wars , '' `` the matrix '' ... and yes , even `` the wizard of oz '' to come up with a story that exists mostly to prop up the special effects .", "the special effects are incredible , blah blah blah , but oddly , the most effective element here is the original movie 's striking visual design .", "despite -lrb- or maybe because of ? -rrb- all the impressive graphics , first-time director joseph kosinski imparts no heat or urgency or need to care .", "while it seems less like a parody than the original , it is also silly in a not unpleasing way . i generally have little use for 3-d , but the effects in this film are subtle and well-executed ; as these things go , the least obnoxious ever .", "it 's dispiriting to see how little attention the filmmakers have paid to the dramatic -- read human -- possibilities of the original , or how much they 've been overwhelmed by technology 's demands .", "the package is shiny and new , but the movie is a hodgepodge of ideas lifted from science-fiction classics , fast-paced action tedium and flimsy connective tissue . it 's bloatware .", "all sensation and no feeling .", "looks incredible and feels increasingly leaden and cumbersome as the story unfolds", "legacy is a two-hour light show with a lot of flash , a little style , and not one byte of narrative originality .", "the `` legacy '' of the title appears to be that of george lucas . which , of course , should be the last thing an admirer of `` tron '' wants to see : bill gates taking over apple .", "tron : legacy does not deserve to be written off as empty spectacle but it really does miss the magic of the original film .", "it 's an unusual moviegoing situation to be facing , with such a tremendous divide in time between installments , but the very fact that there 's a sequel to tron , and it happens to satisfy , is reason enough to rejoice .", "curiously , tron : legacy makes the same mistake the original did : all the best stuff comes in the first act .", "it 's a sullen affair , dominated by a grim visual palette that intrigues for about 30 minutes .", "they had 28 years , and this is the best they could come up with ?", "if you kind of , sort of liked the `` matrix '' franchise but found it too fast-paced , too dense with plot and way too short on neon-lit motorbike races and homoerotic ultimate frisbee tournaments , then i 've got a movie for you .", "new players , a new story line , a new director and nearly three decades of improved technology including all the whiz-bang-wow the latest 3-d has to offer . unfortunately , there 's not nearly enough new life .", "like the 1982 sci-fi curiosity that spawned it , tron : legacy is an `` almost '' movie .", "one of the few winter films that feels like an event ... family-friendly geek paradise .", "as an action-packed visual feast ... MOV is truly astonishing ...", "first and foremost , this is a beautiful looking film . the production design is fantastic .", "MOV is the windows vista of movies - it 's got a beautiful interface , some great bells and whistles , but it does have a few unsightly bugs .", "tron : legacy is the kind of sensory-onslaught blockbuster that tends to put me to sleep , the way babies will nap to block out overwhelming stimuli .", "despite all the gloom and grandiosity , this can be a fun movie , particularly for those willing to sit back and let it wash over them .", "judged solely as eye-candy , the follow-up , enriched by a superb soundscape crafted by daft punk , merits a recommendation . but as optically impressive as it is , it 's also dramatically inert .", "tron : legacy proves once again that movies can be incubators for exciting technological and f/x advances ... while leaving our need for narrative unsatisfied .", "kosinki 's most imaginative 3-d contraptions are stunning , though it 's unfortunate that they do n't show up until we 've slogged through a slow , dreary , middle bursting with overblown political themes .", "it is genuinely exciting to see where this brave new world of cgi and 3d is leading . but on the whole , this is n't really much of a legacy -- or even as much fun as a round of space invaders .", "it 's a triumph of streamlined design , but tron : legacy never enters the fourth dimension where it 's worth a plugged nickel to humans .", "for a far more thought-provoking tale about the virtual realm , try the social network .", "tron : legacy is an exciting and beautiful film that i can guarantee will be considered a classic , just like the first .", "it all ends up being a half-hour too much of a just okay thing .", "i love the metaphysics this story suggests . tron had hints of the possibilities , but legacy explores the images of ourselves , manifested beings and the idea that the pursuit of perfection is corrupt .", "a thrilling , evocative , and utterly satisfying piece of entertainment .", "the film is a fleshlight . it looks like the real thing , and it might get you off , but it is plastic , phony , and utterly soulless .", "if you 're a fan like me , it 's worth seeing for both the nostalgia and the debate you 're going to have after the film . if you 're not , it 's worth seeing for the visuals .", "whereas 3d has quickly become a dirty , corporate word , tron : legacy 's use of the new technology to bring the audience directly into this very specific and unique world makes this movie a completely immersive experience .", "while 21st-century effects and a cutting-edge dance score make this a stunning virtual ride , the underlying concept feels as far-fetched as ever .", "a triumph of art direction , sound design and gallic phat beats , but could do with a script upgrade and fun.exe patch .", "this 28-years-later sequel has some flash and sparkle in a few of its action sequences , but there 's way too little drama or visual dazzle to justify the hype , the extra d or the film 's somewhat presumptuous title .", "as long as it 's engaged in light-hurling bouts of force , or motorcycle chases through a landscape so ominously enveloping it looks like blade runner after gentrification , tron : legacy is a catchy popcorn pleasure .", "while too much of tron : legacy languishes in a plotless world of confusion and electronic frisbee throwing which left me cold , there are unexpected bonuses .", "tron : legacy looks like the bathroom of a trendy nightclub .", "both -lsb- tron -rsb- films , made so many years apart , can fairly lay claim to being state of the art .", "to say that belated sequel tron : legacy looks amazing is both to praise and to condemn it ; 30 years from now , it will probably seem just as dated as its predecessor .", "hugely disappointing , style-over-substance sequel that 's let down by a derivative script , wooden performances , poorly directed action sequences and a criminal lack of humour .", "fittingly , legacy is not overwhelmed by its own technical brilliance , the human heart that beats beneath its polished chrome veneer being felt even over daft punk 's evocative score .", "there have been a number of technical developments in the intervening years , but none of them does the new film any good .", "there is no justifiable reason for such a lengthy running time , especially given that the original got in , did what it had to do and got out in about an hour and a half .", "` bio-digital jazz , man ! '", "like the original , tron : legacy obsesses over technology and style but forgets important details like character and plot .", "this reboot may not be as revolutionary as it thinks , but it 's definitely worth a second glance .", "worth its while for the next generation special f/x alone , especially when witnessed in 3d .", "it 's a reboot and a sequel that pays respect to its roots while also paving its own path in to the annals of science fiction and action cinema ...", "a fantastic big screen sensory experience that unfortunately has a plot built entirely from nonsensical technophilosphy wank", "a visually-stunning , fast-paced amusement ride .", "i 'm not saying do n't bother seeing it , because there 's still some fun to be had from the swaggering , fragmented plot , i 'm just saying that we deserved much better .", "if only disney could always be this kinky .", "disney may be looking for a merchandising bonanza with this long-gestating sequel to the groundbreaking 1982 film , but someone in the corporate offices forgot to add any human interest to its action-heavy script .", "a visionary feast for the eyes with a down and dirty score by daft punk that 's pitch perfect for the environment .", "there 's huge disparity between the seductive and visuals and the dramatically uninvolving and narrative , but young techno viewers -lrb- and fans of the original 1982 film -rrb- should make it a commercial hit .", "stunning visuals , excellent use of 3d and all the digitized cool you can cram into one film . and that daft punk score , oh that daft punk score .", "tron : legacy is not a good movie . not even close . visually stunning . yes . the mostly black and white , glow-in-the-dark effects - especially in 3d - are a mind-blow .", "director joseph kosinski has a recipe for adventure that should delight gamers . non-techies are on their own .", "... a breathtaking special-effects extravaganza that generally manages to outdo its big-budget cinematic brethren in terms of excitement and audaciousness ...", "MOV is one of the most visually stunning pieces of entertainment ever made . dear the academy awards , please nominate daft punk for best original score !", "this sci-fi actioner is insufferably dismal , depressing and dull . the story is inscrutable and viewer-alienating . the special effects are unimpressive and the 3d underused .", "it will sort of satisfy the fans who have been waiting decades for it to appear , though it is doubtful that they will venerate it to the degree that they did with the first one .", "there 's plenty of unintelligible talk about ultra-complicated algorithms in ` legacy . ' but all you have to know about it is a simple equation : `` tron x 2 = bomb squared . ''", "`` tron : legacy '' ? how about `` tron : tedious , '' instead ?", "the only way to see `` tron : legacy '' is in imax 3-d , so the full visual freakiness can engulf you and be appreciated the way you used to light up at the thought of a laser show set to `` dark side of the moon . ''", "-lsb- t -rsb- otally superfluous and eminently forgettable ... -lsb- it -rsb- will make a bloody fortune , not because it embodies any qualities deserving of such , but out of compelling nostalgia and , well , not much else .", "on the plus side , in the new tron , the war machines no longer look like giant floating staples . but the action scenes are the usual hyper-edited splatter .", "the screenplay is a mess , but visually it 's a perfect film . the soundtrack by daft punk is one of the best scores to come along in a long time .", "carries the legacy of the original - it 's deadly dull , self-important and besotted with its own computer graphics . . flashier effects but no dramatic sense or sense of drama .", "it 's god versus lucifer in a virtual world .", "it must have taken a lot of computers to pull this thing off ; too bad the movie talks like one of them .", "who are we kidding ? you 're going for the glowing surfaces ; as a christmas bauble , disney 's $ 200 million production does n't disappoint .", "perhaps this is an old-fashioned notion , but if you 're going to see a movie that admittedly features lots of digital bells and whistles as its major draw , should n't you still be able to tell what 's going on ?", "when you mix the striking visuals with the heavy sound effects and booming score from daft punk , you 're provided with a reason to go to the cinema .", "when the movie works , characters and visuals and sound come together , sync up and create an unbelievable , almost magical cinematic rhythm unlike anything you 've ever experienced before .", "a techno-fueled visual effects extravaganza , MOV is not quite the sequel i imagined .", "for all of the hundreds of animators who spent over a year painstakingly assembling each pixel in the computer-generated world , not one person was employed who could write a competent screenplay that harnessed their efforts .", "references are made to tolstoy , dostoyevsky and jules verne , although the film 's unbelievably lame dialogue -lrb- `` biodigital jazz , man '' -rrb- is by former `` lost '' scribes adam horowitz and edward kitsis .", "for a movie showcasing flashy action , the pacing is pokey , weighed down by dull flashbacks and clich\u00e9d discussions about embracing the `` digital frontier , '' blah , blah , blah .", "this is a film for gamers , bikers and other teenage boys at heart .", "it should be a simple , straightforward story , but whatever tron : legacy tries to say just becomes all the more garbled each time someone opens their mouth .", "was it really necessary to wait 28 years for a sequel that was n't worth attempting in the first place ?", "a coffee-table book consisting of full-color screen grabs from ` tron : legacy ' would be stunning . but experiencing these images in motion over 125 minutes is more endurance test than revelation ...", "... the story 's filled with cardboard outlines of characters plodding their way through a series of chase and action scenes that do n't add up to anything resembling an original idea", "it 's still a soulless machine for making disney mountains of cash , of course , but you can feel it striving to be more . which is , at the end of the game , what singularity is all about .", "labeling this film a `` disappointment '' really only makes sense if you were expecting it to be good in the first place .", "appropriately , the sequel suffers from almost the same problems as the original : while it 's visually dazzling , thematically intriguing and fronted by the single coolest man in the universe , it 's also empty , derivative and rather directionless", "the only two things keeping me awake were the cool score by daft punk and michael sheen 's over-the-top performance as the villainous zuse .", "the movie has plenty of action , but it is hampered by fits and starts . dead spots , where characters simply stand around and spew expository dialogue , abound .", "intricate visual world eventually falls prey to the truth of a clich\u00e9 : familiarity breeds contempt", "for all of its buggy storytelling , `` tron : legacy '' plugs into your cerebral cortex and makes it sizzle .", "while it was n't everything i was hoping it was going to be , `` tron : legacy '' ended up being a fascinating visual experience .", "is it really a legacy when barely anyone remembers the first movie , and most of those who do remember it do not do so fondly ?", "aside from conceptually unimaginative , the film is also derivative ... and curiously humorless", "it 's a legacy of `` tron '' that its sequel has to be as slow and dense , as humorless and emotionally sterile as its original .", "for all its visual snap , there 's no crackle to the story or pop to the characters .", "creates an amazing world but does n't populate it with anyone or anything for us to care about .", "implementing a color scheme of black on different shades of dark gray with bright neon highlights of blue or red ... the movie is a drab and depressing thing to look at .", "tron : legacy shows off a world where everything is eye candy , and absolutely nothing is brain candy .", "who cares what it has to say when it looks this good ?", "the stunts are more spectacular , but what 's more important for a popcorn movie is that a son searching for his father inside a computer game adds a little emotional currency that ups the ante a bit from the first film .", "basically a fanboy 's dream , honoring what 's worth honoring about the original while adding as much as the premise will bear ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "even the startling appearance ... of a camp , cane-wielding , white-haired-and-suited michael sheen ... fails to make it worth your while to hang out ... in this digital world .", "stars jeff bridges and garrett hedlund play second or third fiddle to the glitz , so place your movie ticket bet on vibrant reds and blues that reach out of the screen to be the main attraction here . it 's all in the eye candy .", "even the action scenes did n't have any thrill to them -- this movie does n't involve you at all .", "suffers from ... lot of pompous talk about `` creating a digital frontier that will reshape the human condition '' .", "as hard as i tried to enjoy tron : legacy i kept wondering how much longer i would be trapped in the computer world on screen .", "legacy 's upgrade only amplifies the lameness of the original minus its time-capsule likeability .", "even more enmeshed than its predecessor with questions of human-computer interaction and philosophical conundrums ... but these questions become so dense and filled with shorthand mumbo-jumbo that they cease to capture the imagination by the third reel .", "the effects are above average while the plot is a mess . if glitter is enough for you , well have at it !", "it 's all such a rapturous , body-encompassing sensory experience that the sheer pointlessness of the story ... is rather easy to ignore .", "the stunt work and action sequences in this tron sequel are some of the best of the year . it 's just too bad the story is n't on the same level with the action .", "there are flourishes of brilliance , particularly in score , costumes and set design . however , this brilliance is often buried beneath messy , disjointed action sequences and a story that fails to make any sense at all .", "the story is silly . but like the first tron , this sequel also pushes the frontiers of what 's possible . the movie delivers enough of a wow factor to pull in viewers .", "an embarrassing and unhappy compromise between the bland , lacklustre characterisation of the phantom menace and the achingly naff would-be cool of the matrix sequels .", "it is often beautiful to look at , and could come to represent the fashion tropes of its era as faithfully as its predecessor did . and the silliness somehow adds to the enjoyment rather than detracting from it . it 's the best kind of bonkers .", "fans of the original wo n't be disappointed .", "... an entertaining film that tries to make up for its lack of substance with some pretty impressive action set pieces .", "inertia never looked so good .", "a clockwork orange as imagined by a commodore64 .", "the initial entry into the cyber world and the high-speed race are highlights of the film . unfortunately , there 's also a story .", "if you can get past its absurd premise , this return of jeff bridges to the inner computer world of light-cycles and deadly neon frisbees is an eye-candyriffic holiday treat , with a killer soundtrack and 3-d visuals worthy of the huge screen .", "joseph kosinski is so happy playing with expensive computers that he neglects to give this movie a heart larger than a peach pit .", "after a whole year of movies that squandered the potential of 3d , `` tron : legacy '' actually uses it to its fullest .", "the sequel 's filmmakers have n't managed to solve the problem that blighted the original - namely once we get our characters on the grid , then what ?", "where the original tron at least had the virtue of being way ahead of the curve , this late-noughties light show , though certainly offering plenty of eye candy , feels caught between the weight of history and the potentiality of its future franchise .", "the sheer size of the thing works against it : the effects are absolutely spectacular , but they blow the goofy-cheesy quotient straight through the roof .", "even the name seems crass , as if some disney marketing exec figured that all the studio had to do was slap `` legacy '' at the end of the old title and the thing would be good to go .", "`` tron : legacy '' may be nice place to visit , but you would n't want to live there .", "joseph kosinski 's would-be franchise restarter is , if nothing else , aesthetically striking .", "after a leisurely real-world prologue and a big first-act gladiatorial sequence , the movie comes to a crashing halt -- and never really gets going again prior to the stumbling , muddled climax .", "tron : legacy is spectacular and ridiculous , much like its spectacular and ridiculous predecessor , tron -lrb- 1982 -rrb- .", "even though it makes very little sense , it just looks kind of amazing . and it 's fun .", "an epic ride .", "tron : legacy is shallow but beautiful , thrilling but unsatisfying .", "best enjoyed in its full 3 :d treatment grandeur and without the cynical gaze of old age .", "idioms are peppered throughout ... never congealing into anything beyond the vague hope that the attempt to tell a story full of mystical import will overcome the many faults made in the telling", "the tron dude abides .", "legacy is sort of a one-trick pony . after you get past the neon-glow costumes , whizzing frisbee weapons and cyberspace backdrop , there really is n't much to get excited about .", "a minor guilty pleasure for me because the film really has very little to offer outside of shallow pleasures .", "the flaws are there , if you choose to look for them , but why on earth would you want to ?", "watching tron : legacy is like witnessing a thermonuclear explosion from inside the mushroom cloud-white hot , dazzlingly intense and indescribably overpowering-pop art unlike any you 've ever seen before .", "tron : legacy may be the best movie i 've ever seen that possesses a truly awful script .", "anyone wondering about a justification for an update of an incoherent story of yesteryear need look no farther than the smashing visual and action creativity .", "a simple sci-fi thrill ride , in terms of action , visuals , and unpretentious fun .", "technically spectacular , visually and aurally - best viewed in imax 3-d .", "given the movie 's graphic pizzazz , the best hippie wisdom bridges might offer the viewer is : turn off your mind , relax , and float downstream .", "go and see this film on the big screen . end of line .", "if you choose to see tron : legacy , leave your brain at home , and be ready to watch what boils down to a great dramatic daft punk music video .", "tron : legacy could get away with a script as stupid as the one it has if the movie crackled , if any of the actors popped or if any of the action scenes felt truly next level or groundbreaking .", "what unfolds is your typical chase-and-rescue scenario , all just colour and movement , but with a rock-out score by daft punk and a genuinely bright patch in the high-camp form of castor -lrb- michael sheen -rrb- .", "a showcase of the most astonishing computer - graphics ' work hollywood can muster ... all wrapped round one of the most lunk-headed scripts that was ever parped out of an ink-jet .", "with a million times more computing power at its disposal than its 1982 predecessor , tron : legacy still looks like disco night at the jai alai fronton .", "while it 's something to see and hear , i just wish ` tron : legacy ' had the script to accompany all of the spectacle . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "there 's nothing to like .", "i was 11 when tron came out , and i was in the theater with my eyes glued to the screen and jaw on the floor . this film brought me back to that fascination and wonder .", "there are two great potholes all sequels face and must avoid if they have any hope of succeeding . tron : legacy does n't stumble into them so much as jump head first without a parachute .", "radical , man . all action and escapist fun , 20 years after its sire , the glorious-looking , totally enjoyable MOV represents a new height in digital cinema and pure entertainment right down to its amazing daft punk score .", "buoyed by its story , sometimes convoluted but hard to resist , ` legacy ' is a worthy sequel , both in its fantastic look and its admirable sense of wonder .", "most viewers will be wanting their quarters back .", "on a 10-point meter comprised of visuals and story where ideally each would consume five points equally , `` tron : legacy '' tips the scale in the tech department with eight while only leaving two for humanity .", "disney 's rebooting of their 1982 computer-world adventure is a shimmering , supremely exciting piece of ultra-modern high-end hollywood entertainment .", "this is a film though that must be seen in a 3d cinema to be appreciated , with genuinely mind blowing visual effects , music and sound that immerse the audience in the grid and whisk you away on a digitally delightful journey .", "with the derivative story and direction , the whizzy effects are its only calling card", "sleek but not so sophisticated , tron : legacy arrives pre-programmed to deliver the visual goods without ever replicating genuine human emotions .", "an entertaining jaunt into the digital dimension , with jeff bridges , jeff bridges 2.0 , olivia wilde , and michael sheen 's mad-hatter-at-studio-54 .", "kosinski was probably so excited about getting the opportunity to attach his name to something he enjoyed as a kid , he forgot that the original film is infantile , a show-off for early cgi , and that trying to take infantilism seriously is a major mistake .", "a film that awes and bores in frustratingly equal measure . visually and musically , it 's a triumph . dramatically , it needs some re-wiring .", "... a franchise built around the fetishistic obsession with cyber culture now preaches its evils .", "full review at movies for the masses", "like the original movie , `` tron : legacy '' was made to push the boundaries of technology in cinema . it succeeds . the film is a special effects spectacle to behold .", "a hyper-slick sequel to the heady 1982 man-versus-machine action-adventure , MOV represents a souped-up chassis built around an engine that does n't start .", "como passatempo regado a nostalgia , at\u00e9 que cumpre bem seu objetivo .", "like the first tron movie there 's a sense of cutting edge special effect techniques on display , but , once it has established its premise , tron : legacy , like its predecessor , does n't really know where to go and takes a long time getting there ." ], "summary": "MOV boasts dazzling visuals , but its human characters and story get lost amidst its state-of-the-art production design .", "id": "770785471" }, { "movie": "enron_the_smartest_guys_in_the_room", "reviews": [ "americans love a good villain , and in enron chairman kenneth lay , former ceo jeffrey skilling and cfo andrew fastow , the movie provides a perfect storm of scoundrels .", "it 's a story of jaw-dropping chutzpah , grim , mostly hindsight-based humor and more stomach-churning drama than you could find in 10 screenplays .", "enron quickly settles down , cogently laying out how ken lay and other hot-dogging big shots sank the seventh-largest corporation in america .", "you might expect this film to be mildly informative ; coming out you 'll feel you 've seen the horror movie of the year .", "an entertaining look at an extremely easy target .", "the movie does more than entertain and enlighten you . at the end , you also realize you 've been watching a classic american tale , one that we can only hope will never be repeated -- though it well might be .", "exploring the darker side of human behavior is compelling and entertaining , leaving in its wake an acute sense of moral outrage .", "... almost continuously entertaining and frequently funny ...", "intriguing and infuriating : a civics and ethics lesson for every american citizen .", "with all its inherent drama , enron : the smartest guys in the room seems ripe for feature film treatment .", "boils it down and tells the story in clear terms , but make no mistake : it 's still a complex issue .", "the mordant documentary enron : the smartest guys in the room cleverly deconstructs the men who reminded us of the dark side of the american dream .", "enron ... is a film of tragic proportions ; it sheds light on the venal humanity that led to more than a giant corporate fall - a human tragedy .", "powerful on many levels at once , enron could n't be more necessary as we wade into the muck of a second bush term .", "an expose on how greed , pride , and self-preservation instincts goad ambitious people to the outer capacities of deception and immoral behavior .", "the emperor has no energy", "fascinante do in\u044ccio ao fim , exp\u0448e o caso enron e todas as suas complexas implica\u0443\u0448es de maneira did\u0440tica e bem-humorada , funcionando , ainda , como um fant\u0440stico estudo sobre a natureza humana .", "goes a long way to explain exactly why enron imploded", "a fun and demoralizing roller-coaster ride that will whet appetites for the lay and skilling debut in court as the most nervous guys in the room .", "this essential documentary skillfully maps out the shady `` mark to market '' accounting device that the men who called themselves `` the smartest guys in the room '' used to commit corporate fraud on a colossal scale .", "both thorough and supremely entertaining .", "it 's a chilling , completely fascinating documentary that reveals the face of unregulated greed in a way that 's every bit as terrifying as lon chaney 's unmasking in the phantom of the opera . maybe more so , because everything here is true .", "allow yourself the pleasure of being thoroughly entertained while being equally outraged by this movie .", "will likely make you mad as hell .", "a thorough , insightful , easy-to-grasp and subtly enraging documentary on the subject .", "go see enron : the smartest guys in the room and learn how to get righteously angry again .", "gibney 's research is impressive , as is his ability to clarify a complex bit of shady business into something -lrb- semi -rrb- comprehensible to those who do n't know a day trader from a daytripper .", "no matter what your politics , enron : the smartest guys in the room will make you mad .", "my audience grumbled , hissed , clapped , and booed . ... it defies you not to become emotionally involved ; by the end you feel as drained as an enron janitor 's 401 -lrb- k -rrb- .", "-lsb- a -rsb- fiercely intelligent , terrifying and absurdly funny documentary .", "could lead viewers to head to the marxist websites as a metaphoric hot shower .", "... put together in a way that covers every single part of the episode in an unbiased , no holds barred , totally professional fashion ...", "less corporate noir than capitalist disaster film .", "in spite of the excessive tv feel , a great collection of information about a history-making bust and upper crust arrogance on an olympian scale .", "the picture it paints is scarier than anything offered by any of hollywood 's recycled gore-fests .", "this is a brilliantly executed , brutally entertaining dissection of what one observer called the greatest corporate fraud in american history .", "should be essential viewing .", "an engrossing parable about power , greed , arrogance , and ethical malfeasance on a grand scale .", "the smartest guys in the room lays bare , in funny and shocking video clips , the culture of arrogance at enron .", "light on new evidence but impressively comprehensive in scope .", "funny , frightening gut-puncher .", "compelling , if somewhat belabored .", "gibney has been able to get his hands on the right materials , and he assembles the right talking heads to string the story together .", "as compelling a refresher course as one could hope for .", "there will be lots of seething at the sight of it all , but there are enough good laughs to make the experience more than worthwhile .", "it puts the whole mess in focus and will likely have you stomping about afterward in righteous indignation at the crimes perpetrated on us -- particularly californians -- by the corporate swindlers at enron .", "working in a slick , high-gloss style , director alex gibney presents the lurid enron essentials in a film that will have you shaking your head in disbelief and dismay .", "go see it before you buy another stock you do n't understand . go see it before you bank your retirement on the company pension fund . go see it before you vote in another election .", "a surprisingly entertaining look at the sucking black hole of corporate morality in america .", "alex gibney 's documentary is a concise examination of the enron affair that 's poised between straight journalism and outright satire . when it 's over you will be so mad you ca n't see straight .", "even beyond its failure as absorbing film or clarification , lies the waste of a wonderful tale just begging to be told ...", "by turns amazing , amusing and appalling .", "gibney 's documentary is ultimately not about business and numbers but about morality ; how a group of people , blinded by money , lost their souls .", "it 's a true story , one that lays bare the folly , maniacal selfishness and sheer chutzpah that resulted in the bankruptcy of america 's seventh-largest corporation and the ruining of thousands of lives .", "a primer on corporate malfeasance for dummies , clarifying the statistical thicket through illustration and mindful of deep throat 's advice during watergate to always follow the money .", "it 's not an indictment , so much . it 's more like a mirror .", "at times comes off as a bit too smart itself , almost smug in its often jokey post-mortem of the company 's excesses , but on the whole it acquits itself remarkably well .", "the movie helps the average american understand the nature of the shell games perpetuated by enron and how ` synergistic corruptions ' can corrupt absolutely .", "alex gibney 's film , based on the book by bethany mclean and peter elkind , feels rushed , slight and ultimately inconclusive .", "go . see . ponder this american phenomenon and how we can ensure it never happens again .", "the great strength of the film is its conclusion that this is not a story about numbers ; it is a story about people .", "does n't require an interest in business affairs to be captivating . it unfolds like a wall st. disaster movie with two eminently hissable villains presiding over the catastrophe .", "even news junkies and former enron employees might be startled by some of the corporate revelations that fill the screen .", "the case gibney lays out - of how arrogance , machismo and reckless capitalism drove a company to the top and back down - is compelling , aggravating and fascinating to watch .", "... the film succeeds most clearly by emphasizing the human resonance in such a story .", "decodes the enron scandal , ties it in with california energy crisis .", "if you 're already cynical about the ability of grassroots democracy to survive in our era of turbo-capitalism , this film will only fuel your doubts .", "room does a thorough -lrb- and entertaining -rrb- job of detailing enron 's arrogant , darwinian corporate style .", "martha stewart is a scout leader and role model in the company of the ravenous ghouls who ran this corporation into a swamp of deceit .", "besides its essential historical importance , the film is filled with telling , chilling , gripping details .", "gibney leaves us with a sense that the whole thing is like organized crime . no , wait : these enron guys were even worse than the mafia .", "so important it should be grouped together with movies like fahrenheit 9/11 and control room .", "the most fascinating business story i have ever seen on film .", "enron : the smartest guys in the room is not only a great cautionary tale , it 's a civics lesson that should be seen by every concerned citizen .", "warning : this is not a film for liberals with high blood pressure .", "taking an approach that owes more to errol morris than michael moore , alex gibney 's film delivers a polished & well-researched look at america 's largest corporate bankruptcy .", "this sober , informative chronicle of the biggest business scandal of the decade is almost indecently entertaining .", "this cinematic scrutiny of runaway corporate greed reveals the nightmarish rapaciousness of those who engineered the fraud .", "alex gibney 's riveting documentary is a rape story , with the public trust as the victim .", "gibney , however , is no michael moore -- he knows the difference between hard facts and circumstantial evidence , constructing very different arguments with each .", "amid the infoglut that surrounds us , gibney 's film feels too much like more noise .", "as real-life stories go , this is as riveting -- and as revealing about the dark side of american business -- as they come .", "without presenting the human effects on a personal level , it 's too much of an instructional tool -- more a comprehensive overview than a felt exploration .", "while smartest guys sometimes veers into c-span2 : the movie territory , just then another shocking tidbit will drop to keep the fires stoked .", "this thorough and thoroughly depressing account of the biggest corporate bankruptcy in history , and the rip-off that accompanied it , is so infuriating and dispiriting that your blood will boil , if not properly watered down .", "enron swindlers gave phantom companies such names as ` jedi ' and ` death star ' ; clearly , hubris of darth vaderesque proportions was at work here .", "more fun that being `` shredded '' by arther andersen !", "as one of the many talking heads says , the story of enron ` is not just a story of numbers . it 's a human story and a human tragedy . '", "the pity of a movie like this one is that the people most in need of seeing it are the very people who wo n't .", "entertaining but biased , epitomizing the truism that history is not made by those who do the acts , but by those who write the story .", "a meticulously researched and ably handled chronicle of one of the largest corporate scandals in american history .", "it 's sobering to realize that the mechanics of their monetary lives ' destruction makes for invigorating entertainment .", "it 's a gripping , frequently infuriating story of greed , hubris and ` creative ' accounting that unfolds as a tragedy laced with scathing black comedy .", "the story is fascinating , infuriating and even laugh-out-loud funny at times .", "-lsb- gibney -rsb- tells a complex story well , explaining how one once-obscure company ended up committing ` the corporate crime of the century . '", "a thoroughly fascinating -- and horrifying -- documentary about the giant corporate house of cards that came crashing down on the heads of all the little people while the big guys cashed out for mega-millions , smirking all the way .", "before the financial fact findings become mind-numbing , -lsb- director -rsb- gibney keeps the images flowing , even tossing in some t & a for good measure .", "alex gibney 's documentary based on the book is pretty much straight-ahead journalism", "condenses years of information into one neat , well-told package", "the documentary can not be called muckraking , as the muck has already been well-raked , but gibney 's recounting has a touch of playful sadism that i quite enjoyed .", "while muckraking documentary filmmaker alex gibney 's ripping , fast-paced documentary does n't illuminate every shadowy corner of the enron labyrinth -lrb- how could it ? -rrb- , it does give an entertaining overview .", "lex luthor would have been right at home in enron .", "... a couple of nietzschean supermen who as , respectively , chairman of the board and chief executive officer ... may have run the biggest ponzi scheme in history .", "... it leaves viewers with a clearer understanding of the issues involved in a story too complicated to sum up in a tv newscast .", "alex gibney takes a notorious tale of corporate greed and plays it as greek tragedy , texas-style .", "... capitalism in the hands of `` greed is good '' gordon gekko wanna-bes could potentially bring down our nation .", "at the end of it all , the audience feels exhilarated and outraged , and you bet we 're concerned that it could happen again .", "ok , i admit it . i did n't get the whole enron thing a few years back .", "this documentary is the most skillful , exhaustive and appealing film so far this century about corporate corruption .", "deft , entertaining and infuriating documentary about one of the most egregious cases of corporate corruption in american history .", "probing documentary about the unethical enron corporation .", "digs deeper into the corporate fraud at the top of enron , and the company 's close ties to the white house ." ], "summary": "a concise , entertaining documentary about the spectacular failure of enron .", "id": "24" }, { "movie": "99_homes", "reviews": [ "... perfectly watchable drama that benefits substantially from the stellar efforts of its two stars .", "ramin bahrani continues on his successful journey as a purveyor of excellent and challenging films for the thinking audience .", "it 's a fast-moving and angry vehicle , and shannon is so much nasty fun to watch that it never lost my attention .", "99 MOV brings an unbearable subject , excruciatingly close ; bahrani makes you feel powerless to the machinations of the greedy , perhaps that 's the point .", "well-constructed , courageous and savvy .", "bahrani 's dismantling of the american dream -- a dream deferred -- has finally reached its finest conclusion with the director 's finely wrought -lrb- and seriously fraught -rrb- 99 MOV .", "yes , there are probably more complex and nuanced ways of tackling this topic , but it 's hugely important that a mainstream drama on this subject exists .", "as it is , bahrani has still created an urgent work , the burning anger of which will viscerally connect with many viewers , who will recognize themselves or people they know up on the screen .", "a searing , compassionate film set in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis , 99 MOV is one of the finest films about contemporary american life .", "... it 's a solid and well-made drama that avoids its genre 's typical tear-jerking traps and hints at awards-season potential .", "rick 's logic -- take what you can , when you can -- is visible everywhere ... such visual details do n't so much move the story as they present a dense moral context .", "michael shannon and andrew garfield make for an incendiary combo , as a predatory realtor and his desperate prot\u00e9g\u00e9 .", "i wish i could say 99 MOV delivers a shockingly good sucker punch to the american electorate and a stand-up-and-cheer piece of socially conscious filmmaking , but it 's not .", "director ramin bahrani 's ability to reflect the plight of ordinary working americans when faced with economic issues beyond their control is at the elegant core of 99 MOV .", "bahrani 's film asks a timely , yet timeless , question : how far would you go to save your home ? would you be wiling to lose yourself in the bargain ?", "this is a film of palpable anger , a finger on the pulse of modern america crafted by a team of rare ability to awaken outrage .", "a horror story of today 's economy , of america 's heartless culture in which maximizing profit is all . michael shannon brings his usual terrifying intensity .", "absorbing , entertaining drama with an on-target message ...", "a gripping dramatic thriller about the winners and losers in america 's game of mortgage roulette .", "`` inside job '' could almost be an alternative title for this gripping and timely drama , which makes none of the family 's choices look easy .", "99 MOV is a movie about how we live now , a thriller for grown-ups about everyday life and the social pecking order . not for the faint of heart , mind you .", "garfield and shannon are both great , though , and laura dern contributes a fine supporting turn as garfield 's mother . but they can only do so much with that third act .", "99 MOV combines the insight of documentary filmmaking with a thriller 's urgency , opening our eyes to a complex , real-life tragedy while keeping it entertaining .", "bahrani nails the predicament in which so many working-class folks now find themselves . although they cling to the american dream , for many of them it has become a nightmare .", "while bahrani and his co-writers approach the subject matter with all the noisy subtlety of a bar brawl , the film rises above mere polemics thanks to charged performances from andrew garfield and especially michael shannon .", "shannon renders this all with an enviable ease . if only the filmmakers had been so adroit .", "as was the case with so many houses sold before 2008 , 99 MOV presents well , but you soon start to notice the structural defects .", "this is a mean movie , with excuses and appeals to decency left to evaporate in the relentless florida sun .", "director ramin bahrani 's powerful drama puts a human face on the fallout from the 2008 economic meltdown .", "with great performances and a surprisingly brisk pace , bahrani 's thoroughly researched film -- part drama , part expose -- drips with a sense of nowness .", "shannon is brilliant as the real estate mephistopheles in miserabalist drama .", "in a nation where we still harp about welfare queens while fannie may and freddie mac get bailed out despite their incompetence , we need films like 99 MOV that remind us who we should really be rooting against .", "bahrani 's latest film , `` 99 MOV , '' an examination of the crisis in bank foreclosures and repossessed MOV in the guise of a thriller , is his best yet , largely because of a dynamite performance by co-star michael shannon ...", "99 MOV is a broad take on a specific kind of soulless opportunism .", "go ahead and give michael shannon the oscar . he 's created a gordon gekko for our times .", "... a compassionate film and an honest one , proving that all involved are still at the top of their games .", "the domineering carver is one of those feverishly intense roles that -lsb- michael -rsb- shannon seems genetically engineered to play .", "bahrani does an excellent job of taking the conflict and running with it - though simple issues in choices and approach prevent 99 MOV from being great .", "it 's still an easy recommendation , with director and co-writer ramin bahrani delivering a provocative , visceral , sometimes heartbreakingly relevant drama/thriller .", "ramin bahrani -lrb- `` goodbye solo '' -rrb- has an extraordinary gift for making intimate dramas that do more than exemplify complex and murky issues ; they illuminate them .", "-lsb- garfield -rsb- the protege is the film 's first weak point : his avowed decency - he loves his simple mom and moppety son ! - is a flimsy thing , and its quick collapse leaves our hero both pathetic and despicable .", "a simplistic but stirring morality play centered on the pressure point of the savings-and-loan crisis .", "99 MOV is exceptional storytelling until the final act .", "it 's a fascinating modern morality tale from a smart filmmaker with a clear take on the subject .", "... a sharp and topical critique of everything from the mortgage industry to the court system , and the struggle for middle-class folks to get a fair shake as their american dream turns into a nightmare .", "say this for 99 MOV : it contains arguably the most truthful snatch of dialogue to be found in any movie released so far in 2015 .", "dramatically it 's a deck as stacked as the one that unscrupulous bankers and realtors dealt to the borrowers who lost everything .", "this harrowing morality play is timely and riveting , but never remotely subtle . the setting is the mortgage crisis , during which savvy fast-talkers figured out how to make a fortune on the back of other people 's tragedy .", "the best of `` 99 MOV '' stays with you , as it illustrates a principle one housing-bubble journalist put this way : when the bubble burst , owing money was treated as a worse crime than stealing it .", "a solid movie with two terrific lead performances . -lrb- full content review - sex , violence , profanity , etc. - for parents available -rrb-", "99 MOV proves that -lsb- ramin bahrani -rsb- can make thrillingly urgent mainstream entertainment without turning his back on the harsh realities of life on the breadline .", "where many well-meaning social dramas inevitably turn soggy with moralizing , the visceral 99 MOV keeps its fire .", "can a good person succeed by playing by their rules ? i actually hope he ca n't . i would really lose hope if cheating was the answer .", "bahrani -lrb- and co-writer amir naderi -rrb- want the audience to go to the dark side with them without losing their faith in the system . to anyone who has watched this crisis unfold over the last decade , it will feel like a cheat .", "`` 99 MOV '' is by no means a perfect film , but it can achieve something more precious , and rarer than glossy perfection : it can take you by the shoulders and shake the apathy and complacency away .", "99 MOV pulses with energy from the very beginning . bahrani is always keeping his camera moving , timed to an unsettling electronic-driven score . it is his most confidently made film .", "grabs you from the first frame and does n't let go until the credits roll . shanoon and garfield are electric .", "a sort of morality play ... intense , heartbreaking ... michael shannon is magnetic .", "99 MOV is both a peerless entertainment and a cri di coeur against a financial system that preyed on the weakest americans .", "the movie works as a twinned character study , a moral suspense thriller , and an indictment of an america stacked against its working classes .", "bahrani directs 99 MOV with outrage and a sense of urgency .", "director ramin bahrani , who wrote the script with amir naderi and bahareh azimi , spent significant time researching the housing crisis , including witnessing actual evictions , and the episodes he has re-created feel powerfully realistic .", "at its best , `` 99 MOV '' finds bahrani tightening the screws on his own style , going for speed , concision and an agitating rhythm where his previous films took their time . i hope he 'll go on to make movies combining the vital aspects of all his work .", "it 's increasingly morally sticky , and shannon , without having to yell , makes rick intense and fascinating .", "all in all , a highly entertaining and provocative movie .", "-lsb- p -rsb- unchy , persuasive combination of fierce polemic and widescreen genre filmmaking", "much of at any price and 99 MOV play like bad arthur miller .", "... a story of one man 's redemption as he slowly loses his integrity and is forced to face that fact and gain it back .", "`` 99 MOV '' ca n't live up to it 's early promise ... but it 's still worth seeing for shannon and garfield , two of the best actors on the market today .", "the film itself ends up feeling more like a soap opera than anything else , but that should n't take away from the performances .", "`` do n't get emotional about real estate , '' warns carver , but that 's exactly what we do as bahrani and his cast crank up the tension in gut-wrenching fashion .", "ordinary people are n't dumb , bahrani suggests , but the majority are under-educated . if we 're serious about survival , we need to wise up .", "the credit crunch fuels another fascinating drama , this time starring andrew garfield as a victim who becomes a real-estate predator .", "acclaimed indie filmmaker ramin bahrani , who regularly and bravely focuses on heartbreaking trials of life while keeping his stories rooted in humanity , turns in some of his finest work here .", "empathetic & socially-conscious , effectively exposing real-estate corruption ...", "the film eventually drifts away from the more interesting , complicated , and difficult story of survival and individual choices , towards moralistic judgments on the honesty of the work . still , `` 99 MOV '' is one of the scariest films you 'll see all year .", "the screenplay -lrb- by bahrani and fellow film-maker amir naderi -rrb- subverts the tropes of the typical self-help story . it portrays a society in which the only opportunities for success are provided by the failures of others .", "99 MOV is the fifth and most sensational feature by ramin bahrani 's , a slam-bang morality play in the wall street mode set closer to home .", "if `` 99 MOV '' is a scolding look at a society gone astray , it is also a minor masterpiece of suspense ...", "... must this message come via such a bland delivery ?", "shannon steals it , but this is a film with something vital to say .", "a relatively small , tough-minded drama about pitiless people doing unprincipled things , proves to be one of the most interesting , elegantly crafted and -- paradoxically , given the dark subject matter -- elating films to come along in recent memory .", "99 MOV sticks the knife into society 's total disregard for the poor and twists , showing the extreme extents it takes to escape the spiral of poverty .", "a gripping and often thrilling account of life in the jaws of america 's sub-prime mortgage crisis .", "not so much entertaining as it is enraging , 99 MOV gets in your face with the injustices suffered by countless hardworking people in the global financial crisis .", "in these days when hollywood typically dulls our wits , ramin bahrani 's 99 MOV has a fire in its belly . it 's spoiling to be heard .", "99 MOV builds to a predictable but smashingly effective climax . bahrani makes you understand how this poisonous financial ecosystem thrives .", "`` 99 MOV '' is a ferocious excavation of the meaning of home , the desperation attached to real estate , the pride of ownership and the stability of belonging . the pace never lets up .", "99 MOV is strongest when it captures the anger and desperation of those affected by the recent collapse of the housing market , but the narrative engine is far less propulsive .", "a bravura performance by shannon , who can use calm as a weapon in the same way he uses volume .", "99 MOV is an american drama about house repossession . bummer , you might think , but here is what you do n't yet know : films about house repossessions can be electrifying . or at least this one is .", "writer-director ramin bahrani has an ear for how everyday people react when their world is ripped out from under them .", "like being shouted at by a man with bad breath while he grips your collar with both hands ...", "while its righteous rage is bracing , fans of the filmmaker bahrani used to be will mourn the subtlety and careful character development of his early triumphs .", "shannon as actor and carver as charismatic scoundrel are winners , and neither needs a government bailout to possess every minute of 99 MOV .", "electrifying , provocative and profoundly moving . andrew garfield and michael shannon give oscar-caliber performances .", "bahrani 's best film yet , maybe because he finally found a way to combine what he did so well with his earlier movies with real actors .", "some plot developments are more convincing than others , but it 's still a compelling drama with an impressive turn from garfield as well as shannon and dern as garfield 's concerned mother .", "ramin bahrani 's talent for orchestrating sequences of tightly wound tension is in full bloom here , as is his complementary knack for quieter grace notes .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he film feels far too cut-and-dried , right down to mike 's booming speech about america -lrb- which was made , in case you 're wondering , by and for the winners -rrb- .", "at first , ramin bahrani 's drama feels like it might be slightly preachy , but it soon turns into a gripping drama that succeeds partially thanks to the amazing work from garfield and shannon .", "ensemble work is excellent across the board , with those cast as the various evictees contributing a particularly vivid gallery of one-scene performances , ranging in tone from white-hot fury to silent desolation .", "bahrani shows what happens when it becomes more profitable to yoink away the american dream than it is to encourage people to buy into it . shannon shows us the toll that that yoinking etches in the face , the mind , the soul .", "gets how the system thrives on the screwed-over reinventing themselves as the ones doing the screwing - how we 're so trained for winning that when we lose we seek to take revenge by becoming winners and creating more losers .", "-lsb- packs -rsb- a powerful emotional wallop , making it a truly effective parable for our times .", "bubbling over with anger at the ever-increasing wealth divide , it 's searing , sensational stuff .", "what makes this so thrilling as drama is n't simply the fact of dennis 's corruption but the speed with which it happens .", "99 MOV is an exciting and emotionally grandstanding drama about temptation , shame , humiliation and greed ." ], "summary": "fueled by powerful acting and a taut , patiently constructed narrative , 99 MOV is a modern economic parable whose righteous fury is matched by its intelligence and compassion .", "id": "771387514" }, { "movie": "yes_man", "reviews": [ "MOV is slight and only mildly entertaining , but it could be just the thing to set carrey back on the right path .", "MOV proves utterly formulaic .", "it 's a formula picture all the way , but carrey and the supporting cast sure make it seem better than that .", "a film for our time , in the frank capra tradition .", "MOV is a typical carrey vehicle -lrb- schematically , it 's a lot like liar liar -rrb- , but it 's better than most of them due to a top-notch supporting cast .", "it 's a fairly appealing romantic-comedy ending , mind you , and it 's in keeping with the rest of the film : i enjoyed it , but i did n't buy it for a second .", "the comedy , to the extent there is any , consists mainly of carrey 's verbal asides and strained reactions to people . the script gives him very little to work with .", "an especially lame comedy with a premise so threadbare that it might have been deemed unsuitable for a rob schneider direct-to-video vehicle and an execution so tired and listless that it almost makes you yearn for the likes of `` ace ventura ii ''", "this pg-13 rated film is perfectly appropriate for any 13-year-old who has served time in an adult prison .", "with MOV , carrey has bled the well dry , doing everything he knows how to do , over and over again , just to prove that he still knows how to do it .", "given the gloom of this season 's holiday releases it is positively cheering just to see a character turn his frown upside down .", "if you 're thinking ` yuck , ' you 're right .", "much like the self-help guru it enables , it exists solely to get your money like a good little follower and then ask you to ignore the doubt that comes with having plunked down exorbitant theater prices for a barely average comedy .", "MOV is a pleasant , albeit minor , surprise that actually harkens back to carrey 's glory days with a solid , satisfying comedy that aims to please and mostly hits its mark .", "allows carrey to deliver his best comedic performance since the truman show and , like that film , satisfyingly falls halfway between the juvenile antics of his earlier movies and the ponderous range-stretching of fare like the majestic .", "yes , you should see this film because it was great to see carrey back in his physical humor form and it brings some great laughs to the table .", "perhaps MOV 's writers got confused by the film 's tag line , ` yes is the new no . ' in honor of that convoluted axiom , here 's my one-word review . should you go see MOV ? : yes .", "watching carrey get goofy again is entertaining ...", "there are flat performances in the film , false situations and bad lines , but the laughs are there and the message about personal transformation is timeless .", "if you own the superior liar liar , you might as well stay home and watch it again . when hollywood ca n't be both-ered to come up with new ideas , we have every right to just say no .", "MOV is fine as far as carrey comedies go , but it 's even better as a love story that just happens to make you laugh .", "deschanel and carrey have surprising chemistry . she can match him shtick for shtick , while carrey draws from his serious actor skills to add warmth to the romance part of the story .", "in a comedy era ennobled by the crackling wit of vince vaughn , steve carell and tina fey , MOV comes across as innocent , quaint , pitiable , as one-note as borscht belt humor and not committed enough to support great slapstick .", "so ironically , taking the movie 's message to heart and living your life actually means skipping a time waster like this one .", "director peyton reed keeps the movie handsome , but there 's little of the style he brought to the overlooked down with love or even the dire-but-distinctive the break-up .", "despite some brief vulgarity , this carrey comedy has charm and -- surprise ! -- a worthwhile message .", "deschanel and carrey make for indifferent romantic partners . both are pleasant enough , but no one 's going to look at the two together and think , what a great couple they make .", "the combination of the familiar scenario and his broadly comic style seems stale .", "a movie about taking risks should not be this safe .", "... when -lsb- carrey 's -rsb- on , orchestrating a fall like rube goldberg , taping up his face or hyper-monologuing his way through a soliloquy on red bull , he 's a comic treat .", "what saves the movie , other than the occasional good laugh , is the charming work done by carrey 's co-star zooey deschanel .", "MOV is a nice movie about the benefits and limits of approaching life with an upbeat attitude , but a comedy that was actually hilarious would 've had the same effect -- and been a lot more entertaining .", "the flimsiest comedic premise of carrey 's career", "director peyton reed is n't sure what to make of the premise : is this a therapeutic uplifter or an excuse to make carrey mug while popping wheelies on expensive motorcycles ?", "parental content review", "making a hilarious jab at the self-help masses and their worked-up gurus , this latest jim carrey vehicle affords him delicious comedic opportunities as a newly recruited adherent to a kind of `` positivism for dummies '' movement . worshippers of carrey 's timi", "yes ! we can take everything that is intriguingly dark and almost sinister about crying-on-the-inside clown jim carrey and make it light ! and upbeat ! and unambiguous !", "a frolicsome spiritual comedy about a loser whose life is turned around when he opens himself up to a new world of possibilities by saying yes to what presents itself .", "`` MOV '' is enjoyable because carrey , after making his fateful decision , instills such childlike exuberance in his character , whether it is learning to pilot a plane , play the guitar or speak korean .", "when a girl who makes ` life happen ' meets a guy who needs to 'em brace the possible ' -- well , the result ought to be harder to swallow than this generally agreeable romantic comedy .", "MOV starts out wobbly but ends up quite nicely , primarily because carrey has a wonderful acting partner in zooey deschanel , the singer-actress with the saucer eyes and unpredictable , behind-the-beat comic timing .", "it 's banal and inane ; jim carrey needs better projects .", "it has more chuckles than guffaws , maybe because carrey has always been a comic actor who says yes yes yes . literalizing that impulse only robs it of surprise .", "carrey 's gusto helps to squeeze some pleasure out of the familiarity of it all , but the film hardly satisfies that special need to be slapped around by a comedy .", "no comedy classic , but it packs enough laughs into 104 minutes to justify the price of admission -lrb- or at least a matinee ticket -rrb-", "a high-concept comedy that you can practically set your watch to . it 's pleasant enough , yes , but it 's also exceedingly predictable and the screenplay forces conflict upon the plot at the sacrifice of the characters ' iqs .", "MOV rediscovers jim carrey 's comic mojo ... but it wo n't be enough to restore him as king of film comedy .", "there 's a thoughtful story here struggling to bloom , and the movie stamps it down at every opportunity . even jim carrey 's classic manic energy , usually so welcome , is oppressive .", "jim carrey works the premise for all it 's worth , but it does n't allow him to bust loose and fly .", "is MOV an entertaining jim carrey vehicle ? no sirree .", "numbingly predictable and not as filled with action as the misleading poster suggests .", "it 's charming enough with some nice comedy touches , but the initially intriguing premise is soon railroaded out of sight by its desire to conform to a tried-and-tested cinematic formula .", "sporadically funny , mostly amusing and harmless .", "peyton reed peca por jamais conseguir definir o tom que pretende empregar .", "jim carrey 's career has succumbed to painfully mediocre comedies and genre missteps for so long that `` MOV '' barely registers even as you 're watching it .", "the most even-keeled , pleasant and mainstream movie jim carrey has made in many a moon .", "i found myself having a few pleasant chuckles but still frustrated at the movie for not bothering with telling a story that has n't already been told a million times before .", "a film that has little plot until the last act , yet carrey rises above it to bring it to an acceptable level .", "... a pleasant surprise : a romantic comedy that is cute , amiable , and winning without being excessively tedious , saccharine , or gross .", "we wo n't be awarding points for originality , but sometimes the familiar can be just fine", "it 's a cynical attempt , ultimately , to make obnoxious people palatable by throwing them into a tub of romantic comedy .", "it 's nice to see a high-concept comedy with such a generous concept .", "it 's a lazy comedy that relies on crudity and on other easy , cheap humor and jokes rather than trying to do something that 's actually clever .", "it 's obvious carrey still has the juice ; he just needs someone to give him the right squeeze .", "MOV puts him back in the same old quandary and , once again , carrey lacks an identity . alas , this time , he also lacks a script .", "the movie itself is a comedic anachronism , out of step with this post-judd apatow world .", "some of it is funny . much of it is n't . the committee-written plot seems tired and recycled .", "jim carrey 's new comedy is enjoyable enough for what it is , a clever idea developed by fits and starts .", "it 's an often engaging romance shot through with sweetness , a movie that hangs on a handful of simple , magical scenes .", "is MOV worth the trouble , then ? not to belabor the point , but yes .", "if ever a movie mistook a premise for a plot , it 's this one . some films suffer from a surfeit of one-liners . this picture evaporates midway through because the story itself is a one-liner .", "with a premise far more promising than anything offered up onscreen , and a star treading water where once he tore **** up , MOV is a comedy in theory only .", "great concept , but no one has any idea what to do with it once they 've gotten there .", "though it 's a star vehicle , carrey seems only marginally interested in rehashing the role of sweet spaz , and so he almost feels miscast .", "the film nicely hints at the interconnection of all things and the way the messages we send out to the universe -- whether yes or no -- reverberate and return to us .", "has its entertaining moments to make you giggle , but part of me feels a little sorry for carrey", "the gimmick creates sets for jim carrey to be crazy . he 's still at it , finding new ways to contort his body and twist his face . that 's really the difference that makes any generic gimmick more entertaining than someone else 's .", "the real question could well be why does jim carrey say yes to these stupid films that do nothing to showcase his considerable talent . the main problem with MOV is not the basic concept , but the fact that the story is not grounded in reality", "there is the potential for kooky chemistry -- deschanel with her spacey line readings and perpetually dilated pupils , carrey with his demented energy -- but something does n't click .", "not far from that of liar liar , one of mr. carrey 's biggest hits of the mid - '90s ... that film was a philosophical tour de force compared with this one .", "a retread of much funnier films , `` MOV '' is another in a long string of comedies whose better scenes have come from better movies ...", "that stink emanating from the vicinity of MOV is desperation .", "the saving grace that it 's actually watchable and funny at times does n't make its premise any less ridiculous or its execution less formulaic , it just means it 's not a complete waste of time", "nothing more than warmed-over holiday seconds , a repackaged best-of for those who already own the hits .", "like most of carrey 's work , the new comedy is high-concept , with a workable premiseand underdeveloped script that 's not very funny , but surrounded by grave and grim pictures this season , it may appeal to audiences in its inspirational message .", "though not always successful , the movie does prove that carrey could evolve into a believable romantic interest , but only if he finally abandons the rubber-faced shenanigans for good .", "genial but slim .", "jim carrey 's back in the zone with this agreeable concept comedy .", "reed takes on a fun , but not exactly brilliant screenplay and turns in a comedy funny enough to while away a couple of pleasant hours this holiday season .", "jim carrey is still a very funny man but this movie is like deja vu all over again .", "terence stamp 's cantankerous self-help guru is a movie high point , a subtly comic performance of contrasts between what is practised and preached . and if the film 's not always funny , it certainly works as romance .", "a diverting vehicle that buzzes along with some real effervescence , though it 's a shame carrey 's not reaching higher .", "t 's easy to wish that jim carrey had declined the chance to appear in this film that celebrates saying `` yes '' to life 's possibilities .", "may not deliver the huge laughs one may expect , but there are a fair amount of chuckles and a whole lot of surprisingly effective sweetness .", "the central theme of this rather over-egged comedy is strong enough to keep us interested . although the film itself is far too corny", "carrey does not give his normal idiotically over-the-top performance . buttressed by a good performance by deschanel , this is yet another current film that pleasantly surprised me .", "carrey does n't always attract comic material as smart as he is . MOV comes close . but no cigar .", "no , man .", "remains firmly in the doldrums , taking its audience along with it", "too bad MOV is directed by peyton reed , a tone-deaf , buzz-kill comedy specialist . you 've never seen carrey flail like he does under reed 's incompetence .", "a sad spectacle ... nothing more than a series of labored sketches in which carrey flails about trying to recapture the zaniness of his early years .", "it 's pleasant to watch something a little less intellectually taxing between all the would-be oscar contenders . MOV is that movie -- undemanding , light , and enjoyable on its own terms .", "a much better romance than comedy as the chemistry between carrey and deschanel makes carl and allison look like they 're really cut out for each other .", "it 's these little moments of avoiding clich\u00e9 that made me forgive MOV its occasional forays into the obvious .", "... another chance for jim carrey to unleash his inner anarchist - and i was surprised to realize how much i 've missed the guy .", "could jim carrey be playing the one loan officer who sent our economy into ruin . or is the flick just bad ?", "MOV is a terrific feelgood comedy , with jim carrey in brilliant form .", "this dreadful comedy starts from a rotten premise and goes downhill with a series of unfunny sketches , crass product placements and roles that degrade those who have ill-advisedly taken them .", "MOV is not the edgy hit it so longs to be . when you look into the eyes of stamp and the rest , what you see is embarrassed amusement . they said yes - to a big fat paycheque - and laughed all the way to the bank .", "MOV founders on a weak script and the rock of carrey 's alarmingly subdued shtick . what has happened to the man who used to combine the verbal surrealism of james joyce with the body movements of st vitus ?", "it 's a bland , high-concept comedy where the producers seem to have entered the spirit of the thing by saying yes to every random idea the writers came up with .", "put bluntly , do n't be afraid to say ` no ' to MOV .", "it 's that rare thing - an example of hollywood getting hold of a good idea , working on it ... and not screwing it up .", "sort of ho-hum stuff , but nice to see a cameo from rhys darby , from tv 's flight of the conchords .", "do n't expect much more out of this film than what you have seen in liar , liar .", "likeable comedy that 's enlivened by a strong premise , a handful of laugh-out-loud moments and a superb supporting cast .", "-lsb- the -rsb- writers ... pay lip service to the dark side of ` yes , ' but do n't do enough to explore what could have made the film more than a bouncy entertainment . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... jim carrey 's most entertaining comedy since 1997 's liar liar ...", "i have to admit that it was pretty funny a lot of the time .", "as much as i try to convince myself i 'm tired of jim carrey , darn it , he almost always amuses me .", "as self-help comedy , the movie is no more overdetermined than its own highbrow counterpart , happy-go-lucky .", "it 's a decent enough time-killer for carrey fans and those after something light and non-taxing after a heavy christmas day feast .", "MOV is proof that reverse psychology works ; no , it 's not worth seeing because , no , it 's not that funny .", "the benefits of grounding comedy in reality are never-ending , and MOV takes advantage of most of them . peyton reed is officially one of my favorite comic directors .", "a ready-made christmas-time crowd-pleaser that pretty much plays it safe , even in its cruder moments , and will be in circulation on cable soon enough .", "mr. carrey 's performance is a return to the rubber-faced roles that dominated multiplexes in the mid - to late '90s , and that 's not necessarily a good thing .", "another dog of a comedy , lame even in comparison to what carrey 's done in the past , and its tiresome premise does n't do much to help the matter .", "is jim carrey , in his first full-blown comedy in three years , still funny ? ... yes .", "i wo n't say yes to MOV or no . the best it gets is a definite maybe .", "the film is full of goofy , joyful moments , anchored by the sweet chemistry between carrey and deschanel as well as a life-affirming message that everyone could use these days .", "i ca n't blame anyone for saying no to MOV or at least waiting until it makes its way to your local video store .", "-lsb- it -rsb- wo n't change your life , and may occasionally make you wince , but for those who want to go to the movies to escape ... it does the trick .", "it 's not shakespeare , but MOV is a very funny movie and provides one of the best escapes in theaters right now .", "carrey comedy breaks no new ground but draws ample laughs .", "it 's a small , nice return to form by jim carrey .", "the first time i saw MOV , i thought the concept was getting kind of stale toward the end . as it turns out , that was only the trailer .", "is MOV a riot ? yes , and no . zooey does n't have much to do except the laugh track thing to carrey 's antics . and on a positive note , carrey gets to make out with three women and also moon the audience biker style , if that 's your thing .", "there 's also satisfaction in more of the same , and that 's exactly what carrey dishes out in this return to form .", "contrived and silly to say the least .", "i think this movie needs to be skipped .", "falls squarely into the category of seen-carrey-do-this-before , and it 's surprising how few laughs there are on his character 's path to self-improvement .", "either you 're in the mood for some mid-nineties jim carrey comfort food that 's high on sugar and low on content , or you 're not . it 's as simple as that .", "much of the time we are watching a middle-aged man hoping to recapture the glory of his youth . MOV is carrey 's cinematic substitute for a little red sports car .", "i had to give this movie two ratings . one of the scenes is simply briliant . the rest % u2026isn ` t.", "there is nothing new or ambitious about MOV . it is intended to be a textbook jim carrey silly comedy , and honestly , that 's just fine by me .", "is MOV worth seeing ? yes ... but feel free to wait for the dvd .", "MOV is more forgettable than awful , not the hit that it should have been but far from the most unbearable gift hollywood has handed out in this lackluster holiday season .", "` MOV ' serves as a showcase for jim carrey 's comedy skills . it 's designed strictly for laughs -- and there are plenty of them here ." ], "summary": "jim carrey 's comic convulsions are the only bright spots in this otherwise dim and predictable comedy .", "id": "770682011" }, { "movie": "blow", "reviews": [ "initially buoyant and flavorful , pic grows less distinctive as jung 's rise-and-fall saga hits the downhill slope .", "a mature , emotionally resounding film that could have easily been released in december and garnered several oscar nominations .", "the movie plays it real safe , as the only users the audience sees are the flashy hollywood types that no one cares about .", "what makes the film eminently compelling is depp 's superlative lead performance .", "tthe movie is higher on style than it is on substance , but one of its strong suits is that it never stoops so low as to lecture us . it throttles by with irresponsible abandon .", "an engrossing , tautly structured portrait of life in the cocaine trenches of 20 or more years ago .", "a rather banal portrait of an insipid guy who got rich selling nose candy and lived to regret it .", "a mediocre biopic .", "grabs hold of you by the lapels and simply wo n't let go .", "many of us would be satisfied to watch him watch paint dry . but his george is merely adequate , falling between verit\u00e9 and the knowing parody that drove his ed wood and hunter s. thompson .", "depp aside , the acting is almost uniformly atrocious -- although it 's hard to make hay out of this dialogue .", "MOV is enjoyable , thought provoking and sometimes heartbreaking , but like its touted product , it leaves you wanting more .", "it 's one of the few major releases so far this year that is worth a grown-up 's time .", "neither a tragedy nor a morality play , but rather a jaunty , candy-colored romp through a quarter century or so of american pop music , pop fashion and popular illegal substances .", "depp works hard but we never get a clear view of george jung , other than that of an aged boy .", "`` MOV certainly does n't MOV . ''", "shoots itself in the foot with one wrongheaded turn .", "a film has to try much harder to get me to pity who 's wallowing in a bed of his own making .", "depp lends a touch of class to this inherently stale stuff by playing jung with his trademarked understatement .", "pen\u00e9lope cruz usually mesmerizes , but here she 's playing such a one-dimensional shrew that her beauty and charm count for little .", "irresponsible , glossed up , romanticized .", "aspirations are well and good , but only if you 've got the talent to back them up .", "while it 's tough to buy jung as such a nice guy when he runs with hardcore , murdering drug traffickers , johnny depp proves to be one heck of a salesman .", "depp , an actor of terrific intelligence , insight and range , easily transforms himself from peppy youngster to sad , shambling failure .", "the problem with MOV is not so much that a film was made about a drug dealer as that once that opening section 's energy has dissipated , no one could find a way to make the proceedings of even minimal interest .", "MOV is funny , immediately and consistently engaging and -- save for its shallow conceptions and shallower portrayals of the female characters -- well done on almost every level .", "even depp can only get so much from a character defined by his smile , long hair and addiction to drugs .", "watching the film 's third act is like flipping channels between the brilliant frontline special on the drug trade -- which featured extensive interviews with jung himself -- and an episode of miami vice .", "the glossy look of MOV ca n't cover the rot at its core .", "-lsb- demme 's -rsb- film not only cumulatively builds an enormous emotional power , it comes together to be considerably more than the sum of its parts .", "a collision of death of a salesman with scarface .", "while too animated to ever be boring , winds up feeling embarrassingly banal .", "MOV is all surface , from its hippie and disco-era costumes to its wigs and makeup , right down to its star 's bogus hardscrabble new england accent .", "MOV takes great pains not to make any moral judgments about jung 's choices in life , but it does make the very great mistake of asking us , in the end , to feel sorry for him .", "depp , as usual , gives a subtle , textured performance , and the supporting cast is good , especially rachel griffiths and ray liotta as jung 's parents .", "what works best in `` MOV '' is how well the cast embodies the characters , and how elaborately the plot uses them .", "often wryly , ironically funny as well as achingly tragic .", "the last half of the movie blew .", "jung is portrayed very sympathetically in the story , maybe to a fault .", "MOV has a **** opening followed by 90 minutes of * 1/2 ... MOV limps to its end , in a long slump after a quick rush , a bit , i guess , like cocaine .", "an aspiring epic that is much like george jung himself , who admits in a voice-over narration near the end that his aspirations were greater than his talent .", "we 've just been to this party before and we know how it ends , again and again and again .", "depp is good , albeit a bit prosaic ; however liota commands .", "well-made and entertaining , exhibiting none of the depressing , reverential passivity that often mars biopics .", "the movie boasts an uncommon level of intelligence to go along with the fine craftsmanship .", "a watchable mediocrity at best , too unimaginative to find resonance anywhere in a huge and destructive cultural phenomenon , and too sloppy to care .", "i think johnny depp is one of the best actors out there , and he continues to deliver in this film .", "although it is an easy movie to enjoy , it is n't especially challenging or insightful .", "a cool and clever pastiche of scarface mingled with goodfellas , wrapped in the polyester playfulness of that '70s show . whether this description serves as a beacon or a warning is up to you .", "consistently entertaining .", "there are laugh-out-loud interludes , and some of depp 's stunned reaction shots are priceless .", "even when the film fails to get deep into george 's psyche , it does a fine job delineating his circumstances and his slow , steady fall .", "like the idea of different actors putting on a production of a classic play , MOV succeeds where it needs to .", "in spite of familiarity , MOV ends up making an impression that lasts .", "overall , MOV just blows .", "a worthy companion to traffic , which is n't all it 's cracked up to be , either .", "the production comes off as little more than a variation of a well-worn theme .", "johnny depp gives a spellbindingly naturalistic performance that puts a sympathetic face on a powerfully individualistic man unable to shake a world of crime that brought him immense riches and eventually cost him everything he caredabout .", "uneven drug trade story has explicit drug use .", "comes off like a flamboyant cartoon , another film about the deglamorization of glamorous people living it up in the glamorous world of drugs .", "does the movie make us care ? not really , which is the movie 's basic problem .", "johnny depp stars and , despite some pretty awful makeup , nails his performance as george jung .", "MOV is n't really a classic , but it 's a sobering story well-told .", "tiene una edici\u00f3n maravillosa , la fotograf\u00eda es notable y la direcci\u00f3n bien lograda .", "rambling and confused , the film shows much concern for plot and not enough for characterization , particularly in second half which unfolds as a catalog of events . misdirected , the usually reliable depp gives a confused and scattered performance .", "the panorama is funneled through the experience of an increasingly dull character .", "wo n't MOV you away , but it 's a highly watchable morality tale .", "demme 's movie brilliantly captures the exhilaration of george 's life .", "in its way , this sometimes hilarious , sometimes deeply moving film has more to say about the influence of drugs on american society than the self-important traffic .", "individual parts are great , but drug tale fails to connect .", "MOV is not only moving , it moves .", "the kinetic energy built into the story is explosive enough to keep us high and hooked on a feeling .", "very little about this druggy drama works as intended .", "with a stylishly retro look -lrb- bad hair and all -rrb- , director ted demme forgoes traffic 's seriousness for a good time .", "there 's a been there , done that quality to this picture for anyone who saw the far nervier , more flamboyant scarface -- not to mention the far grittier , urgent traffic .", "ambitious but repetitive .", "despite opening very strong , after the film 's first third , this biographical drama fades badly in the 80 minutes or so that follow and ends with one of hollywood 's oldest cliches .", "the climax is a paean to the cheesy melodrama .", "a surprisingly flat and pedestrian treatment of a potentially intriguing story .", "it feels endless , and ultimately it becomes less an adventure story and instead a whiny melodrama .", "the picture we get of jung and his world seems incomplete and painfully dishonestly biased .", "kudos to ted demme for taking the material and turning into an entertaining and touching vehicle .", "it 's got all the great music and silly clothes you 'd expect from a period film like this .", "n\u0103o posso negar que profiss\u0103o de risco \u00e9 bem-sucedido : seu protagonista desperta simpatia . isso \u00e9 motivo de orgulho ? duvido muito .", "the first two-thirds of the film fuse together the high-impact operatics of director brian depalma 's `` scarface '' and the in-your-face style of `` goodfellas '' ...", "while `` MOV '' certainly has its moments of greatness , it tries too hard to sell us a product we would have bought had they not pushed it too hard .", "there will certainly be worse films in theaters this year ... but there will be none so tedious as MOV .", "... so kicky and exuberant , you 'll find yourself ignoring how fundamentally botched it is . it 's a mess , but a glorious mess .", "the biggest problem with MOV is that jung is such a complete moron .", "con un argumento inteligente y buenas actuaciones , es uno de esos filmes altamente recomendables que nadie debe dejar de ver .", "i was wondering how i would feel about -lsb- jung -rsb- at the end of the movie . my answer was this : i felt indifferent .", "the story here is intriguing , but there is something hinted at in between the plot that really struck me .", "all i have to say is , poor georgie .", "take away the drugs , and this is the story of a boring life in wholesale .", "it certainly may be true that MOV does n't break new cinematic ground , but we 've never seen johnny depp take on a role quite like this before . that alone is worth the price of admission .", "a flat , rather uninvolving cautionary tale that manages to take a pretty compelling true story and turn it into standard-issue television fare .", "an indelible portrait of one decent man 's blown life .", "as a flaming hairstylist/drug middleman , reubens is the most entertaining thing here .", "languishes nondescriptly in a vast powdery wasteland , somewhere between boogie nights and scarface .", "for the most part a very well-produced hbo movie .", "uninvolving .", "interesting , is n't it , that we wind up feeling sorry for a guy that caused so much havoc in the u.s. ?", "this chilling , disturbing , coke-drenched caper gets under your skin in its assertion that there 's simply no way to stop the importation of drugs into this country .", "makes you wonder , just a little , what it was about MOV that made it a ` go ' project .", "the acting is brilliant .", "the performances of cruz , paul reubens , and , particularly , ray liotta and rachel griffiths , as jung 's working-class parents , are pure camp .", "too hasty , too scattered and superficial , and , in the end , disappointingly sappy and sentimental .", "catchy and efficient entertainment , occasionally gripping in its detail .", "depp 's performance alone is well worth the ticket price .", "smart , sexy , funny and dangerous , this high-wire act is a movie and a half .", "in a movie about the socially derived rather than criminal creation of appetite and hunger , it is the raw , open wound of jung 's life that serves up revelations .", "... a sanctimonious and doughy look at a man who in the end just is n't very interesting .", "depp brilliantly inhabits his character .", "depp does an amazing job of portraying such a complex man .", "the movie never delivers the highs promised by its ad campaign .", "an extraordinary -- and unfathomable -- piece of whitewashing .", "MOV ca n't sustain the high .", "a dizzyingly seductive criminal whirlpool of money and drugs that sucks the audience in .", "has a dusty , encyclopedic feel to it .", "the ending is a heartbreaker , pure and simple .", "MOV is strong in characters , acting , and its ability to provoke thought .", "quite impressive in size , scope and delivery .", "MOV fades a bit in its second half , weighed down by a need to closely follow jung 's life . but even then , the actors are so compelling that it 's just a mild discomfort .", "well made and engaging ." ], "summary": "with elements that seem borrowed from movies like goodfellas and boogie nights , MOV is pretty much been-there-done-that despite another excellent performance from johnny depp . it , also , becomes too sentimental at the end .", "id": "12923" }, { "movie": "hellboy_2_the_golden_army", "reviews": [ "hellboy has been compared to a '40s noir detective , and that 's just about right . with his self-devised code of honor , bruised chivalry and slug-first-ask-questions-later style , he 's philip marlowe with horns .", "for all its eye-popping , middle earth-meets-mos eisley majesty -- its mix of heironymus bosch , jules verne and george lucas -- hellboy ii is a letdown .", "if the premise is n't exactly air-tight and the pacing is uneven , the visual panache and central character work helps to make up for some of its deficiencies .", "one of the most purely enjoyable -- not to mention dazzling -- comic book blockbusters to come along this summer .", "the wonders are , if not endless , then abundant . and in a movie landscape where `` effects '' too often supersedes `` special , '' wonders are worth savoring .", "as he has done in all his movies , from creature features such as mimic to serious dramas such as pan 's labyrinth , del toro creates unforgettable images , filled with color , texture , lyricism and horror .", "hellboy 2 breezes along on the strength of perlman 's brawling charisma , a likeable tone , and a deft combination of goofball humor , pathos , and big action setpieces .", "if the film is just as strange and endearing as its glowing protagonist -- and it is -- that 's because the director and co-writer is guillermo del toro , 43 , who has the wildest imagination and grandest ambitions of anybody in modern movies .", "hellboy ii takes the fantastic make-up artistry , creature creation , and set design that we grew fond of in pan 's labyrinth and combines all of these elements with mindblowing cgi and stunning choreography", "i can barely keep up with the mythology put forth by the hellboy series , but i enjoyed the first film , and i enjoyed the new one .", "a dark fantasy/horror tale , it 's chaotic yet spectacular .", "we 've come to expect a lot in recent years in terms of storytelling with batman begins and its ilk , and hellboy ii still feels like a relic from four years ago that has n't evolved with the rest of the field .", "without question , del toro 's a visionary who lets his imagination run wild .", "awkward as the plotting is , the movie is too stubbornly weird , too deeply in love with freakishness , to be waved off .", "brimming with confidence and new ideas , writer/director guillermo del toro has made hellboy ii a different kind of film -- itself a satisfying development .", "... an improved sequel over the original film , able to build upon the foundation of the first feature and finally put hellboy in real mortal danger ...", "the disappointing storyline is geektacular nonsense .", "the visuals of hellboy ii : the golden army are a triumph of imagination , but the story is more of a failure .", "very good stuff .", "` golden army ' is the work of a master filmmaker operating with unbridled invention", "guillermo del toro makes this sequel fully his own , firmly planting it in his unbridled imagination .", "gains big points for its dazzling visuals and for significantly ramping up the fantasy-tinged screen fighting .", "hellboy 2 is a movie that 's a tingling boost to the senses : and that sense of humour is such a stimulus to the other five .", "with hellboy ii , the comic-book blockbuster has finally grown up - without giving up the fairy-tale wonders of our youth .", "moderately enjoyable , occasionally wonderful , and often overblown .", "all the same , this is n't a patch on the phantsamagoric splendour of pan 's labyrinth , over-egging every set-piece and outstaying its welcome by at least half an hour .", "the film shows a certain wit and a refined eclecticism : a director who in a few seconds combines mozart 's clarinet concerto , a quotation from tennyson 's in memoriam and two monsters singing beautiful freak deserves watching .", "prepare for some devil worship . hellboy is the hottest , strangest and most fun comic book hero around .", "playful , offbeat and with a decidedly droll sense of humour , hellboy ii 's a richly rewarding superhero film with moments of gleeful comedy that films like get smart can but dream of .", "a devil of a good sequel .", "a baby-step backwards after pan 's labyrinth , but a rung up from the original hellboy : more laid-back , even more out-there . ignore the shaky plot and gorge on the grand design as del toro lets his imagination - and some classic creatures - off the leash .", "second time around , director guillermo del toro scores another direct hit with a monster yarn as keen on the gags as the global destruction .", "as a result , the impression is one of richly ingenious chaos that , despite all the hellfires burning , left me just a little cold .", "simply a bull in a china shop , smashing around aimlessly , desperately hoping we 'll at least be impressed with the horns .", "only intermittently captures the sense of goofy , off-the-wall fun that marked the first film .", "a film of richly complex themes overlaid with a frothy plot , each serving to disarm the audience while holding it rapt .", "fun from start to finish , hellboy tries to bridge the gap between fanboys and their parents . and it succeeds -- in part thanks to barry manilow .", "the line from special effects whiz ray harryhausen to director guillermo del toro has never been so clearly visible ...", "i want to say that ii is pure dumb popcorn fun while you 're watching it and instantly forgettable the moment the credits start to roll , but actually , i was forgetting it while i was still in the process of watching it .", "the summer 's been loaded with superhero movies , some better and some worse than hellboy ii , but none is as exuberantly creative , nor as unconventionally committed to being so many things other than a live-action comic book .", "it 's the path del toro takes to get there that gives the film its propulsive kick : you literally never know what 's coming next , and what does is always better and cooler than you could have imagined .", "it 's del toro telling stories in the language of hollywood . and i miss the language of his dreams .", "cool monsters aside , it 's really the humor and the characters make hellboy 2 into something more than just another summer special effects flick .", "much more than a big-action , small-brain summer movie .", "a quirky , idiosyncratic , harryhausen-inspired , art house creature feature with the poetry and narrative depth characteristic of misunderstood monster classics such as the creature from the black lagoon and the bride of frankenstein .", "hellboy ii , like its 2004 predecessor , has a middling story line , but it 's made memorable by the dark , freaky visions of director guillermo del toro . and this time , his imagination runs wilder than ever .", "a fabulously freaky and fun immersion into a world of skin , hair , teeth and bones that are n't our own . revolving around the ideas of bedtime-story imagination and fatherly obligation , it 's more exciting , elegant and confident than its predecessor .", "hellboy ii feels pretty sequel-y , as these things go , but there 's a lot in it that has no precedent of any kind , anywhere , ever . that stuff makes it worthwhile .", "the second film is more assured , better paced , and has a stronger emotional component .", "hellboy ii has the inclinations of a gas guzzler but the soul of a hybrid , and the two resist each other like partners in a loveless marriage .", "it 's the biggest , richest , most imaginative superhero movie of the summer .", "the inventive del toro creates visual fantasies unlike any other , and the creatures on display here are truly extraordinary . but amid all the costumes , all the action , and all the special effects , it 's the humanity that makes his work so memorable .", "guillermo del toro 's more extravagant , $ 75 million follow-up to his 2004 b-movie does n't take any of this particularly seriously . it 's a monster movie in which the monsters listen to barry manilow .", "hellboy ii : the golden army is not a sequel that soars to new heights , but it does slip into a nice summer-movie comfort zone ...", "del toro seems to use this movie as batting practice for the hobbit .", "by mike martin - from the man who made pan 's labyrinth it 's a disappointment .", "as much tolkien 's baby as mignola 's , this has more heart and humour than most fantasy films can dream of . hellaciously good .", "guillermo del toro 's faberg\u00e9 egg of a fairytale is not so much a sequel as a fusion of the fabulist imagination of ` pan 's labyrinth ' with the witty , irreverent comic-book action of his own ` hellboy ' .", "del toro 's imagination is as fertile as ever but the plot keeps too much in reserve .", "... moves with the virile grace of a prizefighter .", "while the plot lends itself to pretentious blockbuster hysteria , del toro keeps things grounded by focussing on the characters and their sardonic banter", "hellboy 2 is fully satisfying neither as simple summer fun nor as a more thoughtful alternative ; if anything , the two elements clash , cancelling each other out .", "cinema is full of monsters , but few in recent memory have been so capable of eliciting our sympathy and understanding", "visually stunning comic book sequel from the endlessly inventive guillermo del toro amounts to little more than a noisy mess . but it sure looks pretty along the way .", "... is n't much of a story , yet as a vehicle for the monstrosity-minded imagination of writer-director guillermo del toro it offers an endless array of bizarre visual riches .", "eschewing the jerky-camera movements that have dominated this genre recently , del toro 's action sequences are precisely choreographed and executed with an exhilarating momentum and flair .", "the talented fantasy filmmaker and heir to the lord of the rings throne gets the tone right throughout hellboy 2 , and the hip retro charm alone is enough to merit recommendation .", "it 's an entertaining , visually stunning romp busy with fantastic ideas and well-rounded characters ...", "poetic , funny , darkly romantic and beautifully structured .", "this movie is everything hancock wanted to be , but failed to deliver .", "if you did n't know that there 's a troll market underneath the east tower of the brooklyn bridge , you need to brush up on your monstrosities with the help of guillermo del toro 's hugely inventive -- and smashingly beautiful -- hellboy ii : the golden army .", "there 's so much beauty and imagination on display in hellboy ii : the golden army that it 's sometimes hard to tell if you 're watching an action movie or a museum exhibit called ` the artistry of guillermo del toro . '", "unlike many action filmmakers , del toro does n't thrill to the hardware of manmade technology . he prefers the soft , organic textures of flesh , and his trove of imaginary beasties is unmatched in modern fantasy filmmaking .", "combining animatronics , digital effects -- and most important , the director 's fertile imagination -- hellboy ii gives us a taste of the magic del toro is sure to bring to j.r.r. tolkien 's the hobbit .", "a surprise package of fun , fright and untamed imagination .", "hellboy ii : the golden army is huge and filled wall to wall with more imagination than any other film this year .", "hellboy is without a doubt the most compelling and interesting superhero character ever on screen .", "thank goodness , then , for guillermo del toro , who puts the comic back into comic book with his hugely entertaining hellboy sequel .", "army fulfills every sci-fi fantasy around , but watching hellboy find his purpose , contemplate his newly complicated future , or recall his past is where the real awe of the premise is found , not by dancing the `` monster mash '' until your eyes bleed .", "while the production design , creatures and many visuals benefit greatly from del toro 's unabashed imagination being allowed to run free , the script is even more enslaved to the mechanically cobbled together conventions of everyday summer blockbusters .", "hellboy ii is still very entertaining , even if it is simultaneously a little lackluster , and fans of the original are sure to like it . it probably wo n't hold up well on repeat viewings though .", "in the end i found myself pulling for the bad guy -- because at least he was interesting .", "style over substance , no doubt , but when you 've got this much style who cares ?", "easily the most enjoyable of recent comic-book movies .", "it would n't be classic del toro without the razzle-dazzle . the golden army provide that as they finally rise up , but even in the culminating moments of battle , it is del toro 's feel for human grace that shines through .", "an unfulfilling show", "even with the quirky superhero conflicts , there is n't a line you have not heard or a fight you can not predict .", "behind a truckload of red makeup is ron perlman , whose characterisation of the egocentric protagonist hellboy , or red as he prefers to be called , is once again the highlight of the film .", "this is n't to say that del toro has lost his magic in hellboy ii -- only that the one moment of pure cinematic bliss happens nonviolently , leisurely , without computer effects , when hellboy and abe ... are reduced to a state of beery karaoke singing .", "del toro is his generation 's terry gilliam , an intensely visual director who loves his ideas so much that he 's happy to disappear into them for minutes at a time , forgetting all about such trivial concerns as story , characters and audience .", "hellboy ii is all visuals . with little attempt to organically implement them into the plot , it 's essentially nothing more than one awesome creature after another . and that 's not necessarily a bad thing .", "despite a few standout moments -- particularly hellboy 's drunken rendition of barry manilow 's `` ca n't smile without you '' -- the film is unlikely to beguile those who are n't already fans of the comic .", "i was a fan of the first film about this unlikely hero , a big red guy with horns , a tail and a liking for sweets , kittens and cigars . and the good news is the sequel is even better .", "with hellboy ii : the golden army , we miss the personal touches that gave the original its offbeat charm .", "visually , the material and the immaterial blend seamlessly , and it 's easy to get lost in our admiration for del toro 's gleeful monster mash , which multiplies the cantina scene from star wars exponentially .", "hellboy is enjoyable because , unlike the rest of the heroes in this long summer of the superpowered , he 's not dragged down by character neuroses .", "hellboy ii is one of those films that you want to love .", "fanboys wo n't mind the absence of depth or emotion ; they may even welcome it for making the film more representative of its comic-book origins . the rest of us , however , can not rejoice at the overspending and overkill likely to come in hellboy iii .", "it was made with the kind of heedless , geeky enthusiasm that has been drained out of the standard , somber superhero melodramas that crowd the multiplexes these days . it 's an artful , clever throwaway that may , over time , turn into a valuable collectible .", "a blast of fanboy wit , style , imagination , and prodigious noise that comes on like heavy-bore pop art .", "those disinclined to knock a director for giving fans exactly what they want will be quite satisfied , as will those who enjoyed the first film .", "hellboy ii is a creature feature unlike any you 've seen before . but next time , let 's try a little storytelling , too .", "del toro stuffs the film with wit and wonderments . yet , coming out this superhero summer , it plays like a lovingly crafted synthesis of every fantasy saga we 've seen in the past decade .", "first and foremost , hellboy ii is a riot of creature and set design as well as big action set pieces . yet del toro never reduces the characters to mere action figures .", "-lsb- w -rsb- hile it 's nice of mignola and del toro to create something like this out of whole cloth it 's the eye candy , not the story , that people are going to talk about .", "as he loves liz , life , and tv , hellboy embodies possibility , faith , and imagination .", "when hellboy ii : the golden army gets to its big , titular climax , it 's difficult to care because you can sense that the director does n't really care either . it 's a mere obligation .", "a visually delightful movie packed with plenty of goofy character elements that keep it entertaining .", "del toro 's followup is infused with the creative guru 's unique imaginary world blending the fantastical and frightening , but plays out less like an adventure story on steroids , than a mass murderer 's wet dream .", "the makeup and costumes are great , but for something so otherwise creative , the story is obvious and predictable .", "impressiona pela escala e pela criatividade .", "some the magical images conjured here are absolutely unforgettable .", "over-analyzing this playful mash-up of pop culture kitsch and high fantasy would be a mistake .", "not only are the creatures amazingly conceived , but there 's a lovely sense of humour to it all as del toro references horror movies of the past and even the work of john landis .", "the sets are dazzling , but the characters -lrb- manufactured by computer artists in most cases -rrb- are n't particularly designed to engage .", "at times the creaky dialogue can be cliched , but it ca n't change the fact that hellboy ii is a hoot , aided considerably by star ron perlman 's wisecracks and laconic surliness , and del toro 's imaginative storytelling and intricate faberge-egg visuals .", "the film is designed more as an ear-shattering sensory assault than a conventional narrative .", "a spectacularly vibrant , varied , detailed , freakish , magical , surreal and exciting universe for this sequel to hellboy -lrb- 2004 -rrb-", "hellboy is it 's own world . that is a compliment and also the problem . director guillermo del toro has envisioned a fantastic looking world , but it 's just a vision .", "`` hellboy '' was fun , but `` hellboy ii '' is even better ... where else can one see a blotto red devil beast and humanoid amphibian massacre `` i ca n't smile without you ? ''", "del toro 's previous film , the complex , visually arresting pan 's labyrinth , demonstrated his growth as a filmmaker , and though the themes here are n't as profound , the striking set design and use of nonhuman characters carry over .", "for all its gorgeous freakishness , the movie is even more about love and friendship than the first one was .", "despite its comic-book trappings , hellboy ii , even more so than its predecessor , hellboy , resembles nothing so much as an art film phantasmagoria .", "let 's hope universal stays the course and gives us that opportunity . people as creative as del toro and his gang need all the support we can give them .", "guillermo del toro 's mastery of fantasy film-making and his understanding of the multi-faceted richness of the genre guides this sequel to visually imaginative and intricately detailed heights .", "hellboy ii : the golden army zips from tense showdown to eerie spectacle at particle-accelerator speed .", "the parade of creatures del toro and his team have come up with as this scenario unfolds , starting with a tour of the legendary troll market that one-ups the mos eisley cantina scene in star wars , will make you want to tip your hat in wonder .", "an unmissable sequel with more weird characters than a political party conference fringe meeting .", "as big , mindlessly fantastical summer entertainment goes , this falls comfortably between iron man -lrb- the gold standard -rrb- and the not-quite incredible hulk . it 's a visually striking , mildly amusing way to kill a couple of hours .", "if the first hellboy was about the loss of our fathers and the mystery of where we come from , hellboy ii centers on where we are going , and what we do when the mantle passes .", "this film is happy to coast on its good humor and brilliant action pieces . fair enough , since del toro has taken the poetry of some of his best work and butched it up , creating some of the most amazing-looking creatures and battles of his career .", "there was no way , shape or form that hellboy ii would meet its expectation , but even with all of the anticipation , the film managed to entertain just enough ... in the end , what you 'll get is another fun , yet forgettable summer blockbuster .", "hellboy ii feels like nothing less than the successor to pan 's labyrinth ... dressed in spandex .", "with writer-director del toro given free license to go where his singular vision takes him , hellboy ii plays like guillermo 's greatest hits with even hotter visual effects .", "there 's a precision to the visual ornateness of hellboy ii that exceeds even that of its predecessor .", "i stumbled out of hellboy ii : the golden army feeling as if my imagination had eaten too much ... and yet , hellboy ii has more than a little heart to it ; it 's scrappy and self-aware , and never out of touch with what it is .", "... in a summer of billionaires with robot suits and nerdy scientists with rage issues , somehow the red-skinned demon who drinks beer in the shower is the big screen superhero i can relate to the most .", "all that glitters is not gold ; i would have preferred fewer effects and more hellboy , but overall , fans of this freakish family fathered by the gifted guillermo del toro should be fulfilled by this bigger and badder sequel .", "there are some remarkably beautiful things in hellboy ii ... but suffers , in my opinion , from too much of everything .", "thrilling and touching in equal measure , it 's on the short list of great superhero films .", "a feast for the senses : del toro 's wild imagination is boundless and hellboy ii unfolds as a spectacle of lights , sounds , images and effects , some of which highly original and diabolically amusing .", "hellboy ii : the golden army may not be a masterpiece -- del toro is capable of much more -- but it is whip-smart , pain-stakingly crafted and exuberant .", "... you could say the first film was about hellboy finding his humanity and the new film is about him finding his place in the world .", "on this latest boy meets ghoul : hellboy ii 's look is red hot . but it lingers too long on the fire , its promising sizzle ultimately losing flavor .", "enjoy the golden army for what it is , a big fat piece of eye candy . but for the next hellboy movie could we please have a lot more hellboy ?", "if you 're deeply into the weird , hellboy ii is just like heaven . even if you 're not , it 's not half bad .", "the film 's flaws wither in the light of its brilliant ambitions .", "melds the original hellboy 's kibitzy humor and crushing action with labyrinth 's darkest fairy-tale imaginings .", "hellboy , a sensitive devil with a tough exterior , is an inspired creation but limited as a dramatic protagonist . when you start with a demon hero , you ca n't settle for making his adversary a less complex demon .", "del toro creates great machines , but besides the fluke of the first hellboy , his characters leave me cold .", "hellboy ii : the golden army is one of the coolest-looking movies , if not the most visually impressive one , of the summer .", "the pg-13 hellboy is fun . and it 's unafraid to embrace the schmaltzy .", "not just a vast improvement over its predecessor , but the quality on almost every level is almost night and day with a stronger story and some of the most mind-blowing creature and fx work we 've seen this summer .", "despite a handful of creepy and visionary sequences , this sequel remains limp and unengaging .", "there 's a peculiarity to hellboy 2 that blurs the line between del toro 's hollywood blockbusters and his less conventional spanish-language films .", "the fact that the setup works for a second round can be attributed perlman 's ability to juggle brash enthusiasm with hardened sarcasm .", "combines arresting visuals , rounded characters and plenty of action .", "guillermo del toro 's attention to detail and his love of the genre are readily apparent in hellboy ii : the golden army .", "wonderfully imagined and intricately constructed , it often reflects the sensibility of a steampunk cracked version of `` lord of the rings . ''", "is this fun ? hellboy , yeah !", "surprisingly rich entertainment , even takes on well known series : star wars , lotr , & die hard ; framed squarely within a sub-par opening and weak ending . still , i liked it !", "further proof that franchises ' second films can be better than the first . this one tops the original in a number of ways , not the least of which is its creative inventiveness .", "despite my complaints , this is one gargantuan action film that succeeds in creating an entertaining fantasy universe .", "del toro 's compositions are dense with effects and background creatures , and he clearly sympathizes with the misfits and monsters who are weary of humankind 's greed and ecological destructiveness ; yet the movie is light on its feet and generous of spirit .", "this director has shown us how good he can be , and with a character he adores as much as this one , he should have more to show for it than the mixed bag on display here .", "the most likely response is , with a shrug of the shoulders , ` yeah , that was great ... ca n't wait for dark night . '", "del toro seems to have been given more freedom and more money to create an even more complete universe , packed to the corners with his peculiar , unique ideas and nightmares .", "i wanted to like the movie more ; there 's plenty here for a cinephile to dig . but ultimately it 's underwhelming -- and , with the exception of a couple uncanny images , forgettable .", "has modest charms -- enough to overcome my cg-ennui for at least a few scenes .", "the film itself is lovely , a breathless feast of fantasy anchored by an authentic humanism .", "hellboy 2 is visually perfect and is a sentimental look into the world of hellboy but keeping with the love story of the film it should have been called heavenboy .", "if anyone doubts that film is a visual medium par excellence , this will convince .", "imagine one of the star trek crews transported to tolkien 's middle earth , or buffy and her scooby gang whisked away into the heart of narnia .", "this is the hellboy movie . hellboy 1 was just some thing that was made . it 's the most creative movie of the year . i would call it fred 's labyrinth .", "an imaginative if somewhat messy b-movie , the type for which popcorn is popped .", "go to the movies long enough and you 'll eventually find yourself rooting for a blood red , horned monster-man from hell .", "guillermo del toro 's love for creature features comes through , but his story is uncomfortably rote in this visually dynamic comic book sequel .", "i 'm ready for a third film , only if del toro is on board ...", "` hey , selma blair 's in this movie ! ' said abe sapien . ` yeah , i forgot , too . ' said hellboy . ` not only did i forget she was in this movie , i forgot she even existed , ' said sapien . ` me too ! ' replied hellboy .", "while this sequel to the 2004 feature does n't lack for visual wonders , it 's utterly clumsy in the storytelling department , a genuine shock given del toro 's usual ability to spin a tall tale .", "the golden army 's insultingly simplistic cast of a thousand bosch and star wars creatures distracts from the identity-crisis that ought to be the point of a second installment and a larger vision .", "a virtual overkill of bizarre creatures", "here 's a comic-book movie with a heart , a soul , a brain and a personality of its own -- as personal in its own way as del toro 's pan 's labyrinth .", "like a young spielberg before him , del toro gives off this `` i get to make movies for a living , is n't that awesome ?! '' vibe that 's too often missing on the screen .", "i left the theater nearly delirious from what i had just experienced -- and i ca n't wait to take it all in again .", "by far the most imaginative action movie in ages - a mix of epic fantasy , tender romance , broad comedy and double-barreled excitement that satisfies all your pleasure centers .", "... easily one of the most imaginative films of the summer .", "this is big screen fantasy as a wish fulfillment free for all , a far out fairytale told in the most intricate of celluloid calligraphy .", "del toro has made an astounding bit of eye candy but viewers going in hoping for another emotional masterpiece on the level of `` pan 's labyrinth '' may come away from it slightly disappointed .", "beautiful sights , bold colors , and a rich musical score by danny elfman provide for a really great movie experience .", "hellboy ii is downright goofy . when it 's not being funny , the creatures steal the show .", "in a season of endless comic book superheroes , hellboy ii is a unique visual feast .", "you 've got enough ideas for an entire geek-friendly trilogy in this one crazy movie .", "hellboy ii , like the recent chronicles of narnia sequel , sacrifices story and character on the altar of action , effects and underwhelming creatures .", "this , like the first hellboy , is del toro on holiday in hollywood , having as much fun as he can without totally compromising his considerable powers of invention .", "in the succession of brilliant directors who invent fantasy creatures , del toro now seems poised to inherit the mantle of creature fetishism pioneered by david cronenberg , tim burton and peter jackson .", "trust guillermo del toro to deliver a summer action adventure which is gleefully unpretentious in its desire to entertain while filled with some of the season 's most inventive visual effects and creature designs .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- will delight fans of the original comic-book adaptation , offering up as it does a much bigger spectacle with more wit and an eye-popping gallery of exotic creatures , while leaving non-enthusiasts like me admiring but uninvolved .", "the film 's exuberance , and the sense that it 's all one big gimmick-packed action toy , give hellboy ii : the golden army a refreshing cinematic purity .", "clearly , such material appeals primarily to teenage fanboys , but del toro 's dark humour broadens its scope .", "hellboy ii 's expansive imagination so elevates the material that you find yourself wishing it was put to the service of something greater .", "an essentially unending parade of some of the most visionary images ever to grace a fantasy movie .", "a sleek action picture by guillermo del toro , who 's making a corner for himself in the horror-fantasy world in his native mexico , in hollywood and in spain .", "true to form , hellboy 2 serves up a story that is at once epic and deeply personal , oftentimes highlighting in the same scene how the two parallel themes can coexist .", "it 's not serious enough to be anything more than gee-whiz fun whose gentle touch is more slight than light by the end .", "this time , the freaks carry the film , and you get the distinct feeling that 's the way it was always meant to be .", "inconceivable in any incarnation other than ron perlman whose size , head shape , bluster and irrepressible grumpiness endear him to us .", "hellboy ii is fabulously imaginative , visually sumptuous and dramatically complex ; what 's more , it 's very funny and engaging .", "hellboy ii does n't have much on its mind , but few will care , since del toro and his stellar pan 's labyrinth team , including oscar-winning cinematographer guillermo navarro , stage one virtuoso set piece after another .", "it 's not perfect -- thank satan ! -- but hellboy ii : the golden army is by far the most splendidly imaginative and creatively uncorked piece of fantastic cinema since the director 's pan 's labyrinth netted an oscar trifecta in 2007 .", "-lsb- del toro -rsb- has an endlessly inventive imagination , and understands how legends work , why they entertain us and that they sometimes stand for something . for love , for example .", "words do n't really do justice in attempting to describe the wondrous array of misfits and monsters guillermo del toro has concocted in hellboy ii : the golden army .", "we should be glad that del toro is operating at his peak right now , getting all the money and latitude he needs to weave his spells .", "with director guillermo del toro 's fantastical vision on overdrive tempered by an occasionally self-mocking sense of humor , this hellboy sequel is a quintessential summer movie that delivers plenty of inventive thrills .", "a pleasantly old-fashioned , all-ages diversion .", "clearly , del toro has a deep affection for both his characters and the world of gods and fairy-tale monsters , and it translates into a rich , sophisticated sequel that actually improves on the original .", "will appeal to the freak inside you who refuses to follow orders and is not afraid to let your gentle side out every once in a while .", "director guillermo del toro is a mad genius , and i want to get drunk with him .", "a visual treat in every way , `` hellboy ii '' delivers on all cylinders .", "adolescent pulp fantasia meets sentimental married life in guillermo del toro 's follow-up to his 2004 working-class superhero movie .", "does n't break a whole lot of new ground , but that 's part of what i enjoyed about it . in many ways , it 's a superhero movie for the universal monsters crowd", "in hellboy ii , director guillermo del toro delivers the hollywood filet mignon we 've come to expect wrapped nicely in all the special-effects bacon we 've come to desire but without the heart we 've come to demand .", "hellboy ii : the golden army hits just the right mixture of style , comedy , action , and character development . here 's hoping for a third installment .", "hellboy ii : the golden army stretches beyond the first film in both creepiness and humor , making for kind of an odd mix that manages to work in the end .", "one ca n't help but wonder whether del toro has n't misjudged the balance between comedy and gravity in this sequel .", "the fantasy film can be carried alone by its strong visuals .", "after seeing this superior movie , hancock likely is back in rehab .", "about a half hour into hellboy ii : the golden army , my friend turned to me and asked `` does this movie have a point ? ''", "hellboy ii , though not as keenly conceived or nimbly executed as its predecessor , is still likable entertainment .", "del toro 's imagination cuts loose with a sharp , witty script . hellboy 2 is the fun , fantastic comic book blast that the original film never quite lived up to . i 'll be looking forward to `` hellboy 3 : rise of the little red babies '' in a couple of year", "the action 's pretty pedestrian , and you would n't be blamed if you wished they 'd just get it over with so that we could get back to the glories of hellboy himself .", "to make a comic-book fantasy this derivative yet this dazzling requires more than technique . it takes a director in touch with his inner hellboy .", "other than christopher nolan , is there another director as hot as guillermo del toro ?", "the new story sees some rebellious creatures coming out from their underworld to attack humans . watching hellboy physically sorting them out is terrific fun .", "it 's not that hellboy ii is a particularly bad sequel , but that it tries to do way too much in the time allotted .", "ron perlman -lrb- hellboy -rrb- , selma blair -lrb- liz -rrb- and doug jones -lrb- abe -rrb- all deliver wry performances , and jeffrey tambor is delightfully feeble as the government guy who imagines that he 's their boss .", "hellboy ii might not quite take batman 's crown as 2008 's best comic-book movie , but it 's right up there in the enjoyment stakes .", "the plot is paper thin -lrb- something about an ancient battle between humans and mythical creatures and a goblin-built clockwork -rrb- but guillermo del toro 's talent has always been to create worlds and bring creatures to life .", "despite the sheer force of imagination that 's on display from the first frame to the last , hellboy ii simply feels like an unnecessary vanity project .", "hellboy ii : the golden army has the technical brilliance of a renaissance masterpiece and a brain the size of a pea .", "i 'm just not interested in this film very much . i wish i was . but it 's good to look at ." ], "summary": "guillermo del toro crafts a stellar comic book sequel , boasting visuals that are as imaginative as the characters are endearing .", "id": "770673038" }, { "movie": "lucky_you", "reviews": [ "in between hands , -lsb- bana -rsb- speaks in inspirational poker platitudes that would make a fortune-cookie distributor blush .", "rather tepid going ... the title obviously does n't refer to the viewer .", "the best thing about the film is a sweet , slightly damaged performance by drew barrymore .", "it 's a small film , but a rewarding one .", "hanson and co-writer eric roth 's screenplay is terribly dull and ambling , and does n't have enough energy to sustain itself even as a sub-cultural curio .", "the bellagio 's fountains give a more expressive performance than bana .", "most of MOV , starting with the title , is ordinary or outright awful . moviemakers , it seems , can not bluff their way to success .", "bana is unable to find any signs of life in his character , barrymore has n't looked this adrift in years , and even duvall is reduced to grimacing like snidely whiplash .", "if we do n't care about the characters or what they 're playing for , then we 've no reason to root for them .", "duvall does wonders with his underwritten supporting part , bringing wit to the gaming table .", "with undue emphasis placed on the cards instead of the characters , MOV is holding a losing hand by the time it reaches the river .", "ca n't decide whether it 's a cautionary tale about gambling , a weepy father-son drama or a breezy rom-com .", "gambling and love rarely mix .", "below average , overlong drama that fails to deliver an emotional punch , largely because it 's unsure of whether it wants to be a father-son drama or a romcom .", "MOV is a decent and often engaging character study that deserved more respect from critics and the studio than it received .", "it 's a shame that barrymore 's scenes are such a washout because the rest of the film is perfectly fine .", "... everything about the movie is a little out-of-it , and not just because it 's been lying on the studio shelf for a couple of years .", "it is amazing how safe hanson and company play it .", "the end result is a movie that would have been better off eschewing its comedic aspirations in order to tell a serious story , which hanson and duvall have more than proven they 're capable of .", "an empty shell of a film , devoid of heart and soul , leaving us to wonder how in the world this movie ever got released .", "hanson 's usually sharp dialogue is rather blunted here , and the world of the film seems emotionless and remote .", "an intelligent and confidently pokey throwback to the nonconformist-validating character dramas of the 1970s ...", "while the las vegas hold 'em tables provide the backdrop , this film revolves around human emotions .", "but MOV would be distinctly better if it were shorter in length and clearer about the rules of the game . its idea that gamblers carry on much the same in life as they do at the tables is hardly original enough to sustain the whole film .", "gambling drama never seems to draw the right cards . best to fold ...", "the cuts are obvious , the rhythms sluggish , and the dialogue redundant , as if the movie 's afraid you 've missed it the first time .", "it 's always sad to drag a movie out to die opening against a mega-blockbuster , no matter how bad it really is", "as soon as it has to face the real world , and deal with `` emotions , '' it goes completely slack .", "... a well-intentioned romantic-gambling film that misses the mark by providing little we have n't seen before and better .", "in spite of being pitted against spider-man -- and after sitting for the past two years on warner brothers ' shelf -lrb- never a good sign -- the film is n't the disaster some might expect it to be .", "curtis hanson 's film concerns itself with wage-makers ' addictive pathological itch , desperate hustles and poker 's cult of very strange personalities . its most striking `` tin cup '' kinship : vindication and victory do n't always arrive together .", "do n't bet on barrymore 's lackluster poker rom-com .", "hanson and roth shuffle the two sides of the movie , the poker tournament and the love affair , with a howard hawksian feel for casual professionalism .", "i do n't think i believed the movie MOV , but i sort of enjoyed it . a caveat : i enjoy watching poker on espn . if you do n't , this movie will bore you .", "better to fold 'em than to spend time watching eric bana and drew barrymore go literally nowhere .", "since MOV overdid the poker cliches to death , let me end with one of my favorites : ` you got to know when to hold 'em , know when to fold 'em . ' it seems this film never learned that lesson .", "MOV undoes what rounders did right .", "personally , i think this is one of those misunderstood films that never got a fair shake . dvd often corrects such oversights , and my hope is that MOV will finally find the appreciative audience it deserves .", "MOV is hardly mr. hanson 's strongest effort , but it does contain many of his saving graces : a warm regard for his characters , an unhurried pace for his narrative and a grown-up sense of morality .", "it 's mostly entertaining ... but it 's a little long ... and is far from hanson 's best film .", "it 's just like standing around in vegas watching other people play texas hold 'em .", "they should have opened it opposite the upcoming pirates of the caribbean : at world 's end . that way maybe no one would have seen it .", "a film that probably should have been held a bit longer , if not folded to dvd all together .", "meandering and endearing , curtis hanson 's loosey-goosey las vegas reworking of sam peckinpah 's junior bonner deserved a better deal .", "it 's a ponderous , anemic bore about how to play poker that exploits the trendy gambling fever that is all the rage on the internet and cable tv , but does n't have enough energy to keep the most catatonic tournament-poker addict awake .", "feels like showgirls without the tits or dancing .", "the romance between huck and billie is n't credible ... far better are the scenes between huck and l.c. , and hanson and roth make sure to surround this pair with a wide array of interesting characters .", "... generally has the feel and tone of a low-key character study ...", "... a mildly diverting throwback to star vehicles of the 1930s -lrb- it 's easy to picture the three leads played by clark gable , jean harlow and lionel barrymore -rrb- .", "no way to make poker cinematic .", "a ` realistic ' vegas movie that will set no-one 's soul on fire , but is further proof that hanson can lend his talents to any style of movie .", "i 'm exhausted that hanson , a director i genuinely like and admire , has made it his mission to produce films that are career-autobiographical in that way .", "gamble on the movie , by all means : it has its low-key pleasures . but perhaps safer to fold , and hope hanson deals us an ace again soon .", "in the past , poker-playing in the movies was likely to be something exciting but dangerous , not something to be dwelt on technically , and analogous to other criminal and self-destructive activities in the storyline .", "though curtis hanson captures the savage swings from high to low , he fails to when it comes to the addictive quality of poker", "while fans of eric bana may get a kick out of his meaty , manly performance , drew barrymore is a huge mistake .", "the beats here are n't bad , they 're just slow , slight and rather predictable .", "as kenny rogers once said : `` it 's all about knowing when to hold 'em and knowing when to fold 'em '' . in poker terms this over-long flop is a busted flush .", "although MOV was made nearly two years ago , it seems warner brothers did n't quite know what to do with it , hence it being quietly slipped out in a quiet week between blockbusters . maybe they hoped nobody would notice .", "a frustrating case of good pedigree , bad form . delayed time and again , this mish-mash of listless plotting , shallow characters and uninvolving action sadly was n't worth the wait . poker fans are better off looking up the cincinnati kid or rounders ." ], "summary": "MOV tries to combine a romantic story with the high-stakes world of poker , but comes up with an empty hand .", "id": "404374980" }, { "movie": "the_tree_of_life_2011", "reviews": [ "MOV pushes american cinema into regions uncharted since stanley kubrick 's heyday .", "any self-respecting cinephile should make time for it .", "one for the history books .", "many will find it ponderous and indulgent , but too often modern cinema is efficient and focus-grouped . the work of terrence malick becomes ever more vital as an antidote .", "MOV has an illusion of profundity , but it is just that , an illusion .", "feels like the elusive film-maker has become more indulgent than before ... being almost subversively disparaging to those who embrace and take comfort in nostalgia ...", "MOV wo n't resonate with everyone , but viewers approaching it with an open mind and a curious spirit may feel it touching their soul in a way that few films can .", "how often do you leave the multiplex pondering the universe and your place in it ? consider it a unique workout for your popcorn-bloated brain .", "it feels like malick made the film for himself , rather than for an audience .", "an extraordinary achievement in storytelling that will captivate your inner sense of being .", "malick 's best work since his first film .", "it 's a flawed but impressive experiment , the sort of shoot-the-moon gamble that cinema ca n't do without .", "tree of life is a gobsmacking experience that earns its grandness .", "... abstract , part dreamy childhood reverie and part gorgeously symphonic ode to the creation of the universe . it 's breathtaking cinema , but incompletely tied together at best .", "we 've shared in something divine .", "MOV is both luminously precise ... and maddeningly without form and void .", "... mourns mankind 's awakening to original sin - in nature , in our families , in ourselves .", "-lsb- malick is -rsb- a meticulous visionary who knows where to place a camera , but he has n't a clue about how to tell a story with simplicity and coherence .", "an audacious and powerful work that is aesthetically gorgeous , thematically fascinating and emotionally devastating in equal measure", "a triumphant piece of personal filmmaking that at once doubts the possibility of and then , as a result , actively searches for meaning .", "it is no doubt malick 's most ambitious motion picture to date , and , regrettably , his most misguided .", "these audacious sequences ca n't help but evoke the metaphysical questing of 2001 , and in fact MOV often feels like a religious response to stanley kubrick 's cold , cerebral view of our place in the universe . not to be missed .", "an audacious visual poet known for gently probing life 's big questions , malick has gone to the source of it all . he 's gifted enough to bring out the spiritual dimensions of astrophysics .", "`` MOV '' is at times trying and perplexing , but it also contains some of the most psychologically insightful and ecstatic filmmaking imaginable .", "a pretty deadly affair ... exactly the sort of picture one might expect from a reclusive filmmaker who 's been told for years he 's a great artist and has come to believe it .", "i 've seen it twice now , and though this childhood was not my childhood , and my spiritual yearnings are not malick 's , `` MOV '' already has come to mean a great deal to me .", "MOV is far from perfect but it is a film of great beauty and longing : a philosophical rummage through the troubling memories of a lost america .", "we 're very happy to fall in love with malick 's opus .", "some people have called the film pretentious , as if having a grand aim in making a film is somehow embarrassing . i was incredibly moved .", "stunning , baffling , pretentious , brilliant - that 's life .", "nobody else -lsb- but malick -rsb- could have made it . few would even dare to try .", "tree of life ? tree of sanctimonious mopey male egotism disguised as a search for meaning , more like .", "as a film it 's nothing if not bold - and the second half is the work of malick the genius - but if you decide to go , just do n't expect a narrative .", "beautifully shot , stunningly edited and superbly acted , malick 's long-awaited latest project is part childhood memoir , part metaphysical fantasy and part visual poem encompassing the beginning of life itself .", "moviegoers willing to tolerate malick 's origins-of-the-earth ruminations eventually will come upon a universal american drama featuring one of brad pitt 's strongest performances .", "an extraordinary vision of first contact , not between two cultures but between a soul and the universe .", "to put it plainly , MOV is the most pretentiously `` philosophical '' film malick has made .", "i can think of very few other movies made in the last few decades that have been this ambitious .", "MOV is astonishing in some spots , almost incoherent in others and if it does n't frustrate you at least some of the time ... you 're not paying attention .", "if you 're open to letting the imagery wash over you , to allowing yourself to get sucked into the film 's rhythms and fluidly undulating tones , you 'll be wowed .", "yes , malick 's tree of life is a beautiful film and its visuals will stay with you for a long time . there 's no question he 's a master visual filmmaker . but his storytelling must now be seriously examined .", "like sitting in malick 's church ... silent and solemn and challenging and reflective .", "the final product feels less like the grand-scale epic that malick intended , and more like a college thesis paper on spirituality that 's missing a few pages .", "striving for no less than the pinnacle of stanley kubrick 's 2001 : a space odyssey , MOV falls short of masterful but retains a power that far too many motion pictures lack .", "it 's obviously personal , it 's coherent in its own way , and it 's openly , sincerely spiritual .", "-lsb- malick -rsb- wants to see so much : people and through people to their souls , the world and through the world to the ineffable , life and death and through them to their meaning . and ... he wants to help us to see it all too .", "although it taxes patience in the way malick films often do , it has excellent acting and passages of brilliance .", "filmically , `` MOV '' is an extraordinary thing , and one that i shall likely esteem for a long time .", "malick thinks he 's an artist . and that 's his problem . he knows he 's an artist , and he 's wallowing in his own artistic waste .", "beautiful , baffling , poetic , pretentious , it 's one big ball of moviedom .", "-lsb- it -rsb- not only aspires to change your life - it tries to explain it , from the first cosmic blip to those busy amoebae splitting and multiplying , to jellyfish jellying through the primal seas , to the planets lined up in a row .", "MOV needs to be seen . even if it is just because you 've never seen anything like it before .", "if you find the storyline trite or tedious , you still might be engaged by its sheer beauty and come away admiring it for its audacity to be so confounding .", "MOV is either a triumph of artistic cinema or an almost inscrutable load of film wank . i 'm still not entirely sure which .", "this film is undoubtedly a piece of art , as much so as a picasso painting -- one that invites viewers to immerse themselves , scratch their heads and consider it .", "like watching your whole life crawl towards you on its hands and knees .", "the tone of the film is mesmeric , transcendent , awe-inspiring .", "a film that 's more interesting to argue about than to actually watch .", "malick seems to be trying to crystallise - in his own abstract way - a running theme in his work that dates back to days of heaven : that however significant or insignificant our lives turn out to be , our continued existence is a miracle in itself .", "within its ambition to convey the meaning of life , MOV is also boring , cliched and banal .", "for the first time in decades , malick has achieved the height of his artistry in fully meshing the emotional and the aesthetic ; they tug you in the same direction , rather than against each other .", "ambitious and imperfect , stunning and overwhelming , profound and perplexing , terrence malick 's mediation on human life and our place in the universe is one of the most arguably exciting movies to come along in years .", "while it does n't leave you as breathless as malick would like , MOV will stir your soul and make you think . which is an outcome every moviemaker should aspire to create .", "less plato than metaphysical play-doh", "perched on a cliff of near self-parody , MOV dares to reveal malick 's idiosyncratic -- and humorless -- interest in existential occurrences .", "the lack of story or purpose is annoying and at times , the film is too experimental . topping things off is an abrupt and unsatisfying ending which does n't leave us with good feelings towards the film .", "absurdly over-rated ...", "malick may have pushed the envelope a bit too far , losing the ability to see the forest for the trees - even in a film as beautiful and surreal as MOV", "it 's fair to say that everyone will get at least something out of this film .", "frankly , it may require multiple viewings before someone can definitively arrive at a conclusion .", "malick 's reach exceeds his grasp . but man , that is one hell of a reach .", "go ahead and take away my credibility badge ... the film is one of the most emotionally affecting and profound experiences of my life , regardless of how recent it is .", "you 'd be hard pressed to find an examination of human existence as profound and spiritual as terrence malick 's mind-blowing trip through the cosmos .", "what is undeniable is a powerful performance from pitt , ably supported by his screen family .", "it 's rare to find a flick that can be described as fascinating , boring , audacious , self-indulgent , frustrating , affecting , incoherent , engaging and maddening all in one breath . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "a beautiful , messy film : at times lyrical , intimate , and uplifting ; at others , vast , inscrutable , and maddening .", "it is fair to assess that this film is definitely not for everyone . however , if you 're feeling the least bit adventuresome , i 'd say go for it !", "it is not demanding more of MOV than it can withstand to call it the defining film of terrence malick 's whole life .", "similar to the great stanley kubrick 's 2001 : a space odyssey , terrence malick 's MOV is an awe-inspiring visual splendor that will leave you searching for answers long after the closing credits scroll across the screen .", "just as MOV is the sort of movie we rarely see , the kind of thinking it provokes is n't the kind we engage in regularly . malick makes a strong case for the notion that perhaps we should .", "it reminds one of the vividness life held in youth , and it may very well go down as one of the great works of human art .", "if you actually ask `` honey , should we go see pirates , hangover or tree of life ? , '' by all means - go see one of the other two . your frame of mind is everything when it comes to your potential enjoyment and connection with this movie .", "winner of this year 's palme d'or at cannes , terrence malick 's movie offers up moments that imagine beginnings , not as if they 're new , but rather , familiar and cyclical , creations as repetitions .", "impressionistic may be a nice way to describe this often baffling mix of stunning cosmic imagery mixed with random snapshots of familial struggle ... very , very different . .", "malick 's brilliantly acted and photographed film evokes the emotional turmoil of childhood , its resentment , pains and joys , in a way that few other filmmakers can match", "yes , it is a very strange film but , cutting malick some slack for artistic license , his film is also compelling and hypnotic .", "a bold , epic exercise that malick comes close to pulling off . it may not stack up against his best , but it does n't fail to incite feelings of awe in its audience , either .", "while i was writing this i learned that `` MOV '' had won the palme d'or at the cannes film festival ... i can only assume that the judges were all cinematographers awarding a film consisting of kodak moments .", "the fifth film from terrence malick melds theology , philosophy and human experience in the unforgettable MOV .", "it 's confounding , borderline pretentious , stuff , but there 's no denying the emotional weight it lends - imagine flicking through a bible and someone 's baby book at once .", "not since `` the fountain '' have i been left pondering on the bigger picture for such an extended period of time ...", "easily malick 's warmest movie and may well endure as his masterpiece ... it is also a profoundly theological work . the best film of 2011 -lrb- tie -rrb- .", "uma experi\u0119ncia profundamente religiosa para ateus , humanistas e , principalmente , cin\u00e9filos .", "daring in concept , occasionally daffy in execution and ultimately unforgettable , mr. malick 's film offers a heartfelt answer to the question of where we humans belong - with each other , on this planet , bound by love .", "if i have to choose between a movie that contains no ideas at all and one that tries to do too much , i 'll pick the latter .", "both sharply smart and maddeningly elusive , it 's yet another film by a great director working at the height of his powers to do something genuinely new .", "far be it for me to contradict the cannes film festival jury , or some critics who saw MOV there and sang its praises to the skies , but i respectfully disagree . i would never dismiss the film out of hand-it has too many ...", "a ravishing achievement -- a merging of visual mastery and philosophical inquiry that it 's hard to imagine any other director attempting .", "like watching a magician perform one trick over and over again for 138 minutes .", "`` MOV '' is long , often redundant and certainly on its own wavelength . but movies so rarely provoke serious consideration and debate .", "it 's overflowing with powerful images that will stay with me a long time , even if i still ca n't explain some of them .", "if you can let yourself go with the flow it 's pretty awe-inspiring at times , and sure to be oscar-nominated .", "some will dismiss its overarching themes and elliptical visuals as pretentious . others might question its quasi-biblical images . but the artistry in every frame is undeniable .", "strong visuals do n't necessarily equal strong visual storytelling . if malick could tell a story mostly with pictures - and faces - why would he need so many voice-overs ?", "you do n't really watch MOV so much as you experience it .", "no glib , conventional movie review can really capture malick 's amazing , meditative film . it 's picture poems , with music .", "it feels like , um , can i just say i really liked it and it 's an insanely audacious film by a filmmaker i will always appreciate ?", "like david lynch 's inland empire , malick 's ode to creation is an uncompromised and highly personal project that insists that audiences engage it on his terms , not theirs .", "glibly put , this challenging time-skipping rumination is the big screen equivalent of watching that `` tree '' grow .", "goes from astonishing to let 's - burn-down-the-theater aggravating at a moment 's notice ... could either transport you to another plane of existence or make you swear off moviegoing for the rest of the year .", "while it does n't come together perfectly , it 's got amazing ideas and contains some of the best filmmaking in memory .", "`` MOV '' is rooted in human nature but ascends to the infinite mystery . it 's a dizzying climb with few footholds for the timid or cynical , but the view from above is heavenly .", "malick has created a space for audience members to meditate on god , life , the universe and everything . what you do with it , is up to you .", "in `` tree of life , '' -lrb- director terrence -rrb- malick offers no middle ground . audiences will either embrace or despise it . they will think it is either deep and profound or pretentious and self-indulgent . and they would be correct - on all counts .", "there are some touching scenes between father and son but the rest of the film felt too heavy-handed .", "the film 's images evoke feelings in the viewer , not all of which are impatience . but impatience does accrue - not so much `` what 's the point ? '' as `` get to the point . ''", "a young couple raises three boys in the 1950s . both brad pitt and jessica chastain as the couple function from textbook gender roles , like father knows best with an axe to grind .", "what keeps even the most trivial of jack 's memories from becoming boring is the remarkable way the film develops a sense of reality , situating the viewer right there .", "without anchoring himself to a larger historical event , malick has made a startlingly direct expression of man 's relationship to the natural world and to other forces beyond human comprehension .", "will surely find plenty of detractors ... to counter its ardent admirers , but it 's far too ambitious and fascinating to dismiss .", "with disarming sincerity and daunting formal sophistication `` MOV '' ponders some of the hardest and most persistent questions , the kind that leave adults speechless when children ask them .", "` tree ' delivers truths that do n't go down easy . no one with a genuine interest in the potential of film would think of missing it .", "... a compelling film about our place in the cosmos writ both large and small ... malick 's ability to convey a family dynamic in a certain place with few scenes of actual dialogue is a real achievement .", "a movie of infinite moments ... placed side-by-side in a free-floating mosaic .", "are you looking for serious philosophizing , fluid filmmaking and stunning images ? or are satisfying drama and deep emotional connection what draws you in ? ideally you would have both , but that is not the case here .", "wonder , dread , hope . they 're among the emotions prompted by the cascade of images in something that 's closer to epic poetry than to anything resembling narrative cinema .", "this is how screen stories should be told in an age ready to lift off into aesthetic space . there are moments of cinematic near-ecstasy .", "it does n't always communicate well , and when it does , it 's sometimes trite , but it 's also a film that 's incredibly beautiful and wide open for the taking .", "metaphysical in narrative , ambitious in goal , surreal in style , suerbly acted by brad pitt -lrb- who should get oscar nomination -rrb- , this is malick 's career-summation film , his masterpiece .", "few american filmmakers are as alive to the splendor of the natural world as terrence malick , but even by his standards , MOV represents something extraordinary .", "brandishing an ambition it 's likely no film , including this one , could entirely fulfill , MOV is nonetheless a singular work , an impressionistic metaphysical inquiry into mankind 's place in the grand scheme of things .", "it 's a noble crazy , a miraculous william butler yeats kind of crazy , alive with passion for art and the world , for all that is lost and not lost and still to come .", "MOV is a fractured film , so they needed five different editors to put it back together . i heard the original title was going to be the humpty dumpty of life .", "i have no idea what i 'll think of it tomorrow , next week , ten years from now , but it demands a repeat viewing .", "the master filmmaker takes one step further into another plane of creative cinematic storytelling .", "terrence malick 's visual delight , a career-culminating take on the mysteries of life .", "the famously reclusive , famously painstaking filmmaker terrence malick has made a film that projects such a meditation on screen , inviting us to bring to it or own search for meaning .", "it 's a rhapsody on the mystery of simply being alive .", "offers a genuinely religious vision -- a vision of creation and man 's place in it that is spiritual in the best , not the worst , sense .", "get lost in malick 's memories", "the result actually plays like a divine pronouncement , cosmic in scope and oracular in tone , a cinematic sermon on the mount that shows its creator in exquisite form . exquisite but frustrating .", "the vision is dazzling . the portrayal of family life palpable . the ending ... well , let 's go back to the vision .", "what a transcendent achievement .", "malick 's tree of life is a modern day masterpiece .", "terrence malick has another movie in the works , but it 's hard to imagine that he 'll top tree of life", "... a singular bit of avant-garde filmmaking that ultimately makes up in captivating visuals and pervasive mood what it lacks in context and exposition .", "will you find it ridiculously sublime or sublimely ridiculous ? do n't be afraid to find it both .", "if you can suspend your cynicism and open your bloody heart for a second , you lifeless shell then MOV is truly a sight to behold .", "tree of life , in this way , seems unmoored from a linear conception of time and narrative to an extent new to malick 's cinema and quite foreign to hollywood cinema generally .", "it 's a cosmic-interior epic of vainglorious proportions , a rebuke to realism , a disavowal of irony and comedy , a meditation on memory , and a gasp of horror and awe at the mysterious inevitability of loving , and losing those we love .", "MOV has moments of breathtaking visual and aural beauty , but in the end it has us longing for the days of badlands , days of heaven or the thin red line , when the texan auteur also knew how to spin a good yarn .", "precisely the kind of heady , ambitious effort malick fans have long awaited from the former harvard philosophy student and mit philosophy professor .", "there are times when the film seems more like a religious experience than narrative cinema ... -lsb- it -rsb- sticks in the mind even if it tries the patience .", "what malick does in `` tree of life '' is create the span of lives . of birth , childhood , the flush of triumph , the anger of belittlement , the poison of resentment , the warmth of forgiving .", "MOV 's fetching images are like glowing shards of glass , and together they form a grandiose mirror that reflects terrence malick 's impassioned philosophical outlook .", "an awesome work of filmmaking , an incredibly masterful and haunting and beautiful piece . this is big art , and it is worth more than one viewing .", "for me , this is a pretty crushing disappointment , something that 's hard to admit and even harder to write .", "tree of life belongs in a loews multiplex about as much as it belongs in a museum , or projected at a site-specific artist 's installation", "it 's a screen saver .", "illuminating and insightful , it 's a stunning , surreal , extraordinary epic that will dazzle yet perhaps dumbfound art-house audiences .", "MOV remains , for a time , thrillingly impressionistic , eschewing any semblance of conventional narrative in favor of a fragmentary approach in which glancing , allusive snippets of light , breath , and motion bum-rush the camera lens ...", "tree of life is boundlessly poetic , the work of a master who has tapped into the nature of beauty so deeply that i wonder if there 's any coming back for him .", "it is the most insightful look at how boys become men and how parents turn children into the people they grow up to be that i 've ever seen on film .", "sections of malick 's expansive , fitfully brilliant , occasionally sloppy film are so powerful that you can only gaze up at the screen in wordless awe .", "it is an impressive , confounding achievement that calls to mind every drunken late-night debate that no one could articulate the next morning .", "-lsb- malick -rsb- has reached high , all the way up to our maker . you can decide whether he came back with a profound examination of humanity or a fistful of fog .", "this film 's rewards are many , for those with the patience to simply let it float .", "MOV is one of those few films that comes along once in a decade with artistic aspirations so enormous , it stands like a giant towering over the movies around it .", "simply stating that the movie is nonlinear is n't enough . this is challenging , breathtaking , pretentious , and inspired filmmaking that pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling .", "it is at once both the movie i hoped it might be and also completely unlike anything i could have expected .", "witnessing malick 's vision of eternal life obliterated me almost immediately", "in this flawed yet masterful , unforgettable movie , malick argues that even the tiniest mote can have value . he sees miracles everywhere . you just have to make an effort to see them , too .", "those occasional moments in days of heaven that inspired a catch in the breath ... are the building blocks of this film . grace notes are now the primary element .", "a rich film that sets lofty goals for itself , and does n't fall short by much .", "writer/director terrence malick has defied the odds and created a masterpiece of harrowing truth and deeply felt emotion .", "if i can prevent just one person from watching this , it 'll have been worth suffering through it .", "a movie rooted in philosophy is bound to feel , well , philosophical . expecting a filmmaker to avoid highfalutin ' imagery and ideas when he 's examining the nature of man is like expecting a geometry teacher to avoid talking about angles .", "a visually dazzling , intentionally polarizing examination of life and death , and the beauty and darkness hidden between .", "terrence malick 's astonishing masterpiece of light , movement , and spirit , casts a dizzying spell and somehow manages to pronounce the ineffable while telling its humble tale .", "es cierto que la pel\u00edcula es ambiciosa , y que no va a gustarle a todo el mundo . pero para quien logre conectar con ella , puede resultar en una experiencia removedora y visualmente impactante .", "i 'm not sure all of its diverse elements successfully make a whole story , but i am giving this film extra credit for being so incredibly ambitious , visually stunning and humane . it is a refreshing contrast to films that show the worst of humanity .", "malik 's vision and deeply powerful imagery outlives its welcome after 20 minutes , leaving a film that meanders along trying to impress with concepts and ideas .", "this film is a cinematic triumph ! terrence malick 's masterpiece !", "you do n't watch MOV so much as loll in front of it . it 's part puzzle , part coming-of-age tale , part wildlife documentary , and all mind-blowing .", "ambitious and spectacular .", "it is a beautiful , intelligent film , sharp and insightful about the bond between father and son , thoughtful and amazed at the world that created them .", "malick resides largely in his own vivid imagination and overly active subconscious , where it 's just too easy for everybody else to get resolutely and inescapably lost .", "MOV evokes the defining presence and absence of mom more vividly than any other film i know .", "the title suggests a grand vision about humanity , but this is at best garbled and perfunctory", "malick takes a bold , intensely personal approach to this big story about life , the universe and everything . with echoes of kubrick and lynch , but in true malick style , it 's the kind of film we need to let wash over us rather than try to make sense of .", "terrence malick 's long awaited meditation on spirituality , loss and innocence stars brad pitt and jessica chastain as a 1950 's couple who - along with their eldest son jack -lrb- sean penn -rrb- - struggle with the big questions of the meaning of life .", "MOV is a cinematic poem of extraordinary scope and ambition .", "terrence malick 's philosophical wallop of a movie is at once luminous , thrilling , obtuse , melodramatic , visually sumptuous , visceral , flawed and spiritual .", "... it 's the most bold and unconventional and visionary picture made using the apparatus of big-studio pictures since kubrick 's -lsb- 2001 -rsb- .", "MOV may be abstract and unconventional , but it 's staggeringly beautiful and admirably demands its audience to think long and hard about what 's being presented .", "a stunning masterpiece . pitt is phenomenal and fearless , staying true to his character 's flaws .", "a bold and challenging film about a journey from stardust to wonder that stirs the soul as it sets the story of the creation of the universe alongside the intimate story of one family in the 1950s .", "-lsb- video -rsb- it might come as a surprise to malick to imagine that if you know you 're creating when you 're creating then you 're not creating . but do n't take my word for it , see `` MOV '' by all means . doing so comes with bragging rights .", "terrence malick 's MOV never stops moving forward .", "the cosmic is the microcosmic in MOV , as malick conflates the ethereal and the everyday into a spellbinding panorama .", "you have to admire terrence malick 's cussedness and perversity . no other major american filmmaker , not even stanley kubrick at his most wilful , has ever made a film quite as idiosyncratic as MOV .", "the ambition of tree of life is sweeping and robust .", "a truly great film , not just because of what it accomplishes , but what it even tries ; it not only depicts creation , it actually inspires it .", "i think it is simply terrific that such a beautifully souled man gets to make movies like this . but there are silly bits here , at points the movie become risible , and the ending seems almost a like a sketch show 's parody of art films .", "it 's a phenomenal artwork but , for all its solar flares , it 's cold to the touch .", "... a tour de force and an experiment in insularity ...", "a magisterial symphony of sprawling scope and grand vision , and a film that could awaken a cynical generation of filmmakers to rediscover the possibilities of the form .", "its assembly alone makes a case for its achieving cinematic heights . it 's a work of great confidence , asking its audience to observe , reflect , and feel .", "there may be a masterpiece here , somewhere beneath the puzzlement and beyond the patience of what will be a lot of moviegoers . in that regard , the film 's comparisons to 2001 : a space odyssey - which malick courts - could wind up having merit .", "its neatest trick is that it feels like a malick autobiography even as it directly speaks to receptive viewers on a one-to-one basis . it 's cinema as a give-and-take relationship : the movie can only provide as much as the viewer is willing to put into it .", "there were dialogue-free sequences that nearly moved me to tears . there is imagery so powerful that , like nature and the planet itself , is so indescribably gorgeous that it 's hard to imagine it was created without divine intervention .", "i got a sense the 67-year-old malick cared little about whether he might lose viewers but was eager to destroy the boundaries of what stories movies could tell and what ideas they could contain .", "i admire MOV - in the same way i admire the white-haired lady in the guinness book of world records with 28-foot fingernails . by the way , after `` MOV , '' you 'll probably have to cut your nails , just saying .", "it 's an experience that stays with you , getting you thinking about the deepest recesses of space , the farthest reaches of time and what it all means .", "it 's immensely mysterious , and immensely grand .", "terrence malick is hardly the first filmmaker to show us characters who cry out at the silence of god , but he is perhaps the most unquestionably american .", "better than a masterpiece -- whatever that is -- MOV is an eruption of a movie , something to live with , think , and talk about afterward .", "here 's a testament to this reclusive , stubborn , visionary director 's stunning achievement : his films can change the way you look at the world by showing you how another person sees it .", "ambition does n't automatically equal achievement , and non-commercial does n't necessarily mean better . only this guy could make a self-important riff on human insignificance .", "it 's as much a meditation as a narrative , asking a tremendous amount of patience from viewers and rewarding that patience with something entirely new .", "in the main , malick 's juxtaposition of the ebb and flow of the natural world against the microcosm of family life is extremely effective and deeply affecting .", "lapses in narrative cohesion are easily more forgivable than lapses in heart , talent and intelligence , which are all things MOV has in spades .", "if you believe cinema can still be a valid form of personal expression , then you must see MOV . it does not get any more expressly personal than this .", "MOV is profound , pretentious , art , twaddle , a cinematic event and a pompous bore all packed into 138-overlong minutes . and , in its own way , it 's a must-see .", "MOV plays like the capstone of an obsessive trilogy . but its subject matter is more personal , more specific and more gripping .", "there is simply nothing like it out there : profound , idiosyncratic , complex , sincere and magical ; a confirmation that cinema can aspire to art .", "all that really emerges is that terrence malick ... has , stanley kubrick-style , fermented into a filmmaker with a glacial output who begs to be deciphered rather than enjoyed .", "apart from a middle section which reveals moments of clarity and actual emotion , this is a bloated , self-indulgent bore of fine imagery .", "possibly it reinforces our awareness that finding any sort of path through life is a pretty overwhelming business , but this is not a terribly radical conclusion .", "malick 's spiritual odyssey is baffling , unique and overspilling with wonder .", "we were still discussing the film 45 minutes later , when the lobby had to be cleared . this is what malick does .", "an almost outrageously ambitious , shatteringly beautiful meditation on memory , childhood , loss , and figuring out one 's place in the world .", "`` tree of life '' is a cinematic poem that will challenge your intellect , your faith and at times your patience .", "aspires to be as mysterious and powerful -- and as attuned to the miraculous -- as the episcopal service attended by its central family , or the baby 's birth that functions as its core event .", "like an elephant parading on bubble wrap , MOV breaks new ground with every step . it 's just a shame that some of those strides are more ponderous than they are profound .", "more meditation than movie , terrence malick 's MOV is bound to mystify , awe and exasperate in equal measures .", "amid one 's exasperation , there is no mistaking malick 's unfailing ability to grab at glories on the fly .", "what we 're left with is a scrapbook of stunning images .", "frustration aside , which might be inevitable for those who do n't genuflect at malick 's altar , MOV has an astute elegance to the way it tells its story even if the filmmaker can not help himself from underlining the thematics .", "i have always counted on terrence malick to make movies that exercise my synapses , and he delivers that here .", "malick again shows his unparalleled personal vision .", "with its parallel depictions of the birth of the universe and a family in 1950s texas , it must be plumbing deep meanings , right ? eh .", "this movie weighs so much , yet contains so little . it 's all vault and little coin .", "terrence malick 's hotly awaited new movie , MOV , bursts with such unbridled ambition , vision , and sense of purpose that viewers tend to respond with either stunned speechlessness or babbling effusion .", "malick 's astoundingly potent physical poetry makes all this spring to life ; it 's a movie to be felt and experienced deeply .", "both good and bad , great and fatally flawed , transporting and disappointingly literal .", "scenes build up seemingly without meaning , until it becomes clear who jack 's father has become , and you find yourself sympathizing with both sides . it 's oddly profound for a movie that is so nakedly sloppy and self-important .", "... like watching the most attractive person you 've ever seen in your life tell the most boring , drawn-out story you 've ever heard . it made me want to grab malick by the shoulders and yell , `` focus ! ''", "a mesmerizing experience filled with breathtaking sights and sounds . it 's much like life itself : visceral , enigmatic , spiritual , profound and simply complex .", "when i compare my own cinematic ambitions in light of a film like this , i can not help but level an accusatory finger back at myself and cry aloud , `` you , sir , are a fraud . ''", "what a gift it is to see the joys and pains of childhood - both somebody 's , and everybody 's - rendered so carefully and beautifully in a film .", "if you truly give in to the beauty of this amazing film , you might even find yourself changed by it . how often can you say that at the cinema ?", "terrence malick has earned the right to preach from some celestial pedestal , though preaching is n't exactly what he does . it 's more like reflecting life 's mysteries through a stained-glass window ." ], "summary": "terrence malick 's singularly deliberate style may prove unrewarding for some , but for patient viewers , tree of life is an emotional as well as visual treat .", "id": "770793166" }, { "movie": "ultimate_x_the_movie", "reviews": [ "visually as buffed as the athletes it celebrates , but also as airheaded as most of them seem to be .", "while the finished product is still fun , never dull and the athletes themselves remarkable , inspired and apt , the production could have been improved .", "special p.o.v. camera mounts on bikes , skateboards , and motorcycles provide an intense experience when splashed across the immense imax screen .", "via the imax format -- and some blown-up dv -- we get loads of high-adrenaline kicks , as well as some very peculiar philosophy .", "rad fun for sports fans and sedentary folks alike .", "you feel like you 're the one moving at 80 mph , not the street lugers .", "the giant screen format is perfectly suited for the x-games .", "great fun both for sports aficionados and for ordinary louts whose idea of exercise is climbing the steps of a stadium-seat megaplex .", "there 's lots of cool stuff packed into espn 's ultimate x.", "needs more impressionistic cinematography and exhilarating point-of-view shots and fewer slow-motion ` grandeur ' shots and quick-cut edits that often detract from the athleticism .", "transcends its agenda to deliver awe-inspiring , at times sublime , visuals and offer a fascinating glimpse into the subculture of extreme athletes whose derring-do puts the x into the games .", "little more than a super-sized infomercial for the cable-sports channel and its summer x games .", "provides a satisfactory overview of the bizarre world of extreme athletes as several daredevils express their own views .", "at a brief 42 minutes , we need more x and less blab .", "the rare imax movie that you 'll wish was longer than an hour .", "writer/director bruce hendricks subtracts from the experience by crafting a corporate propaganda film posing as a documentary .", "even if you ca n't tell tony hawk from bob burnquist , you 'll still get a rush out of this documentary about the world of extreme sports .", "the result is that the skill and determination , not to mention bravery or lunacy , of the extreme sportsmen -lrb- and women -rrb- is shown on a strikingly grand scale .", "all of this looks great on the giant imax screen -- most things do -- but the filmmakers ca n't shake the sense that this is an inflated tv special .", "the most enjoyable 40 minutes i 've ever spent watching a large-format , imax-type movie .", "at 40 minutes , it 's brief but keeps firmly to its action remit .", "ultimate x smoothes out the rough edges of evel -lsb- kneivel -rsb- 's bad boy tradition and delivers a film that keeps mom and dad in on the cool -- disney with a little flava .", "for every articulate player , such as skateboarder tony hawk or bmx rider mat hoffman , are about a half dozen young turks angling to see how many times they can work the words `` radical '' or `` suck '' into a sentence .", "a thrill ride blown up to gigantic mind-blowing proportions ; played out over a booming rock 'n roll soundtrack .", "devotees seem more interested in mayhem than competition . perhaps that 's why the filmmakers save their money shots for a closing montage of painful wipe-outs and crashes .", "it briefly flirts with player masochism , but the point of real interest -- audience sadism -- is evaded completely .", "it 's a dizzyingly entertaining thrill-ride , complete with a pleasantly surprising amount of humor and self-parody .", "the film contains so much eye-popping footage that even viewers who have never seen the x games ca n't help but be fascinated .", "a love letter for fans of the sport , and for the uninitiated earth-bound , a peek into a strange new sports world spinning with adrenaline .", "if you think that `` espn 's ultimate x '' is a motor oil , then you need to see this movie , dude .", "if you 're an extreme sports fan , this is probably a must own dvd .", "the competitors are clearly unhinged , but they put on a hell of a show .", "this imax sports documentary captures the danger , thrills , spills and sheer altitude attained by the young men and women who put it all on the line for burgeoning ` xtreme sports ' movement .", "uses the imax screen to showcase sports rather than talking heads , and the result is 40 minutes crammed with high-energy acrobatics .", "-lsb- a -rsb- spectacular extreme sports extravaganza .", "it 's an exhilarating blast that makes good use of the large-format screen .", "for a film about action , ultimate x is the gabbiest giant-screen movie ever , bogging down in a barrage of hype .", "the format gets used best ... to capture the dizzying heights achieved by motocross and bmx riders , whose balletic hotdogging occasionally ends in bone-crushing screwups .", "a generation x artifact , capturing a brief era of insanity in the sports arena that surely can not last .", "a film that should 've stayed on espn .", "the film 's 45-minute running time stops shy of overkill , though viewers may be more exhausted than the athletes onscreen .", "most of ultimate x is comprised of truly exhilarating footage of men -- and one woman -- pushing their bodies and their nerve to the edge .", "ultimate x is a ride , basically the kind of greatest-hits reel that might come with a subscription to espn the magazine .", "these self-styled athletes have banged their brains into the ground so frequently and furiously , their capacity to explain themselves has gone the same way as their natural instinct for self-preservation .", "instead of a balanced film that explains the zeitgeist that is the x games , we get a cinematic postcard that 's superficial and unrealized ." ], "summary": "taking full advantage of the large imax screen , ultimate x is a thrill ride for extreme sports junkies and novices alike .", "id": "770854515" }, { "movie": "happy_accidents", "reviews": [ "the movie 's fatal flaw is that chemistry between -lsb- tomei and d'onofrio -rsb- is never quite credible , -lsb- although -rsb- individually , they both deliver interesting performances .", "the actors make a good team in this film , and they 're playing well-defined characters , but the script is so repetitive that we get mighty impatient for the mystery to be resolved .", "the actors have enough appeal to keep it moving over the speed bumps .", "anderson would have done better had he made the film more disturbing than cutesy .", "the charm of MOV is that , like ruby , we half-believe sam deed .", "the low-budget MOV may be just the tonic for those in the mood for something quirky and low-key .", "tomei jars the senses as she tries to squeeze her edginess and sculpted muscles into a role better suited for someone blonder , cuter , more comically vulnerable .", "conveying a certain amount of charm is key , and there is little in the schlubby presence of vincent d'onofrio .", "MOV is out on a limb , almost airborne , and it feels good to go out there with it .", "a film of many virtues , but ... it gets stuck in a tediously repetitive cycle", "starts off really well , progresses at an enjoyable pace , and falters a little about 2/3 of the way through .", "a boxed-in -lsb- but -rsb- entertaining diversion ... a small-scale surrealist love story anchored by two fully committed , highly watchable actors .", "the story is n't perfectly proportioned ... but it gets quirkier at the points where most romantic comedies go limp .", "it 's nothing like the sappy , crappy rom-coms we 're used to seeing .", "vincent d'onofrio ... makes the stranger-in-a-strange-land thing irresistible .", "tangy romantic comedy plays sly games .", "MOV looks drab and does n't take very good advantage of its new york locations , but the neurotic intensity and emotional honesty of its two leads more than make up for it .", "once again , director brad anderson -lrb- of session 9 and next stop wonderland -rrb- has earned the title `` maker of chick-flicks that guys can tolerate", "this is a tangy romantic comedy that plays sly games of its own with time as the story unfolds .", "tomei and d'onofrio imbue their roles with the requisite warmth and fragility .", "has an engaging , light-hearted sweetness , clever plot and , amazingly , no special 4-d effects .", "the leads smooth over the plot holes endemic to all 4d fables , making the movie more than mere d\u00e9j\u0155 vu .", "a warped kind of romantic comedy in which the whole is substantially less than the sum of the parts .", "anderson is a hopeless romantic in a cynical world , and for a brief moment he makes the case that true love is the only power that can crack time and space .", "... an enjoyable trifle .", "a touching love story .", "while ... it has a certain gangly charm , it 's just too frail and wispy to go the distance .", "a charming , and occasionally eerie , demonstration of how far a little conviction can take a movie .", "miscast performers do not help a story which is repetitive enough to outlast its 110 minutes ' time .", "anderson shoots and -lrb- mostly -rrb- scores again with his eclectic riff on time-travel episodes from the twilight zone .", "MOV has a sense of humor and a good-natured warmth -- stemming mostly from the appealingly peculiar performances -- that make its shortcomings easier to forgive .", "gleefully silly fun , with a few core concepts on the nature of time , space , and la-la-la-love thrown in for good measure .", "the film becomes repetitious in the extreme .", "its rampant oddness is certain to polarize audiences .", "gimmick aside , MOV is driven by sharply acted characters .", "sam is the twitching romeo to ruby 's tear-stained juliet ; and their fair verona is the fourth dimension .", "an unconventional look at places in love and life where we 've all been at one time or another .", "the film 's unconventional quality also what makes it so well worth seeking out .", "it contains all the pain and hard work of a real-life relationship . those who want to work for it will admire MOV .", "both leads act passionately well , it 's ironic that very little passion in the form of chemistry ignites . still , a very strong intriguing fresh script .", "the actors make it fun to watch .", "a perfectly pleasant date movie , with enough charm to move it past the slow spots .", "a cleverly resourceful mixture of romantic comedy and sci-fi time travel .", "MOV is about as unconventional a romantic comedy as you 're likely to find - the only problem is that the lackluster science fiction elements keep getting in the way .", "does n't have the negative qualities of many big-studio romantic comedies , but it does n't quite take flight .", "anderson constructs a story where past and future converge to redefine present-tense romantic anxiety . and in so doing he offers a redefinition of love .", "the jokes work and so does the romance . it 's really lots of fun .", "for a high-flown fantasy , it 's surprisingly down-to-earth .", "unlike the typical hollywood romance , its belief in happily-ever-after , even if it has to come from the fourth dimension , feels authentic .", "anderson ... resorts to all sorts of directorial tricks to sustain this shaky premise .", "this sweet , lovingly passionate story is nonetheless a charmer .", "anderson employs a delicate touch in his direction , milking the comedy for all its worth but never losing sight of his story 's romance .", "uses the far-out theme of time travel to develop the quirky romance between perennial losers in love .", "a quirky , clever surprise .", "it 's totally goofy and sensibly warm in the same instant .", "a quirky little film that delves deeply into our preconceived notions of reality and closely held myths of love ." ], "summary": "MOV has enough quirkiness and charm to rise above the more formulaic entries in the romantic comedy genre .", "id": "13458" }, { "movie": "10009462-g_force", "reviews": [ "g-force is being shown in both 2-d and digital 3-d formats . i saw it in 2-d , and that 's the preferred format because it 's one less dimension for the movie to suck in .", "flashy - with a high-octane frenetic - aimed at a small-fry audience .", "i do n't think kids will find it funny , -lsb- and -rsb- their parents will find it unbearable .", "it just did n't come together .", "blame it on alvin and the chipmunks . cute , furry , and talking , cgi rodents are apparently now the rage , much to the chagrin of anyone over 12 .", "most youngsters at the screening i attended were not amused -- not even by the usually giggle-evoking flatulence scenes .", "this rollicking action romp has all of the chase scenes and car crashes you expect from a jerry bruckheimer movie", "g-force is a high-octane action movie for kids about a group of secret agent talking guinea pigs . the 3d is the best use of the technology in a movie this year and the action jumps from the big screen .", "a bland distraction for the school holidays and nothing more , the now-ubiquitous 3d version is n't any better .", "3-d adventure is funny ... if you 're a first grader .", "click for full review", "the joke of cute animals hacking into mainframes and dodging explosions may not be enough to sustain a movie .", "the voice actors are accomplished but the fussy story is strictly for the tykes and teens , even if the writers work in a sexy tease in gopher fur , that tramp .", "g-force represents an inconceivably tragic waste of a brilliant idea . frankly , if you ca n't squeeze a decent movie out of talking 3-d superagent guinea pigs , you may as well throw in the towel and consider a career in insurance .", "... an utterly worthless -lrb- and frequently unwatchable -rrb- piece of work .", "when they 're not risking their lives with exciting spy maneuvers , blaster works out to lady gaga and juarez updates her facebook page . okay , so maybe g-force is just a tad self-consciously ` hip . ' -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "critic : was there too many poo jokes ? 9 y.o. : mmmm ... no .", "for older viewers the jokes struggles to find a pay off and the frequent potty humour will even grow tiresome for the younger audience .", "for its intended audience , g-force is a winner . only a shopworn plot keeps it from being a solid seven .", "possibly the first movie to imagine -- in 3d ! -- the comedic crime-fighting possibilities of small mammals that usually spend their days on hamster wheels .", "the best original blockbuster of the summer . just to clarify that demonstrative statement , star trek was a reboot/re-imagining/sequel . -lrb- 500 -rrb- days of summer is n't a blockbuster . it is still better than the other sequel blockbusters .", "when i review movies , i ask myself ... `` does the movie do what it set out to do ? '' g-force set out to be an entertaining family movie that makes money . on that basis , g-force succeeds .", "obtain a human-sized version of a hamster wheel , then spend a couple of hours scurrying around inside it , and you 'll have had an experience far more varied and stimulating than what 's on offer here .", "1 plexiglas ball sporting 1 hamster was fine for disney 's bolt . along comes bruckheimer -- now it 's 3 plexiglas balls with 4 hamsters , er , guinea pigs , and 1 transformer . seems he 's hell bent on excess .", "not even remotely as bad as it could have been . because , let 's call a spade a spade : `` sentient guinea pig spies '' could easily have been just about the worst movie ever made .", "the animals seem more real than the humans , but the comedy is overly cute and the tone forced .", "action and animals make good entertainment for kids and so-so entertainment for adults .", "the cgi guinea pigs are startlingly realistic-looking ... which will charm kids , and the whiz-bang nonsense they get up to ... is exactly the stuff of silly , entertaining moviegoing .", "the maestro of mayhem , jerry bruckheimer , does a kids movie .", "anybody who wants to go to a movie about talking secret-agent guinea pigs is probably too young to read this review .", "hugely enjoyable , fast-paced action-adventure with a witty script , likeable characters , great action sequences and terrific special effects .", "the action scenes are much more impressive than the predictable plot .", "one or two of the ideas are actually not bad - there 's a rather cute joke about a mole , for instance - but for the most part , it 's like running on a wheel .", "maybe for today 's computer-gaming sprogs , speed , violence and animation -lrb- in all senses -rrb- are enough .", "kids will have a fur-ball watching this part-computer generated part-live action movie .", "the plot lurches joylessly from a to b , while the bored-sounding voice cast - nicolas cage , pen\u00e9lope cruz , sam rockwell - might have delivered their dialogue down a phone line .", "this is not a movie for hamstered intellectuals . just imagine how alvin and the chipmunks might have turned out if it had been directed by michael bay .", "this is actually great -lrb- if ultimately silly and slightly cheesy -rrb- fun with quite a few nice sly digs at the genre that is trying to snuggle up to .", "this jerry bruckheimer production is a surprisingly light-footed caper for cinema 's reigning king of bombast .", "g-force excels visually , with the cuddly critters being particularly impressive and the action sequences colourful , vibrant and effectively assembled .", "kids like to see something new when they head to the theater , something they can talk about on the playground . `` remember when that happened ? '' and i really feel that g-force delivers in that department .", "parental content review", "g-force is unlikely to keep anyone older than 10 on the edge of his seat , and the bathroom humor may annoy adults .", "for pure family fun in the middle of summer the often hilarious g-force has it all : action , laughs and heart .", "pointing out g-force 's plot holes would be redundant ; it 's more hole than plot , and more videogame commercial and exhausted-old-trope clearinghouse than film .", "the rodents carry the picture off in their little furry paws and this one is sure to entertain youngsters -- no matter how you look at it .", "unimaginatively , boringly bland without much to make you excited or angry about seeing it .", "there 's nothing wrong with g-force that john lasseter could n't fix .", "g-force is painfully bad and completely unfunny .", "g-force is not completely awful although it dips its toes into the easy territory of potty humor too many times to be forgiven .", "the worst walt disney pictures release in a decade . to describe this chaotic , charmless , pop culture-centric product as completely and utterly excruciating is almost too kind a criticism .", "it is suitable for kids , and parents wo n't have to suffer much if they accompany the kids .", "it 's more fun than it should be .", "a 3d ball of energy , but its furry characters are flatly run-of-the-treadmill .", "it 's super-intelligent guinea pigs who update their facebook pages , know how to hack computers , and dodge fireballs . it hardly needs gravitas to provide a full course cinematic meal .", "it will possibly be enjoyed by children of all ages .", "g-force manages to be fairly entertaining in that exhausting , rackety , late-summer-kiddie-movie way .", "a better action movie than transformers : revenge of the fallen , but that 's like raving that sandwiches taste better than the bottom of your shoe .", "if you know a 7-year-old who 's still angry he was n't allowed to see transformers , g-force is sure to make him feel better . but other than him , it 's hard to say who this abrasive comedy is meant to charm .", "what happens when disney meets jerry bruckheimer ? you get a whole new kind of rodent , but not necessarily a better one .", "a lot of resources went into making g-force -- a lot of talent , a lot of money , a lot of marketing -- and it does n't have much to show for it , not even some half-way imaginative 3-d gimmickry .", "g-force is fast and funny and bound to appeal to kids .", "g-force is short on wit , characterization and logic , but the car chases sure are breathtaking and just about everything blows up real good while the heroes run from the fireballs in slow motion .", "bruckheimer and his crew should have imagined material that 's suited for more than the bottom of a cage .", "producer bruckheimer and ... director ... hoyt h. yeatman jr. see no stylistic difference between the frenetic derring-do of g-force and the atmosphere of such bruckheimer hits as con air or the rock .", "g-force is everything i wished a disney film could have been in the 1970s . what 's so wrong about getting all giddy about it as a kid in my 30s ?", "g-force is bright and funny , but surprisingly , it 's more of an adventure film than a comedy .", "the single most terrifying moment is hearing the world will be destroyed in 30 minutes . therein lies the possibility that the film will drag on for another half hour .", "billed as children 's fare , g-force 's incessant action provides trainer wheels for youngsters soon to grow into the teens who have made bruckheimer 's live-action films such moneyspinners .", "sometimes those are n't choc-covered sultanas in your hand after all , and g-force is one of those times .", "believe in yourself is the motto of this sweetly madcap and amusing family adventure in which talking guinea-pigs turn the world upside down in order to save it . the execution is inventive and the cast works well .", "adults without kids may find their minds wandering even with the brief run time and those 3-d visuals .", "the worst thing about g-force is n't that the plot is so formulaic that the entire movie can be divined from the first 20 minutes or that it 's not particularly funny .", "disney -lsb- hates you and -rsb- wants your money .", "it was n't a horrible movie , but i could have done without the fart jokes , really . overall , it was just a mediocre kids movie that you can toss in the pile with all the rest .", "for a 3d movie , g-force falls very flat .", "guided by the principle that action movies have become generic that anybody can be plugged into the hero role and the results would be no different than if arnold schwarzenegger or bruce willis was the star .", "g-force 's dedication to egregious stereotypes is hackneyed and indefensible : this is how racism lives on .", "most depressing about g-force is the talent wasted in the name of family entertainment .", "longtime visual effects supervisor hoyt yeatman jr. , in his feature directing debut , displays ample credentials for action and memorable setpieces .", "the first 3-d movie from jerry bruckheimer , the last producer you 'd think of whose pictures needed to be more in-your-face .", "top voice talent and good 3d computer graphics can not make up for the fact that this film is utterly synthetic as well as crass , loud , and vulgar .", "galifianakis 's comedy thrives on risk . in g-force , he does the most subversive thing possible in a big budget pg picture : he plays it straight .", "parents already in dread of taking their children to this 3-d kids ' movie by uber-producer jerry bruckheimer will find much to appreciate , though g-force is lots of fun all around .", "a dispiriting primer on the low regard hollywood has for the intelligence and curiosity of children -- and the time and money of their parents -- g-force is an aggressively stupid entry in the family-adventure genre from jerry bruckheimer .", "just about the only folks likely to find this humdrum hybrid of mission : impossible and the wind in the willows worthy for consideration are non-discriminating pip-squeaks happy to watch rodents rappelling walls and scampering along air ducts .", "its prime directive is to inculcate young viewers with the gee-whiz tropes of producer jerry bruckheimer 's teen-oriented fare .", "do what you must to ensure that somebody else ferries your kids to this dud . thank me later .", "just tries too hard , and it shows", "this is a stupid , lazy , dully designed and messily executed piece of junk that will have little kids and parents alike squirming in their seats out of sheer boredom .", "it 's a shame that the heart of the story does n't beat strongly enough to match the visual invention onscreen .", "the digital hijinx are n't great . and despite a committed voice cast that includes two oscar winners , the jokes are n't all that either .", "it 's the template for either a video game or a disney theme park ride , or perhaps both .", "plot wise , well , g-force does n't really have one , but it 's a film about rodents -- however , i could tell more interesting stories about new york city rodents terrorizing manhattan on the daily than this vermin tale .", "if what you need is a 90-minute baby sitter , or something that will put a smile on your kid 's face , you could do worse than g-force , but do n't expect to be blown away yourself .", "g-force has a script on autopilot , assuming that any old assortment of fart jokes , cheesy one-liners , and chase scenes will be enough to appease tots .", "a harmless and good-natured family flick that unfortunately relies so much on its central conceit that it forgets to do anything else .", "on an adult fun meter , it would rate somewhere between a parent-teacher meeting and a trip to the orthodontist to outfit your kid with braces .", "without a strong villain , a charismatic hero or a clear quest , it 's all just a pointless frenzy , an exercise in going nowhere fast . a bit like a hamster on a wheel .", "a slick slice of efficient family entertainment , but lacking the inspiration to turn in into something special .", "the story feels thin and faintly incoherent , the action is loud and relentless . a milder version of many other bruckheimer films , then - which does n't mean kids wo n't love it .", "nowhere near the originality of anything from pixar .", "imagine ordering a diet coke only to be handed a formula on a piece of paper and you have some idea of what watching g-force is like .", "there is a distinct pet-shop whiff coming off this weirdly soulless and not especially funny or exciting family comedy from disney about guinea pigs .", "though the film as a whole delivers ample thrills , it does lag occasionally and is encumbered by bland voiceovers and a lack of laughs", "technically accomplished holiday fun to while away a wet afternoon with the sprogs , g-force is exciting while it lasts , but about as memorable as the bucket of over-priced popcorn .", "have you ever wondered what a jerry bruckheimer-produced talking-animal movie would be like ? me , neither . but here 's the answer .", "really there 's no reason to see this but if you really need to satisfy your guinea pig fix , hit the local pet store . it 's cheaper and far more entertaining ." ], "summary": "g-force features manic action , but fails to come up with interesting characters or an inspired plot .", "id": "770796963" }, { "movie": "20000_days_on_earth", "reviews": [ "utterly mesmerizing and original .", "you might come away wishing he 'd remained a bit more enigmatic . then again , that morose rascal is probably just having us on .", "i 'm not sure it can be considered a documentary at all , at least not all the way through . but `` 20,000 days '' offers an exceptionally intimate portrait of an artist who has sometimes sought to resist explication .", "this documentary about one day in the life of nick cave brilliantly encapsulates what makes the writer/musician tick , and does so in bravura style .", "flits between handsome neo-noir pastiche and ripe psychological melodrama .", "yet for all the undeniable self-regard - we are very , very fond of ourselves - 20,000 MOV remains an effective , occasionally moving piece of work .", "-lsb- nina simone -rsb- put a spell on him , and now nick cave , with his lugubrious sleights of hand , does much the same to us .", "a documentary clothed in the robes of a dream", "at this movie 's dark heart is the disarming self-awareness and intelligence with which cave cops to raiding , mythologizing , and cannibalizing his memories , be they exquisite or banal .", "i 'm not sure whether 20,000 MOV is a documentary , an essay film or a work of complete fiction . i do know i enjoyed it , so it does n't really matter .", "this excellent documentary considerably deepens the nick cave we know .", "this film about nick cave utterly rejects the established tropes of the rock doc .", "co-directors iain forsyth and jane pollard have put together an enigmatic piece .", "you do n't just meet and learn about nick cave in `` 20,000 days , '' you feel him .", "singular exercise in self-indulgence , introspection and tongue-in-cheekiness by the solemn and magnetic cave .", "it sounds like so much attenuated tosh , but this bold , unique gem is bright , funny , brooding , hopeful , momentarily visionary , a wounded beauty exploring the creative process in a fresh and oft-brilliant fashion .", "this fictionalized documentary will be essential to cave fans -- it offers some nice , frank insight into the artist 's past and his creative process .", "we spend one day on earth with nick cave , from dawn til dusk , via family , friends , a recording session and a gig , but it 's just a neat device , and much of the film plays out like drama .", "cave 's wittily hard-boiled voiceover and on-stage potency complete the picture : a properly artful portrait of an artist in total command of his myth .", "this fiercely beautiful amalgam will sweep you up in its masterful , thrillingly macabre embrace before sending you swooning out of the cinema . it 's like waltzing with count dracula .", "20,000 MOV is itself an act of performance , a chance for nick cave to offer his own version of nick cave to the world .", "' 20,000 MOV ' is a beautifully shot piece of film poetry that ruminates on the practical implications of the highly unusual way of living that is rock stardom .", "the pervasive mood is a brooding hyperawareness of time and the brevity of existence . sensationalism and salaciousness are minimal .", "this is a doc with , among other things , a firm sense of place , and not just your random filmed q&a with an interesting guy .", "20,000 MOV is elegant and elusive , artfully arranged and visualised by forsyth and pollard .", "this innovative study of nick cave playfully disguises itself as fiction while more than fulfilling the requirements of a biographical documentary .", "while the doc should prove essential for nick cave fans , it should be inspiring for those interested in the creative process or anyone searching for their muse .", "20,000 MOV is a transfixing and bewitching film , most particularly for its punch-drunk immediacy and dedication to living in the now .", "pieced together in a fittingly arch , self-conscious style that fits cave like a dark black glove .", "a grand tour of music , memory and transformation is contained in 20,000 MOV .", "shot in atmospheric , grainy ` scope by erik wilson , this elegant study looks less like a documentary than like a highly staged thriller , a piece of brooding provincial noir .", "the man , the myth , and the music could only have been captured in this way , in a revealing , thrilling doco-dramatisation hybrid that 's part portrait , part peering into the artistic abyss .", "it 's unlikely to appeal beyond cave 's core fan base -- but they are sure to love its sheer eccentricity .", "like his live performances and recorded works , the tortured dark figure and the aesthetics of the film bring together an intriguing three-dimensional mythological scrapbook .", "the title refers to the fact that the day chronicled is ostensibly cave 's 20,000 th alive , though the movie is so slowly paced that 20,000 days seems more like the running time .", "near the end of the movie , cave talks about living in the ` shimmering space ' where imagination and reality intersect . he 's talking about words and music , but he could be talking about 20,000 MOV .", "nick cave says he is n't interested in things that he understands . yet this distillation of the man himself -- reflective and sensitive , and inventive -- tells you much about an artist 's understanding of his art .", "if you 're not already a fan of australian-born rocker nick cave , the hyper-stylized documentary 20,000 MOV will make you one -- and increase your knowledge of and appreciation for the artistic process at work .", "`` something happens onstage , '' cave says , `` where you forget who you are and become someone else . '' as much as any documentary can , 20,000 MOV allows us to bear witness to what goes on in that process .", "the film has a cinematic ambition to which it admirably lives up , not only in its bold structure and impressively moody cinematography , production , editing and sound design , but also in its plethora of imaginative and unconventional touches .", "forsyth and pollard 's approach is reverential rather than critical but the film is beautifully shot and its impressionistic approach is a welcome antidote to that of most rock docs .", "forsyth and pollard are visual artists-turned-filmmakers and their fine feel for the romantic possibilities of lighting and composition shape every frame . they 're less sensitive to the line that separates drama from pretentiousness .", "an intelligent and revealing look at one of rock 's last true iconoclasts .", "for the uninitiated , it offers a demonstration of what is so mesmerizing about this performer , who is by , his own description , `` a kind of ostentatious bastard . ''", "avoids being an indulgent profile of a tortured artist , and cave appears confident but egoless .", "visual artists and first-time feature directors iain forsyth and jane pollard have given 20,000 days a potent mix of the raw and the cooked .", "what 's great about this `` documentary '' is that it delves deeply into cave 's notoriously fussy creative process without ever becoming stodgy or dull .", "the film is so incessant on bolstering cave 's repute and noble struggle with the art of songwriting that it ca n't help but seem bloated and self-important .", "one of the wonderful things about 20,000 MOV is how it explores that lengthy creative process without apologizing for a single moment of expression .", "it 's right up there with the best rock documentaries . that is , if you can call it a documentary .", "it 's a wondrous mix of the momentous and mundane , the profound and the perverse , with cave blues-talking his way through the goofy juxtapositions , the darkness , and the light .", "whether or not you love his music , the sheer intelligence and poetry of his lyrics , his hip-swivelling suits , his retro black jag and achingly cool hair make 20,000 MOV a documentary worth watching .", "maybe `` 20,000 MOV '' is a vanity film . but maybe cave has earned the right to be vain .", "i think it 's really well made and the concert scenes at the end are fantastic", "i struggled to find a reason to care .", "an immaculately crafted -lsb- music documentary -rsb- , absorbing both for -lsb- nick -rsb- cave fans and those hungry for an insight into the coursing of his creative juices .", "this wo n't be for everyone , but longtime cave-men -lrb- and women -rrb- will be bewitched , along with a fair share of folks drawn in simply by the film 's unique investigation into the mind of an artist .", "in the wake of the reflective documentary 20,000 MOV , exploring nick cave 's ` now ' refracted through the fragments of his ` then ' , shows a person driven to create at whatever the cost .", "the film follows the moods , tones and structure of some quintessential cave songs ; in this way it proves to be an astonishingly thoughtful , respectful , bold and intriguing piece of work . let 's face it , if you 're a cave fan , you 're going to love it .", "an unclassifably weird hybrid of documentary , fiction , and stream-of-consciousness meditation on the creative life , according to renaissance man nick cave .", "20,000 MOV does n't try to be a journalistic , comprehensive study of its subject -- but with so much texture and atmosphere on tap , it does n't need to .", "much like the man himself , it is gloriously oblique .", "it 's more than just a screen biography : it 's a meditation on an artist 's mythology and creative spirit .", "no ordinary rock doc , but nothing particularly special either .", "it may not be an access-all-areas portrayal of one of rock 's most enigmatic characters , but then , where would be the fun in that ?", "for me , the talking is great , perhaps more than the music , and there is something a tiny bit narcissistic about the lengthy clips of those live shows .", "if mick jagger attempted something like this , it would be excruciating .", "accompanied by a valuable ruminative voiceover from cave himself , pondering the interconnectedness of his many narrative songs , the whole artefact offers a fascinating portrait of an artist and performer with a relentless drive to create .", "-lsb- nick -rsb- cave runs the gamut , from deftly cerebral to darkly comic .", "you 'll never know quite when 20,000 MOV ends , or when it begins - but the feeling of being caught up right in the middle of it is unforgettable .", "certainly for any fan of cave 's , 20,000 MOV makes for a creative , enthralling journey through the man 's world .", "cave knows he 's not young anymore , and wo n't always be able to control his work or how its perceived . watching him act accordingly is really inspiring .", "part documentary , part drama , part audio visual patch work and all around engrossing look at the myth and music of a dark soul and his many complexities .", "the results are remarkably intelligent and entertaining , even for someone who -lrb- like this writer -rrb- finds cave 's music rather dirge-like .", "there 's nothing extraordinary about it , but it 's an entertaining curio .", "nick cave , the man , the myth , the legend , reaffirms his status as those last two things , at least , in 20,000 MOV ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- mischievous and magnificent , like the man himself .", "as poetic and downright weird as the snake-hipped icon at its center , 20,000 MOV is a messy and endlessly fascinating look at one of music 's great wild men .", "some lines of questioning - his past as a junkie , and his relationship with his late father - penetrate -lsb- nick -rsb- cave 's outer layer of cool in a subtle , yet incisive way .", "in a backhanded way , this considered , half-fictional approach perfectly serves an artist who has always been in the process of making and remaking his own mercurial image .", "it 's a documentary , transformed into something greater . a memory , rewritten for us to explore ..." ], "summary": "revealing yet respectful , 20,000 MOV is essential viewing for any nick cave fan .", "id": "771372069" }, { "movie": "ice_storm", "reviews": [ "what impressively begins as a gentle social satire gradually becomes a conventional family melodrama , one that lacks a clear moral center and in which the parents are just as confused as their children", "a rich and elegant drama .", "the dazzling ensemble perfectly captures every nuance in one of the finest acting showcases you could hope for .", "what struck me about it was the fluidity and discipline of lee 's direction , the performances which captured so beautifully the confusion of that period of cultural and sexual evolution , and the compassion which i think is a feature of all of lee 's films .", "i think one of the things -lsb- ang lee -rsb- really specializes in is ensemble pieces like this one .", "beautifully nuanced , passionately performed , and terrifically realized piece of work .", "drug use and sexual content in ang lee masterpiece .", "arguably lee 's first truly essential film .", "beautifully acted , refreshingly un-camp in its take on wide lapels and progressive rock and occasionally coolly moving . it 's just that ultimately , there 's less here than meets the eye .", "as in any joke , destiny is a major character .", "a well-observed and deftly performed examination of upper-middle-class emotional deep freeze ...", "an atmospheric , moody , and entertaining little morality play which never gets preachy or even boring .", "the MOV proves that a movie can most effectively and entertainingly study the disintegration of a society without soap-opera melodramatics or blazingly photographed uproars .", "disturbing and discomfiting , the MOV is a slice of lonely , desperate reality that i hope i never visit .", "everyone is uptight , on the verge of breakdown , shrill and too aware of their various audiences . the film captures this sense of ` verge-ness ' perfectly .", "perceptively detailed in both the directing and acting , the MOV commands strictest attention from start to finish .", "the MOV is perceptive about people , relationships , and human nature , and there 's not a single moment in the entire 112 minute running length that rings false .", "despite its mordant undertones , the film is often satirical and frequently very funny , and quietly observant in its performances .", "spot-on performances , some icicles that are pure visual poetry , and enough symbolism to fuel a thesis , make the MOV anything but a gloomy ride .", "to be admired for its icy observations of suburban life .", "the best film about family so far this year . just do n't think disney .", "lee infuses the film with just enough humor to keep it from becoming unremittingly bleak , but the overall impact is harsh and caustic .", "it 's unfortunate that as capable a team as director lee and screenwriter-producer schamus should have become fascinated with such unpromising material .", "a very good film .", "the MOV is so life-like and real that if the settings were modernized , it would still be topical today .", "lee is adept at creating a vivid sense of place , using numerous establishing and tracking shots to make the wistful , forlorn atmosphere of new canaan come alive .", "-lsb- an -rsb- impressive adaptation of the rick moody novel .", "one of the best films i 've seen .", "while i 'm not the type of moviegoer who needs everything neatly spelled out , i do appreciate some sense of closure . in the end , this film is an enjoyable one , but it may be a little too hip for its own good .", "adult hypocrisy and adolescent concupiscence in the suburbs is nothing new , but unlike the book , lee and his actors overcome stereotype to find new humor and humanity in the premise .", "-lsb- ang lee -rsb- aptly underscores the depressing gloom of the piece through the dark , blue-tinted cinematography of the talented frederick elmes , and the nervously restrained low-key performances of his superb ensemble of actors .", "oddly enough , the taiwanese-born lee manages to capture the look and sound of the '70s better -lrb- at least more accurately -rrb- than paul thomas anderson did in boogie nights .", "with good direction , and excellent acting , the MOV paints a vibrant picture of suburban life in the early 70s .", "most effective at capturing the desperately hip attitude that seemed to hang like incense smoke around upper-middle-class/lower-middle-age adults in the early years of the me decade .", "this is one of those films in which nothing seems to be ` happening , ' but in retrospect , when it 's over , everything seems to have happened .", "this is a cold and calculating film that will temporarily dampen those fond memories of everything we cherish from two decades back .", "a quarter of a century ago , martin scorsese 's taxi driver dealt with the same issues more successfully .", "damn , is this film great !", "sketched with subtlety and refined detail worthy of ingmar bergman .", "... a black comedy ... that ultimately acquires hitchcockian levels of suspense .", "a thoroughly enjoyable blend of comedy and melodrama ...", "it 's concerned with the differences between the culture we profess and the lifestyles we actually indulge . even more , it 's about the consequences of betrayal .", "ang lee is a terrific filmmaker , but his usually upbeat directing style is stilted by the angst it 's a well crafted , but , ultimately , negative-feeling movie .", "lee daringly chooses to keep his story 's motivational mysteries unexplained , leaving this richly observed film open to the viewer 's assessments . yet the sense of imbalance is ever-present and strong .", "` come back with us to those rolicking years of the 1970 's and watch two dysfunctional families dysfunction ! ' i know you want to sign up right now .", "a little too slow for my own jive .", "-lsb- d -rsb- espite good performances and fine intentions , ultimately fails .", "the MOV has delightful moments of humour , but it is essentially a sombre film . but do n't let that put you off .", "an intelligent film that will appeal to thoughtful audiences .", "i do n't know when i 've seen actors realize so many affecting moments in such a muddled conception . lee 's aestheticized approach is its own kind of MOV .", "over and over again in austen , -lsb- lee 's -rsb- framing , his course of action , his editing suited and amplified the essence of the scene . but here everything in his directing , absolutely everything , is banal .", "a remarkable film that takes us straight into john updike territory , duplicating on screen exactly what the writer achieves on the page .", "the MOV is a movie that 's trapped under the ice , and it 'll leave you feeling the same way .", "with the MOV , lee seems to have emphasized the details of cultural accuracy over the rudiments of telling a gripping drama .", "a devastating film that will almost certainly leave you emotionally drained .", "rather than being moved or transfixed , you feel frozen and impartial , almost as disengaged as the characters themselves ." ], "summary": "director ang lee revisits the ennui-laden decadence of 1970s suburban america with deft humor and gripping pathos .", "id": "13634" }, { "movie": "under_the_same_moon_2008", "reviews": [ "... wears its heart on its sleeve but you can forgive it for its schmarm .", "this american tail for the lou dobbs era probably should n't work as well as it does , but even we hardened film critics can get a little mushy sometimes .", "first-time director patricia riggen uses parallel story lines to tell the mother 's and son 's tales -- mom looks for her next job while the boy evades immigration workers , druggies and perverts .", "an endearingly sweet fable about a hotly debated subject .", "the power of the mother-son bond is given tender-hearted treatment in MOV , an impressive first feature from mexican filmmaker patricia riggen .", "this kid is so plucky and cute and charming , it 's impossible not to fall in love with him .", "MOV -lrb- la misma luna -rrb- is the nightmare lou dobbs has when he goes to sleep at night .", "maudlin and melodramatic when it does n't need to be , but insightful and engaging when it counts , MOV represents both the best and worst of the revelatory road trip narrative .", "a story that 's too cute , too corny and too contrived .", "if MOV is formula melodrama , the film is well acted and its lead character perceptively drawn .", "the strong final third counterbalances the weaknesses of the first half .", "MOV combines all the elements of an old-fashioned tear-jerker with the low-key , low-budget intelligence of a carefully crafted indie film .", "it 's a warm drama that humanizes americas current illegal immigration debate even as it sentimentally stacks the deck in favor of the undocumented .", "a string of poorly-written , obvious clich\u00e9s that litter the road many travel from mexico city to the southern united states", "it works -- at least until all those pesky coincidences get in the way .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sentimental , sometimes manipulative but genuinely touching film .", "-lsb- director -rsb- riggen coaxes fine , understated performances from her actors , whose faces are all she needs to sell the movie 's heartfelt climax , a graceful scene that makes us feel what rosario and little carlitos feel .", "the performances -- and the movie 's sideways glance at the culture of illegal immigrants , including a funny song about superman -lrb- ` he has no social security and no green card ' -rrb- -- give the movie its nicely controlled vitality .", "without the exceptional performance by young adrian alonso , ` MOV ' would have been quite ordinary .", "this may appear to be a simple film of a boy 's determination to be with his mother , but in reality , it is so much more .", "manipulative storytelling and overly simplistic handling of a divisive issue .", "engaging and touching -- a manipulative tearjerker , but an effective one .", "the film 's destination feels overdetermined despite its sweetness .", "a soul-stirring film that activates our feelings of empathy with illegal immigrants in america .", "suitable only for kids or for undiscerning immigrants happy to see themselves heroically portrayed on film .", "evoking memories of ` cinema paradiso , ' it 's a gem - one of those rare films that truly touch your heart .", "MOV aims to get audiences to blubber at the trials of mother and child but does n't persuasively put convincing flesh on people caught in the immigration firestorm .", "mostly the movie floats on the sincerity of alonso as carlitos , who is incapable of doing or saying anything that one does not believe , and del castillo as his young , hardworking mother .", "a warm , humorous story showing that there is no obstacle that can prevent a small child from finding his loving mom .", "what 's stuck with me are n't the film 's flaws but the success of its mission : it puts a real human face -- many human faces , in fact -- on a problem that many politicians would prefer to represent with a racist caricature .", "it 's a bit of a guilty pleasure , with its formulas and its sap , but if it can get lou dobbs reaching for that kleenex , it will have done its job .", "a beautifully rendered , unforgettable story of the invincible bond between a mother and son .", "the film is a romanticized , effectively personal and emotionally heightened story .", "it 's a movie guaranteed to leave you at the end with tears in your eyes and a big smile on your face .", "thoroughly watchable with flashes of inspired filmmaking , and it has a sincerity that , even when wrong headed , can not be denied .", "this is a sweet , charming movie .", "there are only three types of -lsb- legal -rsb- u.s. citizens in the film : cartoonish rich elitists , drug addicts , and whiny young chicanos who 've shunned their mexican heritage .", "if a few scenes are a bit stiff , some of the cast a little too telenovela photogenic , the leads ' stubborn , yearning performances build just enough of a melodrama to soften the film 's tough realism and earn a hopeful ending .", "the critic in me found plenty of nits to pick with MOV . the sentimentalist , though , was ready to blubber .", "the specific story , while formulaic , is carried soulfully by its three main actors , who make MOV a success despite its flaws .", "the actual storytelling is so filled with sunshine and resilient good cheer that true pathos of the situation never rings true .", "some situations may be too tied to contemporary reality to receive a fairy-tale touch . the illegal immigrant experience is one of them .", "the magical glow makes it easier to address some heart-rending themes that might be too disturbing if told in a more straightforward manner .", "-lsb- an -rsb- overly sentimental drama , which -- although sweetly well-intentioned -- is stereotypical and overwrought .", "directed , with visible earnestness , by patricia riggen , MOV blunts the hard edges of immigration with a thick coating of preciousness .", "before you can say , ` wow , that sounds boring , ' director patricia riggen has smuggled us , with no-bull authority , into the rituals , jokes , and survival games of a culture of half-existence : people who live in two places and nowhere at all .", "anyone looking for a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience wo n't find it in this disappointingly toothless drama .", "i was n't having any of it . i do n't believe it 's the bloodied hand of cynicism either ; just a natural response to clumsy filmmaking at its most pandering and unfairly exclusionary .", "this look at the mexican immigrant experience offers a few new ideas to the currently hot topic , but it 's hard not to feel like we 've seen this sort of story too many times in recent years .", "thanks to the uncommonly shrewd judgment of screenwriter ligiah villalobos and director patricia riggen , both newcomers , MOV never feels like rank exploitation , even as it steadily aims for the emotional jugular .", "what does it say about a film when you believe only parts of the journey , yet are moved by the arrival ?", "it 's unfortunate the actors who play the principles are so clean , beautiful and moral as it adds a touch of the inauthentic to what i imagine is more of a complicated , issue-oriented debate . still , they have their hearts in the right place .", "whatever you feel about illegal immigration , those affected certainly deserve to have their stories heard , and they definitely deserve less mawkish and by-the-book stories than this .", "a harmless feel-good movie that tries to tell audiences what it 's like to be a victimized immigrant , and mostly winds up telling them what it 's like to have their heartstrings yanked , gratuitiously and often .", "MOV is a heartfelt story of unquenchable hope , with the plight of illegal immigrants serving as an intriguing and timely backdrop .", "another one of those soft , simpleminded imports specifically designed for western arthouse audiences , with everything spelled out in dialogue .", "tries so hard to put a human face on the immigration issue that it ends up feeling as genuine as a plastic halloween mask .", "a drama of mother-son love that lunges for the heart from its pulsating curtain raiser to its leap-for-joy fade out .", "an enjoyable story of hope and resilience , buoyed by the performances of kate del castillo as rosario , the mom , and adrian alonso as carlitos , her son .", "director patricia riggen 's film mostly succeeds , despite a sometimes maudlin story that seems to bring multiple dangers a day to its young hero .", "cliched but well-staged .", "though its smaller story of a mother and son will elicit tears , MOV is clear-eyed in its larger examination of the cycle of poverty that persists for immigrants on this side of the border .", "you may be pleasantly surprised by how affected you are by the small kindnesses the boy finds ... and you may be absolutely shocked at how moved you are when finally , gratefully , carlitos ' journey comes to a joyful end .", "your enjoyment of this picaresque tearjerker may depend on how much you can tolerate its shameless contrivances and didactic social realism , whereby the story exists only to illustrate the plight of illegal aliens .", "it 's an unexpectedly powerful little film that manages to say a lot of what , despite all the talk on the subject , is n't being said in the national debate on immigration .", "does anybody seriously believe that mother and son will not reunite in the end ? it 's only a question of how , not if .", "much of the plotting is schematic , and some of the moments meant to tug our heartstrings clearly flow from the melodramatic telenovela form . yet the scheme transcends itself in surprising ways . love conquers lots , while the kid conquers the rest .", "this largely spanish-language film brings on the waterworks because its core story is undeniably affecting . the whole movie , however , would be more convincing if the elements around that vital core were more multidimensional and less contrived .", "when carlos finally spots the climactic traffic light , his exhaustion , at least , feels earned .", "its parallel stories of two lost souls seeking each other across geographical divides is never more than one small step away from mawkishness and clich\u00e9 , and oftentimes less . but as a sociological study , it 's fascinating .", "patricia riggen 's feature debut proves that the terms crowd-pleaser and social-issue movie can apply to the same film .", "the argument of MOV is n't news to anyone living near the border , but it does present the migrants ' problems well and poignantly .", "i did dab my eyes several times as i exited the theater .", "tiptoes the line between tragedy and hope and never loses its balance in its account of life and luck in the us-mexican borderlands .", "story of seperated mother and child does n't carry much emotional impact . makes you wonder how much mi madre really cares . turns into a road drama with the kid headed to los angeles . just could n't care for the characters . paul chambers , cnn .", "MOV puts a human face on illegal immigration . more than that , it gives it a human heart .", "some plot twists and encounters go beyond broad brushstrokes for complex characterizations to make corny seem meaningful . cast and music add richness beyond the predictable .", "the type of facile representations offered by the film do little to address the real issues at hand .", "i could pick apart the simplicities and unlikelinesses and inconsistencies of the overall tale , but that will never trump the enormous lump in my throat i was left with by the film 's end .", "it has the feel of truth and is a vivid reminder of the hell mexicans put themselves through to live in the united states , even illegally .", "this is not simply the case of a child learning his lines and delivering them in ok fashion . -lrb- adri\u00e1n -rrb- alonso is an actor to be reckoned with , even as a young teen .", "more than once , the narrative may push you to tears , but the emotion carlitos draws most effectively is not pity but awe . we should all be such great americans .", "-lsb- young adrian alonso -rsb- ... carries the movie with effortless aplomb .", "full review | original score : 3.5 / 4", "i thought we had some really fine performances here .", "MOV , despite some mature themes , is fine family entertainment . it is a crowd pleaser in the best sense of the word , compelling , humorous and profoundly moving .", "for all the clumsy scenes and cloying performances , director patricia riggen puts her adults through tough choices and hard consequences .", "embracing this film will depend on whether its charms triumph over its contrivances . i left impressed by the performances but disappointed by the film as a whole .", "the film does have its sweetly appealing moments as well . and the cast is good ." ], "summary": "if MOV is often manipulative , it is also heartfelt , and features strong performances from its leads .", "id": "528367173" }, { "movie": "law_abiding_citizen", "reviews": [ "the film 's entertainment value resides almost entirely in the ingenuity of butler 's modus operandi ; but this is cancelled out by the film 's underlying stupidity .", "relentlessly ugly , preposterous and hackneyed of dialogue : guilty on all counts . it will do well , then .", "on a side note , can you believe the oscar-winning star of ray made a crack about helen keller ?", "what sours f gary gray 's film is the drawn-out sadism of its violence - a depressing case of torture-porn methods infecting another genre .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- pretending to examine the nature of justice , test the parameters of law and probe the relationship between good and evil . but really it 's just intent on blowing shit up .", "MOV tries to be two kinds of exploitation film at once , and it ends up as neither .", "bloodshed and torture abound in this sadistic thriller with pretensions .", "an entertaining thrill ride but not much more .", "in another time and place , MOV could have been an intelligent critique of a flawed criminal justice system . instead , i present you gerard butler , ruthlessly hacking a guy into 25 little pieces .", "the screenplay mashes up its elements and develops as a hairbrained plot without enough character substanc", "while MOV is in no sense a successful work of art , a film that offers the illicit thrill of cheering on an all-american terrorist is at least pursuing something more complex than `` moral clarity '' .", "a high-octane , high body-count thriller posing the question , how do you stop a psycho vigilante on a killing spree ? apparently , by any means necessary . ''", "one of the more repugnant examples of hollywood 's cheap-thrill approach to violence , its voyeuristic brutality is matched only by its innate stupidity .", "the film ca n't seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be an audience pleasing popcorn treat or a serious , political thriller . it ends up being partly both ... with varying degrees of success .", "MOV may be the most nihilistic movie i 've ever seen .", "it 's exactly the kind of film the phrase ` by-the-numbers ' was invented for , but like the best genre films , it acknowledges its niche and goes all out to top its predecessors .", "the diverting garbage that is MOV would be more deplorable if it were possible to take this wholly implausible film seriously .", "for large portions of MOV we 're not sure who is going to be the winner here , nor who we want to be , and though it wo n't make for much of a date flick , as far as intelligent action flicks go , it gets two big burly thumbs up .", "putting aside the ideological posturing , this hyper-violent fantasy about a seemingly unstoppable killer who continues his murder spree behind bars delivers on its promise of an intriguing mystery , however far-fetched .", "while one man 's terrorist may be another 's freedom fighter , it 's not quite as simple when it comes to cia operatives and your basic serial killer . or rather , a cia psycho family man that might make jack the ripper envious .", "the movie is not -- putting it courteously -- tightly constructed . the narrative shifts are jerky and the tone bounces around like a jeep on a dirt road .", "an illogical , campy joke of a movie that suffers hugely in comparison to f. gary gray 's earlier **** - the-injustice-system thriller the negotiator .", "MOV does n't follow the laws of logic , let alone competent storytelling .", "an exercise in illogic and death wish cribbing that lets a bunch of good actors collect big paychecks for playing way less than their a game .", "if you 're in the mood for a '90s - style thriller , you 're better off renting a '90s thriller .", "the deaths do get nastier , but as the plot grows increasingly far-fetched , the effect is n't revulsion , or even suspense , but numbness .", "revenge is a dish best served cold by a very angry , naked gerard butler .", "despite the gore , which is marginally justified to drive the revenge aspect , the film is worth seeing for the clever plot turn finale as well as above average performances by leads jamie foxx and gerard butler .", "a gruesome melodrama that , too afraid to tackle the issues it brings up , instead elects to transform into a ridiculous thriller about a psychopath terrorizing a city .", "increasingly preposterous and asinine , but nonetheless mindlessly entertaining thanks to gerard butler 's oddly invigorating and captivating performance .", "... the kind of ragged film that appeals to the lower common denominator rather than the intelligent portion of the viewer 's brain .", "the film is filled with plenty of action but also laced with absurdities that make folks who work in law enforcement cry for justice .", "may be lacking in social graces -- it 's about as dignified and refined as a hell 's angel fighting a caveman -- but on the red meat , reptile brain level , it scores .", "this is brilliant exploitation with a-listers . it 's not an oscar movie . it 's way cooler because it 's not looking for anyone 's approval .", "a competently made thriller that attempts to make up in panache what it lacks in credibility . it fails .", "the movie remains admittedly entertaining , mainly because it 's so shamelessly ridiculous that you ca n't believe an oscar-winning actor -lrb- jamie foxx -rrb- can get through this thing with a straight face .", "` it 's gon na be biblical , ' promises the self-righteous butler about his vengeance , although moviegoers familiar with the good book may wonder how they missed the chapter in which the philistines were smote with a booby-trapped cell phone .", "`` MOV '' is a sizzling hot thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish .", "this dull film carries just a few hints that the screenplay may once have been a bit darker .", "`` final destination '' meets `` saw '' meets disaster .", "... even if it 's not an open-and-shut classic , it occasionally makes a compelling argument for the kind of movie that thrills your pulse while not quite making you think .", "absurd is not an original nor powerful enough word to describe MOV .", "parental content review", "MOV is a satisfying -lrb- and at times funny -rrb- revenge movie that unfortunately loses its way in the last 20 minutes .", "strong performances by gerard butler and jamie foxx drive this smart , sharp thriller that will keep you guessing with shocks and surprises at every turn .", "a smug , stupid , ridiculous , ham-fisted and morally and ethically reprehensible example of the crypto-fascist and ridiculously reactionary revenge genre that somehow manages to give such things a bad name .", "at last , the missing link between phantom of the opera and saw . welcome to the gonzo revenge saga MOV .", "an absolutely reprehensible , illogical , and poorly made thriller that raises more questions than it answers", "avoid this drivel at all costs .", "its preposterous plot usually requires a generous suspension of disbelief . but for all of the promises of the narrative , which is filled with many genuine twists and shocks , the overall result is surprising flat .", "a morally dubious , deliriously demented thriller .", "it should be put under citizen 's arrest as it 's one colossal disappointment .", "when reality melts and major us cities become porous , we need some of the mad panache recently demonstrated by roland emmerich in 2012 .", "with film , the question is not always , `` do i believe it ? '' ; more often , it is `` do they believe it ? '' and in the case of MOV they believe it so much that revenge becomes a thing you can taste .", "arguably the most preposterous picture of the year .", "a piece of big , brash , brains-out popcorn fodder best savoured after last orders .", "if you want a crazy mix of saw and shawshank , where a lot of people get killed in nasty ways and gerard butler gets his bum out , then this is a decent bet .", "the film tries in earnest to be profound . it 's a forgettable vigilante fantasy movie , not a film that 's going to have an impact on policy . and frankly , we do n't care .", "dodgy politics aside , MOV is a slickly made , trashily entertaining thriller that builds to a suitably explosive climax .", "super-slick filmmaking masks this thriller 's reprehensible message that violence can solve any problem .", "it 's about the cat-and-mouse game between two very smart guys , and it 's perfectly happy to be as dumb as it wants .", "the film suffers from one unfortunate affliction : it makes absolutely no sense .", "this strikes me as narrative cheating , but you may play the critical game by more relaxed rules .", "it 's criminally contrived .", "MOV could be the movie of the year , but only if you 're a big fan of stupid .", "say what you will about death wish , but charles bronson was never boring .", "the ultimate explanation behind shelton 's methods deflates some of the picture 's fun , but by then you 've enjoyed most of gray 's gritty ride .", "take the death wish movies , cross them with dexter , add just a soup\u00e7on of the depraved saw series , and you 've got MOV .", "vigilante movies hold a firm place in cinematic history , but for them to work , the vigilante needs to be a sympathetic anti-hero .", "it winds up feeling overwritten yet underexplained , foregoing plausible revelations in favor of gusty debate about the ethical challenges of practicing and upholding the law .", "the exploration of right and wrong , and its complicated lack of clarity , gets trammeled amid the bevy of explosions , volley of bullets and mounting body count .", "while it probably does n't hold up to much scrutiny , it 's still a solid , entertaining thriller .", "the movie starts out as a potboiler with a troubling character arc ; unfortunately , it ends up becoming a goofy , story-overwhelming rube goldberg contraption that would make the producers of the saw series blush .", "director f. gary gray seems to have picked up on some `` seven '' - like aspects of the script to arrive at the film 's visual look , but the effect it produces is more like `` saw v '' crossed with every clich\u00e9d film about ... a workaholic coming to appreciate his fam", "the only thing really worth seeing in the film is butler in his one moment of partial nudity . otherwise , it 's a bit of a slog .", "MOV is n't going to win any honors for the most coherent , logical plot ever written .", "the film does n't take itself too seriously and there are enough cool deaths and thrills to entertain despite the ridiculous premise .", "the motto of MOV , endlessly repeated by shelton , is that everyone must account for their actions . does that apply to the people who made and star in this truly dire film ?", "wildly implausible tosh .", "hollywood hokum of the tallest order . riddled with supernova-sized plot holes and soaked in clich\u00e9s , it 's that rare breed of film that succeeds despite its credibility-straining premise and black and white morality .", "put simply , this writer would take any number of bad movies over one nasty film . and make no mistake about it , MOV is a very nasty movie indeed .", "sadly , there 's nothing here but bloody off-cuts from ` death wish ' , ` saw ' and ` the silence of the lambs ' , in roughly that order .", "it 's silly and nasty at the same time : not a good combination .", "full of incoherent , spitting rage , ignorant , paranoid violence and a complete lack of internal logic .", "a pointless exercise in phony social commentary that has no idea what its real message is .", "foxx is perfectly cast as the moral compass of the film , but it 's butler 's edgy portrayal , walking a thin line between madness and genius , which leaves a lasting impression .", "could have made for a decent enough b-movie renter if it had just aimed a bit lower , but the moral drum-banging only serves to throw its failings into even sharper relief .", "a frustrating example of an intriguing premise and skillful execution gone formula .", "anyone who enjoys this film and feels that the ` point ' had been made must sit in their own padded cell with nothing but a copy of the documentary dear zachary to see what a true miscarriage of justice looks like .", "all we 're left with are ticking time bombs and a chunk of our own time that we 'll never get back .", "an implausible thriller with a few horror elements in the guise of social criticism .", "a flagrantly ridiculous thriller that tries to retrofit saw to function as a mainstream , semi-respectable vigilante picture about the failings of our justice system .", "a slick cat and mouse where occasional splashes of gore substitute for any emotional depth or narrative context", "a particularly cynical brand of celluloid nihilism , in which \u00fcber-wealthy movie producers finance their hollywood mansions by marketing films to an audience feeling disenfranchised by the status quo .", "a confused , contrived mess that would be laughable if it were n't so noxious and mean-spirited .", "like a lot of action-movie directors , gray lacks the imagination to view the art of cat-and-mouse as more than a chance to play with state-of-the-art war technology .", "when does a highly watchable movie stop being a beacon of enjoyment and turn into a morally reprehensible insult ? for one , when its name happens to be MOV .", "MOV goes well beyond the realm of , to use a piece of legal terminology , reasonable doubt and hits the hammer until it arrives at the neighborhood of sheer ridiculousness with its tires smoking .", "somebody call charles bronson .", "director f. gary gray -lrb- the italian job -rrb- heightens a sense of anticipation with his deft direction , and butler delivers an excellent performance as a brainiac who can outthink a horde of law officials .", "as a social statement , MOV is a flawed attempt at holding the legal system accountable for its shortcomings . as a movie , it 's a ridiculous execution of a misguided concept .", "you wo n't like yourself for liking it , but you probably will like it", "has the audience for these kinds of films demanded this sort of torture-porn titillation from their popcorn thrillers ?", "what might 've saved the movie is if viola davis was the one who was wronged by the justice system and seeking revenge . ms. viola could read the back of a listerine bottle and make it award-worthy !", "there 's the core of a fascinating amoral movie here before it gets amped up into a standard thriller", "when smart people make dumb movies .", "gerard butler 's scene-chewing performance holds interest even as the story alternately melts and congeals like a mobile bowl of poorly mixed jell-o .", "pervasively absurd yet generally entertaining ...", "revenge has never been so bland . much of the fault for the failure of MOV lands at the feet of its two equally monochrome stars jamie foxx and gerard butler .", "a movie with no use for logic , or realism , or basic rules of what is and is not possible within our world .", "director f. gary gray keeps the thrills coming at a relentless pace that leaves little time to ponder the mack truck-sized holes in the logic .", "somebody has given MOV a lethal injection of absurdity . although i have to say , as ridiculous movies go , this one has its moments .", "a ridiculous , white-collar saw .", "a low point for all concerned , actors jamie foxx and gerard butler , and director gray -lrb- italian job -rrb- , this is a silly , preposterous , sleazy and ultra-violent revenge drama pretending to say something meaningful about our faulty justice and legal systems", "-lsb- e -rsb- mblematic of the unpleasant streak that runs through the american zeitgeist today ... that we have to do away with ... the rule of law and that pesky constitution in order to ` save ' america ...", "one of the silliest action yarns in years ... there 's room for good pulp trash on screen , but lousy pulp , which is what this picture is , deserves a quick trip to the dumpster .", "that the film , directed in swift strokes by f. gary gray from a screenplay credited to kurt wimmer , does n't really work -- unrelentingly grim , unintentionally funny -- is almost beside the point . it 's a wild concept .", "by the time a robot shows up in a graveyard to mow down the greater philadelphia d.a. office , it 'll take a heavenly force to keep most eyes from rolling .", "this is not just a bad film ; it is a despicable one .", "the big problem with the movie is n't the violence , or the message about coddling criminals , or the two lead actors , although they 've never been worse . it 's the utter implausibility .", "the explanation of clyde 's methods is preposterous , but it comes late enough that f. gary gray , the director , is first able to generate considerable suspense and a sense of dread .", "it 's never clear how we 're supposed to feel about butler and when he 's gone too far . should he kill the judge ? maybe the court clerk for filing the paperwork ?", "entertaining , without making sense . film tries to say something about the judicial system , but fails badly . nevertheless , an intriguing idea . paul chambers , cnn .", "jamie foxx 's nick mostly repeats the part played by denzel washington in ricochet , the superior first incarnation of MOV .", "while preferably to the typical saw entry by about a five-to-one ratio , MOV still is n't any good .", "f. gary gray draws up some nifty car explosions , but he delivered a more exciting , thoughtful and better-acted system-challenging movie 11 years ago with `` the negotiator . '' this is immeasurably dumb sludge masquerading as rage against the machine .", "so blatantly nonsensical that the action quickly tips over into campiness .", "full review on movies for the masses", "shamelessly crass and blatantly stupid . there oughta be laws against films like this .", "sadistic and silly , ` MOV ' takes the revenge movie to ridiculous extremes .", "it 's a toss-up what 's dumber : the forehead-slapping contrivances director f. gary gray sets up for each killing , or the neanderthal political `` message . ''", "implausible and pandering .", "the more kurt wimmer 's screenplay reveals about the lead character 's scheme , the more difficult it is to believe that MOV is intended to be taken seriously .", "butler 's character starts murdering people simply to get them out of his way so that his diabolically exact and completely preposterous plan can fully bloom .", "go anywhere near this idiotic thriller and your brain may break up with you .", "it 's a `` who dies next ? '' slasher film masquerading as a revenge thriller .", "butler has the showier part , but his impersonation of the tragic hero is undercut by his weird resemblance to soupy sales .", "not so much a whodunit as a howdhedoit that will frustrate any intelligent viewer", "what i mostly noticed is how quickly i 've grown tired of butler 's mush-mouthed bravura , and also how much i hope that foxx , who looks bored , holds his slumming down to this one film .", "saw with a conscience is not what the world needs .", "not only is it a hapless crime drama about outrage and revenge , it provides the sad spectacle of a movie far less intelligent than the one its filmmakers thought they were making .", "cinematic headcheese assembled from umami-laden scraps of se7en , saw , the dark knight , and the silence of the lambs , with fun twists and superb explosions . just do n't dwell on what it 's made of .", "charles bronson may have passed away , but the spirit of his death wish films lives on - albeit in an absurdly twisted fashion - in this gleefully over-the-top revenge thriller .", "you want to see what happens , even as logic tumbles , and there are fascinating undercurrents in the bargain .", "MOV is such a lazy action-drama underachiever , it seems unfair to target stars jamie foxx and gerard butler for bringing their c game .", "90 percent awesome and 10 percent just okay", "simply rent silence of the lambs and falling down , then mash them together and maybe you 'll have what this movie was trying to achieve . maybe .", "the crystal clear cinematography and superb lighting make effective use of aerial views of the city of brotherly love . the movie proceeds at a rivetingly brisk pace and never lets up on the accelerator .", "a preposterous exercise in high-minded brutality , `` MOV '' tries to pass itself off as a dialectic on justice betrayed , but instead plays like a snuff film with our nation 's legal system as the victim .", "sure , it 's outta place for october , but there 's no reason you ca n't enjoy a mindless piece of candy against the backdrop of fall foliage .", "if you 're looking for a movie that 'll let you switch off your brain without insulting your intelligence , this might be the flick for you this weekend .", "the mixture of gruesome revenge picture and self-satisfied message movie is deeply off-putting .", "the overall moral focus is lost early on when the film turns into a highly entertaining and far-fetched action adventure . butler has n't been this good since 300 .", "` it 's going to get biblical ! ' ... sets new standards of lunatic plotting as it goes about its smiting ." ], "summary": "unnecessarily violent and unflinchingly absurd , MOV is plagued by subpar acting and a story that defies reason .", "id": "770804709" }, { "movie": "1018639-seven_samurai", "reviews": [ "the action scenes in this movie are virtually unequaled by any other movie in history , even if some of the ` waiting-around ' scenes grow tiresome .", "much imitated , still unsurpassed .", "this movie is so successful because of its flawless direction and very balanced combination of powerful human drama and exciting action .", "perhaps akira kurosawa 's greatest triumph , the MOV is a bona fide classic of cinema , a regular on many critics all-time top tens . so , if you have n't seen it before , why not ?", "and it 's not just that the story is compelling . it is unforgettable .", "it 's all rollicking good fun , and it 's an action film with a lot on its mind .", "a classic of adventure , a story of honor , a tale of a specific time and place that still has universal resonance .", "the MOV is a brilliant film - the only caveat , in fact , is that the length and the language barrier make it a difficult movie to get through .", "a genuinely entertaining movie with characters we love and characters we love to hate , sensuality and violence , tragic events and laugh out loud moments .", "MOV is an unforgettable masterpiece -- the work of one of the world 's greatest filmmakers at the height of his powers .", "-lsb- kurosawa -rsb- has loaded his film with unusual and exciting physical incidents and made the whole thing graphic in a hard , realistic western style .", "one of the greatest epic masterpieces ever made .", "the touchstone for the entire samurai genre , as well as the inspiration for several western films ... it continues to endure because it is an epic , and epics never die", "a touchstone of grace and beauty : stirring , epic , and influential beyond measure .", "it is clearly one of the most influential films ever made , and remains awe-inspiring even today .", "synthesizes the traditions of the samurai narrative and the american western to create an intimate epic with deeply felt ground-level consequences . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "famous epic with stylish violence and subtitles .", "an enduring classic .", "kurosawa 's intention of making his first period film `` entertaining enough to eat '' is brought to that palpable condition through -lsb- toshiro -rsb- mifune 's endlessly watchable peasant warrior .", "the greatest movie ever made about warriors and battle .", "i can think of a several samurai films that i prefer to this , but it 's still a solid film .", "kurosawa deflates the myth of the noble samurai without actually debunking it , and stages some great action sequences .", "the legendary mifune leads a superb cast , and kurosawa 's kinetic camera keeps the adventure sizzling with energy and wit from start to finish .", "... suffers from an absurdly overlong running time that often threatens to negate its more overtly positive attributes ...", "again and again , kurosawa sends a dark thrill through his audience with a touch of sensuous physical reality .", "MOV is widely acknowledged as one of kurosawa 's , and indeed japan 's and world cinema 's , greatest films .", "akira kurosawa captures the convulsive feeling of being alive and crams it inside a single movie . MOV is the portable world .", "kurosawa 's film is a model of long-form construction , ably fitting its asides and anecdotes into a powerful suspense structure that endures for all of the film 's 208 minutes .", "arguably the most influential epic ever made , kurosawa 's 1954 film is a veritable textbook on how to shoot , cut , frame and present violence on screen ; sergio leone , arthur penn , sam peckinpah , michael mann and many others owe huge debut to the master", "kurosawa 's three-hour jidai-geki epic can be counted among the greatest of all battle movies ... a majestic tale of heroism , sacrifice and death .", "besides the well-manned battlescenes , the pic has a good feeling for characterization and time .", "crosses over from raw entertainment to lovable trashy art .", "the movie sucks you in so thoroughly you 're actually pissed when you have to swap in a new disc during intermission .", "epic , influential adventure about japanese swordsmen who band together to rescue besieged villagers", "the epic action scenes involving cavalry and samurai are still without peer .", "impressive and ambitious , but seriously - am i the only person alive who finds it overwrought and patience-testing ?", "a masterpiece ; a timeless classic ; one of the greatest movies ever made .", "the greatest action movie ever made .", "the archetypal action classic .", "akira kurosawa 's the MOV -lrb- 1954 -rrb- is not only a great film in its own right , but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century .", "as an action spectacle , it is a truly magnificent work with tremendous battle scenes filled with violence and cruelty .", "rich in detail , vivid in characterization , leisurely in exposition , this 207-minute epic is bravura filmmaking .", "on a short list of the greatest films of all time .", "it 's no wonder spielberg and lucas love kurosawa so much : MOV and , at a much lower level , the hidden fortress are prototypes for the kind of filmmaking with which the two americans reinvented popular cinema .", "moves like hot mercury , and it draws a viewer so thoroughly into its world that real life can seem thick and dull when the lights come up ." ], "summary": "arguably akira kurosawa 's masterpiece , the MOV is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story , memorable characters , and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made .", "id": "16992" }, { "movie": "saving_private_ryan", "reviews": [ "gripping and satisfying in a way that no mere summer event movie could ever be .", "despite nearly six decades of filmmakers trying to come to grips with -lsb- world war ii , MOV -rsb- feels like the first truly honest attempt to deal with the horrors of combat -- and the terrible responsibility shared by all survivors .", "for those who are willing to brave the movie 's shocking and unforgettable images , MOV offers a singular motion picture experience .", "using the overpowering techniques of modern film , steven spielberg has cut through the glory-tinged gauze that shrouds world war ii to reveal its brutal reality , creating a phenomenology of violence unsurpassed in the history of cinema .", "a powerful experience .", "a flawed but masterful film .", "with complete visual and aural technical mastery , spielberg and kaminski thrust us face-first into the fighting , and never let us back out for two hours and forty minutes .", "a powerful and impressive milestone in the realistic depiction of combat , MOV is as much an experience we live through as a film we watch on screen .", "a soberly magnificent new war film .", "MOV may be the most mature war film ever made .", "a message which can never be spoken too often , or for too long .", "this is an important film that deconstructs war machines into separate , frightened men as it so likely was .", "spielberg trades in his usually powerful ideals for an unsettling combination of phony humanism and pandering realism .", "`` that old guy i 'm honking at while i am driving to swing dance lessons went through all that for me ? so i can drive my honda and speak english and watch cable tv ? ''", "el desembarco en normand\u00eda es un evento famoso de la historia , pero nunca hab\u00eda sido fotografiado en esta forma .", "violence is not redemptive , and there is no grandeur in dying for one 's country . all that really matters in this setting of hell is small acts of kindness .", "what can be saved from private ryan is the recognition that some pain and heroism is beyond imagination and the consolation of meaning .", "the greatest steven spielberg movie since the last great one ? sure .", "... the landing on omaha beach , should be shown in every high school classroom in america", "the combat scenes alone make it a must-see , but i sometimes wished i could fast-forward through the rest .", "the remaining battle scenes are riveting , and in war as nowhere else difficult choices can have shattering consequences .", "all in all a remarkable and yet very uneven film .", "ralph waldo emerson once said that ` war educates the senses , ' and that statement has never been truer than when applied to steven spielberg 's `` MOV . ''", "the honesty and realism of some of the scenes of this film may forever change the war film .", "the only thing surprising about MOV is how conventional it is . i fully expected a much more ` noir ' vision of wwii along the lines of oliver stone 's platoon .", "it has a few pretty good action moments , a lot of spilled guts , a few moments of drama that do n't seem phony or hollow , some fairly strained period ambience , and a bit of sentimental morphing that reminds me of forrest gump .", "MOV is a brilliant , savage piece of filmmaking , a soaring paean to the courage of man -- as individual and as family .", "the word that springs to mind is ` intense ' , but that is an understating insult .", "this picture attempts to bring about a fuller understanding of sacrifice on the battlefield and in that respect it is a moving and dignified salute to the fallen .", "hanks is perfectly cast as the sincere miller , whose take-charge attitude barely conceals his lack of confidence .", "the first half hour alone forever redefines the war movie genre . ryan has just one minor flaw : the plot is completely contrived . and if you can characterize a weak story as just a minor flaw ... well , that 's some damn fine filmmaking .", "the movie 's greatest strength lies in phenomenal performances that reach from the leads right down to the smallest supporting roles ...", "it 's spielberg at his best , although the movie does n't match the primal thrills of jaws or the overwhelming excellence of schindler 's list .", "even the music score by john williams , one of the most important ingredients of spielberg 's magic formula , is hardly memorable . the acting , on the other hand , is very good .", "this film does for world war ii what platoon and the deer hunter did for vietnam . it takes you there .", "MOV is an extraordinary experience at many moments , and it deserves to be seen ...", "the platoon is an unlikely combination of heroes , cowards and crusaders .", "one of the best war films ever made . you do n't just see it , you live through it . you survive it and after it , you feel like you know just a little bit what it is like to be in a war .", "MOV is far from flawless , but it 's an important movie . it shows what america was once capable of , how a threat to freedom and justice was met with resolve and bravery , and how a great victory came at great cost .", "very few movies strike the delicate balance that private ryan maintains between harsh reality and higher purpose .", "spielberg is telling his fellow americans to appreciate the sacrifices their forebears have made and to act accordingly .", "spielberg puts us through the hair-trigger terrors of combat in a way no other filmmaker has ever dared , and yet there 's a gentleness to his enterprise . he 's interested in the humaneness that comes through the horror .", "launches and climaxes with two of the greatest extended battle sequences ever put on film .", "one of spielberg 's most difficult `` problem '' films .", "the film is directed by steven spielberg , and breaks new ground in content and style . it merges some of the most realistically disturbing battle footage ever included in a feature film with a touching human story .", "this is spielberg 's way of showing that these warriors were ordinary men -- men who , if they survived , became the grandfathers and great-grandfathers who , these days , pass largely unnoticed through life .", "if steven spielberg 's emotional intelligence matched his visual genius , his harrowing , passionately felt and honorably flawed new film might qualify for one of the greatest american movies ever made about world war ii .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- accomplishes something i had been taught was most difficult -- making an action-filled anti-war film or , at least , one that does n't in some way glorify or lie about combat .", "steven spielberg 's film is not perfect : it plays its strongest card first , the middle section is slightly uneven , and there are sallies into sentimentality . but it is a modern war classic .", "MOV is a masterpiece . it cements steven spielberg 's reputation as one of the seminal filmmakers of the era .", "the result , i am sorry to say , is that MOV seems almost banal in its achievement , a film that sacrifices humanity for technical wizardry .", "the movie epitomizes the paradox of all great filmmaking : it 's a thrillingly violent war drama about an unbearably painful subject .", "the opening 30 minutes are so devastating that much of what follows ends up feeling anticlimactic . good , but overrated .", "MOV is a first-class war movie with some absolutely brilliant , gut-wrenching moments , especially the beginning minutes .", "neither wholly condemning war , nor spouting patriotism , spielberg shows us the price we pay .", "i found it tediously manipulative despite its herculean energy .", "it 's forty minutes of steely violence and two hours of cliche-ridden flab .", "MOV is an incredible movie , a near-masterpiece .", "why did spielberg make it ? he wants us to imagine we can feel the terror of being there , but does that make us any wiser about this or any other conflict ? probably not .", "you feel you are under siege with the combatants .", "uncompromising , powerful war movie that does not pull any punches . pefectly balances the inhumanity of war and the humanity of its protagonists . devastating and essential viewing .", "most of the film is an accomplished , visionary work .", "spielberg throws you right down there in the middle of all the action , and you have no choice but to experience it .", "MOV is not a film that one takes pleasure in , or even enjoys in the usual sense , but rather , it 's a movie that elicits a hushed admiration and an uneasy appreciation .", "a bitter , bloody masterpiece with adrenalized emotions and hyper-realized images .", "MOV surely is one of the most intense combat movies ever made , surpassing even the bloody realism , the raw exhilaration and the terrifying brutality of such recent battle epics as glory , gettysburg , platoon and full metal jacket .", "spielberg has taken us back to basics -- back to art , back to amazement at the film medium itself .", "spielberg has obviously poured his heart into this movie .", "spielberg opens in flashback with a half-hour set piece brilliant enough to climax any other masterpiece .", "superbly cast and well-acted .", "an intense , technically brilliant , wonderfully acted film .", "certain to be one of the year 's most popular and talked-about movies .", "verge on greatness .", "una de las experiencias cinematogr\u00e1ficas mejor logradas y m\u00e1s impactantes de muchos , muchos a\u0144os", "the great hollywood battle films have told us repeatedly that war is hell . MOV , more than any other , is the one that shows it .", "war may be a faceless affair , but war movies should n't be .", "thanks to hanks , and spielberg 's technical finesse , this develops into a powerful and potent portrayal of men at war , and those opening 20 minutes are worth the price of entry alone .", "bloody , tragic war epic does n't hold back .", "it deserved all the honors it received , looks and sounds great on blu-ray , and safely remains among the best war movies of all time .", "MOV set a new benchmark for realism in wwii films , and defined war movies for a generation . a film of scope and vision rarely experienced , its award-winning cinematography and sound editing helped convey the blood-chilling images of", "private ryan resembles the director 's other so-called mature efforts by putting a positive spin on unspeakable horrors .", "violent , harrowing , and horrific ; you bet . this is not a movie to take your children to see , or even a date . and it 's definitely not worth seeing alone . how the ratings board gave this movie an `` r '' rating is a mystery . well , maybe not .", "i personally have never fought in a war before but i would go out on a limb and say that the first twenty minutes of the film may be the most realistic war scene i have seen .", "no further commentary is needed when the raw brutality of combat is presented as indelibly as it is here .", "a good movie , but , like amistad , it has its problems .", "it is the battle scenes , which burn in your mind for days afterwards , that distinguish this film .", "a war film that , entirely aware of its genre 's conventions , transcends them as it transcends the simplistic moralities that inform its predecessors , to take the high , morally haunting ground .", "absolutely genuine , graphic , testament of the actual horrors of war .", "spielberg 's assembled cast is as fine an ensemble as one could hope for .", "... features the strongest character interactions of any spielberg work post-jaws", "a stunning piece of work that aims and hits the audience square in the gut .", "spielberg has done and said a lot more about war in this film than any other film in history ever has .", "an experience sometimes hard to endure but not to be missed .", "once again , steven spielberg proves that as a constructer of movie images , he 's unbeatable .", "as compelling , intimate and brutally realistic an account of men at war as you 've ever seen .", "an experience that left me shaken and deeply moved .", "the diverse effects that war has on human nature has never been captured with such aching reality .", "the standard has been raised .", "the most intense modern war movie ever made .", "with private ryan the object is to put you in a place no sane person would choose to go . and it does .", "the result is staggering .", "calling it the greatest war movie ever made does a disservice to other , equally worthwhile , lower-profile films . but it 's still an excellent movie , as effective in battle scenes as it is in that of soldiers ruminating on an edith piaf song .", "dramatic lapses notwithstanding , MOV goes beyond technical dazzlement to put a new , indelibly terrible face on war .", "after seeing ryan , many of us will look at our aging fathers or grandfathers with a newfound respect .", "spielberg goes a long , long way toward overcoming his tendencies toward the shallow , but the visceral punch of his not-quite-masterful film is softened by an almost neurotic slickness that keeps getting in the way of the -lsb- issues it raises -rsb- .", "searing , heartbreaking , so intense it turns your body into a single tube of clenched muscle , this is simply the greatest war movie ever made , and one of the great american movies .", "what steven spielberg has accomplished in MOV is to make violence terrible again . nothing in the movie 's melodramatic narrative can diminish the shocking immediacy of its combat scenes .", "anyone who would like to know what superb filmmaking is all about need look no further than this overpowering movie .", "MOV is steven spielberg 's best war film and one of the two or three best movies the director has made .", "spielberg obviously decided that blood and guts meant just that , and so he arranged his violence into a semblance of pure disorder . the illusion holds , complete with severed limbs and wellsprings of blood , and it feels honorable .", "what ultimately sets MOV apart from its golden age lineage , however , is its unflinchingly brutal depiction of the horrors of war as seen from a foot soldier 's perspective .", "has ` masterpiece ' written all over it .", "spielberg has captured the hair-trigger instability of modern combat .", "except for the maudlin bookends from the present day that frame the story , spielberg does n't over-sentimentalize .", "MOV is almost three hours long , but it never drags .", "spectacular , wrenching masterpiece that unflinchingly documents the random horror , the grisly spectacle and the ugliness of war .", "the performances are all superb .", "MOV is one of the most brilliant pieces of film ever created . i do n't think i 'll ever be able to watch it again .", "with its riveting combat drama played out against a d-day backdrop , MOV is a masterpiece of world war ii heroism .", "an instant classic .", "technically , it may be the best-made war movie yet , but dramatically , it barely delivers .", "its dramatic shortcomings may demote private ryan from the ranks of battlefield classics , but the film explodes romantic notions of world war ii like an artillery shell bursting through the center of your rib cage .", "ultimately , it lacks the resonance of such classics as all quiet on the western front , but this is still well-meaning , strongly acted and slickly mounted , and ranks among the director 's very best films .", "by now we expect this level of performance and narrative competence from a spielberg film . but what makes MOV a watershed is its emotional maturity .", "spielberg accomplishes these goals with a technical virtuosity that no other director , arguably in the history of the cinema , can even approach .", "MOV is the war movie to end all war movies . it 's the ultimate combat film , far outdistancing what until now had been the genre 's world war ii classics .", "spielberg 's latest masterwork , pairing america 's director with '90s everyman tom hanks , makes a natural companion piece to his similarly disturbing schindler 's list .", "spielberg 's typically overindulgent sensibilities mute the impact of the film 's more overtly captivating moments .", "the cast functions as an effective and believable unit . and hanks gives a strong , increasingly solemn performance as its mysterious leader .", "steven spielberg has made a film about bravery that does n't shy away from the horrors encountered by soldiers even in a `` good '' war . but he was n't quite brave enough to present the story without a comforting coat of saccharine ." ], "summary": "anchored by another winning performance from tom hanks , steven spielberg 's unflinchingly realistic war film virtually redefines the genre .", "id": "13217" }, { "movie": "atonement", "reviews": [ "-lsb- t -rsb- his is a must to avoid , particularly because it appears to be selling the message that writing is , by nature , dishonest .", "it grabs your heart and does n't let go .", "the film wholly transports you into the lives of fictional characters , making their pain , passion , and regret more real than anything else . all of the elements come together to create a near perfect film .", "there is a lot that is contrived and does not work . the little things wrong with the film add up to too much .", "fairly well-directed , well-written and well-acted , and it never quite gets around to answering the fundamental question ... why does this thing exist ?", "magnifies its inescapable destiny with dazzling bravura .", "excellent literary adaptation too mature for kids .", "epic and occasionally heartbreaking but never as powerful or cohesive as it ought to be .", "the regret i felt the most while watching MOV was not briony 's , but my own for having gotten myself stuck in two hours of drudgery .", "a rare , slightly astonishing success .", "the tragic , proud , vulnerable and empathetic robbie is -lsb- mcavoy 's -rsb- breakthrough role , proof that this is a leading man with a terrific future in movies .", "mcewan 's uncanny expression of the intangible has posed a challenge to those who 've brought his novels and short stories to the screen , and wright resorts to obvious cinematic shorthand to communicate MOV 's metaphysical ideas .", "-lsb- this -rsb- movie is abundantly attractive , every scene serenely composed , and every character so fair in love and war that , when the lights come up , it 's too easy to say , `` that was good and sad and romantic and classy , now what 's for dinner ? ''", "it 's some kind of miracle . written , directed and acted to perfection , MOV sweeps you up on waves of humor , heartbreak and ravishing romance .", "the film is absorbing and evocative .", "a majestic and intimate romance that should rightly cement the careers of director joe wright and leading man james mcavoy , and give saoirse ronan some much-deserved exposure .", "no two-hour film could ever capture all the riches of mcewan 's masterly novel . but wright and hampton 's MOV comes tantalizingly close , while adding sensual delights all its own .", "i hardly believed a word of it .", "it 's still a great epic drama but it seems to have lost its heart somewhere along the way .", "belongs to the realm of theater -- `` masterpiece theater . '' a misdirected-letter movie ? really ? in 2007 ?", "rarely has a book sprung so vividly to life , but also worked so enthrallingly in pure movie terms .", "the film is gorgeous to look at , well paced -lrb- especially during the first half -rrb- , and by turns touching and sad . the ending packs an emotional punch , which is what one would expect from any movie developed from a mcewan novel .", "MOV is a fully formed pleasure of a film that only really stumbles in its editing and its closing moments .", "the uncertainty of how events will unfold is riveting .", "screenwriter christopher hampton and director joe wright have smartly dramatized the book 's wartime romance and tragedy .", "wright brings off enough scenes to leave us with moderately good feelings about the time spent , but he lacks the david lean-like vision and flair that might have turned this 75-year epic of love , war and family betrayal into an unforgettable movie .", "now and then you find a period picture that affords this sort of rightness of scale and satisfaction .", "MOV is an almost classical example of how pointless , how diminishing , the transmutation of literature into film can be .", "the arc and resolution do n't feel nearly as absorbing and devastating as mcewan 's masterful novel .", "for the most part , the result is a smashing success , filled with great performances and exquisite production design .", "the film digs deeper and becomes more complex as it goes along , with a coda that delivers a powerful message : art has the potential to heal and redeem . it 'd be hard not to find MOV pretty damn therapeutic .", "no sophomore slump for british punk wunderkind director joe wright ... if anything , MOV is even better , the tragedy of the story intensifying the romance , the novel 's unique structure providing an uncommon literary twist", "an achingly poignant melodrama .", "fortunately there 's more to the film than epic romance . this really is briony 's tale and -- as embodied by -lsb- saoirse -rsb- ronan , -lsb- romola -rsb- garai and vanessa redgrave -- she becomes a captivating screen character .", "the interpretation is so painstaking and moving that almost every moment delivers a shuddering jolt to the head and the heart .", "this is a film that might have contained itself better , but it still stings with bitter truth .", "slapstick and romantic tragedy slam into each other -- and , almost unique in a period piece , the characters become so ` real ' they 're magical .", "imagination typically should be encouraged in children , but an excess of it leads to tragedy in this more than worthy adaptation of ian mcewan 's 2002 novel .", "... richly textured , deeply moving ...", "this chick-lit flick is an ` english patient ' style epic .", "the story that begins so frivolously , in elegant surroundings and shimmering long gowns comes to its conclusion with a piercing twist to the heart .", "in its first 45 minutes , MOV achieves a kind of perfection rare even for big oscar-bait movies . every facet of the filmmaking is the equal of any picture released this year . the rest of the movie is n't so bad .", "well-acted and reasonably engaging period piece . and it suggests keira knightley is at her best when she 's in `` costume dramas '' such as this .", "the performances are all solid .", "MOV is everything a true lover of literature and movies could possibly hope for . it is unquestionably , without any reservations , my favorite film of the year .", "one of the most successful adaptations of a distinguished novel i have ever seen .", "profundity is never achieved because the would-be encompassing love story at its center is n't given enough time to build and breathe .", "part highbrow british drawing-room drama , part gritty war film , all entertainment almost all the time , MOV is a masterful study of both the hurtful and redemptive effects of imagination .", "a sweeping epic in the non-annoying , non-boring kind of way .", "an impeccable craftsman in the tradition of david lean , wright possesses the late director 's considerable gifts for drawing out his actors .", "MOV is a sophisticated , gorgeous screen tragedy ... a luxurious cinematic cake , furthering wright 's position as one of the more exciting young filmmakers out there today .", "in the almost spookily capable hands of 34-year-old director joe wright , the film version of MOV has achieved that to which every literary adaptation should aspire .", "a mixed bag , but far better than wright 's muddled pride & prejudice and ultimately worth seeing .", "with the ian mcewan novel adaptation MOV , it 's obvious that joe wright -- who made his big-screen debut with 2005 's deft , affecting version of pride & prejudice -- knows how to shepherd a novel to the screen .", "where mcewan whispers , wright shouts .", "a film of rare refinement and artistry ... an impeccable adaptation .", "even with its strong themes and performances , MOV will be enjoyed most by those enthralled when the craft of filmmaking becomes an art .", "any man who says he likes this slow-paced , phantasmagorical movie needs a double shot of testosterone .", "it 's the only epic i can think of that blossoms out of the notorious slang word for female genitalia . reduced that way , it sounds kind of silly , and it is kind of silly .", "sightly better than average , unless you count keira knightley 's lack of screen time as a positive -lrb- note : it is -rrb- .", "the rat-a-tat-tat of a typewriter strafes the soundtrack repeatedly to remind us of the power of storytelling and to suggest that words can hit like bullets .", "a deft juggling of time , place , and character .", "most people will recognize knightley , but it 's mcavoy who will have you talking after the credits roll", "... the only thing worse than leaving the theater unfulfilled is feeling manipulated and foolish for your own emotional investment .", "epic and heart-rending , MOV accents its old-fashioned qualities with a modern-day frankness .", "MOV , a triumph of adulthood , atones for a lot of shoddy stuff at the movies in 2007 .", "positively demands a second viewing .", "it is one of the rare british period literary adaptations that feels like a fresh and vital story instead of a museum piece", "MOV is so good it redeems our faith in intelligent drama .", "given the difficulties in transferring ian mcewan 's trickily structured 2001 novel MOV to the screen , director joe wright and screenwriter christopher hampton have done a commendable job . commendable but not electrifying .", "MOV is one of the best and most powerful films of 2007 and should be well rewarded come oscar time .", "the movie never goes as deep as the novel -lrb- no movie could -rrb- , but it 's a worthy approximation : a merchant-ivory movie that turns in on itself with a lucid and painful sigh .", "it taises important questions about the relationship between honesty and kindness , and ends on a powerful note that asks whether there can ever be true mercy without , well , truth .", "fans of the original source material will definitely know what to expect here . the rest of us , who ca n't seem to connect to any of these characters -lrb- let alone care about them -rrb- , can only marvel at the technical aspects of the film .", "the movie poses a fascinating question : can one ever atone for a sin that destroyed somebody 's life ? the exploration of the answer and the execution of the film are equally remarkable , making this adaptation of the ian mcewan novel a top 2007 film .", "there 's no sinking into `` MOV , '' no losing yourself to it , no moment when the screen fades away and the story and the characters come to the fore to overcome you .", "a film that instantly joins the ranks of the great screen romances .", "it 's a shame that the denouement does n't completely provide us with the emotional catharsis we require .", "the fractured perspective reduces our emotional attachment to the events . that said , if you 're looking for a weepy romance % u2013 albeit one with an aggressively bittersweet ending % u2013 wright delivers adequately .", "... this season 's serious british film . it 's entertaining , provocative and oh so obviously oscar bait .", "it grapples with some of the most bruising aspects of the human condition", "somehow the intensity of mcewan 's voice has n't survived and once we move beyond the magic of that lost summer 's day , the film becomes a strangely cool and cerebral experience .", "-lsb- director joe -rsb- wright and cinematographer seamus mcgarvey move us gracefully and jarringly from the gorgeous english countryside to the horrors of war .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- is , in the end , mildly disappointing , a movie that is beautiful but without warmth . hopefully joe wright can continue on the visual path he is blazing for himself while not again losing the humanity of his wonderful pride & prejudice .", "champions of the novel who oppose the imbalanced adaptation will find no wrongdoing with the look of the film .", "wright has made a film that honors the imaginative responsibility of an adapter .", "... without a sense of justice , MOV just does n't pay its penance . it turns a potentially magnificent movie into something that 's merely good .", "what really sets MOV apart from other films is the incredible one-two punch at the end that you never see coming and might think about for days .", "the trailer for MOV had me giddy with excitement i thought i was going to be in for a truly epic love story that spanned time , distance , war , betrayal , but what i got was this anemic , pretentious , non-epic turd .", "MOV 's main strength is its flow , and its cinematic techniques are able to both bolster the flow and occasionally distract from it .", "wright 's direction and the highly literary adaption of ian mcewan 's award-winning novel by christopher hampton give this story an epic sweep .", "the transition from imagined drama to reality grows tedious .", "a handsome and good , but not great adaptation of ian mcewan 's best-selling , 2002 novel of the same name .", "i 'm sure it works on the page , but on screen , it gets clunky , especially in the epilogue , which hardly packs the intended emotional punch as a result .", "sale of the love story is hampered by the sheer number of impossible coincidences that mount on the first day of events . great sound direction . good cinematography .", "the acting is superb .", "a swoon of thwarted love , MOV is missing something , the heartrending something that would make an otherwise gorgeous film a romance for the ages .", "defined by grand cinematic gestures that go nowhere .", "even without all of this bungled structure and flawed internal logic , MOV still fizzles .", ". . you must admire the precision of wright 's craft and the accuracy of the performances of all the actors -- if you 're a certain kind of moviegoer you likely wo n't care that you do n't believe a word of it .", "one of the many films around oscar season that 's easy to respect but hard to love .", "smaller than you 'd expect , though many may remember it for the exquisite period detail , production design or fluid camera work .", "a skilful directorial touch and a refreshingly smart script . and the acting is good enough to carry us through the slightly dull patches .", "... it 's certainly worth noting that the movie packs a far more potent emotional punch than its literary forebearer .", "what a clever , ambitious , compassionate picture it is ; what a success for joe wright and for knightley and mcavoy . it 's a film which aims at big ideas , and it treats us like grownups .", "chalk up another stunning achievement for joe wright , who must now be recognized as an auteur with few equals of his age and experience in world cinema .", "a stunning , powerful sophomore effort from joe wright , likely to have as much impact on second viewing .", "starry , sexy and unmistakably british , MOV is the kind of film that comes along all too rarely .", "MOV is an intelligently , evocatively directed movie in every aspect ...", "beautifully photographed adaptation of a major british novel that illustrates the value of counting to 10 -- make that l ,000 -- before doing anything rash .", "cleansing by self MOV does n't hack it , and the resolution provided is something far less than satisfying .", "an early contender for the 2008 oscars .", "a handful of brilliant performances makes MOV worth seeing .", "a gripping film .", "MOV is a handsome film , an earnest film , a film with taste in music and photography and a real sense of intelligence . but too often it feels like an exercise .", "an impressive expenditure of talent and craft on a complicated , stubbornly book-bound story that remains at a frustrating emotional distance .", "MOV takes a familiar movie environment , a setting that we think we know , and uses it for an examination of a host of dark impulses , such as jealousy , lust , cruelty and deceit .", "on paper and on screen , MOV is a story of rare beauty , both wrenching and wise .", "it 's a stunner that does justice to a great book .", "MOV is not only too polite but maddeningly orderly , resulting in a prettily cast , professionally performed , impeccably mounted bore .", "as good a film as one could imagine having been made from a great work of contemporary fiction .", "it ranks with the best novel adaptations of recent times .", "a cinematic fellatio for anyone easily impressed by set and costume design .", "wright did n't just take a great book and turn it into a movie . he created visual poetry from beautiful prose .", "in the story 's nooks and crannies are ideas to savor ... the human-condition horrors of unpassable distances of space , time , and reconciliation .", "this is one of the year 's best films , a certain best picture nominee .", "i was interested , but detached . i felt like i was watching a pathological study of the effects of an unpleasant young girl 's lie as it destroys three lives .", "MOV is an exquisitely crafted film bursting with the possibilities that cinema has to offer .", "there is a lot of yearning going on in MOV , and not all of it is confined to the actors on the screen .", "nothing ruins a pretty good movie more than calling it great , and with MOV , even ` pretty good ' feels like a stretch .", "knightley is exquisite shouldering ... old hollywood glamour ... mcavoy positively simmers with the kind of emotion ... that old hollywood trained us to love in romantic heroes ...", "acaba se sobressaindo n\u0103o exatamente pela hist\u00f3ria de amor que narra -lrb- embora esta funcione -rrb- , mas sim pelo curioso experimento narrativo que se prop\u0151e a fazer .", "great-looking film with a weak story .", "MOV 's extraordinary qualities outweigh any quibbles .", "the lingering deaths of soldiers and the lost causes they embody serve as tragic backdrops to the less compelling plot points embodied by briony and her characters .", "a superbly-made film that all but cries out for oscar accolades", "one of the few adaptations that gives a novel the film it deserves .", "MOV is an awesome achievement - i urge you to see it as soon as you can .", "knightley looks every inch a movie star , and the role wo n't do her career any harm . but it does n't have the kind of range or depth that is normally required in an awardwinning performance .", "part costume drama , part war epic , joe wright 's follow-up to pride & prejudice is above all a touching love story with a potent sexual charge . some viewers may feel cheated by the ending , but fans of the novel wo n't be disappointed .", "keira knightley and james mcavoy deliver the sort of performances that have got oscar written all over them as the doomed lovers in director joe wright 's sumptuous adaptation of ian mcewan 's dark novel .", "an adaptation at least as good as the novel - complex , delicate and devastating . gorgeous cinematography , a lilting score and near-faultless performances , under wright 's assured direction , make this the first contender for next year 's best picture oscar .", "MOV is one of the better made films of the year .", "you win again , fancy british people .", "the cinematography , editing and sound design are fully utilised to explore a compelling tale about memory , perception and the power of stories .", "impressively directed , beautifully photographed and superbly adapted drama with terrific performances from its cast .", "there 's much to admire about this adaptation of the ian mcewan novel , enough that its occasional faltering can be easily forgiven .", "a literary drama about the incredible damage caused by lying and the power of the imagination to amend reality .", "MOV does what a tragic romance is supposed to do .", "against those odds , screenwriter christopher hampton and director joe wright have turned mcewan 's best novel into a fluid , sumptuous and thoroughly engaging drama .", "director joe wright and screenwriter christopher hampton not only blow the merchant-ivory dust off the british period movie , they transform ian mcewan 's interior novel into a sweeping epic that speaks to the 21st-century soul .", "it is an amazing story , filled with quiet moments of profundity and more surprises than you could imagine .", "christopher hampton 's screenplay respects the literary focus of ian mcewan 's novel without falling into the trap of becoming uncinematic .", "these performers not only have the looks for a sweeping love story , they also have the skill to throw themselves into the proceedings like they really mean it .", "if you appreciate rigorous cinematic artistry along with your transcendent romance , you may just find the whole package heartrending .", "this is one of the best movies of 2007 .", "it is mindful art doubling as unapologetic entertainment , an ode to eros and errors assembled with vision and meticulous care .", "craft is everywhere in the film , in many touches that make it elegantly forceful .", "a noble , well-made , superbly performed and photographed -lrb- by seamus mcgarvey -rrb- semi-failure .", "MOV has significant themes , tragic circumstances and profound lessons on life and personal responsibility . it 's sooooooo booooooring .", "provides for the most inspiring cinematic experience of the year .", "sweeping , showy , and stiff , joe wright 's adaptation of ian mcewan 's pedigreed bestseller traffics in florid staging and callow emotions .", "podr\u00e1 resultar m\u00e1s o menos bella , triste , fr\u00eda , conmovedora , rom\u00e1ntica , incluso intrascendente , pero sin duda estamos ante una pel\u00edcula exquisitamente elaborada por un brillante equipo de artistas .", "an overly-ambitious , ultimately unsatisfying adaptation of ian mcewen 's best-selling romance novel .", "as a technical achievement , it 's one of the better films i have seen this year . the story is old-school overblown and yet it is played so sincerely you hardly notice its old-fashioned fire .", "this is one fine film and i found it even more moving than the book .", "MOV exquisitely captures the essence and nuance of the page and translates it to the screen with breathtaking originality .", "wright 's camera takes you on many memorable journeys , none as great as an incredible five minute tracking shot in which the scene never cuts away", "... this leads to one of the best romances of the year . the problem comes when an older briony attempts to atone for her misdeeds .", "it 's a romantic epic , set in the past , featuring some beautiful imagery , high drama and terrific performances from its small , all british cast . it 's also -lrb- which is n't always a given when it comes to best picture contenders -rrb- a great movie .", "MOV may look and sound like a best picture candidate , but that 's all wright 's doing .", "MOV 's goal is so ephemeral that film may not be able to do it complete justice . all that said , it 's still a fantastic piece of craftsmanship , benefiting from loving direction and excellent performances .", "an epic , grandiose , and immensely sad film , MOV is an extremely well crafted , visually rich love story set during a tumultuous time of war , where two impassioned characters are forever torn apart by the selfish jealousy of another .", "figurines in a teacup set , shipped over in boxes labeled ` for your consideration '", "frustratingly uneven , struggling to maintain momentum as it lurches through extended lulls and indulges in cliched genre affectations .", "zaslu % u017euje pohvale , ali ne onakve kakve bi trebao imati ozbiljni kandidat za `` oscara ''", "players outshine the script", "director joe wright and screenwriter christopher hampton tap into the underlying passion and pathos from which all the absurdity , irony , and poetry follow .", "ranks among the best films of the year .", "wright 's worthy follow-up to pride & prejudice combines the novel 's literary qualities with highly polished acting and production values , resulting in a classy tale of a doomed romance , with touching turns from keira knightley and james mcavoy .", "MOV has hints of greatness but i think it falls just short of oscar contention .", "some of the most creative and beautiful cinematography of the year combined with the best performances to date by knightly and mcavoy and earthshaking work by relative newcomer romola garai make this one of the best films out there", "keira 's tragic hottie pays for the guilty pleasure of an innocent stolen kiss from a servant 's son -lrb- james mcavoy -rrb- , with a lifetime of suffering and personal pain .", "i do n't ever recall seeing a movie that did to me what MOV did . it started off strong , then completely stopped working for me around the halfway point . then , at the last possible second , the film somehow managed to turn itself back around .", "like wright 's previous award contender , `` MOV '' is just a good enough drama with many flaws , but excels with strong performances from mcavoy and newcomer ronan ...", "a lushly shot , proficiently performed , and largely stultifying period piece that invites only mild , detached admiration .", "an intellectual understanding of the story is clarified at the expense of any emotional connection to the characters on screen .", "although this film does n't hinge on any great mystery or twist , it is a film that reveals itself slowly and in subtle satisfying ways .", "a lush indulgence ... big , classy , oscar-bait world war ii dramas do n't really get much better .", "those who have read ian mcewan 's brilliant novel will feel a slight twinge of being cheated out of the epic they might have expected .", "james mcavoy and keira knightley are intoxicating together .", "it 's impossible not to marvel at wright 's technical virtuosity .", "as close to perfection as mere mortals can aspire to .", "assuredly directed pbs type of arthouse film .", "it 's just exceptionally well-crafted .", "done-in by his own self-importance , wright overwhelms the story 's personal tragedy with extravagant depictions of his love triangle 's different fates .", "the film actually transcends the novel at times , due in no small part to seamus mcgarvey 's fluid camera work .", "ronan has a remarkably self-possessed , haunted quality that would be impressive for a newcomer of any age .", "as beautiful as it is thought-provoking and soulful .", "not a jane austin story , but it could be , if jane austin hardened up her subject matter a bit", "joe wright directs MOV with an eye to framing each performance with spectacularly vivid images , including a genuinely breathtaking tracking shot on the bloody , wreckage-strewn beach at dunkirk .", "MOV is a film out of balance , nimble enough in its first half but oddly scattered and ungainly once it leaves the grounds of the tallis estate .", "director joe wright is quickly establishing himself as a powerhouse adapter of period romance tomes .", "at some points wright appears to be simply showing off the dexterity of his visual ambitions to the detriment of the story 's emotional core .", "few films this year were as magnificent looking and few as misunderstood .", "-lsb- u -rsb- ltimately , the movie amounts to rolling lawns , lovely costumes , and characters that simply fail to resonate ." ], "summary": "MOV features strong performances , brilliant cinematography , and a unique score . featuring deft performances from james macavoy and keira knightley , it 's a successful adaptation of ian mcewan 's novel .", "id": "594229511" }, { "movie": "hall_pass", "reviews": [ "the simple jokes ... work best here , and the screenplay struggles as the pair completely loses focus on their goal .", "it 's a comedy that 's chosen to build itself on some pretty heavy issues , issues which it 's all for addressing with some pretty horrible ideas about the way relationships work .", "haphazardly conceived , phlegmatically paced , lazily filmed and punctuated with gratuitous moments of sexual and scatological slapstick . .", "an occasionally funny comedy with slow stretches that has directors peter and bobby farrelly returning to their trademark gross-out humor .", "why do the farrellys huff and puff and hem and haw and meander through a full third of the picture before the premise even clicks into low gear ? at least the answer is n't long in coming : they do n't have clue one where to go with it .", "avoid MOV at all costs .", "like the middle-aged dads in this flaccid fiasco , `` MOV '' is a decade behind the curve of what 's happening .", "a problem with `` MOV , '' i think , is that both owen wilson and jason sudeikis are affable , and the movie wants us to like them .", "ever catch yourself thinking , `` man , i wish beer commercials lasted just 104 minutes longer '' ?", "... feels like a major step in the right direction for the farrellys", "gross humor and lackluster acting make this a movie not worth seeing , but the worst part is , it 's not funny - and that you do n't expect from the farrelly brothers", "it 's the perfect showcase of ` an idea ' and not a film . while there are some laughs , it eventually feels like a waste or time .", "... sees the farrelly brothers making a virtue of their newfound ` maturity ' .", "an over emphasis on ` raunchy ' at the expense of humor takes its toll on this disappointing raunch-com from the farrelly brothers .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's now over a decade 's worth of evidence that the farrellys had their moment to shine and now it 's over .", "MOV is a particularly non-noteworthy sitcom episode gussied up in scatological humor , nudity and outr\u00e9 situations .", "weighed down by a shallow premise , cringe-worthy gags and mixed performances , this ends up one big , boring disappointment .", "MOV plays like a third or fourth sequel to the hangover filtered through cheap pop psychology .", "it 's a wafer-thin premise but the film 's real problems revolve around its characters . they 're all such schmucks .", "unless you really , really , really need to scare your partner into staying in your relationship , maybe pass this one by .", "more outrageous , gross out , potty humor than you can stomach .", "sporadically funny , but it wastes a lot of time on dreary clich\u00e9s .", "oddly misogynistic , particularly disappointing for film-makers whose great strength has been their capable and good-hearted female characters .", "MOV is certainly a galaxy-wide improvement over adam sandler 's latest atrocity , just go with it , and funnier than the farrellys ' last few efforts , but like its protagonists it just ca n't close the deal .", "this dirty little secret is one of the funniest films to start 2011 !", "... an unfunny , aggressively desperate , and flat-out boring comedy ...", "it may not be the second coming of there 's something about mary , but the farrelly brothers ' latest offers a number of hearty laughs and good performances to boot .", "at least there are enough laughs to help you forget about the film 's lack of structure or substance .", "while their characters may have aged , the farrellys have n't grown up themselves .", "it is at times riotously raunchy and funny but , for the most part , grounded in a sweet reality .", "there 's a couple of big shocking laughs and a pair of very likeable lead actors . the script is n't always funny but it has just enough charm to get it through the rough patches .", "it 's as though the farrelly brothers have run out of steam , become mired in sense of entropy , and given up on forging fearlessly into new comedic territory", "MOV , despite its come-ons , is more interested in making men-are-horny-and-incompetent jokes than it is in exploring the myriad complications of its plot device .", "it 's not a fizzer but i had hoped for more . heart and cutting edge are what 's missing", "none of the leads bring anything remotely special to the film . jenkins gets a couple of laughs , but his character is so ludicrous he has nowhere to take it - he 's a walking sight gag .", "i would n't necessarily call it a return to form , but after the heartbreak kid , they could have simply aimed the camera at the end result of MOV ' most scatological sequence , and it would be considered an improvement .", "a gross-out comedy about the perpetual immaturity of the american male that has , amazingly enough , a mature perspective .", "a bawdy , shock comedy laced with coarse dialogue , full-frontal nudity , sophomoric slapstick and bodily-function fare . the tried and true farrelly brothers formula , if that 's your taste !", "everything feels forced . nothing kills laughter faster than trying too hard .", "peter and bobby farrelly are gross-out artists in transition .", "the directors who once pushed boundaries with kingpin and there 's something about mary now defend them in MOV .", "the idea has been spun out to its fullest comic potential and the ultimate endorsement of monogamy is even more predictable .", "the farrellys , who wrote the script with pete jones and kevin barnett , play enough variations on that theme to keep us curious about how the inevitable reconciliation will go .", "a hit-and-miss affair that falls too often on the wrong side of that comedy corridor .", "although the film 's crude humor is n't ideal for a school assembly or church social , it is undeniably effective .", "talk about trying to have your cake and have sex with it , too .", "if you are the world 's biggest fan of movies that bake adultery , family , self-esteem , and your true life 's purpose into a cake frosted with d ** k jokes , this is your film .", "... looks and sounds more like a raunchy , worn-out television sitcom than a farrelly product .", "the joke is supposed to be that it 's sad to see these guys so desperate for a lay , but in truth , it 's even sadder to see the brothers this desperate for a laugh .", "wilson and sudeikis make an amusingly goofy pair .", "have the farrellys lost their touch ? once adept at crafting trashy , lowbrow gags way too funny to be ignored , they seem totally tin-eared with ` MOV . '", "a serviceable comedy outing with a number of surprisingly funny moments , along with a number of shocking but dumb-witted set-ups .", "the farrelys have lost their comic fastball . and curveball . and changeup .", "the first truly terrible picture of 2011 .", "MOV features a hilarious cast in a film that is consistently funny and very entertaining . the laughs rarely stop in this one .", "the farrelly 's do n't seem to have much interest in their own premise , instead wallowing in pee-pee and doo-doo jokes .", "following `` shallow hal '' -lrb- 2001 -rrb- `` stuck on you '' -lrb- 2003 -rrb- , `` fever pitch '' -lrb- 2005 -rrb- , `` the heartbreak kid '' -lrb- 2007 -rrb- and fox tv 's `` unhitched , '' this thing is actually a nice return to funny , raunchy form .", "`` something about mary '' seems a lifetime ago .", "the film is scripted as if aging frat boys sat with a pack of beers and tried to figure out which would be funnier , if a drunk girl vomited , or sneezed and shat at the same time .", "MOV shows flashes of '90s - farrelly magic ; and even at its most reductive , the film can still fall back on a basic tenet : these guys know their way around a gag .", "it 's hard to wax philosophic about a film in which a portly guy stoned out of his gourd elects to use a golf course sand trap like so much kitty litter , so let 's just state that MOV does n't merely alternate between scenes that are dumb and dumber .", "i like low-brow humor , but the farrellys could learn a lot from their past movies , which handled this with more finesse and humor than the slap-and-tickle nature of this film .", "the farrellys have a distinct touch that carries their dubious premise across .", "the film is rarely funny , pointedly tasteless -lrb- as if that 's new -rrb- , usually embarrassing and always bad .", "at least it 's infinitely better than their more recent efforts .", "the farrelly brothers ' best movie since there 's something about mary . i know , i know , even better than stuck on you .", "it wastes a lot of energy to very little effect .", "horribly uneven , but the movie 's got three or four setpieces that are up there with the best parts of `` there 's something about mary . ''", "farrellys ' film about infidelity has both raunch and heart .", "when i say that MOV is one of the farrelly brothers ' sloppier movies , i 'm not just talking about their penchant for flinging bodily fluids around and calling it comedy .", "ultimately the film takes a long time to go nowhere .", "there 's no way that MOV is anywhere near the classic comedies the brothers made earlier in their careers , but it is far from their worst comedy .", "the farrelly brothers can only wring so many laughs out of excrement in MOV", "MOV gave me the best workout i 've had in months .", "guys can be desperately pathetic creatures when it comes to the opposite sex .", "a repulsive mixture of smarmy schmaltz and unremitting vulgarity , directed by co-writers peter and bobby farrelly as though they were wielding a bludgeon .", "the farrellys hedged their bets on whether to take marital infidelity seriously , when what they ought to have done is go all-out with the vulgar , one-dimensional slapstick , and leave it at that .", "i laughed from beginning to end ... a comedy classic .", "`` MOV , '' actually shot in georgia , boasts the production values of public access tv . the masturbation / marijuana jokes are n't worthy of a farrelly outtakes reel .", "there were some scenes early in the film where i could n't catch every second joke because the audience was laughing so hard .", "farrelly brothers still gross out , but come up short on laughs", "we 're left with a week of two guys not even trying to make the most of their freedom , and though that alone does n't make for enough of a movie , in MOV , that 's all you 're going to get .", "a lot of the comedy in the farrellys ' newest r-rated movie , ` MOV , ' is strictly visual shocks that , most of the time , will have you laughing after you gasp out loud .", "packaged around r-rated gags , some of them of the gross-out scatological variety , is a heart-felt commentary on monogamy .", "sound depressing ? it is . for everyone .", "the ultimate message is `` there 's no place like home , '' just like the wizard of oz -- but trust me , this one ai n't for the kids .", "tired-looking marital sitcom .", "not only disgusting and unendurable , but filthy and boring , too .", "MOV is a hilariously unnaughty movie ; you know exactly where it 's going .", "a robotic effort , guided by the brothers in an insincere manner that suggests career panic over true comedic bravery . it 's a gross-out enterprise that 's largely miscast , overly schticky , and morally disoriented .", "is it redundant to note that this farrelly brothers picture is rated r , `` for crude and sexual humor throughout , language , some graphic nudity and drug use '' ? if anything here , the bros are sticking to their brand . maybe it 's time they grew up a little bit .", "those 1990s gross-out kings , peter and bobby farrelly , are finally growing up , even if that maturation is visible only in highly relative terms .", "the gross-outs stick out in the farrellys ' spotty new comedy .", "-lsb- a -rsb- far-fetched , mostly unfunny comedy .", "MOV , a light comedy of horny marital woe from directors peter and bobby farrelly , makes a novel statement about the sex wars : it says that they 're essentially over . and that the guys - in case there was any lingering suspense about it - have lost .", "if you go in with low expectations , you ca n't help but be pleasantly surprised . the value of its huge laughs should n't be underestimated .", "what once came naturally now seems like trying too hard , as the farrellys face their own mid-life crisis .", "inexplicably , i went into MOV ignorant of the fact that it was a farrelly bros. movie . if i 'd known , i would have been mentally prepared . there are moments in this film that would make judd apatow blush .", "where once there was cheek and even a little edge , now there 's just a desperate giggliness , which even 14-year-old boys would find embarrassing .", "there 's something about MOV that feels grosser than the usual farrelly brothers comedy .", "the farrelly brothers once again combine raucous humour , outrageous vulgarity and genuinely heartfelt comedy for this surprisingly involving story about rediscovering the spark in marriage .", "seu sucesso reside na compreens\u0103o dos diretores de que os personagens devem ser t\u0103o importantes quanto as piadas .", "another chapter in the endless saga of american male infantilism .", "hall fail .", "an orgy of crudity that could only appeal to adolescents too young to be admitted .", "90 excruciating minutes ...", "how many other comic auteurs today could follow fecal-splatter jokes with outbursts of naked emotion ?", "MOV is the confused death squeal of a creative partnership well pass its best and all the poo jokes in the world ca n't change that .", "appealing not to the lowest common denominator but the shortest , i.e. , the toddler set , barred due to the r rating . or , as one young lad said to his friend in the sandbox : `` waaaaaah ! ''", "more than a decade ago , they were irreverent . after watching the mangled mess that is MOV , it 's clear that the -lrb- farrellys -rrb- are now nothing more than irrelevant .", "the pleasantly crude MOV reminds us of what 's been missing from movies : those squirm-inducing moments in comedy that produce enough discomfort that at points what we 're watching is half a heartbeat away from a horror film .", "the farrellys have come to praise fidelity , not to bury it , and could have called this `` there 's something about marriage . ''", "MOV is such a tiring and dispiriting enterprise in and of itself that using it as a potential springboard to contemplate why the farrellys no longer ` matter ' ... well , it just seems not to matter .", "though the film never balances the grown-up stuff with the gross-out gags , it suggests the farrellys might be able to do mature after all .", "it 's secondhand , vaguely resigned material . and while sudeikis has some talent , he 's not yet ready to co-anchor a feature comedy .", "any time a movie needs to resort to two sequences involving unexpected bowel moments for laughs , you know you 're in trouble .", "nothing new from the farrelly brothers , but a mild recommendation for the handful of big laughs .", "the farrelly brothers continue to strain desperately for their gross-out glory days with MOV , their latest `` comedy '' -- and , yes , that word is in quotes for a reason .", "domesticity might be comfortable , but it has n't done much for the comedy of peter and bobby farrelly .", "it 's crude , for sure , relentlessly so , but it 's also just dumb and , when it tries to get something close to serious , kind of depressing .", "nothing anyone does in this movie makes any sense .", "leaves very little beyond a bitter aftertaste .", "it 's hopelessly sentimental , without much of the infamous farrelly bros gross-out .", "unfunny and unpleasant , it 's hard to believe these are the people who once made there 's something about mary .", "heavily relies on cheap stereotypes to bolster the laughs ... expect the expected , and you 'll snigger with laughter .", "MOV boasts a couple of big laughs . for the most part though , our response to the script is weak smiles .", "if the plot is poor , the direction takes dull to new levels of blandness .", "the film should be harmless fun yet comes over as seedy and a bit unpleasant .", "this movie was fun when it was made 56 years ago and called the seven year itch .", "the duo are desperately sad and the humour is painful , lowest-common-denominator stuff .", "bobby and peter farrelly have brought water to the arid desert currently calling itself american film comedy . it 's a drink spiked with enough crudeness to cause a nasty bout of dysentery .", "i liked this movie better when it was called the seven-year itch .", "MOV is hilarious , a return to form for the farrelly brothers .", "surprisingly , considering it 's made by the farrellys , `` MOV '' fails to take full advantage of its premise .", "the farrellys , once masters of the funny script , now seem to have no time for outrageous plots or the killer dialogue we loved them for .", "`` MOV '' captures the thrill that grown men get from a dirty joke and sustains it for almost the whole picture .", "noxious in the extreme , growing into an endurance test the longer one has to spend with these two louts posing as protagonists .", "while the promise of nudity and plenty of potty mouthed humor will be good enough for the teenage crowd , the rest of us should curb the marriage jokes and spend the night with our families", "once the funny and not-so-funny start to flow , you might not care , though it would be nice if the farrellys did care about the banality of their images , just a little .", "funny , often savagely so .", "the usual string of hackneyed and largely laugh-free set-ups involving vulgar chat-up lines , hash brownies and a mad , jealous guy with a crowbar , all seemingly purpose-honed to appeal to devotees of ` the hangover ' .", "i 'm sure many people on both sides of the fence will relate to these characters , though they probably wo n't tell their partners .", "though credited with having four writers , MOV struggles to raise a single titter beyond wilson 's unexpectedly short back and sides .", "apparently unable to extract humor from the situation they 've set up , the farrellys resort to doing what they feel they do best : staging schoolboy gags involving the untimely emission of various bodily fluids .", "the film-making farrelly brothers have striven for 12 years to re-establish the hysteria frequency of there 's something about mary .", "every line falls flat , a state of affairs the brothers remedy with an inevitable gag featuring defecation .", "these are difficult times for fans of the farrelly brothers , and horrendous times for fans of owen wilson .", "potentially funny insights are quickly drowned in a constant stream of bodily fluids , like the sweat of desperation as the farrellys struggle to recapture their own glory days .", "it ultimately scrapes a pass thanks to strong comic performances , a handful of decent laughs and the fact that the script actually manages to make the central relationship work .", "if you 're looking for an amiable giggle that both sexes will find horribly recognisable - plus poo and penis gags - MOV is worth the babysitting money .", "there 's very little that sets it apart from superior comedies that have done a better job portraying real people as the dirty-minded beings we all are .", "traffics in a brand of misogyny so puzzling that it can only be analyzed by examining the film 's raunchy jokes at close range .", "the funniest stuff does n't grow naturally from the story or characters , but feels appended , thrown on as afterthought , like a condiment , to add a little flavor .", "some of the material in MOV is just plain gross , but some of it is damn funny .", "mildly amusing or marginally offensive is about as good as it gets .", "it 's hard to tell what 's fallen farther : the farrelly brothers ' career or the institution of marriage .", "sound stupid ? it is .", "perhaps if this had been a saucy french sex comedy , it might have taken off . but in the hands of directors peter and bobby farrelly , it 's a clunky non-starter .", "i laughed from beginning to end and to me that 's the sign of a comedy classic .", "MOV zips along crudely but amiably on its sitcom-episode conceit .", "even the big showstopper `` hair gel '' - type joke -lrb- involving an upset tummy and a bathtub -rrb- is only worth an amused chuckle .", "scratch out `` hall , '' and just ... pass .", "there 's a healthy dose of dirty talking , most of which purports to give voice to the way men really think - a great argument starter for those brave enough to consider this a date movie .", "this thing had more than three strikes against it within the first five minutes .", "let 's just say indiana jones riding out a nuclear blast in a refrigerator is no longer the most far-fetched thing i 've ever seen in the movies .", "not up there with the farrelly brothers ' classics , but still a worthwhile , farcical comedy .", "it 's heretical but true : i prefer my farrelys sentimental .", "farrellys explore familiar themes in pass .", "it 's very raunchy and it relies on a lot of stereotypes that come from other comedies of its type , but on the other hand it has an underlying sweetness .", "has the smart , relaxed , real-life drive of the farrellys ' best comedies . -lrb- there are even two poop sight-gags that are shockingly funny . -rrb- too bad the wives ' storyline is so unfunny and uncomplicated ." ], "summary": "some filmgoers may be surprised by the farrellys ' defense of traditional domestic values in MOV -- unfortunately , they 'll probably also be dismayed by the absence of laughs .", "id": "771041144" }, { "movie": "hustle_and_flow", "reviews": [ "never moves beyond its own clich\u00e9s .", "shot and scored with a raw , throwback feel , the film slips out of predictability by massaging a lingering feeling of dread and hopelessness into djay 's tale of rising hope .", "if 8 mile was rocky , hustle & flow is raging bull .", "a maudlin , broadly-appealing , race-baiting melodrama that traffics in clich\u00e9 and misogyny with as much ease as its happy-go-lucky pimp/drug dealer hero .", "one of those terrific out-of-the-blue movies that come along every so often .", "howard 's been knocking on stardom 's door for some time now , and hustle & flow should seal the deal .", "if you overlook the f-bombs and the drug deals , hustle & flow is peddling the same easy-path-to-riches-and-romance story danielle steel keeps cranking out .", "dolemite and super fly were n't exactly ennobling role models , but they were fighting a good fight against an oppressive system , whereas djay is resisting what exactly ? getting a real job ?", "brewer and howard turn djay into the most inspirational underdog champion since rocky balboa .", "but good soundtrack does n't always equal good movie -- if it did , prince 's graffiti bridge would have been a huge success .", "what 's missing in this self-proclaimed story of redemption , though , is something other than a fairy-tale finale . it 's the sense that the filmmaker understands the consequences of exploiting women even if his protagonist does n't .", "the way it peels back the layers of that first speech and shows us how naked and vulnerable ambition truly can be make it one of the most interesting films of the year .", "so much love went into hustle & flow that it almost glows with it .", "i ca n't remember another movie that started out so confidently , so utterly sure of its own swagger , and then limped so erratically to its end .", "of course it manipulates us ; most movies do . but it does so with such sincere , funky confidence that i loved just about every minute of it .", "hustle & flow has a heart that beats as loudly as the bass line on one of djay 's tracks .", "what makes the picture sail past its flaws is its earnest understanding of the desperation that drives people to regain control of their lives -- and the profound courage required to attempt it .", "craig brewer 's film offers a lot of grit , great music and a protagonist worth rooting for .", "like most any pimp and smalltime dealer -lrb- at least those in the movies -rrb- , djay thinks he 's got it down .", "while the plot avoids the most obvious happy-ending clich\u00e9s , it stays unnecessarily close to the pimps 'n hos mythology of crunk hits , and that 's particularly discomfiting if you happen to believe that women are people , too .", "there 's a decided sexist and misogynist bent to the material , no matter how much brewer tries to convince us that the female characters have been 'em powered ' by the music .", "while never sacrificing any of the hard-knock authenticity and specificity of his characters and their milieu , he has crafted a deeply felt film that can speak to and empower just about any audience .", "an involving and fun tale of redemption with many fine musical moments as well an enjoyable subplot involving the rotund key and his understandably skeptical wife .", "brewer 's failures in the last thirty minutes overwhelm everything he got right in the first ninety .", "having a dream is n't easy ...", "a perfect example of the manipulative power of a tale well told .", "follows the traditional hollywood rags-to-riches tale but throws in unexpected grit and top-class drama .", "howard is simply terrific as djay - he really makes you root for his character , despite his pimping , drug-dealing ways .", "a great turn by terrence howard -lsb- and -rsb- real sympathy spun like gold from taraji p. henson .", "it may not be very believable , but it sure is unforgettable .", "great acting and writing propel this fairly straightforward drama .", "if the film was n't teetering enough on the edge of formula for the first two acts , it sinks like a stone into absurdity when tempers flare and guns are drawn for the finale .", "we 're drawn to the exotic inside portrait of a flyweight urban hustler who knows how to cast a spell .", "the look of wonderment that spreads across -lsb- taraji p. henson 's -rsb- face when she first hears her backing vocals played back is one of the great movie moments of 2005 .", "... explosive entertainment .", "hustle & flow unfolds in the satisfying fashion of classic hollywood movies that strike a balance between grit and heart , capturing the hard edge of poverty and lack of opportunity but also offering a ray of hope for a better life .", "a sort of rocky for ambitious street hustlers , hustle & flow traffics in the risky business of making prostitution seem not quite as bad as the hip-hop world , and it conjures a sticky mix of urban grit and hollywood schmaltz .", "it celebrates art , hope , and dreams , and you do n't have to like hip-hop to appreciate the message or the way in which it is delivered .", "the rest of the film sinks , hinging as it does on a creaky formula .", "gets so much of the rhythms and feel of the dirty south right , it can be forgiven for its occasional missteps .", "howard gives a complex and nuanced performance you do n't see every day , and one that might be discussed further when awards season starts this fall .", "this particular crowd-pleaser has some moral issues it still needs to work out .", "a surprisingly charming story that -- in certain sections -- almost crystallizes into the sweetness of a mickey rooney-judy garland musical .", "howard takes a character that might have been a caricature and makes him real -- sometimes icy , sometimes fiery , sometimes slick , sometimes passionate .", "writer-director craig brewer has made a sensitive , low-key drama that values human life , no matter how degraded the circumstances .", "the soulful , heartfelt and musically infectious hustle & flow rests squarely upon the sturdy shoulders of the quietly charismatic howard , a journeyman actor who gives a revelatory , and frankly oscar-caliber , performance .", "whether you love hip-hop or whether you do n't know ludacris from lutefisk , this is one terrific movie .", "while brewer 's narrative is somewhat slack , and he is n't going to win any awards for camera movement or composition , his film , like his poverty-stunned strivers , grows progressively lovable -- despite -lrb- and perhaps because of -rrb- its flaws .", "howard 's work as djay is sort of dazzling , but his character 's unrelentingly selfish behavior makes audience identification an uphill battle .", "gritty-yet-gripping story of a pimp 's redemption as a rapper is worth it for terrence howard 's star-making performance .", "somehow it pulls through , surpassing all the pimp and wannabe-a-rap-star shtick", "talent and practice is n't enough to realize your dreams . to get on mtv , sometimes you got ta shoot somebody .", "subtly glosses over the most despicable elements of -lsb- its -rsb- protagonist 's behavior .", "a stark street savvy jockeys for screen time with an overwhelming aura of futility and funk .", "there 's something wrong with hustle . a bad aftertaste , and not just the dry grit of memphis dust , but something meaner . a feeling that brewer 's sensibility is way off .", "some will rightly find it corny , absurd , and an insultingly limited presentation of options for the most disenfranchised african-americans : i 'm still waiting for the movie fantasy about the pimp who wants to get his ged .", "it 's the music , along with a star-making performance by terrence howard , that carries this movie .", "the undeniably superior hustle & flow is this year 's indie darling -- it should garner some oscar attention , especially for the captivating terrence howard .", "it 's so hard to be a pimp . this is n't about pimps and hoes it 's about hopes , dreams , and pursuing them by any means necessary .", "craig brewer 's hustle & flow neatly sidesteps easy expectation in favor of deeply nuanced character studies and a nitty-gritty realism .", "hustle & flow may seem a fairy tale but there is still an edge to it in its finale .", "the movie as a whole feels self-consciously ` important , ' as if it 's trying too hard to be a rising-up-from-the-streets story as powerful as 8 mile was .", "exhibits an undeniable confidence that permeates its every aspect .", "a timeless and well-made story of personal redemption , enhanced by howard 's breakthrough performance and winning turns from every single supporting cast member .", "screenwriter-director brewer transcends his generic story , laying out his beat from each character 's heart . we come to know their inner fears and demons , including those of some particularly well-drawn supporting characters .", "dynamic rap music and visual style help make hustle & flow an enjoyable experience despite its naive and simplistic philosophy and abrupt tonal changes .", "when the white folk depart from the theater singing ` you know it 's hard out here for a pimp , ' you know you have a true audience pleaser on your hand .", "brewer has n't sugarcoated his pimp , and howard 's performance locates all the shadings of fury and desperation that drive him .", "a frequently penetrating , always interesting , occasionally difficult movie that works , despite a tendency toward clich\u00e9s and a final spiral into unnecessary melodrama .", "with terrence howard 's performance providing the hook , -lsb- director -rsb- brewer provides a flow of schemes , dreams and rap rhymes that take us on a journey inside a man 's soul .", "this is probably the grittiest film i 've seen all year , but it 's also one of the more emotional .", "brewer and howard have created a full-throated character in d-jay , and the rest of the troupe do a great job too .", "even though brewer panders to inner-city mythology , i suspect most african-american audiences will see right through this whitewash .", "howard , dripping in the memphis humidity , is the embodiment of virility , prowling like a wolf , purring like a tiger .", "the film feels very authentic in the way it shows these characters slaving away at the demo tape that might open the door to a better life .", "like djay , brewer exhibits talent for what he does , but too much of it is in service of hogwash .", "filled with obscenities , it 's abusive , abrasive - sexist and misogynistic - made memorable only by terrence howard 's audacious , star-making turn .", ".", "a deeply felt film that can speak to and empower just about any audience .", "if given a chance by mainstream moviegoers , ` hustle & flow ' will sound good vibes .", "hustle & flow ends with a little too much overwrought tension , and it borders on hokey at times , but in all those little moments , it 's a perfect groove .", "it boasts a seductive lead performance and the best ensemble cast since ray .", "unless your popcorn is laced with sedatives , you will find yourself dancing to the beat and singing `` whoop that trick '' with the rest of them .", "howard effortlessly makes the successful transition from a strong supporting character actor to a leading man that can carry a film .", "when brewer , howard , and ludacris stick to the bitter texture of south memphis failure and success they produce a modest regional portrait that could become a classic of its kind .", "the movie 's effortless charm and earthy naturalism , combined with strong performances from its main and supporting actors , are beguiling enough to draw in any audience", "meditative and fierce , quiet and pounding , MOV runs the board in a way that few films even attempt .", "... has a more authentic and thorough scope that captures the seedy desperation of a street hustler ... audacious , believable , and percolates with riveting forethought", "halfway there , hustle & flow has more smarts than insight .", "the little flashes of brilliance were n't offset by disappointments", "a strikingly personal story that constantly surprises us with its insights , even if it does wallow a bit in the criminal lowlife .", "every actor delivers dead-on , heartfelt performances that are as touching as they are convincing .", "... visually rough around the edges , but retains a gritty streetwise quality that fits the subject matter . the script has a subtle sense of humor along with genuine poignancy .", "we 're clearly meant to sympathize with his plight-being ` stuck ' in this miserable lifestyle , being played by skinny black , having gone nowhere-but why exactly should we care ?", "this is not a world most people want to live in , but it 's a very realistic portrayal of the world they inhabit and they give you everything they have .", "there is not a lot of bling bling in this surprisingly engaging and inspired effort .", "three words best sum up this fine film : terrence dashon howard .", "djay is the fezziwig of pimps . his hit tune , as catchy as `` that thing you do , '' also wears out its welcome . but his quest for le mot juste and mo ' bling is charming .", "unlikely as this may sound , hustle & flow -- about a low-down memphis pimp who wants to be a rapper -- is the feel-good movie of the summer .", "something weirdly magical happens in craig brewer 's directing debut to suspend our disbelief and get us rooting for the film 's unlikely hero .", "a good performance can make sense of a movie 's disparate elements , and howard provides the miraculous glue that binds hustle with flow , giving us a resonant account of a man who somehow finds a foothold on the slippery slope of his misspent life .", "every now and then , brewer pulls off a near-miracle with his flinty characters : he lets us , for a moment , slip into their lives -- and sing their song .", "watching as a pimp , a pothead and a pregnant hooker play and sing in a makeshift bedroom recording studio , and becoming increasingly caught up in their determination and hope , it 's impossible not to think that this is a part of the american dream , too .", "hustle & flow suspends you in its spell of mood , of feeling , of climate . it 's a pop picture that finds its richness in peeling down to the essentials of good storytelling .", "terence howard has the unique pathos that made john travolta a star in `` saturday night fever . ''", "a southern-fried 8 mile with an incantatory , crunk-rooted pulse .", "brewster 's script relies on more coincidence and happenstance than a dickens novel and yet adoring critics will likely rave about its grit and authenticity .", "features terrence howard 's remarkable , breakthrough performance .", "hustle & flow shows even pimps believe in the american dream", "... less a neo-blaxploitation product than another kind of '70s film , a naturalistic fiction about ordinary human beings and their not-entirely uplifting engagements", "the acting talent of the cast far exceeds the entertainment level of the movie", "the movie 's ability to sway us over to its lyrics may be its ultimate tribute to the powers of art and self-expression .", "overrated southern version of 8 mile .", "... an impressive performance by terrence howard , but the story is so seamy and the characters so unpleasant that it makes for a less than satisfying experience .", "hey , listen , terrence howard . i think your uncle oscar is calling you .", "vibrates with a grit and rawness that lets it rise above expectations .", "the movie soundtrack bumps from the outset letting you know that whatever is about to happen over the next few hours , ya gon na feel it", "it 's kind of a conventional story , but it 's told in such a unique way and the locations in memphis all feel very authentic .", "hustle & flow is a weird fusion of blaxploitation and american indie , built on a template of old-style , follow-your-dream hollywood drama . but it works -- sometimes magnificently .", "the film 's supporting characters are as rich as the lead , each one of them chasing an unlikely dream .", "merece cr\u00e9ditos por seus dois primeiros atos e pelas performances excelentes que oferece .", "peopled with gritty , unsafe and unsavoury characters from the street scape of downtown memphis , MOV probes keenly into the crunk subculture alien to australians , yet fascinating and engaging .", "hustle & flow uses its street smarts to show that dreams come in all shapes and sizes and that their realization sometimes is preceded by nightmares .", "terrence howard modulates djay with great love and consideration for the character . he never cheapens him , or condescends . he builds him inside-out .", "craig brewer 's first feature film is a volatile mixture of slickness and sincerity , hard-edged naturalism and sheer show-business hokum .", "happily for all involved , it 's still pretty good , with a leading performance by terrence howard that is that good .", "... an inspiring and ennobling character study in which love and respect trump pure success .", "edgy camerawork fails to distract from the fact that hustle & flow -- a hit a sundance -- is about as edgy as the crust on mom 's apple pie .", "for an alleged indie hit , the film is nothing if not shrewd about audience-hooking and sensory-manipulation", "of all the exuberantly built-up beats , taraji p. henson 's beautifully shocked and elated response to unexpectedly forming the nucleus of `` it 's hard out here for a pimp '' gives `` hustle '' its soul and won that song an oscar .", "a ghetto fabulous flick certain to generate some healthy debate as to whether it is glorifying or condemning the thug life which is so celebrated by the hip-hop generation .", "audiences will be seduced into setting aside their moral qualms and rooting for this hip-hop hustler .", "... fiercely original , thoroughly engaging ...", "craig brewer has a distinctive voice . he writes dialogue that authentically conveys the truth of real life while also touching on universal themes of hope and healing .", "projects brewer 's artistic autobiography through the romanticized prism of what allen ginsberg -lrb- and memphis 's mud boy & the neutrons -rrb- described as ` negro streets at dawn ' ...", "memphis native brewer pours a lifetime of southern discomfort into a crowd-pleasing fable whose cinderella narrative is offset by a richly unpredictable sense of place and character .", "it 's all good . the story , the characters , the music , acting .", "it nails its environment and transcends its broadness with a depth of feeling that will have even the most conflicted audience members cheering in their seats .", "hustle & flow is a celebration of crude aspirations , of raw art , of raunch and street and yearning and , beneath it all , family values .", "writer-director craig brewer 's movie is sweaty , unpretty and powerfully alive .", "this is howard 's show . his djay is intense , with blue sky dreams other than pimping and living in memphis .", "as the film 's anti-hero hero , though , howard never compromises at all .", "hustle & flow promises gritty street drama but delivers pretty woman with crunk instead of roxette .", "it 's a familiar tale , to be sure , but brewer wisely emphasizes character and verisimilitude over urban clich\u00e9s in this absorbing drama .", "the movie is too corny to be edgy , and too hard-core to be uplifting .", "a pretty good little flick -- gritty , well-acted , and , up to the too-cute finale , mostly worth working to suspend disbelief over ." ], "summary": "hustle & flow is gritty and redemptive , with a profound sense of place and exciting music .", "id": "2132" }, { "movie": "princess_mononoke_1999", "reviews": [ "it 's an art film , a densely plotted and visually stunning piece of animation , and not a movie for everybody .", "for an insight into precisely how stunning hayao miyazaki 's rich , animated epic MOV is , you need only consider how little of it leaves you once you 've left it .", "utilizing traditional hand-drawn cels and some computer-generated imagery , miyazaki brings out the animism in this emerald vision and gives it a spaciousness rarely found even in live-action epics .", "a haunting , beautiful film that holds your attention despite its length and its complex plot .", "this is clearly not a movie for kids under 10 , as decapitations and maimings are n't that uncommon and the story is detailed , filled with subplots , and low on cookie-cutter characters and cutesy sidekicks .", "boldly innovative yet eerily innocent , MOV is unlike anything you 've seen in the theaters this year .", "miyazaki portrays nature with a breathtaking touch .", "strange and powerful , hayao miyazaki 's MOV sets a new standard in animation .", "here is a film that reaches for unforeseen heights , and surpasses them .", "redubbed for american release , this handsome , stirring movie looks and feels spectacular with its incredible watercolors of forest landscapes , its giant and intelligent wild animals and its ancient , epic mythology .", "it is definitely too much of a good thing .", "the real revelation in the film is the depth and complexity of its mythology and storytelling , which manage to overcome the problems with the human story .", "its impressive animation and fluid action sequences make it more than a passable two plus hours , but it never becomes the great achievement it could -- and perhaps should -- have been .", "even if you lose track of the story -- and it is sometimes a challenge to keep up with all the developments -- the movie 's steady flow of exotic , powerful images remains riveting .", "there is no denying the film 's visual imagination , from the awe-inspiring creature creations to the stunning forest landscapes to the sensitive human characterizations .", "go in with an open mind , clear your expectations , and let it do its thing . trust me .", "the film , which runs almost two and a half hours , is paced exceedingly well and never feels too long .", "... easily one of the best-looking animated features in years .", "in many ways it is a throwback to the darker vision of a disney past , when his films had the power to both frighten and enchant .", "beautiful as the film is to look at , it stays past its welcome and ultimately fails to satisfy .", "brooding , occasionally bloody and often abstract , it explores animation 's dramatic potential in wonderous ways .", "hayao miyazaki has crafted a very intelligent story about the co-existence of humans and the forest .", "a windswept pinnacle of its art , MOV has the effect of making the average disney film look like just another toy story .", "this fanciful , violent world is filled with the kind of resonant images that usually only come to us in our dreams .", "miyazaki 's dedication to detailing the feudal lords , peasants , tribesmen and samurai warriors of the time is astounding .", "powerful , gorgeous .", "MOV is a remarkable blend of fantastic imagination and relevant moral questions .", "the movie has a scope that makes hollywood 's homiletic , follow-your-dream fables look even more solipsistic .", "i was somewhat disappointed by the mundane story it presented , but the fashion in which it presented it made it completely worthwhile .", "MOV is a complex , superbly rendered , and wildly eccentric anime .", "a wonder to behold !", "absolutely breathtaking !", "the 135 minutes that miyazaki takes to put across his many motifs are deserved considering the complexity of his task and the movie , which avoids repetition despite the many battles , does not fail to entertain .", "hayao miyazaki has created a world simply unlike any you 've seen .", "epic , mythic , simply terrific , MOV brings a new kind of animation experience to the american moviegoing mainstream .", "it 's an adult fairy tale , animation as we 've not experienced it before -- exactly what devotees of writer-director hayao miyazaki have come to expect .", "a landmark achievement in animated cinema .", "the result , while not a substitute for the original , will still astound audiences with its mesmerizing vision .", "even more mundane subjects are so gorgeously rendered that the film as a whole must be called a work of true art .", "princess moonlike is graced with images of charm and phenomenal beauty .", "hayao miyazaki is a great animator , and his MOV is a great film .", "it 's more thoughtful and varied than the average hollywood cartoon , and its environmental message is appealing .", "this highly imaginative and beautifully rendered fable of ancient japan comes from writer-director-master animator hayao miyazaki and is told with the scope and epic flair of the best live-action adventure films .", "the highest-grossing japanese film of all time is a luxuriously animated legend of ancient gods going head to head with mankind and industry over the balance of nature .", "the animation -- from elaborate -lrb- the supernatural creatures -rrb- to simple -lrb- a rain shower -rrb- -- is superb .", "some of the images in MOV are not just unforgettable , they 're almost edible in their vibrantly colored beauty . i have n't taken in animation quite so hungrily since i was a kid watching disney features for the first few times .", "anyone who relishes seeing the reach and scope of the genre redefined should not miss this marvelously accomplished picture .", "you 'll see why , in animation circles , miyazaki himself is considered one of the gods .", "watching this film is often like observing a group of people playing an elaborate game for which you do n't know the rules . what they 're doing obviously has enormous meaning for them , but that meaning is mostly lost on outsiders .", "miyazaki 's world is stunning for its richness and imagination .", "it 's just right for the 9-year-old looking to while away a long afternoon in escapist storytelling .", "while miyazaki 's ecological concerns are never in doubt , he neither oversentimentalises the forces of nature , nor demonises the human characters .", "all miyazaki 's films are masterpieces , but MOV may just have the edge .", "hayao miyazaki 's exceedingly imaginative , beautifully realized animated epic adventure has been adapted into english with tact and talent ...", "there 's ten times as much imagination in this film than in the phantom menace , and there 's a much more engaging and multi-faceted story to boot .", "this web of mixed motives is one of MOV 's greatest strengths . not once do we feel that the characters are cardboard cutout villains and their hardships are more powerful as a result .", "superbly imagined and visually sumptuous , it 's let down only by hisaishi 's sub-miklos rosza score .", "a terrific new animated movie -- a milestone .", "miyazaki 's artistry is evident in every frame , a pristine combination of lush greenery , ghastly mythic monsters and beautifully executed humans .", "some scenes in the film are gory and may scare young children , but older teens and adults should revel in the beautifully realized scenery and the rich characters .", "the story has simplicity and force , with captivating images and gutsy narrative ideas recalling kipling , ovid and homer .", "but the film is , on the whole , a full , meaty treat , striking not only in its subject-matter and the approach to it , but also in its pin-sharp detailing of nature and the speed and grace with which the characters move .", "calling this film a ` kid 's film , ' however , completely misses the point . it is instead a film for the young at heart and those who still appreciate honor , valor , love , and the earth .", "a breathtaking saga of man versus nature , of gods and men , of bravery , nobility and redemption .", "this exotically beautiful action film features gods and demons locked in a struggle for the future of the unspoiled forest and an elaborate moral universe that mr. miyazaki has created .", "unlike most animated motion pictures , which have a relatively limited scope , MOV is an epic saga , a fantasy adventure of great ambition and extent .", "next to the beauty and tragedy of MOV , star wars : episode i looks like dim radiation from a dull and distant galaxy .", "sheer technical virtuosity aside , where miyzaki succeeds most enduringly is in his willingness to grant audiences their most basic intellectual due .", "it 's big and breathtaking , and it knows how to use music and silence in enthralling ways that make the characters in our animated films seem like empty-headed chatterboxes .", "elegant and visually sophisticated .", "hayao miyazaki recasts the mythic tale of man 's dominion over the earth with an animist mythology and a conservationist message ...", "from the very opening frames , miyazaki proves himself a total master of the medium ...", "hayao miyazaki 's eco-friendly animated fable about animal gods and those damn humans bent on destroying the environment is made bearable by some trademark anime limb-severing violence .", "obviously the real star here is the artwork , which was spearheaded by director/lead animator hayao miyazaki .", "watching the way miyazaki and his animators can make a misty cloud drift across the screen is nothing less than pure bliss .", "highlighted by a sparkling , translucent forest spirit that only emerges at night , tiny skeletal creatures with clicking swivel-heads , and a truly magical denouement , MOV is still a formidable achievement , if not a resounding success .", "a seamless marriage between a mature , complex story ideas and boundless visual imagination .", "it is too ambitious , too sure of its own vastness to love it ; it demands respect more than affection .", "its imagery is never less than breathtakingly beautiful , and is occasionally truly awesome ...", "even when animals speak , lip sync is avoided ; they seem to be communicating almost telepathically , and one seldom feels that they 're contradicting their animal natures .", "the smartest , most thoughtful , best-made cartoon you\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- re likely to see in a long time .", "a wonderful film directed by hayao miyazaki , often called the walt disney of japanimation .", "as beautiful as it is poignant .", "an animated fable of dazzling artistry , one of the most beautiful ever made .", "MOV resonates with quiet truths rarely channeled by hollywood .", "it 's a dazzling movie , gorgeous to look at , involving on both emotional and intellectual levels , and often thrilling .", "the entire undertaking is presented as if we 're being taught a very complex lesson in enchantment and earthly conservation , and people who lean toward japanimation will convince themselves they 're watching something visionary . but it 's just a cartoon .", "a stunning japanese animated feature where forest gods battle with humans infringing upon their sacred domain .", "not for the very young , the MOV can be stunningly violent at times . but for fans of animation , this is a must see .", "the imagery , ranging from sublime mountain-smashing power to firefly delicacy -lrb- individual waterdrops splashing on a rock -rrb- is exuberant and intoxicating .", "this imaginative and intriguing anime deserves all the plaudits heaped upon it .", "beautifully constructed and painstakingly written , this is about as close to a perfect animated epic as you 're likely to get .", "there is n't one conservationist idea in the tamely correct mononoke that the adult audience did n't know already .", "the movie does have potential , but in its present state it 's a disappointment that few will enjoy immensely .", "overlong and dramatically unengaging .", "we may never grasp what it is about MOV that made it a smash in japan , but there 's no denying that an enormous amount of something or other got lost in the translation .", "it 's a masterpiece , and a perfect introduction for potential miyazaki fans .", "MOV 's greatest feat is in crafting a story that could 've been so easily simple , but manages to be more morally complex than even the most epic live-action films .", "-lsb- miyazaki 's -rsb- visually brilliant , thematically rich fable is n't just an ambitious cartoon ; it 's an epic , hand-drawn in pen and ink .", "done mostly in the style of hand-painted classic animation , with occasional digital assists , `` MOV is indeed a thing of beauty and imagination .", "with a luminist 's attention to light , water , shadow and smoke , miyazaki creates an epochal story born of history , myth and shinto animism .", "the film 's strength lies in its refusal to paint either its arguments or its characters in black and white : there are no pure heroes , no clear-cut villains and no pat answers .", "this handsome , beautifully designed japanese animated film has the size -- though not the clarity -- of a great japanese film epic .", "miyazaki 's hordes of animators have n't penetrated beyond the skin ; the moving creatures feel inarticulate and jerky , almost weightless , particularly when played against painterly background mattes ." ], "summary": "with its epic story and breathtaking visuals , MOV is a landmark in the world of animation .", "id": "10144" }, { "movie": "hitchhikers_guide_to_the_galaxy", "reviews": [ "once you get past all the impenetrable dialogue exchanges and meandering plot twists , what you have is , at the core , a film with solid vision and heart .", "adams fans will have to content themselves with the fact that , while the film is not perfect , it is indeed the best they could realistically have hoped for .", "devotees of the original stories are going to be frustrated that their favorite bits have been truncated or excised outright , while newbies will likely wonder what all the fuss has been about these last few decades .", "full review in greek", "considering all the things that could have gone wrong in the making of this picture , it 's a minor miracle that it turned out as well as it did .", "`` mostly unnecessary . ''", "a lot of fun and something different , poised to reach a broader audience with its silly and spirited tour of space -- which is vastly , hugely , mind-bogglingly big , by the way .", "fans of the book will probably be a little disappointed , but anyone encountering the hitchhiker 's guide for the first time should be thoroughly entertained . it is very strange and very funny in a way that adams ' work exemplified .", "while it wo n't win any awards , it 's fun as a time killer .", "it 's hard to dislike a movie in which one of the heroes gets brain power from lemon juice .", "`` the hitchhiker 's guide to the galaxy '' is an enjoyable sci-fi romp with a strong twist of self-effacing british raillery that children of all ages will get a charge from .", "you might not get it - whatever it is - but you can still have a good time .", "galaxy quest succeeded by its story as much as by its stars and effects . hitchhiker 's feels more like a string of skits linked by awkward transitions .", "... character interactions and relationships have been jettisoned in favor of wild gesticulations , frantic emoting and a heap of commotion .", "flawed-but-fun .", "a must-see for hitchhiker 's guide devotees , an offbeat warm-up for those who devour everything intergalactic and a bit of a puzzlement for general movie fans .", "the big problem with hitchhiker , and it is a crucial one , is that the middle section of the film really is n't that interesting .", "i 'll never be able to figure out how they can turn words like `` go '' and `` no '' into two-syllable words .", "the world -lrb- the universe , and everything -rrb- is divided into fans of douglas adams , and those who have never read anything by the man", "for all its huge sets , high-tech glitz , and cgi effects , the hitchhiker 's guide to the galaxy fails to capture the deadpan drollness of the adams novels", "yeah ... but you have to read the book first .", "the film version truly captures the whimsical cynicism at the series ' heart .", "the hitchhiker 's guide to the galaxy has inspired moments , but it becomes a conventional boy-meets-girl , boy-loses-girl - to-the-president - of-the-galaxy sort of tale .", "adams would be pleased .", "on the grand scale of adaptations , the hitchhiker 's guide to the galaxy falls ... closer to lord of the rings than it does the shining , or i , robot .", "cute , science-fiction adventure that has inspired moments . just not enough of them .", "small , really small ... adams ' sci-fi cult favorite lands on the screen minus a hyper-drive .", "this film is a pleasant experience but a throwaway one . it is hard to be harsh on a film with as many smiles as this one . for many of us the jokes will be just too familiar .", "... proves that some novels just are n't filmable ...", "the net effect is something like watching nbc 's disagreeable rehash of the office . they got most of the words right , but the music is all wrong .", "despite the perfect cast , fantastic book animations , & superb production design , this latest adaptation of douglas adams ' novel is just not very enjoyable .", "the layers of dry wit that are supposed to engage the grownups do n't work ...", "you do n't have to love the book -lrb- s -rrb- to love this movie .", "even those who love british humor -lrb- a la monty python -rrb- will find the script tedious and unimaginative .", "divertido , irreverente e recheado de efeitos visuais que contribuem para a hist\u00f3ria em vez de simplesmente se limitarem a funcionar como espet\u00e1culo \u0155 parte .", "like a good brit , hitchhiker 's brings up something important but then gets distracted by silly names and puppets . like parliament .", "i was n't amazed or stunned by this movie , but i felt like it would be nice to hang out with .", "given this fan 's worst fears , the hitchhiker 's guide is a minor pleasant surprise", "overall , the film is enjoyable , but it is never exactly brilliant and is certainly less worthy than the novel .", "a mixed bag , crammed with many inspired bits but never coalescing as a whole ." ], "summary": "a frantic and occasional funny adaptation of douglas adams ' novel . however , it may have those unfamiliar with the source material scratching their heads .", "id": "17" }, { "movie": "great_escape", "reviews": [ "a consummate work of nuts 'n bolts filmmaking devoted to the single end of creating something that is compulsively , endlessly watchable and re-watchable .", "boasting an all-star cast , headed by a terrific steve mcqueen , MOV is one of the greatest , most enjoyable wwii adventures hollywood has made .", "this is one of the all-time great war movies , a pow adventure from director john sturges that celebrates the indomitable spirit of the allied forces even when their backs were to the wall .", "this is a boys ' own tale , and , as boys , we wanted it , cleansed of horrors , for ourselves .", "even if you feel you know every scene backwards , there are still manifold pleasures here beyond nostalgia .", "watching the starry cast is always entertaining , and while the MOV has little new to say about war , this is really not a criticism .", "while it 's a definite classic in the steve mcqueen gallery , it 's also a masterpiece of the action genre ...", "the MOV is simply great escapism .", "each group of characters get their own riveting planning sequences , all skillfully told . this is one `` heist '' film where knowing the details of how the escape is supposed to go down before it happens only strengthens the suspense further .", "a slow burn which allows you to watch wildly different characters work together and form a team in spite of their differences", "one of the all-time great action movies .", "the MOV is one of those rare movies that warrants a recommendation despite being tremendously overlong .", "good , but not the classic some make it out to be .", "with its luxurious three hours , the film deliberately details all the ins and outs , the successes and pitfalls of the plan .", "... when the term blockbuster too often suggests digital special effects or a place to rent movies , the MOV reminds us of the true meaning of the word .", "anybody who thinks that michael bay is a bullying thug of a filmmaker who likes pushing people 's emotions around can come here to see where he got it from", "were it to be remade today , the nazis would be more evil , the heroes less interesting and the movie a great deal louder .", "one of the truly great epic war films .", "the MOV succeed as great entertainment but does so at the expense of being one of john sturges ' best films .", "mcqueen 's motorcycle ride has long been the stuff of cinematic legend , but the movie is packed with countless memorable episodes of this caliber .", "a tense , action-packed , and fun movie .", "one of the great adventure films of all time", "way too flabby at 168 minutes , but once this 1963 feature gets going it 's good , solid stuff .", "expertly directed and written with an infectious undercurrent of wry humor .", "it 's as blow-dried as mcqueen looks even on a bad day , but the MOV 's mix of suspense , humor , and old-fashioned derring-do pitched by a dream-team cast is so enjoyable that only a lout would complain about it .", "worth seeing the last half hour , if nothing else , for one of the best stunt sequences in years : mcqueen 's motor-cycle bid for freedom .", "producer-director john sturges has fashioned a motion picture that entertains , captivates , thrills and stirs .", "an exceptional story about teamwork .", "one of the greatest ` popcorn ' movies ever", "the title also suits the film 's ultimate aim to be a MOV film .", "it 's all based on the true escape plan from stalag luft north , and cinema , bank holidays and life in general would be vastly inferior without it .", "... fascinating and tense ...", "it 's all right there in the title : it 's an escape and it 's great !", "it 's a strictly mechanical adventure with make-believe men .", "preposterous and thrilling", "a bit lengthy , but still a rewarding adventure", "how can you hear that theme song and not want to watch it all over again ?" ], "summary": "with its impeccably slow-building story and a cast for the ages , the MOV is an all-time action classic .", "id": "17025" }, { "movie": "orlando", "reviews": [ "the movie deconstructs woolf in a smug , didactic way , using her whimsical fantasy as the vehicle for a belabored satirical assault upon `` the patriarchy . ''", "it is a time-tripping , gender-bending fantasia with a cunning feminist edge , featuring the strikingly androgynous tilda swinton in the title role .", "compared with potter 's bold , beautiful , original , and witty first feature , the gold diggers , this is safe , crowd-flattering stuff , the driving miss daisy of art pictures -- a film with practically no ideas at all , but lots of fancy trimmings .", "it wanders from the frozen london of the 1600s to the battlefields of world war i and has fun all the way . you have n't seen anything like it .", "written and directed by sally potter , MOV takes a droll approach to subject matter usually attended by the utmost solemnity .", "what it perhaps lacks in content , the film more than makes up for in its stunning design and accesible , humorous approach .", "it seems just as fresh , spry and quirky now as it did back then .", "sally potter has made a beautiful , if decidedly wobbly , movie out of virginia woolfs novel about a 16th-century nobleman who evolves , across some 400 years , into a modern woman in her mid-30s . swinton plays both male and female MOV with cool humor .", "tilda swinton 's performance as MOV in this adaptation of virginia woolf 's novel is luminous and thrilling , an omnisexual romp through 400 years of history .", "suffocatingly beautiful , MOV is a precious trifle whose literary pedigree intimidated audiences into ignoring its sublime silliness .", "this ravishing and witty spectacle invades the mind through eyes that are dazzled without ever being anesthetized .", "a visually stunning screen adaptation of virginia woolf 's 1928 novel .", "3.5", "it 's a critical work -- in the sense that it comments wryly on such things as representations of english history , sexuality/androgyny and class -- but made in the spirit of a love poem to both woolf and the england that made us .", "MOV would be unimaginable without swinton in the title role . her radiant , androgynous beauty makes every scene look like an old master portrait , and her charismatic character is touched with grace , gravity and a nimble humor .", "MOV offers no amends nor explanations for its quirkiness and purposeful ambiguity , and so i quit on it somewhere during the course of 1750 .", "tilda swinton gets metrosexual in sally potter 's surreal and unique costume drama .", "a daring , daunting , playful work of some considerable intellectual force that just misses greatness owing to a lack of emotional weight .", "it 's a difficult film to describe or even analyze , and that is exactly the pleasure behind the movie .", "sly and sumptuous .", "a sumptuous and charmingly outrageous yarn . tilda swinton is delicious .", "this is the kind of movie you want to talk about afterward .", "potter is to be praised for what she has accomplished here , the cinematic realization of a difficult piece of source material , and the showcasing of a very talented actress who could become a major force in films to come .", "at times breathtaking , at times frustrating , MOV is an always intriguing fiction that examines life , literature , social mores and sexual difference over the period of the last four centuries in england .", "the absurdity of the story bothered me . not the fantasy premise of the deathless person moving through the ages or even the changing of sex , but for the idea that MOV could have lived so long and apparently remained so vapid and lacking in insight .", "it 's very specifically planned , and defiantly oddball .", "potter recreates four centuries of british cultural history in painterly images and austerely constructed settings ...", "a silly and serious work of art that is n't afraid to entertain .", "swinton 's androgynous affect has rarely been better exploited : it 's a kick to see her transition among MOV 's numerous identities , whether wooing a russian princess or submitting to the charms of the horseback-riding shelmerdine .", "eighteen years after its initial theatrical release , `` MOV '' returns to theaters with all of its original allure intact , and then some .", "rarely have source material , director , and leading actress been more in alignment than in MOV , the 1992 adaptation of virginia woolf 's novel , directed by sally potter and starring tilda swinton .", "warmer color and sound enhance this new release print , but the film 's wry humor , action fantasy , and a literary leaning may make for tough sledding with today 's viewers .", "i would imagine such a bizarre film would appeal mainly to those with a discriminating taste .", "MOV provides exciting , wonderfully witty entertainment with glorious settings and costumes and tilda swinton 's sock performance in the title role .", "tilda swinton is perfectly cast in sally potter 's lavish , daring , and inventive adaptation of virginia woolf 's novel .", "see MOV for its fabulous costumes , fascinating look at changing eras , and impressive performance by tilda swinton . viewing this film for other reasons will almost certainly lead to a negative impression .", "sumptuous and witty book-to-screen treatment for virginia woolf 's novel , with graceful and ambitious direction by sally potter .", "writer-director sally potter 's film , based on the classic virginia woolf novel , is a lyrical history lesson on the nature of sexual politics .", "reminiscent of the low-budget lushness of the early films of peter greenaway and ken russell , MOV could turn out to be the art-house smash of the summer .", "potter possesses a natural gracefulness in presentation that helps a little but , finally , not nearly enough . MOV is vague when she means it to be mysterious , coy when it ought to be witty , familiar when it should be bold .", "credit where credit is due : potter more or less successfully converted a crazy , overflowing tome into something simple and attractive .", "unlike anything onscreen this month or this year , MOV is serious , provocative and sometimes funny fare . novelist virginia woolf might well be pleased .", "the good news about this historical vaudeville is that MOV 's consciousness , like his/her gender , is a delightful work-in-progress .", "though visually impressive and assured , it is the hollowest of successes , all chic set design , smug posturing and self-satisfied attitude .", "what it lacks in coherence it makes up for in sheer spectacle ." ], "summary": "MOV ca n't match its visual delights with equally hefty narrative -- but it 's so much fun to watch that it does n't need to .", "id": "10947" }, { "movie": "the-company-men", "reviews": [ "luckily , bobby 's brother-in-law jack -lrb- kevin costner -rrb- , a salt-of-the-earth construction worker , is on hand to remind everyone that it 's better to dance with wolves than finagle with stockholders , or something like that .", "it 's the kind of movie that rich , disconnected hollywood filmmakers make about the recession , thinking they 're committing some altruistic act of empathy for a nation struggling to pay the mortgage on its second home in nantucket .", "this is a movie that actually tries to elicit sympathy for ben affleck by showing him get all misty-eyed when he has to sell his porsche .", "it feels like the pilot for a tv series that could be titled white collar blues .", "`` MOV '' has its heart someplace worthy . but its head -- not so much .", "everything is pat , from the stereotyped characters -lrb- kevin costner plays the noble blue-collar worker -rrb- to the obvious plot turns .", "ben affleck is a temporarily inconvenienced salesman forced to part with his patriots tickets and his porsche when he loses his six-figure salary . in a show of solidarity , his teenage son sells his xbox . ` precious , ' this is n't .", "belongs more in the category of missed opportunity than the successful caustic social commentary it so desperately wants to be .", "it turns out that people who are fired go through the same elizabeth kubler-ross stages that we experience in facing death , though not exactly in the same order .", "it 's not merely the premise of MOV that i object to , it 's that such acting talent is wasted in such a humorless , stereotypical , moralizing film .", "the film 's real problem is a top-down narrative that turns rich people 's troubles into financial melodrama .", "the extremely well-acted `` MOV '' ends on a hopeful note , but wells examines the repercussions of a layoff-based economy with devastating precision .", "are we supposed to think that only those people who `` work with their hands '' are safe in this economy ?", "if you 're looking for a film that puts a face to some of the least sympathetic victims of the financial crisis MOV will happily take your $ 10 . for the rest of us , there 's always whatever 's on cable . that is , if it has n't been disconnected .", "terribly miscalculated on all counts , especially not recognizing its true place as a tearjerker on the bloomberg channel .", "in the wrong hands , `` MOV '' could have slipped into a slop of sentiment , but the movie does n't go there . this is , first and foremost , a movie about `` men , '' and what , in wells ' eyes , it means to be a man in these difficult times .", "this is a film without spark . the frustrations are real , but they are neither terribly entertaining nor enlightening .", "this all-too-familiar gloom and doom tale is depressing and feels longer than the 104-minute running time . the acting is top drawer from the powerhouse cast of respected thespians .", "very rarely does a film so nail the zeitgeist as to qualify as a cultural touchstone . MOV comes very close .", "yes , these former company men sigh a lot , occasionally raise their voices , get drunk and throw rocks at corporate hq , but there 's nothing that feels like real rage , nothing that even remotely approximates the spiritual decimation of a termination .", "a searing portrait of a corporate culture utterly lacking in human values and the people who are rolled over by it . it 's an effective drama , even if writer/director john wells is occasionally a bit heavy-handed with his us-versus-them shtick .", "the acting across the board is excellent and this group of four oscar-winning actors substantially elevate the level of the material .", "there 's also little sense of what these characters were like before reality came crashing down on them .", "one ca n't imagine devastated workers at the bottom of the business food chain expending much sympathy on these guys , but thanks to some admirably understated performances , the picture makes us feel their pain , too .", "each of the main characters is a big symbol - the villain , the ethical moralist , the denier , the corporate ax , the victim - but the cast is first rate .", "as broad and unsurprising as MOV is , the filmmaker has put his finger on something frightening about the current state of the union , even if he ca n't quite diagnose it in the time allotted .", "a fine companion piece to last year 's george clooney film `` up in the air ''", "fine performances by the entire cast highlight this roman \u0155 clef about an avaricious corporate tyrant . unfortunately , it glorifies cruel marital infidelity .", "` men ' is neither as gritty nor as unsentimental as david mamet 's more uncompromising assessment of office politics , ` glengarry glen ross , ' but that does n't mean there is no place for wells ' vision , which has its own resonance .", "MOV may well be the last of hollywood 's recession specials , but let 's not get our hopes up unreasonably .", "wells ' basic directing style is sufficiently attuned to not only the characters , but also to the performers , to make it interesting .", "thoughtful , heavy drama about the downsized .", "it 's so well acted and constructed in such a manner it allows viewers the opportunity to absorb the concept of job loss , and more closely sympathize with those affected .", "the great ensemble cast delivers !", "if the recession-era movie sounds depressing , you just do n't know what hollywood is capable of .", "MOV is an american film that had to get made and should be seen , especially now in the age of greed gone from bad to worse .", "you do n't have to be a suit to find much of MOV wrenching .", "`` MOV '' is a worthwhile outing that takes despair - but also resilience - seriously .", "the venerated american export that MOV most recalls is n't seagoing vessels -- it 's hourlong dramatic television shows .", "as broad and unsurprising as MOV is , the filmmaker has put his finger on something frightening about the current state of the union , even if he ca n't quite diagnose it in the time allotted .", "painful yet well cone depiction of pride going before the fall .", "rather than showing us an empathetic portrait of what it 's like to live through such a hard time in america , company men shows us a series of rich , white men suffering through problems of their own creation .", "wells ' messages on the dehumanizing effect of corporate greed seem more like prosthelytizing than storytelling . are the points he 's making important ? sure , but this movie is n't going to say anything to anyone not already in the choir .", "the tv-bred wells ... has written and directed MOV without ever coloring outside the lines : it 's all a bit too neat and obvious and predictable .", "MOV is n't that bad , but in a world with so many good movies , there 's really not much to recommend here .", "not ` fun ' like ` up in the air ' but a solid drama about the economic mess that we 're in", "a hard-hitting and creative examination of the scourge of unemployment and how it destroys dreams , brings untold pain and loss , and destabilizes families .", "no matter how hard you 've had it during the economic crisis , it 's got to make you feel better that ben affleck , or at least a character he 's portraying , knows what you 're going through .", "`` MOV '' is a somber , glossy , and sound-bite-heavy drama made watchable by its ensemble performances . the story is a letdown , but the actors -- including an especially sassy maria bello -- are enjoyable to watch .", "a shrewd , timely , and terrifically engrossing drama of white-collar reckoning that marks the feature directorial debut of writer-producer john wells .", "this is not simply a pity party for these corporate suits mostly concerned about holding on to their mcmansions , fleet of designer cars or country club memberships , while those in the audience may be more stressed about what , if anything , is for dinner .", "a cocooned , sub-generic drama of downsized executives which locates tragedy in the loss of suburban opulence and white-collar perks rather than self-annihilation .", "strong and believable , though its subject may not be one that most moviegoers want to confront at this particular moment in history .", "we all know these are n't the best of times , but , with a sly intelligence , a refusal to wallow in sentimentality and some mighty fine actors , this is a movie that also makes us dig in and figure out an upside .", "before its too-easy conclusion , the movie offers a multifaceted glimpse at what can happen when the connective tissue between a man and his source of income is cut , and rarely suggests that it could be anything less than excruciating to stop the bleeding .", "it 's simple stuff , but the movie 's heart is in the right place .", "very cut and dry ... that does n't , though , make the film any less truthful in its observations .", "this is not a movie of our time so much as it is a movie for our time . it is quite good , but it is , to be entirely truthful , discouraging to the core .", "this tale smacks viewers with a reality that 's hard to imagine paying money to see in a theater . and yet , here we are .", "as the man who becomes completely undone by his sudden fall from grace , cooper is terrifying . jones reminds us of his long-held position as chairman of the department of cinematic moral outrage .", "attempts to examine a social problem but is weirdly out of touch with it . the film feels simplistic , like a nickelodeon movie with swearing and dislocated worker seminars .", "one of the most underrated films you will ever see .", "turns out three stories are two too many . MOV should have been downsized .", "we have n't seen an end to the real-life drama after two years . do n't insult us by trying to give us one in two hours .", "a well acted bit of drama that showcases that the hollywood system can still allow for mature work to make it through without compromise or bombast .", "`` MOV '' recalls 1946 's great post-world war ii drama `` the best years of our lives , '' and the reason is n't simply its trio of protagonists .", "finding catharsis in bleak matters , the picture satisfies with its sincerity , allowing viewers to sympathize and reflect on the nature of job loss through this efficiently directed eulogy for american industry .", "this haunting movie hits you hard and right where you live .", "wells ' film gives a human face to the headlines and a class of people -- corporate executives -- for whom one 's not always inclined to feel bad .", "`` glengarry glen ross '' and `` office space '' made most of the same points vividly long ago . `` MOV '' is a lovingly prepared dish served cold and stale .", "eteran tv producer john wells filters the economic disaster through the eyes of the laid-off , but not even ben affleck and tommy lee jones can save this uneven movie .", "this downsizing drama might be a bit downbeat , but it 's sharply observant and extremely well-played by an impressive cast", "gets us on side with a thoughtful , if sentimental , examination of what it takes to find dignity in tough times .", "a serious , schematic , well-acted film about adjusting to new lifestyles in a changing world ...", "unemployment is not a naturally cinematic thing . a far-too-neat conclusion notwithstanding , this is a decent exploration of the psychology of what happens when you loose your job .", "a solid drama about the ill effects of downsizing .", "takes an unpopular group - upper management ! - and humanises their involvement in screwing the world . quite the achievement , really .", "the movie seemingly ca n't decide whose team it 's on , salt-of-the-earth blue-collars or the bourgeoisie .", "... an engrossing , if uneven , ensemble drama featuring strong performances by ben affleck , tommy lee jones and especially chris cooper as the most desperate of the trio .", "as an actor 's showcase , you 're definitely in good company .", "... well-executed programmatic melodrama , and there are some scenes that evince real heart , probably because the actors seem naively committed to the project .", "a quintet of actors carve out a beautiful , ill-fated geometry in john wells 's layoff drama , which might play like a retort to up in the air if it did n't have shortcomings of its own .", "critics who praise this politically false economic fairytale can only be part of the system -- and part of the problem .", "carefully structured to balance the anguish with some hope .", "films have punctured the american dream before , but rarely so devastatingly as MOV does.f", "the subject of unemployment numbers caused by the `` great recession that was almost the second great depression '' will likely continue to inspire dramatic feature film attention as well as documentary analysis for years", "`` MOV '' takes on its big subject forthrightly , and , in an era of service industries and financial instruments , it celebrates the virtue of making useful things .", "the cast does n't treat MOV like a slideshow . they take something overly schematic and imbue it with real anxiety , shame , and humility .", "it 's not that being privileged makes them boring ; being two-dimensional does .", "layoffs devastate executives of a boston-based conglomerate in a well-meaning but inert message drama from writer-director john wells .", "MOV does a piercing job of making you feel the dehumanizing effects that losing a job can have on grown men , but it 's more truthful and devastating than that .", "sharply uneven , this well-acted contemporary problem picture has a good beginning , detailing the impact of unemployment on lifestle , identity and masculinity , but the second half is fake and contrived in its message", "powerful , provocative and poignant , it shrewdly reflects the emotional savagery of the worldwide economic meltdown of the past three years .", "a solid , intelligent , emotionally satisfying work of hollywood liberalism .", "john wells gives a notable tyro writing/directing debut with `` MOV '' and he shows a deft hand at marshaling his large cast and complex story .", "as an examination of a floundering american economy MOV is shallow and one-sided but pretending to be otherwise ; as a character study of the individuals caught in the economies effects it is engrossing .", "MOV could well be the poster movie of 2010 . like so many movies this year , it has great possibilities , but ultimately falters and coasts into easy commerciality .", "in its solid construction and resistance to the winds of fashion , MOV is one edifice that could outlast many an action blockbuster or standard inspirational drama , and maybe the great recession itself .", "a film that may mean well but does n't get down to depicting the real suffering that goes with recession .", "wells touches on so many problems of the modern workplace , as it 's affected by corporate greed and thoughtlessness , that it 's almost a wonder MOV is as entertaining as it is .", "yes , the film 's a little didactic as it lays out the issues . but when it comes to the emotional state of those being laid off , of their families and even of those doing the laying off , it gets things right enough to make audiences squirm .", "for all of its many flaws , anyone who has ever struggled with unemployment will find this to be an incredibly sober work .", "there will be plenty of good movies about the recession . this is n't one of them .", "wells , whose first feature this is , knows how to shape a movie but it still seems a little like a superior piece of television , adorned by a posse of very watchable stars .", "the film stubbornly sticks to its point : that losing your job hurts you and your sense of identity whether you are at the top or the bottom of the ladder .", "a chilling picture of corporate us , where loyalty to employees has been ousted by something called the bottom line .", "capitalism has never looked such a cruel mistress and it 's refreshing to see the recession 's fallout portrayed in such human terms .", "like inside job , this earnest , well-acted drama is wearing its wallet on its sleeve for all to see .", "MOV does a very fine job stressing the financial and personal abyss that can confront somebody whose year of devotion to a company can result in little more than hand shake .", "a decent , earnest , well-intentioned picture about white-collar unemployment .", "deserves credit for being a well written and seriously conceived ensemble drama about white-collar america and the financial crash .", "the ethics of big business and concept of men out of work haunt every frame of the morally in tune recession drama MOV .", "fulfills every stereotype about hollywood movies ; a smarmy , condescending , moral lecture from rich guys with no clue about real poverty . do i begrudge the characters their financial success ? no . but i 'm certainly not going to feel bad when it falls apart .", "a good and decent film in a world that rather heartlessly demands more .", "skillfully shows that no one is safe in a floundering company -- and that life ultimately boils down to family , friends and what you have to do to support them .", "it is ... a little on the predictable and rote side .", "wells casts a wide but synthetic net . an aura of well-intentioned generica muffles the dramatic impact of `` MOV '' ...", "despite being intensely topical , MOV is deadly dull .", "a harrowing portrait of contemporary corporate america that hits almost a little too close to home for comfort .", "`` MOV '' offers no great elation or despair . its world is what it is . we all live in it .", "works best as an acting exercise for its top-notch cast , which includes the always fascinating chris cooper as the film 's most complex and ambiguous victim of hard times .", "i do n't want wells to invent a darth vader like villain to blame this crisis on - besides , those villains already exist in reality - but i certainly do n't want him to vindicate the guilty parties .", "MOV is full of thin slivers of irony that passes for deep thinking .", "a contemporary drama about the enduring financial implications of 2008 , the story plays out like a downbeat , old school version of the social network .", "it 's hard to imagine many hearts -lrb- american or otherwise -rrb- bleeding on seeing how such over-paid corporate suits are going to cope with the tragedy of having to trade in their second ferrari ...", "well-intentioned but ill-gauged ...", "effectively , it 's a history of the effects of deindustrialisation on working-class people , but in this case it 's those in the white-collar sector who are the victims .", "possibly it has a slightly rose-tinted ending , but it does once again skewer the greed factor in so much of corporate antics , to the detriment of many people 's lives .", "engaging , well written drama with strong performances from a superb cast , but the absurdly privileged lifestyles of the characters do seem somewhat at odds with the point of the story .", "ultimately , this is one film for which empathy - and thus interest - will be proportional to your salary .", "it entertains , it engages , it leaves the brain empty after use .", "excellent performances and a fine use of detail counterbalance a somewhat weak storyline .", "has a stinging sense of immediacy and a strong sense of narrative momentum that keeps the multiple stories in balance , as well as judiciously managing sympathy for characters who are usually seen as villains during economic hard times", "despite some of its one-dimensional characters , this drama captures the sacrifices that people make during periods of unemployment .", "amazing acting backed up by an authentic and emotionally engaging story makes MOV one of the best films of the year .", "MOV , aka `` the supposed problems of unsympathetic rich people '' or `` good actors stuck in a mediocre movie , '' tries to be timely , but it 's as out of touch as pat buchanan .", "it 's tough to feel torn up about ben affleck having to sell his porsche when most of us are hustling to make rent at the end of every month .", "the points made are good ones , even if you wish they could work them in a more subtle way . at the very least , it 's a hopeful take on a troubling issue , with a genuine belief in old-fashioned americana values as the key to survival .", "there are some witty observations , but these , along with the use of natural light , have the effect of bringing a bad situation into starker perspective .", "it may not be the `` feel good movie of the year , '' but it is a fascinating look at a very prominent and ongoing situation .", "a bit heavy on the cliches , but this sermon will connect with anyone for whom `` the new reality '' of today 's economy hits close to home", "consistently silly , occasionally funny but mostly forced .", "american movies rarely catch the american male so nakedly powerless and shattered .", "as ham-fisted as wells ' dialogue is through much of `` MOV , '' the phenomenon he describes is real .", "the cast does the heavy lifting here and carries the movie over the predictable bits , exploring the rising panic of families who face the devastation of job loss with disturbing realism .", "a serious , thoughtful and often devastating drama about something rarely explored in the movies : the world of work as a place where we go to find out who we are , and what happens when somebody defined by his job loses it .", "though not blessed with a cinematic eye , wells is a gifted storyteller who gets nuanced performances from most of his actors .", "wells may strain one 's sympathy by giving his narrative over to wealthy , white-collar men , but he also acutely renders the shame and frustration of capable , hardworking people suddenly forced to reassess their earning potential and aspirations in life .", "anyone can relate to ideas at work in `` MOV . '' when you take a person 's job , you take more than an income , you take his identity , his self-respect .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- not a pretty story , of course . but it 's a compelling one and , thanks to wells and a cast that includes ben affleck , tommy lee jones and chris cooper , an entertaining one .", "you are always aware of where the story is heading . still , the film remains relatively entertaining , simply because the scenario hits so close to home , no matter where you work .", "it turns out that middle-ranking executives and even some corporate board members have feelings . who knew ?", "MOV could stand to express a little righteous fury .", "it 's time once again for hollywood 's favourite game : feel sorry for rich people .", "a solid and intelligent debut feature , if one of dubious appeal to mainstream audiences .", "driven by terrific lead performances , moody cinematography and an insider 's feel for details , this is a bruising exploration of a timely subject .", "wells knows how to extract the goods from a great cast , but it 's in service of a somewhat mundane story .", "the gfc has delivered its first kfc movie , an easy take away with little to nourish our cinematic wellbeing", "a punchy film that looks at the strength of the human spirit", "if kevin costner can still find good work , there 's hope for everybody .", "ben affleck does a fine job of playing a man without one in a compulsive cautionary tale for would-be trumps and gekkos ." ], "summary": "it might be hard for most viewers to identify with MOV 's well-heeled protagonists , but writer/director john wells uses their plight to make universally resonant points -- and gets the most out of his excellent cast .", "id": "770820081" }, { "movie": "departed", "reviews": [ "every scene has it 's purpose , every shot is meticulously used .", "the MOV has the sense of a 14-hour movie carved down to a fraction .", "this crime thriller is a profane , blood-drenched joy to watch .", "the MOV is a near-perfect synthesis of cinematic genius and commercial appeal , quite possibly the most accomplished and accessible film from one of the greatest living directors .", "screenwriter william monahan 's taut , terse script , minimizes explanations of the many characters ' backstory and conflicts , yet his brilliant dialogue crackles with savvy .", "scorsese may not wish to be known only as a crime dramatist , but when it 's something nobody else has ever done as well , why complain ?", "the shocking violence is well-placed . the action scenes are always comprehensible -- no jump cut cheats here -- and the suspense will make you fidget in your seat . what a corker .", "bloody , brutal and brilliant -- dicaprio and nicholson shine in the crime movie of 2006 .", "this is rich and satisfying stuff with scorsese rediscovering his masterful skill at delivering a narrative which crackles with acid dialogue delivered by a gifted cast .", "the best of its kind since michael mann 's heat .", "... a violent crime drama that will undoubtedly reward repeated viewings ...", "although there will be claims of wasted talent , scorsese 's new blockbuster wanna-be combines sizzling dialog with no-holds-barred action for this year 's top-of-the-heap gangster flick", "nicholson , as usual , overacts to great effect . but the star is dicaprio who emerges from this film as a complete actor and a full-fledged star ... -lrb- with -rrb- a big assist from wahlberg , who is captivating in the few minutes he has on screen .", "martin scorsese 's the MOV is close to a perfect movie , a poignant cousin to the great gatsby and as violent as america itself . it is wicked good .", "watching this new film by scorsese is tantamount to falling in love again with the brash , cinematic bad boy from new york city .", "martin scorsese , at the top of his game , stages some great set pieces .", "though not on par with ` raging bull ' or ` taxi driver , ' ` the MOV ' is involving for its entire two hours and thirty-six minutes .", "scorsese marks the territory as his own from the get-go , with the stones on the soundtrack and nicholson striding in as this panto 's demon king : a sneering , murderous farceur who rules boston on both sides of the law .", "plausible psychological scrutiny loses out to shot after shot of brains being splattered . and boy , do you get a lot of brains for your buck . it 's just a shame they 're all on the walls and not in the script .", "it 's a snarling , magnificent beast . welcome back , pal .", "smart , tough talk , and lots of it , drives the MOV .", "as in his remake of cape fear , scorsese has mucked up a b-movie he professes to love : producing something full of twists but devoid of that lovely , fluttery , rare thing : surprise .", "there 's a lot of tough talk from tough men in this testosterone-fueled thriller , as the thin blue line disintegrates amid gritty give-and-take in william monahan 's excellent script .", "it 's a convoluted , rich plot that goes back decades , but the MOV is so sure-footed it all makes sense .", "the dialogue crackles wittily and obscenely , and the set-pieces are superbly staged .", "the MOV is an example of a cinematic master seeking to live up to the veneration with which he is regarded by his pupils .", "this has its moments - what scorsese film does not ? -- but over a two-and-a-half-hour stretch it huffs and puffs and still does n't blow the house down .", "not only is the MOV not among the best of scorsese 's films ; it 's not even the best version of this film .", "an intricate music box of cinematic flair but utterly hollow as a personal statement .", "... while not glorifying the gun culture of this nation , -lsb- the film -rsb- exposes it in a sea of blood ...", "the MOV is an enjoyable , but overlong crime caper with some great performances and plenty of moments that scream ` scorsese ! ' but you know what ? the aviator is a better movie .", "neither a debacle nor a bore , the MOV works but only up to a point , and never emotionally .", "finally , the race is on . the battle for best picture begins with martin scorsese 's the MOV , an outstanding return to form that will be nominated across the board in several major categories .", "martin scorsese nous revient dans sa meilleure production en plus de 10 ans -lrb- depuis goodfellas en fait -rrb- ...", "like a sucker punch to the gut , and i do mean that as a compliment .", "this is , without a doubt , one of 2006 's best movies , another milestone for a man whose career path is paved with such accolades .", "the best remake of the decade .", "scorsese hurries through scenes with an impatience that suggests boredom . spontaneous violence does n't shock us anymore in scorsese 's environments . even the director 's reliable technicians let him down .", "it 's a thinking fan 's thriller , a movie involving multiple fully dimensional characters , multiple story lines and edge-of-your-seat twists and swerves , stylized to just the edge of believability .", "if this one does n't win scorsese an oscar , then there 's something seriously wrong with oscar .", "with a dream cast , master director and intriguing story brimming with violence and sex , the MOV really should be better than it is .", "it 's not great scorsese , certainly not in the league of raging bull or 2004 's the aviator . but it 'll do for now .", "as so often before , the body count is high in a martin scorsese movie . but where once the bodies pulsated with life in all its vainglorious furor , here they drop like wooden ducks in an artificial pond .", "martin scorsese 's triumphant return to modern day storytelling .", "if this was a canvas it would have to be painted from a palette of irish , italian and asian fireworks .", "another very good gangster movie from martin scorsese , and a faithful remake", "suffers in comparison to the tension , subtlety , and top-drawer acting in infernal affairs .", "a welcome departure from all the banal fare we 've been presented with over the last few months . the MOV is how movies are supposed to be made .", "you might be surprised that irish catholic south boston should have provided the opportunity for this stunning return , but i tell you the range of emotions would be characteristically , authentically scorsese 's even if -lsb- the film -rsb- were set in kowloon .", "apesar de levemente inferior ao longa chin\u0119s , este \u00e9 um filme vigoroso que demonstra a habilidade de seu diretor em conduzir tramas violentas e complexas .", "a tough and gritty crime thriller , tossing up the issue of morality before shooting it down in a cascade of bullets . a piece of explosive cinema .", "the cast was a blast , playing each part off one another like a great chess match set up via the poetic images swirling through scorsese 's mind .", "violencia , crimen , orfandad , traicin , muerte . scorsese de nuevo ... otra jodida joya !", "and is there a better director working today that can find just the right song to capture the mood of the story on screen ?", "no est\u00e1 entre lo mejor de scorsese , pero es un buen policial con algunos momentos intensos , una vertiginosa narraci\u00f3n casi sin pausas , y un estupendo elenco -lrb- a pesar de jack , que excede su personaje -rrb- .", "martin scorsese is a master director in every sense of the word and with the help of his ensemble has made a masterpiece of modern cinema , complete with a triple climax ending .", "the veteran director has made two-thirds of a great film about boston cops and mobsters , with dazzlingly rich performances from a dizzyingly stellar cast and an ambience that screams scorsese 's typical cultural authenticity .", "it 's scorsese 's best film since 1990 's goodfellas . oscar ? maybe . classic ? definitely .", "the MOV is classic scorsese complete with a story so dense and exciting you do n't want it to end . but , when it does end , holy mama it 's a good ending .", "this reworking of a popular hong kong picture pulses with energy , tangy dialogue and crackling performances from a fine cast .", "scorsese 's relaxed energy infuses the film with excitement in every frame , thus elevating a gangster story to the level of tragedy .", "uses a unique approach to expand on the original movie 's clever double agent premise ... a really entertaining movie , but by no means a classic .", "scorsese 's best in years-strong praise considering that his last two movies were both up for the best picture academy award .", "a wholly remarkable work -- one that is considerably deeper and certainly more complex than its crime thriller status might imply .", "given the powerhouse punch of a scenario , it 's perhaps not surprising that scorsese elected to rework someone else 's property while also embellishing it with his own distinctive style .", "intense and entertaining .", "the MOV is scorsese 's most purely enjoyable movie in years .", "plushly mounted but marred by fussy choices and overacting , the MOV strands scorsese once again at a crossroads between art and commerce .", "only time will tell if it takes its place alongside scorsese classics taxi driver , raging bull and goodfellas ; i have a feeling it just might .", "the MOV is scorsese 's most entertaining picture in years , dense , violent -lrb- more of his screen sadism played for laughs -rrb- , and satisfying .", "if the MOV is n't among his handful of his best pictures , it 's still gripping , hot and wicked stuff .", "freed from iconic figures and weighty themes , martin scorsese , in the MOV , gets to riff and rock . and the audience gets a huge , bloody , profane entertainment in the bargain .", "it 's one of the better films by one of our better directors , and even though it 's technically a remake -lrb- of a popular hong kong export -rrb- it 's pure scorsese in its study of masculine bonds , of loyalty , of betrayal .", "scorsese differentiates it from everything else he 's ever done . the guy might as well retire now because i do n't see how he 's going to top this one .", "despite its jazzy energy and many stunning set pieces , scorsese 's latest film is a regrettably uneven addition to the director 's canon , paling in comparison to such classics as taxi driver , raging bull , and goodfellas .", "this would not be the movie it is without nicholson 's unforgettable , over-the-top , deliciously-obscene performance .", "not as bad as the aviator or gangs of new york .", "thoroughly entertaining , the competing character agendas are realized superbly by a cohesive ensemble .", "this is a brilliant story retold with the flourish of a master .", "sweeps us along helplessly , basking in the sheer energy of it all .", "probably the best acted film of the year .", "is scorsese desperate ? this screenplay has the scent of it , as if he is scraping for material to feed his basic filmic interests .", "scorsese has long since proved to be a master at gangland crime dramas and `` the MOV '' is no exception .", "the movie gains life entirely from the interplay among the actors , and both of the young stars are wonderful .", "these may not be the streets of -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- past , but they are just as mean and just as compelling .", "it 's a testament to the rest of the cast that nicholson 's self-worshipping train-wreck of a performance does n't sink the entire film .", "the MOV is riveting , in-your-face entertainment , with a visceral energy , intelligence , dark wit and several first-rate actors doing their best work ever .", "stacked up against taxi driver and raging bull , sure ... this is lesser scorsese . and ` lesser ' scorsese is still better than almost anything else around .", "a glorious symphony of motion in the key of violence .", "-lsb- a -rsb- glorious mess of a movie .", "the only thing that surprises me more than thinking the former marky mark is one of the most talented actors working today is that i think his new kids on the block brother donnie is just as good .", "there should be so many interesting dilemmas , but like the original infernal affairs , it muddles in standard mob deals and police investigations , nothing you ca n't see on any handful of tv shows . why not give each side some painful decisions to mak", "look for the MOV to earn a host of oscar nominations as befits the blockbuster it will become .", "finally ! a movie in which men pull out their guns and actually shoot the person they 're aiming at . ` the MOV ' is a violent film , yet so satisfying , due to the unbelievable performances by the entire cast .", "it 's wild and edgy and everything we 've come to love about scorsese .", "... shifts between action and absurdity , generating the kind of gleeful havoc where you 're laughing one minute , then choking as the laughter freezes in your throat .", "not since goodfellas has scorsese hit so hard , so precisely and with such restraint of obvious flash .", "the MOV is nothing short of brilliant -- complicated , ambiguous and ambitious , executed with a virtuosity shared only by a handful of other american filmmakers .", "it 's good to see martin scorsese back among the bad guys again , knocking heads , spraying bullets , sloshing through the bloody puddles of their conflicted catholicism .", "aside from the offensive material , the MOV fires on all cylinders as one of the best crime dramas ever made -- smart , suspenseful , and technically well made .", "with the help of slick writing , an a-list cast and plenty of twisted surprises , scorsese scores again .", "as much as i appreciate the films he has made over the last decade , there is no denying that the MOV is scorsese 's best film since goodfellas . it 's just a f *** ing awesome movie .", "back to the streets and with a stellar cast , martin scorsese proves once again that he 's the master of urban storytelling -- and of thrillingly violent filmmaking .", "scorsese nails nearly every scene perfectly . there 's not a moment your mind wanders , your toe taps restlessly or you dare to miss a scene by glancing at your watch .", "the MOV remains a rousing film .", "probably the director 's most taut piece of storytelling since goodfellas .", "what makes this a scorsese film , and not merely a retread , is the director 's use of actors , locations and energy , and its buried theme . i am fond of saying that a movie is not about what it 's about ; it 's about how it 's about it .", "after a pair of flawed oscar-hunting epics , martin scorsese has returned to the gritty , violent mob drama that has always been his strong suit , and the result -- the MOV -- is his best film since 1990 's goodfellas .", "scorsese has made an incredible cover version of the original , imbued with every ounce of his artistic personality transforming it into something both familiar and new .", "the MOV heralds martin scorsese 's return to the top of his game and simultaneously secures for the film a place in the pantheon of the very best of american crime cinema . welcome back to scorsese 's mean streets .", "one of the year 's very best and most exciting films .", "great acting aside , this film 's greatest accomplishment comes from its director , whose style is remarkable and whose vision is always innovative .", "scorsese revisits old territory in the MOV , and he does n't do anything he has n't done brilliantly several times before .", "a great , resonant , psychologically complex popcorn movie made by a cast and crew of filmmakers at the top of their game . welcome back , marty .", "the story rattles along at such a lick there 's little time to ponder the plot holes -- no mean feat in a film of this length and with so many fine actors competing for our attention .", "... a fantastically entertaining crime thriller , crackling with energy from beginning to end . ... but nicholson 's outrageous over-acting becomes a distraction .", "dazzlingly done , with a welcome gloss of comic panache , it 's the sort of thing scorsese does better than any other major director in hollywood .", "this picture feels like an exercise by a scorsese clone who has tackled the master 's themes -- without his energy and economy of style .", "right from the pungent opening line , the MOV has that goodfellas pop , from the first-rate cast to the sharp black comedy to the startling incidents of violence .", "it 's an excitingly labyrinthine treatment of the perennial theme that cops and crooks , no matter their ethnic extraction , are fundamentally the same .", "it 's not a casual night out at the movies , but sends the viewer away shaken and supremely satisfied .", "the MOV exhibits a rough-hewn , deft intelligence . monahan has written some razor-sharp lines , and scorsese 's latest crew knows how to wield the quips .", "rude , crafty , funny and richly profane , it 's the work of an artist unmistakably in his element .", "not typical scorsese but mature storytelling with a steady rhythm .", "it is funny , shocking and brutal , and it 's filled with brilliant performances , with some of our best actors sinking their teeth into a great screenplay from william monahan .", "you can feel scorsese 's exhilaration in every moment , of the MOV , and the experience is an adrenaline rush , pure and simple .", "a relentlessly violent , breathtakingly assured piece of mean-streets filmmaking , the film shows the legendary director dropping the bids for industry respectability that have preoccupied him over the past decade and doing what he does best .", "only a cinematic master like martin scorsese can take a complex character-driven drama and turn it into a grandiose masterpiece .", "for all its bloodletting , the MOV is an intoxicating film . it 's a film that 'll have your hands over your face with one eye peeking : the violence sickens , but the movie seduces .", "a return to genre for martin scorsese , this cops and gangsters film is unqestionably entertaining .", "an over-plotted , pressure-cooked crime caper directed by martin scorcese which touches on every classic theme imaginable .", "you 'll have to go back to goodfellas to find a marty movie this fun , this enamored of language , of ethnic slurs , of `` gim me shelter , '' of explosive violence . scorsese 's return to form is the year 's most dynamic film . really , how could it not be ?", "the MOV 's lucky-charmed score is one of many subliminal devices in the film : no one better lay a hand on scorsese 's oscar .", "the MOV does n't improve in any way on infernal affairs , which served up a return to stylish hong kong action .", "sometimes accused of failing to harness the kinetic energy that abounds in his films , martin scorsese has done such a fine job of balancing the heat and the cold here .", "scorsese 's treatise on honour and trust has a sprawl that 's at once epic and cohesive .", "scorsese takes william monahan 's brilliant adaptation and completely makes it his own , resulting in not only one of the best movies of the year but also one of the best of his amazing career .", "a reminder that movies can have weight to them and still be enjoyable as entertainment .", "it 's tense , it never gets bogged down and you wo n't notice that two and half hours have passed when the final credits roll .", "a particularly irish brand of cops-and-thieves angst , interesting because it 's considerably colder than the hong kong variety .", "-lrb- martin -rrb- scorsese 's movies usually have an operatic quality ; this one reaches the heights of shakespearean tragedy .", "the MOV has enough tension to keep you engrossed , and enough color for ten crime pictures . scorsese obviously adores his expensive , expansive ensemble .", "... the best thing the director has done in years .", "heaven has come calling for moviegoers to experience the purest , toughest and most unabashed scorsese film since goodfellas .", "scorsese 's latest is an anti-war movie that is firmly dedicated to the idea that neither side in this war will ever be declared the winner .", "it 's a stylish head rush of a movie that flies by , even at two-and-a-half hours , and keeps turning the knife -lrb- and your stomach -rrb- up to the final scene .", "a sprawling crime drama that works , when it does work , mainly as a comedy . convoluted , confusing and full of fat , the film cries out for a trimmed down version .", "the MOV ends up the most affectingly bleak movie scorsese 's made since taxi driver .", "this is remarkably compelling cinema driven by some of the best talent in the business .", "proof positive that neither scorsese nor nicholson have lost their touch .", "martin scorsese is a master of the gritty crime drama and this is reminiscent of `` goodfellas '' and `` mean streets . ''", "two and a half hours race by as this twisting , turning tale blazes its exciting , funny , brutal path .", "it 's a splendid actor 's showcase and everyone in the cast comes off well .", "martin scorsese 's the MOV , a crime drama of thrilling breadth and intensity , takes place within boston 's city limits , seems to have been made in a state of exultation , and holds you captive in a state of delight .", "what begins as a breakneck descent into blunt cruelty and moral turmoil soon morphs into a cat-and-mouse game encumbered by self-consciously overcooked extravagance .", "it took a while , but martin scorsese has returned to the mean streets .", "-lsb- a -rsb- cunning sprint along the knife edge between cops and mobsters , one that spooks you into feeling at any moment that you might fall off ...", "we 'll be talking about this one for years to come .", "the MOV is not vintage scorsese , but for most of its running time it sure comes close .", "brilliantly acted , enthrallingly told , this vast , operatic saga centers on two men caught between the fear of having their true selves revealed and the fear of hiding themselves so completely they can never come back .", "... a cocky film , something that plays a little faster than real life and is stuffed to the gills with testosteronic humor . yes , indeed , marty 's back ...", "marty 's back , doing what he does best . is that a collective sigh of relief i hear ?", "martin scorsese surprises us with a film that is more of a thriller than his previous efforts . it really holds the viewer . much of the credit goes to the original film .", "the most amazing acting in the MOV comes from mark wahlberg , who completely transforms himself into the angry police sergeant he portrays .", "this is a martin scorsese film of the classic sort . it has a high body-count and moments of sublime excess ; the master is on form .", "steeped in testosterone and laced with inventively used profanity , the MOV plunges us into a corrupt boston world for parallel stories about two cops , played by matt damon and leonardo dicaprio .", "martin scorsese makes a welcome return to form with his latest , the MOV .", "strong dialogue , intrigue and great music . top notch acting , crisp direction and editing . unfortunately , a contrived love triangle & climax greatly compromise the integrity .", "while seldom less than totally engrossing , it does n't come close to the greatness of scorsese 's goodfellas and casino , and pales in comparison to joanou 's state of grace .", "nicholson will undoubtedly be accused of hamming it up ... but , really , what choice does he have surrounded by all of the macho posturing on display ?", "as inflated with its own sense of epic destiny as the hindenburg was with hydrogen and just as doomed", "the MOV is scorsese grabbing new hollywood by its ear to teach it a lesson the old-fashioned way .", "it 's one of the year 's best pictures . it 's also one of martin scorsese 's best . and when you think of some other films he 's made , that 's saying something .", "scorsese 's film is a grossly over-extended 150 , and -- despite its flashes of directorial genius -- it 's no deeper -lrb- or more comprehensible -rrb- than the original .", "as ingenious as it is artificial .", "nicholson 's unsavoury grin and seedy menace are a joy to behold .", "rude , profane , clever , hilarious , engrossing , crowd-pleasing , ridiculously entertaining .", "as cop thrillers go , this is the best in quite a while .", "i think goodfellas leaves this for dead , absolutely for dead .", "-lsb- the MOV -rsb- showcases scorsese 's trademark themes of sin , betrayal and redemption . it 's a carefully calibrated and detailed film that takes its time establishing the characters ' complex histories .", "the MOV is not for the faint of heart . but scaredy-cats are going to miss a tremendously satisfying film , one that will have you leaving the theater saying , `` now , that was a movie . ''", "it all makes for extremely watchable entertainment .", "a beautifully crafted film that 's also egregiously violent - rightfully so .", "the film makes a convincing case , while you 're watching , that it simply does n't get much better than this : its mastery is nothing short of awe-inspiring .", "crackling with energy , featuring great actors sinking their teeth into the meatiest of roles and a plot that bubbles with tension , this is scorsese 's finest film since goodfellas .", "while this may not be scorsese 's finest film , it is without a doubt his most entertaining . the MOV is here to stay .", "gripping , often cruelly funny ... -lsb- and -rsb- a film that is coming along at the perfect time , as millions of americans grapple with feelings of chronic insecurity , suspicion and a powerful desire for change .", "this is going to be a contender come the end of the year . it 's scorsese and company at their best .", "after the dolled-up theatrics of his last few features , from casino -lrb- 1995 -rrb- up through the aviator -lrb- 2004 -rrb- , it 's a kick to find director martin scorsese back in prime form , at least in the terrific first half of the MOV .", "comparisons to goodfellas and casino notwithstanding , it has a verve and texture all its own . it also has , courtesy of william monahan , some of the best dialogue that scorsese has ever worked with .", "-lsb- a -rsb- luridly entertaining gangster movie .", "if the story suffers initially from a slight lack of focus , hang in there , because you will soon become immersed in a mesmerizing , expertly plotted cat-and-mouse game .", "martin scorsese 's cubistic entertainment about men divided by power , loyalty and their own selves finds the director back on the mean streets where he belongs .", "too operatic at times , too in love with violence and macho posturing at others , it 's a potboiler dressed up in upscale designer clothes , but oh how that pot does boil .", "scorsese 's sharpest film in a decade and the most entertaining major studio release this year .", "it is probably superior to almost anything released this year and is a disappointment only when compared with scorsese 's previous accomplishments .", "with its welter of double crosses , the MOV is completely engrossing , a master class in suspense .", "transforms the often predictable crime genre into a nuanced character study .", "martin scorsese returns to gangland in the MOV , a slick , soulful retelling of overrated hong kong actioner infernal affairs .", "a great film ? to some degree . great fun ? absolutely . one of the year 's best films ? most certainly", "... riveting and fearless in its intriguing scope . the MOV beats us upside our heads with a flashy fury that stings more caustically than an avenging queen bee .", "this is crime melodrama as only scorsese can deliver it , even if we sense in the edges of the frame that he 's subtly laughing at the over-ripeness of it all .", "solid work by dicaprio , damon , sheen and baldwin ... -lrb- is -rrb- upstaged by nicholson bravado . wahlberg , however , comes close .", "redolent of four-letter words , scorsese 's flatulent boston massacre does n't amount to a hill of beans ... it 's easily his worst film since cape fear . how bad is goodfellas does boston ? so bad that even nicholson is a deadly bore .", "wow -- look what martin scorsese can do with a remake !", "rowdier and more neatly resolved than infernal affairs -lrb- that is , more `` american '' -rrb- , the MOV grants nicholson wide berth for jestering", "this merrily vicious and violent martin scorsese film about cops and gangsters in boston will never haunt your sleep , as taxi driver and raging bull do , but it will keep you excited and amused for well over two hours .", "as in most of scorsese 's films , the wages of sin are pretty harsh , but then , so are the wages of virtue .", "MOV is tonally confident and visually ambitious in ways only scorsese can pull off with gusto and precision , scored with a hiccupy mix-tape of bash-ya-head-in tunes from a broken ipod .", "the rats are dead ; long live the rats .", "toplined by dicaprio , damon , and nicholson , this crime-gangster film , loosely based on infernal affairs , reinvents the genre with a uniquely american saga that showcases scorsese in top form .", "the MOV tells a tale of the bad luck of the irish with black humor , zest and cumulative kapow that take off the top of your head .", "sensational . before martin scorsese , dicaprio , damon , and walherg were movie stars , now they are `` class a '' actors . the only woman is the weak link .", "-lsb- a -rsb- very entertaining , densely layered , just-short-of-fabulous melodrama .", "an expertly-crafted genre thriller which stands a chance at becoming one of his biggest box office hits yet .", "this is scorsese 's serpico , his french connection , his heat , and he brings the same eye for anthropological detail to the boys in blue as he does to his beloved wiseguys .", "sub-par gangster fodder .", "you must understand farce before you can understand tragedy , and scorsese understands both", "the film is superbly shot , and the rapid-fire editing and shaky camera fit the constant flux that the main characters find themselves in time and again .", "urban film making at its best , the MOV is a brutally violent , beautifully crafted , and incredibly well acted piece of film making that will leave you reeling .", "scorsese finds himself back in his comfort zone with a crime epic about loyalty and deception that 's deeply engaging and viciously entertaining from start to bloody finish .", "scorsese is n't about plots ; he 's about people , places , and times , and until he departs from that , this film is a return to genius .", "much splat , little art", "as great as the original is , scorsese has once again been able to reshape the material into something equally good , with different strengths and weaknesses .", "an exhilarating pulp entertainment .", "kept in balance , the MOV 's verbal and visual gifts , gun-toting menace , down-and-dirty existentialism , and bristling suspense should please both sides of the movie aisle .", "the MOV , which situates the lau-mak storyline in contemporary boston , matches expectations for roughly two-thirds of its somewhat distended 2 1/2 - hour running time .", "the balance of brutal violence , wildly inappropriate humor , and easy , low-boil romance is nothing short of masterful ... a hell of a good time .", "in martin scorsese 's thrilling , throbbing reinterpretation of -lsb- infernal affairs -rsb- , it is the war that rages within all of us -- between our better and our badder selves -- that transforms this tale of treachery into one of the year 's best movies .", "mr. scorsese and his associates have assembled a remarkably charismatic cast to impart coherence and conviction to a narrative that could have easily dwindled into an affectless succession of gratuitous intrigues .", "dicaprio is outstanding , as is the film 's first hour . but scorsese 's tale of rats and the rat race gets its neck snapped in traps set by nicholson 's relapse into just jack , a flabby finish and a tonally wrong final wink .", "a pulpy , operatic , rousingly good crime thriller .", "crime stories have become incredibly generic , and though this is not a pit like miami vice , some bursts of good staging and imagery only serve to remind us that scorsese is a streak gambler who can get stuck with the wrong hand .", "as the MOV wears on , it becomes more exciting , more grimly funny and more nihilistic -- and that nihilism has a lasting impact .", "that scorsese can hit this kind of material out of the park is n't surprising , and much of the MOV gleams with a certain well-honed perfection .", "martin scorsese 's remake of the hong kong thriller infernal affairs -lrb- 2002 -rrb- is a thrilling return to form .", "if you like your films loaded with guns , blood and bad asses with dialects this is the film for you . scorsese delivers a well-crafted story that will keep you engaged throughout .", "great filmmaking , especially if you do n't hold it up to scorsese 's masterpieces or to infernal affairs .", "efficient rather than profound . but when efficiency is this much fun , it would be churlish to ask for more .", "watching some of the best thespians of our era beat the crap out of each other -lrb- both literally and figuratively -rrb- is one of the MOV 's greatest joys .", "the MOV , which screenwriter william monahan cleverly adapted from the hong kong thriller infernal affairs , crackles right along , stopping only long enough for scorsese 's signature bursts of explosive violence .", "the argot of new york 's little italy is martin scorsese 's first language , but the filmmaker speaks fluent , pungent bostonese in the terrific cops-and-mobsters tale the MOV .", "superbly written and brilliantly acted , this is a return to form for scorsese - if this does n't get him the best director oscar , nothing will .", "the original film was gritty and entertaining ; the new version is a masterpiece -- the best effort scorsese has brought to the screen since goodfellas .", "even if it had come out nine months ago , there is little doubt that anything you see this year -- frankly , anything of its genre you 've seen in any recent year -- could surpass the MOV .", "the storytelling here is a model of smooth precision .", "... managing to convey nothing for the mind or soul in its over two hours of excessive overkill .", "scorsese is clearly a master filmmaker but in my opinion , he 's only phoning it in here . the MOV is a matter of been there , done that . second tier scorsese is still good , it just does n't rank up there with his best work .", "exactly the sort of complexity you 'd expect from a scorsese movie . what i did n't expect from a scorsese movie was a copout ending .", "owes a heavy debt to the original version , but this is a masterpiece all its own .", "takes a really good movie and makes it great .", "the MOV is a bloody , nihilistic , intelligent , pulpy epic filled with avant-garde techniques .", "few directors can compose a movie with the power , grace and assurance that scorsese brings to each shot and scene , and the MOV is more fun , and certainly more funny , than his last few films .", "martin scorsese must have missed the memo stating that hollywood movies were being dumbed down for mass audiences . the director has created one of the best films of the year , guaranteed to keep audiences on their toes .", "dicaprio raises his game to a whole new level in this film .", "proves that hollywood can still make great films when they want to .", "it may not be vintage scorsese , but it is exciting scorsese .", "a new american crime classic from the legendary martin scorsese , whose talent shines here on its highest beams .", "martin scorsese has got his groove back .", "scorsese has put together a fantastic ensemble of actors : some of the movie 's best performances are the ones tucked into the corners , like alec baldwin 's beefy , arrogant state police honcho .", "though the story drags on longer than it probably should , scorsese and his ensemble cast do an amazing job with staying faithful in their translation .", "martin scorsese 's answer to the sopranos is a triumph , as violent , thrilling and worthy of multiple viewings as any of david chase 's best shots ." ], "summary": "featuring outstanding work from an excellent cast that includes jack nicholson , leonardo dicaprio , and matt damon , the MOV is a thoroughly engrossing gangster drama with the gritty authenticity and soupy morality that has infused director martin scorsese 's past triumphs .", "id": "314387087" }, { "movie": "yogi-bear", "reviews": [ "MOV is pretty bad , but it 's not apocalyptically horrid -- and that 's its biggest problem .", "it is surprising , perhaps , that yogi is not more of an active protagonist , but given how unpleasant is the sight of lovingly-rendered cartoon bears interacting with actors , it 's probably just as well .", "yogi 's picnic gag is funny in small doses but , much like his chipmunk brethren , inflating these simple pleasures into a feature-length movie is disastrous .", "the movie is the opposite of the cartoons : everyone 's body is in motion , but nobody is using his head .", "compared to quality animated alternatives such as tangled and megamind , yogi is unbearable .", "kudos to director eric brevig and his team of digital animation artists for a rendering of yogi that , for all its wonderful detail , remains faithful to the lovable cartoon bear of yore .", "should MOV ever end up on the endangered list ... well , who are we to stand in the way of progress ?", "slapstick comedies are rare nowadays , especially ones that viewers of all ages can enjoy . so three cheers for this part-animated redo of the old hanna-barbera cartoon .", "smarter than the average screenplay ? no , it 's not .", "has about as much material -- and possibly less depth -- than one of the five-to-six-minute cartoons from the late 1950s .", "MOV is so contrived , so dull and so devoid of any charm it 's unknown whether it 'll stand up with kids so used to an endless supply of near flawless films .", "this is the sort of film that most hard-bitten critics will refuse to like .", "an hour and a half of what bears do in the woods .", "watchable cartoon-to-live-action adaptation that earns points for a great yogi impersonation by dan aykroyd and some surprisingly decent dialogue ...", "there 's no real reason for this live action/animation hybrid version of the classic cartoon besides the fact that digital effects allowed them to do it . but at least it 's rather undemanding good fun while it lasts .", "the wee'uns may enjoy the forest-based capers but for adults this is no pickernick .", "like a steady , throbbing ache that , after 75 minutes , you realize was your nerve endings ' collective scream at your numbed-off brain to flee this awkward hybrid of animation and live-action . the humans are even more cartoonish than ` your a-ver-age bear . '", "you 've seen this movie before , when it was called alvin and the chipmunks , but the filmmakers are hoping that your kids do n't remember .", "when yogi hams it up , it 's a bit like watching an old vaudeville performer whose time has passed .", "i found the movie quite flat and uninteresting but then , i 'm a grown-up .", "the best that can be said is that it 's a ` cute ' and ` harmless ' kids ' movie , as long as you ignore the moment when yogi tells the lovestruck mr. ranger that the best way to woo a mate is to urinate on her .", "MOV is a good-hearted , delightful story that captures the spirit of its original , leaving its audience smiling -lrb- and possibly hungry -rrb- .", "MOV may be smarter-than-the-average bear , but his new live-action-animated-mix flick is dumber-than-the-average-movie . dumb with a capital d.", "for the majority of its mercifully brief running time , MOV feels like a slap in the face to fans of the original hanna-barbera cartoon series ...", "a bland 21st-century family comedy without a single moment that captures the wit , energy or sophistication of the original , which by now dates back more than 50 years .", "besides the fire works disaster that followed yogi 's stunt , what could prevent ranger smith from making yogi the attraction that saves the park ? inquiring minds sort of wonder .", "dumber-than-average family comedy wo n't even impress kids .", "MOV is unbearable . there , i said it .", "just awful .", "`` MOV '' resurrects the long-hibernating title character with a fair amount of skill .", "now i 've got nothing against introducing young audiences to `` classic '' characters from bygone , pre-xbox eras . but why do they all have to feel so corporate , so soulless , so creatively leaden ?", "this being the highly advanced 21st century , simple animation wo n't do , so we must suffer through mediocre , lifeless computer-generated animation of this treasured twosome .", "innocuous and instantly forgettable stuff that seems downright tepid in comparison to what others have been doing with animation and kid-friendly offerings of recent . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "it 's not without its faults , but this is refreshingly faithful to the original cartoons .", "now i have no attachment to the original cartoon but for anyone who did like it , this ca n't be what you wanted .", "MOV can claim all he wants that he 's smarter than the average bear , but his latest big-screen incarnation is uncomfortably close to being a big-screen boo-boo .", "kids will love it while adults will find it un-bear-able !", "MOV is aggressively average , but it is n't the kind of children 's movie you need to fear .", "... to damn the whole endeavor with the faintest of praise , it at least has the decency to keep the fart jokes to a minimum", "taking the kids to a matinee of MOV in 3-d is no picnic .", "this is a cute movie , a kid 's movie , and a rather good one .", "little boo boos might giggle at the slapstick , but most folks over the age of 5 will find the tired plot and lame jokes unbearable .", "there is nothing entertaining or funny for the parents in MOV . heck , there is little funny or entertaining - no bright colors , no cutesy songs - for the little ones it is aimed at .", "the secret weapon is anna faris , making a totally inconsequential effort just a little more tolerable through the simple grace of her presence . yogi who ?", "MOV has good intentions , but so does everything else that paves the road to hell .", "just another lame , lazy retooling of an old tv title .", "`` MOV '' gives cheap hackwork a bad name .", "for what audience was this cynical , crushingly witless film made , exactly ?", "offers nothing to audience members older than the age of two", "compared to some kid flicks , `` MOV '' is rather sweet .", "the lakeside disaster yogi creates with a water ski routine setting off fireworks is the most amusing sequence in the movie ... after that , take a cue from yogi 's pal snagglepuss and exit , stage left .", "comedic miscalculations aside , picture is n't the disaster it should 've been , bringing yogi to a younger audience able to ignore the uninspired screenwriting and focus intently on the pie facials and flopping bear collisions .", "boring , pointless , and instantly forgettable , this return to jellystone park is no picnic .", "rock-bottom expectations are rewarded , sort of , in this update of hanna-barbera 's necktied ursus .", "neither smarter nor dumber than the average family-friendly comedy .", "a live-action/cartoon mix that 's misguided in just about every way .", "genial but instantly forgettable , MOV takes the beloved hanna-barbera character and shoehorns him into an all-too-familiar kids ' movie .", "adult chaperone who drew the short straw ? you can settle in for an 82 minute nap . sounds good , right ?", "millions of adults grew up watching MOV cartoons , but instead of playing to those memories , it does as little as possible to technically qualify as a `` MOV movie . ''", "an all out attack on the eyes and ears ...", "full review at movies for the masses", "one of the worst family films i 've seen since another animated adaptation : garfield . talking bears aside , the film lacks logic , energy and , most of all , fun .", "smarter than your average family movie ? unfortunately not .", "a bland but innocuous film that fails to take advantage of its two likable leading characters .", "it 's a terrible , dumb , unimaginative film that really is n't worth the price of a cinema ticket even with ... the excellent road runner short that comes before it .", "youngsters might enjoy the movie 's colorful locales , lovable if doltish bears , and intermittent slapstick comedy .", "i could n't help wishing the evil government types would get their act together , demolish the park and rid the world of any habitat that could spawn such an awful bastard .", "only the very young or very undemanding could find anything to like here .", "in a way , the film is faithful to the old cartoons , in that it 's grating and tiresome and not suitable for anyone over the age of 4 .", "... 79 minutes of 3-d garbage ...", "the classic jellystone sign cries out for an edit : from `` please do n't feed the bears , '' to `` please do n't see the bears . ''", "i imagine yogi and boo boo having this debate between foraging and thieving for eternity .", "the problem here is hollywood , as ever , committing a series of safe nostalgia-fueled films that represent less risk than , say , actually making something new .", "`` MOV '' lacks even the zinging toddler anarchy of the `` alvin and the chipmunks '' movies .", "the relative lack of coarseness and snark may come as a surprising relief , even to 21st-century audiences .", "fart jokes ? check . 3-d spit takes ? check . yogi shaking his ursine rump to `` baby got back '' ? dear lord , check .", "i should have demanded that i be met at the theater with a pic-a-nic basket full of vodka and pumpkin pie . that has to be the way many on the set got through the experience , so why not me ?", "another animated relic is dusted off for an underwhelming and unnecessary live-action outing .", "picture timberlake in the booth recording his lines and you have the best joke in the movie . everything else is actively painful , a frenetic , unfunny mix of action , romance , dud dialogue , and icky things popping out of the screen .", "these are `` lunchbox movies , '' big-budget multiplex fodder -- a character who was on some studio executive 's second grade lunchbox with some potty humor and boombox oldies .", "MOV is a big boo-boo .", "if nc-17 is going to stick around , i propose its counterpart at the other end of the spectrum : a rating to protect prospective viewers from films that are only for very childish children .", "more painful than the average bear attack .", "an aggressively awful movie that 's much , much dumber than the average kiddie flick .", "five minutes into their feature-length MOV movie , the filmmakers have more or less run out of material , save for switching up the means by which yogi swipes baskets , or leaving a few pies to cool on various ledges .", "weak as they 've been , the `` alvin and the chipmunks '' movies are operating on a higher plane than this .", "there 's nothing particularly inventive in the plot or grade-school humor , but the movie skates by on the timeless , undemanding charm of watching a tie-wearing bear try to steal people 's lunches .", "if the writers had produced something that was smarter than the average script , then perhaps we would have been in business .", "fond memories of yogi cartoons may get you some way through this big-screen version - but the nostalgia soon wears off .", "MOV barely raises a grin , it 's only miller and daly 's charisma and ad-lib that goes some way to saving it .", "even the most nostalgic and forgiving yogi fan will likely find it hard to warm to the 21st-century , computer-generated , 3d make-over he 's undergone here .", "small children with low levels of expectation are the target for this blandly unimaginative mix of live-action and 3d animation .", "any potential retro-charm is quickly rubbed out by creepy cgi , a tired reality-tv conceit and failure to grasp that yogi 's appeal lies in his delivery and quick wit , not eye-stabbing 3d gimmicks or life-like depictions of picnic-basket heists .", "the new MOV is survivable . that 's as far as i 'll go .", "there are some watchable 3d sequences in a boat on the rapids and a makeshift airplane , but it 's pretty grim for anyone over six .", "-lsb- c -rsb- ertainly not the worst thing you could have sat through this year so far , but it lacks any flavour or verve ; it is a hollow shade rather than the vibrant , jovial caper it should be .", "poor old yogi has a rough time of it in this miserable 3d assault of humour-free live action and lumpy animation ." ], "summary": "MOV 's 3d effects and all-star voice cast are cold comfort for its aggressively mediocre screenplay .", "id": "770858010" }, { "movie": "8_women", "reviews": [ "weightless entertainment that 's both camp and true .", "the acting is such a delight , with each actress nailing her respective personality type with appropriate flair and finesse , that it breathes with life .", "it 's more of a graduate seminar kind of fun than a singin ' in the rain kind of fun .", "what 's more fun than a barrel of monkeys ? 8 MOV and a dead french guy trapped in a snowstorm .", "beautifully constructed , unexpectedly touching , and gorgeous to behold , it 's a swirling kaleidoscope of murder , intrigue , and musical numbers that cinematic bon vivants will eagerly devour .", "the line between wacky offbeatness and just plain silliness is sadly crossed a few too many times .", "most of the fun of 8 MOV is that it is cliche .", "simply to name the eight actresses ... is to indulge in an iconic incantation that has less to do with traditional film criticism than with spiritual speculation on the eloquent intimations of immortality in the ageless cinema of faces .", "-lsb- francois -rsb- ozon creates a retro film that resonates with qualities and concepts that harkens back to the 50 's and 60 's .", "combining the traditions of the english country house murder mystery and the 1960s musical , 8 MOV is nutty french fun .", "what 's wonderful about ozon 's movie -lrb- and thomas ' play -rrb- is the dedication to developing the unforgettable characters of each of these MOV .", "although it starts off vaguely amusing , 8 MOV grows progressively sour , curdled by the filmmakers ' bad faith and lack of compassion .", "inept , tedious kitsch that even at its best feels like john waters minus the joie de vivre .", "sit back , relax and watch some of the world 's best actresses kick up their heels and have a great time doing it .", "as much fun as you should be allowed to have in the dark while still maintaining possession of your clothes .", "indefensible , cynical , even grotesque ; it is also pure -- that is to say innocent and uncorrupted -- fun .", "drop-dead pretty and confidently assembled , it 's a shameless , extravagant charmer -- at first . as the movie goes on , it goes deeper , too , until the bleak melancholia that lurks beneath the surface violently breaks through .", "i love this film .", "ozon whips up performances of this stellar cast to good effect .", "the secret to enjoying 8 MOV is to check your analytical mind at the popcorn counter and settle back for almost two hours of cinematic mischief .", "klopt elementen van een agatha christie whodunnit , een frivole chansonmusical en de kleurrijke melodramas van douglas sirk op tot een luchtige souffle , als is de kooktijd wel wat lang .", "this is a style of camp so broad that even the most bovine straight can get it .", "we have powerful chemistry between fanny ardant and catherine deneuve in a film that does its trivial thing with real aplomb .", "some may find ozon 's rigorously clever deconstruction of so many conventions a little too french for their tastes , but cineasts and worshippers of les femmes at their most fatales will find this farce wonderfully fierce .", "an agatha christie drawing room mystery crossed with the '50s setting and melodrama of douglas sirk crossed with the musicality of jacques demy with some aaron spelling bitchery thrown in for good measure .", "there can not be many people who would n't want to pay to see deneuve smash a bottle over the head of an old woman in a wheelchair .", "frothy , racy frivolity starring such french all-stars as danielle darrieux , catherine deneuve , isabelle huppert and emmanuelle b\u0439art .", "ozon 's notion of derision is perfectly carried out by his multi-generational name cast .", "excepcional policial-com\u0439dia-drama-musical com um elenco fabuloso , dire\u0437\u0433o de arte e figurinos not\u0431veis e dire\u0437\u0433o firme e elegante de ozon .", "in a film season dominated by male-oriented action flicks , 8 MOV provides the feminine charm and sophistication to soothe the film-loving connoisseur in all of us .", "simplistic , standard two hours of non-intellectually stimulating amusement .", "the genre-bender of the year is intermittently involving .", "gorgeous actresses and visuals abound , as do witty and biting dialogue and ever more outrageous twists and revelations .", "one ca n't imagine the meg ryan remake of the MOV , in lieu of which this film was made , being half as much fun .", "but while he reduces them to moving barbie dolls , ozon clearly loves his MOV . or , as much as a catty drag queen can .", "enjoins eight of france 's finest actresses in a giddily amusing agatha christie-style whodunit .", "tries way too hard to be cute .", "offers as much delicious enjoyment to the viewer as it obviously did to the cast and crew when they were assembling it .", "the sum of the movie 's parts amounts to a starstruck director entertaining himself more than he entertains us .", "ozon finds MOV aesthetically pleasing , but has no desire to get close .", "... a trav\u00e9s de la canci\u00f3n , los personajes hablan de su verdadero sentir o de su estado de \u00e1nimo , un mon\u00f3logo profundo pero en pleno toque c\u00f3mico ...", "this unique confection from one of the country 's most gifted and prolific young filmmakers is sheer , outlandish fun .", "a brilliant pastiche on so many genres , it has no right to be as entertaining as it is , or as gripping .", "sometimes the singing is weak . sometimes the movements are really iffy . but these actresses exude so much charm and they are trying so hard that you ca n't help but to love them and their efforts .", "the result is shrill and charmless .", "every seemingly insignificant , color-coded fragment of the picture 's makeup coheres into a satisfying whole .", "who did it is less important to ozon than a lampooning of the sirkian aesthetic of pure artifice , but there 's too much irony in the air for him to spin anything but the most brittle of confections .", "a movie that begins as something of a hoot and turns into an ever-expanding assortment of delights .", "this film would be worth watching for no other reason than to see so many stars of french -lrb- and international -rrb- cinema on one screen .", "an affectionate , sophisticated parody of technicolor melodramas and musicals of the 1950s -- with a some mock-agatha christie thrown in for fun .", "clue meets gosford park , an airy musical murder mystery with style and flair to spare .", "one of the year 's most beguiling films ... it has the fizz of fine champagne and delivers a wonderful kick .", "this theatrical whim is like a dessert so rich it 's almost inedible but too irresistible to put down .", "ozon and his actresses work so hard at being funny that they seldom are .", "there are any number of moments that fans of french cinema could only have dreamed of ever happening .", "i ca n't remember one witty line or one moment of great acting .", "each performance is beautifully controlled , notably huppert 's devastating comic turn as augustine , and integrated into a seamless ensemble .", "it 's a whodunit in stilettos , where the stilettos are dangerous , sharp objects handled without care by MOV on the edge of a murderous breakdown .", "the sleight of hand that ozon and his game cast accomplish is startling . what begins as a fine farce has a poignant payoff .", "there 's just enough of a hint at something interesting beneath the surface to make you wish ozon had actually had the nerve to really go for it .", "cheesy and implausible , pink-cheeked and mad , 8 MOV is a hysterical and purposefully vulgar film - a cynical shock tactic that nevertheless argues for the unsinkable dignity of the human beast .", "an oddity , not without charm .", "highly recommended .", "the storyline itself is n't anything special ... but the impressive cast and catchy songs just about make 8 MOV worth watching .", "a gigantic , candy-colored genre-cuisinart drunk on its own self-reflexivity , this improbably entertaining eruption most resembles a reservoir dogs for gay men .", "the film winds up as a cutesy vanity project , though it makes none of the participants look good .", "under the pretense of casting a spell of wonder , mystery , joy and despair , all ozon has really done is set up a dry , lifeless environment in which ironic detachment -- the arch-enemy of all great art -- can flourish like a stingy cactus .", "an ebullient toast to grande dames : part homage , part camp , all artifice and a thoroughly entertaining , if light , confection .", "whatever you call this one-of-a-kind bonbon spiked with wit and malice , it 's classic oo-la-la .", "a frothy and deliriously enjoyable souffle .", "a sensational movie , one so rich , so imaginative , so uninhibited , so full of irony that watching it is a joy of a magnitude rarely experienced at the movies .", "fun , fanciful , french froth .", "even if some of the references are inscrutable , a lot of 8 MOV is a riot .", "most of the ideas in 8 MOV are similar to other things % u2013 and that 's both the point and the delight of this strange confection , which can best be described as a highly theatrical musical-comedy version of gosford park .", "who killed the fun in 8 MOV is the real blame game . start nominating your suspects now .", "the musical numbers are what ultimately undo the movie .", "... the true spirit of the film is in the story of desperate MOV who will do desperate things to make themselves happy , no matter who they hurt .", "why did n't anybody think of doing this kind of weird bollywood musical murder mystery before ? maybe because it is a stupid idea .", "a fluffy , super saturated 50 's chick murder mystery - with songs !", "how much viewers enjoy this depends on to what extent they 're able to focus on the shining stars at the center while ignoring the narrative debris surrounding them .", "the enfant terrible of french cinema , fran\u00e7ois ozon 's brave foray into the mind of not one , but eight , MOV is a gloriously-executed examination of what lies beneath the manicured fa\u00e7ade of the female species .", "the film starts to feel like decorative misogyny .", "with its gallic all-diva cast and technicolor hues , not to mention contrived murder-mystery plot and sporadic musical numbers , it 's a tribute to artifice and femininity , and the ways they intersect .", "for all the tumultuous entrances and flouncing exits , the eight principals manage maybe three laughs among them .", "a dubious proposition for the francophobic , but it acquits itself with a script so ridiculous that it ca n't help but be engaging .", "the film weaves visual elegance , lesbian subtext , six hilariously inappropriate song-and-dance numbers and a flair for chiffon into a showcase for leading ladies of french cinema past and present .", "seduction is more important than deduction in this chic display of star quality to the eighth power .", "a note of genuine sadness sneaks through at the end , but for the most part , enjoying 8 MOV involves coming to terms with its artificiality and learning to appreciate it from a distance . behind all that thick glass , it 's still a work of art .", "the cast is the main attraction in francois ozon 's witty , even touching 8 MOV .", "8 MOV is meant to be a sampler with the likes of deneuve , darrieux , huppert , ardant and beart as its treats . but the confectioner has arrived at pretty poison .", "pure joy . that 's what you will feel as you float out of the theater after seeing this wacky musical whodunit starring several of france 's most accomplished and best known actresses .", "the writing is very clever and it is a hoot watching the celebrated cast ham it up .", "the french screen royalty assembled by ozon and the film 's sheer exuberance in its own artifice make this a delight from beginning to end .", "visually , it adores the MOV it introduces . emotionally and intellectually , it mocks them .", "for french film fans , this is the equivalent of bob dylan , the surviving beatles and the rolling stones jamming in the studio with an adoring producer behind the glass .", "a sly blend of douglas sirk melodrama and jacques demy musical ; a playfully reconfigured crackerjack murder mystery as thoroughly engrossing as it is lovingly contrived .", "les femmes fatales --", "it is our awareness that five of the brightest french stars have come together to have fun that makes the picture bubble .", "the movie finds a spiritedness in its characters so likeable that it 's nearly impossible to take the misogynist conclusion seriously .", "you may not be edified by this lightweight effort , but only scrooge or the grinch would n't be entertained .", "unfortunately , 8 MOV falls short of sirk 's standard .", "all clearly had a grand time , whooping it up as over-the-top characters .", "although dramatically contained and almost stifling , 8 MOV comes to life through each actress ' pleasurable performance .", "like all things sweet , 8 MOV is an acquired taste , a feast for the eyes but less of a treat for the ears .", "the cast is consistently strong , particularly deneuve and ardant , bravely throwing caution to the wind and mugging fearlessly in an all-out effort to bring down the house .", "a mess ? you bet , but one that 's not without its pleasures .", "a delectable , frothy , often over-the-top 1950s murder mystery by director francois ozon .", "ozon plainly worships the idea of the grand dame , and the movie allows him both to honor and deride his own devotion .", "leave your sense of reason at the door and surrender yourself to the oo-la-laughs .", "proves to be a pleasant romp .", "the whole is a sort of curdled cassoulet that annoys rather than amuses , bores rather than bites and tires rather than titillates .", "for pure camp , intentional or otherwise , this is right up there with the rocky horror picture show .", "taking three of your favorite drag queens and some alcoholic contraband to this movie equals a windfall of instant camp .", "its silly , mannered contrivances nonetheless cast a nostalgic spell , and you find yourself drawn helplessly into the loopy , nonsensical story with strangely fretful anticipation .", "watching 8 MOV , you have a silly grin half of the time .", "8 MOV may not plumb the depths of the female psyche , but it 's stylish and frivolous in the most profound ways .", "every one of the actresses seems to have been directed to chew scenery and aim for over-the-top , and the end result is very , very funny .", "it 's a big puffy french pastry of a movie : light , airy , silly , not especially memorable , but delicious while it lasts .", "a movie that is so original , so funny , so alive with drama , intrigue , mystery and colors that you want to see it again and again .", "a gorgeous , if disjointed , spectacle , made endurable -- if not entirely comprehensible -- by its eye-popping cast .", "it 's quite the fun group to be stranded with -- unless you happen to be male , rich and in the way .", "this ozon comes much closer to the nasty little prankster that i liked so much with sitcom .", "yes , it 's over the top , giddy and parodistic -lrb- god bless it -rrb- . but it also takes a thoughtful , if surreptitious , look at what eight MOV might act like when men are n't around ." ], "summary": "featuring some of the best french actresses working today , 8 MOV is frothy , delirious , over-the-top fun .", "id": "13699" }, { "movie": "knight_and_day", "reviews": [ "the exciting `` MOV '' is a blast that stays in cruise control .", "entertaining enough but utterly ridiculous .", "MOV works due to the charms of diaz and cruise , and it figures out how to exaggerate action without making the audience feel insulted .", "player or pawn ? that is the key question in this delicious action thriller that finds the perfect balance between comedy and taking itself seriously enough to be real", "one of the biggest mysteries of MOV is figuring out who exactly the film is primarily for", "MOV ends up chasing itself around in circles , going nowhere , doing nothing , hoping to coast on charm and goodwill .", "is this the knight to save the summer movie season ?", "the tom cruise action persona is in full swing and given a good roasting in the entertaining MOV .", "half-aware it 's an action flick while trying to breezily amuse , and half-alert to its comic potential while roaring off on a chase or shoot-out , it staggers along . MOV 's potential vanishes in the haze of a mundane situation-comedy .", "delivers plenty of bang , but with a much-appreciated wink", "i think we all secretly want to be kidnapped by tom cruise , build chemistry together during a globetrotting spy game while trading sassy banter , and then sneak a whiff of shorty 's sneaker lifts when he 's not looking .", "tom cruise is not the failsafe , bankable actor he once was . but his performance here reminds us of what made him a star in the first place .", "an action star who does n't glower -- what a relief !", "by the finale , it 's hard to shake the sense that the movie has already expired , and everyone involved -lsb- is -rsb- just trying to prop it up , `` weekend at bernie 's '' - style , long enough to heave it over the 100-minute mark .", "the pairing of attractive movie stars usually translates into box office gold . this globetrotting action adventure is proof that too many cooks spoil the broth . the glaring red flag is that ...", "another generic big-name action film minus any real heart or soul .", "fast-paced and charming , MOV may well restore the box office fortunes of its well-matched leading man and lady . it 's the mr. & mrs. smith of 2010 .", "it 's a pleasant bit of nonsense , made all the more palatable by tom cruise 's terrific work .", "the people who made MOV may think they 're giving audiences what they want but what they 're really saying is : this is what audiences deserve .", "the slick , proficient MOV is proof that you should never count cruise out .", "a snappy comedy dressed up by its high voltage action sequences -- in no small part thanks to the charisma of its ' leads .", "knight & day is an adventure movie that pretends jason bourne never woke up with amnesia .", "it 's the hitchcockian `` wrong man '' theme played as a hollywood action lark , all momentum and spectacle and no mortal risk or moral confusion ...", "`` knight & day '' is absurd without being funny . it 's also lacking in the onscreen chemistry department . '' paul chambers , cnn .", "MOV feels like the product of a different era . and no , i 'm not just talking about the 1990s , when star tom cruise was a legitimate box office draw and not an ever-smiling kook with an uncanny knack for making people feel uncomfortable .", "reiser mangold no\u0107 i dan \u010dini koliko-toliko gledljivim , ali ni toliko da bi dosegao uobi\u010dajene i niske standarde `` neobavezne ljetne zabave '' .", "as a pure popcorn , dreams-writ-large , kiss-kiss-bang-bang , globetrotting romp , MOV delivers . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a highly enjoyable , breezy action film . cruise and diaz are fun to watch .", "the action sequences go on too long and the reliance on cgi is often blatant , but cruise 's irrepressible zest and diaz 's ditsy charm pull the film through the rough patches .", "this action-comedy has its moments , but its flaws often outweigh the action spectacle and story .", "MOV is often so mindlessly preposterous -lrb- especially during the cgi-heavy action scenes -rrb- that it makes the a-team look as complex as l.a. confidential by comparison . luckily , cruise and diaz both have their movie-star wattage burning bright .", "when you combine the right actors with correct chemistry and some decent writing , even formula works .", "mindless escapist blockbuster comic action film , that was fun for awhile but ran out of charm before it could close the deal .", "if you like exhilarating , escapist nonsense with personality , MOV is for you .", "propulsive action fare for romantic comedy escapists .", "... the effects throw us into physics-defying action so preposterous that one half of the movie undermines the other .", "-lsb- it -rsb- disappoints because it should have been much better . instead of a comic thriller with some depth , it is as lightweight as a soap bubble , and just as likely to pop .", "crazy cruise has a great time in this summer flick , and you will too .", "true , `` MOV '' is preposterous nonsense . just think of it as a spoof of one of cruise 's `` mission : impossible '' movies on crack .", "the quiet -lsb- character -rsb- moments are placed perfectly , like emotional depth charges that explode and energize the enjoyment factor .", "attempts to walk a delicate tightrope , simultaneously parodying and indulging in outrageous super-spy action , and fails in both endeavors .", "cruise and diaz both seem refreshed here -- both are at their charming best .", "scattered and uneven , this action drama wastes a terrific tom cruise .", "fast-paced action sequences , coupled with the performances and o'neill 's script , make `` MOV '' a fun film that will please fans of the action genre .", "a broad , boring comedy bogged down with a plot that does n't seem to matter much , even to the participants .", "hits all the beats you 'd expect from an international thriller", "it 's not a bad movie . it 's not exactly a good movie , either , but it 's got its moments . MOV is a film about charisma and on-screen chemistry , but unfortunately not much else .", "an incidental romance punctuated with out-of-one 's - element humor and computer-assisted chase sequences , wholly weightless .", "it 's a calculated , artificial formula for box office success barely disguised as a story .", "i 'm just not feeling enough to really get worked up about what 's wrong with it .", "taken as the live action cartoon it is , MOV will deliver enough generic fun to see you through your popcorn .", "once you cotton onto the fact that you 're watching ` carry on bourne ' , you might even enjoy it .", "toes in one side of the brain and out the other , leaving little trace .", "cruise and diaz are both very attractive with their infectious , mile-wide grins .", "if your idea of cinema heaven is plenty of gun fights and car chases then by and large that 's what MOV does .", "soon deteriorates into a pointless travelogue of explosions as the pair are chased from a tropical island to austria and on to spain , the plot becoming more tedious with every location .", "they make a fun duo , but none of the constituent genres work in this overbearing action-rom-com .", "cruise , extravagantly tousled and cowlicked , resembles an action-man doll having a big hair day .", "tom cruise and cameron diaz ! tom and cam ! cruise and diaz ! together again !", "MOV is to cinema what andre the giant was to acting .", "cruise 's curious meta-thriller wears thin long before knight-fall", "the stunt work is impressive , the various international locales are easy on the eye and cruise and diaz make a fun couple but it all feels calculated and mechanical .", "the miracle is that patrick o'neill was able to pitch his screenplay for MOV and not get carted off to a home for the criminally insane .", "it 's not bad dvd entertainment , but as a big summer movie , it 's a bit of a washout .", "diminishing returns eventually topple it , but not before cruise has cemented one of his most relaxed and likeable performances in some time .", "a film to cheer audiences , 12 and slightly upwards , not seduce critics ...", "MOV is by no means the worst film of the summer , but with a flailing cruise on board , it feels like the most desperate .", "we do n't buy tickets to movies like this to see sensible storylines and deep characters ; we want overwrought , effects-heavy action and sexless banter .", "about as memorable and entertaining as the last bath sponge i bought .", "it 's a reasonable enough romp , but tom cruise with a gun still makes me uneasy .", "cruise gets to do what he does best , namely flash a winning grin then leap from a moving vehicle , guns blazing . diaz gets to play to her strength , which is goofball romantic comedy .", "cruise and cruz are a well-paired team , here to have fun , and that fun translates in a movie that features moments that are intentionally and deliriously absurd .", "directed at a breakneck pace and with a spry script , it ratchets up the stakes as its stars leap from stunt to outrageous stunt . after a few years without a hit , cruise seems back in control .", "click to read the full review on movies for the masses", "the wonderful screwball chemistry between a cunning , tough-to-read cruise and a naive , open-book diaz carries MOV effortlessly over a few bumpy spots along the way .", "james mangold counts stanley donen 's charade and alfred hitchcock 's north by northwest among his inspirations for MOV and i 'm still wondering why .", "it 's a film absolutely of the moment ; you 're not going to come out of it debating its finer points .", "MOV runs out of ammunition -lrb- unlike its characters -rrb- well before the closing credits start to roll .", "boasting fine supporting turns -lrb- peter sarsgaard and viola davis are both excellent -rrb- , perfectly placed twists and turns , and enough star-shine to power a small city , MOV is big time entertainment , with a capital e.", "by the time the story nears its climax , we completely jettison dreary reality and take flight with this plucky duo on their way to ` someday '", "MOV is a bit like a booze-filled night out with a bunch of strangers you do n't quite trust .", "seven or eight years ago , maybe , this team-up might have been worth getting excited about .", "the body count is high , but the killing is bloodless and breezy .", "lazily directed and poorly written , this is a disappointing action thriller-slash-romcom that wrongly thinks it can get by on star power alone .", "falha em basicamente tudo que se prop\u0151e a fazer , s\u00f3 n\u0103o se tornando um fracasso completo gra\u00e7as ao carisma de seus protagonistas .", "this film is saved from complete failure by cruise , who seems to be having fun and does his best to inject some verve into the lacklustre plot and monotonous chase sequences .", "the spy-caper story is as forgettable as they come and the jokes are pretty forced .", "for every female who 's ever been infatuated with tom cruise ... here 's your love letter . did this go wrong in the editing room , or was it always this bad of an idea ?", "though it sells itself as a free-wheeling adventure , MOV is a precisely-constructed and strategically vital opening salvo in the restoration of the ` tom cruise ' brand .", "if diaz and cruise had shared some chemistry on screen i may have forgiven all of its sins . alas , they do n't .", "jumpy , unmotivated , and senseless .", "cruise is refreshing and diaz is not . but that is not enough to ruin the entire film !", "filled with plenty of feather-light entertainment , MOV is an enjoyable matinee that will dissolve away from you as step out into the summer sun , refreshed and smiling .", "mangold keeps spirits high and the touch light .", "banks on the star power of its leading man without realizing the account is overdrawn .", "cameron diaz has turned to pixar to create the perfect cgi manifestation of a face . ` it has been a long time since the sight of me has evoked both buzz and woody , ' explained cameron .", "its about as light and fluffy as summer action movies get . it 's also as relentless and desperate to entertain as we always hope the worst summer movies wo n't be .", "this is a summer action film and it does deliver on the promise of action . while the action is so extreme as to border on silliness , this is often done intentionally for comic effect .", "all style and no substance ...", "cruise is top-billed , but the point of view belongs to diaz : this is not a male-oriented actioner but a romantic fantasy for plugged-in , green screen-savvy girls sympathetic to the idea of courtship as a series of deliriums and fugue states ..." ], "summary": "it 's pure formula , but thanks to its breezy pace and a pair of charming performances from tom cruise and cameron diaz , MOV offers some agreeably middle-of-the-road summer action .", "id": "770820013" }, { "movie": "together_2001", "reviews": [ "the film soars on the strength of its own eagerness to display goodwill toward all its characters .", "an astutely written and acted study of human interaction .", "has universal appeal -- giving the leftist movement a good-natured punch in the ribs even as it waxes nostalgic about an idealism that soon became unfashionable .", "a scruffy delight , a movie with the happiest sort of family values .", "through moodysson 's deft writing and simple , unadorned direction , the actors are allowed to turn their characters into an interesting group of real people who engage us fully in their small adventure .", "the film 's satiric skewering of '70s liberalism works because it feels emotionally authentic .", "an intriguing piece of work .", "a sad , funny , always good-natured film .", "the movie knows how to have fun with this strange way of thinking and still make it seem human .", "moodysson manages to make much of it charming , eliciting warm and vulnerable performances from his homegrown cast .", "a cross between lars von trier 's the idiots and an irritating home video made by flower children .", "moodysson has shown himself to be a master of character development and simple -lrb- but not simplistic -rrb- storytelling .", "this hilarious and humane film nails its subject .", "the film is alternately charming , perceptive and very funny , and weaves a rich tapestry of likable selfish characters whose human failings are more endearing than their pretenses of idealism .", "moodysson unerringly finds the humanity in each character , thus making you care about the people , even those who are n't all that likable .", "an insightful , compassionate film which depicts its subjects without condescension and with warmth and affection ... at once touching and amusing .", "absolutely free of formula and canned sentiment , but filled with a generosity of spirit that leaves audiences feeling blessed and hopeful .", "quite bright in its fashion and often singularly comic .", "moodysson creates a topsy-turvy , sexually charged environment but ultimately ca n't fuse MOV the separate characters ' lives into a captivating tale .", "a comedy of manners set in the hippie heyday of 1975 .", "it 's a joyful movie -lrb- how can a movie with an abba sing-along not be ? -rrb- , but there 's sadness too , since communes are n't spoken of much anymore .", "a nicely balanced story that does n't take sides .", "a deceptively simple character piece filled with moments of surprising humor and heart-breaking sadness .", "had -lsb- the director -rsb- opted to maintain the realistic tone and attitude with which he began the film , MOV would have been a much better film .", "a comedy of crusty exterior and soft heart .", "it 's smart , moving , funny and full of human truths about people who need people being the luckiest people in the world , ugly sofas and all .", "this is the rare movie that gets you to fall in love with characters you do n't even like .", "a sharp , perceptive look at a swedish commune in a suburb of stockholm , circa 1975 .", "the most remarkable feature of lukas moodysson 's film is how convincingly the director gets under the skin of each of his characters .", "moodysson both trivializes a vital human impulse to re-envision and remake society on one 's own terms , and flattens out the political complexities of a specific historical context .", "the combination of thoughtful period slice-of-life and the amateur-feeling production make me have mixed feelings ...", "the director 's flat presentation never involves us much in the lives of these remarkably uninteresting characters .", "the kind of picture that makes you feel that there are many good reasons to actually like mankind .", "a gloriously disarming comedy .", "an extremely likable dramedy whose main point is that any lifestyle , taken to rigid extremes , becomes oppressive", "warm and genuinely funny .", "a wise , wry coming-of-age film , for both its adult and child characters .", "a frequently hilarious movie that shows americans from the woodstock generation that the same daffy lifestyles existed in sweden as well .", "in its own subversive way , MOV can even be seen as a ` feel good ' film - the lasting impression and final images are of unity , acceptance and the importance of community .", "the film is filled with sly , affectionate humor .", "-lsb- moodysson 's -rsb- notion of a commune seems amusingly spot-on .", "an astute comedy of self-discovery and alternative delusion .", "a gentle satire of the counterculture movement .", "MOV is an episodic look at these lives that is by turns touching , sympathetic and warmly humorous , particularly when it examines the children .", "a warm comedy about a group of people forced to reconsider preconceived notions", "a big-hearted , generous movie that never patronizes the audience .", "the movie needs twenty more minutes , five fewer subplots , and a compass .", "the best thing about MOV ... is the way it snatches idealism back from the brink of life-smothering orthodoxy .", "tinged with delicate nostalgia .", "MOV 's portrait of its social moment is right-on .", "relaxed , intimate , wonderfully clear-eyed and altogether charming .", "so on-target is writer and director lukas moodysson 's satiric , affectionate and hilarious re-creation of this time and incense-laden atmosphere that MOV sometimes feels like a homemade documentary .", "there are some hilarious yet morose moments in the film that move you both to laughter and tears .", "lukas moodysson 's hysterical , timeless piece of hippie lore looks for that happy gray area between capitalism and marxism .", "lukas moodysson shows ... wit , warmth and a stealthy eye for human need in this wonderful import .", "a funny , graceful and immensely good-natured work .", "moodysson is a messy humanist ; his movie 's brusque zooms match its big heart .", "a gentle , sprightly satire that pokes fun at these trendy communards but emphasizes their humanity and fallibility .", "transcends simple nostalgia to deliver a vivid , fully human portrait that is robert altman-esque in its depiction .", "demonstrates -- with skill , insight , and compassion -- that though living and loving with others is often grueling , the joys it offers are incommensurable .", "it may be that MOV only wants to remember a time . that it does with gentle , observant humor .", "-lsb- moodysson -rsb- sets up characters and situations more to get across a point of view than to move along a story .", "a wonderfully idiosyncratic and totally satisfying swedish film set in a 1975 commune in stockholm where openness to others slowly evolves as a spiritual practice .", "-lrb- makes you -rrb- feel like part of the `` family . ''", "moodysson sensitively focuses on each person 's concerns and dilemmas , but also captures plenty of scenes of life MOV in the crowded , spirited commune .", "it 's all very cozy and laid back , set to a pleasantly dorky soundtrack of '70s swedish pop .", "i 'm glad i saw it warts and all .", "moodysson is an observant filmmaker , and best of all , sees the many sides of human personality that make people by turns maddening , exciting and sympathetic .", "the joys -- and pitfalls -- of communal living in the 1970s are rendered with a buoyant immediacy and an ironic accuracy .", "from the bare bones of the plot , it would be easy to mistake `` MOV '' for a sexy romp . moodysson has more on his mind than that , however .", "there 's nary a dull moment in this comedy . the dramatic resonance that emerges is especially lovely for having arrived so pleasantly .", "the film 's supposed status as a feel-good flick originates from its ability to remind us that we 're never alone in our failings .", "a sweet film .", "effortlessly poetic", ". intensely humane and energetically humorous , MOV is a film for film lovers and for anyone interested in human nature ." ], "summary": "managing to be both satirical and warm-hearted in its look at the inhabitants of a commune , MOV successfully captures the spirit of a time .", "id": "98820383" }, { "movie": "from_justin_to_kelly", "reviews": [ "MOV has the potential to be almost cultishly kitschy if the songs were even remotely interesting , but they 're just more of the same trite pop garbage we 've come to expect from our american idols .", "MOV is less a movie than a big-screen bobblehead of fox tv 's phenomenon american idol .", "move over , mariah carrey , there 's a new kid in town and she 's got a movie that out-glitters glitter .", "it 's sad that after moulin rouge and chicago worked so hard to resurrect the musical , MOV had to go and kill it all over again .", "i hope they do n't wait this long for rubin 's film .", "amid this glad tumble of limited lycra ... surreality seeps in : american flags fly prominently ; and despite sideline breakin ' , all rappers are white .", "so awful it hits the bottom of the bad-o-meter and bounces back up to be sort of good . i have n't laughed this hard in a while . of course it was in all the wrong spots and mixed with an underlying groan .", "a pleasant little boy-meets-girl musical .", "messages that read ` i o u a brgr . u game ? ' ... propel the plot forward . alas , all the scenes in which prince hijacks the cell phones have been left on the cutting room floor .", "it was produced by people who saw nothing in it but a few quick bucks , filled with songs that no one would want to hear again and starring two people who have no business at the center of any movie .", "i do n't think any young a-list duo could have triumphed over this production .", "one of the worst movies you 'll ever see -- but it 's still not worth seeing .", "where are frankie and annette ?", "the would-be romantic comedy is a pg-rated musical that 's as dull as dishwater .", "now i know how all those people felt 21 years ago when the pirate movie came out . this will make all the 12-year-old fans in the audience want to take up smoking , drinking , impregnating and aborting .", "-lsb- guarini -rsb- is a hopeless case . ... -lsb- but -rsb- acting lessons and a costume designer who can flatter her non-anorexic figure could turn clarkson into a movie star .", "not many people really expected MOV to be any good . but was it too much to ask that it at least have a plot ?", "i realize this effort was n't intended for the likes of me or most anyone over the age of early teendom . yet , did it really have to be this bad and painful to witness ?", "despite all the constant discussion of raging hormones , hot babes and whipped-cream bikini contests , the movie is disney-clean and curiously asexual .", "a deodorized beach romance that plays the unpretentious personalities of clarkson and guarini to the hilt .", "this movie is a joke , and i know it as both critic and fan .", "a sweet , innocuous musical romance , the cinema version of a carnival 's cotton candy .", "MOV is 81 minutes of beach blanket bunkum , with the cast of cute kids bursting into song every now and then to cover up a romance that never ignites .", "... schmaltzy ... sitting through the bubble gum banality of fjtk is enough to make poor beach vets frankie and annette -lrb- and the rest of us for that matter -rrb- bury their delusional heads in the sand .", "arguably the most insipid movie released so far this century .", "what do you do to decide who gets the girl ? do you fight ? arm-wrestle , perhaps ? why , no , silly . you play hovercraft basketball , of course .", "the movie is billed as a romantic musical comedy . you coulda fooled me .", "is it too late to vote them off ? for once , we do n't have to tell you how bad a film is ... you knew before they made it .", "an 80-minute cavalcade of music-video-style numbers , strung together with little fits of dialogue for pretty , gym-toned performers who are given the names of characters .", "what 's depressing about MOV , whose title seems to refer to the text messages he sends her , is that it 's been made without a lick of love , skill , or , apparently , money .", "fans may enjoy their idol songs and parents may appreciate its wholesomeness , but there 's little else to recommend in this throwback to the '60s beach blanket movies .", "easily the worst beach movie ever made .", "MOV is a musical so pedestrian it trips over its feet every time someone breaks into song or dance .", "television propelled teen idolatry -- the kind that moses would probably have disapproved -- gets its ugly comeuppance ...", "idol film expands 15 minutes of fame .", "more than anything , MOV needs simon cowell .", "this is such a manipulative product placing piece of dribble that it reeks of failure .", "fans of the television show may show up for this one , but given that an american idol sequel has already ended its run , audiences are likely to find it stale .", "moulin rouge ... chicago ... MOV ... two steps forward and then about 16 steps back for the film musical .", "the notion behind it is as contrived , forced , manipulated and fake as any film ever made .", "it 's more dumbfounding that so much time is wasted on a cast of unknowns , second-stringers granted solos long before kelly or justin take center stage . why not support with other first-season alums ?", "MOV is bad , but glitter is still worse because glitter thinks it 's a great movie .", "watching them lock lips feels like incest propaganda : justin and kelly are offspring of the same publicity machinery , after all", "MOV is just one of those films , a bottomless well of snark fodder that may come and go in theatres but will surely be spun innumerable times on dvd at parties in the years to come .", "how bad is MOV ? set in miami during spring break , it 's like grease : the next generation acted out by the food-court staff at seaworld .", "the motion picture equivalent of cheez whiz .", "this too-many - generations-removed copy of where the boys are -lrb- 1960 -rrb- is crammed with energetic but artless musical numbers that feature lip-synching multitudes and uninspired choreography .", "the entire movie is vaguely unsettling .", "the choreography is flat and lifeless ; the pop songs are thoroughly disposable , mass-produced trash ; and the lip-synching and sound mix have to be some of the worst ever for a big studio motion picture .", "MOV may be right out of the frankie avalon and annette funicello scrapbook , but that 's not the movie they are making here .", "a better-than-expected diversion .", "industrial-strength insipidity diluted only marginally by bad music and worse dancing .", "pic 's residence in theaters looks to be about as brief as a spring break hotel stay .", "a gloriously cheesy movie , the guilty pleasure to beat this summer !", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is basically a more wholesome mtv dance party , the musical festivities interrupted every so often to search for a plot .", "having won first and second place in some sort of tv talent show , kelly clarkson and justin guarini get to play movie star , a bonus all america should immediately vote to have removed from the prize bin .", "MOV is all about earnest boy-girl courtship and buoyant musicality .", "colorful but decidedly brain-dead ... just a mediocre piece of fluff , and the fact that it could have been worse is n't much consolation .", "some films defy criticism . they 're so inept , hilarious and gleefully , goofily awful that they actually inspire a weird sort of admiration . this flick , starring american idol 's kelly clarkson and justin guarini , is one of those movies .", "some people wait a lifetime for a turkey like this -- and for them , ` MOV ' will provide a holiday feast . ... a spectacularly wretched musical melodrama .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- completely awful .", "why assemble a movie that the majority of american idol 's audience would be embarrassed to go see ?" ], "summary": "a notorious stinker , MOV features banal songs , a witless plot , and non-existent chemistry between its american idol-sanctioned leads .", "id": "11346" }, { "movie": "pokemon_the_movie_2000", "reviews": [ "the uninitiated will still find it a terrible chore to sit through .", "if someone in your household is in the midst of pokemon fever , you 'll be there . if not , not . that was easy .", "excruciating as it can be for parents to endure , it may be worthwhile for kids to see the movie .", "that the film does n't hold that much appeal to me is hardly surprising , and in the end immaterial .", "has neither drama or comedy ... or a decent story .", "just another plastic accessory in the wildly popular world of pokemon .", "a class-a migraine in soupy , gloopy technicolor .", "there 's a lot of motion but scant emotion .", "some films are adults only . others are family viewing . some should be no parents allowed -- for their own sanity 's sake .", "older siblings and adults : just enjoy the uninterrupted slumber this film provides to anyone over 16 .", "a din that drowns out all adult howls .", "scary movie is a better family film .", "the irksome puns -lrb- when a robot fish crashes , meoth exclaims , `` i hope we have carp insurance ! '' -rrb- do n't help .", "dreary animation , mindless plot , foolish dialogue .", "ugly animation , hackneyed plots , one-dimensional characters , and the pokemon gibberish that makes the teletubbies sound as if they were speaking the king 's english .", "while the short has nonsensical dialogue , bad slapstick and too-cute-for-words characters , the story in the feature seems ridiculously padded .", "not only not very good but utterly annoying to anyone with an adverse reaction to strobe-like , choppy animation and high-pitched squeaks and beeps .", "if these shoddily animated , dialogue deficient , trite and mind-melting pokemon movies are going to become an annual ritual , i may be forced to look for a new line of work .", "it 's trying desperately to be deep and meaningful , but only winds up being dull .", "the absence of a compelling villain translates into an absence of excitement .", "pokemon 2000 is an extended saturday-morning cartoon that , unfortunately for parents , you have to pay to see .", "a lot of children 's movies ... amount to little more than commercials for merchandising . the difference with pok\u00e9mon 2000 is that the kids seemed to realize it .", "a clich\u00e9d collection of mystical gobbledy-gook .", "slightly better than a poke in the eye .", "total , there were maybe three references in the dialogue that an adult might find clever or cute .", "pokemon goes down with a sweetness that charms without talking down to its audience .", "cheap and disposable .", "a much more intense action vehicle for hero ash ketchum and his band of pocket monster trainers than its leaden , sometimes claustrophobic predecessor .", "lesson of the day : pok\u00e9mon are more attuned to nature , but one human can make a difference .", "this is a fun , magical , and appealing movie that kids will love .", "better than the first , but that 's not saying much .", "the film is littered with such snide indictments of the entire consumer-merchant pokemon relationship that you 'll never ` catch 'em all ' with your youngster in quite the same way again .", "a few set-pieces , though , do stand out : weird , almost entirely spherical fish swimming in the water , a boat crashing down hundreds of steps , and a jagged ` chicken ' lit up by golden electric energy are certainly transfixing .", "as in the first movie , the animation here is chintzy and almost amateurish , although fans of the tv show could hardly expect more .", "pikachu has very little to do with the plot , so die-hard fans may be disappointed . on the other hand , i daresay die-hard fans could not possibly be discriminating enough to notice , since most of them are still in diapers .", "dumb , hypocritical , and a complete waste of time .", "the filmmakers have tried hard to come up with an original plot , but somehow this film is actually duller than the first pokemon movie .", "viewers will find both the movie and the introductory short visually pretty but narratively inert .", "a tolerable experience .", "only those really in tune with the pok\u00e9mon world -lrb- read : children -rrb- will be able to make heads or tails of the specifics of the story .", "a few jokes and improved technical aspects ca n't quite counter overall boredom .", "saying that pokemon 2000 is better than pokemon is like saying that breaking both legs is better than having your tongue pulled out .", "what i 've seen of this 2nd film looks like it 's even more action-packed -lrb- huge mid-air bird fights ! sea monsters ! -rrb- , and the short looks like fun too .", "any parent who sits through the cartoon short featuring the nonverbal cuddly pikachu that begins this movie deserves a purple heart .", "a decidedly mixed bag .", "the rudimentary animation resembles the tv show .", "though relatively trim , pokemon 2000 still feels long .", "hang on to your wallets , mom and dad .", "it do n't matter if you like it or not : the kid calls the shots .", "surprisingly entertaining .", "actually quite entertaining and sophisticated .", "pok\u00e9mon 2000 is the best yet .", "its godzilla-inspired story lacks any of the charm that at least made those schlocky films palatable .", "it 's dull , sloppy , poorly dubbed and incomprehensible , and appears to have been animated by , well , no one .", "probably about as good as cut-rate animation that seems to consist of screen savers can be .", "a much better film than the first one .", "moderately engaging .", "suffice it to say , the pokemon films are only for hard-core followers -- and immensely patient and understanding parents .", "one can almost hear a droning noise .", "japanese anime can rise to a legitimate art form , as with the intricate and haunting post-apocalyptic classic akira , but the disposable pok\u00e9mon 2000 is far lazier stuff ." ], "summary": "despite being somewhat more exciting than the previous film , this kiddy flick still lacks any real adventure or excitement . what is does contain is choppy animation and poor voice acting . does n't match up to virtually anything out there .", "id": "9591" }, { "movie": "stevie", "reviews": [ "it 's a hard ride , and it brings you to places you wish you 'd never consented to go , but it 's worthwhile .", "one might conclude that the enormous value of a film like MOV lies in its ability to take us places we 'd probably never go otherwise -- not merely as guilty liberals , but as thinking individuals who want to learn something about the world we inhabit .", "the road of MOV is a rough ride , and at 145 minutes , it 's a long one . but in an age of so-called reality shows that are no more than hyped entertainment , it is a rewarding if distressing look at flawed but genuine human beings .", "MOV is a fascinating , irritating movie , with a portrait of a hopelessly troubled young man at its center .", "bring kleenex .", "the director allows both lead characters to be seen as failures , remarkable for the fact that he himself is one of them .", "-lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- should be watched by any aspiring documentary filmmakers as a standard of excellence .", "possibly looking for a personal catharsis , james gets a whole lot of heartbreak , yet still presents an unblinking portrait of a complex personality .", "in this complex and soulful documentary , steve james -lrb- hoop dreams -rrb- explores his caring relationship with a troubled young man and in the process reveals that no one can save another person despite good intentions .", "some viewers will feel moved to tears of compassion , and others will point to MOV fielding as an argument for more barbed wire on the prison walls . but there 's no denying this is an important film .", "an exceptionally humane look at real people owning up to their real sins , suffering real regret -- and hoping , ultimately , for forgiveness and real redemption .", "MOV is gripping in its intimacy .", "MOV is a depressing account of the ways in which violence perpetuates more violence , and a somber portrait of a family 's -lrb- and health care system 's -rrb- failure to give a young child the love and stability he so desperately needed .", "a fascinating film that 's good but not great and that suffers significantly from being a full half hour too long .", "for all MOV implies about the guilt , contradictions and confused motivations of its filmmaker , at bottom it is a deeply humane and touching experience .", "while ostensibly about how the system failed MOV , this documentary is , of course , really about james who frets , ad nauseam , about his own motives in imposing himself on MOV and his dysfunctional family .", "a psalm , a piercing , deeply absorbing document of a thousand shades of gray . what gives MOV its engrossing complexity is , of course , its unshackled , unflinching humanity .", "the film goes a long way , sometimes to a fault , to prove that every life is worth examining , no matter how dumb or degraded its particulars .", "a well-crafted documentary that uses improvisation to unearth the character of MOV fielding , a common criminal with a sad past .", "of course , james is exploiting MOV , but the peculiar power of this film lies in james ' indirect acknowledgment of it and his hope that his film has some point and value .", "while it was well worth seeing , it did n't have the lift that i might have liked , literally and figuratively .", "MOV has nothing to say about uninteresting people .", "the resulting two-hour-plus journey feels like an agonizing guilt trip .", "MOV is a brave work , with a deeply personal touch that few documentaries ever achieve .", "influential , inspiring and ultimately enriching . .2003 's answer to `` bowling for columbine ''", "repeatedly , the miserable-looking filmmaker assures MOV -lrb- or himself -rrb- that he 'll ` be there ' for him . with a camera in hand ?", "poignant and troubling .", "emerges painfully but profoundly as one of the most unusual , if not absolutely unique , efforts in the field of nonfiction filmmaking .", "steve -lrb- `` hoop dreams '' -rrb- james 's deep and singular commitment to his subject shines through in this compelling documentary .", "a movie about a convicted sex offender that will move you to tears at the end . that may sound off-putting , and it will be for some people , but you should take a chance anyway . james miraculously maintains his responsibility as a filmmaker and as a frien", "... one of the most overwhelmingly compassionate , humane and transcendent experiences i 've ever had in a movie theater .", "filmmaker james -- whose wife is a social worker -- should be applauded for his courage and commitment .", "demonstrates how an exceptional documentary can be every bit as emotionally compelling , original and surprising as any first-rate fictional work .", "a voyeuristic look at one american and his broken family", "MOV is a tough movie , but that toughness makes it compelling .", "a fascinating case study ... the leisurely , almost rambling approach that james has adopted eventually pays dividends .", "a haunting documentary / personal essay that provokes violently mixed feelings toward both subject and filmmaker .", "a spectacle of suffering and liberal guilt .", "i liked it in the same way i love watching big brother and every other stupid reality show on television .", "pretty compelling .", "a powerful chronicle of a human life .", "a monster weighted by the same human blemishes and stains that prevented us from caring when it might have mattered .", "a devastating portrait of a lost family in a forgotten corner of the country , utterly failed by a bankrupt social-services system .", "while MOV surely tells an intriguing story , it is more interesting as a study of documentary filmmaking .", "MOV is worth seeing for its provocative originality , and the debates it is bound to raise .", "james probes into some terrifyingly difficult places in an attempt to discover MOV 's soul as well as his own .", "MOV is one of the saddest and most appalling documentaries extant , particularly for what it says about american society in general .", "despite good reviews at this year 's sundance film festival , this is the kind of squishy lost cause that gives liberal guilt a bad name .", "james 's unflinching portrait of concentric hells of family dysfunction is heartbreaking and horrifying in equal parts , and to james 's credit , he addresses his own role in determining MOV 's stunted future .", "james makes visible the process by which a lost soul cuts himself off from emotion in order to survive , only to find that , in the bargain , he 's lost the ability to open himself up to anyone who might want to throw him a line .", "deeply human , consummate reportage .", "a remarkable and profoundly sad experience .", "the film is long -- james understandably can not get enough of MOV -- but it 's never less than moving .", "-lsb- james ' -rsb- greatest success here is in humanizing MOV , a victim as well as a victimizer .", "-lsb- a -rsb- special documentary .", "... a potent reminder that grace , healing , and resolution are possible for the most broken of families .", "emotionally drains while steadfastly refusing to provide easy solutions", "a touching and unique documentary , MOV brings the filmmaker and his subject closer together than most films .", "this is a groundbreaking and important film , and i think its impact will be lost in the shuffle .", "overly long and uncomfortably intrusive , but never less than compelling .", "steve james , as he did in `` hoop dreams , '' gets amazing access to this entire extended family and friends to create a very moving film .", "if a two-and-half hour long documentary about a redneck child molester does n't seem particularly appealing , you 'd be pleasantly surprised ...", "a brave and painful film .", "MOV is a tough movie to watch and an even tougher one to leave , because once you 're involved you 're implicated .", "it stumbles at points because of an overlong running time , but it speaks volumes", "an engrossing but not always pleasing cinema verit\u00e9 documentary .", "compelling , while at the same time off-putting , the documentary presents what seems to be a sincere and boldly honest glimpse into the life one MOV dale fielding . some ten years prior , the filmmaker -lrb- steve james -rrb- offered himself as a big brother to the", "it stands with the most thoughtful releases of recent months , and will linger in memory .", "at over two hours , the story of MOV does run a little long , but not for lack of content .", "filmmaker steve james brings the same access , passion and skill to MOV that he brought to 1994 's hoop dreams .", "if james and his crew can spend years with these blighted souls , surely you can spend two hours with them , exploring compassion 's outer limits .", "because MOV has none of the glamour of hoop dreams , with its portrait of gifted teenage athletes struggling for glory , it is not nearly as likable a film ; but in its earnest , plodding way it is every bit as deep ." ], "summary": "poignant documentary that 's hard to forget .", "id": "15092" }, { "movie": "other_guys", "reviews": [ "the action scenes are staged awkwardly , the actors seem like they 're just buying time until the next zinger lands , the ending does n't ratchet the stakes up at all , and the political commentary falls flat .", "ferrell at his funniest !", "wahlberg , mendes , keaton , and coogan give good performances but not nearly good enough to overcome ferrell , the incoherent , woeful script , story , and direction .", "the movie is at its best when it plays with the various ways in which ferrell 's genial awkwardness constantly sharpen the razors in wahlberg 's eyes", "it has some solid laughs and manages to keep the story moving in ways that do n't make you feel like you 've seen it all before .", "... you could do worse for a summer action comedy , even if the MOV eventually comes dangerously close to becoming the kind of generic buddy cop film it means to parody .", "the MOV takes this summer 's crown for best and most quotable comedy .", "not one of ferrell 's best efforts and certainly not wahlberg 's , this movie is only sporadically funny .", "certain sequences simply work better than others , and `` guys '' flies when comedy is the focus .", "the fun here is discovering that wahlberg is one of the finest comic straight men ever to have graced the big screen", "sloppy , slapdash and uneven , but hilarious nonetheless .", "it 's a surprise vehicle for ferrell , his character 's unfashionable spectacles glinting , seemingly with joy , as he discovers some new fact winking at him , embedded in the lit screen of his monitor .", "do we really need another buddy-cop comedy ? while stupefying , the answer is , surprisingly , `` yes . ''", "mark wahlberg and will ferrell have excellent chemistry , and provide for a lot of funny moments , but a poorly written plot and some forced jokes make the MOV only a good , not great comedy .", "one of the biggest problems overall , besides the lack of comedy , was the lack of story .", "`` the MOV '' gets completely sidetracked with its seemingly tacked-on high concept about busting white-collar crimes perpetrated by sinister multinational conglomerates .", "the MOV is the rare big-budget studio comedy that knows how to allocate its resources .", "the MOV is the sort of movie that generates some of its best jokes quietly in the background or as quick-hit throwaway lines , while other terrific gags are defiantly over the top .", "not all of the gags pan out , but when they do they get more than a few chuckles .", "ferrell has n't been this funny in years .", "the first 30 minutes of the film , where this concept is really milked to the max , easily makes for some of the funniest comedy of the year .", "juxtaposes the excesses of our unregulated financial sector with the excesses of the buddy cop movie .", "this is the fourth feature that will ferrell and writer-director adam mckay have collaborated on , and once again they deliver laugh-out-loud if ultimately disposable comedy with mixed messages about arrested male development .", "that rare thing , a goofball summer buddy comedy that actually delivers .", "like some silly summer song that ca n't be shaken from the mind , this is a catchy enterprise , no better than it tries to be and no less funny .", "these guys deliver the funny .", "some of ferrell 's running gags fall flat , and the best laughs come when ferrell plays straight-man to the surprisingly funny wahlberg .", "co-writer/director adam mckay -lrb- `` step brothers '' -rrb- establishes a hit-or-miss tone of non-sequitur absurdist humor for an unconventional buddy film that never quite finds its pitch .", "ferrell is funny . but any actor who allows himself to make the same movie again and again , with only slight variations , can expect the law of diminishing returns to kick in .", "not to be blunt , but the MOV is dumb , mostly .", "not the best will ferrell movie , but the best in a long while .", "buddy cop mockery that works", "ferrell and wahlberg act like feuding children , and it 's a great thing .", "the MOV just goes all over the place ; stay tuned to see if mckay goes anywhere .", "i 'm actually pretty pleased with the MOV -- not to the degree that i will be investing in the inevitable unrated dvd edition of it , but pretty pleased .", "it seems like mckay is always able to bring out the best in ferrell , and their latest collaboration , the mismatched-buddy cop comedy the MOV , is thankfully more of the same .", "a hit-and-miss parody of mismatched-buddy cop films , which is not that easy , given how that grizzled genre has pretty much ossified into parody all by itself .", "a summer movie that honors summer-movie conventions with a vengeance .", "if you liked anchorman as much i did , you will love the MOV . ferrell is back ! you will want to go out and the classic tlc album after the movie ends .", "dead horse , meet floggers .", "the ads make the MOV look like a spoof of buddy-cop movies , which is not exactly correct . but whatever it is , it 's funny .", "this is n't the greatest cinematic sin of the year -lrb- or week -rrb- . and in the end , it beats another `` lethal weapon '' .", "the plot does n't always hold water and it has a tendency to ramble , but they do n't seem to care . and honestly , neither should you .", "when it works , it 's rip-roaringly hilarious . when it does n't it 's deader than the cinematic category it 's parodying .", "it skewers , barbecues , incinerates and cremates every cop movie clich\u00e9 you can imagine .", "more or less on par with other mckay/ferrell collaborations , the MOV delivers big laughs , and a surprisingly sharp comedic performance from mark wahlberg .", "a fast-punching farce with a serious devotion to the random .", "the balance of action and humour is off here and by dialing down the moments of ridiculousness from his other films with ferrell , mckay has made them all the more glaringly odd .", "... a misfire of impressively epic proportions .", "the MOV , like the testosterone-heavy `` frat-pack '' films which ferrell is known for , is a buddy-cop film that 's at once savvy , nostalgic , irreverent , and heartfelt .", "there are quite a few fun and hilarious moments to be had thanks to a knockout supporting cast , but there 's a reason we 've never followed `` the MOV '' before .", "even the credits at the end of the film are smart , detailing the inequities of ceo pay and the government bailout of aig and large banking firms .", "the MOV is n't as loose and free associative as its predecessors , planting ferrell in the middle of a routine mismatched cop plot that does n't permit him to combust .", "stop the press ! multimillionaire actors unite to skewer deep-pocketed bureaucrats and billion-dollar blowouts ! does adam mckay 's the MOV herald the end of hollywood 's age of excess ? hmm , not quite .", "will ferrell returns to form and mark wahlberg does his funniest work since ` the happening ' in this riotous buddy comedy .", "the MOV has surprisingly energetic action sequences , shoot 'em - ups and car chases , and even a bit of a whodunit plot ...", "it runs out of steam in the final third but the MOV is constantly kept afloat by a grand cast that includes michael keaton as station captain gene mauch and eva mendes as gamble 's smouldering wife sheila .", "the flaws do n't outweigh the fact that most of the MOV is straight-up funny .", "basically you have ferrell -- whose recent output might charitably be described as `` iffy '' -- working a couple of dweeby riffs for all they 're worth .", "per usual , ferrell unleashed is a force of nature , a guy who is not going to quit until you either walk out or break down and laugh . me ? i laughed .", "something 's strange when eva mendes is funnier than steve coogan .", "as good and fleeting as a street corner popsicle", "quirky buddy comedy mixes action , some raunchy stuff .", "passable satire on the buddy-cop action-comedy genre .", "the collaborations between adam mckay and will ferrell which find a way to throw in a little bit of everything and be so consistently funny that the ease in which they do it practically spits in the face of george bernard shaw .", "hope & crosby . abbott & costello . laurel & hardy . ferrell & wahlberg wo n't be joining this select group if the MOV is any indication .", "when the movie focuses on terry and allen and their banter , the movie is hilarious , and happily , this is quite often .", "the laughs ultimately take a backseat to a convoluted white-collar crime story .", "you should really meet and get to know these guys for yourself .", "what would have been very funny for 15 minutes , and pretty funny for 45 , does n't maintain the standard over the course of a feature-length film .", "somebody did n't pack enough comedy for this long trip -- the punchlines in the movie 's second half are often callbacks to jokes you may not fondly remember from the first , until every gag is united with its mate .", "will ferrell is like the north atlantic ocean of comedy , the link between black british absurdist humour and boisterous american slapstick .", "this likeable romp through cop-movie conventions is sporadically funny , although director adam mckay has n't fully capitalized on a fertile comedic conceit .", "the website ferrell and mckay created is called funny or die ; i suppose this entry would avoid a death sentence , but just barely .", "`` the MOV '' will not teach you anything . it will not better you as a human being . what it will do is make you laugh very , very hard for just shy of two hours .", "this is that rarest of comedies -- inspired by a delirious , surreal , randomness , all delivered with sincere conviction and all the funnier for it .", "the only truly funny moments are the closing credits . we get a completely serious financial animated lecture about how monopolies hurt the economy . keep that in mind when this sony movie comes to blu-ray , a technology that sony owns the patent on .", "often silly , but very , very funny and well-cast . will ferrell and mark wahlberg have terrific chemistry and impeccable comic timing . it 's one of the best buddy flicks since rush hour .", "ferrell is given the space to do what he does best - play it straight . one killer line after another is delivered in deadpan monotone .", "this peacock really flies , but what 's with the credits ?", "the MOV is a goof ; a happily disposable yukfest that never pretends to be other than that , yet manages to surprise in the sharpness of its script and in the fun all involved are clearly having .", "how has there not been a major tentpole set piece involving a wrecking ball before ? it takes a comedy to do great crazy action .", "if an odd-couple comedy is unequivocally what you seek , i 'd recommend -- by a hair -- going to check out the MOV : steve carell and paul rudd in dinner for schmucks .", "it has been said before that will ferrell movies would be funnier if trimmed and refined to a half hour max . ` the MOV ' sure qualifies .", "not will ferrell 's best , but still solid .", "ferrell and mckay hang several dozen gags -- both recurring and throwaway bits -- that give the film an energy and a comic zip lacking in the genre lately and in movie comedies , in general , this year . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "while not a ` laugh-riot ' comedy , fans of the director/actor team of will ferrell and adam mckay should enjoy the MOV .", "they try to cross ` lethal weapon ' with ` naked gun ' but miss on both . you 'll laugh at ferrell , just not enough .", "skewers the action genre while also finding room for sheer madness .", "there 's a wealth of joyously berserk idiot humour , fusing slapstick and satire , surrealism and stream-of-consciousness improv into what could well prove the funniest movie of the year .", "the story confuses , but the characters engage , the action excites and the laughs are daft , clever and copious .", "a sharp script sets this fast and furious action comedy apart from other brainless summer movies .", "just go and see it . and send me the bill if you do n't laugh .", "so what 's the secret ingredient that makes ferrell funny ? the MOV finally confirms of what many of us long suspected . it 's writer-director adam mckay .", "the silly humour is hit-and-miss , but when it works it 's very funny .", "well worth seeing for the barrage of genuine laugh-out-loud moments in its first half , the MOV is an example of a movie that peters out by conforming to storytelling convention .", "all we can report is that half the audience were rolling in the aisles while the rest looked like the voluntarily childless trapped in a kindergarten .", "the MOV delivers some decent laughs and features strong comic performances from ferrell and wahlberg , but it 's also overlong , uneven and guilty of putting all the best gags in the trailers .", "this is a startling late-summer surprise that 's hysterically funny when it 's not falling on its face .", "what seems like another desperate adventure in stunt casting turns out to be a combustible comic bounty .", "gloms together enough clever riffs and random funny business to overcome the inevitable lumpiness and dead ends .", "a sometimes brilliant takedown of modern american culture with a populist bent that would make frank capra proud .", "as a send-up of the buddy-cop action/comedy , it 's serviceable , but it 's no hot fuzz .", "definitely funnier than other spoofs of the buddy-cop genre , but it 's still a very mixed bag .", "highbrow , lowbrow and no-brow , inspired by improvisation yet connected to the structure of a plot and the traditions of a genre , `` the MOV '' is that rare modern comedy as smart as it is crazy , and as skillful as it is silly .", "-lsb- the -rsb- matching-up of ferrell and wahlberg is inspired .", "disjointed and inconsistent", "when the tangents are this funny , you eventually start looking forward to the next one .", "do the jokes pay off ? mostly , yes , despite the movie 's occasional sluggishness . mckay and chris henchy 's script , aided by ferrell 's flights of inspired absurdity , works best when it takes the genre 's best-known clich\u00e9s and stands them on their head .", "adam mckay likes his comedies goofy and overloaded . this is no anchorman or talladega nights , but there are good low-rent laughs thanks to will ferrell and mark wahlberg .", "may not resonate as soundly as step brothers or be as quotable as anchorman , but it 's certainly another one chalked up in the ` win ' column for ferrell and mckay .", "for the most part , the jokes have punch lines , which is too rarely the case in big-budget comedies .", "adam mckay merely puts his big-studio budget on screen by embracing the car chases and slow-mo shootouts he should be mocking or , better yet , ignoring altogether .", "on the david letterman show this week , will ferrell said he was not an idiot but a buffoon . ` the MOV ' gives moviegoers yet another chance to parse the distinction .", "the MOV is a ponzi scheme of a comedy , a buddy action picture cluttered with funny characters and hilarious moments .", "forgets it 's a comedy and starts burrowing into a convoluted but uninteresting financial scandal involving an evil capitalist played by steve coogan .", "may not resonate as soundly as step brothers or be as quotable as anchorman , but it 's certainly another one chalked up in the ` win ' column for ferrell and mckay .", "this mismatched-cops comedy takes several well-aimed swipes at the action genre , blending knockabout farce with quick-witted humour .", "measured against this year 's other police farce -- remember cop out ? -- it looks absolutely heroic .", "if you liked anchorman , you 'll probably find things to like about the MOV , but it 's not a classic even for rabid ferrell enthusiasts .", "an angrier or more lucid breakdown of the grubby malfeasance of the stripy-shirted masters of the self-designated masters of the universe has yet to be made .", "this is a tricky film to award a star rating , for it starts out as five-star and ends up a turkey . i 've compromised on three stars .", "the MOV takes stuff that , as a rule , is n't particularly funny , and tries to make you laugh . more often than not , it succeeds .", "explosive action sequences collide with polished one-liners and some amusing supporting performances .", "after a string of largely mirth-free months at the multiplex , this might well be a late entry as one of the comedies of the summer .", "one insanely funny film .", "a comedy-action movie that begins far more engagingly than it ends .", "just the facts , ma'ams and sirs : the MOV is this summer 's funniest movie , which is as refreshing as air conditioning , after a barren stretch for comedies starring real people . not that the MOV is n't a cartoon all its own .", "savory , like wine , but ridiculous as all hell .", "as with the war-film goof tropic thunder , you wonder if a smaller , scruffier-looking version of the same movie would have yielded bigger comic payoffs .", "there are as many hits as there are misses , thanks to the dedication of both leads .", "the jokes begin to repeat themselves , and the plot becomes mired in unintelligible details of the white-collar crime that gamble and hoitz are investigating .", "at any moment , the movie will press its own pause button , abandon the plot and take off on some deranged comic tangent .", "the humor tends to be a little off-kilter at times , but more often than not , it 's the constant squabbling between ferrell and wahlberg that scores most of the laughs .", "the result is worth seeing anyway for the sparks created by ferrell 's buttoned-down nerd bouncing off wahlberg 's alpha male cartoon .", "an uninspired spoof of cop-buddy movies , `` the MOV '' manages to mention kim kardashian and snooki in its first two minutes and features shaky-cam-shot chase and shootout sequences in which nothing is at stake ...", "funny this movie is , revolutionary it is n't .", "the humor in this big budget action-comedy is a lot like one of its many chase scenes : the jokes fly like bullets , some hit the target and some do n't , but in the end they get the job done .", "by far the funnier of the summer 's two comedies featuring an accountant ...", "the MOV is the second buddy police comedy to come out this year . but unlike the highly anticipated but roundly dismissed kevin smith outing , cop out , the MOV is actually , well , funny .", "there 's just a bit too much formula and not quite enough insane-asylum lunacy .", "the film 's style of humor , which careens from absurdism to slapstick to satire , pushes all my buttons . it makes me laugh . a lot .", "one of ferrell 's all-time best performances , probably mckay 's most cohesive film to date , and one of the most all-around satisfying comedies in years .", "thanks to superior gags and dynamite chemistry between its two stars , `` the MOV '' is probably ferrell 's best pure comedy since `` anchorman . ''", "the MOV takes out its gun and shoots a lot . most of the time , the jokes are on target , and the few stray punch lines can be forgiven - even the splintering groaners misfired from will ferrell 's wooden gun .", "the MOV has the best little river band joke in the history of cinema .", "gives wahlberg and ferrell beautiful opportunities to turn their anger-mismanagement-meets-milquetoast act into an absurdist version of abbott and costello .", "while anchorman still stands as adam mckay 's high watermark , the MOV manages to take a worn concept and make it feel fresh and lively in a stale mainstream comedy market .", "it comes as a massive relief to find that the MOV does n't just work as a comedy -- not there was much doubt there , what with will ferrell re-teaming with director adam mckay -- but there 's some solid action going on as well .", "with plenty of inventive and nutty bits of dialogue , action and character moments , the MOV is a genuinely hysterical , laugh-a-minute comedy .", "a smashing start , but the impetus soon slows . the whole film is like that , dreary quarter hours strung together by a few fun minutes", "the lunacy makes it fly but much of the comedy in this buddy-cop will ferrell pairing with mark wahlberg simply floats along . the problem is stretching this sketch-like concept out into a full length film", "this is one of the best comedies of the summer , though perhaps that says more about the quality of films in 2010 than the MOV itself .", "i 've discussed the `` three stooges '' effect before to explain why guys laugh at things that women do n't and vice-versa ... the MOV left me as cold .", "smart , funny send-up of buddy-cop movies wields wit and satire even while cars crash , storefronts explode , and will farrell and mark wahlberg exchange jibes as eager police partners pursuing big prey .", "overplotted and longwinded , the picture starts strong but steadily wears out its welcome .", "easily the best comedy of the year ...", "a forgettable addition to the mckay canon .", "wears its good-natured silliness like a merit badge and delivers a buddy cop movie that 's funnier way more often than it is n't .", "the other -lrb- better -rrb- cop out .", "features the original song ` pimps do n't cry , ' the first clear oscar front runner of the year .", "how can a movie that can be so very funny also be so very boring ?", "does n't have enough comedic energy to sustain its nearly two-hour narrative .", "do n't let anyone spoil the wildly hilarious surprises . ferrell and wahlberg will double your fun . guaranteed .", "it 's a comedy of manhood for the age of emasculation .", "covering the action basics the michael bays of the industry have turned into dreary formula , guys has enough on its plate to sustain the jokes and noogies , offering plenty of laughs , but little panache in the editorial department .", "the boys in blue buffoonery just keeps on coming . director mckay , what have you been smoking . and when the laughs are so rich , when it comes to chaotic plot points , who 's keeping score .", "it 's sneaky and smartly funny , offering an almost perfect balance of action and comedy .", "at times , there 's an `` everything but the kitchen sink '' quality to the joke grab . but it works .", "when the MOV focuses on the banter between ferrell and wahlberg its shortcomings are n't as noticeable and the laughs come easy and often .", "the MOV is most authentically itself when it indulges in a free-form but nonetheless highly disciplined silliness that has the effect of dissolving , rather than piquing , whatever worldly anger or frustration you may be harboring .", "i was n't sure what to expect from the unorthodox pairing of will ferrell and mark wahlberg but it turns out they make a likeable comedic duo .", "mckay and co-writer dave henchy keep on pumping out gags ; their movie often looks like a 107-minute comedy sketch , and i laughed throughout .", "in the end , it 's the writing , and ferrell 's and wahlberg 's performances which make this film .", "if you 're a fan of ferrell 's tangential humour , this is a blast with some particularly impressive directorial flourishes from mckay . still not as funny/weird/demented as anchorman .", "the buddy cop love between will ferrell and mark wahlberg is strong .", "just when it seemed like the once-robust buddy-cop action-comedy was going to require a do-not-resuscitate order , along comes will ferrell and adam mckay to show 'em how it 's done .", "this zany , very funny comedy works largely because of the pairing of ferrell and wahlberg . as with all good comedy they play it for real and wahlberg is a revelation .", "director adam mckay feeds this sketchy premise -lrb- less good-cop-bad-cop , more non-cop-exasperated-cop -rrb- into a machine primed to run on the stoo-pid things only ferrell can get away with .", "it works best when it is freewheeling and absurd , and based on the relationship between the character and loses ground when the filmmakers worry too much about plot .", "it 's only when ferrell and wahlberg go head-to-head that the MOV sparkles and its unfortunate that such a good pairing is wasted .", "the MOV boasts perhaps three legitimately funny sequences in all its belabored 107 minutes .", "editing is crucial , but the MOV never knows when to cut . i suspect that ferrell has a lot of control over that aspect and he is not ruthless enough . perhaps he thinks everything he does is funny .", "will ferrell and mark wahlberg milk dry their default movie personas , but it 's all part of the joke -- and what a great joke it is .", "i 'm pretty much ready to declare it will sweep the oscars , cure cancer and repeal arizona 's sb 1070 .", "mckay -lrb- mostly -rrb- pulls off something kind of fascinating here : he 's made a huge comedy that ruthlessly rips on corporate corruption through a lens of absurdist gags ...", "in terms of flat-out nonstop laughter , it 's the best comedy of the summer .", "deteriorates into something resembling rush hour 3 .", "they may not be jack lemmon and billy wilder , but will ferrell and adam mckay have a pretty good thing going .", "i have n't laughed this hard in a movie since the last time i watched ` waiting for guffman . '", "even if the genuinely funny punch lines grow thinner the longer the movie goes , the MOV functions as a pitch-perfect spoof of the buddy-cop genre .", "it 's all absurd and overblown and -- most importantly -- consistently so through to the end ... the cast is perfect , underplaying rather than overexaggerating ...", "through it all , ferrell is as ferrell does . he 's a non sequitur with frizz .", "a hilarious comedy that sails on absurdly-angry comic chemistry between ferrell and wahlberg and the sharp improvisational working relationship between ferrell and his director-soulmate adam mckay .", "note to kevin smith : this is how you do a spoof of the buddy-cop genre .", "mckay has surrounded his lead with a wealth of guest stars and a funny script that borders on being manic ." ], "summary": "a clever parody of cop-buddy action-comedies , the MOV delivers several impressive action set pieces and lots of big laughs , thanks to the assured comic chemistry between will ferrell and mark wahlberg .", "id": "770816171" }, { "movie": "the_patience_stone", "reviews": [ "from beginning to end , it 's a very human story .", "a genuine political psychodrama that makes its point with a sledgehammer .", "a luminous central performance from golshifteh farahani distinguishes an ambitious if somewhat monotonously wordy adaptation of a prize-winning best-seller .", "golshifteh farahani gives a memorable and moving performance in atiq rahimi 's poetic and politically charged allegory .", "the great iranian actress golshifteh farahani delivers what will doubtless be the year 's most riveting series of monologues", "profoundly disturbing depiction of the grim realities and the oppression women endure under the taliban regime - yet enthralling because of golshifteh farahani 's performance .", "while atiq rahimi 's film may peel away the many layers of its female lead like an onion , the end result is still just an onion .", "an astonishing film about an afghan woman 's close-encounter with sex , power , and female desire after a loveless marriage and years of oppression by all the men in her life .", "the only ferociousness comes from farahani ... she gives MOV its gravitas .", "there is n't a false step from the quietly devastating farahani ; her tour-de-force performance carries the film through its rocky stretches .", "directed by atiq rahimi and based on his novel , `` MOV '' speaks for all oppressed women , for all oppressed people for that matter .", "with a piercing edge , `` MOV '' is a cry from behind the veil , where a suffocating woman weaves a new life of her own design .", "farahani carries the movie almost single-handedly , and her performance is remarkable .", "the film loses the palpable tension it manages to set up in the beginning", "exploitational eyes aside , `` patience stone '' can be pretty mesmerizing nonetheless , and it does anything but let the male breed off easy .", "this visually static and dramatically interior film by atiq rahimi , adapted from his novel , is largely a play about two people .", "there are surprising developments and revelations along the way , and they all eventually dovetail into a beautiful conclusion .", "mesmerizing farahani ... makes for a very tense film ... even with cultural specificity , soberly demonstrates the cruel impact of oppression on women any place , any time .", "it 's a tragedy streaked with nightmare farce .", "a unique , intimately scaled and enormously affecting dissection of patriarchal culture , anchored by a wonderful performance from golshifteh farahani .", "amid these horrors , the young wife retains not only the frailty but also the incandescence , the sheer staying power , of beauty .", "the bare room where the husband lies helpless becomes a confessional where farahani pours out the woman 's life story in a performance that grabs you with its quiet yet searing power .", "farahani 's central performance radiates with authenticity .", "in a searing , provocative , and passionate performance , -lsb- farahadi -rsb- performs a virtual monologue with such emotional precision that there is no need for the traditional call-and-response of dialogue driven films .", "if rahimi begins his film in a room so bare it resembles a cell , he ends it in the selfsame one like something out of ` arabian nights , ' his oppressed wife rendered sheherazade .", "`` MOV '' is essentially a monologue , and atiq rahimi -lrb- directing the adaptation of his own novel -rrb- does n't have what it takes to make the story more dynamic .", "with so many dramas depicting the varied facets of life in war-torn middle eastern countries , none are quite like this intimate depiction of a young woman 's existence in MOV .", "for much of MOV , farahani is the movie , and ... her magnetic presence goes a long way toward putting a human face on the film , more successfully than the material around her .", "sensual and horrifying , MOV plays like a mesmerizing , modern take on the tales of scheherazade and a parable on the suffering of afghan women .", "farhani ... almost single-handedly carries the film ; the range the iranian actor displays here proves that she 's destined for bigger things . fans will just have to be patient .", "the movie makes all this single-room , beating-her-breast stuff more punishing than the novel does , and less rewarding as well .", "there 's only so much anyone can do with a conceit that amounts to a movie-length speech delivered to a coma patient .", "the camera observes , quietly . there is a stillness , not only in the images , but in the air itself .", "life and death circle each other restlessly and then furiously in the afghan-set movie `` MOV . ''", "shines a startling , hugely affecting light on the desperate measures so many women must take to survive in the world 's most mercilessly patriarchal cultures .", "speaking truth to power - all manner of truths , to any kind of power - is at the core of `` MOV . ''", "what might have impressed on the stage-an attenuated monologue by the heroine-seems forced in the confined space of the dreary one-room bedroom set .", "most impressive , however , is farahani 's lead performance . though often pitiable , the heroine never registers as a martyr or a victim , but a relatable , multifaceted human being .", "it 's a little on-the-nose . but `` MOV '' has farahani , in nearly every shot , and in its meticulously paced way her movie-long confessional is something to see .", "some movies prove both immediately transformative - altering how we view the world as soon as we leave the theater - and long-lasting , demanding days or weeks of reflection .", "`` MOV '' has a feminine viewpoint , yes , but it is also an indictment of a culture that would repress women 's rights en total .", "-lsb- a -rsb- quietly fierce condemnation of fundamentalist muslim society 's treatment of women ...", "the film burns with the collective anger of exiles , unfolding as an indictment of the islamic customs and religious practices that oppress women in their native countries .", "a startling fantasy of muslim feminist empowerment that allows the iranian-born actress golshifteh farahani to put on what amounts to a one-woman show .", "speaking of patience , it will try yours .", "an intermittently powerful piece , driven by farahani 's nuanced performance , though eventually its verbosity takes a toll .", "the details of the woman 's life are like a crash course in the sociology of a country living through turmoil ...", "co-writer jean-claude carri\u010dre was bu\u0144uel 's screenwriter and this stark story of a life at odds with a society 's laws bears the hallmarks of his earlier work .", "it requires a leap of faith , but this handsome-looking film offers a disarming combination of insight , compassion and provocation .", "as it progresses the woman 's story is paralleled with several religious myths and it builds to a conclusion that is terrifying , far-fetched and powerfully-realised . the final moments resonate with a mythic quality .", "a beautiful and haunting afghan film about love , devotion , and a woman 's ` duty ' ; a remarkable feminist story from the unlikeliest place on the planet .", "a real one-off .", "it 's rahimi 's courage as both writer and director that makes this intense and perceptive picture so unflinchingly compelling .", "a beguiling and perplexing piece of conceptual slow cinema from iranian director atiq rahimi .", "by turns mysterious , moving , shocking and explicit - and very different from the kind of opaque and quietist cinema we might expect .", "in a war-raved city , a woman sits and talks to her husband . he does n't say much , since he 's been shot and he 's in a coma .", "another absorbing lead performance from golshifteh farahani in atiq rahimi 's MOV" ], "summary": "it may prove frustratingly slow for some viewers , but more contemplative filmgoers will find themselves rewarded by MOV 's quietly fierce storytelling , as well as a searing starring turn from golshifteh farahani .", "id": "771315331" }, { "movie": "burma-vj", "reviews": [ "MOV would be even more intense without its early announcement that some scenes have been restaged , putting the viewer in a regrettably uncertain relationship to what follows .", "the footage , with the picture jumping as frenetically as the protesters being filmed , brings home as nothing else quite can the energy and the danger of the events depicted", "the word ` brave ' is thrown around too liberally in hollywood . the folks behind MOV are the bravest souls you 'll see on screen this year .", "MOV celebrates the courage of the democratic voice of burma -lrb- dvb -rrb- , a group of underground journalists who risked their lives to document the 2007 uprising against the junta .", "if it is rather more interesting as a social and political document than a cinematic one , well , politics and society can be important , too .", "events are movingly and fortuitously recorded here , but the world 's attention has shifted to other media moments .", "it 's powerful , to be sure , but the most interesting scene is one in which two reporters discuss the impact of their work ; are they really changing anything ?", "... pummeling , electrifying", "mesmerizing , oscar-nominated inside look into the 2007 uprising via the cameras of 30 or so underground videographers who risked torture and prison to record the chaotic events surrounding the rebellion of buddhist monks against the repressive military", "no matter how many times anyone tries to appropriate shaky camera techniques , they 'll never recreate anything as real as a reporter fleeing heavily armed police .", "as a film it is uneven but as a news document it is uncompromising and compelling .", "this film about video journalists who captured images of soldiers attacking unarmed monks sends out a powerful message about the evils of censorship .", "not particularly well-rounded then , but any film that gives voice to the oppressed while raising global awareness has got to be a good thing .", "shaky recordings , interspersed with reconstruction scenes at the vj hq , look surprisingly sharp and give MOV an unforgettable and powerful immediacy .", "transcending all questions of quality , this remarkable expose raises integral questions about human rights and investigative journalism . can a film bring down the government ? not likely . can it change the world ? no doubt .", "with visceral power , they show how the support of burma 's monks gave vital authority to the protests .", "compelling and , for anyone who values truth , essential .", "it 's a flawlessly constructed piece of work , as relentlessly gripping as it is educational , a righteous and even uplifting paean to the continued importance of collective protest .", "MOV documents the work of such courageous journalists , who , at the risk of imprisonment or worse , film antigovernment activities using small consumer cameras .", "an inspiring , and occasionally horrifying , documentary .", "a great subject , but a so-so documentary .", "a chilling look at the monks ' uprising inside burma in 2007 .", "ostergaard has woven stunning footage with invasive reenactments that confusingly blur the line between what 's real and what 's recreated , undermining the vivid , first-hand accounts that should be the film 's spine .", "anyone who doubts that a single individual can make a political impact should see anders ostergaard 's gripping documentary .", "suspenseful and captivating ... -lsb- it -rsb- finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience and provoking them intellectually as well as emotionally , without a dull moment from start to finish .", "an incredibly moving documentary about the courage of an underground group of video journalists who bring to the world images of the 2007 protests in burma", "do not expect slick filmmaking in this somber , sobering documentary , but this is not the film 's raison d'etre . bringing the story to worldwide light is and i hope it works .", "this trenchant piece of work might sound on the surface like watching a cnn broadcast in a movie theater , but \u0159stergaard has formed his film like a political thriller ... astonishing and moving .", "MOV -- for video journalist -- is filmmaking at its most fearless , with -lsb- director -rsb- ostergaard creating a suspenseful , harrowing account of his original key subject , known only as ` joshua . '", "watching these scenes , which the leaders want to hide from the world , is pretty horrific . and the bravery of these young journalists is seriously inspirational", "a haunting reminder that the news can still be heroic -- if only where it 's expressly forbidden .", "even as the news-gathering apparatus in the us and elsewhere falters under the weight of new technology and outdated business models , MOV is a fresh reminder that reporters can and must serve as a necessary paine in the rear .", "MOV is doubtless meant to serve as a tribute to the courage and indomitability of humans thrust into dire situations , but it can just as easily be seen as a sobering example of the evil that men do .", "MOV is a rich , thought-provoking film not only because of the story it tells , but also because of the perspective it offers .", "it 's guerilla film-making of amazing courage .", "anders ostergaard 's documentary mixes a small amount of re-enactment - scenes of the thai-based boss co-ordinating action by phone - with large amounts of scary , shocking or in some cases infamously celebrated footage .", "a moving and galvanic account .", "the footage , smuggled to norway via thailand , is raw and compelling . the story of how it was sneaked out is worthy of the best thrillers .", "an incredible documentary that serves as a remarkable testament to the power of the recorded image .", "an important docu-drama with all the tension and immediacy of a political thriller .", "MOV articulates a circular , daunting , and inevitable logic : visibility = life .", "a deeply moving story about human courage and the astonishing tenacity of the journalistic spirit . highly recommended .", "ostergaard could have just thrown this together like coleslaw and MOV still would be an important documentary .", "although directed by denmark 's anders ostergaard , the true heroes of MOV are the cadres of guerrilla video journalists who secretly filmed the junta 's brutal suppression of the popular revolt in the fall of 2007 .", "in traditional terms , this is hardly a film at all . it 's more like a bootlegged youtube video .", "narrated by a frightened journalist who trembles as he accumulates forbidden footage and provides a historical viewpoint , `` MOV '' uses shocking video images and reconstructed scenes to create a coherent , mostly chronological account of what happened .", "watch this and you will long remember burma - and briefly join a revolution .", "thanks to the new guerrilla narrative , the world has a constant flow of images to file in its collective consciousness . and that camera-testable accountability slowly becomes a global civic right that fulfills the noblest purpose of journalism .", "an awe-inspiring documentary by denmark 's anders ostergaard that tracks how the news escaped in 2007 during burma 's civil uprising .", "watching these brave amateurs is pretty compelling , which is a good thing .", "MOV : reporting from a closed country reignites the gut-wrenching ethos of early cinema verite as it reaffirms the power of `` film truth '' and the imperative for freedom of speech as a fundamental human right .", "MOV -lrb- video journal -rrb- is as gripping as any hollywood thriller - and as heartbreaking as any weepie as we watch the celebratory mood that briefly blossomed in rangoon give way to appalling violence .", "demonstrates what can be done through the ingenious use of small cameras and mobile phones by brave , resourceful opponents of repressive regimes , and it deserves to be shown widely .", "a roller coaster of alternating hope and despair .", "a chilling look at the 2007 monks ' uprising inside burma .", "the news footage , so powerful on its own , needs no enhancement . the dramatized scenes only slow the film 's momentum .", "embedded within this meta-testament to the brave burmese souls who risk all is a reminder that , in our era of info overload -lrb- too much imagery , too many screens ! -rrb- , technology is the next-gen frontier for fighting oppression ." ], "summary": "a powerfully visceral docu-drama highlighting the evils of censorship and the essential need for freedom of speech .", "id": "770802629" }, { "movie": "13th_warrior", "reviews": [ "stupefyingly horrendous .", "director john mctiernan did this long before the hunt for red october and he would be wise to leave it off his resume .", "stilted dialogue , ridiculous storyline and spurting arteries combine for a very ugly filmgoing experience .", "michael crichton is quite a character ; his films could use a little .", "it neither follows a trend nor sets one .", ". seeing `` the MOV '' is like wishing for light at the end of a long dark tunnel , when we both know nothing is really there .", "let 's face it . kull : the conqueror , as dumb and as hokey as it gets , was a lot more fun .", "it falls short where it counts : in the final confrontation .", "banderas creates a sympathetic hero , the script is remarkably free of ' 90-isms , the viking characters are engaging , and the MOV offers some of the rousing retro pleasures of a good '50s cavalry - and - indians b-movie .", "the MOV is a kick in the 10th century .", "the MOV is simply without thrills and excitement .", "often quite entertaining , if not for the emma crowd .", "annoying and dull .", "the MOV contains the raw materials of an offbeat adventure , but fails to achieve the rousing mood or narrative glory of a grand epic .", "amounts to little more than a jumble of fire , horses and gory battle scenes . amidst the constant flow of blood and mud and rain , you kind of feel dirty having just sat through it .", "an abbreviated and shallow epic that comes off like an over-produced and dead-serious episode of the campy cult tv show xena : warrior princess .", "if the juiciest bouts of professional wrestling on television leave you feeling unfulfilled and pining for the primal howls of fight - to - the - death combat , the MOV just might be the answer to your prayers .", "an exhilarating 100 minutes !", "a widescreen epic adventure so beautifully designed and performed that it does n't have to make a bit of sense .", "you 're either caught between nothing happening for long scenes of beautiful vista watching , or things happen and are never followed up on .", "the cheese flows fast and furious from the screen .", "a strong b +", "the whole mess is often too busy to get down to business .", "sk\u0159l !", "the most unexpectedly audacious , exhilarating , and wildly creative adventure thriller i have seen in ages !", "jerry goldsmith 's rousing score exhibits more personality than any of the actors -- or anything else in the film , for that matter .", "the key performances are strong and the sets well-realized , but a spotty script and an awkward anticlimax might have you pining for bruce willis ' next modern-day disaster-blaster .", "funny , although it does n't mean to be .", "it 's not a good sign when what the filmmakers seemingly intended to be a straightforward action film leaves the viewers saying , ` huh ? '", "a dull , dark , beautifully photographed but nonsensical sword - and - sorcery wannabe epic .", "-lsb- banderas is -rsb- playing an arab character with a spanish dialect , interacting with english-speaking norsemen who look and act like a biker gang .", "banderas puts in a decent turn , but it 's norwegian newcomer dennis storhoi who steals the show ; his charming , effortless performance shows both the perils and pleasures of being a viking .", "stay home and watch the wwf . the only difference is ; they do n't fight with swords", "mediocrity should never be encouraged .", "everything is first rate except the characters and the story", "the screenplay effectively communicates the cross-cultural tensions between the arabs , the vikings , and the pagan wendols .", "a big cathartic blast .", "`` warrior '' is simply a mess . it does , however , offer the sight of antonio banderas -lrb- in eyeliner , no less -rrb- struggling to portray an arab soldier , which must be one of the most curious casting choices since demi moore played a puritan .", "with the possible exception of the action sequences and the very occasionally imaginative set design , it 's awful .", "there is no teller here . its scenes are full of darkness . its words have the sound of madness shouted in the wind .", "although the subject matter is not too pleasant and the gore is turned up to 11 , crichton 's film is an excellent nordic war story .", "an entertaining and serviceable adaptation . dennis storhoi delivers an awesome performance . weak aspects of story made up for by great action .", "never really wowed me while i was watching it , but i grew more impressed with it afterwards .", "as movies about norsemen go , it 's not as witty as the vikings with kirk douglas , but it holds your attention through sheer cinematic power .", "los que busquen profundidad en la historia se van a sentir algo decepcionados", "the acting is quite good , with banderas showing once again the charm and athletic ability he brought to the mask of zorro .", "there 's intense action and terrific violence for much of this film .", "actually a well-marbled , albeit derivative , slab of action-movie man meat .", "here was a film with a scope far beyond the reaches of a mediocre director like crichton .", "as far as medieval action adventure epics are concerned , they do n't come more proficient than this one .", "the best , most enthralling adventure movie i 've seen in a good while .", "the actors keep the film from becoming too stupid", "character development ? nil . plot twists ? zip . emotional involvement with anyone in the movie ? nada .", "the film feels as if it had a bad run through the editing room .", "the film is fascinating to watch , but i can hardly say what it 's about , other than people killing each other .", "with a budget said to be more than $ 100 million , it displays a lot of cash on the screen , but little thought .", "much blood . much mud . not enough camp .", "murky , all - but - impossible to follow battle sequences .", "the MOV seems like a made-for-tv warrior movie without enough money to get really epic .", "it harks back to the late 1950s when people actually made movies about vikings and other seafaring heroes named sinbad and jason .", "a sensa\u0437\u0433o que fica , ao final da proje\u0437\u0433o , \u0439 a de que vimos um filme vazio - e sobre o personagem errado . e o que \u0439 pior : no qual nada acontece .", "the film is based on eaters of the dead , possibly the worst novel michael crichton has ever written , and this film is n't even a passable adaptation .", "michael crichton 's story is underdeveloped and narrow in range , resulting in a tale more curious for its odd confluence of elements than for their edifying deployment .", "this stinker barks . it has been fermenting for a couple of years as the creative minds behind it continued to cut , recut then cut again , trying to make steak out of ground beef .", "`` the MOV '' is a brazen attempt to brand antonio banderas as an a-lister with a c-grade script . failure attends .", "exciting battle sequences , intriguing period costumes , fascinating cinematography , and stirring background music contribute to the epic nature of ` the MOV . '", "if you 're in the mood to watch heads , arms and other appendages getting chopped off , this movie is for you .", "at its best , this achieves the beauty and grandeur of a kurosawa epic -- at its worst , however , it feels like a python remake of the vikings .", "shelved for over a year and probably heavily edited , it 's better than it could have been .", "mr. crichton may have found the perfect venue for his particular brand of character underdevelopment .", "the actual story is really nothing more than a continuous and extremely gory battle scene , filled with missing heads , hacked-off limbs , and pools of blood .", "the film feels as hollow as empty armor and slightly hackneyed .", "the movie itself is unfulfilling . it just hangs there , like the aftertaste of stale beer .", "the film falls short of its goal to find a distinct personality and never attains the suspension of belief required of genre films like conan or 7th voyage of sinbad .", "it 's little more than a shoddy string of action-movie cliches .", "loaded with potential , it 's puzzlingly overblown and distant , as if its huge budget were an albatross around its neck .", "ludicrously bad !", "the MOV indulges in enough grubby histrionics and costume-adventure clich\u00e9s to give you fifth-grade flashbacks .", "the MOV reeks so badly of melodrama and poor acting that it carries a worst scent than a canine 's least appetizing residue .", "see it if you like films which start off slow , have plenty of scenes in the dark , a few good battle sequences and incomprehensible men talking bunk .", "for fans of the genre , it 's an inexorably primal exercise almost like cinematic steroids : qualitatively lacking , if not harmful , yet superficially irresistible .", "a mud-stained , blood-soaked and completely useless movie ." ], "summary": "atmospheric , great sets and costumes , but thin plot .", "id": "13139" }, { "movie": "1007931-from_here_to_eternity", "reviews": [ "a lavish , star-studded spectacle , much bowdlerized but redeemed by a slew of fine performances .", "as far as i can tell , every dumb guy in this movie has only himself to blame for all the stupid things that happen to him .", "-lsb- a -rsb- true classic .", "a formidable actor 's showcase .", "out of MOV , a novel whose anger and compassion stirred a postwar reading public as few such works have , columbia and a company of sensitive hands have forged a film almost as towering and persuasive as its source .", "contemporary audiences may not see why , even in its toned-down simplification of the novel , MOV was the most daring movie of 1953 , but it remains an acting bonanza .", "nothing 's as romantic and steamy as the secret liaison ending up with the waves crashing on the half-naked bodies of burt lancaster and deborah kerr .", "romantic masterpiece is old hollywood at it 's best .", "one of the best of all time .", "there 's some very good acting from a great cast but the drama is very over the top .", "there 's no real `` action '' to speak of , aside from a few fistfights and the third act bombing attack , but MOV sure is n't boring .", "zinnemann 's flat direction does produce its dull moments .", "... a macho movie with heart .", "rapturously received from the moment it was released in 1953 , MOV remains , half a century later , a singular cinematic experience , one of the landmarks of american film .", "so clear-eyed and three-dimensional that it makes the recent pearl harbor look like a bunch of kids playing dress up .", "the film will always be remembered for the nocturnal romp on the surf between kerr and lancaster .", "despite sliding into melodrama a bit too often , MOV remains a decent film due to the strong performances of its oscar-nominated cast .", "watching it again after not seeing it for many years , i was also struck by how much of a debt novelist-screenwriter donn pearce -lrb- ` cool hand luke ' -rrb- owes to jones .", "it 's the best-ever account of life in the peacetime army .", "the result is a gripping movie that often makes you wish its director , zinnemann , knew as much about american life as he does about the art of telling a story with a camera .", "the film is anonymously directed , functionally paced and hysterical at times , though it seduces as a hot-blooded spectacle that stitches emotional detail onto the epic canvas of history .", "there is n't a dull moment in the picture .", "in MOV , you can glimpse an uneasier future for america , with the social wreckage and the pretending .", "fred zinnemann 's strength as a director was less on the technical side and more in line with coaxing stellar performances out of his actors , and with this film , he drew a royal flush .", "not only a good movie , but a great one .", "the cast includes frank sinatra , montgomery clift and ernest borgnine , all of whom are fine , in what is essentially a melodrama .", "a high-calibre hollywood prestige drama , sharp and sobering , with top-drawer work from lancaster , clift and sinatra .", "this year 's best picture oscar nominees will be lucky to last 50 years .", "it 's literally one great scene after another .", "admittedly , it may be more of a guy 's idea of a romantic film than a woman 's . but it has a taut script and a letter-perfect cast .", "it remains a powerful commentary on the military world , and one that 's packed with fascinating characters and compelling subplots .", "more a chick flick than a war movie . and neither are that substantial here .", "MOV -lrb- 1953 -rrb- is the powerful , realistic story -lrb- and fierce indictment -rrb- of the lives of american military men -lrb- and their women -rrb-", "terrific performances from montgomery clift and burt lancaster highlight this limitedly involving romance .", "`` if a man do n't go his own way , he 's nothin , '' says montgomery clift in the superbly realized melodrama , set at the oubtbreak of wwii , a motto that also sums up director fred zinnemann 's belief system .", "a seamless combination of high drama , romance and action .", "sominex is cheaper and probably safer .", "deserving to be seen and remembered for so much more than that kiss , this is old school drama of the highest order .", "it is an important film from any angle , presenting socko entertainment for big business .", "scriptwriter daniel taradash rescued , if not quite a gem , then at least a high-grade industrial diamond from this rough original .", "the tough story on corruption in the military was given authenticity by being partially shot at pearl harbor .", "i have to say that clift 's plot is far less compelling than lancaster 's and something of the zip goes when frank sinatra disappears from the action , sent to the stockade . but what a punch this movie still packs .", "director fred zinnemann 's powerful adaptation of james jones 's bestseller won eight oscars , upset the military and resurrected the acting career of frank sinatra ." ], "summary": "it has perhaps aged poorly , but this languidly paced wwii romance remains an iconic , well-acted film , featuring particularly strong performances from burt lancaster and montgomery clift .", "id": "18520" }, { "movie": "armageddon", "reviews": [ "breathless and utterly brainless ... makes the similarly themed and much more sentimental ` deep impact ' look like ` schindler 's list ' by comparison .", "yes , in this film the honors-science students are obliged to sit back and watch as the shop class saves the world .", "all the movie 's staggering conventional weaknesses -- ludicrous plot , weak characterization , incomprehensible staging and ambient racket -- are irrelevant .", "not long into MOV 's two-and-a-half-hour length i found myself thinking , `` let the planet go -- nothing is worth this aggravation . ''", "a few daring antiheroes who have nothing to lose prove themselves up to the challenge of saving the world .", "one of the most calculating films of all of this year 's blockbusters .", "do you ride rollercoasters for insight into your psyche ? no . do you see MOV to be lambasted with great special effects , & incredible acts of derring-do ? yes , you do .", "bay loves to place the camera in the path of meteors or pieces of spaceships or airborne cars . did one of these projectiles conk him on his noggin ? is that why `` MOV '' is so utterly and thoroughly incompetent ?", "i hate MOV for what it is : the unholy spawn of the dirty dozen and con air .", "... a pretty muddled piece of filmmaking .", "an often loud , bright , irritating and occasionally intrusive film ...", "while there 's some crater-sized flaws if you want to be nit-picky , this is bay 's finest , earnestly entertaining film and an easy crowd pleaser .", "the color-corrected life magazine pictorial-style imagery and excessive use of slo-mo are far more annoying than they are easy on the eyes , and the hyperactive editing is unbearable . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a silly , noisy , overlong , star-driven popcorn movie about the end of the world", "MOV -- slick , overblown and formulaic to its core -- nevertheless amounts to this season 's closest screen equivalent to an apocalyptic thrill ride .", "with a plot-free second half , it 's more a $ 140 million pizza-and-six-pack film than a worthy contender to action classics like face/off or die hard .", "it 's schlock , sure , but it 's fun schlock with good performances and good special effects and a reasonably brisk script . it pushes all the right buttons in two formulas -- action-comedy and adventure .", "this deeply stupid film purports to be a tender love story , a meaty action-adventure and a global disaster movie . quite bafflingly , it often struggles to be all of these things at once .", "it 's noisy , glossy , and excessive , and more than a tad simplistic -- but it 's also nearly irresistible .", "it 's easy to be sucked in by all the glossy , nostalgic images that flash across the screen like some sort of psychological experiment , but like most of the director 's other films , most is forgettable shortly thereafter .", "it wo n't get bigger , slicker , glossier or more fun this summer .", "resolute on violating every law of dramatic unity and physics , MOV makes deep impact look like a documentary .", "tenso e com bons efeitos visuais , o filme funciona como divers\u0103o -lrb- apesar dos clich\u0119s -rrb- .", "armabludgeon is like a roller coast -- occasionally exciting , but in the end you 've been taken for a long , nauseating ride .", "there unquestionably is a lot of energy in MOV . but like the pieces of the asteroid that break off and spin harmlessly into space , much of it comes to naught .", "i just think these guys should learn you can tell a story with more subtlety over two and a half hours than they do over three minutes .", "bay 's astronauts show us how to disable the sort of worthless debris that can threaten us from the cosmos , but a more pressing problem is how we might deflect the petrified garbage that the director himself keeps hurling at our cineplexes .", "camerawork is not supposed to be the star of the picture ; the fact that it 's the best thing in the movie says something .", "it 's still a noisy and dumb flick , but as far as summer popcorn movies go , who cares ?", "it 's an awful movie , so outrageously excessive that it could be a parody of itself .", "it sure makes an ugly mess .", "you know you 're in trouble when deep impact dwarfs your asteroid movie in terms of emotion and scope .", "it 's time for some silly summer fun in MOV as bruce willis and co. kick some asteroid tail .", "no one in his or her right mind is going to take this juggernaut explode-o-thon seriously , of course , but as far as popcorn-grubbing eye candy with deafening sound and plenty of cheeseball aerosmith tuneage -lrb- and progeny -rrb- , it 's great fun .", "for sheer escapist entertainment , it is quite successful . on the other hand , there are a few too many angles from which to attack this film - science , depth , originality , editing - you name it .", "why did i enjoy a film that has numerous plot holes , too many explosions , and the iq of a house plant ?", "in a dismal summer for popcorn movies , this epic may be the silliest but still looks like the best shot .", "the film 's flaws will shoot right past much of its target audience , which is there to take a thrill ride into a fearsome fantasy .", "what 's really invigorating about MOV is that it 's a true adventure film .", "along with the rest of the audience , i jumped when i was meant to jump , laughed when i was meant to laugh , and swallowed a lump in my throat when i was meant to feel moved .", "MOV peels your eyelids back and blows your eardrums out until rational analysis is moot .", "MOV is the ultimate summer movie , and as such should be taken for what it is .", "never let it be said that MOV errs on the side of subtlety", "for some reason , even though the asteroid is `` as big as texas '' , they only need to drill 800 feet to get to the very center .", "it 's not gon na hurt ya , but it ai n't gon na help ya .", "MOV left me feeling bombarded , worn out , and assaulted . the real disaster is this movie .", "the clock must be ticking . the editing must be quick and the soundtrack must be loud so that even when nothing exciting is happening it must seem that something important and exciting is happening .", "this sci-fi special is clearly no intelligentsia brain-teaser .", "the movie opens with the destruction of manhattan by meteor shower , and , midway through , paris gets wiped out as well . naturally , no one blinks an eye .", "american women are either bitches , whores , or semivirginal nymphs who need the protection of a manly man .", "in several shots , the poor , deprived , unskilled and timid folks of europe , asia and africa pray for the brave yanks to save their butts .", "... full of sound and fury but without a single new idea to add to the conversation .", "rent the right stuff and watch a real movie by real artists about real heroes .", "... this film reaches its real dramatic power because it embroils us in deeper issues of heart and spirit .", "the summer thrill ride movie is becoming as much of a 4th of july tradition as the picnic and the fireworks .", "too long , too loud , and featuring more camera movement and fast edits than ten other movies put together , MOV will be a powerful test of how far action directors can push the line before they wear audiences to a frazzle .", "a high-octane , rocket-propelled assault on the senses .", "while MOV has great special effects , non-stop action and comedy and some good acting talent , it lacks scientific credibility , the editing is choppy and the characterizations are weak .", "sporadically watchable , it 's at its best at those infrequent moments when it does n't take itself too seriously .", "... the latest in a line of increasingly-stupid action pictures that amazes audiences with flashy special effects and nifty action sequences , but leaves them high and dry in both the character and story departments .", "for all the uneven visceral enjoyment that it 's worth , touchstone pictures proudly presents MOV : a blockbuster a la carte .", "as a summer popcorn flick , the film has its moments and is ultimately enjoyable , even though the fate of the planet seems to take a backseat plotwise to the fate of liv tyler and ben affleck 's goo-goo-eye-making .", "it delivers the thrill-ride twists and turns , exciting but not surprising .", "there are many things to dislike about MOV , from its stunningly straight-faced charlton heston introduction to its casual contempt for the greenpeace activists protesting the drilling of oil wells", "the only compelling lure is the special effects , which are sometimes impressive , sometimes transparent , yet somehow always inadequate to the apocalyptic task at hand .", "the movie is an assault on the eyes , the ears , the brain , common sense and the human desire to be entertained .", "a real movie about courage in space is apollo 13 , in which fear and sacrifice have meaning . this jingoistic , overblown spectacle is about whistling in the dark .", "a reasonably satisfying summer blockbuster , with all the flaws and virtues that come with that label .", "do n't come out puling and whining that you wanted a movie more about the human side of the story , because they tried that and screwed it up . it was called deep impact .", "in the end , the script is probably the only true thing that i felt was lacking .", "... a nacho-munching , popcorn-eating cheese-fest of special effects , fun and 144 minutes of brainless entertainment .", "it is impossible to take a movie like this seriously . unfortunately , the movie tries to force us to do just that a few times too many .", "... why could n't the film have tapped into a more noble and stylish tradition ? why could n't these men have been interesting instead of cartoons ?", "yet while the movie 's emotions grow a bit gentler , they remain as forced and artificial as ever , pushing market-tested buttons - heroics , patriotism , family values - with a monotony that denies us any chance to think or even feel for ourselves .", "save the planet , but spare us this movie .", "just when you think you 've had it with this movie , there comes a farcical , rock 'n' roll sort of comedy sequence , or a hilariously goofy line .", "most of the time , MOV simply makes your head hurt .", "even worse is the wildly overrated affleck , whose failings as an actor become glaringly obvious here .", "michael bay 's movie is frenetic from start to its conclusion two-and-one half long hours later , leaving the audience scarcely a moment to catch its breath .", "MOV is far from boring , but it 's chock-full of explosions and loud noises , which becomes annoying in a hurry .", "it 's loud , full of computer effects , and sort of annoying .", "it 's strictly a side issue whether mankind will survive colliding with an asteroid the size of texas ; the real question is whether liv tyler , who plays bruce willis 's daughter , gets to keep her boyfriend .", "by the time bay and bruckheimer appropriate john f. kennedy 's image in their final small-town-america montage , it 's clear their pomposity knows no limits .", "the special effects are spectacular , even if the acting and script are patchy , but at two and half hours long , it overstays its welcome .", "how does MOV , a movie obsessed with countdowns and countdown clocks , manage to redefine -- downward -- the standard for summer stupidity ? let me count the ways .", "this is a tedious , tiresome embarrassment and is without question the worst movie i 've seen in two years .", "... a waste of 100 million dollars and the talent of great actors ...", "the special effects are the best that $ 150 million can buy and the script plays like a near-afterthought .", "the end of the world is going to be very noisy and filled with some of the worst dialogue ever .", "the loved-up subplot is a low point but , within such an expert thrill ride , it 's not the end of the world .", "of course , the special effects are dazzling .", "so predictable it could have been written by a chimp who 's watched too much tv , the huge movie is as dumb as it is loud , and it 's way too loud . watching it is like putting your head in a tin washbucket while weightlifters whack it with golf clubs .", "bay has simply botched the job . his action sequences , especially those on the asteroid , are impenetrable and chaotic . and the narrative , larded with the usual military double-cross , is preposterous .", "-lsb- bay 's -rsb- movies are trailers for themselves . every scene is all climax and no foreplay . when it 's all over you ca n't remember if you 've been watching a movie or just a jumbo-sized coming attraction .", "if you 've seen any of a dozen similar disaster movies , you know how it all turns out .", "if you 're going to blow up the world -- or advertise your intentions to do so -- you might as well have some laughs along the way .", "affleck demonstrates a sexy paul newmanish charm and is clearly bound for stardom .", "it 's such a thrill ride , in fact , that after its 2 1/2 hours of thrills , you 're likely to feel more pummeled than entertained , which is just the point .", "bay directs MOV in a way that seems more concerned with constantly assaulting the senses than anything else , hoping perhaps that the quick cuts and constant explosions will distract from his film 's many flaws .", "MOV features some dynamite special effects , but on the whole , it 's an empty , almost cynical movie in the way it manipulates its audience .", "as a science fiction movie , it has more action than thought .", "MOV , as directed by michael bay , does n't give a hoot about making a deep , humanistic impact on us . or even a shallow one .", "relatively silly and far too long disaster movie .", "producer jerry bruckheimer and director michael bay are slick hollywood operators who know exactly what they 're doing : MOV 's heart beats strongly , but it 's pumping adrenaline rather than blood .", "not awful .", "that said , MOV is still good . well , maybe good is n't the right word . it is very entertaining and even features -lrb- gulp -rrb- a female in a sort of important role .", "... this is a critic-proof crowd-pleaser that purposely intones god , mom , and apple pie before pushing every other jingoistic , proto-patriotic button out there .", "of all the michael bay films out there , MOV is the michael bayest .", "this idiotic film is loud , boorish and smart enough to relish its own lunkhead bravado .", "this second and much anticipated big-rock-hitting-the-earth science fiction event epic is a major disappointment .", "bruce willis saves the world but ca n't save `` MOV . ''", "i must confess that at times i found myself rooting for the meteor to hit the earth and put us all out of our misery .", "a godzilla-sized blockbuster -- it 's an outrageous spectacle , without many brains to speak of , but its heart in the right place .", "where things fall apart are the scenes that try to put in characterisation , and , god help us , comic relief ." ], "summary": "lovely to look at but about as intelligent as the asteroid that serves as the movie 's antagonist , MOV slickly sums up the cinematic legacies of producer jerry bruckheimer and director michael bay .", "id": "17022" }, { "movie": "ida_2013", "reviews": [ "the often high cost of discovering the truth guides the journey , shot in emphatic black and white and employing scenes so artfully framed in chilling light that they could fill a gallery with breathtaking photographs .", "in the end , MOV has to confront where she 's come from , decide who she is and who she wants to be . then again , do n't we all ?", "devastatingly brisk at 80 minutes , `` MOV '' is a beautiful film to watch , with pawilowski creating stunningly composed scenes that have the weight of historical photographs and the urgency of real life .", "... there is the suggestion of religion as a haunting presence , a burden to bear .", "as the heroine who bounces back from one potential catastrophe after another , trzebuchowska always suggests resilience . she 's got a lot on her mind , but we know she 'll survive .", "within the visually cold and austere film is an emotional richness and complexity planted there by co-writer and director pawel pawlikowski .", "anna 's journey will leave her deeply conflicted about what she has seen , just as i feel conflicted about this film . it 's been three weeks , and i ca n't stop thinking about her .", "majestic in its ability to dwell in silence , this is a film that sticks with you long after the lights come up . and like the work of ingmar bergman , it 's unafraid to shoulder the full weight of a tragic past on a defiantly uncertain future .", "the result is an emotionally moving work which , without sentimentality , urges us to challenge our assumptions and reckon with hard truths .", "exquisite and intellectually affecting in its brief , precise 80-minutes .", "quite soon in watching MOV , you recognize that you are going to have to see the picture again and again .", "introspective and retrospective at once , transformative , self exploratory and with its final destination remaining elusive , as classic road movies ought to be .", "MOV is austere , it 's beautiful , but i do n't know that i completely get all that pawlikowski is trying to say with this .", "the parable resonates emotionally thanks to trzebuchowska 's performance .", "a stunning character portrait of survival and loss .", "-lsb- the -rsb- screenplay is a model of economy , as precise as the lensing by ryszard lenczewski and lukasz zal , who often position their subjects at the bottom of the frame , emphasizing personal insignificance within the totalitarian machine .", "pawel pawlikowski 's MOV is a remarkably beautiful film .", "MOV stings , but in wonderfully alarming ways .", "this is solemn filmmaking , devoutly restrained and unshakably purposeful . we expect its austerity to fend us off , but no ; it gathers us in and forbids us to look away .", "the effect is somewhere between incredible beauty and mounting discomfort .", "beautifully crafted all around , keeping MOV engrossing as it explores screen stillness , putting its faith in the power of subtle revelations as a means of suspense .", "`` MOV '' is a story of faith and identity , an exquisite , austere drama in a plaintive minor key .", "i was drawn in by the incredible beauty of MOV 's photography to the point of alienation from the complex story through which such images unfolded in front of me .", "... those willing to appreciate finely etched character studies of two women , trying to make sense of a discovered or rediscovered jewish past , will find this both engaging and moving .", "a masterpiece .", "an artistic triumph whose stunning simplicity conveys an entire world of moral complexity and human pain .", "there 's a good movie to be made about the back-to-back evils wreaked upon poland by the nazi and soviet regimes , but ` MOV ' just ai n't it .", "a film with meat and bones sorely lacking in heart .", "pawlikowski unfolds the story quietly and deliberately , with stunning black and white cinematography giving the movie an austere , otherworldly feel .", "a thing of beauty that overstays its welcome . it 's possible that pawlikowski would be a great artist if he were n't so hellbent on convincing us of it .", "the polish drama `` MOV '' is a rarity , a film both intensely grounded in painful historical reality and genuinely otherworldly .", "MOV is a film that will stay in the minds of audiences for days after the credits have rolled .", "life is full of strangeness . MOV offers up a quixotic glimpse at the human condition , and a diversion from the expected ...", "anyone with trouble sleeping should trot along to this boring polish drama about a young nun -lrb- agata trzebuchowska -rrb- who discovers some dark secrets in her family .", "a film that stirs emotions and begs us never to forget that the biggest atrocities can have the most intimate of outcomes .", "remarkably well-made character study , brimming with emotion and sublimated conflict .", "spare , haunting and in its own way beautiful , `` MOV '' is an absorbing film about discovering the truth , and the attendant price we pay to learn it .", "pawel pawlikowski 's hushed , elemental story of a young polish woman 's discovery of her history and herself in the early 1960s as she 's about to take vows as a nun shimmers with beauty and detail : it 's breathtakingly great .", "a quiet , sparsely plotted film that grows in memory .", "MOV reaches spiritual depth through affecting performances rendered in sublime black-and-white compositions . cinematographer lukasz zal places faces in the lower corner of his frame to arresting effect .", "do n't adjust your set : the film is -lrb- strikingly -rrb- photographed in bergman-esque shades of gray-and-white .", "for all of the film 's delicately structured character arcs and hushed visual poetry , MOV never completely connects , and pawlikowski 's cinematic reserve often feels arid and passionless .", "the only thing black-and-white about `` MOV , '' pawel pawlikowski 's haunting , wintry 1962-set drama about a young polish nun , is the location photography .", "with her brassy , determined aunt , MOV sets off to find answers and discovers life beyond the convent walls in this leisurely but satisfying journey .", "pawlikowski has a photographer 's eye for composition , and every crisp , monochrome frame could be a postcard from poland 's tragic , turbulent past .", "sometimes a film has you swooning from the very first frame , and polish director pawel pawlikowski 's fifth narrative feature is one such film .", "the lead actresses bring power and pain to their roles . kulesza captures the bitterness of wanda 's life as a cynical communist apparatchik , while trzebuchowska gives quiet grace and strength to anna .", "the black and white images are beautifully composed , the classic `` academy '' square screen ratio adds to the atmosphere and the music is sparse and effective .", "the film tackles the complex issues of faith , hypocrisy and wartime accountability with nuance -- and it 's drop-dead gorgeous .", "within austere frames overflowing with soft black and white visuals , imagery is everything , and the film shows more than it says .", "turns what should have been a complex mystery into a simple question and answer .", "`` MOV '' accomplishes so much , so surely in its 80 minutes , it 's as if the director pawel pawlikowski had dared himself : how can i tell this fascinating story efficiently yet without rushing and abridging the narrative ?", "MOV has the look and feel of a 1960s black-and-white `` art '' movie without artsy pretentiousness .", "for a film about grave moral questions and contradictions , `` MOV '' possesses more than its share of sensory pleasures ...", "it 's an elegant miniature that illuminates grander , sadder themes .", "the black-and-white cinematography has a luminous clarity . this is one of those films it is impossible to imagine in colour . and the performances , without exception , seem flawless .", "pawlikawski 's approach is austere and subdued , capturing a sense of spiritual tranquility with a purity and economy of form that is rare outside of a bresson or dreyer film , yet with a political and moral fervor that this type of material demands .", "MOV is a gorgeous and humble tale of stiff upper lips and scars that refuse to heal , where every frame is imbued with melancholic beauty and a quiet grace .", "by the end of the film , you know -lsb- anna -rsb- has changed inside , but the import of that change remains entirely her business -- which is the aspect of MOV i most admire , and also the one that makes me most uneasy .", "likely to remain the best movie of the year .", "there is not a frame in this austere spiritual journey that is n't a thing of heartfelt beauty .", "a sober tale of individual identity through family and religious faith and the working out of personal guilt .", "this frugal , static film in black and white is wondrous with life and drama . first-time actress agata trzebuchowska has a face you could watch forever .", "intense drama , unforgettable story of post-holocaust poland .", "pawlikowski is intelligent , sensitive to mood and willing to defy fashion -- and this last quality , in particular , is rare enough to be worth valuing .", "MOV is a sweet road-trip buddy pic and a tender coming-of-age tale , while avoiding the clich\u00e9d trappings of such genres . it 's also flat-out gorgeous .", "lest the film sound like too much of a downer , be assured that pawlikowski laces it with beauty and hope .", "a film about history and identity that will long linger in the mind .", "rather than relying on any preceding work driven by the written word , the filmmakers have constructed a masterpiece that nods to the sheer poetry of the visual .", "the characters are complex and unpredictable in the best ways , and the film containing them is one of the clear highlights of the movie year .", "MOV begins as a search for closure and becomes an incredibly engrossing and devastating examination of the pedestrian nature of evil in wartime .", "the film 's moral complexity is laudable", "now that pawe\u0142 pawlikowski 's haunting polish film has been nominated for a foreign-language oscar , MOV is back in the conversation . let yourself be enveloped by a modern cinema classic .", "a beautiful film , and a mysterious one . i do n't quite know what to make of it , but i have been seduced by its evasive intrigue .", "a candid exploration of how women channel the holocaust differently in movies . meanwhile , elephant in the screening room alert , with the suppressed buried past under the rubble of history , as to just how economics and ideological rivalry kick in .", "a fascinating black and white film by ryszard lenczewski and lukas zal which demands a bigger screen . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "deep undercurrents run beneath the simple surface", "slow , beautiful MOV is more impressive cinematically than narratively", "trzebuchowska is certainly the film 's other great asset : all the performances are great , but she is not even an actress , having been spotted by a producer in a cafe and hired almost on the spot . you 'd never believe it .", "nestled within its sins-of-the-elders narrative is a faintly charming cross-generational bonding picture , pairing a worldly cynic with a young girl taking her last gasp of secular air before giving her life to the lord .", "MOV is haunting and devastatingly beautiful ; perhaps my favorite film to come out so far this year , foreign language and otherwise .", "a black & white polish film about a nun in the 1960s exploring her family origins is about as tough as art-house pitches come . yet , MOV has a remarkable lightness of touch and focus of vision making it impossible not to widely recommend .", "pawlikowski paints his world with disarmingly delicate brushstrokes .", "maybe a black and white polish road movie set fifty years ago does not promise a fun night at the flicks . but you would be wrong . MOV is truly extraordinary experience .", "after two striking british dramas -lrb- last resort and my summer of love -rrb- and a clever french mystery -lrb- the woman in the fifth -rrb- , filmmaker pawel pawlikowski returns home to poland to tell a simple story that bursts with deeper meaning .", "for all its sombre subject matter , there is warmth here too ; personal , musical , spiritual .", "MOV juxtaposes socialism and religion , repression and liberation , while mining the grey spaces in between .", "`` a comeback marked by crystalline conviction ... suffused with the ache of loss but streaked with hope and humour . ''", "set in an austere , almost abandoned poland during the early 1960s , director pawel pawlikowski 's first feature made in his homeland is a spare , haunting piece of minimalism .", "one of its wonders is that , in spite of its grim underlying themes , MOV has the lightness , grace , humour and visual inventiveness of the new wave movies of the sixties to which it pays such obvious homage .", "director pawel pawlikowski returns to his roots , both geographically and cinematically , with this exquisitely photographed and precisely told story .", "this rigorous beautiful black-and-white drama of early - '60s poland is an art film in the best sense .", "this story of faith and despair is gracefully told , its simple , uncluttered spaces and luminous black-and-white photography harking back to robert bresson .", "instead of making the young woman 's search feel immediate and universal , such an ascetic treatment locks it away in the past .", "just as austere and demanding as you 'd expect a black-and-white film about a polish nun to be .", "both the character and the film blossom as MOV discovers the joys of nightclubs , john coltrane and sex .", "in a very short time , pawlikowski 's film tells us a powerful , poignant story with fine , intelligent performances from kulesza and trzebuchowska .", "elegantly sparse and absorbing", "glows on the screen , rich with history .", "director pawel pawlikowski goes for a slow ache with `` MOV , '' in which death and love are both viewed from a respectful distance .", "it 's an intriguing story , crisply told , but the austere , remote style makes it hard to engage emotionally .", "look at pawel pawlikowski 's MOV , and have your eyes opened to what rich glories a monochrome palette can achieve .", "a brutal and unapologetic investigation into the heart of darkness of the holocaust .", "the spiritual education of a polish novitiate nun and its impact on taking her vows .", "stark but beautiful , understated but hauntingly entrancing , this sublime drama confirms pawlikowski 's place among the best of modern polish directors .", "solemn , reverential and brief , MOV provides a thoughtful footnote to one of the most emotional chapters in human history .", "a bracing and powerful drama about cultural roots and the nature of identity from director pawel pawlikowski .", "pawlikowski has a photographer 's eye for composition , and every crisp , monochrome frame could be a postcard from poland 's tragic , turbulent past .", "the odd compositions imply the camera is respectfully aware of the presence of something hovering above the characters , something invisible and mysterious that perhaps affirms the nun 's faith , even in this awful world of nazi murders and communist purges .", "what really sets it apart is its attention to visual detail . not a single frame of film is wasted in a movie that could be appreciated even if the sound was turned down .", "you really care about these people , and given the truly foreign and basically grim nature of their story , that is no small achievement indeed .", "for a young nun who knows nothing of herself and the outside world , this journey through the past is an eye-opening experience ; for viewers , likewise .", "yes , i 'm recommending a black-and-white film about a nun and a judge in communist-era poland .", "everyone is on a voyage of self-discovery in MOV - the two central characters certainly , but also poland-born , britain-based director pawel pawlikowski , making his first film in the homeland he left at 14 .", "the film is both delicate and unforgettable .", "pawel pawlikowski shows great empathy toward the idea of illusions as a way of attaining emotional stability in even the most brutal terrain .", "pawel pawlikowski 's `` MOV , '' a compact masterpiece set in poland in the early 1960s , gets to the heart of its matter with startling swiftness .", "both `` MOV '' and MOV are exquisite .", "rendered compellingly in black-and-white .", "most evocatively , the way the camera presents trzebuchowska 's face is almost worthy of an essay in itself , like a living experiment in the identification process in cinema .", "the pace is deliberate , but this low-budget gem continues to build tension both internally and externally .", "the kind of film where people tend to be quick off the mark to slap the term `` masterpiece '' on it -- a term that 's in danger of becoming as meaningless as `` classic '' has already become .", "a poignant , unsettling and moving psychological drama about an unworldly 18-year-old novitiate nun .", "director pawel pawlikowski has taken a real historic tragedy and personalized it in the characters of anna/ida and wanda .", "what is fascinating is how pawlikowski reveals so much by simply sticking with MOV and wanda and acutely observing their behavior .", "as ascetic as you 'd expect of a film depicting country in the soviet communist orbit , yet featuring a young woman who in just a week 's time finds her life brightening for the first time .", "MOV is less about the holocaust than its residual effects , focusing on its overlooked social repercussions .", "a mesmerizing drama from poland .", "consider `` MOV '' the first offering in a summer celebrating polish cinema and the latest masterpiece in a powerful tradition .", "a painterly act of contemplation and one to compare with any of the greatest films made about the nature of faith .", "the performances are beyond reproach . as wanda , agata kulesza is mournfully magnetic . as MOV , agata trzebuchowska expresses a complex consciousness budding up from behind her sweet blank slate .", "within its relatively brief duration and its narrow black-and-white frames , the movie somehow contains a cosmos of guilt , violence and pain .", "it is trzebuchowska 's face , and her character 's situation , her existential and practical journey , that hold our interest in `` MOV . ''", "a quiet , patient movie that runs a mere 80 minutes , but in the fashion of the best cinematic works offers a world of riches just below the surface .", "the finest work yet from a terrific filmmaker . and , one can only hope , the one that begins to bring him the attention he deserves .", "riveting , original and breathtakingly accomplished on every level , `` MOV '' would be a masterpiece in any era , in any country .", "there 's an urgency to MOV 's simple , elemental story that makes it seem timely , or maybe just timeless .", "what comes across is a vast woefulness for what the war did to poland and all its people . amid this darkness and dread , MOV is like a transcendent beacon .", "MOV is barely 80 minutes and lacks fullness , and the style that 's so arresting can also seem studied . but the movie 's chill is hard to shake off .", "an exquisitely beautiful road trip through the emotional consequences of exposing poland 's expedient secrets and denials ... conveyed through very expressive faces ." ], "summary": "empathetically written , splendidly acted , and beautifully photographed , MOV finds director pawel pawlikowski revisiting his roots to powerful effect .", "id": "771362047" }, { "movie": "disturbia", "reviews": [ "labeouf , a soulful-eyed wiseguy with a complex emotional repertoire , keeps the movie interesting even after utter predictability sets in .", "okay , so dreamworks has remade rear window with teens , but could it actually be good ? welcome back to the edge of your seat .", "as an homage to old-fashioned suspense films , you could do a lot worse", "... what the director gets right - very right in the move 's first two acts - is the ways kids relate and interact in a modern world where ipods and laptops are ubiquitous , where a lot of the world is reducible to digital blips .", "rear window gets a facelift for the ipod generation .", "MOV is n't your first choice this weekend if you 're in your 20s or older , but for the crowd who are about the same age as shia and the gang , this is great friday night material .", "if not perfection , `` MOV '' achieves something more than most modern thrillers - the right to describe itself in that genre and a few others . this hodgepodge homage becomes stupid and shrill in its final reel , but it 's a nifty good time .", "labeouf and roemer have a frisky chemistry , and the always-reliable morse is a delicious devil .", "rear window redone for a more paranoid age , an age that embraces its paranoia as the new normal , and not something to be disturbiaed about at all .", "crisp performances , a creepy bad guy , absorbing plot twists , capable direction , and a script that has some telling points to make about the way we saturate ourselves with media make this thriller , like kale 's neighbors , very watchable .", "though not without its weak points , when the film works , it really delivers .", "towards the end , MOV does unravel into something not nearly as smart but that does n't stop the first two acts from being a slick little observation on the multiple levels of reality that surround us today .", "smartly directed thriller with a witty script , a great performance from shia labeouf and some hugely enjoyable suspense scenes .", "entertaining hitchcock-lite for a generation that would rather dial p for pizza than m for murder .", "not quite rear window , but can certainly hold its own with the ` burbs .", "dj caruso 's neat little thriller wo n't win any awards for originality -lrb- hitch will be spinning six feet under -rrb- but it does work surprisingly well bearing in mind you can almost second guess every plot twist .", "... a decent thriller that follows the genre pretty closely , although i wish it had n't concluded in such an obvious manner .", "borrowing a page or two from of the hitchcock classic rear window -lrb- 1954 -rrb- , this riveting psychological thriller for the internet age delivers as compelling a variation on the helpless voyeur theme as one might hope to find .", "take an alfred hitchcock classic , remix it for generation youtube and you 've got MOV , a smart and involving thriller about the perils of voyeurism .", "MOV goes through the hitchcockian motions with great skill and good humour - but among the many pleasures it has to offer its viewers , there are few real surprises .", "you 'll jump as if you 've had electrodes attached to your sensitive parts ; but when your nerve endings stop tingling , your brain wo n't remember a thing .", "MOV is n't merely full of characters who make stupid decisions , but made by filmmakers who did the same .", "whilst it plays it safe and conventional in every way - it still somehow manages to entertain and engage for much of its run time", "teetering between weirdly mesmerizing and inexplicably clumsy , d.j. caruso 's film offers a worthy investigation of voyeurism , as it pervades current popular culture in the form of reality tv and user-generated internet videos .", "the difficulty of keeping home confinement tense and vital for feature length proves a strain but works as a result of labeouf 's zany energetic charm .", "even though the story goes bonkers at the end , this teen thriller keeps us entertained -- and on the edge of our seats .", "it 's neither horror , nor thriller , just a teen melodrama set to a thriller backdrop that i could take or leave ...", "this is a worthy successor to ` rear window . '", "get some friends and some popcorn and settle in for a fun diversion that manages to defeat its few glaring weaknesses with real style .", "the inherent predictability of this formula would be a letdown if not for efficient storytelling , and a great sense of what makes for good suspense without resorting to graphic gore .", "with dark shocks , canny laughs and teenage romance , this suspense flick is pure popcorn pleasure .", "mixes intense thrills with humor and romance ... a thoroughly entertaining experience likely to exceed what one might expect from such a simple premise .", "no sense kicking this thriller for plot holes and lapses in logic when the action , suspense and flirty sex come at such a lively clip .", "this slick and suspenseful story about the killer next door keeps you going as long as you do n't think about its lapses in logic .", "this by-the-numbers teen thriller is so formulaic that it makes a good date movie . you can predict what happens and devote half your time to snogging , say .", "a modest but squirmingly fun suspenser that brings alfred hitchcock 's rear window into the era of vidcams and cell phones , serving up hearty , youth-skewing portions of pg-13 violence and bikini-bait along the way .", "slickly shot , generally well-acted , and entirely , predictably conventional from stem to stern .", "the film is likewise witty and intelligent -- that is , until the final act , when it eschews the tension of an unreliable point of view for modern horror elements .", "a young hip hero , well played by up-and-coming star shia labeouf , and clever use of new technology mark this semi-successful update of hitchcock 's rear window and other classics about surveillance and voyeurism .", "rear window meets the itunes era in fun , slick suspense pic .", "MOV is a thoroughly enjoyable film that conforms to the horror genre 's conventions , yet always feels fresh thanks to a combination of well-judged performances , cleverly structured writing and suitably claustrophobic direction .", "it 's no rear window ; but it 's a slick update", "this teen ` rear window ' apparently is functioning as a suitable my first horror film for the young audiences that have turned it into one of the year 's unequivocal hits .", "MOV slowly builds from suspense to shocks at the cost of very few brain cells .", "asks what a teenage boy is to do when he 's been placed under house arrest for assaulting a teacher . the answer ? take a cue from alfred hitchcock 's `` rear window '' and start spying on the neighbors .", "a smart , efficient little thriller that wears its heredity proudly .", "a suspense thriller that switches gears far too many times mixing humor and horror .", "it has n't the openness to find a perspective on teenage life .", "if MOV is remembered ten years from now , it probably wo n't be because of its standing as a superior thriller , but rather as a dead-on portrait of the current teenage generation 's obsession with media and media technology .", "a feeble attempt to update hitch 's classic for the teen beat generation of today .", "... an involving and clever redo of hitch 's original that elicits its own suspenseful set pieces .", "... slick and well-constructed -lrb- if predictable -rrb- ...", "it 's not as classy as its cinematic great-grandfather , `` rear window . `` still , `` MOV '' is an entertaining , worthwhile thriller that nicely updates hitchcock 's iconic work .", "would sag without labeouf , carrying his first movie and making credible connections with each co-star .", "MOV is a decent entry in the killer thriller genre that will appeal to teens and beyond .", "a good old fashioned tension-laden thrill ride that 's as satisfying for an old hitchcock fan as it is for the scary movie set .", "labeouf is a likable and easygoing personality , but he easily turns smug and artificial on screen .", "assuming that reasonably competent mediocrity was the goal here , caruso and company have succeeded in arriving at their mid-level dreams .", "with the burden of inevitable comparisons to hitchcock 's masterpiece upon it , MOV carves out its own modest spot as a decent thriller until caving in to the demand for a big finish .", "that dynamic of alienated teens versus the icily assured adult ... brings a defining edge to the otherwise effectively executed but familiar thriller .", "tense and terrifying , the mystery morphs into a violent psycho-slasher-thriller .", "this is a cool little thriller with some big scares and fine performances .", "obviously , nothing is going to compare to rear window , but MOV is nevertheless a neat , well-made little thriller that 's worth checking out .", "apart from a contemporary setting , nothing about MOV gives it an advantage over rear window .", "MOV does n't pretend to be anything other than what it is , and thank goodness for that .", "do n't waste your time with this mediocre imitation . rent the original .", "d. j. caruso and writers christopher b. landon and carl ellsworth have indeed ripped off hitchcock to some extent , but it 's also quite original , and some of the visuals are breathtaking .", "it eventually evolves into a credible thriller , one pointedly rather than coincidentally embedded in the trivia of its time .", "the picture is as bland as its star .", "` MOV ' is a tight , suspenseful , well-acted thriller .", "if you are into suspense films and you do n't mind predicting the ending very early on , then go check out this film , since it really is n't as bad as some of the previews lead you to think .", "suitably giddy with its horror-movie platitudes aimed at mocking the facade of suburban hysteria ... this thriller thrives with the right amount of scrappy charm and intrigue .", "-lsb- the main characters -rsb- come across as tremendously industrious and likable . they know that , for all its dangers , they are living out a teen fantasy : spying on adults in order to get the goods on them .", "the proceedings devolve into standard horror-movie effects and minimal motivations . -lsb- and -rsb- hitchcock 's original never had to resort to thunder and lightning to goose up the suspense .", "the last half more than makes up for what i thought was a draggy first half . i hesitate to call it `` hitchcockian , '' because i think it 's even better than that .", "one way you know that d.j. caruso is a resourceful director is that he scares you silly with a minimum of violence and a few smears of blood .", "MOV is meant to infuse the suburban veneer of tranquility with an undercurrent of lurking menace and dormant depravity , and well it does .", "ironically , MOV 's a thriller that does n't want to bother you .", "part of the filmmakers ' point is that any old nutcase might be lurking behind the drawn curtains of the house next to you in just such an anonymous locale . still makes for a mighty limiting , boring place to set a movie , though .", "the filmmakers ' belief that modern audiences will only respond to noisy , inarticulate endings dooms this movie to a last act that devalues , rather than elevates , it .", "the gifted and resourceful mr. laboeuf is a young actor worth keeping an eye on , and director caruso mounts a neat sense of suspense with tight camera angles and judicious , fast-paced editing .", "MOV is disturbingly contemporary in its celebration of the technology that can make us all potential victims of the full-time snoops among us .", "if alfred hitchcock were alive today , and if he wanted to remake one of his own films for an mtv audience ... well , he still would n't make MOV .", "MOV is a pot luck of comedy , romance & suspense that offers a little something for everyone .", "director d.j. caruso 's teen-friendly spin on alfred hitchcock 's rear window does so many things right that it 's a shame to see it sink into horror-movie cliches .", "offsetting the chilly voyeurism is a viable teen romance and an appealing sense of humor . though there are occasional lapses in logic , MOV is consistently suspenseful and entertainingly disturbing .", "a lot of the movie works because labeouf is becoming a soulful , intelligent presence on-screen .", "comparisons -lsb- to rear window -rsb- are probably something the makers of MOV do n't want us to make , since MOV , for all its glitz and gadgets , is markedly inferior in everything but teen appeal .", "caruso ... almost lets this one wander out of control in horror mode near the end . he reins it back in just in time , though .", "writers christopher b. landon and carl ellsworth -lrb- red eye -rrb- , and director d. j. caruso have avoided the trap of trying to remake hitchcock 's classic -lsb- rear window -rsb- . rather , this is a deft re-imagining of the premise .", "MOV stands above most of its genre neighbors by realizing that it 's the minutes that come before the last-minute twist that really count .", "a sneak-up-and-touch-you-on-the-shoulder movie , rather than a smash-you-in-the-face-with-an-anvil one , MOV is a surprisingly satisfying thriller .", "may not make kids rent rear window but it 's still better than the christopher reeve remake where they never even revealed where the killer hid the body .", "the film quickly shifts from a clever homage to rear window to a bad parody of the silence of the lambs .", "alfred hitchcock 's `` rear window '' is refreshingly renewed with teen-infused funky energy in d.j. caruso 's rollicking `` MOV . ''", "ok , so rear window was better plotted and more richly apportioned than this update . and so what if you can see every plot twist bearing down like a rush-hour commuter express ? MOV still boasts a scrappy charm .", "was freddy krueger on vacation ? michael myers not taking calls ? part of the supposed `` fun '' of MOV is guessing if turner is a menace or just misunderstood . with morse in the role , the work has already been done for the viewer .", "far deeper that you might expect from a typical teen drama .", "along the way , you get just enough caffeinated jolts and creepy suspense to make you feel like you did n't just waste your time .", "the director takes a script laced with one obvious moment after another and manages to make a predictable picture even more so with staging which telegraphs every twist .", "it 's like someone took the burbs and cross-bred it with the career of freddie prinze jr. .", "director d.j. caruso takes a lot of time to develop the characters . that works to the film 's advantage because the viewer winds up invested in their fate .", "guaranteed to get your inner high-schooler excited for the end of the semester .", "until the final reels it 's actually a fairly nifty little thriller ... unfortunately , it goes awry in the last act .", "the preposterousness of MOV increases at an alarming rate ... until you finally start losing track of all of your objections .", "a pre-scream horror film , wearily trudging through all the clich\u00e9d genre tropes wes craven gleefully deconstructed , but with a straight face and a shrill soundtrack .", "`` MOV '' is like `` rear window , '' only if `` rear window '' had been written and directed by morons and james stewart had been replaced by a kid from the disney channel .", "who is behind the rise of labeouf ? did n't anyone learn anything from the stardom-forced-on-us debacles of ben affleck , josh hartnett and chris klein ?", "MOV , unlike hitchcock 's masterpiece of urban-courtyard fishbowl voyeurism , is a rear window that never bothers to peer into more than one window .", "MOV seems unsure whether to be a creepy thriller , a drama or a coming-of-age comedy . what 's certain about this well-acted , visually assured movie is that , scene by scene , it 's often lively and engaging .", "by and large , the characters in MOV do all the dumb , reckless things we 've come to expect -- and rightly mock -- in cheesy suspense flicks .", "unoriginal but still effective , and shows anew how well-suited themes of voyeurism -lrb- we all like to watch -rrb- are to movies , especially thrillers .", "a surprisingly competent film , MOV lives up to its title . it 's rare to find a decent film turn up in the dead of april , traditionally hollywood 's dump month for shelved oddities .", "while MOV does nothing to advance or honour hitchcock , the movie succeeds on its modest terms .", "for the most part a taut , careful thriller that emphasizes suspense over blood and gore .", "caruso , a very visual director , serves up some surprises and scares , and he 's paced his movie briskly . you 're out of this disturbing suburbia before you know it , shaken and even stirred .", "if you 're going to remake -lrb- or salute -rrb- a hitchcock classic , it 's fine to start off like MOV . it is not fine to end up like MOV .", "the chills are genuine . and there 's something very rewarding about sitting through a new version of a movie any film buff knows by heart .", "filled with both youthful angst and innocent energy , which makes for more interesting contrasts than you might expect in a slasher-next-door flick .", "with a new gore fest being released on a near-weekly basis these days , it 's nice to see a thriller come down the pike that gets under your skin the old-fashioned way : without showing you much of anything .", "works well enough -- not enough to ignore the intellectual robbery , but enough to be a derivative but fun little thriller .", "director d.j. caruso relies entirely too much on clich\u00e9d shock cuts and keeps pulling back every time the flick seems to be settling into anything close to a creepy mood .", "what MOV lacks in complexity , it makes up for in witty jokes , sneaky jolts and a timeless lesson : if you 've got windows , someone 's always watching .", "the most disturbious part of MOV is how engaging this teenage thriller manages to be , even though it 's a shameless rip-off of rear window .", "this really is labeouf 's vehicle , and he proves to be an appealing star presence .", "it never manages to be disturbing in an intelligent psychological sense ; it opts instead for b-film clich\u00e9d shocks .", "has nowhere near the conceptual sophistication of rear window , where the protagonist 's absorption in what he 's watching mirrors the viewer 's . the problem with MOV is that for most of the film you 'll wish you were n't watching at all .", "john hughes meets alfred hitchcock meets the 21st century in MOV , an adeptly crafted if not terribly original horror-thriller .", "ultimately seems like something of a missed opportunity .", "not high art , but it serves its purpose .", "MOV will have young people on the edge of their seat , cringing and thinking at the same time .", "reasonably smart and sometimes funny -- right up until the end , when it sells out its intelligence in favor of a standard-issue dose of overwrought violence .", "a one-dimensional thriller , albeit one more stylish than the ones churned out for the older teen-early 20s demographic .", "despite the foolishness , and despite the patent knockoffs of rear window and american beauty , MOV is a likable little thriller .", "lebeouf makes for a likeable , ankle-bracelet-saddled sleuth , while caruso confidently ratchets the suspense . even the romantic subplot -- never advised in a taut thriller such as this -- is winning enough to make it a welcome distraction .", "presents itself as an adolescent variation on rear window , updated with modern technology and steeped in the conventions of thrillers . that 's exactly what it delivers . in fact , that 's all it delivers .", "a well-acted little teenage thriller that takes good advantage of visual premises and common modern technology 's increasing potential for making us all avid , and even rabid , voyeurs .", "in addition to being a solid thriller , MOV is also a scathing indictment of life in suburbia and the movie gamely plays to teens while taking their angst to task .", "fails on the scores of credibility and originality , but since it 's nearly as thrilling as it is unlikely , the picture works out to be trashy fun .", "there 's something fishy about the whole film , given his success in tapping into your nervous system while disengaging your brain . but at least you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that you are being manipulated by an expert .", "instead of manufacturing elaborate , ridiculous plot twists or imposing overwrought psychological melodrama on a basically absurd premise -lsb- director -rsb- caruso and the screenwriters opt for efficient , clever b-movie execution .", "a mash-up of dawson 's creek and the conversation . unfortunately , the movie begins losing its grip around the time ronny notes that a garage smells ` like the corpse of a rotting hottie . '", "some might think tackling the subject of an alfred hitchcock movie would be blasphemous , but everyone involved makes MOV good enough to stand on its own .", "when the killer shows his hand , the film deteriorates into a typical slasher , complete with jerky angles , blurry footage and ridiculous , near-supernatural chases .", "every piece of the story is jammed predictably into place . kale sees the cute girl next door ; the cute girl comes over . kale sees the killer next door ; the killer comes over .", "wo n't go down in history for its artistry , but it 's an entertaining movie with a sense of humor and a promising star .", "a blockbuster of suspense , a scorching nail-biter of a movie that will have you jumping out of your seat more than once .", "there is n't much in the way of surprise plot twists . but the predictability is offset by the movie 's energy .", "the teen support cast are vacuous and director dj caruso strays a little too far into grand guignol territory for the over-extended climax , but MOV 's otherwise bang on the money : $ 80m at the us box-office was no fluke .", "caruso 's no hitchcock , and MOV is not as original , suspense-filled or well-acted as the james stewart-grace kelly masterpiece , but for its predominantly male , teenage audience it delivers enough shocks to be entertaining .", "despite the interesting set-up , the action degenerates into obvious implausibility and silliness - fatal for a suspense thriller - and boredom sets in .", "this occasionally amusing thriller will probably not be shia 's best-remembered moment , but it is worth a peep .", "MOV 's limits are those of its hero - an amiable , faintly clueless young man with a brief attention span .", "take along a good book - possibly ted lewis 's the serpent - and read it by the light of the effulgent clich\u00e9s .", "hitchcock would turn in his grave .", "the parts of the film that work ... are surprisingly due mostly to the presence of shia labeouf .", "one of the big sleepers of the year .", "a limp teenage by-the-numbers version of rear window .", "an baleis stin akri ta almata tis plokis kai tis trypoyles poy kseprobaloyn deila edo ki ekei , leitoyrgei mia hara san kalogyalismeno efibiko thriler , poy toylahiston kanei tin prospatheia gia na se koroidepsei poylontas hip moyri , se antithesi me alla po", "MOV takes it 's time setting up the thrills and shia labeouf actually acts like a high schooler .", "MOV is a well-made , very entertaining thriller .", "... an unabashedly high-concept premise that 's primarily employed to surprisingly positive effect ...", "a feature-length alt-rock-soundtrack shill that merges with violin strains that would make even bernard herrmann blanch .", "unfortunately , what starts out as a rounded and intelligent thriller soon turns up the silly for an ott finale that betrays the tense and well-plotted build-up .", "with all the promise to be the year 's best teen scream flick , MOV gets lost while overly trying to please its demographic .", "as a thriller , this is mechanical and predictable - barely one-step away from cookie-cutter formulaic - and yet the film actually works up a decent amount of genuine feeling , thanks to the cast of characters .", "like its attractive leads , director dj caruso 's smart teen thriller may be self-conscious , but it is undeniably appealing ,", "in addition to borrowing the idea behind rear window , MOV pays homage to hitchcock in its sense of pacing , as well , in its use of the hitchcock 's signature slow build .", "like rear window before it , MOV is sly and suspenseful and full of mounting dread .", "MOV 's reworking of rear window for the youtube generation is pretty nifty , drenching its tale of paranoid surveillance in the type of modern techno-gadgetry that 's helped transform privacy from a right into a luxury ." ], "summary": "aside from its clich\u00e9d resolution , MOV is a tense , subtle thriller with a noteworthy performance from shia labeouf .", "id": "554237964" }, { "movie": "10011003-crude", "reviews": [ "mr. berlinger has both a strong narrative instinct and a keen eye for incongruous , evocative and powerful images .", "when well-meaning trudie styler , founder of rainforest foundation -lrb- and sting 's wife -rrb- , comes on , even farjardo 's convictions and berlinger 's early scenes about native culture and ancestry get swept up amidst hubristic hubbub .", "MOV is both a tribute to human-rights tenacity and a sobering account of the multinational-moloch greed that can keep justice in limbo .", "joe berlinger 's remarkable documentary , MOV , recounts an infuriating litany of south american exploitation , backroom glad-handing , and bureaucratic dead ends .", "` MOV , ' thankfully , brings insight and urgency to an issue that has until recently been ignored", "MOV unfolds like a pretty good legal thriller . which , when you really think about it , is what this documentary feature is .", "it 's impossible to watch this film and not come away with a personal vow never to patronize the chevron corporation again .", "a stinging indictment of the huge chevron corporation , which has been sued for despoiling the ecuadorian amazon to the severe detriment of the indigenous population .", "a well-balanced documentary all the more incisive for its decision to eschew editorialising and let the evidence speak for itself .", "the arguments are batted back and forth , and one 's sympathy for the ecuadorean side takes only a slight wobble when trudi styler gets behind the cause .", "a powerfully emotional documentary that grips like an expert legal thriller - by turns uplifting , suspenseful and utterly devastating , this is likely to be one of the best documentaries of the year .", "a sturdy , hard-hitting account .", "like `` the cove '' , this is inspiring and dramatically involving documentary film at its best .", "berlinger 's purpose is not to cheerlead or show fajardo rubbing shoulders with celebrity activists like trudie styler and sting , but to highlight how easily money can tilt the scales of justice .", "joe berlinger 's film is a suitably forensic dissection of an ecological disaster and much less of a crusading piece of polemic than documentaries such as an inconvenient truth .", "few of these films ever take solid , substantive slices of truth or attestation from both sides . they are always partial , which vitiates the eagerness with which we would , if we could , espouse the cause of downtrodden .", "berlinger provides a bracing and intelligent look at how such battles are -lrb- and perhaps must be -rrb- fought in a world that 's hardly lacking when it comes to tales of injustice .", "MOV has all the hallmarks of a john grisham story - sharp lawyers , raw greed , big business behaving badly . the difference is that this david-vs . - goliath story is no work of fiction .", "it will certainly remain in your mind the next time you stop for gas .", "a legal thriller , it 's a three-year investigation into the disaster environmentalists call the `` amazonian chernobyl '' that offers both sides of the story and leaves the viewer in the position of jury .", "looking for another reason to leave your car at home ? go see MOV .", "this is n't just a story of right and wrong , it 's a story of money and media and , most of all , spin .", "... a better balance of the human element against that of politics and courtrooms would have given the film a stronger emotional hook .", "it 's a david-and-goliath tale , full of anger and disturbing accusation , but it 's also inspiring .", "while the current trend in documentaries is to take stories and wrap them into neat little packages , MOV runs merrily against the grain .", "no film could convey all the complexities of the case -- what MOV does is air the plaintiffs ' claims and show the lawyers at work .", "powerful and powerfully upsetting .", "in a welcome change from many recent documentaries with an activist bent , the director is never seen on camera , never heard on the soundtrack , and does precious little overt editorializing .", "another interesting film from joe berlinger", "not exactly genre-bending innovation or anything but a decent documentary about an important episode in history of oil company exploitation .", "this intense documentary tells a hugely important story that 's packed with compelling characters and situations . although a repetitive structure and a sense of agonising futility conspire to undermine the vital lessons it has to teach us .", "although the real-life outcome may be known to some , MOV still , at its best , unfolds like a courtroom thriller .", "a bleak , necessarily incomplete tale , and suffers from a late intrusion by celebrity eco-botherer trudi styler . but with this gripping , angry film , berlinger has put himself back on the side of the angels .", "structurally a little jumbled , it 's still a worthy addition to the angry eco-doc subgenre .", "the ecuadorians ' fight continues , and their courage is n't to be doubted . even the much-mocked , much-maligned campaigner trudie styler emerges with credit for supporting them .", "there 's much speechifying , with no high-octane finale - but that 's near-unavoidable for a case still dragging on amid corrupt politicking .", "gripping and powerful , MOV is documentary journalism as it needs to be . blissful ignorance stirred with bland apathy is no longer an option .", "MOV is remarkably clear-eyed in the way it shows how even people on the right side of a cause only succeed if they 're willing to play a little dirty .", "the film is fair -lrb- which is different from being objective -rrb- and works hard at representing both points of view . that it 's already been denounced in some quarters is only proof he has the oil companies worried .", "here 's a powerhouse of a documentary that makes you feel mad as hell and unwilling to take it anymore .", "berlinger gives a good amount of time to the big oil representatives , but it 's clear that he 's on the side of the people . aside from that , MOV is a fine work of journalism .", "a provocative , well-balanced , illuminating and thoroughly engrossing documentary .", "a dynamic and dramatic documentary about the david vs. goliath dimensions of the `` amazon chernobyl '' case where indigenous tribal groups are fighting the multinational corporation chevron .", "a heart-wrenching , alarming and brilliantly crafted documentary about chevron 's desecration of the ecuadorian amazon , and the 27-billion dollar law suit in which indigenous peoples seek remediation and justice .", "embedded in the story are enough intriguing characters and moments of high human drama for it to function more like a piece of effective fiction than a work of overwrought agitprop .", "`` MOV '' is a knock-your-socks-off documentary that will leave you speechless . it 's the best documentary of the year .", "a well-balanced and thought-provoking documentary that does n't forget the cinema-going experience needs to entertain as well as educate .", "keeps a tight focus on a sprawling topic , condensing three years of production into a narrative that neatly lays out the history of the controversy , the opposing viewpoints and key players", "involving doc about the devastating impact of oil exploration on ecuador 's rainforest community .", "as the film very eloquently implies , when the greater good is defined as profits , and a lack of culpability is proportionate to your number of shareholders , well ... a lot of petroleum-soaked chickens will be coming home to roost .", "an elegantly structured , horrifying film that shows the vanishing rainforest may be the least of the amazon 's worries .", "while the audience may see smoking guns in every oily soil sample and every sick kid , MOV is only a progress report of a case that might last until well into the decade , the sordid details of which are still , pardon the pun , spilling out .", "at first MOV looks like one more environmental agit-doc intended to outrage and inspire . director joe berlinger is no doctrinaire hack , though .", "an engrossing case for justice .", "a gripping , multifaceted thriller about media politics , global economics , and legal infighting . wherever your sympathies fall , this may teach you a lot about the way the modern world works .", "one has to wonder if oil industry executives are concerned about the release of joe berlinger 's damning documentary .", "what MOV does best is take us behind the scenes and show in often candid detail how campaigns are waged , tactics decided on and strategies prioritized .", "if you ever had doubts about the impact that celebrities can have on such a david-and-goliath struggle , berlinger methodically removes them .", "... good documentary filmmaking and an interesting , thought-provoking , subject .", "berlinger does n't counter chevron 's counter charges with facts and figures . with footage of petrochemical-sludge swamps and babies covered with flaming sores , he does n't especially need to .", "a good cause does not necessarily a fully satisfying movie make .", "while berlinger allows the film to get a little too star-struck , spending less time with the winningly humble patchwork alliance doing the lawsuit 's hard work , MOV at least acknowledges the reason behind this shift" ], "summary": "dynamic , tightly arranged , and deliberately provocative , joe berlinger 's MOV is a sobering , enraging wake-up call .", "id": "770802995" }, { "movie": "jonah_a_veggietales_movie", "reviews": [ "the gags are often a stitch .", "this animated retelling of the familiar old testament story is playful , high-spirited and unmistakably amusing .", "the messages of compassion and mercy are clearly , squarely and specifically expounded via computer animated old testament tale of jonah and the whale . determined to be fun , and bouncy , with energetic musicals , the humor did n't quite engage this adult .", "one thing you have to give them credit for : the message of the movie is consistent with the messages espoused in the company 's previous video work .", "the pandering , sappy script misses ample opportunities for satire and never brims with enough material or ideas to sustain the picture 's 85-minute running time .", "kids five and up will be delighted with the fast , funny , and even touching story . parents may even find that it goes by quickly , because it has some of the funniest jokes of any movie this year , including those intended for adults .", "the best animated film so far this year .", "as saturday-matinee fare goes , you could certainly find much worse than this colorful , charmingly animated and , yes , admittedly preachy retelling of the biblical tale of jonah ...", "your taste for jonah - a veggie tales movie may well depend on your threshold for pop manifestations of the holy spirit .", "theology aside , why put someone who ultimately does n't learn at the center of a kids ' story ?", "a fun-filled adventure story that is certain to keep kids on the edge of their seats while teaching them important life lessons .", "probably the best case for christianity since chesterton and lewis .", "entertaining , humorous take on biblical story .", "the main characters tha us kids know and love disappear . we 're introduced to a new cast , and they really are n't very funny or interesting .", "the movie is a blast of educational energy , as bouncy animation and catchy songs escort you through the entire 85 minutes .", "bouncy animation and catchy songs keep the film from tasting too much like spinach .", "seeing as i 'm a 31-year-old jewish cynic from philadelphia , it 's plainly obvious that i am not the intended audience for jonah : a veggietales movie . but i know a feature-length advertisement when i see one .", "the film is a hoot , and is just as good , if not better than much of what 's on saturday morning tv especially the pseudo-educational stuff we all ca n't stand .", "even if you 're an agnostic carnivore , you can enjoy much of jonah simply , and gratefully , as laugh-out-loud lunacy with a pronounced monty pythonesque flavor .", "a whale of a good time for both children and parents seeking christian-themed fun .", "it 's hard to argue with a children 's movie that puts bouncy rhythm to the song lyric , ` do n't fight/don ' t cheat/wash your hands before you eat . '", "it 's got its heart in the right place , but it also wilts after awhile .", "when the movie concentrates on jonah 's story , it is sweet and good fun .", "jonah is sunday school lite . but it 's told with a comic edge usually associated with the devilish act of laughter .", "a garden-fresh morality tale for the kids , with monty python-inspired humor .", "strangest thing is : it 's not as irritating as you might think .", "the movie itself is just creative and energetic enough to help it get by , if just barely .", "how anyone over the age of 2 can stomach the touchy-feely message this preachy produce promotes is beyond us .", "occasionally , in the course of reviewing art-house obscurities and slam-bam action flicks , a jaded critic smacks into something truly new .", "for veggietales fans , this is more appetizing than a side dish of asparagus . if you 're not a fan , it might be like trying to eat brussels sprouts .", "even generally sympathetic adults may eventually find their minds wandering , if only because of the characters ' continual , annoying hopping ; being vegetables , they have no legs , you see .", "strictly for kids suffering from rescinded television privileges or adults seeking a nap in a cool , dark environment that reeks of stale popcorn .", "where 's a vegamatic when you really need one ?", "much of this slick and sprightly cgi feature is sufficiently funny to amuse even the most resolutely unreligious parents who escort their little ones to megaplex screenings .", "a musical whale-of-a-tale that should engage , inform and amuse parents as well as offspring .", "despite its obvious agenda , the film moves along at a good clip -lrb- clocking in at 80 some minutes -rrb- and should entertain adults nearly as much as the kids .", "if a big musical number like ` praise the lord , he 's the god of second chances ' does n't put you off , this will be an enjoyable choice for younger kids .", "the movie 's heart is in the right place , but all its messages of tolerance might resonate better if the spanish-accented pirate did n't get drawn with a gold tooth and the turban-wearing khalil was n't an opportunistic rug merchant .", "spears of afro-topped asparagus singing gospel and french-accented peas working as maitre d 's at a seafood restaurant -- what 's not to love ?", "the script , the gags , the characters are all direct-to-video stuff , and that 's where this film should have remained .", "you and your kids could do worse . you and your kids probably have done worse .", "the animation is competent , and some of the gags are quite funny , but jonah ... never shakes the oppressive , morally superior good-for-you quality that almost automatically accompanies didactic entertainment .", "i 'm not generally a fan of vegetables but this batch is pretty cute .", "the film thrusts the inchoate but already eldritch christian right propaganda machine into national media circles .", "it 's a format that probably works best for an audience that is faith-based or very young , but for others it 's simply a pleasant opportunity for an occasional giggle at the folly of mankind and the underrated value of veggies .", "the main lessons jonah attempts to teach are compassion and mercy . that 's an unusual -- and welcome -- message these days .", "it 's like davey and goliath with hip humor .", "generally provides its target audience of youngsters enough stimulating eye and ear candy to make its moral medicine go down .", "... strips bible stores of the potential for sanctimoniousness , making them meaningful for both kids and church-wary adults .", "thekids will probably stay amused at the kaleidoscope of big , colorful characters . mom and dad can catch some quality naptime along the way .", "you wo n't have any trouble getting kids to eat up these veggies .", "children , christian or otherwise , deserve to hear the full story of jonah 's despair -- in all its agonizing , catch-22 glory -- even if they spend years trying to comprehend it .", "these veggies go down pretty easily ." ], "summary": "jonah teaches wholesome messages to children in a funny , bouncy package .", "id": "9460" }, { "movie": "joy_ride", "reviews": [ "... begins evaporating in your mind before it 's even over .", "essentially a popcorn movie put together by a director who knows how to generate suspense and build tension .", "... funny , frightening and fabulously fun .", "a nice , nasty little b-movie that keeps things simple and keeps things scary .", "suspenseful and chilling , MOV is so good that it merits comparisons to hitchcock .", "the king of the road is zahn , expertly steering his path between ironic goofball and real scared dude .", "a really satisfying suspenser , but also really , really fun .", "what the movie lacks ... is airtight plotting that makes these kinds of movies work .", "not nearly as speedy as it is silly .", "a solidly crafted thriller , the type of flick that once would have been lauded as ` a terrific b-movie . '", "a well-oiled , slick and efficient fun-house ride , one that moves too quickly -- and is too much fun , really -- to nitpick .", "dahl , like his brother protagonists , is n't up on the scare basics .", "-lsb- dahl 's -rsb- been beaten down either by the idiot script or the idiot moneymen or both .", "continually unnerves the audience while leaving conventional plot twists and hidden agendas in its rear-view mirror .", "squishes credibility like road kill and careens into an abyss of escalating absurdity .", "there 's a perfect blend of comedy and terror , which makes the film riveting .", "there 's good pulp and bad pulp , and for most of its duration , MOV is quality stuff .", "somehow this project manages to be both astoundingly derivative and reasonably entertaining at the same time .", "one hopes rusty nail just slaughters our trio of bathetic anti-heroes .", "a well-written diversion film bursting with thrills , chills and well-placed humor .", "98 minutes of pure , unadulterated exhilaration .", "if you 're looking to have your nerves fried and your pulse pounded , this is your ticket to ride .", "premium entertainment of the genre variety .", "one of those rare movies that i know i should n't like , but ... i can not help but enjoy it .", "you 'll feel like you 're an unwilling passenger along for a bumpy trip in john dahl 's road rage thriller MOV -- dahl dresses up this fuel-injected spectacle with silly-minded edge-of-your-seat fury", "... a galvanizing amusement-park ride that only occasionally steps over the bounds of common sense .", "paul walker has all the acting ability of a length of pine board .", "this is a drive-in movie supreme , a suspense saga with several wicked shocks and at least as many hearty laughs .", "a thriller driven by considerable suspense before taking a wrong exit somewhere near the end .", "well done thriller just when we need it most .", "a fun and scary film that 's worth checking out .", "a numbingly idiotic retread , a half-baked mixture of ` duel ' and ` the hitcher ' that 's markedly inferior to both ... goes nowhere fast .", "john dahl 's MOV is a hick thriller tailor-made for the scream crowd .", "dahl 's takes a dive , a disappointing followup to his spicy ` red rock west ' and ` the last seduction .", "like going to a fun fear .", "is it as good as `` duel '' , `` breakdown '' or `` the hitcher '' ? let me just say that i would not be ashamed to mention it in the same list .", "film is infused with john dahl 's terrific sense of the macabre .", "john dahl knows the secrets to making a great b-grade fright flick .", "dahl expertly ratchets up the tension into an edge-of-your-seat frenzy .", "MOV gets a lot more mileage from its attention grabbing premise than the recent jeepers creepers got from a similarly unsettling high concept .", "dahl works the audience like the dial of a car radio , testing out all manner of squeals and static and all-out , high-pitched terror .", "this taut thriller is sharply directed by john dahl and benefits from fine , low-key performances by walker , sobieski and zahn .", "watch the trailer , skip the movie", "it 's an easy film to critique for what it does n't do , but what it does do very well is take you for a comically dark fantasy ride ...", "dahl and scene-stealer steve zahn deserve praise for breathing some entertaining new life into a generally stale genre .", "no real suspense , and no payoff except for a groan-inducing , look-out-here-comes-the-sequel ending .", "grounding the over-the-top antics is the genuine suspense .", "ups the fear factor by adding an anonymous figure , one that can not be reasoned with , whose only goal is to get his hands on you .", "since most thrillers ignore matters of logic , character and pacing , MOV is an innovation because it does n't .", "superior to the majority of the yawn-inducing suspensers out there these days .", "a wild ride !", "whether or not the plot makes any sense , though , dahl keeps an iron death-grip on all of it , as if each scene were his last .", "climb into this rig and you 'll be sweating bullets .", "a no-fuss thriller that gets the adrenaline pumping .", "people who are looking for a good scare , with plenty of steve zahn laughs along the way , will be satisfied .", "an absolutely merciless thriller -- exciting , marvelously crafted , strongly acted , and with more than a few moments destined to increase your heartbeat .", "there are a few genuinely exciting moments , but they peter out as the film progresses and the movie stumbles into increasingly implausible territory .", "a great movie with an even cooler ending , this film will likely be remembered as one of the better thrillers of the year .", "expertly toys with the fear any carbon-based life-form feels when one of those peterbilt express trains comes rolling by with a thundercrack of vibration at about 240 mph , gently urging us to move right or die crushed and bleeding .", "it 's encouraging to see more than passing attention paid to character development .", "it attains its modest ambitions with dispatch and wit , and without ever lifting its foot from the pedal .", "dahl permeates the film with enough quirky detail ... and horror-movie staples ... to keep things interesting .", "nothing particularly special but another good example of straightforward and effective storytelling .", "falls a tad short of being a minor movie classic along the lines of spielberg 's film .", "satisfyingly spooky , if not entirely original .", "they 're just driving and screaming and running , making the film come off as yet another teen-scream sequel .", "a genuine thriller , guaranteed to whiten knuckles , grind enamel and render armrests into scrap .", "much more effectively terrifying than the usual overplotted , underwritten hollywood thriller .", "anyone actually looking for a genuinely scary movie at this point will have a lot of fun with MOV .", "terrific escapist fare , stylish , outrageous and compelling .", "it 's so taut in its direction that you really do n't notice the implausibilities and plot holes until the film 's over .", "lives up to its title .", "fun and satisfyingly scary road trip .", "dahl and his screenwriters spoil it by turning the trucker and his rig into a metallic-sheathed monster willing and able to do anything to get back at his enemies .", "no one wins awards for movies like this , but this is escapist entertainment raised to the level of art .", "a white-knuckle ride all the way .", "writers clay tarver and j.j. abrams set up credible , well-structured scenes , and dahl works each to maximum effect .", "delivers dark laughs and heady excitement until it runs out of gas -- and ideas -- in its last half hour .", "an edge-of-your-seater that will have folks thinking twice before taking a road trip across america .", "a well-performed , smartly staged b-movie romp that 'll keep you on the edge of your seat and have your foot pushing a nonexistent gas pedal .", "builds an incredible amount of tension , then releases it with some startling violent encounters .", "... there are the requisite thrills , followed by the slightly boring expository sequences designed to lull the audience into tranquility before unleashing utter mayhem .", "it 's what we do n't see that terrifies us in roadkill , a blistering good thriller that keeps us uneasy and perched on the edge of our seats .", "things are pushed over the top rather successfully , but breaking momentum is a pretty big mistake for movie that wants to wow us with ruthless efficiency .", "america 's dark and lonely back roads are the prime location for stories about relentless , psychotic stalkers preying on the youth .", "will convince you that you 'd be better off taking the train .", "... boasts a number of genuinely exhilarating sequences and set-pieces .", "it 's a dumb movie .", "it 's a scary film ; an atmospheric , unrelenting , character-rich thriller that includes one of the most jolting shock-moments i can remember .", "the popcorn thriller manages to keep the viewer 's disbelief at bay , while offering a deceptively smooth ride through some frequently bumpy territory .", "maybe it 's a wonderful inside joke - a suspenseless suspense film .", "nothing special -- it just devotedly does its job to give the audience a string of suspense scenarios .", "the endless cat-and-mouse game starts out silly , then it gets ridiculous .", "that best kind of b-movie ; one that will have you alternately laughing , squirming in your seat and yelling at the screen .", "careens off course and crashes , joylessly .", "nothing more or less than scary noirish fun , low on thematic ambition but giddily high on the fright front .", "you might not remember it 10 minutes later , but while it 's playing out MOV lives up to its title .", "unnerving in the best tradition of psychological horror .", "zahn 's hilariously electric performance is the best thing in the movie .", "feels like a long drive in circles , with no destination worth getting to .", "you want to be scared and have a few laughs and not have your intelligence insulted ? here you go .", "offers a ride but not much joy in its overdone story ." ], "summary": "a well-constructed b-movie thriller , MOV keeps up the necessary level of tension and chills . critics also liked zahn 's performance as the goofball older brother .", "id": "13917" }, { "movie": "lords_of_dogtown", "reviews": [ "MOV is true to its roots , and a pure buzz .", "catherine hardwicke 's MOV works as both an energetic thrill ride and a keenly-felt drama about boys gone wild .", "directed with vigor and wit .", "the action sequences are real and raw , and if lords never quite gets airborne , it does justice to a scene whose legacy rolls on .", "what lords needed , and what it mostly lacks , is dramatic impact off the concrete .", "demonstrates enough narrative style , grit and artistry to latch onto plenty of viewers with absolutely zero interest in skateboarding .", "-lsb- hardwicke -rsb- brings a social realism to dogtown and a fondness for the sport that pay early dividends . as the movie unspools , though , it also unravels , because it seems that nothing consequential is at stake .", "catherine hardwicke , working from a peralta script and stealing the look and verve of his earlier documentary , turns in a dazzling , edgy and entertainingly blunt riff on the gnarly and how they got that way .", "a credible , handsome and engaging entertainment .", "a sports memoir fringed with punk rock clamor .", "unlike the documentary , the movie is reluctant to delve too deeply into the darker side of its protagonists .", "if you 've seen the award-winning documentary dogtown and z-boys and dug it , you 'll probably really like this .", "dogtown slides into melodrama . skateboard pic pales next to documentary .", "there is a great story to be told here , but it 's not in this movie . in fact , it 's already been told in another one .", "hardwicke and her cast have managed the unthinkable -- they 've turned these legends of the skate scene into poseurs .", "skateboarding '70s rise-and-fall tale has a fresh look and feel , even if the story 's a little stale .", "leaner and sharper than its fast-and-furious tv spots would let on .", "superficial and disconcertingly conventional .", "if only david fincher had n't dropped out .", "hardwicke is the rare director whose work is at once kinesthetic and delicate .", "it 's just unconventional enough , it has a heart and a rhythm , and it strives for greatness .", "MOV is best described as a poseur 's guide to skating culture .", "the movie works so long as it stays on wheels , but turns pretty flat-footed whenever it hits the ground .", "... makes the sport seem about as much fun as having your toenails ripped off one by one .", "it 's hard to shake the feeling that hardwicke 's film is a stunt itself , with talented young actors dolled up in skater drag to peddle peralta 's ... self-mythology .", "entertaining in its joy and energy , and perceptive in depicting a specific , one-of-a-kind era .", "so literal is the antiestablishment vibe that whenever there 's a moment primed to make kids wan na punch out an old square , they get to see it acted out .", "more or less equivalent to skater porn .", "MOV will have limited interest for those who exist outside of the skateboarding community .", "the young performers supply the necessary physicality and charisma , with hirsch particularly effective as the sensitive adams .", "for someone who was there , not to mention someone who created dogtown and z-boys , peralta has crafted a script so superficial and simplistic it feels like it was tapped out by a 14-year-old fan .", "MOV is nothing more than a steaming pile of dog crap .", "this dramatization does nothing peralta 's documentary did n't do better . and why opt for the imitation when the real deal is still out there for the viewing ?", "it 's hard to think of a movie since 1950 's sunset boulevard that has gotten more dramatic impact out of a pool .", "if watching dogtown and z-boys was tantamount to witnessing history itself , watching MOV , which peralta wrote , feels more like watching a stiff , meticulously choreographed reenactment .", "entirely sympathetic to its youthful , even bratty characters -- and , by extension , to the youth audience that is likely to respond most enthusiastically to the film .", "MOV is n't a cop-out , but rather an ever-so-slight concession to commercialism , while dogtown and z-boys was , above all else , a love song to the counterculture .", "the most thrilling moments in MOV involve skateboard wheels .", "a strong companion to dogtown and z-boys .", "it 's a thrashing good time .", "peralta 's script does n't have a satisfying dramatic structure .", "MOV , from start to finish , is pretty much a blast .", "catherine hardwicke -lrb- gives -rrb- the skate scenes the feel of dynamic videos that popularized the style and the drama a scrappy , naturalistic immediacy .", "the film has an adolescent-summer-movie breeziness , and personalizes and romanticizes many of the original film 's themes into a broader and more general canvas of camaraderie and conflict .", "... tells a common rise and fall story ... but it does so with style and verve and delivers a historical place in a celluloid time capsule .", "manages to turn an exhilarating documentary into a remarkably boring movie .", "MOV is as beautifully structured as one of the z-boys ' graceful and intricate maneuvers .", "i 'm not a fan , but this happened in my backyard in front of my eyes ... an honest , entertaining , accurate depiction of the men who created the sport of skateboarding .", "the film does n't hold together in any compelling way .", "MOV is probably the best movie this year i ca n't recommend .", "to call this movie a dog would be to insult my friends of the canine persuasion , so i will just say it stinks", "absolutely nails the hazy , stoned '70s atmosphere of the subject material , but will most likely cause mondo migraines for anyone not \ufb01rmly within the target demographic .", "it 's played at a level of youth film energy that i never felt director catherine hardwicke reached in her previous effort thirteen .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t vibrates with a bouncing-off-the-walls energy that sucks you right into the action .", "knoxville 's arrival marks the end of dogtown as a free-flowing lark and the beginning of the film 's over-determined and predictable `` rise-and-fall '' story arcs .", "lots of fun for its target audience ; skaters both old school and new , and high schoolers .", "reaches beyond the cinematic frame as far as it can to catch big air , giving its audience a you-are-there viscerality .", "one of the flaws of paralta 's script is that he wants us to feel sorry for those poor kids who made all that money . awwwwwwwww ...", "i could n't help but think of the episode of the simpsons where the itchy & scratchy canine sidekick so self-consciously ` in-your-face ' comes off as tame instead .", "MOV stays afloat , largely because many of its actors transcend hardwicke 's heavy-handed storytelling .", "... does n't have half the spontaneity and maverick spirit of the vivid , kinetic , crowd-pleasing documentary that inspired it .", "every time you think hardwicke is about to focus on the story , here comes another skateboarding scene . after the 5th one , i got it . they were good . whoopee .", "being a little skate punk pre-teen ... i found the film to be a fascinating window to my own past , despite the film 's obvious flaws . i doubt others will be as forgiving .", "what could have been only a pandering skate-ploitation flick instead treats its true story with maturity and skill .", "it 's possible that the whole thing was ad libbed , with the actors dashing moments of silence with bro and stoked instead of ughm and err .", "could have used a little more ... melancholy and pain , as well as a starker sense of the z-boys as cultural forerunners .", "the lords are n't all that compelling , but their exploits are really cool to watch .", "i walked out of dogtown almost bouncing ... it 's a rush , a kinetic spectacle that puts you right back into your own 16 year old shoes ...", "the perfect final image to encapsulate the film : a kid in a wheelchair , lobotomized by brain surgery , sitting in an empty pool surrounded by unlikable skateboarders .", "ledger exudes an impetuousness that 's in keeping with MOV 's infectious , devil-may-care swagger", "the movie is distant and cold when it should be up-close and personal , a too-smooth concrete surface unblemished by the tread marks of human emotion .", "while the actors do a decent job capturing the aura of their characters , the writing , directing and editing stumble .", "a biopic about skateboard heroes of the 1970s that 's only truly alive when the z-boys are inventing their new sport .", "a meandering trip down memory lane punctuated with some really nice skateboarding sequences .", "in her raw , ruff-and-ready style , hardwicke gets in your face early and often . you just want to tell her , ` down , girl . '", "if you really want to know what 's what , check out peralta 's own doc , dogtown and z-boys , which dishes the real deal in adrenaline-pushing detail .", "the movie failed , on every level , to answer the one key question : why should i care about these boys ?", "there 's great authenticity in the picture thanks to catherine hardwicke 's atmospheric direction and stacy peralta 's first-hand account of the era .", "hardwicke 's gritty touch and unwillingness to romanticize adolescence keeps her film from being as brashly celebratory as it might have been ...", "purely as a study in speed and movement , MOV is a gnarly ride .", "major plot lines may begin , develop and end , changing characters ' lives forever , while you are in the bathroom .", "these kids can act , and they can ride those boards .", "MOV is basically dogtown and z-boys with melodrama substituted for self-importance .", "peralta has actually told this tale once before , and done a better job , as the director of the 2001 documentary dogtown and z-boys .", "peralta 's script is hackneyed , hardwicke 's direction is flat , the cinematography is boring , the acting is atrocious , and the film 's depictions of the '70s surfer/skateboarding culture at l.a. 's venice beach is scandalously cliched .", "peralta 's screenplay does n't add much depth to the characters , although he creates situations no documentary could capture : family problems , byplay between the skateboarders and the libidinous party atmosphere .", "like the skateboarding punks of the film 's title , MOV is good-looking , energetic and rather aimless .", "skate all day , party all night . lather . rinse . repeat . yawn .", "-lrb- peralta 's -rrb- screenplay is startlingly bland , populated by characters as flat as the boards they ride .", "MOV is one of those films that makes everyone who is not a citizen of the realm feel hopelessly disconnected .", "while there are nanoseconds where hardwicke can make her film come together in an appealing period brew , the rest of dogtown is one long , atrociously directed joke .", "you either like the energy and skateboarding or it will be dogs of lordtown .", "MOV just may be the sleeper film of the summer .", "the movie rarely conveys the import of what these kids accomplished : as depicted here , their cultural revolution seems no more noteworthy than a day spent at the mall .", "hardwicke executes with the crucial street cred a movie like this needs .", "... evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and provides an affectionate tribute to its subjects .", "a pulse-pounding , high energy , rock n ' rock blast !", "part celebration of 1970s southern california punk culture , part rise-and-fall social drama , and part cautionary tale about the perils of youth and success", "directed with skill and assuredness by catherine hardwicke .", "a celebratory experience , paying homage to those who , out of a lack of anything better to do , ... created an outright phenomenon .", "you do n't need to know a grind from an ollie to appreciate `` the MOV , '' the story of the birth of modern skateboarding culture .", "as exciting as the movie is , it stalls its way to an abrupt ending and feels like it 's all been just the set-up , an origin story prepping us for an even bigger sequel .", "gritty , exciting , sexy and refreshingly , honestly '70s , catherine hardwicke 's MOV is one of the most thrilling pictures to be released in years .", "the young cast shines , especially hirsch .", "-lsb- hardwicke -rsb- falls short in the hardest part of her job - pruning back peralta 's unwieldy script to get to the heart of these boys ' unique bond as friends and competitors .", "... hardwicke recognizes that it is a story about people , not skateboards .", "the trailers for this emotionally charged skateboarding picture are more misleading than a politician 's pre-election promises .", "a secondary , rags-to-riches melodrama that pales in comparison with ` dogtown and the z-boys . '", "the movie is like a daydream , and it 's most infectious when the characters are in motion or misbehaving , which is often .", "not only is there no need for this movie , but its weaknesses underline the strength of -lsb- dogtown and the z-boys -rsb- .", "superficial and chaotic .", "using desaturated tones , the filmmakers employ handheld camerawork , tightly framed close-ups and kinetic cuts for a fluid , aggressive , punk-ass style that captures the energy of that singular moment in sports history .", "they maintained their balance on dangerous skateboard stunts but wiped out the way anyone who has ever watched an epsiode of vh1 : behind the music knows all too well .", "stacy peralta , this is your life . again . and again .", "lords ca n't quite sustain this adrenaline to the finish as it eventually loses focus and takes a fall into sentimentality . but when it excels , it brings that electric charge that comes when a film 's style is perfectly matched with its subject .", "MOV rocks .", "good lords ? not really .", "accomplished film .", "it 's gone through hollywood ` creative processing ' at least one time too many .", "MOV is a fictional feature that tries hard to mimic the sun-baked realism of the documentary that inspired it . but mimic is all it does .", "when the film works dramatically , it works because of -lsb- emile hirsch and heath ledger -rsb- .", "... it is a pretty haphazard affair unless you are convinced that the world of skateboarding is intrinsically interesting .", "there are also a lot of hot girls in '70s shorts , and they look like natural '70s bodies . i do n't know where they found those in hollywood .", "director catherine hardwicke grew up in the area where the zephyr team lived and she gets the look and feel of it just right .", "despite the usual difficulty of people scripting their own stories , the film has an energetic fighting spirit .", "you do n't have to care much about skateboarding -lrb- i really do n't -rrb- to find the movie exhilarating and engaging .", "dogtown 's testosterone fueled , deeply and sadly affectionate excursion into the contact highs and lows of male adolescence , gets it just right and more .", "MOV is an interesting look at the start of an ever increasingly more popular part of american youth culture , but often settles for surface gloss instead of introspection .", "as the three friends separate via commercial successes afforded them , `` MOV '' becomes a distinctly youthful american anecdote about the nature of friendship and success .", "the three leads are superb , with hirsch probably the stand-out - he and rasuk do particularly well to suggest more than the script 's rather one-note characterisation allows .", "i found the never-ending circle of skates , booze , drugs and girls rather repetitive and boring , but skate-board fanatics will lap up every intense moment", "a modestly entertaining movie , thanks largely to the efforts of director catherine hardwicke and the three leads .", "... a thoroughly dull piece of work ." ], "summary": "MOV , while slickly made and edited , lacks the depth and entertaining value of the far superior documentary on the same subject , dogtown and z-boys .", "id": "671" }, { "movie": "magic_mike_xxl", "reviews": [ "so howling terrible - it 's a must see ! an insult to women - especially women past 25 . tatum 's likeability survives . the only thing missing is showgirls gina gershon .", "this sequel ... dares to include women in its worldview and dignify them with the wants and needs so long denied them in mainstream media . it 's cute and dirty , and baby , MOV knows what it 's doing .", "instead of being treated to tatum 's incredible dancing , we 're bludgeoned with simulated sex acts and american idol auditions , the only set pieces of note both having appeared in the film 's trailer .", "there are plenty of peaking pecs and gyrating hips for those who are looking for it , and actually in this case these scenes are far more indulgent .", "they want escape , and what better way to escape than in a mindless summer movie that delivers on what it promised : namely ripped flesh delivered gyrating to bass-heavy hits , and at one point to a nine inch nails song about really intense lovemaking .", "little more than a slapdash woman 's wish-fulfillment fantasy -- in which male entertainers bare their all for their pleasure -- that embodies a man 's wish-fulfillment one , in which their jiggling and shaking sets women a-flutter .", "delivered with all the subtlety of a crotch to the face , MOV is one of the most cynical , shallow sequels in recent memory .", "-lsb- w -rsb- hile MOV definitely lacks the serious dramatic storytelling of the first film & embraces a great deal of behavior & tone that is at odds with the first film , i ca n't deny that despite my misgivings the film was ridiculously fun & funny .", "sleazy , sybaritic , yet surprisingly sweet sequel , revolving around a troupe of male strippers who are determined to elevate women 's self-esteem .", "supporting players including jada pinkett smith , andie macdowell , and elizabeth banks have good fun with underwritten roles , and the movie 's take on desire is admirably democratic -lrb- sex : it 's not just for hot millenials ! -rrb- .", "the film is loaded with more good times than the last bachelorette party you pretended to have fun at while you secretly longed to be home bingeing orange is the new black .", "another one-of-a-kind winner ...", "the story never veers far from the standard road trip template but , like they say , it 's not what you 've got , it 's what you do with it .", "the movie 's sunny generosity of spirit serves as a sneak-attack on conventional movie masculinity , ripping machismo away from toxic wahlberg-ian bro culture and offering a more evolved , inclusive concept of manhood .", "it 's sexy , it 's stylish , it 's well-paced , and it 's unexpectedly pro-women , treating the female characters as respectfully as the male strippers do and reminding moviegoers that carnal pleasures are n't reserved only for the hot young thangs among us .", "if anything , better than its predecessor : looser , funnier , stranger , and vastly more subversive , a buddy road comedy that unexpectedly evolves into a celebration of female desire .", "tatum has come a long way since his `` step up '' days -lrb- he was excellent in last year 's `` foxcatcher '' -rrb- , but he makes a number of unfortunate choices here .", "MOV has no underbelly : only spray-tanned abs .", "the choreography is flashy and sexy , and the dances will make the women - as well as some men , i suspect - in the audience squeal . it is a sexually arousing movie , but done in such a light and fun-filled manner that it is neither prurient nor offensive .", "it 's great to see an american movie that 's gung-ho on sex and good times that it is n't afraid to tap the heartstrings as it pushes the g-strings . it 's big fun .", "resisting the temptation to capitalise on the camp value of these characters , channing tatum and his producing-writing partner reid carolin create a startlingly loose and thoughtful follow-up to their 2012 hit .", "too many elements that made the first film an enjoyable experience are missing .", "in the first film , stripping was something from which mike needed to escape . in the sequel , it 's inescapable .", "MOV made me want to be a male stripper .", "it 's every bit the cheesy , brainless exercise in audience pandering that many expected from the first movie .", "MOV plays like the party bus whose road was charitably paved .", "a guiltlessly dumb movie that mostly coasts by on pecs appeal , hip-hop beats and pelvic thrusts . lots of pelvic thrusts .", "the script is just an excuse to take the characters of the first movie on one of the most pointless road trips in film in recent years . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a dissapointing , empty sequel with no sex appeal or charisma . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "channing tatum and friends offer a fun road movie for the pleasure of women -lrb- and men -rrb- . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the first one is definitely way better than this sequel . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "we could say that MOV is more than just a movie about a bunch of dudes getting naked , but it 's not . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV misses the opportunity to redeem male stripping and ends with something in the vein of the sex and the city sequel . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "director gregory jacobs never shows any interest in character development and we 're left with just the bodies of the male strippers . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV leaves the drama behind and focuses on the fireworks and mishaps of the band of strippers . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "far less dark or subtle than mm , but far more boisterous , raunchy and exuberant , this is a movie that neon-lights the ` entertainment ' in ` male entertainment , ' even if it is n't much more than one last road-trip down memory lane .", "a crazy comedy with a very thin plot and no character progression . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "with the overall feel of a cheap rush job , this half-baked sequel could spell the end of the profitable , clothes-doffing kings of tampa .", "it 's total fan service . but it 's not dumb about it .", "the film coasts a long way on star channing tatum 's effortless charm ; luckily , he has more than enough to spare .", "tatum delivers some pretty impressive dance moves , it must be said . it must also be said that if fred astaire and gene kelly could see how the dance movie has evolved in the 21st century , they 'd be pirouetting in their graves .", "as i sat there laughing , i realized i was n't only entertained . i was moved and exhilarated . not since the days of peak travolta and dirty dancing has a film so perfectly nailed something essential about movie lust", "the initial banter between the lads - some of which is actually quite endearing and funny - eventually gives way to cheesy scenes designed to titillate rather than tickle the funny bone .", "closer to the gratuitous man candy movie the first magic mike should have been , but it 's still not quite there .", "for a movie about taking risks , this sequel to the 2012 sleeper hit is far too cautious .", "however discursive-and repetitive-the movie may be , it delivers the fantasy goods of formidable male bodies in motion , and ups the fantasy ante by making the men as sensitive , self-doubting and nurturing as they are virile .", "a hella fun , if naggingly problematic , road trip that examines its characters beyond their -lrb- admittedly beautiful -rrb- abs .", "MOV , barely bothers to scratch beneath the veneer of fake tan .", "xxl ? zzz ...", "this time the jokes are heavier , more on-the-nose , though a surprising percentage of them work anyway .", "proving it 's not just looks , but heart , the effectively packaged but very uneven entertainment delivers a few things that are just darn irresistible .", "when you use `` xxl '' in the title of a movie about male strippers , certain promises are made . but if MOV is bulging with anything , it 's inane conversation .", "MOV is what everyone assumed the original would be -- just a whole lotta strippin ' -- and it 's almost genius in its simplicity .", "sure , they look good in the buff , but their problems are transparent and the solutions as pat as channing tatum 's buns are tight .", "with stingy portions and plenty of filler , `` MOV '' is the worst sausage party ever .", "tatum 's dancing -lrb- at one point , he exits a room doing a head roll and a suave little twirl -rrb- keeps things bright . somebody needs to cast this guy in a musical - he 'd be magic .", "rather than trying to replay the first episode and expand on its themes , this installment tosses it all aside like a handyman 's tool belt and throws itself headlong into the intoxicating carnality of what is demurely called `` male entertainment . ''", "does the movie work ? intermittently , sometimes brilliantly .", "an old fashioned musical with more dubstep and less singing -lrb- and pants -rrb- .", "`` MOV '' has a plot skimpier than the jockstraps worn by its male strippers with hearts of gold . but not to worry .", "it 's an amusement-park ride . fasten the safety belt , secure your purse , and get ready to scream .", "tatum 's charm seems second nature , his dancing is stellar and , as the star and producer of the shapeless but exceptionally enjoyable MOV , he delivers on both .", "the movie is all tease and no release .", "it 's entertaining without any weight behind the story at all .", "these men have unrealized yearnings - for art , for singing careers , for `` glass slipper '' marriage , for frozen yogurt - and they 're going to make it rain by acting out those fantasies , man-twerking with all the `` realness '' they can muster .", "MOV might be tedious if gender-flipped because sexualised images are the norm when it comes to representations of women . they are not the norm for men .", "few will attend this sequel for the cinematic touches . and that 's fine . hollywood has spent enough time objectifying women . why not return the favor ?", "there 's nothing at stake - their destination is a convention , not a contest , and it 's not even clear they 'll get to keep the singles that invariably rain down when they do their thing .", "it 's a simpler experience , but then does n't everyone -lrb- or everywoman -rrb- need a little mindless worship now and again ?", "though this leads , inevitably , to a big strip-off , the fun lies in the grace notes that make mmxxl just a little slyer than it needs to be .", "this is n't a perfect movie , but it might be the perfect summer movie for 2015 ...", "it does n't have any grand ambitions beyond showing its audience a good time , and if the crowd i saw it with is any indication , it succeeds in doing so , despite its meandering narrative , its episodic format and the fact it is seriously long .", "as i reflected upon the other big female fantasy movie of 2015 -lrb- fifty shades of grey -rrb- , i had to wonder what is wrong with the women seeing these movies ?", "MOV is what a lot of people expected magic mike to be when it came out . and i 'm pretty sure there 's nothing wrong with that .", "a topless , sticky-wet movie where almost no one is having sex . the boys are n't even grown up enough to say the word , preferring to ask , `` did you bangy ? ''", "matthew mcconaughey has wisely opted out of the sequel - his character , stripper-impresario dallas , has either passed on or moved overseas , it 's not entirely clear - and with him goes much of the first film 's gonzo spark .", "an undercharged as well as under-dressed affair that ca n't ever quite overcome its own cumbersome screenplay .", "MOV may not be an insightful continuation of its predecessor , but it delivers an experience that many wanted the first time around", "gorgeous men dance and bro-out enough that boyfriends will enjoy it , too . no one takes anything too seriously except for having fun and that is exactly what they deliver .", "a shameless ladies-night-out experience , it fails as a movie , but you ca n't fault it for giving them what they want .", "this sequel goes beyond disappointment into a sublime realm of embarrassment that 's beyond and yet better than merely bad , because it fascinates : what on earth were they thinking ?", "`` what do women want ? '' was a question that even confounded freud . despite its admirable intentions , `` MOV '' has n't got a clue , either .", "it may be either the gayest straight film ever made , or the straightest gay one . and it does n't care either way .", "with the kings of tampa back together and on the road to a male-stripper convention in myrtle beach , MOV is the all-out man-party audiences wanted the first movie to be .", "by trying to appeal to young women , middle-aged moms , gay men and spring-break bros at the same time , the movie spreads itself too thin , filling time better spent on manly moves with too much talk and obvious demographic pandering .", "did you like the first one ? plan to like this one more .", "a talky bromantic road movie that takes them forever to ramble from tampa to a big strippers convention in myrtle beach .", "i realize there are those who do n't care so much about the story or creating a distinct plot . but i thought the filmmakers might care , including star-and-producer channing tatum , about more than dropping trou . about more than the party .", "watching it was like opening the wrong gift -- that 's not my size , and i do n't like blue , but thank you , warner bros. , for even bothering to shop for me . most of the other studios forgot my birthday .", "if the suggestive use of spray cream whips you into a froth , boy , do these lads have a movie for you .", "why a plot ? why not just shoot channing tatum and co-stars dancing shirtless for an hour and let their drooling fans see them dancing ? zero magic in this magic mike .", "magic mike , xxl is a loose , shambling party bus-or party organic fro-yo food truck , to be more exact-and everyone 's having a great time .", "MOV is unabashedly all about entertainment , and not just the physical kind that involves hips gyrating like crashing waves along a shore .", "entertaining cast , thin plot , tons of sexy dancing .", "if you want abs , strippers , thrusting loins and more dollar bills than you 've ever seen before in a movie then MOV delivers . it 's just too bad it could n't deliver the entire package -lrb- pun totally intended -rrb- .", "sure , this is a dumb sequel and everyone 's on one level slumming . but they 're slumming in style .", "MOV delivers rowdy , raunchy fun , but without mcconaughey , it 's a long way from `` awright , awright , awright . ''", "... a playful , good-natured fantasy for both those creating it and those watching it .", "showing little differentiation from a substanceless soft porn with cheesy dialogue and a non-existent story , the nichely entertaining `` MOV '' treats you like you 're a dumb monkey just wanting a jiggling banana .", "if you 're not a fireman or a police officer or a cowboy beneath those breakaway pants , then who are you , really ? this is the central question of MOV .", "alternates between pandering to its target audience of straight women , and just boring them .", "it 's so over the top and exaggerated that you ca n't help but chuckle at the oiled up and stripped down audacity of it all . -lrb- full content review - sex , nudity , violence , etc. - for parents also available -rrb-", "they should have made the writer of the movie work on his screenwriting skills as much as channing tatum works on his abs .", "come back , showgirls . all is forgiven .", "during the dancing sequences , women hurl dollar bills at our heroes ; there are no corresponding shots of someone , anyone , picking it up . in soderbergh 's first film , the money is what matters -- which is why the first film is better than the ` fun ' sequel .", "a significantly inferior follow-up to a perceptive , emotionally sound slice-of-life that did n't need a sequel in the first place , and certainly not the one that has come to fruition .", "i 've included this in my little list that i 've added to dante 's nine circles of hell ... the punishment is that those unfortunates are condemned to watching this society of films on a loop over and over again for all eternity .", "it lacks the art of the original , but it does have a hairless stud licking melted chocolate off an obese woman 's thighs and spraying her with whipped cream .", "surely `` xxl '' in the title was n't meant to indicate the length of the movie , but it rather feels like it . sometimes a medium is a better fit .", "MOV targets its audience as relentlessly as a personal trainer targets abs . this sequel to `` magic mike '' mostly dispenses with plot in order to serve up what it does best : showcase male stripper gyrations .", "the movie is capably directed by gregory jacobs , soderbergh 's longtime producer and assistant director , who lovingly captures sweaty bodies and glistening beaches and retains the original 's loose , relaxed style .", "the movie ... is so infectiously , brazenly pleased about literally everything that happens in it that it 's hard not to leave in the same frame of mind .", "a playful , effervescent production , complete with an endearing , tongue-in-cheek tone that gives the director an incredible degree of licence to simply have fun .", "a weak sequel that will only appeal to those that can be satisfied by the prospect of buff half-naked men .", "`` MOV '' is essentially a loose but well-honed add-on pack .", "though saddled with plenty of obstacles , including the absence of matthew mcconaughey , `` xxl '' has an agreeably ramshackle spirit and another winning turn from channing tatum .", "making good on its xxl , the magic mike sequel delivers what you 'd want in a follow-up about male strippers : more flesh , more abs , more dances , the phworr factor cranked up to eleven .", "if you only see one movie this summer about male strippers bonding over unfulfilled dreams while they titillate female clientele , make sure it 's this one . because it 's great .", "tatum is once again the main attraction , back with his oscar-worthy dry hump -lrb- his acting 's not bad either -rrb- .", "a sloppy and often silly road movie that takes most of the same characters we met in 2012 and gives them a last hurrah as macho male entertainers .", "what 's particularly energizing about `` MOV '' is how it exuberantly celebrates sexuality , and does so unabashedly and unapologetically . it 's something you do n't often see in mainstream films .", "MOV is a softer , sweeter treat than its predecessor , but there 's still no mistaking the skill applied to this prime cut meat parade .", "too often this movie feels like an overlong finale episode of a long-running tv series , one that assumes that we 're really invested in these characters and their desire to hang up their thongs after putting on one last great showcase .", "MOV is ridiculously entertaining .", "we 're always waiting for something important or interesting to happen , but it never really does .", "MOV is like seinfeld , it 's a movie about nothing , and that 's what makes it great . well , `` nothing '' other than lots and lots of male stripping", "what 's missing is anything even remotely resembling a story , even the thin mentor & prot\u00e9g\u00e9 narrative that supported magic mike .", "a refreshing celebration of the non-toxic variety of masculinity , MOV hits every mark that it aims for . this is the america the world dreams about .", "it 's a reinforcement of some elements of the first film , but also a departure in ways that make it more thoughtful than its predecessor without ever undermining its commitment to entertain .", "it 's a road-trip movie that takes us on a tour of the best stripping venues the southern states apparently have to offer , without ever really arriving anywhere .", "contrived and bland , this is a poor excuse for a road movie .", "it 's a simple , entertaining , light-hearted romp that does n't require much thought .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- has an easy , engaging flow , at once natural and dreamlike .", "the dance routines rescue this movie .", "take the characterizations a couple steps deeper , and you could re-title the movie `` beneath the thongs . '' but then it would n't be as much fun .", "like mike and his posse of men when they hit the stage , MOV is a film all too eager to please .", "MOV is everything the first film should have been and more - a fun and energetic road movie that makes up for its loose structure by unabashedly pandering to the audience .", "MOV is the opposite of prudish , to the point that there 's almost nothing at stake . and when they finally perform at the stripper convention , it looks like an off night at the mtv video music awards .", "a fun idea gets a little too big for its g-strings with MOV , a movie that really needs to shut up and dance .", "xxl lives up to its moniker . this is n't magic mike 2 , this is magic mike larger . this film is about seduction via performance , and allowing each performer to have one take-home gem ... the result is one of the most entertaining films of the summer .", "`` even the best dance routines ca n't entirely raise the film from its shambling , directionless feeling , ''", "everything entourage wants to be and has no idea how to accomplish .", "channing tatum really is magic .", "an unabashedly carnal indulgence solely interested in inducing gelatinous drools of saliva from the mouths of overstimulated females .", "this rambling , plotless sequel might have passed muster with more dancing . the stilted dialogue is no substitute .", "sorry , ladies , but the biggest bulge in `` MOV '' is the one in the movie 's finely developed heart muscle .", "similar to its predecessor , the trailers are deceptive . this gorgeously-shot film is far better than the mtv-style marketing it 's receiving .", "sexy , funny and surprisingly heartwarming , MOV is an appealing road movie in disguise .", "-lsb- if -rsb- what you want is playfulness , energy , goofy glee , and a complete and utter lack of pretentiousness then magic mike is a trojan -lrb- horse -rrb- full of fun .", "works as a surprisingly sweet and funny look at male comradery , even when it 's seediness occasionally trounces its earnestness .", "more akin to leaving your cares -lrb- and possibly keys -rrb- at the door , and diving in for some quick thrills . undemanding , reasonably entertaining fun .", "come for the stripping , but stay for the laughs .", "definitely contains more bro and show than its predecessor .", "it 's got to be said that while there 's no real story as such in the harmless , totally unnecessary follow-up to the 2012 hit magic mike there is an undeniable paleolithic charm to the low-brow lunkhead bromance .", "it 's not ... quite ... about empowering women , but there is certainly something surprising and interesting going on here .", "-lsb- tatum moves -rsb- like a cut , super-charged donald o'connor . how his body works is one of our generation 's greatest mysteries .", "MOV is n't quite as psychologically curious as the original , but it certainly delivers a good time for both genders . -lrb- you heard me right , fellas . -rrb-", "a cringe-worthy jamboree of dimbulb manflesh that 's even more embarrassing than the first film .", "MOV is a piece of arm candy , as shallow as a mud puddle and just as bright . but that does n't mean it is n't fun to hang out with .", "MOV is much more meditative than your average buddy comedy , and the unscripted feel gives the cast the freedom to exploit their subtle comedic talents .", "it 's one thing to linger on a scene and another to have it play so long there 's time to go to the lobby for a snack and get back before it ends . this is a story about high energy dancing presented at a half-speed pace .", "shorn of the first film 's inner tensions , this soderbergh-less sequel has the obvious whiff of cash-in about it .", "`` step up : the stripping years . '' yeah , it 's that dumb . and clumsy .", "if `` MOV '' were an `` ocean 's eleven '' movie , it would be `` ocean 's twelve , '' the boring one in the middle before they wrapped it up on a higher note . there 's no need for `` magic mike '' to go there -- twice is one too many .", "to the film 's credit , it knows it 's ridiculous . it 's aiming for ridiculous , and it hits the mark as precisely as the strippers groove half-naked to their beats .", "if watching handsome men with perfect bodies perform suggested sex acts on obese women is appealing to you , go see `` MOV '' .", "the women in our audience , along with me , had a fabulous time watching it . tatum is a hoot , as is a great deal of the script . expect to be entertained !", "attempts to create a joyous celebration of the strippers at play , but to hear them converse with one another or their targets of seduction is torture , leaving `` MOV '' primarily a visual event .", "MOV is as sweet and steamy as oven-fresh cherry pie .", "a bare bones plotline wo n't matter to fans seeking a good time at this stripped-down ` hey , let 's put on a show ' road movie .", "what matters here is the dancing , an unexpectedly bold blend of pure sexuality and giddy aesthetics", "MOV is a joy , an affirmation of happiness , a movie that makes you feel better about yourself at every turn . it 's a triumph .", "the plot may be stretched as thin as one of channing tatum 's gold lam\u00e9 thongs , but this sequel to steven soderbergh 's surprisingly thoughtful stripper opus still works as an entertainingly outr\u00e9 odyssey ...", "... eye candy for those who want to see barely dressed men simulating sex . if that 's not you , you need n't bother .", "tatum 's autobiographical experiences still feed into reid carolin 's script , but the edge of the original has been lost , character playing second g-string to choreography and costume .", "sex continues to be the sizzle in this raunchy road movie that plays out like fun-filled foreplay and in which channing tatum has all the moves .", "so much of the movie feels like leftover unused vignettes from its predecessor strung together to feature length and tossed out for public consumption . it 's like your favorite band got together one more time , and then spent the tour playing b-sides .", "it remains an enjoyably easy-going experience throughout . the random repartee shared by mike and company really does grow on you after a while .", "easily the feel-good movie of the year thus far , and the funniest ... these guys are an incredible delight to hang out with , and the talent they represent is unbelievable ... each can spin a joke , a character and an outrageous dance move .", "except for the admirable testosterone on display that represents hours in the gym instead of the acting class , the rest of MOV is seriously stupid .", "MOV might be channing tatum 's greatest show of muscle yet .", "good-hearted , likable and tons of fun .", "the less ambitious sequel seems primarily designed to accommodate hordes of cosmo-fortified fans , though it is a more diverse movie ." ], "summary": "MOV has enough narrative thrust and beefy charm to deliver another helping of well-oiled entertainment , even if this sequel is n't quite as pleasurable as its predecessor .", "id": "771378808" }, { "movie": "good_german", "reviews": [ "clooney and blanchett are good together . maguire seems miscast . but mainly the MOV just is n't a particularly gripping story .", "you may notice that soderbergh , for all his intelligence , has n't gotten beneath the surface of his stock figures , into the lived experience that might underlie them .", "if german is cynical about its characters ' motives , it is not cynical about the movie 's ability to make us think and feel .", "while the movie has style to die for , its attempt to integrate contemporary dramatic elements -- including profanity and fairly explicit sex -- into old-fashioned filmmaking is only spottily successful .", "inasmuch as a self-consuming experiment can succeed , it succeeds .", "you ca n't invoke casablanca and all these other classic -lsb- s -rsb- ... without great dialogue , and this movie has almost none of it .", "we get no heroes , not even flawed ones . clooney , our marquee man , chases through numbing plot contortions only because of his lust for lena . by the time the MOV ended , i had barely a clue if the good ones had lived or died .", "you might be tempted to classify it as an interesting failure , but all the crudities and the snail 's pace make it hard to get through .", "last year 's ` good night , and good luck ' was a great film . ` the MOV ' is beautifully filmed , yet not so great .", "soderbergh is to be commended for being able to revive the feelings associated with classic cinema through imagery and casting , but the MOV will not find itself as revered in the long run .", "50 's stylishness through every bombed out alleyway , military office and underground hiding place . blanchett is deliciously femme fatale , down to her black market stockings .", "the movie 's aesthetic is divorced from its sensibility .", "the film plays like a pastiche of casablanca , the third man and billy wilder 's `` a foreign affair , '' though it is far more explicit about violence and sex than was ever dreamed of in films of the era .", "i hold soderbergh in high esteem , but as handsome a technical achievement as it is , the MOV plays to me as a failed experiment .", "the MOV is counterfeit coin in search of easy marks .", "the MOV is a fascinating experiment and in many ways improves upon the era of filmmaking it recreates .", "the naztso MOV .", "what should be a ripping good yarn , powered by high voltage stars , instead comes across as another of the director 's audacious but unsuccessful experiments -- a cinematic curio where form takes unfortunate precedence over narrative .", "the MOV is steven soderbergh 's game attempt to reinvigorate the dense intrigue of classic wartime thrillers like the third man with a contemporary , neo-noir edge .", "soderbergh 's film is no more cynical or world-weary than its inspirations , and in the end , it feels like a clever trick wrapped around a hollow center .", "with the MOV , soderbergh -- generally a terrific and creative filmmaker -- apes a style , and a way of seeing , that he clearly does n't understand . it feels like a hit to the stomach .", "they do n't make 'em like they used to , and the MOV is a very good reason why .", "a classic noir film demands a classic noir story , and paul attanasio 's screenplay -lrb- based on the joseph kanon novel -rrb- just is n't up to the dark mark .", "technically amazing , but not engaging enough to recommend as theater viewing unless you 're an arthouse freak .", "ambitious but sorely disappointing .", "in a few quick strokes , soderbergh and screenwriter paul attanasio -lrb- working from a novel by joseph kanon -rrb- sketch a convincing scenario in which it is technically not possible for the good guys to win a war because good guys do n't fight them .", "if you feel anything other than admiration for its craftsmanship , let me know ; the MOV is as emotionally cold and unconvincing as any movie i 've seen this year .", "it never transcends being a mere homage . fun to watch for film geeks though .", "the MOV is n't very good . even if you give it points for sheer cussed weirdness . which it has aplenty . and which contributes more problems to the project than its worth .", "soderbergh has been having a helluva time matching his ambition with quality lately", "to say the movie is merely ` boring ' does n't seem fitting or epic enough of a word to describe what an excruciating endurance test its 108-minute running time is .", "a beautifully flawed experiment , `` the MOV '' is an entertaining if unbalanced war drama that places modern cinema mores on a classic style of american film when the hayes code would never have allowed such overt sexual reality .", "an utterly gaseous film", "no matter that it 's based on a book , the movie is more about how the reality of the time was seen through the lens of a michael curtiz while he was filming `` casablanca '' .", "the MOV is the bad movie . except for the ambience -- the look of the film -- it stumbles awkwardly on every level .", "while admirable as an example of directorial innovation and homage , the MOV fails to connect on a basic emotional level .", "the final verdict on this movie is that for all its attempts to replicate the great movies of the 1940s , it fails miserably .", "flat noir homage .", "a homage to the romantic noir mysteries of the 1940s , a tribute that tries hard but , alas , misses the mark .", "it 's soderbergh 's commitment and creativity that lift the MOV above many of its peers , no matter the era .", "buddies steven soderbergh and george clooney started out so well . but the MOV is so painful that their recent decision to go their separate ways really merits a gospel choir .", "on the meta level , soderbergh has re-created not only the kind of story told in the 1940s , but the kind of technical production hollywood gloried in more than half a century ago , too .", "it 's hard to feel for the characters ' fate when you 're counting the ways in which the MOV rips off casablanca .", "if you can manage to reset your internal clock to the '40s , you might find enjoyment here ; but that 's a pretty big if .", "soderbergh shoots the picture using only equipment and standards available in the mid-40s . if that 's not the kind of thing that puts wind in your sail , then move along .", "t 's no secret that steven soderbergh is in love with film noir thrillers of the 1940s , but to use that style with `` the MOV '' proves a disservice to both the craftsmen of 60 years ago and joseph kanon , whose novel the film is based on .", "will prove more compelling as a technical study for film studies majors than as an entertainment for a general audience .", "the MOV is a prime example of a movie made by highly skilled and intelligent filmmakers that nevertheless seems misguided from the get-go .", "steven soderbergh attempts to resurrect the magic of classical hollywood , principally by sucking out all the air , energy and pleasure from his own filmmaking .", "a few of soderbergh 's movies have foundered on a similar ironic detachment . the singular exception , out of sight , floated along on sexual electricity and warm movie love , but the MOV feels passionless , throttled by technique .", "more of a film-school exercise than a satisfactory cinematic experience , it 's stylishly self-conscious , a stilted artifice , a mildly engrossing melodrama .", "steven soderbergh massages his fond memories of the golden -lrb- if sometimes black and white -rrb- days of movies with a noirish sensibility .", "modern sensibilities crash against period style ...", "this should have been soderbergh gold . instead it is mostly unengaging and dull , proof positive that they do n't make them like they used to .", "-lsb- the MOV is -rsb- technically astonishing and blanchett is excellent , but the script is dull and the confusing plot fails to engage .", "the lot of it is pseudonoir .", "a film that feels more like a cinematographer 's showreel than an involving drama : flashy , but heartless .", "it 's `` the MOV , '' but not `` the great german . ''", "it 's an achievement so hermetic it hardly bothers to be a movie .", "why emphasise flaws in a film of such overall ambition and expertise ?", "while the title raises the question of whether it is possible to escape atrocity without somehow being complicit with those committing them ... soderbergh seems infinitely more interested in making an anachronism than a timeless film .", "mr. soderbergh seems to have done everything within his power to keep the audience at arm 's length .", "if stalin had walked around the corner and given george clooney a high five , i would n't have been the least bit surprised .", "although soderbergh 's old-fashioned film noir style works well in ` the MOV , ' the characters and story fail to grab us .", "technically stunning but narratively and thematically hollow .", "... the almost total lack of character development ensures that the novelty wears off all too quickly .", "noirs this good do n't come along every day , or even every year .", "the MOV is an easy movie to admire ... but within all that style there 's nothing to love . it 's a hollow movie .", "technically , it 's a marvel , but as a soulful viewing experience , it 's a muddle .", "with so much going on , the dialog tends toward speechifying ...", "... a fascinating exercise for cineastes , but it does n't have a leg of its own to stand on .", "soderbergh is out to dispel the phrase , ` they do n't make 'em like they used to , ' and he mostly succeeds .", "tully is the ugly american galumphing through europe , grasping , insecure , and cocky all at once .", "much like a horror movie clone , the MOV looks like casablanca , but seems to be missing something fundamental underneath it all , that will eventually lead to its horrible destruction .", "it should have been wonderful -- a delicious tribute to classic hollywood -- but it simply does n't come off .", "of the MOV , it can be said that the operation was a brilliant success , even if the patient is not merely dead but most sincerely dead .", "the MOV plays like soderbergh 's doctoral thesis for film school . but look past the honkingly loud geek factor , and it still works .", "the MOV is a self-serving act of fetishistic virtual embalming , with all the liveliness that description implies .", "the MOV cannibalizes the cool , cynical look of those great old movies , but it 's too spiritually vacant to duplicate their soul .", "a most peculiar and unsatisfying film .", "soderbergh wants us to see post-war berlin as , in its way , another chinatown a la roman polanski .", "this is soderbergh 's show , and a haunting and hypnotic show it is .", "it 's a political tale with no significant contemporary reverberations , a turgid espionage-tinged romance with no soul , and a play-it-again aesthetic showpiece without a point .", "a murder mystery , a love story , and a glimpse of the beginning of conflict between the united states and russia following the defeat of germany in world war ii .", "the music and story are lousy . i 'm calling for a clooney-soderbergh divorce .", "steven soderbergh recreates the style of a wartime noir thriller so perfectly that this film feels almost stilted and quaint by today 's standards .", "i tousle the hair of the MOV , pat it on the butt , and tell it to eat its vegetables so one day it may grow up into a real motion picture .", "the MOV has little of the luster , sheen and pictorial nuance of a top-flight hollywood picture of the old school .", "a failed attempt at film noir from soderbergh , a pastiche made of old movie parts that do n't fit , trying to bring back the style , glory and pleasure of old studio fare like casablanca , the third man , and foreign affair", "merits attention for its throwback to forties noir but hasa convoluted plot .", "it also allows soderbergh and writer paul attanasio , in a smart , well-paced adaptation , to explore a moral complexity that never found its way into movies of that era .", "i still admire the risks that soderbergh and his collaborators have taken , but by their nature risks do n't always pay off .", "an interesting stunt rather than a successful film .", "casablanca is so explicit a reference in the movie 's finale that it drew nervous giggles from the film-savvy audience with which i saw the movie .", "it 's experimental , so conduct an experiment of your own : go see the film , and when you wake up at the end , try to remember if you dreamed in black-and-white or in color .", "the story is n't as good as the production , but this is still a movie worth watching and watching on the big screen .", "... a visual treat for classic movie buffs . every lovingly misprinted optical dissolve and abrupt cut to stock footage left me squealing with delight . but is the movie itself any good ? sadly , no .", "homages do n't get much more homagey ... but if you love its models , and the sheer artificiality of the effort does n't bother you , you should have a good time .", "who says they do n't make 'em like they used to ?", "the MOV is ... equally infused with knowing sophistication and a surprising amount of depth .", "a lot of style . not so much with the plot .", "it 's a close call about which is worse , the acting of blanchett and clooney , the directing of soderbergh , the writing of attanasio , or the cinematography of andrews .", "soderbergh , screenwriter paul attanasio and their colleagues get much of the mood and atmosphere down , but they fail -- or chose not to try -- to emulate the sense of wily playfulness that made old film-noir characters so rich and engaging .", "soderbergh 's skill , intelligence and love for the genre are never in doubt . but , as it turns out , you ca n't play it again , sam .", "the result is a movie that is never quite amusing but never quite mordantly thought provoking either .", "where is major clark gable now that we need him ?", "the MOV , steven soderbergh 's film noir homage , is nearly perfect when it comes to style and tone , but it concentrates so single-mindedly on the mechanics of the narrative that it loses sight of its characters .", "a bit jarring in its precision to capture the look and feel of '40s - '50s era movies ... but it succeeds on other levels .", "the MOV is seriously deficient in the stars ' star power and narrative excitement . the movie is lovingly framed , carefully lit , and fatally insipid .", "steven soderbergh is usually an inspired chameleon , perfectly suiting his style to his content . but the MOV is an ambitious miss .", "-lsb- soderbergh -rsb- has such a gusto for movie history that he all but forgets that the films to which he pays homage were not themselves exercises in pure style .", "there is n't a moment in this self-conscious , uninvolving movie when you are n't aware you are watching an experiment , which might make a good lesson for film school students on what not to do .", "the MOV does n't look like a period movie , and it does n't feel like one . the black-and-white images are thin and garish , with blinding whites that destroy whatever soderbergh is trying to do with shadow and contrast .", "the photography is so beautiful , and the actors make brave choices , and soderbergh 's homage to the films he so obviously loves is done with such grace and passion -- so there 's just enough that works to outweigh the major plot concerns .", "it works , as homage to a particular time and place in film history , and as a knowing revision that brings hollywood 's subtext of '40s postwar corruption to the surface . the MOV is n't so much an imitation as a crafty modernization .", "the MOV is a movie wonk 's triumph and no one else 's . soderbergh gets the visuals right but not the clean storytelling line of classic cinema , nor the iconic characters or moral certainty of the oldies .", "i have to admire an ostensibly nostalgic entertainment that so concertedly undermines the romanticism of wartime hollywood .", "the movie is heavy on style but light on entertainment value .", "if the third man could create a bleak world without characters spewing obscenities , the MOV also could have managed it .", "the crucial key elements that every vintage warners film had as a matter of course are lacking here . the story is n't gripping or even coherent . there is no real romance . there 's mystery , but only in a plot sense -- i.e. , what 's going on ?", "the trouble is the movie never really seems to go anywhere . too many scenes have a feeling of irresolution ; they just sort of go on for a while , then disappear .", "you can ignore the behind-the-scenes technicalities and enjoy the movie on face value : as a moderately entertaining nod to ` casablanca . '", "a cold movie that sacrifices so-called ` heart ' to achieve a primarily technical effect -- an appropriate strategy for a story about death camp inmates enslaved to produce rockets for the nazis .", "achtung : can you say ` it 's berlin , jake ' in german ?", "this cast almost makes the MOV watchable . it 's just that their screenwriter and director do n't do them any favors .", "one of the most artistically daring movies of 2006 .", "there 's not much beyond self-conscious mise-en-sc\u010dnes and a lead actor who is n't mysterious or magnetic as much as he 's simply aloof .", "the failing ... is it takes itself dead-on seriously . frankly , it would be easier to think of this -lrb- lifting the finale from ` casablanca ' -rrb- and other sequences ... as comedic .", "a rewarding exercise in formalism .", "the result is a harshly lighted , high-contrast monochrome that illuminates the war-torn rubble with grace and poetry while allowing motives to stay hidden in the shadows .", "there 's a line between homage and mimicry , and soderbergh has crossed it .", "stick with the videos of the real thing , and wait for `` ocean 's 13 . ''", "interesting to watch , up to a point . the MOV gets lost amidst its references ; it does n't stand by itself but is held up by the films that inspired it .", "soderbergh 's attempt to re-create a 40s film noir might not be for all tastes but paul attanasio 's script keeps the story engaging long enough .", "a history-based , murder-mystery war-yarn that goes round and round in circles .", "the MOV is a mechanical movie , pushing forth in a way it believes appropriate rather than finding a natural flow .", "everything about the MOV seems a few degrees off , as if the new map of europe has somehow altered the latitudes along with attitudes .", "the MOV suggests that they can still make 'em like they used to , but also reminds us that there 's more to a good movie than good looks .", "if it were n't for a singular , gripping performance by cate blanchett , the MOV might as well have been titled the incredibly boring german .", "there 's nothing going for the movie , really , except its ambition -- its heavily marred , totally unrealized ambition .", "still-relevant political observation ... -lsb- and -rsb- a nifty mystery that 's a bit too self-conscious for its own good ." ], "summary": "though steven soderbergh succeeds in emulating the glossy look of 1940s noirs , the MOV ultimately ends up as a self-conscious exercise in style that forgets to develop compelling characters .", "id": "358181331" }, { "movie": "ghost_in_the_shell_2_innocence", "reviews": [ "' -lsb- oshii -rsb- is a visionary . his world is unmistakably his , -lsb- and -rsb- it 's a hypnotic place to be . '", "the blade runner-esque worldscape is gorgeously realized , but the script 's philosophical ramblings about existence are real head-scratchers .", "innocence entertains , but it does n't resonate .", "unlike his american peers , japanese writer-director mamoru oshii makes animated films that are as serious as a heart attack .", "the effect of so much pretension and so many lovely images eventually becomes soporific .", "the images are never ostentatious ; instead , they evoke both the terror and wonder of things that lie beyond the grasp of human understanding .", "occasional passages of shell-cracking egghead overload aside , there 's no getting past innocence 's astounding visual power .", "compared to many anime films , oshii 's anime style is still different , an intoxicating blend of mechanical and organic , like his characters .", "in this anime it 's a basset hound that brings the only bits of warmth .", "the animation is vivid and surrealistic .", "victims shudder from ` the terror of being reduced to simple mechanisms and matter , ' but oshii clearly wants us to ask : what 's the difference ?", "all the philosophical chattering here starts to become wearying . but the action scenes help , and there 's no denying how dazzling the animation is .", "anime fans , notorious lovers of high-tech eye candy that they are , will forgive the occasional tedium ; the movie 's simply too handsome to ignore .", "the visual virtuoso 's work suffers from his unconcern about dramatizing his ideas in terms of basic story structure", "all the elements of a drop-dead animated classic combined with the tiresome violence of ubiquitous arcade entertainment .", "innocence reveals a perfect marriage of digital and hand-drawn styles .", "praiseworthy for its concepts and aesthetics , yet it is too theory-heavy and action-shy , clumped with philosophical tangents and scholarly reference points .", "this is a bold film , that tries so hard to be intellectual and different , but ultimately ends up being too smart for it 's own good .", "complex and a little hard to follow but imaginative and spectacular anime film .", "solemnly questioning issues of science and metaphysics , it creates a spell that 's a unique blend of the ominous and the sensual .", "the elegance , attention to detail , the invention and expertise all ensure that the movie 's never less than visually breathtaking .", "too talky and philosophical for kids , and dabbling in lavish imagery that lacks enough narrative coherence to hook adults , this is an animated feature that , well , needed to get a little more animated .", "mamoru oshii 's 2004 follow-up to his 1995 anime noir is that rare sequel that surpasses the original .", "gone is much of the bombast of the original ...", "the mind-blowing story and its reality-bending aesthetic form a sublime continuum , where the medium becomes part of the message ... this is animation at its most acute and enthralling .", "much like akira in the 1980s , this is the film that sets the standard by which all others of its kind are judged - and usually found wanting .", "with its themes of human arrogance , wastefulness , creativity , and the definitions and limits of life and the mind , innocence is pretty heavy . it 's also visually stunning .", "this long-overdue follow-up goes the way of most sequels , delivering a visually impressive but far more simplistic -- and thus unsatisfying -- story .", "if you can get past the weighty aphorisms that pass for dialogue , the film has an obscure beauty and rich , melancholy tone .", "for japanimation fans it 's a big-screen must-see .", "as a work of art that takes a hard look at man 's interaction with the machines that he creates , it is a great film ; as a casual movie to pass the time of day , it is a violent mess filled with incomprehensible psycho-babble .", "it certainly was n't worth the effort to pay the money to get in -lsb- and i got in for free -rsb- .", "breathtakingly beautiful .", "its intentions are n't as clear as they should be , but it 's clearly the work of a deep-thinking artist with a fearful concern for a future in which the nature of humanity is entirely uncertain .", "devotees of anime deserve better writing , pacing and animation than this film delivers .", "possessed of a highly literate , almost classical story , the search for the meaning of human life itself , and the unshakable belief that it encompasses much more than skin and bones .", "at its best , a puzzling art film deserving multiple viewings and interpretations", "at times , the blur between cyber-reality and reality is hard to discern , but oshii 's visual artistry is so hypnotic and original , it 'll resonate even with those who are n't in the know .", "does n't match the weight of its predecessor , or really add anything necessary to the saga , but it does n't hurt the body of work , either .", "extraordinarily rich visually , with a density of detail that would have impressed breughel or veronese .", "while often strikingly designed , it suffers from the tedious exposition and static image flow that is frustratingly typical of much japanese animation .", "a spellbinding original , evoking such otherworldly classics as alice in wonderland and beetlejuice .", "do n't even bother trying to figure out what 's going on in ghost in the shell 2 : innocence -- just sit back and enjoy the lush , trippy visuals .", "i was not only able to comprehend ghost in the shell 2 : innocence , but connect with it emotionally . and that 's all the more impressive considering the characters are something less than human .", "more vital than most police procedurals , fusing the metaphysical and the scientific into a pulp yarn with a gentle but bruising philosophical kick .", "philosophy 's never looked so cool .", "portentous and pretentious , shell 2 crawls along like a machine on low batteries .", "unplug from the narrative , let the images of ghost in the shell 2 : innocence wash over you , and enjoy the beautiful ride .", "while the visuals are at times stylish , ghost suffers most from a distinct lack of anything , well , cinematic .", "this spectacular sequel to oshii 's 1996 ghost in the shell may not be quite as good as the first , but it 's still a trip to a universe almost impossible to describe yet so vivid that once you 've visited , you 'll never forget .", "innocence is nothing if not ambitious , and that is its best trait -- it wants to hash out ideas first and provide action second .", "the cyberpunk metaphysics at the core of the intellectually demanding mystery are more demanding than the ideas behind most american science-fiction films .", "if i ever wrap my mind around ghost in the shell 2 , i expect someone to hand me a post-graduate degree in existential philosophy .", "anyone who wants to see animation pushed to its limits should go .", "it 's a must see for the theater . do n't just wait for dvd , or you 'll miss out .", "visually stunning and mentally numbing . not only will you not be able to understand it ... you wo n't care .", "-lsb- c -rsb- a n't get beyond its own baroqueness to fully engage us ...", "i never enjoyed a movie more that i understood less .", "never less than spectacular . it seamlessly combines sophisticated hand-drawn animation with computer-rendered backgrounds .", "pretty much impenetrable , but what makes it especially exhausting is a mountain of technical babble and long-winded philosophical reveries that slow everything down .", "those able to pick through the hiss-tangled web of circuitry and wiring will find ghost in the shell 2 an electrically-charged philosophical action movie .", "batou is mostly cyborg , togusa is mostly human . but since both are made with the dna of the tokyo-born oshii , they 're both gogglingly original .", "a revelation , a challenging yet enlightening journey into the depths of creativity and imagination .", "ingeniously crafted with flashes of intelligence , if not very memorable .", "baits us with an involving film-noir murder mystery , then switches to all that man/machine consciousness mumbo-jumbo ... then splatters blood all over the place .", "the plot is difficult to follow , but the imagery needs no translation .", "a rehash that takes a timely theme , mankind 's obsession with technology , and bloats it to the point of incomprehension , cramming meaning into dialogue that has none .", "innocence does n't just reveal a wealth of visual enchantments ; it restates the case that there can and should be more to feature-length animations than cheap jokes , bathos and pandering .", "a stunning work of animation artistry and a compelling metaphysical inquiry into what constitutes humanity and machine .", "this is a meaning-of - everything flick -- with a superficial plot about murderous androids -- yet its main characters are interesting because of their connection to each other rather than the metaphysical .", "gorgeous .", "embodying the best and worst stereotypes of the genre , it 's amazingly beautiful to look at and often utterly incomprehensible .", "it is a conceit that offers the insight , not surprising perhaps , that humans are indistinguishable from machines .", "this sophomoric stuff is pure self-indulgence , a drone to accompany the admittedly eye-popping sound-and-light show .", "most strikingly , some of these visuals are absolutely hands-down , chillingly gorgeous . but , loses momentum as it confuses among other problems . still , striking .", "you can call me fanboy , but this is the best anime i 've ever seen .", "one could say that innocence thinks so much that it ultimately has very little to say .", "a hulking cyborg with a brain that 's part plato , part the terminator , goes from gunning down a warren of criminal yakuza to cloudy quotations .", "consisting mainly of noisy gunfights , it 's like your typical one-person shooter video game .", "roughly equivalent to the matrix sequels : drama-starved dazzle and irresolute interrogation .", "places too much emphasis on high-minded dialogue and endless shots of computer panels blinking and beeping and turning and whizzing and spinning .", "there 's only so much technobabble a person can take before you completely lose them .", "the film is a pile-on of a sequel , adding next to little to complement the original .", "it 's regrettable , but perhaps a bit predictable , that a film that is this forward-looking in its graphic construction is saddled with a commonplace plotline .", "highly imaginative design by oshii and production designer tanada yohei dominates the film as they creates surreal landscapes in dark though vivid colors .", "i do n't remember the last time that i wanted to walk out of a screening so badly ...", "talky , repetitive and largely covering the same ground with no new thoughts .", "it 's a feast of animation technology and styles , but weighed down by textbook dialogue and storytelling monotony that work against its expressive imagery .", "pure , wordless cinema , existing in a realm too deliciously mysterious to pull down .", "with this beautiful , thought-provoking , adrenaline-fuelled film , oshii heralds a truly post-human era in which all forms of ` life ' deserve our respect .", "one long , tedious rumination on the blurring distinction between man and machines .", "the staggering beauty of oshii 's animation more than makes up for the fact that his plot is completely impenetrable .", "it looks absolutely sensational .", "muddled up with philosophising about the relationship between mind and the material world .", "oshii allows the plot to be overwhelmed by a slew of cockamamie musings on the nature of existence that would n't float in a late-night dorm room smokeout .", "while one ca n't accuse innocence of being dim , it is certainly long winded and clich\u00e9 .", "japanese animated film which explores the nature of post-modern existence and consciousness is a mixed bag in terms of both narrative and images .", "if you 're already an anime fan , this is required viewing . if not , this is n't going to convert you anytime soon ." ], "summary": "the animation is lovely , but the plot is complex to the point of inscrutability , leaving ghost in the shell 2 : innocence both original and numbing .", "id": "10277" }, { "movie": "bronx_tale", "reviews": [ "de niro 's first trip behind the camera proves that he 's been doing his homework . this is a masterful debut , and a great film altogether .", "average effort .", "a superb directorial debut by deniro , a work that rivals goodfellas .", "a wonderful , touching tale about growing up and making decisions .", "de niro proves to be just as much a force behind the camera as he does in front of it . a superb debut - a gripping movie .", "beautiful story", "it paints a fairly accurate and hard-hitting picture of the racial tensions of the times , but it still glamorizes the gangsters with too much love .", "de niro 's feature directorial debut is not a second-tier scorsese film . though telling a familiar coming-of-age story , it finds a new angle in depicting the irrational and subconscious origins of racism .", "it 's the moralistic tenor of a MOV that 's ultimately most off-putting ." ], "summary": "a MOV sets itself apart from other coming-of-age dramas thanks to a solid script , a terrific cast , and director robert de niro 's sensitive work behind the camera .", "id": "12976" }, { "movie": "vicky_cristina_barcelona", "reviews": [ "allen seems uninterested in pushing his material beyond impersonally generic , or even in thinking things through .", "at the end of the dia , the movie 's a lovely , empty spanish travelogue hosted by beautiful people , their problems no more taxing than whether to meet at the amusement park or the marina .", "MOV does n't feel like your standard woody allen comedy . and that 's just one reason why it 's such a joy to behold .", "a sparklingly funny , meltingly sexy romcom .", "taking a leaf out of pedro almodovar 's book , woody allen makes best full use of penelope cruz who 's inclined to wilt if not placed in her native spain .", "it 's determinedly silly , and possibly wishful-thinking , in essence . after what we 've seen from allen from match point onwards , its sheer entertainment value is a minor miracle .", "brilliantly written , beautifully shot and frequently hilarious , this is woody allen 's best film in a long , long time , thanks to delightful performances from hall , johansson , bardem and cruz .", "woody allen is back in top form with this sparkling comedydrama . its highlight is a fabulously funny and passionate performance by cruz .", "the erotic roundelays are so witty - marivaux with sex - that i am now afraid to see a future allen film . it will either be bad , returning us to the natural order of things , or good like this , demanding a rethink of the universe .", "entonces aparece por fin pen\u00e9lope y la pel\u00edcula reci\u00e9n comienza , o al menos se pone m\u00e1s interesante . l\u00e1stima que ya han pasado como 50 minutos % u2026", "possibly distinguished solely for the first pg-13 lesbian smooching on screen ever , the film should be a trite , pleasing guy confection .", "this is not as terrible as most of allen 's recent efforts , but it 's thin to the point of scrawny , irksomely pseudo-intellectual and cringe-makingly creepy .", "no doubt about it , allen 's latest throwaway rom-com is utterly silly , forgettable and predictable . it 's also his most purely entertaining film in years .", "cruz 's best role yet . scarlett and penelope end up snogging in a photographic dark room . which just about tips vcb up to four hats .", "a sun-speckled slice of froth that 's very watchable , although it reveals little new about the mysteries of the human heart . it may be allen 's best film in years - just do n't expect annie hall .", "the script is witty and playful , the casting just right .", "within allen 's recent output , vicky cristina is the highlight . see it for beautiful locales , an ambivalent look at human relationships and a clutch of great performances , especially from cruz .", "woody allen 's spoof of the don juan myth vicky christina barcelona is his best film this century .", "arriba ! woody allen 's spanish fiesta is his best film of the millennium and his funniest since 1994 's bullets over broadway .", "sex and sun , but no sizzle - MOV is watchable fluff , but * gasp * is it time for woody to think about retiring ? if so , he could do worse than barcelona .", "some judicious editing could have cut a cracking hour-long film out of the final product , but as things stand MOV is a decent flick blessed with great performances and a corking set up .", "woody allen 's work should be taking him deeper into complex and revealing stories about the heart . instead , he 's becoming more preoccupied with the lurid and the lewd .", "another intriguing take on affairs of the heart from the master of the artform with some solid performances , most notably from javier bardem and rebecca hall .", "woody allen has turned out his share of duds ... MOV is one of his dudliest .", "the picture has a romantic glow that recalls the woody allen of old and , of course , it 's quite funny .", "one of the most enjoyable and best films of the year .", "something is terribly amiss when the american actors sound like english is their second language .", "-lsb- allen 's -rsb- most entertaining picture since bullets over broadway or maybe sweet and lowdown .", "allen 's laziness is startling , even in so mechanical a filmmaker . he uses a monotonous narrator to tell us what the characters think and do , though he then shows them performing the actions that have just been described .", "watching allen fart out a story when he has no characters is always painful .", "he is a little like eric rohmer here . the actors are attractive , the city is magnificent , the love scenes do n't get all sweaty , and everybody finishes the summer a little wiser and with a lifetime of memories . what more could you ask ?", "why would you choose to be vicky , the film seems to ask , if you could be cristina instead ? -lrb- or , why move in with the bridge-and-tunnel crowd when you could be bedding the urban sophisticates ? -rrb-", "vicky shows allen deflecting his chapter-and-verse filmmaking for better and worse and , in a career that was already cemented as legendary by the early '90s , that counts for something .", "while it may not quite belong in the top ranks alongside such avowed masterpieces as `` manhattan '' or `` the purple rose of cairo , '' it is the first one of his comedies in quite a while to at least deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as those titles .", "a pleasant enough diversion with some great performances and beautiful cinematography to just make it worth recommending .", "it is refreshing that allen has shaken the manhattan dust off his shoes and brought his filmmaking talents to paris , london and , now , sunny barcelona .", "with MOV the 72 year-old allen comes ever closer to ozu 's territory , finding a kind of serenity in the acceptance of life 's inevitable disappointments .", "sex is usually an intellectual endeavor for woody allen , but this cast forces him - and us - to get out of our heads .", "the genius behind woody allen is clearly seen in this film , which contains a very simple story line but it is riddled with clever dialogue and a unique narration .", "much of this film is blatantly told to us , narrated by a toneless male voice that obviates the need for actors to show thoughts and feelings .", "... audiences once cheered the notion of a new woody allen film . now , instead , we merely endure them .", "the film belongs to bardem and cruz .", "... a breezy effort that generally feels like classic allen ...", "every time you 're ready to count woody allen out for good , he comes back and surprises you .", "when great artists maintain their health and energy into their 70s , amazing things can happen -- and they 're happening with woody allen .", "the voiceover gives MOV the feeling of a fairy tale ; while it might take place in a fairy tale world , the story is driven by sometimes unpleasant complexities .", "xreiazesai misi tainia , ateleioto voice over kai mia kryfi protagonistria , gia na piaseis palmo , poy apokalyptetai mono otan apokalyptei tin penelope cruz kai tis spithes poy petaei me to poy emfanizetai stin othoni", "even with his weaker movies , woody allen is more astute than about 80 percent of filmmakers out there .", "after a three-film stopover in the uk which reaped generally unsatisfying results , woody allen seems to have recovered some lightness of touch and sparkle in spain .", "clearly , allen has been inspired by his location , and his film also serves as an evocative travelogue of spain 's most magical city .", "MOV is fitfully good .", "if you like watching privileged beautiful people flitting from expensive homes to fancy restaurants to dazzling tourist attractions to plush hotel rooms and gala gallery openings , you 're likely to find something to enjoy in this movie .", "allen is not interested in doing much more than glancing off some intriguing ideas , such as the common tragedy of the would-be artist who recognizes his mediocrity . but he 's old enough to recognize that he does n't need to be profound , just entertaining .", "while the action takes place almost exclusively in spain , the script is still a highlight of neurotic new yorkers who babble on about nothing and everything .", "MOV is n't one of allen 's finest films , but there 's something warm and charming and -lrb- one might even dare say -rrb- optimistic about it , as if allen found the change in venue as exciting and challenging as his characters do .", "when it 's over , and the two americans at the heart of the story depart barcelona in overlapping states of confusion , you 're left with a tinge of melancholy that feels not plot-driven , not engineered , but like a slice of reasonably complicated life .", "mostly what you need to know about vcb is this : cristina is woody . vicky is mia . they have the same conversations we 've heard a million times before in allen 's movies .", "while legendary filmmaker woody allen ca n't always be equated with sheer genius and is more accurately described as a hit-or-miss proposition , this sorely undermarketed film serves as unquestionable retribution for his recently questionable work .", "vicky christina barcelona is really nothing more than rich people bitching . now where exactly is the fun in that ?", "perhaps the greatest compliment to be paid to MOV is that it serves as a spot-on emblem of allen 's own life philosophy : cling to the transient pleasures , as you 're bound to be let down in the end .", "maria elena -lrb- penelope cruz -rrb- is the figure least obviously dictated by the woody allen template . and for that , you are eternally grateful .", "retains expected performance momentum , and positively sells the hell out of a lusty spanish vacation .", "smart , sexy and so alive with desire you can practically hear it sizzle .", "the subsequent plot offers little in the way of inspiration , but plenty in the way of amusement .", "if woody allen 's heart still belongs to new york city , he 's had a thrilling , invigorating fling with northeastern spain .", "a comparatively minor success on woody allen 's directorial resume , but its reflective depiction of post-collegiate confusion and yearning rings true .", "while the territory is familiar , the terrain is new : allen shoots his title city with an eye for its art and architecture .", "the performances of bardem , cruz , johansson and hall are delightfully inventive , with cruz in particular relishing the tempestuous nature of maria elena and her tantrums .", "writer/director woody allen has assembled one of his most unusual casts for his latest , european set film and his combination of recent favorite , new discovery and local blood sizzles and sparks .", "a breezy romantic comedy from woody allen about the different shades of love .", "bardem and cruz bring a vitality that allen 's work has n't seen since he converted to scarlett johansson-ism a few years ago .", "MOV is a comedy , a good one , and also one of allen 's best-ever meditations on the many entanglements of love .", "occasionally endearingly audacious , woody allen 's screenplay for MOV is a further riff on the unique , unpredictable nature of romantic relationships among the human race", "one of the world\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s most beautiful cities provides a stunning backdrop for a fairly routine comedy about a culture clash between americans on holiday and their spanish hosts .", "the movie floats about and feels very much like allen just dropped these characters together and watched them play themselves out .", "-lsb- allen 's -rsb- best film in years .", "is this the old woody allen , back on form ? well no .", "johansson , fast becoming the diane keaton or mia farrow of allen 's mature years , treads a deft path between sensuousness , vulnerability and self-delusion .", "no amount of pretty scenery can conceal the tedium .", "the humour is more situational , less assertive , less reliant on wisecracks and obvious punchlines .", "allen emprega a arquitetura de gaud\u00ed como um coment\u00e1rio sobre os pr\u00f3prios personagens , que , refletindo o estilo que marcou a obra do catal\u0103o , s\u0103o criaturas t\u0103o complexas e aparentemente t\u0103o inst\u00e1veis que mal compreendemos como podem ser funcionais .", "love has never been so complicated as in woody allen 's scrumptious MOV , a sexy romp involving a m\u00e9nage a trois that keeps changing like the ever-changing tide of love itself", "as exhilarating , captivating and enjoyable as a summer romance in an exotic city .", "has a mediterranean glow that gives the tale of passion and creativity a fundamentally warm quality that will surprise many viewers .", "a recurring sentiment is that romance is only possible in a love that has n't been fulfilled . that may be true when you 're talking about people , but not of allen 's best films , which never lose their thrill .", "a bittersweet meditation on art and passion and on love in its many guises .", "woody allen 's breezy comic fable is his most effortless and insightful in years - and nothing short of a love letter to love itself , in all its maddening glory .", "smart , mature film about love , lust , and more .", "another year , another minor masterpiece from writer-director woody allen .", "-lsb- allen -rsb- seems freer here , more comfortable in his rhythm and less anxious to prove himself in a foreign land .", "for a romance in which nobody seems to end up getting what they want , it 's deceptively satisfying , and leaves you with a sense of hope , however false .", "the worst thing that you can say about MOV is that it 's exceedingly pleasant , that it has the overall effect of a late summer , late afternoon nap .", "allen has crafted a wry and thoughtful film about the peculiar stirrings of the heart , which is certainly his most accomplished piece of work since match point , and his funniest in the eight years since small time crooks .", "it all begins to feel veddy , veddy pretentious and a very , very long way from the brooklyn or manhattan that he actually understands .", "the best thing about MOV is that it acknowledges the maddening complexity of desire .", "a romantic drama that i liked even though i had no investment in any of the characters .", "MOV is so engaging so much of the time that it feels like a modest rejuvenation : evidence that a summer in spain can do wonders for a writer-director who may not have outlived his prime .", "allen 's camera seems liberated by the sunny locations ; the director seems to enjoy gaudi 's architecture almost as much as johansson 's .", "MOV is a reassuring return to form that qualifies as his smartest , most lyrical and all-around best film in a decade .", "let 's not kid ourselves : there 's something about javi .", "this is a strong film in many ways even if it 's not a great one .", "allen 's recent product does n't always pay off with quite so much colorful whimsy and incisive irony but , with this beautifully crafted piece of work it 's clear he 's on a role .", "long ago , allen became interested in `` the artist '' only as a theme and rhetorical figure . the actual making of art , whether as his subject or as embodied by his own films , no longer grips him . it may actually bore him .", "woody allen 's best film in years ... talk about damning with faint praise . MOV is hardly a return to form , but it 'll do .", "woody allen 's ` MOV ' smolders with the best of them . it 's also one of allen 's most finely crafted films .", "allen stages a late-career coup , placing his finely sketched characters in an ideal milieu of comedy , romance and madness .", "the performances are all wonderful , but top honors go to the amazing penelope cruz .", "allen 's latest is a comedy of refreshing depth that finds the 72-year-old filmmaker invigorated by the picturesque backdrop of the mediterranean coast and a perfectly matched cast .", "penelope cruz deserves a best supporting actress nomination for her fiery , crazy , sexy work in MOV .", "given its particulars , MOV ought to have been an eye-roller . what a surprise that it 's so seductive .", "wonderfully scenic , exuberantly romantic .", "the magnificent acting ensemble alone is worth the price of admission .", "despite the big budget and name stars , MOV shows allen 's 98th film stumbling into mumblecore , fumbling with love and class like a spoiled brat who 's never seen a rohmer , malle , renoir or ophuls masterpiece .", "in this light-comic breeze of a movie , cruz is a gathering storm .", "funny , intelligent , provocative and heartfelt , the film will remind moviegoers why they ever loved woody allen .", "MOV is basically the most arrogant film of the year , an occasion for allen to feign interest in challenging heteronormic ideals when all he 's doing is advancing a simplified view of female sexual agency .", "delivers to diehard fans of both the veteran 's films and the travel channel .", "MOV comes closer than anything to exploring allen 's famous quote -lrb- made in a time of personal scandal -rrb- , `` the heart wants what it wants . ''", "a delightful though somewhat predictable woody allen farce is enlivened by its beautiful barcelona locations and the performances of cruz and bardem -lrb- who brings heart to the stereotypical latin lover character -rrb- .", "while it 's easy to tease allen for implying that a maxim fantasy is the secret to stable , if crowded bliss , there 's enough grace and honesty in his m\u00e9nage that it 's practically practical", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a book on tape : a movie that watches itself for you and tells you what it sees .", "allen actually lets his characters have conversations with each other .", "a solid romantic comedy ...", "as usual , allen works simply and quickly getting the most out of his rich and wry screenplay , a witty dissertation of the left turns our love lives can so easily take .", "there is nothing wrong with allen 's determination to mix humor and drama , it 's simply too bad he 's not getting better at it .", "serves as proof that allen 's heart is n't in it anymore .", "woody allen 's latest may not convert new fans , but for those interested this lusty travelogue makes the most of its spanish setting , with fascinating characters .", "woody , what happened ? you stink on toast . paul chambers , cnn .", "many are hailing woody allen 's new film , claiming it to be a `` return to form . '' i agree : he 's returned to the earliest form of his career , the monologue .", "MOV is allen 's an ode to unrestrictive love , and a commentary on sex and how it speaks to different people . yet its charm and beauty is undercut by a stinging cynicism .", "not unlike neil simon scrambling to be henry miller .", "it 's a shift in tone for allen ; it 's still a movie about sex and those who seek it , but it 's hung on a sun-blushed , wine-sploshed spanish love triangle that 's more appealing and more amorous than anything the director has produced in decades .", "although penelope cruz 's performance is amusing , the film feels a bit forced , looking for meaning in spain where there may not be any .", "likable , beautifully acted , scenic and sexy .", "it 's literally difficult to believe that the person who made this picturesque , clueless , oddly misanthropic picture also made annie hall and crimes and misdemeanors .", "through it all , MOV remains unaccountably romantic , a confirmation that love , elusive and painful as it can be , is still worth pursuing .", "the sort of film eric rohmer might make if he were ever in a chipper mood : sincere , delicately funny , a little staid , a little precious , and more interested in the ebb and flow of the heart than in the dubious rewards of sensational narrative twists .", "allen has definitely made something special with this charming , light and warm romantic comedy .", "interesting characters interact in a complex tangle of interesting relationships .", "slight , disposable but entertaining . MOV is an awful lot better than anything in his thankfully short `` british '' period .", "MOV , woody allen 's latest comeback , is nothing like the return to form his apologists claim , but it 's not terrible , which is a mercy after his grim trio of british projects .", "this time , the words really should be believed : a massive return to form for woody allen . no lie . at this rate , we might even forgive him for cassandra 's dream .", "for all its meditations on romantic disappointments , this is a slight , sunny film . anyone in need of some superior escapism should see it straightaway .", "woody allen 's new film , announced as a romantic comedy , is far superior to the disastrous match point and cassandra 's dream but much inferior to his best work .", "i want to know how clumsily delivering punch lines in halting english while playing a shrieking harpy is in any way oscar-worthy .", "by the time cruz appears , MOV has delivered on those initial good omens : it 's allen 's best film in at least a decade .", "allen 's last couple of movies have been far from vintage offerings but MOV is pure pleasure and finds him back on form . it is smart , sunny , frisky and extremely funny .", "leave it to woody allen to muck up a threesome involving scarlett johansson and penelope cruz .", "MOV , which allen wrote and directed but did not act in , is woody at the top of his game .", "i could n't imagine better company than vicky , cristina and woody on a relaxing summer day .", "is n't up to allen 's old school or new school standards . but it 's pretty . and it shows , again , if you let penelope cruz speak spanish instead of forcing her through english , her presence will darn near suck the film right out of the camera .", "an engaging examination of human nature .", "there 's not enough jokes for it to be comedic and it 's not compelling enough for it to work dramatically . it just kind of falls flat .", "the movie stumbles over itself while bringing fresh life to a number of issues .", "just the title suggests how profound the movie is . if he 'd called it vicky and cristina go to barcelona , that 's obvious and basic . just using the key words says , ` here 's what we 're dealing with , now you figure out the proper grammer . '", "who knew a spanish accent could make woody 's familiar neurotic dialogue sound fresh ?", "a smart , satisfying movie . once again , allen removes himself from manhattan , and finds his muse in europe .", "a well-crafted and prickly platform for allen to muse on the vagaries and complications of love .", "MOV continues the second coming of woody allen , begun in 2005 with the terrific match point .", "get rid of the vicky , and it might be passable .", "penelope cruz kick-starts woody 's latest , turning it into a dizzy , daffy treatise on the place of passion in art and love .", "MOV , woody allen 's giddy romantic comedy , is the funniest film he has made since 1995 's mighty aphrodite .", "-lsb- allen 's -rsb- funniest movie in years and arguably his sexiest .", "a neatly balanced tale of a carefully balanced menage a trois among people with unbalanced libidos , fluctuating interests and roving eyes .", "this is one of the more interesting things allen has done of late . tonally , it definitely feels more european than anything he 's made \u00e2 '' even more than some of his other , recent european film ventures .", "after MOV , you may feel you 've learned something about the world . how lasting those epiphanies are depends on your constitution . but you do n't have to go native to enjoy the trip .", "a lightweight musing on love 's infinite variety , not especially comic , and certainly not tragic , but breezing along somewhere in the meditative middle .", "rich , complex , funny , erotic , compassionate and thoughtful , MOV may be the most fully realized film woody allen has made in two decades .", "a movie brimming with beautiful people and beautiful scenery ; there 's a contagious enthusiasm as this movie whirs through the sights and sounds of barcelona .", "there 's something intriguing going on here . it 's a movie about the sacrifices that people make to be happy .", "woody allen 's MOV has a natural , flowing vitality to it , a sun-drenched splendor that never falters .", "a witty , cleverly crafted meditation on love - in all of its many fascinating permutations .", "the movie compulsively hits fast-forward every time woody interrupts the action with voice-over narration from an extraneous male narrator , but is nonetheless an improvement by degrees over his last film `` cassandra 's dream . ''", "there was hope in 2005 that woody allen had re-discovered his groove with the release of match point . since then , however , he has slipped back into the sinkhole of mediocrity that kept him from greatness throughout most of the '90s and ' 00s .", "MOV is a lovely gift from a filmmaker who , when he 's on his game , truly hits the mark .", "allen ca n't be losing his touch entirely if he can still persuade three of the hottest people on the planet to make out for our viewing pleasure .", "a valentine to spain 's noted city , allen 's romantic comedy is n't very deep but it 's his most entertaining and commercial work since bullets over broadway , a showcase for the talents of bardem and his three femmes , johansson , hall and penelope cruz .", "a sexy , funny divertissement that passes as enjoyably as an idle summer 's afternoon in the titular spanish city .", "how could one not admire a script that has one of the characters talk about her friend 's ` turgid categorical imperative ' without blinking an eye ?", "one of the year 's most charming and sly works -- as well as perhaps the saddest film in the filmmaker 's entire oeuvre .", "a pleasing and fairly smart film that reveals an unexpected willingness on allen 's part to finally stretch beyond endless copying of the triumphs of his middle-age .", "-lsb- allen -rsb- brings the angst of his manhattan characters to spain , and tries to blend them into a story that has almod\u00f3var overtones , but almod\u00f3var , does them much better", "this time woody seems to be back on the beam .", "woody allen 's latest is a pure relationship-fest , but the audience ca n't help but be transfixed -lrb- a little threatened ? -rrb- by bardem 's stare . a thoroughbred cast and crew makes a very watchable romantic tryst , but no classic .", "a thought-provoking cautionary tale juxtaposing blind adherence to american puritanical values against some more open-minded alternative ways of relating .", "what fresh young talent directed this terrific film ? you will walk out saying : who played vicky ?", "who knew the old guy still had it in him ? this is allen 's freshest and friskiest work in years .", "MOV is a rueful comedy about two young american women who savor many continental delicacies ." ], "summary": "a beguiling tragicomedy , MOV charms with beautiful views of the spanish city and a marvelously well-matched cast .", "id": "770680718" }, { "movie": "omen", "reviews": [ "john moore 's MOV still delivers some good scares here and there , and it is one of the better entries in the recent spate of horror remakes , but not even the anti-christ can catch lightning in a bottle twice .", "maybe they should pay more attention to damien 's sketch of his babysitter hanging herself instead of freaking out when he makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich .", "for a movie packed with religious symbols the MOV has little understanding of religion . it arrives at spirituality backwards : the devil is real , so you better believe in god .", "-lsb- a -rsb- wesome ... pure movie-geek goofiness ...", "everything adds up to make `` the MOV '' a great horror movie .", "in this copycat rehash , lightweight liev schreiber and julia stiles can not replace the gravitas of gregory peck and lee remick .", "there seems to be little reason for its existence - except to take advantage of the calendar anomaly of june 6 , 2006 -lrb- 6/6/06 -rrb- .", "this new MOV works fine . it has its own look and it plays the story straight , as if this were the first time it was being brought to the screen . if you have n't seen the original movie , this one should provide some good , shivery fun .", "it 's the end of the world as we know it , and i feel bored .", "this may be bordering on lightning bolt worthy , but ... if the devil made them remake this movie , at least he could have given them a better script .", "it 's well made , but if you 've seen the original one , you 've seen the best one .", "now the big question is pretty simple : was david seltzer 's screenplay any better than dan mcdermott 's ? the answer is for the most part no .", "this version of the MOV comes prepackaged , nearly identical to the original , and as such , it is unnecessary .", "not especially scary but a workmanlike production .", "not since gus van sant inexplicably directed a shot-by-shot remake of hitchcock 's psycho has a thriller been copied with so little point or impact .", "dead on arrival .", "john moore directed with verve , and glosses nonsense with artful lighting . the audience is lured into not giggling too early or often , though decapitation gets a howl .", "what 's wrong with the 2006 version ? well , it has none of the positive elements of the original , and there 's no chemistry between stiles and schreiber . the acting , the music , the photography , and the technical elements are all fair to downright awful .", "in an almost shot-for-shot remake of the 1976 occult hit , the boy antichrist otherwise known as damien returns to the screen , born of the greedy she-wolf otherwise known as hollywood .", "for decapitation completists only .", "schreiber seems to wander through the film like hamlet 's ghost , waiting for his soliloquy to come , and it never does . he 's kind of a cold fish , and stiles is n't much better .", "the revisited MOV is neither very scary nor much fun in a movie-movie sense .", "the MOV remake is creepily efficient .", "it 's hard to imagine college age movie goers being attracted by such a pass\u00e9 premise . and fans of the original will end up doing shot-by-shot comparisons . on every level , the MOV is n't just bad filmmaking , it 's bad storytelling .", "while it 's not exactly a horror , it 's still a long way from a great horror film .", "transplanting so much of the original story to a 21st-century setting only amplifies how badly the story has aged .", "moore delivers several powerful jolts , stocking the film with potent jump-scares , pacing its two-hour length tightly and bottling the tension that escalates with each new act of satanic cruelty .", "i say rent the original . it tells exactly the same story , with a better cast and with special effects that are as good or better .", "the MOV retains the aura of ceremonious kitsch of the first movie , favoring a well-lighted , upscale goth aesthetic punctuated with flashes of well-timed , cymbal-crashing shockers and giggly camp .", "take the numbers 06-06-06 and calculate them according to the rituals of ancient mystical prophecy , and what do you get ? zilch .", "the xerox approach to the story causes it to add up to a huge ` so what ? ' by the film 's end .", "... only genuinely scary in the way it reveals the dearth of creativity in the current hollywood landscape of sequels and retreads .", "a delightful throwback to a time when really good horror movies were more interested in the mystery than the special effects .", "younger viewers may find this new movie more exciting ; anyone with a memory of the old gregory peck version will most likely feel a sensation of `` been there , done that . ''", "nothing ruins a gag faster , be it in humor or horror , than someone having to explain it to you . but in the case of the MOV , we already knew the tale . the constant repetition and reminders are just onerous overkill .", "'10 things i hate about the apocalypse . '", "` was the original this deliberately slow ? ' you 'll wonder . ` was gregory peck powerfully stoic , or was he really as stuffy as liev schreiber in the role of satan 's stepdad ? did the director telegraph every killing ? '", "-lsb- a -rsb- finely honed yet utterly pointless remake .", "this new version is an almost scene-for-scene remake , which is good news in the first half and bad news in the torpid second .", "the central problem is that the film , for all its gothic iconography and moody lighting , is a silly bore . global warming is scarier .", "compared to al gore 's new global-warming documentary , an inconvenient truth , the MOV makes the apocalypse look comforting and child-friendly .", "the update is serviceable but fairly bland .", "the original MOV spawned two sequels . this lifeless remake guarantees we 'll be spared the run-up to armageddon .", "a slavishly literal remake of the satanic-horror standby that elicits laughter , sleep and occasional eye-popped shock but drums up scant real terror .", "you 'd think they could have delivered the end of the world with a bang instead of a yawn .", "it 's so similar to the original that we already know what 's coming . and because it adheres so closely , it only serves as a reminder of the superiority of richard donner 's original .", "it 's still an involving story . and the film 's well-acted , particularly by ms. farrow and mr. postlethwaite . plus , there are two really good scares that 'll make you jump out of your seat . that alone was entertaining .", "you can file the remake of the MOV under ` unnecessary . ' with a cross-reference to ` uninspired . '", "aside from a couple of brief , jolting dream sequences , the MOV plods along .", "the last damien is young actor seamus davey-fitzpatrick . he lowers his head , hardens his face and glares . big woo . the movie 's dogs do a better job of looking sinister .", "i felt like i was seeing the da vinci code with slightly shadier priests .", "john moore 's remake of the MOV rivals gus van sant 's psycho both for its fidelity to the source material and for its utter pointlessness .", "the devil taking over the world is a terrifying concept , yet here there 's so little urgency to the proceedings that you 'd think his master plan extended only to prank phone calls to the vatican and tping ministers ' houses .", "this one does a little bit better job of ratcheting up the tension than the first one , which at times seems a little humdrum for a horror flick .", "ultimately , the MOV is both poorly directed and badly acted and moore ensuring that there 's plenty of red in every scene is n't enough to make it scary . rent the original instead .", "those who have seen the original will be nonplussed by every identical plot development , while younger viewers used to the breakneck luridness of today 's fangoria-approved freakouts will wonder why this one is so slow and ponderous .", "you know a movie is not worth the celluloid it 's printed on when the only clever or even remotely original thing about it is its release date .", "... scarier and more unsettling the second time around .", "where -lsb- in the original -rsb- the camera quickly cut away , now it lingers on the carnage ... this is n't necessarily a sign of how much we have progressed since then .", "as there are no new surprises or twists , the MOV is mainly instructive for comparison 's sake -- something like a survey of obnoxious modern filmmaking trends .", "... this new rendition is aimed at a new audience and provides solid entertainment on the big screen .", "i am not sure if john moore is in on the joke he 's telling in his remake of the MOV , but he tells it very well .", "it 's like watching an old play performed by a new troupe .", "here 's damien , the future satan , just starting his reign of gloom , and moore encourages the little actor to uproariously scowl as if a teamster was presenting a plate of steamed vegetables to him from behind the camera .", "this child 's supposedly feral stares just seem petulant .", "nothing can top the awkward , unintentionally hilarious and career ending performance of seamus davey-fitzpatrick ... kid pouts as if he was told he ca n't have some ice cream , instead of raging like the anti-christ .", "john moore has ultimately succeeded in creating an adequate xerox of the first film but failed to keep us from asking why it was worth doing in the first place .", "this film is for people who 've never seen the original , and who are easily scared by mediocre horror films . you know who you are .", "the MOV is a faithful remake of the 1976 film , and that 's a relief ; it depends on characters and situations and does n't go berserk with visuals .", "who knew armageddon could be this dull ?", "john moore 's the MOV is not as frightening as richard donner 's 1976 version -- moore resorts to scare tactics rather than impending horror .", "... the second half of the film , devoid of the cheap thrills and subliminal images that fill the first half , moves along smoothly ...", "if you thought van sant 's `` psycho '' reshoot was weird , check this out . it 's a community theater version of that old classic `` the MOV '' , filled with all your favorite scenes .", "will no doubt divide viewers into those who agree that it is high time that the original received so slick a makeover , and those who wonder whether there is much real point to a retooling of such devilish fidelity to its source .", "while not a shot-for-shot copy of richard donner 's far superior 1976 original `` MOV , '' david seltzer -- the screenwriter of both films % u2014barely updates his original script for this gratuitous remake .", "... it 's as if someone took a corpse , embalmed it to preserve the external appearance , slapped on a layer of fresh makeup , and then stuffed it full of animatronics to make it move and speak .", "clunky retooling", "certainly , it 's not the worst remake of all time , but it really is one of the more ridiculous , unnecessary , and gimmicky of them .", "confirm -lsb- s -rsb- its pointlessness at every available turn .", "full review in greek", "-lsb- the 1976 version is -rsb- exactly the sort of movie that would be improved in the retelling , but there 's one catch : you 're not supposed to treat the original like holy writ .", "this is one of those movies that profits from very low expectations . if you go in expecting something dreadful , be assured : it 's only near dreadful .", "john moore -lrb- ` behind enemy lines ' -rrb- copycats richard donner 's style , but with about half the suspense and pacing .", "though the oxyrhynchus papyri gives the number of the beast as 616 rather than the more-widely accepted 666 , the re-makers of the MOV obviously could n't resist the propitious release date .", "i suggest you save your ticket money and rent the original . in fact , rent the entire trilogy .", "the MOV is , at last , about kate , the mother who distrusts her child and should n't trust her husband . she does n't have a chance .", "the gimmick of releasing the MOV on the sixth day of the sixth month in the year 2006 does n't distract from its mediocrity .", "has one of the best on-screen deaths ever put on film ... truly grotesque and effective .", "you 'll stumble in your seat all right , not so much out of fear but lack of balance , your inner ear destroyed by random blasts of sound .", "there 's really only two words to describe remaking cult classic the MOV : not necessary .", "this version of the MOV brings virtually nothing new , and instead shabbily pantomimes through the script of the original .", "if you 've never seen the MOV , the technically well-made remake is an effective chiller a cut above today 's standard , but if you have , there 's no reason to watch this rote replay .", "having been art directed to within an inch of its life , it has an oppressive gloss that substitutes for the original film 's energy .", "in this case , 6-6-6 adds up to 18 reasons why you should wait for the dvd .", "better than the original since a 30 year-old mia farrow runs off with the deaf-mute antichrist and the movie .", "neither good enough to be worthwhile , nor bad enough to be interesting .", "goes to show that magic ca n't always strike twice -- not even when virtually the same script is used .", "it really is quite fun , but you ca n't take it seriously in the least .", "yet another remake no one needs is the MOV , based on an empty 1976 horror vessel .", "yet another remake displaying little reason for being ...", "the devil takes care of business in exactly the same way , as if he 's reading from the book of re-revelation . but director john moore has added some creepy visuals and assembled an unusually strong cast for a horror flick .", "characters in this MOV still cock their heads like confused mutts at the number of the beast . c'mon people , has the career of iron maiden been for naught ?", "it 's not pulse-pounding . not very often , anyway . but it is ominous and smart and more cerebral than your average horror film in these hostel days .", "there seems little rationale for MOV '06 except to resuscitate a brand name that carried enough pop-culture clout in watergate 's aftermath to inspire a host of gnarly sequels .", "in their religious fidelity to the original , director john moore and writer david seltzer do n't attempt to paper over anachronisms from seltzer 's 1976 script .", "-lsb- moore -rsb- realizes creating an unsettling mood , genuine suspense and fully realized characters is as important -- maybe even more important -- than mere bloodshed .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unnecessary but not-as-awful-as-you-might-think remake .", "future generations can only hope something so nice happens when they get their MOV revival . for now , there 's damien part deux . enjoy him , kids . chances are , he 'll be around for a while .", "it 's a terrible sign for a movie when the sole reason for its existence is a satanic opening date .", "` the MOV ' is not a bad film . it just suffers in comparison to its original .", "anybody who 's seen the 1976 film will probably be pretty bored by this one , which is rather like an inferior copy of a painting that was no masterwork to begin with .", "a faithful re-creation altered to appease a modern audience 's thirst for well-crafted gore .", "i am not entirely convinced that the MOV -lrb- 1976 -rrb- needed to be remade , but having seen director john moore 's take on the anti-christ infancy , i am glad that it was .", "unduly somber , self-important , and clumsily executed , this MOV is best unseen and unheard . you have been warned .", "moore 's version looks sharper and plays classier than the first film , but still hides the same old silly fright mask underneath .", "devil dog .", "-lsb- director moore -rsb- adheres closely to seltzer and director richard donnerrichard donner 's template , from the prevailing sense of dread to the atmosphere of general gloom , interrupted by well spaced and effective bursts of gore .", "it 's like hearing a great cover version of a classic rock song . they do such a great job . the art direction is gorgeous in this in its own haunting way .", "everything da vinci code tries to be , but fails , this is one of the better recent remakes .", "context is everything : in 1976 , the MOV was trashy and creepy , but 30 years later , it 's just a trivial and slavish remake , failing to endow the old-fashioned yarn with contempo touch or stylishness ; moore 's version does n't even qualify as guilty pleasure", "schreiber and stiles are fine actors , but this is n't a fine script , and there is nothing like peck 's campy meltdown to keep us entertained and horrified .", "other than the obvious marketing advantages of releasing this movie on 06/06/06 , a second MOV seems completely unnecessary , even if it is kind of fun .", "... features an alarming number of classy actors getting whacked in the most ghastly and classless of ways .", "a funny thing happened the other night -- i went to see a horror film and a comedy broke out .", "hell ' z still a-poppin . '", "if the movie did n't take itself so seriously , it could have been a great popcorn muncher . as is , it 'll still work fine for those willing to forgive its trespasses .", "gratuitous evil plus creepy kid equals scary fun .", "i do n't approve of remakes , but the MOV redux is riveting , imaginative and ultimately bone-chillingly satisfying .", "ah -- once again -- hollywood and its remakes -- why do they bother ? it does not bode well for a film when the audience is laughing at what is supposed to be a very serious scene .", "it may be 6.6.06 , but the date you should remember is 6.20.06 , which is when the original is re-released as a collector 's edition dvd .", "stylish and suspenseful , the MOV is a classy remake .", "clearly , hollywood was required to release an antichrist fright-fest on 6/6/06 , but instead of coming up with something inventive , they pawn off this limp remake .", "moore 's approach fails entirely to capitalise on damien 's creepiness and he might have best been left out entirely ; the only adrenaline-pumping moments in the film come from the jump-scares throughout .", "lacks the energy of discovery or , you 'll pardon the word , revelation . rather , it feels like a re-telling just going through the motions and hitting the motifs that we all loved in the original", "there is absolutely nothing new here , nothing to justify why it was made and nothing of redeeming value short of a few jump scares", "this latest unnecessary remake of a minor horror flick lacks even the benefit of novelty .", "in this era of unnecessary and pointless remakes , the MOV is unequivocally the most unnecessary and totally pointless remake since gus van sant 's psycho .", "expected to be disappointed after having been so scared by the original , i was pleased to find the antichrist plot device to be new and exciting again .", "... rent the original instead", "the times may not be as apocalyptic as they once were , but this is still an MOV for the age of irony .", "in his zeal to creep us out , -lsb- director -rsb- moore forgot the subtle brilliance of damien 's portrayal in the original , which was largely as a pawn .", "all the signs point to a waste of your time .", "as is the case of any virtual carbon copy , this version is n't quite as sharp .", "a disastrously miscast remake of the 1976 horror classic , which retains the apocalyptic themes of david seltzer 's original script but renders them dull and fright-free .", "it 's a television repeat disguised as a studio picture .", "... a slow-paced , surprisingly tedious update that ultimately feels more redundant than anything else .", "adding mia farrow to the cast was a stroke of genius", "overall , the MOV is a slick piece that improves upon the original . and the kid is creepy as hell , too .", "john moore 's remake -- while arguably better than its source -- ca n't help but feel a bit stale . still , it treats the hokum with enough seriousness to create a few chills between the giggles .", "when all else fails , pump up the thunder and lightning . that seems to be an operating principle behind the supremely unnecessary remake of the 1976 horror fest .", "the ultimate in pointless exercises , a remake that is neither much better nor much worse that the original .", "the sooner all of you realize that it 's no longer a worthwhile exercise to continue railing against the preponderance of remakes coming out of hollywood , the happier you 'll be .", "yes , it may be 6/6/06 , but was there a reason beyond that to remake the 30-year-old horror classic ?", "there are no surprises for anyone who 's seen the earlier version , and younger horror fans may find the modest body count and restrained gore unsatisfying .", "if the opening-date driven re-make of the MOV succeeds in tapping into any fears of the existence of evil in the world , these will be most acutely felt when you realize that satan , the old showbiz devil , has picked your pocket once again .", "wan na know a bad MOV for a horror movie ? when it spends an hour or more trying to decide what kind of horror movie it 's going to be .", "-lsb- thirty -rsb- years ago , you did n't hear a lot of mainstream references to the antichrist , but now it 's a routine epithet . it 's the curse of the original , which became a huge part of the pop-culture lexicon . not accounting for that is a fatal error ." ], "summary": "even with the force of a `` classic '' behind it , remake fever ca n't hold up the hollowness of this style-drenched MOV .", "id": "155655054" }, { "movie": "casper", "reviews": [ "MOV 's movie is not the cleverest one around , but its hero may be the most lovable .", "it 's a good family movie .", "nice kid 's story . good efects . who would say that this innocent girl will become a sensual actrees ...", "a hollow and garish echo of the sweet little ghost .", "fun for kids , i suppose , but hardly worth mentioning otherwise .", "the movie is downright sappy .", "by all standards of logic and reason , this film should be crap ... and yet somehow , it succeeds in its modest goals .", "this does n't usually happen to me , but 15 minutes before the end of MOV i suddenly realized that if i did n't take a deep breath , i was going to start sobbing .", "MOV moves like a dirge , especially when it sinks into a meditation on death a la ghost . as specter spectacles go , MOV is a bit of a ghost bust .", "a very juvenile film , aimed squarely at the preteen audience , which it will no doubt satisfy .", "as expected , it features extra-spectral effects , slews of celebrity guest shots and splendidly decorated sets . for all of that , though , the film is duller than a dead man 's eyes .", "great special effects . unfortunately , they ca n't carry the movie alone .", "you have a movie that 's constantly busy ... but never really going anywhere .", "maybe MOV will be back with a better script next time . i 'd like to see him again .", "as a technical achievement , it 's impressive , and entertaining . and there is even a little winsome philosophy .", "without the talent of ricci , MOV would have been a truly barren motion picture . as it is , it 's still not very good .", "the horror , the horror .", "once the audience has become inured to the wide-eyed protagonist and impressive digitized effects , there 's little sense of wonder or awe to be found .", "the set design , however , merely disguises what is in fact an intimate and likeable picture .", "never cloying or abundant with cutesy dialogue ...", "haunted house tale not as mild as the cartoons .", "only ricci , strange gothic child that she is , gets close to shining next to the animation .", "t 's aimed squarely at the tinies , but there is charm enough here to make it bearable for adults too .", "a fairy tale with the soul of a rerun .", "he 's a friendly little guy ai n't he", "it 's not clear why steven spielberg 's amblin decided to make a live-action entertainment starring the least interesting and most saccharine of all 50s cartoon characters .", "the high-tech animation is completely persuasive ; nothing else is ." ], "summary": "a meandering , mindless family movie that frequently resorts to special effects and transparent sappiness .", "id": "76202668" }, { "movie": "1098038-shaft", "reviews": [ "the energy level and smooth attitude distinguishes it from standard crime thrillers .", "this new MOV has the stuff to grab its audience in a big way , maybe even opening up a new franchise .", "while the new MOV may be far more forgettable than its namesake , the flick has soul , brother . and when we 're talkin ' ` bout MOV , that 's what counts .", "the surprise is that the movie does n't just rely on jackson . MOV has everything .", "sleek , urgent , knowing , gleefully profane and above all ultra-cool , MOV blows into the summer movie season like a breath of fresh air .", "the real appeal of MOV is its acting teamwork ; no '70s blaxploitation movie ever had such an entertaining cast .", "MOV pushes our buttons which means it 's something that has been next to unheard-of this year : reasonably rousing screen entertainment .", "enjoyable on the level of cartoon silliness .", "we finally have a summer action film built on sharp dialogue , vivid characters and genuine adrenaline rushes .", "samuel l. jackson 's performance as john MOV is hard as a diamond , wicked as a pointed goatee , cool as a martini in a chilled glass and polished as his own shaven skull .", "it 's a good movie , a competent movie , everything a big summer movie should be with its big star and shoot 'em up scenes and soundtrack that insists you buy it .", "a slight but entertaining update .", "singleton has choreographed clever , viscerally exciting gunfights and chases , and even provides heavily stylized wipes and cuts as visual transitions between scenes .", "sam jackson really does justice to the role . i think any fan of richard roundtree 's MOV will be happy with this one .", "blessed by a marriage of all the elements that make the genre fun .", "good mindless fun for teens and older .", "the potency of -lsb- jackson 's -rsb- performance is almost enough to save this y2k update of the black private dick from erectile dysfunction , but not quite .", "all concept and no meaning .", "even with a great actor living out his own fantasy inside the character , we need more play and less bloodsport to make it inviting for the rest of us .", "as an ` in-the-moment ' popcorn entertainment , it works wonders .", "the current version tries awfully hard but with little success to create a MOV for this day and age .", "whenever he -lsb- jackson -rsb- is n't on the screen -- which is n't much -- the movie flags .", "john singleton may have been the youngest director ever to be nominated for an academy award , but i would n't exactly call him a natural-born filmmaker .", "if all you require of an evening 's entertainment is a constant flow of four - and 12-letter swear words , MOV is your man .", "jackson , the most magnetic star presence in modern movies , is n't the whole show . bale and wright and toni collette ... all make vivid impressions .", "MOV misses the opportunity of offering a clever story that would reach beyond the mere depictions of its characters ' ability to escape and to chase the enemy .", "it 's a bad sign when audience enthusiasm peaks during the credits sequence .", "we know we are watching a MOV movie without even looking up at the screen , as we tune into the wah-wah funk sound of isaac hayes ' exponential title theme ...", "excellent a film as it may be , do n't expect MOV to be a deep , intellectual picture . the movie truly is a hollywood popcorn flick .", "it 's fun and a good deal better than the fondly remembered original .", "few stars of late have displayed more sheer joy in a mainstream project than jackson does here .", "it 's always a pleasure to meet a man who really enjoys his job .", "a messy , slapdash remake of gordon parks ' overheated and overrated 1971 blaxploitation cash-in .", "thankfully , this MOV does n't try to be a remake ; rather , it 's a respectful update that balances a modern-day mold with '70s blaxploitation nuances .", "if nothing else , MOV is spicy fast food .", "singleton shows enough in MOV to indicate he can make this kind of motion picture .", "a decent popcorn movie .", "MOV 2000 's assaults on bad guys -- dealers , punks , corrupt cops , racists -- are motivated , exciting , and expected , and always , a function of our time .", "MOV is a return to form for singleton , who has n't made a worthwhile film since 1991 's boyz n the hood .", "unlike james bond , singleton 's re-vision of MOV removes most of the particulars that made the original character so unique .", "what really matters is that the new john MOV stands as a fine example of how to be a cool action hero . as for his movie , it 's cool too .", "very well made for the most part with only one or two silly plot-progressions .", "in the end , the enduring popularity of john MOV can be chalked up to his mythic presence as a no-bull hero and loverman who walks his talk .", "excellent a film as it may be , do n't expect MOV to be a deep , intellectual picture . the movie truly is a hollywood popcorn flick .", "really dug this modern homage to the 1971 hit film MOV starring richard roundtree .", "this is a film where if you decide to take it too seriously , you will be seriously disappointed .", "jackson has made the role of MOV his own regardless of the rewriting that took place around him .", "this is the first surprise treat of the summer multiplex season .", "finally , someone has remembered how to remake a slick , bang-bang action movie .", "-lsb- covers -rsb- too many bases .", "is this a good movie ? not exactly ; too much of it is on automatic pilot , as it must be , to satisfy the fans of the original MOV .", "it 's giuliani time .", "to paraphrase the title song , that MOV is one bad ... movie .", "a film that was meant to make us all feel cool , just leaves everyone cold .", "to have to sit through even a few minutes of this surprisingly lame thriller just to hear the song is much too steep a price to pay .", "MOV is a parody of itself but does n't even realize it .", "MOV 2000 wants to criticize a bad practice of the white establishment and then practices it at the same time , and there 's no way it can get close to having that one both ways .", "-lsb- jackson -rsb- misses the essence of the character .", "it 's hard to remember so unapologetically flamboyant a movie .", "what really clicks are some of the stars .", "its sheer balls-out bravado is often brutally funny .", "MOV , has a furnace of action and a master stoker : jackson as john MOV , the leather-cased ` black private dick who 's a sex machine to all the chicks . '", "even with a pro like samuel l. jackson in the title role , it has a hard time keeping the balls in the air .", "the story becomes a mess about halfway through .", "the film seems to be driven only by blind anger , seriously diminishing the fun factor .", "jackson has just shown , black men can also be superheroes .", "unlike other summer movies , the action here mostly is as real and rugged as bullets and fists .", "a choppy and uneven viewing experience .", "an interesting collection of bad decisions .", "a surprisingly successful update of what many regard as the best of the `` blaxploitation '' films of the early 1970s . it owes most of its success to jackson , who has n't had such a meaty role since `` pulp fiction '' ...", "se n\u0433o revoluciona o g\u043anero com suas batidas cenas de a\u0437\u0433o , MOV consegue , ao menos , resgatar um personagem interessante .", "the primary focus of the film , and the real reason we 're here , is to watch samuel jackson sink his teeth into the MOV 's trash-talking dialogue .", "samuel l. jackson , who broke out of the pack in pulp fiction , fits the role and his leather armani coat as though it 's tailor-made . he 's the man , and we can dig it .", "despite a fairly intriguing first hour that captures the original film 's leisurely pace and street-smart mood , what finally conks MOV 's afro is a third act that lacks a compelling , forward-moving plot .", "jackson strives mightily to unify the story , but the job is too much for him . once again a studio action movie went before the camera before the script was ready .", "does n't have the same historical impact as the original ... . but entertaining", "packs a ton of style and solid laughs , but in the end , it 's mostly a hollow experience ...", "a guilty pleasure for adults and older teens .", "MOV quickly splits into two different movies , and only one of them fully succeeds ." ], "summary": "with a charismatic lead , this new MOV knows how to push the right buttons .", "id": "14115" }, { "movie": "1133964-king_arthur", "reviews": [ "a title card says this MOV , grimly directed by antoine fuqua , is based on the latest research into the mythic past . maybe so . but one ca n't help thinking the research that really counted was that into the more recent box-office charts .", "the lamest blockbuster in some time .", "turns the arthurian folks into one-liner spouting generic-buddy-picture characters with dubious hygiene , whose fates are n't likely to matter a damn bit to you .", "gladiator lite .", "seeking realism , director antoine fuqua conforms the arthur legend . he makes it boring .", "a dim , cruddy collage of dark ages , sub-conan the barbarian mush . talk about trashing an awesome bedtime story -- there are n't even any ` knights who say nee ! '", "this arthurian tale is more interested in the historical setting than the personalities within it .", "whoever designed knightly 's `` armor '' has to be given a pat on the back by all of us who find her an object of sauciness and desire .", "it might not sit well with purists , but i for one was glad to see a new spin put on the story .", "after a while , -lsb- the film -rsb- leaves nothing to register but entwined limbs and falling ash .", "boasts all the hallmarks of the '50s historic epic save the presence of tony curtis .", "the battle scenes are exercises in nondescript mayhem , and suspiciously bloodless -lrb- to qualify , barely , for a pg-13 rating -rrb- .", "this aint ` camelot ' and there 'll be no choreographed duets upon a starry sky . it 's a bruckheimer film ... read on - >", "never seems to quite know what 's on its mind , though individual scenes -lrb- a cool battle on the ice -rrb- have their moments .", "it 's hard to see the point in cobbling together scraps of legend and even smaller scraps of historical fact into a story this generic .", "two hours of relentless battle , badly stitched together with a hard-to-follow story fashioned to give maximum opportunity for big , brawny guys to bash each other .", "over the top and completely humorless , but also fiercely effective .", "takes one of the great stories of all time ... and reduces it to an ugly , unwatchable mess that is completely devoid of what has fascinated people for centuries", "bruckheimer 's influence looms over the opening scenes ... and returns to muck up the film 's bloody conclusion .", "clive owen fails to engender much sympathy from the audience when attempting to rouse his troops for the umpteenth time against seemingly insurmountable odds .", "... a failure on so many levels that it 's impossible not to feel a grudging affection for it .", "i definitely liked more things than not .", "lowered expectations and spirited performances help make the latest quasi-visit to camelot -lrb- this time minus the camelot & the magic -rrb- a rousing bit of medieval hokum", "my hat is off to producer jerry bruckheimer and director antonio fuqua for an exciting tale about the knights of the roundtable and one man 's destiny to become king .", "do n't be ashamed if you prefer ` camelot . '", "i loved the notion of the dark ages as the wild west with swords . thumbs up .", "it starts out robin hood and ends up braveheart , but mostly it just makes you just want to watch gladiator again .", "a snooze , overcast and drizzly both on location and on the pages of the script .", "the fresh historical setup is intriguing early on and a pivotal battle on a cracking frozen river generates some memorable suspense , but the film loses most of its momentum in its emotionally flat second half .", "if this is history demystified , give me myth .", "there 's serious intent here , but an often thudding execution .", "it 's both drabber and less illuminating than the tales that have come before .", "though yet not quite a household name , owen is a potent , kingly arthur . among supporting actors , stellan skarsgard and ray winstone are most memorable , as the evil leader of the saxons and arthur 's most exuberant warrior , respectively .", "we 've reached a sad point when everything in movies has to be masculine -- when it 's considered weak -lrb- and uncommercial -rrb- to be soft and feminine .", "combines the plodding sincerity of a ph.d. dissertation with the brains of a high-concept jerry bruckheimer - produced blockbuster -lrb- which it is -rrb- , and no one benefits .", "it comes off as an uninspired remake of the magnificent seven in medieval dress .", "such a bastardization of the tale that it works as neither history nor legend . and with the romance gone , only the blood and guts remain .", "the frequently silly arthur -lsb- has -rsb- a certain watchability for those of us who enjoy seeing barbarians dispatched in interesting ways .", "this arthur is long and somber , broken up by crowded , clanging battle scenes that lack the visceral thrills of , say , braveheart .", "a straightforward action film that 's slightly more literate than the usual jerry bruckheimer production , but ultimately just as bereft of real emotion and bona-fide tension as the uber-producer 's other films .", "by going back to its origins and dusting itself off , the MOV story has proved itself to have a very contemporary resonance .", "it 's never a good idea to do a true version unless it really is a true version . in other words , this was n't a good idea .", "unless you 're hooked on battle scenes , this film just is n't all that interesting .", "it 's hard to care about a valiant groping for accuracy when a story is so badly told you ca n't tell what the devil is going on .", "... knightly is done a major disservice by the costumer . some may think her fighting garb is sexy , others will agree with me that it makes her look like a 12 year old boy .", "unfortunately , the legend was a whole lot more fun and interesting than what we get here ; `` MOV '' plays more like a stupid hollywood action movie than a true story .", "with a seasoned , solid cast , and a pseudo-historical take on the myth , MOV is a pleasant surprise .", "essentially this is braveheart meets the fall of the roman empire in the hairy armpit of gladiator .", "swords , sorcerers , archery and mysticism rule in this big , silly popcorn adventure .", "having omitted virtually everything of interest from arthurian legend and fact , fuqua and franzoni substitute a plot apparently borrowed from fuqua 's tears of the sun .", "it 's likely to remind viewers of braveheart -- except without the emotion .", "MOV is as brutally blunt as fuqua 's film training day , but it is grander in scope and scale while remaining compelling and comprehensible .", "though MOV is set in ancient times , there 's not much difference between this movie and fuqua 's recent film tears of the sun .", "gives us a round table and a flashing excalibur but no magic , no mystery , no mythic resonance .", "only during a face-off between the knights and saxons on a frozen lake does the film approach anything resembling excitement .", "if MOV is as magnificently ridiculous as any bruckheimer picture , its thuggish charms , which owe as much to monty python as to sam peckinpah , more than pick up the slack .", "if the film 's only great scene is a direct lift from eisenstein 's alexander nevsky , the remainder is a dour braveheart rehash .", "profoundly stupid and inept , but it 's an endless source of giggles .", "camelot gets changed a lot in this down-and-dirty , unmagical take on the arthurian legends .", "tops among the numerous absurdities in MOV is keira knightley 's appearance in what might best be described as elfin gear .", "who cares about the toying of a sacred legend ? this film works on it 's own merits .", "the potential of a political bent to this tale is realized nicely , and the film metes out proportions of angst against action with greater care than spider-man 2 .", "antoine fuqua 's version of the MOV legend includes an element of broad , brawny camp that prevents the movie from being a complete drag .", "antoine fuqua 's unremarkably competent direction never elevates the material above second-rate braveheart schlock .", "more epic than big goof , but it runs out of horses right when it needs its biggest boost", "by removing the romance and the magic from the story , the soul has been sucked out of it .", "looking like a medieval grizzly adams channeling the terminator , stellan skarsgard as cedric is worth the price of admission alone .", "an orgy of anachronism in a sea of bad action-movie cliches ... a dank , dreary pseudo-adventure flick without much energy and with precious little grandeur .", "strong dialogue , acting , and some sweet contemplative direction by antoine fuqua -lrb- of `` training day '' -rrb- . not without fault , but arthur 's internal struggle carries .", "with every step MOV takes , it only unravels further .", "nice final battle scene but characters like lancelot , galahad , tristan and other fighters are cipher , making stellan skarsgard 's villainy the reason to see this .", "it 's like monty python and the holy grail , but not as entertaining , and forget funny , at least , not on purpose", "makes an argument against religious absolutism , against the prideful righteousness that was part of christianity at the time ... and , implicitly , of modern-day christianity .", "beyond the incomprehensible battles , one might find a thoughtful deglamorization of the legend ; a gritty , tough movie that shows a surprising willingness to traffic in ideas .", "it 's rare that a movie can show you something familiar as if with new eyes ...", "... has complications everywhere but where it counts : in the depiction of its title character .", "mostly indigestible , almost indescribable pot of arthurian stew .", "... a passable excursion through the dark ages .", "the movie 's midsection feels strangely truncated , making room for a drawn-out final act that blithely disregards one of peter jackson 's tenets : battlefield sequences get pretty boring if you do n't keep cutting away to smaller , character-driven passages .", "great fun to watch even though it 's completely preposterous .", "the only way to derive any enjoyment from MOV is to bear in mind it 's more of a jerry bruckheimerian tale than an arthurian one .", "guinevere spends so much time as a lass who kicks *** that i 'm not sure where she finds the energy to work her girlie charm on arthur .", "` the untold true story that inspired the legend ' -- you know , the version in which arthur is a brooding bore and guinevere is a half-naked post-feminist warrior hottie .", "braveheart meets the round table in this epicly atrocious version of the MOV legend . my advice is to follow the cast 's lead and run screaming .", "it 's very obvious when there 's a lack of blood in fight scenes it is a choice made by the filmmakers/studio in order to get a gentler rating from the mpaa .", "this feels more like your average tbs movie of the week and much less like a major motion picture .", "the term ` unintentional comedy ' was coined for a movie such as this .", "a smart action movie .", "one sexy woman showing off her stomach does not a movie make , although , it does n't hurt .", "owen is able as arthur but it is knightley 's guinevere who steals the show .", "impressively made and well acted .", "it turns out to be as much of a swoony valentine to a social ideal that never existed as any other arthurian text . but at least it takes the conversation with history somewhat seriously .", "it 's a solid , somber , rousing piece of studio zirconium : cobbled together from gladiator , braveheart , lord of the rings , the magnificent seven , and five tons of hollywood hooey .", "a grunting re-make of tears of the sun , the last movie from the same director , with villains wearing conan the barbarian-style furs instead of jungle fatigues .", "that the movie works is because of the considerable production qualities and the charisma of the actors , who bring more interest to the characters than they deserve .", "aspires to go beyond the published literature on the subject , but it 's still by the book .", "a line from the man who shot liberty valance , goes , `` when the legend becomes fact , print the legend . '' and while MOV may be closer to fact , i prefer the legend .", "populated by characters who are frequently spattered with mud or caked in grime ... rarely have the dark ages seemed quite so dark .", "an ordinary b-film action story .", "king artless .", "a fine pretender to the historical action crown ridley scott 's gladiator reforged .", "for all this silly spin , MOV is a better movie than you might have expected .", "the worst jerry bruckheimer film since dangerous minds .", "as a primer in the thuggish territorial land grabs of the dark ages , it gets the adrenalin flowing and makes us want to learn more . but the sheer density of the historical material is often at odds with the cut-and-dried requirements of the action genre .", "in seeking to demythify the arthur legends , the filmmakers wind up creating a new mythology , one that is probably just as fanciful as those it attempts to replace .", "underrated , revisionist version of the camelot legend ; one of the year 's 10 best", "while MOV is n't a waste of time , per se , the story has n't exactly been reinvented in a way that makes its two hours compelling viewing .", "one of the reasons this film works is that we do n't feel as if we 're watching these people through the scrim of history and legend -- they feel immediate , even contemporary .", "there are things to respect about MOV . just not a great deal to like .", "devotees of chivalry and camelot should look elsewhere .", "guinevere , no dainty princess she , is a kind of hardened medieval feminist , and the aggressor to arthur 's bashful but equally driven warrior , in both bed and on the battlefield .", "fuqua creates a very grim and stylish mood that fits what the concept is attempting to accomplish very well .", "the interminable battle scenes are limply choreographed and unexciting . this is one king that 's best left alone .", "entertaining , but ultimately forgettable .", "... remains an instantly forgettable , wannabe epic .", "it nods in the direction of tons of potentially interesting developments of plot , theme and character , but does n't bother to follow through on any of them enough to pay off .", "a brash departure from the legend that retains the round table , but that 's about it . still , the contemporary echoes make the dark ages relevant again and the movie , while longwinded in parts , overcomes its shortcomings .", "in many ways this movie tells us far more about the values and age in which we are living , than the one it pretends to be returning us to .", "there 's enough action in MOV to take the thrill-addicted moviegoers of summer to a new high .", "pel\u00edcula de buena manufactura gracias a su producci\u00f3n , al rostro de keira knightley y al carisma de los actores , no obstante , no tiene nada que ver con la leyenda original .", "history buffs will love this film for the fact that it 's giving the controversial new take on the MOV legend . but your average moviegoer might find this a bit dull .", "bruckheimer 's MOV is little more than spectacle , and not very interesting spectacle at that .", "where `` MOV '' falls flat is in its laborious battle sequences .", "misguided , miscast , and completely misconceived , the wretched MOV is one of the grittier , more earnest failures to appear this summer .", "faz uma indigesta salada de frutas com todas as lendas referentes ao personagem-t\u00edtulo .", "the longest two hours , 10 minutes i have spent in a theater for some time .", "existential action yarn with solid performances and interesting characters .", "a guinevere , and an arthur myth , for our times , if not for the ages .", "MOV wo n't charm you , hardly ever will thrill you , and certainly will have you laughing less with it than at it .", "forget all that accuracy business and just enjoy the movie for what it is : a large-scale , passably engrossing tale of valiant knights doing valiant deeds .", "dreary going , occasionally impressive on a technical level but uninspired as narrative or historic inquiry .", "an action flick for the video-arcade generation that cares little about character development or relationships .", "if it 's spectacle you 're after , it 's spectacle you 'll get .", "may the gods protect us from modernists messing with our myths .", "this middling MOV does n't waste time developing character -- or coherence -- when a big , joyless , synthetic battle will do .", "as dreary as the british isles ' weather , and the toned-down fight scenes -lrb- for that pg-13 rating -rrb- make it hardly better than a made-for-cable historical movie .", "most folks , when asked about the legend of MOV , do n't immediately conjure up an image of keira knightley in a leather bikini .", "MOV may be far closer to the facts than anything in le morte d'arthur -- and far grittier than hollywood 's old knights of the round table or the sword in the stone . but there 's nothing true in it at all .", "this version has action , yes , but the love triangle among arthur , guinevere and lancelot is diluted , and there 's nothing exuberant about a dutiful slog through the muck .", "ran two hours , felt like three , could have easily been one , and features no less of a videogame-type plot than mothersucking van helsing .", "boasts as its main selling points a beautiful young starlet with about twenty minutes of screentime and the steadfast promise of an absence of myth and magic .", "the film may be set in the dark ages , but the cliches are vintage sixties hollywood .", "a watered-down hybrid", "` the untold true story that inspired the legend ' should n't be -lsb- just a -rsb- generic ancient combat epic .", "based on real data or no , i rather like this grittier , wilder version of arthur 's legend . bone up on your ancient english history a little before you go , and enjoy the ride .", "those steeped in thomas malory 's `` la morte d'arthur '' or t.h. white 's `` the once & future king '' will leave with the resounding thud of `` what the hell ? ''", "MOV is a good enterprise , and it makes a good run at it , but by the last act , it 's just the same old saxon violence .", "just as we 're ready to write this film off as bad boys in tights -- or a dull , earthbound cousin to lord of the rings -- director fuqua and his team of production experts wow us with an eye-popping tableau or panorama .", "MOV is another big , expensive opportunity inexplicably wasted by an army of extremely talented movie people .", "... there is a lot to like about this latest adaptation of the classic tale .", "clive owen is commanding as arthur", "... the cast is mired down iin too much dialogue ...", "makes a more valiant attempt than most , delivering a worthwhile action-drama that is just grounded enough in real history to be intriguing .", "a brave and admirable little endeavor here that creates a whole lot of grand chaos in just a little over two hours .", "franzoni 's script mixes myth , fact and hollywood hackwork . whatever the character 's `` true identity , '' owen 's arthur is one dull blade .", "attaches itself to the arthurian legend like some parasitic worm", "MOV may be a more truthful retelling of the legend , but it 's certainly a lot less fun .", "offers top-flight entertainment for about half its length before slipping into complete formula .", "ambiguity , subtlety , and mixed-up heroes are not usually the makings of summer blockbusters , but it 's still a fascinating , stirring , great-looking film .", "fuqua 's reinvention of arthur is more a swashbuckling action adventure than an answer to the question : from whence did the legend of arthur come ?", "`` MOV '' is worth watching at least once , but only when it comes to cable . this film is a dreary dull mess .", "anyone who counts on hollywood to excavate history accurately deserves a movie in which guinevere is a ferocious female warrior who wears only a leather harness as a top .", "MOV offers a revisionist portrait of the legendary leader and warrior that expends almost all its energy on one bloody battle sequence after another .", "putting a new spin on a legend is an interesting idea , but it has to remain a story worthy of the legend and this movie does n't quite live up to that standard .", "gim me an angry , bitter mordred . gim me seething , forbidden love and a noble leader tortured by treachery all around him . gim me anything but this wannabe braveheart .", "overall , arthur fails to stir the spirit ; its constant talk of freedom seems hollow .", "in the name of authenticity , screenwriter david franzoni has recast the arthurian legend as a 20th century action film .", "if you 're going to intentionally suck all the good parts out of a great tale , you 'd best replace them with something besides dry political intrigue and predictable gimmickry .", "leather and swords and british accents and gorgeous guys wielding them all can make a gal overlook a lot of badness in a flick . but not quite this much ." ], "summary": "the magic is gone , leaving a dreary , generic action movie .", "id": "12914" }, { "movie": "1016513-poltergeist", "reviews": [ "a classic horror film that still thrills .", "hooper and spielberg hold our interest by observing the everyday rituals of this family so closely that , since the family seems real , the weird events take on a certain credibility by association .", "it is consistently redeemed by its creator 's dazzling sense of craft .", "pull your face off and wallow in the creepy goodness .", "a vapid , silly horror movie with occasional moments of promise that ultimately fails due to an overdose of cuteness .", "though the shocks are well conveyed , it 's the sweetness that lingers , making this the first cute and cuddly entry in the genre .", "cut from the spielberg mold .", "j'aurais pr\u00e9f\u00e9r\u00e9 voir quelque chose de plus sombre et de plus s\u00e9rieux . dommage .", "hooper 's skill with gore combined with spielberg 's ability to sanitize anything into family-friendliness makes MOV a smash horror hit -- and it 's rated pg .", "that it 's all hokum gets washed aside by the believable and perceptive family value story set in bland suburbia .", "MOV -lrb- 1982 -rrb- is a memorable supernatural horror film from co-producer/co-writer steven spielberg and director tobe hopper . .", "this is a film that tends to annoy , as if it had been more taut and consistent , it could have been far more exciting .", "spielberg said this was a product of his nightmares . the first time i saw it i was 12 . ever since , spielberg 's nigtmares have been my own . a horror classic .", "the cold-hand of spielberg lies on every frame .", "MOV is like a thoroughly enjoyable nightmare , one that you know that you can always wake up from , and one in which , at the end , no one has permanently been damaged . it 's also witty in a fashion that alfred hitchcock might have appreciated .", "MOV works -- and works extraordinarily well -- because it shows us the horrors of beyond coming to haunt us not in a moldering house on a hill or a grimy dungeon but rather in a gleaming , modern , comfortable suburban housing development .", "still scary - a classic !", "repeat viewings are best spread out over time and the film 's internal logic does n't entirely hold up , but if you just accept the action for the rollercoaster ride it is , it can be fairly satisfying", "good 1980s horror .", "MOV delivers real punch in its depiction of a family 's struggle against forces they can not understand or manipulate .", "one of the best horror flicks ever ... bar none", "at first this takes the form of your classic MOV activity -lrb- moved furniture , that kind of thing -rrb- , but it becomes weirder .", "so darn good it makes me wish spielberg had n't given up on the horror genre .", "it 's a highly effective and uncommonly emotional horror film , and in the summer of 1982 , i preferred it to spielberg 's more universally admired e.t.", "after a quarter-century , MOV remains one of the most popular movies whose reputation rests almost exclusively on behind-the-scenes diversions .", "twenty-five years on , the film is still looking remarkably good % u2013 and , i 'm betting sales of clown dolls have never quite recovered .", "think of it more as a fun-ride than a horror movie .", "spielberg clockwork : great suburbs , great special effects , great abuse of an expositive score , great overuse of the slow push-in , great hot mom , great irrelevant dad , great plucky little kids .", "... a compelling and consistently creepy piece of work ...", "given the talents , MOV is an annoying film because it could have been so much better .", "a surprisingly yet successfully restrained lesson in how to haunt a house .", "hooper and spielberg have worked long and hard to bring the ghost story to its fullest potential . they have succeeded .", "hooper 's direction may lack its usual edgy personality -- apparently over-ruled by spielberg 's script suggestions -- but he puts on a dazzling show , and the intuitive performances are uniformly on the panic button .", "the buildup is slow and deliberate , creating a vivid sense of love and warmth within the family who share the harrowing adventure .", "one of the 1980s ' most distinctive and important horror movies .", "a frightening , supernatural horror film that defined a generation .", "thanks to MOV , more than a few of us still sleep with the lights on : the world has changed , but our closets have n't .", "spielberg , here credited as producer as co-writer , shows the other -lrb- darker -rrb- side of suburbia in this horror film , made in the same year as the superior e.t.", "`` MOV '' is a lot more dedicated to its cause than most viewers today are probably used to . it builds to something of value . that may not make it the most profound film of its genre by any stretch , but it does make it one of the most memorable .", "one of the all-time great haunted house movies .", "the film delivers honest special-effects shocks without forfeiting its good nature ." ], "summary": "smartly filmed , tightly scripted , and -- most importantly -- consistently frightening , MOV is a modern horror classic .", "id": "10145" }, { "movie": "1083791-funny_games", "reviews": [ "this beautifully acted and paced german variant of cape fear ... is tricked out with a number of brechtian devices to catch audiences in a voyeuristic trance .", "an ersatz nightmare , a pedant 's lecture on sadism , and an intellectual 's idea of a shock tactic .", "another pointless , self-indulgent piece of clap trap on the nature of the media and its relation to violence .", "the basic puzzle is why this sophisticated director chose this tired formula .", "remarkably well-directed and played , the crisp images perfectly framed by cinematographer j\u00fcrgen j\u00fcrges for maximum effect .", "a sort of austrian art-house cape fear by way of the new cinema of cruelty .", "the first half is sadistically intense , geiring and frisch make wonderfully creepy psychopaths , and haneke and cinematographer jurgen jurges burnish the film to a high polish that 's rare for the genre .", "haneke 's film does n't invite audience exploration ; it pummels them with preordained conclusions .", "the film outstays its welcome and is more than a little too knowing in its manipulation of standard audience expectations for the genre .", "haneke has rational reasons for his movie 's violence , but he still crosses lines more often than he justifies crossing them .", "what haneke has actually done is to satirize the complex relationship between the story and the audience . on that level it 's a triumph .", "um genial exerc\u043dcio narrativo e de estilo que , ao mesmo tempo em que mant\u0439m o espectador tenso , obriga-o a encarar a pr\u0443pria fascina\u0437\u0433o pela viol\u043ancia .", "haneke 's snooty admonishments are disturbing because they 're never self-critical .", "as a metaphysical experiment in sadism , MOV is endorsed by negative responses .", "brilliant , radical , provocative , it 's a masterpiece that is at times barely watchable .", "the emotions of the victims are clear and complex -- their conflicts dominate our experience of the narrative as powerfully as all the devices telling us to look elsewhere for the movie 's themes .", "if you want , this is a high-class texas chainsaw massacre .", "alternately infuriating and harrowing , michael haneke 's MOV is a potent piece of shock cinema that thrives on making the audience uncomfortable .", "this is still the most frightening film you will ever see : unforgettably sadistic , utterly plausible , and totally f -- ing terrifying .", "a firestarter for post-screening arguments , alight with ghastly images and actions , and essayed by a spot-on cast and storyline that flows seamlessly from one nightmarish incident to the next .", "it 's a film you might argue with , but its sparing use of on-screen violence , some extraordinarily protracted scenes and sensitive handling of thorny subject matter make it also a film you ought to see .", "what happened to the good old fashioned insane killer ?", "austrian auteur michael haneke successfully mocks the american media 's penchant for violence by pushing the limits of cinematic sado-masochism .", "sadistic , insufferable , clever , and relentlessly compelling .", "... one sequence featuring the manipulation of time by a character undermines everything that came before it ..." ], "summary": "violent images and blunt audience provocation make up this nihilistic experiment from one of cinema 's more difficult filmmakers .", "id": "17335" }, { "movie": "1070992-primal_fear", "reviews": [ "helped greatly by excellent performances from both of the film 's leads , as well as the rounded supporting cast .", "the plot is engaging , the cast is exceptional , and hoblit moves things along in commendably straightforward fashion . very entertaining .", "exhibits many of the genre 's common weaknesses , but the fine acting of edward norton , laura linney and richard gere enables us to forgive them .", "unfortunately , MOV has n't aged well ; there are wrinkles and pockmarks all over its face .", "... a solid drama that 's elevated on an all-too-consistent basis by norton 's impressively hypnotic work .", "edward norton became an instant star after making a splashy , oscar-nominated performance in this well-executed horror thriller .", "an unfolding mystery in which truth is elusive , and twists are the order of the day ... gives norton a career-making opportunity to strut his stuff . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "its heroes only heroes because they believe in order and not because they 're capable of order 's championing or restoration .", "ed norton is out of this world in his break-out performance .", "memorable for edward norton 's chilling debut .", "as a forum for its actors and for the big-screen directorial debut of multi-emmy winner gregory hoblit , the film is up to the job .", "consistently entertaining , a fantastic cast , and , most importantly , the film debut of two-time oscar nominee edward norton", "o filme tem , no elenco , sua maior arma .", "an ambitious film , but also a somewhat muddled one", "works quite well as a mystery and as a courtroom drama .", "bad movie , but norton 's performance makes it worth watching ." ], "summary": "a straightforward , entertaining thriller with a crackerjack performance by edward norton .", "id": "13253" }, { "movie": "serendipity", "reviews": [ "its characters act as if they 're slogging through an 85-minute screen exercise , not engaging in anything remotely resembling real life .", "enjoyable and often hilarious cat-and - mouse game with the fates .", "might just be the perfect date movie .", "MOV returns us , if only for a couple of hours , to the manhattan of our dreams .", "the fluffy MOV may nauseate but its naivete is more than compensated by its snowy backdrops and slew of hysterical supporting players .", "defying logic and reason , MOV captures our hearts and makes us goners . sounds like true love to me .", "a lot of fun .", "MOV plays with the fantasy of fate and destiny and romantic kismet with all the lightness and frivolity of a championship chess match .", "the movie forces these two together without ever explaining why they should be together -- except that their faces are on the movie poster .", "the most delightful date movie around right now .", "forgettably frivolous .", "more like a train wreck than a good bit of fortune .", "an exercise in the contrived and the overcalculated .", "about halfway through you start wondering if anything else is going to happen to make things more interesting . the answer : nope .", "a harmless bit of nonsense that will , ironically , convince you that there is no such thing as fate , destiny or MOV .", "the movie generally punches the right buttons , at least for the true romantics among us ; it just punches the same ones too many times and , occcasionally , too forcefully .", "peter chelsom directs with sprightly confidence .", "a highly romantic undertaking , but so smart and funny that it should not be written off as a ` chick flick . '", "though it has an implausible plot and syrupy ending , MOV is nearly perfect as a date flick .", "a charming confection .", "this could very well be the most romantic movie of the year .", "director chelsom ... ca n't obscure the rigging which holds up a plot that should be lighter than air .", "even the most tolerant viewer is likely to groan more than once at the enormous mass of contrivance and manipulation stuffed into a mere ninety minutes .", "this fluffy piece is entirely predictable , with small touches of humor and romance , but might also be exactly what certain couples are looking for nowadays .", "... sheer romantic entertainment .", "more mature audiences will not fall for the old-fashioned hokum and obvious sentimentality being generated .", "the most romantic new york movie since august 's happy accidents .", "we 're meant to accept contrivances and leaps of logic that would n't pass muster on a three 's company episode .", "as you leave the theater , you 'll probably let out one long ` aah , ' as you float away in bliss .", "nothing serendipitous about this recycled pablum .", "a pleasant enough diversion , but it does n't pack the wry punch of cusack 's classic romantic comedy , 1989 's say anything .", "pretty hard to resist as a guilty pleasure .", "there are some good moments that challenge the idea of predestined soul mates .", "whether viewed out of choice or preordainment , MOV probably wo n't disappoint many viewers .", "one of those gratingly ` adorable ' romances that manages to turn even the most intelligent performers into grinning idiots .", "if the sight of people acting like they 've got beanbags for brains makes you crazy , you will not enjoy MOV until you put your own thinking cap on ice .", "it 's fun watching cusack , who does lovelorn so well he might be the male version of meg ryan .", "those with even the smallest speck of cynicism in their hearts will be wondering why the cruel fates lured them into this quagmire of syrup .", "pure confection , brainless but very , very sweet .", "tasty , but , finally , a little unfulfilling .", "have you ever tasted anything so sweet it makes you sick to your stomach ?", "pure cotton candy : it fills you with instant delight then is gone moments after the final image fades from the screen .", "the story 's been done before and it 's bound to be done again , nonetheless , this incarnation is enjoyable and worth watching .", "... a featherweight romance that manages to make the city of new york into a glorious backdrop .", "will melt the hardest heart .", "a movie that never rises above featherweight .", "magic that appears in a non-magical world is most wondrous ... delight to watch two people charmed by each other twisting in the fickle wind of destiny .", "insipid , by-the-numbers romance .", "an overfamiliar and exasperating game of cat-and-mousie .", "an irritating premise , charmingly performed .", "so stringently a ` romantic comedy , ' you could review it with a pie chart .", "such sharp casting and performances is a testament to the wonderful directing job by chelsom .", "a pleasant film full of coincidences that make you smile .", "MOV at least lets us believe that we have some control over the choices we make in our lives , a comforting thought right now .", "this romantic confection has all the weight of a soap bubble , but it has all the sheen and charm of one , too .", "begins as a `` b - '' then builds consistently to an `` a - ''", "the pace is brisk and the details are carefully arranged , but there 's no sparkle -- and what 's a romance without that ?", "british director peter chelsom and writer marc klein almost seem to take pride in having made a cookie-cutter movie , and to be fair , they 've made a rather tasty confection .", "MOV may be calculated , but the good news is that all that hard work never prevents it from being genuinely charming .", "there is an entertaining lightness to the frantic efforts of these two lovers to re-connect . of course , the joke is on them for the real matchmaker is fate/destiny/god .", "why they are not happy in their committed relationships , why they yearn for a phantom they met many , many years ago , is not explained .", "if you 're willing to take a trip to romantic comedyland ...", "superficial and predictable .", "fluffy and innocuous as cool whip , it is nonetheless uplifting , romantic and delightful , further enhancing the world 's enduring love affair with the big apple .", "because the script so gleefully indulges in bringing its leads closer together all while making sure they stay just far enough away , we smile instead of groan .", "` MOV '' is a nice light romantic comedy well-suited for the holiday season .", "... would this be -lrb- cusack 's -rrb- `` sleepless in seattle '' , or would i have to sit through another `` you 've got mail '' ? the answer lies somewhere in between .", "true , there are traces of hokum and contrivance plots that will drive you batty at times , but chelson delivers a film that is occasionally smart about its airheaded premise", "klein 's script is at once too airy-fairy and pandering to deliver the charm .", "despite some frustration with the aspects of broad comedy , i am recommending MOV on this basis : it 's a great date movie .", "a sugary slab of wish-fulfilment that will have most viewers reaching for the insulin .", "wittily scripted , beautifully played by an excellent cast , and just so darned ... nice , this is must-see viewing for the romantics .", "if you 've ever seen a romantic comedy you know how it ends .", "a movie i found myself liking more than perhaps i should .", "textbook romantic comedy , complete with the good feeling that you 'll leave with - even if this does disappear as fast as a snowflake on the tongue .", "if america ever needs this sort of movie , it will signal the end of intelligent life on these shores .", "these are frightening , uncertain times and there is something soothing about watching a movie and knowing exactly what is going to happen .", "various ` new age ' detours addressing destiny and soulmates , as well as a jazzy soundtrack of original tunes by alan silvestri , make the familiar material seem lively and original .", "a series of near misses and close calls which you 'll either find delightful or irritating , depending on your tolerance for whimsical romance .", "while i do n't think this is the kind of movie worth running out to see , if you like sentimental pictures , you will probably enjoy what MOV has to offer .", "director peter chelsom has the perfect touch for the frustratingly funny near-misses that drive the ambrosial romance .", "does romantic comedy have to come off as sugared stupidity ? it does here .", ", MOV is john cusack doing gabriel garcia marquez . as bizarre as that marriage might sound , there 's a lightness to the union that forgives a multitude of sins", "a funny , frantic romantic romp -- do n't miss it .", "pretty and witty but too preplanned , the film zips us along merrily yet fades as soon as it 's over .", "the movie is littered with inconsistencies and lapses in logic .", "lightweight but hugely enjoyable .", "rarely does a movie feel so shrink-wrapped ; you expect it to be marked down come spring .", "a sweet , pleasant pouf -- a puffy , fluffy place to sit down and escape the real world .", "it 's a good date flick , more than okay for a rainy matinee or a rental later on , but eminently forgettable and ohh so cute .", "contrived and schematic , peter chelsom 's film is a mechanical bird that never takes wing .", "if you can believe MOV 's cockeyed conceit , you may find that discovering this escapist love story feels like a lucky accident .", "like purchasing a cd of '80s super-hits off a late-night infomercial , watching MOV leaves you feeling somewhat violated but no less delighted at the trespass .", "they say romantic comedies like MOV are what we can expect in times of crisis . another reason to pray for peace .", "MOV has no business working , but it does .", "while this romantic confection is about as substantial as the frozen hot cocoa they serve at the titular upper east side restaurant , it 's appealing cast and snowbound , fairy-tale nyc locations make it go down easy .", "it 's certainly better than all the bad romantic comedies we 've had recently .", "a blithe and unapologetic fairy tale about affairs of the heart , it 's a spun-sugar confection that 's so light and airy it threatens to simply float away .", "MOV makes the same mistake the mexican did earlier this year -- it signs up a great star couple , then spends most of its time keeping them apart .", "worth a chance .", "a perfectly timed tribute to its setting .", "MOV elevates magic realism into the realm of three-card monte .", "MOV asks us to believe that fate 's will is influenced by old movies and a few seasons ' worth of mad about you . do n't the gods have better things to do ? or at least have more cable channels than mere mortals ?", "a decent date movie .", "a weaker romantic comedy might have tried harder to use grounded and logical explanations for the movie 's string of unlikely coincidences , but MOV makes no such attempt . for this , it should be commended .", "in some ways , `` MOV '' could be the movie tom hanks and meg ryan forgot to make 10 years ago . not since `` sleepless in seattle '' has there been so much onscreen discussion about soulmates and the mystical power of fate .", "lightweight romance may appeal to teens .", "the goofiest movie nora ephron never wrote .", "delivers its romance in a warm , straightforward way with no frills .", "... so empty , so derivative", "a qu\u00edmica entre cusack e beckinsale \u00e9 eficaz - pena que , durante a maior parte do tempo , os dois sejam mantidos separados pelo fraco e previs\u00edvel roteiro de marc klein .", "i ca n't get over the complete reliance on fate even if it is what the movie is all about .", "MOV director peter chelsom gives us charm instead of plot , romance instead of logic .", "MOV weakens the harder it tries to be cute ." ], "summary": "light and charming , MOV could benefit from less contrivances .", "id": "10106" }, { "movie": "grease_2", "reviews": [ "sheer energy , a handful of good tunes -lrb- including a great theme song from the four tops -rrb- , and some very funny one-liners save the day .", "MOV is dizzy and slight , with an even more negligible plot than its predecessor had . this time the story ca n't even masquerade as an excuse for stringing the songs together .", "MOV is a bad movie that really does n't deserve much of a defense . there are moments in it that are so cringeworthy , one might think they were the reason fast-forward buttons were included on vcrs .", "as far as '50s - styled cornball tributes to heavy-petting go , MOV has got nothing on prince 's `` jack u off . ''", "several performers from the original grease return for the sequel , but not the important ones . most conspicuously absent is john travolta , replaced here by maxwell caulfield , who ca n't lift the original greaser 's comb .", "without a doubt the greatest sequel to a stockard channing musical starring adrian zmed !", "where this film has a decided edge on its predecessor is in the staging and cutting of the musical sequences .", "a gloriously unpretentious gem just waiting to be discovered . that the film has n't yet received the full respect it deserves only adds to its charm .", "as a sequel to `` grease '' it 's terrible , and as a musical on its own merits , it 's absolutely abysmal .", "rizzo says `` no '' to this hacky sequel .", "grease is most emphatically not the word this summer .", "MOV is the most serendipitous sequel in recent memory . it is an ingratiating , jubilant improvement on a crummy original .", "definitely of the so-bad-it 's - almost-good genre , this kinda stands the test of time in a camp way , mainly because of the charm of pfeiffer and carrington .", "i do n't mean to deny the self-evident second-rateness of the project , just to suggest that it 's preferable to the third-rateness that has become the norm in the genre .", "this movie just recycles grease , without the stars , without the energy , without the freshness and without the grease .", "it does n't work , but you could spend the time spotting relatives of the stars .", "in its sheer awfulness , it is one of the best camp entertainments you could ever find .", "sure , it 's nowhere near as good - but you 'll forget about that onces the rockin ' soundtrack kicks in", "yup , it really is that bad . hilariously bad , even ." ], "summary": "MOV is undeniably stocked with solid songs and well-choreographed dance sequences , but there 's no getting around the fact that it 's a blatant retread of its far more entertaining predecessor .", "id": "10153" }, { "movie": "the_way_way_back", "reviews": [ "... a tender and charming account of an angst-ridden teenage loner who finds inspiration in the most unlikely places during an otherwise disastrous vacation .", "if ` meatballs ' were relocated from a summer camp to a water park and reworked into a semi - ` serious ' film , with half its running time devoted to chris makepeace 's poignant back story and dysfunctional home life , it would be something like this .", "while it 's been a dismal summer for movies made for teenage boys -lrb- pacific rim , the lone ranger , man of steel -rrb- , it 's been an exemplary one for films made about teenage boys -lrb- the kings of summer , mud and now the way , way back -rrb- .", "faxon and rash are more than competent behind the camera and the film flows smoothly , easily mixing laughter with tears without being heavy handed . i would n't be surprised to see it on oscar 's short list next year .", "the film never becomes corny . the characters ' actions - both good and bad - seem wholly authentic , even if they are n't the first time you 've seen this happen in a film .", "you would have to go way , way back to find a film as touching , funny and smart as this one .", "personal reflections of adolescence automatically tug you into a story and it feels manipulative , but this film lovingly retraces pubescent steps with mirth .", "liam james is the introverted heart of the film , and is somewhat of a revelation . his perfect portrayal of a skittish boy who is forced to become assertive anchors the whole movie and makes it a coming-of-age story worth revisiting .", "sam rockwell is a kick , but the rest of the film runs rather flat .", "a sweet and sour summer song of a movie , it 's one of this season 's best reasons to go to the movies .", "if possible , i would blend the way , way back with ice and syrup and drink it all summer .", "it 's a sunstruck comedy with enough pain at the edges to keep you aware that something is at stake .", "`` the way , way back '' has the charm of timelessness but also more than a touch of triteness .", "labors under the delusion that all filmmakers need to engineer a crowd-pleaser are a collection of tried-and-true conventions and a healthy dose of nostalgia .", "brimming with summer nostalgia as familiar as sunburned noses and marshmallow roasts bolstered by solid performances , the way , way back is carried along nicely by a cracking good script .", "alternately charming , penetrating and rote comedy-drama ... an agreeable , insightful if uneven film .", "-lsb- an -rsb- absolutely superb coming-of-age film .", "it 's smart , funny and moving about human weakness . and it does n't divide the world into good and bad adults - not counting that one bona-fide creep and his clueless squeeze .", "it meanders a bit , it 's a little lacking in structure , but it 's full of small memorable moments - and you 're sad when it 's over .", "a feel-good comedy and coming-of-age film where a shy teenager opens to the adventures of life , humor , and self-expression during a summer vacation .", "one of the more achingly poignant stories of awkward -lrb- male -rrb- adolescence i 've seen , and one of the best movies of 2013 -lrb- so far -rrb- . sam rockwell steals this movie more than he has ever stolen a movie before .", "the dialogue sparkles , delivered by a cast on top of their game , in a movie that aims for subtlety rather than bravado .", "the way , way back is an extremely difficult film to dislike , as one that has an amiable tone and series of endearing characters .", "this film 's masterstroke is showing everything from duncan 's point of view , without the traditional cloying narration .", "it is likeable , and has some moments of truthfulness underneath the clich\u00e9s .", "it 's a sunny , funny and genuinely heart-warming watch .", "deft , well-etched dramedy about the awkwardness of adolescence .", "a film for every age , whether you 're an awkward kid , former awkward kid or awkward kid-adjacent . funny , real and uplifting . a film that reaffirms your belief in the human spirit .", "a pretty safe bet for a fun time no matter your age - a bit like a day at a water park , really .", "in winning an oscar for their adapted screenplay of `` the descendants , '' ex-groundlings comics faxon and rash proved they can turn a poignant phrase and still produce enough humor to save the day . they certainly turn the same trick here ...", "aside from carell 's limited turn at doing nasty , it all feels terribly familiar , in a half-baked , little miss sunshine-lite sort of way .", "the film 's pleasures lie in its characterizations coupled with the actions and reactions of its characters . it 's real and engaging , with humour and sadness seasoning the action", "the screenplay is unoriginal and even perhaps overstated ; but it is rescued not only by outstanding performances but the observations that drive the characters", "it certainly does n't break the mould , but coming-of-age drama the way , way back , from writer / directors nat faxon and jim rash , is sweet , gently funny , and full of terrific attention to detail .", "a puzzling mix of meatballs and '70s loco parentis drama , with authentic loco parents .", "if you 're tired of superhero movies and want to be charmed by a heart-warming comedy , this is the film for you .", "why are so many coming-of-age movies set in the summer ? because that 's when teenagers have certain freedom to pursue love , which often ends in heartbreak . ` MOV ' is a summer coming-of-age tale that 's realistic , funny and bittersweet .", "this warm and upbeat coming-of-age story is brought to life by some dazzling comic writing and the wonderful performances of sam rockwell and allison janney .", "MOV gets it wittily , thrillingly right . it turns the familiar into something bracingly fresh and funny . it makes you laugh , then breaks your heart .", "an unexpected yet irresistible cross between meatballs and the ice storm , MOV just may be the best movie of the summer .", "like many of the best films in this genre the way , way back is rooted in truth : honest observations about family dynamics , adolescence , dependence and independence .", "writer-performers nat faxon and jim rash , imbue the characters around them with three-dimensional qualities that give the movie its enormous appeal .", "it 's likely there will be many wet eyes in the theater as the screen goes to black .", "part of what makes way , way back so engaging are the terrific performances .", "there 's something slightly formulaic and familiar about nat faxon and jim rash 's coming-of-age film the way , way back , but not enough to dampen its crowd-pleasing charm .", "the best of the summer 's many many coming-of-age comedies .", "despite the familiarity of this setup , way back is a charmer .", "pop music montages and tear-filled spats introduce occasional flashes of emotion into the proceedings , but `` the way , way back '' mostly just harkens back to better versions of its hackneyed plot .", "overall , there is a sweetness to the film , most of it stemming from liam james . he carries the film , zombie-like at first , but ably once his character comes slowly alive .", "it 's a bittersweet , heartwarming delight !", "the summer 's brightest and wittiest comedy so far , a true ensemble piece .", "tough and tinged with the kind of nostalgia that 's both bitter and sweet . very funny at times , sometimes painfully so , `` MOV '' deserves to become a go-to summer movie .", "the film at least avoids a tidy '' ... and that was the summer that changed my life '' wrap-up , but when what comes before the end credits feels so prefab , you might as well throw in a cribbed happy ending .", "the way , way back is a crowd-pleasing summer treat , predictable in its sweetness but satisfying all the same .", "the jokes are often double-edged , the performances always spot-on . the way , way back does n't re-invent the teenage turning point genre , but faxon and rash offer a breezy new spin . you 'll see more inventive movies this year but few more endearing .", "faxon and nash , who won an oscar for the descendants , wrote the screenplay based on their own childhood memories of water park anarchy and substitute fathers , and probably were inspired more than a little by classic summer camp comedy meatballs -lrb- 1978 -rrb- .", "a completely superficial and contrived story without an ounce of genuine emotion .", "it does n't yank on your heartstrings , though you 'll be touched gently at last . it does n't insult your intelligence . -lrb- indeed , it presumes you have some left . -rrb-", "a charming , deep and delightful coming-of-age comedy .", "once again , the oppressed american teen-ager lopes and shuffles to center stage , there to display his woes .", "though the trip is a bit bumpy - for us as well as duncan and his mom - it 's a trip worth taking .", "nostalgia often tinges our memories in soft , warm colors ; something like MOV reminds us of the good , the bad , and the cringe-worthy .", "the film , warm and sunshiny , examines the awkward limbo status between childhood and young adulthood with tart humor .", "despite committed and charming performances from the cast , the way , way back is little more than a run-of-the-mill addition to the coming-of-age genre .", "refreshing coming-of-age tale a joy for teens and up .", "the way , way back is a funny and wonderfully-told tale about the beginning of one teen 's autonomy at a time where everything remains out of his control .", "perfectly done , find-yourself-a-mentor comedies are hard to get right .", "faxon and rash do everything right : the characters are rich and recognizable , they expertly guide their dream cast and they even make the soundtrack part of the story , with several endearing references to 80s pop .", "carell 's character is certainly a darker one than we 've seen from him before , and that may be a tough sell for audiences used to the actor playing sunnier types .", "the way , way back is an admirably successful film with enough heart and soul to make it worth your hard earned dough -lrb- and fox searchlight 's for that matter -rrb- .", "-lsb- the descendants -rsb- was a movie ashamed of itself . the way , way back is not that . instead , it 's kind of embarrassingly proud of itself . hey , i 'll always admire the latter over the former .", "praises the electric carelessness of teenage angst while depicting it as if it were ultimately no more exciting , though no less pleasant , than an hour in the wave pool .", "it is a work of outward simplicity but resonates with a depth that anyone who was ever an awkward teen will identify with instantly .", "here is a low-key personalized movie that just might help a few depressed teenagers get through an otherwise less enjoyable summer .", "a strong ensemble cast deliver exceptionally fine performances , taking to faxon and rash 's script like the scrumptious made for thespian buffet that it is .", "navigates a crowd-pleasing middle ground between the mopey introspection of adventureland and the raucous summer antics of meatballs .", "nat faxton and jim rash 's directorial debut may not be breaking any new ground but this is a warm and funny tale , helped enormously by good performances and a snappy script .", "the performances are solid throughout but rockwell steals it , doing a riff on the characters bill murray played in movies like stripes - the fast-talking , smart guy who really has a bigger heart than he likes to let on .", "it would be easy to get overly critical regarding the familiar beats of this crowd-pleaser but that would miss the point . it 's a funny movie with a great ensemble performance , a sweet heart , and a note-perfect ending .", "an endearingly sweet coming-of-ager .", "the way , way back is everything you want in a laugh out loud , crowd-pleasing , coming-of-age movie .", "when the credits roll , one is left thinking less of the fate of the characters than of the rollcall of sundance offerings this film resembles .", "sam rockwell steals this show . feels like this year 's little miss sunshine .", "it works because the impeccable cast nails the humanity and vulnerability of their characters .", "it does n't exactly break any new ground , but rash and his collaborator nat faxon have crafted a winning script and collected a stellar cast to make it sing .", "all they needed to do was give rockwell and james a couple of tender moments together that did n't feel like a big brothers training video , or a dane cook monologue .", "any movie that lifts from both `` this boy 's life '' and `` meatballs '' is a rarefied creation , and in this case a pretty wonderful movie .", "feels familiar , but in a good way , like a comfortably rumpled beach house you 're happy to return to year after year .", "faxon and rash cut duncan a clear , broad path to growth and perspective , but the audience can see where it 's going long before it gets there .", "`` the way , way back '' is a nifty blend of humor , heart and drama .", "a sly , richly modulated , emotionally engaging , and brutally honest film ...", "easily one of the best movies you will see all year . it 's funny and grabs the heart . sam rockwell deserves an oscar nomination .", "a movie that feels like a greatest-hits montage of summer coming-of-age films .", "aiming for a middle path between drama and comedy , `` MOV '' is so overloaded with jokes that it could sink in the water hazard , but on the final scorecard , sure enough , it 's in the hole .", "while its broad strokes do n't break any new ground , its surprise and charm are in the small details and individual performances .", "what i do know is this : i had a thoroughly enjoyable time watching `` the way , way back '' and sam rockwell needs to be in more movies -lrb- although i kinda knew that beforehand -rrb- .", "-lrb- the -rrb- dialogue is a notch too clever for its own good . but the performances are enjoyable .", "the characters in `` the way , way back '' end up exactly where we expect them to , and it 's a genuine pleasure to watch them get there .", "naxon and rash succeed in not only creating the emotional attachment to the characters , but also in blending the humor and drama together without having one overpowering the other . as a result , they 've crafted one of the best films of the year thus far .", "it 's easy to point out that the way , way back is no descendants . it 's better to say that it 's not even in the same league as that amazing cinematic celebration of life , death , and family .", "the coming-of-age tale the way , way back is sweet , heartfelt and utterly trite and predictable from beginning to end .", "coming of age in a water park", "it might sound like well-covered ground - you know : hopelessly awkward kid struggles to transition from boyhood to manhood - but it 's a compelling and surprisingly sweet ride .", "the film 's primary pleasure is watching james communicate duncan 's growing confidence in the acceleration of his stride or the occasional unguarded smile . it 's a likable acting turn , though one the film does not always serve honestly .", "the sometimes airy , sometimes claustrophobic ambiance fills you with the same bittersweet feeling as spinning a half-forgotten golden oldie at a backyard cookout .", "it 's an endearingly modest small-scale film that lets its actors shine , portends a promising career for nat faxon and jim rash as directors , and will hopefully get sam rockwell the awards buzz he 's richly deserved for years .", "in a summer filled with big budget blockbusters , leave it to a quaint coming-of-age comedy to stand out as the best of the season .", "once it finds its groove , the way , way back is a fairly entertaining dramatic comedy . sam rockwell is at his absolute best .", "it 's a charmer , even if it does n't necessarily improve upon the genre .", "sneaky in the way it sets up a series of conventional themes and characters but slowly twists each of them , resulting in an experience that is subtly revelatory", "one of those summer juice pops designed to make vitamin c appealing . ... -lsb- but -rsb- worth seeing because its first-rate cast makes a decent script way , way better .", "a mediocre , subpar version of a movie that we 've seen many times before .", "waterslides and infidelity just do n't go together .", "MOV is a real crowd-pleasing charmer that breaks free of its familiar trappings with consistent humor and personal touches .", "nice comedic work from sam rockwell and allison janney buoys this pleasant but routine coming-of-age drama by nat faxon and jim rash .", "if you 're first act was writing the oscar winning screenplay for `` the descendants , '' looking for an encore can be tough . but nat faxon and jim rash leveraged that win and made the leap to directing their own small-budget , bighearted coming of age comedy .", "`` MOV '' is a sharply written comedy that 's full of wise and wise-guy moments .", "the story has some of the lighthearted fun a boy should have working for a fun-loving boss and enjoying the company of a hot girlfriend , but he should be having a lot more fun than this .", "this coming-of-age comedy/drama rings emotionally false during many of its jacked-up , stacked-deck emotional confrontations and mistakes obnoxiousness for personality in almost every adult character .", "an astoundingly sweet , lovable , immensely enjoyable little film that hits all the right notes as you 're watching it thanks to its excellent cast .", "the film has been complacently concocted for likability even as it gives you very little that 's real , structured , or spontaneous enough to enjoy .", "a perceptive , incisive film about people at different points in their lives struggling or drowning", "faxon , rash , and their exceptionally capable cast have managed , with a story that is specific enough to feel new but universal enough to hit home .", "funny , touching and irresistibly charming , the way , way back is a coming-of-age comedy that gets the pains and joys and , above all , awkwardness of adolescence spot on .", "more charm and original laughs than most recent coming-of-age films ... overcomes its contrived formula -lrb- dysfunctional adults , kids as victims -rrb- aided greatly by rockwell .", "warm , funny - and even fresh .", "a coming-of-age tale by numbers that do n't all add up .", "not a subtle film , but honest , intelligent and very funny .", "the most inspiring example of how to nurture confident responsibility in the young since clint eastwood 's seminal gran torino -lrb- 2009 -rrb- .", "sam rockwell makes the biggest splash with a sizzling supporting performance . not only is he naturally funny , but he has the great ability to make every sharp line of dialogue sound freshly improvised .", "collette and carell endow their characters with poignancy and authenticity , while rockwell and janney are superb at wringing every possible bit of humour out of the sparky dialogue .", "the story manages to be both very familiar and somehow not quite believable , in part because the characters feel contrived .", "never mind the text ; feel the texture .", "for all the longueurs , there are still enough moments of near brilliance to sustain you through the trip .", "an especially strong script gives actors plenty to chew on in this comedy-drama , in which writer-directors faxon and rash -lrb- the descendants -rrb- take an observant look at the awkward connections we make with each other .", "there is a lot going on in `` the way , way back '' and these stories are intelligently told .", "you basically get to live vicariously through a kid who becomes sam rockwell 's best pal , and i promise , that 's all you 've ever wanted , even if you do n't know it yet .", "with a double dose of rockwell - norman and sam - it 's a picture-perfect portrait of what summer - and summer movies - ought to be .", "you do n't see too many movies about the importance of fathers , and they 're rarely done this well .", "warm , engaging , and thoroughly charming even though we can predict every turn in this old-fashioned coming of age story . carell is terrific as an unlikable bully .", "the way , way back only really gets interesting when carell enters the frame and introduces an unconventional villain into this entirely too-conventional coming-of-age scenario .", "it has its charms , most notably in rockwell 's wise-cracking put-on artist , but it never goes for anything really deep as 2009 's similarly themed `` adventureland '' did , while taking a few missteps along the way .", "a sunny wonder that effortlessly out-classes such floundering box-office behemoths as the lone ranger and white house down .", "the film is awash in safe choices , from indie-pop-accompanied montages to sitcom one-liners and black-and-white characters .", "a coming-of-age drama that manages some genuinely surprising turns despite the formulaic road it travels .", "it 's certainly a pleasant picture with a bright attitude and production textures that could only emerge from experience . it simply does n't have anything new to add the crowded coming of age subgenre .", "the clever script keeps things moving , even if it remains uninterested in the two people who seem to be suffering the most ...", "with its subtle wit , engaging story , topnotch ensemble cast and sparkling dialogue , it 's this summer 's little miss sunshine .", "so funny and fresh that you do n't mind watching it hit all the expected marks .", "the way , way back features seasoned actors steve carell , toni collette , allison janney and amanda peet , but they offer only support to a story that 16-year-old canadian liam james carries to the point of stealing .", "`` the way , way back '' is a minor pleasure rather than a major work . but minor pleasures have their place , especially in summertime , and this one goes down like a popsicle on a hot day .", "beautifully executed , loaded with sharp observational moments , and never cheats either its characters or its audience by descending into raunchy teen-movie clich\u00e9 .", "authenticity gives the movie its witty , heartwarming , hopeful , sentimental , searing and relatable edge . it is merciless in probing the tender spots of times like these , and tough-guy sweet in patching up the wounds .", "the film is bursting with life-and blissful silliness ...", "as with the descendants , faxon and rash ably balance the humorous and the heavy , tipping neither toward the silly nor the mawkish .", "-lsb- duncan is -rsb- a passive participant in his own story , and that does not make for an especially admirable protagonist .", "the comedy dial does occasionally creep past 11 . but the over-the-top janney is still often hilarious , and rockwell is a string of firecrackers .", "because there are a lot of memorable characters like betty in ` the way , way back , ' duncan 's suffering and eventual triumph become a viewer 's delight .", "the character-laden pic seamlessly blends together comedy with dramatic serious life lessons , and is observant , poignant and its heart is in the right place .", "a small , personal film that hits all the right notes while showing great acting in the process .", "... a perfectly watchable yet all-too-forgettable coming-of-age comedy .", "if this is hardly groundbreaking -lrb- just swap james ' character from jesse eisenberg 's in the similar theme-park set adventureland -rrb- , what works is how faxon and rash show the angst is n't all adolescent .", "this is all seen through near-unknown james ' eyes , and he makes duncan a credible , even likeable ` hero ' even while his inexpressive sullenness drives you mad .", "crafted with much tlc and sympathy , it 's perfectly tailored to the tongue-tied teen in us all .", "provides a much-needed respite from overbearingly big summer movies . think of it as a soothing breeze in the midst of a lot of blustering gales .", "sam rockwell deserves consideration for a best supporting actor nomination -- he is that good .", "like its summer cousin , the kings of summer , MOV connects the adult in all of us to the kid we once were . or at least who some of us were at one time .", "a moving bit of business about a boy learning the secret to making life a day at the beach and the best work yet from two guys who really do go way , way back ." ], "summary": "despite its familiar themes , MOV makes use of its talented cast , finely tuned script , and an abundance of charm to deliver a funny and satisfying coming-of-age story .", "id": "771324097" }, { "movie": "jaws", "reviews": [ "well , it 's about this shark ...", "nowadays , it does n't really scare me anymore , but i love watching it for the way it moves .", "the first calculated summertime blockbuster ... a whale of big-budget hollywood entertainment .", "the fast-moving 124-minute film engenders enormous suspense as the shark attacks a succession of people .", "it 's no wonder a generation of holidaymakers still thinks twice before stepping into the water .", "like all the best suspense films , `` MOV '' manages to somehow remain amazingly tense , even if you 've seen the film before . no wonder so many moviegoers went back for repeat viewings .", "steven spielberg 's mechanical thriller is guaranteed to make you scream on schedule .", "achieves a number of cheap thrills at the expense of the mechanical shark .", "along with being a terrific character-driven -lrb- not plot -rrb- thriller , MOV should be viewed against the broader context of 1975 as part of a cycle of paranoia films , reflecting the vietnam war , watergate scandal , anti-authoritarianism , and political apathy", "a true film of the 70s , all its characters have feet of clay ... yet MOV boldly puts -lsb- them -rsb- to a test as dire as any faced by the granite-jawed supermen of earlier decades .", "a masterpiece .", "MOV is a perfect blend of set-pieces and story , its formula so hard to capture it 's now near-mythical - filmmakers have been chasing it like ahab chasing moby dick ever since .", "the aquatic terror is deftly balanced with lively , likeable characterisations .", "one of the most effective thrillers ever made .", "... a classic , action-adventure monster movie , maybe the best ever made . -lrb- blu-ray edition -rrb-", "an astonishingly effective thriller built on a very primal level : fear .", "MOV -lrb- 1975 -rrb- is a masterful , visceral and realistic science-fiction suspense/horror-disaster film , tapping into the most primal of human fears", "like hitchcock , nothing is thrown in without serving a purpose .", "it was the beast that launched a thousand monster movies .", "spielberg knows exactly how the human mind works , and he uses that knowledge to plumb the elemental fear buried deep within .", "... the movie 's justifiably legendary opening -lsb- paves -rsb- the way for an engrossing first act that 's heightened by both scheider 's magnetic performance and the inclusion of several unbearably tense interludes .", "spielberg fashioned an instant classic whose success owes as much to his superb orchestration as to the substantial jolts and knockout performances by roy scheider , robert shaw and richard dreyfuss .", "before we see anything , our ears are chilled by composer john williams ' menacing two note soundtrack which then builds into that unforgettable frenzy as the unseen shark savages its first victim .", "MOV retains its power to enthrall and shock at the same time .", "you think of the excess that followed in MOV ' wake and realise how well judged that first blockbuster is .", "it remains an influence on the modern blockbuster , and is one of its best examples .", "this is a suspense classic that leaves teeth-marks .", "with no superheroes or post-apocalyptic wastelands in sight , the skill behind MOV becomes even more thrilling to watch unfold . ... quite literally , MOV is the original and the best .", "spielberg had paced the film beautifully so that one is always on edge , tensed for those scary moments that turn out to be false alarms , and left somehow totally unprepared for the real shocks .", "i still find this film pretty terrifying .", "it 's just such a good film .", "perhaps the most perfectly constructed horror story in our time .", "i do n't think there 's a more exciting talent at work right now than spielberg , an authentic moviemaking prodigy , and perhaps his worst problem from june 20 , 1975 , on will be preventing success from making a nervous or artistic wreck of him .", "director steven spielberg has immeasurably improved the bestselling peter benchley potboiler novel .", "MOV knew how to keep audiences invested . while getting to know the human characters and seeing what makes them relatable , the audience salivates for another monster scene .", "it may be the most cheerfully perverse scare movie ever made . even while you 're convulsed with laughter you 're still apprehensive , because the editing rhythms are very tricky , and the shock images loom up huge , right on top of you .", "enjoyment derived from tension and fear , interspersed with brief breathers to allow nerve-relieving chuckles and smiles .", "a film that sealed steven spielberg 's talent as a master entertainer .", "one of those rare films that really deserved its commercial success and its place among the best films of all times .", "a classic . tense , engrossing , scary and , subsequently , endlessly influential .", "a looming , terrifying catch of the day .", "one of the finest primal scare-thrillers ever to come out of hollywood .", "director steven spielberg has constructed a chillingly frightening film .", "killer sharks cause deaths and provide much excitement .", "to be fair to this film , and i ca n't see why i should be , it is an improvement on peter benchley 's book .", "set MOV beside any of the contemporary summer cash leviathans and the hollowness of modern-day hollywood 's vision of action-adventure entertainment is laid bare .", "i loved the film more this time than i had the first time i watched it .", "one of the greatest horror films made . the opening sequence is not only a classic , it 's still frightening nearly three decades after it was made .", "MOV ' formula has become a facsimiled equation for profit , of which the opening is the preeminent , telling feature .", "when it comes to this kind of thriller , no movie has been able to top MOV , although many have tried . and , as the years go by , it seems increasingly unlikely that anything will come close .", "it just might be one of the very best movies ever made .", "it is a coarse-grained and exploitive work which depends on excess for its impact . ashore it is a bore , awkwardly staged and lumpily written .", "the result is a fast-paced , straight-line thriller that moves without pause toward the climactic contest at sea between three men and a 25-foot , 3-ton great while killer shark .", "quite simply , MOV is a masterclass in blockbuster entertainment -- a tense , exciting thriller that redefined contemporary cinema . they do n't make them like this anymore .", "what this movie is about , and where it succeeds best , is the primordial level of fear .", "a near hitchcockian exercise in transference of guilt and making the audience pay for its illicit pleasures .", "john williams 's oscar-winning music and the excellent performances of roy scheider and richard dreyfuss add to the ingeniously mounted tension that cleverly plays on all our deepest primeval fears .", "mr. spielberg has so effectively spaced out the shocks that by the time we reach the spectacular final confrontation between the three men and the great white shark , we totally accept the makebelieve on its own foolishly entertaining terms .", "spielberg may be the man who created the new hollywood , but in his first megahit he summed up what was best in the old -- the humor , the perversity , and the storytelling integrity of alfred hitchcock .", "basically , MOV is an excellent routine movie , the sort normally made on a moderate budget and aimed at the neighborhood houses .", "MOV remains , decades later , a near perfect film .", "one of the absolute masterpieces of populist cinema .", "forget saving private ryan , and schindler 's list . this is spielberg 's masterwork .", "spielberg works self-effacingly , with subtly correct camera placement and meticulous editing . he twists our guts with false alarms , giving us the real thing with heart-stopping suddenness .", "in the end , the shark is a macguffin necessary for the men to bond and test themselves against what they fear most -- their own mortality .", "simply put , MOV turned the tide of american cinema : irrevocably , and not for the better .", "to be brief and to the point , the greatest film ever made ! thank you for your time .", "spielberg has directed a film which contains many unforgettable and suspenseful moments . that MOV was only his second feature film says something about the talent and ingenuity the man possessed even at such an early stage in his career .", "five-star movie could scare the pants off kids ." ], "summary": "compelling , well-crafted storytelling and a judicious sense of terror ensure steven spielberg 's MOV has remained a benchmark in the art of delivering modern blockbuster thrills .", "id": "10288" }, { "movie": "pirate_radio", "reviews": [ "... a perfectly enjoyable comedy that never strays beyond its playlist of colorful personalities and comic antics .", "the movie 's far more about the camaraderie between the djs and the love of music that 's shared between them and their listeners than it is about their struggle to stay on the air .", "no morals , no shame and good music ; who would n't want to climb aboard radio rock ?", "curtis has a knack for drawing credible names to his projects , and with this ensemble of talented character actors all playing to their strengths , the boat that rocked proves to be an entertaining , if not restless rock 'n' roll romp on the high seas .", "thinly drawn plot , thinner characters", "comedy flounders in a sea of mediocrity .", "at the very least , it will have you feeling all gooey and nostalgic about a time you may not have been around for .", "it is a great cast and the perfect one for a group of oddballs such as this . if only the script had been able to match the caliber of the acting , there might have been a really special film here .", "it was cut by over half an hour for american release and still plays long . but thanks to that fairy-dusting of curtis charm , i would n't cut a frame of it . it skips by like a much-loved old lp .", "MOV is , in the end , about as rock-revolutionary as a tea break . but the choppy production floats on a great soundtrack -lrb- the real pirates are the rolling stones -rrb- and is buoyed by an inviting cast ...", "even as it spirals into disaster-flick absurdity , MOV is n't trying to cause a big sensation , it 's just peddling instant gratification .", "curtis ' crew , although piloting a fairly flimsy vessel , plot-wise , sure knows how to have fun , armed as they are with one of the most memorable classic-rock sound tracks this side of forrest gump .", "the sort of ensemble comedy in which each member of the ensemble tends toward one-dimensionality but it 's mostly ok because there are so many members , and they 're all so talented .", "the music is great , the comedy provides occasional laughs , and there 's nothing fundamentally wrong with the movie . distilled to its essence , it represents a respectable diversion .", "a brisk , buoyant ode to the renegade deejays who defied authorities to bring rock radio to the uk in the 1960s .", "a halfhearted collection of scenarios and characters that would be more at home in a sitcom .", "if there were awards handed out for the most badly bungled concept , MOV would have to be very much in contention .", "it 's all got a great backbeat and you can dance to it , but there is n't much to curtis 's rebels except some canned anti-authoritarian , sex-drugs-rock 'n' roll rants .", "it takes 15 minutes for MOV to run out of steam , and that leaves two more hours of aimless goofing .", "phony yet fun , thanks mostly to a marvelous soundtrack .", "what 's not to like ? it 's animal house on water , with branagh playing dean wormer .", "alive with the full-bodied embrace of anarchy", "-lsb- a -rsb- bright joy-bomb that explodes in every direction with rock classics used in surprisingly direct and literal ways .", "i started glancing at the time well before the midway mark .", "... there 's some great music and a the movie sustains a groovy vibe ...", "the film 's original title was the boat that rocked . indeed , these freewheeling , swinging '60s djs braved their own titanic to keep on rocking in the free world .", "practical jokes , general buffoonery and sexual misadventures abound , and a sentimental `` who 's your daddy '' subplot involving carl barely registers amidst the guffaws . war ? recession ? unemployment ? forget all that in this buoyant flick .", "fanciful and free-sprited , it cleverly captures the essence of the age of aquarius .", "the sex is polite , and there 's not a whiff of dope .", "giggles , not belly laughs , come frequently , and it 'll help if viewers love u.k. comics .", "sometimes there 's a movie that comes along that shivers your timbres . MOV is one such delight . it 's a treasure trove of rock and roll memories , energy , and infectious spirit . it 's as groovy as the 1960s .", "-lsb- a -rsb- mess of a misbegotten would-be comedy ... -lsb- t -rsb- here 's not much story there at all , just some episodic anecdotes better suited to a sitcom ...", "writer-director richard curtis is about as rock n ' roll as the average great-grandmother , so it 's no surprise that MOV , his ode to the irrepressible spirit of '60s classic rock , has all the electricity of a knitted sweater .", "light-hearted fun -lsb- ... -rsb- that runs out of steam well before it reaches its destination", "though it gets a bit stuffy belowdecks at times , the soundtrack , and the comedic package of oddball humanity that keeps its vibe going , remain buoyant .", "in richard curtis ' structurally messy satire , there 's a bit of everything for everybody , but it 's the sound track , not the characters or tale , that is most memorable .", "an energetic , semi-farcical comedy romp blessed with a great ensemble cast , some gloriously tasteless jokes and a soundtrack of period hits .", "the story has structural problems that no amount of editing could finesse , and in the end they capsize the picture .", "this blast of sixties nostalgia , derived from the days when MOV ships broadcast off the coast of britain with a motley crew of dee-jays , should appeal to ageing music freaks and fans of brit-pop .", "boys will be boys and often at top volume in MOV , richard curtis 's fanciful fiction about rebel broadcasters .", "a hodgepodge of half-baked characters and story ideas , stoked by a frantic climax and a blue-chip playlist of 1966 rock classics .", "MOV is a bit of a mess . but an amiable mess nonetheless , with the boys ' casual chemistry and the music carrying things along , it 's not that hard to watch and it 's great to listen to .", "rock-filled ensemble comedy inspired by the rogue broadcasts of rock hits from north sea ships in the '60s runs seriously aground from so much lightweight cargo and an apocalyptic ending pirated from action-adventure .", "as it is , it 's an okay time-waster at best , one that will leave some catchy music stuck in your head .", "MOV , the new rock-saturated comedy that proves life really is better when it 's set to a '60s soundtrack , is , to borrow from the stones , `` a gas ! gas ! gas ! ''", "several films in one without fully developing any of them , MOV is one of those movies that tries to do too much at once and yet often feels like it 's doing nothing at all .", "... an amiable mess of a period piece about an interesting time in british pop music history", "the film 's good-natured rebellion and genuine enthusiasm for the power of rock 'n' roll can be infectious and enjoyable .", "things start sinking by the opening minutes .", "a hoot from beginning to end , plus a valentine to those days when youth thought music could change the world -lrb- and it did -rrb- , expect MOV to become a minor cult phenomenon when it 's released on dvd next year .", "parental content review", "inevitably , given this cast , there are a few actorly moments worth savoring , and the clothes some of the characters wear delight . but this is , quite simply , as bad a film as you could ever fear to see .", "curtis takes great joy in huddling an ensemble of misfits together , connecting them loosely and then sitting back and watching them all become a messy family .", "no quote available .", "the closest the movie comes to a rebellious statement is in naming one of its british government officials `` twatt . '' forgive me if i do n't want to throw on the who and start ranting against the establishment after that bit of scathing criticism .", "the boat nearly sinks from character overload , and curtis brakes when you most want him to gun it . but there 's no denying the comic energy of the cast .", "despite curtis ' bumbling , MOV manages to stay afloat bravely enough -- at least until the climax , which comes off as a confused marriage between top of the pops and titanic .", "in its attempt to capture a sense of time and place it does not completely hang together .", "boring , sanitized slobs vs. snobs comedy .", "one of the most charming films of 2009 .", "a mix-tape of successes and failures , perhaps too light for its subject , but a silly , easy watch .", "it 's silly enough and well acted enough and amusing enough to pass muster , with an absolutely cracking sixties soundtrack .", "MOV captures that rebellious , sexy , chaotic era by letting the generation-defining tunes do all the work .", "there is a great movie to be made from this particular subject -- something along the lines of such cult favorites as `` american hot wax '' and `` 24 hour party people '' -- but alas , `` MOV '' is not that movie .", "perfectly harmless fun ... the unwieldy number of characters keeps it from ever being something more than a movie for 40-something women looking to relive their teeny bopper years .", "a tad oversimplified and not very deep -- but then , you could say the same thing about a lot of really good rock tunes . the important thing is that it 's also a lot of fun .", "the ensemble chemistry pays off in fits and starts , but their casual cruelty to each other is a needless turn-off . comedy does n't work when it 's tone-deaf .", "a great movie ? no . great entertainment ? not arf !", "` the ship that sank ' would be a more appropriate title for writer-director richard curtis 's latest and most disappointing entertainment . it 's a cripplingly self-conscious and self-satisfied tribute .", "sensational stuff from one of the best writers of his generation and a film which will appeal to every age .", "curtis ambitiously stirs action and tragedy into his usual mix of romance , comedy and politics , but the resulting film is all over the place . it looks and sounds great , but none of the elements come together .", "looking back for a suitably rousing episode from our national past , curtis has alighted on dunkirk , a tragedy narrowly averted , which he reprises as mirthless , feelgood farce .", "curtis has failed to give us characters we can really like .", "the film itself is not irritating , although it 's so relentlessly cheery that it could have been .", "a lot of the boat that rocked is fun but it could , and should , have been a great deal more fun than it is .", "it 's a clever crowd-pleaser . you 'll walk away knowing that you 'll see it again .", "at its best , the film has a warm-hearted camaraderie that 's contagious , but it 's a vision of the '60s that feels like it 's been test screened to within an inch of its life , with no rough edges and no real sense of danger .", "this is more soundtrack without a story than story accompanied by a soundtrack . at just over two hours long , it 's packed with too much of everything .", "the boat that rocked ? not quite . it 's more of a mildly exciting wobble .", "you 'll probably leave with a smile on your face , even if you 've forgotten everything except that nice feeling by the next day .", "for a man who loves the raucous , ebullient pop of the 1960s , curtis 's own output has been terribly , terminally square . this latest is a new low : the film that sucked .", "a woebegone crew of comedy turns worthy of a bad carry on film .", "the soundtrack is the saving grace of a film that does n't cut it in any other direction and often gets irritatingly full of boyish rudery and sentimentality .", "it is an immensely likeable affair but it does feel more like a string of amusing anecdotes rather than a film of any substance .", "it 's a passable , if overlong , piece of fluff . but you 'll have completely forgotten about it less than an hour later .", "an early contender for not only of the best comedies of the year , but one of the best films of 2009 , flag down `` the boat that rocked '' today !", "an uplifting , frothy , sexy and often funny movie .", "a mix-tape of successes and failures , perhaps too light for its subject , but a silly , easy watch .", "... -lsb- it -rsb- will have you humming along and leave you with a big smile , something that can be said of few movies this year .", "MOV leaves out any mention of the usual historical and cultural background , say , sex as a potential means of mixing races and classes .", "overstates the establishment-vs . - youth culture impact of britain 's real-life offshore radio stations ...", "fun , fun , fun until the prime minister takes the t-bird away .", "it seems like an unstoppable premise , and yet curtis 's film feels strangely anchored in the port : lots of activity on board but no forward motion .", "the end credits display a wide array of classic album covers -- from bob dylan to u2 , the clash to tom waits . that reveals what 's at the movie 's heart : a love for rock 'n' roll .", "ensembles are tough , but i now feel safer in richard kurtis ' hands than any other director , especially when he brings along a pile of british talent .", "curtis 's movie is loosely based on the historical truths of the time , but it is n't meant as a documentary , a rockumentary , or even a docucomedy . it 's just a hell of a lot of fun .", "the film 's a lot like a good rock song : not overly deep , but a lot of fun and you can dance to it .", "MOV misses cues but does n't run completely aground .", "the boat that rocked is about 40 minutes too long , relies on too many obvious and repetitive gags and tends to sag and loose pace too often for a richard curtis film . the good news is that this is no where near as drab or unentertaining as wimbledon .", "enjoyable in a lazy way , it feels a bit trifling . given his apparent passion for the period and the subject , it 's disappointing that all curtis can come up with is this film .", "the main problem , however , is that it 's just not funny or inventive enough , and drifts towards tedium whenever bill nighy is n't on screen . if ever a movie needed hugh grant to save it , it 's this one .", "the soundtrack overflows with great rock , and individual scenes and performances click .", "a soundtrack in search of a movie ... a bid for nostalgia that comes across as simply tiresome when it is n't outright desperate .", "to enjoy MOV you have to accept its bits-and-pieces format . and you probably will also have always secretly wanted to be a disc jockey as a kid .", "do you like montages , but grow bored with the tedious plot bits in between ? then MOV is the movie for you .", "MOV is a flawed piece of work , at times utterly paralyzed by muddled whimsy . it 'll take some effort from the viewer to sort through this cluttered feature film .", "there 's more partridge family hugginess than sedition and subversion behind this rock 'n' roll story .", "the film is a series of episodic scenes which spotlight a host of characters who , without narrative material , become a mere collection of quirks , costumes , and gestures .", "MOV is a ribald , rocking romp . dramamine not necessary .", "here the plot does n't require a reason for the characters to keep running into one another ; there 's nowhere they can hide . no coincidences means more development . and the wall-to-wall '60s rock keeps things bright .", "MOV is a great soundtrack in search of a movie . it never really finds one .", "well over two hours long , the film outstays its welcome , but it does have some truly magical moments that outshine anything curtis has done before .", "it 's a delight to be in the company of this crew , so much so that you 'll be tempted to book a roundtrip .", "basically , what starts as a sharp comedy ends up - like most radio 1 djs - just going on . and on . and on . and on ...", "at its best , this is as engaging , funny and warmly moving as richard curtis 's finest work .", "curtis hangs situation and character comedy on a homage to rock 'n' roll . that would be fine if it were funny , but auto-pilot curtis prevails .", "but curtis tries to juggle too many storylines , giving none of them enough time to develop . a final act swerve into disaster movie territory is also ill-advised . still , bill nighy is superb , here playing bill nighy as the station 's rakish boss .", "lurches and leaks its way through a series of flimsy setpieces before gracelessly coming to a watery grave .", "for a script that relies more on character-driven than situational comedy , it 's the perfs that count , and these are thankfully strong .", "the result is a blast . it 's a coming of age story with comic elements as well as a reflection of the mood of a generation that embraced the music as a part of their everyday lives .", "the film is far too long , and between the tracks , the episodic adventures of a group of disc jockeys broadcasting rock 'n' roll from a rusty old clunker anchored just beyond the three-mile limit from the british isles is heavy going .", "richard curtis could have cast a more dyspeptic eye on his pirates and still told a compelling tale . but a love of 60s pop has got the better of him .", "having lived in london when the MOV stations flourished in the 60s , i can easily relate to the subject matter , although the treatment is fanciful . but that 's ok , we 're talking about rock n'roll , sex and youth , and about having fun .", "an embarrassing love letter to pop music and male friendship that is knuckle-gnawing in intensity .", "despite a terrific cast and a cracking '60s soundtrack , this overlong comedy-drama falls painfully flat , thanks to a non-existent plot , some badly judged character moments and a total absence of laughs .", "the rom-com glue that has turned every other curtis film into box-office gold is absent . this is a listless , sketchy mess .", "the movie is boisterous , sentimental and worryingly deficient in laughs for a worryingly large amount of the time .", "in just about every respect , MOV is less than seaworthy .", "lacks the edge it might have had , -lsb- but -rsb- as a genial , old-fashioned comedy about the spirit of the sixties , it 's enjoyable enough .", "imagine the dullest moments from almost famous and the lamest bits from animal house held together with clumsy frankenstein stitching . now punch yourself in the face . there you go .", "this might sound like a sentimental recipe , but richard curtis , who wrote and directed , keeps the spirit fresh and anarchic .", "if rock 'n' roll is about joy and rebellion , then a movie about it should be joyful and rebellious , too . but MOV is staid and stolid .", "it 's unfortunate that it feels so repetitive and reminiscent of many a film you 'll have seen before -- including several of curtis 's own prior works . but hey , that 's the movies . and rock 'n' roll , too .", "it 's extremely episodic , and while the individual episodes are often a lot of fun ... one walks away with little but classic rock earworms .", "MOV takes a great story -- the hugely popular offshore radio stations that illegally broadcast pop and rock in 1960s britain -- and turns it into an aggressively irritating floating frat-party romp .", "richard curtis has made a party , not a movie , and if the party goes on much too long , at least the guests are great company and the host 's taste in music is impeccable .", "one of the few fresh breaths of air out there , cinematically . this well-acted ensemble piece argues in favor of free speech without becoming too heavy-handed and ponderous .", "consistently and delightfully entertaining ... if the movie has a downside , it 's that its great music from the 1960s sometimes outshines the narrative .", "forty years ago , they could n't get these songs on the radio ; now we ca n't get them off .", "though the sum is n't quite as good as the parts , the film does succeed due to its phenomenal cast , which consists of some of the best british actors working today . philip seymour hoffman gives one of his most entertaining performances .", "a bloody perfect comedy , a rollicking rock 'n' roll farce brimming with raunchy humor and characters who will charm your socks off .", "i liked this version so much , i really want to see the longer the boat that rocked version . i guess on dvd .", "a raucous and robust comedy about a rebellious band of deejays whose love for rock-n-roll spurs them to defy the british government in the late 1960s .", "winning , witty , and wearing out its welcome toward the end , MOV is either a noble failure or the slightest of successes .", "the music rocks , this movie does n't . never rises above the sitcom level complete with stock characters you might have seen on shows like wkrp . too bad , because the classic pop tunes used in the film are among my very favorites . paul chambers , cnn .", "richard curtis 's comedy is anchored only in exuberance , but that 's more than you can say for most movies these days ; it keeps you beaming with pleasure .", "this is a film which does not take itself seriously and sends up everything from a perfect storm to spartacus to titanic as well as every teenage music flick you 've ever seen .", "MOV is going to be the event of the year for guys of indeterminate age -lrb- but closer to fifty than to fifteen -rrb- who can never get enough sixties rock 'n' roll at the movies .", "i fell in love with it and have yet to fall out of love with it . i do n't expect i shall . this is a movie i suspect i will only come to treasure more with the passage of time .", "grudgingly irresistible", "the nostalgia sixties rock music is lovely , however ... .", "a movie filled with characters has wonderful potential . it 's just that ` MOV ' has no character development .", "it just sits there in the water .", "to the beat of soundtrack that proves the point of why this music was feared and adored , it revels in the giddy delight of a time when all the old rules were questioned , if not thrown out", "vastly entertaining and a fascinating part of music history .", "any serious music fan -- that is anyone who sees the radio pirates as kindred spirits -- will be outraged by its sloppy approach to the history of rock and roll .", "this rock 'n' roll love letter comes across as an overlong , jumbled mess of a film that has trouble finding both its voice and its focus .", "the kinks , turtles and martha and the vandellas would have you dancing in the aisle , but then you might miss this most unusual show ." ], "summary": "the good cast and rollicking soundtrack eventually drown when this comic homage to MOV loses its quippy steam .", "id": "770783550" }, { "movie": "never_die_alone", "reviews": [ "the only good thing about MOV is its rap-retro soundtrack .", "this gritty genre piece about four men whose paths intertwine largely overcomes key cast weaknesses to deliver a jazzy , darkly textured rendering of the ghetto pulp of late african-american ex-con author donald goines .", "routinely but unconvincingly directed by dickerson , the movie possesses not a single character with the brains to get through a day without creating a huge mess .", "MOV discards logic and reason for a farcically overblown orgy of uninhibited sex , drugs and gaudy materialism .", "working from a 1974 novel by donald goines , the director , ernest dickerson , proves he 's the rare filmmaker who can show the attraction -- and degradation -- of the criminal life without exploiting it .", "scott fitzgerald might get a laugh from MOV .", "it deserves some credit for its ambitions . but those ambitions tip it over into pretentious melodrama that only emphasizes how far short of its aspirations it falls .", "a hackneyed tale of vengeance set in the ` hood , teeming with stock characters , slo-mo gunplay , and rampant misogyny .", "arquette does what he can with his pitiful character . but the longer paul drifts , the longer we find it hard to believe that he 's still alive . in fact , we 're kind of sorry he 's still alive . the movie would be much better without him .", "worse than you could ever imagine .", "a nasty piece of work that does n't seem to have met a cliche it did n't like .", "if you cut the expletives from MOV , it 's unlikely that this updated blaxploitation flick would run more than 15 minutes .", "dmx is the perfect actor for this stylized and often satisfying film adaptation of donald goines 's novel .", "this throwback to the outmoded blaxploitation genre is skillfully filmed by dickerson , but has little else to offer besides cheap , violent thrills .", "although the flashbacks within flashbacks within some more flashbacks structure is overly convoluted , dickerson 's visual flair and stephen lovejoy 's crisp editing actually make the story easy to follow , if not to believe .", "what makes MOV so monumentally terrible is n't just its bearhugging of gangsta flick convention , but its desperate attempt to imbue run-of-the-mill crime with noir classicism .", "if not for the excessive melodrama , lousy dialogue , clumsy acting and generally nasty vibe , `` MOV '' could have had the kind of distinctive edge that made urban street dramas like juice , menace ii society ...", "the various stories are strong enough to compensate for any acting deficiencies .", "MOV makes each viewer die alone , but shared laughter with other customers may forge a death-pact bond .", "dmx has all the charisma you 'd expect of a music star , and he uses it to portray king david as larger than life .", "MOV succeeds only in being so bad that , as the final scenes roll , it is very funny , albeit unintentionally so .", "MOV has the allure of a bad traffic accident . you do n't want to look at it , but for some reason you ca n't avert your eyes .", "in the hands of a more nuanced actor , david could have been a riveting character ; but dmx 's limited range means it 's never clear why such a remorseless thug was seeking ` redemption ' in the first place .", "has a story so silly , so pretentious , that only a narcissistic rapper with a hardcore thug pose would have the chutzpah to star in and narrate such garbage .", "this is nothing more than a lurid return to '70s blaxploitation .", "moral scolds will undoubtedly decry this as just another violent rap movie , but much like that jesus flick they 're all digging , this ... shows the harsh consequences of sin", "redemption eludes dmx 's antihero in the soulless MOV", "there 's neither action nor thrill in this so-called action thriller , and there 's really no reason to sit through it .", "MOV is one of those dreadful movies that wants us to think it is deep and philosophical , but it 's junk masquerading as art .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gritty film noir -lsb- about -rsb- a sleazy drug pusher looking for redemption , but who - in classic noir fashion - learns that there is no escaping paying for one 's past sins .", "hampered by its convoluted plot and a marked melodramatic streak that counteracts the film 's cool factor .", "it 's too bad the filmmakers could n't find a way to present -lsb- goines 's -rsb- vision without resorting to some pretty threadbare clich\u00e9s .", "his death was moving ; his life was not . it 's a requiem for a scumbag -- one who left a whole lotta decent people destroyed in his wake .", "violent movie starring rapper dmx is not for kids .", "this is not a workable drama , just a series of ideas that rap stars who worship scarface think would be cool to see .", "moody gangster-morality tale has an old-fashioned , mean-streets swagger and a charismatic lead in rapper dmx .", "instead of insight or character or milieu or anything else remotely worth exploring , we get bad attitude , lousy storytelling and abysmal performances .", "if movies like bad lieutenant and spun are your idea of a good time , then dmx has the film for you .", "this is a violence-ridden movie with one of the most despicable characters you ever will see .", "MOV is urban exploitation so badly written it sacrifices any claim to authenticity , with performances so uniformly awful it could be a meeting of bad actors anonymous .", "a violent , would-be film noir that strains with limited success for tragic resonance and gritty authenticity .", "a flashy but ultimately routine saga of gangsta criminality and payback .", "MOV is the first of goines ' ultragritty novels has made it to the big screen . if this is the best his words can inspire , it should also be the last .", "an electrifying modern-dress noir .", "dmx is vengeful , mean , and ruthless .", "you 'll need all the body armor you can muster for ernest dickerson 's bruising film noir , which works up more momentum and urgency in any one of its 82 minutes than most crime dramas do in their entirety .", "its messy narrative ultimately sends it straight into the gutter .", "MOV might just come to replace showgirls as the nation 's premier midnight-movie howler .", "purports to be literate film noir but comes off more like the overwritten project of a film school kid who just memorized his textbook on the style .", "a sloppily written film , based on what is undoubtedly an equally cheesy novel .", "what starts as a routine pimp film segues into an exercise in intrigue , thanks to some snappy editing and savvy performances .", "there 's something refreshing about a pulp drama that turns on the notion that redemption is a sucker 's fantasy .", "so outlandishly bad that it actually incites a viewer 's morbid curiosity : you watch it wondering how much worse it can get .", "a haunting , well-written and powerfully acted film , burdened only by its moral impotence and one irrefutably underwritten contrivance : aruqette 's character .", "dickerson 's seductive realization and dmx 's chillingly detached performance give this subpar variation on culturally apocalyptic themes an amoral plausibility .", "sure , the bends in logic are nutty , and some of the dialogue is so outrageously street that it 's laughable , but the larger-than-life star works it with everything he 's got . it 's a decent deal .", "MOV is soft and squishy , lacking tension and suspense , not to mention logic .", "dmx thinks he 's playing a macho street stud when he 's more like ted bundy in a black leather jacket .", "half of this film is so dark and grainy it looks like the paris hilton sex video .", "loses all credibility every time arquette appears on screen .", "ernest dickerson 's film recycles a cinematic standby -- it 's narrated by a corpse , telling us how he got that way -- but the movie 's scuzzy beauty keeps it intriguing .", "dmx is n't up to the acting needed to play an epic anti-hero , but then director/ex-cinematographer ernest dickerson never makes never very epic on any level .", "MOV is -lsb- dickerson 's -rsb- best work to date , with the complexity of serious fiction and the nerve to start dark and stay dark , to follow the logic of its story right down to its inevitable end .", "like its main character , MOV is beyond redemption .", "thumbs down for me .", "a pimped-up facsimile of david goines ' novel . i ca n't think of a more apt description of this misogynist and deeply flawed film noir .", "an incredibly violent and technically shoddy but undeniably absorbing black gangster movie .", "... the story is certainly a throwback to the films of the '70s .", "david 's remorse barely registers against the movie 's basking in criminal excess . and with the exception of character actor tiny lister , the cast tries way too hard to be tough .", "the only thing that could improve MOV is a caring projectionist , a lighter , and a trashcan .", "completely forgettable -lrb- at least , i 'm trying to forget it -rrb- .", "fans of goines will want to see this , because this is the first of his works to make it to the silver screen . other than that , there 's no reason to see it .", "-lsb- a -rsb- ll flashy visual angst and , despite its literary pretensions , utterly inconsequential , if bloated with a fervent desire to be seen as art .", "a bumbling adaptation .", "exploitative , obvious , redundant , didactic , misogynistic -- those adjectives were invented to describe amateur-hour projects like MOV .", "the unintentional comedy of the year , so far .", "a misogynistic , dull-witted bore .", "ernest dickerson 's goth-like vision of this troubling tale about the dark side of human nature encapsulates the film noir genre .", "it 's hard to imagine a more disturbingly woman-hating movie than MOV .", "this ` gangsta noir ' is a worthy heir to both ` blaxploitation ' and to the warner bros. gangster classics that linked economic hardship and the allure of crime ...", "king 's funeral opens MOV , but his throbbing self-consciousness drives it .", "you -lsb- may -rsb- wish this movie had died alone before you bought the ticket .", "dmx unleashes the focused , angry dominator routine that has always served as the selling point for his music ." ], "summary": "dmx 's menacing charisma is put to good use in this stylish but hackneyed modern-day noir .", "id": "14896" }, { "movie": "rain_man", "reviews": [ "you 'll spot many glories to celebrate in this unusual academy award-winning film .", "hey ... cruise can act !", "what no one can argue is that MOV is cruise 's quantum leap , so that it can be said unblushingly that he holds his own with the masterly hoffman .", "powerful and evocative", "under barry levinson 's astringent direction , hoffman and cruise evoke honestly earned emotions . do n't pass on this wonderfully funny and touching movie . there 's magic in it .", "while everyone remembers this film about an autistic man as dustin hoffman 's oscar-winning triumph , it is equally tom cruise 's .", "everything about the acting and direction of MOV is so exquisitely calibrated and so right that it 's all too easy to forget how much could have gone wrong .", "the best films are those that manage to generate emotion in their audience without ever feeling phony or melodramatic . MOV does exactly that .", "it has a heart as good as raymond 's own , which is more than a lot of hollywood movies can say for themselves at the moment .", "it 's an honorable effort , touched by a certain lightness and grace .", "a fascinating , often very moving , frequently funny film .", "when the great screen performances of 1988 are considered for oscar nomination , expect hoffman 's name on the list .", "never gets dated . never gets old . a timeless film about the power of family .", "its end effect depends largely on one 's susceptibility to the sight of an actor acting nonstop and extremely well , but to no particularly urgent dramatic purpose .", "genuinely enthralling .", "slightly overrated cruise-hoffman oscar-winner still works .", "in the history of the cinema , very few `` odd couples '' have complimented each other in the way that cruise and hoffman 's do in MOV .", "the trip begins both a journey to discovery and an amusing window into watching two brothers , totally different in every way , who oppose each other and then connect in a powerful way .", "one of the year 's most intriguing film premises is given uneven , slightly off-target treatment in ua 's MOV .", "... there 's more going on here than just the standard grin-and-smirk performance that dominated much of cruise 's early work .", "delivers plenty of droll humor .", "MOV 's restraint is , finally , rather like raymond 's gabble . it discourages connections , keeping you out instead of drawing you in .", "it 's a worthwhile journey in character and scenery ...", "story about autistic savant is n't for kids .", "if you can somehow ignore all this hype ... then MOV works as a kind of small comedy .", "there 's something indelible about MOV , and not only to those of us who lived through the time when it was a zeitgeist movie . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the strength of the film is really that of cruise 's performance , his finest since risky business .", "of course , it 's annoying . but it 's also funny , touching and true , striking chords without ever reducing raymond to a performing puppy . definitely .", "MOV is so fascinating because it refuses to supply those questions with sentimental but unrealistic answers .", "a sometimes touching , generally pedestrian look at autism .", "the film 's immense success may be attributed to its messages about family values , or more specifically the rediscovery of love between two brothers , an autistic savant -lrb- dustin hoffman -rrb- and a salesman-hustler -lrb- tom cruise -rrb- .", "well written , smartly directed , and sensitively performed .", "valeria golino is appealing as cruise 's girlfriend ; hoffman makes his character pretty believable without milking the part for pathos and tears , and it 's nice to see cruise working for a change in a context that is n't determined by hard sell and hype .", "hoffman is unforgettable , cruise holds his own well .", "hoffman and cruise give signature performances in this thoughtful , and hugely enjoyable , classic .", "there is no story , no motor , and given the nature of the premise , nothing much can happen .", "a solid , oscar-worthy motion picture .", "now as then , it 's clear that this was hardly the crowning achievement of its year , yet that 's not meant to take away from the film 's crowd-pleasing appeal .", "there 's a great jonathan demme movie waiting to bust out of MOV .", "the film 's greatest achievement is successfully framing the plot around a character incapable of emotional development .", "a slick , assured , coming-of-age road movie .", "-lsb- levinson 's -rsb- films are fresh and different from anything else being made", "MOV is far from a washout but you ca n't help feeling all those missed opportunities raining down on you .", "a sharp drama .", "though it is in many respects just another odd couple road movie , MOV evolves into a very special film , largely because it is about something .", "neither levinson nor hoffman was able to penetrate the mystery of their subject .", "brazenly manipulative oscar bait -- and it worked ." ], "summary": "this road-trip movie about an autistic savant and his callow brother is far from seamless , but barry levinson 's direction is impressive , and strong performances from tom cruise and dustin hoffman add to its appeal .", "id": "15245" }, { "movie": "barbarella", "reviews": [ "a valentine to the soft-core lover in all of us , and proof that on some levels , jane fonda will never be taken seriously .", "cheesy , campy , sexy and frequently quite entertaining ... at least in a purely visual sense !", "it 's not a film that tries to break barriers or provide deep and meaningful commentary on the nature and meaning of life -- it 's a film which sets out to entertain and does so with considerable panache . what more do you need to know ?", "it is an extravagant exercise in bad taste and camp . while it tries to intentionally funny , some of the humour merely falls flat on its face .", "why did jane make a film like this ? even she does not know herself .", "a camp classic .", "not that the film itself is n't funny , it most definitely is , but it is a formless mass of crazy one-liners and ridiculous situations .", "great production design and very little else .", "fonda looks sensational and glides through this romp like a dazed , ripe-to-the - touch innocent .", "though slow spots abound , the camp content of some scenes is astro-nomical and it reminds us of a more innocent time when the concept of death by sex was something we could laugh about .", "a flash gordon-meets-oz kitsch-fest stripping women 's sexual revolution down to voyeuristic spectacle , flimsily dressed in cheap , see-through , psychedelic b-movie garb . vadim imbues most scenes with a faux-arty lethargy that slumps into stiltedness .", "campy sci-fi cult classic features violence , nudity .", "roger vadim 's ultra-kitsch sci-fi classic somehow improves with age .", "one of the most memorable of comic book adaptations ever conceived ...", "`` MOV '' is the 1968 sci-fi that made jane fonda a household name . the opening credits feature a striptease that takes fonda from a cumbersome space suit to her birthday suit . her sex kitten looks were enough to drive young men crazy .", "... like a lot of truly terrible things from the '60s , MOV has acquired the patina of the cult classic , which means that as the cultural context has changed we are able to enjoy it for reasons other than those intended by the filmmakers", "clearly inspired by 1960s batmania , the hunka hunka burning camp that is MOV adapted french science-fiction comic books into gleefully oversexed cinematic pop art . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "MOV could n't exist in any era but the 1960s and its delightful over-the-top qualities find an ideal expression in the ridiculous excesses of the time .", "emblematic of a freewheeling , free love culture that never really existed , it 's a true camp classic , a unique amalgamation of pulp themes and a pseudo-historical treasure .", "without jane fonda , there is n't much to talk about . yet with her , the film is enjoyable to watch , not only because she is so appealing to look at but because she has such a flair for the role .", "it 's fun in a ` what were they smoking ? ' kind of way .", "an awful film , certainly , but also undeniably watchable .", "i just could n't take my eyes off the screen .", "despite a certain amount of production dash and polish and a few silly-funny lines of dialog , MOV is n't very much of a film .", "throughout the movie , there is the assumption that just mentioning a thing -lrb- sex , politics , religion -rrb- makes it funny and that mentioning it in some offensive context makes it funnier .", "terry southern 's dialogue occasionally sparkles , and the imaginative designs , as shot by claude renoir , look really splendid .", "a kitsch cult classic .", "cheerfully catch-all .", "most of this is soft-core nonsense , but snappy dialogue and design -- as well as the striptease routine that fonda performs behind the opening credits -- have made it something of a cult favorite .", "the film is ugly on so many levels -- from art direction to human values -- that it 's hard to know where to begin .", "a nutty film that boasts at times beautiful photography of some cheap but truly epic sets of pvc and everything that clings ." ], "summary": "unevenly paced and thoroughly cheesy , MOV is nonetheless full of humor , entertaining visuals , and jane fonda 's sex appeal .", "id": "10569" }, { "movie": "the_music_never_stopped", "reviews": [ "a good sunday afternoon cable watch , but not much more than that .", "it sounds like tv-grade schmaltz , but it is n't , thanks to expertly astringent work by simmons ...", "lots of good music but the picture flirts with hallmark hall of fame feel-goodism .", "this fact-inspired story from the physician who gave us awakenings mostly plays like a lifetime movie .", "the treatment of the music alone makes the movie worth seeing , but the sophisticated nature of the narrative builds well on the musical foundation .", "simmons has never been better than he is here , as he transforms henry from a guy burdened with regret to one bursting with hope .", "... radiates good intentions and bland professionalism without ever becoming as moving or inspiring as it seems to want to be .", "this loosely adapted biopic drawn from the dr. oliver sacks case study , the last hippie , resonates with the emotional power of music back in time to heal and awaken broken lives .", "it 's really for anybody who loves their music -- whatever that music is -- so much that hearing it is enough to transport them to another time and place .", ". . it 's curious that a film essentially about the healing power of music can be so tone deaf about some of the particulars , this is a movie that some ... baby boomers will absolutely adore . others should approach with caution .", "this heartily maudlin character study is sort of a crash course in boomerology .", "MOV is often static and follows a familiar trajectory . yet it has power , partly because simmons does a fine job of showing how hurt henry is that his taste did n't imprint on gabe beyond grade school .", "some will collapse in tears over this story . others will remain stone-cold . and still others , like me , will land somewhere in the middle of these extremes .", "a wounded and hopeful take on generation gaps and the wider , nearly unbridgeable chasms created by neurological disaster .", "the songs and a couple of strong performances are only good enough to make the film watchable , not exceptional .", "it 's hard even to describe the film 's plot without reflexively mocking its saccharine commodification of some really good music , but there are in fact a few fairly moving moments to be found .", "the novel premise and otherwise nuanced performances are enough to hold attention .", "skews to fantasy over fact , but when it blinks at you with those puppy-dog eyes , just see if you do n't sniffle .", "you 'll undoubtedly feel something when watching a film like this , but not necessarily anything that has n't been evoked more originally , and more effectively , elsewhere .", "music brings family back together in moving drama .", "meant to be about the soundtrack of our lives , and music as a form of connection , but it traffics only in cliches and screenwriting shortcuts .", "this is the kind of warm , uncluttered , feel-good film that you take your parents to see , and i absolutely mean that in a good way .", "presumably intended as an inspirational medical drama , this dated effort congeals into stale nostalgia . mr. simmons deserves better .", "the film does manage to transcend its disease-of-the-week trappings and fall squarely between tv-movie and oscar-baiting . a rather solid father/son tale as their relationship becomes a very moving center .", "jk simmons takes center stage , clueless as to how to communicate with his son . and then there 's the music , grabbing at us , taking us out of ourselves while pulling us in . playing us , as it were -- but in a good way .", "it 's about the healing power of music ... and it 's a moving father-son story that ca n't help but choke you up , if you let it .", "strain is evident elsewhere .", "awash in sentiment and grateful dead music , this sap-fest may delight the susceptible , after a few visits to bongland .", "sensitive if sentimental , delivering a trippy , heartfelt message that echoes across the generations and decades .", "director jim kohlberg misses a few beats , but more amplitude would have been appreciated .", "simmons 's talents carry the film , elevating the work of his fellow actors .", "kohlberg is determined to manipulate your emotions ; he succeeds .", "it 's sentimental , yet so honest and eccentric that it rises above schmaltz .", "no matter what , simmons is worth seeing .", "the sentiments are real without succumbing to exaggerated sentimentality , thanks in large part to that big lovable lug , j.k. simmons .", "MOV offers up a fairly predictable medical melodrama .", "a medley of `` memento , '' `` the king 's speech '' and `` hair , '' `` MOV '' is sentimental pop packaged as a profound rock opera .", "a father-son drama that wraps a gripping neurological oddity in comfortably familiar movie sentimentality .", "it 's an audience-friendly drama about family , conflict and the healing power of music .", "a powerful , even shattering look as music 's power to unite where it once divided .", "deeply moving , powerful and inspiring . it radiates a rare glow of humor and warmth . j.k. simmons gives by far the best performance of his career .", "sketchy and heavy on the treacle .", "touching story about the emotional uplift of music , the tenderizing of a family member 's heart , and a father-son reconciliation like nothing you 've ever seen before ; one of the best films of 2011 .", "this sentimental father and son tale adapted from an oliver sacks essay by gwyn lurie and gary marks plays it altogether too genteelly for the turbulent times it depicts .", "a deeply moving film on many levels that wears its love for '60s music on its sleeve for what is ultimately a solid family drama .", "MOV is n't exactly good , but it 's definitely better than you fear it is when you reach the halfway mark .", "succeeds on the shoulders of simmons , who 's fantastically moving when henry familiarizes himself with his son 's favorite music as the lone remaining way to connect with him .", "a sentimental but deeply felt true story about the healing power of music .", "simmons is a powerhouse of character development . you really believe that he 's learning and coming around . it is touching to see a father and son connect , and there 's some mild the notebook sting when gabriel forgets immediately ." ], "summary": "an involving , if sentimental and predictable family drama elevated by j.k. simmons ' sympathetic lead performance .", "id": "771225051" }, { "movie": "tulpan", "reviews": [ "a folk tale disguised as a documentary , sergei dvortsevoy 's MOV appears something like actual reality , half-planned and half-found .", "a visually stunning coming-of-age drama set in the vast barrenness of southern kazakhstan 's hunger steppe .", "despite its rich , picturesque scenery and a few briefly amusing and tender moments , MOV feels uneven , meandering , unimaginative and somewhat bland both as a drama and as a comedy .", "the details of the exotic trappings on display may be relatively new but the rites-of-passage story is as old as civilisation itself in MOV , a timeless and endearing coming-of-age tale for the story of the weeping camel crowd .", "it dares to be sentimental . underneath the fly-swatted surface is a gentle coming-of-age .", "skip the latest hollywood trifle and see this instead .", "story of a young man 's efforts to reconcile his imagined paradise with the harsh landscape he hopes will sustain him offers a romantic vision of nomad life on the steppes of kazakhstan .", "poignantly captures a society at the hinge of change , where the beauty of the rugged environment and the pride of fulfilling traditions compete with the pull of the city .", "it captures the life-and-death demands of a seemingly alien landscape within the context of a generational paradigm shift in central asia .", "perceptive and humorous , this gentle drama is uplifting and resonant .", "uma obra absolutamente m\u00e1gica .", "-lsb- a -rsb- beguiling feature debut .", "dvortsevoy exhibits the storytelling composure and technical proficiency of a veteran , while his keen eye for a pastoral poetic flourish places ` MOV ' firmly among the year 's most endearing cinematic experiences .", "but in addition to the brutality of MOV 's environment , and its merciless impress on the inhabitants , the film succeeds foremost , most surprisingly , as comedy . the trials and tribulations of asa are worthy of samuel beckett .", "all those tornadoes , mischievous kids , live sheep births and mating donkeys accidentally caught on film only make `` MOV '' more wondrous to behold .", "the film 's pervasive -lrb- and downright aggressive -rrb- lack of plot undoubtedly exacerbates its problems ...", "finally , a kazakh character to cheer for !", "dvortsevoy shows us the fragility of life , through the birth and death of lambs , while also touching on the innate stoicism of families who live in this toughest of environments .", "a gorgeously-shot and often-funny story ... an absolute treat .", "an eminently lovable film .", "achieves a documentary-level realism that is nothing short of amazing .", "with a deadpan charm all its own , MOV ends up dealing with some fairly serious questions on the order of how you make peace with a dream .", "i have learned to be suspicious of films which seem to romanticise nomadic life , but this one does n't . it 's a winner .", "the documentary aspects of MOV offer an interesting , if familiar , portrait of hardscrabble existence . it 's the fictional aspects focusing on thwarted hearts and libidos , however , that stick with you .", "the latest import from the steppes of the former soviet empire is MOV , a bittersweet slice of life with a sweet center .", "MOV is a throwback to the fictionalized documentary popularized by robert flaherty in the 1920s and 1930 ...", "sergei dvortsevoy 's unclassifiable , verite-style film -lrb- shaky-cam alert ! -rrb- is an endearing mix of intimacy , attention to detail and decidedly local humor .", "if you surrender to its pace , MOV can be intoxicating ; it 's like nothing else in theaters .", "its plot is ridiculously simple , yet we watch MOV in open-mouthed awe because of director sergey dvortsevoy 's astonishing technique .", "a gentle and accomplished slice of realism about the difficulty of finding domestic bliss anywhere , especially in a part of the world with a cultural heritage that seems to be fading from the country to the city .", "quite extraordinary . gently comic , ultimately stirring , the nomadic world dvortsevoy chronicles pays loving attention to the lives of both humans and animals -- interdependent residents in a difficult , memorable part of the world .", "MOV is an amazing film . it shows such an unfamiliar world , it might as well be mars .", "highly acclaimed at festivals , MOV is wondrous and fascinating , with a gritty , true-to-hard-life tone .", "the central story is both comical and poignant . she is but an illusion who peers at him from behind a curtain and despite the offer of 10 sheep and a chandelier as a suggested dowry , he is rejected on the grounds of having big ears", "when a film arrives on our shores from this far away , you can almost guarantee it 's a good one and MOV does n't disappoint .", "a mesmerising cinema experience .", "with MOV , his first feature film , kazakhstani director sergei dvortsevoy has crafted a sweetly gentle story about life in this barren place .", "-lsb- a -rsb- beautiful and moving tale of life among the shepherds working the kazakh steppe .", "for all that hard work and unrequited love , MOV is also very funny .", "russian director sergei dvortsevoy 's funny , fascinating , utterly unclassifiable film MOV is ethnographic filmmaking without the preaching .", "there 's no room for mush in filmmaker sergey dvortsevoy 's triumphant , intimate drama , not when the necessities of daily life are so elemental , and so tenderly observed .", "what makes MOV remarkable are the extended unbroken scenes , both dramatic and comic .", "interesting is the drama 's portrayal of a culture that 's been spoofed and parodied by other features , including the aforementioned ` mockumentary . '", "sergei dvortsevoy 's remarkable film is fiction , but the characters are played by people more or less playing themselves , and each actor brings a rough charisma to the film .", "dvortsevoy could be the most artistically driven documentary filmmaker since werner herzog .", "in the attempt to follow a coming of age story about a boy 's transition into manhood , a subliminal odyssey of the human spirit takes over .", "shows the minor miracles and small catastrophes of steppe life with humbling devotion .", "MOV might be described as an epic landscape film or a sweetly comic coming-of-age story . but the setting gives the movie a science fiction mood .", "a beautifully choreographed and photographed story about tradition and modernity in rural asia .", "highly original and offebat , MOV works on any number of levels , as a romantic fable as well as coming of age yarn , which may explain why it has been winning festival awards and audiences ' hearts .", "the acting and story are solid , but the real star of MOV is the gorgeous , never-ending landscape -- flat and arid , and home to camels , goats and lambs , and hearty people who live in tentlike yurts .", "an irresistible mix of whimsical and raucous humour that leavens the bleakness of that environment", "investing the ethnographic documentary with sly wit and wry absurdity , sergei dvortsevoy 's MOV is a quiet revelation .", "feels more like something from national geographic than a feature film . for some , the lamb-birthing scene will be a steppe too far .", "the film is irresistibly human and funny , and properly momentous when calamity strikes .", "features situations that are recognisable simply because the people involved are so realistic .", "an emotionally engaging drama that succeeds thanks to its combination of offbeat humour and intriguing characters , set against an almost impossibly bleak landscape .", "with this harsh and beautiful backdrop so attentively rendered , at once otherworldly and palpable , the desires of MOV 's characters become almost metaphysical imperatives .", "while it is no documentary , this lovingly made film captures a culture and a rural way of life with a mix of realism and poetry .", "this is another example of the quality of the films that continue to come out of the east asian steppes and its tiny filmmaking industries .", "a coming-of-age story that also examines the pull and push of the modern and traditional , MOV is a striking , unique , narrative feature debut for director-writer sergei dvortsevoy .", "to certain serious world-cinema aficionados , MOV 's combination of understated comedy and documentary-level depiction of rural kazakh life will be catnip .", "this uncategorizable story , both ancient and modern , is , simply and poetically , about a nomad looking to make his home .", "a deliciously light touch characterises this dry , deadpan comedy set in the stark and sparsely inhabited steppes of kazakhstan .", "equal parts deadpan romcom and national geographic special , MOV certainly the funniest movie about kazakh sheep herders that you will ever see .", "a tender , unforgettable comedy about a vanishing way of life .", "there are two prominent scenes of lambing , the first utterly tragic , the second joyously life -lrb- and dream -rrb- affirming ." ], "summary": "kazakh sheep herders get their cinematic due in this lovely , unsentimental debut from director sergei dvortsevoy .", "id": "770771260" }, { "movie": "30_days_of_night", "reviews": [ "see the movie for the vampires , which are at least visually interesting . the humans are so boring i could n't wait for them to die .", "30 MOV is n't deep , but it 's effective , and at least it does n't seem like something you 've seen a dozen times before .", "30 MOV is a high-concept movie idea that 's so good , i 'm surprised we have n't seen it .", "director david slade takes the film adaptation halfway home by getting the look exactly right .", "30 MOV is the well-paced and entertaining horror debut of hard candy director david slade , who captures the coolest parts of steve niles ' comic book series on the big screen .", "a truly terrifying hell-ride through darkness for grownups .", "the increasingly ridiculous behavior of some of the other humans turn the film laughable by interrupting its brutality with banality . and when it comes to vampires , brutal is always better .", "an anemic adaptation of steve niles and ben templesmith 's creepy comic series , 30 MOV is lighter on horror than it is on inadvertent humor .", "whatever power the original comic had , this film adaptation lost it in translation .", "you could make a horror film with shocking story developments and creepy twists . or , you could just have monsters with pointy teeth jump into the frame while making loud noises . for the latter , check out the vampire flick 30 MOV .", "nearly passes muster on atmosphere alone .", "the concept ? brilliant ... the execution ? oh , dear .", "it 's the bourne ultimatum of horror movies ... it is ghost house pictures ' first great film . actually , it 's their first good film but it 's a great one .", "the producers just had to give the material to director david slade , a hack filmmaker of the worst kind , who drowns any promise this nihilistic tale of frosty survival held by smothering the picture in excessive , pedestrian visual gymnastics .", "... a horror film as dim as its prevailing palette , a graytoned fugue set in the blankness of the alaskan arctic .", "the performers have little to do besides spill and drink blood in this tedious , inconsequential b picture . the sun doesn\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t rise nearly fast enough .", "the humans are a bore , but the vampires light up this night .", "this is a failed fright flick that is so inspired by stephen king that the famous horror scribe should consider suing .", "a fresh , gruesomely fun take on the bloodsucking creatures .", "scary is back in the cold deadly way . this horror film contained all the necessary ingredients for a classic fright .", "this slick and sticky horror is the most accomplished treatment of vampire lore since near dark .", "in comparison to recent anaemic vampire offerings , it does make your blood run cold - assuming you 've got any left .", "a frustrating mix of imaginative design , erratic plotting and underwritten characters .", "this has more bite than we 've come to expect from sam raimi 's ghost house production outfit . some of the action misses the jugular , but danny huston makes for a sensational baddie .", "i 've seen more creepy vampires , i guess . but the thought of waiting out the ghouls in `` 30 MOV '' is pretty interesting .", "good idea , boring execution .", "a refreshing variation on the vampire movie formula , with a strong premise and a fair bit of splatter , but insufficient verve to last out its nearly two hour running time .", "an extremely gory but never completely gripping horror .", "the isolated , unique nature of the town 's plight keeps the film from tapping directly into universal fears , but it will certainly make you grateful to see the sun rise", "30 MOV strikes out a nerve-jangling , bloodily unpredictable route to a truly stunning ending that 's well worth the wait .", "30 days the movie conjures the ominous atmosphere that haunted the graphic novel , but squanders much of the rest .", "the filmmakers have tried to expand the original source material by adding more characters to the mix . but as a result , it actually feels character-thin and a little sketchy .", "30 days is a proficient , atmospheric fangfest that does nothing you have n't seen before but still does it passably well .", "i have pretty much reached my quota for vampire movies , but i should n't hold that against this one . if you have n't seen too many , you might like it .", "like most kiddies games , this one starts out fun and then gets tired . inevitably , that 's when slade tries to revive our interest by upping the gore quotient .", "even as stage blood flows like water , this wicked-mean vampire thriller pushes ahead with effective characters , a fantastic visual schema and a terrifying plot .", "even when it resorts to the hoariest clich\u00e9s , 30 MOV still chills .", "eventually , the film just runs out of fresh bodies -- sadly , about 29 days after it 's run out of fresh ideas .", "... works in its updating of ancient folk lore , but wears us down with its extended jack hammering approach .", "30 MOV turns so monotonous and repetitive that , by the end , you feel as if you 've lived through an entire month of black sundays .", "-lsb- a -rsb- turd covered in tasty ghirardelli chocolate - as soon as you sink your teeth in you know you 've got mouthful of sweetened sh*t .", "doomed to have its best scenes mistakenly remembered as parts of better movies .", "result is a mixed bag but has a catchy premise and quite enough splatter to satisfy gorehounds .", "during bad movies my mind often drifts toward better ones , which explains why 30 MOV reminded me of high noon .", "certainly bloody , but not bloody good ... does n't go the tongue-in-cheek route , but by the close it 's pretty risible .", "these vamps could use stakes as toothpicks and garlic as garnish on their meals of human flesh . their only weaknesses are a well-swung ax to the jugular and sunlight . much like larry king .", "rises above its source material , both in plot and gut-rumbling tone . even accounting for a few logy sequences , it 's the most relentless , sustained freak-out since the descent .", "more likely to induce a coma than a nightmare", "despite the clever twist of fighting vampires with an ultraviolet lamp -lrb- good thing grandma grew pot -rrb- , this horror-flick fondue settles into an extended cat-and-mouse sequence dotted with the occasional dollop of gore .", "the script is simple stuff , simpler than the graphic novel , which at least managed to devote a page or two to the vampires ' back story .", "here is one of those rare movies that penetrates the membrane separating all those disposable `` gotcha '' scarefests from genuinely engrossing supernatural thrillers .", "a blissfully mean-spirited and aggressively creepy terror tale , and one that 's not content to simply rest on its one good concept .", "30 MOV is a great example on how to combine chills , thrills and gore with the end result a serious and effective horror movie .", "it 's assault on precinct 13 meets the the thing with vampires as the baddies -lrb- can we count the ways director john carpenter has influenced genre films today ? -rrb- .", "scrapping many of the undead cliches and aided by troublingly realistic special effects , slade has crafted one hell of a monster movie .", "these 30 days feel like an eternity", "not bad , but let 's just say the movie could have used a tad more intentional humor .", "about as scary as count chocula .", "... -lsb- t -rsb- he hissing foreign-language chatting vampires , with all pointy teeth , make for dull , screaming villains .", "30 MOV aspires to be little more than a movie-movie , where you 're supposed to enjoy the ride , without asking any questions .", "hartnett has the same empty , mildly worried look in his eyes all the time , whether or not he 's a vampire .", "the film moves from truly creepy to truly inane .", "os vampiros vistos aqui s\u0103o pouco mais do que animais irracionais e desinteressantes .", "feels derivative of 28 days later .", "it certainly does entertain , particularly for those who consider a man chopping off the head of one of his friends ... entertaining . twice !", "30 MOV reinvents the vampire movie , but only with its novel premise .", "aniso thriler poy mpalatzarei anamesa sti mpimoybiariki anapologitikotita toy kai ti mpantmoybiariki ektelesi toy , kai dihos na mporei na anaparastisei peistika tin komikistiki aisthitiki tis pigis empneysis toy , parapataei me epiloges poy toy prokyptoyn", "concept : excellent . setup : intriguing . execution : well ... too many interesting ideas bungled .", "frankly , after you 've seen one writhing , orgiastic vampire feeding , you 've seen them all .", "the action is fast and gruesome , but beyond niles and templesmith 's unique setting , in which the typical race to daylight is stretched out to an agonizing marathon , '30 MOV ' offers little to stir the imagination .", "i was done when there was a needless scene abusing a woman . and the ending was on the verge of interesting , until it came down to one little punch .", "this is n't my favourite genre , but it 's evident that the film delivers all the requisite elements for fans itching to sit through decapitations , body ripping and blood-soaked , tooth gnashing devourings directed in as fresh a way as is possible .", "your enjoyment of hollywood 's latest vampire flick , 30 MOV , is largely going to depend on how forgiving you are towards the flaws of the underworld movies .", "in order to enjoy the best , you have to put up with the worst ... and rarely have `` best '' and `` worst '' commingled quite so completely .", "bleak , bombastic and belligerent , slade 's blood-busting bohemians will indeed take a caustic chunk out of your imaginative horrifying souls .", "danny huston is the vampire leader . who knew that vampires look like traveling salesmen , belly up to the bar at the holiday inn by the highway in poughkeepsie ? ` it 's time to sink my teeth into a free breakfast buffet , ' says danny .", "decent vampire movies are few and far between , and i 'm having a hard time remembering a recent one that impressed me like 30 MOV .", "gone are filmdom 's traditional seductive vampires , but '30 MOV ' still contains chills and thrills galore .", "slade does n't skimp on the gore , or on the disturbing imagery of these fast-moving vampires ... hunting the townsfolks through the snow .", "if this is the kind of movie you 're looking for , it delivers .", "you may not believe there 's any more blood to suck from the shriveled corpse of the vampire movie , but you 'd be wrong .", "30 MOV redonne ses lettres de noblesses \u0155 monstre \u00e9dent\u00e9 depuis des ann\u00e9es , pour ne pas dire des d\u00e9cennies .", "30 MOV is relentless , but it 's also relentlessly one-note .", "commendable for its daring , unconventional vision of vampires , but its erratic pacing makes it a jarring experience that 's hard to adjust to .", "you ca n't have horror without suspense . do n't they teach the films of alfred hitchcock anymore in film school ?", "you can only see so many snarling hissy fits by vampires with perpetually bloody chins before they start looking less like monsters and more like ill-tempered circus clowns whose makeup is running .", "david slade has n't revolutionized the vampire genre , but he may make you wet your pants .", "no amount of desensitization can prepare you for david slade 's chilling vampiric bloodbath . 30 MOV is relentlessly brutal horror with nary a comedic wisecracker in sight .", "pushes things into violent , hardcore territory all too similar to danny boyle 's zombie-outbreak flick 28 days later and its 2007 sequel .", "the movie 's just not very scary .", "30 MOV grabs this hoary monster by the throat , pumps it full of the thick rich blood of life , and shoves it out to greet you , eat you , and coat you in glorious mists of red firing from oh-so-many newly exposed arterial sprays .", "fleshing out their minimalist story in a way that wo n't cause the blood to drain from fans ' faces , it 's one of the better recent efforts as both a comic adaptation and a fright flick .", "it 's an unusually thoughtful chiller .", "director slade has fashioned a horror film that , for all its narrative shortcomings , succeeds at what it set out to do : make vampires scary again and terrify audiences doing it .", "the premise of this film has just got to be the ultimate wet dream for your average vampire .", "at its core , 30 MOV is a siege western relocated to the frozen north .", "the most impressive effect in 30 MOV is danny huston 's haircut .", "it 's clear the film script has gone through the standard hollywood death-of-a-thousand-rewrites wringer to emerge as shadow of its former self , drained of much of its creative synergy .", "vampires stage a blood orgy in a tiny alaskan town that spends a month of every year sunk in the darkness of polar winter in this gory adaptation of steve niles ' popular graphic novel .", "30 MOV manages to do for the vampire genre what 28 days later did for the zombie flick : give age-old monsters a modern-day makeover .", "30 MOV is the kind of gruesome but entertaining survival guide you pray you never have to follow : how to stop vampires killing you during the darkest days of alaskan winter .", "the unscary 30 MOV has shallow bite .", "potentially biting off more than he can chew , hard candy indie director david slade moves on from pedophile revenge fantasy to a ravenous alaskan vampire buffet .", "the problem is structural . after the invasion , we 're marooned with the dull survivors .", "the vampire 's attacks are nicely manic - think of an over-zealous contestant at a pie eating contest -- but they get repetitive after the first few kills .", "director david slade is clearly of the opinion that more is more , so there is lots of blood , lots of gore , and lots of vampires in black coats standing around as if auditioning for a remake of the michael jackson thriller video .", "it 's not quite torture porn , but there are lots of flying body parts to play with . and that flyin ' body part fan base is really going to have a good time with it .", "great setup , a mediocre middle , and no follow through make this story a swing and a miss , although an entertainingly bloody mess to watch .", "they are counting the number of days to the sun and i was counting the number of minutes to the end .", "this is a full-on , non-stop horror film . you 're either on the bus or off the bus . but if you are on , you 're hanging on with both hands and your hair flying back for the better part of the movie .", "a vampire film of unusually grave conviction , way too cold for camp .", "your best choice for fun frights before a night of track or treating .", "this is a gory , nasty movie that never gives its characters or its audience a moment 's rest .", "the same conflict over and over is not frightening . once it collapses under the weight of its own preposterousness and lack of suspense , it does n't matter how many cool-looking vampires screech like feral beasts - the movie has already lost all its blood .", "this is the perfect film to help you get a head start on halloween .", "here 's a story set in a place where people are almost as impervious to cold as vampires , and roads remain plowed even after a blizzard .", "not only is 30 MOV the first fright flick in a long time to be chilling in every way , it 's also the one to return our fangy friends to their rightful frightfulness .", "30 days hangs on a pretty cool conceit .", "this high-concept vampire film suffers from a disappointingly low-concept approach .", "the premise is slightly intriguing , but the execution is blander than josh hartnett 's screen presence .", "a terrific horror premise goes begging in the garbled halloween offering 30 MOV .", "30 days is gory , graphic , suspenseful and occasionally nonsensical . but it 's a vampire movie and if you 're into that genre you 'll probably be into this .", "a somewhat shrug-inducing vessel of unfulfilled potential , consisting of solidly executed attack passages followed by great stretches of relative tedium .", "it has a fairly original premise and some blood-curdling moments , but it 's also predictable , repetitive and vile .", "let 's call this one ` vampire movies for dummies ' , complete with our hero -lrb- john hartnett -rrb- having the job of solemnly stating the obvious as a pseudo narrator .", "now if you dig vampire flicks that will gross you out and are filled with gory set pieces , then maybe the high number of ax decapitations will catch your fancy .", "if the comic book had never existed , this would be pretty cool . as is , it 's a slightly missed opportunity with enough fun parts that it does n't feel like a total waste .", "final analysis : vampires cool ; humans suck . go read the comic .", "it 's not a classic , but it 's good blood-spattered fun .", "30 MOV sparks with crackling energy . it 's a symphony of shocks .", "the rare horror film that actually lives up to its potential .", "30 MOV amounts to two hours of missed opportunities .", "... a breath of fresh air amidst the relentless deluge of watered-down , teen-oriented cash grabs and remakes .", "with such a good concept for a vampire movie , it 's hard to believe it turned out to be this boring .", "a frightening genre offering , raising the bar on raising the dead .", "for a horror picture being released only weeks before halloween , 30 MOV does n't thrill and it definitely does n't spook .", "a bloody bore that utilizes lots of cgi blood and rapid-fire visual glitz in a doomed effort to cover up the fact that there is nothing going on here that even the least committed consumer of vampire-related entertainment has n't seen many times before", "so the remaining survivors huddle together . a few get bitten and turn . some splatter kills in-between . remind me again of what exactly is ` groundbreaking ' about this .", "why see the same old saw when you have a chance to see the best and scariest vampires you have seen in a long time ?", "30 MOV has a terrific premise and an intriguing setting , but it 's badly let down by poor direction , dismal acting and an appalling script .", "a real baying-at-the-moon gorefest , unusual both for its savagery and for a half-decent performance from hartnett .", "adapted from the graphic novel by steve niles and ben templesmith , 30 MOV is so dead serious you may feel the frequent urge to poke it in the ribs .", "if you are looking for a genuinely scary halloween film , this is a good bet .", "it would be fun to rent with friends who talk back to movies and imbibe a little etoh to facilitate the witty comebacks . compared to the other halloween offerings out there this year , 30 MOV is really pretty decent value for your money . great", "an okay flick", "redeems the vampire sub-genre , yanking it from the abysmal depths ...", "overall , the film is freaky and gruesome enough to keep horror fans thrilled , especially as the monsters get stronger , faster , badder and nuttier .", "30 MOV has a striking comic-book aesthetic and macabre sense of fun - if your sense of fun includes watching a vampire turned into p\u00e2t\u00e9 in the gnashing metal jaws of a rubbish processor .", "the portrayal of small-town dynamics amid the loneliness of the frozen north is more artful than the frenzied , sloppy , shaky-camera fangwork ." ], "summary": "while 30 MOV offers a few thrills , it ultimately succumbs to erratic execution .", "id": "512923951" }, { "movie": "elaine_stritch_shoot_me_2013", "reviews": [ "chiemi karasawa 's documentary is remarkable for its candor , but it 's a brutal honesty that elaine stritch herself gladly offers .", "you ca n't kid a kidder , and she 's a truth machine set on `` play '' at all times . she may kid herself occasionally , but you get the impression it 's a rare occurrence .", "it 's gratifying beyond words to witness this consummate performer as she feeds off an audience 's energy , turning flubs and forgetfulness continually to her advantage .", "as much a playdate as portrait , a jumble of salty highlights attesting to the pleasure of her company .", "an irresistibly entertaining documentary that captures stritch during what she unsentimentally calls `` almost post-time . ''", "ms. stritch is sharp , funny , brittle , caustic , demanding , exaggerated , critical -lrb- especially of herself -rrb- and infuriating . she is also elaborately unique and awesomely brilliant .", "the chief pleasures of shoot me-and there are many-come from watching stritch navigate her day-to-day life .", "` shoot me ' paints a loving but prickly and honest portrait of someone who 's never been less than honest , if sometimes to a fault .", "elaine stritch : shoot me is an absolute joy .", "the movie acts as the quintessential celebration of a thoroughly distinctive character .", "you ca n't take your eyes off of her .", "a superior celebrity docu that finds the broadway legend contemplating retirement as well as her own mortality .", "this film works as both a show business historical documentary and a fitting tribute to the late , great broadway legend , elaine stritch .", "sensationally entertaining .", "shoot me is precisely as dishy , vulnerable and moving as a biographical doc ought to be .", "as we see stritch carry on , still performing into her eighties , battling the physical and mental ravages of time , it 's obvious she was no sissy .", "-lsb- a -rsb- feisty portrait of the musical-theater legend .", "for someone who made her broadway debut 68 years ago , elaine stritch is still quite the firecracker .", "chiemi karasawa deserves all the credit in the world for the intimate and hilarious portrait that is elaine stritch : shoot me , a sparkling cocktail of music and memoir . on the other hand , she did n't exactly have to drag her subject out of her shell .", "there 's something indomitable about her will to perform , and insecurity has been part of her experience for decades , it 's clear .", "i suppose it helps to have seen stritch onstage to fully appreciate the bracing new documentary `` elaine stritch : shoot me , '' released by sundance selects . i wish i 'd seen more .", "what might have been merely a sycophantic airbrushed view of ms. stritch and her marvelous talents , instead , is a fully candid , unrehearsed , intimate , three-dimensional portrait .", "since the brassy elaine is mostly likable , even if self-absorbed , so is the straight-forward documentary .", "this is a must-see for anyone who loves theater , acting and especially individuals like elaine stritch unafraid to bare their souls -- so all of us can gain more insight into the complicated essence of the human condition .", "stritch , in her trademark billowy white blouses and skinny black tights , or in bed , without makeup and without , sometimes , a lucid notion , reveals herself to be full of opposing emotions and desires .", "in the marvelous documentary elaine stritch : shoot me , the title figure is a pistol .", "an enjoyably fawning documentary .", "by the end , even those who had never heard of stritch can share her rage against the dying of the light .", "refusing insincerity , demanding attention , and committed to the art of performance , stritch 's life seems tailor-made for a documentary .", "what a tough , difficult , talented old broad .", "really , the experience of `` elaine stritch : shoot me '' is the experience of being in stritch 's company for 80 minutes , and that 's fine . still i doubt anyone will walk out of this film wishing it were 10 minutes longer .", "stritch 's fearlessness in the face of age and illness dominates ; whether she 's ribbing 30 rock 's `` alec ` joan crawford ' baldwin '' or berating cinematographer shane signer - `` do n't you think you 're awfully close to me ?! '' , her default setting is candid .", "stritch speaks honestly about her mortality . at 87 , she harbors no fantasies about extended amounts of time . elaine stritch : shoot me makes you wish she would live forever .", "this profile of stage and screen veteran elaine stritch , shot during her 87th year , is n't a documentary so much as an improvised star vehicle ; she plays to the camera through the entire movie and puts on a hell of a show .", "you watch `` shoot me '' wishing this woman could keep sashaying through her showbiz life forever ...", "a fond farewell to a broadway baby as she closes a door on her remarkable career ... at least for now .", "you 'd have to be inept not to get good material when you turn a camera on the irrepressible elaine stritch . fortunately , first-time director chiemi karasawa earned the actress ' complete trust ...", "a generous and hilarious portrait of life as an aging legend .", "on a deeper level , `` shoot me '' is an unflinchingly honest examination of a woman who is aware that the end is approaching .", "follows the groundwork laid out by the recent joan rivers : a piece of work , alternating between look-where-she 's - been historical footage and look-at-her-go glimpses of her current busy schedule .", "cheers to a movie as gloriously entertaining and bluntly honest as the lady herself . everybody rise .", "delicious , hilarious , brutally honest up-close and riveting portrait of octogenarian broadway/film/tv legend and still alive-wire elaine stritch will thrill her many fans and win her plenty of new ones .", "ultimately , `` elaine stritch : shoot me '' borders on inspirational in the way that it humanizes someone this undeniably talented and successful .", "every would-be director of a celebrity biography should be required to watch chiemi karasawa 's delightful example .", "it 's stritch at her stritchiest : swaddled in fur , showing off those stockinged gams that still refuse to quit , and parking her eyes behind a pair of those signature oversized glasses that look like two full moons resting on her face .", "stritch is a force of nature", "ever the trooper , -lsb- stritch -rsb- grabs the audience 's attention , which never wanes . there 's not one diffident moment . elaine stritch : shoot me is the natural-born sequel to her stage show and just as revealing .", "`` i feel pretty , '' from `` west side story , '' was written for an ingenue , not a grande dame in her ninth decade , but she sings it with delicious irony , self-irony and irrepressible delight .", "formidable , indomitable , irascible : pick your adjective , and it pretty much describes the force of nature who holds the stage in `` elaine stritch : shoot me . ''", "the movie 's a portrait of tough yet vulnerable woman fighting age with everything she 's got , giving in , getting scared , fighting some more .", "elaine stritch 's strength , along with the film 's , comes from her honesty . she is herself , even when - maybe especially when - she knows she 's being watched .", "broadway legend elaine stritch is the subject of the documentary `` elaine stritch : shoot me '' and , quite a bit of the time , she also tries to direct it .", "she is more than a little abrasive in the finished documentary , yet she is also compulsively watchable . no wonder she 's a star .", "she 's an original straight-shooter , and the doc 's not far from a bull 's - eye .", "irresistibly brash and deeply moving , `` elaine stritch : shoot me '' is a vanity-free portrait of a phenomenal artist .", "one of those showbiz docs that 's not exactly pleasurable but offers a penetrating glimpse - sometimes too penetrating - into what it means to eat , drink , and be contrary in the public sphere .", "inspirational , entertaining , and absolutely awards-caliber ... elaine stritch : shoot me offers up an indelible and rare experience in cinematic form-it 's simply an absolute treat to be able to spend this much intimate time with such a legendary lady .", "the fledgling filmmaker finds what feels like just the right ratio of glitz to guts . one comes away with the sense that stritch wants more than anything for the show to go on , while knowing better than anyone that her final bow ca n't be far off .", "`` elaine stritch '' is filled with bluster and memories , blunt outbursts and funny moments . but more importantly , it is filled with honesty .", "a career centerpiece , a significant artistic contribution in its own right .", "it is in this moment that ` elaine stritch : shoot me ' becomes not only a guidebook on how to age gracefully and boldly but a perfect illustration on what drives performers to perform .", "broadway stage musical veteran stritch is an acquired taste .", "this admiring but forthright portrait does justice to stritch 's engaging , no-nonsense personality .", "there 's an impressive candor and depth to this documentary about the life and career of stritch ." ], "summary": "brutally honest and utterly compelling , elaine stritch : shoot me offers a riveting , vanity-free portrait of its legendary subject while offering a few essential truths about the human condition .", "id": "771354125" }, { "movie": "cheap_thrills_2013", "reviews": [ "these characters are achingly familiar , a reminder that all of us are willing to play our own private , primal games of commerce and sacrifice to get what we want from life .", "a bluesy drinking session evolves into messy violence for kicks in this nifty debut feature from e l katz .", "for genre fans , katz 's film will go down as a punchy and absorbing diversion , but it 's also an offer you can refuse to believe . a better film would have given you no choice .", "the script is smarter than the premise sounds , with writers david chirchirillo and trent haaga dispensing enough information to make victims both sympathetic and despicable , the instigators charismatic and sinister .", "funny games for the recession generation .", "the film would be nasty if it were n't clever -lrb- and sometimes horribly funny -rrb- .", "MOV is the sort of film that makes you want to applaud as soon as it ends ... a must for anyone with a penchant for the darker side of cinema .", "it 's a thought-provoking ride , particularly in a post-financial crisis world where a combination of desperation and temptation can make anyone consider doing the unthinkable .", "a darkly twisted satire on a world in which the rich get richer and the poor are easy pickings for callous exploitation .", "immensely funny and appallingly blunt at the same time , it 's a comedy with a soul as black as they come .", "a jet-black , vaguely satiric but never jokey crime thriller . enthralling , wince-inducing and purposefully unpleasant .", "MOV seriousness is cloaked in a darkly hilarious game of frat-guy oneupmanship . it 's about the things bros are capable of .", "you 're either in or your out from minute one .", "`` MOV '' is a movie that rod serling would have loved .", "erich von stroheim might have made the definitive film about human swinishness way back in 1924 -- sorry , gordon gekko -- but MOV cuts deeper , darker , and straight to the bone .", "if the way things wind up for craig and vince is perhaps inevitable , how they get there is not . as for the movie 's audacious final shot , it 's nothing short of iconic .", "the film 's clearest winner is pat healy , whose depiction of a man willing to corrode his entire life to provide for his wife and kid feels true despite the script 's silliest moments .", "dave koechner 's finest , grossest hour ?", "as exceptionally unpleasant experiences go , this one is delicious .", "if there 's one thing MOV stands for , it 's fun -- sick , demented fun , the kind that hurts the next day .", "one of the most involving works of cinematic misanthropy in years .", "ahead of its satiric aims , MOV ultimately delivers its titular promise again and again .", "cynical , amoral , tense and superbly shot and performed .", "MOV is a darkly comedic cult winner blending troma-inspired wackiness with pure , devious genre entertainment - just do n't try any of these dares at home .", "dark , deeply disturbing and occasionally comic , MOV puts a contemporary spin on the cinematic version of dare , pitting a mysterious guy with a wad of cash against a financially desperate pair of blue collars .", "the result ? high and humorous tension both on the screen and in the audience seats .", "simple , effective and consistently provocative , MOV is a masterful debut from a director to watch .", "MOV is a film that works as entertainment first , but it offers up a vital and horrifying discussion of the growing division between the haves and the have nots , and as a glimpse of what could be , it is truly chilling .", "ultimately , MOV is another film that should provoke some fascinating discussions about class , economy and the state of both in our country right now .", "-lsb- this movie -rsb- is less about relationships , character development and moral questions about how far we 'd go to make money , and more , as the title says , about MOV . cheap , bloody , disturbingly funny thrills .", "underneath the gore and giggles , it 's a shrewd class critique .", "MOV does n't present us necessarily with the most original satire or complex characters , but it 's terrifically crafted , anchored by strong performances and a keen build in tension .", "if MOV ultimately does carry us along , it 's due largely to healy 's performance and presence .", "you should watch it as a twisted comedy . those who do will be rewarded , especially by the film 's outlandish final image .", "let 's just say it takes a dim view of human nature that seems well supported by the evidence , and that if you have an appetite for fatalistic , dirty-minded gore you wo n't be disappointed .", "seriously overrated , it 's a series of gross-out scenes intended to shock and nothing more .", "gross and bloody , but it has a jaunty air .", "MOV takes pride in being the devil 's advocate to human desires and playing its pawns like the sweet antique ivory keys of a piano .", "to describe them would diminish their impact , but there are several occasions where it is tough to keep looking at the screen . yet , thanks to the characters and their portrayals , you ca n't really look away , either .", "a committed cast elevates what is , ultimately , a gimmicky thriller . it dissolves into a puddle of blood-tinged hypocrisy .", "MOV lives up to its name , and like many of life 's guilty pleasures , it would n't be a surprise if audiences wanted another helping .", "strikes an astute balance between a simply engaging dark thriller and a trenchant piece of social commentary . also it 's a lot of fun .", "the film makes the most of its premise and small cast , zipping from low-budget drama to sick black comedy to gruesome thriller .", "gird your stomach for MOV , a bloody but enjoyably ironic horror which enters that queasy zone where michael haneke 's funny games meets a reality-tv bush tucker trial .", "comedies do n't get much more pitch-black than this fiendishly clever film , which will shift into horror for everyone in the audience , although that tipping point varies for each person .", "director el katz ratchets up the tension effectively as the game gets ever more sickeningly dark , but it 's his cast 's fine performances that keep us watching and give this far-fetched tale a degree of emotional plausibility .", "e l katz 's film delivers exactly what the title promises . it is a very bloody , very violent fairground ride of a movie that ratchets up the tension as its two hapless anti-heroes compete desperately for money .", "you can take the result as either smart satire or sick schlock - frankly , it works on both scores .", "the film-makers ' undisguised glee in the revolting catalogue of horrors is a delight to behold , and the sense of naked misanthropy is queasily invigorating throughout .", "the blackest and most twisted of twisted black comedies , surely destined to become that indistinct phenomenon , a cult hit .", "this is not a movie for everybody , but that assessment is not exactly intended as a thumbs down . alarming thrills are guaranteed .", "a fair amount of twisted fun , thanks mostly to a surprisingly , effectively low-key turn by koechner as the game 's emcee .", "the simple , even sometimes simplistic script is helped a lot by its cast .", "MOV is little more than low-budget torture porn for the doobie-addled dudebro contingent .", "one of the few films i regret seeing . but it definitely lives up to the title -- and gives viewers an ending we 'll never forget .", "by the end , MOV too closely resembles the behavior it depicts .", "it 's even more gross and unsettling than it sounds , but the socioeconomic context adds some depth and suspense to the proceedings .", "... it 's the hysterical , son-of-jackass tomfoolery of the hangover taken to an absurdly nihilistic degree . for the most part it works ...", "first-time filmmaker katz effectively sets relatable problems as the catalyst to the story before the absurd takes over .", "-lsb- a -rsb- shock-value thriller .", "MOV plays like a drug-fuelled coen brothers flick with a hint of early sam raimi ...", "MOV is clearly the smartest hyper-violent film i have ever seen .", "the `` worst day of your life '' premise is a well-worn one ... but seldom has it plumbed the depths of desperation and sadism the way MOV does .", "i walked out of a screening feeling like i had just put my tongue on a 9-volt battery . in a good way .", "it 's faust meets bum fights in this sick black comedy for our economically polarized age .", "there are satisfying echoes of stephen king 's sly black humour in this deliciously nasty comedy thriller .", "a tour-de-force of twisted brilliance .", "a grimly funny social allegory that does n't pull a single punch .", "it 's basic human nature to want to see others , even those closest to us , humiliate themselves in as spectacular a manner as possible .", "katz makes one of the most extraordinary , indecent and glorious feature debuts in memory . it 's political cinema , but raucous entertainment first and foremost .", "there 's no big twist here , but the film 's sustained thoughtfulness is as surprising as any plot development .", "it 's not a swiftly paced picture , but when it finally arrives at the horrible business , it pulls off the madness with gusto .", "with a grindhouse title like MOV , MOV delivers the goods by exploiting its characters in fun and provocative ways .", "MOV is a thoroughly nasty piece of work , which doubtless will be the strongest selling point for this worst-case scenario about steadily escalating dares and degradations .", "the best kind of noir -- the kind where you do n't like anyone very much .", "a textbook case of a film that never quite amounts to the sum of its parts , MOV is still more than its title suggests and provides dark entertainment for those in the mood .", "`` MOV '' is a raucous pressure cooker that dishes out laughs and shrieks in equal measure .", "writer-director e.l. katz manages to effortlessly balance punishing violence , rich characterizations , gallows humor , and even social commentary , all without compromising emotional accessibility or good old-fashioned storytelling .", "class-conscious black comedy reveals the american dream to be both a gladiatorial bumfight and a dog 's dinner .", "how you feel about it will depend on how much creative debasement you can stand to watch .", "this is a film that is more defined by its mayhem tally than by its story .", "you 'd be better off watching the old `` alfred hitchcock presents '' episode with peter lorre and steve mcqueen that did basically the same thing far better and in much less time .", "to those looking for a bad time - and some good , no , great gore - take note : you 'll get a kick out of MOV , if not a giggle .", "achieves sustained unease throughout .", "screenwriters david chirchirillo and trent haaga pose a simple question -- how much will a person degrade himself to make ends meet ? -- but it 's a potent one , at least for those of us who ponder it every monday through friday .", "for all its moments of depravity and violence , the most shocking thing about MOV may be the realisation as to where we would draw the line for ourselves .", "there are plenty of difficult-to-stomach moments ... but they 're offset by the conviction of the actors and the wicked sense of humor katz brings to the proceedings .", "a tense , knotty -lrb- in more ways than one -rrb- valentine of leaching amorality -- a satisfyingly warped walk on the wild side .", "the movie equivalent of a mean girls ' game whose only goal is the humiliation of its protagonist , for your entertainment . also : a failed parable of the twistedness of the 1 percent ." ], "summary": "gleefully nasty and darkly hilarious , MOV lives down to its title in the best possible way .", "id": "771351722" }, { "movie": "water_lilies", "reviews": [ "a sensitive study of budding adolescent desires , a pervert 's delight , plus synchronized swimming . yes , MOV will be many things to many people .", "... a coming of age tale that is at once raw and beautiful .", "first-time writer/director celine sciamma focuses exclusively , empathetically and insightfully on her protagonists ' coming-of-age experiences .", "a narrowly interesting story by french writer-director c\u0103 -lrb- c -rrb- line sciamma about three girls whose lives are connected by synchronized swimming .", "MOV is that rare film about female sexuality that is made for females to relate to , not for males to fantasize about .", "if poetry is about finding the perfect words to say something , then movie poetry is about finding perfect images . and MOV has several of them .", "borderline kiddie porn featuring sexual girl-on-girl garbage sniffing of one 's favorite female object of desire , post-feminist burying instead of burning bras as female self-hatred , and gal pal how-to tips on deflowering your best friend .", "frankly and sensitively packs in a lot of teen girls ' yearning for conformity above the water line and down below % u2013 pressure , insecurity , romance , and sexual exploration .", "a fascinating exploration of female friendship , love , manipulation , betrayal and healing .", "it 'd all be tres dull if it were n't for the magnificent faces of pauline acquart and adele haenel . actually , it still gets dull , even if at times the film skirts kiddie-porn territory .", "the flowers that bloom in the french film MOV belong to a familiar cinematic species , the newly sexualized teenage girl .", "beautifully paced with an eerily-consistent tone", "jailbait gone wild , parisian-style !", "completing the convergence of rare young talents is the 27-year-old french director c\u00e9line sciamma .", "the drama never merely titillates , instead developing a convincing dynamic among the three .", "marie can stare longingly at floriane only so many times before my more than ample patience for watching pretty , tormented girls becomes altogether spent .", "although a little too open-ended to be wholly satisfying , MOV is still an excellent directorial debut .", "explores the rawness of one teenage girl 's feelings as she rides the roller-coaster ride of ups and downs in a mysterious and enthralling relationship .", "girls just wan na have fun but the trio of adolescents in ` MOV ' have anxieties that act against that natural desire .", "a quiet revelation .", "first film by gifted scripter-helmer celine sciamma nails the aching doubts and offhanded cruelty of 15 - and 16-year-old girls .", "one of the slipperiest teenage coming-of-age dramas in quite some time .", "a hypnotic and wholly convincing look at teen culture from the inside , with all its courage , cruelty and unspoken codes of silence intact .", "unfortunately , this is not a satire like dr. strangelove -- it 's a documentary in which talking heads spout pseudoscientific claptrap that comes across as all wet .", "sciamma demonstrates the potential to make a truly erotic and interesting film . this just is n't it .", "for all its virtues as a coming-of-age study , it 's too slow , too single dimensional to create much of a stir beyond arthouse and hothouse interest . the close-ups of acquart 's classic beauty are well worth the screen time , however .", "while it never quite reaches jack t. ripper levels of absurdity , water nonetheless drowns out its science with hazy spirituality and utterly preposterous claims . in the end , it all smells fishy .", "celine sciamma 's quiet drama has moments of motionless yearning that contrast the intense emotions of its 15-year-old protagonists .", "the cruelty of adolescence emerges razor-sharp and could send many in the audience back to the most painful days of puberty .", "though the material is familiar , -lsb- director celine -rsb- sciamma has a light touch and avoids many teen-movie cliches . her girls are n't hyperverbal -- in fact , they 're the opposite , guarded and always listening for cues before they reveal themselves in words .", "the original french title of this flick translates as birth of octopuses , and it 's a more accurate description of the complicated relationships in this well-acted coming-of-age story , the impressive debut of filmmaker c\u00e9line sciamma .", "unfolding with a slow , steady certainty , this touching tale dives headfirst into the deep end of hormonal angst .", "a universe away from everyday american teen movies , this engaging and empathetic portrait of teenage life is packed full of stylish moments .", "well observed and painfully accurate in its depiction of the agonies of growing up , this is a small triumph .", "with terrific poise and the crispest , cleanest cinematography imaginable , the 27-year-old french director c\u00e9line sciamma has given us a very provocative and stylish drama set in the world of teenage girls ' synchronised swimming .", "MOV sees female adolescence as an uncomfortable , embarrassing phase full of painful self-consciousness and frustrated desire .", "short , sweet and modest , like floriane 's aquatic sport MOV is pretty and dainty to the eye , but there is a raging torrent of activity beneath the surface .", "languid , sorrowful and strange , french filmmaker c\u00e9line sciamma 's debut as a feature writer-director is a sensitive and daring portrait of female adolescence that 's curious about all longings , sexual confusions and grey areas of desire .", "some scenes could 've been gratuitous were it not for the film 's cold restraint , but the slow pace bottles a sense of that age when time seems to stretch endlessly .", "suggests less the shallow waters of boxoffice safety than a teenage catherine breillat film . with all elements tightly drawn together under her supervision , schiama announces herself as a major new talent to watch .", "lacking in warmth but a promising example of young french talent in front of and behind the camera ." ], "summary": "MOV is a sharply-observed , provocative coming-of-age story that captures the anxieties of the early teen years .", "id": "770683851" }, { "movie": "citizenfour", "reviews": [ "`` MOV '' shows that snowden , the guy with the guts to expose these shadowy practices , is the one who pays the biggest price . senators lie and congressmen squirm , and nobody is held accountable . nobody , that is , except snowden .", "while hardly a riveting spy story , this documentary reveals much of whistleblower edward snowden 's character while warning of a dangerous loss of civil liberties in america .", "MOV is at its most eye-opening and essential simply as a portrait of the then 29-year-old snowden at a point of absolute no-return in his life .", "the intimacy and immediacy of the situations and experiences it does portray are compelling and satisfying enough to stick with viewers for long after the film has ended .", "an is an expertly crafted expose with unprecedented urgency .", "the fascination of the documentary lies in the fact that poitras was there with her camera at the crucial moments , when snowden was sharing the information that would cause such convulsions all over the world .", "everybody needs to see it .", "MOV is a gripping record of how our rulers are addicted to gaining more and more power and control over us - if we let them .", "the film 's very existence stands as testament to the fact that while we maybe cowering under the corporate jackboot , we still have the power of expression , and that 's all we need to get the resistance moving .", "it 's a real-life thriller which , although dense and demanding of the viewer , is never less than completely gripping .", "a john le carre film in documentary form .", "documentarian laura poitras has crafted a first-rate hitchcockian-type thriller telling the story of edward snowden .", "far from just trading in conjecture and abstraction , MOV self-reflexively dramatises the dangers that snowden wants to warn us about .", "a film every single american and , indeed , every world citizen should see and contemplate .", "it plays out like a real-life espionage thriller , and it 's horrifying in its scope .", "this is n't a one-sided movie as much as it is a movie about half of one side .", "this is a complicated story , but it 's efficiently laid out by poitras in this smartly edited project .", "shares more dna with such 1970s classics as the parallax view , the conversation or all the president 's men , than it does with most documentaries .", "alarming in the best sense of the word .", "if you think snowden is a traitor , you should probably see it . if you think he 's a hero , you should probably see it . if you have n't made up your mind - well , you get the idea .", "one of its many interesting facets is how unlike the unpredictable doco model it turns out to be while still proving utterly engrossing from start to finish .", "there 's footage from within the ecuadorian embassy in london as julian assange helps with the flight that takes snowden to moscow , where he claims political asylum . these scenes give the film an unprecedented level of immediacy and dramatic tension .", "movies do n't put themselves together . every moment , every cut , and every camera angle is an editorial choice . so is the structure of the movie , which builds its mix of fear and danger sure-footedly ,", "director laura poitras presents a portrait of whistleblower edward snowden that is neither demon not saint , though his patriotic motives are clear in that he felt he was uncovering massive abuses of authority .", "MOV -lrb- named after snowden 's codename of choice -rrb- is paced like the great paranoid-man political thrillers of the 1970s ... poitras makes this potentially-tedious exercise seem claustrophobic in the most enthralling way .", "bold docu explores edward snowden 's controversial actions .", "laura poitras 's oscar-nominated documentary MOV is proof that you can make an espionage thriller without car chases , bikini babes or martinis .", "vital , urgent , and breathtaking ... it is brilliant because it captures an intimate moment of history that will reverberate through the ages ; a moment that would not have been captured had not a connection been made .", "a compelling , real-life thriller that takes us inside the mind of a whistle blower .", "did the nsa have foreknowledge that MOV was going to win the oscar ? um , probably ...", "it 's astonishing stuff ; full of bizarre revelations and incredible details that even the most paranoid conspiracy theorist would struggle to make up .", "fingers on keyboards , monitors , real-time chatting and facial beard follicles do not make for scintillating viewing .", "john le carr\u00e9 could n't have made this stuff up .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- `` MOV '' provides a stark cinema v\u00e9rit\u00e9 perspective on america 's biggest political scandal in the country 's relatively brief history .", "laura poitras 's MOV is an electrifying countdown to an epoch-altering event , unfolding in an antiseptic all-white room .", "see it exactly because so many have so much invested in keeping this quiet .", "calm , yet enraging . among the most frightening and important films of the year . it must be seen by all americans for the sake of democracy . every u.s. government official should undergo a mandatory mental health evaluation !", "central absorbing act is snowden like never before -- a human being in cinema verit\u00e9 close-up ... poitras 's style ... is intimate aesthetics ... within the eye of the storm .", "MOV is a documentary , an expos\u00e9 , a character study , a world-girdling espionage thriller , an oblique manifesto and a model of understatement . it 's also a great movie .", "enter the real life world of spy craft and believe the truth is stranger than fiction .", "refusing to advance the story substitutes useful inquisitiveness only with unique access .", "snowden has been called a traitor , but here he comes off as a decent man trying to do the right thing , if however awkwardly -lrb- or illegally -rrb- .", "bold , unblinking filmmaking - no less than a living document of a global scandal straight from the whistleblower . alarming and essential - anyone with a phone should see it .", "the film works , whatever your ethical stance on snowden , because it 's more procedural than polemic .", "MOV moves like a master spy novel .", "a first-hand , up-close account of snowden that allows us to meet and judge the man for ourselves .", "foremost of the film 's strengths is that it wears its intelligence lightly ; it educates even as it entertains .", "a sobering look at what the american government , at least , is doing in the name of security .", "-lsb- it serves as a -rsb- chance for poitras to reorganize her pulitzer prize-winning story in her own medium and cinema verit\u00e9 style . it mostly works .", "bombshell documentary conveys a fresh sense of a veil being drawn back from our eyes to reveal a shocking new world .", "in the end , there is n't that much to the movie apart from what snowden has to say . fortunately , that proves to be enough .", "it 's so rare to see history documented as it 's happening , and `` MOV '' succeeds in humanizing the participants without diminishing the stakes of their endeavor .", "while i consider the phrase `` reality television '' an oxymoron , there 's nothing wrong with a good-make that great-piece of fly-on-the-wall cin\u00e9ma v\u00e9rit\u00e9 to open your eyes and leave you wondering-what if `` he '' had stayed quiet .", "it 's hard to overstate the film 's achievement .", "as we watch the t-shirted snowden , sitting on his messy hotel bed with his little laptop , set the stage for what is to come , the vast disjunction between these mundane surroundings and his imminent , world-shattering revelations is almost comical .", "laura poitras may be guilty of taking snowden at face value , but she succeeds brilliantly in evoking a shadow villain intent on world domination . big brother is back , baby , and he 's gone digital .", "poitras ' presentation of this well-known scandal feels fresh due to its intimate and first-look nature .", "what comes across in `` MOV '' is how articulate and reasonable snowden seems , despite the crushing pressure he faces .", "its middle section offers one of cinema 's most pleasurable offerings : smart people in rooms smartly hashing things out .", "no film has ever been historic in quite the way this one is , since it tells a story in which the filmmaker and her work play a crucial part .", "whether you think edward snowden is a hero or a traitor , you should see the riveting documentary `` MOV '' ...", "despite the film 's virtues , we 're no closer to understanding snowden than we were a year ago when this saga began .", "there are not a lot of moments in documentary cinema that equal `` MOV . ''", "carping about as significant a film as `` MOV '' feels beside the point . you can wish its faults did n't exist , but it does a real service in detailing what the scary consequences of those nsa actions could be .", "MOV finds its strength in both the story and the telling : the information about government spying is chilling , of course , but the movie also gives us the opportunity to get to know the elusive snowden .", "a hell of an eye opener , even given knowledge of its events . poitras 's documentary makes us feel the danger of government invasion .", "it 's a tense and frightening thriller that blends the brisk globe-trotting of the `` bourne '' movies with the spooky , atmospheric effects of a japanese horror film .", "edward snowden speaks . buy a ticket to this film ... and use your credit card , so the nsa knows you care about this stuff .", "shows another side to snowden and the reasons for what he did in a fairly unedited fashion and that 's largely what makes it the perfect coda to snowden 's story .", "` MOV ' may be one of the seminal documentaries of this era .", "poitras has made a personal film because there is no other option for this story . her involvement changed her life , as it did the lives of her collaborators . the result is a masterful fusion of journalism and art .", "poitras fashions MOV into a spy thriller whose intrigues bleed into everyday life .", "if MOV ends abruptly , that 's only because the real-life story is still far from over .", "a fascinating film that 's also a crucial social document .", "-lsb- a -rsb- twisting corkscrew of a documentary ...", "the immediacy of poitras ' film is so remarkable that , at least for the immediate future , her craft is likely to be overshadowed by her access , her storytelling overshadowed by her opportunity .", "you should see this movie if you 're na\u010fve enough to think you have a right to privacy . but do n't buy your ticket online or with a credit card .", "poitras shows us history as it happens , scenes of such intimate momentousness that the movie 's a must-see piece of work even if , in its totality , it 's underwhelming as argument or cinema .", "-lsb- an -rsb- absorbing character study .", "MOV deserves your attention .", "this is terrific documentary cinema .", "the scariest thing you 'll see this halloween is edward snowden swearing in disbelief at the end of laura poitras ' gripping , disturbing documentary .", "MOV does n't paint snowden as a hero , but poitras ' insightful examination of his motives and personality is gripping .", "there have n't really been any horror films that have knocked my socks off this year , but i think i would have declared MOV to be the most terrifying movie of the year either way .", "it all sounds like prophecy now , given the way things turned out .", "the message of the movie is as clear as siberian ice : whether you 're a tea partier , an occupier or just an ordinary joe , you might be the next citizen who 's stranded in limbo .", "this thoughtful film is designed with taste .", "poitras ' movie works even better as a horror picture -- perfect for halloween week .", "MOV does an excellent job of balancing what we already know with behind-the-scenes discussions of how the information should be released .", "it 's rare to see this sort of candid footage , but then transparency is snowden 's mantra .", "dry yet fascinating , and always carrying an air of hushed immediacy , MOV nicely documents a revelatory piece of recent history .", "the word surveillance has the letters `` evil '' in it .", "much of the film consists of footage of snowden explaining the range and depth of american data-mining to an increasingly horrified greenwald . if it sounds dull , it is n't .", "without too much knowledge or preconceived ideas , it would make me an easy mark for a polemic about modern privacy -- but poitras 's bracing , galvanizing new documentary about the snowden affair is n't that at all .", "filmmaker laura poitras paints a frankly terrifying picture of the loss of liberty involved in the widespread government gathering of the communication done by ordinary joes on a daily basis .", "while the film loses some urgency in its final third , it 's a thrilling , shocking snapshot of a moment in time that will live in history , a reminder of the very real threat that those in power can pose to the citizens they have sworn to protect .", "there will be many more movies about snowden . but likely none will be as well-done as `` MOV ''", "properly paranoid and self-important , but also dull and myopic in its lack of context and contrary points of view .", "despite all its paranoia , the movie does hold out a glimmer of optimism .", "... the systematic mining of communications from people the government has no reason to suspect of terrorism is indeed a thing . and , thanks to poitras , we are there at the moment it became impossibly naive to believe otherwise .", "MOV plays like a thriller as it chronicles a complex and vitally important chapter in our history .", "it 's probably the most opaque operation ever conducted on a global stage , which is why laura poitras 's clarity is such an asset : she simply records edward snowden as he drops the bomb .", "compelling , eye-opening -- and terrifying .", "whether you consider snowden a traitor or hero or something in between , the movie is striking in its immediacy and access and terrifying in its implications .", "what an astonishing , immeasurably important historical document this is-on top of being a lock for the best documentary oscar .", "a hard-hitting and shocking documentary about the violation of privacy by the u.s. government 's massive surveillance programs .", "MOV argues that when we lose our personal privacy , we also lose our liberty , because fear overcomes our freedom of speech .", "poitras ' stance is simply to present the evidence , without commentary , angle or narrative .", "the documentary of the year may also be its most hair-raising thriller .", "this is gripping , edge-of-your-seat stuff , offering the chance to experience a defining historical moment from the front lines .", "adapting the cold language of data encryption to recount a dramatic saga of abuse of power and justified paranoia , poitras brilliantly demonstrates that information is a weapon that cuts both ways .", "poitras delivers a mesmerizing look at both how snowden managed to release his information as well as why it all matters .", "no matter one 's personal stance about what snowden did , this revelatory work is fascinating and thought-provoking , if , at the same time , oddly lacking in tension ...", "its 114 minutes crackle with the nervous energy of revelation .", "quite possibly the strongest documentary about secret state intervention in private lives ...", "a tapestry of escalating suspense .", "`` MOV '' is an urgent , gripping real-life spy story that should be seen by every american , and quite likely by everybody else too .", "laura poitras teaches by example , providing a privileged insight into edward snowden 's personality and motivation while keeping the focus on government spying .", "how often do you see someone change the world ?", "so explosive , it 's one of the most riveting films you 'll see this year .", "MOV is obviously in snowden 's corner , but as an example of pure cinema v\u00e9rit\u00e9 , this is the finest - and most disturbing - political documentary since alex gibney 's oscar-winning taxi to the dark side .", "this is n't just a documentary -- this is history .", "this documentary offers plenty of fuel for a long , ongoing debate .", "thoroughly , unashamedly partisan in its presentation of the former national security agency systems analyst as a force for universal good .", "whatever the meaning of `` the greater good '' in a post-sept . 11 world , `` MOV '' posits - and it 's hard to argue otherwise - that the right to privacy is an essential component of it .", "like a '70s paranoia thriller with real-world consequences .", "although some scenes just rehash the content from current news stories , MOV is a vital record of the evolving spy scandal that enlightens us to the identity and integrity of its whistleblower .", "`` MOV '' needs to be seen by all concerned with this issue" ], "summary": "part real-life thriller , part sobering examination of 21st century civil liberties , MOV transcends ideology to offer riveting , must-see cinema .", "id": "771390068" }, { "movie": "you_only_live_twice", "reviews": [ "sean connery may have been eying retirement , but he and bond were by now moulded together , his sleek machismo indelibly imprinted on 007 forever .", "it is n't `` thunderball '' and it sure is n't `` goldfinger , '' but it is old-school connery bond , so obviously it 's a darn good time .", "this noisy and wildly violent picture ... is evidently pegged to the notion that nothing succeeds like excess . and because it is shamelessly excessive , it is about a half-hour too long .", "tired , poorly paced bond from 1967 , with sean connery displaying his discontent .", "a well-crafted installment in the bond series .", "sean connery 's disenchantment with his starring role is unmistakable in this , the fifth bond spectacular .", "sean connery plays 007 with his usual finesse .", "a primetime bond adventure plus the best bond movie theme of all time .", "roald dahl 's implausible script is padded out with the usual exotic locations , stunts , and trickery .", "tons of fun , really , and donald pleasence as blofeld is inimitable .", "the weakes connery movie but still lots of fun", "although some may think it 's a little too light , the action and soundtrack place this one near the top in the entire bond series .", "none of dahl 's gifts for dark humor or sparkling writing is evident . although the script is good , it is a direct descendent of all of the preceding bond scripts and breaks no new ground .", "... one that some connoisseurs consider a high point in the series and others think is a miss . i favor the latter view .", "the plot is the problem . it stretches the limits of credibility , even as that word is applied to bond movies .", "`` great theme song , eye-pleasing scenery ''", "while dahl clearly helped thrust bond into a whole new world of villainy and technology , maybe his concepts were slightly ahead of themselves , or maybe he just tried too hard .", "connery did n't want to play bond anymore , and it shows in this forgettable picture .", "one of the weaker bond films , but still entertaining .", "blofeld 's volcano hideout is one of the most impressive of ken adam 's sets for the franchise , and it is a pleasure to watch it be completely destroyed .", "this one is top-heavy with gadgets but weak on plotting and getting everything to work at the same time .", "it vainly tries to flash its escapist fun teeth with the usual implausible bond plot .", "the one where the franchise became out-and-out ridiculous .", "what seems like a floundering follow-up to the canned , constrained `` thunderball '' rights the ship with imaginative storytelling , impeccable production design and furious filmmaking flourishes that introduce the bond hallmarks of stunts and spectacles .", "the action scenes are quite enjoyable and the special effects are terrific . but the story is just so lazy and lackluster that i became uninterested during any scenes that did n't contain gunshots or explosions .", "it 's one of the series ' , and connery 's , best .", "the fifth bond film , with agent 007 in the east , is not as good as the previous ones , but it still offers escapist entertainment .", "sluggish bond entry has cartoonish violence , stereotyping .", "another fun , exciting james bond adventure even if it 's the first of the initial five 007 outings that does n't live up to series ' expectations .", "there have been so many flamboyant imitations that the original looks like a copy .", "... an awfully minor entry within connery 's 007 run ." ], "summary": "with exotic locales , impressive special effects , and a worthy central villain , MOV overcomes a messy and implausible story to deliver another memorable early bond flick .", "id": "11137" }, { "movie": "murderous_maids", "reviews": [ "a creaky staircase gothic .", "becomes a fascinating study of isolation and frustration that successfully recreates both the physical setting and emotional tensions of the papin sisters .", "perhaps the most remarkable aspect of MOV is how restrained and sensitive french director jean-pierre denis keeps his film .", "... a story , an old and scary one , about the monsters we make , and the vengeance they take .", "the weight of the piece , the unerring professionalism of the chilly production , and the fascination embedded in the lurid topic prove recommendation enough .", "beautifully crafted and cooly unsettling ... recreates the atmosphere of the crime expertly .", "dark and disturbing , yet compelling to watch .", "though far from a feel-good affair , it is never cheap or cynical . its creepiness is well-earned .", "testud is the burning center of a clinically dispassionate film .", "MOV pulls no punches in its depiction of the lives of the papin sister and the events that led to their notorious rise to infamy ...", "ultimately too repellent to fully endear itself to american art house audiences , but it is notable for its stylistic austerity and forcefulness .", "testud suggests pain so real that you almost fathom the horrific ends she goes to .", "MOV may well be the most comprehensive of these films and also strike closest to the truth .", "a sensitive , moving , brilliantly constructed work .", "it presents the papin sisters ' lives with ferocious clarity , shedding a painful light on emotions too volatile to be named and on actions that ultimately defy explanation .", "nearly 75 years after the fact , the matter still has n't given up all its secrets , but denis ' film comes close to a definitive , deeply disturbing account .", "what denis ends up with is a delicate psychological portrait in which his grim determination to be restrained and sensitive is the major feature .", "denis forges out of the theories of class - based rage and sisterly obsession a razor-sided tuning fork that rings with cultural , sexual and social discord .", "genuinely unnerving .", "with not a lot of help from the screenplay -lrb- proficient , but singularly cursory -rrb- , -lsb- testud -rsb- acts with the feral intensity of the young bette davis .", "the acting is convincingly macabre , with sylvie testud giving an absolutely superb delirious performance .", "julie-marie parmentier and sylvie testud are eerily convincing as the intense pair of co-dependents in the rigorous but creepy drama MOV .", "good performances and a firm directing hand make this worthwhile despite the distasteful subject matter .", "convincingly played , but some way short of revelatory .", "constructing this story with sensitive slowness , denis keeps the sensational aspects surrounding these incestuous lesbian sisters in check , letting a fantastic performance from testud carry the movie .", "sylvie testud gives such a ferociously controlled performance that the messy murder seems like a necessary release .", "the film studies a world of deeply entrenched class divisions and sexual taboos , and then , with a scream in the night , draws the study to a close , leaving its meaning , like that of the case that inspired it , open to interpretation .", "unfortunately denis ' detached and indifferent camera never gets inside the story , its characters , or its milieu .", "its unevenness can be forgiven due to the boldness of dealing with such a taboo topic matter , and despite all of its problems , this film makes for a fascinating 90 minutes .", "sylvie testud is nothing less than ferocious ... even in her stillness , she 's compelling .", "provocative but a bit flat", "newspaper stories or television coverage on murders far removed from the local scene accomplish as much , and are often as quickly forgotten", "jean-pierre denis ' quiet approach to the stentorian amorality and fetid machinations brand him heavily as either voyeur or nihilist , with a perverse sense of pessimism in both directions .", "one wonders if they 'll make similarly sympathetic films about o.j. simpson in 70 years .", "highly recommended as an engrossing story about a horrifying historical event and the elements which contributed to it .", "... salaciously simplistic .", "the dreamy , almost poetic nature is entrancing .", "denis and co-writer michele petin 's impeccable screenplay penetrates with a rawness that that is both unflinching and tantalizing . lead provocatuers testud and parmentier give superlative performances", "spare but quietly effective retelling .", "` the film is stark , straightforward and deadly ... an unnatural calm that 's occasionally shaken by ... blasts of rage , and later , violent jealousy . '", "MOV has a lot going for it , not least the brilliant performances by testud ... and parmentier .", "made with spellbinding clarity and tact , shot near the actual locations by an uncompromising cinema realist , and featuring a near-perfect cast .", "a chilling tale of one of the great crimes of 20th century france : the murder of two rich women by their servants in 1933 .", "ripped of her humanity , testud 's christine becomes a working stiff of greek proportions .", "as the dominant christine , sylvie testud is icily brilliant .", "what -lsb- denis -rsb- accomplishes in his chilling , unnerving film is a double portrait of two young women whose lives were as claustrophic , suffocating and chilly as the attics to which they were inevitably consigned .", "troubling , disturbing , this is put together with fine technique , but it plays almost as a heartless documentary , ignoring the obvious trappings of sensationalism .", "the story makes for an absorbing drama that builds in intensity , heading toward the ultimate outburst with a grim sense of inevitability .", "troubling and powerful .", "the film proves unrelentingly grim -- and equally engrossing .", "an intelligent , moral shocker .", "never inspires more than an interested detachment ." ], "summary": "a historical account that is equally disturbing and engrossing , with a powerful performance by sylvie testud .", "id": "770692440" }, { "movie": "cutie_and_the_boxer", "reviews": [ "the takeaway from the bickering and paint splatter is that the couple 's feisty commitment to one another is an art unto itself .", "the story of an extraordinary marriage between two people bound together by their artistic impulse .", "a painful , powerful portrait of the struggle and sacrifice required to create , and the cost that it can demand .", "the simple approach teases fascinating parallels between art and marriage : essential to both , it seems , are a thick skin and an optimism verging on madness .", "it 's a touching film and a fascinating glimpse into one of those couples you ca n't quite believe are still together .", "the film is both touching and funny .", "bohemianism and marriage are both for life in this alternately rueful and whimsical documentary about expat japanese artist couple ushio and noriko shinohara .", "this doc about a bickering husband-and-wife artist team feels like its drama has been forced by the filmmakers .", "the most wonderful , paint-splattered love story i 've seen ...", "more than anything , the film expresses - at an almost subconscious level - the difficulties of discerning not only what real art is , but also what true love is all about .", "a lively double portrait of ushio and noriko shinohara , two brooklyn-based artists who , after 40 years of marriage , are still creating side by side , and tormenting each other .", "directed with invention and insight by zachary heinzerling ...", "intriguing as their present lives may be , without enough background to appreciate , for instance , ushio 's associations with rauschenberg and warhol , we ca n't gauge the full extent of the couple 's regrets and losses .", "`` MOV , '' like all truly noteworthy films , takes you by surprise with its unexpected twists and revelations .", "heinzerling allows us to read whatever we want into this picture . the endless struggle for money and professional recognition is either a curse or a raison d'\u0119tre .", "MOV is an often quiet , almost fragile piece of cinema that presents us with a spiky and unglamorous relationship , still full of love . it 's a beautiful and humane documentary .", "an unexpected but fully welcome treat . it 's a great look at how both relationships and the creative instinct evolve over a long time .", "-lsb- heinzerling 's -rsb- languorous explorations of the couple 's chaotic home find the details of their sexual and intellectual intimacy in the debris of their relationship , the collected treasures and half finished , discarded fragments of ideas .", "a sly , subversive portrait of an artist finally finding her voice ... and the ` genius ' husband in whose shadow she has long lingered .", "the film -lrb- cough -rrb- paints a compelling portrait of a true eccentric with a vast gulf between his dreams and his powers .", "noticed by oscar voters , this offbeat documentary explores the life of two colourful artists who have an unusual marriage .", "bifurcated biopic about a long-suffering wife who , against her better judgment , put her own career aspirations on hold for decades for the sake of an abusive , alcoholic artist who took her for granted .", "the resulting portrait , of a marriage enduring through change , is funny and touching .", "the only way you 'll get a more intimate view of a marriage than the one in MOV is if you 're in it and maybe not even then .", "there are plenty of eccentric couples in the art world , but few compare to ushio and noriko shinohara , the fascinating pair at the centre of MOV .", "`` MOV '' takes this tale of two artists and tells it with style and wit ...", "heinzerling combines noriko 's drawings with contemporary footage to create a story that is n't only a tale of creative minds , but an honest love story .", "heinzerling has a great eye , and his conventional , low-key approach to cinematography in cutie and the boxer-no shaky camera , very few tracking shots , and adequate lighting-puts all the emphasis on his subjects .", "though noriko describes their relationship as being like `` two flowers in one pot , '' with only enough room for one of them to blossom as an artist , the truth seems to be sadder , less romantic , and more relatable .", "`` MOV '' is one of the most unsentimental and unstinting portraits of marriage ever brought to the screen ...", "MOV chronicles a marriage that 's extraordinary in many ways , and ordinary in one-it 's a constant work in progress .", "they express love and vivaciousness , at once seeming like any couple walking down the street and yet unlike anyone you 're lucky enough to spend time with .", "a top-drawer documentary about two artists who prove that some marriages can mysteriously add up to be more than the sum of their parts .", "working as director and cinematographer , heinzerling earned the couple 's trust before turning his camera on their days and nights . but once that camera was running , there was no blinking , no turning away .", "viewed in its entirety , `` MOV '' is more than a great documentary . it 's a great film .", "a finely textured and beautifully told story of two japanese artists in new york and their challenging 40-year marriage .", "zachary heinzerling 's five-years-in-the-making pic is a warts-and-all portrait of love , sacrifice and the creative spirit .", "a long-running , barely functioning marriage , starving artists and the whole `` emperor 's new clothes '' nature of the new york art scene , all in one film", "except for the fact that one of them makes a living by slamming paint-dipped boxing gloves into canvas , ushio and noriko shinohara could be any elderly couple-which is how documentarian zachary heinzerling treats them .", "both amusing and acutely perceptive , it 's a portrait of the way in which art is born from suffering , and how that pain can lead to both beauty and , ultimately , catharsis .", "this charming feature doc offers an anatomy of a marriage .", "their 40-year marriage seems like more of a trial than this overweening , lightly likable movie acknowledges .", "it 's a deeply affecting yet keen-eyed portrait of the struggles of art , love and life .", "focused on the nitty-gritty reality of the creative life , as well as the people it holds captive and tortures , MOV offers unprecedented insight into what makes an artist an artist .", "alternating between intimacy and intrusion , this is a revealing , affectionate and occasionally charming insight into a creative partnership .", "the couple are thriving , but , given what we learn about alex , the up-beat ending jars .", "two unforgettable characters make it a rare treat", "for all its miseries , MOV - interweaving archive footage with contemporary discontents - ends up arguing strongly for the power of love .", "an equally heartwarming and heartbreaking film about art , marriage and old age .", "engaging , fly-on-the-wall documentary that paints an intriguing portrait of the artistic process and offers a fascinating glimpse into the workings of a 40 year old marriage , with all its attendant ups and downs .", "they 're oddly adorable and painfully awkward ...", "slyly comments on the ironies of the past half century in contemporary art .", "avoiding a precise beginning , middle and end , MOV instead adopts a collage-like approach . edited to accentuate the rhythms of the family 's daily existence , the movie rests on small moments .", "an affectionate portrait of a long marriage that doubles as a trenchant examination of the realities facing the working artist , MOV is equally inspiring , funny and wise .", "this works best as a portrait of a marriage , as ushio and nimble wife noriko rattle around their dank flat trying to keep the love strong as the water drips and the bailiffs thump .", "the viewer begins to wonder if this is a love story or a hate story -- or if there 's a difference", "the film neither simplifies the troubled relationship nor pushes us to take sides , but asks us to observe the complexities of their life together .", "movies twice as long are often half as eloquent .", "equally heartbreaking and heartwarming . it 's one of the best love stories in years .", "funny , moving , honest , and occasionally inspiring , but as a portrait of a talent emerging from the shadow of a more public talent , the scale of the shadow is curiously omitted .", "heinzerling captures candid , touching moments that illustrate the awe-inspiring power of love and acceptance .", "imparts glancing lessons about the uncertainty of love and the almost necessary dance of responsibility and care-taking involved .", "art and boxing make powerful metaphors -- for marriage and maybe life -- in zachary heinzerling 's captivating documentary `` MOV . ''", "all that footage has been organized into a compact , graceful story arc .", "a movie that makes you feel less like a spectator than a guest , a friend welcomed into the home of an odd and fascinating couple .", "the portrait of a marriage in full , rife with compromises , misunderstandings , angry moments and tender scenes filled with the affection amassed over four decades .", "MOV is a beautifully made film , as one might expect a film about the art world to be .", "a documentary of devotion and creativity is told lovingly without the need for the stilted q&a between interviewers and subjects .", "a great triumph that refuses to color within typical emotional lines .", "as a documentary and a love story , MOV is nothing short of breathtaking . there 's a nimbleness to the storytelling that always keeps you involved ... it 's not mushy but it is resonantly heartfelt .", "love is a battlefield , but it 's a war worth fighting for in this fantastic doco", "they 're a living artwork-a husband-and-wife team whose creative lives are so intertwined that you ca n't tell where one splattered mess ends and the next begins ." ], "summary": "a beautifully-made documentary that explores the challenges and richness of both marriage and art through the lens of a fascinating and complex couple .", "id": "771324990" }, { "movie": "color_purple", "reviews": [ "spielberg 's classicism comes to be appreciated in a goosebumps-inducing send-off for mister .", "spielberg 's first big drama is often hokey in places but ultimately succeeds .", "a far better film than is usually thought .", "brilliant , disturbing storytelling by spielberg with standout performances .", "overrated , but still a good film .", "spielberg may not have been the best choice to direct this feminist text , making a clean , neat movie that lacks authenticity , but the movie has many touching moments and the entire female ensemble is good , particularly whoopi goldberg in the second half", "inspiring , sentimental tale of survival .", "... we can forgive spielberg his indulgences when the outcome is so profoundly moving .", "`` a should-have-been masterpiece that admittedly has its moments ''", "it is unquestionably overwrought , but it is a truly lovely film with a lot of emotion in it . the meaning of all that emotion is unfortunately still up for grabs .", "it is a great , warm , hard , unforgiving , triumphant movie , and there is not a scene that does not shine with the love of the people who made it .", "unashamedly emotional , it either totally grabs you or leaves you cold .", "spielberg adapts alice walker 's novel with respect and -lrb- heretofore unseen -rrb- mature artistry ." ], "summary": "a sentimental tale that reveals great emotional truths in american history .", "id": "10141" }, { "movie": "barbara_2012", "reviews": [ "this is a film of consequence , and it 's good to be reminded of how much better life is for most people in eastern europe than it was a quarter of a century ago .", "most compelling in MOV , christian petzold 's latest , is the way the filmmaker adeptly conducts his tides of cold war paranoia .", "it 's one terrific film , as smart , thoughtful and emotionally involving as just about anything that 's out there .", "an enthralling little gem .", "a superbly crafted low-boil drama that gets its hooks into you the old-fashioned way , through character , and highlights the difficulties and cost of living by principles .", "-lsb- r -rsb- esides somewhere in an unsatisfying borderland between drama and thriller , never quite catching fire as either ...", "that sense of nervous dislocation that the viewer feels in the first few scenes - where am i ? who is this person ? is she friend or foe ? - efficently evokes the muted terror that its characters feel .", "this well acted political melodrama , set during the cold war , is germany 's entry for the best foreign language oscar .", "a meticulously crafted drama in which the depiction of character , place and circumstance evolves slowly and with intrigue , MOV is gripping cinema", "a crafty filmmaker , petzold gives us information in increments . during the first half of his movie , which he co-wrote , we are all but left to our own devices ; yet it is fascinating , and appropriate .", "hoss ' outstanding performance is a deep well of subtle yet unmistakable motives and reactions .", "worth seeing ... both for petzold 's singular aesthetic and for hoss , who as usual is a riveting presence .", "hoss is fantastic . MOV is ice cold at the start , understandably so . yet hoss makes her sympathetic .", "feels like total immersion into the sights , stresses , and the subtle solidarity among middle-class professionals living in the workers ' paradise that petzold 's parents fled .", "a well-observed , compelling , and evocative character piece , haunted by the ghosts of germany 's recent past .", "we 're told this was a soviet outcrop with constraints on all forms of expression - and low and behold , with the upmost reverence , here 's the artistic homage .", "petzold 's depiction of the east german countryside is all fresh air , warm light and open space : it 's a nice visual counterpoint to the sticky moral climate of mutual suspicion ...", "this stylish , but rather dull , german drama has good intentions and some strong performances but unfortunately MOV fails to entice , enchant and entertain , thanks to its unlikeable lead character and discouraging slow pace .", "as a film , MOV is as opaque as its glacial protagonist : MOV is all about showing and not telling .", "the weird oppression and seediness of the times is elegantly captured , and hoss coolly conveys MOV 's highly strung desperation .", "director christian petzold 's fifth collaboration with muse nina hoss often feels like a douglas sirk melodrama tinged with a bittersweet `` ostalgia '' for the repressions and privations of 1980s east germany .", "somehow , in this stirring narrative , MOV manages to keep hold of her principles , and her humanity and courage , and battles to save a dissident teenage girl whose life the communists are trying to destroy .", "an intimate meditation on freedom set in east germany at the end of the cold war , but this time , it 's personal .", "MOV is hoss ' fifth film with petzold , and the movie rests on the depth and subtlety of their working relationship .", "a sturdy suspense story , set in stasi-infected east germany , rich in moral compromise , individual integrity and general desperation , it 's elevated by hoss to something sublime and unforgettable ...", "the movie 's quiet power comes from its air of meticulously maintained suspicion .", "... a slow building character study where looks and actions speak louder than words because of an oppressive political climate .", "hoss ' acting is a marvel of subtlety ; her body language is precisely calibrated to reveal a great deal about the character 's inner feelings by the slightest changes of posture and facial expression .", "`` MOV '' is a film about the old germany from one of the best directors working in the new : christian petzold .", "lit from within , like a lantern ; petzold has made a nighttime movie that ends right on the edge of dawn .", "the plotting , the planning and the deepening relationships do n't make for kinetic action , but they are the foundation for a smart , engrossing film .", "the film is tensely watchable ; i only wish , to re-invoke a master , there was more hitchcock .", "a quietly absorbing character study .", "is n't a tightly wound story of sacrifice , yet its distance is alluring , retaining secrets and motivations , building to a satisfying conclusion .", "though the film runs a mere 105 minutes , it weighs on viewers like an eternity .", "petzold handles personal , formal and political concerns in such harmony that it 's difficult , and not especially desirable , to separate one from the next .", "this is a remarkably subtle movie , spending most of its energy zeroing in on the clenched face of its heroine , looking for cracks .", "a low-key , tenuous romance characterised by its sparse , deliberately paced storytelling .", "it persuades us early on that its aura of political tension and suspicion , its taciturnity , its very strictness of silent observation as it begins , are fostering an intelligent thriller .", "MOV offers us historically motivated immorality offset by some heartfelt sensitivity , a side order of depression , and finishes off with some ennobling hope . it 's definitely one of the best foreign films of the year .", "hoss is such a star , one of the finest actresses in the world . her work with petzold is exceptional , but i find myself wondering what fassbinder would have done with her .", "a quietly tense drama ... builds slowly to its conclusion , as subtly powerful as it is inevitable .", "a subtle work acted with restraint illustrating a woman 's conflict between duty and desire .", "this wise and incisively crafted drama brings simmering intelligence and a dry , sardonic compassion to bear on its tale of two doctors slowly worming their way into each other 's hearts and minds .", "tough and tender , it 's the best iron curtain drama since the lives of others .", "with MOV , petzold earns his stripes among europe 's great auteurs .", "not only has director christian petzold assembled a fascinating hill of beans , but there 's a moonlit scene that almost alone justifies his silver bear win at berlin .", "it 's a quiet film built of careful details .", "`` MOV '' re-visits the quiet , everyday tragedies of the iron curtain era , when paranoia ran deep and for very good reasons .", "both insightful and poignant , but not mawkish ... an intriguing character study set against the backdrop of a dark time in history .", "an engaging drama that shows how courage and compassion can change lives in the twinkling of an eye .", "sometimes , the sun shines and the wind blows fresh and the very elements that make for intense hardship also open a window on intense joy .", "hoss is mesmerizing as a woman who holds it all together to the point of losing herself .", "-lsb- leaves -rsb- you drained and horrified .", "christian petzold 's latest thriller threatens to cross over the line from minimalism to nihilism .", "subtly intriguing and ambiguous , it 's filled with suspicion and subterfuge .", "despite the limited scope of its predictable narrative , `` MOV '' remains a compelling character study thanks to nina hoss 's enigmatic performance in the title role .", "an intelligent , mature love triangle ... it also functions as a tense , rarefied thriller about escape from a police state , as well the kind of medical procedural drama audiences gorge upon .", "hoss gives a discreet , thought-provoking performance .", "petzold renders communist oppression in a provocatively muted manner .", "the movie examines the possibility of maintaining one 's humanity in a truly oppressive society .", "hoss , wearing her blond hair pulled back tight , and wearing an expression of inscrutable melancholy , gives a performance that does n't feel like a performance at all .", "stories of characters like MOV continue to have meaning , even in a `` free '' society .", "the occasional ravings of the patients , ringing off the walls in petzold 's measured quiet , provide an appropriate backdrop to the heroine 's need for freedom , yet the movie 's politics never trump its humanity .", "this is well-trod ground for petzold , but never has it been so fully realized , so palpable , as in `` MOV . ''", "engrossing cold war thriller and love story set in east germany in 1980 .", "in short , the failures in storytelling detract from the film , despite its sensitivities , its subtleties and its final payoff of personal sacrifice .", "tightly crafted east german drama delivers strong performances and late rewards .", "a superby-crafted paranoia story ...", "no special effect this year comes close to what hoss can accomplish with simple but unbearably explosive eye contact .", "a transfixing cold war thriller set in the east germany of 1980 ...", "for those who like this sort of hyper-controlled , hugely intelligent work , MOV will be a must .", "MOV takes place in a world of such profound paranoia that it 's never certain whether the title character is being overly cautious or reckless ." ], "summary": "smart , solidly grafted , and thoroughly gripping , MOV offers a deliberately paced , subtly powerful character study .", "id": "771270396" }, { "movie": "amandla_a_revolution_in_four_part_harmony", "reviews": [ "dense with sound and information , but it moves with a swift , lilting rhythm that is of a piece with the musical heritage it explores .", "a little repetitive at times , but it 's an interesting way to review a period in history - through the music .", "a beautiful movie about the power of music , about the power of being right .", "amandla ! is a stirring tribute to the formidable role of black freedom music in the long and arduous struggle against apartheid in south africa .", "whatever amandla ! lacks in cohesion is made up by the passion of those who lived through apartheid , and the power of their defiant , sad and joyous sounds .", "a pleasure -- musically , intellectually and emotionally .", "johanna demetrakas ' editing is magnificent at orchestrating and balancing potentially conflicting moods to build a consistent tone all the movie 's own .", "seeing nelson mandela walk out of prison a free man , backed by a nation in song , is sure to renew your faith in mankind .", "talking heads outnumber performing heads by a roughly 3-to-1 ratio .", "though overlong and repetitive , hirsch 's film is vitalized by the same music that helped keep the revolutionary spirit alive .", "reliably rousing .", "do n't miss this wonderful documentary .", "like going to the lecture of an impassioned but really disorganized professor . you exit class flipping through your notes and have no idea what most of them mean .", "the power of voices raised together comes through with a clear elation that 's undeniable , and in the end amandla ! makes you want to sing .", "a musical document in which determined warriors fire off centuries ' worth of melodies like bullets from an ak-47 .", "an unusually engrossing picture .", "the sound of liberation , set to the beat of human destiny .", "a documentary that is as thoughtful and inspiring as the music it celebrates .", "besides great conversation and patches of raw emotion , amandla ! has passages of wonderful music .", "poignant archival shots punctuate the importance of these beautifully rendered freedom songs .", "the music is the thing to take away from this historical film .", "this celebratory film is a testimony to the power of song and reveals that the inspiration of music provides fuel for the soul .", "note to filmmaker lee hirsch : a bunch of people singing out of key is not a four-part harmony .", "a wake-up call , as well as an act of historical preservation and a heartfelt salute .", "this is powerful stuff , presented unblinkingly and yet with rousing ardour .", "a remarkable and persuasive argument on behalf of music as a political weapon .", "a fascinating and insightful film .", "directed by lee hirsch , amandla ! a revolution in four part harmony is one of the best documentaries that focus on the grass roots of the music that told everyone and educated them about apartheid .", "the film has its share of uplifting and emotionally satisfying moments , and the inclusion of performances by south african musicians surely makes it a must-see for die-hard fans .", "like the songs themselves , `` amandla ! '' tells a terrible story in a most enthusiastic and upbeat way .", "director lee hirsch expertly weaves in historical footage , photographs and recordings , but the most poignant moments are when the camera is focused on people singing .", "this is an expertly assembled film , catching us by the throat early on with the deeply resonant songs and anecdotes , and then tweaking our minds as well .", "it 's uplifting and lively and filled with fascinating characters , stories and songs .", "the word ` amandla ' means power , and the music undeniably has that , but it lacks the archival footage to put the music in context .", "amandla!s ' most enduring achievement is its collection of so many of the freedom songs sung by the oppressed ... in one stirring document .", "music was the anc 's most dangerous weapon , and we see footage of streets lined with tens of thousands of marchers , singing and dancing , expressing an unquenchable spirit .", "although the result sometimes feels rushed , overstuffed and technically a bit too flashy , the emotional resonance of the subject wins out over the stylistic hyperbole .", "informative , compelling , and music to the ears .", "what songs , what people and what a triumph that their music won in the end .", "while providing a total immersion in music and politics , its ultimate effect is a whirlwind of images and assertions that leave few lasting impressions .", "well worth examining-far more interesting that reading dry british accounts of those years", "viewers will leave amandla ! moved by the music , impressed by the musicians and dubious about the possibility of political and social healing .", "it leaves you stirred and uplifted not only by its music but also by the determination and courage of the people who sang and danced it on the way to a freer life .", "a great documentary that makes your heart leap with joy .", "i was swaying in my seat and fighting down an enormous lump in my throat by the end of this tremendously moving film .", "there 's no inch of this movie that 's boring .", "given the potential richness and entertainment value of the subject matter , hirsch 's documentary engages more with the honorable nature of its subject matter than its execution . pacing , length and an unfocussed narrative thread eventually wear the viewer", "although it is only 103 minutes long , the plodding pace makes -lsb- `` amandla ! '' -rsb- seem much longer . it has a lot of heart , though ...", "good music , disorganized documentary", "certainly tells a tale of fine humanism , but it fails to capture in substantial depth the tragedies and triumphs that militant blacks encountered during the times .", "if you 're not into this kind of music , amandla ! is likely to be an extremely grating experience", "it 's a net spread too wide , and the stress shows in the sudden , multiple shifts from performance film to historical record , but the earnestness of director lee hirsch is unmistakable .", "there is a contagious visual energy that runs throughout amandla ! that fits the music and the themes beautifully .", "in form , amandla ! is a standard-issue history-lesson documentary . but it 's also a vital and moving one , too .", "despite horrifying tales of imprisonment , torture and death , the soldiers in this revolution transcended bitterness and embraced the idea of freedom as a principle by which to live , even in the face of hatred and violence ." ], "summary": "the powerful singing in amandla makes for an uplifting , compelling documentary .", "id": "280215168" }, { "movie": "a_cat_in_paris", "reviews": [ "MOV is animation , yes , but the story , its many threads and mature theme is aimed squarely at the adult and older teen audience that can appreciate a stirring drama in anime form .", "a charming little french animation -lrb- not suitable for very young children , -rrb- directed by alain gagnol and jean-loup felicioli ...", "a barely feature-length diversion that lacks the energy to grip younger viewers or the depth to impress adults , but it earns respect with its makers ' dedication to old-school craft .", "a charming , visually sparkling parisian fantasy with a dark edge .", "a slight story but delicately drawn with a feline , jazzy score .", "MOV , france 's recent oscar-nominated animated feature , suffuses its story of gangsters and thieves with a playfulness as nimble as the feline after which it 's named .", "unoriginal and mired in bad jokes .", "it 's so wonderfully fun that i 'm now hoping it wins the award come oscar night .", "... will delight adults as well as the children who are its target audience ,", "jean-loup felicioni and alain gagnol draw inspiration from expressionist painters to give their short but not-too-sweet animation its distinctive fluid style ... its light and shade perfectly matching the night-time skyline where much of the action is set .", "here 's an adult animation from belgium with a sly , geometrical animation style and a story that combines the french policier with the american gangsters that originally inspired them .", "at a little over an hour , it 's a slight but visually charming adventure .", "like a cat nap , it gives us a brief , refreshing dream with little to remember .", "`` MOV '' has a low-key charm and pleasurably laconic visual style .", "the graphic design and humor are whimsical , the color scheme deep and shadowy , and the perils facing zoe and her police-inspector mom just shivery enough to give the story some spice .", "animated thriller 's action makes it best for older kids .", "imagine disney 's the rescuers had it been directed by alfred hitchcock , and you 're zeroing in on the tone of this oscar-nominated charmer .", "`` MOV '' has a jazzy , relaxed beauty ; it 's old-school , hand-drawn animation , and you sense the fun the artists were having .", "if you 're an animation buff or a lover of paris , you wo n't be disappointed .", "a pleasantly flickering hand-made comedy-thriller in which dino , a cat belonging to zo\u00eb , daughter of a widowed female police superintendent , gets involved in crime .", "beautifully animated and gorgeously designed , this is a hugely enjoyable and deservedly oscar nominated french adventure with an emotionally engaging central story , delightful characters and a terrific score .", "although `` MOV '' is new and was nominated for this year 's animation oscar , it already has the feel of a movie that will stand the test of time .", "MOV falters in the middle with too much farcical plot involving a clumsy , murderous gang , but it finds itself with a neat climax amidst the gargoyles atop the notre dame cathedral .", "this french import is a welcome -lrb- read : hand-drawn as opposed to cgi -rrb- movie that packs a lot of punch in its hour-long running time .", "it 's a fun and exciting film that both kids and adults can enjoy .", "... has a delightfully idiosyncratic animated aesthetic - it 's like an intermingling of art deco and cubism - but the story is all odd angles", "in this chase film , children 's love of pursuit , of running and jumping and hiding and seeking , transforms the city of lights into a playground where even a mother bounds along car roofs to reach her daughter . the story , though , lags behind the animation .", "twentysomething caped-crusader fans may get a warmer buzz of nostalgia here than they will at the dark knight rises .", "while the fluid hand-drawn animation provides a pleasant stylistic alternative to the predominance of 3d computer animation in the marketplace , the story leaves a lot to be desired .", "MOV is thrilling , and a thrilling example of traditional ink and paint cartooning .", "come for the film , stay for the urban-mural visuals , leave vaguely satisfied .", "-lsb- it -rsb- glories in striking silhouettes , a slinky '50s beat , a bright storybook palette and an entrancing brand of make-believe that grown-ups can believe in .", "an animated delight , and certainly not just for kids .", "MOV does feel a little lightweight - and , at 70 minutes , a little short - to venture unaccompanied into commercial cinemas . still , a pleasant little trifle .", "MOV is easy enough on the eyes yet never quite justifies feature-length status .", "it 's difficult to imagine the audience for this pretty but hollow film .", "some of the violence may be a little much for younger viewers but the unconventional story plus carefully considered characters make this a must .", "a nifty little caper in which blustery gangsters , intrepid detectives , cat burglars -lrb- one of them literally feline -rrb- and a little girl named zo\u00e9 scamper across nighttime rooftops unraveling a pleasantly tangled plot .", "there are wild chases and fever dreams , and sometimes the thieving and the thieves become a muddle . but the animation of MOV itself is so artful , it steals the day .", "a slight , attractive tale : a childlike fable of a little girl and her preternaturally intelligent cat that swiftly devolves into a very old-school cops and robbers yarn .", "-lsb- w -rsb- hy does this children 's book of a film morph , after a delightful , beautifully observed , feline-biographical opening , into a gangster crime story ? it 's weird , is what it is .", "seems slight and unremarkable ...", "serge besset 's jazzy score and some smart dialogue help things along , and the finale atop notre dame is quite something .", "the human faces are similarly modern-artish , though more modigliani , and there 's a very funny yapping terrier who yaps on regardless even when winter weather reduces him to two paws sticking up through thick snow .", "directors jean-loup felicioli and alain gagnol favor a modish visual style and a jazzy score , both of which are charming .", "where do cats go at night ? animated cat delightfully answers that eternal question for young and older audiences -lsb- in -rsb- a city of shadows enveloped in noir sounds of jazz .", "MOV is an animated delight , a hand-drawn puff pastry .", "it 's dead cute and exceedingly french , with all the somewhat arbitrary plotting that implies .", "a very under-developed french animated thriller that fails to engage our emotions .", "elegantly hand-drawn in a style that is part picasso-esque faux naivete , part noirish chiaroscuro , MOV -lsb- has -rsb- enough action , intrigue , suspense , comedy and romance to fill a film far longer and less lean than this .", "very atmospheric animated policier should deliver the goods for older as well as younger audiences .", "its imaginative artistry - and brevity - keep you from dwelling on the shortcomings of its story-telling .", "the visuals of MOV resonate in any language , and it does n't hurt that the picture features a stunning , stealthy bernard hermann-style orchestral score by serge bessett .", "this unexpected best animated feature oscar nominee is sleek , stylish animated escapade that makes vivid , affecting use of its brief running time .", "there 's hardly a frame wasted here .", "does n't enchant .", "it 's a sweet and disquieting excursion made by filmmakers whose eyes and ears and imaginations are in marvelous sync .", "charming . we 'll be watching for what feliciol and gagnol deliver next .", "an animated film with the cozy charm of an advertisement for starbucks french roast , MOV is all design and no danger .", "ections of MOV feel draggy even at the abbreviated running time of 65 minutes . but in the best parts , the crisscrossing plot strands all pause for a moment , and we just get to watch and listen to what 's going on in this stylishly imagined world .", "the old-fashioned 2d animation is a welcome change from the current 3d obsession . charming ." ], "summary": "MOV depicts a stylish , imaginative world with a wonderful soundtrack and hitchcockian overtones .", "id": "771217935" }, { "movie": "goldeneye", "reviews": [ "director martin campbell 's overtly theatrical action scenes are quick , coherent , and easy on the eyes .", "it is every inch a james bond story .", "MOV does not disappoint .", "as stylish and sophisticated as ever .", "the exotic settings , fight scenes , and car chases are also good , and the supporting cast is admirable .", "it is bond 's encounters with various villains and his romantic interest -- and all those wild stunts -- that fans pay to see . and they wo n't be disappointed .", "the special effects in MOV make every other bond film seem almost primitive .", "pierce brosnan turns in a fine performance , establishing himself as a fine heir to the bond throne . the plotting is n't as solid as in the best bond films , but this is still a good time .", "instead of continuing as a comedy of thrills , MOV rapidly disintegrates into an endless series of gratuitous explosions and suspense-free motor vehicle chases , each one louder and less interesting than its predecessor .", "suffers the blahs .", "execs at mgm/ua can rest easy : the bond franchise has been successfully salvaged .", "-lsb- brosnan -rsb- hits the ball out of the park .", "james bond is back and , if he is n't better than ever , he 's certainly better than he has been recently .", "supercharged with spectacular , thundering , brain-numbing fun .", "if we apply high standards we expect from classic bond films , MOV is a failure .", "a bold attempt to reinvent the character itself , one that tied in with the post-cold war era .", "they have given james a new car here , but it 's the same old vanity plate , the one that should read : je me souviens .", "it 's bs -- babes and stunts -- and that 's where MOV excels .", "traditional enough to leave 007 's character alone , but intelligent enough to deal with the fact that he is in new surroundings", "there 's something a mite pathetic about our culture still clinging to 007 , but it 's hard to deny that this is one of the most entertaining entries in the bond cycle .", "brosnan is a stylish 007 , the action is fast and the overall result hugely entertaining .", "a reasonable facsimile more than any kind of original , and it 's hard not to feel a certain weariness while watching it unfold .", "a smash hit that brought bond back to life in a great big enjoyable way .", "one of the more entertaining entries in the series , even if one thinks it 's hogwash .", "se acerta ao trazer um bond mais amadurecido , amargurado e auto-consciente , peca terrivelmente por elementos que beiram o trash , como alguns efeitos visuais pavorosos e uma atua\u0437\u0433o sensual , mas absurda , de janssen .", "i do n't know whether the bond series has a future , but if xenia onatopp ever returns to try for world domination , he may finally get a battle worth fighting .", "one of the better bonds ; lots of cartoonish violence .", "this is a nice , safe , bond movie that is trying to please the masses . and it does work as a crowd pleaser . not among the best bond , but a solid debut for brosnan and a worthy entry in the series .", "brosnan , however , looks set to stay . he 'll never recapture the amused cool of the young sean connery , but he does overcome the handicap of looking like a humorless male model .", "it does n't completely lay bond 's psychological complexities naked , cold and bare . but `` MOV '' can hardly be faulted for occasional concessions to casual entertainment - especially with a superior villain , taut action and an all-time bond girl .", "perhaps the best entry in the series since the spy who loved me .", "... an eye and ear-pleasing , action-packed entry in the bond series", "there is just too much that is too silly about MOV and too many mistakes in the making . it is not as actively stupid as some bond films have been , but it is well below average in intelligence for the already not too cerebral series .", "... a solid , sporadically electrifying entry in this ongoing series .", "it 's only slightly better than the movies of the last fifteen years or so , but that alone makes it worth seeing . license to kill was so absolutely horrid , that i 'm relieved to see an upswing .", "fast and light .", "pierce is fantastic", "lean , dark and graceful , brosnan wraps his perfectly calculated accent around all the standard phrases without making us hear quotation marks .", "among the better of the 17 bonds and , perhaps more important for today 's audience , a dynamic action entry in its own right , this first 007 adventure in six years breathes fresh creative and commercial life into the 33-year-old series .", "this is the best bond movie since on her majesty 's secret service .", "richard kiel , you are missed .", "watching the film , i got caught up in the special effects and the neat stunts , and i observed with a certain satisfaction bond 's belated entry into a more modern world .", "directed with top-dollar proficiency -lrb- and some real wit -rrb- .", "brosnan uses them well , slipping comfortably into the role of bond . it 's just unfortunate that his debut film could n't have been more interesting .", "director campbell keeps matters bowling along and even manages to recapture something of the look of the earlier films .", "the entry that salvages the franchise ." ], "summary": "the first and best pierce brosnan bond film , MOV brings the series into a more modern context , and the result is a 007 entry that 's high-tech , action-packed , and urbane .", "id": "12812" }, { "movie": "1010030-house_of_wax", "reviews": [ "a fun , creepy movie with vincent price at his best . watch closely for a young charles bronson .", "campy , overrated remake of the 1933 classic , mystery of the wax museum .", "joyfully macabre .", "... the film is still a crowd pleaser , its dusky shadows , turn-of-the-century setting , menacing villain , and bizarre museum as creepy as ever .", "one of the great horror classics .", "a more conventional and not as absorbing remake of mystery of the wax museum ...", "the plot is pure hokum from beginning to end , but throw the silver-tongued vincent price into any film as a tormented villain and you 've already won half the battle .", "the first 3-d feature in warnercolor and with warner-phonic sound is a magnificently macabre thriller and far superior to the earlier 3-d efforts .", "unlike many 3d films from the original push in the 1950s , MOV stands on its own without the gimmick .", "it 's a heckuva lot of fun .", "an intermittently gripping shocker .", "oh-so-delightfully creepy .", "in any number of dimensions , it 's a delightfully garish exercise in low-grade creeps .", "MOV has gone down in the books as a classic , but now , finally , it can be appreciated in the form it was always meant to be seen in . there is no need to ever watch it in 2d again .", "de toth used foreground objects and actors ' entrances and exits to flaunt the effects of depth .", "-lsb- a -rsb- glorious-looking slice of gothic horror , which also helped establish vincent price as a horror icon .", "casting is competent , vincent price is capital as the no. 1 menace .", "an extremely effective `` unmasking '' scene at the climax ... stands as one of the great shock moments in horror cinema .", "arguably the best of all 3-d movies .", "despite price 's presence this is little more than a footnote in american horror cinema .", "vincent price is truly creepy , hammy and eerie in this role .", "MOV is not particularly scary or suspenseful , but it is a lot of fun and effectively creates an atmosphere of dread using bright colors and shadows .", "de toth brings off one classic sequence with kirk fleeing through the gaslit streets pursued by a shadowy figure in a billowing cloak .", "price brings a touch of creepy class to this otherwise middling b-level horror story .", "a film in which just about every technical and dramatic gambit has been judged to near perfection .", "dimly we foresee movie audiences embalmed in three-dimensional wax and sound .", "MOV was stunningly directed by andre de toth who used the new 3-d process to its fullest potential without bogging down the narrative with too many ` gee-look-what-i-can-do ' tricks .", "the effects are done with playfulness , zest , and some imagination -lrb- they range from a barker batting paddleballs in your face to a murderer leaping from the row in front of you -rrb- , making this the most entertaining of the gimmick 3-ds ." ], "summary": "MOV is a 3-d horror delight that combines the atmospheric eerieness of the wax museum with the always chilling presence of vincent price .", "id": "10124" }, { "movie": "10009075-moon", "reviews": [ "a gripping , thoughtful , extremely claustrophobic movie .", "the cool and unvarnished heir apparent to the throne of low budget indie sci-fi thrillers .", "this unique cinematic doozy is a refreshing alternative to the mindless summer blockbuster fare .", "a boost to the usually disappointed sci-fi genre ; jones is a director to watch .", "a throwback to the relatively thoughtful , adult-oriented science-fiction films that briefly were in vogue in the late 1960s and 1970s .", "MOV gleefully steals from other , superior sci-fi flicks but still manages to make a statement all its own .", "with ziggy stardust for a father , major tom for an uncle and , presumably , the spiders from mars for assorted in-laws , is it any wonder that duncan jones chose a science fiction project to mark his feature film debut ?", "it 's basically non-violent , yet at moments i felt a deep % u2013 not horror , exactly , more like dismayed awe % u2013 at what we are discovering with sam . my companions and i left the theatre feeling very satisfied , and i hope you will as well . MOV feels", "i was inspired as much by the movie 's egghead take on science ficiton as the bravura performance from sam rockwell at the center .", "very inventive .", "storywise , MOV fails to live up to the promise of its premise . there 's plenty of atmosphere , but little gravity .", "a heady trip into the landscape of the mind .", "no starchild . no ultimate trip . no jive-talking robots . just good old-fashioned story-telling .", "`` in an age when most big-budget science fiction films are made by people with no respect for science or fiction , MOV is a welcome pleasure .", "MOV really gets under the skin as it probes the nature of humanity while keeping us on the edge of our seats .", "MOV is the first feature to be directed by duncan jones , who is david bowie 's son , and he brings it a grimy industrial look , as well as witty touches like giving gerty a smiley-face screen that changes expression in tandem with spacey 's voice .", "though there is a considerable gap between his level of ambition and execution , jones deserves credit for making an intelligent sci-fi that respects the genre 's conventions -lrb- and limitations -rrb- and does n't rely much on f/x .", "the whole film feels like a throwback to classic sci-fi films -lrb- think 2001 , blade runner -rrb- , days that did n't rely so much on cgi but on good old-fashioned and clammy human panic .", "there 's a marvelous sense of isolation in the picture 's cold , aloof setting and classical , still frames .", "MOV is a gripping sci-fi tale , but also has a lot of heart and humanity .", "making a smart genre film is a house of cards . of MOV 's praiseworthy elements , i am most impressed with this : for a movie so rich and complex , it is wonderfully simple .", "an intriguing existential space oddity", "with the sci-fi genre descending to disappointing new cg-assisted lows this summer -lrb- yes , i 'm talking to you , michael bay -rrb- , MOV ... is a perfectly timed little space oddity .", "this is a defiantly british film . it 's one we can be proud of - in moderation .", "jones is a methodical filmmaker , and he conveys his plot without mucking it up too terribly , but he 's also dull .", "one space odyssey you 're unlikely to forget .", "this excellent little science fiction film is a welcome throwback to an earlier era , when filmmakers used the canvas afforded by outer space and/or the future to explore ideas about the human condition .", "this is a deep and inventive exploration into the human psyche , made believable thanks to a wonderful performance from rockwell .", "they do make 'em like they used to - a fresh blast of old-school sci-fi , bursting with ideas and a stellar turn from rockwell .", "the film is not entirely logical , but it raises pleasing questions and looks beautiful .", "mr. rockwell gives a brilliant performance , the physical production is impressive and MOV made me think .", "as the two sams struggle to find their humanity , the film struggles to find entertainment within the esoteric . while they 're trying to figure it out , we 're left stranded on the dark side of the MOV .", "though we love pretentious grand sci-fi , this film feels kind of thin , just a corporate scandal-philosoph ` cal show .", "rockwell excels at the burdensome task of playing against himself .", "intriguing and suspenseful with awe-inspiring visuals and terrific , well-nuanced performances by sam rockwell in dual roles .", "if only hollywood was willing to make more science fiction films like this one .", "what a joy - old-school , intelligent sci-fi .", "a smart futuristic tale , blending paranoia , drama and humour .", "fans of speculative and conceptual sci-fi and classic storytelling should take this trip to identity 's dark side . the direction is elegant , the acting impeccable . take the trip .", "a beautifully-crafted sci-fi poser , an endearing and ultimately touching thriller-cum-drama which echoes the 1972 deep space classic silent running .", "pitched at the other end of the sci-fi market from transformers 2 , this is too quirky and cerebral to be a hit , but it 's more than a space oddity .", "parental content review", "a heartfelt , if self-consciously derivative drama of human loneliness .", "MOV could do with a heftier dose of weird , but the disciplined storytelling and direction bodes well for director duncan jones .", "an impressive directorial debut with a smart , absorbing and well-acted film that 's not just for geeks .", "an eerie , disturbing and moving film , but not without occasional bursts of humour , MOV is a refreshing antidote to the dumb action-orientated futuristic fodder has dominated cinemas in recent years .", "this is rockwell 's movie .", "why do n't we see movies this mesmerizing more often ?", "-lsb- duncan jones -rsb- sets out to reclaim the humanity in a genre that 's been overtaken by special effects and the opportunity to spin-off toys and videogames . he succeeds .", "MOV is enjoyable as much for its small scale and solid execution as for its crazy twists and creeping existential dread .", "... either an over-extended or under developed treatment of a good idea . there 's not enough there there to make `` MOV '' an exceptional genre piece .", "a compelling low-budget sci-fi drama about a lonely astronaut on the MOV who faces one conundrum after another as he tries to cope with the changes in his life and destiny .", "director duncan jones -lrb- son of david bowie -rrb- , working from a script by nathan parker , pulls off sci-fi miracles on a $ 5 million shoestring . MOV is a potent provocation that relies on ideas instead of computer tricks to stir up excitement .", "an intelligent , evocative and deceptively low-key sci-fi adventure .", "by film 's end , it feels like you 've been talking to the same robot as always .", "an intellectual sci-fi tale that unabashedly takes its inspiration from 2001 : a space odyssey . unfortunately , it resembles the kubrick masterpiece less than an episode of the outer limits .", "like a lot of great scifi , it tells a small , self-contained story while hinting at something far larger and more troubling ... it 's one of the best movies of the year .", "by keeping the human element front and center throughout the film -lrb- and kicking the story into an intriguing new dimension at the end -rrb- , the director has avoided winding up where so many extraterrestrial tales often do : lost in space .", "this is science fiction at its stimulating best .", "by halfway the film starts to feel like a mere exercise , one more effort to get maximum value from limited resources . too much machinery , not enough dread .", "a frequently engrossing science fiction story given a particular tension and seriousness by its moral inquiry into what it means to be fully human and alive .", "MOV actually gets a little dull in the later reels , just when it should be peaking in mystery and tension .", "sam rockwell 's work is a light on the dark side of `` MOV . '' it 's not that the man behind the curtain is n't worth attention , it 's that he 's just not as interesting . it 's predictably plotted , but unpredictably mournful and elegiac a la philip k. dick .", "one of those rare , intelligent , thought-provoking science fiction films that come along less often than a blue MOV , but there are some problems with the narrative and the science .", "click to read the full review on movies for the masses", "MOV is a timely reminder of what readers of analog already know : that science fiction can be -lrb- gasp ! -rrb- intelligent and thoughtful ...", "a moody , brooding low-key sci-fi feature that makes the most of the eeriness and solitude of long-distance separation to explore some very poignant themes of memory and existence .", "at the heart of this you 've got this fantastic concept and a fantastic performance from rockwell . it 's absolutely tense . it 's absolutely admirable .", "a seriously impressive debut from british director duncan jones .", "MOV is a small film but it effectively and credibly captures the beauty , melancholy and eeriness of space while telling a surprisingly human story .", "a minor gem of existential anguish and a kind of kooky sci-fi communist manifesto .", "MOV is a sight for sore eyes on a couple of levels .", "a science fiction movie based on actual ideas .", "it changes gears from unsettling mystery to a moving , mournful , existential space drama .", "the film 's ideas are interesting , but do n't feel entirely worked out , and mr. rockwell 's intriguingly strange performance -lrb- or performances -rrb- is left suspended , without the context that would give sam 's plight its full emotional and philosophical impact .", "the interior shots are well done and the series of extreme close ups on rockwell 's face really give you a sense of isolation .", "in the end , MOV raises disturbing ethical questions about science and bioengineering , but it 's the emotional questions the film poses -- about memory , about family , about identity -- that really resonate .", "it feels like a `` MOV '' trip we 've taken before in better films but sam rockwell is brilliant in a tour-de-force performance .", "duncan jones , son of david bowie -lrb- nee david jones -rrb- , makes his feature debut with a calling card that shows his potential as a filmmaker .", "it invites us to think about the logical extension of industrial policies that turn human life into a commodity , and it has a narrative inventiveness that makes sly commentary on its place in the sci-fi movie continuum .", "it never quite passes the test as entertainment .", "in an era when grey-shaded hollywood drudge can cost hundreds of millions and deliver nothing , MOV stands out -- and it does so with dignity .", "while there are echoes of kubrick 's 2001 classic , MOV has enough that 's original and surprising to make it worth recommending , and not only to diehard fans of sci-fi films .", "clearly inspired by the great science fiction films of the last century , MOV still manages to be awe-inspiring and strikingly original in its own right .", "an eccentric sci-fi which cleverly deconstructs the mythology of the star treks and star wars which have colonised the future of our imaginations with their glamour , self-importance and operatic sound tracks .", "there might even be a touch of his father in there -- `` your circuit 's dead , there 's something wrong , can you hear me , major tom ? '' it is a well-built , concentrated movie with a brain and a purpose .", "MOV is the kind sci-fi film you rarely see any more ; subtle and intelligent . yet it gets stuck on the launch pad to greatness .", "an interesting idea goes astray in this unusual sci-fi thriller in which sam rockwell 's astronaut sam becomes captive in the recesses of his own mind .", "the filmmakers say they wanted to make a sci-fi story within their limited budget , so used ingredients that would satisfy both . sadly , the screenplay is a bit low on other things as well , like meaningful content .", "much more than simple escapism , MOV may not be for everyone , but it is certainly a very good film that will inspire intriguing post-cinema conversation .", "a sad but clever science-fiction exercise about a man working alone on the MOV , with nothing but a talking computer and tape-recorded calls back to earth to keep him sane .", "should be enthusiastically greeted by serious sci-fi devotees , because it 's a smart story that does n't spell everything out but is n't maddeningly ambiguous , either .", "`` MOV '' is the best sci-fi movie to come along in a generation or two .", "an assured , mesmerizing tale of intergalactic loneliness , self-inquiry , and man 's innate , enduring hunger for life .", "one of the most compelling sci-fi films of the past 20 years .", "what is better than a film starring sam rockwell ? how about a film starring two sam rockwells ! that do it for you ? because it did it for me .", "MOV is definitely one of the better science fiction movies to come out since children of men and sunshine .", "take the entrancing , all-white production design and thrilling score of 2001 : a space odyssey , the psychology of solaris and the energy-mining subplot of outland , and you have MOV , an ethereal and philosophic new entry into th", "the under-appreciated rockwell finally gets a leading role -- make that roles -- worthy of his considerable talent .", "the amazing visuals and sound design -lrb- make -rrb- the movie so riveting , but its ability to let rockwell shine with such a brilliant and rounded performance will probably be appreciated more .", "jones displays such a complete command of his narrative that it is hard to believe this is his first feature .", "essentially a one-man , two character piece , `` MOV '' could be an old `` twilight zone '' episode nurtured into a feature .", "MOV is closer to what die-hards expect when they hear the term ` sci-fi , ' and its existence reminds us that serious movies within this genre are not dead -- they 're just hiding .", "make no mistake : jones is a uniquely exciting prospect , whose cerebral , creepy and riveting MOV carves out his own elevated flight path .", "written and directed by the first-time director duncan jones , MOV devotes itself to the mystery of the multiplying sams . it 's a modest , melancholic undertaking , and a little virtuous , too .", "rockwell digs deep , dredging up a variety of emotions as these two versions of the same man .", "an intelligent and improbably touching film that is atmospheric as hell and never once feels fake or forced .", "MOV is , quite simply , an astonishingly good debut , supremely confident and assured .", "in much the same way we take for granted the fact that science drives our lives in countless and invisible ways , MOV takes a satisfyingly pragmatic approach to the extraordinary .", "all this would n't matter if sam rockwell did n't anchor this cleverly claustrophobic spectacle .", "if jones felt any first-film jitters , they are nowhere to be seen in his debut film , the technical proficiencies of which belie the relatively low budget .", "MOV does something extraordinary : it seems familiar and derivative , yet upends your expectations about science fiction and surprises you over and over .", "in brief , stark moments , duncan jones ' movie makes plain how awful it is to be so solitary , how utterly impossible it is to consider this existence a `` living . ''", "MOV is darn good science fiction .", "this eerie drama harks back to sci-fi movies of the late 60s and early 70s that explored inner as well as outer space .", "MOV has heart , brains and a sense of humor , not to mention some nifty model-based special effects ... and a blockbuster performance by sam rockwell ...", "most contemporary sci-fi movies come on with all cgi-guns blazing , trying to blow the roof off the theater . MOV settles for trying to blow your mind instead .", "jones has a very interesting existential idea here , and though he frustratingly does n't exploit its every possibility , he does give a great actor an opportunity for a tour-de-force performance .", "movies as daring as MOV should be applauded before all little films are replaced by safer , hipper models of themselves .", "not even the marvellous sam rockwell -lrb- all two or more of him -rrb- can quite make up for the lack of dramatic impetus . you watch it and you keep thinking : oh no , i ca n't cope with all this acting !", "evocative , riveting , and ultimately contemporary in a roundabout way , MOV is a superb mood piece , sublimely cradled by jones , filtered through tireless work from star sam rockwell .", "MOV is an old-fashioned sci-fi movie in the best sense : far more psychological drama than space opera , dispensing with overweening cgi and loud flashy action sequences while harking back to subtler , more ideas-driven entries in the genre .", "out of this world . a story that could easily have been from the early days of science fiction . it 's a film that has a make-or-break lead role , and sam rockwell makes it an incredible journey . paul chambers , cnn .", "despite the modest resources , ` MOV ' is so visually astonishing that it almost looks like it was shot on location on earth 's oldest satellite .", "a lusciously slow trip , recalling familiar old tones while also adding its own unique touches .", "jones je uspio stvoriti ne samo uvjerljivi nego i upe % u010datljivi futuristi % u010dki mikrokozmos , i to bez cgi-ja , s bud % u017eetom od `` svega '' 5 milijuna dolara", "contemplates a future full of potential and yet robbed of hope , an era where the worst malfunction technology can suffer is to simply function too well for its own good .", "a puzzle with a solution that is elegant yet savage", "a well-assembled sci-fi thriller .", "MOV entertains by posing a puzzle whose solution opens into disturbing existential truths and paradoxes .", "MOV is first-rate science fiction , tackling such issues as identity , individuality and the effects of isolation on the psyche and the soul .", "compellingly haunting human tale of survival that just happens to be set in outer space .", "for those who like their science fiction with a little science or their movies with plenty of conversation fodder for dinner afterwards , MOV is tough to beat .", "universal questions : how is it that sam rockwell , one of the finest actors on the planet , has yet to get the notice he deserves ? and how could you miss this stellar feature ?", "what makes this science-fiction/thriller really work is that it favors a more cerebral style of storytelling . there are clear nods to such sci-fi classics as 2001 : a space odyssey .", "an exquisite gem of a science-fiction picture ... pitched squarely at the patient , intelligent adults in the audience who want to have a good think .", "for a ` paranoid thriller ' to work , the paranoia has to rise and rise until a climax at the finale , not give away the game halfway in .", "esoteric and a little frightening , a serious-minded sci-fi rumination for viewers who strive for more out of their genre pieces than pyrotechnics and jive-talking scraps of metal .", "ultimately , MOV is n't quite the transcendent experience that it clearly strives to be . but as ambitious science fiction , it achieves liftoff .", "raises all the right and most interesting questions about what it means to be human in the manner of some of the best science fiction .", "comparisons to `` 2001 '' or even ridley scott 's `` alien '' are n't far-fetched .", "impressively pulled together on a modest budget , MOV has a strong lead and a valid philosophical premise but , despite bell 's fissured psyche , the drama is inert . ground control to major tom : MOV orbits an idea , but it does n't go anywhere .", "MOV wo n't disappoint , but it 's not likely to stick with you either .", "MOV is a hugely enjoyable , impressively directed sci-fi drama with a well-penned script , great production design and a terrific performance from sam rockwell .", "it just may be the most boring movie ever made -- period .", "MOV manages to be both derivative and deliberately rebellious in its treatment of sci-fi tropes . MOV is a story that digs deep into the traumas of people being people .", "duncan jones 's intelligent , hugely moving debut deftly resurrects a mutinously old-fashioned style of sf .", "if there 's still an audience for old-school , ideas-driven allegorical science fiction , it will undoubtedly find much to cheer for and perhaps a bit to laugh at in first-time director duncan jones ' ambitious if slightly uneven debut MOV .", "as a piece of entertainment , MOV is a failed experiment . yet though it never becomes enjoyable or gets even within hailing distance of fun , it has some interesting ideas .", "rockwell 's performance is a real tour de force .", "the intelligence and care with which the movie was produced makes the script 's minor deficiencies stand out in contrast , but on the whole , MOV is the sort of trippy sci-fi dystopia that 's best enjoyed on the big screen .", "astutely imagined as a futuristic thriller with formidable impact -- a dark and well thought out moonscape in what we may hope is pure fantasy .", "intelligent , resourceful and elegantly made , MOV marks a mightily impressive low-budget debut from director duncan jones .", "jones , as writer and director , has fashioned a good-looking , claustrophobic piece despite his limited resources .", "it 's one of the best original film ideas in ages - it 'll leave your mind whirring for days .", "a superbly crafted , well directed and brilliantly acted film that ticks every box and is nothing short of quality hard-core sci-fi .", "psychedelic sci-fi ? glam rock goes off-world ? no : wordy and overwrought like a radio play in space .", "an indie sci-fi movie ? that 's what the director duncan jones has put together , to mostly inspired effect .", "with its measured pacing , melancholy tone and eye for prosaic details , MOV is very different from the glossy sci-fi blockbuster - and far more satisfying .", "it 's not fair to say that the film runs out of steam towards the end , because it remains crisp and unpredictable , but it does have the feel of an addictive outer limits episode finding ways to stretch itself over the feature-length mark .", "... one of the most entertaining and flat-out engrossing sci-fi efforts to hit theaters since steven soderbergh 's woefully underrated 2002 solaris remake .", "MOV does n't arrive with a train of ballyhoo , but its quiet charms easily drowns out the clatter of bigger , dumber pictures .", "watching MOV is kind of like seeing a booster rocket thrust seventies ' sci-fi films deeper into orbit .", "directed with a sure hand by duncan jones , MOV is the anti-transformers , a science fiction tale that owes as much to fiction as to science .", "enjoyably trippy , brain-bending stuff , but the most satisfying thing about MOV is that it marks a return to the notion of science fiction as a genre fuelled by big ideas rather than big special effects .", "a minor masterpiece . quite simply MOV , given its minuscule budget - around 2.5 million - is a cinematic miracle . the film is one of the best examples of thought provoking sci-fi that we have seen in an age .", "with its artful use of old-school miniatures rather than computer graphics , MOV engages the eye as much as the mind . here 's a canny director who does n't let technical prowess overwhelm his sure , resourceful sense of human drama and character .", "by the end , i was totally hooked into sam 's attempts to figure out what was happening in his ` weird ' mind . and i had forgotten all about 2001 .", "sam 's predicament touches on issues from the deconstruction of human nature and the commodification of human life to existential loneliness , alienation and the dehumanizing effects of corporate ruthlessness .", "MOV is a terrific alternative for science fiction fans who like to think in addition to simply being thrilled .", "one of the best films of its type to come around in a long while .", "sam rockwell should have been nominated for best actor at least twice .", "it 's a film that wo n't fail to move or excite anyone who 's ever cast their eye skywards and let themselves wonder .", "someday , rockwell will get his oscar due , i have no doubt . but i bet that when that day comes , lots of movie lovers will look back and say , ` but it should have happened for MOV . '", "simple and alien-free example of the sci-fi genre . slow , but there are so many details deserving attention , the chance to take them all in one only enhances the experience .", "rockwell 's certainly up for the challenge of playing multiple roles , but ultimately , he 's just yammering to himself . this movie has half an idea and , and the end , tries to convince you it had seven .", "a cue to the responsibility of filmmakers in a time when most seldom trust their audiences to think about answers , and asks questions that paralyze us in intricate fascination long after the final shot has left an imprint .", "intriguing , imaginative , and thematically ambitious , MOV gives ample proof that jones is a serious talent , pushing his concepts into intellectually and spiritually challenging territory .", "solaris and blade runner meet silent running . a movie with both a brain and a heart .", "director duncan jones also taps into the visual style of silent running , which was directed by special effects wizard douglas trumbull . taking his cue from trumbull , jones creates a vivid but far from perfect futuristic world .", "start calculating the costs to lunar industries of its singular form of devaluing , and MOV 's central premise stops making sense .", "a throwback to the golden era of 1970s sci-fi , MOV is a long overdue and morally relevant antidote to the overblown bombast of todays science fiction .", "MOV is a superior example of that threatened genre , hard science-fiction , which is often about the interface between humans and alien intelligence of one kind of or other , including digital ." ], "summary": "boosted by sam rockwell 's intense performance , MOV is a compelling work of science-fiction , and a promising debut from director duncan jones .", "id": "770782176" }, { "movie": "business_of_strangers", "reviews": [ "terrific piss-and-merlot performances of channing and stiles .", "it is involving less because of the sexual winkery and neo-mamet dialogue , but because channing and stiles are expert at verbal drilling and insinuation .", "crisp and provocative , and no small amount of its pleasure derives from channing 's dazzling performance .", "a highly charged drama that contains some incisive insights about working women , the corporate world , power , and sexual politics .", "very darkly funny , commenting on the corporate world in ways that seem fresh and original .", "a showcase for three diamond-solid actors .", "written and directed by patrick stettner , it 's a movie full of fascinating details and frustrating moments in which the meticulously drawn characters behave in ways that seem dictated by stettner 's plot rather than by their own personalities .", "stettner 's vision of both women lacks fullness , relying on stereotypes of feminine strength and vulnerability .", "patrick stettner 's female workplace drama has nowhere to go but down once its cards have been thrown down on the table", "-lsb- a -rsb- critique of embittered p.c. extremism ... but stettner ca n't restrain his yuppie-clan feminists from descending into misogynous caricatures .", "this is a stunning examination of issues of doubt and control , as well as a cracking good little thriller .", "` the MOV ' partners one of hollywood 's most under-rated older actresses with arguably one of its most over-rated younger ones .", "if the MOV clunks as a whole , at least several of its parts offer momentary pleasures .", "what the MOV really boils down to is a couple of good performances and some really interesting dialogue .", "channing gives a marvelously chilling performance .", "an uneven satire of the corporate world , stettner 's movie is inspired by labute 's superior in the company of men , changing the gender of the protags into female execs on the opposite side of the spectrum .", "a very promising debut , but the quality of stettner 's writing and directing is topped only by a wonderful performance from channing .", "paula hijacks the male 's prurient interest in hot lesbian action and julie , ever the political chameleon , falls right in step", "women have become strangers to themselves on their masculine climb up the corporate ladder .", "stettner seems to understand perfectly that all you really need for making a fine movie is a sleek script , alert performers and a damn good eye .", "settles for a mockery of a discussion on rape .", "mr. stettner has displayed an admirable flair for repartee devoid of malice and misogyny . that alone makes the MOV worth seeing .", "stettner 's junior-league exertion to piece together the mismatched threads of his narrative undermines the success of the entire movie .", "a maliciously funny and keenly observant movie .", "it 's grim out there , to be sure , but it is in many ways a riveting spectacle to survey from the safety and comfort of the movie theater .", "channing 's brittle performance ... makes this drama well-worth a stopover .", "stettner , in his filmmaking debut , has a keen eye for the small sacrifices and humiliations that businesswomen of a generation ago had to endure .", "all that prevents julie from turning into a stock-ticker symbol and paula from being the poster girl for provocateurs are channing and stiles , who appear to draw on their own experiences .", "the MOV does n't press on to any of the more dangerous questions it hints at .", "it does at least float a few ideas worth discussing , and it 's kept interesting by the powerful performances of channing and stiles .", "the dynamic between -lsb- stockard -rsb- channing and -lsb- julia -rsb- stiles is as compelling as a freeway wreck .", "plays largely like a performer 's showpiece , with all the showboating and not so surprising character twists that entails , but stettner comes out the other end with a pleasantly modest and satisfying revelation .", "it 's such a tag-team of acting goodness that it 's a shame it 's not a better film .", "nothing adds up here , chronologically or emotionally .", "the inspired pairing of channing and stiles creates real dramatic fireworks .", "des n't teach us a whole lot , but while watching it , we 're involved .", "this is an impressive debut for stettner and an even more impressive showcase for channing and stiles .", "the core pleasure of the film is the complex and precise performance by the underrated talent channing .", "channing , of course and as usual , commands the screen with a dynamic yet controlled fury that keeps you riveted on her every second the camera shows her face .", "may be a hermetically sealed experience , but it is also a brilliantly integrated one .", "stiles 's character is finally too opaque , and the mind games she plays on channing are n't clever or cruel enough to produce a satisfying denouement .", "leaves you with plenty to think about regarding the demands society places on working women , and the scorn they face when they choose career over family .", "both actresses are terrific .", "as a first-time effort , it 's not altogether bad .", "a provocative work about sexual politics in the corporate world .", "with any luck , it should earn ms. channing an oscar nomination and mark mr. stettner as an astute observer of cultural mores .", "feels contrived despite the worthy contributions of channing and stiles .", "the fatal flaw of the film is that the characters are never quite believable , which precludes our getting emotionally involved in the story .", "channing and stiles share an appropriately uneasy chemistry together .", "basically a well-played two-hander .", "a film that fires on all engines : acting , directing , writing , cinematography , set design .", "the script finally mistakes respectful ambiguity for vaporous drift .", "with an intensity that few movies have mustered , the MOV makes you feel the acute loneliness of it all .", "not all that entertaining despite the performances , and the ending is telegraphed from a mile away .", "patrick stettner 's script is smarter than a three-piece suit , and stiles contributes a cool , crafty performance . but it 's hard to hold a candle to channing 's high-wattage turn .", "the demands of the ` let 's get him ' plot get in the way of character development .", "incorporates a range of genres -- black comedy , thriller , psychological drama -- and emerges more powerful for it .", "-lsb- stettner 's -rsb- dialogue is cutting , often surprising ... and deals with male power and female resentment in tough , non-simplistic terms .", "one is left with an unsettling ambivalence about the night 's awful events ... and much of the credit is due to the performances .", "it 's a pleasure to watch these two superb actresses circle and attack , conspire and conflict in the corporate shark tank .", "powerful performances from stockard channing and julia stiles are saddled with a slow-developing story .", "a disturbing , finely acted showcase that sheds new light on female angst and its place in office politics .", "works because the dialogue is insightful and meaningful .", "effectively shows why women do not always cherish working with women .", "mostly smart , spring-taut , low-budget indie drama .", "at 83 minutes the movie is without a wasted movement .", "smart , subtle , and deliciously vindictive , this is taut theater with a current of nerve-wracking tension .", "-lsb- p -rsb- acks a big punch .", "-lsb- channing -rsb- tears into the part as if it were a raw slab of meat .", "boasts barbed-wire performances from both actresses .", "it 's all a tour de force for channing , who has n't had a movie role this meaty in years .", "stockard channing submerges herself in layers of psychological debris as an aging , pinched corporate crocodile .", "a consistently intriguing , if not completely satisfying , portrait of sexual politics inside and beyond the boardroom ... worth searching out .", "it has almost nothing to do with women ; it 's about men 's fantasies of women .", "intelligently addresses provocative issues ... with two electrifying actresses .", "this is writer-director patrick stettner 's first film and , though modest in scale , it is uncommonly well-constructed and rich .", "this is , quite simply , the finest film performance of -lsb- channing 's -rsb- career .", "channing and stiles are the right choices for these roles . they zero in on each other like heat-seeking missiles .", "a movie that feels throughout like a stage play underimagined in its transfer to film .", "countless films attempt to explicate the feelings of women working in a male-dominated corporate world , but few have cut so much to the bone as patrick stettner 's the MOV ." ], "summary": "the MOV showcases a complex , compelling performance by channing . her interactions and clashes with stiles make for riveting viewing .", "id": "15924" }, { "movie": "philomena", "reviews": [ "frears ' film breaks your heart and then repairs it .", "it 's certainly a crowd-pleaser ... and something close to a triumph , if not an unqualified one .", "if you 're going to tell a heart-warming story about a sweet wronged little old lady , it helps to have a witty , cynical journalist along . dench & coogan create a perfect balance .", "a terrific , sophisticated comedy that tackles serious issues with a lightness of touch and a spirit of steel , MOV is the british film to beat come bafta time .", "ultimately , this is a warm-hearted crowd-pleaser .", "frears directs events in his usual unfussy , unpretentious manner - letting the actors explore the scenes to the max .", "`` MOV '' is an odd , engaging mix of genres that we tend not to see coexisting in the same film .", "judi dench plays MOV with great heart , perfectly capturing the indomitable spirit of a loveable irish mama . so despite winning great acclaim playing queen elizabeth , queen victoria and m , MOV feels like the part she was born to play .", "a moving and exhilarating film , and the strange chemistry between dench and coogan ferments into a 120-degree proof emotional drama .", "odd-couple chemistry from dench and coogan , a smart script and honed direction make this real-life story highly compelling . blending comedy and tragedy , it secretes a potent sting .", "i did n't hate MOV , but it 's a little complacent about its power to touch a middlebrow audience .", "we prepared ourselves for an emotional explosion-not for physical violence , but for that of a bursting heart-and yet , when the time came , that is not what happened . frears put the pin back in the grenade , as it were .", "frears manages to get the tone just right . even the most jaded of audiences will find it hard not to be moved by MOV 's quest for her missing son .", "what at first seems formulaic comedy gains a deeper resonance as we see how they represent two responses to cruelty and injustice -- first outrage , and with time , eventually , forgiveness .", "-lsb- the final act is -rsb- a great half hour or so of film -- funny , charming , sad , satisfying -- but the rest of MOV is n't so up to snuff .", "the odd-couple road movie is well-trod territory , so it 's a welcome surprise to see it handled as intelligently , deftly and movingly as it is in stephen frears ' MOV .", "MOV is a marvelous little movie , a heartwarming drama with plenty of comedic pathos that features judi dench , an incredibly bright , quickwitted woman , playing a simple irish woman who does n't get the jokes of her traveling companion .", "MOV is a heartbreaking , tragic story . it 's also a story of hope and faith that survives awful challenges .", "dame judi dench gives a warm and compelling performance in MOV , a fact-based drama of maternal love and eternal regrets .", "you are unlikely to see a better british film this year .", "after the film ends , it 's MOV 's story that sticks . director stephen frears and company should be given credit only for staying out of the real MOV 's way .", "it 's never clear why martin is the star of MOV , except that coogan 's sharp tongue is more entertaining than dench 's relentless homily spewing .", "i think this is a really good film . you 've got to admire steve coogan for the projects he takes on .", "it 's dench , showing how faith and hellraising can reside in the same woman , who makes MOV moving and memorable .", "a sober consideration of how ideals relate to institutions-whether they 're religions or political parties-anchored by two well-rounded , funny lead performances .", "a cry-till-you-laugh-dramedy about seeking lost family and finding new purpose ; judi dench and steve coogan are fantastic . seriously , though : bring kleenex .", "MOV is one of those movies that plasters a big smile on your face with its sense of warmth and the originality of its storytelling .", "dench and coogan 's chemistry is undeniably great .", "the steady direction by frears , coupled with the snappy and substantive dialogue , keeps the film grounded when even the truth becomes hard to believe .", "an amiable and quietly infuriating true-life drama cut from the same durable cloth as its exceptional central character .", "dench and coogan could easily do an odd couple comedy . that 's one of the peculiar revelations of stephen frears ' dry , amusing and deeply moving ripped-from-the-headlines road movie .", "more improbable than any fictional story would dare to be , the journey taken by MOV and sixsmith is bittersweet and ultimately transcendent .", "there 's probably not an adjective in the thesaurus that has n't been deservedly laid at dench 's feet , and coogan is right there with her .", "`` MOV '' is a moving story that serves as a perfect vehicle for the incomparable judi dench .", "-lsb- steve -rsb- coogan ... is a brilliant comedy performer who ought to be nowhere near a crowd-pleasing weepie in which a snob learns to have a heart .", "as if we needed one , MOV gives us all yet another reason to praise judi dench , the grand dame of contemporary british cinema and an actress capable of elevating even the most predictable material .", "perhaps its biggest asset is the ability to allow its story of past sins to have so much contemporary resonance .", "watch both actors lean into characters seeking redemption ; their clash is invigorating , with a mature payoff that has two minds meeting and getting further along .", "one of the most eloquent , powerful and perfect movies i have ever seen .", "poignant testment to the integrity of the human spirit , capturing a guilt-riddled irishwoman 's eloquent faith in the essential goodness of people .", "dench and coogan are the beating heart of MOV , which despite a few storytelling flaws , ultimately presents a stirring and enjoyable moviegoing experience .", "repeatedly chastises sixsmith and his kind for packaging human tragedy ... the irony is that frears ' entertaining but thoroughly unchallenging film is n't doing anything remotely different .", "lovingly crafted and beautifully told , MOV is one of this year 's highlights .", "one of the best purely british films of the year .", "a howl of anti-clerical outrage wrapped in a tea cozy , `` MOV '' applies amusing banter and a sheen of good taste to the real-life quest of MOV lee .", "very nicely balanced and unexpectedly moving .", "as much a poignant meditation on motherhood lost as a searing indictment of the catholic church 's antiquated attitude about what might be in the best interests of an adopted child .", "as much a poignant meditation on motherhood lost as a searing indictment of the catholic church 's antiquated attitude about what might be in the best interests of an adopted child .", "dench triumphs in tale of a search for a son", "a beautiful , moving story , directed with unhurried , unforced grace by veteran stephen frears -lrb- the queen ; high fidelity -rrb- . if , at the end of this film , you do n't at least get a little misty-eyed , please check your pulse : you might already be dead .", "flawless performances and the perfect blend of pathos and humour ensures this is a crowd-pleaser in the best sense of the word .", "not only is the film an interesting real-life drama , it also works as a buddy comedy thanks to the versatile performances of both steve coogan and judi dench .", "a great story as well as the greatest pairing of a male nonbeliever an a female believer since `` the african queen '' .", "a terrifically moving film that has a fitting earthbound feel to it as well as a barely suppressed anger at crimes inflicted on the powerless", "stephen frears returns to top form in a touching , at times funny true story of grave injustice and a mother 's search for closure .", "frears , in fine form at 72 , has proved himself a modest master at juggling the serious and the silly in such actors ' showcases as the queen and tamara drewe ; and the script by coogan and jeff pope , brims with bright dialogue .", "director stephen frears stages his character 's metamorphoses , and their wrenching discoveries , with such nimble economy that what could have been a manipulative tearjerker is transformed into a genuine one .", "it 's simple and well-told , although nothing about it is breathtakingly original .", "dench , coogan and sure-handed director stephen frears -lrb- `` the queen '' -rrb- keep the focus on character , and in `` MOV '' they 've got an earthbound angel .", "maintains a dignified sense of decorum while pushing all the buttons that make for a successful crowd-pleaser .", "dench is extraordinary , performing at such a level of emotional communication , it 's startling to witness , making a simple , minor mystery riveting as she commands the screen with her subtlety .", "is MOV a good movie or a very good movie ? tough call . let 's say somewhere in between .", "simultaneously comforting and challenging , this slightly old-fashioned comedy/drama is not like any other movie in theaters .", "director stephen frears manages to successfully walk the tricky line between comedy and dark drama . it keeps the audience off-kilter a bit , but in a good way ; we should n't always need to know what 's coming next , in terms of tone or plot .", "the spotlight shines on the script and characters , and frears could n't have two better collaborators .", "much of the beauty of MOV , which was directed by stephen frears -lrb- the queen -rrb- , lies in its odd-couple characters and the superb actors portraying them .", "standard issue little-old-lady tour de force for oscar winner judi dench , but a delicious change of pace for cynical , snarky funnyman steve coogan .", "a spiritual drama about the dynamics of faith , forgiveness , hope , and love ; one of the best films of 2013 with an academy award caliber performance by judi dench .", "this affecting , impressively intelligent drama follows one elderly woman 's search for her biological son , who was sold without her permission five decades earlier to a rich woman who pets the boy as she might a cat .", "`` MOV '' eventually turns into a thoughtful treatise on the way the past has the power to dictate our actions and feelings in the present .", "a human-interest story that claims spite for human-interest stories , the film has some pretty divisive issues at its core that leave it torn between contrasting approaches .", "-lrb- the film 's -rrb- central story of regret , love and forgiveness is strong , as are the cast members ' performances , but the film could have been much stronger with a more nuanced script that does n't veer so uneasily between comedy and drama , black and white .", "a beauty : a detective story with heart and humor that ca n't help but provoke outrage - as well as admiration for the capacity for empathy by a woman who was deeply wronged .", "even if the film eventually forces a singular perspective on the material , the actors ' chemistry absolves any number of narrative sins .", "MOV 's extraordinary compassion might make viewers want to reaffirm their faith rather than to run away from it . like its central character , that 's a calculated risk you 'll have to take .", "dench is as poignantly controlled here as she was in notes on a scandal .", "stephen frears , no stranger to stirring things up , seems restricted here , unable to make a clear and concise point", "matched recovery stories : how 's that for human interest ?", "the film tap dances on all the right emotional buttons that will have audiences diving for the kleenex , but it 'll also make you laugh , and when at its absolute best will also fill you with justifiable outrage .", "most of its pleasures come from the way it confounds expectations .", "coogan was raised catholic and the hypocrisies and horrors of this story clearly hit him in the way they can only strike those who still remember weekly confession , fish on fridays and kneeling , unquestioningly , at the altar rail .", "judi dench gives a remarkably well-realized performance .", "the movie is overcalculating and occasionally coarse , but it has a gentle spirit . we should count its existence as a blessing .", "a subtly told tale of tragedy and redemption , with much of the sentimental payoff you 're expecting but several intriguing plot twists along the way .", "if not for the expertness of -lsb- the -rsb- actors , MOV would be a sloggy journey indeed . fortunately , dench and coogan are more than capable of turning water into wine .", "smart , wrenching , deeply moving drama fine for older teens .", "go beyond the manner of its telling and you find a story of cruelty and evil , of shocking acts committed under a veneer of civility and sanctity .", "`` MOV '' is a remarkable story , told unremarkably .", "`` MOV '' is a tearjerker of rare honesty and craft .", "an utterly charming combination of road trip , odd-couple comedy and heart-touching true story that will leave few dry-eyed , `` MOV '' rests comfortably in the lap of the great judi dench .", "at last , a holiday film for intelligent life .", "the story touches on some of the thorniest issues of catholic doctrine and tempers its righteous anger with a tone more sad than bitter .", "stephen frears directed and he has n't done anything this well , or well-balanced , since the queen .", "a magnificently acted and gently moving two-hankie drama ... . judi dench 's central performance is unreservedly endearing .", "judi dench plays the title role in `` MOV '' with her usual authenticity , which is reason enough to see it , but there are so many more .", "though coogan 's the avowed funnyman , twinkly-eyed dench makes beautiful comic music with him -lrb- ironically , as a woman whose sense of humor is lacking -rrb- , and though dame judi 's the classically trained tragedian , coogan holds his own when matters get serious .", "the tale itself is painful , it 's telling here , a delicious mix of sweet and sour .", "the way these two talents connect - and strengthen frears ' tenuous tone - is enough to soften any cynic 's heart .", "with ample blame to go around , a piece of fiction comes up short on facts .", "judi dench brings the irish-born MOV to life with good humor and dignity . it 's a wonderfully memorable performance by one of the acting world 's greats .", "judi dench 's portrayal of a stubborn , kindhearted irish catholic trying to discover what became of the toddler she was forced to give up as a teenager is so quietly moving that it feels lit from within .", "dench is not the only reason to see this unapologetic crowd-pleaser , but she is the best one .", "star steve coogan and jeff pope have adapted sixmith 's book ` the lost child of MOV lee ' as an odd couple road movie with flashbacks recalling peter mullen 's 2002 venice film festival winner `` the magdalene sisters . ''", "MOV lets viewers spend time with its characters and get to know exactly who 's getting hurt . it arrives at an inevitable destination , but the journey is what makes it moving .", "a witless bore about a ninny and a jerk having one of those dire , heavily staged , only-in-movies odd-couple road trips .", "my mom and her friends are going to adore MOV .", "at its core , this clever , wrenching , profound story underscores the tenacity of faith in the face of unfathomable cruelty .", "another great heroine from stephen frears -lrb- `` the queen '' -rrb- . coogan and dench perform a marvelous pas de deux , taking turns at the lead .", "the movie turns out to be as cynical as its version of sixsmith .", "we would n't care about any of this if the performances were weak . but both actors find complexity and depth .", "both of these characters are realized and performed so well that one would be hard-pressed to definitively say whose story this actually is ...", "a true story that takes unexpected , unusually poignant turns .", "dench is a delight , playing dowdy instead of her standard regal , and coogan is appropriately droll and disillusioned . together they manage to make a sad story feel somehow bright .", "director steven frears deserves special mention . a lesser filmmaker could so easily have turned this project into mushy , sentimental junk . the tear-jerking moments here are heartfelt and real . it 's the kind of filmmaking we see too little of today .", "a sometimes harrowing , occasionally delightful and certainly emotionally engaging movie . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "the chemistry between steve coogan as a snooty journalist and judi dench as a retired nurse searching for her son brings humor and warmth to a harrowing tale of the plight of unwed irish catholic mothers in the 1950s .", "it 's a film with depth , tackling big issues while managing to be an immensely personal story at the same time .", "earns its heartwarming-ness honestly , with dench and coogan mouthing the dialogue with utter believability .", "dench gives a superb performance as a simple , trusting woman of faith .", "dench and cooper could do this stuff in their sleep and keep us entertained , which they do , but it 's the nuanced twists and turns in both the characters and the story that elevate the picture beyond the familiar .", "i 'd be a grouch to call the two leads anything but delightful , and they both stretch in directions you might n't expect .", "director frears handles the story with enough dramatic weight and light comic fare to make `` MOV '' a sweet and very compelling human tale ...", "be not fooled by the marketing materials , which make the film look like an aged-up version of the trip with judi dench in place of rob brydon . MOV is a terrifically made , entertaining work .", "dench is brilliant as the adult MOV . in spite of her generally outgoing appearance there is a sadness behind her eyes born of five decades of heartbreak .", "despite the glum subject , coogan and dench raise plenty of smiles as the unlikeliest of couples .", "equal parts uplifting tearjerker , odd-couple comedy , and righteous screed against abuse of power in the name of religion", "an ongoing , confounding delight of a film .", "the film is one of the few capable of allowing its watchers to shed a tear and laugh within more or less the same sequence .", "`` MOV '' is a bit of a minor mystery , but it 's also a minor triumph , in its way .", "solving this mystery is not nearly as engrossing as watching the actors ' pas de deux .", "even as MOV embraces the expected feel-good dynamics , it avoids taking the usual path and does n't paint all of the `` evil '' nuns with the same brush .", "judi dench and steve coogan are a warm and winning combination in MOV , a tale that 's a little too well-spun .", "filled with richly comic human events , and deeply emotional scenarios , `` MOV '' is one of the best films of the year .", "uncomfortable , powerful , brilliantly written and acted . one of the year 's best .", "dench and co-writer steve coogan share a fabulous chemistry on screen ; they can ride waves of dialogue that take them from seemingly insignificant topics into questioning the existence of god and back again .", "it 's a wonderful film , with a perfect cast .", "a return to form for stephen frears in this amusing and inquisitive road movie .", "MOV is a real delight . funny , moving , beautifully performed and directed with restraint and a wonderfully delicate touch .", "charming yet tough and not blinkered by its own good intentions , ` MOV ' is an ideal vehicle for the beloved judi dench ...", "although it 's a clich\u00e9 to stage a road-trip plot with an odd couple like dench and coogan , there 's more to their comical bickering than witnessed at first blush .", "this film works like those mismatched cop partner films . you 've got two very different people on a mission to find the truth about a woman 's long lost son , but it is also a very good story , based on fact .", "it 's one of those films that leave you wondering how much is `` true , '' and what has been avoided .", "the true story of ` MOV ' hits so close to my own past that i could n't leave the theater without tears .", "a small film that deserves a large audience .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- a ceaselessly entertaining film because dench and coogan are playing fully realized characters and share a unique comedic chemistry .", "it has no idea whatsoever what tone it wants to adopt towards its subject matter , and even less towards the character of MOV .", "dench pulls a de niro here , trading on her legend in the service of a profitable triviality which morphs the tale of a woman 's lifetime of regret into a feel-good buddy film offering yuks at the unsophisticated biddy 's expense .", "MOV is brought to marvellous life by judi dench .", "makes me clamor for a dame judi dench/martin lawrence buddy film * now * .", "MOV is an amazing story , movingly told , which skirts sentimentality and rings true .", "forget the rating controversy , `` MOV '' is a film that can be enjoyed by most everyone and might enjoy a run at hollywood 's most prestigious awards .", "frears gives the story a slick makeover , blending melodrama and comedy with brisk professionalism and a hearty helping of schmaltz . but dench and coogan sell it well .", "this is a doleful , radiant , understated comedy of hope and faith . that 's almost a definition of good british cinema .", "dench is simply marvellous in the title role of this moving film , wringing it dry of every ounce of poignancy , and of comedy , too .", "judi dench deals in levels of sadness that could draw tears from a boulder . yet the film also manages to be one of the funniest odd-couple comedies in recent decades .", "it 's a film that might have lapsed into melodrama but did n't , that could have laboured the story 's various twists but does n't , that sets out to show the human cost of a little known , ugly chapter in irish history and does .", "why does it work quite so well ? in part , it 's the dench effect .", "based on a true story , this warm drama uses sharp humour to keep from tipping over into sloppy sentiment .", "what makes MOV so winning is the sophisticated way in which it condemns the behaviour of the catholic church without denigrating people of faith - a delicate tightrope act that has given plenty of more high-minded films vertigo .", "stephen frears ' unfussy direction - and coogan 's splendid script - maintains a confident balance across many potential conflicts : between humour and pathos , religion and atheism , revenge and forgiveness .", "superbly directed , powerfully emotional british drama with a witty , warm-hearted script and a pair of pitch-perfect performances from judi dench and steve coogan .", "you 'll laugh and you 'll cry , sometimes both at the same time .", "it 's smart and unsweetened .", "MOV is simply one of those small , true stories that astonish in print and inspire good movies , showing up in theaters just in time for awards consideration . in dench 's case , consider her an oscar favorite .", "it 's an inherently intriguing setup that 's employed to consistently watchable effect by director stephen frears ...", "frears uses cinematic tools to convey emotions , memories and the past , with great skill . the screenplay takes us across hurdles and impassible walls , adding to the tension", "a substantial drama with comic elements that makes you cry when it counts and laugh when you least expect it", "whenever things get too didactic , coogan 's solemn presence helps the picture regain its balance .", "remarkably , given the very serious subject matter , the film exhibits an infectious comedic flair that never goes too far .", "a fuddy-duddy , buddy-buddy flick that makes up in sweetness what it lacks in surprise .", "a story of heartbreak told in the form of an endearing road trip , MOV allows judi dench to prove once again that she is a cinematic treasure .", "that MOV or martin might find solace in such cliched and clearly remembered stories is one thing . that the movie follows suit is another ." ], "summary": "based on a powerful true story and led by note-perfect performances from judi dench and steve coogan , MOV offers a profoundly affecting drama for adult filmgoers of all ages .", "id": "771357237" }, { "movie": "arthur_christmas", "reviews": [ "watching MOV is like doing your holiday shopping on dec. 23 : fun and frantic , exciting and maddening . you come away feeling warm-hearted and exhausted , wondering if more forethought might have led to a smoother , more satisfying experience .", "a guaranteed festive tickler with the magic aardman touch , complete with some very real characters and issues .", "even when the plot stalls in the middle , it 's difficult to stop chuckling at the filmmakers ' deranged sense of humour .", "the writing is almost pixar level with all its clever gags ... if only the filmmakers had edited themselves a wee bit", "this may be aardman-gone-american , a defanging process much like bruce robinson ageing into transatlanticism , but smiles , albeit dentally challenged , strew the way .", "MOV feels less insularly british than previous aardman releases ; there 's plenty here for all ages and nationalities , including the sly but entirely welcome suggestion that female characters have been under-credited in previous yuletide tales .", "leave it to the folks who brought us wallace & gromit , chicken run and flushed away to bring a delightful blast of fresh air to the conventional christmas genre .", "oh lovely movie ! ... is there sweet ? absolutely . but it is cut with funny : sometimes wicked , sometimes manic , often hysterical , always clever funny . and a whole lotta poignant , too .", "a joyful , simple christmas movie with a heartfelt message .", "british to its fingertips , from the cast to its terrifically droll sense of humour . oh , and it 's also pretty wonderful .", "children will undoubtedly enjoy it but i suspect this animated gift is merely for christmas and not for life .", "far from a ho-ho-horrible mess , but room to improve .", "a new christmas classic .", "the aardman animators know a thing or three about sight gags and throw-away lines , and they pile up quickly , here .", "i 'd be satisfied if MOV primed kids for nothing more than expecting nothing less from holiday entertainment than this fleet , sweet-natured film .", "what results has its moments of wily inspiration .", "this witty , handsomely appointed 3-d animated feature is the most delightful santa biopic since edmund gwenn donned the fat suit .", "the movie runs a bit long and would benefit from fewer pit stops , but the gags are quick and often sharp .", "arthur is at its best during a world tour that takes mcavoy , his granddad and their sleigh from toronto to the serengeti . but often it seems familiar .", "it 's a delightfully funny christmas tale with plenty of jokes for young and old alike .", "a film that kids and grown-ups can enjoy in equal measure .", "this animated feature from aardman and sony pictures animation is a feel-good family film with spunk and originality , the kind that has not been seen since the first of the santa clause franchise .", "bah humbug !", "-lsb- a -rsb- entertaining computer-animated comedy that delivers a feast of family fun for the festive season .", "MOV gets a little sappy toward the end -- it is a christmas movie , after all -- but it otherwise strikes just the right combination of naughty and nice , reverent and irrelevant , holiday-sweet and aardman dry .", "if `` MOV '' does n't make you happy , i honestly do n't know what 's wrong with you .", "equal parts old fashioned heart and new fashioned sass and visual stimulus", "this is an undemanding children 's movie , with just about enough humour and excitement to keep adults entertained .", "MOV might be choppily paced , but its bursts of imagination and emotion make up for it .", "there is distinctly british sensibility at play , not just from the voice actors , but from the humor , which slips in sly wordplay amid the slapstick set pieces .", "i miss the imperfect hand-made quality of the stop-motion movies , but `` arthur '' retains aardman 's flair for distinctive character design and voice work .", "it would be a christmas miracle save for one lump of coal : an ear-shattering justin bieber song over the end credits .", "`` arthur '' is so full of clever visual humor and throwaway background jokes that multiple viewings may be needed to take it all in .", "like most of aardman 's work ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- more clever than outright funny , but it 's also genuinely sweet , and the complicated relations among santa 's clan are surprisingly believable", "the story moves so fast that you might not notice that there 's really only enough of it for half the film 's running time . but with fun 3-d , witty dialogue and a truly heartwarming finale , you 'll believe in team claus .", "it 's a lovely bit of work .", "so thoroughly lacking the distinctive charm , wit and heart of aardman 's best work that it could have been made by anyone .", "an odd anglo-american collaboration that will bring a little brief happiness to undemanding children .", "it 's playful , observant , sentimental without being slushy , and boasts the kind of jokes that will still sound funny when your children or younger relatives quote them in april .", "it is a fun-packed romp , beautifully animated and lacking any heavy-handed ` messages ' , instead focusing on the joy and innocent delight of christmas and the pleasures in old-fashioned family values .", "a smart script - that sees kids asking why they ca n't find santa 's north pole home on google earth - wrapped up in some nifty 3d visuals make this a highly enjoyable early christmas present .", "the film is expertly done , as you would expect from the makers of wallace & gromit .", "a great , big joy . even if you 're a bit bah humbug , just delight in the supremely clever aardman comedy .", "MOV strains so much to be a postmodern yuletide yarn that it forsakes the much-needed sprinkle of christmas spirit and concedes too much of the santa myth in the process .", "like santa 's sack , MOV is stuffed with so many surprises and delights that it will repay reviewing over many christmases to come .", "this simultaneously cool and cosy tale of families and christmas spirit will have aardman 's pockets jingling all the way to the bank . and deservedly so .", "what makes this festive fantasy engaging is the savvy way in which it debunks cold efficiency in favour of more wholesome values . it 's just a pity arthur himself is so bland .", "a christmas cracker .", "MOV is beautifully animated , has a superb voice cast and delivers its christmas message in a refreshingly unsentimental way , but it also drags in the middle and is n't as laugh-out-loud funny as it should have been .", "it 's not the tightest picture , but the primary elements are well cared for , providing a reasonable green-and-red rush of festive fun .", "those who know me know that i am sucker for this kind of thing . so , do n't be surprised that i loved the film . -lrb- parental movie review also available -rrb-", "the premise recalls those sophisticated lies parents cook up when their kids start asking logical questions about santa .", "destined to be our new favorite christmas movie .", "the animation itself is beautiful and delightfully detailed , and the 3d is of the rare breed that makes the supposed `` gimmick '' look to have real value , the bow on top of the already lovely present that is MOV .", "hilarious , fast-paced and superbly entertaining .", "an animated kiddie comedy that delivers all the wonder you 'd expect in a movie about a guy delivering one package .", "unexpectedly fresh , despite the familiar-sounding premise .", "clever and funny .", "this is aimed squarely at families , and it plays more sweet than edgy .", "it 's as bright and twinkling as a christmas tree , decked with warmth and humor .", "it 's busy but buoyant , and it honors the tradition of giving with wit and style .", "aardman films ' yuletide offering is both a heartwarmer and a sly dig at the gospel of family togetherness .", "arthur may not be perfect , but he cares . the same can be said for the film . ` MOV ' is full of just enough holiday cheer .", "a witty and beautifully designed animated film .", "MOV has charm and a breezy confidence that makes it the epitome of a simple pleasure .", "thank goodness that even the santas have a mom to help them sort out their turmoils .", "quite brilliant .", "the action is swift and witty , and the 3-d effects are imaginative and not simply tacked on as with so many animated movies these days .", "MOV manages to deliver some holiday cheer .", "there are moments of charm and it is a sweet story which kids might find entertaining enough , but chances are they will become just as restless as my crowd as the film stretches on .", "MOV will snuggle you up into a big , hearty festive cuddle and refuse to put you down until you 've hugged it back .", "the settings , especially on the north pole , are deliciously intricate and the characters understatedly quirky .", "MOV is a smart , funny , heartwarming story that will have you smile from ear-to-ear for the film 's duration .", "a plucky , clever animated xmas tale that has much of aardman 's attention to quirky detail -lrb- bulbous noses -rrb- , wordplay , and unconventional heroes -lrb- arthur 's fuelled by worry -rrb- .", "the movie 's idea that santa and his elves have turned the distribution of presents every dec. 24 into a major military operation makes me more than a tad uneasy .", "oi pragmatika aksiologes xristoygenniatikes tainies spanizoyn ston 21o aiwna kai einai etsi sobares oi prooptikes na leei mia sobarh prospatheia tameiaka kalanta gia polla xronia sth synexeia", "in a season unexpectedly full of quality family films , MOV may have to fight for the attention it deserves , but if there was ever an example of a film that 's a crowd-pleaser without talking down to its audience , this is it .", "a thoroughly entertaining movie that deserves to sleigh audiences both young and old this yuletide .", "there are things you just would n't see in a pixar or disney movie . for example , one of the main elves has an eyebrow piercing , uncommented on . even more than that : two of the boy elves kiss ... each other . it 's progressive .", "another family holiday flick that disappoints rather than delights .", "the comedy works . but there 's not much to the characters that proves memorable . it 's not a bad movie , but ...", "an utterly charming christmas yarn which seems destined to become a holiday staple thanks to its wonderfully detailed animation , abundance of gags and brilliantly drawn characters .", "the script -lrb- co-written by debut feature director sarah smith -rrb- is fortified with meaning and smarts and plays well for both children and adults .", "MOV makes a welcome addition to the holiday movie line-up , because it 's a movie that one can watch repeatedly without it becoming as stale as last year 's fruitcake .", "aimed squarely at children , but painless to keep grown-ups from checking their watches .", "it 's disarming , imaginative and genuinely funny .", "do n't go expecting a sequel , but do go expecting all the unforced festive spirit you could hope for .", "parents may shed a nostalgic tear or two , while their children can enjoy spotting all the witty visual details .", "the north pole control room may be cold but the emotions are warm , delivering sweetness when it counts .", "this kind of thing can be disastrous in the wrong hands , but MOV maintains a sharp wit that perfectly counterbalances its lovely -lrb- and , by the end , fully earned -rrb- holiday sentimentality .", "without a loaded cast , or recognizable character name or brand , MOV might be overlooked by audiences . here 's hoping that wo n't be the case . some christmas gifts are worth the extra effort .", "it occasionally toes the line of manic hyperactivity , but never becomes shrill or too cloyingly sentimental -- or rife with lazy bodily function humor -- as some overeager family fare can be .", "the idea of a santa with a non-american accent will probably irk the same stateside folks who bristle at the thought of a non-caucasian jesus , but the mostly british cast has been carefully selected .", "not a bad little christmas fable . the aardman animation wit is in full-effect anytime bill nighy 's great grandsanta is onscreen .", "this is aardman and they know better than to go cheap or easy . and by taking the smarter , sweeter route , they 've created what should rightfully become a christmas classic .", "it 's just plain charming . and between you and me , i got misty at the end too .", "MOV an early holiday gift .", "the under-10 audience i saw it with were entranced , and , remarkably enough by itself , so were their parents . huzzah , aardman !", "here 's hoping this becomes another family christmas classic deserves . a veddy british take on the `` monarchy '' of santa , this is an inventive , sweet-natured adventure about the importance of delivering a gift to the one child who was missed by santa .", "... a disappointing christmas movie that never quite comes together . there just is n't enough christmas cheer .", "the animators lure us in with clever jokes and ingenious visuals and then sucker-punch us by revealing the characters ' surprising emotional depths .", "the movie fails utterly at coming up with a story that merits all the eye candy .", "it 's good . frantic , yes , sometimes aggressively so . there 's some padding in the airborne sequences built to exploit the 3-d format . but a tender and upbeat spirit informs the writing and the execution .", "`` MOV '' stays sweet without becoming overly sentimental and is filled with sly details and smart action sequences .", "both nighy and broadbent do wonderful , richly funny voice work .", "deftly blends the sophisticated sensibility of aardman with the slick spectacle of american animation .", "cute and clever and there are enough heartwarming moments that will bring a tear to your eye .", "should spread plenty of joy this season but does n't break any new ground in christmas-y cinematic concoctions .", "it 's difficult to come up with a new spin on something as established as a christmas movie , but `` MOV '' does a good job of it .", "bright , witty and delightfully off-kilter , it 's a very aardman christmas story that even a scrooge should enjoy .", "good for a smile and a headache .", "the plot may be a little too cluttered for the toddler crowd to follow , but the next age group up should be amused , and the script by peter baynham and sarah smith has plenty of sly jokes for grown-ups .", "this seasonal animated offering from aardman has all the hallmarks of being a perennial festive favourite .", "true , it does sag a little in the middle , like december 25 often does . but it is guaranteed to get you in a christmassy mood .", "the best christmas movies have a kind of humility about them that 's lacking here ...", "the holiday season is an emotional rollercoaster for many reasons and MOV does a neat job of exploring many of them while still being both heart-warming and wonderfully entertaining", "the film does have a nice ending . it just takes a little too long to get there .", "a fairly inventive christmas movie that might get lost in the current glut of family movies", "there 's some great stuff here ... what 's missing is the delightful britishness of nick park 's films .", "a charming and inventive exploration of the mysterious workings of santa , his sons and his elves . this animated tale is sure to be popular for christmases to come .", "a very pleasant -- if hardly overwhelmingly great -- animated christmas fantasy with at least two inspired choices for voice casting .", "what is most surprising about MOV is not that it is beautifully animated ... but that it is , legitimately , one of 2011 's funniest comedies .", "` MOV ' gets off to a terrific start by letting inquisitive viewers know how the guy in the red suit manages to get all those toys to two billion kids on a single evening .", "a scene in which zebras , elephants and other african animals float like balloons in the air after an accidental dusting of santa 's flying-reindeer magic is close to surreal poetry .", "take it as you will : a special christmastime treat , or a gift-wrapped cross-promotional fruitcake -lrb- um , thanks ? -rrb- from aardman 's hollywood partners .", "fabulous , funny holiday movie about the christmas spirit .", "the results are not only funny and fresh , but represent a new way of tackling the whole yuletide paradigm : santa as a high-tech hereditary monarchy .", "santa tale delivers gift of laughter .", "quiet and intimate", "your job is probably to accompany children to this film and they , the target audience , will probably like it very much .", "for the kids , the action is always lively and , for the rest of us , the dialogue has a witty and even caustic edge .", "crafted with authentic joy , performed by lively actors and subtly imbued with jokes for all ages , those who catch MOV may find themselves returning every season .", "`` MOV '' is sometimes a bit hectic in its execution , but overall it 's a fine addition to the pantheon of wacky cinematic speculation about how santa gets the job done .", "the surprise gift of the season : a sharp , savvy holiday comedy that does n't get its laughs at the expense of those who start to glow in the early days of december . it 's a most entertaining package indeed .", "good for the kids , good for the parents , and good for christmas .", "what makes arthur sing is that it plays as much like a family comedy as a holiday film .", "this is a definite oscar contender for best animated film . it has a great story , spectacular visuals and a fantastic musical score by composer harry gregson-williams . it bears a striking resemblance to the timeless christmas classic `` the polar express . ''", "`` MOV '' is imaginatively crafted and its computer animation is divine . with its wide-ranging international locations and and seasonal color scheme , watching the film once does n't quite seem like enough .", "although it 's somewhat disheartening to see one of the biggest advocates for stop motion trade in their clay for computers , there 's no denying that aardman 's distinctive fingerprints are all over this one .", "with a clever script that successfully updates many christmas myths and dialogue that crackles with sophisticated wit , this movie offers the kind of pre-holiday experience that parents and children alike will appreciate .", "it 's rare for me to laugh out loud , repeatedly , during a movie these days , but ` MOV ' gave me that welcome opportunity . it is so ingenious , endearing , and downright funny that it instantly joins the ranks of first-class holiday movies ...", "everything you see in MOV is fashioned in the service of telling a story ... brilliantly", "MOV is more like gift-wrapped plane tickets rather than a hankies-and-undies combo .", "MOV does something few christmas family movies have done over the last several years : it makes them fun again . kids will love it and adults will feel like kids while watching it .", "an absolutely disastrous piece of work ...", "for households where santa pays a visit , this is a delightful addition to the holiday season .", "moments of wild inspiration and dry wit help to compensate for the forgettable title character . all the fun is happening around him , resulting in a story that goes from antic to blah and back again .", "in her directing debut , aardman veteran sarah smith and her co-writer peter baynham offer a fresh look at the santa legend : a flawed claus .", "well-intentioned and above average for the genre , MOV is british enough to play well at home as well as being a universal tale for overseas .", "old-school holiday goodwill trumps modern high-tech impersonality in MOV .", "let all your christmases come at once with this brilliantly funny , inspired animation from the makers of wallace & gromit and chicken run", "MOV is a deceptively bland title for one of the best films of the year - no matter what your age or where you are on the santameter . it is a hero 's journey , but it is the funniest film ever made about the hugely popular subject of santa", "like an unexpected christmas gift , this animated frature is an unexpected delight , revolving around a premise that often concerns children .", "MOV , a joyful and tremendously funny spin on santa as a story of family dysfunction .", "the traditional aardman style of witty , detailed , and ingeniously designed storytelling .", "the movie is dense with witty visual detail that helps to distract from the somewhat trumped-up moral dilemma at its center .", "arthur is sort of a dull hero , but the grandfather is classic , hilarious aardman -- a thoroughly british eccentric prone to weird nostalgic/fatalistic utterances ." ], "summary": "aardman animations broadens their humor a bit for MOV , a clever and earnest holiday film with surprising emotional strength .", "id": "771025662" }, { "movie": "1012665-longest_yard", "reviews": [ "reynolds brings his `` a '' game to this semi-tough crowd pleaser .", "better and rawer than any of the remakes .", "his movie does for football and good sportsmanship what paul newman 's slapshot did for hockey .", "one of reynold 's best roles and an agreeable comedy .", "one of robert aldrich 's biggest hits , the MOV -lrb- 1974 -rrb- combines his ferocious worldview with a new kind of rambunctious audience appeal ...", "that the MOV is considered something of a classic is baffling ...", "though the yard is a terrible picture , i 'll admit to having unwillingly enjoyed some of the football practice and parts of the final game -- even though it 's much too long .", "aldrich 's film is most alive during the team recruitment scenes .", "i hate football , but was still captivated by this film . martha stewart would say that this is , `` a good thing . ''", "a guilty-pleasure excursion with reynolds in top form . lots of fun .", "if it ultimately descends into macho nonsense , then that 's all part of the fun .", "pardon me if i was n't blown away by all its simplistic machinations and lighthearted appeal to one 's baser instincts .", "an outstanding action drama , combining the brutish excitement of football competition with the brutalities of contemporary prison life .", "what saves it , aside from good performances by burt reynolds and a thundering herd of supporting grotesques , is , of all things , a tough , tiny nut of valid social criticism .", "very exciting , very witty , and elevated above its action-movie status by aldrich 's deliberate references to nixon in albert 's characterisation of the warden .", "the football sequences are excellent , which makes sense given that half of the actors were college or pro ballers themselves .", "part prison film , part football film , this violent but outstanding comedy-drama by gifted action director robert aldrich explores the brutality inherent in both the american penal system and football .", "the original has just the right mix of toughness and humor . burt reynolds was born to play incarcerated quarterback paul crewe .", "aldrich ... created paul crewe just as much as reynolds did .", "the film drags until it reaches the climactic football game , and the contest itself does n't justify the two-hour run .", "the lengthy football game is one of the most enjoyable sporting events ever put on film .", "... gives us a glance of reynolds when he still had potential , before he totally gave himself over to grin and giggle junk .", "it captures a genuine feeling of competition , even if the premise is more than a little preposterous ." ], "summary": "equal parts tough and funny , and led by a perfectly cast burt reynolds , the MOV has an interesting political subtext and an excellent climax -- even if it takes too long to get there .", "id": "14399" }, { "movie": "our_children_2012", "reviews": [ "underlying this bizarre domestic dynamic is a post-colonialist drama ... but those four dead children might better have come unheralded , with murielle a surprise medea rather than a pre-destined anti-heroine enacting a mere fait accompli .", "with MOV , joachim lafosse seems hellbent on avoiding any hint of sensationalism .", "as the walls close in we believe this young wife might end up gasping for air . we even believe she might yearn to take the kids , not just herself , to a better place .", "tense , slow-burning and handled with impeccable discretion MOV offers a piercing and compassionate glimpse into the unthinkable .", "it 's not an easy watch , but lafosse - who made the excellent mother-and-twins study private property -lrb- 2006 -rrb- - unpicks the family dynamics with moving candour .", "-lsb- an -rsb- inexpressibly painful drama , with a classic resonance , which belgian director and co-writer joachim lafosse based on a news story .", "dynamically played and superbly handled .", "fully committed , beautifully acted , well realised and genuinely unsettling .", "a drab , gloomy drama that does n't provide any real enlightenment about why something so awful could happen .", "a film which tackles serious issues that are both intensely personal and widely political , but which fails to offer understanding of subjects which are perhaps simply incomprehensible .", "aware that a story of such grave human weight and consequence demands to be told exactingly if it is to be told at all , lafosse 's film succeeds most profoundly by refusing to phrase the inevitable question -- how could she ? -- as a rhetorical one .", "in terms of both plot and style -lrb- a string of one-face-then-another handheld shots -rrb- , MOV stakes everything on performance .", "MOV needs more heightened moments ; its emphasis on quotidian frustration , while admirable -lrb- and probably accurate -rrb- , just does n't get across what ultimately made this woman snap .", "at once beautifully realized and brutally uncompromising ...", "a quietly violent film that will both assault and deeply move its audience .", "MOV is n't simply a story of a mother with post-natal depression . it 's much more oblique , and , like any family , complicated than that .", "this is film-making of a very high order .", "expertly avoiding sensationalism , this potently acted drama reminds us of jean renoir 's celebrated dictum , that everyone has their reasons .", "masterfully plays with stylistic conventions and all-too-common instances of real-life matricide ...", "belgian director joachim lafosse paints an image of how domestic bliss turned untenable builds to a crime unforgivable in MOV .", "the film trades in a blank grimness that is n't emotionally involving as much as it is like watching some terrible accident you 're helpless to prevent .", "MOV was inspired by a real-life belgian tragedy , but director joachim lafosse has built that news item into his own micro-portrait of coercion dipped in kindness .", "lafosse 's of the material has the feel of a psychological crime scene investigation .", "the title can refer to the children whose tragic death the film is based on but more subtly on the dependency of mounir , a north african , on his adoptive father and that of the wife on mounir .", "the audience is held in a vise of claustrophobia , and every room seems full of tiny , screaming children .", "there is no whodunit here -- the horror is plain in the opening shots -- and the how is presented with great restraint , but the why remains veiled and mysterious long after the film has ended .", "this is a taut psychological study , based on a true story , of the complexities of personal power relationships that begins with the kind of shattering revelation that would be the conclusion of most films .", "challengingly takes the anti-cnn approach to a horrific crime , as upsetting ... in trying to make the unfathomable credible ... the film is nuanced and thoughtful .", "when the inevitable happens , lafosse 's restraint provokes dread - he 's given us a real psychological understanding of the unthinkable .", "it 's an interesting way to tell a story and a devastating journey , particularly since it 's based on a real-life incident .", "a small masterpiece .", "dequenne is simply one of best actors on the planet . her portrayal of baby blues and postnatal psychosis is as subtle as it is devastating .", "it 's a quiet , immaculately acted study of appalling cruelty committed unconsciously by those who believe they 're acting in the best interest of others .", "harrowing ... fantastic performances are part of why this is such an unsettling film ...", "an exceptional performance by emilie dequenne dominates this powerful drama inspired by the harrowing case of brussels mother of five genevi\u010dve lhermitte .", "this is masterful , unsettling filmmaking that moves us deeply . it also has the power to save lives .", "those of us who are forever citing nicole kidman 's tear-stained close-up in birth as the ultimate example of wordless acting will now have to update our reference points .", "through lafosse 's vivid lensing and framing , MOV exerts a steely grip . yet the film remains restrained , detached and balanced ...", "it 's a near-perfect portrait of a domestic tragedy as a master-and-servant psychodrama , one that leaves catastrophic collateral damage in its wake .", "suffice to say that pathos is intertwined with pathology in lafosse 's fifth feature , inspired by a true story-but murielle 's decline is n't any less full of tough home truths .", "this gloomy and penetrating psychological drama should receive steady art house play ." ], "summary": "a wrenching , quietly violent psychodrama , MOV has the courage to ask difficult questions , and the strength to leave the answers to the viewer .", "id": "771307327" }, { "movie": "poohs_heffalump_movie", "reviews": [ "pooh 's heffalump movie is just the thing for really little kids and their parents .", "sure , this should be straight-to-video disney , but it 's still charming , harmless fun .", "sticking closely to formula , disney delivers a sweet script and charming storybook backgrounds , with serviceable , if sappy , songs from carly simon .", "the baby heffalump , lumpy , is funny and adorable and carries the film .", "what makes this movie so adorable ? it 's the voices of lumpy and roo . they are full of sweet giggles and playful innocence and lumpy 's british accent is too cute for words .", "there is some wonderful music by carly simon and this pleasant outing is perfect for the kiddies .", "pooh 's heffalump movie , with its message of tolerance and open-mindedness , is a fine afternoon at the megaplex . and it will make a welcome addition your home library when it 's released on video .", "heads out of the treehouse at an abominable crawl , but once the honey starts to flow , it picks up speed and becomes the sweetest film of the series .", "pooh 's heffalump movie is n't just the best of the bunch -lrb- since 2001 -rrb- . as the silly ` ol bear with the sweet tooth would say , ` it 's a hunny . '", "wonderful things can come in small packages . and `` pooh 's heffalump movie '' is one of them .", "lumpy , the `` heffalump , '' is a welcome addtion to the world of pooh", "-lsb- it -rsb- may entertain easy-to-please younger children while disappointing more knowledgeable kids and parents .", "a kind of family fare that is rare on the big screen these days .", "oh bother !", "it 's nowhere near classic stuff . however , the pace is breezy , the story is charming and the message is wholesome and easy to swallow .", "the proper place for this barely feature-length rehash of poohism is home video -lrb- which was the producers ' original plan -rrb- , not the big screen .", "pooh 's heffalump movie is a simple , innocent winner with amazing vocal talent , entertaining music and an important lesson for kids .", "i 'd take carly simon and pooh any day over ice cube and the hateful little maggots of `` are we there yet ? ''", "this is a wonderful film for the under-five crowd .", "the film will keep children amused without proving too much of an ordeal for grown-ups .", "even a toddler found it too uninteresting to stick around", "oddly enough , about the first half of pooh 's heffalump movie could be thought of as the children 's version of the village .", "a beautifully animated romp through the world of pooh as created by a.a. milne .", "if i ca n't say i 'm looking forward to the next one , neither can i ignore the medicinal properties of pooh 's latest big-screen outing .", "a cute little cartoon that ought to please very young children .", "it 's as notable for what it is n't as for what it is , but in a field full of loud , obnoxious fare , its easygoing affability qualifies as a welcome change of pace .", "for childhood 's sake , take your little guys and gals to see this movie -- you wo n't be disappointed .", "it 's a slight affair , but the cute heffalump and some cartoon slapstick are endearing enough to its target audience .", "lessons are duly learnt about fear of the unknown , and it 's a sweet enough tale , if lacking in tension .", "as comforting and warm as a tummy-full of oatmeal .", "there 's not a scrap of milne left , at this point .", "gentle story of friendship is fine for wee ones .", "i had fun , so ease up on the marketing schemes , disney ...", "it 's lightweight and pleasant entertainment for very small children , short and careful not to wear out its welcome .", "the quaint , watercolour cell-animation works nicely , and the characters of roo and lumpy the baby heffalump are winning and beautifully voiced .", "one of the most delightful , family-friendly animated films in some time .", "during a time in which wall-to-wall pop culture references have become the standard in animated family fare , it 's refreshing to find not a single drop of irony here .", "a charming lesson on tolerance that should delight children and adults alike", "... a quaint and sweet-toothed animated film that sends a constructive message ... a zesty fun-filled fantasy punctuated by catchy tunes and contemplative forethought", "it 's as gooey as a jar of honey , and just as sweet .", "... enfolds young viewers like a favorite blanket .", "neither the life lesson on tolerance nor carly simon 's treacly songs can weigh down the bouncy fun of this colorful and kid-friendly adventure .", "pooh 's heffalump movie exists to introduce a new character that can be sold as a stuffed animal at disney stores .", "in pooh 's heffalump movie , which is adorable , he finally encounters the real thing . and it -lrb- the heffalump -rrb- is too cute for words .", "this nifty little addition to the winnie the pooh franchise boasts some nice touches .", "pooh 's heffalump movie is the cinematic equivalent of being tucked into bed with a fable and a glass of water .", "heffalump certainly seemed to satisfy a rapt audience of young children at a saturday morning screening and who can argue with that ?", "a short , sweet movie perfect for the toddlers and not too torturous for adults .", "adults will become fidgety in the first 15 minutes , nervously checking their watches to see when the next pixar movie is coming out .", "the perfect way to spend a pleasant hour or so introducing a child to the experience of going out to the movies .", "it 's not half bad .", "makes a fine first moviegoing experience for tots .", "pooh 's heffalump movie is a charmingly sweet experience for very young moviegoers that also may make their parents smile .", "so insubstantial that it practically evaporates on screen , pooh 's heffalump movie likely will play best with toddlers and pre-schoolers easily amused by bright colors , merry songs and lovable , huggable toontoon animals .", "all in good fun ... in the absence of anything better , it 's a fine outing for the young ` uns .", "a delightful cinematic trifle ... a lushly illustrated and sweetly told tale that is aimed squarely at the ten and under set .", "this is n't spirited away , and while critics are bound to call the film innocuous -lrb- it is , i suppose -rrb- , this is precisely what 's so endearing about it : its innocence .", "heffalump may have hummable songs by carly simon . but it 's about two and a half lumps shy of being any good .", "bring a watch . you 'll be checking it often .", "a perfectly marvelous matinee option for young children .", "a charming movie for tiny tots , preferably under age six , and passably entertaining for their patient parents .", "on the heels of 1999 's the tigger movie and 2003 's piglet 's big movie , pooh 's heffalump movie is by far the best of the disneytoon studios bunch .", "nicely done !", "as fare for families with young children , this is a completely pleasant and harmless time-pass , but other viewers should simply pass .", "while there 's nothing wrong with this trifle , i was hoping there 'd be a better finale for the company that more than anyone was the face of moving drawings for the world ...", "comfort food for the family : a winning , frequently funny tale of love , camarederie and understanding set in a visual universe as arresting as it is idyllic .", "the purple , elephant-like creature sports a sweet little british accent and a contagious laugh . he more than justifies his presence .", "pooh 's heffalump movie is much like a children 's cardboard storybook and is set to the cozy soundtrack of carly simon . it 's as sweet as hunny and breezy to follow , and before you know it , it 's over and everyone is smiling .", "updating classics to meld with the sensibilities of the current era is only forgivable when the modernization truly honors the source and adds to the enjoyment . pooh 's heffalump movie does neither .", "for families with small children , this one 's honey in the bank .", "an innocuous introduction to diversity for the preschool set , pooh 's heffalump movie features some charming songs by carly simon and is warmly animated so as to evoke nostalgia in parents .", "newcomer kyle stanger , who was just five when the movie was made , gives lumpy so much personality and charm that every child will want a heffalump playmate of of his own .", "amusing , beautifully drawn one-hour film .", "they seem to have put some effort into this one , rather than just cranking it out and shoving it into theaters .", "while kids older than 8 may be too jaded to sit through this cute flick , at just over an hour , it may be the perfect fit for first-time filmgoers .", "making this your kids ' first pooh experience would be like weaning them on new coke .", "in contrast to tigger and piglet , lumpy offers fewer incentives to take a trip to the theatre to make his acquaintance .", "heffalump is a film of small charms , but what delights are there sound out loudly in today 's depressing kid film marketplace .", "the positivity in this endeavour is stretched thin of personality , but young kids should be entranced by the familiar characters and good feelings .", "perfect for the very youngest viewers .", "nothing more than a less charming rehash of the original tigger tale .", "apparently the disney folks do n't even bother with a.a. milne anymore . they just borrow his characters and do with them what they will -- which mostly means cramming toy stores with plush poohs , piglets and eeyores .", "comforting and warm as a tummy-full of oatmeal ." ], "summary": "a charming and delightful walk through the hundred acres woods for young viewers .", "id": "9404" }, { "movie": "10005178-saint_ralph", "reviews": [ "MOV sticks , for the most part , to the road less traveled , delivering a droll feel-good movie that has a little something to say about modern-day miracles .", "as predictably uplifting movies go , MOV is n't completely charmless .", "writer-director michael mcgowan must be exhausted after all the tugging he does on our heartstrings in this sentimental drama .", "your interest is bound to fade long before ralph does .", "writer-director michael mcgowan proves there 's a reason people keep making underdog sports movies .", "it succeeds in flashes , but the movie 's mixture of humor and inspirational fluff never quite meshes .", "you ca n't argue with the message . but its well-worn homilies might give you reason to question the messenger .", "the lack of condescension , the decent jokes and an absolutely terrific performance by butcher make MOV an honest-to-god crowd-pleaser .", "what began as a too familiar coming-of-age story set in an all-boys catholic school steadily morphs into something arguably as familiar but more satisfying -- a triumphant sports tale .", "it 's hard to dislike schmaltz as mild as MOV , but let 's try : the film is as bland as a communion wafer , sentimental as a christmas homily , and predictable as the liturgy .", "unrepentant hokum .", "this crude , inspirational tear-jerker is as sweet as a bowl of instant oatmeal smothered in molasses .", "michael mcgowan 's direction is as flat as an asphalt road , and his script is gasping for air long before it enters the final stretch .", "light lessons about pain , endurance , and commitment ... likeable to a point , but in the end , MOV winds up incredible , manipulative , and strictly for the choir .", "both refreshingly realistic and charmingly implausible at the same time . a real miracle , indeed .", "-lsb- the -rsb- film never runs out of surprises .", "a charmer with heart .", "this coming-of-age - comedy/period piece hits every cliched note in the underdog canon , yet still manages to involve , thanks to top-quality acting and sensible choices on the part of writer/director michael mcgowan .", "mcgowan employs well-apportioned measures of droll humor and emotional urgency while spinning the story of ralph walker .", "this deliciously offbeat canadian comedy gets its charm from marvelous acting and from a screenplay bursting with ideas .", "a tart and tender comedy that pulls off a little miracle of its own by being genuinely heartwarming without leaving any cloyingly sticky emotional residue .", "written with the glee of a scheming catholic schoolboy , but its geniality outstrips its plausibility .", "the first twenty minutes of MOV seem more like a primer on the up-close-and-personal art of adolescent self abuse than subtle narrative exposition .", "michael mcgowan 's conventionally heartwarming underdog drama does n't miss a cliche on the eccentric troublemaker 's rocky road to sainthood .", "an overly convenient plot is the main con in ralph , which includes a devastating fire , an assist from a celebrity and at least one miracle , all of which show up exactly when the plot needs help moving forward .", "canadian writer-director michael mcgowan has packed it so full of earnestness that viewers end up jogging along .", "MOV is content paying lip service to catholicism , choosing instead to pander to fans of anyone who got off during children of heaven and millions .", "i feel guilty criticizing it because it 's about a kid running a marathon to save his mom from dying of cancer . cancer , for crying out loud ! what am i supposed to do with that ?", "for the jaded moviegoer , here 's a little film that just might restore your faith -- in movies and a whole lot more .", "a likable little underdog-triumphs drama from canada ... this is a case where my idealistic side won out over my cynical side .", "the heart of the film and ensemble , however , is adam butcher . if there 's any justice , this guy could have a hell of a career . highly recommended .", "what writer-director michael mcgowan has pulled off is a bit of a miracle .", "this wincingly earnest comedy-drama could rival the maple tree as canada 's leading producer of sap .", "a hooey-slathered film that combines the catholic school humor of ` do black patent leather shoes really reflect up ? ' with the rah-rah uplift of an underdog sports story .", "butcher carries the film well , interpreting ralph as a tangle of mixed-up yearnings tempered with an indomitable drive .", "the comic aspects of this comedy-drama are overly broad and forced , while the supposedly dramatic ones are cloying and treacly .", "ralph may be more a sinner than a saint , and his movie may be a little cheesy , but who cares - i thoroughly enjoyed following him on his quest .", "... a small , straightforward story that has its heart in the right place , even if its hokey sentimentality keeps it from reaching the finish line .", "the movie rests on -lrb- adam -rrb- butcher , and the actor proves to be a well-rounded smart aleck in the making .", "if mcgowan pushes the religious themes too hard , his greatest sin is that he leads you to believe that the story is true .", "funny , touching and uplifting .", "it 's all very cute and predictable . still it 's a fun movie ...", "pushes itself as strenuously as its young protagonist , but ultimately collapses in a welter of sentiment , cuteness and whimsy .", "it 's worth seeking out this bittersweet comedy with its emotionally resonant story and stellar performances .", "mcgowan 's film demonstrates how sometimes the strongest acts of faith can only occur entirely outside the church .", "even when it 's pushing the limits of shameless manipulation , this cheeky canadian film has charm and wit .", "occasionally , a movie that makes only the faintest blip , if any , on the hype radar just shows up and gets it right .", "going beyond the never-say-die concept , mcgowan paints an evocative picture of provincial life and mostly steers clear of cliche .", "you might shed a few tears at the tender moments between ralph and his comatose mother , but you 'll laugh and chuckle and feel good far more often .", "an amiable sentimental fantasy , joining running , religion and a boy with a whole lot of problems into an earnest production that entertains even as it milks some of its situations for all they 're worth .", "MOV is the kind of movie that makes you see why people can believe in miracles .", "MOV has all the elements of a sapfest waiting to happen , but it never does , instead delivering its heart with solid doses of harshness and humor", "writer/director michael mcgowan 's feel for his underdog narrative seamlessly melds humour and heartache .", "thanks to the charm brought to the role of ralph by young adam butcher , and strong performances from campbell scott , gordon pinsent , jennifer tilly and shauna macdonald , credibility is achieved .", "captures the feel of a relatively uncomplicated era and draws us into another impossible dream .", "mcgowan 's film is n't just about following this boy 's private quest to accomplish the impossible . it is also about how he affects the other characters in the film .", "never develops any bite or tension .", "a fine , small movie that deserves a long run .", "a heartfelt story about a teenager who proves that ordinary individuals can do extraordinary things through strong intention and a little help from their friends .", "it 's as if max fischer from rushmore turned , mid-movie , into billy elliot .", "it 's a heartwarming film that celebrates the healing power of innocence and faith .", "ralph walker is no max fischer , and his monomania gets dull fast .", "touches the heart in unexpected ways ." ], "summary": "MOV is an amiable tear-jerker that walks a fine line between being inspirational and being hokum .", "id": "2775" }, { "movie": "once_upon_a_time_in_the_west", "reviews": [ "with its amazing widescreen compositions and epic running time , this western truly wins points for length and width .", "i 'm still in awe .", "` even the quieter romantic or reflective moments are filled with a sense of energy coming from the expectation that at any given moment something huge is going to happen . '", "explores legends and entombs myths into a film that is timeless and will live on as a work of art even if the western as we once knew it disappeared alongside its heroes .", "stunning big-screen cowboy film .", "there are plenty of unforgettable moments , such as that sublime crane shot over the new settlement of flagstone , accompanied by ennio morricone 's achingly romantic music .", "a masterpiece of style .", "leone 's masterpiece , the pinnacle of his storied career", "sergio leone made a fistful of great films , but none better than 1968 's ode to the fading american frontier , MOV .", "one of the greatest face movies ever made .", "quite simply a masterpiece , leone 's revisionist western is a mythic spectacle of a film and a landmark in cinema history .", "` once upon a time ... ' now looks like an over-cooked mess of style , metaphor and reference .", "sergio leone 's masterpiece .", "the everest of the 1968 spaghetti western is a violent , poetic elegy .", "leone 's film , authentic yet hyper-stylised , complete with the coolest cowboy fashion -lrb- gunslingers in long coats has never been bettered -rrb- , mainstreet shootouts and raw , memorable characters , is a tough , leathery sundried masterpiece .", "perhaps the clearer and crisper this film appears , and the more its reputation grows , the more unsettling its indulgences and ellipses appear to be . well ... never mind . it 's still a landmark .", "for a lesson in how to resuscitate a dying genre , you could do worse than MOV , sergio leone 's masterpiece from 1968 .", "sergio leone 's 1969 masterwork , in which he pulls together most of the themes of his three dollar films , and also contributes one of the most famous credit sequences in history , will wet your lips all over again .", "a bold film that you wo n't soon forget .", "heroes , villains , desperados , and the inevitable shoot-outs : you 'll find them all in what a lot of fans consider leone 's best film .", "one of the pinnacles of world cinema .", "sergio leone 's western is his undisputed masterpiece , a lush , sensuous , elegiac operatic film made on epic yet intimate scale .", "leone shows his skills with superb mastery over the medium .", "there is something touching and maniacal about the two-and-three-quarter - hour result .", "gunslingers , one-road towns , horse and buggies ... MOV has them all , and spread across a sprawling near three hour running time that is as punishing on the ol' rickety knees as it is rewarding to the eyes .", "MOV is the mythic western ; an ode to the end of its era .", "these days , cartoonish , genre-pastiching movies are everywhere , but leone 's films in this vein are still more enjoyable than most .", "sergio leone loaded up for another spaghetti western and shot out his magnum opus with this follow-up to the dollars trilogy . charles bronson stars as an ominous stranger known only as harmonica -- on the account of that instrument being the only other th", "though elegiac , MOV is too vital to be a flat-out elegy , too influential to be a lament . it very simply matters .", "MOV is often mesmerizing cinema .", "a kick-ass flick .", "one of the great films in cinema history .", "has the best title sequence ever shot", "leone 's operatic oater remains notable for a number of achievements .", "the 165-minute feature does n't always make perfect sense , but it 's a thrill to just sit back and enjoy the scenery .", "the movie stretches on for nearly three hours , with intermission , and provides two false alarms before it finally ends .", "leone 's insistence on style trumped the need for substance .", "it is mostly fun for the way it cherishes movie styles and attitudes from the past .", "leone -lrb- 1921-1989 -rrb- is here at the peak of his epic powers .", "if only the first 10 minutes of sergio leone 's MOV still existed , this most hyperbolic of oat operas would still be acknowledged as one of the genre 's greatest exhumations .", "what fun .", "the western is dead - or so they tell us . long live leone 's timeless monument to the death of the west itself , rivalled only by peckinpah 's pat garrett and billy the kid for the title of best ever made .", "sergio leone 's frontier parable is a landmark in westerns , and features not only one of the greatest opening sequences ever made , but also the best use of a harmonica in cinema .", "one of the greatest ventures into the myth and legend of the wild west .", "a leone masterpiece : its deep-focus panoramas , looming widescreen closeups and brilliant sound design are as distinctive as the ballistic signature of a bullet .", "visualmente espetacular , este cl\u00e1ssico cerca a bela cardinale de atores fant\u00e1sticos , que duelam n\u0103o apenas com suas armas , mas tamb\u00e9m com suas \u00f3timas performances .", "when west is jumping , it 's impossible to turn away ." ], "summary": "a landmark sergio leone spaghetti western masterpiece featuring a classic morricone score .", "id": "10196" }, { "movie": "furious_7", "reviews": [ "takes no names . saves no places ... the racing franchise continues bigger and better ...", "the movie that is staggered by real life tragedy but refuses to be felled ; it blurs the line between the world of the characters and the real world in a way that is so effective and affecting that the finale packs a humongous emotional punch .", "MOV is another solid fast and the furious installment - one that -lrb- flaws aside -rrb- provides a nice farewell to star paul walker .", "a tactful and touching legacy for paul walker , `` MOV '' is a relentlessly action-packed thrill ride that actually has a story , too . its fun is propelled by characters you give a frick about even if you 've never called yourself a franchise fan before .", "this whole series is little more than adolescent boy wish fulfillment ; and as a former adolescent boy that is cool with me .", "james wan -lrb- `` the conjuring '' -rrb- steps out of his genre to supervise traffic and he does an excellent job .", "the gloriously idiotic , jingoism-tinged pro wrestling morality play that michael bay has been trying to make for his entire career .", "it 's bananas -- a loud , crackpot joyride and you 'll love every messed-up minute of it .", "who would have thought that a series addicted to the high of movement could also summon a solemnity that leaves you moved ?", "a tedious , vapid and over-produced bore that will surely please the shallow masses who are unashamedly entertained by bread and circuses .", "the monster muscle-car franchise continues to relentlessly assault the senses in this globe-trotting sequel , with horror maestro james wan 's direction adding extra high-style brilliance to proceedings .", "`` the logic-free , consequence-free property damage is never very involving . MOV is sure to be the most lucrative entry of the series . but if you give it any thought at all , it will leave you feeling carsick . ''", "it 's perhaps fitting that the best part of MOV is that it has drive . this is a film that knows what it wants to be , and it delivers it both with impact and precision .", "MOV offers edge-of-the-seat excitement with outlandish action sequences , inventive stunts , hilarious cartoonish moments and even some touching emotion .", "it turns out 2011 's `` fast five '' was n't a turning point for the series , just a wildly entertaining fluke .", "there will no doubt be better movies released in 2015 , but `` MOV '' is an early favorite to win the prize for most picture .", "it is , perhaps , the ultimate proof that a ridiculous movie and a good movie are n't mutually exclusive .", "... if the series gives in to its worst impulses going forward , we fans have a good , satisfying stopping point .", "there 's so much destruction at the climax that it 's like an apocalypse with a happy ending . MOV is the demon love child of fast & furious 6 and a mad max movie .", "the sheer implausibility is entertaining , yet it feels as if nothing is really at stake : everyone has nine lives .", "all laws of velocity , geometry and air-traffic control are so flagrantly disobeyed , you just wo n't be able to wipe the dopey grin off your face .", "it 's an enormous , steroidal blast , and as much ingenious fun as a blockbuster can be .", "this is wan 's first major hollywood production after more than a decade of profitable horror outings including saw and insidious , and it 's disappointing that neither the gonzo gore of the former nor the calculating restraint of the latter register here .", "everything about f&f 7 is supersized , from the actors to the running time to the scope of urban destruction .", "it remains a reliably entertaining series but if its to go on much longer those in creative control will have to sit down and think hard about how to give future sequels more life than pyrotechnic polish .", "fabulously stacked with furiously over the top , in a good way , action . call it car wars .", "the ending of MOV is downright touching ...", "spectacular stunts , a touching send-off for paul walker and pedal-to-the-metal action make this one furiously good - best in the series so far .", "the film ends on a sentimental note with a tear-jerking tribute to the late paul walker . the audience applauded at the end . i did too . many of us sat through the credits hoping to see a fast 8 teaser . there is n't one . none of us want this series to end .", "for now , let 's just marvel at how much mileage the studio has gotten out of what are basically 1950s-style `` b '' programmers supercharged for contemporary audiences .", "i have now seen all of the r\u00e1pido y furioso movies , and i can recall almost no salient details about any of them .", "rather than simply ignoring physics , it downright defies physics with what we see happen on screen . the result is a giant looney tunes car chase for more than two hours .", "it 's dom 's story -- so fun and funny and exhilaratingly over the top -- that resonates .", "MOV is louder and crazier than the previous films , but crazy in a sense that is borderline mentally ill . its brainless and senseless action is almost as offensive as its terrible jabs at humor .", "` furious 6 ' was `` dumb fun '' to a breaking point . ` MOV ' revives the franchise with cohesion and elegance .", "seventh entry in the high-octane franchise wo n't disappoint fans , and serves as a moving tribute to star paul walker .", "this is the pinnacle , people . this is everything they 've got .", "fast-moving fight scenes , outrageous auto antics and a sprinkling of ridiculous one-liners make MOV a campy , crowd-pleasing escape .", "a slim excuse , and a perfectly good one , for trotting around the globe , blowing up drones in los angeles and sending lebanese sports cars crashing through abu dhabi skyscrapers .", "the good news is that MOV offers more - and more , and yet more - of the same .", "the most gleefully meat-headed franchise going has intersected with real-life tragedy and handled it with surprising grace . meat-headed grace , sure , but grace nonetheless .", "i daresay MOV is best of the lot since the original . fasten your seatbelts , suspend your disbelief , and enjoy the ride !", "it lays bare that the franchise 's most radical asset is also its most conservative : an overriding emphasis on , above all else , the on-screen family .", "there wo n't be a faster , more furious movie this year .", "the movie does n't hold together as well as the previous chapter , but that 's really a function of expanding the cast still further .", "a deafening orgy of explosions , car chases , well-polished bumpers -lrb- human and automotive -rrb- , explosions , fist-fights and more explosions .", "the action sequences are ridiculously over-the-top ... but they 're done in a semi-comedic way that is still entertaining .", "yes , it 's just more junk in the trunk , but it sure leaves your heart racing .", "as zippy , playful and amiably preposterous as the best of the previous models .", "while there 's a deeply sentimental tone throughout , MOV is also the biggest , loudest , and `` holy crap that was incredible !!! '' chapter yet .", "the film-makers give paul walker and his brian o'conner character a graceful farewell - perhaps that 's what 's most memorable .", "i 'm not ashamed to say -lrb- ok , maybe a little -rrb- that i cried like a baby at the end - but i did n't ugly cry . a perfect ending to this 7 film ride and they should just stop now and leave on a high note .", "it 's flying cars and explosions . chitty chitty bang bang bang bang .", "while the story ran out of steam long ago , there 's plenty of action and excitement that kept the engine going . another fun ride and first rate entertainment .", "`` MOV '' could have come across as ghoulish , but it 's not until the very end that we 're reminded of walker 's fate , and the filmmakers handle it with taste and respect .", "as long as you 're willing to buckle your seat belt , disengage your brain and just go along for the ride , there 's also no small amount of fun to be had .", "alternately entertaining and annoying .", "the nicest thing i can say about MOV is that if it were the end of the franchise , it 'd be a fine and fitting one .", "hey , action flicks are n't supposed to make you cry !", "MOV is so giddy and overblown that its bloated runtime is more of a blessing than a burden .", "for their seventh adventure , the fast & furious cast and crew continue to outdo themselves with mind-boggling stunt driving and outrageous action mayhem ...", "loud , long and laughably over-the-top , MOV is one of the best pure action movies ever made .", "physics and gravity be damned ! `` MOV '' aims to please .", "it 's the kind of movie in which the endlessly antagonistic villain and hero express their boiling hatred by driving head-on into each other 's rides . at high speed . twice .", "big and numbingly loud , `` MOV '' jets around the globe so we can watch cars crash , explode and repeatedly defy gravity . if that sounds like a great way to spend two hours and 17 minutes , read no more .", "i found myself unexpectedly shedding a tear at the film 's perfectly judged , sunbathed , final fade to white .", "so fast , furious , ginormous , crazed , maxed-out and heart-on-sleeve emotional is this gloriously ludicrous instalment that it 's impossible to see where an eighth could go .", "suspension of disbelief is a must and watching paul walker in his last movie is like watching a ghost . it 's uncomfortable at times .", "the face-to-face punch-ups are a lot of fun . the statham-johnson smackdown resembles nothing more than two shaved pitbulls in a tumble dryer .", "the final shot could not be more perfect . tears will be shed .", "it 's pretty great . or at least , it 's pretty much exactly the movie it should be , even with all its lumps and missteps .", "rev your engines ... and grab the tissues . MOV delivers the same outrageous thrill ride you expect , but tears will also flow for the late paul walker .", "7 disappoints a little because it does n't go off the rails enough , especially in comparison to the last two movies .", "along with all of the nonsense , MOV is built on a series of forced dialogues and a bad mix of different movie genres that make the story hard to believe .", "the special effects are simply spectacular .", "it 's becoming increasingly hard to outright dismiss this franchise , even if every nuanced critical bone in my body would love to do so .", "the action and chase sequences are visceral and triumphant but MOV is undone by a misogynistic streak that runs all the way through the movie and director james wan 's relentless objectification of its female characters .", "the director , james wan , sends cars repeatedly airborne and seems himself to marvel at the results ; the movie 's real subject is the stunt work , but its stars ' authentic chemistry lends melody to its relentless beat .", "explosive , spectacular and surprisingly touching , episode 7 is a fitting tribute to paul walker .", "` furious seven ' is not the best movie in the series . it is a fine farewell tribute to -lrb- paul -rrb- walker and a dizzying popcorn feature .", "nothing is impossible in his no holds barred thrilling actioner in which cars leap from planes , skyscrapers and cliff-tops as stunts accelerate to levels that almost break the sound barrier", "you 're left wondering if there is such a thing as too much .", "yes , `` furious seven '' is incredible . i spent just about the entire running time either with a huge smile on my face or cackling hysterically .", "the hit muscle-car franchise does itself and the late paul walker proud with a solid seventh entry .", "MOV is the perfect popcorn movie and there is no better way they could have paid tribute to paul walker .", "the most over-the-top sequences the filmmakers could imagine , and each one is as fun as the last .", "the filmmakers are well aware of how silly this franchise has become . they 're more than happy to keep the good times rolling , just so long as they can keep finding new and amusing ways in which to drive cars irresponsibly and destroy buildings at will .", "stupendously stupid and stupidly diverting .", "as a relentlessly paced action movie , MOV is an excellent entry for those who would appreciate this sort of thing . as a memorial for one of its own , it 's about as affecting as big , loud , ridiculous action movies get .", "as for the plot , there is one . as for the acting , it 's there in the sense that actors are onscreen moving around and saying words that do n't make sense .", "james wan came up in the horror ranks and gave the world the first saw ... if `` f&f '' fans feared that he would tamper with the box-office formula and end up slaying and gutting this cinematic golden goose for shocks and giggles , they can rest easy .", "delivers the goods , and then some .", "here and there , we get the imaginative and outrageous stunts this series is famous for , but mostly the movie plods along , muscling through without much life or spirit .", "`` MOV '' is the fuel-injected fusion of all that is and ever has been good in `` the fast and the furious '' saga that began in 2001 with souped-up cars and a stripped-down story about a tightknit east l.a. street racing crew .", "the series will doubtless continue on with diesel , rodriguez , johnson , and the rest , but in the meantime , MOV comes to the most conclusive and emotionally satisfying ending since , fittingly , the very first film .", "head-slappingly stupid", "kind of like the avengers , only more racially diverse , and marginally less bound by the laws of physics or common sense .", "it 's impossible to watch MOV and not think about -lsb- paul -rsb- walker the entire time . and as much as i enjoyed MOV ... i found myself feeling incredibly sad . most of the time , it feels like one long goodbye .", "MOV knows its audience and delivers exactly what they want , including an exciting last act with a huge pay-off .", "diesel & statham test each other 's manhood by playing a game of car chicken , smashing into each other at maximum velocity in a tunnel - MOV is the large hardon collider .", "once you 've defeated gravity in one scene , why not just keep doing it ?", "a captivating combination of camaraderie and cartoon physics tempered by just enough nostalgia to tug at your heartstrings .", "if this episode is a little less coherent than the previous two , it 's still very much a fast and furious movie , which means it 's two tons of fun .", "operating with the same adolescent , bacchanalian glee of a comic book ... MOV thrusts the series to new heights of intensity , emotion , and head-shaking absurdity .", "with heroes like these , who needs terrorists ?", "wan and morgan , stuffing another plot into the main plot like a cinematic turducken , justify a series of jaw-dropping car stunts in settings such as azerbaijan and abu dhabi .", "though many scratched their heads when aussie filmmaker , james wan , was tapped to replace the departing justin lin in the director 's chair , he proves to be a perfect fit .", "the victory lap of MOV proves there 's still plenty of gas left in the tank .", "paul walker 's action scenes excite without feeling exploitative and the finale saves it . the bummer is that `` furious seven '' needs saving , as too much of it feels more like joyless , obligatory and bereaved due diligence than a fist-pumping thrill .", "put simply and bluntly , fast & MOV is great , thrilling , balls-to-the-wall entertainment . it 's not only , and easily , the best in the f&f series , it 's one of the best car operas you 're ever likely to see .", "MOV is an in-your-face assault of awesomeness under the guidance of james wan , who saves a more lax story by orchestrating a metallic ballet of kick-ass proportions .", "a fitting and moving send-off for walker that still delivers the knowingly absurd stunts that fast fans have come to expect .", "`` MOV '' finds the franchise at an unwanted crossroads , but it makes such a play for the diehard fans that it leaves everyone else at somewhat of a loss .", "the grunted catch-phrases , the implausible escapes , the plot holes the size of the bonneville salt flats - it 's all pitched at a particular audience like a dog whistle that fully grown humans ca n't hear .", "james wan embraces the series ' visual hallmarks with what translates to unencumbered glee onscreen .", "superior set pieces continue to sustain this most dumbly enjoyable of franchises ...", "watching MOV ... one gets the distinct impression that , when faced with a creative choice , the filmmakers asked themselves , `` what 's the most insane , over-the-top thing we can do here ? ''", "if it turns out that this really is the last fast & furious film , it 's a good note to go out on .", "when a film is this exciting in its action set pieces and this meaningful in its quiet moments , the filmmakers are getting it right .", "the ramrod-serious diesel and statham sell the dialogue , anyway . so do the more lighthearted johnson and tyrese gibson . johnson and gibson wring laughs from obvious jokes . the acting champ of 7 , though , is michelle rodriguez .", "the story takes place in la , abu dhabi , tokyo , and the caucasus mountains , yet wan has so few ideas about how to choreograph and edit action that the elaborate stunt sequences all feel exactly the same .", "although it 's too long by a good 30 minutes , watching MOV is about as much fun as you can legally , safely , and sanely have without crashing your own lykan hypersport through abu dhabi 's famed etihad towers complex .", "this combination of the earnest with the ridiculous is exactly how fast & furious draws you in .", "MOV is incapable of being indictable : it 's pure popcorn escapism , brashly dumb and knowing at the same time . like its central muscleheads , the film is aware it 's breaking all the rules .", "a number of the sequences verge on the obscene , in terms of credibility , and if you thought these films disregarded the laws of physics in the past , well , wan has simply gone ahead and dispensed with them .", "furious seven provides what viewers have come to expect from the long-running the fast and the furious series : a string of high-octane , physics-defying action scenes loosely connected by a narrative that occasionally makes rudimentary sense .", "the film follows an exceedingly well-traveled road , though the formula-a crew of racer-adventurers who put dual premiums on speed and family values-has been spiked with ever more spectacular , or preposterous , effects .", "a huge , galumphing bore ... the maelstrom of mayhem very quickly becomes an orgy of stupidity , and a remarkably tedious one at that .", "the actors are completely secondary . the hoops they jump through to get to the next action scene are just that . the expositional dialogue -lsb- starts -rsb- only after the action scene has , because they know we do n't care why they 're there : we 're already with them .", "the movie feels stitched together and soldiered-on , with a heart-like-a-wheel coda that 's not particularly well-executed , and is weirdly moving all the same .", "can you really call a film bad if it achieves exactly what it sets out to achieve ?", "MOV ridiculously and often spectacularly forgoes any and all semblance of real world gravitas as its muscle cars race over cliffs , ski down tree-laden slopes and fly through the air .", "the franchise 's way of bidding adieu to paul walker is tastefully , even touchingly achieved .", "i 'm waiting for the scene in this series when vin diesel straps himself to a wile e. coyote rocket and lights the fuse .", "while the final salute to paul is sweet , there 's so much here that 's tiresome -- not least the fact that almost nothing here involving cars is real .", "if you know how to lower your standards you 'll have a great time . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "one of the best movies of the year .", "much of the hilarity in these films -- and they really are very funny -- comes from watching the excess as characters try to outdo one another 's manliness .", "furious seven may only be ` good ' by way of the -lsb- howard -rsb- hawks rule , but nonetheless , it 's damn good at what it sets out to do .", "this one sticks with you . forget the plot bumps , muscle acting , and tweet-length dialogue . finishing the film in paul walker 's honor clearly brought out the best in everyone .", "in MOV , the unstoppable fast and the furious franchise sputters and stalls , edging from spectacular , tongue-in-cheek b-movie fun to soulless , insulting inanity .", "`` MOV '' is not as zippy as `` fast five , '' my favorite of the ones i 've seen , but it has its satisfactions ; its global audience is built-in , as well as strapped in and ready to ride .", "some things succeed without being an outstanding achievement . larry the cable guy , justin bieber , spam . to that cavalcade , let us add the likable , repetitive , chaotic `` furious seven . ''", "`` MOV '' buzzes with a frenetic energy so contagious , there 's no sense in resisting it . like its predecessors , this film has no shame about being its high-octane , gloriously ridiculous self .", "if you 've bought into the series overall thus far , you 're not going to want to miss paul walker 's final ride .", "this is a cockamamie amalgamation of absurd car chases , ridiculous fights , and more noise than you can tolerate blasting away at you for almost 2 1/2 hours with no coherent plot or raison d'\u0119tre outside of big box office .", "start your engines .", "at this rate , the next chapter will have to take place in outer space . fast & furious : venusian drift .", "it took seven movies , but `` furious seven '' can be counted as the franchise 's first unequivocal success , a go-for-broke extravaganza of gripping tension , unbelievably wild stuntwork , and a beating heart that does n't feel prefabricated .", "there are indeed faster and , sadly , significantly more furious movies in the fast & furious canon .", "car racing , vengeance , logic-defying stunts and stuff blowing up . too much stuff blowing up , really . we came for the cars and their reckless , gorgeous drivers ; we can get explosions anywhere .", "`` MOV '' is the biggest , silliest movie in the `` fast and furious '' franchise , officially transforming the series into `` the avengers '' with muscle cars . but what 's wrong with big and silly ?", "it certainly aims to be no less than the ultimate action movie , which , for some filmgoers , translates into the ultimate movie , period .", "you 'll end up so unashamedly engrossed by MOV that you 'll forgive its blatant disregard of narrative , subtlety and gravity and just enjoy and appreciate the rollicking ride for what it is .", "this film is n't taking itself too seriously , and it certainly does n't expect us to .", "a group more bulletproof than the avengers , causing more mayhem than general zod . think universal does n't have a superhero franchise ? think again .", "ranks a very successful fourth place overall , with at least one gargantuan set piece that ranks among the series ' finest .", "screeching incomprehensibly from one stunt-filled set piece to the next , fast and MOV is an exuberantly high-octane ride across a ridiculously elaborate plot .", "MOV hits every note that it must to satisfy fans and effectively pay tribute to walker in his final on-screen performance .", "too long , too convoluted , too sentimental , and too ridiculous . some will say those are its good points . will they embrace the homoeroticism too ?", "the story is an appropriately flimsy excuse for a series of undercards - statham vs. rock , tony jaa vs. paul walker -lrb- twice -rrb- , michelle rodriguez vs. ronda rousey .", "it 's all dumb , but it 's wonderfully , comfortably dumb in just the right way .", "the real stars of these films are the bonkers action setpieces , and `` MOV '' achieves new high points in that department .", "it 's not the best `` furious '' but it 's far from the worst .", "it 's not a magnificent seven but fans will certainly lap it up .", "it 's all entertaining enough , i suppose . but there 's a twisted coldness under the action that 's anxiously concealed by the characters ' refrains of the importance of `` family '' and sticking together and other ostensibly nice stuff .", "... lazy and annoying , devoid of any hint of what might have once made it interesting . but that is not to say that there are n't exciting moments , it 's just that none of them add up to anything we care about .", "if you gave a 15-year-old boy $ 250million and told him to go away and make a movie , the result would probably look like this .", "though its respect for road safety or , indeed , logic , is flimsy at best , fast & MOV is also an undeniably enjoyable ride .", "`` over-the-top '' does n't cut it as a descriptor for these movies any more - there needs to be an adjective for whatever is above `` over-the-top '' , because that 's what f&f 7 is .", "fun , exciting and emotionally involving , this sequel delivers the best qualities of this series and a stirring tribute to the late paul walker .", "this is a franchise where the filmmakers and stars willingly embrace the absurd so going in your motto should be ` everything is impossible , but awesome . '", "spectacular action , chases , races and fight scenes are combined with plotting and dialogue of mind-numbing crudity and plenty of shameless product placement in the latest sequel .", "`` cars do n't fly ! '' is the recurring cry in fast and MOV and in scene after improbably hilarious heavy-metal crashing scene , this idea is disproved .", "the brashest , noisiest , most ludicrously outrageous in the series so far . no surprises there ... what is unexpected is quite how tender and poignant the film should turn out to be , a touching farewell to departed star paul walker .", "MOV is basically a live action version of grand theft auto , with a touching tribute to its fallen star - paul walker .", "the action scenes are ridiculous and implausible , but they are undeniably entertaining . everything else , though , is drudgery .", "has a heightened sense of mortality giving the series stakes for once , born of tragic circumstances due to the passing of paul walker , handled deftly by director james wan", "to really enjoy these films , it is important to understand that at their core , they are comedies .", "a big , noisy , ridiculously diverting time , that not only gives a proper sendoff to the character of brian o ' conner , but manages to be a whole lot of fun in the process .", "... a handful of dazzling action set pieces and impressive stunts will delight fans , even if they do n't make much narrative sense or contain much subtlety or surprise .", "either get out of the way or go along for the ride", "the fast and furious franchise hits its nadir with this overlong and aggressively over-the-top entry ...", "... while the effects shots and stunt work keep you on the edge of your seat , you ca n't shake that feeling that it 's all one wile e. coyote gag from a looney tunes cartoon .", "it 's a franchise of winking ridiculousness , in which the characters take themselves far too seriously while giving you hints that they are in on the gag .", "outlandish as it all is , the movie delivers the goods .", "MOV kicks the biggest and hardest , but it 's far from the best .", "this is an immensely entertaining movie , and if the filmmakers are wise , they 'll quit on this high note .", "i have never once , not ever , been genuinely disappointed in a the fast and the furious movie . it is , by far , the most satisfying franchise in american action cinema ... that being said , something is very slightly off in MOV .", "MOV is exactly what most popular movies are today : behemoth amusement rides adding more preposterous loop-de-loops with each sequel because nothing succeeds like excess . no brand does that better than the fast & furious franchise .", "the latest instalment of the franchise cost a pretty penny , yet often feels less like a slick blockbuster than a demented day-time soap .", "a masterful cavalcade of carefully orchestrated vehicular mayhem , a dose of high-octane escapism ramped up to ridiculous , fantastical extremes .", "has a lot of the same problems as its most recent predecessors . the dialogue is flat , the action scenes are over-edited so that it 's not always clear what you 're looking at , and situations often get so implausible that it becomes a distraction .", "MOV is undeniably satisfying and mostly fun . more than pure escapism , however , it also serves as a fitting tribute to its costar paul walker , who was killed in a car accident while on a break during filming .", "james wan directs MOV like a boy tossing his matchbox cars and action figures down the steps .", "the only grace note in this otherwise determinedly graceless movie is the classy way walker 's exit is handled . to say more is to say too much .", "what transpires is grimmer than what 's come before , and without the sense of fun , the absurdity of the action becomes less enjoyable .", "`` MOV '' is n't so much goodbye as it is merely the end of something .", "trust me when i say absolutely nothing 's been left out of MOV . a thrill ride from beginning to end .", "it 's mission : impossible with extra emphasis on `` impossible , '' & a gleeful anarchistic disregard for how often it jumps the shark -lrb- & a few skyscrapers -rrb- because it 's having too much damn fun to care .", "the stunts are pure insanity , and the best part is , even though i 'm sure there is a sizable helping of digital effects involved , there is a lot of actual , old-fashioned stunt work on the screen ...", "it 's time to come back to earth , which this film only does in its memorial coda to paul walker , a fine sendoff which does n't take the road most traveled .", "leaves us hoping for more four wheel mayhem in the future", "a remarkably satisfying and entertaining action movie , one of the best in the series . put your brain in neutral and enjoy the ride .", "state-of-the-art automotive uproar , room-wrecking mma-style smack-downs , and wild stunts performed by real live people .", "MOV is everything you expect it to be . an over-the-top car chase film jam packed with fist fights , gun battles , insanely awesome set pieces and lots of dialog about family .", "MOV has so much adrenaline and testosterone that women who see the movie could become pregnant .", "soap opera with supercars and explosions . pitch perfect tribute to paul walker . what 's not to love ?", "for a franchise known for cheesy , heavy-handed lines , MOV served up a classy , heartbreaking send-off for its departed star , one that acknowledged the tragedy of real life without allowing it to overwhelm the fictional world .", "those actors are good . but the movie survives and thrives on big explosions and even bigger explosions .", "overall , it 's a job well done and , ultimately , a fitting tribute to both the late actor and his character . -lrb- full content review -- sex , profanity , violence , etc. -- for parents also available -rrb-" ], "summary": "serving up a fresh round of over-the-top thrills while adding unexpected dramatic heft , MOV keeps the franchise moving in more ways than one .", "id": "771354922" }, { "movie": "worlds_fastest_indian", "reviews": [ "... basically this is days of thunder crossed with pee-wee 's big adventure .", "you 'll be glad you came along for the ride ...", "... portrays munro with such an abundance of compassion and charm that it 's easier to overlook the film 's conventional flaws .", "the laid-back result may not set any land speed records , but it is heck on wheels .", "... you have to like a movie that so perniciously resists genrification , that seems at once so odd and strange and tender .", "yet another uplifting movie inspired by a true incident .", "a film for anyone who likes to walk away from the theater inspired .", "surprisingly , donaldson makes this movie about a speed demon work by adopting the philosophy of the tortoise , not the hare : slow and steady wins the race .", "the movie really is n't about land-speed records , and it is n't about motorcycles . instead , it 's about a man following his dream and not taking no for an answer .", "this is donaldson 's best film to date and yet another demonstration of the sheer brilliance of anthony hopkins .", "the world 's fastest indian brings a simplified , implausible and often untrue version of a story worth hearing , but i recommend it to anyone who needs proof that people past 60 have dreams , skills and/or sex lives .", "its lousy title notwithstanding , '' ` indian '' is a winning character study of a crusty curmudgeon , played to the handlebars by anthony hopkins .", "essentially this oddly engaging -- sometimes just downright odd -- little movie is a feel-good sports movie for the art-house crowd .", "the film races to euphoric speeds .", "built to charm , inspire , amuse and filled with surprises . a bit long but worth the ride .", "there 's a compelling last act , with munro burning his hands and bleeding to keep his bike alive for a record run . but it 's a long wait 'til then .", "seeing the usually elegant hopkins with unkempt hair and grease under his fingernails is truly a sight to behold .", "`` the world 's fastest indian '' is a wonderful true-life story brought to life by an indefatigable anthony hopkins .", "an eccentric man meets an eccentric dream -- and the result is an oddball delight of a motion picture .", "like the straight story , only faster - this is an enjoyable , heartwarming feel-good drama with a terrific performance from hopkins .", "all the hammy acting and meandering storytelling in the world ca n't drown the essential appeal of the story .", "the world 's fastest indian is lightweight stuff , but despite the clich\u00e9s it 's an enjoyable ride .", "for a film that 's ultimately about speed , it could use a little more zip .", "the world 's fastest indian might be the world 's worst title for a charming , slice-of-life biopic starring anthony hopkins .", "the world 's fastest indian is a total charmer , one of those salt-of-life stories drawn from fact , inflected by humor and given robust respect by all involved .", "the world 's fastest indian is an old-fashioned feel-good movie .", "hopkins is unable to raise this movie above its flat , featureless plot .", "anthony hopkins is so endearing in this film that you ca n't help being charmed by his character and the story , even if you do n't care about land speed records .", "here 's a film about geezer power that will make you cheer .", "hopkins portrays ... a grizzled sunbeam sent to remind us all to follow the road to happiness , wherever it leads .", "anthony hopkins gives a performance that stands among his best , and the film has a quiet , straightforward style of storytelling that appealed to me .", "a welcome relief from the onslaught of feel-good disney `` based on a true story '' sports flicks that have begun to wear out their welcome .", "hopkins transports a simple story about an aging man with an ageless dream into the stuff of legend .", "roger donaldson crafts his little-movie-that-could with an eye towards maximum inspiration .", "donaldson never raises the stakes high enough for the audience to empathize with munro , just to be amused by him .", "runs on a rich performance by hopkins ... despite a few speed bumps , you can just sit back and enjoy the ride .", "the character -lsb- hopkins -rsb- plays , a new zealand motorcycle racing enthusiast named burt munro , is simply easy to like . that 's what makes the movie watchable .", "this fluffy outsider meringue is downright impossible not to swallow .", "hopkins ' performance seems to embody the heart and sole of the man , the character , and the legend .", "an affectionate portrait of a real-life kiwi record breaker that took director roger donaldson 30 years to bring to the screen .", "ironically , this film moves along rather slowly . but its leisurely pace gives us time to enjoy one of anthony hopkins ' finest performances , so who 's complaining ?", "anthony hopkins plays a new zealander grease monkey who soups up an obsolete motorcycle to make it a contender for land speed records . by rights this film should not work , but hopkins and kiwi charm pull it off .", "they 're oh , so cute that it 's almost enough to make you puke .", "anthony hopkins channels steve mcqueen as his sly , warm , quirky charm elevates this cheery curmudgeon 's journey to an endearing , spiritual odyssey .", "a hodgepodge of mega-tired genres that , despite all odds , still manages to work and work well .", "if you 're looking for a solidly built , well-paced entertainment that puts a grin on your face , world 's fastest more than adequately fits the bill .", "the film has a congenial but simplistic tone , but hopkins is a pro and plays munro as a go-getter , willing to risk life and limb .", "it 's -lsb- hopkin 's take-it-or-leave-it -rsb- attitude that undercuts the hokum and preciousness , though just barely .", "`` the world 's fastest indian '' is a nostalgic kind of biopic that leaves you with the pleasant feeling that you have seen one man 's dream come true .", "writer/director roger donaldson returned to his adopted land to tell this true life ` cute codger ' tale of a man on a mission and hopkins clearly digs the material", "the film is so languid that at times you may find yourself wishing that hopkins would eat someone 's liver .", "i imagine a double feature of this and glory road could even make chuck norris cry", "hopkins ' performance , more sprightly and less self-conscious than you would expect from a 68-year-old actor with a knighthood , embodies munro 's bubbly enthusiasm for speed .", "donaldson lets hopkins be the twinkly , cute old man , without turning this into a kiwi version of miracle on 34th street .", "the inspiring true story the world 's fastest indian should be mandatory viewing for anyone who has ever said , ` i 'm getting too old for this . '", "there also are plenty of nuts-and-bolts references to satisfy those interested in racing , whether on two wheels or four . the movie features some funny moments , such as when munro makes his own pistons and then brews tea from the cooling-barrel water .", "hopkins is up to the task , and it 's his most fully rounded performance in years .", "hopkins makes the character come alive without any actor tricks or noticeable mannerisms other than a totally convincing new zealand accent . it 's a captivating but completely internalized performance that sneaks up on you .", "munro 's vision , passion , and tenacity are matched by writer/director roger donaldson .", "as the movie 's tag line has it , it 's based on a hell of a story . too bad they did n't just tell it .", "the * ahem * engines take far to long to rev up .", "a crowdpleaser with some pacing issues .", "first , this indian is a motorcyle . second , while ironically a little slow in places and schmaltzy at times too ; the cinematography/acting/script are warm , and sound top notch .", "hopkins ' delightful performance as the eccentric burt munro is the true heart and soul of this highly enjoyable film .", "you should set your own land speed record to see this crowd-pleaser of a production .", "even a nice chianti could n't help you wash down this lump of tear-jerking twaddle .", "personal film projects about which directors feel passionate about do n't necessarily result in good films as is evident in this manipulative and schmaltzy inspirational fairy tale .", "the film provides two hours of pleasant entertainment and like an old pair of slippers feels comfortable and familiar even if the soles have worn out long ago .", "... an extraordinary performance by anthony hopkins from a brilliant script by director roger donaldson .", "far too predictable and far too many colorful supporting characters .", "combines two genres -- triumphing underdog and road movie -- which are involving and entertaining , albeit rather predictable .", "hopkins is a pretty engaging old fart ...", "anthony hopkins recreates a mechanical miracle in taking a 1920 motorcycle to 201 mph in the biopic of new zealand 's motorcycle saint burt munro .", "a warm , spacious road movie with a stirring sense of the wide-open landscapes of the american west .", "hopkins savors every bit of business as his burt charms everyone in his path .", "hopkins resists his inclination to overplay and turns out one of his most endearing performances in years .", "it 's a different approach to drama , i 'll give it that . but it 's not a very dramatic one .", "though the movie may be quaint and at times overly familiar , it achieves its goal of being inspiring while portraying a man 's singular pursuit of excellence .", "hopkins ' larger-than-life performance as the crusty and crafty burt rivets your attention for two solid hours in this most entertaining labor of love .", "makes no undue demands of the viewer ... never overplays the conflicts in munro 's life", "the world 's fastest indian takes off at full-out maudlin and never bothers to throttle down .", "judging by the movie , you might admire munro 's achievement but probably would n't have wanted him for a neighbor .", "the inspirational road picture the world 's fastest indian hitches a ride on the charm of its star , anthony hopkins .", "unfortunately , this two-hour-plus journey feels like it 's aboard a genial camel .", "the world 's fastest indian , in which anthony hopkins gets to play an adorably cantankerous old man , is a pretty safe bet as far as movies go .", "the film may be cutesy-poo for some tastes , and there is n't much nail-chewing suspense in burt 's pursuit or his lighthearted subjugation of everyone he meets . but man and `` motor-sickle '' sneaked up and beguiled me , so all i could do was hop on .", "like the 1920 indian motorcycle that munro races , the film sputters a bit as it starts out . but it slowly gains speed and momentum , earning a kinship to david lynch 's similarly winning and low-key film the straight story -lrb- 1999 -rrb- .", "without apology , munro 's story has been embellished and romanticized right to the edge of cornball , where it manages to make a hairpin turn and restore its balance .", "does n't attempt to cram a ray of sunshine up your keister and manages to tell a truly inspiring story nonetheless . hopkins is great .", "history dictates that you know how the story ends . still , the heart beats no less fast when you watch munro 's indian rocketing across those salt flats . you can see how it might be enough to justify a journey halfway around the world .", "familiarity likewise breeds contempt in indian , which subjects us to 127 minutes of burt 's homespun homilies , naughty euphemisms and self-effacing references to his failing prostate .", "you thought you knew anthony hopkins , but you have n't seen nothin ' until you 've experienced the man doing a celebratory jig or straddling a crotch rocket down the coast at high speeds .", "these days , when movies often fatuously exploit youth and condescend to age , it 's refreshing to see something like roger donaldson 's picaresque action movie the world 's fastest indian .", "you 'd need to have a wheel loose not to be inspired by a man whose fearless dedication teaches everyone he meets to just enjoy the ride .", "writer-director roger donaldson 's two-hour-plus film is a sterling valentine to real-life eccentricity , personal dedication and nuts-and-bolts ingenuity .", "you could go see the world 's fastest indian , or you could pick up one of those tiny , inspirational books they sell at the check-out stands of mega-bookstores . same diff .", "the infectious and sugary sweet motorcycle saga the world 's fastest indian at times seems like the world 's slowest movie .", "hopkins and director roger donaldson ca n't wholly reinvent the feel-good wheel , but check out all the neat stuff on the spokes .", "the world 's fastest indian is a movie about an old coot and his motorcycle , yes , but it is also about a kind of heroism that has gone out of style .", "parts of it are enjoyably shaggy , and hopkins is very endearing .", "an enjoyable , entertaining and uplifting film , even though it is highly formulaic .", "there 's no moment during this true-life little codger that could tale that does n't drip with unabashedly calculated schmaltz .", "it 's hard to resist the film 's pleasantly rambling narrative and market-defying eccentricity .", "a tour de force performance by anthony hopkins as an elderly character who prefers riding a bike to playing bingo or rocking in a chair .", "this based-on-fact story of a new zealand coot who defies age by racing his motorcycle competitively is a big mushy piece of ice cream cake for anthony hopkins .", "if you 've not jumped onto the daisy chain of burt munro cheerleaders by the film 's siss-boom-bah climax , you 'll probably end up toasting in the holidays with the ghost of christmas past .", "the world 's fastest indian does what it sets out to do : educates about a mostly unknown historical figure -lrb- without doctoring the facts too much -rrb- , entertains , and uplifts .", "it 's stunning work by hopkins as he does justice to munro 's complicated emotional framework", "sometimes goes cornball , but comes out of that spill on its feet due to hopkin 's warm-hearted vulnerable performance and the lovable nature of the story .", "donaldson 's ham-fisted direction leads to multiple soppy , cringe-inducing moments -lrb- burt talking about his brother ernie takes the cake -rrb- .", "sweet but syrupy and formulaic .", "it takes a while to adjust to this amiable film 's languorous tempo but you might find it 's worth the wait .", "the film is itself an offering to the god of speed , but much more besides .", "hopkins presides as such an engaging old coot , it seems criminal to point out flaws in the film -- which rarely tries to be more than a kiwi version of ` the straight story . '", "a wonderfully uplifting and charming biopic that 's sure to win over all but the most mean-spirited . and the motorbike races really rocket , too .", "a spellbinding road movie about a man with a dream , the world 's fastest indian tells not only a true story but introduces us to a priceless original .", "hopkins makes a thoroughly convincing argument that the need for speed does n't necessarily fade away in the so-called twilight years .", "a real family treat .", "like old burt munro from down under , the movie 's a charmer .", "the world 's fastest indian is n't so much a story about breaking records and gauging speed as it is about the kindness of strangers and the ultimate road trip .", "the handy parade of enablers for an old , personable traveler smacks of fantasy , but his devotion to achievement will make you root for the outcome .", "an enthusiastic man from new zealand proves that age is no impediment toward fulfilling his dreams .", "no mystery why hopkins climbed on board , the only mystery is why anyone else did .", "a pleasingly whimsical and slyly mischievous road movie .", "the twin novelties of sir anthony hopkins racing a motorcycle and speaking in a kiwi dialect make the world 's fastest indian worth seeing -- just barely .", "leaves a sweet , rather than sticky , taste .", "yes , it 's well-made schmaltz , but that 's not a bad thing .", "it creaks and splutters all the way , but hopkins ' charm keeps it chugging along steadily .", "this codger has a libido , which distinguishes him from most of the seniors in the movies .", "this compelling fact-based story is -lsb- donaldson 's -rsb- best effort in years .", "it 's hard not to like hopkins ' burt munro , which means it 's hard not to like the world 's fastest indian .", "movie does not try to turn elderly speedster burt munro into melodrama but simply allows his astounding achievements to speak for themselves .", "an old-fashioned , consummate feelgood flick and a valedictory to eccentric , stubborn old coots everywhere .", "ambushing audiences is n't easy for an actor like anthony hopkins , from whom we 've come to expect shouting routines . but he propels this biopic past familiar fish-out-of-water beats with a vibrant , wily , unpredictable joie de vivre not seen since `` nixon . ''", "a sweet , heartbreaking , road trip film ...", "anthony hopkins gives an eccentric performance in his second film with roger donaldson .", "hopkins ' joyous romp is a little slow for kids ." ], "summary": "overcomes its formulaic storyline thanks to anthony hopkins ' warm and endearing portrayal of an age-defying thrill seeker .", "id": "24213" }, { "movie": "tape", "reviews": [ "easily , one of the best pictures of 2001 .", "is n't anybody else bothered by the fact that these digital ` films ' look like used toilet paper ?", "when all is said and done , it is still a filmed play , but compelling all the same", "ethan hawke , robert sean leonard , and uma thurman all turn in very solid performances .", "worth watching , even if it never transcends its self-imposed limitations .", "for the most part , MOV is smart and deftly executed , with hawke , in particular , as the resentful vince , making a vivid impression .", "for a movie set completely inside a dingy motel room , MOV is a thrilling piece of experimental cinema .", "if MOV 's claustrophobia does n't get to you , and if you 've got the intestinal fortitude to spend nearly 90 minutes in intimate proximity with two equally unlikeable guys , the movie does exert a certain propulsive fascination .", "there 's a place in the world of the cinema for filmed theater , especially when it 's done as well as it is here .", "the performances are amazingly charged and fluid .", "the screenplay features nothing but talk , but this is one of the most tightly wound films of the year .", "` it turns out that ethan hawke can act after all . who knew ? '", "the actors do justice to this potent and insightful script , filling the screen with explosive energy .", "it makes up for its low cost and minimal set -lrb- a single hotel room -rrb- with searing emotional intensity .", "intensely claustrophobic , impeccably directed drama , featuring excellent performances by all three leads .", "the question that comes to the viewer 's mind is : who cares ?", "a film , which , for all its energy , never quite sparks into life .", "as the film progresses and voices are raised the audience is dealt a very interesting and compelling film .", "linklater makes the most of dv 's mobility - and a trio of performers on scintillating form - to create a hugely enjoyable comedy of manners .", "engrossing and dynamic viewing thanks to convincing dialogue and lively acting , most notably from hawke .", "what this shows is how excitingly possible it is to make a feature-length movie on a credit-card-sized budget .", "belber 's clever writing shifts our perceptions constantly", "a failure of a low-budget project if ever there was one .", "takes shape as an entertaining psychological armwrestle between rank belligerence and blustery condescension .", "an amazingly dynamic motion picture -- one that challenges viewers ' ideas and preconceptions .", "the wrenching result is impossible to shake .", "has grade a moments stuck within a b - movie .", "a refreshing acting exercise for both the actors and the audience that works because of the freedom digital video extends .", "linklater and cinematographer maryse alberti ... turn the claustrophobic hotel-room setting into one of the more handsome films shot on digital video .", "the freedom of linklater 's shooting style ... gives the movie an incredibly spontaneous feel .", "off-the-cuff and expertly executed , though bound by its source and its format to minor rewards and pocket epiphanies", "intermittently involving but lacking in wit , style and variety .", "by film 's end , the only rape that remains is that of words and memories .", "this really is n't one of those things that warrant the big screen .", "when the project cuts through its own crap , it achieves its humble goals .", "the cast ... uses this room with a view to get the best out of the spontaneous epiphanies and strangely affecting and witty dialogue .", "ethan hawke , robert sean leonard and uma thurman give the most psychologically acute performances of their film careers .", "makes its points -- and how -- but never for a second forgets to be thoroughly engrossing .", "a stagy , three-person psychodrama about guilt , memory and manipulation , driven by strong performances .", "you never quite escape the feeling you 're watching a barely adapted tv version of a somewhat gimmicky stage play .", "sympathetic audiences will find themselves caught up in the emotional reunion -- and laughing awkwardly at surprising moments .", "seems both derivative and indulgent , equal parts actors ' exercise and junior-league harold pinter .", "the banter is n't sharp enough to drive the story , and linklater 's lack of visual elegance is a major hindrance .", "a compelling drama that may lack that oscar-worthy gloss , but offers virtues that are much more rare : captivating characters , verbal wit , and an actual story .", "linklater 's movie of a stephen belber play is for half its length a dull , two-character drama crying out for fresh blood .", "a pedestrian filmization of a three-character play that comes across like a watered-down combination of sam shepard and david mamet .", "hawke releases his inner actor , and it 's a kick to see .", "a compelling drama about the reunion of two high school buddies that turns into a battle of wills .", "a filmed play -- and feels like one -- but the performances are good , and the single ugly setting ... makes for an even more compellingly unpleasant confessional .", "a smartly-crafted , voyeuristic pleasure - sans the guilt .", "the murky visuals are an apt match for the squalid setting and narrative ambiguities .", "unfortunately ca n't transcend its theatrical roots and the actors , good as they are , seem like they 're grandstanding .", "the one-room structure almost sinks the film because the more uncomfortable the situation becomes , the more you wonder why characters do n't just up and leave .", "a fierce , engrossing , terrifically well-acted show .", "basically a character study , and quite an engaging one at that .", "if there 's ever been another movie in which any of the three leads has given a better performance , i have n't seen it .", "steeped in venom , deception , and manipulation , MOV is a three-way volley of mind games in which an adolescent grudge assumes the complexion of a festering wound .", "perhaps because they are working out emotional conflicts from high school , and vince seems stuck at a childish emotional level , what takes place in the room seems juvenile , despite the powerful subject matter .", "it 's for anyone who appreciates the bitter erosion of friendship and the one-upmanship and mind games bred by festering antagonism .", "feeling far more like a stage play or a cinematic exercise posing as an important film with a strong social statement , the picture is grounded by too many problems to work as well as it might have had it been opened up more , both literally and figurative .", "like most movies by linklater , it 's the kind of film that does n't usually get made -- a dramatic chamber piece for young people .", "MOV made me believe that its events could happen to real people more or less as they appear on the screen , and that is its most difficult accomplishment .", "MOV is smart , unpredictable , and alive with the energies of actors who clearly are enjoying being stretched by their material .", "MOV plays in real time in a cramped space , but there are a lot of surprises lurking in the corners of that room .", "linklater 's direction -- all fidgety angles and superfluous motion -- tries vainly to goose and energize a situation that far too often is flat , unengaging and even repellent .", "MOV look simpler than it is . linklater is well-known for making pictures where characters talk a lot , and this one 's claustrophobic setting and small cast provide a tighter narrative and formal focus than usual .", "`` would you guys just figure out what the fuck you 're talking about ? '' actual line from the film . actual way you might feel by the time that line is uttered .", "picture a typical student film with its arty angles , bad lighting and pretentious observations .", "`` MOV '' may take place entirely in a small motel room , but it packs an emotional wallop the size of an entire city .", "nothing is quite deep , but the actors are utterly at home in their outbreaks and ambushes .", "talky and terrific !", "you feel less like you 're watching a film and more like you 're at an award-winning broadway play with a killer cast .", "smart , playful , disturbing , and most of all alive .", "when the director 's showboating is n't getting in the way , belber 's script lands some salient points about situational ethics and the pliable nature of guilt .", "may not go down as more than an acting and dv exercise , but at least it 's an engrossing one .", "it 's the cast 's film to sink or swim , and for the most part , it 's the latter .", "implodes under the weight of its own ` excessive linguistic pressure . '", "despite the obvious origins as a play -- only three characters in one room -- this startling film manages to keep us utterly gripped .", "with hardly any artistry in sight , the film 's appeal can not hold up , not even with a solid performance from uma thurman and a fine one from ethan hawke .", "linklater continues to prove the importance of substance over style with MOV .", "all three players masterfully delve beneath their characters ' outer faces to examine the inner personality .", "a failed experiment with arresting moments .", "a quick-paced , visceral and smartly acted psychodrama .", "unlike some other filmed plays , this one contains dialogue that sounds realistic .", "the actors show great chemistry , reveling in the dialogue as they inspire each other to greater heights .", "though i admired the idea behind the film , the execution , and the performances , the material does n't seem to add up to anything .", "linklater is testing the boundaries of what can be done with digital video , thematically as well as visually .", "MOV brilliantly mixes sex , lies , and videotape-esque quirks with some supreme mental fornicative twists to produce an engaging chunk of film .", "a testament to why blockbuster junkies like me should turn off the dolby digital and turn on the ifc every now and then .", "fascinating and engrossing character study with strong performances from the cast ...", "MOV is a perfect example of how digital filmmaking can deliver great cinematic values .", "three actors yakking in a single drab interior , shot on hd video : it 's unlikely this poverty-program recipe has , or ever will again , yield results quite as entertaining as `` MOV . ''", "this makes good on that old dogme promise by discarding the crutches of conventional movie drama and concentrating on the raw essentials of character and story ." ], "summary": "taking place in a hotel room , MOV has the feel of a play , but its engrossing psychodrama allows its stars to shine .", "id": "15088" }, { "movie": "hulk", "reviews": [ "mutation , mutation , mutation .", "one of the classiest , glossiest and most thoughtful comic book film adaptations yet .", "where the MOV excels is in schamus and lee 's almost academic attempt to reinvent the superhero movie according to the rules of its source material .", "` when i lose control , i like it , ' bruce banner confesses . considering the film 's military context , it 's an expression of the public 's own collective excitement when the u.s. ` hulks out ' at an undermatched foe ...", "ang lee takes MOV and constructs a thoughful , dense story on parental sin and tormented souls . for the high bar set for comic book adaptations , this easily surpasses .", "i left the theater wanting to smash things .", "-lsb- james schamus and ang lee -rsb- make beautiful movies , and this new one about a green monster that destroys things is , ironically , as beautiful as they come .", "with ang lee as the director , you expect this to be more than just a comic book brought to the big screen - and it is .", "ambitious but inconsistent and , in the end , a slight letdown .", "visually stunning and darker than expected .", "the bad news is , the big green guy is no gollum ...", "an articulation not only of the struggle between father and sons , but of our most current topical fears .", "save your popcorn money , kids . whereas sam raimi 's spider-man . was lively and fun , ang lee 's the MOV is slow and ponderous . it takes itself way too seriously .", "-lsb- lee -rsb- has done as he promised , turning a relatively simple , 41-year-old story of mutation into an exploration of banner 's psyche and the relationship between sinning parents and guiltless but afflicted children .", "boring , unconvincing mess .", "lee 's vision of MOV is fresh and exciting , and he has fashioned a motion picture that 's a breath of fresh air .", "there is still much to keep you riveted .", "a sometimes enjoyable , sometimes moving film .", "it 's a corker -- big , exciting , opulently designed , gorgeously shot and blessed with a top cast .", "-lrb- lee -rrb- successfully elevates the comic book adaptation to an art form without forgetting his source .", "definitely worked as a impressive achievement in combining the darker sides of humanity to the lighter sides of comic books .", "a talented director wasted on a poorly plotted and weakly acted film . not even the visual effects are salvagable", "-lsb- an -rsb- enjoyable summer behemoth .", "the MOV , like its lead character , is just too big .", "nice as it would be to report that ang and his co-writer/producer james schamus had regenerated the summer blockbuster , we got ta poop the party .", "audiences expecting to turn off their brains and sit back for another blast of mere eye candy may stagger out of this 138-minute epic wondering what hit them .", "it still looks and feels like a superhero movie , even if it did n't turn out exactly the way we wanted it to .", "MOV se distingue de la masse par son caract\u010dre humain et par les th\u010dmes qu'il aborde .", "i can not recall seeing a tank being lobbed at a copter with such finesse .", "it is not a must-see in my book , but at least it has a story ... and that 's more than a lot of this year 's big budget effects flicks can say .", "rent it , fast forward through the first forty minutes , and enjoy the rest . well , except the last ten minutes ... okay , maybe give it a miss .", "... the MOV looks something like a hairy and very angry avocado - a new veggie tales character , perhaps .", "overblown adaptation of marvel comics monster saga is a lumbering , ponderous failure that trips over its misguided , touchy-feely aspirations .", "clever , formally inventive and so respectful of its source material that it 's dead on the screen", "the most disconcerting thing about the film is that , in its leap from the four-color paneled pages to the big screen , it lost its wit .", "call it a post-nuclear jekyll and hyde story . or king kong with the ape role replaced by a scientist with intimacy issues . or shrek meets the ice storm .", "when the MOV soared through the air in an escape from the tanks and helicopters hot on his trail , my stomach turned , my heart sped up and my eyes welled up with tears .", "there is no joy in hulkville . and intellectually , i know that is how it should be .", "MOV , quite simply , smash .", "even if ang lee falls a little short of what he set out to accomplish , he has created a movie that is in itself a major breakthrough .", "nolte 's character is supposed to add dark , oedipal themes of destiny and consequences , but his appearances frequently sparked laughter from the audience and his final conversation with his son plays like a parody of sam shepherd as translated into finnish", "instead of adding some playfulness , some comic book zest , -lrb- ang -rrb- lee has directed an angst-ridden excursion into suppressed emotions , guilt and scientific irresponsibility .", "it 's a mishmash -- but at times wonderful to behold .", "are comic books art ? maybe , but this leaden , pretentious flick about marvel comics ' big green id , from the overrated ang lee , is just schlock art for the npr set .", "do n't let the previews fool you . MOV is n't your typical comic book movie . it 's not a disposable blockbuster either . these are both good things .", "no better than the much cheaper old-school MOV tv show with lou ferrigno in green body paint .", "it was the look of the fifteen foot beast leapfrogging about that gave the film its momentum and awe .", "an unconventional , ballsy winner .", "MOV gets top marks for ambition and effect .", "could have added up to one mammoth , eye-popping , heart-thumping summer popcorn movie . alas , it is n't .", "lee tries to spruce it all up with heavy use of split-screen , which is sometimes clever and sometimes distracting . but nothing can distract us from the overriding reality that too much of MOV is a sulk .", "an oddity as far as summer blockbusters go .", "MOV might be the first comic book film worthy of the art house .", "fans of the comic book will probably be pleased and thrill seekers in general will get plenty to chew on .", "struggles mightily between the requirement to awe and the desire to mean something .", "the upshot is sweetly melodramatic -- at least , you inevitably note , there are nominal humans aboard .", "tries to be both an arty introspective super hero story and a summer extravaganza , and fails in both categories .", "lee 's talents , though vast and subtle , are not suited to the material , and his endless quest to find meaning gets in the way of what we all want to see .", "toss a plastic toy figure across your yard , and you 'll have a good approximation of what this film 's $ 140 million-plus budget bought its producers .", "lee has at once been faithful to the pop source material and invested it with surprising dramatic resonance ... looks very much like a comic , but feels deeper and richer .", "ang lee 's interpretation of the marvel comics hero is a sci-fi/action thriller art film that tries valiantly to re-create the graphic - novel experience , but lacks a certain insanity .", "about the time that the MOV jumps to the top of the golden gate bridge , or holds on to a fighter jet as it speeds towards the upper edges of the earth 's atmosphere , i admit i was engrossed by this film 's scope .", "this ambitious comic book adaptation gets it right most of the time , and when it does , the MOV is smashing .", "MOV is the lumpiest amalgamation of sci-fi and psychological drama since steven soderbergh 's misfired solaris .", "despite the breathtaking visuals and lee 's obvious reverence for the source material , the MOV ultimately rates as a disappointment .", "MOV is a brave attempt to balance ideas and effects in a mainstream film . it fails , but it 's an estimable failure .", "` you would n't like me when i 'm boring . '", "MOV \u00e9 um verdadeiro presente para os f\u0103s do personagem e de ang lee - dois grupos que , no passado , poderiam ter sido considerados incompat\u00edveis .", "a behemoth that 's not as bad as it could be nor as good as it wants to be .", "he 's mean and he 's green , but the MOV is n't lean at a running time of about two hours and 20 minutes . as its shortened title reflects , this MOV is n't incredible .", "it 's an offbeat action movie that 's more interested in touching the heart than stimulating the adrenal gland .", "the movie works well as pure character study , but the experience is also elevated by lee 's sense of visual craftsmanship .", "despite pacing that lulls in a lengthy second half and a visually overwhelming climax , the MOV is , quite simply , incredible .", "big , dopey and crammed with special effects that take the breath away .", "the film almost matches the inner conflict of its titular character , intermittently bogged down even as it soars to seemingly impossible heights .", "the spectacular special effects and lee 's use of split screens provide some relief in a nonetheless tedious tale in which nick nolte -lrb- looking much like his recent mug shot -rrb- provides several unintentional laughs as banner 's father .", "the only ang lee film where he shows even a modicum of originality in his direction or any real personality or interesting visual flair .", "lee and schamus try on film genres like the silence of the lambs ' buffalo bill tries on human skin .", "the MOV lacks personality ; not a great movie .", "whatever problems it has as a story , at least MOV tried , honestly and desperately , to push the comic book move into new places emotionally and stylistically .", "a turgid , cgi-frankenstein reject", "the best comic book adaptation i 've seen so far with an excellent cast and top notch special effects ...", "wooden performances , banal dialogue , and unintentional humor , the whole thing plummets to a denouement full of sound and fury like the film itself , signifying , well , you know .", "the way lee orchestrates the film is closer to painting than directing . at times , it feels as though a graphic novel is being laid out on screen .", "what a strange and fascinating contraption MOV is .", "despite the profusion of computer-generated effects , which rousingly bring the green guy to life , i often felt , for better and for worse , that i was watching a comic-book movie reconceived as a piece of serious mythmaking .", "a rewarding experience overall .", "ang lee tackles another genre , and the result is one of the most unusual -- and enjoyable -- superhero movies in years .", "a comic-book movie for adults , that , while it finally flies wide of its intended ` classic ' mark , is shockingly ambitious in nearly everything it attempts , whether it actually succeeds or not .", "there is no question that this comic book character is a tough one to nail to the screen , and ang lee 's ambitious MOV disappoints by trying to be too many things to too many people .", "ang lee 's treatment is deadly serious , but a lack of winking humor is appropriate in the case of this dark heroic tale , and the action sequences are riveting , thrilling and cathartic .", "if the digital MOV is sometimes lacking , the rest of the movie 's visual approach is a knock-out .", "as a mythic comic-book movie about a man at war with himself and the world , it 's unexpectedly intense and engaging . it 's not only this summer 's blockbuster creature-feature but it also cleverly fuses pop culture with psychodrama .", "lee helms what amounts to be a smashing affair of exuberant sci-fi angst . the MOV is an intense and hostile escapist flick that delightfully paints an excitable portrait of self-destruction within the indelible psyche .", "unlike your average comic-book blockbuster , the MOV is n't a bad cartoon . it 's a bad modern greek tragedy .", "a dark and serious psychological drama cum sci-fi spectacle , the MOV is incredible for what it attempts rather than what it achieves . for some viewers , that will be enough .", "always energetic and sometimes cockamamie enough to be genuinely fun , MOV is the blockbuster to beat this season .", "like the MOV , we 're so frustrated we want to start breaking stuff .", "an ugly mixture , like its protagonist , that we still find a way to admire . it took a director like lee to bring so many invigorating techniques to the story , even as his artistic aspirations slowly lose their way .", "despite the MOV 's destructive combat with advanced military machines , the real war seems to be between the human story lee tries so hard to create and the studio 's thirst for action to satisfy their youth market .", "-lsb- it -rsb- looks like a comic book ... and it feels like a cerebral and satisfyingly disconcerting stew of jekyll and hyde and king kong and greek tragedy .", "incredibly long , incredibly tedious , incredibly turgid .", "-lsb- a -rsb- likable if tame monster movie .", "not since tim burton resuscitated the genre with `` batman '' has a director so managed to put his own stamp on a superhero film and make the old seem new again .", "a terrific , great-looking movie that 's rich and memorable and almost as huge as its mighty green star .", "equal parts silly and dark , as all good comic book adaptations should be , and refreshing to see a super-antihero movie for a change .", "MOV is probably the first comic book movie that could play to arthouse audiences as well as in mainstream multiplexes .", "director ang lee has been quoted as saying he was making a greek tragedy out of `` the MOV '' , not a superhero film . if that 's true , he has succeeded .", "what 's the big deal with the MOV , anyway ? he 's got a neck that 's missing in the bermuda triangle between two shoulders and a head . if i have to trade a neck for the ability to touch my toes without bending , i 'll pass .", "a story that 's no more profound than frankenstein , yet grabs for iq points by having characters debate bio-ethics every three minutes .", "... a melancholy film .", "` it contains qualities that will last once the state-of-the-art effects have become dated and silly . '", "the plot has to pause after every meager action scene to express its feelings .", "ang lee has boldly taken the broad outlines of a comic book story and transformed them to his own purposes ; this is a comic book movie for people who would n't be caught dead at a comic book movie .", "audiences -lsb- are -rsb- likely to admire the work that 's gone into this film -- rather than joyously enjoying the film itself .", "ang lee creates a tragic , sentimental piece , a la king kong , rather than a generic monster on the rampage type of film .", "he claims you would n't like him when he 's angry , but when he is n't , bana 's banner is pretty boring .", "it may take a while for MOV to smash , but when he does , it 's a thing of beauty reinvented for a whole new legion of fans .", "the MOV is a seriously repressed movie , and like its hero-victim , bruce banner , it does n't know what it wants to be : serious and thoughtful , or big green money-making machine .", "for all its stylistic energy , the MOV remains curiously flat and uninvolving whenever the monster is offscreen .", "the MOV delivers more zen than zap , taking the comic-book movie to new philosophical levels , something not done since darkman .", "the filmmakers said it was going to be smart -- really smart -- like all of lee 's movies . instead , it 's big , dumb and fun .", "this messy , disappointing , self-important and utterly humorless version of the marvel comic book character may be the toughest flick with a green protagonist to sit through since the grinch .", "this green-eyed monster may be the perfect symbol of an angry time . but he 's an impossible hero to cheer .", "the MOV has n't got the jollies of spider-man or the smarts of the matrix films , but it 's good enough , big enough and fun enough to spawn a sequel we can all complain about a few years hence .", "a fascinating , if flawed , extravaganza .", "come back , daredevil ; all is forgiven .", "it just does n't add up to the kind of roller-coaster ride that the summer movie audience demands and expects .", "a portentous souffl\u00e9 that never truly rises .", "you 'll leave the theater impressed by its look and the issues it raises ; you 'll probably also wish the MOV had a heart to match its head .", "flails away at building the story", "` espectacular y tr\u00e1gica , es una cinta que vale la pena ver por la calidad de su director y la profundidad humana de su historia . '", "the MOV stuff looks great . the cgi character is expressive , sympathetic and there 's just a great visceral thrill to all the ` MOV smash ' scenes . most of the film has a good heart , with undertones of rage and repression . but , it 's a slow start .", "an interesting effort to give one of the staples of mass entertainment something extra in the way of insight and feeling .", "director ang lee is to be commended for at least at-tempting to go beyond what could have been an empty special effects bonanza . but the subject of strained child/parent relationships is treated superficially .", "very much like the recent solaris remake , MOV is n't exactly what audiences were expecting .", "what we ultimately are left with seems to be a case of a director 's serious , high-minded aesthetic in unholy alliance with inherently silly material .", "visuellement \u00e9poustouflant . une adaptation de bande-dessin\u00e9e unique .", "the biggest problem i had with the cgi MOV - i just could n't believe there was a human somewhere inside of it .", "the actors ... give credence even to the MOV 's most ridiculous moments , making lee 's creation feel like more than just another expensive collection of pixels .", "i ca n't say that the MOV is my favorite comic-book movie or that it moved me , but i admired lee 's inventiveness , even when his movie was n't as much fun as i expected it to be .", "MOV does n't deliver its summer payload .", "-lsb- an -rsb- impeccably crafted piece of megabuck fantasy storytelling .", "... the first really bad comic book movie since its re-emergence over the last few years .", "bold ambitions make MOV the most profound popcorn blockbuster ever made and one that plays more to smart young adults than geeky teens .", "MOV is very much a movie about the basest elements of humanity . it 's a steroidized ` misunderstood monster ' chamber drama -lsb- rather -rsb- than a superhero movie , a film with a deeper sense of brooding and potentiality .", "a senseless story , jerk-along pace , and the gutless decision to stage two major set-pieces in the near-dark , which disguises deficiencies in the cgi because you ca n't see what the hell 's going on .", "the film is overly self-conscious and introspective .", "the MOV is an abomination in oh-so-many ways .", "was `` the MOV '' worth it ? yes , but not until the MOV finally shows up about an hour in to it . would i see it again ? just the scene where the MOV fights the tanks . that scene is one for the ages .", "here 's a riddle for you , from bailey : ` what 's big and green and does n't suck anymore ? ' answer : godzilla .", "the effects again look intermittently successful .", "the movie is far too well crafted for its subject , and it 's been horribly mismarketed , but i hope people will see it on its own merits .", "ang has the arty smarts , stan has the pop wiles -- now if only they could get on the same page .", "where 's the depth ? what am i missing ?", "seems as unhappily divided in its nature as bruce banner himself .", "ang lee has exteriorized shamelessly ; the film is practically inside-out with armchair psychology .", "richly mythopoeic and sophisticated .", "a big-budget comic-book adaptation has rarely felt so humorless and intellectually defensive about its own pulpy roots .", "wastes time and squanders audience sympathy with too much humorless exposition .", "-lsb- lee -rsb- adapt -lsb- s -rsb- the visual language of comic books to the screen in a way that seems quite fresh ... while focusing on a story of abuse , death , and emotional trauma .", "MOV smash !", "whether the world is ready for the first intelligent comic book film , only time , and a guy who spends a lot of money on new trousers , will tell .", "... a 138-minute hulking monster of a box office smash hit about , er , a hulking monster who likes to smash and hit .", "MOV plays like exactly what it is : an action movie by an art-house director , and ultimately that combination is more frustrating than fruitful .", "whereas the original MOV -lrb- and king kong , for that matter -rrb- fought against injustice , intolerance , and abuses of power , all that this MOV has to fight is his big bad daddy .", "the MOV serves as the summer 's most extravagant reminder that a temper is a terrible thing to lose .", "MOV lovers , in short , will have to take the good with the not-so-good , although they should be thankful to have gotten , in lee and writer james schamus , artists who at least take the story seriously .", "it 's as if lee is so nervous that people will find the MOV funny that he leeches the movie of fun .", "-lsb- a -rsb- visually dazzling but leaden adaptation .", "a comic book movie as smart and expressive as the medium that spawned it .", "a visually compelling film with characters and a story that reach a higher level of sincere drama than their predecessors .", "an arty-farty super-hero flick .", "-lsb- a -rsb- long , overwrought and flawed comic book adaptation .", "a thinking person 's movie with precious little for anyone to think about , except for a green giant smashing things .", "MOV has the ripped gusto of a pop myth being reinvented . it 's excessive and too long , but with exciting macho blows it pounds away at machismo .", "this movie is every bit as spiritual and arty as lee 's last film , crouching tiger , hidden dragon , just as dark as that film but a good deal less buoyant .", "MOV will almost certainly disappoint its target audience but it 's still the most beautiful , intelligent blockbuster of the year .", "filled with visual energy , genuine artistry and compelling human emotions .", "the film over all is uneven , stale at the outset , with all the sugar at the bottom of the glass . arrive late .", "if lee wanted to do michael bay and the bruckheimer cigar-chompers out of a living , he could , but he must know there are better ways to `` think big '' .", "a big hulking mess .", "a nerdish scientist unleashes his monstrous inner child in this thoughtful superhero movie from director ang lee .", "ang lee 's imprint is on every frame ; pulsing with passion and the desire to construct the best product possible .", "film critics should be ashamed of themselves for not rallying to MOV 's cause : what the blockbuster should strive to be .", "a spectacular achievement in filmmaking and , perhaps , the most consciously stylistic comic-book movie yet .", "thanks in part to academy award winning director ang lee and producer gale anne hurd , this interpretation of the MOV has incredible style and detail .", "the special effects of MOV 's appearance may not themselves be staggering , but there 's something intriguing about the compositions lee invents for his fugitive .", "leave it to an academy favourite like ang lee to mess up the dependable summer blockbuster formula with unintelligible father-hatred complexes and extra-corny art house editing .", "MOV deber\u00eda ser considerada la pel\u00edcula m\u00e1s floja de ang lee hasta la fecha . pero al mismo tiempo debe ser la m\u00e1s original traslaci\u00f3n de un comic a la pantalla desde , digamos , dick tracy .", "MOV represents a quantum leap in summer entertainment - a thoughtful and moving superhero flick with enough action to keep our blood pumping .", "you wo n't like him when he 's angry - for all the wrong reasons .", "this is not your typical comic book movie , and all others expecting the usual allotment of mindless summer entertainment are in for a rude awakening by its deep , psychological , cerebral approach .", "even when it 's not working , it 's almost always interesting .", "the oedipal theme should resonate with the young audience as much as the blockbuster visuals .", "... megaplex masterpiece ... the summer 's best film so far , and a front contender for year-end top ten lists with six months still left to go .", "... dare i say it ? the MOV is incredible !", "beautifully shot , strikingly edited , compellingly couched in terms of the clash between primal urges and the constricting effects of modern society -- much of this film is a pounding pleasure .", "what ang lee did for flight in ` crouching tiger , hidden dragon , ' he now does for tragic superheroes : he makes it all seem new again .", "since lee has gone out of his way to make something of great significance , he has actually called too much attention to the effort .", "look ! up in the sky ! it 's a bird , it 's a plane ! it 's a big , piece of green cheese .", "it 's too long for kids , it 's too slow for teens , it 's too light for adults . it 's too deep for those who do n't like to think about their movies , it 's too on-the-nose for those who do , and it 's completely lacking in memorable action moments for those who ar", "after being blasted with gamma rays in the lab , bruce experiences a most unwelcome change : every time he gets angry , he becomes bruce almighty -- oops , wrong summer movie ...", "this is a superhero movie that really captures the essence of comic book pop art .", "`` MOV '' is going to be big -lrb- pun intended -rrb- and i like it better than `` spiderman . ''", "ang lee and his creative associates are involved in an experiment of cinematic alchemy -- turning the equivalent of lead into gold .", "not the best or most exciting of comic-book movies , but the most thoughtful and one of the most interesting ... virtuoso split-screen work evokes comic-book panel layouts .", "if ever there was a movie that needed a strong finish , it 's ang lee 's `` MOV , '' a film whose interminable first hour is such a bore , audiences might need their own nanomeds gamma rayed to get through it .", "a long , tedious affair with unconvincing special effects crammed into the center of it .", "here 's the good news : after months of intense tinkering and desperate repair , ` MOV ' no longer looks like gumby on steroids . here 's the bad news : it may be the most singularly confused comic book adaptation ever to reach the silver screen .", "think ` good ' sam raimi -lrb- evil dead 2 , the gift -rrb- and not ` hack ' sam raimi -lrb- kevin costner baseball movie , spider-man -rrb- .", "the result may not be the best comic-book movie ever produced , but it 's certainly the most ambitious .", "what 's good about lee 's movie is n't just good , it 's great . it 's just unfortunate that the the film as a whole ca n't live up to that greatness .", "... any film whose main character is supposed to be horrifying but looks more like a disney character with a temper is bound to fail .", "MOV is a hit and miss motion picture , but -lsb- ang -rsb- lee has made it his own , and , in doing so , has created the most original comic book adaptation projected onto a screen .", "the MOV has enough super-sized thrills and surprisingly affecting dramatic weight to make it the year 's most profound popcorn extravaganza .", "MOV is good enough that it 's not likely to disappoint .", "-lsb- ang lee -rsb- brings ... a cerebral approach , rare in summer movies , and an earnest attempt to capture the comic-book style on film .", "one of those films so undermined by special effects that it could become an archetypal failure .", "... crafted with startling elegance for a film in which the theme is uncontrollable anger .", "schamus and his fellow screenwriters have taken the most pompous elements of superhero comics -- the humorless archetypes , the italicized declamations -- and inflated them until they nearly burst with the strain .", "a belabored , ostentatious , overlong behemoth .", "MOV is hardly a masterpiece . but it is certainly one of the most psychologically ambitious movies ever unleashed on the summer-movie crowd .", "there 's something magical about the whole movie .", "MOV may not jump as high as some had hoped , but it still packs a solid wallop .", "-lsb- has -rsb- just enough ` wow ! ' moments to make it worthwhile ." ], "summary": "while ang lee 's ambitious film earns marks for style and an attempt at dramatic depth , there 's ultimately too much talking and not enough smashing .", "id": "10309" }, { "movie": "9400", "reviews": [ "a cinematic marvel for the ages , forbidden planet possesses a look and feel that was far ahead of its time .", "still great , relevant sci-fi", "there 's a reason this film is called the granddaddy of all science fiction .", "the tragicomic tone would have done the bard proud , and at even only 98 minutes , forbidden planet is positively epic .", "-lsb- a -rsb- nifty interstellar meller .", "a smart script and-ahead-of their-time effects elevate this one from a cult classic to a landmark of the genre .", "an engaging 1956 science fiction gloss of shakespeare 's tempest .", "a superb sci-fi flick , forbidden planet offers an unusually intelligent script , exciting direction by wilcox and generally good acting from a decent if rather dull cast .", "classic '50s sci-fi flick is campy fun .", "its most interesting moments are mired in human frailty -- in sex , death , betrayal , jealousy , and intoxication .", "the gadgets and special effects seem almost quaint to us now , but the movie is still fun to watch for younger children and it still raises some important questions for older ones .", "forbidden planet stands as the technicolor , major studio jewel in the crown of the handful of intelligent , dissenting polemical counterpoints of the decade .", "an ingenious script , excellent special effects and photography , and superior acting , make it an endearing winner .", "intriguing , perhaps overrated sci-fi classic that borrows from the tempest and anticipates ` star trek ' -- but its driving fears are the ` monsters from the id . '", "... an enduring best-of-breed favorite , a cinemascope spectacle that 's terrifically entertaining , smartly written , memorably cast , briskly paced , and production-designed to the hilt .", "mgm 's full color , ` scope production looks amazing , and robby the robot steals the show .", "imaginative gadgets galore , plus plenty of suspense and thrills , make the production a top offering in the space travel category .", "even half a century down the line , this movie remains a masterpiece of its genre .", "equal parts cheesy 1950s sci-fi and intelligent , if misguided , grappling with the idea of limitless progress .", "offers some of the most amusing creatures conceived since the keystone cops .", "the strictly formulaic direction and by-the-numbers script , however , leach any true drama or humanity out of the bulk of the film .", "... despite the rather silly tone it sometimes strikes , the film delves into some intelligent issues .", "even on technical levels , forbidden planet is a successful film . special effects were best of its age , and even today some of the scenes might impress the viewers .", "some of the special effects -lrb- revolutionary for its time -rrb- may look tacky by today 's standards but its intelligent storyline makes up for it .", "a dated but watchable 50 's sci-fi drive-in movie .", "uma trama curiosa e efeitos visuais ainda eficazes -lrb- embora ultrapassados , obviamente -rrb- garantiram que este filme envelhecesse bem .", "marvelous special effects .", "leslie and robby kickin it old school", "an all-time favorite ; great soundtrack , wonderful `` monster from the id '' and a fetching anne francis .", "one of the visual highlights of '50s science fiction", "interesting concept , but pretty lame sci-fi despite it 's bloated reputation .", "one of the great science-fiction films of all time , forbidden planet combines good drama with great special effects . and it has robby the robot to boot .", "a true sci-fi classic , and still a whole lot of fun .", "be sure to see this eye-filling sci-fi classic in full cinemascope" ], "summary": "shakespeare gets the deluxe space treatment in forbidden planet , an adaptation of the tempest with impressive sets and seamless special effects .", "id": "9400" }, { "movie": "saving_face", "reviews": [ "a frothy delight , robust with strong and conflicted characters .", "MOV is nonetheless a heartfelt and witty film that favorably compares to ang lee 's the wedding banquet , even if wu lacks lee 's subtlety and wraps everything up a little too neatly .", "less burdened by earnest intentions than other indie examinations of asian-american women 's experience , the film 's appealing characters and amusing situations prevail over its general shortage of energy .", "from generic comedy roots comes something likably cute .", "... a conventional but ambitious and tender vehicle about cultural traditions of passion crossing forbidden paths .", "this film breaks the icy barriers of traditional repression , cold communication . offers up a series of sometimes charming scenes , but seldom breaks deeper into the surface .", "MOV 's saving graces are its sense of humor and its strong cast .", "the people in MOV make plenty of mistakes , but wu 's script views their mistakes with compassion .", "a first film with a deft comedic touch and a trio of charming stars .", "this culture-clash , generation-gap comic drama is clich\u00e9d and corny . but it 's also charming .", "though fundamentally a warmhearted crowd-pleaser , the dash of piquancy keeps it from becoming cloying .", "effortlessly cosmopolitan and consistently funny .", "it has the heart and spirit of a true romantic comedy , and a lightness of touch that you rarely see in a debut picture .", "family culture-clash romantic comedy gets a delightful twist in the funny , charming MOV .", "... a hollywood romantic comedy stripped of all the bombast and star turns .", "as a sweet comedy , it 's enjoyable enough , as long as you do n't expect it to carry the burden of an entire ethnic or sexual community on its shoulders .", "equal parts adorable and unbelievable .", "the story is not unique , but wu manages to give it enough charming humor to make it fresh and enjoyable .", "first-time writer-director alice wu has taken the usual romance formula and given it cultural pizzazz .", "although fun while it lasts , it 's just another cute story about family and acceptance that could have been a lot more convincing and heartfelt with just a little more depth .", "far from seeming weighed down by a need to satisfy various interest groups , `` face '' is light-footed , at times cheeky and always true to its sharply-drawn cast of characters .", "it 's a coming-out party for krusiec , a bit player in sweet home alabama who blossoms as a performer relaying emotion with deft touches and subtle yearning .", "by the end of the movie 's hour-and-a-half , wu 's carefully tied up all loose ends and dutifully swept away any questions . it 's a tidy little film , and her mother and mentors must be proud .", "MOV is the means by which everyone gets through the days , performing in order to please others , to get ahead , to avoid trouble , to survive .", "the film is simultaneously sweet natured and sharply observed , and if love eventually conquers all , it takes its own sweet time doing it .", "wu , who wrote and directed the movie , has put together an enjoyable film that combines elements of the romantic-comedy and asian-american generational conflict saga to nice effect .", "... surprisingly fresh and charming overall .", "goes beyond the obvious into something a lot more current and meaningful : the need to make your own love , even if society looks askance .", "tender and often extremely funny , alice wu 's delightful debut feature , MOV , is a chinese-american lesbian romance that wisely explores the tug-of-war between tradition and the need to be true to one 's heart .", "it 's like the movie version of a fortune cookie - nothing too provocative -lrb- or too profound -rrb- , but it 's cute light entertainment .", "exudes the kind of warmth and intelligence that delivers to well-defined segments of the indie-oriented audience .", "abjectly collapses into feel-good nonsense .", "chinese-american mom and daughter reconnect .", "wu has abundant affection for her characters and a sharp eye for how they interact .", "there 's a wedding , a death and two love affairs in MOV , and they all come as a surprise", "this indie film 's wrong turns include a feel-good finish as phony as any hollywood ending .", "the message here , as in every quirky ethnic romantic comedy , is ` follow your heart . ' but would n't it be great if for once the characters cared more about the continuity of antiquated cultural traditions than their own personal happiness ?", "if that sounds supremely sitcomy , well , it is . but wu and her cast elevate the proceedings .", "lesbian chinese-americans deserve sitcom fantasies of idealized romantic reassurance as much as anyone , i suppose ...", "the sort of competent , intelligent and humane film that often signals the beginning of a major career .", "a heartwarming comedy that reaffirms the power of personal choice , while also promising to love and to cherish even the most hidebound cultures .", "my eyes were teary for the final climactic kiss .", "despite a fairly explicit lesbian boobfest -lrb- projected attendance just went up ! -rrb- , the film is more good-natured than provocative .", "the affectionate ribbing of the cultural milieu and joan chen 's sly performance raise this a cut above the ... -lsb- formulaic -rsb- lesbian romances and `` my crazy family '' comedies .", "this multi-generational culture clash has some charm and gentle humor , but where face falls on its , um , face is in the lethargic pacing , inconsistent acting and unexplored relationships .", "a mother and daughter face romantic complications at the same time in new york city 's busy chinese-american community . nicely acted .", "alice wu 's amiable romantic comedy examines the lives of three generations of chinese-americans living in new york .", "a laugh riot it is not . a sweet , true and , at times , universal love story it is .", "a mild but mostly enjoyable romantic comedy that attempts -lrb- not always successfully -rrb- to incorporate elements of screwball farce into an already-crowded mix .", "wu shows romantic comedies can be more than a cole porter soundtrack and snappy comebacks", "making a point about choices , as opposed to convention and conformity .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- gets its heart pumping by putting its lovers smack in the middle of family and community .", "-lsb- a -rsb- predictable but sweet-natured romantic comedy .", "an energetic and endearing story about three generations of a chinese immigrant family .", "saves face with terrific performances .", "feels fresh mostly due to reasons of ethnicity .", "wu has a keen ear for the rhythm of speech , and much of the humour rests in the conversations ' staccato beat -- in breezy put-downs and tossed-off asides and disgruntled mutterings .", "alice wu 's debut film is so deft , natural and exquisitely specific , it feels fresh .", "a hugely charismatic performance from a glowing joan chen makes this cliched little comedy seem a whole lot fresher than it really is .", "what does not feel authentic , to either asian audiences or simply those familiar with rom-com formula is wu 's indelicate efforts to help wil avoid talking about her feelings .", "wu 's film takes the received wisdom of the joy luck club for a delightful spin through unwed motherhood , lesbianism and chinese-american family values .", "enlivened throughout by the director 's ability to document her native community 's unique quirks without ever quite falling into greek wedding grotesquery .", "charming debut feature .", "alice wu 's imperfect romantic comedy completely wins you over by the end .", "something of a neo-jane austen .", "unexpected pregnancy and family politics can be heavy , dramatically explosive issues , but wu tempers her direction with empathy and her script with well-placed laughs , attempting to bridge both cultural and generation gaps without alienating either .", "the screenplay is n't always smooth or subtle , but wu quietly reveals small , telling details ...", "-lsb- chen -rsb- reduces the wattage on her luminousness to make ma seem sympathetically homely without turning downright pitiful . it 's an engaging performance .", "a first-time writer-director , wu handles most of the movie with breezy confidence , drawing strong performances from all of her leading actors .", "there is n't much original about `` MOV , '' except for joan chen 's performance as ma and a nice look into chinese american life .", "an affable comedy .", "-lrb- writer-wirector -rrb- wu ... seems less interested in choices and consequences than she is in sending audiences away with a smile .", "an old story , given a somewhat unusual twist , and works fine for what it is .", "a film that will appeal not just to the golden girls in the audience , and not only the asian-american crowd , and not only the gay-friendly folks , but anyone in between as well .", "pleasant if sketchy .", "thought provoking and brimming with charm ... with an infectious sense of humor and outstanding performances .", "a light-hearted asian-american romantic comedy that sparkles .", "MOV is sadly far too relevant to dismiss .", "though the various dilemmas confronting the film 's heroines are resolved in predictable fashion , the understated performances of krusiec and the always radiant joan chen , combined with wu 's tender direction , are the saving grace of MOV ." ], "summary": "a charming tale of a love affair that overcomes cultural taboos .", "id": "12854" }, { "movie": "tears_of_the_sun", "reviews": [ "this may be a ` war ' movie that has more appeal to women because it 's not just about the battles , it 's about the people caught in the struggle .", "this movie has enough social commentary and left wing politicizing to satisfy the california crowd , and its flattering portrayal of the military and adulation for combat hardware should appease the texas contingent .", "shamelessly one-sided , with cheesy wooden dialogue and even cheesier -- and numbingly predictable -- plot developments .", "MOV may make you weep , but not for joy .", "on paper , the movie does n't sound like it could be a disaster , but trust me : this is horrendously bad stuff .", "it 's hard to say what is more upsetting : the atrocities of a brutal african dictator 's militia against innocent catholic peasants , or the victims of that genocide becoming background figures in the story of the platoon 's moral quandary .", "the film is a strictly no-bull proposition .", "the movie might have gotten a dramatic boost from its topical theme , indirect as it is . unfortunately , it 's not one-tenth as interesting as what you can see at home during a nightly cable surf as u.s. war policy is debated .", "one part unconvincing , jingoistic war picture and one part melodramatic , preachy hogwash .", "this movie should have been called crocodile MOV .", "it 's not a bad film ; it 's just not very enlightening .", "shortcomings are saved by fast-paced combat scenes .", "has honorable aspirations , even as it becomes mired in mainstream movie conventions .", "if you ever wanted a reason to root for a righteous invasion , this sequence -- like my lai but improved because it 's perpetrated by the bad guys -- provides it .", "if it were better done , tears would be offensive : the villains are evil , faceless , baby-murdering muslims . but the movie is so shoddy and one-dimensional that it 's just a dreary , predictably violent bore .", "filled with decent jungle battles and suspense scenes , the film is engaging at times . yet , its various problems -- some big , some small -- prevent it from being as effective as it might have been .", "on h\u00e9site \u0155 qualifier de film d'action cette pub \u00e9vidente pour l'implication militaire am\u00e9ricaine un peu partout dans le monde .", "a worthy story marred by too much dark cinematography and sketchy character development .", "tears is efficient and gets the job done -- but there 's not much personality on display .", "dramatizes exactly the kind of life-and-death choices we all dread having to make , but in a story where the choices are obvious .", "just in time for the u.s. invasion of iraq comes ` MOV , ' a glossy but fraudulent promotion for america 's revived role as global policeman .", "led by bruce willis , the film is flawed but entertaining and thrilling enough to please all in a time when the topic of war is hot .", "in a movie with so much graphic suffering by innocent africans , it 's a bit disconcerting that so much loving attention is paid to bruce willis 's anguished mug .", "the film is a completely mirthless affair . but to its credit , it never turns into the numbing shrapnel-fest of a `` black hawk down '' , either .", "mostly looks good and does succeed in maintaining its tension , but it 's stupid and objectionable .", "misguided and destructive , quite like the military actions the film portrays .", "the very things that make `` MOV '' a riveting thriller destroy its attempt to become a powerful drama . yet , i admire it immensely for its determination to be unique and original .", "jesus , how did they drag this thing out to two hours ?", "an overly sentimental , arch screenplay detracts from fuqua 's previously exhibited strength as a director .", "three kings had something to say about the self-serving double standards of american diplomacy . tears is -lrb- just -rrb- action-movie propaganda with simulated pseudo-substance .", "the overwhelming reaction must be one of distaste at seeing so real a human tragedy turned into so false a combination of gung-ho theatrics , pious pontificating and mawkish melodrama .", "stands taller than muscle pictures of late for its insight into the military mindset and the goal of completing the mission , regardless of the costs .", "an imminent favorite at the white house screening room , but the film is ultimately so dry and remote that one ca n't imagine chaney or ashcroft trooping through all the exposition and moral finagling to get to the carnage .", "... deals with messy subject matter , but wades through such subjects wearing big rubber boots -- and then spends its silly finale hosing them off .", "interchangeable characters mumble their way through a series of poorly written denunciations of ` following orders . ' never have i watched a war movie this dispassionate .", "the film is off again , on again . i 'll average it to a ` b. '", "MOV is not a great movie , but it is satisfying , and represents an example of accomplished filmmaking .", "timely but confused black hawk down wannabe .", "it seems like it 's trying to have something to say , but i 'll be darned if i can figure out the message .", "an action film with more than just action . it deals with serious , substantial , contemporary political and moral issues .", "do n't be bamboozled by the humanist mythopoetic title : ` MOV ' is ` rambo ' with a better script and a sense of style .", "this black hawk down theft is a trial by clich\u00e9 .", "the pull between fuqua 's socio-political style and willis ' hollywood action style is evident , and the compromised film gives us neither ideal to its greatest extent .", "has all the makings of a classic '80s - style action-thriller .", "the film turns the very real plight of ethnic refugees into fodder for special effects and stunt work .", "the rest of the world will find us even more arrogant than they already did because of it .", "`` by the time the film concludes , its striking message has long been forgotten ... ''", "by closing credits , i still was n't sure why this utterly inconsequential and thoroughly depressing bloodbath was made .", "uninvolving due to stick-figure characters and off-putting in its images of technology-enhanced yanks striding like benevolent giants among helpless third world victims .", "director antoine fuqua punches the familiar story across with fierce efficiency , though things get a little muddled at the blood-and-thunder climax .", "had the movie been a straightforward action yarn , it might have worked . but it tries to sound platoon-like chords of sorrow .", "fuqua mixes the heroism , tears and courage with enough taut suspense and action to appeal to male audiences of all ages .", "a really , really strong piece of work by -lsb- willis -rsb- .", "every single element in MOV is simplified to such an extent that the film feels more like a one of those educational films you were forced to watch in grade school ...", "handsomely made , well-meaning but finally frustrating and unsatisfying , this perplexing film is an example of a previously unseen hybrid , the socially conscious , humanitarian action movie .", "until it descends into mindless routine action in the climactic scenes , MOV is essentially an impressionistic nightmare ...", "as generic as its title .", "like most politicians and some columnists , the script kindly spares us any historical context or confusing detail .", "no `` bridge on the river kwai , '' but how nice to see americans loved by a non-western people !", "too bad it does n't take as much care to detail the humanity of its characters -- or reasons for its politics -- as it does to build ominous battlefield moods .", "literally laughably bad .", "offers a heroism high on condition that you can ditch disbelief asap .", "there 's an undeniable atmosphere here , in the visuals but also in the incredible aural jungle of sound designer george simpson and crew , and in the tribal-new age soundtrack .", "a tale of courage so facile and off-handedly racist that only hollywood could have invented it . it confuses slaughter with action , and it 's stupid , too .", "... fuqua relies on old-fashioned , gung-ho heroics and the stern face of bruce willis to carry the show .", "MOV ... -lsb- tells us -rsb- how the chain of command can be ignored if you ` feel ' you have a better idea . let 's hope no one takes this seriously .", "ao contr\u00e1rio de insultos como falc\u0103o negro em perigo e fomos her\u00f3is , o protagonista deste filme investe numa causa nobre . e isso faz toda a diferen\u00e7a .", "shamelessly one-sided with cheesy wooden dialogue .", "the movie regales us with the heroics of a -lrb- mostly -rrb- white american platoon picking off anonymous black savages .", "a huge screaming bore of a war flick with a big plate of pretentiousness on the side .", "... an unapologetic paean to the nobility of the american foot solider .", "if you have accepted that there are few new stories in hollywood , or even old stories being told in new ways , then you have accepted the mediocrity that awaits you in this grim , inconsequential action drama .", "i 'm sure they 'll take away my film geek badge for saying so , but should n't they have dumbed this down a little more ?", "that a filmmaker as promising as fuqua squandered time and talent on MOV is nothing short of a crying shame .", "raping and pillaging and blowing things up is mainly what this movie is about , although it claims to show how the most robotic , dehumanized soldiers can be transformed by human suffering .", "MOV reduces the concept of pillaging a village to something like an r-rated ride at disney world -- sort of like the pirates of the caribbean with atrocities .", "MOV is war fluff for the lobotomized hollywood crowd , a transparent and thin effort without rhythm , depth , thrust or even basic structure .", "the result feels predictably shallow and painfully familiar , notwithstanding the obvious conviction on the part of the filmmakers that they 're actually making an important statement .", "i 'm ultimately recommending MOV and notably its first three-quarters , because even with its oversimplified and falsely optimistic ending , the film hits upon an issue people need to start exploring .", "on the whole , MOV is n't interested in politics . it is content to be an 8-year-old on the playground , making explosion sounds with its mouth and spitting out tough-sounding jargon .", "fuqua ... can stage action , but he ca n't save a trivializing , reactionary script featuring a hollywood star -lrb- read america -rrb- as a global savior .", "movies like MOV , which are not up to getting immersed in current events , should just stay away from history entirely .", "just smart and novel enough to not be mistaken for military propaganda .", "to his credit , director antoine fuqua makes this nonsense as effective as possible . in the end , however , his efforts are undone by the button-pushing script .", "fuqua and his writers , alex lasker and patrick cirillo , have delivered not only the most satisfying and plausible action movie in months but one that 's accidentally timely .", "an action movie that does n't have much upstairs , but is loaded with enough naive gumption to lull you into liking it .", "`` MOV '' has some good moments , including the intense ambulatory trek out of nigeria . but the blind patriotism we are spoon-fed towards the end makes this film a little hard to swallow .", "at its best , the film is a nightmare embossed on a postcard -- horrific and ominously gorgeous .", "ca n't we just send bruce willis to iraq to make things right ?", "fuqua desires to do more , but he has n't developed the skill to incorporate moral and ethical themes into his stories .", "it 's unlikely that this film will be nominated for any awards , but it will keep your interest for the duration .", "despite a few moments of heavy-handed sentimentality , overall MOV shines .", "america seems to be longing for a clear-cut conflict of good vs. well-defined evil .", "the movie hammers home its message with the subtlety of an unfettered belch .", "the audience 's tears are more likely to result from boredom , irritation at hans zimmer 's wretched fake-world-music score and inadvertent amusement at the thunderously earnest dialogue and ms. bellucci 's awkward line readings .", "the awe that the heretofore desperate refugees display for our yankee whirlybirds does n't suggest citizenry hardened by years of modern civil war , but a band of savages genuflecting before a zippo .", "can bruce willis save africa from the africans ? not in antoine fuqua 's overwrought , blood-drenched fable of bogus hollywood heroism , he ca n't .", "deserves the bad reviews and the lackluster earnings it has accumulated thus far .", "` MOV is great pr for united states foreign policy and its military . colin powell and donald rumsfeld could not have crafted a more pro-united states script , nor could they have hoped for a more valorous portrayal of its soldiers . '", "will a thinking audience really buy the image of helpless , grateful people bestowing kisses and victory songs upon willis as the representative of all things american : power , guts , compassion ?", "overwrought , underwritten and with glacial pace that makes for a piquant juxtaposition to its tropical nigerian location .", "tears waffles so much between three ` war-is ' mentalities - hell , redemptive and super-cool for explosions - that it 's hard to truly connect .", "more entertaining than the average action flick", "dumbed-down , tree-hugging propaganda trying to masquerade as an action film .", "the issues it raises are both noble , topical and worth exploring , which makes this an interesting , if flawed , military exercise .", "it 's as if the blueprint for the basic outline never left the development table , resulting in a picture that 's painted in wide swaths of soldier-boy posturing and pontificating .", "unusually thoughtful and involving .", "tears is content to allow the camera to swirl gracefully around willis 's noble cranium as he sucks in his cheeks and looks with disdain upon the bloody works of man while stirring music gives you an idea as to what he might be thinking .", "flashy on the surface , MOV is shallow at the heart .", "cries a river of cliches , but gets the job done .", "if you 're going into this flick expecting an ` action ' movie ... walk away !", "MOV should be condemned for cheapening the tragedy of west africa 's civil wars with a cheesy plot .", "its moral and political viewpoint is so crushingly simple-minded that one yearns for the intellectual nuance of george bush .", "even if you judge it purely as a bruce willis action flick , MOV hardly stacks up , with its flawed logic , black-and-white morals , paper-thin characters and anonymous videogame villains .", "low expectations aside , imagine my surprise when i found myself rather involved with a film that quietly ingratitates itself into your head while not really offering anything new .", "just when the viewer thinks `` this is just another typical bruce willis character '' - willis quietly and slowly begins to transform himself into much more than a simple box office hero", "antoine fuqua , coming off training day , knows how to stage a skirmish in the foliage so that each leaf glistens with waxy moonlit peril .", "an abysmal , hyper-propagandized testosterone peddler .", "bruce willis military actioner has guts , brains and patience -- and while not a masterpiece , it 's far better than you 'd think .", "what 's noteworthy is that tears is simultaneously a gripping action tale and a plea for a policy of engagement , of humanitarian intervention , in parts of the world where oil is not at stake .", "washington may like the timing , but the serious considerations of war and horror here are ultimately undermined by sentiment and schlock .", "as was the case with training day , which climaxed with a long slugfest that flirted with the preposterous , fuqua ca n't quite finesse the screenplay 's moments of heavy-handed melodrama and a couple of glaring narrative improbabilities .", "MOV would have been a much better film had it strictly focused on the band of navy seals and the willis character 's struggle to find redemption in the refugees he 's trying to save .", "a routine rescue mission drama .", "MOV is just as remarkable as a drama as it is intense as an action flick .", "stylish pap that has the ill grace to think itself meaningful .", "painfully obvious , yet confusing .", "the movie is smothered by wooden characters , one-dimensional performances , a flawed story line and unforgivable cliches .", "for all the brutal inhumanity depicted here , tears never manages to engage its audience 's emotions .", "in the absence of any larger drama of characters or exploration of moral issues , the horror seems manipulative rather than dramatically justified .", "the best military flick since black hawk down . it 's not clever or smart , just entertaining .", "willis ' performance redeems much of the film .", "MOV has big problems as a piece of entertainment -- there are many corny and ungainly moments -- but it gains considerable strength from the urgency of its issues .", "MOV has a title that makes no sense whatsoever . the film 's message , on the other hand , makes too much sense -- it 's simplistic and reactionary and designed to get hearts pumping but not minds thinking .", "despite its potent nature , the drama is diluted by the film 's thinly sketched central characters .", "this is the best bruce willis movie since his last one ! - let 's see them blurb that .", "the film may have been inspired by the seachers , but it 's worlds away from john wayne .", "fuqua has a fairly conventional script for a war team film , but his feeling for the thick landscape and the people within it has moral thrust .", "at its best , it 's a little hard to sit through . at its worst , it 's like every other picture about soldiers on a tough mission . what pushes it above mediocrity is that it ends better than it begins .", "propaganda does n't get any more entertaining ." ], "summary": "tries to be high-minded , but in the end , it 's just a stylish action movie .", "id": "13309" }, { "movie": "sweet_and_lowdown", "reviews": [ "the terrific soundtrack are each alone worth a trip to your local movie theater .", "probes a darker vein than many a woody allen movie , but it 's also a richly comic piece which can join the ranks of this filmmaker 's very best work .", "the bubbly lightness of the music and the giddy fun of allen 's humor give MOV the gloss of light comedy .", "MOV is undeniably pleasant , but british actress samantha morton quietly explodes it : her performance is like nothing i 've seen in recent years .", "an enjoyable diversion .", "the real tragedy of this film is that , when all is said and done , it 's just not funny .", "pleasant enough but not exactly compelling .", "the only reason to see this film is for the acting .", "contrived and weak .", "the movie has ample delights .", "the atmosphere , combined with MOV 's entertaining momentum and zippy jazz score , makes it easy for you to get swept away for 90 minutes of great jazz and good fun .", "great material .", "the film\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s most striking aspect -- aside from penn\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s generous performance -- are the disagreements among these interviewees .", "emmet ray is a fictional character , but so convincing in woody allen 's MOV that he seems like a real chapter of jazz history we somehow overlooked .", "a snappy , loose-limbed performance from penn. .", "it is put together so well you can believe that this human misfit with a terrible taste in tailoring , an insatiable thirst for liquor , an appalling way with women , yet with a guitar in his hand seemingly guided by angels , was a real person .", "i 'm not a big woody allen fan , but this is a good one .", "the movie can never muster up the courage to take itself seriously .", "the jazz is certainly here , but the passion is missing .", "the actual story is so boring and uneventful that it 's hard to care about any of this .", "this is one very tuneful labor of love .", "MOV is sensitive , funny , melodious , and utterly charming .", "it is a fictional docudrama that smacks of woody 's playfulness and love for jazz ...", "definitely worth a viewing .", "there is enjoyment to be had from MOV .", "a jazz odyssey that works thanks to a stunning lead performance of a fascinating character .", "affectionate , melancholy and anchored by a well thought-out performance from sean penn. .", "there 's a reason why ` sweet ' comes before ` lowdown ' in the title , and morton is it .", "the movie is so confused about where it wants to go , it suffers from the same identity crisis as its protagonist .", "MOV is n't as unfocused or bilious as recent allen movies , but it 's still pretty mundane .", "the lowdown ? this ai n't sweet .", "a pleasant film . it 's sweet and low down on my list of allen favorites , but worth seeing for penn 's performance .", "droll and amusing .", "if you are n't sure you like jazz , see this movie just to be exposed to the django sound ! your next trip might be to the record store .", "combining the worst traits of his two most recent outings -- the overweening cruelty of deconstructing harry and the formal and narrative laziness of celebrity .", "focusing on the story , the auteur explores his two favorite topics , jazz and s -- heels , to enter the new millenium in style .", "... seems to be the latest chapter in a great work on the artist 's search for meaning , for self-worth , for redemption .", "woody allen , in his thirtieth outing as writer-director , still shows signs of change , improvement , depth of feeling .", "thanks to morton 's presence , it gets closer to the sweetness of the wonderful everyone says i love you .", "a likable , lively little ditty -- one theme , some clever variations -- that never wears out its welcome .", "a shallow portrait of the artist as a cad .", "woody allen 's fictionalized biography of a legendary american jazz guitarist set in the 1930s ." ], "summary": "critics praise woody allen 's MOV for its charming , light-hearted comedy and quality acting .", "id": "11455" }, { "movie": "kitchen_stories", "reviews": [ "a simple story told well , with plenty of lighthearted moments and kernels of thought-provoking material , but little to really excite the cinematic appetite .", "against all odds , it turns out , everyday life in a scandinavian kitchen can be quite a show .", "-lsb- d -rsb- elightfully off-kilter and refreshingly original tale about loneliness , friendship , and modern appliances .", "... makes the full-circle journey all the way from distant to cloying .", "it 's mostly a well-acted , expertly directed comedy with characters and situations of truly universal appeal .", "delightfully offbeat and unexpectedly sweet .", "taking the ` stranger in a strange land ' concept and twisting it sideways , hamer says a lot about humanity with few words .", "uniquely eccentric", "it rewards patience with persistent chuckles , and fills its humble plate .", "boy , just when you think all the original stories have been told , something like this comes along .", "hamer 's pacing is poky , and the ` well , duh ' moral ... hits the audience well before it is revealed to the characters .", "MOV is so subtle that many viewers will not be aware that it 's screamingly funny .", "the performances are understated and touching , the humour mostly deadpan , the philosophical message subtle .", "do n't expect a profound dish . do prepare for a light meal with enough oddball humor to maintain involvement .", "you 've seen testosterone-soaked guys in films like rambo and in the company of men . now enjoy this small , quiet but warmhearted film that shows another side of men .", "the droll humour , penned by hamer with collaborator jorgen bergmark , works best at a non-verbal level , when the well-cast isak and folke are silently sizing each other up .", "an enjoyable movie .", "the study in the film represents a precursor to reality television in which voyeurs watch strangers go about their daily lives without having to expose themselves .", "folke and isak 's friendship is a beautiful thing , unexpected but inevitable , and the movie does a delightful job of shaping it .", "if you 're in the mood for a quiet , beautifully acted little drama , liberally spiked with comedy , about the universal desires of the human heart , this may be the obscure gem you 're looking for .", "mr. hamer never goes for belly laughs , preferring instead the smiles of quiet recognition from viewers who appreciate a change of pace from all the slobbering in recent movies .", "you really need to develop a taste for scandinavian cinema in order to appreciate MOV ... anyone with attention deficit disorder should stop reading now .", "the two central actors , joachim calmeyer -lrb- isak -rrb- and tomas norstr\u00f6m -lrb- folke -rrb- , are instances of how to be interesting without being in the least charismatic .", "give it time , and its wry , absurdist comedy begins to crackle with essential , universal truths .", "aims for but misses the wry truthfulness of aki kaurismaki 's best films .", "what a pleasure it is not to be hectored by a director as we laugh our own little laughs , watching a profound story unfold .", "the icy whimsy of MOV is certainly well sustained , but you do n't laugh at the movie so much as wait for the joke to thaw .", "a quirky , thoughtful and bittersweet comedy/drama .", "an extended ethnic joke , MOV moves with a glacial indifference to conventional comedic timing . but perhaps that 's what makes it so funny and so emotionally precise .", "in the landscape of contemporary movie comedies , MOV is like a rejuvenating blast of crisp nordic air .", "there 's nothing casual about the way this film has been put together , yet that painstaking care leads to laughter that is completely unrestrained .", "marvelously wry comedy about the odd relationship between a crusty norwegian man and a snoopy swedish researcher who 's assigned to sit in his kitchen and chart his movements there .", "a thoroughly charming oddity . and , in the end , a moving one , too .", "MOV is an inventive and engaging drama about how our hearts are gladdened by the sweet surprises of unexpected intimacies .", "slight but sardonic .", "it never patronises its characters in the quest for cheap laughs , treating them instead with commendable compassion .", "an enjoyable study of ridiculous regimentation and a sure balm to anyone who has overdosed on the efficient designs at ikea .", "a rich character piece with more than a few chuckle-worthy moments .", "MOV will make you laugh and make you cry .", "the charm and chemistry of the two leads and subtle , wry moments of humor make for an endearing entertainment .", "not the sort of film you 'd want a steady diet of , but as a change of pace from the ordinary , it 's well worth a look .", "an ingeniously dry and bittersweet comedy about that 1940s and '50s research .", "one of those rare winning exceptions to the axiom that movies should move , this one shows what advantage can be earned when men of good will sit still together .", "a prime piece of comic anthropology .", "what you 're left with is a relationship between two men that is untouched by macho posturing or any trace of anxiety -- and a perfect respite from the action flick mentality .", "what starts as a satire of the methodical , modernity-seeking society in sweden ends as a heartwarming dramatic comedy in norway .", "slight and understated , MOV still manages to surprise with how much heart it musters in its wry , witty story .", "the norwegian writer and director bent hamer 's wry , uninflected deadpan social comedy points as straight and true as a compass fixed on magnetic north .", "a warm tale that 's prepared just right .", "the subtle cracks in the scandinavian reserve are really all this quirky film gives you , but for the most part it 's enough .", "it 's a film that triumphs in small ways and satisfyingly demonstrates how our human nature is based on both the eccentricity of our hearts and the quirky workings of our heads .", "though there 's a melancholy mood to much of the film , it leaves an audience happy -- as if we , like folke and isak , have made a new friend .", "pays off eventually with a lovely story of friendship between two lonely men .", "if stoicism is your idea of killer friday-night entertainment , you wo n't find many numbingly boring experiences to top this one .", "almost perfect , a film about loneliness that makes you feel less alone .", "might evaporate if it were any drier . but it is a comedy , and a pretty charming one at that .", "before it settles down into a two-man character study , kitchen offers a succession of quietly uproarious sight gags .", "this understated and delightful little film will grab you from the silly opening to the bittersweet end .", "drollness and dry wit characterize this charming scandinavian comedy ... a wryly affectionate story that will touch the heart of almost every viewer .", "there 's an almost wordless charm to this gentle film .", "it is a modest meditation on human nature that lingers , sweetly , in memory .", "a male weepie with a serious case of the cutes .", "the film explores deeper issues of human relationships -- how can someone truly be a detached observer ? how much can one learn about another without speaking or interacting with them ?", "hamer is gifted with both a sly wit and a rich visual vocabulary .", "the meaning of life , illustrated in an adorable , deadpan comedy .", "discerning and heartfelt little masterpiece .", "the movie 's gentle humor and offbeat whimsy prove that humanity trumps bureaucratic foolishness , in norway or anywhere else .", "rather than simply beating the dead horse of utopian socialist engineering plans , MOV serves to champion human irrepressibility and unpredictability ." ], "summary": "by turns touching and funny , this norwegian import offers quietly absorbing commentary on modern life and friendship .", "id": "17194" }, { "movie": "king_kong", "reviews": [ "peter jackson has run the original 1933 MOV through his epic imaginarium and given us the year 's most thrilling entertainment . also its most heartbreaking love story .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- offers the most thrilling movie moments of 2005 and crafts a lovely relationship between its beauty and beast . but ultimately , this kong is just too much .", "jackson 's competent remake is certainly worth a look , but it 's ultimately a kong too long and too much .", "it 's as if jackson got so excited about his creatures he forgot about his characters .", "MOV rules , and the big ape 's reign is almost problem-free .", "peter jackson 's new movie is the king of kongs .", "jackson spoils us with riches in this film , with one impossible sequence after another ; the result is overwhelming but pleasantly so .", "remakes simply do n't get any more respectful -- or more inspired -- than this .", "monstrous . monumental . magnificent . use any term you want , there 's no denying the power , genius and spectacle of MOV , which is certainly the biggest movie of the year and possibly the biggest movie ever made .", "while one can not deny his giant-sized filmmaking gifts or his showmanship , nor can we ignore how thin the air of self-importance feels by the time every last digital effect has been pulled out of the magic bag .", "a first-rate action flick and a compelling drama that will leave you with tears welling up in your eyes .", "this time beauty -- and a touch of vaudeville -- soothes the savage beast .", "gargantuan . colossal . stupendous . `` MOV '' is every bit as big as its hype . bigger , in fact .", "jackson took a huge risk with MOV . but the movie that no film lover wanted him to make is sure to become the blockbuster that everyone is going to want to see , and with good reason .", "should remind burned-out viewers why they started loving movies in the first place ... jackson gives even the biggest scenes a handmade , geekily obsessive feel .", "the shaggy downsides of MOV should n't keep it from pounding its chest as the box-office monster of the holiday season . you can run , but you ca n't hide .", "the lengthy set up of jackson 's MOV is essential if we are too find the love itself at all plausible .", "packed with enough edge-of-your-seat / did-i-just-see-that / goose-bumpy popcorn pleasure for a year 's worth of blockbusters .", "a stout , muscly heart of a movie whose rhythmic , colossal beats are echoed by murmurs of plangent nostalgia , both for the original movie and , in an odd way , for itself .", "MOV is n't terrible , but it 's something that none of jackson 's previous movies ever was -- it 's enervating .", "a bloated , deeply flawed misfire shot by a technical wizard given carte blanche based on his past success .", "voici une autre r\u00e9alisation monumentale de jackson .", "exhausting , in the visceral , adrenal way a good adventure should be . comparing ` war of the worlds ' and this particular ` kong , ' peter jackson out-spielbergs steven spielberg .", "cgi spectacle that smacks of self-importance and showbiz hustle p.t. barnum style .", "when it comes to the ultimate cinematic experience , MOV is about as good as it gets .", "made with consummate imagination and skill , but still largely superfluous .", "... peter jackson delivers the re-invention of the modern monster movie that godzilla failed to achieve .", "`` it was beauty that killed the beast , '' remarks carl denham at the conclusion of peter jackson 's bloated MOV , but he might as well have been referring to jackson 's formerly obese figure suffocating all the life out of his 2005 remake .", "this is a production that proves that even a great film can have a remake that is better . i just wish willis o'brien were around and could look what they 've done to his kong .", "other than jackson 's insufferable commentary on filmmaking at the beginning , kong is thrilling and tragic .", "they do n't really make movies like this anymore ; i do n't know if they ever did .", "`` MOV '' is a rare film that would be improved with a `` director 's cut '' that excised rather than added .", "this kong is high-powered entertainment , but jackson pushes too hard and loses momentum over the more than three hours of the movie .", "this is a great thrill ride with the occasionally beautiful moment , as when kong and ann admire a sunset . pay no attention to the december 14th release date , i think this is really a classic summer movie .", "spectacular in the way it gives us what we expect and then some , and manages to find sincerity within a premise that , in this day and age , comes preloaded with irony .", "a sensational performance by naomi watts as the beauty who makes even a truly fierce beast beautiful just by loving him .", "although far too long at three hours -lrb- the original was only 100 minutes -rrb- , with far too many special effects-driven fight scenes involving horrible monsters , it 's still a smashing love story .", "MOV is an adrenaline-pumping joyride that you wo n't soon forget . however , what really makes this a masterpiece is that jackson understands every emotional beat of the story .", "after lotr , jackson could have done kangaroo jack ii and he still would have been a legend . but he tried to up the ante and create a picture as vast and as charismatic as his award-winning trilogy .", "naomi watts distinguishes herself in a luminous , star-making turn as ann -- warm , funny , charismatic , and far more than you 'd expect from the damsel in distress .", "jackson puts his passion for epics to good use and creates film magic", "this lackluster cure for insomnia might have been more palatable without so many distracting digressions and pared down to a manageable ninety minutes or so . zzzz ... zzzz ... zzzz ...", "despite admirable chest thumping and watts ' wonderfully enhanced scream , there is still only one true king .", "funny , frightening , romantic , nostalgic , moving and grimly fatalistic , it races along , like its central character , with a speed and grace that utterly belies its great size .", "a phenomenal popcorn movie that eclipses the original in several respects , but inevitably owes a huge debt to the powerful imagery and innovation of the 1930s landmark .", "i wish jackson would shake off his addiction to gigantism , his apparent need to punch everything up three times as much as it needs to be .", "mr. jackson not only improves on the original , he somehow seems to create the film that MOV was always meant to be .", "a bit more time in the editing room could 've lifted it into great blockbuster territory . instead we 've got a sporadically entertaining escapade that never captures our hearts like it so desperately wants too .", "kong is a showy , state-of-the-art popcorn movie , faithful to the spirit of the 1933 original but generously adrenalized with the best effects money can buy .", "a big , bold , gigantor of an action movie that 's part head-knocking smackdown , part intimate beauty and the beast and thoroughly entertaining a lot of the time .", "given the excessive length and bombastic f/x , there 's too much action and precious little poetry .", "with a wizard at the helm , there are times when re-makes can be glorious things .", "gives new meaning to the expression , ` lem me go , ya big ape ! '", "jackson is filmmaker and entertainer enough to use all the technology at his disposal without losing sight of the sublimely improbable story of beast and beauty , and the exquisitely realized islands they call home .", "by stretching everything out to epic length , jackson has taken on well more than his source material -- reproduced with fervent love -- can support .", "this is one of the year 's best films .", "you 've seen it all before but most assuredly never like this .", "MOV is a colossal creature feature !", "a marvelous entertainment , a great big thumping movie-movie that stands beside , all the while honoring , the greatness of the original .", "sheer delight , the perfect synthesis of mainstream action flick and sobering philosophical musing on the nature of love in an imperfect world", "mostly entertaining , but suffers from various excesses .", "kong has heart , and he 's willing to show it in a movie made with wit , excitement and moments of visionary beauty .", "the unrelenting computer-animated action suffocates what seems to have been the movie 's main purpose , to expand on the kong-ann relationship .", "jackson , the visionary , has a tin ear . the dialogue , even if you cut it some slack for camp , is awful .", "the greatest ape of all .", "'t was overkill killed the beast .", "our response to the ape 's doom , once touched by authentic tragedy , is now marked by relief that this wretchedly excessive movie is finally over .", "to borrow from an old joke , peter jackson 's MOV is thirty minutes of spectacular entertainment spread out over a three hour movie .", "an intermittently fearsome but clumsy colossus that keeps tripping over its own feet .", "an exhilarating , stupendously produced example of old-fashioned movie magic by a filmmaker working at the very height of his creative powers .", "despite all the overkill and side trips , the film still succeeds at telling the story of a woman and the gorilla who loves her .", "... jackson has honored it with a film that not only stands next to the original but often surpasses it .", "jackson has n't realized just his own dream but the collective dream of everyone who sees the movie screen as a window into the fantastic .", "however jawdropping the big effects -lrb- there 's a dinosaur stampede and some giant white worms who suck men into their squishy maws -rrb- , they 're tenderly elbowed aside by scenes of tender intimacy .", "the result is a three-hour epic on par with his lord of the rings trilogy both in scale and thematic relevance , securing jackson 's reputation as the next great event filmmaker and heir to steven spielberg .", "a travelogue through popular movie genres , it passes from socially conscious drama to comedy , romance , horror , adventure , science-fiction fantasy and doomed love story , cleverly quoting the styles and tropes to which we 've become accustomed along the way .", "most great movies are lucky to have a handful of moments to remember ; MOV has at least two dozen .", "jackson is a visionary filmmaker who is not only a technical wizard but also a master storyteller .", "peter jackson 's remake is as much a tribute to the old , seat-of-the-pants spirit of early motion pictures as it is an exercise in technological bravura .", "peter jackson is the savior of the modern blockbuster . he gets it .", "spectacular , clumsy , hilarious , ludicrously self-indulgent , terrifying and far too long , peter jackson 's remake of the 1933 classic is a monster in every sense .", "not that it matters what i say , but i do recommend seeing it . first two thirds are gold .", "say what you will about peter jackson , he knows how to deliver a money shot .", "there are lots of reasons we go to the movies , and MOV celebrates and showcases all of them .", "a very good remake . but kong 1933 is still king , baby .", "peter jackson 's remake of the 1933 classic is a loving homage that recreates and updates many of the familiar sequences ... unfortunately , the recreation leaves one wondering what , exactly , the point of the film is , other than indulging the director ...", "every now and then , an undertaking like kong comes around , and it underscores the truly extraordinary accomplishment of directing a film .", "it takes a while to get everybody to skull island , about 70 minutes , but it 's time extremely well-spent .", "it clocks in at over three hours , but peter jackson 's remake of the 1933 classic is gripping nonetheless .", "as it is a remake , it does n't have the shock lord of the rings possessed upon its release , but this is a beautiful beast of a b-movie , thrilling and touching .", "the movie is a good cautionary example of what happens when its maker is too close to the material , who ca n't see the forest for the trees , the story for the ape .", "fails to match the simple , handmade artistry of the original", "kong is not without its flaws , but sometimes you just have to throw your hands up in the air , wave them like you just do n't care , scream at the top of your lungs and just go with the rollercoaster ride , that 's what this film is .", "overlong by half , hedonistically animated and decadently self-indulgent MOV is beastly to be sure , but there is little beauty here .", "fitfully extraordinary yet largely lackluster .", "editor jamie selkirk has been with jackson since he was making 85 minute zombie movies and really should have stepped up , not that fans will complain about the excess .", "-lsb- jackson -rsb- delivers three solid hours of breathless , enchanting entertainment .", "the popcorn movie of the millennium , setting a new standard for special effects wizardry .", "often wondrous to behold and enormously exciting -lrb- and , amazingly , even occasionally moving -rrb- , but also way too long and at times exhaustingly elaborate .", "in the process of modernizing kong , jackson has made his film a mix of ungodly spectacle and masturbatory overkill .", "grab yourself a couple of big tubs of popcorn and get ready to have one heck of a good time at the movies .", "while jackson 's ` kong ' may not be a great film , it offers plenty of good fun , and few moviegoers will leave the theater griping that they did n't get their money 's worth .", "... you can feel the director beating his chest on top of the highest cliff .", "it 's an epic experience , three solid hours of high-flying entertainment and special effects wizardry", "it 's the rare kind of movie that makes too much seem like a good idea .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- a special-effects extravaganza that pummels us senseless . something 's gone wrong if our strongest emotional response to kong 's conclusion is relief .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- reminds us of why we first fell in love with kong and hollywood movies in general .", "in a word , jackson 's MOV is spectacular , awesome , phenomenal and breathtaking . ok , so i ca n't boil it down to one word .", "at three hours , jackson 's kong is too bloated and digressive to match the pure adrenaline of the first film , perhaps the finest b-movie ever made .", "vertiginous , virtuoso filmmaking that dovetails into palpable emotional conflict , and vice versa .", "with MOV -lrb- 2005 -rrb- , jackson has made a film that if you do n't like it , you might just hate movies .", "peter jackson 's MOV provides a good , stirring , heroic-sized motion-picture event , without ever quite moving one the way his lord of the rings epics did .", "with a superb cast , terrific special effects and stunning action sequences , this is one of the best films of the year - thrilling , awe-inspiring and genuinely moving .", "MOV is spectacular but spectacularly flawed , filled with several awe inspiring moments but ultimately undone by a director who is so in love with his subject that he is too blind to see when enough is enough .", "MOV has its trivial share of shortcomings . nevertheless , a generously solid escapist piece of entertainment filled with wonderment and calculating verve .", "jackson has proven that he can out-spielberg spielberg when it comes to over-the-top action , but anytime the fur is n't flying , he really needs an editor . no , i mean really .", "kong whips naomi about with enough fury to induce whiplash . said brody : `` i 've heard of shaken baby syndrome , but this baby 's head is about to fly off like a pebble in a slingshot ! ''", "the interplay between watts ' melancholy blond and the great ape is almost too real to be believed . it 's touching and heartfelt in a way even modernistic , non-effects-driven films ca n't manage .", "for pure , abundant cinematic joyfulness , peter jackson 's latest magnum opus rocks out like several large boulders at a led zeppelin concert .", "audiences today , just like those in 1933 , pay to see a spectacle , and that 's where MOV most disappoints .", "indiana jones goes to jurassic park in the reigning king of computer graphic monkey business , MOV -- 2005 .", "jackson 's love and nostalgia for his beast is what kills the movie .", "the result features special effects that will make your jaw drop .", "jackson 's dangerous decision to do a period remake of MOV , a classic long established as part of modern folklore , has , on the whole , paid off .", "it 's clear that like the lord of the rings trilogy , jackson lovingly took his feelings and appreciations and created a film that is mind-numbingly comprehensive .", "i 'm still deciding whether it 's a terrific entertainment with some unfortunate excesses -lrb- mostly length -rrb- or an immediate classic that can reside on the same shelf as the original .", "-lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- could have been shorter , especially in the first third , but this is a minor nitpick of a film that is tremendously entertaining and wonderfully crafted .", "it can not be oversold : jackson is so far ahead of every director making these epic , effects-laden event movies that it 's really not even fair .", "like black 's craven filmmaker , jackson swells into a madman impresario , so hell-bent on topping himself that he does n't know when to cut and run .", "it was n't beauty killed the beast ... it was bloat .", "three big hours of monkey business ... overwrought and self-indulgent to a fault", "-lsb- i -rsb- f jackson set out to make a film that would blow minds , child and adult alike ... then he has succeeded enormously ...", "this is what they try to say when you hear , `` an experience awaits you at the movies , '' folks .", "action movies often devalue acting , but watts ' performance turns MOV from a monster movie to an epic tragedy .", "there 's a lot to be absorbed by your eyes , plenty of the sort of awesome visuals you 'd expect . but , for a movie so painstakingly noisy , there simply is n't too much worth perking up your ears for .", "there 's no denying the monumentality of jackson 's achievement , which intermittently lives up to denham 's showbiz credo : ` magic for the price of a ticket . '", "too big for its own good , too pure of heart to diminish , brawling , magnificent , heroic and flawed : that 's MOV , and that 's MOV .", "peter jackson has done the impossible and followed up with ring trilogy with an equally entertaining flick .", "peter jackson delivers an update possessing raw power and a pure heart .", "this ` kong ' is not better than the superb original , but it is just as good .", "the greatest charm of the new ` MOV ' comes when ann darrow -lrb- naomi watts -rrb- bonds with her 20-foot primate boyfriend .", "excess has never felt so spectacular ... but there 's nothing here a good editor could n't have improved -lrb- had he been allowed to -rrb- .", "a nearly seamless blend of cutting edge technology with much of the original 's sensibility - jackson 's giant ape may be a special effect , but he is also a real character .", "does it improve on its landmark predecessor ? of course not . but on its own terms , this new interpretation gets the job done in often spectacular fashion .", "digno de ser llamado , la octava maravilla del mundo .", "this is one of the best movies of the decade !", "warning . flashback and long personal reminiscence ahead .", "every scene in the new ` MOV ' strains to be the biggest , most pulverizing , in-your-face spectacle that you 've ever experienced .", "jackson has created a world effective enough to draw you in and , a few stupid exceptions aside , keep you engrossed for three solid hours .", "it 's the giant ape who makes it worth the trip to the box office - at least once .", "ann and kong 's romance drives the film . at once sensational and heartrending , it 's an intimacy that ca n't last .", "it may have been beauty that killed the beast , but it was genius that brought him back to life .", "one of the season 's most enjoyable films - even if it 's a wee bit overlong .", "kong 's eye-popping array of cinematic tricks reflects the filmmaking philosophy of a director for whom anything worth doing is worth overdoing , then doing to death .", "one of those mad movies , like moulin rouge ! or burton 's charlie and the chocolate factory , that fully justifies and deserves all the best and worst that can be said for or against them .", "jackson 's kong is as much homage as remake -- and that may well be its strength and its weakness in one package", "peter jackson , naomi watts and andy serkis are the triple threat that makes this the best ` kong ' yet", "this massive flick is warm and nostalgic , dark and dangerous , sly and sweet , delicate , ferocious , and enthralling in a way that only great movies can be . plus it 's got , like , a million monsters in it .", "if you can look past the places where it does n't hang together , kong is a tremendous entertainment , as passionate a movie as any little self-financed indie film you want to name this year .", "here 's to the big one", "seriously , dude - every movie does n't need to be as long as a stupid nfl game .", "... a technical achievement that lacks the soul of something really good .", "spectacle filmmaking at it 's peak .", "an action adventure with heart . it 's the kind of movie experience you want to see on the big screen .", "for all the technical wizardry on display in director peter jackson 's MOV , there are overtones of insecurity here and there .", "jackson peca de la misma megaloman\u043da que estir\u0443 y arruin\u0443 parcialmente los \u044altimos 45 minutos de el regreso del rey -lrb- ... -rrb-", "em meio a tanta a\u0437\u0433o , jackson consegue criar uma hist\u0443ria de amor veross\u043dmil entre um gorila de 8 metros e uma fr\u0431gil loira . n\u0433o d\u0431 pra exigir mais do que isso , n\u0433o \u0439 mesmo ?", "the one remake to rule them all !", "hokey and clich\u00e9d in parts , thrilling and dramatic at other times , MOV is reminiscent of both jurassic park and titanic . and like those two record-setting epics , it is certain to be a huge hit .", "alongside the adrenalized rushes , jackson and his colleagues locate the humor , affection and heartbreak in its big story .", "this gorilla of a film is blockbuster of the year .", "jackson again reminds us that he 's a genius .", "that jackson 's MOV upgrades the now hammy original with wit , heart and humour is a pleasant surprise . that it does so by reinventing the action blockbuster , in form and emotional impact , is nothing less than an act of cinematic alchemy .", "peter jackson may have lost weight , but he has n't lost his gluttony . there is no excuse for the 3 hour and 7 minute running time of MOV . hollywood needs an enema , and peter jackson needs an editor .", "at three hours , seven minutes and jam-packed with larger-than-life action sequences -- this film is as big as kong himself . you 'll get your money 's worth .", "this is what it means to go to the theater and watch a big movie made with love , care , and intelligence .", "my favorite part is when the guy said ` boobies ' because ` boobies ' is funny .", "take out much of the middle hour , with all its digital clutter and `` smackdown '' - style card of creature villains , and what is majestic entertainment could 've been an all-time great .", "jackson 's ape is so fully realized as a specific ` realistic ' character that he lacks the metaphorical resonance of the 1933 kong , who seemed a creature captured from a nightmare rather than from nature .", "MOV is what a big event movie should be -lrb- wow wow wow wow wow -rrb- .", "if you 're looking for a rollercoaster ride , you 'll love it -- as long as you do n't mind a nice hour-long carriage ride through central park first .", "MOV ushers in a subtext -- via a path of spectacular , epic adventure -- that we should preserve endangered species at all costs .", "... -lsb- peter -rsb- jackson knows what it takes to make an exciting film .", "peter jackson ... overindulges his childlike wonder , and the result is a monster movie on steroids .", "the best thing about peter jackson 's MOV may be that his attachment to the project likely kept anybody else from getting the job .", "three hours of magnificent escapist entertainment .", "jackson 's MOV is a throwback film , depending on you to approach it with a sort of wide-eyed innocence you might 've forgotten you had . it 's loud and unbelievable . it 's supposed to be . there are n't any 25-foot-tall gorillas in this world", "too much of not enough .", "i watched the last hour of the film with a knot in my stomach , the result of a combination of the love story and the brilliant special effects .", "more than just homage or a valentine to the original . jackson is a romantic and is playing don juan with the rko classic , to the audience and the outright joy of filmmaking .", "if it receives no other award , it virtually demands recognition for its screenplay -- a spectacular that takes us to a very unexpected region of the heart .", "those who enjoy jackson 's previous films will probably forgive the movie 's pacing and storytelling problems once the action kicks into high gear", "overlong and diffuse , jackson 's remake is a hybrid of horror , disaster , adventure , and romance genres , delivering proficiently the basic goods , while referencing such blockbusters as raiders of the lost ark , jurassic park , and titanic .", "a hugely enjoyable , eye-popping movie that pushes all the right buttons .", "worth seeing , especially on the big screen .", "smashing good fun .", "what 's up on screen is rarely short of staggering .", "the $ 200 million-plus spectacle is funny when it wants to be , exhilarating when it needs to be and a sentimental triumph at the end .", "peter jackson 's MOV is the most thrilling , soulful monster picture ever made . at last , it can be said without irony -- i laughed , i cried .", "this is spectacle filmmaking at its best , where a director is in tune with the story 's underlying emotions and his own boyish love for adventure fantasy .", "silly , pointless and obscenely overproduced .", "kong is brilliant in many , many places . but it overwhelms its own best qualities with its sheer , punishing size . it is , literally , too much of a good thing .", "jackson was again driven by a vision that no one else could see until he put it on the screen , and the result is as close as effects-driven spectacle will likely ever get to personal storytelling .", "serkis ' contribution truly is something we 've never seen , an entirely new category of computer-enhanced acting . with not a word of dialogue , he brings to life a close cousin to man with whom we can empathize , yet is never too human-like .", "one hundred eighty-seven minutes of mesmerization , astonishment , thrills , chills , spills , kills and ills , peter jackson 's big monkey picture show is certainly the best popular entertainment of the year .", "this kong will move you in surprising ways .", "it starts too slowly and suffers from weak dialogue and less-than-epic acting . but as popcorn movies go , this is the year 's popcorniest .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- uses newfangled computer-generated technology to bring us closer to the big guy than ever before . close enough to read the emotions on his face , and would n't you know : kong is just another lonely guy , looking for love .", "there are some dazzling moments and remarkably clunky ones , a stitched together mixture of old and new , a genre tour that jumps in tone from jaunty comedy to sci-fi horror to laboured social commentary .", "in the end , an homage is all this is . but given the size , scope and volume herein , that 's plenty . it 's all about kong , and this movie goes ape delivering him .", "fancy outweighs the ferocious , but the film 's also brazen enough to be unmissable .", "the first hour is a bore but a necessary gift to watts . each remaining frame is awesome though i could have done without beauty 's version of a simian lap dance .", "potent stuff .", ".", "MOV sets a new standard for action movies , and maybe for movie romances , too . you feel almost privileged to be in the presence of such an awesomely accomplished and exhilarating picture .", "why make a king kongfilm now ? since it has been recycled several times , trotting out a new version exposes the story to how it still uses black and white tropes .", "MOV is dang long .", "it was an overabundance of enthusiasm that killed the story .", "the only slipup is a forgivable one . jackson continues to be reluctant to leave a world he has so magnificently created . at a little over three hours , MOV is a bit of a bum-number .", "again , jackson proves himself an unbeatable showman with the soul of a poet . he crafts and composes his action sequences like symphonies , with the most eye-popping crescendos .", "christmas came early this year in `` MOV . ''", "this is naomi watts ' and kong 's movie and together they create magic onscreen .", "peter jackson 's MOV is all things cinema , in the hands of a clever but overindulged filmmaker .", "lost is the depression era fear of exploitation and now it is only beauty to fear .", "although MOV is spectacular , its power does n't reside in its glittering vision of 1933 manhattan , jackson 's virtuoso flourishes or his computer-generated effects . it 's so much simpler : when the gorilla touches the girl , he touches our hearts .", "jackson balances these tender moments with slam-bang action sequences the likes of which have n't been seen since jurassic park or titanic -- and surpasses them .", "it is so good , it might make you cry .", "in the end , `` kong '' lands with a resounding thud .", "it is too bad that jackson and his co-screenwriters , philippa boyens and fran walsh , felt the need to turn a simple adventure story into a bloated three-hour extravaganza .", "director peter jackson carries MOV to new heights .", "good things do come in big packages . the trick for any filmmaker is to find the small movie within the big one , which is exactly what peter jackson does in MOV .", "finally , a film worth going bananas over .", "i 'm sorry mr. spielberg ; you 've just relinquished your title . peter jackson is now the reigning god of awesome movies .", "easily one of the year 's most gut-wrenching tragedies , and it 's a pretty good action-adventure movie too .", "the impact of peter jackson 's MOV is as massive as the gigantic gorilla itself , a spectacle to marvel at , but most importantly , a story with which we can connect emotionally .", "a bona fide work of genius .", "scary and sensational - simply the most spectacular creature feature ever made !", "this remake is thrilling on every level . even if it 's also rather self-indulgent .", "here is the jaw-dropping , eye-popping , heart-stopping movie epic we 've been waiting for all year .", "credible grasshoppers .", "the sight of the mighty ape taking futile swipes at bullet-spitting biplanes from the top of the empire state building remains one of the most awe-inspiring and utterly sad images in movie history .", "a colossal holiday treat that 's technologically mind-blowing yet heartwarmingly endearing .", "on the upside , however , that first hour is followed by a two-hour roller coaster ride that climaxes with a breathtaking finale atop the empire state building in new york city .", "along with james cameron and steven spielberg , peter jackson is one of a select few hollywood filmmakers who truly understands how to marry spectacle and emotion .", "a lavish , high-octane epic . MOV has a welcome heart to go along with its razzle-dazzle , but it is a heart that alternates between hot and cold .", "everything about director peter jackson 's MOV update is bigger than the 1933 original . that 's too say , the film is longer , more technically elaborate and -- by today 's standards -- more exciting than the original film .", "remake que supera en muchas cosas al original y que demuestra el talento y la magia para contar historias de uno de los genios contempor\u00e1neos del cine .", "for the most part , a chest-beating , banana-eating riot .", "as for kong himself , although the computer has played a large part in his creation , he could never be considered as anything less than real .", "this is a splendid matinee show and also easily the best blockbuster flick of 2005 .", "the movie seals jackson 's reputation : he 's the most gifted big-picture artist working today , a master of epics from a human-eye view who excels at employing 21st-century technological wizardry to suit the needs of ageless , personal storytelling .", "despite uncessary padding and languid pacing , MOV is a visually gorgeous spectacle that deserves to be seen on the big screen", "what could have been jackson 's folly is a triumph , the kind of romantic action spectacle that makes the big screen silver and provides box-office gold . puts the prime in primate ." ], "summary": "featuring state-of-the-art special effects , terrific performances , and a majestic sense of spectacle , peter jackson 's remake of MOV is a potent epic that 's faithful to the spirit of the 1933 original .", "id": "24220" }, { "movie": "sweet_home_alabama", "reviews": [ "melanie eventually slugs the yankee . too bad the former murphy brown does n't pop reese back .", "never rises above the level of tv sitcom mediocrity .", "using her blond , blue-eyed pout to full advantage , witherspoon is just as likable as a southern belle as she was as a california sorority girl in legally blonde .", "a horrifyingly predictable romantic comedy that , unlike legally blonde , ca n't coast even partially on the formidable charm of suddenly-a-star reese witherspoon .", "reese witherspoon stars in a startlingly well-written and enjoyable romantic comedy full of laughs and finely crafted characters .", "the battle of the country spouse versus the city spouse - either way , reese is the winner . cute movie .", "director andy tennant works straight out of the romantic-comedy playbook , right down to the big kiss in the fake rainstorm .", "if one defines a ` movie star ' as an actress/actor whose presence can carry , even elevate , a mediocre movie , reese witherspoon is definitely a movie star . despite the predictable plot and cliche stereotypes , her irresistable charisma makes it frothy and am", "every time you look , MOV is taking another bummer of a wrong turn .", "about the best that can be said about MOV is that it will make a good airplane movie -- it 's bland , mostly inoffensive , and predictable enough that you can nap through large sections and not get lost .", "it 's leaden and predictable , and laughs are lacking .", "light to the point of disposability , MOV is a small screwball comic idea that spins out far too long .", "finally a light romantic comedy with more smarts than it really needs .", "a banal , virulently unpleasant excuse for a romantic comedy .", "a romantic comedy so rote , dull and predictable that it makes you 've got mail seem innovative and fresh .", "MOV is one dumb movie , but its stupidity is so relentlessly harmless that it almost wins you over in the end .", "MOV certainly wo n't be remembered as one of -lsb- witherspoon 's -rsb- better films .", "a charming piece of cinema fluff .", "reese witherspoon may be at that precious and precarious point in an actor 's career where she can do no wrong . i do n't know if she 's enjoying the ride , but i sure am .", "for a film that 's being advertised as a comedy , MOV is n't as funny as you 'd hoped . for a film that 's being advertised as a comedy , MOV is n't as funny as you 'd hoped .", "loads on the sappy romance , but still manages to be ` cute ' and entertaining .", "MOV is n't going to win any academy awards , but this date-night diversion will definitely win some hearts .", "lame sweet home leaves no southern stereotype unturned .", "i enjoyed witherspoon and the local color , but i am so very tired of the underlying premise .", "will the parties responsible for kidnapping reese witherspoon and putting a grinning replicant in her place please bring her back ?", "this is an insanely mediocre , trite hollywood-style romantic comedy with nary an unpredictable moment .", "if it were n't for witherspoon , the only thing we 'd remember about `` MOV '' is its classic title song .", "witherspoon 's natural charm and grace propel this vehicle . her winning personality helps you overcome or ignore the movie 's weaknesses .", "by all accounts , this is a typical romantic comedy , but the traditional story arc is overshadowed by its terrific cast .", "the lyrics to the old skynyrd song may say that , `` i miss alabamy once again/and i think it 's a sin '' , but to miss this alabamy would probably be a good idea .", "overly eager-to-please pic is as formulaic as any sitcom and is the first film to feature rising star reese witherspoon in an unintentionally unflattering light .", "it 's no surprise that reese witherspoon 's headlong jump into romantic comedy does n't live up to classic or modern date movie standards .", "witherspoon is sweet enough to convince us that she 'd throw over the country 's most eligible bachelor for a southern shack-dweller .", "reese witherspoon is a good actress . her talent and charisma were enough to save legally blonde , but there is n't an actor on this planet gifted enough to rescue this .", "safe , satisfying but hardly exciting ... the cinematic equivalent of caffeine-free coke .", "this is one of the most painful , loathesomey , unfunny big studio , mainstream star vehicle comedies i 've had to sit through in a long time .", "sweet relies heavily on the charms of its lead performer . unfortunately , not even the talented witherspoon can sell everything that the film throws at us .", "the worst use of a skynrd song since karaoke night at hooters .", "making only a minimal effort to be any different ... than the hundreds of other forgettable , predictable , almost-married-the-wrong-guy romantic comedies that have come before it ...", "MOV is a sweet treat that really tastes good after the bland entr\u00e9e of september movies that we have been forced to digest .", "that ` alabama ' manages to be pleasant in spite of its predictability and occasional slowness is due primarily to the perkiness of witherspoon -lrb- who is always a joy to watch , even when her material is not first-rate -rrb- ...", "the new reese witherspoon confection MOV is so strained and feel-good that it 's like a southern belle talking through grinding teeth .", "a movie with a more sitcomic premise you are unlikely to find .", "i did n't mind when reese witherspoon dyed her career legally blonde , but i found it downright disappointing to watch it go south in MOV .", "if you can tolerate the redneck-versus-blueblood cliches that the film trades in , MOV is diverting in the manner of jeff foxworthy 's stand-up act .", "an excruciatingly dull rehash .", "MOV may be sweet and small and inconsequential , but it offers the privileged experience of watching two stars being born .", "this is a feel-good movie that does just that .", "witherspoon is such a delight -- her comic timing so good , and her pixie-ish good looks so fascinating -- that she manages to make MOV seem charming and funny .", "as predictable as a florida election controversy , as wholly amusing as a cold plate of grits .", "witherspoon puts the sweet in the sugary `` MOV . ''", "whether you 're a bustling businessperson in a busy city a laidback local in the middle of nowhere , MOV will make you smile .", "reese witherspoon is one of those actors we enjoy watching , even when we think the film she 's serving is rather ordinary .", "reese is fun to watch , as always , but you do have to ask yourself whether or not you want to witness one of the best actresses ever trading in her talent for a big paycheck .", "much like a balloon , this bland star vehicle is glaringly bright , light as helium and completely empty in the middle .", "witherspoon deserves credit for turning a sow 's ear into a silk purse with just a smile .", "witherspoon makes this slick and unfelt comedy more entertaining than it has any right to be .", "excruciatingly ordinary and unimaginative , and excruciatingly slow about spinning out its paltry little story .", "it 's fairly clear that the film is pressing the idea that country/roots is real and good , and city/relocated is false and noxious .", "MOV '' is what it is - a nice , harmless date film ...", "this movie is phony , phony , phony .", "it 's official . reese witherspoon is the new meg ryan .", "witherspoon has charmed her way through weak material before , but she 's too inexperienced to save the character from director andy tennant , whose main achievement here is to turn his star 's natural twinkling menace into malice .", "as flat as bad moonshine .", "if MOV , directed by andy tennant from a screenplay by c. jay cox , has the ingredients for a classic screwball comedy , the movie is in such a rush to entertain that it barely connects the dots of its story .", "watching this romantic comedy is like biting into a much-anticipated homemade pie ... and finding a fingernail .", "the densest distillation of roberts ' movies ever made .", "the movie is genial but never inspired , and little about it will stay with you .", "to call the film contrived would imply that some sort of effort had been made , when MOV is nothing but dead lazy and slow .", "-lsb- witherspoon -rsb- turns this standard screenplay into enjoyable fare with her smile alone .", "director/screenwriter andy tennant did himself a huge service by hiring the impossible - not-to-like witherspoon", "i love reese witherspoon but hate cruel , dismissive disregard for nice characters . warning-spoiler ahead .", "die-hard fans of witherspoon and the romantic comedy genre will probably find enough to like in this film to make it worth a trip to the theater . everyone else would be best served by spending their hard-earned money on something else .", "shallow .", "makes smokey and the bandit look like to kill a mockingbird .", "offers very little genuine romance and even fewer laughs ... a sad sitcom of a movie , largely devoid of charm .", "has the unlikely distinction of rendering witherspoon shrill , dull , and during one ugly drunken tirade , irredeemable .", "the movie weighs no more than a glass of flat champagne .", "even in this less-than-magic kingdom , reese rules .", "pure formula , right down to melanie 's final choice , which will come as no surprise to anyone paying attention .", "the film 's comedy is too broad , flat , occasionally forced and predictable to be as enjoyable or entertaining as it could and should have been .", "if you 're a fan of witherspoon , this movie was produced , shot , edited and distributed entirely for you .", "physical charms are no match for the generic predictability of the story .", "there is n't nearly enough fun here , despite the presence of some appealing ingredients .", "there 's something positively mind-numbing about the relentless predictability of MOV .", "as formualic as an overfed baby , MOV wo n't surprise or dazzle . but , thanks to reese witherspoon , it 's a likable confection , bound to cause a gurgle or two .", "we 've seen all of these elements before , and neither the cast nor the filmmakers succeed at breathing new life into them .", "MOV is the latest picture to give you the sense that hollywood filmmakers simply plucked another old pop-tune title ripe for ripping off , then were shaken by the rude reality of coming up with a script to jerry-build around it .", "reese witherspoon makes the proverbial silk purse out of a sow 's ear in the romantic comedy MOV , demonstrating how even the most mediocre of material can be redeemed by a convincing performance .", "with witherspoon 's charisma and the infectious efforts of a supporting cast , it 's hard not to like this trifling little stroll down memory lane - but not impossible .", "it 's a date movie where you laugh , have fun , and walk out reminded of just how wonderful and magical love can be .", "rescued from mediocrity by reese witherspoon .", "although the winsome actress is afforded the opportunity to demonstrate her usual perky persona , witherspoon can not lend her magic to this irritating and witless marshmellow of a movie .", "feels disingenuous at the end when it attempts to celebrate all that it had previously made fun of", "it 's a fairy tale you 've heard before , with nothing special to get your attention -- no zip , no snap , no zing .", "a disappointingly flat city mouse/country mouse comedy that ca n't seem to shovel on enough stale redneck gags .", "as she did in `` legally blonde , '' reese witherspoon manages to carry not only her part of the film but also drags almost everyone else through it , no matter how far fetched or implausible .", "` the story whipsaws back and forth between sentimental mush and outlandish cornball humor . '", "i 'm weary of being reduced to a stereotype . being from the south does n't mean i own the collected recordings of lynyrd skynyrd , re-enact civil war battles , and have confederate flag throw-pillows on my sofa .", "it 's hard not to be seduced by -lsb- witherspoon 's -rsb- charisma , even in this run-of-the-mill vehicle , because this girl knows how to drive it to the max .", "there simply is n't enough going on in the minds of these simpleton characters , let alone in the lugubrious plotting they 're stuck in , to care about any of it .", "entirely watchable and highly enjoyable thanks to reese witherspoon , and we should all prostrate ourselves before her as befits the goddess she is .", "MOV is the blue-ribbon winner of the low-expectation limbo .", "a sweet , breezy , guilty pleasure .", "do n't plan on the perfect ending , but MOV hits the mark with critics who escaped from a small town life .", "a perfect example of a movie that does as very little as possible", "despite her relentless vim and winsome facial symmetry , witherspoon is just too dialed-up to be america 's sweetheart .", "it is definitely worth seeing .", "a light , engaging comedy that fumbles away almost all of its accumulated enjoyment with a crucial third act miscalculation .", "familiar but utterly delightful .", "it 's as preposterous and phony as a confederate c-note , but reese witherspoon has so much natural beauty , talent and charm she guarantees more fun than the day the hogs ate willie .", "reese witherspoon is such a skilled comedienne that it 's a shame that people seem to prefer seeing her in films like MOV , which are completely unworthy of her talents .", "... minus the vivacious charm of its lead star , the movie would have easily been a waste of celluloid .", "` it 's painful to watch witherspoon 's talents wasting away inside unnecessary films like legally blonde and sweet home abomination , i mean , alabama . '", "witherspoon is so unquestionably likable that it speaks volumes that MOV can turn her into a grating ingrate who we neither root for nor comprehend .", "witherspoon and her huge forehead really were pretty funny and this movie was much better than her last effort , `` legally blonde . ''", "a hamfisted romantic comedy that makes our girl the hapless facilitator of an extended cheap shot across the mason-dixon line .", "any movie with reese witherspoon may or may not have it all , but with her in it , it certainly has more than enough .", "as chick flicks go , this is more than passable .", "if this is witherspoon 's idea of a good career move , someone get this woman a career counselor , pronto .", "here is a movie that asks us to adore a miserable young woman who wrecks lives , treats people like discarded biore strips and embodies the absolute worst side of metropolitan arrogance", "predictable mediocrity .", "i 'm glad i saw it !", "starts out great , but runs out of gas near the end .", "it 's a safe bet that the gutsy lynyrd skynyrd , particularly the outspoken and now deceased singer ronnie van zant , would not have approved .", "very predictable but still entertaining", "a romantic comedy , sans much of the comedy , this clunky reese witherspoon vehicle glows with the powerful allure of its shiny , irresistible young star but little else .", "diversi\u00f3n asegurada , justo el tipo de cintas que se necesita de vez en cuando ...", "would be an unendurable viewing experience for this ultra-provincial new yorker if 26-year-old reese witherspoon were not on hand to inject her pure fantasy character , melanie carmichael , with a massive infusion of old-fashioned hollywood magic .", "watching reese witherspoon in MOV is like looking at a daisy floating in a toilet : she 's the best thing in it , but you wonder what she 's doing there .", "fun and sweet .", "mediocre is too harsh a word-this film is merely average .", "... a well-intentioned but saccharine comedy ... in fact , that 's its problem . it does n't do much of anything but meet our lowest expectations .", "witherspoon 's charm keeps this movie afloat .", "a great date flick and a very charming , well acted movie ...", "witherspoon is not immune to the bland and processed feel to this rote romantic comedy .", "... a sporadically amusing yet entirely ineffective romantic comedy that ultimately squanders an expectedly charismatic turn from star reese witherspoon .", "any resemblance to reality is strenuously avoided in a piece of fluff made watchable by reese witherspoon . the blonde cookie with a sweet heart and the most formidable texan twang in tinseltown is too good to be appearing in lazy formula films .", "respons\u00e1vel direto pelo fracasso ` art\u00edstico ' de doce lar , o roteirista c. jay cox n\u0103o consegue sequer aproveitar os pouqu\u00edssimos momentos em que escapa da mediocridade ." ], "summary": "reese witherspoon is charming enough , but the road to alabama is well-traveled .", "id": "10199" }, { "movie": "die_hard", "reviews": [ "rent it on christmas eve and give that `` wonderful life '' -lsb- expletive deleted -rsb- a rest for one year .", "marks the peak of the 1980 's action boom that made mega-stars out of the likes of ah-nuld , stallone and van damme .", "a perfect action movie in every detail , the kind of movie that makes your summer memorable .", "the granddaddy of a whole genre of action films still remains sharp , tough , and exciting .", "it gets your heart pounding , then makes you hate yourself for it .", "inappropriate and wrongheaded interruptions reveal the fragile nature of the plot and prevent it from working .", "for an evening of edge-of-your-seat entertainment , you 'd be hard pressed to do much better .", "bruce willis discovered his movie legs in this superb action movie .", "... practically reinvented the action thriller , or at least resuscitated a moribund genre .", "it may seem , in measure , that watching this in lieu of frosty or rudolph violates a practice during a holiday known and based on custom . however true , there is a discernable heart in MOV .", "it 's good , dumb fun .", "an intelligent game of cat-and-mouse , complete with some proposterous situations , a lot of carnage , some male bonding , one strong woman , lots and lots of one-liners , and it even has a villain coming back from the dead for one last kiss goodnight .", "the pumped-up , high tech surprise hit of 1988 ; a triumph of slick direction and lowbrow thrills , marred but not spoiled by a sour aftertaste .", "great escapist action , but it 's still nothing more than an action movie % u2013 cinema 's version of a nice , tasty hamburger .", "... remains one of the most entertaining and flat-out thrilling examples of the action genre ...", "a serviceable if rather overextended and overblown adventure thriller .", "` a landmark film that breathed life and originality into an area of cinema where only formulas were proven reliable . '", "every so often a movie comes along whose concept sparks a flood of imitators . MOV is such a movie .", "a hi-tech thriller with a human heart .", "a seminal action film that created an entire subgenre . super action , but the key to its success is how it effectively pits willis ' common-man hero against rickman 's haughty arch-villain .", "superior star vehicle , but utterly insubstantial .", "an explosion-movie classic .", "there 's a reason why this film 's basic premise has been transplanted to every kind of building or transport known to man : it 's just that good .", "as a grand flourish of cinematic technique , it is awesome ; as a human drama , it is disgusting and silly , a mindless depiction of carnage on an epic scale .", "the very pinnacle of the '80s action movie , and if it 's not the greatest action movie ever made , then it 's damn close .", "an ingenious and ceaselessly self-renewing thriller that surpasses every seeming limitation .", "within the narrow framework of the hard-action genre , MOV is almost as good as it gets .", "willis gleefully strips down the action movie to a pretend game for children who like to fire guns and shoot bad guys . machismo may never be the same .", "MOV is probably the most manipulative movie i 've seen this year , but since it makes no bones about being manipulative and does it so well , this not only is n't a problem -- it 's fun .", "MOV is an action picture with a capital a . in fact , you might as well go ahead and capitalize the whole darn word .", "there are good performances from everyone in this long , often funny , very violent but exciting melodrama .", "a masterpiece of populist filmmaking .", "yippee-ki-yay , action fans .", "for all its moments of almost overwhelming cheese , MOV is still the definitive action thriller .", "for what it is , this is the top model -- flash , bang , and witty one-liners all included .", "the scenes move with such relentless energy and smashing special-effects extravagance that MOV turns out to be everything action-genre fans , and bruce willis 's relieved investors , might have hoped for .", "a landmark action film .", "the best action-thriller of the 20th century ... willis is the man ~", "high-tech cartoonish action thriller .", "in the first half of director john mctiernan 's movie , willis wears an undershirt . in the second half he gets rid of it . and that 's pretty much it for his performance .", "john mctiernan 's thriller-actioner is well executed , boasting a strong performance from bruce willis , which made him a big-screen star .", "original bruce willis violent actioner .", "MOV is a classic film . simply put , every single thing works .", "... not only the best action movie ever made but one of the very best of any genre .", "most of the action is run-of-the-mill hollywood blood and thunder , but a couple of scenes are unusually reprehensible .", "mctiernan , who directed last summer 's predator , composes the action cleanly and logically , making good use of jackson degovia 's elaborate post-modernist set-the building becomes something of a character in itself .", "MOV is in many ways the perfectly constructed action film , combining interior tension with exterior explosions .", "oh , man ! is this a classic or what !", "slower to get going than i remembered -- and that 's a good thing", "great pace , great gun battles , great fun .", "MOV is as high tech , rock hard and souped up as an action film can be ." ], "summary": "its many imitators -lrb- and sequels -rrb- have never come close to matching the taut thrills of the definitive holiday action classic .", "id": "16351" }, { "movie": "1212410-get_him_to_the_greek", "reviews": [ "one of the better cinematic portraits of a rock star in recent years but , unquestionably , the funniest film released so far in 2010 .", "those hoping for a summer celebration of wretched excess to rival the hangover need wait no longer .", "watching a bewildered fat man try to reign in an uncontrollable party animal is pretty funny .", "far from innovative and even farther from subtle , but it 's one of the more genuinely enjoyable products to come out of the apatow factory .", "when one of the funniest moments in the comedy you 've just made is the paul krugman cameo , you should wrap things up quickly .", "MOV is a fun ride that will lead you down some pretty corrupt paths . enjoy !", "it 's a shaggy tale containing a fair number of jokes that miss their intended targets by a wide berth . but the bits that do work -- and there are many -- are comic gold ; fans of raunchy cinema can do far worse .", "dares to go to some very dark places and does so without losing its absurdist bite", "`` just like its rock-star protagonist , this rollicking road comedy may be sloppy and disjointed , but it puts on one hell of a show . ''", "the setup is n't especially interesting or original , but the movie gets better as it goes through its paces .", "the concept is inspired , and the movie has some very funny moments . but about halfway through this long weekend , the frantic tale grows flimsy .", "MOV is a worthy companion piece to the underrated ` forgetting sarah marshall '", "get yourself to see the greek . it 's raunchy , tasteless , hilarious , and surprisingly poignant -lrb- at times -rrb- .", "like the best apatow films , this follow-up ties your emotions into the characters while your mind reels in convulsions of joy .", "you 'd think apatow 's dick flicks would have gotten tired by now , but for those who like this strain of humor , greek is another winner .", "the madness has method , even if it 's written in vomit .", "stoller ... apparently has major trust issues with his odd-couple stars , women and the audience . did i forget anybody ?", "with his sly send-up of the world of celebrity -lrb- e.g. , cause-of-the-week pageants , avaricious relatives penning tell-all books -rrb- , stoller 's take on the buddy road trip comedy is punch drunk fun .", "... an entertaining romp that ca n't quite muster up the majesty to rank with the classics of the comedic genre", "this is personality comedy , and brand and hill have it to spare .", "i do n't know how many comedies i 've seen over the past few years where i could count the number of laughs on my own two hands , but with MOV you 'd need as many extremities as a centipede to keep an accurate tab .", "a veering , careening joy ride of excess and heart .", "with diddy on the scene , playing -lrb- what else ? -rrb- a music exec , the movie is a very funny , often outrageously take on the music industry .", "making aldous regret his wicked ways is a buzz-kill of major proportions .", "brand and hill have an outrageous and hilarious blast that rocks and rolls with constant comedy .", "cheerfully profane in the manner of a dormitory bull session .", "it has enough bursts of hilarity sprinkled throughout it to be worth seeing .", "the movie is ultimately an intense buzz-kill for anyone wishing to indulge in some vicarious lifestyle vulgarity , as it comes across as too much of a downer in shining a light on the underlying ugliness of the excessive rock-star ethos .", "best described as a lovable train wreck .", "MOV , in all its raunchy glory , is the best comedy of 2010 -lrb- thus far -rrb- .", "stoller insists on investing his randy rock star with , you know , feelings . ... these moments of pathos take away from brand 's gift for scathing and transgressive comedy .", "an unappealing comedy about uninteresting people in the music business .", "-lsb- t -rsb- hose who prefer their comedy raunchy and unsubtle will have a good time .", "reaches its apex with a manic party scene that unleashes the full intimidation of p. diddy and guarantees the phrase `` stroke the furry wall '' a place in the comedy lexicon ...", "memo to self : i never want to see jonah hill 's bare behind again . nevertheless , this year 's judd apatow-produced , r-rated , raunchy breakout hit is going to be `` MOV . ''", "making brand 's character the center of this project results in a flick with a split personality : half gross-out comedy and half depressing biopic of a star besieged by drugs , drink and dysfunction . it 's far more sad than funny .", "it 's the classic buddy-road trip structure . a repressed character and a raging id go on a journey and we get all kinds of bad behavior and then some lessons learned", "one of the most surprisingly enjoyable and consistent comedies of the year .", "-lsb- has -rsb- several crazy sequences and plenty of hilarious , scattershot jokes .", "watching MOV feels like being at a party with a bunch of wasted people who think they 're funnier than they are .", "it 's like `` my favorite year , '' if peter o'toole had tried to smuggle a small bag of heroin through airport security by having mark linn-baker hide it inside himself .", "while it does contain a number of big laughs throughout , both the film and the character grow a bit tiresome after a while", "if the film had n't made a beeline toward the `` serious movie with a message '' category we could have had another hangover or tropic thunder on our hands .", "original buddy comedy is full of drugs , sex , rock 'n' roll .", "although not as consistently strong as its predecessor and losing a significant amount of steam near the end as it goes touchy-feely , this pic offers plenty of laughs , most of them extremely adult and risque in nature . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "granted , it 's only june and there is still plenty of 2010 left , but if the world were to end tomorrow , MOV would easily go down as the funniest movie of the year .", "it 's rare that a previously established side character , no matter how well loved , can deliver the goods in his own show . which is probably why nobody tries it with movies . well , nobody but the makers of MOV .", "a few too many grossout gags , but this is inspired lunacy , with p. diddy -lrb- ! -rrb- delivering one of the funniest performances of the year .", "MOV is a second-class act with a terrific front man . suddenly it feels safer to know that it 's brand reviving dudley moore 's role in a remake of arthur .", "needs more kristen bell .", "the basic tonal problem is established right at the outset : we are being invited to laugh at exotic limey aldous , whereas brand 's stand-up persona needs us to laugh with him and to see the world through his eyes .", "while it 's clear that rock-star petulance and vanity are being spoofed , there is little at stake dramatically or morally -- the bedroom threesome towards the end is weird rather than funny .", "a key indicator as to whether or not you will be at all interested in this movie is whether or not you liked russell brand playing this character in forgetting sarah marshall . otherwise it 's close to great , with weird pacing .", "MOV promises a fun time but rarely delivers the goods .", "i 'm having a hard time remembering what the really funny bits in MOV were , exactly . i mean , i know i laughed . i just do n't really remember why .", "prepare to have a bawdy , taboobusting good time . just do n't expect it to resonate anywhere except your funnybone .", "this forgetting sarah marshall spin-off is lively and silly enough to keep us giggling . but its darker moments make the tone rather uneven .", "sorry guys , not even a good try", "nesavrena , ali sasvim probavljiva holivudska zabava za ove vru\u0107e ljetne dane", "the best parts ... are the hilarious music video parodies and the film 's revelation is the comic chops of rose byrne as jackie q , aldous 's on again , off again girlfriend", "so comically fertile and yet so grounded in the reality of its characters that it 's really a kind of marvel .", "goes for the heartstrings by way of the rectum and feels sorely uneven as a result .", "the heavyset hill is beginning to cultivate a likable john candy-esque appeal ; playing against the surprisingly sharp sean combs , as a hellacious boss , he grounds the movie in approachability as the orbiting players get crazier .", "the comic premise still works like a charm .", "brand takes center stage as the fatuously cocksure singer , but the episodic screenplay strains to give the british comic enough juicy moments to be amusingly inappropriate .", "it 's crude , loud , dumb fun . and , on top of that , it contains the greatest cameo ever by a winner of the nobel memorial prize in economics .", "MOV is a complete blast , a much-needed breath of fresh air - well , as much fresh air as you can get in crowded clubs , packed rock shows and trashed hotel suites .", "russell brand is still the best thing here , but at least he gets to be onscreen a helluva lot more than he was in sarah marshall . alas that onscreen just as often is jonah hill ...", "... it is curious that a movie build around a deadline as firm as this manages to feel as casually paced as this one .", "barring a few lapses , the gags fly by in rapid-fire fashion , and enough of them connect -- thanks in part to the amusing mix of hill 's hang-dog demeanor with brand 's lanky , relentless hedonism .", "the forgetting sarah marshall crew-and yes , that includes producer judd apatow-have a follow-up gig that 's not to be missed .", "feeling like a very laboured version of the hangover , MOV is a bitter pill to swallow in comparison .", "it 's as silly and juvenile as you 'd expect , but a whole lot of fun .", "this is brand 's film , and every aspect of his persona is played to the max - the sexual magnetism , the multiple addictions , the doting but distant mum , the hangers-on and women who want to control him .", "you can have too much of a good thing and we have our fill of aldous 's sexist outbursts well before the end of the first hour .", "just a succession of gross-out gags and sketches that fail to deliver .", "this is mostly plain hilarious .", "unlike many of 2010 's comedies so far , hilarity does indeed ensue .", "this is brand 's movie all the way : he 's the one snorting the drugs , throwing the tantrums and getting the lion 's share of the laughs .", "while brand can take credit for the authenticity of his character , stoller has brought out the best brand performance to date .", "given that judd apatow is a co-producer , you 'd at least expect the film to make you laugh . the humour 's all over the place , though .", "now here 's a relatively new -lrb- if not necessarily welcome -rrb- idea : the sorta-kinda-not-really sequel .", "the real story here is p. diddy , who owns this movie . at the end of the second act he explodes as a comic dynamo .", "a giddy diddy turn aside , this wildly uneven comedy does n't travel very far .", "`` MOV '' has all the earmarks of a judd apatow spin-off , and that 's a good thing .", "this wild , unrestrained roller coaster ride of vulgar , demented debauchery is - so far , as of early june - the funniest movie of the year .", "b-list apatow with moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity .", "MOV turns out to be the funniest hard-r comedy since the hangover .", "it has a rambly , realistic tone , with one orgiastic mishap spilling into the next , and that tone keeps much of the action popping with surprise .", "a clever spin-off that allows the two actors who helped make sarah marshall so hilarious to flourish on their own ... certainly stands a good chance at being one of the funniest comedies this summer .", "designed to capture `` the hangover '' crowd , this wild and wooly comedy sneaks up on you . while it 's not the greatest comedy ever made , this one sure does offer up some pretty darn funny moments .", "let 's face it , a little of this guy goes a long way .", "greek does n't quite know when to stop , and things are n't brought to a particularly satisfying resolution . but brand does a nice job adding a few dramatic shadings to his character , a pleasant surprise . and hill is outstanding .", "with sarah marshall , stoller made audiences hungry for more aldous snow ; after MOV , they 'll be happy never to see the guy again .", "an overdose of pop-culture and some memorable set-ups make this a very amusing commentary on the foibles of rock stardom .", "greek might be this year 's the hangover .", "if this sounds like a remake of my favorite year for the new millennium , well , it is . being a judd apatow production , it 's also sweet-natured , despite an unrelenting onslaught of raunch .", "much snappy dialogue keeps the far-fetched shenanigans from collapsing into stupidity , and agile performances create genuineness in the relationships . foremost is brand , whose wry intelligence inspires an enormously appealing presence .", "empty laughs are still laughs .", "highly amusing ... confirms russell brand as a genuine hollywood star .", "some will love it , some will hate it and the rest will fall somewhere in between .", "a chaotic and turbo-charged ride with laughs and groans and despite its crass downmarket humour , the film has an inventive script that keeps us guessing as we scream together down the corridors of excess", "aaron and aldous are a flat-out pleasure to watch bouncing off each other - their chemistry is much richer than the one-note geek/freak odd couple you might expect .", "this is brand 's bag : a man intoxicated with himself , who 'll never shut up or stop messing around with east london slang and 19th-century swear words until the world drops its knickers .", "boasting an impressive above-the-title debut for brand , this is one for your movie-watchy booky wook .", "the comedy is close to the knuckle at times , but hill and brand counter that with an easy chemistry , while those who normally find brand too loud or abrasive may be surprised to see his softer side .", "nobody goes to an r-rated man-love comedy for spiritual renewal . we just want more outlandish gags . down with the uplift ; up with the suppository jokes .", "like most of the recent exports from apatown , this is patchy , but home-run hilarious from time to time . if only it did n't detour into darkness so often .", "MOV is not a masterpiece , but it 's very entertaining for audiences who like their comedy raw .", "there 's no buildup , no narrative arc , just one scene of comically debauched partying after another .", "aside from the useless gross-out scenes , stoller and a perfectly tuned brand get every detail right , including the seductive egomania of celebrities and the predatory fawning of their handlers .", "looking for a buddy comedy with wit , heart and scatological charm to spare ? get thee to this greek .", "screenwriter/director nicholas stoller ca n't decide what he wants to say . at times it 's a music-industry spoof -- as witnessed by a series of increasingly unfunny music videos . they only undercut the more serious , somewhat heartfelt moments .", "during his many drug-induced freakouts -lsb- hill -rsb- looks like a fat baby laughing . that 's a weirdly endearing image that even people who do n't envy the rock star lifestyle can love .", "the reason the friendship works is that russell brand and jonah hill are good actors . hill 's character is required to be blotto half of the time , but there 's the sense that he 's desperately trying to do the right thing .", "the movie 's a good , rude commercial comedy . how many good movies have we even seen this year ?", "both brand and hill are funny performers but neither is well-served by stoller 's slack script . the longer the film goes on , the more the seams show .", "russell brand 's `` forgetting sarah marshall '' character gets a movie all his own . the result is , as you might imagine , too much of a good thing .", "boundless , raunchy energy defines this intermittently funny comedy , which is well acted and unpretentious ; the idea of watching a film with normal running time and without cgi effects is refreshing .", "under apatow 's direction , when boys move beyond their base desires , it 's character development . under stoller 's , it 's a buzzkill .", "the film swings between performance gags -lrb- and no one can do this better than russell brand -rrb- , well-scripted zings , random absurdity -lrb- paul krugman reaction shot ftw ! -rrb- and some really sharp editing .", "it 's not quite infectious , but some of the high notes manage to drown out some of the guttural lows .", "one wonders if there is a jason segel-penned version of this script in universal 's vault that was rejected for not being `` wacky '' enough . if so , whoops .", "a bold and hilarious comedy that says something astute about us , our idols and how all that sex , drugs and rock 'n' roll really is n't everything it 's cracked up to be .", "boldly enlivened by its risque , full-force approach to drugs and sex , MOV is comedy gold , but it 's the film 's serious centre -lrb- principally its commentary on addiction and relationships -rrb- that makes it even more memorable .", "it must try all manner of bizarre/obscene/silly things to sustain itself beyond stating the obvious about celebrity excess .", "episodes of high hilarity make the movie worth the trip .", "greek surprisingly poignant .", "russell brand channels peter o'toole in the year 's best -lrb- so far -rrb- alkie celeb yarn", "MOV provides a nice blend of laughs and unexpected moments of real warmth", "... MOV ultimately overstays its welcome in a manner that 's nothing short of breathtaking ...", "w.c. fields warned , `` never work with children or animals . '' russell brand and jonah hill can add , `` never work with p. diddy . ''", "just funny", "combs , the only breath of fresh air in the film , is the only guy in the whole movie who is in on the joke .", "sloppily edited scenes are worsened by desperate performances and dialogue that amounts to frenzied screaming and running about .", "quite sadly MOV just does n't work in the way it was meant to . despite an ambitious metaphor , the film is far too mean-spirited to tickle our funny-bone .", "for the music lovers : if superbad , knocked up and forgetting sarah marshall are radiohead 's the bends , ok computer and kid a , MOV is their amnesiac .", "what we end up with here is a tonally confused film with jokes that mostly miss and some good performances from the leads .", "while it 's not the classic comedy that you have n't lived until you see it , ` greek ' is more than good enough for a few , goofy laughs .", "MOV is absolutely hilarious . with great music and amusing chemistry between the two leads , it 's definitely a must-see .", "with the film 's plot becoming increasingly improbable , a happy ending just seems disingenuous .", "to put it in rock 'n' roll terms , you 'd go to the gig but you would n't buy the t-shirt .", "... likely to be one of the year 's best comedies .", "diddy 's scene-stealing work proves that he should really take a break from trying to prove his serious acting chops and do more comedy .", "the jury 's still out on brand as a leading man , at least on this evidence , but chances are you wo n't find a vehicle better suited to his comic sensibilities than this one .", "the fact that much of greek is funny -- crassly funny , sometimes obviously funny -- saves it , and may even allow you to forgive its indulgences .", "unapologetically crude and shamelessly silly .", "we get a heaping helping of randy , dirty , outrageous humor , along with a generous sprinkling of sentimentality , but MOV does n't need the sappiness .", "i would n't want to imagine greek without brand", "if the movie 's all too predictable in its broad outlines , it 's scurrilously funny in the details , and it pushes its two leads and one of its supporting actors in entertainingly fresh directions . for early june , that 's enough .", "there are a lot of illegal drugs in MOV , and the movie itself sort of works like one . it 's tempting , mood-altering and the laughs are addictive .", "MOV is filled with consistent laughs and classic comedic moments . i never thought i would see the day where i would say that diddy is a comedic genius .", "hill , dialing back on the pissy vulgarity of his supporting roles in knocked up and funny people , makes the perfect foil , as passive and impressionable as brand is reckless and impulsive .", "the first half of this road-trip comedy is a rollicking good time , but the energy flags when it takes a sudden detour into more dramatic territory .", "you see the serious stuff as just another bad joke .", "the film feels like a collection of sketches instead of a mad , three-day , drug-and-sex-infused whirl .", "as funny as it often is , the longer it goes on , the more one gets the feeling that , aside from getting them to the greek , stoller had no real idea where he was taking his characters .", "MOV ticks all the boxes . it 's a satire on rock 'n' roll , with russell brand as a drugs - and booze-addled english rock star who 's trying to restart his career and get back his lost love , model-turned-singer jackie q -lrb- a cockney rose byrne -rrb-", "brand can seem simultaneously randy and strung-out and is often very funny . hill is surprisingly touching , which is quite a feat given the number of orifices he is required to display .", "while there are plenty of laughs to be had in this supremely entertaining -- and surprisingly affecting -- comedy , it is russell brand 's pitch-perfect performance that makes MOV such a memorable , and joyfully insane ride .", "only die hard russell brand fans will enjoy this sequel of sorts to `` forgetting sarah marshall '' which i 've already forgotten", "what we have here is a great idea for a comedy and a script that 's at least a dozen rewrites away from greatness .", "raunchy , wild and offbeat - not unlike russell brand himself -- ` MOV ' is a grownups-only comedy romp .", "... sets a new standard for stupid ...", "... replete with crude language , vomit , prolific drug use , infidelity , and generally low class manners and morals , all apatow staples...f-bombs and vomit are not humor .", "i ca n't say it is the hit of the summer , but this film should definitely be on your must see list that you can rock out to .", "the film succeeds as a music-industry satire , a very naughty version of almost famous .", "MOV displays the bawdy-sweet mixture that is the signature of the judd apatow school of screen comedy .", "a little bit of russell brand can go a long way , but greek is a fine vehicle for his mock rock-god persona .", "MOV has some big laughs , and it scores an endless source of points by skewering the rock-star lifestyle .", "the movie functions as a scabrous satire of the lives of the rich , famous , stupid , self-absorbed and marginally talented , with a barely disguised contempt for what passes for pop culture these days .", "i laughed quite frequently and recommend the picture on that count , but greek 's insights into the `` sex , drugs , rock and roll '' mindset are what really turn it into something special .", "hill is great , but he 's just like the last five main characters in these sort of films . thankfully , brand 's excellent and wildly original performance makes up for this for the most part , so it 's not much of a problem .", "if not for the likable hill and the very believable brand , the film would be a total bust .", "the drugged-out , womanizing , self-obsessed , rehab-riddled rock star has preened many times on screen . but russell brand makes aldous snow more than a coked-up cliche .", "brand 's performance in this film is bold and brilliant , and it is supremely complemented by hill 's very funny physical humor and nuanced acting .", "this outrageous rock parody offers typical crude comedy from producer apatow 's factory .", "you 'll o.d. on your own laughter !", "part of me is ashamed to admit that i really enjoyed this film .", "the movie 's story is conventional in shape , but it has passages of crazy exhilaration and brilliant invention .", "the pseudo-sequel to 2008 's overachieving forgetting sarah marshall plays upside-down musical chairs with d -- k jokes and innuendo until the only place to sit is on its own thumb . and then the bottom drops out .", "some of the raunchy bits are amusing , but others prove that funny does n't automatically follow from dirty .", "an impulsive , slapstick creation , leaning on the snappy one-liner skills of the two leads , while stoller dutifully sets the dominoes . it 's broad , playfully bizarre moviegoing experience .", "moments of utter hilarity occur , but director nicholas stoller seems unsure which of the two is his real protagonist , and the incidents of idiocy are more isolated than escalating .", "deserves to be jonah hill 's breakthrough , proof that he has what it takes to become a leading man , no matter how unlikely that may seem by hollywood 's standards .", "` greek ' works best during the cleverly scored mayhem montage scenes -lrb- a highlight involves absinthe and a french version of happy together -rrb- ." ], "summary": "thanks to a suitably raunchy script and a pair of winning performances from jonah hill and russell brand , MOV is one of the year 's funniest comedies .", "id": "770810640" }, { "movie": "lost_boys_of_sudan", "reviews": [ "a subtle but scathing consideration of american values .", "an oscar-worthy documentary .", "suffering brought on by colonialism documented in stunning documentary", "yearns to be optimistic -lrb- juxtaposed with the disaster of sudan , it certainly has the right to be -rrb- , yet that only ends up underscoring its ache of sadness .", "MOV is a true strangers-in-a-strange-land story", "for american viewers , MOV not only details a great tragedy a half-a-world away , but also illuminates much that 's good and bad about life in our own country .", "a potent , engrossing look at several young refugees from sudan 's disastrous , endless civil war who 've been relocated to the u.s.", "a pretty good documentary about a great subject .", "lacking that exotic ` foreign ' focus and by failing to address the hardships of their early lives , we 're left with a routine film about teenagers making mistakes or growing up too fast .", "reveals with remarkable clarity the clash of dreams vs. reality , hope vs. day-to-day despair .", "the fact that it 's an old story does n't mean that this new telling of it does n't , in its rather simple and unaffected way , carry considerable impact .", "like a more intimate and tragic version of balseros", "-lsb- takes -rsb- a fly-on-the-wall approach to capture the small triumphs and personal setbacks these young men face in their new lives .", "the people who made MOV have a compelling story to tell , but they have n't quite put their fingers on it .", "a documentary about two refugees who come to the united states , it offers a detailed look at the hurdles they face but makes no attempt to analyze , explain or advocate changes that would help them .", "never less than a quietly heart-rending experience .", "MOV provides gripping evidence of just how costly it is to wear the shoes of an imperiled non-american who is rescued by uncle sam .", "the film is an intimate , uplifting portrait of two men , an educational window on the plight of africa and its refugees and an inspiration to act in support of refugee resettlement .", "the film also does n't get across the magnitude of the horror unfolding in the sudan .", "this is a very moving filmed document .", "the scenes of peter and santino 's adjustment to life in houston -- a garbage disposal does what ? -- are at once quotidian , poignant and absurd .", "shot on video , and with the look of a pbs entry , it nevertheless manages to function on several levels -- all of them complex and sophisticated .", "the documentary trades in hope and humor , rather than despair .", "a riveting movie .", "offers an opportunity to see a good movie and learn something about an issue that has received far too little attention in the u.s. press .", "these two young men and their bittersweet stories ... are haunting and unforgettable ...", "culture shock is hopelessly inadequate to describe the experience of the young subjects of the riveting documentary MOV .", "in spite of their streets-paved-with-gold expectations , there is no heaven on earth", "it 's fascinating to watch these two young men start down the same path and end up in such totally different circumstances ... also to see our country from their point of view .", "it 's not as illuminating as it could be , but it sheds light just the same .", "a touching documentary on the immigrant experience -- or at least one very tough slice of it .", "in MOV , we do n't just hear about the steps of assimilation ; we see them , and we feel their cumulative effect .", "it does make you wonder : about good intentions gone awry , about the mythologizing of the american dream , about cultural chasms and the ways in which people are so similar , and so different .", "it is remarkable how mylan and shenk , without voiceovers or other narrative crutches , so flawlessly capture the american experience -- through the eyes of two sudanese men .", "a fascinating and sobering glimpse into their lives that makes us re-examine our own priorities .", "it 's an eye-popping education in the struggle for a new start .", "the filmmakers deftly capture the boys ' depression and triumphs , but something of the american character -- the generosity and the arrogance -- as well .", "too short by half , MOV affords frustratingly little by way of real analysis and history . but it does introduce us to two extraordinary young men whose faith in this country is almost as unbearably sad as their stories .", "without the intrusion of voice-overs or interviews , mylan and shenk attained a remarkable intimacy with the strapping , earnest , startlingly beautiful teenagers .", "a powerful experience , both for the specific hardships of these boys and for the universality of their experience .", "this tidy and fascinating documentary follows the plight of two young african refugees transplanted to the u.s. to make a better life .", "mylan and shenk provide an engrossing look at these bright , clean-cut young men and the obstacles they faced in ` the land of plenty . '", "MOV is an excellent documentary about the struggles of two african youth to adapt to their new life in america .", "both uplifting and troubling .", "it might help you understand an unfamiliar face walking toward you on the street , and that 's a great accomplishment for any film ." ], "summary": "the MOV works as both a riveting documentary and scathing indictment of colonialism .", "id": "17286" }, { "movie": "p2", "reviews": [ "this is one of those thrillers where the person on-screen is often the only person in the theater who ca n't guess what 'll happen next .", "despite an enormously creepy turn from bentley , the story has nowhere else to go but into the standard -lrb- albeit judiciously used -rrb- stalk-and-slash territory .", "even by the low standards of the horror subgenre playfully nicknamed `` torture porn , '' MOV is scraping the bottom of the movie barrel .", "the only scary part about this is that someone out there might actually love it .", "the same old grim game of cat and mouse . sure , we hope the mouse gets away . but mostly we just want the whole thing to end .", "routine but skillful , MOV takes a bare-bones premise and uses it to string up a series of escalatingly tense situations .", "who decided that a horrorfest set in an underground parking garage needed to be made ?", "bentley does n't have what it takes to be creepy and scary . he 's too pretty . i have a feeling most women in the audience would be quite happy if he tied them up", "a mostly threadbare christmas stocking with too many plot holes to patch .", "MOV struggles to maintain its momentum because there 's simply not enough to do in a parking garage to fill out a feature film .", "wes bentley 's screaming and ranting is -lrb- unintentionally -rrb- funny , not unnerving . it 's like being menaced by tobey maguire .", "though the filmmakers probably believe it becomes some sort of female-empowerment vehicle in the end , it 's really just another thriller that relishes in the victimization of women .", "brutal , minimalist stalker bloodbath . pass .", "directed without much imagination , MOV is gory and gruesome , yet never scary or affecting .", "bentley plays the role of funny , cagey psychopath quite well , and the film packs more laughs than frights . what woman would n't be interested after his homicidal message of love ?", "manages to churn out enough tension and thrills to keep things interesting .", "how is it that elvis has become the go-to sign of boys ' obsessions ?", "has a central setup that only holds water if we assume that the victim has recently escaped from a home for the terminally bewildered .", "MOV is nothing fancy or flashy . it could use more innovation , and either tension or dark creepiness , but all in all , it 's not a bad directing debut for khalfoun .", "take `` red eye , '' mix it with `` creep , '' and add a dash of `` haute tension , '' finely puree with a sprinkle of camp , and what you have is a long tall glass of this demented horror film ...", "... a welcome respite from the awards-season fodder currently flooding cinemas .", "MOV does n't have the grisly intensity of aja 's other work , in spite of a few moments of cartoonish gore .", "like a driver lost in a parking garage , this awful splatter-fest spends its time going in circles accomplishing nothing .", "a strictly middle-of-the-road entry in the slasher genre , scoring points for performances and areas of execution but running out of creative juice far too early , settling for stock chills and thrills", "swift and stealthy MOV is a canny exploitation of one of the urban woman 's greatest fears : the after-hours parking garage .", "amid the dumbness and disgust for paying customers , the movie does manage to cough up something i did n't expect : a performance so terrible you ca n't quite believe it 's happening : bentley 's .", "storyline was laid out well . there were a few scenes where you find yourself laughing at the movie , but overall it was a decent thriller .", "`` MOV '' wo n't make horror fans say `` p-u . ''", "it knows what it is and never purports to be anything but efficient and engrossing .", "a slickly efficient neo-grindhouse shocker , a gory palate cleanser for this season of high-toned oscar magnets and high-minded political dramas .", "an efficient scare package that breaks no new ground but gets the job done .", "cheesy , cheap and laughable ...", "despite its clumsy flaws , MOV has one or two worthwhile ideas .", "you would be better off spending 96 minutes stuck in the parking garage of the movie theater instead of in the multiplex watching it % u2013at the very least , the carbon monoxide fumes probably wo n't kill as many brain cells .", "a minimalist and unimaginative horror thriller .", "on the elevator button scale of horror , i would say that MOV is not as scary as ll1 , but a massive improvement over grnd lvl .", "a serviceable gore-minded thriller -- a competent execution of a premise that ultimately becomes hampered by its inherent constraints .", "the majority of -lsb- director khalfoun 's -rsb- chase and fight scenes are so artlessly staged that they render suspense moot .", "sometimes a hoary old cliche can come bubbling back to life if handled in a respectful and direct manner - and this describes MOV perfectly .", "it sounds like a formula slasher film , but it 's actually done well .", "... a well-tooled premise executed with surprising restraint , at least compared to the gore-centric sadism of the current crop of horror films .", "the movie never gets out of the basement either .", "cheerfully manipulative , MOV is the kind of movie that invites audiences to yell back at the screen and cheer .", "MOV would be no more absurd as a movie about a vending machine button or a confused bingo dealer .", "there 's a fine line between the gloriously grotesque and the repulsively grisly , and the picture crosses it too often .", "goofy even when he 's being grotesque , bentley turns MOV into a comedy without going so far as to make fun of it .", "-lsb- a -rsb- miscast , misdirected botch of a ca n't - miss plot .", "the ingredients of modern horror kill the atmosphere and make MOV less scary , not more .", "MOV is gory , scary , creepy , gripping , and sometimes ridiculous -lrb- in the sublime sense -rrb- . what more can any horror fan ask for in their christmas stalking ?", "just in time for the holidays comes this vile exercise in yuletide terror . on the plus side rachel nichols gets to run around in a slip most of the time .", "MOV feels like a vehicle lost in an after-hours parking facility , constantly backing up , shifting gears and generally speeding around in circles in a vain attempt to get somewhere .", "MOV may be bad enough to become some other type of classic than the holiday kind .", "there 's some ghoulish humor in MOV , and a couple of scares , but it 's little more than the umpteenth variation of the woman-locked-in-a-house plot .", "MOV trembles in the shadow of red eye but it 's not without its virtues .", "-lsb- a -rsb- film that would have been better served if released only as a dvd and not in theaters , or better yet not released at all .", "wes bentley ... may be a tad over the top as a sociopathic parking attendant , but the paces he puts his victim through are cleverly thought out -lrb- one impossibility excepted -rrb- and continually rachet up the tension .", "at least MOV has a little bit of psychological thrill to it .", "about as basic and unmemorable as a horror flick gets .", "does n't exactly advance the genre -- think red eye with twice the gore and triple the dumb -- but some above-the-call performances and a nifty use of its setting make this two-hander a genuinely creepy diversion .", "the idea of a delusional man holding a beautiful woman captive is n't exactly original , but in the skilled hands of screenwriters alexandre aja and gr\u00e9gory levasseur the result is a thoroughly engrossing psycho-thriller that never lets up .", "such a fun over the top woman in peril horror movie that even the worst aspects of it compliment the experience .", "it 's lurid and overblown , relying on its lionhearted heroine never to play her most obvious escape card , but for those with a taste for such silliness , it makes for a harrowing night at the movies .", "unscary , uninteresting tosh from people who should know better .", "toda a trama nada mais \u00e9 do que uma mera desculpa para enfiar a bel\u00edssima atriz num vestidinho branco justo e encharc\u00e1-la a fim de que ele fique ainda mais grudado em seu corpo escultural .", "... easily surpasses everything those horror remakes of late entail . revels in tis ability to put sweat on faces , by way of a tense skirmish between car spaces", "has quite a bit going for it , which makes its eventual reliance on inane genre gimmicks that much more disappointing .", "all the pieces are in place for a great thriller - and then , just like your typical yuletide get-together , it all falls a little flat ." ], "summary": "MOV is full of gore , but low on suspense , featuring a cat-and-mouse plot has been done many times before .", "id": "770675447" }, { "movie": "calvary_2013", "reviews": [ "MOV is gripping , moving , funny and troubling , down to an uncompromising yet uncynical finish .", "gleeson delivers towering performance as christ-like priest who must pay for someone else 's sins .", "we must forgive the movie for its sins of formality because it 's trying to work out the mother of moral dilemmas before our very eyes .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he kooky residents of a small irish village ... go search of a black comedy , but get stuck in a dramatic thriller that goes nowhere .", "john michael mcdonagh 's caustic passion play pits one stolid cleric against the whole filthy universe of base humanity , which demands he atone for the sins of the catholic church .", "full-to-bursting with a raft of idiosyncratic characters and philosophical conflicts and the current crisis in the church and idiomatic comic dialogue strung along by the script 's thriller-like ticking clock .", "mcdonagh is n't always successful at juggling his disparate impulses , leaving his film to tonally lurch from one scene to the next . but damned if he should n't be praised for trying .", "MOV is full-to-bursting with a raft of idiosyncratic characters and philosophical conflicts and the current crisis in the church and idiomatic comic dialogue strung along by the script 's thriller-like ticking clock . it 's also beautifully shot .", "a dark and profoundly funny tale of an institution failing its sheep and its best shepherds .", "great filmmaking is an art . mcdonagh and gleeson have showcased that art with `` MOV '' .", "brendan gleeson carries the film with a forceful portrait of a man increasingly resigned to his helplessness in the face of a society permanently soiled .", "brendan gleeson gives a performance of monumental soul in john michael mcdonagh 's masterful follow-up to ` the guard . '", "a rich character drama that 's equally eloquent and despairing , `` MOV '' carries a weary resignation that feels lived-in and deeply considered .", "brendan gleeson is magnificent .", "a film that is constantly commenting on itself , looking askance in the mirror and chuckling at its own presumption .", "it 's a film that works almost like a sermon : it lost me at points along the way but hit me like a ton of bricks in its conclusion . on the way home and in the days that passed , i 've only come to admire it even more .", "... MOV may not be for all audiences , with its pitch-black heart and sober existentialism not exactly commercial stuff , but its unwavering commitment to the intelligent thorniness of its themes ... bring it soaring close to something divine .", "once in a great while , a film leaves you dumbstruck . which is wonderful , unless you happen to be a reviewer . you 're kind of expected to come up with something to say .", "the tension of MOV is fitful at best , and much of the movie trips into silliness , but in brendan gleeson -- in his proud bearing and his lamenting gaze -- we see the plight of the lonely believer in a world beyond belief .", "... a rather one-note premise that 's employed to often disastrously dull effect ...", "asks troubling questions about keeping the faith in a fallen world .", "gleeson is just magnificent .", "mcdonagh 's rotted-out take on the stations of the cross is a strange film , often hilarious yet always heavy and forlorn .", "gleeson provides an emotional anchor with an understated portrayal that balances strength and vulnerability .", "writer-director john michael mcdonagh has crafted a bleak and bitter film . i kept waiting the for the film to make a wrong turn , to cheat , to take the easy way out , to lean on film cliches and formulas , but it never did .", "the film ends with the faintest glimmer of hope , but even that hope comes wrapped in despair , suggesting that we 're each all we have to rely on . because the man upstairs is n't answering our calls .", "brendan gleeson is impossible not to like no matter what project . this one is a fascinating character study and a deep look at a complex man of the cloth .", "MOV is a reasonably good analysis of irish catholicism 's role in the age of atheism , but it 's much more valuable for its depiction of a good man attempting to live and die by his own set of morals .", "anchored by a truly sensational performance from gleeson , this unexpected blend of passion play , detective story , rural comedy and serious inquiry into faith is destined for classic status .", "if you enjoyed mcdonagh 's sharp dialogue and gleeson 's world-weary charm last time around , there 's more than enough of both to keep you interested . but you might find the change of tone a bit disconcerting", "if traditional westerns witnessed the bloody transition from anarchy to civilisation , MOV sees that process reversed - punctuated by the burning of the chapel .", "every parishioner of father james ' a flamboyant figure of comic dysfunction , nihilism or misanthropy .", "a cynically dark comedy whose turn to the grim side is both inevitable and richly rewarding .", "twice i have left a `` MOV '' screening feeling dazed and moved .", "a wicked , gimlet-eyed revelation of both catholic dogma and irish life today , MOV has unflinching things to say about the people and the church that defies clich\u00e9 .", "this priest cuts through false motives , calls people on their baloney , talks to them straight , loves them despite themselves . sort of like his lord . no wonder they want to kill him .", "gleeson 's beautiful acting deserves a better movie .", "mcdonagh explores this village of secrets with tremendous care and craftiness , and provides gleeson with another stellar opportunity to deliver striking work .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- amounts to a bible story more spiritually and emotionally accurate than most bible adaptations actually put on film .", "the reliance on specific genre cliches undermines the movie 's more serious intentions .", "what 's at stake here , in this grim and grimly comic story , is how a man of god will face his fate .", "the mood here is far more sombre , as gleeson 's thoroughly decent cleric reflects on sin and death , mercy and forgiveness ... but there is humour , too , especially from the gallery of eccentrics and oddballs who inhabit this wind-whipped sligo parish .", "MOV is not your father 's MOV .", "it 's not exactly a walk on the wild side , but it will take a stout heart to deal with the hostility and venom dished out by an assortment of troubled parishioners , all introduced taking holy communion , of all things .", "MOV becomes a lurid agatha christie yarn with something important to say about the church and ireland that mcdonagh ca n't fully articulate . pulp keeps getting in the way .", "father james ' stature grows in our eyes , due in great part to gleeson 's powerful performance , which at the very least deserves an oscar nomination if not the award itself .", "tough as it is , MOV is food for the soul .", "thanks to writer-director john michael mcdonagh 's powerhouse script and brendan gleeson 's superb central performance , MOV earns its sour stripes -- it 's a bruising beauty of a film .", "intense and compassionate , it revolves around the complicated concept of forgiveness .", "admirable work indeed , but also a painful walk in the darkness . meanwhile , brendan gleeson 's tender scenes with kelly reilly and marie-jos\u00e9e croze shape the movie 's loving soul .", "devilishly satirizes charming irish comedies ... with a wallop , we ponder what would happen to such a cinematically quaint town and genre when its last moral center is gone .", "each -lsb- character -rsb- becomes a `` suspect '' for the murder that is yet to be committed , but caring `` who 's gon na do it '' becomes trying as the performances vary wildly , from passable -lrb- chris o'dowd -rrb- to astonishingly bad -lrb- isaach de bankole -rrb- .", "it 's an immensely moving film , and a brave one for the way it tackles spiritual issues without irony . run , do n't walk .", "another nonpareil performance by brendan gleeson , here , as an introspective soul on a spiritual path able to maintain his sanity while facing his mortality in a godforsaken environ where so many in his flock have clearly lost their minds .", "one may feel dissatisfied by the 11th-hour turn toward lyrical fatalism , and mildly insulted by the presumptuous attitude it seems to choose as it sends us on our way .", "features brendan gleeson 's towering performance as a good priest who is dismayed to find his entire small-town parish alienated .", "satire and surrealism upstage sacrament in this somewhat mixed metaphor screwball religious comedy noir . or in other words , if jesus returned to earth , specifically ireland , in the midst of this chaotic and devilishly lunatic moment in human history .", "MOV is a wonderfully uncomfortable film .", "an impressive morality play about an irish catholic priest forced to suffer for the sins of others .", "much of MOV is sad , much of it shocking . but it 's not really about religion or the church . it is a celebration of the human spirit , and will not be easily forgotten .", "when it 's over , you 'll find a contemplative hush has descended on the audience : a cinema turned , briefly , into a church .", "MOV treads worryingly close to the theater work of john michael mcdonagh 's younger sibling , and never quite lives up to such lofty standards .", "after the 2011 black comedy the guard , brendan gleeson reteams with writer-director john michael mcdonagh for a darker comical drama grappling with issues of faith and forgiveness .", "gleeson is a wonderful actor and he keeps a lid on the blarney . he manages to convey a lot -- fear , anger , compassion , rue -- with only the slightest of squints and frowns . but he 's still the center of a cooked-up cavalcade of souls .", "it 's a beautifully composed film centering on a great performance .", "good actors like chris o'dowd , moran , gleeson , and walsh are acting their hearts out , but they ca n't make these characters seem like more than puppets .", "gleeson 's performance is magnificent ; sharp , compassionate , bemused , never not intellectually active .", "i 've seen so many movies , with great dialogue , that are n't about anything ; here 's a film on a fascinating subject , but the dialogue is terrible .", "in ` MOV ' brendan gleeson , as father james , is a man left on his own to face a dark threat .", "MOV is bleak and corrosively funny in about equal measure .", "MOV gives gleeson ample opportunity to explore his talent for anchoring a movie , making it deeper and richer than the script and direction might otherwise allow .", "your best advice is to sit back , hang on to your rosary beads and enjoy the ride while it lasts .", "this is an honourable attempt to pull together a meditation on ireland and its religious disillusion , and part of a planned trilogy for gleeson and mcdonagh .", "mcdonagh 's script is a fabulous bit of writing with the tidy structure and mythical resonance of a passion play , but idiosyncratic and funny in all of its detail .", "its questions stay with you long after the end credits have left you to your troubled thoughts .", "brendan gleeson gives a career-best performance .", "you have a movie about faith that does n't seem to have any in its own ability to hold our interest . but it does have gleeson .", "director john michael mcdonagh 's extraordinary film presents deep existential torment under the guise of a parochial murder mystery .", "certainly worth seeing ...", "mcdonagh has found a wonderfully satisfying balance between his skills as a writer of intimate , intelligent narratives , and the greater themes that confront the demons of his homeland .", "MOV will shake you up ; it 's as audacious as it is beautiful .", "MOV offers a fascinating look at contemporary attitudes toward the priesthood and catholicism , as well as an impeccable lead performance by brendan gleeson and darkly sharp wit .", "when brendan gleeson gets together with john michael mcdonagh , magical things happen .", "it 's a film of modest means and great ambition , a darkly comic drama concerned with nothing less than the place of faith , and an embattled church , in modern life .", "self-conscious dialogue , stiff characterizations and unimaginative filmmaking prove to be a recipe for the forgettable .", "it 's the stations of the cross in an irish fishing village soaked in despair , drink and debauchery ... `` MOV '' is divine filmmaking .", "the stark , natural landscapes are among the movie 's most seductive attractions , even if the characters populating them seem calculated for maximum repulsion .", "mcdonagh walks a hazardous tightrope from scene to scene , from amiable comedy to black-hearted farce to heartbreaking tragedy , often trying to strike all those notes within seconds . it does n't all work equally well , but the cumulative effect is powerful .", "in its steady assemblage of details over an incidental , episodic structure it accrues a building sense of moral gravity .", "colourfully written and sometimes bizarre , i found MOV to be fascinating and crafted with skill and a purposeful mind .", "tonally , emotionally and spiritually complex , MOV comes highly recommended .", "after the near-brilliant buddy-cop black comedy shenanigans of the guard , writer/director john michael mcdonagh dials everything up as he deploys darker humour and explores darker souls in the remarkable serio-comic MOV .", "plaiting strands of drama with gentle black humour , mcdonagh has created a solid platform for the superlative gleeson whose soulful , grounded presence is a compelling guide for a rich insight into the small coastal village inhabitants ' sins and virtues", "even in a piece as dark and sombre as MOV , the self-referential , anarchic mcdonagh 's sincerity remains inscrutable . his uncanny talent as a tightrope-walking filmmaker , however , is as clear as christ on the cross .", "a film not only of deep religious conviction , but one that also looks at the nature of sacrifice as atonement for the sins of others .", "MOV , however , offers no redemption or even catharsis - at best , some talk of forgiveness - and mcdonagh 's crude drollery , if that 's the word for it , feels forced , fake , as though anger is acceptable if delivered with a punch line .", "with his patchwork red-and-gray beard grown long and his hair draped over his ears , gleeson resembles an ancient mammoth , and it 's quickly clear that his parishioners wish he were extinct", "keeps you captivated from the opening line to the very last , this wonderfully written screenplay marks a triumphant sophomore endeavour for mcdonagh .", "there is certainly a fine film about an unusual , decent priest fighting to get out of this somewhat unwieldy construction .", "a soulful , thought-provoking and warmly human fable .", "MOV demonstrates in its shocking , anti-cathartic conclusion that modern faithlessness , whether proud or despairing , amounts to the same thing .", "-lsb- gleeson -rsb- projects fierce intelligence , wit , gentleness , ruefulness , soulfulness .", "MOV has so many layers it 's downright biblical .", "to say gleeson `` stars '' in MOV seems inadequate . he dominates it ...", "`` MOV '' is often wound tightest in the most unexpected places .", "MOV is a strange film , often hilarious but always heavy and forlorn .", "gleeson is the great anchor of the piece , conveying much often without even saying a word .", "mcdonagh injects enough humor and quirkiness into the proceedings -- via a razor sharp and quite smart script -- to make it all go down quite easily . -lrb- complete content review for parents also available -rrb-", "writer/director john michael mcdonagh 's exceptional and exceptionally thoughtful film concerns itself greatly with matters of sin .", "it does n't confront church scandal-priestly crime ; it stares into the spiritual void that has been left in its wake . what stares back is lurid , soulless and damned .", "the irony and fatalism that have driven `` MOV '' forward reach an end point that , while doubtlessly dramatic , does n't jibe with the father james we 've come to know and love .", "full of promise , but MOV settles hard into a film about inevitability in its third act . and i have a hard time finding insight in a closed circle of inevitability . if everything the characters do is inevitable , why did we bother ?", "mcdonagh , for all his agility as a writer , stumbles in fleshing out the story .", "brendan gleeson turns in a characteristically exceptional , layered performance with as much moral significance as distinct individual detail .", "gleeson 's magnificent intensity and the palpable wit and intelligence of the film 's conception make MOV an audacious advance on the guard .", "there is a strong whiff of beckett-like absurdism and bleak humour in the film , which benefits from a performance of wonderfully droll dignity and bemusement from brendan gleeson as a priest confronting his mortality .", "gleeson looms over the film .", "the way ` MOV ' bobs between serious and comedic - while always being prickly - mirrors how the film as a whole refuses to settle for anything .", "trenchant , absorbing and quite distinctive ... an intriguing blend of high drama and dark humor .", "while gleeson always cuts a large figure , here he 's a captivating , simmering pot , a priest who shows his kind are people too .", "... an anguished catholic drama , yet mcdonagh also brings a certain lightness to the tale .", "it 's gleeson who turns mcdonagh 's self-conscious erudition and defense-mechanism irreverence into something transcendent .", "gleeson is remarkable in one of the best roles for one of the finest character actors around , who is finally , with this and mcdonagh 's last film , `` the guard , '' getting his shot at lead roles .", "gleeson brings his usual fierceness and gravity to the role , and there are fine supporting turns by chris o'dowd , kelly reilly , aiden gillen , and dylan moran .", "gleeson carries the film with wonderful , natural authority . he 's a little better than the movie itself , which is glib to a fault .", "i imagine most people will watch the film and merely see the village as populated by vivid eccentrics . but a closer look at these odd , bitter , hostile characters will suggest something darker at work .", "it is witty and wistful , tender and troubling , poetic and poignant . a rich and rare treat for grown-up cinemagoers .", "it 's a sort of waiting for godot , but with plot , and if waiting for godot , but with plot , does n't do it for you , then this is something else you might wish to mention to your doctor .", "it could descend into maudlin self-pity but mcdonagh 's story - with comedy turns from a fast-talking rent boy and moran on splendid form as the boorish banker - stays just the right side of the line .", "a superbly written , darkly funny and powerfully moving mystery with a terrific supporting cast and a magnificent central performance from brendan gleeson .", "if there is one irish film to see in 2014 it is MOV . not only is it wickedly funny and darkly profound but rather brilliantly explores the complexity of contemporary irish faith .", "it presents us with a satirical image of a country which is cracked and fractured into pieces , a crazy-paving that is n't fitting together . without the powerfully charismatic gleeson , i suspect , the film itself would n't fit together .", "MOV 's gruelling central issue of abuse has been enough to quieten much criticism of the film , but in truth , most of the time it is coasting .", "MOV 's meet-and-greet structure lets mcdonagh tease away at the fabric of irish society , diagnosing all manner of ills .", "part father ted , part tarantino , this is a wickedly funny black comedy , all fatalism and gallows humour , with a beating heart .", "perhaps to compensate for his talky script and repetitive structure , mcdonagh 's direction is distractingly fussy , all asymmetrical framing and on-the-nose symbolism . the one grace note is gleeson .", "both the comedy and the violence are watered down by a dark melancholy .", "the resulting mystery-play-goes-mystery-movie allegory may have a heavy hand , but it also has its finger on the pulse of the struggles facing the -lsb- catholic -rsb- church and the emotional needs of its drifting parishioners .", "it 's billed as a black comedy , but at its root , MOV wants to move you emotionally and still you as the closing credits soberly roll . it succeeds on both counts .", "compared with the treacle and sentimentality that dominate most hollywood movies about religion , the existence of this funny , gut-wrenching , thoughtful take on sacrifice and redemption feels almost like a miracle .", "brendan gleeson delivers a typically towering yet warm performance in `` MOV . '' too bad the movie 's something of a mess .", "did i mention that despite its intense , serious subject matter , it 's also wickedly funny , often making you laugh when you should probably be doing penance ?", "it serves as a marvelous showcase for gleeson , a great old-lion actor who shows , in the film 's many close-ups , a quiet , weary yet unbending faith , and a face on which emotion can play like a wave on the beach .", "writer-director john michael mcdonagh paints a rich portrait of the priestly life -lrb- and life in general -rrb- by concentrating on the details .", "cruel and laced with pitch-black humor , it is a film that will needle its way into your psyche ; removing it may prove difficult .", "`` MOV '' -lsb- is -rsb- a parable and gives gleeson 's earthly journey the ring of spiritual truth ." ], "summary": "led by a brilliant performance from brendan gleeson , MOV tackles weighty issues with humor , intelligence , and sensitivity .", "id": "771358909" }, { "movie": "goldfinger", "reviews": [ "although more gimmicky than from russia with love , this film is equally as entertaining .", "if spy-action films ever had a classic , then this is it .", "if it is not a great film , it is a great entertainment , and contains all the elements of the bond formula that would work again and again .", "possibly the ultimate james bond . great villains , gadgets , action and all around adventure .", "q brings out the aston martin for the first time , and shirley bassey shatters the speakers with the consummate bond song .", "these bond capers were the prototypes and set the gold standard for dozens of fantasy thrillers that followed . -lsb- review cowritten by henry g. belot -rsb-", "probably the best of the gadget-filled 007 extravaganzas .", "most think it 's the best bond . i favor some of the more recent ones , but this is classic stuff .", "how can you top characters with names like odd job and pussy galore ? the best of the bond films .", "the most consistent and entertaining of the bond series .", "MOV remains the gold standard for the bond movies . recent entries ca n't compare to this lustrous thriller , a throwback to when the term `` thriller '' had meaning .", "presented here in a newly restored digital print , it should look especially swish on the big screen .", "the one that all other bond films must live up to , and the only one of the films that surpasses the book upon which it is based .", "thrilling action comedy may be the best bond .", "there 's a very special , and weird , purity about the bond formula as it is presented here : all the excess is in place but still reined in by some last measure of discipline .", "gone is any and all idea of james bond 's vulnerability . however , `` MOV '' swaps in a gaudier , glitzier subtext directly related to how this blockbuster took aim almost squarely at an american audience .", "MOV , for me , is n't the perfect bond movie -lrb- though it does have all the elements to be perfect -rrb- , but it 's still a fun , corny time . definition of a popcorn movie .", "for 007 fans or action adventure/spy movie fans in general , it really does n't get much better than `` MOV , '' a tremendous blockbuster that entertains on every level .", "ours not to reason why with `` MOV '' ; ours but to gape and admire ; which is very easy and enjoyable until the story 's iceberg of extravagance finally appears in its true proportions .", "all the tropes are genre highs , from the iconic title song to the archetypal cool car to the endlessly quotable sadistic one-liners .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- `` MOV '' set in stone the formula for what would become cinema 's longest running and most reliably entertaining franchise . regardless of how many installments have come since , `` MOV '' retains its reputation as the best of the bunch .", "in scene after scene director guy hamilton has contrived some hilariously horrible sight gags .", "... remains a cut above its bond brethren ...", "the definitive , quintessential bond .", "among the best of the bond movies .", "okay bond entry .", "... what they give us in MOV is an excess of-science-fiction fun , a mess of mechanical melodrama and a minimum of bedroom farce .", "the iconic james bond movie , this third entry into the franchise is rightly heralded for offering the perfect blend of action , adventure , gunplay , fisticuffs , gadgetry -lrb- that aston martin ! -rrb- , romance , derring-do , and just about everything else .", "sean connery excelle une fois de plus dans la peau d'un personnage aussi froid que charismatique qui continue de foncer t\u0119te premi\u010dre avec un d\u00e9tachement souvent irrationnel", "the best bond gets the best treatment .", "best of the bonds ! connery is aces ; odd job a great villain 's henchman ; MOV an evil giant of a man ; and pussy galore , what more can one say !", "for my money this is the grade-a , # 1 , all-time grandest adventure of james bond . -lrb- and i like most of 'em ! -rrb-", "MOV is sometimes very enjoyable , but it 's too uneven for me to call it a masterpiece .", "there 's not the least sign of staleness in this third sample of the bond 007 formula .", "MOV is a crucial work in the development of the bond legend .", "a fantastically entertaining entry .", "perfection .", "one of the more amusing bond films .", "it has shirley bassey 's operatic theme , the aston martin and shirley eaton , killed with that magnificently macabre gold paint .", "one of the best , if not the best bond movie", "this 1964 entry is the most enjoyable of the james bond thrillers starring sean connery -- perhaps because it 's the most comic and cartoony in look as well as conception .", "mixed in with some tough action and the introduction of such memorable gadgets as bond 's aston martin car , there 's never a dull moment and the film flies by .", "... so cleverly directed at breakneck speed by guy hamilton that patrons scarcely have time to catch their breath between the fantastic dangers , killings and escapes , most of them completely unbelievable .", "the best bond film ever made ." ], "summary": "MOV is where james bond as we know him comes into focus - it features one of 007 's most famous lines -lrb- `` a martini . shaken , not stirred '' -rrb- and a wide range of gadgets that would become the series ' trademark .", "id": "12095" }, { "movie": "1106648-lie", "reviews": [ "a boldly imaginative yet subtle exploration of male sexuality .", "like a suburban , humanistic `` kids '' without the sensationalism", "there 's nothing about cox 's poised yet poignant playing that 's unconvincing .", "thoughtful , thought-provoking , and refreshingly free of the dim-witted pandering that is endemic to coming-of-age films .", "if you 're open-minded and adventurous in your moviegoing , and if you can handle a disturbing but major performance , then by all means see it .", "at its best , l.i.e. ... offers a rich , dark , bitter slice of contemporary life . but the film 's arty embellishments undermine its bleak vision , making it , in the end , a little too easy to take .", "a low-budget , deceptively minimalist drama that delivers big .", "one of the most provocative independent films of the year .", "an incisive portrait of people traveling east and west and straight to hell .", "would have worked best as a half-hour short film about howie 's ill-advised foray into big john 's haven .", "both unnervingly frank and disarmingly human .", "prepubescent homoeroticism and loveable pederasty highlight this preposterous and pointless provocation .", "a thoughtful , compassionate portrait of characters trapped in appalling interior circumstances .", "a powerful and provocative achievement .", "l.i.e. 's best moments represent the kind of bold artistic vision too frequently lacking in today 's independent cinema .", "this dystopic suburban teen 's eye view of that journey to difficult adulthood , redefines the notion of road movie as inner road rage in enormous , chilling ways .", "a well-acted , provocative coming-of-age story .", "this is scary but great", "brian cox would be up for oscar consideration for his acting in this role , except there is probably zero chance of the academy nominating an actor playing a pedophile .", "granted , these desires can be conflicted and perplexing , but the representation here reads as a failure of nerve , a refusal to take on an uncomfortable topic .", "a wonderfully acted film and a courageous one .", "sluggish , lurching , and unevenly paced , with some crucial improbabilities in the script .", "superior and original filmmaking . you wo n't be able to take your eyes off it .", "an original , well-crafted plea that uses restraint instead of titillation to make a cautionary tale that aches with pathos and power .", "a bold , distinctly independent film .", "this is a very unsettling film that left me shaking long after i left the theater .", "arresting and unsettling .", "you know you 're in the hands of a born filmmaker when he floods a scene with danger and excitement and , at the same time , tempers it with something more delicate .", "there were no breakthroughs .", "cuesta never gives us the satisfaction of fulfilling our expectations ; instead he gives us a movie that we can ponder long the road takes its final turn .", "ultimately offers little satisfaction outside of the strong performances .", "it 's a fiercely compelling tale , the acting is among the year 's best , so i wish cuesta had been content to leave it at that .", "raises the bar on the coming-of-age story with a tightly focused portrait of a 15-year-old who looks for a father figure and finds his kindly neighborhood sexual predator .", "a story which never resorts to sensationalism in its troubling study of people wanting to find a way out .", "... worth checking out for cox 's amazing performance ...", "cuesta has succeeded in making a clear and captivating narrative involving the issues of trust , loss and deceit , all of which take place within the space of a week .", "a relentlessly glum , distasteful and moralistic coming-of-age story .", "cox plays the boy-fancier , orange muscle car and all , with a brilliance you have to see to believe .", "in the end , this is more deservedly bad press for nambla .", "the suspense -- and , indeed , the art -- comes from not knowing which road howie will take .", "a film that looks at current social realities with edgy and convincing perceptivity ... a moral film in the best sense of the word", "strong story telling , character development and acting , off-putting subject matter .", "i kept wondering why i was watching these people , and an answer was never forthcoming .", "the performances are pretty good , cox especially , but all in all we do n't really care all that much about the characters or what happens to them , and the ending , while unexpected is really lame .", "it 's disturbing , to say the least , but it also has a curious appeal .", "almost a model of what 's best in american independent cinema ... provocative but not exploitative , moving but not maudlin .", "one of the more insightful and affecting teen-trauma films of recent years .", "recoiling from l.i.e. is a very human , and frankly a very responsible , reaction .", "cox is a wonder as big john .", "confused and disjointed .", "you should pay nine bucks for this : because it 's really about teenage loneliness , and it hits all those marks perfectly .", "anyone with an eye for well-made , well-acted , emotionally powerful films will certainly find it worth watching .", "right in the center , it explodes with a powerful life force in actor brian cox , who saves the film and makes it worth seeing .", "its director , michael cuesta , has the stubborn curiosity of an artist who wo n't settle for formulas but is intrigued by the secrets and mysteries of his characters .", "... deserves to be seen for the incredibly subtle performances of the two male leads", "gripping , troubling , and deftly acted .", "an achievement of accomplished filmmaking and superb acting , l.i.e. puts you in the tough spot of unraveling how you feel about what you 've viewed .", "what makes l.i.e an especially arresting indie film is that it keeps pulling the rug out from under you in terms of where it 's heading .", "those of you brave and lucky enough to see l.i.e. will be treated to cox 's terrific performance .", "a penetrating look at a 14-year-old boy 's relationship with a pederast .", "cuesta 's film never succumbs to larry clark-esque seediness . the film 's take on oliver twist is utterly dispassionate and all the more creepy and compelling for offering us no clues as to what will happen between big john and howie .", "a provocative , upsetting film .", "it is the work of a young director with something to say .", "... the characters are so well-drawn and well-acted and the ideas raised are provocative without being overly exploitive .", "what makes l.i.e. so compelling and disturbing is that in cox 's capable hands , we discover a human being inside the beast .", "it seems brave , in its restrained fashion , and when cox is on-screen you feel it 's getting close to some uncomfortable truth .", "an intelligent , honest , and non-prurient work about today 's youth .", "a mature , insightful and extremely well-acted study .", "a disturbing and provocative study of adolescence and isolation .", "this strangely compelling story shows us that we can never write off any human being as worthless or abominable .", "difficult and flawed feature debut ." ], "summary": "l.i.e. is a well-acted and unsettling look at a boy 's relationship with a pedophile .", "id": "17237" }, { "movie": "1194209-elegy", "reviews": [ "there 's bracing stuff here about male insecurity and cowardice when it comes to the crunch , but for all kepesh 's worldliness , his character is nothing else but a walking clich\u00e9 .", "an intelligent film for grown-ups .", "this fails to do justice to roth 's formidable prose .", "the big flaw with director isabel coixet 's adaptation of philip roth 's short novel the dying animal is the sheer unlikelihood of cruz 's consuela falling for a randy old goat like kingsley 's kepesh .", "an often stodgy film with an unsympathetic central character and far too many tinkling pianos on the soundtrack , it 's also an enjoyable , contemplative movie that you do n't have to be male and over the hill to enjoy . although it will help .", "i ca n't help feeling this kind of slow , introspective , angst-ridden fare is better suited to the novel than to the big screen .", "MOV makes us question again the cinema 's ability , without loss of heat and light , to translate roth 's subtle , high-voltage prose from page to screen .", "to this thirtysomething critic , though , it seems to be short on wisdom .", "touching , wonderfully acted examination of the corrosive effects of doubt on love .", "MOV is such a serious , oftentimes grave exploration of desire and the ways of aging that it 's a miracle the two central characters have as much sex as they do .", "the movie dog days of august can include dramas , as this abashed adaptation of a philip roth novel shows .", "MOV seems to mourn for the wrong things , making its self-examining characters seem merely narcissistic and more than a little pathetic .", "spanish director isabel coixet displays what is almost reverence for the material . you can imagine her whispering on the set . she brings out the absolute best in her top-notch cast .", "a nicely shot , slow-moving drama that takes its time to really let the audience get to know its characters .", "as an acting showcase that builds to some unexpectedly moving moments , MOV has much to recommend it .", "a windbaggy film of phillip roth 's novella the dying animal .", "it 's beautiful , but nobody involved was ever sure what the movie was actually about , or why they were making it .", "ben kingsley and penelope cruz , never better .", "a spare , meditative and melancholy film .", "this melancholy mediation on aging and desire hangs on an exquisite performance from penelope cruz as a young woman who becomes the love object of a man twice her age . it 's easily her finest english-language performance to date .", "adult and provocative , MOV does n't entirely pull off its complex philosophical juggling act , but it 's an interesting and atmospheric piece of cinema , aided by some truly excellent performances .", "this is adult story-telling , elegantly restrained and unmistakably classy , which casts a dispassionate eye on a man who loses heart at the same time as he loses his youth , potency and relevancy .", "while the supporting actors are engaging , the turgid screenplay lets the whole thing down .", "overall , though , the film falls just short , due in no small part to unimaginative music selections , which drain its individuality in favour of mere generic arthouse melancholia .", "if i recommend MOV to my readers , it is not as a licentiously escapist entertainment , but , rather , as a soberingly eloquent expression of what our lives are all about , whether we want to think about them or not .", "not even the nude love scenes can distract from the fact that cruz has finally cracked the english-language barrier .", "a well-acted screen adaptation of a short philip roth novel about the multiple splendors of beauty in a chilly world of intellect , sex , and selfishness .", "a flat , joyless affair .", "... a haunting testament to the sentiment that we should take love wherever we find it .", "MOV sneaks up on you anyway -- even overacted , roth 's intelligence shines through .", "... another hollywood-delivered message declaring the ultimate rightness of romantic love between a 65-year-old man and a woman who is decades younger .", "this is kingsley 's show from start to finish , as he wraps himself in kepesh 's mantle of singularity .", "with his fierce , impeccable craft kingsley shows us around david 's tortured , preening , desperate psyche .", "runs out of ideas , and efforts to jog the proceedings ca n't get it back on track", "penelope cruz is outstanding in an otherwise lame male fantasy .", "sparse , low-budget drama , helmed by spaniard isabel coixet , intelligently translates roth 's meditation on lust and mortality without soft-pedaling its narrator 's brutally honest , unabashedly sexist views .", "a seemingly forced ending , keep MOV from being more than a character vehicle for one of our greatest actors and an opportunity for some creative dialogue on the pitfalls of romance .", "its tone and style , unfortunately , have little to do with the novella it adapts .", "i could never warm up to any of the characters .", "finally , a film for grown ups .", "coixet has done more than honour it ; she has found a tenderness and vulnerability that were so deeply buried as to be almost undetectable .", "whether in trying to reach out for a wider audience here she has diluted her talent in favour of a richer , more stylish surface is a matter for argument . the smoother this kind of film gets , the easier it is to think it .", "MOV is a gorgeously shot , classy drama with a terrific supporting cast , but kingsley 's curiously hollow performance means it does n't quite deliver the required emotional punch .", "this beautifully directed film is packed with serious , provocative themes . but a mopey tone and some wobbly casting undermines the otherwise terrific acting .", "a slow , uninteresting depiction of a selfish fool who possibly too-late realizes that he 's grown old before he 's actually grown up .", "it may be ironic that it took a female director -lrb- and a foreign one -rrb- to turn philip roth 's novella into a melancholy probing of the sexual anxieties of an aging professor , splendidly interpreted by ben kingsley in a sharp , fearless performance .", "an elegant meditation on lust and mortality .", "in the early scenes of the two lovers discovering each other 's bodies and personal quirks , coixet coaxes work from kingsley and cruz that is remarkably intimate .", "while this may seem like an apologia for randy older men , it does n't come off that way , and cruz gives her best performance to date .", "ben kingsley and penelope cruz continue to do their best to offset the summer 's more infantile impulses in this fine adaptation of philip roth 's novel .", "it 's nicely done .", "kingsley perfectly tunes his performance to these psychological nuances , the strong features in his face undone by an anxious flicker of his eyes .", "the best dramatic film of the year so far .", "it all unfolds from the point of view of a fabulously selfish man , giving the film a special talent to annoy .", "for a chamber drama it 's unusually spacious and well-populated . three supporting relationships are brilliantly limned .", "it 's beautifully photographed and slowly paced , all the better to emphasize the film 's emphasis on and exploration of deep feelings .", "MOV is a well-made movie , with several revelatory performances -lrb- including deborah harry 's quiet work as hopper 's wife -rrb- , but the main character is so unappealing , that 's what i was left with : who cares ?", "by failing to properly transform roth 's unique voice from the page to the screen , all that remains is a fairly embarrassing and horribly mawkish soap opera that , save for one key element , is pretty much a wash from beginning to end .", "director isabel coixet -lrb- my life without me -rrb- keeps the focus on kepesh , played by kingsley in a performance that brings sympathy and humanity to a selfish , imperious , predatory man .", "occasionally touching , always interesting .", "based on philip roth 's novella `` the dying animal , '' `` MOV '' an impassioned cinematic adaptation from director isabel coixet -lrb- `` the secret life of worlds '' -rrb- ...", "philip roth should be overjoyed at this adaptation of his novella ` the dying animal ' about a professor obsessed about old age and mortality .", "the difference this time is the overall quality of the performances . kingsley and cruz make the most credible lovers -lsb- director isabel -rsb- coixet has ever paired .", "brainy , mature , emotional film tackles sex , love .", "i began to wriggle in my seat with an uneasy feeling of voyeurism ... there was so much time spent in someone else 's bedroom .", "an absorbing but somber drama .", "director isabel coixet sees david 's tragedy , but also his life force , and she draws brilliant work out of cruz .", "the delicious conflict of a thinker poleaxed by his feelings inflames isabel coixet 's smoldering MOV , based on roth 's novella the dying animal .", "MOV excels when it focuses solely on kingsley and cruz , two actors who inhabit these roles so completely that they 're more interesting than the plot twists that surround them .", "MOV is a curious example of misplaced good taste . spanish-born director isabel coixet 's film , adapted by nicholas meyer , recasts into softer , more palatable material the ... third in philip roth 's stories driven by the sensual obsessions of roth al", "it 's one of the most truthful films about relationships i have ever seen , and boasts an outstanding performance by sir ben kingsley .", "strong performances mark this movie , with penelope cruz , in particular , rarely quite so good .", "wonderful writing , good performances , beautiful photography , and a lot of food for thought .", "there is much tragedy and truth in what the makers of this movie have brought to the screen .", "it 's an often-wrenching film , but it 's one that thoughtful filmgoers ca n't afford to miss .", "kingsley and cruz both turn in grand-slam performances , especially cruz with her ability to appear as if she 's actually thinking and responding organically to each situation .", "a gorgeous looking film with a wry and clever script and a talented cast giving stellar performances , but one that suffers greatly from the painstakingly slow pace .", "the spanish director gives an almost wongian expression to the way people seduce one another .", "a mature , small-scaled drama that 's both insightful and affecting .", "of all the good actors who have adorned the middle-aged-professor films , ben kingsley , in MOV , is the most formidable and convincing .", "MOV is a spare , melancholy film that is so far in spirit from its source , philip roth 's the dying animal , that i 'm tempted to say we should abandon altogether the idea of adapting roth .", "a depressing but well-made adaptation of a philip roth novella by spanish director isabel coixet .", "ultimately holds together as a smart meditation on mortality and love that uses its literary genesis as more of a boost than limitation .", "coixet 's gentle hand and kingsley 's elegant voice give the movie a stately equilibrium .", "what helps the film stand out is the less than melodramatic approach of director isabel coixet and the complex performances of kingsley and cruz .", "MOV is a rare treat : a serious film that , thanks to kingsley and the rest , does n't seem to take itself too seriously .", "you 'd think screenwriter nicholas meyer would know better .", "as adult entertainment , there 's nothing around that can touch it .", "it 's a dark , dark film , and not a fun night out at the movies by any means , but ... the filmmakers have clearly done a good job with material from a major author whose work is difficult to adapt .", "kingsley and cruz both give performances that rank among the best of their recent careers ... all by themselves making a terrifically flat movie seem marginally human .", "a moving character study and romance based on the novel the dying animal by philip roth .", "a remarkable example of the actor at his best -- conveying wounded hurt or burning hunger with a glance .", "the spell cast by most films evaporates before you can fish out the car keys . MOV , though , only grows in the memory -- more potent , more immediate , more disturbing .", "penelope 's gullible college coed swoons when the lecherous lecturer played by ben kingsley confesses that he 's fallen in love with her breasts . you 've come a long way backwards , baby . penelope cruz boob fetish blues .", "beauty , obsession and longing are the central themes of this hypnotic but ultimately flawed drama in which ben kingsley 's ageing college professor falls in lust with penelope cruz ' stunning and vulnerable student .", "an intelligent tale of aging , beauty , love and loss .", "a film which stays and stays .", "ben kingsley is extraordinary , but penelope cruz is just astounding as consuela . it is really a beautiful film .", "coixet has blunted the impact of the novel 's ending just as she has softened roth 's misanthropic depiction of kepesh and , as a result , she 's taken flak for being over-polite . i did n't care .", "your final affection for this literary treat of sorts is how well you accept the finale , which is touching , and intellectually potent , yet possibly one depressant too many .", "a proven favorite , the horny old devil professor - ben kingsley in isabel coixet 's intelligent but weepy drama .", "no se ubica entre lo mejor de la directora isabel coixet , pero es de todos modos una interesante y sensible reflexi\u00f3n sobre la soledad , el amor , el sexo y la madurez . gran trabajo de ben kingsley .", "there are moments when the story sags , as it postures and revels in its own eloquence , but with strong performances and a moving final act , this is still a fine , thought-provoking film .", "remarkably dour and unsexy .", "the high-minded philosophical discussions feel like posturing , like the movie is trying a little too hard to earn that `` prestige '' title .", "a male-flattering romantic/tragic fantasy for mature intellectuals unable to identify with the young man 's fantasies of judd apatow movies .", "every once in a while -lsb- kingsley -rsb- will give the type of performance , like his superb lead turn in the drama MOV , that reminds you of just how great he can be when he 's properly motivated .", "MOV gives ben kingsley one of the best roles of his career .", "intelligent , well-rendered film about adults , relationships , and growing old .", "an eloquent and understated gem .", "how ironic that it took a woman - spanish director isabel coixet - to capture philip roth 's inherently male agony about facing mortality .", "a feat that coixet -lrb- my life without me , the secret life of words -rrb- and her exquisite cast pull off with knowing aplomb and subtle skill .", "the film is exquisite on every level , full of sadness and emotional surprise ." ], "summary": "an intelligent , adult , and provocative philip roth adaptation that features classy performances , MOV is never quite the sum of its parts .", "id": "770686863" }, { "movie": "beowulf", "reviews": [ "though the realistic-looking people still have dead , soulless eyes , MOV is still an improvement over zemeckis ' creepy kids ' movie the polar express .", "why take the time to draw or render characters if you 're just going to try to make them look real ? ... yet , despite my broken-record misgivings , i confess to enjoying MOV .", "MOV brays and boasts , it overwhelms and it soars . like the tendency to exaggerate inherent in its hero , it 's a majestic movie that does n't quite add up to the epic we anticipate .", "this is n't your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandmother 's MOV .", "it is impossible to shake the fact that other movies have beat this one to the theater with so many similar themes . the new technology , however , has that wow factor that the story is missing .", "the 3-d effects are nothing short of stunning ... big , bawdy and fast-paced enough to compensate for the animation ills with which it is afflicted", "in the tradition of ribald hollywood blockbusters .", "without the elements of crystal-clear digital projection and awe-inspiring 3-d animation , the film does n't have much going for it .", "seeing angelina jolie 's naked animated body doing a sexy slither out of the water might turn your pg-13 boy into an r-rated man !", "sexualized to the point of absurdity .", "the final , kinetic aerial battle scenes are eye-poppingly spectacular -- especially in the 3d imax-version under review -- but they come way too late to save the film .", "a feast of imagery coupled with magnificent drama , a rare cinematic marriage that is destined for box office gold and deservedly so .", "arkoyntos atmosfairikos kai epikos , me mia goiteytiki isorropia paramythioy kai gotthikoy ksekoiliasmatos gyro ap ' tin eypepti alligoriki proseggisi toy thelktikoy tis eksoysias kai toy bromikoy tis ysterofimias", "and one more bonus , the technology almost convinces us angelina jolie can act . revolutionary , indeed .", "... a real-life dungeons & dragons story brought to life ... while not quite as epic as 300 , it 's still one hell of a good ride .", "`` MOV '' is an astounding , eye-popping 3-d makeover of the ancient old english tale . if you have a choice , go see the 3-d version for added depth . `` MOV '' is a monstrous treat .", "for all the visual wizardry at work on screen in robert zemeckis ' `` MOV , '' it 's a wonder i found myself leaving the theater feeling lifeless and unenthusiastic .", "the 3-d effects are relatively tasteful , and the visuals often stunning .", "somebody needs to tell the director to get his head out of the computer and back into humanity , because `` MOV , '' while exciting at the end , is sorely lacking in humanity throughout .", "it may raise the eyebrows of english lit professors but will quicken the pulse of everyone else .", "yes ! rock solid direction . the dynamic ups , downs , humor , and grit of the film are artfully managed to create a very sweet piece that builds smartly and climaxes commandingly .", "things i never expected to see in a major motion picture ...", "think you already know the epic tale ? not this version , you do n't .", "forget the english poem and ignore length : a sensory experience more appealing to eyes and ears than the mind or heart due to zemeckis technical wizardry , watching this mythic epic in 3d imax is a must for viewers interested in the future of the medium", "i say the story works , but i wish they 'd teach these avatars to act .", "because the picture 's technical side is so extraordinary , it is truly saddening to have to write that MOV is n't a very good movie . take away the visuals , and what is left is a talky , subdued , lifeless affair .", "it 's not a reinvention of the wheel , but in 3d this is an astonishing experience that borders on ` must-see . '", "MOV is an exhilarating experience , a glorious spectacle and a film that rewards viewers who keep their brains turned on behind their 3d glasses .", "i came , saw , had my retinas fried , and was conquered .", "for all its visual sweep and propulsively violent action , this bloodthirsty rendition of the old english epic ca n't overcome the disadvantage of being enacted by digital waxworks rather than flesh-and-blood danes and demons .", "the oldest story in the english language -lrb- dating from about ad 700 -rrb- combines with state of the art graphic technology to create a fast-paced and exhilarating heroic adventure .", "looks like the world 's longest cut scene but neither as good nor as bad as it could have been . demands the 3d large screen to be seen .", "director robert zemeckis does the impossible : makes an enjoyable experience out of the most tedious poem in the english language . if mel gibson directed , he would have made it in eighth-century english with no subtitles .", "gather round the fire , for i will tell you a tale unlike any other . ok , it 's like the lord of the rings retold with plastic dolls and a lot of wench jokes .", "a wacky pop-lit hybrid that combines lord of the rings nerd appeal with viking-movie brio , seasoned with naughty bits .", "an excellent showcase for the advantages of computer-generated animation .", "the biggest criticism has nothing to do with the movie itself but with the morons on the mpaa board .", "the film is aimed at young males , and this target market will thoroughly enjoy it % u2013 probably several times", "vale mais pela experi\u0119ncia visual que representa do que pela hist\u00f3ria que conta .", "we are the point of technological nirvana in which it makes sense to someone somewhere to use millions of dollars in money and thousands of hours of labor to digitally recreate that which an old-fashioned -lrb- dare i say outdated ? -rrb- technology already provides", "simultaneously celebrates and critiques the audience 's centuries-spanning hunger for heroic epics ...", "how can a film based on such a classic piece of literature , with the cache of talent behind it , be so drab ?", "the fight sequences -- on land , in mid-air or underwater -- fulfill your most ardent expectations for 3-d thrills .", "the old english poem ponderously , gracelessly expanded into an epic bore", "MOV is pretty to look at , but lacks soul . perhaps it is time for robert zemeckis to return to the land of the living .", "MOV is a well conceived and technically excellent rendition of the ancient legend , but it does n't follow its ideas through all the way , and some strange choices on the part of zemeckis ultimately make it a little less than the sum of its parts .", "it 's a superb action flick that will have you wide-eyed in awe at its effects ; just do n't go expecting any kind of literary discussion .", "a worthy cinematic adaptation , with interesting and provocative mythic ideas of its own , and suprisingly lyrical images to match . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... the initially impressive visuals are ultimately negated by the annoyance of the technology .", "700 a.d. is now 21st century american 3-d . it 's a hell of a transformation . the 3-d version of MOV -- the one you must see if you see the film -- is a wild roller coaster ride .", "it drops its epic posture and spews far too many double entendres .", "the story contains plenty of action and great-looking graphics , but it has n't much heart .", "the bane of english majors for 1,300 years makes it back to the big screen , now with 75 percent more hostility toward christianity !", "` MOV ' brings anglo-saxon literature to life with a vividness hardly imaginable when i skimmed the old english poem as a high school student .", "i had a hell of a good time at this movie .", "with their dead , unblinking eyes the characters look stoned ; more heroine addicts than heroic archetypes .", "the best thing about this movie is that it makes an ancient story into something that is a lot more accessible to most people .", "although the word ` wench ' may go unuttered , most of the time this earthbound adaptation is hardly distinguishable from ye olde kitsch .", "robert zemeckis has created the world 's longest videogame cut scene .", "this motion-capture animated version is genuinely exciting to see although the process still gives us the creeps .", "one of those movies where everyone screams their lines while staggering around gloomy settings for the delight of armchair barbarian fans .", "this is what happens when directors with lots of money and powerful computers get all hot and bothered about the latest new toys .", "the plasticine puppetry of the central figures still lacks that essential spark required to bring them to life .", "once you have acclimatised yourself to the animation style , it tells a cracking good story , and the screenplay by neil gaiman and roger avary conjures a secret history of vulnerability and human weakness behind the legend .", "leave it to robert zemeckis to turn the 8th century fable into a commercially accessible 21st century blockbuster .", "adapted with refreshing irreverence by neil gaiman and roger avary , even if students of the anglo-saxon text may be taken aback by some of their coarser liberties .", "if it 's worth seeing in the theaters , it 's worth finding one that 's screening it in 3d", "when the final battle kicks in to gear and you shake the cobwebs off of the dialogue scenes that passed before , you wo n't care that the characters in MOV are two-dimensional .", "while the new ` MOV ' easily meets its quota for computer-generated spectacle and gore , the script has interesting touches but is n't for the ages .", "this ancient tale of heroism and betrayal is brought slap bang up to date in an computer-generated sword-and-sandals adventure that , while a little on the long side , gets a big thumbs up due to some jaw-thunking special effects .", "MOV is like nothing you 've ever seen , but not for the reasons you think .", "a movie that 's adequate rather than electric , leaving you satisfied but hardly excited .", "savage , yes . but MOV is monstrously entertaining .", "for all its hi-tech wonder , motion-capture technology still has n't perfected the human factor .", "an over-hyped action flick with very little action .", "my friend took the 3-d glasses off halfway through , which causes the image to be blurry . i should have tried that . blurry could n't have made it worse .", "by utilizing the most modern technology , zemeckis has breathed new life into an ancient tale .", "this MOV can be awfully pretty , but it 's untouched by human hands .", "their story arc brings some legitimate dramatic interest to MOV 's climactic battle with the dragon .", "director robert zemeckis has created a computer-animated movie is that exciting , funny , sexy , and thrilling . a genuinely cool moviegoing event .", "gaiman and avery deserve credit for making the MOV poem come full circle , but it is not the cinematic knockout i was hoping for .", "says the queen , ` there have been many brave men who have come to taste my lord 's meat . `` i shall not touch that one with a 3d ten foot pole , m ` lady , ' said MOV .", "`` MOV '' is monstrous enough to deserve to be seen in its 3-d version .", "stressed out warriors wonder if they should turn to christianity for better luck in life , but decide that vice is more fun .", "MOV bellows ` i am MOV ! ' so many times , it could be a drinking game ; it certainly rivals ` this is sparta ! ' as the year 's preferred macho catch phrase .", "hugely enjoyable , smartly written and stunningly animated fantasy epic , even if they have n't quite got the eyes right .", "the epic poem is brought entertainingly to life by an extremely gifted cast and crew . although the motion-capture animation style leaves us with a couple of big questions . mainly , ` why ? '", "give it a chance . it 'll surprise you .", "the fight scenes -- and there are plenty of them -- are as exciting as anything you 've seen in a movie all year .", "zemeckis , you magnificent bastard ! this is one of the best times i 've ever had at the movies .", "if you ca n't get out to see it in theaters , do n't bother seeing it at all .", "MOV is a solemnly gorgeous , at times borderline stolid piece of tolkien-with-a-joystick mythology .", "the irony inherent in using 21st-century motion-control technology to tell a tale approximately 1,400-years old is just one of many bizarrely entertaining aspects of MOV .", "heads roll , arteries gush and spleens spill across the imax screen in MOV , just as you 'd expect in a screen adaptation of the oldest surviving epic poem in the english language .", "you want to read MOV ? get the book , i 'm not stopping you . you want bloody adventure with a brain , see the movie .", "as off-putting as the half-artificial characters are , and as slow as the movie is in parts , the images still have what seems to be endless depth and detail , which gives the action scenes an unprecedented , gut-whomping power .", "it 's imaginative , and it has the barreling forward motion and lurching thrills of a dark ages theme park , even when it 's exercising battle-worn clich\u00e9s .", "ultimately , MOV feels a lot like a video game blown up large : noise , action and funny walking intact .", "it 's a visual experience and maybe the best use of 3d-imax that we 've seen . on a standard screen , it might not be as impressive .", "the film strives for mythological depth and epic breadth , but it 's hard to get below the flat , shallow gloss over every surface .", "even the heaving bosom looks clunky .", "the stuff that works in MOV really works , and the interaction between the human characters and the effects is so intricate that , flaws notwithstanding , i 'm convinced this movie could have been made no other way .", "it 's the MOV saga once again , and the movie becomes tiresome and trivial -- well done within the narrow limits of its aspiration but not worth the inflated effort .", "both exciting and flat , sexy and absurd .", "who would have thought that a supposed technological breakthrough would be remarkable mainly for its story ?", "-lsb- s -rsb- terile , synthetic , almost completely unengaging on a human level . it 's animated but inanimate .", "visually , there 's little to quibble about - but to luxuriate in its full gory glory you 'll have to head for a cinema , or preferably , a 3d imax theatre . waiting for the dvd is not an option .", "hot : who knew MOV took on grendel in the buff ? zemeckis scores big in this groundbreaking , entertaining , must-see holiday release .", "one of those rare blockbuster-type productions that works well thanks to its intelligent script and visual splendour .", "effortlessly compelling and , at times , moving .", "21st century technology leaves this robert zemeckis adaptation of the old english epic poem sadly lacking in poetry .", "robert zemeckis does n't just give english classes new interpretations to discuss but advances the technological limitations of animation to a level that makes high-definition look like a falkirk transmitter .", "straddling an uneasy line between fantasy and reality , this animation technique is more irritating than impressive .", "director robert zemeckis and his technical wizards have turned an english-class staple into a ripping -- not to mention ripped -- comic-book yarn that looks spectacular in imax 3-d .", "director robert zemeckis moves things along lickety-split ; for such a dark , heavy tale , lit by gray , diffuse far-northern skies and golden torchlight , the film is remarkably light on its feet .", "zemeckis has been seduced by the siren call of motion capture ... memo to zemeckis : come back to earth !", "the film is utterly rousing and transporting -- sufficiently , in fact , to make you forgive , if not forget , the somewhat clumsy telling .", "MOV is as dazzling a feast for the eyes as the hungriest eyes can take .", "it is -- quite literally -- an epic achievement .", "MOV is many things , but boring is n't one of them .", "if all this can be defined as animation , then MOV must be considered the front-runner for the oscar in that category .", "for all the slash and burn of the action sequences and the 3-d technology with which it is being shown in many theaters , this MOV from director robert zemeckis feels more like a chore than a pleasure .", "carp about it all you want , but as hollywood revisions of ancient writing go , MOV beats nonsense like troy and 300 on all fronts : formally , thematically and intellectually .", "if MOV does n't beat out ratatouille for the best animated picture oscar , i 'll tear off my own arm and cuss out odin in old english over the injustice .", "it 's like what online avatars are doing to offline creators : zapping the pimples , ballooning the boobs and bulking the muscles . MOV is essentially making big-name actors better than even they can be .", "a highly entertaining action flick , with the final dragon battle being particularly memorable .", "a 300-style adaptation that ... turns MOV into a boys ' adventure tale for the video-game age of decapitations and blood spurts .", "zemeckis springs so many pow 3-d surprises you 'll think MOV is your own private fun house .", "MOV can be a lot of fun to watch -- at least in the 3-d imax version i saw .", "stands as an unapologetically enthusiastic marriage between old-school heroism and modern-day wizardry . plus it kicks ass !", "a celebration of bold , carnivorous manhood that wo n't appeal much to women 's ' rights groups or people for the ethical treatment of dragons .", "the bloodiest 12a -lrb- uk -rrb- rating in memory .", "the background work is smashing , though nothing like as detailed as pixar 's ratatouille and , if the screenplay does one thing decently , it is to make some sort of sense of a most confusing story .", "the trouble is that the film 's look trumps all .", "am i the only one who suspects that the intention of director robert zemeckis and writers neil gaiman and roger avary was satirical ?", "MOV aspires to epic realm of 300 and the fantasy of lord of the rings but falls short of both . but it 's an intriguing novelty act with a few stirring scenes .", "do n't let paramount 's atrocious marketing fool you , MOV is a film of great surprise and heart-stopping visual gusto . it also reaffirms robert zemeckis 's place as a brilliant cinematic architect , still capable of eliciting eye-watering awe .", "a thrilling visit to an alien time and place , devoid of a single dull moment and spiked with something interesting , unexpected or viscerally gripping in virtually every frame .", "MOV is being released in standard 2-d and a non-imax 3-d version , neither of which i 've seen , and neither of which i would recommend as long as there is an opportunity for the sensory overload of imax 3-d .", "a bulked-up and dumbed-down 3-d screen version of the old english epic that is aimed at the shiver-me and scare-me crowd .", "regardless of the medium , this is an effectively brutal story of swords , sorcery , demons , and heroes , with an oedipal hint or two thrown in for flavor .", "to the shock of cynics in the audience waiting for this film fantasy to be lame , MOV turns out to be exciting , fun and occasionally breathtaking . no question it 's a popcorn flick , but it 's cheesy only when it chooses to be .", "violent animated adventure is no kiddie movie .", "a gruff , bawdy boys ' - own adventure with a surprisingly sophisticated sting in its tail .", "zemeckis , who blazed trails mixing live-action with animation in who framed roger rabbit , blazes not even a footpath here .", "a visually rousing epic and a surprisingly effective reworking of a classic .", "some are calling MOV the future of movies , but it would be a lot easier to swallow that hype if ... anything in the movie suggested the people who made MOV were invested in making something good instead of just interested in making something new .", "zemeckis employs the same motion-capture technology that he first used in the polar express , to slightly better effect .", "when MOV is in fighting mode , the film rivals 300 as the coolest videogame-like movie experience ever .", "not all of it works -- and not all of it works the way the target audience of jacked-up young males might want it to -- but the movie is hugely provocative fun , and i 'm pretty sure that 's on purpose .", "as far as cinematic mythology goes , this film flies only so high . and call me anti-geat , but i was rooting for crispin glover 's grendel all along .", "zemeckis has found the dark psychological underpinnings of this dark ages tale , and his version of it will endure even as the technology he used to tell it is replaced by something even more stunning .", "a bloody , silly-sexy action spectacle that shamelessly attempts to justify its excess by basing its violent bombast on the epic poem .", "i ca n't speak for the standard-issue version , but the souped-up extravaganza is one of those experiences that remind you of the magic that movies are capable of conjuring .", "it 's a full-fledged cinematic assault , as if a black velvet painting of norse gods had sprung to life and begun heaving spears , arrows and geysers of blood directly at your forehead .", "if you 're going to MOV to experience the sweeping passions that only real eyes can convey , you 're missing the point .", "MOV is a spellbinder for the senses -- immersive , electrifying , a landmark for techno-fetishist robert zemeckis and his throngs of giga-nerd worker drones .", "as it stands , zemeckis 's movie is only the beta version of the blockbuster of the future , ridden with imperfections that will presumably be corrected in later upgrades .", "until now , the story of MOV has been the most excruciatingly dull part of english lit 101 . but plenty of swordplay , monster-slaying and a naked angelina jolie turn the centuries-old poem into a bitching action movie .", "it 's more dazzle than disaster , but the technical ambitions of MOV work too sporadically to be completely effective , while the screenplay adaptation of the classic story suffers from serious bouts of corn poison .", "MOV is ambitious , overbearing and hollow ; it goes overboard to impress , yet it never feels truly inventive or imaginative .", "all the digital bells and whistles in the world ca n't conceal how hollow the movie is at its core or make us forget about its storytelling and dialogue deficiencies .", "this incredibly beautiful version of the classic tale is going to knock your socks off .", "if you want to understand what the pressure of hollywood does to talent , if you want to experience where the movie business is heading in a big way , this benighted but likely remunerative film is the place to start .", "one of the oldest surviving stories is retold through one of the most modern of technologies in a thrilling 3-d adventure from director robert zemeckis .", "as envisioned by director robert zemeckis , MOV is a sight to behold : the landscape and visuals are powerfully sweeping , the action sequences exhilarating and kinetic .", "when the film is allowed to cut free from recreating reality , most obviously in its depiction of grendel , the results are terrifying to behold and will most likely serve as nightmare fuel for viewers of all ages for a long time to come .", "as muddled as watching a reald presentation without the glasses on .", "the adaptation replaces the two-dimensional characters of the epic poem with more human , nuanced individuals .", "you do n't need to wait for angelina jolie to rise from the vaporous depths naked to know that this MOV is n't your high school teacher 's old english epic poem .", "when computer animation looks this authentic , you wonder why they did n't just do it for real and have done with it . but we 'll own up to being mightily impressed by the visuals .", "no doubt c.b. demille , another director with a knack for turning hollywood stars into robots , would have been entranced .", "while the film 's mission to enrapture teenage boys -lrb- and other fans of grand adventure -rrb- is accomplished , i 'd have to suggest to mr. zemeckis that it may be time to abandon this form of animation .", "this is not the future of films , but it is a future , especially for the action genre .", "at the end of it all , if you take away the violence , the defiantly in-your-face nudity , and angelina jolie , you will find very little story underneath .", "robert zemeckis ' take on MOV is a marvel visually but eye-popping effects are still no challenge for good old-fashioned human emotion .", "so much is right about MOV that one longs for the darker , grimier version that might have been in live action .", "robert zemeckis ' MOV is so rousingly entertaining that you 'll feel guilty for not reading the epic poem all the way through when you were in ninth grade .", "throw on your 3-d glasses and prepare to have your mind blown away .", "it 's a bland and lethargic piece of hollywood tripe that not even the presence of ray winstone could salvage ...", "those who remember the 3000 line epic from 8th grade english will be pleasantly surprised to learn they 've scrapped the original plot altogether .", "MOV may contain all the modern movie magic at zemeckis ' disposal , but it plays like something cecil b. demille could have churned out in his sleep ... .", "this technology is too expensive for the makers to waste a scene .", "there 's plenty of campery , inevitable when you have anthony hopkins and john malkovich in the voice cast , but for all the ham-inatronic moments , it looks terrific .", "the film is surprisingly thoughtful about adult relationships and human fallibility , while the eerie animation of its stars , like it or not , seems to mark an important development for the future of film .", "the dots of MOV 's epic exploits are connected in a way that could have , and should have , matched a tone of grand lust on display in john boorman 's `` excalibur . '' instead , the movie 's schoolboy snickers about sexuality torpedo the script 's inventiveness .", "the 3-d film is n't just a movie , it 's a movie experience that makes you a part of its noble , frightening and fantasy-infused world .", "imax 3d may be a gimmick , but it 's a good one , perfectly suited to a film like MOV .", "a dazzling , immersive and unique visual experience .", "comic-con geeks and cinephiles alike will gape at the resplendent imagery -lrb- but don ye specs , and see it in 3-d -rrb- .", "despite the wealth of expertise on display , there 's scarcely any imagination ." ], "summary": "featuring groundbreaking animation , stunning visuals , and a talented cast , MOV has in spades what more faithful book adaptations forget to bring : pure cinematic entertainment .", "id": "358172524" }, { "movie": "mr_turner", "reviews": [ "as is usual with any mike leigh film -- a style unique and trademarked by now -- his ensemble is a collection of remarkably adept actors who know their characters so well they could stay in character for weeks , continually improvising , as they often do .", "there 's great value not only in the uncompromising , anti-sentimental central performance , but in leigh and cinematographer dick pope 's impressively disciplined lensing , which shows us what turner saw without slavishly trying to evoke his canvasses .", "as MOV finds the humanity within the harshness of a life of winding down and of an extraordinary talent housed within a complex man , leigh and his collaborators on-screen and off turn the corresponding account into its own masterly work .", "spall grabs the role with gusto , grunting , snorting and waddling , top hatted , umbrella in hand , reminiscent of danny devito 's penguin in batman returns .", "to use a word often associated with turner and his art , it 's sublime .", "it may be art , but it 's not entertainment .", "never thrilling but always intriguing , the film is a highly personal portrait of an artist that itself becomes a work of art worthy of preservation .", "the director 's best film since 1999 's topsy-turvy .", "leigh 's screenplay is devoid of meaningless banter , but brimming with consequential glances and purposeful dialogue . one of the best-written , and most handsomely filmed movies this year .", "to hold audience interest for 150 minutes with virtually no action sequences speaks volumes .", "it 's one of the fullest biographies ever made .", "it 's a form of language , the noises spall has conjured , and coupled with his permanent scowl - spall 's turner would make a fine halloween mask or muppet - he keeps a happily meandering film most grounded .", "this is less your standard-issue biopic than a foray into the mystery of human feeling .", "this is a stunning encapsulation of a life , effortlessly hitting upon universal themes of creativity , mortality , love and our lasting worth on a planet that will keep spinning long after we 're gone .", "timothy spall etches an indelible portrait of the great painter , aided by a marvelous supporting cast who make the period spring alive .", "leigh and pope simply let turner exist in the landscapes he 's trying to capture , creating the cinematic equivalent of turner 's panoramic washes .", "leigh and lead timothy spall make full use of their canvas , creating a sprawling portrayal of a wonderfully messy personality .", "above all , leigh 's generous approach to capturing the fullness of turner 's life , through unhurried rhythms and scenes , makes mr. turner memorable .", "unusually , a long running time is a positive factor here , especially as turner 's painting style begins to change radically in sync with his advancing age .", "a portrait of the artist as visionary oddball , for whom life was an endless source of both beauty and the irritating distractions blocking his view of said beauty .", "timothy spall - a veteran of mike leigh 's films - plays this eccentric , determined london bohemian like a bronchial , cantankerous , randy old toad with backache .", "what a glorious film this is , richly and immediately enjoyable , hitting its satisfying stride straight away .", "whilst a little too long at just under 2 and a half hours , leigh has nevertheless created something of a masterpiece .", "` mr. turner ' feels like a perfect summation of leigh 's career . bold , beautiful and a little cranky . also , importantly , not to everyone 's taste .", "leigh makes no judgements on his protagonist but instead chooses to place before us a man both ordinary and extraordinary as he shuffles about his daily business .", "mike leigh takes on the topsy-turvy life of j.m.w. turner in an exquisitely detailed , brilliantly acted biopic .", "keen observer mike leigh brings his hawk 's eye to a vibrant rendering of j.m.w. turner , the celebrated british `` painter of light . ''", "i ca n't say enough about the power of spall 's performance .", "a vacuous endurance test about an abstract loser .", "the gap between the celestial art of the great english romantic painter joseph mallord william turner and the brutish details of his life is vividly explored in mike leigh 's tragicomic movie mr. turner .", "like turner 's own paintings , -lsb- spall -rsb- creates a series of impressions that , when seen from the right angle , create an astounding vision . it is truly remarkable , and it is unlikely that you 'll see its kind again .", "the film itself is rich with spirit and possessed of a dry humour , if not overly concerned about representing the world as turner saw it . spall makes a man who tried to give little away hugely expressive .", "mr. turner manages to illuminate that nexus between biography and art with elegant understatement .", "leigh always brings the pain , but such bulging agony is throttled for this bio-pic , which largely avoids melodrama to cut into the man and feel around for what remains of his soul .", "-lsb- mr. turner -rsb- manages to get inside the head and heart of an artist , details what made him such a distinctive figure in art history , and gives film lovers a chance to stare at some of the most beautiful cinematography of 2014 .", "it 's actor timothy spall who brings what could have been a two-dimensional caricature to life .", "leigh shows us the world as turner sees it-harsh and ravishing . his beauty of a movie touches the heart not by sentimental gush but by the amplitude of its art .", "it 's not a pretty portrait of the artist . but it is a real one .", "with his incomparable mr. turner , mike leigh continues to make other directors look simpleminded .", "the sprawling , loosely structured 2 1/2 hour drama has some of the year 's most stunning visuals , many of which appear as artfully composed scenes in turner 's work .", "as per usual , the method of leigh 's screenplay is relaxed ... but the aim and details are precise .", "if mr. turner sometimes slips out of gear and refuses to make sense in the pursuit of its character , that 's only because its subject did the same in the pursuit of his art .", "any expectations of reverential biography are quickly dispelled by mr. leigh 's sharp , scintillating script and mr. spall 's uncanny daring .", "j.m.w. turner , arguably the greatest of british painters , was an uncommonly difficult man , and `` mr. turner , '' the exceptional film mike leigh has made about him , does not do things the easy way either .", "writing about mr. turner a few weeks after seeing it , i feel a craving to be again immersed in its world , which is rich with colors , textures , and , it sometimes almost seems , smells ...", "`` mr. turner '' is a mighty work of critical imagination , a loving , unsentimental portrait of a rare creative soul .", "beautifully shot and acted , it 's one of leigh 's more enjoyable and accessible recent films , one that will appeal to more than the arthouse crowd normally drawn to his films .", "writer-director mike leigh renders an intimately detailed portrait of the artist and timothy spall portrays mr. turner in brilliant strokes .", "... a tremendous and problematic movie that ultimately rings with intelligence , sadness and a kind of validating generosity toward human foible .", "-lsb- leigh and -rsb- cinematographer dick pope beautifully recreate the fog-smeared landscapes and hazy colors of turner 's paintings , and the effect is like watching j.m.w. turner stomp and growl and sketch his way through the contours of his own imagination .", "i was mesmerized by mr. turner , the man and the movie . though the running time is 150 minutes , i would happily have stayed for another hour .", "imaginative and richly detailed 19th century period biopic on the last 25 years of the revered english artist joseph mallord william turner .", "you have to work to follow the narrative but leigh 's interest is n't on what he did when . it 's all about how and why he paints .", "`` mr. turner '' painstakingly paints such a detailed portrait that those with enough patience to hang in there will be able to appreciate the complete picture and the filmmaker 's craftsmanship .", "the film is distinguished by a truly stunning performance from timothy spall .", "mr. turner works at once as a warts-and-all portrait of the painter and his circle , and as a large-scale evocation of victorian england .", "a slowgoing yet rich showcase for veteran character actor timothy spall .", "it 's far and away timothy spall 's finest work , and even more a triumph for mike leigh , to have brought such artistry of his own to such an artist .", "mike leigh 's biopic of jmw turner is a rambling , richly detailed character study with a magnificent central performance from timothy spall .", "who else could 've made an interesting film about an uninteresting man if not leigh , the expert of finding gloriousness in moments of ordinary being ?", "unlike a conventional biopic like `` the imitation game '' that attempts to draw clear cause-and-effect between one event and the next , leigh refuses to explain or judge his subject . the `` mr. '' in title suggests the respectful distance he keeps .", "like it 's subject , the film has an irascible charm . leigh strips away the myth of the vaunted artist ; the highly evolved being with special knowledge . he also avoids the clich\u00e9s that come with portraying an artist of turner 's stature .", "`` mr. turner '' is a rich portrait of england at a particularly scabrous period .", "... one of the most memorable and intriguing films i 've seen in a long time . mike leigh should be congratulated for the creativity and artistry of this film .", "despite his own failings and faults , leigh and spall 's turner is a man consumed by the search for truth and beauty , even in the midst of the less than pretty truths of his times .", "without a speck of pomposity leigh 's film - one of the year 's best - honors its subject in all his tetchy ambiguity .", "erudite and exquisite , it exudes color and exacting visuals ...", "the film looks and feels like a turner painting , thanks to leigh 's collaboration with cinematographer dick pope , capturing the immense beauty that so transfixed this man .", "dick pope 's digital cinematography , akin to the canvases themselves , is luminous , magisterial and expressive of all that turner 's rebuffs and grunts do not bother to express .", "a vivid grumble .", "`` mr. turner '' is a rich , ruthless and profoundly compassionate study of life and love and art , for those who find themselves on its wavelength , but it also presents itself as a challenge .", "timothy spall mesmerises , proving the artist is beautiful and monstrous .", "spall 's repertoire of grunts , each one with its own distinct meaning , comfortably extends past a hundred , and you wonder if he went method for the role , living for years in a sty until he got the voice , posture and smell just right .", "timothy spall is a grunting , squinting , po-faced force of nature in mike leigh 's surprising and charming biography of romantic landscape painter j.m.w. turner", "timothy spall - best known to mainstream audiences as wormtail in the harry potter series - delivers an oscar-caliber tour de force reminiscent of charles laughton", "while his visual take on the life of j.m.w. turner 's is among leigh 's most ambitious attempts , outside of a few key scenes and good performances , the film lays lifeless like a pbs special on a sunday afternoon .", "spall 's characterization is never less than towering ... . now finally there 's oscar chatter for his turner , who struts down the london 's alleyways like a dickensian villain , porcine and self-involved .", "`` timothy spall grunts and grumbles his way through the film , chewing the scenery and spitting it back out with contempt . ''", "leigh has it both ways : he 's tough on british history , but there 's still a bit of heritage england seeping through .", "a masterpiece of a film with truly uncanny performances from timothy spall , dorothy atkinson and marion bailey .", "an astute summation of mike leigh 's glum view of humanity , but also a challenge to this disposition and his own pessimistic perspective .", "timothy spall grunts , gurgles and sputters playing j. m. w. turner in mike leigh 's visually stunning biopic . the round-faced british character actor took best actor at cannes for his crass-yet-compelling portrait of an artist as a wheezy old lout .", "mike leigh 's biopic is so richly detailed that it feels like a documentary . spall goes for broke in the outsize title role .", "anyone who knows leigh 's method would n't be surprised that mr. turner is more of an intuitive collage than a faithful dramatization of reality . it 's a fascinating , mostly plotless examination of one man 's tortured artistic process .", "turner 's great oils and watercolors ... seem indistinct at first but consist of a wealth of details that eventually merge into a clear picture . leigh 's movie does the same , building a full portrait from a series of vignettes .", "some of dick pope 's unique shots are beautiful enough to elicit awe and admiration , which makes this picture a perfect match between subject matter -lrb- artist -rrb- and presentation -lrb- artful -rrb- .", "the lack of a normal story structure will baffle and even bore some viewers . but i highly recommend trying it . if you can tap into its vibe , it 's amazing .", "-lsb- leigh 's -rsb- refracted camera lens casts a light on the period as gorgeous and evocative -- and occasionally as repellent -- as the light laid down on turner 's grand canvasses .", "mr. turner , for better or worse , is a film that stays with you .", "portrait of the artist as a troll", "leigh strings together scenes that are alternately funny , sad , bitter and baffling , sometimes all at the same time .", "leigh is as interested as turner in the elusive , the evocative and the essential .", "the evocation of time and place in `` mr. turner , '' transports us to 19th century england in such a convincing way , we 're never aware of the effort ... spall is astonishing .", "timothy spall grunts , gurgles and sputters playing j. m. w. turner in mike leigh 's magnificent biopic . the round-faced british character actor continues to seize awards for his crass-yet-compelling portrait of an artist as a wheezy old lout .", "mike leigh here conducts his most captivating character study since naked .", "with his cannes winner for best actor -lrb- timothy spall , `` all or nothing '' -rrb- and technical achievement -lrb- cinematographer dick pope , `` another year '' -rrb- , writer/director mike leigh -lrb- `` topsy-turvy , '' `` another year '' -rrb- has created one of the great films about an artist .", "it 's a painfully uneven movie , but its best moments are ravishingly good .", "for those who do n't mind taking an extended look at a masterpiece and the human hand behind it , mr. turner may well reframe your relationship to light itself .", "spall may make a grotesque of turner - piggish , rutting , whoring - but he finds such incandescence in the world around him . and director mike leigh lets you see that incandescence as turner saw it : everywhere .", "as fresh and lively as one of its subject 's oil seascapes .", "rather than pure nostalgia , this movie feels like time traveling .", "filmmaker mike leigh 's biography of the landscape painter j.m.w. turner is what critics call `` austere '' - which means it 's slow and grim and deliberately hard to love-yet it 's fascinating , and the performances and photography are outstanding .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- mike leigh 's reputation as an unrivaled inventor of cinematic dramaturgy once again over-delivers on his promise . how , you might ask , is that possible . such is the nature of mike leigh 's incomprehensible genius .", "this is a fascinating , lusciously detailed portrait of an artist , but it could have used a little less colour and a bit more subtle shading .", "mr. turner is gorgeous , touching , weird , interesting , funny and a thousand other superlatives .", "mike leigh 's attention to detail is in fine form here , and it fills every aspect of the film 's production .", "it did n't do it for me . i spent nearly as much time looking at my watch as i did gazing at spall and pope 's great work .", "as one would expect from leigh , this is a movie marinated in detail .", "it 's a funny , fitting , warts-and-all monument to a british master , with mike leigh demonstrating a command of his craft to rival even his subject .", "rarely has watching paint dry been so fascinating .", "slow period piece ` mr. turner ' is an actors ' , filmmaker 's , photographer 's , and costume and set designers ' delight .", "an extraordinary portrait of the last stages in the life and career of joseph mallord william turner , the painter of light .", "he is the man who watches .", "mr. turner provides a gorgeously detailed world for a flawed , magnetic leading man .", "rex reed , who called melissa mccarthy a `` hippo '' in his review of identity thief , has done it again , stating that mr. turner 's star is `` too repulsive to watch for 150 minutes . '' reed 's remarks are totally uncalled for . his dismissal , however , would not be .", "at 150 minutes , it 's a little too long but there are stretches during its course when it captivates and amazes .", "mr. turner is an absolutely luminous film .", "the late life of english painter j.m.w. turner is brilliantly reimagined by leigh and his versatile star , spall .", "portrait of the artist : he grunts , he groans , he gropes .", "there is little in the way of narrative eventfulness in the film , but leigh luxuriates in the moments , and provides glimpses of what it takes to be an artist amid the fray .", "you leave `` mr. turner , '' as with all good fact-based films , wanting to know more about this man and his work - and remembering that beautiful , almost touchable light , on the canvas and on the screen .", "the brilliant timothy spall puts in a career-topping lead performance in director mike leigh 's unhurried , largely plotless , strangely mesmeric portrait of british artist joseph turner .", "one of -lsb- mike -rsb- leigh 's most rewarding works . he is now 71 , but this film and his last one , another year , show that he 's at the lofty peak of his powers .", "mr. turner is n't quite an aesthetic failure , yet neither is it an unabashed success the way many of leigh 's recent works have proven to be .", "i confidently predict timothy spall will be lifting a bafta , if not an oscar , for his brilliant performance as 19th-century painter jmw turner in this affecting biopic .", "it 's no surprise that mike leigh would take a distinctly original approach to the celebrity biopic , and this film about 19th century painter j.m.w. turner is refreshingly unstructured and abrasive .", "it 's not the sort of tidy biopic that hollywood churns out in batches , but that somehow makes it even truer to the spirit of the romantic period when it takes place .", "how could such a delicate and visionary artist - a genius - be such a grunting warthog of a man ?", "shimmering with awards potential , leigh 's glorious picture is a hilarious , confounding , wholehearted and dazzlingly performed portrait of an artist as an ageing man .", "when you have spall doing the grunting , and mike leigh at the helm , as both writer and director , such gruntiness can be quite sublime , as can snorting and huffing .", "at two-and-a-half hours , this is not a portrait in miniature , but spall is mesmerising to watch , even making a convincing show of creating some of turner 's famous works before the camera , including the fighting temeraire .", "leigh has earned this masterpiece through the turner school of industrious application .", "this is no stuffy costume drama but a richly lived-in visit to early-19th-century england that is rough , bawdy , often funny , and more often unsettling .", "it 's a beautiful film because it is n't afraid of beauty 's uglinesses . artists do n't personify the ideal or dazzling worlds they envision . they are the workshop , not the work . so it 's right , in a biopic , that we see the mess of the creative life .", "director mike leigh and actor timothy spall paint their own masterpiece .", "for modern moviegoers , the earthy `` mr. turner '' may seem like slowly steeped tea with an unpleasant aftertaste . but while some are impatiently waiting for the paint to dry , astute viewers will see a cinematic landscape bloom .", "you really need to work to find turner 's redeeming qualities . but somehow spall finds them in a performance that is rooted in subtle brilliance .", "if the past is a foreign country , then `` mr. turner '' is one of the most rhapsodic foreign films you may ever see .", "revives an era in astonishing , delicate detail , then moves through the space with a documentarian 's eye . leigh takes turner out of art history and puts him back in the world .", "leigh is n't so much interested in artist as martyr as he is in the artist as self-contained multitude , containing all the foibles and paradoxes of his age .", "leigh 's method is to grant actors great latitude to invent their own characters . i wonder if his deference to their contributions might interfere with judicious editing .", "mr. turner is no barrel of laughs . it 's a barrel of life - an extraordinary one .", "mr. turner is n't just pretty ; it 's museum-ready masterpiece gorgeous .", "it 's exquisitely put together , and spall sucks the marrow out of the role , playing turner as inquisitive and impetuous , comfortable in the royal academy of arts or a brothel .", "... MOV , though not without flaws , is something of a twilight culmination of leigh 's work , and very much one in which the filmmaker turns his lens on himself , as is so often the case when directors make movies about artists .", "a fascinating character , a vividly realized film portrait", "`` mr. turner '' is a harsh , strange , but stirring movie , no more a conventional artist 's bio-pic than robert altman 's wonderful , little-seen film about van gogh and his brother , `` vincent and theo . ''", "watching mike leigh 's MOV is a little like being immersed in a beautiful painting . exquisite to look at with wonderful cinematography and production design , this portrayal is a showcase for veteran actor timothy spall", "mike leigh 's late-career fascination with the turning of the seasons and corporeal decline is illustrated with great humour and poetry in mr. turner .", "spall 's turner grunts and growls , gurgles and wheezes , but the performance could not be more eloquent , revealing the painter in all his contradictions and genius .", "leigh 's own masterpiece .", "timothy spall 's impressive performance as the 19th century english artist notwithstanding , this is a film to respect more than to love .", "turner , you 'd hope , would be proud .", "never before has `` ghhrrrrr '' meant so much or conveyed such depth of character .", "if there is one film you should see on the largest screen possible this year , it is MOV , which is not merely the portrait of an artist but a full-frontal , joyous bellyflop into the seascapes of his paintings .", "takes you on a bit of a meander , but you 'll find by the end that you 've arrived somewhere .", "biopic of famous painter is well-acted but slow moving .", "... contrasts beautiful art with ugly humanity .", "the best kind of period biopic , that transports the viewer into its world and right beside its subject .", "mr. turner , like just about all movies made by mike leigh , creates the sensation of being in a vividly realized mini-universe built from the ground up .", "an inspired film , a beautiful exploration of art and creation and difficulty , with spall 's brilliant performance at its center .", "one of the finest films about an artist ever made , fashioned by a filmmaker who 's a notable artist himself .", "a towering film . leigh revels in the physicality of this long gone era . but between the lines , he provides a lesson in keeping the soul guarded and seeking what endures .", "leigh 's film , as ever , is a spirited , intimate and funny character study , an artist biopic that avoids the trap of mythologising its subject .", "timothy spall gives an admirably warty and unpleasant performance as turner , an arrogant and uncompromising man who 's annoyed by his celebrity in britain but shocked when the public turns against his work .", "leigh 's world-building is immaculate : abetted by suzy davies ' extraordinary production design , mr. turner subtly constructs environments that evoke what turner sees , tonally and spatially , that those around him can not .", "leigh 's process once again yields a compassionate narrative in which subtle glances and asides tell the story as much as the plot itself .", "every scene in the film crackles with mike leigh 's instinct for dramatic comedy and layered theme , but MOV is also startlingly beautiful to behold .", "bailey 's mrs. booth chirpily complements the cantankerous turner , while atkinson 's hannah conveys a sadness and longing that earn her the final close-up from the movie 's humanist director .", "mr. turner clocks in at a full two and a half hours , but the pacing is such that we never feel it drag .", "epic in breadth and length -lrb- 2 1/2 hours -rrb- , and gorgeously photographed -lrb- digitally -rrb- by bill pope , mr. turner is intimate in incident .", "failure is n't only the province of the lazy and uninspired . no , even the gifted and conscientious must occasionally take a stroll through that blasted landscape , and with mr. turner leigh does it , for 2 1/2 hours . do n't go with him .", "a gorgeous , important film .", "if you 're a patient film buff who relishes the idea of a low-key yet consistently compelling cinematic biography that 's in no real hurry to get anywhere , there 's a whole lot to admire about mr. turner .", "this focus expands the film , so it is not only about one artist , but also about artistic process , its adversities and frustrations as much as its revelations and rewards .", "timothy spall inhabits the role so completely he disappears within in it , a trick of the light ." ], "summary": "led by a masterful performance from timothy spall and brilliantly directed by mike leigh , mr. turner is a superior hollywood biopic .", "id": "771373229" }, { "movie": "saint", "reviews": [ "anyone looking for a religious experience at the multiplex this weekend will do better checking out dennis rodman 's hair hues in double team .", "the MOV suffers from some of the same plot inconsistencies , lapses in logic and outrageous stunts as their other films . but there 's no wit at work here , and most of the one-liners are tired sexual double-entendres .", "well-executed and more satisfying than mission : impossible , this super-production is packed with thrills and high-tech gadgetry .", "the MOV is all glitz and comic-book spy plot with no more than a passing hint that templar has a real personality behind the disguises .", "one of the most ludicrous scripts to come out of the hollywood script factory in recent years .", "there is very little in the MOV that 's original or fresh .", "this story has too many rough edges .", "whereas something like clear and present danger was briskly all of a piece , `` the MOV '' has difficulty making us believe that its diverse elements belong in the same motion picture .", "... if the purist MOV fans are out there breathing heavily because i did not have a problem with this movie , well , that is my excuse .", "more entertaining than mission : impossible or the last bond film , goldeneye , it brings back the humour and sang-froid that makes the genre work .", "a big , fat mess .", "ok , so the MOV is nothing more than throwaway fun . it 's a textbook popcorn picture .", "shue struggles to make some sense out of a character who has to deliver a lot of exposition and whose weak heart is magically strengthened by love , but it 's hard to play a romantic scene with someone who seems to love himself even more than you love him .", "so mediocre that future adventures seem far from likely .", "a remarkably likable thriller .", "the pedestrian script by jonathan hensleigh and wesley strick is laughably simple-minded , as retro as they come .", "a soulless piece of claptrap .", "reinvention in the hands of hollywood is seldom cause for celebration .", "there is n't a contemporary film actor more crafty than val kilmer -- or one who reveals less of his true self . that 's why kilmer is so perfectly cast as simon templar , the master thief and elusive disguise artist of the MOV .", "disappointing on nearly every level .", "the story that screenwriters jonathan hensleigh and robert s. baker have concocted keeps bogging down in silly contradictions or cliches .", "the predictable action-thriller elements are all in place , from coke-sniffing , machine-gun-toting thugs to monotonous narrow escapes . the look is stylish , sound is above average , and the acting only as good as it has to be .", "this film ought to make tons of money .", "nothing in the film really makes any sense , and all the other characters seem buffoonish and arch , overplayed to the point of farce , more matt helm than james bond .", "the film works , thanks to noyce 's skill in creating suspense and staging elaborate action scenes .", "a hopeless muddle from beginning to end .", "a piece of mass-market movie bubblegum that stretches incredulity and then snaps apart .", "the script is a mixed bag of elaborate and unnecessary pseudo-politics , intriguing ideas and mostly confusing rehashed romantic mishmash .", "masterfully assembled by director noyce .", "while that obviously-altered - to-make - it-happy ending is truly annoying , it 's the MOV 's combination of action and comedy that make it a worthwhile trip .", "-lsb- noyce -rsb- keeps things moving at a kinetic , involving pace .", "compared with the sensational stunts and special effects in the bond series , the MOV seems positively leisurely .", "loud , frantic , ridiculously overproduced and featuring a preening performance by val kilmer as a supposedly brilliant master of disguise , the MOV is sheer overkill .", "the MOV is lightly entertaining , but there 's very little here worth getting excited about .", "kilmer should have stuck with his batman character .", "love redeems this profiteer ; it also renders him conventional .", "this insufferable romance-adventure includes vague comedy as well as unintentional humor , and its target audience seems to be preadolescents who wo n't notice the calculated enthusiasm with which it sidesteps sexuality .", "there was enough in the movie for me to watch and somewhat enjoy it the whole way through .", "eminently forgettable .", "what could have been a cool concept movie buckles under an uninspired script and some treacherous miscasting .", "kilmer slips in and out of a series of ludicrously elaborate disguises , some more convincing than others , while poor shue shuffles through the role of a sexy , book-reading babe pretending to be a dowdy lady scientist in kneesocks .", "a generic suspenser that does n't taste bad at first bite but becomes increasingly hard to swallow .", "there 's no lack of style or pace from noyce , just the sense that it is n't quite gelling together .", "the glossy photography is stunning and kilmer 's implausible accents are fun ." ], "summary": "the MOV is watchable thanks to kilmer and shue , but the muddled screenplay stretches credulity .", "id": "10410" }, { "movie": "digimon_the_movie", "reviews": [ "i 'm sorry , but it 's highly unlikely that few will argue with the point that more than one such ` mon ' game , tv show or movie is one too many .", "it 's crudely animated and utterly uninteresting .", "with its migraine-inducing laser showdowns and puerile gags ... digimon almost makes you nostalgic for the relative sophistication of the teenage mutant ninja turtles .", "digimon is n't deserving of much , as it 's still not a very good movie . but at least it 's not as bad as pokemon .", "parents , if you do n't want to compete with popular culture to raise your child ... this is where you draw the line in the sand .", "if there is any taste left in the world , the buck may very well stop here .", "the movie can actually make for a great afternoon .", "can be surprisingly smart and lively in its early going , thanks to some cheeky , well-written humor , a genuine sense of excitement and topical ties to the internet .", "it 's tons of fun , but it 's also a rapid-fire , chaotic , bizzaro world that may give you a seizure if you stare at it too long .", "i found the movie exciting enough to keep me interested .", "the movie does n't even try for coherence . each of its three distinct episodes is barely comprehensible in itself .", "still just another excuse to sell trading cards and video games to your unsuspecting offspring .", "if you love digimon , here 's more . no surprises .", "not that i 'm encouraging you to see the movie , you understand -- especially not when you could , for example , alternatively spend the evening tweezing your eyebrows with chopsticks .", "animation work is generally far below the standard tolerable for the bigscreen .", "this picture is such a hyperactive hodgepodge ... mostly because it 's cobbled together from three short japanese movies .", "i 'm not nuts about shooting hyperactive boys up with ritalin , but digimon : the movie could use about 2,000 cc 's of the stuff , injected straight into the projector .", "the film is strictly for the kiddies , there 's not that many grownups who would stand for monsters going at each other yelling fart power !!!!! or whatever it is they 're saying .", "what is particularly unappealing and troublesome about the feature is that it is a video game barely disguised as a movie .", "a frenzied , cacophonic cartoon feature -lrb- actually two featurettes shakily stitched together -rrb- .", "after about an hour , the picture simply runs out of plot . when another adventure is introduced , you 're all but invited to check your watch .", "the film 's animation is second rate with dull colors and fuzzy drawing . neither this , nor the lackluster music , can compensate for the story 's confusion .", "art may be too much , but should n't filmmakers deliver something more than rehashed saturday morning piffle on the silver screen ?", "-lsb- parents -rsb- may be peering at their watches and sympathizing with the digimon who wails , ` what do we have to do to stop this fighting ? '", "the film has an unrelenting staccato quality . some would say a jackhammer quality .", "the animation itself is n't anything special -- not that the target audience cares much about that . but the message is sweet and empowering .", "nothing but an extensive knowledge of the digimythos will make the story of this animated feature the slightest bit comprehensible .", "plots are difficult to follow and use the words ` digi ' and ` mon ' to an obnoxious degree .", "overall , it 's a pleasantly bearable experience .", "this full-length animated film actually is n't bad .", "as noisy , chaotic , cheesy and crassly commercial a product as has ever been put on the big screen .", "overly violent swill .", "the fight scenes ... are thrilling , the friendships among the digidestined children are way cool , and the protective gestures of the older kids toward the younger ones in the movie are probably a good example for all ." ], "summary": "digimon is better than pokemon , but it 's still a predictable movie with mediocre animation .", "id": "11835" }, { "movie": "divided_we_fall", "reviews": [ "a decent and honorably made film .", "attempts a mix of subtle drama and tragedy , but loses much if not all meaning in the process .", "a very worthwhile entry in the proud tradition of czech filmmakers examining serious social issues with dark humor .", "poignant , humanistic and irresistibly comic .", "it 's both appallingly self-congratulatory and unconscionable .", "a tense , funny and nonjudgmental look at what people will -lrb- and wo n't -rrb- do to make it through impossible circumstances .", "the cast ... performs with such subtlety and ingenuity that all sense of narrative artifice vanishes .", "the highly theatrical finale is one of the most gracious film moments you 'll ever witness .", "feels as if it 's been engineered for the lowest iq in the room .", "gripping , thrilling and even funny , without sacrificing complexity .", "whether they act with cowardice or courage , the characters are invariably complex .", "ultimately stands on the united essence of the human condition .", "even in the most appalling circumstances , it suggests , human folly can be funny and even moving .", "a tender and heartbreakingly lovely story of risk and sacrifice in the shadow of the terror .", "hrebejk , jarchovsky and the talented cast wrench our emotions in unexpected directions .", "says that people are more important than politics .", "... an interesting character study ...", "hrebejk directs with a sure hand and a warm heart .", "an important film , one that raises questions about the choices we make when our very humanity is at stake .", "while hrebejk 's biblical references and baby making slapstick become somewhat labored , his gentle comedy nonetheless stands true to his title .", "has the literary richness , depth of character and tone that such a morally difficult , powerful narrative requires .", "a well-acted , thoughtful piece that shows what it may have been like living in nazi-occupied portions of europe , particularly in ethnically mixed czechoslovakia .", "MOV is quintessentially czech , and it knows no borders .", "as with the films of emir kusturica , whose characters also resist easy analysis , the people in MOV are completely and wonderfully human .", "a stark portrait of the nazi occupation -- the paranoia citizens lived with every moment , and the way small lies lead to tragic consequences .", "no matter a person 's race , creed , religion or even political affiliation , this simple czech film is a triumph to be shared by all .", "manages to be funny and touching without ever resorting to schmaltz .", "`` MOV '' is a vital reminder of the kinds of dramatic choices made by millions of peopled victimized by nazis and traitors in a war that was fought at all costs .", "the comic elements are handled with a delicacy so that they do not overwhelm the dramatic underpinnings .", "just when you think you 've seen all the world war ii films you can handle , one comes along that leaves you in awe .", "a stirring , affecting story about courage , trust and the inevitability of bizarre allegiances during times of desperation .", "confronts an incendiary topic head-on with grace , style , compassion and exquisitely practical wit .", "inspires a longing to follow these vivid characters into the next horrific stage of the czech century .", "the settings are authentic , but the acting comes across fairly flat .", "brings to vivid life the tribulations and even the joys of normal people whose loyalties are tested in abnormal times .", "an entertaining and provocative tale of ordinary people who suddenly find themselves heroes .", "the players perfectly inhabit their characters ; nobody seems to be actually acting .", "parts are very funny , but not over the top like life is beautiful .", "a rewarding , courageous and beautiful work .", "a lovely movie , one that allows its characters unexpected spurts of growth and regression , darkness and grace .", "quite affecting , powerful and -lrb- at times -rrb- funny ... and it 's well worth investigating .", "the performances ... pull us into the humanity and indignity of it all .", "an accomplished , insightful , touching film .", "a provocative holocaust drama saturated with tension and streaked with dark comedy .", "unbearable tension is coupled with wit and the consistent element of surprise .", "the stories should be heartfelt and real ... not just half-hearted attempts at comedy .", "director jan hrebejk gives it a provocative and daring twist , perching farcical mischief , wit , and pragmatism on the edge of the holocaust .", "a film which has little to say , and even less idea of the most appropriate way to say it .", "when the film begins to drown in its own good intentions , it 's these actors who float to the top keep it from sinking into the depths of mawkish melodramatics .", "comedic touches mix with drama to make this 2001 academy award nominee a particularly poignant story .", "hrebejk furthers his country 's reputation for cinematic absurdity as the only sane artistic reaction to political insanity .", "morally complex -- and very entertaining .", "shows that it 's not only possible to make a spine-tingling world war ii saga without bloodshed , but also to use such stories to examine the agonizing-but-necessary values of conscience , loyalty and forgiveness .", "writer petr jarchovsky never lets events slip into silliness , successfully bringing the understated humor of his source novel to the screen .", "treats the ensuing issues of conscience and compromise with subtlety and warmth ." ], "summary": "MOV takes a complex look at world war ii , skillfully balancing humor and gravity .", "id": "12794" }, { "movie": "sunshine", "reviews": [ "not crammed with excitement , but it is thoroughly engrossing", "a visually striking film that uses the expected elements of the science fiction genre to create memorable , sometimes mesmerizing images", "garland and boyle are nothing if not ambitious . they want us to consider the big questions about the importance of mankind as well as science versus fundamentalism .", "a barely noticeable eclipse next to the poetry of woman in the moon and mission to mars", "leaves a lot to be desired from the standpoint of plot , character development and scientific credibility .", "nothing anyone does makes much sense , but gad , is it ever gorgeous .", "in an age of technical advancements when filmmakers have circumvented ideas for synthetic visual thrills , here is a movie that plays like some decisive , brilliant rebellion to that pattern .", "do n't pack a tube of spf 50 to the theater ; bring a can of jolt or a double espresso .", "`` MOV 's '' mostly cerebral adventure into unquantifiable science and human nature makes its huh-what conclusion more forgivable . loopy as it gets , once the icarus ii sets a course for the heart of the sun , `` MOV '' becomes a head-trip and a half .", "MOV is a fantastically enjoyable film that works our minds , delights our senses and shows that futuristic science fiction can be serious drama rather than mere popcorn fodder .", "MOV will appeal to the many science fiction fans out there and offers a believably wrought tale steeped in science fact .", "the experience of watching MOV is one of nearly relentless tension , a sticky-palmed dread that takes on literally cosmic proportions as the story progresses .", "every frame wows with exquisite arrangements of light and color ; each of the characters ' choices is packed with a sense of consequence and urgency that makes us feel as if we 're frittering away our lives by comparison .", "so what starts out as fascinating sci-fi becomes just fi , and winds up pulp fi .", "the overall effect is the creation of something truly unbearable -- and the curious thing is that this unbearableness is apparent from the first portentous voice-over 30 seconds into the film .", "MOV is also an atypically humorless entry from boyle , who 's never made a film this oddly devoid of personality .", "MOV -- despite a title so at odds with the film 's tone -- is engrossing , believable and intelligent sci-fi filmmaking at its best .", "this is a meticulously constructed story that presents its characters with a series of exponentially more complex moral and practical dilemmas as gripping as the perilous situations that threaten the mission .", "... the most ravishingly atmospheric movie i 've seen all year . this is not primarily a look-at-my-gizmos dog-and-pony show , though boyle does amazing things with light to create a self-contained world trapped in space .", "bears the mark of all really good sci-fi flicks : after you see it , the world just does n't look the same .", "we do n't know if we 're watching a thriller or a sci-fi parable , a utopian dream or a deeply cynical nightmare . but in the end , it may not matter . the whole thing burns out well before the director reaches his final destination .", "by the time it reaches its confusing , strobe-lit and confoundingly cut climax , MOV has turned from 2001-style , mind-expanding psychedelia into one immensely bad trip .", "it 's compelling stuff , an apocalyptic tale about people who understand the fragility of human existence .", "the film is nonsense , and what counts is whether viewers will feel able to lay aside their logical complaints and bask in what remains : a trip in search of a tan .", "fascinating thought-provoking religious-psychological sci-fi thriller .", "the picture brings a new visual dimension to the sci-fi genre .", "an odyssey of stupidity with one bad decision piling on another .", "a sometimes dazzling , but ultimately disappointing futuristic mind-game .", "not as good as you 'd expect , but with boyle expectations are almost unfairly high .", "beam yourselves aboard MOV , set 50 years in the future . the voyage works , beautifully .", "sooner or later , the plot has to voyage into the unknown . and while leaps of faith are technically easier in space because of that whole gravity thing , they 're rarely a thing of grace in the movie theater .", "the term `` visionary '' gets batted around a lot when it comes to the sci-fi genre , but in its final , blazing moments , boyle 's dazzling , triphoppy space opera comes closer than most .", "boyle gives us sci-fi razzle-dazzle and some undeniably powerful images , but as effective as it is for an hour or so , MOV ultimately settles for puzzling more than mysterious .", "... a mesmerizing and thoroughly captivating piece of work .", "a fictional apollo 13", "a moody , classy , skin-deep sci-fi piece -- `` MOV '' gets enough right to please genre buffs .", "intense and enthralling ... director danny boyle has crafted a different breed of summer thriller that delivers on all levels .", "while the final result is n't entirely cloud-free , there 's still enough silver lining to make this trip to the sun worthwhile .", "as a pure cinematic experience , it 's exhilaratingly , brutally beautiful .", "a gorgeously crafted intergalactic saga sorely lacking in originality or profundity .", "but what this spectacular-looking sci-fi thriller lacks in originality it makes up for in pure beauty : it just might be the most visually audacious and startlingly beautiful space opera since the original solaris .", "the pressure to save mankind is enormous , and our attention grows as the tension mounts . light is used in haunting and powerful ways throughout . but as the film ultimately deviates from its course , the entire undertaking suffers .", "as long as the picture maintains a philosophical distance , there is about it a magisterial , ravishing loveliness .", "around the hour mark , the movie takes a turn for the worse . not to give too much away , but it pretty much turns into a dumber , gory thriller .", "it is a great-looking but dramatically flat bit of star lore docked at the inner shores of the galaxy , rather than its outer limits .", "MOV quickly fades from near-brilliance to dim potboiler .", "MOV comes with the promise of 2001 : a space odyssey , as imagined by danny boyle . even as armageddon as imagined by danny boyle , it does n't disappoint .", "at a certain point , like a dying star about to pop into eternal nothingness , the movie ca n't be seen as anything -- it just implodes .", "the knockout trailer promised a masterpiece . it 's not that , but it is entertaining .", "other movies may explore the depths of outer space . this movie explores the shallows .", "a sci-fi snoozer that will remind one of another such pretentious dud , solaris , steven soderbergh 's 2002 fiasco starring george clooney .", "for two thirds of the film , MOV has a lot to offer . if only boyle and garland could rein in their worst instincts , what a movie they might make .", "if you were expecting danny boyle to do for sci-fi what he did for the zombie flick with 28 days later , then you 'd be disappointed ...", "like a collapsing star , MOV initially burns brightly but finally implodes into a dramatic black hole .", "`` MOV '' is 90 % a great film , a believable and intriguing meditation on life , the human spirit and how far some people are willing to go for the betterment of all mankind .", "why else would the film introduce a completely unexplained alien-ish element two-thirds of the way through and just ask you to roll with it ? because you need more ambiguity in your life , that 's why .", "there 's a near-tactile pleasure to the special effects in MOV that is uncommon in this era of cgi imagery .", "problems arise in the film 's third act ... and the film does n't recover .", "for mr. boyle , a swiss army knife of a filmmaker , there 's always something new .", "steven soderbergh had his emotionally constipated solaris , and now boyle has this long night 's journey into day .", "boyle has always been exceptionally good at creating suspense ... and he succeeds again here , incorporating tight close-ups , sometimes distorted sound and a series of striking visuals into a wondrously warped picture .", "more compelling and engrossing than any sci-fi film of the last few years .", "MOV does not achieve the unity of theme or abstract totality of 2001 -lrb- which remains the gold standard for the genre -rrb- , but it does effectively grapple with provocative questions of morality and spirituality .", "the spaceship sequences are done entirely with computer-generated images , but the contrast between darkness and light provides the tactile feel of old-fashioned visual effects .", "stunning sequences and gobsmacking nasa-graphic visuals which are destined to be shown on giant imax screens around the country .", "MOV is dazzling , but not quite a blinder - your eyeballs may be singed , but do n't expect any long-lasting effects on your cosmic consciousness .", "brilliantly mixes eye-popping effects and edge-of-your-seat action to make this sci-fi scorcher the hottest ticket around .", "cria uma excepcional atmosfera de tens\u0441o crescente , fragilizando-se apenas em seu terceiro ato gra\u0443as ao p\u0436ssimo vil\u0441o . e sua discuss\u0441o teol\u0437gica e filos\u0437fica revela-se boba e superficial . por outro lado , as atua\u0443\u0448es e os efeitos visuais s\u0441o impec\u0440veis .", "MOV achieves a level of plausibility that , while still taking some poetic license , allows the viewer to appreciate not only the filmmakers ' craft but their ideas .", "so what if kubrick already said it all ? set the controls for the heart of the sun anyway .", "MOV is canny enough to avoid being reducible to the sum of its parts , and finds a perfect balance between claustrophobic thrills and eye-goggling awe .", "rarely has the apocalypse been so inviting .", "lots of advance reviews have complained that the film falls apart at the end , which i do n't buy at all .", "despite all that talent on display , MOV is a philosophical blank slate .", "after a mesmerizing first hour , the film implodes so quickly our sputtering sun can barely keep pace .", "-lrb- w -rrb- hat boyle and garland accomplish here is nothing short of a miracle.they manage to allude to previous motion pictures and yet make the riffs and references seem wholly their own .", "cluttered storytelling undermines MOV .", "the film 's gravest narrative misstep is a latter-reel development that moves it specifically , and arbitrarily , into horror-movie territory .", "... science fiction for people who like to think as well as experience a sense of wonder .", "while the scope is inter-planetary , it always gets down to the behavioral clashes among human -lrb- and/or non-human -rrb- species trapped in a confined space .", "at once one of the best and worst films of the year .", "`` MOV '' is a sight for sore eyes .", "MOV , if a fireball , is one that warns us yet again of the danger of flying too close to the sun .", "on sci-fi 's crowded table boyle serves a fresh feast for our eyes , minds and hearts .", "the narrative is , like all of garland 's work , a series of contrived plot points leading to an insane conclusion .", "who cares ? the characters are so sketchily drawn that it 's hard to keep them straight , let alone get worked up about their survival .", "brightness has never seemed as menacing as it does in MOV , the nail-bitingly tense science-fiction thriller .", "the only thing more dazzling than the angry star throbbing at the centre of our dying solar system is the production design on danny boyle 's visually arresting sci-fi picture .", "a blazingly intense sci-fi thriller and a blinding visual experience .", "the idea is to send you out perplexed , but chattering over possible solutions , but the salty authenticity that made it so rich is lost in space , and a superb sci-fi movie becomes merely a very decent one .", "sci-fi spectacle meets intimate drama . murphy leads a strong ensemble cast as boyle nails yet another genre .", "it 's in the relationship between the crew and the sun that ` MOV ' really shines .", "aside from a last-act blip when everything goes a little bit `` what the hell ? '' , this is a knuckle-gnawingly tense , glorious action thriller and marks yet another genre nailed by danny boyle .", "a wonderfully visual sci-fi thriller , taut with tension and spectacular special effects . my only reservation lies in the twist that reveals itself about 40 minutes before the end , which takes it into precariously ho-hum territory .", "an extraordinary film , operating simultaneously at visceral , psychological and spiritual levels as it takes us on a voyage into space with the fate of mankind at stake .", "danny boyle gets some tension going , and , as the crew members are eliminated one by one , a cosmic despair sets in .", "however , the rest of the film is so strong and so sure that i still feel somewhat comfortable in recommending it as a whole despite my reservations about the conclusion .", "it retains a power it rightfully earned , not faltering enough to fully squander it .", "while its first two acts earn their advancement through the course of time , its final 25 minutes set it back to prehistoric times and i just ca n't throw it a bone .", "MOV is a sight to be seen . but it is also more .", "the characters are n't much like real astronauts , but this is a price worth paying to shed light on the topic of rising to the occasion or crumbling in response to extremes .", "near-classic modern science fiction .", "boyle and company start out with a smoothly claustrophobic space adventure , take a dark right turn into disaster territory , and end up squarely in a horror story . i enjoyed the trip .", "the whole of MOV does not live up to the enthralling , provocative final act , but it is science-fiction that cares about ideas over special effects .", "... hard to understand what 's going on and who 's who , but it is directed with such style by danny boyle that it is not possible to not be involved .", "while MOV echoes some previous films , especially 2001 : a space odyssey and alien , danny boyle imprints his distinctive mark . this visionary director from manchester , england , may be on his way to being one of moviemaking 's greats", "the brilliant production design and convincing special effects -lrb- which eschew the cgi slickness of most hollywood productions -rrb- make up for a confused final act .", "as with last year 's the fountain , the likewise leisurely paced MOV employs dazzling visual effects in the service of an ambitious and heady undertaking whose philosophical reach attempts to exceed its narrative grasp .", "a movie that carl sagan would have liked .", "operates on the level of pure entertainment even as it asks the big questions about the meaning of existence and challenges every assumption , including what constitutes a happy ending", "goes from 2001-style contemplative science-fiction to more action-driven sci-fi as perfected by james cameron to , for better or worse , horror .", "though it takes its principal cues from an earlier tradition , it panders to no one in terms of its own vision .", "what starts out as a fairly worthy attempt to make a 2001 or solaris for the new millennium winds up being just another overblown genre film .", "as with 28 days later , -lsb- director danny -rsb- boyle makes MOV almost literally unwatchable .", "the early intensity of MOV wanes in the third act . the film becomes a ferocious jumble , and rather than a supernova finish , it winks out amid stale new age notions of the continuity of life and connectedness of all things .", "funny thing is , MOV works despite feeling both over-familiar and over-ambitious .", "flickers of incoherence serve as foreshadowing for the chaotic climax , which does n't resemble kubrick 's 2001 : a space odyssey as much as it does the shining .", "with an intriguing premise , stellar visuals and an ending that spirals out of control , genre-jumper danny boyle 's sci-fi effort is familiar without being dull .", "while the unfathomable burning brightness of the sun bathes the whole picture in flashes of cinematic dazzle , boyle and his team ground the story in details chosen for their sophisticated , underplayed authenticity .", "MOV has a more ethereal look than the average science fiction movie but , considering the subject matter , it works .", "une oeuvre magnifique , mais excessivement tourment\u00e9e", "this is sci-fi at its proudest ; an incredible achievement that reminds us why danny boyle is the best british director working today .", "visually rich and yet cold and claustrophobic .", "the picture would be nothing , an incomplete venn diagram , without murphy .", "imagining the universe through one man 's eyes , the movie uses murphy 's brilliant blue eyes and seductive androgyny to set a starting point , both luminous and uncanny . from here , MOV suggests vision is ever mutable .", "the blend of humanity -- frailty , ego , idealism , guilt and the capacity for self-sacrifice -- is presented in great complexity .", "one of the most inventive and fascinating science-fiction films in decades .", "an underrated and utterly excellent installment from boyle who continues topping himself ...", "despite referencing endless other better sci-fi films , MOV is its own glowing creation . danny boyle 's visual talent and a terrific cast elevate the mundane aspects of the script .", "you just want to shake the filmmakers by the shoulders and yell , `` you have a damaged spaceship loaded with nuclear weapons speeding straight into the heart of the sun . really , that 's not enough drama for you ? ''", "like the films it grandly and unabashedly pays homage to , MOV is serious science fiction for those who prefer to think of space 's real possibilities rather than escape into fantasy .", "in essence , boyle chooses not to embrace the sci-fi genre ; he tries to rise above it as if it were n't worthy of him .", "call it sci-fi yoga and enjoy it as an appetizer to solaris .", "awesome cgi , cliched human drama .", "in a bold attempt to create a fresh update on the ever-flagging sci-fi movie genre , director danny boyle achieves a visually stunning cinematic poem that is as bewitching as it is infuriating for its dependence on genre cliches .", "though well-produced and dealing with unexplored idea , this blend of sci-fi and horror feels more like a contrived summation of generic conventions , borrowing and reinveting from classics by kubrick , scott and others , with a bizarre , incongruous ending .", "reminiscent of scary/spacey dramas like 2001 : a space odyssey , solaris , and alien , this flick does n't break any new ground . however , the acting is beyond reproach and the characters are as textured and layered as in any fully-realized drama .", "stunning , gripping and adventurous , giving new meaning to the big bang .", "the first hour and change is gangbusters , the last part unnerving enough to get by .", "danny boyle does n't reinvent or break new ground , but he 's created a beautiful and haunting film that sticks in your brain for some time .", "danny boyle 's sci-fi thriller is enjoyable , well acted and packed with references throughout although it abandons its fascinating premise for a disappointingly conventional finale .", "unlike the films of kubrick , tarkovsky and scott , MOV is empty of ideas . so boyle fills the void with sound .", "boyle and his cast set the controls to the heart of the sun and drive the interstellar pilgrimage beyond the dubious science and rickety story line with magnificent imagery and a gravity that pulls you in .", "it may , at the very end , be a failure , but it 's a glorious failure .", "a decent science-fiction movie which despite its solid overall production would surely have been a lot better had the momentum and ethereal quality of its first two acts been smoothly transitioned into the finale .", "MOV does n't just crash and burn ; it blisters like the solar-obsessed searle until there 's nothing left but a pile of dust .", "MOV belongs to that select group of science-fiction films that care more about the science than the fiction .", "rarely do we get to enjoy such complex , adult characters , realistic dialogue and stunning imagery in the fantastic genres .", "MOV is remarkable for the technical virtuosity with which it creates life on a space vehicle and the cosmos around it .", "the closer he gets to the sun , the more boyle loses his nerve , reducing a tense , unpredictable thriller to a needlessly bloody , pseudo-spiritual mess .", "MOV ... borrows liberally from 2001 : a space odyssey and alien , with accents of outland , solaris and saturn 3 .", "it 's a baffling bouillabaisse of moods and fears , but it 's a persuasive creation , most confident when it is n't being pressed for answers .", "a sci-fi fiasco that wants to be the new 2001 but instead manages to be as silly as armageddon and as solemnly pretentious as solaris .", "... science-fiction fans will like it , and also brainiacs , and those who sometimes look at the sky and think , man , there 's a lot going on up there , and we ca n't even define precisely what a soliton is .", "boyle 's spiritual and metaphysical musings intertwine neatly with his pop sensibility , imbuing this with an art-house intelligence without diluting its summer blockbuster appeal .", "... there 's also something old-fashioned about MOV 's sensibility . maybe it 's because it seems to have a genuine curiosity about science , rather than the usual desperate grab for some asteroids hurtling toward earth .", "while the film has far more emotional life than the genre usually offers , it does n't lack for action , and it 's a thinking-man 's sort of action , at that .", "there is nothing new under the sun , but at least the talented boyle still brings the heat .", "if you go in expecting another ` aliens ' you 're likely to feel burned . this modestly produced tale is about cerebral and thoughtful as the science fiction action genre gets.boyle 's ambitious film bites off more than it can chew .", "as the ship moves closer to the sun , and people and things begin to fall apart , mr. doyle and his screenwriter , alex garland , goose their science fiction with action - and horror-genre beats , increasingly turning up the chills and thrills .", "if their -lsb- boyle and garland -rsb- movie does n't float your boat as a work of science-fiction , action , philosophy , heliocentrism , or staggering visual spectacle -lrb- although , it really should -rrb- , then it certainly succeeds as a parable for cinematic ambition ." ], "summary": "danny boyle continues his descent into mind-twisting sci-fi madness , taking us along for the ride . MOV fulfills the dual requisite necessary to become classic sci-fi : dazzling visuals with intelligent action .", "id": "512870265" }, { "movie": "history_of_violence", "reviews": [ "with a MOV , cronenberg uses the pulp gangster genre - as opposed to , say , sci-fi horror -- to draw us into a dialogue on our relationship as voyeurs to violence , both real and cinematic .", "without conceding any of his iconoclastic vision , cronenberg has turned a genre film with classic western overtones into a gripping psychological drama that examines the duality of man and his infatuation with the art of violence .", "while it weakens in its final stretch ... a MOV succeeds enormously thanks to the strength of its direction and performances .", "a truly entertaining and engrossing study of violence , family , and our pasts eventually coming back to haunt us ...", "a fascinating exercise in cinematic restraint resulting in a captivating , not to be missed film .", "the less you know about this movie before seeing it -- and you really should see it -- the better .", "cronenberg 's direction , mirroring the split in tom , is alternately measured and frighteningly explosive , and , as always , he gives the movie a nasty underlay of sexual perversity .", "this peculiarly predictable picture has been calculated , or miscalculated , to set up certain expectations , fulfill them , and then do the same thing again , thereby giving us a chance to see what 's coming and , at least in theory , be shocked .", "despite the blood , the film follows cronenberg 's marvelous spider in finding its true horror in the dark corners of the mind .", "an absolutely sensational piece of filmmaking .", "it is an assured , potent statement from an auteur who is n't afraid to pack deep thoughts into a movie made for a wide audience .", "though the story is predictable , cronenberg 's cool touch keeps it from degenerating into tired action-movie clich\u00e9s .", "the violence that enters the characters ' perfect domestic existence is permanent , and each act reveals truths about the people who use it and the audience who enjoys it .", "impeccable formal control to match audacity is mandatory , and cronenberg provides it", "it is the more intimate story that engages and transforms what could have been just another empty exercise in graphic-novel style into something both resonate and proactive .", "it falls just short of being one of the year 's best , but it 's still one of the most inventive stories to come around in a long time .", "the best american film of the year , this emotionally compelling anatomy of violence is at once a great american genre film and a personal visonary work", "other films this year will have to sweat bullets to match the explosive power and subversive wit of david cronenberg 's a MOV .", "although the movie maintains , and benefits from , the bare bones of a straight-up action story , what emerges onscreen is deeper and more interesting .", "see this movie -- i promise it wo n't be like any other movie you 've ever seen , and may well change the way you look at violence in the movies .", "what mortensen does brilliantly is to keep us guessing .", "there are elements in this film that are 100 % cronenberg -lrb- the beautiful violence we so rarely see these days , subtle weird humor -rrb- , but this is not your typical cronenberg", "i have no doubt that the humor is intentional , but it serves to undercut the whole thematic conflict .", "lo m\u00e1s reciente del canadiense david cronenberg es un s\u00f3lido thriller , casi de factura cl\u00e1sica , sobre las ramificaciones de la violencia .", "a strange david cronenberg movie , and not in the usual audaciously morbid way . a brooding , contemplative picture that 's tough , tight and masterfully controlled .", "a tantalisingly explosive film about inner conflicts and secrets ... a sublime psychological thriller in a western setting .", "there 's nothing more off-putting than being treated like a guinea pig .", "it is less an exploration of violence in america and more of a portrayal of a prototypical alpha male .", "tematicamente ambicioso , demonstra ter seguran\u00e7a suficiente da for\u00e7a de sua narrativa ao permitir que o espectador saia do cinema sem estar completamente certo de como tudo terminou . e esta talvez seja uma de suas maiores virtudes .", "a story of revenge that keeps cronenberg on the path of exploration but he eases his audience into it with images of violence we 've come to accept as forms of entertainment .", "a MOV is a great movie ... for an hour .", "david cronenberg is out of his element in a MOV , and it shows .", "eventually does not hold up due to its own ambivalence towards its subject matter .", "the aftershocks are n't that things will never be the same , but the infinitely more troubling possibility that things may never have been any different .", "as an actor , mortensen carries an aura of hidden depths below false affability that 's just right for the character .", "a masterful symphony of contradiction .", "examines -lsb- violence -rsb- with thoughtful intelligence , delivering a riveting and insightful narrative which builds in momentum from start to finish", "violence is in the spirit of the hardest-hitting film noir offerings from the '50s , but far more explicit .", "a MOV is shrewd , penetrating and , yes , entertaining . it 's also one of the best films of the year .", "a gripping , incendiary , casually subversive piece of work that marries pulp watchability with larger concerns without skipping a beat .", "packed inside david cronenberg 's latest film , which presents itself as gift-wrapped , shoot - 'em - up entertainment , is a sobering reflection on our culture 's attitude toward violence .", "i have mixed feelings . cool , engaging , well acted -lrb- william hurt is brilliant -rrb- . but could have used a bit more shaving in the editing room and a bit messy on point .", "on the surface , this may seem just a violent gangster yarn , but cronenberg has opened the door to a train of thought that becomes more disturbing the longer you consider it .", "a pretty good little thriller , but clocking in at only 95 minutes , it does n't have enough meat to be a truly satisfying drama .", "-lsb- david cronenberg -rsb- no doubt wanted to say something profound about the nature of violence , but his approach betrays his intentions .", "never does it deviate from cronenberg 's primal instincts .", "... like biting into a sour pickle hidden in the bottom of your ice cream cone ... simply fails to deliver what it promises to fulfill another agenda .", "three-fourths of this movie is great , but do n't get me started on that ending .", "a MOV takes nostalgic ideas of the so-called good old days and exposes the truth of human behavior that such rosy views obscure .", "strangely absorbing but extreme and implausible .", "some movies are to be consumed and discarded . MOV , a drama of disarming power , is not one of those . this is one of the most stirring films of the year .", "a highly compelling , fully satisfying film .", "the slippage between myth and realism , or maybe expectation and consummation , is precisely the genius of a MOV .", "... has the fateful air of an accomplished tragedy .", "a MOV 's pedigree of cast and crew speaks for itself really , but i suppose i need to write on .", "the film has a very good cast and it is an interesting story but it does have an odd pace .", "i defy anyone who sees the opening sequence of a MOV not to be drawn into buying a ticket .", "the movie 's brilliance resides in its use of cinematic convention to shatter an illusion of social normalcy .", "the american dream remains but a hair trigger away from the american nightmare in director david cronenberg 's brilliant and jarring a MOV .", "a realistic and disturbing look at how complicated things can become when lives are touched by violence .", "yet another masterpiece from this master director .", "a reminder that conventional action filmmakers are as untrustworthy as politicians who wo n't allow citizens to see the body bags produced by a war .", "ce film profond et complexe nous offre l'opportunit\u00e9 d'observer le travail d'un r\u00e9alisateur au sommet de son art .", "cronenberg 's ... not afraid to hold the mirror up to nature -- or to show us just how ugly , and how compelling , staring that reflection in the face can be .", "cronenberg is such an irrefutable master of his craft that he can build tension and intensity from the simplest materials . we are riveted , and riveted with the simplest of filmmaking tools .", "right from its first , quietly unnerving scene a MOV is unmistakably the work of an artist with a purpose .", "a MOV combines the visceral punch of sam peckinpah 's straw dogs with the oppressive uncertainty of any of alfred hitchcock 's `` wrong man '' scenarios , while subverting the conventions and expectations of both .", "it should delight mainstream audiences who prefer their action pictures to have some depth of character , several twists in the plot and a satisfying conclusion .", "a MOV is not only director david cronenberg 's best film , it 's also his most conventional .", "-lsb- a -rsb- vigorously sublime take on guilt and innocence , the damned and the redeemed .", "it has the reticence of a good western , the shock of black comedy and the naked emotion of fine drama .", "cronenberg 's best for a long time , broad and entertaining enough for those unacquainted with the director 's work , but layered with the themes of infection and mutation that have defined his work .", "the movie is enthralling , with secrets , surprises , turns and twists , all in the service of a psychologically thrilling story .", "stripped of cronenberg cartoonishness , it explosively fires into the heart of his sex-and-violence favorites , as well as reality and perception .", "violence , as the title indicates , may not be for the squeamish . but it is for those looking for answers to important questions .", "cronenberg channels his askew sensibilities into a rapacious drama that jackhammers at its constraints , showing you things you are n't ready to see with shiver-inducing clarity", "... a pulpy , brilliant little neo-noir packed with disquieting sociological insights . sure , it 's an action movie -- but it 's also an indictment .", "david cronenberg 's searing drama ... confronts us to ask about the effects of violence on its characters ' minds and souls .", "it 's the director 's most fully realized work and a masterstroke of violent cinema .", "there 's not a scene wasted in the 97-minute unspooling , not a detour that does n't tell , surprise , horrify , delight .", "when dealing with themes of identity , this is very much a tragic spin on a superhero story .", "david cronenberg 's tense , lean drama-thriller is a bold , fresh film that 's steeped in what 's made his career great -- and is his most accessible movie in decades .", "thought-provoking drama that 's content to reveal its puzzle pieces , even though they do n't all snap firmly into place .", "elegant , simple , profoundly intelligent filmmaking that gauges the story impeccably .", "lean and packed with meaning , a MOV is almost like a biblical parable about honor , family and the horrible behavior humans are capable of .", "a film that manages to be gorgeous , scary , sexy and vicious , all at once .", "this is not a movie about plot , but about character . it is about how people turn out the way they do , and about whether the world sometimes functions like a fool 's paradise .", "makes the medley of genres and moods a rich blend , at once profound and hilarious , serious and absurd -- it 's a masterful film that 's masterful in a strange , deceptive way .", "there 's a gripping , intense experience buried in MOV , but cronenberg 's embarrassing and awkward unfamiliarity with normalcy degrades it .", "both the best action flick and the most affecting character study since kill bill .", "its lack of ambition to become something of wider `` significance '' focuses the enjoyment of its tough good guy satisfactions and shrewd story innovation .", "... a distillation of all the weird and troubling truths he has ever wanted to tell us .", "a fine example of how a moody script and an overzealous director can bring a film down .", "it 's possible to imagine the film playing as an action crowd-pleaser to a mainstream genre audience that may not be a bit perturbed by -lrb- or even aware of -rrb- cronenberg 's stealthy unraveling of the threads of this american life .", "-lsb- cronenberg -rsb- brings his fascination with our dark side into the mainstream , helped immeasurably by a remarkably tight ensemble of talented actors .", "cronenberg 's masterful , intelligent and gripping meta-thriller leaves us pondering about our enduringly perverse desire for alternative realities , in which surrogate violent alter egos run righteously and preposterously amok .", "a remarkably convincing examination of heroism , hero worship , and the seductive allure of villainy .", "a MOV develops with the singleness of purpose , and the rigor , of a mathematical demonstration , one that begins with a commonly accepted truth and ends with brains spattered across the floor .", "... combination of action and intelligence , excitement and contemplation , makes a MOV one of the year 's best films", "the master is back , with this remarkably accessible tale of anger and revenge .", "shows its stuff as both suspenseful , eloquent storytelling , while giving rise to larger cultural questions connected to the entrenched institutionalization of aggression as a major means of problem solving in this country .", "the tension builds in a slow boil , then ignites furiously when we 're not quite ready for it .", "mr. mortensen and the sparse , intelligent script hold it together .", "the movie begins slowly , methodically , and builds increasingly toward a devastating climax .", "... one of the most important cinematic statements on the subject -lsb- of violence in america -rsb- since taxi driver ...", "touches on dusky psychological nerves while maintaining an uncharacteristically easy accessibility .", "mr. cronenberg has imbued his narrative with a style of personal conviction that is found in only the greatest auteurs .", "with no real heroes , no real lessons and no real resolution , it leaves a lingering sense of ` huh ? ' but damnit if those exit wounds are n't memorable .", "this is an weird , grotesque , funny , and disturbing picture that drips of david cronenberg 's touch all the way through .", "rivals the dead zone as cronenberg 's most satisfying and accessible work to date .", "fantastically acted and solidly stitched together ...", "if you 're looking for a director who can tie your stomach in a knot , david cronenberg is always a safe bet .", "violence is a serious , weighty drama that does what cronenberg does best : it takes a pulpy genre story and treats it with the importance of any epic costume drama .", "the first half of the story -- the one shrouded in doubt -- is much more effective than the second half , which is shrouded in bloodletting .", "this is a monster movie , just as surely as anything he 's ever done , and the monster in this film is our own capacity for violence as well as our innate attraction to it .", "in a MOV , director david cronenberg 's delirious wow of a movie about violence and sex and the american dream , cinema regains all its original power to shock and surprise .", "it 's rare to find a filmmaker who can deliver such a message and keep us riveted every minute of screen time . but cronenberg manages it , making a MOV one of his best , and most realistic , films ever .", "coming from cronenberg , the question arises : is that all there is ?", "cronenberg crafts a remarkably interesting thriller , with suspense that is less about what 's coming around the corner -- often , we know -- and more about tom 's slow transformation in the face of terror .", "cronenberg 's movie is eerily compelling and darkly humorous . and chilling -- to the bone .", "a MOV feels like an academic exercise for its creator , cronenberg , rather than an effort to bring cinematic life to a graphic novel .", "do n't watch any trailers or read any reviews , including mine . you should n't have even read this .", "with confidence and authority that should cement his leading-man status , mortensen ably manipulates the tension of a man who 's struggling to escape his past as a professional killer and to protect his family from the consequences of his legacy .", "extremely effective in showing how a small town is affected when violence rears its ugly head", "holds a classy a-list sheen and faux attempts at bringing importance to what , in essence , is actually empty-headed and off-puttingly manipulative .", "a MOV ranks high on the cronenberg scale as one of his more disturbing forays into depravity .", "david cronenberg 's elegant direction of josh olson 's adaptation of john wagner and vince locke 's graphic novel almost seems like overkill for this spare and obvious tale .", "a masterpiece of indirection and pure visceral thrills , david cronenberg 's latest mindblower is the feel-good , feel-bad movie of the year .", "this is cronenburg 's best and most nuanced movie in quite a few years .", "cronenberg takes josh olson 's script , based on a graphic novel by john wagner and vince locke and pushes it to the psychological limits .", "robustly gripping in its lingering moodiness , a MOV is an unsettling meditation that spotlights the subtlety of savagery", "a model of clean , lean storytelling .", "harris and hurt create characters that are so deliciously malevolent and original that their performances alone make the movie worthwhile .", "cronenberg denounces violence by celebrating it . that in itself is more troubling than anything he portrays with a MOV .", "cronenberg is n't engaging in parody or irony . nor is he nihilistically pandering to our worst impulses : the filmmaking is too measured and too intelligent . he implicitly respects us and our responses , even when those responses are silly or disturbing .", "a MOV is a hollow story from an empty graphic novel . a master -- canada 's david cronenberg -- has directed it . but all he can do with the material is turn it into a clinic on movie mayhem .", "though this is certainly cronenberg 's most ` mainstream ' movie in years , the fact that it 's so immediately enjoyable as a terrific thriller does not diminish its less obvious virtues .", "come for the action , but stay for the acting .", "psycho-sexual violent thriller by a master who returns to the depth and complexity he showed off in `` the fly '' and `` crash . '' already one of my top favorites of 2005 .", "a riveting , captivating and extremely entertaining paranoid thriller that 's sure to go down in history as one of the year 's best movies .", "the dirty little secret explored in a MOV is that we all harbor a killer inside us , a killer we love with all our bloodthirsty little hearts .", "-lsb- cronenberg -rsb- investigates his own cinematic propensity for violence and skill at purveying it ... sex and violence can be random , can be animal , and certainly can be satisfying . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "there 's much more roiling beneath the surface here than may be apparent on a single viewing .", "while it does n't make a whole lot of sense when all is said and done -lsb- it -rsb- is worth seeing -lsb- and -rsb- will definitely provide moviegoers with some topics of conversation afterward .", "sometimes you can get into a lot of trouble by being mr. nice guy .", "the film keeps finding the violent underpinnings of everyday life wherever it looks , from the if-it-bleeds-it-leads news coverage that makes mortensen a local hero , to the social structure of holmes ' high school .", "an outstanding and deeply unsettling exploration of the conflicts all humans have about violence , simultaneously drawn to it frightened by it , revolted by it .", "this is his most mainstream effort yet , but , he 's got those croneneberg touches of violence . it does n't glorify the violence , it 's not gratuitous , it 's sudden , it 's shocking .", "it may evoke more admiration than pleasure .", "a fine piece of american cinema that delivers a much-needed commentary on the affects of violence on society .", "the film gets much of its strength from first-rate casting .", "david cronenberg 's adaptation of the underwritten graphic novel of the same name is a spare , mean movie of shocking violence and wrenching moral dilemmas .", "when the atmosphere turns menacing and tom stall has to fight for his family , cronenberg is firing on all cylinders , and the movie crackles with excitement .", "cronenberg 's direction is astonishingly good , particularly during two contrasting sex scenes that demonstrate the irreversible power shift in the relationship between tom and edie .", "if for no other reason , watch violence to see and hear the nuances of -lsb- mortensen 's -rsb- performance .", "an intriguing , though-provoking and sometimes funny film that is one of the best movies of the fall certainly and perhaps of the year .", "should not only entertain but make your hair stand up .", "director david cronenberg lends a slightly hyperreal quality to his mesmerizing , provocative film a MOV .", "this beautifully crafted film has the -lsb- norman -rsb- bates smile , and the subtle irony of a crowbar cleaving a skull .", "it 'd take a book-length review to explore all of the implications . cronenberg 's raising questions in the mode of flannery o'connor , whose harsh revelations shocked readers .", "certainly lives up to its name .", "this is one film that deserves multiple viewing , and i , for one , will be seeing it again .", "the maturation of david cronenberg enters stage ii with the crafting something that can easily stand among the best pictures of the year .", "a flawed and unimpressive meditation on violence .", "appropriately enough , a MOV hits like a loud , open-palmed slap on the face .", "with foreboding and tension in almost every shot , cronenberg 's taut thriller does n't revel in violence , but reflects in ambivalence on its grim consequences .", "david cronenberg 's amazingly assured direction is never forced or unclear despite constantly shifting ground and complicated agendas ...", "this may look like a mainstream gig for cronenberg , but it 's his most challenging -- and enjoyable -- work in years .", "cronenberg 's caricatured vision of american fascism is hilarious for its spot-on depiction of the anxiety that accompanies it .", "based on a graphic novel , this material is treated like the one-dimensional juvenilia of ham-fisted comic books .", "probes our intrinsic attraction to violence with caustic incisiveness .", "a MOV is a fine movie that simply is too intense for many viewers .", "cronenberg knows this territory well , drawing parallels between sex , violence , and companionship ... in this mature , compelling movie .", "this is sin city with a functioning brain", "a grim exploration of -lsb- humanity 's -rsb- futile attempts to repress the urge for violence .", "olson should have studied a history of screenwriting before attempting to adapt a MOV . one of the most aimless , derivative films to ever be overrated .", "a tense , tight and pithy thriller with such superb restraint that almost every detail matters -- and therefore should n't be spoiled .", "the plot is really very close to being a 1950s western plot warmed over . this is a film with good and bad elements , but the good elements i have been familiar in films for almost half a century .", "the film , based on a graphic novel , has a crackling sense of visual tension .", "violence is a turn-on , cronenberg seems to be saying , but a turn-on that comes with a destructively high price .", "this is some of cronenberg 's strongest work since his 1983 adaptation of stephen king 's the dead zone .", "cronenberg , like count basie on the piano or hemingway on the page , has mastered the art of economy , paring down his work to its thematic essentials without any loss , and even some gain , in textured complexity .", "at the very least it 's oddly admirable , at its best it 's both passionate and disturbing , two words that come close to describing all of cronenberg 's work .", "a MOV is solid entertainment value for the money , but those who think it 's saying anything new or profound are kidding themselves .", "a lot is going on in david cronenberg 's masterful a MOV , and you 'll miss it if you blink .", "it 's a savage film that questions its savagery every step of the way and asks its audience to consider the costs of dirty harry diplomacy writ large . it will hit you like a ton of bricks . do n't miss it .", "cronenberg did the extraordinary -- he transformed a genre piece into a work of art .", "as the title indicates , this is not a sedate art film . it contains moments of sharp , vicious mayhem and there is a body count . but the strength of the movie lies in its psychological complexity and depth .", "a gripping film , cogently written and terrifically acted , that unfolds with emotional gravity and flashes of gallows humor .", "the movie is always engaging but not quite convincing .", "as a history of cronenberg , it 's a good introductory lecture , detailing his careful composition , mastery of unease and complicated thematic interests . as a cronenberg film though , it 's figuratively bloodless , without any real body to it at all .", "full review in greek", "achieves its mission as pulp storytelling first and as disturbing thought provocation the morning after .", "small-town stereotypes detract from a well-made point by director cronenberg", "it 's impossible to recommend a movie that fails at its most basic level , in this case as a thriller .", "will go down in film history as an ambitious failure .", "if anything , you walk out of the theatre feeling uneasy about the violent thrillers you may have enjoyed in the past .", "this subversive , subtle , tantalizing thriller examines what lurks beneath the superficial veneer of identity , making one question whether perception is reality or myth .", "i know this film is the critics ' darling , but this critic is here to tell you , take a pass .", "the movie never regains the momentum that it had from its promising beginning .", "cronenberg and screenwriter josh olson succeeded in forcing viewers to reexamine how we look at violence and its consequences .", "cronenberg nous offre une fois de plus une mise en sc\u010dne qui s ` est consid\u00e9rablement assagie -lsb- ... -rsb- on ne peut toutefois r\u00e9futer qu'il a encore \u00e9norm\u00e9ment de suite dans les id\u00e9es", "at nearly every turn the filmmaking weakens the story 's sense of purpose rather than bringing to life intriguing themes concerning identity and self-preservation .", "a ruthless lesson about the power of violence , and the ways in which it 's passed down from generation to generation : subtly , insidiously , and quite effectively .", "not a major motion picture that will blow everyone away , but a good movie that should entertain most looking for a couple of twists and turns ...", "it 's one of the better dramas of the year so far -- even if at times it feels like an artistic genius is painting by numbers .", "cronenberg 's movie manages to have its cake and eat it -- impersonating an action flick in its staccato mayhem while questioning these violent attractions every step of the way ." ], "summary": "a MOV raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence , while representing a return to form for director david cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces .", "id": "8573" }, { "movie": "lagaan_once_upon_a_time_in_india", "reviews": [ "a great introduction to the joys of indian popular cinema .", "this is a lavish production that will remain a favourite for years to come .", "the film 's got a big scope and a big heart , even taking time to decry class , social , and racial discrimination .", "a great big bollywood musical , complete with song and dance and doomed love triangles and elegantly photographed men playing cricket . and it 's terrific fun , in a way that only great big musical fantasies can be .", "few recent american musicals are this fluid or engaging .", "with an equally stunning soundtrack , this rollicking yarn is a must for all film lovers .", "will be the film all others in bollywood are judged against , in terms of both creativity and success .", "an involving , easily digestible hunk of pure entertainment that could be the trigger for bollywood 's long-awaited crossover to non-ethnic markets .", "it 's been made with an innocent yet fervid conviction that our hollywood has all but lost .", "if you 're in the mood for a bollywood film , here 's one for you .", "a skillfully made , good-natured movie .", "provides an entertainingly accessible introduction into the world of the bollywood musical .", "does point the way for adventurous indian filmmakers toward a crossover into nonethnic markets .", "... a rousing fantasy of bloodless revolution against capricious colonial rulers .", "an affectionate homage to a popular genre that raises it to the level of an art film with fully drawn characters , a serious underlying theme , and a sophisticated style and point of view .", "after having seen this cinemascope extravaganza in a theater , on dvd and video , i still think the big screen experience is worth it .", "two hours of melodramatic musical married to two hours of underdog sports intrigue , if the picture also shares the weaknesses of both genres , more 's the pity .", "although it tries to be much more , it 's really just another major league .", "a lavish epic , a gorgeous love story , and a rollicking adventure yarn .", "lives up to its huge hype with a spirited and well crafted story that could become actor-cum-producer aamir khan 's magnum opus .", "it 's the way the story is told , with efficiency and flair , that makes lagaan a terrific film .", "there 's back-stabbing , inter-racial desire and , most importantly , singing and dancing .", "it 's a fairy tale that comes from a renowned indian film culture that allows americans to finally revel in its splendor .", "typifies the pros and cons of the films that india churns out .", "a good example of the ` masala ' type of indian filmmaking , where politics , romance , class consciousness and long musical numbers are stirred together in an entertaining stew .", "so fascinating , you may not notice how much time has passed when the credits finally roll .", "there 's no denying that when this film is good , it 's very good .", "even during the climactic hourlong cricket match , boredom never takes hold .", "a movie that amply delivers on the epic promise of its title , entertaining , enlightening , and emboldening viewers with its deceptively simple premise and execution .", "the most deliriously entertaining movie of the summer .", "it 's not so much a movie as an experience , an exhilarating dip into different cultural waters to a place where lovers actually call each other ` beloved ' and no one laughs .", "it seems impossible that an epic four-hour indian musical about a cricket game could be this good , but it is .", "a gorgeous , high-spirited musical from india that exquisitely blends music , dance , song , and high drama .", "utterly fascinating , somewhat confusing and musically delightful .", "if you 've never experienced a bollywood musical before , seeing lagaan will be like watching gone with the wind without ever having seen a hollywood movie .", "in some ways , lagaan is quintessential bollywood . except it 's much , much better .", "a film that celebrates the calibans of india .", "in its robust 3 hours and 45 minutes , lagaan spins its simple underdog theme into fairly engrossing cloth .", "manages to be both hugely entertaining and uplifting .", "if only all the mistakes of the past could be reworked as they are here , reality would look something like lagaan : harmonious , sweetly optimistic , and outright beautiful .", "about as big a crowdpleaser as they possibly come .", "rarely in either hollywood or bollywood has such magic been wrought so seamlessly by the concerted , coordinated efforts of so many for the enjoyment of all .", "it will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about cricket and there 's something of spirit of india in it as well .", "unbeatable entertainment from india , and proof that the often derided bollywood film industry is entirely capable of beating hollywood at its own game .", "the action here is unusually tame , the characters are too simplistic to maintain interest , and the plot offers few surprises .", "there is only so much baked cardboard i need to chew .", "' ... a great , participatory spectator sport . '", "crackerjack entertainment -- nonstop romance , music , suspense and action .", "an enormously entertaining movie , like nothing we 've ever seen before , and yet completely familiar .", "a rippingly good , old-fashioned movie epic that takes the best of bollywood cinema ... and elevates it for an international audience .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t is long , but it never sags .", "an old-fashioned crowd-pleaser that charms you into forgiving any of its shortcomings .", "a one-stop shopping experience in the cinema of the subcontinent .", "if you have n't sampled india 's indigenous cinema , this is a great place to begin .", "i have a new favorite musical -- and i 'm not even a fan of the genre", "it works its magic with such exuberance and passion that the film 's length becomes a part of its fun .", "if you can swallow its absurdities and crudities lagaan really is enormously good fun .", "elegantly produced and expressively performed , the six musical numbers crystallize key plot moments into minutely detailed wonders of dreamlike ecstasy .", "this is a movie that knows its business -- pleasing a broad , popular audience -- and goes about it with savvy professionalism and genuine flair ." ], "summary": "lagaan is lavish , rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of hollywood musicals .", "id": "10306" }, { "movie": "chronicles_of_narnia_prince_caspian", "reviews": [ "returning director andrew adamson lacks any sort of epic vision and as a result , the experience of watching the film is a lot like listening to the world 's most exciting bedtime story being read by someone with the world 's most grating monotone", "i suggest buying a ticket to prince caspian , going to grab a bite to eat for the first hour of the film and then heading back to the theatre for the amazing ending battle .", "despite a casting flaw and uncomfortable pacing , ` prince caspian ' is an epic adventure with brave characters , amazing creatures and incredible special effects .", "adamson overcomes some of the book 's better-read-than-spoken dialogue and the odd bits of chunky plotting with plenty of grace and charm .", "up against other summer blockbusters and practically going head to head with indian jones , chronicles of narnia fans will not be disappointed in this rousing fantasy .", "thrilling action combined with a big step up in the cast 's performances make the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian a fun , if unequal sequel .", "everything about prince caspian is just right in terms of cinematography , scope and vision ; the tone is dark but hopeful and epic but intimate .", "puss in boots , gimli and jesus christ walk into a bar . the bartender , noticing how down they all look , asks what 's wrong ...", "in steering the film closer to his own vision , director adamson steers it away from c.s. lewis 's , and so it loses some of the book 's core spiritual themes .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's a not-so-subtle undercurrent of the white man 's burden in these stories .", "while not as strong in terms of plotting or character development , prince caspian is nevertheless a better cinematic experience than its predecessor , if only because it feels more confident and polished .", "loved the first movie . this one ? not so much , but not that bad .", "the magic is gone .", "prince caspian has the same problems as its predecessor : a c.s. lewis story line rendered anemic , and a cast of sweet but unengaging principals .", "it 's a dragged-out exercise , with no epic scale and no spirit worth talking about .", "this new narnia has more of everything , especially action and top-notch effects , but loses some of its soul in the process .", "adamson makes it all quite handsome , in a downbeat way .", "another triumph for director adamson . he had us at narnia but took us farther on this eloquent journey than we expected to go .", "... even improves on c.s. lewis ' original novel ...", "that rare sequel which improves upon the original .", "um dos pontos fracos do longa original , resultado de um grave erro de julgamento dos produtores , mostra-se intoc\u0431vel nesta continua\u0437\u0433o : a falta de carisma do elenco principal .", "it 's the grown-ups who might feel slightly underwhelmed by it all , though they 'll likely be moderately entertained by the action and adventure .", "this sorry sequel is so boring , so unimaginative , and so blandly by-the-numbers that it 's almost like -lsb- an affront -rsb- to the very audience members who made the original a worldwide hit .", "a passably good action film , but it does n't really deliver much more than that .", "enough with the jesus was a lion movies already !", "the character development and spiritual themes present in the first film are downplayed allowing room to showcase its grand scale production values at the cost of some heart .", "a seriously flat and joyless excursion into the world of cgi , tangled theology , and excellent hair", "a grand and visually stunning epic with thrilling battle scenes and powerful themes .", "ben barnes looks lost , with a thick mediterranean accent reminiscent of mandy patinkin 's avenging spaniard from the princess bride : ` my name is inigo montoya -- you killed my father -- prepare to die ! '", "it lacks the kind of rich details and memorable dialogue that would elevate it to amazing status , but the action is good", "prince caspian is an elaborately presented feast that will taste familiar to the ` tween and teen audience for whom it is served .", "yes , prince caspian is terrific and there 's plenty to enjoy , but someone needs to tell the filmmakers that length does not make a better film . in this case , the film 's length has compromised its heart .", "offers loads of action , an intriguingly creepy story and a roster of entertaining new characters .", "in this sequel , magic still reigns but suspending disbelief does n't come as easily .", "prince caspian , like its predecessor , delivers sweeping , swashbuckling action in a handsome production , albeit one that leaves viewers feeling quite pummeled by the end of its nearly 2 1/2 - hour running time .", "c.s. lewis meets teen beat .", "andrew adamson 's the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian is a much more elaborate , ambitious picture than the 2005 the chronicles of narnia : the lion , the witch and the wardrobe , and it adds up to far less .", "far superior to its predecessor and the faun has evolved into a more masculine background extra .", "the movie has just enough of that old-timey grand epic feel for its 144 minutes to breeze by like two and a quarter hours .", "... bland family fare with high end production values . it feels about as real as a disneyland ride , and what a fantasy film needs to do is convince you of is that even the most fanciful thing in its imagined universe is absolutely real .", "instead of following the same formula of `` the lion , the witch and the wardrobe , '' adamson has created an entirely different narnia , one that is darker and full of hatred and violence .", "prince caspian sounds like he is channeling walter koenig , better known as ensign chekov on `` star trek . ''", "if there 's one genre of family film that 's my personal favorite , it 's the one featuring a sword-fight to the death .", "a lavish , battle-besieged extravaganza whose resourceful youngsters are aided by a host of at-risk mythological woodland creatures , including hairy centaurs , warrior rodents , a badger in a tree trunk , and one temperamental dwarf .", "if this is a movie for children than i can only guess the filmmakers had donald rumsfeld 's grandkids in mind when they made it", "... continues in the tradition to create vivid , imaginary and enthusiastic interpretations of the most memorable children 's books of the past century .", "as a fantasy action movie , there 's enough about prince caspian that works to make it an enjoyable rather than punishing experience .", "it 's an entirely serviceable sequel . but if you go in expecting the same magic found in wardrobe , you 're bound to be disappointed .", "imaginative and visually enchanting but , remember , as aslan says , `` things never happen the same way twice . ''", "the continuing adventures of the world 's scrawniest heroes .", "expands and contracts the story in just the right places to transform it into successful summer-blockbuster fodder .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he real charms of -lsb- t -rsb- his second outing ... flow much as they did in the first one : by not lingering on the spectacle but on the sweetness of ... the child characters and the enchanting talking animals ...", "the overemphatic music keeps telling us to be awestruck , but the movie itself stubbornly lacks grandeur .", "... every single thing i disliked about the lion , the witch and the wardrobe was fixed in prince caspian .", "most adults will find prince caspian tedious , but young viewers are likely to be mildly diverted , rather than actually swept up by the story .", "i realize the first film -lrb- the lion , the witch and the wardrobe -rrb- made almost $ 745 million worldwide . well , some things make tremendous profits simply by showing up and getting the trains to run on time .", "though the movie could have ended a few scenes earlier , it is still a journey well worth taking .", "under all the gimmickry and effects , there 's a nice story to tell -- as anyone who has read the books knows .", "the creatures remain beautifully designed and narnia still looks like a colorful , inviting place , but it feels as lifeless as the fantastical anyworlds found on glittery unicorn posters .", "though darker in tone , caspian still generates more laughs , with amusing turns by peter dinklage as cranky dwarf trumpkin and eddie izzard as the voice of swashbuckling mouse reepicheep .", "its darker tone and well turned performances lend credibility and urgency to the story , but the forced disney/walden-style kiddie pandering makes for a rather schizophrenic experience .", "`` in the two battle scenes , we always have an exact sense of what an old film professor of mine called the `` axis of action . '' we know who is where , and why , and where things stand", "overwrought .", "a well-executed , faithful version of the c. s. lewis classic .", "the acting , direction and effects have all improved considerably since the lion , the witch and the wardrobe and narnia fans wo n't be disappointed , but the story itself is weak by comparison .", "prince caspian -lrb- the movie -rrb- is gorgeous and a total snore . the boy is just gorgeous . whitewashing the themes also removed the story .", "an improvement over the original , prince caspian better catches the nuances of the source material , but continues to ignore some of the more potent statements .", "significantly better than the first film or , say , the first two harry potters .", "marred by the dull performance of the movie 's pinup-ready title swashbuckler and the relative charmlessness of the english schoolchildren -lrb- the hogwarts sorting hat would have kicked these kids to the curb -rrb- .", "this film is a more of an action flick than the first , but there is still enough of the magic of narnia to ensure the success of the franchise will continue .", "a crackerjack sequel that matches , and in some ways surpasses , its predecessor .", "back to narnia for more battles and a lesson about how things do n't happen the same way twice .", "none of this is earthshaking , but prince caspian is a largely satisfying experience -- not too serious and not too silly with just the right ` wow ' factor .", "squarely in the tradition of the kind of teenage movies the disney organization used to make before teens discovered horror and gore .", "bigger , brasher , more magical and funnier than the first .", "if we have to learn life lessons from a god cat , do they have to side with bill o'reilly ?", "child kings and queens land in a jacobean tragedy with the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian .", "the equivalent of star wars : episode iii - revenge of the sith in the series of films based on the fantasy novels by c.s. lewis .", "a muscular fantasy epic that marks a filmmaking improvement if not a leap in dramatic inspiration over 2005 's the lion , the witch , and the wardrobe , caspian reveals this series as conceived ever more clearly as a junior-league lord of the rings .", "loses some of the innocence and wonder that buoyed along the first film , but replaces it with carefully thought out meditation on what it means to grow up .", "more inspired by the book than adapting it , caspian is most likely to appeal to those not especially attached to the book , which is after all a lesser work flanked by two more popular tales .", "if you and your children enjoyed your first visit to narnia , you 'll be satisfied by the second trip .", "character depth and stirring subtext is what books are for . adamson 's narnia adaptations remove all that pesky claptrap so that we can glide through a superficial reading .", "in the novel , all the back story is clumsily dumped in the first few chapters ... in the movie , it 's structured a lot more logically , and cinematically .", "you either like school kids waving swords and talking to special magic friends , or you do n't . for fans of the genre , it 's good news . this film hits the right notes .", "all in all , a solid and respectable entry to the ledger .", "adamson is probably indifferent to politics , which would be easier to forgive if the film gave you anything else to think about .", "prince caspian is rife with christian metaphors and mythology . well , they 're there if you choose to see them .", "i really wanted to like this movie , and andrew adamson has made a polished looking film , but i had a tough time getting into it .", "prince caspian has most of the elements required for a fantasy-action-adventure story , and the book has been intelligently adapted for the screen .", "prince caspian is marvellous entertainment .", "this is a dark romantic epic , which at times recalls such classic sagas as ivanhoe and quentin durward , and it 's very enjoyable on a number of levels , not least in the realm of pure spectacle .", "they may make for clunky religious parables , but the narnia books -- and so far , the movies based on them -- are wonderful as stories about childhood and its loss .", "prince caspian , the second entry in the chronicles of narnia series , is a glorious medieval war movie .", "a fierce and somber battle epic .", "the original 's novelty is lost in a movie that embraces too may battles .", "... ultimately about how the good handle their goodness , and how they sometimes fail .", "it 's back to narnia in this second , and only slightly more meaty , adaptation of the c.s. lewis fantasy franchise .", "-lsb- i -rsb- f you can work your way around the film 's subtext , it 's an exhilarating adventure piece .", "the fantasy has its delights , laughs , and harrowing moments , keeping you reminded , despite the physical realism of solid production values , that it 's an extensive work of the imagination .", "it 's simultaneously darker and funnier , more substantive and more engaging , more violent and more technically accomplished .", "narnia may never escape comparisons to middle earth , but it 's on its way to creating its own satisfying vision of a fantasy world .", "with bigger battles and scarier monsters than its predecessor , the new movie flaunts grander visual effects , and , with one notable exception , a dash more individuality than the initial installment .", "a worthy if somewhat less wondrous successor to that 2005 phenomenon .", "a far superior film in terms of the quality on every level , but one that suffers from the weaker source material .", "if anything , this sequel could have used more hellfire . you leave feeling covered in a blanket of bland .", "the magical creatures and sprawling battles have been beautifully produced and shot , and the thunderous final conflict shakes the earth .", "the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian offers kids and adults an entertaining escape into the world of c.s. lewis ' books .", "a pity that , other than the fights , everything else in the movie is equally bloodless .", "the decision to go ` pg ' issued a renewed faith that hollywood can spit out a money-generating product without having to spew gallons of blood and blow stuff up . but that did n't come without great scrutiny and much editing .", "prince caspian may be less full of innocent wonder than its predecessor , but it is a smarter , better film . like its young stars , the narnia franchise has , for better and worse , grown up .", "they 're necessary , eat-your-shredded-wheat watching for any movie lover , and are worlds better than all those middling harry potter films .", "a fantasy film without much magic but plenty of darkness and violence .", "the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian dials down the spirituality but cranks the level of action to 11 .", "i was sucked into prince caspian ... when it comes to the spectacle of the piece , it 's an epic family film . i 'm very anxious to view it again .", "`` things never happen the same way twice , '' says the christ lion aslan - we can presume that goes as much for movie franchises as for lightning strikes .", "ben barnes was a perfect prince caspian -lrb- maybe a little too good-looking - but i 'll forgive him -rrb- and peter dinklage was equally strong as the dwarf trumpkin .", "is there nothing peter dinklage can not do % u2026and do it well ?", "prince caspian is any indication , there is the potential for greatness should the remaining chapters follow it to the screen .", "... as inferior to the first book as the second one is , so is the second film from the first . which is about right .", "stands a good chance of becoming the `` empire strikes back '' of the `` narnia '' series : a darker and more satisfying follow-up to an already exceptional starting point .", "... the opening hour essentially proceeds at a crawl ...", "the creakiness of the plot mechanics and the light condescension i detect do n't have me looking forward to the third narnia movie .", "it 's unfair to characterize it as lord of the rings-light , but it 's difficult to avoid that conclusion after watching this earnest but seriously under-inspired effort .", "andrew adamson shows a more confident and defined vision that works on several levels , however it 's unable to overcome a nagging feel of disconnect .", "if crossbows , strange creatures , and a squeaky-clean young cast are the right elements for a fantasy sequel , then this naive epic is your movie .", "it 's entertaining , value-for-money stuff .", "as with any would-be summer blockbuster , the members of the special effects team are the real stars , and they have n't stinted in bringing this fantasy world to life .", "adamson barrels the action along in an even-handed manner that should keep most of the family happy .", "it 's characters like these that make the film worth seeing , but if the narnia series continues to get worse with each installment , disney would be better off just finishing the trilogy and calling it quits .", "adamson 's pulled a more morally nuanced rabbit -lrb- or badger , actually -rrb- out of his directorial hat this time out , and the result is a far more engrossing film than its predecessor .", "what once felt both magical and foreboding now seems rather dreary and perfunctory .", "the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian represents a moody , action-packed flashpoint in the arc of narnia .", "prince caspian has pretty much something for everyone built into it . little of it may be exceptional , but much of it goes beyond the usual pg standard in thoughtfulness and craftsmanship as well as carnage .", "much of what makes the first narnia movie work is , literally , missing in action in the spiritless sequel .", "chockablock with intense battle sequences and suffused with a sense of paradise lost , prince caspian is a worthy successor to the lion the witch and the wardrobe .", "i wish i could be more enthusiastic about prince caspian , an honorable and attractive adventure for children and families . but scenic beauty and spirited action ca n't conceal its dramatic defects .", "adamson has done such a brilliant job of pacing that there is no point in the movie where you can leave for a break ... if you do , you will undoubtedly miss something .", "at least we 're already acquainted with the kids , so we know their story , but caspian , loosely based on c.s. lewis ' novel , misses the opportunity to deepen it .", "what 's important here is that narnia -- and its fascinating all-ages mix of pagan myth and christian symbolism , of boy 's - own-adventures and round table heroics -- is back .", "it 's like the little golden book version of `` gladiator , '' a mostly bloodless but mostly barbaric pg film with r-rated aspirations . worse yet , it 's even more wearisome than its predecessor - drained of magic or emotion by a plodding pace .", "sure , it 's a big-budget spectacle . but it 's also the kind of grandly old-fashioned entertainment we do n't get enough of anymore .", "another classic saga of deeds dastardly and swashes buckled , the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian does n't quite equal the first film , but some may find this one a less-insistent piece of pure entertainment because it is n't so overtly christian .", "it 's still a very entertaining film , although newcomers would be wise to check out wardrobe if they want to better understand caspian .", "entertaining , but does n't have the depth and daring of the best fantasy movies .", "... a solid fantasy blockbuster that suggests they 're very much in it for the long haul .", "on every level , prince caspian feels more accomplished than the lion , the witch , and the wardrobe .", "a bit darker , more conventional and more crisply made than its 2005 predecessor .", "if you ever wondered what the lord of the rings would have been like had disney made it on the cheap , tossing the cast of hannah montana into middle earth , here it is . caspian is two hours and 20 minutes of ` whatever ' .", "the second chapter of the narnia saga is bigger and `` more epic '' yet lacks the dramatic energy and narrative involvement of the first , problems that also exist in the literary source -lrb- lewis ' book -rrb- , but it signals the birth of a new star , brit ben barnes .", "it 's basically a war , with arguing , strategy sessions and long , boring battle sequences , and very little in the way of character development , humor or joy .", "why oh why are these sequels always bigger and louder and longer and bad ?", "too many fights , not enough magic .", "at every turn , the filmmakers go for clutter and tumult where simplicity would do -- and adamson , to put it kindly , is n't the fleetest of action directors .", "with the main cast and the voice of liam neesam as the voice of aslan back , as well as the creatures and cgi effects , there 's enough adventures and suspense for the entire family to enjoy .", "... old-school disney , filled with cozily crafted sets , frankly theatrical lighting and golden-age moral values .", "repetition is to be expected in a franchise with an audience to please .", "the second installment is no better than the first", "this movie just ca n't put it all together . i 'm blaming it squarely on the storytelling .", "surprisingly good filmmaking , but a kid 's film ? could it be that any important lessons here get lost in all the warring ?", "something human is missing here , amidst all the centaurs and talking bears and mobile trees . it 's the art of storytelling , which knows when to allow characters time for heartfelt interaction , when to build suspense , when to mount a climax .", "on whole , this fantasy adventure does feature more action and is more exciting , arguably , than its predecessor , the 2005 film adaptation of c.s. lewis 's chronicles of narnia book , the lion , the witch and the wardrobe .", "the struggles remain , but -lsb- director -rsb- adamson has tweaked the plot , rejiggered the character dynamics and piled on the epic warfare . by the end i had overdosed on surly peter , pouty caspian and over-digitized shock-and-awe .", "if there 's one thing the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian accomplishes , it 's this : it makes you realize just how good those lord of the rings movies were .", "it 's more or less what the first movie should have been : a -lrb- mostly -rrb- captivating epic .", "a praiseworthy sequel aided immeasurably by the continuity and chemistry of the return of all the principal cast members , and above all by the sort of special effects spectacles the tykes are likely to want to see again and again .", "like the finest fantasy epics , the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian invites us into a rich realm and , at two-plus hours , holds us there for a goodly spell .", "this is a bigger and darker narnia movie and although it did n't leave me famished for the inevitable sequel , it delivers the family-entertainment goods .", "this darker , edgier feel ultimately benefits the film , although i feel the price that the flick pays is a loss of the wide-eyed , magical feel that its predecessor so tenderly possessed .", "adamson is willing to jettison lewis ' `` quaint '' -lrb- i 'd say loveable -rrb- whimsy and mythical acumen in favor of more martial sequences that 'll sucker in the lord of the rings crowd .", "tween-friendly adaptation is darker than the first .", "caspian is a visual sleeper hold from frame one ; a constipated effort to erect widescreen wonderment , yet the production is missing dimension and needed narrative gusto .", "some religious punters may find it to be a bastardization of their and lewis ' theological core values , while secularists will find the whole narnia concept to be nothing more than a shrewd recruiting campaign for christianity .", "the body count is high , the running time is particularly long for a children 's film , and the themes are fairly heavy . but , like wardrobe , it 's a lush and mostly entertaining production .", "darker , more complex and less prone to the cutesy wow-factor , this is a gripping tale with a thoughtful message .", "squanders both its first-rate computer graphics and its sturdy international cast .", "i ca n't comment on whether it does narnia literature justice , but as a film fan , i can whole-heartedly recommend it as an example of fantasy done right .", "adamson seems to have decided the great battle at the end of the previous film was its best part and has set out to recapture it but more so , leading to some truly outstanding set pieces , but resulting in a film that is less than the sum of its parts .", "it 's a relatively entertaining romp , but it would be surprising if anyone is counting down the days until the third movie .", "lives up to expectations , although it does n't quite scale the heights set by the original film .", "excessively violent but oddly dull ... a crusades allegory for teeny-boppers", "most of c.s. lewis 's peculiar magic is lost .", "on the page , the chronicles of narnia thrived on fiery faith-based fantasy . on film , said belief is rendered bland ." ], "summary": "the chronicles of narnia : prince caspian is an entertaining family adventure worthy of the standard set by its predecessor .", "id": "680139028" }, { "movie": "step_up_2_the_streets", "reviews": [ "MOV posits a universe where racial and class differences are minor obstacles to fun and pretends its clich\u00e9s are n't clich\u00e9s .", "predictable class conflicts and sanitized keeping-it-real bluster .", "the story may be old , but these kids act -- and dance -- as though they are telling it for the first time .", "chu ... does n't try to do much with a script that rehashes every dance-movie clich\u00e9 , with people getting served , bringing it on and stomping yards .", "let 's wait for a movie where they do get it all right : story , acting and dancing . it 'll happen , just not this time .", "not exactly the jets and the sharks .", "stumbl -lsb- es -rsb- gracelessly from point a to point b and hitting all the expected notes in the process .", "for all of its ragin ' dance moves and rebellious talk , is high-spirited and harmless . an mc at one dance contest declares , `` this ai n't ` high school musical ' ! '' oh , but it is .", "undeniably energetic and viscerally satisfying , but emotionally hollow .", "does n't measure up .", "too bad much crap is needed to be waded through to get to the rather terrifically done finale .", "competent and too innocent in its own way to strongly dislike , but there also is n't much to push it above mediocrity . there 's more substance in cotton candy .", "... a minor improvement over its almost unwatchable predecessor ...", "to say this film -lrb- and any other dancing competition film -rrb- is formulaic is an understatement . however , formalism is entirely forgivable when you look at the marketplace .", "a dance romance with attitude that will fall short if you 're expecting fulfillment in the story department .", "this is n't a very good movie , but it 's probably the best of it 's kind .", "will dance triumph over adversity ? will love between two attractive vacuous actors conquer all ?", "standard , well-made , urban dance movie .", "it suffers from a real lack of charisma , still the dance bits are good .", "it 's not a little obvious that the step up franchise means to keep a disneyfied hand in the apparently inexorable dance movie cycle .", "electrifying dance elevates an almost boring film .", "somehow streets is even more loathsome than its predecessor ... offers gaudy choreography more reminiscent of a kenny ortega masturbation session than awe-inspiring foot magic .", "all the scenes where people are n't dancing tend to be forgettable , but the dance sequences are energetically choreographed and performed .", "the dance has to be good because the rest of the movie is one long cliche .", "more flare is needed to make us care about these characters who swoop , spin , and glide .", "completely predictable .", "providing you 're not hip-hop - or cliche-averse , see MOV with the right expectations and you 'll be pleasantly surprised .", "dance scenes feel like a diversion , since the story , acting and dialogue are sadly lacking in originality and substance .", "reeks of artificiality and phoney emotion .", "mindless formulaic fluff with enough booty-shaking charm to qualify as a great guilty pleasure .", "evigan might have an attractive midriff , but she sometimes starts to give a william shatner-like delivery of lines with odd pauses and exaggerations .", "why quibble ? anyone who goes to this movie for the plot is insane . it 's all about the moves and the bodies putting them on .", "the film ca n't resist the inevitable overstatement .", "promises to hit all the urban-dance hallmarks with sledgehammer intensity .", "a worthy sequel -- and its soundtrack -lsb- is -rsb- a worthy download .", "i 'm not saying it 's stomp the yard , but it 's pretty good .", "i ca n't quite recommend it , but ... for a certain demographic why not .", "step up 2 has only a few points of correlation with its predecessor . it 's also probably the single most racist movie that will be released by any major american studio in the first 10 years of the twenty-first century .", "give the new movie some credit for being a lot more fun than its namesake", "a brainless piece of product that is so utterly devoid of anything not concerned with the idea of separating 12-year-olds from their allowance that it makes the hannah montana infomercial/movie seem like `` there will be blood '' by comparison", "too afraid of deviating from the typical dance movie formula . and in all honesty , it 's not such a great blueprint to bother following anyway .", "only any good when people are dancing .", "as strictly formulaic as its predecessor , this installment generally gets the job done , essentially resembling a longform music video interrupted by a perfunctory plot .", "step up did n't front , but MOV is a poseur .", "a decided step down even from the mediocre original .", "it does n't skimp on cool pretzel moves .", "it 's very hard to argue that the dancing falls short , which means that the film at least justifies its own existence .", "step up 2 features nearly as much dancing as it does dialogue , and that 's a good thing , considering the after-school special quality of its obligatory emotional scenes .", "a finale has the young people all dancing in the rain . like almost everything else about the movie , it has been done before . but it 's still foot-stomping fun .", "catnaps are an advisable way to survive some of the slow spots . or , better yet , wait for this to be available on dvd when the fast forward button will turn step up 2 into something shorter and more enjoyable .", "this is an average story of a young woman making it on her own . no , i 'm not talking about mary tyler moore , i 'm talking about andi , played by briana evigan , in `` MOV , '' a film that delivers just about what you 'd expect .", "inexplicably , i liked this film more than its predecessor . wait - let me type that again , just to let the reality sink into my own mind : i actually liked step up 2 .", "it 's another of the many dance movies that fifteen years from now may just be admired in the same vein `` krush groove '' and `` breakin ' '' are ...", "... a flashdance wannabe ...", "it suffers from a real lack of charisma , still the dance bits are good .", "with a script cut-and-pasted from every other dance movie , this film is shockingly corny .", "all of this feverish bending , twirling , twisting and snapping of the body is so infused with attitude , in fact , that it allows the film and its characters to live and breathe in ways that run counter to the movie 's otherwise rhythmless script .", "a robust addition to the street dance sub genre of movies , MOV offers plenty of exhilarating routines and a feasible storyline" ], "summary": "there 's a kinetic appeal to the handsome cast and their smooth moves , but everything else about MOV is been there , danced that .", "id": "770681509" }, { "movie": "1001193-around_the_world_in_80_days", "reviews": [ "an amusing trip around the world in a style befitting jules verne , MOV lives up to its hype as a massive , glossy epic .", "proof that you can buy an academy award .", "everything about this big , beautiful movie smacks of authenticity , excitement , and massive showmanship .", "with a smash lineup of stars in major and minor parts , todd has turned out a surefire hit .", "just goes to show you what dreck can win the oscar if you got the money and know how to promote your product .", "thanks to its grand scale and great central performances by niven and cantinflas , the original fantastic voyage still holds up very respectably .", "the wonder is that this polyphemus of productions does not simply collapse of its own overweight ; but , thanks principally to showman todd , the picture skips along with an amazing lightness .", "michael anderson 's direction could n't be more unimaginative and flat . a movie like this should be swimming in creative whimsy , and a sense of wonder . there 's nothing of that sort here .", "an epic very much of its time , this vastly entertaining star-studded travelogue was put together -lrb- with some difficulty -rrb- by the great showman michael todd .", "it is by far too long and has lost a significant amount of its wonder , but spending a rainy sunday afternoon with verne 's adventure seeking story is a surprisingly easy , diverting experience .", "is the whole thing too exhausting ? it 's a question of how much you can take . we not only took it but found it most amusing .", "this globe-trotting adventure was not the first to use todd-ao , but it put the new technology to better effect , taking audiences to exotic places , where they could spot hollywood stars like sinatra , maclaine , and dietrich , in cameo roles .", "the most magnificent travelogue disguised as adventure spectacle ever made . or is it the other way around ?", "this is the worst film to win the best picture oscar .", "big , loud , flashy fun . but `` best picture '' ? i do n't think so .", "lavishly entertaining epic", "lighthearted , pretty , and entertaining", "an interminable travelogue interspersed with sketches in which star-spotting affords some relief .", "80 days is pure fluff , but it 's so delightful in its fluffiness that the lack of any real depth does n't matter .", "the movie has not aged well . many of the performances are arch , playing the comedy broadly , which is blandly predictable as the film grinds on and on .", "this 1956 multi-oscar winner has probably aged badly during the intervening years .", "not only the beginning of cameos , this was also the beginning of large , flashy , special-effects ladden spectacles that did more for the dazzling of the eye than it did for the mind .", "around the world in eighty days may have its faults and lost some of its original allure , but it remains a sure-bet even today .", "bloated , overblown , all-star extravaganza . very much of its time .", "an eye-filling travelogue , an exciting adventure and a very funny film .", "the cast of thousands and absurb scenarios overcomes the overlong oddities in the movie .", "entertaining sunday afternoon stuff .", "the movie has not aged well . to its credit , it is benign and charming , with an intoxicating musical score , compelling cinematography and a continually advancing locale .", "the novelty these far-flung places must have had for a 1956 audience is a bit lessened for the viewer today .", "it was definitely one of the biggest `` event '' films of the 1950s , but the decade produced many smaller films that were much more entertaining and that have aged better ." ], "summary": "it 's undeniably shallow , but its cheerful lack of pretense -- as well as its grand scale and star-stuffed cast -- help make MOV charmingly light-hearted entertainment .", "id": "18475" }, { "movie": "demolition_man", "reviews": [ "MOV is sleek and empty as well as brutal and pointless . it feels computer engineered , untouched by human hands . a real pod movie .", "stallone is surprisingly good in this fast , funny and violent futuristic action film .", "forget your preconceptions , but not your brain cells and sense of irony .", "not a bad mid-90s sci fi flick - and with a young sandra bullock in spandex to boot !", "stallone and snipes are a great double-act", "featuring intense action , exceptional special effects , and a healthy sense of humor , it is the film last action hero wanted -- and failed -- to be .", "MOV is a significant artifact of our time or , at least , of this week .", "enjoyable pop-culture junk actioner .", "a great villain goes a long way toward making an action movie successful and snipes certainly does more than his share to make this an enjoyable film .", "chock-full of obnoxious dialogue , terrible acting , and oh-so-clever product placement .", "a noisy , soulless , self-conscious pastiche that mixes elements of sci-fi , action-adventure and romance , then pours on a layer of comedy replete with hollywood in-jokes .", "this futuristic comedy depends on your opinion of stallone and his unapologetic popcorn-pleasing action no-brainers . to be fair , this one is one of his better ones .", "the pleasant surprise about MOV is that both the script , and stallone , are funny ; the film blends big-budget action and tongue-in-cheek humor in the way that last action hero tried , and failed , to do .", "nearly all the sf premises are accorded the status of andrew dice clay one-liners -- which means that they , along with the characters , keep changing from one scene to the next .", "... a sporadically amusing yet pervasively underwhelming bit of early '90s cheese ...", "ultimately the script 's often sharp social satire is drowned out by the noise and confusion . it is also undercut by casting virtually all the psychopathically murderous criminals as minority-group members .", "not for nothing does the film open on a screen-filling image of the hollywood sign in flames , for it torches almost every supposition that a film made to showcase sylvester stallone and wesley snipes whomping on each other can only be brain-dead .", "does n't quite go far enough , instead settling for cheap gags and cheap thrills , but it tickles fairly well for a couple of hours of crashes and fireballs . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "an inspired mix of high-octane action and futuristic satire .", "cool as ice", "with snipes giving his role everything he 's got -- a considerable amount by any measure -- and with some amusing bits tying together the action scenes , there is plenty of eye candy at work here , which should satisfy action fans .", "if you do n't really think about it , -lsb- it -rsb- is n't a bad ride .", "MOV is like that old joke about a bad restaurant : the food is awful ... and such small portions .", "let me say , the view of utopia is nice and all , but it 's not nearly negative enough .", "basically , MOV is a futuristic cop picture with slightly more imagination and wit than the typical example of the slash-and-burn genre .", "in the end , that 's all this film is : flames , flying bullets , and special effects . it could be worse , i suppose , but as long as people go into this film with their eyes open , there should n't be any surprises ." ], "summary": "a better-than-average sci-fi shoot-em-up with a satirical undercurrent , MOV is bolstered by strong performances by sylvester stallone , wesley snipes , and sandra bullock .", "id": "13431" }, { "movie": "say_anything", "reviews": [ "the cast is irresistibly charming , down to the bit parts by lili taylor and amy brooks as lloyd 's best friends .", "MOV does the nearly impossible of making a satisfying film from a high school dating comedy .", "crowe 's script is honest and straightforward in its simplicity , yet deeply moving in its details and nuances .", "low-key funny , smart and touching , this is the prototype for successful youth-oriented romantic comedy .", "'' ... a post-john hughes innovator as a teen flick that ducks both afterschool special-isms and crass humour ... ''", "these are things that are instantly recognizable , images and words that will be remembered as long as movies are remembered .", "you know that feeling when you 're watching a movie for the first time , and it grabs you right away and it gets better and better until the very end ? this is one of these very special films .", "cameron crowe 's directorial debut gets a fully loaded dvd that demonstrates the best -- and worst -- of all his films .", "has one of the great movie endings of all time .", "smart , well-developed characters , believable situations , and a solid emotional investment for us in the film 's people and circumstances", "john cusack proved his quirky leading man charm here . ione skye is sublime .", "without a shadow of a doubt the most rewarding , funny , and likable romance of the last twenty years . it heralds the decency of romantic love against the gears of a cold , grinding mechanical world .", "even as a cynical , anti-romantic teen , i loved this movie .", "cameron crowe crafts one of his best films around the end-of-high-school ennui and the uncertainties that come with that time in your life , but MOV ... is aging faster than you might think , despite its many classic lines and moments .", "great dialogue , dead-on performances from all three leads , cusack , skye and mahoney , a nice romance , cool soundtrack and some funny lines .", "he love story is as old-fashioned as the jokes are old hat , but crowe 's amusing script and unforced direction allow the actors to develop reasonably authentic characters from stereotypical roles .", "writer and director cameron crowe has taken the hackneyed subject of teenage love and given it some freshness .", "the film is all charming performances and grace notes , but there are plenty of worse things to be .", "... one of the best movies about young love ever made .", "a far cry from the standard hollywood teen romance .", "has more depth and feeling than we expect to see in any teenage comedy", "finally , we have a teen film that does n't dumb down its story line and play it solely as a goofy teen film .", "a movie like this is possible because its maker believes in the young characters , and in doing the right thing , and in staying true to oneself .", "cameron crowe 's graduation-speech homilies are given an effervescent sincerity by john cusack .", "cameron crowe creates a beautiful film filled with uncertainties and paints romance as horrifying , but an experience that 's also very much worth it .", "this is an iconic role for john cusack and easily one of the movies that made him such a respectable actor today .", "a gem of a coming-of-age story .", "MOV was a singularly three-dimensional teen romance after a decade of broad gags and breakfast-club stereotypes in john hughesland .", "one of the very best teen movies .", "cusack and skye 's relationship develops nicely and believably , but crowe has not written an entirely convincing character for the latter to play .", "rewarding if slightly off-beat , and genuinely funny .", "at last , a teenage love story with real characters instead of cliches , poses , and attitudes .", "john cusack has unwittingly become generation x 's romantic screen icon ." ], "summary": "one of the definitive generation x movies , MOV is equally funny and heartfelt -- and it established john cusack as an icon for left-of-center types everywhere .", "id": "10151" }, { "movie": "superman_iv_the_quest_for_peace", "reviews": [ "it 's a shame that `` superman '' had to leave the eighties in such a disgraceful fashion .", "even at 91 minutes , the film seems truncated .", "it ` s hard to summon much wonder when superman goes mano-a-mano with nuclear man , a lex luthor creation with a static electricity problem .", "it 's hard to escape the conclusion that all the originality and excitement have been drained from the series .", "tthe enthusiastic hamming ca n't hide the clunking direction by sidney j furie and the sub-standard special effects .", "superman iv is cinematic kryptonite . not only could it kill the superman series , it might also leave filmgoers feeling weak .", "fortunately , the regular superman performers all do their jobs well .", "of course , superman saves the world , but the real news is that there 's still some life in the series .", "the overall effect is of a story atomized and dying before our eyes , collapsing into smashed pulp , ground down into big-budget kryptonite ash .", "the impoverishment here is not merely of means , but of spirit .", "quickly followed by superman v : the need to explain what the hell we were thinking .", "superman iv : the quest for peace could be one of those ` so bad it is good ' movies for some people but i could n't even find it funny .", "should have been a quest for a better script . ridiculous , tedious , and lifeless . characters a shadow of their former selves . a sad note for the franchise to end on .", "godawful , pointless , preachy sequel .", "great cast , terrible premise , done ultra-cheap . sad supes had to go out like this .", "the superman series gets more and more whimsically outrageous as it goes along .", "avoid !", "that this movie is how the superman movie legacy ended would be a depressing thought if the movie were n't so endlessly hilarious .", "bargain basement caper .", "somewhere between the cheesy special effects and lame story the whole movie falls flat .", "more sluggish than a funeral barge , cheaper than a sale at k mart , it 's a nerd , it 's a shame , it 's superman iv .", "one of the cheesiest movies ever made .", "the earlier films in the series were far from perfect , but at their best they had some flair and agreeable humor , qualities this one sorely lacks .", "with the passing of the production torch to infamous budget tightwads golan and globus , it was clear that the worst was yet to come .", "predictably awful fourth installment .", "for sentimentality 's sake , it 's great watching reeve and company reprise their roles even if it 's in the bastard child edition of the series , but this is n't just one of the worst comic book films , it 's one of the worst films ever made .", "the cut-rate production resulted in what reeve termed `` catastrophe '' for a film intended to marry a serious message to the series ' signature action , humor , and romance .", "disappointing to say the least , but at least it does n't have richard pryor this time as its star .", "by ordinary movie standards it 's awful , but fans of cinematic dementia should have fun for about half an hour .", "the special effects are decidedly on the cheap side .", "about as dreary as a summit conference in belgium .", "... this final sigh of a movie manages to send the series out with a feeble yet breathing dignity . it 's bad , but it 's better than iii in that it does try to rise above itself ." ], "summary": "the superman series bottoms out here : the action is boring , the special effects look cheaper , and none of the actors appear interested in where the plot 's going .", "id": "11847" }, { "movie": "harold_and_kumar_2", "reviews": [ "they 've given their raunchy comedic world more depth , and it pays off with even bigger laughs than those found in the first one .", "like most comedy sequels , it is not as funny as its predecessor -- but , like most comedy sequels , that wo n't matter too much if you get stoned before you watch it .", "the highly-anticipated sequel to 2004 's harold and kumar go to white castle comes just how you 'd expect it : raunchy , wild , disgusting and completely absurd .", "not as fresh or inventive as the first chapter , though the film finds some relevant humor in essentially grim political situations .", "in spite of their dubiously short stay at the prison of the film 's title this multi-culti screwball buddy comedy , about stoner goofballs harold and kumar , properly roasts post 9/11 america with an irreverent vengeance .", "no less eager than its predecessor to use pointed political incorrectness to poke fun at our prejudices .", "lacks the fresh charm that made their first such an unexpected -lrb- if guilty -rrb- pleasure .", "in its own wacky way , harold & kumar escape from guantanamo bay is one of the ballsiest comedies to come out of hollywood in a long time . no kidding .", "if you have n't seen the first harold & kumar then this one might not be for you , but nonetheless harold & kumar escape from guantanamo bay is the best comedy so far for 2008 .", "whether ` guantanamo bay ' could have succeeded in spawning a franchise on its own is questionable , but it hits more often than it misses .", "a crass , classic , take-the-money-and-run ripoff which squanders a golden opportunity to make a statement about racial profiling , the patriot act and the geneva conventions in favor of serving up a mindless teensploit laced with shockingly-graphic images .", "looking for love just does n't seem as satisfying as satisfying the munchies .", "the core harold and kumar audience of stoners and slackers will enjoy the rude humor and drug references , but the rest of us clean and sober folks are going to be left cold .", "is n't it amazing that a `` stoner comedy '' could be so profound ?", "the best comedic team since abbott and costello . neil patrick harris completes the duo .", "if you 're tough enough to go with the filthy flow , escape from guantanamo bay is , at times , bust-a-gut funny .", "... has the same spirit of non-stop comedy as its predecessor and strikes the same chord in the hearts of those of us who appreciate a good laugh .", "a guilty pleasure that retains the anarchic charms of the original .", "hurwitz and schlossberg 's sensibilities are coarse , juvenile , lewd , relentlessly tasteless and sometimes surprisingly perceptive when it comes to the glorious variety of racial stereotyping . the film is n't subtle but it can be funny .", "as much as i enjoyed the pot-fueled laughs and the sheer energetic lunacy of the original , i was really let down by this uninspired sequel .", "mostly works because it 's well cast , wildly written and full of good , old-fashioned comedic friction .", "help me escape from this movie !", "a simultaneously broad-brush and acute critique of u.s. policy regarding detainees gives way almost immediately to the escape , inadvertent and slapdash as everything is in the -lrb- apparent -rrb- franchise .", "if frat boy gutter humor is what it takes to get korean - , indian - , latino - , african - and jewish-americans major roles in the same hollywood film , so be it . just do n't stay in that gutter . and wherever you go next , be sure to keep corddry and harris around", "giddy brain-dead fun that goes to such pains to debunk stereotypes that the debunking itself becomes a joke .", "the line between vulgar-funny and just plain vulgar is crossed too often in this indefensible sequel .", "the jokes all revolve around weed , stereotypes , and neil patrick harris ; the stereotype stuff is by far the funniest .", "the most shocking thing put forth in harold and kumar escape from guantanamo bay just might be the proposition that george w. bush is actually a pretty cool guy .", "there 's a reason why foreign affairs has never done a theme issue about `` dude , where 's my car ? ''", "these are strictly movies by stoners , about stoners and for stoners . if they offer any service to humanity , it will be to help authorities corral the dregs of society as they congregate in theatres and ship the lot of them to guantanamo bay .", "it 's a latter-day abbott and costello flick , where the monster they encounter is n't frankenstein , but the bush administration .", "as is so often the case with sequels , this one feels like a retread , albeit on a bigger scale .", "harold & kumar should be thrown in gitmo for starring in such an awful sequel .", "harold & kumar escape from guantanamo bay is no political tract , but it can be surprisingly bold .", "the film is far from an intelligent commentary on america 's race relations ... but at a time when race is at the forefront of the american discussion , it presents the topic in a way at which we can laugh .", "with its intoxicating blend of frat boy humor and sociological satire , escape from guantanamo bay is the comedy of the year so far .", "nothing matches your first time , but escape from guantanamo is still a liberating low humour experience .", "penn and cho 's stoner slapstick will doubtless please their obsessive fans .", "while penn and cho remain casually cool -lrb- they 're hipper than the fools who spout bigoted clich\u00e9s -rrb- , the movie forgets to stay true to their characters or to itself .", "i did n't laugh anywhere near as much at this far less fresh sequel - which is broader , more vulgar , more scattershot , more overtly political and a lot less funny than it sounds on paper .", "-lsb- the movie 's -rsb- idiocy serves the cause of good sense and intelligence . and no , i 'm not smoking anything .", "harold and kumar are pothead patriots in the first feel-good torture film .", "this is one of those rare pictures that can gross you out and make you think at one and the same time .", "most of the wannabe outrageous racial humor is too shallow to constitute real satire .", "did i really just compare h and k to a neil simon comedy ?", "the film is carried by its charismatic stars , john cho as harold and kal penn as kumar . kumar plays laurel to harold 's hardy , continually getting the pair into messes . cho is a marvel at displaying exasperation , his face contorting into a frown .", "it 's as if the filmmakers were doing something that impaired their concentration and made them lose focus on something they started .", "the whole film feels easily distracted and apt to laugh at anything . but that 's okay . so is its target audience .", "offers a mix of nasty toilet jokes and sex gags , but the gratuitous nudity -lrb- male and female -rrb- and crazy cannabis-ness are there to serve a greater good : to mock social and political hypocrisy , a culture steeped in prejudice and pretense .", "there 's an abundance of toilet humour , masturbation , oral sex and fantasies about threesomes with an oversized bag of weed ... the target market will no doubt be primed", "uses its sly brand of humor to say plenty about the state of race relations in the u.s. -lrb- really -rrb- .", "for a stoner comedy , it makes some lucid points .", "just make sure that you 're really stoned when you see it .", "a bag of shoddy skits that barely qualifies as a movie and taints pleasant memories of their previous clowning besides", "as the idea is no longer fresh and the plot has basically the same structure , it does n't quite match the original . but the sequel delivers enough new developments to keep it interesting .", "amid the dick jokes , drug taking and gratuitous nudity , the film also serves as a salient reminder about what actually ranks as subversive comedy .", "hurwitz and schlossberg ca n't quite recapture their magic in this spotty stoner sequel .", "every aspect of the production is atrocious in the extreme.the writing is awful . the direction is bilious .", "the film is so even-handed and so diligent in its urge to offend that after a while i felt myself go numb .", "during its slightly surreal scenes , harold and kumar escape from guantanamo bay crackles . at other times , it 's the same old smoke out .", "an amplification of scale and subject matter that is n't , alas , accompanied by an upgrade in humor .", "i 'd assumed i would never have to write this , but i miss the confident directorial touch of the guy who made dude , where 's my car ?", "the jokes that actually work successfully in harold & kumar escape from guantanamo bay are the same ones that worked in its predecessor", "they try very hard to re-create the magic and popularity of the first harold & kumar adventure , but you ca n't always capture lightning in a bottle twice .", "cheerfully offensive , cheekily raunchy , happily outrageous , and often just plain disgusting , the movie avoids the usual sophomore slump by ramping up the political jabs while keeping it all unpretentious and moving quickly .", "i was really looking forward to this one .", "harold & kumar escape from guantanamo bay embraces america 's capacity for decency and kindness . the possibility that we could actually be that great country is n't just a pipe dream . only sometimes you need a pipe to truly believe in it .", "cho and penn do n't have the needed personality or comic identity to sustain a franchise and their non-drug humor is so crude and scatological that -- to say the least -- it leaves a very bad taste in the mouth .", "it 's laugh out loud funny , and once the screenwriters figure out how to resolve 's patrick harris 's return , they still have amsterdam .", "a surprisingly ` post-9 / 11 ' movie , it combines typical stoner humor with a plot about ethnic profiling , torture , and war on terror paranoia . but , like , in a funny way .", "... even doogie howser and his imaginary unicorns ca n't save this film .", "whereas white castle had a freshness in its humor , guantanamo goes crude for the sake of crudeness , to the point of ruining entire scenes .", "a drunken bachelor party kind of movie , more of a rental idea than a full-priced theater movie .", "those wishing to defend the honor of the red states will find much to dislike here , starting with the depiction of southerners as rednecks and klansmen", "unfortunately , the movie has too many uninspired and shockingly unfunny moments that outweigh the good by at least a few tons .", "now only a pot comedy would conceive of turning george w. into a goofy , dare i say even likable pothead who 's afraid of his dad and dick cheney .", "while not without its funny moments , this labored sequel ups the nudity and gross-out factor while diminishing the sweetness and evident camaraderie of its appealing leads .", "anything the filmmakers might have , could have , should have handled with even the remotest degree of subtlety ... they did n't .", "a prison sex slave rebellion having to do with an organ sandwich , do n't ask , and a detour over to bush 's secret sex den , make this ballsy doper duo and their blue state versus red state rant hard to resist .", "if doogie howser and dime bags are more your thing , then this film will most likely hit the spot .", "i think that 's the greatest thing about these harold & kumar movies . they make stereotyping look ridiculous .", "there are poop jokes and c * m shots but nothing as insightfully twisted as the diarrhea twins .", "there is n't really much plot to harold and kumar , just a lot of scatological humor , sex and body parts as well as body function jokes .", "while guantanamo bay is n't as consistently funny as its predecessor , it does capitalize on the fact that the world is even more screwed up now than it was four years ago .", "for some , the comedy glass will be more half-empty than half-full , but fans of the original movie and people exhausted by the state of the genre in general will drink up and hope they get another serving sooner than 2012 .", "the best laughs come when the movie aims a little higher , which is n't often enough", "of all the grim and somber films over the past year skewering america 's mismanagement of the `` war on terror , '' who 'd have thought that an absurdist stoner comedy would be the one to get it right ?", "it 's lost some of the outrageous edge found in the original film , but there is still plenty of irreverent laughs", "it ends up coming off like an extended carlos mencia sketch , and it certainly ca n't justify the film 's short 100-minute running time .", "you find yourself smiling at some of the bits , wincing through many , many others , and ultimately wondering if the pacing would 've improved had either h or k developed a terrible cocaine habit .", "dude % u2014now even a stoner comedy can star minority actors . that may not seem like major cultural progress , but progress it is .", "far from a complete failure , but in trying so hard to up the ante the filmmakers have made a lesser , more rambling finished product . simply is n't as satisfying this time around .", "it 's sporadically enjoyable in a silly , mindless way and it 's hard not to laugh at least a few time while awash in all the bad taste .", "in all its mock outrage and its daring shots at hypocrisy , bigotry and the government , harold & kumar , the characters and the movie , lose their subversive innocence .", "it was fresh the first time .", "cho and penn are winning leads and play well off of each other . when the film works , it 's often due to their interaction .", "any comedy zany enough to include a veiled , left-field reference to clara 's heart has something going for it .", "hurwitz and schlossberg are n't exactly subtle in making their case against government paranoia and repression , but they are funny most of the time .", "non-potheads , even those who liked the white castle original ... may have trouble with this dumb , rather nauseating follow-up .", "by the time the relatively brief movie finally -lrb- and happily -rrb- ends in a flurry of true love and an exhale of stale smoke , you 're ready to embrace your own drug of choice .", "plays like desperate repackagings of the first movie 's more successful set pieces -- with the accent on desperate and the freshness level down to zero .", "an unfortunate , sloppy sequel .", "-lsb- a -rsb- ctually scores more points off the nation 's paranoid and repressive post-9 / 11 mindset than all of hollywood 's hand-wringing war-on-terror dramas put together .", "falls into that classic sequel trap : do the same thing again , but do it bigger and louder ... it 's a big , noisy , unfunny rerun .", "... unpleasant and mean-spirited ...", "because the satire is less subversive and more overt than before , what you see is basically what you get .", "a fitfully funny if somewhat less excellent sequel .", "... has been infused with an uncomfortably over-the-top sensibility that handily obliterates the easy-going feel of its predecessor ...", "insightful this film may not be , but that 's never its aim . it 's about making us laugh at the silly antics of a couple of dudes we met before and pretty much like .", "they 're such lovable goofs that you ca n't help wishing their quest for white castle fast food and their flight from gitmo could live up to the sort of sharp satire these two bright boys deserve .", "unfortunately , nothing in harold & kumar escape from guantanamo is funnier than its title .", "the satire is anything but nuanced in this zany comedy targeted to the 17-35 set , and that 's just how its audience likes it .", "sharp satire , d -- and fart jokes ... and neil patrick harris !", "easily the funniest movie since superbad and a more than satisfying sequel .", "laces its copious gross-out gags , pothead humor and female nudity with the smartest social satire this side of the daily show .", "stoner social satire is rude , crude , and funny .", "as occasionally entertaining as it can be , guantanamo bay is essentially a bawdier -- but , sadly , dumber -- version of its precursor .", "the film feels careless and calculated at once : careless in its assembly , calculated in an attempt to copy castle . -lrb- but who could blame hurwitz and schlossberg ? they have no other film credits . -rrb-", "chasing freedom 's not as funny as chasing fast food .", "overall , it 's an enjoyable sequel , although not up to the admittedly high -- heh -- standards of the first installment .", "harold & kumar escape from guant\u00e1namo bay , a loosely strung-together collection of sex , race , and stoner jokes , is , by any rational standard , a terrible movie , yet i kept laughing at it , and i came out of the theatre in a good mood .", "the gross-out and gay-panic humor is overdone , but like its predecessor , the movie makes some cogent if clumsy points about racial identity .", "after two films of their joyous irresponsibility and hedonistic pleasures , i can say with confidence that i would n't want to live in a world without them .", "there 's plenty about the bush administration 's war on terror worthy of satire , but harold & kumar picks over a carcass that others have chewed over with much sharper teeth .", "not a high point in stoner comedies , the snickering filmmakers miss their chance to take on racial profiling in the war on terror . bongs away !", "the sequel proves you can still have fun with harold and kumar , but you can never go back to white castle again .", "this movie has everything . violence , racism , incest , sex , drugs , gross-out humor , insane amounts of nudity and neil patrick harris !", "a disappointing and bland follow up to a comedy that deserved much better than a typical cash-in ...", "if you 're really , really high , you might think that h&ke fgb suggests that we are only truly free when we transcend our own racial identities ." ], "summary": "it may not equal its predecessor , but harold and kumar escape from guantanamo bay is still good for some laughs -- and food for thought .", "id": "770672311" }, { "movie": "the_orphanage", "reviews": [ "bayona throws in lots of slow creaks and clangs , the art-house-horror equivalent of the jump moment , but none of them can rouse the movie from its terminal emotional torpor .", "MOV is a classically creepy spanish horror film and a joltingly modern one . it turns down the thermostat on its chill slowly , deliberately . that just makes the big frights all the more heart-stopping .", "there 's not too much original or surprising in the film .", "a well-made , spanish ghost story that will creep you out and draw you in .", "i 'd argue it 's emotionally richer and more surprising -lsb- than pan 's labyrinth -rsb- .", "features a few decent chills and has a distinctive tone and look .", "adult horror returns to the screen with the crisp and frightening MOV , a haunted-house tale about the dueling forces of childhood friendship and maternal love .", "-lsb- director -rsb- bayona has fashioned an assured , even conservative piece of work , one that 's lusciously filmed and more than a little terrifying but that in the end never widens out to greater art .", "the sense that there 's nothing we can do to protect ourselves and our loved ones may be why MOV is one of the most frightening movies you may see this year .", "MOV is never less than engaging . here and there it 's even genuinely frightening .", "there will be moments so tense , you 'll need to calm yourself by saying , ` it 's only a movie ! '", "the children just want to come out and play , and so do the very clever filmmakers running MOV , a fastidiously grim ghost story that rattles the bones of the haunted-house genre and finds plenty of fresh -lrb- but not too bloody -rrb- meat .", "it 's a ghoulish page ripped from del toro 's recognizable cinema handbook , and while highly effective at times , the film suffers from red light/green light pacing , which eventually robs this eerie picture of ultimate disturbance .", "since mainstream american horror 's devolution ... you have to tip your hat whenever an import attempts to maintain suspense and atmosphere instead , even when said import is an obvious retread .", "saturated in anxiety and dripping with dread .", "an unsettling , eerie story , reminiscent of nicole kidman 's ` the others ' .", "creates some genuinely creepy moments and a sad tone of loss and remorse that elevates the tale beyond our expectations for the genre .", "an effective mixture of horror and fantasy , with the supernatural bleeding into dreams that teeter on the brink of reality .", "unfortunately for bayona , pretty much everyone will be able to figure out how events are going to play out after the first 20 minutes .", "MOV gets it exactly right ; it builds suspense by sending out a disquieting vibe , then letting it slowly permeate your psyche before paying it off . this is one of the best ghost story films i 've ever seen .", "it creates a genuinely creepy mood and grabs you like a cold hand in the dark .", "the theme of peter pan wafts through the story , which stays rooted to the boundary of fantasy and reality .", "MOV works in large part because -lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- create horror through a slow tightening of tension rather than with lurid `` gotcha ! '' moments . and because in rueda they have a compelling and heartbreaking leading lady .", "goes for shock over substance .", "MOV is a thinking person 's ghost story . it builds slowly and pays off stunningly .", "suspenseful and eerie , prepare to shudder - and weep .", "unfortunately , the script lacks the artistry necessary to marry horror and drama .", "goes for the heart as well as the throat ...", "the movie is so good at using its horror elements to explore deeper , less fantastical emotions . for all its bump-in-the-night suspense , MOV is ultimately as much about motherhood and grief as it is about apparitions and shadowy corridors .", "what makes this bleak thriller , the feature debut by juan antonio bayona , not like -lsb- other horror movies -rsb- ? partly , it is an ambiguous sense of portent that clarifies itself by growing more opaque .", "as if more proof were needed that the best way to make a scary movie is through atmosphere , pacing and storytelling , rather than sudden violence , needless gore and random shocks , here comes MOV .", "MOV contains jolts and gruesome moments . but most of the time , the film unsettles in quieter , more encompassing ways , its horrific qualities derived from implication instead of imagery .", "no use wearing pants because MOV will scare you right out of them .", "... certainly among the -lsb- year 's -rsb- best .", "it will haunt you , rock you , and make hairs you did n't even know you have stand at attention in fear . do n't miss it .", "a superior ghost story .", "-lsb- a -rsb- final lean towards the saccharine should have been cut with strychnine , but bayona chooses sorrow and it works within his allegorical construct .", "a series of serviceable creep-outs and jolts ... the pretzel-shaped resolution feels like too little too late .", "MOV uses the supernatural to heighten anxieties over children in danger .", "MOV is first and foremost a weighty , at times heartbreaking , existential study of the frailty of life , the mysteries of death , and the knowledge of one 's own mortality . it is also very , very scary .", "once you get over the fact that it 's not going to scare you one bit , it turns out to be a sort of mournful whodunit that you wo n't hate yourself for watching .", "generally it 's a tautly unnerving and accomplished piece of work .", "poltergeist meets the others in a satisfying story about what you believe ... you 'll never watch children playing `` red light , green light '' the same way again .", "the kind of movie that reminds horror fans why they became hooked on the genre in the first place .", "the historical details and enthralling magic of guillermo del toro 's own productions are missing , and it 's more reliant on boo scares than its somber story can support . yet an intriguing subtext , fierce lead performance and a perfect ending make it work .", "at once mother and child , victim and antagonist , space and inhabitant , laura is remarkable , but also traumatized and unnerving .", "a spectacular entry into the horror thriller genre , MOV twists and turns and gives the audience some truly scary and sorrowful moments .", "an often chilling story that never sags and ultimately supplies a surprisingly moving ending that marries life and death , past and present", "bel\u00e9n rueda , the film 's star , is that rare woman in her 40s who is allowed to look naturally beautiful , with the lines of a woman in her 40s -lrb- even though she 's playing a character who is 37 -rrb- .", "this is the worst sort of horror film , one that cloaks its shameless pulls at the heartstrings in overemphatic sound design , hyped-up visuals , and a tear-streaked lead performance by belen rueda .", "the best haunted-house-cum-ghost-movie i have seen in years .", "in spanish with subtitles , this magical , mystical tale seems anointed somehow with del toro 's thick atmospheric elixir that served pan 's labyrinth , del toro 's unsettling oscar-winner of last year .", "as tingly and creepy a ghost story as you could wish for .", "whatever narrative missteps the film makes are almost totally irrelevant compared to its actual reason for being : to scare the audience **** less .", "bayona has an amazing touch for color , light and darkness , sound , space and nuance , and his presentation of horror never tricks or insults the audience .", "a spooky , slightly melodramatic movie that is part hitchcock , part poltergeist and all creepy .", "in a season filled with dark-themed films , it stands out as an elegantly mounted , surprisingly humane but terrifying horror thriller well worth seeing .", "in a genre that has been battered by the cheap grotesqueries of special effects , it is a pleasure to be unsettled by something as simple as an invasive beam of light in the shadows of a haunted house .", "despite a few bloodcurdling shocks , this handsome spanish ghost story from producer guillermo del toro follows in the suggestive , richly romantic tradition of the old val lewton chillers .", "sergio sanchez 's richly ambiguous screenplay allows you to interpret what you are watching on both a supernatural and a psychological level , and either way is equally unnerving .", "goes overboard on the deafening door slams and the hyper-amplified music to such an extent that concession stands should offer ground-up tylenol as a popcorn topping .", "by exploring the psychological terrain of a haunted woman , the movie brings a dimension of reality into this otherworldly situation .", "absolutely terrifying and heartbreaking .", "this spanish horror film slowly intoxicates the audience with suspense .", "while drawing on such classic children ghost stories as the innocents and the others , orphanage , a highlight of this year 's cannes fest critics week , establishes its unique text and tone due to its gifted spanish director and producer guillermo del toro", "never lets up as it keeps piling on the scares and surprises , as it builds to a surprisingly poignant conclusion .", "i 'd venture to say there are more goosepimply moments and well-earned jolts in this picture than in your average year 's worth of commercial shockers . and yet , it 's also the only horror film in recent memory that brought me to tears .", "rips off horror classics as far back as the innocents to as recent as the devil 's backbone , stripping them of their vibrant emotional connotations .", "del toro 's fingerprints are all over MOV , but it 's first-time feature director bayona strikes a fantastic balance between well-earned chills and strangely heart-touching emotion .", "... ultimately undone by its egregiously deliberate pace and pervading vibe of familiarity .", "this first feature from juan antonio bayona is an excellent exercise in the spanish-language subdivision of the horror-ghost genre that del toro more or less single-handedly invented .", "MOV is this year 's pan 's labyrinth . and that 's the high praise indeed .", "not only is the story spooky ... there are several good shocks along the way that will knock you out of your seat .", "a visually charged but psychologically hollow occult offering and horror rehash along the lines of , i see dead orphans .", "a good old-fashioned horror in the best possible way , this is a beautifully told , terrifying ghost story that lingers with you long after the shivers have stopped .", "MOV is an effectively scary picture about guilt , retribution , and acceptance , and it shares some of the spectral potency of alejandro amenabar 's the others .", "superb . even the cliche spooky kids are handled with aplomb .", "an extraordinary performance by bel\u00e9n rueda is the beating heart and tortured soul of MOV .", "o espanhol juan antonio bayona se une ao mexicano guillermo del toro e ao chileno alejandro amen\u00e1bar no grupo de cineastas latinos com talento particular para o macabro .", "haunting and heartbreaking , MOV delivers a double whammy of chills both real and supernatural .", "bayona successfully bathes his film in a very similar , pan 's labyrinth ambience and generally proves himself a skilled acrobat in negotiating the material 's triteness .", "an astoundingly well-made debut - even if MOV is ultimately as empty as it is haunted .", "eerie , atmospheric ... an unexpectedly poignant ghost story .", "of all the fright flicks that came out in the last 12 months , this is the one that made us hardened critics in the screening room literally jump in our seats .", "the ghosts of so many other arty supernatural spanish-accented thrillers crowd the room in MOV that you may feel at first like you 're at a s\u00e9ance presided over by guillermo del toro .", "an emotionally resonant , nerve-jangling experience .", "MOV , a diverting , overwrought ghost story from spain , relies on basic and durable horror movie techniques .", "plot details only hint at the subtle metaphors lurking in sergio g. snchez 's script and the gut-wrenching jolts elegantly orchestrated by first-time director juan antonio bayona .", "go see it already .", "the last act is laced with surprises , but , unfortunately , none that you might call pleasant .", "a tidy , if slow-moving ghost story that offers some modest chills , a couple of genuine shocks and an ending that will probably come as a letdown .", "MOV is the first film in many moons that reminds me of those terrific nail biters of yesteryear .", "the less you know of this film , the more you 'll be surprised , shocked and , in the end , satisfied .", "there are no monsters , or slashers , and yet the movie got under my skin so much so that it left me shaky as i walked out of the theater .", "though MOV sticks fairly closely to a genre fomat , and the plot twists become a little predictable , the film packs surprises all the way to the end .", "let the anticipation of bayona 's next move begin .", "by the time we reach the third act , this is less a horror film but a psychological study of a protagonist on the brink of emotional collapse .", "a frightening movie that earns its scares the hard way , generating unbearable tension through artful technique instead of computer .", "spanish director ja bayona 's debut feature is an exceptionally effective and surprisingly moving ghost story that seasons its horror with a pervasive sense of grief .", "the horror genre is not often known for its subtlety , but MOV proves that sometimes it 's more satisfying to squirm in your seat than it is to jump out of it .", "this guillermo del toro-produced spanish spook - 'em - up re-opens the door to the chilly , bracing air of the old-school ghost story .", "as director juan antonio bayona proves with his astonishing feature debut , you do n't need a rusty scalpel to reveal the inner workings of the human heart .", "a pesar de las semejanzas con pel\u00edculas recientes del g\u00e9nero -lrb- particularmente los otros -rrb- , se trata de un relato eficaz , inquietante , sombr\u00edo , y finalmente triste .", "what 's even more disquieting is the persistent undercurrent of exploitation -- the mixture of grief and jarring shock effects and the pitiless use of a disfigured child as a source of horror .", "MOV goes beyond the superficialities of the average horror movie to delve into more important themes , such as grief and guilt .", "it touches on primal stuff in terms of childhood , motherhood and the unknown .", "MOV takes audiences on an eerie , involving and ultimately extremely moving journey into the underworld .", "MOV is all about atmosphere and giving audiences the heebie-jeebies . and on that level , it really works .", "the film 's writer and director -lrb- both first-timers under the patronage of pan 's labyrinth ace guillermo del toro -rrb- both excel themselves at using familiar scary tricks to bring about totally unforeseen shocks .", "MOV is a visceral and well-crafted horror film that goes for the heart as well as the mind .", "invisible friends , evil spirits and strange occurrences form part of the threads of this acclaimed % u2026 stylish and subtle film whose imagery lingers", "MOV proves the haunted house genre is alive and well - in the right hands .", "director juan antonio bayona and screenwriter sergio g. s\u00e1nchez ratchet up the tension to such excruciating heights that , while you 're watching the film , your impulse is to scream out loud just to feel some sense of release .", "while the bulk of MOV is obsessed with mystery and tension in its wicked wonderland setting , there is indeed gore and horror provided for the more bloodthirsty viewers .", "pleasantly spooky debut from director juan antonio bayona proves that even the oldest horror movie clich\u00e9s are still effective in the right hands .", "this psychological thriller is a superb tale of haunting and secrets , and it 's intelligent from start to finish .", "the sort of edge-of-the-set supernatural thriller that is hypnotic .", "will definitely be a great companion piece to the likes of `` the devil 's backbone '' and `` pan 's labyrinth '' ...", "without a doubt a ghost story intended for adults who like a little intelligence and flair to accompany those things that go bump in the night .", "an overproduced twilight zone episode -- and it might have been more satisfying had del toro conjured the ghost of rod serling and closed the movie with a monologue .", "rueda runs through all the desperate-mother notes with the fine tuning of a pro despite a script that 's a little less than virtuosic .", "sanchez and bayona never lose sight of the requirements of the genre , providing plenty in the way of seat-gripping tension and finding suitable shocks in the everyday .", "director -lsb- juan antonio -rsb- bayona employs the visual language of horror films ... with restraint and good taste .", "bayona never spoonfeeds the audience , giving us lots of latitude to exercise our imaginations and believe what we choose as the film builds to its devastating climax .", "this spanish psychological mystery is captivating , creepy and hopeful .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- durable and engrossing , traits that help overshadow its genre-bound features .", "it captures pure terror . it 's horrific . that 's horror plus terrific . it 's almost impossible for a film like this to be lumped into the same category as ...", "you would n't think that a spanish horror flick as high art , but in the case of MOV , you 'd be wrong .", "alas , there 's no ahhhh ! moment at the end to justify the mounting tension .", "the year 's best horror picture is also one of the simplest .", "-lsb- director bayona -rsb- has a fine career ahead of him .", "as horror films go , this sits firmly at the classy end of the spectrum .", "one of those rare moments wherein you actually believe your are seeing a ghost , not a hollywood special effect .", "a ghost story in which character motivation is haphazard and scares as scarce as narrative logic .", "spanish horror films have a rich , still underappreciated tradition , but MOV could have been made by any anonymous hollywood hack", "however , the creative trust has n't forgotten those who love their art served up rich in metaphor and message .", "this is a movie whose power and emotional pitch lie in the understated : the discreet performances , the lack of special effects , the laconic script .", "bayona is a skilled technician , but seek elsewhere if you 're hoping for the transporting originality of last year 's pan 's labyrinth .", "the picture is a creepily effective exercise in gothic technique .", "at a time when american horror seems transfixed by graphic sadism , the acclaimed spanish chiller el orfanato harks back to an older tradition of psychological scares and things that go bump in the night .", "-lsb- a -rsb- pungent and scary film .", "superbly directed , genuinely creepy spanish chiller with a strong script and a terrific central performance from belen rueda .", "MOV is simply content with getting through the entire story without tripping over its own flaws , and though it 's definitely better than most supernatural thrillers , it does n't belong in the same camp as del toro or any of his films .", "MOV is the first horror movie i 've seen in a while that 's scary enough to send people out of the theater .", "like the best of horror films , it gets under your skin not with gore or cheap jolts but with an unnerving , ever-building tension , and with images that remain with you long afterward , interrupting your own quiet dreams .", "ms. rueda is such a gifted actor that she keeps this movie alive through thick and thin .", "the film is less of a shocker than an adventure in anxiety , testing and twisting some of the classic studies in infantile curiosity .", "a creepy , spooky little movie .", "more suspenseful than scary , the movie is apt to disappoint anyone expecting to scream out loud in the theater . nonetheless , it 's effective at casting a creepy pall over the proceedings which permeates the picture for the duration .", "MOV avoids cynical gimmickry and condescension . it 's harrowing in a more sophisticated way , and a fine example of why we 've come to expect some kind of elegance from spanish-language horror films .", "the truly disturbing element is the heavy reliance on childhood loneliness , fear and sickness .", "this elegant , psychologically rich ghost story compares favorably with the best of the genre , including the haunting -lrb- 1963 -rrb- and , especially , the innocents -lrb- 1961 -rrb- .", "... the movie leaves you feeling not simply wrung-out by shock and carnage , but genuinely spooked .", "this christmas , spain has given the film world the best possible gift : a new and brilliant young director .", "bolstered by cinematic atmosphere so ripe you can practically pick it and eat it , MOV is a deliriously delicious creep out .", "anyone who enjoys a good scare - and a good conversation - should see , and enjoy this latest addition to the jamesian tradition of intelligent horror .", "when i first saw MOV , i found it an overly clinical genre exercise whose sentimental moments felt forced , but it will also plant roots in your subconscious and linger there for weeks .", "the del toro touch spans every orifice of MOV , from the elegantly gothic cinematography to the understated yet gnawing dread that expands throughout the running time .", "beautifully conceived and composed , it 's eerie , sometimes frightening and surprisingly moving .", "it all ends with what should be the bang of your heart pounding clean out of your chest but feels more like the fidgety whimper of restless kids with nowhere else to go .", "by the end , you 'll be chilled and disturbed by what you 've seen -- and , rare as this is in a horror movie , touched to the heart .", "-lsb- director -rsb- bayona draws on everything from peter pan to henry james 's the turn of the screw , but it has a creepiness that 's all its own .", "a deeply absorbing and heavily atmospheric yarn that offers several noteworthy plot pirouettes .", "MOV -lrb- el orfanato -rrb- is the rare horror film that breaks your heart even as it makes it race .", "incredibly spooky .", "twisting too many specious screws too often , ` MOV ' is not innovative , though its atmospheric setting and the performance of belen rueda are impressive .", "will reduce a number of people in any audience to quivering jelly .", "cliches aside , this is a ghost story with class , with riveting acting by the central character , one which metaphorically deals with the pain of great loss .", "as an addition to the psychological thriller genre , `` MOV '' is a solid , well-rehearsed entry .", "MOV may take a couple of twists too many toward the end , but where it goes is effectively frightening .", "stylistically impeccable and organically suspenseful , `` MOV '' is a fun horror movie with well-placed shocks that will unnerve even the least suggestible audiences .", "it never made me believe for a sec it was not nonsensical or had much to say that meant something ." ], "summary": "deeply unnerving and surprisingly poignant , MOV is an atmospheric , beautifully crafted haunted house horror film that earns scares with a minimum of blood .", "id": "770671525" }, { "movie": "what_women_want", "reviews": [ "meyers finds exactly the right bubbly tone for the material then wisely steps out of the way to let gibson and hunt work their magic .", "lo que ellas quieren es una comedia ligera que narra lo que todos los hombres quisiramos saber : qu rayos piensan las mujeres ?", "mel gibson is at his most megawatt movie star charming .", "though it is n't quite oscar material , mel gibson gives what may be the most entertaining big-star performance of its year .", "gibson keeps this movie afloat .", "english 's attempts to fit the women into a modern setting are intelligent , but that , unfortunately , does not suffice , because the film is so limp in so many other ways .", "... is there some clause written into -lsb- helen hunt 's -rsb- contract that says she must have a scene in which she cries ?", "the premise for MOV sounds like , and is , the dumbest thing going .", "MOV may seem like a one-note sitcom sort of movie , but it 's funnier and a layer or two deeper than that .", "takes a promising idea and buries it under subplots and speeches that do n't know when to quit .", "it should be called what moviegoers want , because it appeals to both sexes , without pandering to or demeaning either of them .", "gibson and the film have an uproarious ball as he becomes uncomfortably acclimated to his new skill .", "gibson turns in one of those rare comedy performances that , every so often , manages to snag an oscar nomination . and , you know , he deserves one .", "it 's a romantic comedy with a distinctly modern , delicate but sharp , satirical cutting edge .", "mel gibson 's roguish advertising executive showcases his hitherto second-tier romantic comedy talents that borrow a whimsical wink from maverick .", "because this is a romantic comedy produced in hollywood , MOV must adhere to formula ; any meaningful messages are likely to get garbled , if not entirely erased .", "boldly goes where other romantic-comedies have only flirted -- straight into the heads of women .", "this woman wants to have a long talk with the writer of this film .", "so inept in delivering its messages that its female characters ... seem a species in desperate need of a man ... to rescue them and make their lives whole .", "for a while , anyway , it 's very funny .", "only tomei 's thoughts sound like actual thinking .", "set your standards on neutral , and enjoy it for exactly what it is -- mindless entertainment that will make you laugh but wo n't linger in your mind much farther than the theater 's parking lot .", "we 're never able to escape the feeling that we 're watching a manufactured object that starts turning insipid just when it was starting to seem scatty .", "if you 've seen the trailer , you 've seen the best jokes in this amusing but too predictable comedy .", "although MOV is being marketed toward women , it does nothing but condescend to them .", "it 's not boring and is often very funny , as in a solo dance that nick does in his apartment , to frank sinatra singing ` i wo n't dance . '", "if you want to go with you 're significant other and you 're a female . do n't . it 'll only ruin the relationship . if you 're a guy , you 'll hate this .", "meyer 's direction is ham-fisted ... and the script 's sexual politics are so sniggeringly anachronistic that rock hudson and doris day would be shocked .", "it 's as caught up in despising macho men as it is disgusted with modern women .", "an eviction notice for wit in movies .", "not many of today 's actors could carry this off . the ever-charming gibson makes it look way too easy .", "what women really want , if we can read the simple mind of MOV , is sincerity and honesty , even if you have to fake it .", "demonstrates that it has a pretty good idea MOV .", "-lsb- gibson -rsb- has the time of his life portraying a man who can read the minds of the women around him . he 's charming , sincere and , above all , funny as advertising executive nick marshall .", "it introduces us to a kinder , gentler mel who 's not only in touch with his feminine side , but who also widens his fan base considerably in the bargain .", "a seductive conceit , a stellar comedic turn , a chance to plow the terrain of sexual politics with humor and intelligence ... MOV is a winner .", "mel gibson is at his loosest and most playful for much of MOV .", "mel gibson 's charming , double-take-filled performance rises way above the material .", "the script is stereotypical , the direction uninventive , the performances mostly conventional and the musical backdrop unimaginative .", "nancy meyers ... sustains a funny and clever momentum out of what could have been sheer farce .", "there is a manic energy that almost literally electrifies every scene -lsb- gibson 's -rsb- in .", "the chemistry between hunt and gibson is electric .", "a broad , disjointed farce that should alienate both genders equally .", "delivers on the promise of its playful premise , thanks to some sly gender role reversals and gibson 's willingness to play along .", "despite the best efforts of both actors , the attraction between gibson and hunt does n't flare into light .", "liberates -lsb- gibson -rsb- from the confines of an action hero , and he takes full flight .", "worth seeing just for gibson 's commanding comic performance , which , in its authority and willingness to try anything , recalls the best of cary grant 's work .", "has some honest laughs , a few touching moments , and a welcome balance between the girls and the boys .", "a wonderfully sweet comedy which i would definitely pay to see again .", "gibson is sheer heaven in the movie .", "a film with a truly fascinating and clever premise that nevertheless collapses under the weight of everything that surrounds the central storyline .", "a conventional , sappy romantic comedy , a retread of the usual relationships explored by the film industry .", "gibson seems all but inflated with helium throughout , which contagiously lifts everyone else around him .", "as one-joke premises go , this is n't a bad one , but it 's been rather clumsily elaborated ... and slackly directed .", "does n't take many risks or explore any new territory .", "it says a lot about this film that the most moving moment it provides is a nike commercial for female runners created by the real-life weiden-kennedy agency .", "the fact that normally competent women need -lsb- gibson 's -rsb- advice is as condescending as the revelation that what is on their minds is really no different from what was on the mind of his former playboy self .", "the film has its flaws , but darned if you do n't like -lsb- gibson -rsb- and it anyway .", "instead of profound , we get cute . which was actually a good way for director nancy meyers to go .", "fans of bubbly romances can consider this a thumbs up . i call it a clenched-teeth concession at best .", "the film just never really does much with its initial great concept .", "for the majority of the film , gibson acts as if he 's having the time of his -lrb- onscreen -rrb- life . his enthusiasm is contagious .", "dazzles with an array of high-powered star appearances .", "meyers ' women have precious little on their minds .", "if the movie had the courage to show that women are complex people , it would be a much more inspired picture .", "mel gibson did a spectacular job as usual .", "the only complaint possible is that it is such a heart-warming story that you do n't want it to stop .", "when the movie gets heavy-handed about how -lsb- gibson 's -rsb- becoming a better person , all the comedy disappears and what 's left is swimming in mawkishness and bogus sentimentality .", "where groundhog day stretched its one joke into several branches of hilarity , MOV stares its singular premise into the abyss of mediocrity .", "makes for passable entertainment .", "the assumption that listening , kindness , and respect are the same things to all women and that real men can not display these attributes without the help of some freak accident is as ludicrous as it is annoying .", "if you 're in the mood for some well-done fluff -- with some deft performances and bright dialogue -- you could do a lot worse .", "does n't even look to have been directed ; manufactured is perhaps a more apt description , pieced together using demographic studies and marketing reports and focus groups .", "gibson manages to mel-evate the material to a crowd-pleasing level .", "it 's most productive to view it for what it is -- a romantic comedy that is as entertaining as it is inconsequential .", "un gui\u00f3n inteligente y honesto muestra como ambos lados del universo humano son totalmente diferentes entre s\u00ed , complementarios y sumamente complejos", "... does not come across as effective as it might have ...", "mel gibson wo n't rest until you love him as much as he loves himself .", "nancy meyers ' wry MOV is all kinds of better than nora ephron 's coincidence-laden meg ryan comedies ...", "certainly funny and entertaining , but it also strikes at some deeper truths about the contemporary state of male-female relationships .", "this movie does n't pretend to be substantial , but it 's still just barely passable as light fare .", "falha como com\u00e9dia , como drama e como romance .", "the women are basically innocent victims of male piggishness ... the men are all cads .", "what a piece of tripe -lrb- no offense to tripe -rrb- !", "this brand of empty , mass-marketed entertainment is in need of a serious genre overhaul", "gibson 's nick laughs at his own jokes a little too much , and so the picture never settles into a tone of farce , irony or romantic insight .", "quite enjoyable and nearly always entertaining to watch .", "the movie is so overloaded with characters and equally underdeveloped subplots that it starts to topple under the weight .", "-lsb- hunt -rsb- elevates what might have been a cute , familiarly plotted movie into a romance with real heart , sweetness and genuine emotion .", "while nick comes to appreciate women in all their complexity and depth , the movie is only interested in them as props and tools to aid in his eventual enlightenment .", "a giddy , goofy gibson hoot , this is .", "it 's lopsided , lighthearted escapism that 's as breezy as the wind -- and about as substantial .", "that the movie is made by a woman who can challenge any male filmmaker on earth for ham-handed direction connotes some kind of sexual equality .", "even when nick is a genuine boor , he 's lovable because it 's gibson pulling all the strings .", "still rigidly stuck in gender role 101 , as mel has to rescue several women by the film 's end ." ], "summary": "even though gibson is a good sport in his role , MOV is a rather conventional , fluffy comedy-romance that does n't make good use of its premise .", "id": "10661" }, { "movie": "1000013-12_angry_men", "reviews": [ "pure dynamite in movie form .", "this is a film where tension comes from personality conflict , dialogue and body language , not action .", "although it may sound ungallant , these MOV , are all right without distaff glamour . their dramas are powerful and provocative enough to keep a viewer spellbound .", "one-room dramas do n't get much better than this", "sidney lumet 's debut feels a bit stagy but is never short on tension .", "an intense concentration of power , and my all-time favourite film .", "a masterful work of debate and dialogue ; of shifting momentum and the ideal of sticking to your scruples in the face of antagonistic groupthink .", "sidney lumet 's feature directing debut is a brilliant courtroom drama , with a superlative cast that includes henry fonda , martin balsam , ed begley , jack warden , and e.g. marshall .", "ainda que se passe em um \u00fanico ambiente , esta obra-prima possui um alcance emocional imensur\u00e1vel - e \u00e9 incr\u00edvel que tenha sido o primeiro longa-metragem de lumet .", "this film is a great combination of an adult theme and the treatment suitable for younger audience .", "cinema heresy that worked .", "while the composition of juries might change over time , the issues and attitudes that are explored here are timeless , as is this classic film .", "MOV -lrb- 1957 -rrb- is the gripping , penetrating , and engrossing examination of a diverse group of twelve jurors - all male , mostly middle-aged , white , and", "MOV ranks as the tautest courtroom drama you 'll ever see , surpassing lumet 's very good 1982 drama , the verdict .", "a film with texture , humour and relevance at all times . all in 91 minutes .", "completely deserved its high status of undisputed classic .", "thoroughly engaging , there is nothing dated or corny in reginald rose 's intensely knowing screenplay and lumet 's energetic direction .", "in a time of bloated when special effects have become the real stars , going back to a classic like this can remind viewers what movie making is supposed to be about -- acting .", "the film leaves a tremendous impact .", "every bit the classic it 's been made out to be for all these years .", "power house jury room drama w/cast of memorable actors .", "makes no self-saluting motions to greater importance , which gives the material the much-desired breathing room it needs to reach full potency .", "a brilliant courtroom drama whose strength lies within the power of rose 's words and sidney lumet 's great direction -lrb- his debut -rrb- .", "MOV has some shrewd observations to sell about argumentation and group behavior , but they 're not the ones of which the film seems most proud .", "taut , well-crafted sociological study", "not much action , lots of words , great cinema .", "mechanically written , but within its own middlebrow limitations , it delivers the goods .", "a strangely realistic thriller .", "there is real value is how it allows each member of the cultural mosaic of a jury to develop into distinct , damaged , and interesting characters", "too few films take on the art of arguing as a subject ; we could certainly use more of them , but until then , lumet 's window into strained civic duty will continue to serve mightily .", "lumet in his first film records it as a meticulous laboratory experiment , a clammy orchestra", "... the film has aged surprisingly well in the years since its 1957 release .", "this was sidney lumet 's first movie and it 's as riveting as it was back in the late 50s , when everything was changing .", "an incisive and gripping film", "the film takes a confined , almost completely banal real-world location and makes it completely dynamic , using incredibly nimble camera movements to establish character motivation and theme .", "the cast is incredible , the writing superb , and the film is unparalleled in its sheer excellence .", "lumet keeps things tense , sweaty , suspenseful and entertaining despite the contrived story line .", "outstanding henry fonda jury classic ." ], "summary": "sidney lumet 's feature debut is a superbly written , dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic .", "id": "18108" }, { "movie": "mississippi_grind", "reviews": [ "it 's as if the scarecrow and the tin man got lost and wandered down the mississippi river , drinking and gambling and stumbling into and out of various troubles , not worrying about their brains or their hearts , just wishing for a little bit of luck .", "the combination of reynolds and mendelsohn makes this a sure bet ...", "boden and fleck understand that these two characters feed off of each other 's personalities , while fueling the addiction that unifies them .", "i 've never hated one of their movies . they do n't elicit that kind of emotion .", "edging close to greatness , this is a very good -- albeit rather sad -- character study about friendship , addiction and the hope for redemption -- or the next closest thing .", "a captivating , contemporary , sometimes comic spin on the antebellum allure of a downriver gambling odyssey - soaking in the sights of the trip and soaring on unexpectedly excellent juju of the odd-couple casting for the two low-rollers at its center .", "the actors flaunt craft , the script lays on the folksiness with a trowel , and scenes of local color seem to come straight from a guidebook .", "a two-handed portrait of addiction , desperation and regret that both narratively and stylistically harks back to the gritty character plays of the 1960s and early 1970s .", "it should allow audiences to see a different side of mendelsohn , and fully appreciate how effective reynolds can be in the right role", "MOV is a filmed series of lies , bad choices , and shaky attempts to get paid , all told through the texture , the soundtrack choices , and interesting casting .", "the movie is a snapshot collage of flyover america , but also , perhaps , an homage to the soon-to-be-lost world of brick-and-mortar gambling .", "the filmmakers know how to squeeze a lot from only a little narrative , mendelsohn once again proves he 's the reigning king of ne'er - do-wells and reynolds has never been better .", "winds up being that rare beast : the buddy comedy where you 're not tired of the buddies well before the credits roll .", "there 's enough fine acting in MOV to make one wish it was n't in service of such hoary clich\u00e9s and fanciful sad-sack drama .", "anna boden and ryan fleck have made a delightfully simple film that is now a rare american entertainment : a slow character piece driven by strong writing and good performances .", "putting a fresh spin on familiar themes , this character-driven drama is a confident bet .", "it offers layered characters , operating in a vivid world .", "the film is n't bad , but it relies a little too much on the here-and-now of the characters , with the result that we never really find out what put them on this desperate road .", "MOV captures the ecstasy of a good role of the dice and the desperation of a bad turn of the cards -- and provides a sense of why some keep going even when it becomes clear they 've lost their shot at a happy ending .", "both of these men have more shadings and unexpected , often hidden layers than we thought , and the actors reveal them in pieces , often at moments where you do n't expect to be surprised , much less confounded .", "when i think of this movie , i think of the subtlety in mendelsohn 's face - the camera close up - when he loses everything .", "gambling tales are a hard sell . but this one is on a lucky streak . great performances from ryan reynolds and ben mendelsohn .", "reynolds and mendelsohn work , and so MOV does , too .", "mendelsohn gives gerry more soul than simply a degenerate gambler . reynolds imbues curtis with an empathy that grounds his easy-quipping persona .", "whatever `` MOV '' lacks in efficiency , it makes up for it in pure observation .", "while it 's a bit of a slow burner , mendelsohn is so compelling , there 's really no need for things to speed up .", "as you 'd imagine with a southern road movie , MOV is steeped in atmosphere-both visual and musical , with much ripe barroom blues on the soundtrack and played live .", "ryan boden and anna fleck convey an engagingly low-key atmosphere , pervasive with wayward souls haunted by poor choices .", "without a pulse , the road-movie rhythms become monotonous -- and the references to 70s gambling pictures start to feel like affectations rather than commentary .", "MOV transcends its generic lovable-losers-on-a-bender plot by foregrounding exceptionally well-developed skid-row protagonists and weirdly charming dive-bar ambiance .", "there 's something depressingly predictable about gerry and curtis , well-meaning gents who ca n't stop screwing up . if their lives were more original , they would n't be in the mess they 're in .", "as an addiction story and road movie , MOV makes for a good character study that is perfectly content taking its time , as if its destination really is less important than its journey .", "great milieu , sharply-played characters , random , rambling and illogical story .", "as it turns out , i love california split so much that i did n't mind watching it again .", "... it 's perhaps a shame that `` MOV '' is ultimately too underwhelming to stake with any confidence .", "an enjoyable but not entirely successful road trip story of second chances and the fickle whims of fate .", "we do n't know what game these people are playing or where they 're ultimately going , but we enjoy the ride while it lasts .", "this is one of the better movies about the gambling culture in recent years .", "even as a road movie this is pretty bland .", "for the most part , their odd coupling works , each character propping up the other until their paths must inevitably diverge .", "a sweet , shambling , supremely enjoyable road movie about two compulsive gamblers of very different stripes , it could easily be confused for one of alexander payne 's wounded comedies , albeit one with higher stakes and a lower thread-count .", "among the virtues of `` MOV '' is an unpredictability that 's rare in movies these days . for much of the film , it 's unclear just where it 's going - and that 's just fine .", "`` MOV '' winds up being an improbably satisfying , even heartwarming character study .", "mendelsohn and reynolds are terrific , each wrapping himself up in the material like a well-worn favorite sweater .", "i 'm never one to call something ` a great american movie , ' but MOV really is .", "for an addiction drama it 's awfully watchable .", "a well-crafted and gritty tale of two compulsive gamblers ...", "this low-budget indie has a unique ambiance and surprising depth , both in the performances of its two leads and the writing/directing team of anna boden and ryan fleck .", "MOV '' ... may be a bit of a throwback to the lived-in , character-driven , landscape-besotted films of the 1970s , but it 's less a pastiche or a homage than the cinematic equivalent of a classic song , expertly covered .", "mendelsohn and reynolds share great screen chemistry ...", "the ambience of pool halls , honkytonks , backroom crap games and smelly racetracks where these guys live out their aimless days and nights is captured perfectly , lending a distinct air of hopelessness to their already rudderless lives .", "mendelsohn plays gerry as a stringy , sweaty hunk of pure desperation , while reynolds , as the ostensibly more stable partner , demonstrates yet again that he 's much more than a ridiculously pretty face .", "the tropes of gambling films are well-established , and writing/directing duo anna boden and ryan fleck are n't afraid to acknowledge those conventions in their newest and deeply human film .", "a nod to gritty '70s hollywood movies , but it 's not mere affectation . it gets something more essential about them .", "it 's so nice to have this fantastic filmmaking couple back and regaining their stride with such a different film for them .", "mendelsohn manages to make us simultaneously feel sorry for him and hope , against what seem like steep odds , that he somehow succeeds .", "discerning arthouse-goers will warm to the film 's superb performances , haunting sense of place and willingness to meander , as well as its sly rumination on the mysterious interplay of fate and friendship in shaping an individual 's destiny .", "a meandering road movie enriched by its fine-grained study of character and milieu , but somewhat lethargic and momentum-deprived in terms of narrative .", "a remarkably fully-realized portrait of a couple of losers , whose brand new friendship is forged over a poker table and plays out on a fool 's - errand road trip through some of the most seedily-picturesque pit stops in the u.s.", "though the film takes on the appearances of a road-trip movie or a buddy con-man comedy , it 's most successful as a piquant character study of a middle-aged loser , fantastically played by australian actor ben mendelsohn ." ], "summary": "well-acted and steeped in southern atmosphere , MOV is a road movie and addiction drama that transcends each of its well-worn genres .", "id": "771411954" }, { "movie": "meet_the_spartans", "reviews": [ "it 's only about an hour and a quarter long , although a closing dance number stretches it out another few minutes . brevity , it turns out , is also the soul of stupidity .", "MOV is a downtrodden cinematic vacuum -- a sickening , derivative , shallow , condescending , utterly worthless piece of ...", "do n't expect anything of depth and you wo n't be disappointed by this predigested pabulum .", "it aims to be a so-called spoof of 300 but only succeeds at being a commercial for idiocy .", "while there 's enough comedic material there for as many as three somewhat tolerable minutes of madtv , MOV gamely alternates between unfunny gay jokes and violent pratfalls for a good 80 minutes .", "is its purported idiocy put to a worthwhile use , or is this just another stale retreat of madtv ?", "jason friedberg and aaron seltzer , the team behind MOV , prove that ridiculing other movies is much easier than making your own .", "you could teach a college course on what not to do in a comedy by showing MOV .", "what 's the point of making a parody that 's dumber than the stuff it parodies ?", "lazy , lame and painfully unfunny .", "to devote an entire feature film to making fun of another film 's universally acknowledged gay subtext seems to me good cause for said filmmakers to have a sit-down with their muse , because somebody 's been sleeping on the job .", "one of the most painfully bad comedies i 've ever had to endure , and i 've seen the collected works of martin lawrence , tim allen , ice cube and cedric the entertainer", "MOV ca n't even get its fart jokes right . how incredibly sad is that ?", "... could n't get a laugh from a hyena .", "when the comedy revolution comes , jason friedberg and aaron seltzer will be the first ones shot .", "it 's rare that a movie makes me ill these days , and it 's rare that i can see a movie and hate the people behind it with such abhorrence , but `` MOV '' rises to the challenge ...", "this was the worst movie i 've ever seen , so bad that i hesitate to label it a ` movie ' and thus reflect shame upon the entire medium of film .", "the result in MOV is less classic mel brooks than middling best week ever .", "i 'm moving to europe .", "messrs. friedberg and seltzer make their annual locust-like descent on theaters leaving a trail of ruthlessly murdered brain cells in their wake .", "at the risk of praising with faint damning , MOV is n't the worst film i 've ever seen ; however , i 'm not suggesting that this feature-length parody of 300 is good in any way .", "witlessly crude and vulgar - it 's my first worst movies of 2008 contender .", "it 's mind-boggling to imagine that this witless , amateurish mess came from supposedly professional writers and directors .", "clocking in around 69 minutes total , MOV is not a movie . all involved should feel slightly ashamed .", "it 's a madtv or saturday night live sketch dressed up in feature-length clothing . it 's way too much of an ok thing . and the way-too-much-ness goes on and on .", "if you part ways with $ 12 for a ticket to see this thing -- that 's before parking and popcorn -- you 're barking mad .", "the musical number that runs during the closing credits is funnier than anything that precedes it , which is n't saying much .", "it 's so bad even carmen electra should be embarrassed .", "dumb , raunchy comedy is a tired spoof attempt .", "inane comedies can be fun when done well , but bad inane comedies are simply embarrassing . you feel pity for the actors making fools of themselves , and flabbergasted that a studio probably passed on making so many other more worthy projects instead .", "you only have to wait 5 seconds into the movie to get the first vomit joke , and if that does n't drive you out of the theater and on your way to see cloverfield again , nothing will .", "it is so bad that when it introduces a running gag involving blurred upskirt shots , you can almost hear the actors just out of camera range trying to get them to move the blurs up high enough to hide their faces as well", "frequently pauses to shower someone with vomit , pus , urine or excrement . it should be called meet the bodily fluids .", "ok , i get it now : aaron seltzer and jason friedberg are agents of satan himself , and their recruitment video is MOV ... a new low even for these diseased buffoons .", "writer-directors jason friedberg and aaron seltzer basically reprise the tired formula from their earlier efforts , which is to throw in as many pop culture references as possible to cover up the lack of any real wit .", "speaking of youtube , let me save you 65 minutes . go to the website , type in united 300 , and see a far funnier , far more clever 300 spoof that 's only five minutes long . from last spring .", "until the mainstream produces some films undeserving of idiot violation , the idiot violation represented by MOV -- a xerox of absolute zero -- will be par for the course .", "perhaps the most oft-quoted line from 300 is `` tonight , we dine in hell ! '' chowing down on a box of butterfinger minis during a screening of MOV , you will truly understand what that line means .", "this is supposed to be a spoof of ' 300 . ' but ` MOV ' is n't a satire of anything . it 's just a bunch of body-function-based skits that randomly feature scenes from movies and television shows -- and not a single one of them is laugh-inducing", "obviously , it 's rubbish .", "everybody should be ashamed", "besides the few chuckles i had , the movie was just dreadfully bad .", "a bizarre , leering orgy of celebrity crotches , lowbrow horny gay buffoons in leather , moronic gladiator mayhem , and too-much-information cascading bodily fluids galore .", "it 's not very good at all , but i did manage to laugh at some moments of sudden pratfalls and comic violence , but the talkshow reference mentality has to go !", "while still not a grand work of art , MOV improves upon the formula established in the earlier parodies of friedberg and seltzer .", "what does it say about a film with an hour running time that has twenty minutes of outtakes after the credits to reach theatrical length ? very little that 's positive .", "because this movie was written for 10-year-olds , it assumes that those 10-year-olds are the stupidest 10-year-olds alive .", "MOV ? for those unlucky enough to be lured into the cinema , there 's every chance you 'll be wanting to meet your maker instead ." ], "summary": "a tired , unfunny , offensive waste of time , MOV scrapes the bottom of the cinematic barrel .", "id": "770680135" }, { "movie": "nights_in_rodanthe", "reviews": [ "there are not enough actual scenes to keep us sufficiently engaged to care about the third-act event that changes their destiny .", "me , i found a few things to like and much to loathe .", "imagine picking up a book , reading a couple of pages and then skipping ahead a couple of chapters . the connection between these two characters came out of nowhere .", "sensitive and sentimental - bring tissue , it 's a weeper .", "... a cinematic engine design to elicit cheap emotional responses instead of earning them through deep characterization and well thought out plotting .", "it 's no wonder the faithful continue to forsake the movies , given junky embarrassments like MOV .", "about those MOV : they 're about as steamy as a cup of tea .", "it 's very neat , and i do n't mean that as a compliment .", "this windstorms of north carolina counties is so overwrought and harlequin-ed that only the most susceptible of spinsters or inexperienced poetry majors will fall for its faux passions .", "a romantic drama that is plagued by artificiality .", "while it may be discerned as more a vehicle for the actors ' reunion than a creative gem , the contributive factor to its attractiveness is the chemistry of the match .", "a movie that looks and sounds a whole lot bigger than it actually is .", "... the film ultimately earns a place for itself within the pantheon of effectively stirring romantic tearjerkers .", "so nondescript that its anonymity becomes its very personality .", "the actors once again work well together , but they should have quit when they were ahead .", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a harlequin novel with a pack of tissues shoved into the back cover .", "even if you are rooting for this film to succeed , you find yourself sitting through the tear-jerking part of the movie without feeling terribly wrapped up in it .", "you could have filmed zombies in a gorgeous 19th century beach house and gotten the same emotional impact .", "bring tissues .", "diane lane and the tuscan countryside prove to be a more dynamic duo than diane lane and the outer banks .", "rodanthe is the death valley of erotic illusion .", "it 's an increasingly rare pleasure to see two naturally aging adults onscreen , and it 's not exactly hard work to watch this still-gorgeous pair fall in love . especially if you 're overdue for a little vacation from reality yourself .", "the story needs rage and poetry and red-blooded sensuality , and we get respectable stodginess .", "MOV aims straight for the tear ducts as well , but this weepie is a dry well .", "this movie works so strenuously to satisfy its target audience 's every desire that it 's a minor surprise that the filmmakers did n't provide cashmere blankets , a snuggly pair of slippers and a warm cup of cocoa for everyone entering the theater .", "richard gere and diane lane engage themselves fully with the flimsy material , making their one-note characters engaging , sympathetic and always perfectly coiffed , even in the face of gale-force winds .", "the dialogue alone in MOV made me choke back tears . it 's like being pepper-sprayed that way .", "some of us could happily watch diane lane reading the congressional record . but there are limits to that devotion . like MOV .", "this romantic stinker is one of those films in which every plot development becomes a life lesson and every gesture is weighted with significance .", "too tepid and too predictable of a picture to simply sail away into the sunset .", "for 94 minutes women -lrb- at least middle-aged women -rrb- can drink in gere and men -lrb- of all ages -rrb- can gaze at lane -lrb- whose beauty makes me gasp for air -rrb- . what 's wrong with that ?", "provides earnest human connections and palpable heartache .", "... a goopy , disjointed weepie elevated ever so slightly by the reteaming of `` unfaithful '' costars gere and lane .", "close-ups were invented for lane 's rare beauty , inside and out . we feel that it is her spirit as an actress and a character illuminating this story .", "more effective as a piece of house porn than cinematic drama ...", "this is a grown up love story for those of us who have been singed by love , but still want to believe in cupid 's magical powers .", "where is dutch schultz and his meat fork when you need them ?", "a movie needs a reason to exist other than to wring tears out of overemotional people .", "the central performances are solid -- but they 'd have to be , to make something this rote and formulaic come even close to working .", "okay , look : everybody has got to stop crying .", "it 's the sort of film , frankly , one either utterly succumbs to or stubbornly resists , and those opting for the former course should n't be disappointed .", "marking richard gere and diane lane 's third teaming , wolfe 's romantic drama lacks style and distinction , but takes advantage of the stars ' maturity and their chemistry .", "a classy tearjerker with butter-cream frosting , raised to the level of -lrb- maybe undeserved -rrb- artistry by the convincing sincerity and no-nonsense honesty of diane lane .", "`` MOV '' is a passable tearjerker for aging women , but less so for the rest of us .", "many critics will no doubt tar this film with the dreaded `` lifetime movie '' epithet , but i 'd venture a bit further -- MOV is the world 's longest general foods international coffee commercial .", "nicholas sparks 's novels are to harlequin romances as international coffees are to nescaf\u00e9 : marketed as having a little dash of class , they 're still ersatz java .", "there 's little room for genuine emotion in this turgid romantic fantasy adapted from a novel by slop-meister nicholas sparks .", "director george c. wolfe 's overly-crafted adaptation of the nicholas sparks novel is a bit much . but the two leads are so charismatic that they manage to sell the material far more than it deserves .", "redolent of the schmaltziest weepies of a half-century or more ago ... strong evidence for the proposition that nicholas sparks must have been fannie hurst in an earlier life .", "whiffs on both sentiment and misery . it may be that there 's no spark here because there 's too much sparks here .", "a flawed but occasionally affecting film .", "the movie version of nights begins with such promise before it drowns in the romance novelist 's syrupy sentimentality .", "by no fault of lane and gere 's , MOV turns out to be an evening of disappointment at the movies .", "a ten hanky movie that ends up being just enough to make a nice noose for yourself after sitting through such an inexcusably downer ending .", "even keepers of the sparks flame are likely to have their spirits dampened by the wind-rattled , diane lane and richard gereencrusted adaptation of MOV .", "you would pretty much have to be sentimental to tolerate such schlock , or at least be willing to check your cynicism at the multiplex door .", "you will get exactly what you are expecting . more or less , in any event . more in the case of the film 's heart ; less in the case of the last reel , when the storyline and execution dissolves into buckets of schmaltz .", "most of the movie was cloying . all of it was predictable .", "something about diane lane 's performance , especially in that third act , really got me involved in the film emotionally .", "you can make a good movie out of schmaltz . this is n't one of them .", "a singularly unsuccessful look at mature love .", "while not for the cynical or hard-of-heart , MOV is something of a rarity : a film that puts its characters first .", "strictly for romantic masochists . enough tears in the final reel to fill a hollywood producer 's swimming pool .", "i will say this about MOV : spoken nicholas sparks is preferable to written nicholas sparks .", "if the story is a dreary one , it is elevated by the star brio of gere and lane .", "you know , s ometimes a movie is worth it just because of its texture .", "weepy romance is tame but may not interest teens .", "until movie theaters offer the same comforting , carefree mindset as sand and surf , beach reading wo n't truly translate to the big screen .", "one of this year 's most stirring romances , adroitly manipulative , yes , but never condescending .", "the movie attempts to jerk tears with one clunky device after another , in a plot that is a perfect storm of cliche and contrivance .", "there 's nothing like a good tearjerker . unfortunately , MOV is n't a good tearjerker , although the characters on-screen shed tears and the movie is pretty jerky .", "MOV is typical nicholas sparks fare that has been turned into a tasteful melodrama courtesy of the easy chemistry between its two leads and a generally restrained touch from tony-winning director george c. wolfe in his feature debut .", "fans of weepy romances will dig it ; the rest of us would prefer a battle with mutant , killer rats .", "MOV , the latest screen adaptation of a nicholas sparks story , is a picture smothered in syrupy excess .", "rodanthe is a reliably steamy stormy sultry story about inner change at the outer banks where strangers become intimates .", "kept animated by the superior work of the cast , who take the surface mentality of the source material and make it a deeply felt , agreeably tragic romantic experience . rodanthe is obvious , but it 's very effective .", "lane and gear ensure that MOV is never less than watchable , but it 's scuppered by an overly sentimental script and fails to deliver the required emotional punch .", "the word formulaic does n't quite cover it , but our two leads just about hold their heads above a tidal surge of sappy plotting , contrived dialogue and choppy editing .", "the comparative savvy that wolfe showed in hbo 's stage-to-tv transfer of lackawanna blues has gone missing .", "even though it is competently mounted , MOV 's unrestrained sentimentality will no doubt make many girlfriends swoon even as it makes their boyfriends squirm uncomfortably .", "indoors , there is elegant if unconvincing emotional drama you can see coming from half a mile down the beach , with very little com to lighten the rom .", "as homespun as a crocheted teacosy ; as folksy as an heirloom patchwork quilt and as manufactured as reproduction shaker furniture - that 's MOV .", "it ticks the right boxes to be a hit - the tear jerking aspect being key to the word of mouth - but it 's a movie that rarely breaks out of it 's average confines .", "i 'd hoped the lathered-up romanticism of MOV would stop me from thinking about the awfulness of what 's going on in the world . it did n't ; it compounded it .", "just about provides the goods as a romantic weepie but not the best sparks adaptation .", "broadway director george c wolfe 's inexperience with visual storytelling makes everything go with a clunk . shame .", "everything is painfully set up and contrived , while almost none of it seems even passingly real . in its favor , however , the movie looks good and the stars are appealing .", "a modern-day romance between two mature people .", "though the leads are attractive . the plot collapses under the weight of its ridiculous circumstances .", "this is one of those unapologetic , tear-jerking romances . there 's nothing really wrong with that , but it occasionally lays things on a little thick when it should have been holding back .", "a tad clunky and sappy and yes , even hokey . but , the picture still works . i was always engaged , i was always interested in what happened next , and i was always entertained .", "this involving movie ultimately succumbs to a severe case of the weepies , as we know it must", "grief is trotted out and cheaply exploited in order to burnish instant love with faux-realism ... and then the ending -- where we 're told that we not only can but must believe in love , and life , again . who knew a romance could be so depressingly cynical ?", "it 's like the bridges of madison county with more shouting , only not nearly as good . no surprises whatsoever , but nice scenery , attractive stars and another credible , affecting performance from lane that hoiks it up an extra star .", "it 's the film of a lifetime ... cable network .", "richard gere 's latest is the sort of weepy that gets shown on daytime tv in between the over-50s life insurance ads .", "despite stretches of credulity in the plot , the on-screen chemistry between gere and lane carries the movie .", "i was pretty well braced for everything to come , but man , that scene with the daughter at the end still got me . damn you , nicholas sparks , and your magical tear jerking super powers !", "... lifetime television with a steven spielberg budget .", "sure its soapy and saccharine but that is exactly what nicholas sparks ' fans want", "typical sparks formula : difficult circumstances , unlikely love , delirious joy , gut-wrenching tragedy , and redemptive moral . unfortunately , this film does n't deliver the goods .", "richard gere and diane lane are swathed in so much cheese in MOV , this weepy story should unfold in wisconsin instead of a tiny strip of land off the coast of north carolina .", "another sappy soap opera for nicholas sparks fans satisfied by panoramic seascapes offset intermittently by lingering interludes of dysfunctional strangers locking lips and loins .", "perfectly calibrated to jerk tears with the precision of the atomic clock at the u.s. naval observatory , and with the irresistible insistence of an industrial grade milking machine", "nice performances ca n't save this dull movie from its bum script .", "` MOV ' serves up too much manipulated sentimentality for my taste , even though i admit being incurably romantic most of the time .", "though the stars are likable and attractive , the movie is a melodramatic and soppy affair .", "what really sells this three-hanky tear-jerker -- and there were a lot of women buying it during a recent screening -- is lane 's steely and vulnerable performance . like tinker bell , she almost made me believe in fairies . almost .", "i imagine that the nicholas sparks fan base is going to eat this movie up . however , for myself , it was one of the most boring movies of the year .", "MOV starts slow , stalls in the middle , and by the time the tragedy hits , a slideshow with still photographs set to music would seem faster .", "when the script veers into sparks ' slap-in-the-face melodrama , including two natural disasters , the movie drowns in corn syrup .", "... -lsb- a -rsb- moping melodramatic malaise . ridiculously artificial in its cupid-driven cornucopia of sketchy endearment . -lsb- rodanthe -rsb- has the forceful flair of an unlit wax candle .", "the major highlight is the awkward , out-of-step dialogue between lane and gere as their budding relationship morphs from wariness to friendliness to love .", "this is one of the increasingly rare hollywood films that treat people in middle age as though their feelings were just as intense and their needs just as valid as those of people half their age .", "richard gere suffers less than diane lane . he gets by with a mixture of skill and self-irony . she acts up a storm in every scene , but you root for the hurricane .", "vomit inducing , treacly nonsense .", "the movie around lane and gere is unreal , a tortured construct , but they open a breathing space in its center .", "even though their clinches are n't sexy , gere and lane still make an extremely attractive pair . they seem to fit together , whether dancing or just talking .", "despite the basic likability of the stars , that crucial chemistry is not sizzling or even hugely compelling , their situation seems slightly contrived and the movie is somehow not half as emotionally involving as it needs to be .", "the film tastefully yet unenergetically chugs along .", "MOV is a soap opera , for sure , but it 's a beautifully-acted one and director george c. wolfe revels in the story 's swoony lushness .", "cinematically unexciting but a welcome glimpse at the complications of life after age 40 .", "painfully maudlin and cliched .", "no character in this turbulent sea of love crashing on the shores of misfortune is any more developed than they are in sparks ' potboiler .", "i can kind-of , sort-of see how this story might work as a novel . bad dialogue does n't sound as howlingly awful when not spoken aloud . idiotic plot contrivances do n't seem as painful and obvious .", "this is n't a movie : it 's a feature-length ralph lauren commercial ." ], "summary": "derivative and schmaltzy , nicholas sparks ' MOV is strongly mottled by contrivances that even the charisma of stars diane lane and richard gere ca n't repair .", "id": "770682010" }, { "movie": "courage_under_fire", "reviews": [ "it 's well-appointed , well acted , tells a coherent story , has all the necessary pieces in place . but it never involves the viewer emotionally . it never thrills .", "a riveting contemporary wartime melodrama .", "the whole thing is just pointless , coming off as propaganda , glamorizing war and the military .", "MOV is as profound and intelligent as it is moving , and that makes this memorable motion picture one of 1996 's best .", "i heartily recommend it , especially for the great performances by matt damon , in his first major role , and lou diamond phillips .", "at the end of MOV , you feel torn between admiration and annoyance with the filmmakers , who take an attention-grabbing premise and skillfully develop it into a conclusion that 's pure piffle .", "the film is driven by washington 's remarkable , burning performance .", "an extremely moving picture that left me with my heart racing and my arms clutching myself and staring at the screen .", "denzel washington has been playing well-balanced and in-control characters for quite a while and it is nice to see him playing a man with some serious emotional problems .", "it is the kind of film which satisfies even as it leaves you suspecting that the scope should have been narrowed .", "predictable , yet eminently watchable .", "a confused gulf war flick adopting the structure of `` rashomon , '' the sentimentality of `` love story , '' and the souls of hollywood hacks .", "for meg ryan this was opportunity to shed her image of romantic comedies queen and play some serious role for a change .", "washington 's inherent gravity anchors his troubled and troublesome character , and ryan , whom we 'd all but written off as a perpetual pom-pom girl , takes on an atypical role and acquits herself , well , honorably .", "the sharp-edged script by patrick sheane duncan offers a challenging structure , ala rashamon , to examine issues of courage and truth , but unfortunately the story is never fully realized .", "a fascinating mystery mixed with war action .", "bold and visionary movie that dare to make the pursuit of truth into a spiritual quest .", "i was n't particularly moved or riveted with suspense .", "underrated war flick with a surprisingly effective performance by meg ryan", "denzel washington reinforces his image as a serious leading man who dominates a film with his quiet intensity and aura of introspection .", "despite its underlying predictability , MOV manages warmth , intelligence and a healthy share of surprises .", "a provocative film with oscar caliber performances . -lrb- published 7-19-96 -rrb-", "denzel washington gives as fine a performance as i have seen him give .", "as the detective-story flashback structure gets under way , what initially seemed adherence to dramatic and moral clich\u00e9 becomes more complex and interesting .", "a carefully conceived , dramatically honorable picture that treats its subject with clarity and intelligence , especially by contemporary standards .", "military drama deploys plenty of violence , swearing .", "excellent military mystery . rashomon style point of view play .", "when -lsb- washington 's -rsb- long pent-up emotions finally break through the surface , the result is at once exhilarating and heartbreaking .", "part rashomon , part the caine mutiny , the first major-studio film to deal with 1991 's desert storm not only captures the terror of battle but also its wrenching aftermath .", "zwick pulls off the trick of making each story plausible , while ryan successfully sheds her usual overmannered acting style and turns in a solid , if fleeting , performance as a no-nonsense , leathery woman .", "MOV does an admirable job of trying to capture the often painful process of soldiers trying to make sense of their experiences upon their return from the war .", "a downright entertaining combo or mystery , melodrama and action adventure .", "instead of the expected dose of post-traumatic vietnam-type war-is-hell psycho-babbling , this is a compelling drama and mystery story in one , and still intelligent enough to carry its share of wartime demons and semi-meaningful issue-making .", "MOV packs its share of emotional punches while it 's unfolding . it 's just that the blows do n't leave any bruises to dwell on once the final credits begin rolling .", "gag-me - with-a - spoon patriotism is served up with explosions galore in the first gulf war propaganda vehicle .", "it looks like washington will get an oscar nomination for his performance in this film .", "the end of the film understandably lays on the emotion a little heavily , but until then MOV has been a fascinating emotional and logistical puzzle .", "although MOV perplexes just enough to be engaging , it does n't probe deep enough to be truly enthralling .", "while its re-creation of combat is not MOV 's most involving aspect , the film succeeds in making the gulf war seem more of a real event than all the footage shipped back on cnn could .", "MOV honors its subject and its audience .", "well-structured war tale with star turns by washington and ryan .", "MOV , like the double meaning of its title , is subtle in ways , but is a powerful depiction of the meaning of courage .", "steven rosenblum 's editing is excellent , smoothly uniting present and past , articulating individual scenes alertly ." ], "summary": "an emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons . effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath .", "id": "16796" }, { "movie": "bedtime_stories", "reviews": [ "sandler , it turns out , is great with kids .", "sloppy , choppy , and saved by an affably low-key and typically sophomoric sandler performance .", "a likable but thin disney vehicle for adam sandler that will play best for preteens .", "those other adam sandler comedies ? turns out they were the grown-up efforts .", "MOV champions imagination while having too little originality itself .", "it 's little nicky-awful .", "the new disney movie MOV presents a taste test for moviegoers : do you prefer your adam sandler regular strength or in the new mild format ?", "it 's a dispirited , galumphing mess in which sandler , as a hotel handyman who spins out tall tales for his niece and nephew , pictures himself in assorted historical-kitsch guises .", "MOV is not my cup of tea . even the saucer . fairness requires me to report , however , that it may appeal to , as they say , ` kids of all ages . '", "MOV is baloney on wonder bread with a kraft single and some miracle whip -- barely lunchable .", "MOV is n't sandler 's best movie , nor is it his worst ; it 's just perfectly harmless fun that the kids will probably love just a little bit more than their parents .", "once upon a time-passer .", "MOV is like watching a michel gondry movie rewritten and directed by uwe boll .", "adam shankman 's idea of directing a walt disney film is to pump toxic quantities of schmaltz into every available hole . not a pleasant sight .", "box-office commodity adam sandler is repositioned as kid-friendly in MOV , a disney movie that plays better on a balance sheet than a screen .", "sandler 's mischievous heart just does n't belong in a straight-up kid zone like MOV , especially one with a script that does n't elevate beyond the expected .", "MOV is clean enough to fly the walt disney pictures flag , yet it 's full of bimbos and cleavage and shots of adam sandler getting kicked in the shins by a dwarf .", "the novelization of the screenplay probably would make a pretty decent bedtime story .", "it takes two bad genres -- live-action disney dreck and lowest-common-denominator sandler humor -- and blends them into one unfunny mess .", "for parents who are n't sandler fans , MOV may seem like just another dumb comedy that their kids will drag them to over the holidays .", "as family fare goes ... distinctly middle-grade . it wo n't put you to sleep , but it 's not likely to enchant you either .", "the film does have some nice moments , but the plot is underdeveloped and overstuffed . MOV is not nearly as funny or magical as it could have -- and should have -- been .", "kids will have the best time , because the comedy is geared toward them and they wo n't remember the sandler who would n't sleepwalk through roles .", "once upon a time there was a movie studio that tried to make a hit with a guy best known for raunchy slacker comedies . this story does not turn out happily ever after .", "when it comes to holiday tales , it would be best to reread the night before christmas rather than waste time or money on MOV .", "MOV tries to be charming and whimsical , but while charm and whimsy , like love , can be helped by great sums of money , charm and whimsy , like love , can not be created by great sums of money .", "there is one big sandler moment , when he discovers how to use a sandwich to brush his teeth . but i 'll pass on the cinderfella part , where instead of shoes , he promises to stick around ` like the stink on your feet . ' nose clips , please .", "MOV is n't meant for us -lrb- adults -rrb- . you know you 're not the target audience if , when it starts raining gum balls , you do n't think about eating them . you think about whether or not they would dent your car .", "adam shankman 's holiday adventure has a big central concept and next to no desire to follow through on reasonably -- much less fully -- exploiting it .", "judged as a piece of family entertainment , it 's too haphazard and poorly paced to satisfy viewers too young to have ever attended a kegger .", "MOV lacks the required thrills , imagination , comedy and drama required to be a truly entertaining family film .", "guy pearce abra\u00e7a o embara\u00e7o com toda a vontade , mas nem isso salva esta porcaria constrangedoramente mal escrita , atuada e dirigida do fracasso . um filme de adam sandler para crian\u00e7as : algu\u00e9m alerte a unicef .", "there 's nothing fresh in sandler 's role that you have n't seen in almost every movie he 's ever done -- the same mumbly , underachiever-schlub notes he 's been hitting for years , only taken down a notch for his first pg-rated comedy .", "a family-friendly adam sandler movie that , even with its strained plot developments , is tame without being lame .", "if you are forced to attend , then at least MOV is tolerable , and occasionally fun -- when it forgets to be dumb .", "... ultimately comes off as the most entertaining adam sandler comedy to hit theaters since 2004 's 50 first dates ...", "enjoyable , silly and a wee bit whimsical . it 's also treacherously predictable at times , the two leads lack chemistry and it has the token horrible rob schneider cameo .", "the real charm of MOV is how it works as a family film .", "given that sandler 's main appeal has always been to the 12-year-old in all of us , it probably makes sense for him to aim his movies directly at that age group .", "a big step backward for director adam shankman -lrb- ` hairspray ' -rrb- .", "MOV just makes me wish i 'd put the hour and a half of mine it wasted to better use napping .", "parental content review", "i was so exhausted by sandler 's rubbery-face-and-funny-voices schtick , that no amount of good-natured moralizing about the importance of family and love was going to have any effect on me .", "at least he 's not flinging vomit at anybody ...", "in MOV the pain of this artistic limbo is written all over adam sandler 's character , a resentful hotel handyman named skeeter .", "the script for this childish comedy is genuinely witty , and nicely played by the cast , but it would have been much more enjoyable if the plot had been a bit more innovative . or if it actually went somewhere .", "all director adam shankman can think of to do is encourage adam sandler to mug like a chimpanzee", "about as delightful as peeking into your christmas stocking and finding it empty except for a few lint-covered peppermints .", "boasts a great idea about MOV that come to life the next day , so it 's a shame this film fails to be enjoyable for all age groups .", "an imaginative idea that 's never fully developed .", "you can put the disney name on it . you can hire big-time , serious stars for it . you can call it ` family-friendly . ' but ` MOV ' still is garbage , a la adam sandler .", "it 's no wonder when sandler vows , `` i 'm like the stink of your feet . i 'll always be around , '' you just might cringe and shout , `` where 's dr. scholl ? ''", "it 's a sweet kids movie and i commend sandler for trying something different in his career .", "i did n't like one part of this movie .", "if you listen carefully to the strains of ` when you wish upon a star ' during the disney corporate intro , you may hear walt moaning in his grave .", "sandler 's laziness , sloppiness , and cynical pandering are all over MOV , and it turns what 's intended to be a graceful intersection of fairytale whimsy and real-world slapstick into an ugly , head-on collision .", "a great idea gets lost amid unfunny , obnoxious antics and more mugging than in 1970s new york in this ham-fisted children 's comedy from adam sandler .", "for prepubescent kids , MOV will be a perfectly enjoyable work -- a pg-rated introduction to a heralded comic actor trying to inspire a new generation of adam sandler fans .", "sandler 's innocence about what goes on in the real world is sort of charming , and so is his willingness to make mainstream comedies that are slightly offbeat", "it 's pleasant and wo n't ruffle the nerves of any stressed-out parents .", "leading man sandler has done street-smart goofball a million times over , but the guy also knows how to play emotion .", "richard griffiths best gets the antic spirit of this enterprise , relishing his multiple roles as sandler 's phobic boss and several fantasy characters .", "that skeeter benefits from what he does for his niece and nephew is an object lesson in responsibility and benevolence -- and it blesses the audience , too .", "it 's a delightfully innocent movie that the actor can actually show to his two baby daughters without blushing .", "despite its flaws , MOV has the charming , giggly spirit of an imaginative toddler .", "continuing on this trajectory , the much-maligned funnyman probably will create yet another generation of fans . and maybe even another generation of haters .", "russell brand is absurd , funny and wonderfully out of place in a family movie . and hello : crazy pop-eyed animated guinea pig alert !", "after sitting through this fractious fairy tale , we feel as plucked as a christmas goose .", "an innocuous but haphazard family comedy that seems less crafted for children than dreamed up by a team of them .", "for a creative premise , it 's downright dispiriting to see such a banal interpretation .", "the twitchy anxiety that once powered his persona has given way to a doughy anonymity .", "adam sandler tones down his normally racy humor effectively , but the lightweight story is a one-note sidestep .", "everyone knows sandler can be grossly funny ; this movie proves he can be family friendly funny", "the very definition of a disposable , kid-quieting fluff , done in a predictably sandler way -lrb- read : watch out for rob schneider 's umpteenth variation on the ` you can do it ! ' schtick -rrb- .", "part live action , part animation , MOV is relentlessly silly , kept buoyant by sandler 's zany cheer .", "it 's a little odd that making a film for children has almost made adam sandler grow up .", "sandler tames his jokes for family-friendly fantasy flick .", "a fun idea turns into a so-so comedy thanks to an unappealing hero and variable performances from the well-known cast .", "in MOV adam sandler gives his most bearable performance yet .", "the moments of imagination are great for children .", "harmless , sure -- but also needless .", "in a modern-day fairy tale about hopes , aspirations and family , sandler displays a winning form under the light and mischievous direction of bringing down the house 's adam shankman .", "-lsb- c -rsb- heap and lazy and obvious ...", "while kids will get a few giggles out of this scattershot disney fantasy-comedy , adults probably wo n't find much to laugh at .", "sandler has delivered on his promise to make a movie his kids can enjoy . what 's more , he 's managed to do so without alienating his core audience .", "there may once have been a charming idea at the heart of MOV , but alas , whatever it might have been has been sandler-ized . and not for your protection .", "the shortage of wit and the excess of goo can be summed up in sandler 's line to these children of divorce : ` i 'm like the stink on your feet -- i 'll always be there . '", "director adam shankman -lrb- hairspray -rrb- keeps the colorful proceedings moving along at a brisk pace and the film looks good overall despite the less-than-impressive visual effects .", "the message here is that your future is only as big as your dream , but i 'm not rooting for sandler on his road to redemption .", "if you like adam sandler 's loud and bawdy style -lrb- or lack of it -rrb- , you will warm to this lively and undemanding fable that reminds us we are limited only by our imagination", "an enormous amount of money has been thrown at the fantasy sequences , but it ca n't save a script that is woefully deficient in wit . and who better to drag the name of disney through the mire than sandler ?", "this sweet-natured family comedy makes for great entertainment , balancing adventure thrills with a hefty dose of laughter .", "far from another jumanji , any magic director shankman tries to inject is squashed by sandler 's distressingly annoying turn , while russell brand and keri russell look uncomfortably crowbarred in .", "it descends into pathos , undermined by an insipid romantic subplot and the usual platitudinous guff about self-belief .", "a potentially interesting movie that comes crashing down as hard as that proverbial beanstalk .", "i 've seen better special effects in troma releases ...", "there 's a surface liveliness to the movie , but it has that plasticky disney quality and lack of real heart .", "with the right material - think the day-glo campery of hairspray - director adam shankman is capable of good things . here you get the distinct impression there 's not enough room to accommodate sandler 's ego .", "appalling , hypocritical and dull . imagine not watching this movie , then make that wish come true .", "it 's a pleasing concept , and sandler is at his least obnoxious , but surely adam shankman 's family comedy could have been wittier ." ], "summary": "though it may earns some chuckles from pre-teens , this kid-friendly adam sandler comedy is uneven , poorly paced , and lacks the requisite whimsy to truly work .", "id": "770680576" }, { "movie": "1010679-invasion_of_the_body_snatchers", "reviews": [ "-lsb- philip -rsb- kaufman 's version persuasively asserts its right to life as an imaginative reflection of our time ...", "on top of being an engrossing conspiracy thriller in step with the gritty urban tales of the time , the MOV is also a genuinely creepy film which slyly suggests there is something sinister beneath the surface .", "MOV validates the entire concept of remakes .", "siegel gave the frissons classical sharpness while kaufman goes for baroque erudition", "set at the intersection of post-vietnam paranoia and the myopic introspection that became hippiedom 's most lasting cultural contribution , the philip kaufman-directed invasion alternates social commentary with impeccably crafted scares .", "if not quite as great as its predecessor , still a pretty damn fine genre picture .", "a superior sci-fi thriller that makes even raindrops , plants and electrical cords take on sinister life .", "it 's not only the best of the four films based on jack finney 's story , but also one of the best films of the 1970s .", "ideas that siegel knocked off in a few shots are expanded to fill entire sequences -- but they 're good ideas , and can stand a little stretching .", "the dog with a human head rocks !", "this will read less like a review and more like a valentine , but this is a very , very special film , a forgotten classic of the '70s cinema .", "this intelligent remake of the 1956 original still inspires dread of turning into pod people .", "personally i think this version to be superior to the original and to be much underrated by both critics and audiences .", "-lsb- kaufman -rsb- weaves an increasingly sinister cityscape through prowling camerawork and a highly effective stereo score .", "the screenplay by w.d. richter builds at a deliberate pace , and within the first half hour we 're already disturbed by the almost imperceptible behavior of those who have been snatched .", "deve ser encarado como aquilo que realmente \u0439 : um terrorzinho-fic\u0437\u0433o cient\u043dfica descomprometido com a l\u0443gica e preocupado em manter o p\u044ablico acordado por 2 horas .", "the film collapses midway -- because of unsure and sloppy direction , splintered story continuity , and the overacting of adams , cartwright , and others .", "for once , a great remake , smartly executed . great performances and a killing ending that will stay with you forever ca n't hurt , either .", "good remake of the 1956 film with direction that bogs in superfluous touches .", "ending still freaks me out . i 'm serious , even twenty-five years later . stop laughing at me .", "... what if the mask of your neighbor tilts for a second and you catch a glimpse of the riot going on behind his face ?", "kaufman here turns in his most movie brattish film , but soft-pedals on both his special effects and knowing in-jokiness in a way that puts de palma to shame .", "not as terrifying as the original , but still a shocker .", "a cerebral and suspenseful film of foreboding atmosphere . on a short list of truly outstanding remakes .", "there 's a little something extra in virtually every frame of MOV , philip kaufman 's dazzling remake of one of the cleverest of horror classics .", "utterly chilling", "scary at the time , campy fun now", "invasions of the body snatchers speaks to our national paranoia amd intrigues us with its craftiness .", "inspired remake of 1950s classic", "this terrific remake never lets the audience forget that it should be frightened .", "it was always going to be hard to better don siegel 's 1956 classic , and if director philip kaufman does n't quite succeed , he does manage to summon up an equally chilling air of paranoia .", "gives remakes a good name .", "very entertaining , and despite the by now over familiar-plot , pleasantly suspenseful .", "all the tension and scariness of the original has gone and in its place is a bit of floppy old cabbage . see the fifties version if you can .", "remakes of grand old films are to be discouraged , but director philip kaufman gets away with this one on style and verve .", "one of the best remakes ever", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- thematically , the film 's allegory regarding viral-groupthink has plenty of wiggle-room for interpretation because it is so profoundly vague yet universal .", "one of the great sci-fi horrorshows , a movie that gooses you with its premise , makes you laugh and jump , and ultimately leaves you with something you ca n't quite shake", "this film wants to have it both ways : to have a more urbane , more `` important '' scope than the original , and yet retain some of its inexpensive intimacy as well ." ], "summary": "employing gritty camerawork and evocative sound effects , MOV is a powerful remake that expands upon themes and ideas only lightly explored in the original .", "id": "10738" }, { "movie": "terminator_4", "reviews": [ "terminated .", "the story is straightforward without being boring . the characters are fully realized .", "the emotional element takes a backseat to the special effects , but terminator salvation is pulpy and fun as a rousing summer diversion , and more than respectable for being the fourth part in a twenty-five-year-old series .", "all the opportunities for spectacle , thrills , and momentum are tossed aside in favor of a whole bunch of none-too-intense yelling from christian bale and an endless retread of the old cyborg gambit : how human are they ? and can they be trusted ?", "is n't the worst movie of the mythos but it sure is the lamest .", "an at times directionless plot and some one-dimensional characters -lrb- one actress is simply around to appear pregnant it seems -rrb- , but loads of action and loud explosions . you were n't expecting more than that , were you ?", "... without the continuing presence of arnold and without any notable relationships , the movie is mostly noisy , blaring battles .", "though the set design , action sequences and special effects are very good to great , it 's hard to think of terminator salvation as anything other than a wasted chance .", "as a lifelong fan of giant killer robots , it saddens me to say it . but sometimes giant killer robots are n't enough .", "terminator salvation leaves me thinking it 's a rock solid post-apocalyptic action picture that bends over backwards to make itself fit to a pre-existing mythology .", "solemn and ash-hued", "... it 's hard to get too excited about yet another extension of the series ' fairly joyless mythology , even if it qualifies as an otherwise well-executed and engaging summer blockbuster .", "it 's the script . it 's the entire premise on which the film is built that 's at fault and there 's really nothing the movie 's one-named director mcg could have done to fix that .", "few characters ever say more than a couple of sentences at a time , and when they do , it 's often to assert the obvious .", "fails because it does n't really get you excited about the return of the franchise ... and a lot of that comes down to the cheesy writing and bad acting .", "does n't amount to a hill of screws .", "it brings me very little joy to report that this version of the popular terminator franchise is silly , obtuse , and pointless .", "missing is cameron 's signature action modification , best exploited in aliens : the strapping female heroine . mcg 's testosterone-juiced world feels a little doomed without her .", "bangs and clangs and has some impressive effects , but it seems to have forgotten one thing : these movies used to be giddy , rock 'em , sock 'em fun . this one is just plain grim .", "this franchise , like its villains , has become more machine than man .", "that the film 's overall basic point has already been conveyed by the closing lines of t2 some 18 years ago shows just how completely superfluous this cash grab is .", "everything that made the terminator films great is absent in this film . the violence , the terror , the basic fear is gone ... in this film , children defeat a terminator .", "once the screeching din has died down , you wo n't recall a single line of dialogue , note of music or plot point that was n't punctuated with an explosion .", "`` terminator salvation '' could almost pass as a sequel to `` mad max , '' which goes to show just how everyone involved is merely going through the motions .", "this is big empty turgid gunk , coming more from the brainless transformers school than the cameron big art pop philoso-candy cloth .", "great terminator movies feature brains as well as entertainment value , brawn as well as fun , and james cameron 's innovations . salvation has none of these things .", "technically , this is a well-made movie , but that does n't compensate for the predictability of the plotting , or the depressing lack of heart .", "the whole ordeal made me fantasize about building a time machine so i could send a cyborg into the past to terminate mcg 's mother before she could give birth to him", "intensity need not be the enemy of personality , but in bale 's work it too often has been .", "big , handsome , loud and dumb -- and it dishonors everything that preceded it .", "... a lot of stuff blows up without any style or visual flair .", "i doubt i 'll see such exciting , clear action sequences for the rest of the summer , and it 's a shame they had to be stuffed into such an ill-considered package .", "t-4 might be mistaken by some as a transformers sequel .", "director mcg proves perfectly adept at blowing things up in interesting ways , but there 's not so much acting here as there is yelling at different volumes .", "new characters , new robots , and lots of action make this worth checking out . a weak ending leaves audiences on a sour note but ties to the original films add some fun touches .", "the intensity is just superficial , though : in terms of story , terminator salvation is also the most timid in the series . there 's no invention in it , no sense of discovery . only the impressively orchestrated action sequences feel fresh .", "between this and star trek , popcorn-movie reboots have hit high gear .", "everyone wanted to see the future , but i knew that would just be big robot fights . cool maybe , but that 's a war movie , not a character investment suspenseful action movie . so here , this is what you wanted . happy now ?", "`` terminator salvation '' promised moviegoers a war between the human heart and the cold , cruel efficiency of machines . so why then is it so mechanical itself , so good at repetition , so preprogrammed and clunky ?", "lacking the wry humor of its predecessors and the inestimable presence of arnold schwarzenegger , the film has more than its share of shortcomings . but if you 're hopelessly invested in ` terminator ' mythology , you might just be inclined to forgive them .", "i do n't want to make bale angry , but his weak supporting role is n't what we expected from iconic messiah john connor .", "it has enough pace and excitement to keep action fans switched on .", "salvation is clearly aimed at a younger audience than its predecessors . the carnage is surprisingly bloodless , there 's virtually no cussing and several scenes were clearly conceived with one eye on the playstation .", "terminator has been smothered in quasi-religious symbolism and primary-school philosophising .", "with much buzzing , beeping and whirring , the terminator franchise comes to an absolute creative standstill , or even goes clankingly into reverse , with this fantastically dull fourth episode .", "it 's a catastrophically bad movie whose aggressive dullness and dumbness can best be reproduced by picking up a brick and slamming it against one 's forehead for two hours .", "the main difference between this and the earlier terminator films is that it lacks a sense of danger .", "who cares what it means ? just make it loud . this is the way the series ends , not with a whimper but a bang . except that it will probably go on , a shade of its former glory .", "it 's easy to see why bale was attracted to this role , but this often fascinating actor gives one of his least interesting performances .", "bigger explosions , more robots but far less fun or potent than james cameron 's modern classics . action junkies might be back for future installments , but for more discerning fans it 's hasta la vista . baby .", "terminator salvation looks , sounds and tastes like a 2.50 fairground ride . there is nothing human about it . mcg feeds you the sort of thrills that can be had on clacton pier .", "not the best in the ` terminator ' series but still has enough action and excitement to keep you entertained", "like the human skulls crushed under sleek metal feet in those feverish sequences , the terminator film series is finished .", "the result ... is , ironically , a mostly mechanical film and not very lifelike at all . maybe the machines have already won .", "proves there 's plenty of life left in the terminator franchise .", "terminator salvation proves the machines-against-man-raging-against-the-machines franchise is still alive and kicking . kicking a ** , that is .", "an acceptable summer popcorn flick , but i want more from this franchise . with the depth of storytelling in the previous films , this is a disappointment .", "suffers from style over substance . its impressive cgi effects and editing make it look and sound great while providing some fleeting , visceral thrills and adrenaline-pumping excitement , but in terms of imagination and surprises , it falls flat .", "if this movie is any indication , this franchise needs a great deal of work to improve and salvage a series that the studio should have terminated after `` judgment day .", "packed with action and brimming with outstanding performances , `` terminator salvation '' is a worthy companion to the first two films and a notch better than part three .", "the hardware is clanky , and runs on diesel .", "a tough , strong movie , loaded with exciting action sequences ... thing is , some muscular beings have brains , and salvation is n't one of them .", "one of the coolest post-apocalyptic thrill-rides since the respective career peaks of charlton heston and mel gibson .", "pow ! blast ! annhilate ! the action-packed , bullet-riddled popcorn pictures have officially arrived .", "mcg 's tone is `` apocalypse now '' by way of philip k. dick , and the film packs a war-movie wallop to go with its sleek blockbuster sensibilities . tough , fast and exhilarating , it 's a worthy addition to the franchise even if christian bale is not .", "nice performance by sam worthington . however , the film whole heartedly invests in action , leaving the story and character elements a bit slim .", "so how is the latest installment in the long-running terminator franchise , you ask ? loud ! ... you 'll feel the entire time like you were trapped in a video game .", "it 's exciting and propulsive , but without the required core of emotion . that might not have seemed too important to the terminator films , but once it 's gone , you really notice .", "unfortunately , whenever this film attempts to depict anything resembling the motivational keys of emotional storytelling -- love , revenge , anger -- it feels like mcg is wishing he could be blowing stuff up .", "a shambolic , deafening , intelligence-insulting mess , a crushing failure on almost all counts .", "mcg has sparked a moribund franchise back to life , giving fans the post-apocalyptic action they 've been craving since they first saw a metal foot crush a human skull two decades ago .", "this latest terminator may well please the committed obsessive , but the rest of us are left feeling simultaneously beaten about the head and yet slightly underwhelmed .", "more machine than movie . sleek , human-like but ultimately cold steel and unfeeling .", "the first half was spectacular but soon took on a dull tone . john connor said , ` i 'll be back . ' i hope that does n't mean a sequel .", "no slouch , but despite director mcg 's laudable efforts , number four does n't improve upon the first three .", "it was a waste of effort before they even started shooting .", "falls mighty short against james cameron 's filmmaking proficiency and the sharp blade of fickle fanboy nostalgia", "i wish bale had lashed out against the writers rather than the cinematographer .", "contrary to popular belief , there is something far worse than a demonstrably bad film and that is a film with boundless but ultimately squandered potential . terminator : salvation is such a movie .", "often considered one of the greatest actors of his generation , bale 's performance is shockingly lifeless .", "a revved-up and conflicted sci-fi drama of unrelenting carnage trying desperately to peddle a message of heart .", "somehow along the way everyone fooled themselves into thinking that terminator salvation was going to be a good movie and not a slapped together , franchise expanding piece of corporate film making . jokes on us .", "it 's starting to look like a good summer for action movies .", "worthington is electrifying as marcus a character who raises questions about what it means to be human but provides a definitive answer about what it means to be a star .", "relies too heavily on previous knowledge of the terminator world , in those rare moments when storytelling is attempted .", "the terminator series grinds to a distinct and palpable halt with this inert , flat-out worthless entry ...", "terminator salvation is so programmed , so impersonal , that it practically dares you to warm to its characters .", "a good summer movie is n't just an uninterrupted crescendo of cacophony . you need stuff in between the fireballs and the cyborgs .", "the title promises us salvation . it also hints at termination . neither of which occur until we 're released at film 's end .", "a blockbuster that satisfies both the die-hard aficionado and the newcomer to the terminator brand , with just the right mix of action and self-aware humor to overcome the film 's emotional deficiencies .", "the flattest , most bombastic film of the series . it 's all about the firepower , the explosions , the fireballs % u2013 at the expense of character , plot , tension and suspense .", "there is a wellspring of potential in the franchise for the right filmmaker to generate a `` starship troopers '' kind of frisky movie that goes beyond the constraints of spectacle-generated entertainment toward sophisticated sci-fi satire . until that time co", "parental content review", "strives for bleak gravity with misguided fervor .", "filled with more explosions per minute than a michael bay movie , nearly all of them gratuitous and none of them exciting .", "at new york comic con , mcg implored fans to stand behind this film as the terminator love letter that it is , and by neither offending nor innovating , he 's made a fun summer blockbuster , but not much more .", "it neither adds to nor subtracts from the mythology . and with judgment day upon us , there 's no more tension , nothing compelling left to explore .", "if you are looking for something positive from the terminator salvation , look for arnold schwarzenegger 's computer generated re-birth .", "this is everything a good summer movie should be and , while it does not dishonor the cameron chapters of the saga , neither does it prove to be an indispensable adjunct to them .", "i think it is really the most boring performance from christian bale in a long time .", "the ingenious plotting of the first two terminator films , and the skill and visceral energy with which james cameron directed them , are a thing of the past .", "watchable franchise entry that scrapes a pass on the strength of its terrific central set-piece and a couple of the performances , but it 's poorly written , emotionally unengaging and a largely empty experience overall .", "is salvation worse than terminator 3 ? well , t3 stank but at least it felt like a terminator movie . this is more like the matrix : revolutions-effects-heavy background sketching and no relevance to the two brilliant originals .", "the film is emotionally soupy and it insists too much on its own pyrotechnics . christian bale has n't an ounce of comedy in him , which takes the whole thing some distance away from arnie 's ridiculousness .", "it was depressing . it made you feel foolish for ever being scared of arnie or the melty dude from james cameron 's second film . it was stupefying .", "formoylaiki problepsimotita toy senarioy , poy me tis ftines strofes toy , afinei to timoni stin eikonografisi , i opoia , an kai ploysioparoha entyposiaki , den einai da kai orama oramatisti", "bale 's dark mood is infectious - this fourth terminator is a grim stew of alpha-male theatrics down to the two-day-old coyote dish prepared by a post-apocalyptic answer to gordon ramsay .", "mcg has got the special effects and stunts right , but he forgets that in terminator 's algebra , the sum is n't complete without the human factor , and that 's completely missing in this bleak computergame vision of the franchise .", "this supposedly credibility-restoring resurrection of the franchise feels more like a crucifixion .", "the movie suffers from an inevitable tedium , which can best be summarized as : bang-bang-bang ; pow , pow ; fireball , fireball ; ka-boom !", "it 's late in terminator salvation when arnold schwarzenegger makes his much-hyped non-appearance .", "the movie 's only unmitigated pleasure is a too-brief fight scene between connor and a naked combatant made up to look precisely like arnold schwarzenegger , the relentless cyborg of the first three installments .", "the latest installment in the venerable sci-fi action franchise turns out to be a straight-up war film , grim and muscular and thundering and joyless . it 's the color of cement , and it weighs as much , too .", "who wants to see a terminator movie without the star synonymous with not just with the role , but the whole concept of the series ? anyone who wants to see another smart , taut and exciting science-fiction extravaganza with outstanding action sequences , that", "with awful dialogue , a ridiculous plot , and mostly uninspired performances , the interesting human element has been drained from the franchise . the machines have won .", "christian bale should have taken a vacation instead .", "viscerally intense and marginally entertaining while being narratively incomprehensible and simplistic .", "all manner of new robots blow stuff up real good , and the action scenes work well on a large and small scale -lrb- some utilize close-ups particularly nicely -rrb- .", "one could argue connor 's grim demeanor is precisely what a global disaster demands . but bale 's turn has a bass-note feel that is anti-charismatic .", "none of the actors has much to work with but worthington and yelchin manage to give their characters some appeal . bale 's connor is too gruff and one-note to be of much interest .", "this is n't storytelling , it 's programming -- inorganic matter passing for life .", "in this doomsday scenario , my bs meter sounded off as often as a geiger counter in salvation 's high radiation environment .", "darker , grimmer and more stylistically single-minded than its two relatively giddy predecessors , `` terminator salvation '' boasts the kind of singular vision that distinguished the james cameron original .", "definitely a ` summer blockbuster ' and has enough great moments in it to outweigh any groaners that it may also have . in fact , the good moments outweigh the bad about 20 to 1 .", "the humanity in this film is like something you get out of a package of ramen . it 's full of freeze-dried speeches that basically say if humans make war like the machines , then the machines have won .", "the only reasons to see this structurally messy , poorly directed flick are the spectacular effects , which overwhelm the plot , and the charismatic performance of soon to be hollywood star aussie sam worthington who steals every scene he is in .", "the machines rise to the occasion . too bad the dramatic element 's just as robotic .", "... if you go in hoping for another great terminator film , you are going to be disappointed .", "that said , the real problem with `` terminator salvation , '' when all is said and done , is that it never for a single moment makes a convincing argument for its own existence .", "this ambitious redefinition of a franchise is also loud , clumsy and , in the end , does n't make much sense .", "by the time it looks like richard dawson 's running man crew created another stunt body double to get audiences all riled up , all the nostaglia has been sucked out thanks to a script unworthy of a direct-to-video sequel .", "it 's a largely empty moviegoing experience because the characters and story do n't demand any emotional investment .", "while some of its demographic may be happy to see the return of the man-machine apocalypse , much of the writing ... is hokey as hell .", "terminator salvation is great for the do n't - expect-much-except-action-out-of-a-summer-movie crowd , not so great if you 're looking for a worthy successor to the first two films .", "as a place to start , terminator : salvation is n't half bad , and definitely a promising start to a revival of the franchise .", "this time out , the studio has gone for stuntwork . here 's hoping that , once the inevitable follow-up hits screens , there 'll be more vision and less violence .", "suffers from pedestrian dialogue and a surfeit of bad plot devices ranging from the merely too-convenient to the laugh-out-loud preposterous .", "a string of action set-pieces with plenty of impressive razzle dazzle , but since none of it carries any weight , it 's hard to care about what is unfolding .", "this is a much more straightforward , all-gunsblazing sci-fi tale of downat-heel humanity at war with some rather nasty machines .", "a pulse-pounding visual spectacle , given its bloodline this is the very least we expect . but when things are n't blowing up , t4 sags - and sags badly .", "underscripted , under-energised , a triumph of formula over flair , it stomps on for two hours in a nightmare of self-important inconsequence .", "in this fourth terminator movie , there is n't much to laugh about , even though the earlier films raised a few smiles .", "terminator salvation opens on death row and proceeds agonisingly to an execution by lethal injection .", "the terminator story recharges with a post-apocalyptic jolt of energy . frantic and full of welcome ties to the past , it also ploughs new ground with purpose .", "it 's brainless , it 's soulless , and it gave me a headache .", "better than terminator 3 : rise of the machines but that 's not saying much . adequate but disappointing .", "if you can just savour the spectacle and not worry about the tangled plot then it is a more than acceptable summer blockbuster .", "they have equipped terminator salvation with so little heart or personality that it would be no surprise to learn that computers had put it together .", "dark , noisy and unimaginative .", "terminator salvation may just provide one of the biggest surprises of the summer .", "terminator salvation is a confused , humorless grind , with nobody , from the stars to the set designers , prepared to prick its self-importance .", "it 's a fun time at the movies .", "a slam-bank , action packed , high tension film loaded with special effects ; a good story -lrb- with -rrb- terrific action .", "none of the ginormous action sequence carry any real weight because the filmmakers have made absolutely no effort to convince us to care about what 's happening .", "a futile popcorn flick that fails to live up to the franchise standards . dedicated terminator fans continually crave to see humans and machines slug it out .", "the script is lacking and the acting merely serviceable in ` terminator salvation . '", "bale is a leader of the resistance fighters , who are mostly resistant to ugliness , facial blemishes , a few extra pounds , roomy flight suits , and old age .", "the action sometimes conjures a thrill-ride 's breathtaking quality or , in other words , terminator salvation 's only hope of redemption with audiences .", "mcg 's revival of the terminator franchise is a solid actioner , but lacks the entertainment value of james cameron 's landmark originals .", "as long as mcg keeps the action moving , the film remains on solid ground , matching and often surpassing the thoroughly adequate 2003 entry terminator 3 : rise of the machines .", "being a rabid fan that grew up on the franchise created by james cameron , the idea of mcg getting behind the camera for this sequel was slightly nauseating , and yet , by some miracle , the fourth film in the franchise is -lrb- barely -rrb- passable .", "while it 's pretty sermonizing in its sci-fi sort of way , salvation does pack a dazzling punch .", "shooting guns at things that are n't harmed by guns ... following which there will be cheap philosophizing and the promise of another sequel .", "the whole movie is a bit of a machine .", "... little more than big machine spectacle with a little lip service paid to humanity , identity and free will , which are not exactly themes so much as plot points .", "i can not completely condemn a movie that has been very competently written , directed and acted , any more than i can blame mr. schwarzenegger for all the woes he has encountered while trying to govern california .", "... sometimes feels like just another link in a chain to nowhere .", "i 'm sure it will be happy news in some circles when i say that director mcg 's addition to the franchise is a big , blasting , tush shaking video game of a movie . and , it will make a fortune .", "we finally get to see the full , destructive power of skynet . and while it looks great , the story around it sure falls flat .", "it 's basically a cheap thrill . an expensive cheap thrill .", "skynet , schmynet -- the future is here .", "how could such a great idea go so horribly , horribly wrong ?", "if sensation alone makes a movie work for you , then this one succeeds on those strengths every 15 seconds .", "good action sequences will satisfy the adrenaline junkies and lots of throwbacks to terminator films of yore will make the terminator fans happy . there are actually parts of a good movie in here , but the focus is in the wrong place .", "machines ultra-cool , humans not so cool in mcg 's noisy actioner .", "listen , come over to my place this weekend ; we 'll rewatch terminator 1 and 2 , we 'll listen to ` you could be mine ' by guns n roses , we can even discuss edward furlong 's ` career ' . and let 's just pretend terminator salvation never happened .", "mcg demonstrates a complete inability to understand what made the cameron terminator films so good .", "salvation is a cold , blunt summer movie misfire , infatuated with mindless explosions like an infant with fecal matter ... a lumbering , joyless detour into unappetizing hollywood recycling .", "an entertaining new entry into the terminator saga -lrb- with the exception of either the biggest continuity error of the series or holding back critical information ...", "the machines , as the movie keeps reminding us , must be stopped . especially the machine that sucked the lifeblood out of this franchise .", "tras la fallida tercera cinta de la lucha entre hombres y m\u00e1quinas , terminator salvation deb\u00eda ser el cap\u00edtulo que redimiera y reviviera la saga , sin embargo simplemente es una buena cinta de acci\u00f3n .", "... as fascinating as chewing styrofoam -- with the occasional firecracker jammed in to make you chew faster .", "does pretty much what you 'd expect but little more , and its sullen efficiency does n't make up for its lack of imagination .", "as you would expect , this is a sci-fi war movie of man against machine and there is plenty of action , but also some food for thought .", "the artistry is top notch , but they 've lost track of why the original terminators were cyborgs and not robots , as they are here .", "at best , an over-stimulating concatenation of bells and whistles amounting to the cinematic equivalent of bubblegum .", "even the terminators seem bored .", "endless rounds of boisterous battle scenes and eardrum annihilating explosions , until you could n't care less which side wins . so if there 's any real human passion rising to the surface amid the rubble , it 's all about the guns , baby .", "high craft in the service of an oppressively dull story .", "did n't george lucas ' star wars prequels prove that not all complex sci-fi plots need to be completed ?", "mcg is capable of making the trains run on time , but not much else . he has no vision , discernible style , wit or knows how to get much out of his actors .", "the trouble with terminator : salvation ... -lsb- is that -rsb- there 's a yawning void where its emotional center should be .", "an entertaining action film that increases in value the less you actually think about it , with a star-making who-the-heck-is-that ? performance from sam worthington .", "there 's a certain sad sci-fi irony when one considers that the first terminator film to feature a robot with a human heart is also the first film in the series that feels like it has no soul .", "too bad schwarzenegger is otherwise occupied these days .", "the terminator franchise was built on thrills , imagination , narrative , emotion , believability , character development and watchability . terminator salvation has plenty of thrills .", "it 's a far more compelling world than a narrative .", "you should probably turn your `` brain wattage '' down in order to enjoy this silly science-fiction thriller .", "despite some laughably silly plot elements , mcg has created an overall entertaining movie experience .", "skynet may not have ensured its own future , yet . but their robots have clearly made serious inroads in our movies .", "mcg knows how to slap an audience into awed submission . but at a certain point , you may feel so pummeled that you check out and begin pondering things like the time-travel question .", "the machines are mindless , yes , but there are enough pyrotechnics and heavy artillery to feel like armageddon squared . and when the story starts to crumble around bale , worthington is there to pick up the pieces .", "the film is just like its machines , which , by the end of mcg 's mcblockbuster deserve to win their war against humanity , if only to curtail , once and for all , uninspired and inhumanly mechanistic filmmaking such as this .", "it 's far from awful , but salvation is close to joyless , something easily predicted when this redundant film was first announced .", "a steady camera in action sequences goes a long way .", "-lsb- the movie -rsb- is a lot like the human-killing machines it depicts : ruthlessly efficient , action-oriented , thunderously brutal and loaded with high-tech firepower . it 's also just as cold and emotionless .", "this is n't a classic terminator model , but as the fourth line in a brand that was created a quarter-century ago , it serves its purpose nicely .", "the problem with the terminator franchise is that it 's beginning to feel more and more like a cold , calculating machine . somewhere , it lost its humanity and became dick cheney 's daydream .", "it could have all been a lot worse and with some imaginative new terminators , a great score some thrilling action set-plays , critics slating the film will be proven harsh as box office results and public opinion soon come in .", "hats off to director mcg and scriptwriting partners john d. brancato and michael ferris for masterfully bringing to the screen a summer reboot delight that nicely sets up a fifth chapter as the global war rages on .", "applies big-budget defibrillator paddles to the hulking franchise but ca n't breathe fresh life into the now 25-year-old concept .", "after scrutinizing the film , i offer you my summary of the story : guy dies , finds himself resurrected , meets others , fights . that lasts for almost two hours .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he hugest of the movie 's many problems : -lsb- it 's -rsb- sentimental ... it 's damn near close to character rape , what mcg , brancato , and ferris force christian bale 's connor to do ...", "it is a fast , gritty-yet-slick , bombastic modern action film filled with tortured souls . it 's not exactly a gas -- how much post-apocalypse fun can be had ? -- but it is often electrifying and always entertaining .", "though competent in its b-movie way , terminator salvation lacks the humour , heart-tugging moments and visual pleasure that made the first two movies of the series modern pop masterpieces .", "of the cast , worthington -- as a man unexpectedly granted a chance at redemption -- gives the most deeply felt performance , but honestly , that 's not saying much .", "it 's got all the heart of a demolition derby .", "mcg 's boyish sensationalism is inoffensive , justified by paying attention to how wright preserves an unlikely human essence . worthington is a find .", "terminator salvation is a soulless sequel which could have been made by skynet itself .", "director mcg fuels terminator salvation with exceptional visual effects and sharp sound , but more shouting and explosions than a super bowl in beirut .", "i 'm fed up with this series . this is not the way to start -lsb- a new trilogy -rsb- .", "this is the worst big budget summer release i 've seen in some time .", "essentially everything here is macho-posturing eye candy .", "... a decent action film , far superior to the awful terminator 3 , but it is n't close to the quality provided by james cameron 's original or t2 .", "please let this be the only terminator film mcg directs .", "directed by mcg -lrb- i used to think that was the melbourne cricket ground -rrb- , t4 is a post apocalyptic epic with a beating heart : indeed , sam worthington 's beating heart , which plays such a crucial role in the story .", "crammed with massive action pieces , awesome visual effects and a dense plot that cleverly incorporates echoes from the previous films , director mcg injects passion and energy into the film and it pays off . it also pays off for our own sam worthington , who", "you wonder why everyone is n't so eaten up with malaise that they do n't just sit down and forget about the whole thing .", "feels more like a stopgap than a return to the franchise 's past form ... relentlessly -lrb- and uninspiringly -rrb- efficient - like a sleek new model terminator .", "there 's not much here in the way of way of humanity , even with the strong feminine presence of actresses including bryce dallas howard , moon bloodgood and jane alexander . it seems the machines have already won .", "who ever thought in 2003 that we 'd look back on terminator 3 : rise of the machines as the good old days ?", "this is the film terminator fans have been desperate to see . there 's a damn good film here .", "mcg no es james cameron , pero por suerte dej\u00f3 atr\u00e1s los \u00e1ngeles de charlie e hizo una pel\u00edcula de acci\u00f3n en serio .", "for once i found myself hankering for arnold schwarzenegger .", "as in the previous two movies , there is , along with the extreme violence and destruction , a lot of wit in the proceedings .", "no small tragedy , this is the first terminator film without a heart .", "the movie 's tagline `` the end begins '' could be prophetic for the theatrical series - it may or may not be back .", "terminator salvation boasts impressive setpieces that provide eye-popping visual scale , but the story so badly lacks scope that the film feels small and , ultimately , inconsequential .", "l'artillerie d\u00e9ploy\u00e9 est , certes , imposante , mais se r\u00e9v\u010dle d\u00e9ficiente lorsque vient le temps de g\u00e9n\u00e9rer ne serait-ce qu'un tant soit peu de suspense ou de r\u00e9flexion", "as with junk food , no matter how much you know it 's bad for you , you ca n't help but enjoy it anyway .", "not only does it fail to advance the franchise 's overarching storyline -lrb- a better title : terminator stagnation -rrb- but it never distinguishes itself from any other reasonably budgeted action film .", "while the post-apocalyptic environment and the action sequences put together by director mcg are effective , they lack a sense of fun .", "terminator : salvation is a decent enough summer action flick but i ca n't help but feeling seriously let down .", "the digital effects are mostly quite dazzling-not just the depictions of towering marauders ... but a memorably scary sequence in which a little serpentine robot that 's been taken captive thrashes furiously to save its nonlife .", "t4 is a mixed bag , but it 's not f ------- amateur .", "message to hollywood : stop with the time-travel stuff .", "terminator salvation : the least they could give us .", "there are some impressive action scenes , most notably a lengthy chase scene involving a fuel-filled tanker trailer trying to outrun a flying hunter-killer drone over a canyon-spanning bridge .", "as the so-called war on terror and other events repeatedly demonstrate , the ` what makes us human ? ' question never loses relevance ...", "mcg , a music video maven whose previous credits include the charlie 's angels movies , directs the action passably well .", "without a compelling drama , an ounce of humor , or even a character to sympathize with , terminator salvation may as well be the next transformers .", "no amount of explosions or shootouts can match the genuine , bite-your-nails suspense of a single life perpetually in danger from deadly cyborgs who will never stop coming until their objective is complete .", "terminator salvation feels both comfortable with its limitations and justly proud of its accomplishments .", "terminator salvation is all special effects and zero depth .", "packed with two hours of non-stop action , it delivers everything you could want from a ` terminator ' film and more . much more .", "it 's one of the better action films of 2009 and , even without arnold , this terminator puts the series back on track .", "terminator salvation is a tale told idiotically , full of sound and fury , signifying nothing .", "in the end , the resistance discovers that machines have the same potentially deadly flaw as so many summer movies : expository dialogue .", "no salvation to be had in this colossal waste of time .", "... plenty of people who will enjoy this kind of soulless , technically correct , mark-hitting moviemaking , but it 's difficult for me to imagine why .", "i will not apologize for giving this movie a strong matinee with snacks rating . i came out of it all pumped and gleeful and satisfied , and if anyone wants much more than that from a terminator movie , well , it also has some freaking great sequences and ef", "stylish but shallow , action-packed but without ever being exciting , terminator salvation is a movie that looked amazing as a trailer , but does n't stand up as a 115 minute film .", "terminator salvation is essentially a ripping sci-fi war movie that marries beautifully into the series ' overarching story .", "mcg 's film does n't match james cameron 's first two , but is better than the third jonathan mostow-directed instalment .", "bale is good -- solid amid the ongoing storm -- but do n't expect much of him . this is sam worthington 's movie , and he steals it .", "weighed down with so much grit and gloom that there 's no fun left", "first and foremost , ` terminator : salvation ' is a war movie .", "wright is a machine who thinks he 's human and in that conundrum is the interesting story that the film essentially misses ." ], "summary": "with storytelling as robotic as the film 's iconic villains , terminator salvation offers plenty of great effects but lacks the heart of the original films .", "id": "770676948" }, { "movie": "hereafter", "reviews": [ "intense drama asks what comes after death .", "skeptics and scoffers will find `` MOV '' the funniest film of the year . others , however , might simply yawn at its pretentious cravings , funereal pace , and murky intentions .", "coincidences and improbabilities aside , the script sometimes borders on the absurd .", "MOV is deep and deliberate . it requires patience and emotional maturity from its audience . those willing to give it will be rewarded with a cinematic experience that is complex , heartfelt and spiritually uplifting .", "epic filmmaking is not clint eastwood 's thing .", "i realize it 's bad manners to be flip about a movie that emblazons its heart on its sleeve . but MOV , soggy with portentous uplift , invites that response .", "skeptics and scoffers will find `` MOV '' the funniest film of the year . others , however , might simply yawn at its pretentious cravings , funereal pace , and murky intentions .", "the problematic concept keeps ` MOV ' earthbound , but the film contains four sequences that affirm eastwood 's mastery , including the opening tsunami , which is not only spectacular but somehow intimate , thanks to the focus on the character of marie ...", "who knew conversing with the dead was so much like a visit to the therapist ?", "... at once comforting and unsettling -- both in the best possible way .", "this is a consoling , romantic , inspirational movie in the mid-1940s manner of portrait of jennie and a guy named joe .", "psychic damon says : `` a life that 's all about death is no life '' . we say : a film that 's all about death is no film .", "MOV tries to do what crash did but without the superficial gloss , the charm or actors who can actually act . the result is desperately , eye-achingly drab .", "eastwood 's weepy depiction of the ` here ' is just as dull and tedious as his superficial exploration of the ` after ' .", "life , death , the beyond ... ah , the beyond . such a minefield for respectable filmmakers .", "a thoughtful and sensitive work , and while it may not convince the sceptics that there is something MOV , it offers something to think about .", "clint eastwood is the master storyteller , allowing the story to glide as smoothly as silk transcending time and place to hone from the big picture to the individual story", "well , i guess the winning streak had to end sometime .", "this is a bewilderingly pointless drama , weaving together three dreary stories about mortality and the afterlife .", "could it be that peter morgan 's clout gave him the right to dredge up from his desk drawer some terrible old script ? maybe . either way , it 's one to forget for all concerned .", "two pounds of story flopping around in a 10-pound bag .", "a triptych of tales which argue for a stronger editorial hand and the inherent flaw in such a format - all parts of your omnibus better work , or the failures threaten to pull down the successes .", "MOV is content to sit back and do nothing - a smart , well directed , well acted nothing .", "oh for a smarter story , with a brisker pace , to support such excellent talents . at least we still get to experience the good , the bad and , if not the ugly , then the so-so .", "MOV features excellent acting and characterizations and deftly avoids being the kind of bore movies about this subject tend to be but does n't register on a strong enough level to be considered in the upper echelons of the careers of anyone involved .", "`` MOV '' asks several questions and wisely does not offer any answers . those , the director and screenwriter leave to the viewer .", "it works best when it stays away from all the preachy overtones of other multi-character dramas like crash , but it does stumble a bit in an attempt to spell everything out too conveniently .", "after prompting us to seriously ponder life 's ultimate question , eastwood 's final answer seems to be : do n't worry about it .", "nothing that happens later in the movie lives up to the inexorable , thundering , power of the tsunami , which makes the under-imagined images of the afterlife thin and tepid .", "it 's not that the film 's message is wrong as whether we needed two hours of not very interesting stories about not particularly interesting people to get that lesson .", "MOV asks for no such leaps of faith . it offers no poignancy or spirit ; merely an obtuse interpretation of the never-never , book-ended with shrugs .", "an unusual but absolutely absorbing work which bravely tackles the big questions with thoughtfulness and real emotion .", "now powering through his 80s , clint eastwood is doing the best , most thoughtful work of his career .", "this melancholy tale - not so much about the afterlife as about its teasingly morbid lure on three people in different countries - is far from director clint eastwood 's best , and comes with a particularly dull performance from matt damon .", "all of the strands are weak in their own ways , but the film at least would have had redemptive moments if it was n't structured so badly .", "so ridiculous was MOV that i laughed out loud several times at the ill thought-out , quasi-spiritualist philosophy it vomited from the screen .", "with eastwood stubbornly determined to make one of the quietest films you 'll ever see and matt damon restrained like never before , the MOV could either leave you thinking ... or seriously underwhelmed .", "it is sincere , well-meaning and , i 'm sorry to say , quite transparent hokum .", "has no narrative thrust and nothing profound to say , although it 's mostly well acted and features some diverting locations , including a good deal of south london .", "a baby-brained meditation on the afterlife , it 's a cosmic catastrophe , the kind of new age nonsense a schoolkid might write before realising what a crock of hooey it was and binning it .", "the last 30 minutes of the film hint at what it might have been if someone had whipped that script into shape ; the idea of exploring experiences of the afterlife was a great one , and eastwood certainly has the vision to pull it off .", "eastwood 's filmmaking here is laboriously tasteful and painfully restrained to the point of complete atrophy .", "the film is a deeply compassionate , decidedly secular and somewhat plodding meditation on what matters now and what lies beyond this life .", "eastwood and morgan skillfully and slowly unveil each character 's struggles and then send them on their way to inevitable encounters with one another .", "here a mature filmmaker at the top of his game muses on life after death . but this is no starry-eyed , gullible wallow in the bathos of eternal bliss .", "i sincerely can not help but worry , with no snarkiness intended whatsoever , whether clint eastwood has gone senile ... i ca n't imagine what else explains the utterly baffling MOV .", "long-winded , ponderous and without much in the way of compelling drama .", "the best scenes in this international project are among the best work clint eastwood has ever done .", "a final destination movie with the air of respectability that clint eastwood commands , but absolutely no fun . clint eastwood doing final destination may sound awesome , but this is a movie just designed to make you feel miserable .", "though i found MOV meandering and occasionally sentimental , i could n't help but admire clint eastwood 's ambition in taking on-headfirst-the greatest fact of human existence .", "in the end , an elevating and in many ways , exceptional experience .", "MOV is worth taking seriously because , finally , it 's about taking care to live decently -- not piously , or proudly , but honestly , in the here and now .", "dull and unmoving , MOV offers little more than cop out resolutions to its supernatural themes , and a lack of testicular fortitude in its refusal to utter the words `` heaven '' or `` god '' .", "what is terrific about eastwood is that he has a real cleanness in his approach to filmmaking and there is n't this claptrap of sentimentality surrounding it .", "full review at movies for the masses", "all in all , a disappointment from mr eastwood .", "a powerful , intoxicating spiritual drama with a swift , delicate emotional core and fascinating characters .", "... an honest attempt to explore the single greatest mystery of life ... with intelligence , open-mindedness , understanding , and compassion .", "earnestly heartfelt all the way , this movie goes bonkers right out of the gate and does n't let up until the final shot of damon having a vision of his own future , so do n't worry if you find yourself giggling .", "MOV ca n't quite make up its mind what it is exactly about , resulting in a film that builds and builds and builds ... to nothing .", "with a deliberate pace and some fine performances , this film makes the utterly preposterous seem almost believable . that is quite an achievement in itself . more than that , eastwood has made this an enjoyable film , which is just as remarkable .", "like a wasted appointment at a bad psychic 's reading room . all the set dressing is there , but it leaves you with an empty , unsatisfied feeling inside .", "damon breathes some life in to this boring film , but he 's only in one-third .", "contains moments of exceptional beauty as well as scenes of intense emotional anguish . i admire eastwood for taking on another difficult theme and handling it so well .", "MOV unfolds with the patience of a good book , a factor likely to turn off more antsy audience members . yet those who do n't flinch at its meditative rhythms will find much to appreciate .", "factoring in the on location filming in paris and london , low key dialogue-speak , the multiple plot structure , and long takes , ` MOV ' has a foreign film look and feel .", "what could have been an interesting exploration of the gateway to eternity takes an uncomfortable eternity to get to the point .", "depicted as a bunch of glowing shadows shuffling around in a blue haze , the MOV might be the world 's last smoking lounge .", "flat lines in less than an hour and does n't deserve an afterlife on either dvd or cable television . the movie 's only strength is the spectacular computer-generated special effects of the tidal waves triggered by the 2004 indian ocean earthquake and the ...", "there 's something disarmingly compelling about the story that keeps working despite the rickety framework eastwood and morgan have forced upon themselves .", "there are no real answers here , strictly more questions , but eastwood clearly relishes exploring subjects which can be labeled troublesome .", "these `` interwoven fate '' plots often suffer from severe strains of skepticism , but eastwood keeps things controlled , and -- it never seems contrived .", "a few great performances buoy the proceedings , but the laziness of morgan 's script and the overall lack of focus or momentum combine to sink it .", "a finely drawn human drama , it just fails to go far enough with the supernatural elements .", "unrelievedly somber and slow , giving a gloomily portentous feel to ideas that are n't nearly as profound as the makers seem to think .", "harry potter-style hocus pocus only aimed at folks who came of age in the era of the ouija board .", "this is a movie that is , at its root , a romance , wrapped up in an 80-year-old master director 's musings about what happens to us when we die .", "when it got to the end , it seemed like a lot of effort for not much payoff .", "the eastwood magic still works . this is not his best film but it is still a good one .", "along with a plodding script , the key character knows what he wants but takes no bold steps to get it . even damon appears confused in the movie .", "it 's hard to get girls when you are a psychic , even if you look like matt damon .", "MOV does n't feel like a clint eastwood film ; it 's more like a very special edition of john edward 's psychic tv show .", "a meandering , pointless disappointment from the normally exceptional eastwood .", "deep into his career , the great american director clint eastwood has made a european movie .", "MOV is an entertaining film . that said , it would have been even better had it picked any one of the plot strands and focused exclusively on it .", "in the film 's far-reaching goals , `` MOV '' fails to connect its meticulous plotting together , leaving the second hour unnecessarily tedious and overtly detached from the audience .", "somber and thought-provoking , ` MOV ' is a think piece , a serious film that provides no answers but does supply viewers with a lot of ` what ifs . '", "the climax was just as incredulous as clint 's unconvincing look at the MOV .", "`` MOV '' has some quality parts , but ultimately fails because it does n't really care about what it 's supposed to be about .", "sinks under a kind of glum , watery mood . neither particularly poignant nor thoughtful about loss or survivors ' spiritual search for meaning , the script just bobs along . always watchable but rarely memorable , the movie fades silently into the light .", "wastes its earnest poignancy with a script reliant on corny storytelling clich\u00e9s .", "MOV is n't about the MOV so much as it is about those who are left here , after .", "it 's safe to say that , as a director , clint eastwood shows no fear .", "MOV is a disappointing flick containing great potential that leads to absolutely nothing .", "it starts out with a tsunami -- and ends up standing in a puddle .", "morgan and eastwood 's depiction of the afterlife repeats the standard clich\u00e9s , never examining whether the white light and the unintelligible greeting committee stick around for all eternity or are the result of human brain chemistry firing wildly .", "starts off with a shocking , emotional opening scene , but that 's the last exciting and interesting thing to happen in the movie .", "MOV should have a lot more life , but instead heads mournfully into the white light . stay away !", "MOV is the perfect example of an intriguing concept in need of some collaborative brainstorming between a talented writer and a visionary director , followed by a few rewrites .", "eastwood seems to have become m. night shyamalan . it 's a good thing , since shyamalan has been doing such a lousy job of it .", "let me pull out my crystal ball : `` MOV '' is intriguing in a lot of ways , but not a `` million dollar baby . ''", "has the same effect as an encounter with a phony physic-it keeps delivering just enough to tantalize , never has a real payoff and eventually makes you realize that you 've been conned .", "eastwood effectively taps into a well of our common feelings -- fear of death , the numbing shock of being aware of our mortality , and , most largely , the desperate need for closure .", "my tepidly positive reaction to MOV comes as a pretty big surprise , given my feelings about eastwood 's recent work .", "un film menor en la carrera de clint eastwood , que se presenta como una exploraci\u0443n sobre algunas interrogantes del ser humano pero que , m\u0431s all\u0431 de cierto inter\u0439s y un buen nivel general , se queda en la superficie .", "we get that the story may not be about answers , but the film could have used a lot more interesting , thought-provoking questions along the way .", "according to eastwood and morgan -lrb- who had much better luck with his screenplays on queen elizabeth , idi amin , and david frost -rrb- , people die so two self-indulgent souls can finally find true love while dreadful music plays in the background .", "the climatic interweaving of the narrative strands feels profoundly anticlimatic , delivering a modicum of emotional payoff but little else", "out of all this , eastwood crafts an often beautiful film", "strangely stiff and repetitive .", "... the filmmakers choose a period setting for their film , then dispense with it part way into the story , once it 's become a hindrance to the interests of the corporate sponsors ...", "... an engaging , sporadically enthralling drama that ranks as one of eastwood 's better efforts as of late .", "superficially satisfying but oftentimes disappointing , `` MOV '' focuses on three major stories , one of which works far better than the other two .", "a terrific , albeit dreary , character drama that directly addresses one of humanity 's most enduring mysteries .", "before long , the afterlife starts to sound pretty damn appealing .", "thankfully , there is light at the end of the tunnel . just do n't expect any grand revelations before the curtain falls .", "more concerned with loneliness in this life than anything that happens after death", "eastwood fails to infuse any moments of suspense or heart into the story and when all is said and done , MOV is an anticlimactic , sleepy and momentum-less mess of a film .", "this movie is n't about anything . this emperor is wearing no clothes .", "clint eastwood 's late life/late career fascination with mortality , death and grieving devolves , at long last , into a cheap parlor trick in MOV .", "eastwood 's directorial output , from mystic river on , constitutes the 21st century 's first cinematic marvel , and MOV is among the best things he has ever done .", "clint eastwood 's gentle , thoughtful film about the fragility of life and the promise of a life beyond .", "a lot of dull hooey about mankind 's search for answers . mankind 's slow , interminable search for answers .", "one of those movies that works better on a second viewing ; it 's a gentle , loosely structured tale of lost souls that 'll wash away if you let it .", "not since `` good will hunting '' has damon , who also co-starred in eastwood 's real-life 2009 drama `` invictus , '' been more vulnerable , boyish or sympathetic .", "feels like the beginning of a discussion , one eastwood likely has with his peers as they age .", "eastwood shows off filmmaking so fluid and skilled that it makes you weep with joy .", "filmed with a master 's eye , `` MOV '' continues the streak of outstanding films directed by clint eastwood .", "-lsb- peter -rsb- morgan 's script is n't up to his usual standards and -lsb- clint -rsb- eastwood 's also off his game .", "sadly , after the gripping , engaging and emotionally charged roller coaster of an opening , the film ends up fairly lifeless and in the need of a defibrillator to bring it back . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "slow , ponderous and as shallow as it thinks it is deep , lifted only by an impressive opening and fine work from damon and howard .", "disappointing drama that 's let down by a plodding script , painfully slow pacing , a number of emotional misfires and an atrocious child performance .", "it remains watchable in spite of some rum narrative and performances from kids that woud n't get them a gig as extras on byker grove .", "the result may not plumb shyamalanian awfulness , but if you did get to the afterlife you 'd hope they were n't playing this movie .", "despite stand-out moments both epic and intimate , clint 's latest is a film about death that 's likely to put many audiences to sleep .", "not his finest , but that 's proof of how great this man is .", "the start of each story promises so much . yet the more often we ask `` yes , and then ? '' , the less often morgan and eastwood stump up a convincing answer .", "it thoughtfully reflects on how deep sorrow and melancholy can change existence , with both damon and de france really making their performances count .", "torna-se profundamente autoral n\u0433o apesar de suas falhas , mas - vejam s\u0443 como \u0439 o cinema - justamente em fun\u0437\u0433o destas .", "there i was , trapped in the dark , staring at a piercing light , and feeling the reaper 's icy claw fingering my throat . did i experience the afterlife ? no . just clint eastwood 's new film about it ." ], "summary": "despite a thought-provoking premise and clint eastwood 's typical flair as director , MOV fails to generate much compelling drama , straddling the line between poignant sentimentality and hokey tedium .", "id": "770863872" }, { "movie": "last_train_home-2009", "reviews": [ "contained in the simple story about one family 's progress in the new china is a larger message about globalization and the rapid dismantling of an entire culture .", "MOV is an intimate portrait of an unfathomable immensity , focusing on a single family caught up in the world 's largest mass migration .", "a riveting and big picture look at the social phenomenon unique to modern-day china and its rise as a capitalist power .", "this is essential viewing for understanding our world .", "sobering documentary examines the plight of migrant workers in china , as seen through the problems of the zhang family .", "tells the story of a family caught , and possibly crushed , between the past and the future -- a story that , on its own , is moving , even heartbreaking . multiplied by 130 million , it becomes a terrifying and sobering panorama of the present .", "it 's depressing enough to watch this family 's struggles with life . but their pain really hits home when you think that the pants you might be wearing could have contributed to it .", "the zhangs ' story is only one among millions , and fan 's portrait serves equally as an indictment of a social and industrial system .", "chinese-canadian director lixin fan presents the human cost of china 's economic rise in terms any parent or child can understand .", "lixin fan , handling his own cinematography , shoots with such a painterly eye that he almost undermines the social critique he 's making .", "it 's vivid and revealing , but it 's also tough to watch .", "an extraordinary debut film ... uncomfortably powerful and direct in its indictment of an entire way of living that the wealthier parts of the world take for granted .", "this small masterpiece of documentary filmmaking offers a human-scale look at the impact of china 's industrial growth .", "heartbreaking and humanistic in the best sense .", "MOV will tug at your heartstrings as it opens your eyes , but it also will make you feel incredibly lucky and more than a little spoiled .", "MOV finds a kind of desperate poetry in the hardships of the annual trip home ...", "director lixin fan gives a heartbreaking human voice to the downside of china 's economic upside -- causing us to question the intrinsic worth of ambition , be it individual , societal or national .", "MOV is a harrowing experience . do n't expect to come out smiling .", "lixin captures the messy tragedy of their lives with dignity and intimacy , and there are some scenes , such as a violent confrontation between father and daughter , that carry the sting of reality .", "despite being ruled by the communist party , the china depicted in this powerful documentary evokes karl marx : `` the bourgeoisie has torn away from the family its sentimental veil , and has reduced the family relation to a mere money relation . ''", "fan 's camera moves sinuously through these people 's lives and gives a human face to a national panorama .", "a raw compassionate spotlight on the ways in which public policy can impact on the personal lives of people . but what may have provided more clarity is what we do n't see , the factory owners who curiously escape the otherwise uncompromising camera 's eye .", "lixin fan 's amazingly intimate account could only be made with almost unlimited and unrestrained access -- a privilege that is n't abused and one that pays dividends for us in many ways .", "epic in scale and global in outlook yet devastatingly intimate and extraordinarily personal in focus ...", "rivaling china 's finest documentarians , first-time director lixin fan begins his MOV with a handful of unshakable images .", "rarely in a documentary does every shot matter as a bearer of emotion and information . lixin fan 's nonfiction debut , MOV -lrb- 2009 -rrb- , is just such an exceptional movie .", "this extraordinary chinese-canadian documentary illuminates the human price involved in china 's ascent into a global economic power : every year over 130 million migrant workers take an arduous journey back home .", "chinese-canadian director lixin fan considers the social upheavals wrought by china 's economic miracle .", "a startling and absolutely superb masterpiece of a documentary ...", "a moving film that succeeds both on a macro level and as a portrait of a single family struggling with problems both universal and specific to their time and place .", "lixin 's approach in the film has been to withhold direct commentary , either in the form of narration or on-screen interviews with her subjects .", "MOV stands as an impressive feature debut from the thirtysomething lixin fan and a harbinger of more great documentary cinema .", "an expert , unobtrusive observer , fan disappears inside his own film and allows us to get completely inside his subjects ' lives .", "stunning , hypnotic", "MOV is a startling look at the devastating human cost of china 's newfound embrace of capitalism .", "lixin plays up the atmospheric underclass misery in service of a beautifully shot , heartbreaking v\u00e9rit\u00e9 narrative about generation gaps and culture clashes .", "doing double duty as the film 's cinematographer , fan demonstrates a pitch-perfect photojournalistic eye .", "as in the recent sweetgrass and alamar , fan constructs a narrative from carefully observed reality that discerns individual pathos within the sweep of history .", "lixin fan 's MOV is a remarkable documentary that , by following a family of factory workers during a three-year period , says a lot about china and its difficult transition to economic powerhouse .", "an impressively photographed doc using one family to stand in for what each year forms the greatest migration in history .", "a poignant documentary that puts a human face on the plight of 130 million migrant workers in china who are pawns in the global marketplace .", "helmed by fan lixin , who also takes credits as d.p. and co-editor , the pic laudably adopts an intimate , personal approach to a subject -- hardworking chinese garment workers -- that 's been covered in more hectoring fashion elsewhere .", "on the one hand this is a very personal tale of one family 's struggle to make the best of trying circumstances , on the other it is a stinging indictment on a political and economic structure that is stretching families to breaking point .", "fan 's fly-on-the-wall perspective enables the viewer to empathize with all the players in the family drama , unlikely to have a happy ending .", "labor day weekend at the bourne bridge has nothing on new year 's in china .", "it 's a fascinating , heartbreaking attempt to capture the overwhelming hugeness , and harsh growing pains of china 's exploding economy , by focusing on one family .", "MOV suggests that the times they are a-changin ' . the rulers of china may someday regret that they distributed the works of marx so generously .", "directed by lixin fan , who also served as cinematographer and co-editor , `` the MOV '' is a timely and important documentary without being particularly great .", "what else do you want ? the question echoes down every frame of this haunting film , and fan does n't pretend to have an answer .", "absolutely fascinating for fans of cultural anthropology .", "i used to hate traveling and all the hassles it entails but after watching the arduous plight of so many millions who just want to go home to be with family , i feel as if i walked a mile in their shoes ." ], "summary": "MOV is a haunting , vivid documentary exploring the human toll of china 's economic boom in intimate , unforgettable detail .", "id": "771035594" }, { "movie": "this_film_is_not_yet_rated", "reviews": [ "dissects the current film ratings system with amusing impertinence .", "not yet rated is a doc that anyone with even a passing interest in movie censorship , sorry , classification , should seek out .", "makes its argument with compulsively watchable vigor and wit .", "... a hatchet job if you ever want to see one ... i was looking forward to this film , but found it a boring , biased , uninformative , disappointing lost opportunity .", "clearly presents the charges against the mpaa , the `` voluntary '' group that has systematized hollywood censorship .", "if they let you see it do so .", "is there a better system ? probably . but i do n't hear dick offering any answers .", "an impassioned piece of activist filmmaking that 's as persuasive and entertaining as it is disturbing .", "fascinating , amusing and ultimately disturbing .", "while MOV does not suggest an alternative to the ratings board , it does expose this tinseltown sham to some well-deserved public ridicule .", "dick does n't exactly blow the lid off the organization , but he lifts it enough to see what an outrageously flawed outfit we 're dealing with .", "... a much-needed muckraking documentary that rakes the wrong muck - at least if the filmmakers hope to inspire change .", "documentary filmmaker kirby dick is our f *** ing hero !", "for a film with this much argument in it , this film is remarkably entertaining .", "persuasively argues that the board is ineffective and crippled by conflicts of interest .", "funny , muckraking documentary .", "thumbing one 's nose at prudes can be fun , but it can also be childish and ultimately patronizing .", "while MOV may not present the most effective or airtight case against the mpaa , what it does dig up is damning enough .", "extremely amusing and as close a look as you 're likely to get at the mysterious workings of this self-appointed regulatory agency .", "a revealing , compelling , scabrous and funny look into a system characterized by through-the - looking-glass logic and kremlin-style secrecy .", "... a jazzy jeremiad that dances around the whole dilemma of ratings .", "the capper for MOV is kirby dick 's efforts to get the very film we are watching a rating from the mpaa .", "MOV may not be a great documentary , but as a piece of cinematic activism , it 's galvanizing .", "the film 's valid points are undermined by the director 's lazy rhetoric , juvenile humor , and grandstanding presence in much of the footage .", "it 's fun for a while . then you realize all this michael moore-ish folderol is weakening the movie 's strongest arguments .", "at its best , MOV , kirby dick 's hugely entertaining catalog of mpaa follies , inventories the inconsistencies of the institution that has rated films for 40 years .", "effectively presents the mpaa as a guarded , fascist regime .", "the same story in print would move more fleetly and makes its points more adroitly .", "unfolding like a detective story , filmmaker kirby dick sets out to find who is making the decision to label the movies we see", "a flawed but also very funny and very welcome attack on the motion picture ratings board .", "you can tell that dick , whose previous documentary derrida showed that he had serious chops , is having fun with this one . and a good part of the fun involves providing entertaining educational highlights for the public .", "winds up feeling shallow , padded and unrevealing .", "folks who care wo n't learn anything and folks who do n't , ca n't .", "a good idea executed with insuffient flair and clumsily put together .", "fascinating and fun", "a handy summary piece for many of the complaints about the mpaa over the years .", "given the continuing debate about ratings , it is of interest to film devotees and historians -- at least those who are n't offended by graphic content .", "the funniest part of MOV is the finale , as dick submits the very film we are watching to the mpaa for a rating . -lrb- guess what he gets . -rrb-", "like it or not , the mpaa ratings is a system in which we all participate -- which makes this film important to see if anything is ever going to change .", "although a couple of the film 's conclusions are as arbitrary and questionable as decisions by the board , MOV should be an eye-opener .", "what will make many viewers uneasy , though , is dick 's central quest .", "the film brings to light numerous complaints that informed film fans have had for years , and it does so in a smoothly informative and colorfully entertaining style .", "this film ... remembers to entertain as it illuminates , and it keeps its anger focused in a way that 's never preachy .", "content trumps form in the messy , entertaining MOV .", "MOV may be a mischievous , slanted and even angry piece of work , but it articulates a rage that filmmakers and film consumers have felt for years .", "might i suggest a new ratings category for the mpaa : np-21 -lrb- non-parents over the age of 21 might want to skip this one altogether -rrb- .", "raises some probing questions about the secrecy of ratings decisions in a way that entertains and educates audiences with or without agendas to protect film integrity .", "... i was mostly just nodding and agreeing most of the way through it , as i had already heard about most of these things before .", "none of the information here will surprise regular filmgoers , but it 's packaged amusingly , thanks to cheryl and becky , who demonstrate just how information is gathered .", "a gleefully slanted burn on the mpaa that 's as deliciously entertaining as `` super size me '' or `` bowling for columbine . ''", "-lsb- dick 's -rsb- recordings and reenactments of his skirmishes with the mpaa 's executives and lawyers make the association look like a fatuous kangaroo court that rules by fiat rather than reason .", "here 's hoping that the ground dick has broken continues to be mined by others .", "... a snapshot that should have any reasonable art lover concerned about this big homophobic gatekeeper trying to protect us , apparently , from ourselves .", "could there come a day when parents are able to take their children to a film rated harsher for decapitations than boobies ? well , we can dream ...", "most irksome to the makers of this film : mpaa raters , unlike those in 30 other countries , are anonymous and therefore , presumably , unaccountable .", "the movie is both clever and ruthless at exposing the ratings board 's inconsistencies and hypocrisy .", "kirby dick 's feisty , intellectually engaging documentary tries to illuminate an aspect of moviemaking and moviegoing that is deliberately left in the dark .", "the further its message goes , the greater the chance that someone will finally start watching a very irresponsible band of far-too-powerful watchmen .", "gonzo filmmaking ... detracts from the film 's more serious charges", "rated reveals the mysterious ways of the movie ratings board , otherwise known as the mpaa , and you wo n't believe your eyes .", "-lsb- kirby -rsb- dick has provided an invaluable service : the inclusion of the uncut , full-on puppet sex scene from team america : world police .", "this is guerrilla advocacy journalism without apology . but as you watch such cheeky bravado at work , something deep within you wonders whatever became of such investigative fervor among more mainstream reporters .", "a fascinating bit of cinematic espionage ... and for the most part , a total riot .", "this is a landmark denunciation of hollywood infantilisation and protectionism .", "MOV 's tone is breezy , its pace brisk , as dick coasts us through interviews , most of them with fellow travelers in the free-speech movement , a few with those from the other side .", "point made with wit and verve ...", "the picture , deliciously , catches mpaa representatives in one lie after another , picking up on their backtracking and doublespeak about their motives and modes of operation .", "a movie that might just shake up the world of movies .", "in a little more than 90 minutes , dick explores the hypocrisy of the way the mpaa treats sex , nudity , violence , and profanity ; provides insight into the arbitrary and secretive ratings process ; and names names .", "a real eye-opener about how the mpaa works ... or does n't work , depending on how you look at it .", "why we choose to watch the movies we watch is strictly personal , a matter of taste mediated by finance and geography . the nature of what we can watch is something else .", "the true test will be whether the movie will cause the organization to take a look at its own mission and policies .", "ick strikes a blow for every independent filmmaker who has ever been forced to comply with its restrictive mandates . some of his underhand tactics , however , make one pause .", "dick combines comic investigative stealth with documentary film shoe leather for an expos\u0439 that is as compelling as it is entertaining , about a group rife with conflicts of interest , whose competence is debatable and whose authority is dubious .", "... a very funny , frequently infuriating , and -lrb- of course -rrb- unrated expos\u0439 of the film rating board of the motion picture association of america .", "it takes balls for documentary filmmaker kirby dick to take on the all-powerful motional picture association of america -lrb- mpaa -rrb- ratings board .", "a damning documentary which indicts the mpaa as a thinly-veiled arm of the handful of hollywood studios which have come to dominate the film industry .", "in the absolute height of irony , MOV earned an nc-17 .", "um protesto importante e ocasionalmente revelador , mas que se enfraquece por n\u0433o oferecer alternativas vi\u0431veis ao sistema de classifica\u0437\u0433o da mpaa e pela auto-inclus\u0433o desnecess\u0431ria do diretor na discuss\u0433o .", "... a ringing indictment of a system that 's not just broken . it 's rigged and needs replacing .", "it makes a good case for some all-american free enterprise to come up with an alternative .", "... begins as an admirable attempt to understand why the mpaa 's rating system is what it is , and how it evolved into the strange and niggling monster it has become .", "a scathing indictment of the mpaa .", "an entertaining and strikingly important film , even if it slightly loses focus .", "sharp sendup of our protectors , the mpaa film ratings board .", "like a michael moore broadside , it ca n't stop ducking and darting between dimly related topics , hoping that the sheer momentum of scorn will see it through .", "kirby presents a vastly entertaining if also problematic inquiry of an incendiary subject : the notoriously secretive morally dubious , and gross inconsistencies of the rating board , america 's de-facto censorship organization .", "the more you love movies , the more this documentary will blow you away . this film may ` not yet be rated ' , but it rates as entertaining with me .", "as outrageous , and sometimes outrage-inspiring , entertainment , MOV is a blast . as a fair-minded look at the mpaa , it 's incomplete and rather off-balance .", "kirby dick 's indispensable guerrilla attack on the film-ratings system .", "in his merciless new documentary MOV , director kirby dick sticks it to the mpaa , finding enough hypocrisy and inconsistencies to justify scrapping the system for something entirely new .", "a funny , diverting look at the apparently kooky workings of the motion picture association of america 's ratings board .", "this is an agenda film , pure and simple , not as diabolically one-sided as a michael moore screed , but certainly as passionate and entertaining .", "ultimately , dick subordinates scholarship to passion , which may be exactly what it takes to convince mainstream moviegoers that they should care about a system that shortchanges them when they go to the movies .", "the gotcha journalism backfires ; instead of looking like a crew of crusading reporters unmasking the powerful , it just looks like a couple of practical jokers invading people 's privacy .", "for all the sound and fury , kirby does n't seem to entirely `` get '' that the only purpose of the ratings system in today 's information age is as a clintonesque symbolic gesture .", "is it possible for a documentarian to hit the bullseye and completely miss his mark on the same shot ?", "the abc 's of g , pg , pg-13 , r , and nc-17 are a knotty business , one that the oscar-nominated kirby tries valiantly and amusingly to untangle .", "a fascinating look at the clandestine organization that passes judgment on a movie 's acceptability to youthful moviegoers .", "the movie is driven not by the desire to explore one or two specific aspects of the problem in any depth , but to run through the long list of dick 's frustrations superficially", "this is an amusing film , less smart and provocative than its makers take it to be , and thin on sustained , rational argument and international perspective .", "kirby dick 's film is a scathing indictment of the motion picture association of america -lrb- mpaa -rrb- , and anyone with any interest in film should see it .", "... a damning , scathingly funny look at the scariest foe any professional filmmaker could take on ...", "a head-spinning mystery , a brisk history of motion picture censorship in the u.s. and entertaining , often hilarious , visual proof of hollywood 's hypocrisy in his latest film .", "if you care about the freedom of expression , including in the film industry , this documentary feature is important as a learning tool .", "takes a comical look at the ratings board and its nefarious activities in giving a film a rating .", "what the film does n't offer is much hope -- or much balance .", "a movie that is at once eye-opening and hilarious .", "dick bares the graphic inconsistencies in the hollywood ratings game , especially when it comes to the great divide between violence -lrb- bring it on -rrb- and sex -lrb- do n't take it off -rrb- .", "even if you 've never given a second thought to who bestows ratings on movies or how those ranks are given , kirby dick 's enlightening documentary will catch you up in its infectious spin of curiosity .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- has a refreshingly snotty sense of humor ... dick would put a banana peel out on ventura boulevard if he thought a -lsb- n mpaa -rsb- rater might slip on it .", "paroysiazei me anatreptiki diathesi , maniasmeno peisma kai dianooymenistiko sarkasmo tin tragiki geloiotita tis skiodoys epitropis , poy me adieykrinista kritiria kai kathagiasmeno etsithelismo , frontizei gia tin katharotita toy kinimatografikoy proiontos", "... a smug little documentary ..." ], "summary": "a fascinating and entertaining film that will open many eyes to the often-questioned tactics of the mpaa and their ratings sytem .", "id": "287865010" }, { "movie": "sir_no_sir", "reviews": [ "a powerful documentary that uncovers half-forgotten history , history that is still relevant but not in ways you might be expecting .", "zeiger ca n't resist overstating the extent of the gi peace movement , and his singular focus in hailing the protesters creates more than a few blind spots in his movie .", "sir ! no sir ! movingly captures the raw excitement of grunts discovering their power and their voices in their ability to resist .", "a tight , engrossing and excellent chronicle of the movement made by these heroic men who chose to question authority instead of falling in line .", "most soldiers in every war do n't want to fight . not all of them whine with the success these people had .", "makes its case insistently enough to raise the question why another war would seem like such a good idea so soon after the vietnam debacle .", "is sure to reheat the 40-year-old controversy between the two intractable sides of the vietnam war .", "it 's an invaluable record of what some soldiers felt about the war they fought and what some soldiers did about it when they returned home .", "hawks and doves alike should be grateful to zeiger for preserving a fascinating piece of american cultural history that the vets recount here .", "the appropriateness of the coup 's `` captain sterling 's little problem '' for a film about the gi antiwar movement during the vietnam war underlines the awful sameness of then and now .", "this compelling documentary by director david zeiger recounts what were more than half a million ` incidents of desertion ' during the war , many of them acts of direct rebellion against the legitimacy of the war .", "the doc proves to be an interesting , respectful portrait of vietnam vet protestors that ultimately lacks a much-needed measure of dramatic nuance and friction .", "offers nothing in the way of balancing the protest viewpoint ... -lsb- but -rsb- still usefully revisits -- during our current unpopular war -- the internal conflict of america during the vietnam war .", "this is an important chapter in the vietnam library of films .", "the voices of the veterans alone , however , make this an important and poignant film that can speak to any generation .", "a ` must-see ' documentary which seeks to return to the historical record the pivotal story of the gi anti-war movement during the vietnam war .", "sir ! no sir ! is a reminder of fonda 's star power , past and present ... her charisma and zeal have n't mellowed a bit .", "as it is , this one is compelling enough , a potent mix of outrage , residual anger , and sorrow that speaks not just to the legacy of our misadventures in vietnam , but to the entire uncertain future of a nation at war .", "this documentary is strong stuff with a powerful evocation of a past with strong implications about the present .", "here are your marching orders : check out this documentary for a fresh perspective on the vietnam war protests .", "zeiger has rallied remarkable faces and voices .", "whatever political side you 're on , you owe it to yourself to see sir ! no sir !", "zeiger presents a trippy alternative history that prompts questions about what today 's troops in iraq might be thinking .", "zeiger makes good use of archival footage , photos and sound bites from the period . and the frankness of his interview subjects is refreshing .", "not only a fascinating illumination of a blotted-out part of the counter-cultural , popular-protest '60s , but a timely questioning of patriotism and duty in the midst of an increasingly unjustifiable war .", "david zeiger 's documentary feature sir ! no sir ! might be described as a therapeutic film , since it seeks to cure some small part of america 's amnesia .", "i expected to emerge depressed by how long these stories have gone untold , but the speakers ' courage and humanity are a shot in the arm .", "we have n't got space to do justice to david zeiger 's important historical documentary sir ! no sir ! but suffice it to say that it will change your understanding of the vietnam era , even if you were alive then .", "the power sir ! no sir ! has as a film overrides any problems it presents .", "an aimless pastiche of archival footage and current interviews of former vietnam vets court-martialed and jailed for their anti-war activities .", "if there was such a widespread antiwar movement within the military , why did the war drag on so long ?", "sir ! no sir ! so vividly evokes the rage , passion and provocation of the era it chronicles that it feels up-to-the-minute .", "david zeiger 's superb documentary about the vietnam war era 's gi protest movement is jammed with incident and anecdote and moves with nearly as much breathless momentum as the movement itself .", "the soldiers ' disillusionment at what they saw in vietnam is palpable , and zeiger does a service by bringing their stories out of history 's forgotten files and into the light .", "-lsb- an -rsb- important and compassionate film .", "... an unexpected gem ...", "a film that threatens the war movement with every showing , the bush administration should outlaw it from all theatres within fifty miles of an armed forces recruiting station .", "this is powerful stuff , offering us not only a new look at the past , but to the unavoidably relevant insights into the present .", "in his smart , timely documentary , david zeiger remembers that war and the veterans whose struggles against it are too often forgotten .", "well worth seeing for the new view it provides on militaristic organization", "about an almost-forgotten fact of the vietnam era : anti-war sentiment among u.s. troops grew into a problem for the pentagon .", "shines a light on a forgotten corner of the antiwar movement : the men -lrb- and a few women -rrb- who returned from their tours of duty filled with doubt and disillusionment over what they saw , and did , there .", "because there 's a contemporary vibe to david zeiger 's informative vietnam war documentary , the film is able to exist on two separate -lrb- if unavoidably linked -rrb- plateaus .", "zeiger 's movie is a timely salute to the risky and brave men and women who had the temerity not only to think for themselves but to speak their minds .", "while a great number of former servicemen are interviewed for the film , their largely one-on-one recollections and testimonies are greatly magnified by the massive amount of archival visual footage presented here .", "recaptures the vietnam era 's revolutionary zeitgeist .", "an invigorating , compelling tribute to men and women who exhibited real courage and commitment on a different kind of battlefield .", "honors those who fought , then questioned the morality of that fight , then joined the national protest .", "in seeking to express its outrage over the vietnam war , sir ! no sir ! loses its moral compass , conflating dissidence and traitorousness , and confusing friends with the enemies of their enemies .", "have you heard about the thousands of gi 's who refused to go on any more combat missions because they believed the war was wrong ? ` sir , may we have an explanation of why we 're fighting , sir ? '", "because it 's bolstered by proud memories of vietnam vets who turned against the war , sir ! no sir ! rings with an exultant , even elated tone .", "illuminates the past while providing lessons for today 's peace movement . an outstanding documentary ." ], "summary": "a powerful reflection on a pivotal era , from a viewpoint seldom visited , this documentary hits home , especially with its relevance to current events .", "id": "395114709" }, { "movie": "wages_of_fear", "reviews": [ "an expertly directed , personally felt film .", "the kind of motion picture for which commonplace phrases like ` white-knuckle tension ride ' have been coined .", "the film 's extended suspense sequences deserve a place among the great stretches of cinema .", "the most nail-bitingly tense movie ever made , unbearably suspenseful .", "excellent , but nasty stuff .", "a terrific portrait of the class struggle that happens to have a few cases of nitro strapped to it to up the ante from the metaphorical to the extremely physical .", "the excitement derives entirely from the awareness of nitroglycerine and the gingerly , breathless handling of it . you sit there waiting for the theatre to explode .", "one of the most suspenseful films ever made .", "a brilliant , though frankly overlong , exercise in filmmaking that creates a stunning portrait of a miserable corner of the world .", "one of the all-time great truck movies .", "a film that works , and works well enough to get audible gasps from the audience .", "one of the best existential thrillers ever made , clouzot 's 1952 film , which won the cannes fest palme d'or , is just as fresh , suspenseful , gritty and haunting today as it was decades ago ; good companion piece to clouzot 's diabolique .", "a nail-biting drama that 's a must-see .", "a significant influence on peckinpah 's the wild bunch , this grueling pile driver of a movie will keep you on the edge of your seat .", "a harrowing odyssey of four derelicts inching two trucks loaded with nitro-glycerine over a tortuous terrain puts this in the strong meat department with a downbeat theme of fear and its manifestations .", "a perfect blend of suspense and social satire .", "a reeking bandana movie , with all the expected thrills , but a vision of men as scurrying insects with no redeeming features .", "-lsb- an -rsb- existential suspense classic .", "the MOV is a frantic , vicious , existentialist howl that still manages to laugh ; it goes grinning into the void .", "clouzot 's camera captures the suspense as visually as hitchcock", "one of the all-time great exercises in tension", "a certified classic with one of the most famous plots in film history .", "a classic suspense film ... also the screen equivalent of a classic existentialist drama ... the chemical reaction clouzot gets from these genres is pure dynamite . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "`` MOV '' is an uncompromising parable about money , greed , and man 's jealous desire for that which he can never have . yves montand is outstanding in this gritty and unrelentingly suspenseful picture .", "an extraordinarily gripping thriller from henri-georges clouzot that establishes and maintains a level of tension rarely equalled elsewhere in cinema .", "now seems much less like salt of the earth-as-a-potboiler and a lot more like the spiritual godfather to every testosterone-fuelled thrill ride since .", "`` the MOV '' is as much about manufactured fear as it is about the folly of courage that feeds on it .", "when contrabandists become businessmen and human life is blown away as simply as the tobacco in a half-rolled cigarillo , heroism and grace are notions that wither in the heat", "hitch 's bomb-under-the-table suspense formula burnished to an expert sheen .", "the MOV contains tension-fraught stretches of `` pure cinema '' that probably gave even the master cold sweats .", "turning the screws with a relentlessness that impresses even in this age of the ruthless , high-tech thriller , clouzot strings together situations of vividly , almost sadistically imagined danger .", "anti-capitalist exciting existential adventure film ." ], "summary": "an existential suspense classic , the MOV blends nonstop suspense with biting satire ; its influence is still being felt on today 's thrillers .", "id": "19770" }, { "movie": "green_hornet", "reviews": [ "the story falls apart , while gondry ratchets up the silly action so far over the top the structure of the film ca n't support it .", "the MOV 's only victory is that it is n't flat awful .", "rogen 's image and his attitude as co-screenwriter of the MOV updates the bland superhero template using comic irreverence .", "what opens as a 21st-century variation on hudson hawk -lrb- and i mean that as a compliment -rrb- soon trades in its gleeful weirdness for a pineapple express-style blend of rote action and abrasive , unfunny comedy .", "the interplay between the MOV and straight man kato delights , overshadowing cameron diaz as a mutual love interest .", "with j\u00e4ger , it 'd probably be a blast .", "part origin story , part spoof , part bromance -- the movie ca n't decide . it winks at itself constantly , but only to hide its cluelessness .", "gondry 's biggest success is recognising that superheroes can still be funny , and embracing that in every part of this film .", "3d , 4d . you can throw double-d 's at the MOV , and you 'll still end up with c-minus .", "this is not the MOV . it 's barely an action movie .", "even if you `` get '' what the MOV is trying to do , it is never terribly enjoyable .", "really inventive .", "a facetious industrial product , and the first out-and-out bore of the year .", "rogen has re-created -lrb- britt reid -rrb- as a buffoonish , almost maxwell smart-ish hero , with a childlike ego that is one of the more infuriating elements of the film ... -lrb- but -rrb- where the film really works is when gondry cuts loose .", "one of those annoying movies that has enough good stuff in it that it ca n't be dismissed out-of-hand , but enough deficits that one is hard-pressed to praise it .", "-lsb- s -rsb- hows a kind of ambition that 's rare in superhero flicks . it 's ambitious in the `` let 's make something that 's funny and original and cool and exciting '' sense . not the `` let 's spend 100million on flying cgi robots , and to hell with ideas '' sense .", "a great evening 's entertainment when you want to switch off and dip your head in some popcorn .", "it is confident , sly , silly , thrilling , and a nice tribute to the genre and the character both .", "fans of seth rogen , who co-wrote , co-produced and starred in this new 3d version of the radio and tv series will enjoy this mildly engaging but repetitive adventure -- the rudimentary plot , infantile humor and action are targeted at very young viewers", "not as bad as its release date implies nor as good as its creative team suggests .", "a surprisingly funny and ingeniously clever take on superheroes ... the MOV certainly sets the bar high for other superhero movies coming out this year .", "there 's nothing here but a concept and a marketing and merchandising strategy , at the center of which somebody - oh , no - had to come up with an actual movie .", "this appears to be a breakout role for the talented and charismatic chou , whose star should rise in hollywood . the movie is full of visual eye candy that includes use of a split screen and rapid editing to speed up the car chases and ...", "the picture has no reason to exist , yet exist it does , thus between movies that might be good and movies that might be exciting , it fills this unenviable slot as neither .", "all buzz , no sting .", "there 's so little at stake here that nothing much matters except for a good time .", "special note must be made of the picture 's pitiful 3d conversion , which rivals that of clash of the titans for pure ineffectuality .", "a long , snarky , borderline disdainful parody that 's also an inferior imitation of the movies it mocks . no , thank you .", "dear fat seth rogen , i miss you .", "rogen 's reid does n't become a crime fighter for an altruistic reasons : he does it as a lark because he thinks it will be fun . rogen 's hornet is basically the comic relief . and that is what throws the movie a-kilter .", "hard to think of a more mystifying mismatch of filmmaker and material .", "you 'd expect gondry 's version of a superhero movie to be either brilliantly creative or spectacularly misguided , and it 's neither ; just sporadically funny but more often plodding .", "in this hodge-podge of creativity , this kinky mess , there is unbridled zest and an almost innocent sense of joy", "there are some nifty things in between the lulls ...", "while it sports a few spare parts that do n't quite click , this souped-up superhero vehicle runs smoothly enough thanks to a savvy sense of humor and the charisma of its central crime-fighting duo .", "the movie these guys have come up with is fresh , funny and a bewildering surprise .", "the film 's only unqualified success is the end title sequence -- because it 's genuinely stylish , because it looks like it was shot in genuine 3-d and , most of all , because it 's the end .", "almost everything about the film is disappointing .", "gondry 's `` MOV '' does not have a serious bone in his body . its goal is to satirize superhero motifs - mainly , the idea of the ethnic sidekick .", "a joy ride of a film that evades the self-consciousness that stalls so many other recent comic-book adaptations , it is one of the best superhero movies ever .", "the MOV is a disjointed jumble of gag laughs , goofy stunts , and bizzare casting .", "rogen is just playing a version of the good-natured , wisecracking slacker he plays in everything , which never feels like a comfortable fit alongside the coolly efficient chou .", "jay chou is actually quite appealing as kato , both a buddy and rival to the hornet , especially once britt hires lenore case -lrb- cameron diaz -rrb- as his sentinel secretary , a move that brings out the sexist in rogen and the sexiness in chou .", "seth rogen , superhero ? it 's nearly impossible to wrap the mind around such an outlandish idea , almost on the same level as sarah palin as u.s. president or ricky gervais as the next recipient of the golden globes lifetime achievement award .", "his qualifications for the job seem to be : 1 . having a limitless supply of money . 2 . having a side-kick that does all the work .", "they cast seth rogan in the lead role . big mistake !", "for a film with so many potentially hallucinatory avenues , imagination seems to be a worthless currency .", "there is no grand sense of justice or even vengeance driving the MOV ; it is just that kicking ass might be fun , and it turns out it is .", "michel gondry 's frivolous , exuberant film is a hard one to embrace .", "despite its obvious angling to become a franchise , this MOV offers little that 's worth committing to even the `` cult flick '' chamber of your brain .", "perhaps we should be grateful that the MOV is a perfectly enjoyable seth rogen movie ... but it 's a major missed opportunity when you consider the michel gondry spectacle that it came so close to being .", "... what could have been a typical costumed crusader effort turns into one of 2011 's early delights .", "an admirable yet underwhelming attempt at something a little different .", "a bit shapeless as a story but relies on the charm of rogen and a few big set pieces to connect the dots .", "purists may end up in tears over this comedy , but those seeking a lighthearted romp -lrb- handed a gratuitous 3d conversion -rrb- with some wicked smashmouth theatrics might welcome this superhero change of pace .", "witless , charmless , clumsy and appallingly unenjoyable , the MOV is almost unrecognizable as having come from the same , endlessly inventive storehouse of creativity as eternal sunshine of the spotless mind .", "a pretty entertaining piece of pop cinema that is probably going to turn out to be the strangest expenditure of a rumored $ 130 million budget that is likely to hit the multiplexes anytime soon .", "the MOV provides a half-hour 's worth of mildly entertaining travesty before collapsing in a clamor of bombastic action sequences and lame wisecracks .", "michel gondry has crafted an irreverently funny , ultramodern take on the 1930s radio serial , with a vibe so casual you half expect star seth rogen to amble off screen and put his feet up on the seat next to you .", "there might be a funny movie in a story about a crime fighter who 's in it only for the publicity , but `` the MOV '' is n't it .", "rogen seems to want to convince the world that a big dumb stoner can be successful , because , hey , what the heck , it worked for him , but britt reid/the MOV does n't have that redemption and growth .", "quite a bit less than the sum of its appealing parts .", "a trashy superhero comedy -lrb- in yawnsome 3d -rrb- that tries to reproduce the innocent charm of its origins as a 1930s radio serial .", "there 's simply no center here , no sense that someone is guiding the ship .", "a better , stranger movie can be glimpsed straining to be noticed behind rogen 's standard goofery .", "in what universe do we need a comic-book-superhero movie starring seth rogen and directed by boy-man-ish critics ' darling -lrb- although not this critic -rrb- michel gondry in fake 3-d ?", "gondry is an incredible visual stylist and he 's showing off in a way that fits perfectly with the loose style of the movie .", "depending on where your tolerance level is for seth rogen , you may enjoy this movie or you may hate it . still , it 's a fun ride and enjoyable to watch .", "an uneven , dull and painfully asinine action comedy that 's neither thrilling , funny nor visually stylish enough to deliver pure entertainment . go rent kick-ass instead .", "when it works , which is more than half of the time of the time , it 's a cheerful little romp that refuses to take itself seriously", "... rowdy , discordant , subversive and thoroughly modern , exactly what you 'd expect when a stoner and a visual genius team up ...", "superhero movies often must deal with the problem of villains being more charismatic than heroes . but when your hero is so annoying that you find yourself rooting for anyone who could potentially take him out , it 's a real problem for the movie .", "these are just two people who wanted to do cool stuff and had the money and talent -lrb- at least kato did -rrb- to do it . it was nice watching a comic book movie where there was n't much brooding or tales of woe involved .", "has there ever been a time when i wanted the hero to die so badly , as badly as in this film ? no .", "`` the MOV '' has enough kicks and verve to keep the winter blues at bay , at least for a little while .", "is gondry aware that he 's making a film about both white male privilege and sexual harassment in the workplace ?", "while the package as a whole never truly strikes a consistent tone , the boundless energy , surprisingly irreverent dialogue , and creative action sequences carry the day .", "this morning , the unconscious bodies of three pickpockets were found in front of the post 's offices . safety-pinned to one was an envelope containing the following movie review .", "rogen may have lost weight for this role , but it hardly matters-he 's still doing a more charming version of butt-head , aged twentysomething . you know by now if that works for you or not .", "relegating the film to january and uselessly converting it into ugly , barely-there 3-d so inadequate it might as well be billed as 2 1/4 - d , the studio 's decisions contradictorily stink of both desperation and defeat .", "the mvp is jay chou as kato , who is as much britt reid 's superior as the valet jeeves and the dog gromit are superior to their alleged ` masters ' in the works of p.g. wodehouse and nick park .", "dumb , unfocused movie that is neither comedy nor action-thriller .", "not an abject failure , but still , not a film that recognizes its own strengths . at its best , it aspires to two dimensions . three dimensions is far beyond its grasp .", "the writer who first conceived of the MOV was , in fact , paving the way for the martial arts hero . this film has done the opposite .", "a too-clever-by-half attempt to both satirize and celebrate the superhero genre .", "high hopes of magic from the gondry-rogen pairing are dashed . some neat touches aside , this is n't so much eternal sunshine , more superbad .", "while it may not ultimately prove memorable enough to launch a new film franchise , the MOV is still a fun action-comedy and clever superhero satire that 's about as close to a cool summer movie as you 're going to get in the dead of winter .", "there are elements of a sharp hero/sidekick inversion here : kato is the handsome , brilliant inventor and karate expert ; britt is , well , rich enough to pay the salary of someone like kato . but the inversion is inevitably incomplete .", "spews noxious gas and obnoxious patter .", "at least seth rogen has the good sense to wear a mask for much of the MOV . if i 'd made this movie , i 'd want to hide my face too .", "the film wavers uncomfortably between parody and homage , between deconstructing the excesses of the genre and simply indulging in them .", "absurd yet entertaining", "this is an overlong , empty bore that squanders its possibilities .", "as a journalist , i ca n't come down too hard on a film 's action scenes when they include a half of a car speeding through a newsroom and a shootout in an area where massive spools of newspapers are stored .", "a big , sloppy , loud , grating mess of a movie .", "here 's a 3-d movie that should have been shot in zero-d .", "a lively but sloppy update for kato and the MOV .", "as directed by michel gondry , hornet 's visuals have a few pixilated flourishes . but the production design is more cluttered than eye-catching , and the near-pointless use of 3-d simply muddies the photography .", "good buddy-buddy chemistry between chou and rogan , along with some inspired carnage in the last half hour make the MOV a rare treat in a traditionally slow month .", "gondry 's film does have its goofy charms , even though it never quite decides what kind of movie it wants to be .", "i 'm pleased to report that the movie is entirely watchable and often pretty fun , in a mishmashed , patchy kind of way . put that on your poster , columbia pictures !", "`` everything before this has been crap '' , says rogen during the explosive finale . many will agree .", "rogen tests the limits of his likeability as the spoilt brat who inherits an empire while gondry scrabbles for the right tone .", "um longa que n\u0433o s\u0443 desaponta pelo roteiro , mas tamb\u0439m -lrb- e a\u043d o choque \u0439 maior -rrb- pela dire\u0437\u0433o nada inspirada de seu realizador .", "full review at movies for the masses", "derivative of several molds and unable to really take command of any of them .", "a childish film written from a grade school perspective with neither quality nor excitement .", "... an uneven , disastrously overlong piece of work .", "aside from a brief split-screen sequence and a few deft special-effects , there 's almost no sizzle to this goofy take on superheroics .", "for what problems it does have it is a genuinely different take on this kind of material with a firm focus on action , character and humor . no one else should ever attempt to make a superhero movie quite like this , but for the MOV it works .", "give me loose , idiosyncratic , comic meandering over stone-faced business-as-usual any day . it is n't the movie you 're expecting , but it 's got its authors ' grubby handprints all over it .", "gondry and rogen walk a fine line between fairly brainless bro-medy and occasionally knowing examination of the superhero genre .", "seeing this movie in 3-d adds nothing to the experience . the most in-your-face thing about the movie is the crippling insecurity of all the main players , which rendered it painfully difficult to care about them . waltz is delightful .", "the first nearly awful film of 2011 .", "the movie lopes along from one half-baked scene to the next , interrupted on occasion by car-porn sequences involving the hero 's luminous limo the black beauty .", "what happens when smart people set out to make a dumb movie . they made the movie they wanted to watch , rather than the one anyone else might want to .", "pointless goof of a film , ca n't decide if it wants to be a superhero movie or a parody of one .", "it 's a strange , shapeless , rarely satisfying , but generally amiable movie in which everyone appears to be faking it as they go along , and almost -- almost -- getting away with it .", "rogen is n't the obvious choice for a comic book icon but he forces his personality onto this material with an ingratiating ease .", "brings together almost a dream team of elements which add up to only a very small fraction of the sum of their parts . the movie 's just a huge mess .", "by the time the MOV collapses into a mess of hackneyed car chases and flying glass and bullets , it feels less like the promised irreverent take on the superhero genre , and more like the latest iteration of the rush hour movies .", "-lsb- a -rsb- n aggressively goofy spoof of the modern dark , grim vigilante drama ... with as much cartoonish , chaotic energy it can muster ... and more than a little meta cunning , too .", "the choice of seth rogen to topline this crimebusting bromedy proves an unlikely but ultimately shrewd one , plugging the void at the heart of the character with an outsize comic persona .", "... loud and violent , if not annoying .", "can a genius and an average joe pair up and put egos aside to serve mindless adventure ? gondry and rogen have .", "-lrb- the -rrb- first unapologetic crowd-pleasing , fist-pumping , just-for-fun popcorn flick of 2011 .", "the MOV may well be michel gondry 's most elaborate meta-joke on escapist infantilism .", "all the buzz in the world is not going to make the latest incarnation of the beloved 75-year-old radio/serial/comic book legend a fond memory for many viewers this month .", "the MOV is n't a michel gondry film , but a seth rogen film to which gondry has been strapped and forced to say the word `` action ! '' , seemingly at gunpoint .", "there 's just enough novelty , action and comedy in the tank to see this film teeter across the finish line , even if it does cough and splutter for much of the journey .", "it 's not a superhero film ; it 's an exuberant anti-superhero film that exists with no agenda except to delight .", "fun , full of action , and just serious enough to work without becoming ridiculous .", "the un-rush hour !", "casting -lsb- seth -rsb- rogen as a crimefighting hero may sound dubious , until you see how the film understands and embraces the disconnect .", "michel gondry directs and while there 's little of his usual surreal flair there are moments when he puts his mark on the explosive mayhem , giving it the style of a live-action looney toons cartoon .", "does it work ? yes , if you like rogen , but if you do n't you 'll feel that gondry has fiddled too much with the original by giving his star full rein .", "the MOV puts the masked avenger at the centre of a flimsy , illogical plot and series of headache-inducing action sequences that strain the eyes in 3d .", "rogen looks like he 's waiting for the real leading man to turn up . and where exactly are the jokes ?", "hornet is a hilarious and action packed film that is one of the most satisfying action-buddy-comedies ever made .", "while on its own lowbrow terms the movie may work well enough , ` kick-ass ' outpoints this ` smart-ass ' cousin by a wide margin .", "once you get to the fiends and fights that make a comic book movie really work , things go stale .", "seth rogen is the MOV . what else do you need to know ?", "an anemic , 97-pound weakling of the action comedy persuasion , `` hornet '' is a boring bromedy that features mumblecore heroics instead of the real thing .", "`` MOV '' works both as an action movie and as a deconstruction of an action movie .", "the film is a blast .", "touted as a disaster even before its release , its off-beat tale , visual styling and casting proves that the franchise has more than a little sting left in its tail .", "i 'm beginning to suspect that writer-producer-actor seth rogen is up to foul play .", "the film is a bit uneven at times , but when it 's firing on all cylinders , the MOV is far too entertaining not to enjoy .", "`` the MOV '' is the first exciting family film of 2011 !", "even as a mindless diversion , it 's weak .", "i thought only flies liked piles of dung , but hornets must , too . maybe that 's the reason for the evacuated pile titled the MOV .", "this is one occasion where too many cooks in the kitchen actually ended up making some pretty tasty junk food .", "team the acting and writing of seth rogen and evan goldberg with the artsy-fartsy directing of michel gondry and they 'd turn gone with the wind into a quirky comedy .", "what should have been , could have been . it sure is n't this green slacker .", "seth rogen 's character should have evolved with humility and authenticity by relinquishing his bogus stranglehold as the MOV and becoming the guy who smokes a fat blunt better than you but only kicks ass like your great grandma .", "seth rogen , jay chou , cameron diaz and christoph waltz try to bring their characters to life in this campy action flick -- but the results end up uneven at best .", "the MOV attempts to mock its own genre , but it forgets to deliver a compelling characters along the way .", "this boorishly irreverent superhero sendup is a fiasco , sustained only by its fx .", "a solid opening and a mayhem-laden third act can not make up for an utter mess of a middle hour or for the utter lack of charisma by jay chou as kato .", "the fight scenes , filmed in what i 'll call `` kato-vision , '' are top shelf and rival anything you 'd find in the `` matrix '' world .", "the MOV is crass , unimaginative , unexciting , and not very funny . i was hoping it would at least be mindless fun but it ends up just being mindless .", "an action film that does n't excite and a comedy you never laugh at .", "as a crime-fighting duo , britt and kato have the sophistication and finesse of a pair of middle school boys on a joy ride .", "even so-so hornet forerunners like the phantom -lrb- and certainly downright thrilling one-shots like the rocketeer -rrb- are more entertaining than this cheesy and borderline-boring cream puff of a vigilante .", "if you enjoy watching a lead character that 's so annoying and such a jerk that you 'd like to punch him in the face yourself , then the MOV is for you .", "you 'll have an absolute blast watching the MOV , but its constantly goofy demeanor takes some of the sting out of it .", "the big-screen MOV , while hardly classic comic-book filmmaking , ai n't half bad .", "superhero `` bromance '' is funny but overly childish .", "however long and honourable its pedigree , goes in one brain synapse and out the other ...", "slick , sly and ever-soslightly subversive , the MOV is an irreverent comedy bound to annoy comic-book purists - usually a good sign - and sure to delight everyone else . think this year 's kick-ass .", "the MOV smoked crack with superman and met craigslist chicks with wolverine . he 's a bad influence and a good time . and he 's much more entertaining on screen , too .", "-lsb- video -rsb- `` the MOV '' suffers from an incoherent disconnect between its not-so-heroic title character and his upstaging sidekick kato -lrb- well played by jay chou -rrb- .", "the MOV is the usual numbing , postmodern pastiche -- which is ironic , since the premise is supposed to be retro , a throwback to a simpler , less synthetic analog age done in digital style .", "though tonally uneven , hornet nonetheless works as breezy , irreverent entertainment that makes a virtue of its unlikely elements .", "did i mention that the movie 's in 3-d ? someone should have let gondry know .", "while this latest rogen-penned iteration is a game try , it feels a bit like he 's trying to make a volume out of a footnote .", "it is a patchy film , haltingly paced , but the visual invention is astonishing .", "and now here it is , and we see it really was a joke after all . thing is , it 's supposed to be .", "though there 's enough material to fill 119 minutes , i am not persuaded that anything actually happens .", "it has more of a sting than you might think .", "if unmodulated decibel level and childish , dorkish energy alone could lower a city 's crime rate , then consider the cartoon bad guys of cartoon los angeles flattened .", "even the direction of michel gondry is a wipeout . the frenchman was a late recruit to the project , but precious few glimpses of his trademark surrealism are detected .", "i 'd hoped for better , but expected worse , which means that michel gondry 's the MOV is at best -- or at worst -- a mixed bag of a movie .", "it has what is expected of this kind of movie , cool visual effects , martial arts action , car chases , explosions , shootouts and lots of james bond-style gadgets .", "` MOV ' feels like a 20-car pileup of conflicted ideas with a lame plot buried underneath the rubble .", "hornet lacks sting .", "despite some entertaining moments , this long-in-gestation crime-fighter feature never reaches top speed .", "throughout the MOV i really wanted jay chou 's kato to beat the **** out of seth rogen 's britt reid . that , in a nutshell , defines both the thing i liked most about MOV and one of my biggest problems with the film .", "hornet fans across generations will enjoy connecting this modern version to its pop-cultural roots stretching back more than seven decades ,", "-lsb- it -rsb- clocks in at a bloated 118 minutes . there is not , i promise you , 118 minutes worth of vital plot , special effects or comic business in this movie .", "this had potential to be something of an action thrill ride , or at least a comedic , campy take on the usual superhero formula , but what we end up with is a directionless , pointless backdrop for blowing things up with some martial arts thrown in for kicks .", "a pleasingly average superhero movie whose greatest triumph is avoiding disaster .", "there are some good ideas here but they 're buried under masses of conventional superhero dross and half hearted execution . this is one vigilante who should really just leave all the hard work to the police .", "a dud , that has a few bright spots .", "aside from the james franco cameo , this story is one disappointment after another .", "the whole film feels fairly self indulgent on seth rogen 's part . it 's rather dull and quite a letdown .", "i like seth , you like seth . we all like seth . badly miscast , here . and so was the director .", "this movie would a helluva lot better with paper mache sets .", "too much . too numbing . too coy . and ultimately too violent .", "the movie is extremely loud and none too funny .", "equal parts amusing and tedious - but not in any sense the disaster some have called it .", "it remains a rare franchise reboot where the sense of playfulness outweighs that of strained psychological depth or grim commercial obligation .", "chou steals the show , especially when he speeds into action in glorious kato-vision .", "the seth rogen spin was just what this movie needed . rogen and jay chou are a dynamic duo indeed !", "the MOV looks and feels as if it were made by a bunch of -lrb- highly talented -rrb- 10-year-old boys . taking any pleasure in the film depends on your willingness to let your inner-child run rampant .", "it 's hard to shake the sense of well-known figures cashing in on a superhero craze that does n't quite fit them , and trying to but never fully making it their own .", "despite the talent involved , this ends up an underwhelming superhero flick marred by dull action and non-existent chemistry between the cast .", "`` the MOV '' is an almost unendurable demonstration of a movie with nothing to be about .", "a very successful balance between rogen 's sort of irreverent , off-the-cuff humor and gondry 's limitless , carefully-planned creativity", "enjoyable , frequently funny and occasionally subversive comedy with a strong script , likeable performances and some impressively directed action sequences , though it does drag a bit towards the end .", "an inventive anti-hero theme sets this film apart from the usual superhero movie , but excessive violence and incoherent action leave it deeply frustrating to watch .", "featuring an eclectic cast and unusual choice of filmmaker , the MOV succeeds as an experiment done right .", "the MOV does n't seem worth the outrageous 3-d-glasses surcharge . in all senses , there 's little that jumps out at you .", "you know , superhero comedy is tricky . they ca n't all be blankman .", "the latest hornet , perhaps the most radical makeover of all , is more slapstick than sting and less masquerading noir crime fighter than deluded cartoonish geek avenger , while seemingly referencing both tarantino 's comedy of cruelty and tom and jerry .", "as much a comedy as it is an action movie , actually it 's better than that , it 's one of the all too rare modern movies which manages to be both .", "a superhero movie with the soul of a bromance , the MOV is consistently mildly amusing but never quite as fun as it should be .", "injecting a devil-may-care attitude into a franchise-focused blockbuster only gets you so far . when all is said and done , this wasp 's got no sting .", "rogen 's tongue-in-cheek take on a superhero is the film 's best -- maybe only -- winning feature , but he makes this low-expectations film more entertaning than you might think .", "floats like a butterfly , stings like a gnat .", "chou -lsb- is -rsb- charismatic when his feet and fists are flying but far from nimble when he opens his mouth ... which knocks the film 's would-be buddy-comedy bromance on the head .", "this hornet is a big , boisterous action-comedy - a funny , exciting and intentionally goofy summer movie that just happens to arrive in the middle of january .", "words that i never thought i 'd type , but must after viewing seth rogen 's take on the MOV : i miss van williams .", "it 's actually one of the better superhero movies of recent years , and for at least 60 % of its runtime it delivers on all the promise of its hipster-royalty cast and crew .", "while the MOV is a passable time killer , cineastes might go into shock that such an unremarkable piece of hollywood mulch was helmed by french whiz kid michel gondry .", "gondry 's contributions to the film amount to little more than rainbow sprinkles atop a very vanilla piece of cinema .", "-lsb- gondry -rsb- has done a stellar job of putting his wacky auteurial stamp on a comedy which is only semi-coherent but still very funny and impeccably fashioned ." ], "summary": "it 's sporadically entertaining , but the MOV never approaches the surreal heights suggested by a michel gondry/seth rogen collaboration .", "id": "770678817" }, { "movie": "grocers_son", "reviews": [ "a movie begging this hard to be loved is unattractive .", "the quiet , patient soulfulness of the film , which guirado co-wrote with florence vignon , lingers .", "a sweet tale of a man learning to care about others , the grocer 's son is still simpleminded on a very fundamental level .", "conveys the stultifying mechanics of human labor through sheer repetition , while aspiring to subtle moments of insight rarely captured in movies , as to how work comes to define who we are and how our lives play out on the planet .", "given that eric guirado 's drama sticks to a predictable arc , it 's less the tale that matters than the telling .", "a small , self-assured film that moves at its own pace , always staying one graceful step ahead of its reluctant protagonist .", "-lsb- a -rsb- small gem of a film .", "will deliver to audiences who embrace a well-acted , written and directed story that immerses one in a rarified milieu of rustic charm .", "it 's a sweet , low-key charmer .", "guirado 's genuine affection for the people of provence and their genteel lifestyle engenders an honest warmth and coziness that carries the film breezily through its less-inspired moments .", "cazal\u00e9 makes an appealing hero even at his most sullen and resentful , and clotilde hesme is a breath of fresh air as the platonic girlfriend for whom he has unexpressed feelings .", "a love of unspoiled countryside and its sturdy people suffuses this film , which unfolds with subtlety , humor and affection -- and becomes in the process a pure enchantment .", "the plot of `` the grocer 's son '' is familiar , but its impressionistic visual stylings are at once lyrical and precise , gestures toward character rather than pronouncements .", "ignore the boorish main character , and the grocer 's son is salvageable as a celebration of rustic pleasures .", "much of the joy of eric guirado 's beautifully judged film lies in the way he allows us to become part of the characters ' lives", "this is intimate cinema , rewarding for the way it takes its time .", "eric guirado 's film is an engaging combination of coming of age , family drama and romance , with a teaspoon of provencal remedies thrown in .", "a film that sticks close to its characters and plays fair with them throughout .", "this is very surehanded filmaking from eric guirado , and it 's a world away from the trendy nostalgia of city folk for country ways in recent french comedies .", "the real joy of the film comes from the many charmed moments of naturalism in which director-co-writer eric guirado captures the interaction between people of different worlds with luminous authenticity .", "the location shooting in the narrow lanes and small communities is good , and among antoine 's customers there are some really wonderful characters ...", "an engaging combination of coming of age , family drama and romance , with a teaspoon of provencal remedies thrown in", "unfolding amid the dappled sunshine and dusty roads of provence , this is a film that lifts your spirits .", "in its slow-moving , at times uncomfortable way , this is a heartwarming film .", "the landscape with mont sainte-victoire regularly in view is seductively beautiful .", "written and directed by a newcomer , eric guirado , this is a delightful coming-of-age film that quietly explores the hidden tensions in family life .", "writer/director eric guirado lets events unfold at their own relaxed pace , and has a feel for simmering family resentments , while the wonderful clotilde hesme is effortlessly charming in the role of the free-spirited best friend .", "a warm-hearted tribute to a disappearing way of life , the unhurried grocer 's son is a well acted film where the journey is more important than the final destination .", "it 's a small , well-rounded movie that you 'd be hard pressed to find fault with , achieving its modest goals with subtle aplomb while whipping up humour and empathy from antoine 's rapport with his doddery clientele .", "a little predictable in places , but explores family relationships with pathos and perception .", "this is a sweet and engaging little film , and though it becomes more contrived and sugary as the story progresses , there is real charm .", "this is a slow-burning charmer of a film that rewards those prepared to settle into its easygoing pace .", "the lead actors are hot and the living is easy in the french summertime idyll le fils de l'epicier -lrb- the grocer 's son -rrb- .", "eric guirado 's documentary background grants a rare richness of detail and unforced humor to his seductive second feature .", "anyone who takes a chance on this unpromising import will be richly rewarded .", "it 's not a great movie , but it is a beguiling one : a gallic version of american films such as doc hollywood or cars , in which a city-dweller opens up to life when he succumbs to the languid pace and the intense one-on-one relationships of the country .", "if more americans were ok with subtitles , the grocer 's son would be the perfect sunday-night tv movie .", "for all of its sleepy charms and pretty shots of the countryside , the film does n't serve up a lot of fresh insights , unless you count finding out what senior citizens buy from grocery vans in these little hamlets .", "emotionally engaging , impressively directed and superbly written french drama with strong performances from nicolas cazale and clotilde hesme .", "the grocer 's son is best described as a feelgood film that does n't underrate its audiences too much .", "this honest family drama is exceedingly modest , but guirado 's skills handling story , character development and details pay off handsomely .", "how could a french audience not enjoy such a nostalgic look at a simpler and bucolic way of life ?", "director eric guirado has woven an endearing modern-day fable that offers a pleasant 90-minute respite from the worries to be found outside the theater doors .", "you can probably guess the trajectory of the story . but it 's not really the destination that makes this a charmer , it 's the journey there , mostly by grocery van .", ". . the type of film that may convince you that life could not be sweeter than selling groceries by the side of the road in provence .", "unforced and beautifully acted .", "at a time when most other movies are boorishly brash , a film like this stands out precisely by being low key and modest .", "eric guirado 's lovely french drama the grocer 's son is about that moment in a young person 's life when he realizes that he is , despite all efforts to the contrary , a grown-up .", "despite its rather well worn premise of a prodigal son returning to his family home , this charming french film actually feels quite fresh and original .", "the grocer 's son offers a nicely observed portrait of a man in search of himself , finding his purpose , and finding that , in fact , it is possible to go home again .", "though its quiet pastoral charms may not change your life the way they do antoine 's , you 'll find the scenery comforting , the humanity reassuring , and the story appealing .", "beautiful provence , and its charming traditionalists , colorfully work their summer magic on a hunky wayward son with terrific appeal to ferment a sparkling romance ." ], "summary": "a noteworthy performance by eric guirado makes this gently pastoral film a moving coming-of-age story .", "id": "770682302" }, { "movie": "goodbye_solo", "reviews": [ "what really sets the picture apart and makes it an achievement worth remembering is its transcendent faith in what abraham lincoln called `` the better angels of our nature . ''", "a film light in plot but generous in spirit .", "touching and uplifting , MOV is a small gem .", "the emotion here is genuine , but the outlook is tough : in bahrani 's movies we 're all aliens to each other .", "a profoundly moving , raw , tender and gently uplifting drama that celebrates the importance of unconditional human compassion .", "while MOV is an easy film to admire , i have to admit that it never really had me riveted .", "another powerful film by bahrani using the bare minimum of sets and sound track and an inexperienced actor in the lead role . a film that is well produced and convey a strong message .", "an emotional lullaby about lost diverse souls trying to cope with the rigors of life in a confining , cultural cage of ambivalence ... another tantalizing triumph for bahrani", "i felt the film was incredibly stripped down -- which is fine -- but there 's nothing else to sort of help build it back up again .", "ramin bahrani is a promising filmmaker who needs to work much harder at crafting dialogue and complete stories , and not believe the false praise being bestowed on him by the a.o. scotts of the world .", "utterly engrossing dual-character study , unfolding with a serene disregard for indie quirkiness , MOV radiates authenticity .", "the problem trying to deal with a self-destructive pessimist is you can never convince them that tomorrow might just be a better day .", "as a diary of travels in multiculti america , it 's in the same bag as the visitor , for better or worse .", "a marvel of pathos and pace", "MOV feels lived-in rather than forced upon us . bahrani , who is his own editor , and regular dp michael simmonds have a sad , solitary , streetlamp-lit feel for night-shift rhythms .", "MOV relies on forced character dynamics and two clunkily directed , monotonous turns , in a milieu ... that fails to take satisfactory shape .", "one of the year 's best films !", "an odd-couple relationship fuels a slow-burning but ultimately moving emotional and spiritual journey in ramin bahrani 's third feature .", "un entra\u0144able y sutil retrato humano , sostenido por el choque y la complementariedad entre dos caracteres muy distintos . excelente elecci\u00f3n de actores que parecen interpretarse a s\u00ed mismos .", "hopeful about the rewards that can be mined from the broadening of perspective that comes with getting to know someone outside of your usual social zone .", "it 's hopeful and tragic but without any false hollywood melodrama .", "sy savane and west play against each other 's characters perfectly , and their performances will have you thinking about this story long after the movie ends .", "for bahrani , MOV is strong proof of his status as a great independent talent .", "creating his fiction shrewdly , ramin bahrani ultimately suggests that finality , too , has its beauty , and must be valued as much as endless possibility .", "a truly human and humane drama that does n't constantly poke and prod at you in order to get an emotional reaction , this film is a small treasure that is definitely worth seeking out .", "most of the movie 's subterranean emotion is found in the unsettled relationship between solo and william , and in the extraordinary performances by the two leading men .", "a playful , elusive movie that is n't so much heartwarming as soul-cleansing .", "bahrani has not told the quintessential american story , but it 's certainly a potent one .", "bahrani and his collaborator , bahareh azimi , have constructed an unusual story with a superb script . i would n't have believed that the setting here would be winston-salem , but then again , i guess that 's the point of this unconventional tale .", "a thin character study over which critics wank themselves into a state of ecstasy at all the meaning they can superimpose on the film .", "a compelling film about the difficulty of the spiritual practice of compassion .", "the life-affirming dialogue easily draws the audience into the funky surroundings of winston-salem , north carolina .", "a deeply affecting portrait of the way that we are all changed in small but significant ways by our encounters with others .", "bahrani possesses a disciplined sense of composition and form , a vision of the world that extends beyond the boundaries of his own navel , and the understanding that it is possible to make films about class and race in this country without pandering .", "offbeat relationship between a senegalese cab driver and a suicidal southerner makes for an interesting character study .", "-lsb- writer-director -rsb- has made a true drama , a tug-of-war between hope and resignation in which neither player openly speaks to what 's coming .", "solo confronts a less-than-jolly existence with a perpetual smile and helping hand , his upbeat , selfless attitude a means of repelling the harsh realities that threaten to break his spirit .", "if cinematic form follows cinematic function then MOV is a perfect mercedes of a movie . it is comprised of a quietly purring but powerful narrative engine .", "a beautifully understated story of an unconventional friendship .", "an endearing character piece shot through with beauty and humility in which , thanks to his leads ' open , sometimes vulnerable performances , tolerance and respect take precedence .", "the strange power of those final moments - at once tender , tragic and triumphant - grant this unassuming drama about saying goodbye to solo the status of a minor masterpiece played in an appropriately minor key .", "you get the sense that writer-director ramin bahrani is mystified by america 's abandonment of its elderly , and there 's a whiff of disapproval in his treatment of this theme , but it 's only a whiff .", "an instantly gripping , funny , quietly persuasive drama that held me from the first frames .", "MOV asks far more questions than it answers , yet there 's something in the tender humanity of the journey that seems to matter much more .", "working to a spare screenplay , bahrani offers none of the usual clues about either the cabbie 's surprising determination to prevent the tragedy or the old man 's reasons for suicide . this does n't always help the quiet drama .", "the final sequence up in the mountains is particularly affecting .", "subtle and unflinching , this is genuine and charming .", "bahrani again proves himself a master of tapping into the art of everyday living without trying to coax out beauty that is n't there .", "bahrani is the new great american director . he never steps wrong . in MOV , he begins with a situation that might unfold in a dozen different ways and makes of it something original and profound .", "one of those movies that i think will change as i get older , growing even more with time . if we 're lucky , you can say that about a few films a year . it 's nice to get one so early in 2009 .", "continues -lsb- bahrani 's -rsb- persistent , sympathetic documentation of first-generation immigrants on the margins of society . and in an indie world too long dominated by navel-gazers , bahrani 's work has become an important corrective .", "the tale of an unlikely friendship , one that reaches across generational and cultural barriers", "i 'm not sure what it would take for bahrani to reach the audience he deserves , but making one good film after another ca n't hurt .", "there 's hope yet for world cinema if an iranian-american director can take the premise of an iranian film , set it in north carolina , cast the lead roles with an african fashion model and elvis presley 's former bodyguard , and produce something utterly new .", "the story told in MOV , ramin bahrani 's wonderful third feature , is moving and mysterious , and you may find yourself pondering its implications for a long time after the film 's simple and haunting final images have faded .", "the internal nature of the story here is underscored by michael simmonds ' camerawork , which appears daring in simplicity without being claustrophobic .", "those who enjoy sublime naturalism should appreciate bahrani 's latest effort ... though it 's just as likely to frustrate those looking for more of a story , one that moves at a more respectable pace", "the lack of melodrama coupled with moments of quiet celebration make MOV a more uplifting tale than one might expect with such a less-than-joyous premise .", "the acting is flawless , the world feels utterly real , and the finale accomplishes the miracle of finding in the everyday world something profound .", "it is both funny and sad , placid and provocative and , above all , hopeful and despairing .", "for the performances , the cinematography and the overall experience of this character-driven drama , you can put MOV into the must-see category .", "it 's intelligent and emotional , not studied or sappy .", "you 'll realize you 're in the presence of something very special .", "the beauty of this third feature from director ramin bahrani , who co-wrote it with bahareh azimi , is how efficiently it disarms uneasy expectations .", "bahrani brings a researcher 's integrity , an artist 's compassion and a detective 's eye for the neglected detail to his tales of this country 's struggling international underclass ...", "every moment -- including a physically exhausting climactic scene that both confounds expectations and compounds the film 's poetic majesty -- is evidence of a masterpiece .", "what happens in MOV meets the complex demands of good classic storytelling .", "he 's the best american filmmaker working today whom you 've never heard of : ramin bahrani has the exquisite talent of making the ordinary and the mundane soar into realms of rarefied and unexpectedly moving drama .", "while bahrani once again shines a light on a fascinating corner of the american experience , he does so while telling a disappointingly contrived story .", "fine performances all around act like vital organs within the body of bahrani 's resonant chamber piece .", "behind the noble intentions and cluttered rooms and grimy windshields , however , lies a salt-and-pepper portrait with almost as many undercooked contrivances .", "it 's touching in its way , though bahrani 's writing is not nearly as strong as his visual sense , and the denouement is perhaps too understated for its own good .", "the raptures that greeted ramin bahrani 's MOV at festivals last year are wholly deserved .", "thanks to its engaging leads , colorful southern setting and poignant story , MOV is uplifting despite its solemn subject .", "a quietly affecting , acutely observed little gem of a drama .", "bahrani 's his experimental -lrb- and , some might argue , pretentious -rrb- dramas can wander off course in search of honest emotion , often to the detriment of his story .", "it 's an american film that looks like an arty european film , and i mean that as a sincere compliment .", "the performances are exhilarating in their precision , and so is the director 's eye .", "the movie starts fast and the pace rarely relents . MOV is almost frighteningly alive : other filmmakers must wonder exactly how ramin bahrani packs so much personality in what could have been standard indie fare .", "a poignant work of great beauty .", "for a movie critic , one of the pleasures of bahrani 's approach to moviemaking is the opportunity to write about feelings and behavior , to continue to wonder about the characters ' inner lives weeks after leaving the movie theater .", "... ramin bahrani proves he is a filmmaker of grace ... it is astonishing to realize just how fully we can know another person 's essence with very little hard data to go on .", "hums with life and with good humor ... a uniquely human-sized movie .", "MOV is a deceptive film . its style is spare , rigorous , almost anti-dramatic , but it deals thoughtfully with some of the most complex elements of the human equation .", "interactions between 2 tasty personalities warm the picture & lift it into the realm of special . however , by the hour mark - drops pace a notch and feels a tad incomplete .", "a darkly poetic parable of the solitude of human existence , somewhat ameliorated by the occasional generosity of the human spirit .", "almost as soon as he appears in MOV , the optimistic solo is confronted with another perspective , belonging to a weary fare named william .", "what began as something of a lark becomes increasingly grave , and the actors skillfully adjust to that change in tone .", "i imagine all of us could use some quality solo time in our lives .", "MOV is the sort of film that truly defies categorization , and that may pose a challenge to some moviegoers . but there are certain works of art to which the rules do not apply . this is one of them .", "a nice antidote to the action-comes-first style of filmmaking that dominates movies this time of year .", "a memorable study in humanity rather than the sentimental bath it might have been .", "the overall effect of MOV is of living through a drama of huge subjects , articulated in the vernacular .", "bahrani 's new movie , MOV , offers further proof that he is one of the best reasons to keep going to the movies .", "a quietly soulful study of two very different men .", "the crazy-quilt quality of these immigrants mixing it up with southern rednecks like william is deftly underplayed , and so it has more resonance for us .", "solo builds to a spellbinding conclusion that left me with ironic developments i 'm still thinking about ." ], "summary": "an original and thoughtful human drama , MOV looks at relationships and loneliness while proving director ramin bahrani 's is an important american voice .", "id": "770804385" }, { "movie": "film_unfinished", "reviews": [ "a MOV reminds you that the nightmare of the holocaust knows no limits .", "a remarkable new documentary that reminds us of film 's inherent capacity for lying .", "that hersonski 's grandmother was a warsaw ghetto survivor gives her film a deeply personal edge . that she coolly and convincingly extracts truth from propaganda makes her truly revelatory a MOV all the more important and compelling .", "it 's impossible to watch a MOV and not feel haunted by the restless ghosts of history and those who tried -- and failed -- to use film to tell a lie .", "examination of nazi inhumanity by an israeli director on record as opposing zionist inhumanity .", "yael hersonski 's documentary is infuriating , heartbreaking , devastating -- and scary . it depicts a lie upon a lie .", "... analysis , clarification and a counterbalancing - if not outright refutation - of the persistent , nasty myth of jewish collaboration in the holocaust .", "moviegoers have witnessed dozens of depictions of these events over the years , but here we can see what it 's like to view them with the eyes of real experience .", "yael hersonski 's a MOV reclaims history , teaches a lesson about the reliability of images and raises unanswerable questions about complicity .", "the title also refers to hersonski 's own picture , part of a continuing saga that will never be finished as long as there are more holocaust stories to expose .", "a searing expose of the brutality of the nazi regime ironically made by the perpetrators themselves , and a subtle examination of the process and purpose that lay behind it .", "what we 're seeing is n't the aftermath of an extermination plot , as in the post-liberation concentration camp films , but the dehumanization process itself .", "hersonski not only dispels the big lie at the center of the nazi footage but she ingeniously separates and identifies the many smaller lies and where they entwined with facts .", "the reconstructed film and hersonski 's filling and framing devices are a worthwhile social artifact and a reminder of the lengths the nazis went to to deflect the world 's attention from their real intent : genocide .", "a MOV may not be the strangest making-of documentary you 've ever seen . it may , however , be the most affecting .", "the nazis ' infatuation with documentation is visible everywhere in a MOV , as german soldiers grab residents ' arms or push them along in the street , as starving children sit on curbs and adults hurry along sidewalks .", "it is a privileged experience to watch a MOV . there is no other historical document like it but , of course , its lasting value is as a human document .", "to see the images of the inhabitants of the warsaw ghetto , the look of terror in their faces and the bodies of the dead randomly strewn about , is a gut wrenching experience .", "some realities even the best propagandists ca n't spin .", "hersonski quietly and insistently unravels reality from `` reality '' ; her commitment to archival authenticity is its own tribute to those no longer able to testify .", "hersonski has done holocaust scholarship a great favor . just when we thought there were no new twists to the story of the warsaw ghetto comes this documentary : focused , sorrowful and revelatory .", "the imperatives of history are manifold , and this film is among the most urgent of them .", "harrowing nazi footage of the warsaw ghetto is made to reveal more than its makers intended in this historically invaluable doc .", "a documentary record of the ghastly conditions existing in the nazi-occupied warsaw ghetto in 1942 .", "a MOV is affecting as a rare document of a terrible place and time , and those who lived there .", "a MOV is a sort of ghost story . it 's guaranteed to haunt you .", "hersonski brings something both old and new to the table with this powerful 89-minute documentary . other strengths are the well-written narration read by rona keenan and the haunting original music of composer yishai adar .", "an electrifying essay on film 's ability to falsify history .", "the more it strips itself to the evidence ... the more devastating and affecting the portrait becomes .", "... a very powerful documentary and first feature by yael hersonski .", "filmmaker yael hersonski reshapes the impossibly vile and tragic source material into a devastating record of nazi criminality .", "riveting , scary , and significant , MOV contrasts invaluable footage of agit-prop nazi feature with the reaction of warsaw gehtto survivors to that footage and testimonies of the real life thee .", "a new and uniquely disturbing perspective on the shoah", "a heartbreaking but engrossing detective story that not only shines a light on nazi evil but on the manipulative prowess of the third reich .", "painful , eye-opening , and extraordinarily necessary to view , especially by the young to whom the holocaust is nowadays too abstract a notion to fully mentally envision in all of its grotesqueness", "it becomes a meditation on the dual nature of film , on a `` reality '' at once true and false , essential and tainted .", "it stands as a unique film-within-a-film , of significance for the historical value of the raw images , the memories they spur and internal evidence of how the nazis staged scenes long assumed to be real .", "there are literally dozens of documentaries about the warsaw ghetto , but a MOV is unique in a very horrible way .", "a flawed but hard-to-shake doc of one of mankind 's greatest acts of inhumanity", "you look into the faces of these doomed souls and you see eternity -- and not the pretty , heavenly kind .", "the movie feels both ill-advised with its errol morris-like recreations of those german filmmakers who were commissioned to make an anti-semitic `` documentary '' and absolutely necessary as it examines hitler 's insecurity about his own decisions .", "moving , mysterious and intellectually provocative , a MOV positions familiar holocaust horrors -lrb- the r rating was unsuccessfully contested -rrb- within a philosophical commentary on the way we view images .", "a MOV is a profoundly unnerving historical document .", "for serious holocaust junkies only .", "what we are left with is perhaps one of the most disturbing 60 minutes of raw footage ever put together .", "an important historical document of a phony historical document . truly unforgettable .", "the result is a harrowing , unsettling journey -- a terribly moving document .", "historical rather than cinematic , ` a MOV ' is not entended to be entertainment .", "while much of a MOV is a fairly dry presentation of primarily historical interest , the reminiscences of the survivors give it a deeper human dimension .", "what sets hersonski 's film apart from many other films on the holocaust is its study of the nazis themselves", "think what hannah arendt could have made of this footage ? typical of contemporary advocacy journalism , hersonski does n't know what to do with this outrageous material except show it .", "powerful warning with universal message-movies lie . without memory and context , we forget the truth and believe what we see . meticulously detailed , overwhelmingly emotional .", "there is only about an hour of it , but around it filmmaker yael hersonski has built a striking feature .", "extremely unsettling and thought - provoking .", "hersonski has done what could tastefully be done with such staggering and mysterious material . it does not make for a light evening at the movies .", "yael hersonski is no less a shrewd manipulator than the german directors she set out to expose .", "it will test your faith in humanity , but hersonski 's film is nonetheless a brilliant reminder of the importance of bearing witness .", "a film that not only oozes a harsh reality never before seen , but also reveals the all-too-easy `` cinematic deception '' of film , reminding us that image does n't necessarily equal truth .", "discovered after the war , the film contains horrific images of starvation , poverty and humiliation , interspersed with surreal scenes of well-dressed jews enjoying a restaurant dinner or an urban stroll .", "takes the whitewash off this propaganda , refuting it on an almost scene-by-scene basis ... this film is like a strong detective story .", "though sad , solemn and respectful , there is also a joyous sense of justice that closes out hersonski 's remarkable movie .", "the artificial look of the added footage , counterpointed by the commentary of inmates and survivors , only underscores the unending shock of the film 's unadulterated images , even though we have seen them in other shoah documentaries ." ], "summary": "a heartbreaking , haunting historical document , a MOV excavates particularly horrible chapter of holocaust history , and in doing so , the film provides a glimpse into the nazi propaganda machine .", "id": "770859186" }, { "movie": "1104841-sweet_november", "reviews": [ "watching -lsb- theron -rsb- , you can leave your heart in san francisco for an iv injection of caramel .", "a man who does n't ask why the woman whose bed he shares disappears for long locked door sessions in the bathroom is a man in need of his own subscription to o , the oprah magazine .", "the film is ultimately undermined by its fondness for sudser clich\u00e9s .", "this remake seems even emptier than the cringe-inducing original film .", "i do n't know who i disliked more intensely -- nelson , the abrupt , insulting ad man played by keanu reeves , or sara , charlize theron 's narcissistic martyr .", "the basic validity of the story 's emotional core beneath all the contrivance starts carrying the day in the latter stretches .", "director pat o'connor -lrb- circle of friends -rrb- ca n't smooth over the rough patches of his film , though , nor can he make the story believable enough to get his audience emotionally invested .", "not enough to transport MOV from its more appropriate place as a tv proposition .", "starts off sappy and original , but ultimately turns sappy and predictable .", "besides the cloying plot and melodramatic dialogue -- a lot of which is so obvious that audiences shout it out before the actors mouth the words -- the acting is wretched .", "if the women 's movement meant anything , it should mean no more movies like this one .", "the sort of movie that seems to exist for no good reason except to keep the studio 's pipeline filled with filmed product .", "this is a film that means to be seductive but merely progresses from the contrived to the manipulative .", "every once in a while , a movie comes along that reminds you how wonderful life can be . unfortunately , MOV does this by reminding you how terrible a movie can be .", "in his 1922 poem ` the waste land , ' t.s. eliot said ` april is the cruelest month . ' he never saw MOV .", "`` what are you doing that for ? '' he asks as she undoes his top button . `` taking it off . it smells like puppy pee . '' that 's a metaphor for the evening 's experience .", "a guilty pleasure for more than a few ticket buyers who rarely get a chance to indulge their weakness for this sort of story .", "to quote reeves when theron tries to bolt suddenly from his car : ` whoa , whoa , whoa , whoa , whoa , whoa , whoa ! '", "MOV is neither a masterpiece nor a remake of one , but its wistfulness is infectious , and its melancholy mood lingers for days .", "a festival of man bashing .", "charlize theron has charm and skill , but no actress could survive this role , which has the gravity and verisimilitude of a sketch from a late-sixties nancy sinatra tv special .", "nothing you have to see , but anyone in the market for a bittersweet romantic comedy could do worse .", "MOV is far from what any rational moviegoer would consider a good film . somehow , though , it sucks the viewer in .", "-lsb- reeves -rsb- gives the worst performance in MOV , and he 's the best thing about it .", "what keeps it -lrb- barely -rrb- from being completely intolerable is keanu reeves ' hilariously awful lead performance .", "o'connor shamelessly lays on the schmaltz and cliches .", "the film degenerates into a sloppy , gooey mess .", "could n't be more artificial if every object on the screen had been molded from plastic .", "i kept waiting for -lsb- reeves -rsb- to point out that , given the state of san francisco real estate these days , it 's hard to reconcile a life of endless surf-romping with a life of having a roof over one 's head .", "the ending is so bad , somebody at my screening actually shouted , ` hurry up and die already ! ' okay , it was me , but you get the point .", "beware all male viewers who enter here , you are in chick-movie hell .", "it nearly qualifies as a guilty pleasure . but blame keanu reeves for ruining its chances for so - bad - it 's - good status .", "the utter absence of chemistry between reeves and theron is just the last nail in this colossal misfire 's coffin .", "in instances like these , you have a certain clich\u00e9 about a kitchen sink in the back of your mind , but this is probably the first instance where they do throw it in .", "filmmaking of this caliber means always having to say you 're sorry .", "is it still necrophilia if two corpses have sex with each other ?", "a must-see if only for its last scene , one of the most evocatively filmed finales ever to impart fate upon two lovers .", "pat o'connor 's emotional drama is disappointingly contrived , and while charlize theron is decentm keanu reeves seems to be lost", "so-so love story for a new generation .", "well , everybody knows november means just one thing to most folks : a big , fat turkey . and guess who 's the stuffing ?", "a hard-to-swallow fantasy .", "`` a mind-bogglingly maudlin and sappy movie ''", "a romantic comedy about the emotional makeover of a self-absorbed workaholic man .", "charlize takes a new lover every month because she just does . keanu agrees to this because he just does .", "who on earth could resist charlize theron ? well , if she 's imitating sandy dennis , it 's not all that hard .", "not going to find much surprising or fresh .", "but delightful as it may be to see the ever-engaging isaacs just so , it does n't go nearly far enough to excuse sitting through the rest of MOV .", "an aptly named picture , MOV is cloyingly sweet and feels like it has a running time of an entire month .", "one can deduce that boredom and free sex brings -lsb- reeves -rsb- back to -lsb- theron -rsb- for an extended stay as nothing they do that day can be viewed as earth-shattering .", "dumb enough to make the wedding planner seem like an ingmar bergman film .", "unfortunately , it 's conventionality , hollywood-style , that does in the film .", "MOV may not be the greatest love story every told , but it gives us an idea of what living in a moment truly means .", "despite the promise of its title , the picture is a sappy , soporific sudser that leaves a decidedly sour aftertaste .", "speaking of heavy-handed , the film also features a sledgehammer musical score that should qualify for at least one award - most gratuitous use of enya songs .", "i hate to beat a dead horse here , but keanu reeves ca n't act .", "keanu reeves and charlize theron have danced before . but at least in the devil 's advocate they had satan around to keep things interesting .", "if someone behaved like this in real life , you 'd get a restraining order .", "it allows -lsb- theron -rsb- to extend her range as no previous role has done .", "a guilty pleasure .", "patently false and manipulative .", "soft and bright like the cinematography , the film packs a lot of heart .", "i kept praying al pacino would turn up and this movie was merely a nightmare foisted on the audience by satan .", "it 's sappier than a christmas tree .", "represents a peculiarly dated male fantasy .", "extra-thick vanilla schmalted with just the right amount of raw sugar to summon the awwwws of high school girls .", "if i were a guy , and a gorgeous woman took me into her apartment , had passionate sex with me and supported my ass for a month , it 'd change my life , too ! perhaps this is more romantic science fiction than anything .", "should have been called cloying november .", "defies all comprehension .", "a passable , soggy valentine .", "there 's just too much fantasy here to swallow or take seriously .", "i have a better way to enjoy life : avoid movies like this ... before it 's too late .", "MOV does neither of its leads any favors . but they fill their roles admirably , and then some .", "a syrupy , phony romantic tragedy that made me feel like i was being licked by a large , smelly dog , begging me to love and be amused by it .", "classic movie manipulation gone amok .", "flawed , to be sure , but its heart sure is in the right place .", "what may be the worst performance yet by keanu reeves .", "it is cloying but nicely filmed .", "emotional subtlety and narrative logic were never quite in the cards for this movie to begin with .", "as bill and ted might say , it 's one bogus journey , dude .", "theron has the greater range , but you 'll wish it had been applied to more worthwhile material .", "with a convoluted , contrived plot that effectively emasculates and lobotomizes the lead characters , MOV fails to connect on an emotional level .", "it 's enough to make you puke .", "even us cynics will feel a little warm and fuzzy when the credits roll .", "if MOV were a valentine , it would end up in the dead-letter office .", "could very well have been one primo slice of melodramatic manipulation with the right pair of actors . then again , i imagine that already happened -- back in 1968 ." ], "summary": "schmaltzy and manipulative , MOV suffers from an implausible plot and non-existent chemistry between its leads .", "id": "10648" }, { "movie": "with_a_friend_like_harry", "reviews": [ "if hitchcock had made what about bob ? , this engrossing and blackly funny french psychological thriller would be it .", "with a movie like this ... you do n't need hollywood .", "a smart , enjoyably unsettling , hitchockian psychological thriller from france .", "suspenseful and delightfully creepy .", "a nervy , mostly successful reworking of hitchcockian themes and devices .", "a more energetic and interesting entry than what one has come to expect from this overpopulated genre .", "harry provides a mesmerizing visit to the theater . we would n't suggest taking him home , though .", "a strange and funny film , smart , complex and difficult to shake .", "wickedly funny .", "movies like this are more intriguing than thrillers where the heroes and villains wear name tags .", "a sleek little poison pill of a movie that throws a psychopath into the midst of a frazzled family and artfully tightens the screws .", "one ca n't help but call on the ghost of alfred hitchcock to describe dominik moll 's MOV .", "all of the actors are persuasive .", "a film alfred hitchcock might have considered a good start .", "anybody so inclined can connect the dots , and they lead not only to the weirdly seductive robert walker in hitchcock 's strangers on a train but to the sudden , luminous interiors of kubrick 's the shining , with their air of unreality .", "an enjoyably creepy thriller .", "it 's a dry , cool character study that 's primarily an exercise in tonal control - neither very funny nor very scary , but unnerving in a slow-burn way .", "it 's nothing new , terribly recognizable , but , familiarity notwithstanding , it gets the job done .", "a rocking good entertainment .", "all the hallmarks of a classic hitchcock thriller . the master would certainly approve .", "an artfully entertaining psychological thriller .", "in the end , i was annoyed by the tricks , let down by the results . i felt so used .", "a low-boiling suspense film that is made all the more creepy by masquerading as an ` unwelcome guest ' comedy for an hour or so .", "the ambiguity surrounding harry 's persona and motivations lets the air out of the film 's climax .", "mean , nasty fun .", "strange , exhilarating .", "a superb black comedy .", "sergi lopez delivers a nicely calibrated turn , capturing the attractive and enticing aspects of the character as well as delineating his underlying menace .", "the wickedly funny film leaves you with lots to talk about when you leave .", "moll has given us a black comedy with superior performances from the entire ensemble .", "there 's something about harry , all right , and we can smell it all the way down the road - yet it is still a surprise when it finally manifests itself .", "l\u00f3pez is great as harry , exuding the same silent type of lunacy that bob hoskins perfected in felicia 's journey .", "fans of the genre are in for a wickedly entertaining treat .", "rises instantly above its genre merely by taking the time to develop its characters and scenario .", "the complexity of the plot has to do with the way michel is changed by harry .", "a quiet thriller ... with occasional touches of macabre humor and the odd moment of suspense .", "encourages yelling at the screen .", "the true strength of this thriller is how the duet plays out . the true shock is how casually perverse the underlying message becomes .", "creeps under your skin and leaves you uncomfortable for hours . it could be the french answer to `` strangers on a train '' or `` the talented mr. ripley '' ...", "like the best of hitchcock , harry captures the lyrical ambiguity of ` normal evil , ' the actions we 're all capable of committing in the name of a just quest .", "apesar da boa atua\u0443\u0441o de l\u0437pez , o filme n\u0441o foge das conven\u0443\u0448es do g\u0436nero , resultando em uma hist\u0437ria previs\u044cvel e , conseq\u0447entemente , enfadonha .", "a chance encounter -lrb- or is it -rrb- with an old forgettable classmate in a restroom leads to an unforgettable and unwelcome intrusion", "add `` who needs family ? , '' and that 's a good indication of how `` harry '' dives into - but does n't easily resolve - a strangely symbiotic muse relationship . evil can be just as banal as everyday life , an idea explored with nasty wit and not brutish violence .", "all the hallmarks of a classic hitchcock thriller . the master would certainly approve .", "very funny , in that morbid sort of way that makes you laugh even as you shudder with horror .", "so sublimely subtle and tangible it makes the talented mr. ripley look like a dog and pony show .", "a truly seductive thriller that wins you over with slyness and suspense .", "fluid , intelligent , and often quite funny .", "as expertly polished with black comedy and dry wit as it is with unnerving suspense .", "reasonably nifty .", "set within his petit bourgeois universe , harry is eminently believable , a character whose largesse is as seductive as his personality is not . and whose concept of friendship is the raw ore of nightmares .", "funny and chilling .", "the disturbingly flip sense of humor maintained throughout gives the film 's shocking twists an added edge of nastiness .", "the actors are excellent .", "unfortunately , the groove it settles into is a lot less interesting than the possibilities suggested earlier .", "cannily borrows from the master in weaving a deviously twisted and surprisingly subtle tale of its own .", "brooding and sardonic in tone and beautifully sustained in its tension .", "if hitchcock were alive today , he 'd probably be happy to see someone carrying on the tradition of entertaining viewers with well-crafted , if old-fashioned thrillers that play off the restraint-based notion that sometimes less is more .", "spooky , wickedly funny and keenly insightful about character .", "a terrific thriller .", "it is a frightening tale , but it is done in such a humorous manner that you might not realize how twisted it is until you start making a body count .", "it 's lopez 's understated charm in the role that ultimately makes this film as creepy as it is .", "moll 's direction is poky and the film never comes to life .", "an interesting character-based roller-coaster ride .", "a french language comic thriller terrifically acted and with dramatic devices that are familiar enough but still surprising .", "teeters on the brink between the absurd and the sublime .", "there 's depth here far beyond the simple framework of weird stranger wo n't let nice guy alone .", "this dark comic psychological thrill oozes creepiness from every pore .", "the dramatic tensions and character fabrications are pure hitchcock .", "only fitfully engages its audience .", "a subtle and subversive portrait of a self-assured , ever-smiling and increasingly ominous pyschopath .", "as it is , with dark humour complementing the casual efficiency of harry 's crimes , it 's still an unsettling study of the modern male psyche .", "there 's as much going on in the high intellect department as on the homicidal mayhem front .", "something everyone should see before deciding to attend a college reunion .", "moll ... puts a satisfying polish on the standard-issue theme of an innocent whose world is rent asunder by a well-meaning psychotic .", "an unusual yet well-balanced mix of dark comedy , french thriller , and surreal drama .", "a witty , frightening , well-acted picture with near-perfect cinematic timing .", "a quiet delight .", "moll masterfully weaves together hitchcockian thriller elements and brainy comedy to create an original film that 's never less than surprising .", "harry is an indelible antagonist , one who manages to be genuinely big-hearted and evil .", "if alfred hitchcock had n't shuffled off this mortal coil some two decades ago , chances are he would have appreciated dominik moll 's MOV .", "the screenplay by moll and gilles marchand is a masterful balancing act between creeping dread and black hilarity ." ], "summary": "a darkly funny thriller that 's reminiscent of hitchcock .", "id": "15234" }, { "movie": "under_the_tuscan_sun", "reviews": [ "despite an aimlessly ambling plot , this travelogue fantasia of italian sights is redeemed by diane lane 's charm .", "it 's lush , funny and has poignant moments that make you want to get out your passport and go find your own adventure .", "i 'm happy for -lsb- lane 's -rsb- recent success and for the chance it gave her to be the spotlighted leading lady . so i really wanted to like MOV more than i did", "a caucasian waiting to exhale", "wells acknowledges that in adapting mayes ' memoir she jettisoned anything uncinematic ... and nailed up a popsicle-stick frame of a story that ca n't support the weight of the movie 's `` love is just around the corner '' theme .", "one of those films that i could watch again and again .", "-lsb- the actors -rsb- strike most every note with a resonance that -- of course -- carries through to the heart .", "what redeems the film is its successful escapism , and lane 's performance .", "for a movie that 's all about taking chances , MOV allows itself very few . ... every now and then , there 's a glimmer of something bittersweet , something deeper and truer beneath the movie 's surface , struggling to break through the pr", "plays as a warmly soothing yuppie-makeover daydream , and it goes down like limoncello -- sweet , not very good for you , but irresistible just the same .", "en la vida real la gente no suele ser tan impulsiva . por eso pel\u044cculas como \u0436sta son disfrutables : nos ofrecen la fantas\u044ca de lo que ser\u044ca nuestra vida si nos anim\u0440ramos .", "desmoronando a partir da metade da proje\u0443\u0441o , o filme se beneficia apenas da sedutora performance de lane , da bela fotografia e das maravilhosas loca\u0443\u0448es .", "`` MOV '' is an amiable film that , in the tradition of escapist fiction , provides a nice , scenic getaway with just enough drama to keep the story from getting stagnant .", "offers americans the ultimate fantasy vacation . it 's a beautiful , sunny , fresh air trip to europe without the jet lag , language problems , money problems , or any other trivialities .", "not much for teens in this book adaptation .", "a romantic abomination wherein the main character 's best friend is a pregnant asian lesbian who comes to italy to visit and ends up ruining the story 's only semi-romantic aspect , and extends its painful length for an extra half-hour in the process .", "an enjoyable , entertaining odyssey with beautiful landscapes , a fun mood , and a charming performance from the always sexy diane lane .", "fans of diane lane ... should be happy with what amounts to a glowing vehicle for her .", "... as lightweight and fluffy as the premise might 've indicated .", "diane lane is charming in this witty but difficult adventure .", "the movie is frothy and light and has n't a brain in its head , but it 's so beautiful to look at and so positive and uplifting , it 's hard not to like .", "while it starts very well indeed as a kind of blushing shirley valentine wannabe , the slide into syrup starts early on .", "i swear , i thought dr phil was going to come out of an olive grove and yell , ` you 've got to get over this guy , lady ! take control of your life ! '", "you wo n't learn anything about italian culture that has n't already reverberated throughout the west", "a warm and luminous film .", "diane lane was terrific .", "the only real depth here is in lane 's ability to convey lingering heartache despite having little call to do so from the script .", "`` MOV '' goes for the picture postcard look-and-feel and it succeeds admirably , a flighty contrivance that 's thin , lightweight , and instantly disposable .", "the clear and simple plot is bogged down by too many characters and too many clich\u0436s .", "the epitome of what a feel-good movie is supposed to be but rarely is , this one is beautiful to look at and life-affirming to think about , and it does n't have a pretentious bone in its head .", "makes for an eye-pleasing travelogue -- which is at least half the battle won for a project like this -- and our on-screen tour guide could not be more beguiling .", "the performances are terrific , especially the wonderful lane , who deftly conveys weariness , desperation , vulnerability and sexiness at various turns .", "-lsb- lane -rsb- makes every moment of it immediate , inescapable and unforgettable .", "a touching story that includes large helpings of humor and charm .", "while both the scenery and star diane lane are highly watchable , the movie is pure froth , a plate-sized helping of zabaglione .", "be ready to book a flight to europe after the flick -- or at least spring for some good chianti .", "it may be a fairy tale , but it 's one worth believing in .", "this adaptation of frances mayes ' largely autobiographical best-seller is so predictable , so familiar , so episodic that it seems to belong on the small screen .", "the adaptation of mayes ' book proves to be stronger on scenery than on convincing drama .", "likable and flawed in its own right .", "eminently superficial , although ms. wells keeps the movie going with a steady , commanding hand and casts it with an actress who can deftly downshift from serene to sodden .", "alternately helped , hindered and -lrb- best -rrb- left alone by first-time director wells , lane fills the screen with her perceptive presence and lifts the undramatic story as high as gravity allows .", "lane is so lovable , so sexy and so believably conflicted -lrb- when she buys the place , you 're convinced she 'd do something that impetuous -rrb- , the rest of the film blurs around her .", "-lsb- wells -rsb- rushes the film ... from episode to episode -- some of which work and some of which do n't .", "i leave you with the advice that , like a roller coaster , this film wo n't take you anywhere . it will toss you up and down a few times and then set you back where you started , none the worse for wear .", "it 's because of lane 's performance that we do n't discount frances as a silly thing with a weakness for rustic charm , big-eyed kittens and poetic tableaux .", "wells ... serves up a comfort-food buffet of fantasies .", "... audience is swept away into the painting-like landscape the film so intently pushes and forgets the awkwardness of the film 's first reel .", "the movie pretends it 's peddling a vision of ` you-go-girl ' independence in which it does n't remotely believe .", "a quiet film -- so quiet that viewers may find themselves yawning halfway through it .", "a harlequin novel of a movie , lent a pinch of unfabricated charisma by the long-underappreciated diane lane .", "in bombarding frances with endless coincidences , wells sweetly celebrates the mysteries of life and those little forks in the road that so many of us ignore or take for granted .", "wells ' true gift as a writer and a director is her uncanny ability to be warm without toppling over into the warm and fuzzy , and that 's a rare gift .", "audrey wells gives us a pleasant change of scenery with enjoyable companions and no unexpected surprises -- just what we want in a good vacation .", "could be a delightful little trifle , but , there is n't enough in it to warrant a normal length motion picture .", "the heroine has become a lonely divorcee , resulting in an unexpectedly added depth to the story . it 's surprisingly satisfying , recommended for anyone who 's ever wondered if there really are second chances .", "if you do n't want to go to italy after seeing `` MOV , '' you might as well stick to canned spaghetti .", "the laughter and tears are finely tuned for little over sixty minutes , but the maddening slide-scale narrative sees the film firmly entrenched in two-star territory by the time the lights come up .", "a shimmering , deeply felt film .", "a complex , touching and surprisingly original movie about a sensitive , caring , intelligent young woman trying to find her place in the world .", "lane 's vibrant performance is as vital to this amusing saga as a bottle of good chianti to a heaping plate of pasta .", "men may roll their eyes , and anyone under the age of 35 is likely to fall asleep , but for the target audience , this is a fantastic film .", "despite the formulaic plot , which seems to belong on the lifetime channel , wells has a knack for witty dialogue that keeps things moving along .", "the only real downside to the film is what it 's likely to do for italian tourism . after this , the deluge .", "rather than converting messy , real-life experience into slick , formulaic entertainment , well 's script transforms it into a shapeless , internally inconsistent mess of artificial contrivances .", "lane makes a good impression of a woman taking a big risk and winning a second chance at life .", "it is a glorious refreshment to spend time with characters who are n't twenty-something eye bait , someone 's virtuous , whiny wife or other reductive archetypes .", "it 's like a music video of helen reddy 's ` i am woman ' filmed in the chevy chase pottery barn .", "how lifetime is this movie ? let 's run through the chick flick checklist .", "you could n't cram more chick-flick manipulation devices into this thing unless you blew it up to 70 mm .", "a lifetime , chick-flick , movie-of-the-week on the big screen", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- has romance , beautiful people , a magnificent backdrop in tuscany , rome and florence , good characters and a nice arc of hope .", "a bathetic , sappy piece of drivel devoid of drama .", "audrey wells has taken what could have been nothing more than an episodic travelogue and given it real humor and heart", "a girl 's dream .", "it may have taken two decades for hollywood to finally fall in love with lane , but MOV proves it was better late than never .", "wells loads a cliched plot on mayes ' lighter-than-air memoir .", "lane captivates the screen with womanly sensuality .", "the lovely vistas ca n't make up for the hackneyed story line .", "tuscan is not deep -- it only wants to make us happy for a couple hours -- but it has a few surprising moments that pull us into the characters ' stories .", "a predictable lightweight comedy-drama that believes in second chances , risk-taking and loving a house .", "forget about getting a refill on popcorn . your first instinct while watching MOV is to call a travel agent .", "what lane makes you do is wonder why she has n't been making more movies over the years .", "movie and book both are delightful , but very , very different .", "part travelogue and part lifetime liberated-woman-of-the-week movie ... little more than a standard-issue -lrb- and standard-tissue -rrb- women 's picture .", "if you 're looking for pretty , postcard-like settings , this movie offers plenty of them . if the narrative is more of a concern , you may find this film lacking .", "this beautifully crafted film is about saying yes -- and continuing to say yes -- to new experiences , despite the chances for failure .", "lane does a superb job . kudos also go to director wells for delivering a delightful , clever script .", "if the screen version of MOV does n't make your mouth water or inspire you to price out flights to italy , what 's the point ?", "real issues come up along the way ... but in these wells proves a mere dabbler , speeding away weightier ideas , and the dimension they promise , in a wash of lemony vistas , easy episodes and exclusively lovable characters .", "the lesson ? no matter what you think , you will never be happy without a hunk .", "a pretty postcard picture that exists in a fantasy realm reserved for hopeless romantics and oprah 's book club subscribers .", "there 's really nothing new `` MOV . ''", "every other character , including the house and the country it 's built on , is a sidekick to frances and her triumphant heroism on the road back to self-fulfillment .", "if it were a half-hour shorter -- and thus better-focused , story-wise -- i would recommend it . as it stands , i have some beautiful mental snapshots of the scenery and the locals , but i ca n't imagine taking the trip again .", "offers americans the ultimate fantasy vacation . it 's a beautiful , sunny , fresh air trip to europe without the jet lag , language problems , money problems , or any other trivialities .", "MOV seems to be coasting on its pretty pictures of flower-drenched italian landscapes .", "MOV pretends to be juicy , but it does n't allow any dribbles . it purports to make love all over us , but not without laying down lots of paper towels first .", "a first-class travelogue of sights and scenes ; its whole , ultimately , is less than the sum of its parts .", "picture-postcard scenery and diane lane 's charisma makes up for an unrealistic plot and syrupy dialogue .", "has about as much in common with frances mayes as it does with willie mays , but it does have the marvelous diane lane .", "a postcard-pretty wish-fulfillment comedy-drama , as light and enjoyable as a big scoop of gelato on a hot afternoon .", "diane lane hits another one out of the park .", "a virtual case study of hollywood 's irrepressible urge to lower the bar in the hopes of upping the take .", "it 's lovely MOV . the book is better , the film beautiful to look at . take your pick , or enjoy both .", "like the crumbling italian villa at the center of this story , there is a lot wrong with the movie , but it is so enticing -- especially for its intended audience -- that it is hard to resist .", "filled with realistic and sometimes quite witty dialogue , and diane lane is right there for every scene .", "the movie is sweet but deeply suspect : it 's like lost horizon re-imagined by a realtor .", "... some of the most beautiful photography in any film i 've seen this year .", "-lsb- has -rsb- an emotional core of realism that is so precise and delicate and pinpoint accurate that it 's overwhelming ...", "compared to lane , pretty much everything else in this film falls flat", "while the plot sounds a bit schmaltzy , lane 's performance keeps francesca real ...", "sensual , luscious , vibrant filmmaking , and not a single frame of it is tepid or mundane .", "warmth and joy fill the movie . some of it comes from that sun over tuscany , but most of it comes from the inner radiance of diane lane .", "MOV is the perfect tonic for all those who have not yet realized that the right place can nourish and nurture spiritual transformation , even after the worst heartbreak .", "unapologetically girly , drippingly romantic and , if you do n't object to movies about female heartbreak and fate-with-a - capital-f , an entirely satisfying treasure to savor from start to finish .", "` MOV ' is a mess from beginning to end and the only thing that saves it from complete disposability , besides the pretty scenery , is the presence of diane lane , who is funny and charming enough to briefly cover up the fact that she is in a", "... as soft and reassuring as romantic drama gets .", "it 's as scattered as a painting by jackson pollock , as forgettable as a mid-season replacement sitcom on upn , as moving as a boulder , and as predictable as a self-flushing toilet . it 's the lizzie mcguire movie for middle-aged folk .", "my exhibit m this year alone on why gigli ca n't be the worst film ever made .", "a fun movie to sit through even when you do n't always buy it .", "it 's all played very light and totally calculated to please the audience .", "tuscan sun is that rare film that fully draws out every character until they seem as real as your dearest friends.the result is unquestionably the best date movie of the year .", "despite its overly pat plot and a glaring lack of conflict , lane pretty much saves the movie .", "... some unexpectedly good subplots and beautiful scenery make this fluff particularly palatable .", "this movie , benign and conventional as it is , needs a gutsy performance to keep it from sheer sogginess . the biggest surprise the movie generates is why it 's taken this long for lane 's career to take off .", "pleasant , light , tear-jerking entertainment", "a charming , highly entertaining romantic adventure full of life , spectacular vistas , and sensual delight .", "this is a delightful for the target audience and the rest of you out there will like it too .", "with a performance of such depth and beauty it overshadows the film 's gorgeous italian scenery , diane lane owns the screen in ` MOV . '", "one of the better romantic comedies in recent years .", "looked like a pic for tourists .", "lane 's winning , beautifully measured performance effortlessly steals our affection and grounds the film 's contrivances along the way .", "` MOV ' does what pretty picture postcards are supposed to do-make you smile without saying much ." ], "summary": "though formulaic and superficial , MOV is redeemed by lane 's vibrant performance .", "id": "10304" }, { "movie": "the_duke_of_burgundy", "reviews": [ "a lush lesbian romance that marries eroticized energy and relationship role-playing concerns to hypnotic ends .", "... rewards patience and defies expectation by refusing to become the type of exploitative erotic exercise that it initially appears to embrace .", "never in all of cinema has the mashing of panties against a face been quite so fraught with genuine emotion .", "a work of immense and intense emotional vigor , sprinkled with fun-loving traits and intellectually stimulating prowess , `` MOV '' is the stuff dreams are made of .", "the most beautiful thing about MOV - no small feat given the incredible performances and impeccable visual design - is that strickland appears to be using our expectations to say something genuinely lovely and cathartic about love .", "burgundy is heavy with feeling .", "sexy , funny , beguiling , and above all , humane , MOV does for erotic euro-lesbian thrillers what under the skin did for sci-fi .", "MOV is mostly light and playful , an exploration into an unusual relationship that rarely borders on exotizing female sexuality .", "MOV is both a vertiginously styled relationship movie and an erotic fable about being in a relationship -lrb- the fear of routine , of boredom , of limits -rrb- .", "the film twists and sways like a rattlesnake , drawing you in before drawing blood .", "a midnight movie for the smart set , the latest from up-and-coming filmmaker peter strickland is a beautiful puzzle .", "strickland hides much beneath the surface in MOV , but the movie is also a delight to look upon ...", "a tiny , tasteful throwback to more innocent times , when actresses with exotic names would strip off their costumes while embracing far-fetched scenarios - and one another .", "as an homage , it 's visually and thematically gratifying , and on its own merits it 's scarily effective as well .", "`` MOV '' is exquisite to look at , but it succeeds best as a human drama , and a searching investigation of how to ask for what you want - and maybe even getting it in the end .", "MOV , as well as being a loving homage to an antique genre of soft-core porn , shows how difficult it can be , not just making fantasy work but simply being with another person ...", "an odd film , with a butterfly motif i still have n't worked out .", "a complex and ultimately moving essay on the privileges of victimhood and the nuances of what it means to suffer for love .", "stylistically , MOV is an aesthete 's dream - meticulously refined , delicate as a fritillary 's wing .", "a remarkable and unusual film ...", "it 's an impressive achievement : the rendering of a private and extremely particular world in terms that any lover will understand .", "the filmmaking craft is admirable , but the story never commands the audience do its bidding .", "a funny , melancholy and peculiarly haunting exploration of an s&m relationship between two women .", "burgundy is a keen pastiche of 1970s euro-sleaze and high art , and looks amazing on the big screen , calmly florid , precise yet bonkers , bristling with detail . it 's preposterous , delirious and delicious .", "a surprisingly subtle take on aging and the changing roles in a relationship .", "there 's voyeurism , fetishism , bondage , lingerie and high-flown naughtiness galore , but that 's hardly the movie 's most conspicuous achievement .", "MOV is no mere style exercise or slavish homage . strickland finds both humour and pathos in the situation of cynthia and evelyn , who are every bit as trapped as the insects they collect and catalogue .", "leaves plenty to think about , but it 'd be just as rewarding to turn off your mind and let the sounds and images wash over you like lapping waves .", "it wo n't be for everyone , but burgundy is rich , dark and could well lead to intoxication .", "a totally absorbing art-film .", "MOV is visually , audibly , and sensually stimulating . its reverberating soundtrack is absolutely exceptional . peter strickland 's latest will likely be everything fifty shades of grey dreams and aims to be and then some .", "a deliciously deviant romp into sexual adventure grounded in the real life struggle for enduring intimacy .", "peter strickland follows up his chilly giallo-horror berberian sound studio with something altogether warmer and sweeter - though no less strange .", "MOV is a film that 's all style with hints of substance , and it never materializes into anything more than visionary gimmicks .", "at its core , this is one of the most incisive , penetrating , and empathetic films ever made about what it truly means to love another person , audaciously disguised as salacious midnight-movie fare .", "it 's a funny , insightful , extraordinarily beautiful love story about the generosity and compromise needed to sustain a long-term relationship .", "strickland 's skill is in how quickly he normalizes the proceedings , neither condescending to his characters nor using their inclinations for cheap laughs .", "visually ravishing , emotionally wise , and kinky as a coiled rope , writer-director peter strickland 's third feature MOV is a delight .", "peter strickland confirms his growing reputation as the champion of notoriously disreputable genres with MOV .", "far from being mere pastiche or parody , the film manifests strickland 's rigorous regard for the form and determination to both honor and elevate it .", "peter strickland charges full-tilt into the objectifying whims of his fantasies in order to somehow reach the other end of perception , which acknowledges the ultimate empathetic limitations of said fantasies .", "a sensual , strange and utterly compelling romance .", "like a lush ingmar bergman chamber piece with a touch jess franco style sensuality , one could say MOV is a kinky cross between the seminal s&m sendup secretary and the most dazzling homage to giallo in recent years , amer .", "MOV tears down the facade of a sadomasochist relationship , exposing the vulnerability and crippling anxiety behind the leather and lasciviousness , while tempering its turmoil with a surprising amount of wit .", "an act of cinephilic homage that transcends pastiche to become its own uniquely sensuouscinematic object ...", "despite its appearance of art-house grandeur and aloofness the subtle humour and wonderful leads prevent MOV from being over-pretentious .", "groundhog day -lrb- 1993 -rrb- as filtered through the visual language of jess franco or jean rollin 's erotic oeuvre - a saucy theme & its minor variations that together modulate the ambiguous & ever-changing dynamics of these women 's evolving relationship .", "of course , this is a film you have to meet half-way . if you 're willing to enter its world , it 's an immensely rewarding , amusing , wise , melancholy and involving experience .", "this is another psychological portrait , but of a shared psychology , one facing great strife . bondage coming undone .", "d'anna and knudsen maintain a fantastic hauteur . both lingerie and perfume are mentioned in the credits . some may find all this a little arousing . such reactions are allowed .", "embraces extremes in a fashion that will put off a lot of people . yet the approach enhances the essence of what is in fact quite an ordinary relationship .", "... trust in this auteur as `` MOV '' blossoms into a louche hothouse gothic that plays like dario argento 's `` celine and julie go boating '' or peter greenaway 's `` angels and insects . ''", "proceed with care . if you 're in the mood for something different ... something possibly completely different ... this will fill the bill .", "there is confrontational content here , and gasp-out-loud moments , but the surprises are in the ideas and themes strickland lays bare , rather than envelope-pushing visuals .", "portentous images of insects both living and preserved are as heavy-handed as the erotic psychology is flimsy ; the movie is as sexy as a chess game and as insightful as a catalogue .", "it 's a love story , and also a perversely sincere -lrb- and sincerely perverse -rrb- labor of love .", "nothing if not a mood piece , but amid its atmospherics and winking asides , it 's also a fascinating portrait of a relationship .", "the movie inhales the lost aroma of ingmar bergman 's persona and joseph losey movies such as the servant and accident , and also looks like an agile homage to the arthouse eroticism of walerian borowczyk at his most preposterous .", "with a 1970s style so florid that you can almost smell it , we 're not surprised that there 's a credit for perfume in this film 's opening titles ...", "the real problem with the film is a gradual mood switch that , for me , did n't work at all .", "while strickland 's films already are n't like anyone else 's , his real secret is that even in this strange constructed world , his characters feel like real people struggling with issues that are n't exotic at all .", "-lsb- peter strickland 's -rsb- new movie has more going on than cinematic mind games .", "sam taylor-johnson , buy a ticket : MOV shows us how you tackle bdsm .", "MOV is a deeply eccentric filigree of a film , as aesthetically refined a piece of cinematic artifice as i 've seen in ages .", "this is voyeurism of a brilliant , deeply refined order . if the mpaa had a shot at rating strickland 's fantasy , they would try to condemn it without being able to explain why .", "the women carry it off with aplomb , especially d'anna , whose big brown eyes and pouty lips convey perfectly her character 's needy obsequiousness .", "it 's a visually rich , tactile film with two beautifully observed , subtle performances at its centre .", "a meticulously choreographed erotic theatre .", "it will appeal to a limited group of high cinephiles , and those who always got off on the kind of fantasy soft-porn the film so dutifully replicates , and most of all , to the subset of folk who are both . that would be me .", "it 's not about exploring the outer boundaries of kink , as in fifty shades , but exploring the outer boundaries of fantasy itself , into the territory where exciting sexual roles must give way to the everyday intimacy of the real world .", "the movie is intriguingly observant and comical but only up to a point .", "MOV is a treat for both the senses and the intellect .", "an arresting piece of cinema .", "peter strickland 's sumptuous , all-female s&m fable is the director 's greatest film to date .", "sexy stuff . in the deepest sense . unhealthy erotic stimulation for the mind .", "peter strickland 's wryly subversive s&m fantasy is everything that fifty shades of grey is n't .", "you get the sense that if strickland had set his movie on some suburban couch in brooklyn , it would work just as well .", "MOV is like fifty shades of grey as staged by masterpiece theater .", "director peter strickland offers an affectionate , impeccably crafted salute to continental soft porn films of the 1970s crossed with something intense , theatrical and closely related to jean genet 's the maids ." ], "summary": "stylish , sensual , and smart , MOV proves that erotic cinema can have genuine substance .", "id": "771387955" }, { "movie": "the_neverending_story_1984", "reviews": [ "it pokes along at times and lapses occasionally into dark moments of preachy philosophy , but this is still a charming , amusing and harmless film for kids .", "here is a little adventure that fed on our uncultivated need to think , and wonder . it gave many of us our first taste of cinematic possibility .", "MOV remains a testament to the power of imagination and the type of inventive cinema that was possible in a pre-digital era .", "all in all , MOV is a silly fantasy movie that often shows its age , but as a kids ' movie it still has enough exciting action and you-can-do-it attitude to earn itself a place in a family 's dvd collection .", "this utterly enchanting , family treat of a film should leave you and yours wide-eyed with wonder .", "something dark , entrancing and even a little special .", "fantasies as hearty and original as this are rare at the movies .", "the story is a touch simplistic , but petersen 's direction is assured and children will be dazzled by the imaginative effects and stunning sets .", "this was sweet and charming at the time but now it just lacks either the comedy or sophistication of kids ' fantasy film that we 've all become accustomed to .", "only a certified grump could dislike this engaging fantasy that wends its way into the imagination and is a delight on most levels .", "the world of this movie looks like a very particular place , and the art direction involved a lot of imagination .", "an enjoyable departure from both das boot and kajagoogoo .", "a fairytale of the very best kind .", "even better if you never see the sequels .", "... has enough charm , delight , and wonder going for it to entertain most youngsters , and that 's all that matters .", "magical storytelling targeted at children still fascinates .", "as a testament to the power of books , the often gloomy MOV comes off as a reading rainbow episode covering existentialism .", "it 's very hard not to give in to MOV 's heart-in-the-right-place charms amidst an increasingly anti-literate society . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a marvelously realized flight of pure fantasy .", "despite the sophistication of the source material , the film is n't particularly successful .", "this fantasy tale drags incredibly despite its relatively short running time .", "a decent fantasy , but anyone who 's read the book will be sorely disappointed at did n't make it into the adaptation .", "nowhere near as good as the book , but not bad for the kids .", "the ` neverending ' part of the title is certainly accurate .", "an above-average children 's flick with interesting characters and an imaginative premise .", "MOV may have cost a mint to produce , but the result is bargain-basement .", "one of a scant few true fantasy masterpieces .", "-lsb- a -rsb- marvelous , inventive , inspiring fantasy .", "a shining moment in science-fiction fantasy . does it get any better ?", "classic fantasy , full of wonderful creatures and characters ." ], "summary": "a magical journey about the power of a young boy 's imagination to save a dying fantasy land , MOV remains a much-loved kids adventure .", "id": "10032" }, { "movie": "dumb_and_dumber", "reviews": [ "given american cinema 's current obsession with innocence and ignorance , at least this never romanticises its protagonists . they are genuinely , irredeemably , 100 per cent no-hopers .", "gone are the days of john belushi , where rudeness was raised to an art form .", "we can see a lot of these laughs coming , and they do n't hold much staying power", "a gross-out classic .", "gross to the max but very funny , this succeeds through energy , ingenuity and -- against all the odds -- the charm of its dopey leads .", "the wholeheartedness of this descent into crude and rude humor is so good-natured and precise that it 's hard not to partake in the guilty pleasures of the exercise .", "well titled and , for its purpose , a total success .", "this is a long way from the social comedy of jerry lewis . the characters here are ultimately turned into punching bags or punch-line dispensers .", "while i wo n't claim to have gone through this entire film without laughing , there are some long periods between chuckles .", "a bit too dumb", "the ` limo ` driver ' line made the rest of the movie worth the trouble .", "an execrable catalogue of doody jokes , MOV is an abominable , abdominal comedy .", "this virtually laughless movie makes rude junior high school pranks seem positively sophisticated .", "carrey , i am now convinced , is a true original . in the mask , he had the screenplay and production to back him up . here , the filmmaking is more uncertain .", "an uneven collection of bodily function jokes , facial gyrations , sexual jibes and pedestrian slapstick .", "this gleefully lowbrow film is best enjoyed by the young , and by those who can still laugh at the passing of gas .", "MOV , which features carrey and jeff daniels as nitwits traveling cross-country , is a frayed string of gags posing as a movie . carrey , though , does literal-minded doofdom with peerless enthusiasm .", "the plot , of course , is merely an excuse for an endless series of gags , and the percentage of them that score is fairly high .", "... a modern classic of the comedy genre ...", "easily one of the funniest -lrb- and most quotable -rrb- movies ever made ...", "from the puns to the slapstick to the toilet , MOV is performed at such a high level that it transcends many of its influences .", "the farrellys ' knack for stupid , three stooges-esque comedy writ larger by an infusion of heart excels with the complementary screen teaming of manic jim carrey and consummate screen actor jeff daniels . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the caviar of low-brow , gross-out comedy .", "-lsb- featrues -rsb- a plethora of memorable scenes .", "... it tickles the funny bone often enough to merit serious consideration among lowbrow comedies .", "inspired , irreverent , spark-driven comedy that takes you places you never thought a movie would go -- even a jim carrey movie .", "farrelly , quite simply put , does not appear to have the slightest clue about comic timing .", "dumb & dumber does n't have the greatest of plots nor the most impressive direction there is , but it 's hysterically funny , which is more than enough for me to recommend it heartily .", "dumb , but funny . very funny .", "despretensiosamente ing\u0119nuo , ` d\u00e9bi & l\u00f3ide ' \u00e9 a maior prova de que um filme nem sempre precisa ter uma trama elaborada para agradar .", "maybe it 's indicative of my end-of-the-year brain-fry , but this dopey comedy about two of the dumbest guys in the universe on a road trip to misadventure is a hoot .", "the funniest movie in the world .", "released before i started reviewing , but i would be remiss if i did n't say : it 's a fine film . had me buckling over in laughter , often , little plot , 100 % pure stupid genius .", "a movie that fully lives up to its name , right down to an opening credit sequence rife with intentional misspellings and grammatical errors .", "the title says it all" ], "summary": "a relentlessly stupid comedy elevated by its main actors : jim carrey goes bonkers and jeff daniels carries himself admirably in an against-type performance .", "id": "10194" }, { "movie": "snow_dogs", "reviews": [ "gooding and coburn are both oscar winners , a fact which , as you watch them clumsily mugging their way through MOV , seems inconceivable .", "all actors anxiously awaiting oscar nominations in hopes of a career boost should go to MOV and gaze upon cuba gooding jr. .", "its aims are modest -- to make kids laugh as cuba gooding falls down a lot and to show how thrilling sled dogs are -- and it achieves them .", "director brian levant , who never strays far from his sitcom roots , skates blithely from one implausible situation to another , pausing only to tie up loose ends with more bows than you 'll find on a french poodle .", "poor cuba gooding . as if it were not humiliating enough to play a guy so clumsy that he ca n't walk in the snow without pratfalling , he also has to do jokes about being a black man in the great white north .", "this is a fine example of old-fashioned disney movie-making magic at its best .", "forget the dogs ; who let this movie out ?", "this amiable , old-fashioned family film is ... a straightforward fish-out-of-water tale with lessons for the little ones and a surprisingly earnest and moving performance from james coburn .", "disney 's latest update of the lame live-action b comedies that have been among the studio 's more dubious contributions to american pop culture .", "it 's playful , corny , silly , adventuresome and enjoyable .", "gooding is so pleasant and likable , it 's hard to get mad at him for wasting our time .", "a movie full of gestures that would look over-the-top in primary school plays .", "it 's official...oscar-winning cuba gooding jr. 's career has gone straight to the dogs !", "... this is n't even a movie we can enjoy as mild escapism ; it is one in which fear and frustration are provoked to intolerable levels .", "there 's not much to like or dislike in this ride ; it 's the kind of all-season , live-action amusement that the disney studio has been churning out for decades .", "for some reason , disney keeps making really , really crappy live-action films .", "large doses of slapstick humor and gooding 's vitality keep MOV from slipping into dull ` family entertainment . '", "if i told you that your children deserved this movie , you 'd slap my face .", "slapstick stunts , silliness , and shallow sentiment , with little else to satisfy moviegoers who want more than cuba gooding jr. falling down and mugging for the camera .", "releasing a film with the word ` dog ' in its title in january lends itself to easy jokes and insults , and MOV deserves every single one of them .", "there 's little to recommend MOV , unless one considers cliched dialogue and perverse escapism a source of high hilarity .", "sure to test the patience of even those adults who will appreciate it simply for being an innocuous enough film that most of the family can see together .", "slapstick buffoonery can tickle many a preschooler 's fancy , but when it costs a family of four about $ 40 to see a film in theaters , why spend money on a dog like this when you can rent a pedigree instead ?", "every bit as bogus as most disney live action family movies are -- no real plot , no real conflict , no real point .", "a film with almost as many delights for adults as there are for children and dog lovers .", "the picture may be light as five inches of new powder , but it 's still good for a family romp .", "while kids will probably eat the whole thing up , most adults will be way ahead of the plot .", "... as fleeting and insubstantial as a snowflake , and about as much fun .", "ten minutes into the movie gooding already has screamed at least 57 times .", "what faustian bargain did gooding make , forcing him to star in this insipid fish-out-of-water comedy that paints him as a bolton fan ?", "horrible acting , horrible script , and horrible direction plague this fiasco of a movie .", "comic action , appealing hero , splendid dogs ; some scares .", "whoever let the dogs out should probably consider a career change .", "`` MOV '' does n't offer much , but to be fair , it had the youngest viewers at my screening cheering and laughing until the end .", "as distressed as a comedy can be without qualifying as a snow emergency .", "gooding offers a desperately ingratiating performance .", "frequent flurries of creative belly laughs and genuinely enthusiastic performances ... keep the movie slaloming through its hackneyed elements with enjoyable ease .", "the iditarod lasts for days - this just felt like it did .", "this is a family film like they used to make , where the humour balances the drama , the personal tragedies are life lessons and the animals are so darn cute , by golly .", "january is the month when the studios like to dump their dogs , and this film is a real mutt .", "trailer trash cinema so uncool the only thing missing is the `` gadzooks ! ''", "gooding is the energetic frontman , and it 's hard to resist his enthusiasm , even if the filmmakers come up with nothing original in the way of slapstick sequences .", "perhaps the movie is working with the theory that if you do a schtick a million times , it eventually becomes funny . in this case , it really does n't .", "MOV finds its humour in a black man getting humiliated by a pack of dogs who are smarter than him", "cuba gooding jr. valiantly mugs his way through MOV , but even his boisterous energy fails to spark this leaden comedy .", "a ripoff of northern exposure .", "when in doubt , the film ratchets up the stirring soundtrack , throws in a fish-out-of-water gag and lets the cliched dialogue rip . or else a doggie winks .", "manages to please its intended audience -- children -- without placing their parents in a coma-like state .", "like shave ice without the topping , this cinematic snow cone is as innocuous as it is flavorless .", "with its unimaginative slapstick sequences , gooding 's toothy mugging and an unforgivable plug for michael bolton , MOV is adrift .", "the corny jokes and the tired plot will make any self-respecting adult grimace .", "amiable and full of good cheer , -lsb- gooding -rsb- warms this cold-weather comedy .", "five screenwriters are credited with the clich\u00e9-laden screenplay ; it seems as if each watered down the version of the one before .", "this silly youth-targeted comedy goes strictly by the book , which should give you a clue as to its quality .", "behind the snow games and lovable siberian huskies -lrb- plus one sheep dog -rrb- , the picture hosts a parka-wrapped dose of heart .", "adults , other than the parents ... will be hard pressed to succumb to the call of the wild .", "if you 've never read the book , MOV may simply be a stupid waste of your time . but if you know the source , it 's an abomination .", "a mongrel of a movie -- scruffy , obvious and slightly disreputable ... the best one can say of it is that it could have been worse .", "the movie just does n't take any of its situations far enough . resulting in let down after let down .", "the huskies are beautiful , the border collie is funny and the overall feeling is genial and decent .", "this may be the worst movie to star two oscar winners since the heyday of the studios when actors had no say in their projects .", "it 's all very cute , though not terribly funny if you 're more than six years old .", "pre-packaged dog crap , a dumb movie made by dull-witted adults who clearly believe that just because some viewers currently reside at the lower end of the age spectrum , they do n't deserve better .", "if the restless children in the movie theatre are any indication , the movie is just as uninteresting for them as it is tiresome for the adults .", "the type of broad , fish out of water comedy where each crossed signal is telegraphed a mile away and the lead character falls down a lot", "instantly forgettable .", "phoned-in business as usual .", "if you have a soft spot for man 's best friend , it 's a pretty good throwaway movie .", "a hodge-podge of buffoonery and bad animal jokes the late jim varney would turn his nose up at .", "two oscar-winners are no match for irresistible dogs in this so-so slapstick comedy .", "this film was made to get laughs from the slowest person in the audience -- just pure slapstick with lots of inane , inoffensive screaming and exaggerated facial expressions .", "show me the mugging .", "a movie set in the frozen north that just idles , endlessly , in the sitcom hothouse where convention slowly but surely becomes moldy cliche .", "despite the usual pratfalls , a cute snow job .", "a generic family comedy unlikely to be appreciated by anyone outside the under-10 set .", "a fast paced comedic race through the wilds of alaska . cuba gooding jr. and the dogs provide solid entertainment for the whole family ." ], "summary": "a mediocre live-action children 's movie , MOV is filled with cliched dialogue , tiresome pratfalls , and stale fish-out-of-water jokes .", "id": "10910" }, { "movie": "happily_never_after", "reviews": [ "bring one of those clip-on reading lights and a good book .", "this movie is the worst kind of offender : it thinks its funny and clever , but it is neither . the filmmakers have mistaken banality for wit and silliness for humor , and that does n't begin to address how visually clunky this motion picture is .", "` i hate to tell you , but it gets worse , ' one character promises midway through happily n'ever after . no kidding .", "putting a spin on classic fairy tales is nothing new , and unfortunately that 's just what the shrek-lite animated feature happily n'ever after brings to the big screen .", "a slick piece of computer animation that can be described as a family film only in the sense that it 's a film the whole family will want to avoid .", "if children will sit still for ` once upon a time ' in a book , why does it all have to be dumbed down -lrb- and turned up -rrb- for the screen ?", "it may satisfy the under-6 crowd with its bright colors and talking animals . but it 's not much fun for the rest of the family .", "this most recent po-mo take on fairy tale may be shrek-lite , but it is just cute enough .", "a movie that clearly is the b-level of animated fare , including b-level animation , b-level stars providing voices , b-level stories and b-level dialogue .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unfunny , trying-to-be-hip fairytale , with ugly cgi animation , a few bad songs , and andy dick and patrick warburton doing some of voices .", "originally conceived as a 2-d picture , happily was retooled into a 3-d computer-animated film during production . still , it still somehow feels a bit flat .", "while new times deserve new tales , this ground has already been trodden -- twice -- by a more memorable ogre than any you 'll find in ella 's enchanted forest .", "the movie 's animators have been quoted saying they sought to give it a classic look . cheesy would be more accurate .", "` as grimm as it gets , ' says the promotional tag for happily n'ever after . make that grim .", "happily n'ever after is proof-positive that europeans may have us beaten in soccer , wine and luxury cars , but they still ca n't make a decent 3-d cartoon .", "painfully devoid of charm , wit , and ingenuity , this interminable , tongue-in-cheek slough through fairy tale land is so jaw-droppingly awful , the executors of the brothers grimm literary estate should consider taking legal action .", "happily n'ever after is a cutting edge contraction for happily not ever after . it 's a shame other films were n't blessed with this hip foresight , otherwise we 'd have n'another teen movie and the world is n'enough .", "happily n'ever after is more appropriate as dvd fodder .", "the story ... is as arbitrary and pointless as the apostrophe in the second word of the title ...", "when played with stale jokey-jokes and lame one-liners , as it is here , it 's not funny at all .", "it is shrek-lite .", "tolerable , but far from magical , `` happily n'ever after '' is just another one of what is becoming a genre : lackluster cgi_animated films .", "the only real laughs are supplied by the seven dwarfs , who are portrayed as hillbilly garden gnomes .", "no child deserves happily n'ever after .", "all it lacks is wit , character and laughs .", "there is the requisite bathroom humor -lrb- though it 's mild -rrb- and a wan effort to be a bit edgy by updating the looks of cinderella . but it takes more than a spiffy short haircut to make a character memorable .", "call me rash , but i wager the worst flick of 2007 is sarah michelle gellar 's latest clunker , happily n'ever after .", "the cgi animation is third-rate and unimaginative . the screenplay is n't nearly as funny as it thinks it is ... in short , happilyn ` ever after is a disappointment .", "not counting derivative , obnoxious , poorly animated , and woefully unfunny , what happily is most of all is dull .", "limping into theaters at the least admirable time of year , the film is a disaster on a scale we may not have seen yet in this genre . that would make it a new low .", "shrek this ai n't . a lacklustre effort hampered by limp dialogue and lazy plotting .", "happily n'ever after finally arrives , looking like a cheapo knock-off of dreamworks ' ogre .", "clunkingly obvious .", "despite attempts to turn the fairytale genre on its head , the characters are predictable stereotypes .", "... lives up to the promise of it 's title", "if you 're old enough to read this sentence , you should probably go see something else .", "deeply lame .", "the computerised animation is cut-rate ; the script keeps piling on clunker jokes that even toddlers will find lame ; and prinze proves he is n't any better an actor in two dimensions than he is in three .", "i 'll happily never watch it again . .", "it ai n't shrek , but it ai n't dreck .", "the rationale behind this unattractive animated comedy , a u.s.-german coproduction , seems to be that since it ca n't create a fairy-tale world of its own , it might as well riffle through many of the more familiar ones .", "it would n't seem possible , but this is yet another fractured fairy tale in which the characters subvert their own genre in self-conscious , smart-alecky fashion .", "from the producers of the shrek series comes this annoying shrek ripoff , a wannabe fairytale spoof with no imagination .", "happily n'ever after , with its pseudo-shrekkeries , tries to be too many things -- and in too many styles and dimensions -- at the same time .", "two words of advice : n'ever mind .", "inexperienced youngsters will be content with happily n'ever after , but their parents will recognize a pale , b-movie variation of the far-superior shrek films .", "the rich detail we 've come to expect in computer animation is largely absent , suggesting that the filmmakers intended a direct-to-video release for this cleverly written parody .", "dangerously close to scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to theatrically released animated movies .", "scriptwriter rob moreland keeps the one-liners flowing , though , at best , they register no better than a tepid smirk on the humour thermometer .", "movie titles do n't get much more truthful .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- unhappily unsuccessful as either low-budget , time-filling kiddie fare or satire aimed at adults . its lack of imagination extends to the computer-generated animation , which is as lacking in detail and style as the dialogue is in amusement .", "as an animated film , it may share the bright palette of a disney feature , but its computer animation lacks the polish and detail of a pixar film .", "the film aims for sassy but lands in soggy , the victim of lazy scripting and pacing .", "despite self-aware touches , this is another tired kidsploitation product in which a wasp-waisted ing\u00e9nue and a shallow beau drive the plot and live happily ever .", "though there are one or two funny gags -lrb- like the seven dwarves as commandos -rrb- , the typographical flourish in the title is the most clever thing about happily n'ever after .", "it would take some actual work to get absolutely everything wrong , and that looks like it might be the case here .", "nothing much of any import or interest happens to get us to the end we predicted within the first two minutes , so if for some masochistic reason you do let your kid drag you to this , this would be a good time to catch a nap .", "-lsb- f -rsb- ails to rise even to the level of cute but silly : it 's just dumb .", "there 's one great clue that the picture was not born in hollywood : the heaving bosoms . only the germans would bestow such careful , pillowy attention to the bustline of the wicked stepmother and the flying witches .", "this is n't unwatchable or boring . not like everyone 's hero , open season or over the hedge . but it 's still so done .", "n'ever was an apostrophe so misplaced , n'ever was the prospect of good cheer so perversely defeated .", "in all , it 's a peculiar mishmash , simultaneously bland and suggestive .", "` happily n'ever after ' boasts lots of high-powered voice talent but not much charm or pizzazz .", "ella 's so blindly devoted to the prince , and so convinced that he 's the one to save the day , that she seems just another swooning groupie rather than a worthy heroine .", "compared to the best movies of its kind -lrb- shrek -rrb- , happily n'ever after is insipid . compared to mediocre ones -lrb- hoodwinked ! -rrb- , it 's not very good , either .", "a leaden , irritatingly obvious postmodern fairy tale .", "essentially a brash comedy taking one idea as far as it can go , happily n'ever after is spare on emotional development but generous with smart-aleck shtick .", "happily n'ever after exists to reward anyone who 's delighted in the destruction the shrek franchise has waged against our fairy-tale memories .", "the wizard appears for two minutes at film 's start before he smartly abandons the movie . you 'll wish you had the good sense to walk out with him .", "the film is so self aware and pseudo hip that it 's incredibly annoying . it uses every cutesy `` hey look at me '' film class 101 trick , including bad narration from freddie prinze jr. .", "the press notes boast that the total production time was only 15 months , ` unheard of for a first-class computer animated movie . ' maybe there 's a reason why that 's unheard-of .", "it 's at the point where if they ca n't find any fresh means of deconstructing or parodying fairy tales , they should n't bother at all .", "in terms of lasting , satisfying flavor , happily n'ever after falls somewhere between cardboard and tofu .", "quantities of unimaginative cgi do nothing to perk up a barely sketched storyline . i spent the movie scratching my head over which audience the studio is hoping to profit from with this noisy rubbish . youtubers ? tots with add ?", "underwhelming ." ], "summary": "happily n'ever after has none of the moxy , edge , or postmodern wit of the other fairy-tales-gone-haywire cg movie it so blatantly rips off .", "id": "387327003" }, { "movie": "super_size_me", "reviews": [ "mordantly funny and trenchantly sobering , this is a big mac attack you can sink your teeth into . and then it will bite you back .", "ingenious and entertaining cautionary tale about the evils of fast food , film is fast-paced and accessible without being preachy and precious .", "have holes in its arguments the height and width of the golden arches .", "the speed with which a healthy , relatively young stud can morph into a tub of lard is as horrifying as it is entertaining to watch .", "an entertaining , and occasionally horrifying , statement of the obvious .", "tasty while you take it in , but larded down with empty cinematic calories .", "a vital shock to the system . it will prop your eyes wide open .", "MOV is a creative documentary exploring the link between junk food and the obesity epidemic in america .", "if the idea is not so new , it 's delivered in a manner that 's refreshingly aggressive , at once deliberate and antic .", "witty , gross , smart , outrageous , and so clever it just about pops .", "a hilarious and often terrifying look at the effects of fast food on the human body .", "what could have been just an anti-fast food screed is instead a remarkably watchable , high-spirited , persuasive film that is as entertaining as it is alarming .", "morgan spurlock goes on an exclusive mcdonalds ' diet to prove that their food is high in fat & cholesterol . his experiment was as pointless then as his documentary is today .", "MOV is more important for what it brings to the table outside of the film rather than the film itself .", "if you need just a little extra incentive to keep you away from the drive-thrus , this movie is for you .", "proves something many of us suspected - that fast food is poison . tantalizing , low-cost poison . oversaturated , grease-sopped poison . mass-marketed , addictive poison .", "will wipe the smile right off your happy meal .", "although spurlock 's movie is thought-provoking and downright funny , he does n't exactly play fair .", "this documentary is shocking although it seems comical to watch .", "MOV can be frivolous and slightly smug , but it certainly puts the question of america 's health squarely on the table -- and in a wonderfully entertaining way .", "right after i left the theater , i drove past krispy kreme and the `` hot '' light was on . i kept right on driving past it and headed straight for the produce section .", "divertissant et horrifiant en proportions justes ...", "morgan spurlock has crafted the ultimate contemporary horror story .", "more than just a cautionary tale or insane sociology experiment . it 's a real look at one of the most pressing issues in our times .", "i have n't touched a big mac since .", "one of the most terrifying reality checks i 've ever seen , predominantly horrifying yet frequently hilarious -lrb- that spurlock 's girlfriend is a vegan chef is the topper -rrb- .", "at once hugely entertaining -- and hugely scary .", "fast , funny and caustic , this is everything a documentary should be .", "MOV is essentially the perfect documentary ...", "-lsb- b -rsb- ig thumbs up . this was one of the most talked about films at sundance , and i can understand why .", "when a documentary can not only sinfully entertain & inform on your greatest suspicions & worst fears but also change your life , that 's a feat that few parents can accomplish .", "the real power of this film will be felt for years to come .", "excellent and engaging documentary .", "spurlock proves himself a supersize talent ; he makes you choke on every laugh .", "half comedy and half gastronomical tragedy , MOV is absolutely one of the most enjoyable documentaries i 've ever seen . yeah , ever .", "thanks to spurlock 's oversized and buoyant personality and some pretty nifty filmmaking , the results are as entertaining as they are sobering .", "spurlock 's an intelligent guy with a wicked sense of humor and a deft sense of how to get a point across so that it resonates with more than just the funny bone", "MOV is mcbrilliant and may be one of the most important documentaries you 'll ever see . read on - >", "morgan spurlock 's self-starring documentary has nothing new to say about america 's fast-food addiction and obesity epidemic , but there 's no denying its grotesque effectiveness .", "bet you do n't head to the golden arches after seeing `` MOV . ''", "something like a public service announcement about a country-wide health problem that is presented with a comic edge .", "afinal de contas , qual \u00e9 o grande argumento de spurlock ? o de que comer sandu\u00edches e batatas fritas em excesso provoca aumento de peso ? como diria homer simpson : ` duh ! ' .", "i 'm less certain that super smug spurlock is a man with a mission than i am resolutely convinced that he 's a man out to draw attention to himself .", "-lsb- spurlock -rsb- presents some interesting , if non-shocking , facts about our addiction to fast food .", "as entertaining as MOV sometimes is , i 'm not sure what spurlock 's escapade really accomplishes , except to emphasize that eating 5,000 calories a day , and exercising little , is bad for you .", "MOV is a one of an ever-expanding list of shock-doc films that are definitely worth the admission .", "consumption will lead to possible nausea and certain amusement .", "spurlock has ventured what few social commentators bother with these days , especially in the burgeoning field of pop-documentary : the possibility for real change .", "a wonderful achievement -- entertaining , engrossing , and never far from grossing out .", "a striking comic assault on the fast-food nation .", "non-stop overeating causes him to gain weight and feel terrible . shocking !", "what makes all this work is that the charming mr. spurlock , unlike combative michael moore , is winning , witty and completely at ease before the camera .", "fast-food restaurants are not looking after their customers , spurlock argues , and his film does a fine job of delineating , as he says , ` where personal responsibility stops and corporate responsibility begins . '", "uses a `` reality show '' gimmick to get us into the theater , but winds up teaching us something and may even cause us to re-examine our habits and beliefs .", "a controversial , entertaining and stomach-turning nonfiction comedy that will cause many viewers to put down their topping-drenched jumbo buckets of popcorn .", "a terrific film that takes the seemingly not-so-sexy subjects of health , nutrition , and corporate greed and turns them into informative entertainment .", "feeds us the message quite literally that we are all poisoning ourselves to death in such a charming , hilarious , self-deprecating manner that you actually enjoy hearing it .", "fat city", "no -lsb- kidding -rsb- , spurlock .", "you 'll never think the same way about those two all-beef patties .", "spurlock is considerably more charismatic and more endearing than documentarian michael moore , to whom he 's already been compared . and as narrator and subject , he has considerable screen presence .", "a well-crafted comedy .", "spurlock does n't deliver -lsb- his -rsb- message sternly but with bracing humor , a sure command of the facts , a lack of pretention and a stunning act of illustrative self-destruction .", "filled with big laughs ... yet even the guffaws do n't diminish the periodic bouts of anger , depression and horror we experience as we watch a nation eating itself into oblivion .", "spurlock comes across as a kinder , gentler , less egomaniacal and -- not irrelevant , in this context -- thinner michael moore .", "beyond any contention is morgan spurlock 's gift for metabolizing common knowledge into uncommonly entertaining cinema .", "while more entertaining as a gimmick than a film , spurlock still reveals telling truth about our fast food nation .", "-lsb- an -rsb- irreverent and revealing contemporary creep show about our country 's forbidden love affair with unhealthy dining ... worth chewing on as `` reel '' food for thought", "branches out to make some extremely compelling arguments about america 's poor eating habits .", "often hilarious -- spurlock makes fine use of ... such soundtrack selections as ` yummy yummy yummy , i 've got love in my tummy ' -- and also more than a little upsetting .", "provides plenty of food for thought .", "if you feel hungry for fast food after seeing this , you must enjoy living dangerously .", "while not the all-encompassing , hard-facts indictment fast food nation readers might hope for , this more entertainment-oriented package does throw in enough disturbing figures and informative side trips to provide an educational-value meal .", "a compelling cautionary tale hot-wired to your gag reflex .", "spurlock manages to make a documentary about a guy eating burgers for a month compelling -- a tall order he manages to fill .", "-lsb- has -rsb- road-accident appeal .", "a swiftian portrait of america the rotund .", "spurlock picks apart a serious issue in a highly entertaining way .", "an anti-junk-food screed that manages to entertain even as it informs and alarms .", "in a way it functions as the mental , emotional , and aesthetic equivalent of junk food ; two hours after you see it , you 're hungry again , even though your brain has gotten fatter .", "... it 's unfortunate that the place of pride belongs to spurlock 's self-mortification .", "it 's rare the film that changes someone 's life ; MOV may indeed change many .", "this is the documentary that caused a sensation at sundance 2004 and allegedly inspired mcdonald 's to discontinue its ` super size ' promotions as a preemptive measure .", "may affect how you eat and will serve as a rude awakening ...", "fascinating documentary on american fast food .", "through the use of quirky art work , animation , a barrage of facts and figures , plus an incredibly dry wit , spurlock shines a light on america 's attitudes to weight gain .", "i 'm willing to believe spurlock 's hypothesis ... but someday i 'd like to see a well-researched documentary as lively as this one on the harmful effects of pseudo-science in the media .", "underscores the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own health , and it does so in a frequently humorous and self-deprecating way . plenty of food for thought .", "the ` what would jesus buy ? ' project , broader than digestion issues , is the brainchild of morgan spurlock , who in a less spiritual frame of mind , lost the junk food battle of the bulge against mcdonald 's with this high calorie investigative documentary .", "might help shake the mcfaithful out of their special sauce stupors .", "full review in greek", "an entertaining look at america 's obesity epidemic and a lively exploration of personal versus corporate responsibility .", "MOV is an unnerving , highly entertaining wake-up call .", "a film that not only works as a documentary but as an endlessly intriguing and grin-inducing narrative .", "a film that 's every bit as tasty as junk food but without any of the refined flour , processed sugar , sodium overload , saturated fats or potentially lethal calories of your average fast-food meal .", "offers food for thought , as well as a perverse sort of entertainment .", "-lsb- in addition to -rsb- undeniable food for thought , morgan spurlock 's account of his foray into fast-food hell also serves up a heaping helping of bitingly subversive humor .", "if you decide to go see ` MOV ' -- not a bad idea -- you might want to skip that stop at the concession stand on the way into the auditorium .", "when people do this to themselves over the course of several years , you do n't always notice the effects right away . when a young man in perfect health speeds up the process , it all comes into very sharp focus .", "it 's easy to hit the broad side of a barn , but few do it with as much flair and humor as director morgan spurlock .", "engaging , horrifying , and hilarious all at once . a must-see .", "the film may not be definitive , but it should be a must-watch in every junior high health class .", "works despite itself , both as sensationalist , occasionally nauseating entertainment , and as an emphatic condemnation of the golden arches .", "MOV packs a lot of good information , witty visual aids and expert testimonials into its fast 96 minutes , and all the bad eating certainly makes for compelling if at times repugnant viewing .", "-lsb- spurlock 's -rsb- like a jovial frat boy bingeing on burgers instead of beer .", "... a sobering experience for the french-fry junkie in all of us .", "one thing you 'll definitely think twice about is going out and grabbing a burger on the way home .", "completely satisfying .", "the movie delivers loads of facts , food for thought and a heaping serving of laughs .", "it goes several extra miles to interview nutritionists , educators and media experts about the epidemic of obesity .", "it 's the film and its hero 's honest approach that make the package so persuasive .", "absolutamente deliciosa .", "spurlock 's adventure in not-so-fine dining may be extreme , but it makes its point in a shocking way ...", "... invaluable , putting the hard truth in our face like never before", "instead of making a calm , reasonable case , spurlock dazzles us with sensational details . -lsb- but -rsb- most of his arguments are properly persuasive .", "one of only a handful of select films that i can recall as being as important as it is entertaining .", "MOV is , on one level , a cinematic stunt in the tradition of michael moore 's populist , anti-corporate crusades .", "every schoolchild should be brought to see it - with no popcorn during or burgers afterwards .", "the truth is , the delicious fun -lrb- forgive me -rrb- of MOV resides in watching the lanky , affable spurlock get intentionally fat .", "fun to watch , even while it shows us something we need to do something about .", "more than a 98-minute episode of fear factor , spurlock 's movie is a remarkably thorough and hilarious examination of our alarming eating habits .", "it 's one thing to know that fast food is bad for you . it 's another to see that ` badness ' demonstrated .", "those who see the film will think twice before succumbing to that next big mac attack .", "blatantly unfair and completely winning documentary .", "funny , sickening , scary , entertaining and undeniably educational .", "after seeing this movie , it 's hard to think about fast food the same way again .", "so fast and funny that you almost forget how fundamentally stupid the whole thing is .", "-lsb- a -rsb- gripping , often funny , unfailingly gut-wrenching burp of a documentary about america 's fast-food industry and one man 's -lrb- his -rrb- greasy descent into its cholesterol-clogged bowels .", "as enormously entertaining as it is appalling .", "a wild and wicked film that should make anyone think twice before grabbing that egg mcmuffin on the way to work or ` treating ' their kids to a meal almost engineered to make them sick .", "-lsb- a -rsb- funny , scary , and altogether fascinating film .", "MOV produces more laughs than a man 's gastrointestinal distress should .", "full of interesting facts about the american diet .", "morgan spurlock 's much-heralded big mac attack is way more fun than it is preachy .", "for all of the huffing and puffing and hurling , the film does n't really make the sort of lasting impact that a truly effective work might have .", "a gimmick film that uses an upbeat style to create laughs , and , in truth , a distaste for fast food .", "riveting and darkly comic .", "hilarious , honest and heartfelt documentary about america 's obsession with fast food offers plenty of food for thought .", "at once both hysterical and stomach turning , morgan spurlock 's documentary about living on fast food is a poignant achievement .", "spurlock constructs the film brilliantly , maintaining a darkly hilarious tone while continually jolting us .", "i 'd have been happy to simply sit and watch morgan eat for a few hours , but the guy has a point to make .", "this reviewer , for one , has n't been back to the golden arches since seeing the film .", "it 's a highly effective -lsb- gimmick -rsb- , one that speaks directly to those of us who ca n't resist a double-cheeseburger with an extra-large helping of fries once in a while .", "fast food and the perils of commodification", "... great flick , great points , great man .", "my arteries hardened just watching MOV .", "-lsb- you 'll -rsb- be captivated by the deeper issues that cling tenaciously to its main storyline .", "spurlock 's light touch keeps MOV entertaining and educational , without sacrificing one for the other .", "spurlock reveals himself to be as savvy and self-interested as that clown who 's feeding your children everyday .", "one measure of a great film is the impact it has on one 's daily life , and the film that has most adjusted my outlook in 2004 is morgan spurlock 's MOV .", "entertaining and informative .", "outrageously amusing ." ], "summary": "entertaining doc about the adverse effects of eating fast food .", "id": "10060" }, { "movie": "metallica_some_kind_of_monster", "reviews": [ "a mesmerizing spectacle .", "if you 're not a fan of metallica , after this movie you will be .", "berlinger and sinofsky are very good at both capturing the specifics of these men 's quarrels and making them universal .", "transcends the rockumentary genre and becomes something uniquely its own .", "keeping the docu from feeling like a whine-fest is hetfield , whose sharp-humored , powerful presence is always magnetic .", "less therapeutica and more alcoholica would have been welcome .", "this is an engrossing film for anyone interested in the ongoing saga of the human condition .", "to go through with this film took guts , honesty and even a kind of nobility -- and all of us who are fascinated by the unsolvable quandaries of pop culture owe the band for that .", "the quartet appears to be mightily lacking in the brains and judgment departments .", "great theater .", "it goes to places no other band has dared to explore in public : finances , fights , families , real feelings about one another and the things required to stay commercially successful .", "there 's an almost soap-opera aspect to the story , about people with deep affection for each other , but also 20 years of hard history and a candidness one ca n't help but respect .", "an astonishingly intimate look at the disconnect between the hard-partying image that earned the band the nickname alcohollica and the behind-the-scenes reality .", "the worst kind of rockumentary : a boring , self-important , uninspired portrayal of a band more than a decade past its prime .", "funny , insightful , and brave - not exactly the first words that come to mind when i think of metallica , but certainly true of their documentary .", "the most raw and real portrayal of how a rock group works ... and how it sometimes does n't .", "raw , riveting rock doc goes inside a mega-band 's crisis -- and captures an unexpectedly human search for connection .", "the filmmakers joe berlinger and bruce sinofsky turn what might have been a conventional behind-the-scenes rockumentary into a riveting , intricate psychodrama .", "joe berlinger and bruce sinofsky could hardly have known what they were in for when they set out to make a movie about metallica .", "even if you 're not a fan of their music , metallica : some kind of monster is a revelation : funny , fascinating and insightful .", "too long ... for them to allow their petulant disagreements to be so widely seen indicates that they are either amazingly mature and self-confident , or amazingly masochistic .", "perhaps the most dynamic and enthralling cinematic storytelling ever to emerge from the mystique-shrouded fog of rock 'n' roll relationships .", "-lsb- shows -rsb- less ` the majesty of rock ' ... than the banal yet ultimately far more inspirational reality of flawed human beings confronting their demons and getting down to -lrb- admittedly big money -rrb- business .", "easier to like and admire than the album that spawned it .", "there 's something so right about seeing multimillionaire metal monsters reduced to crybabies , slamming doors , flinging passive-aggresive insults and pouting like 8-year-olds .", "it 's truly laudable that the band let them keep filming , even after what was originally intended to be a `` making of '' puff piece turns into an intense psychodrama .", "whether you know everything or nothing about metallica , it will rock you .", "the real beauty of `` metallica '' is its understanding of a business , and a fan base , that provide no way to age gracefully while retaining musical credibility .", "it 's not the sort of film that will make you like its subjects , but you will understand them and appreciate their power .", "a cultural document of significance and insight about group dynamics , the creative process and the business of being metallica .", "one of the most intriguing films of the year .", "some kind of monster is a first : a film that 's intimate to a fault .", "one need n't be a fan of metallica or heavy metal to be engrossed throughout .", "there is no better time for this film to be , even if its appeal would be mostly limited to band fans and sociologists .", "like a hopelessly elongated episode of ` behind the music ' ... by the end many viewers might think the subtitle should really be ` some kind of joke . '", "this silly juxtaposition of hardened , tattooed headbangers lamenting about abandonment issues is precisely what makes this documentary both touching and entertaining .", "head-bangers and novice metalheads alike should find this bare-bones , honest , often brutal rock movie an intriguing and compelling look into the lives of rock n ' roll legends .", "a two-and-a-half-hour puff piece about how ` important ' metallica are and , worse , how much ` integrity ' they have .", "overlong and repetitious .", "what ties each moment together is the fascinating and emotional tale of rock and its heroes growing up yet trying , against the odds , to stay genuine .", "you do n't need to be a metallica fan to appreciate this well-done documentary .", "who else would give documentary filmmakers this kind of access to their lives ? i 'll tell you who : anna nicole smith , and any of the has-beens from the surreal life .", "it 's hard for me to grok why metallica is the most popular or the most hated heavy-metal band there ever was .", "what the film lacks in music , it makes up for with emotional upheavals and conflict .", "a magnificent documentary ! i talked about it for seven days afterwards .", "probing study of dysfunctional heavy metal band", "overlong , but interesting documentary of heavy metal band metallica .", "metallica : some kind of monster is a masterpiece of rock 'n roll documentary filmmaking , and has set the bar high for those who attempt it in the future .", "an entertaining and penetrating look at the creative process", "a mostly terrific documentary about a mostly terrible album . despite derisory poor-me whining , it captures fragility and fear in metallica 's questioned relevancy , considered disbandment and the closest things to tears they can muster for each other .", "while it does give us a more honest glimpse into the business of rock music , the film is also more than a little windy -lrb- after more than two hours , it becomes wearisome -rrb- .", "dude , where 's my therapist ?", "an intimate and expansive portrait of a band grappling with inner demons and external forces that have changed the music business .", "if you 're a fan , you will almost certainly be touched by this effort to put an entire dysfunctional band on the couch . and if you 're not , well , you 're going to giggle .", "a compelling documentary that allows us exposure to musicians in a more personal manner than usual .", "berlinger and sinofsky ... have created the most revelatory movie about musical creativity since let it be .", "fans of the band will love the revealing footage , especially landmark moments such as bassist auditions -lrb- more famous names showed up than the one they picked -rrb- and encounters with the ex-metallica members -lrb- newsted and megadeth frontman dave mustaine -rrb- .", "comparisons to `` this is spinal tap '' abound in this inside look at the heavy metal rock band metallica , but `` this is spinal tap '' was a heck of a lot of fun also .", "an unflinching and often hilarious look at the humanity of these heavy-metal gods .", "the band 's literal dr. phil even develops a ` metallica mission statement ' that asks the musicians to become ` healers of ourselves ' -- a far cry from ` kill 'em all . '", "the members of metallica have become so successful and so insulated from the real world that they actually think that everyone else should care about their problems as much as they do .", "because of its unexpected level of intimacy , it will likely hold the interest of even those with no interest in heavy metal bands .", "the film will engage a much broader audience than just metallica fans .", "has plenty of stuff to savor", "... an intriguing study of an extremely popular heavy metal band and their personal issues .", "the result will stand as one of the most intense , in-depth , warts-and-all rockumentaries ever made -- vh1 's behind the music cranked up to 11 and beyond .", "these are rich , aging men in a young man 's game , and the discrepancy between image and reality , captured by the filmmakers , makes for engrossing material .", "although frequently funny , the movie ultimately works or not based on the music . and , even for non-fans , the music turns out to be quite inviting and invigorating .", "... there 's more than enough here to hold the interest of those that are n't necessarily into this kind of music .", "berlinger and sinofsky have raised the bar even higher with subjects who dare to risk exposing their raw psyches , warts and all .", "the movie permits us to hover from first riff to last encore , during which metallica finds a new record and itself just as it all seems to be coming apart .", "by the time this fascinating two-hour - and-20-minute film ends , you 'll have seen the group rise from the ashes of its own massive discontent .", "absorbing , funny , exhilaratingly entertaining .", "on its own merits , the movie is an enthralling -lrb- if overlong -rrb- group portrait ; viewed in context , it 's even more fascinating , continually proving the opposite of every point it tries to make .", "some kind of monster is some weird kind of wonderful .", "serious , funny , frustrating and touching .", "fans will undoubtedly thrive on every second . for the rest of us , monster is precisely that : a creature powerful but ungainly .", "like all worthwhile rock documentaries , monster turns its viewers into voyeurs , taking them inside some intimate moments and making them squirm .", "-lsb- an -rsb- overlong but startling heavy metal-therapy documentary .", "it 's great emotional fodder for old-school metallica fans and smart , tugging drama for people unfamiliar with the band .", "a counterintuitive , riveting documentary so honest that it will either become a rock movie classic or a severe embarrassment for the heavy metal band .", "it works because there is something oddly compelling about watching legendary heavy metal , hard rock tough guys go to therapy and talk about their feelings .", "-lsb- p -rsb- rofoundly moving ... may well be the new yardstick against which the next 20 years of rock movies will be measured ...", "berlinger and sinofsky , with their knack for penetrating the diabolical pretensions of weak and disaffected human beings , have brought metallica to its knees .", "no rock doc has burrowed so deeply into the bruised egos , arrested development and internal conflict that make up a superstar band .", "a movie about narcissism that indulges that narcissism -- vindicated by our decision to pay a few bucks for the honour .", "mesmerizing , often funny , even poignant .", "overkill to anyone who never flashed the group 's devil horns salute .", "metallica : some kind of monster does n't require you to know anything about the band metallica or heavy metal music , but it supplies a lot of information about various kinds of monsters .", "the filmmakers did n't do anything to make metallica look like douchebags , the band did that very well on their own .", "poignantly honest and brave , and fascinating even for those of us unfamiliar with metallica 's music .", "uncompromising but never hateful , some kind of monster is a very good movie and , within its own surprising logic , ultimately a victorious one for metallica .", "by the time the film is over , you 'll have witnessed a curious creative process , seeing not just an album made but a group of people redefined .", "the polar opposite of a puff piece . it 's raw and sometimes ugly , but strives for honesty and intensity -- kind of like metallica 's own music .", "a memorable tragic-comedy that produces its share of laughs in between the very real tears of rage and frustration .", "this extraordinary film deserves mention alongside such great rock movies as gim me shelter and stop making sense .", "has a pretty similar trajectory to sam jones 's wonderful `` i am trying to break your heart , '' but jones is to berlinger & sinofsky as edward g. ulmer is to alfred hitchcock", "... a riveting fly-on-the-wall look at a dysfunctional family behaving badly during its darkest hours . -lrb- and it only feels like a sequel to spinal tap 30 % of the time . -rrb-", "berlinger and sinofsky manipulate almost two years of raw footage into one coherent , riveting and educational piece .", "carefully structured from 1600 hours of film , yet still an impressive insight into metallica 's world .", "now that they 're past 40 with families of their own , hetfield and ulrich finally face their demons . watching them do so is fascinating , funny and more than a little relatable to anyone finding himself unexpectedly -lrb- can it be ? -rrb- middle-aged .", "it 's the fly-on-the-wall aspect of seeing these heavy-metal kingpins express intimate emotions that will have people -- or at the very least , metalheads -- flocking to movie theatres .", "... a brilliant film .", "berlinger and sinofsky manage something remarkable : they connect us to the actual people who comprise metallica , the former working - and middle-class california kids who have now spent half their lives rich and famous .", "it 's head-banging entertainment from start to finish .", "i still think metallica rocks , but i do n't know if you will .", "it 's less rockumentary and more exploration of , and meditation on long-term relationships , creativity and maturity , the value of the ` talking cure ' and the quest for personal authenticity in a matrix of family demands , peer pressure and corporate greed .", "one of the most marvelous rock documentaries of all time .", "do n't let anyone spoil the surprises of this thrashing , thrilling chunk of cinematic gold . it 's one for the time capsule .", "puts you eye to human eye with struggling creatures neither fully god nor fully beast ." ], "summary": "fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how metallica survives one of their more turbulent periods .", "id": "13162" }, { "movie": "quantum_of_solace", "reviews": [ "an entertaining mess full of jarring editing and artsy touches .", "the film makes such headlong leaps of motivation and locale that it would take a master spy to decipher why bond is going where he goes and doing what he does .", "a silly spy may be laughable , but a sulking thug is just a bore .", "marc forster seems like a counterintuitive choice to direct an action spectacle . but any doubts i might have had flew out the window and splattered onto the hood of a parked car during an early , hellacious brawl .", "MOV is the rocking-but-unsatisfying-on-its-own encore to casino royale 's full set-list and , now , the lights are up and the show is over . i ca n't wait to hear the next tune .", "all dressed up with no particular place to go , this 22nd bond film tries hard but ends up an underachiever .", "it delivers the goods in bloody high style : explosively , sexily , and with 007 shaken -lrb- not stirred -rrb- to his icy core .", "craig 's coldblooded charisma carries almost every scene .", "a few years back , the easy sexism and narcissism of the james bond series looked dated to the point of obsolescence , but MOV proves that a revenge motive is just what 's needed to rejuvenate all the bond cliches .", "since this is really the origin story of a man who kills people for a living , a darker tone makes total sense . i mean , really ... do you want to go back to jet-packs ?", "the stunts are as muscular and the film as handsome to look at as the hero who so ably pulls them off . but the story linking it all together is thin and weak .", "i repeat : james bond is not an action hero ! leave the action to your jason bournes . this is a swampy old world . the deeper we sink in , the more we need james bond to stand above it .", "some of the stunts remain impressive , and this picture will do well because of its predecessors . but it 's a huge disappointment .", "this bond movie seems to be attempting to satisfy action audiences even more so than it is bond movie fans .", "the opera sequence served briefly to arouse my already flagging interest , but what followed plunged me into galloping ennui . put bluntly , the movie bored the hell out of me .", "director marc forster has made a first rate action thriller -- in fact , it 's one of the year 's best . next time , however , we 'd like to be reminded that the hero of the movie is called bond ... james bond .", "... the plot is just so much noise in the end , somehow both over - and underdone .", "an intriguingly internalised central plot and outrageously exhilarating action", "not as good as `` casino royale '' was , but it is as good as many bond films .", "... while it has james bond as the lead character , it does n't feel like a james bond film . even the worst films in the 007 series have a style that is unmistakably bond ...", "meaner , leaner and faster than ever , the new-fashioned , down-to-earth bond movie might have a typically tangled plot and daniel craig scowling a tad too much , but the bourne-inspired action is sensational .", "the truly amazing achievement is that - after all these years and all the bad puns , self-parody , and formulaic regurgitation - the new bond films manage to make the audience take 007 seriously again , instead of smirking at the same-old-same-old .", "this bond is also a bit of a jerk , taking what he wants when he wants it and acting on an instinct that leaves little room for moral debate . seen in this light , craig is the perfect storm of bondian class and mayhem .", "action from start to finish ; craig is quickly gaining on connery as the best bond ever .", "the action and eye candy may be worth the ticket price , but this bond needs to get back to business .", "the result is n't bland , but it 's not exactly bond either .", "forster is indeed a fine director , but he 's hardly a specialist in action films , and it shows . he ca n't quite keep things moving fast enough to speed past the absurdity of the premise .", "there is n't much plot between the action set pieces , and precious little character development beyond craig 's and dench 's continuing evolution .", "MOV is n't frivolous or cheesy , but it is n't all that much fun either . craig is still the right guy for the job , but for his boiling-on-the-inside performance to work , he needs more to play with .", "this is a lesser bond outing , squandering some of the potential suggested by its predecessor but still worth seeing for its energetic fight scenes and chase sequences .", "the novelty of the franchise reboot has n't so much worn off as been squandered on a scenario lacking in genuine thrills and long on ill-advised navel-gazing .", "overwrought , incoherent and unfortunately dated -- a deadly thing for a bond movie .", "with his cool blue-eyed gaze and assured athletic moves , craig holds this insanely uneven movie together .", "MOV benefits from imaginatively conceived action sequences and from a director , marc forster , who knows how to film them .", "one of the most remarkable action films ever made .", "this is a crash-bang bond , high on action , low on quips , long on location glamour , short on product placement .", "a pacy , visually imaginative follow-up to the series relaunch . if it does n't even try to be bigger and better than casino royale , that 's perhaps a smart move .", "daniel craig 's james bond is already expected to shoulder the karmic burden of more than four full decades of pg-13 callousness .", "it 's ironic : after all these years of surviving everything that has been thrown at him , james bond is finally being undone by his own team .", "fast , furious , but not much fun . lighten up , james .", "a brisk , grim story that might as well have been called monotony of tone .", "... a darker continuation of the casino royal story line ... a good fast-paced action film , but not a great bond film .", "let 's hope this is a one-off aberration , because though it 's all very efficient it lacks heart and soul and substance .", "now that 007 has got vesper out of his system , maybe we 'll get a bond flick that does n't just smolder but is genuinely combustible .", "here 's an idea : get adam shankman to do the next one , from a script by akiva goldsman -- let 's see bond wriggle out of that one .", "wait . be patient.the action happens in ` MOV . ' it just takes some time to get going . about three seconds .", "for today 's cultural climate , it cleverly features the ultimate corporate villain , mr. greene , who masquerades as eco-friendly green .", "MOV feels more like a competent second act than a stand-alone film .", "not every director is well-suited to bondland . `` there 's something horribly efficient about you , '' kurylenko says to craig at one point . the same goes for the film .", "it is n't long before we 're again immersed in the bond mystique .", "solace turns 007 into a bore . even worse , he 's a bore with once killer moves that are impossible to appreciate viewed through forster 's distorted touch .", "we can only blame casino royale . the 2006 reboot of james bond was so brilliant , so satisfying , so organically of the moment that it could only prove hard to top , and even hard to equal .", "more like `` the bond ultimatum , '' this is the bournization of bond . this bond is almost feral . he is seldom sure but he never , ever stops .", "three years ago , before casino royale , quantum would have been a pretty good bond flick . two pair is n't a bad hand . it 's just anticlimactic after a royal flush .", "daniel craig still dazzles , but it 's all go-go-go - an efficient , mostly entertaining action-packed revenge coda to `` casino royale '' that nevertheless feels like tossed-off transition than tactile bond . let 's just do this jittery journeyman bit once .", "forster is elbowing us to agree that the franchise in his reins is just another spectacle .", "a cracking action film , but nothing more . the emotional power , intelligence and sheer stylishness of casino royale has been lost amidst the noisy blur of sub-bourne action sequences .", "while action-packed and eye-popping , without the mischievous 007 wit and iconic catchphrases , craig 's tight-lipped superspy emerges as a humorless , vengeful killing machine .", "bond barrels his way through expertly staged set-pieces and brutal action scenes , ... a welcome return to the earliest days of the series , before tricks , gags and bad acting took over the films .", "stripped of royale 's humor , elegance and reinvented old-school stylishness , quantum has little left except its plot , which is rudimentary and slightly barmy , in the line of the roger moore pics of the '70s and '80s .", "director marc forster has cranked the action up to 11 - and in some cases , 12 .", "lacks casino royale 's narrative drive , and is less than the sum of its parts , -lsb- but -rsb- those parts are often terrific . see it for them , and see it for craig 's fully-formed bond : angry , icily unsentimental , and fleetingly borderline psychotic at the close .", "`` MOV '' will satisfy most bond fans . but -lrb- it -rrb- is more of a set-up for what is to come and more than anything it whets your appetite for future missions .", "the evolution of james bond ... continues , and the studio is taking no chances with their secret agent reboot by building on their already-successful foundation .", "this is a decent spy thriller on an adult level . the tone is downbeat , but it is still one of the best in the series .", "tries to copy the breathlessness of the bourne franchise .", "a rather solid action flick , but it 's barely bond .", "will be remembered for the missing ingredients of the cocktail we know as bond , and for the quantum of special entertainment it only partially provides us .", "owes more of a karmic debt , in stylistic terms , to paul greengrass ' bourne supremacy than to the amused elegance of sean connery .", "the movie rarely lets up with elaborately orchestrated big budget excitement .", "this is a bond firmly of the moment . whiplash editing , a sharp script and a careful expansion of what made casino royale such a winning hand means that 007 is in as good as shape as he was back in 1964 .", "-lsb- craig -rsb- seems rigidified , with no more inner life than a mechanical action figure .", "` MOV ' still has enough substance to keep you engaged and happy to see bond again .", "rather than feeling lean and mean , the film just feels rushed and short , as if the filmmakers were simply shrugging , `` that 's it ... that 's all we 've got right now . ''", "it 's not that MOV disappoints , so much as it does n't live up to the promise no doubt unfairly expected after the brilliance of casino royale .", "while casino royale was the perfect mix of the old and new , MOV , while oftentimes thrilling , is more of a downtrodden experience that only shows a sporadic sense of humor .", "i ca n't imagine anyone not enjoying the adventure , but this latest 007 flick plays more like a post-script to `` casino royale '' than a full-blooded bond adventure .", "this is n't your daddy 's james bond . gone is the shaken , not-stirred , martini-swilling , smart-assed letch that beds babes by the bunch .", "as an action movie , MOV is passable ... as a bond movie , it 's a mess .", "dynamic even as bond never seems to break a metaphorical sweat and barely a literal one", "` MOV ' has all the bone-breaking stunt work of its predecessor but lacks some of the brain and the heart that made ` casino royale ' work so well .", "forster could craft MOV into a thoughtful rumination on revenge and what it does to the soul or he could blow stuff up . guess what he does .", "quantum is content merely to be the second episode in what 's shaping up to be a viable series , good enough but disappointing for those expecting greatness .", "despite its faults , i can still say with relative assurance this is the best bond film since `` thunderball . ''", "so this film is not as ground-breaking as casino royale . but it will kick the living daylights out of any rival action-hero franchises .", "the 22nd film in the james bond series is a passable bond thriller .", "MOV does n't seem like a major entry in the bond canon . well under two hours long , it 's shorter and more frenetic than most of its predecessors , and an often-jolting experience to watch .", "it has the dubious honor of being the first bond film that manages to be downright boring .", "i do n't need the producers of the james bond series to turn their superspy into a jason bourne clone ... and if that were n't frustrating enough , they have n't even done it very well .", "whereas craig 's 007 debut sculpted a freshly twisted temperament with a gritty heart , quantum serves up a cold robo-bond . his revenge mission only makes emotional sense if you 've seen casino royale : what 's left is a blue-eyed killing machine .", "lively with color but dotted with chic black-on-white motifs , splashed with escapist enticements without losing its grip on james 's curdled spirit , suggestive of interesting fragilities in the time-honored mi6 chain of command .", "nothing less than a crushing disappointment - a barely plotted , poorly filmed , hyper-edited and most of all utterly flat vehicle", "the producers have forgotten what makes bond unique . bond is supposed to be fun , over the top escapism . not gritty and real . we want to be bond , not have bond be us . solace is one relentlessly dour , emotionless movie .", "a fantastic ride , but here 's hoping that when james bond returns , he can stir us while enjoying a shaken martini or two .", "okay , so it is n't sean connery , but MOV is an enjoyable action-packed popcorn flick , with explosions galore and exciting chase scenes throughout .", "the only thing that 's shaken is the camera work and i certainly was n't stirred by a dang thing . this is n't a bergman film : bond can search his soul on his own time .", "the plot 's development is obvious and then ridiculous , and the numerous fights and chases all begin to look alike after a while .", "we get bullets flying , stuff blowing up real good and the kind of slice-and-dice editing that renders all that action all but impossible to follow . what we do n't get , alas , is much character development or emotional depth .", "i can understand fans of campier bonds not liking craig generally , but his version is gradually learning to have a sense of humor , so maybe you 'll like his next one better .", "it 's an action movie , it does a fine job updating bond for the present , and it does n't dumb him down in the process . the movie rocks . loved it .", "i 'm still not convinced daniel craig 's james bond is completely developed yet , but paced better than its predecessor , MOV is certainly a thrilling , action-packed move in the right direction .", "daniel craig brings a fierce edge to his iconic super secret agent around which an entire franchise can be built .", "if it does n't match the very high bar set by royale , neither does it let the franchise fall unduly far from that mark .", "the tougher , rougher version of bond as incarnated by daniel craig is harder than ever ; already a steely and unflappable man of action , he 's now driven by anger and vengeance , which turns craig 's flinty blue eyes into razor-sharp ice chips and every actio", "listen to my radio review and montage of bond clips .", "no one wants to watch bond chase after osama bin laden and switch off his dialysis machine with a bad one liner . on second thought , maybe that would be great ?", "if only -lsb- bond -rsb- had a villain as self-reflective as heath ledger 's joker to ask ` why so serious ? '", "as an action movie , MOV is solid , albeit nothing memorable . but this is james bond .", "... better than the average action movie and i 'm still looking forward to future installments . but it falls well short of casino royale 's greatness .", "i 'm so turned off by this , i do n't even have the energy to trash it . why should i think of something clever to write ? the authors clearly did n't see that as a mandate .", "dismal and unexciting", "MOV is the most obtuse title of the year . maybe it means kick-a ** action . if so , it 's a very apt title . do n't be late arriving at the theater . the pre-opening credit sequence to MOV goes just 15 seconds before the", "if it was n't following such an excellent 21st bond movie , it would be considered a big step forward . instead , it 'll settle for the more modest label of `` another good one . ''", "a brilliant , breathless action romp . daniel craig is electrifying .", "bond is no longer a work in progress . he is now the cruel , finished article .", "for a lot of the movie bond is a particularly unsympathetic character , and often it 's only craig 's performance along with the shifting morality of bond 's legion of enemies that forces the audience to root for him .", "MOV always looks and sounds terrific , with top-notch production values and a superb score by david arnold that always sounds fresh while evoking bond scores past .", "MOV is best when director marc forster allows his star the latitude to explore emotions that , until craig stepped into the shoes of the character , we did n't know bond had .", "it goes a hint beyond average . with that said , i ca n't wait for the next , because it appears they have finally shed the revenge and we can see what else our blond bond can do with the famous role .", "forster , a director of upscale tearjerkers , has no feel for action sequences . the big chases , of which there are several , could all be replaced with a title card reading , ` insert action here ' .", "if quantum is not as instantly memorable as casino royale , it 's still a dandy , clever addition to the bond series .", "the MOV filmmakers have produced a super-serious , often visually incoherent travelogue of revenge and trumped-up angst .", "MOV is a model of mediocrity , even though daniel craig gives his all to a production that does n't deserve him .", "it 's a ton of fun with plenty of action and excitement ... while not as perfect as casino royale , MOV is a worthy follow-up .", "it does n't disappoint -- just do n't expect the brilliance of casino royale .", "they certainly know how to do ` solace . ' but we 're talking about bond . the-once urbane testosterone magnet for hot chicks , iced alcohol and oddly-amusing villains has just been replaced by mr. mopes .", "craig and dench alone are enough to keep it entertaining , superior to the goofy pierce brosnan flicks if not nearly as impressive as casino royale .", "the wall-to-wall action , while quite entertaining , overshadows the refreshed bond character just enough to make the movie look a little too much like it would rather be about bourne .", "while the flick is a disappointment and a pointless continuation of casino royale , the hard to watch action scenes still warrant the film one viewing .", "MOV prompts the question : is revenge the only possible motive for large-scale movie heroism these days ?", "the 22nd bond film too often seems like an old friend on the wrong anti-depressant : still the person you love , but the rhythm 's off and the precious moments fewer and further between .", "... a misguided , downright interminable piece of work that surely marks the nadir of the james bond series ...", "in short , we are not satisfied . for starters , it lacks the heart eva green 's vesper gave the previous film . like bond , we miss her .", "does not live up to expectations , losing the sense of all the unique bond elements , including james himself , who no longer tosses off darkly comic lines and does n't even know what martini he 's drinking . daniel craig is still excellent but he 's no longer a", "even if you admired the 21st-century tone of casino royale and termed it one of the best of the series , MOV is a bit of a let-down . somehow it lacks that spark that pushes a movie out of the ordinary .", "a fairly non-descript action extravaganza that may excite those who only want to see 100 minutes of anonymous chases and explosions but which will leave those in the mood for an authentic bond film feeling anything but shaken and stirred .", "gone is the sophisticated humor , but it 's a good action film . it 's just not james bond .", "fun enough but disturbingly familiar", "while the action is more muscular and more exciting , the biggest villain bond has to face this time out is his script .", "there 's a bit of a sense of bourne style action except you can follow it .", "hugely enjoyable bond movie , with strong performances , a hard-edged script and terrific action sequences , even if the filmmakers do appear to have a serious case of bourne envy .", "craig is the sole reason MOV passes muster .", "because the much more serious tone was so different than previous installments of ian fleming 's legendary series , daniel craig 's debut felt refreshingly updated despite the film 's flaws .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- dominic greene es un antagonista anodino , cuya falta de escr\u00fapulos est\u00e1 puesta en palabras pero jam\u00e1s se siente como una verdadera amenaza , ni para bond ni para nadie .", "will have viewers looking for the next bond adventure in a couple of years .", "a solid sequel for the reinvented franchise .", "with the possible exception of licence to kill , this is the worst bond movie ever .", "incomprehensible , blandly motivated , and flat-out dull .", "quantum makes us understand the importance of a good director , which is sadly absent here .", "while it 's a severe step back from casino royale , quantum is a solid effort that looks more at the vengeful , dark side of bond .", "the movie is not as good as its predecessor and somewhat hard to follow due to the fast-paced dialogue .", "if the staging were as witty as the plotting , MOV might have been a corker like casino royale .", "it 's craig 's dedication to the role that ultimately saves the film in what otherwise would have been an explosive and thrilling ride , but one that lacked a decent script and questions marc forster 's suitability in the directorial chair .", "a hyperactive james bond whose attention-deficit antics ought to resonate with the restlessness of the joystick generation .", "MOV is too savage for family entertainment , but , as a study in headlong desperation , it 's easier to believe in than many more ponderous films .", "despite his innate intensity , craig seems a bit ... bored , maybe ? underutilized , despite appearing in nearly every frame of the film .", "has a rather anonymous feel ... but it 's certainly a well-oiled action machine , delivering the high-adrenaline goods even though the cheeky style that made the series distinctive is gone .", "daniel craig has firmly ensconced himself as one of the definitive bonds , one now fully updated for the 21st century .", "MOV wo n't trust its own darker instincts . it delivers the popcorn goods , but it ignores the poison eating at bond 's insides . killer mistake .", "mark forester did a great job .", "director marc forster turns out to be a natural as the helmer of a high-energy , high-gloss action film .", "the movie does its job : it slams you against a wall for the better part of two hours , and leaves you in a happy , gasping heap on the floor . well , in a gasping heap , anyway . but it 's too choppy and humorless to do much more than that .", "this may seem heretical to those of us who grew up and revered sean connery in the role , but craig is the first bond who makes you forget connery .", "while i 'm most definitely disappointed with the film - i still enjoyed it once i accepted the fact that it bares no resemblance to the bond franchise that i know and love", "as a james bond movie , MOV disappoints , but as a drama about an angry , angst-ridden spy , it 's pretty solid .", "... a necessary but minor chapter , one in which loose ends are tied up and accounts are reconciled . bond has been broken and something cool and malevolent has appeared in his eyes . our monster has been made but he 's not finished . he 's still rough . it could", "the latest bond movie ca n't top its smashing predecessor , but it more than lives up to its action-packed trailer .", "the latest bourne adventure lacks the clarity and vigor of the previous ... oh , wait , MOV is a bond movie ?", "this year 's bond villain means to make a mint off water .", "this bond -- number 22 if you 're counting -- is ruthless , efficient , and tough as nails .", "parental content review", "bond 's one-liners are replaced by stoic stares . the flirty martini has been traded in for self-hating binge drinking . and even 007 's bedroom shenanigans are condensed to a mere quickie .", "so jam-packed with stuntwork , shootouts , and standoffs that the conspiracy-oriented plot can barely get a word in edgewise .", "one murder offers a witty if gruesome nod to ` goldfinger , ' and a clever visual metaphor for the idea that dependence on oil could mean the death of the free world .", "complain about the re-invention all you want , at least it does n't feel like benny hill with a gun anymore .", "while charm and a quick wit made connery the best of the bonds , it 's craig 's brute force and jackie chan-style stunts that will come to define this latest reincarnation .", "muitas loca\u0443\u0448es para pouca hist\u0437ria .", "mia astamatiti seira apo ekstatikes skines draseis ekatontadon planon ton trion -lrb- me to zori -rrb- deyterolepton , merika ap ' ta opoia einai pragmatika harma eidesthai kai apo apopsi planothesias , alla kai genikoteris arhitektonikis tis horografias", "i mean it as a cockeyed compliment to the reborn bond franchise , then , when i say that MOV is an unnecessarily cramped arena for such an interesting cat .", "tightly scripted , it delivers handsomely on spectacular set pieces in exotic locales from the italian alps to arid planes of chile .", "i get that this new bond is supposed to be more brutal and vicious , but is he also brain dead and stupid ?", "is this bond , james bond ?", "MOV offers next to no solace , if we mean respite , but in plunging its hero into a revenge-displacement grudge mission , it has the compensation of a rock-solid dramatic idea , and the intelligence to run and run with it .", "a slightly disappointing , furiously-paced , hi-tech , slash-and-burn sequel to the more leisurely , luxurious first ` reboot ' , ` casino royale ' .", "a good thriller but the whole package is underwhelming , and no matter what changes are introduced to the franchise , underwhelming is something a bond movie should never be .", "the plotting is a bit convoluted , and it relies on your knowledge of the earlier film . still , it does n't really get in the way of the action , which is why people pay to see these movies in the first place .", "this may not make my list of top 5 bond films , but it 's unfair to expect that every time . but , it 's one hell of an action movie , and a `` satisfying enough '' bond film .", "never reaches the heights of daniel craig 's first outing as 007 , but it 's enjoyable enough and continues the path of redeeming the franchise .", "this time around , bond 's biggest adversaries are those behind the camera .", "MOV gives us james bond doing what he does best . let 's just hope next time , he 's given a more interesting universe to do it in .", "frankly , MOV is just one exasperated dressing down away from being lethal weapon 9 .", "though casino royale rejuvenated bond 's character in crisply entertaining style , the franchise has plunged downward again more steeply than the neckline of a russian spy .", "compared to the rest of the bond series , MOV is something of an aberration -lrb- especially given the unorthodox ending -rrb- so it 's just as well that craig stays on target . he is , without doubt , the best bond thus far .", "at times , you feel you can see the character - and by proxy the writers - actually thinking , `` so what now ? ''", "craig 's 2nd bond grittier , angrier than his first .", "turns out to be almost as bad as its title .", "-lsb- an -rsb- all-out thriller with few bond touches but plenty of high-octane action .", "stylish direction , powerful sound editing , stunning cinematography , vistas , action , and daniel craig 's impenetrable demeanor .", "this is n't roger moore or even pierce brosnan we 're dealing with here -- this is a 007 who bleeds and aches , both internally and externally .", "enjoy MOV for what it is : a high-octane , winning installment of the bond series that hits the ground running and never lets up .", "the movie never bores , but nor does it spark .", "MOV , the 22nd entry in the interminable franchise , is one of the most pointless , chaotic and forgettable of them all . it is also one of the dullest .", "quantum offers the in-process restructuring of a pop myth .", "in casino royale , daniel craig brought bond back to the big screen ; in MOV , everyone around craig brings bland back to bond .", "craig continues to grow as bond before our eyes", "if nothing else , there 's no need to worry about where MOV fits in the bond pantheon -- it 's easily one of the worst .", "it fairly races by , a sexy , sadistic , cruel and crackling thriller that is the shortest bond film since goldfinger , and certainly the most brisk .", "with -lsb- this -rsb- too-shaken sequel , the bond market experiences a dip .", "it 's like casino royale with cheese : daniel craig 's second outing as 007 has all the action it needs and then some , but lacks the focus of its predecessor .", "a notch or two below the level of casino royale , this bond chapter , a darker revenge tale , barely delivers the basic goods , though daniel craig is the best element of the package .", "if you held up your thumb over daniel craig 's face and took in the mayhem around him , you 'd think you were watching the bourne simulation rather than the 22nd -lrb- and shortest-ever -rrb- ode to ian fleming 's suave government killer .", "MOV is a thrilling display of action , and it goes at a frenetic pace .", "quantum 's worst miscalculation is letting bond 's dark side cast shadows over everything else . for all of its fantastic stunts and exotic settings , it 's a mostly joyless romp .", "this glum effort , as directed by marc forster , plays like a bourne movie with the reels in the wrong order . it 's frantic but never goes anywhere .", "in the end it 's all too fast and too furious -- and far too obsessed with exercising its license to thrill .", "revenge is a dish best served with bullets , high explosives and giant rolling flameballs . in MOV , james bond orders the revenge buffet , deluxe .", "this movie is great - just not in any of the ways you 'd expect .", "MOV never really engages you in the mechanical but transporting way the best bond movies do .", "craig has all the charm , charisma , confidence and looks that are needed to play bond , and in my opinion sean connery is the only one who has done it better .", "this is the least satisfying production since the living daylights .", "quantum -- the 22d ` official ' bond picture , 24th including the rogue bonds -- is never less than engaging .", "there is some real psychological depth , several thrilling action scenes and set-pieces , and a sense that an effort is being made to build a newfangled bond from the inside-out .", "perhaps this is a tactically ruthless and designedly impersonal bond movie , a clever tease getting us ready for the returning solvents - next time round - of charm , humour and eccentricity .", "the problems can be traced to a screenplay that is stuffed with internecine plot points and shades-of-gray complexities , but little else : no character-sharpening details and none of the wit and charm that buoyed casino royale .", "it will be curious to see how casino royale enthusiasts react to MOV . their action palette will certainly be quenched but they may be thirsty again immediately after .", "mr. white ultimately leads bond to one mr. slate , who in turn leads him to a mr. greene . that 's right : the global conspiracy this time around is n't spectre , but some rogue wing of the united colors of benetton .", "still having a bad day in quantum 's leap into radically chilling ruthlessness , that homicidally gifted 007 pursues without the least hesitation , revenge as a dish best served with a cold martini .", "craig continues to find something graceful and suave in 007 's sturdy exterior . no matter how hot the situation , he 's so very cool .", "while the rejuvenation of the franchise has been put on temporary hold , be assured that ` MOV ' sparkles with all the wit and heart-pounding excitement of a movie that takes its name from an ian fleming story about cocktail-party chitchat .", "how fascinating is it that 2008 's two most inconsolable , borderline psychotic movie heroes are batman and james bond ?", "this might charitably be called a victory of style over substance , except that there 's little of either on display .", "craig returns to a role allowing him to park any expressions other than `` dour '' in the lot outside the studio gate .", "there is a bond girl , of course . you can take the catchphrases and the gadgets out , it appears , but leave the sultry ladies alone .", "we 're in a new era of action angst .", "the latest bond entry is bourne again - it delivers the action goods , but is it a bond movie ?", "although not as good as craig 's initial outing as bond in `` casino royale , '' `` MOV '' signals better things to come for the baddest spy in cinema .", "nothing but a big ~ budget mess .", "hats off to daniel craig . those attempting the next hollywood video game adaptation would do well to take note .", "blurred , not stirred .", "if you 're a fan of excessive force -lrb- and what red-blooded american moviegoer is not ? -rrb- you can ride the camera lens right into the baddie 's face .", "plenty of thrills , just enough bedroom action , and a smattering of witty retorts to keep things crackling .", "fresh on the t-meter , but just barely . it 's evident that forster is out of his element at the helm .", "it does n't feel like a bond movie but the middle of a bond trilogy ." ], "summary": "brutal and breathless , MOV delivers tender emotions along with frenetic action . not as good as franchise reboot casino royale , but still an impressive entry to the bond canon .", "id": "770679948" }, { "movie": "love_guru", "reviews": [ "the MOV pegs the silly meter in the opening scene when myers , as guru pitka , breaks out in a bollywood-style 9 to 5 hoedown while picking at a sitar .", "the MOV is insulting to anyone with a healthy sense of humor and the simple desire to laugh .", "it 's not very good but it wo n't want to make you tear your eyes out either .", "with this sort of junk , myers obviously is all out of love , and one day he 'll be so lost without us .", "the endless winks at the camera look more desperate , the jokes at troyer 's expense seem more tasteless .", "nobody , apparently , told myers he was doing a one-note character with a funny voice that would n't make a good ` saturday night live ' sketch , let alone an 88-minute movie .", "while for some the MOV may feel as though its gags were forced and unworthy as a script of pure hilarity , those same opponents will find themselves either secretly snickering or outright chortling in a seat-bouncing fashion .", "if you 're in the mood for a delightful tweak of today 's self-actualizing new age gurus , look elsewhere . if , on the other hand , you want to see gags about boogers , elephant poop , and mano-a-mano duels with mops drenched in urine , then this is for you .", "mike myers is anti-comedy ... that is , if one presumes comedy ought to be smart , new , surprising or , yes , funny .", "is this a trial balloon for a new comedy franchise or for myers ' post-movie stardom career as the next dr. phil ?", "pitka 's character seems overly based on what 's convenient for a given scene .", "i guess the real audience is 40 year-old men with the mind of an 8 year-old .", "the MOV just feels lazy , filling time with jokes about celine dion , oprah winfrey , law and order : special victims unit , myers and kanye west 's katrina telethon appearance -- essentially , inside jokes for everyone in the world with cable .", "sub-norbit .", "do you remember mike myers ? well i suggest that you hold on to that memory and lock it tight inside you , because the MOV wants to destroy it .", "it 's a rare film that makes a reviewer consider giving up the movies altogether . my own waterloo came forty-five minutes into the MOV when i briefly considered stabbing out my own eyes so that i would n't have to watch it any more .", "naughty mike myers comedy has little to love .", "the MOV contains a few clever touches but has trouble hanging together as a coherent comedy , let alone a coherent film .", "authentically repellent", "... might just be the most puerile mainstream movie ever made ...", "i have to admit that there 's something appealing about the fact that real life leafs fanatic mike myers has constructed an entire film just so that he could see his beloved team win an elusive stanley cup .", "a messy movie filled with too much juvenile humor .", "it 's mike myers job to make you laugh , and he fails miserably in what might not be the best performance of his career , but it 's certainly his worst .", "guru pitka , as portrayed by mike myers , stoops about as low as any movie character i 've ever seen in order to get laughs .", "they are not putting any of the funny stuff from the MOV in the trailer . this is a rapid assault of comedy .", "mike myers ' latest character `` guru pitka '' borders on self-parody : a lovable clown peddling services of questionable value in a quest for self-fulfillment .", "i still think myer 's has talent , but the MOV was doomed the moment he created this unfunny character . a poor comedy .", "mike myers ' talent is hidden under a barrage of crude jokes and situations", "ben kingsley 's eyes are crossed in a desperate attempt to vanish off-screen even if it means different sides of the screen at the same time .", "myers appears to have lost connection with the real lives and everyman empathy that drives the kind of long-form , narrative comedy he makes .", "puerile and disappointing , what might have been a comical , irreverent look at eastern guru wisdom a la mike myers is a load of balderdash , anchored by an elephantine bag of toilet humour , oversized penises and midget jokes", "myers has a borderline-pathological need to mock verne troyer 's height . it stops being funny quickly .", "dismal , laugh-free comedy that 's actually painful to sit through , thanks to a badly conceived central character , a lazy script and myers ' incessant mugging .", "puerile and disappointing , what might have been a comical , irreverent look at eastern guru wisdom a la mike myers is a load of balderdash , anchored by an elephantine bag of toilet humour , oversized penises and midget jokes", "the satire of bollywood musicals is obvious but about the closest thing to humour in what is undoubtedly the worst comedy of the year .", "as the celebrity MOV of los angeles , mike meyers delivers jokes so poorly that they just clang to the floor like metal weights .", "if you truly love yourself , do yourself a favour and avoid this spiritless comedy .", "a film so numbingly unamusing that you seriously question whether you were mistaken to have ever found myers funny .", "they say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit . well ` they ' obviously have n't seen ` the MOV ' , an overgrown dirt-patch of clunking juvenilia .", "its only merit is that it comes in at under 90 minutes - no movie comedy should exceed this . but in truth it ought not to have come in at all .", "it 's just deadly .", "just is n't funny by any stretch of the imagination , relying instead upon a mindless barrage of crotch humor , bodily fluid gags and midget jokes that wo n't amuse anyone other than the most juvenile of audiences .", "so sari , mike myers . your spoof of `` bollywood '' stinks .", "incredibly unfunny .", "i daresay that even a splinter in the eyeball would be less painful than sitting through this debacle .", "schnabel 's bland direction expresses no particular vision .", "it will curb your craving for laughs and wo n't leave you consuming more than is necessary .", "perhaps myers was so enchanted by his own desire to bring spiritualism to the masses that he forgot to actually bring the funny with it . whatever the case , this is a shockingly laugh-free motion picture .", "despite its already toxic reputation , it has probably 12 or 18 gags that really work ... -lsb- but -rsb- while some of the jokes click , most of the jokes that fail , fail apocalyptically .", "both the tissue thin character and the movie are hardly sustainable beyond an snl sketch which makes the 90 minute running time almost as interminable as one of those deepak chopra sanctimonious self-help tapes .", "myers has created in pitka a character that 's sexually ambiguous , deeply neurotic and far more fascinating than the puerile script .", "myers ' shtick is n't for everyone , but i laughed . looking around , however , i saw that my fellow critics were enjoying themselves as much as gordon brown on the beach at southwold .", "to describe this holistic-healing comedy as anything other than terrible would be gross dereliction of duty , but i 'll make one concession : it 's kind of meant to be .", "this one may be best left to a trip to the video store .", "it seems the person in greatest need of a bit of self-help is myers himself .", "beneath the disguise there lurks the spirit of austin powers , whose love of double entendres and fart gags remains present and politically incorrect . which is exactly where and why the MOV falls down .", "no child under 12 should have to undergo it . the same , mind you , goes for anyone over 12 . verdict : you 'll hate it .", "when not finding new names for willies , myers - who also wrote the script - devotes the rest of the time to pitiful one-liners revolving around farting , snot and diarrhoea .", "the puerile levels to which it sinks make even goldmember , the crudest of the austin powers movies , look like brief encounter .", "funny in fits and starts , though the fits are a little convulsive and the starts seldom come with a convincing ending or pay-off .", "most jokes are centred around either genitalia or that austin powers-style of wink-nudge faux sexuality , which does n't work at all with this character .", "at one point kingsley 's character makes his pupils duel with mops soaked in his own urine . if you think that 's funny , be my guest .", "it appears myers did not have someone behind the camera reigning him in . too bad .", "myers has his head in the toilet more than a florida state university freshman co-ed during homecoming weekend .", "it 's hard to take any of it seriously -- which would be fine if it were funny , but it 's not .", "allow me to say this very clearly : this is not a good movie .", "i am still comfortable believing myers is a comic genius , but it 's no where to be seen here .", "the whole vaguely pitiable enterprise has tiny flickers of brilliance which ca n't be denied , but almost ca n't be detected , either .", "like a kid let loose in a toy store , this bad boy horny guru could have used more direction , but he does impress with his driving skills atop a pachyderm , during elephant sex .", "... fairly mindless stuff that may appeal to die-hard myers fans .", "sorry , time 's up . the final buzzer has gone on our spirited game of spot the laugh .", "against my better judgment , against my hardened presumptions going in , against all that is right and holy and decent in the universe , i have to admit that i % u2026ahem % u2026actually liked the MOV .", "a fairly pedestrian , slap-dash piece of work but the tone is so light and goofy that it 's difficult to imagine anyone getting offended by its onslaught of bathroom humor , penis gags , midget jokes , elephant sex , and hindu-flavored satire .", "... a gigantic egg , though no one looks more pleased with it than myers .", "for his transgressions , mike myers will be reincarnated as a dung beetle .", "the MOV is n't really about spiritual well-being or hockey ; it 's about myers ' mistaken belief that the comedic possibilities of male genitalia are endless .", "mike myers channels his inner benny hill for the endlessly juvenile comedy the MOV", "both frantic and tedious , the MOV piles on the slapdash offenses .", "the kind of complete mess that makes a critic question the other `` lowest possible '' ratings he 's given , because those films , honestly , were n't nearly this bad .", "outdated , unfunny , juvenile and at times downright perplexing , the intended new age satire comes off more like an over-expensive schoolyard prank ; bathroom graffiti come to life across an 86-minute , patience-straining running time .", "somewhere , sitting in a room cluttered with mr. pibb cans and half-consumed bags of funyuns is the adolescent writing staff responsible for the MOV", "the film has no discernible rhythm , little in the way of wit , and the plot plays like myers considered it an unpleasant obligation .", "the MOV is downright antifunny , an experience that makes you wonder if you will ever laugh again .", "the movie not only violates the law of funny names -lrb- which are usually not funny -rrb- , but rips it from the little movie glossary and tramples it into the ice .", "believe me , i 'm as surprised as you are that i wound up sort of enjoying it .", "what it does n't have is anything actually funny or relevant .", "the MOV is creatively awful . the feeling you derive from this dud is comparable to swallowing a bottle of bulky viagra pills while nursing an inflamed strep throat .", "these are the sort of things that make you giggle at three in the morning , but you do n't put them in your movie . not if you want your movie to not suck .", "i might have lost my entire college education watching this and it might be the dumbest film i have ever seen but i ca n't hide the fact that i was laughing hysterically .", "myers approaches the material along the lines of a nine-year-old child who has just heard his first dirty jokes and will not rest until he has made sure that he has repeated them to everyone he knows .", "you might look at this movie and see a lot of talent in service to low humor . but chances are , you 'll be laughing too hard to notice .", "when pitka ends his bite-size lessons with ` tm , ' we should understand it 's not meditation but branding he 's after .", "this is dangerous advice for a writer to give -lrb- talk about glass houses -rrb- , but mike myers needs an editor . he needs someone with a fat red pen to scratch out a few of his worst bad habits .", "for a comic genius , mike myers sure aims low .", "what links all these characters is myers 's gift for antic , elfin burlesque . he 's like a second-best peter sellers .", "with its scatological humor , penis jokes , feeble puns , and middle-school ideal of love , this mike myers vehicle exemplifies american comedy 's continuing slide into infantilism .", "myers -- who used to be funny -- sticks his head in a toilet and then tries to give the audience a big , sloppy kiss .", "juvenile . strained . this baggy tale of a loopy deepak chopra wannabe is all that and then some . the thing is it 's also pretty funny as long as you know what you 're in for .", "things are so bad here that the few good ideas seem brilliant .", "to judge from the crowd reaction , a phalanx of true believers might , indeed , go along for the ride , but newcomers to the mike myers experience will leave this love train early .", "the road taken by the MOV could hardly be lower , and leads nowhere .", "a bomb like this is a career killer , and myers ' is set to blow .", "myers ' pitka is the stealthiest of holy rollers : he makes you roar just when you think he 's going to hell in a hand basket .", "the movie just barely works because it 's so sure of the buoyant appeal of its title character .", "at least it does n't waste any time . at somewhere near the 30-second mark , it gets right down to business , and that business is the kind of humor that does n't usually get named in this paper .", "mike myers ' new comedy , the MOV , is a disappointment , but it 's not a disaster , and that 's at least something .", "the picture , written by myers and graham gordy and directed by marco schnabel -lrb- no relation to julian -rrb- , is listless and pokey , chiefly because watching myers in this particular guise is almost completely joyless .", "the worse the joke is , the greater the manic gleam in myers ' eyes . he 's trying to sell setups he probably knows are n't funny , and the strain can be hard to watch .", "the frustrating thing about the movie is that it contains moment of comedy that verge on inspired , but they are too infrequent to justify the running length .", "myers shamelessly steals from himself .", "when the comedy is short of sublime , it is more often sophomorically silly -lrb- and i 'll confess right here to a weakness for horrible puns , though your mileage may vary -rrb- .", "the MOV is less a movie than a collection of related gags heaved at the screen . it 's a mess , but an affable one .", "-lsb- i -rsb- s n't merely endlessly crude : it 's also dishonest and contemptuous of itself ...", "the real insult to higher consciousness is that MOV 's humor is about as mature as strained carrots .", "a comedy of low blows and elephantine misfires .", "let 's not pussyfoot around : the MOV is an atrocious , idiotic 88 minutes of anti-entertainment .", "this feeble spoof of self-help spiritualism is atrocious and inanely tedious .", "it 's vintage myers , with an outrageous , broadly played character borrowed from peter sellers , silly makeup , bad puns , innuendo , the occasional pause for song and dance and myers ' ongoing obsession with little people .", "at 88 minutes , the MOV would have benefited from a trim of roughly 80 minutes .", "the comedian really climbs out on this particular limb -- a limb so far from the tree , it might have given peter sellers pause ." ], "summary": "the MOV features far too many gross-out gags , and too few earned laughs , ranking as one of mike myers ' poorest outings .", "id": "770681508" }, { "movie": "after_tiller_2013", "reviews": [ "it 's an in-the-trenches exploration of bravery .", "`` MOV '' takes the politically divisive , emotionally charged issue of late-term abortions and portrays it with grace , understatement and humanity .", "`` MOV '' is groundbreaking in giving voice not only to the doctors , but to those who always seem to get overlooked in the high-volume political debate about this topic : the women themselves .", "addressing an issue many americans are uncomfortable with , this informative documentary sheds light and humanity on reproductive rights in this country .", "MOV 's greatest failing is the way in which is fails to engage at length how entrenched the stalemate on abortion is .", "what makes this well-edited film compelling are the stories of the patients and the agonizing moral quandaries that the doctors express in doing their work .", "a documentary that may infuriate those who find what these doctors do unconscionable , but that provides a rare forum for these dedicated , complex professionals to have their say .", "compelling , revealing -lsb- its -rsb- subjects as sympathetic human beings simply by observing and talking to them about their work and their lives .", "it 's humanizing and heartbreaking .", "wrenching yet illuminating . the film reveals the complex circumstances , emotions and practical aspects behind the -lrb- third-trimester abortion -rrb- procedure .", "this is not a balanced doc -- of the little time given to the anti-abortion movement , most of it is from news footage -- but it is an important look at the lives of those who risk their own lives to perform what they see as a necessary service .", "this wrenching documentary , profiling the four doctors who still provide third-trimester abortions in the u.s. , is remarkable for being so level-headed .", "the movie takes a calm and intellectual approach to an inflammatory subject , elevating what could have easily come off as propaganda into a reasoned and thoughtful work of journalism .", "hard-nosed advocacy segues into lefty-evangelizing treacle as a cloying score accompanies a number of dewy scenes better suited to a maudlin oprah winfrey special .", "the directors are smart enough to understand that no matter how strongly you believe in a position , that belief is probably more shaded than a one-word `` yes '' or `` no . ''", "a down-to-earth , non-sensational look at the only four doctors in the u.s. who perform third trimester abortions", "MOV gives a human and compassionate face to a complex and touchy issue .", "the film is a welcome exploration of practical and philosophical matters seldom broached across the partisan divide .", "MOV movingly dramatizes another side effect of the job : how difficult it can be for the doctors to not internalize the sadness of the women who walk through their doors .", "MOV is an hour and a half of folks on their best behavior , presented as a candid portrait .", "MOV 's ... true value comes from going inside these clinics , listening to the stories ... and asking viewers to wrestle with the moral and ethical complexities of an issue that absolutists on both sides oversimplify .", "like the men and women it follows , who do the work that few others dare , ` MOV ' takes a stand .", "empathetic , intimate look inside late-term abortion clinics that focuses on the experiences of doctors and their patients .", "a sensitive and intelligent documentary about the compassion and heroism of four doctors .", "it gives a true sense of how the forces of a hypocritically religious country has burdened countless young women with a lifetime of misplaced guilt .", "MOV is not an important film just because of its political and cultural relevance , but because of its humane and compassionate approach to telling the stories of these doctors , their work and the women that they seek to help .", "`` no body wants a fucking abortion '' exclaims one of the doctors , and this is at the heart of the tough decisions that are played out every day within each clinic", "`` its unflinching portrayal of what can only be called battle fatigue is indelible .", "`` MOV '' is impressive because it honestly presents the views of supporters of legal abortion , and is thus a valuable contribution to a public argument that is unlikely to end anytime soon .", "any viewer with an interest in this issue , whether pro-life , pro-choice or agnostic , ought to see this heart-piercing report from the front lines .", "simultaneously tough and compassionate , it 's a fine addition to the debate .", "moving , thought-provoking documentary .", "wrenching portrait of life and death decisions where even the definition of `` life '' is emotionally laden for doctors and pregnant women considering abortion .", "MOV takes a compassionate look at a highly impassioned situation .", "it 's a calm , thoughtful film about an incendiary subject , and it has a clear point of view : to allow these doctors -lrb- and some of their patients , who we hear but do n't see -rrb- to explain why they do what they do .", "this is one of the best films i 've seen this year . the access to doctors , their staffs , patients and families is very impressive . it has a lot of emotional power and it plays the abortion issue right down the middle .", "if MOV does not feel grim , despite the overwhelming presence in it of death and mourning , that 's perhaps because it is so much a film about intimacy and trust .", "you may or may not be convinced , but you will be affected .", "`` MOV '' does viewers the great service of providing light where there 's usually only heat , giving a human face and heart to what previously might have been an abstract issue or quickly scanned news item .", "the film is warm and scrupulous , like a sunny women 's clinic .", "a surprisingly warm abortion documentary that restores the human element to an irreducibly human dilemma .", "we can see how they wrestle and it 's immeasurably moving because they 've given it endless consideration and still put themselves in harm 's way .", "its strength lies in its ability to coax out the personalities behind the arguments , and to show us that , at the heart of every such controversy , there are vulnerable human beings .", "they 're not heroes and they 're not demons . MOV is an important reminder of the personal stories of doctors and mothers that can get lost in an issue as divisive as abortion .", "no matter which side of the abortion issue you 're on , prepare to be emotionally devastated .", "the film goes about its grave task with compassion , basic professionalism , and discretion .", "directors martha shane and lana wilson in this topical documentary ably tackle in a fair-minded and detailed way the controversial issue of third-trimester abortions .", "more than simply informative -lrb- which it most certainly is -rrb- , MOV is a reminder that seeing eye-to-eye is rarely as impossible as we might think .", "this documentary portrait of abortion doctors in america , particularly those who perform late-term abortions , looks at those who do important , compassionate work , but is n't as engaging as it should be .", "a laudably even-handed examination of a highly charged subject .", "the story of four women and their attempts to uphold abortion rights in the us makes for compelling , if horrifying viewing .", "rarely is this issue presented so fairly and without the requisite hysteria .", "it 's a grim story ." ], "summary": "MOV applies empathy , honesty , and graceful understatement to a discussion that all too often lacks them all .", "id": "771324967" }, { "movie": "ladder_49", "reviews": [ "a two-alarm dud .", "pranks , rituals and fires keep coming throughout the melodramatic , cornball MOV .", "i do n't know when i 've seen a movie so completely smug in its belief that its audience is on a par with pavlov 's dogs .", "a serviceable testament to the firemen who would bravely risk their lives to protect the safety of others , etc. , etc. .", "there 's a message in -lsb- this film -rsb- . not only are firemen swell guys , they 're swell heterosexual guys .", "-lrb- phoenix and travolta -rrb- rescue the film from its own over-extended plot and soap opera style .", "... even in its most cloying moments , the movie works because of the acting .", "the family stuff is pro forma , but not offensively so -- comfort food for date night audiences who 've learned a heightened respect for fireman over the last three years .", "the risks firefighters take , like the sacrifices they make every day , are all too real . they deserve our thanks , our respect and infinitely better movie treatment than this .", "what 's the use spending fifteen bucks on a date when you 're going to fall asleep in the theater instead of her apartment ?", "smothered by the heart-on-sleeve melodramatics of the storytelling , which seems intent on leaving no cliche unused and pounding each of them home .", "i hate this film .", "the makers of MOV insist that halos remain above its firemen/heroes , which is not the way to humanize them .", "MOV is not a daring film , but more of a middle of the road , safe , sometimes clich\u00e9 , star-driven movie with a few wonderful emotional moments .", "other than a brief interlude in which jack meets his instant bride at a grocery store , MOV follows the same course over and over .", "a pleasant , sometimes stirring movie that 's riddled with plaster saints -- it 's all backslapping and camaraderie , which is often agreeable but even more often dull .", "the firefighting is realistic and the players are emotional , but the movie ultimately fails because it violates the first rule of dramatic writing ; there 's no clear premise .", "... freshness and originality were n't the highest priority for this firefighter drama focused on a post-9 / 11 brand of sacrificial all-american heroism .", "filmmaking of least resistance , in which true heroism is exploited for emotional spare change .", "the further ladder gets into the story of jack 's past , the deeper we care about his uncertain present .", "i can imagine it playing on a continuous loop at ground zero .", "... -lsb- a -rsb- toxic tearjerker . as a showcase meaning to be both actively flashy and introspective , MOV succeeds in blowing smoke up one 's pant leg", "MOV overkills on melodrama -- the slow-paced adventure flick has enough tear-jerking hallmark moments to extinguish a three-alarm blaze .", "... draws us steadily into its warm core with a sense these are real people , who might be sleeping or carousing down at the neighborhood firehouse .", "here 's a drama that 's extraordinary because it 's , well , ordinary .", "if the film loses itself midstream , forgetting where it 's going and which paths it needs to take to get there , phoenix saves it with equal parts heroism and humanity .", "despite its honourable premise `` MOV '' is clunky and earnest in execution . **", "a methodical , step-by-step account of a firefighter 's existence , presented in a no-frills , straight-ahead fashion but ultimately taking you no place you 've not been before .", "tender , moving and insightful .", "the film never is as inspiring as its subject matter , but it aims our thoughts toward proper contemplation .", "if there 's an original moment in this tedious drama , i must have been rubbing my eyes for a nanosecond and missed it .", "MOV is a big , bloated , boring , heartless drama ...", "a condescending and cloying melodrama , constructed around the almighty flashback and slick in pretending to tell the human story .", "the fire-fighting sequences are excitingly staged and i 'll freely admit to a couple of tears .", "-lsb- russell -rsb- typically has a good touch with sentimentality and stereotypes , but here he ca n't seem to get a healthy handle on a clich\u00e9-ridden script .", "filled with earnest heroics that are a far cry from the cynical deconstruction on fx 's rescue me . but it works its own level , as its own project .", "bearable only to people in deep mourning and vulnerable to emotional coercion . which is , of course what makes the whole thing so distasteful .", "the movie is n't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve . but the sentiment never seems out of place , perhaps because we 're talking about people who are n't afraid to put their lives on the line .", "dull-as - 1970s-tv screenplay .", "aside from the awesome flames and pyrotechnic scenes of crisis , danger , and part-of-the-job bravery , the movie is a quiet salute ; it does its job .", "it 's hard to come down too hard on this well-intentioned drama , as cornball and manipulative as it is at times .", "does n't plumb many depths , but it derives its power from the idea of unity in the face of danger , which also can be taken as a post-sept . 11 theme .", "what it has is a tired narrative frame ... a lost ensemble cast , no depth of character and a series of situations taken straight from the land of obvious .", "a well-intended melodrama that 's as soggy as a firehose .", "as more than one character reminds us , these are men who run into burning buildings when you and i are busy running out . all the boilerplate in hollywood ca n't change that .", "if phoenix is destined for greatness , this , his upcoming johnny cash biopic and last year 's buffalo soldiers may be looked back on as the time he finally hit his stride .", "it may be years before any writer makes an on-screen firefighter into a loser , let alone a villain . in the meantime , MOV will stoke the embers on all of our firefighter daydreams .", "the best compliment i can pay MOV is to say that it left me feeling thoughtful and sad .", "conventional , lacking in depth , and reliant on the artifical tension of action scenes to goose along an otherwise watchable but dull movie .", "baltimore 's firemen are way less interesting than their cops -lrb- see the wire and homicide : life on the streets -rrb- , or new york 's finest -lrb- see rescue me -rrb- .", "a false drama obnoxiously replete with mawkish sentiment", "arriving just three weeks after the third anniversary of 9/11 , this performs the same function as a world war ii picture produced in the immediate postwar era ...", "... does a wonderful job of showing life in that firehouse .", "i guess you ca n't really go overboard in glorifying firefighters and the business of saving lives .", "-lsb- m -rsb- ight be feel-good , old-fashioned , cornball melodrama , but it 's a kind of feel-good that i guess i needed , that maybe more people than me still need .", "MOV nearly burns itself by adoring its subject matter too much .", "i liked this film . it 's nothing extraordinary , but ...", "what is the point of MOV ? fire is scary?fire fighting is dangerous?veterans lose their youthful idealism ? ... it 's as pointless as a movie about the sky being blue .", "MOV layers the heroics on so thick that we never get a sense of what goes on underneath all the turnout gear . once all the smoke clears , there 's nothing there .", "step-by-step predictable and not that entertaining .", "sentimental and surprisingly uncomplicated , MOV seems a disservice to the very folks it wants to extol .", "... a much more thoughtful story that expresses the deserved good feelings we have for the best of the best .", "MOV is just about the most ironed-flat fireman tribute a group of people could make .", "any spark of drama that might have caught ablaze is smothered by a thick blanket of earnestness .", "it barely confronts the situations on a tormented , personal level -- as martin scorsese did when probing the spiritual agony of a paramedic in bringing out the dead .", "the heroic firefighters of 9/11 deserve a better tribute than this tiresme and cliche tale .", "an overly manufactured would-be tearjerking package that will surely give less savvy moviegoers the illusion that they 've watched an important and meaningful film .", "a better name for `` MOV '' would have been `` chutes and ladders , '' like the game ...", "a reasonably good , if predictable , meat-and-potatoes tearjerker .", "... after hitting me over the head with its conventional approach , i cried uncle and had to admit it did get to me .", "the film also criminally wastes latino heart-throb jay hernandez , to the point where you suspect that he had a sub-plot that ended up on the cutting room floor .", "ridiculous fabrications that , in no way , reflect real life .", "... the story of a quotidian but nevertheless authentic hero", "good acting , and well-staged action scenes , but the characters are thinly drawn , and the story is dull .", "we all know firefighters are heroes ; show us the humans under the hats .", "a testament to the courage of firefighters . and the laziness of screenwriters .", "a film that loves and respects the country 's firefighters , but makes the mistake of not getting to know them in a meaningful or substantial way .", "it 's a good movie .", "a most earnest film , projecting an uncommon decency and courage among its characters that 'll impress most viewers , save for the more cynical .", "i would classify MOV as a ` safe ' movie . there 's nothing daring about it , but it offers a solid emotional core and there is a touching payoff .", "MOV continually teases the fate of firefighters before it gives us a reason to care about any of the characters ...", "in its own plodding way , MOV does finally achieve emotional resonance .", "you have to marvel at the crass exploitation inherent in a movie that exists to show a bunch of firefighters in one life-threatening situation after another .", "every clich\u00e9 in every movie or tv show about firemen is recycled here but often to pleasant effect .", "it piles on the schmaltz and the lame attempts at humor so that we 'll see the film as a comedy with a big heart , a really big heart .", "it may keep you asking why men and women choose this lifestyle . it will make you grateful they do .", "laughably short on character development .", "it 's one of those films that can make a snob sentimental , especially if he knows a firefighter -- or a cop , or a nurse , or a prison guard -- who makes a difference .", "as for the soulless fire sequences , they 're so big and suspenseful you half expect to see celine dion standing on top of a building wailing `` my heart will go on . ''", "the problem with MOV is that it wants to be a tribute more than it wants to be a movie . it 's mostly exposition ; no true narrative exists .", "over reliance on images too freshly familiar and frequent from september of 2001 disconnect the viewer from its more everyday heroism", "MOV is the most moving , emotion stirring , film of the year . joaquin phoenix will break your heart as jack morrison .", "not a saga told with subtlety .", "morrison , trapped beneath burning rubble , reviews his cliche-ridden life .", "for all its noble intentions , the movie is really a work of crass exploitation -- an obvious and manipulative grab to cash in on the post-9 / 11 hero worship of the firefighting profession .", "as it 's not the most original film about the heroes in suspenders , ladder smolders more than burns .", "the kind of sentimental cash grab that can make a red-blooded gal feel cynical and depressed not just about hollywood , but america in general .", "sure , it 's cornier than orville redenbacher 's home pasture , more predictable than a digital clock clicking the minutes away . but a little heart can go a long way .", "what really would have gotten us more into the experience ... would have been a script that delved deeper beneath the firefighters ' helmets .", "a profile in everyday courage , the common denominator of men who fight fires for a living , choosing to go into buildings that other people are trying to get out of .", "plays as if the filmmakers compiled a list of every smoke-eater clich\u00e9 imaginable and then resolutely set about crossing them off .", "an imperfect but deeply affecting movie about the unadorned heroism of working-class firefighters .", "in treating its blaze-battling subjects with such reverence , the filmmakers douse the storytelling sparks that are so desperately required .", "a blazing hagiography replete with swelling strings in the soundtrack and a plot that manipulates heartstrings with equal shamelessness .", "i admire the effort . i just was n't very interested .", "idolization does n't make for particularly compelling entertainment .", "it 's more likely you 'll wind up suffering from compassion fatigue than be drawn in to the story .", "i really wanted to love MOV , and am disappointed that i can only give it a modest recommendation .", "a series of hallmark-card platitudes , not a human portrait .", "` why do we run into a burning building while everyone else is running out ? ' is the same as asking ` why do i go see crap movies like MOV ? ' because it 's my friggin job !", "needs cogent drama or star power , but it does n't have either .", "most of the reason why ladder resonates so much is the cast , led by a tender , gripping performance from joaquin phoenix .", "it 's a safe little bet-hedger and a movie that will allow the multiplexers to `` truly appreciate '' the actions of our nation 's firefighters - for at least 120 minutes , anyway .", "in its best moments , the film works as both an exciting and formula-breaking action-adventure and as an enjoyably sappy tearjerker .", "this is essentially a male weepie about strong , simple men and the strong , simple women behind them , and as such it 's platitudinous rubbish .", "the movie gets sloppy with most of its secondary characters ... but , when it focuses on phoenix , it has a frank , compelling story to tell .", "what touched me was the fact that this is about real people doing the work of heroes .", "it does a better job showing them as firemen than as people - the overall result does n't quite spark .", "on the plus side , it does occasionally get away with some very effective old-fashioned melodrama .", "sappy , trite and boringly routine . this is no way to honor fire-fighters .", "... MOV makes ron howard 's backdraft look gritty by comparison , which is really saying something .", "makes for a fine tv special .", "smoulders , but the personal story of an american firefighter never catches fire .", "there 's no `` high concept '' at work here - just a heartfelt , meaningful examination of simple everyday heroism .", "you will see some outstanding fire fighting sequences along with a glimpse at the lives of firemen in the building as well as family life at home .", "it 's a hose-job of sentimentality and stereotyping . i give it 49 hankies .", "unabashed love letter to firefighters everywhere .", "except for jack no one else in the film is very well defined , and it often falls back onto types . the actors are good , and make the best of what they 've got , but what they 've got is very thin .", "it 's slick and it honors firefighters as obviously as the first wave of wwii films paid tribute to america 's fighting men and women .", "a fairly routine firefighter drama , with burning-building sequences that more or less all look alike .", "... has about the same amount of depth as an article from ` boy 's life . '", "a well-crafted tribute to the many dedicated firefighters who risk life and limb to make our world a little safer .", "a moving tribute -lsb- to firefighters -rsb- and an excellent dramatic work .", "MOV wants to honor firefighters for their courage and selflessness ... yet at every turn -lsb- the film -rsb- undercuts itself .", "uma produ\u0437\u0433o triste e - sim - uma bela homenagem aos combatentes do fogo .", "heartfelt , predictable , and finally surprisingly poignant .", "MOV might have been an oversized hollywood dazzler . phoenix keeps it firmly and modestly on a human scale .", "... a film that will likely stand as the great hollywood tribute to urban firefighters ...", "even the best scenes feel canned , secondhand , packaged . we 've seen this all before .", "offers audiences a real rarity in theaters these days : a good , honest cry .", "the story of jack morrison -lrb- joaquin phoenix -rrb- , a guy so emotionally uncomplicated and unquestioningly dedicated to rescuing people he might have been raised by saint bernards .", "though handsomely mounted and efficiently staged , this mass of firefighter cliches swings wildly between heartstring-tugging melodrama , testosterone-fueled action and buddy comedy , weighed down by too many predictable twists and storytelling contrivances .", "MOV is a feel-bad film ... one that you will leave feeling disturbed-either because you 've been crying or because you feel cheated out of a story .", "an action drama/weepie that 's so busy telling us that its characters are heroes , it forgets that they should be people first .", "a certain grave respect was owed firemen even before sept. 11 , 2001 , but MOV does n't earn the piety it wants .", "in its determination to create a tribute , the filmmakers smooth too many edges and simplify too many complex emotions ." ], "summary": "instead of humanizing the firemen , the movie idolizes them , and thus renders them into cardboard characters .", "id": "10374" }, { "movie": "1112357-scoobydoo", "reviews": [ "with farting contests , very scary monsters and lots of cleavage and short skirts , the movie appears to have young teenage boys more in mind than the kindergarten set . the script , however , is way too childish to attract teenagers .", "phony , computer-generated images packaged together with bad performances and distributed as joyless summer entertainment .", "it was n't nearly as bad as i thought it would be , but that 's still not saying much .", "it 's clever enough to know what parts of its source material worked and what did n't ... if capping on scrappy does n't prove the writer a genuine fan of the show , nothing will .", "scooby dooby doo / and shaggy too / you both look and sound great . / but daphne , you 're too buff / fred thinks he 's tough / and velma - wow , you 've lost weight !", "raja gosnell directs a perfectly cast group of young actors and brings hanna barbera 's long-running cartoon to loopy life . james", "if you grew up on scooby -- you 'll love this movie . matthew lillard is born to play shaggy !", "-lsb- it -rsb- rips on the idiotic things that made the show fun . the trouble is that the things that made the show fun were never really that good to begin with .", "unless you 're a fanatic , the best advice is : ` scooby ' do n't .", "scooby doo is surely everything its fans are hoping it will be , and in that sense is a movie that deserves recommendation .", "lillard and cardellini earn their scooby snacks , but not anyone else .", "this big screen caper has a good bark , far from being a bow-wow .", "the best to be said is that it 's less inept than the original series .", "chris columbus prot\u00e9g\u00e9 raja gosnell directs the film as if it were britney spears ' worst cgi nightmare .", "it might not be 1970s animation , but everything else about it is straight from the saturday morning cartoons - a retread story , bad writing , and the same old silliness .", "the source material here is flimsy to begin with , and neither gunn nor gosnell seems to know how to flesh it out .", "like many television shows turned feature films , scooby-doo was a concept best left to the small screen .", "ruh-roh . would i see this again for a scooby snack ? like , uh , i do n't think so .", "a feature-length in joke that has marvelous fun with the decades of homoerotic and reefer-smoking subtexts assigned to it by people with entirely too much time on their hands .", "give it up to the wardrobe folks , who did a fine job of making the lovely ladies in this film look like high-class hookers .", "as clever , mysterious , and inventive as an episode of the popular cartoon series , a high compliment indeed .", "let 's hope that the studio pays more attention to quality and creative freedom , and less time worrying about dollar signs , before the sequel goes into production .", "it 's for the kids , to be sure , but i think they deserve something more than recycled , entirely-for-commercial-purposes entertainment in a poorly wrapped package .", "for the most part , reasonably fun , but whenever the more inept human leads grace the screen , you 'll no doubt ask yourself `` scooby doo , where are you ?! ''", "as good as rob lowe 's was , matthew lillard is shaggy .", "they 've sucked the charm out of scooby and made him a poster pooch for euthanasia .", "zoinks , this is awful .", "i 'll save you all some time : mr. peevely the janitor did it and would have gotten away with it were it not for those meddling kids and their darned dog .", "it 's the film 's very awareness of its own kitsch quotient that allows it to qualify as a likable lark .", "when a film is created solely because it 's a marketable product , soulless and ugly movies like this are the result . let your silly childhood nostalgia slumber unmolested .", "sometimes , fond memories should stay in the past : a lesson this film teaches all too well .", "the most strained jokes and unfunniest moments are when the movie tries to be hip in a postmodern , self-conscious kind of way", "scooby do n't .", "the cast almost makes this a decent film ... they would 've gotten away with it if it were n't for that meddling director .", "scooby-doo is dumb , but what did you expect ? the original show is dumb , too .", "an uneven and sometimes inappropriate mix of entertainment gambits .", "all in all , it 's mediocre .", "the film 's technological selling point -- having a computer-animated scooby in a mostly live-action world -- is strangely unimpressive .", "pleases that segment of the audience perversely delighted by the subversive corruption of other people 's children .", "not good enough to pass for a litmus test of the generation gap and not bad enough to repulse any generation of its fans .", "a knowing , funny big-screen version that 's more entertaining than you might expect .", "a tiresome , repetitive film that is in no way going to hold up to repeated viewings , neither for kids who think flatulence is hilarious nor young adults desperately seeking camp .", "a jumbled , rhythmless , terminally silly lame-o-rama .", "the most horrific movie experience i 've had since `` ca n't stop the music . '' it may as well be called `` jar-jar binks : the movie . '' it 's that painful .", "... represents the very essence of taking a studio-owned property and sucking out its soul ... at the expense of everyone that once cherished it .", "much funnier than it has any right to be , and filled with just enough inside jokes to please longtime fans of the cartoon franchise .", "it 's 90-plus minutes in a live-action hanna-barbera hell . it 's directed by the man who gave us home alone 3 . it stars freddie prinze jr. with a blonde dye-job . i 'm not at all sure that anyone needs to know any more about it than that .", "the endless miscalculations on the filmmakers ' parts have turned scooby-doo into even more of a disaster than anyone could have imagined .", "the movie drags , and the occasional bursts of mirth and self-referential humor ca n't save it from bogging down .", "as this movie knows what it is , scooby-doo 's a relatively painless 85 minutes .", "the acting is stiff , the story lacks all trace of wit , the sets look like they were borrowed from gilligan 's island -- and the cgi scooby might well be the worst special-effects creation of the year .", "only for young children , if them . their parents would do well to cram earplugs in their ears and put pillowcases over their heads for 87 minutes .", "logic and intellect be damned ! i recommended the original flintstones movie as well as josie and the pussycats . i can recommend this one too !", "yep , it 's every bit as awful as it looks in the preview .", "the film 's effects just do n't do the concept justice .", "there 's no way to sort out the mess in our heads and deconstruct where it all went wrong . this is an hour and a half of daydreaming .", "both an excruciatingly lousy movie and a crushing betrayal of its charming source material .", "like the brady bunch movie , scooby doo takes a television icon and its many conventions and creates a fun film that does n't let up in poking fun at itself .", "i was nervous ? i did not want to see this film , not at all . surprise - it was true to its roots and great fun to boot .", "se trata de una realizaci\u00f3n para los fans del simp\u00e1tico perro glot\u00f3n y medroso ; m\u00e1s all\u00e1 no hay absolutamente nada .", "not only eviscerates the spirit of the shows , it stomps on it for good measure .", "scooby-doo knows when to take itself seriously and when to laugh at itself -- even if its audience is n't laughing along at every gag .", "it made us want to run out and get our very own lobotomy , if only so we could forget having watched that godawful movie .", "`` scooby doo '' is , god help us , a faithful adaptation of the wretched series .", "... a true family film that will appeal to the kids watching the series today and their parents , too , who grew up with the lovable , goofy great dane and his pals .", "ruh-roh ! romething 's really wrong with this ricture !", "the movie scooby is a delight -- by turns lovable , charming , conspiratorial and snooty .", "the movie plays like an extended version of the saturday cartoons , true to the original characters , but staying resolutely away from the subtext generations have attached to it .", "comes off as a harmless but limp vehicle for a lot of product tie-ins .", "a dreadful live-action movie .", "the film equivalent of a toy chest whose contents get scattered over the course of 80 minutes .", "a punch line without a premise , a joke built entirely from musty memories of half-dimensional characters .", "it 's absolutely spooky how lillard channels the shagster right down to the original casey kasem-furnished voice .", "it 'll babysit your kids for 90 minutes , but cruelly reveals that the secret behind the nostalgia for this franchise is that it played on tv for free .", "' ... the cast portrays their cartoon counterparts well ... but quite frankly , scoob and shag do n't eat enough during the film . '", "i found no laughs , no smiles , no thrills , no atmosphere , no emotion , and , worst of all , no sense of wonderment . -lrb- blu-ray double-feature edition -rrb-", "scooby-doo the movie completely undermines the rationalist , anti-ghost premise of scooby-doo the original tv series .", "it does n't have , for instance , the multiple levels of meaning that `` spy kids '' had , so it really is n't that good of a family film . it is fine for kids though .", "this is the kind of woeful trash heap where you have to say that the best thing about it is matthew lillard", "mildly entertaining , but not nearly the campy self-lampooning it could have been .", "unless you 're an aol time warner board member , there 's nothing to like about this insipid live-action version of the 1970s cartoon series .", "... watchable and mercifully short . wow , what a ringing endorsement .", "nostalgia helps bolster a rather ludicrous finale .", "once you 've broken the fourth wall on some pretty thin characters , how do you recover ? answer : you do n't .", "scooby-doo could have been a total disaster , but winds up being some fun summer entertainment .", "somewhere between a live action cartoon that is much too scary for most children and a saturday night live sketch that goes on too long for most teens .", "you 'll trudge out of the theater feeling as though you rode the zipper after eating a corn dog and an extra-large cotton candy .", "the film version retains as much of the hokey charm of the original series as you 'd expect from a major hollywood studio in these snarkily post-modern days .", "since `` scooby-doo '' stoops to such bottom-of-the-barrel laughs i have no qualms about using a few childish words to bash this infantile attempt at creating a live-action update of a classic cartoon . scooby-doo is poo .", "the big-screen scooby makes the silly original cartoon seem smart and well-crafted in comparison .", "the novelty of seeing these characters on the big screen is occasionally fun , but this scooby-doo is no great dane .", "an enjoyable above average summer diversion .", "as with so many merchandised-to-the-max movies of this type , more time appears to have gone into recruiting the right bands for the playlist and the costuming of the stars than into the script , which has a handful of smart jokes and not much else .", "by embracing the original series ' tacky elements and inserting just enough self-mockery to avoid smugness , the movie manages to fulfill basic expectations .", "the obnoxious special effects , the obligatory outbursts of flatulence and the incessant , so-five-minutes-ago pop music on the soundtrack overwhelm what is left of the scruffy , dopey old hanna-barbera charm .", "this excruciating adaptation of the innocuous '70s cartoon show makes the film version of josie and the pussycats look sophisticated by comparison .", "worth its weight in scooby snacks .", "it 's all pretty hectic , loud and empty , and yet , despite its day-glo coloring and sense of forced fun , scooby-doo leaves you with a nagging case of the blues .", "get out your pooper-scoopers .", "a mixed bag . jinkies !", "filled with unclever quips , tired humor , a lazy silliness and bland execution , the picture is a tedious puff of nothing .", "entertainment more disposable than hanna-barbera 's half-hour cartoons ever were .", "complete lack of originality , cleverness or even visible effort", "o roteiro \u00e9 , na melhor das hip\u00f3teses , med\u00edocre , mas o charme dos personagens acaba se refletindo na tela grande .", "far more dull and just plain dumb than it ever is funny .", "bad", "... about as close as it can be to the tv series without being animated .", "everyone got into the spirit of the movie -lrb- no pun intended -rrb- and made a cute film .", "too scary for most kids , too dumb for most teens .", "what really makes this movie special is matthew lillard 's inspired performance as shaggy . it 's not only a dead-on impersonation of the cartoon character , but it also comes with a certain kind of unique joy and a genuine soul .", "`` scooby doo '' really did n't need a big screen adaptation , and this terribly unfunny , weird live action variation proves it .", "is this really the sort of entertainment america wants ?", "there 's one big mystery that needs to be solved in this movie - though it has nothing to do with the plot . why the need for fred , daphne and velma ?", "i feel no sympathy with any of the characters , i am unable to judge whether the live action movie is a better idea than the all-cartoon tv approach , i am unable to generate the slightest interest in the plot , and i laughed not a single time .", "after seeing this rancid excuse for a film my lifelong obsession with scooby-doo was ripped out of my wiggling brain faster than my appendix was sliced out of my belly during last year 's appendectomy .", "we suspect ... that scooby-doo is another worthless cash grab .", "the makers of this film defied all logic and created something watchable , even entertaining .", "yup , it 's a dog alright .", "a frenetic , cluttered $ 100-million worth of haphazard plotting , fart jokes , computer-generated monsters and visual chaos .", "as dumb and cheesy as they may be , the cartoons look almost shakespearean -- both in depth and breadth -- after watching this digital-effects-heavy , supposed family-friendly comedy .", "it may ... work as a jaunt down memory lane for teens and young adults who grew up on televised scooby-doo shows or reruns .", "uninitiated kids may adopt this new scooby , but anyone who loved the show will find it frustrating .", "the relentless poor thinking behind this project almost plays like an intentional joke .", "it seems that the filmmakers were so intent on getting the look and sound right that they forgot to put much effort into delivering an entertaining or even okay story .", "throws scraps to different audience constituencies and ends up with a muddle .", "lillard gives the flick its manic energy , and the rest of the gang holds its own .", "the cast is appealing , the sets brightly colored and fun to look at , the mystery as lame and goofy as any featured in the many inexplicably beloved scooby-doo cartoons .", "not that the tv show was so riveting , but most of the half-hour plots were more compelling than this lackluster warmover .", "although scooby-doo falls far short of becoming the blazing saddles of generations x , y and z , it is hard to resist in its moronic charms .", "it 's like an amalgam of ghostbusters , alien and the pokemon movies -- minus all the good parts .", "when matthew lillard -- who has the highest skeeve quotient ever recorded -- is the best thing in a movie , you know you 're in deep doo-doo .", "any thinking , reasoning human being with an appreciation for cinema would reject it as the vilest trash . needless to say , it cracked me up the whole way .", "do you really want to spend money watching what is essentially marginality , or would those dollars be better used to see a better film or even buy a good book ?" ], "summary": "though lillard is uncannily spot-on as shaggy , scooby doo is a tired live-action update , filled with lame jokes .", "id": "11242" }, { "movie": "julie_and_julia", "reviews": [ "aesthetically , the film is phenomenal . streep and adams deliver fantastic performances and the parallels between the characters were fascinating .", "a hi-carb generation gap gourmet outing contrasting elders hooked on sex , souffle and espionage with postmodern workaholic , too tired for romance youth . though what 's served up is basically julia a la carte .", "... a distillation of two good books into something less than intoxicating , but it 's still good fun whenever streep is on screen .", "as usual , meryl streep steals the movie ; but thanks to strong writing by nora ephron and delightful additional performances by amy adams and stanley tucci , `` MOV '' might steal your heart .", "a lighthearted comedy that 's very easy to like , with some charming performances .", "this old-fashioned star vehicle of the highest order lacks conventional drama and conflict -- and is none the worse for those absences .", "julie 's setbacks are dealt out like the hand in a game we do n't want to play anymore . we want to drop the cards and stay over at julia 's winning table .", "meryl streep and amy adams cook up a treat in julie & julia .", "cooking shows have n't just jumped the shark , they 've pan-seared its still-beating heart and served it as a $ 40 mini burger with a side of couscous at a soho fusion joint . this backlash helps julie & julia , half of it , anyways", "it 's not enough to sustain a film that runs over two hours , but it does at least make it pleasant to sit through much of the time .", "the main reason for seeing this is meryl streep 's deft comic performance as the fluttery tv chef .", "any movie that follows parallel stories runs the danger that one will be superior to the other , but the disparity is especially wide in nora ephron 's julie & julia .", "awash in culinary imagery , and it 's enough to make you want to run out , purchase some le creuset cookware , and start deboning a duck", "this delectable , adorable movie - yes that 's the proper word for it - definitely leaves one hungering for another helping .", "meryl streep 's performance brings julia child to vivid life ... as nora ephron herself has said : `` she plays all of us better than we play ourselves . ''", "this kind of film should teach you something about the art of cooking and make you hungry . it does both and the results , while not overpowering are sweet and succulent .", "like a souffle . fluffy and delicious , and often this close to collapsing .", "julie & julia serves up two true stories for the price of one , with results that are only half-way satisfying .", "sometimes a meal can be less than perfect but still so thoroughly enjoyable that a missed ingredient here or a bit of overcooking there does n't really matter .", "a delightful dessert of a movie .", "there are many things wrong with MOV but , if you 're looking to get hitched , you wo n't find a better booster . just make sure that one of you can cook .", "streep and tucci enjoy a terrific , infectious onscreen chemistry as soul mates for whom food and entertaining were part of one long , sensuous continuum .", "elevating the mediocre simply by one 's presence is probably the definition of star power , and streep makes good material better and marginal material worth watching .", "loved the first course , hated the second .", "together the film 's parallel stories do make slightly more than the sum of their ingredients , cooking up undemanding summer fun .", "ephron has whipped up a sly , subtle , piquant confection that not only brings to life two fascinating women -lrb- or maybe one fascinating and one ingratiating -rrb- but also explores the differences between two eras .", "a feast of winning characters , sumptuous food , loving marriages , and strong women who stumble , laugh , cry , write and , of course , cook their way into our hearts .", "ephron , like her heroines , has finally found what suits her : a surprising comic and romantic realism .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he whole enterprise has a whiff of marketing to it . did the filmmakers worry that child would n't be ` relatable ' to contemporary women ? was there a fear that the 18-35 demographic would decline to show up if it did n't have an onscreen representative ?", "julie & julia is a romantic comedy , too , but this time the romance is between two women , and one of them , truth be told , is a dud .", "nora ephron 's winning new movie is a tonic for those seeking something different from the usual summer fare of explosions , aliens and all things gone berserk . and what a swell departure it is .", "it 's a movie to savor .", "julie & julia is one of the gentlest , most charming american movies of the past decade .", "there 's a scene in the movie when julie is watching snl and dan aykroyd is doing his famous julia childs impersonation and it 's not that much different than streep 's version . too cartoony . but adams is fantastic !", "as child would have told you , a souffl\u00e9 is n't a filling meal .", "one ca n't help but wonder if ephron would 've been better off focusing exclusively on child : she 's simply more interesting screen company . but ephron 's commercial touch serves her well here .", "cutesy kitchen antics aside , one senses here -- across class lines , fifty years and an ocean -- huge shifts in the perception of romance , of profession , of identity .", "the amy adams half is shallow enough , and too inclined towards writer-director nora ephron 's worst habits , that it manages to wreck what would otherwise be a good enough bit of fun .", "julia child 's letters home are vivacious , illustrating her generosity and wit , her resolve and sense of humor .", "julie & julia is a scrumptious delight ... a vivacious pleasure . in the word of both MOV : yum .", "if it were n't for the sheer brilliance of streep and on-screen husband stanley tucci , this would be an easy skip .", "meryl streep is terrific . she will be again the darling of the award show season .", "if norah ephron had better producers around to save her from herself , `` julie & julia '' could have been the movie it wants to be -- that is a julia child biopic with meryl streep doing a fantastic job as the television chef that taught america how to cook .", "while julie needs the julia tale , the story of julia would have been just fine without julie . in fact it would have probably been better .", "channeling julia child had to be a challenge for meryl streep , and i do not mean just getting that distinctive voice down . streep not only nails the voice , but the body language as well . ... and amazingly , she embodies the great chef 's spirit .", "the main reason the child half of julie & julia soars is that streep so fully inhabits the woman .", "poor amy adams has been thrown on the barbecue ; by contrast , streep 's scenes as julia child are as delightful as a slice of watermelon .", "tasty mostly because meryl streep as the daffy american chef julia child nails her role with perfection .", "a refreshingly-charming take on an enduring cultural icon and a lady now likely to go down in history as her # 1 fan .", "schizophrenic as it is , julie & julia is very fortunate to have meryl streep holding up both hers and everyone else 's souffl\u00e9 to keep the proceedings passably entertaining .", "it 's the ` yum ' factor", "two movies for the price of one . half is about the famous french cooking maven -lrb- and cia agent -rrb- . the other is about a blogger who launched a writing career blogging about her attempt to cook all the recipes in child 's cookbook . all it is lacking is a plot .", "a misguided film of differing expectations saved only by its performances .", "considering the movie acknowledges it 's perfectly healthy for women to enjoy both eating and sex , it qualifies as something rare in hollywood : a feminist work of popular art .", "two true stories are merged into one delicious treat of a film in julie & julia .", "you might dismiss this as a `` chick flick '' , but i think anyone can enjoy it . you do n't have to leave your `` manly-man '' card at the door .", "half-baked comedy barely whets the appetite .", "streep does an amazing job bringing television cooking legend julia child to life and making us smile every frame of the way .", "it 's a light and entertaining treat , with winning performances , sharp writing and some happy surprises .", "parental content review", "... an easy-going , pleasant film ...", "the human cornucopia that is streep is carrying the energy and feel-goodness of this movie . adams is providing her natural comic timing and sweetness to make powell as human as possible , and she succeeds more than i would have thought possible , though ju", "less julie and more julia , and you 'd have the perfect recipe ...", "thoroughly wonderful", "meryl is magnificent and the humor is good , but the movie overall is fairly ordinary", "this may not be a great movie , but it 's a sweet , funny , enjoyable work with characters it 's possible to care about and fine performances straight across the board .", "perhaps the most disappointing thing about julie & julia is the lack of dramatic closure .", "this is yet another movie that will leave meryl streep 's legion of fans convinced she can do anything -lrb- except sing , as mamma mia proved -rrb- .", "even streep inevitably falls victim to ephron 's one-note modus operandi ...", "as a writer herself and a woman in an even more cutthroat business , you would think that ephron might shed off her usual goody-goody fantasies and stick one to powell . heh , ridicule in a nora ephron film ? even julia child would raspberry that one .", "a tasty dual biography .", "... savor the genius of streep whipping her high-pitched julia accent into a froth as she chops a mountain of onions into submission .", "ephron does the smart thing in julie & julia and lets streep carry the day , with a minimum of embellishment .", "meryl streep is julia child -- in a movie that needs more of her .", "julie & julia features two dramatically inert story lines and two firecracker actresses .", "do n't go see julie & julia , a delightful culinary treat , on an empty stomach % u2013 unless , of course , you are a masochist .", "ephron 's cuisine is clearly undercooked . amy adams powell serves the main dish . it misses key ingredients causing you to long for more of meryl streep 's scrumptious dessert .", "meryl streep and amy adams are great fun to watch , and streep could well earn yet another oscar nomination .", "in a movie about as diametrically opposed to what you normally expect from streep -lrb- this is no sophie 's choice -rrb- , she seems to be relishing every chance to be silly , goofy , and funny .", "streep 's a walking , talking , rising souffl\u00e9 who refuses to fall . a vibrating baguette . an impassioned risotto . -lrb- do the french eat risotto ? -rrb- streep clearly energizes every scene she 's in -- and in those she sadly is n't .", "an epicurean delight !", "if ephron finds any parity in the tilting that powell does at this edible windmill , she does n't share it with the audience .", "this is one lip-smacking , celestially aromatic , drop-dead delicious movie .", "it 's a delicious concoction of two delectable stories , but the surprise is that amy adams sweetly understated performance goes down much easier than meryl streep 's showy shtick , which too often becomes almost indigestibly larger than life .", "streep makes you want to have whatever she 's having . the rest of the movie makes you wonder what else is on , until you remember you 're not really watching the lifetime channel .", "this is a movie about food and love and courage and dreams and lots and lots of butter , and doing something -- cooking or acting -- brilliantly and with gusto .", "it 's julia who truly delights , and who we want seconds of . like the food she dishes up , she 's warm and spicy , hearty and satisfying .", "a consummate entertainment that echoes the rhythms and attitudes of classic hollywood , it 's a satisfying throwback to those old-fashioned movie fantasies where impossible dreams do come true .", "streep as child is a magnet who draws everybody to her in every minute of screen time .", "shallow and repetitious , ephron 's mildly amusing comedy is gimmicky without emotional pay-off , juxtaposing the stories of two american housewives , in which meryl streep gets the showy role and amy adams is stuck with the dull one .", "well , what do you know ? it turns out there was an accent meryl streep had n't yet tackled -- and , as anyone might guess , she handles it with remarkable finesse .", "the julia-paul relationship is one of the most blissful seen in years , and streep and tucci dance through their interpretations with the grace and chemistry of an astaire-rogers routine .", "neither story here quite stands up by itself , and they do n't quite gel together either -- even as the film wraps , it feels as if there 's a course missing .", "l\u00e9ger et doux comme une cr\u010dme br\u0171l\u00e9e", "meryl streep is simply stupendous in the lead role and the main reason to see the movie . her classy impersonation is worthy of year-end awards recognition .", "child was a large personality , and meryl streep is a great actress -- the combination does rather overshadow young amy adams in the role of powell , the earnest disciple .", "julie & julia works best when it focuses not on how we make something of ourselves but the fact that no one does so alone .", "perfectly pleasant but slight .", "meryl streep is yeast that makes this light comedy rise .", "streep and tucci give us a mature sizzle , sexy and endearing . like chocolate and peanut butter , or champagne and strawberries -- they 're fabulous alone , but together -- wow , the combination 's irresistible .", "meryl streep makes such a tasty and larger-than-life julia in a nostalgically evoked late - '40s paris that it 's worth stomaching the pancake-flat sequences with her supposed early 21st-century counterpart , julie powell .", "needs a story and a director . bottom line : who cares ?", "like a beautiful home cooked meal , julie & julia is not perfect by industry standards , just warm , comforting and very , very enjoyable .", "another patchy effort from director nora ephron who does n't quite get a grip on this potentially fascinating story .", "poderia ser descrito como dois m\u00e9dias-metragens montados paralelamente num \u00fanico longa % u2013 e o fato \u00e9 que , por mais ador\u00e1vel que adams seja , \u00e9 a hist\u00f3ria protagonizada por meryl streep que segura o projeto .", "amy adams is so meek she echoes cynthia nixon 's waif servant in forman 's amadeus . in fact , for a moment i thought she was ms. nixon , until i remembered that amadeus was twenty-five years ago .", "pretty light stuff , and the movie 's only goal seems to be to convey that fluffiness , as both lives are milked for generally positive comic and romantic moments .", "a charming and witty biographical tale of two women who were brought together as soul mates through the art of food and the joy of cooking ...", "ebullient , witty , and wonderfully warm-hearted julie & julia is a celebration of how to live life to the full .", "as food movies go -- and they 've become a genre of their own -- this one may be a little too rich but it 's full of delights .", "what makes this film memorable and pleasurable , above all , is the ebullient performance of meryl streep as julia child , unlikely culinary trailblazer and tv star .", "click to read the full review on movies for the masses", "the single best reason to see the film is streep and tucci together , turning their devil wears prada rivalry into a funny , deeply romantic marriage , full of quips and sex and lots of amazing food .", "while women seem the most immediate audience for this souffl\u00e9-light summer film , anyone with even fleeting interest in writing or in eating -lrb- a much larger demo , for sure -rrb- will want to revel in this two hour long celebration of love , life and lobster therm", "the julie character is just not as interesting as julia child , but the movie entertains and will be loved by the over-50 set . streep will be deservedly oscar nominated .", "love and food , the basics of life , two passions common to nearly everyone on the planet , the film offers them up like hors d'oeuvres never ceasing to circle the room . it 's gentle , tender , warm , and sprinkled generously with tasty bits of humor .", "in the end , julie & julia does n't stack up as much more than a pleasant summertime diversion , but it 's hands down the best such trifle that ephron has ever concocted .", "the movie is sweet , amusing and , unlike one of child 's decadent platters of beef bourguignon , mostly weightless ; if not for streep 's expert portrayal , which is boundlessly energetic and respectful , it might float off the screen .", "people like my mother are going to eat this movie up ... i , however , was bored . bored , bored , bored , bored , bored .", "like a fallen souffl\u00e9 , this movie delivers flavor but not the dizzying deliciousness it promises .", "this entertaining new comedy from nora ephron , about famed chef julia child and author julie powell , is a homage to every woman 's unique talent for reinvention .", "when actors like these are cooking , it 's better than haute cuisine .", "if ephron is to be criticized for treating powell like a soggy sitcom creation , she -lrb- along with streep -rrb- should be celebrated for rendering child flesh and blood -- all passion and pleasure , even during moments of self-doubt .", "ephron wanted to compare and contrast the two women ... but the bottom line is that one of those lives is truly interesting , while the other is truly not", "showcases stable , loving relationships -lrb- complete with supportive men -rrb- , offers honest depictions of self-worth , and imparts a message of feminine achievement through the art of divine creation . now how about that .", "streep nimbly apes that famous warbly voice and bemused laugh , clomping around the set like a delightful giantess .", "i suppose it 's telling that the only time in julie & julia that i heartily chuckled was during an archived clip of dan aykroyd impersonating child on saturday night live . now there was entertainment with some life to it .", "julie & julia is not lacking in entertainment value , especially with the streep performance . but if the men had been portrayed as more high-spirited , it might have taken on intriguing dimensions .", "the film features a typical bio on the one side -- the making of the legend that is julia child -- and a coming-of-age rom-com on the other , with the good but underused amy adams pouting her way through new york city and a cookbook ; the only shared ingred", "an enjoyable experience -- just not as filling as it could have been .", "meryl streep , as child , is this film 's butter ; everything else is garnish .", "makes deboning a duck a feminist act and cooking a great meal a creative triumph . the stakes may not be as high as the kill-or-be-killed suspense of a summer action movie , but the sauces are way tastier .", "julie & julia was directed by nora ephron with a light touch that will satisfy an eager audience of female foodies .", "an adorable and entertaining film that is appealing to the appetite .", "julie & julia is a very american kind of money-spinner . crucially , though , it is never dumb .", "a bland blend of two half-baked stories . julie & julia spends so long celebrating the art of cooking , it forgets to be dramatic , romantic or funny .", "there are few more civilised , civilising and generally delightful movies around at the moment than nora ephron 's julie & julia .", "it 's a delicious , irresistible film whose primary exuberance and pull is created by the combined forces of meryl streep and amy adams % u2013 their second pairing after doubt , in which they also hit the acting jackpot", "who can not relate to julia enrolling in the all-male cordon bleu cooking school , crying buckets as she practises chopping mountains of onions ?", "nora ephron serves up a hearty silver-service banquet with a story that links the lives of two exceptional american women .", "with great panache , it celebrates butter , bravery , and believing in oneself , all excellent things , brilliantly executed", "ephron has crafted a movie that is bursting with butter and sweets yet ends up completely bland .", "this middling melange of child biopic and contempo dramedy feels overstuffed and predigested .", "meryl streep is so utterly delightful as julia child it made me think the best definition of a movie star is that when she 's off-screen for even a moment , you want her to get back up there fast .", "deliciously funny and warming fare , for which the amazing meryl deserves her ridiculously overdue third oscar .", "a film that 's charming , funny - especially when streep is on screen , broadcasting her superb impression of the tall , charismatic , high-pitched child - but leaves you with a dissatisfaction with modern life that no culinary masterpiece can relieve .", "MOV is a delightful , tasty treat for adults .", "-lsb- g -rsb- iddily joyful performances -lsb- by -rsb- adams and streep : spending time with them is like spending time with the kind of friends who support you and love you no matter what ...", "though hardly a perfect souffl\u00e9 , julie & julia is the movie american foodie culture has been waiting for . it hooks you up , happily , to your inner top chef .", "for all its merits , julie & julia is felled by a near total lack of compelling drama .", "the comedy about a would-be writer 's attempt to cook her way through child 's culture-changing cookbook sees nora ephron return to her sleepless in seattle form .", "although the calories ultimately are empty , they sure are enjoyable .", "the julia parts in julie & julia are a delight . the ones about julie ? more like an annoying distraction .", "ephron conveys neither gustatory joy nor cinematic know-how .", "this movie is an emerald of enchantment in the current sewer of cinematic trap rock .", "there 's almost no conflict in either of the stories presented in julie & julia , and though this is preferable to contrived conflict , it still leaves us with a rather overlong , lovey-dovey picture .", "yum ! one of the best films of 09 with its celebration of culinary creativity and the spiritual practice of enthusiasm as the energy which animates the efforts of two women to give their best to the world .", "child was often imitated but streep lets us see her jubilant soul .", "what an expression of the joy of cooks and cooking julie & julia turns out to be .", "from child 's warbling , new england-by-way-of-paris voice to her towering yet curiously lighthearted physical presence , streep gets everything technically right about the woman .", "the joys of the julia parts are cumulative , and addictive . the julie parts keep forcing us to go cold turkey .", "getting something half right would never have been good enough for -lsb- julia -rsb- child , and the movie goes all sorts of wrong with julie .", "glossy and graceful , julie & julia is less about a full belly than it is about a full life , less about assembling dishes and more assembling one 's self", "julie & julia is two movies in one . that 's one more movie than it needs to be .", "like nora ephron 's captivating film , streep 's performance is haute cuisine disguised as comfort food , a complex preparation yielding effects both broadly entertaining and subtly moving .", "a smiley-face version of the the hours that substitutes julia child for virginia woolf , food for suicide , jokes for despair , and startles us with its refreshing portrait of a good marriage .", "this is blissful moviemaking . much of the pleasure we have in watching it comes from seeing tucci and , obviously , streep connect . but it 's also the effortlessness ephron reveals in bringing it all together .", "a lightweight but enjoyable gustatory romp .", "for all the talent invested in julie & julia , it 's ultimately a bland cinematic dish that needed more comedic spice .", "streep 's julia reminded me more of akroyd 's julia than julia 's julia .", "julie & julia is a highly polished piece of upmarket entertainment , brimming with beautiful interiors . if you throw in the lavish helpings of food porn it 's almost like a colour supplement come to life .", "meryl streep at her most relaxed and enjoyable is a main course in herself . pity we have to share her with a side order of nora ephron at her least appetizing .", "it 's refreshing to see male performers being towered over by female leads . it 's even more refreshing to watch a film that exults in the pleasures of uxoriousness .", "a dose of stodgy comfort food in the form of a complacent , mediocre film , with an exasperatingly flaccid and anti-climactic ending .", "think of it like a good souffl\u00e9 : deliciously sweet and airy without the cloying aftertaste . you 'll want more .", "julie & julia seems satisfied to fall short of its potential - whether as an insightful romantic comedy or an exploration of food lust - relying on streep to carry the film with her witty turn as child .", "ultimately , the film - a celebration of friendship and wise choices of spouse - belongs to streep ... and the lingering food porn shots ...", "hollywood , famously , makes few movies aimed at older females because young men are much easier to satisfy . julie & julia is that rare film targeted at your mum , but we think you 'll enjoy it too .", "julie & julia is a heartfelt , deliciously shot , and beautifully designed romp , studded with fine performances that are endearingly cheery , inspirational and funny . it 's a must-see for anyone who loves to eat .", "the pace is so slow-braised that the year of cooking seems to pass in real time , and adams ' usual charm is hindered by a bad wig and constant blubbing .", "the film is not just a showcase for streep 's considerable talents , it 's also another demonstration of the career growth of amy adams .", "few movies are as delightful as julie & julia .", "the cuisine may be french but the spirit is as american as apple pie .", "the ideal recipe has a special ingredient that can lift a dish from meh to memorable . meryl streep -- at her brilliant , beguiling best -- is the spice that does the trick for the yummy julie & julia .", "the alternating storylines are slight and conflict is severely lacking , but meryl streep and amy adams are extraordinary , lifting so-so material into an enjoyable , easy-breezy , late-summer trifle .", "with a whopping fifteen academy award nominations on her resume ' , and an almost guaranteed number sixteen thanks to her performance here , she -lrb- streep -rrb- continues to amaze .", "while the julia child material and streep 's performance are entertaining enough to warrant a recommendation , the other stuff is so dreadfully dull that you wonder why it even exists at all", "a breezy and thoroughly delightful comedy .", "nora ephron 's julie & julia is one-half delightful and one-half disappointing ; luckily , the delightful part stays with you while the rest fades away .", "julie & julia proceeds with such ease and charm that its audacity is easy to miss .", "too long , too bland and never really pays off in the way one might hope with such a strong premise and cast .", "julie & julia does have some euphoric moments centered around food and cooking , and both adams and streep are very much worth watching .", "tempting meryl streep dramedy satisfies but does n't wow .", "fluffy , sweet and deliciously delightful , julie & julia is a hoot of a movie and a surefire recipe for a good time , assuming of course you can do without robots , superheroes and comics who curse .", "julie & julia is a mixed blessing . you enjoy vicariously many dishes , sample the good life in france and get treated to another streep marvel .", "the movie is not objectionable - it 's very affectionate , and has a light comic tone - but it is insufferable . tweeness and whimsy eclipse any spark of thoughtfulness . the resulting confection is two hours of drama-less self-congratulation .", "a tasty little confection inspired by two true stories .", "worth seeing for the performances , but the endings of both stories are oddly unsatisfying and it never really comes together as a single film .", "ephron reunites with streep for this slightly overlong and very girly drama based on two true stories , both of which are involving and well-played . the comedy is earthy and real , and the film looks good enough to eat .", "julie & julia is among the most heart-warming , feelgood films of the year , and so joyously obsessed with food that it might be described as a feed-good movie .", "while both actresses deserve credit , it 's streep who dominates and deserves to be put in contention for her third oscar . deftly playing the dotty masterchef - complete with a brilliantly squawking laugh - it 's an amusing but respectful imitation .", "julie & julia is an unmissable treat for food lovers - just make sure you eat beforehand .", "like being force-fed a dish of candied pecans , smothered in honey , washed down with a bottle of eiswein . by the end of it you 're screaming for a tumbler of vinegar cut with lemon juice and a nice sprinkling of asafoetida .", "the ham , madam ? it 's very much on , in this bland gastro-mantic comedy that needs much less sugar and a hell of a lot more bite .", "ultimately , two different stories in the one movie format works only to a point . julia 's story sizzles while julie 's merely simmers . it 's still satisfying stuff , but i doubt you 'll return for second helpings ." ], "summary": "boosted by meryl streep 's charismatic performance as julia child , MOV is a light , but fairly entertaining culinary comedy .", "id": "770802777" }, { "movie": "three_monkeys", "reviews": [ "a powerfully bleak family drama that leaves its characters ' offenses largely offscreen but lingers with agonizing , drawn-out deliberation on the consequences .", "it is accomplished , but overdetermined . its dramatic force ca n't its equal its visual impact , resulting in a clear indication of where ceylan 's strengths as a director lie .", "it 's certainly worth catching .", "those willing to think for themselves , not in a rush for the d\u00e9nouement and appreciate cinematographic narrative techniques will surely savour nearly every frame of director/co-writer nuri bilge ceylan 's ... exceptionally crafted tale of crime , corruption", "patience will be required to appreciate this brilliant , gorgeously visual film .", "MOV , could be reduced to a simple moral - never do a dodgy politician a favour - though its layering of ironies and wrong turnings render it more subtly disturbing than that pr\u00e9cis might suggest .", "this is a fascinating transitional film from an intriguing director at the top of his game .", "a grim , slow-burning exploration of guilt , grief and murder that keeps the audience at arm 's length through its cold , intermittently misanthropic , vision of humanity but which is filled with ravishing images and a powerfully brooding atmosphere .", "this is a fascinating film that , once seen , is hard to dislodge from your imagination .", "a subtly persuasive drama steeped in a strangely beautiful pallor , thanks to superb hd cinematography .", "so long as you can adjust to the singular pace of the story-telling , then this film , which won ceylan the best director award at cannes last year , is a powerfully affecting piece .", "MOV is a noirish thriller - boasting an explosive beginning , middle and end . the pace is still slow and the kiss-kiss bang-bangs take place off camera , but the effect is seismic .", "whether MOV is a disappointment or not depends largely on how -lrb- or whether -rrb- you 've viewed the filmmaker 's work to date .", "MOV -lrb- think `` see no evil , hear no evil , speak no evil '' -rrb- unfolds with an agonizing , almost glacial inevitability on par with the best cinema noir .", "-lsb- director nuri bilge -rsb- ceylan takes a step towards the mainstream with a fiercely executed drama that hopefully will expand the ranks of his admirers .", "the heavy mood of indolence and rage , calibrated with ellipses in action , is stifling -- everyone seems to move in a queasy haze .", "ike bresson 's movies , MOV is an archetype of the cinematic form in which the elements are stripped to their essences so that what remains is immaterial -- as insubstantial as cinema can be .", "unpredictable and gratifying .", "-lsb- the film 's -rsb- hauntingly slow rhythms underscore the immanent violence and impotent rage that cripple already attenuated lives .", "the plot may be simple enough but real artistry is shown by what the director does not show and by the actors ' ability to express their emotions with limited dialogue .", "astonishing and brooding film noir head trip .", "with very few words , it really gets under our skin", "at times while watching it , i found myself fidgeting , my patience for long stare-offs exhausted ; afterward , i could n't stop thinking about it .", "this is a film of formidable power that sticks in the mind .", "if you like foreign films nearly two hours in length that are one long lingering shot , then `` MOV '' is for you .", "the film is photographed in a noirish style , but it is so plodding that no part of it is the least bit thrilling .", "the noirish plot does n't quite jibe with characters this inscrutable ; all you really know about them is that they appear incapable of honesty .", "talky without many words , a slow revelation of situation , character depth and relationships within a reduced framework , that taken together will remind the thoughtful of the ingmar bergman approach .", "everything bubbling under the surface mostly stays there , while the soap opera-esque film very slowly becomes a pulp drama without any juice .", "ceylan finds moments of stunning visual composition and his cast truly delivers , so art-house audiences will more than likely be satisfied by MOV , even if it 's not a knockout punch .", "MOV proves again that -lsb- nuri bilge -rsb- ceylan has the eye of an artist , with a soul to match . if only his storytelling skills were equally represented .", "MOV ... is the latest eyeful from director nuri bilge ceylan , one of a handful of international directors deserving of the title artist .", "there are enough ponderous moments that you may find yourself resisting the heavy mood .", "an elegant exercise with four characters trapped by class , guilt and greed .", "despite the strong performances he obtains from his actors here , and the way he keeps piquing our curiosity with ellipses and ambiguities , the film is not powerful enough to get away with that elaborate story line .", "this turkish film simmers and drips with restrained tension .", "it is certainly an engrossing work , it looks wonderful and every frame is dense with intelligence . there are stabs of interest and insight in every scene .", "this is a must .", "ceylan 's approach is oblique , emphasizing the after-effects more than the actions , with a lot of frozen , painful moments between the characters .", "turkish director nuri bilge ceylan 's aching film is driven by complex , powerful performances . too many angsty silences deflate the tension , but it 's gripping while it lasts .", "nuri bilge ceylan 's subtle and fascinating MOV , a film in which a family 's lies uncover a hidden honesty .", "a change of pace for the turkish auteur , this noirish crime family melodrama is more plot-driven than his previous efforts , but the personal signature is still evident in the elaborate mise-en-scene and striking images and sounds .", "this sparsely-told story speaks volumes with the kind of cinematic poetry that you would expect to find at the cannes film festival .", "long , masterfully executed shots accompanied by minimal dialogue and a richly expressive soundtrack ; subdued performances punctuated by violent bursts of emotion ; and a confident trust in the combination of stark realism and unadorned melodrama .", "-lsb- nuri bilge -rsb- ceylan keeps the cascade of mistakes and mishaps ... off-screen . his camera stays on the actions and reactions of his characters in the wake of the repercussions ...", "with MOV , nuri bilge ceylan trains his cool , detached sensibility on a ripe and pulpy melodrama that might have originated in a james m. cain novel .", "director ceylan uses neo-antonioni techniques for a plot which calls much more for billy wilder or the coen brothers . cinematography can only go so far . in the final analysis , you need dialog , plot and character development for a good movie . `` three monkey", "a dysfunctional turkish family struggles with the burdens of guilt , denial , and betrayal .", "ceylan orchestrates all the elements of his film into a gripping experience of manipulation and retribution , with an ironic final twist .", "this is powerful filmmaking for discerning viewers .", "stylish cinematography along with decent performances do n't compensate for an often tedious plot that lacks any real tension , imagination or palpable poignancy .", "tells an old-fashioned , melodramatic story , but director nuri bilge ceylan does so vividly ... a moral morass is a bit overwrought , but is revealed through visual poetry .", "the pace is deliberate , sometimes slow , but the whirlpool pull of this tragic psychological thriller is irresistible .", "it 's best described as introspective melodrama , yet both visually and tonally , it 's still quintessential ceylan .", "calling MOV a genre detour is putting it charitably ; it 's a downbeat dead end that reduces its talented maker to a mere shadow-play stylist .", "if you 're looking for an adultery - and revenge-fueled family melodrama so subdued that it keeps a hit-and-run fatality , cuckoldry , and murder entirely off screen , MOV is your movie and nuri bilge ceylan your not-so-genre-inclined auteur ." ], "summary": "exploring the effects of a family 's dealings with an underhanded politician , this crime drama avoids showing the violent outcomes of its characters ' misdeeds , resulting in a lingeringly potent film .", "id": "770768862" }, { "movie": "from_paris_with_love", "reviews": [ "the movie tries to shock you with its twists and turns . what 's really shocking is how an action flick with such a high body count could be so deadly boring . travolta brings new meaning to the term , `` ugly american . ''", "this french buddy cop action comedy owes its limited success to john travolta . if you do n't love him stay an ocean away from this flick .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is so dumb -- so obnoxiously over the top , so asinine -- that you have to wonder if travolta knew what kind of a movie he was in and tailored his performance to match .", "the bazooka was as subtle and witty as the movie .", "a non-sensical ultra-violent r-rated action film that exists only to please those into high body counts", "wax on , wax off ... you decide .", "a splatter flick featurng an almost infantile ugly american in paris with access to an infinite supply of live ammo , and misbehaving like the proverbial bull in a china closet .", "bullets fly . bad guys die . i tried to do a body count but lost count at 20 . and that 's by the end of the second reel when travolta 's charlie wax is just getting warmed up .", "all bravado and it nearly works . but the flick 's insistence on playing dumb , on shooting suspects before interrogating them and explaining anything , puts your brain on autopilot", "although john travolta and jonathan rhys meyers make an unlikely duo , they perform their roles with gusto . and the fast-paced action here is exciting to watch .", "sticks to convention", "travolta has/is a blast in an action-thriller-comedy that otherwise comes up short on all three counts .", "nowhere near as fun as that premise probably sounds .", "we all know how rotten today 's movies can be , but even at the bottom of the slag pit , you wo n't find a load of garbage any smellier than MOV .", "john travolta breaks the braggadocio meter in the latest tightly wound actioner from taken 's pierre morel .", "what might have been a fairly standard buddy comedy is elevated by a hilariously irreverent performance by travolta and morel 's knack for creating exciting action pieces .", "-lsb- morel -rsb- brings in lobotomized entertainment at 90-odd minutes . during the february doldrums , this can not be underestimated .", "the biggest thing standing in the way of MOV achieving even that standard is the laughable casting .", "the action barely pauses % u2013 and when it does , the talk is hardly memorable . but talk is cheap ; fireballs coming out of exploding suvs are not .", "only a wild west town between sheriffs has fewer law officers than this film 's depiction of paris .", "mildly diverting but entirely forgettable .", "MOV is exactly the kind of mindless entertainment that we 've come to expect from -lsb- luc besson -rsb- .", "% u0160kolski primjer `` stare % u0161kole '' ameri % u010dkog akcijskog filma 80-ih , a koja je promovirala jednostavan crno-bijeli pogled na svijet", "MOV attempts to reimagine john travolta as a potty-mouthed soldier of fortune who 's not only stock but dated .", "it\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s absolute nonsense , of course , but does quite nicely as knockabout friday night fun . we can smell a sequel if travolta can be bothered .", "it 's both a classic mismatched buddy action movie transplanted to paris and a french idea of an american action movie abroad .", "with a screenwriter formerly of the israeli airborne defense forces , this is the kind of sour anti-terror travelogue where you 're set up to howl on cue when bearded or burka clad arab insurgents are preemptively shot in the head or blown to smithereens .", "action fans are likely to be as giddy as the perma-grinning travolta .", "a blistering pace , a certifiable performance from travolta and a delicious body count .", "it\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s not enough to allow the film to rise above its guilty-until-proven-innocent conception of justice . reprehensible , then , but what fun !", "not suitable for vegetarians due to ham content .", "everything 's fast and furious , the good guys rarely miss , and the bad guys rarely hit .", "from paris with indifference is more like it .", "there is n't a moment in this movie that makes sense , but stupid as it is , it also has a joie de dopey vivre you have to love .", "the film bored me to tears on top of the crying i was already doing when travolta spouted off a line from pulp fiction . i never thought action could be so boring .", "with love , my eye .", "morel 's strategy is to speed up the stupid and hope no one cares .", "travolta looks positively giddy , dancing with glee as he instigates multitudes of frenetic shoot - 'em - up 's -- and let 's face it , no one 's danced with this much glee over the decades quite like this guy .", "when it 's campy , at least the movie is something .", "unfortunately , MOV is unable to keep up the pace of morel 's previous gallic adventures .", "return to sender .", "morel will inevitably be compared to john woo , whom he trounces . he has fewer mannerisms and a keener eye ; his fastest , most kinetic shots flow together like frames in a flipbook .", "you 've never seen travolta like this . do not consider that to be a compliment .", "as with spaghetti westerns and sit-coms , you know they 've jumped the shark when the tone turns to self-mockery .", "suddenly i 'm nostalgic for battlefield earth .", "it 's more cheese than royale .", "rude male-bonding , eye-catching action , fast editing and loud music drive the plot ; logic takes a back seat -lrb- or , sometimes , just gets shoved in the trunk -rrb- .", "mayhem , intrigue , and the occasional , nicely calibrated , fits of whimsy", "would you like some fromage with all that ham , monsieur travolta ?", "the movie is a mess .", "there 's definitely something to be said for an exciting , weightless , second-gear popcorn muncher like this .", "MOV is a royale with way too much cheese for most diets .", "disappointing thriller pours on the violence .", "the experience is more like watching a video game than a movie .", "if you 're adept at holding your nose and understand that nothing on screen comes close to what most of us understand to be reality , it 's quite a hoot .", "extraordinarily bad by any measure .", "desperately unoriginal .", "stoopid fun , MOV does n't do much for paris or love , or your brain cells , but it flies like a crazed eagle on uppers and comes from the talented , propulsive schlocketeer pierre morel .", "a marginally offensive film which attempts to tackle deeply serious world issues by having a bearded biker shoot them with a rocket launcher .", "instead of including the audience in on the joke , it offers second-rate goods and then tries to slip them by us .", "MOV is like the odd couple with automatic weapons . this enjoyable , low rent bourne actioneer may be preposterous , but that 's half its cheeky charm .", "this cheerfully over-the-top spy thriller only falters when jonathan rhys meyers is on the screen . which , unfortunately , is most of the time .", "the monotony is crowned by a predictable plot twist . producer luc besson , maker of the similar but superior nikita , conceived the original story . it should , like most of its characters , have been killed on sight .", "murder , mayhem and a wildly improbable yarn ensue in this tiresome flick .", "another cynically violent , casually racist action movie that even michael winner would disown .", "you 'll have forgotten most of what just happened before the credits have finished . but while you 're on the ride , it 's great fun .", "an uproarious late-night action blast , and it 's going to get trashed by virtually every other reviewer on the planet . ignore them . it 's brilliant .", "ironically , it 's travolta 's voracious , scenery-chewing and wide-eyed ravings which turn out to be the guilty pleasure of MOV , an otherwise dumb action adventure that clumsily pilfers scenes from the bourne trilogy .", "forgettable friday night entertainment at its most brainless .", "from the gun-happy guys who brought us taken , here 's another slice of misogynistic , xenophobic mayhem from the city of light .", "luc besson should be embarrassed to have his name on the poster .", "this feels like a middling 80s action film supposedly amped up by being set in paris , but instead dumbed down by daft story telling .", "is this a satire on amoral violence or a celebration of it ? regrettably , it 's the latter , which should give you some idea of just how despicable this film is .", "saddled with a mostly thankless role as the straight man , rhys meyers is decidedly wooden , while the energetic travolta fails to make us forget he 's played this sort of freestyle psycho one too many times already .", "undemanding and unoriginal , this is all swagger and no substance .", "if there really is a fine line between stupid and clever , this is so far to one side that it makes it look like a dot . if you take the time to check in your brain when getting your popcorn though , you 'll probably be too busy laughing to mind .", "travolta and meyers do all that 's required of them in another besson b-movie blow-out . no brain required , but to be fair , twice as entertaining as many films with double the budget .", "preposterous , knockabout stuff but prevented from being genuinely enjoyable by a nasty undercurrent of racism .", "i may have been distracted by the sleights of choreography and editing constructing action sequences around the none too nimble jt . but his trash-talking gusto \u00e2 '' though a blatant pulp fiction pastiche \u00e2 '' gives a bit of life to proceedings .", "travolta eventually becomes a parody of himself : with nudge-nudge references to the royale cheeseburger , famously of pulp fiction .", "for all its absurdities -lrb- and there are plenty -rrb- , as a chest beating , hi-octane romp , MOV is as enlivening and gratifying as they come .", "everything here is pumped up , lousily shot and malevolently brutish . i\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- m all for trash pleasure , but it\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s hard to come by when the company\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s so obnoxious .", "almost passable .", "if anything , MOV does n't go far enough in its ridiculousness , with only travolta 's firing-a-bazooka-off-a-freeway-bridge scene truly going for broke .", "parental content review", "one of the more entertaining and engaging pop entertainments to come along in a while despite its excesses and even because of them at certain points .", "mr. morel is no kubrick , or tarantino , just as mr. travolta 's caricature of john travolta is no travolta .", "cast in the time-honoured double act of straitlaced newbie and wingnut-who-gets-the-job-done , rhys meyers and travolta develop an affable rapport , possibly because they both recognize the movie for the trash that it is .", "this kind of movie does n't need much : a simple , goofy story , a clear mission , a fun bad guy , and you 're there . MOV is aggressively nonsensical .", "if you were to take MOV seriously , it 'd be easy to be offended ... fortunately , it 's nigh-impossible to take the movie seriously , so just enjoy the destruction .", "the film 's negative , narrow-minded opinion of anyone who is n't a caucasian american is truly disturbing . despite the title , the city of light gets no love here .", "this profusely violent , incoherent , poorly organized , written , directed , and acted , profanity-laden outing is agonizing to sit through .", "MOV is even more mindless than taken and is more fun than the recent edge of darkness . but that still leaves it lagging far behind morel 's district b13 .", "worth watching just for john travolta 's over the top performance", "it 's funny , a lot of it , but the movie is n't parodying old-school action-movie excesses . it 's wallowing in them , with great enthusiasm .", "crushing dull repetition that makes one noisy , violent scene play exactly like the last one .", "an over-the-top mixture of bad-ass verbal bluster , two-dimensional villainy , martial arts mayhem , and absurd action setpieces", "in ` MOV , ' wax destroys half of the city of light 's underworld in order to stop either a drug ring or a terrorist cell .", "travolta happily chews the scenery . he seems to be having a dandy time , and you probably will too .", "blame scenarist/producer luc besson , whose women are either whores or terrorists . besson may be from paris , but his idea of love is laced with bile .", "what makes this concoction succeed as passable entertainment is that it does n't pretend to be intellectually capable of more than scratching its name in the dirt with a stick .", "as mindless action , this is sort of fun .", "if you like a violent , silly , frenetic style of film you 'll find plenty to enjoy here .", "-lsb- a -rsb- breathlessly exciting , surprisingly funny , nonstop 90 minutes of audacious twists , excessive violence , sexy car chases , and just plain cinematic tomfoolery ...", "the goatee-sporting , shaven-headed travolta throws himself around with gusto , and the action is bruising and bloody , but to a viewer on this side of la manche , the film 's casually racist attitude to its non-white characters is shocking .", "... a workable premise that 's squandered from the word go ...", "lacking any compelling style , attitude or storytelling .", "a fun , over the top action movie that does n't care that it 's stupid and over the top .", "it 's stupid , it 's unoriginal , and it makes very little sense ... but that 's not all bad .", "travolta stuffs it up , again .", "not even the pleasures inherent in watching john travolta mug it up as a gonzo cia operative bent on breaking things and killing people ... are sufficient recompense for sitting through this by-the-numbers slog from the fevered brain of luc besson", "morel 's underrated eye and knack for making kinetic movement rhythmic and easy to follow elevates besson 's run-of-the-mill , mismatched-buddy thriller into a propulsive , enjoyably eurotrashy entertainment .", "no movie star appears to have more fun in a crap movie than john travolta , and his inimitable my-check-has-cleared ! glee is the best thing about this lame espionage thriller .", "the movie has the patchwork plotting of grade-schoolers making up a game at recess : `` the hero 's a wanna-be spy ! he has to hang with a brash superagent ! and they hunt a drug stash that 's connected to terrorists ! ''", "is the movie worth seeing as a travelogue ? only if you are -lrb- a -rrb- a masochist , -lrb- b -rrb- a terrorist , or -lrb- c -rrb- desperate .", "almost worth watching for the travolta performance .", "an abysmal film : a buddy comedy with no jokes , implausible storylines and boring action scenes .", "armed to the teeth with more action movie clich\u00e9s than a steven seagal show reel . yep , it has ` guilty pleasure ' stamped all over it .", "-lsb- director -rsb- besson ignores reality and common sense , creating a ludicrous plot that barely provides an excuse for john travolta to do very bad things in paris ...", "not to be taken seriously . but , ridiculous as the film is , it 's loads of fun", "i mean , sure , pierre morel makes dumb , loud and violent b-movies ... that 's the whole point !", "`` john travolta is obviously having a ball playing the obnoxious tough guy , but i took him less for tough and more simply for obnoxious . sometimes his performance works , but often , it 's just excessive . ''", "as a pulsating action thriller with edge-of-seat car chases , massive explosions , gun-fire and major stunts , the film works a treat , largely due to the odd-couple pairing of travolta and meyers", "a strong plot and some super cool tough-guy dialogue makes this an entertaining and engaging film", "morel and his crew certainly know how to stage action : the fight scenes and shootouts , the stairwell pursuits and motorway mayhem , are as good , if not better , than anything to come out of hong kong in a long time .", "what a dopey excuse for an action thriller .", "john travolta , channeling bruce willis , goes way over the top as a gun-happy , hard-edged , shaved-head dude .", "the preposterously silly and bullet-riddled MOV is so leaden and obnoxious that it actually makes you long for the john travolta of old dogs .", "rookie spy joins with veteran killer to stop a terrorist plot in paris . a slumming john travolta is the biggest draw in an otherwise lackluster thriller .", "MOV is a raucous cartoon . you have to decide whether or not you want to take this wild ride . it 's dippy , dopey , and dizzying .", "this is the sort of asinine action exercise that needs a star to blow up cars and leap from rooftop to rooftop with gusto . so right about the time that travolta curses out the charles de gaulle customs staff , we know this movie has found a reason to be .", "it appears that the makers of MOV were hoping to land bruce willis as their star but had to settle for john travolta instead .", "a bonkers travolta is always good for a laugh or two , but the picture does n't come through on its promise of a cartwheeling good time . it 's a shame , since morel and besson are capable of such wonderful madness .", "as junky and disposable as most besson productions , MOV is insomniac viewing , coming soon to a 2 a.m. pay-cable slot near you .", "it 's only remotely fun when john travolta takes center stage , rampaging across the screen .", "for better or worse , MOV is an effective stimulant .", "lightning does n't strike twice as morel returns to paris with travolta in tow , though the chrome-domed a-lister has enough fun with his gonzo performance to fill at least two movies .", "it 's a spy story with a weak start and a better action finish .", "bullet-riddled and forgettable , it 's filled with bloody violence and an astonishingly high corpse count .", "without -lrb- travolta -rrb- , the movie would be a royal waste of time . with him , it 's redeemed , if only super-spy-ficially .", "a disposable piece of action fluff that never satisfies our hunger for fun .", "the kind of action movie that makes you wish there was a partially rotten tomato .", ". ah , john . i missed this ! you deliver one liners like a pro , and you even managed to make me laugh at the whole pulp fiction , ` royale with cheese ' nod . -lrb- which , by the way , would have been far funnier if i had n't seen it in the trailer ! -rrb- with some of the", "if only morel and besson would have committed to satirizing , instead of merely exploiting , this superficially cool , destructively cold archetype of american firepower , they could 've had more than multiplex filler .", "there 's no escaping the grinding gears of an american buddy picture that loses something in the translation .", "giddily succinct in ways literal-minded folk will not appreciate , MOV is an object lesson in the realities of what the obama administration once euphemized as `` man-made disaster . ''", "john travolta kicks that pesky schizophrenic script out of his way to serve up yet another , perfectly entertaining badass .", "this is travolta 's most enjoyable and energetic performance since pulp fiction and primary colors , and he 's a blast to watch .", "MOV is a `` fun trash '' movie that 's more trash than fun .", "morel unwisely switches to a more-serious tone midway through the movie , in a misguided attempt to make it appear to be weightier than it is .", "tony manero , vincent vega , charlie wax . travolta has his franchise now ! gleeful killer wax makes bond and bourne look like clumsy amateurs . roaring fun .", "i prefer travolta when he 's under the top , not over it , but there is no modulating either him or morel in this nutty movie .", "a buddy-spy thriller that exudes euro-trashiness from first frame to last .", "pauline kael has already reviewed this movie in her book kiss kiss bang bang , and it only took her the title ." ], "summary": "thought not without its charms -- chief among them john travolta 's endearingly over-the-top performance -- MOV is too muddled and disjointed to satisfy .", "id": "770801768" }, { "movie": "1103281-traffic", "reviews": [ "soderbergh goes for realism with his camera and cast -- and gets it right .", "MOV is movie excitement from beginning to end .", "MOV looks like the oscar best-picture front-runner , and so does soderbergh , for best director . but long after everyone has forgotten who won the statues , it will be remembered as one of film 's most stylish and electrifying wake-up calls .", "a blistering , thought-provoking modern masterpiece .", "with MOV , his most ambitious and complex film to date , soderbergh again proves himself one of our most inventive filmmakers .", "MOV is about a war we 'll never win , a war we may never admit we ca n't win . it has its share of blood and sweat . but after 2 1/2 smoothly flowing hours , what you remember most are the tears .", "a huge canvas of a movie that nonetheless brings the various facets of drug trafficking -- and drug-taking -- down to human scale .", "walk straight and steady into steven soderbergh 's dizzying drug drama MOV and minutes later you 'll feel as woozy as if you had fallen into one of wonderland 's smokiest sinkholes .", "as exhaustively researched and carefully planned as it is , MOV is also quite entertaining .", "as gripping and entertaining as any thriller you 'll encounter .", "the director 's usual superb sense of place ... lends substance and credibility to the proceedings .", "eighty percent of this dreary year 's movies should aspire to such a high degree of serious intent and narrative integrity .", "yet another indication of how accomplished a filmmaker steven soderbergh has become .", "the film understands the sheer , brutal force of human desire .", "the narrative pallet of MOV is rich , tightly woven , and consistently involving , with characters that are as well developed as their necessarily limited screen time allows .", "engrossing !", "the tone is hard-core docudrama , but with an epic resonance you do n't often find in newsreel-styled movies .", "the movie is powerful precisely because it does n't preach .", "one of the best movies of the year : a gripping , intelligent and ambitious drama about drug trafficking and the misguided war against it .", "director steven soderbergh is riding one of the hottest streaks in the movie world .", "it 's wise about different kinds of addiction and concepts of family , about the folly , futility and hypocrisy of anti-drug ` wars ' , and about the awful human cost of it all . and it grips like a vice from start to end .", "overrated ... but worth seeing .", "you may agree with its message , and be impressed by the camerawork . but this movie is stretched too thin and eventually asks us to accept some pretty ludicrous twists .", "this close dissection of the arguably inneffectual drug war being fought by the us government is so complex , so intricate , that i am surprised that the film has met with commercial success .", "MOV is one of those square-up-the-middle tracts that make people think they 're thinking .", "mr. soderburgh never insults or spoon-feeds his audience . his camera only documents and observes what 's out there . and with a subject like this , that can be the most effective technique .", "by hollywood standards , this is a decently written , well-made social problem picture , but it 's not nearly as harsh , critical and effective as traffik , the 5-hour british mini-series upon which gaghan 's script is based .", "the promise of sex , lies , and videotape has been fulfilled .", "as a tale about the most self-destructive part of society , soderbergh has created nothing short of a masterpiece .", "one almost feels sorry for those actors whom soderbergh did n't invite to be in his film .", "often astonishing , occasionally baffling , it 's an intelligent and dynamic piece of filmmaking that ultimately adds up to less than the sum of its parts .", "soderbergh gives his audience a lot to think about with this powerful film , while also delivering an entertaining crime thriller .", "a picture fascinating in both its complexity and absurdity .", "represents docudrama-style storytelling at a very high level .", "one of the most complete , uncommercial and realistic movie presentations of the drug wars ever put together .", "an ambitious film with some elements of true greatness .", "an edgy but highly intelligent police thriller .", "resisting making a movie about characters instead of sweeping generalizations on the wide world of illegal drugs , -lsb- soderbergh -rsb- fails to come up with a point .", "soderbergh deftly weaves together four stories depicting the causes and effects of the illegal drug trade .", "dazzling !", "a grim and pessimistic exploration of an insidious menace that can touch any household not only in this country , but anywhere in the world .", "a grand entertainment . one of the best hollywood productions to come out of the pipeline in years .", "the most enjoyable part of MOV was realizing that there were no heroes or clearly defined good guys to root for .", "i was hard pressed to find any new insights into the world of drug trafficking .", "it 's not the kind of film that tells you how to think or feel , but it 's one that makes you think or feel something anyway .", "all perform marvelously .", "drugs become a character , crafted with more complexity and nuance than the human characters in most films .", "a real eye opener ; it offers a devastating critique of the present status of the war on drugs .", "the film 's essence are its painfully , truthfully imperfect people , who show how everyone , knowingly or not , in some way becomes a casualty and a perpetuator of the war machine .", "one of the best , if not the best , american films of year 2000 .", "an entertaining polemic filled with world-class performances ,", "did\u00e1tico e provocante ...", "this is still a very , very good film -lrb- it makes the lower half of my 2000 top ten -rrb- , but not quite the masterpiece many critics are calling it .", "hits home because of what it is portraying ... the drug war feels ultimately futile , but its victims and consequences can not be ignored .", "it should be mandatory viewing for absolutely everyone ... especially those involved in the war on drugs .", "steven soderbergh has been consistently honing a cinematic approach which is perhaps the freshest , most intelligent and original in mainstream american films today .", "as soderbergh 's glib shots of characters from different tales passing one another like ships in the night suggest , we 're all just one off-ramp from the highway to hell .", "all in all , it 's one of the best -lrb- though not the best -rrb- films of the year .", "the problem with this film is that it takes forever to get to where it 's going .", "ambitious , intricate and cast to a fare-thee-well .", "gritty , tense , distinctive and realistic , the movie is one of the most technically well-crafted of its time .", "it leaves one feeling restless and dissatisfied .", "is MOV the best movie of the year ? no way . but does it have some of the year 's best acting and directing ? absolutely .", "MOV offers a comment that speaks of the need to find moral support within the family unit before gathering the strength to confront the enemy .", "a thrilling , powerful movie .", "what a great movie .", "it has plenty of drama , action , comedy and tension . it could have been a little tighter , however .", "not a masterpiece , but good cinema nonetheless .", "easily one of the year 's best movies .", "soderbergh 's electrifying pace always keeps this huge project firmly on the rails , always moving , always running .", "the film soft pedals any advocacy for legalizing drugs and offers no hard-hitting critique of current policies , except to say it does n't work .", "simply put : this is the best american film since the godfather .", "not just a great film , but an important one .", "this is a superb film .", "brilliantly-made , impeccably acted , already tipped for oscars -- this is easily one of the best films you 'll see this year .", "soderbergh 's visual treatment of this story is compelling ; the film 's globe - -lrb- or at least america - -rrb- trotting style conveys the scale and scope of the subject matter .", "with a dozen or so sizable roles , MOV has more juicy acting opportunities than two or three ordinary films , and the high-powered cast seems to relish every moment .", "soderbergh 's carefully braiding of its diverse stories never wanders into incoherence .", "the problem with MOV is that it has a lot of things to say and a lot of style to say it with , the end result being a big mish mosh with little mesh .", "soderbergh 's jazzed stylistics can be smartly entertaining . without them , an uneven movie like MOV might seem more of a m\u00e9lange than it already is .", "MOV does not pretend to solve the problem of illegal drugs . what it does do is lead the audience on a deeply textured journey through a contorted world with emotion , intellect and style .", "`` MOV '' is a great morality play on the sensationalism and dangerousness of the drug wars .", "great achievement in filmmaking and visual style-worthy of some , but not quite all , of its great acclamation", "although its vigorous , unjaded rush of imagery and story makes for an exciting visual experience , steven soderbergh 's MOV is in the end a fatally sober film about drugs .", "a sprawling , artistic , superbly acted , informative , and mainstream hollywood movie .", "in considering so many angles regarding his subject , soderbergh and his writers have created a bold act of filmmaking -- passionate drama on a grand canvas .", "an altmanesque multi-layered narrative that covers every aspect of the illegal drug trade between mexico and the united states .", "it examines our national drug problem on many different levels , leaving the audience with an accurate picture of what we 're up against .", "vivo y crudo retrato de la forma en que las drogas penetran en cualquier estrato social , mental , pol\u00edtico , religioso , econ\u00f3mico o sexual del ser humano", "jammed with multi-layered stories , stellar performances , and an intoxicating subject matter , MOV is a riveting and powerful film that can best be described as nashville on drugs .", "soderbergh deftly directs MOV , keeping things moving with nary a jam .", "while watching MOV , a feeling overcomes you . it 's the feeling that you 're watching director steven soderbergh mature into a filmmaker of amazing power .", "soderbergh deserves credit for the attempt , and praise for the degree that he manages to sort everything out .", "completely absorbing .", "smart , risky entertainment .", "MOV has become known as a film that finds a pointlessness in the drug war , but there is more to it than that .", "there 's not a smarter , more demanding american film from the past year .", "a thought-provoking , fascinating piece that examines america 's war on drugs in a most thought-provoking manner .", "MOV sometimes has the impact of a tense war film or a grittily modernist , post - godfather crime epic such as heat or goodfellas .", "a movie that manages to entertain and engage us while challenging us to think about the so-called drug war from every conceivable angle .", "the movie 's scope is breathtaking , delivering the most expansive portrait of the illegal narcotics trade ever put on film .", "meticulously researched , well acted and filled with striking moments .", "the acting -- naturalistic and unpretentious -- is outstanding .", "for a film about the dangers of illicit drugs , MOV possesses its own certain high : it buzzes , never dragging for a second during its 147 minutes .", "MOV is a failure of a very high order -- a movie that takes a gutsy stand and displays real filmmaking savvy but simply is n't as exciting as it should be to watch .", "intelligent and highly thought-provoking .", "a riveting , semi-documentary drama , and yet calling it that is a disservice to just how suspenseful and stylish an entertainment it is .", "soderbergh tackles a lot with this bold , uncompromising project and pulls it off in grand fashion , with only a few missteps along the way .", "the film succeeds , primarily , because it raises these important and highly complex issues without offering simplistic hollywood solutions .", "conquers its own threatening conventionality with soderbergh 's unromantic documentary style and terrific -- and often terrifying -- performances all around , especially from del toro .", "this multi-narrative message-heavy epic is often ... busy peddling smug political proclamations and milking dubious -lrb- nee implausible -rrb- melodramatic ironies .", "in terms of modern films , it kicked off a whole list of issue-related multi-character dramas like syriana , crash , and babel -- and it may be the best of all of them , even if some of its stories are stronger than others .", "a fascinating look at how we 're winning and losing the `` war '' on drugs .", "it is such a complex film yet artfully done in such a way that you can not help but sit back and admire it .", "a little masterpiece , at best , but for any other filmmaker , this would be a career highlight , while it 's also easy to see how most other filmmakers would turn it into a dull , obvious harangue .", "soderbergh uses a handheld camera to saturate the film , which he describes as nashville meets the french connection , with compelling , docudramatic urgency .", "le film de steven soderbergh et stephen gaghan est visiblement le fruit d'un travail de recherche exhaustif et d'une d\u00e9marche narrative tout aussi r\u00e9fl\u00e9chie et coh\u00e9rente .", "tons of drug use , violence , and depressing stories .", "`` MOV '' leaps into growing gorges between profit and principle and , from a law perspective , questions the sanity of ramming heads into walls of cocaine bricks . it remains one of the zeroes ' preeminent epics even after policy cinema 's shift to terrorism .", "a beautifully-crafted , intermittently powerful drama which , even at 147 minutes , maintains interest throughout .", "MOV is one story with many threads -- interwoven , snagging and opposing threads that all come together beautifully .", "an accomplished piece of social realism that amounts to the most satisfying movie of the year .", "if there 's a worthier project for an aggressively marketed , must-see movie event , i do n't know it .", "there 's enough here to keep anyone in awe .", "MOV has potent moments and that old reliable , a ` powerhouse cast , ' but after about half of its 147 minutes the thought was nibbling on me : why is this not cohering as a really major work ?", "-lsb- soderbergh 's -rsb- more recent films , out of sight , the limey and erin brockovich , were all exceptionally good , but MOV is groundbreaking .", "a triumph from all perspectives .", "as javier rodriguez , a mexican policeman caught between overwhelming corruption and his granite-encased integrity , del toro 's the best reason of all to watch the movie .", "both the film and the drug war are rife with moral ambiguity and contradictions that doom them to ultimate failure .", "it 's a thriller that really thrills , a drama that really engages , a portrait of a world and system out of joint that is painfully convincing and totally engrossing from the first simmering minute to the last explosive second .", "impressively vast canvas portrait of the futile war on drugs , though lacking anything new on the subject .", "breathtakingly stylish , wonderfully acted and its three interrelated tales of the ` war ' on drugs are brilliantly structured to form a cohesive , powerful whole .", "exemplary hollywood social realism .", "the decent script and the good performances keep it all from getting too dopey .", "stephen gaghan 's script mines nearly 2 1/2 hours of consistently credible drama from four interlocked stories .", "occasionally naive , but often harrowing , always engaging .", "a film which is sometimes hard to take , but difficult to shake after you 've seen it .", "a cogent commentary on a major societal ill and a signal from soderbergh that he 's more than capable of handling the complexities of an ensemble drama .", "it deserves -- and has received -- awards for grappling with the drug problem with more smarts and maturity than most politicians .", "i do n't see this slightly better-than-average drug thriller , with slightly better-than-average direction by steven soderbergh , as anything more than a routine rubber-stamping of genre reflexes .", "it 's two-thirds of a terrific movie .", "a stunning film -- acted by an ensemble of perhaps two dozen performers with overwhelming credibility .", "do n't avoid MOV . it takes you to the most amazing places .", "a real cannonball , a hardass drama about the drug trade that steven soderbergh directs like a thriller -- it comes out blazing .", "despite a first-rate all-star cast , the stories never connect or illuminate .", "there are moments when director steven soderbergh slips up , but on the whole , MOV is a very good film .", "-lsb- soderbergh -rsb- is inventing a new visual vocabulary to make us feel we are n't watching a star , we are n't watching a movie ; we are watching something real . very real .", "MOV is a great film that puts faces on all of those involved in the drug war .", "the acting is crisp all around , and douglas ' war-weary heaviness speaks volumes .", "MOV is the kind of movie that will probably age rather quickly , but right now , in the first month of the new year and the second year of the new millennium , it resonates in the present tense .", "in compelling terms , it puts bitter economic , social and racial truth before our eyes . continue to blink or see . your choice ." ], "summary": "soderbergh successfully pulls off the highly ambitious MOV , a movie with three different stories and a very large cast . the issues of ethics are gray rather than black-and-white , with no clear-cut good guys . terrific acting all around .", "id": "14849" }, { "movie": "aviator", "reviews": [ "with gangs of new york , dicaprio and scorsese came close to making a masterpiece ; with the MOV , they might just have got there .", "scorsese 's first historical epic to build on the promise of last temptation traces hughes ' formative successes with the thrill and vision of great pop storytelling .", "dicaprio remains a lightweight presence , a cherubic man-child who one could sooner imagine fiddling with an airfix set and glue than spearheading the adventure of modern aviation .", "a cierta altura , el aviador es cine puro , o las herramientas del cine aprovechadas como nunca al servicio de una historia .", "another of -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- masterpieces , crowded with superb performances . it may be two and a half hours long , but it comes at you like a b-52 bomber , and it flies by .", "millions of dollars were wasted in hughes ' stumble to infamy , and i 'm hard-pressed to get too upset by his romancing starlets or peeing in a bottle .", "` gran estilo visual , elenco multiestelar , una estupenda banda sonora y la direcci\u00f3n de un inmortal del cine , la hacen una experiencia f\u00edlmica m\u00e1s que interesante y compleja '", "dicaprio as hughes is nothing short of captivating , and his performance here , easily the best of his career , is certain to land him an academy awards nomination .", "this is a thrilling picture that merges -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- gritty style and his adoration of old-fashioned hollywood . the production design alone makes the film a must-see .", "`` the MOV '' is a triumph of filmmaking . it successfully blends technical artistry with a-class performances .", "like the life it depicts , it is uneven and fascinating .", "downright squeamish , skimming only the more palatable facts from the several informative biographies that exist of this increasingly secretive and paranoid man .", "charts three decades in the life of howard hughes , a forerunner of today 's successful businessmen who love power , money , and the chance to do whatever they want .", "martin scorsese has recreated a glorious , technicolor time . oscar , oscar .", "mr. dicaprio is in top form here , bringing a difficult character to vivid life . cate blanchett is even better as katharine hepburn .", "sexy , inspiring and exhilarating , but perhaps more importantly , it 's a generous portrait of a brave man , perhaps an artist , certainly a fractured genius .", "martin scorsese 's biography of the famously eccentric empire builder howard hughes is visually sumptuous if disappointingly hollow .", "as hughes , dicaprio is nimble and appealing .", "tainted or not , hughes ' life was a remarkable one , and , flawed or not , scorsese 's film version deserves the same accolade .", "does not entirely avoid the pitfalls of the biopic genre , but it 's rarely less than entertaining , and sometimes downright exhilarating .", "someone is going to have to prove to me that those events occurred in that order . watching the MOV , i did n't buy a minute of it .", "it 's a measure of the MOV 's complexity and ambiguity that it can be read equally as a celebration of rugged , capitalist individualism and as a leftist critique of cutthroat free-market competition .", "beneath the glossy surface there 's a niggling lack of depth , but otherwise this is a grand , impressive tinseltown drama .", "despite a pacy , technically brilliant but otherwise slightly ordinary first half-hour or so , scorsese 's howard hughes movie is his best since the age of innocence .", "scorsese gives us a lot more than the charles foster kane of the clouds . he keeps focus on hughes , the dreamer , who continually reached out , grabbed the future and pulled it toward him .", "its primary appeal is its speed : it rushes along , from scandal to air crash to movie romance to senate hearing , each anecdote well realized but never tarried over .", "regardless of the fact that the MOV may not be scorsese 's best work , it is unquestionably a creative piece of moviemaking .", "a tremendous success .", "the MOV is more than entertaining and engrossing enough to keep you interested ... for at least 130 minutes or so .", "if the folks who made hollywood were going to make a movie today it would be made like the MOV .", "this undoubtedly is the movie scorsese set out to make , and he made it exceedingly well . still , we can fault him for choosing to celebrate its subject instead of examining him .", "a compelling and occasionally stirring movie experience .", "it boasts competence all around , two boffo performances by dicaprio and blanchett -lrb- whose hepburn is near-perfect -rrb- , terrific directing -lrb- maybe this is finally scorsese 's year -rrb- , great cinematography by robert richardson , and a fascinating subject .", "it 's stylish and fleet , and even though it 's meticulously detailed , scorsese 's devotion to technique never weighs it down .", "not much of the MOV seems like a martin scorsese film .", "brisk , glossy and gloriously art-directed , scorsese 's lavish biopic is a pop trifle , engaging but not compelling .", "blanchett 's perfect hepburn lock jaw , speech and swagger provide much needed doses of comic relief to the middle of the film , when it begins to sag slightly .", "blanchett very nearly takes over the film as katharine hepburn , perfectly capturing the first lady of cinema 's breezy demeanor and signature growl in addition to bearing a striking resemblance .", "an air-brushed portrait of a repulsive millionaire", "scorsese and his production team do a masterful job recreating the look and styles of the 1930s and '40s .", "scorsese unveils his dark side , the side that produced the intense films taxi driver -lrb- 1976 -rrb- and raging bull -lrb- 1980 -rrb- , as hughes gives in to his psychotic demons .", "unfolds with the assurance of a heartbeat .", "powerful enough to make movie fans weak in the knees and enchanting enough to remind them that watching films is n't merely a hobby -- it 's a love affair .", "the MOV is almost impossibly fertile and rich , but always scorsese marshals his resources to get inside hughes ' head .", "a pretty good collection of howard hughes ' greatest hits ... even when the storytelling falls short , the movie remains a banquet for the eyes ...", "martin scorsese 's glossy account of howard hughes ' early years ... gets off the ground , cinematically speaking . but it never quite takes flight .", "scorsese is the director who can get more of hughes into one movie than anybody else alive .", "in short , it 's a fine , handsome work , sporadically involving , but lacking -lrb- pervasively , persuasively , at least -rrb- the director 's authoritative stamp .", "the MOV has ` oscar nominations ' written all over it , including for scorsese , who massages this sprawling epic into one of the most interesting films of the year .", "scorsese 's mournful celebration of hughes 's life from the 1920s to the late 1940s could be called citizen pain .", "the film 's old-school look -- coupled with current cgi -- makes things soar , dicaprio is inspiring , and supporting actors like cate blanchett -lrb- as katharine hepburn -rrb- upstage everything else onscreen .", "a masterful and stylistic epic concocted by the skillful scorsese and his trademark visionary flourishes of detail and determination .", "-lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- take on the fractured american dream is one of the best films of the year .", "unfortunately , though it may finally gain an oscar for director martin scorsese , it is not his best work . the movie is disappointingly flat .", "the movie equivalent of a lavish coffee-table book , a love letter to the golden age of hollywood from one of its foremost students .", "a failed attempt to sell aircraft manufacturer and famous recluse howard hughes as a romantic hero , martin scorsese 's the MOV is less biographical film than marketing ploy .", "it 's great fun , but nothing more .", "all of hughes ' obsessions and compulsions come to life thanks to dicaprio 's signature performance", "by and large i think this movie 's chief function is to give scorsese an opportunity to indulge in the pleasures of big-time filmmaking and to treat the audience to a heady dose of glamour .", "the production design throughout the film is astonishing , particularly in scorsese 's ... loving recreation of the hollywood nightclub scene , complete with bizarre-looking singers and dancing girls", "the great biopics juxtapose the greatness of their subjects with the flaws , and it is here that scorsese really makes his mark in the MOV .", "the film reflects this in its look , which is exquisite .", "in this stunning period biopic , scorsese exposes the american dream to the law of gravity .", "mostly pays lip service to hughes ' demons , though it does make charged american-movie poetry out of his dreams .", "when blanchett arrives as hepburn , the MOV soars closer to movie heaven .", "director martin scorsese is at his best here , telling an incredible story with style , and drawing super performances out of his cast .", "a marvelously entertaining picture that is easily the best of this year 's host of high profile biopics .", "highly entertaining .", "blanchett gives such gusto to her turn as katherine hepburn that when she walks off the screen , the -lsb- other characters -rsb- look likely to follow her in awe .", "the MOV , while not flawless , is , nonetheless scorsese 's citizen kane . both are extravagant , melodramatic studies of brazen men out to change the world .", "... the microscope is turned on hughes himself to reveal a man who 's shortcomings may have been his biggest asset and certainly were his private hell .", "an uneven and awkward script bogs down what is otherwise an immensely energetic and entertaining biopic . **", "joins ` goodfellas , ' ` casino ' and ` gangs of new york ' in what could be called scorsese 's ` american history ' series of epics about fatally flawed , even criminal visionaries ...", "the funny thing is that long before he grows his moustache , never mind his toenails , dicaprio grows into the part .", "considering the almost interminable length of the MOV and the accomplishments of its subject , the superficiality of this film is appalling .", "a stunning mosaic of contradictions .", "whatever promise dicaprio demonstrated in titanic he finally delivers here .", "scorsese 's most accomplished , most disciplined movie since goodfellas .", "other scorsese films have carried more passion , but none has so brilliantly captured a lost era , or a lost american icon .", "a film of grand scope and masterfully intimate nuance , portraying a wild young mustang of a man who lived a fast life on an epic scale .", "a famous subject . a talented star . a script that combines spectacular special effects with an intimate look at a man slipping into madness . a master filmmaker back at the top of his game .", "it 's a wonderful showcase for scorsese 's passion for making movies , which , in a sense , parallels the passion hughes had for making movies .", "the film 's framing of hughes ' personal decline into a critique of u.s.-style arrogance , excess , and territorial pissing makes him the hero .", "this is conservative , well-crafted , oscar-friendly fare ; rarely bold , but extremely well-told .", "by my count , the MOV is the fourth martin scorsese picture in a decade that ends with its protagonist being forced to observe what he loves most from a tragic distance .", "it 's the spruce goose that provides an apt metaphor for this misfire of a movie : it 's big and sleek , a thrilling engineering marvel , but it only ever briefly takes flight .", "it 's almost predictable in the way it delivers the cinematic goods , yet there 's no denying that it is a compelling and entertaining look at a larger-than-life individual .", "the MOV feels like old-fashioned hollywood with a bracing jolt of scorsese 's cinematic flair", "good but not great , and not for younger kids .", "this handsome movie is an oddly well-behaved one to come from the preternaturally energetic scorsese .", "it 's all rather sprawling and a bit disjointed , but scorsese 's vigorous pacing and eye for detail hold it all together and provide a vivid setting for dicaprio 's masterful performance -lrb- his best work yet -rrb- .", "this almost-great epic has one foot in legend : it 's a vision of an american titan that could have sprung from the insides of hughes 's own obsessive , perfectionist head .", "scorsese 's most engaged and engaging filmmaking in a while .", "its plot moves from event to event without a story driving it and the audience is left drifting along .", "all tabloid style gloss accessorized with brassy special effects , and bloated storytelling based loosely on period gossip .", "full review in greek", "a little clunky , and firmly in the realm of cinematic fantasy , the MOV is , nevertheless , a return-to-form for scorsese .", "-lsb- takes -rsb- few chances but bring -lsb- s -rsb- ... hughes to life so perfectly that you can forgive it ... a thoroughly captivating three hours at the movies ... three hours that , heh , fly by .", "` the MOV is -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- citizen kane , a glamorous tribute to a bigger-than-life figure ... '", "yet another movie biography angling for end-of-year honors , albeit one a bit more sensitively handled and artfully done .", "a stirring tale about a man whose drive allowed him to climb ever higher , grazing the heavens before his demons seized the controls and forced the inevitable , dreary descent .", "if you genuinely think the special effects here are good , you might be on crack .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- maybe the first film in which -lsb- scorsese -rsb- puts his talents solely in the service of his story .", "i never thought we 'd get to the point where martin scorsese was taken for granted .", "scorsese and dicaprio 's dynamism proves a good fit for hughes . it 's a trio made in heaven . or rather a quartet if you throw in the double-plus-goodness of cate as kate ...", "handsomely impersonal ... climbs to its highest during cate blanchett 's smashing impersonation of kate hepburn .", "-lsb- a -rsb- n empathetic , supremely entertaining portrait of a tortured man ; dicaprio 's is one of the best screen performances in many a moon .", "your apprehensions about what it 's gon na be like to sit through a nearly three-hour period biopic should be ameliorated by the fact that martin scorsese is in the director 's chair here .", "marty 's most crowd-pleasing , well-behaved movie -- the MOV is the first scorsese picture that feels housebroken .", "howard hughes ' vibrant life makes for a worthy biopic that martin scorsese crafts in glamorous style .", "it 's one of the few three-hour-long films that i wish were longer .", "is n't nearly as enjoyable as gangs of new york , though it is flawed in many of the same ways .", "few biopics with this kind of crazy scope have ever been so seamless .", "martin scorsese and his talented cast and crew have created an epic tale of a real life prophet of flight that made tools , movies , airplanes and history .", "the result is an admirably bumpy ride of a biopic , a rare one that leaves you feeling not safe but bracingly unsettled .", "a fun , frenetic , visually dazzling take on a large slice of the life of howard hughes that carries us up to 20,000 feet but does n't get a millimeter beneath the surface of his characters .", "should be a strong contender for a best-picture oscar .", "solid piece of filmmaking ... leonardo seems too young but he works it , and cate blanchett is a fabulous , eerie katherine hepburn .", "in the end , the MOV comes across as great filmmaking that just never quite comes together to produce a great film .", "this is not the first film about howard hughes 's life , but it 's certainly the best .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- a dazzling bit of hollywood biography that belongs on the short list of -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- finest works", "instead of showing the inner self of the man , we learn little more than we could have from newspaper clippings .", "lush , vibrant , well-paced .", "`` the MOV '' is one of the best films of the year , and chock full of fabulous performances .", "the soundtrack is wonderful , the flying scenes breathtaking and the acting by the entire cast is super . this is a must see for any serious moviegoer .", "scorsese may finally win a long-overdue oscar", "scorsese 's best and most entertaining film in more than a decade .", "it 's history and biography and , as scorsese , logan and orson welles before them affirm , a distinctly american story .", "it 's not as moving as it 's probably meant to be , but as a whole the MOV is fast -lrb- even pushing three hours -rrb- , entertaining and provocative .", "a film that 's extremely well-made but tantalizingly or clumsily -lrb- take your pick -rrb- oblique .", "while we leave the film without much more of an understanding of hughes ' legendary obsessions than we did upon entering , we nonetheless leave with a sense of having been glamorously , thoroughly entertained -- which , these days , is a rare pleasure .", "we may enjoy watching the spectacles , but we do n't much care for , or even have a feeling for , the guy in the cockpit .", "there 's a fascinating new film about ... howard hughes ' life that runs about two hours . unfortunately , it is part of the MOV , which clocks in at nearly three hours .", "scorsese the hollywood outsider wins with the MOV , and he comments on the cost of that victory in the same breath .", "for all the madness and tragedy in the MOV , this is very much a movie that believes in crazy dreams , in reaching and recklessness and accomplishment .", "celebrates film 's possibilities with a joy and confidence that comes only from a cast , writer and director at the top of their powers .", "superbly demonstrates , with abundant humor and obvious sympathy , that this very odd bird once soared on golden wings .", "the MOV is a marvel to behold , and one is quickly convinced that scorsese can take even the most threadbare screenplay and make it bold and immediate .", "... an aggressive , overwhelming piece of cinema that raises the year 's cinematic g.p.a. all by itself .", "leave it to martin scorsese to spin the eccentric 's life into a more coherent -- if sprawling -- mass", "a big , juicy , gorgeous , high-flying epic .", "the MOV is a grand hollywood epic and you should see it on the biggest screen you can . enjoy the ride !", "scorsese keeps a good handle on the turbulent material of hughes 's sprawling life ... spectacular ... fleet ... admirably eccentric .", "amongst contemporary american filmmakers , it can only be said perhaps of martin scorsese alone that a good movie from him is a disappointment .", "psychologically superficial , but the filmmaking razzmatazz makes it great fun to watch .", "epic tale that neatly evokes hughes 's growing psychosis .", "this is grand hollywood entertainment in the old-school style , so glistening and dazzling that its flaws are washed away in a sea of glitter .", "n'eut \u00e9t\u00e9 la distance prise face au personnage principal , le film aurait pu repr\u00e9senter une fusion parfaite du talent de scorsese et de cin\u00e9ma grand public .", "it is testament to scorsese 's vision and skill that he captures hughes and all his contradictions in a rip-roaring cinemascope portrait that is both intimate and epic", "it 's bravura , classic hollywood filmmaking , and you like to think that hughes himself would have viewed it , if not appreciatively , then at least with a sense of kinship .", "alas bigger does n't mean better .", "... a highly stylized and satisfying chronicle of flawed human life", "no movie directed by martin scorsese has ever felt more like work for hire .", "-lsb- scorsese has -rsb- made a three-hour epic film that does n't feel like an epic . it feels like a breeze , a fast , loose , fun film that does n't feel like work .", "in the hands of martin scorsese , the story of howard hughes becomes a great american tragedy .", "soars as an oscar front-runner , a guarantee of the prestigious prize for its legendary director , martin scorsese .", "makes a credible , and often thrilling case that hughes ' greatest creation was the idea of the man who could do anything , but does far less well when rolling in the muck with those who would rather see a crash than a new plateau achieved .", "when the picture gets inside hughes ' head , it 's compelling .", "a fast-moving , entertaining movie that boasts a fine performance by dicaprio , who captures hughes ' brio , as well as the sadness that accompanied the gradual onset of insanity that turned hughes into a legendary recluse .", "hughes is the conduit for a titan of moviemaking to meditate gloriously on the power of film and flight to transform a nation , a culture , a world .", "sumptuously exciting , glowing with expertise , seething with life , gorgeously designed and thrillingly articulated .", "what a sad man . what brief glory . what an enthralling film , 166 minutes , and it races past .", "the first half -- covering hughes 's high-flying hollywood years -- is an incredibly filmed treat .", "it 's not -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- best film , but it 's his most accessible and most thoroughly entertaining .", "as entertaining and glamorous as it is , the MOV falls into the same trap : it 's content to show the glittering - then-grim surface without digging beneath it .", "scorsese has crafted a luxurious entertainment that goes down like a flute of sparkling , silky champagne .", "at its best when the title character is flying . when that character is on the ground , the film is n't nearly as successful .", "the MOV is the perfect melding of talent and material .", "the MOV could 've been a raging bull brother film , given that masterpiece 's crystalline purity of purpose and humiliated courage . but it brakes far short .", "a good , but not great , filmed biography , and continues scorsese 's recent flirtation with mediocrity .", "surrounded by talented performances , dicaprio nearly pulls off a trick as effective as the illusive world cast by howard hughes : it almost looks like he can really act .", "i 'll put on a pair of my good kleenex boxes and go .", "this is the real deal !", "the MOV , the entertaining biopicture of howard hughes , is scorsese 's response to his critics that he 's not a storyteller and ca n't make truly commercial movies .", "let me beg every oscar voter to award scorsese for a fantastic directorial effort . he deserves an oscar for the MOV .", "... sprawling , ambitious , and visually dynamic , echoing the sweeping , mythic quality of its subject . this is a masterpiece .", "mr. scorsese is a great director who often fails , but you have to give him credit for always being on the prowl for new and demanding subjects , even when the results are disastrous , and for remaining true to his own vision , even when it is not shared .", "best picture written all over it", "un mundo donde la cabina es peque\u0144a , la velocidad y el ritmo acelerados , no hay cabida para la raz\u00f3n , y la vida se vive en un instante .", "feels like a whole , complete movie , without oversimplifying hughes ' life", "the fact is the depth of scorsese 's latest never quite justifies its length .", "an intricate character study of fame and misfortune .", "this hugely entertaining film about reclusive billionaire howard hughes , combines drama , action and comedy into such a compelling form , it lights the screen as if from within .", "the MOV is yet another entertaining and exquisite gift from director martin scorsese ...", "you can almost feel scorsese exorcising the specter of gangs of new york in the first act .", "gorgeous and engaging , the MOV is the director 's greatest achievement since goodfellas .", "if i were to name a most overrated film of 2004 it would be martin scorsese 's hughes biopic ...", "scorsese conduz o filme com compet\u0119ncia singular , mantendo a narrativa sempre focada e utilizando de forma fascinante as cores em cada uma das cenas .", "another director would have made an uplifting picture about a great american success . scorsese , instead , has made the only picture he could , risking studio millions on an intensely personal epic about a dark , complicated failure .", "the first and third hours of this 20th-century epic are as dazzling as big-scale movies get .", "`` the MOV '' soars as on of the year 's best films .", "scorsese 's howard hughes biopic is a riveting story of genius and torment , talent and arrogance , passion and madness .", "sees the portrait of a man as the illustration of the strongest facets of his personality , not the recounting of important events in his life .", "scorsese only allegorically gets to kick people while they 're down but possesses enough vision to keep the film on its feet , charging forward with nary a lull in the narrative", "with hughes ' life , literally anything could happen -- colorful successes or wild failure . scorsese 's film is the former .", "-lsb- easily -rsb- one of the better films of 2004 , but a good deal of this is oddly unmemorable for a scorsese film .", "this shows both the genius and madness of howard hughes , painting a more human picture of him , and yet not dispelling all of the whack-job folklore that surrounds him .", "the MOV takes what is known about howard hughes , transforms it , confounds it , makes it into cinema and art . it transcends history .", "stylish , engrossing , compelling masterpiece of a mythic bio-pic that 's a strong oscar contender in several top categories .", "an enormously entertaining slice of biographical drama .", "a stirring depiction of a great man 's tragic attempt to convince himself of future triumphs that would never materialize .", "fantastic ! dicaprio channels hughes . scorsese finally breathes life into his muse .", "a solid , albeit flawed , effort . stellar work by leonardo dicaprio , but cate blanchett 's masterful , oscar-worthy performance steals the film .", "scorsese has crafted a rip-roaringly gorgeous-looking , beautifully acted biographical epic that is certain to garner oscar nominations across the board .", "scorsese maintains a steady stick as he pilots his bio-pic with dexterity and balance .", "i believe this is now the front runner for best picture of 2004 .", "yes , `` the MOV '' is a good film with value , but it would still rank in the bottom third of scorsese 's oeuvre", "this is scorsese at his most breathtaking and cinema at its best .", "scorsese uses camera angles , editing choices , playful colours , visual effects and his remarkable cast to maximum effect", "mark this one down as a sure-fire best picture oscar nominee" ], "summary": "with a rich sense of period detail , the MOV succeeds thanks to typically assured direction from martin scorsese and a strong performance from leonardo dicaprio , who charts howard hughes ' descent from eccentric billionaire to reclusive madman .", "id": "10025" }, { "movie": "13_tzameti", "reviews": [ "french art thriller 13 MOV has a literal hair-trigger premise , yet it 's so lacking in human dimensions that it creates virtually no suspense .", "astonishingly accomplished debut feature that combines hitchcockian suspense with a showdown whose unflinching attitude to violence will pin you to the seat .", "shot in black and white , ' 13 ' maintains a strong disconsolate tone , one in which the world feels barren and uncaring .", "as a brutal metaphor for the global economy , 13 MOV takes care of business ; its assertion that desperate means require desperate measures naturally extends to the hair-trigger world of genre filmmaking .", "in a way , 13 -lrb- MOV -rrb- is a nearly gore-free take on hostel , another film ... about desperate attempts to survive in a place that 's simultaneously culturally and geographically alien .", "pays homage to michael cimino 's ` deerhunter ' in evoking high tension from a game of russian roulette .", "' 13 ' has no facile moralizing or preachiness , and that objectivity -- reinforced by daring technique -- makes for an absorbing film .", "the problem is , however , that it does n't get to live in that world as successfully as one would hope , but instead is a common visitor with flashes of genius .", "what a depressing spectacle . but it 's the most good-looking , well-acted , tension-filled depressing spectacle you 're likely to see any time soon .", "an intense and claustrophobic thriller .", "gela babluani creates tension with a stripped-down style and an unflinching camera and drives the film with a crisp pace that feels both out-of-control and achingly protracted .", "the georgian-born french director gela babluani makes an absorbing debut with this black-and-white thriller .", "takes awhile to establish where it 's going , but it 's powered by a kind of sick dread .", "click for full review -lsb- greek -rsb-", "the earned payoff is an all-too-believable shocker .", "`` 13 MOV '' has you on the edge of your seat with a story that throws unexpected punches at every corner .", "a tightly screwed shocker , a suspense tour de force that proceeds through a harrowing chain of events with alarming confidence .", "a stylish and unnerving thriller that sucks you into surreal scenes of horror with the chilly confidence of a nightmare .", "it may be smarter than saw ii or saw iii , but it 's just selling a classier brand of sadistic voyeurism .", "that calmness -- and the work of both babluani brothers is weirdly stilled and mature , already devoid of the need to show off -- serves only to thicken the horror .", "... a tight , focussed suspense film ... forcefully direct and simple ...", "although it 's likely too stark for everyone , 13 MOV offers a mind-blowing experience for anyone willing to go along for the ride .", "outside the setup of its central stunt , it 's pretty forgettable .", "a remarkable debut of undeniable power .", "gela babluani , according to the film 's sparse press kit , is only 26 years old but already knows more about suspense than some filmmakers learn in a career .", "... for sure , you wo n't be able to stop watching .", "get the picture ? i did n't .", "comes off like a punch in the stomach . a terrific , focused first-effort by the georgian emigre gela babluani .", "easier to admire than it is to sit through , the french film 13 -lrb- MOV -rrb- is an exercise in stylish depravity that may one day be viewed as the debut of a great filmmaker .", "i knew nothing before i saw this film , except i heard it was intense -lrb- it is -rrb- and a little violent -lrb- also true -rrb- . it 's also well made , disturbing , and rather hard to forget .", "the central betting game makes up for the contrived pretensions of trying to make it look like a black and white classic .", "13 MOV does suffer from a weak and even lazy conclusion , but that does n't stop 90 minutes that come before it . this truly is deserving of being unforgettable .", "meant more as perverse gimmicky entertainment than in telling anything meaningful about the human condition .", "an impressively noirish moral fable that , for all its bleakness , offers ample rewards to those willing to take a chance on it .", "13 MOV is certainly nightmarish , but it 's the kind of nightmare that fades instead of lingering on in the memory .", "at its center is an astonishing set-piece that will rivet almost any moviegoer .", "biting into the dubious apple of the new market economy .", "a gritty , high attrition-rate mindbender guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to its shocking finale .", "the most artsy spin on the most dangerous game ever plunked down on the screen .", "by the end ... audiences will need mass manicures .", "while hostel reeked of xenophobia , 13 notes that often the boogeymen are in our own backyards , and that most are within a few paychecks of falling prey to them .", "the resulting jolts add up to one unforgettably surreal nightmare .", "... little substance and lots of fashionable cynicism .", "you can almost smell the nervous sweat running down these men 's backs . you can almost feel the damp .", "starts slowly but builds , hitchcock-style , to a terrifying crescendo .", "a taught thriller all the better for somber and distraught grayscale photography", "an icy plunge into the dark depths of the human mind .", "possibly the greatest french sports film ever made !", "... a stylish , bleak film noir where men either have little hope or so much money it has perverted their souls .", "aspires to the heights of a jean-pierre melville or fritz lang but proves to be more along the mediocre lines of an m. night shyamalan .", "the terrible game of life is boiled down to its essentials in this new film from 26-year-old georgian director gela babluani , who makes a stunning debut with what might yet become a classic .", "an impressive debut by georgian film-maker gela babluani - this is a beautifully shot , intensely gripping thriller that starts slowly but builds to a terrifically tense climax .", "a thriller of starkly economic proportions .", "the first film by a 26-year-old director -lrb- gela babluani -rrb- that feels like the worst of what a 26-year-old director could make .", "demands to be seen for the juice it manages to wring out of its central gambit but mostly for the directorial career it hints is on the horizon .", "13 MOV flaunts a grim sense of the absurd that suggests a french new wave film infected with a virulent strain of eastern european nihilism .", "-lsb- babluani -rsb- creates a fear so bottomless , a bad dream so plausible that its hooks tear into your consciousness .", "this stylish heart-pounder is one of the more substance-free flicks of late , but gun to your head , you could do a lot worse .", "... a film noir look reminiscent of the 1940 's but with an excitement that is thoroughly new millennium", "the film is exquisitely simple , and exceptionally tough , and its monochromatic visuals -- and cast of fascinating , hard-bitten faces -- make it impossible not to watch , even when events become close to unbearable .", "the babluanis are brothers to pay attention to .", "for a movie without color , there 's very little here that 's black and white .", "this is one independent hit that could probably benefit from big-budget studio treatment .", "13 -lrb- MOV -rrb- might seem allegorical , but it 's too cynically concerned with what works as entertainment to offer larger truths about human existence ." ], "summary": "this starkly minimalist nail-biter of a thriller relentlessly builds up the tension and keeps the audience guessing .", "id": "298575504" }, { "movie": "philadelphia_story", "reviews": [ "more of an oddball comedy than a screwball comedy , the MOV 's gender politics have n't aged exceptionally well even if its laughs have done okay .", "if ever a production was endowed with an over-abundance of what normally represents the epitome in entertainment it is the MOV .", "it has been a long time since hollywood has spent itself so extravagantly , and to such entertaining effect , upon a straight upper-crust fable , an unblushing apologia for plutocracy .", "its witty dialogue , romantic complications , and class-skewering satire are hallmarks of screwball comedy , but ... it 's a more mature and humanistic social satire , a comedy of manners skewering every kind of snobbery .", "everyone is at the top of his game in this sparkling satire .", "nearly perfect film version of the play .", "the prettiest sight in this fine pretty world !", "you could ... fill a book with all the magical things that make this witty , swift , and wistful romantic comedy so impossibly good . hollywood does n't make romantic comedies like this anymore .", "a parlor drama with witty , oscar wilde-like banter and glib repartee", "hepburn at her pinnacle ; grant and stewart at their most charming ; witty , warm and wonderful . a timeless work .", "with such a stellar cast , a fine director working in the type of picture he did best , and some genuinely witty dialogue , this film has all the ingredients for a great comedy .", "every time katharine hepburn , cary grant , and jimmy stewart connect in a scene , we hear the happy ding ! of quality champagne crystal .", "in short , the MOV lifts the daily drudge into a charming never-never land , with complete footnotes excusing its existence . and besides , it 's a good , entertaining show .", "romantic comedies are rarely this fabulous .", "approaching it as fairytale with moral -- hepburn meets her prince but gums it up and need to rediscover her own humanity -- cukor directs with stylish elegance that serves the play perfectly ; it 's one of his masterpieces .", "is the MOV about cutting katharine hepburn down to size ?", "george cukor gives it the royal treatment with a splendid supporting cast ...", "the smarties are going to relish MOV a lot more than the two-bit trade ...", "cukor and donald ogden stewart 's evergreen version of philip barry 's romantic farce , centreing on a socialite wedding threatened by scandal , is a delight from start to finish , with everyone involved working on peak form .", "o charme do trio principal e a intelig\u0119ncia dos di\u00e1logos permitiram que o filme envelhecesse maravilhosamente bem .", "screwball romance is lots of fun for older kids .", "how well all is pulled together and comes off , is more glaring when ` the MOV ' is compared to its fluffy but fangless 1956 musical adaptation , ` high society . '", "spoofs and plays sly homage to clifford odets ' earnest socialist dramas", "the film is a hepburn triumph , and moviegoers who resent the theatre 's habit of requisitioning their stars may feel that miss hepburn 's time on the stage has not been spent in vain and that she simply prepared herself for this achievement .", "just sit back and enjoy romantic comedy at its most sublime .", "cukor 's direction flawlessly picks up on defining character traits , and all the intricate detail makes watching this movie feel like you 're an invisible gatecrasher at the lords ' party .", "utterly beguiling , funny and romantic ...", "still a sparkling delight .", "this is close to perfection with katharine hepburn repeating her stage triumph as spoilt socialite tracy lord .", "this frothy theatre adaptation dates from the period when hollywood had pretty much perfected the art of the romantic comedy .", "a sparkling comedy of manners .", "grant , stewart , and hepburn deliver impeccable performances .", "the MOV -lrb- 1940 -rrb- is an intelligent , sophisticated , classic romantic comedy -lrb- part screwball -rrb- of love and marriage , human growth and class distinctions -", "the MOV is a classic movie featuring three of the silver screen 's greatest and most enduring stars .", "hepburn , grant and stewart star in one of the best romantic comedies ever made !", "this film is hollywood at the top of its game .", "brilliantly entertaining .", "-lsb- relies -rsb- less on physical comedy and more on immaculately delivered zingers .", "everyone and everything about the film is mostly perfect , and what the movie ultimately says about the nature of love is still prescient .", "i do n't think anyone really cares about the fact that this was intended to be a cunning class satire with a capital c , but it 's got big stars , they say cool things , they look good , it 's funny , and the right guy gets the right girl in amusing fashion .", "excellent casting , a great storyline and a shrp script mean that this remains a classic of the genre and one of katherine hepburn 's best roles .", "a seamless comedy about a priggish , upper-crust beauty who finally gets her comeuppance and learns some tolerance .", "a very funny film ." ], "summary": "offering a wonderfully witty script , spotless direction from george cukor , and typically excellent lead performances , the MOV is an unqualified classic .", "id": "22180" }, { "movie": "maverick", "reviews": [ "what summer movies are generally meant to be : big , light entertainment .", "a refreshing addition to the rejuvenated genre .", "this one has it all - romance , comedy , action and high-spirited adventure !", "see website for more details .", "true deft wit is just plum missing from this good-natured , flat-footed , eager-to - please , tee-hee western .", "... an easygoing diversion that could 've -lrb- and should 've -rrb- been so much better ...", "despite the attention of master scriptwriter william goldman , this gentle tribute to the hit comedy western tv series missed a golden opportunity for a razor-sharp spoof . there 's no doubt the stars had a ball , though .", "facetious and cynical , mel gibson 's star vehicle is glossy and superficially enteratining , but does n't begin to approximate the charm of james garner and the original tv series .", "MOV never takes itself seriously , which establishes the tone for serious fun . goldman 's screenplay is a model of ingenuity , setting increasingly complicated traps for the three leads , and rather amazed that they wriggle free .", "MOV reminds us of what killed the western in the first place .", "MOV may be as close as anything comes to a perfect summer movie -lrb- as opposed to a perfect movie -rrb- .", "everyone on board seems to be having enormous fun .", "it 's an enjoyable family film .", "somewhere about halfway through hour two , you might find yourself looking at your watch and wondering , ` like , when is this movie going to begin ? '", "we can close the competition for the most entertaining of the current spate of feature movies based on old tv shows .", "MOV is smart-alecky without being very smart . it 's full of spoofy , har-dee-har-har ribaldries -- this film practically winks at you .", "this movie does n't have the wry kick of the tv show at its best . too rich , too loaded , MOV may have misplayed its cards , kept its eyes on the pot instead of the players . in movies , as in poker , you ca n't always trust a pat hand .", "goldman and director richard donner do n't know when to stop mining a gag and to move on . that the film runs in excess of two hours is indicative of the filmmakers ' love affair with scenes that do n't work .", "it 's cleverly crafted , and you ca n't help enjoying it even when you know it 's manipulating you as brazenly as a poker dealer with tricky fingers and a well-stacked deck .", "MOV is quintessential summer fare , an unpretentious no-brainer that relies mostly on the star wattage of gibson , foster and old reliable james garner .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- succeeds , just barely , on the good will of its stars and the sumptuousness of its western locations .", "by the time donner crowds his climactic poker game with a bevy of veteran western character actors , decades of movie tradition have been reduced to window dressing , and MOV leaves you hungry for the real thing .", "-lsb- gibson and garner -rsb- can make you smile contentedly even when the script is wandering and they 're just sort of standing around waiting for its next good part to develop .", "MOV exploits and undermines every western cliche from gunfights to war-whooping indians to runaway stagecoaches and heroes hanging off cliffs .", "a financially successful exercise in target-marketing , but not much of a movie .", "formula hollywood filmmaking at its shallowest .", "there can be little doubt that a whole new generation is about to discover the charm , wit and fun of MOV .", "a relatively enjoyable film that updates the western character brett MOV .", "mildly amusing - for about 35 seconds .", "it may make the $ 100 million , but it is not a well-made film .", "the television show offered viewers the pleasure of watching scoundrels being deceived . the movie version is about deception as well , but this time the folks being cheated are all in the audience .", "paper-thin and insubstantial ... but still full of good-natured fun .", "unrelentingly smug , for no good reason", "mel gibson is delightful as the charming rambling gambler bret MOV in this big-screen remake of the beloved 1950s tv series .", "this is a rollicking , saturday afternoon adventure , the quintessential summer movie .", "affectionate , amiable , eager-to-please , in a tv-movieish sort of way .", "the first lighthearted , laugh-oriented family western in a long time , and one of the nice things about it is , it does n't feel the need to justify its existence . it acts like it 's the most natural thing in the world to be a western .", "ho hum .", "a gaudy reincarnation of the tv series with mel gibson , jodie foster and james garner flashing diamonds , breaking hearts and clubbing cliches damn near to death ." ], "summary": "it is n't terribly deep , but it 's witty and undeniably charming , and the cast is obviously having fun .", "id": "10520" }, { "movie": "jonestown_the_life_and_death_of_peoples_temple", "reviews": [ "ending with mass suicide in deepest guyana , the story of jim jones and his peoples temple is both the death rattle of '60s utopianism and -- predicated on the desire to found a new jerusalem in the wilderness -- a very american saga .", "when it comes to how those followers turned into a zombie kool-aid death cult , jonestown : the life and death of peoples temple leaves you with more questions than you went in with .", "... a documentary that sheds light on the horror while giving voice to the survivors .", "nelson 's film eschews sensationalism , and knowing how the story ends in no way diminishes its visceral impact .", "jones was a charlatan who faked healings , demanded sexual favors of members and committed all sorts of criminal acts .", "... collects declassified cia photos , film and audiotapes made by jones ' followers to form an astonishingly complete picture of what happened .", "compassionate and sobering", "if anything , this absorbing documentary is too short , a rare occurrence these days .", "this film paints a portrait of mr. jones , who died with his flock in guyana , as a man with two faces .", "with such a wealth of documented footage and firsthand testimony , it is unconscionable that nelson should leave us with more questions dangling than answered .", "... riveting documentary ...", "jonestown is not an easy movie to watch . but it 's a solid presentation of an important chapter in american and religious history . haunting is the only word that truly fits .", "relying on previously unseen film footage , still photos and voice recordings , jonestown paints a portrait of a fantastically charismatic preacher .", "the documentary , directed by stanley nelson , incorporates rare footage and recordings with a history of jones and the peoples temple . the film 's planned airing on pbs will expose many more viewers to this important slice of history .", "from idealistic beginnings to the horror-movie ending , a singular episode of history is peeled open to expose a raw and ugly core .", "more than a record of one horrific moment in history or the cautionary tale of the road to hell being paved with good intentions .", "jonestown is a thoroughly conventional documentary ... but this familiar format also emphasizes the movie 's universality .", "nelson gives plenty of time to the intelligent , articulate members who provide riveting details about those days nearly 30 years ago and their reflections now , but he does n't provide historical context for the events .", "nelson 's film helps us understand that jonestown may be history , but the tremendous loss still resonates .", "one of the year 's most important documentaries , a real must-see .", "the last half hour of jonestown is almost unwatchable . video footage of the assault on the congressman 's delegation gives way to audio of jones exhorting people to ` die with a degree of dignity ' as children shriek in the background .", "a somber , solid documentary -lsb- parading -rsb- the whole bleak tale before us again , complete with those disturbing scenes of hundreds of corpses in their tees and shorts and flip-flops strewn about facedown in the mud of jonestown , guyana .", "it is a frightening epitaph for what is surely one of the 20th century 's most heartbreaking cautionary tales against giving one up to the will of another .", "ultimately , the film does n't entirely answer the massive ` why ' at the center of this story -- that answer died on that day in 1978 -- but it 's a haunting exploration of an event of unspeakable sadness , which still resonates decades later .", "as much as it leaves open individual questions of devotion and need , the film does make clear the dangers of seeking solace and identity in the embrace of such a complex ego .", "the combination of these materials and the new interviews reconstruct a story few really know .", "stanley nelson revisits the 1978 mass suicide of jim jones and his flock in guyana , savoring the horror but offering no new insights .", "jonestown is a somber and non-exploitive reconstruction of the events that led the members of the peoples temple .", "frightening , grueling , and needed in an age where religious fanaticism of all kind reigns ...", "nelson 's thought-provoking documentary investigation into the life and times of preacher jim jones raises a fistful of public policy questions that are still knocking around today .", "director stanley nelson goes beyond those outlines ... to give us a measure of jones ' appeal and surprising power .", "every now and again , we have to be reminded about such things .", "this calm and thorough film has just the right attitude and tone to deal with a most incendiary story .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- tells a remarkable tale of the rise and fall of a toxic utopia that coalesced around an increasingly certifiable leader .", "it 's chilling -- and compelling .", "one of the most chilling aspects of jonestown is its use of the audio tapes of jones speaking on nov. 18 , 1978 .", "what finally emerges is a thoroughly plumbed investigation , heart-breaking interviews of depth and breadth with witnesses and survivors , and a nuanced reconstruction of the times in which jonestown became possible .", "the film says just as much about the state of american politics , the emergence of a mass media and the perceived sanctity of religion as it does about one of the world 's lesser-known demagogues .", "while jonestown lacks the power of revelation , it 's a first-rate piece of journalism , as fascinating and thorough as any magazine article .", "the interviews are fluid and snappy , and there 's plenty of footage that encapsulates just how enraptured jonestown was with jim jones ' vision .", "a conventional but genuinely heartrending expos\u00e9 ... the calamity is made real and terrible and important to hear about in this definitive account .", "docu is standard , recreating the chilling moments of the tragedy , but jones remains an engima . helmer nelson does n't address any conspiracy theories or provide a perspective to make his work more pertinent to understanding current religious fanaticism", "an unforgettable historical portrait .", "utilizing riveting , rarely-seen video taken at the jonestown compound in guyana on the day of the tragedy , -lsb- director nelson -rsb- manages to create a definitive account .", "an unflashy , straightforward account of jim jones and his great social experiment -- which notoriously culminated in the largest mass murder/suicide in modern memory .", "a disturbing and provocative portrait of the doomed cult and its warped leader", "documented proof that life in the good old days of the 1960s was not all that good . the dark side of love and flowers .", "a gripping , provocative documentary .", "offers a sophisticated thesis , digging into the reasons why people joined the peoples temple ." ], "summary": "director stanley nelson avoids editorializing and sensationalizing in jonestown , letting the cia photos and film speak for themselves , and giving a voice to the surviving victims .", "id": "363499742" }, { "movie": "parenthood", "reviews": [ "here is a comedy that treats the problems and delights of real life with respect , insight , warmth and remarkably sustained wit .", "MOV easily could have focused exclusively on yuppie parents and their kids ; however , the script by lowell ganz and babaloo mandel is more sophisticated than that , remembering that every parent is still a child too .", "MOV gets a lot of emotional mileage out of kiddie antics , but howard has , thankfully , given us a little more .", "the fulcrum of the film is martin . it 's an adventurous and successful stroke of casting that takes advantage of what the audience expects from him .", "it 's hard to imagine a theme more universal and filled with human pitfalls than MOV . and it 's hard to imagine a movie treatment of that theme more humane and filled with gentle sympathy than director ron howard 's MOV .", "ambitiously probing every anxiety-ridden corner of the suburban mum-and-dad experience , some of its interconnecting story strands work better than others .", "there are good jokes and funny observations about middle-class life . the picture is too long and predictable , though .", "this movie has its share of laughs , but it 's also ron howard 's most personal film , and clearly his most ambitious .", "as MOV reveals within its charming , two-hour running time , the pitfalls and quandaries of child-rearing are universal -- and the joys and the heartaches remain lifelong concerns .", "this feel-good family ensemble piece from director ron howard manages to avoid being oversentimental , and the result is an affectionate , leisurely comedy about the joys -lrb- and otherwise -rrb- of bringing up children .", "director ron howard combines this multi-generational suburban soap almost effortlessly , considering the number of parents or would be parents we 're expected to care about .", "MOV is so nice and so fun that you just want to put aside concerns about its manipulation and its sanitized version of kids ' struggles . if you can do that , then this feel-good effort will work for you .", "encourages us to ponder the awesome , crazy , powerful , and zany vocation of parenting .", "it 's a shock , and a welcome one , to see steve martin cast against type as a doting dad . martin 's nippy wit continually lifts this movie above the swamp of sentiment .", "nothing more than sitcom material stretched to two hours .", "funny , even perceptive , adult/family comedy .", "a veritable diaper bag of laughs , it serves best as a sensitive guy 's guide to fatherhood .", "most films are advised not to include too many featured parts lest none be adequately developed , but director ron howard is one of the few who can and does bring this off .", "howard juggles all the characters effortlessly , showcasing troubles left and right without losing the film to gloom . it 's nimble work , blessed with a cast that knows exactly what they 're reaching for in their performances .", "there is something brave and original about piling up most of our worst parental nightmares in one movie and then daring to make a midsummer comedy out of them . it really should n't work , but it does .", "while MOV crosses the border into schmaltz a number of times , the movie runs the gamut of realistic emotions , and one scene or another is bound to hit home with the parents who see the film .", "an ambitious , keenly observed , and often very funny look at one of life 's most daunting passages ...", "the remaining cast , young , old and in-between , is lovely .", "with MOV , howard as a director has discovered weight , but not gravity . for all of its admirable seriousness , the film finally floats away .", "there 's not a scene in MOV that is n't involving : the actors keep reaching into themselves and coming up with gold .", "poignant family dramedy with lots of adult themes .", "the performances are all wonderful , each actor having received some sort of acting plum and each giving it his all . director ron howard is very good at comedy , and his timing is expert throughout the film .", "a mosaic that views MOV from many different angles and approaches and at times even comes near to restoring something that has been missing from film : some powerful drama .", "even being the most sensitive parent , the film reminds us , has its limits . no matter how hard you try , you ca n't live your children 's lives for them .", "ron howard 's pithy and poignant look at domestic disillusionment ... a pure joy to behold !", "a funny , uneven look at the ups , downs , joys and sorrows of being a parent . it 's a bit heavy-handed , but stll touching .", "one-dimensional characters and 1st grade humor combine to make a self-important film that takes itself seriously . horrible .", "steve martin 's manically over-conscientious dad steals the film , whether chewing the pitch as his small son fumbles at baseball , or entertaining a kids ' party as an unconvincing cowboy .", "MOV is a middlebrow masterpiece . not a masterpiece of middlebrow but a middlebrow masterpiece , with the latter word being the subject , not the modifier .", "one of ron howard 's best with a great cast .", "ron howard works magic with this great comedy", "always makes me cry - touching and funny", "maybe you need to be a parent to like this , because i thought it was lifeless .", "punchy entertainment for the open-minded family , the kind that realizes home sweet home is -- well , an interesting idea .", "it 's the best kind of comedy , where we recognize the truth of what 's happening even while we 're smiling , and where we eventually acknowledge that there is a truth in comedy that serious drama never can quite reach ." ], "summary": "bolstered by a delightful cast , MOV is a funny and thoughtfully crafted look at the best and worst moments of family life that resonates broadly .", "id": "22493" }, { "movie": "a_million_ways_to_die_in_the_west", "reviews": [ "it could have been funnier and some of the sheep penis jokes could have been circumcised , but there is an appealing cumulative effect to the nonsense", "i suppose i was looking forward to MOV just a little too much for my own good .", "short on laugh-out-loud comedy beats - while also failing to find the ` heart ' that made similar genre farces like blazing saddles timeless comedy classics .", "macfarlane 's die-hard fans may find the silver lining in this movie , but everyone else will likely find MOV one of this summer 's big disappointments .", "well , i 'm not sure the world needed two whole minutes of a gastrically panicked neil patrick harris defecating in hats .", "MOV will satisfy a lot of cinemagoers . it 's fine , really .", "an earnest homage to the western , albeit with an anachronistic protagonist who 's too clean-shaven and well-spoken to fit in in 1882 arizona . ... yet the conceit works .", "hogging the screen in this moronic vanity project , seth macfarlane 's vulgar but just not funny .", "`` django unchained '' already recently nailed it . by contrast , `` MOV '' is an attempted copycat -- messily comprised of some comedic hits but more misses -- that we just did n't need .", "it 's unclear if boredom is one of the million ways you can die in the west , but it nearly took us out while watching this film .", "wait for ted 2 .", "a flaccid all-star farce that 's handsomely dressed up with nowhere to go for most of its padded two-hour running time .", "MOV hits more often than it misses .", "though the film is hardly laugh-free , its uneven jokes appear to have breezed through a very forgiving editing process .", "-lsb- seth macfarlane -rsb- approaches the western not as a cinephile , but as someone who sat down and really thought about jokes to make about living in a not yet completely settled locale where danger comes from all sides .", "a sagebrush comedy whose visual grandeur and appealing actors get polluted by some astonishingly lazy writing .", "a lightweight attempt to emulate the satiric approach to the western genre already perfected by mel brooks with `` blazing saddles . ''", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- of the hundred or so gags , jokes , and one-liners that comic genius seth macfarlane throws at the wall over the course of this bawdy and sometimes grotesque western comedy , nearly half of them connect with a funny bone .", "despite a very likeable , breezy turn from charlize theron , this western satire buckles under its creator 's self-indulgence and self-satisfaction .", "it 's well-made , often -lrb- and outrageously -rrb- funny , and manages to keep up the pace and interest for nearly two hours . clearly there 's more to macfarlane than a bad oscar show , `` ted '' and some fox-tv toons .", "MOV is a giant tumbleweed of a comedy drifting aimlessly through a laugh-free desert .", "macfarlane is content to act like a monkey flinging its own poop at everyone in close proximity , and most of the material , unshackled from anything of import , is either stretched beyond the breaking point or witless in the first place .", "the saddles are n't blazing ; they 're damp .", "the old west re-imagined as fodder for the coarsest of gross-out fare !", "the comedy is hit and miss , with just enough hits to make it worth watching once .", "`` MOV '' may remind macfarlane 's core audience of what they 're missing by not having westerns as part of their regular movie menu .", "a better title , a million ways to laugh in the west .", "it 's essentially blazing saddles , only the fart jokes are n't quite as fresh .", "MOV feels like about 80 minutes of material was padded out to 110 minutes .", "a scattershot affair that mixes macfarlane 's characteristically crass and off-kilter sense of humor with sentimentality and affable goofiness .", "all teenage boys use women as props to boost their ego , it 's just strange to see a grown man do it and charge audiences the price of a cinema ticket to watch .", "jumbling frat-house humor with nostalgic period sets and costumes is like writing a punchline to a frederic remington painting . only less hilarious .", "a dud from seth macfarlane .", "macfarlane is after something beyond absurdity . he gets to the crux of the matter , that life in the west was cheap , at least as portrayed in the movies , and he tells us , often hilariously , that this is nothing we should celebrate .", "what we have here is a failure of craft . -lsb- macfarlane -rsb- ca n't direct action , or even handle scenery well .", "this comedy hits the target just enough to find box office gold in them thar hills .", "an epic fail on every conceivable level .", "is this the next blazing saddles ? no . but there are enough silly laughs sprinkled throughout if you 're into this brand of comedy .", "there are enough laughs scattered throughout MOV that while you 're watching it , the movie seems like a passable comedy . by the time you get home , though , you can barely remember the jokes .", "as refreshing as it may be to see macfarlane unleashed from the shackles of contemporary pop culture , he 's still sent to the gallows by a script that he should have shot down .", "it 's a tired opinion , but seth macfarlane really does only appeal to fans of seth macfarlane ... of which , i imagine the number one fan is seth macfarlane .", "MOV is guaranteed to divide audiences , but it 's a really solid comedy with more than enough laughs to offset its minor shortcomings .", "-lsb- macfarlane -rsb- is so naturally gifted at delivering glib laughs that he does n't really need to try , and MOV would benefit from a lot more effort and a little less of macfarlane 's cavalier confidence .", "seth macfarlane 's scattershot love letter to blazing saddles hits the comic bull 's eye when it counts , but also has its fair share of misfires .", "too enamoured of genre convention to reach for the comic dynamite .", "the film 's most inventive running gag involves what must be a macfarlane obsession with the classic stiff subjects of old west photographs .", "the problem is n't that the jokes are crass ; they 're just not that funny .", "director , producer , writer , and star seth macfarlane laments the epic romantic tragedy of seth macfarlane , who deserves a beautiful girlfriend because he 's ` nice . '", "macfarlane , who wrote the script with alec sulkin and wellesley wild , keeps the gags flying like hot lead out of a colt .45 . and for every three that do n't land , one or two hit the bullseye .", "much of the film rests on macfarlane 's shoulders , and he has toned down the snide , obnoxious demeanor that spoiled his turn as the 2013 oscars host .", "macfarlane has upped his cinematic ambitions , but he 's failed to improve his joke-crafting , his narrative sense or his acting .", "plays directly to macfarlane 's fascination with poo-poo , pee-pee humor , without ever moving beyond the basics of sophomoric gags to transform into the raging farce it sporadically hints at becoming .", "if you 've seen the trailer you 've seen the best gags .", "even 15-year-old boys will find this disappointingly puerile .", "bawdy , naughty-mouthed cowboy-movie parody goes places mel brooks and the farrelly brothers never dared .", "when the satire works , it is a thing of dada wonder . sharp absurdity played with a nimble spirit . when it does n't , it is a pallid , bloated thing smugly vamping for its own amusement", "haiku macfarlane should have watched blazing saddles instead of remaking it .", "you 'd think that you 'd have plenty of room for good humour when trying to spoof the western genre , but macfarlane falls back on the same childish material again and again .", "stupefying in its unfunniness , arrogance and outright narcissism , MOV is a shoo-in for my worst of the year list come december .", "a meta western so gutbusting it makes blazing saddles look like unforgiven . ignore all other reviews . it 's genius .", "they could have just called it a million jokes die in the west so that six may work .", "the comic relief never wears out the dramatic relief , and vice versa . it is low . come for the sheep whizzing in macfarlane 's face-we 're even now for `` we saw your boobs . '' stay to see theron handling a battering husband rather aesthetically .", "too often , diarrhea-into-a-hat feels like a metaphor for what macfarlane 's doing with the movie .", "plot details can be scattershot , but it succeeds thanks to an outrageously comical deconstruction of hollywood westerns and an appealing cast of characters .", "demolishes the heroic mystique of the old west with the nose-thumbing glee of a rambunctious brat who has just crawled out of a fetid mud puddle .", "like much of macfarlane 's work , a million ways suffers from an inability to maintain consistent characters or to make plot funny .", "macfarlane 's irreverent humor feels subdued without the jolt of animation that gave his previous big-screen effort , ted , an extra oomph of shock and awe .", "overlong and comedically uneven , MOV spends far too much time treading water and nowhere near enough time being funny .", "in an odd way , this comedy western feels like the most personal creative work -lsb- macfarlane -rsb- 's ever done .", "are you kidding me ? ah , if only .", "all the whiny point-scoring is such an explicit appeal for audience sympathy that the dialogue feels derived from a malnourished stand-up routine .", "macfarlane is just passable as a leading man , but as a director and co-writer with two others he has a wider comic imagination than `` blazing saddles . '' for every so-so gag there are three genius ones .", "what helps the picture work - and makes some of the unnecessarily graphic bits easier to forgive - is the interaction between the two leads .", "while the whole thing feels weirdly miscalculated to me , `` MOV '' tweaks the formula just enough , delivers a few laughs and keeps the guest stars coming .", "macfarlane 's comedic approach has always been that of throw everything at the wall and see what sticks . it 's no different this time out , and the jokes are so plentiful that the odds are in this movie 's favor for a substantial number of them to succeed .", "importation of modern sensibilities into olden times is the gimmick , but now and then , macfarlane forgets himself and just has fun . once or twice , he even seems to feel something .", "it 's another example of macfarlane 's ability to mix poop jokes with romance , foul language with sweet sentiment , offensive humor with boyish charm .", "some of it sputters , settling for smiles instead of laughs , and much of it flounders while the slapdash script searches , at exhausting length , for ever more common denominators in toilet humor .", "the real problem with `` MOV '' is one of editing . there are a million jokes in it , but only 500,000 of them are funny .", "macfarlane gets away with comic murder in a million ways to die , and he does it by being a little bit naughty and a little bit raunchy . but most of all , by being adorably cute . in a bad boy sort of way .", "` round these parts , when a movie promises a million laughs but only delivers a dozen chuckles , that 's a hanging offense .", "if you want to find out how much scope the old west contains for jokes about violent bowel movements , this is very much your movie .", "macfarlane is one of the few male comic creative talents to have honed a style that stands against the judd apatow school of realism , but the movie just does n't quite work .", "humour is , of course deeply personal , some people will enjoy this more , but few would disagree that mcfarlane is capable of so much more .", "theron 's endearing rapport with macfarlane the actor helps smooth over whenever macfarlane the writer/director goes a little overboard with his penchant for toilet humor .", "well-meaning sheep farmer runs afoul of ruthless gunfighter . also , neil patrick harris sh*t s in a hat .", "it forces characters into situations that are silly without reason , and expects the premise to substantiate a lot of bizarre twists that seem to exist out of total conceit .", "a comedy that desperately wants to emulate mel brooks , but fails in every respect .", "uneven yes , funny at times , yes , often uproariously so .", "MOV spends more time trying to push the buttons of its audience rather than entertaining it . it 's amusing in small doses , but as a whole it 's about three horseshoes away from being an atrocity to the comedy genre .", "where 's gene wilder when you need him ? ... what macfarlane has achieved falls somewhere between blazing saddles and blahs-ing saddles .", "as scatter-shot as a double-barreled shotgun packed with rock salt . come back lili von shtupp .", "there are still plenty of good laughs ... but a lot of film misses the mark .", "if there were a shootout in the hollywood comedic corral between ... blazing saddles , and the new kid in town , MOV , it 's not even a contest . brooks ' classic would chase the upstart out of town with a backside full of lead .", "within spitting distance of good ... lesser than the sum of its parts due to deficits of ambition , invention and commitment .", "even when `` MOV '' takes a tumble , it never loses its winsomely sunny , eager-to-please disposition . this -- and the pleasure of watching the movie 's charismatic actors mix it up -- makes it all worthwhile .", "where five or six chuckles in 22 minutes is n't a bad average , five or six chuckles spread out over 117 minutes is dismal .", "the jokes are mostly funny , the songs are charming , the scatology is only occasionally off-putting and overall it 's a pretty good time at ye ol' air-conditioned nickelodeon .", "feels more like an extended riff than a fully fleshed-out film .", "not the laugh-a-minute riot fg fans are accustomed to , but -lsb- the film -rsb- is consistently funny and -lsb- seth -rsb- macfarlane works hard to relate everything back to the main story ... solidly entertaining ... also puts to rest any doubts that macfarlane can hold a lead .", "a failure on nearly every level , `` MOV '' almost approaches so-bad-you-need-to-see-it categorization .", "this movie feels like it has a million jokes , and every single one arrives with a lethal thud .", "macfarlane dabbles in exploring deeper themes but more often than not gives way to an endless stream of fart and poop jokes , profanity , and labored racial humor .", "there 's not much that 's good in it , plenty that 's bad , and an awful lot that 's just plain ugly .", "there 's so much bodily waste on screen that the film becomes the cinematic equivalent of a cesspool .", "macfarlane has a lot of jokes he wants to tell , and the result is an often disgustingly funny movie that is far too long and far too broad .", "it is too long , too dumb , and too gross . but sometimes funny .", "a solid slice of gross-out gratuity and saddle sore scatology", "one long joke about much it would have sucked to live -lrb- and die , at a relatively young age -rrb- , in the old west .", "between the slapstick , pointless celebrity cameos , in-jokes and steady stream of feeble puns , the violence is surprisingly graphic .", "if seth macfarlane ever corrects the bad habits he 's developed as a director , he could become the mel brooks of the 21st century .", "funny in places but relentlessly crude .", "there are a million moments in which to contemplate your own demise while watching the smug self-indulgence and cheap , overelaborated non-comedy of this vanity project .", "there is plenty to amuse in MOV , but it 's not a very good movie .", "there 's no depth to what you see on screen here : macfarlane is simply doing what he does best ; delivering cheap laughs as he continues to try and push the boundaries .", "macfarlane 's legions of fans will no doubt flock to his latest reckless creation with an eagerness to please , but afterward they might just plead with him to keep his day job .", "although hardly ` blazing saddles , ' the movie is pretty funny when it depicts the old west as a place of such ` general depressing awfulness ' it can sink a person into ` a disgusting , awful , dirty cesspool of despair . '", "there are moments of wit in the script , and one or two strong scenes , but the film feels oddly directionless for much of its runtime .", "audiences high on popcorn fumes will laugh along at the smut . but , at its core , this is a spiritually empty vessel trying to make a lot of box office noise . blazing saddles -lrb- 1974 -rrb- or cat ballou -lrb- 1965 -rrb- it ai n't .", "seth macfarlane is tedious , but charlize theron saves the day .", "you have to do a little trash diving but it excels when deconstructing the western genre", "if you grade a comedy by how frequently you chuckle , then MOV is funny enough ; too often , unfortunately , macfarlane and his co-writers go for bits where the shock value is supposed to equal actual humor .", "might as well just be an extended episode of ` family guy ' set in the west .", "... deeply undisciplined , and it undercuts its own best instincts in ways i find almost unbearably frustrating .", "the one person who gets the balance right , weighing parody and homage , is the composer , joel mcneely , whose opening theme stirs hopes and memories that the movie can not match .", "while i 'm sure fans will find something to appreciate , i personally found this to be the worst comedy since adam sandler 's grown ups 2 and easily one of the worst of the year .", "the solid cast is shunted aside for long passages , allowing macfarlane underserved centre stage for most of the film 's inexcusable 116 minute running time .", "perhaps seth macfarlane thought that this would be a blazing saddles for a new generation , yet MOV belongs way , way on the other side of the western comedy spectrum .", "yes , there are MOV . boredom should n't be one of them .", "yes , it crosses lines . yes , it works hard to offend . yes , it is silly . but you know what ? it 's also laugh-out-loud funny . and is n't that the point ?", "... off-kilter and persistently irreverent ...", "some of the gags do land - maybe one in four . but the genre-parody genre with big stars and poop jokes needs a little more class than macfarlane is capable of providing .", "here at last , seth macfarlane in the flesh . unfortunately , the flesh is weak .", "feels antiquated - like a bob hope comedy from the forties .", "macfarlane 's best jokes come from that crazy , yet very true statement as we see all of the ways someone can die in the godforsaken dirt bowl that is the wild wild west .", "macfarlane knows his audience and MOV is one of the funniest films of the year - provided you 're a member of his audience .", "those with arrested comedic development might find it amusing to one degree or another , but too much of the toilet humor simply stinks . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "at the end of the day , no matter how poorly this may be directed , written , and acted , the only thing a good comedy needs to do is make you laugh and this one does it in spades . funniest comedy of 2014 .", "a tired exercise in scatology , a film laced with enough poop , piss and penis joke to last you a lifetime .", "macfarland just ca n't go toe-to-toe with the likes of liam neeson or charlize theron . parts of `` west '' look like those old oscar intros where billy crystal would be spliced into actual movies .", "macfarlane has been allowed to run rampant with his racism , gun violence and ill-will towards women for far too long .", "if macfarlane was going for comedic shock value with this film , he failed miserably . what he has put on screen in 2014 is no longer funny or shocking , just stupid and a bit sick .", "a two-hour comedy with only two good jokes in it .", "after the success of ted , seth macfarlane gives himself his first leading-man role in this hilarious but overlong comedy-western .", "shooting for satire and hilarity but landing limply in a no-laughs-land between sit-com and cartoon , MOV offers you at least two times that many ways to disappoint in the theater .", "what could have been a sharp-tongued satire ends up an overlong , uneven , self-aggrandizing misfire .", "a comedy clinker set in the old wild west .", "mcfarlane 's courting of charlize theron occasionally plays with the gag-inducing coyness of a katherine heigl rom-com .", "despite all the costumes , stunt work , and locations in monument valley , this big-budget western spoof by seth macfarlane is too glib to live up to its potential .", "there are some funny moments in ` MOV , ' and a few of them are inspired , but you just keep waiting for it to find its stride and it never does .", "think of macfarlane as a post-modern classicist , who loves his source material , even if he ca n't resist the impulse to mock its conventions . . i laughed frequently and heartily .", "it 's surprising how quickly the worst elements of the film began to stack up , and do their part to tear the whole thing down .", "macfarlane has corralled a great cast , which makes it especially disappointing that the movie 's merely ok .", "-lsb- macfarlane -rsb- has written himself the only part with anything to do . putting him at the center of the film was suicide .", "for a man who mocks pop culture so well he can barely pull of the most american of pop culture , the western .", "for me , seth macfarlane is a bit like the ron paul of comedy , with three good ideas for every one really bad one , three genuinely funny gags to one so bad it makes me groan until i start to see flashy things in my field of vision .", "seth macfarlane 's comedy western boasts gags galore - some a lot cruder than others . but the hits outnumber the misses .", "but for all its hit-and-miss jokes , there are lots of ways to die laughing at this western raunchfest .", "tumbleweeds literally blow between the laughs of this lackluster comedy .", "-lsb- macfarlane -rsb- has leading-man looks , but is uneasy in his first onscreen performance ; he practically jabs the audience in the ribs after every gag or punch line , pushing his product like a used car salesman desperate to make a sale .", "if you measure a comedy by how many times you laughed , seth macfarlane 's MOV , at least for me , is a middling success .", "macfarlane is a very funny dude , and there are times `` a million ways to die '' is indeed funny . but too often the movie feels half-baked .", "your mileage may vary depending on your enthusiasm for his smirking frat-boy comedy .", "there 's nothing about this plotline that does n't feel like a retread , and macfarlane , i 'm sorry to report , still seems like the funniest guy in the writers ' room rather than a genuine movie star .", "what 's to hate ? let me count the ways . the laziness of the writing . the numbing overreliance on poop and pee jokes . the long , arid stretches between anything resembling a joke .", "MOV has a clever and sometimes hilarious setup , but it has no idea how to follow through on it .", "the old west apparently offered too many outhouses and too much horse manure for macfarlane to resist over-mining that particular vein .", "the down-for-anything cast , along with a handful of welcome cameos , ca n't prop up its weakest link : seth macfarlane .", "the laughs come a decent enough clip , but mcfarlane 's satirical sights are slightly off . he could 've aimed a little higher a little more often .", "raunchy and irreverent , `` MOV '' proves there are a million ways to laugh in the west .", "if macfarlane was hoping to make a new generation 's `` blazing saddles , '' he failed amid an avalanche of dumb .", "comedy is certainly subjective , but as a fan of macfarlane 's other work i found `` MOV '' a comedy misfire .", "quite clever , and the fact that you never really know what the film is going to toss your way is part of the fun . a solidly goofy romp .", "macfarlane 's `` million ways '' has an equal affinity for both the laughs and the western landscape .", "fart jokes are all too plentiful , along with copious references to bodily fluids , but in this zany context the film gets away with them . and the screenplay is crammed with witty lines . the western lives on .", "overly crude jokes and gross-out humor drag comedy down .", "saddles that should blaze in MOV only spit-sizzle , so mel brooks is still king , and it 's good to be that .", "the movie , which macfarlane directed and cowrote with alec sulkin and wellesley wild , is clever about its anachronisms . you stay surprised .", "the script squanders many opportunities for real laughs and it continually plays it safe with sophomoric humor that would create giggles in middle-schoolers .", "the problem is n't just that macfarlane is a bad actor , but that anna 's character makes absolutely no sense .", "the most unromantic take on the wild west since john wayne in the searchers vowed to kill his niece .", "seth macfarlane takes a genuinely interesting premise , about how the old west was a cesspool of disease and despair , and buries it -lrb- and his talented cast -rrb- under a pile of unfunny gross-out jokes .", "a million ways to die moseys unmercifully through a plot whose length ca n't sustain its comic invention although once in a while it leaps to a kind of demented life .", "in MOV , director-star seth macfarlane builds an imposing , affectionate reconstruction of the american movie west , then defaces it with funny mustaches -- often literally .", "seth macfarlane scales back on some of the crassness and plays up the charm in his latest feature film . the result is fitfully funny , a bit trifling , and paradoxically inoffensive .", "macfarlane 's leading man career begins and ends with this", "that both seth macfarlane and neil patrick harris are in this and neither performs the one musical number is enough evidence that the movie is altogether wrongheaded .", "if seth macfarlane had made blazing saddles it would have been two hours of gene wilder exclaiming `` holy s ** t , the west is racist ! ''" ], "summary": "while it offers a few laughs and boasts a talented cast , seth macfarlane 's overlong , aimless MOV is a disappointingly scattershot affair .", "id": "771350283" }, { "movie": "sex_and_lucia", "reviews": [ "while the final picture may not be quite as grand as expected upon completion , the individual pieces remain strikingly beautiful .", "perhaps our confusion is part of the whole idea , but MOV would have a lot more impact if there were someone to give a damn about .", "if you removed the show-time sex , would more than a handful of festival-fixated americans bother to watch this ? unlikely .", "i would be shocked if there was actually one correct interpretation , but that should n't make the movie or the discussion any less enjoyable .", "an erotic but muddled marriage of fact and fiction , love and memory .", "a visually flashy but narratively opaque and emotionally vapid exercise in style and mystification .", "a company of characters and a trove of opulent experiences to revisit many times .", "medem packs it with so much stunning , wildly colorful imagery -- and so much sex -- that it transfixes you even when you 're not quite sure what 's going on .", "despite his self-consciously obscure plot mechanics , medem keeps you off-balance and intrigued .", "love , death , ` luc\u00eda and sex ' -- spanish director julio medem and a very bad dog", "half-baked ponderings on the nature of fiction and reality .", "instead of being truly erotic , like y tu mama tambien , or provocative , as with some of catherine breillat 's work , MOV is , quite simply , flaccid .", "-lsb- medem -rsb- likes to toy with the mind of the audience , and he 's good at it .", "... a heart-catching , hair-pin-curving narrative of circumstance , coincidence and destiny .", "hey , who else needs a shower ?", "medem may have disrobed most of the cast , leaving their bodies exposed , but the plot remains as guarded as a virgin with a chastity belt . that 's why MOV is so alluring .", "this is a beautiful movie with gorgeous locations but at times it 's hard to tell what 's really happening and what 's just a chapter in the writer 's story .", "el t\u00edtulo no enga\u0144a : la pel\u00edcula narra una historia donde una mujer enfrentar\u00e1 cierta realidad , y donde el sexo es ...", "an intoxicating experience .", "a beautifully made piece of unwatchable drivel .", "in this erotic , atmospheric film you 'll discover why europeans like telephone showerheads .", "a lot rides on coincidence . or fate . or the magic pull of the moon . it all makes sense in the end .", "all very stylish and beautifully photographed , but far more trouble than it 's worth , with fantasy mixing with reality and actors playing more than one role just to add to the confusion .", "what distinguishes julio medem 's humid , magic-realist eroticon from the average soft-core fare is its writer-director 's playful interest in storytelling as a form of sexual sublimation and release .", "julio medem 's sexy road movie is an `` y tu mam\u00e1 tambi\u00e9n '' lite that arouses the senses as much as it does the imagination .", "' -lsb- MOV -rsb- is so seductive and profound , it 's as if we 're witnessing a greek myth coil and flower ... '", "medem hops through time , dances through the weaving journeys of the characters , and blurs the boundaries -lrb- real life and -rrb- fantasies .", "unfortunately , the plot becomes such a puzzle that the central characters lose their urgency and the movie overstays its welcome .", "for those of an indulgent , slightly sunbaked and summery mind , MOV may well prove diverting enough .", "if MOV were any more explicit , you 'd watch it in a booth and pay for it a quarter at a time .", "it 's warm and open to the idea of sex , unlike other recent films -- such as romance , lies , fat girl and intimacy -- that purported to explore sex , but in the end were just as repressed as any hollywood movie .", "becomes richer , deeper and more interesting than just a coupling of naked bodies on screen .", "so ridiculously overstuffed with rhymes , symbols , metaphors and mystical coincidences that you frequently feel as if you should n't be watching it so much as graphing it .", "unfortunately , MOV turns out to be just like its '50s art film counterparts : a complex plot , subtitles , narrative obscurity , and only fleeting glimpses of nudity .", "medem 's stupendously gorgeous puzzle movie features strong performances from its four leads .", "i found myself more appreciative of what the director was trying to do than of what he had actually done .", "let 's just say that this is some good sex .", "sexy but pretentious melodrama .", "vega is a real find .", "an adept mood maker , medem strains madly for cosmic alliances , fairy-tale imagery , and fated coincidences , but he triumphs only with two hot bodies , a cluttered apartment , and a shower massage .", "the kind of trifle that date nights were invented for .", "fans of convoluted narrative in the manner of christopher nolan and david lynch are likely to be intrigued , although medem has a far stronger streak of sentiment .", "pretty darn good , despite its smarty-pants aura .", "between bedroom scenes , viewers may find themselves wishing they could roll over and take a nap .", "i kept tripping over the plot 's raging implausibilities and reliance on outrageous coincidence .", "the film is tangled but not chaotic , thoughtful but not terribly deep . still , it 's intimate , entertaining , and most impressive , genuine .", "a byzantine melodrama that stimulates the higher brain functions as well as the libido .", "with or without the sex , a wonderful tale of love and destiny , told well by a master storyteller", "a sophisticated examination of body and soul .", "it 's a hall of mirrors , this flick -- every one of them pretentious .", "it 's a thoughtful film that forces its characters and its viewers to wrestle with the difference between great sex and true intimacy .", "while it 's being the told , the story of MOV is sufficiently seductive to keep you from noticing the holes forming in its universe .", "say what you will about MOV , but do n't call it boring .", "sex is one of those films that aims to confuse .", "as a randy film about sexy people in gorgeous places being pushed and pulled -lrb- literally and figuratively -rrb- by desire ... -lsb- sex and luc\u00eda -rsb- makes for an arousing good time .", "sex ironically has little to do with the story , which becomes something about how lame it is to try and evade your responsibilities and that you should never , ever , leave a large dog alone with a toddler . but never mind all that ; the boobs are fantasti", "medem has once again crafted a complex , ethereal film that 's both delicate and earthy , full of memorable imagery , gutsy performances and unforgettable , haunting themes .", "the most wondrous love story in years , it is a great film .", "a bizarre , alternately joyful and gloomy take on sexual fantasies and complications . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "... a confusing and at times silly erotic film with some interesting visual ideas .", "do n't go in expecting eurotrash art-porn , for the film tells a beautiful and earnestly romantic story .", "not every movie that is billed as ` erotic ' deserves that distinction , but director julio medem 's MOV certainly does . it 's the kind of intelligent , thoughtful film about sex and love that hollywood just ca n't make .", "vega and ulloa give strong performances as the leading lovers and there are some strong supporting turns , particularly from najwa nimri .", "none of his actors stand out , but that 's less of a problem here than it would be in another film : characterization matters less than atmosphere .", "my reaction in a word : disappointment . his last movie was poetically romantic and full of indelible images , but his latest has nothing going for it ." ], "summary": "beneath the gratuitous nudity lies a complex and visually striking movie .", "id": "17374" }, { "movie": "natural", "reviews": [ "i 've just about had it with directors who use the mythic mode as an alibi for unshaded characterizations , simpleminded plotting , and swells of artificial emotionality .", "the MOV is an impeccably made , but quite strange , fable about success and failure in america .", "somewhat overly sentimental , lacking the novel 's subtlety , and less interesting when the action leaves the ball park , barry levinson 's beautifully shot film is nonetheless a charming fairy tale .", "robert redford is n't playing a 1930s baseball hero ... he 's playing an instrument of god .", "the message is : baseball is purely and simply a matter of divine intervention . at about the 130-minute mark , i got the idea that god 's only begotten son was playing right field for the new york team .", "a mature and elegiac fantasy done with feeling and sincerity that really captures the mystique of old-time baseball .", "let yourself go and be rewarded by the sight of a hero running home to victory through clouds of fire .", "jammed full with cliches , the MOV never misses a chance to manipulate the audience", "though entertaining in short stretches , the MOV has no recognizable character of its own .", "the most sentimental movie you need n't be ashamed to love .", "no popped-up fly doubles . just wham , bam , home run . get the picture ?", "unabashedly sentimental and grand in its themes of goodness , honor , tenacity , and forgiveness", "... silly , repetitive , episodic , mannered ...", "levinson must have felt he had to swing for the fences . he can be forgiven for choking up with all the MOV 's fans looking on dubiously . in fairness , the official scorer must credit him with a single . and redford with an rbi .", "an otherwise fine sports fantasy is dragged down by an overindulgence in sentimentality .", "barry levinson deviates considerably from the wry , ironic tone of malamud 's novel , and if the film is mildly enjoyable it 's due to the acting of the supporting cast and polished production values .", "being a baseball fan involves repeatedly experiencing exquisite pain and exquisite joy . well , there 's a lot of both in the MOV .", "if you can suspend disbelief and let yourself be drawn into the movie , you 'll be rewarded with an emotional and heart-warming experience that will have you cheering .", "the scouting report on the MOV has to read : lots of tools but no heart .", "it 's all very corny and much of it 's almost alarmingly overbaked ... yet it works .", "a nearly perfect combination of superb acting , brilliantly sweet screenwriting and a director at the top of his game .", "... basks in a kind of golden mythic glow that is n't often seen in movies anymore , making it a film that 's hard for anyone but the most flint nosed to resist .", "does n't quite hit a home run , but a nice try", "arguably the best baseball movie ever made .", "lessons for life , suitable for the disney channel and inspiration for people who love fairy tales ... a favorite of people who love sentiment and melodrama .", "one of the true great baseball films", "sappy fun", "the cinematography is lush , the randy newman score is so epic that hollywood uses it for practically every movie trailer that is n't a chris tucker comedy or a shaft remake , and the period detail , and baseball scenes , are top notch ." ], "summary": "though heavy with sentiment , the MOV is an irresistible classic , and a sincere testament to america 's national pastime .", "id": "10224" }, { "movie": "read_my_lips", "reviews": [ "an unorthodox little film noir organized crime story that includes one of the strangest love stories you will ever see .", "finally , the french-produced `` MOV '' is a movie that understands characters must come first .", "MOV is not about deafness , lip-reading , crime or sex , but about that discovery ; the plot simply provides the rails on which it rides .", "an absorbing character study of two lonely and fearful outsider figures .", "a hitchcockian thriller that borrows from others but shines under director audiard 's unique touch .", "cassel and devos give the tale some much-needed gravitas , but as the movie descends into melodrama , it loses much of its initial charm .", "performances this vivid and complex deserve a richer , more imaginative context ; it 's like seeing jake gittes and evelyn mulwray shoehorned into life as a house .", "MOV is n't just scary , charming and delightfully unpredictable - it 's also smarter and subtler than any new movie out there .", "bring a date too , after this you might look at each other in a whole new light .", "a delectable and intriguing thriller filled with surprises , MOV is an original . this is a story of two misfits who do n't stand a chance alone , but together they are magnificent .", "muito bem estruturada , a narrativa aproveita ao m\u00e1ximo suas v\u00e1rias reviravoltas para criar suspense e tamb\u00e9m para estabelecer uma forte tens\u0103o sexual entre os protagonistas .", "click to read review", "art-house to the core , MOV is a genre-curling crime story that revives the free-wheeling noir spirit of old french cinema .", "`` MOV '' surprises by making the viewer care more about the characters than the plot .", "un film en constante progression d\u00e9marrant sur la note d'un drame exceptionnel pour se terminer sous les traits d'un des suspenses les mieux nantis des ann\u00e9es 2000", "crawling onto the razor 's edge with bare hands , jacques audiard 's film generates daringly uncomfortable , psychologically dangerous heat rarely found in romance of any stripe . exhilaratingly paced , cleverly suspenseful and tastefully erotic .", "like the vertigo-inspired chinese film suzhou river , it pays homage to hitchcock without copying , and the results are original and thrilling in their own right .", "may be the finest thriller/romance hybrid of the new century .", "what makes the movie special is emmanuelle devos , whose performance as the secretary is full of surprises .", "having changed into action gear , the picture never looks back , leaving two people who seemed wonderfully unique to do things that are cinematically trite .", "-lsb- distinguished by -rsb- depth of motivation and character development", "subtle , sinister , suspenseful .", "cassel -- son of french star jean-pierre cassel -- is brutally appealing and devos is just achingly sympathetic .", "suffused with intelligence , courage , and the unmistakable taint of life .", "a sharp , inventive mix of love story and film noir .", "there 's real visual charge to the filmmaking , and a strong erotic spark to the most crucial lip-reading sequence .", "the fascinating , evolving relationship between carla and paul is the real subject of MOV . the labyrinthine crime-drama landscape they navigate is the icing on the cake .", "while alone , neither carla nor paul is able to succeed in life , together they form a strange bond which brings them both power .", "audiard successfully maintains suspense on different levels throughout a film that is both gripping and compelling .", "their fascinating interdependence gives way to a power struggle built on unspoken trust and a series of daring demands .", "... a rich and intelligent film that uses its pulpy core conceit to probe questions of attraction and interdependence and how the heart accomodates practical needs . it is an unstinting look at a collaboration between damaged people that may or may not qual", "anything but a feel-good movie in its particulars , MOV nonetheless communicates a liberating message as refreshing as it is peculiar .", "audiard has created one of those rare , commercially released movies that trades in actual , honest-to-god surprise .", "devos and cassel have tremendous chemistry -- their sexual and romantic tension , while never really vocalized , is palpable .", "a gritty , engaging thriller .", "although it has thriller elements , MOV is more of a straightforward caper film with substantial personal interaction .", "MOV works on many levels , one being a fresh take on the ` office romance , ' but a romance that evolves in a strictly nontraditional way .", "MOV starts with a bang and ends with an orgasm .", "emmanuelle devos , veteran of a number of relationship dramas directed by arnaud desplechin , is terrific in subtly impressing on us carla 's outsider status .", "it 's erotic , suspenseful and built around two surprising characters . even better , it does n't feel like every other thriller we 've ever seen .", "thoughtful , provocative and entertaining .", "there 's a lot to recommend MOV .", "it 's the duo 's conflicted relationship that steals our attention , thanks to the first-rate work of the leads .", "passionless and devoid of genuine suspense .", "the attraction between these two marginal characters is complex from the start -- and , refreshingly , stays that way .", "a vivid reminder of the true nature of chemistry between lovers , and the rarity with which we see it on the screen .", "the mesmerizing performances of the leads keep the film grounded and keep the audience riveted .", "overall , it 's the best french thriller since with a friend like harry two years ago .", "-lsb- an -rsb- ingenious , amoral and atmospheric thriller .", "the movie shifts from workplace melodrama to neo-noir to deadly romantic caper with a bracing absence of cuteness .", "-lsb- audiard -rsb- combines a flair for enlivening genre conventions with a careful approach to his characters .", "audiard has dressed an impressive psychological drama in the disguise of a romantic thriller .", "this offbeat french film is entertaining enough to make headway in art house venues and appears ripe for an american remake .", "the plot mechanics of MOV eventually kind of spin into a fairly conventional thriller , but the wildly talented cassel and the unconventionally alluring devos give this movie a unique feel .", "hailed as a clever exercise in neo-hitchcockianism , this clever and very satisfying picture is more accurately chabrolian .", "the deafness factor comes into play minimally . though i knew it was possible , i ca n't tell you how refreshing it feels to finally see it on film .", "fascinating and transgressive love story .", "smart , sharp french thriller with a twist", "devos and cassel give arresting performances as perpetual outsiders who absorb themselves in the ultimate struggle for power and position .", "an inventive , propulsive office thriller .", "its rawness and vitality give it considerable punch .", "a beautifully calibrated drama .", "MOV is not a heist film , a thriller , a twisted romance , a film noir or a character study , but a unique concoction that bends all these genres to its vision .", "filled with alexandre desplat 's haunting and sublime music , the movie completely transfixes the audience .", "devos ' performance goes a step further : she gets us rooting for carla , even though we know she 's just setting herself up for more pain .", "the pleasure of MOV is like seeing a series of perfect black pearls clicking together to form a string . we 're drawn in by the dark luster .", "if you like interesting premises , quirky characters and dark humor , track down this movie - it 's not like any romantic comedy or action-adventure movie out there .", "the powerful success of MOV with such provocative material shows why , after only three films , director/co-writer jacques audiard , though little known in this country , belongs in the very top rank of french filmmakers .", "MOV is to be viewed and treasured for its extraordinary intelligence and originality as well as its lyrical variations on the game of love .", "what gives the film its bounce is that there 's no psychological exposition : audiard has godard 's love of the visual gesture -lrb- not to mention his fascination with the way people 's lives are altered by their fantasies -rrb- .", "this is a finely written , superbly acted offbeat thriller .", "never once predictable .", "it 's stylishly directed with verve ...", "the noirish twists are not always believable ; at least once i laughed out loud incredulously .", "see it now , before the inevitable hollywood remake flattens out all its odd , intriguing wrinkles .", "the exposition does pay off , if you can stay awake that long . there 's little gripping in the film until the second hour .", "a genuinely adult thriller with a sneaky sexual charge .", "although the movie contains elements of a romantic thriller , it is equally powerful as a drama .", "its primary benefits are held in a quark of arcane visual symbols and cultural criticism .", "this is only audiard 's third film , but it should put him in the top ranks of international filmmakers .", "it 's neither as romantic nor as thrilling as it should be . but it offers plenty to ponder and chew on as its unusual relationship slowly unfolds .", "throughout , mr. audiard 's direction is fluid and quick .", "we root for -lsb- clara and paul -rsb- , even like them , though perhaps it 's an emotion closer to pity .", "paul and carla complement each other beautifully , and each becomes more beautiful in the process", "the crime matters less than the characters , although the filmmakers supply enough complications , close calls and double-crosses to satisfy us ." ], "summary": "a clever and offbeat character study about two people discovering each other .", "id": "15773" }, { "movie": "barbarian_invasions", "reviews": [ "by the time arcand reaches his final scenes , he has revealed one generation 's regrets and disappointments and broken through the other 's brittle defenses , achieving a resolution that thoughtful viewers of all ages should find profoundly moving .", "arcand finds the heart of the matter in every scene and in each monologue .", "... the speeches are so deadening , i thought the projectionist had slipped in the last reel of a john sayles picture .", "ultimately a gracious , even sweet-natured film , optimistic almost despite itself .", "even if you never saw ` decline of the american empire , ' you can feel the ` big chill ' vibe running through these fascinating characters .", "terribly long-winded and uninspiring .", "intelligent , thought-provoking , frequently moving film with a strong script and an impressive ensemble cast .", "one of those rare movie sequels that 's actually better than its predecessor .", "warm , wise and witty .", "arcand 's intelligent and witty script is the film 's strongest attribute .", "um daqueles raros exemplares que n\u0433o alimentam apenas a mente , mas tamb\u0439m o cora\u0437\u0433o .", "the barbarian invasion works better as comedy than as drama , its ultimate impact marred by sentimentality .", "it 's hard not to be won over by the MOV ' enormous generosity of spirit and the sense that one of the country 's best filmmakers is again firing on most , if not all , cylinders .", "there are no false , sentimental or maudlin turns here .", "witty interchanges hit satirical targets .", "swarming with ideas , the film never turns schematic or hectoring .", "if there 's anything less appealing than movies about gradual death , it 's movies where various characters ' dialogue is spent espousing a filmmaker 's philosophy .", "beautifully-written followup to writer-director denys arcand 's earlier film , `` the decline of the american empire . '' it offers insight into life , death and relationships .", "-lsb- i -rsb- felt it was trying to do too much with what looked increasingly like a fantasy premise .", "represents an artistic ideal of how we 'd all like to end things", "taking themes and ideas from kurosawa 's `` ikuru '' and kasdan 's `` the big chill '' -lrb- to name a few -rrb- , director denys arcand still manages to make this film his own .", "moves you to laughter and tears without cheating to do it .", "arcand avoids the temptation of turning the story into a tear-jerker .", "sweet and poignant ; perceptive and true .", "the characters ' endless conversations , which range from health care to mao to heroin , are never less than engaging , and arcand 's obvious affection for all his characters , deserving or not , proves contagious .", "like an encounter with remy the man , MOV is an emotional , infuriating journey that 's ultimately worth taking .", "i think before this filmmaker casts his barbarian stones , he should look at himself .", "finds a grace that pulls us in even though its focus is a man who is cantankerously self-deluded , obstinately blind and smug about his past transgressions .", "basically , it 's the big chill , but more full of itself and not as entertaining .", "a sophisticated take on what has become a familiar situation in movies and television -- the hippie , lefty , baby boomer parents and the conservative generation their mores and behavior have produced .", "if you have n't seen the original , which , if memory serves , was billed as ` the big chill with a doctorate , ' no worries . arcand 's follow-up stands alone as a universal story of generational reconciliation .", "arcand dearly likes his characters , but here 's another movie cancer death nearly devoid of mess and stress , with available heroin and a lovably comforting sunset .", "will please relationship junkies .", "its personal and intimate moments are profound ; they transcend cultural boundaries with the capacity to touch anyone .", "arcand 's fluid camera weaves through the hallways and casually surveys the characters ' faces , remaining unobtrusive but visually alive .", "arcand loyalists are bound to miss r\u00e9my , but at least he goes out in style . even the antagonists will have to admit that .", "smart , if surprisingly sentimental .", "despite a slight tendency to be overly pleased with itself , this is a smart piece of work that got arcand 's screenplay an award at cannes .", "besides being a witty look at life , death and relationships , this is also a startlingly insightful examination of civilisation .", "the only thing that separates invasions from vile tripe like stepmom and sweet november is the language its mawkish characters spew .", "what makes the MOV much more than a facile exercise in generational conflict is that denys arcand , who wrote and directed it , has a sense of history that is as acute as it is playful .", "although i had a mixed reaction to the movie , i recommend it for its willingness to acknowledge mortality and for arcand 's grace as a filmmaker .", "fun to watch .", "as fondly remembered as -lsb- the bill chill and the decline of the american empire -rsb- are , arcand 's MOV surpasses them both .", "the treatment of the subject is n't maudlin , thanks to a witty script and an enormously likable lead character .", "admirable in its refusal to be politically correct .", "a movie that , in the story of one man dying , shows us all how to live .", "a film about one death that is fully vibrant with both life and love .", "an eloquent , achingly reflective taking of stock .", "while this film is awash in talk , providing an outlet for the gamut of filmmaker arcand 's heavy thoughts and ideas , its essential emotional container stays miraculously afloat and reaches its destination .", "while it would seem like an unlikely candidate for a sequel , the MOV at least revives its talky debates over the things that matter : politics , literature , love , friendship and , of course , sex .", "it 's quite depressing to find that these self-absorbed people have n't really changed , that they still pontificate about their left-leaning politics , still offer unsolicited advice , still brag about their sex lives and still have a superior edge .", "a lively , funny , touching film .", "the film is enchantingly photographed , but emotionally devoid , which is odd , considering the subject matter .", "arcand does a fantastic job of establishing these folks to the point where we really feel like we know them ...", "-lsb- a -rsb- masterpiece .", "a bracing canadian comedy about all those bothersome forces that unsettle our lives along with those surprising blessings which open our hearts unexpectedly .", "one feels awestruck by arcand 's accomplishment : starkly aware of life 's beauty , its fragility , and the undeniable truth that friends , lovers , and family are what makes us who we are .", "it may seem counter intuitive to insist that a film about illness , death , and aging is delightful , but that is the effect of the MOV .", "a film that effortlessly makes you laugh with delight , cringe with pain and weep for life 's inevitable end .", "a poignant and thoughtful depiction of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation .", "if your tears flow -lrb- which they assuredly will -rrb- , they will be cathartic tears , tears as much of joy and affirmation as of sadness .", "the MOV flirts with shallow pieties and glib wisdom , but in the end it dives into the deepest part of the pool .", "the MOV is manipulative without apology , and we want it to be .", "a savvy look at generation gaps and parental disappointment , and the often-wide chasm that separates pragmatism and ideology .", "in spite of their differences , father and son finally become close", "the film 's emotional ending is deeply felt and powerful , examining the pain and the humor of life without pathos or melodrama . as such , the film resonates and lingers .", "both the comedy and the weepy moments tend towards the trite , but the film is directed and performed with such brio and manipulative skill that one eventually succumbs to its somewhat dubious charms .", "so many fascinating ideas are raised here that arcand 's decision to explore them within the context of a self-satisfied soap is disappointing .", "a full-bodied , funny and gloriously unpretentious ode to family , friendship and the meaning of life .", "the film may be more of a sad commentary on the human condition than traditionally sad in the manner arcand intended .", "humour , whether darkly observant or skilfully witty , twines through the film like a confidently creeping ivy , growing out of the characters quite naturally .", "`` the MOV '' is an intriguing meditation on the inevitable fall of ideologies under the pressure of nature 's laws .", "despite an uneven cast , arcand finds a tonal balance between sentimental and cynical that keeps the conversations real and heart wrenching .", "... jerkily paced , dramatically obvious , and seems penned by a self-serious 16-year-old", "... an almost documentary truth to the performances , a un-movieish consistency of tone that makes it easy to forget that we 're watching actors .", "-lsb- a -rsb- surprisingly moving film .", "pungently funny and heartfelt .", "french-canadian director denys arcand revisits the aging intellectuals from the decline of the american empire -- and they might be interesting , if they 'd ever shut up .", "croze 's award-winning performance is impressive : bruised , vulnerable , but still spirited as she as unwillingly as sebastian moves back into her mother 's orbit .", "one of the most intelligent and articulate entertainments of the year from any country .", "-lsb- a -rsb- deep and marvelously humane film .", "there are some pluses to barbarian invasion , ... with a gruffly touching performance as the family patriarch by remy girard", "a film with a sense of joy and wonder as it celebrates our existence , while reminding us of some of the human traits ... which keep us from enjoying life as much as we should .", "the film will be best enjoyed by fans eager to spend another 90 minutes with a group of old friends .", "encourages us to examine our own humanity , and to laugh and cry along with some familiar reprobates who are all too human , and all the more loveable for it .", "if secular humanism were an actual religion , the MOV would be recognized as a religious masterpiece .", "a welcomed return to form for denys arcand , his best film in more than a decade .", "the banter ... is thick enough to rake -- and often way too thick to swallow , even for those who might not mind spending a couple hours with a bunch of baby boomers wasting their time by sorting through wasted time in the past .", "visually ` the MOV ' has a nice surface , but the more one listens to it the more ephemeral and inconsequential it becomes .", "a lament for lost ideals , a fantasy of the good death , a rant against the evils of the modern besieged age -- quebec director denys arcand 's latest film can be seen as all these things at once .", "there is a lot to ponder , a lot to feel , in this elegiac film .", "a deeply felt celebration of the life force .", "a bittersweet family story with a great deal of warmth and humor .", "death has no sting here .", "schmaltzy and contrived .", "as a family drama , the film succeeds with the sort of bitter humor we look to the french to deliver .", "`` the history of mankind is a history of horrors , '' says remy in one of his pontificating moods . so , we gather , is the history of this family .", "it 's refreshing to hear talk about great thinkers , good books , and the dreams of men .", "a bit too neat and calculated to make the emotions ring really true .", "life , liberty , and the pursuit of loose women ; it 's wonderful to be dying in montreal .", "s\u00e9bastien , nathalie and the film 's other secondary characters are neat , shaded creations ably played . but unfortunately , this is n't their movie .", "es con extraordinaria sutileza que el canadiense denys arcand nos va metiendo en - y haciendo parte de - los \u00faltimos d\u00edas del protagonista de esta pel\u00edcula .", "its most poignant observation is that these barbarians , being our own sons and daughters , are already well within the gates", "you get to experience the sentiment without drowning in it ; and you get a sharp-edged ideological exploration of living -lrb- and dying -rrb- in modern times .", "the occasion is death , but the movie is a joyous celebration of life .", "the movie is brutally funny and ironic about the way this corrupt world is manipulated by the cynical s\u00e9bastien .", "arcand gives us a wonderful portrait of real people forced to reconcile their pasts against a certain future and rejoicing in what once was and can continue to be ...", "a nicely balanced blend of sentiment and acrid wit .", "at a time when theaters are full of explosions , revenge scenarios and over-the-top sadism , it 's a blessed relief just to find a movie that 's about ideas and forgiveness .", "i kept wondering how arcand could have chosen as his generational representative a man not just flawed in his hedonism but one so fundamentally lacking in tenderness for others .", "the dramatic tangle of family in the MOV is reduced to a bizarre cartoon of name-dropping , smug banter , and straggling sex-rev nostalgia .", "in the end , our tears are because we identify with these characters , not because the script has inelegantly manipulated our emotions .", "a sentimental homage to a big , broad life that rarely turns mawkish", "for all its intellectual maneuvering , the film never regains the simple power of its opening salvo .", "stilted yet emotionally successful", "privileged audiences that swooned for decline of the american empire should expect more of the same oh-so-witty jibber-jabber and specious political `` noise '' exchanged between arcand 's motley intellectuals .", "like an alchemist , arcand has transformed a film of ideas into an emotional experience .", "the performances are first-rate , especially from girard . arcand 's direction is heartfelt and artful .", "scathingly funny and movingly elegaic .", "covers familiar movie-of-the-week territory ... but the acting and writing are sharp enough to transcend such limitations ...", "its vicious satire and ambivalent final images leave a bitter aftertaste to ensure that its message of cautious optimism , though sweet , never becomes too cloying .", "a sharp-witted delight .", "arcand 's screenplay is bold and feisty ; his film is witty and acerbic at times , yet long-winded and blustery at others .", "the spirited talks are the heart of the movie .", "and underwhelming is any film that uses footage of the attack on the world trade center for one of its few emotional jolts .", "the intentions aim for the highbrow , but the execution is rather trivial , simplistic , dull , pretentious .", "touching on the themes that affect us all in the twilight of one man 's life , arcand has created a moving portrait of the world we live in and his struggle against it ." ], "summary": "a moving and heart-felt film from director denys arcand .", "id": "13669" }, { "movie": "betty_fisher_and_other_stories", "reviews": [ "kiberlain 's and garcia 's performances ... trace , with brilliant precision , the exhausting mix of brutality and grace inherent in the mother-daughter relationship .", "a suspense thriller with a sense of pleasurable unease , the film also serves up a juicy slice of human nature .", "sometimes scary , sometimes sad and always thought provoking .", "you could say that it 's slow at times , you could say that a few of the characters act in ways that real people would n't , but one thing you could n't say is that alias betty is predictable .", "should have been someone else -", "like a three-ring circus , there are side stories aplenty -- none of them memorable .", "an absorbing trip into the minds and motivations of people under stress as well as a keen , unsentimental look at variations on the theme of motherhood .", "at its best when the guarded , resentful betty and the manipulative yet needy margot are front and center .", "do n't let the creepy dread fool you -- this quiet french thriller gets to the heart of motherhood , and then pays off with comfort and calm .", "it 's a solid movie about people whose lives are anything but .", "a nifty , entwined , ultimately gripping adaptation of british crime writer ruth rendell 's novel the tree of hands .", "at heart the movie is a deftly wrought suspense yarn whose richer shadings work as coloring rather than substance .", "it 's pithy without being saccharine ; it 's funny without ever not taking itself seriously ; it 's full of beautiful characters and great performances .", "ms. khiberlain , ms. garcia and ms. seigner brilliantly play the three mothers like a dissonant string trio on a single theme : the varied agonies of motherhood .", "mezcla de serie negra `` a la francesa '' con estudio s\u00f3rdido sobre la maternidad , betty fisher posee la estructura cinematogr\u00e1fica que debe tener una pel\u00edcula que entrecruza historias como si fueran piezas de un collage que , al final , se juntan .", "a captivating story .", "a pleasant enough valentine to rendell 's the tree of hands , if a story that deals with child abuse and sexual obsession could be described in those terms .", "like a tarantino movie with heart , alias betty is richly detailed , deftly executed and utterly absorbing .", "this is pretty dicey material . but some unexpected zigs and zags help .", "an ingenious and often harrowing look at damaged people and how families can offer either despair or consolation .", "miller is playing so free with emotions , and the fact that children are hostages to fortune , that he makes the audience hostage to his swaggering affectation of seriousness .", "sharp psychological thriller ... about mothers and children .", "either a fascinating study of the relationship between mothers and their children or a disturbing story about sociopaths and their marks .", "some of what happens in alias betty is highly improbable . yet miller and his excellent cast sell the story by not overplaying their hands .", "an engrossing story that combines psychological drama , sociological reflection , and high-octane thriller .", "if this movie were a book , it would be a page-turner , you ca n't wait to see what happens next .", "claude miller airs out a tight plot with an easy pace and a focus on character drama over crime-film complications .", "understated , elegant meditation on motherhood , obligation and coincidence , all wrapped up in the form of an urban thriller .", "the story pulls us in almost immediately -- and the style and cast keep us hooked .", "-lsb- miller -rsb- knows that good suspense films do n't always need to keep viewers on the edges of their seats ; sometimes they can just be concerned with what interesting characters will do next .", "a provocative movie about loss , anger , greed , jealousy , sickness and love .", "miller tells this very compelling tale with little fuss or noise , expertly plucking tension from quiet .", "it says a lot about a filmmaker when he can be wacky without clobbering the audience over the head and still maintain a sense of urgency and suspense .", "cold , pretentious , thoroughly dislikable study in sociopathy .", "if this movie leaves you cool , it also leaves you intriguingly contemplative .", "miller makes the film 's sometimes mechanical and giddy narrative into something grander -- a meditation on maternity as a form of inspired madness .", "kiberlain gives an impressive performance that is harshly uncompromising in its presentation of a woman filled with anger , grief and a highly discernible writing talent .", "a stylish thriller .", "an intricate tale of guilt , grief and dark serendipity ... so deft it 's hard not to gasp with delight as the plot 's pieces slide into place and its machinery begins humming .", "often shocking but ultimately worthwhile exploration of motherhood and desperate mothers .", "miller has crafted an intriguing story of maternal instincts and misguided acts of affection .", "while laterally propelled films like this are often exercises in structural cleverness , miller 's movie makes organic use of its incidental associations .", "a fine film , but it would be a lot better if it stuck to betty fisher and left out the other stories .", "a dashing and absorbing outing with one of france 's most inventive directors .", "a small gem of a movie that defies classification and is as thought-provoking as it is funny , scary and sad .", "works as a decent urban thriller ." ], "summary": "alias betty works both as a gripping thriller and as a precisely drawn character study .", "id": "337700118" }, { "movie": "bright_star", "reviews": [ "has lady jane gone as chaste as the pg rating on MOV suggests ? you have no idea .", "there are nice bits throughout , and your heart ca n't help but go out to these impassioned young lovers whom you know are doomed . but MOV is too often tarnished by the ordinary .", "a piece of perfect cinematic poetry , a film that does n't just capture the work , love , and life of a legendary poet but does do with vibrant , relatable , timeless emotion , innocence , and purity .", "campion 's story of a tubercular poet and his lady love recasts the hackneyed old stanza in refreshing new verse .", "what animates this dramatically constrained film are the lively words and the vitality of nature . an image of butterflies blooming in a bedroom is keats ' worldview in miniature .", "a movie as incandescent as its title .", "it 's refreshing to see romantic drama where credulity has n't been stretched by the magic of hollywood or the fantasies of the mind .", "MOV is a rich , sumptuous and , yes , challenging experience .", "a spellbinding story of true love written and directed by jane campion that showcases abbie cornish as an accomplished actress .", "through a lush filmic vernacular , campion shows how these two figures were not only fiercely devoted to their work but also kindred spirits .", "-lsb- o -rsb- ne of the finest films about the life of an artist ever made .", "this is definitely a for-the-femmes flick with its story of romance , elegant dialog , fine chemistry between stars whitshaw and cornish and outstanding production design , lensing and costume .", "... an ordeal for the bulk of its hopelessly overlong running time ...", "-lsb- star , abbie -rsb- cornish shines .", "a rare pleasure of unrequited love that never dips the poet 's ink into the syrup of sentimentality , but rather allows its characters to invest passion from their gently articulated imaginations .", "as might be expected , director jane campion keeps an assertive woman as the film 's center , a deliberately paced romance but hardly a chick-flick .", "your heart will break , your head will swoon , and you will hope against hope for a happy ending that history will not permit .", "one of the year 's pleasures for the eyes , mind and heart -- a MOV indeed .", "a movie in the inimitable pbs masterpiece theater style . john keats falls in love , gets tb and dies . at least there are no exxon commercials .", "the film appears to be flirting with the idea of superficiality and romance and wit and depth of character but never really explores any tack at length , except the agonies of their love .", "an intoxicating and intelligent romance film with strong fleshed-out characters that defy all the clich\u00e9s and pulpy attributes that usually plague this genre .", "this is tragic young love in all its overwrought glory and agony . this is not the reserved , stylish sort of love one seen in jane austen 's works .", "oh MOV , wouldst thou were a great film ... but thou art not . thou art good but bitsy .", "but the film is more about the impact of love on both their lives than about the impact of his poetry , which was n't widely recognised until after his death . life 's a bitch .", "like a MOV that shines from the heavens , jane campion 's film about the doomed love between the poet john keats and fanny brawne is exquisitely beautiful , but keeps us at arm 's length .", "the most perfect film of the year .", "a deeply felt and intelligent film , one of those that has grown in my mind on a second viewing ; it is almost certainly the best of campion 's career , exposing the piano as overrated and overegged .", "director jane campion has a knack for portraying female characters so intimately that she seems to get beneath their skin . she does it again in MOV , an exquisite piece of film-making .", "there 's a full complement of geese and mud and some women in bonnets , but campion avoids finery and ceremony . she does n't show off the period ; she triumphantly makes it a time in which people live as best they can .", "what keeps all this from seeming overmelodramatic is schneider 's huge performance , which is too hilarious . all costume dramas need actors this rude .", "high-toned , tragic , exalted soap", "janet patterson has come up with an exquisite wardrobe for fanny that magically suits both the biographical back-story and cornish 's fine physique . let 's hope oscar agrees .", "romance and poetry have no time to sag", "gorgeous and anchored by a flinty performance from abbie cornish , it 's a mystery as to why this jane campion period piece fades away rather than catches fire .", "to film asxoleitai me ton erwta toys , apo th skopia ths fanny , apo th skopia petaloydas poy sboyrizei anemela mexri na brei sto libadi poihth na toy royfhksei to nektar", "the emotions found in MOV are raw and passionate , and are magnificently presented in the most simplest and natural moments .", "-lsb- jane campion -rsb- shows us here the beautiful sanctuaries that word and image create together , and the reasons why life requires us ... to abandon them .", "campion 's film avoids any taint of costume drama frippery . yes , fanny starts off as a regency-era fashionista , but cornish and whishaw 's deeply felt performances give us a real sense of the beating hearts beneath the frock coats and bonnets .", "a solid , rather restrained rendition of john keats ' final years , campion 's period piece avoids pitfalls and cliches of the biopic genre , and while not illuminating of keats as a unique poet , it does convey the taste of first love .", "jane campion has turned the short and doomed affair between john keats and fanny brawne into an enthralling film that tenderly rips your heart to shreds .", "australian director jane campion 's gorgeously filmed festival de cannes competition entry `` MOV '' may not be a joy forever but it will do until the next joy comes along .", "it is campion 's most fully realised , satisfying achievement in a long while and will be warmly embraced as a prestige item with awards potential .", "campion has constructed a highly classical narrative , one driven by archaic british dialogue and the mannerisms to match it .", "a thing of beauty is a joy forever , but a thing of plodding inevitability is just two hours of my time amiably wasted .", "the plot does n't have much to go on , so much is imagined but not demonstrably true , with acting , production design and period costume hopefully covering for accuracy .", "has a disarming quality to it , depicting a romance not as torrid waves of drama but as something that is born awkward and steadily gains its holding .", "a period piece typified by restraint , delicacy and the romantic spirit of its renowned subject .", "there 's a spellbinding , painterly quality to the way campion depicts the changing seasons -lrb- between 1819 and 1820 -rrb- and it sets a mood that complements the poet 's vivid and sensuous style .", "it simmers rather than sizzles , shimmers rather than sears . but possession of a y chromosome is by no means an obstacle to enjoyment of it .", "this shrugs off the musty restraints of costumed stereotypes and concentrates exclusively on the slowburning affair as keats finds himself `` dissolving '' as love draws him in .", "quietly shedding all the fussy baggage of ` heritage drama ' , campion gives us a moving account of keats ' great love and tragic death . a film of pictorial beauty and authenticity , graced with a fine cast .", "dramatically static from first to final frame , it charts the non-progress of the central relationship as a series of nineteenth-century feints and counter-feints .", "a wonderfully realised account of intoxicating love and a movie with spirit and soul . do n't expect it to set the box office on fire though .", "an eloquent , well-crafted return to form - and return to corsets and period frocks - for jane campion , who uses the character of fanny brawne , the survivor , to give a unique perspective on the creative , terminal period in the life of john keats .", "without major tension , conflict or crisis , brawne and keats simply mope about , moon at each other , talk about literature and wait for the great poet to die from tuberculosis .", "england 1818 seems like a fragonard garden , the pastoral height of civilization . conversation is witty ; summer feels eternal .", "there 's a fine line between fragile sensitivity and wimpishness , and ben whishaw tramples all over it . he is the drippiest british actor since the merchant ivory heyday of james wilby .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- may have inspired some beautiful poetry but , here , provokes mere yawns .", "the achievement of jane campion 's learned and ravishing new film is to trace the comminglings and collisions of poetic creation and amatory passion .", "writer-director jane campion approaches the tale with an artiste 's respectful solemnity , but it too often comes off like twilight transplanted across oceans and centuries .", "equal parts a lovely daydream and heaving , lovelorn sobs , MOV is something of an intimate masterpiece .", "jane campion 's film is as lyrical as you might expect but it 's also enlivened with a bracing air of irreverence .", "campion takes her time to tell her tender story , but the film rewards with a conclusion i found incredibly moving . this is certainly one of the best films of the year .", "i think it 's her most restrained film , in a lot of ways . it 's very classic . it 's very poetic . it embraces keats poetry in the making of it .", "this is a worthwhile story told with lukewarm emotion . the doomed love comes off as less a tragedy than a pity . the background makes this story more interesting than the foreground does .", "a lush romantic drama where the best elements are the least romantic .", "MOV is an admirable film made by a superb craftsman , but for me , campion fails to deliver the big emotional punch she hopes to land .", "campion , who won fans with the piano -lrb- 1993 -rrb- and lost them with the dismal in the cut -lrb- 2003 -rrb- here returns to the top of her form .", "a combination of unstuffy dialogue , wise casting , unselfconscious performances and sensuous but never pretty photography makes campion 's version of the nineteenth century feel current but not anachronistic .", "sit and savour this marvellous film until the lights come up .", "MOV does nothing new -lrb- if it was n't based of fact , it would be accused of adhering too closely to formula -rrb- but it does it very well , displaying real craft and benefiting from terrific performances .", "in presenting keats as much in brawne 's eyes as she in his , we watch fanny 's growing interest in john , we wait with her for his letters , we share in her anguish when all seems lost -- campion suggests that he was her `` MOV '' as well", "impressive conventional and competent pbs-like biopic on the romantic poet john keats .", "masterpieces of literature-to-film are a rare breed ; this film falls short with satisfaction .", "sensitively , slowly explores the interplay between a living , breathing muse and an inspired artist . quietly makes a regent-era , circumspect romance palpable .", "a beautiful film and a strikingly truthful one , and not because it waxes too philosophic or throws down the intellectual gauntlet .", "a thoroughly engaging , beautifully directed and superbly acted romantic drama that packs a powerful emotional punch .", "if john keats is the catalyst who inspired miss campion to make this film , and us to go see it , it is fanny brawne , the MOV of the film 's title , who makes it worthwhile .", "gorgeous to behold , the film also devastates with its meticulous portrait of impassioned lovers against whom fate conspires so mightily .", "plays by the strict and proper rules of the period genre , resulting in a predominantly frigid and impersonal love story .", "for a movie so sensuously mounted , it 's remarkably grounded .", "a little too genteel for my tastes . or rather , it would be were it not for paul schneider 's complex and often refreshingly rude performance .", "MOV is literate , romantic and high-minded .", "an occasionally dull , very gentle romantic drama that could have used more tension and a sharper screenplay , but it 's compensated by a radiant and enchanting performance by abbie cornish along with exquisite cinematography .", "whatever else it is -- a romantic biopic without compromise -- it is also , and for me , mostly , a celebration of the huge talent that is abbie cornish .", "what in lesser hands could have become an immaculately observed period piece instead soars to creative heights with its literate and knowing script .", "shallow , slow and mr. brown is an irritant .", "for all the exquisite cinematography and fine performances , MOV remains curiously unaffecting .", "if you do n't mind the inert drama at the core , MOV at least gives you plenty of eye candy .", "romantic , moving film brings poet -- and poetry -- to life .", "cornish and whishaw give powerful , unforgettable performances , with cornish assured of an oscar nomination . other cast members , such as schneider and kerry fox as fanny 's mother , make the film even stronger .", "despite being visually stunning , it 's as dry as hell .", "sumptuous attention to detail , lush photography and beautifully understated performances", "MOV is that rare and upbraiding thing , a film - perhaps the last one of the year - that seeks not to jam your emotions or scare you silly , but asks you to think about words .", "campion has created another resonant paean to love 's pain and joy , and gives new life to john keats , too often now associated with dusty school books .", "beautiful cinematography , exceptional performances and an admirable sense of restraint combine to make it one of the most gorgeous and satisfying period dramas in recent memory .", "MOV deals with the sonnets and the bonnets - top marks to the production and costume designer , janet patterson - with wit and restraint , and proves that a chaste romance need n't lack for passion , or poetry .", "steadfastness , truth and a simple , blazing , incandescent humanity . this is a literary life story in which life , for once , is the meaningful word .", "a heavenly delight .", "i wanted to love it because it 's so damn literary and exquisitely put together but ultimately it felt like a very long two hours .", "a sedate , intelligent and quietly sensuous film .", "there 's enough material here for a solid , heartfelt period love story -- it may not make viewers swoon the way a good jane austen adaptation might , but it 's well enough made to deliver an emotional impact .", "a literate , lyrical love story in the age of hollywood crass . i must be dreaming .", "campion -- who also wrote the screenplay , inspired by british poet andrew motion 's biography of keats -- tells the story of keats and fanny in delicate , painterly colors , layered in such a way that they 're vividly vital .", "a film that avoids any trace of musty reverence for a long-dead poet by concentrating our senses on the breathtaking girl next door .", "a small film , but also an uncommonly lovely work .", "MOV satisfies a hunger we may not have known we had , a hunger for an exquisitely done , emotional love story that marries heartbreaking passion to formidable filmmaking restraint ...", "every frame of this exquisite period romance features an attention to detail , a passion for literature and an intense , fully clothed , pre-victorian sexiness that suggest a director in something close to rapture .", "the movie hovers just above moments of fact and reportage , resting almost totally on a cloud of passion and emotion . the fact that keats was one of the greatest romantic poets is merely a bonus and an excuse for some gorgeous , glorious dialogue .", "those who love language and particularly poetic verse will savor the dialogue , as well as the visual splendor of the film . with its gorgeously framed shots and superb craftsmanship , MOV is a thing of beauty .", "a smart , visual dialectic on the ease of showing certain creative processes and the impossibility of documenting others .", "writer-director jane campion has fashioned a fascinating mix of contradictions . her film is at once gritty and ethereal , grounded and romantic , quaint and contemporary .", "this film about the doomed love affair of poet john keats and his neighbor fanny brawne left me underwhelmed .", "in its way campion 's film is a thing of beauty , but its characters ' inner lives must be taken on faith .", "MOV is n't in the same ballpark as the piano - heck , it 's not even in the same time zone - but it 's the first campion movie since then to warrant 10 best consideration .", "the rare film about the life of an artist that is itself a work of art .", "the best costumers , set designers , and property masters ca n't conjure up the mental and emotional spaces of a simpler era ; that requires a filmmaker who knows the virtue of quiet , patience , and attentiveness .", "for a film about love , MOV is curiously cold , more pretty than emotional . true stars have heat .", "it is a great film about a great love .", "greig fraser 's cool cinematography offsets the heat in campion 's ecstatically literate screenplay , which quotes keats ' handiwork all the way through the end credits . it sounds like music .", "silence and stillness , as well as the restrained desire of its lovers , are given their due . after the clatter and rush of the summer flicks , patience is demanded but also rewarded .", "it 's immediately refreshing in its unabashed flow of feeling , but it also wields a cumulative punch .", "intimate as a whisper , immediate as a blush , and universal as first love , the pg-rated film positively palpitates with the sensual and spiritual .", "MOV is ripe with the eroticism of a proud woman being seduced by words and undone by emotions . if that 's not worth more than a year of megan fox movies , i ca n't help you .", "i love the way campion lets the camera rest on an image . especially when the image is aussie dish cornish , who plays keats ' starry-eyed admirer . has an actress ever been photographed so flatteringly and at such length ?", "MOV is a well-acted , well-crafted but excruciatingly tepid romantic film about a subject that will attract poetry lovers and yet test even their considerable patience .", "MOV shines brightly indeed , not only on the strength of a couple of powerhouse performances , but also as a look back at a time when poets were rock stars , with all the skinny british attitude that implies .", "... -lsb- jane -rsb- campion is on solid ground here , and she treads it respectfully .", "MOV does manage to recharge the director 's creative batteries , with material that allows campion to exercise her amazing ability to depict love 's ever scarring touch .", "fanny deserved more than just a generic place in the heavens as a great lover thwarted by fate . MOV is only second-magnitude .", "what campion does is seek visual beauty to match keats ' verbal beauty . there is a shot here of fanny in a meadow of blue flowers that is so enthralling it beggars description .", "it 's not only the best possible ode to keats ' work , this lovely gentle poetic film , it 's the best possible ode to fanny , as well : if she made him feel the way this movie feels , that must have been a powerful love indeed .", "the brightest star in this leisurely retelling of the truth behind one of john keats 's most famous poems is not what it says , but how it looks .", "campion 's big-sisterly encouragement of cornish 's lovely , openhearted performance -- and whishaw 's well-matched response -- results in a character instantly , intimately recognizable to anyone remembering her own first love .", "it 's a studied movie that gives itself over to bursts of intensity , and between them sometimes threatens to become as spellbound by its subjects as they become with each other .", "MOV seems to be a lot about very little , a miniature projected to imax size . so much goes unspoken that what remains seems almost trite .", "a mellow , pictorially attractive period piece in which the characters seem actually to breathe rather than merely pose , as so often happens in such films .", "a work blessed with keen insight into the heart and soul .", "one man 's woe is the audience 's tedium .", "it was so refreshing to see a story told about true love that contained honest chemistry . ben wishaw should be nominated for oscar right now .", "MOV is one of those rare films that critics wait for and moviegoers ca n't wait to tell their friends about . oscar nominations may be on their way at last .", "elegant and incadescent , it revels in its innate intelligence .", "with ` MOV , ' new zealand 's jane campion -lrb- ` the piano ' -rrb- has managed to write and direct an engrossing film about a man whose achievements can only be found on the page and in the heart .", "should inspire current and future generations to explore keats and other romantic poets", "parental content review", "a love story like they do n't make any more , except i 'm not certain that they ever really did .", "with `` MOV , '' writer/director jane campion has made a film that is like a flip , ` civilized , ' version of `` the piano 's '' exotic wilderness .", "the handsome-looking period drama takes material that could have been portrayed in lurid and sensationalistic detail but instead portrays it with real sensitivity and class , without going too far in showing a passionate romantic relationship .", "MOV , a story of loss and love illustrated by poetry , seldom does more than gently move us . it is a fine film to look at and listen to but there are heights it fails to scale .", "breaking through any period piece mustiness with piercing insight into the emotions and behavior of her characters ." ], "summary": "jane campion 's direction is as refined as her screenplay , and she gets the most out of her cast -- especially abbie cornish -- in this understated period drama .", "id": "770768852" }, { "movie": "bend_it_like_beckham", "reviews": [ "easily one of the more delightful , charming and comical imports of the past couple of years .", "an amusing , good-hearted confluence of family , cultural and gender issues that blends aspects of billy elliott and monsoon wedding into its own distinctive mulligatawny soup .", "the only thing bad about this movie is its title . once you get beyond that you find a feel-good , sports , coming-of-age , girl-empowerment drama immersed in a cultural adaptation story that works for all cultures and genders .", "its sleek , easygoing , utterly un-remarkable charm has precious little to recommend it outside of the standard coming-of-age or date-night movie .", "it 's a plot as old as aristophanes - finding and being who you are is the richest tradition to follow .", "what sets this film apart ... is the underlying but palpable affection with which director and co-writer gurinda chadha invests her characters .", "slight , corny , and hopelessly predictable .", "it 's a good thing this baby is only playing indoors ; otherwise , audiences might well be so uplifted they 'd float away .", "sometimes , even early in the year , you know a particular movie will wind up on your top 10 list .", "has an energetic zeal that is hard for even the most jaded , seen-it-all audience member to resist for very long .", "every bit as predictable , warm and fuzzy as you might expect it to be .", "nagra 's debut as jess is the sort of cinderella performance that sends audiences floating out of the theater on a fuzzy cloud of affection and good cheer .", "sure , -lsb- it -rsb- wallows in cliches ... but it does so with such a bright , energetic spirit that you forgive pretty much everything .", "spunky and easy to watch , this feel-good movie bridges the distance between old country and new with the deft touch of a david beckham penalty kick .", "it 's like the innocent , idealistic little sister to the grown-up ` monsoon wedding ' ...", "it 's bouncy , feel-good fun .", "maybe it makes me some kind of feminist , but i like how in this picture , the dream has nothing to do with nuptials ...", "it 's `` feel-good '' without being `` feel-stupid . ''", "the movie is the latest in a snowballing line of routine culture-clash comedies that are so light they practically float off the screen .", "it is not a perfect film , nor a hilarious one , but it is likable .", "the script is simple , delightful and very funny .", "as crowd-pleasers go , this is a good one , and for soccer fans , it 's a must .", "i liked jess and her family , but why did the movie have to be so formulaic and predictable ?", "beyond fresh faces and nice color work , there is little but surface here , only another perky girl movie .", "a charming , visually dazzling work .", "it never tries too hard to please , never deigns for obvious laughs and it always manages to keep sight of what it wants to do and how it wants to do it .", "beckham gets a lot out of its two leading ladies .", "a traditional indian couple in london are horrified to find that their daughter prefers playing soccer to making chapattis in this exuberant english comedy .", "well-structured and full of humourous moments .", "it has a terrific cast and an infectious sense of fun that should turn it into a decent-sized hit .", "even at its worst moments , it 's so likable that you 're willing to convince yourself it 's better than it is .", "chadha 's created something magical ; an atmosphere of happiness and hope , in which we could all bend a ball like beckham -- or like jess .", "while this is far from a poorly made film , it 's one that is more suited for a sharper , smaller focus .", "fun until it starts repeating itself , about 30 minutes from the end .", "so compulsively ` winning ' that it almost lost me , but then its punchy charms worked like a charm .", "you 'll come out of it not wiser or savvier or cooler . but you will be happier .", "as long as you do n't mind the formula , the winning performances and un-fatigable can-do spirit make it worth seeing .", "a routine , genial sports movie .", "plays very well indeed in modern america , where our melting pot of immigrant cultures inevitably leads to clashes over assimilation and tradition .", "it elicits laughs and the kind of rousing , root-for-the-underdog enthusiasm that translates well in any culture .", "a comedy with heart and substance .", "it 's the kind of film that 'll have the whole audience clapping by the time the credit sequence outtakes appear .", "the fact that it makes us consider implications beyond the events onscreen is impressive . still , there 's something missing ...", "gurinder chadha 's third film is an undemanding , unambitious comedy .", "pity it does n't bend many cinematic rules along the way .", "an exhilarating tale of individual triumph that skillfully blends comedy , romance , drama and pointed social commentary .", "a charming , often hilarious experience , brimming with excellent performances and clever dialogue .", "a goal kicking movie with enough entertainment value to fill a stadium .", "only the most curmudgeonly among us will find it within themselves to actually dislike this movie .", "one of the greatest feel good movies ever made .", "a rare amalgam of funny , sweet , action-packed and inspiring .", "this story of becoming who you are without sacrificing who you were is not only a family affirming delight , but an optimistic reminder of how the world changes a little when you do .", "no mere feel-good movie , it 's a feel-great movie .", "some of its success may have been due to a cameo by soccer star david beckham ... and girlfriend posh spice , but most of it has to do with the movie 's warmth , charm and understanding of things universal , such as family .", "the feel-good movie of a feel-blah movie year , with all the positive qualities and one negative trait that this description implies .", "that rare breed of crowd pleaser , one in which it does n't matter that you immediately know how it 's all going to end , because getting there is so much fun .", "a warm and fuzzy crowd-pleaser that holds its cliches close to its heart .", "the energy is infectious , the soundtrack is peppy , and the movie is a real kick", "nagra and knightley have winning personalities , but credit should also go to writer/director chadha for getting the balance right between humour and pathos , and sporting and romantic action .", "formulaico do in\u043dcio ao fim , n\u0433o convence nem mesmo em suas seq\u044c\u043ancias envolvendo futebol % u2013 apesar da boa din\u0432mica entre nagra e knightley .", "more rooted in small-screen sitcom than anything deeper .", "delightfully upbeat , it will send you back out onto the street grinning from ear to ear .", "chadha does a decent job directing , while parminder nagra does a good job acting . the movie 's main problem is that it 's a little more fussy than it needs to be .", "fine character work by juliet stevenson , archie panjabi , and bollywood regular anupam kher makes this well worth seeing .", "a comedy with heart and substance .", "the acting is as nimble as the footwork .", "superb tale of a girl 's struggle for her dreams .", "is satisfying and all the while entertaining to watch from start to finish ...", "it reminds you why these formulas are still around , because every now and then , they really do work .", "suffice it to say this is a delightful , uplifting treat , whether you like soccer or not -lrb- and i do n't -rrb- .", "its irresistible charms and performances are what linger and make beckham a popcorn , er , samosa flick worth savoring .", "every generation has to discover the same clich\u0439s that were drummed into previous generations , and kids could do worse than to learn them from this film .", "the enchanting performance by parminder nagra gives the movie a ton of heart and soul .", "` es una cinta para sentirse bien , divertirse , pasar un buen rato y salir con una honesta sonrisa en la boca , dejando los problemas a un lado por un buen rato '", "a ` feel good movie ' of the very best kind .", "it 's a warm fun movie with a good sense of humor .", "chadha makes a film with something in short supply in american teen-targeted films : class .", "all that fancy footwork , wow ! and a mature story that manages to rise above the typical teen fare . and freddy prinze , jr. is n't anywhere to be found .", "chadha 's film is so beautifully crafted that it reminds one just how good populist screen entertainment can be .", "director gurinder chadha delivers a teenage-angst/girl-power pic that is involving and entertaining .", "meaningful , good-natured and inspiring , this is precisely the sort of movie that we need during difficult times .", "a colorful , heartfelt film that keeps spinning with new versions of old ideas .", "while the film includes some standard issue contrivances and coincidences , it also puts them to good use , an investigation of the ways that expectations and assumptions shape experiences , particularly , girls ' experiences .", "yes , you 've seen every second of it countless times before ; thanks to some slick filmmaking and heartfelt performances , you wo n't mind terribly watching it again .", "chadha has an ear and an eye for the funny , the touching and the just plain odd in her culture 's gradual assimilation into the british mainstream .", "i do n't want the title to scare people away , because this is such a wonderful film .", "a sly and affectionate portrayal of two cultures .", "-lsb- in `` MOV '' -rsb- there are solid teen values , positive family influence , wry and touching humor and just an all-around good story .", "it features strong acting and directing , lots of keen observations about what it 's like living under two different cultures , and plenty of warm humour and effective drama .", "whether it 's the recycling of sports movie and culture-clash cliches or running the same gag over and over again , chadha revels in redundancy .", "you do n't need to know anything about soccer to enjoy this massively entertaining film that scores on almost every attempt .", "this is a fun family film , something we 're too short of nowadays .", "quite a score .", "this is a warm fuzzy of a film that 'll have you feeling good when you leave the theater .", "movies are great barometers for cultural -- and multicultural -- attitudes . MOV is an interesting case in point .", "you 'll probably fall for it anyway -- i did .", "psarminder nagra gives a buoyant performance as an anglo-indian girl who has set her sights on playing soccer in a professional league .", "while chadha presents jess and jules as brave and independent 21st century women , the director then mistakenly gussies things up with a steady stream of shallow -lrb- and , for most girls , unattainable -rrb- sexualized images .", "chadha embraces the challenge of contrasting cultures , insiders and outsiders and wrings every bit of humor , hope and vibrant color out of a script she co-wrote .", "the movie has tons of charm and a light upbeat feeling . it 's a coming-of-age story and a family story , mixed in with lots of soccer and one terrific wedding .", "chadha 's work oozes with compassion , charm and the power of compromise , and on a planet screwed up by enormous cultural ignorance she 's both an artist and a heroine .", "a warm , winning comedy .", "chadha casts a celebratory glow over ... the picture .", "this is a movie with bruised shins and a huge heart .", "overpadded with sitcom misunderstandings ... the mantra that your parents do n't always know what 's best for you , that you have to live your own life , etc. , is repeated so often that it becomes tiresome .", "it may not have the sly ` bend ' of a beckham kick , but it operates in a straight-ahead fashion that 's guaranteed to score with most audiences .", "you seldom leave a theater walking on air , much less float all through a movie . but the joyous MOV never lets you down .", "at the heart of it is nagra , an engaging sweetheart with a great pair of feet .", "made with a craftsmanship and pizzazz that restores your appreciation for honest commercial moviemaking , MOV puts a new definition of femininity on screen , casual and cool and in your face .", "just about perfect as a teenage coming-of-age comedy .", "enjoyably shameless confection .", "at least its big-hearted earnestness seems honest , with the girls ' friendship carrying more spark than the obligatory love subplot .", "lightweight , thoroughly charming fluff .", "like nagra and knightley , the movie is a sweetheart .", "completely predictable and predictably feel-good , but so damn what ?", "a spirited , good-natured coming of age comedy that encompasses the immigrant experience , gender identity and family expectations with an engaging , natural ease .", "this fluffy confection is helium-light , hardly original , and completely predictable , but with a plucky heroine at its center , it is also a rare and wonderful thing .", "an energetic , feel-good blend of comedy , romance and benign drama -- with a side dish of social commentary -- that works despite its strict adherence to the culture clash/generation gap formula .", "football , family friction and cultural pop and politics add up to a comedy as completely delightful as it is predictable .", "the movie uncovers real charm without submitting entirely to irksome quirky preciousness .", "the most unapologetically feel good english produced coming of age ethnic sports comedy ever made .", "the whole movie plays as if abfab and my so-called life were put into a blender , with the director standing above it slowly pouring a bucket of hot-pink paint into the mix . i could n't stop smiling .", "take the plot of billy elliot , toss in the ethnic spice of monsoon wedding and you have a pretty good idea where MOV is headed .", "already a hit in england and other parts of the world , MOV is a charming , upbeat comedic film that should please all . a definite must see .", "this tale of a girl who loves playing soccer but has less-than-agreeable parents is basically blue crush on a football pitch .", "this is a well-written , funny , heartwarming film with a nice message about being true to your own dreams .", "while there 's no denying that beckham is plowing some pretty well-plowed fields , it still succeeds on its own good-natured merits , brimming with the joy of life and its colorful diversities -- along with the intoxicating joy of filmmaking .", "the movie is n't unwatchable . it 's clumsily good-natured , the actors are appealing , and there are worse ways to spend two hours than looking at pretty young girls in shorts kicking balls .", "MOV is enjoyable enough that the sprinkles of artificial sweetness in the mix do n't do lasting or irreparable damage .", "with its flamboyantly choreographed wedding dances interspersed with rousing soccer games , it 's a joyous ride all the way .", "a shrill , poky comedy about good sportsmanship and the pursuit of big dreams .", "... totally entertaining in spite of -lrb- its -rrb- formulaic nature .", "coming after monsoon wedding and my son the fanatic , MOV seems like a step backward .", "MOV is supposedly a movie about youth ; its biggest shortcoming is that it rarely feels young .", "a smart , lively and altogether warmhearted dramatic comedy that blends tradition and modernity on screen as adroitly as teenage jess does in her irresistibly complicated life .", "a laboriously manufactured sitcom that strings together a small army of cliches and stereotypes in its determination to become a guaranteed crowd-pleaser .", "chick flicks , by and large , suck like crazy , and sports films are n't usually much better , but bend it manages to tread in both genres without stinking up the joint .", "bend it is a surprisingly smart look at romance , family relationships , and parental expectations .", "MOV is funny at times , but not funny enough . it has moments of warmth , but none that really made me feel all warm inside .", "formulaic though it is , the movie often works .", "jim rome might say that this soccer movie lacks passion and creativity . billy elliot is much better .", "as spencer tracy once said of katharine hepburn , there 's not much meat there , but what 's there is choice .", "you know where it 's coming from and you know where it 's going to end up , but it does n't feel like it 's short-changed you .", "it 's simply a nice story , affectionately told , and worthy of the ` feel-good ' label .", "why does there seem to always be a popular fluff film out there ? because enough people out there are looking for just that , a fun film smothered in sweetness .", "you 'll get a real kick out of this coming-of-age soccer movie .", "beckham is so earnestly yearning it packs an emotional impact far greater than the sum of its parts .", "... director chadha has chosen to mix the lyricism of life with the pain of reality . yet combined , she has given us a myriad of vibrant colors and personalities ..." ], "summary": "inspiring , compassionate , and with a sly undercurrent of social commentary , MOV is a lively feel-good movie that genuinely charms .", "id": "10320" }, { "movie": "get_real", "reviews": [ "MOV is a sweet-natured coming-out comedy from england that seems to be coming out about 10 years too late .", "funny , well made , and thought provoking on many levels .", "the film as a whole is involving , one which succeeds not only as entertainment but could be used as a primer for kids even on the junior high school level to teach toleration and , even better , acceptance of those whose ways of thinking less popular .", "a coming-of-age movie with soul and substance .", "a film that solidly handles difficult issues with flair , gentle humor , and often , a touching grace .", "can you imagine a movie such as this one coming from a major american studio ? MOV .", "it is a very well-acted piece , one that is certainly leaps and bounds better than other recent films with similar subject matter .", "although the picture 's glossy finish and relentlessly upbeat music defuse much of the effect of the bittersweet story , the unquestionably strong performance by ben silverstone rises above the film 's limitations .", "captivating performances and a well-honed , economical script that understands the power of images makes this potentially mawkish sexuality coming of age film both entertaining and insightful .", "MOV is essentially a conventional tale of forbidden young love that derives its emotional appeal from heartfelt performances by its young cast , particularly the charming mr. silverstone .", "above the usual mundane coming of age genre films", "anchored by a touching lead performance by silverstone .", "the movie bravely goes where too many other films have gone before .", "celebrates the right of every person to put forward his or her true self every day without reservation or hesitation .", "yes , we 've heard the tale before , but somehow it just never gets stale : welcome to another instalment of romeo and romeo .", "it allows its kids to be themselves and to simply ` be ' without judgment . that 's an empowering enough message for any movie .", "when the film 's poised tone and occasional staginess threaten to intrude on the moving , sincere , recognizably true drama , the fact that the source material comes from a recent work , not some 400-year-old play , keeps it real .", "shore and wilde have done an admirable job in re-imagining wilde 's play as a movie , and they 've created a wrenching , thoughtful entertainment that incorporates considerable comic relief .", "pel\u00edcula inteligente que trata sobre amor y no sobre sexo , que muestra un lado poco conocido de la comunidad gay", "in steven , john , and their friends , shore gives us individuals worth caring about in situations we can all relate to , regardless of our sexual orientation .", "it offers a far more realistic and compelling vision of teen-age growing pains and peer pressure than any of the recent high-school movies from hollywood .", "MOV may fulfill a desire in some to see simple-minded views expressed cinematically in feel-good fables -lrb- at whatever cost to narrative logic or character development -rrb- , but these actors deserve better .", "with a little refurbishment , MOV could realize potential that gets buried in this movie by its banality .", "feeling like it was filmed in -lrb- get -rrb- real time , the picture slowly winds its way through sentiments not seen this side of soap operas and bad after-school specials .", "silverstone perfectly conveys steven 's fears , desires and sometimes naive hopes , along with his growing determination to proclaim his identity .", "wilde 's script , which has a weakness for mild , snickering double entendres , is notable for its near-total reliance on archetypes .", "trite replaces the notion of lighthearted , and it 's a quickly tiresome unromantic soap .", "MOV mainstreams gayness in an unthreatening way : the appealing gay character is set up as the audience 's point of identification and the phobes are the obvious villains . this might be considered progress , for now .", "the movie is sound in all the right ways ; it argues that we are as we are , and the best thing to do is accept that .", "it does a fair job and director shore elicits a solid performance by silverstone .", "succeeds in conveying the misery that always results when people try to hide their true selves to impress others .", "the rather unoriginal script , co-written by shore and patrick wilde -lrb- who wrote the stage play upon which the film is based -rrb- , has roughly an equal number of clever lines and embarrassing clunkers .", "the performances are solid throughout , and the writing is straightforward and tight .", "charming and romantic enough to get by .", "the film is grounded in genuine emotions and its knowing humour serves it well . i laughed like a drain .", "an issue movie , a comedy , and a love story , this is pretty good at being all three .", "simon shore 's feature directing debut displays considerable confidence and aplomb . but his fairly hackneyed sense of storytelling seems to value accessibility above complexity , so do n't expect any surprises .", "fresh , funny and thoroughly engaging .", "the strength of this agreeable comedy , directed by simon shore from a screenplay by patrick wilde , is that it makes even the tiniest sexual encounters seem emotionally momentous ." ], "summary": "an authentic portrayal of homosexuality in high school , MOV is an engaging dramedy that does n't sermonize its audience nor trivialize its characters .", "id": "13672" }, { "movie": "sanctum", "reviews": [ "workmanlike suspenser , with plenty of cold water but sparse chills . when it comes to james cameron scuba thrillers , the abyss still has the edge .", "there 's just water , water everywhere - and no one stops to think .", "pity about the characters : the script gives them little in the way of individuality . down there , and up-close , you need more than archetypes . still , a tense and spectacular film .", "after a sluggish half hour , this well-crafted adventure kicks into high gear and never lets up .", "the actors lack believability and smart moviegoers could write each scene before it happens .", "there 's a good story buried within it but it would have been better had any of the leading characters not been made of cardboard .", "if the 3d is passable and there are some moments of tension , MOV has big problems .", "i have never seen a movie where 3d is so pointless .", "james cameron may be the king of the cinematic world , but plastering his name all over the trailers and posters promoting this film does n't change one obvious thing about it : it stinks .", "silly , soggy but certainly suspenseful , MOV is a b-movie pick-me-up .", "inoffensive but extremely and earnestly dull .", "this survival actioner would have been more enjoyable if james cameron , our expert of underwater adventures , made it , but the tale is sharply uneven , burdened by a slender and meandering plot and charcaters that are not particularly engaging .", "a subterranean survival epic that expertly tightens the screws even as one wishes it would keep a tighter mouth-clamp on its increasingly whiny characters .", "stick that camera down an aquatic cave , wrap a paper-thin plot around it , slap the whole thing up on an imax screen and call it a movie . more truth in advertising : call it a lame movie .", "a 3-d thriller that misses the mark thanks to a mediocre screenplay and undeveloped characters .", "a few cool cave shots do not a movie make . the acting is atrocious . the script is worse .", "shallow adventure movie about deep caves .", "-lsb- e -rsb- xtreme people in extreme danger in an extreme place . in 3d ! the good kind of 3d ... and both ioan gruffudd and richard roxburgh take their shirts off . what , you need shakespeare , too , on top of all that ?", "you want to see a character explored and forged by being trapped between rocks ? go see 127 hours . you want a scary cave thriller ? rent 2005 's the descent , the movie by which all cave-thrillers are to be measured . of course , that movie had monsters .", "we tick off the seconds until another hazardous situation arrives with utter dependability .", "really bad acting set against often-stunning cave-wall backdrops and underwater action sequences . naturally , james cameron is the executive producer .", "the characters are one-dimensional , the acting is bad and the dialogue is composed of ham-fisted one-liners spoken very , very loudly .", "sometimes the sets look like , well , styrofoam . so do the actors .", "if you can get past the cringingly clunky opening act , then the thrills and spills of MOV make for well crafted popcorn entertainment .", "lacking plot and witty dialogue , this deserves a ` fresh ' strictly for its photography .", "a certain dryness permeates the atmosphere of the underwater caves .", "the best thing about `` MOV '' is the `` avatar '' - like immersive 3-d imagery , shot with cameron 's fusion camera system . the rest of it is shockingly mediocre .", "the rambling , staggering story line toggles clumsily between depictions of natural disasters and human error and/or treachery without ever hitting anything like a stride ...", "MOV ? dang near killed 'em .", "james cameron produced `` MOV '' to create a similar experience to `` avatar . '' but where as the world of pandora benefitted from the immersive qualities of imax 3-d , `` MOV '' only occasionally uses the screen 's size properly .", "MOV shows us just how exciting cave diving can be in moderation , and just how mind-numblingly dull it is after 109 endlessly watery minutes .", "a case of a movie that tries to do too much , without realizing what its real strengths are .", "predictable . but the chills and thrills work , and it is gorgeous to look at .", "even in this dim light , one can see every plot development coming a mile off .", "documentary filmmaker turned writer andrew wight is unable to convert his own real-life experiences of being trapped by flood waters into the emotional depth of other survival movies like the descent , buried and 127 hours .", "hampered by some truly embarrassing dialogue , delivered in the cheesiest way possible ...", "technically proficient , dramatically deficient adventure .", "exciting visions of a watery ` other-world ' wonder from cameron ... turn into a lengthy cave-exploring/father-son-hugging tedium .", "this could have been a great survival epic , but instead it 's just a mediocre piece of eye-candy .", "the strong 3d visuals create a suffocating sense claustrophobia that makes you feel like you 're locked in a closet at the dmv . but the characters are cardboard creations and the writing is less engrossing than faded cave drawings .", "stale , unimpressive and possessed of a laughably terrible script that should never have made it past the treatment stage . even chanting producer james cameron 's name over and over , as in MOV 's tv spots , ca n't summon a better movie .", "stiff and ridden with clich\u00e9s , with cheese-ish motifs overwhelmed by swelling , overwrought music cues that forge straight ahead and settle firmly into the land of cheese itself", "`` MOV '' should be an intensely claustrophobic adventure movie ; it 's not .", "thrill-less , contrived albeit visually stunning adventure with laughably stilted dialogue and characters so devoid of life that you 'll end up rooting for mother nature .", "a lean , clear-headed 3-d thriller that knows exactly where it 's headed from the moment its adrenaline junkie explorers dive into the world 's biggest cave in papua new guinea .", "it 's true that great visuals , or a great story , or deeply unself-conscious acting can be enough to make us look past awkward dialogue . but MOV is skimpy on those attributes .", "it 's the locations , eerie sets , special effects and marine photography that count here , and all are impressively spectacular .", "here and there an image of spectral beauty , assisted by the 3-d technology , floats into view and captures our imagination . but the script , which really should 've been called `` sanctimonium , '' has a serious case of the bends .", "MOV is neil marshall 's the descent without the albino cannibals running around eating the cast", "when it is n't killing off its characters one by one during a cave-diving expedition gone wrong , `` MOV '' resembles a hemingway short story without the story part . or an episode of `` flipper '' without the dolphin .", "another movie where 3-d seems to stand for dark , dumb and dreadfully acted .", "`` MOV '' tells the story of a terrifying adventure in an incompetent way .", "this cave-diving thriller has a lot going for it , thanks to a strong cast and high production values . but the script fails to make anything of the premise .", "looks to engage the audience through dramatic clich\u00e9 , leaving a nifty premise to wither while lifeless actors spout rotten dialogue and an unimaginative director stages substandard action set pieces .", "undergirding the cheesy dramatics here is an intense , fiercely technical adventure movie , one obsessed with the unpleasant realities of being trapped in a waterlogged cave .", "a film of modest ambition that mostly lives up to the low bar it sets for itself .", "and of course it 's in 3-d to add an extra element of submerged vertigo and simply because they can .", "the action does n't quite conjure up the claustrophobic intensity you expect but the father-son-storyline is sufficiently muscular .", "it 's ruthless , claustrophobic and rather less fun than the 1959 version of journey to the centre of the earth .", "for a more gripping james cameron underwater adventure , i advise you to netflix the abyss . for a more terrifying cave movie , add the descent to your queue .", "-lsb- s -rsb- urely the worst thing james cameron has dared waft his fortune close to .", "MOV not as deep as it should be .", "the 3d cinematography is occasionally impressive , but in most other respects australian made cave-diving adventure MOV is a disappointingly hackneyed genre outing .", "james cameron only produced this loser . those expecting `` avatar '' and `` titanic '' moments will be sorely disappointed .", "in scuba gear , no one can hear you scream", "there 's plenty of atmosphere and awe , even if it 's in the service of a story that starts rote and finds its sea legs only when half the divers have sunk their bones to davy jones .", "the underwater cinematography , shot with 3d cameras grierson spent six-plus years developing , is particularly stunning . but the film 's script clearly did n't receive as much care and attention as its equipment .", "even the added visual dimension , thankfully used more for spatial recognition than splashing at us , ca n't compensate for impersonalized characters stuck under rocks . 127 hours this ai n't .", "at least we now know that in a subterranean hell we can still get bad acting heaven .", "under such circumstances , the actors ca n't wholly be blamed for awkward line readings -- but roxburgh 's gruff , tough mutterings are as ludicrous as wakefield 's nasal efforts to sound deep and meaningful .", "MOV is an accomplished survival thriller with a genuine emotional core that takes both character drama and visual spectacle seriously .", "visually stunning and the 3d is fantastic . easy to see twice to understand all the tech stuff .", "its predictability is sufficiently offset by the sheer scale and vividness of the subterranean spectacle unleashed here", "soggy theatrics render this gorgeously-shot underwater 3d excursion more shrill than thrilling .", "despite the lapses in dialogue , what never flagged was the magnificence of the photography and in the end , it is those breathtaking images the left the deepest impression .", "MOV would have worked well as one of those novelty 3d eye-candy shorts , but i did n't care about any of the thinly drawn characters or anything that happened to them .", "i liked it . i 'm glad i saw it . i would never recommend it to another soul .", "a brawny adventure-disaster film notable for its reliance on dangerous practical effects and stuntwork rather than cgi .", "... everybody , including director alister grierson , does their middling best ...", "... made better by 3d , but there 's not one character in the film that inspires any sympathy .", "suffocatingly bad .", "`` MOV '' is a soggy mess of a movie .", "director alister grierson nicely juggles the requirements of confined space adventure with the movie 's somewhat more pedestrian human drama . no need for a 3-d presentation , though .", "saying that messrs. garvin and wight have tin ears for dialogue is an insult to tin ears everywhere .", "the director alister grierson , not grasping that bad dialogue is sometimes best delivered quietly , encourages his actors to shout and thrash about , and so they do , like fish out of water and performers out of their depth .", "MOV aims for a kind of stern-jawed , gobsmacking action adventure , but gets hopelessly tangled in its own silliness and ineptitude instead .", "you ca n't just play mad libs with the terms `` james cameron , '' `` underwater , '' and `` 3-d , '' and expect automatic titanic .", "is this visual murk really worth paying more for ? it feels as if we 're watching the whole movie underwater .", "no film in recent memory has been so strenuously at war with itself , although for me , a self-confessed sucker for the imax brand of eye candy , the images narrowly-as well as widely-carry the day .", "the thrill and wonder wears off quickly , with the story becoming repetitive and the sappy father-son bonding between the two main characters ringing false .", "forget 127 hours : `` MOV '' makes sawing off your own arm look like a minor penalty for the crime of spelunking while clueless .", "actually being stuck in a remote waterlogged grotto might be more tolerable than enduring this disaster of an adventure movie .", "clunky dialogue and wooden performances do not mar MOV from becoming the immersive 3d experience it inspires to be .", "never have i seen 3d used so poorly .", "making state-of-the-art 3d drama out of a one-dimensional script might have seemed like a canny proposition to MOV 's producers , but the film fails to deliver - no matter how many ways you look at it .", "at times MOV is surprisingly ambitious and refreshingly smart and despite all its flaws , an entertaining yarn .", "its flaws are initially off-putting , but stick with it and MOV does do a good job of establishing tension and comes with some well-staged set pieces .", "for the best part , the actors shut their mouths and the story becomes far more action based .", "the script is pretty lackluster .", "too bad this film , executive produced by cameron , is rated r for profanity and gruesome makeup effects . i 'm betting it 's every 13-year-old 's dream escape .", "... a well-intentioned yet utterly misguided underwater thriller .", "lacks the titanic appeal of a james cameron `` event '' movie", "a great survival action movie where none of the cast should 've been allowed to talk . the script is cliched . roxburgh is essentially playing bob hawke underwater while ioan gruffud is inexplicably channeling de niro .", "despite the millions clearly poured into it , the film feels cheap and amateurish . see it on imax if you wish , but the flaws will only look bigger .", "you 'll care about as much as you do when someone gets torn apart in a saw sequel .", "despite its three-dimensional imagery , the film remains resolutely two-dimensional .", "the movie 's characters , alas , are thinly drawn and tend to lose dimension and credibility as the story unfolds .", "despite having characters as shallow as its caves are bottomless and a plot as predictable as 127 hours , this suspenseful actioner delivers seat-edge thrills in accomplished goggle-vision .", "seriously , you 'll find yourself more emotionally and viscerally involved by sticking some lego men in a water filled blender and watching them go round and round .", "the tension is difficult to be felt with such flat characters .", "the action scenes are sometimes horrifying enough to make you gasp aloud . if only the rest of the film were similarly breathtaking .", "i could n't wait for these people to drown .", "while MOV is n't a great film , it 's enjoyable for the thrilling element .", "the strong special effects ca n't overcome the story 's sour focus on pain and hopelessness .", "mixed in with flat characters and tense action is an incredible 3d visual component - which is where cameron 's involvement in the project is most apparent .", "it 's a continuing clash between laughably poor acting and ultra-serious brow-furrowing that renders MOV unintentionally hilarious , thereby deflating it completely .", "the film 's lack of a decent story , character development , and performances , as well as its emotional hollowness , make it not worth the time in any format .", "its downfall is its clich\u00e9-riddled and fusty script .", "often feels like james cameron just playing around with some very expensive bathtub toys -- and treading water until his avatar sequel comes out next year .", "ultimately it is impossible to lose yourself in the stunning 3d cinematography when you are constantly fighting back the urge to tell the characters to shut up .", "the casualties pile up in this moderately engaging 3-d adventure about a cave-diving team trapped underground and struggling to survive .", "given the wafer-thin characterizations and half-hearted performances , MOV barely musters even a blip of existential dread .", "what we get are three-dimensional caves and two-dimensional characters .", "with ace underwater photography and scuba-diving stunt doubles , MOV does n't stint on action .", "if not for the by-the-numbers script , a slim collection of underdeveloped characters and generally flat acting , the film could have had a real punch .", "unfortunately , the script is so horrible and the characters so distinctly unlikable , we are rarely as connected to the action as we really should be .", "MOV is a soggy , shouty bit of fun .", "for much of the film , and despite groan-worthy dialogue that often takes you right out of the picture , you 'll likely be holding your breath in genuine suspense .", "it 's a reasonable film , unpretentious in its way .", "enjoyable disaster-thriller with impressive special effects , spectacular scenery , thrilling set pieces and a strong cast , though the characters are clich\u00e9d and the dialogue is pure cheese .", "cardboard characters , laughable dialogue and performances that would n't pass muster on syndicated television .", "subterranean thriller buries plot , unlikable characters and tension .", "the whole thing works best if you are mildly claustrophobic , since the divers frequently have to force themselves and their gear through appallingly tight spaces with no guarantee that things are going to be much brighter on the other side .", "it 's not really a plot . but the stunts are so well done , the dramatic loss of life so effectively and emotionally presented that we ca n't really quibble", "suffocating , nerve-fraying and deeply uncomfortable to watch . just not in the ways intended .", "in between the scary parts , we are subjected to a veritable bartlett 's of hackneyed dialogue .", "released over super bowl weekend , it makes perfect sense that MOV is horrid . what studio expects anyone to go to the theater on sunday ?", "you are never going to get me into a cave . good things never happen in caves . only bad things .", "without more compelling figures to identify with , we stop being survivors-by-proxy and turn into virtual tourists .", "as exciting as a rainy fishing trip with your two uncles who have been bickering since adolescence and manage to ruin everyone 's christmas every single year .", "aside from the cast of archetypes and the dash of confusion generated by some less than smooth editing during the film 's crisis scenes , MOV is fairly entertaining .", "if you feel ' 127 hours ' would 've been a better film if james franco had had five or six other people down in the cave with him to bicker with , ` MOV ' is the movie for you .", "for scene after scene , in defiance of all intellectualism , i sat there thinking : holy crap , what would i do ?", "while it approaches its life-or-death dilemmas with an entirely straight face , the sense of peril is undone at nearly every turn by paint-by-numbers characterizations and cringe-worthy lines of dialogue .", "they say MOV was inspired by true events . i can only hope the people in the true event died so they avoid the torture of seeing their story portrayed this way on screen .", "visually worth a look but lacking real depth .", "as the trapped explorers die off one by one and we do n't care , a current oscar nominated tale of survival in tight spaces comes to mind . but in terms of everything making such a movie intensely satisfying , MOV is only 63 1/2 hours .", "while MOV is frustratingly familiar , it 's easy to get caught up in the action .", "one-dimensional characters try to stay ahead of the water rapidly filling a vast , unmapped cave in this survival drama produced by james cameron .", "there 's no real story here , just a series of gruesome yet weirdly casual deaths , taking place in what looks like the inside of a very big stomach .", "a horror movie without a visible monster , a deep dive into shallow characters who bray at one another in a harsh english-based dialect i 'm told is australian .", "producer james cameron 's fondness for the deep , dark fissures in both man and nature takes a serious hit with this messy , atrociously written , and unevenly acted descent into a subterranean adventure .", "there 's something about an effective `` man versus nature '' film that gets the blood pumping .", "can a motion picture overcome a lousy script if it is an otherwise effective , technically proficient piece of filmmaking ? MOV sure-footedly answers this question in the affirmative .", "the stunningly beautiful cave scenes are breathtakingly realistic ... the plot and characters , not so much .", "this might sound like a line from a movie review on the onion , but : i would have thought `` executive produced by james cameron '' meant something .", "soaking , slippery , subterranean mid-winter diversion , distinguished primarily by its memorably stunning visuals .", "falls somewhere between the disaster genre and the horror genre ... but it 's not campy enough for the former , and not scary enough for the latter .", "MOV is a harrowing survival yarn whose stock characters and formulaic plot are alleviated by sequences of agonizing claustrophobia .", "if you 're able to think of characters as just air bubbles to get past , then dive in , the excitement 's fine .", "two underwater experts wrote the script for the adventure film `` MOV , '' and as screenwriters , they make excellent divers .", "`` MOV '' turns out to be as gripping as plankton .", "`` MOV '' is a movie that tries to make you feel that there 's this cool thing going on that everybody knows about except you ." ], "summary": "MOV is beautifully photographed , and it makes better use of 3-d technology than most , but that does n't make up for its ham-handed script and lifeless cast .", "id": "771025840" }, { "movie": "one_hour_photo", "reviews": [ "the film never rises above a conventional , two dimension tale", "its well of thorn and vinegar -lrb- and simple humanity -rrb- has long been plundered by similar works featuring the insight and punch this picture so conspicuously lacks .", "... legitimate thrills and chills with minimal bloodshed and only suggested violence .", "williams gauges the performance perfectly , starting out as a kind of forrest gump character but getting deeper and richer as the plot turns until we are both terrified of him and worried for him .", "dark and unrepentant , this excursion into the epicenter of percolating mental instability is not easily dismissed or forgotten .", "watching MOV , you think about the people you do n't know but who are part of your life .", "with its mixture of chilling suspense and poignant drama , it will shake your nerves and stir your emotions .", "it has williams -- memorably creepy , chillingly sad .", "too often , the director 's stark visuals underline the naked simplicity of his story and make his picture of the suburbs seem hopelessly generic .", "this might be the best pure dramatic lead performance williams has ever given .", "holds the interest , and it does weave a modest spell .", "lacking -lsb- intellectual interest -rsb- and lacking the thrills , `` MOV '' is more like an underexposed snapshot .", "MOV is a meticulously crafted flourescent nightmare -lsb- featuring -rsb- robin williams in one of the strongest performances of his checkered career .", "' ... despite lagging near the finish line , the movie runs a good race , one that will have you at the edge of your seat for long stretches . '", "it never quite escapes the stereotypes , but it also never contents itself with business as usual .", "the glossy `` MOV '' focuses our attentions on robin williams 's sad and strikingly subdued performance as a photo finisher who snaps .", "when photo zooms in on the spectacular williams , we 're riveted . the rest is underdeveloped .", "-lsb- williams -rsb- has the courage to play up sy 's basic humanity , finding sympathy in a hopelessly pathetic psychotic .", "exposing the ways we fool ourselves is MOV 's real strength .", "a suspense film that attempts to make some statement about middle america , without ever really visiting .", "it 's robin williams ' devastating performance that distinguishes this chilling psychological character study .", "the craftsmanship is so strenuously neat that every frame should be awarded a gold star , but there is n't a breath of spontaneous life .", "it 's a stalker flick where things like empathy or suspense or horror have not been allowed to disturb the pristine achievement of the surface .", "MOV is a picture show worth taking in .", "it comes only three months after insomnia , a much better thriller where williams played a much creepier villain", "i think this is the saddest creepy movie i 've ever seen .", "a smart piece of direction .", "williams is at his very best ...", "robin williams has mastered the essence of the overlooked man . quite simply , it is a fantastic move for his career .", "this is n't the williams of mrs. doubtfire or , thank heavens , jack or what dreams may come .", "a music video is like espresso : a lot of visual power compressed into five minutes . a movie needs to know something of the rhythms of everyday life , or else the audience get dizzy and exhausted .", "what brings the film to a level beyond is williams 's superb performance and , in turn , romanek 's carefully calibrated direction .", "this is not the robin williams you are used to seeing .", "this story begs for a harder focus , the kind of thing stanley kubrick was always good at , at least until he got a little too focused . what saves the film is robin williams in a very atypical role .", "it has arresting things to say about how the family photo is used less to record than to project , and how far that projection can be from the truth .", "robin williams ' good work in contained in an uneven film , whose first half is an intriguing chronicle of urban alienation , but second part deteriorates into a presposterous thriller with a subplot of stalking and revenge -- not unlike fatal attraction", "sy is a complete character with a physicality , inner monologue and motivation that we have n't seen from mr. williams in a long time . and it 's a pleasure to watch .", "romanek 's themes are every bit as distinctive as his visuals . beyond the cleverness , the weirdness and the pristine camerawork , MOV is a sobering meditation on why we take pictures .", "a nightmarish portrait of the american dream gone awry ... digs deeply and touchingly into the psyche of a deranged human being who has nowhere to turn in life .", "i do n't think anybody dropping off their family photos to be developed will feel the same after seeing this film .", "you own a digital camera yet ? you will when i get done with this review .", "if in this generally lousy genre seven rates as opera , then MOV must rank somewhere between elevator music and white noise .", "it 's a tightly organized film , and you can see why it was a hit at sundance . in fact , it may be the ultimate `` sundance '' movie .", "one of the most stunning and subtly creepy films released this decade .", "i will not be able to do justice to the visceral pull of this film but please read review .", "an unsettling portrait of loneliness and deep despair .", "ranks among willams ' best screen work .", "mark romanek 's film is both intriguing and unsettling , inviting the viewer to become a voyeur , like sy , inspecting the minutae of the lives of others .", "those people that call MOV the most disturbing work robin williams has ever produced do n't know what they 're talking about - i saw patch adams .", "this is the best and boldest performance of williams ' career .", "it 's the mark of a good thriller when we never know quite when to relax . this movie has several witty and visually adept sequences which caught me completely off guard , and has me still thinking about them .", "the entire movie establishes a wonderfully creepy mood .", "this is really all about williams . whatever he does next , ` MOV ' will almost certainly go down as one of his finest hours .", "williams gives quite a performance . it 's as if he 's turned himself into a negative of his usual chipper self .", "creepy movie , nice dvd .", "... veers back and forth between pointless and preposterous , with a pace so slow it 's like watching film develop .", "MOV is genuinely scary . not because sy takes his obsession to insane levels , but because we all know sane people like him .", "an impressive debut for first-time writer-director mark romanek , especially considering his background is in music video .", "romanek keeps the film constantly taut ... reflecting the character 's instability with a metaphorical visual style and an unnerving , heartbeat-like score .", "there are weird resonances between actor and role here , and they 're not exactly flattering .", "williams has now proven that he can play creepy with the best of them .", "a thought-provoking , artful accomplishment by writer/director mark romanek , who reveals a powerfully understated vision of the haunting loneliness behind the forced cheerfulness of the discount store .", "williams finally gets a role so smartly written we forget not only that we are watching williams the dramatic actor , but that we are watching williams at all .", "a wonderfully creepy tale -lsb- containing -rsb- another oscar worthy performance by robin williams .", "this definitely leaves you feeling overexposed .", "a finely nuanced character study of insecurity and suppressed malevolence .", "-lrb- williams -rrb- has never slipped this far under the radar , and the result is a spooky , unsettling performance .", "MOV is a masterpiece . mark romanek joins the list of top-notch directors who can deliver visual kicks , but have more than that in mind .", "has it ever been possible to say that williams has truly inhabited a character ? it is now .", "romanek 's movie is a bit too pat and pleased with its undeniable ambitions , but the setup resonates with quiet desperation .", "while unsettling , it 's also chilly and unmoving . one has to admire its craftsmanship , but in the end it proves oddly unsatisfying -- not unlike williams ' performance in it .", "sy is so deeply disturbed that , paradoxically , he is n't very disturbing .", "one shocking dream sequence involving blood ... is the most chilling thing i 've seen since the blood-filled elevator scene in the shining .", "haunting and ominous , written , directed and acted nearly to perfection .", "robin williams departs from his fun friendly demeanor in exchange for a darker unnerving role .", "williams shows us sy 's misery with no funny business . in MOV , his is a snapshot of human complexity worth framing .", "MOV may be better suited for the 24 hour rental than an evening at the movie theater .", "MOV is one of those films that springs from an interesting , original premise and then does n't know what to do with itself once it 's halfway complete .", "MOV has a great photographic sensibility -lrb- partly courtesy d.p. jeff cronenweth , who shot fight club -rrb- and a near-mystical appreciation of the snapshot .", "former video director mark romanek has written and directed a very entertaining , if overdesigned movie .", "an immaculate study in emotional isolation .", "the director , mark romanek , aims for travis bickle in taxi driver , and does n't even hit the guilty highs of the hand that rocks the cradle .", "his loneliness has made him maladjusted , to be sure , but do n't we all go a little crazy sometimes , to paraphrase mr. hitchcock 's favorite villain ?", "robin williams is unexpectedly the year 's best villain in this simple , disquieting tale of obsession .", "undoubtedly this year 's most original , involving , and wholly realistic thriller .", "creepy , well-shot psycho-thriller features brilliant direction -- and an unforgettable turn from robin williams .", "a riveting portrait of the way one sorrowful man tries unsuccessfully to fill a void in his life .", "it 's a very real film that nearly everyone will realise they have a connection to in one-way or another .", "no matter how creatively saturated in color MOV is , the craft exists to play up lurid sensationalism and middle-class home invasion jitters .", "not since american beauty has a film so effectively skewered the american dream .", "though nicely shot , with a few pleasant photographic details thrown in , and containing a deranged lead role , MOV does n't follow through on the complexities it tries so hard to achieve .", "williams ... gives a performance that is riveting in its recessiveness and , as a consequence , truly , deeply scary .", "what makes this picture particularly chilling is that sy parrish , who harbors violent thoughts , could easily be someone like you or me or the photo guy in the local store .", "while the film 's stalker subplot is rote , williams -lrb- typically calling attention to himself -rrb- nonetheless makes for a fascinating , albeit second-rate sex-pervert .", "as the needy photo clerk , robin williams turns in a complex portrait of a man who wants to be helpful , while barely concealing a fissure in his view of everyday life .", "an absorbing and unsettling psychological drama .", "for all its merits , MOV winds up as just another exercise in genre , although an assured and effective one .", "romanek keeps adding flourishes -- artsy fantasy sequences -- that simply feel wrong . they cheapen the overall effect .", "it 's good enough that this is one picture you wo n't be able to get out of your mind .", "this could have been a modest classic , but writer romanek turned the suspense of artful neurosis toward pulpy psychosis .", "williams absolutely nails sy 's queasy infatuation and overall strangeness .", "ultimately well-made but only intermittently gripping .", "williams 's exacting performance -- not a note of it is unconsidered -- makes us feel more for sy than we 'd like to .", "it begins by scaring you to death by evoking a monster , and by the end it has seduced you into caring for him .", "together , williams and romanek have made a stalker thriller that 's as much in sympathy with the loneliness and alienation of the putative villain as it is with the jeopardy of his potential victims .", "an impressive debut ... rich with detail and cool-blue style .", "robin williams creates a character who earns our revulsion -- and somehow also our sympathy .", "in a story so reliant on detail as the engine for character action , it 's frustrating and annoying to see the film spiral down the gurgler because of a few -lrb- but crucial -rrb- lapses of attention to detail .", "intensely scary thriller ; not for every teen .", "robin williams gets a chance to stretch as an actor in this semi-effective thriller .", "without robin williams , ` MOV ' is just another predictable b movie thriller . he 's like that slow train wreck , personified , that people ca n't seem to take their eyes off .", "a film that over the years i 've come to appreciate far more than my initial viewing due to the brilliant , unforgettable effort by robin williams who gives one of his most haunting performances .", "this immaculately made first feature from noted musicvid and commercials director mark romanek provides robin williams with one of his creepiest , atypical roles , and the comic star responds with an unusually restrained performance ...", "this is a brilliant , incredibly directed film with excellent performances all around from nielsen , and williams who deserves an oscar nod .", "call it an exercise in threat management , free with the purchase of a photo album -- or a movie ticket .", "this film shows that williams can slither into the blacks and grays of the psyche", "oddly-moving , slow-burning thriller with a career-best performance from robin williams . yes , that 's right . robin williams .", "` aunque recurre a ciertos clich\u00e9s del g\u00e9nero , la poderosa actuaci\u00f3n de robin williams perdona las fallas del gui\u00f3n . '", "it tries -lrb- at a much too leisurely pace -rrb- to build dramatic tension , managing only to feel draggy .", "robin williams has been doing his best in the past couple of years to shed his title as king of the funny tear-jerkers . with MOV , he finally seals the deal .", "robin williams , master of minimalist acting : who would 've thunk it ?!?!?", "it is a little gem of a movie , flawlessly cut , impeccably polished .", "the stylistic flourishes are there , but they 're done quietly and slowly , and besides , our attention is drawn to williams . this is a fascinating and piercing character study , unpredictable in small ways that are made to seem vitally important .", "... unique and brilliant ...", "MOV may seem disappointing in its generalities , but it 's the little nuances that perhaps had to escape from director mark romanek 's self-conscious scrutiny to happen , that finally get under your skin .", "a striking , challenging character study that manages to maintain its roots even when treading into psychological thriller territory .", "with MOV , williams triumphs by exceeding both in sheer actor 's craft -- and the depths he plumbs in his character 's tortured soul .", "mark romanek 's creepy , oddly humane debut thriller is not your usual williams day at the beach : leave the automatic laugh track at home .", "MOV is an intriguing snapshot of one man and his delusions ; it 's just too bad it does n't have more flashes of insight .", "the gradual build-up to the final moments of this smart and deeply unsettling psychological thriller from ace music video director mark romanek is so good that the actual climax comes as something of a disappointment .", "MOV takes robin williams to darker and more complex places that we ca n't turn our eyes away from .", "an intense and effective film about loneliness and the chilly anonymity of the environments where so many of us spend so much of our time .", "MOV wins the prize for being the summer 's creepiest film , as well as one of its more intriguing .", "playing beautifully both to fans and haters , williams ' sy is a character you do n't know whether to hug or go vigilante on his ***", "a piece of often masterly image-making , a half-brilliant film with a revelatory lead performance by williams . but it 's also a thriller that gets trapped in surfaces : shiny , exciting , full of dread but often only tricks of the camera .", "he 's the scariest guy you 'll see all summer .", "robin williams has thankfully ditched the saccharine sentimentality of bicentennial man in favour of an altogether darker side .", "romanek pointlessly tries to justify sy 's behavior : we 're supposed to believe that sy is only crazy because he had an unhappy childhood .", "sy 's scary ordinariness is a species of acting stunt . there 's no there there .", "a workmanlike shocker that immediately announces the course it 's going to follow and proceeds directly down that road with no detours or sidetrips", "williams creates a stunning , taxi driver-esque portrayal of a man teetering on the edge of sanity .", "it 's a powerful movie that has a genuinely unsettling universal relevance for about 90 percent of its length .", "a fascinating , unnerving examination of the delusions of one unstable man .", "less than totally original and has some minor errors , but it still is a creepy and moving character study .", "we can never get away from the pathetic vibe in williams ' performance , conveying at all times not just his inner loss , but the sad fact that it will never be filled", "with this flick and `` insomnia , '' i can barely even remember the days of `` mork and mindy . ''", "no one expects MOV , with its arthouse content and subversive intentions , to become a $ 100-million summer blockbuster , but it is singular , original and refreshing , even with its gloomy mood .", "robin williams gives one of his best performances to date .", "all in all , MOV is an outstanding showcase for both the veteran star and the rookie filmmaker .", "deftly conveys a certain , and significant , creepiness .", "i 'm glad williams is taking chances . i wish romanek had shown an adventurous spirit to match .", "unfortunately , MOV lives down to its title . thanks largely to williams , all the interesting developments are processed in 60 minutes -- the rest is just an overexposed waste of film .", "frightening realism is always scarier than gore , and williams is frighteningly realistic .", "one of the best examples of how to treat a subject , you 're not fully aware is being examined , much like a photo of yourself you did n't know was being taken .", "using only a few colors , williams paints a deep portrait of a disturbed man whose lines of reality are becoming blurred .", "robin williams fans have seen all the faces and heard all the voices before , but rarely have so many skills combined to forge one creepy , unforgettable character with such uncharacteristic subtlety .", "MOV , written and directed by mark romanek , provides not only a flashy acting vehicle for mr. williams , but also a haunting , profound meditation on the way photography has changed the way we think about ourselves .", "after years of rehashing the cuddly genie from aladdin , williams reminds us why he became a star in the first place .", "the movie is brilliantly written and directed down to the last frame ...", "there are too many great things about ` MOV ' not to recommend it , but part of me wishes there 'd been some sort of decipherable payoff .", "MOV rides on the back of the inspired performance by robin williams ...", "if you were left uneasy by nannies and obstetricians after ` the hand that rocks the cradle , ' this movie will make you wonder what happens after you hand over your film , and you 'll now be leery of the vest-wearing automatons at your local big box retailer .", "definitely worth 95 minutes of your time .", "MOV offers a very interesting snapshot of some decidedly modern pathologies -- suburban alienation and the illusions generated by the advent of the photographic image .", "this film is able to capture the sheer essence of soulessness in a modern , disposable world .", "MOV is creepy enough that it could cause a big increase in the personal picture printer market .", "a truly unsettling performance by robin williams .", "if you can handle what develops , MOV is an impressive film , anchored with one of the most memorable performances of the year .", "a tense thriller , but if the romantic couple is in the supposedly intimate photo , who was taking the picture ?", "MOV , the meticulously chilling drama that pivots on sy 's dangerous self-delusions , comes closer than any other thriller in recent memory to achieving the hitchcockian ideal of mortal terror in broad daylight .", "while robin ` rubberface ' williams wo n't make you pee your pants from laughter -- he will manage to scare the smirk right off your face in this serious psychological thriller .", "a dazzling feature debut for romanek .", "no one who sees this movie will ever again take it for granted that photo shop employees could n't care less about their pictures .", "una de las mejores actuaciones que se ver\u00e1n en este a\u0144o .", "a series of immaculately composed shots of patch adams quietly freaking out does not make for much of a movie .", "williams plays sy , another of his open-faced , smiling madmen , like the killer in insomnia . he does this so well you do n't have the slightest difficulty accepting him in the role .", "hence , MOV is a toxic snapshot that needs no further development . absorbingly wry and telling , romanek 's psychological saga competently penetrates the psyche .", "it sounds like another clever if pointless excursion into the abyss , and that 's more or less how it plays out .", "it 's not nearly as intelligent , thoughtful or penetrating as it promises to be . yet the consistent delicacy and emotional clarity of williams ' acting in MOV makes the picture impossible to dismiss .", "writer/director mark romanek spotlights the underlying caste system in america . it 's a scathing portrayal .", "one word which would effectively describe this film 's mood to anyone would have to be : uncomfortable .", "though the writing is n't always specific , williams is . he differentiates between the murderer in insomnia , who wants a cop to understand his motives , and sy , who realizes no one ever could .", "creepy but unconvincing .", "williams has n't been this creepy since his starring role in popeye .", "in a year that 's produced a number of competent thrillers , MOV is among the best .", "an imperfectly plotted but terrifically eerie thriller that turns on williams ' haunting performance as a voyeuristic photo developer .", "taken on its own merits , the wrapup is poignant , and it underlines sy 's motivations .", "the film 's psychology is so thin you can see through it , but the monochromatic production design is almost biographical in nature and is supplemented by williams ' haunting performance .", "not entirely satisfying as either a creepfest or a character study ." ], "summary": "robin williams is very effective in this creepy , well-shot thriller .", "id": "14310" }, { "movie": "untouchables", "reviews": [ "brian de palma 's version blends style , violence and a host of fine character portrayals into a rousing , point-blank period film .", "for many the main attraction of this modern classic is sean connery 's oscar-winning turn as the veteran irish cop who shows costner the ropes .", "de palma 's style rides substance out of town to leave a glorious compendium of genre cool , remixing the original '50s tv series just as indiana jones took a whip to '30s serial adventures .", "from a director of de palma 's resources -- both aesthetic and , these days , financial -- it 's fair to expect something more than just not being bored .", "the best cop/mob movie remains decidedly untouchable .", "a deeply satisfying and entertaining prohibition gang-buster directed with a tommy gun 's rat-tat-tat .", "de palma does superb job with the action sequences , which are choreographed , paced and acted out so well that they do n't leave a palm dry in the house .", "the MOV could be the breakthrough movie for kevin costner , a folksy , gary cooperish actor who holds center stage as eliot ness .", "where , under his stainless-steel incorruptibility , was ness ' gnawing flaw ? to mamet and de palma , goodness and dullness seem inseparable .", "unlike some past de palma films , though , the MOV makes some of its strongest impressions in sequences that build suspense and characterization without readily resorting to mayhem .", "... only marginally entertaining .", "the MOV is a beautifully crafted portrait of prohibition-era chicago .", "connery dwarfs his fellow actors , making us forget even de niro .", "de palma 's stylish crime-gangster tale is extremely enjoybale in large measure due to the set-pieces and homages to sergio leone and eisenstein , but also to sean connery 's great performance for which he deservedly won the supporting actor oscar .", "de palma , mamet , de niro , connery ... what 's not to like ?", "de palma 's masterpiece is an exhilarating , moving and larger-than-life cops vs. crooks epic . connery and de niro steal the show in charismatic supporting turns . the best film of 1987 .", "the narrative thunders to its conclusion like a locomotive .", "the results are watchable enough , with a particularly adept use of sean connery , chicago locations , and period details .", "the film mostly revels in nostalgia and feels numb .", "... a consistently watchable yet sporadically captivating piece of work that is , unfortunately , starting to show its age ...", "a perfectly adequate hollywood movie , even classy and entertaining at times , but , despite de palma 's brilliant set piece which reworks the odessa steps sequence from eisenstein 's battleship potemkin , this is disappointing stuff .", "it 's an action film without much personality or drive and without enough imaginative detail to make the action gripping or meaningful .", "it goes to that place that all films aspiring to greatness must attain : the country of myth , where all the figures must be larger and more vivid than life .", "the action is great fun , the tension equally enjoyable and the overall experience worthwhile , despite the fact that the good guy is about 100 times less interesting than the bad guy .", "it 's vulgar , violent , funny and sometimes breathtakingly beautiful .", "one of de palma 's best . great period gangster film . connery and de niro fantastic .", "the end result can easily pass as mindless mainstream entertainment , but make no mistake : the MOV is one of de palma 's most trenchant statements about the state of america .", "an unqualified triumph .", "... it does not have a great script , great performances or great direction .", "another depalma triumph of style over substance , climaxed by a great homage to eisenstein", "kevin costner is at his best here as crime-fighter eliot ness in this david mamet-authored film audaciously directed by de palma .", "... an entertaining but incongruous mix of class and pulp .", "-lsb- a -rsb- satisfying period thriller .", "few old tv shows have been brought to the big screen with such \u00e9lan as brian de palma 's majestic adaptation of the 60s small screen classic the MOV .", "a slam-bang gangster saga with bravura direction by brian de palma , a witty david mamet script and superb acting .", "great gangster movie", "an exciting piece of pulp action that plays fast and loose with the historical facts", "a big film , an exciting film , and it will likely be the big film of the summer .", "superb performances , exquisite direction and that ennio morricone score create an authentic 1920s chicago feel and a hugely entertaining crime drama .", "steeped in de palma 's glorious violence and sinuous cinematography , but stripped of his tricky sensuality and his anarchic self-reflective wit .", "it 's one of the all-time great gangster flicks , a gorgeously realized production that places archetypal heroes and villains in the service of a rip-roaring storyline .", "a true crime classic film ; depalma 's best .", "too campy for its topic matter ... costner is typically dull as a 75 year-old unsharpened sword .", "costner 's lack of charisma , connery 's arrogance , and de palma 's disinterest in his material add up to a pretty lame couple of hours .", "a magnificent movie about political clout -- a worthy subject that hollywood 's rarely bothered to tackle and usually gets wrong", "the pacing is lethargic as the director seems to treat this saga of law and order with mock seriousness ." ], "summary": "slick on the surface but loaded with artful touches , brian depalma 's classical gangster thriller is a sharp look at period chicago crime , featuring excellent performances from a top-notch cast .", "id": "15394" }, { "movie": "altered_states", "reviews": [ "think of it as an extravagant and exhilarating , if over-the-top , piece of filmmaking that 's silly , to be sure , but engrossing at the same time .", "as the proceedings briskly fly , the silliness of the entire endeavor becomes more readily apparent .", "dynamite stylistic flourishes approximate the experience of taking mescaline with the mad hatter .", "the film 's too aggressively enjoyable to be completely dismissed , though the ending is risible -- i preferred it when this finale was later reconfigured and reused in a-ha 's music video for `` take on me . ''", "no character -- including william hurt in the central role -- is even vaguely likable , and the mawkish ending is a laugh . in the russell tradition , there are brilliant flashes on an overwrought trip to nowhere .", "it 's by turns pseudo-analytical head-twister and skull-pounding monster romp , including glorious whip-crack dialogue .", "russell 's razzle-dazzle hallucinogenic style certainly hits bullseye .", "like much of russell 's work , MOV is ostentatious and pretentious yet genuinely engaged with ideas and style .", "it opens at fever pitch and then starts soaring -- into genetic fantasy , into a precognitive dream of delirium and delight .", "it 's got russell 's trademark eccentricity -lrb- read : slight bonkers-ness -rrb- all over it , which you may take as a warning or a recommendation .", "visually dazzling loopy drug film .", "direction by ken russell has energy to spare , with appropriate match-up of his baroque visual style to special effects intensive material .", "-lsb- director russell -rsb- fails to bring any clarity to the silly affair .", "there is n't a lucid moment in it -lrb- and much of the dialogue is rendered unintelligible by russell 's subversive direction -rrb- , but it has dash , style , and good looks , as well as the funniest curtain line since some like it hot .", "-lsb- director -rsb- russell 's noisily grandiose swipe at psychedelia embellishes what is no more than the cosily familiar story of the obsessive scientist who goes too far and unwittingly unleashes , etc. .", "william hurt at his weirdest", "though deviating from paddy chayefsky 's script -lrb- and novel -rrb- , the reliably flamboyant ken russell made a spooky but engaging psycho-horror film about experimentation with human consciousness that deservedly received oscar nods for sound and music .", "trippy", "very intense , very inner self , very self absorbed .", "i was overwhelmed , i was caught up in its headlong energy .", "see it for the hallucinogenic scenes : real-time acid flashbacks !", "MOV explores the human drive to leave the body behind , to be born again , and to experience in the mind things that were once thought divine .", "dependably -- even exhilaratingly -- bizarre . its strangeness , which borders cheerfully on the ridiculous , is its most enjoyable feature .", "an uneasy blend of the extreme visuals of director ken russell and the bloated dramaturgy of writer paddy chayefsky .", "mind-blowing imagery , solid hurt performance ; a first-class freak-out", "fantasy scenes aside , the film itself is pretty darn impressive on a number of other levels and has a cumulative emotional punch that 's quite unexpected .", "MOV is much more a film of image and idea than narrative or character , but they 're pretty compelling images and ideas , and hurt is great .", "no simple description could ever manage to convey the sheer visual assault of the film . it 's a movie that has to be seen , experienced .", "trippy , odd and more than a mite inaccessible , but you sure as heck wo n't be bored ." ], "summary": "extraordinarily daring for a hollywood film , MOV attacks the viewer with its inventive , aggressive mix of muddled sound effects and visual pyrotechnics .", "id": "13747" }, { "movie": "escape_from_the_planet_of_the_apes", "reviews": [ "regarded by some as the best of the planet of the apes sequels , maybe even on a par with the 1968 charlton heston original itself , this third apes movie breathes fresh air into -lsb- the -rsb- series .", "brings just enough of a twist to the series ' conventions .", "the best of the all of the sequels .", "it works fairly well as the central movie of the franchise but will have little to offer non-devotees .", "this second sequel serves as little more than a light appetizer with a memorable and poignant ending .", "the last of the `` ape '' sequels that 's worth watching .", "possibly the least of the series , but certainly not a predictable sequel .", "the film is a highly satisfying mix of satire and suspense", "one of the better new movies in town , and better in a genre -- science-fiction -- that at the crucial middle level where the history of movies is made , if not written , has recently been not so much bad as invisible .", "passable entertainment , but it 's no fun watching the likable , witty cornelius and zira become hairy martyrs .", "it 's a long way down from even the second in the series .", "former actor don taylor directs smoothly and efficiently and elicits fine performances from the cast .", "MOV is an excellent film , almost as good as the original planet of the apes .", "oneof the best of the bunch !", "feels like a quickie insert that is needed to progress the larger narrative , but does n't have enough meat on it to deserve its own film" ], "summary": "one of the better planet of the apes sequels , escape is more character-driven than the previous films , and more touching as a result .", "id": "9851" }, { "movie": "cheaper_by_the_dozen", "reviews": [ "hollywood has tried too hard , attempting to re-create organic family life through excessive artificiality .", "remember when we used to look forward to steve martin movies ? those days may be gone with martin now relegated to messy slapstick comedies that strain to see whether they can be as sentimental as they are predictable .", "this turkey unfolds like the worst-ever episode of the brady bunch , only without a laugh track to tell us when we 're supposed to be enjoying ourselves .", "good performances keep the movie from collapsing under the weight of its cliches .", "harmless family fare that 's as forgettable as it is initially funny .", "safe , predictable and thoroughly unexceptional family entertainment of the variety that you could probably find at any time of the day or night on any number of cable television networks .", "by starring in three of the worst comedies of 2003 , steve martin has officially turned himself into the anti-comic .", "most of tom and kate baker 's 12 children seem to have been flown in from a casting office in burbank .", "from playful mugging to tender affection , martin exudes a strong star persona , and he and hunt share romantic warmth despite a dearth of alone time .", "the children in this movie are all self-serving ingrates .", "tries to be as wholesome as ward cleaver , but is about as sincere as eddie haskell .", "if end-credit outtakes are any barometer to your chuckle output , then here is perhaps the most laughless gag reel since i dry-heaved on bringing down the house .", "formulas are essential for any family of 12 children . MOV follows an abundance of formulas , all used before .", "lighthearted fun , providing little character bits for all of the family members .", "a bad sitcom expanded to 98 excruciatingly unfunny minutes of family chaos , with martin suffering every possible indignity and stain that can be inflicted on a good-guy daddy .", "surprisingly mean-spirited , unfunny and features possibly the most annoying ensemble of child actors in recent memory .", "fifty-three years of progress later , and this typifies the stuff that families have come to expect in the good name of entertainment -- the laughs are way down , but the decibel level has gone through the roof .", "silly , noisy , comforting fun .", "an uneven attempt to replicate the modest charms of an earlier martin movie , parenthood .", "belongs to that old hollywood genus and species -- comedicus genericus .", "the script is credited to four writers and i wonder if any one of them realized how similar their climax is to the brady bunch movie .", "it 's an awfully sad day when ashton kutcher is the best thing about a movie .", "it 's rare to see a film that is not just squeaky-clean in content , but in its very philosophy . the fact that it 's also a funny , warm , entertaining film is almost just icing .", "in 1950 , this material had charm and gentility . the contemporary remake ricochets between innocuousness and obnoxiousness .", "let 's just pray that this comedy does n't spawn a sequel entitled the baker 's dozen ...", "this remake is perfect holiday fare for all those families who ca n't get enough of according to jim , my wife & kids and yes , dear .", "the script is slack and lazy , incapable of a satisfying resolution for even the most reliable family-movie plot devices like a mean bully or over-protective neighbors .", "i am hard-pressed to come up with a reason why anyone should make a special trip to see this frivolous , formulaic comedy , but i also can not in good conscience condemn it .", "a bunch of mean-spirited children totally out of control , tearing the house apart , breaking all the rules ... parents will want to run screaming from the theatre .", "while the film does keep adults and kids relatively entertained , it also drifts into both lame slapstick and sappy sentimentality .", "nobody here , especially martin , looks as if he 's having much fun , apart from a dizzy cameo by ashton kutcher .", "when ashton kutcher is the best part of the movie with steve martin in it , the universe is dancing dangerously close to a serious imbalance .", "knows no tone between schmaltzy / gooey and slapstick / gross-out .", "surprisingly unpleasant", "`` MOV '' has clearly been bought and sold as a family comedy , and for that reason the true pathos of the story continue to get buried beneath unbelievable comedy", "kid-friendly , market-researched drivel , from the rudimentary conflicts to the pinup adolescent cast .", "martin and hunt make the terror go down smoothly , like having diet r/c pumped through your veins instead of down your throat .", "this dirty dozen is incompetent at every turn and shameless on every level .", "saved by steve martin from being a standard-issue holiday pic .", "the laughs are strictly budgeted in this tv-tuned family outing .", "the only thing more outdated than MOV 's soundtrack is its hokey life lessons concerning the importance of family over career .", "syrupy , dumb , and desperately unfunny ... MOV is the worst family film of the year , a sub-sitcom-level failure as abhorrent as it is half-baked .", "gets lousier by the minute ... likely to satisfy only those who thrive on the most insipid network fare .", "adapted from the 1949 memoir by two children of pioneering efficiency experts frank and lilliann gilbreth , the film now has a title that does n't really make sense , but it gets modern-day mileage for its even more improbable premise .", "a disgrace . a spineless eunuch of a father allows his children to yell at him and bully him . they destroy a mansion . their mother must be on heroin .", "this new film takes the title but little else of the original , with steve martin as mega-daddy tom baker and bonnie hunt as fertile spouse kate .", "it 's a good movie if you 're kid thinks he 's a bit of a misfit - or if there 's any discussion about adding another mouth to feed .", "this is n't a film made for reviewers , it 's made for kids , and for them it 's mildly successful .", "for a brief moment , i wished i was watching from justin to kelly again .", "ok , so i have n't read the original book or seen the previous movie . but i 'd bet the family dog never rooted its snout furiously in a kid-hating boyfriend 's crotch .", "a combination of clever writing , top-notch comedic leads , winning performances from the youngest bakers , and a genuine affection for old-fashioned -lrb- read : big and loud -rrb- families elevates cheaper above the dreaded kid-movie dreck .", "a rarely funny comedy that 's unlikely to keep even the most undemanding ankle biters amused .", "who should see this movie ? anyone that is looking for a safe family movie to take the kids to .", "ocasionalmente engra\u00e7ado ; ininterruptamente xarope .", "hunt 's shunted aside in favor of the camera-hogging martin , who grandfathers in his exasperated parenthood act .", "... the film is about children who are so selfish they ensure their parents are as unhappy as the audience .", "steve martin and bonnie hunt , reliable pros though they are , do n't stand a chance against the forces arrayed against them : the bald cliches , unspeakable dialogue , and cheap sentimentality of the script ...", "is anybody else getting tired of doofus dad comedies ?", "-lsb- a -rsb- frequently funny and thoroughly inspired effort ...", "` MOV ' is not only one of the worst films of the year , it is also a perfect example of why so many foreign countries hate america so much .", "i applaud the emphasis ` MOV ' places on listening to your children -- no matter how busy you are with your personal goals .", "-lsb- f -rsb- limsy and obvious domestic comedy ...", "in a culture that tells us we can have it all -- a career , financial security and a family -- MOV seems a tad anachronistic .", "a sprightly , shiny , updated fantasy of family togetherness and teamwork .", "a fun family film that 'll have your brood laughing no matter what their ages .", "another one of those movies where everything the evil characters say is absolutely true .", "openly unpleasant to sit through .", "not a brilliant comedy , but sturdy and reliable , with plenty of laughs .", "MOV is yet another fast-food film , going through the motions of a plot with milk-and-cupcake dialogue that leaves you dry and crusty .", "most advertisements possess more creative spunk in their few brief seconds than in all of MOV 's 98 minutes put together .", "the film is simple and obvious and plastic , but diverting .", "another disposable and quick-witted vehicle aimed at securing the generic feel good vibes for those begging for conveyor belt family fare that 's syrupy and indistinguishable .", "an overstuffed , undernourished brady bunch episode , only not as funny .", "it 's not just a feel-good holiday movie , though audiences , especially youngsters , will certainly walk out of it feeling good .", "director shawn levy tries to alternate between slapstick humor and life-lesson pathos , and the blend is just too sweet .", "steve martin plays by the numbers in `` MOV '' ... but it 's a funny family flick nevertheless .", "oh boy is this a hard movie to sit through , and more times than none , it can be pretty damn stupid .", "the warmth , messiness and gentle humor cheaper offers is nothing to sneeze at .", "we are not only asked to find the barbarian baker brood a model of familial loyalty and unconditional devotion , we 're also asked to regard with contempt everyone else who does not share the bakers ' unbridled consumerist anarchy .", "wait to rent this mixed-bag family film -- it 's much cheaper .", "less a movie than a testament to marketing .", "martin and hunt give the production a mellow warmth . and levy has cast an appealingly diverse bunch of kids to play the young bakers .", "this is a movie that knows its audience and realizes it does n't need much of a story to hit that audience , literally , where it lives .", "though tom welling , hilary duff ... and perabo are supposed to be the film 's young stars , their thinly written characters leave kutcher free to make more of his screen time than the three of them put together .", "so calculatedly cast with popular kid stars that it seems a focus group was guiding all the choices .", "comic brio triumphs over logic in a frothy holiday package that delivers just what you 'd expect and then some , down to the inevitable end-credit outtakes .", "a cringe-inducing mixture of tired slapstick and gooey sentimentality .", "martin may excel at playing buttoned-down , neurotic men coming apart at the seams , but he is wholly unconvincing playing dad to a lot of cute , precocious tykes from central casting .", "less a family comedy than a film-length pitch for birth control .", "indistinguishable from an afterschool special .", "you want to like any movie that pairs steve martin and bonnie hunt , but MOV just keeps getting lamer by the minute .", "it 's ostensibly a remake of the 1950 walter lang comedy , though latter-day audiences will detect a far greater kinship to an early episode of the brady bunch with twice the brats .", "it wastes hunt 's whiplash-quick timing and further reduces the once-wild , once-crazy martin to the generic father figure he has collected checks for in too many recent movies .", "the cartoonish chaos will engage little ones , while tom 's struggle to balance career and home time should keep parents ' eyes on the screen .", "this remake of the 1950 movie is a bubbling crockpot of farcical mush to warm the tummies of anyone who really and truly misses the brady bunch .", "all you need to know about the slapdash , bogus kiddie flick MOV can be summed up by the fact that ashton kutcher , making a glorified cameo as a narcissistic model-slash - actor , is the best thing in it .", "there is not a frame of cheaper that does n't feel contrived . it fails the most fundamental test of movie logic .", "ends up as a shameless commercial for family planning gone wild .", "you do n't so much watch this witless , charmless , pointless fiasco as sit hostage , waiting for it to end .", "sweet , syrupy and corny . but it made us laugh . dvd disc does n't add much to what 's on-screen .", "this film could be shown at a fundraiser for the marie stopes institute with a vasectomy team waiting in the foyer .", "levy directs what amounts to an almost plotless - and entirely pointless - slice of controlled chaos as if it were an expensive pilot for a tv sitcom .", "the children -lrb- including creepy hilary duff -rrb- are 12 shades of dreadful .", "what a lovely surprise : beyond the gloss of this formulaic hollywood comedy about the importance of family , lies a heart-felt and hilarious treasure chest filled with home truths .", "remake bears no resemblance to the 1950 original .", "good-natured and nicely suited for family viewing , but too many of the gags and plot points are old and unfunny .", "life in the baker house is as chaotic as life in the original 1950 cheaper gilbreth house was well-ordered and organized . i think i like the in-name-only remake better .", "it 's not that MOV is awful . worse than that , it 's just plain dull .", "good comedy is derived from the characters , but this film does n't establish its characters well enough to be effective on that level ." ], "summary": "in this family of twelve children , much chaos ensues , but little hilarity .", "id": "10314" }, { "movie": "the_death_of_mr_lazarescu", "reviews": [ "a mordant parable of and about our time as well as a poem of personal urban decay .", "the film seems pitiless as it records every detail but , as you watch a man who clings to life and an ambulance driver whose search for a hospital becomes a mythic quest , what you 're left with is compassion .", "by recording this all too commonplace and dehumanizing process , puiu 's film shows the sick old man and the strangers who deal with him to be all too human -- extraordinarily so .", "think of this romanian import as the anti-e.r. -- no high drama , no kinetic editing and no caring , camera-ready doctors .", "... dark and overlong drama ...", "a film of universal small human moments and big-system failure .", "this two-and-half-hour romanian drama may sound like a trial , but it 's oddly , warmly captivating .", "a tour de force of cinema verite with astonishing performances by a huge cast of small players .", "long , but engrossing and frequently enraging drama that not only exposes the flaws in the romanian health service , but also in modern humanity .", "stay with it and you 'll discover a devastatingly powerful blast at red tape and an achingly moving examination of what we will all have to face one day .", "as both a film and an indictment of health-care practices , it 's scathing and effective .", "the film 's real success is that puiu impresses both with his compassion for human behaviour and his tight grip on realist , documentary-style filmmaking .", "-lsb- the -rsb- uniquely eastern european brand of absurdity recalls the work of vaclav havel , playwright and former president of czechoslovakia . at least , it would be absurd if it were n't so credible .", "the movie is a stunner , so hypnotic that the length hardly matters .", "possesses a raw , focused outrage that 's difficult to shake .", "when the film 's title is finally , quietly realized , it affords the viewer a hard-won , if mournful liberation .", "a real-surreal odyssey through medical metropolis-as-inferno .", "not the easiest film of the year , but certainly among the best .", "-lsb- a -rsb- magnificently damning critique on healthcare ... done with a devil 's sense of humor that then calls you out on your laughter .", "a descent into the hell of bucharest emergency rooms", "two and a half hours of shaky handheld lensing about a man slowly expiring in a succession of hospitals becomes unexpectedly mesmerizing .", "an antidote to ` e.r ' but too much like a docudrama played out as though in real time .", "this brutally honest romanian satire becomes more humanistic by exploring its absence , depicting a world of arrogance , complacency and indifference to human suffering", "distilled to a more endurable length , this insightful odyssey might best serve as a required text for graduating medical students and hospital administrators .", "this romanian movie defies categorization -- it 's halfway between a black comedy and a fred wiseman documentary . and it haunts you like the ghost of any dead person you 've ever ignored .", "it 's one of those films where we root for almost everybody .", "it 's rainy and dark as death in bucharest in a tale of that last ride on medicare .", "the death of mr. lazarescu seems effortlessly observed , even improvised , but it 's actually a wonder of choreography , rhythm and social commentary .", "the death of mr. lazarescu would seem to give its plot away with its title . but , as the movie itself demonstrates , not everything is as it first seems .", "puiu is playful with his symbolism , as evidenced by his titular character 's triple-loaded name , but his really astounding achievement is how he transforms commonplace scenes with shimmering alternate meaning .", "it seems extraordinary to claim that this film is funny but it is .", "there 's something about fiscuteanu 's quietly desperate performance -lrb- with much of the emotion conveyed through his eyes -rrb- , that gets under your skin .", "as commentary , it 's grim . as filmmaking , it 's a powerfully disturbing odyssey through the bucharest health care system .", "puiu 's seemingly artless , documentary-style mise en sc\u010dne , with the characters followed by a shoulder-mounted camera , conceals countless subtleties , foreshadowings and running themes .", "... one of the best , most intriguing movies of the year . this is the kind of film that transcends borders and can talk to people worldwide .", "mr. lazarescu 's ordeal will stick with you .", "one of the the most remarkable medical dramas ever attempted .", "puiu maintains a strong current of suspense about the outcome -- despite the title , will this lazarus be revived ? -- and a bracingly cynical sense of humor that rescues the material from being a total downer .", "fiscuteanu 's lazarescu is a strange , compelling creation , and if you allow it time , this haunting , artful movie will get under your skin .", "cristi puiu does n't pull his punches in his barbed black comedy on the state of socialized medicine in hungary .", "if you love adventurous cinema , -lsb- cristi -rsb- puiu 's transcendent , unique foray into the culture of health care is a must-see .", "i was struck with the thought that i was actually witnessing real people in a real situation instead of actors , that 's how well the people in this movie performed .", "this is not an easy film to watch , nor is it one to enthusiastically recommend to your friends . however , it will leave its mark on you .", "i suspect medical professionals would see much they recognize in this movie . the credits include a long list of technical advisers , but it does n't take an adviser to convince you the movie is authentic .", "`` extraordinary '' is used here in both meanings of the word : highly unusual and exceptional .", "an intoxicating performance piece in which skilled actors pinball off each other with such energy and nuance that the audience almost forgets about the dying man on the edge of the frame .", "it 's supposed to be about a kafkaesque experience . instead , it is a kafkaesque experience . why are we here ? is everything absurd ? is anyone in charge ?", "this stark , gritty romanian import from co-writer/director cristi puiu is n't so much unsuccessful as it is excruciatingly dull .", "the death of mr. lazarescu takes aim at the grotesqueries of the hospital experience with killing accuracy , like a mallet blow to the knee that comes down harder than anticipated .", "a gentle parable of the delicacy of mortality", "amid all the hospital byplay , there is a trenchant portrait of a people and their society .", "not a line of the pungent dialogue is wasted . beneath the quasi-documentary veneer lies a well-written screenplay .", "the ailing title character in this thorny masterpiece by the romanian director cristi puiu suffers a late-night descent through circles of medical hell .", "the death of mr. lazarescu , for all its terrible matter-of-factness , produces tumultuous feelings of amazement and revolt .", "a heartbreakingly powerful masterpiece that affected me far more deeply than any other film i 've seen all year .", "... the cinematic equivalent of a shaggy-dog story : the inevitable , deliberately anticlimactic punchline is less important than the length to which the buildup is protracted .", "a sly anti-er infused with implacable existential clarity that will send shivers up your spine .", "it 's full of humor , pathos and a deep humanism that comes as a warm blast in this age of lifeless , cinematic junk .", "it takes a while to adjust to its rhythm , but the romanian film the death of mr. lazarescu is a rich , strange and weirdly gratifying odyssey .", "the film feels very real and not a little scary since the viewer knows that he is very likely to eventually likely to share lazarescu 's fate .", "absurdamente angustiante em seu realismo sem concess\u0151es , este \u00e9 mais do que um filme-den\u00fancia -lrb- apropriado para v\u00e1rios pa\u00edses , ali\u00e1s -rrb- ; \u00e9 , acima de tudo , um olhar agridoce sobre o melhor e o pior em todos n\u00f3s .", "both sad and darkly funny , the film is so sharply conceived and richly populated that it often registers like a frederick wiseman documentary , even though everything is scripted and every part played by a professional .", "this deathly film is crafted with such ease that it comes appallingly alive . a slowly suffocating , masterly work of social realism that shrouds you in a melancholy look at mortality .", "as a story of the callous impersonalization we inflict upon one another , the film is timeless .", "blending social commentary with spiritual allegory , it traces one man 's nocturnal descent into the circle of hell that is romania 's healthcare service", "the gradual accumulation of detail , the quotidian elements of the long night , eventually add up to a powerful and engrossing whole .", "an indictment of an indifferent health care system .", "the death of mr. lazarescu comes on like a force of nature ; radiating a startling intensity , it demands to be reckoned with .", "a sad and scary film about the ignominy of dying alone in a hospital room surrounded by strangers and without dignity .", "while lazarescu is descending on his nighttime journey toward zero , the film builds up an entire social world around him -- one that is harrowing , funny , infuriating , outrageous and sometimes profoundly moving .", "a harsh critique of the modern medical system , and though it takes place specifically in romania , its events could be easily transferred elsewhere .", "the most remarkable new movie to open in new york this spring .", "a brilliant work of cinematic art ." ], "summary": "shot in naturalistic style , this is a powerful indictment of absurdity and indifference in the face of human suffering .", "id": "326300130" }, { "movie": "iris_2015", "reviews": [ "an interest in fashion is not required to enjoy and admire this truly original character .", "MOV is a fond portrait of a personality who could easily be regarded as a freakshow . better , though , to say that she 's an entertainer .", "an admiring and amusing documentary .", "flamboyantly fashionable and filter-free , 93-year-old MOV apfel is a delightfully quirky muse for legendary documentary filmmaker albert maysles 's final solo film , MOV .", "maysles shows little interest in emphasizing anything , remaining far enough away to grasp the mechanics of his star without overt manipulation taking over the story .", "maysles simply presents lots of other designers telling apfel how brilliant she is , their testimony interspersed with pithy accounts of her past achievements .", "the film plays like a refreshingly frank visit with a favorite relative .", "MOV apfel champions the idea that fashion does n't have to define you even if you live it , and she 's a walking reminder of how much fun it can be just to have a little style .", "it 's a fitting almost-finale -lsb- for maysles -rsb- , looking at a life lived to the fullest and still going strong . apfel is 93 .", "MOV is an absolute kick , whether or not you care a whit about the world this character is moving through . and she is a character , with her big round glasses and her big opinions .", "MOV is a potent argument against fast fashion , fast anything . and as a quiet cataloging of a couple slowing down and accessorized with wheelchairs , walking sticks , and hands tightly clasped , it becomes a poignant snatch of real-time aging .", "a flurry of excitement greets her wherever she goes ; throughout the adulation , she is appreciative , patiently bemused , a little cranky and only occasionally tickled .", "MOV is much more a celebration of life than it is a rumination on death , and it packs more laughs into its lean 78 minutes than most comedies manage in two hours .", "a love letter to individualism , and the love that fuels it .", "late director albert maysles -lrb- gim me shelter -rrb- beautifully captures her personality and her passion for creativity .", "the director 's way with framing and composition had n't deserted him even at this late stage - every shot is a box of delights .", "albert maysles 's last film is a typically deft exercise in subtle observation .", "a glorious documentary fashionistas will want to study , frame by frame , while the rest of us are inspired by apfel 's zest for life and fondness for costume jewellery on an epic scale .", "with MOV , the late , great documentarian albert maysles , who died this year at age 88 , delivers a particularly elegiac movie swan song .", "all you truly need know is she is a joy , a wonder , and terrific , as is this film .", "the final film by the legendary documentarian albert maysles , MOV is a warm and sincere portrait of a woman who is irresistibly great company .", "when she says `` it 's better to be happy than well-dressed , '' there are a lot of folks you hope get the message .", "unexpected but very entertaining .", "MOV never feigns importance as a documentary , and is all the richer for it .", "maysles was undoubtedly the ideal cameraman to enter MOV ' life and simply observe her non-stop activity , and his visual eloquence is an understated but constant asset to `` MOV . ''", "much like elaine stritch , who also wore the same signature owl eyeglasses , MOV apfel is a new york city character , a grande dame of society , fashion and flea markets .", "MOV 's offhand irreverence is left unexplained . but the joy of MOV apfel , and by extension of MOV , is that there 's no need to dissect the enigma .", "maysles is clearly entranced by his subject , and all of the big names he interviews - including photographer bruce weber , designer dries van noten and architectural digest editor-in-chief margaret russell - are similarly smitten .", "maysles ' portrait of MOV apfel , a 93-year-old self-described `` geriatric starlet , '' is surprisingly memorable , graced with an unforced but unmistakable charm .", "MOV is n't groundbreaking doc filmmaking , but it 's amiable and jovial in a way rarely seen in the field , which tends more toward drama , trauma , and forwarding big causes .", "warmly reveals MOV apfel is more than her owlish glasses ... followed for a year + ... maysles 's legendary cinema verit\u00e9 technique is most effective at watching her shop .", "subtly reveals the interior life all too frequently ignored by the city 's patronising socialites as they fawn over and try to co-opt the outsized personality MOV 's individualism has generated .", "she emerges here as a down-to-earth , self-mocking , savvy philosopher , a one-off combination of madame de pompadour and a borscht-belt standup : it 's not just MOV 's glasses that recall george burns , but her wit too .", "the movie becomes most poignant and meaningful when maysles suddenly turns the camera on himself , revealing the 87 year old man who is stalking the 93 year old subject .", "as a snapshot of an exceptional woman , MOV is an uplifting and entertaining film ; it lifts our spirits with the fuel of hers", "even if the film does n't get far beneath surface of its subject , it is still a pleasant , if slight , depiction of a human curio", "maysles often said that he made -lsb- his films -rsb- with a sense of love for his subjects . that is certainly true of this film , which is a great parting gift to us all .", "it 's hardly the most provocative documentary in the festival line-up , but it 's such a delightfully fizzy one that it should be the perfect tonic after a long festival ...", "like all of maysles ' works , the structure of MOV is simple and effective . the cameras are left rolling , and the subject is left to her own devices .", "full of life , wit and occasional wisdom , the film is as much about the energy of late director albert maysles -lrb- grey gardens -rrb- , whose final film this was .", "MOV drums home its agreeable themes - never be afraid to express yourself and never stop having fun . it 's nice to be reminded of this by someone with 93 years of experience .", "it 's an affectionate , slight , minor work .", "spend some time with `` geriatric starlet '' MOV apfel and dorchester-born albert maysles .", "`` MOV '' could be seen as a primer on how to grow old gracefully , how to hold onto what matters and jettison what you have no use for . and to look damn good doing it .", "albert maysles and MOV apfel show what it 's like to be working into your 80s and 90s", "maysles ' films prove that understatement and patience can be priceless .", "at the heart of `` MOV '' is love , between MOV and the camera , maysles and his subject , and MOV and carl . they nailed it , this crazy life , and they 're still getting a kick out of it .", "there are some people from nyc and there are some people who make nyc . MOV is one of the latter .", "if i were to say that i can introduce you to a 90-year-old woman who you would n't be able to take your eyes off of , you might not believe me until you see MOV apfel .", "` MOV '' is a joyful look at an aging eccentric and an examination of the playful nature of design and fashion ; it likely wo n't change your life , but will bring a smile to your face .", "although albert maysles ' doc boasts more energy than insight , MOV is a lovely tribute to a resilient new york fashion icon .", "the documentary leaves little doubt that maysles was captivated by MOV apfel , and it 's probable that you will be too .", "a singular eccentric and fashion icon gets a nice `` direct cinema '' documentary profile by the late albert maysles .", "knowing albert maysles made the film already gives it instant credibility , but MOV ' flamboyant personality is animated enough to make the film sweet , enchanting , and quite lovable .", "albert maysles 's portrait of MOV apfel gradually emerges with cathartic clarity without compromising her inherent mystery .", "maysles endearingly reveals apfel 's blend of blind passion and keen practicality , her unflagging enthusiasm for transmitting her knowledge to young people , and her synoptic view of fashion as living history .", "viewer entertainment will vary in direct proportion to interest in the unusual but ultimately mundane details of apfel 's day-to-day . she is , for what it 's worth , good company .", "the film exists as a document both of a witty , good-natured society fixture and of a very particular moment in history .", "apfel is constantly chatting to `` albert '' off camera , not to us , and the affection adds an unusual meta level to MOV ... that intimacy is the movie 's real subject ; it 'll make you feel swaddled in stylish conspiracy .", "MOV is more than just a movie about an amusing lady who likes clothes an awful lot . it 's also a celebration of the revivifying power of creativity ...", "there might not be that much insight , but there certainly is plenty of geriatric spunk .", "splashy and stylish , just like MOV , who dubs herself `` a geriatric starlet . ''", "-lsb- albert -rsb- maysles has a rich subject matter and tells the story of MOV apfel 's remarkable career , her marriage to husband carl , who celebrated his 100th birthday during the making of `` MOV , '' and her lasting influence on the fashion business .", "the chief virtue of `` MOV '' is its amiability - it 's a delight to spend time in apfel 's company , and thanks to albert maysles , we can .", "maysles ' comprehensive account of a multifaceted , loving human being .", "intimate , knowing portrait of a fashion icon who knows exactly who and what she is , and is often surrounded by people who do n't .", "when MOV holds court on the importance of living a full life , refusing to slow down because of the whims of father time , you can feel that she 's speaking for maysles , too .", "`` MOV '' serves as a spirited , often dazzling primer in how to fight the dying of the light and feel fabulous while doing it .", "this woman has plenty of blunt wisdom to share .", "`` MOV '' is the cinematic equivalent of a party , with its titular character as its host . there are plenty of interesting people in attendance , but she 's the real star , and less than 90 minutes , we wish the celebration would have gone on just a bit longer .", "there are few better ways right now to spend 80 movie minutes than to see MOV , a delightful eye-opener about life , love , statement eyeglasses , bracelets the size of tricycle tires and the art of making the grandest of entrances .", "traveling to vintage clothing stores from w. 27th st. to palm beach , fla. , apfel creates excursions that are like time spent with your coolest , funniest and most sage aunt . her energy and life philosophy are inspiring , and will never go out of style .", "daffy , brassy , inspiring , and a bit slight ." ], "summary": "a small , insightful feature with a deceptively thoughtful thesis , MOV adds a bittersweet postscript to director albert maysles ' filmography .", "id": "771402913" }, { "movie": "offside", "reviews": [ "as in his previous films , such as crimson gold , director jafar panahi does not embitter his story with acrimony , but lets the absurdity of its situations bear silent witness to the injustices portrayed .", "the biggest challenge in MOV is not who wins the game , but which daring enough girls manage to sneak into the stadium .", "although its message is deadly serious , MOV is almost lighthearted , filled with wit and winning characters .", "a beguiling , deceptively simple slice-of-life drama , shot cin\u00e9ma v\u00e9rit\u00e9 style , MOV reaffirms jafar panahi 's preeminence as one of the most humanistic and socially progressive filmmakers in contemporary iranian cinema .", "a funny , poignant , and jubilant iranian film about some passionate female soccer fans that ends with a mystical moment of oneness .", "the director shoots largely on location -- parts were filmed at azadi stadium during an actual match -- and mixes fiction and documentary so deftly we ca n't tell which is which .", "for all its implicit politics , MOV is a pure joy ; the young women are feisty and lovable . one can even imagine a few imams chuckling through their beards .", "sweetly affecting ... the girls ' plucky rebellion and camaraderie escape in tiny episodes that subtly reflect upon the ridiculousness of iranian law .", "this is thought provoking and lots and lots of fun .", "it 's a very frank film about the daily frustrations for women who just want to enjoy their lives . it 's a comedy , but of a fairly bitter sort .", "the film 's rich , pointed comedy arises from the sense that men and women alike are trapped in an absurd , insoluble predicament .", "a bright and often bold comedy that presents a difficult subject matter -- that of the struggle for women 's rights -- in a fresh and entertaining way .", "panahi 's handheld cameras show both the hypocricy of the anti-feminism of old-school iran and the new breed of young women ready to challenge that state as they rabidly cheer for their country 's national team .", "-lsb- a -rsb- wonderfully funny , outspoken shaggy-dog story .", "panahi is exceedingly clever at keeping things varied and deftly drawing characters .", "this light , personal satire of prejudice and sports , is all the more poignant since no ball is seen in the entire tale ; it continues panahi 's exploration of the absurd restrictions imposed on women in contemporary iran .", "panahi has things both ways -- his movie is critical and utopian , cinema verit\u00e9 and political allegory .", "MOV is rewarding because rather than telling us what to think about contemporary iranian society , panahi invites us to consider its many paradoxes and possibilities .", "its indictment of iranian mores is no less incisive than that of the circle .", "panahi builds small incidents into a bracing comedy that explores the ambiguity and inconsistencies of his country 's laws controlling barriers between the sexes .", "tragedy spectacularly laced with hope .", "panahi 's films represent an evolution , and MOV is best understood in the context of his body of work .", "as the political rhetoric between washington and tehran becomes dangerously overheated , MOV offers an intimate antidote : an affectionate glimpse into the cultural schisms that young tehranis face every day .", "despite its tiny story , director jafar panahi gives MOV a suspenseful , you-are-there quality .", "what 's most striking about panahi 's wonderful film is its celebration of the girls ' resilience even in the face of such organized and daunting obstacles .", "with gentle humor , panahi exposes the camaraderie of these female soccer fans , who thrill to a game they are not allowed to watch .", "humanizes the iranians and shows that they 're just as crazy about their sports as westerners , if not more . if anything , it proves that soccer is truly an international language , providing an arena where anyone can communicate .", "MOV is exactly the sort of movie that george w. bush and his cohorts in crime would n't want you to see .", "MOV may be the ultimate iranian film : it 's both an advance for its director , moving away from his slight political didacticism , and a perfect metaphor for a population that 's more liberated than its stone-age sexism would imply .", "panahi 's films are the modern equivalent of messages in bottles , hurled out to sea in hopes that those in other , freer lands might see what he sees .", "director jafar panahi has long been an eloquent and passionate representative for iranian women . but judging by this deeply poignant comedy , they may not need a mouthpiece much longer .", "the story is good-natured , but panahi 's message is serious : that ludicrous rules turn iranian women into third-class citizens . and what better way is there to get that point across than through sports and laughter ?", "-lsb- director -rsb- panahi has perfected the art of realist filmmaking , here turning his camera on scenes that seem more improvised or captured on the fly than staged .", "a sociopolitical parable about women 's rights in iran does n't sound like a thigh-slapper , but MOV scores a lot of laughs while making its ideological points .", "-lsb- light -rsb- in tone and at times even funny , panahi 's drama about young women forbidden to attend a soccer match is nevertheless tough to shake .", "from the western perspective , the feisty protagonists ' predicament might seem silly , until it gradually sinks in that this treatment is business as usual in a backward land that seems to have gotten stuck in the middle ages . alley oop lives !", "jafar panahi 's film is disarming because it presents a mostly good natured , at times humorous , approach to issues that are extremely serious .", "you will probably have a ball with MOV , as you get to know the characters , marvel at their get-ups , share in their boisterous defiance and at last watch them join the celebration .", "it 's a sports film unlike any other , and a political film that makes the personal profound .", "cet effort parfois maladroit dans sa propre prudence n'inspirera s\u0171rement pas le d\u00e9bat de soci\u00e9t\u00e9 qu'il cherche \u0155 cr\u00e9er", "another no-frills success from one of iran 's most accessible directors .", "engaging , insightful , and crowd-pleasing comedy sports drama .", "... reveals pockets of empathy existing in defiance of iran 's oppressive regime .", "the film laughs at the absurdity of banning women from stadiums and tells a slight , droll story in the process .", "a protest film that disarms the opposition with a feather , not a cudgel ...", "if you like to see an inspirational sports film , with an amusing spin on the genre , then MOV is well worth the watch .", "a plea for cultural evolution that does n't point fingers , instead only hoping that the next generations will wake up and take the sensible steps towards the future .", "a phenomenal work ... the sort of satire where reality is its own punchline .", "obviously there 's more than soccer at stake here , with the field standing for the world of ideas itself . how do we dare keep any group from entering ? how will we ever succeed at keeping them out ? we do n't , says this film , and we ca n't .", "its ruminations on secular iranian nationalism are effectively couched within the characters , and the film , which won the berlin film festival 's silver bear but is banned in iran , has a refreshing slyness to it , as if it 's getting away with something too .", "jafar panahi of iran is one of his country 's great filmmakers , and MOV is his best movie to date .", "MOV confounds the viewer in its simplicity , but there 's so much going on in its contained universe", "it 's a spirited , feisty , bouncy film , with little feel of contrivance .", "there 's a commitment to half-improvised , ground-level realism that lends the picture news value and an obvious urgency .", "most of this winning drama shows -lsb- girls -rsb- bantering with their male keepers , boyish soldiers who do n't want to miss the game themselves . over the crowd 's roar , they argue about islamic prohibitions and the statistics of star players .", "as funny as it is sharp .", "a quietly intelligent and humorous alternative look at football , pop culture and the position of women .", "the amateur ensemble cast and superb satire make this one of the best football films going .", "a spirited rebuke of the political and social restrictions faced by women in iran .", "jafar panahi 's wonderful MOV uses soccer to speak volumes about the gulf between iran 's religious rulers and its citizens -- especially the women .", "posits an exhilarating , ephemeral sense of cultural inclusiveness", "MOV is comic and exuberant , bold and resilient .", "the comically-tinged suspense and technical brilliance of certain moments never grow out of anything organic as in the great panahi/kiarostami collaboration crimson gold .", "full review in greek", "a powerful depiction of rebellion , as well as a portrait of communication as a force capable of eradicating personal and cultural barriers .", "a film of masks ... droll comedy and wry ironies artfully disguise panahi 's poignant questioning of national pride , governing the public good , and even the sadness mixed in with past victories .", "the great virtue of MOV is that it never degenerates into an us-versus-them situation . -lsb- director pahani -rsb- understands that a repressive system victimizes the oppressors as much as the oppressed .", "greatness is a word often associated with iranian cinema . but fun ? practically never . jafar panahi 's exuberant and subversive MOV , however , scores on both points .", "it 's too bad that hollywood , which is always interested in making another anti-american picture , could n't make a few showing the consequences of islamic oppression .", "MOV is shocking in its revelation of the legal oppression of women in iran . this film is also hugely funny .", "if you 're seeking a movie that entertains while introducing you to uniquely different ways of life , MOV scores .", "MOV is a slow slog through bloated scenes with little happening . framed and shot like a crude documentary , it proceeds in long , clunky takes , as if an editor could n't be bothered .", "the delicately subversive -lsb- director -rsb- mr. panahi makes his subjects perfectly clear -- the stupidity of authority , and the hypocrisy of discrimination . MOV is surprisingly entertaining , and edifying to boot .", "the interaction between soldiers and captives becomes a microcosm for an entire culture . it 's a wisp of a movie but it has stayed with me longer than much supposedly weightier fare .", "a look at a supposed enemy that resonates with passions very much like our own .", "although the game is not seen , it provides a kinetic , real-time , documentary-like backdrop for a story structured like a game itself , albeit one where neither compassion nor logic apply , and at which everyone loses .", "it 's not exactly exciting material , but panahi 's gentle humor and sense of realism keep it from becoming dull .", "ultimately , satisfyingly joyous .", "exhilarating , exuberant and drolly funny .", "panahi has learned how to use natural space , both confined and open , as the foundation for the film . thankfully , this cinematic process rolls right over any ideas of generic plot .", "a gem that should not be missed .", "the rare iranian film that is not only thoughtful and thought-provoking but also a lot of fun ." ], "summary": "a spirited film that explores gender politics with comedy , intelligence , and a variety of interesting characters .", "id": "326394915" }, { "movie": "labyrinth", "reviews": [ "great energy and creativity went into the construction , production and direction of this movie , but it does n't have a story that does justice to the production .", "for all its visual inventiveness , there 's something inert about the late jim henson 's 1986 fantasy adventure MOV .", "that the whole mess of MOV was entertaining once to a child is a precarious gauge of quality .", "the sheer magic of jim henson", "wonderful , magical cult movie for kids .", "the chaotic narrative proceeds in fits and starts , and the sights and sounds are often dated , but somehow the film 's wit and wonder linger in the mind .", "unfortunately , this contemporary -lrb- at least , for the era -rrb- fairy tale , directed and co-written by muppets creator jim henson , never sets a timely tone beyond the 1980s . it remains disappointingly tethered to yesteryear .", "an innovative mix of sophisticated puppetry and special effects , MOV has all the components of classic myth .", "plays like the wizard of oz or alice in wonderland crossed with a middling episode of `` the muppet show '' guest-starring david bowie ... suffers from a distinct lack of charm .", "henson 's vision and the wonderful bag of puppetry tricks he turns to are enough to make `` MOV '' a winner .", "surreal coming-of-age fantasy -- with muppets .", "muppet creator jim henson went dark , but not too serious in this entertaining , but meandering trifle .", "MOV has stood the test of time astonishingly well .", "if , like most of its fans who caught up with the film through vhs and afternoon television airings on the abc , then seeing it on the big screen will surely rank as one of the most eye-opening , fantastical experiences of the year .", "a wonderful eighties fantasy gem ...", "a made-for-kids movie with just enough weird stuff in it to appeal to teens .", "a long and colorful quest filled with crazy critters and creative set design .", "a real masterpiece of puppetry and special effects , an absolutely gorgeous children 's fantasy movie .", "henson 's imagination is boundless . but his movie has no pep . it 's a dream in neutral .", "great production design ; if only the ending were n't so lame .", "it 's be pretty good if it were n't for the nonsensical songs .", "a trip , for sure , but a worthy one .", "could i possibly love a movie any more than this ?", "a remarkable achievement .", "more about wacky creatures and spectacular set pieces than emotion and coherent storytelling ." ], "summary": "while it 's arguably more interesting on a visual level , MOV provides further proof of director jim henson 's boundless imagination .", "id": "10057" }, { "movie": "the_interrupters_2011", "reviews": [ "begins with sobering facts about chicago 's epidemic of gang and youth violence before embedding us with people hoping to change them .", "you wo n't see a movie this year that is more moving , more tragic , more upsetting , more hopeful or more necessary .", "certainly the best documentary i 've seen thus far this year", "through understanding and fearlessness , this brave trio shows us , the world can be changed , tiny step by tiny step .", "the revelations and examples of this positive influence seeping into the skin of the city creates enormous cinematic and community excitement .", "much like the director 's seminal doc , this is a richly-drawn slice of real life that 's weaved with the finesse of a fine hollywood drama .", "it 's lazy critical shorthand to point out that good documentaries often feature better characterizations than even the best fiction films , but MOV certainly justifies such a clich\u00e9 .", "the cameras take us where few people dare go .", "if the lack of progress in chicago is upsetting , the reassurance of james ' unparalleled talent is inspiring . he is not just one of the united states ' most vital and humane filmmakers , but one of the world 's .", "MOV is a heavyweight film about a heavyweight subject of clear interest well beyond the united states .", "the film feels weirdly hands-off and remote , as if glimpsed from a distance .", "for about $ 1,000 every two weeks , these people try to make a concrete , palpable change in a community that fights them at every turn . what 's amazing is not whether or not they 're effective ; what 's amazing is that they even try at all .", "`` MOV '' is solid proof that james really is a gifted documentarian who can hit hard when he 's got the right story to tell , and it 's an important look at people doing selfless , challenging work that puts them in harm 's way every single day .", "present -lsb- s -rsb- a gratifyingly non-cynical take on the troubles facing the species , uplifting without being cloying .", "though formally conventional , it carries a powerful message about the reality of life in the inner city and the struggles of thise who live there to break the cycle of violence .", "i do n't get to vote on the nobel peace prize , but my imaginary vote would go to the violence interrupters , the real-life `` stars '' of the documentary `` MOV . ''", "it 's a year in the life and death of the fight against the streetwise status quo , and james ' doc brings it all horrifically home .", "there 's no doubt MOV do some good ; but there 's also no doubt the problem they 're facing is enormous .", "like hoop dreams , the movie does n't really have an ending , but it does n't have a beginning , either . it simply observes a year in the life of a city , and a community that 's made it their mission to deal with a difficult situation .", "the immediacy and caprice of violence in `` MOV '' are just as strong as in nearly every documentary i 've seen about the wars in iraq and afghanistan .", "realistically inspiring and , thankfully , not overly dramatized .", "if this were a fiction movie out of hollywood , we 'd be hooting at the preposterousness of it all . i mean , really .", "there will be tears shed over this deep look at chicago 's grisliest streets and the benevolent soldiers who fight to keep them safe .", "once again , james ' trustworthy work demonstrates the power of paying attention .", "if the wire 's urban tapestries were real , they might look like this .", "-lsb- d -rsb- ramatic when rhetoric matches street action , they fearlessly divert retaliation on street corners and at funerals -lsb- so -rsb- the cycle can be interrupted one person at a time .", "james 's approach is not analytical but emotional ; his depiction of people bearing inextinguishable pain is empathetic and powerful ...", "it 's impossible not to be moved by the small signs of hope in the midst of so much despair and degradation .", "one group 's brave , amazing attempt to stop the shootings .", "even at just shy of three hours , the format strains to accommodate such a complex , involving true-life story , but it makes a seriously impressive attempt .", "it is difficult to imagine the effort , day after day for a year , of following this laborious , heroic and so often fruitless volunteer work .", "MOV is a heavyweight film about a heavyweight subject of clear interest well beyond the united states .", "steve james ' arresting documentary could benefit even more from a multi-part television treatment .", "in a documentary career defined by fierce commitment to his subjects , steve james delivers his most ambitious project yet in MOV .", "MOV , a documentary about an initiative to stop urban violence in chicago , may be the most necessary film you 'll see this year .", "the most heroic figures you 're likely to see on screen all year .", "james ' hoop dreams has been spoken of with reverence and wonder for 17 years ; now , he has an equal to its reputation .", "... a triumph of evidence on how one person 's actions can begin a groundswell of change .", "demands your attention , all the while demonstrating what great documentary filmmaking is all about - a hopeful vehicle for change .", "heartfelt documentary follows counsellors as they intervene with chicago youth to prevent gang violence .", "... a sobering look at an endemic american disease of poverty that squeezes lower class minorities into abject depression and violence .", "it 's an encouraging film , though its overall context in an america 50 years after the election of jack kennedy and lyndon johnson is depressing .", "through chronicling ceasefire 's attempts to quell street violence , the filmmakers show how violence causes a downward spiral of despair . this is n't an easy documentary to watch , but it is one which must be seen .", "this gripping and very long documentary traces a year in the life of a chicago neighbourhood that 's plagued by youth violence . and by focussing on charity workers working to interrupt the cycle , the film finds some real hope .", "a tour de force of editing that 's similar in novelistic scale to steve james 's high school basketball epic hoop dreams .", "MOV reminds us of the powers and pleasures of well-crafted , immersive nonfiction filmmaking -- a genre vitiated within the past five years by a glut of cruddy-looking , poorly researched and argued titles .", "powerful , inspirational and suddenly incredibly topical , this is a superbly made , vitally important documentary that demands to be seen . unmissable .", "the movie is more a situation than a narrative , and it 's repetitive and depressing .", "an enlightening look at a method used in chicago to head off violence before it starts .", "`` MOV '' is an intense and chilling documentary about peacekeeping troops in a war zone .", "blessed with a wealth of verite intimacy , this is an affecting and sobering portrait of america 's crumbling lower class .", "MOV is a film that offers an unflinching look at urban violence but also introduces a ray of hope .", "james ' camera investigates the story in the same detailed , organic manner he used in hoop deams .", "james keeps viewer attention the whole time , despite forcing unnecessarily sentimental music on his footage and chopping his scenes down to dramatic highlights rather than letting them play at length .", "a riveting documentary which chronicles the efforts of several intrepid community organizers to bring an end to black-on-black crime in the city of chicago .", "a heartbreaking , empowering documentary about inner-city violence ...", "a sobering but not hopeless look at how the windy city is attempting to turn around a rising tide of street shooting , through the work of a unique group called ceasefire .", "in the end , statistics are of less moment to this movie than the case-by-case personal successes that , in some cases , are emotionally overwhelming .", "tense , moving , and , at times brain-draining .", "a staggering movie about a reality so dark and painful and real that it almost crushes the mind to think about it .", "... it is an eye-opening document that leaves you feeling hopeful because such people as ameena , cobe and eddie exist .", "a massive and compelling tapestry of life on the streets of chicago .", "james pokes through viewers ' humdrum haze , interrupting their routine and reminding them that there exists a grey and very complicated world in desperate need of workable solutions , not ideological posturing .", "reality movie-making at a high point .", "ameena matthews , cobe williams and eddie bocanegra used to instigate chicago street violence . now they live for nipping it in the bud , block by treacherous block .", "the courage , determination and intelligence of these violence interrupters is inspiring , but even more inspiring are the people trying so hard to overcome this plague of violence and live decent lives .", "chronicles ` one year in the life of a city grappling with violence , ' when chicago was labeled a ` war zone . ' laments a funeral home director : ` how can the president of the united states be a black man ... but i 'm still burying black kids ? '", "a cry of hope from communities of despair .", "james and kotlowitz are unsparing in their depiction of how rough life in chicago 's mean streets can get . nonetheless , they also have a deep compassion for the people they follow .", "it tears at your heart with its depiction of the intractability of the problem . but it simultaneously insists , and makes you believe , that change is possible one person at a time .", "where james 's film excels is as direct experiential cinema -- without narration , onscreen interviews or acknowledgment of the presence of the camera -- it is an intensely dramatic window into a world .", "culled from 300 hours of footage , this is a brave and worthy effort , though at times it is difficult to understand what the participants are saying .", "more relevant now than ever , this is a film that seeks to understand violent acts and the people who commit them , whilst never excusing the damage they do .", "this documentary gives a clear and powerful picture of the desperate sadness that arises from this violence : the funerals , the flowers , the memorial t-shirts .", "a titanic piece of documentary filmmaking destined to have a real impact .", "searing in its depiction of at-risk children in poor communities , the film is also the bracing , life-affirming story of residents who are beginning to reclaim their streets , one corner at a time .", "superb .", "the stories in `` MOV , '' a hard wallop of a documentary , may weigh heavily on your heart and head , but they will also probably infuriate you .", "an antidote to the recent spoofery of diy superheroes .", "there are moments when MOV feels like a real-life version of the wire , with weary heroes trudging forever uphill to make their ugly world a slightly better place . the problem is that it 's a very repetitive film .", "an original three hundred hours of shooting trimmed to just shy of two-and-a-half , the film is still long , but who is to say where this eye-opener could have been cut .", "local activists commit , with varied results , to halting a tragic epidemic . it 's a job fraught with volatility and peril , taken with the understanding that some cases may ultimately end in failure .", "a sharper sense of structure might have produced a masterpiece , but it 's still vital , upsetting , and full of wary hope .", "james made hoop dreams , in which basketball became a metaphor of the american dream . MOV is the american nightmare , no metaphor needed .", "a riveting documentary about three committed , sensitive , and compassionate warriors for peace whose heroism has made a difference in the lives of people in inner city chicago ." ], "summary": "impeccably crafted and edited , MOV is a tough and honest documentary about street violence that truly has the power to inspire change .", "id": "771231900" }, { "movie": "blood_work", "reviews": [ "remember back when thrillers actually thrilled ? when the twist endings were actually surprising ? when the violence actually shocked ? when the heroes were actually under 40 ? sadly , as MOV proves , that was a long , long time ago .", "eastwood returns to the crime beat one more time with rudimentary potboiler material .", "fits snugly into the ` classic ' eastwood mode -- an entertaining suspense thriller populated by hard-edged characters who brighten up a somewhat mechanical plot .", "starsky and putz", "-lsb- a -rsb- strong piece of work .", "solid enough entertainment for a summer blockbuster .", "a painfully slow cliche-ridden film filled with more holes than clyde barrow 's car .", "the film works because it is about a man on a journey who discovers that a strong heart can do more damage than a pair of fists .", "by the end of the film this fascinating character study looses all credibility at the hands of an age-old , hollywood stereotype .", "as a showcase for clint eastwood to take himself down a few notches and play a redemptive patched-up soul tackling his demons , it 's a fun observation to witness . but as an overall effective thriller , this blood should be much thicker than water .", "even as it ends in a flurry of absurd plot twists , MOV holds you in a vise .", "` MOV ' is like a tattered beach read that 's been given the ny times best seller treatment .", "72 year-old eastwood delivers the goods , albeit at a more deliberate pace , adding a touch of vulnerability to his trademark tough guy persona .", "it 's not difficult to spot the culprit early-on in this predictable thriller .", "` a dull , routine and predictable flick . '", "eastwood winces , clutches his chest and gasps for breath . it 's a spectacular performance - ahem , we hope it 's only acting .", "the movie has plenty of twists and surprises .", "we have an actor who is great fun to watch performing in a film that is only mildly diverting .", "the film is moody , oozing , chilling and heart-warming all at once ... a twisting , unpredictable , cat-and-mouse thriller .", "eastwood 's detached competence as a filmmaker makes for a slick but frigid movie experience .", "while we may doubt his physical capabilities , 72-year-old clint eastwood can still deliver as an action hero .", "from the moment the credits start to roll with his trademark cool jazz soundtrack , you know that you 're at least going to see the work of a filmmaker true to his own beliefs .", "edgy if predictable ...", "it 's one of the better cops-and-killers melodramas to hit theaters this year .", "it was too long , the dialogue was shoddy , the plotline predictable , the characters lame .", "if the detective-story aspect of MOV fails to thoroughly captivate , the movie is nevertheless enjoyable for its constant stream of lively characters and the delight in watching a man with a bad ticker but a good head go through his paces .", "not exactly dirty harry ... more like dusty harry .", "the movie could have used a heart transplant of its own , for its ultimate undoing is its minuscule , phoned-in energy level .", "if you like genre films , MOV will not disappoint .", "master filmmaker clint eastwood continues in the classic howard hawks/john ford tradition with unobtrustive direction , relaxed pacing , and strong characters and storytelling .", "typically for eastwood , there are modest touches to savor .", "the pivotal teaser is a numerical code that baffles experts but gets cracked in one curious gaze by a schoolboy .", "eastwood 's sharpest filmmaking since the gig that won him an oscar .", "this vehicle -- the cinematic equivalent of a supermarket paperback -- plays like the best-ever episode of matlock rather than a truly distinguished feature film . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "disappointing , predictable , and graphic .", "the talent just is n't there to raise the level of this film past television drama .", "it 's still fun to watch -lsb- eastwood -rsb- chase the bad guys , and he still has that indescribable aura about him .", "forget the heart transplant , MOV is ready for embalming .", "a routine police thriller .", "there 's enough suspense and enough unfolding human drama to make MOV an engaging picture .", "MOV is laughable in the solemnity with which it tries to pump life into overworked elements from eastwood 's dirty harry period .", "MOV finds director-actor clint eastwood doing what he does best -- telling a lean , clean , no-nonsense story of a reluctant hero who follows his code of honor till he gets the job done .", "flat and feeble .", "you do n't know whether to admire the film 's stately nature and call it classicism or be exasperated by a noticeable lack of pace . or both .", "anyone who has consumed more than a handful of detective stories will get the ` whodunit ' early on and be stranded with a protagonist who is lagging behind in a visually stale environment .", "if it 's not entirely memorable , the movie is certainly easy to watch .", "there is nothing particularly clever or original to set it apart from the very basics of the genre .", "sometimes this ` blood ' seems as tired as its protagonist ... still , the pulse never disappears entirely , and the picture crosses the finish line winded but still game .", "eastwood is an icon of moviemaking , one of the best actors , directors and producers around , responsible for some excellent work . but even a hero can stumble sometimes .", "clint shows that he can still get the job done .", "far-fetched and trite .", "set to the steady , unassuming rhythm of a procedural mystery , this thriller never loses its taut discipline even during the story 's more-chimerical developments .", "clint 's aim may not be as straight as it once was , but it 's still true .", "this is the eastwood of old , and the fact that he can still pull off such heroics tells us how far he had to stretch to play nervous and frail .", "the film ultimately comes off as a solidly told , but run of the mill effort that probably would have been far more mundane had eastwood not been behind and especially in front of the camera .", "the actors manage to make it all seem plausible enough .", "it 's always nice to see clint .", "its plot is as preposterously melodramatic as a noir nightmare like doa -lrb- 1950 -rrb- , without that film 's restless undercurrent of disillusioned fatalism .", "there are certain old friends who are fun to have around , but MOV does its best to reduce clint eastwood to something like the houseguest you struggle to tolerate after he overstays his welcome .", "eastwood on top of his game would n't have made a movie so easy to figure out or so painful to watch .", "clint eastwood directs and stars in a heart transplant psycho-thriller that sports a few scars itself .", "a sleep-inducingly slow-paced crime drama with clumsy dialogue , heavy-handed phoney-feeling sentiment , and an overly-familiar set of plot devices .", "terry is a sort of geriatric dirty harry , which will please eastwood 's loyal fans -- and suits the story , wherein our hero must ride roughshod over incompetent cops to get his man .", "the cowboy can still conjure up a stoic maverick cop with credibility and keep you biting your nails through most of the film . nice work .", "-lsb- eastwood 's -rsb- tightest , best film since unforgiven .", "MOV needs a transfusion ...", "it 's not an important picture , and probably not even a memorable one , but i had a good time .", "the strength of the picture , directed by eastwood , is that it has three intersecting story arcs : the investigation , the health issues , and the relationship that builds , step by step .", "an intriguing setup , filled with colorful characters , lots of humor and well-developed scenes .", "the final result of this MOV is - o , negative .", "i would have rather watched clint 's heart transplant than this lethargic , poorly made movie .", "a tidy , somewhat predictable package ... solid entertainment for the mainstream audience", "between connelly 's imagination and what eastwood committed to celluloid , mistakes were made", "eastwood 's skill with actors and with the tone of MOV , which is weary , bemused and suspenseful , bode well for his career as a director , whenever he decides to stop baring his torso to actresses who were n't even born when he joined aarp .", "a cleverly constructed and surprisingly soul-searching suspense thriller from a screen icon who 's begun to contemplate his own mortality .", "... an elegant , well-paced , low-key mystery filled with intriguing characters and fascinating details .", "a classy item by a legend who may have nothing left to prove but still has the chops and drive to show how its done .", "very silly : sometimes almost enjoyably so , often just in a tired way .", "MOV is a lot like a well-made pb & j sandwich : familiar , fairly uneventful and boasting no real surprises - but still quite tasty and inviting all the same .", "i 'm sorry , the guy may be tough , or good-looking , or a respected hollywood elder , but clint eastwood is not a very good actor . there , i said it .", "eastwood should spend the next five years gargling to get rid of the taste .", "the murder mystery develops in engaging fashion , but disappointment comes when MOV intermittently leaves its clever roots to honor dull hollywood conventions .", "clint still has presence , but he now looks very elderly , with stunt doubles to do fights and running and , for all i know , walking and breathing too .", "it 's badly made , the plot is ridiculous and what 's more , it confirms that clint , like woody allen , is now much too old for love scenes of any kind .", "efficient but fairly unexciting .", "seems to have been influenced solely by tv cop shows , right down to its cliched humor .", "as a director , eastwood is off his game -- there 's no real sense of suspense , and none of the plot ` surprises ' are really surprising .", "for a movie about a heart , this is all saggy flesh and bare bones .", "the professionalism of the direction does little to mask the banality of the product .", "clint eastwood 's most accomplished movie in nearly a decade .", "the performances play like scenes from a daytime soap opera .", "the movie slides downhill as soon as macho action conventions assert themselves .", "a tightly directed , highly professional film that 's old-fashioned in all the best possible ways .", "a vital , exciting work .", "a methodical police procedural that never is as engaging or as enjoyable as the twitching , hoarse-voiced , effortlessly charismatic eastwood is to watch .", "if you enjoy being rewarded by a script that assumes you are n't very bright , then MOV is for you .", "`` MOV '' is a cut above the routine serial killer movie in terms of character study and provides a different kind of hero for the star to wrap his arms around .", "after a great opening that pulled me into the story , the movie quickly self-destructed into predictability .", "although the identity of the action thriller 's culprit is painfully evident early in the movie , mr. eastwood 's direction is skillful enough to keep the suspense percolating .", "... another one of clint eastwood 's essays on the aging process disguised as a genre film .", "MOV is one of those crime thrillers where the filmmakers ca n't see the forest for the trees .", "eastwood and daniels are in top form .", "a sturdy , if dawdling , old-fashioned adding-up - the-clues mystery that turns out to be one or two notches cleverer than you expect .", "twenty-three movies into a mostly magnificent directorial career , clint eastwood 's efficiently minimalist style finally has failed him . big time .", "the good , the bad and the elderly", "some say eastwood could sleepwalk through detective thrillers of this nature . i say he just did .", "this is a murder mystery in which fitting together the pieces of the puzzle takes precedence over the solution .", "a worthwhile thriller .", "has a lot of the virtues of eastwood at his best .", "for all its plot twists , and some of them verge on the bizarre as the film winds down , MOV is a strong , character-oriented piece .", "the pacing is glacial , the screenplay is stiff as a board , and things heat up only in the movie 's final scenes .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- delivers the goods , in part because of eastwood 's iconic presence and in part because of daniels ' scene-stealing work in what could have been a hokey role .", "a welcome relief from a summer of freaks , fools and flying saucers .", "the performances , along with eastwood 's intent focus on characterization , make MOV a commendable drama even when the detective story flounders .", "it can be argued , i suppose , that MOV was designed from the outset not so much as a whodunit as a why-and-how-dunit , and here the film becomes metaphysically ingenious .", "maybe it is formula filmmaking , but there 's nothing wrong with that if the film is well-crafted and this one is .", "eastwood returns to form with MOV , a dark , moody thriller that 's as much about his own mortality as it is about catching bad guys .", "the key to a good thriller is a sense of urgency , something that is sorely lacking on both sides of the camera in MOV , a characteristically muted late-period offering from clint eastwood .", "largely anemic mystery-thriller that moves slowly and methodically through a by-the-numbers plot en route to a ludicrous climax", "MOV finds -lsb- eastwood -rsb- on auto-pilot -- delivering what we expect so lazily that most of it feels like a bloated tv cop-drama from the 70s .", "it does n't sound bad ... but bloodwork is bad , oh , lordy , yes , it is .", "well made but uninvolving , bloodwork is n't a terrible movie , just a stultifyingly obvious one -- an unrewarding collar for a murder mystery .", "eastwood seems to relish the opportunity to play a man his own age .", "a sturdy , suspenseful throwback .", "almost predictable enough to induce widespread eye-rolling", "eastwood judiciously tempers the picture 's more hackneyed elements . but so many scenes invite easy second-guessing of the hero ... that the movie 's strengths are often obscured .", "a satisfying and engaging thriller , even if it does take you down the memory lane of previous serial killer scripts .", "what MOV lacks in speed and surprise it almost makes up for in doughty professionalism .", "MOV is just no fun , it 's so amazingly predictable , and it moves at a snails pace", "thriller elements are present and accounted for , albeit blandly whitewashed for mainstream audiences .", "has heart , but is not particularly compelling or fresh .", "a perfectly competent potboiler , made with eastwood 's usual professionalism , that ultimately feels rather anemic .", "a bracingly no-nonsense , highly professional policier -- as proudly old-fashioned as its curmudgeon hero .", "serviceable at best , slightly less than serviceable at worst .", "distinctly lesser eastwood . see it if you 're like me , and will see anything he 's in or has directed .", "sure , eastwood 's made bad movies before , but as with his fellow great director-star woody allen , there 's a feeling that this time the creative decline is irreversible .", "one of the most appealing aspects of MOV is that , both as director and star , -lsb- eastwood -rsb- uses his age to impressive , even poignant , effect in a straightforward thriller with more-than-average depth .", "this is n't exactly the magnum-wielding , butt-kicking dirty harry we remember from the 1970s - and eastwood seems liberated by it .", "eastwood does n't do much to spice up MOV , but you ca n't fault his sturdy filmmaking style any more than you could a plumber who stops your pipes from leaking .", "as boring as high crimes , but with one big difference : jeff daniels is no jim caviezel .", "... MOV is an effective and clearly old-school type thriller that should appeal to older audiences and those who are tired of super fast-paced summer flicks .", "it 's mostly a pro forma police procedural spiced by a baroque twist that eastwood does n't really know what to do with .", "the material done the right way could 've yielded so much more than this rather lifeless effort .", "a mature human drama posing as a cop actioner ." ], "summary": "MOV is a routine , but competently made thriller marred by lethargic pacing .", "id": "14988" }, { "movie": "tibet_cry_of_the_snow_lion", "reviews": [ "peosay appears to have taken the dalai lama 's non-violent philosophy to heart . rather than rage , his film radiates sadness over a singular way of life in danger of imminent obliteration .", "part political thriller , part national geographic travelogue , tom peosay 's documentary is a distressing look at china 's 50-year repression of the people of tibet .", "each revelation seems more disturbing than the next .", "... a damning indictment of one of the world 's dirtiest open secrets .", "a sobering examination of a land in turmoil and a people that have faced what former u.s. ambassador to the united nations jeanne kirkpatrick cites as 20 years of ethnic cleansing .", "haunting documentary .", "a colorful but grimly efficient documentary about a culture under siege .", "so thorough is the cinematic journalism that you 'll swiftly forget what a challenge it must have been to document or simulate all of the key moments in a story that spans thousands of years of history .", "a passionate work of advocacy documentary .", "makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of a people that the world must never be allowed to forget , no matter how much their oppressors would prefer us to do just that .", "peosay does a remarkably good job providing the historical and political context for the china-tibet struggle , something that often seems missing from `` free tibet '' rhetoric .", "as a film , the technique barely serves the well-intentioned motivation behind it : the exposure of unprincipled subjugation .", "the film is not perfect . it often repeats itself and could have benefitted from more voices of those with firsthand knowledge of the indecencies .", "a fascinating and reasonably comprehensive portrait .", "it 's a factual movie , but it winds up speaking loudly to the heart .", "an emotional look at a battered land and a resilient people .", "if richard gere annoys you , ignore him and the other celebrities mentioned here and learn something .", "if you 're not at least a little bit moved by some of the more heart-rending stories told here , you might need to have your -lrb- metaphorical -rrb- heart checked .", "focuses too much on what we know and not enough on what we do n't .", "a passionate , well-made documentary .", "documentaries can be informative , entertaining and provocative , but rare is the documentary that makes you feel so engaged -lrb- and enraged -rrb- that it prompts you to action somehow . tibet : cry of the snow lion is that kind of film .", "cry of the snow lion succeeds in making a viewer want to do more , but it 's scattershot enough to make you want to know more too .", "such a measured primer of talking heads and footage -- a broad , slick tibet 101 -- that it seems better suited to the classroom than the big screen , despite its himalayan scenery and rustic colors .", "the movie bobs all over the place , leaving out important elements , including others that make no sense and sandwiching it all together with an endless procession of blathering heads .", "a polemic posing as a documentary , but an effective one .", "it is a sad but important story that all should see .", "... heartbreaking ...", "tibet : cry of the snow lion is not just well-intentioned , it 's admirably well-intentioned . its intentions are so good they sparkle ... the only problem is , that sort of stuff does n't always make for the most fascinating movie .", "tibet : cry of the snow lion will make even the most apolitical viewers want to hoist their own free tibet banners .", "... this documentary took 10 years to make , and it shows in a comprehensive array of photographs and footage both gorgeous and appalling .", "historical footage charts tibet 's encounter with its communist neighbor , but the doc also provides a national geographic kind of pleasure .", "-lsb- an -rsb- unabashedly heart-tugging documentary .", "a more concise and affecting summation of the tibetan crisis would be hard to imagine .", "gives you a sympathetic understanding of what 's going on in tibet , it may be one-sided , but it 's effective and interesting .", "it 's a rare glimpse of china 's ` final solution ' for a courageous people whose world view is one of forgiveness , nonviolence and love .", "one-sided yet persuasive .", "an extraordinary and passionate documentary about the plight of these oppressed people whose religion remains one of the wonders of the world with its mind training , nonviolence and compassion .", "preaches to the converted , but it preaches well and may serve to inspire more people to take action on behalf of tibet", "for an overview about the current situation in tibet it 's tough to beat tom peosay 's documentary", "a compelling story that it should not be missed . the photography of tibet is as gorgeous as the footage and stories of chinese atrocities are disturbing .", "this incredible documentary , so excellently crafted , is both moving and informative .", "as objective as any film on the subject can possibly be , tibet was reportedly made over the course of a decade , sustained by a passion and dedication on the part of its makers that resonates in every frame of this gripping , heartbreaking odyssey .", "it is pretty convincing in its argument that china has every intention of destroying the culture of tibetans .", "harrowing and illuminating .", "if you 've attended a beastie boys concert and picked up some free literature , chances are a substantial amount of this information is already known to you .", "simultaneously horrifying and transporting .", "despite its undeniably moving , and enlightening , moments , the film eventually tips into pedagogy ." ], "summary": "makes no effort to do more than present one side of its story , but does it so passionately and persuasively that the viewer almost can not help but be moved .", "id": "17069" }, { "movie": "10008606-eye", "reviews": [ "a poorly acted and instantly forgettable supernatural thriller .", "you 're better off avoiding any MOV contact with this movie .", "one of the less awful horror remakes in recent years .", "the MOV remake rolls off hollywood 's asian horror assembly line like expired goods that have been repackaged .", "the feel-good japanese horror remake vehicle of the year ! no , that 's a bad thing .", "alba is very good at looking very good ... but she 's quite terrible at looking very scared , or very traumatized ...", "stupendously bad", "directors david moreau and xavier palud ... and screenwriter sebastian gutierrez ... cleave very close to the -lsb- original hong kong -rsb- film in many ways , yet the result is far less satisfying .", "a thin premise frays the audience 's patience .", "despite some good , shocking visual images , the execution leaves much to be desired , and overall this remake is not as effective as the 2003 hong kong original -- or the helmers ' first -lrb- french -rrb- feature , them .", "the shocks are all cheap , the ending is ludicrous , and echoes of earlier movies are rampant , from repulsion to the sixth sense .", "t probably goes without saying that the self-involved , privileged sydney would pay scant attention to the violence and poverty that make up life in ana 's pueblo .", "seeing is disbelieving .", "um exemplo perfeito da diferen\u00e7a entre um filme que recicla os elementos do g\u0119nero terror de maneira criativa e outro que apenas se limita a copi\u00e1-los .", "the cornea-deprived caper the MOV definitely sports a blurry vision in the meager horror b-movie sweepstakes ... never sees clearly in its search for doomsday enlightenment .", "alba 's performance is rather limp ...", "moreau and palud decide to trade in the creepy , atmospheric style of the pang brothers for a more amped up hollywood approach ... it fails to distinguish itself either as a remake or on its own terms as a horror film .", "the real movie is jessica alba as a blind girl ... even the story of an MOV transplant recipient would be cool , watching her adjust to the world of vision . luckily , the bulk of the movie is that . that makes it classy and grown-up .", "the MOV contains little worth seeing .", "further proof that those fueling the hollywood remake machine are the ones who could really stand to have their vision restored .", "yet another inferior remake of an asian horror film .", "the most frightening aspect of this supernatural horror film -- a remake of the 2002 hong kong thriller -- is that there was a 114-minute version , before someone took pity and snipped it down to a lugubrious 97 .", "alba is so believable as a woman thrown out of her comfort zone ... that it 's actually a disappointment when the plot kicks in .", "the most vivid aspect of the MOV is its poster image , that of a huge female MOV with a human hand gripping the lower lid from the inside . the least vivid aspect is the way jessica alba delivers a simple line of expository dialogue .", "the MOV is the latest western deconstruction of a successful asian horror movie and it is louder and more literal than its inspiration .", "therapy for this fright-free , superdull remake of a stylish hong kong horror flick is probably not covered by your hmo .", "the movie is watchable -- never more gratuitously so than when alba is filmed showering and slipping into a tank top . but we 've been here before , no ?", "good special effects and some scary characters put together with great cinematography make this one notch up from a b horror film . turn off those cell phones now , boys and girls .", "the script is credited to sebastian gutierrez , who penned snakes on a plane , a movie that knew how to have scares and sex and a bit of fun . what happened ?", "neither a good movie nor a bad movie , the MOV is just ... a movie , sitting there unnecessarily .", "seeing is n't believing .", "what 's worse than a bad american remake of a terrifying asian horror movie ? why , a bad american remake of a crappy asian horror movie , of course .", "it 's hard to know who bears the brunt of the blame for the MOV 's stunning dullness .", "ever had a premonition of imminent catastrophe , only to watch helplessly as the worst unfolds ? you have if you saw the previews for this snoozer of a paranormal shocker and bought a ticket anyway .", "i spy with my little MOV another unnecessary remake of an asian horror movie .", "jessica alba is floundering here , forced to spit out idiotic dialogue and make goo-goo eyes toward cold fish nivola ; not to mention she 's one half of the most implausible pair of siblings committed to the big screen seen since schwarzenegger and devito .", "considering the MOV was held from critics for review , it turned out to be surprisingly decent - much better than the putrid one missed call", "the major problem is the death of a horror film : it 's startling , but not particularly scary .", "it creates a good atmosphere , but no tension . the movie is just not memorable .", "jessica alba may be easy on the eyes , but a lack of dramatic heft makes her hard on the MOV .", "terrible direction , forgettable performances , and writers who are so faithful to the source material that they even pick up the original film 's plot holes ...", "it 's all based on the creepy little chinese film gin gwai , an atmospheric spine-tingler that , we 're sad to say , is considerably more frightening than this tame effort .", "brothers danny and oxide pang 's unnerving spook show from 2002 has been translated into a clunky , aimless interpretation that leaves you with just one overpowering thought : are jessica alba 's lips for real ?", "takes a b-minus import and turns it into a d-minus retread .", "jessica alba sees dead people in blah horror film .", "turns out seeing dead people can still be kind of a thrill .", "you 'd think that a horror story concerned with the unreliability of sight might at least try to generate scares via the use of visual trickery .", "effectively creepsome until it bogs down somewhat in plot explication .", "... it does n't leave us with much more than a feeling that we 've been there and seen it all before .", "... ultimately establishes itself as the most effective endeavor of its kind since 2005 's dark water .", "quite faithful until the dumbed-down americanized ending , yet time and again the treatment is inferior .", "with every twist of the second-hand plot telegraphed far in advance , you do n't need to be clairvoyant to see where this is going .", "a terrifying treat for horror junkies , as alba 's nervous wreck visionary wards off being attacked by apartments and restaurants , while dealing with a bad case of occult organ rejection .", "alba simply is n't good enough to carry this kind of movie , and lacks the presence to counter the major deficiencies of a weak and feeble ghost story .", "when it comes to showing something to end the second-rate horror drought , the MOV is blind .", "there are a couple of effective scares , but this feels like a retread too far . enough with j-horror already - let 's do something new .", "one ca n't turn a blind MOV to such conspicuous failings .", "the latest american remake of an eastern import in which the thrills have been hopelessly squandered in translation , replaced with distracting , rapid-fire camerawork and thunderous bumps in the night that reflect a kind of creative desperation .", "lionsgate has delivered a solid pg-13 horror film that 's both entertaining and suspenseful ... and for those of you who do n't like it , there will be more saw on october 24 .", "transforming asian horror into american horror is n't so bad when the filmmakers respect the source material .", "i operate under the belief that horror movies should be scary or , at the very least , surprising . the MOV is neither of those , although it is diverting and not without some entertaining moments . i 'm on this fence about this one .", "does deserve points for an atmospheric first hour , it 's undone by bad acting and a pedestrian ending .", "the film 's directors , david moreau and xavier palud , bring nothing new to the table , and they are n't even particularly adept at reheating the leftovers .", "an effective if redundant fright flick .", "when it comes to finding things in other movies that can be re-purposed , the makers of the MOV have a pretty good MOV .", "` this surgery was supposed to make me normal ! ' she complains . ` why would you want surgery that does that ? ' says her doctor , trying to knock some sense into her . ` normal wants surgery to be you ! '", "a film of no distinction of any kind , destined only to fill the late hours at some 10-year-olds ' sleepover party .", "although star jessica alba is undoubtedly easy on the eyes , this remake of a chinese neo-classic is far too easy on the nerves .", "just be prepared to suspend your disbelief a little more than usual .", "the MOV never aspires to be anything more than slick sleepover fodder , but at least that qualifies as a step up for alba .", "... it does n't suck . it 's far from brilliant , but as weekend multiplex popcorn fare , it mostly gets the job done .", "... turns things upside down for a horror movie - you want to be alone in the dark .", "even an experienced viewer of supernatural pics will get an occasional jolt : i got mine from watching jessica alba 's character about to push her right MOV out of its socket .", "someone else should have seen the obvious hurdle of making a horror movie that relies solely on jessica alba 's acting abilities .", "not spectacular , not a waste , it 's clever enough to keep its momentum going , and smart enough to not overreach its mission of being a diverting 90 minutes or so", "it could have been worse", "the fatal flaw with the MOV is that it is a bland and boring work that is the cinematic equivalent of a dead light bulb .", "a tediously noisesome english-language remake of an asian horror picture that was n't any great shakes to begin with ." ], "summary": "featuring wooden performances and minimal scares , the MOV is another tedious remake of an asian horror film .", "id": "712377385" }, { "movie": "thirteen_conversations_about_one_thing", "reviews": [ "the overall result is n't drama as much as it is a dissertation .", "sort of an existential version of a seinfeld episode .", "just what makes us happy , anyway ?", "it wonders what life is all about .", "flawed , the movie certainly is , but MOV is essential viewing for moviegoers who do n't mind being made to think .", "a small , quiet movie , full of surprises and powerful character moments .", "13 conversations about one thing is a very unusual but thoroughly accessible film .", "the actors really draw you into their conversations and make you want to know what their sentence in life will be .", "thought-provoking and engaging .", "the dialogue is more vibrant and thoughtful than what you 'll find in most movies , and gimmick free .", "it gives you feelings of elation , sadness and humor , sometimes within five minutes of each other .", "it 's hard to imagine alan arkin being better than he is in this performance .", "without getting grand or preachy , the sprechers use an unconventional approach to coax us into asking ourselves fundamental questions .", "those who are more patient and looking for more from a movie will be rewarded with a thoughtful film that asks more questions than it gives answers .", "sprecher ... in no way creates a false pretence of fantasy to placate her audience .", "devoid of fights , chases and explosions , the film is a delicate tapestry made from everyday threads", "resonates with intelligence and a poignancy .", "thirteen conversations will probably reach some people and , in turn , maybe even make the world a better place . we can hope .", "an intriguing portrait of new yorkers colliding with fate .", "following sprecher 's morally compromised new yorkers through a funhouse maze of narrative overlap is never less than a tantalizing pursuit .", "often messy and frustrating , but very pleasing at its best moments , it 's very much like life itself .", "director sprecher gets kudos for keeping so many narrative balls in the air and having them all land in place . it remains an intellectual exercise , not for those in the mood for action .", "whatever ... the film to its credit never loses track of its humanity .", "smart , serious and deftly composed .", "each of these stories has the potential for touched by an angel simplicity and sappiness , but MOV , for all its generosity and optimism , never resorts to easy feel-good sentiments .", "13 conversations may be a bit too enigmatic and overly ambitious to be fully successful , but sprecher and her screenwriting partner and sister , karen sprecher , do n't seem ever to run out of ideas .", "captures the resourcefulness and fragility of human nature with a consistently sharp eye that proves truly mesmerizing .", "the script by sprecher and her sister karen is a clockwork marvel , and offers some talented actors their best roles in years", "a work of intricate elegance , literary lyricism and profound common sense .", "thirteen conversations may occasionally frustrate -- but it brings rich , thoughtful rewards .", "sprecher 's facile nihilism overwhelms the petty gestures of goodwill that are intended to exonerate her isolated characters .", "one of those exceedingly rare films in which the talk alone is enough to keep us involved .", "frequently stilted and annoyingly abstruse as it is enlightening .", "smart and alert , MOV is a small gem .", "nothing fantastic or supernatural ever happens , but you can still feel cosmic forces at work behind the scenes , conspiring to repeatedly test the movie 's characters , doling out reward and punishment in equal doses .", "whatever the truth , and despite some strong performances and a mildly creative way of interconnecting the various storylines , the picture is too much of a downer to be considered entertaining .", "less-than-great-but-still-very-interesting film .", "a piquant meditation on the things that prevent people from reaching happiness .", "a pretentious drama .", "the movie occasionally threatens to become didactic , but it 's too grounded in the reality of its characters to go over the edge . a touch of humor or an unexpected plot twist always pulls it back .", "at a dim time for cinema , it can rejuvenate your faith in american movies .", "the movie has a soft , percolating magic , a deadpan suspense .", "it shows how , in the cosmic scheme of things , disconnected acts and people do connect . and that they inalterably change each other .", "the sisterly writing team of karen and jill sprecher create that deadly form of cinema , the play mistaken for a movie .", "it works in fits and starts , but you never shake the feeling that it 's trying too hard .", "happiness is a topic as amorphous as it is sentimental , but 13 conversations is grounded in the kinds of concrete emotions and images we can all relate to .", "jill sprecher has put together a nice ensemble cast to talk about happiness . terrific moments add up to an interesting look at fate , consequences , and the power of a wave", "the movie is brilliant , really . it is philosophy , illustrated through everyday events .", "the sprecher sisters like people enough to rejoice in their happiness and commiserate with their sorrows , and they should certainly be encouraged to keep on making movies .", "`` 13 conversations about one thing '' is an intelligent flick that examines many different ideas from happiness to guilt in an intriguing bit of storytelling .", "even if the working parts in conversations are n't all up to snuff , the movie does succeed in leaving you attentive and prepared for any stirring in the outside world that will affect your day .", "this is a movie full of grace and , ultimately , hope .", "a screenplay more ingeniously constructed than `` memento ''", "at once intriguingly allusive and rigorously precise , very much like an anthology of well-crafted short stories .", "a major achievement and something to get excited about .", "its hushed , contemplative quality is oddly affecting , as by the end , hope -- as the barstool philosopher might say -- springs eternal .", "a small film , but one whose modest grace provides greater satisfaction than most hollywood blockbusters .", "`` 13 conversations '' holds its goodwill close , but is relatively slow to come to the point .", "if filmmakers tell stories as a way of imposing logic where none exists in the natural flow of life , then this film locates the source of that flow in what we say to one another .", "an intelligent , earnest , intimate film that drops the ball only when it pauses for blunt exposition to make sure you 're getting its metaphysical point .", "a surprising , bold , satisfying drama with a mildly depressing wave running through it .", "gleams with intelligence , and there 's also a very thoughtful understanding of human frailty .", "sprecher 's 13 conversations about one thing is as brilliant a second film as you 're likely to see .", "-lsb- sprecher 's -rsb- imagination is both literal-minded and free-form .", "playfully wavers on the meaning of true happiness , the notion of karma and luck , and the possibility of hope .", "so packed with intriguing ideas that it 's well worth seeing , even if it feels rather clinical and aloof .", "it 's entertaining , well-written , slice-of-life stuff , but i 'd rather spend 90 minutes with one of these stories than flit between several in a manner that does little to illuminate any of them .", "this intelligent , engaging indie introduces very human characters , with seemingly unconnected lives , whose paths cross .", "an interesting and profound drama ...", "lends higher philosophical and spiritual tone ... without preaching", "initially writer/director jill sprecher seems to revel in fashionable cynicism , but her ability to look at the lighter side and her discreet faith in human nature eventually win out .", "clea duvall again shows why she 's one of hollywood 's most under-rated actresses", "poignant , touching , and in moments deeply philosophical , sprecher 's second feature is most interesting .", "a terrific film that follows several interrelated new york stories and the people barely existing within them .", "it tells more than it shows .", "-lsb- spreche 's -rsb- lucid framing and graceful , deliberate pacing lift the movie above the pop mysticism of its conceit .", "director jill sprecher keeps the conversations on track , balancing poignancy and humor with all the depressing stuff .", "thirteen conversations might have been as deep as it clearly aspired to be had more of its folks been designed , like gene , to represent more than one thing .", "13 conversations demands the utmost concentration , for to look away from the screen for even a brief moment is to risk losing a plot line or a crucial bit of information , but its cumulative , transporting impact makes it worth the effort .", "the performances are solid throughout , but arkin is tops as a simmering pencil-pusher incensed by his employees ' good fortune .", "one of the best films of the year with its exploration of the obstacles to happiness faced by five contemporary individuals ... a psychological masterpiece .", "coulda been a contender .", "a decided lack of spontaneity in its execution and a dearth of real poignancy in its epiphanies .", "it starts slowly , but this contemplative drama 's cumulative effect is genuinely haunting .", "a deft , bracing web of coincidence , fate and consequence .", "while the whole of the film is satisfying , it seemed there were a couple of pieces missing from this jigsaw puzzle .", "thirteen conversations encircles the viewer in a comforting , open-hearted humanism . it 's a quiet , modest piece of work , but no less lovely for it .", "as -lsb- the characters -rsb- get more depressed , the story gets more tiresome , especially as it continues to mount a conspicuous effort to be profound .", "this simple idea , though , is told with wit , humor and an interesting warped-time chronology .", "those who like to be intellectually and emotionally provoked , and who do n't need action or hysterics to achieve it , will find this film sticks with you for a long time .", "fractured , flowing ensemble piece has a heart of true , sincere humanity -- and two brilliant performances .", "a dry , dim-looking film that 's more about clever structure than meaningful stories .", "... populated by original characters that 're almost always interesting to watch .", "deposita suas energias nos entrecruzamentos de seus personagens e se esquece de que , teoricamente , deveria girar em torno das vis\u0151es destes sobre o mundo .", "what with all the blanket statements and dime-store ruminations on vanity , the worries of the rich and sudden wisdom , the film becomes a sermon for most of its running time .", "the film 's characters never gain our sympathies . their depression becomes ours .", "the very definition of the ` small ' movie , but it is a good stepping stone for director sprecher .", "the screenplay tries to digest kant , sartre , and bertrand russell , but seems preemptively fatigued by its appointment with destiny .", "-lsb- a -rsb- rare film that has you thinking about the characters as if they were real people .", "as writers , the sprechers are able to capture the minutia and politics of the office world perfectly .", "a vivid , sometimes surreal , glimpse into the mysteries of human behavior .", "it takes a while for this oddball film -- a mosaic of stories in the style of magnolia -- to take hold , but when it does , it grabs you hard .", "MOV lays out a narrative puzzle that interweaves individual stories , and , like a mobius strip , elliptically loops back to where it began .", "a theatrical story of ideas , a comical and poignant investigation of what it takes to be happy ." ], "summary": "MOV is an intelligent and poignant look at lives intersecting .", "id": "14167" }, { "movie": "crimson_gold", "reviews": [ "a functionally well made slice of sociopolitical aggrandizement that ends up being largely lost in translation , a foreign dish unsuited for general american palettes .", "emadeddin 's performance , due either to the actor 's medicated state or perhaps to the symptoms of the disease itself , is a marvel of everyman affectlessness .", "works better as a sociological study than as drama .", "`` MOV '' works better when we do n't look at hussein at all , but look at tehran through his eyes .", "as with many iranian films , reality and fiction collide -lrb- the lead actor really is a pizza deliveryman -rrb- , and the moral of the story is a surprisingly blunt critique of the growing inequality of wealth in the slowly westernizing nation .", "after watching too many scenes run too long , MOV itself will probably become tedious to most audiences -- especially those outside its home country .", "a work of poetry", "though it sometimes seems as plodding as its burly protagonist , ... an intriguing , if imperfect , piece of work .", "it 's every bit as outwardly unruffled as its hero , but inwardly it seethes with the very same gradually accumulated rage . a devastating and beautiful film .", "a film both shocking and humane , as if taxi driver were somehow rewritten by chekhov .", "the movie can feel slow and tedious , but the supper it makes us work for is nourishing .", "as overly familiar as director jafar panahi 's setup and delivery seems , its freshness is in its setting .", "... a slow-moving but ultimately intriguing character study .", "it settles into the typical reflective mode of iranian films , but something is happening : a human being is slowly , sullenly , silently approaching his combustion point .", "its cumulative power will smack viewers with all the force of a rattlesnake to the cheek .", "i 'm glad i saw MOV . watching it is like getting a peek behind the curtain .", "the film 's sociopolitical themes are all the more powerful for being subtly expressed through a starkly realistic tale .", "an incisive portrait of one man 's quiet rage at , and heartbreakingly violent response to , social inequality .", "brutal class realities in contemporary iran", "an artful failure , a moped-fueled odyssey into dramatic weariness and monotony", "panahi 's movie , unsurprisingly , has been outlawed in iran . nobody likes a prophet .", "quietly brilliant psychological drama .", "a remarkable work , as much for its uncompromising view of a claustrophobic urban landscape as for its always-muted compassion .", "so natural in its construction and effortless in its execution that it 's easy to overlook its considerable artistry : the casual elegance of hassain jafarian 's cinematography , the poignant , deeply humanistic language of kiarostami 's screenplay .", "the lead character in MOV is so detached , the audience never becomes emotionally involved in the world panahi depicts .", "there are a couple of engaging sequences ... but indeed the remainder is mostly mediocre , and ultimately forced .", "a fable of money as the root of jealousy , discord , violence , but the film 's slippery fascination as sociological expos\u00e9 is the flip side of its thinness as drama .", "combines the talents of two of iran 's most forceful critics of their country 's theocratic regime .", "it 's not pretty , but it 's an amazing study of one man 's defeat by a country that does n't want to admit such defeat exists .", "as -lsb- panahi 's -rsb- deeply , quietly angry film demonstrates , this is an artist in tune with dichotomies and ironies and humiliations .", "as much a warning about the dangers of self-containment as it is an expose of a dysfunctional society .", "jafar panahi 's `` MOV '' is a worthy entry into the pantheon of that country 's contribution to the art of filmmaking .", "panahi seems at last to speak with his own beguiling , cryptically beautiful expressiveness , which grows ever more absorbing with each of its purposefully irresolute turns .", "this tough , bristling story about a working-class man pushed over the edge vividly brings to mind the great hollywood social dramas of the 1930s .", "panahi 's class-conscious storyline may be infuriatingly minimalist , but it 's held together by a quietly subversive willingness to question the dead-end frustrations of life under totalitarianism .", "if you liked the iranian films you 've seen , you 'll probably like MOV . if you did n't , you wo n't .", "provocative and formally daring .", "an engrossing tale of class differences that reveals tiny details of one man 's descent into hell .", "MOV is a courageous iranian film by director jafar panahi that conveys the harsh realities of contemporary teheran and the chasm between the rich and the poor .", "a flawlessly executed character study .", "compassionate and revealing narrative of the tensions and ambiguities of life in contemporary iran .", "not an overtly political filmmaker , panahi 's intense and intimate portrayals of people trapped , like hussein , behind visible and invisible barriers are oblique but nevertheless scathing commentaries on iranian society .", "the film comprises a series of events , all mundane and seemingly random , that steadily coheres into a single , multifaceted image by the film 's end .", "a stark , minimalist near-masterpiece .", "the success of MOV depends to an intriguing degree on the performance of its leading actor .", "it 's the singular presence of hussein emadeddin -- a nonprofessional like all the other actors panahi has used in his films -- that gives the film much of its soul and mystery .", "panahi is the most promising of the new iranian directors .", "a gritty , modern urban fable .", "an eloquent look at a man made less human by the world around him .", "there 's an energetic cynicism here that makes this quite different from most recent iranian films -- funnier , harsher , bleaker .", "panahi 's latest film about the downtrodden of iran explores the humiliations of class distinction ... a thought provoking film", "jafar panahi 's film exposes the cruelties and inequities of a society sharply polarized by class and corrupted by selfishness , snobbery and cynicism .", "probes a society uneasily layered and fearful , neither quite modern nor medieval .", "panahi keeps the pace brisk , and his story makes us feel sorry and protective of poor , hopelessly lost hussein .", "every scene in MOV evokes iranian oppression and , much more cunningly , the nasty `` you are either with us or against us '' mentality of the united states after 9/11 .", "the year 's first great movie .", "the leisurely pace and fatalism become riveting , and the film takes on an unnerving , unblinking intimacy , even as the characters remain distant .", "a fascinating whydunit .", "a deceptively modest undertaking that brilliantly combines unpretentious humanism and impeccable formal values .", "a biting look at the iran 's wide gulf between the rich and poor .", "panahi 's movie is at once a boldly conceptualized drama , a complex character study , and a gripping suspense thriller .", "the film is always riveting .", "strangely entrancing .", "it offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the iranian wealthy . and it does so in the service of a surprisingly bleak , radically class-conscious vision of iranian life .", "here is a pressing tale to be told , but the film misses it in neglecting a cardinal rule that story needs to engage and inform and that something must happen .", "-lsb- n -rsb- ot just a middle eastern nightmare , but a dark elegiac tale of the human condition .", "the slow-burning fire of life 's indignities becomes a riveting touchstone to explore class and economic warfare .", "a mesmerizing , and devastating , story .", "hot enough to have been banned in its home country , and resonant enough to command our watchful participation ." ], "summary": "a slow-burning , riveting film about iranian class differences .", "id": "17842" }, { "movie": "sherlock_holmes_2009", "reviews": [ "MOV has something for everybody ; an accessible film is exactly what guy ritchie 's been looking for .", "in a year in which actioners featured robots with arthritis and sinking ice , MOV might as well be considered a work of genius .", "the very idea of handing him over to professional lad guy ritchie , to be played as a punch-throwing quipster by robert downey jr. , is so profoundly stupid one can only step back in dismay .", "there 's plenty of fun and entertainment to be had from guy ritchie 's take on the character for both fans of doyle 's work and for those just getting to know holmes and watson .", "... bears the stamp of its director , guy ritchie , much more so than that of sir arthur conan doyle ...", "the plot races and roars through a deliciously grungy combination of real sets and cgi for all sorts of big-action scenes in and around turn-of-the-century london .", "ritchie provides big dumb fun , but it 's hard to imagine worse casting than bob downey , jr. . maybe verne troyer or rupaul . downey 's self-important bluster and lousy accent ruin the film . but pleasing score from hans zimmer 's team .", "proof that guy richie can still make good films , though it 's not without flaws .", "purists can , and certainly will , spend much time arguing how much is true to the material and how much was changed but the rest wo n't , and should n't care . the fact is , MOV is just down right entertaining .", "ultimately , it achieves what it sets out to do : to entertain .", "although ritchie 's itchy camera finger causes confusion in the more kinetic action sequences , downey and law take the film far enough into buddy film territory to make the misfires easily forgotten", "the whole movie is kind of old-fashioned but also kind of modern at the same time , and i think that contrast is a big part of its appeal .", "purists may bemoan its modern slant but those just looking for action and thrills will be entertained", "there is clear chemistry between the leads and watching them bicker is the film 's strongest appeal .", "while a fish rots from its head down , a film suffers from the screenplay up -- which is where sherlock homes stinks .", "it 's great fun watching robert downey jr. sink his teeth -- and everything else -- into the role of a brainy , brawny MOV .", "one for this modern age of non-thinking action-packed blockbuster movies .", "one of the sourest experiences of my movie year , not a mindless sequel , but ... the needless dumbing-down , almost gleeful sacralizing , and generic homogenizing of an established property so that it can yield mindless sequels .", "funnels ritchie 's visual gifts into an engaging reawakening of the world-famous consulting detective , bringing the iconic sleuth to a new generation of filmgoers by way of fisticuffs , homoerotic tension , and cunning star power .", "while it is tempting to see downey 's portrayal and ritchie 's amped-up aesthetic approach to the material as revisionism for an attention-addled generation , in many ways it is closer in spirit and tone to doyle 's eccentric character", "this new MOV movie asks the question , `` what if MOV belonged to fight club ? ''", "no , the problem is n't that the movie makes the holmes character more of an action hero than doyle ever intended . it 's that it sticks holmes and watson into one of the dumbest , most boring stories imaginable .", "what was the thinking behind all this ?", "worst of all , this MOV is n't fun .", "a visually flashy festive crowd pleaser anchored by robert downey jnr 's inherent likeability and on-screen chemistry with jude law .", "this balance of brain and brawn skews too far in the wrong direction , with a few too many mindless action sequences overcompensating for the shortcomings of a tedious story .", "a miracle : a film in the national treasure format actually worth a damn .", "downey continues his hot streak of performances % u2014 which by itself is worth the price of admission % u2014 and there 's a lot to love about this big screen interpretation of holmes . case closed .", "MOV is neither a cookie-cutter blockbuster nor insulting to the source material .", "MOV is ingenious and irreverent , flush with the attitude of unlikely director guy ritchie .", "guy ritchie hit the big time with this flick but there is too much of the gangs of london and too little of the rumpled professor in the character of the famous detective .", "MOV is back . i wish i could say this is the thrill ride of the season . but it 's just -- a ride of the season .", "not a great film by any stretch of the imagination , director guy ritchie 's full-speed-ahead effort still qualifies as decent holiday-season fare .", "sir arthur conan doyle 's legendary sleuth gets a cinematic adrenaline shot for this wildly entertaining and action-packed mystery .", "intermittently snazzy entertainment", "j\u0431 era hora do ocupante da baker street 221b voltar a dar as caras nas telonas a fim de ser apresentado a uma nova gera\u0437\u0433o -- algo que o cineasta guy ritchie faz de maneira divertida e relativamente eficiente .", "le film de guy ritchie livre la marchandise , m\u0119me s ` il semble souvent pris entre deux \u00e9poques ...", "elementary , my dear readers . but not in a nice way .", "guy ritchie 's film arrives with the bristling , cocksure , indefatigable force of a movie preordained as a franchise-in-waiting . this is pop hollywood filmmaking , but not something anyone should feel the need to think about , or see more than once .", "guy ritchie 's noisy steampunk mauling of arthur conan doyle 's character is great galloping fun if ultimately slighter and less nervy than we might have hoped . still , robert downey jr. is great fun to watch and jude law has a clue .", "it 's entertaining , but it 's also a bit goofy -- holmes here is a victorian 007 .", "despite a few laggard moments of slow going , ritchie has pulled off an entertaining coup in giving us a holmes for the 21st century by digging back to the 19th century original and adding a few bells and whistles .", "downey 's a joy but , personally , i 'll take more arthur conan doyle and less guy ritchie .", "it 's a good-looking film that is fun and comic , with fine performances from law , downey and , especially , strong .", "... MOV for the add generation , jerking and twitching like a crank freak itching for his next sniff .", "the film does what it sets out to do , re-establish holmes as a cinematic hero worth knowing and watching .", "MOV is a solid , enjoyable film with a fun score , a great use of sound and environment , and a trio of confederates you will want to know more of .", "ritchie does n't disappoint , and , if you go in with modest expectations , neither does MOV .", "like ritchie 's best films , this gets the job done as both an intriguing plot puzzle and a bouncy , entertaining romp .", "there is also far too much violence -lrb- both slow-motion and speeded-up -rrb- and too many frenetic chases . unendearing , then , but not unentertaining .", "elementary , my dear -- as in , that 's what ritchie 's spirited but superficial version of arthur conan doyle 's iconic detective ends up being .", "fortunately , the film does n't need to rely on its supporting cast too much , because its two leads are absolutely fantastic in their respective roles .", "raucous , rough energy infuses this film from start to finish , carrying us along even when the slightly over-egged script starts to feel somewhat slender . and it 's the terrific chemistry between downey and law that makes the film worth seeing .", "nigh-on unforgivable . an all-fumbling , all-bumbling , all-trundling crock of crud , that 's not so much snatch in a deerstalker as bum on a flagpole .", "in this adaptation , the arthur conan doyle character is turned into a slightly crazed superhero , an autistic detective savant , in an action movie .", "it 's all knotted together , then unraveled with brio , by holmes and watson . there are fisticuffs galore , fiery combustion aplenty , and , yes , my dear reader , clever deduction .", "it 's everything you want from a family holiday movie , but not worthy of the world 's greatest detective .", "a character known for his supreme intelligence should not be trapped in such a dumbed-down plot .", "essentially , this is lethal weapon in ye olde worlde london , which will surely have the purists up in arms , but as buddy flicks go , it 's a welcome twist . and certainly ritchie 's best film since lock , stock ...", "MOV is never less than entertaining throughout however , and the marvellous chemistry between the leads practically demands a sequel .", "the views of victorian london are just as seductive as downey jr , who exudes an aura of troubled genius , though that 's all the information you 're likely to retain , as there 's rarely a moment to think between all the fights and explosions .", "this MOV refuses to take himself seriously . brilliant , because it allows to rdj and ritchie to let rip with their non-traditionalist revamp . not so great because super-sleuthing loses out to bone-crunching . either way , the brio is infectious .", "the franchise has got itself two cracking characters and one enticing setting . now all it needs is a half-decent story to go with them .", "a first-rate action adventure movie that provides a near perfect example of how to redress an aging genre franchise for a new audience .", "this is a hip interpretation of the source material but give me basil rathbone any day as holmes .", "make no mistake , MOV is every inch a guy ritchie picture -- only it 's a guy ritchie picture about MOV .", "for the most part , quirky british filmmaker guy ritchie has managed to take the character out of mothballs without desecrating conan doyle 's original vision .", "more indebted to ritchie 's particular brand of stylistically exhausting action-adventure than to conan doyle 's elegant prose and intensely intellectual anti-hero .", "strahovi da % u0107e ritchiejev tretman slavnog detektiva predstavljati jo % u0161 jedno holivudsko silovanje kulturne ba % u0161tine uglavnom nisu bili opravdani", "the film called `` MOV '' that has been raking in the money at the box office this christmas season does not really exist at all . it 's an illusion . a jedi mind trick .", "hollywoody-ish-ist sherlock ever . downey jr. and law are magical though ...", "... a sporadically amusing yet thoroughly tedious misfire of nigh disastrous proportions .", "a loud , stupid film .", "swashbuckling smarts and downey , jr. as the perfect super-sleuth .", "a re-thinking of the MOV character works for the most part thanks to robert downey , jr. and jude law . the game is definitely afoot . paul chambers , cnn .", "a stylish , frisky film that sets up the franchise deftly", "m\u0431s que un relato detectivesco -lrb- la trama `` policial '' es lo menos convincente e interesante de la pel\u043dcula -rrb- se trata de una entretenid\u043dsima comedia en la que MOV y john watson son algo as\u043d como starsky y hutch en el londres victoriano .", "ritchie mounts some impressively exciting action sequences , then bathes everything in dingy browns and grays to achieve an unappealing victorian griminess .", "`` the most pleasant surprise i 've had at the movies since star trek . ''", "what ritchie and downey do is embroider and magnify the traits conan doyle had already given the characters ." ], "summary": "guy ritchie 's directorial style might not be quite the best fit for an update on the legendary detective , but MOV benefits from the elementary appeal of a strong performance by robert downey , jr. .", "id": "770796118" }, { "movie": "mummy_tomb_of_the_dragon_emperor", "reviews": [ "this reawakens but does n't reinvigorate a franchise that was already curling at the edges seven years ago , with the mummy returns .", "if you wanted to be totally accurate it should be the mummy with the same formula as before except in china and without any mummies . it 's only slightly less catchy than the current title .", "although the formula remains much the same tanna leave concoction as before , there are a indeed few new wrinkles on the dessicated old corpse , just enough to make this pleasant popcorn movie for viewers seeking action and adventure .", "... passable popcorn entertainment , it 's just disappointing that they could n't find anything new or original .", "i know the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor is nothing more than a popcorn movie ... but even silly pop movies have standards and this one falls short of those .", "it 's one thing to make a film for the pre-teen market , it 's quite another to make a film that sounds like it was written by one .", "disappointing threequel with a badly written script , irritating characters , dodgy cgi work , a miscast maria bello and an underused jet li .", "the whole thing , despite its decent start and $ 100 million , looks a bit of a mess to me . an entertaining one , no doubt , for those who love the franchise , but a bore for those who do n't much care but would have preferred a more well organised film", "a crazy-quilt comic book with michelle yeoh as a sorceress , a tribe of abominable snowmen , a visit to shangri-la , a three-headed dragon , and hong kong 's most honored actor , anthony wong , as a nutcase general . kids should love it", "none of the action sequences generate any excitement at all and the in-between stuff is so wilfully nutty that it falls completely flat .", "the third mummy movie is overly familiar and is pretty unoriginal . and as half-hearted as portions of it are , you 'd swear this summer movie ` medley ' exists simply to cash in on the success of the earlier mummy films .", "while plenty of arrows zing , few of the wisecracks or familial confessions in alfred gough 's and miles millar 's script hit their mark .", "you 've seen it all before . you do n't want to see it again . it will hurt your head and lay waste to your soul .", "the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor marks the sad end -lrb- we hope -rrb- to a franchise that delivered two solid , highly entertaining , summer popcorn-munchers , both superior to the second indiana jones flick .", "it 's serviceable summer twaddle , but you might as well see hellboy ii : the golden army -- similar plot , much better film .", "okay , first of all , they 're not mummies . they 're terra cotta warriors . but i suppose terra cotta warriors i : the tomb of the dragon emperor would have represented a marketing challenge .", "this threequel is so hackneyed that even star brendan fraser was n't enough to sell audiences on a third return . even jet li could n't save the day .", "this sequel is inferior even to its predecessors -lrb- three , if you count the prequel the scorpion king -rrb- , themselves poor versions of the george lucas-steven spielberg franchise .", "it 's the same cheesy mix of digitized monsters and lame comic relief we 've come to expect .", "amid all the poorly edited , atrociously written tumult , the silly cgi and the tragic misuse of jet li and michelle yeoh , rick remains an appealing throwback hero .", "you do n't believe it for a minute , but you may find yourself having too much fun to care .", "despite exotic locations , epic cinematography , and much spectacular crash and bang , this mummy feels like a threadbare toss-off .", "anyone looking for a terrific summer popcorn movie should not hop on board .", "the mummy franchise now really is dead , dead , dead . it is so dead , it could win gold at the dead olympics , establishing a new british and commonwealth record in the 400m decomposition event .", "i can think of almost nothing good to say about the film , except that i enjoyed it immensely .", "perhaps the studio hoped they could cash in on the return in 2008 of indy . whatever the thinking , a third mummy film is here - and right damn average it is too .", "it 's no masterpiece , but for good-natured escapism , the latest mummy adventure gives indiana a run for his money .", "mindless popcorn movies are fine , as long as they 're inventive and do n't treat their audience like idiots . but this one is n't , and does .", "easily the summer 's feeblest blockbuster , this is n't even one the kids will enjoy , thanks to a dry-as-dust first half and a final hour that could be marketed as a cure for insomnia .", "in terms of originality , this mummy is dead on its feet . and no matter what their nationality , everyone struggles with the generally awful dialogue .", "dumb , inept and more than a little dull , this lacklustre blockbuster suggests it 's time to put the mummy back in its sarcophagus . if the scorpion king 's anything to go by , though , those bloody yetis will probably get their own spin-off .", "technically , jet li 's emperor han is pottery not putrification -- he 's such stuff as pier 1 's are made of -- but that does n't stop this franchise from resurrecting a third sequel .", "competent , but so utterly bereft of any memorable moments that it becomes a bit of a bore .", "making the farcical tenor of the recent indiana jones film feel like a paragon of dramatic and archaeological integrity , this phoned-in action threequel does n't even have the good grace to deliver on its title and feature any mummies", "-lsb- a -rsb- terrible third entry in a terrible trilogy .", "... if i 'm going to see a movie about a guy who wakes up an evil supernatural warrior , and then has to fight him , i do n't need 5-minute speeches about the backstory between every major scene .", "what 's that funky odor wafting off the screen ? it 's the stench of stale plotting , cheesy cgi , cadaver-stiff acting and a decaying franchise that the studio keeps digging up .", "it 's like cohen and co. once heard someone describe an indiana jones rip-off and they just copied down whatever they could remember , and then added some yeti .", "a slipshod spectacle", "dragon emperor does n't exactly beg for a sequel -lrb- neither did the mummy returns , for that matter -rrb- , but it 'd be fun to watch the filmmakers try to outdo this dizzy spectacle in the arena of sheer ridiculousness .", "i know that dragging old franchises out of mothballs is all the rage these days , but quality control still counts for something .", "it does n't take itself too seriously but it takes the action scenes seriously and there are some great ones .", "screenwriters alfred gough and miles millar stuff dragon emperor with the same kind of disjointed details that almost ruined the jubilantly preposterous atmosphere of the conspiracy theory hokum in david koepp 's crystal skull screenplay .", "the visual work is so professionally achieved that it points up the mediocrity of the narrative it 's designed to serve .", "some casting mishaps but still mummy knows best how to entertain breezily", "by mike martin - second sequels rely heavily on the goodwill built up by the first two films and here it 's wearing thin .", "competes only with prince caspian for having the most inert action sequences of the summer .", "i was never a fan of the first two , but those are masterpieces compared to this clunk ' o junk .", "frantic but dull , even dreary .", "... an assembly-line action movie .", "this monstrosity ends by implying that there are also some mummies in peru , so a fourth installment is on the drawing boards . more 's the pity .", "the best part about the third mummy movie is the ninja football yetis that brendan frasier and pals encounter in the mountains of tibet .", "another enjoyable bit of high adventure and malarkey .", "how anyone ever thought there was more than one movie in the mummy concept , i do n't know .", "the makers of the wildly lucrative mummy franchise are flogging a dead corpse ... the adventure that 's been disinterred is more than a little whiffy .", "a movie series called the mummy is naturally going to have a limited focus . universal might have been better off focusing on the various adventures of rick and evelyn to give them a wider range of material . but they have n't , so mummies it is .", "pray that this is a franchise that 's dead for good this time .", "never trust a movie in which a character exclaims `` here we go again '' , just as brendan fraser does 30 minutes into the third instalment of the mummy franchise .", "... this thing is cursed .", "obviously the low-grade stuff : users will get their fix but recognize it 's been cut too thin , no matter how many bells and whistles were crammed into the mainframe .", "i too wish this mummy stayed dead and buried .", "it 's a deafening , blinding department store blu-ray demo reel that 's spun wildly out of control ... tomb takes the franchise to a stunning new low . ''", "makes the first two mummy films seem like the godfather i and ii .", "fraser , one of the few actors who can play adventures , deserves better than this mishmash in which there are no ground rules and anything goes : east and west , myth and history , comedy and action , fathers and sons , mothers and daughters , swords and guns .", "there 's an important lesson here : whatever immortal ninja temple guardians tell you , take it with a grain of salt because they tend to exaggerate . speaking of untrustworthy pronouncements , remember when jet li said he was retiring ?", "could have been a lot worse , but should have been much better ... it 's a movie you can watch once and be entertained , but it probably could never sustain multiple viewings like the best summer fare .", "and in a summer when even the latest indiana jones movie is a pale copy of its predecessors , who wants to see a second-rate indy rip-off ?", "the movie feels like the direct-to-dvd version of the mummy , complete with cheesy , already-done cg effects , and best of all , not a single actual mummy in the entire movie .", "a solitary highlight -- when emperor and witch call their dead armies to life , his clay soldiers vs her skeleton troops . it 's `` the kilning fields '' taking on a skeleton crew .", "all things considered , the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor is not bad . it 's a serviceable spectacle , with plenty of action .", "makes me miss uwe boll .", "when a script stoops low enough to involve yak vomit as the focus of a joke , that should be a red flag to the studio that it might be a good idea to hold off on production .", "an over-indulgent mess of mediocre computer effects , excessively confusing action editing , misfired comedy , and colorless characters .", "if this were -lsb- maria -rsb- bello 's first film , i guarantee this would have been the last we 'd seen of her ...", "were you to watch this film with the volume off , it might be a fairly good adventure film .", "o tipo de filme concebido com uma calculadora em m\u0103os .", "parts of the movie are fun , mostly due to fraser 's and bello 's winning attitudes . but there is too much slapstick , too much infantile humor , too much messy editing and an overload of special effects .", "nothing special , nothing risible , nothing memorable , nothing that 's going to last long at the cineplex . it just sort of evaporates on screen . and that 's almost worse than being a bomb . at least you 'll remember the bomb .", "full of exclamatory one-liners ripped from a copy of indiana jones for dummies , and with the breathless cast spewing putatively witty rejoinders that get drowned out by pows and bangs , mummy 3 should have been kept under wraps .", "an example of the cgi movie run amok .", "i mean , honestly , how does somebody screw up a yeti attack ?", "there is no excuse for an action feature to not hold a single thrilling moment . that 's not just bad luck , that 's bad filmmaking .", "the mummy series has been dead for a long time , but like the mummies it depicts , it wo n't stay buried .", "hollywood could learn from the mummy series : better to leave it buried .", "the latest mummy compares the audience to a cat and the film to a ball of yard . writers alfred gough and miles millar treat the audience as a simple cat with a small brain - stupid enough that a ball of yard will amuse them for hours .", "seeking box office gold with pretty good special effects and third-rate writing and failing spectacularly , that failure is , in fact , the only spectacular thing happening on screen .", "fraser 's still a lot of fun , but the charm seems to be evaporating from the franchise this third time out .", "has there been a more egregious abuse of computer-generated imagery than that of the mummy franchise ?", "just murky dust in the wind , unable to settle down and spreading apathy as it blows .", "a dispiritingly witless sequel with very little personality but a lot of frenetic comic banter and numbing set pieces .", "strange how dreary it all is , and how tired fraser seems .", "these are the middle of the road hollywood blockbusters that i dread , but there is a fanbase for it and i guess if you liked the others , you will like this one just as much , probably .", "tiresome and messy , the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor borrows mightily from the indiana jones franchise and various martial-arts films , but it does n't do what those films did nearly as well .", "a loud , silly bit of non-stop action that again comes off like a poor cousin of the ` indiana jones ' flicks .", "exactly the sort of ridiculous , vacuous , throwaway fare we 've come to expect during the summer season .", "possibly the most fun mummy yet -- call it the uber-mummy .", "the third entry in the series starring brendan fraser ups the ante in terms of special effects and action , but there 's an undeniably tired air to the enterprise .", "-lsb- e -rsb- ven with bar set low and my unconditional love set high , i can not freakin ' believe how cruelly tomb rips out my geeky little heart and stomps on it ...", "if this sounds absurd , it is .", "the film has one objective : to smack its audience in the face with fleeting , competing wows , over and over .", "if you 're willing to accept its flights of fancy and leaps of logic , it 's a pleasant enough summer adventure with its heart more or less in the right place .", "now why did i like this movie ? it was just plain dumb fun , is why . it is absurd and preposterous , and proud of it .", "it 's barely possible that mummy 3 is a colossal in-joke , a spoof of all the adventure movies that have drab actors , laughable computer-generated effects , a threadbare plot , continuity lapses and one-liners that repeatedly fall flat .", "if only it actually were that fun .", "fraser , who at 39 looks perhaps five years older than this kid , needed a wholesome offspring-sidekick like a third arm . then again , it 's not clear that the world needed a third mummy movie .", "though it tries to juice up its mojo with currently popular asian themes and martial-arts sequences , this mummy seems a teeny bit musty .", "regardless of whether you 've watched the other films , the third mummy entry is a headache-inducing mess .", "three yetis , a yak and a couple of yuks . that 's all you get in the way of original entertainment in the mummy : the tomb of the dragon emperor .", "it 's abundantly clear that this is one franchise that is dead in all but name .", "soulless , loud , dull and aggressively unintelligent . questioning creature-feature logic usually is a buzzkill , but in a film with tibetan yetis somehow aware of football gestures , it 's essential to keep your brain from turning to goop .", "i 've read choose your own adventure novels with better narrative cohesion . and better dialogue , chemistry , and drama too .", "joyless spectacle : it has a certain epic sweep ... but it also has tacky cgi yeti .", "violent action sequel should 've stayed buried .", "for a movie about the undead , this lacks any supernatural chills , and by the time its obligatory final showdown arrives , it seems as hollow as the terra cotta soldiers brought to life by cgi .", "make no mistake , it 's bad . but it 's fun bad .", "did n't anyone realize that 39 year-old brendan fraser could n't play the father of 27 year-old luke ford ? with this noisy , frenetic , futile installment , it 's time to wrap the ` mummy ' franchise .", "where is meryl streep ? after all , ` the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor ' seems to have everything else in its mix , including a three-headed dragon -lrb- and -rrb- abominable snowmen .", "can we just bury this franchise and promise not to dig it up ?", "why ?", "this is the worst kind of sequel - the kind of that reeks of having been made purely for the paycheck . it 's time to seal this mummy back up into its crypt and keep it there .", "it 's as if they forgot to bring the fun to this picture . avoid it at all costs .", "the sloppiness of the entire enterprise is immediately evident by the fact that the 27-year-old ford looks nowhere near young enough to be playing the son of 39-year-old fraser and 41-year-old bello . from there , the movie only gets more absurd .", "but the script frankly sucks . it lifts from sources that were themselves tired liftings from other sources . the funniest lines do n't appear to have been intended to be funny .", "given the must , dust and rust emanating from this third installment , it 's clear the time has come for this mummy franchise to be truly mummified once and for all .", "not exactly mummy dearest , the movie does have a supply of magical moments of stylish sorcery in store . it 's just that if you 're a bit of a purist about archaeological flights of fancy , you 're not likely to dig it .", "it 's just colossally dumb . with the lamest of humor and nothing to engage the intellect in even a tiny way , it soon becomes repetitious and dull .", "at one point in the film when it becomes clear trouble will soon be lurking around the corner , jonathan tells the people around him that he 's seen enough mummies to last a lifetime . you and me both , buddy .", "i kept waiting for silver surfer , neo , and snoopy on his damn doghouse to come flying by and yell `` hey rick ! that 's a lot of mummies ! mind if we drop in ? ''", "with an adventure-fantasy , a certain amount of creative license is to be expected -- even encouraged -- but this third installment of the mummy franchise is nearly swamped by distracting lapses in logic .", "the film 's best quality is that it continues the mummy tradition of mocking its own big-budget gratuitousness .", "the best news about this clangorous clunker is that it may well have vanquished the mummy franchise .", "the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor is a cheeseball film that 's hard to love but impossible to hate .", "there are so few surprises that one not only begins anticipating the next scene , but looking forward to the end .", "remarkably , the plot has much in common with hellboy ii : the golden army , yet that bundle of fun has enough vision to make even its barry manilow interlude seem appropriate .", "this mummy movie is really two movies : a good adventure epic , with all the chinese people , and a wan one , with o'connells and the other the westerners .", "the story is no more than a thread stitching set pieces of increasing implausibility and ineptitude .", "if movies were people , the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor would be a total bimbo : nice-looking and kind of fun sometimes , but so unbearably empty and dumb that it does n't matter .", "the actor who comes off best in the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor is the one who opted out : rachel weisz .", "if you are looking for mixed martial arts with a little magic thrown in , then this is the film for you . otherwise , let me say i hope this mummy is a wrap .", "dear fictional character rick o'connell , you ca n't roll your eyes about a magic knife being the only thing to kill a raised-from-the-dead emperor if you 've already lived through two other unreal adventures .", "i 've really enjoyed the mummy franchise . until now . by the end , even the most amazing stunt becomes a bit of a yawn", "the often silly elements of the plot dilute the majesty of the chinese culture which it traverses , and the childish nature of the magical elements dilute the film 's appeal outside a narrow target audience of undemanding kids", "miscast , fumbled action sequences , flat humor , and one of the most disjointed and problematic scripts of a major movie this year", "it 's usually advisable to arrive for a film before it starts , but if you happen to be running late for this enjoyably brainless blockbuster , do not worry .", "as we move from city to desert to mountains , the action gets more frenetic and increasingly silly , which is no bad thing in a mummy movie .", "the possibility of a fourth film is alluded to in the screenplay , but let 's hope the filmmakers decide to leave that one where it belongs -- in the crypt .", "a capable and highly watchable action adventure flick .", "not groundbreaking , but good fun .", "you get the sense that it has been written both by and for add-afflicted children who have seen way too many movies and who are determined to simply repeat their favorite parts from them , regardless of whether or not they make any sense .", "better left for dead", "this movie was n't so much created as calculated .", "the third installment of the mummy franchise , tomb of the dragon emperor , is by far the weakest .", "what 's with outsourcing mummies to china ? do the undead work for lower wages there ? did crouching tiger , hidden dragon take place on the nile ?", "` here we go again , ' sighs adventurer rick o'connell in the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor , and he 's not the only one to notice that things are starting to look awfully familiar .", "tomb of the dragon emperor is more of the same -- and yet less .", "the new mummy is , how can i put it ? just freakin ' awful .", "the action beats are the same as the earlier mummys -- with planes , guns , digital creatures and vast armies of the risen-dead having at it . the missing ingredient here seems to be the fun .", "every vestige of the first mummy movie 's wit and charm is buried in an avalanche of noise and motion . it 's exhausting .", "it is one of those movies for which you make a mental check list of familiar sequences you 've seen in previous efforts ...", "if universal wants to continue the tired series after this one , we suggest they take it to broadway instead , maybe as a musical . how about ` mummy mia ! ' ?", "director rob cohen breathlessly paces his film with non stop action and the whole thing turns out to be some seriously cheesy b movie fun .", "a deafening , blinding department store blu-ray demo reel that 's spun wildly out of control !", "as the shape-shifting baddie , li spends most of the movie running around under extensive digital makeup , which renders his casting pointless , since it could be anybody under there . he also , at one point , turns into a giant three-headed dragon . no , really .", "if it were n't for all that inept banter , this might have been a different film indeed .", "your suspension of disbelief will totally diminish when the abominable snowmen/yetis show up and start cheering each other on and practically giving each other high fives after beating up the bad guys !", "lon chaney jr. forever defined mummy movies . just before grabbing co-star virginia christine who went on to gain fame as mrs. olson in those old folger 's coffee commercials , it looked to me like chaney yawned . who can blame him ?" ], "summary": "with middling cg effects and a distinct lack of fun , the mummy : tomb of the dragon emperor finds the series past its prime .", "id": "770671522" }, { "movie": "syriana", "reviews": [ "an earnest flop", "rich , complex , multilayered and by turns maddening and depressing , MOV emerges as one of the best films of the year .", "all you need to know is everyone is a bad guy in one way or another , they all want money and/or power , and they 'll do anything to get it .", "rips its motivations from the front pages of our daily newspapers , blurring the line between reality and fiction with credible subplots and believable twists .", "... not always easy to follow . luckily , the execution is good enough to hold attention even when confusing .", "a film about going home and being good to your kids .", "if you 're looking for a feel-good move to get you into the holiday spirit % u2026 this is n't it .", "it has a lot on its mind , and is not afraid to speak . so much so , in fact , that it should serve as a good crash-course in international energy affairs for those unfamiliar with the subject .", "one of the year 's more compelling and better films .", "the stories are all densely packed with detail and convincingly told .", "it is a mesmerizing global economic and civics thriller that will - or should - start you thinking everytime you turn the ignition in your car .", "in the end it does n't move you to action , and for activist cinema , that lack of energizing fervor is a bit of a problem , the longest yard between something good and something great .", "MOV is a terrific movie , sprawling in its story , chilling in its implications , but you may need a whiteboard and marker to follow it .", ".", "you 'll come away exhausted , but also exhilarated .", "adept at delivering macro and micro perspectives without moralism or conviction .", "gaghan piles one storyline on another but is only interested in suggesting where they trend , working like a -lrb- cynical -rrb- editorialist who has made up a few examples to support his views .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- fulfils all the key criteria of a decent political thriller - it 'll make you angry , it 'll make you think and it 'll scare the hell out of you .", "there is a weird absence of both dramatic heat and political light here .", "un tenso e interesante thriller pol\u043dtico , si bien abrumador y por momentos confuso , sobre tema actual , con destacada labor de george clooney .", "longe de representar uma experi\u043ancia emocional , o longa exige dedica\u0437\u0433o ao espectador - e se voc\u043a estiver disposto -lrb- a -rrb- a mergulhar na discuss\u0433o ser\u0431 fartamente recompensado -lrb- a -rrb- .", "this is a film that warrants your attention . a potent and intelligent film that informs as well as entertains , MOV is the starting point for an intense and lengthy conversation .", "skillfully woven together and continually suspenseful .", "MOV best movie of the year", "convoluted , disjointed and extremely dull ... amounts to a bunch of ciphers having esoteric conversations about who knows what .", "it 's intelligent agitprop , a stimulating fireball that deserves to be the center of water-cooler conversation .", "the result is both winning and problematic , though the positives sufficiently outweigh the negatives to make the result well worthwhile .", "though never a fan of mr. clooney onscreen , i doff my hat to him for checking his vanity at the door and trying to make movies with more significance than the weekend grosses in variety .", "certain to be on osama bin laden 's top ten best list of 2005 .", "for all of the movie 's flaws , i still have an enormous respect for MOV and all of the work that into it .", "stephen gaghan pulls it off by presenting an interesting menagerie of characters , a myriad of locations and a screenplay that overestimates rather than underestimates the audience 's intelligence .", "... despite exceptional pacing it 's so convoluted it is incomprehensible , except for george clooney 's message about america being the bad guy in the world .", "i 'm not afraid to say that i just do n't get what all the fuss is about .", "MOV impresses , not because it is very moving , which it is n't , or because it is crystal clear , which it also is n't , but because it is so large , so encompassing , so seemingly privy to inside stuff .", "if you want a movie that answers all your questions , try `` revenge of the sith . '' if you want a movie that questions all your answers , try this one .", "a potent legend of modern international relations .", "stephen gaghan signe une % u0153uvre n\u0439cessaire qui arrive au bon moment pour agr\u0439menter un d\u0439bat sans que cela ne paraisse trop opportuniste .", "a well-meaning , yet meandering and confusing political thriller .", "oil , war , global capitalism -- it 's just not simple . it is by nature hard to understand . this picture gives you a sense of that complexity while it compels . nice work .", "a bleak and powerful movie , made all the more sobering by how much of it is n't fiction .", "MOV demands patience to see how the pieces come together in a fascinating mosaic of politics , capitalism , and corruption .", "didactic and muddled to the point of incoherence .", "MOV does for the oil industry what traffic did for the drug trade .", "MOV has a lot of big , important things to say about big , important things , and it says them with a sense of urgency .", "there 's definitely some black gold here , but this film did n't quite refine it .", "seldom have form , content and cultural sensibility been so excitably aligned as in this fascinating , exasperating film about the unholy marriage of power politics and global business .", "combine grandiose writing and insistent directing , and you get a film that pretends to tell you more than it does .", "a gripping thriller , a labyrinth of parallel plots , a moral message movie and a brutally realistic action picture .", "MOV is n't the perfect guide , but its torch probes the darkness further than most and shines brightly enough that blindness can no longer can be our excuse .", "a complex , intriguing narrative about oil , terrorism , money and power .", "hugely ambitious , excellently acted and very challenging .", "the presence of george clooney , matt damon and other fine actors helps you ignore your sense of descending ignorance as the movie unfolds . and the ending , when you think about it for a few days , does add up .", "while it sounds glib to say that MOV is educational at its best , i mean that as sincere praise .", "it 's intimidatingly intelligent , definitely not a time-waster , and challenges the viewer to keep up . but mashing in so many stories also serves to weaken the film as a whole .", "stephen gaghan does n't try to explain everything that is going on , allowing the viewer to decide who is good , bad or in shades of gray .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- has what lots of great thrillers have , a sense that it knows things we do n't , that even the most skeptical of us may be a little naive about the ways of the world .", "a gorgeous , well-acted -lrb- by a gaggle of successful directors , in clooney , tim blake nelson , and thomas mccarthy -rrb- , soderbergh-y undertaking , but it 's going to go over like a fart in church .", "it 's serious and scathing , and it seems to think that because it displays those characteristics that it should get some sort of pass when it comes to cogent story telling .", "what makes MOV a kick is n't that it merely builds a complex web , but that it does it so well .", "this is a great film from top to bottom and i ca n't recommend it more for the thoughtful movie fan . it 's a great ensemble piece and a profound reflection of our own scary reality .", "MOV is a chillingly plausible bit of paranoia .", "MOV is an ambitious edifice , built with conviction and skill . but i 'm not sure i understand it , and i 'm not sure i care .", "MOV coolly dissects a system of duplicity , chicanery and corruption that has been in play for several decades now , and examines the consequences that it has borne .", "it forces you to intently watch and listen and ask questions , something that in the past six years has been skillfully portrayed as an unpatriotic response to an increasingly complex international scenario .", "a purposely jagged and harsh news story of a film , MOV attempts to take on the powers that run the world and for the most part it succeeds .", "a fearless and ambitious piece of work , made with equal parts passion and calculation , an unapologetically entertaining major studio release with compelling real-world relevance , a film that takes numerous risks and thrives on them all .", "thought-provoking and unnerving , emotionally engaging and intellectually stimulating .", "the stars are all good here ... -lrb- and they 're aided by supporting work from dependable performers such as chris cooper , william hurt and christopher plummer -rrb- and clooney -- and his story -- really shines .", "a crisply acted and occasionally exciting ensemble film undone by murky plotting and thin character development .", "in some ways , we 're the protagonist , and when the strands coalesce in the last hour and we glimpse the bigger picture , MOV finally eats into the mind .", "it leaves us gasping for air , scratching our heads and wondering if we 've seen something truly important or something that just thinks it is . but at least it leaves us thinking .", "it 's a troubling vision of how terrorism and ` martyrdom ' occur on both sides of this ghostly war , and is both perpetrated and facilitated by the very forces enlisted to stop it .", "the various storylines are hard to follow . . , the narrative momentum dissolves in the confusion , and the multiplicity of characters means that none of them ... is more than two dimensional .", "frustrated , the sons adapt to the cruel , fanatical , and radically individual politics of their moment .", "a powerful political thriller , striking a resonating chord with the oil-connected news that unfolds every day .", "this is propaganda . there 's no doubt about that . it 's also very well done , there 's no doubt about that either .", "gaghan comes on like a heavyweight , but he 's wearing kid gloves .", "a whirlwind of ambition and outrage .", "it has all the pedigree of classic political picture , yet all the dramatic urgency of a c-span afternoon .", "however it 's clooney 's performance that will stick with you ... one wishes his story was the focus of the film instead of one thread among many .", "as he did in traffic , gaghan intertwines his disparate subplots with impeccable pacing -- his screenplay is a model of how to arrange scenes so that each one ends leaving you wanting to know more .", "an intelligent dissection of the business , politics , emotions and conspiracies of the global oil industry that edifies as much as it entertains .", "du cin\u00e9ma intelligent pour spectateurs intelligents .", "MOV is a fascinating movie -- and a substantive and thought-provoking one -- but it does not necessarily attain greatness .", "intelligent , political , incensed , timely , and appropriately cynical .", "this movie could be the one where clooney finally gets his due .", "its story line is populated with so many characters and meaningless names that it 's nearly impossible to follow , and its author 's message does n't amount to much more than a cry of despair .", "no one-sentence synopsis is possible , but here 's a stab : a bunch of people , played by george clooney , matt damon , jeffrey wright , christopher plummer and others , stalk around looking serious and doing stuff .", "demanding , even confusing at times , this is required viewing that requires your full attention .", "if there is any lesson the makers of MOV want us to absorb , it is that we should trust no one where power and money are concerned .", "MOV really makes viewers work to try to understand the complexities involved in protecting -lrb- or resisting -rrb- u.s. interests in the middle east .", "the disorientation is purely cosmetic .", "-lsb- k -rsb- eeps you on a teeter-totter of emotion ... it leaves you with a sense of falling that is entirely unsettling .", "interesting and worth watching , despite the fact that complete comprehension of the film seems just beyond the reach of the viewer .", "it 's entirely possible that gaghan just is n't an actor 's director .", "in addition to the performances there 's a wealth of memorable detail .", "this is neither realism nor tragedy . it 's cynicism , which exposes itself most nakedly in damon 's addresses to the arab characters , and in gaghan 's own portrayal of them .", "... a sobering reflection of our post 9/11 world and how efforts to control natural energy resources have far reaching and disastrous effects .", "the movie may be too knowing for its own good , but it 's not glib and it never goes cheesy .", "a firebomb heaved at the short-term thinking of amoral us interference in global affairs , but as a film it lacks clarity and fires in too many directions at once .", "-lsb- a -rsb- n engrossing , insider 's tour of the world 's hottest spots , grandest schemes and most dangerous men .", "i 'm still waiting to see the film that was advertised in its great trailer . as actually released , the movie is completely dead . ... one of the worst films of the year .", "it has big ideas , but no pulse .", "it 's a wake-up call . in today 's environment , it 's a rare thing to find a movie with interesting characters in dense , intelligent storylines , but that 's what MOV offers .", "somehow , the movie convinces you , through its strengths of characterization and atmosphere , that it 's showing a little of how the world really works -- and that the world 's dark machinations are every bit as sordid and pitiless as your worst suspicions .", "too many characters . this story , like lord of the rings , is better told as a 6-hour package divided into three films .", "this is a cynical but undoubtedly accurate portrayal of the inner workings of international politics , where white-shoe lawyers and oil executives can be nearly as ruthless as the cia hit men and missile-toting rebels .", "you keep straining to understand the bits and pieces of information that you can make out , but it still adds up to a lot less than the sum of its parts .", "MOV is an awards-season message in search of a movie .", "the film 's weary , politically wary vibe sticks with you .", "a gripping and daringly complex movie about how things get done these days in the blood-drenched world of oil , politics and religion .", "i suppose if i created a flow chart of characters and devoted a few solid hours to it , i could make some sense of ... ` MOV . '", "maybe they should give editor tim squyres something - if not an oscar , then antacid tablets .", "gaghan 's script wisely sticks to the human story as things twist and turn .", "the performances have an unforced swagger that defies the limited parameters of the characters themselves -lrb- nobody gets a lot of screen time , not even the famously bulked-up george clooney -rrb- , and gaghan 's ear for real-world dialogue is almost peerless .", "there 's a brilliant piece of pulp buried somewhere beneath the speechifying ... but still , MOV 's anger is invigorating .", "this is how agenda filmmaking is supposed to work : respecting its audience enough to stimulate their minds , rather than telling them what to think .", "while ` MOV ' takes much of its inspiration from current headlines , its greatest strength is not in how it reminds viewers of what they can see on a cable news channel but in how it can make its participants become convincingly human .", "the plots are not so much carefully interwoven as they are frantically blended , like a dubious cocktail whose true ingredients the bartender would like to hide .", "gaghan advances the cast-of-too-many-characters in stratego fashion , methodically moving them across a board riddled with oil-industry intrigues until they finally converge in the drama 's explosive climax .", "takes the risk of losing its audience by interweaving four different storylines .", "gaghan , bless him , does n't believe in dumbing things down", "if you enjoy complicated plots , you 'll certainly get your money 's worth at MOV .", "they 're all pawns of the oil industry -- or rather , they 're pawns of director stephen gaghan .", "not all of the stories on display here are as relevant or interesting as others .", "-lsb- a -rsb- complex , occasionally riveting film that may fulfill gaghan 's purpose ... but will leave many viewers wondering what just happened .", "one of the most exciting movies of the year .", "its dark , dog-eat-dog vision of the world we live in may give you geopolitical nightmares .", "probes a significant subject but treats its people as mere stick figures carrying exposition from place to place .", "preferring probing questions to pat solutions , the film drills deep in its exploration of the us 's ventures , both economic and military , in the middle east .", "the most troublesome part of MOV is that the movie is , in fact , so easy to believe .", "a skeleton of theme minus the meat of resonance", "a film that treats its audience as adults , this is an extremely rewarding work that handsomely pays off the concentration required to watch it .", "this is intelligent , committed , and politically provocative , though its narrative puzzle box may prompt you to throw up your hands and let exxonmobil go on running the world .", "you did n't understand all of it ? it went by too fast to take it all in ? there was too much information to mentally digest ? yeah , well , that was kind of the point .", "gaghan kapitulira pred holivudskim konvencijama te film zaklju % u010duje spektakularnom , ali banalnom i krajnje neuvjerljivom zavr % u0161nicom", "politically-paranoid , if well-intentioned , this disjointed message movie does n't really do much more than indict the usual suspects .", "mr. gaghan does n't insult our intelligence , but he demands our attention . if you 're up to those demands , you 'll be rewarded .", "the problem with MOV is not that it lacks good elements , but that it has no idea how them shape them into a comprehensible story .", "i 'm giving the film a ` recommended ' grade because it 's well-shot and convincingly acted , and because i think there are things lurking in it that would emerge with a second viewing .", "your enjoyment of this movie will be in direct proportion to your patience . if you can stand not knowing everything right now and wait for the story 's threads to weave into a rug , MOV makes for an engaging time .", "MOV is a caustic and cynical political thriller with a plot that occasionally confuses but a message that leaves no room for misinterpretation .", "what 's so powerful about the film is the rich stories it tells and how it leads them like so many human tributaries to one black , bubbling source .", "untangle the gordian knot at the heart of MOV and you find a riveting drama of succession .", "MOV is an endlessly fascinating movie about oil and money , america and china , traders and spies , the gulf states and texas , reform and revenge , bribery and betrayal .", "MOV is like a position paper , and scenes that should pull us in fall flat .", "whether you follow the oil or the money , as drama MOV is a dry well .", "damon again getting gerry'ed out in the middle of nowhere encapsulates gaghan 's wandering around an issue that should leave us with something more substantial than one man trying to make sense of what just happened .", "jamming too much into its 2 hours , pursuers of truth and controversy on film may well erect a statue to clooney for bringing such material to us in an unadorned package .", "one of the best films of the year reveals the violence , the corruption , and the political chicanery involved in maintaining our addiction to fossil fuels .", "the richness of detail is immense .", "what MOV feels like is a television miniseries condensed into two hours .", "no dry civics lesson , this fighting-mad film is n't just hot , it 's incendiary . and no one gets off the hook . you see it with the exhilarating feeling that a movie can make a difference .", "far more ambitious and complex than traffic , MOV is a political film that approximates reportage journalism rather than an epic or a thriller on the global oil industry and islamic terrorism , and as such it should generate debate .", "gaghan asks us to piece together the story from the evidence onscreen , making the film almost an exercise in participatory investigative journalism .", "MOV is complex , engrossing , involving and depressing . difficult to absorb , it is also difficult to accept , and it is one of the best films of 2005 .", "some movies have everything going for them , except that little extra ` oomph ' .", "watch closely and listen carefully during MOV because stephen gaghan 's movie is that rarity : a thinking person 's drama .", "it 's hard to get passionately swept away by a movie when you 're struggling continually to figure out who 's doing what to whom and why .", "the movie is n't terrible , many details are vivid , yet the depth is all sheen and display . it has some tough truths at heart , but its brain is a blurof fast cards dealt by an insecure croupier .", "an occasionally incomprehensible work that still manages to be captivating and consistently watchable .", "a political thriller should have a little mystery to it , but MOV , while certainly noble in its ambition , is too indecipherable to add up to a great or even good movie .", "MOV is a challenging , thought-provoking work about the downward spiral of oil dependence throughout the world . it 's just the thing to make you consider a hybrid for your garage or solar panels for your roof .", "unlike the constant gardener , which turned on the nexus of a good woman 's love , MOV is eventually a movie about moral compromise .", "its narrative becomes clear enough in time , and along the way it gives the viewer the delightfully unfamiliar feeling -lrb- in prefab hollywood -rrb- of being completely off balance .", "... manages to take one of the hottest and most controversial topics in the world and turn it into a convoluted snooze fest . color me shocked .", "it 's a strange movie , and a stunningly pessimistic one , and the strangeness and pessimism connect it -lrb- in my mind , at least -rrb- to other recent american films in ways that suggest that something unhappy in the national mood has crept into the movies .", "MOV is that rarest of animals -- the star-laden studio release that 's all steak , no sizzle .", "the standout of this already brilliant bunch of actors is alexander siddig , who before this starred in star trek : deep space nine .", "... about as timely and captivating as modern issue-related cinema is likely to ever get .", "one can say of mr. gaghan , mr. soderbergh and mr. clooney that their heads may be in the right place in MOV , but their hearts are not much in evidence as far as any emotional investment in their characters is concerned .", "admirably serious but untidy , excessively schematic and more than slightly self-important ... its higher ambition is enough to make it mildly recommendable .", "cloaking oliver stone-like message mongering with tarantino film techniques , gaghan preaches well known leftist political tomes", "a fitfully engrossing and overreaching film that is both somehow too much and yet not enough .", "MOV is a dense , layered film that is essentially this season 's broccoli % u2013 it 's good for you , and when prepared right -lrb- as gaghan has -rrb- , tasty .", "the thematic temperature of `` MOV '' runs hot and does n't waste a single second of film time .", "the film throws so much information at you so quickly and so relentlessly that it 's easy to become overwhelmed and confused .", "there are few movies released by major studios these days possessed with as much intelligence and purpose as gaghan 's .", "the film spooks you : you have to give it that , and it makes a powerful case , if only by default , that we 've already lost our mutual endgame with capital and treachery .", "the cinematic equivalent of a sound bite .", "it falls short of its high goals , but achieves much more than less ambitious films .", "MOV reminds us that movies can be about ideas and that the challenge of a complex plot can be invigorating ...", "i did not understand a good deal of this film , and as a result , i found it nearly impossible to get engaged with the elements i did understand and i was unsurprised by many of the revelations purportedly sprung by this movie .", "the movie 's shaky cam visuals appropriate the look of nightly news reports , and that 's symptomatic of gaghan 's failure to give his polemic a soul .", "overly ambitious and too complicated .", "in movies i am always holding out for a hero . in this one , none appeared ." ], "summary": "ambitious , complicated , intellectual , and demanding of its audience , MOV is both a gripping geopolitical thriller and wake-up call to the complacent .", "id": "9369" }, { "movie": "world_is_not_enough", "reviews": [ "somewhere along the way the people behind the series stopped thinking of bond movies as comic books for adults and began thinking of them as action movies .", "a patched-together mix of stunts from past bond movies strung together by a plot that is improbable even by bond standards .", "t 's got just about everything you could want from a bond movie , and it 's one of the most purely entertaining movies i 've seen this year .", "knotty .", "james bond has n't been this boring since timothy dalton carried the license to kill .", "even diehard bond aficionados may find themselves thinking that the formula is not enough .", "brosnan 's repertoire of eyebrow arching while ogling and jaw clenching while escaping is by now entirely without flavor .", "despite his lackluster co-star , i actually like brosnan as bond . i just wish that he had , well , better working conditions .", "the hodgepodge of strong and weak characters makes the film move slowly at times -- slowly enough for us to notice some of the little things that were n't done right .", "far too reverent in its winking irreverence , the film treats a ragged formula as if it were sacred .", "why do you suppose they called it the MOV ? the world was more than enough for these underachieving villains .", "graying pierce brosnan , as bond , is again suave and athletic , but this , his third effort , is not the charm .", "at over two hours , it 's too much junk food for one sitting .", "the script is not enough in the MOV .", "pierce brosnan takes his third bond tour , far from the worst , but also far enough from the best in the long line to make you wonder why he bothers .", "like all recent bond movies , the whole thing goes on way too long .", "one of the longest bond movies on record , though not one of the best .", "if you 're expecting this pre-millennial outing to taste any different than the adventures we 've swallowed in the past , you 're simply in the wrong restaurant .", "there 's plenty of action and typical bond elements to be found throughout , but the execution felt a bit generic to me . it also does n't help that denise richards drags the movie down every time she appears on-screen .", "so-so bond entry is racy but also fun .", "this keeps one reasonably amused , titillated , and brain-dead for a little over two hours .", "the movie is better than you 've heard , although that 's not saying a lot .", "one of the worst james bond movies ever .", "although it sprinkles in a fair amount of character-centred plot , it does n't really go that far beyond the call of duty . still , with plenty of the usual bondage , you ca n't go far wrong .", "jiggled , not stirred .", "austin powers seems to have made the broccolis gun shy about letting bond have too much fun , lest `` world '' be mentally lumped alongside an aggressively bawdy parody . sterile , sluggish and halfheartedly suspenseful , it 's the second-worst 007 film ever .", "the theme song is performed by garbage , as the band 's name perhaps tells you all you want to know about this thriller .", "though in story the MOV is not one of the best bonds , pound for pound it delivers as much thrilling action as any of them . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the real danger is that the series , notwithstanding the formula , has of late been veering from its usual trajectory , imitating the other action-adventure movies which have co-opted the british agent .", "the MOV , like a 19th version of anything , is inanely self-parodic .", "the film goes flat quicker than an inflatable wal-mart pool toy .", "although the plot is `` pretty good , '' it is hampered by carlyle 's underwritten character and denise richards ' dreadful performance .", "of the bunch , only brosnan seems to be having any fun .", "all right for what it is , but will the day ever come when enough is enough ?", "the only bright spot is john cleese 's brief appearance as q 's associate , r. could we pretty please have cleese play bond in the next one ?", "one of the worst bond films to come along in years .", "dated and confused .", "in this outing , bond gets lost in the big shuffle of pyro-technics and blasts .", "apted ensures it all passes by efficiently enough . and his extraordinarily well staged opening salvo is one of the most impressive bond sequences yet .", "i liked it better than goldeneye , but not as much as tomorrow never dies .", "a good flick", "sees 007 undone by villainous scripting and misguided casting and acting in a couple of key secondary roles .", "pierce brosnan has finally settled into the role of james bond .", "easily the most boring of the brosnan adventures .", "the film tries very hard , and sometimes the effort pays off , but overall this is a compromised effort that recalls licence to kill in the wrong way : it wants to be different but lapses back into the same old , obligatory set pieces .", "the latest james bond flick falls as flat as tomorrow never dies , with decent action sequences and bad soap opera acting .", "brosnan and carlyle breeze through an upper mid-league bond that does n't attempt to fix what is n't broken .", "... ultimately comes off as a superior james bond adventure ...", "a spectacular display of stunts and adrenaline .", "the MOV is solid , formula entertainment -- but it 's a formula that still works .", "si son fan\u00e1ticos de las cintas del 007 , no se van a arrepentir de verla", "pierce brosnan in his best film yet as james bond , proves once again that he 's the best bond since sean connery .", "sophie marceau is easily the best female foil bond has had in years .", "there are recognizable signs of life in the MOV , which is a refreshing novelty .", "of the cast , carlyle is the real standout .", "terrific special effects !", "it looks better than ever .", "fans who prefer bond to just shut up and shoot people will not be disappointed .", "not enough to add up to a fully satisfying movie .", "it 's like watching a basketball team take 100 shots -- dunks , hooks , lay-ups , jumpers , three-pointers -- and score 10 points .", "either pierce brosnan is starting to get the hang of being bond or i am just starting to think of him that way , but he seems more natural than he has in the past .", "it 's a jaw-dropper , so buckle up for a wild ride !", "whether you 're a bond fan or just a regular 11-year-old boy , you wo n't want to miss this .", "viewers who loved goldeneye and tomorrow never dies will love this one as well .", "a class act !", "the latest 007 extravaganza has enough plot developments , double-entendres , emotional underpinnings and , of course , bond girls , action scenes and explosions to furnish at least a couple of bondfests , with plenty left over for an episode of nash bridges .", "a superior outing for 007 , with all the required ingredients of the formula in place .", "a fairly entertaining diversion .", "the most satisfying bond movie in a very long time .", "a distinct improvement over tomorrow .", "action-packed !", "credit director michael apted for raising the acting standards .", "the script conforms to the hard-and-fast 007 formula -- fans will certainly feel at home .", "this is top-notch 007 which plays true to the formula while jigging it around for some fresh angles .", "brosnan brings just the right amount of charm and smarm to his third bond film .", "if you love bond films , you 'll love this one , and if you do n't , the MOV is still worth a look because it has a bit more depth and character than most .", "the MOV lives up to the 007 formula , even taking it a step further to tongue-in-cheek .", "typical bond : amusing , entertaining and fun , but nothing spectacular .", "a splendid comic thriller .", "the most satisfying bond film since 1987 's the living daylights .", "james bond is back and as sexy as ever !", "with apted on board , the movie attracted the most illustrious supporting cast of any bond film to date and has taken on a heft that successfully camouflages its basic stupidity .", "like the original coca-cola ; the formula remains pleasing , and will have you wanting more .", "i 'd say that this james bond movie may feature more dialogue and plot development than the last two films .", "yet another satisfying cinematic experience that holds up respectably in the hugely popular series .", "the most gratifying thing about the film is that director michael apted and his writing team understand that james bond is n't just another action hero .", "the convoluted story seems to get lost in a steady shuffle of set-ups and backdrops . as a result , i found myself falling asleep in baku only to wake up in istanbul .", "the fact is , this is an enjoyable formula .", "all in all , a decent time at the movies .", "though she has the silhouette of a pneumatic barbie doll , denise richards sports a screen presence reminiscent of unflavored jell-o . atrocious even for a bondgirl , her monotone delivery makes tanya roberts seem like honor blackman .", "for a movie whose first order of business is chases and explosions and boats and babes , it is not half bad .", "convoluted plotlines , high-tech gadgetry , gross sexism , and stuff blowing up . i have no idea why so many men like this stuff .", "... suffers from a plot that meanders , a villain with little to accomplish , heroines we care nothing about , and a frenetic tempo that ends up more tedious than stirring .", "the elaborate chases , escapes and explosions begin to seem forced and disconnected ; the pun-laden wisecracks fall flat . the final half-hour or so of the movie , for all its polished firepower , seems interminable .", "in his first action flick in a long career , apted succeeds in both the character stuff and the action scenes . something had to give , and it 's the plot .", "even with -lsb- its -rsb- lame dialogue , the film would potentially have been redeemed had denise richards not been cast as arguably the worst bond girl in the entire franchise .", "might be good film , but only for those who have n't seen many bond films .", "proves that a movie with a formula is n't always a terrible thing . for as long as gorgeous women , sadistic villains and special-effects exist , james bond lives .", "cleese may only be in a few scenes , but he adds his unique humor to the film , giving moviegoers something to look forward to in the next bond adventure .", "confusing , drab and joyless , `` the MOV '' is the worst james bond movie in 25 years .", "after 19 installments , the old tradition is wearing thin .", "it 's akin to cotton candy ; you consume it with interest for its duration , but there is nothing that is particularly filling about it , and you 're left either wanting more or nearly forgetting that you even ate it .", "what makes this film the hands-down worst of brosnan 's 007 outings can be summed up in two words : denise richards .", "the sub-inspired screenwriters have chosen to rehash all of the setups , stunts , and sexy encounters of the previous 18 bond flicks rather than coming up with anything the slightest bit original .", "an assembly-line production , just a step or two above the series ' roger moore nadir .", "i 'm sorry , but james bond was never meant to incite giggles .", "a frustrating combination of the all-too-common and the distractingly absent .", "the action sequences are bland at best and they seem to go on for about one-tenth of a pod race -- which is 78 in dog years .", "`` unless you are james bond fan , you can skip this one . if you never miss a bond flick then by all means see this one , but it 's pretty bad .", "special effects have slowly been replacing stunt work in the bond films , which has resulted in the loss of that extra dimension of danger .", "mind-numbing , formulaic twaddle .", "-lsb- apted 's -rsb- attempts to create emotional depth reveal an underlying contempt for what the bond movies actually are .", "has all the makings of a classic bond film plus a more original plot than usual .", "retirement 's sounding good for 007 ; we 've certainly had more than enough .", "familiar and competent , the last bond film of the millennium adheres to the formula and mostly succeeds in meeting the ritualistic demands of the series .", "a thoroughly satisfying , completely entertaining film that 's also , rather surprisingly , an emotionally full experience .", "the score , by composer david arnold , is the best in over a decade .", "what makes this one different is that the villains are really interesting ." ], "summary": "plagued by mediocre writing , uneven acting , and a fairly by-the-numbers plot , the MOV is partially saved by some entertaining and truly bond-worthy action sequences .", "id": "10446" }, { "movie": "silent_hill", "reviews": [ "over long with a muddled story and a gaggle of wasted talent , MOV is a spectacular misfire .", "as a fluke , i took my mom -lrb- also named rose -rrb- to the screening . she does n't like sf or horror and does n't even know what a video game is , yet she ended up really liking it ! how weird is that ?", "the closest you 'll get to actually having a nightmare in a movie theatre outside of a midnight screening of david lynch 's eraserhead .", "there 's absolutely nothing of merit here to discuss other than its loyalty to the original source material .", "while gans admittedly shows us some pretty spooky stuff , his energy begins to flag somewhere around the 60-minute mark .", "as a nightmarish vision of hell on earth , MOV is a triumph of production and art design . as a coherent story , it 's little more than a string of video game scenarios .", "MOV is like an endurance test to get to the '' ` truth ' , but it 's ultimately a gyp because it still does n't make sense when you get there .", "just like the game , which is an achievement and a disappointment all in one .", "no thrills on this hill", "radha mitchell is the reason to sit through this overblown grand guignol entertainment from the director of the similarly overblown `` brotherhood of the wolf . ''", "director christophe gans charges , hell-bent , right over the plot and winds up with not much more than an oppressive 125-minute running time .", "more deadly than silent .", "although it is rarely if ever jump-out-of-your-seat scary , MOV is an unremittingly creepy municipality of the mind where motherhood , mystery and madness have come home to stay .", "MOV starts out at point a and then goes so quickly , loudly and visually over-the-top that it flies completely off the rails into its own glorious weirdness .", "the latest , most ambitious and perhaps least comprehensible video game adaptation in recent memory .", "if you like your nightmares served upfront without the clutter of dramatic structure , then MOV should be your next stop .", "whilst not as atrocious as some other films that have opened this year , the truely woeful story and quality of silent is saved only by its occasion moments of visual flair , and its all over effective creepy atmosphere .", "when everything starts being explained , the mystery evaporates and the world of the game loses its eerie bafflement .", "visually arresting but only sporadically enthralling .", "it 's one of the best video game adaptations i 've seen in years ." ], "summary": "MOV is visually impressive , but as with many video game adaptations , it 's plagued by inane dialogue , a muddled plot , and an overlong runtime .", "id": "150164942" }, { "movie": "five_easy_pieces", "reviews": [ "jack nicholson shines in the film that helped cement his reputation as one of the finest actors of his generation .", "bobby can be seen as spiritual descendant of melville 's scrivener bartleby , preferring not to participate in a world to which he does n't subscribe .", "both spirited road movie and existential journey .", "-lsb- jack -rsb- nicholson helped redefine the leading man as a guy who does n't have the answers but still swaggers through with the show of confidence and control of someone who does .", "a key american film of its era , bob rafelson 's moody , character-driven tale of an upper-middle class dropout established jack nicholson as the foremost actor of his generation in articulating the values of the new generation .", "it 's a great work of the discover america seventies .", "an american entry into the french new wave starring a compelling jack nicholson .", "nicholson makes it all go . he proves he is more than a `` character actor '' with many scenes , especially the confrontation with his father .", "moves from scenes of quiet desperation to moments of great black humor", "boasting a career best performance by jack nicholson in the lead role , rafelson 's movie is a penetrating study of american alienation .", "MOV -lrb- 1970 -rrb- is a moody character study of an alienated , misfit drifter . it tells the story of a rough-neck california oil rigger", "critics praise the film 's daring , lavishing it with undeserved attention even now , thirty years after it was released .", "it often seems endless in the possibilities of its human observation .", "perhaps the most overrated of the early '70s masterpieces .", "a fascinating character study .", "nicholson at his angry , young man peak . cynical , anti-authoritarian drama .", "director bob rafelson attempts something unusual here , making a film that 's subtle about its meaning without ever ranging into the pretentiously oblique or merely ambiguous .", "a new kind of picture even for its era ... jack nicholson 's performance still stands as one of his greatest .", "the movie has more anger than it knows what to do with ; that 's its fascination and its weakness , too .", "the flaws of this acutely self-conscious 1970 road picture grow more obvious with every passing year , but so does its passion and eloquence .", "a key turn-of-the-decade film , with nicholson railing against waitresses and barking at noisy dogs as rafelson observes seedily picturesque roadside america .", "this superbly composed film comes as close to perfection as it gets .", "the movie is a succession of dazzling scenes .", "the film , superbly directed by rafelson , shifts the late 1960s hippy drop-out genre into the ingmar bergman class : it 's cerebral , yes , but also moving and witty .", "the feature is anchored by nicholson 's performance , in which he demonstrates his unique ability to swiftly shape-shift from a cheeky sweet-heart into a volatile beast .", "the landscape photography of l\u00e1szl\u00f3 kov\u00e1cs is a minor marvel , while the sound design is an intelligent complement to the sonorities evoked in the film 's title .", "the result is less a story and more a collection of incidents and character studies , all of which inform each other and extend our understanding of nicholson 's mode of survival : flight .", "hold that sandwich ! a film representing its time , and a classic .", "it has n't aged as well as some of its 1970s counterparts , but it 's still a heartbreaking film and a minor classic .", "rafelson is expert at supporting this movement , and the film proceeds from scene to scene with a quiet competent modernism that bespeaks quality , but that more often begs than provides expression .", "this episodic character study is one of the key american films of its era .", "the film 's nervewracking quality is consistent with its content . nicholson 's performance is a remarkably varied and daring exploration of a complex character , equally convincing in its manic and sober aspects .", "the film embraces proletarian chic but still gets its laughs by abusing waitresses .", "just give the guy a piece of toast .", "i expected a lot more from this film . it 's basically a rambling boredom piece .", "we 'd had a revelation . this was the direction american movies should take : into idiosyncratic characters , into dialogue with an ear for the vulgar and the literate , into a plot free to surprise us about the characters , into an existential ending ." ], "summary": "an important touchstone of the new hollywood era , MOV is a haunting portrait of alienation that features one of jack nicholson 's greatest performances .", "id": "13551" }, { "movie": "superman_the_movie", "reviews": [ "the only time in five tries that a superman movie actually managed to capture the essence of what makes the man of steel such a potent , classic symbol of american optimism .", "arguably still the most solid ` origin ' and emotion-churning superhero story on the big screen .", "with a triumphant score by john williams , the searing sincerity of christopher reeve and a preposterous grand finale , it is impossible not to root for superman in this most enjoyable of feel-good movies .", "manages to capture the pure heart and spirit of this comic book americana .", "vem envelhecendo bem justamente por compreender que , mais do que respeitar o espectador -lrb- e respeita -rrb- , \u00e9 fundamental respeitar seu pr\u00f3prio universo .", "in christopher reeve , the casting department found someone with just the right charisma to pull it off .", "the film is best when it takes itself seriously , worst when it takes the easy way out in giggly camp -- as it does , finally and fatally , when lex luthor enters the action .", "the film ranks among the greatest crowd pleasers in cinema history , an achievement it will surely hold for a long time .", "superman is a lovable epic full of quaint nostalgia and incredible mysteries of logic", "not only is there the ultimate fantasy fulfillment -- to be strong , to be invulnerable , to be fast , to fly -- but his story also taps into the universal feeling of being an outsider in the world .", "donner keeps his film briskly funny and exciting , with smart and spectacular action ... the greatest effect of all , however , is reeve 's miraculous performance .", "a classic tribute to an american pop-culture icon ... the first great comic-book movie and a nostalgic ode to the ideals of a more innocent time ... john williams ' swashbuckling score completes the grand experience .", "a little dated , but still glitzy fun .", "too jokey to be more than mildly amusing .", "still the best comic book turned movie .", "the person we will remember the most is christopher reeve as superman , and this is the way he should be remembered ... you will still believe a man can fly .", "it 's the simple , earth-bound quality of the film that makes this comic-book fantasy soar .", "... a lot of fun , and the lot of talented people involved have managed to get a lot of their talent very enjoyably on view .", "christopher reeve makes the character of superman his own , while also reminding us of why we love the character .", "the most influential , if not definitive comic book superhero origin story we 'll ever see .", "... a studio product , certainly , but also something that could have grown from one of smallville 's sun-kissed cornfields .", "all this makes a highly entertaining , though undemanding mixture , of sci-fi , romance and comedy , which could hardly have come off at all at any lower artistic level , nor without such a happy choice for the central part as christopher reeve .", "super-nostalgic superhero adventure still soars .", "superman still remains the best superhero movie ever made , full of humor , heart , and an iconic performance by christopher reeve as the man of steel .", "christopher reeve essays the title role and makes it his own , combining correctly chiseled features with a likable comic humanity , while the film itself nicely balances special effects with the romance of superman and lois lane .", "superman does n't have enough conviction or courage to be solidly square and dumb ; it keeps pushing smarmy big emotions at us -- but half-heartedly .", "it 's probably because the film takes its time and lets us linger in the story 's mythology that so many serious fans remember it so lovingly .", "though superman has aged more gracefully than many '70s sci-fi films , the film 's drawn-out first act may make viewers long for the more modern wham-blam style of comic-book movies .", "this movie is big , exciting and funny .", "magnify james bond 's extraordinary physical powers while curbing his sex drive and you have the essence of superman , a wonderful , chuckling , preposterously exciting fantasy .", "combines cheeky attitude with wowwy effects and genuine thrills .", "a serious treatment of the superman comics ...", "along with its 1980 sequel , no live-action version has so effectively captured the essence of the characters .", "if not the best superhero movie ever , it 's definitely in the top 3 . reeve will forever be superman to most of us .", "superman , the movie is a rousing screen version about america 's foremost folk hero .", "the best superhero movie ever made .", "-lsb- it -rsb- remains the single best superhero movie ever made .", "this superman has the right mix of seriousness and humor .", "by keeping the spectacular possibilities open , through the opening scenes of the destruction of krypton , and the subsequent growth to manhood of the planet 's only son on the plains of the midwest , the film allows naivet\u00e9 and knowingness to coexist .", "still stands as one of the finest superhero movies ever made ... and i suspect it always will .", "superman is a pure delight ...", "superman is good , clean , simple-minded fun ...", "faithful to the story with a great cast . i do believe a man can fly .", "excellent telling of the superman myth .", "remains a defining high point of hollywood 's tumultuous relationship with superheroes .", "one of the best , nei , the best superhero movie ever made !", "... the film has aged incredibly poorly in the years since its 1978 debut ." ], "summary": "superman deftly blends humor and gravitas , taking advantage of the perfectly cast christopher reeve to craft a loving , nostalgic tribute to an american pop culture icon .", "id": "2849381" }, { "movie": "lore", "reviews": [ "the history books are written by the winners . cate shortland considers what happens to the rest in her devastating world war 2 flick MOV -lrb- the long-anticipated follow-up to the afi-scooping somersault -rrb- .", "-lsb- a -rsb- complex portrait of a young girl with repellent beliefs gradually coming of age and to an understanding of what it means to be human in the face of some heinous experiences .", "it is n't exactly a profound film , but saskia rosendahl 's performance has considerable depth , and she interacts admirably with her siblings .", "a fiercely poetic portrait of a young woman staggering beyond innocence and denial , it 's about the wars that rage within after the wars outside are lost .", "can we spare some sympathy or hope for the children of villains , even if they too show signs of their parents ' evil ? MOV provides no easy answers .", "the portrait is miniature and yet indelible , a ghostly reminder of the 20th century .", "shortland is a master of tone here , beginning with a nightmarish , chaotic flight which grows darker during the journey and , perhaps darkest of all , at its final destination .", "remarkable for its unusual perspective ... but never manages to connect emotionally as deeply as it might have .", "full of surprises , the movie draws a thin line between pity and revulsion - how would you feel if you had discovered your whole life had been based on lies ?", "one of the most powerful war stories to appear on screen . a story of the universal defeat of war and the enduring survival of the human spirit .", "shortland composes her shots with great elegance . adam arkapaw 's damp , saturated photography is gorgeous . g\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung has rarely been so quietly compelling .", "a provocative and emotionally complex drama with a terrific central performance from newcomer saskia rosendahl .", "while prone to arty lingering , thus wasting time that would have been more wisely spent plugging gaps in the narrative , shortland slathers the story in enough mud and horror to make it a compellingly visceral experience .", "as with all the best fairytales , there is a blackness and brutality at its centre .", "the film is ultimately about a spectacular fall from innocence that feels both highly personal and universal .", "shortland does an impressive job of evoking the rotten heart of a country turning in on itself .", "an unusual , constantly surprising post-wwii odyssey , this film may feel a bit thin and episodic , but it tells an evocative story with darkly moving emotion .", "certainly sounds good on paper , but a little shallow and overstated in reality .", "a tough yet rewarding viewing experience !", "shortland and her ferocious lead actress , saskia rosendahl , burrow so deeply into the thoughts of the stubborn , infuriating protagonist that you leave the movie unable to stop wondering what the rest of her life will be like .", "not even safety and sanctuary quite wipe clean the trauma slate . new autocracies lie in wait , ready to replace the old .", "this striking , slow-building drama ... uses fractured , impressionistic imagery as a mirror of moral dislocation as the children make their way through an unfamiliar landscape .", "enough can not be said about its leading lady , a truly captivating actress at a very young age who should be an international star .", "the result is a stimulating portrayal of an under-examined aspect of nazism 's terrible legacy .", "we know where this is going pretty early on , but that does n't prevent `` MOV '' from being riveting stuff , start to finish .", "this oblique and understated tale of lost innocence conveys both an individual 's experiences and a powerful sense of a ruined nation .", "shortland 's measured pacing and hypnotic visuals make this a mesmerising journey through a defeated landscape .", "it 's a close , intimate film - sometimes so close you can feel the breath of its characters in your face .", "shortland creates a palpable sense of atmosphere , and coupled with fluid camerawork and a verdant forest backdrop , MOV looks and feels a world apart from other world war ii-set dramas .", "as hard as it is to watch at times , it 's even harder to stop watching shortland 's compelling , well-woven tale of a girl on a dual journey .", "it 's a remarkable accomplishment .", "in the chaos of 3rd reich 's end ... contemporizes the look and feel of overwhelmed , exhausted teens sifting through continuing lies and denials of the truths by everyone .", "saskia rosendahl is a highly expressive actress within the limited confines of her character , and the film is studded with memorable scenes .", "a strikingly accomplished film about worthless people .", "`` MOV '' is the sort of movie you 'd already expect to rip your heart out , but that does n't diminish the tragedy when it does arrive .", "saskia rosendahl , who plays MOV , is marvelous to watch .", "if `` MOV '' is an upsetting and uncomfortable film set in a morally bleak landscape , it also offers a guardedly optimistic vision of the possibility of human change .", "a dark coming-of-age journey about a girl who may or may not be able to summon the character to survive in a way she can live with afterward .", "the film sustains an air of overarching mystery in which the viewer , like the title character , is in the position of a sheltered child plunked into an alien environment and required to fend for herself without a map or compass .", "saskia rosendahl as MOV is the sturdiest in a good cast , making her way cautiously into a new , utterly changed universe .", "the pace is deliberate , verging on slow-australian filmmakers are n't keen on short takes or quick cuts-but the content is constantly surprising .", "a disconcerting and eerie film , made even more memorable since it 's seen through the prism of childhood 's end .", "offers a fresh , intimate and mostly successful perspective on germany 's traumatic transition from conqueror nation to occupied state .", "MOV , from australian director cate shortland , proceeds like a long-ago fairy tale , dark-hued , grounded in real-life 20th-century horrors .", "rosendahl puts the onslaught of horror and absurdity in poignant perspective with her limpid depiction of her character 's growing resourcefulness and awareness .", "cate shortland infuses a fresh perspective and a haunting moral quandary to the wwii genre , bringing a little seen part of human history to chilling life .", "remarkable . raw , disorienting and it never bothers to tell you what it can instead show .", "the australian director cate shortland has made a quite stunning film about the collapse of nazi germany , seen not from a berlin bunker but through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl .", "shortland may not leave us with certainty , but in the context of so bloody a conflict fueled by intransigence and misguided idealism , the hope and the beauty of MOV is only strengthened by its embrace of youthful uncertainty .", "the deep-feeling rosendahl makes a major impression as an intelligent girl learning the power of her sexuality and resolve under maximum stress .", "MOV is a akin to a bourgeois german version of elem klimov 's 1985 belarus-set come and see , and it has some outstanding features . the star turn is the lurking cinematography of adam arkapaw .", "the bleak backdrop is rendered with great beauty-so much so that perhaps the sensory poetics of the visuals linger beyond their darker implications .", "the dream of every director tasked with bringing such a difficult story to life is to have a star who can carry the drama , and in her feature debut , rosendahl is a revelation .", "what starts as a flipped survival tale turns into historical tragisploitation that wallows in its slog of endless suffering .", "a rare , wonderful film that works not just as surface entertainment .", "an unforgettable journey into the heart of germany 's dark past .", "shortland 's film is nuanced , careful to avoid the potential traps of clich\u00e9 or caricature , and to speak in images as much as possible", "an intimate study in the loss of innocence . just as somersault launched abbie cornish 's career , MOV will no doubt do the same for lovely german newcomer saskia rosendahl , whose sensitive and poignant performance captures every complexity", "shortland draws fine work from her actors , particularly the haunting rosendahl ...", "shortland 's camera creates a world that 's shockingly fractured , shot at weird angles and pocked with truncated body parts , heads hanging upside down and undefined realities filled with quiet dread .", "for both audiences who admire it and the protagonist who lives it , the intense , emotional `` MOV '' is a picture from life 's other side .", "brilliant , harrowing period drama about a german teen and her younger siblings struggling to survive after their parents are arrested by the allies .", "MOV is an impressionist survival film and an existential war film , and also something truly singular and remarkable .", "shot with a detail-oriented expressiveness that occasionally edges into overly precious imagery , MOV excels mostly as a survival film , as rosendahl barters jewelry and trinkets for whatever food and favors she can collect along the way .", "copious amounts of landscape and wilderness shots cover up its schematic plot , as its indirect visual allusions take precedence over thematic development .", "MOV is a remarkable film that explores characters , often unlikable , in situations of unbearable stress .", "saskia rosendahl succeeds in a demanding role set amidst a bleak post-war landscape .", "brings a distinctive perspective to familiar themes ...", "one could have made a much more didactic film with the same story - german girl learns jews are n't so bad after all ! - but shortland is after something much more elliptical here .", "with an eye for images that are both lush and foreboding , cate shortland dives confidently into a moral minefield and does n't care about defusing the situation .", "the sins of the fatherland send a german teenage girl and her nazi-connected family on the run in australian director cate shortland 's vividly rendered and sensual drama MOV .", "the young principals here , malina and especially rosendahl , are superb at conveying that premature hardening , their elastic minds pummelled by inelastic forces .", "we see no fighting and no high-level participants -- just ordinary people before a backdrop of natural beauty and manmade horror .", "it 's this mature take on the subject matter that makes MOV the finest australian film of the year .", "the artist makes the choices that she makes and that 's her prerogative and it 's my prerogative to be alienated by those choices .", "with its leisurely pace and lengthy run time , MOV will make those expecting a quick and easy indictment of the entire postwar world unhappy .", "few films recently have affected me as powerfully as MOV . it 's an outstanding achievement from one of our most talented filmmakers .", "like MOV herself-fierce , defiantly unsocialised-it is a rebuke to notions of middle-class propriety , as well as a formidable work in its own right , by one of the best and most distinctive filmmakers this country has ever produced .", "it may have taken eight years , but cate shortland has tied the most personal of themes to a historic perspective and each manages to deepen and inform the other .", "this is an intense and thoughtful film , with a long arc .", "a languid , poetic but emotionally powerful work , which reaffirms cate shortland 's talent behind the camera and announces a promising new talent in its lead actress .", "lugubrious , snail-paced , dramatically inert wartime drama .", "a thoughtful study of the politics of war and the devastating fallout it causes regardless of the winners and losers . exquisite visuals combined with a brutal story about survival , family and patriotism .", "the ground of ww2 has been so firmly-trodden that this quietly involving take from another perspective feels like a welcome punch in the gut .", "a reminder that not every young victim of hitler 's struggle was an enemy of the state .", "though snail-paced , this post-world war ii look at a teen girl 's effort to change her attitude toward jews and national socialism is worthwhile largely because of the beautifully acted role of the title figure .", "a riveting tale of survival about the adolescent daughter of two nazis in post-world war ii germany .", "at once literal and yet nimbly metaphoric , `` MOV '' condenses its extensive subject into a cinematic poem that is easily apprehended .", "unfortunately , saskia rosendahl plays the title character as an emotionless blank slate , while her siblings come off as brats , making it difficult to feel compassion for her physical and emotional struggles .", "proves that there is always room for another -lsb- world war ii -rsb- story if it can be presented in an original and unexpected fashion .", "texture and detail embellish a provocative story", "think `` little red riding hood '' meets the road .", "unflinching but thoroughly engrossing , the film provides a rarely depicted look at the holocaust 's other innocent victims . beautiful cinematography by adam arkapaw .", "rosendahl 's performance is raw and compelling , as MOV fights for her siblings ' survival and grows up in a hurry .", "MOV and her siblings make a harrowing journey across germany", "child of nazi parents faces an uncertain future", "-lsb- director cate -rsb- shortland directs with an almost hypnotic focus , favoring MOV 's immediate experience over the big picture .", "worthwhile , but so subtle that it 's frustrating .", "the australian-german co-production takes an unconventional tale and turns it into a challenging , visually stunning and emotionally turbulent film experience .", "stunning , admirable and indelible - truthfully chronicling the triumph of the human spirit - in a class with michael haneke 's ` the white ribbon . '", "`` MOV '' is not a love story , nor the story of a friendship . rather , it 's a story of healing and of how breaking , sometimes painfully , is often necessary before that process can begin .", "although there are moments that push the story a bit beyond credulity , shortland has created something remarkable by forcing us to find within ourselves sympathy for this would-be aryan princess .", "a burning portrait of consciousness and endurance , gracefully acted and strikingly realized , producing an honest sense of emotional disruption , while concluding on a powerful note of cultural and familial rejection .", "`` MOV '' is not a pretty story , but it is a good and sadly believable one .", "saskia rosendahl gives an impressively poised performance as the beautiful teenager , whose determination to protect her remaining family coincides with her growing revulsion toward her parents .", "it 's a harrowing walk through the heart of darkness .", "over the river and through the woods , to grandmother 's house we go . except this ai n't no fairy tale ... unless it is , perhaps , a hint of the beginnings of a new mythology of ... scary childhood and even scarier adolescence ...", "rosendahl ... provides both narrative and emotional continuity to a film whose deliberate pace and fragmented presentation of reality might otherwise prove exasperating .", "with a child 's perspective on war , `` MOV '' deserves comparisons with `` empire of the sun '' and `` hope and glory , '' and with a feisty female protagonist it stands virtually alone ." ], "summary": "newcomer saskia rosendahl gives an astonishingly assured performance in the title role , and director cate shortland establishes a delicate , disturbingly ominous tone in the powerful world war ii drama MOV .", "id": "771308195" }, { "movie": "joe_strummer_the_future_is_unwritten", "reviews": [ "suffused with clear-eyed affection for its subject and times , this is not your little brother 's punk documentary .", "joe strummer : the future is unwritten is a film for fans -- really big fans . more-casual admirers , perhaps those whose only strummer cd is the clash 's `` london calling , '' should probably stay away .", "a remarkably well-detailed doc that proves ` rock the casbah ' is not just that song from the cell phone commercials .", "the end result is a documentary that feels very insider and exclusive ... it 's probably best suited to those who are already fans .", "julien temple has assembled a complex portrait of a human being and the times in which he lived .", "temple 's film offers a rich , detailed portrait of a commanding but idealistic strummer against the backdrop of the do-it-yourself punk ethos of the late '70s .", "the future is unwritten does an ample job of capturing the many facets of strummer , who was simultaneously self-effacing and and heroic , devoted and calculating , sensitive and brazen .", "the future is written is a loving testimonial to one of rock 's true originals .", "joe strummer : the future is unwritten is that rarest of movie biographies : a warts-and-all exploration of the life and times of its subject .", "julian temple has done cinematic justice to the punk humanist born john graham mellor .", "a rock documentary that 's a good as it gets .", "i 've never cared for joe strummer and the clash , but julien temple 's joe strummer : the future is unwritten is , for the most part , some sort of incredible .", "anyone who 's ever been a fan of the clash or strummer 's music should be fascinated by this comprehensive look at his eccentric life .", "the future is unwritten captures the joe strummer who , in the late 1970s , just about firebombed the rock establishment with his fury .", "you 'll feel like you 're at an amazing eulogy , where friends and family do n't mourn the loss of their loved one but tell stories about his life .", "the future is unwritten is less a eulogy than a wake , and one in which the subject is startlingly present .", "-lsb- julien temple 's -rsb- insider 's point of view both helps and hurts the film .", "julian temple has paid proper homage to one of rock 's most important artists .", "the future is unwritten is as overstuffed as sandinista ! , but it races ahead like ` white riot . '", "a loving filmic portrait", "an attempt at a tribute to a great man . strummer does n't need it .", "the film is the work of an admirer , but not an uncritical one .", "temple 's film is a fittingly conscientious and absorbing tribute to his complex , contradictory personality .", "temple , who chronicled the sex pistols ... offers the full , sometimes bloated , context of strummer 's life through the testimony of his many friends and collaborators .", "temple gets at the heart of strummer 's character , at the unbridled joy that existed within his righteous anger , the satisfaction of knowing he was on the right side of history and had n't had to sell any part of himself to get there .", "miracle of miracles , a valuable portrait of strummer manages to emerge from the chaos , helped by the film 's one consistent thread : tapes of a bbc world service radio show he hosted in his final years .", "-lsb- director julien temple -rsb- stops short of hagiography , while exhaustively positing strummer as one of the most important cultural figures of the 20th century .", "julien temple 's film is an energizing work of art , a visually striking and inspiring look at a band that never ` sold out ' and the leader who saw to it that they did n't .", "the big unanswerable question is : do we wish strummer would have listened to david lee roth 's advice that `` you do n't have to take life so seriously , honey '' ?", "lively doc on the late brit punk rocker guitarist for the clash .", "this offers strummer fans unlimited access to the man behind the legend . though it really is for fans - who should run and buy it .", "director julien temple examines strummer 's life and motivations with a flair for unearthing endlessly quotable bandmates , friends , and artists who have been inspired by him .", "-lsb- director -rsb- temple succeeds in creating a portrait neither glowing nor damning , but representative of a remarkable man .", "joe strummer may have sung ` i 'm so bored with the u.s.a. , ' but american audiences will be anything but bored with music video innovator julien temple 's coruscating celebration of the iconic clash singer/songwriter .", "little else we 've not been exposed to in the last handful of years .", "the movie fascinates not so much because of strummer , whose brooding temperament and flash-and-burn career arc seems pretty routine by rock standards , but because of the way temple organized and edited the film .", "a great gift for those longing to revisit the groovy times of a punk rock past .", "little sense of the band 's import or power is ever communicated . instead , temple devotes the entire second hour of the film to strummer 's uninteresting post-clash career .", "-lsb- director temple 's -rsb- documentary can be quite clear-eyed , especially when exploring strummer 's lesser-known years before and after the clash . as strummer attempts to define and redefine himself , he seems human but still heroic .", "joe strummer : the future is unwritten is one artist 's moving tribute to another : director julien temple 's poetic evocation of the life of punk 's greatest troubadour .", "leaves behind a surprising afterglow and allows you to appreciate joe strummer 's warmth .", "it 's a great story arc , and this alone makes the movie worth seeing , but temple 's filmmaking may frustrate more than it enlightens .", "the singer 's life is compressed into a two-hour montage of interviews , vintage video snippets and artsy filigree in joe strummer : the future is unwritten .", "a beautiful , evocative collage composed of concert footage , photographs , interviews and film clips , as well as interviews with people who knew him , the film is a rigorously thorough biography and an impassioned accolade .", "temple has plenty of cinematic tricks and willing interview subjects .", "compelling viewing , even for people who do n't care a bit for the punk scene .", "one of the most compelling documentary portraits of a musician yet made .", "future is overlong and will best be enjoyed and understood by fans , but even newcomers will appreciate the essential drive of the man , who died of a sudden heart attack in 2002 , and admire his ability to balance anger and ecstasy .", "the story illustrates how easily political art can be hijacked by the other side , and it illuminates the anguish of a man who spent the last 20 years of his life wrestling with his legacy .", "` should you stay or should you go ' really is the ultimate question .", "by the end of temple 's rather long film , that is the person who emerges : a man no longer interested in changing the universe song by song but devoted to enriching his own corner of the world .", "indulgent celebrity interviews ... , repetitive details from strummer 's friends , and rapid-fire editing of found footage that sometimes matches the music but often just clouds the narrative .", "those who loved the clash or strummer will be enthralled throughout .", "celebrates strummer 's fecundity and self-invention and honors his reticence and private despair , reminding us along the way what a contradictory and amazing affair a single human life is .", "the late punk rock legend joe strummer is rendered fully human in julian temple 's engrossing and all-encompassing portrait .", "the great thing about the cumulative effect of the documentary is its ability to give the audience a strong sense of strummer 's uncompromising humanitarian ideals . you 'll laugh , you 'll cheer , and you 'll shed a tear .", "from an inflated ego to the excess of drugs and overindulgence , strummer experienced it all . his voice may have been mediocre , but there 's no denying the influence and legacy he left behind .", "temple succeeds beautifully in evoking strummer as a cross between a punk journeyman and one of the battered , upright gunmen who populate sam peckinpah 's films .", "temple picked a winner in his subject matter . strummer is always compelling and charismatic , which covers up a whole host of sins ." ], "summary": "displaying joe strummer warts and all , the future is unwritten succeeds as both an engrossing documentary and a comprehensive examination of one of music 's most legendary figures .", "id": "528348503" }, { "movie": "youth_in_revolt", "reviews": [ "cera 's best work since arrested development", "the collision of adolescent hormones and parental folly , hardly new cinematic territory , gets a bracing absurdist slant in MOV .", "finally , hipster intellectuals have a porky 's of their own .", "cera proves that he can also do more than capitalize on his boyish face .", "light , comic , and less black than the books , this is a fun piece of fluff that melts away like cotton candy .", "but even apart from the film 's vaguely insane endorsement of love at all costs , there 's the fact that much of it is simply not very funny .", "this quirky dark comedy offers you 90 minutes of -lsb- michael cera -rsb- not just doing what he does best but also showing that he has a few new tricks up his sleeve .", "has a strong dickensian flavor , blending slapstick with social satire ... you 'll laugh at cera 's off-rhythm delivery and casual sharpness wrapped in the softest possible tones .", "this red state versus blue state daringly offbeat chucklefest elevates that notorious dumb and dumber genre known as teen comedy , into fresh and verbally tangy territory . enough so , to easily earn this movie informal bragging rights as juno ii .", "cera 's scenes with ray liotta , as a local cop dating nick 's mom , are priceless . he may not be holden caufield , but in this day and age nick represents a fresh breeze of youthful rebellion .", "michael cera puts another notch in his droll performance belt .", "pretentious , but lovingly so .", "this is film clearly made by people who remember all to well what it was like to be a teenager throbbing with hormones .", "despite a few good moments , ` MOV ' turns out to be a hodgepodge of dysfunctional family scenes , drug sequences , lustful teens and cartoon inserts .", "whimsical , mostly engaging and occasionally funny , but it 's too uneven , pretentious , and lacks genuine poignancy as a coming of age story .", "MOV ? forget that ! let 's focus on critic in revolt . even a little -lsb- michael -rsb- cera is too much .", "an oddball adolescent goes on a wild quest to lose his virginity and to find true love with a seductive and mysterious young woman .", "arteta commits to the lasciviousness , turning MOV into more of a self-aware , comedic adaptation of scott spencer 's endless love , which was originally botched by franco zeffireli .", "the studio 's lackluster release will likely mean it 'll thrive on dvd . do n't wait for that . MOV is worth making a trip to the theaters .", "uneven but occasionally quite funny ...", "it 's an amusing concept as far as it goes , although it does n't go far enough .", "francois ultimately resembles every other character cera has played , only with a mustache and a dirtier mouth . if he wants to show us what else he can do , he 'll need to stage a much bigger rebellion than this .", "oh , someone deliver us from boys and their self-entitlement , boys and their cluelessness , boys and their rage when male privilege fails to extend itself toward them in a manner they deem proper ...", "the two michael ceras interact like `` the parent trap '' on crack .", "from the catcher in the rye to rushmore , it 's a story we 've seen in better versions before .", "it 's not earth-shaking , but it 's diverting and polished .", "cera 's nick is like a lot of the actor 's previous roles -- mild-mannered , smarter than everyone else -- but cera 's nimble performance keeps his frequently mean character from seeming mean .", "it 's a pleasant surprise to see the engaging , soft-spoken star of superbad and juno stretch and play a devil-may-care slimeball .", "nash and director miguel arteta try too hard ; they want their movie branded a cult favorite before anyone 's even seen it .", "the whole thing just seems as if it 's trying too hard .", "it 's chaotic and episodic , but this is cera 's star turn . superbad meets fight club ? that 'll do it .", "`` punk '' and `` rebel '' do n't belong in the same sentence with `` michael cera . '' but somehow , they connect in the few-holds-barred teen comedy MOV .", "when francois dillinger is on screen , the movie comes alive ... the rest of the time it 's that post-napoleon dynamite sort of plodding study of eccentricity .", "michael cera 's act got old awful fast , did n't it ?", "i 'm now officially done caring whether michael cera loses his virginity . so , it seems in this hit-and-miss comedy , is cera .", "smug , dead-air-riddled adaptation of c.d. payne 's novel", "deviates from the teen comedy norm and becomes something darker , edgier , and more unexpectedly funny .", "makes early claims for the best comedy of 2010 .", "cera 's hilarious performance as a modern day holden caulfield makes MOV a must-see for any fan of hipster comedies .", "in an irreverent and adorable coming-to-maturity story , michael cera displays versatility in a dual role .", "`` yes , even smart , artistic and good boys are exploding with hormones at age sixteen . ''", "a genial , shambling portrait of a first , obsessive infatuation .", "barely fresh , MOV stars michael cera pretty much playing the same character he always plays . the first act was hilarious but then goes downhill .", "more of the same from cera , and not terribly funny to boot .", "it has all the hallmarks of a michael cera movie . this time out , though , cera opens up his familiar whimsical-nerd character , inserts a grenade -lrb- well , a small grenade -rrb- and pulls the pin .", "it 's an enjoyable enough exercise in teen angst triumphing .", "this hormonally-charged teen comedy has one ace hiding up its sleeve % u2013 a brain .", "michael cera and the rest of the cast lift MOV beyond the cutesy pie piecemeal affectations . as a result , what could have been great is only marginally good .", "the heavy lifting falls to cera , who ca n't quite carry the weight of his dual performance . - nerve.com", "a movie with great dialogue , silly situations and enough teen angst to win over the most hardened of hearts .", "never quite as clever , quirky or funny as it thinks it is .", "all credit to cera for trying something a little different . it 's just a shame MOV feels so episodic and shapeless that it 's hard to take any pleasure in its theatre of cruelty .", "funny in a casual way and charming in an oddball way .", "the characters and story drive the comedy ; the dialogue brings the nuanced grace notes .", "this is yet another of those hollywood coming-of-age movies where no one grows up . i 've seen worse , but that 's my problem .", "the whole thing 's a terrible mess and cera 's star , once rapidly rising , is now almost in freefall .", "-lsb- cera 's -rsb- a fresh enough performer to hold centre stage in comedies like this .", "peaches geldof would probably love it . and film reviews do n't get any more depressing than that .", "the contrast between nick and his bad angel whips up a pleasing comedy of delinquency , flavoured along the way by reliable character turns from zach galifianakis , steve buscemi , jean smart and ray liotta . but it 's cera who pulls the thing together .", "the initial wit is replaced by youthful high jinks , animated interludes and some incredibly convoluted plotting . a shame really because for the first half hour this looked like comedy gold .", "it 's not that the film is fatally flawed , but the tone is uneven , the satire is blunt , the comedy rarely generates more than feeble laughs , and the lead character never comes fully to life .", "the filmmakers try really hard to be hip and inventive but are n't . steve buscemi , fred willard , and m. emmet walsh are among the indie casualties .", "a picaresque booster shot of wily irreverence that puts a fresh , outrageous spin on adolescent obsession and rebellion ...", "it 's fun to watch cera put his own brand of hipster on and `` MOV '' has a lot of funny moments , but arteta 's made an ungainly movie that ricochets around a lot and does n't really add up to a whole lot .", "MOV has one of the most dishonest endings in recent memory , a conclusion that is not simply insincere , but a bold-faced lie that stands in opposition to every frame of film that has gone before it .", "tries too hard to be quirky and fails .", "as one of the first releases of 2010 , it is doubtful many viewers will remember MOV by 2011 .", "parental content review", "it 's odd and fun watching cera dip into this peculiar range of voguish deadpan profanity .", "finally reveals a new side of cera that has been years and years in coming . it 's nice to see that the kid has range , and range he has got .", "michael cera 's probably not cut out to be a leading man , but if he 's going to play the lead in your movie , then you 'll need at least two of him . maybe more .", "an improbable but hilarious combine of losin ' - it comedies and the rarefied , europhile air of the cinema du twee .", "a regularly ribtickling but ultimately unsatisfying ride into the realms of teen angst - but one that showcases the undoubted talents of michael cera when he has the opportunity to play against type .", "a little too manic for its own good , MOV is restless and unruly . too often forcibly mean-spirited , it only elicits a handful of genuine laughs .", "if you 're looking for constant chuckles , memorable scenes , quirky dialogue and hilarious characters then get youthful , get some sweeties and get involved .", "a fresh , funny take on the classic coming-of-age tale , and a chance for cera to show us what he 's made of .", "a treat for cera fans and an amusing diversion for the rest of us . especially those of us happy to laugh at our inner pretentious teenager .", "the tone throughout is moderately quirky rather than full-on teen-flick vulgarian , bolstered by indie-cred cameos .", "it is very silly , and it may take you some time to tune in to the giggle wavelength . once you have , it 's very funny .", "in a wickedly witty dual role in the funniest teen flick in a long time , cera finally seems to loosen up and have some fun .", "doubleday 's sheeni is charming , smart and pretty and has just that hint of knowing danger that drives teenage boys insane . and cera ? no one does this kind of thing better , which is presumably why he keeps doing it .", "gustin nash 's script takes several well-aimed pot shots at typical teen-movie conventions , but has the tendency to occasionally wallow in the crude humour of the american pie films .", "whimsical , saucy , funny and achingly embarrassing , this is a beguiling if derivative goodboy - spins-out farce . but cera really should make this his dweeb swansong lest he outstay his welcome .", "truth is , there 's also too much michael cera . which is n't the star 's fault . i blame the movie 's bad timing , and its delayed release .", "it 's fight club crossed with puberty .", "your average holden caulfield fanatic will find his tale fun , but there 's nothing much here that 's new aside from facial hair on cera", "thanks to its dizzy comic style , MOV is more than the standard coming-of-age comedy . it 's silly , surreal and offers the best comic role for the deadpan cera since superbad .", "between delightful sequences of animation , vibrant performances by the likes of justin long , fred willard and ray liotta , and arteta 's mastery over comic tones ranging from the sensitive to the surreal , this is the rare movie one does n't want to end .", "MOV is basically an absurdist ramble , but a terrifically likable ramble with several stretches of lively farce ...", "this tale of a sex-crazed teen who invents a nasty alter-ego in a perverse bid to seduce his dream girl has too many unfunny moments to justify more than a rental ...", "i laughed a fair bit . that 's no ringing endorsement , but it 's january .", "director miguel arteta , working from a tight script by gustin nash , tinges the mirth with malice . sweet .", "the story congeals into a sometimes sweet and other times raucous comedy , yet also loses its grip .", "it has a good heart , is well-made , and will definitely get the job done as a savior from the january doldrums that are bound to surface in the coming weeks .", "though ... clearly a comedy , the tone ... is realistic enough to create some of the same discomfort that made last year 's observe and report either daringly brilliant or just plain creepy , depending on your point of view .", "the book may have had a point , the movie does n't . and when is michael cera going to find a different type of role and show some range ?", "i love michael cera , just not this time .", "it runs out of inspiration eventually . but not before a solid hour or so of consistently amusing absurdist humor that 's way more off-kilter than is usual for a comedy about randy young men .", "if pretentious hipster kids annoy you in real life , they 'll bug the hell out of you in MOV .", "i love this new breed of dirty movie . it goes beyond leering , beyond sexism , to the core tension of a culture that ricochets between puritanism and promiscuity . and it has in michael cera a sterling mascot .", "nick 's oversized feet balloon away from his body , as if they 're trying to separate themselves from this unbelievably dumb guy . cera 's playing dumb again -- dumb as a fox . but this time , we 're in on the joke .", "this defiant and sinful comedy makes for a hilarious start to 2010 .", "as a whole , `` MOV '' is simply an overwhelming success -- as a comedy , a romance , and as a new career-high for michael cera . a dark , stylish and incredibly funny triumph .", "as for michael cera 's career ? look a falling star ! make a wish !", "michael cera goes to the sweet-tempered high school persona well once -lrb- or twice -rrb- too often with , sigh , nick twisp , who lives in hormonal agony with his sex-obsessed divorced mother -lrb- jean smart -rrb- and her nasty boyfriend .", "-lsb- its -rsb- classic cinema shoutouts and gaggle of off-kilter characters feel like retreads .", "the frustrations of puppy love are on greatly entertaining display .", "michael cera adopts a mischievous alter ego in an attempt to reunite with his dream girl in a familiarly peculiar story .", "playing on feelings and impulses that i 'm sure we all relate to , a witty and playful portrait of teen love emerges out of a less exciting teen comedy .", "miguel arteta furnishes the film with fantasy sequences - such as one involving stop-motion miniature models - that are more contrived than inspired .", "an uneven story and crass comedy could leave viewers revolted .", "arteta 's faithfulness to payne 's text , themes and visions never gel as a wholly satisfying film .", "... an engaging and faithful adaptation of payne 's admittedly superior novel .", "nick twisp is no scott pilgrim , but this is another witty ensemble comedy that successfully reinvigorates that most benighted of genres , the teen film .", "story of `` bad-boy '' teen is funny , but also rough and raw .", "the tone is sweetly raucous , the acting accomplished , and the directing occasionally inventive , but ` MOV ' contains few surprises .", "there 's little to care about in MOV , and even less to laugh with ; the film lost in a stupor it never successfully navigates out of .", "there are some good , sharp , surprising laughs in MOV . so why does it feel so dreadfully familiar ?", "while the preoccupation with teen sex is distasteful , the film also appears to be making a case that sincerity and genuineness are the way to a woman 's heart .", "perhaps this all works better on the printed page , where readers do n't actually have to watch the character behave so rudely . -lrb- or better before cera rewrote much of the script . -rrb-", "although director miguel arteta 's adaptation of c.d. payne 's cult-fave book series brings little new to the coming-of-age comedy genre , it 's hard not to be beguiled by MOV .", "MOV follows what happens when a good kid turns hilariously rotten for the sake of love .", "as the precocious and nubile sheeni saunders , newcomer portia doubleday is the first major discovery of 2010 .", "the picture has enough charm to make us feel something for its shy , gangly protagonist , and enough bite to keep us from wanting to kill him .", "MOV is a little too clever and a little too willfully verbose for its own good , but it 's rare and a little wonderful to see a comedy about the sex lives of teenagers that suffers from an excess of ideas and ambition instead of a dearth .", "coming-of-age teen pic , an homage to breathless , which will probably not take away your breath .", "... an entertaining comedy about adolescent sexual obsession , cera gives a breakout performance in a double role .", "a delightfully dark teen comedy with a frequently funny script and superb performances from a terrific cast .", "it 's very funny to be honest and most of the characters are perfectly cast , but MOV is a movie in which literally nothing happens . at no point are any of the characters or plotlines developed and most of them are abandoned towards the end .", "if michael cera were a dog , he 'd probably be a chihuahua . not a yappy chihuahua , but a nervous , quiet one , lacking in confidence and bravado .", "it plays to cera 's strengths , which , though overly familiar at this point , are still strengths .", "call this one the thinking boy 's sex romp .", "michael cera ca n't forever play a teenage boy in search of lust . that 's a shame , because there are a lot of lousy movies in this genre , and he 's in the good ones .", "a stunningly lazy , smarmy comedy with very few honest laughs .", "detached from whatever world in which it is set and whatever characters inhabit it .", "it 's a kick to see cera cut loose from his patented befuddled-nerd routine , even if the film 's caricatured performances and fish-in-a-barrel scorn are sure to be monotonous for some .", "cera 's style lends itself to one note , and the movie wisely gives him another character to play , an imaginary alter ego named francois dillinger , inspired by jean-paul belmondo .", "areta 's film has whimsy and a few great lines , but not enough originality .", "there 's a genial throwback feel to the movie 's style that recalls scrappy sex comedies of the 1980s .", "despite cera 's consderable charm , the alternately scruffy and diffident tone that arteta and nash bring to the material leave it feeling both forced and limp .", "MOV is a delightful film that makes no apologies for its irreverence . it 's also the first great comedy of this decade .", "by its end MOV has flown off the tracks completely .", "the result is a brassy and unique production that might eventually land in the same cult classic territory as the c.d. payne book it 's based on .", "mildly diverting rather than uproarious , the film still stands out among teen sex comedies for its low-key approach to antic material .", "a sweet and slight and often charming coming-of-age tale .", "some may find such elements desperate or calculated in their quirky-cuteness , but i think they add to the movie 's efforts to evoke the surrealism and excruciating intensity of , as the title puts it , MOV .", "MOV is a teen fantasy filled with lust , imagination , frustration and lots of laughs , artfully made and superbly played .", "a surprisingly charming and eccentric comedy ; a riff on common themes in the world of teenage romantic comedies but done so with a unique , entertaining style .", "a clever and often riotous burst of cynicism that pushes , let 's face it , some pretty questionable ideas .", "cera may be trapped in his unchanging persona , but no more than this picture is walled in by its sitcom conventions .", "just roll with the amusement provided by cera and a deep supporting cast -lrb- justin long , fred willard , adhir kalyan , jonathan b. wright -rrb- and the ability of director arteta and screenwriter gustin nash to keep matters at just the right ironic distance .", "if you were to hire a high-profile lawyer , you could probably come up with a convincing false advertising claim against the people who put together the trailers for MOV .", "michael cera , practically the poster-child for this strain of hip comedies , plays yet another awkward teen looking to win the girl , but like the film itself , he 's spinning his wheels a bit .", "as a huge fan of the source material , i have to say this is as good of a big-screen adaptation as you 're going to get from MOV .", "in a dual role , as a quitely rebellious outsider and as his wilder alter ego , michael cera renders enormously charming performances that elevate this coming of age comedy way above its familiar subject and conventional secondary characters .", "director miguel arteta ca n't quite keep all the balls in the air long enough to sustain the film 's running time , but he does manage a bang-up ending that 's worth the wait .", "cera and his gifted comic co-stars elevate the mediocre source material into a semi-iconic coming-of-age story ." ], "summary": "it may not entirely do its source material justice , but miguel arteta 's MOV is a fun , funny comic romp that lets michael cera stretch a little and introduces filmgoers to a major find in portia doubleday .", "id": "770782193" }, { "movie": "battleship_potemkin", "reviews": [ "a work of straightforward emotion and pulse-quickening tension .", "for a piece of propaganda , this has a lot more artfulness than you 'll recall , replete with quiet moments of public mourning and a stirring flag-hoisting -lrb- dyed red on the new print , too -rrb- .", "sergei eisenstein 's masterpiece is a persistently political work salvaged by its unforgettable grasp of motion .", "MOV is agitprop , but cinematically magnificent agitprop ...", "the direction of sergei eisenstein is original and powerful .", "eisenstein proved himself to be the first of what would become a familiar filmmaking type : the entertainer/sadist .", "packs so much eye-and-heart power that its abrupt ending seems to come hard on the opening rather than an hour-and-a-third later .", "capturing a unique moment in time , eisentsein 's 1925 masterpiece is a must-see for viewers interested in film theory , history , and aesthetics , and not just because of its seminal odessa steps sequence , later imitated by many directors .", "startlingly beautiful .", "comes from a time where films communicated primarily through images , even if its themes fade into historical irrelevance .", "MOV is no longer considered the greatest film ever made , but it is obligatory for anyone interested in film history .", "if you are at all interested in the history of cinema , or the influence of 20th century politics on the medium , then this film is a must-see , although over an hour of soviet propaganda is likely to test the patience of modern viewers .", "it is still a pleasure to view again a film which , without fully knowing it , wrote the grammar of cinema .", "its appearance in 1925 shook the film world , and many filmmakers still have n't recovered .", "it still fascinates as a shocking piece of history preserved on film .", "nowadays , the film 's technical achievements take center stage ; its astonishing ` montage ' editing techniques -lrb- which eisenstein wrote about at length -rrb- still get the blood pumping .", "as agitprop , potemkin is a masterpiece . as art , it leaves something to be desired .", "theories of montage and eisenstein 's developments to the language of cinema to one side , potemkin is first and foremost a powerfully visceral film . its very lack of subtlety works in its favor . the film is not a meditation , it 's a shout .", "edward tiss\u00e9 's camerawork remains impressive , and there 's no doubt that the whole is a technical tour de force , but the obsession with forces of power , as opposed to individual experience , is ultimately oppressive .", "if you only ever see one silent , this is the one it should be .", "other than citizen kane , this film probably has the largest amount written about it . it is rightly considered a masterpiece .", "nearly 90 years on , eisenstein 's masterpiece is still guaranteed to get the pulse racing .", "it is a knockout .", "do n't be put off by its highbrow reputation , this is essential cinema .", "who needs avatar in 3d when you can have this ?", "potemkin is a vital viewing experience that transcends its landmark/milestone status .", "eisenstein 's film still has a hypnotic urgency .", "the director displays a vivid imagination and an artistic appreciation of motion picture values .", "for all potemkin 's rabble-rousing propaganda , eisenstein 's aestheticism is everywhere apparent .", "the most brilliant of all soviet silent films .", "the cinema 's first modernist ... was the soviet director sergei eisenstein . as his most famous work , MOV , from 1925 , shows , his analytical , quasi-scientific methods bore the mark of both aesthetic and political upheavals ." ], "summary": "a technical masterpiece , MOV is soviet cinema at its finest , and its montage editing techniques remain influential to this day .", "id": "17497" }, { "movie": "late_marriage", "reviews": [ "MOV is an in-your-face family drama and black comedy that is filled with raw emotions conveying despair and love .", "this terrific film is fueled by several scenes that are shocking -- but not for the reasons you might think . the shocks here come not from the unexpected sensationalism of them but from their bracing humanity and spontaneous , eye-opening rawness .", "-lsb- koshashvili -rsb- sometimes drags -lsb- the ideas -rsb- out -lrb- the film needs tightening -rrb- , but they 're worth considering all the same .", "one of those welcome visitors , a movie that turns out to be much more than we expected .", "whenever you think you 've figured out MOV , it throws you for a loop .", "a very funny look at how another culture handles the process of courting and marriage .", "a closely observed , somewhat funny , ultimately very sad movie .", "a canny -lrb- and profoundly sexy -rrb- movie .", "MOV 's stiffness is unlikely to demonstrate the emotional clout to sweep u.s. viewers off their feet .", "using an endearing cast , writer/director dover kosashvili takes a slightly dark look at relationships , both sexual and kindred .", "whatever virtues israeli audiences might have discerned in the film have n't survived the oceanic crossing ... remarkably dull .", "it feels like a devastatingly honest portrait of how old-world family loyalties are both a haven and a prison -- for two generations .", "judith and zaza 's extended bedroom sequence ... is so intimate and sensual and funny and psychologically self-revealing that it makes most of what passes for sex in the movies look like cheap hysterics .", "the last scenes of the film are anguished , bitter and truthful . mr. koshashvili is a director to watch .", "there are n't many laughs in this interesting study of the cultural mores of georgian jews in tel aviv .", "MOV is not a one-level film , and one of its most revealing moments shows the strong-minded mother expressing respect for the equally iron-willed judith .", "a remarkable movie with an unsatisfying ending , which is just the point .", "a seriocomic debut of extravagant promise by georgian-israeli director dover kosashvili .", "superbly brash , raunchy , and confrontational .", "harrowing , riveting film .", "grating and tedious .", "there 's none of the happily-ever - after spangle of monsoon wedding in MOV -- and that 's part of what makes dover kosashvili 's outstanding feature debut so potent .", "the frankness of kosashvili 's film may be a bit breathtaking , but because it is , you believe every moment .", "the movie understands like few others how the depth and breadth of emotional intimacy give the physical act all of its meaning and most of its pleasure .", "a sprightly comedy about a young man 's desperate attempt to find happiness on his own terms in tel aviv 's georgian community .", "MOV joins the list of israeli cinema that -- intentionally or otherwise -- holds up a mirror to its american audience and then turns that same mirror to show a doorway to some challenging issues .", "this superbly played film , directed with remarkable skill for a first-time feature filmmaker , is truly an adult drama : it deals with the kind of compromises and sacrifices that , for better or worse , come with maturity .", "features one of the most affecting depictions of a love affair ever committed to film .", "the screenplay is too obvious in its critique of arranged marriages , and its portrayal of zaza 's malicious parents is smugly cynical .", "improves when it takes a more serious tone and zaza and judith develop into deeper characterizations .", "an unforgettable look at morality , family , and social expectation through the prism of that omnibus tradition called marriage .", "the picture is often hilarious but spins darker in surprising jolts .", "kosashvili 's deftly written script prods his audience to think about his characters ' motivations -lrb- and his own for casting his own mother ! -rrb-", "takes a look at an old world , passionless arrangement in a way that is at once so biting and so brutally honest that you chuckle first , then shudder .", "has the pulse of real life and the daring to allow logic and emotion to collide with painful results .", "ashkenazi and elkabetz are sensational in the lead roles .", "unfolds in a low-key , organic way that encourages you to accept it as life and go with its flow .", "amazing performances from some pretty unlikable characters . never underestimate the willfulness of a jewish mother .", "this may be dover kosashvili 's feature directing debut , but it looks an awful lot like life -- gritty , awkward and ironic .", "a romantic comedy enriched by a sharp eye for manners and mores .", "a blistering -lrb- and often funny -rrb- critique of conservative family traditionalism intruding on the realm of romantic love", "a terrific , thoroughly engrossing motion picture .", "' ... young , savvy cinematic sensibility framed by the limitations of a conservative , unrelenting culture . '", "unfunny comedy with a lot of static set ups , not much camera movement , and most of the scenes take place indoors in formal settings with motionless characters .", "a highlight of israeli cinema of the past decade , kosashvili 's impressive feature debut is an extremely powerful film is a tale of family tyranny and intergenerational conflict within a georgian-jewish community .", "this film feels truly lived in , and guides us without ever feeling manipulative or calculating . the performances are naturalistic and utterly convincing .", "i am sorry that i was unable to get the full brunt of the comedy .", "will assuredly rank as one of the cleverest , most deceptively amusing comedies of the year .", "` the film , in its own remarkably observational way , gradually transforms from an often brutal comedy into a domestic horror film . '", "funny , clever and bittersweet - often all at the same time .", "an accomplished and tremendously engaging debut from israeli director dover kosashvili .", "a deliciously mordant , bitter black comedy .", "brilliantly explores the conflict between following one 's heart and following the demands of tradition .", "dover kosashvili 's first feature MOV so boldly confronts jewish orthodox traditions it 's a minor miracle it never becomes glib .", "powerful and very bitter comedy .", "has an intense heart under its charming exterior .", "the 1960s rebellion was misdirected : you ca n't fight your culture .", "MOV seems , like its protagonist , lost in a sea of its own ambivalence .", "MOV is definitely rocky , but there 's never a point where we lose interest and want out -- as relationships go , that 's not bad ." ], "summary": "an observant black comedy about arranged marriages and tradition .", "id": "17986" }, { "movie": "1072957-freeway", "reviews": [ "hilariously cheap but oddly reflective at times .", "both grimly funny and thought-provoking .", "the imperfect teenager fairy tale for the 1990s .", "a hip , corrosive and often hilarious entertainment , the movie strikes another blow for the american independent film .", "it 's one of the sickly funniest movies you 're ever likely to encounter .", "a wild , audacious drive-in attraction that takes the ` high ' from ` highbrow ' and the ` low ' from ` lowdown ' and shakes them up .", "alive with the luscious turn-ons of sex and danger , MOV is the most impressive debut film i 've seen all year .", "like it or hate it -lrb- or both -rrb- , you have to admire its skill , and the over-the-top virtuosity of reese witherspoon and kiefer sutherland .", "` little red riding hood , ' my , how you 've grown ...", "i did n't particularly want to like MOV , but i could n't help myself . reese witherspoon made me .", "shockingly dark and nasty take on the red riding hood tale .", "MOV somehow manages to be hip , imaginative and hilarious . road film , comedy , prison drama and oliver stone 's natural born killers all rolled into one .", "MOV glints here and there with dark humor amounting to a knowing wink that undercuts the cautionary tale at its heart and the seriousness of its graphic sociology .", "it 's just the sort of thing oliver stone strove so hard to achieve in natural born killers , and -lsb- writer/director matthew -rsb- bright pulls it off effortlessly .", "there 's not much edification in store , and -lsb- director -rsb- bright cruises over some bumpy plot holes , but the teen 's perspective does put a black comic spotlight on wider social hypocrisies .", "one of the most stubbornly original and electrifying films not only of 1996 , but of the '90s , period .", "-lsb- the -rsb- characters are crisp and fascinating , and the movie has a great anything-can-happen b-movie excitement feel to it .", "darkly humorous , witty and nasty , MOV is an original take on the red riding hood fairytale , featuring a wonderful performance by the teenage reese witherspoon , before she became a star", "we are clobbered with excess as if we would n't understand a subtle fable .", "the great cast brings light-hearted humor and credibility to what could otherwise have been seen as a sickly exploitative -lrb- though well-written and directed -rrb- script .", "rude in the way the truth is rude -- only funnier .", "cynical , stylish and witty .", "if you 're into despicable trash that is completely without redeeming value , MOV is for you .", "writer-director matthew bright does a great job for a first-time director . the plot is fascinating as it unfolds . until the very end of the film you really ca n't tell what 's coming next .", "it 's too drawn-out , too talky and , at the most crucial moment , needlessly implausible , to sustain its humor and large dose of violence .", "MOV is not good satire , it 's not good comedy , and it 's not in the least bit entertaining .", "this is not a film for everyone , in fact , it 's main appeal is in the gross fascination for the grotesque .", "a white-trash riff on little red riding hood , the oddly titled MOV is a road movie that hits a dead end ." ], "summary": "a modern update on the tale of little red riding hood , MOV is an audacious black comedy with a star-making performance from the young reese witherspoon .", "id": "13661" }, { "movie": "28_weeks_later", "reviews": [ "most affecting are moments of quietude that stand in contrast to the loud , busy horror scenes . fresnadillo and cinematographer enrique chediak find intriguing angles to highlight the eeriness of the setting .", "thematic resonance makes 28 MOV stick to your nightmares . hold on for a hell of a ride .", "a fiercely effective broadening and deepening of the first movie 's premise .", "the social commentary is as subtle as -- well , a george romero movie .", "succeeds as both terrifying horror , gore-fest and , at times , serious drama .", "the movie has some vivid shock touches and the scenes of depopulated london are queasily strange . still , this is really about a grimly ravaged couple and two kids put through hell . your idea of fun ? munch on it .", "28 MOV eventually hits the ground like a `` rage virus '' victim getting a drop of infected blood in his eye - quickly , loudly , and without a thought in the world .", "the first great surprise of 2007 .", "relentlessly grim and grisly , 28 MOV is not for the faint of heart . but its provocative post-apocalyptic theme makes for a smart and deeply unsettling film .", "flawed , but it knows where it 's going , and it gets there in a chilling blaze of fire , blood and poisonous fog .", "a screeching and wearyingly hyperbolic exercise in film-school nihilism that finds buried meaning in the term overkill .", "bloodier and more action-filled than the original , weeks nevertheless stays faithful to the grim , grimy tone director danny boyle established in his 2002 film with its haunting shots of a metropolis turned into a tomb .", "unlike the original 's mordant mediation on the human condition , 28 MOV is too caught up in zipping through a ruined london for either the characters or the film to ponder anything", "the capital locations are put to cannily distressing use .", "we 've heard that before . and we 've seen it all before , as this woeful sequel presents a strained story and a barrage of turgid action that looks like inferior outtakes from the first movie .", "the psychological damage inflicted here is worse than any bite wound .", "while parallels with the iraq situation are unmistakeable , it 's more concerned with terrifyingly dismal atmosphere and a kinetic , intense race for survival .", "28 MOV holds itself to the same standards as its brilliant predecessor , but those very standards also accentuate its shortcomings .", "my biggest complaint is that generally with a sequel , especially one produced five years later , you would think there would be a recap .", "28 days later had its moments , to be sure , but 28 MOV is the real deal -- scarier , darker , uncompromising , and more emotionally complex .", "it 's harrowing , heartbreaking and unforgettable all at once .", "quite easily one of the scariest films of the year", "the film rapidly degenerates into an escape from canary wharf video game .", "under fresnadillo 's assured direction , 28 MOV blurs the line between genre entertainment and a photojournalist 's shots of the next urban catastrophe .", "combines traditional b-movie virtues -- economy , invention , sinewy narrative spine -- with the eerily resonant spectacle of a 21st-century metropolis stripped of its citizenry .", "... you wo n't be bored .", "argue all you want that this is what kids do in horror movies , that does n't make the silly set-ups any less annoying .", "many things happen in 28 MOV , but you watch all of them with a sense of detachment . there is idle curiosity about who will be killed next , and how , but no real investment in their fates .", "an exciting , if uneven , action/horror hybrid .", "deals with emotional concerns for half an hour . then it turns into a mindless bloodfest , where it 's impossible to care which characters end on the zombie gore-gasbord .", "while 28 MOV ultimately falls shy of classic status , there are several hard-to-shake scenes -- nightmare visions , really -- that reveal the infected populace to be far less dangerous to the fabric of a civilized society .", "it 's an experience for the smart part of your brain as well as its more reptilian corners . we can enjoy the aesthetic qualities , even as we cringe pleasurably from the shock-and-awe entertainment values .", "punishing and exciting and ferociously intelligent in equal measure .", "like 28 days later , this movie boasts a chilling atmosphere . the first film had a nightmarish `` could this really happen ? '' vibe running through it , boosted by the jittery photography and naturalistic acting . the new movie shares that feeling .", "swift , vicious and grimly imaginative , 28 MOV exceeds its predecessor in every way .", "the film has the energy of a relentless action thriller , memorable characters and significant ideas .", "the first hour of this lean , mean , 95-minute scream machine is so tasty that it redeems the predictable conclusion .", "as a pacy saturday night shocker , it ca n't really be faulted .", "recoups from minor mistakes by making bold choices in the middle and third acts", "there 's no better fun for movie lovers than a small , unheralded film that turns out to be terrific -- unless it 's a small , unheralded sequel that trumps the original . such is the case with 28 MOV .", "it validates my faith in the disreputable .", "the sequel feels cut from the same cloth as its predecessor , and is nearly as good .", "... a hard-driving horror film , that stays absolutely true to the premise ...", "mixing it up between outright action and blinding sequences of terror , it 's precisely the type of pace a sequel of this sort needs to satisfy fans", "most concerned with the blood and gore rather than developing the story", "noticeably slicker and more elaborate than the original . even so , it 's not as eerie or consistently shocking .", "... immediately establishes itself as a cousin to its predecessor in both style and tone .", "aside from some gruesome twisty kills , MOV overall is very predictable .", "well worth seeing , especially for fans of the original . but all its brilliance only serves to compound the disappointing and pedestrian final half hour .", "which is more dangerous or contagious ? zombie cannibalism or murderously aggressive us foreign policy ? when a gory movie suggests that choice , you know the sci-fi genre has reached a new level of nihilistic cynicism .", "this film is a gross error of judgement for all concerned , from the predictably repetitive plot resting on the freaky premise of its progenitor to the anti-cinematic whiz-blur-cam that passes for cinematography .", "even better than the first film , generating more consistent characters and keeping us thoroughly entertained from grisly start to creep-out finish .", "for horror buffs , `` 28 MOV '' is the film to see now . it opens with a shock of promise and , with few exceptions , it sustains it .", "gruesome and suspenseful , it could be interpreted as timely commentary on u.s. overconfidence in iraq .", "truly disturbing hard edge heavy metal laced scenes , however simulated , of the mass slaughter by military helicopter gunships of a mix of healthy and infected fleeing humans by their own government , really confounds as to who the actual monsters may be .", "even when the film 's concept gets tired after the first act , it is still a stylish , atmospheric work of a solid craftsman .", "its set pieces are mostly viewed through a night-vision rifle scope , which only made me feel groggy .", "yes , the ` rage virus ' is back . and , like a few moments on e! with ryan seacrest , any contact makes you nuts within seconds .", "carlyle turns into a walking joke . it is the ultimate betrayal of the movie 's early promise .", "... an incendiary critique of the u.s. handling of iraq and its own allies ... more wholly satisfying than its predecessor .", "yikes ! '28 MOV ' is a very , very scary movie .", "chaotic but oh so intense .", "a well-crafted , well-acted , but thoroughly unpleasant , depressing , pointless , irritating and non-entertaining movie .", "28 MOV excels at creating a keen , creepy sense of a civilization stopped dead in its tracks .", "the zombie anti-christ arrives . how come not one non-zombie ever pretends and runs with , not away , from the bloodthirsty zombie mob ? i would fake being infected .", "every bit as visceral and provocative as the original , but cinematographer enrique chediak 's deserted london ca n't hold a candle to anthony dod mantle 's .", "certainly scary and nerve-wracking , but it 's also ham-fisted and monotonous ; to call fresnadillo et al. powerful filmmakers would be like calling the movie 's `` infected '' cannibals gourmet diners .", "deft and stylish", "28 MOV contains many elements from the first film while also packing a much stronger emotional punch and ferocious intensity .", "explicitly envisions britain as a deserted combat zone", "a worthy sequel that is recommended - even if you 're tired of zombie flicks !", "a damn worthy follow-up to an unexpectedly excellent chiller .", "is n't the same thinking man 's zombie film as its predecessor , but it ramps up the action and will leave you on edge enough that you 'll be searching for a nightlight before going to sleep .", "with its expertly paced thrills , unrelenting terror and apocalyptic despair , 28 MOV ai n't a bad roller coaster to ride .", "apocalyptic zombie sequel is n't for the squeamish .", "juan carlos fresnadillo , a spanish director best known for intacto , takes over for danny boyle this time around . he has a disconcerting gift for shock effects .", "the opening is fantastic , and the rest of it wo n't bore you , even if it 's a little disappointing .", "the film is n't simply bad , it 's a trainwreck .", "and so as the world seemingly renews its dedication to taking itself straight to hell , even our horror movies suddenly seem less like mere entertainments and more like real-life fever dreams ...", "still well equipped to rip your face off .", "ultimately , 28 MOV works on its own merits as a scary and enjoyable thrill ride .", "28 MOV is brutal and almost exhaustingly terrifying . it is also bracingly smart , both in its ideas and in its techniques .", "delivers enough chills to do its job . the mayhem is presented sparingly enough to be suspenseful , some of the sequences are genuinely terrifying .", "a total failure .", "28 MOV lacks the streamlined thrust of its predecessor but makes for compelling , adrenaline-fueled viewing just the same .", "director juan carlos fresnadillo provides a relentlessly tense pace that eerily captures the unpredictability of the zombie attacks . when it was over , i walked out of the theater with frayed nerves .", "the best horror movie in years . it 's splattery horror that has brains as well as flying viscera .", "if there will ever be a 28 months later , we can hope it will be just as smart .", "may give you nightmares -- and hearing damage .", "confirms that a fox atomic-produced horror sequel need not be technically clumsy , stupid , crass and fright-free .", "this film desperately needs a cillian murphy look ; a brendan gleeson heart ; a naomie harris spirit .", "if there is such a thing as a successful piecemeal horror film , 28 MOV is it .", "moviegoers can take or leave the message beneath the mayhem , but what 's on the surface for everyone to enjoy is an expertly crafted terror tale that 's heavy on the jolts .", "in its way , it 's as convincing a portrait of post-disaster despair as ` children of men , ' but with zombies .", "zombies are n't even really zombies any more . they 're enraged virus victims who move extremely fast . the blood lust remains , but they appear to be hitting the red bull trough as well .", "this is n't just a bad movie . it 's a cut-and-paste example of how movie sequels are predictably inferior to their ancestors .", "tries way too hard to recapture the magic of the first movie ... lacks the emotional impact , replacing it with more common horror movie cliches .", "this sequel has more-fluid action and harder , meaner punches but never works our nerves like a speed bag in the way of its predecessor . plus , it 's too dumb to make its topical allegories any more than cursory coincidence .", "28 MOV takes up where danny boyle left off , then continues where the weak-hearted pass out .", "another week , another disappointing summer sequel . so it goes ...", "you might want to check out this pulse-pounder in the lull between swinging superheroes and yo-ho-ho ` ing pirates . you may just discover that this is the little sequel that could .", "director juan carlos fresnadillo re-creates the gritty and spastic look of days while brilliantly utilizing dark space and shadow to enhance the terror .", "while the plot is relatively predictable , the pacing will keep audiences riveted and likely fascinated by the ways fresnadillo and his team deliver death and mayhem .", "terse , economical and infused with a low-fi feel that leaves its mark on everything from the film 's light levels -lrb- low -rrb- to its music -lrb- mournful yet rocking -rrb- , it 's a sequel that surpasses the original .", "`` 28 MOV '' does n't have the conceptual freshness of the first picture -lrb- no surprise -rrb- , but it does stand on its own , which may be accomplishment enough . and if it 's not a trail-blazing classic itself , the film 's full-tilt jolt quotient is surely suffi", "when it was released , danny boyle 's `` 28 days later '' developed a cult following thanks to its irreverent approach to the tired zombie genre . its sequel , `` 28 MOV , '' cashes in on the same approach with a more intelligent script and story .", "no mere sequel but a dark , daring and politically charged follow-up that dances on the edge of the apocalypse .", "most post-apocalyptic thrillers make you wonder if humanity will survive before the film ends . this one makes you wonder how much of your own humanity will be lost before then .", "28 MOV rolls in like a poisonous dust cloud of nihilism .", "even for a zombie-ghoul movie , its idiocy is beyond the pale .", "28 MOV starts strong , but it quickly disavows any potential it may have had as a dramatic piece and veers directly into inanity , eschewing character , tension or plot for a chase scene that lasts for maybe 45 minutes .", "if had been in junior high school when i saw this movie , i would have had two words for `` 28 MOV . `` ew , gross .", "it 's a mindless , occasionally entertaining entry into the genre but it brings nothing fresh or innovative to the table . it 's too bad because the first film was so good and fresnadillo looked like a promising choice to take over .", "it falls prey to the usual pessimism-as-realism crutch -lrb- most notable in its silly final 10 second coda -rrb- , but director juan carlos fresnadillo works in some real ideas along the way .", "while the theme of soldiers as lethal and relentless as the infecteds repeats boyle 's film , here the uniformed threat is specifically u.s.", "a tense and terrifying trip through urban chaos , 28 MOV is juan carlos fresnadillo 's respectable follow-up to danny 's boyle 's original .", "even though i knew the scares were coming , i jumped out of my seat a few times .", "the movie is an adrenaline-pumping ride , which is marred by repetition and by sometimes excessive use of its signature blurry pan .", "as eerie as the first and probably more scary .", "apparently it takes '' ` weeks ' , '' rather than '' ` days ' , '' to enjoy a sprightly-paced , finely-acted , and surprisingly intelligent apocalyptic zombie horror .", "a good deal better than the average hollywood horror film , but 28 MOV does n't have the inventiveness , originality or intelligence that made its predecessor one of the top horror pictures of the past five years .", "a full-bore zombie romp that more than delivers the genre goods .", "unlike the original movie , it has absolutely nothing to say except stay tuned and give us your money .", "apart from a few nerve-jangling moments at the start and some snazzy digital effects , this is about as pointless and unnecessary as sequels get .", "zombie lovers , come out of your closets !", "the first half of 28 MOV is highly enjoyable , assuming you find things like cowardice , official incompetence , and nihilistic visions of the future entertaining .", "a frantic follow-up that delivers jolts , claret and just enough character to make you care .", "exciting , action-packed and superbly directed .", "the worst horror is that the dark ending suggests a franchise in the making .", "these zombies did n't walk anymore , they marauded and chased their victims down like a pack of rabid dogs .", "it 's breathless action from start to finish and a must-see for all schlock-horror fans .", "the age-old thrills of seeing monsters gouge a human 's eyeballs have rarely been this elegantly packaged .", "the way is left open for more movies in a lucrative franchise : 52 MOV , 104 MOV , or maybe nine 1/2 MOV , the porn version with kim basinger .", "its putative emotional centerpiece - a sequence involving a mass escape - is a piece of cheap , empty theater , exacerbated by illogical staging .", "a perfect blend of well-drawn characters , political allegory , grand guignol , flesh-crawling tension and very fast-moving zombies .", "suggests the kind of fable as might be shared from generation to generation , albeit in its own nerve-racking , nihilistic way of directing these metaphors into our psyche .", "s'alimentant d'une mise en situation beaucoup plus large et complexe ,28 MOV est la suite dont avait besoin cette nouvelle franchise pour \u0119tre prise un peu plus s\u00e9rieux", "besides exhilarating , terrifying action , what 28 MOV achieves best is a mood of terror , vigilant fear , and high-alert tummy flutters . worth every penny .", "it 's a worthy follow-up , and i 'll surely be waiting for 28 months later .", "against all odds , weeks proves to be a jarring and effective follow-up to its equally-shocking predecessor .", "works not just because of its visual and thematic resonance with current global traumas , but because it grips you on an emotional level", "`` weeks '' abandons any trace of hope it has in characters prevailing for the better . it is cynical , nihilistic and unflinching .", "there is n't much acting here , but there is entirely too much vomiting , and the prose turns laughably purple , too .", "thanks to its direction , cast and political subtext , 28 MOV is a horror sequel that 's actually worth seeing and improves upon -lrb- in some areas -rrb- its predecessor .", "director juan carlos fresnadillo has no problem re-creating the first film 's naturalistic sense of dread and lurking menace and embellishing it . it 's all shot on the run , with handheld cameras , mostly in the half-light of ruins and sewers .", "ludicrous plotting undermines the talented cast .", "only occasionally does -lsb- director -rsb- fresnadillo rise above the mundane , but , to his credit , the exceptions are worth savouring .", "though it is in no way as original or terrifying or just plain brilliant as danny boyle 's original work , weeks will still offer horror fans plenty of tense and gory moments .", "director juan carlos fresnadillo hurns out a straightforward cinematic gorefest that 's competent and repulsive but not much else .", "28 MOV delivers jolts of fright with alarming regularity .", "the real reason most people go to zombie movies -- the mayhem -- is so poorly staged and edited that most of the time you ca n't tell what 's going on .", "fresnadillo , who also co-wrote the screenplay , understands that true horror lies in the moral choices men and women make in the direst of circumstances .", "bigger action , more amazing deserted -lrb- and devastated -rrb- london sequences and biting contemporary relevance , if a touch less heart than the original .", "happy times ! and superior horror . 28 months later ca n't come too soon .", "an hour and a half of high-voltage bombardment , 28 MOV does n't really match the novelty of its predecessor .", "28 MOV underlines the fact that when you come back from the grave , you 're not always looking so fresh .", "more of the same , with decidedly mixed results .", "28 MOV does n't match the impact of its predecessor .", "it 's an exciting , well-directed thriller that , while providing more than enough action and gore to satisfy genre fans , also offers the political commentary that has characterized zombie movies .", "this sequel takes its predecessor 's derivative , remorseless premise and deepens it a bit , though i ca n't be alone in wondering why this , of all things , should be a franchise .", "if a heart-palpitating , seat-jittering gore fest happily gets your blood boiling , you 'll indeed seethe infinitely more this time around .", "scarier and more visceral than anything i 've seen in a long while .", "a modern rarity : a smart , bloody , and truly horrific horror film .", "una digna segunda parte que mantiene el nivel de la original , de 2002 , gracias a su ritmo inquietante , su nerviosa banda sonora y su escenario cuasi apocal\u00edptico .", "fresnadillo 's film is an undeniable triumph and one that horror fans will love for decades to come .", "the infected just seem to bite , spit blood , scream and repeat a little too much .", "a bloody , button-pushing shot of adrenaline .", "a brain-dead action movie . 28 days later director danny boyle and that movie 's screenwriter alex garland serve as executive producers this time around and they should be ashamed of themselves for so blatantly selling out their original vision .", "a frenetic killing machine -- illogical , telling in its grasp of human nature and utterly incapable of embracing the humanity it wants to show us .", "boyle is only peripherally involved in the sequel , 28 MOV , which has the same stylishness and pulp energy , but none of boyle 's desire to avoid the polemical .", "like the first movie , it has a few ideas -- a few too many , perhaps . but new director juan carlos fresnadillo is so determined to keep up the pace he explores them even less than boyle did .", "a thrilling and chilling and sometimes grisly zombie movie that occasionally loses its way in genre conventions but generally keeps you locked into a heightened tension .", "-lsb- the -rsb- focus on effects and action comes at the expense of creating engaging characters and meaningful situations .", "28 MOV has a stronger story line -lsb- than the original -rsb- , equally fine performances , greater tension , enough gore to satisfy the most hard-core zombie fan , and a narrative pace that flings us from the opening scenes to the very last image .", "there 's a strange lack of momentum and suspense amid all the shaky camera work and showers of blood .", "28 MOV does n't just recycle the premise , apocalyptic mood and insane violence of the original : it adds thematic layers to its zombie milieu , deepening the scares while justifying the sequel 's existence .", "a smashing horror film , frightening and thrilling .", "boyle 's film was first-rate ... but the pacing and structure seem tighter this time around ." ], "summary": "while 28 MOV lacks the humanism that made 28 days later a classic , it 's made up with fantastic atmosphere and punchy direction .", "id": "660304807" }, { "movie": "1127787-big_fish", "reviews": [ "works sporadically but then falls into another long lull .", "MOV often swim in small ponds , but in tim burton 's wistful new film about a son , a father and the lies that come between them there are no small ponds -- just big , bright movie sets shimmering and bubbling with the director 's imagination .", "the most curious thing about this magical-realist fable ... is how thin and soft it is , how unpersuasive and ultimately forgettable even its most strenuous inventions turn out to be .", "burton 's best film since edward scissorhands .", "the movie has a great deal of charm and several good performances , but it is the son 's judgmental doggedness that sets the story in motion and leads to its mawkish conclusion . it 's a hurdle i could n't get over .", "there are quirks aplenty in MOV , but spirited performances from a talented cast , led by a standout finney as the slippery-fish raconteur , help domesticate the wall-to-wall weirdness .", "a deft blend of fantastic noodling and astute psychological drama .", "MOV takes a while to get its bearings , but it gets better and better .", "MOV flounders largely because burton leaves out the meaning of the story , which was about the seductive power of fiction . in offering no meaning besides pictures , MOV has no power at all .", "a change-up delivery from a director seeking relief from his artful image , the movie wants to catch our ears rather than our eyes , and it does so without completely reeling us in .", "in the shallow pool of holiday movie offerings , tim burton 's MOV has surfaced as the freshest catch of the season .", "these fish tales are wonderful .", "the film retains the episodic nature of the book , but solidifies the storylines and make them more palatable for moviegoing audiences . and more fun .", "hoy ya no nos leen m\u00e1s cuentos a la hora de ir a dormir , pero por suerte existe tim burton .", "the story of the movie is disjointed and unaffecting , and what we remember are all the little moments , for their visual splendour , their joyful flights of fancy .", "more `` ed wood '' than `` planet of the apes '' .", "it drives home the fact that we humans sometimes need a varnished reality with a more pleasing veneer , rather than the humdrum plainess of `` truth '' with all of its splinters .", "if you can get past the murky structure , the movie has more than its fair share of charms .", "a film that will grow and grow by word of mouth , long after many of today 's hits and important films are forgotten .", "se o fant\u00e1stico consegue traduzir a realidade com poesia , por que troc\u00e1-lo pelo literal ?", "the whole seems disjointed , incoherent and lacking in the startling originality of the other two edwards -lrb- scissorhands and wood -rrb- who , half a career back , poured from burton 's distended outsider imagination .", "you 'd think that burton , whose movies can be so invigoratingly nasty or so hypnotically moody , would be able to pull off a gentle , mainstream crowd-pleaser without making it dull or preachy . but MOV is both .", "burton fancies the fantasy more than he does a meaningful story", "proving that he is indeed the right man to remake willy wonka and the chocolate factory , director tim burton envisions a world of pure imagination .", "a load of tripe that no attempt on my part could make sound half as pretentious and conceited as it really is .", "burton spices up the story with touches of his trademarked surrealism , but they 're swamped by the trickiness and sentimentality of john august 's screenplay , based on daniel wallace 's novel .", "burton has found a story written by someone else that meshes with his own imagination as well as anything he 's ever written himself .", "the best family film since whale rider .", "the high-sheen adaptation of the novel by daniel wallace , however choppy , delivers a lovely payoff .", "an original story and high production values , courtesy of one of cinema 's most original directors and his team , make tim burton 's MOV a good catch .", "fails to engage", "lacked substance .", "the subject is really the upside and the downside of a strong imagination .", "tim burton constructs an eye-popping , kaleidoscopic landscape of sound , fury and fantasy -- and remembers to make a movie to go with it .", "delights in burton 's quirky sense of humor , love of outsiders , and visual inventiveness", "this one runs the life-story gamut with such breathtaking originality you 'll barely even notice the lengthy running time", "... the disquieting clash of styles ultimately makes MOV a movie you 'll toss back ...", "edward bloom 's life journey is a lovely and moving experience .", "the film has a charm that sweeps you off your feet and takes you on a ride that 's almost as remarkable as the character who tells them .", "tim burton turns a gothic fairy tale into a steven spielberg movie .", "for once , in a tim burton film , the characters are more important than the art direction .", "`` MOV '' is mid-level tim burton . it 's not as good as , say , `` beetlejuice , '' edward scissorhands '' or `` ed wood , '' but way better than `` mars attacks '' and `` planet of the apes . ''", "not just burton 's best film , it 's his least flawed -- it really does just bound along , an exemplary , and moving , entertainment from start to finish .", "MOV makes a big push for transcendence , but the strain shows . it 's like trying to push a daydream uphill .", "small potatoes ... a disjointed assemblage of extravagant effects , some of which are momentarily delightful but which together do n't add up to very much .", "burton 's floundering has ended . with MOV he finds a movie that allows him a much-needed boost of maturity .", "like a child with a wonderful imagination ... -lrb- burton -rrb- can extrapolate the extraordinary from the ordinary , and through the conviction of his vision , make us see it too .", "in this story about white man 's land and lies , forrest gump redux swims in bogus racist nostalgia", "quite charming .", "the ravishing images are marvels , but it is the stories that will capture you , especially when it -lrb- literally -rrb- all comes together in connection , understanding , and forgiveness .", "MOV , as with all director tim burton 's film soirees , assists in transporting us into that little crevice of our minds we 'd misplaced somewhere along the way ...", "sometimes , the telling of the tale is more important than the story itself .", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a MOV story-fun , entertaining , too crazy to be true , and all the more enjoyable for it .", "... a magical movie sure to become a classic ...", "burton has a big payoff up his sleeve . in a movie practically schizophrenic in mood , he manages to present the inevitability of death with a touching beauty and elegance .", "a good movie , but tim burton doing `` whimsical '' is not quite as interesting as tim burton doing `` dark and twisted . ''", "though not as inspired as adaptation in terms of meta-narrative trickery -lrb- and rather too baggy in structure -rrb- , MOV succeeds on the basis of its unusual combination of emotional clarity and loopy charm .", "imaginative , heartwarming , fun , serendipitous , charming ; this film will swallow you hook , line and sinker .", "it 's still enjoyable , it 's just somehow not the film you feel it could have been .", "at its height of fancy , MOV is brilliant .", "proof that a top-notch cast can do little to help a poorly written and unorganized script , this is one of the biggest disappointments among the major 2003 releases .", "MOV is a reminder to all of us that we are only limited as humans by the boundaries and shackles we decide to use to keep our flights of fancy at bay .", "feels like a sham , all tripe and not enough of burton 's gothic childlike mindset , and also infused with a heavy saccharine dose of big-hearted life lessons that drop from the screen like anvils made of rock candy .", "the whimsy feels so forced , so labored , so -lrb- dare i say it -rrb- dull ... MOV ends up being a film about magic that holds little magic of its own .", "for burton , it ranks with ed wood and edward scissorhands -lrb- 1990 -rrb- as one of the director 's most emotionally satisfying films .", "words ca n't describe the characters and color that inhabit this film .", "easily the best work tim burton has brought to the big screen and that 's exactly where you should see it - a big screen .", "the imaginatively illustrated but precariously precious film offers up a string of minor pleasures but never becomes more than moderately amusing or involving .", "MOV is so strange and so literary that audiences seeking conventional fare may get impatient with it . but it always takes effort to catch the big ones . this one is worth it .", "the performances all around are quite impressive and even the underwritten parts -lrb- such as the adult sandra -rrb- shine through thanks to adept casting .", "... an amazing looking film .", "though its disappointing to see the singular burton shoehorning his wierd gifts into such traditional drama , the film has many oddball wonders", "burton is so taken with edward 's tales that the son 's efforts to find the man who lives behind the fa\u00e7ade come off like the machinations of a sulking child .", "this flick was like a breath of fresh air .", "this is the masterpiece tim burton has been itching and scratching his way toward ever since he introduced us to `` beetlejuice '' in the '80s .", "do n't you mean big turkey , tim ?", "the movie divides its characters into two groups : those who 've opened themselves to the possibility of the sublime , and those who 've confined themselves to reality .", "stocked to the gills with glorious visuals and delightful whimsy , ` fish ' is a reassuring return to form for director tim burton ...", "there was something nagging at me , something that did n't become clear until the final , awful scenes , where burton and company get to their point .", "a minnow of a movie camouflaged within the gaudy spines and barbels of some exotic species ...", "the story shows a lot of heart and i found it very absorbing . one of burton 's better movies .", "director tim burton combines his visual wizardry with touching down-home verities -lsb- in a movie that -rsb- bounces between poignant reality and beguiling fantasy ...", "for all its occasionally sputtering puffery , MOV 's tales are woolly and waggish enough to tickle your fancy for two hours .", "for all its surface eccentricities , this turns out to be one of burton 's most conventional works .", "MOV is a three-ring circus of sometimes outlandish situations and characters , yet burton makes it all seem so plausible ... that some part of you aches to accept .", "MOV passes a major storytelling test : i ca n't wait to see it again .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t is a movie so desperate for your approval that it 's less like a fish than a yapping puppy that keeps soiling the rug .", "celebrates the whimsical spirit and imagination of a man whose only mode of relating to other people seems to be as props in the mythic narrative of his life .", "you probably have to be stubborn and pragmatic to resist the film 's quixotic appeals , but i 'm in crudup 's camp . better to imagine a giant than to meet one .", "a compelling look at the relationships between fathers and sons , and the child coming to terms with the parent 's mortality .", "un film fort sympathique mais un peu in\u00e9gal .", "MOV moves you in inexplicable , joyful ways . it 's a beauty of a whopper .", "a splendid reminder that burton is quite possibly the most talented american filmmaker working today .", "burton , who once used as much distancing irony in his movies as celluloid , seems no longer afraid of ordinary emotion or of dealing with people who might actually walk and breathe and die among us .", "burton has not given his imagination such free rein since edward scissorhands , and this stands with that and the equally generous ed wood as one of his best movies .", "we 're set-up for one of the grand emotional climaxes in this or any year . the double-duty of the finale is enough to bring any disbeliever around .", "the gradual coalescence of edward 's actual and fantasy worlds is the real revelation for burton-watchers , taking the filmmaker into territory that 's surprisingly complex and mature .", "a work that is both spiritually uplifting and metaphysically playful", "a romantic adventure & quirky character comedy , with a warm center , but takes more than 3 licks to get to the center of this treat ... largely whimsy with no heart .", "the film does n't so much reject history as selectively rewrite it to its own reactionary , even offensive ends . this might perhaps be just about tolerable were the film funny , illuminating , insightful or moving . it is not .", "for the first time since ed wood , burton has transcended his hermetically-sealed world and connected with wider concerns .", "i enjoyed MOV more than any film burton has been involved with since maybe nightmare before christmas .", "unfortunately , up until the end , the tall tales are far more interesting than reality .", "for all the story 's twists , there are no real surprises -lrb- the ending is obvious 10 minutes in -rrb- , and burton 's flourishes of self-satisfied frippery annoy as much as they amuse .", "never has going fishing or getting caught been such a treat .", "burton invokes the imagination from his crowd and succeeds in making us gasp in wonder .", "burton , favoring form over content , flavor over fact , has been often criticized for not knowing how to bring his work to satisfactory resolution . but i 'd call that a good thing . blame it on his dad .", "reliant more on powerful familial emotions than wacky splendor , `` MOV '' treads as close to our real world as tim burton ever could - a melancholy dissection of paternal distance and never truly knowing how many lives those we love can truly affect .", "delightful , sad father-son story for teens and up .", "a well-meaning , visually boisterous film that tries so hard you can practically hear it huffing and puffing .", "MOV is simply a magical catch .", "few filmmakers know more about exaggeration than tim burton .", "the annoying question becomes , ` why is n't this working better ? '", "philippe rousselot 's cinematography and dennis gassner 's production design conspire to create a magical alternative universe in which the mundane and the marvelous happily coexist .", "just as preston sturges ' 1940s classic sullivan 's travels has stood as a definitive ode to the value of humor , MOV may survive as a strong statement on imagination .", "finney 's a superb storyteller , dominating the film as he lies immobile , and mcgregor has precisely the right blend of cockiness , enthusiasm , zeal and charm .", "sentimental , even a bit treacly , but it 's also appealing and full of warmth . and it 's probably -lsb- burton 's -rsb- best film .", "the stories are gloriously soaked in americana and , as always in burton films , are visually lush and immaculately detailed .", "a perfect marriage of story and director , tim burton has achieved maturity as a filmmaker while keeping his ability to tell a larger-than-life story .", "lacks credibility by pushing the delusory envelope .", "MOV is tim burton at his least imaginative .", "by piling on the cuteness , burton suffocates us with it . it 's really a shame , because in most respects , this is a handsomely made movie .", "` MOV , ' my top-ranked film of 2003 , not only charmed me completely with its humanity and whimsical humor -- it also surprised me with its wisdom .", "if you avoid looking for an admission of fakery , you may find that the exaggeration and the visual wizardry have manifested themselves as family-friendly entertainment .", "director tim burton finally hooks the one that got away : a script that challenges and deepens his visionary talent .", "tim burton atones for the disastrous planet of the apes 2001 with this lyrical and involving family drama .", "MOV is love and death , burton style .", "an amazing motion picture experience . . `` MOV '' is a very special movie . . so enriching , so heartwarming , so funny , so touching and so breathtaking", "unfailingly charming and flat-out interesting : you keep watching not just because of the many likable characters , but because you 're dying to know what will happen next .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he film you feel -lsb- burton 's -rsb- been leading up to all this time , both more and less metaphoric -lsb- than -rsb- his standard ` agony of the outsider ' theme ...", "tim burton 's big adventure into resolving his family conflicts and defending his filmmaking . a director 's statement has never been so entertaining .", "the tale it tells may be the tallest to hit screens in some time but there 's no shortage of human truth in it .", "tim burton remains an original .", "the tall tales edward tells in fish are aided by burton 's limitless imagination and visual ingenuity .", "the taming by hollywood of divinely weird and edgy imaginations like tim burton , is pretty much a fish out of water experience .", "tim burton 's latest flight into fantasy lands a near-solid hook , line , and sinker as a whimsical family fable ...", "a bountiful pleasure .", "offers its audience a long and winding road , with refreshing pauses . and it proves that mega-budgets have not spoiled tim burton 's vision .", "funny , touching , smart , whimsical , dazzling and , at times , downright magical .", "it 's gentle and pleasing and i appreciated the mixture of oddness , whimsy and emotion that informs burton 's search for the place where truth and fiction meet .", "it 's got the mawkish soul of a male beaches ... a claustrophobic and often irritating storytelling style , yet it 's powered by the quirky genius of tim burton , which ca n't help but redeem it .", "the picture 's images linger .", "tim burton 's southern-fried tall tale about fathers and sons is a lot better -- and a lot warmer -- than his recent work .", "there is no denying that will has a point : the old man is a blowhard . there is a point at which his stories stop working as entertainment and segue into sadism .", "mostly confined to bed throughout the film , finney pulls us to him with a flawless combination of theatrical skill and movie-star radiance .", "a whopper of a movie , told by the master of the modern-day fairy tale , tim burton .", "a truly wondrous film of love and renewal .", "belabored oddity that is one long-winded tall tale illustrated with hammy , artificial sets and gee-whiz acting .", "herniated whimsy -- straining , as labored as those poor brits who stuff their mouths with grits and try to talk like southerners .", "a biography of a southern man -lrb- albert finney -rrb- known as a spinner of tall tales , each of them illustrated by burton in his enjoyably peculiar fashion .", "for me , a will who wishes she were an edward , the movie inspired by the daniel wallace novel is a minor classic .", "a most companionable , personable film , and it marks tim burton 's return to form .", "clocking in at two hours , it runs way too long for a flight of fancy , packs a couple of false endings , and , a first for burton , feels flat and familiar , like recycled ray bradbury .", "an engagingly whimsical , sporadically charming , frequently very funny southern gothic fantasy that somehow does n't quite come together to be as magical or meaningful as it 's intended to be .", "burton 's fabled imagination runs wild with this material , and MOV often achieves a whimsical , poetic beauty .", "better than anything burton has made in years , but it is never completely what a good story should be : compulsively entertaining .", "an enchanting tale from tim burton that weaves together reality and myth so touchingly it hardly matters which is which .", "burton , who has clung to the trappings of precocious genius well into his 40s , demonstrates a new emotional maturity .", "a gently overstuffed cinematic pi\u0144ata , crammed with tall tales -- with giants and circuses and fairy-tale woods , plus a huge squirmy catfish , all served up with a literal matter-of-fact fancy that is very pleasing .", "not only is mr. burton at the top of his form in endowing his tallest stories and wildest magical conceits with emotional conviction , but he is aided by a superb acting ensemble that never loses its footing in the treacherous swamps of make-believe .", "feelgood without being overly sentimental ; romantic without being cloying ; moving without being mawkish .", "a deeply personal , lovingly crafted and extremely moving film that will no doubt leave a lump in your throat the size of alabama .", "MOV will draw out the story-loving child in you who still enjoys exploring dreams , fantasies , and larger-than-life adventures .", "by the time the end credits roll around , there 's a distinct possibility that male audience members will find themselves shedding a tear or two .", "this feels awkward , like a film made by someone who thinks he has something to prove - or maybe to atone for .", "the film did n't move or surprise me per se , but it 's definitely a solid addition to mr. burton 's impressive resume and should fulfill all those who adore him .", "burton 's direction ... l is episodic and tonally uneven in its acting , but he socks over an emotional payoff with the film 's conclusion .", "moving and powerful in the way that only a tim burton movie can be , operating at the highest emotional pitch but with sentimentality turned way down low .", "plays to burton 's strengths as an auteur of fantasy colliding with reality .", "think the arabian nights meets grimm 's fairy tales with just a touch of forrest gump and the wizard of oz tossed in for good measure .", "MOV is a stunning piece of work that is not only sincere and full of passion , but is based on a world that is normal ... well , about as normal as you 're going to get for a tim burton movie that is .", "a tale that 's so enriching , so heartwarming , so funny , so touching and so breathtaking , you 'll wonder why the king of wackiness did n't branch out sooner .", "-lsb- burton -rsb- celebrates the empty imaginings of the lost , because he assumes there is no real liberation , there is no glory awaiting us , except that which we invent for ourselves .", "MOV is , in the end , a small tale , but it 's a beautifully told one .", "an ebullient tall tale about the magic of imagination and the power of myth .", "the film 's core is all heart , but surrounding the dramatic moments is a pure sense of humor that generated more genuine laughter than any comedy i 've seen in recent years .", "burton has crafted a sweet yet bizarre film seeming at times like ` the twilight zone ' in oz .", "un film d\u00e9licieux que l'on \u00e9coute avec l\u00e9g\u010dret\u00e9 et qui fait passer un bon moment gr\u00e2ce \u0155 son humour , sa f\u00e9erie , mais aussi dans la fa\u00e7on dont il nous touche .", "somewhat like forrest gump on a high colonic .", "bold colors and weird twists create a sense that wondrous things can happen in an instant .", "MOV speaks directly from burton 's sensibility -- it may be the most personal film he 's made yet .", "burton 's film does n't try to lard mortality over with platitudes . instead , it looks death in the eye and vindicates the creative impulse that is its adversary .", "a big bore , which may come as a surprise to those familiar with the resumes of director tim burton and his cast .", "MOV has heart and it has originality , but its greatest attribute of all is its pure honesty .", "a long-winded indulgence in tear-and-a-smile whimsy .", "an odd , erratic charmer .", "its tricks do n't all resonate , but it treats us as grown-ups , even as it tries to reach the last bit of child in us .", "a disappointingly dull thud of a fantasy .", "MOV is tim burton 's masterpiece .", "visually , it 's a charming movie , but for a film that celebrates storytelling it 's a bit of a jumble . sadly , this MOV is a flounder .", "nobody paints a moving picture as fantastically as writer-director tim burton . again , he hooks viewers with the wonderful MOV , although the magic sometimes overpowers the storytelling .", "reality is highly over-rated . go for fantasy . catch one of the best films of the year !", "the fantasy sequences ... win the audience over with their effusiveness , even as viewers are all too aware of that effusiveness .", "with storytellers like finney , who needs tv ?", "MOV is a clever , smart fantasy that targets the child inside every adult , without insulting the intelligence of either .", "it does n't celebrate preposterousness so much as the reality hiding behind it , and the belief that the tale is always intermingled with he who tells it .", "in love with telling tales and the transplant heart of the united states .", "the ideas keep percolating , but in the absence of any particular tension , the movie has its longueurs .", "burton is masterful at transporting us to the edges of our imaginations , and the world he 's created here is so appealing one wishes it existed .", "this is a film that pasteurises both plot and sentiment with the efficiency of a swiss milking machine .", "en una dimensi\u00f3n m\u00e1s amplia y personal , burton explora la problem\u00e1tica padre-hijo y el aspecto legendario en la vida de cada hombre .", "burton is partial to characters named edward .", "overall , the film feels like it issues from a place burton does n't inhabit .", "tim burton strikes gold with this genuinely warm adventure .", "... there 's never been a less ambitious tim burton film", "a heartwarming , nostalgic story of tall tales and even taller dreams .", "burton created a film that fits perfectly into the american psyche .", "burton shows the rivalry between father and son but not the rancor , which seems to fit with the film 's calm lyricism . but the father-son conflict is meant as the dramatic crux , and a forceful actor would have given it some much-needed bite ." ], "summary": "a charming father-and-son tale filled with typical tim burton flourishes .", "id": "10167" }, { "movie": "traitor", "reviews": [ "as the eponymous terrorist , cheadle makes a big impact without too much noise .", "MOV is undeniably an intelligent , watchable thriller that wisely steers clear of racial stereotyping , yet manages to fall short of delivering a wholly satisfying cerebral or visceral experience .", "other than samir , most of the characters are oversimplified placeholders with little depth , but cheadle gives you someone to latch onto and care for . you also sort of despise him , because he may well be doing more harm than good .", "simmers down into a reasonably smart little thriller with a moral conscience , yet .", "if it does n't succeed in challenging you perception of the war on terror , it might challenge your view on steve martin .", "surprisingly , steve martin created this story . in a decade of wild and crazy fictional terrorism , his was the most horrifyingly plausible - one that spun terrorism as drama into uncomfortable community theater , striking the country 's friendliest corners .", "we watch for the sake of the chase , and while it 's a chase that certainly proves better than most , it 's also one that is good enough to have been even better than that .", "as a thriller , MOV excels and feels especially relevant , considering the subject matter .", "the action scenes will grab you , but there 's an actual story here , too .", "much harder to see coming is the film 's denouement , but that 's only because of its extreme silliness .", "a certain interest resides in the film 's even-handedness .", "it was complicated but ultimately it failed in that attempt to deliver a complicated message .", "let 's just say this is a well paced thriller with a strong cast -- it 's good to see guy pearce on screen -- but the terrorist threat which obsessed the recent bush administration has been dwarfed by a couple of things ...", "as an attempt to delve into the murky reaches of fundamentalism and fanaticism it displays its ambitions .", "like the fugitive , MOV is a thriller where both the pursuer and the pursued are well-developed , compelling and sympathetic figures .", "for most of its length , MOV is a serious and suspense-filled film ... but as the movie approaches its climax , the plot goes crazy -- and -lsb- not -rsb- in a good way .", "a good political action movie that makes you use your brain a little bit .", "cheadle 's struggle to express the convictions of a man who assimilates evil in order to destroy it is sometimes mesmerizing ; sometimes schizophrenic .", "overall more thoughtful than jingoistic , even if it does little to advance audience understanding of the war on terror and its multi-tentacled morality plays .", "competence is fine , but imagination is what 's really demanded from such material , and nachmanoff 's remarkably dull-headed way with dialogue is certainly no help .", "a relentless suspense thriller with a jaw-dropping twist that will have you on the edge of your seat .", "this double or maybe even triple agent dude decidedly favors a kind of ` this hurts me more than it hurts you ' scorched earth policy , a mentality not exactly conducive to cozy plot resolutions .", "the theme of treachery is well unpicked as our view of the moral limits of `` necessary evils '' gets stretched . only horn 's unlikely visit to a girlfriend and an obscure ending mar a taut , engaged thriller .", "MOV is a grown-up film that does n't insult the intelligence .", "for a hollywood movie about terrorism , MOV deserves credit for trying to challenge audiences . it mostly succeeds , but it does n't really break any new ground .", "an intelligent , action-packed thriller , made on a modest budget with no mega stars ? phew ! did n't see that coming .", "despite some strong performances and the occasional good moment , MOV never quite gets the tone right and is ultimately undone by an unintentionally laughable climax .", "it is n't often that you see a thriller about international terrorism as even-handed as jeffrey nachmanoff 's MOV .", "before it reverts to standard thriller tropes , this tale of an islamic double agent takes a more thoughtful attitude to east-west relations than one might expect .", "it was the fine performances from cheadle and pearce which really grabbed his attention .", "tense , intelligent and quite moving , it 's a meaty thriller filled with characters painted in refreshingly complex shades of grey .", "it 's rare for today 's movies to tackle terrorism as the deadly threat it is . it 's even more uncommon to see don cheadle give a lackluster performance . MOV serves up both .", "let 's say the bourne identity threw a party and invited the departed , the kingdom , paradise now and syriana . instead of getting trashed or playing pin the tail on the donkey , they decide to craft an earnest psa on ...", "MOV is more than a gripping , intelligent thriller . it is also a brave work , maintaining integrity as it deals with a difficult subject that habitually brings out black-and-white , cardboard treatment .", "not quite exciting enough to cover for its lack of political depth .", "the script seldom rises above formula , but its respectful treatment of islam is both unusual and welcome .", "uneven political thriller mixes faith , terrorism .", "nachmanoff 's ` travelogue ' consists of a plot that does n't twist -- heck , it does n't even kink . let 's call it a mild fold and leave it at that .", "MOV leaves a lot of strings untied on its way to an unsatisfying , hollywood-ish ending .", "cheadle is outstanding . that 's no surprise ; he 's a fantastic actor . here he 's given a lot of room in which to navigate .", "less radical than it appears , dressing up a fairly old-fashioned scenario in contemporary trappings . but simply as a political thriller , it delivers the goods pretty efficiently .", "great old-fashioned spy thriller action with a solid backdrop of religious tension amidst the dilemmas of war . a solid plot and good performances make this entertainment that makes the viewer think .", "MOV builds to an intensely suspenseful conclusion , but what lingers long after the film ends are the troubling questions it raises . not too many movies can make that claim .", "a thriller with many insights into terrorism and the agencies committed to stem the tide of violence .", "the plot holes escalate as quickly as the action .", "perhaps because MOV aims to be equal parts explosive action picture and serious-minded character drama , it never completely hits the mark in either regard .", "when a director ca n't fulfill his obligations to his genre , he does n't win the confidence he needs to lead an audience into higher terrain .", "the mounting fear and isolation of the cheadle character puts us in an interesting place : the war on terror is reconfigured as a tussle of the soul .", "globetrotting conspiracy thriller which moves at a fair old pace , blending action with a complex storyline .", "MOV has its faults . it 's overlong , contrived in parts and ultimately resorts to some predictable tactics . the irresistible question is whether the us would be making films like this if 9/11 had n't happened .", "strong turns from cheadle and pearce elevate an ambitious suspenser with a keen eye for the duplicities that propel the war on terror . the risible ending , alas , is pure wish-fulfillment hokum , while the solitary female character is barely a cipher .", "the result is an absorbing , old-fashioned drama without the gung-ho rhetoric you might have expected .", "a globe-trotting conspiracy thriller that is a little too complicated for its own good .", "the moral maze is not quite as murky as it should be , a suspicion that we may have misjudged the hero whisks the film back into the realms of fiction , and detracts from the issues it raises .", "some well-meant but fantastically flaccid and perfunctory gestures of friendship towards the muslim world are the foundation of this empty thriller .", "more carefully measured than many of its american contemporaries , MOV does n't match the heights of syriana , but sits comfortably above , say , the kingdom for mapping out the complexities of its issues .", "once the pieces fall into place , it loses momentum , meandering towards a contrived climax in which all ambiguity is swept aside and the forces of righteous democracy prove reassuringly triumphant .", "a more than solid thriller , but one that simmers too much , when it needs to boil . ''", "the wait is n't worth it in this fearmongering , opportunistic political/spy thriller , a slippery entertainment that 's all feints and few punches thrown at a fight card of indistinguishable terrorists , muslim and otherwise .", "-lsb- t -rsb- he smartest , savviest , most seditious movie yet about the ` global war on terror ' ... by far one of the best movies of 2008 so far ...", "MOV is n't exactly what you would call a bad movie . it 's just not half as clever or intelligent as it thinks it is .", "... a thriller that 's not suspenseful enough and a drama that is not daring enough .", "limps home to the finish without suspense .", "don cheadle stars in international potboiler as possible manchurian muslim mole masquerading as fbi operative .", "... a thriller that wo n't make you feel you wasted your money % u2026 or your time .", "cheadle comes away unscathed . his commanding performance is the first , best reason to see this .", "cherry picking quotes from the koran that might sound palatable , this is unlikely to inspire much enthusiasm .", "`` MOV '' is an intense and highly politicized film that dares to look at more than a few sides of an ideological battle that rages throughout the world .", "the first things to go in cheadle 's portrayal of such a knotted , inward man are spontaneity and a sense of humor .", "a thriller about the moral complexities of the war on terror , MOV is really a movie at war with itself .", "the novel angle of a hero who 's muslim-american , honestly played by don cheadle , and an intriguing moral dilemma almost compensate for the flaws of the thriller , which is exactly the opposite of syriana with its conventional tale and compromised ending .", "an intellectual and philosophical lost cause .", "well made and acted but lacking edge-of-your-seat suspense .", "pearce has a few moments where a personality shines through , but he 's overwhelmed by the fast , noisy pressures of a film shot in 17 cities and on three continents .", "making MOV something more than a disposable b-movie was possible , but at this point in the release calendar , way more effort than it was worth .", "with a sprawling production that spans many international locations , MOV is efficient and convincing .", "there 's a terrorist around every corner in MOV , to the point where you start wondering if `` steve martin '' is a pen name for dick cheney .", "MOV offers up one of the more maddeningly , gratifyingly complex lead characters seen in movies lately .", "MOV , a somber , absorbing and only moderately preposterous new thriller written and directed by jeffrey nachmanoff , manages an impressive feat of economy .", "a fair number of recent , post-9 / 11 dramas have suffered from the same malady : research paperitis .", "it tells a good , snakelike story , slithering in some unpredictable directions .", "MOV is an earnest , efficient , serviceable thriller that makes a valiant effort to untangle some of the moral complexities of the post-9 / 11 world .", "by only partially broaching the film 's underlying themes concerning terrorism , religion , and international relations , MOV becomes little more than a disposable thriller in need of a sharper focus .", "a thought-provoking addition to the current wave of real world political thrillers .", "it may dip a toe or two in the waters of previous international conspiracy thrillers , but it works the genre with tremendous spirit and a robust sense of humanity , eschewing standard action honors to observe the actual consequence of death .", "MOV is an amazing flick that perfectly balances out the reality of terrorism and keeps the audience guessing and entertained throughout .", "promising premise devolves into a by-the-numbers espionage thriller .", "this serious , intelligent political thriller about jihadists and america 's war on terror represents a dramatic change from writer-director jeffrey nachmanoff 's only other produced feature screenplay , the cartoonish day after tomorrow .", "MOV gets a leg up thanks to a solid cast , including guy pearce , an underused jeff daniels and chiefly cheadle 's horn , whose quiet dignity makes his blurred loyalties believable and his true sympathies indefinable .", "MOV is a thriller as fascinating and frustrating as its cagey , conflicted protagonist .", "MOV becomes too busy , ultimately frustrating , and never delivers on its tantalizing promise of offering a little insight into terrorists ' motives -- and it 's even got an inside man .", "MOV takes aim at too many targets but hits more often than misses .", "a smarter movie about terrorisism .", "despite featuring this cast and having some relevant , promising material , this terrorist thriller never engages us . it slow boils its way to a ludicrous , contrived wrapup that 's almost laughably silly .", "forced plot twists , head-scratching jumps in logic , and a plan by the hero that would sound great in a seventh grade short story but could never work out in real life .", "-lsb- the -rsb- twist is worth the price of admission ... but ripping headlines out of today 's newspaper and turning them into a movie rarely makes for an entertaining outing .", "cheadle usually melts seamlessly into his roles . he 's less convincing here , however .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tense , talky and unusually thoughtful spy thriller .", "when the entire movie revolves around rooting for -lrb- or against -rrb- the success of a massive suicide bombing campaign , you 're asking a lot from the popcorn and nacho crowd .", "the title double-edged , ` MOV , ' however , sticks to its main guns as a spy-fanatic-jihad thriller . in this it succeeds better than many others .", "don cheadle is such a good actor . if he were more of a showboat , he would be a bigger star . but he remains the go-to man for a film like this .", "it 's serious and intense like a fall political drama , but it 's shallow and meaningless like a summer blockbuster .", "MOV ca n't seem to decide whether it wants to be an edge-of-the-seat action thriller or a more contemplative and intellectual drama about religion and terrorism .", "a tough , taut , mostly well-executed morality parable and thriller that explores some of the bitter ironies of this strange religious vendetta in which america unwittingly finds itself .", "despite nachmanoff 's fairly brisk pacing , the film has some drag in its midsection ... but the director atones with turn of the screw climax most will not see coming .", "an intelligent thriller with twists .", "i 'm not sure i 've ever seen a film go straight to hell so quickly and so badly as this .", "martin sacrifices tough satire for apolitical piety . MOV could have been called patriot , but the latter notion is unfashionable .", "don cheadle and guy pierce are at the top of their acting game", "the movie moves swiftly and purposefully enough to briefly distract from its own hackneyed conventionality . but disappointments and doubts ca n't be held off for long .", "cheadle 's performance alone ca n't save the feature from falling into ridiculousness , but he is able to pull things back up . when he does so , the result is , for a few moments , as thoughtful as the rest of the film could have been .", "... a surprising , mature action thriller that is thought provoking , action-packed -lrb- in an intelligent way -rrb-", "tense , unpredictable and intriguing , terrorism weaves a tangled web of conspiracy .", "talented actor don cheadle brings yet another angst-driven character to life in ` MOV , ' a looka t the question of whether the means ever justifies the end in killing .", "MOV plods along while still somehow managing to keep us engrossed no matter how slow the pacing gets ... -lsb- but -rsb- it asks too much of the viewer 's patience for its minimal dramatic payoff .", "a timely story , some welcome complexity , and a compelling performance elevate this story of terrorism above the usual bang-bang .", "without its mesmerizing lead performance , MOV easily could have devolved into direct-to-dvd fodder . instead , cheadle illustrates how great acting can elevate standard-issue material into something much more haunting and ambiguous .", "unfortunately , the movie stumbles a fair bit .", "ripped-from-the-headlines realism , top-drawer performances by don cheadle and guy pearce , a dandy ` ticking clock ' story structure and a vast catalog of terrorist modus operandi make this as harrowing as it is timely .", "observing the conventions of the millennial thriller , it succeeds in amping up the suspense . yet it never fully engages the ethical conflicts it raises .", "MOV is smart , effective , and at times suspenseful . it 's one of a very few terrorist-themed movies that presents its situation without resorting to exploitation or oversimplification .", "MOV delivers plot twists but few real surprises .", "first-time director jeffrey nachmanoff , known for the day after tomorrow script , wrote the screenplay . of all people , steve martin came up with the idea . it is neither wild nor crazy .", "it 's another good one from cheadle , who has become the go-to guy for political thrillers .", "MOV traffics in the cliches of the terrorist chase film -- including the usual stereotypes of muslims -- while trying not to succumb to outright bigotry .", "MOV is a rare hollywood creature : an action picture with ambiguity , a blockbuster with more questions than answers , a shoot - 'em - up thriller with a sense of moral and geopolitical ambivalence .", "apart from the performers , and some atmospheric photography by j. michael muro , the movie is a conflicted muddle .", "even viewers burned out on talk about politics and war will be queasily engrossed by conversations inside samir 's cell .", "the mix of high-minded politics and slowly ratcheting tension pays off , as `` MOV '' uses brainpower to generate its thrills .", "a film that aims to examine islam in order to separate the true believers from those who have hijacked it for terrorism . -lrb- sound boring ? it 's also a taut thriller . -rrb-", "MOV starts with the complexity and credibility of a john lecarre spy story and transforms itself into an action thriller of the frederick forsyth mold .", "there 's a line in the movie where someone says , i just want the truth . the truth ? MOV is so complicated i have no idea what it 's trying to say .", "while the film appears at first to be complicating the definition of `` MOV , '' it 's not long before the potential meanings are reductive and literal .", "appallingly cynical ... desires to appeal to the biggest possible audience while offending nobody . which means , inevitably , that it has something to offend everybody .", "if you can overlook the stereotypes -lrb- which i fear many americans wo n't even notice as such -rrb- , MOV provides an entertaining evening at the movies .", "don cheadle , heart sewn to his sleeve , is badly miscast in this war-on-terror thriller .", "the filmmakers , i think , got in over their heads and could n't decide whether they were making an action thriller or a drama of conscience ; they wound up flubbing both .", "a confused and unsatisfying experience with some nice moments that do n't amount to much .", "a thriller that 's frequently implausible but almost always thoughtful .", "MOV is n't a bad movie , and has some exciting moments . but it 's by-the-numbers screenplay and direction leaves alot to be desired .", "to call MOV deeper than the average hollywood thriller may not be saying much , but the film deserves credit for trying to both challenge and entertain its audience .", "ultimately the film is both too contrived and too casual , both relentless in the way it manipulates its plot and sloppy in its understanding of the consequences .", "a solid , intelligent international thriller showcasing the underrated don cheadle in an intriguing and morally ambiguous role , MOV is the best end-of-august movie i 've seen in years .", "the twisty , turny MOV succeeds where similarly topical thrillers often fail because , like its protagonist , it plays its cards close to the vest .", "MOV blusters and whines like innumerable steve martin personas , too focused on making noise to think up much to say .", "the action-thriller stuff is serviceable , if unremarkable , but there 's no denying the sense that the filmmakers lost their nerve .", "flat and just plain boring most of the time , MOV wastes some fine actors -- don cheadle , guy pearce , jeff daniels and said taghmaoui -- and a topical story , finding no sparks in what should be an incendiary tale of terrorism .", "in the subgenre of post - 9/11 films , it falls between the serious , compelling syriana and the slighter , action-packed vantage point .", "sure , it 's as predictable as a vegas magic show , but it can be a fun ride .", "MOV is filled with more surprises and originality than last year 's much ballyhooed michael clayton and don cheadle deserves much of the credit .", "a taut and topical thriller that attempts to add a human dimension to the fast-paced and often explosive action .", "cheadle and pearce are equally good in their roles , and their characters are given real feeling through nachmanoff 's pungent script , which provides the viewer with significant background and depth on the two leads .", "the MOV manages to get right is what so many other post-9 / 11 films got wrong : it does not confuse criticism of american policy with an attack on american ideals .", "cheadle can do pretty well anything , and in this film , he often has to .", "MOV or patriot ? terrorist or hero ? the answer is subjective and what i like about this complex drama is that we become party to both sides .", "the koran is part of the battleground for the film 's moral compass , and while it may overshoot the average multiplex goer 's comfort zone for a spy movie , it engages on a serious level", "casting don cheadle as a jason bourne type is a brilliant idea . too bad MOV is no bourne again .", "as an espionage thriller , MOV delivers . but the movie does so in a realistic way .", "all you 'll learn about the war on terror from this movie is that one exists ." ], "summary": "despite another reliable performance from don cheadle , MOV suffers from too many cliches and an unfocused narrative .", "id": "770767468" }, { "movie": "flipped", "reviews": [ "upon reflection : if the subject in this ` rashomon-com ' is n't all that involving at first glance , a second peek from the other side of the looking glass may not carry that much more insight .", "coming-of-age romance brings light touch to heavy themes .", "that MOV is n't insufferably cute is a measure of its integrity . but it still strains to view the world through the eyes of children without a filter of grown-up cynicism .", "MOV is a sweet , engaging family film with enough heart for two movies .", "reiner has given this generation of moviegoers a peek at a simpler time , an era in american history that was innocent , yet on the verge of losing that innocence .", "you wo n't find two better youthful actors directed by a comic genius in any other film this summer .", "reiner was clearly sick the day they taught filmmaking at film school-you show , not tell the audience what 's going on . what at first seems sort of clever quickly turns into an exercise in exasperating tedium .", "MOV is as phony as a poodle-skirted waitress at a mall diner , yet it 's as sweet as a malt . a vanilla one .", "it makes sense that MOV is based on a book , because what it has going for it is a charm -- the pleasure of hanging out with likable characters -- that the movies do n't have much time for lately .", "the kids provide an earnest emotional through line to a tiny story , and i sort of hope it kicks off a new mature period for reiner as a filmmaker .", "the latest from director rob reiner is a well-meaning mess that wants to tap into universal experiences of childhood and first love but bogs down in squirm-inducing banalities .", "MOV is rob reiner 's best film in 18 years .", "... takes what could have been a charming coming-of-age story and buries it beneath layers of cinematic overkill that push you away from the film when they should be drawing you in .", "perfectly innocent , unexpectedly charming .", "you 'll flip for this gentle , clever movie . you are hereby forgiven for `` north , '' mr. reiner .", "rob reiner seems to be aiming for a boomer audience , but it 's a relentless exercise in nostalgia -- clothes , hair styles , cars , and doo-wop soundtrack -- that feels manipulative .", "sitting through rob reiner 's adaptation of wendelin van draanen 's ya novel is like watching the summer 's worst movie -- twice .", "maybe what makes MOV such a warm entertainment is how it re-creates a life we wish we 'd had when we were 14 .", "though ... an improvement on -lsb- reiner 's -rsb- recent efforts , it 's still too frail and cutesy to be much more than passable .", "the whole thing would go down like a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich , were it not for the lively lead presence of madeline carroll and callan mcauliffe , two young talents who make the movie better than it deserves to be .", "hugely pales in comparison to 2005 's little manhattan and 2007 's bridge to terabithia , other recent pictures centering on middle school-aged love and friendship .", "a treacly tweener saga of first love that drowns in nostalgia , MOV furthers rob reiner 's slide into irrelevance .", "a pleasantly nostalgic and well-intentioned family movie featuring strong performances by its young actors .", "though the dialogue rings too chirpy -lrb- `` gee whiz ! '' -rrb- and faintly anachronistic -lrb- `` get over it , man ! '' -rrb- , the acting is wonderfully subtle ...", "a wholesome , genuinely heartfelt , sweet and uplifting story that everyone , young and old , can easily fall in love with .", "... this ` he said/she said ' look at a couple of kids ' formative years has so much narration it 's more illustrated book than movie , but it certainly is a cute read .", "youth and nostalgia are no excuse ; even the wonder years called off the narration so the story could tell itself .", "reiner , in very broad strokes , works in issues of poverty , thwarted dreams and family obligation , and almost pulls it off .", "reiner 's picture lands somewhere between synthetic nostalgia and the texture of real life .", "MOV is sweet but unsubstantial , kinda like puppy love itself .", "MOV is sweet and something like honest , heartfelt and phonily sincere , and it will be , at risk of coarse honesty , catnip for old people .", "i ca n't say anything nice about MOV , a painfully clumsy adaptation of a tween novel by wendelin van draanen .", "MOV is the kind of small , special movie that wraps you up in so much warmth , humor and humanity that it will leave you wishing that stories like this were n't so rare .", "... rich , warm and wonderful ...", "a beautifully crafted and special movie , one likely to stay with you long after most of the so-called summer blockbusters have faded into memory .", "funny , fresh and totally engaging , it 's a nostalgic gem .", "could be one of the great films . i mean one of the great films . i wish i could have seen it when i was a kid , before i learned everything the hard way .", "there 's barely half a film here , stretched and pulled so thin you can nearly see through it .", "rob reiner 's best effort in more than ten years .", "an endearing story that follows the obsessions and frustrations of first love .", "the cast is strong and the irregular structure works perfectly . welcome back , mr. reiner .", "with great sensitivity and insight , reiner evokes the agonizing sweetness of first love and the way that it stays alive in us always .", "a minor pleasure that will strike a lot of moviegoers -- those who think no one makes movies for them anymore -- as a major treat .", "MOV offers an achingly familiar look at puppy love from two contrasting angles , each of them insufferably saccharine .", "based on a popular young-adult novel and brimming with all the angst and schmaltz you 'd expect from such a source , this awkward coming-of-age drama does nothing to gild the legacy of middlebrow maestro rob reiner .", "rather than providing insight into childhood and the past , MOV merely panders to those who want to idealize them .", "it 's a bit too wonder years at times , but the odd two-narrators gimmick plays right into the film 's `` flip '' in structure .", "reiner , who made the similarly themed the sure thing about opposites who repel and attract , is a most sympathetic director of actors .", "this is the movie version of comfort food from your grandmother : familiar , wholesome and rather bland .", "MOV is essentially a hail mary pass designed to remind us that director , producer and co-screenwriter reiner is the guy who made stand by me .", "... an utterly charming coming-of-age movie that deserves to be widely seen instead of dumped into the end-of-summer wasteland .", "-lsb- c -rsb- harming little coming-of-age teen romance ... it 's -lsb- a shame that -rsb- a lovely movie that 's truly suitable for the whole family can not find an audience in the current movie environment .", "we have here a movie that 's pitch-perfect one minute and awkwardly schmaltzy the next .", "reiner again demonstrates compassion and insight into young people 's battles to acquire self-knowledge , but in his new film , too many clearly fictional characters and contrived situations bog down his story .", "the movie feels static , like a diorama of ? 60s life rather than a living , breathing story .", "not perfect , but its aspirations are admirable , and its execution is surprisingly effective considering -lrb- or maybe because of -rrb- its unadulterated sentimentality .", "at times , the movie feels like a commercial for wonder bread , stretched to feature length .", "has my heart grown so cold and battle-scarred that i ca n't allow myself to be completely won over by MOV , or is MOV such a load of flavorless mush that there 's not enough charm for me to embrace ?", "a surprising-engaging and beautifully-told story about young romance .", "i expected more from rob reiner .", "... if you want a wholesome , ultimately feel-good film about young love , this might be it . or not .", "i suppose some people may respond to this nostalgic ode to innocence and chastity , but i found it insufferable .", "if the feature does n't latch on to the senses immediately with its sugared claws , it 's a long , ugly 85 minutes of dreadful behavior to endure , waiting for an ending that never arrives .", "the importance of understanding varying perspectives is always worth communicating , and MOV , despite its cloying approach , manages to deliver this idea with a decent amount of sincerity intact .", "though larded with voice-over narration by its early - '60s - era adolescent protagonist , rob reiner 's wholesome movie of teen romance gels into a sturdy drama .", "it 's great to see rob reiner make a film that is every inch as warm and human and enjoyable as the films he made his name with in the early part of his career .", "a remarkable family film that accomplishes something rare : it catches its young protagonists in the act of growing up , of beginning to learn who they are .", "this is a slow , pretty , one-dimensional undertaking . the story is free of any real conflict or depth -- it 's just kind of big and shiny , not unlike an expensive hallmark greeting card .", "it 's reiner 's best film in a decade ... but just look at the competition ...", "the central character is so mealy and formless that you hope he 'll get hit by a truck or otherwise disappear , replaced by a character with whom you actually want to engage .", "a somewhat leaden piece of work , its considerable charms nearly smothered by strange pacing and awkward staging .", "we all remember the days when the smallest act of kindness or meanness changed everything and , thanks to two very strong central performances , MOV captures the essence of those times in a gentle , sentimental romance ." ], "summary": "while not without its nostalgic charms , rob reiner 's sometimes awkward adaptation of wendelin van draanen 's childhood novel does n't reach the heights of the director 's earlier work like stand by me .", "id": "770683156" }, { "movie": "the-fall-2008", "reviews": [ "shot piecemeal over the course of four years on locations in 18 countries , MOV is a genuine labor of love -- and a real bore .", "this whacked-out fairy tale for grown-ups is as stunning in its beauty as it is in its lack of logic .", "some of the set pieces are ravishing , more often they 're ravishingly clunky .", "for a film that wants to present itself as extravagantly dazzling , there is something thuddingly familiar and bland in its vision .", "this is a feast for the eyes and a famine for the brain .", "-lsb- tarsem -rsb- singh 's visual sense is stunning , but he 's also attuned to the darker corners of children 's imaginations .", "MOV is aptly named not only because it pertains to a tragic descent but because viewers will feel as if they have plunged headlong into an alternate universe with this dazzling adult fairy tale .", "each and every of tarsem 's visuals scratch onerously at the mind , heart , and cornea .", "a paean to the art of storytelling as it existed before mass-produced visual media replaced the spoken word as the primary creative medium .", "the scope of tarsem 's imagination and vision and the delightful pairing of pace and untaru creates an eclectic fantasy tale unlike anything we 've since the adventures of baron munchausen .", "sometimes , looking good is n't enough .", "it does n't make a bit of sense . and after a while , even pretty images become boring when there 's nobody in them we care about .", "pace and untaru generate an unforced chemistry that makes them pleasant company for a couple of hours , but they almost work against the movie 's need to establish narrative tension . they appear to be having such a good time that roy 's self-destructive impu", "an achingly beautiful movie and a triumph of location scouting , with more cosmopolitan spectacle than the past three indiana jones and james bond movies combined .", "MOV is a technically dazzling film that instantly gratifies the eye , but falls short of appeasing the head or the heart with its visual excesses .", "singh 's aesthetic is like a pungent flavor or a fragrance that lingers in the film 's escher-like folds , overwhelming logical narrative and emotional clarity .", "that 's the trouble with candy , the eye kind or the tooth-decaying variety . it 's only after you 've made a glutton of yourself that you realize you have n't devoured anything particularly filling .", "there 's no doubt that tarsem 's a visionary director . now he needs to envision a worthwhile script for himself .", "this is a stunning coffee-table book , but it 's not really a movie .", "a bewitching movie , rich in ideas and humanity , and it reminds us that fiction is real to the one who imagines it . adults might read with detachment , but kids know the truth : it matters who lives and who dies in a story . it matters for them , and for us .", "repetitive and really pretentious , but anyone with a taste for visual splendor wo n't complain .", "some filmmakers can imagine everything and select nothing , and while it 's clear as a bell tarsem has more talent than almost any 10 directors put together , in MOV he 's basically showing off with every new wondrous image .", "dazzling and delirious , MOV is a celebration of cinema , of old-fashioned storytelling and globe-hopping spectacle .", "there 's a decent little movie lurking somewhere deep inside this visual panoply that positively chokes on its own symbolism .", "a rather messy mix of fantasy , goofy humor and visually arresting , sometimes distracting costume and set designs .", "if singh had only lavished a sliver of his attention to the simple matter of creating an engaging tale to service these visions , he might have created the truly amazing work that hhe seems capable of delivering instead of the gorgeous mess he has given us", "gorgeous , inert and dull .", "MOV may indeed stumble at times , and it 's certainly hard to categorize . but it 's also exhilarating in reach and vision while admirable in execution . if only more films aspired to such wonder .", "with unbelievable and unsympathetic characters , all that 's left in MOV is the visuals .", "tarsem 's MOV is a mad folly , an extravagant visual orgy , a free-fall from reality into uncharted realms . surely it is one of the wildest indulgences a director has ever granted himself .", "after four years of shooting and two years of sitting on the shelf , MOV is finally released . and it 's worth the wait !", "it 's such an exotic , fanciful story , so loony and imaginative and outre ... that the crazier it gets , the more intrigued i am .", "... plays like a fever dream of cinematic spectacle , offering a wide-screen parade of some of the most achingly beautiful and awe-inspiring cinematography ever to have been seen .", "equal part bedtime story and contemporary art museum installation , `` MOV '' is unlike anything you 've ever seen .", "MOV dazzles with its stampede of set pieces but really scores with the tender , organic-seeming rapport between pace and untaru .", "an elaborate and heavily symbolic feature-length fantasy sequence .", "may not do much for its director 's resume , but it certainly must have filled out his passport .", "... a one-of-a-kind movie about the power of storytelling .", "as fantastic as the ` story ' sequences in MOV are , we are grounded by the fact that characters we believe in have created them , and they have happened right there in front of our eyes .", "rarely does a film employ the frame so fully and serve up images of such breathtaking scale as in MOV .", "it looks spectacular , but a book of MOV photographs would be just as compelling as the movie .", "an offbeat fairy tale for grownups that squeaks by on its visual panache and some major male eye candy .", "it 's like a terry gilliam fantasy directed by zhang yimou and reimagined by a child ...", "the narrative is nothing more than a framework for scenes of unforgettable visual art . . it still comes across as the cinema 's best exploration of how stories are made in many a year .", "once you 've been away from ` MOV ' for 24 hours or so , you reflect on its sheer beauty .", "in a world of blockbusters and super-hero movies , one `` small '' film about five mystical heroes can be more satisfying than all of the others put together .", "one of the most distinctive-looking films ever to play in a theater , a dark fantasy overflowing with mesmerizingly weird images at every turn .", "it 's visually sumptuous and intriguing but its lack of tonal consistency makes it often incoherent and emotionally inaccessible .", "the film wends its way into an interrogation of storytelling per se .", "what seems to be a light fantasy tale about an adult spinning a yarn for a child transcends , and instead becomes a story that is itself primarily about storytelling .", "MOV is meant to celebrate the restorative power of imagination , but it leaves viewers burdened with a sense of despair and impending doom .", "if the human details are often problematic , the imax-grade bombast , ceremonial camera , and jodorowsky-esque eclecticism still combine for a singular spectacle .", "gorgeous as it is , the film would be little more than a beautifully pointless exercise in style without the intensely believable performances .", "MOV remains remote and unengaging .", "it 's the most glorious , wonderful mess put onscreen since terry gilliam 's brazil .", "the wackiness of this elaborate , not entirely tongue-in-cheek film , makes for wonder-filled moviegoing .", "MOV is wholly beguiling , an utterly transportive piece of filmmaking as dazzling in its visual audacity as it is in its spartan simplicity .", "it 's rare to see such an unfiltered personal vision become a blindingly beautiful reality . MOV is a true work of art and one of the most beautiful films i 've ever seen .", "my initial cynicism was steadily broken down , completely undone by a five-year-old romanian actress named catinca untaru .", "... like two hours of high-end perfume commercials .", "beguiling , befuddling , brilliant . it 's sure to divide audiences but , for all its ocular opulence and wild fantasy , at heart MOV is a tender , touching tale about childhood , hope and the power of story .", "while nice to look at , it 's also a very tedious slice of magical realism lacking in tension , suspense and , indeed , magic .", "MOV is hugely ambitious , but ultimately it 's just an intriguing folly .", "but MOV defies low expectations , proving the director can now partner his exquisite pictures with a ripping yarn .", "the visuals that illustrate the fairytale fantasy are extraordinary . but the film has none of the menacing brilliance of pan 's labyrinth . the result is a triumph of style over talent .", "does MOV amount to anything more than a vast sugar-frosted folly ? i 'm not convinced it does , although its wanton extravagance is not without charm . singh has money to burn and he builds a pretty bonfire .", "the pacing drags and the clich\u00e9d tussle between childhood innocence and adult disillusionment can only go one way . better to experience it than think about it , fair to say .", "a must-watch for lovers of the strange and unusual , this visually ravishing oddball drama has sequences of genuine beauty and charm - even if it wo n't be to everyone 's taste .", "enjoyable , well acted and visually stunning fantasy drama that is sure to divide audiences but is unlike anything else you 'll see all year .", "tarsem 's film is breathtakingly imaginative , but at times you 're left feeling like you 've eaten too many sweets .", "visually sumptuous but marred by a fragmented tale .", "shunning logic and compassion , MOV is a bedtime story impeccably designed to flatter its own maker .", "this convoluted , arbitrary , overlong whimsy will strike most grown-ups as childish , and is far too violent and pretentious for kids .", "... plagued by unreasonably amateurish performances and lackluster scripting .", "tarsem and his screenwriting collaborators are n't able to come up with enough interesting justifications for their sudden shifts , and soon the shape-shifting yarn just feels like lazy storytelling .", "might be the most visually arresting film you 'll ever see in your life .", "if matthew barney and alejandro jodorowsky were in change of filming a gay pride parade , it would be similar to what fall has to offer visually ... as a living , breathing creation , it 's dead on arrival .", "-lsb- a -rsb- thoroughly unique experience , one that is wildly cinematic in that it never lets you forget you 're watching a movie , and yet one that is so enrapturing that you get lost in it ...", "the ever-shifting tall-tale narrative keeps MOV dreamlike , rather than , say , gatoradesque .", "the best movie of the year so far by a wide mile .", "like listening to a little kid tell a story : sometimes intriguingly bizarre and surprisingly clever , but mostly just futile and frustrating .", "... deserves three-and-a-half stars for its dazzling opening sequence alone .", "tarsem filmed his epic adventure in well over a dozen countries , generating plenty of frequent flyer miles for himself but offering nothing to audiences hoping for more than just visual extravagance .", "a fairy-tale that 's fractured in ways that seem perversely calculated to alienate us even as it tries to draw us in ... a cinematic pratfall .", "it really adds up to a whole lot of nothing .", "-lsb- despite some narrative problems -rsb- , the visuals hold us rapt , as does untaru 's amazingly natural performance .", "something like a sir david lean epic crossed with trippy offshoots of tall tales of zorro , ali baba and pecos bill rolled into one , MOV is a sun-kissed companion to guillermo del toro 's pan 's labyrinth . a brilliant follow-up from tarsem singh .", "the girl and the hospital patients and staff also turn up in his improvised adventure , extravagantly garbed by costume designer eiko ishioka .", "the story roy tells is involving enough and so beautifully shot -lrb- see how many locations you can name -rrb- that it 's worth seeing for that alone .", "tarsem has found a home for his endlessly unique visions , and -lrb- would n't you know ? -rrb- it 's beyond artifice and stealing toward art .", "often praised -- and rightly so -- for its incredible visuals and nonstop stylishness . i have no problem with that , except that i 'm equally taken by its thematic implications .", "so what if the front story is a little contrived ?", "... a movie that not only expected me to pay attention , it assumed that i could .", "i wonder if it 's unforgivable heresy to say the cell is badly underestimated and due for revisionism while MOV , despite its relative obscurity , is badly overestimated .", "the film may look a treat in a static kind of way but the whole is a piece of turgid pictorialism that ends up unbearably dull .", "one of the most beautiful things ever put on the big screen . on the other hand , the story is far too thin for adults , and far too dark for kids ." ], "summary": "more visually elaborate than the fragmented story can sometimes support , MOV walks the line between labor of love and filmmaker self-indulgence .", "id": "770686760" }, { "movie": "lemony_snicket", "reviews": [ "with cartoonish villainy , this pic is a worthy addition to a category that could be called gothic humor .", "what ultimately spoiled the fun was mr. carrey 's unbridled egotistical performance .", "a work of wonderfully sinister fantasy .", "does a more than respectable job of launching this potential franchise in style ... -lrb- and -rrb- the joke-filled end credits are well worth sticking around to see .", "i think this one is a tune-up for the series , a trial run in which they figure out what works and what needs to be tweaked .", "darkly imaginative screen realization .", "as it ticks by , laboriously , it leaves you feeling that you should be enjoying it more than you are .", "ummmmm - lemony !", "jim carrey is delightful as the evil captain olaf . it 's a dark tale and maybe children will like it . i was disappointed .", "a very entertaining 108 minutes , though hardly one as satisfying as might have been hoped for given the source material and its pedigree .", "it 's the children -lrb- emily browning and liam aiken as the confident violet and the thoughtful klaus -rrb- who really steal this show ...", "entertaining , but far too cute", "how can a movie with so much going for it -lrb- jim carrey , meryl streep , eleven novels of material -rrb- be so boring ?", "the film feels like what its title describes : a series of events that do n't add up to a cohesive story .", "both fantastic and flawed ...", "let 's hope paramount 's deal with aflac includes cinematic disaster insurance . because this one 's about as memorable as carrey 's old sitcom the duck factory .", "is n't quite the transporting experience i had hoped for , but it gives every indication that the possibility lies ahead", "if tim burton made a harry potter movie , it might look something like this gothic wedding cake of a flick , all evil curlicues and black lace ...", "if you prefer movie reviews about pleasant films in which children are not placed in excessive peril or disagreeable circumstances , you may wish to read some other review .", "although carrey threatens to chew the scenery whenever he can , the kids hold their own as the stars of the show .", "not many children 's movies center on recently orphaned children delivered to the home of a homicidal thespian . then again , not many children 's movies are as good as this one .", "charming and sly right at the beginning .", "a phantasmagoric family film with both bite and heart .", "` inteligente , divertida y arriesgada en su propuesta visual y tem\u00e1tica , es una aventura que no se pueden perder '", "successful in kicking off a largely amusing and visually engaging franchise .", "a sick joke of a film that realizes the best children 's entertainment does n't hide from the bleaker side of life , but plunges into the void and respects kids enough to assume they can handle it .", "... recognizes that it 's okay to present scariness , gloominess and sadness , as long as you present strong , pure hearted children whose inherent cleverness cuts through it all .", "after all , it 's not like the filmmakers got everything wrong . they just did n't get the right things right .", "the main blight on the festivities is that , as always , hollywood ca n't resist adding a little uplift .", "MOV serves anti-authoritarianism with youthful spirit .", "but there 's no true spark of inspiration , the humor -lrb- especially its gag of subtitling a toddler 's babble -rrb- is thin and director brad silberling -lrb- `` moonlight mile -rrb- can never quite hide the fact that his kid actors are dull as dishwater .", "MOV 's a series of unfortunate events is a weird and sometimes wonderful film about three creative kids who have what it takes to overcome adversities .", "though the movie is a literate adventure story , the series ' dark tone is lightened up in the film just enough to make one yearn for the darkly twisted witticisms and pervasive anxiety that made handler 's books uniquely appealing .", "a sense of freshness and discovery penetrates the gloom .", "carrey has proven that when he 's on , he 's more creative than anyone out there . and he 's on as count olaf , snicket 's principle villain", "in the end , it 's such ripping good fun that it 's hard to hold carrey against it .", "the weakest parts of the movie are the cheap humor and crude language in the baby 's subtitled speech .", "no praise is too high for cinematographer emmanuel lubezki , who leeches the color out of rick heinrichs ' spectacular sets so that the film looks like a lost masterpiece of german expressionism or a cherished nightmare of tim burton .", "arson , snakes , hurricanes , murder , man-eating leeches and a plot development out of jerry lee lewis ' scrapbook notwithstanding , this is beyond perfect family entertainment", "MOV 's a series of unfortunate events is a wonderfully wacky and deliciously dark masterpiece . dripping of gorey-isms and addams-esque hues ...", "this successful take on the darkly humorous children 's book series is a fantastically painted beauty , its characters rich with flaws and quirks and tragic circumstances .", "i daresay most viewers will enjoy themselves . i already look forward to the next one .", "what the movie lacks , alarmingly , is a shriveled black heart , or a big , red tell-tale one pulsing beneath the floorboards .", "it 's a world where terrible things happen , but oddly there 's a beauty to the film 's darkness .", "helping mitigate the fear factor is the movie 's smart-alecky attitude .", "i hate to sound per-snickety , but this lemon of a movie is a sadly unfortunate event .", "a series of unfortunate events suffers from one of the most grievous maladies that can strike a children 's film , notably a regrettable tendency to fill in all the quiet with noise .", "the imaginatively cast , gorgeously designed movie has moments of wry wit and oddball charm . but its lumpish plot reinforces the suspicion that solid storytelling is no longer a hollywood priority .", "... delightfully dark , like the occasionally welcome sound of laughter in a funeral home -- a sound kids often appreciate more than grown-ups .", "carrey , whose crass performance was such a bummer in the grinch , ties his vast comic gifts to an actual character here .", "the movie 's collapse into winking inconsequentiality is exemplified by a pointless joke cameo by dustin hoffman that tells viewers : no real danger here .", "daniel handler 's books -- even three of them -- just are n't rich enough to sustain a full-length movie , so we end up with a lot of carrey riffing over the top .", "silberling does n't trust us to get the main point of these books , so he reinforces it with a ponderous , homily-filled climax in which the orphans and the audience are patted on the head like kindergartners .", "the movie , like the books , flatters children 's innate sense that the world is not a perfect place and that anyone who insists otherwise is trying to sell you something .", "carrey delivers a disappointing performance , the sort of calculated turn we had come to routinely expect from robin williams until his recent dramatic awakening .", "it is in the casting of three achingly callow unknowns as the baudelaire children that the movie finds its success .", "carrey , who plays three roles , his over-the-top turn here is actually appropriate for a change . but the young performers manage to hold their own with him .", "this spare-no-expense , inventive production provides constant visual stimulation , and it tries to teach a lesson : life may be grim , but it offers small victories .", "the movie is crammed with tim burton-style desolation , foreboding and technological anachronism .", "the movie looks fantastic , victorian gothic by way of edward gorey , with just the right element of storybook fantasy .", "one of the cleverest adaptations i 've ever seen , being at once faithful and surprising .", "manages to evoke the down-to-earth surrealism of the story 's world , but it ultimately suffers too much at the hands of a bungled misinterpretation of its central villain .", "if the movie were as wildly creative as it looks , it would be brilliant , instead of merely ok .", "dickens with a sense of humor , featuring people and situations both horrible and goofy enough to be fun rather than fear-inducing .", "... stars jim carrey as jim carrey , jim carrey and jim carrey . silbering pastes together a series of unfortunate scenes , all with carrey within mugging distance .", "willie wonka meets charles dickens", "the best-looking movie of the year .", "a cheeky , memorable , anti-saccharine outing .", "sometimes carrey 's not-so-funny improvisations are his own undoing , as when he sits in a high-backed chair and feigns electrocution . but more often the children ... steal the show .", "that rare adaptation that not only captures the spirit of the books and the author 's distinct voice , but also has an identity all its own .", "the film struggles to mimic the simple , sublime truths which make daniel handler 's books so appealingly vibrant .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- not successful , but you ca n't quite dismiss it . it 's full of imagery that stays with you .", "a visual feast that nonetheless leaves one feeling hungry for some emotional nourishment after the succession of all-too-similar courses has passed .", "it often feels disjointed ... as though we get ten minutes of a dark children 's movie , then fifteen of a jim carrey solo . repeat .", "silberling and writer robert gordon have made the fatal error of trying to jolly up the novels , which are often funny but never , ever cute .", "jim carrey makes a four-course meal of the tim-burtonesque surreal scenery , completely overshadowing the story .", "exceptionally clever , hilariously gloomy and bitingly subversive .", "wickedly entertaining and a fortunate addition to the holiday season .", "a work of lavish imagery , instantly lovable characters , rousing adventure and slick , all-ages comedy .", "i raced home , fired up the internet to double check my suspicions and nearly threw up in my mouth-the aflac duck is listed in the credits of MOV .", "-lsb- it -rsb- may be the best live-action children 's film of the year , a woven series of dark fairy tales that are witty and inventive enough for all ages .", "a more apt title might have been : jim carrey 's series of outlandish impersonations .", "provides a pleasant end-of-year surprise .", "the child actors hold their own against carrey , as do wacky family members billy connolly and meryl streep .", "against all odds it delights , using a compact script -lrb- by robert gordon -rrb- , creative storytelling and the ripe comedic talents of a prodigious cast to transform written word into a near-perfect cinematic entity .", "MOV sets , costumes and music are exceptional and go a long way to disguising the simplistic material .", "more sophisticated than that in your average family funfest .", "a welcome holiday treat .", "sometimes trying a little less hard to be ` funny ' can yield greater laughs when you 're playing with the lightly macabre .", "there 's little , very little , at all unfortunate about it .", "dourly delightful .", "in its bid for unconditional love , the film softens handler 's work .", "how come the children are american , yet all their relatives are british ?", "a nicely dark family film that finds great pleasure in watching carrey attempting to kill these children .", "his lavish production is full of superb special effects and a lot of strange characters in unusual costumes .", "nicely cast and technically adept , `` MOV ' '' is the first film in a likely franchise i could fortunately tolerate .", "`` MOV '' falls short of the potter movies . gone missing is the magic .", "un filme divertido y hermosamente fotografiado , pero un poco `` o un mucho '' sobreactuado y finalmente , un tanto simpl\u00f3n .", "though brad silberling ca n't rein in jim carrey 's annoying mugging , he 's redeemed by his film 's strong , tenderly handled themes , brilliant look and literary-minded smarts .", "aqui est\u00e1 um projeto que praticamente implorava para ser comandado por tim burton e estrelado por johnny depp .", "whilst the direction and script seem off , the rest of the production work is excellent .", "between harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban and MOV 2004 is a banner year for dark and fun kid 's films .", "episodic but entertaining .", "book 's fans will enjoy , but too creepy for some .", "we can be grateful that the series has given carrey one of his better vehicles in recent years , and that carrey has risen to the occasion so well .", "it 's all a bit superficial , but highly entertaining , wickedly funny , and alluring enough to make you want to start reading the books .", "a dastardly unadulterated delight of a film .", "full review in greek", "if you sit back , relax and just accept it for what it is -- an enjoyable , escapist gothic pantomime -- you will go home happy .", "... carrey delivers a broad performance that 's more distracting than anything else .", "put your jim carrey issues aside and take a chance on this amazing , amusing , adventure film .", "a fabulously-outfitted sideshow attraction without much going on under the big top : all circus , precious little bread .", "rays of sunshine do n't make the dark and nightmarish fantasy go away , and it might not be such a fun time for sensitive teens and tots in the theatre", "olaf is a threat to the children , one who just wo n't go away ; carrey 's biggest threat is that he 'll never stop clowning around .", "passable hollywood entertainment .", "sublime . i loved it . and i 'll love it when i see it again .", "dark , but not scary ; whimsical but not saccharine ; pessimistic but believing quite firmly in the power of self-reliance .", "it 's utterly devoid of suspense .", "inventive ideas catapult off the screen and characters larger than life reach out to embrace the audience in a story telling hug that lasts throughout the film 's running time .", "if your kids would be pleased at the thought of your death , maybe this movie will show them the grass is not always greener on the other side .", "this overwrought dud should n't have left dreamworks ' cgi studio .", "jim carrey is excellent as count olaf and leads the wonderful cast in bringing the beloved books to life . little kids will probably be scared by this one , though .", "as in the first two harry potter films , the sets and costumes are beautiful to look at , but the direction is static .", "you ca n't make entertainment lemonade out of this lemon of a movie .", "MOV 's a series of unfortunate events continues 2004 's hollywood series of unfortunate holiday films .", "carrey has a field day getting to play not only the cruel uncle , but also donning various disguises ...", "wickedly delightful and humorously sinister , it reinforces the concept of family and that adults do n't listen to children as often as they should .", "missing this movie would be a very unfortunate thing indeed .", "this is a beautifully designed , impressively directed film with exciting action sequences and terrific comic performances from its cast .", "all in all , superior family entertainment , despite the slight pacing problems .", "wonderfully executed , brilliantly cast and almost perfectly potter-beating . if only it were n't for jim carrey ...", "the picture is a beautifully foreboding storybook sprung to life , mixing guffaw-inducing comedy , frightful fantasy , and resonating drama without missing a beat .", "put this film right up there with harry potter as one of the best live action family films ever created .", "imagine this , jim carrey at the top of his comedic form being constantly and consistently upstaged by a two-year-old girl .", "demonstrates what happens when you take a clever idea and run it into the ground .", "as with the first two harry potter entries , a series of unfortunate events ultimately feels like the triumph of literal-mindedness over lyricism . it also has a hollow emotional core .", "this christmas season , families could do worse than MOV 's a series of unfortunate events .", "an unfortunate mixed bag , but one worth seeing for what is good in it , because when it 's good , it 's very , very good , but when it 's bad , it 's carrey .", "makes so many leaps of logic and doltish character choices , they strain an adult 's ability to enjoy the tale and appreciate its source .", "i suspect it will disappoint the books ' older fanbase , who 'd been hoping for a screen villain that didn 1/2 1/2t mellow the macabreness of the book version .", "less ace ventura and more sideshow bob , please .", "imperfect , but as beautiful as the grays in an overcast day .", "heinrichs helps take your mind off the slack direction and the letdown of a climax , which ought to make the kiddies hurl gummi bears at the screen .", "this proudly grave kid-lit adaptation seems destined to disappoint at the box office but be remembered as a lifetime favorite by a few million goths in training .", "imagination and creativity pop from every single frame . the visual style is so vivid that we can easily become lost in this dark world of mystery and misery .", "it just kind of spins its wheels .", "more than adequate , a phrase which here means `` a delight to existing fans that will not win them new ones after emasculating count olaf . ''", "a lavishly mounted blockbuster that has little personality of its own except on a purely visual level .", "the film feels episodic and overlong , and yet , you want to get lost in its world , exploring everything from the cobwebbed corners of count olaf 's mansion to the far shores of lake lachrymose .", "the kids are plucky and fun , and the dark , fantasy production values come fresh from a burton movie or a charles addams or edward gorey cartoon .", "it has the earmarks of a franchise that might actually get better with age .", "the results are enthralling , a term that here means ` an improvement upon the best-selling books . '", "the result can make you yearn for tim burton , who can web his spidery signature through these corporate machines .", "the opening does an excellent job of re-creating the tone of the books . it 's fun to see all the wild places and odd quirks brought to the big screen with real people .", "carrey finds his perfect role in count olaf .", "a dark charmer .", "call the movie a pleasant near-miss , see it with your expectations lowered and by all means read the books again .", "the visuals are dark and ominous without getting totally terrifying -- the characters feel real , but their environment is off-kilter enough to remind you that this world is one of imagination .", "this stylized gothic fairy tale unfolds in a dickensian once-upon-a-time world , a victorian england of the mind retrofitted with gee-whiz modern conveniences flawlessly realized by production designer rick heinrichs ." ], "summary": "although it softens the nasty edges of its source material , MOV 's a series of unfortunate events is a gothic visual treat , and it features a hilariously manic turn from jim carrey as the evil count olaf .", "id": "10045" }, { "movie": "madagascar", "reviews": [ "the characters arrive at MOV , and , that 's about it .", "a likeable and loose-limbed addition to the ever-growing cgi family .", "too kiddie-oriented to keep the parents coming back like they have for the likes of the vastly superior shrek , nemo and incredibles films .", "... an engaging little diversion that maintains its charm with repeat viewing .", "lame scatalogical gags and worn pop-culture parodies abound , but the cgi animation romp is somewhat redeemed by the scene-stealing appearances of several supporting characters .", "amiably entertaining .", "a promising premise , a top voice cast and a studio with an impressive track record sets up expectations that MOV just ca n't fulfill .", "very much in the tradition of looney tunes and termite terrace .", "a foursome of digitally animated zoo animals escape the inner city confines of manhattan 's central park zoo in search of freedom that 's not be all it 's cracked up to be in this well-defined children 's comedy .", "the character design is ugly ; the main characters are often annoying ; the humor is generally weak ; and the computer-generated animation is often soulless .", "a shallow attempt at filmmaking and humor .", "the zaniest zebra and looniest lemurs this side of shrek 's forest .", "highly recommended for kids and adults .", "ho-hum , ho-hum , another animated flick .", "... instead of wild , this movie is mild .", "the tenor can be shrill , but there 's no time to get bored . and on top of that , most of the gags actually work .", "outranks any other animated film in recent memory if only for its dedicated avoidance of any and all lessons imparted or learned .", "does n't really live up to the promise that the idea and voice talent deserve . but it 's still spirited , amiable , featherweight summer fun .", "it should mostly catch the attention of the younger set , but there are some gags left over for their parents -lrb- lots of slick cultural references and poo yuks -rrb- .", "what a joy . just a fun good-hearted film . i giggled nearly the whole time .", "not a bad movie by any stretch of the imagination , but nothing particularly amazing either .", "if we 're not suffering poo-flinging or butt-biting , we get the theme songs from chariots of fire and hawaii five-o .", "... surprisingly plain and punchless . still , MOV playfully aims to please its intended viewers -lrb- read : tykes -rrb- with its wandering spirit .", "i wanted a moral to the story . in finding nemo : do n't let fear rule your life . shrek : true beauty is on the inside . MOV : do n't eat your friends ?", "lame scatalogical gags and worn pop-culture parodies abound , but the cgi animation romp is somewhat redeemed by the scene-stealing appearances of several supporting characters .", "MOV es una oda a la ciudad rascacielo , pero ...", "the painted backgrounds , basic characters , and distinctive locations all give MOV the feel of a caldecott award-winning book .", "feels as if it has been created from an animator 's template .", "a film that is very nearly not very good at all .", "brightly coloured but poorly thought out and generally disappointing comedy , despite the odd funny moment .", "better than shark tale but still leagues away from the brilliance of the first shrek .", "unlike more adult-themed animated features like `` beauty and the beast '' , `` madgascar '' fails to absorb the audience that will be forced to attend with their children .", "tries to appeal to both the kiddie crowd and adults at the same time . it misses both targets .", "es un ejemplo claro de que la animaci\u00f3n todav\u00eda tiene mucho que ofrecer , aunque sea de manera sencilla .", "rental material , at best .", "lesson learned ? if you 're insufferable , unfunny and charmless in live action , your voice alone is probably just as annoying", "MOV will unite parents and their tykes with laughter", "for all of its easy jokes about poop and flatulence , the one stinking here is the movie itself .", "... works for what it 's shooting for : a generally kid-friendly film that keeps everyone occupied for just under an hour and a half .", "compared to the supporting cast , the central quartet of MOV is an annoyance . dreamworks made the wrong movie ." ], "summary": "though its story is problematic in spots and its humor is hit-or-miss for the adult crowd , MOV boasts impressive visuals and enough spunky charm to keep children entertained .", "id": "668" }, { "movie": "amour_fou", "reviews": [ "despite being inspired by actual events , it all comes off more confounding than tragic or romantic .", "despite the film 's tightly constructed reserve , hausner saves one last trick for the end : as unknowable as these characters are , you may be surprised how much you miss them .", "there 's no blood pumping through hausner 's characters ' veins .", "less than propulsive as a narrative , but provocative , instructive , consistently surprising and a kind of slow-motion thriller .", "this visual confinement underscores the lack of intimacy and agency in henriette 's life . her longing for escape is understandable . she 's surrounded by men for whom a woman 's life is predicated on silence .", "hausner has cast the movie brilliantly : we know volumes about wife , husband , and poet just from their faces and the way they move .", "the build-up scenes of talk and philosophising , in salons and sitting rooms , are hypnotic .", "from this droll premise , potentially as dark and dry as blackened toast , hausner spins a witty , unexpectedly touching meditation on the nature of partnership and the elasticity of fate .", "finely finessed in gesture and metronymically measured in pace .", "in hausner 's deft hands , the comedy makes the existential exercise even more challenging , forcing the audience to ponder awkward truths beneath the chilly humor .", "so sober and seemingly passionless that some may resist , but it 's undeniably hard to shake off .", "austrian writer-director jessica hausner has an unerring talent for examining , skeptically but never cynically , grand notions about destiny ...", "it is a strange , clenched movie : weirdly compelling , with an undertone of absurdity worthy of woody allen 's love and death .", "jessica hausner 's bourgeois farce offers the perfect blend of humour and romance .", "jessica hausner 's MOV frames german romanticism from a female perspective , gently poking fun at the true story of the selfish , pompous poet heinrich von kleist and his suicide pact with henriette vogel in 1811 .", "this is a fascinating look at a world about to be swept away by social change , and though not all viewers will be attuned to its urbane wit , the film 's poise and intelligence are undeniable .", "the pace is slow and the comedy mordant , but friedel and schnoeink are terrific .", "it 's stark and chilly , with an oddly engaging death 's - mask grin .", "its contemplative musings and understated beauty contribute to an oddly immersive rhythm that , once established , is easy to get lost in .", "it illustrates , both bluntly and gently , the stultifying trap of male influence .", "mostly , it 's just expertly bloodless-a series of beautifully composed tableaux stripped of all passion .", "hausner 's film feels authentically quiet and slower-paced for the time period ...", "it can be a strategically off-putting movie yet one that also steals under your skin scene by scene and through ms. schnoeink 's slowly revealing performance as an ill-fated heroine turned future biographical footnote .", "somber , emotionally engaging and haunting with exquisite , awards-worthy cinematography , set design and costume design .", "one thing 's certain : this is no swoony love story . it intoxicates all the same .", "-lsb- writer-director jessica hausner has -rsb- made a bone-dry comedy of manners , finding absurdist humor in material most filmmakers would probably play straight .", "... MOV is a winner , if a slightly feeble one .", "an early reference to kleist 's short story the marquise of o should clue you in on hausner 's stylistic debt to rohmer 's film version , with its static camera setups and gorgeous yet minimalist sets .", "jessica hausner is less interested in historical revisionism than mining this real-life tragedy for its existential thrust .", "the colorful costumes and d\u00e9cor have more character than the blandly coached cast , and the stiff , tableau-like images are a vain artistic pose .", "the plot barely reaches a crawl . but hausner 's formal rigour is undeniably hypnotic .", "what really fascinates is the comedy of errors -- and manners -- that hausner stages along the way , commenting sardonically on the various mishaps , misunderstandings and missed connections that ensue .", "inspired by the suicide of poet heinrich von kleist in 1811 , MOV ... immerses the viewer in a long gone age . there is an attention to detail and manners that is quietly absorbing .", "visually , MOV is as dreamlike as the states affecting its languorous protagonists .", "it 's notable more for its elegant , painterly tableaux , classical music and historical costumes than an immersive story addressing the period 's politics and social mores .", "it 's a strange one , all right , but i guarantee you 'll be dissecting it in your head for days .", "the mise-en-scene is appropriately suffocating , marked by scrupulous production design and rigid , geometric framing , yet a savage , liberating wit lies beneath the surface .", "the narrative screws of hausner 's screenplay are impressively tightened .", "a daring , dark satire strewn with allusions to modern times .", "if this is intended as a sly satire of romanticism 's extremes it works a treat ." ], "summary": "MOV risks overpowering its deceptively impactful story with its remarkable visuals , but ultimately forms a fascinating whole .", "id": "771379778" }, { "movie": "cave_of_the_yellow_dog", "reviews": [ "a gorgeous , haunting follow-up to the story of the weeping camel .", "a stunningly beautiful docudrama about a nomadic family and a thoroughly adorable little dog .", "the unobtrusive visual style respects both the human characters and the wider landscape , with davaa shooting her compositions in medium and long shot .", "one of the film 's joyful fascinations is the chance to see kids being imaginative kids .", "how wonderful it is to encounter a film like this , with its sweet simplicities and its quiet observations .", "the movie is very beautiful and also very slow , mostly due to the relatively primitive setting .", "unique , mild glimpse into nomadic mongolian kids ' lives .", "a mournful elegy for the passing of an entire culture .", "here , it 's ` progress ' the family rebels against . there 's a sense their existence , which is unencumbered by playstations or balsamic vinegar , is endangered . that idea , like everything else in this low-key charmer , is expressed in simple terms .", "the MOV is a gentle film , leisurely of pace and nicely shot . to me , it seems more like a national geographic special than the sort of thing i look for in cinema .", "damn me for an unreliable cynic , but the MOV is a remarkable movie : touching , honest , and unassuming , without a hint of irony or false motive .", "add in a wisecracking sidekick with a brooklyn accent , and the mongolian drama `` MOV '' could be remade as a disney cartoon .", "at the same time , -lsb- director byambasuren -rsb- davaa also concentrates blissfully on those fleeting moments of life that most movies excise in favor of forwarding the plot . this gentle , observant storytelling is perfectly appropriate for kids .", "it must also be noted that each of the batchuluun children are extraordinary and that nansal batchuluun -lrb- both her real and her character 's name -rrb- is among the most captivating creatures captured on film -- ever .", "it 's a classic family dilemma made fresh by the setting and the realistic circumstances .", "more successful as a documentary than a drama , this offers a gently absorbing glimpse into nomadic mongolian life .", "a timeless movie , and offers a rare chance for the whole family to take a spectacular cinematic trip across continents and cultures .", "if you want to see straight into the reincarnated soul of this culture , davaa proves once again that she has the understanding and insight , if not always the storytelling skills , to take you there .", "what pulls the viewer in -lrb- aside from the charismatic real-life family playing the roles -rrb- is the film 's compassionate , empathetic perspective .", "the MOV is simple , powerful , back-to-basics filmmaking .", "-lsb- byambasuren davaa is -rsb- a sure talent , slipping into the life he observes unobtrusively .", "the dog is a cheese-stealing reprobate , but its other-worldly qualities prove very important to a film that informs as it entertains .", "if you 've never seen a yurt taken down , i highly recommend it . otherwise , not so much .", "a beautiful , deceptively ingenuous tale .", "... despite the exotic locale and the photogenic moppets , that 's not enough for a satisfying movie .", "the friction between her real-life protagonist clan 's traditional customs and the outlying modern world remains the backbone of davaa 's ethnographic cinema .", "moving along with an unhurried pace , this attractive film presents a picture of sweetest life near the bone .", "an artful , quietly moving hybrid of documentary and narrative cinema .", "think of this as old yeller in outer mongolia .", "the nonprofessional cast is superb , as are the images of the starkly beautiful landscape .", "... a celebration of a culture which may be dying and it is a wistful pleasure to indulge in it .", "what makes the MOV such a joy is the way director byambasuren davaa lets her film effortlessly unfold .", "in the MOV , set in mongolia , the dog is cute , the children are adorable , and the earth and the sky seem to stretch on without limit .", "thanks to some ace photography , the beautiful mongolian wilderness also has a strong presence .", "unless you 're an absolute sucker for puppy dogs and precocious girls , you might find your attention wandering .", "at times the film 's buddhist lessons feel a bit forced , but the naturalistic performances davaa has coaxed from a real-life mongolian family , and her intimate understanding of their culture and values , give this sensitive portrayal its heft .", "a simple film , yes , but a wonderful one , nonetheless . but then , i am a sucker for any film with little girls and dogs .", "mongolia is no longer habituated by genghis khan and his mongol horde . instead we are treated to three of the cutest kids you 'll ever see on screen .", "a quiet gem , suitable for all ages .", "yellow dog is engaging , if familiar , viewing .", "a truly touching tale which patiently paints a simple tableau while ever so subtly highlighting an endangered lifestyle deserving of protection from the onslaught of western civilization .", "it exudes a sweetness and easygoing charm that make it hard to resist despite its lackadaisical quality .", "this is no heart-tugging family drama ; rather it 's a contemplative , compassionate portrait of a hardy people . offered as a borderline documentary , it proceeds in long , uncluttered takes .", "one of those little arthouse treasures where the story unfolds at a pace that would madden hollywood producers and action-thriller junkies , but it captured my attention and held it .", "it 's the perfect antidote to overprocessed entertainment , for moviegoers of any age .", "the much loved story of the weeping camel had more dramatic tension than this cute but thin tale .", "this unassuming drama of a nomad family brims with small marvels .", "... a movie without commercial pizzazz but with plenty of art-film treasures .", "those who can get in track with its serene rhythm will be rewarded ." ], "summary": "a sparse , hauntingly beautiful journey across continents and cultures .", "id": "326299313" }, { "movie": "azumi2003", "reviews": [ "well , this particular fantasy surely lost its novelty value a while back , and frankly never did much for me anyhow .", "what will slay you first -- the often histrionic acting or the drag-out boredom of that hulking , two-hour-plus thing in the distance that faintly resembles a plot ?", "an extraordinary film .", "kitamura 's visual power thankfully never drowns out the story 's .", "nothing can lift the glaze from your eyes through the endlessly recurring hokey fight scenes of the movie 's interminable 128-minute running time .", "azumi may be an outstanding assassin , but the makers of this movie killed any chances of her being the next great action hero .", "the raw visceral pleasures are enough to carry the film past some clunky melodrama that bloats the film to a two-hour-plus run time .", "the tone is bleak and the comic-book violence relentless , but the wirework and yuta morokaji 's stunt choreography are impressive .", "it 's a zippy time-passer .", "ryuhei kitamura is 37 , but he makes films like a 15-year-old fanboy . that is , he has no sense of story , his visual style is basically point-and-shoot , the boys are cool and rebellious and the girls are cute .", "failing in its attempts at zhang yimou-like poetry , azumi calls to mind a long , blood-splattered director 's cut of a power rangers episode .", "... teen idol ueto ... is not believable as a warrior for even a second .", "though it contains some superbly staged and highly lavish action sequences ... -lsb- the film -rsb- lacks the tautness of its heroine .", "dull characters and dry storytelling are to blame here .", "ueto -- who was only a teenager when the film was made -- is no great actress , but her impressive agility and magnetic presence provide director ryuhei kitamura a perfect centerpiece around which to orchestrate his blistering ballet of blood .", "azumi is slick , violently beautiful and appeals directly to the lower sensations . but just because it thrills does n't necessarily mean it 's artless .", "an uneven effort overall that when it is working has a strange , engaging energy that is often overturned by an uncertain staidness .", "it 's a b-movie through and through and its indulgences come from loving the genre too much , not bracketing it with postmodern quotation marks .", "overdone and overlong , but its lunatic flavor -- check out joe odagiri 's tiny tim as ninja sadist -- saves the day .", "azumi -lrb- based on a 25-part manga series -rrb- has eye-popping battle sequences , but the story is superficial at best .", "for a pure ice-water jolt of action-movie insanity , few things i 've seen in recent years come close to the sheer splatter-fest spectacle of azumi .", "this is fun because it 's soo damn stupid .", "it 's the characters that give this story life", "azumi carves her way through a body count that rivals any three average samurai flicks . unfortunately , she leaves as much filler dialogue as corpses in her wake .", "-lsb- ueto 's -rsb- lightness works in her favour at times , and is readily incorporated into the kinetic energy of the film , culminating in a crowded finale .", "compared with his geekily gonzo comic book/samurai/zombie splatterfest versus , ryuhei kitamura 's azumi -lrb- itself an adaptation of a popular manga -rrb- is surprisingly tame and lucid .", "though kitamura wades into blood-and-guts spectacle with panache and infinite death-dispensing ingenuity , the wraparound moral tale feels weak , igniting dramatically only when oddball villains appear .", "sempre auto-indulgente , kitamura estende o filme al\u0439m do ideal e dilui o impacto das boas seq\u044c\u043ancias de a\u0437\u0433o . sua sorte \u0439 ter aya ueto , que mant\u0439m o p\u044ablico interessado .", "remains faithful to its highly regarded source with an intelligent script , clever -- if often cruel -- visual flourishes , and thrillingly staged fight sequences .", "plot and character development are quickly sacrificed to over-the-top action , but with a miniskirted menace in the lead , it 's safe to say that fans , at least , will love it .", "the world seen through the bloodshot eyes of xbox zombies .", "adapted from the manga of the same title , this 2003 action flick tracks the blood-spurting adventures of its title character , a young female assassin who wields a lethally mean sword ." ], "summary": "this adaptation of the popular manga series offers exquisitely choreographed violence -- and little else .", "id": "149088215" }, { "movie": "north_face", "reviews": [ "cleverly playing on the genre 's propagandistic ties to the third reich , the film reflects the tragic arc of national socialism in each ominous crevasse and in every grandiloquent gesture .", "exactly what the magic of movies is about , giving you a risk-free front-row seat that still manages to make you feel like you 're caught up in the action .", "st\u00f6lzl makes the smallest details loom large .", "MOV is a spectacular , suspenseful bummer .", "ssuspenseful , meticulously crafted , harrowing and thrilling . it 's an incredible true story about courage and the power of the human spirit .", "... once the climb commences , the film catapults into a heart-pounding -lrb- and heart-breaking -rrb- action thriller of the highest order .", "kolja brandt 's hand-held cinematography and philipp stolzl 's direction keep the suspense level high . unfortunately , somebody decided to insert a superfluous love story involving a completely fabricated female photojournalist .", "it is impossible not to put yourself in the boots of the mountaineers clinging to a sheer , icy rock face during a blizzard that threatens to send them into oblivion .", "for all the tension-fraught , high-altitude rappelling and cliffhanging , the screenplay has little to counterweigh its commitment to historical truth", "the historical backdrop is fascinating and an important part of this story , but there 's a pervasive sense that director philipp st\u00f6lzl and his screenwriters soft-pedal it as much as possible in order to exalt their heroes .", "some of the plotting -lrb- credited to four screenwriters -rrb- is too conventional and convenient , and the clunky running time is a problem - two-plus hours of this material is too much .", "harrowing historical yarn mixes third reich manliness and white-knuckle mountaineering", "MOV '' is something of an old-fashioned epic shot with modern wisdom and technique , a man vs. nature flick that also weighs the importance of the individual vs. the social while exposing the mean cost of vicarious thrills .", "the romantic subplot is underwritten and overwrought . more compelling is ... the impressively harrowing mountain footage .", "the result is terrifically suspenseful even if one already knows the outcome .", "this white-knuckle adventure is a literal and metaphoric cliff-hanger that gets a spectacular foothold on an unforgiving mountain .", "the word `` gripping '' does n't do it justice .", "with knuckles alternately white from suspense and black from frostbite , the alpinists get progressively harder to tell apart . but the most compelling character , for all its brutal enormity , always was the mountain .", "some of the shots must have been made on sets . none of that matters . i was on the side of that mountain all the way .", "while the movie is never dull , its romantic fodder does n't do justice to any period at all .", "all the more astonishing because it is true and shot with some flair in philipp st\u00f6lzl 's film .", "much is wrong in philip st\u00f6lzl 's film . but in this column you do n't get the highest recommendation for perfection -lrb- if there is such a thing -rrb- . you get it for touching greatness . you get it for haling the heart out of a viewer .", "anyone who loved touching the void will be moved by what turns into a quest for survival . this film has a bigger budget , more spectacular shots , a touching love story and a historical backdrop of the nazi thirst for glory .", "director philipp stoltz proves a master of tension , cruelly juxtaposing the climbers - caked in ice and ravaged by frostbite - with the idle sightseers , gorging on champagne while casually gauging the mountaineers ' progress .", "there 's no subtext and not much character development , but those are n't really missed .", "philipp stolzl worked in the same dangerous conditions as the original climbers , and we can feel the chill and peril in our bones . it 's a shame , then , that the screenwriter , unlike the camera crew and the characters , was afflicted with such timidity .", "a straightforward , wickedly suspenseful man vs. nature saga of the type that rarely gets made any more .", "i have no idea if anything beyond the essentials is accurate . a good deal of it feels more like a 1930s movie than a 1930s event", "the images of the eiger are both majestic and harrowing , and the action is as exciting as in any mountain-climbing movie to date .", "it 's kolja brandt 's gloriously edge-of-the-seat / seat-of-the-pants cinematography -lrb- much of the film was shot on location -rrb- that really packs a natural wallop .", "very likely the best movie ever made about mountain climbing , with some barbed commentary on life under nazism .", "the mountaineers climb for reasons that have little to do with nationalism - reasons the film clumsily attempts to articulate in words . it 's far more successful conveying those inspirations with stunning images of them scaling daunting heights .", "harrowing german drama is a real cliffhanger .", "epic , intimate and gripping .", "a gripping german drama with jaw-dropping photography , great performances and an emotionally engaging script .", "you do n't have to be a nazi to be totally mesmerized by the intense drama on the eiger : the nimble ascent , the calamities that befall our noble climbers , and the pitiable disasters .", "kolja brandt 's cinematography is stunning , but ca n't rescue the end from some wince-inducing `` ai n't no mountain high enough '' heroics .", "one hates to be overly hyperbolic about a movie in february , but let 's just say i 'll be very impressed if a movie grips me with its tension as much as did this for the rest of the first quarter of 2010 -lrb- how 's that for an ad pullquote ? -rrb- .", "five writers were responsible for the script , and the characters consequently have one or two generic characteristics and no inner life of their own ; they 've been committeed to death .", "a remarkable true story , MOV is another dramatic demonstration that sport and politics are indeed often fused , welded together by man 's triumphalist nature", "the story has a bit of everything , but it is the conflict between man and nature in the film 's second half that holds all the trumps", "the film puts us on the cruelly beautiful mountain alongside the climbers as they inch up treacherous limestone crags and unstable ice fields . the fear of falling is palpable .", "forget hitler , fanck , and barthes . MOV is the most exhilarating thriller of the season .", "most of the action is set on the eiger 's MOV , and because this true story is not well known in this country , i was gripped by the very real surprises that occurred there .", "although about 30 minutes too long , it is still interesting with phenomenal cinematography . it 's an exhausting sit , but bring your parka .", "st\u00f6lzl captures the period idealism and propaganda perfectly . the terrific footage of the climb is an almost unendurably tense watch .", "st\u00f6lzl films their harrowing ordeal out on the `` murderwall '' with tremendous skill , but the rest of his movie is lumpen to say the least .", "awesome scenery and bourgeois banality combine to produce an overlong , occasionally scary film about extreme mountain climbing .", "a well-crafted , visceral piece of historical filmmaking .", "it 's the snow-bound scenery that really steals the show .", "brilliantly shot , utterly convincing footage of young men inching up a vertical rock face proves nerve-racking and a worthy tribute to the true-life bravery of 1930s climbers . it 's gripping and fascinating in equal measure .", "climbers who know the famous tale need n't be warned of spoilers : shot on location , the film is slow , realistic , and excruciating in its latter stages .", "slogs through an hour of frequently rote exposition until it hits its riveting groove when the rappelling and piton-hammering take over .", "gripping account of a tragic 1936 mountaineering expedition features extraordinary climbing footage .", "like `` touching the void , '' `` MOV '' is one mountain-climbing film you will never forget ." ], "summary": "a tense and gripping spectacular piece of snow-bound historical german film-making .", "id": "770800234" }, { "movie": "live_and_let_die", "reviews": [ "moore acquits himself in a larger than life adventure peppered with enjoyably rotten gags and lots of playful action .", "it ca n't quite muster an explosive third act to match previous jaunts , but moore had got his feet under the table .", "i know i probably should n't like MOV , but i do . this crackpot entry , the eighth , in the long-running james bond series , is figuratively all over the map ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "guy hamilton 's direction lacks enthusiasm and pace , while even the art direction -- long the bond films ' real secret weapon -- seems to have fallen to a shrunken budget .", "the first outright terrible bond picture .", "tacky and cartoonish .", "roger moore 's first 007 job is still top entertainment .", "in the longest tenure of any james bond performer , roger moore would certainly have higher highs and lower lows . and while it strays from bond formula in ways good and bad , it 's a fine introduction to a 007 more prone to crack wise than crack heads .", "so-so '70s bond entry has sex , drugs , action violence .", "i can see how many people can be entertained by this ludicrous film , but not because it 's good . it features an outstanding performance from moore and has an enjoyably bad blaxploitation thing going on here , but not much else .", "MOV is not only a terrible james bond flick , it 's a terrible movie period .", "roger moore 's inauspicious screen debut as 007 . he had big shoes to fill with connery gone , and this first of his long series of bond associations proved less than promising .", "great stunts and a cool theme song , but the harlem scenes are n't quite superfly enough for me .", "one of the last great , funky james bond films before the eighties brought us a tamer , more plastic bond .", "where is spectre when you need it ?", "a film that ranks with the best bonds .", "a true guilty pleasure among bond films .", "the only thing about MOV to weather the test of time is its title song .", "the comic book plot meanders through a series of hardware production numbers .", "less macho than sean connery 's bond , moore 's fastidiously dressed 007 survives by his wits and injects more humor into the proceedings .", "setting aside an allright speedboat spectacular over land and water , the film is both perfunctory and predictable -- leaving the mind free to wander into the question of its overall taste . or lack of it .", "the supernatural element is n't really bond", "two hours long and anti-climactic , but bond fans wo n't be disappointed .", "theme song by paul mccartney is best part , but this is also one of moore 's best bonds .", "MOV has been especially well photographed and edited , and it makes clever and extensive use of its good title song , by paul and linda mccartney .", "its cheerful racism is overcome by a grand sense of fun and some of moore 's best moments in the franchise .", "it does n't have the wit and it does n't have the style of the best bond movies .", "moore lacks 007 killer instinct & sex appeal ." ], "summary": "while not one of the highest-rated bond films , MOV finds roger moore adding his stamp to the series with flashes of style and an improved sense of humor .", "id": "11121" }, { "movie": "stigmata", "reviews": [ "MOV is possibly the funniest movie ever made about catholicism .", "the picture had it 's moments , i had my share of chills and as i said ... good point .", "how several good actors got talked into this movie is a mystery .", "ludicrous plot and even worse dialogue !", "an entertaining and eerie adventure !", "pone el dedo en la llaga al cuestionar a los l\u00edderes religiosos cat\u00f3licos", "i do n't see the story as an anti-religious film , as much as i saw it as a challenge to having one way of looking at religion .", "got a sweet humanistic spiritual message wrapped into its broader themes of bloodletting .", "worth a look , even if you walk away a bit offended by the viscera and blasphemy it depicts .", "a more bone-chilling experience is trying to solve the mystery of whether arquette , gabriel byrne , as the vatican priest trying to save her , and nia long , as the best friend on stand-by , needed to be in a hit this badly .", "the new rupert wainwright music video ... i mean film .", "style-over-substance !", "ouch !", "unless you are an admirer of splicing , production design and cinematography , there 's not much point in seeing the film .", "liberally ladled piles of mumbo jumbo !", "wildly overproduced , much of it is unintentionally funny .", "so shamelessly trashy , so utterly lacking !", "the real sacrilege is letting neophyte director rupert wainwright play minister to such a hopelessly convoluted script !", "a film this dramatically inept does n't test your faith in the papacy nearly as much as it troubles your faith in movies .", "melodramatic junk . it 's for what you might call gnostic multiplex sheep , those of little faith but much gullibility .", "the latest exorcist rip-off MOV opens with a scene of a virgin mary statue that bleeds from the eyes . during over the course of its 102 minutes , the painful-to-watch movie lets you know just how that statue feels .", "incomprehensible !", "a joke !", "over-the-top imagery , music , and rapid-fire editing are the culprits that stigmatize the story .", "never coming close to achieving the level of laughably bad , the dry and ludicrous MOV never rises above painfully bad .", "the story makes increasingly little sense as it unspools !", "phone-it-in performances suggest the paycheck was their only motivation for contributing to this cinematic equivalent of a train wreck !", "half-baked mess !", "MOV is just too long on bloody atmosphere and too bloody short on believability .", "the scariest thing about this appalling and seemingly endless movie is that you paid for your ticket and now have to sit through it .", "a bloody mess !", "some of the stuff is so ridiculous it inadvertently becomes a comedy .", "flimsy and often stupid .", "a muddled spiritual thriller !", "a derivative , pretentious rock video with a half-cocked , quote-unquote religious melodrama .", "MOV is an unusually intelligent and original thriller .", "is there an eighth deadly sin called ` narcissistic direction ' ?", "the movie definitely needs cinematic first aid .", "an overwrought horror story burdened by sluggish pacing , a lame screenplay with a distinct lack of internal logic and an insufferable soundtrack .", "why make a movie bound to insult someone else 's faith ? has hollywood run out of ideas that simply insult our intelligence ?", "surprisingly serious and intelligent food for thought about faith and supernatural phenomena .", "the film itself only mildly works as a film which inspires horror . what it mostly works as is a rental .", "MOV packs a jolting dose of terror compounded by wrap-around chilling gothic atmosphere .", "MOV is so bad it ultimately leaves you with the age-old question ` if there is a god why would he permit a film like this to be made ? '", "funky style , funkier soundtrack !", "a shameless guilty pleasure !", "a brutal , oft-unpleasant thriller , punctuated by quick cutting and a loud late - '90s alternative soundtrack .", "this girl could make millions doing band-aid commericals .", "all the aramaic in the world ca n't save it from its own pounding slickness .", "not remotely scary , unless one considers the direction , script , most of the acting !", "a leaden exercise in what can go wrong when movies attempt to explore mysterious forces with dated special effects and easy symbolism .", "what MOV suffers from is a bad case of late-1990s moviemaking . that is , it prefers sensationalism to making sense .", "at first seems to be about the second coming but turns out to be a half-baked anticlerical screed .", "someone must take the blame for repeated lapses in continuity and common sense .", "even after watching MOV , i 'll be damned , so to speak , if i can explain it !", "you really would n't rush out to see this , wait for the video .", "tom lazarus and rick ramage should be ashamed to have written such nonsense !", "a garish clashing of sacred images and bloody semihorror , this is a movie that defines the category : interesting failure .", "appear to have been inspired by old iron maiden videos !", "the story is a bit far-fetched and many of the situations feel forced , but , overall , its moral questions bear examination .", "not only does MOV revel in anti-vatican jabs that will offend religious-minded people , it goes over the top with its bloody exorcist-style story .", "... a cathedral of cliches . can a church sue a movie ?", "a supernatural thriller about a vatican conspiracy to suppress an aramaic text that could shake the foundations of the church ." ], "summary": "the story is unconvincing and the acting is weak .", "id": "16665" }, { "movie": "we_dont_live_here_anymore", "reviews": [ "spellbinding stuff -- in part because of its vivid characterizations .", "the most realistic couple arguing i 've seen on screen to date .", "at times harrowing to watch , yet it 's also wry and delicate and absorbing . it 's infused with the messy excitement of imperfect passion .", "so ` literary ' that it 's drained of every drop of life and truth , it 's ... rather like a soap opera thoroughly scrubbed of its characteristic bad taste but equally unconvincing .", "the film , sometimes talky and overemphatic , is also literate , erotic , brutally funny and touched by brilliance in its quartet of live-wire performances .", "failing to find the cinematic equivalent of dubus 's vertical writing , curran and gross 's movie strains for truths it never earns .", "like d.p. mayse alberti 's overemphasis on dark interiors and gloomy exteriors , the music dresses an already dismal soap opera in somber tones that leave us vaguely despondent rather than caring .", "adult , if occasionally soapy .", "we do n't live here anymore is marked by the rich characterization of four starkly different people .", "there 's nothing we have n't seen before here and done far better in the snappy works of neil labute or edward albee .", "the film astutely finds a vivid personality for each character .", "the movie may leave its audience feeling a little battered ... still , the film 's honesty , along with its refusal to pander to hollywood happy endings , is well worth the beating .", "too desultory .", "a miserable movie about miserable people having miserable sex .", "the key problem of this acting exercise is that we can sense what must come , and sadly it does .", "beautifully , optimistically depressing .", "a bookish picture without a book 's depth .", "inadequate emotionally and psychologically .", "these are people whose disappointments and emotional struggle have produced a world of resentment and dishonesty that 's unpleasant to visit . there 's nothing to make us want to stay there and witness the hurts produced by excruciatingly selfish acts .", "a crackling , claustrophobic chamber piece .", "the actors are seriously exploring how to make it fresh and meaningful , but the writing binds them to the prosaic as it focuses on sex , confusion and adaptive values .", "a sense of unease , of incompleteness , is , i think , the appropriate response to this movie . instead of trying to fill in the blanks , curran and gross leave things open and ambiguous . just like life .", "with a hungry , compulsive , tender , angry , and passionate performance , ruffalo has definitely shed the shiftless stoner typecast .", "well acted and designed of a piece -lsb- but -rsb- too diffident and emotionally murky to elicit a sustained reaction . the movie could have benefited from a more proactive script .", "... feels like a freshly unearthed treasure from a more sophisticated era . all lingering glances and electrically supercharged silences , it 's a tiny film of enormous power .", "we do n't live here anymore frames with precision emotional moments in the lives of people who build their own prisons and , over time , plot escapes .", "a movie as empty as its title . a lot of good acting is going on , but there 's nobody home .", "usually american marital problems are left to the soap operas ; it 's nice to see them tackled by experts , piercing personas and peeling open hearts .", "annoying and familiar , the adults settle into sameness , as if too tired to imagine beyond it .", "the revelation here is dern , whose fierce , intensely moving portrayal of a woman struggling to hold on to what she cares about is the movie 's most urgent anchor of sympathy .", "an intricate drama that derives tragedy from emotional indifference , immaturity and fatigue , qualities that have spelled doom for more than a few marriages .", "we do n't live here anymore manages to get at some difficult truths ... but there 's a certain distance to it that prevents it from being a truly heart-wrenching film .", "curran shows us characters whose lives have gone stale but does n't provide sufficient payoff to justify the suffering .", "it 's an honest , revealing and provocative look at the sort of people we think we know , but in reality , rarely do .", "earnest , overbearing and fully depressing , we do n't live here anymore features a quartet of fine performances that are somewhat undermined by the numbing , one-note tone of the entire enterprise .", "painful , powerful adaptation of two of andre dubus ' beautifully frank stories .", "ruffalo , watts and especially dern are splendid , but krause lets clark down with a performance that feels analyzed rather than lived .", "much credit goes to the film 's four stars , as well as to curran , who chose them and skillfully directed them .", "this story is like the shot of the passing train that keeps repeating - it 's loud , but it 's not going anywhere , and the moment that it 's gone , you forget you ever saw it .", "dramatically slack , the story is n't driven by plot so much as by the slow revelation of character .", "the acting is fervent , and the insights cut deep .", "-lsb- the -rsb- performances stay with you .", "-lsb- a -rsb- smart insight into modern-day relationships .", "the four principals are spectacular here , led by dern 's career best effort .", "a terrific performance by laura dern is the sole reason to see this pretentious slog through the miserable lives of unlikable people .", "if you can deal with the muddy footprints , the mess is worth it .", "a highly charged , poignant study of the imperfections within human nature and the frailty of otherwise powerful love relationships .", "scene by scene , the movie is precise , vibrant , and , for all its turmoil , moving .", "it could have pulled back the rock to reveal the squirmy things living underneath , but instead all we get is the rock .", "somewhere between john updike and `` knott 's landing , '' this is suburban angst and adultery , with meaningful glances , inexpressible longing , fumbled groping , and hangovers .", "based on two john irving shorts john curran 's movie feels divided with a condensed narrative that does n't do justice to the four main characters . **", "a modest film that is surprisingly effective in its directness and fascinating for its complex portrayals of marital distress in action .", "... feels like one of the saddest songs you 're ever heard .", "-lsb- y -rsb- our expectations of climax , resolution , consolation fall away and you 're quite simply present in every detail of every moment .", "like the movie 's title , there does n't appear to be anybody home in this picture .", "summons the exposed anatomy of adultery out of its awkward secrecy , casting an intriguing light that gently and intelligently intimates why infidelity can self-destruct one marriage , and repair another .", "movie about adultery for adults only .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- infrecuente en su incisiva exploraci\u00f3n de conflictos humanos .", "for anyone who finds films about affairs boring , we do n't live here anymorecould feel like being stuck in a bad marriage - for all the wrong reasons .", "keenly observed and laced with humor , larry gross ' narrative has the kind of emotional power that derives from accumulation of detail and realistic dialogue .", "so packed with serious themes that it 's almost unbearable .", "a terribly slim , pretentious movie that wallows in the monotonous , far-from - fascinating angst of its self-involved characters .", "we do n't live here anymore deftly captures the pain and suffocation of people who have fallen out of love and do n't know who to blame . it just forgets to allow them -- or the audience -- to feel anything else .", "a bracingly mature look at the messiness of matrimony .", "uncompromising in its depiction of two marriages beyond hope .", "the film 's subtler truths seep through in scenes where one of the adults spends time with their children , who are more aware of what 's going on than any of the grown-ups .", "i was fully absorbed in the characters and their casually outrageous behavior .", "we do n't live here anymore is a thoughtful but dreary examination of narcissism , disconnection , and emotional dishonesty .", "this cautionary tale for adults might be a little close to the bone , perhaps , for some audience members , but it 's a sincere and finely-wrought ensemble piece .", "an intriguing and often gripping character study .", "for all the acting pyrotechnics , the people in we do n't live here anymore scarcely exist outside the confines of their marital turmoil .", "these are terrifically talented actors wasted on a film that 's short on insight , long on self-pity and essentially anti-erotic .", "an absorbing relational rorschach test masquerading as a domestic drama , a sardonic examination of marriage and friendship that invites the audience to think for itself .", "by focusing on details and rituals that are the glue of our lives but which the characters leave unattended , curran peers into the tragic heart of the mundane .", "if emotional tension is what you 're after -lrb- and all you 're interested in -rrb- , though , we do n't live here anymore is a provocative address for a one-night stand .", "a film for grown-ups in which actions have consequences and consequences are n't resolved with a lecture or a hug or a gun .", "an artfully directed , well-acted bore .", "dramatically engaging ... but it 's hard to stop hoping for the characters to finally get some therapy and put an end to this misery parade .", "a decent ending would 've gone a long way to making this good film near perfect .", "painstakingly crafted to terrify the audience about love , lust , the inability to tell one for the other and the way each is capable of destroying the other .", "watts manages to make her edith seem genuinely remorseful about her actions but unable to stop , and ruffalo puts a believable hint of guilt in jack 's face that he carries through the film .", "a curiosity best reserved for emotional masochists .", "striking in the way it evokes tension from ordinary conversations and relationship details .", "if you want to see how other couples fight , we do n't live here anymore is as good a place as any to visit . but why , exactly , would you want to ?", "director john curran draws skillfully nuanced performances from the four leads , who have rarely been better .", "fastidious and controlled to a fault , but rewarding nonetheless .", "a movie for grownups about four childish adults .", "an impeccably acted , spiritually draining dissection of adultery in a bucolic college town .", "pretty potent .", "this talky drama about troubled couples features actors born to deliver realistic , chatty material like this .", "overly artful , overwrought melodrama .", "we do n't live here anymore convincingly dissects the impact of adultery on two shaky marriages in a small new england college town .", "originally written in the 1970s . that figures , in the best sense : it is worthy of comparison to the lifelike , character-rich films we cherish from that era , and is certainly one of the finest films to come out this year .", "... an artful but unblinking relationship drama ...", "four blistering lead performances", "audiences may or may not feel that the insights skillfully shared justify this acutely claustrophobic microcosm of domestic misery .", "an all-star cast and graceful direction ca n't quite make this more than another tale of lust and life .", "affecting and sincere .", "we do n't live here anymore is a revelation . one rarely sees american-made movies that are so unafraid to explore emotional cruelty and portray the consequences without positing easy answers or attaching happy endings .", "not a deep movie . it is a very honest one , though -- there 's not a cheap cinematic trick in sight -- and it 's a graceful one , energizing its small-town story with eloquent camera work and ingenious musical touches .", "the murk and mystery of marriage , adultery and friendship have seldom been illuminated with such harsh precision .", "occasionally difficult to watch , but always gripping , and full of hard , painful truths , this is adult film making at its very best .", "dubus , anticipating the dreaded raymond carver , is only concerned with the interiority of the characters . it 's solipsism once removed ; and in this film , it 's that times four .", "they never lived anywhere : the protagonists of this drama of marital stalemate embody a widespread social institution without ever reminding us of earth as we know it .", "great performances and candid dialogue do n't make up all the essence of a great film . the actual story itself is where the film falls flat .", "we do n't live here anymore is , you might say , a movie for adults who are , perhaps , a smidge too impressed with being adults .", "portrays domestic discord with a squirmy accuracy that 's a workable substitute for conceptual freshness .", "if one line can sum up a story , it 's when edith tells jack , `` even adultery has a morality to it . '' ... this is a good , tight script telling an involving story", "held together by the remarkably vivid and varied performances of ruffalo , dern , watts and krause , each of whom gets his or her share of juicy moments and sharp dialogue .", "who 's afraid of virginia woolf ? gets in bed with bob & carol & ted & alice ... the moody , muted finale does n't leave the characters , it simply abandons them .", "nothing more than a series of scenes set in darkened rooms in which grownups argue with and lie to each other . it is a lifetime movie , only with a better cast ." ], "summary": "we do n't live here anymore is often overly moody and grim , but it 's made watchable by the strong performances for its four principal actors .", "id": "13726" }, { "movie": "10009596-old_dogs", "reviews": [ "this imbecilic , mean-spirited farce , which sneers at adults , leaves you wondering : where are the three stooges when we really need them ?", "this excruciating comedy tests the limits of how many shots to the crotch a movie can show , or an audience can absorb .", "like rancid leftovers , this bland , contrived comedy is a toxic turkey , a buddy/family film gone wrong .", "MOV is beyond saving . the only humane thing to do is to put it down .", "an often riotously funny slapstick farce that ought to appeal to moviegoers of all ages .", "a slack , sagging 88 minutes still feels rushed , with what must have been scenes trimmed down to micro-blip montages , and a final scene playing out over the credits ; it feels like even the people making MOV wanted to be done with it .", "incredibly dull and generic .", "clueless-dad comedy is forgettable family fluff .", "exactly as funny as you 'd expect a movie to be that stars john travolta and robin williams as two bachelors who must suddenly take care of precocious 7-year-old twins , and that was directed by the man who made wild hogs .", "we have reached a point in our moviegoing life where the two most horrifying words a studio can mutter are `` robin '' and `` williams . ''", "might be best just to let these sleeping MOV lie . this incredibly loony comedy sort of demeans everyone involved .", "a strong cast fighting a script that is labored , stale , and obvious", "travolta and williams have been around long enough to know that when doing comedy , sometimes ` less is more . '", "let 's hope that kills any chance for another film of this ilk , probably called cool frogs or something horrid like that .", "a painfully unfunny attempt at comedy filled with lazy , juvenile , forced humor that 's an insult to everyone 's intelligence .", "based on the quality of its script , ` MOV ' should have been put to sleep before the cameras started rolling .", "really , what it affirms is that studio executives are already making movies for the future-audience from idiocracy .", "here 's a thanksgiving turkey that was rancid as soon as the idea was cooked up .", "`` MOV '' also wants to entertain the adults in the audience . frankly , any adult who finds this film humorous may be at the same level of intelligence as their child and someone should call child services immediately .", "with john travolta and robin williams mugging as best buds who care for two 7-year-olds , this stinky mutt of a movie pees on your leg and tells you it 's comedy .", "why do once great actors attach themselves to a dog of a picture like this ? surely they still have standards ? alas , their judgment seems to be fading ...", "the dearth of laughs in this unspeakably awful comedy borders on embarrassing at times .", "scat happens , man , ' john travolta and robin williams tell each other , when they realise the ` scat ' they have smeared over their faces at an outdoor adventure camp is , in fact bear poop ... bear poop looks good , by comparison .", "getting your uvula pierced would be less painful than watching MOV .", "a weary hound of a movie .", "MOV is -- quite simply -- the nadir of filmmaking .", "it ai n't as bad as you heard . i laughed a few times . travolta and williams are amusing .", "nobody taught these `` MOV '' any new tricks for this seen it all before film", "add scary music , and some scenes could come straight from a horror movie , with no need for re-editing , as when williams is trapped in a tanning booth , or when williams slams a car trunk 's lid onto a woman 's arms , like terry o'quinn did in ` stepfather 2 . '", "it 's kind of a funny story . actually it is n't . and not much in this movie is , unless you like to watch elderly dogs urinate , middle-aged movie stars overact wildly , and seth green get hit in the groin by a golf ball .", "the movie is never remotely funny , but it excels at being creepy .", "those expecting new tricks or even vaguely inventive laughs from MOV or its two waning stars should heed the obvious cliche .", "despite showing some potential as commentary on ageism , the light-hearted comedy often flounders in the formulaic and a premise that is more complicated than it needed to be .", "utterly abysmal , entirely laugh-free and hideously embarrassing .", "being a film critic is a wonderful job , but there are weeks when the bad film delirium strikes and we 'd all be better off in straitjackets .", "which is better , a soulless life of work and striving for money , or a joyous embrace of family and kids in all their gorgeous life-affirming messiness ?", "the MOV of the title may refer to the not quite senior citizen leads , but it 's a more apt description of the shopworn and laughless jokes occupying this woofer of a comedy .", "MOV ' astonishing lack of laughs remains its biggest deficiency ...", "a travolta family effort for laughs through blatant illogic and human behavior that has no link to the real thing .", "it 's a two-ton nuclear warhead of aggressive lameness , a hard , pounding rain of flop sweat and triteness and depression .", "the pickings are slim going on invisible .", "most repellent is the undercurrent of homophobia , the brutal cultural stereotyping and the fact that travolta looks like a man wearing a slightly melted rubber john travolta hallowe'en mask .", "at the screening i attended i did n't hear one person laugh , though i did hear plenty of involuntary sighs and groans , some of them emanating from myself .", "dumb and painfully unfunny .", "it 's perhaps wise to avoid this movie at all costs .", "MOV is a milestone in the -lsb- travolta 's -rsb- career , the moment when he trumped battlefield earth to make the worst film of his life .", "you 've never experienced horror until you 've seen robin williams in a speedo getting a spray tan .", "a slapdash embarrassment of feeble age gags and cultural stereotypes , MOV is at once crass , corny , amateurish , insulting , uninspired , deeply phoney and extraordinarily unfunny .", "this is easily the worst film of the year so far , and frankly last year too . it is embarrassingly , painfully unfunny .", "this is imbecilic hooey of the rarest breed .", "does no one know how to film physical comedy anymore ?", "too bad this shrilly tuned comedy does n't demand more than clock-punching effort from everyone involved .", "there are no new tricks in MOV , a broad and frenetic family comedy which puts john travolta and robin williams together with two cute kids in a cozily predictable family-comes-first scenario .", "in the first scene , we find out that williams-bot does not feel comfortable around children , because he kicks a soccer ball at a child and breaks the child 's nose ! this is very funny .", "insipid , predictable , broad comedy mixed with disney family values makes for one exasperating sit .", "the movie includes an interminable scene of the men taking the wrong medications for their various boomer ailments , with weirdly horrible comedic side effects .", "williams is encouraged to supercharge his silliness , travolta plays straight man and the kids are relegated to background noise .", "there are some experiences no one should be subjected to even in the name of science . it may be that forced viewing of this film has been outlawed by the geneva convention .", "a cheesy chew-toy of a comedy about reluctant fatherhood .", "predictable as the premise is , travolta 's and williams ' unpredictability makes for some chortle-worthy slapstick , less of laurel & hardy vintage than of abbott & costello swill .", "largely forgetting the kids as it subjects its stars to one humiliation after another , MOV does n't even have the courage to commit to its familiar but serviceable premise .", "if MOV is n't the absolute worst movie either star has appeared in , it 's close enough to count .", "racist , juvenile and nonsensical .", "endlessly , excruciatingly un-funny non-comedy", "-lsb- a -rsb- sorry mess , a mangy , flea-bitten comedy of daddy day care caliber .", "there 's something in the way that MOV is brazenly , proudly lazy that makes it truly reprehensible", "... a morass of cliche , crotch shots and utter disregard for both logic and the audience . walt disney and poor bernie mac must be turning over in their graves .", "it is an irredeemable affair .", "a spastic , noxious comedy , MOV is scattershot and out of control , bludgeoning the audience with all sorts of eye-bulging mugging and dire clich\u00e9 . it 's insufferable and lazily directed .", "a flawed but likable piece of fluff with zany antics and earnest sentiment to spare . its infectious energy and naively big heart gradually win you over .", "MOV seems to have lingered in post-production while editors struggled desperately to inject laugh cues . it obviously knows no one will find it funny without being ordered to .", "so wretched that it should be unceremoniously put down .", "parental content review", "though no animals were harmed in the making of MOV , the lead actors were defanged . but like a pair of labradors , they have a playful rapport .", "painful .", "a total train wreck .", "MOV is no fun whatsoever , just a collection of stale kibble .", "director becker treats the comedy in MOV the same as if he were treating a case of mange : apply two gags , rub in liberally , and call in the morning with the box-office totals . aarf .", "at least luis guzman and dax shepard were smart enough to avoid being credited for their roles in it .", "... the family comedy of the season .", "if MOV were a person , i would stab it in the face .", "a great opportunity to gather family members you clearly think are stupid .", "disposable but inoffensive .", "director walt becker 's film goes for humor and heart , achieving neither .", "is any of it believable for even one moment ? of course not . do some of the jokes work ? sure .", "travolta , who delivers an impressively enthusiastic performance , seems to have no idea that he 's stuck in one of the year 's worst movies . the perpetually pained expression on williams ' face , however , suggests he knows otherwise .", "trashing MOV is a bit like kicking a puppy . but here goes .", "um embara\u00e7o para todos os envolvidos - inclusive o p\u00fablico .", "it 's aggressively awful , and manages to push its worst gags so numbingly off the scale that we 're left slack-jawed in disbelief", "a trip to the vets is needed , to have this dog of a movie , quietly put down .", "the jokes are played painfully safe and not even the fleeting presence of a few a name faces detracts from the sheer inanity of the plot and outright creepiness of the film 's central pairing .", "a cringe-worthy crude comedy that has more bark than bite .", "heartless , brainless and unable to do anything with what it does have to offer , MOV does n't know who it 's for or what it 's offering . it just needs to get made because people have to have something to do . spare yourself and your kids .", "john travolta and robin williams are no strangers to shamelessness . but not even they can walk away from `` MOV '' with a shred of dignity - a mean-spirited , insulting `` family '' film that essentially pees down its leg and calls it comedy .", "featuring a mixed-up-medication gag , a guy-in-a-gorilla-suit gag and a suntan-gone-wrong gag ... well , you begin to understand the level of inspiration that went into the execution of the film .", "both williams and travolta mug furiously and the kids need locking up .", "-lsb- travolta and williams -rsb- engage in a torrent of slapstick set-ups that are neither witty nor funny .", "as if to compensate , `` MOV '' continually cuts away from williams ' antics to `` cute '' reaction shots from an actual old dog . that 's a really bad sign for a movie .", "the ploy of pairing john travolta and robin williams , whose salaries probably represented most of the budget , is the only pedigree MOV has going for it .", "director walt becker ca n't even pull off hits to the groin -lrb- you know they 're coming in a movie like this -rrb- with as much panache as an episode of america 's funniest home videos .", "kids who suffer from progeria may be able to relate to MOV , but it 's hard to imagine anyone else fully appreciating it .", "unfunny and uninspired , this dog deserves to be put down .", "the great thing about comedy these days is that few people are making movies like MOV .", "MOV does to the screen what MOV do to the carpet . it 's unfortunate that only the latter can be taken out and shot .", "MOV does n't just roll over and play dead , it is in fact lifeless .", "only the irrepressible luis guzm\u00e1n , stuck in a walk-on bit as the stereotypical mooching hispanic , is able to milk this cash cow and exit with his dignity intact .", "the timing of the comic set-ups is consistently amateurish , as if scenes were edited with hedge clippers , with the actors mugging frantically , waiting for the take to end ." ], "summary": "its cast tries hard , but MOV is a predictable , nearly witless attempt at physical comedy and moral uplift that misses the mark on both counts .", "id": "770785550" }, { "movie": "one_flew_over_the_cuckoos_nest", "reviews": [ "its aims are too simplistic about life and happiness .", "among the greatest films of all time .", "brilliant nicholson turn ... and fletcher 's nurse is one of film 's best villains .", "excellent in every way", "a rousing , rock-the-boat feel pulses throughout the film , overpowering its weaknesses .", "without hesitation my no. 1 favorite of all time . at once a comedy and a tragedy , hilarious and heartbreaking , few films have ever achieved such a level of excellence .", "a stirring indictment of how we determine who 's sane and who 's crazy .", "set in an insane asylum , the film involves the oppression of the individual , a struggle spearheaded by an ebullient nicholson , turning in a star performance if ever there was one .", "if the film is meant to be a serious criticism of mental homes it should be more obviously serious than it is . there are other subjects where comedy can not say more than straight drama , and this is one of them .", "nicholson 's best work", "my basic quibble with the film is that it 's part and parcel of the movies ' unfortunate tendency to romanticize mental illness .", "the film is based on ken kesey 's novel of the same name , and it 's magnificently brought up to the screen by director milos forman .", "is one flew over the cuckoo 's nest not a great film because it is manipulative , or is it great because it is so superbly manipulative ? i can see it through either filter .", "even granting the artist his license , america is much too big and various to be satisfactorily reduced to the dimensions of one mental ward in a movie like this .", "as good as nicholson and fletcher are , the film simply would n't work without the ensemble cast that incorporates forman 's improvisational style", "masterful adaptation of a masterpiece novel . nicholson deserved his oscar .", "this superlative 2-disc set ranks among my favorite dvds of 2002 , and i absolutely recommend it as a purchase .", "who would argue that cuckoo 's nest is n't one of the most profound and tragic movies ever made ?", "... a terrific piece of moviemaking -- thoughtful , poignant , funny , and uplifting .", "one of a small number of best picture winners to deserve the statuette .", "one flew over the cuckoo 's nest is an earnest attempt to make a serious film . but in the end the movie backs away from both the human reality and the cloudy but potent symbolism that ken kesey found in the asylum .", "the genius of the film is that you never feel you 're being preached at , but rather being allowed a fly-on-the-wall view of a systematic crushing of humanity .", "a rare screen adaptation of a beloved novel that maintains the emotional and dramatic power of the original while establishing its own distinctive approach to the story ...", "a great cast , great screenplay and great performance makes one flew over the cuckoo 's nest an enjoyable and thought provoking movie .", "a terrific adaptation of ken kensey 's 1962 novel -lrb- first done as play -rrb- that became timelier in the 1970s , positing a free-spirited hero -lrb- the excellent jack nicholson -rrb- against repressive authoritarianism , embodied by fletcher 's nurse .", "the film remains as fresh , shocking , depressing and exhilarating as when it was released .", "jack nicholson stars in an outstanding characterization of ken kesey 's asylum anti-hero , mcmurphy , and milos forman 's direction of a superbly-cast film is equally meritorious .", "viewed 30 years after its release , one flew over the cuckoo 's nest remains a very good motion picture , although one that perhaps just misses the pinnacle of greatness where its reputation suggests it resides .", "jack nicholson plays mcmurphy as if he were born to it , and the supporting cast provides fine , detailed performances .", "ken kesey 's grim satire of institutionalized authority , bracingly filmed by milos forman .", "there 's a lot here . but with a classic like cuckoo 's nest , too much is never enough .", "it 's mostly nicholson that makes the film work , with his fun , but very intelligent , canny turn .", "a marvel of contemporary filmmaking ...", "nicholson gets to use all the colors on his palette , from quiet , troubled contemplation to the disturbingly truthful , live-wire jesting with which he has become best associated . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "i enjoyed the picture because it is an action romance , worked out in wonderfully inventive detail and presented with mesmeric immediacy by one of the screen 's most resourceful directors .", "cast , direction , score , look -- perfect , perfect , perfect , perfect .", "the movie is both timeless and indicative of its own era , a period of anti-establishment movements .", "this film is one of the classic movies of the 1970s , thanks in no small measure to the talents of director milos forman .", "it was nicholson 's first oscar win and this remains , in many ways , his signature performance .", "nicholson explodes on the screen in a performance so flawless in timing and character perception that it should send half the stars in hollywood back to acting school .", "along with it happened one night and the silence of the lambs , these are the only three films to win all four major oscars -lrb- actor , actress , director , picture -rrb- . it 's still the only film to deserve it .", "as direct and simple as it is funny and moving , this is a masterpiece of dramatic naturalism .", "jack nicholson is mcmurphy in all his roguish and rebellious fullness . he exudes energy , quick wit , and the willpower not to be broken by the system .", "dealing with insanity , cuckoo qualifies as an experience many will feel deeply and pass on to others .", "one flew over the cuckoo 's nest -lrb- 1975 -rrb- is one of the greatest american films of all time - a $ 4.4 million dollar effort directed by czech milos forman .", "quietly shocking ." ], "summary": "the onscreen battle between jack nicholson and louise fletcher serves as a personal microcosm of the culture wars of the 1970s -- and testament to the director 's vision that the film retains its power more than three decades later .", "id": "12965" }, { "movie": "click", "reviews": [ "it is basically a lowbrow and secular rehash of a christmas carol , although sandler creates a character more hateful than ebenezer scrooge .", "the comic genius is evolving toward bill murray territory - that of a bright soul beaten and worn down by life , with a humorous shine tantalizingly repressed .", "the only thing about this movie i did n't hate was hasselhoff .", "those going in expecting happy gilmore gets a remote will be gravely disappointed .", "there were times when i wanted a universal remote to fast-forward through repeated jokes about a dog having sex with a stuffed animal or children using four-letter words .", "it 's an unimaginative , mean-spirited affair that makes you hate yourself for laughing at it , and it 's so devoid of anything close to wit , subtlety or sophistication .", "MOV sells itself as an adam sandler comedy full of immature humor -lrb- and it is -rrb- , but the last 30 minutes are brilliant , heartbreaking and emotional .", "frank capra is rolling over in his grave at the worthless gimmick that 's needed to retell his classic story .", "sandler 's fans may find some of his antics entertaining , but once the film turns on the waterworks , even they 'll want to MOV away .", "instead of high concept turning into comedy gold with a touch of sentiment , we get a childish load of staleness that farts in the face of its capraesque pursuit .", "adam sandler continues to crassly cannibalize frank capra films with MOV , a movie that starts with comedic promise but ultimately degenerates into a maudlin mishmash .", "sandler : and there 's got ta be like tons of f**kin' hot chicks all over , like maybe in my office . 'cause it 's a guy fantasy , right , shuttin ' up the wife and kids and sh*t , right ?", "why MOV fails to MOV is because of a crass , uncertain script , which wavers between an unfunny saturday night live skit and a lifetime channel movie . only once , near the end , did i care about his plight . but then , maybe it was heartburn .", "egregiously schmaltzy ... what begins as just another lousy gimmick comedy soon veers into a bizarrely masochistic death trip .", "a few substantial laughs -lrb- with that patented sandler undercurrent of cruelty -rrb- lead to one of the most depressing descents into mawkish sentiment i 've ever seen in a ` comedy . '", "takes a great idea and runs it into the ground .", "the comedy is n't as pointed as desired and the drama is n't as maudlin as expected , yielding decidedly mixed results .", "-lsb- a -rsb- painfully generic and gimmicky comedy . relentlessly interminable , predictable and drowsy in concept . sandler 's man-child routine has already run its course ad nauseam .", "the latest adam sandler assault on the art of film is one of those films -- the kind where multi-millionaires explain to you that money ca n't buy happiness .", "in the end , the movie works better as a high-concept quirky dramatic piece ...", "director david frankel finds the mainstream summer swagger in this crowd-pleaser of a film while managing to keep its snooty , upscale tone .", "what it lacks is an inspired moment of unleashed rage -- the kind that have always kept sandler 's romps redeemable .", "this is definitely not one of sandler 's best films -- no ` wedding singer ' romantic sensitivity or ` waterboy ' innocent appeal emerges here .", "sandler 's chief asset is his accessibility , an easy amiability that allows us to think well of him even when he 's engaging in stoogish violence and flatulence jokes .", "michael never thinks big like changing mankind for the good . he would rather click-freeze a guy and pull down his pants to embarrass him . that 's a sandler laugh .", "while adam sandler remains a performer of endless charisma , his choice of material is growing increasingly questionable as the years pass .", "while sandler should n't be advised to shun movies with heart , he needs to recognize the difference between genuine emotions and this sort of decidedly unfunny mawkishness .", "it 's a movie that shoots lazily for capraesque and settles happily for crapesque .", "a movie with a lot of wasted potential . it looks like it was made by a bunch of schmucks .", "as a broad family comedy this is perfectly acceptable , but from a sci-fi point of view it 's a very pale imitation of the time travel classics it seeks to ape .", "`` MOV '' is a one-trick-pony of a comedy .", "a fascinating film with an unresolved comedy/tragedy axis", "MOV brings up some very real problems about adult life but it answers them with hollywood platitudes ... granted , it 's about having fun not trying to find solutions to the problems of modern existence , but it still seems a bit disingenuous .", "it 's kind of a reverse `` it 's a wonderful life '' as mike see 's what happens to those around him when he pushes a button .", "the movie plays like a cross between eternal sunshine of the spotless mind and it 's a wonderful life .", "back to the future ? back to the drawing board !", "for all its competing aspirations , the movie just never clicks .", "a fun little movie that impressed me more than it probably should", "what is surprising about adam sandler 's latest comedy is that it still works despite its uneven tone and - while it is never laugh-out hilarious - makes nonetheless for passable entertainment ...", "endeavoring to make the audience laugh and cry is a noble goal , but old-fashioned as it sounds , sandler does n't have the class to pull it off .", "sandler 's and walken 's performances make this worth your while .", "it 's a farce about loss , and it does n't flinch .", "MOV is sappy and saccharine , but it 's the good kind of cleansing , cathartic corniness .", "sandler goes through a scrooge story where he learns to step beyond contemporary arrogance - the very film persona that made his comedies popular .", "it 's a flawed film , but most people go to adam sandler movies to just unwind and have fun . it works at that level .", "fans of sandler should n't skip past this surprising treat , a soulful and silly comedy with plenty to pause and appreciate .", "a film of its digital age : it 's aware that the moviegoer sometimes reaches for a remote control device that is n't there , like an amputee experiencing the itch of a phantom limb .", "i think if you 're going to have a david hasselhoff type of character and you 're going to have the flatulence type of humor , then just go in that direction . do n't try to put in all this sappy stuff .", "it 's a wonderful MOV . back to the MOV . a MOV carol .", "the first half of MOV is merely unfunny ; the second is the most shameless appeal to sentiment since the day the clown cried .", "this film is such a squirming , watch checking , horrible experience i was wishing for a magical remote that would MOV it off .", "you may want to fast forward through parts of this but mostly you 'll want to pause and savor the moments .", "the movie 's ending will come as a complete surprise to anyone not familiar with it 's a wonderful life , a christmas carol , or the 7th season of dallas .", "it 's no bummer or mind-bender , but it might as well be the `` requiem for a dream '' of adam sandler 's rowdy resume . george bailey never would have farted in mr. potter 's face , so it 's clearly not a wonderful life . but it 's decent enough .", "a fantasy comedy in the tradition of back to the future or groundhog day ... MOV delivers profoundly emotional family moments amidst the hysterically clever fantasy gags .", "the two halves do n't mesh into one fully-satisfying movie", "through all the infantile jokes , the film 's heart shines through .", "` it 's a wonderful life ' with fart jokes .", "for sandler , the transition from mtv cool to vh1 nostalgic seems natural , but the emotion and the longing that accompany nostalgia are still lost on an actor with limited range , trying mightily to improve himself .", "MOV gets its laughs and then sucker-punches us with sentiment ; if it does n't quite represent the new , improved adam sandler , it shows him almost desperately trying to figure out who that might be .", "based on a cute if simplistic idea , sandler 's special-effects comedy is a cross between back to the future and capra 's it 's a wonderful life , with elements of `` truman show '' thrown into the uninspired flick .", "the jokes do n't come frequently enough in MOV , and are n't all that funny .", "MOV , a movie with an endlessly cute concept , is a theatrical dud , thanks to yet another sleepwalking performance by comedic megastar adam sandler .", "... screenwriters steve koren and mark o'keefe decide to go capra-cornish on us and throw in some maudlin dramatics , trying to make MOV a contemporary it 's a wonderful life .", "` we have universal remotes in stock , ' says 7-eleven spokesperson chandrashekhar ` chan ' slurpeevasan . ` but normally we use them to fast forward past hold-ups to the point where charges are dropped and the perpetrator is set free . '", "applied to any number of basic frameworks % u2014waterboying , wedding-singing , winona ryder 's deceiving , drew barrymore 's forgetting , jack nicholson 's raging % u2014the formula , as we all know too well , has been profitable and then some .", "sappy and sentimental , it , nevertheless , has heart .", "the comedy is weak and the tugs at the heartstrings are only slightly stronger .", "sometimes adam sandler accidentally manages to hit one out of the park", "a domestic tragedy masquerading as a frothy frolic .", "good , but this was much better when it was called scrooged .", "a misbegotten version of it 's a wonderful life by way of bicentennial man .", "MOV manages to sneak some surprisingly moving moments in between the gross-out gags and the schmaltzy resolutions .", "even with its attempt at deeper meaning and visual flair , those who do n't look forward to sandler 's infantile humor and vacuous screen persona will find MOV exceptionally bad entertainment .", "ultimately , you have to ask yourself how willing you are to be put through the emotional wringer by a slob comedy , or preached to about personal priorities by hollywood multi-millionaires .", "MOV is about an immature man 's bumpy collision with maturity , and that 's the perfect subject for the stubbornly frat-based talents of adam sandler .", "cleverly conceived but conspicuously unfunny .", "this is not a truly awful movie , but it 's not worth wasting money on .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is an abomination .", "all things considered , if i could get my hands on this remote , i 'd rewind back to the first time i watched happy gilmore , just to remember what funny really is .", "one of the best american films of the year so far . the filmmakers take what might have been just a gimmicky premise and pursue it meticulously , following wherever it leads . along the way , they create a shrewd and moving metaphor for the way people live .", "MOV ventures into unexpectedly pensive territory and even becomes emotional . -lrb- that word has never before been used in conjunction with an adam sandler comedy . -rrb- sandler , usually a callow actor , has never been less remote .", "MOV has been horribly written , ploddingly paced and indifferently performed . and it makes the mistake of taking itself seriously .", "in a way , this film moves the adam sandler ` idiot ' persona and the adam sandler punch drunk love persona closer together ; anyway , fans will like MOV , no doubt , and even non-fans will be entertained .", "it may all boil down to a cautionary tale that borrows shamelessly from it 's a wonderful life , but when the comic energy is cooking , MOV is diverting enough .", "surely , nobody else could package the tragedy of a ridiculous man as a featherweight farce and have it turn into what i suspect will be a major hit . sandler is young yet , but he could end up one of the genius men in american comedy .", "it 's predictable , often tedious , and sounds funnier than it plays .", "it 's the ultimate in cinematic channel-surfing . ... as a result , this jumbled comedy-drama develops a serious -lrb- and we do mean serious -rrb- multiple-personality problem .", "rarely have i wanted to fast-forward through a movie as much as MOV , a treacly and not-funny-enough adam sandler comedy about a man who uses a magical remote control to fast-forward through life .", "the film 's overall problem is that it asks thoughtful moviegoers to appreciate its good intentions while ignoring its appeal to the basest of adolescent tastes .", "umm , did i mention kate beckinsale is hot ?", "MOV follows the sandler formula to a t . this is too bad , because for a while it is a genial diversion that uses its high-concept premise for solid laughs .", "the name of the film is MOV , but that could also be the sound in your head , the early warning that you 've been had again , stung by another dud .", "this comic fantasy is the best vehicle he 's ever had , a high-concept goof that gradually darkens into an emotional nightmare reminiscent of capra .", "if -lsb- adam sandler -rsb- really could control his career with the MOV of a button , this might be the chapter to skip .", "adam sandler 's MOV takes a clever concept but executes it as an inconsistent retread of a christmas carol . except , instead of christmas , there 's flatulence .", "coming up with a list of movies MOV rips off -lrb- multiplicity , bruce almighty , eternal sunshine of the spotless mind -rrb- i lost count at 10 .", "this rickety sandler vehicle finds the comedy star steering through a charmless fantasy of self-discovery .", "a gently amusing comedy that evolves into a smothering life lesson .", "MOV is perfectly watchable , sometimes funny , and occasionally even touching . but it will be better when you can see it on dvd and fast-forward through all the crummy stuff .", "... the broad humor expected in a sandler production ... fart jokes , mild naughtiness ... clashes with the tone when things turn serious", "with its lurching blend of scatology , sentimentality and sci-fi , the movie is a mess . it 's also sexist , bigoted and misanthropic . of course , those qualities used to be part of the star 's charm .", "when the dvd comes out i 'm going to buy it and fast-forward through the whole thing . you know , for vengeance .", "with the jokes as predictable as they are unremarkable , `` MOV '' ultimately should have turned its remote on itself , pressed rewind , and allowed us to revisit sandler 's best film , `` punch drunk love . ''", "MOV has its heart in the right place but its head in the toilet , and thus works against itself despite some great moments .", "essentially , MOV is a modern-day version of it 's a wonderful life , only with fart jokes .", "another ` nice ' sandler comedy that works , thanks to some smart and genuinely moving ideas at its core .", "really , there are only so many fart jokes a person can take .", "there are more farts and embarrassing sex jokes than laughs -- far more .", "it 's rather sad that the only laughs to come from this comedy are when its dramatic moments fail so much .", "the effort is there , but nothing can save ` MOV ' from being another raunch-fest starring the emoting challenged sandler .", "\u03b1\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03bc\u03ae\u03bd\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03bd\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03af\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c7\u03b5\u03b9\u03ce\u03b4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1 &", "uneasy mix of sloppy sentiment and genuine mean-spiritedness that sandler tries , and fails , to conflate with a schizophrenic performance", "a gimmicky one-joke effects comedy that 's even worse when it tries to be sweet , fuzzy and -- heaven help us -- instructive about what 's really important .", "all i wanted was a magical remote control of my own so i could skip past seeing this unfunny and monotonous piece of crap .", "it accomplishes what it sets out to do : tell an occasionally amusing , occasionally affecting drama about how adults often lose sight of what matters .", "yet another uninspired adam sandler goof-fest with a long suffering leading lady , mildly bawdy gags , and a predictable ending .", "not everything jells , but MOV is funnier and more elaborately clever than anything sandler 's done in years .", "the movie is being sold as a comedy , but you know what ? this is n't funny .", "it 's a high-concept adam sandler comedy that never even scrapes the heights . the movie makes a graceless transition from drippy comedy to soggy melodrama . either way , it 's all wet .", "MOV is a 95-minute illustration of the difference between ` funny ' and ` laughable . '", "after he teased us with some recent , supposedly more ` mature ' performances in punch drunk love and spanglish , sandler has simply reverted to his expected juvenile form here .", "everything about MOV is so predictable that when it is released on home video , you will be able to watch it in a lot less than the 98 minutes it takes to see it in the theater .", "its mix of cheap jokes , common fantasy and shared anxiety should resonate with just about anyone who has a pulse . pause and have a good laugh .", "believe it or not , the gross out jokes wo n't leave a bad taste in the mouth ; the gushy life lessons will .", "by the time michael has tearfully attempted to correct his mistakes with his now-grown children and wife , even sandler 's biggest detractors will be longing for the aggressive , idiotic company of happy gilmore or billy madison .", "half your typical sandler comedy albeit light on the laughs , the other half an overly preachy sentimental sci-fi take on capra 's ` it 's a wonderful life '", "watch MOV -- a kind-hearted comic fable about a working father 's prolonged supernatural comeuppance -- and tell me it does n't yank the same chains as it 's a wonderful life .", "sandler has rightfully transitioned from annoying frat dude who got lucky to affable everyman who even cries every once in a while , although i 'm guessing he needs the prop guy to slice an onion to get the job done .", "the onscreen maturing of adam sandler continues with MOV , perhaps the erstwhile frat boy 's most sentimental outing yet .", "MOV goes clunk when the screenwriters lather on the sentiment too thick", "if you can tolerate sandler 's juvenile humor , you 'll also find something worthwhile .", "MOV is basically it 's a wonderful life with punching , farting , dog-on-duck intercourse and sex jokes ...", "let 's fast-forward to the end of this review : this movie sucks !", "adam sandler still coasts on american pop culture 's peculiar indulgence of boys who wo n't grow up", "the film just does n't MOV .", "sways too far one direction into the vulgar and too far the other into the maudlin .", "i 've never been a fan of sandler 's humor , but if the alternative is him struggling mightily to convey angst , bring on the ` you can do it ! ' callbacks and rob schneider cameos .", "has several truly funny moments and inspired ideas , enough to make viewers wonder how much better the film would have been if a strong story editor and a sharp director had been called in to smooth out the script 's many wrinkles .", "the biggest problem with MOV is not that it is n't funny , but that the moments worthy of laughs often feel isolated from the sloppily assembled plot .", "as a comic , adam sandler has never had an original thought , or if he did , he probably assumed he had stolen it from somebody , he just did n't know who .", "i have a soft spot for the low-comic high jinks of adam sandler , including happy gilmore and even the unfairly maligned waterboy . but sandler has a sappy side that makes me puke . i damn near choked on MOV .", "adam sandler 's latest effort is a clumsy , inconsistent fusion of the lowbrow comedy that made him a star and his more recent , unworkable stabs at drama in punch-drunk love and spanglish .", "writers steve koren and mark o'keefe have taken a clever premise and given it a singularly unclever execution . the movie exists on several different , tonally incompatible planes .", "walken is so adept and natural as sandler 's guiding light -- and his tormentor -- that he seems to be ad-libbing . it 's an artful , endearing performance .", "henry winkler and julie kavner play sandler 's parents , and they redeem what they can of MOV , although no one could salvage the ruthlessly sentimental later passages .", "tunes into two channels : a low-brow comedy station on which dogs hump stuffed animals , and a cautious network whose heart relies on a conventional wake-up call for a workaholic .", "the result is an adam sandler movie that works -- to a degree -- for just about everyone .", "sandler is a post-catskills gold mine of potential , he always has been , and when he 's willing to break with tradition -lrb- \u0155 la punch-drunk love -rrb- , he 's downright revelatory . not this time , though . this time he 's just dying .", "MOV is a premise in wandering pursuit of a movie . about two hours later , it calls off the search and does n't so much end as stop .", "the first half is typical juvenile sandler shtick and the second aims for the heart with the kind of bittersweet nectar the emotionally diabetic will reject .", "an affecting comedy that delivers as many thought-provoking moments as it does laughs , frank coraci 's `` MOV '' resembles more a frank capra movie than familiar shtick-fueled adam sandler vehicles such as `` billy madison . ''", "outside of a running joke about sandler 's dog humping a giant stuffed animal and the usual anger/pain humor that runs through his work , the film devotes most of its energy to a drearily sentimental lesson about what 's really important .", "plays to the lowest-common-denominator for so long that it can never quite redeem itself when the tone suddenly dims and turns into a tearjerker .", "a crass physical comedy of unrelenting irrelevance with a gag or two amid the many other examples of bad taste .", "with MOV , sandler has taken about three leaps backwards from punch drunk love and 50 first dates .", "most likely a well intentioned reaction to the death of both -lsb- sandler 's -rsb- father and beloved dog meatball , `` MOV '' plays like `` it 's a wonderful life to the future '' with superior makeup effects but subpar writing and production values .", "MOV will surely dishearten even sandler 's most forgiving faithful , while putting the casual viewer right to sleep .", "adam sandler turns his careless attention to family life in this comedy about a harried white-collar father who acquires a remote control that allows him to hopscotch through time .", "a happy convergence of silly and smart gives adam sandler one of his best comic vehicles yet .", "a sour comedy about an unpleasant guy that morphs into a sour drama about an even less pleasant guy .", "a surprisingly sentimental twist on the adam sandler formula ." ], "summary": "this latest adam sandler vehicle borrows shamelessly from it 's a wonderful life and back to the future , and fails to produce the necessary laughs that would forgive such imitation .", "id": "155655187" }, { "movie": "mongol", "reviews": [ "MOV is a big , ponderous epic , its beautifully composed landscape shots punctuated by thundering hooves and bloody , slow-motion battle sequences .", "transports us to the faraway past and an exotic place where a legendary warrior is forged into a fierce leader through suffering and hardship .", "MOV presents a khan with a spring in his step and love in his heart . and , ok , some wrath .", "sergei bodrov brings back the cinematic epic of old with his revisionist view of genghis khan ... there is no john wayne or cgi to be seen in this foreign language film oscar nominee .", "if a hero is to deserve this much spectacle , he ought to be at least a little bit interesting .", "a beautiful and ambitious film flawed by its dogged determination to cast genghis khan in a new light , the best that can be hoped is that MOV provides a stage for better things in the forthcoming films .", "surrender to its exotic oddity and guttural throat-singing and you 'll be entertained by a sweeping saga that 's like a mongolian braveheart .", "this revisionist history of the early life of ghengis khan leaves one baffled and unconvinced .", "MOV is a far east braveheart , charged with the same sense of pseudo-history , movie heroics and inspirational grandeur .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- as good as most of this year 's american would-be blockbusters , but it might 've been far more interesting if the filmmakers had either left the hollywood mold or embraced it with reckless abandon .", "a thrilling and painstakingly researched story combined with the best costumes imaginable and superb performances makes this a biopic to see .", "while the historical accuracy may be dodgy , MOV is a sweeping and quasi-mythical epic that recalls lawrence of arabia .", "the result is a wallow in old movie pleasures , full of battles , flying dust , thousands of men on horseback , beautiful women , treachery , slaughter , really cool hats and even more slaughter .", "MOV offers an absorbing study of how powerful men with an abiding mutual respect , even love , go about the culturally dictated process of destroying each other .", "history 's greatest subjugator finally gets the respect he deserves with a no-nonsense drama and an all-asian cast , shot in the very lands he once ravaged .", "MOV is the first film of a proposed trilogy that charts his conquest of half the known world . if the sequels match this one , they ca n't come soon enough .", "the film , a foreign-language oscar nominee , is epic in scope , in scale , in story , in everything . it has as much action as any brain-dead hollywood blockbuster , but MOV also has heart and intelligence .", "if reading subtitles or trying to understand historical figures are n't among your lifelong ambitions , `` MOV '' features some first-rate eye candy .", "the first part of what director bodrov promises to be a trilogy tracing the life of the historic conqueror , MOV is great cinema , great fun .", "a grandly kitschy rendering of genghis khan 's early years , the ones revealing how a boy became a ruthless yet humane warrior , devoted family man and all-around good fellow , MOV might as well be called braveheart in a yurt .", "the audacity of filming the life of a warm & fuzzy genghis khan is matched by sergei bodrov 's superior production and excellent cast , making MOV 's provocation worth the leap and bloody good entertainment , besides", "first-rate `` revisionist '' study of great conqueror reviled by the `` civilized '' west . by comparison , most world 's leaders are the true barbarians , especially those in washington , dc .", "even if you ca n't completely follow the plot , you also ca n't take your eyes off the scenery , the thrilling horse chases and the throat-slashing battles .", "i do n't know the mongolian word for panache , but MOV 's got plenty of it . the battle scenes are as notable for their clarity as their intensity ; we can follow the strategies , get a sense of who 's losing and who 's winning .", "you might wonder how bodrov could fail to make every minute of genghis khan 's extraordinary life near edge-of-the-seat involving , but there are some dull stretches before the pace picks up again .", "russian director sergei bodrov has made a magnificent epic which evokes some of the greats of the past , including lawrence of arabia .", "relates the story of genghis khan 's early years in a plodding , uninspired fashion that does n't bode well for the next two entries in a planned trilogy .", "` vast landscapes , savage battles , sparring blood brothers and a poignant love story form the essence of sergei bodrov 's spectacular epic , among whose achievements are its extraordinary sense of place and time .", "bold , epic battle-happy movie that humanizes the world-conqueror and gives him plenty to be aggressive about .", "this is a historical epic like mom -- or david lean -- used to make . it 's got transgenerational blood feuds , galloping steeds , lucky talismans carried for years by separated lovers , and steppes -- lots and lots of steppes .", "the real star here is director and co-writer sergei bodrov , who largely turns his back on cgi effects and creates stirring battle scenes the old-fashioned way .", "` MOV ' is so beautifully photographed that it should knock your socks off .", "not that i 'm a fan of violent behavior , but if i 'm watching a movie about genghis khan , i expect more gut-wrenching slaughter than this .", "the action sequences here are first-rate , the performances are uniformly excellent , the cinematography as good as i 've seen in any film this year .", "this - the first of a trilogy - is a coming-of-age story about the nomadic lad who eventually became the great warrior , genghis khan .", "i liked it , even though the one-bloody-battle-after-another deal is not my sort of thing . if it 's your sort , i bet you 'll like it even more .", "bodrov 's movie is most likely to be remembered for its fierce battle sequences , which frequently place the camera smack in the middle of the action .", "there are plenty of haunting landscapes ... along with the sort of warfare scenes that define epics , but also an unexpected take on one of history 's most fearsome leaders .", "bodrov has simply created an overwhelmingly awesome khan who could believably conquer the overwhelmingly awesome landscape over the course of two more films .", "give MOV 's makers credit for taking advantage of the spectacular scenery and creating an almost documentary reality regarding life among mongolia 's nomads . but as storytelling the film goes nowhere slowly .", "asano 's khan is a hero in the classic mold , and the portrayal is riveting . not entirely so the film , however , which concludes with a lengthy endnote as though it were steppe wars iv : a new hope and equal plunder for all men .", "the movie would be an unbearably grueling endurance test for the audience and the hero were it not for the arid beauty of the great steppe and the sweep of the battles , rendered with splatters of gore that lend a jackson pollock-like excitement to -lsb- it -rsb- .", "bodrov and arif aliyev wrote the film , which was one of this year 's foreign-language oscar nominees , and their account is framed as a drama of inflamed loins and intense loyalty .", "a broad , old-fashioned epic in the david lean mold .", "even the most intense human drama is somehow reduced by the landscape .", "temudgin is so single-minded that asano has trouble suggesting much about his inner life .", "a ferocious film , blood-soaked , pausing occasionally for passionate romance and more frequently for torture . as a visual spectacle , it is all but overwhelming , putting to shame some of the recent historical epics from hollywood .", "MOV is an impressive epic that also captures intimate moments in the early life of the mongolian leader .", "MOV is a little slow at times , but you do a get a good history lesson while you get to see blood spraying and bodies flying all over the place .", "the visuals and performances make it worth it , but this is a wilfully oblique bit of warrior hagiography .", "a saga of blood feuds , betrayals , vendettas , and a lot of fighting the film is entertaining but more macho than intelligent .", "hell has no wrath like a khan scorned .", "when we think of the fearsome genghis khan , we do n't picture him as ever having been a little boy . but he must have been , and that is where this grand throwback to the sweeping historical epics of yesteryear takes up the great khan 's story .", "it 's a lumbering , emotionally cold , slow-going old-fashioned escapist sweeping biopic on the early years of genghis khan .", "genghis khan 's lost decade fuels a handsome fantasy .", "... bodrov 's engaging vision of genghis khan in several moments almost feels like the silent movie epics by the russian cinematic pioneer sergei eisenstein .", "this would have been one of the greatest all time epics , but there were some major gaps in the story .", "a movie in which acting still prevails is MOV . people often say , ` they do n't make movies like they used to . ' maybe the russians make movies like hollywood used to . MOV , photographed beautifully in kazakhstan and the chinese province of", "visually stunning , historically interesting , and very entertaining .", "... probably not the movie most audiences expected .", "while his film 's historical accuracy might sometimes be questionable , bodrov has created a spectacular film filled with all-natural beauty from the realistic locations , one that brings forth the man within the fabled barbarian", "for anyone even slightly interested in mongolian history or in the life of the man who would conquer a fifth of the earth 's landmass , `` MOV '' is a movie that demands repeated screenings .", "a gracefully mounted , stunningly photographed historical account , fascinating in its attention to detail if somewhat unengaging in its story and characters .", "with its breathtaking landscapes , bloody battles , bitter betrayals and an aching love story , MOV is a sumptuously crafted epic", "there 's never enough detail to make these historical figures come to life in a compelling way .", "with overwhelmingly beautiful cinematography on location , this is as good as any thriller and also a sweet love story ... the best of film , one that entertains and educates .", "for a motion picture about man who changed the world on his own terms , one would think his life story would be a riveting experience , not something that requires a pot of coffee and occasional magazine breaks to enjoy .", "the picture 's bravura style makes for an intriguingly exotic adventure only occasionally hobbled by the finicky mode of storytelling .", "shows a merging of the random vagaries of time with the divine machinery of myth , to create a truly rounded picture of the factors that can turn a flesh-and-blood individual into a living legend on the very crest of history .", "bodrov whips up enough wild , unruly energy and , in his depiction of sex as a mongolian female 's most vital commodity , sociological scraps to help overshadow the somewhat cheesy dubiousness of his myth-making project .", "adventure story , love story , history lesson : what 's not to like ?", "more impressed with its own olden days ready-to-rumble , flesh-ripping far eastern beatdowns , than fleshing out with any depth just who these characters were and how they struggled to exist back then . history as a scenic but dramatically sparse travelogue .", "sometimes it works , sometimes it falls flat , a lot of the time it feels like it 's four hours long .", "good battle scenes across a montana-like plains , impressive acting in the title role by a japanese performer speaking mongolian .", "arguably bodrov 's biggest , most accomplished film , MOV is everything that oliver stone 's alexander was not : sumputuously mounted , beautifully acted , and illuminating in historical yet accessible terms the tumultuous life of the legendary warrior .", "the film earns our attention and respect the way fictional movies do : by crafting a well-told , entertaining story .", "japanese indie idol asano smolders as maverick temudgin -lsb- khan -rsb- .", "MOV , from its thrilling battles to its intimate romance , has the look , scale , story and feel of an old-fashioned epic in the best and biggest sense of the word .", "even though the results might not be as stunning as kurosawa 's epics , the film certainly has its highlights , especially the often-bloody battle scenes .", "MOV has just enough characterization to sustain its own reason for being -- cinematic fullness .", "it must have been a pretty weak year for subtitled fare if the oscar voters sought to praise this inert , inept epic .", "the battle sequences are tremendous , and the performances are captivating , making for the sort of rousing , giant-scale entertainment that a figure as towering as genghis khan deserves .", "a thoroughly rousing hunk of celluloid , a war saga that blends the sturdiest conventions of old-fashioned heroic storytelling with a few pixilated battle enhancements - check out the soaring blood globs - of the kind that spattered across 300 .", "probably the only movie you 'll ever see that opens in ' 1192 -- year of the black rat . '", "the melodrama is as thick as the blood in the spectacular battle sequences , but asano 's soulful performance brings this little-understood historical icon passionately to life .", "there is plenty of violence . but anyone expecting the wrath of kahn will have to wait for the sequel .", "... an action movie that , for a change , comes from the history books , not the comic books .", "if you like your epics sweeping and bloody and real , MOV may be the best you get for a long while .", "lacking great themes and inner depth , MOV is just another galloping wondershow of ice blue skies and rocky plains , a light diversion with delusions of grandeur", "MOV , for all the intense action and warfare , is also a character study of a great leader and strategist .", "as an epic action movie , MOV is satisfying enough . think braveheart . think 300 . just do n't think too much .", "MOV is a throwback to a more respectable tradition . the largeness of its scope arises naturally from the material , not the budget . the movie earns its stature .", "russian filmmaker sergei bodrov contrasts images of sweeping landscape and propulsive battle with potent scenes of emotional intimacy in MOV , his quite grand , quite exotic , david lean-style epic .", "combining the intelligence of an action movie with the excitement of an art-house release makes MOV as dry as summer in the gobi desert .", "the founder of history 's greatest contiguous empire gets an appropriately bravehearted movie , an exciting actioner from russian director sergei bodrov .", "having bodrov , who directed the excellent the prisoner of the mountains , in charge here is an advantage . though there is only so much any director can do with characters who are next door to mythic , bodrov can do more than most , and it helps .", "i 'd rather have seen the sequel ." ], "summary": "the sweeping MOV mixes romance , family drama , and enough flesh-ripping battle scenes to make sense of ghenghis khan 's legendary stature .", "id": "770677229" }, { "movie": "once_upon_a_time_in_mexico", "reviews": [ "feels like a bullfight on acid or a dish of carne asade peppered with just the right comedic seasoning .", "if MOV is a spaghetti western , it 's chef boy-ar-dee .", "a winking exercise in actors acting cool and the amoral joys of trigger - happiness .", "you ride along with a movie like this with a big , dumb grin on your face and no guilt .", "whenever rodriguez is in a fairbanks mood , mexico delivers .", "despite the movie 's dark humor , violence and the occasional nonvoluntary facial surgery that will drive away the queasy , MOV is the most crowd-pleasing film in the series .", "goes nowhere , furiously .", "rodriguez 's films have always been witty , but none more than this crazy confection .", "rodriguez 's movie aspires to trashy grandeur , and achieves it .", "a heady mix of tarantino-esque pulp .", "besides depp 's other flick pirates of the caribbean , this may be the most enjoyable action film of the summer .", "... one of the best times you 'll have at the movies this year .", "the film 's deliberately overblown cartoonishness and its gleefully pandering adolescent cruelty never blend into the enjoyable style of , say , a good spaghetti western -lrb- rodriguez 's acknowledged model -rrb- , or even a bad quentin tarantino movie .", "the show is stolen by johnny depp in a performance so flamboyantly strange that it almost makes his recent turn in ` pirates of the caribbean ' seem restrained by comparison .", "how can you resist a movie that features willem dafoe sporting a tan , mickey rourke cradling a chihuahua and johnny depp turning in another oddball tour de force ?", "the deppian touches are whimsical and hilarious .", "a fun ride even if it is all style and no substance .", "it 's hot , it 's sexy , it 's savage and funny .", "the action scenes have a been-there , done-that feel . and it 's all ridiculously silly .", "shamelessly violent and shallow .", "as he has done in each of his films , the multitasking auteur gets jaw-droppingly bizarre performances from a host of prestigious and established actors", "i understood the general outlines of the story , i liked the bold strokes he uses to create the characters , and i was amused by the camera work , which includes a lot of shots that are about themselves .", "it never runs short on energy , and such frantic endeavors can make a film fun without making it , you know , good .", "it does have depp to buoy it up just long enough to keep audience interest alive until the film gets to the meat of the story -- the action .", "a whiz-bang kick in the pants .", "depp , a mere two months after his scene-stealing turn in pirates of the caribbean , once again is the best thing about a very silly movie .", "a thrilling , entertaining spectacle which easily lives up to the legacy of its predecessors and proves that the director 's time spent with the spy kids franchise has n't diminished his ability to create effective adult-level thrills .", "moves with uncanny cool ; it has a strange lukewarm energy that most hollywood action films lack .", "as rodriguez ' hubris has swelled to olympian proportions , so also have his films become hopelessly mired in adolescent exhibitionism .", "antonio banderas took my breath away again . sleek and swift as a panther , he projects the charisma and magnetism of an old-time movie star .", "like sped-up sergio leone , an awesome comic book epic of a burrito western .", "rodriguez ... has taken his work in 1995 's desperado , mexico 's precursor , and blown it up to mammoth , thrilling proportions .", "it 's at once busy and lacklustre , intricately plotted yet indifferently paced , handsomely mounted but made from plastic .", "a kinetic and voluptuous pulp fantasia , a mythic nightmare pastiche of stylish slaughter , featuring twisted iconic figures destroying each other and just about everything else in sight with a lot of flair .", "we are meant to be amused by the film 's bloodthirsty willingness to do anything to get a jolt or a laugh out of us , just as we were in the wild bunch , and i was amused .", "maverick robert rodriguez gets back to his old r-rated tricks , but this time he 's more mature , stylish and bloody inventive .", "forget trying to follow the convoluted plot . just enjoy the expertly choreographed action and another killer johnny depp performance that steals the entire movie .", "it 's entertaining , but if you ca n't stomach brutal violence and gunfire , it 's best to skip this one .", "those enamored of the stylish wall-to-wall gunfights and explosions from rodriguez 's previous films will leave the theater shaking their heads .", "a noisy , unholy mess , with moments of wit and surprise that ultimately make its brutal tedium all the more disappointing .", "banderas inhabits the role of the mariachi with a feral grace undimished by the seven-year gap between films .", "depp tosses off nearly as many deadpan quips as he did in pirates and steals the movie from everyone else in the cast , including a rugged antonio banderas , who is perfect for the role of a man haunted by grief .", "its action often feels chaotic , simultaneously lazy and agitated , rather than choreographed .", "rodriguez is less filmmaker now than freakshow , but at least it can be said that freakshows are n't boring .", "having already looted the peckinpah and spaghetti-western archives , the director now quotes his own quotations , in service of not a sequel but a vociferous reiteration .", "just another stunted-up silly blood bath with no real passion , intelligence or wit .", "played as a mixture of comedy -lrb- often blackened -rrb- and pedal to the metal action , the picture is a busy hit or miss affair .", "-lrb- robert -rrb- rodriguez has created a very stylized feature , one in which the framing and attitude take precedence over the acting .", "a fractured fairy tale for whom we happily suspend disbelief , right up to the best-not - believe-it ` the end . '", "make no mistake , this movie is a mess . but , wow , what a mess !", "great cinema this is n't , but it looks good , has a lot of humor and style and stars depp .", "MOV is a dizzy , outrageously creative , over-the-top opera of action mayhem .", "energetic visuals can not compensate for an unstructured story .", "if `` MOV '' had a few more scenes like these and spent less time repeating the shootouts in `` desperado , '' the rest of the film would have more consistently matched depp 's beguiling brand of eccentricity .", "`` a robert rodriguez flick '' with plenty of gonzo fun bogged down only periodically by visions of political importance in a vincente fox-mexico .", "a film that works on almost every level .", "an absurdist good time .", "rodriguez ... makes it easy for depp , giving his inadvertent star a cluttered mess amidst which to be totally centered and in control .", "... this proves as the opposite of cabin fever , you can spill a lot of blood in a gratuitous , but very entertaining way .", "the movie feels like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces that have been wedged together with a rubber mallet . still , large sections of the puzzle mesh quite well and deliver some solid escapist fun .", "a movie with that many freaks and creeps should be a lot more exciting than this one actually is .", "a gloriously overproduced b movie -- loud , fast , gorgeously shot , brimming with bright pop-art colors . it 's also deliberately and defiantly absurd -- not in the least because it 's ultimately a spy kids movie for adults .", "the first thought as the credits roll will be how you 'd love to see johnny depp and that kid in another movie . rodriguez may do nothing but all pulp , all the time , but he delivers it with unquestionable zest and skill here .", "where plot and plain common sense fails , rodriguez delivers flat out cool .", "are you among my `` pg-13 people ? '' i have a wonderful group of friends , in fact , some of my closest friends , who just plain should n't go to r-rated movies . the potential for violence is too great in these films . because these nice , gentle folks have my deep", "a mess of a movie that nevertheless entertains because each individual piece stands high enough on its own merits that it 's not necessary to look hard at the nonsensical linking material .", "MOV tries to be a big budget action event and just delivers a lot of explosions and gunplay with very little substance .", "how this movie successfully strikes a balance between the moods of its predecessors , the tragic el mariachi and the silly desperado , is notable .", "occasionally hits heights worthy of its sergio leone-inspired title ... but its manic invention exhausts more than enthralls .", "to be fair , rodriguez 's wicked dialogue does elicit some laughs amongst the on-screen carnage .", "a splendid cast and spectacular orgies of carnage combine to produce a surprisingly creaky , labored , and boring movie .", "over the top and all over the place , MOV is as unruly as it characters : joyously style-driven as a bond movie but with its own set of style guidelines .", "still loaded with action and wonderful characters , but this is the least of the three pictures .", "like an r-rated , violent roadrunner cartoon .", "... a cartoonish action movie that entertains without garnering empathy for any of its characters , with the exception of ruben blades ' jorge .", "would be such a good movie , were it not so utterly ridiculous and laden with sheer stupidity and nonsense ...", "the concluding installment of robert rodriguez 's el mariachi trilogy hits more than a few flat notes .", "MOV is the film i 've wanted to see from robert rodriguez since he made desperado in 1995 .", "once upon a time in america is an action packed western fairy tale . it may not make much sense ... but then , it does n't have to .", "a dog 's breakfast of violence and partially developed characters , but if you can live with that , then you can have a lot of fun with this audacious , oddball film .", "rodriguez has given us a stylish , posturing tableau western , based on his own mythic character , filled with full-blooded action set pieces , and set against the continuation of mexico 's political strife .", "a miserable excuse for a movie , it 's almost saved by johnny depp 's wonderfully hammy performance .", "any semblance of a main plot vanishes . the story is just a bunch of meanwhiles .", "depp steals the movie with a swagger and a smile in his second great part of the year .", "a lusty , zesty goof .", "when johnny depp said america was ` like a dumb puppy that has big teeth that can bite and hurt you , ' he may have been remembering his approach to his role here as a playfully dangerous cia agent ...", "lush and ripe with extravagance but the story is a complicated mess .", "with sound and fury , robert rodriguez is purely , simply having fun making movies . leave logic at the door ...", "entertaining with a capital ` el . '", "robert rodriguez has wisely given each movie its own distinct flair ... i like how endlessly inventive he gets with the idea .", "the picture is sort of like a pi\u0144ata : there are many wonderful details and players in it , but there are just as many bits that are , well , cheap .", "gaping logic holes -lrb- baddies who kick heroes while they 're down instead of killing them -rrb- and lethargic pacing make this more like that dull time we spent on vacation in mexico", "rodriguez is a artist of limited gifts , certainly , but those gifts are exquisite -- and he uses them to great effect .", "as an iconic image , -lsb- depp -rsb- captures the feeling of rodriguez 's movie : blinded and shooting randomly in all directions .", "a shoddy sergio leone ` tribute ' filmed from a first draft by a director who lacks the discipline to match his talent .", "mexico has the best plotting of the mariachi series ... but be warned , this is still a second-tier picture that relies more on wit and technical virtuosity than inspiration .", "rich on characters , but poor on plot .", "long on action and style , but short on plot and compelling characters .", "though it has plenty of humour and gunfire , the final installment of this series is unexpectedly serious in its contemplation of a world sunken by moral erosion .", "while this chaotic fable lacks substance , it oozes with shoot ' - em-up style and explosive energy . sadly , however , despite second billing , salma hayek does little more than an extended cameo appearance in memory flashbacks .", "this third chapter in rodriguez 's mariachi trilogy is perhaps his best film yet -- a lively , outrageously enjoyable action comedy with serious subtext .", "-lsb- robert rodriguez -rsb- is a true jack-of-all-trades and puts his multiple talents to the test and succeeds , mostly , with `` MOV . ''", "a mindless and tedious orgy of violence .", "audiences , i believe , are going to want to see another dose of the first two films ; they do n't want the headache of trying to figure out what the heck is going on for two hours .", "it 's pop filmmaking at its headiest , maybe because it never quite gets outside the filmmaker 's head .", "just sit back and let rodriguez take you to popcorn-movie heaven .", "MOV is a spicy manfest extravaganza !", "a sprawling , chaotic mess of a movie that is still incredibly enjoyable .", "` MOV plays like a delirious combination of a fistful of dollars , the revenger 's tragedy and airplane . '", "rodriguez puts a lot of mindless violence on the screen . moment to moment the films is unpredictable , but on the large scale the plot is old , predictable , and familiar .", "rodriguez inserts loud , frenetic and oddly bloodless gun battles wherever possible and to constantly diminishing effect .", "god bless johnny depp . for the second time this year , the man has almost single-handedly redeemed an action movie that would otherwise be indistinguishable from the pack .", "antonio banderas and salma hayek co-star in this continuation of the el mariachi story ... but it 's johnny depp who steals the show .", "assumindo as fun\u0443\u0448es principais da produ\u0443\u0441o , rodriguez apresenta-se como verdadeiro autor de seus filmes . pena que um n\u0441o muito bom .", "` one area rodriguez has not managed to nail down is telling a compelling narrative . '", "an enjoyable cap to the el mariachi trilogy that occasionally disappoints , but never mars the good name of its predecessors", "this is a film with too many dum dums and not enough drama .", "affectionately conceived , imaginatively staged and highly entertaining .", "this filmic vagabond offers up his material as amusement , by spoofing his own script and channeling the ghosts of cinema past .", "a tall tale told with mythic idiom and infused with both wicked humor and a sense of irony that renders even the goriest mayhem into a wacky exercise in effervescent slapstick", "for all it 's flash and dazzle `` MOV '' is too episodic and splintered , but a potential spinoff for depp 's blind assassin could be promising", "though this wild and woolly movie will please its core audience well enough , rodriguez has the chops to do much more .", "the movie is stolen by the gorgeous , droll and hilarious depp . the movie crackles when he 's onscreen and only fitfully sparks when he 's not .", "convoluted and surprisingly dull .", "just as there are some sports teams you watch for the brilliant efforts of one star athlete , there are movies that rivet your attention when one performer is onscreen and go slack when he 's gone .", "even when mexico is n't exactly making sense , it 's still a blast to watch for its sheer chutzpah .", "the director ... has a clear knack for big action set pieces .", "a movie that goes so wrong so abruptly it 's as if a meteor were heading for the set and everyone had to evacuate .", "after a while , MOV starts having the same effect as one too many tequilas : the hong kong-style stunts , the goofy wisecracks , the foxy presence of eva mendes -- all of it becomes blurry and numbing .", "robert rodriguez is becoming too self-contained . this story is so in his head , but it 's not like he 's creating jar-jar . at least it 's still kick *** action and good humor .", "... a big-time action movie crying out for the sheen of celluloid .", "when it works , you do n't care about all the times it does n't .", "... when gunplay takes a back seat to manifold political intrigue that would give tom clancy a headache , you 've done your tongue-in-cheek , check-your-brain action movie a disservice .", "might have been intended as a homage , but winds up seeming more like a bad parody ... pumps the adrenaline and feeds the eye but starves the brain .", "` desperado ' was antonio banderas ' movie , but this one is all johnny depp 's .", "depp , who looks and dresses eerily like michael jackson near the end , has an appealing breeziness .", "robert rodriguez knows how to mix humor and action in the same shot . it 's completely over-the-top action , but that 's what makes it so entertaining .", "dazzling visuals , ambitious stunts and enough raw action to please the most demanding fans .", "depp steals the show for the second time this year .", "it 's a great , swirling action movie , but it 's so heavy on plot twists and characters that the whole thing feels like a delirious jumble .", "i hope that some day his taste in stories catches up to the maturity of his skills .", "-lsb- rodriguez ' -rsb- kid-in-a-candy-store attitude infuses every moment of this sprawling , overstuffed and giddily inventive action drama .", "unlike the original `` el mariachi '' or `` desperado , '' there is much more to the plot here and those coming simply to see endless showdowns may feel overwhelmed by the abundance of characters , twists and double dealings .", "me and those other 11 desperado fans have been waiting quite a while for MOV . finally , it is here ! and it does n't disappoint !", "robert rodriguez is beginning to have delusions of sergio leone . yet , when he does decide to make the film move , it races .", "paying homage to sergio leone , mexico aims too high and , in the process , becomes more like every generic , overplotted drug-cartel - and-revenge flick out there .", "rodriguez infused desperado with style and pulpy energy . here the bravado is by-the-numbers and way too familiar ." ], "summary": "violent , pulpy , loopy fun , with depp stealing the show .", "id": "13208" }, { "movie": "the_wolfpack", "reviews": [ "the sheltered world of the angulos , informed by cinema more than the teeming city right outside their apartment windows , is a haunting and utterly unique one .", "what a sad , strange , intoxicating movie .", "at its best , MOV helps us to see the cinema in the world , and not the other way around .", "-lsb- it -rsb- has to be seen to be believed .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- you ca n't help but root for these highly articulate and reserved kids to make good in the real world . you just might be hearing more from the `` wolfpack '' as filmmakers in their own right .", "the dysfunctional duggars of arkansas have nothing on the angulos of new york 's lower east side .", "it 's a deeply strange success story , but it 's self-aware and humorous , and full of frankly amazing revelations .", "MOV is a reminder that much of the `` crap '' we decry has the potential to liberate , offering a bridge off the island of terror we call the nuclear family .", "it 's partially a story of the role cinema can play in helping connect viewers to the world , of helping people get find and hold hope , but it 's also a capturing and catalyst for developing hope .", "tender , funny , heartbreaking and gloriously gritty , MOV is a must for any movie connoisseur , while it 's also a reminder of just how powerful the medium can be .", "it comes across as a life-affirming story of how people can not just survive but thrive even through such a bizarre upbringing , above all though the life-enhancement of film .", "MOV ends up being a rare work that deserves the most sentimental of recommendations : it is a hymn to the resilience of the human spirit .", "it does , in the end , offer a remarkable testament to that most enduring of all movie clich\u00e9s : the power of the human spirit .", "there is a sense of the freshness of freedom but this a film that mainly deals in big emotions as though worried about getting down to specifics .", "named after hindu deities , the six boys -lrb- their sister is barely glimpsed on camera -rrb- prove easy company - attractive , articulate , and engagingly enthusiastic .", "filmmaker crystal moselle , who stumbled across the family , has crafted an unusual and thought-provoking film with unexpected charm .", "six brothers and a sister locked in a new york apartment ... turn to the movies as their main means of connecting to the outside world ... an admittedly bizarre documentary , chiefly because of how normal and unaffected they all now seem .", "an interesting work about the limits of sanity , acceptance , society and personality . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "crystal moselle treats the life of these boys with a lot of respect . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "MOV is the kind of documentary that creeps into your heart and shatters it .", "if the events depicted here are true , it 's a horrifying record of abuse that should trigger an investigation , not observation .", "some films take hundreds of hours of tedious work and countless exhausted nights of ulcerous brooding . some simply make themselves .", "an eye-popping portrait of six brothers virtually imprisoned for most of their lives inside a 16th-floor flat in a new york housing project .", "among the more unique , one-of-a-kind movies of the year . and i 'd love to see a where-are-they-now sequel in a few years .", "more than a testament to the power of cinematic storytelling as food for the human spirit , `` MOV '' also is a portrait of a family that has had to rely on each other to survive .", "the sheer idea that a new york family of nine could not only survive , but thrive while being sealed inside a lower east side manhattan apartment most of their lives makes for fascinating viewing that no reality tv show can touch .", "we are presented with something peculiar , that 's noteworthy mainly for it 's just being weird . frankly , it 's not weird enough to completely engage viewers for more than 90 minutes .", "... even the tonal missteps ca n't detract from an otherwise engrossing documentary-quite possibly the most curious i have seen all year .", "it 's clear that there are second acts , and more , in american lives , even ones so borderline freakish as the ones presented here .", "this is a fascinating story that deserves a much different film .", "moselle is also a patient observer who , without judgment or superfluous underlining , gradually teases out the pathos and the riveting dramas -- some dark and disturbing , some bizarrely entertaining and heartening -- of the parents .", "sometimes , all you need is a great subject to make a great documentary - or a willingness to chase after total strangers .", "their virtual imprisonment has shaped but not ruined them , and we slowly see them venture into the wilds of regular existence .", "director crystal moselle stands back from her subjects , allowing them to do most of the talking . her camera is remarkably non-judgmental , especially given how easily it could have become a `` look at the freak show '' sort of film .", "... raises more questions than it answers , yet the remarkable access to its subjects makes the result both heartbreaking and hopeful .", "more than anything , MOV is a true new york city story , reminding us that the heart and soul of this metropolis can be found in the diverse journeys of those who call it home .", "much of `` MOV '' is undeniably moving , especially as the boys come out into the real world , frightened and unsure of themselves .", "if the film is patchy , it shows promise . thankfully , so do the boys themselves .", "filmmaker crystal moselle has seized onto terrifically compelling material , and while she hangs back with admirable distance , grey gardens-like , you wonder how she earned the angulos ' trust .", "... an ode to the miraculous power of cinema .", "a frustrating display of missed opportunities . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the compelling quality of moselle 's exploration get a great boost from the motion-creating editing and frenetic metal score , not to mention her caring touch .", "the sheer singularity of the world we enter here should be more than satisfactory for intrigued viewers .", "MOV walks a perilous line in documentary ethics , but there 's no question it is one of the most confronting and confounding true stories in a long time .", "an invaluable experiment , that creates more questions than it answers ... in a good way . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "wolfpack falls short in various aspects : in the formal way because it feels like a reality show and in its chronology . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a movie cinema lovers ca n't miss . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a fun journey to discover how the moral , social education and values of this group of people was formed through an ample selection of world cinema . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a movie that sheds new light in the way cinema takes place in our lives . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a subject so atractive and interesting that this documentary never stops generating footage worthy of being discussed and analized . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's stunning -lrb- and amazingly well done -rrb- and hard to believe . yet it 's all true , as far as we know .", "to moselle 's credit , she avoids turning MOV into a freak show -lrb- just barely -rrb- . and yet , as you sit there gaping , you long for more insight , about the people you 're watching but also about how moselle made this film .", "anyone who doubts fact can be way stranger than fiction will see otherwise after catching moselle 's debut documentary feature , MOV .", "it 's a fascinating story however you present it , but a tighter structure and a little more context would n't have hurt .", "it all adds up to a story of the human spirit 's ability to survive and even thrive despite twisted circumstance .", "the film has a collage-like mix of fly-on-the-wall footage , on-camera interviews and old home movies , past and present swirling together within the same four walls .", "the boys are bright and funny , and when they do go out together - shades on , long hair flowing down rail-thin bodies - they look like a somewhat awkward but cool rock band you 'd like to get to know . moselle 's documentary is the next best thing .", "whether they are dancing exuberantly to the cheesy 1980s pop hit tarzan boy or celebrating halloween in their tiny living room , these kids figured out how to not only survive , but thrive . sometimes , with a little luck and a lot of love , joy finds a way .", "a strange , fascinating documentary ...", "all cooped up with nowhere to go ... luckily there are movies", "the story that emerged , when she won their confidence , is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every factual filmmaker dreams of and very rarely stumbles across .", "too many questions are ultimately left unanswered , but it 's a real kick ...", "a profoundly compelling yet far-from-unimpeachable piece of doc making .", "a compelling glimpse into a bizarre , hermetically sealed life . the brothers are easy to warm to , and the family 's slow introduction into the outside world is quietly moving .", "weird as these boys are , and as their story is , moselle 's film is nothing but affectionate , and i found myself falling for their rather sweet unworldliness just as she obviously did .", "the film remains a testament to movie love , and how acculturated , against all odds , you could become on a steady diet of hollywood product .", "moselle has crafted the cinematic equivalent of a pencil sketch , but the boys make compelling viewing as her thoughtful , engaging subjects .", "the brothers have an effortless charisma and any time spent in their company can not help but be fascinating .", "moselle 's affection for these tough-talking whelps brings you gradually , optimistically , inside their world of gritty make-believe , and you root for them to take their lives conclusively into their own hands .", "a remarkable new york story , one made with a pinch of tabloid expos\u00e9 and another of sociological experiment .", "not since grey gardens has a film invited us into such a strange , barely-functioning home and allowed us to gawk without reservation .", "there is much to enjoy in director crystal moselle 's debut documentary feature , which if nothing else begs a where-are-they-now sequel a few years down the road .", "it 's a fascinating in-the-moment experience .", "moselle has some great footage and a potentially compelling story , but like the brothers , it 's kept confined and devoid of fresh air .", "MOV reminds us , in extreme terms , that watching movies might be a way of learning how to live .", "undeniably fascinating .", "in the truth is stranger than fiction file : MOV , a documentary about six teen brothers home-schooled to the point of imprisonment . in manhattan , of all places .", "takes a surprisingly tender approach to the material , never casting blame or making comments .", "even in the context of tolstoy 's famous dictum that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way , the story of the angulo brothers stands out .", "that this is a documentary , this family lived in new york for decades in almost complete separation from its neighbors , is astonishing .", "`` MOV '' is n't a perfect movie , by any means , but it 's often a fascinating one , and it 's less about the power of film than it is a story so strange that it 's hard to look away .", "a strange and fascinating experience ; you feel like you 've been given entry into a mysterious world , where no one else is permitted .", "everything about MOV is extraordinary , beginning with the subjects of crystal moselle 's mesmerizing documentary .", "a harrowing , liberating documentary .", "MOV is what happens when a filmmaker of limited talent gets the scoop of a lifetime .", "captures the minutia of what builds a personality in an extreme situation", "the subject matter means MOV is inherently compelling for a while , but as a documentary it 's an increasingly frustrating shambles .", "despite the faintest of narrative progressions intended to emphasise the healing power of art and the strength of the human spirit , the majority of the film embodies some strange , nameless sinking feeling .", "MOV ultimately feels like less than the sum of its , admittedly fascinating , parts .", "what 's next , MOV meets the kardashians ?", "an engrossing portrait of a decidedly peculiar family , but one in which significant pieces of the puzzle are lacking -- or summarily ignored .", "crystal moselle 's unsettling debut documentary feature .", "the reason MOV is so fascinating , and at times so disturbing , is because it keeps us teetering uneasily between empathy for a remarkable human drama and the suspicion that we 're not getting the whole truth , let alone nothing but the truth .", "although it 's not essential for a filmmaker to insert their own experiences and opinions into a documentary that chronicles the lives of other people , crystal moselle 's `` MOV '' proves to be a confounding exception .", "this is a film less about gawking than about watching-the power of movies as escapism , and , quite literally , escape .", "MOV is a great scoop , a high-caliber personal-interest story with designs on the humanistic power of mainstream cinema .", "a hauntingly exuberant documentary ...", "as interesting as its central family is , MOV is too meandering to get at some of the tougher questions audiences will have .", "crystal moselle aims her cinematic arrow at the hearts of the same choir that andrew jarecki 's stunted aesthetics preach to .", "it 's difficult to become involved with losers who are either uninteresting or downright irritating .", "scratching the surface of a story one suspects is a good deal thornier than what 's explicitly shown here , crystal moselle 's MOV introduces a gang of siblings who have been raised in near-complete isolation in downtown manhattan .", "MOV explores its scenario exclusively through the voices of its subjects , and all the cryptic limitations that entails .", "what if all you knew of the world came from hollywood movies ? that 's a loaded question - and crystal moselle 's gripping doc runs with it . you wo n't be able to pull your eyes off the screen .", "a manhattan fable about fear", "moselle appears to have assimilated herself a bit too deeply into this family , observing her wolfpack from the inside out when an outsider 's perspective would have achieved more balance .", "their reservoir dogs-a multi-character story ideal for brothers-is a lovely homage , the ` stuck in the middle with you ' torture scene a standout .", "the result is still a gripping documentary , but frustrating in that it seems to have gone for eight of the whole nine yards .", "MOV is part spectacle -- witness an odd family struggling to function -- and part manifestation of a unique perspective on the world .", "what starts as a nonfiction mood piece grows frustratingly opaque as the brothers begin to venture out into the real world , meet girls , and get jobs .", "there is a train-wreck quality to this film . the story is so astounding , you ca n't look away .", "this stranger-than-fiction documentary -lsb- ... -rsb- leaves too many stones unturned .", "in its gentle , intimate , sometimes goofy way , ` MOV ' is a grueling experience ." ], "summary": "offering a unique look at modern fears and our fascination with film , MOV is a fascinating -- and ultimately haunting -- urban fable .", "id": "771412119" }, { "movie": "time_travelers_wife", "reviews": [ "loved mcadams , but bana was miscast . still the romantics will love this movie", "i 'm over the moon about this movie , which smooths out the psychological dissonances in audrey niffenegger 's fine novel but is still an emotional workout .", "ok , sometimes the movie gets really weird , but overall it 's a very entertaining escapist sci-fi romance % u2014and these days that 's a rare event .", "buy the book .", "wears on one 's wits with its senseless hokum and dour melodramatics .", "by the end , i finally cared about henry and clare . but i wish the filmmakers had pulled me in about an hour and a half sooner .", "you 've got one obnoxious romance .", "if you positively drenched kurt vonnegut 's novel slaughterhouse five in goo , you might get something like the time traveler 's wife .", "the time traveler 's wife works when it embraces the magic of its concept , not when it remains tethered to the reality of its execution .", "it 's a really solid date movie that should give everyone a little something of what they are looking for .", "i can be patient with a little romantic squishiness after such an engagingly written bounce around time with these two .", "... a superior romance when compared to the usual hollywood suspect , but it is even better as an introduction to the novel which spawned it .", "the story 's fantastic elements are left poorly explained , and the romantic elements are left unexplored ; the result is tepid on both counts .", "humorless but imaginative .", "a dreary and poorly paced romantic drama with too many unintentionally laughable lines .", "an uninspired alternative to comic book pandemonium and solemn family dramas , a gloppy serving of late summer corn .", "a thoughtful and thought-provoking drama about what it takes for two people to overcome all the obstacles put in their path of staying together .", "highlighted by sparkling performances by rachel mcadams and eric bana , this is touching , romantic and intriguing , up with the best of the time-warpers .", "it 's breaking -lsb- its own -rsb- rules in half , stomping on them , tossing them in the stove , and then throwing them right out the window .", "i just wish the movie had found a way to show some laughter through its tears .", "it 's beautifully crafted and endearingly old-fashioned all the way ; an alluring soap opera for those who like to dive into the deep end of the syrup pool .", "you can constantly feel the time traveler 's wife reaching for emotional depth , yet it never gets there .", "as it stands , the time traveler 's wife is decent evening 's entertainment with an intriguing enough premise and some strong heart tugging to keep the women happy and the men from getting too bored .", "a great leading couple and an interesting concept make the time traveler 's wife a romance worth remembering for its normality .", "actually , in time 's not that bad . it 's just not that good , either .", "the movie also introduces the concept of time-traveling fetuses , yet we 're never treated to this in any visual way .", "the time traveler 's wife is a chick flick all around , and fans of the chick flick genre are going to eat this movie up .", "that the actors can pull off such oprah-friendly , sci-fi-inflected sap and keep straight faces is the most fantastic thing about this loopy love story .", "with a dash of benjamin button and back to the future , this existential travelogue with supersized erotic separation anxiety issues , may leave viewers not in the mood for long distance time travel , simply with a case of lingering jet lag .", "i kept doing what every fantasy should never allow one to do -- question it every step of the way .", "click to read the full review", "i think the time travel is a metaphor for relationship problems , so it explored that . i just would have rather seen a time travel movie .", "the time traveler 's wife is an effective romance film for the ladies with a patina of science fiction to woo their boyfriends into joining .", "time travel trips up this wife .", "a fastidiously old-fashioned love story with sloppy , soppy existential ideas and more than enough droll narrative tricks to see it through to the end .", "good cast plus weak script equals so-so movie .", "the movie moves fast , as though to distract you from these shortcomings and the nearly total absence of logic .", "an agreeable time filler but not much more .", "time travel is an interesting plot device , even when it does n't work well . it works just barely well enough in this movie .", "... a science-fiction date flick , tailor-made to draw the chicks and the dudes in equal numbers ...", "the book is richer , but this is a solid , endearing telling of the same essential story , and is well worth the price of admission for those who appreciate romantic fantasy .", "what excuse does the film have for telling its affecting , relatable story with such little regard for establishing character or letting a moment play itself out ?", "like the book , the movie gets weaker as it becomes more convoluted and far-fetched in the last third of the story .", "mcadams and bana are enticing as a couple whose domestic problems are distinctly original .", "a movie for people who are n't really that into time travel .", "is the time traveler 's wife terrible ? not really . striving for meaning as it revolves around the process of life , the film remains perilously thin and unenlightening .", "the time traveler 's wife is told with a tenderness that 's unusual in a major motion picture but that leads mostly to dullness .", "this sappy romantic fantasy proves that a movie does n't have to be a cgi extravaganza based on a video game , comic book or toy line to be inordinately dumb .", "contrived plot coincidences and the dead air between the film 's photogenic leads keep getting in the way", "it might be a solid hook if we thought their love was grand . instead , it 's kind of creepy .", "rarely does a movie make me so dearly wish i could come unstuck in time .", "parental content review", "long spans of time pass between lines of dialogue , many of which seem to have been inexpertly translated from a foreign language so that they almost make sense but not quite .", "mcadams and bana are easy enough on the eyes to distract from the script 's grand canyon-sized plot holes , but not enough to keep your mind off the insipid storytelling . even from its gooey sentimental standpoint , `` the time traveler 's wife '' is two pints sh", "solid love story that could have reached extraordinary limits , but fails early on .", "at times i was entertained , and even moved by it . it 's just damn frustrating , as this could have been a much better film", "the book alternates between the first person narration of both characters , and the film attempts to replicate that balance , but the difference is split , and we ca n't relate to either one .", "i ca n't remember when i 've had such a hard time becoming emotionally involved in a love story on film .", "while the time traveling concept is consistently intriguing , the movie itself more often fizzles than sizzles .", "this magical movie hits you in the emotional breadbasket and holds you in its enveloping grasp until its tearjerking conclusion .", "this thoroughness may impress fans of the bestseller source novel , but will disappoint anyone looking for transport from a movie -- being a time traveler 's wife , it turns out , is mostly a drag .", "we 're left wondering afterward , how do these people feel about this extraordinary situation in which they 've found themselves ?", "the time traveler 's wife stars eric bana as henry detamble , a chicago man suffering from `` chrono-impairment disorder '' -- that is , a genetic anomaly that causes him to involuntarily time travel . the defective gene does n't prevent henry from meeting", "i can only imagine that the scenes of a 40-something man getting chummy with his 6-year-old bride-to-be must have played better in the book . on film , it feels like to catch a time-traveling predator .", "maybe the novel by audrey niffenegger , which a number of people seem to have read and enjoyed , was more convincing , but the unsatisfactory , yo-yo script by bruce joel rubin , makes no real effort to explore the inner emotions of the characters .", "an elegy to love , fate , loss and free will , the time traveler 's wife is to science fiction what twilight is to vampire tales -- a femme-centric exploration of relationships wrapped in genre fiction .", "that it 's also shamelessly tear-jerking in that warm , enveloping way that hollywood can do so well from time to time is a plus , not a minus .", "if you allow yourself to think for one moment of the paradoxes , contradictions and logical difficulties involved , you will be lost . the movie supports no objective thought .", "the time traveler 's wife is built as a game that the audience learns to play , and after a while , yes , we do get the hang of it .", "to swoon over the lovely rachel mcadams or hunky eric bana is easy , but doing so during the time traveler 's wife requires willful blindness to the sloppy nonsensicality of their across-the-years love story .", "some books translate well to the screen . others do n't . this creepy , convoluted , frustrating chick-flick falls into the latter category .", "the time traveler 's wife drags so much that you will wish you could be a time traveler and speed past the slow spots % u2014 and it 's all slow spots .", "do n't expect the notebook .", "in a pretty disappointing summer , i was surprised at how smart , involving and sci-fi geeky cool this was .", "it 's even more inane and sitting up begging to be loved than benjamin button .", "silly sci-fi tosh that tries to play itself out as a serious and heart-rending love story , but ghost it ai n't .", "i thought really very little in the film worked .", "some fans of the book might enjoy seeing these two soul mates brought to life on the big screen , but for everyone else the interpretation seems forced and at times inconsistent .", "this is not a chick flick but one that will resonate with more mature audiences .", "do n't make time for this mess of a weeper .", "fairly irresistible nonsense .", "bana and mcadams make you feel the pain and the ultimate acceptance of their dilemma but never convey the magic that allows the couple to persevere through such a grand but trying love .", "combining elements of sweepingly romantic time travel movies like somewhere in time and the supernatural swoon of ghost , this first-rate and spellbinding drama is out to prove true love can overcome any obstacle-in this world or the next .", "in the final analysis the film fails to make much sense at all .", "i 'm someone who cries at commercials , yet this incessantly romantic love story left me curiously cold .", "schwentke 's romantic melodrama obeys no dramatic rules or narrative logic , desperately striving for the erotic appeal of the notebook and the supernatural mystery of ghost , which oscar-winning scribe rubin also penned .", "romance is robbed of its gamble , stripped of its suspense , shorn of its mystery , and deprived of an ending that feels earned .", "there 's not much -lsb- mcadams -rsb- or bana can do to rescue this dreary piece of romantic hooey .", "picturesque cinematography along with charming performances by eric bana and the genuinely beautiful rachel mcadams -lsb- do n't -rsb- compensate for an uneven , bland and contrived screenplay that falls flat when it comes to drama , romance and sci-fi .", "i 'd watch the vibrant rachel mcadams and eric bana in anything , but the time traveler 's wife is pushing it .", "the two stars make a great looking couple , and their characters seem to genuinely care about each other .", "suspend your disbelief and you might find the time traveler 's wife a charming if mildly depressing fantasy . or you might , as i did , travel elsewhere during it . either way , at least it 's a picturesque journey .", "it takes , as its subjects , the sadness and grandeur of life and the mystery of time , and it offers a full experience to those who find its wavelength .", "the soundtrack also adds a great deal to the film , but as a film , it just is n't a great deal .", "perhaps the book fills in the blanks and emotional beats , but this wife is n't really worth your time or travel .", "the fact that bana is a bit of a cold fish and real sparks never really ignite between he and mcadams , who is 10 years his junior , does n't help matters .", "unless your idea of cinematic bliss is a chance to catch bana 's buff torso or shoulders , there is n't much to the film .", "as henry and clare figure out for themselves , it 's best not to overthink things . audiences seeking escapist date fare are likewise advised .", "the whole thing feels arbitrary . henry and clare 's love is bedeviled not by anything they 've done or have any control over , so the drama fails to build .", "the movie is earnest and flat , failing to even match the easy romantic escapism that made a blockbuster out of twilight .", "a kooky , head-spinning romantic mess .", "there are certainly elements of the tragic here , but the film never quite delivers .", "it 's hard to live in stolen moments , but trying to find a few enjoyable ones in the time traveler 's wife is nearly impossible .", "the emotions and crises feel pre-sanded , smooth to the point of blandness . the transitional disappearances are routine .", "a twilight zone premise written like a mariah carey song , the time traveler 's wife is destined for a warm welcome on an obscure cable network . the spinster movie station ? the lonely hearts channel ?", "yet where there should be heat , a cold wind blows .", "it 's a complex and often confusing story as the two key characters weave in and out of different time zones , but somehow it works ; no doubt due to terrific performances by rachel mcadams and eric bana", "o cineasta se sai bem ao desenvolver seus personagens e a trama sem permitir que a possibilidade do excesso de a\u05d7\u05eacar afunde o projeto .", "while the script could have done more to exploit bana 's sense of humour , it does profit from his directness . there are no false heroics .", "sure to hit the spot for anyone with an appetite for sweet , unselfconscious romantic fantasy .", "bana and mcadams do share a pleasant chemistry , but can never quite trump the dull and earnest nature of the material they are working with here .", "this is undoubtedly bana 's best american performance and you can genuinely believe in bana and mcadams as lovers who give the story its emotion .", "a graceful , elegant love story , that carefully avoids quasi-science , time travelling philosophy or mills and boon style passionate embraces , focussing instead on the means by which two truly star crossed lovers cope with their unique lives together .", "i do n't think the book is a masterpiece but the film is just plain disappointing .", "without any notion of what type of film it wants to be , the time traveller 's wife is neither funny nor charming , moving nor romantic .", "the time traveller 's wife makes for an enjoyable enough movie experience , if all you are after is a few tears , a nice romance and a frequently naked eric bana ; but viewers unfamiliar with the novel might be left wondering what all the fuss was about .", "if you can willingly suspend your disbelief at its premise , you will find yourself moved at this love story for the ages", "the unusual circumstances enable quite a bit of humor and mystery , but they also seriously cut down on the film 's relevance .", "the question of her own `` free will '' niggles at the edges of clare 's experience throughout the movie named for her .", "it 's sort of soft-core porn for pederasts who are into sci fi .", "she 's willing to put up with a dude who disappears on a whim and leaves her alone for days and weeks on end ? sure , when he comes back he 's naked and looks like eric bana , but still .", "like henry , there are elements from the best-selling book that have simply disappeared . humor , for one . a deeper texture . this is less of a movie than it is a glammed-up revolving door .", "fascinating would be the best word to describe the time traveler 's wife .", "two good performances , some expert cinematography from florian ballhaus and an air of intensity that keeps you gripped .", "competent and well-cast , but it crams too much into the runtime and loses the elegance of the novel .", "another time-travel drama that does n't make a lick of sense , but die-hard romantics wo n't mind .", "crystallized by the functional - rather than fantastic - turns by its two leads , the time traveler 's wife never really takes flight . while the film makes a decent enough date movie , you 'll find it will disappear from your mind before too long .", "-lsb- w -rsb- ill linger in your imagination just as the novel did ... -lsb- a -rsb- chingly romantic but never schmaltzy and never less than charming and surprising ...", "the tasty nuggets of fun drown in all the soupy seriousness , but this time travel is sometimes an interesting ride .", "despite the saccharine trailer and the icky tear-jerking pedigree , the time traveler 's wife is actually a movie of some substance . it is the film about disconnected love that the curious case of benjamin button should have been .", "... one of the most moving and flat-out indelible love stories to come around in quite some time .", "it wants desperately to engage our hearts , but for long stretches will leave most of us scratching our heads .", "as powerful as a time-machine made blue peter-style out of cardboard and empty bottles .", "a thoroughly engaging film . the heavy emotional tone makes it feel a bit girly , but it 's still a terrific story .", "you 'd go mad unpicking the paradoxes in this convoluted brain scrambler . -lrb- if you thought schwentke 's flightplan was bonkers , try this one on for size . -rrb- better to surrender to its implausibilities and revel in the lush , sudsy silliness of it all .", "a suspension of disbelief is essential , but - if you can sideline the illogical nature of the plot - what emerges is an intimate and moving love story .", "for viewers aching for a romantic drama that leaves them emotionally , honorably exhausted , this could prove a total immersion in star-crossed love , if not perfect synchronicity .", "i 'll let you in on a little secret that film critics have known for years . a major studio production , released in august with top-list stars , is almost certain to be a gobbler .", "the problem is n't the timeline -- it 's everything else .", "where the movie really goes wrong is in issues of tone and pace , in decisions about what to leave out and what to keep in -- all of which falls at the director 's feet .", "the movie moves at such an agonizingly stately pace that by the end , side effects be damned , henry 's time-traveling gene starts to look mighty appealing .", "often ridiculous , awkward , unsatisfying and dour melodramatic adaptation .", "uneven book-based tearjerker is romantic but gloomy .", "if you can get past the calendar gymnastics , the time traveler 's wife plays as an affecting allegory of love that persists even when the lover is gone .", "what makes the time traveler 's wife work as drama , and certainly better than it might have , is an unhesitating emotional commitment on the part of the actors .", "the time traveler 's wife tries to transcend time and place , but it ultimately becomes bogged down in details .", "not just increasingly preposterous , it 's also awfully dull since our two leads fail to generate even a hint of that spark so necessary for romantic dramas .", "like two hours on the burma railway , heaving away at time/space conundrums , arch-to-soppy dialogue and tail-chasing plotting under the lash of distributors who put us in a crowded , no-escape cinema .", "it 's quite bland and could do with a bit more fire in its belly . more than adequate but nothing really special .", "it could have been thought-provoking drama , but settles for being a novelette-ish tear-jerker . i hate the dismissive phrase ` chick flick ' but that 's what this is , and it could have been a whole lot more .", "surprisingly watchable up until its late , headlong plunge into tv-movie blandness .", "succinctly establishes the world it takes place in , then lets us experience , to some extent , the feelings and emotions that would naturally occur in such a world .", "they 've tried to cloak a very dull love story in pseudo-poetic significance . you might feel like disappearing yourself .", "the film version of the novel will drive you potty if you try to make any sense of it . just surrender to a far-fetched fantasy and the reward is a lush , high-gloss weepie .", "tugs at the heartstrings with the aggression of a linebacker pursuing a quarterback .", "yhe overall effect is akin to channel-hopping between `` slaughterhouse-five '' and `` somewhere in time '' late one night while under the effects of an extra helping of nyquil ." ], "summary": "though it may satisfy fans of the novel , the time traveler 's wife 's plot contrivances and illogical narrative hamper its big screen effectiveness .", "id": "770680255" }, { "movie": "raiders_of_the_lost_ark", "reviews": [ "watching MOV again on the big screen i was again reminded how summer films were once thoroughly entertaining and fulfilling .", "spielberg 's and lucas 's collaborative rip-roaring adventure story with a hero of epic proportions makes this film one of the best screen entertainments of 1981 .", "MOV is a wonderful movie . the good news for exhibitors is that it 's also one of those rollercoaster-like movies that people will be lining up for again and again .", "with an unforgettable opening sequence in which our hero flees through a trap-filled tunnel from a great ball of rock , MOV is a film which wastes no time and never lets go of our attention .", "george lucas and steven spielberg 's classic movie did not invent adventure , as it was largely inspired by old serials , pulp magazines and b-movies , but it certainly revamped our conception of big screen adventure .", "one of the all-time great films .", "this film was also not only the subject of my very first movie review , but also the reason why i started reading movie reviews in newspapers and paying attention what the critics actually think about movies .", "MOV was the first in the indiana jones trilogy , and it can be argued that it changed the course of filmmaking for the better part of a decade .", "astounding movie packed with non-stop action , stunts galore , an interesting story line , great one-liners , a solid cast , a catchy musical score , and all the fun and adventure that you could squeeze into a two-hour thrill ride .", "the purpose of the exercise . if you ca n't love this film , you have no business loving movies at all .", "spielberg can never top this . period .", "one of the best films -- if not thee best film -- ever made !", "my big complaint : take indiana jones out of the story , and nothing changes . the nazis still find the ark , still open it , still die .", "allows for a certain worldliness , cautiousness , and darkness in indy 's character . he 's far from reckless or noble .", "the film that enchanted a generation and made ford an action hero .", "most viewers are powerless to resist the kinetic pleasures of this endlessly inventive action adventure .", "imaginitive set pieces and a quick pace make this a wonderful debut for the series .", "to get to the point immediately , MOV is one of the most deliriously funny , ingenious and stylish american adventure movies ever made .", "i have nothing against the film for what it is . i 'm just not wild about what it is .", "... lets us indulge in childish thrills without feeling silly about it .", "vastly entertaining , spielberg 's adventure herladed a new breed of hollywood blockbuster -lrb- and event film -rrb- , a tale that combines classic hollywood story-telling , playful postmodern sensibility and spectacular stunts presented in rapid-fire pacing .", "... despite the fast pace , the movie is never frenetic or tiring , just pure , unadulterated fun throughout . -lrb- blu-ray edition -rrb-", "the most purely fun movie ever made .", "lost ark holds up for many reasons , not least of which is because of spielberg 's consummate skill as a visual storyteller and his ability to draw charged performances from his actors .", "the postmodern heir to north by northwest ... like any deathless classic , raiders is a perfect marriage of star and material .", "justifiably one of the most indelible adventure films in cinematic history ...", "it 's the perfect vacation-time movie : not a serious moment in its whole two hours but so crammed with laughter , thrills and cinematic sleight of hand that audiences will be sorry when it 's over .", "unrivalled entertainment .", "perhaps the greatest adventure movie of all time", "MOV has it all -- or , anyway , more than enough to transport moviegoers back to the dazzling , thrill-sated matinee idyls of old .", "as action adventure goes , it 's about the best there is .", "impossibly good", "yes , it 's as entertaining as you have heard . maybe more so . MOV is , in fact , about as entertaining as a commercial movie can be .", "hold on tight , because it starts at full throttle and never lets up .", "this film is a volcano of creative ideas in full eruption -- the modern high action adventure against which all others must now be measured .", "harrison ford embodies the persona of indiana jones with perfection and paves him as an iconic hero .", "there is a charm and vitality to raiders of the ark , which spielberg later admitted was `` the first movie where i actually shot the movie without thinking '' .", "MOV is my favorite movie . i do n't have to tell you why it 's great . you know why it 's great . instead , what follows is a list of very personal moments .", "it is intensely watchable , with the relentless accumulation of effects used here for the purposes of eliciting suspense rather than provoking comedy .", "MOV has more size than substance but nevertheless it 's a delightful special big surprise package of a movie that should turn indiana jones into a national figure .", "you 'd have to be a heathen to argue with the fact that MOV stands as the best action-adventure movie ever made .", "throughout the film , spielberg evokes the kind of armchair-clutching action sequences that remind us why they 're called motion pictures .", "spielberg brings his signature blend of action/adventure and humor to the film , celebrating its 19th anniversary with this re-release .", "think of it as a high quality version of one of the old movie serials that kids used to get every saturday at the theater before the double feature .", "MOV -lrb- 1981 -rrb- is the spectacular , cliff-hanger , breathlessly-paced , non-stop action/adventure film of the early 1980s -", "ford , in a career-minting performance , plays what would 've been a cardboard cut-out in the 1930s as grubby , coy , impertinent , imperfect , phobic of snakes and agnostic -lrb- describing the ark 's magic as `` the power of god or something '' -rrb- .", "what follows is one breathtaking action sequence after another , each one surpassing the next in thrills .", "one would think that a collaboration between steven spielberg and george lucas would produce something better than this giggly pastiche of a republic serial ...", "whether you swallow it or not , see it for a handful of totally unexpected visual jokes , worth the price of admission alone .", "new hollywood moguls spielberg and lucas teamed up to create the first -- and best -- of their extremely popular plunderings of old adventure serials ... in retrospect , it also appears as a precise pop-culture inauguration of reagan-era retro americanism .", "this is the kind of movie that , even today , audiences immediately fall in love with . it has all the right ingredients : a smart script , a likable hero , a dash of romance , more than a touch of comedy , and a lot of fast-paced action .", "classic action set pieces , harrison ford at his swashbuckling best , old testament spirituality , and a satiric jab at nazi anti-semitism .", "if lucas is raiders ' guts and kasdan its head , then spielberg is its beating heart . little wonder part iv is still on the cards .", "the boulder has never looked bigger , the guns have never sounded louder and indy 's whip has never cracked sharper than they do here .", "the first and finest indiana jones adventure .", "steven spielberg 's rollicking adventure yarn still looks buoyant and dashing after 30 years .", "it is the classic film -lsb- by -rsb- lucas , spielberg ... back before they were replaced by automatons put here by aliens .", "... a crackerjack fantasy-adventure that shapes its pulp sensibilities and cliff-hanging serial origins into an exhilarating escapist entertainment that will have broad-cased summer audiences in the palm of its hand .", "breathtakingly efficient , immaculately constructed ... this is the ne plus ultra of blockbuster filmmaking .", "raiders is a classic and repeated viewings , especially when presented properly on the big screen , only reinforce this further .", "the thrills are fully consumed while you 're seeing this movie , and it 's totally over when it 's over . it 's a workout . you feel as if you 'd been to the desert digs : at the end your mind is blank , yet you 're parched , you 're puffing hard -- you want relief .", "indy 's first adventure is a rip-roaring action masterpiece .", "the movie is just plain fun ." ], "summary": "featuring bravura set pieces , sly humor , and white-knuckle action , MOV is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time .", "id": "23529" }, { "movie": "day_the_earth_stood_still", "reviews": [ "just as much a remake of ed wood 's plan 9 from outer space . which is an even more appropriate comparison when we observe that this film and plan 9 , unlike the original , are both awful .", "we left the theatre feeling that we had spent a satisfying evening at the movies , but in retrospect i wish the screenwriters had tweaked the story 's sophistication as much as they did the technical effects .", "a great looking film undone by a narrative that fails to add up .", "the MOV falls flat due to the underused and boring computer graphics and ultra dumb and uninteresting characters .", "the best news about the new the MOV is that it will quickly fade to obscurity while the timeless original lives on .", "even gort -- the coolest robot in science-fiction cinema -- has been reimagined as a cartoonish cg colossus who ironically resembles the oscar statuette that otherwise will remain a universe away from this hammy misfire .", "this feels less like a remake of that '50s gem than a companion piece to the oscar-winning documentary an inconvenient truth . the difference is that al gore was a lot more fun to watch than keanu reeves .", "-lsb- the 1951 classic -rsb- gets bulked up and dumbed down in a modern remake that repositions the alien klaatu as a wrathful god rather than a peace-loving one .", "the special effects are spectacular enough here , and there are a few droll lines , but the net result is almost instantly forgettable .", "instead of the 1950s mindset % u2013 postwar , cold war , fear of aliens % u2013 it 's been resettled into the mindset of today % u2013 man 's inhumanity to the planet ... it was a great little b movie then , and it 's an ugly big b movie now", "parental content review", "keanu reeves gives a good physical performance as klaatu , the alien newly inhabiting a human body , but his utterly humorless alien has , well , an alienating effect .", "about 20 minutes in the MOV -- well , the movie stood still and never moved .", "it 's just like us to be arrogant enough to believe , like marvell 's coy mistress , that our cherry is the ripest for busting of the lot .", "an entirely unnecessary and unremarkable remake .", "those next to me in the cinema staring blankly at the screen gave a remarkably similar performance to that of reeves without even being aware of it .", "robert wise 's original is well served by 20th century fox 's popcorny but respectful update , a sturdy , entertaining sci-fi actioner .", "now we know what happens when the earth slows below 55 mph and stands still .", "the world does n't actually stand still . the corners of keanu reeves ' mouth , his eyebrows and most of his other facial features , however , remain motionless for almost two hours .", "as a flashy big-budget distraction , stood still is adequate overall -- rarely above , occasionally below -- and often familiar in its spectacle .", "poor keanu reeves . imagine taking the role of an emotionless extra terrestrial , and having people applaud such ingenious casting .", "the MOV is a missed opportunity for sure - you 'll leave the cinema not enlightened or entertained , but wondering just how mankind 's last stand could wind up being so fatally underwhelming .", "a serviceable remake with the b-movie roots still showing proudly in the clunky dialogue , though lacking some of the original 's eerie power .", "what , in 1951 , was a scary cold war-era warning about the misuse of atomic energy has now become a vague and infantile pro-green special-effects showcase -lrb- even the cgi is unimaginative and looks like a swirly , soft-focus nightmare -rrb- with one entire suspens", "un film vide , inconcluant et profond\u00e9ment inutile dont les bases c\u010ddent rapidement sous le poids de leur propre insignifiance .", "me psifiaka efe poy moiazoyn retalia tainion poy emoiazan na eihan gyristei me retalia eks arhis , den hreiazetai tin patina toy hronoy gia na ginei shedon toso geloio oso to prototypo stin apeikonisi toy foytoyrismoy toy", "derrickson and his team take a much-loved sci-fi classic and , even if they ca n't improve on the original , at least rework it in intriguing ways .", "... an ideal example of what a contemporary remake should look like ...", "in an awkward semi-retro remake of the 1951 sci-fi b-movie classic , director scott derrickson confirms the law of diminishing returns for remakes .", "does n't really justify its existence outside the most crass commercial reasoning .", "another reason to see the original . in this disappointing remake , it 's time that stands still .", "it 's time for the apocalypse ... keanu style !!!", "keanu reeves stars , giving the kind of torpid performance that lesser beings can only approximate by necking a hundredweight of temazepam . the lights are on at the top of the spaceship , but there 's no one at the controls .", "impossible , we can handle , but the eschewal of all internal logic starts to feel like an insult , the cinematography is dismal , and the cocktail of lazy cgi and po-faced , sub-al-gore environment lecture leaves you light-headed with tedium .", "a remake that does not disgrace the original , this is sufficiently different to stand alone and just as relevant in its concerns - as well as succeeding -lrb- arguably better -rrb- as a thriller .", "sending a flying v-sign right at the splendid robert wise original from 1951 , this daft and pointless sci-fi remake has very little to recommend it .", "add to that some unimpressive cgi and a bizarrely abrupt ending and you have the day your buttocks went to sleep , your brain melted and your will to live evaporated .", "how smart can it be to broadcast this into space ? the real klaatu could be out there monitoring us . a movie this bad could tip our fate scale in the negative direction .", "a credible effort to honor the original while contributing something new . derrickson effectively builds and sustains a sense of thoughtful tension - until the screenplay lets him down .", "it 's divine tongue-in-cheek tosh .", "it 's not good enough , at this point in the game , to serve up this collection of cliches and expect anyone to be fooled or entertained by it for a minute .", "the flick is a very plain jane version of a disaster film with mediocre special effects , no character depth whatsoever and is just a complete waste of money .", "one can only hope that in the future -lsb- reeves -rsb- will devote himself to playing androids , less-self-aware species of undead , stylish pieces of contemporary furniture , and other roles that do not require the exhibition of any recognizably human traits .", "... reeve is very straight forward and unemotional , more like the `` robot ted '' from `` bill and ted 's bogus journey '' then a highly sophisticated `` visitor . ''", "this loud , hammy , and , above all , pointless do-over only serves to point out the genius of the original .", "it does n't seem right that a film with a story line about ecological disaster would be a piece of cinematic garbage .", "there was nothing wrong with the original that warranted a re-do -- other than pursuit of legal tender .", "if you want to see all the cool special effects in this remake , watch the trailer . if you want the extreme environmentalist agenda that goes with them , buy a ticket .", "a boldly mediocre remake of the 1951 sci-fi saucer-man movie .", "sci-fi fans of the first ` the MOV ' will probably experience more than a moment 's worth of discomfort , but this remake is not horrible .", "oh , michael rennie , thank goodness you 're still available on dvd .", "this answers the age-old question , how bad can a movie be ?", "the movie 's emphasis on brawn over brain might not be so off-putting if the action sequences provided iron man-level whiz bang wow , but all of the big set-pieces are marred by confusing choreography and low-grade digital effects .", "the whole thing finally crashes and burns in an orgy of noisy and uninspired special effects that stands as a lunkheaded rebuke to the restraint displayed by the original film", "the day the earth barely even notices we 're on the brink of doom , and why do n't those damn hippies just shut up about global warming already ?", "i hate myself for sitting through the entire film .", "this remake of the 1951 favourite is oddly botched , trying to combine some timely themes with the structure of a more conventional action thriller .", "the movie 's last quarter gets clogged up with special effects , including what looks like a gigantic swarm of locusts that eat through whole juggernauts . whether this eco-warning will have a morally improving effect on audiences is uncertain .", "the christmas turkey has landed , in the form of 20th century fox 's worst blockbuster ever .", "cranking the action dial up to 11 , derrickson retools an iconic piece of sci-fi with lots of big guns but extra smarts would have been welcome . it 's bang up to date but a tad underwhelming . not the disaster some fanboys predicted .", "needing only to span the emotional range from blank to sincere , reeves is pretty well cast . sadly , there 's not enough gort and too much of smith 's squirt .", "an overall lame piece of science-fiction and an even lamer parable that fails to distinguish its own ironies of what 's worth saving when filmmakers like derrickson pee all over something so many of us cherish .", "when faced with a boring movie during the holiday season , you can only use one quip , so i am going for it . blah humbug !", "as a message movie , it 's preachy without being serious ; for an action movie , there 's a lot of racket but not much fun .", "the new earth is both too dumb and not quite dumb enough to be any fun at all .", "the one thing hollywood can usually be counted on to do when remaking old films , especially when dumbing them down , is to boost their action quotient , and these guys have failed to do even that .", "klaatu 's temperament is not the only thing that has been changed in this enjoyable updating .", "like the big shiny sphere at its center , the film is fairly pretty , but there 's no real sense that there 's anything inside it .", "a lively reinvention of the 1951 science fiction classic with a fitting ecological message about saving the planet .", "if you 're willing to go in with an open mind and some filmmaking forgiveness , you 'll find this a day well spent", "the general feel of the movie is so chilly that it 's unappealing . in fact , the whole thing resembles a bad episode of tv 's the x-files .", "in one eye and out the other , the sullen remake of the MOV airlifts certain story details straight from its source material .", "it 's ickily atmospheric , tactile , old-school special effects movie-making .", "what a ridiculous movie .", "the remake of that fine old fifties alien-invasion picture the MOV comes to a standstill about an hour before the earth does in the wilds of new jersey .", "the special effects in 1951 were hokey fun . here , in the first half of the movie anyway , they are hokey but they are n't fun .", "despite a great build-up and a solid performance from connelly , this is another tired attempt to update a classic . do yourself a favor and rent the original instead .", "as a passable time-waster for hardcore sci-fi fans , the remake is certainly watchable enough . but then again ... most hardcore sci-fi fans will probably have the same problems i had with the movie .", "it seemed the movie stood still stretching two hours into four and beyond", "caught between the need to bring the material up to date and the pressure to recycle familiar elements from the original , even when they do n't seem to fit .", "ye gods , does this thing stink on ice . it redefines dull mediocrity at its most expensive .", "wise 's original was an alarming cautionary tale , full of menace and stern warnings . the remake , as befits our times , coddles the audience , assuring us all this bad stuff will eventually work itself out . and hey , let 's all go to mcdonald 's !", "this film is a perfect illustration of how to screw-up a remake despite having a perfect example in front of you .", "it 's an impressively big film , and even when it 's bad , it 's bad in a big way .", "actually has half a brain in its head .", "the MOV wo n't make you forget the original , but it does n't stain that classic 's legacy .", "if all you ask from a movie is cool cgi effects , the MOV is for you . look for any more than that and you 'll be sorely disappointed .", "this is one production that could have used a few more rewrites , if not a total reworking of a plot handled with more gusto over five decades ago .", "the robot gort , so cool and creepy in the original , is reduced to a dull special effect , and the trumped-up climax with gratuitous destruction by swarms of metallic bugs is downright dumb .", "if this is the best the human race can do , forget it .", "rarely has an alien invasion -lrb- or the possible eradication of humanity -rrb- seemed less gripping .", "super-serious but very lame .", "du n no about the earth , but time certainly stands still for a goodly portion of scott derrickson 's expensively produced but utterly boneheaded remake .", "the original movie 's climax , an endearingly corny homily about the necessity of peace , has been replaced by a pointless tsunami of digital effects .", "all this is presented in an expensive , good-looking film that is well-made by scott derrickson , but to no avail .", "this botched remake of the MOV seriously dishonors the seriously fine 1951 sci-fi landmark on which it 's based .", "the movie stumbles to an ending that 's more whimper than bang .", "refusing to take wise 's nuanced lead , the new stood is a grotesque creation that prefers noise to thought , clumsily slapping together an eco-minded warning siren in the guise of a bloated roland emmerich creation .", "we 'll spare you the spoiler . and though it has its moments , you might want to spare yourself the movie .", "an entertaining rethink of the 1951 classic .", "the film fizzles in the second half , when flashy effects replace coherent storytelling , and everyone goes all weepy over the innate decency of humanity .", "the problem here is that there are none of the big ideas that have kept the 1951 film in the public consciousness", "since keanu reeves has all the expressiveness of a toaster , why is he starring in the new the MOV as human-looking alien klaatu rather than giant robot gort ?", "it 's a decent enough stab at being what the old movie was to its time , following the same basic plot , full of respectful references to its model , updated with a gallery of fairly imaginative special effects .", "this was supposed to be the winter season 's big special effects picture . so why does it make al gore 's powerpoint presentation look like spider-man 2 by comparison ?", "` klaatu barada crappo ' ... turns an intelligent and thoughtful film into what might be called a boys ' adventure yarn if that were n't an insult to both boys and yarn .", "a good portion of this sci-fi disaster movie is unintentionally comical . and the parts that are n't funny are just plain dull .", "solemn , sober and efficient , the MOV gets the job done and moves on .", "where the original film was unpretentious , this version , with keanu reeves as klaatu , is insufferably full of itself , an x-files episode pumped up to pseudo-cosmic proportions .", "... must be the worst major release in what may be the most disastrous year in recent hollywood history .", "admittedly , the imminent destruction of earth is not a barrel of laughs , but where independence day had a sense of humor , the MOV seems to have taken a vow not to crack a smile until species stop vanishing and lakes stop drying up .", "far superior to the silly robot in a silver jumper b&w original .", "the only awe this movie inspires is realizing how well the original stands up , and how little we puny earthlings have learned in the past 57 years .", "like a skydiver whose parachute never opens , plummeting towards an ending that basically says , ` humans : awful at environmentalism , great at hugging . '", "as it becomes clear , too early in the game , that klaatu 's executioner 's song is really a didactic bluff , ` the MOV ' loses its urgency and much of its raison d'\u0119tre .", "many fans of the original will hate it . a pity . because it redocorates the tale while remaining true to its theme . keanu reeves plays klaatu with all the expressiveness of a wok . i have never seen a wok better portrayed .", "a pale shadow of the classic , piling on special effects and grafting original elements onto a dopey and sub-par thriller that bogs down in its own self-righteousness", "while all those really scary vintage sci-fi thrillers tapped into something to scream about , however unfounded , this ho hum knockoff 's source of greatest failure seems to be their biggest fear , losing at the box office .", "fox has sucked all the color out of the MOV ...", "judging by derrickson 's bland , poorly executed version , there was no urgent reason to remake robert wise 's 1951 sci-fi classic .", "... a big , dopey , old-fashioned , science-fiction disaster movie - which is odd , because its 1951 predecessor was anything but .", "this earth could have moved if they had embraced the heart of starman . too bad they settled for a half-hearted independence day .", "it really is the perfect `` family '' holiday thriller -lrb- the edgy side of christmas -rrb- and carries a message that is so perfectly fine-tuned to our problems of today it might actually make you feel a little guilty . if a movie can entertain you and make y", "it 's a flat , lifeless story with a flat , lifeless lead . humans are flawed , humans are beautiful , the earth is dying ... it really feels like we 've been here before .", "after wall-e and i am legend and the dozens of apocalypse flicks since the last MOV we can surely do better . even klaatu looks bored and distracted , much as he did back when we knew him as neo .", "gort the robot looks the same but is ten times bigger and a tenth as interesting -- a good metaphor for the whole project .", "derrickson makes his points with blunt force trauma alone .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is passable , -lsb- but -rsb- it is not great science fiction . it will feed your sense of wonder but it has so many plot holes it leaves you wishing it were better .", "you could almost swear the obama campaign had some sort of hand in making the remake of the MOV .", "an inconvenient spoof .", "you 'll be doing yourself a huge favor if you go into this movie with lowered expectations .", "t 's really true to the tone of the 1951 original , that two people running around talking about philosophical concepts with a stranger . they are doing the talky drama .", "keanu reeves plays an alien who does n't talk much and shows no emotion . i really think he has found his perfect role .", "i 'll give it credit for being at least moderately entertaining , with a handful of effective moments of adventure and suspense . at the same time , it 's really quite a shame that the film wimped out on driving the message home .", "derrickson did n't make any major mistakes , but he also did n't find a way to make the MOV meaningful for a modern-day audience .", "the rumbling sound you hear that shakes the theaters playing the MOV is n't an awesome sound system . it 's everyone involved with the original turning over in their grave .", "scott derrickson 's remake ... provides the best evidence i 've seen lately that money ca n't buy class . it also ca n't guarantee an effective movie , let alone a meaningful one .", "if you 're looking for chuckles this holiday season , bypass the miserably unfunny four christmases and go where the real comedy is -- the MOV , a clumsy , moronic remake of robert wise 's brilliant 1951 classic .", "the MOV 's original version aspired to blow our collective minds and inspire our hearts ; this new remake settles for making our eyes pop out , with a slight hope our jaws will go slack from the spectacle .", "the day the earth stood is what you think it is : a serviceable remake that retains kernels of the original while turning up the heat to make for a popcorn-friendly sci-fi spectacle .", "the new MOV lacks the courage of its own eco-pessimism , and the final scenes play like a rushed , embarrassed concession to our need for happy endings , no matter how far-fetched .", "what shatters your hope for a new classic is the movie 's descent into semicoherent spectacle .", "even if you know the original by heart , the new earth has a couple of surprises in store , although the message remains the same : watch it , man .", "this day has a big special effects budget but has little sense and even less soul .", "is it supposed to be an intense , character-driven tale set against an alien invasion , a la signs ? or an effects-blowout such as independence day ? the filmmakers never reconcile between the two .", "arguably the worst reconstitution of a '50s sci-fi classic since the ghastly godzilla remake , the MOV is a stunningly misconceived folly that is bearable only for as long as it remains a fair-to-middling chase movie .", "despite all the fog machines and giant glowing spheres and tv actors excited to be in a big-budget movie , this remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic that gave baby boomer kids chills simply fails to strike any sparks .", "`` the MOV '' does n't lack heart . it 's surprisingly sincere . no , the human quality it could use a bit more of is humor .", "this movie is as clunky and unappealing as the space-saving acronym being used to avoid its endless title -- tdtess .", "there was no way to re-make the MOV properly today .", "the movie has the air of missed opportunity about it - but as reimaginings go , it 's no global disaster .", "it 's all just two hours of pure monotony with cgi not even up to par in what should be considered a remake featuring state of the art effects .", "more of a mess than the pleasant surprise one might have hoped . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the sort of movie that will do a perfectly acceptable job of filling an evening that otherwise might be empty -lrb- or , god forbid % u2013 one that cries out for reading a good book -rrb- .", "sincere attempt ... to make a poignant blockbuster that will satisfy an audience used to the very different creative prerogatives that surge through hollywood today .", "it 's never explained what formulated the inter-galactic environmental police in the first place . but , then , in sci-fi , there are certain places you just ca n't go .", "has a simplistic environmental concern , presented with sensationalist sensibilities and , perhaps worse , given an even more simplistic resolution .", "the perfect example of not only how not to remake a classic , but the perfect example of why classics should n't be remade in the first place . clunky , cumbersome and completely crappy .", "a highly entertaining and gripping sci-fi thriller with brains .", "reeves surpreende ao funcionar muito bem como substituto de rennie , mas o fr\u00e1gil roteiro , os efeitos visuais apenas adequados e todas as cenas envolvendo jaden smith comprometem bastante o resultado final .", "neither offensively bad nor particularly good , the MOV may be best remembered for the clumsiness of its intrusive product placement .", "the most important themes are deeply spiritual as well , stewardship , respect for the interdependence of all things , and hope .", "the MOV may bill itself as science fiction . but it understands neither .", "overall , this rehash , from the unheralded team of screenwriter david scarpa and director scott derrickson , is better than expected , updating and revising its inspiration in often interesting ways .", "remaking a movie is easy . engineering a good remake is difficult . one key quality that separates the two is inspiration , and that 's a characteristic not to be found in 2008 's the MOV .", "who goes to a sci-fi film to be reminded about conservation ? i get enough of that from my recycling bin , which , by the way , is far more visually exciting than the MOV , as well as more pleasing to the ear .", "keanu reeves was clearly born to play klaatu , the alien from another planet who visits earth with a dire warning . the actor 's blank facial expressions ensure he 's a believable et , and make this scott derrickson remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic a worthy r", "unfortunately , it 's the demise of even passable screen storytelling , rather than the earth itself , to which audiences will be treated in this dreadful remake .", "the stone-faced silliness in this new tdtess at first seems like an homage to old-fashioned '50s watch-the-skies movies , until it becomes clear it 's just newfangled bad filmmaking .", "unless you 've seen robert wise 's original semi-documentary the MOV -lrb- 1951 -rrb- , you 'd never suspect the utterly generic remake was based on a seminal sci-fi classic .", "although there is an admirable attempt to stay true to the higher aspirations of the high-class source material , the new effort is undermined by the need to fashion itself as a crowd-pleasing blockbuster , loaded with exciting special effects .", "the original 1951 film carried a timely anti-nuclear message , but this film would n't dare offend anyone by even mentioning the phrase `` global warming . ''", "purists may fume , but more open-minded sci-fi fans tired of the countless fantasy movies being churned out by hollywood right now should give it a try ...", "better to just sit back and enjoy the MOV for what it is : a fair amount of fun .", "despite the generally weak acting , this modern remake is as effective and thoughtful at capturing the global zeitgeist and how the world today might react to an alien invasion as the original .", "while robert wise 's science-fiction classic the MOV '' was a simple story of deep ideas , the remake is an overblown , puny-minded tale featuring extraterrestrials too stupid or lazy to do a background check on the species they condemn .", "the original MOV had a paranoid poetry that lifted the audience up even as it warned the world to come together . this one is so dour it just comes off as a scolding ." ], "summary": "heavy on special effects , but without a coherent story at its base , the MOV is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic .", "id": "770675291" }, { "movie": "ref", "reviews": [ "i thought the pacing was off and the characters were drawn too purely dark .", "demme brings out the comic ease in leary .", "as a starmaking vehicle for leary , the MOV may do the trick . he 's a prowling , muttering bundle of nervous energy , which is essentially a variation his mtv character . and he 's very funny .", "this film introduced me , nay , introduced everyone , to the reason why denis leary is well regarded .", "dennis leary 's shining hour . his stand-up persona 's greatest moment and it was all down hill from there .", "one of the most underrated comedies of the 1990s", "the MOV is the one christmas movie that i can relate to .", "-lsb- judy davis and kevin spacey -rsb- play this strident high comedy duet with a self-sustaining brio that easily puts them on the level of the stars of twentieth century , the awful truth , the philadelphia story , and his girl friday .", "it 's cynical , mean-spirited and , at least at first , viciously funny .", "the MOV is one of those rare movies that seem to have everything going for it -- a promising director , terrific actors and an original , unapologetically grown-up script -- yet somehow still turns out to be a phenomenal drag .", "the MOV works virtually none of the miracles of -lsb- richard lagravenese 's screenplay for the fisher king , -rsb- his previous mix 'n' match effort .", "what makes most of this work is the brio of the acting , though the direction by ted demme and the script by richard lagravenese and marie weiss certainly do n't hurt .", "material like this is only as good as the acting and writing . the MOV is skillful in both areas .", "this is one holiday party you 'll want to miss .", "just because the MOV is n't your typical christmas movie does n't mean you should skip it . in fact , it should be just the opposite .", "better in hindsight than it first appeared . leary truly rises to the challenge of acting opposite davis and spacey .", "this is not a seamlessly constructed movie , but as long as you 're not expecting great art , it 's unlikely to disappoint .", "there are too many funny things going on in the MOV for it to be a complete failure .", "while director ted demme seems to be trying to impose a home alone tone , he only succeeds in lending an air of desperation , with lame subplots blundering into the picture .", "a foulmouthed sitcom of a film .", "it 's not a bad idea , but it 's not a good movie , either .", "whether it 's a function of sloppy editing or sloppy writing , few of these supporting players and their accompanying subplots pay off .", "the MOV is a powerfully funny adult comedy . it skewers marriage , suburban values and the trendy belief that everyone is a victim of something .", "the trouble with the MOV is that it keeps running out of steam , so it seems to develop a new plot wrinkle every seven minutes . typically , it 'll run through the new idea until it runs out of steam again , then invents yet another one .", "a genuinely hysterical anti-holiday comedy .", "it 's miraculous casting , and the australian davis -- for my money the finest actress around , bar none -- is simply uncanny in her command of east coast gentility combined with razor-sharp timing and comedic expression .", "the MOV benefits from having actor 's actors like davis and spacey in the leads .", "this is a funny idea , but the movie is too thinly written to build any real credibility , and the cast rarely seems in tune with the vapid vulgarities that dominate the dialogue .", "it 's a shame the comedy has a running joke that stinks , a ridiculous ending and language unsuitable for family viewing .", "... -lsb- the MOV is -rsb- the sort of movie that improves on repeated viewings .", "very entertaining .", "this is a smart witty film - leary is fantastic , spacey a blast and davis brilliant !", "pretty entertaining !", "very funny , ultimately appealing .", "almost good . emphasis on the ` almost . '", "staying clear of any mean-spirited attitudes , the MOV is a film to warm the hearts and touch the nerves of dysfunctional families everywhere .", "leary rehashes his bill hicks persona for the umpteenth time , but if you can get past the blatant rip-off of his shtick , you 'll find an inspired , virulent , often hilarious film that apparently was just too much for old saint nick .", "in his first starring role , comedian leary makes his ranting career criminal strangely sympathetic .", "the MOV has a soft heart of domesticity underneath its superficially heartless humor .", "a wicked update of `` the ransom of red chief , '' re-imagined for the dysfunctional '90s ." ], "summary": "undeniably uneven and too dark for some , the MOV nonetheless boasts strong turns from denis leary , judy davis , and kevin spacey , as well as a sharply funny script .", "id": "13147" }, { "movie": "daddy_day_care", "reviews": [ "chock full of his `` dr. doolittle '' charm , eddie murphy 's back with this fun-filled family entertainment . there 's a delightfully paternal atmosphere despite the inevitable poop and potty jokes .", "MOV is a cinema-sized romper room reject looking to pine for its hollow hilarity by appealing to the non-judgmental and misplaced quirkiness of the targeted kid-friendly audience", "it 's jackass for the pre-juvie crowd .", "a likable little movie without much to offer but cute tots , recycled gags and a talented cast amiably wasting their time and ours .", "-lsb- an -rsb- amiably crass comedy will tickle -lsb- your tots -rsb- pink .", "daddy is more than happy to go for potty-training humor rather than real jokes ... but kids are n't likely to mind , and should be laughing straight through to the blooper-filled closing credits .", "MOV feels like a movie cribbed together from outtakes of other hapless hollywood comedies .", "aimed at viewers young enough still to need day care .", "falters is in a few awkwardly mechanical , our-script 's - too-short contrivances ... but still entirely enjoyable as saturday matinee family fare .", "an anemic , flaccid little curiosity with nary a hint of life .", "MOV is a manufactured film which is willing to capitalize on the fact that a sucker of a filmgoer is born every minute .", "eddie murphy has kept his swelled ego in check here , but being too naughty when it should be nice stings the movie .", "these scenes are so inevitable , you could develop a drinking game around them .", "eddie murphy in slapstick potty humor comedy .", "maybe it 's about time murphy fired his agent and tried reviving his career .", "my advice is to beat your children rather than take them to MOV .", "MOV just wants to make you laugh , and make your kids laugh too .", "someone needs a time-out to think about writing a better script .", "it moves with such turgid lack of energy that i found myself wincing , trying to smooth over the rhythm with my imagination .", "the kiddies will love every formulaic moment . heck , they probably wo n't even care that quality thespian angelica huston is reduced to an embarrassing wreck .", "unfortunately , things peter out very quickly ... , becoming the cinematic equivalent of the sort of over-sugared junk food that the story continues to decry .", "the best part of the movie , unfortunately , happens in the outtakes during the credits at the very end .", "is n't so much a case of a film exceeding my expectations as it is one that does not confirm my worst fears .", "as bland and predicable as a package of kraft macaroni and cheese , but likely to please the same target audience .", "like the kids in the cast , day care is sporadically energetic and cute as a button , but in dire need of discipline .", "supporting players save `` daddy 's '' day in this pleasant , fitfully amusing family comedy which entertains despite an inconsistent script -lrb- geoff rodkey -rrb- and insipid direction", "eddie murphy retread of mr. mom is surprisingly satisfying , and sweet without being sickly .", "antisocial , semipsychotic toddlers treated as amusing ? check .", "the humor is strictly potty-level , with its biggest laughs reserved for pee-pee gags and the inevitable gas-passing .", "if you need a babysitter for your kids for an hour and a half , murphy 's your man .", "it 's a formula job all the way , filled with pratfalls , flying food , much male incompetence in the face of child-rearing realities , and a cast of violence-prone children on sugar highs who somehow turn into angels by the film 's last sappy moments .", "nothing that happens in the story will surprise anyone who 's been watching movies for longer than the last two weeks .", "if i was a kid , i 'd want to hang out at MOV and i 'd probably recommend this movie , but my potty training days are behind me so i 'm not quite there .", "in child-care terms , it 's a basic babysitting service rather than a top-quality preschool .", "made with care and intelligence as well as a sense of fun .", "easy-on-the - sensibilities family film .", "if you attend the movie with your expectations lowered by murphy 's recent films , you 'll be reasonably amused .", "the movie gets its laughs from the endearing kids , who fart and squeal and squirm -lrb- and , in one case , speak klingon -rrb- enough to wear down your defenses , and from garlin .", "the most astonishing thing about MOV , a comedy that would have to work harder even to justify the appellation uninspired , is that a kick in the groin is now a joke for toddlers .", "a film so wrong-headed audiences will be more appalled than amused .", "rent mr. mom instead , and have a family night in .", "MOV may communicate with kids , too , but it should have spent a little more time communing with the comedy gods .", "only really little tykes will find the surplus of pratfalls and poo and fart jokes a hoot .", "anyone who finds this movie funny can get the same entertainment for free at a local playground .", "the good news is that MOV is n't as horrible as the adventures of pluto nash .", "the kids are as cute as puppies in a dog-food commercial .", "the film is more torturous than being left alone with someone else 's ill-behaved child .", "family films we need . films like this , we never need .", "MOV is a guiltless , straightforward comedy bound to make any parent chuckle , a light and fluffy flick that nevertheless fails to take murphy 's comedic talent out of first gear .", "do not , under any circumstances , give MOV as a mother 's day gift .", "a scentless bouquet of potty jokes , crotch kicks , and scooter-p .", "the movie 's actually more fun to watch than to think about .", "it takes a strong stomach to hold down what MOV force-feeds its audience .", "warning : younger kids will be susceptible to mimicking some of the questionable/bad/dangerous behaviors shown in the movie .", "the adult actors ... crawl without security blankets through a playpen script by geoff rodkey -lrb- who once stayed home with his son while his wife worked ! -rrb- and simon says direction by steve carr .", "a half-step up from murphy 's last two debacles -lrb- i spy and the immortal the adventures of pluto nash -rrb- , daddy is still several miles away from hilarious .", "seems to exist solely to sedate a theater-going public 's offspring . do n't expect the witches .", "this is a family film that refuses to entertain any family member over age 10 .", "the problems are firmly rooted in the moderately silly script , excessive potty humor , and a cringe-worthy climax that preaches the evils of neglecting your little ones .", "a failed third-rate sitcom is exactly what MOV looks and sounds like .", "an adequate babysitter .", "a formulaic - but-funny family film that is most effective with its target audience .", "MOV is one of those ` trailer ' movies : all the good stuff , such as it is , is shown in the previews . but padded to feature length , the movie is mediocre .", "it 's the kind of movie you sit there and tolerate , then forget about .", "while lucrative , family fare does not allow murphy much room to move , preventing him from meeting any significantly funny expectations .", "kids are the target of MOV 's broad humor , and the movie hits that mark .", "it 's pitched at kids , but adults will be guffawing too .", "murphy is now as sweet and safe as jell-o pudding . and about as exciting .", "delivers many well-deserved satirical swipes at elitist day care operations that engineer small children for success in the competitive marketplace .", "eddie murphy has n't made a good movie in so long , i 'm starting to think his bad choices are deliberate .", "there 's something wrong with an eddie murphy movie that has you biding your time until steve zahn arrives .", "i do n't know whether -lsb- murphy -rsb- has lost his mojo , or just his edge . i just hope he finds it before his next movie .", "for those of us who fondly recall the risk-taker who gave us raw and 48 hrs . and trading places , it 's hard to stomach MOV 's vanilla pudding .", "sloppy .", "viewers with any sort of history of seeing movies will probably predict where this movie 's headed long before it gets there .", "MOV does n't rank with the most awful of the murphy turkeys , but it 's definitely flat as a pancake , fueled by bathroom humor , listless pratfalls and recycled , borderline-offensive jokes about the ineptitude of men as caretakers .", "the movie , which has a stern warning against sugar-based cereals , is sugared cereal .", "a harmless and amusing summer comedy .", "plays like the failed pilot of a tv sitcom .", "murphy looks comatose delivering the played-out poopy jokes .", "the film seems longer than its 93-minute running time , but kids will probably enjoy its potty humor .", "tepid attempt at comedy .", "kudos to eddie murphy for adopting a more low-key approach in ` MOV ' and for letting his fine supporting cast get most of the laughs .", "by the very nature that it is more appealing than a lobotomy , MOV is a superior -lsb- eddie -rsb- murphy venture .", "MOV is a movie about preschoolers , for preschoolers , and probably made by preschoolers .", "murphy is so oddly bland in MOV that it seems like he sleepwalked through the making of the film .", "congratulations hollywood ; you 've completely disemboweled a truly funny man .", "the most surprising thing about MOV is how entertaining it is , despite the juvenile humor and laughably predictable storyline .", "murphy needs to do two things : fire his agent , and learn to discern when a script is worth doing or not .", "MOV has its heart and priorities in the right place , even if the jokes dwindle as it goes on .", "is this murphy 's big redemption film ? no . but it is n't that terrible either .", "it 's a concept more than a movie , and its jokes and sight gags seem mostly improvised or dashed off .", "your kids will like it , and you will too .", "to expect magnificence would have been futile ; i was perfectly willing to settle for entertaining .", "efficient , if cloying , crowd-pleaser ... it does manage to hit its target , even if it 's aiming very low .", "it 's one of the worst movies of the year .", "the kids will like it , as kids always do . it is after all for them . unfortunately , it is not for you , and thus any parent will have a lousy time .", "MOV is not toddlers of the damned . it 's toddlers of the damned funny .", "furthers eddie murphy 's transformation into bill cosby . two things are wrong with that . bill cosby already is bill cosby , and eddie murphy used to be eddie murphy .", "-lsb- murphy 's -rsb- charming enough in this restrained mode .", "i 'm not offended by its singular lack of energy or invention - i never expected more than a cinematic big mac when i saw eddie mur-phy 's name above the title ` MOV . ' but what i got was a sandwich from a gas station .", "once it gets the bodily function jokes out of its system -lrb- sorry -rrb- , it settles into being a fairly agreeable little movie .", "MOV is a kid flick that 's been kitted out with a lot of grown-up smart-assness -- the better to broaden its appeal to audiences who were n't born in the '90s .", "talvez suas cenas funcionassem melhor caso fossem acompanhadas por uma trilha de risadas gravadas . esta , ali\u00e1s , seria a \u00fanica forma de ouvirmos risos nos cinemas que exibirem este filme .", "MOV is ground zero in the new breed of awful family movies -- entertainment designed for parents who 'll take their kids to anything that shuts them up for 90 minutes .", "no one wants to let eddie and his partner watch their kids at first because they are men , and of course men are only good at tweaking their cars to shoot flames from the engine .", "... does n't offer much beyond cute faces and forgettable poop jokes .", "has enough gags to transcend its saccharine and predictable plot .", "the movie is clearly aimed at kids , but is this really the kind of stuff we should be filling their brains with ?", "-lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- is a straightforward , do n't - expect-any-surprises kind of pre-summer entertainment that has a good supporting cast , precocious kids and a premise that lends itself to slapstick comedy .", "the title tells it all , and when you cast eddie murphy in that role , you know you 've got the attention of the family trade who will have an almost hypocritically high tolerance for raunchy gags .", "though not nearly as noxious as the trailers would have you believe , daddy still uses the same tired formula employed by the kid and kindergarten cop .", "those wishing to contribute to the ongoing prosperity of a shamefully wasted natural resource will find a mortified movie badly in need of potty training and a star who has attained the american dream of doing the least work for the most amount of money .", "i laughed a couple of times , but mostly i was bored out of my mind and not a little depressed .", "even before the credits are complete , even before the first word of dialogue is spoken , even before you know what the plot set-up is all about , you know that it 's going to have plenty of potty humor .", "while much of the film 's formula is tired , it 's tolerable . steve zahn 's character is well written and his performance is what makes this one decent .", "audiences ready , willing and able to find their inner four-year-old may have a decent time at ` MOV , ' but others are likely to find eddie murphy 's latest foray into kidpicdom scarcely more amusing than spending 90 minutes in a pre-k classroom .", "grandparents of today do n't need the great depression stories to shock the youngsters . you heard me right , son . eddie murphy was once funny .", "this is eddie in the comfort zone , coasting on riffs and bits lifted from mr. mom and kindergarten cop .", "it 's saddening to watch the majestic ms. huston reduced to playing a robotic comedy target that exists just to be ridiculed .", "a pleasant if predictable romp ." ], "summary": "MOV does its job of babysitting the tots . anyone older will probably be bored .", "id": "10928" }, { "movie": "city_of_lost_children", "reviews": [ "the MOV is a stunningly surreal fantasy , a fable of longing and danger , of heroic deeds and bravery , set in a brilliantly realized world of its own . it is one of the most audacious , original films of the year .", "lyrical , strange , gorgeous , and pretty darn hypnotic .", "falters under flabby direction and a weak script suffering from too many ingredients and not enough cooking .", "anyone looking to lose themselves in an engrossing fairy-tale world will be richly rewarded .", "a visually stunning and intensely bizarre fairy tale .", "a freakish visual delight", "watching the film is like leafing through a giant sketchbook crammed with intriguing ideas that ca n't all be comfortably fitted into the same master plan .", "by turns funny , horrific and oddly sweet , there 's really nothing out there that 's quite like MOV .", "the MOV is as visually striking and daringly offbeat as its predecessor .", "many people will probably not find themselves sympathetic to this movie 's overachieving technological pretensions , while others will find it the best film in months or years .", "the MOV is a series of associated visual stimuli so imaginative and omnivorous that their spectacle has the effect of wearing us out . nevertheless , if you think of yourself as warped , you really must see this .", "the french fantasy adventure the MOV is a dark phantasmagoria so visually amazing and provocative -- yet dense and confusing -- that viewers may need to see it more than once to take it all in .", "MOV is unmistakably of its era : filled with oddball artifacts , and itself quite pointedly an oddball artifact , seeking approval on those very terms .", "it feels like concept art come to life .", "on visual terms alone , the MOV is something of a masterpiece , using state-of-the-art physical , optical and digital special effects to stretch cinematic boundaries .", "jeunet and caro have distinctive signatures like nobody else 's .", "the production values are extraordinary .", "essentially , the MOV is a macabre fairy tale , and while its tentacled comic-book plot and freak-show cast narrow its appeal -- this is n't a work of any allegorical depth -- caro and jeunet have pulled off a cinematic delight .", "the MOV gets so caught up in its own weirdness that it all but shuts out the viewer .", "the MOV showcases dazzling art direction that takes cinematic expressionism to new heights .", "one of the most fantastic -lrb- in the literal sense -rrb- films to have emerged from europe in the past 50 years ; a masterpiece of dark invention .", "an empty triumph of overkill set design and weirdo casting .", "extraordinary .", "with each frame filled to bursting point with visual detail and multiplaned design , plus razor-sharp cutting that often eliminates transitions , it 's not a movie you can afford to take your eyes off for a second .", "the MOV is as great a film as you thought chitty chitty bang bang was when you were five years old .", "directors jean-pierre jeunet and marc caro have created a genuine phantasmagoria , and each of the film 's stunning set pieces is more wildly imaginative than the last .", "bizarre , beautiful french sci-fi with creepy images , themes .", "the emotions seem almost as manufactured as the sets .", "for those who thought films could do nothing new , prepare to be surprised .", "the look of the MOV is worthy of a dropped jaw or three .", "this delirious film is overflowing with energy and effects , but it lacks the heart and soul that would have made it important as well as impressive .", "set in a wondrously seedy waterfront world populated with runaway children and grotesque , sinister adults , it glistens with dense fantasies , technological feats that make the catch-phrase `` state of the art '' seem antique .", "another wacky and dark and visually dazzling film by the makers of delicatessen .", "there is a lot going for MOV and if you 're up to something ` different ' for change then it is definitely worth a rental .", "astounding imagery combine with bizarre characters and comedy in this dark and twisted french fairy tale .", "children has n't enough of a human dimension to be ` fun ' itself , but it 's still warped enough to amuse anyone with a tilted frame of mind .", "i 'm not really sure who would enjoy this movie . it 's a little too rich for most people 's digestions .", "with its fine performances , gorgeous sets , incredible special effects , imaginative story line , beautiful score , and knockout cinematography , the MOV is very much worth seeing .", "the MOV automatically gets major pointers for being a stunning film to look at , and it gets a couple extra pointers for having the respect to not insult our intelligence and waste our time with a really crap story .", "if MOV lacks something in narrative innovation , it 's plainly invested in picking through the mucky ugliness that supports these familiar moral configurations .", "would that a movie this wondrous were n't simultaneously so formulaic .", "for those with a taste for the unique or who just want to be weirded out by the creatively bizarre , this is an amazing film .", "the MOV pushes style to the limit , while occasionally causing substance to lag behind . while the movie sometimes gets so convoluted it 's impossible to tell exactly what 's going on , it 's always fun to watch ." ], "summary": "not all of its many intriguing ideas are developed , but the MOV is an engrossing , disturbing , profoundly memorable experience .", "id": "13050" }, { "movie": "new_years_eve_2011", "reviews": [ "should auld acquaintance be forgot ? i do n't know , but `` new year 's eve '' sure should be .", "the worst sin of ` new year 's eve ' is the insulating presentation of new year 's eve in the big apple . hopefully , no one thinks new year 's eve in new york city is this boring , clich\u00e9d and common .", "so garish and manipulative that it does n't really qualify as a film -- it 's a product , no more an actual movie than a hallmark card is a piece of poetry .", "to say `` new year 's eve '' is cheesy is an understatement . love struck people running around and trying to have a good time . but that is also what makes the film fun .", "it 's all perfectly pleasant and perfectly harmless and perfectly bland .", "not much to celebrate in dull ` new year 's day '", "shallow , star-studded romcom has some drinking , swearing .", "shameless , would-be holiday heartwarmer ... a commercial conglomerate of star-ridden sound bytes", "one can only hope that enough viewers make a resolution not to support cinematic flotsam like this -lrb- parental movie review also available -rrb-", "the band abandoned bon jovi and let him make this movie on his own , showing richie sambora has higher standards than robert deniro .", "offering up genuinely unlikable characters and terrible dialogue , this comedy qualifies as one of the year 's worst .", "it 's like channel surfing when there 's nothing on but crap .", "colossal waste of talent and time .", "the bland lead the bland through a sea of new year 's revelers ...", "among the year 's worst films . the tragedy is funny , the comedy is tragic , and about its only saving grace is that it makes 2010 's valentines day look almost passable .", "your appreciation for the film may depend on your tolerance for sugar .", "it has plenty of plastic heart , but it 'd be hard to imagine a film that took fewer chances , or more dogged pride in playing it safe .", "like the stroke of midnight , `` new year 's eve '' disappears almost instantly , leaving little behind but limp streamers and the sense that , surely , there was a better party going on somewhere else .", "tha htane to pio thaymasio spotaki yper ths eythanasias se periptwsh ektetamenhs egkefalikhs atrofias , an den htane hdh fortwmeno mexri naytias apo ta mhnymata oswn sponsonarane persi ton eortasmo ths prwtoxronias", "a sea of quickly put together , cheesy romcom vignettes that fail to put across any kind of meaningful message", "new year 's eve is not unbearable . it 's not bad , but it 's not good , either .", "marshall knows a certain kind of comedy , but his technique has a way of pitting performers squarely against their own material .", "perhaps at some point in the future , a great movie will feature the line , ` ladies , may the best va-jay-jay win ! '", "new year 's eve is still laugh-out-loud funny in places and tries to be heartwarming .", "even if there are people in `` new year 's eve '' you 're looking forward to seeing , you do n't want to see them in this .", "marshall 's direction imbues the film with the sweetness of a raw onion .", "there 's so much wrong here , it 's difficult to condense it all into one review .", "this is a movie where zac efron teaches michelle pfeiffer to say yes to life . this is a movie where zac efron is a real chill bro who can inspire people to say yes to life .", "like marshall 's last ensemble piece , valentine 's day , new year 's eve is strictly by the numbers , a generic exercise in empty momentum .", "not one of the characters ever behaves in a normal human manner , nor is even one of the stories compelling , funny , or interesting .", "it 's not fun , it 's not funny , it 's not realistic . it 's beyond boring .", "this new year 's eve leaves you feeling like you 've got no one to kiss at midnight .", "another year , another holiday , another opportunity for garry marshall to turn all the innovation of robert altman and p.t. anderson and the like into dreary , commercial crap .", "none of the marquee names come off particularly well here , so it 's more a matter of figuring out who embarrasses themselves the most .", "it is so bad that if chechnya president ramzan kadyrov ever sees it , he will make a statement that begins `` had i known about this film at the time ... ''", "like `` the love boat , '' this is stories about love featuring a lot of big stars and with depth that can only be measured with micrometers - and sofia vergara as charo .", "a new year 's toast as sentimental as singing auld lang syne !", "forget counting down from 10 as the ball drops in times square ; here instead is a countdown of the 10 key points in new year 's eve , which proves to be even tougher to take than director garry marshall 's previous all-star holiday romp , valentine 's day .", "i think i read about this somewhere in the book of revelations -lrb- ya know , somewhere between forty years of darkness , and the dead walking the earth -rrb- .", "quick -- somebody help me stage an intervention for director garry marshall .", "new year 's eve feels like a film made by an entire cast and crew that has never actually celebrated new year 's eve .", "an onslaught of schmaltz , passing off greeting card platitudes as dialogue and repeatedly reminds us the end of one year and the beginning of another is about second chances , hope and forgiveness .", "all human life is here in predictably two-dimensional form , ready to confront 2012 with a brave face , a throbbing heart and a head unclouded by economic worries .", "as winston churchill might have said , never have so many done so little for so many with such dreary results", "with so much talent on the screen , it 's an opportunity wasted - fewer , more meaningful stories might have worked better", "... while generally uninvolving , it 's a nice , moral , family-oriented film , better than sitting through many of the others that are out there right now .", "the cinematic equivalent of a glass of flat champagne .", "though the screenplay is inane , new year 's eve coasts on the easy charm of its stars ... there 's an inherent pleasure in seeing saturday night live 's meyers go head to head with inglourious basterd schweiger , just because it 's so very strange .", "offering around a dozen barely there , aggressively agreeable mini-stories spliced together and spit out with lawnmower-style eloquence , the film is pushed to punishing lengths by the engorged cast list .", "the result proves to be as appealing and effervescent as a flute of flat champagne .", "this is a party you ca n't wait to be over .", "this is repeat business for the filmmakers of valentine 's day , except that this charmless party of a movie -lrb- and movie of a party -rrb- has larger cast and is even more schmaltzy than the first picture .", "it would be a step in the right direction if new year 's eve could aspire to be phony and manipulative . it fails to rise to even that level of incompetence , and it 's happy with its stupidity .", "yet another garry marshall mix-and-match mash-up of movie stars , holiday bromides and a laugh-free - even laugh-retardant - script by katherine fugate .", "lately garry marshall has shown a certain genius for turning miserable holidays into terrible movies .", "if there is some kind of world record for schmaltz , this may have set it .", "mayans might have predicted the end of the world in 2012 , but could they have known that the countdown to eternal hellfire would begin with garry marshall 's new year 's eve ?", "written on the level of a bad episode of the love boat , this is one of those concoctions that intertwines about 10 storylines and then concludes with a cherry on top .", "it 's all edited with a cuisinart , such that when a character you last saw 20 minutes ago -lrb- the movie 's an excruciating two hours -rrb- pops up again , you have to remind yourself who they are .", "rivals gigli as one of the most cringe-inducing , asinine and silly romcoms in quite some time . save yourself the torture and just rent love actually instead .", "when a cameo by matthew broderick is just a set-up to name his character `` buellerton '' it 's time to ring in the new year and call it a night .", "the only entertaining way to watch new year 's eve is as a cruel experiment in which performers stranded with absolutely no script support are forced to subsist on pure presence , which quickly becomes a blood sport in which only a few survive .", "a big dumb mess .", "new year 's eve is a perfect example of why the adjective `` hollywood '' is so often used as a pejorative .", "new year 's eve actually has more in common with the day that proceeds the alcohol-soaked holiday ... it 's the kind of experience that will leave you nauseated , give you a splitting headache and cause you to curl up on a couch in the fetal position .", "nye , the # 1 reason i hate you is because i 'm going to look like a total a ** hole when i have to admit to my mother that yes , i saw you , and i thought you were terrible .", "the only thing that can inspire more cynicism than a holiday 's coerced emotions may be a film that both exploits and celebrates said emotions .", "much of it is dreck but the stories that work are charming and in a few select cases , provide a sudden emotional wallop .", "safe , palatable , homogenized entertainment", "new year 's eve is appalling stuff , a poorly constructed , sentimental sham .", "you have to worry when a film 's musical medley finale is far more entertaining than what you 've just sat through .", "most depressingly of all there is robert de niro , playing a sick old guy in hospital who wants to see the ball drop one more time . i would like to see it drop on garry marshall 's head .", "it uses its titular holiday as a ruthless star delivery system in which a menagerie of assembled celebs sprints through a collection of interconnected narrative threads that briskly accelerate from alleged comedy to syrupy sentimentality .", "as if the film were n't chock full of cliches already , it rolls out to ` raise your glass . ' if i 'd had one , i would have thrown it .", "another lavish helping of clich\u00e9s , cameos and implausibly interweaving love stories . fine if you 're a fan of valentine 's day , but marshall 's multi-star champagne cocktail is all bubbles and no booze .", "this is more of a clown car than it is a movie .", "same crap , different day .", "the movie plays like a time warp to 1951 . the opening shot of the movie is a horse and buggy . jon bon jovi plays pop music 's hottest superstar . you half expect the actors to pass a kissing booth or an organ grinder with a leashed monkey .", "new year 's eve is like woody allen lite for the masses -lrb- ... -rrb- by never threatening to copy the smut of 50/50 or bridesmaids , it 's a memory-stirring , warm-hearted breath of fresh air . even at 117 minutes .", "the cinematic equivalent of a piece of new york style cheesecake and about as artistically satisfying .", "no message , no car chases and explosions , no 3d - just relaxing entertainment", "a joyless , overstuffed confection that seems designed more to maximise product placement .", "watching robert de niro put yet another nail in the coffin of his career is bad enough , but et tu michelle pfeiffer ?", "... a perfectly watchable -lrb- and consistently hackneyed -rrb- feel-good ensemble drama .", "garry marshall , how could you ? you have made a mockery of a movie that bears the name of my birthday . i take this as a personal affront .", "new year 's eve is pretty much laugh-free , trading on tired visual gags and some unbelievably cynical ` cutesy ' scenes -lrb- baby montage anyone ? -rrb- for most of its humour .", "proves , in its tiny way , that no matter how bad the modern romantic comedy has already become , there 's still plenty of room for it to get worse .", "... a nice box of holiday chocolates ...", "a movie i often found myself laughing at in ridicule , and one that also gave me a lump in the throat . so i guess you could say i had a good time .", "the stories and filmmaking overdose on ill-conceived schmaltz .", "it 's fair to say that marshall dropped the ball with this one , too .", "the sanitized setting and sappy script are so littered with cardboard characters and crass product placements that you 'll mourn for the muggers and porno theaters that de niro cursed in `` taxi driver . ''", "nothing wrong with an unashamedly sentimental holiday flick , but there 's no excuse for these nails-on-a-chalkboard characters and manipulative heartstring yanking .", "an inferior retread of marshall 's equally contrived `` valentine 's day , '' only dressed up with coats and confetti .", "make it your new year 's resolution to see something other than `` new year 's eve . ''", "`` new year 's eve '' is fun in the way that eating at a buffet is fun . it 's two hours of foods that have nothing to do with each other piled high on a plate because it was too cheap to resist .", "director garry marshall follows last year 's valentine 's day with new year 's eve where an all-star cast lines up to collect paychecks - at our expense !", "it 's timely , festive , star-studded treacle .", "neither nicely written , nor nicely acted nor nicely made .", "the combination of cheap humor and sappy sentiment is all too pat , and ... the characters are so cardboard that to call them stock sitcom types would be an insult to situation comedy .", "there 's little sorcery capable of loosening marshall 's directorial death grip , which always manages to squeeze intriguing emotional disturbances and crucial acts of longing into a glop of unflavored cinematic pudding .", "if you are surprised by anything in this movie , you need to see more movies .", "sags when it should shimmer , labors clunkily when it should glide and - most unforgivably - plops some otherwise attractive and even talented actors into roles that are completely outside their physical and psychic comfort zone .", "a soul-sucking monument to hollywood greed and saccharine holiday culture .", "we hope that somewhere amid the streamers and popping champagne corks director marshall is making a resolution to stop making these movies .", "this is one of those unusual films that 's more boring than life .", "an even lazier , even dumber re-hash of valentine 's day - a movie that was already very lazy and dumb to begin with .", "despite having amassed a roster of roughly thirty bonafide film stars and respected character actors , new year 's eve is nothing more than a glorified cameo carousel , and a laughably schmaltzy , punishingly dull one at that .", "those who pay for this film should add `` do n't get suckered into seeing bad movies '' to their list of new year 's resolutions .", "the problem is that the characters would have to be fleshed out to be considered stick figures ... it 's the biggest waste of talented people since the last oscar telecast .", "thankfully , groundhog day is already taken .", "why bother with a new title ? new year 's eve is simply 2010 's valentine 's day all over again , and it 's about as appealing as a flute of cheap champagne left over from the last holiday .", "the film is intended to be a romantic comedy . but its flat direction , stock punch lines , insipid musical numbers and suffocating swarm of characters make it horrifying .", "in spite of the multi character element , new year 's eve has virtually no discernible plot to speak of - just a m\u00e9lange of badly scripted schmaltz that meanders back and forth with no real care .", "what can be said about a movie that is nice and awful ? that has a warm spirit and is 100 percent phony ? that has all the stars in the galaxy and all the appeal of rotting fish ?", "i tell ya , i have n't heard this much talk about ball-dropping since the junior high locker room .", "so many characters , so little substance ! comes perilously close to feeling like a spoof of a romantic comedy instead of the genuine article .", "the film is like one of those robert altman big-canvas movies minus the inspiration .", "-lsb- a -rsb- multi-stranded , over-earnest piece of schlock full of puddle-deep morality , product placement and zero laughs .", "the screenplay is n't written so much as assembled in carefully slotted little blocks , following the rules of a screenwriting textbook .", "the message of the picture , delivered with the sincerity of an unsolicited email from nigeria , is that everyone deserves a second chance and forgiveness - even , presumably , ashton kutcher .", "it is the cinematic equivalent of a greeting card : both the sentiment and the laughs are plentiful , cheap and forgettable .", "disappointing , cynically contrived and desperately unfunny ensemble romcom that falls painfully flat thanks to dull characters , an irritating script and some deeply misguided mawkish sentimentality that 's unintentionally the funniest thing in the film .", "the half-hearted presence of these actors is the ultimate metaphor for the current tragedy facing the creative class .", "many of the individual segments are too mundane , contrived and bland even for an episode of the love boat .", "it 's basically love actually without the , erm , wit , pathos , humanity , humour and modest wage bill of richard curtis ' seasonal luvvie-in .", "marshall sticks to his rose-colored principles : you got ta have hope , listen to your heart and take leaps of faith . plus a new one : sarah jessica parker should never make it through a movie without at least one pair of fabulous shoes .", "it 's as though marshall and writer katherine fugate gathered together all the subplots from films that never got made or were left on the cutting-room floor - and sticky-taped them together end on end to create this horror of a holiday centipede .", "how is it possible to assemble more than two dozen stars in a movie and find nothing interesting for any of them to do ?", "overstuffed with half-formed ideas that go nowhere .", "though you 're expecting the predictable ending , the finale , and what goes on before it , feels phoney and contrived , while a vulgar mean streak throughout only further puts you off ." ], "summary": "shallow , sappy , and dull , new year 's eve assembles a star-studded cast for no discernible purpose .", "id": "771105127" }, { "movie": "lilja_4_ever", "reviews": [ "seldom have the movies given us a young actress as appealing as oksana akinshina , or presented a character as real as the one she plays in lilya 4-ever .", "a bleak , blistering , beautiful treasure of a film that presents wasted life in all its horrific vividness .", "lilya is portrayed by oksana akinshina , who gives a dynamic , heartbreaking performance .", "this compelling and disturbing swedish film directed by lukas moodysson charts the terrors of an abandoned russian teenager who finds herself an unwilling victim in the global sex trade .", "it is akinshina 's presence and performance that make the pedestrian story heart-wrenching .", "scrupulously realistic but it 's also unendingly , tediously grim , despite moodyson 's few ham-handed fantasy sequences which fail to lighten the movie 's tone .", "akinshina brings to mind the extraordinary work of jodie foster in taxi driver .", "then you start to ask yourself , what is the point of all this ?", "a haunting and incandescent work of art .", "after your heart has been beaten , bludgeoned , anally raped and stomped upon , there 's still another hour left to go ...", "akinshina , a gorgeous and extraordinarily poised young actress , can switch in a flash from wounded kid to jaded know-it-all .", "it says nothing more useful than : is n't this shocking ? are n't we powerless to do anything about it ?", "lilya 's struggle to make a life for herself is both heartbreaking and heart-stirring .", "an unflinching portrait of brutally wrested-away innocence ... an acute and moving downward spiral .", "has a greek-tragic bleakness that rivets audience attention .", "victorious is this swedish director who succeeds in playing with dream and reality where fantasy and oblivion are welcome reprieves from harsh daily life .", "moodysson has created a rare work of art -- one with an intensity that evokes physical as well as emotional pain , and overwhelming compassion , too .", "maybe the movie sounds like a drab and worthy slog through misery , but it 's alive , it feels true , and it got to me .", "a wrenching feel-bad movie graced by a luminous central performance .", "it 's moodysson 's dark sense of humour to make -lsb- lilya 's -rsb- heaven the hell of merely poverty and insurmountable ennui .", "goes too far in depicting the humiliation and cruelty heaped on lilja", "it tells a heartbreaking story , one of those tales that need to be told and about which only pain can be felt .", "uncompromising , but its chronicle of a young innocent 's ordeal is a hauntingly vivid experience .", "a rather unsettling mix of light and dark , which robs it of power and causes it to become muddled .", "grim but honest , and young oksana akinshina is glorious .", "why pay eight bucks to see this horrifying and sad film about the sort of girl you 'd pass on the street without giving her a thought ? because , improbably , it says that life is worth living .", "worth every uncomfortable minute .", "here -lsb- moodysson 's -rsb- even more scarily adroit at mining the interior lives of his characters , paradoxically by painting such vivid , harsh external realities .", "so seamless and relentlessly powerful that the social-realism of not just this film , but the genre itself , is pushed to its limit . acting and action that rips so deeply , you 'll feel you 've got to do more than simply watch .", "it is undeniable that moodysson 's work has a raw emotional power that transcends most of the film 's flaws .", "lilya 4-ever gives us a glorious , heart-wrenching debut performance in the lead , as auspicious as any in the history of cinema . ''", "a harsh dramatic brew , lilya 4-ever is a monumental , abrasive document of a young life flushed down the drain ; it 's an exceptional , deafening humanitarian alarm that will continue to overwhelm and outrage for years to come .", "the film cuts like a knife as a critique of a disordered planet , with ever more twisted notions of consumerism and flesh as commodity", "-lsb- moodysson -rsb- dives into the soul of a 16-year-old estonian girl and tears you apart .", "you 'll see superb acting by two teens .", "absorbing without being particularly illuminating .", "this is n't an easy film -- only a memorable one .", "show me love and together were a bit sentimental for my taste ; the brutally overdetermined lilya demonstrates that -lsb- moodysson -rsb- can go to the other extreme .", "one of the least happy films i have seen in a while , but also one of the most memorable and moving .", "moodysson has an impressive ability to show the world from the perspective of children , and to elicit naturalistic performances from his youthful actors .", "this sober , unsparing drama , strong if unambitious , is probably as perfectly characteristic a specimen of serious european filmmaking as any movie ever made .", "socially revealing and artistically creative , both coldly realistic and infused with compassion for its heroine and her youth culture .", "lukas moodysson brings us yet another amazingly realistic and engaging drama about society punctuated with both humor and grittiness .", "a hard-hitting , dark and tragic story that rarely lets up .", "moodysson , a former poet , directs with an accomplished mix of lyricism and grit .", "it 's something that just might stick with you 4-ever .", "i usually hate when movies pity its characters , but i wish swedish director lucas moodysson had shown at least pity ; instead , he goes about destroying this young russian girl with the grim , dispassionate determination of a medieval executioner .", "both an archetypal case study and a personal drama whose spunky central character you come to care about so deeply that you want to cry out a warning at each step toward her ruination .", "akinshina and bogucharskij are remarkable together , and moodysson once again demonstrates a sophisticated visual skill matched only by his innate understanding of the adolescent heart .", "one of the better films -- in any language -- you 'll see this year .", "lilya seeps into your bones , and it 's not easy to shake off .", "repeatedly hammers home the message that this is a vile world filled with vile men and women ; and that children are the main victims of their perpetual evil .", "manipulative and reductive though it may be , it 's a film that clearly takes place in the real world .", "the film 's achievement ... is to bring us as deeply as anyone since japan 's great kenji mizoguchi has into the mind and heart of a woman who , culturally as well as economically , is too easily checked off as a commodity .", "akinshina , a beauty on the order of anna kournikova , is a terrific actress who manages , amid the bleakness of her scenes , to create a fully dimensional portrait of a confused teenager who loses her innocence and virtually all hope , but never her pride .", "moodysson 's compassion is undeniable , and his direction has a snap and vigor ...", "i read of thousands of women from eastern europe who are lured into virtual slavery . i hope some of their clients will attend this movie , even if for the wrong reasons , and see what they are responsible for .", "by the end of the film , our hearts will burn and break for lilya .", "lukas moodysson , a young swedish director , crafts a stunner of a film out of familiar turf .", "this movie may seem , by plain description , like putting your heart into a garlic press . but it 's extraordinarily alive .", "... a fantastic movie .", "stark and unblinking .", "what lilja 4-ever has in common with the greatest films is its spiritual transcendence . do n't miss it ." ], "summary": "a tragic , hard-hitting story about a teenager trapped in a life of prostitution .", "id": "98820277" }, { "movie": "illusionist", "reviews": [ "leaves you pleasantly tantalized .", "like a fun house mirror , burger 's story is never quite what you think it is ; just when you think you have things figured out , you do n't ...", "burger winningly combines relatively rare elements -- a turn-of-the-century setting , an assured star turn by edward norton , and a deft philip glass score -- to pull off a tricked-out romantic thriller .", "builds slowly and steadily to a finale that will please many viewers and irritate others ... ` the MOV ' has many tricks up its sleeve , and it 's not eager to give away every secret .", "the reason to see it is to see two fine american actors at the top of their game , and the lush production values ... which make you feel you 've entered a lost world .", "coming near the close of a summer full of movie superheroes and remakes , ` the MOV ' is a film buff 's treat . here is an atmospheric , period tale of magic and murder .", "it is a treat watching norton and giamatti play off each other .", "a slickly paced collision-course drama .", "... like a made-for-tv movie that asks nothing more of you than to figure out its own particular brand of slight-of-hand .", "you do n't have to have spent more than five minutes in the presence of a professional magician to recognize that edward norton has their entire act down .", "for a good while , the MOV is topflight entertainment ... -lsb- before -rsb- morphing into a mystery that 's agonizingly easy to figure out .", "there is magic in the MOV , and i do n't mean merely the magic of stage conjurers , like the character this wonderfully mysterious and dreamy film turns on . there is movie magic , of the type that reminds you why you fell in love with movies in", "the movie is leaden and self-serious , with an unusually hollow performance from norton , who 's not for a moment convincing as a man of raging passion . far better is paul giamatti .", "the essential smack of trickery is lost throughout the picture every time an obvious effect is used , which eventually spills over into the story elements when burger goes for toothless attempts at misdirection .", "it 's like a catalog of lush , velvet fainting couches you can go live in for a couple hours and pretend the world is more cruelly elegant a place than it is or ever really was .", "the MOV , like any good magic act , finishes with a satisfying flourish .", "writer/director neil burger does everything he ought to do , but also fails to take any chances .", "a lush piece of romanticism -- a tale of enchantment set in turn-of-the-century vienna .", "the story is about ineffable things , but the police procedural aspects of the MOV make it all too effable .", "as captivating and absorbing a movie as you are likely to see all year , a genuine crowd pleaser with all the elements of a good mystery .", "a beautifully shot , designed and plotted movie that has a little something for everyone -- top-notch acting , passionate romance , humor and suspense .", "an amazing team of talent both in front of and behind the camera stretch a short story into a romantic fairy tale for adults that works .", "this is definitely a thriller -- one that will keep you guessing until the bitter end -- similar to a few of david mamet 's offerings .", "like eisenheim 's stage show : a lot of smoke and mirrors without much substance .", "writer-director neil burger does n't realize you can hold an audience in suspense for only so long with one illusion .", "a darkly fascinating drama bolstered by the acting magic of its talented stars , edward norton and paul giamatti .", "the rare current movie that keeps you thinking as you head for the exits , the MOV is a bit of cinematic magic that keeps on giving .", "conjures up a world of mystery , romance and suspense .", "... delights in reminding us that movies are , by their very nature , nothing but illusions , clever con games designed to suck -lrb- er -rrb- us in when projected at 24 frames per second .", "a pleasant diversion serious enough to offer a little soul .", "the story may be less than credible , but the performances are mostly good , and giamatti makes an especially strong showing .", "while it has handsome production values and a talented cast , this is the type of shallow , vapid movie that tricks you into thinking it 's better cinema than it actually is .", "like a good magician , burger knows how to divert our attention while he works his magic .", "... benefits mightily from gorgeous period design and cinematography , as well as a surprisingly effective score from philip glass ,", "the movie 's biggest flaw is , for a story about illusion , it is not very good at misdirection .", "if you want to see the best narrative film of the year so far , and are willing to be hypnotized by period , plot and intriguing characters , this is for you .", "one of the best films to hit theaters this year % u2013 neil burger 's direction delivers a tale that is magic from beginning to end .", "... a lush looking puzzle box of a film grounded by a vivid , sharp performance by norton .", "wildly romantic , playfully profound , and a cipher with many sides , all equally alluring", "cold but somehow compelling .", "there is a formal reverence for the unspoken loyalty between eisenheim and sophie that elegantly expounds on the period aspects of the story to create an atmosphere of timeless devotion and uncommon humility .", "this handsome , elegant and restrained fable about love , artifice and power in fin de siecle vienna is lavishly imagined and yet oddly airless .", "the alluring and absorbing MOV proves that a film need not be mindless fluff or ridiculously far-fetched to qualify as escapist entertainment .", "a bizarre story of intrigue , magic and murder in turn-of-the-century vienna casts a considerable spell .", "the MOV is like a dreamscape existing between sleep and consciousness , the old world and the new .", "it 's a marginal story , and passionless in the way it 's been antiseptically brought to the screen , but it 's not unenjoyable .", "crafted with a budget-minded luscious sense of period detail to distract from the rudimentary direction and clumsy screenwriting ...", "this romantic thriller about magic is bizarre , but theca n't lush prague setting and grogeous costumes can compensate only up to a point for the senseless , silly plotting .", "-lrb- norton and giamatti 's -rrb- chess match ... ultimately triumphs over the movie 's more marketable but opaque affair of the heart .", "intriguingly well acted , the MOV is a solid , if not spectacular movie .", "an odd film actually w/an old world sensibility . nice dialogue & decent enough script . only real failing is that i caught on a little too soon to a rather important illusion .", "` everything is an illusion , ' a character says , which , of course , is a description of the film itself : our response to the action onscreen is a testimony to the conjurations of the filmmakers ...", "at its heart , the MOV is a love story , so it 's unfortunate that there 's so little chemistry between norton and biel .", "the whole romance against-all-odds angle is a little been there , done that eight months ago with tristan & isolde", "in early 1900s vienna , chief inspector uhl -lrb- paul giamatti -rrb- has to prove that eisenheim the MOV -lrb- edward norton -rrb- is a fraud . eisenheim , with a secret past , is in love with sophie -lrb- jessica biel -rrb- , who is engaged to abusive crown prince leopold -lrb- rufus", "winds up being slightly dry entertainment that you applaud for pulling the wool over your eyes by way of its filmmaking more than its storytelling .", "the bits never add up to anything resembling a satisfying whole and while you keep expecting a film with a cast of this caliber to eventually pull a rabbit or two out of thin air .", "the magic practiced by this MOV does not extend to the screen .", "this terrific romantic thriller , set in 1900 vienna , is an outstanding example of frugality in the service of art .", "the MOV is a rich and elegant film , full of sly , devious characters with complicated motives .", "the MOV is an enthralling , grandly old-fashioned example of storytelling magic well worth seeing .", "after you 've seen a humongo dork like the pirates of the caribbean sequel , exuding effects like a bulimic whale , it can be more satisfying to view cgi touches more selectively used by the MOV .", "there 's enough creepy/chilly imagery to keep you interested in this offbeat story of a magician , circa 1900 , who becomes a sensation in vienna for his apparent ability to conjure the actual spirits of the dead .", "the love story is corny , the pacing is slow and some cast members are out of their element -lrb- yes , that means biel -rrb- , but the film has a cer tain cryptic charm .", "this is the kind of thoughtful , poetic , lush and old-fashioned -lrb- in the best sense of the word -rrb- film that rarely gets made anymore -- one that immerses us in a bygone world for a couple of hours .", "if its allegory is n't subtle , it is timely : those who seem authorities are illusionists , administering by entertainments .", "it does not dazzle .", "the effects are silly , and the heavy-handed and anachronistic adaptation seems as if it 's brought along the signposts to allegory but then left the point at home .", "entertaining in the most elementary of ways -- it just wants to spin a good yarn .", "click to read full review in greek", "` nothing is what it seems , ' goes the film 's tagline , but it eventually shows that everything can be explained .", "like the best , most hypnotic magic trick , `` the MOV '' seamlessly draws you in , wows you and then tricks you , though you 're delighted by the trick even if you saw it coming .", "guys will envy norton , whose greatest trick has got to be his ability to materialize jessica biel out of thin air .", "gloriously riveting .", "... a good film for a date and interesting enough for fans of magic ...", "the MOV is a hypnotic film that is an act of stage magic in itself . this is a captivating and atmospheric tale that will keep the viewer wondering what is real , what illusion .", "the MOV is cleverly conceived and executed . it 's the kind of movie that absorbs you , holding you in its spell for nearly two hours .", "there 's nothing fake about `` the MOV , '' a quietly beautiful , fascinating mystery set in the past .", "a stylishly crafted illusion .", "the last act dulls the impact of what is otherwise a rich , affecting movie , directed with an elegance that belies its ` period piece ' label .", "the movie celebrates magic in its many forms while testifying to the enduring power of love .", "these resolutely old-fashioned elements might not work at all in a less well-crafted movie . but this entertaining tale of wizardry and lost love vaporizes even our most serious doubts .", "a breath-taking breakthrough into the suspense-mystery genre ... as marvelous as it is unique .", "burger crafts a movie with a sumptuous visual palette but little heart , the characters detached and cold-blooded .", "hardly profound , but it 's evocative , engrossing and fun -- as mesmerizing as any of the tricks the title character performs for his astonished audiences , and equally enjoyable .", "a handsomely constructed but decidedly minor sleight of hand .", "with a superb cast and a warmly-inviting cinematography , writer and director neil burger crafts an easily entertaining piece .", "the film suffers under the weight of non-committal performances and awkward accents .", "la cinta es en definitiva una grata sorpresa , pero especial ovaci\u0443n merece el trabajo de dick pope , fot\u0443grafo , quien logra un resultado sobresaliente .", "somos atirados para fora do cinema com a sensa\u0437\u0433o de termos visto um um m\u0431gico incompetente que , sem perceber que pod\u043damos enxergar as cartas em sua manga e as orelhas do coelho saindo da cartola , sai de cena com a certeza absoluta de que enganou a todos .", "this film looks so good , and has such a strong cast , that some viewers wo n't notice how corny the script is .", "a lush period film with great production values , a clever story and excellent acting performances .", "i will say that the MOV is a very beautiful movie to watch , with elegant costumes by ngila dickson , a sumptuous production design by ondrej nekvasil , and gorgeous cinematography by dick pope . the score by philip glass also adds immensely to one", "a gorgeous-looking movie featuring a fascinating lead character .", "the MOV is intent on maintaining a serious and sinister , yet serene temper allowing its four main characters to play off each other and explore their individual dynamic as each represents a different segment on the wheel of good and evil that is e", "i do n't even like magic , but the film imbues norton 's tricks with so much emotion and wonder that they become something more than tricks ; they 're more like expressions of the character 's damaged psyche .", "what -lrb- director neil -rrb- burger and his colleagues have done is to entrance us with a richly acted , beautifully produced story .", "the film 's best effects are norton 's compellingly enigmatic performance and giamatti 's considerable sympathy and charm .", "a richly textured and very entertaining movie that actually knows the value of telling a good story with skill , precision and excitement .", "resonates as more spectacle than substance , despite the notable star wattage powering the evidently big-budget feature film .", "a beautifully crafted film whose title character 's performance recalls joni mitchell 's view philosophy , ` it 's life 's illusions i recall . '", "the MOV curls around you like a smoke ring , which only enhances its mysterious allure .", "-lrb- t -rrb- his is something that is becoming an endangered species in hollywood , a script - and character-driven movie that is highly entertaining .", "screenwriter-director neil burger capitalizes on norton 's strengths quite well .", "this gorgeously told story quickly derails into a series of gimmicks and cheats that make the magical spell go ` poof ' .", "little more than a fairy tale", "hats off -lrb- and rabbits in the hat -rrb- to director neil burger for keeping all the balls in the air and making one of the most absorbing and memorable films of the year .", "it might take a magical act to find its audience .", "i have vague recollections of some of the actors ' trying too hard , and of places where the story dragged like a tired peacock 's tail . but ultimately , by god , i succumbed to the picture 's faux-laudanum haze .", "it 's a terrific love story and a mystery all rolled into a lovely period piece , aided by the cinematography that has the look of the old-fashioned penny-movie-machines .", "un atractivo y satisfactorio pasatiempo sin mayores pretensiones que las de entretener , fascinar y eventualmente sorprender a su espectador .", "it gives you a chance to warm to a couple of beautifully calibrated and engagingly understated performances .", "with edward norton at his striking best as the MOV , this is a stylish film filled with intrigue and presented with flair - like a good magic trick", "not everyone will be taken in by the plot 's final twist , but even if you guess how eisenheim does it , you 'll be won over by his showmanship .", "it 's not on a gasp-inducing making-the-statue-of-liberty-disappear level , but with its opulent presentation and confident storytelling , the MOV has the power to keep an audience rapt like a good old-fashioned card trick .", "keeps you vaguely approaching the edge of your seat .", "magic and love but not a lot of passion in this patchy period piece that could have been the prestige 's smarter cousin , yet trips over its own ambitions .", "keeps you guessing and wondering right up until the end .", "a well-written piece , not something you 'll see all the time in hollywood", "you may be temporarily beguiled , but not fooled .", "so much disappointment , tinged with boredom .", "it 's a big enough rarity in itself to find a solid crime/drama these days at the movies , but the MOV satiates our hunger for a compelling period piece .", "edward norton is the MOV , paul giamatti is the inspector out to ruin him , but it is director neil burger who makes the passion and excitement disappear .", "the performances , as we expect from actors of this calibre , are excellent .", "a film that is a visual delight as well as a satisfying period drama .", "neil burger 's screen adaptation of a short story by steven millhauser gives edward norton a role that perfectly fits his disturbing inscrutability .", "steven millhauser 's short story about a stage magician in turn-of-the-20th-century vienna has been expanded by writer-director neil burger into an overly stately affair that often substitutes production values for imagination .", "it 's an exquisitely crafted period picture that keeps promising more and more as it goes along -- smarter ideas , richer themes , spookier plot twists -- and keeps delivering on every promise , right up until the rug-pulling and overly hasty final sequence .", "the MOV is that rarity in the dog days of summer , a movie made for grown-ups , which is what makes it that much more disappointing .", "crisply acted by a cast murmuring , in low tones , about truth and illusion , the MOV overcomes the major obstacle in films -lrb- and there have n't been many -rrb- about the world of stage magicians .", "a coolly entertaining turn-of-the-century fable .", "the MOV works magic and illusion with romantic panache .", "despite its two strong lead performances and terrific visual verve , the MOV ends up as a great example of an overly ambitious movie that 's not quite sure what it wants to be .", "an early flashback scene indicates how the MOV might have played like the princess bride for the tea and scone set . instead it 's just a nobly acted stage mystery .", "never quite the sum of its parts , this would-be intelligent thriller coasts by on strong supporting performances from giamatti , sewell and biel .", "just as two truman capote biopics came in subsequent oscar seasons , so two period films about stage magicians appear with only winter to separate them . and , frankly , the MOV has missed a trick .", "norton is superb as eisenheim although his clipped viennese accent grates occasionally and makes him sound like john malkovich on a bad day .", "in its unassuming way , the film shows that reality is more mystifying than illusion .", "norton looks tortured and old before his time as the humourless eisenheim .", "the acts are beautifully mounted , the four central performances are excellent , and the exquisite photography is by dick pope , mike leigh 's regular cameraman .", "it 's the terrific cast and nicely paced , weird tale that make this one worth the detour .", "with exquisite performances -lrb- giamatti 's , in particular -rrb- , it leaves you thrillingly hovering , happily uncommitted to any one interpretation .", "screenplay exaggerations and misdirections aside , this is where entertainment lies .", "norton ... should set the tone for this moody , tempestuous story - an obvious model is heathcliff of `` wuthering heights '' - but he never becomes that sort of roiling figure .", "the results are reasonably clever and impeccably executed , but one of these days , burger is going to have to pull more from his hat than just the rabbit .", "most viewers will enjoy the fun of being rewardingly beguiled by ` the MOV . '", "the ludicrous climax , full of run-that-by-me-again flashbacks delivered at keystone-cop speed -- oh , if only he could make that disappear .", "the ending dispels a lot of the magic , but the silent-movie palette is gorgeous , and the film is worth seeing for the inspired hamming of paul giamatti as vienna 's chief inspector .", "even when you feel the story slipping - which does occur halfway through - burger rips your eyes away from any possible digressions and averts them back to the movie .", "it 's tough to mix sf and romance successfully in a costume period film , but so far , this is the somewhere in time of this millennium", "one of the best films of the summer .", "elusive and stunningly rich , the MOV , with its big-budget look and indie sensibilities , is a haunting romance wrapped in an enigma .", "burger has assembled an elite group of singular , precise performers whose efforts synthesize into a trove of highly glamorous delights .", "you might not buy all the twists and turns here , but like a magician 's act , it 's more fun to go along with it and not to question things too much .", "dark , dazzling turns by edward norton and paul giamatti , and jessica biel makes it achingly romantic .", "a fond animated farewell to jacques tati", "if nothing else , the MOV is worth watching solely for giamatti 's oscar-caliber performance .", "a wonderful period film first and secondarily an interesting mystery-romance that keeps you guessing about the big questions until late in the narrative .", "norton and paul giamatti perform wonders , but writer/director neil burger ruins the magic , exposing all of his story 's tricks by the end .", "unabashedly old-fashioned and fantastically pulpy .", "straddles fascination and irritation", "director neil burger effectively evokes a sense of mystery and magic , but the plot grinds too methodically to match the dazzle of the title character 's on-stage illusions .", "an immaculate and utterly gorgeous murder mystery with the trifecta of wonderful direction , great acting , and a plot that twists and turns at every such occasion .", "the line between truth and illusion is blurred so persuasively that for a moment or two , you may even believe that a romantic costume drama could stand up to all those special-effects blockbusters in the dog days of summer .", "by the end , the canniest viewers may not be fooled , but -- and you can believe this -- they may be mesmerized .", "slow-moving and limited in scope ... seems more suited for cable than theatrical exhibition", "a handsome and lushly mounted film with a narrative that could n't sustain an hourlong pbs mystery , and acting that teeters on the comical in its contrivance .", "a well-mounted , well-acted and sporadically engrossing historical romance that is n't quite as magical as it wants to be .", "underneath its hocus-pocus is a compelling story , very well told .", "dogged by an inert , stale aura that overcomes everything and everyone in the movie .", "director neil burger populates those splendid settings adequately , with individual performances filling in most of the small holes in the story .", "this lavishly romantic tale of magic and mystery is utterly spellbinding , teasing and tantalizing you with the truth while juggling smoke and mirrors .", "while burger 's screenplay is n't always graceful , the movie 's lovely enough that you might not notice .", "a movie whose charm and wit sneak up on you .", "a smart , sophisticated , well-acted film -- for the most part -- set in turn-of-the-century vienna involving magic , mystery , power and privilege .", "it looks mighty classy and seems to take itself seriously . but there 's really not much to the MOV once you get past all that sleight of hand .", "one of just a handful of real must-see films of 2006", "for a film about magic , the MOV does n't depend on tricks up its sleeve . it 's more about artfulness , from handsome period details and philip glass ' urgent score to an intriguing and vibrant plot .", "the MOV has several tricks up its sleeve , not the least of which is edward norton 's impeccable performance as a master magician in turn-of-the-century vienna .", "because the plot spins out in such a smooth fashion and the acting is so darned good , we 're distracted from the film 's flaws .", "the pleasure of the MOV lies in its luxuriant belief in old-fashioned verities like character and storytelling ; it 's as thin as a sheet of marbled endpaper and as cleanly crafted .", "though it 's tempting to laud it for having no pretensions to greatness , it 's equally tempting to stay home and laud it from there .", "the various sleights of hand performed by characters and filmmakers alike come off less as acts of magic and more as the clumsy parlor tricks of results-based filmmaking .", "even when the movie tries to pull a fast one , like most illusions , the explanation is nowhere near as intriguing as the deception .", "the high gloss does n't intrude on the narrative cunning -- or , for that matter , the foxy grandeur of the performances ." ], "summary": "the MOV is an engrossing , well-crafted story of mystery , magic and intrigue that is certain to enchant , if not hypnotize , audiences .", "id": "268342306" }, { "movie": "feel_the_noise", "reviews": [ "it 's hard to fault a screenwriter for cramming every idea he 's ever had about anything into his first movie for fear there wo n't be a second .", "a cool blend of puerto rican and nuyorican rhythmic , racial and family ties that bind , MOV likewise taps into a hot fusion of african derived sounds and sensibilities that connect those multiple cross-continental roots together .", "dramatic tension and narrative momentum are mia .", "producer jennifer lopez 's cameo in the film 's climactic puerto rican day parade sequence feels like a victory lap for successfully bilking film financiers and moviegoers out of their money .", "possibly the least provocative hip-hop movie ever that did n't star lil ' bow wow , MOV is the kind of feel-good/kid-with-a - dream-overcomes-the-odds story we 're used to seeing starring white kids named hilary or lance .", "reggaeton has officially come of age : the burgeoning subgenre now has a terrible , opportunistic exploitation movie to call its own .", "an awkwardly executed drama with a leading man better suited for the concert stage , not the movie screen .", "... rambles heedlessly from cliche to cliche ...", "no one will mistake director alejandro chomski 's MOV for great drama . but there 's an undeniable sweetness to the characters , the performers are highly appealing , and the music sizzles .", "first-time screenwriter albert leon appears to have turned for music industry insight not to his famous producer -lrb- who has no excuses -rrb- but to other music-themed movies -lrb- mariah carey 's glitter , perhaps ? -rrb- .", "for whatever reason you go to a movie like this , the results are bound to disappoint .", "... a music-fueled drama with far less substance than most cd liner notes .", "a horrid excuse for teen escapism ... for those who find hannah montana too challenging .", "how do you say `` sappy horatio alger tale '' in espa\u0144ol ?", "i did n't feel this noise .", "this simplistic teen drama features an engaging young star but does n't miss a `` follow your dreams '' cliche .", "you really can MOV ... right down t your bones . and that 's what this above-average movie is all about : music .", "instead of trying to find the heartbeat of reggaet\u00f3n , the movie resorts to teen conventions , banking that its target audience -- latino teens , who do n't often see themselves onscreen -- wo n't know enough to demand better .", "could have used more music .", "this music-driven melodrama aims to salute and promote a cultural phenomenon -- reggaeton music , in this case -- by slathering it all over an instantly forgettable , clich\u00e9-laden pop flick .", "the plot is contrived , the performances are all over the board , and chomski 's camera ogles his actresses just a little too much .", "it 's the subtexts -- about minority kinship and hispanic self-actualization -- that resound . if only its fable -lrb- and leading man -rrb- did n't keep getting in the way ." ], "summary": "despite the different musical genre , MOV is as generic as any music-themed film that has come before it .", "id": "770676194" }, { "movie": "grandmas_boy", "reviews": [ "it 's a one-line pitch in search of an actual script . and , given how difficult it is to sell a screenplay to a studio , much less get it made , it 's really sad to see something this lazy and meager actually work its way through the system .", "while '06 is still young , chances are , 12 months from now , grandma 's boy will rank as one of the year 's worst comedies . munich offers more laughs .", "just as a few bong hits would probably make the movie a tiny bit funnier , they would also probably make all memories of the film blissfully vanish .", "as a short it could have emerged as inspired , but as a feature it feels tired , deflated , and far too familiar .", "in the real world , no one ever learns anything . people just stumble along in their own filth and stupidity . so does everyone in this movie . it 's refreshing .", "i 'd call this defiance of basic movie conventions ` experimental ' if i did n't know it was actually due to sheer incompetence .", "the sandler-patented mix of the deliberately offensive and the blatantly sentimental loses something in the maestro 's absence .", "everyone wo n't love doris in this crude , boring movie", "sufficiently oddball and the performers sufficiently likable to keep the whole thing from being painful .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- does a very thorough job of reducing every recognizable member of the cast to probable career lows .", "the kind of laid-back goofball comedy custom-designed to chase away any self-respecting respectable person and play to the good-natured slackers out there in the dark . if you 're among the latter , you 've found a home . if you 're not , you have been warned .", "even silly fun needs serious talent behind it .", "the real shame of grandma 's boy is n't the juvenile humor , it 's that there 's a lot of solid humor potential here , and it 's just not realized .", "grandma 's boy is an adam sandler comedy without adam sandler , which is kind of like getting a root canal without the dentist .", "if he 's schooling punks on dance dance revolution or making out with shirley jones , nick swardson steals every scene he 's in , giving the material a distinctive twist through unexpected line delivery and crack comic timing .", "earns a few very big laughs along the way , but it is all in the service of an overall empty package .", "what distinguishes this freewheeling , strangely honest comedy -lrb- directed by first-timer nicholaus goossen -rrb- is its puff-and-pass-it-along view , an inviting , goofy-grin attitude toward insular losers .", "i did manage to be more tickled than annoyed at some of the movie 's dumb , crude attempts at humor .", "kind of like harold and kumar go to white castle crossed with `` the golden girls '' .", "the film 's -lsb- directorial -rsb- crudity is ultimately an unbearable drag on its joviality .", "everybody else , however , should stay far , far away . that is , unless you want to bear witness to the excruciating cast of characters that includes a kung-fu monkey and a guy who talks like a robot whenever he gets nervous . yes , it 's that bad .", "there is no doubt that it belongs in hollywood 's sewer , but it 's the gem of the sewer this year .", "less a movie than it is a string of mediocre ` saturday night live '' skits , and it does n't even attempt to develop anything resembling a plot until well after the one-hour mark .", "one of the most humorless attempts at comedy since the invention of rob schneider .", "grandma 's boy is a brain-dead stoner comedy from happy madison productions that was coproduced by adam sandler . rarely has so little been done with so little .", "it 's funny but so lowbrow you 'll actually feel your brain cells dying .", "it 's as aimless and pointless as a joke told while stoned .", "the veteran actresses who co-star in this stoner comedy have an oscar and multiple emmys and tonys among them , but it 's unlikely they 'll have to clear any more space on their mantels for grandma 's boy .", "the nicest thing that can be said about this stoner comedy is that it 's not the worst of its lowbrow kind .", "there is no movie . there is only the fact that adam sandler has cronies , and adam sandler gets what he wants .", "it 's a miracle that jones , knight and roberts emerge with most of their dignity intact . too bad the same ca n't be said for everyone else involved in this total waste of time .", "grandma 's boy is what would result if adam sandler and his high profile co-stars bailed on a movie and the understudies took over .", "it 's gross , it 's cheesy , and it 's baked beyond all reasonable limits , but this everything-and-the-kitchen-sink comic souffl\u00e9 still manages to be goofily entertaining beyond all expectations .", "grandma 's boy is a better series of spoofs than anything we currently see on that show . it 's an affectionate and tight-knit comedy .", "those who like america pie and its spawn will likely find comfort in the jokes here .", "no one here has the slightest idea what being elderly actually means or that old folks may once have been -lrb- and may still be -rrb- far hipper than the young men and women looking at them with fond incomprehension .", "grandma 's boy combines pot-smoking , big breasts , african bushmen , octogenarians , video-gaming techno-geeks -- and one inappropriate masturbation scene -- in one feel-good movie perfect for teenage boys . if they can get in , that is .", "`` grandma 's boy '' is a pot - and potty-mouthed relative of an adam sandler movie .", "the only worthwhile character is bad guy j.p. -lrb- joel david moore -rrb- , a gaming prodigy with a gollum-like multiple-personality disorder ... j.p. suggests a subtle , unconscious awareness of how stupid the whole movie is .", "it 's plenty stupid , often funny and occasionally pithy . that may add up to a movie you want to see , or it might add up to a movie that will make you ill .", "grandma 's boy is n't as bad as it sounds , but the shame is that there 's a lot of potential here for a really good movie that remains unrealized .", "a brain-dead piece of slacker swill , worse than the worst sandler , schneider or spade movie ever made .", "you have to give credit to a movie that focuses 90 percent of its energy on video game and ganja jokes . even if you make the best movie ever , gamers and tokers are perhaps the two least motivated groups to get out and see a movie .", "nicholaus goossen , another sandler prot\u00e9g\u00e9 , makes an inauspicious directing debut with this limp collection of clich\u00e9s larded with product plugs .", "like the dead kitty left to rot under grandma 's couch , this movie stinks !", "i wo n't even bore you with the horrendous way this project was shot , cut , or scrawled with crayon onto a roll of toilet paper . this thing makes the police academy movies look like the collected works of billy wilder .", "an adam sandler movie without adam sandler , it turns out , is not necessarily an improvement .", "this is one of those movies where you stay rooted in your seat just to see how bad it can really get . and every time you think it has hit the bottom , the filmmakers find a passage taking them lower .", "goossen misuses recognizable names for dubious cameos and pushes eccentric side characters to uncomfortable parody .", "what are acclaimed veteran actresses doris roberts , shirley jones and shirley knight doing in a movie like grandma 's boy ? they deserve better .", "grandma 's boy is so bad that sandler could n't even be bothered to make his usual cameo appearance this time around .", "the sex , fart , and pot jokes come so fast and furious that a white flag seems the most appropriate response .", "absolutely dreadful and offensive comedy .", "so filled with untapped laughs , potentially interesting sub-plots and fails in every single aspect in a mostly laughless stoner comedy .", "even if you are n't under the influence , you might find yourself chuckling at various points during the movie , if only in disbelief at some of the things the cast is asked to do .", "grandma 's boy is n't just a movie , it 's a weapon of mass destruction . audiences across the country should run for cover .", "hilarity fails to ensue in the workplace or at home , in spite of the late introduction of a fighting , driving monkey .", "better than some sandler movies", "... one puerile , thoroughly unfunny joke after another ...", "the chief value of this stinker is as a glimpse of how bad harold & kumar go to white castle and the 40-year-old virgin might have been if they 'd been written by covert , barry wernick and nick swardson , and directed by nicholaus goossen .", "covert is so obnoxious , so lacking in the basic understanding of comic timing , that we understand why he has to get his buddy sandler to give him work .", "i may require therapy after seeing this .", "if you 're a video game geek and/or a stoner , grandma 's boy is n't a comedy -- it 's a documentary . for everyone else , it 's an interminably flat , one-joke movie with admittedly a couple of decent laughs ." ], "summary": "a gross-out comedy that 's more gross than comedic , grandma 's boy is lazy and unrewarding .", "id": "2864413" }, { "movie": "predestination", "reviews": [ "MOV just wants to blow minds . but in its best moments , the ones that put snook front and center , it threatens to break hearts instead .", "dumb-smart fun . the movie screws with your head , and even screws with itself .", "a cerebral sci-fi time-travel puzzler that proves consistently engrossing and , for all its contrivance and complication , satisfying .", "not that sci-fi has to bend reality into a shape free of loose ends , but MOV is so imprecise with its logic that the stylist may as well be blindfolded .", "MOV is science fiction for a thoughtful crowd .", "twists both blatant and teasing motor the mystery along , and a cannily termite performance by ethan hawke as a bartender-cum-enforcer is surpassed by sarah snook as a patron-cum-storyteller who may be the punchline to his very own story , one final time .", "MOV is n't quite one of hawke 's worst duds , but it wastes a wonderfully loopy premise by getting lost in all the swerves .", "weirder and more contemplative than many of its time-traveling brethren , `` MOV '' is a stylish head trip .", "intelligent and thought-provoking , -lsb- MOV -rsb- works effectively on most levels despite numerous and occasionally confusing leaps in logic and eras ,", "the spierigs had the framework for something wonderful here , if only they 'd trusted themselves to keep things simple .", "-lsb- sarah -rsb- snook 's performance makes this story more than just a collection of clockwork turns ; her tenderness at the story 's core makes MOV into a real movie , and it in turn makes her a star .", "hawke and snook anchor the knotty storyline and you eventually realise key lines have a double meaning , and that every occurrence fastidiously ties together .", "... a convoluted and confusing sci-fi drama ...", "the film effectively underlines the one undertaking that time-travel fantasies can never truly allow : escape from ourselves .", "MOV features a startling performance from the little-known actress sarah snook who gives it real oomph and impact as a sci-fi picture crossed with a genuine character study", "MOV is more a movie to be regarded than swept up in .", "well-acted , cryptic and clever . just not a lot of fun .", "the spierigs allow the plethora of heady ideas to surface naturally - with the occasional , not terribly subtle shout-outs to mobius strips and the chicken-or-the-egg question , that is .", "MOV is a befuddling beauty , so rich in concept yet lacking in approach . there are more plot-twists here than m. night shyamalan could shake a stick at , but the unfortunate factor is that each one only becomes more predictable than the last .", "fitfully engaging but awkward from start to finish , MOV bungles all sorts of potential in its attempt to balance the brains of `` la jet\u00e9e '' with the brawn of timecop .", "features the spierig brothers at their innovative and creative best , while also boasting a revelatory performance by sarah snook .", "there are clues scattered throughout the story that point towards the ending , which would be clever if they were n't plonked in so loudly .", "a dog 's breakfast of clashing ideas and concepts ; it 's confused and confusing , and the more it tries to untangle itself , the deeper it digs itself into an incoherent hole .", "once the filmmakers finally remember to shift gears and get going with the good stuff - and it must be said the actual schematics of the script 's time-travel content is fascinating stuff - it is far too late .", "this is the sort of film that , immediately i came out of it , i wanted to go back in , because i wanted to make sure all the pieces fit together .", "-lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- have created a genuinely original , staggeringly clever and tremendously entertaining thriller", "if you can keep up with all of this , and do n't feel bad if you do n't , its unpredictability is intriguing at times .", "MOV thrills and enthralls as its developments confront and confuse the viewer , but hindsight does this flawed , fascinating film no favours .", "there are plenty of intriguing concepts beneath the movie 's stylish surface , although often their delivery leaves a lot to be desired .", "it might bewildering , but chances are , you 'll enjoy the trip from the inventive spierig bros , whose wild concepts about inevitability , reshaping wrong doings and time travel will prompt agile brain gymnastics", "a sci-fi mind-screw that is rarely short on surprises and innovative ways to keep viewers guessing leading to a fascinating and unique thriller .", "there are some mild pleasures to be had on a first-time watch , but repeated viewings are sure to decay with time .", "MOV twists and turns so often you wo n't be sure which way to look .", "slick but overstretched , MOV deserves respect for what it tries to achieve rather than dismissal for not getting there . either way , you will not be bored .", "the most interesting time-travel movie since primer .", "a funny , affecting , twisted tale , which demands you pay close attention to every throwaway detail .", "a clever and surprisingly affecting reminder that sci-fi does n't need overblown action to keep audiences intrigued .", "`` the craftsmanship on display is finely tuned , the bros know what the hell they 're doing , and their story is engaging , even if you can see the twists coming at times . ''", "despite a chronological narrative that will make heads spin , the story is compellingly executed , with a particularly strong performance from sarah snook .", "a cerebral and sensitive sci-fi time-travel mind-bender you 'll want to watch twice in a row . -lrb- like i did . -rrb-", "one of the few truly thought-provoking science-fiction thrillers to emerge in the last few years . snook and hawke are excellent .", "MOV defiantly confounds and tantalises .", "MOV is a wildly , weirdly rollicking ride . underestimate the spierigs - experts at turning trashy genre excursions into fare that 's exhilarating , entertaining and profoundly thoughtful - at your own peril .", "it 's a thoughtful , ambitious adaptation , whose pieces finally lock into place with a satisfying , if not entirely unexpected click .", "a breakout performance by sarah snook distinguishes this entrancingly strange science-fiction drama .", "it 's free-ranged , grass-fed bull , but wow , can it move fast .", "MOV has a few flaws in terms of story and structure , but for the most part it 's a challenging and frequently thrilling time-travel yarn that will have you scratching you head for days .", "it 's a mind-bending time-travel story that uses its sci-fi gimmick less for comedy or action than to explore concepts of identity .", "an ambitious , slow-to-reveal , and overly meditative failure .", "a messy but affecting parable about fate , gender , and identity . and time , which combines the three .", "a brisk , twisty , and atmospheric science-fiction thriller that piques the imagination and the senses with the low-rent exuberance of fifties drive-in classics .", "warning : what you get is not necessarily what you see , and the revelations come , at times , at explosive speed .", "MOV has so little confidence in its conceit that what we 're left with feels like belligerent exposition .", "it 's always risky to make a film that shifts and reformulates what it is and what the audience should derive from it straight through the final shot .", "MOV 's pace is too slack , and the brothers are so painfully tentative as storytellers that the easily guessed big twist gets three separate reveals .", "a stylish sci-fi adventure anchored by strong performances from ethan hawke and australian newcomer sarah snook .", "as soon as the credits rolled on `` MOV , '' i wanted to watch it again . it was even more of a mind-dance the second time around .", "it requires complete attention but the reward is a compelling , low-tech , existential sci-fi yarn with real heart and soul .", "a thoughtful , if wonky , small-scale epic of retro-futurism .", "the film leaps into a dizzy abyss of temporal paradoxes , made all the dizzier by its transgender premise - a modern tiresias myth plaited into a m\u00f6bius strip .", "had this been any more sincere or stony-faced it simply would n't work , instead thriving in the frivolity of it all .", "... packs a powerful emotional punch thanks to its sensitive treatment of emotive themes and an incredible , multi-layered performance from sarah snook .", "perhaps the best adaptation to date of a story written by science fiction legend robert a. heinlein . this is a very complex story and it is handled well by the spierig brothers , who co-wrote and co-directed the film .", "sarah snook gives an immaculate , wholly-formed star is born performance of the first order .", "hawks and snook 's performances pack a surprising emotional punch , and even if you spot the film 's big twist coming you will still want to watch it all over again to spot all the deftly placed clues .", "like all time-travel stories , this inevitably trips on its own causal illogic - but not before it 's offered you a taste of something genuinely rich and strange , and probably toxic .", "one of ethan hawke 's strengths as an actor is his willingness to jump between arthouse fare and b-movie genre fodder .", "this is a deeply solipsistic movie , but how deep is something you 'll need to find out for yourself .", "put the time-travel gibberish into the background and the result is a great , gritty aussie noir flick not to be missed .", "MOV is n't as action packed as edge of tomorrow , but its story is just as intricate . the film is easily as satisfying as the just as equally well connected spanish film timecrimes .", "ethan hawke , noah taylor and sarah snook all give terrific performances , but it is snook who once again proves to be a major talent .", "if intriguing science-fiction thrillers make you tick , then `` MOV '' may be one of the best films you see in 2015 .", "hawke and snook are excellent , and the tightly wound script requires attention but pays off with some clever twists .", "MOV feels familiar for the first 10 minutes , then it goes places we 've never been before .", "you wo n't be able to take your eyes off sarah snook , an aussie actress who makes whatever sex she 's playing almost irrelevant . you watch her . you hear her . you believe .", "snook is exceptionally good as jane/john , serving as the beating heart underneath the film 's temporal gamesmanship .", "like me , you 'll probably feel inclined to watch it again .", "MOV is a hair-raising , emotionally resonant thriller that fleshes out heinlein 's minimalist conceptual piece with strong characterization and an absorbing story line about domestic terrorism and murder .", "it 's a neat trick .", "it tends to drag in setting up what may be one of the most unsatisfying and aggravating plot twists in recent memory .", "the spierig brothers have deftly fashioned an unpredictable thrill ride , and the joy is to fit together all its puzzle pieces .", "at the heart of `` MOV '' ... are the two central performances by ethan hawke and sarah snook that bring genuine emotional weight to a storyline that could have easily plunged into utter nonsense .", "strange stuff , but always fascinating , featuring sensational performances from ethan hawke and sarah snook .", "the spierig brothers understand heinlein and give us a rich science fiction film with standout performances .", "the movie 's final third is fun to sort through , in a `` looper '' kind of way , and gives the actors some offbeat tools to work with .", "despite its low budget and its lack of big stars , it 's a pretty amazing piece of work .", "his temporal agent contains sly multitudes and could easily have become a gimmick , but mr. hawke brings enough pathos and soul to his performance ...", "even if the MOV windup is stronger than its pitch , the spierig brothers have hit a jackpot of compelling weirdness .", "writer-directors peter and michael spierig show affinities for serious literature as well as pulp fiction ; interwoven with the loopy sf plotting are some rather grown-up considerations of longing and psychological pain .", "by the time the final minutes roll around , the requisite big reveals are both bizarre and predictable , even if they do n't make complete sense at first -lrb- or ever -rrb- . but seeing what 's coming does n't blunt the overall impact of the story .", "far from merely illustrating the original tale , the spierig brothers ' subtle , smart tweaks to the narrative transform it into something truly cinematic .", "ethan hawke and sarah snook , who plays the unmarried mother , are nearly ideal casting for these characters . they 're engagingly enigmatic-a requirement for playing mystery men-yet they also react to each other body and soul .", "those who were floored by `` looper '' need to check this out - it 's a far better film , despite a lower budget look and features a breakout performance from sarah snook who 's like a cross between tatiana maslany and dane dehaan in this role .", "MOV is disorienting , but in a way that suggests narrative chaos rather than narrative control .", "`` MOV '' is a pleasant surprise and solid science fiction .", "it 's certainly imaginative , with high-minded ideas , but hawke and snook are what keep it grounded in truth .", "`` MOV '' is too clever for its own good , a film that relies on schtick and gimmicks rather than honest storytelling ." ], "summary": "fun genre fare with uncommon intelligence , MOV serves as a better-than-average sci-fi adventure -- and offers a starmaking turn from sarah snook .", "id": "771373588" }, { "movie": "sisterhood_of_the_traveling_pants", "reviews": [ "anyone looking for a solid , unpretentious , entertaining film with some important messages could do a lot worse than this saga of girls gone wise .", "not just another teen movie , nor just another chick flick .", "that rare meal both adolescent girls and their mothers will be able to agree on .", "this is strictly a picture for the target audience , though it seems to hit that target regularly .", "in a season of overhyped blockbusters , the MOV is a genuine sleeper that deserves to find an audience .", "a modest but moving movie that that does a better job engaging issues than many of its adult counterparts .", "ken kwapis and his exquisitely cast young ensemble preserve the essence of the tale about girls whose friendship is bigger than their differences .", "the real backbone of sisterhood comes from the actresses playing the friends , and the fifth-wheel surprise of jenna boyd .", "ya-ya-esq ... this is definitely a training film for young women to celebrate their own friendships .", "it can be overly sappy but sweet enough to please . all four actresses are believable , particularly when sisterhood sells tough resolutions to the issues raised .", "sticking fairly close to the 2001 novel , co-scenarists delia ephron and elizabeth chandler preserve its strengths as a complex adolescent soap operasoap opera leavened by humor , warmth and empathy .", "director ken kwapis coaxes convincing performances out of his youthful cast .", "no , it 's not a `` one size fits all '' film . but `` the MOV '' is just the right size for so many audiences .", "to paraphrase chris rock , nobody had me in mind when they made this movie .", "there 's raw , emotional honesty here , making it an irresistible , magical movie your heart wo n't let you forget .", "a super-estrogenized movie , no doubt , but it speaks rather warmly and sincerely to the universal struggles of adolescence .", "traveling pants will be catnip for the core readership , but the possibility for this material to register more strongly with the senses nags the entire film .", "for all its good intentions , this sisterhood is divine .", "the cast lend a great deal of credibility to the material and director ken kwapis knows when to cut away from a scene when it carries the potential for shmaltz .", "you may actually think it 's going somewhere at the time . but ultimately , you realize it 's only going through the motions .", "four strong performances from four young actresses aside , there 's nothing here that you have n't seen before , better , and with a lot more sincerity .", "it sounds like a touchy-feely gap commercial , but this fantastical premise jars with a refreshingly realistic look at girls making the tricky transition to womanhood .", "unashamedly aimed at its pre-teen target market , who will probably in all fairness , really enjoy it .", "call it something of a minor miracle that the MOV has turned out so enormously enjoyable .", "the cinema has seen plenty of coming-of-age tales over the decades , but few are as sweet and well-constructed as this take on the popular ann brashares novel .", "it 's all a bit simplistic , but it 's harmless enough and goes down smoothly . i rather enjoyed it .", "there is such confidence and loving direction in `` the MOV . ''", "sisterhood is likely to fit different kinds of moviegoers , even if it does n't look that way on the surface . you just have to be willing to try it on .", "sisterhood inhabits a tricky slot -- the subject matter is a little mature for tween audiences , and too glossed over for adults -- but succeeds , due entirely to charismatic tamblyn and devastating ferrera .", "that a movie about pants features a story that skirts formula is an irony worth savoring .", "a good cry feels good .", "if you want to get a sense of how this differs from its immediate competition , lords of dogtown , look no further than the roles played in both by america ferrara .", "this is lazy , lazy storytelling .", "despite some soapy scenes , this adaptation of ann brashares ' best-selling teen novel holds touching drama .", "brashares ' best-selling teen novel comes to the screen a little frayed and shopworn , but the performances are a custom fit .", "the film is so obviously geared to manipulate the viewer that it 's hard not to feel a bit like one of mr. pavlov 's dogs .", "the pleasant actresses compensate for the originality and surprises that sisterhood lacks .", "this is n't a bad movie or an insulting one , but it is awfully simple , and not particularly interesting for those of us out of its demographic .", "the filmmakers just ca n't resist sentiment , and seem happy to wallow in corny humour , predictable sappiness and heavy-handed moralising .", "it deals with mature themes , yet keeps a patina of fluffiness over the whole thing . it 's a serious movie , but a fun one .", "... it delivers what it 's supposed to .", "a film i expected to enter the ninth circle of the chirpy hilary duff ` girl-power ' inferno is one of the sweetest , most thoughtful coming-of-age stories i 've seen in years .", "it 's honest enough to acknowledge the perils of adolescence as well as its pleasures .", "everything bullock 's ` ya ya 's ' wanted to be", "-lsb- it -rsb- is n't awful -- it beats any of the recent hilary duff films like a gong -- but it is the kind of slick , flashy thing that may look okay for a few days , only to be thrown in the back of the closet and forgotten forever .", "america ferrera projects boisterousness belying insecurity . her unforced bright demeanor eclipses the rest of the movie .", "like a pop song , sisterhood contains mostly simple messages -- love yourself , love your sisters , learn from your mistakes , be brave . but they 're good messages , wrapped in a sweet , well-acted and not-too-counterfeit package .", "engaging even when relegated to narrator , america ferrera is the most compelling reason to see the MOV .", "... a film of true , honest emotion .", "a watchable if altogether predictable film that only skims the emotional surface of its episodic narrative .", "to say that the MOV was not made for me , or perhaps any male critic , is an understatement .", "a difficult movie to hate -- even if you 're not a female between the ages of 14 and 18 ...", "one of those annoying , by the numbers , after school special , sickly sweet kind of films that will give you sugar shock by the end . in this case that 's not a bad thing .", "not everything is resolved in this gem of a movie , but one thing comes through with stunning clarity -- the importance of having good friends you can count on .", "-lrb- it -rrb- does stray into the borderline romance novel ` chick flick ' area a few times . for the most part , though , it 's a cunning adventure of varying dreams and nightmares .", "it took a bit to figure out what 's stashed in the back pocket of the MOV - little teen-sized pieces of movie cliche .", "i 'm clearly not the target audience , but i genuinely enjoyed this feel-good tearjerker .", "as coming-of-age films go , the big-screen adaptation of ann brashares ' popular novel is one of the more bathetic .", "aka steel magnolias with training wheels ... it 's surprisingly engaging", "the sisterhood of traveling pants is ideal for a mother-daughter or best-friends-forever cinema excursion , but it may not be the most satisfying two hours for the rest of the movie-going public .", "sisterhood may not be much more than a story about girlfriends growing up , and it 's not going to score any points for edginess , but it 's entertaining in a low-key , non-threatening kind of way .", "sisterhood is one of those rare teen movies that not only encapsulates the hazards of growing up but allows an adult audience to relate to and enjoy instead of endure .", "four friends on a quest to find something , only to realize that anything resembling an answer is to be found in the journey itself , in their friendships , and in themselves .", "the film is filled with positive messages ...", "makes my skin crawl . you ?", "pop moviemaking aimed towards an underserved demographic , but one respects its approach in assuming its audience is at least intelligent and emotionally mature .", "it sounds like it should be incredibly trite , but it never really is , despite a few alarming dips into the waters of clich\u00e9 . strong performances from the four leads carry a well-crafted film along to its emotional but never quite poignant ending .", "for the most part , director ken kwapis and screenwriters delia ephron and elizabeth chandler -lrb- who adapted ann brashares ' novel -rrb- keep things tart , dry-eyed and briskly moving .", "equal parts touching and corny , the film is a sentimental teen girl summer adventure that has enough genuine moments to rise above its familiar feeling of plain old recycled clothing .", "a coming-of-age chick flick filled with enough charm to fill a soccer stadium or two .", "you may not literally laugh or cry , as the ads promise . but you 'll have a good time watching the dream-fulfilling denims make their comic-romantic rounds .", "the finale goes on and on , but the movie is nicely photographed and duly empowering , and should please the vast teen-girl audience for which it 's intended .", "a charming sisterhood . teenage story defies girlie stereotypes .", "the message would have been more effective if they had stuck to their guns and urged awareness and independence in their young female audience", "unlike other flicks of the genre , the MOV does n't rely on a patched up story or hand-me-down characters .", "-lsb- a -rsb- training-bra of a flick designed to indoctrinate tweens with the estrogen-drenched sappiness of ` women 's pop culture ' ...", "a warm-hearted , enjoyable diversion . a possible contender for one of the sleeper hits of the summer .", "the emotional story and fine acting are enough to make this a must-see movie for teen girls . the real surprise is that they can make a grown man cry .", "wonderful heart-affecting drama about four teenagers bonded together by caring and a pair of jeans .", "family-friendly films for girls ... -lsb- usually -rsb- drip with phony commercialism and pettiness of character ; by comparison , sisterhood is not only a class-act , but a godsend .", "by keeping their story threads separate , full review | original score : b", "a movie that pre-teen and adolescent girls will embrace . -lrb- pre-teen and adolescent girls will also embrace chad , jesse , lindsay , hilary , fake tans , designer cellphones , junior prom and uggs , so proceed with caution . -rrb-", "this is a film that pre-teen and young teen girls -- and for that matter , any woman who remembers being 16 -- will love . others are likely to be teeth-gritting their way through it .", "a sweet-natured journey not to a galaxy far , far away , but to someplace just as mysterious : the first tentative steps toward adulthood , taken here by four teenage girls .", "the relationships and performances are strong and moving , with an effect both breezy-fun and profound .", "the more roles that go to the fresh , charming , untabloidy pants cast , the better .", "it 's heartening to see a movie about teenage girls that is concerned with serious questions and avoids the pettiness that filmmakers tend to ascribe to young women of that age .", "fortunately for this sentimental coming-of-age story based on the young-adult novel by ann brashares and directed by ken kwapis , its target audience is youthful enough that the cliches may still retain a hint of freshness .", "kudos to a movie that encourages girls -- and everyone else -- to accept their bodies , to forgive their friends and family and to live their lives to the fullest .", "sisterhood is a modest pleasure because it has been made with so much respect for the experiences of young women .", "the young ladies all perform well , the script is like a well-built tear-duct milking machine , and parents should be pleased their kids are going to see such well-intentioned drivel instead of the mean-spirited drivel that 's far more prevalent .", "all four stories are heartfelt , and this cast of able and awfully likable girls can work the comedy and coming-of-age drama without going sappy .", "for the legions of fans of the book , this movie is one-size-fits-all . the rest of us will have to keep shopping .", "if you like slumber parties and hanging out with teen girls , -lsb- this -rsb- is for you ... . it 's targeted so squarely on your demographic that few outside the group will be interested .", "what could have turned into a featherweight teenybopper movie matures into a lot more .", "this is a movie about girls made for girls -lrb- and perhaps the occasional trusted mother or aunt -rrb- . it does n't care if not everyone likes it , and it 's not about to change itself drastically in hopes that they do .", "smart summer entertainment that you do n't need to be a teenage girl to appreciate .", "it 's the girly equivalent of a midsummer bruckheimer extravaganza -- a roller-coaster ride to the edge of total -lrb- emotional , natch -rrb- devastation that makes the happy ending that much more reassuring and cozy .", "the turns that each of these stories take are hardly surprising , and most of co-screenwriters elizabeth chandler and delia ephron 's attempts at humor fall flat .", "like the four teenage girls at its center , the MOV makes up in charm what it lacks in sophistication .", "this is an earnest and honest effort about a demographic that is deeply under-represented in today 's movies .", "i am unquestionably not a member of the target demographic for ken kwapis ' the MOV , but that did n't prevent me from enjoying it .", "exponentially more earnest , affecting and credible than 90 percent of movies aimed at teenage girls .", "this sisterhood is real pleasure , a big-hearted movie where a group of gifted actresses find opportunities most younger movie stars can only dream about .", "a profoundly sweet take on girls growing into women .", "... the movie is practically stolen by supporting player boyd . watch out dakota fanning", "the multiple story lines can feel choppy , but the dialogue has snap , and the pants ' powers never distract from the teenagers ' emotions .", "this story is told with sincerity , heart , and a little bit of magic -- the very same qualities that made the original book a `` you have to read this '' classic for young girls .", "the film 's acknowledgement that growing up often requires coming to terms with loss results in a mature , untidy view of adolescence .", "by creating some endearing and genuine teenage characters , the movie really gets to you by the end . ... i cried .", "the MOV plays to everybody 's inner weepy teenage girl . and that 's not such a bad thing .", "may be somewhat predictable , but it fits the needs of its young audience like a glove . or a pair of magic jeans .", "a winning , heartfelt look at the bonds of female friendship and the life lessons that attend adolescence .", "it 's unfair to pigeonhole this meaningful human story in that genre , especially since it feels more real than some adult chick flicks . besides , a good story is a good story .", "sometimes it is only slightly more mature than your average vehicle for the olsen twins .", "remarkably for a movie geared to teenage girls -- a market hollywood typically panders to with glossy imitations of their lives -- the MOV has no glaringly false moments .", "temperamentally , the MOV is like the beatles , with jeans . cinematically , it is like the ya-yas , with livestrong bracelets .", "even after some shameless audience manipulation , we still do n't know enough about any of them to really care about them .", "working from a deft script by delia ephron , director ken kwapis labors hard so that guys wo n't cringe -lrb- too much -rrb- as four teen girls , of different body types , pass along the same pair of lucky jeans during a summer of love and loss .", "it 's warm , endearing , upbeat and fast-moving . it presents likable , goofy characters who confront adult issues that teens often face ." ], "summary": "this adaptation of a beloved novel charms with its heartwarming tale of friendship and young adulthood ; realistic portrayals of the lives of teenage girls lend the comedy-drama sincerity , and may capture hearts outside the female-centric demographic .", "id": "672" }, { "movie": "alien", "reviews": [ "better than most of today 's big budget sci-fi/horror films .", "it certainly does n't look like a 24-year-old movie .", "it 's a chilling , slow-paced , space horror movie using the same formula as the b-films of the 1950s .", "MOV proved that material derided as b-movie fodder could be handled with finesse and glossy production values , without diminishing the thrills or polishing over the hard-edged horror .", "dated but still extremely scary . not for younger kids .", "science fiction horror does n't get any better than this .", "ridley scott 's MOV is nothing short of a masterpiece . technically brilliant , tense , horrifying and visually breathtaking , there 's not a moment in this b-monster movie that does n't excel well beyond the usual genre trappings .", "it is depressing to watch an expensive , crafty movie that never soars beyond its cold desire to score the big bucks .", "the limited strengths of its staple sci-fi horrors always derived from either the offhand organic / freudian resonances of its design or the purely -lrb- brilliantly -rrb- manipulative editing and pacing of its above-average shock quota .", "an old-fashioned scary movie set in a highly realistic sci-fi future , made all the more believable by expert technical craftmanship .", "... a movie so good , so involving and so jolting that it not only takes is place among the great science fiction films of our time , but also the great thrillers .", "still one scary mother .", "an empty-headed horror movie with nothing to recommend it beyond the disco-inspired art direction and some handsome , if gimmicky , cinematography .", "there 's nothing terribly complex or original about the movie , but it is distinguished by its clever and innovative use of b-movie staples in a hi-tech setting .", "a movie masterpiece . and on the big screen , the chestburster scene just kills .", "this scary feature breathed new life into the horror genre , launching a length film franchise and introducing to audiences a major actress , sigourney weaver , in a tough role typically allotted to men .", "a genuine fright classic .", "a wondrous reminder of how imagination can triumph over budget .", "MOV will upset your mind and upset your stomach .", "these things no longer surprise or tantalize us as they once did . in a very short time , science-fiction films have developed their own jargon that 's now become a part of the grammar .", "if you want cinematic kicks , ridley scott 's massively successful MOV will give you them in profusion .", "this revolutionary `` haunted house in space '' thrill-ride is the classic business , stunning you with shock after shock , even when the fascinating monster is exposed in all its hideous glory .", "this 1979 horror-sci-fi masterpiece still holds up remarkably well on the big screen , a testament to the skill of director ridley scott .", "director ridley scott 's `` MOV '' is a near masterpiece with many imitators and zero superiors .", "it never feels dated and holds up remarkably well .", "still one of the creepiest , scariest , most shocking films ever .", "bloody brilliant .", "seen again a quarter-century later , we marvel at how the filmmaker generates so much tension and sweat with a bare minimum of moving parts .", "a sci-fi thriller of palpable , nerve-tingling tension , with sigourney weaver -- playing warrant officer ellen ripley -- in stunning form .", "it 's tempting to describe the brilliantly staged scenes of horror and surprise but it would be a shame not to allow the film to reveal its own secrets , enough to say that the tension is savage and you are held in suspense right up to the end frames .", "this is still the stuff of nightmares .", "ridley scott 's 1979 movie is a great original .", "hoo ha ! twenty-four years later , MOV still kicks some serious butt .", "one of those rare , timeless movies .", "superbly paced , imaginatively designed , consistently suspenseful and never attracts an unintentional laugh .", "ridley scott 's new cut wo n't change the way people think about the movie , but it reinforces the film 's strengths without alienating the series ' biggest fans .", "ripley , the protagonist of MOV , has more in common with our puritan ancestors than with us .", "MOV looks amazing , almost like a new film .", "this is still a great film and it should be seen on the big screen .", "MOV is a scare machine that really works .", "a beautiful , quiet , and amazingly poetic film visually that lets its shots linger and build a mood of genuine isolation and dread .", "though some of scott 's editing decisions in this new version are questionable -- one even violates continuity -- he has left the film 's most suspenseful and chilling moments intact .", "a lot of horror/thriller directors assume that people see a movie for the blood and guts . however , the splatter means nothing if we do n't know the characters .", "it 's one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made .", "at the risk of sounding like an old man , they really do n't make 'em like this anymore .", "the film remains as gripping today as it was when it was first released in 1979 .", "besides weaver and skeritt , the top-notch ensemble includes two of britain 's best actors -- ian holm , as the untrustworthy science officer , and john hurt .", "remains one of the best examples of sustained tension . there is a sense of ominousness , a sense that something bad is going to happen , from the moment the film begins .", "it 's a most satisfying return to one of the few sci-fi films that deserves to be called a masterpiece .", "scott can still get me to jump by putting me almost on edge and then throwing me overboard with a small but loud hiss or from something that leaps out of the darkness .", "... a memorable -lrb- yet demonstrably erratic -rrb- landmark of the cinematic sci-fi field ...", "it scares us despite our knowing what is coming .", "one of the finest examples of the scary sci-fi genre , with its sequel , aliens , being the absolute best .", "what 's most unusual about the original 24 years later , though , is its elegant minimalism .", "it 's all good , and just getting to see this freakin ' frightening and visually stimulating flick on a big screen -lrb- especially for those who 've never seen it in a theater -rrb- makes this well worth a trip to your homeworld multiplex .", "the scariest movie in history is actually a bit shy .", "a haunted-house movie set in space , MOV also has a profoundly existentialist undertow that makes it feel like a film noir -- the other genre to feature a slithery , sexualized monster as its classic villain .", "it 's a scream from another era that still echoes around us .", "widely imitated but never surpassed .", "the greatest science fiction horror film ever made .", "a welcome re-release for scott 's classic sci-fi horror , with a couple of directorial tweaks for good measure .", "-lrb- the director 's cut re-release -rrb- does n't hold up as well as i 'd anticipated , -lrb- but -rrb- the chest-bursting scene is still a seat-gripper .", "it still has the power to scare the life out of us .", "perfection pure and simple .", "intriguing , sometimes scary .", "the first half of the film is lyrical and dreamy but when it turns into a nightmare it 's cold , dark and eerie .", "a crucial film , a unique meld of genuine science-fiction and hardcore horror .", "what makes MOV truly terrifying is scott 's vision of a future where the line between man and machine is disappearing .", "also welcome is the late-70s distrust of corporate authority , where the mother ship winds up being more duplicitous and evil than the marauding MOV .", "in an era where the horror genre has faded into a laughable mix of teen slashers and formulaic storylines , MOV provides a welcome nostalgic dose of authentic terror .", "both the nostromo and the MOV world where the MOV gets picked up are strange and unforgettably original .", "technically , scott has consistently demonstrated that he ranks among the best popular film artists . unfortunately , scott 's film does n't work for me as well in other areas .", "a claustrophobic spaceship and excellent cast help build layers of atmosphere and dread . the birth of the modern horror/sci-fi genre .", "MOV remains an impeccably crafted thriller that seems almost as fresh today as it was 24 years ago .", "superior science fiction and the best haunted house movie ever made .", "where 2001 and close encounters suggested that humanity would bring its best impulses and brightest hopes beyond the clouds , MOV served as a reminder that its worst fears would also be part of the package .", "... more than a hair-raising sci-fi thriller ... one of the best horror films ever made .", "the way -lsb- ridley -rsb- scott meticulously raises the sense of menace and tension is worthy of hitchcock .", "... a seminal movie in the history of horror ...", "MOV -lrb- 1979 -rrb- is 20th century fox 's extremely suspenseful , space science-fiction horror film about a menacing , unstoppable ,", "... a seminal feminist action flick .", "in a century of sci-fi/horror hybrids , few if any movies do such a good job at reaching the absolute highest peaks of both halves of that equation as this one .", "a perfect roller coaster blend of horror and science fiction . sigourney weaver was an amazing discovery .", "look as hard as you like , you wo n't spot a single flaw , even though the film 's had 24 years to date .", "it remains a benchmark of extra-terrestrial horror , and gave us a bona fide a-list star in the shape of sigourney weaver .", "the most startling thing watching MOV again is its pacing . for the first 45 minutes , little happens . it 's all slow , exquisite build-up , which makes the second half seem all the more horrific .", "the limited strengths of its staple sci-fi horrors always derived from either the offhand organic / freudian resonances of its design or the purely -lrb- brilliantly -rrb- manipulative editing and pacing of its above-average shock quota .", "MOV has power , elicits terror , and the acid blood scars your consciousness .", "the monster itself is still one of the flat-out scariest ever designed for the movies .", "my favorite film of all time is one of the finest blu-rays in my collection .", "the best recommendation for this film is the multitude of fans that watch this movie time and time again , re-experiencing same , often not so pleasant emotions , yet enjoying the rarely good work of art when they see one .", "it delivers a frightening , visionary look at a cold , inhuman future .", "an exercise in pure , raw , unadulterated fear .", "an atmospheric , claustriophobic , slow-moving creep-fest .", "in space , the famous tagline went , no one can hear you scream . in MOV , you can hear lessons for the sci-fi future in a great milestone from the recent past ." ], "summary": "a modern classic , MOV blends science fiction , horror and bleak poetry into a seamless whole .", "id": "13492" }, { "movie": "the_karate_kid_part_iii", "reviews": [ "the makers of MOV -- also responsible for its successful predecessors -- have either delivered or taken a few too many kicks to the head along the way .", "it 's difficult to believe that nearly every member of the primary artistic team from the first two features returned for the third kid installment , and this was the cruel abomination that resulted .", "the pattern has so calcified that gene autry westerns seem like models of moral complexity by comparison .", "the unevenness of the karate kid movies reaches its peak in MOV ...", "from hero to punk in 2 hours .", "a bit of an improvement over the second installment , but so what ?", "a performance from macchio so irritating that the goodwill left over from the the karate kid is gone in a finger-snap .", "after suffering endless abuse , daniel wins with just a few well placed whacks : those expecting standard wish-fulfilment fantasy will be disappointed that -lrb- in tune with the philosophy , of course -rrb- he did n't give the punk a pasting .", "this is one karate chop too many ... master morita and student macchio should have stopped before overstaying their welcome in this tepid follow-up", "with its sluggish script and unaging characters , MOV has the rote sense of film makers trying to crank out another moneymaker .", "disappointing , often violent sequel is for series fans only .", "karate kid iii has emerged as the front runner for the worst sequel of the summer .", "MOV is a slickly produced adventure of the most simple-minded kind .", "griffith 's over-the-top toxic-waste king -lsb- is -rsb- an unbelievably sadistic type who enjoys tilting his head back to laugh maniacally every three minutes or so , and who is one of few signs of life in this brain-dead movie .", "morita still charms , macchio still tightropes between petulence and raw optimism , whilst the fight scenes are competent enough to offset the woeful romantic sub-plotting .", "a rather vicious melodrama and morality play that will bore most kids silly .", "the script takes leave of reality at an early stage , and it all becomes increasingly daft and humourless with each scene .", "about all that enlivens MOV is a screamingly over-the-top performance by thomas ian griffith , who plays a toxic waste magnate and karate buff who hatches a madly complex plot to humiliate daniel and his teacher .", "part iii , however , is not merely a disaster of the most uninspired contrivances but is actually unsuitable for youngsters , the series ' natural audience .", "MOV is a brave but misguided attempt to restate the lesson through a narrative ploy that nearly always works , but here produces no more than recycling .", "i 'm tempted to simply run my karate kid ii review again -- except that i liked that film better than this one .", "this material is wearing out its welcome .", "morita , who was oscar-nominated for the original , remains a likable stick figure , but macchio has gone from cute to typecast here , his waifish charm turned to gawky adulthood .", "the series finally runs out of steam", "explores the challenges faced by the karate master and his young protege in japan , his ancestral home ." ], "summary": "inspiration is in short supply in this third karate kid film , which recycles the basic narrative from its predecessors but adds scenery-chewing performances and a surprising amount of violence .", "id": "11937" }, { "movie": "analyze_that", "reviews": [ "MOV is successful , thanks almost entirely to the efforts of crystal and de niro", "the film could have deftly skewered the whole sub-genre ; instead , it sinks to the level of a marginally classier mickey blue eyes with a smattering of more laughs .", "`` MOV '' is mildly entertaining and has a few laughs but that 's about it .", "virtually every joke in this unnecessary sequel is either forced , old , or just unfunny to begin with .", "about as original as a gangster sweating bullets while worrying about a contract on his life .", "fuggetabout it , ` MOV ' a fitting sequel", "in short , all the bouncing bullets in the world could n't garner any gunpowder of fresh ideas to lift this gang of rehashed thugs and their sordid activities beyond the stagnation of comical creativity being served on a recycled platter .", "MOV regurgitates and waters down many of the previous film 's successes , with a few new swings thrown in .", "when all is said and done , MOV turns out to be the lamest , most unnecessary sequel since ... well , since the santa clause 2 , which came out last month .", "the first film focused on the relationship between vitti and sobel and pulled its humor primarily from it . this one is all over the place .", "the film is burned by endless slow patches and , ultimately , feels painfully routine .", "full of sharps and flats , the gags range from distinctly unfunny to richly side-splitting .", "no sooner had i left the theater than i already started to fughedaboutit .", "this flick is a disappointment .", "MOV delivers its share of amusing moments , but , when it comes to inventive or inspired comedy , it is lacking .", "it does n't take long to get the sinking sensation that you 're seeing a shadow of a former joke .", "`` MOV '' is one of those crass , contrived sequels that not only fails on its own , but makes you second-guess your affection for the original .", "a mediocre sequel to a mediocre movie .", "although the laughs come regularly and often , the movie suffers from a bad case of sequelitis , and the script wanders aimlessly from joke to joke .", "it 's a choppy mess . comedy without rhythm is barely comedy , a point proven by the outtakes that run during that 's closing credits . they 're funnier than 90 % of the film 's actual content .", "amusing mob comedy for older teens only .", "more than any other robert de niro film , invites the speculation that the once-revered actor has become the gimmicky comic screenwriter 's whipping boy . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the end credit outtake reel feels like a desperate bid to rescue the dud ending and make the moviegoers leave with a smile .", "no longer has the elements of surprise and novelty in its favor .", "a marginally diverting , fun way to spend a couple of hours , and you even get to hear de niro and crystal duet on tunes from ` west side story . '", "are n't we all just a little tired of de niro 's clownish schtick and crystal as his nattering sidekick ?", "while it 's fun to see deniro poke fun at the image that he 's helped make so famous , the film just does n't have enough of a storyline to keep your interest", "and the winner of the most disappointing sequel of 2002 award goes to MOV .", "the jokes are often one-note and not pushed to their limit .", "... a bland comedy that seeks primarily to please its established audience and attempts to break little new ground .", "a surprisingly flat retread , hobbled by half-baked setups and sluggish pacing .", "it 's pretty much of a mess , and the more you think about it , the worse it gets .", "worst of all -lrb- it -rrb- actually tries to jerk some tears with ... maudlin soft-focus flashbacks of a happy childhood for de niro 's mafioso . oh , puh-leaze !", "the by now exhausted one-joke scenario -- mafioso on the couch -- revisited and rehashed with unimaginative franchise fidelity .", "every bit as funny as `` analyze this . ''", "... the team never ignites any lingering memories for the viewer .", "you see robert de niro singing - and dancing to - west side story show tunes . choose your reaction : a. -rrb- that sure is funny ! b. -rrb- that sure is pathetic !", "the pacing is a bit on the erratic side , but when it 's funny , it 's very funny .", "in my opinion , MOV is not as funny or entertaining as analyze this , but it is a respectable sequel .", "sitcom situations cascade and implode into one another like a rusty slinky jerking its way down diminishing sequel returns .", "the film has its moments , but clearly not nearly enough of them to make this effort anywhere as fun or funny as its predecessor .", "an interesting animal : a sequel that 's a successful rehash of its predecessor .", "though the picture falls apart whenever the two leads are n't on screen together , you can argue that that is n't that inferior to its predecessor .", "it 's the kind of under-inspired , overblown enterprise that gives hollywood sequels a bad name .", "the rapport between de niro and crystal actually seems stronger this time around , and the movie 's best laughs -- most of them unabashedly sexual and crude and delivered in the first half -- are better than any of the jokes in analyze this .", "the screenplay flounders under the weight of too many story lines .", "nothing here seems as funny as it did in analyze this , not even joe viterelli as de niro 's right-hand goombah .", "the jokes are delivered with all the surprise you get with filmmaking on cruise control , but ramis and co. seem to be having a good time and every so often they do manage to slide in a bit that 's so wily and understated it nearly avoids detection .", "the premise of the successful original is essentially abandoned early on in favor of an uninteresting and predictable plot-driven story from which the laughs disappear all too quickly .", "yes , the script has holes you could drive a truck through , but crystal and de niro 's verbal pingpong makes it all worthwhile .", "a moment of silence , please , for the career of robert de niro . once considered the finest american screen actor alive , he has reduced himself to singing i feel pretty . it is anything but .", "possibly not since grumpy old men have i heard a film so solidly connect with one demographic while striking out with another .", "the stupid title alone reeks of an astonishing level of laziness on the part of the film 's creative team .", "this script feels so slap-dash that you wonder if anyone read it before the cameras started rolling", "this is yet another example of the sequel that should n't have been made .", "forget about it .", "overall , it feels like crystal , de niro , and director ramis have settled into a familiarity with the material and each other that allows for richer comedic chemistry and improvisation .", "no dia em que aceitou dirigir esta continua\u0437\u0433o , harold ramis deve ter sa\u043ddo da cama com o p\u0439 esquerdo . e aqueles que decidiram assistir a este filme tamb\u0439m .", "... a pale and languid thing that rarely rises to the level of mildly amusing as characters with essentially nothing to do putter about on screen ...", "there 's more life in a mortuary than in harold ramis ' laboured direction , the script creaks through 95 minutes as if they were 180 , with no joke too obvious , cheap , or derivative .", "billy crystal and robert de niro sleepwalk through vulgarities in a sequel you can refuse .", "` es el claro ejemplo de una cinta que comienza muy fuerte y termina muy floja , como una cinta m\u0431s del mont\u0443n . '", "the film just does n't have enough ideas to sustain a 100 minute movie ...", "it 's like kenny rogers said , `` you 've got to know when to walk away '' .", "no excuse can be found for wasting celluloid on this trying and tiring feature . if any movie needed to be taken for a one-way ride to the swamps of new jersey and buried , it is MOV .", "although the level of the comedy declines as the movie proceeds , there 's no denying the fun of watching de niro and crystal having fun .", "not only are the film 's sopranos gags incredibly dated and unfunny , they also demonstrate how desperate the makers of this ` we 're - doing-it-for - the-cash ' sequel were .", "just a collection of this and that -- whatever fills time -- with no unified whole .", "what we get in MOV are several talented actors delivering their familiar screen personas in the service of an idiotic plot .", "the movie bounces all over the map .", "fans of analyze this should be satisfied ; fans of billy crystal should be very satisfied and fans of robert de niro comedies should be thrilled .", "some of this might fly if there were a script , any script , but under the direction of harold ramis , the supporting cast mills about aimlessly while the two stars shoot potty-mouth improvisations at each other .", "to say MOV is de niro 's best film since meet the parents sums up the sad state of his recent career .", "dull and awful .", "patient suffers from serious delusions of humour and a desire to cash in on previously successful strategies .", "a loose-jointed series of skits , laced with running jokes that poke mild fun at mob movie clich\u00e9s and therapeutic psychobabble .", "wasting robert de niro and billy crystal 's talent and too much of our time .", "while MOV ca n't re-create the freshness of the first film , writers peter tolan , peter steinfeld and director harold ramis ... have come up with a couple of bits that may inspire you to snort-laugh , though you 'll feel guilty about it later .", "ah , man ! i thought this was going to be a screening of meet the fockers .", "after a session with this sorry sequel , you may need grief counseling .", "this idea has lost its originality ... and neither star appears very excited at rehashing what was basically a one-joke picture .", "where this was lazy but enjoyable , a formula comedy redeemed by its stars , that is even lazier and far less enjoyable .", "the shtick still works .", "it 's sad to think this shapeless , sloppy , badly paced mess was directed by ramis , who helmed one of the smartest films of the past 15 years , groundhog day .", "from analyze this to MOV sounds like a small jump -- a mere word -- but the comedy has slipped more than a notch since the 1999 original .", "your response to its new sequel , MOV , may hinge on what you thought of the first film .", "MOV is filled with so many wonderful comic gems , you easily forgive the few times where gags fall flat or the film attempts to get serious .", "a sequel that never rises to the giddy pitches of skewed humor that the original managed to toss off with such unexpected glee .", "plays like the sort of phone-it-in sequel that 's patched together mainly to further enrich the people who made the original .", "both stars manage to be funny , but , like the recent i spy , the star chemistry begs the question of whether random gags add up to a movie .", "MOV is n't one of those rare sequels that truly expands a story or stretches a character . it 's merely a second helping for filmgoers who want more of the same .", "what a waste of one of hollywood 's master actors .", "robert de niro and billy crystal made a surprisingly good comedy team in analyze this . they 're still amusing in the follow-up , but this time the result is forced and dull .", "all MOV proves is that there is really only one movie 's worth of decent gags to be gleaned from the premise .", "little more than a mildly amusing retread .", "while you have to admit it 's semi-amusing to watch robert deniro belt out `` when you 're a jet , you 're a jet all the way , '' it 's equally distasteful to watch him sing the lyrics to `` tonight . ''", "MOV is more beaded than filmed . it 's a string of mildly connective skit bits held together by capable casting and silly nonsense .", "watching billy crystal trying to crack up robert deniro -- and deniro just about letting him do it -- is only sporadically diverting .", "where the first movie struck just the right tone , blending anxiety attacks with machine-gun attacks to come up with a comic la cosa neurosis , this picture consistently goes too far in all directions .", "audiences who loved analyze this may have to see the new movie to believe just how empty it is . what they 'll find is a profound difference between this and that .", "they should have quit while they were ahead .", "feels unnecessary .", "de niro needs to play another mobster like martha stewart needs to take another stock tip , but he broadens his already-big performance as a tough mook who gets all touchy-feely .", "some funny business here , a clever one-liner there , good-natured padding in between -- it 's all pat and familiar and risk-free .", "harold ramis 's 1999 hit analyze this was filled with chuckles and sitcom appeal ; this sequel is charmless and sour .", "an offer we can most definitely refuse .", "it 's every bit the crowd-pleaser its predecessor was .", "painfully padded .", "a tired , unnecessary retread ... a stale copy of a picture that was n't all that great to begin with .", "de niro and crystal are capable of being a great comedic team , but just like any other actors they 're only as good as the script -- and this one is decidedly underwelming .", "unless analyze this is among your all-time favorites , you wo n't miss a thing by skipping this retread .", "deniro works his tail off for laughs , laboring as hard on weak material as on strong .", "remove the distractions and leaden moments and you probably have just enough humour left to make a 30-minute tuesday night sitcom .", "the bottom line is that these characters just do n't have a story left to tell together .", "a pretty funny movie , with most of the humor coming , as before , from the incongruous but chemically perfect teaming of crystal and de niro .", "a superfluous sequel ... plagued by that old familiar feeling of ` let 's get this thing over with ' : everyone has shown up at the appointed time and place , but visible enthusiasm is mighty hard to find .", "with this installment , a joke that became old in the first film gets beaten to death , has its head cut off , is weighted down with rocks and tossed into the river .", "provides the kind of ` laugh therapy ' i need from movie comedies -- offbeat humor , amusing characters , and a happy ending . after seeing ` MOV , ' i feel better already .", "same song , second verse , coulda been better , but it coulda been worse .", "thin , flat and largely forgettable , as de niro and crystal trudge through with all the enthusiasm of john madden at a salad bar .", "-lsb- crystal and de niro -rsb- manage to squeeze out some good laughs but not enough to make this silly con job sing .", "... a series of rim shots in search of a punch line .", "if they gave oscars to good actors who do the worst job in picking out films -- and subsequently make too many bad movies -- it would be a tossup between de niro and anthony hopkins .", "i can analyze this movie in three words : thumbs friggin ' down .", "it does n't show us anything new or really funny , certainly nothing that we ca n't get on hbo .", "MOV is more of the same -- a near-carbon copy of its predecessor -- meaning that it has a handful of funny moments surrounded by a boatload of unfunny ones .", "i 'll be honest - most of the movie i was smiling , not busting a gut . like the last film , my companions liked it better than i did .", "with robert de niro and billy crystal back in the mix ... the warmed-over goulash is tasty more often than not .", "for a film about two mismatched buddies , crystal and de niro share little screen time and even less chemistry .", "it 's about what you 'd expect from a sequel .", "if de niro wants to wind down his career as the mcdonald 's of master thespians , we ca n't stop him . but those of us who 've tasted cr\u010dme brul\u00e9e will still know the difference .", "the leads are reduced to their worst shtick -- crystal doing funny voices , de niro looking silly , and the usually warm and funny kudrow coming off as shrill and spiteful .", "une suite au sc\u00e9nario ridicule mais aux nombreux moments comiques .", "it 's still formulaic , which is no surprise . but no longer is the film forced to spend endless minutes spelling out a character relationship that we already know simply by looking at the poster .", "there are some slow patches , but it is sheer joy to see deniro give everything he 's got -lrb- which is plenty -rrb- to the pure pleasure of comic madness , and every time he comes on screen , the movie takes off like a rocket .", "if only all sequels were this much fun ." ], "summary": "the one joke premise is stretched a bit thin in this messy sequel , but a few laughs can be had here and there .", "id": "14627" }, { "movie": "house_of_sand_and_fog", "reviews": [ "stunning .", "turning into a twisted pretzel , MOV becomes a melodrama straining to make its point .", "... a movie about the perils of real estate speculation .", "perelman ... has a distinct and shadowy style that gives each scene an edge of menace , but he does not exploit style or draw attention to it .", "partially successful .", "MOV is an intense , thought - provoking movie experience", "devastatingly dark and painfully honest , it paints a different side of the immigrant experience while showcasing two phenomenal performances .", "connelly , who has often mistaken posing for acting , digs deep here ; aghdashloo ... gives us a portrait of a woman who is both dutiful to her husband and ravaged by his iron will . kingsley is most impressive of all .", "who would think a fight over real estate would be so fascinating , so gut wrenching to watch ?", "a pesar de los excesos del libreto , la pel\u00edcula atrapa gracias a la notable direcci\u00f3n de perelman , apoyada sobre todo en la impecable fotograf\u00eda de roger deakins -lrb- ... -rrb-", "narrative logic fades during the second half .", "it 's a story that haunts long after it 's seen , not just because we 're overpowered by what happens to its characters but because , if we 're honest , we see how all of it , even the worst of it , could happen to us .", "looks great , the performances are top-notch , but it 's a difficult film to watch - it starts off sad and goes downhill from there .", "what could have been , in lesser hands , a cheap and heartless real estate smackdown is instead a somber , intriguing and morally juicy drama for most of its running time .", "vadim perelman 's impressively self-assured directing debut harvests the terror and grandeur of classical tragedy from the everyday sorrows of contemporary american life .", "not easy to sit through , but it has something worthwhile to communicate and strong actors who go all out to communicate it .", "the most assured english language debut to hit screens since the equally dark and creepy american beauty .", "thoughtful , disturbing storytelling .", "elegantly somber ... it fails to paint both sides of its central dispute with the same degree of success , but it builds considerable cumulative power .", "since the film fails to communicate the necessary level of interior insight , it 's like spending two hours with people you 'd just as soon never have met .", "the MOV is clearly one of the best films of the year , but probably wo n't be recognized come award season due to the downbeat nature of the story .", "the casting is well-nigh perfect from top to bottom .", "it 's a film ... absent of easy black-or-white ethics , which makes for some powerful emotions . but it 's also a film with nagging problems that add up to a distracting crescendo .", "a beautiful thing to look at , and maybe cry over .", "what 's that old saying about possession and the law ?", "MOV is the diametric opposite of stuff like enough and double jeopardy , and i mean that as a very large compliment .", "perelman has directed jennifer connelly and ben kingsley , who play kathy and behrani , respectively , in the performances of their careers .", "for all its flaws ... MOV is a quietly devastating film .", "it 's difficult to imagine that kingsley could top his blistering performance in sexy beast , but here it is .", "an alarmingly resonant piece of work , and there is much in it to brood on . it 's also one of the most unpleasant experiences i 've had at a film in ages .", "reveals the deep , dark meaning of a botched real estate transaction .", "MOV is spellbinding in its storytelling and chest-collapsing in its horror . it 's a difficult film to watch and a far-more thorny one to walk out of .", "this is not pleasant stuff , but it 's important , and thoroughly heart-wrenching .", "pacific heights with oscar aspirations .", "the very human longing for roots -lsb- and -rsb- how preconceived notions about other cultures are a recipe for disaster ... deserve better than the cheapening melodrama afforded them", "everything about the movie seems excessive to the material .", "this is the movie the hours should have been . proof that you can tell a melancholy story with tragic characters , but provide dramatic bite and compelling entertainment .", "-lsb- a -rsb- rewarding tale of desperation and lost dreams .", "kingsley 's astonishing performance is wasted in this otherwise overlong , overwrought , and overcooked mess-o-drama .", "it is easily one of the very best films of this or any year .", "sir ben kingsley and jennifer connelly provide memorable performances , but this morose film is far too boring and depressing to recommend .", "is house anti-american ? possibly .", "connelly justifies the oscar she won for a beautiful mind with an even better performance .", "for all its histrionics , the movie never earns your sorrow .", "remember the name shohreh aghdashloo ... she is the soul of this pungent film .", "a great film and one of the year 's standout dramas .", "the assured directorial debut by russian-born canadian vadim perelman captures the irony , tragedy and cataclysmic drama of everyday life like no film since in the bedroom .", "the MOV is a deeply unsettling film , written , acted and directed with unflinching honesty .", "-lsb- a -rsb- finely wrought drama .", "a powerful tale of a personal conflict that turns tragic when emotions spin out of control .", "this is somber , challenging material , unrelentingly bleak .", "like great fiction , MOV sees into the hearts of its characters , and loves and pities them .", "difficult to gauge on its own merits given the typically invasive grandiosity of another abominable james horner score .", "in the end , it 's just a pointless downer .", "the actors ' focused , careful work keeps us mesmerized as the drama builds .", "this is an unforgettable portrait of decent , well-meaning , conflicted people moved to frustration , helplessness and grief .", "in the current political climate , it 's required viewing . we all need to think about tolerance and how , like sand , it can slip through our fingers .", "the performances raise MOV from a battle over real estate to a fateful conflict over different meanings of the american dream .", "MOV may just be the prettiest house in town , but it could be blown over by a gust of wind because it has a foundation of straw .", "it features some of the most anguishing moments of any movie this year .", "this is a movie that has the strength of its convictions , and it 's anchored by top-shelf performances that go out on a limb time and again .", "everything that happens in this bloated lifetime movie could have been avoided if its heroine had n't spent months wallowing in such self-pity that she could n't open her mail .", "a very good film with a special performance by ben kingsley .", "before it runs off course into excess , this brilliantly acted film version of the 1999 novel by andre dubus iii moves with a stabbing urgency .", "the picture 's greatest strength is the way it shifts our loyalties from one character to the next , never allowing us to view either -lsb- person -rsb- as a villain -lrb- or hero -rrb- for long .", "it is powerful , powerful stuff .", "for his feature-film debut russian director vadim perelman delivers a brilliantly acted downer .", "the film 's stark edifice is buttressed by sublime performances from ben kingsley and jennifer connelly .", "the human drama captured in this film is some of the most poignant and insightful of the year ... . even in improbable situations , these characters feel like real people .", "MOV is at once so real and so inevitably tragic that you want to see just how bad it 's going to get .", "an overripe melodrama that becomes laughable as it sweatily strives toward tragedy .", "the movie 's intense watchability can be traced directly to superb performances by jennifer connelly and ben kingsley .", "for viewers courageous enough to withstand the bleakest of stories and the most cynical of outcomes , MOV is a challenging motion picture .", "neither character seems especially sympathetic -lrb- that 's the point of dubus 's first-person narrations -rrb- , only flawed and human , but perelman 's miscasting makes sure they come off as glamorized stereotypes .", "while the acting of kingsley , connelly and aghdashloo is heart-wrenchingly powerful and the film boasts first-rate production values , it relentlessly grinds you down .", "a smart , moody film that achieves the delicate balance of having us care about all of its characters .", "kingsley 's performance nearly redeems a rather jacked-up finish , and connelly makes genuine her pathetic character .", "MOV does n't deliver on the gut level of contest , and neither does it offer any other terms in which it does deliver for the audience .", "a devastating movie .", "serious and thoughtful ; for mature teens + .", "a lack of empathetic characters cripples this poorly paced but well acted drama about an iranian family who purchase a city-auctioned bungalow in northern california after its former tenant has been unjustly evicted .", "a fiercely powerful and melancholy tale about dreams , aspirations and belonging , MOV is a marvellous adaptation .", "the vivid clarity of the images , the compressed fury of the tale , are impossible to get out of your head .", "perelman and his long-suffering stars make a spectacle of pain , but fail to register any lighter notes , while the denouement seems calculated to wring out every last tear .", "demanding , provoking and painfully slow . the single most compelling reason for seeing it is the magnificent performance from kingsley , who deserves every prize on the books .", "vadim perelman 's `` MOV '' is one of the low points of the current movie season . but then it 's meant to be .", "if `` MOV '' ultimately feels like a failed exercise , it has less to do with perelman 's limitations than with a book that would have been better served by staying on the page .", "the dramatic scheme is to show how two people ... intersect `` tragically , '' but what we see is a group of characters who act as wrongheadedly and intransigently as imaginable .", "an intense drama with a brilliant performance by ben kingsley .", "kingsley 's subtle acting style is lifted to blissfully new heights in the first half of the film , where he often does nothing but focus his intense glare on a subject .", "the audience laughed at the improbability of the story . this is a bad sign .", "it fails to sustain a sense of tragic inevitability and that prevents it from being truly involving .", "ineluctably compelling .", "over-baked an -lsb- d -rsb- unimpressive .", "a grim , challenging movie that will amply reward audiences willing to go along with its ride into the dark depths of its characters ' souls .", "a sad , rich story , full of misunderstandings , bad bargains , odd parallels .", "a fine , truly serious picture whose only other major flaw is a climactic turn into melodrama of the most horrifically punishing kind .", "this house is worth a peek .", "is there anything that makes you want to scream more than a film that 's this full of its own gravity and import ?", "this is something you just can not take your eyes off of .", "meticulously acted and unafraid of a difficult subject , MOV resonates with a quality that can be vital to art -- a lack of moral rectitude .", "underneath all the wild gesticulating is nothing : no suspense , no characters , no emotional truth , nothing .", "if this movie is n't quite the contempo-greek tragedy it wants to be , it 's still a powerful , almost unforgettable meditation on fate , cultural collision and the morality of renovating a house that is n't really yours .", "in a way , it offers an update of the property-dispute plotlines that escalated to tragedy in such westerns as ` shane . '", "everything that happens in the movie could have been avoided if kathy had just opened her freaking mail .", "by the end , you feel as if you 've been hit over the head with a bloody dead dove , with someone screaming , `` tragedy ! tragedy ! tragedy ! '' in your sore ear .", "without the right combination of actors , MOV could have easily deteriorated into a feature-length melodramatic soap opera .", "-lsb- t -rsb- the plot contrivances make it easy to dismiss . however ... perelman gets such compelling performances from his cast that the film sneaks up on you ...", "if the holidays have you feeling a bit too giddy , this gloomy movie will knock it out of you .", "the carefully laid foundation of suspense and dread , with its symmetries and crisp dialogue , is squandered in a clumsy pileup of credulity-stretching cataclysmic events .", "all of a sudden , MOV turned into one of the saddest flicks i 've seen in a long time with an extremely powerful performance by ben kingsley .", "would have hurt all the more if for even a second it seemed as though anyone involved had a ghost of a chance .", "soap operatic to the extreme , this stolen-house fall-out is as melodramatic as it pretentious", "what is probably the best-written film of the year functions as a thriller and as a human drama .", "it would be hard to imagine two more different adversaries wedged into the same taut , tragic drama .", "triste e moralmente complexo , o filme se encaixa com perfei\u0437\u0433o no grande tema de 2003 : o drama familiar .", "not nearly as interesting or nuanced as it seems to think it is", "jennifer connelly and ben kingsley shine despite a few unvarnished rough spots in this human drama .", "creepy and unpleasant , this movie makes you feel like you need to take a shower after watching it -- or just simply want to kill yourself .", "arguably the most powerful film of 2003 .", "an important indictment against intolerance of all kinds , and an exceptional work whose very subject will likely scare off the very audiences who need to see it the most .", "i `` only '' give it matinee rating because when all is said and done , the story did n't end up anywhere , nor did the characters grow or change in any way .", "truly a haunted house film ... a viper 's nest of touchy issues , including discrimination ... prejudice and the question of who is entitled to what in our society .", "grey and deliberate ... akin to one of those t-shirts packed in a can of compressed air ; it 's a movie so tightly spring-wound that you hardly stop to ponder its imponderables .", "an engrossing , deeply affecting drama .", "it falls apart in the third act when plot decays into melodrama .", "a balanced tale of the american dream gone awry , made compelling by outstanding performances from kingsley and connelly .", "while the plot of the film is not very believable , three great actors give performances deserving of oscar consideration .", "the strength of the build-up is almost worth the tactless conclusion .", "for kingsley 's and connelly 's performances alone , it 's worth seeing . it 's far from tawdry melodrama , but its insistence on a middle-road keeps it from being more high-minded .", "kingsley 's skill is ours to enjoy throughout this film , which opens our eyes so we can squint through the fog .", "what an interesting tangled web these characters weave !", "an engrossing drama about the downward mobility of a recovering alcoholic and the yearning for upward mobility of an iranian immigrant .", "there 's a lot of melodrama . but the quality of the writing and the acting in particular elevates it .", "airlessly melodramatic , full of moral brow-furrowing .", "ben kingsley and jennifer connelly create characters that live and seethe with absolute credibility .", "a superior , heartbreaking film .", "gripping , intense and profoundly unsettling , MOV deserves a prime spot at the top of everybody 's must-see list .", "... can not fault the fine craftwork done both in front of and behind the camera . kingsley is on my short list for best actor .", "gripping and unforgettable .", "powerful", "an expertly crafted film with several of the year 's top performances .", "there was nothing left to think about after all the dust cleared , just another movie that got eaten up in the bay area fog .", "i am scared of ben kingsley . and for that matter , jennifer connelly .", "you feel you not only know these people but where they come from .", "-lsb- a -rsb- mixture of excellent acting and inept storytelling , with plot elements that contradict , characters that are difficult to like , and dialogue that is sometimes unrealistic .", "it comes this close to high-toned soap opera in places and yet gets away clean thanks to the elegance of the direction , the power of the cast 's performances and the depth of the script 's themes .", "una espiral dram\u00e1tica de desalojo en m\u00faltiples contextos .", "the excellent acting is not quite enough to make us care .", "simplistic speculation that bases inner character on wrongheaded , at times offensive notions , of how a culture instead of the individual , gets revealed on screen .", "vadim perelman keeps the film tense and knows how to direct actors . the performances given by ben kingsley and jennifer connelly make this a must see movie .", "it 's a devastating portrait of smart , civilized people driven to behave in uncivilized ways , until it 's too late .", "kingsley -lrb- gandhi -rrb- and connelly -lrb- a beautiful mind -rrb- both give magnetic , heartbreaking performances .", "the war between america and the middle east is in full metaphoric force in vadim perelman 's ridiculous eviction melodrama MOV .", "a brilliant treatise on people who do all the wrong things for all the right reasons .", "lack of sympathy for the beautiful but flaky heroine undermines the dramatic framework of `` house '' like a swarm of hungry termites .", "jennifer connelly nails her performance , keenly displaying the self-destruction of a woman grasping for anything that might take things back to the way they used to be .", "a vigorous and bracingly acted melodrama spun off from a situation that 's pure human-thriller catnip .", "russian born perelman has given ... more fully to the foreigner ... , but the universal desire for land ownership has never been more lamentably depicted .", "could have been even more compelling with a less heavy-handed approach to the material .", "a poignant presentation of the unanswerable question ... can america , and americans , live up to the ideals -lrb- and ideologies -rrb- it sets for itself ?" ], "summary": "powerful and thought provoking film .", "id": "13352" }, { "movie": "1014793-near_dark", "reviews": [ "ruthless , inventive and surprisingly lyrical .", "a wonderful little vampire movie . most enjoyable .", "a perverse , penetrating vision of modern vampirism in which the word vampire is never mentioned", "-lsb- a -rsb- n intense film , an eerie depiction of the isolated , empty middle of america ... surprisingly haunting ...", "southern-fried vampire-noir romance action horror tragedy . i love this movie .", "kathryn bigelow took on the big boys and won .", "the great kathryn bigelow made her solo directorial debut , and managed to emphasize the relationships between the characters while using the gory showstoppers as support .", "you might call this the scattershot school of film making .", "cool little vampire flick", "it 's a smart , creepy , violent , funny , and modern vampire movie that benefits from some wonderful performances , a stunning visual texture , and music by tangerine dream .", "unusual vampire flick that works about half the time .", "high-powered but pared down , slick but spare , this is a tale that introduces the unearthly into the banality of rural american existence .", "bigelow 's artful handling of the magic and menace of the night is hauntingly apparent .", "as much as it is a horror film and western , it is equally and perhaps more pronouncedly a romance .", "dark , bloody and very stylish , this genre-busting western-noir-vampire hybrid is a toothsome joy and definitely one of the best horror films of the 1980s .", "this is on the whole a striking directorial debut , at once scary and erotic , with lots of sidelong touches in the casting , direction , and script .", "an auspicious solo directing debut from kathryn bigelow .", "MOV remains kathryn bigelow 's best film , suffused with style and anarchy that has an unerring feel for the irregular pulse of a very particular place and time .", "a somewhat entertaining comedy-horror hybrid . the coen brothers meet the lost boys .", "lots of dull spots , a few effectively intense moments , and as much gore as the monster genre usually calls for nowadays .", "there is n't a movie out there that feels quite like MOV ; it seems to personify its subject matter even as it transcends it .", "a subtle study in the seductiveness of evil and a terrifying ride to the edge of darkness .", "one of the best vampire movies ever made ... if you liked `` the lost boys '' , you 'll love this !", "it 's definitely worth a rent .", "the scenes of the bullying are long and violent and bloody and boring .", "bigelow has cross-bred vampire legends , westerns and biker movies to arrive at a combination that 's both outrageous and poetic ; it has extravagant , bloody thrills plus something else -- something that comes close to genuine emotion .", "an unusually intelligent little gem that stands head and fangs above other blooksucking flicks .", "still by far bigelow 's best film , this seductive vampire tale is suffused with the unique beauty of the southwest and eerie pacing that enrich the narrative and elevate it to a reverie about the sanctity and unity of the family .", "a treat for horror fans", "one of the better vampire films .", "... both ferocious and lyrical , a moody horror film with the frontier community romanticism of a john ford western and the violent ferocity of a sam peckinpah film .", "como terror focado em vampiros , empalidece diante de garotos perdidos , lan\u00e7ado no mesmo ano ; como alegoria do submundo das drogas e de uma \u00e9poca em que o sexo se tornou letal , \u00e9 \u00f3bvio e infantil . como esta bobagem virou cult , n\u0103o sei explicar .", "MOV has filmmaking finesse to spare , but puts its dank characters on display rather than cadging sympathy for them . it is the blue velvet of date-night spook shows .", "long after the picture ends , you 're left with potent half-images : strong-but-vague impressions that resemble the remains of dreams .", "there 's a ghastly humor in all this , and bigelow brings it out without overindulging it . faced with a nearly repulsive subject , she makes the blood flow inside it , stream out over the cuts .", "one of the best vampire movies ever made .", "when the viewer wants to know more about the people in the compelling images , the screen ` s texture suddenly falls flat .", "an atmospheric and nightmarish vampire film ...", "seductively lensed , sparely scripted and superbly performed , this does away with gothic nonsense to offer a modern take on the undead myth ." ], "summary": "MOV is at once a creepy vampire film , a thrilling western , and a poignant family tale , with humor and scares in abundance .", "id": "13394" }, { "movie": "apocalypse_now_redux_2001", "reviews": [ "redux does n't redefine apocalypse now -- rather , it adds archival material . but it 's terrific to see the film back in theaters .", "well worth seeing for just such insights , its flashes of brilliance , failures , and virtuous intentions .", "coppola and company has made a bigger , but not better , movie that does have to be seen -lsb- on the big screen -rsb-", "this is the one where -lsb- coppola -rsb- honors his vision -- or clears his name , whichever way you look at it .", "although its magnificently restored print and marvelously revamped soundtrack are reason enough to catch it in the theater , one ca n't help but feel that the new scenes detract from the film 's epic tale .", "in some ways even richer and more atmospheric than the original version , in others attenuated and logy .", "the new redux version is n't a better film , but for coppola fans and film lovers , it 's essential viewing .", "you wo n't see any film this year as beautiful , and plain thrilling as MOV .", "the film now seems both mellowed and -- thanks in part to the most vibrant-looking prints in its 22-year history -- revitalized .", "if anything , it 's an excuse to see the film on the big screen , and that 's good enough for me .", "coppola 's overall new cut nicely smoothes out the more irritating rough edges of the original editing flow .", "apocalypse now is a frenzied , free-based ode to the grieving soldier and his need-to-numb .", "an extraordinary film experience that finally takes its rightful place among the greats .", "coppola 's last great movie .", "53 minutes longer , but it ca n't improve on the original cut .", "this is the war-is-hell movie .", "the movie did n't ` need ' to be lengthened , but it 's great to see the cut footage .", "grows richer and stranger with each viewing , and the restoration of scenes left in the cutting room two decades ago has only added to its sublimity .", "one for the ages when it comes to the moral battles of war .", "the question does the added material add or detract from the experience ? sadly , for the most part , it detracts .", "the wealth of pure stuff here , as well as its new proximity to sociopolitical reality , makes MOV the best movie of the summer by far .", "as fabulously , boldly impressionistic and intelligent as it was when it was released , in shorter form , 22 years ago .", "the film is even more imperfect -- and , curiously , still an odd masterpiece .", "still one of the two or three best vietnam movies , but MOV is no improvement .", "has sinew , conviction and the spontaneity of a deck of cards hurled into the air .", "those who loved the original apocalypse now will find more to admire . those who found the original self-indulgent and pompous may now find it even more so .", "works both as grand spectacle and affecting human drama .", "still a must-see , for coppola 's brilliant original version is , after all , the backbone for the superfluous additions .", "improves on the original article on just about every level .", "taken as a whole , the new scenes serve to reprise that old question : ` why are we in vietnam ? '", "there is more narrative clarity , and almost every character gains definition and humanity .", "a restoration that transforms a flawed movie , one that was touched by greatness , into a masterpiece .", "really and truly is a better , more deeply satisfying work of cinematic art .", "apocalypse now -lrb- 1979 -rrb- is producer/director francis ford coppola 's visually beautiful , ground-breaking masterpiece with surrealistic and symbolic sequences", "longer or shorter , redux or not , apocalypse now is one of the central events of my life as a filmgoer .", "coppola leaves untouched the one section that cried out for a new edit - the murky finale that puts the `` near '' in `` near masterpiece .", "... a more user-friendly , politically correct apocalypse now with kinder , gentler characters , blabbermouth political diatribes , comic relief and mind-numbing repetition .", "the movie has aged well .", "coppola and wunderkind editor walter murch have created the finest cut of their seminal movie that we 're ever likely to experience .", "redux 's virtues far outweigh its flaws . apocalypse now in any version remains one of the richest , most extravagant moviegoing experiences", "the new version shows that coppola had originally intended something far more political , and while some of the new stuff could 've remained lost , it does not diminish the movie 's impact .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- `` apocalypse now '' all but ruined francis coppola as a director . it remains a staggering achievement of pure provocative cinema .", "the real reason to rejoice the arrival of redux is the opportunity to see apocalypse now in all its glory , as movies were meant to be seen .", "the new version adds a weight and depth lacking in the original cut .", "worth a single viewing for the curious , but definitely not for the purist .", "the episodic nature is less apparent in redux , the pacing surprisingly smoother as a result .", "revisiting this enlarged , much improved version reaffirms its status as coppola 's last masterpiece but also suggests that as a surreal meditation on the madness and folly of vietnam , it should be considered a horror epic rather than a than just a war film", "still a great visceral kick .", "the best picture of all time .", "a masterpiece in every sense of the word and a thought-provoking and deeply unsettling portrait of what lies at the heart of all of us .", "this messterpiece is sometimes masterful , at times a dud , still in-progress and heading up-river .", "coppola and his editor walter murch 's instincts were right ... the first time .", "a great movie , made even better .", "the originally released version was n't broken , but coppola can fix it as long as he wants , as far as i 'm concerned .", "a great , somewhat mad endeavor , well worth revisiting in the theatre .", "still one of the most moving films of its genre .", "whatever you do , do n't pass on the probably brief opportunity to see MOV on the big screen .", "does apocalypse now need a new , longer cut ? no . is the original inexplicably improved with one ? somehow , yes .", "an audio-visual war poem", "-lsb- the -rsb- additions only attempt to clarify what was already evident in the original cut", "remains what it always was -- a phantasmagorical trip through the spookhouse followed by a descent so precipitous you ca n't believe it 's really happening .", "adds to the stature of a genuine classic that remains a unique cinematic exploration of the insanity of war and the deceit that accompanies it .", "it is now a richer , fuller film , if still something short of the longed-for masterpiece .", "coming back decades later to it , coppola has been able to reshape these extraordinary scenes with a wisdom and humility perhaps missing before .", "the restored footage , nearly an hour of it , has at once bloated and diluted the work we 've known and half-loved , undercutting its still-astonishing strengths while making its flaws leap out with unprecedented clarity .", "incredibly mesmerizing and certainly always interesting .", "packs every bit the wallop it did when it was new .", "this was the greatest vietnam movie of its time , and it remains so .", "MOV is the meandering , indulgent art project that he was still enough of a craftsman , in 1979 , to avoid .", "where apocalypse now once strained for greatness without quite reaching it , this new version of the film , assembled by coppola and his longtime editor , walter murch , has greatness firmly within its grasp .", "brings back bad memories to those who were protesters .", "unlike so many of today 's films , which are instantly disposable from first frame to last , coppola 's opus has so many moments of pure cinematic genius that once seen , they stay with us forever .", "a magnificent new edition of the coppola film .", "what has not changed with MOV -- and the reason to go see it again -- are the visceral body blows it still delivers .", "almost an hour of new footage has been added to the film , making an already long film even longer , but not better .", "sometimes it 's just better to leave well enough alone .", "its sprawling , episodic process evokes the history-as-imagistic mosaic employed by t.s. eliot , whose work is referenced brazenly and repeatedly throughout the film .", "... a longer , slower , more bloated version of -lsb- the -rsb- incendiary masterpiece which retains much of its power but suffers from some seriously unnecessary revisions ." ], "summary": "the additional footage slows down the movie somewhat -lrb- some say the new cut is inferior to the original -rrb- , but MOV is still a great piece of cinema .", "id": "770947350" }, { "movie": "who_framed_roger_rabbit", "reviews": [ "an ingenious blend of hand-drawn animation and live action , spliced with humour that 's by turns madcap , surreal and violent , roger rabbit demonstrates that it 's possible to push the technical boundaries while still cooking up decent characters and plots .", "this whizz-bang breakthrough in mixing live action with cartoon characters won a special achievement oscar for animator richard williams .", "it took many , many years before i fully processed just how impressive a technical feat MOV actually is .", "for audiences who grew up with cartoons as a natural part of their moviegoing , the shock may not be the mix of live and animated folk -- it may come from the truly revolutionary sight of great icons of rival studios cheerfully rubbing shoulders .", "the feats performed by director robert zemeckis and director of animation richard williams are pretty amazing .", "your eyeballs have no choice but to go boinnnnng .", "motion pictures may never be the same again , now that the fascinating and utterly miraculous MOV has come to the screen .", "imagine watching cartoon characters and relating to them as if they were flesh-and-blood instead of paint-and-ink . this is the slap-happy effect of MOV , and - please - a 24-carrot salute to director robert zemeckis .", "if the pleasures of MOV are mostly incidental , they are certainly more than considerable .", "for sheer movie excitement , this is the easy winner so far this season .", "a wondrous , mind-boggling and impossibly clever movie that may , given a decade or two for hindsight , emerge as the most remarkable film of this high concept era .", "visually stunning and creatively superior , zemeckis 's work is frequently staggering and always entertaining .", "miraculously , the film is n't overshadowed by its technical achievement .", "the film provides both slap-stick humor for kids and clever satire and social commentary for adults .", "the first blend of animation and live-action that seemed so natural we felt the characters were real . there 's many a lad still harbouring a crush on jessica rabbit .", "a spectacular blend of live-action and animation .", "among its other assets , it 's an oddly fitting swan song for the great mel blanc .", "a glorious mix of diverse styles , techniques and worlds molded into a cohesive and unique whole .", "excellent sight gags , clever dialogue , and improbable waistline .", "... an exuberant , funny , inventive , and wholly entertaining piece of whimsy .", "deceptively adult movie is fun , but not for kids .", "the combination detective noir story , slightly adult humour , crazy toon characters from both warner & disney 's vaults -lrb- a one-off which is unlikely to ever repeat -rrb- and overall technical wizardy yielded a film which set a precedent .", "groundbreaking and thrilling", "the opening cartoon upstages the movie that emerges from it .", "this is a movie that demands to be seen twice . the first time , one is likely to be dazzled to the point of exhaustion ; the second time , one can appreciate the artistry and good humor more easily .", "more than a technological wonder , MOV ? is brilliantly funny , bracingly smart and surprisingly moving .", "watching `` MOV '' is like spending a weekend locked in a room with the looniest looney tunes characters . but it 's hard not to admire every aspect of filmmaking that contributed to this wacky classic .", "the best film directed by zemeckis ; the best of the many great high-concept '80s popcorn-comedies ; the best american film of 1988 .", "great fun to watch -- and not just for kids .", "it has become deservedly recognized as a cinema classic .", "although this is n't the first time that cartoon characters have shared the screen with live actors , it 's the first time they 've done it on their own terms .", "roger looks terrific after 15 years .", "not as good as the book , but nonetheless superb .", "supremely entertaining -- especially for adults .", "hoskins est\u00e1 fabuloso , e deveria ter sido indicado ao oscar . o roteiro decepciona ao n\u0103o explorar totalmente o potencial do projeto e ao criar uma trama policial pouco interessante . no geral , por\u00e9m , tem chances de virar cl\u00e1ssico .", "it 's still a superb film , a rare big budget blockbuster that concentrates on a clever story , crisp performances , and brilliant jokes while using its groundbreaking special effects only as window dressing rather than as the main event .", "while flawlessly delivered , it 's overkill -- so loud and excessive , it makes our head swim .", "a hollywood entertainment that lived up to its hype .", "yet with all that , zemeckis ' $ 70 million technical tour de force does n't get pulled down in the undertow of its own cleverness .", "the real stars are the animators , under british animation director richard williams , who pull off a technically amazing feat of having humans and toons seem to be interacting with one another .", "sheer , enchanted entertainment from the first frame to the last -- a joyous , giddy , goofy celebration of the kind of fun you can have with a movie camera .", "not only a technical tour de force , it crackles with entertainment .", "a mix of live action and animation , the $ 45 million movie is as cunning as wile e. coyote and chipper as a flock of cartoon bluebirds .", "wonderfully clever film .", "apart from the interesting premise and the novelty of seeing so many famous cartoon characters together on the screen , i was overall disappointed and it completely failed to live up to my memory .", "a great film for lots of reasons .", "MOV -lrb- 1988 -rrb- is a technically-marvelous film blending animated , ink-and-paint cartoon characters and flesh-and-blood live actors . ." ], "summary": "MOV is an innovative and entertaining film that features a groundbreaking mix of live action and animation , with a touching and original story to boot .", "id": "12564" }, { "movie": "kit_kittredge_an_american_girl", "reviews": [ "-lsb- i continue -rsb- to cling stubbornly to the dowdy notion that kids deserve better than a sugarcoated portrait of our past or , for that matter , our present .", "cheesier than the macaroni viewers ate before the movie , and makes you wonder why so many non-pixar , g-rated movies talk at their demo instead of to them .", "i predict with great confidence that the big-screen debut of the american girl brand will be a resounding success . this rosy prediction is based partly on the fact that kit kittredge is a solidly made movie ... and partly on the fact that the america", "it 's all message , no tension .", "plucky , likable and determined to succeed , much like its heroine , kit kittredge : an american girl is a throwback to the kinds of movies they do n't make anymore .", "as the resourceful depression-era girl , breslin gives yet another solid performance , compensating for an old-fashioned film that 's not particularly well-directed by rozema , who shows problems with tone and mood , veering toward the obvious and sentimental", "the overall glow remains golden , of course . but with a dash of realism and more than a little intelligence , kit kittredge becomes a kiddie film that 's worth an adult ticket , too .", "the packaging looks good for the most part . but there 's still some assembly required .", "the movie and its pint-size star clear all hurdles subtly and valiantly with a surplus of charm , saving kit kittredge : american girl from blandness and turning it into one of the summer 's most pleasing surprises .", "in a barbie world , american girl kit kittredge is a hero , and kit kittredge : an american girl is heroic .", "smart , empathetic , fun loving and , best of all , a delight for all audiences .", "a thoroughly satisfying and engaging children 's picture that never forgets those kids probably did n't get to the theater by themselves .", "it 's corny , but maybe it provides insight as to why american girl stories are drawn from a nostalgia-tinged past .", "for what it is and for whom it 's intended -lrb- young children -rrb- , kit kittredge works and works wonderfully .", "kit kittredge is proof of how far you can get with the right screenwriter -- in this instance one versed in children 's adventures 101 -- and director .", "kit kittredge : an american girl will please girls who appreciate determined young heroines and lessons in u.s. social and economic history .", "this is a sweet , g-rated story of 1930s girl power , with nary a princess in sight .", "kit kittredge could be primed for a series of sequels , yet as directed by patricia rozema , its elemental integrity seems in direct opposition to the blockbuster or sequel-mania that fuels hollywood .", "that kit largely succeeds is testament to not only its timing but also its craft .", "kit kittredge : an american girl is rife with feisty , generous pleasures .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t may seem like it 's part of a commercial juggernaut , but it 's also a well-made and well-acted family film .", "the story is n't bad and it has a good message , but the pacing drains all of the energy and fun out of what could have been an exceptional family movie .", "a gently thoughtful , audience-appropriate entertainment that assembles swell actors to play colorful characters who do n't shy away from depicting serious hard times .", "its realism is hollywood at its most hokey .", "kit kittredge is a film you walk out of and say , `` well , that was ok . '' then you move on with your life .", "manages a careful balance of entertainment and realism . it could be a shirley temple movie for our current hard times .", "the tweener girls for whom it is aimed deserve better . a mind is a terrible thing to waste .", "paved with such good intentions that it 's a shame to have to criticize it . alas , said good intentions can not stop the picture from being a decidedly dull and eventless experience .", "this classy , heart-on-its-sleeve movie is packed with laudable life lessons and depression-era trivia .", "a vibrant , character-filled mystery-comedy set during a depression that resembles the present all too much .", "a wholesome , family-friendly adventure so good you have to wonder why nobody seems to make movies like this anymore .", "a brand-new chick flick for the pre-teen set , it 's sweetly wholesome and unabashedly sentimental .", "a gem of a girl power tale for audiences of all genders , big and small , about a diminutive pre-feminist with a nose for news and an aversion to glass ceilings and the word ` no ' .", "a superb family film set in the depression era that salutes the spiritual values of openness and hospitality in the face of class prejudice .", "-lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- balance the pre-teen frivolity of kit 's adventures with a gentle -lrb- and now timely -rrb- history lesson about soup kitchens , selling eggs and other symbols of the great depression .", "earns its lunch with disarmingly upbeat sentimentality .", "the edifying lesson -- that helping others brings out the best in us -- should sit well with everyone .", "breslin keeps her cool and anchors the film in reality each time the camera crosses her face , but she fights a losing battle .", "there 's no reason why , if little girls are perfectly capable of enjoying the adventures of harry potter , little boys should n't be capable of enjoying the adventures of kit kittredge ...", "i think this film is very well-directed , and you have some very funny performances .", "the movie respects its young audience , it has a keen appreciation for what it means to be a child in a troubled world , and it knows that there 's plenty to be said for the optimism that comes with innocence .", "kit kittredge has many of the classic ingredients of a successful family tale , but it 's most notable success is in the unusual themes it brings to the forefront .", "when i have children , this is the kind of movie i hope they will like . it 's intelligent , it 's meaningful , and it does n't condescend to kids . in fact , it actually encourages kids to think .", "the movie gets by largely on its guileless , upbeat charm , and on those same qualities as found in abigail breslin .", "what could have been an oasis of quiet , thought provoking nostalgia turns out to be an utter bore . yes , it 's family friendly but it 's also entertainment exterminating .", "more depth than you would expect", "mostly , kit kittredge is exactly what you 'd expect -- a treacle-sweet , simplistic story about maintaining a stiff upper lip in the face of adversity , keeping your family together , and not judging a book by its cover .", "emotionally affecting but dramatically wobbly , `` kit kittredge : an american girl '' touchingly illustrates the sting of poverty without overly resorting to childish shenanigans .", "... sweet-tempered and endearing , mining several layers of nostalgia ...", "if only all family films could be this good .", "frankly , they are lucky to have this cast . breslin pretty much charms her way through some rough patches , and both cusack and tucci provide welcome comic relief .", "three cheers for kit and for producer julia roberts for making this movie everything the devoted fans of the american girls series hope for .", "kit kittredge is , as her movie and doll-line assert , an american girl , and so she 'll need to face up to her national history , embrace her responsibility , and learn a useful life lesson to boot .", "... girls who are into american girls will find kit kittredge to be an enormously pleasing romp with one of their favorite characters .", "kit kittredge is a dutiful bore .", "this tale of a little girl 's determination and grit during the depression is an honest-to-goodness family movie , one that parents and children can enjoy equally and together .", "with all the good will in the world , i could n't warm up to kit kittredge . the movie is like a 1930s or 1940s short about americans pulling together , stretched out to feature length .", "there 's nothing remotely cool about kit kittredge . that 's why it 's cool .", "kit kittredge is one of the best kid 's movies to come out in years . for a moment anyway , this film made me desperately want to be a kid again .", "and any film that plants such ideas in the cultural compost heap should be commended . here 's hoping they bloom .", "but then , kit , written by ann peacock and directed by patricia rozema , is that rare all-ages movie that never talks down to its audience and is n't afraid to use history to illuminate current times .", "why do so many family films think their young audiences are imbecilic ?", "the first feature film based on the highly popular american girl book series -- there have already been three made-for-television american girl movies -- plays out like a sweet-souled nancy drew mystery .", "no great shakes , but if it brings a few smiles to the younger audience members and some instant additions to their dollhouses , it will have achieved everything it set out to do .", "sweet and engaging adventure for all ages .", "quick -- name three subjects you think would result in a surefire family film hit . if you said the great depression , hobo culture , and the social pariah realities of both , you 'll love this movie .", "considering that it is inspired by one of the dolls in the american girl product line , kit kittredge : an american girl is some kind of a miracle : an actually good movie .", "refreshingly sincere and full of wholesome can-do spirit .", "this is the kind of girls ' film that the dads out there wo n't mind taking their daughters to and , i say , will enjoy it as well .", "kit kittredge is hopelessly vanilla entertainment , and while it 's sure to please some matinee attendees , it 's going to feel like a demonic endurance ritual to the less inclined .", "kit is sweet without being sappy , cute without being cloying .", "it appeals to kids while evoking genuine emotion without excessive sentimentality .", "kit kittredge is a gentle-spirited movie that also acknowledges the fact that we ca n't -- and should n't -- protect kids from everything .", "it 's fun , fast-paced , educational entertainment that 's fit for the whole family -- american boys included .", "while the script feels a little stiff and moralistic at times , it 's hard to fault a film with such an intelligent , good-hearted heroine .", "one of the 10 best american movies released so far this year , kit kittredge : an american girl is the surprisingly satisfying first theatrical film inspired by a long-running series of historically themed dolls .", "rozema delivers an elegantly spry children 's tale about nostalgic hardship and growing pains in the overly sentimental but uniquely inspiring kit kittredge .", "a fine film : for children and adults .", "though predictable and unabashedly sentimental , the film is a warmly appealing tale of a bright girl bravely navigating tough times .", "it 's not only fresh and unassuming , but a film that serves , very nicely , the severely underserved audience of young girls .", "` kit kittredge ' presents a wonderful role model for pre-teen girls -- and a humanistic history lesson about the great depression for all viewers .", "it 's hard to dislike a tween picture that opens with eleanor roosevelt , but if explaining mortgage meltdowns to their tots does n't sent parents screaming , the performances will .", "the acting is very good from this talented cast and the story is well-constructed and compelling .", "as surprising as finding vegetables in a bowl of vegetable soup , kit kittredge still comes as a little oasis of thoughtfulness in a summer largely devoted to property damage .", "with a plethora of violent and drug-related movies streaming into theaters faster than a star wars battleship , the heartfelt kit kittredge offers an enjoyable breath of fresh air .", "a cute dog , feisty kids , and a great big happy ending , everything an american girl fan would want out of the movie . that 's enough to please the parents , too .", "the movie would be more interesting if it were n't photographed in the amber glow we associate with kodak commercials and other happily-ever-after exercises in nostalgia .", "a very sweet family film , a cross between annie and nancy drew", "excellent performances , an intelligent script , rooted in the 30s , but timeless in its themes , make it an adventure and a delight , for all ages", "there i sat , alone in the dark , trying to figure out why no one else was in the theater for `` kit kittredge : an american girl . ''", "-lsb- t -rsb- he first two-thirds of kit kittredge often resembles spike lee 's underrated crooklyn or even fellini 's amarcord as a memory piece that mixes sentimentality and warmth with cruelty and heartbreak .", "at a time when kidflicks have turned raucous and crude , its inoffensive sweetness makes it a positively endearing throwback .", "younger girls will probably love kit 's antics and their parents wo n't find it too painful an experience , but it 's still only a serviceable and fairly mediocre family film at best .", "for a g-rated film , kit kittredge 's profound insight into the breakdown of society and families during the depression and the country 's subsequent rebirth is surprising .", "high production values , and a cast that includes joan cusack and stanley tucci , elevate the movie above its after-school-special limitations .", "breslin is sparkling in the lead role ." ], "summary": "refreshingly sweet and sincere , kit 's doll-and-book-inspired do-good mystery may be geared towards the tween girl but will please audiences of all ages .", "id": "770674256" }, { "movie": "resident_evil_apocalypse", "reviews": [ "if you are in the mood for leggy heroines blasting down zombie armies with absurdly large automatic weapons , the sequel to resident evil gives very good value for the money .", "for a brand-new movie , it feels very dated .", "shines in comparison to other entries in the lamest current genre of film : videogame-based movies .", "no one looking for nonstop violence , galloping gore , end-of - days-style hysteria or dogs slathered in barbecue sauce will come away disappointed .", "resident evil : apocalypse is the kind of movie that causes you to drink tequila until every brain cell in your head responsible for remembering the film is dead .", "plot and narrative ? minimal . confrontations ? endless . surprises ? none .", "witt injects the film with plenty of razzle-dazzle on the visual side , but the pace deadens whenever the zombies are offscreen or the characters open their mouths long enough to do anything more than grunt .", "there are a lot of `` ewwwwww '' moments .", "lightweight action entertainment .", "calamitously uninspired and borderline incoherent .", "the best thing is that director witt actually manages , amid the chaos , to centre on the characters and create people we can cheer for .", "overall , if you can accept alice as an enhanced bioweapon , and why not -- she is battling zombies after all , you should be able to sit back and enjoy the ride .", "this is strictly second-tier terror .", "it 's basically the same old 90-minute zombie shoot as before , just with louder guns and bigger explosions . and more shooting sparks . there 's a s -- load of shooting sparks .", "what the hell happened ? i had n't been more certain of a trainwreck since i heard tony danza was coming out with a new talk show ...", "is it utopian to expect better of the next first-person shooter that comes to the screen ?", "first-time director alexander witt is content to supply quick cuts of incomprehensible motion instead of lingering shots of the undead horde ; any suspense he attempts to create is quickly supplanted by histrionics .", "re2 's best reiteration , alice 's identity crisis , is refitted here to extend the game .", "resident evil : apocalypse has some shocks , but its flesh-chomping zombies and evil corporate honchos amount to the same old mayhem , just bigger and louder .", "the undead are back to stumbling in the dark , sometimes even in blurry slo-mo , making the many packs of them about as terrifying as the mobs waiting for matt and katie outside the today studio .", "as video game movies go , this one contains less plot and character development than pac-man .", "a frantic piece of filmmaking that invests nothing in the characters and moves much too fast for its own good .", "if creative bankruptcy was legally actionable , this film would be in chapter 11 .", "a zombie movie as dead-eyed and soulless as its walking dead villains .", "the longer the story goes on , the more it feels like a live action video game and not a real movie .", "-lsb- an -rsb- elaborate gory gaming gimmick . the feisty energy and revolving recklessness can not overcome the absurdity and superficial aspect of this unfocused hedonistic horror show", "i have n't seen action scenes shot and edited this badly since the 2002 remake of rollerball .", "marginally better than the first film , but that 's not saying very much .", "shocks the audience rather than entertain .", "a s\u00e9rie resident evil tamb\u00e9m se transformou em um morto-vivo . e j\u00e1 est\u00e1 devorando os c\u00e9rebros de seus espectadores .", "makes '' ` tomb raider '' look like an epic .", "it 's not good , but it 's enjoyable on a purely visceral level . it is an improvement over the first film in every possible factor .", "nemesis looks like what would happen if the toxic avenger ate the terminator . he fires a rocket launcher . stuff ` splodes , people die . get back to your cheetos .", "video games as action movies ? if angelina jolie could n't pull it off then milla jovoich surely ca n't .", "a joyless exercise infected with `` sequelitis '' and serves only as a forum for one explosion after another .", "when a movie gets us to start rooting for zombies to take down humans , and the effect is intentional , that 's a sign of skilled directorial manipulation", "... the latest cinematic proposition that apocalyptic disaster does n't bring out the worst in people , only the stupidest .", "it is not in the least bit scary and most of the best traditions of zombie films are ignored .", "sometimes i do n't think i get this whole sequel thing .", "resident evil : apocalypse is for those who found `` 28 days later '' too brainy .", "fans of the original film wo n't go away unhappy , but anyone hoping for more than another zombie slasher flick will likely be disappointed .", "anderson does n't just suck as a director he 's also a terrible writer , which i think makes him hollywood 's first legitimate black hole .", "alexander witt 's campy resident evil : apocalypse . may be brain dead , but it 's nonetheless also heartily , feverishly alive .", "a riveting , well-acted , above average example of the horror genre .", "just because a film is about the undead , that does n't mean the film itself has to feel like it was made by the undead or for the undead .", "loud , messy , senseless , pointless , and cheesy .", "milla jovovich still deserves much of the credit for the film 's short-term success .", "proves it 's not necessarily ` game over ' for the video-game movie genre .", "by-the-numbers gory horror flick -- not for kids .", "the thing is anderson and witt can not decide what to focus on .", "resident evil : apocalypse is utterly shameless whereas its predecessor tried to play things with a straight face .", "this lamely scripted sequel based on the popular video game begins where the tense , gruesome original ended but is quite inferior .", "another underwhelming entry to another underwhelming franchise .", "dumb , loud , and ludicrous in the extreme , and i actually enjoyed it .", "this is efficient , soul-numbing moviemaking , diverting enough for blistering september afternoons when what 's onscreen is secondary to how high they 've cranked the air conditioning .", "several visual nods to the game are amusing , but it 's tough to recommend the movie to anyone who does n't already own a playstation .", "not only does it offer nothing new , it offers something old , out of date and not very exciting .", "resident evil : apocalypse accomplishes the odd feat of having several things going on at once yet never being terribly exciting .", "so , if you 're into horror-action films , this is a good bet . if you 're into cerebral movies about the human condition , you 'll want to find another way to spend a couple hours .", "obviously padded , too long on action , and painfully short on irony .", "continues the story with increasingly diminishing results", "... dreadful piece of work .", "lovers of zombie films and action flicks should like this fast paced sequel .", "good dumb fun .", "unlike the lara croft films -- which at least infused their software female with a certain feminism -- resident evil : apocalypse is content to stick to big guns and basics .", "not good or even competent .", "rarely have so many bad accents been on display , from the wandering german of the evil major cain to could-that-be-russian ? of two soon to be chomped soldiers .", "even for one interested in bio-horror , re : a is pretty generic stuff .", "boast a substantial increase in the level of gory slaughter .", "almost nothing in the movie seems original .", "a painful watch for those not into video games or ` zombie action ' , but will please fans of the first film and the rabid gamer .", "there is nothing startlingly new in resident evil : apocalpyse , but it is delivered with some panache and humor .", "should please the target audience .", "like a cinematic twinkie , enjoyably diverting enough to sustain some action film fans until something more fulfilling comes along .", "those in charge looked at the earlier film and decided ... that there was just too darn much plot . so this time it 's just one tedious mutant smackdown after another", "the movie reflects superficial elements of the games without going near the reasons for the games ' true appeal .", "i do n't think there 's such a thing as a vegetarian zombie . or a vegan zombie . or a fruitarian zombie .", "the zombies have been replaced as a threat by a hulking mutant who looks like the love child of the feuding monsters in ` alien vs. predator . '", "i suppose if you keep milla dressed up with a hot outfits and a shotgun , the audience will keep coming", "amusant , pour peu que nos attentes tiennent compte des limites de ce genre de film .", "not ingenious by any stretch - the dialogue has moments of being undercooked and times where it 's pared too close to the bone to leave more room for action .", "okay , it ai n't shakespeare , not to mention romero ; but did we really need a scene in which a cop bungee-jumps from a helicopter , both guns blazing ?", "-lsb- i -rsb- f you 're looking for logic , abandon all hope . this is a movie where the dead come back to life as zombies and our heroes decide to take a shortcut through a cemetery .", "it 's junk , but it 's fun junk , and its target audience wo n't be disappointed .", "... you imagine yourself as alice , blowing away zombies and biochemical mutants , all while dexterously maneuvering your thumbs on your playstation controller .", "if you like tough chicks killing zombies , re : a is for you .", "it is approximately just as loud , gross and stupid as its predecessor was , and you get to see milla jovovich 's boobs . end of review .", "resident evil : apocalypse is a ` thank you ' note to gamers . this is the film fans were screaming for .", "more zombies , more babes , and yes - more dogs covered in k.c. masterpiece ... sometimes less is more , but sometimes more is really more .", "monstrous zombies rampage through a peaceful metropolis . carnage is everywhere . still , one ca n't help but yawn one 's way through resident evil : apocalypse .", "marginally better than the original , but viewers who are not acquainted with the video game will probably feel unimpressed .", "offers up more of everything : more bloody zombie dogs , more crazy corporate evildoers , more milla jovovich unclothed and more over-the-top action scenes .", "might not be quite as loud and dumb as its predecessor , but it 's darn close .", "a film without interest , wit , imagination or even entertaining violence and special effects .", "resident evil : apocalypse may offer a few cheap thrills , but the question remains : why let some hack filmmaker control the action when you can stay home and play the video game yourself ?", "it is , admittedly , pure trash . but it 's trash with a bit of flash and a resonant bad science message .", "it 's okay but just slightly catatonic .", "there is no acting or character development here -- just shouting , shooting and calisthenics .", "an unwanted , unnecessary and nearly unwatchable sequel to a movie that did n't deliver the goods in the first place .", "a movie geared exclusively to the atavistic fantasies of a 15-year-old male gamer .", "apocalypse is cheap , incoherent and remarkably free of the kind of gore you 'd expect to find in this kind of movie .", "like so many movies with a keypad for a brain , resident evil : apocalypse is another exercise in making us feel the irritation associated with having to stand behind some game hack for our turn to play .", "superior to the original film .", "re2 is a dreary , incoherent mess of a movie , failing on almost every conceivable level .", "-lsb- a film for -rsb- pre-brain playstation 11-year-old american males ...", "there are times when the film , just like the original , shows that it could be something more", "rent an old romero flick or hook up your nintendo ; either one will be cheaper and more satisfying .", "marks a departure from the original film in terms of structure , scope , and pacing . considering that the original was actually watchable , this is not an entirely good thing .", "an awful sequel to an awful film .", "nothing short of pathetic .", "fans of the games will have fun spotting the easter eggs on display , but precious little else . indeed , the chief horror here is the cliffhanger promising a third instalment .", "the heart plummets at the prospects for a follow-up .", "un autre exemple navrant qui permet \u0155 une initiative d\u00e9j\u0155 peu reluisante de se rapprocher un peu plus du fond du baril .", "in an era of resurgent zombie-flick creativity -lrb- 28 days later , dawn of the dead -rrb- , this leaden mindlessness is nothing short of pathetic .", "creatively bankrupt trash made by a committee of hacks who do n't know the first thing about generating suspense , frights , or cohesive storytelling .", "loud and stupid ... movie about the undead should appeal only to the brain dead .", "... one of the most annoying , redundant and uninteresting movies of the year .", "i liked the first movie , but please , let the game be over before it gets any stupider .", "most of the zombie footage looks like outtakes from michael jackson 's thriller video - minus the rhythm", "one big , stinking bomb ... a drearily repetitive collection of tepid battle scenes , thrown together with little skill and less imagination .", "witt ca n't even match anderson 's tremendously limited range , and uses `` apocalypse '' as his calling card for a future career that should never come to fruition at any costs .", "with apologies to joe bob ... countless dead bodies . six breasts...beer-swilling cowboy zombie-sniper . demon dogs ... gratuitous accents ... graveyard fu ...", "lives up -lrb- or down -rrb- to every possible expectation and is possibly the best trashy movie since ... well , since the original ` resident evil ' ." ], "summary": "resident evil : apocalypse has lots of action , but not much in terms of plot or creativity .", "id": "13013" }, { "movie": "hot_fuzz", "reviews": [ "not quite as inspired as `` shaun of the dead '' but near as damn it .", "the soaring , rocking climax more than justifies any pacing issues mid-movie and pays off perfectly with the same winking deftness that arrested development episodes exhibited when tying multiple lines together .", "wright and pegg have clearly done their homework ; their familiarity with action movie cliches is deep enough that they do n't always have to go for the easy or obvious joke .", "the characters are more fully rounded than the heroes of the bruckheimer films being aped .", "hilarious and intelligent in every frame , the brilliance of `` MOV '' is simply arresting .", "pegg in a stellar comic performance lifts the film from being a mere applaudable satire to a first-class entertainment . imagine jimmy stewart in `` animal house '' or steve mcqueen in `` road trip . ''", "MOV n ` a donc rien \u0155 envier aux productions dont il soutire ses grandes lignes , lesquelles servent g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement un r\u00e9cit qui a le culot de se prendre au s\u00e9rieux", "the dialogue is packed with jokes and the script is packed with subtle sight gags and references to other cop movies .", "after seeing MOV i doubt it 'll be possible to keep a straight face during a michael bay movie again -- assuming one could ever do such a thing in the first place .", "MOV feels like the work of a bunch of friends who sat around overdosing on action movies before deciding that they should go and make their own . with some films , what i 've just written would be an insult ; with this one , it 's a compliment .", "edgar wright and simon pegg , the makers of spaced -lrb- one of the greatest sitcoms of all time -rrb- and shaun of the dead -lrb- certainly the funniest horror movie ever made -rrb- , have done it again with MOV .", "actor/co-screenwriter simon pegg and his fellow star nick frost were responsible for the laughs in wright 's `` shaun of the dead , '' and this time the team reunites for a more ambitious and pumped-up project that is equally as funny .", "just who do these sneaky brits think they are , coming over here and mocking our national treasures ?", "edgar wright and simon pegg 's follow-up effort to their smash success shaun of the dead skillfully eludes the dread sophomore slump .", "if you see MOV , you 'll never again watch a michael bay film without howling with disrespectful laughter .", "on the strength of shaun of the dead , his droll zombie bash , the spot-on do n't scream trailer in grindhouse and now this , director edgar wright is one of the four or five contemporary directors of comedy worth watching .", "this combination parody of agatha christie and michael bay turns out to be pretty funny stuff ... a police academy with brains .", "blessed with an airtight script , a sterling cast of comedic actors , and a director in peak form , MOV is an arresting farce sure to keep audiences locked up with laughter .", "for most of its running time , it 's an enjoyably unpretentious celebration of the guilty pleasure we can take from a stupid-as-all-get-out car chase or from watching things blow up real good .", "if you do n't laugh , you 're likely a straight-faced fan of bad boys ii , and there 's your first problem .", "desperation undercuts potential comedy .", "a high octane , sweetly appealing , absolutely hilarious cop actioner . i never thought all those elements could be rolled together so brilliantly ...", "MOV is everything an action-comedy should be . it achieves through parody what most films in the genre ca n't accomplish straight .", "funnier than `` shaun , '' and with a more prestigous cast .", "simply put , MOV is like an agatha christie novel directed by michael bay , with some graphic death scenes thrown in for good measure", "goofy ? you bet . funny ? yes , indeed .", "when playing upon the clich\u00e9s of the gruff , melting-heart mentor and the newly hardened pupil , MOV crackles .", "because this culture-clash comedy has real characters , a real story and a real big payoff , the two-hour length is a light sentence .", "it 's as laceratingly entertaining as its predecessor .", "though it 's no monty python , MOV is a clever , over-the-top marriage of mayhem and merriment .", "like a more carefree tarantino , obviously the product of guys intoxicated by the strange wine of b-cinema .", "fans of both british humor and american action flicks will be well pleased by this charming comedy .", "` MOV ' pokes fun at buddy cop movie clich\u00e9s , but wright also delivers action scenes worthy of the films he 's satirizing .", "outrageously funny ... the movies pegg and wright are parodying are mindless , yet the movie they 've made is marvelously witty .", "any movie that so tightly and sincerely loves `` point break '' ca n't be bad . riotously funny and righteously explosive on its own terms , `` MOV '' is the sharpest , cheekiest , most rollicking action-comedy since `` kiss kiss bang bang . ''", "this film does n't rely on cheap gags or fart jokes for its humor . MOV is what you expect from a good satire , a lot of laughs , smart writing , and a cast talented enough to deliver the goods .", "when a true comic masterpiece comes around that 's truly a cause for celebration . start celebrating : it 's here .", "starts looking exactly like the films it 's parodying .", "i had to ask myself : am i really watching what is , in essence , michael bay 's midsomer murders ? i realized yes . yes i am .", "it 's so effortlessly formed , so wholly its own entity that you consistently find yourself giddy with satisfaction at how good the film makes you feel . in a domain that 's forgotten how to satisfy , MOV is the very definition of a crowd pleaser .", "MOV plays like a funny movie you wish were even funnier -lrb- fuzz that 's actually quite warm might be a more accurate title -rrb- .", "when it comes to a movie as consistently hilarious as MOV , it 's better to have too much of a good thing than too little .", "a breakneck action-comedy that could put the final digit on lethal weapon and its kind , if there is any mercy .", "deflates the pomp of the action genre 's posturing with hilarious precision .", "sitting through this 2 hour , four minute gawdawful mess was literally painful .", "does for british cops what shaun of the dead did for the undead -- and that 's a good thing .", "the jokes can be broad one minute , subtle the next . the main thing is , they 're funny .", "MOV could easily have lost 20 minutes or so in jittery montages and stylized set pieces . but for viewers in the mood for smart-stupid slapstick , it 's a diverting jape .", "an exuberant , ultraviolent and uproarious satire .", "sure to appeal to fans of action thrillers , as well as devotees of shaun of the dead .", "rarely have we seen a british comedy in which the protagonists are armed to the teeth with both wit and automatic weapons .", "for a movie based on the stunted mental development and perfect action timing of american crime-fighting pics , MOV has surprisingly little idea of how to get to its point , or when .", "pacing problems aside , MOV is a lot of fun . if only filmmakers would remember that with comedy , less is more .", "MOV is every bit the free-wheeling , anarchic and deadpan-funny follow-up to shaun of the dead you could ask for .", "overall MOV could use a bit more speed to outrun its demons .", "fuzz does for overpumped cop action what shaun did for flesh-eating brainlessness : sends up the genre 's plentiful absurdities in a movie that 's put together better than most serious films of the same type .", "MOV is warm at the beginning , too cool in the middle and boiling at the end -- which makes it too close to lukewarm .", "these bad boys are obviously having fun , and so will you .", "MOV may not be quite at its predecessor 's mark , but the cast sure is -- they 're all , every last one of them , shauns of the deadpan .", "the evil geniuses behind shaun of the dead take dead-on aim at overblown buddy-cop movies . it 's hard to imagine having more fun in a theater without being arrested .", "david lynch with a funny bone . roman polanksi with whimsy . jerry bruckheimer with a sense of irony .", "it 's a triumph of complicated tone that solidifies wright as a top shelf director and pegg and frost as this generation 's answer to abbott and costello .", "it 's a little gloomier , a little coarser , and a lot more cerebral -- oh , and funnier than all the reno 911 ! boxed sets combined .", "deeply nuts and exhaustingly hilarious .", "what you get from MOV is what you rarely see from hollywood : something genuinely smart and silly at the same time , a film and filmmakers that respect their characters , their audience and the genre at which they lovingly poke fun .", "this movie wants to tickle the funny bone while telling a story that 's worth telling . for the most part , -lsb- director -rsb- wright achieves this aim .", "MOV is fun , and it 's nice to see all the english character actors who are n't busy in harry potter films , but it lacks its predecessor 's freshness .", "it has more laughs per scene than any film of its kind since the naked gun movies .", "wright and pegg know the genre and its codes too well to only be derisive of it . they 're having fun with it , sure , but they 're never mocking it .", "`` MOV '' a joyous grab bag thrill .", "it 's to the lethal weapon movies what left-hand driving on a country lane is to a freeway chase : pokey , more than a little daft , but with a bloody surprise around every hedge .", "think of MOV , a british parody of hollywood-style action flicks , as the full monty blown to smithereens .", "what those hilarious shaun of the dead guys did for zombie flicks , they do for buddy-cop movies in MOV . be careful not to call it a spoof , though .", "this send-up of buddy-cop movies is a thoroughly entertaining blend of wry british humor and climactic , over-the-top action-film heroics .", "it 's hard to imagine much need to spoof the likes of bad boys ii . but the ludicrously charming british import MOV is a reminder that there 's always a call to dispatch the self-important with humor .", "MOV is the funniest send-up of slam-bang action mayhem since team america : world police .", "the transplanted action cliches mix easily with the eccentric english characters , and as a director wright is adept at framing and cutting for excitement as well as laughs .", "the straight-faced spoof is really quite funny , if you can get beyond the graphic gore and mind-numbing final 30 minutes .", "MOV does for buddy cop flicks what shaun of the dead did for zombie films .", "the jokes fly past like bullets , propelled by wright 's rapid-fire editing style and a few funny excesses in gore .", "there is n't a scene in edgar wright 's MOV that 's as deliriously funny as his minute-long contribution to grindhouse .", "MOV appears to be england 's attempt to prove to hollywood that it can make brawny , blustery blockbusters every bit as noisy as those churned out by tinseltown on a weekly basis .", "it 's its own unique creature ... -lsb- but -rsb- just as visually lively , just as crammed full of clever and literate wordplay , just as screamingly hilarious as shaun of the dead .", "... such a dead-on parody of the michael bay school of loud , senseless and bombastic action cinema that it gave me an authentic bad boys headache .", "you never quite grasp just how bad most comedies are until you see one as good as MOV .", "a bit of a disappointment ... if only in the sense that it should have been even better . chop out 20 minutes or so , and this thing would be blinding .", "since MOV is from the guys who brought us shaun of the dead , you can expect more of the same attention to detail , heartfelt homages to the genre , elaborate set pieces , flawless comedic timing , and ace acting augmented by top-notch writing .", "the funniest film of 2007 .", "-lsb- a -rsb- very funny cop comedy .", "serpico meets the zombies at high noon as pegg and frost take a stab at the mock buddy cop movie with some funny lines but overall mixed results .", "it 's overlong , and finally falls apart , stuttering towards a number of indecisive endings . but mostly it 's a smart , funny , affectionate love letter to all things uncool - and far more skilful than its self-effacing humour suggests .", "a direct-to-video film in the best possible way . sat cold with popcorn , the 1-d scatter-gags are three-star cinema . but as post-pub fodder for the chuckle-happy ? it 's a five-star masterpiece . my advice ? go drunk .", "a straight-faced british spoof of everything from yank crimers and slasher pics to agatha christie whodunits and homoerotic u.s. buddy movies .", "it is funny , inventive , furiously paced and the audience is expected to be as knowledgeable about hollywood cop films as is the local policeman assisting angel .", "almost without cracking a smile , it 's thoroughly hilarious .", "two hours of some of britain 's finest contemporary comedy writing .", "if you 'd like to see exploding heads among the hedgerows , this is your movie .", "endearingly overstuffed ... curiously high-strung ... -lsb- but has -rsb- a pleasing sense of the absurd ...", "another middle of the road movie in which most of the best bits were already blown in the trailers .", "in director edgar wright and pegg 's tight script , the humor works on several levels .", "edgar wright and co. aim their blazing automatics directly at the insularity , small-mindedness and tacit bigotry of little britain .", "mr. wright is a talented filmmaker who has clearly studied the masters of the genre he 's roasting .", "it 's such a vibrant goof , so full of love both for the movies and for its cast of ridiculous characters that you forgive it the odd soggy stretch .", "it 's a movie that is literally , painfully funny , insofar as i occasionally laughed so hard that i thought my chest was about to collapse .", "with a fine image and sound transfer and a worthwhile collection of hearty extras , MOV is now in the running for the title of dvd of the year .", "past a certain point , one requires more from smart and enthusiastic fans than a reiteration of their fanhood .", "bad boys meets shaun of the dead .", ".", "yet another excellent m\u00e9lange of movie genres from britain 's team of edgar wright , simon pegg and nick frost .", "... lives up to expectations even if it ca n't exceed the hype .", "my patented scientific method for objectively judging comedy reveals a favorable chuckle-to-groan ratio , one dozen solid out-and-out laughs , and four roll-out-of-your-seat moments of uncontrollable hilarity .", "so brilliantly clever that it 's guaranteed a place as one of the funniest movies ever made .", "a pace and a premise that defies gravity , sending some of the laughs over some heads .", "hysterical - a laugh riot . a high caliber mix of silly , smart , and odd humor propels this quirky story along with fervor . great editing .", "there 's no denying that the filmmakers know how to set up and deliver a gag and that their handiwork is consistently hilarious .", "a hilarious send-up to police action films like super cop and bad boys 2 , fuelled by british black humour and a few cartoonish but great gore gags .", "wright brings you close to the characters as well as to the action . it makes all the difference , as the dream team of pegg and frost lace the mayhem with mirth . it 's a blast .", "the humor is dry and the satire raw .", "a beautiful action film that 's over the top without being ridiculous and unique without being absurd .", "MOV supplies jokes while also striving to provide overblown shoot - 'em - up kicks , a fine line straddled with aplomb thanks to a nicely modulated -lrb- if overly long -rrb- script .", "manages to find humor not just in the mundane existence of a small town but also in the overblown nature of action films . and , it works as an action movie on its own .", "it 's a perfect spoof of the once popular action genre , that 's highlighted by the chemistry of pegg and frost .", "works because they set out to make a faithful genre picture just as equally as a comedy . the film is even funnier because they never sacrifice plot or character for a laugh .", "MOV , edgar wright 's follow-up to his extremely popular zombie satire shaun of the dead -lrb- 2004 -rrb- , improves on the latter 's strong points in every conceivable way while drastically tightening up its weakest elements .", "there 's real fondness not just for the crash-a-tons being referenced , but also for a homey , practically imaginary england", "from paying homage to michael bay 's camera motions to kicking an old lady square in the kisser , this film holds nothing back and fires away with tons of laughs .", "the makers of shaun of the dead have done it again . this time they have combined a classic cop-buddy movie with a quaint town in england , and yes , laughs definitely ensue .", "the opening premise of MOV is like the recipe for a simple concept comedy : overachieving cop in underachieving village , and it works to set the all important tone in this funnily ridiculous film .", "... as if a cop movie spoof had been awkwardly rammed into a seriously splatter film , with a big , violent blowout finale to blur the lines between the two .", "it 's overlong and not always precisely on target but neither self-congratulating nor condescending -- and a fine , funny contribution to english-american mutual amusement besides .", "a fitfully funny movie , but one that lacks the extra layers that nudged shaun of the dead toward b-movie greatness .", "this rude , bodily fluid-spattered romp is like the red bull version of every bad buddy police picture a little lethal weapon , a lot of bad boys , and waaaaay too much point break .", "what prevents MOV from crossing over into already well-travelled naked gun territory is the constant bouncing of high-hollywood style and the timid , teatime setting .", "what will wright and pegg set their targets for next ? i do n't know , but i 'll be watching .", "only people who have an equal fondness for strolls through english cottage gardens and dirty harry movies are going to fall madly in love with the film , but just about everybody is going to like it .", "director edgar wright , scripting with star simon pegg , winds it up and lets it fly . the result , even hitting its target , tends to splat .", "director wright and his co-writer , pegg , tap their inner jerry bruckheimers in this highly amusing action comedy .", "one is tempted to label this a british police academy film , but it 's a far smarter , more visceral , and energetic kin , and even has an honest-to-goodness mystery plot to propel it along .", "this perfectly executed piece of movie-making brilliance sets the bar awfully high for every other comedy destined to come out this year .", "although MOV is a good 30 minutes too long -lrb- the ending -- or endings -- are endless -rrb- , it is also good for long stretches of laughs .", "surely the funniest film you 'll see this year .", "even without the inspired idea of shaun of the dead it 's an easy match for laughs , and marks nick frost as a vital part of this team 's appeal . the boys -lrb- now in blue -rrb- have done it again .", "who 'd have thought pc comedy could be so much fun ?", "a movie you 'll still want to see again , if only to get all the mini-jokes .", "the movie , in many ways , is agatha christie getting triumphantly butt **** ed by michael bay . with jokes . and more than a dash of genius .", "... something all too rare in movie comedies : a story rather than a string of disjointed skits , with hearty characters behind its caricatures .", "go , laugh and try to figure out the mystery . but be warned : you 'll be checking your watch before it 's over .", "MOV may not quite hit the same level of raucous mayhem -lsb- as shaun of the dead -rsb- . but i think it 's even sharper and funnier , and wright and pegg never run out of ideas .", "the characters are brilliantly drawn to be comical , but lovable at the same time ... the dialogue is hilarious ... the actors are perfect with each deadpan delivery and reaction .", "it 's a ridiculous plot , but one that 's absolutely in the spirit of the films they 're satirizing .", "equal parts action , buddy movie , and police spoof , MOV fights to stretch genre lines and manages to worship through homage while creating a new story that 's truly entertaining .", "this is as brilliant a deconstruction of any genre i 've seen since clint eastwood 's unforgiven .", "MOV is rare in that it builds character development just as much as it aims for a punchline , and this is one aspect that is most appreciated .", "looks comparable to shaun , but underneath , it 's an inferior film", "rather than buckling under all those old cop movies , MOV is more like the result of them .", "like a creaky roller coaster rattling to its precarious summit , MOV is often thrilling because it does n't feel quite safe . beneath the surface of this british action-comedy lurks the beating heart of a slasher film that might have been .", "pegg and wright are armed with an endlessly impressive arsenal of attention grabbers , from witty editing tricks to a wry soundtrack and a joke-packed script that demands multiple viewings .", "a perfect example of a crisp script that is hilarious to boot !", "at the end of the year , MOV may be both your favorite comedy and your favorite action movie of 2007 , and that 's no joke .", "i think they go a little gun crazy in the final reel . bullets shot from the imagination of these guys are fun . zombies were merely funnier .", "made with razor wit and continual invention and far , far fresher than not only hollywood buddy-cop movies but also hollywood 's own spoofs of them .", "the u.s. audience may be stung to find beloved action clich\u00e9s desecrated , but these britheimers are on to something .", "MOV runs a bit long for a cop spoof , but it is also one of the funniest law enforcement comedies this side of the naked gun .", "summer has n't arrived , but the funniest riff on a summer movie genre has already landed .", "the collection of oddball characters is as zany as any ensemble cast you 're likely to see .", "it 's the lack of any serious intent that means too much of it is desperately unamusing , and unamusingly desperate .", "hilarious from start to finish , thanks to a terrific cast , inventive direction and a brilliantly written script .", "it has one thing its predecessors never had : a nice cup of tea and some biscuits once the dust has settled .", "the film that MOV reminded me of most was the boys in blue , in which cannon and ball played rural bobbies suddenly confronted with a real crime to solve . as you can probably guess , it was n't much cop . and neither is this .", "plenty of irrepressible fun ... and big , regular laughs .", "the eye-popping action is worthy of the blockbusters it lampoons and a razor-sharp script packed with top one-liners make this easily the most arresting brit-com of 2007 .", "wright and pegg 's second film is n't as good as their first . that 's a common enough problem and shaun of the dead raised ridiculously high expectations .", "the same impish -lsb- spaced -rsb- spirit is uncorked here , but it has been fatally indulged .", "it 's not a perfect template - running motifs are glaringly flagged up and there are at least two too many climaxes - but for both gags and thrills , few current british filmmakers come close .", "the first half 's a blast , but as the comedy / action / horror / parody piles up , MOV cools down . needs more of a short , sharp schlock .", "destroys the line between parody and homage .", "less than a week after i called grindhouse the best movie ever made , i saw a movie i may like even more ... the best made movie since lord of the rings .", "all the action is staged with energy , but it gets relentless without anything really funny going on .", "this is n't the kind of comedy that you need to see more than once . it is one that you will want to see again and again just for the sheer pleasure .", "... possesses an uneven vibe that 's generally easy enough to overlook , thanks mostly to wright and star simon pegg 's thoroughly irreverent screenplay and the inclusion of several enormously entertaining performances .", "if there were people who worried that shaun of the dead was a fluke , MOV should put their minds to rest .", "like `` shaun of the dead , '' `` MOV '' is distinguished by the sweetness of its parody . this is not the work of hyper-referencing wiseass geeks , and there may be no more purely enjoyable movie now playing .", "... almost as much fun to watch as it was to make .", "a refreshing change of pace , MOV is more than a spoof flick . it parodies and honors it source material at the same time , and reminds us that dumb action movies are always more fun when sprinkled with a bright -lrb- if not self-aware -rrb- sense of humor", "as far as comedies go , i think -lsb- wright 's -rsb- movies are the best things out there .", "the movie duly quickens into pursuits of every speed , and the homage to action thrillers is there in the smallest detail ; the clicking of a ballpoint pen , say , is amplified to sound as menacing as the cocking of a gun .", "it ai n't shakespeare but its hot fun . nothing more , nothing less .", "cleverly skewers three completely disparate genres and does so with a wry smile and a lot of bombast", "if frank drebin investigated the wicker man , `` do n't ! '' miss this fun , violent tribute to the absurdity of michael bay .", "wright and pegg have topped shaun of the dead by trans -lrb- atlantic -rrb- planting a whole gaggle of genres .", "the sensibility is jerry bruckheimer at ealing studios , and it does n't work ; the british whimsy and deadpan observational humor is overwhelmed by the tiresome bloat , blood and noise lifted from the spoofed source material .", "MOV is more comfortable as a play on action films than it is as social satire .", "more fun than a firkin full of simians -- make that two firkins full of simians -- edgar wright 's MOV is everything you could hope for in a parody .", "dispassionate dispatching of humans as cinematic road kill . bloody funny bloodletting , if that 's your thing .", "deliciously over-the-top in its comical calculations , this frantic farce cuts to the chase as it rapidly delivers the pithy punches ." ], "summary": "the brilliant minds behind shaun of the dead successfully take a shot at the buddy cop genre with MOV . the result is a bitingly satiric and hugely entertaining parody .", "id": "387405167" }, { "movie": "carlos_2010", "reviews": [ "an imaginative but exhausting study of a man who embodied the shifting sands of history .", "there are ups and downs to international terrorism as a career and MOV lays them out very fairly .", "it 's a dynamite movie , and you can see it in the full 330-minute version or the 140-minute cut . either way , see it . it 'll knock you sideways .", "directed by the eclectic olivier assayas , it 's a three-part made-for-tv movie that offers compelling watching but not much insight .", "one of the most detailed and enthralling political dramatic thrillers ever made .", "olivier assayas ' three-part drama about MOV the jackal , the venezuelan-born radical-marxist terrorist of the '70s and '80s , is a rivetingly journalistic account of a scoundrel 's rise and fall .", "a terrifying portrait of an egomaniac who demands absolute obedience , and craves it even more when his power and relevance are drained away .", "it manages to deliver a steady stream of action thrills even as it reconsiders the international terrorism of the 1960s and '70s for lessons important today .", "it is one of the best pictures of the year .", "like `` the baader-meinhof complex '' , this is a largely pointless exercise meant to deliver the same kind of cheap thrills as `` bonnie and clyde '' or the mesrine flicks . at least with straight-ahead gangster movies , you do n't get the liberal moralizing .", "the film is a fascinating , fictionalized , notably sexually charged account of the two-decade reign of terror masterminded and carried out by this lone radical `` soldier . ''", "assayas , hopping the globe from bloody episode to bloody episode with little pause for reflection , offers a concise history in how radical political violence played out across europe during the final cold war years .", "it 's a subtle , ultimately staggering portrayal of a bloody-minded ideologue who convinced only himself .", "even in it 's watered-down 2 1/2 hour cut , MOV remains a stunning piece of work . this is a star-making performance for edgar ramirex .", "ramirez 's outstanding performance and assayes ' superb skill in storytelling make this a mini-series not to be missed .", "the fictionalised account of MOV 's personal life is intriguing , but the deeper root of his anger remains unclear beyond the rhetoric .", "absolutely brilliant work from assayas , the most impressive film of his career , and quite an astounding career turn for ramirez as well .", "MOV suggests that the genre-hopping assayas could maximize his own ambition even within the tight confines of a prison drama .", "-lrb- video -rrb- \u00e9dgar ram\u00edrez 's fleshy portrayal of the enigmatic MOV is a mesmerizing high-wire act of incredible precision .", "the length of the scene ties in to the unhurried , forensic calm of MOV as a whole .", "it 's a great , charismatic performance from edgar ram\u00edrez , who really goes the distance ...", "MOV gives hipsters munich minus the moral conviction and dramatic cogency that hipsters fashionably distrust . it 's being presented in two versions : 330 minutes and 165 minutes , one as emotionally flat as the other .", "this is bravura filmmaking . it is mobile and muscular , and yet never glorifies its protagonist 's callous , pathetic and often hilariously misfiring bids for a place in the annals of history .", "... a wild ride through two decades of shifting political winds .", "while ` MOV the film ' is an inflated action movie , MOV the monster-man remains as enigmatic as before", "ambitious , persuasive account of `` MOV '' s\u00e1nchez , whose use of terrorism changed the world , with a breakthrough performance by edgar ram\u00edrez .", "both a powerhouse piece of docudrama-thriller filmmaking and a cannily politicized work .", "MOV is mostly tense and thrilling , revealing the poisonous side of global citizenship .", "MOV was like a terrorist version of james bond , a high-living , jet-setting playboy terrorist for hire .", "mesmerizing 5-hour-30-minute biopic .", "MOV deserves mention alongside the greatest suspense thrillers ever made .", "it 's this downtime that finally , finally begins to show some cracks in MOV ' armor . it slowly becomes clear that MOV is nothing but surface .", "the term `` epic '' often gets bandied around to describe movies that do n't really fit the description . but olivier assayas ' MOV is the real deal ...", "absorbing", "MOV is relentlessly tense and exciting .", "MOV is a television-drama-turned-movie that interestingly injects a boxset quality into its idea of epic .", "a wizardly piece of brutal , romantic filmmaking , it makes old-fashioned beret-based terrorism look a thrill .", "MOV is a smart piece of filmmaking that delivers thrilling sequences and does n't pander -- grounding its idealistic character in a sea of contradictions .", "why turn a movie into a marathon ? because time may be fleeting , but it 's mysteriously elastic as well . once you 've committed to an experience as intense as this one , hours become much less than the sum total of their minutes .", "a daunting and yet completely engrossing look at the life of the infamous international terrorist who came to prominence in the 1970s", "it 's obviously not meant to be funny , but in a way it is .", "MOV is exciting entertainment , even if its subject 's two-decade reign of terror is reprehensible .", "una pel\u00edcula narrada con mucho rigor y nervio , que logra reconstruir a la perfecci\u00f3n la atm\u00f3sfera y las tensiones geo-pol\u00edticas de la \u00e9poca en la que est\u00e1 ambientada . gran trabajo del venezolano edgar ram\u00edrez en el rol titular .", "assayas returns with a hulking , seething , intermittently sublime , five-and-a-half hour film in which he manages to draw together elements from both of these distinct styles .", "shot by shot , scene by scene , it 's a fluid and enthralling piece of work . i was n't bored for a millisecond .", "it matches moments of globetrotting , bourne-like cloak-and-dagger intrigue with the documentary precision of a police investigation determined to leave nothing uncovered .", "goes on for longer than a kidney transplant op .", "we should probably mention that all those hours and all those actors , languages and events notwithstanding , MOV flies by at a brisk pace .", "following a venezualan 's decade-long climb up the global terror ladder", "killer stuff .", "the apex of director olivier assayas 's already impressive career , it 's a landmark of pop politics taken to extremes .", "it absolutely whizzes by .", "olivier assayas 's ambitious biography of the venezuelan-born terrorist known as MOV the jackal features some spectacular filmmaking and well-considered performances .", "a long and complex film -lrb- five and a half hours -rrb- that seems to go by in a series of vivid flashes .", "the ambition , scope and drive impress greatly , as does ram\u00edrez , who nails his character 's fascinating contradictions .", "a suspenseful , captivating and provocative thriller that 's epic in scope and boasts a powerful , star-making performance by edgar ram\u00edrez .", "in its full-length version , MOV stretches out to a languorous yet surprisingly taut five and a half hours , though it has also been cut down to an equally effective -- though not as detailed -- two-and-a-half-hour version .", "a whole bunch of dense and interesting drama , and an honest effort to reckon with a challenging history that continues to resonate in our own time .", "-lsb- a -rsb- hypnotic and sprawling five-hour-plus piece of cinematic genius from master french filmmaker olivier assayas ...", "MOV steps into the abyss created by the loss of political hope and fills it with blood and terror , playing to the faithful with anti-imperialist rhetoric and a pantomime of that old-time revolutionary feeling .", "here 's the bottom line : would people be singing the praises of this film if it was equally well-made but was the story of mohamed atta ? a terrorist is a terrorist ." ], "summary": "despite its hefty running time , MOV moves along briskly , thanks to an engaging story , exotic locales , and a breakout performance by edgar ramirez .", "id": "771253374" }, { "movie": "solitary_man", "reviews": [ "michael douglas could read the telephone book and it would be entertaining . he gives an acting clinic in this character study of a despicable womanizer . the bottom line is an unforgettable lead performance that stays with you long after the ...", "thanks particularly to smart dialogue and an oscar worthy performance by douglas , ` MOV ' is a charismatic 90 minutes of drama as we observe a man determined to self destruct .", "compared to ben kalmen , the aggressively amoral former car dealer douglas portrays in MOV , gekko is an upright guy .", "like his father kirk , michael douglas is master at playing a repellent jerk .", "the comedy-drama is too downbeat for its own good , and the character is self-destructive and unsavory to the point of being completely unsympathetic .", "the empty guy at the beginning of this movie is pretty much the same empty guy by its end .", "if the ongoing meltdown of an obnoxious a ** hole 's three-quarter-life crisis is your idea of a good time , have at it .", "wicked , blunt writing , a great supporting cast and douglas doing variations of other sleazy womanizers he 's played make this a tart , terse treat .", "the actors are all charged up , too ; there 's just nowhere in this script for them to go .", "a master of the cinematic masters of the universe , douglas has inadvertently become our tour guide through the bloodlust of the american careerist . if he ca n't help us understand the pathology , no one can .", "the role is so tailor-made for douglas , who has put in years of screen time on the horizontal , that the rest of the story has to fit in around him , leaving scant room for maneuver .", "the role is suitable only for a titan , and that 's exactly what it gets .", "sparkling showcase for michael douglas as a disgraced businessman attempting a comeback but brought down by his libido . a strong supporting cast and a witty script almost compensate for a facile finale .", "-lsb- douglas ' -rsb- performance finds and holds that crucial harmony between fearful thoughts and the foolhardy deeds they motivate .", "this enigmatic dramedy is an actor 's showcase , if there ever was one , representing a beacon of quality in a summer filled with popcorn pictures .", "this sinner is just surrounded by too many saints .", "douglas is terrific , delivering one of the best performances of his career .", "basically a character study , and douglas brings the character vividly to life .", "douglas reveals himself as a veteran actor , familiar from dozens of other movies over the last 40 years , who 's still capable of doing his best work ; who can still surprise us .", "a sharp , small-scale comedy of male misbehavior that turns out to be one of this dreary spring 's pleasant cinematic surprises .", "-lsb- douglas -rsb- brilliantly shows how ben transitioned from a salesman to a cad , while all along being just a sheep in wolf 's clothing .", "in its scruffy , take-me-or-leave-me way , it deserves attention .", "why do we keep watching this sad , sad man ? because he 's ecstatic as long as he avoids facing reality , and douglas makes that ecstasy a marvelous thing to behold .", "well , it 's official - nobody 's better at playing narcissistic megalomaniac rich guys than michael douglas .", "michael douglas is at his best when playing a character at his worst .", "nobody does sagging male vanity as well as douglas . buoyed by director brian koppelman 's sharp script and a stellar supporting cast , he makes ben 's skid into the ditch mesmerizing .", "has an unwavering focus of a flawed but interesting character and a solid performance from douglas as a charmer who 's skated by for too long .", "it 's a pretty good version of this sort of movie , but do you need to see this sort of movie again ?", "the film is all about ben kalman , but one of the strengths of michael douglas ' performance is that he is n't playing a character . he 's playing a character who is playing a character .", "by the fourth time michael douglas wakes up hungover and shirtless on a sour double bed , we get it : he 's old . can we move on ?", "a walking , talking screenplay .", "koppelman?s script is awash in phony scenarios .", "michael douglas gives his most accomplished and satisfying peformance in a decade -lrb- since wonder boys in 2000 -rrb- , playing a role that suits him like a silk glove .", "full review at movies for the masses", "douglas has a good supporting cast to work with though -- he 's not the whole show despite appearing in every scene .", "gripping drama about getting older ; with drinking , sex .", "there 's no likeability anywhere in this film .", "the film begins and ends with scenes of acute existential reflection , a state actors rarely convey convincingly-least of all in a contemporary american film .", "a terrific turn by douglas , and strong support , elevates this character-driven drama above its unlikeable protagonist .", "the film 's knotty relationships and crisp dialogue are surpassed only by douglas ' captivating turn as a troubled heel whose pathetic behavior fools no one , least of all himself .", "MOV is a movie about watching a guy spin his wheels while figuring things out . douglas has that down pat , selling us the best smarm money can buy , and his scenes with devito , parker and sarandon are perfect dances of evasion and acceptance .", "rich dialogue and uniformly strong performances ensure it 's an intelligent , entertaining movie for adults .", "MOV intends to be shocking , and has been rewarded with some respectful reviews . but ticket buyer beware -- the film 's real shocker is its unpleasantness .", "the bumps in the narrative can be jarring , but douglas never makes a false move , delivering a tour de force in human weakness .", "michael douglas surges ahead in MOV with the best work he 's done in the decade since wonder boys .", "a truly impressive portrait of self-destructive , smooth-talking alpha males , and a testament to an actor who waltzes across that peter pan-syndrome tightrope with the greatest of sleaze .", "douglas makes all the contrivances feel like universal , soul-testing dilemmas . he encourages the audience to lean in and watch him close , to pick up a few tips on how to look cool while melting down .", "more aphoristic than explorative , MOV takes for granted the audience 's interest in mapping a star 's reckoning with his persona onto a sensational but shallow script .", "the movie is slow , talky and takes time getting started . often it seems like an infinite amount of sound and fury , signifying nothing . but the uniformly terrific acting by the attractive cast keeps it meritorious .", "the film courageously shows its reprobate hero sliding further , not redeeming himself .", "this lucid and darkly comic character study gives us michael douglas in top form .", "MOV gives douglas a chance to act , not merely posture or show off for the camera . it 's some of the finest , least forced work he has done in years .", "there 's the honest sleaziness of kalmen 's character . there 's the camerawork , which is unblinking . and there 's the story itself , which while offering perhaps too pat an explanation , provides few excuses and no easy end .", "koppleman and his co-director , david levien , hit the right tone early -- empathetic yet brutally honest -- and douglas ' absorbing , minutely detailed performance sustains it .", "douglas ' performance should not take anything away from this terrific cast .", "you want to like this MOV . but finally , you 're better off without him .", "a riveting drama about the plight of a 60 year old who seeks to avoid death and stay forever young .", "strictly mid-level assembly line product , designed to ride entirely on the modest marquee value of second-tier or past-prime stars .", "douglas ' juiciest vehicle since wonder boys .", "there 's something sad about kalmen , too , a poignant layer beneath his swagger that douglas brings to the role .", "how to root for michael douglas ' lost soul", "` MOV ' is to michael douglas as ` crazy heart ' is to jeff bridges : a tailored showcase about a faded but unruly minor-league celebrity who 's reluctant to trade his unhealthy horndog ways for what movie publicists like to call a shot at redemption .", "... -lsb- michael -rsb- douglas never drops the charm or the confidence , his greed or lust or simple arrogance pumping up beyond caring when confronted with his own sleaze .", "it became such a bore that i found myself watching a 60-year-old man and repeatedly saying , will you just grow up ? it 's just sad .", "a bit too-neatly designed as the ultimate michael douglas experience , it 's an irresistible one-man show of arrogant entitlement and aching vulnerability .", "it 's a fascinating character study isolated within a mediocre film .", "yet more proof that michael douglas can do anything he pleases so long as he 's playing a jerk .", "nobody does oily like michael douglas .", "douglas gives a tour de force performance here and the rest of the cast is excellent as well . while i could n't really buy kalmen 's behavior based on his motivations , douglas does a tremendous job of selling this character anyway .", "as much as ben kalmen is a terrific part for douglas , it 's a part that needs him more than he needs it .", "let 's just say that i 'm sure douglas found sections of the script uncomfortable . it 's a superb performance in a substantial drama of self-destruction , playing brilliantly off of douglas 's bumpy life experience .", "a mature , dialogue - and character-driven dramedy with a michael douglas performance to die for .", "... a low-key character study that 's primarily held aloft by douglas ' expectedly ingratiating performance ...", "a terrific cast ca n't salvage a downer story about an arrogant heel .", "it offers audiences the pleasures of a screenplay whose every acerbic line is firmly rooted in character , and it hands michael douglas one of his best roles in years .", "the boyfriend experience . and a sex villain so over the top , that even douglas keeps him at arm 's length . while giving no evidence of his supposed irresistible powers over women , in reality always money or fame , neither of which can be claimed here .", "early on in this nifty little film , a young man calls michael douglas ' character a `` dickwad '' . guy 's got a point .", "i think michael douglas is terrific in this .", "it 's smoothly written and smartly paced , and michael douglas is riveting .", "they are n't making a movie about the comic misadventures of a lovable scalawag . just the opposite ... a daring , downbeat message ... douglas does some of his best work in years .", "a sour , self-satisfied dramedy possessing the same embarrassing chutzpah as its cocky-dinosaur seducer .", "good film .", "... with the always interesting douglas in the driver 's seat , you ca n't help but be drawn into the mind and actions of a character who refuses to face up to his limitations .", "written by brian koppelman -lrb- `` rounders , '' `` ocean 's 13 , '' etc. -rrb- and directed by koppelman and writing partner david levien , `` MOV '' is , yes , a wonderful showcase for douglas in a role comparable to the disreputable professor he played in curtis hanson '", "wry and melancholic , MOV recalls wonder boys as a character-study showcase worthy of douglas ' ability .", "MOV may be about a man who has found himself on his own , but it features one of the best ensemble performances of the year . do n't miss it .", "though this drama by writer-director brian koppelman hardly measures up to wonder boys , it comes a lot closer than king of california .", "it 's a smart , funny film that flirts with the edge .", "it 's a highly unpleasant film about a highly unpleasant protagonist , but `` MOV '' is worth seeing , mostly thanks to one big performance from douglas", "you 'd think michael douglas has played the charming cad on screen once too often , but damned if he does n't pull it off once more in grand style .", "in trying to make kalmen 's story unique , the film inadvertently exposes him as the most typical sufferer of midlife crises you could imagine .", "MOV is the type of thought-provoking film that should be released in over 3,000 theaters . michael douglas and the supporting cast deliver great performances .", "all about douglas , and he delivers like he knows it ." ], "summary": "built around a singularly unpleasant main character , MOV needed a flawless central performance to succeed -- and michael douglas delivers .", "id": "770808446" }, { "movie": "when_marnie_was_there", "reviews": [ "MOV is by no means ghibli 's finest work , but it does inspire that unique ghibli sense of wonder , warmth and elegance .", "yet another splendid escape from the increasingly strenuous glut of computer-animated offerings , this one designed to serve as family entertainment after the more adult-skewing likes of `` the wind rises '' and `` the tale of princess kaguya '' .", "wistful and stirringly humane , MOV is n't one of ghibli 's greatest films , but it 's emblematic of their collective greatness . in a way , that 's the most perfect thing it could be .", "a beautifully animated tale .", "the film at first plays like a refresher and throwback to hayao miyazaki 's kiki 's delivery service , before revealing itself to be less minimal than minor .", "like many ghibli films , its central characters are female , its story a mixture of the quotidian and the remarkable .", "the journey in marnie is so pretty that it 's unlikely many will pay great mind to -lsb- the film 's -rsb- flaws .", "evades the cold computer feel and the un-fairytale-ish adult imposition of inappropriate wisecracks and streetwise teen jive .", "as a visual -lrb- and auditory -rrb- experience , MOV offers so many other pleasures that audiences may well overlook the story issues . after all , even second-tier studio ghibli releases rank among world cinema 's finest animated films .", "even without its moving parable of emotional repair , MOV has all of ghibli 's exquisitely hand-drawn sense of place ...", "it 's a puzzle at times , but an especially sensitive one that 's crafted with care .", "if you feel any kinship with the disaffected , `` MOV '' has much to tell you .", "as would be expected from a hand drawn ghibli film , the animation is stunning , with water and light coming to life and complex emotions rendered expertly and precisely on anna 's face .", "this latest gentle , sensitive , unhurried tale from studio ghibli ... excels not only at natural beauty , touched with supernatural flourishes , but also at acute psychological perceptiveness ...", "this is an understated affair , but the screenplay ... understands anna 's dilemma and communicates it with clarity .", "the artwork is simple and elegant ; anna 's fragility and self-loathing is portrayed clearly .", "yonebayashi made his feature directing debut with the secret world of arrietty , adapted from the british children 's book the borrowers , and this emotionally resonant second feature takes its story from another such title .", "a lot of young children , indeed more than you might expect , are routinely whipped and thrashed by mental illness . when was the last time you saw a movie about one ?", "as a children 's movie , it 's uncommonly sensitive and complicated , rooted in relationships rather than dazzling action . but adults may notice its simple poetry turning , after a while , to suds .", "showcasing the gorgeous hand-drawn work that is a hallmark of japanese animation house studio ghibli , MOV tells a story of youthful friendship tinged with melancholy and magic .", "low-key , delicate and quite special .", "subtle , sometimes really sad and honest about the struggles of adolescence , `` marnie '' is a worthy last entry from ghibli before the studio reportedly goes on hiatus .", "the ghibli studio is in transition , but `` marnie , '' despite some gentle moments of reflection , is a ghost shadow of its previous masterworks .", "ultimately , MOV is a sweet film , worthy of the studio that produced it .", "taken as the punctuation mark on studio ghibli 's oeuvre , it 's underwhelming . taken on its own terms , it 's ... still underwhelming , but significantly less so .", "` marnie ' does n't have the highs or the feverish imagination of a miyazaki - or an isao takahata ` grave of the fireflies ' -rrb- - but it has the same love for serenity and the same deep compassion .", "it 's a quiet film of modest narrative ambitions and simple shifts , but its technical and visual ambitions could n't be higher .", "there 's sweetness in MOV , and a fitting dedication from a young prot\u00e9g\u00e9 to the craft studio ghibli held above all : the act of finding freedom through art .", "with the retirement of producer hayao miyazaki , studio ghibli has put production on hold ; MOV may well be its last feature film . if so , it 's a strong note to leave on .", "an act of love that could only stem from understanding precisely what it means to feel unloved .", "a new director at ghibli makes a young-adult mystery worthy of the brand", "it 's a kid 's movie that grown-ups will like . as marnie does on anna , the movie casts a spell .", "if indeed hiromasa yonebayashi 's MOV turns out to be the final film to come from studio ghibli , it would be hard to imagine a more elegant or appropriate farewell .", "it 's an honest , rich story about the emotional volatility of a young girl , and it just happens to be a story that 's told through animation .", "the dependably stunning animation from studio ghibli should help satisfy anyone not won over by MOV 's slight but thoughtful tale .", "even a lesser ghibli adventure is better than none .", "a work as lush and lovely as you 'd hope for from a studio that long ago made it clear that films about girls ' magical inner lives were for everyone -- and anyone who cares about maturely considered , deeply considerate cinema .", "like the best of ghibli 's films , marnie is absolutely in sympathy with its young protagonist ; there are no fake grown-up inventions about what kids are like .", "uncommonly delicate . ghibli 's artists delight in the natural : the sea birds , the clarity of the light , the patterns of foam on the lapping waves . they 're also are fascinated with the unnatural-a pretty , staring phantom with shining eyes .", "`` a straightforward melodrama ... the animation serves its impressionist flavor to balance its more plainspoken qualities . ''", "this is a film defined by patience and attention , an adventure of emotional exploration .", "to those film lovers attuned to quiet moments and emotional nuance , this film has a shine all its own . the old-school hand-drawn animation celebrates sweeping landscapes and but also the telling detail , revealing character through spare gestures .", "beneath its calm , exquisitely detailed surface , `` MOV '' bubbles with half-formed ideas and undeveloped themes .", "though its curious narrative arc means you 're never sure exactly where it 's going , the film works up a considerable emotional charge by the end .", "there are times , especially in the first act , when `` MOV '' lacks a certain urgency , often moving with all the drive of a breeze through the oft-heard wind chimes . and then the final act really grabs the heartstrings ...", "MOV may start off a bit awkwardly , but it 'll have you bathing in your own tears by the time it 's over .", "there are moments of hushed magic here , of moonlit , seaside and tree-shadowed visual poetry , that rival anything ghibli has ever created .", "beautifully animated but slow tale about unique friendship .", "it 's a deeply emotional film ... following the ghibli fashion of allowing its female leads to be more than what meets the eye .", "studio ghibli has created a gorgeous animation that digs deep within the darkest fears of childhood , while also weaving a beautiful tale of friendship that knocked me flat .", "people who complain there are n't any interesting , smart movies about girls need to take their kids to films like this one .", "the film 's obvious audience is young girls everywhere because of its message of love and friendship . but , anyone who loves animated feature films -lrb- like me -rrb- will take pleasure , too .", "dramatically unworthy of its gorgeous coastal landscapes and ever-shifting light .", "yonebayashi has touched on the greater mystery underlying everyday life , a world pulsing with wonder and possibility , edged with a shadow of melancholy .", "while not a masterpiece , it is beautiful , nonetheless .", "this is , disappointingly , a long way from being a studio ghibli classic ." ], "summary": "MOV is still blessed with enough visual and narrative beauty to recommend , even if it is n't quite as magical as studio ghibli 's greatest works .", "id": "771407635" }, { "movie": "1184827-alvin_and_the_chipmunks", "reviews": [ "this film features what look like living plush toys .", "me , i want a hula hoop .", "between the occasional amusing joke and catchy musical number , this alvin update is a very soulless movie .", "you could do worse .", "shockingly , the movie 's easy to like -- an anti-hannah montana parable in which young performers discover they prefer the comfort and security of home to the high-pressure glitz of rock and roll stardom .", "hollywood continues its tired milking of old television properties with MOV , a slick updating of the musical-cartoon franchise .", "sure , rodents are hot this year . but unlike ratatouille 's chef prodigy remy , these mischief makers bring nothing new to the table .", "MOV goes in one eye and out the other , featuring a cgi alvin , simon and theodore interacting with a human-ish world .", "the film engages for about 30 minutes , or about 10 minutes longer than you might expect . this picture , after all , has only one idea : chipmunks that talk and sing . it 's the same idea that fueled novelty recordings and a two cartoon series .", "it 's a free-fall into total plastic . kids deserve better . alvin , simon and theodore deserve better . but 't is the season to take what you get .", "four out of five stars for being cuter , funnier , and , besides , the character design far exceeded my expectations .", "with such a thin plot , the cgi here is adequate yet underwhelming , and the same can be said for the gags", "arguably the most irritating novelty act in record history gets a cgi-updating ... and the result is pretty annoying itself .", "it 's fairly awful .", "the story may be non-existent and the acting pedestrian at best , but the chipmunks are just so darn cute that the film will make you smile-you may even sing along at times .", "it 's not made for the pretentious new york film critic . instead , it 's a film filled with slapstick , silliness and its fair share of bathroom humor .", "unfortunately , this movie relies too much on its human actors , who are no match for alvin , simon and theodore .", "alvin is n't nearly as bad as fox 's marketing has been threatening , but it is n't a delight either ... a glorified direct-to-video release .", "it 's as if the capitalistic ventures of entertainment and the development of new technology have joined forces to ruin my childhood memories .", "yes , the movie is juvenile and occasionally stupid . what do you expect in a story about singing chipmunks ?", "a lot like candy , sweet and pleasing , but ultimately disposable and empty ...", "when dave achieves such relative maturity , claire likes him again , ensuring that you know he 's appropriately heterosexual . what she thinks of mothering little furry creatures does n't come up .", "they 're baaaaack .", "there is a chance i have simply outgrown alvin , simon and theodore . but i can still recognize a quality film and this is n't it .", "the screenwriters capably update the 49-year-old critters for socially relevant times , give or take a little suspension of disbelief .", "ok !!! here i sit - and i 'm not kidding about this - typing away and listening to a song that could be one of the first bits of music i ever heard .", "filled with cheap slapstick , annoying high-pitched singing , and a variety of fart gags , all of which amused my daughter but not me .", "colourful but uninspired .", "it has its fun moments , especially when those little guys sing `` funky town . ''", "this new movie nicely updates the chipmunks into the realm of cgi animation and seamlessly places them in the real world .", "nostalgia counts for something , i suppose , so while i would n't exactly recommend this thing , i at least found it kind of innocuous .", "if the idea of three squeaky-voiced squirrels as pop gods makes you shudder , MOV wo n't make you change your mind - but there 's enough spritely mischief in this flawed family comedy to provide some light-hearted fun .", "it 's the kind of family entertainment that makes you reach for the shotgun .", "is it for kids ? adults ? marsupials ? martians ? who can tell . jason lee from my name is earl stars - if that is the word - in this thoroughly brain-dead semi-animated family comedy .", "the acting is fine and the chipmunks are cute but the script is poorly developed and there are very few actual laughs .", "desperately conceived on every level , this forlorn family film amounts to little more than celluloid roadkill .", "fun musical numbers and cartoonish humour give way to a bland sermon about the evils of the music industry .", "the musical numbers are initially appealing - think close harmonies and smart foot stepping to the likes of ` funkytown ' - but the novelty is likely to wear thin for adults when the ` munks get kitted out as a street boy band .", "it 's not that bad . it 's just kind of gross and upsetting .", "my personal belief is that no chipmunk in its right mind could be made to sing ` ting-tang-walla-walla-bing-bang ' at gunpoint .", "there 's just not enough here for a movie . it 's almost as if some ideas were meant to live for three and a half minutes each christmas season , not to get stretched to the breaking point for 50 years .", "at least this film , based on classic characters , is bright and energetic , because it 's otherwise condescending , corny and utterly unfunny .", "should be sent to the same movie pound as the recent garfield pictures .", "when lee 's finally called upon to yell the trademark ` alllllvin ! ' it feels like a forced whimper that only reminds us how stale the decades-old material is .", "alvin , theodore , and simon have the only good lines or recognizable emotions , with jason lee and david cross straining to flesh out their cardboard roles .", "what we get instead is alvin , simon and theodore lovingly rendered huggably fuzzy in cg , which apparently sapped all the movie 's budget so that such things as continuity and art direction have gone out the window .", "cgi critters are silly -- but very kid-friendly .", "thanks to MOV , the fab fur make a comeback any pre-k kid would love .", "hum-drum but family-friendly .", "if you love the chipmunks , this is a great new chapter to add to your memories .", "nippers will love it -lrb- it did incredible opening weekend business in the states -rrb- but adults may find themselves idly dreaming of gin traps .", "pure hell .", "while sure to secretly entertain the child in all us adults , here 's a flick absolutely guaranteed to entrance the under-10s .", "trite family values , mediocre cgi and a shallow anti-exploitation message do little to fill the fun-gap . still , hard to deny the buck-toothed buggers their one moment of glory : an a cappella take on ` funkytown ' .", "an endearing effort that will appeal to under-10s with its slight tale of the three all-talking , all-singing rodents .", "kids will be nuts about this chipmunk movie .", "who decided ` witch doctor ' - with its nonsense lyric ` oo-ee , oo-ah-ah , ting-tang , walla-walla , bing-bang ' - needed a hip-hop update ?", "it 's one of those movies where the wretched actors have to pretend to know what 's going on as the cg effects take place beside and around them . they do their best . but it 's alvin and co that toddlers will appreciate .", "nem mesmo o visual engra\u0437adinho dos esquilos e a ironia de david cross conseguem trazer charme a um roteiro \u0443bvio e sem gra\u0437a , \u0430 atua\u0437\u0433o sem vida de jason lee e \u0430 dire\u0437\u0433o frouxa de hill .", "... has clearly been geared exclusively towards younger viewers -lrb- indiscriminating , undemanding younger viewers at that -rrb- .", "it becomes a little difficult to distinguish exploitive `` uncle ian '' from the folks trying very hard to keep this fragile idea alive and making money . the big difference is that uncle ian wears out the chipmunks and this movie wears out its welcome .", "the sight of enhanced MOV in the movie of the same name is far less squirm-inducing than one might have feared .", "the characters are underwhelming in their appeal , lacking the charm of their previous animated incarnations .", "what happened to alvin , the rodent counterpart of dennis the menace ? was he declawed in the translation to cgi ?", "children may laugh at the broad humor , but what 's lurking underneath the comedy is dark and disheartening .", "a harmless and frequently humorous trifle .", "it 's a fine-enough kids movie . cute . nice lesson . and better than you 'd think .", "the movie manages to charm us , solely because of the inherent cuteness of its cgi stars , the famous singing chipmunks .", "thank goodness alvin and the gang are back so they can fart in dave 's face , say things like `` sup playa ? ' and sing ` do n't cha ' in the shower .", "the little beasties in the new film are computer-generated , reasonably realistic -lrb- way ahead of garfield -rrb- and cute . it 's not their fault the humans , especially jason lee 's dave seville , are excruciatingly boring .", "it 's all about good , clean fun , both for kids absorbed in the cuddly creatures -lrb- especially when they sing -rrb- and for their parents , unexpectedly hooked by the nostalgia they evoke .", "at times funny , and even occasionally witty , MOV is a lively , entertaining romp that will certainly bring smiles to the young ones this holiday season .", "'' ... even if MOV has one hand reaching for your wallet , at the very least its heart seems to be in the right place . ''", "the original recordings of alvin were among the lowest moments in the history of popular culture . this soulless rehash , with its fart and poop jokes , proves that even one-note wonders can be diminished .", "sure , the jokes are obvious , the plot 's a little corny -- but c'mon , it 's a movie about talking chipmunks .", "there is one surprise -- it 's not as eye-gougingly awful as you might expect . it 's simply mediocre and immediately forgettable .", "soul-numbing .", "it 's telling when the biggest reaction from kids is n't from those high-pitched voices or the various goofy shenanigans , but instead comes from the sing-along theme song for spongebob .", "it is hard to hate cute little talking chipmunks who love waffles , so maybe you can say i was annoyed .", "preplanned pandering at its most callous .", "tiny furry nut-gathering mammals trying to cheer you up via song turns out to be surprisingly merry .", "i guess we should count it a christmas miracle that the film is merely bad , rather than apocalyptically bad .", "kids at the preview screening ate it up but everyone else will probably be shouting ` alvin !!! shut the f *** up ! ' ''", "by far the funniest thing about this painful , if not quite insufferable , family comedy from fox is its bold stance against merchandising and tie-in marketing .", "by the end of the movie , even the chipmunks ' youngest fans will find themselves wishing that alvin and the boys would get back to where they once belonged : a tree .", "that it is harmless entertainment for the youngsters is fine , but do n't confuse this with quality entertainment .", "i went into this movie with expectations that could n't get much lower , but came out a fan of alvin , simon , and theodore ... and dave , for making us care about them as much as he does .", "... disposable junk that 'll probably be forgotten in a month .", "whatever residual affection you may harbor for the chipmunks will vanish completely if you fork over good money to see this cheaply made and aggravatingly stupid movie .", "will true love prevail ? will dave grow a backbone -lrb- and some real songwriting talent -rrb- ? and most important , will alvin , simon , and theodore survive this bland new form of chipmunk mania ? they shoot rodents , do n't they ?", "the film veers into formulaic disney channel territory .", "the script leans heavily on the pranks and big-eyed cuteness of the li'l guys and leaves the live actors with unfunny dialogue and nothing to do .", "dang it , the little animated rodents are cute . not as cute as the \u00fcber-rendered daemons of the golden compass , but they 'll do .", "could 've been a lot worse ; it 's a singing chipmunk movie , for pete 's sake .", "for adults , it 's like being hit over the head with a mallet every 10 seconds for 90 minutes . two days later , i still had a headache .", "oh , come on . do you really care ? and even if you do , you should n't .", "young viewers will enjoy the slapstick , while parents will relate to lee 's amiable frustration as the trio 's surrogate dad .", "i was also grateful that alvin wears a red sweater with a big ` a ' on it as an aid to identification , since otherwise all the chipmunks seem to be identical , like mutant turtles or spice girls .", "MOV moves , little children love it and it 's not too painful for adults . all in all , an okay little hit of helium .", "ah , nuts ." ], "summary": "though cutely rendered , MOV suffers from bland potty humor and a rehashed kids ' movie formula .", "id": "770673145" }, { "movie": "the_cell_2000", "reviews": [ "MOV becomes the first serial killer feature in a long time to take the genre in a new direction .", "one of the best films of the year .", "i ca n't remember the last time i was so impressed by a film as seriously flawed as MOV .", "once in a while a movie comes along that is so visually stunning it tends to carry you away with it , even if the story and the acting do n't measure up to those amazing pictures . MOV is just such a movie .", "there 's much to criticize , even despise , about this movie . but there 's no disputing the mesmerizing power of the images .", "as flashy and visually inventive as the film is , its greater importance lies in the way it explores the duality of serial killers in a way most films wo n't dare .", "ok , class ... again . ` visually cool , but a really weak script . ' very good !", "this was on my top ten list for the year , but it 's not for everyone .", "there are those who will hate it , but hating it is a reaction to its subject matter -- not its accomplishment as a step into an adventurous movie landscape .", "... it reminds one of the works of clive barker : strange , horrible and utterly unnerving .", "... one of those mysterious science labs only in movies , lots of sleek corridors and white-coated geniuses and equipment that requires a skin-tight jumpsuit to operate .", "had tarsem stuck a chanel bag or bottle of calvin klein perfume into the picture , he 'd have ruined nothing .", "the consistent emphasis on visual over story logic and character considerations , along with certain weaknesses already inherent in mark protosevich 's script , gradually undermine the whole enchilada from the bottom on up .", "though at times beautiful and always disturbing , this is strangely devoid of meaning .", "in the end , lopez and singh sell MOV as their own , but the main ingredients of the mark protosevich story seem merely rented .", "lacks the psychological depth and emotional resonance that could have lifted it beyond the realm of accomplished but ephemeral eye-candy .", "it 's infuriating and boring , predictable and incoherent , brutal and romantic .", "a feast to the eye but not much for the intellect .", "ultimately succumbs to the old style over substance syndrome that often afflicts directors who cut their directorial teeth on flashy music videos and tv commercials .", "carl 's fantasies are fairly dazzling visually and frequently pretty gross , but they 're never scary .", "the movie looks so good that its dazzling appearance hides some shortcomings .", "this movie is bad in so many ways that it 's difficult to know where to begin .", "the plot is a formulaic ditty where the cop uses a beautiful woman as bait to trap the killer . it has very little to do with surrealism or desert photography .", "in the end , maybe MOV is n't about much , and it could have been deeper and all but as it stands , it 's still a must-see .", "starting off as a lurid rip-off of `` silence of the lambs , '' the movie eventually ... becomes a sometimes startling parade of nightmare sequences , most of which involve lopez sashaying around in costumes designed to show off her well-toned physique .", "MOV is not just another serial killer flick . despite its horrific theme and graphic violence , it 's a stunning work of art .", "the film 's visuals are stunning , even lovely at times , as long as you can ignore their depravity .", "gives imaginative and visual shape to as it were the very soul of misogynism , perversion , depravity , sadism , and the supreme nihilism and egotism of the damned .", "all the clever visual effects in the world ca n't hide the fact that this is just a nasty piece about women in torment .", "one of the most visually stunning films i have ever seen .", "steeped in gorgeous and vibrant texture , with occasional shades of gray helping to underscore the nightmarish plight that keeps the characters penetrated , MOV is a brilliant candidate for one of the year 's best movies .", "sets a new standard for moviemakers .", "MOV 's striking visuals along with its fantastical costumes absolutely mesmerize the viewers .", "from the gorgeously haunting opening credits to the redemptive ending , MOV sets new boundaries in extreme filmmaking .", "MOV is a horror film that knows what it means to be horrifying .", "a curiously compelling movie .", "really it 's because vincent d'onofrio is in this that it 's a must see - heck on on dvd", "a fascinating dreamscape of mythic imagery and biblical undertones .", "despite the flaws and inconsistencies in the story and the lack of depth to the principle characters , the visual acuity of MOV is enough to recommend it .", "often - spectacular visuals that recall the work of the creepily eccentric british animation team the brothers quay .", "lopez wades through many nonsensical , pompous , gradually annoying dream-logic scenes .", "what could have been a by-the-numbers serial killer mystery becomes a beautiful tour de force of film magic .", "a by-the-numbers story becomes the incidental backbone of one of the most visually arresting films of recent memory .", "the dream sequences are so well-done that it 's easy to forgive the film 's lack of dramatic punch .", "a movie with no plot , no logic , no meaning .", "sigmund freud 's description of the id as `` a cauldron full of seething excitations '' could just as easily apply to this literal exploration into the darkest , filthiest corners of a serial killer 's mind . a chilling journey into dark religious iconography .", "rewarding even beyond the shockingly bold images that almost exclusively make up the film 's final hour and change .", "MOV is a dazzling mind-bender of a film that features spectacular visuals from the elegant sets to the gorgeous costumes , all encompassed in a thrilling story that will have you on the edge of your seat .", "lopez is hard to take as the empathetic psychologist who uses a synaptic transfer machine to penetrate the comatose killer 's tortured psyche in hopes of finding his latest victim .", "visually stunning , but rather pedestrian .", "seeing this movie is a bit like hearing a lengthy discourse on someone else 's nightmare : it may mean a lot to him , but it soon becomes extremely tiresome to you .", "for me , MOV was simply too much .", "a little pretentious by the half-hour mark . an hour beyond that , medication begins to sound like an attractive option .", "frankly , the film seemed pointless .", "might be the first serial-killer movie that adds up to little more than a series of pretty pictures .", "what does it say about a film when you come out going `` well , it looked pretty nice '' ? not much , in this reviewer 's opinion .", "-lsb- singh has -rsb- made a schlocky dud for the ages , one that seems preoccupied with subverting megaplex expectations .", "there is an emotional vacuum at the center of this picture .", "whereas the matrix 's visuals were almost always in service of the story , the images here are merely trailer-fodder to draw in ticket buyers .", "the movie is so relentlessly unpleasant ... and so utterly full of itself that it does n't succeed in doing anything more than invoking a pavlovian retch reflex .", "the story is great , the direction is superb but you keep wondering what the film would have been like if jodie foster and anthony hopkins were cast instead .", "singh has concocted a flick for people who think that mere sensation can sustain a movie , and who do n't require any more coherence than what can be gotten from flipping through a fashion magazine .", "does n't escape the prison of its uninspired story , but the impressive visuals often make you think it does .", "-lsb- a -rsb- beautifully sensitive parable about human nature and about a culture that destroys beautiful souls .", "i 'm not sure what to think .", "jennifer lopez is surprisingly credible as a therapist .", "grotesque extravagance and psychologically disturbing imagery of the highest quality are brilliantly melded to produce a rare masterwork of captivating visuals .", "a kind of vulcan mind-meld , but 100-times cooler .", "from the first frame to the last , MOV is a visually striking film , as gorgeous as it is grotesque , at times virtually unwatchable , yet impossible not to watch .", "-lsb- the visuals are -rsb- just enough to recommend a movie that otherwise has nothing new to offer .", "the trippy , highly mannered , widely referential imagery is certainly its strongest selling point , despite wonderfully grounding -lrb- and , on the rides , bizarre -rrb- work by lopez .", "MOV would be a shoo-in for a best eye candy nomination this year .", "... none of the movie 's visuals , beautiful or ugly , add up to anything .", "MOV is supposed to be terrifying , but when a serial killer 's mindscape resembles an s&m variation on a robert palmer video , his power to intimidate ca n't help but diminish .", "a lot of work went into making MOV a state-of-the-art sensory assault , but you 'd get essentially the same effect by locking people in a small room with someone who wo n't stop screaming for two hours .", "all torture , all the time , all photographed -lrb- by paul laufer -rrb- and production designed -lrb- by tom foden -rrb- as if it were a tv spot for chanel .", "while the level of imagination impressed me i was repulsed by what it was applied to .", "the major problem is that MOV continuously echoes the silence of the lambs , only minus the intricate character interplay , jonathan demme 's direction and the taut storyline .", "while the optics are indeed bold and imaginative , they are overdone and what 's more , vincent d'onofrio ... is not at all frightening this time around .", "it 's magnificent to look at , but at the half way mark the visuals get so far out they cease to serve the sketchy story .", "trying hard to project soulfulness , lopez comes across as whiney and spacey .", "it 's not nearly as bad as it could have been , and is worth a rental or bargain matinee .", "singh 's big splash is essentially half a movie -- the half that looks great but that echoes like an empty room .", "for all of singh 's facility with visual renderings , he 's chosen to hang them on a story that seldom amounts to more than the silence of the lambs for dummies .", "-lsb- singh 's -rsb- inability to make us feel anything is more shocking than anything in the movie .", "as exquisitely crafted as they are , MOV 's horrors are all two-dimensional . watching them is like flipping through the pictures in a macabre coffee-table book .", "whatever happened to minimalism ?", "MOV spends most of its time trying to live up to its dazzling visuals . it never quite does , although it and jennifer lopez are quite an eyeful .", "beneath the considerable eye candy ... MOV is an awfully generic variation on the overworked serial-killer genre .", "but for all the opulence of its visual display , this movie has no vision .", "the costumes are phenomenal , the set design ravishing and the sadistic inventiveness extraordinary ; it 's a shame it 's all harnessed to a clich\u00e9d story .", "MOV has virtually nothing on its mind but showcasing its sumptuous , year 's - best production design , fine special effects , and demented sensibility .", "put MOV 's plot under a microscope and you 'll discover mutant dna strands from a host of other films , most notably the silence of the lambs and altered states .", "it depends on viewers falling into a gazing stupor so tranced that they can duck moral issues of whether we should be slumming this way .", "the movie pretends to be disgusted by the way d'onofrio 's character turns women into fetish objects , then happily turns lopez into one .", "it 's the classic error of style over substance .", "where 's the story ? there really is n't one . but for most of `` MOV '' it wo n't matter ; just sit back and enjoy the creepy , dazzling ride .", "as the movie pops in and out of distinct scenarios , MOV feels like a new video game .", "while -lsb- the art direction -rsb- elements are indeed stunning in the characters ' coma-induced dream sequences , the plot points that get them there leave something to be desired .", "like a dream , an advertisement or a music video , it simply is n't built to withstand the pressure of logical scrutiny .", "just another late summer disappointment , filled with flashy images and little substance .", "by the end , we 're not a whole lot closer to understanding stargher than we were at the beginning of the film .", "MOV is remarkably well made , which makes it all the more alarming and disturbing .", "this is one beautifully surreal and unsettling thriller , with astounding visuals that will lurk in the crawlspaces of your brain after you 've left the theater .", "it 's something of an unforgettable experience .", "MOV is far from a perfect movie . but it is the creepiest one i 've seen since the sixth sense .", "a disturbing , evocative journey into the human mind , the film recalls your spookiest dreams , most forbidden fantasies , and darkest past memories , strung together in an unforgettably bold visual palette .", "the viewing public hardly needed another serial killer film . but if another must be made , at least this is the way to do it .", "tarsem has created some of the most exquisite and phantasmic visuals put on celluloid yet .", "if digital design and stylized symbolism intrigue you , go to this unpleasant but meticulous mindtrip . but be aware that it 's style over substance , amounting to less than meets the eye .", "an amazing , courageous , and thoroughly dark visualization of what the inside of a deeply troubled mind might look like .", "with little room for either narrative detail or character development , tarsem 's exploration of a deranged mind soon loses momentum .", "it 's excellent .", "tarsem uses the dramatically shallow plot to create a dream world densely packed with images of beauty and terror that cling to the memory even if you do n't want them to .", "it 's not the villain but the director who seems most interested in these grisly spectacles . he was certainly uninterested in his characters .", "MOV may be another repellent serial killer movie , but at least it tries something different .", "the cop/serial killer part of the story -lrb- written by mark protosevich -rrb- offers absolutely nothing of interest .", "writer mark protosevich and director tarsem singh , both making their feature debut , have crafted the year 's first masterpiece , an insanely ambitious movie that miraculously fulfills every one of its ambitions .", "this is a mind-bending acid trip of a movie -- fresh , disturbing and inimitable .", "d'onofrio proves that his performance as the bug-wearing-an-edgar-suit in men in black was no fluke .", "taken on its own boldly visual terms , MOV can be enjoyed as a stroll through a contemporary museum of your purplest imaginings .", "you can question the worthiness of -lsb- the filmmakers ' -rsb- subject and vision , but you ca n't really argue with the way they executed it .", "it 's innovative , well-acted and wonderfully weird .", "cleverly structured script .", "what borders on great in MOV is its feverish look , which incorporates an astonishing amalgam of styles .", "MOV is a thrilling , unique tour of the human mind .", "MOV ... not only goes through the psychological looking glass with flair and imagination , it leaves enough bread crumbs for the rest of us to follow .", "it 's the first film of the summer that makes you hold your breath , strokes the imagination , satisfies filmgoers ' desire to be transported .", "an original and stylish vision of insanity .", "the movie is riveting in its low way .", "because so little mental energy has been spent on developing an interesting and challenging narrative , the film suffers from a dearth of suspense .", "-lsb- singh -rsb- sketches his central characters thinly , and he ends the film on a slightly confusing note .", "i felt like i was in solitary confinement .", "of all the places inside jennifer lopez i 'd like to be , her brain does n't rank in the top five .", "MOV makes the mistake of thinking that we 're going to be captivated by a story that devotes most of its length to ugly hallucinations .", "director of commercials and music videos tarsem singh is like a toddler at christmas : he 's far more interested in messing about with the pretty , shiny wrapping than he is with the actual toys themselves .", "the movie impresses more than it entertains , conjuring up a head full of evocative images that do n't really evoke all that much .", "rendered in an ultimately hollow style that ca n't conceal the story flaws , of which there are many .", "pure freak fans will likely be happy , but real moviegoers will probably be disappointed .", "mediocre detective story meets shallow psychodrama in a fanciful serial killer yarn with jaw-dropping visuals -lrb- and an excellent score by howard shore -rrb- ." ], "summary": "MOV offers disturbing , stunning eye candy , but it is undermined by a weak and shallow plotline that offers nothing new .", "id": "13516" }, { "movie": "ever_after_a_cinderella_story", "reviews": [ "a simple yet elegant retelling of a classic children 's story that has given pleasure to many for centuries .", "too bad barrymore 's charming personality goes to waste in ever after , a reworking of cinderella with muddled motives and uneven execution .", "cute and fairly witty .", "a cut above the revisionist versions of classic literature we 've had to muddle through in recent years .", "cinderella for the nineties .", "handsomely set in 15th-century france , it gracefully folds in all sorts of 20th-century values .", "ever after turns out to be a potent and imaginative retelling that proves cinderella 's timelessness defies carbon-dating .", "veering wildly between farce and suds , the movie never makes up its mind whether it 's a spoof , a soap opera or a feminist pep talk .", "it takes a well-worn story and shows us the truth and meaning underneath the dreamy narrative .", "the most refreshing turn of the summer .", "barrymore is terribly attractive and admirable as danielle and she brings a strength to the role that makes her a wonderful foil to huston 's venom .", "barrymore aces her 16th-century elocution , but her vampy magnetism -- always her dominant charm -- is snuffed in this goody-goody role .", "an enchanting rendition of the classic cinderella tale set in sixteenth century france .", "there are a few nice moments when barrymore 's acting talent shines through , and the same can be said for huston and scott . but as a romantic comedy , this film is only slightly above average .", "the best cinderella movie ever .", "one of the year 's best films .", "the bottom line is : it 's cute . and it 's relatively inoffensive .", "you wo n't see a fairy godmother flitting from scene to scene . nor will a pumpkin magically transform into a chariot .", "the real magic is found in andrew dunn 's stunningly lovely photography , which makes every scene look like a vintage storybook illustration .", "a frothy delight .", "barrymore is the ideal revisionist cinderella .", "cinderella is a classic story for a reason , but this modern interpretation somehow feels more true .", "romantics will no doubt enjoy ever after , easily overlooking its flaws . others who attend will find , while not a perfect film , one which is better than they hoped .", "a clever new twist on an age-old fable .", "does n't quite make sense , but that 's part of its charm .", "ever after is the kind of fairy tale we could use more of .", "given that this is adolescent romance , never straying far from traditional stereotypes , its ` progressive ' feel-good aura is mainly down to barrymore , whose limitations are only exposed in big love scenes .", "a high-spirited renaissance romance starring the thoroughly modern drew barrymore .", "as romantic and satisfying as any good fairy .", "drew barrymore plays the complicated belle of the climactic ball and develops a convincing intellectually based friendship with the prince .", "once upon a time there was a feisty young woman who did n't sit around twiddling her pretty thumbs and singing `` someday my prince will come . ''", "the script by susannah grant , rick parks and director andy tennant successfully maintains the story 's period trappings while introducing a heroine with modern resonance .", "a delightful movie , full of feisty , three-dimensional characters romping through comedy , romance and otherwise gloriously colorful moments .", "` ever after ' presents a plucky cinderella for today 's women and beyond .", "charmng -lsb- thanks to -rsb- its game cast who are having an obviously marvelous time sashaying about and saying gaily artificial dialogue .", "charming take on cinderella tale has strong heroine .", "an affable film that helped affirm drew barrymore 's place in the hollywood firmament as something cosier than a one-trick wild child .", "ever after is a droll , uneven treatment of a familiar story that could become as popular with children as the 1950 disney cartoon version .", "this cinderella is undeniably magical .", "the old tale still has life and passion in it .", "not an altogether unsuccessful adaptation of the timeless cinderella story .", "a cinderella without mice as coachmen , in other words , had better have a mighty fine excuse for tampering with a successful formula . against many odds , ever after comes up with a good one .", "sumptuously filmed .", "it may be fluff , but this movie works .", "a lively sense of humor keeps up the pace when a somewhat lacking romantic chemistry slows it down .", "there are some nice enhancements to the yarn , like the stepsisters not being particularly ugly -lrb- one even turns out to be an ally -rrb- , and the prince not wanting `` those certain obligations that come with privilege . ''", "the freshness of the entire affair and the exuberance of its execution , bolstered by sweet chemistry between barrymore and scott , goes a long way in charming the viewer .", "a treat for the whole family ; stunning filmmaking accessible to everyone .", "barrymore has the sort of charm that can make you cockeyed with happiness .", "sure to be a hit with almost everyone who sees it .", "a delightful retelling and reinventing of the cinderella legend .", "the most fun i 've had at the movies all year .", "a solid lead , and an interesting and timely story line .", "a neat retelling of a very old story .", "though director andy tennant was enthusiastic about putting this kind of spin on cinderella , his touch turns out to be counterproductive .", "nothing great here , but it is a pleasant film to watch and is nicely visualized .", "it 's colorful , enjoyable and tame enough for the entire family .", "pleasing trifle .", "it 's drew barrymore 's movie .", "too much talk , not enough wooing . in the end , ever after 's spell is only half cast .", "a surprisingly passionate reworking of the classic grimm brothers ' tale .", "drew barrymore is delightful as danielle , straightforward yet provocative , beautiful even when her face is smeared with the ashes from the fireplace ." ], "summary": "ever after is a sweet , frothy twist on the ancient fable , led by a solid turn from star barrymore .", "id": "11509" }, { "movie": "air_guitar_nation", "reviews": [ "a wildly foolish flick that takes the best elements of stand-up comedy and mixes them with good , old-fashioned rock 'n' roll .", "the film will be remembered for the overall sense of camaraderie overcoming competition , fraternity trumping rivalry , and the discovery of graciousness in victory and defeat", "the finns take the whole thing pretty seriously , noting that if you hold an air guitar , it 's impossible to simultaneously hold a gun or rifle . -lrb- i 'm sure some hombre in a peckinpah movie would be able to pull it off . -rrb-", "this is all charming and hilariously real .", "MOV will appeal to genuine musicians and those who play their fake guitars behind closed doors .", "-lsb- a -rsb- jolly , oddly compelling and genuinely suspenseful documentary .", "it makes me what to pick up an air guitar and rock out .", "a favorite on the film festival circuit , alexandra lipsitz 's exuberantly funny documentary follows the triumphant path of an american air guitarist as he rises from u.s. east coast champ to the top rankings of the international air guitar festival .", "this very funny film should get audiences strumming along on their own air guitars and flashing devil horns in support of these masters of mock rock .", "when one character cheerfully announces he wants to `` out-weird the world , '' we want to let him know we 're right there for him .", "the film is a lovingly hilarious portrait of a bizarre and endearing pastime .", "the suggestion is that c-diddy can be seen as a sort of ambassador for the ` make air , not war ' sentiment . why not ? even as real ambassadors go , we could do worse .", "MOV is a very well-made film and it tells its story at a quick , even pace , but you really need to suspend your disbelief if you 're going to allow this film to fully wrap you in its charms .", "when a documentary compels you to care about something that you did n't think you had any interest in , well ... that rocks !", "a genuinely funny and absorbing documentary .", "hugely entertaining , frequently hilarious documentary with colourful , warm-hearted characters and an infectious energy that 'll send you bouncing out of the cinema with a goofy grin on your face .", "a delightfully surreal look at a bizarre performance art .", "a nuts-and-bolts document of the annual air guitar world championships which take place in the rural outpost of oulu in finland .", "you will be entertained even if , in rock 'n' roll terms , it 's less satanic metal than cutesy chart pop .", "shot in a raw , grungy style that lends the film a degree of authenticity , agn is a riff-roaring experience that rarely hits a bum note .", "a fun enough goof to give it 90 minutes of your time as a feature film .", "somehow , after most of the other 2007 movies have faded from memory , i have a feeling that i will still remember the passion and commitment of the people i met in MOV .", "MOV is a wonderfully wild ride of a documentary , and the greatest trick of the picture is found in how it makes the audience succumb to the power of the sport .", "the movie 's wild performances and droll humor are tough to resist .", "there are enough endearing characters and charming trash talk to keep what is essentially a one-note joke running toward the spastic crescendo with alacrity .", "irresistible .", "it 's no small feat to film a documentary like this with the right balance of reverence for the craft of air guitar and good , old-fashioned shooting at an easy target , but lipsitz pulls it off .", "although MOV is a documentary , lipsitz stumbled across a couple of compelling characters in jung and crane , who are anything but n'air - do-wells .", "i would n't exactly call MOV the next important documentary , but as a colorful look at an admittedly goofy activity , the flick 's a pleasant little winner .", "it 's one of the charms of MOV that much of it plays like a mockumentary in which you 're not quite sure who 's pulling your leg . but it 's real , even if the guitars are not .", "nary a dull lick in the entire 80 minutes .", "it 's hard not to grin and admit that , yes , this is almost an art form .", "the documentary is very well paced , beginning with a montage of just what one would presume to be the typical air guitar of a drunken concert goer and progressing into a film chronicling something like showmanship .", "MOV does a fine job of bottling prelapsarian exuberance .", "alexandra lipsitz believes that air-guitar competitions are worth a whole feature-length movie . she 's wrong , of course . but the fun lasts longer than you might think .", "fascinating ? absolutely .", "alexandra lipsitz 's often hilarious documentary -lrb- with almost everyone in on the joke -rrb- won the audience award at sxsw and is spawning a cult following that could snowball in release .", "as `` seinfeld '' proved , shows about nothing can be a lot of fun .", "`` MOV '' does deliver the goods , with some extremely funny scenes and some honest-to-goodness rocking concert footage . although i fear that the existence of `` nation '' has nudged us that much closer to a karaoke documentary .", "sure , there is an infectious goofiness in watching a grown man in a red robe and hello kitty breastplate rock out on an imaginary ax . but the gag is spread pretty thin .", "for every dork who has stood before the home stereo speakers and banged away on an invisible instrument , here at last is validation .", "in this pitch-perfect documentary about the very real rise of air guitar competition in the united states , and two of its top performers , stony thoughts will arise as to whether one is suddenly trapped inside a satire that got wrapped in a reality .", "it 's never clear from one moment to the next what is a joke and what is deadly earnest , until the two concepts finally merge into a sort of buddhist singularity .", "the film 's action footage -- lots of men and women thrashing around with a theoretical fender in hand -- gets pretty tedious after a while . there is only so much self-inflicted embarrassment one can bear watching .", "-lsb- some -rsb- may be taken aback by the exhibition of sheer ego in what is clearly a form of replacement therapy for those whose ambitions exceed their talents .", "that the event is not only taken seriously by its contestants , but is also surprisingly devoid of irony , makes MOV excellently enjoyable .", "there are occasional moments of wisdom , drama and emotion , but we never quite forget the blunt confession of one of the founders of the world championship , who admits that the whole thing began as a joke . psst , buddy : it still is .", "director alexandra lipsitz does n't do much more than chronicle the noise , but it 's intermittently fun stuff .", "as dumb as the idea of grown men dressing up and pretending to play guitar may be , there 's no arguing that some of these grown men do so with a truly awesome degree of energy and flair .", "MOV plays less like a feature-length documentary than it does a poorly thrown together behind-the-scenes supplement to the real thing .", "there must be better , more useful ways of amusing themselves but obviously none which would allow them to strut the stage to the plaudits of a baying crowd like latter-day rock stars .", "this raucously entertaining documentary about one of the silliest competitions on the planet actually has a serious message about the power of `` airness '' to change the world . well , maybe .", "when a documentary is as entertaining as MOV , you have to ask if you really need it to have redeeming social value or to advance the art form in any way .", "put aside all of your preconceptions of air guitar as a hobby of shamelessly untalented wanna-be guitar players , and step into the world of competitive air guitar .", "despite the film 's admirable brevity it 's still hard to maintain a wry ironic grin for a full 81 minutes .", "originality 0.9 , presentation 2.3 and silliness 5.2 .", "like most guitar solos , the film does n't quite know when to quit .", "very funny .", "a gloriously insane journey into the weirder reaches of rock , MOV is a funny , funky and oddly moving burst of lively factual entertainment .", "while quite possibly the stupidest thing you 've ever seen in your life , this documentary exploring the world of air guitar enthusiasts is a riot from start to finish .", "it 's a limited movie , from the musical palette the performers choose , to the number of players the movie spends time with ." ], "summary": "it 's up for debate how serious or ironic its subjects are , but MOV is nonetheless a funny and exciting documentary with a killer soundtrack .", "id": "500192574" }, { "movie": "letters_to_juliet", "reviews": [ "does n't have a lick of cynicism -- it 's as pure of heart as they come . a fine ideal , but it feels as flat as a pizza .", "well and truly geared to a female audience who are likely to savour the fanciful plot and neatly wrapped feel-good denouement .", "seyfried , whose heart frankly does n't even seem to be in this movie , has no discernible chemistry with either of the men in her life .", "i want to live in the alternate universe where vanessa redgrave 's claire is the lead of MOV and the two vapid dorks who trail her on a journey of lost love can learn a lesson or two but never take the spotlight .", "director gary winick and screenwriters jose rivera and tim sullivan deal in genre clich\u00e9s , sure , yet they let us view them with fresh eyes .", "not to be a cynic or anything , but maybe a fictional 13-year-old is n't the best source of advice for the lovelorn .", "seyfried is a real beauty and her star is definitely on the rise after adding this definitive chick flick to her resume . redgrave is still a classy dame and steals every scene that she appears in ...", "-lsb- redgrave 's -rsb- performance makes the predictable antics of MOV worth tolerating .", "endless vistas of the lush italian countryside , some playful banter , and a likable cast make `` MOV '' worthwhile , even if you feel like you 've seen it before . several times before .", "super swoony romantic fluff that 's fun for tweens .", "diabetics steer clear ; so awfully saccharine is the derivative romantic drama MOV , it may induce a hyperglycemic coma .", "the light breaking through yonder window is the glare of critical scrutiny - and MOV looks pathetic in it .", "as you might guess , after a great deal of sniping sophie and charlie supposedly fall for each other . but the audience never buys it .", "there 's not a lot to say about this film , it 's enjoyable in a very predictable way .", "from the people who wish they 'd brought you the notebook .", "what 's important is that it avoids the unfunny jokiness and juvenile tendencies that define too many romantic comedies while also sidestepping the mawkishness of the nicolas sparks-inspired dramas .", "a fetching romantic melodrama with a delicious performance by vanessa redgrave as an elderly woman on a quest for love .", "MOV offers little to viewers besides many trite truisms about the ways of the heart , some sumptuous views of the tuscan countryside and a lovely performance by redgrave .", "i 'd take any woman in my life , ages 10 to 100 , to MOV and my guess is we 'd both leave with a little italian glow .", "a sugary paean to quixotic clich\u00e9s and a film destined to be a guilty pleasure for some -lrb- me included , sigh -rrb- and the painful price of a relationship for others -lrb- so steel yourselves -rrb- .", "ms. redgrave gives the film , which was directed by gary winick , a heart and a buoyant spirit . seeing her in action is like sitting in on a master acting class .", "seyfried has worked opposite some of the greatest actors in filmdom in recent years , including meryl streep and julianne moore . that she again holds her own , this time with redgrave , is a measure of her talent .", "this one burns going down , like cheap chianti .", "a blithely frivolous movie that glows with as much starry-eyed clich\u00e9 and scenic splendor as it shudders with illogic and lack of common sense .", "it 's no `` under the tuscan sun , '' but it 's a far better sit than `` when in rome . ''", "if you 've seen the trailer , you 've seen the movie .", "why do i love thee , juliet ? let me count the ways : there are no decapitations , no car crashes , no gun fights , no pratfalls , no talking animals and no aliens - just one beautiful love story , two captivating romances and lots of picturesque italian scenery .", "unfortunately , the main couple in the film competes in vain against the scenery .", "if it was n't for the cliched bickering between two characters that will eventually fall in love , this could have worked . it 's a good subject and a beautiful location .", "do n't blame the bard for MOV", "a radiant vanessa redgrave heads an almost perfect cast in this unabashedly romantic movie", "like 1962 's ` rome adventure , ' this saccharine story with incredible scenery is pleasant entertainment .", "seyfried is delightful in this movie whereas i have found her just annoying in others . maybe it is that she gets to share the screen with bernal and the luminous vanessa . those two could make anybody look good . still seyfried is also good in her scenes wi", "it 's a bath in schmaltz from beginning to end but it also has redgrave who brings instant depth to even the most throwaway of lines .", "let 's just say this is the sort of movie where if a character is shown climbing up some shrubbery , you just know a branch will break and send him tumbling earthward .", "it 's harmless and pretty and utterly predictable , but kind of a waste of time for anyone who 's ever seen , well , any other romantic comedy set in a beautiful location .", "where the movie fails completely is the most important , meat-and-potatoes parts . namely , the main characters and a compelling , believable story line . these are both lacking .", "redgrave ! slim and silvery as lightning , she is always a revelation . she accelerates the movie by slowing down to silent stillness in order fully to hear -- and carefully digest -- what others do and say .", "a purported comedy that had me mentally following minor characters off screen , wondering if their lives might be more interesting than what was happening on it .", "MOV is a guilty pleasure for the ladies , perfect blu-ray fodder when their significant others turn them into world of warcraft widows for the evening .", "the feel-good seyfried movie of the year -- though that 's not such a hard feat when your two other yearly releases include a nicholas sparks weepie and a twisted atom egoyan psycho-thriller .", "you do n't have to be 13 and a tapioca-brained romantic to enjoy MOV . but it would help .", "if well done , a film like MOV should need no surprises . but it does need more than the postcard-ready vistas against which director gary winick frames much of the action .", "anyone who considers this a decent romance should check out max ophuls 's `` letter from an unknown woman . ''", "what light through yonder window breaks ? 't is the fiery wrath of william shakespeare , dragged back to this mortal coil to lend his cred to a dreadful chick flick .", "shakespeare need not feel threatened by this movie , but ` MOV ' is nonetheless wholesome tv fare .", "while not a messy film , juliet is persistently hollow , diving into a dopey rom-com conclusion -lrb- with cutesy shakespearean overtones -rrb- that merely confirms the insipid direction at hand .", "as the taylor swift song kicks in at the climax and seyfried has her big romantic moment , you ca n't help but crane your neck to see what redgrave is up to in the background .", "if the filmmakers had spent less time on the visual , and more time on appropriate characterizations and a believable script , we might have been as much in love with the film as it seems to be with itself .", "... while -lsb- vanessa -rsb- redgrave ca n't cut the clich\u00e9s out of MOV entirely , she at least cuts through them occasionally .", "predictable though the film is , vanessa redgrave does nearly mystical work and the film in general has enough humor to make the trip worthwhile .", "save yourself 10 bucks , and an hour and 45 minutes of your precious time .", "the story is as straight and obvious as raw spaghetti .", "pure fluffy eye candy .", "a sappily-ever-after fairy tale .", "if you dropped a feather and MOV from a tall building simultaneously , which one would hit the ground first ? it 's lightweight and lazy , an outline for a movie .", "MOV does poke fun at itself occasionally , but not enough to keep us from saying , `` grazie ! '' when it finally ends .", "tame , predictable and a little dull .", "its cast is remarkably strong for such simple fare . cynics will mock it , but it 's an undeniable crowd pleaser even if its resolution drags on too long .", "redgrave is radiant as the woman who is hoping for a romantic miracle .", "redgrave is incandescent , and casting franco nero as lorenzo was inspired .", "MOV is a by-the-numbers romantic comedy -- and i mean that in a good way .", "it 's almost like the movie is afraid of what it should be -- a young , frisky love story that should be exuberant and carefree , even if it means risking making a fool of itself . what 's love , after all , if it does n't do exactly that ?", "there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours . set in some stunning locales in italy , letters is a guilty pleasure that 's lighter on the guilt and heavier on the pleasure .", "as the genre goes , this is a superior offering . it gives the first clear evidence that the doe-eyed seyfried can really act ; it soothes the eyes with luscious views of beautiful tuscany in all its moods ...", "in a word , MOV is rubbish , but seyfried and redgrave make it tolerable in their different ways .", "the actors , particularly seyfried and redgrave , help make the movie 's romantic spirit contagious .", "a date movie for the undiscriminating ... anyone who might accidentally think about what they 're seeing should probably stay away .", "i know the ending is preordained from the setup . i know the characters are broad and comforting stereotypes . in this case , i simply do n't care . sometimes we have personal reasons for responding to a film .", "eye candy abounds , but it 'd be easier to enjoy that sun-drenched scenery if director gary winick were n't so hell-bent on cramming clich\u00e9s down our throats that include square-jawed hunks riding in on white horses and scaling balconies .", "the key to the film 's success is its lack of strain . as written by jose rivera and tim sullivan , this is n't one of those pushy slapstick affairs ; it 's more romantic than comic , and despite the corn there are no villains .", "all -lsb- the movie -rsb- proves is that if you 're going to make a road movie rom-com , you should invite vanessa redgrave to tag along on the journey ... her grace and charm overshadow all else in it .", "like taylor swift 's pop hit `` love story , '' garry winick 's MOV references shakespeare to prop up its cornball fairy-tale romanticism .", "what 's so awful about taking a breather ? it 's enough to bask in the pastoral prettiness and the unexpected harmony of seyfried and redgrave .", "who can resist such ravishing travel porn ?", "love is a commodity in the world of MOV , to be processed and marketed as another studio might a g.i. joe or a transformer .", "an amusing , touching , reassuringly wholesome romantic travelogue of a film that flies by on its way to the inevitable happy ending .", "MOV represents an interesting paradox : it is a movie that is very nearly perfect without being especially good .", "cinematographer marco pontecorvo 's sun-drenched palette would be a perfectly sound reason to see this film , but happily it 's not the only one .", "`` MOV '' takes an improbable script and turns it into a moving love story , featuring wonderful performances by vanessa redgrave and amanda seyfried .", "screenwriters jose rivera and tim sullivan have penned some great lines , but also some clunkers , most of which were written for seyfried and egan .", "apart from a handful of nicely crafted , brittle exchanges between the two young leads as the antipathy between them transforms into sexual tension , the film is full of shameless italian stereotypes and poorly executed screwball comedy .", "road-tripping romance that features a talented cast and gorgeous locales but an overly sappy plot and nap-inducing pace .", "with all the beautiful settings and attractive people and gorgeously lit vineyards , there is an air of artificiality to juliet , which is to real-life romance what cheetos are to a nice piece of aged cheddar . but who does n't like a cheeto now and then ?", "redgrave brings a lovely gravity to the lightweight proceedings , while seyfried again proves an unusually levelheaded presence .", "i wish the film was more focused on the love story between vanessa redgrave and franco nero . instead , we are made to sit through a foreground love story with zero chemistry .", "seyfried almost makes up for dear john as the everygirl heroine who wants to be julia roberts for the ipod generation .", "there is nothing to sophie beyond her relationships to the two men in her life -lrb- and her writing claire 's story -rrb- .", "hollywood fantasy and teen-girl wish-fulfillment , with very little personality .", "the arguably overexposed amanda seyfried -lrb- if you 've seen `` chloe '' you know i 'm not exaggerating -rrb- is charming in the otherwise belabored and contrived `` MOV . ''", "sure , you know more or less -lrb- ok , more -rrb- what 's going to happen % u2014let 's not pretend this is the sort of story that can ever rise above its genesis % u2014but within this limited range of ambition , MOV rises to the top .", "find me a flight to verona !", "every turn of MOV is obvious and expected , even insufferable .", "parental content review -lrb- all the details you need to know -rrb-", "this may be the first screen romance in recent memory where the inclusion of abba lyrics might have actually come across as an improvement .", "there are a few moments where the romance is overdone , and the film verges on being too sentimental , but those scenes are saved by the sweet performances of its cast .", "there 's nothing wrong with a squishy , sentimental romantic confection now and then . but MOV is a mere lollipop . it 's gone before its 101-minute running time expires , and you 're left with the stick .", "MOV is a gentle , charming story that features a winning lead performance from amanda seyfried .", "gary winick 's flat direction does the material no favors : if egan and seyfried have any chemistry , it 's framed out of their awkwardly staged climactic kisses .", "letters from juliet is far from a great movie . but if you 're female or -- like me -- a man with a taste for romance and a fairer deal for our senior citizens , this is one of the year 's guiltiest pleasures .", "it 's hard to convey the sheer awfulness . and that 's not just me being a grumpy bloke confronted with a chick flick .", "the double romantic payoff is beautifully directed and performed ; it 's not just what but how it 's done in this satisfying escapist romance aimed at women , young or old .", "both exasperatingly vapid and easy to sit through .", "MOV ... it 's a chick flick thing .", "the film unravels in a dispiriting morass of clich\u00e9s and cringy lines .", "a pair of mediocre leading men sabotage this otherwise charming chick flick .", "vanessa redgrave and the spectacular locales of tuscany are the main reasons to tolerate the tepid and predictable story ...", "you can guess the whole film but the picture postcard locations are easy on the eye and the wonderful redgrave steals the show . her heartfelt conviction and natural warmth slice through all the schmaltz to make the silly storyline feel real and touching .", "what kind of twisted fantasy is this ?", "as an antidote to the sugar , what we need now is a grumpy film called letters to lady macbeth , in which malcontents leave rage-filled missives in the battlements of glamis castle .", "pisma juliji nije film koji \u0107e se dugo pamtiti , ali predstavljaju zanatski ispeglano ostvarenje koje ne\u0107e razo\u010darati ljubitelje svog anra", "winick ladles on the cliches with shameless abandon .", "formulaic and telegraphic , there are no surprises in this chaste , passionless movie ...", "it 's all rather pleasant , but it 's also all rather conventional .", "... succeeds on the basis of pure delight , the optimism it emits and an earned happily-ever-after ending .", "if you 're in the mood for some school-girl daydream fairytale , MOV about fits the bill , but even fans of this sort of thing are likely to find themselves short of patience well before the end .", "a perfect date movie , with a nice blend of romance and light-hearted comedy", "not even the ever-likable seyfried at full-blast sun-kissed luminescence can win the battle against such trite , tired material nor make a viable leading man out of her pretty boy zero of a co-star .", "jose rivera and tim sullivan 's script relentlessly piles on goopy conversation-stoppers like `` do you believe in destiny ? '' and `` i did n't know that true love had an expiration date . ''", "beautiful scenery and a cute premise ca n't camouflage a stale plot in bland romance .", "by the time we have adjusted to all that european summer sunlight streaming through seyfried 's silky hair , the film is already well on the road to fluffsville .", "as a romantic tale , the movie is bland and predictable and the only reasons to see it are the luminous appearance of vanessa redgrave in a supporting role and the picaresque beauty of its setting , verona .", "the picture never looks fussed-over or flattened -- it breathes , as opposed to just looking merely pretty .", "a gloriously tacky italian romance .", "asking juliet capulet for relationship advice is a little bit like asking john mccain for campaign consulting , is n't it ?", "twaddle and hooey driven by a self-absorbed blonde", "of the dozens of chick flicks to come out this year , this is the one that 's not bad !", "... an acceptable time-killer ...", "a pleasant and consistently engaging romance ...", "somewhere , not so long ago , a documentary was made about the true-life background of this fictional romance .", "it 's impossible to get excited about such cardboard roles from writers jose rivera and tim sullivan . these two need to write to juliet asap to rediscover their love for writing % u2014 if they ever had it .", "nicely weighted performances and the beautiful italian setting combine to make this an unassuming treat .", "-lsb- h -rsb- alf a lovely , bittersweet movie about longing and romance and making mistakes and living with regret ...", "doubt that the stars are fire , but never doubt that MOV is the biggest load of weepie sludge we are likely to see this year . naturally , i quite enjoyed it .", "it 's a movie of blandly pretty `` establishing shots , '' seyfried walking her lovely self across this piazza or that vineyard .", "an unashamedly mushy concoction , MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a barbara cartland novel , aimed at mainstream romance fans aged anywhere between 13 and 113 .", "seyfried acts like she 's spaced out on limoncello in a role even kate hudson would have turned down .", "irked by the endless will they/won ' t they , girl tells boy : `` this is really painful . '' after close to two hours of fairly unremarkable viewing , at that point the feeling is mutual .", "redgrave 's performance is touching , but generally this romcom is far too schmaltzy .", "this is an all-fudging , all-sludging cheesepocalypse now of a movie .", "the script , sighing , twittering and doing d.h. lawrence lite , would be rejected as too whimsical by mills and boon .", "despite a potentially decent premise , this is a disappointing romance , let down by terrible dialogue , poor plotting , severe miscasting , a charisma-free performance from christopher egan and a total lack of chemistry between its two leads .", "let 's just say it 's nice to see redgrave sharing a few scenes with her real-life hubby franco nero four decades after their first get-together in 1966 's camelot .", "-lsb- t -rsb- hose who want something beyond a paint-by-numbers romance/travelogue ... will be disappointed .", "moviegoers do n't like surprises in their romantic comedies , and this one plays it particularly safe .", "the good news is that MOV is only the third-worst romantic comedy set in europe released this year ." ], "summary": "MOV has a refreshingly earnest romantic charm , but it suffers from limp dialogue and an utter lack of surprises .", "id": "770814003" }, { "movie": "django_unchained_2012", "reviews": [ "corkscrewed , inside-out , upside-down , simultaneously clear-eyed and completely out of its mind .", "MOV is by turns exhilarating , hilarious , horrifying and poetic .", "these characters dance a tense ballet along a razor 's edge in the last third of the film , and their verbal sparring is the sound of gauntlets being thrown before things inevitably reach a bloody conclusion .", "there 's something about -lsb- tarantino 's -rsb- directorial delectation in all these acts of racial violence that left me not just physically but morally queasy .", "in spite of some exceptionally indulgent choices by the fan-favorite director , MOV is another sharp and enjoyable tarantino effort .", "no movie can match quentin tarantino 's spaghetti western/blaxploitation/southern when it comes to illustrating the carnage wrought by slavery .", "with a fearless director and his mighty pen freeing a talented cast to attack a vital theme , `` MOV '' is damnation unleashed .", "it is digressive , jokey , giddily brutal and ferociously profane . but it is also a troubling and important movie about slavery and racism .", "just when we thought quentin tarantino had shown us all the cojones he has , in rides `` MOV . ''", "brought to us by the much imitated , uniquely gifted and never surpassed quentin tarantino ...", "MOV is pure , nonstop , blood-soaked ecstasy that is satisfying in absolutely every way .", "by turns dazzling , daring , gruesome and astonishingly funny .", "expanding on his theme of historical revenge , quentin tarentino is at his bloody best here . to borrow a phrase , this one ` floats like a butterfly , stings like a bee ' .", "MOV is the wildest cinematic ride of the year .", "... as a fun-filled tribute to those older , cheesier genres , MOV absolutely works , and aside from being overlong is a pleasure to view . but it is n't more than that", "we 're left with an overindulgent shadow of what could have been a much better film .", "tarantino 's latest effort is n't his best , it is his most ambitious , and for someone capable of so much , that means quite a lot .", "christoph waltz is now the chief channeler of all things tarantino . and that 's saying something in a film that includes qt verbosity expert samuel l. jackson .", "MOV offers an embarrassment of riches -lrb- and actors in tiny cameos -rrb- .", "effectively tells in tarantino 's excessive style about the evils of slavery .", "this is pretty much exactly what you would want from a tarantino western .", "MOV has mislaid its melancholy , and its bitter wit , and become a raucous romp . it is a tribute to the spaghetti western , cooked al dente , then cooked a while more , and finally sauced to death .", "MOV is tarantino 's most complete movie yet . it is also his most vital . his storytelling talents match the heft of the tale .", "you will definitely get your money 's worth . but this is one of tarantino 's minor works .", "tarantino 's blood-soaked ambiance is perfectly in tune with the more serious undercurrents in his spectacularly enjoyable MOV .", "quentin tarantino sets his sights on the spaghetti western and delivers on the talky , ultra-violent bombast expected of him in the entertaining and confronting MOV .", "it 's everything you 'd expect from a tarantino film , with the violence so amplified and exaggerated it 's nearly been taken to a looney tunes level of comedy .", "MOV is part red bull and part bloody bubble bath . it 's a hoot and a holler .", "tarantino , with lip-smacking down-and-dirty subversive gusto , rubs our noses in the forbidden spectacle of america 's racist ugliness .", "it is n't the director 's best work by any means , but it retains the excitement and punch inherent in his films . tarantino 's trademark playfulness and verve MOV is a lot of fun .", "a revenge film best served cold .", "quentin tarantino jumps back in his cinematic time-traveling machine and retreats to the past to rewrite history and exact some bloody revenge .", "somehow exhibits high art while it walks a fine line between serious historical re-purposing , inflammatory comic excess and brutal violence .", "a film bursting with pleasures great and small ...", "the film 's triumph is the manner in which tarantino re-envisions cinema 's selective appropriation of history and makes it entirely his own", "MOV is classic tarantino .", "for his latest exercise in pulpy throwbacks and balls-to-the-wall homage , quentin tarantino once more wipes away the gunk of a zillion b movie tropes to do what he does best : apply a hyper-powered defibrillator to a tuckered out genre .", "tarantino is , in essence , a classicist who invests the bulk of his drama and tension in lengthy dialogue exchanges that are infinitely more compelling that his elongated sequences of cathartic violence .", "people are bound to read racist overtones into the material , but tarantino has the consciousness of a 12-year-old boy ; there 's nothing more to his message here than slavery is bad .", "in `` django , '' tarantino is a man unchained , creating his most articulate , intriguing , provoking , appalling , hilarious , exhilarating , scathing and downright entertaining film yet .", "a film that manages to pay homage to films of the past even as it sends them up and then pushes past them into a territory all its own .", "a tale of empowerment that packs one hell of a cinematic punch , MOV is tarantino 's epic masterpiece .", "pure entertainment , a no-holds-barred dose of double-barreled escapism , built around great characters , great performances and great dialog .", "another strong , sparky and bloody entry in the qt canon .", "this is a wonderful film - it is , but once in a while someone needed to tap q on the shoulder and tell him to ease up off the gas . a master and a genius , no doubt , but sometimes the emperor has no clothes too .", "tarantino often reminds us that film can be used as a weapon . here he purges all that racial ugliness from the past not by asking its left-leaning audience to whoop and cheer at whitey 's demise , but by having our hero do battle with screen history itself .", "highly recommended .", "while a little overblown and overly long , a wide range of people will find at least something to like here .", "simply another of tarantino 's masterpieces that was very much worth the wait .", "what a pity tarantino is so busy booking cameos from old spaghetti stars and tipping his stetson to schlock that he never unchains his most promising brainwave .", "if you only see one ` slavery ' film this year , make it this one .", "might be the most savage cinematic depiction of slavery ever made .", "-lsb- a -rsb- dark fantasia of the pre-civil war south that is hilarious , ferocious , shocking , and wise , sometimes all at once .", "no disaster , far from it at times , actually , but there 's a lethargy here that 's disconcerting , blocking a lovely view of all the cinematic tributes and screen artistry that typically resides in tarantinoland .", "quentin tarantino does n't shy away from the horrors of slavery in MOV even as he delivers a weird , wild , and bloody violent crowd-pleaser in this raucous salute to the spaghetti western .", "the late holiday season 's most dizzyingly imaginative and thoroughly pleasing release , an end-of-year jewel as chock-full of sizzling performances as it is bursting with busted knee caps and spurting innards .", "jaw-dropping and eye-popping -lrb- literally , at one point -rrb- , `` MOV '' is a prime example of the glories that can result from a master filmmaker working at the peak of his powers .", "even at 165 minutes , this is a film that speeds by and one gets a sense of tarantino being fully energized .", "perhaps i have an askew view of the world or an odd sense of humor , but i found `` MOV '' to be the funniest western parody since `` blazing saddles . ''", "ranges from being brilliant , controversial , talky , long and cartoonishly violent . basically it 's tarantino at his best and worse .", "underneath all of the bluster and irony , MOV mostly is a buddy film .", "mr. tarantino has learned the difference between sharing one 's love of trivia versus sharing one 's love of cinema .", "for a film that 's just shy of being three hours long , it never felt bloated ; every sequence seemed to have its place , and at the right pace ...", "good but not the best tarantino has ever done . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "quentin tarantino has made a masterpiece ! it 's the ultimate film geek cinematic treat . it 's dark , brutal , funny , compelling , engaging , exciting , expertly crafted and brilliantly conceived .", "a companion piece to inglourious basterds , tarantino 's revenge tale is long , excessive , violent pulp western , but it 's well acted , sporadically humorous , and always entertaining .", "even as one of his weaker efforts , MOV still ranks higher than most of what comes out over the course of a year .", "i ca n't wait to see this again .", "tarantino relishes the opportunity to run wild with a symbol of black persecution until the idea loses momentum -- and then , true to form , he just keeps going .", "tarantino definitely has a point to make about slavery , and it is there , but it is well hidden behind a stout curtain of fun , which is ultimately what you 'll get from MOV .", "the violence , the humor , the strong language all adds up to deliver on the considerable hype that goes when a celebrated director takes on an ambitious project . here 's to your thin red line , mr. tarantino ... we 're happy to step over !", "an immensely satisfying taste of antebellum empowerment packaged as spaghetti-western homage .", "vibrating with the geekery of a filmmaker off the chain , the movie plays like no other this year .", "django is n't just a movie only america could make -- it 's also a movie only america needs to", "the anecdotal , odyssey-like structure of this long , talky saga could be considered indulgent , but tarantino injects the weighty material with so many jocular , startling and unexpected touches that it 's constantly stimulating .", "as in all of tarantino 's best films , there is a strange and brilliant magic at work here ; a dark , bubbling alchemy of art and junk .", "if only all films could contain such precise dialogue and such distinctive characters . i 'd be entertained every time i went to the cinema .", "an arresting , both barrels blazing return to form .", "not a masterpiece , but a funny , violent , very entertaining crowdpleaser .", "for pure movie enjoyment -- or movie geek -lrb- i plead guilty -rrb- enjoyment , if you insist -- i had n't had this much plain fun in a while .", "-lsb- a -rsb- piece of have-it-all-ways hokum ...", "who needs facts when there is great vengeance , furious anger and the path of righteousness to attend to ? the magpie deserves our respect . always . forever .", "this is quentin tarantino 's most entertaining film since pulp fiction , and its first hour is brilliantly funny .", "we 're used to tarantino 's films being multi-layered with several plots going on at once , but MOV is a little too simple and , dare i say , dull .", "shows tarantino is on winning creative streak , able to engage viewers with a sharply honed script while authentically presenting unpleasant episodes from american history .", "a better grindhouse tribute film and spaghetti western homage than his previous two movies combined", "there 's a good movie inside MOV , maybe even a great one , but it has n't been carved out of the lopsided excess .", "there 's an undeniable pleasure that emerges in seeing tarantino juggle the dynamite of his ideas , even when they prematurely pop off in his face .", "whatever django 's issues , failing to deliver on its promises is n't one of them .", "campy , funny , shocking , and seeping with sardonic social commentary , `` MOV '' is quentin tarantino 's finest film to date .", "MOV is blazing saddles with a body count , a positively incendiary entertainment about america 's greatest shame , the personal and social toll of slavery ...", "` MOV ' thunders across the big screen as a fireball of celluloid flawlessness . quentin tarantino 's greatest work since ` pulp fiction ' and , undoubtedly , the best film of 2012 .", "while `` django '' is certainly another passionately executed tarantino effort , the major quibble is that it 's not quite sharp or provocative enough to rank with his best films .", "when a culture tells stories that excuse its own evils long enough , the pendulum is sure to swing the other direction to reveal , even exaggerate , what has been left out .", "quentin tarantino is seriously warped . but it 's in a good way . his fertile imagination produces unique , albeit , violent and almost always , terrific movies .", "if you had pulled me out of the theater one hour into quentin tarantino 's MOV , i would have raved . the first portion of the movie is utterly exuberant , full of life and the love of moviemaking .", "quentin tarantino no longer makes movies ; he makes trailers .", "MOV is a masterpiece partly because we need it so badly .", "brace yourself america , tarantino 's new film `` MOV '' is a violent , hilarious , riveting force of nature that also just so happens to be the best movie of the year .", "four or five legitimately great cinematic moments , and across-the-board strong performances , but a bit too long and slow .", "when we look back at history , we tend to put evil up on this pedestal in a way that unfairly flatters people like hitler , et al. . tarantino pulls evil men down from their dignified perch and allows you to laugh at them as the actual clowns they were .", "a violent , whirling fantasia into our dark past", "MOV is pure , if not great , tarantino .", "tarantino lives to cross the line . is MOV too much ? ... it would n't be tarantino otherwise .", "while inventive and clever , it does n't add up to much more than a minor film from a major director .", "it 's always so much fun to see something familiar turned into something fresh right before your eyes . few can do it like tarantino .", "tarantino gives us an american spaghetti western that 's a bloody good time from start to finish .", "MOV is good -- i 'd even go so far as to say very good -- but with a bit more care , it could have been as great as the movie tarantino has been describing in interviews .", "it 's not much of a stretch to call tarantino 's entertainment-oriented brand of revisionist history tacky , if not deeply offensive , but the energy and audacity with which he executes it is undeniable .", "the film gives us vintage tarantino , a pastiche of western , blaxploitation and civil war-era movie tropes that 's packed with his characteristically rich dialogue .", "brilliant comic turns from christoph waltz and samuel l. jackson help string together this audience-pleasing , highly uneven quentin tarantino spaghetti western/slave vengeance mash-up .", "may be the first tarantino film that does n't reinvent , transform or elevate its sources into something bracingly fresh , much less necessary .", "if you 're willing to accept its utterly over-the-top attitude you 'll find it almost absurdly enjoyable .", "tarantino almost saves his picture with his last act showdown but not quite . getting there was a route too long , too clumsy , and just plain tedious .", "-lsb- a -rsb- chronicle of a most reprehensible chapter in american history , seen through the amoral prism of the spaghetti western and drenched in blood and spit -- but mostly blood .", "unfortunately , it wears out its welcome about two-thirds through , which means -- no kidding -- 45 more minutes to go .", "it 's a live-action , heads-exploding , shoot - 'em - up cartoon . sometimes it crackles , and sometimes it merely cracks .", "proudly doffing its cap to sergios corbucci and leone , this latest , sprawling exercise in film lore dares to tread where most other white american filmmakers would not .", "it certainly places tarantino among the most impressive film-makers at work today .", "exciting , entertaining , funny , dramatic and edgy , MOV is also intelligent and sometimes touching , often bloody and yet - in the end - a romantic softie , too", "tarantino 's made a great movie but an underwhelming film .", "waltz anchors this film brilliantly so that jamie foxx as django and the rest of the all-star cast can fit into tarantino 's latest heady mix of styles .", "no-one does humour in violence like tarantino ... . hell 's bells , there is a lot to take in and soak up in this hotdog tarantino western . it 's a killer", "tarantino takes an unusually comical approach to a provocative topic , and the result is as controversial as expected . and also startlingly hilarious .", "tarantino 's best for ages , absolutely not to be missed .", "a blistering , bullet-ridden bonanza .", "densely crammed , unmistakeably excessive quentin tarantino dialogue , MOV is his most exciting , accessible and satisfying film for ages .", "there 's plenty of fun here - waltz alone is worth the price of admission - but you may leave `` MOV '' wishing for both more and less .", "`` MOV '' is the most consistently entertaining movie of 2012 .", "at a shade under three hours , MOV never once feels that length ... a testament to the ferocity of tarantino 's fantastically unmannerly concoction .", "MOV is the most brutal film quentin tarantino has ever made.but the movie is also exciting and ironic and , at times , explosively funny : even at his most serious , tarantino ca n't help but entertain and show you a good time .", "as hellish as its moral universe may be , those whose stomachs can handle the descent will find that even in tarantino 's world-perhaps especially in his world-those moral questions still matter .", "this is tarantino 's unique take on the western and it 's worth seeing for that alone . while it may not be another great film like we were hoping for , it still manages to be one heck of a trip .", "`` MOV '' possesses an unmistakable subversive power , its playfully insurrectionist spirit perhaps the modern-day pop-culture equivalent of far more high stakes rebellions of yore .", "the name of the movie is `` MOV , '' but for all practical purposes it might as well be called `` tarantino unleashed . ''", "as retreads go , MOV is as much a comedown from its predecessor as lars von trier 's manderlay was from dogville .", "there 's a case to be made that blood-spattering revenge pictures , no matter how evil the villain , are cultural poison , but if this is what it takes to -lsb- get -rsb- don johnson as a dyed-in-the-wool racist done up as colonel sanders , well , so be it .", "in his past two movies , tarantino has ascended to a new level of filmmaking craftsmanship and narrative sophistication .", "tarantino could do this all day .", "bold , original , mesmerizing , stylish and one hell of a piece of entertainment .", "django is infectiously rousing and exuberantly subversive . say what you will about his insensitivities , nothing in tarantino 's approach is condescending or pretentious .", "plodding through the parts that the filmmaker could n't bare to trim down winds up being more than worthwhile , however , for the many moments of sheer moviegoing pleasure that MOV provides . it 's a bloody treat .", "perhaps not a great tarantino film , but an extremely enjoyable one nevertheless , MOV is a thoroughly excessive , gore-soaked odyssey that 's blessed with outstanding performances - especially one from leonardo dicaprio - above all else .", "incendiary and proud of it . the work of a master at the top of his game .", "might be too much - and too bloody - for certain constitutions , but the rewards are plentiful . be sure to hunt it down .", "a mashup of the spaghetti western django and '70s blaxploitation westerns , it offers tarantino another chance to show off his twist on history . while it worked with inglourious basterds , it just comes across as contrived and excessive here .", "funny , action-packed , and remarkably stylized . it 's also a tad too long , containing a few scenes that should have been left on the cutting room floor , which could have resulted in a more streamlined masterpiece instead of merely a heck of a lot of fun .", "like the earlier movie , in which jewish-american soldiers assassinate hitler , this one draws heavily on minority group revenge fantasy , the only difference being that the trick is n't as impressive the second time around .", "tarantino is aiming for the gut , and the sheer audacity just blows you away .", "tarantino is clearly having a grand ol' time with MOV , and so are his actors , every one of whom are more than willing to share in the writer/director 's filmic vision , no matter how ghastly it may be .", "`` MOV '' is tarantino at his most puerile and least inventive , the premise offering little more than cold , nasty revenge and barrels of squishing , squirting blood .", "think of it as the gore-filled antidote to the old-school melodrama of gone with the wind .", "even the explosive final half-hour , featuring the cartoonish flying bodies and splatterrific payback that are the director 's brand , fails to provide the catharsis promised by the title .", "MOV is a joy . it 's fun and foolish , unhinged and unapologetic .", "possibly tarantino 's most thoughtful and even political film to date .", "tarantino is starting to look more and more like an angry teenager in his bedroom going , `` would n't it be good if ... ''", "whereas there was savage beauty and irony in the ' 60 - '70s violence of penn , peckinpah , and leone , the coda of ` MOV ' is mere benumbing splatter .", "ultimately enjoyable , if a little underwhelming , if nothing else we can be grateful to MOV for allowing the phrase `` that 's the worst thing since quentin tarantino 's australian accent '' .", "impolitic though it might be to suggest it , there 's something extremely satisfying about the violence here-though , for my money , it resides less in seeing these racist thugs get their comeuppance , than in the director 's staging of it .", "it 's fitting that one of the greatest american filmmakers of all time is using the western and blaxploitation genres to connect the enduring blemish on the american psyche - only to set loose a bad motherf * cker to set it right .", "thrilling , stylish , funny , brutal , superbly-acted , sharply written and wonderfully offensive .", "it 's a big , crazy , hugely entertaining , multilayered piece of filmmaking - a fierce but fiercely intelligent testament to tarantino 's frequently questioned filmmaking proclivities and certainly among the best films he 's made .", "trazendo alguns dos melhores momentos da filmografia de tarantino , ainda culmina em um cl\u00edmax longo e violento que certamente levar\u00e1 os f\u0103s do diretor a orgasmos de sangue .", "the sometimes cartoonish and silly violence serves a purpose : it contrasts the moments of truly disturbing violence that tarantino puts on display , always within the context of the brutality doled out to slaves at the hands of white masters .", "tarantino 's spaghetti western of the american south is an untamed blast of stylishly rendered , outrageous entertainment .", "the first half of ` MOV ' boasts some of the most entertaining filmmaking of 2012 -- or perhaps of any year .", "it 's bold , it 's beautiful , it 's a sheer delight ... and a more disciplined approach might have made a masterpiece out of it .", "MOV is everything you want from a quentin tarantino movie , with a few new things added in . powerful , dazzling , and insanely entertaining .", "exciting . funny . gratuitous . inflammatory . insensitive . stylish . stupid . sophisticated . grab just about any adjective out of a hat and chances are it will apply to tarantino 's messy mashup .", "if a little bit -- okay , buckets -- of spilled fake blood are not odious to you , this is a hugely entertaining movie .", "hollywood has got to clean up its act -- and that goes for you , mr. tarantino !", "despite the way it functions as flashy entertainment , the weight of slavery can still be felt in MOV .", "different setting , same old tarantino", "wildly extravagant , ferociously violent , ludicrously lurid and outrageously entertaining , yet also , remarkably , very much about the pernicious lunacy of racism and , yes , slavery 's singular horrors .", "slavery reimagined as a messy splatterfest where massa gets exactly what he deserves , and then some !", "-lsb- tarantino -rsb- knows how to use our movie-conditioned anticipation against us . watching his movie is like playing chess with a wiseguy friend who 's always four moves ahead .", "`` MOV '' might have been a revelation in 2005 . but after quentin tarantino and others have spent years spoofing '60s and '70s genre movies , this mock spaghetti western tastes like it came out of the microwave .", "this spaghetti western via blaxploitation mandingo revenge film is told in three acts , the first of which is easily the best - the bounty hunters aka ` that 's a black man riding a horse ! ' .", "tarantino wants django to be a rousing yarn as well as a commentary , but the movie so revels in its carnage that his larger point is drowned in a sea of blood .", "waltz 's performance is so captivating and tarantino 's script and direction so well-paced that i hated to see it end , despite its 165 minute runtime .", "it 's too grueling to enjoy and too sloppy to respect .", "tarantino 's sure-footed , gorgeously shot , darkly funny western starts strong and gains in momentum until a breathtaking climax that represents the apogee of his adventures in culture-mashing .", "... writer/director quentin tarantino may have managed to deliver one of the most unflinchingly realistic depictions of slavery in the old south to ever grace the screen . qt 's vision is ugly and twisted and filled with all kinds of evil .", "by the two-hour mark the fun had oozed out of the movie for me . it 's long . or feels it .", "quentin tarantino has made a spaghetti western and cross-pollinated it with a blaxploitation picture , but it 's fully formed , unapologetic and easily one of the best popcorn flicks of the year .", "a bloody masterpiece . funny , thrilling , cleverly structured .", "it would seem that this film 's irreverence is n't a case of did n't - try-can ` t-fail dismissiveness , but rather something more innocuous : it 's simply the world interpreted through tarantino 's boisterous perspective .", "overlong , overblown and overly self-indulgent . but excess is what tarantino does . and just as he wo n't put one word in his characters ' mouths when he can have them utter 10 ; he wo n't dispatch a bad guy with one bullet when he can discharge a dozen .", "part-blaxploitation film , part-spaghetti western and all-tarantino , ` MOV ' comes charging at its audiences with guns a-blazin ' . it 's not quite up to par with ` reservoir dogs ' or ` pulp fiction , ' but it 's still tarantino - enough said .", "i had a good enough time to wish that it had been better .", "... compulsively watchable for the majority of its -lrb- admittedly overlong -rrb- running time ...", "this bloody , hilarious , shocking , and righteously angry film is the kind of great art and great trash -lsb- tarantino -rsb- aspires to make .", "still wonderfully witty and violent sequences that only tarantino could manage or dare .", "while so many ostensibly serious films explore murky moral ambiguity , tarantino knows that it can be cathartic to see unalloyed villains , whether nazis or slave owners , get their comeuppance .", "guilty of almost every indulgence -lsb- tarantino -rsb- has ever been accused of ... but it 's hard to hold it against him , when the results are this bloody good", "the funniest western since blazing saddles , the bloodiest since the wild bunch and the most visually stylish since the good , the bad & the ugly .", "though -lsb- it 's -rsb- propped up by a pair of fantastic performances ... it simply does n't live up to the high standards set by his previous films .", "a cruel but humorous tale of robust men and women defined by the myth of the ` old west ' .", "a daffy , loopy revenge story/western comedy , this may be quentin tarantino 's most purely entertaining film since ... ever .", "django may be unchained , but his movie could have used some tighter shackles .", "indulgent and excessive , it 's tarantino at his bloody best .", "pure cinematic testosterone and filled with saucy variations on dozens of other films .", "despite a bloated running time , it still entertains with tarantino 's trademark combination of humor and violence .", "the director pulls off this look at the horrors of slavery with respect for its subject . with MOV , tarantino , through his incredible , outrageously violent spaghetti western superman fantasy , tells the truth .", "the players are in fine form . but the movie he 's embroiled them all in is a hit-and-miss affair , at times an amusing reimagining of history , more often a blood-spattered bore .", "as an entertaining revenge flick with roots in exploitation films and spaghetti westerns , MOV succeeds . but it never rises above its genre to become a real , affecting emotional experience .", "the end result is a goofily unhinged , consistently engrossing , facetious look at one of the darkest moments in american history through the eyes of someone who 's spent too much time in the cinema watching inconsequential flicks .", "it is plainly a nonstop riot of humor and excitement , and one that matches its delicate nature with an equally calculated sense of importance in leading us to the most satisfying climax possible .", "by the end , django is a hero for his times : the d is silent , but nothing else is .", "obscurely referential , extremely indulgent , and deliriously over-the-top , django is -- in other words -- everything you 'd expect from a tarantino joint .", "overlong , self-indulgent garbage with a portrayal of a `` house negro '' that is a grotesque distortion of a sad reality .", "MOV does n't merely hit its marks ; it blows them to bloody chunks .", "if the slightly rambling MOV is ` lesser tarantino ' -- you know , only a b instead of an a -- it 's still a heady , delirious good time .", "there is no earthly reason why MOV needs to be two and three-quarter hours long , other than to indulge its director 's love of digressions and monologues .", "low-level tarantino inspires exploration , but delivers little more than a blood bath .", "MOV is 165 minutes and nothing much happens beyond talk and the provision of corpses . the plot lurches around and the artful structure of pulp fiction has been abandoned .", "the fear , anger and betrayal in jackson 's eyes , when stephen feels his place is threatened , says more about the cruelties of slavery than the ultra - violent , sickening passages of `` MOV . ''", "tarantino slyly takes the dirty diaper that is slavery in america and rubs it in our face .", "thanks , qt , for the best christmas present this fan of racially conscious films and blockbuster action movies could ever imagine .", "i 've always wondered whether tarantino would finally grow up . but after seeing his latest spectacular , bloody mess of a movie , frankly , i do n't give a damn .", "tarantino may be the best working director to take scenes of blood , mayhem , and gore and transform them into moments of hilarity .", "samuel l. jackson 's wicked house slave stephen is the raison d'\u0119tre for MOV . the layered and loaded uncle tom figure speaks to jackson 's legacy of shuckin ' and deconstructin ' black stereotypes with tarantino .", "django is undoubtedly one of the most creative and striking movies of 2012 , but it 's also one of the most exhausting .", "there has simply been no film this year that awakened , excited , and satisfied my cinematic senses as much as MOV , no film that succeeded better at its own ambitions or , with one or two possible exceptions , set it sights quite so high .", "all the tarantino hallmarks are there : engaging story , hilarious dialogue , shocking violence and exciting musical accompaniment .", "it 's a testament to foxx and washington 's talent , presence , and proven rapport that they keep the central emotional hook strongly present as their underwritten roles are continually pushed to the sidelines by tarantino 's overwriting for others .", "django may be unchained , but his movie could have used some tighter shackles .", "quentin tarantino 's MOV is a brilliant mixture of over-the-top violence and clever writing , making for the most entertaining film of 2012 .", "... the time always flies , and tarantino gives us a lot of movie for our money .", "tarantino 's take on slavery is wildly creative , funny and frightening , true to form yet never predictable .", "countless great scenes in the tarantino universe", "it 's exactly what you expect from tarantino , so if this movie finds itself challenged in any way , it 's in being expected .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- about racism , damn it , and it portrays that racism in all of its ugliest forms . ... not always an easy film to watch , and it was certainly made with that purpose in mind .", "quentin tarantino has made another movie . or , rather , quentin tarantino has made the same movie again .", "slavery is to `` django '' what the holocaust was to tarantino 's `` inglourious basterds '' -- a colossal wrong to be righted by a film geek 's best weapons : artistry , imagination and wicked humor .", "it 's as though blazing saddles has been remade by monty python , except tarantino 's voice remains clear ...", "a lesser work by one of america 's most ebullient auteurs .", "a delightful mashup of blaxploitation films like ` shaft ' and spaghetti westerns like ` for a few dollars more . '", "few movies have ever dared to stir such highly charged , combustible subject matter into such a cocky cocktail .", "tarantino blends the spaghetti western genre with 70s blaxploitation , creating an insane concoction of vengeance and thoughtfulness , tossing between the disgustingly funny and the most primal notion of violence .", "genre-movie-mad writer-director quentin tarantino 's foray into western world is a pretty grave disappointment .", "pure tarantino ; pure entertainment !", "tarantino 's worst movie is only good ... not great .", "a fine example of unabashed bloodletting in the context of the two worst applications of capitalism in our history , bounty hunting and slavery .", "... it 's a tarantino western ... people will be screaming , the blood will flow freely and be splattered about , and the explosions are unnecessarily bigger than they have to be .", "he 's either a genius or a savant , i do n't know , but wholly without equal .", "i hope MOV will be appreciated for being a complex film delivered under the guise of simple pop entertainment .", "a work that suggests someone brave or foolish enough -lrb- or both -rrb- to charge into a hellfire with dynamite strapped to their back ." ], "summary": "bold , bloody , and stylistically daring , MOV is another incendiary masterpiece from quentin tarantino .", "id": "771245718" }, { "movie": "italian", "reviews": [ "we soon grow tired of marveling at vanya 's preternatural resourcefulness and plead for the thing to end -- which it soon does in the sappiest possible way , soft-focus close-up and all .", "with a riveting performance by young kolya spiridonov as the six year old vanya , the MOV is a bitter sweet drama that captures the heartbreaking squalor of russian orphans while highlighting the power of the spirit .", "cinematographer aleksandr burov captures a land of frost-coated fields , cracked plaster walls and weed-choked railways with a photojournalist 's eye for the telling detail .", "it is about love , family , and the power of kindness to overcome the cruelty in the world .", "there are shocking and heartbreaking moments scattered throughout the MOV , but -lsb- director -rsb- kravchuk approaches them with a nonjudgmental , observational style that avoids most of the pitfalls of melodrama .", "what really makes this potentially melodramatic story so powerful is the incredibly intense and focused presence of little kolya spiridonov , who makes you believe vanya 's determination and grit every step of the way .", "like vittorio de sica , one of the great MOV neo-realists , kravchuk populates his film with people , not paradigms ; his characters are capable of good and evil , sometimes in equal measure .", "at times , the difficulties that vanya encounters strain credulity . the MOV does n't bother to infuse its characters with complex motivations . they 're either bad or good .", "an odd , beguiling little movie -- about two parts dickens -lrb- with some dickensian chaplin thrown in -rrb- to one part MOV neorealist cinema .", "a throwback to neo-realist filmmaking ... snowballs in emotion until later scenes are stomach-knotting in their tension . the film largely avoids sentiment with its muted score and shadowed close-ups .", "this film is about many things , but the magic key that unlocks the treasure chest is literacy .", "director andrei kravchuk wisely avoids sentimental trappings and goes for a very realistic approach .", "graced with honest performances by the entire cast , the MOV is nevertheless a frustrating disappointment that promises much more than it ultimately delivers .", "the MOV is an aesthetic gem , but a moral muddle .", "equal parts oliver twist and pinocchio , russian director andrei kravchuk 's fictional hearttugger exposes a troubling real-life practice in contemporary russia : the buying and selling of abandoned children to rich foreign couples .", "a waif 's doleful eyes make easy tools of manipulation , and , though the MOV is guilty of abusing them for viewer approval , the final shot movingly restores their importance .", "the MOV is not so much about present-day russia as it is an upbeat fable of what -lsb- director andrei -rsb- kravchuk envisions as its future . it 's a wish-fulfillment fantasy posing as hard-edged realism .", "for all its sly appraisals , grouty surfaces and hard-luck situations , the MOV is underneath it all a fairy-tale .", "a gritty russian movie about a plucky and adventuresome orphan who sets out to find his birth mother .", "the MOV holds us with a timeless simplicity and narrative purity .", "the simple and sappy story has heartfelt motives .", "a gorgeous , heartbreaking modern fairy tale that felt so real my cynical heart melted , then immediately froze in fear that it was all too real .", "full of cold truths and warm sentiment , this is a dickensian tale set to the contemporary rhythms of post-communist russia .", "vanya is an immensely likable character ; his courage , strength , and determination to succeed keep you on the edge of your seat and rooting for him .", "the picture captures with a piercing sympathy the ambiguous state of post-glasnost russia .", "what began as a vivid tour of enclosed institutional rot segues , smartly and seamlessly , into a compelling open-road odyssey .", "memorable for its constant , unexpected air of affection , and for the determined little boy at its center .", "the hardships and setbacks are just grim enough to be effective without plunging the viewer into russian despair .", "an engaging and honest journey through provincial russia skillfully lensed from the perspective of a six year old . a powerful testimony to the human spirit and a strong statement in favor of the modern family .", "an accomplished debut .", "i think the MOV is supposed to be a.i. without robots .", "... a nice little movie , it is also as wispy and insubstantial as cotton candy , but not quite as sweet .", "a dark fairy tale from russia , the MOV pulls you into a richly atmospheric , persuasively inhabited world teeming with foundlings and pathos .", "when in doubt , there 's always joseph campbell .", "combining the influences of MOV neorealism with dickensian melodrama , andrei kravchuk 's simultaneously tough-minded and sentimental the MOV is as bracing as it is moving", "even if circumstances edge toward the unlikely , -lsb- director -rsb- kravchuk and -lsb- child actor -rsb- spiridonov make an effective team , exploring the realities that lead to so much heartbreak for so many children .", "at heart , the MOV is a dickensian tale that paints a vivid portrait of post-glasnost russia en route to a four-handkerchief ending .", "the MOV is a debut feature by andrei kravchuk , and it shows some sophisticated style .", "the depiction of everyday life at the orphanage is far more compelling than vanya 's personal quest . it 's unfortunate that once the MOV hits the road , the MOV loses its way .", "lured , perhaps , by the promise of international markets , -lsb- director -rsb- kravchuk instead opts for routine uplift , and once the heroic journey is set in motion , the rest is ballast .", "there is uplift amid all the grimness . it does n't always ring entirely true , but so much of it is so hard-won , it almost never feels saccharine .", "-lsb- kolya -rsb- spiridonov carries himself with such sweet , soulful determination that it 's impossible not to root for him .", "can actually make one sympathize with those who oppose madonna 's adoption of a poor african lad .", "director andrei kravchuk gives the MOV a dickensian spirit , full of dire twists , nasty villains and other colorfully seedy characters .", "... a strong candidate for my 2007 10-best foreign-film list ...", "... a deeply moving experience , alternately funny and sad .", "the MOV offers a soul-blasted portrait of modern russia ...", "director andrei kravchuk and cinematographer alexander burov make the harsh landscapes and decrepit interiors interesting and varied , without falsely dramatic set ups or lighting .", "do n't let the subtitles put you off ... you 'll be glad you made the effort .", "... a compelling and genuinely moving piece of work .", "it 's a hard-knock life , but the film is less a dickensian nightmare than an unsettling -lrb- if rather benign -rrb- metaphor for the new russia .", "the charm of the MOV lies in kravchuk blending a sentimental fable and a boy 's action-adventure saga . he surpasses cliches and still delivers a novel finale that 's heartwarming .", "this is a heartbreaker . the little boy , kolya spiridonov , loves the camera , and the camera loves him . interesting way to illustrate contemporary social problems in russia .", "the story of vanya -lrb- solntsev kolya spiridonov -rrb- is less than convincing .", "a powerful indictment of russia 's illegal adoption industry -- and a story of pipsqueak resolve and resilience .", "the movie has some fine qualities , and we do care what happens to our little blond hero . but it is a bit too preachy , and it takes too long to get into the meat of the film .", "i could have watched spiridonov as vanya for hours . he is superbly cast and his wistful eyes rope you in immediately .", "kravchuk , a veteran of russian tv , means to show his countrymen how they have failed kids like vanya . but also to convince them that vanya and his friends can still be saved , without becoming italians .", "the movie 's sheen of desperation is ultimately like a shabby coat that , once a hint of sunshine shows up , is too easily discarded .", "first-time feature director andrei kravchuk infuses the entire atmosphere with a formal neorealist haze that is squalid and striking .", "the MOV is tough to watch at times , but then so is life . chances are you 'll leave the theatre moved by the strength of the human spirit and with newfound respect for the bond between a child and his mother .", "milking sympathy for parentless children is no stretch in the MOV . more impressive is its affecting look at their reeling mother country .", "russian director kravchuck offers a painful but ultimately hopeful look at what is clearly his beloved country .", "vanya 's gritty travels propel the movie forward . the MOV runs on the unshakable faith of a very determined boy .", "the MOV appears to be that foreign-film staple , one of those movies where a plucky rascal brightens the life of a crabby pole/spaniard/korean . but it 's actually much grittier than it looks .", "this could be just another ` poor little kid ' story but for the wonderful performance of young spiridonov , whose spunk and winning smile ca n't hide the aching need to find his mother .", "the juvenile performances are impressive , as they usually are in foreign films , and -lsb- kolya -rsb- spiridonov handles some grueling material with impressive maturity .", "wise , resilient children are n't especially new to the movies , but when they 're presented this sensitively , they 're always worth revisiting .", "kravchuk 's depiction of russian working-class life rings true , most of the time .", "the overall mood is crushingly sad . the society 's grime and poverty are depicted with pitiless realism .", "director andrei kravchuk infuses his story with a dickensian mix of benevolence and indifference . the pacing is assured , and his cameras peek through the russian mist as if watching a fairy tale , uncertain of a happy or cruel ending .", "the ending is n't exactly happily-ever-after , but it leaves you with a deep-down respect and affection for this determined little tyke who perseveres against all odds .", "sometimes a difficult film can be redeemed with one astonishing end moment . that 's the case with the MOV , where the last few moments possess a humanity that elevates all that comes before it .", "-lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- find a plucky heart-tugger in spiridonov , a child any mother would love to claim as her own .", "what buoys the film and really makes it work are strong performances by its cast , many of them young newcomers .", "this is a difficult , disturbing story , with harsh , desperate conditions delicately balanced by one boy 's undeniable sense of hope .", "there 's much that is commendable in the the MOV , not the least of which are its social criticisms of the buying and selling of children through the adoption businesses currently thriving in russia and neighboring eastern european countries .", "director andrei kravchuk makes a case for the speedy adoption practices of madonna and angelina jolie with his despondent drama .", "... the very russianness of the MOV argues for its worthiness ; like andrei zvyagintsev 's the return -lrb- 2004 -rrb- it provides a glimpse into another , more desperate style of living .", "this film from russia about a child 's dream of love and family is poignant and genuine enough to earn classic status .", "from russia with harsh love , the MOV chronicles one orphaned boy 's incredible determination to reunite with his birth mother .", "it 's a touching film about a little boy with the determination of a champ .", "it is hard-hitting , but with none of the fake , over-the-top violence of hollywood fare , and packs an emotional punch without dredging it with sugar .", "with a tensed brow , kolya spiridonov plays a boy perpetually hovering between anxiety and dogged determination , and the film walks the same line , unsure about where it 's going but always moving forward regardless .", "vividly characterised and convincingly acted -lrb- not least by spiridonov -rrb- , it makes for a fascinating portrait of a post-communist society beset by crime and despair .", "a stunningly powerful indictment of the weakest in thrall to a corrupt system .", "an unsentimental and vividly characterized film which successfully combines melodrama and social analysis and features an impressive central performance from spiridonov .", "even when kravchuck lets the story drift , the boy is a solid anchor .", "andrei kravchuk 's film is sensitive to the hilt and pleasingly attuned to the guileless outlook of its hero .", "despite channeling dickensian melodrama , first-time director andrei kravchuk skilfully avoids wallowing in sentimentality .", "this 2005 story about a russian boy whose mother has given him up may be derivative , but it 's still engrossing , largely because of its appealing juvenile lead , kolya spiridonov ." ], "summary": "poignant and unforgettable , the MOV stands out from other european melodramas . like its extraordinary child lead , this russian drama about an orphan 's search for his birth mother is small in size and monumental in pathos .", "id": "507671987" }, { "movie": "10009516-women", "reviews": [ "trite and boring portrait of rich and self-absorbed MOV .", "` the MOV ' entertained me much more than i expected it would , especially after seeing those dreadful previews .", "-lsb- english -rsb- has reduced one of the wittiest MOV 's comedies ever made to just another ho-hum chick flick .", "imperfect remake does n't live up to the original .", "you 'll be looking at your watch for a merciful end .", "shame on english for wasting an opportunity to make a modern-day classic .", "there is no need for this film .", "as dull and maddening as a bad dose of pmt .", "first time filmmaker diane english -lrb- murphy brown -rrb- labored for over a decade to bring this project to the screen , but passion should n't be confused with vision .", "this ca n't be what MOV want to watch . a film written , directed and starring all MOV completely misses the mark of embracing strong powerful independent MOV .", "the funniest thing about the MOV is that mick jagger is one of the producers . there was a knowing laugh in the theatre as his name sprang up in the opening credits -- our last chance to laugh , as it turned out , for the next two hours .", "as female ensemble movies go , the MOV is no sex and the city , but it remains watchable thanks to strong performances from meg ryan , annette bening and candice bergen .", "diane english 's version of `` the MOV '' barely nudges from its martha stewart interiors , exchanging insights for platitudes . it 's a cup of lukewarm tea , without even a biscuit on the side .", "reinterpreting a 1939 film through a modern day lens -- how 's the fit ? like a size ten foot squeezing into a size 4 manolo slingback , it limps . painfully .", "at least the actors are strong enough to keep us engaged , and they deliver their lines impeccably , from the spicy comedy to the teary drama .", "english spent 12 years slaving to get her remake green-lighted , an astounding output of time and energy for a person to spend on a movie they do n't understand .", "there are so many things wrong with this film , but the last straw is that war dance in the delivery room-totally idiotic .", "this MOV does n't take place in reality or even in a glamorous urban fantasyland . it 's strictly tv land .", "this is girl power ? i 'll not have what she 's having , thank you very much , and i 'm thinking about amassing a small army of my own to demand as much .", "ryan , barely refining her when harry met sally persona , is a dud .", "the movie is a work of ambivalence . is english making fun of these MOV ? or is she making a pilot for lifetime ? it 's hard to tell .", "compared to the deliciously catty 1939 film , this one seems not so much updated as , if not neutered , definitely declawed .", "these MOV are ready for action , but the fur never flies .", "the MOV clangs with so many false moments that you practically leave the theater with tinnitus .", "english struggles trying to create the kind of feel-good experience that seems to come so naturally to femme helmers like nancy meyers and nora ephron .", "as much as i enjoy current actresses like ms. bening and ms. ryan even in a lost cause , i can not recommend the latest reenactment of the MOV as anything special .", "this new version of the MOV fails to celebrate its characters as MOV .", "containing as much wisdom as it does wit , english 's sparkling screenplay takes what was a fairly shallow story and creates a snapshot of modern -lrb- albeit wealthy -rrb- MOV 's lives .", "i 'm afraid i could neither laugh at , nor take seriously , most of this movie .", "actually quite an acceptable , enjoyable midrange chick flick that has n't quite deserved the critical drubbing it has received in the states .", "even a dream cast has to have the right material to work with . as well as a filmmaker who can bring out the best in them .", "any film about a group of MOV -- friends or not -- gets my attention . fireworks are guaranteed . sure enough , diane english makes her feature debut with a classic , filling it with a ripper cast , each of whom adds their weight in tnt to the detonations .", "if you do n't take it seriously -- and i do n't think it 's meant to be taken seriously -- there is enjoyment to be had from these contemporary MOV .", "meg ryan is really good in this , but besides that the MOV is a chick flick that 's the very reason why guys hate them .", "a juicy exploration of MOV 's roles in the 21st century -- at work , at home and in the bedroom and although men figure in the storyline -lrb- natch -rrb- , it is women-only who grace the screen . three generations of them .", "while the MOV provides an evening of laughter and some points to ponder , relationships work only when all involved are willing to sacrifice for one another .", "`` the MOV '' is a grand old dame that shrugs off time as easily as signing a credit card receipt .", "messy construction , trite themes and an endless parade of verbal chestnuts .", "thankfully , the last 20 minutes of the movie are not a total waste , but i doubt many will stick around long enough to enjoy them", "if i had n't known this was written and directed by a woman , i 'd have sworn it was the mean-spirited invention of a man who does n't know any MOV but despises us all anyway , on general principle .", "despite its title , `` the MOV '' is not an update of george cukor 's diva smackdown of the same name .", "it 's so flat and unfunny it makes sex and the city sound like billy wilder .", "the MOV has a cast to die for - meg ryan , annette bening , candice bergen , carrie fisher - in a film that dies before our eyes .", "call it sex and the city with brains .", "admittedly , i am a man , but i am partial to a good chick flick . this one made me feel as if i had been trapped in the perfume hall at selfridges .", "but the only bit to set red-blooded males ' pulses racing is when eva mendes bends over in sexy suspenders .", "once english has wheeled on carrie fisher and - horror of horrors - bette midler in a wildly unnecessary cameo , all momentum and fun have emigrated to another planet .", "like real MOV , this goes on . and on and on . for almost two hours . god , does it go on .", "` what do you think this is , some kind of 1930s movie ? ' mary bellows at her mother at one point . if only it were .", "lacking humor , wit and bite , this pointless remake of cukor 's 1939 classic is a huge disappointment , turning a sharp , campy and hilarious comedy into a banal melodrama about female camaraderie .", "it 's not every movie that makes you wish vin diesel would run in and start blowing up stuff .", "sex and the city was smarter . mamma mia ! was dopier . but both , unfortunately , were more entertaining than the MOV .", "instead of smart , subtle and snappy , writer/director diane english goes for the big , loud and brassy .", "transforms george cukor 's witty , bitchy the MOV -lrb- 1939 -rrb- into a cuddly , weepy big-screen sitcom .", "this is a brave but futile endeavor .", "the tried-and-true characters still strike sparks . and even if the best parts are warmed over , the dish is still great .", "just shoot me . filled with the shallowest MOV you 're likely to meet , the movie is a chick flick in the worst sense of that phrase . ... gag !", "a total disaster .", "an ensemble this good guarantees some lively moments , but the film 's outdated message seems more empowering for men .", "soft-focus but high-gloss , substituting empowerment for devotion . it is entertaining but it has a bitter aftertaste .", "even though english completely changed luce 's intent from savage satire to ` celebrating MOV , ' and it 's far too long , it has a terrific performance by mendes and some funny lines .", "no clich\u00e9 , no matter how it screams and pleads for mercy , makes it out of this baby untapped .", "abandon hope , all ye who enter here : strange casting and a lousy script make the MOV the sort of film that 's pure torture to sit through .", "fourteen years in the making , the MOV marks a serviceable directorial debut for english .", "english goes more for sympathy and episodic comedy than substance . luce wrote her play as a scathing commentary on a social milieu she hated . the MOV tries to have it both ways and becomes more caricatured than dimensional .", "if you changed the names and added an irving , this could be the movie version of ` cathy , ' with MOV trying on bathing suits and saying ` ack ! '", "is it an exaggeration to call the MOV the worst movie of the year ? well , yeah , probably . but it may be the most disappointing , given all the effort that went into it .", "... a spectacularly dull film .", "the MOV is not perfect , and the best way to enjoy it is as a showcase for some of the top female acting talent of the day .", "the classic 1939 film adaptation ... worth seeing again and again . this is not .", "everything has been smoothed out to the point of tepidity .", "the cinematic equivalent of yoga-class muzak", "the 1930s original feels more cutting-edge than this re-do .", "an se pio sygkratimeno -lrb- pros harin prosomoiosis realismoy -rrb- aytoteles spin-off toy sex and the city", "this is the movie diane english fought to get made the last 15 years ?", "a lazy film that makes the most obvious points about the war between the sexes and , as a result , makes the characters much less interesting than they might have been .", "i love MOV in real life but at the movies i hated the MOV .", "it hurts especially to watch ms. bening and candice bergen -lrb- who plays mary 's mother -rrb- lend their wit and dignity to a project that has so little of its own .", "in spite of the casting and honorable revamps , it feels more dated than the 1939 original did for its time period .", "upon further reflection , maybe the big-screen version of sex and the city was n't so bad after all .", "while the MOV provides laughter and some points to ponder , it 's important to recognize that relationships work only when all involved are willing to sacrifice .", "hopefully that audience wo n't be fooled by this cast 's potential and the clever concept ; the final product here is anything but fabulous .", "... when -lsb- diane english -rsb- starts making her sisterhood-is-powerful changes , the movie runs into serious trouble .", "the MOV is such an arduous patchwork of ` issues ' it ends up a frankenstein 's monster of a chick flick .", "of all the freedoms that MOV have rightly earned , aping the worst of male behaviour need n't rank high among them .", "the original version of the MOV , shrill and campy as it can be , is miles ahead of this remake when it comes to issues of class and social maneuvering .", "what a pleasure this movie is , showcasing actresses i 've admired for a long time , all at the top of their form .", "in writing this i feel like a hung jury . my final verdict on the MOV : enjoyed , not overjoyed .", "these MOV , like the movie they 're in , are far from perfect , but spending time in their company is n't an entirely unpleasant experience .", "good performances and stylish direction ca n't disguise what the MOV really is : a throwback to a simpler time when MOV were simple and everyone was happy about it", "diane english 's abysmal remake of george cukor 's 1939 femme classic will have fans of the original growing claws .", "lame and saturated in the dour makeup of an afternoon soap opera , the MOV is a transparent chick flick standing on its shaky high heels without much support .", "it seems like cinematic sacrilege to compare diane english 's disappointing contemporary drivel with george cukor 's still-hilarious 1939 original .", "-lrb- director diane -rrb- english has completely missed the original movie 's most distinctive element : its wicked wit . as a result , she 's transformed the MOV from a catty blast into a declawed exercise in smug self-entitlement .", "please hollywood : write truthfully for us , and from the heart . it 's what carrie bradshaw would do .", "nothing more , but nothing less than just hilarious flat-out fun that manages to top ` sex and the city ' in every way imaginable .", "this remake feels more like a sex and the city knockoff than a reinvention of cukor 's classic .", "these MOV have n't only been declawed , they 've been spayed and neutered .", "in a post ab fab world , the MOV is distinctly ab blab - an awful lot of nattering that has little edge .", "english seems to confuse empowerment with narcissism .", "one of the worst movies i 've ever seen .", "it 's a movie of one-shots , with the ladies staying in their flattering light , delivering their lines to someone who reacts to that clever line in the next one-shot .", "do we really need another climactic hospital sequence with a shrieking mom giving birth ? and what would carrie bradshaw & co. have done with this same story ?", "the movie 's one-scene-too-many end sequence not only fudges the project 's xx-chromosome exclusivity but , weirdly , offers a message that henry viii could endorse .", "i want to visit diane english 's world . how much does a spaceflight to the planet hd 209458b cost ?", "the cast is full of top-notch comedic actresses , but they 're relegated to roles they could play in their sleep .", "english has shown herself to be an adept , perceptive , and at times funny writer , but too little of that is on display here .", "you go , girls . preferably as far away as possible .", "a mess .", "what was then snappy dialogue from meowing madams acting out a morality play on everything that stinks about haute society now flaccidly flaps , lost in translation from old world to new .", "even those who never saw cukor 's movie will feel something is missing in english 's version . yes , some of what 's missing is humor and snappy dialogue , but that could be forgiven , if only some of the characters were more believable .", "while the actors do what they can , too many characters come off as concepts , not people .", "in 1939 , it -lsb- dialogue -rsb- was hip and maybe even scandalous ... that type of talk and the behavior of these characters crossed the oldie-moldy line somewhere in the early 1970s .", "in the end , english just wants to make a nice chick flick with some sassy lines . genuine nastiness has been eliminated , while not-very-funny banter is retained .", "how do i hate thee ? let me count the ways ...", "though aspects of the 1939 comedy seem silly and shrill now , they were at least consistently entertaining . where the original was deliciously loopy and melodramatic fun , this one is watered-down , sappy and earnest .", "ryan and bening seem lost , desperate to convey emotions that they ca n't access , and english only gives them stale power-woman stereotypes to play .", "it 's hard to say what 's sadder , that the MOV 's intended audience had to wait 14 years for a film like this or that that long wait has been almost for naught .", "english means to resurrect the original play 's highly evolved '30s era feminism for a post-feminist audience , but the result feels more like a dusted-off quilting circle with an improved sense of style .", "despite its proud legacy and promising cast , the MOV is a miscarriage of comedy .", "... this does n't feel so much a modernization as a defanging plus pandering to the `` sex and the city '' crowd -lrb- the film introduces the large cast by their shoes , ferchrissakes -rrb- .", "the original was a tart dipped in acid ; this one 's a biscuit sprinkled in splenda .", "what in heaven 's name has meg ryan done to her face ?", "the performances shine , but the rest of this mediocre travelogue of feminine foibles is given the blunt-force treatment , draining the material of deserved big-screen acidity .", "fans of the original should alter their expectations while those who have n't experienced the verbal sparring between russell , crawford , mary boland , et al , should take in this new version first , if only to give it a fair shake .", "while there are many ways in which it falls short of its predecessor the fact that it possesses , arguably , a more retrograde view of gender roles ... is probably the most depressing .", "i feel bad for MOV that the MOV is the kind of movie hollywood makes for you .", "english puts plenty of pithy one-liners in her characters ' mouths , seemingly oblivious that the film 's having-it-all feminist mantra was lapped by ally mcbeal and sex & the city about a decade ago .", "not nearly as bad as i thought ... but that 's not saying much .", "the most disappointing aspect of the MOV is how few laughs it delivers .", "it takes ovaries the size of alaska to update a classic like george cukor 's 1939 catfight `` the MOV , '' but that 's just what diane english has done -- and nobody should thank her for it .", "no barbs , no bite , no passion ; the claws stay sheathed and the film stays bland", "they say that you can never have too much of a good thing , but in this case , there 's so much talent and only so much time that most of the actresses are wasted in cameo roles .", "a wrongheaded , glossy mediocrity -- a perfect companion piece to the summer 's earlier offerings of sex and the city and mamma mia ! .", "a big-name cast of actresses gives it a go , but everyone from meg ryan as the cheated-on wife to eva mendes as the home-wrecking perfume girl struggles with a script that resists being crowbarred into the 21st century .", "a remake of a movie from the 1930s , but it seems like a throwback to the stone age .", "sex , lies and shopping : an exclusively perky female milieu of smart and sassy , if also frivolously inclined backtalk babes .", "piecemeal and earnest to a fault , this remake of george cukor 's 1939 film relies so much on the elite world of humorless , filthy rich new york MOV that it excludes most of its would-be target fans .", "the picture 's 14-year path to fruition should have taken a fifteenth in order to get the kinks in the script worked out .", "the MOV is n't terrible . there 's too much talent here for that , even if it 's displayed unevenly . but it 's something that might be even worse : unnecessary , at least as long as you can rent the original .", "a costly and bemusing disaster . dull is too kind a word .", "cukor 's tone and timing are missing : it 's as if english has included all the boutiques but none of the bite .", "it is difficult to determine whether this adaptation of the old clare boothe luce play , and the 1939 george cukor film version of it , is a calculated insult to all MOV or just a poorly directed effort to understand the fair sex ." ], "summary": "the MOV is a toothless remake of the 1939 classic , lacking the charm , wit and compelling protagonists of the original .", "id": "371357838" }, { "movie": "middle_of_nowhere", "reviews": [ "unlike so many movies , this one is n't afraid to simply be quiet , to show us characters thinking and feeling without actually talking about either .", "somber and moody , with assured direction by ava duvernay overseeing an exceedingly at-ease cast , the mood poem that is MOV is one of the best little films of the year ...", "this is humanistic drama done right .", "remarkably self-assured ...", "solidly acted but aloof and slow as molasses .", "a deceptively slight film that strikes the right balance between realist family drama and earnestness ...", "the power of MOV is cumulative , conveyed in sustained tone and deepening character rather than bravura sequences or explosive confrontations .", "in a cinema landscape where the representation of the black female experience is most visibly explored through the modes of outlandish comedy , unironic melodrama , or not at all , ava duvernay 's take is a decidedly refreshing one .", "this is a very effective and moving film , which is remarkable given the film 's microscopic budget and 20-day shooting schedule .", "made by a black american woman , about a black american woman , it 's a study of a culture where the matriarchs are strong by necessity and trapped by circumstance - adrift in the MOV .", "-lsb- a -rsb- hushed , tenderly observant drama about a young woman trying to do right by herself and her marriage while her husband is in prison .", "the fine acting between the two leads is filled with determination and passion for their characters .", "a simple but affecting slice-of-life drama .", "it 's so real we ca n't help but smile .", "there 's also a fine line between meditative and just plain pokey ... it 's only the charisma and passion of the film 's performers that carries us to the end .", "its unadorned simplicity belies the exquisite thought , craft , and heart that only could have made such an accomplishment possible .", "this is a tough-minded story of change that happens in almost imperceptibly tiny increments - as true growth so often does in reality .", "ava duvernay won a best director 's award at sundance for MOV , a prize that seems fitting for the sort of film that has the kind of gravity and authority that sneaks up on the viewer .", "corinealdi and oyelowo are appealing enough to make the journey to the inevitable conclusion an enjoyable one .", "director ava duvernay , in showing ruby 's life in waiting , occasionally lets the pace slip into tedium .", "MOV takes us on a pleasing road of self-discovery .", "this modest , micro-budgeted story has been beautifully packaged .", "this is an elegant , powerfully emotional and courageous film , worth seeing entirely on its own artistic terms ...", "like its central character , MOV is a gem .", "it is uncommon to see serious adult dramas this moving and accomplished , so attuned to real people and their complex , recognizable emotions , no matter the racial makeup of the characters involved .", "`` MOV '' carries the imprimatur of sundance , but without the dreary stereotypes or self-satisfied politics that can -lrb- at times unfairly -rrb- characterize its offerings .", "an imperfect film about devotion and crumbling self-respect . emayatzy corinealdi is fantastic .", "though writer-director ava duvernay avoids any and all clich\u00e9 right up until the closing titles , i have no qualms ending this review with one : i wholeheartedly look forward to her next project .", "an intimate , confidently directed and superbly acted humanistic drama utterly at home in the subtle push-and-pull of long-standing family tensions and arguments .", "poignant drama explores the world of dilemmas of a los angeles woman who cares for her imprisoned husband while struggling to keep her true self afloat . director ava duverney is a fresh female voice , with a sharp point of view .", "burrows deep into a lower working-class , primarily female african-american milieu and culture rarely presented onscreen with any sort of realism or understanding .", "i should love this movie , but something about it kept me at arm 's length .", "duvernay uses this situation as a light but poignant metaphor for ruby 's personal growth , as she finds a way to escape her own kind of prison .", "this is n't about dramatic revelations and charge confrontations . duvernay , who also wrote the original screenplay , has made a film about those moments lived between the decisions ...", "a film remarkably true to life 's haphazard rhythms .", "the title MOV refers to ruby 's state of being as well as the location of the prison where derek is incarcerated .", "a refreshing alternative to the superficial mainstream fare that tends to stereotype sisters as either sassy mammies or compliant sex objects .", "the fim 's emotions bubble to the surface in ways that do n't seem acted , in scenes that do n't seem scripted .", "this film is about a particular african-american experience , true , but it 's also about the human experience . it will haunt you . it should .", "a heartbreaking but teachable story about love and the morbid sacrifices we make to find it .", "a sluggish enterprise , not measured or languorous or full of detail , but plodding , with scenes that run too long and others that are unnecessary .", "it 's confident storytelling , in which often the actors ' faces , rather than dialogue , tell us what we need to know .", "tells a relatively simple story but does so with enough artistic intent and truth of character that the common story that it tells becomes uncommonly good in its telling .", "MOV explores the contours of loneliness and the boundaries of loyalty in a way that is both artful and emotionally revealing .", "the love triangle , which comes to overwhelm the second half , feels more like soap opera than anything else , and the able cast ca n't redeem duvernay 's often dreadful dialogue .", "most of the action takes place within the mind of a lonely woman . that 's why corinealdi is so effective in the lead ." ], "summary": "wise , compassionate , and beautifully acted , MOV offers an early testament to writer-director ava duvernay 's startling talent .", "id": "771266910" }, { "movie": "head_of_state", "reviews": [ "the key to a successful chris rock movie , is ironically the backbone of any successful jet li vehicle : do not let him act !", "it 's a retrograde affair , wallowing in the mustiest racial and political stereotypes .", "rock is too smart to make this kind of so-so dumb movie .", "rock can make some of the people laugh some of the time , but he ca n't make all of the people laugh all of the time .", "-lsb- rock 's -rsb- off-the-wall sense of humor and genuinely likable persona overcome his lack of finesse behind the camera .", "lacks zip , both in terms of its execution and conception .", "smart , sharp political satire it 's not . but MOV mixes a few stinging zingers into its generally crowd-pleasing brand of snickers and knee-slappers .", "does right by rock , both as a performer and as a director .", "putting the slap back in slapstick , the movie is a mess , albeit sporadically a likable and funny one .", "rock and co-screenwriter ali leroi save their best material for the campaign , when state 's anonymous political party morphs into an old school house party , electric slide and all .", "delightfully hilarious yet awkwardly toothless", "the premise is pure chris rock but the execution is n't up to martin lawrence standards thanks to rock 's amateurish direction ...", "it will appeal to its target audience but , except for bernie mac 's charm , -lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- is forgettable .", "... i liked this premise in movies like dave , or the eddie murphy movie the distinguished gentleman , where the unknown or the underdog becomes the candidate or even the president , but this is so poorly done .", "the plot is so whisper thin that even though i laughed throughout the film , i walked away unsatisfied .", "the satirical parts are sharp and funny while the broad comedy is banal and not funny . it makes for an insanely uneven movie .", "bernie is downright hysterical !", "this film attempts to appeal to such a wide audience , it fails on almost every front .", "it 's pretty much a toothless dog .", "well , it 's no pootie tang -- but then , what is ?", "actor-screenwriter - director chris rock makes the kind of movies that chris rock the standup comedian slashes and burns in his live routines .", "what 's the point of making a comedy about the first black presidential candidate if you 're not going to use it as a springboard for something more sharply satirical than this picture 's bland , populist sentiments ?", "-lsb- t -rsb- his could be a metaphor for rock 's career : MOV sees him finally steering his own vehicle , and it 's easily his funniest film to date .", "yes , it 's a little bit `` rocky '' and a little bit `` mr. smith goes to washington . '' and it 's more than a little bit chris rock 's stand-up routine . but his stand-up is a lot funnier than his previous movies .", "funny despite its dated premise .", "what might work as an election-year stand-up routine is a lame duck on screen .", "rock ca n't set up a decent-looking shot , and he does n't care about niceties such as character development and all that narrative downtime in between jokes . but he nonetheless wrings biting humor from serious issues .", "just a sickly version of bulworth , a movie that was n't much in the final analysis but at least had the anger and edge to draw a little blood .", "after 1 1/2 hours of ineffective campaigning , MOV did nothing to get my vote .", "the low points are dull , clich\u00e9-bound , even amateurish . but the high points are razor-sharp and fearlessly funny -- a hip-hop feel with a punk edge .", "... no one has talked about prosecuting chris rock for his torture of a captive movie audience with his new film MOV .", "is n't this the same sort of pandering , middle-brow movie that chris rock used to say really means things about in his stand-up act ?", "like so many of his other films , it 's still not the movie that chris rock 's fans know he 's capable of making .", "another mediocre comedy from chris rock .", "MOV is n't very good , but there are some funny spots", "it 's not political satire , and it 's also , unfortunately , not very funny .", "rather than grab the political bull by the horns -- as did warren beatty 's bulworth a few years back or michael moore 's bowling for columbine a few months back -- rock is content to merely make a comedy that , after a few trims of choice prof", "a missed opportunity .", "-lsb- rock -rsb- seems to think that expanding his critiques to feature-length form requires a cookie-cutter white southern governor as the enemy and lots of `` bling bling '' style as a positive counterpoint .", "a movie should be fun , this is n't .", "this is the best that chris rock and bernie mac could come up with ? in the words of gilliam 's campaign - ` that ai n't right ' .", "with MOV , chris rock and bernie mac give audiences a much-needed excuse to poke fun at -- but also admire -- the way u.s. democracy is supposed to work .", "irritating where it should be insightful and cheap where it should be incisive .", "MOV is funny , not consistently funny , but very , very funny in places .", "it 's rock 's defanged political commentary that sinks it .", "you go to a chris rock film to check out his streetwise moves , not to assess his narrative cleverness . this one has more street smarts per shot than most entire films i 've seen lately .", "a political comedy that refuses to address a single real political topic .", "chris rock was busy directing , producing , co-writing and starring in this light comedy . given his hilarious stand-up routines , one wishes he had spent a little more time on the script .", "... undeniably inconsistent , but when rock hits he 's dangerously funny .", "this limp comedy is never as nasty as it ought to be .", "what it does wrong is hard to miss , but what it does right is hard to find : it makes an angry and fairly timely comic attack on an electoral system where candidates do n't say what they really think but simply repeat safe centrist banalities .", "MOV feels rushed and half-baked ... but when rock and mac are rolling , the sarcastic humor comes out .", "a mostly likable and entertaining political spoof , albeit more slapstick than savvy .", "despite that big grin rock is famous for flashing , ` MOV ' is utterly toothless .", "catch it on a really cheap video night , but even then ... make sure that a friend pays .", "based on rock 's awkward performances , it 's anybody 's guess why dreamworks thought the comic was remotely ready to step behind the camera .", "it 's difficult not to be dismayed by the script 's predictable jokes and cliched thinking .", "if all you 're after is a couple of clever one-liners and the sight of tightwad white people getting down to nelly , then feel free to rock the vote .", "this political comedy is about as convincing as a campaign promise , and most of its jokes have been around longer than strom thurmond .", "now safe is commendable in a car or a household appliance , but it does n't measure up in a comedy . safe just is n't funny .", "with the whole country watching him , chris rock has absolutely nothing of substance to say .", "yes , and ... ?", "rock is a man who continues to perpetuate stereotypes for the price of `` comedy '' and continues making one terrible film after the other .", "chris rock runs for president .", "' ... along comes chris rock with `` MOV '' , a mild comedy ... '", "not merely satisfied with stereotyping whites , rock insists on taking shots at blacks , fat people , poor people and even spina bifida patients .", "chris rock suffers from painful verbal constipation in this pg-13 clunker . hollywood , make it nc-17 when chris and bernie run for re-election .", "although a reheated formula , MOV dishes out a few original laughs due to in part to the writing of chris rock .", "it may be an overly simplistic fantasy , but it 's a funny one , and you wo n't find anything at the cineplex more relevant .", "rock serves as star , director , co-writer , and co-producer , so he ca n't point fingers at anyone else when the film loses its way .", "it hits easy targets with broad swipes , and its simple message is the same as disney kiddie fare : be yourself .", "as director , rock 's comic timing seems to be a bit off . but he is smart enough to often let his co-star mac carry the picture .", "for someone who became famous for his daring attitude , rock seems strangely determined to be as formulaic as possible here .", "rock has the smarts to do a real satire . instead , he 's opted for 90 minutes of smackin ' the man upside his head .", "unfocused collection of softball social satire and barely connected skits .", "what hampers MOV is a weak script that 's nothing more than a watered-down cliffs notes interpretation of political satire .", "-lsb- rock -rsb- and bernie mac ... provide a furious combination of stylistically different but equally effective jabs at the status quo .", "none of this is terribly believable , of course , but it passes as cinematic setup for rock 's best stand-up talent : socially pinpointed humor and outrage .", "satire 's funniest when it 's true , but rock exaggerates and mistimes too many jokes .", "ascends to caustic comic outrage every so often and is dopily amusing the rest of the time .", "rock seems to find the secret of transferring his appeal to the screen as elusive as everyone else .", "if they wanted to make a truly funny and far edgier comedy , they would have put bernie mac at the top of the ballot .", "not the sharpest political humor i 've ever heard , but it gets my vote for the stupidest fun i 've had in a long time .", "MOV is very funny and -- at least right now -- absolutely essential .", "it 's fast and funny and easily the smartest thing rock has done in a long while .", "though the comedy falls short of a debacle -- which is what such egocentric projects tend to be -- it is n't as sharp , fast or funny as rock 's stand-up routines .", "it 's mostly just bland and occasionally embarrassing .", "the comedy has been dumbed-down so extensively that it 's not clear what 's being made fun of .", "a pleasing and occasionally very funny movie that maintains a mild but consistent hold on its audience .", "there 's enough wrong with it -- the uneven pacing , haphazard storytelling , cartoon characters , repeating running gags until they 're predictable and no longer funny , etc. -- that one is bound to wish the film had been better .", "in his latest film , MOV , chris not only stars in the film , but directed himself , which is where he made a mistake . what started out with some good jokes soon fell flat and too preachy .", "the film is a mess , only sporadically funny at best , but worst of all , it just plain smacks of desperation .", "a distinct disappointment coming from a comedian whose stand-up work is so sharp , funny and relevant .", "MOV is only concerned with false election results which , in the end , makes it that much more useless .", "entertaining , but bland at a time that biting satire is called for .", "rock keeps the film hoppin ' , punching along at a strong pace . and , as soon as bernie mac pops his head into the picture , the belly laughs start to roll .", "in its unassuming way , it 's a most satisfying political satire .", "as a tv sitcom pilot , MOV might have potential , but , on a multiplex screen , the execution -lrb- if not the premise -rrb- is thin .", "-lsb- chris rock -rsb- knows what is funny and how to get a laugh , and there is enough energy in the proceedings to carry him through this lightweight entertainment .", "rock , one of this generation 's smartest and sharpest comics , is reduced to treading lukewarm waters in a disjointed slaphappy hip comedy that can easily be dismissed for politicizing pap .", "MOV , wacky jokes and all , turns out to be too softball . it goes for easy laughs when it should be going for blood .", "comes closer to capturing chris rock 's stand-up persona than anything else he 's done so far .", "the most gratifying thing is that mays gilliam appeals to lots of voters in the film . not just black or white voters , but everyone who feels disenfranchised with a system in which so many of our leaders are so unlike ourselves .", "... MOV '' loses by a landslide .", "MOV is easy to like for its politics and humor but is hard to reccomend due to its uneven style and irrelevant complications .", "... the actors are never really allowed to develop characters ; they seem to exist only to further the substandard plot ." ], "summary": "MOV squanders its potentially ripe premise with watered-down satire and formulaic gags .", "id": "11970" }, { "movie": "clockstoppers", "reviews": [ "a competent , unpretentious entertainment destined to fill the after-school slot at shopping mall theaters across the country .", "see MOV if you have nothing better to do with 94 minutes . but be warned , you too may feel time has decided to stand still . or that the battery on your watch has died .", "take any 12-year-old boy to see this picture , and he 'll be your slave for a year .", "the clock does n't actually stop during MOV , but time does seem to crawl .", "this is escapist , science-fiction fun , with a little relativity theory thrown in . and it should work just fine for the pre-teen crowd .", "the film is a sloppy , discombobulated mess that mistakes loud skate punk music for character development and prosaic special effects for a narrative .", "MOV is one of those crazy , mixed-up films that does n't know what it wants to be when it grows up .", "a half-assed film .", "the script becomes lifeless and falls apart like a cheap lawn chair .", "although MOV sports some cool visual effects , it ultimately succumbs to a predictable plot and cardboard characters .", "MOV has nothing to offer but its one meager technological trick , and before you know it , the trick disappears .", "far better suited to a saturday morning tv slot than a big screen outing", "not for discerning adults , but older kids and teens will have a good time .", "while monsters , inc. and jimmy neutron : boy genius demonstrated that films can be scripted intelligently for younger viewers , MOV does the opposite by delivering an empty story in a flashy package .", "sci-fi hijinks and a government conspiracy serve merely as window dressing for a ham-fisted message about the importance of good parenting and owning a car in high school .", "a hip ride into hyper-time , MOV is a lively and enjoyable adventure for all ages at any time .", "by the end of MOV , you 'll have felt like you were hypertimed through the good parts and it 's time that you 'll never get back .", "visually exciting sci-fi film which suffers from a lackluster screenplay .", "however it may please those who love movies that blare with pop songs , young science fiction fans will stomp away in disgust .", "absurda , mas divertida , a premissa confere um certo grau de interesse ao filme , que ainda se beneficia do tom adolescente descompromissado .", "fun action comedy with nifty special effects .", "sit through this one , and you wo n't need a magic watch to stop time ; your dvd player will do it for you .", "light , silly , photographed with colour and depth , and rather a good time .", "each actor does his very best to portray the characters realistically and perhaps their relative inexperience is a factor .", "director frakes steps triumphantly into the ring of hollywood mediocrity with this effort ...", "a pleasant , if forgettable , romp of a film .", "can we call a moratorium , please , on movies about pampered kids with a lot of free time in which to concoct guilt trips to lay on their hard-working parents ?", "director jonathan frakes , who knows a thing or two about briskly-paced and smarter-than-average sci-fi entertainment , keeps everything light , lively and , more often than not , pleasingly exciting .", "a benign but forgettable sci-fi diversion .", "when ` science fiction ' takes advantage of the fact that its intended audience has n't yet had much science , it does a disservice to the audience and to the genre .", "beyond one brief ` insider ' star trek joke , the former commander riker and his screenwriting team simply do n't have enough fun with the material to make it the engaging , exciting and magical film it wants and deserves to be .", "if the director had committed to one genre rather than dropping in on many , he might have been able to pull it off .", "generally , MOV will fulfill your wildest fantasies about being a different kind of time traveler , while happily killing 94 minutes .", "to be impressed , you need to be impressionable .", "it feels like an after-school special gussied up with some fancy special effects , and watching its rote plot points connect is about as exciting as gazing at an egg timer for 93 minutes .", "such a fine idea for a film , and such a stultifying , lifeless execution .", "to be fair , `` MOV '' is n't a bad film , merely bereft of creativity and personality .", "there 's a scientific law to be discerned here that producers would be well to heed : mediocre movies start to drag as soon as the action speeds up ; when the explosions start , they fall to pieces .", "while some of the camera work is interesting , the film 's mid-to-low budget is betrayed by the surprisingly shoddy makeup work .", "ok , kid-friendly sci-fi .", "this is a prime example of a movie that is convinced that a little action , a pair of good-looking protagonists , and an intriguing concept will result in a box office success .", "worth the time .", "charming , harmless amusement tailored to the oft-neglected 13-and-under set .", "impressive sci-fi effects and cute actors ca n't save a trite , safe teen flick that should please joe lieberman .", "the movie has been produced by nickelodeon , and will no doubt satisfy its intended audience enormously ... unlike spy kids or big fat liar , it offers few consolations for parents and older brothers and sisters .", "harmless sci-fi fun for youths .", "the movie itself appears to be running on hypertime in reverse as the truly funny bits get further and further apart .", "... infused with entertaining energy and written with an adult-friendly crispness that 's especially rare in movies aimed squarely at pre-teens .", "gets both a failing grade in physics and an equally abating review .", "lest you think zak might take hypertime by the horns and cop a feel , remember the film 's pg rating .", "a fun movie that i think both kids and adults will enjoy .", "far too tepid and unspectacular to be anything but a harmless time-killer -- it 's really no better than a movie made for a child - friendly cable network .", "most will be staring at their own watch , wondering how to get the last 92 minutes of their life back .", "it 's almost good enough to be watched by grownups alone . take the little ones .", "the plot grinds on with yawn-provoking dullness .", "the script feels as if it started to explore the obvious voyeuristic potential of ` hypertime ' but then backed off when the producers saw the grosses for spy kids .", "the film is ridden with clich\u00e9s ... as many of these teenage market films are .", "a harmless and generally entertaining bit of fluff .", "time stands still in more ways that one in MOV , a sci-fi thriller as lazy as it is interminable .", "by the time the plot grinds itself out in increasingly incoherent fashion , you might be wishing for a watch that makes time go faster rather than the other way around .", "the film does n't have enough innovation or pizazz to attract teenagers , and it lacks the novel charm that made spy kids a surprising winner with both adults and younger audiences .", "gets bogged down by an overly sillified plot and stop-and-start pacing .", "frakes manages to salvage enough entertainment value to keep kids happy and adults satisfied .", "a family-friendly fantasy that ends up doing very little with its imaginative premise .", "an intermittently pleasing but mostly routine effort .", "this a nickelodeon movie , and that 's where it belongs : on children 's cable television .", "i thought my own watch had stopped keeping time as i slogged my way through MOV .", "if i were 13 , i might be sufficiently entranced by the movie 's bicycle stunts ... and would n't be wondering why ideas for science fiction films have n't progressed very far from star trek 's first seasons all those decades ago .", "a high-spirited , genial romp that 's suffused with a becoming innocence .", "this could be the first movie since `` cool as ice '' that was outdated before it hit the screen .", "there are some dazzling water effects , but there 's not enough to like about the movie to recommend it .", "time literally stops on a dime in the tries-so-hard-to-be-cool `` MOV , '' but that does n't mean it still wo n't feel like the longest 90 minutes of your movie-going life .", "i was actually entertained and amused ; but overall the movie is adequate and little more ." ], "summary": "a pleasant diversion for the young teens , but a waste of time for anyone older .", "id": "11933" }, { "movie": "this_is_not_a_film_2011", "reviews": [ "it 's a cry from the heart of an artist compelled to create , tell stories and respond to hostile , confounding realities .", "what constitutes imprisonment and what constitutes a film ?", "this may not be a film , but it 's a moving statement of defiance and despair .", "the complex , brilliant , heartbreaking diary of iranian filmmaker jafar panahi under house arrest in tehran , and prohibited from making movies .", "there is courage and cheekiness here . what there is not is a story , or much insight or even anger ; anyone expecting an indictment of iran will be sorely disappointed .", "truly and defiantly extraordinary in its own quiet way .", "the truth of what is and is n't lies deep between the lines of this brilliantly elusive meta-commentary , arguably the greatest iranian film since abbas kiarostami 's masterpiece close-up .", "predictably , not much happens in `` MOV '' ; dude is under house arrest , after all . but it 's absorbing and clever .", "i find myself returning again and again to jafar panahi 's apartment in tehran , the defining location for the year in cinema , one of the defining locations in all of cinema .", "`` MOV '' , but it manages to be a bloody great one , anyway .", "ignore the title MOV - this is a great film , and a triumph of creativity and courage over repression .", "modest , humble , initimate and revelatory , panahi 's self-portrait concerns the socio-political conditions under which filmmakers -lrb- and all artists -rrb- work and create .", "working within great restraints can result in remarkable films . panahi proves that here and triumphs over a regime trying to silence him .", "a simple , sad , refreshing and intrinsically beautiful film .", "it 's hard to think of a more powerfully uplifting and resonant finale in a film released this year . the title 's black satire becomes superfluous , with MOV revealed as the most heartfelt act of defiance .", "far less transparent than it first appears , MOV is a prime example of what panahi 's mentor , abbas kiarostami , has termed the `` half-finished '' film , for which part of the meaning must be supplied by the viewer .", "a masterpiece of allusion .", "more akin to a commentary than a `` film '' , jafar panahi proves an engaging presence and crucial political voice .", "equally at home with fiction and non-fiction genres and a filmmaker consistently interested in blurring those demarcations , panahi 's latest effort has a deceptively unstructured and spontaneous quality underpinned by a clear intellectual agenda .", "panahi is deconstructing the very idea of film . does merely putting something on camera instantly make it a film ? that 's for you to judge - and , i suppose , the iranian government .", "see it any way you possibly can . it will change your life forever .", "MOV is a practical joke as much as it is a movie , and while it possesses a deadly serious undercurrent , what 's most surprising is how witty the finished product is .", "`` MOV '' portrays the fear of being forgotten when you ca n't speak for yourself , when you 've been removed from the public eye .", "if MOV , by all means let us have many more such not-a-films .", "this film is unique in a dreadful way : what happens on screen would not be particularly interesting without the facts surrounding its making .", "powerfully shows how freedom in the arts is a necessity for any country to ensure its citizens do n't live a lie .", "there 's a tremendous power under the simple-looking surface .", "no matter the constrictions on its existence , MOV is , in fact , a great one .", "one mourns the tragic circumstances that caused it to be made , but the result is a sleight of hand to rank alongside orson welles 's f for fake .", "not a conventional film , certainly , but a powerful and important statement .", "it marks a courageous act of non-violent protest .", "a master class on the relationship between subject and camera lens .", "MOV is pleasing mainly just as a message-in-a-bottle from a restless , persecuted artist -- that is , until the amazing closing shot , which brings the volatility of post-green revolution iran home with unforgettable force .", "with his nose pressed up to the perimeter of his house arrest , panahi colours within the lines to create a priceless piece of tragi-comic protest .", "deft and ironic , mixing banal reality with poignant metaphor in a typically iranian style .", "it 's not a film for the multiplexes , but if you care to look behind the obvious , there is plenty of information to glean , not least that pahani is determined to thwart his country 's morally bankrupt authorities", "it 's clear from the first moments that this is a man who ca n't help but understand his situation in cinematic terms .", "panahi depicts his plight with warm , self-deprecating humor ...", "in its way , this effort is both a forceful assertion of the most stifling brand of auteurism and a radical reconfiguration of its political potential .", "it 's a political statement , an act of defiance , a master class in one auteur 's body of work and process , and a document of a life unseen .", "an inspiring must-see for anyone who feels the urgent need to create something beautiful and meaningful , no matter the cost .", "if MOV , it is , among other things , a statement of creative resistance in the face of tyranny and a document of intellectual freedom under political duress .", "sure it is -- and a great one at that .", "`` MOV '' is a rough document of life in iran from the perspective of a persecuted intellectual .", "an extraordinary film , and one of the few in which boredom in the face of static camerawork and lack of narrative adds to the emotional wallop .", "this deceptively simple , day-in-the-life-of documentary about iranian director jafar panahi is an act of defiance against the filmmaking ban imposed on him by iranian authorities .", "a brave , provocative , thoroughly compelling feat . you wo n't forget it anytime soon .", "a bold artistic statement , a guided career retrospective , a political act , and a mediation on the very nature of cinema - all at once , with neither self-pity or intellectual elitism to muddy the waters .", "a simple description of what transpires in MOV does n't begin to convey its power .", "the film is terrific ... at capturing the drip-drip-drip of what amounts to , basically , panahi 's home imprisonment .", "rene magritte , whose famous pipe painting is slyly honored in the movie 's title , would be jazzed .", "MOV and a separation masterfully show iranians that are full of the same passions , concerns and desires as the rest of the world-an incredibly important accomplishment now that the drumbeat to war grows louder each day .", "a clandestine last gasp of freedom from one of iran 's most creative and controversial film directors while under house arrest .", "any way you slice it , it 's a brave and brilliant act of defiance .", "MOV is so technically modest that it almost is n't a film . yet in its simplicity it 's as direct as a laser beam ...", "against all odds , an unquenchable artist has made yet another piece of powerful art .", "it 's irrefutably art , and undeniably vital .", "a devastating meditation on artistry and form .", "fascinating for what it signifies as much as what it shows , `` MOV '' illustrates how panahi is struggling to stay alive creatively and , paradoxically , ca n't help but demonstrate how much of a natural filmmaker he is .", "a film which only reveals its true colours after intense contemplation .", "this film is a samizdat cine-poem in defence of cinema and freedom : the only response is contempt for those government bullies and bureaucrats ranged against jafar panahi .", "an act of political defiance , a moving personal document and a meditation on what film is and can be .", "what it all adds up to is a ruefully witty essay on what does or does not constitute cinema : jean-luc godard grapples endlessly -lrb- some would say incomprehensibly -rrb- with these debates , but panahi 's invigorating directness cuts to the chase .", "nobody is likely to confuse MOV with mainstream entertainment . but it is more fun than the vast majority of multiplex screensavers .", "panahi 's two principal themes - film theory and -lrb- inevitably -rrb- ` domestic ' politics - coalesce into one as his own cloistered status finds its mirror in a personal filmography that has become more and more constrained .", "this is an important film , a valuable insight into contemporary iran and the challenges facing their artistic communities .", "i would like to show `` MOV '' to those in the united states who are in favor of a close union of church and state .", "the film is never directly confrontational - it certainly eschews diatribes against the current regime - but its point about repressing the natural urge to tell stories is forcefully made .", "it 's a true rebel film , full of outrage and defiance , but it 's also an intensely personal and moving portrait of a trapped , tragic figure , just like many of panahi 's own best characters .", "utterly heartbreaking ... a moving addition to panahi 's oeuvre ... -lsb- iran -rsb- could try to silence one of its greatest filmmakers , but could n't stop him creating art .", "the triumph of MOV is not only an artistic one -- the very existence of this movie is a gift . no wonder it came to us in a cake .", "it 's a subtle contribution to the literature of oppression , opposition and prison and to the never-ending discussion of art and its relationship to life .", "as for panahi , i could watch him for hours . with his film , its title , with his dignity and strength of purpose he mocks the stupidity of the regime 's censorship .", "it is 75 minutes of powerful and touching insight into the helplessness of being a citizen in a country that respects none of the citizenly rights and virtues : those that relate to art , human dignity and freedom of speech , movement and ideas .", "a bold and brave statement of defiance .", "a courageous statement by one of iran 's greatest directors and a powerful indictment of a state that would send him to prison for six years for simply telling the truth . a masterpiece .", "reveals not only the realities of artistic censorship , but its firework-laden finale shows how cinema thrives on spontaneity .", "it is not a protest ; it is a plea . this is not a filmmaker who is a threat to his country ; this is a national - and international - treasure .", "there are fireworks -- and an ending that 's as dramatic as anything made by any director making a film , which is something panahi accomplishes with a bit of a wink , and no small amount of courage .", "it 's a statement about courage , a poke in the eye of political oppression .", "the more `` MOV '' underscores the cruel containment of a great artist , the more we actually become aware - very indirectly , in a very panahi fashion - of a city in chaos outside , with sounds of gunfire and distant street blazes .", "it may not be what one might normally describe as a `` film '' but whatever it is that one might call it , `` MOV '' is an absolute must-see .", "the right thing to do would be to give a thumbs up to `` film '' just to spread the word . but here 's another reason - it 's a fascinating film .", "... a political act , of course , but that 's not the most interesting thing about it .", "a snapshot of a filmmaker in exile , yes , but also a poignant portrait of a country under a repressive regime and a compelling manifesto on the perseverance of art .", "... never settles down - it 's as restless as its house arrested protagonist and a compelling and often humorous look at a day in the life of an auteur with his wings clipped .", "panahi creates a very personal film that reveals the inner man . his pet iguana , igi , is pretty cool , too .", "in short , `` MOV '' is the world within an apartment , and it is quietly devastating .", "-lsb- a -rsb- courageous act of artistic provocation ..." ], "summary": "through simple means and filming , MOV presents a vital political statement and a snapshot of life in iran as enemy of the state .", "id": "771243297" }, { "movie": "titan_ae", "reviews": [ "does n't even exhibit the visual verve evident in the star wars .", "this feature-length sci-fi cartoon is suggestive of nothing so much as saturday-morning tv .", "nice scenery ; miserable storytelling .", "such dreck !", "the result sets itself adrift .", "a pint-size effort .", "an ill-conceived and overambitious animation blowout .", "titan targets teens , but misses mark .", "it 's not a great movie by any means .", "what we 're left with is lots of pretension but little genuine tension .", "the story tries audience patience with stilted dialogue , stock characters and plot elements that have seen more miles than the millennium falcon .", "plays like the most expensive bon jovi video ever made .", "star wars pulped and mashed into flavorless kiddie corn .", "almost every plot point is treated with such grim portentousness that any and all vitality is sucked right out of the production .", "as in every film don bluth has ever made , titan a.e. sets up expectations for dramatic payoffs that never come .", "none of these protagonists have any more depth than video game characters .", "eye candy has rarely been more tasty .", "features classic cartoon storytelling and an all-star cast .", "if you can stand the insipid story , you might enjoy the bright , sometimes inventive visual effects .", "the characters are more psychologically interesting than in most animated features and the voice talent is first-rate .", "the plot contains not one original idea .", "solidly entertaining , brilliantly illustrated and impressively speculative .", "highly reminiscent of certain star wars sequences , but it redeems itself with a bold and grungy action-adventure flavor .", "in a summer driven by wow factors , titan a.e. has a galaxy 's worth .", "the visuals range from impressive to just plain spectacular .", "i want my two hours back .", "la ciencia ficci\u00f3n siempre es dif\u00edcil de llevar con tino a la pantalla grande , pero tit\u00e1n a.e. da un paso hacia adelante", "could end up being the space epic to reckon with .", "the result is an impressive array of themes , stories and sequences that use both computer imagery and , often , hand-painted animation to an effect that 's better than many live-action films .", "this one is not just for the kids .", "a raucous summertime treat for kids of all ages that anyone would be a fool to miss .", "the film is an industrial design marvel full of impressionistic , painterly backdrops and cool cgi effects .", "reminiscent of the original star wars release all those years ago .", "comic and visual thrills abound .", "it 's visually impressive , lovingly crafted , and timelessly told .", "rich blending of traditional cel animation and computer generated artwork .", "demonstrates a vivid imagination that more than makes up for its cartoon heritage .", "there is no excuse for the badness of titan a.e.", "throughout the film , the audience is constantly reminded : this is fake .", "is it worth the goofy characters and weak story for the effects and action sequences ? absolutely .", "you 've already seen it .", "... gorgeous picture painting with nothing new to say and nowhere new to go . i was bored in two minutes flat .", "an ambitious animated film that at least attempts to aim for something different , but is impaired by its hackneyed plot .", "it continually crashes and burns on its own banality .", "lacks a sense of originality or fun .", "a long-winded story , uninspired characters and lackluster off-screen performances .", "from the ` new coke ' school of miscalculations .", "likely to be more tiny than titanic .", "a rocket-fueled reminder that first and foremost , science fiction should be fun .", "looks great , and you have to admire the hands-on labor and imaginative effort .", "actually nails the epic feel it is aiming for .", "a technological marvel .", "has problems in pacing , storytelling and character definition .", "always up to generating distinctive and involving visions .", "tech work is exemplary , and sometimes astonishing .", "the best part of titan a.e. is the animation .", "a host of inventive outer-space battles for sci-fi fans .", "delivers more than enough to satisfy .", "it 's like watching other people play video games .", "if you can get past the problems with story and characterization , there are quite a few visual delights waiting for you .", "the fully animated titan a.e. does spectacularly .", "here 's the animated space adventure i 've been hoping for .", "a space shot worth taking .", "in featuring likable and intelligent characters as well as some interesting plot turns , the script more than adequately does its job as a support beam for the visuals .", "this engaging , technically magnificent piece of computer-age animation delivers the mix of punch and pathos that modern moviegoers have come to expect from action yarns .", "the film is certainly as exciting as any live-action sci-fi flick .", "lifts its story from every successful science-fiction film that i 've ever seen in my life .", "the age-old plot of good versus evil is so standard that only the best films can warp and bend the idea into a fascinating story .", "an enjoyable adventure with some fairly cool graphics .", "packs spectacular imagery and high-energy action into a tight 90 minutes .", "a so-so animated feature aimed at an older crowd .", "it 's too great of a fluid , exciting animation epic to be forgotten or lambasted .", "... flat characters , flat animation , a bland rock soundtrack ... titan a.e. might as well be titanic a.e. -lrb- as in , the ship that sunk , not the movie that scored . -rrb-", "little substance beyond one or two nifty visual sequences .", "la cinta es demasiado simple y poco cre\u00edble para los adolescentes y adultos y muy pesada para los ni\u0144os .", "animated space opera shoots for the stars , but runs out of gas .", "it 's hard to hate a movie that features janeane garafalo as a psychotic space kangaroo .", "one of those children 's movies that is made for especially dim or easily fooled children ." ], "summary": "great visuals , but the story feels like a cut-and-paste job of other sci-fi movies .", "id": "10688" }, { "movie": "painted_veil", "reviews": [ "-lsb- the film -rsb- rubs off a few of the barbed edges from w. somerset maugham 's 1925 novel about love and infidelity in a time of cholera , but no matter : the centerpiece is naomi watts ' outstanding portrayal of an adulteress redeemed .", "it 's impeccable , but leaves you cold .", "norton and watts are top-notch , as are schreiber and toby jones .", "a pet project of watts and norton for years , the two actors clearly have great affinity for the story and capture authentic chemistry of young marrieds at odds , who develop respect -- if not necessarily love -- for each other .", "movies do n't elicit sighs from me often , but for the MOV i sigh .", "curran , his actors and screenwriter ron nyswaner have made an old-fashioned melodramatic epic that , as steeped as it is in the language and tradition of old movies , is never less than thrummingly alive .", "largely masterpiece theatre moviemaking , but of a very high order ... an elegantly appointed , intelligently played picture that does maugham 's period piece proud .", "a major motion picture achievement , a magnificent adaptationthat achieves near perfection on the screen .", "it 's really the norton-watts show , and they make the MOV resonate with love and regret .", "the third film iteration of the MOV turns w. somerset maugham 's distaff bildungsroman into a fine romance .", "a period piece with an edge , combining lush photography with an engaging script , strong acting and on-screen chemistry between norton and watts .", "the movie achieves a rare balance for an historical fiction : making use of the backdrop without allowing it to overwhelm the characters and their story .", "a soaring , tragic tale of transcendence and forgiveness that resonates long after the credits roll .", "a rich character study that showcases another fine performance from watts .", "an apt visitation to the curious romances of the old days .", "the MOV has the power and intimacy of a timeless love story . by all means , let it sweep you away .", "the MOV sets a few fine actors to work with one of w. somerset maugham 's 1920s tales of occidentals confronting the far east and their own tangled emotional lives .", "can a diseased village cure a sterile marriage ?", "there 's room for old-fashioned literary cinema , but curran 's third version of maugham 's morality tale -lrb- done with garbo in 1934 and eleanor parker in 1957 -rrb- does n't illuminate the nuanced journey taken by the ill-matched couple .", "intelligent scripting , solid thesping and eye-catching location shooting are n't enough to make a compelling modern film of the MOV", "feels like a masterpiece theatre production -- solid enough , but at the same time oddly generic .", "for filmgoers who long for the days when adventurous filmmakers such as david lean placed fascinating , flawed characters in sweeping , historic settings , the MOV is a most welcome motion picture .", "why , ultimately , leave 1920s england to see a tragic romance between two brits ? part this veil , and the atmosphere dissolves into a smokescreen , the backdrop revealed as a chasm between cultures .", "veil blends politics and romance only a bit less clumsily than the white countess , another movie about pre-war china that came to grief .", "this tale of strangers in a strange land has been fashioned as a poignant love story , with its buried passions forcefully breaking the surface as the film rounds the bend toward its satisfying conclusion .", "the marital problems played out by naomi watts and edward norton are of trivial concern when set within a cholera epidemic in china .", "both sumptuous and satisfying .", "the characters are extraordinarily well-drawn , and watts and norton both do fine , subtle work .", "the always surprising watts creates a woman at once contemporary and retro . and norton , as a producer as well as star , concedes enough space for schreiber and the effortlessly fascinating jones to earn their own spotlights .", "sweeping vistas , period-piece sets , impeccable literary source , a little stolid at times , but ultimately quite impressive .", "the MOV is more or less from the school of motion picture that pauline kael used to say `` reeks of quality . ''", "the MOV tells a mesmerizing story while honoring all of the classic traditions of superior filmmaking -- a magnificent accomplishment that will haunt you long after it ends .", "-lsb- the -rsb- finest moments are the small , barely perceptible pinpricks of human cruelty ... especially those induced by race , gender , and class .", "stands creatively with the best from merchant/ivory productions .", "lack -lsb- s -rsb- an essential , gripping spark of self-destructiveness and ardor .", "contents itself with making the maugham work less prissy .", "it 's a wallow and i confess to wholeheartedly enjoying the plunge .", "this stab at grand romance fails to satisfy .", "norton 's effect and watts ' able portrayal are not enough to move the misogyny of the narrative .", "... a finely crafted product that can hardly fail to touch one 's heart .", "click for review", "concealed passions are revealed as life takes unexpected turns and what initially seems like an act of vengeance becomes the making of the central characters", "the MOV has a real pulse . it sweeps you up in the characters ' journey from the beginning , and keeps you riveted from moment to moment .", "john curran controls the redemptive spirit of maugham 's book with merciful restraint , and gets excellent performances all round .", "wonderful scenery , great performances and a superb story .", "an intelligently crafted movie of dull tastefulness that brings nothing to the story that was n't more artfully evoked in the novel .", "the film treats the conventions of 1925 with respect , without condescension or superiority -lrb- and , blessedly , without post-modern smugness -rrb- .", "an easy movie to admire but a difficult one to embrace .", "... a stuffed and mounted story of tortured romance that seems long out of date .", "watts and norton are extraordinary actors , and in fine form here , but they never click together ...", "a movie for sophisticated adults ... a sensitively nuanced story -lrb- with -rrb- exceptional performances by norton and the gorgeous watts with captivating cinematography and locale .", "director john curran -lrb- `` we do n't live here anymore '' -rrb- captures the profound beauty of china 's lush countryside where his characters discover the true nature of their relationship .", "the MOV is the type of old-fashioned period drama with rich , well defined characters that usually ca n't find backing in today 's hollywood .", "a '20s period piece about tainted love set against a cholera epidemic in a remote chinese village may sound about as romantic as valentine 's day at t.g.i. fridays spent over mozzarella sticks and separate checks , but we promise the pay-off is much better .", "john curran has been inspired , in an epic way , to capture the extremes of romantic feeling in his adaptation .", "finds just the right balance between the familiar and the surprising to become one of the season 's best entertainments .", "watts ' quietly intense performance is the best thing about veil .", "the movie is not grim , even as it endangers a wise nun and her gaggle of orphans in its most unfortunate melodramatic moments . rather , it suggests the possibility of mutual healing , of people working together in love .", "a lovely trifle not unlike other well-done bits of instantly-forgotten prestige .", "one of the year end 's best films - great story , superb acting and beautiful to look at .", "slow and sublime .", "a rich and resounding picture of love lost and regained ... 2006 's most romantic movie .", "sturdy adult fare that works lush period locations and the subtle gifts of its talented actors to its advantage .", "norton and watts know exactly how to communicate all their characters ' unspoken desires , fears and frustrations . ... an absorbing study of love in all its colors , from passion to rage and from heartache to ecstacy .", "provocative and highly emotional . watts and norton are sensational .", "redemption comes far too late in the MOV , an aloof and disappointing adaptation of w. somerset maugham 's 1920s novel that features one of the more unlikable , self-involved main characters in recent memory .", "neither walter nor kitty is a saint , and neither becomes one . but we see a love of virtue take root in this relationship as kitty stumbles toward a kind of redemption .", "this adaptation of the w. somerset maugham novel contains more anger and sexuality -- altogether more passion -- than other beautifully appointed period films of its class .", "the MOV uses its narrative limits to make its political case , that privilege breeds ignorance .", "superb performances and elegant production values make it profoundly involving .", "the movie makes for a good old-fashioned wide-screen wallow .", "performances are superbly textured ...", "a case of filmmakers being too enamored of classic source material to pump enough blood to bring a film version to life .", "exquisitely filmed and finely acted .", "many story elements are predictable , and they rely on superior acting to make up for other shortcomings .", "solid as this MOV is , there 's also a predictability to its puritanism . to succumb to it , you have to really be in the mood to watch a good man teach a foolish woman a lesson .", "-lsb- director -rsb- curran has crafted a film that accomplishes so much . it not only draws us into this personal drama between his two principal actors , but also sets it all against a vibrant background of an ancient civilization struggling to become modern .", "this version has that element the previous films lacked : a true understanding of maugham 's belief that true love and purpose are inseparable .", "the filmmakers are mindful of the challenges inherent in filming maugham 's novel . but the MOV never fully finesses the novel 's 1920s attitudes toward its ethnic others .", "the MOV never really transcends a predictable , historical model of sacrifice and personal growth , and there 's not enough of the latter .", "the film manages to be a lush period piece , a love story , an examination of culture clash and a slow revelation of character emerging from stunted emotion .", "there 's something missing at the heart of the film , some spark , and it may be nothing more than a lack of chemistry between norton and watts .", "its strength lies in its patience -- and its slow , melting sorrow that hints at atonement .", "norton and schreiber seem too american to be english colonials , but watts navigates a challenging transformation -lrb- in a role first played by greta garbo in 1934 -rrb- , and there are sturdy performances by anthony wong , toby jones , and diana rigg .", "even amid an atmosphere of human rot , it 's too elegant for its own good , a pleasing but pale merchant-ivory exercise that reverently strives for a kind of simple redemptive decency that maugham found less triumphant than this movie does .", "the MOV lifts maugham 's story clear of its prissy , attenuated spirituality , and into genuine passion .", "prepare to be magically transported to another world by this alluring , magnificent melodrama that unfolds in pre-revolutionary china .", "this time director john curran digs just a little deeper and finds something remarkably human in the material .", "it 's an actor 's love fest , with naomi watts , edward norton , and liev schreiber snatching every last drop of ennui and tight-fisted emotion they can .", "locates deep and subtle truths about the manner in which infidelity and misunderstandings can breed self-disgust in the -lrb- more -rrb- aggrieved party .", "feels like it 's going through the motions , applying period gloss to a story that needs to be more tactile .", "the only good reason to watch the first half of the MOV is to prepare for the second half , in which a pair of note-perfect performers are finally given more than one note to play .", "the film , alas , never scales their acting heights , plodding along in a staid fashion and tamping down the strong emotions that reside below its surface . this should have been a much more powerful movie .", "like a long-term relationship , the MOV is well-intentioned and not particularly sexy , but understands duties of forgiveness , sacrifice , and commitment .", "if you like classy costume dramas filled with british accents , or have to write a paper on maugham , this might be worth the price of a ticket .", "the acting is quite splendid , especially in the vicinity of the quite splendid watts .", "the combination of a good story , fine acting and location shooting make this worth seeing .", "a thoughtful and beautifully mounted story for grown-ups , the MOV brings the quiet pleasures of a fine novel , showing us that the world 's complicated geography is no match for the terrain of the human heart .", "the MOV recalls an earlier era of film direction , when movies moved rather than manipulated and craft superseded special effects .", "the MOV does what a romantic drama needs to do . it testifies to love as the great educator .", "the film comes together as a quirky but touching love story and a screen-filling spectacle that 's balanced with both the hard-edge and exotic spiritual dimension w. somerset maugham would have admired .", "the MOV is rich with history and heartbreak . it 's stirring stuff .", "the MOV does n't have quite the gripping pressure that maugham built in his prose with such sober , masterly confidence , but it is strong work , honestly done .", "a handsome but suffocating adaptation of a w. somerset maugham novel .", "the story is told with integrity , and its sense of 1920s colonial china makes for an absorbing , cultural-political backdrop .", "the MOV lifts maugham 's story clear of its prissy , attenuated spirituality , and into genuine passion .", "the MOV may begin too slowly , but it also ends too soon .", "the film 's visual splendor is about more than scenery as dryburgh attains first character definition , then emotional wallop with ... closeups of walter 's bare foot .", "a delicate work of smothered passion that taps into the agony of a loveless marriage .", "there is not an actor in the MOV who is anything less than supremely talented . but despite having a razor-sharp script from which to work , -lsb- director john -rsb- curran ca n't quite get a single character to come fully alive .", "stunning locations , a story with strong emotional , physical and spiritual conflicts , and a first-rate cast .", "it 's a grim , demanding movie , but the acting is marvelous and the scenery breathtaking . if you 're looking for a film to match the post-holiday blues , here it is . and it 's very good .", "all this comes from a novel by somerset maugham , although the movie leaves out most of the complexities of the book to focus on the single-minded venom of the marriage .", "the MOV is like one of those typical oscar bait type of films that have n't been oscar bait in about 10 years .", "watts and norton ... emphasize the loaded gestures and veiled asides that govern relationships in real life , as opposed to the melodramatic tirades that dominate the movies .", "despite a fierce lead performance by naomi watts , the MOV is a quaintly bloodless , picture-postcard adaptation of w. somerset maugham 's 1925 china-set novel -- more merchant ivory than david lean .", "naomi watts is far too good for most of her roles , sitting in an ape 's paw or watching spectral videotapes . the MOV is a welcome exception .", "it 's lacking all subtlety .", "the third and best cinematic adaptation of w. somerset maugham 's 1925 novel , the MOV is a beautifully mounted and incisively acted period piece , bristling with intelligence and caustic wit .", "this is one of those epic love stories that the movie chicks adore , but it 's also a very good little movie .", "maugham ... still translates to the screen perfectly ... . watts , norton , and toby jones are fully convincing .", "if the MOV ultimately lacks some of the novelty and ambition of the year 's best pictures , it still ranks as one of 2006 's quiet gems .", "a thoroughly grown-up movie that compellingly thinks its way through the toughest matters of the heart .", "in the MOV , terrific actors give glum performances .", "a beautiful and very believable story , set in china in the 1920s , about the personal transformation of a married couple .", "if the cholera doesn\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t get you , the dialogue will .", "an exquisitely drawn character piece .", "overall this is a satisfyingly slow-burning romance , beautifully scored and acted .", "the production values are characteristically sumptuous , william daniels ' photography is lustrous , and boleslawski directs with suitable flair .", "a great pleasure !", "stunning scenery and superior thesping result in a period romance that combines the intimate with the epic .", "the problem is n't that it 's painful to endure , but that it 's a rather easier watch than it should be .", "combine a strong-limbed narrative about marital frustration with a painstaking account of the british imperial presence in 1920s china .", "handsomely crafted , with meticulous performances , yet it plays out drily and in monotone .", "unlike any love story i 've seen before ." ], "summary": "visually , the MOV has all the trappings of a stuffy period drama , but norton 's and watts 's deft portrayals of imperfect , complicated characters give the film a modern-day spark .", "id": "420081993" }, { "movie": "iron_man_2", "reviews": [ "delivers the visuals that the audience came for .", "MOV is fun , unchallenging and inoffensive entertainment .", "MOV provides more entertainment , guilt-free , than anything you 're likely to see this summer .", "has it finally happened ? hard as it is to type , robert downey jr. may have reached obnoxiousness .", "twice the snark , half the fun . the original 's wit and energy shrivel into countless subplots and so little excitement that the sequel barely qualifies as an action movie .", "a series of carefully-planned , effects-heavy sequences strung together with slapdash storytelling , underdeveloped character ideas and the occasional funny line of dialogue .", "big , empty and dying : is it tony stark or the iron man franchise itself ? director jon favreau has taken great pains to insure justin theroux 's script does n't get bogged down by silly matters like mortality .", "if you listen and read closely , the positive reviews will be cloaking their praise of MOV in rationalizations , rather than letting it flow unfettered .", "the big problem with MOV , maybe , is that it so dutifully gives the people what they want , instead of giving them what they did n't know they wanted .", "it 's the promiscuously talented downey who adds the grace notes that make MOV something to remember .", "the idea is that we learn to trust that any extraneous-seeming thread will connect to something in another couple of summers and pay off , assuming the movie does .", "while the title is `` MOV , '' what we 're being given is `` iron man squared . '' there 's too much going on , and all the characters and plots and revelations and foreshadowings do not fill the film but bloat it .", "it 's easy to talk about what MOV does n't do , but what it does do is so full of energy and genuine enthusiasm that it 's hard to imagine anyone walking out unhappy .", "it 's a clean , efficient , somewhat generic piece of storytelling and most of the additions are not subtractions . this passes for success in the summer movie season .", "it 's a good - but not great - action-packed popcorn picture .", "`` i think i did ok , '' says tony at the end . but i think he could have done better .", "the franchise still has a lot of spark , but next time they need to clean the corrosion off the batteries .", "my favorite part of downey 's performance is watching him think , which is more fascinating to watch than every miley cyrus , jennifer lopez and ashton kutcher movie combined !", "it 's not a feast , it 's a quick fix . you want bombs ? you want quips ? you want tech ? you got 'em . now go away ... and come back next july .", "i do n't want to see his vulnerable side . i want to see him kicking ` bots and taking names . and there 's precious little of that here .", "there are too many new characters , too many crossing story lines , not enough romance and our hero 's a smug jerk for the first half hour . who cares ? MOV still rocks .", "the best scenes are still the ones with downey and gwyneth paltrow -lrb- as stark 's charm-resistant assistant , pepper potts -rrb- , or just downey alone . the rest feels like padding , which is something a sleek-suited superhero should n't need .", "the repercussions of superhero life and the weight of family legacy take centre stage in this busy yet charismatic superhero melodrama .", "in the quest to do things bigger , louder , and faster than its predecessor , excess can get a little ... excessive . but this is still miles ahead of the average summer festival of fireballs , owing in large part to the great ensemble and snappy dialogue .", "... the movie offers an abundance of thrills , laughs , and interpersonal communications . yeah , action and talk ; a little something for everyone .", "snappy and fast-paced .", "there 's an outdated feel to it all , from its cold-war view of america to the ac/dc soundtrack .", "still worth watching . just set your bar a little lower .", "it 's enjoyable to see a quality superhero dynamically and enthusiastically rendered .", "MOV simply simply is n't as satisfying as its predecessor .", "there 's so much clunky exposition in the script attributed to justin theroux that it seems forever before the first action sequence , which has surprisingly mediocre special effects .", "suffers from a bit of sequel-itis . . but do n't look for what it is n't ; enjoy the solid filmmaking and actors who take their comic book-created roles very seriously .", "crasser , noisier , more metallic", "offers a burst of entertainment so fast and lively you might choose to wear a neck-brace while you watch it .", "-lsb- downey 's -rsb- innate charisma , his ability to deliver cutting lines of dialogue with the perfect inflection , and his capacity to overcome narrative shortcomings are reasons why MOV works better than one might suspect .", "MOV is more of a set-up for the upcoming avengers picture than a stand-alone adventure -- a puzzling and unexpected disappointment , considering how fresh and entertaining the first picture was .", "there 's too much superfluity for MOV to be a great comic-book movie , but when it 's good , it 's exactly the kind of summer entertainment people are looking for .", "bigger , louder and dumber than its predecessor , MOV is still a lot of fun .", "only the first of who knows how many sequels , and those clunky ferrous fashionistas are already getting a little , well , rusty . downey retains his chaplinesque eccentric charm , but it 's wearing thin , adding up to a sequel with a serious iron deficiency .", "what saves it is favreau 's work with the cast .", "... may mark the beginning of mickey rourke 's re-descent -lrb- cooing to a cockatoo in russian will do that -rrb- .", "the most cynical and calculating part of it all is that the movie never really finds a justification for its existence ; except , that is , as a bald-faced setup for the avengers .", "if the morality , the pathos of death , the tenderness of the would-be romance between tony stark/iron man and his assistant , pepper potts , are missing , MOV is still a fun ride .", "en MOV , el h\u00e9roe est\u00e1 plagado de problemas humanos , problemas que tony stark trata de resolver a base de billetes , cinismo , narcismo , alcohol , mujeres y violencia ... lo que le viene fant\u00e1stico a la cinta .", "it 's a shame that marvel saddled MOV with the baggage of other films .", "it 's half the fun of the first movie and twice as convoluted .", "as for the actual grand finale , downey jr. and cheadle seem like they 're already network gaming the ps3 release instead of facing any actual threat , and rourke goes out like a chump .", "the whiz-bang stuff here -- while never less than slick -- does n't produce anything we have n't seen before .", "despite being more traditional in structure and theme than the original , MOV offers just about everything anyone could ask for in a superhero spectacular , and then some .", "it too frequently seems that iron man 's battles could simply be replaced with a scene featuring stark and his opponent measuring their respective suit 's ram , with a glance towards their supporting company 's share prices .", "it 's much more fun to create a franchise than to doggedly sustain it .", "throws down the armored gauntlet to all the other summer blockbusters - bring your `` a '' game or be content being the season 's second best movie .", "robert downey jr. , plays stark with a twinkle in his eye and a sense of fun , but ca n't quite stamp the same authority onto the film as he did in the first version .", "even the director ... seems to view the heavy clanking of mechanized men as a bit of a chore : the kind of well-prepared yet unremarkable meat course that must inevitably follow the delightful amuse bouche of robert downey jr. 's portrayal of stark .", "superhero stark remains intriguing .", "again , its leading man remains the most compelling component of this franchise .", "... there 's plenty of eye-popping action , snappy one-liners , and robert downey jr. working at the top of his game ...", "despite some imperfections , this film accelerates well into a spectacular final act , once again proving iron man invincible .", "... an acceptable action flick that creates a stiff wind but never achieves `` blow-you-away '' status .", "if MOV had any more subplots they 'd call it iron man 2-5", "shellhead 's back ! and nearly finishes himself off in blockbuster sequel", "appealing mainly to male special effects fans , this high octane , low intellect thing has only two performances worth watching , by larry shandling and sam rockwell .", "although it 's stuffed with subplots , gadgets and bad guys , this tinny contraption is half-hearted .", "MOV does what it can within the confines of what it has to do . the hollywood machine has trained us to have certain expectations for blockbuster sequels and this film neither deviates nor blazes new territory .", "downey whips out the big guns , sexy banter in fun sequel .", "MOV is a polished , high-ozone sequel , not as good as the original but building once again on a quirky performance by robert downey jr. .", "iron man bests the biggest adversaries of the superhero genre in his second outing : production troubles , sequel-bloat and overwhelming , unrestrained fanboy hype .", "fans will be satisfied , even if it does n't match the nuanced and well-rounded brilliance of the first film . but many will be disappointed with this seemingly rushed follow-up .", "some critics may claim that the iron man films are simply dragging on a genre that 's redundant -lrb- ... -rrb- but my view is that it is rescuing a big part of the marvel universe .", "robert downey jr squeezes back into ... tony stark 's incredible suit ... and his charismatic presence gives the movie a bigger boost than his character 's jet-propelled boots .", "in the land of sequels it 's no temple of doom or empire strikes back , but it 's also not rise of the silver surfer . me and my box of junior mints , we still had a good time .", "MOV is n't an ideal sequel but it is good , fixing most of the problems of the first movie without giving up what made it work to begin with .", "the bar has been set for the 2010 summer blockbusters .", "... the visual effects , though solid , may brighten the screen but are a poor substitute for characterisation and style - those two absent friends who we miss the most during the show .", "i was predisposed to like iron man even if it starred david hasselhoff wrapped in tinfoil ... is it worth your time ? definitely . is it the calibre of spider-man 2 and the dark knight ? afraid not .", "by rights , a superhero sequel should be darker , more intense and more dangerous , but favreau is happy just to stay cool . that 's all iron man 's job has ever been , and frankly , that 's fine by me .", "the original film had a novelty to it that simply ca n't be replicated , but as far as comic book movie sequels go MOV is a cut above most .", "loaded with laughs but short on action , this big-budget sequel feels less like a comic book flick and more like a superhero version of ` arthur . '", "this sequel to the 2008 mega-blockbuster fires on more cylinders than the first film , yet relies on star robert downey jr. more than it does kinetic energy and rock 'em - sock 'em technology -lrb- which it has in spades -rrb- .", "this cluttered , awkward blockbuster is held together by safety pins and movie-star charisma .", "the general excellence of the casting trumps the inarguable excellence of the technology .", "the surprisingly funny script from actor justin theroux gives stark a new reason to reassess himself while also providing some terrific banter for stark and pepper 's simmering sublimation .", "a summer blockbuster that 's interesting without ever being riveting ; entertaining without ever being thrilling . summer 2010 has started with a piece of popcorn entertainment that just happens to taste like it was popped in 2008 .", "superman has kryptonite . green lantern is powerless against the color yellow . and if MOV is any indication , tony stark 's big weakness could be scripts .", "hammer and vanko 's uneasy dance rivals tony and pepper 's banter for MOV 's funniest couple ... the screwball vibe is even more pronounced ... with wittier dialogue and even more deadpan delivery .", "this sequel , alas , settles for old elements in a new alloy -- less iron , lots more lead and tin .", "-lsb- downey -rsb- gives MOV its fascination . the rest is a cluttered , clattering toy story .", "i 'd have told even non-comic book fans to see the original iron man . i 'd recommend this sequel mostly to the initiated ... which probably accounts for 80 percent of all moviegoers .", "faster and louder than the first film , `` MOV '' is a fanboy 's dream come true .", "you 're not getting the marvel equivalent of dark knight . you 're getting robert downey jr. having a blast and wanting you to have a blast too .", "where iron man was champagne , MOV is asti .", "MOV 's dubious politlca stance ... muddles what could have made a good sequel even better .", "once you get past accepting comedian garry shandling as u.s. senator stern -lrb- hey , he 's a comic in a comic book movie -rrb- , ` MOV ' kicks in , turbos upward and fuses on into one spectacular action tale .", "those who wait through all of the credits will get a glimpse of what is in store for the next superhero saga . i hope between now and then they remember that less is more .", "MOV does n't quite degenerate into a transformers 3 ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- recommended , but with major reservations .", "it 's hard to imagine what the iron man franchise would be like without the great downey jr. . that 's something i never want to think about , and luckily , we do n't have to .", "i enjoyed MOV for the popcorn spectacle is was , and i had at least as much fun as it appeared robert downey jr. and jon favreau had making it .", "`` MOV '' rocks ! , with no signs of rust in the series ' armor .", "if you 're just going to see men in robot suits blow each other up while classic rock blares on the soundtrack , MOV will do just fine ...", "MOV is the sequel everyone thinks spider-man 2 was .", "as he was the first time around , downey jr. is the man !", "MOV careens between self-awareness and self-promotion , which is not to say these are opposite conditions .", "you 're left wanting more , but not quite the `` more '' MOV works so hard to supply .", "not as clever or thrilling as no. 1 -lrb- or as well-written/ad-libbed -rrb- , but there 's still good tongue-in-cheek fun thanks to downey and his cohorts .", "a film that is fast , loud and enough rowdy fun to be worth the price of admission .", "favreau 's a workmanlike filmmaker who gets virtuoso performances from his leads , particularly paltrow and cheadle , but most of all downey .", "the franchise 's bounce and lightness make it unique among recent comic book adaptations , which have leaned increasingly toward heavy , dreary themes they do n't have the dramatic weight to support .", "it 's a funny , exciting and even deceptively smart action-thriller with a few things to say about use of technology for destructive purposes .", "like the original , MOV is a good time from start to finish .", "the action sequences are fun , though not as exhilarating as in the 2008 original , and the dialogue can be zingy .", "downey still has plenty of moments of charm -lrb- nobody kicks a car aside as casually as this guy -rrb- , and most of the action sequences are lively and fun .", "more like iron man 1.5", "a hugely entertaining first act is let down by a lacklustre second in a sequel often more concerned with setting up future marvel efforts than delivering on its predecessor 's promise .", "given the strength of part one , the sequel is not just a terrific failure but a terrific disappointment .", "like tony stark himself , MOV is a sleek and cheeky number that almost certainly trumps the fun-factor of jon favreau 's 2008 's surprise hit .", "the film slumps into the doldrums early on , and truth is , it never recovers . for a film so heavy on characters , it 's shamefully light on plot .", "despite strong performances , impressive effects and a handful of decent action scenes , jon favreau 's eagerly-awaited iron man sequel is , unfortunately , not as good as the first film .", "MOV is a lot of fun : it 's shiny , likeable and never boring . but it 's also wildly uneven and unnecessarily convoluted , leaving the viewer unsatisfied and hungry for something more substantial .", "a chockablock actioner that manages to deliver what 's asked while still somehow falling short of expectations .", "i had a blast with MOV . it is one hell of an exciting adventure , but it may not be the adventure you expect .", "no matter how against the grain the superhero 's origins seemed in part 1 , or how uniquely robert downey jr. played them , a second helping of iron man has some `` wow '' issues to work out .", "rourke and rockwell make satisfying , complementary villains , while downey jr. delivers again . shame this sequel feels inessential .", "unambitiously -lsb- believes -rsb- that only way to improve on the original is to add more of everything . more heroes ! more villains ! more cgi ! and more robert downey jr. ! surprisingly , the result is n't all bad .", "we 've had to wait this long for rourke and downey to share the screen , and when they finally do , they 're turned into action figures .", "its a collection of scenes where stuff happens but not a real movie . the first iron man proved it could be smart and entertaining . this is just mildly ok in parts .", "upgraded with the latest cgi hardware but also more shoddy screenwriting software than its system can withstand , MOV is an example of subtraction by addition .", "while the plot is not as tight as it could be , MOV still delivers in every other way .", "contains enough great action sequences , impressive special effects and splendid performances to hold your interest most of the time . excellent way to start summer movie season .", "there are interesting ideas and cool moments , but momentum is rarely allowed to build and characters regularly seem to be forgotten about .", "it has more characters , more stuff blown to bits , more of everything . it 's a condition common to sequels , and it can be both a good and bad thing , but this is still great fun .", "lots of sizzle , no real stakes . the movie is at its best when it 's just tony stark hanging out .", "it 'd be difficult for any additional iron man incarnation to surpass the original , but MOV is a worthy follow-up .", "whether playing charlie chaplin or a billionaire with superhero armor ; downy will pull us in every time .", "relying heavily on cgi and action set-pieces , the sequel lacks an engaging plot and good actors -lrb- jackson , cheadle , paltrow -rrb- are underused , but it offers fast-paced , glossy , polished entertainment like a quick joy ride in disneyland .", "the hollow feeling to the whole thing is particularly odd given how right so many of the individual elements feel in and of themselves .", "MOV emerges as a movie that 's at war , not between iron man and his surfeit of enemies , but between two different movie-making instincts .", "all this extra effort drains the inherent sense of what was fun about the original , darkening it with issues and complexities that unnecessarily muddy the crisp , clearly commercial premise .", "not all the amped up action works ... but ultimately this is robert downey jr. 's gig , and he effortlessly entertains as the narcissistic , nihilistic rascal you love to envy .", "marvel are so excited about the avengers that they 've decided to make a 2-hour advert for it , pass it off as a film and charge admission .", "there was not one moment in MOV where i did n't think `` i 'm enjoying this ''", "jon favreau is back with a large-scale movie that is almost as good as its predecessor , even though it lacks the political commentary .", "robert downey jr. as iron man ? ok , pretty good . robert downey jr. as tony stark ? brilliant .", "the first iron man was a wonderful surprise ... -lsb- i -rsb- n many ways this movie seems like the morning after .", "it 's the film 's tone and the screen charisma of robert downey jnr that makes this big , bold action filled sequel such a blast", "MOV could have been just another action sequel if it were n't for robert downey jnr delivering the complexity and self contradictory nature of tony stark , a man who is aware of his flaws but is not weighed down by them", "downey seems to have found a comfort zone , and his enjoyment combined with a charismatic personality transcends the screen . eye candy is dished out with the attractive sexiness of paltrow and johansson , who joust for affectionate testosterone-fueled respo", "-lsb- t -rsb- he movie 's fluff-headed ignorance of its own self is so merry that it 's almost impossible to get upset about it . downey 's stark may no longer be surprising , but he 's still a helluva lotta fun to hang out with for two hours ...", "when it 's working solely for itself , MOV works , and does so better than its predecessor .", "showmanship is the order of the day for superhero sequel MOV , though the flash and dazzle distract from plot machinery that 's more than a little clunky .", "in one fell swoop , director jon favreau has driven this once-promising series straight into the ground .", "as superhero movies go this one is definitely a winner .", "at its best when its personality is showing , the brilliant iron man 's sequel has n't as much on display . still , top-flight special effects action and sparky comic riffing from downey , jr. and rockwell make up for many inadequacies .", "it 's still impressive enough for a flick to be called `` a worthwhile sequel to a superior film , '' and MOV is certainly that .", "flabby , disjointed , and eschewing conflict for extended scenes of improv clowning , it 's the superheroic equivalent of a rat pack film .", "MOV is on par with the first film . the flick delivers more action and comedy at the expense of an uneven and overly complicated plot line .", "robert downey jr. 's irreverent , peter pan-like portrayal of billionaire industrialist tony stark -lrb- aka iron man -rrb- continues to be the movie 's strongest asset .", "entertaining enough but falls short of delivering much of anything new .", "because we already know how iron man came to be , ` MOV ' is n't quite as interesting as the first film . but it does pack a super-hero wallop of action and fun .", "... there 's no doubt that robert downey jr. continues to own and entertain in the part he 's spent a lifetime preparing for .", "MOV is as good as its predecessor - and in some ways even better .", "film predstavlja predobru kombinaciju akcije , drame i humora da bi ga se otpisalo kao rutinersko holivudsko eksploatiranje devete umjetnosti", "probably the most refreshing trait in jon favreau 's iron man movies is that the most entertaining moments come when there 's no action to speak of .", "MOV could be chaplin meets the wrestler meets shakespeare in love meets stan lee . instead it 's more the stooges meet sara lee .", "in a refreshing and unexpected turn , the sequel to iron man does n't find a changed man . inside the metal , imperfect humanity grows even more so , as thought-provoking questions of identity meet techno-fantasy made flesh .", "iron man becomes the tin man because this sequel has lost its heart . luckily the special effects and downey 's charm save the day .", "a cracking good tale of good , evil , large egos , small mercies , and the fate of the world . of course .", "why get an actor like rourke at the peak of his recent comeback and then lock him up to repair drones and type on a keyboard for the second half of the film ? hardly innovation for a film that argues against wasteful spending on hardware .", "the original iron man left some pretty big shoes to fill , and rather than rise to the challenge , the sequel opts to play it safe .", "it 's not that MOV is n't good . in fact , it 's good enough , but it falls short of its predecessor .", "it may lack the fresh irreverence and excitement of the first adventure , but there are noteworthy set pieces .", "MOV delivers all the sharp-witted , star-studded , state-of-the-art razzmatazz you could want from a summer blockbuster . but ...", "MOV is the tony stark of films - utterly aware of just how awesome it is , and yet charming and funny enough to get away with it .", "it 's bigger , louder , funnier , darker and more emotional than before . so much so that you hardly notice how thin and choppy the plot is .", "favreau reassembles his main cast for another witty and exciting romp -- and adds the likes of mickey rourke and scarlett johansson to increase our viewing pleasure .", "iron man was a rare blockbuster that stayed with you -- the sequel all but evaporates the moment it cuts to black .", "thanks to downey jr , this is a winning formula . director jon favreau 's mistake was to add to it .", "we knew robert downey jr would n't disappoint . despite his broken robot heart , he is clearly having the time of his life , and unlike so many onscreen millionaires , he carries it all off convicingly .", "the battles possess their own daffy clarity and logic .", "pales beside the original .", "frantic , place-holding sequel ? check . third installment guaranteed ? check .", "it 's the first summer movie of 2010 . let the expensive silliness begin .", "casting the likes of downey and rourke and then imprisoning them in jointed refrigerators is resource-squandering of the highest order .", "the movie settles into a series of ho-hum conflicts and complications , and the requisite slam-bang ending is perfunctory at best .", "the filmmakers have n't quite bled iron man of his appeal , they have n't dented him or let him rust , but they 've done precious little to polish him , either . the shine is still there , but just barely .", "yes , sometimes there 's a bit too much story at the expense of the action . but when was the last time you had that complaint about a big event movie ?", "offers fewer surprises and exhilarating scenes than its smarter predecessor , briefly loses its footing , and suffers from excessive contrivance , but remains mindlessly entertaining thanks to its solid cast and some thrilling action sequences .", "what happens in between -lsb- the few action sequences -rsb- is droll and lively , thanks mostly to downey and rockwell 's typically colorful performances ; it just is n't very super , you know ?", "high expectations from the first movie may leave some wanting , but there 's enough brilliance on display to leave you wanting more as well .", "as sequels go , this one is acceptable , nothing more , nothing less .", "a major disappointment . i hated arrogant , bratty , foot-stomping man-baby tony stark and prissy pepper potts . too much brattle and no story .", "MOV might not have the power or tone of the recent batman film , but that 's not what the filmmakers are after , and crafting thrill ride that 's so easy and accessible to take in , it 'll be tough to find a more fun way to spend a couple of hours .", "such a visual grabber , with so much unexpected food for thought , that it 's hard to see how it could be topped .", "what 's missing is any real sense of danger ... is MOV as solid as its predecessor ? no , but it 's still nice to spend some time with some old friends .", "MOV is exactly what critics and audiences deserve following the celebration of that awful , dung-hued first film .", "MOV is n't as much fun as its predecessor , but by the time the smoke clears , it 'll do .", "an improvement in almost every way -lrb- over the first film -rrb- , most notably in a better , more serious screenplay .", "favreau throws in everything but the kitchen sink in his desperate effort to meet stratospheric expectations , and the result is too much of a so-so thing .", "bent on escapism and content to stay on the surface of the issues it presents , it at least does its best to give that surface a pleasing , gleaming polish .", "typical popcorn film , except for the huge budget .", "that rarest of the rara avis , a sequel that 's better than the original .", "there 's enough downey and copious amounts of attendant razzle dazzle in this overstuffed sequel to make for a cautious recommendation .", "MOV works quite well , in fits and starts to be sure , but its a fine piece of entertainment .", "but this go-again , penned by multi-threat justin theroux -lrb- `` tropic thunder '' -rrb- , gets a b for bland due to a frequently leaden screenplay , rock - 'em - sock - 'em mayhem -lrb- is this another `` transformers '' movie ? -rrb- and an underwhelming villain -lrb- mickey rourke -rrb- , who looks", "director jon favreau 's light touch and robert downey jr. 's gift with a wisecrack continue to make this superhero franchise good , noisy fun .", "it is all very-very-very entertaining .", "talky , curiously depressing for most of its running-time , weighed down by too many heroes and an army of uninteresting villains , and messily prosaic in the big action moments , ` MOV ' suggests that this franchise is already running on fumes .", "... even without the shock of the new on its side , MOV works as a blast of pure confidence and charisma ...", "the movie could have easily been undone by its own overambition , but MOV prevails as the light and fun summer blockbuster we were all expecting .", "often playing like it has been jury-rigged from bits and pieces of a longer , smarter movie , MOV seems chiefly intended as a placeholder for its next dozen or so sequels .", "like its predecessor , MOV is a fine example of how impressive big budget studio filmmaking can be when it 's done right .", "it 's good enough to keep the fans happy , but no more . nothing i say will deter teenage boys who want to see it , but if you go with them , take ear plugs .", "it will be a hit . but it should have been a whole lot better .", "twitchy , talky , muscly robert downey jr strengthens his grip on the role that made him a player in this spectacularly efficient and efficiently spectacular sequel to iron man .", "it falls short of its predecessor and is therefore a disappointment but what it lacks in grit and darkness it makes up for in fun .", "this supposedly iron clad sequel is only fit to rust in the superhero scrap yard .", "despite a rollicking opening half hour that leaves you wondering whether you 're about to watch the sf film of the year , the movie is unable to deliver on the promise of its set-up .", "click to read the full review at movies for the masses", "at times it is hard to decipher what 's what and who 's who , and the storyline does venture into boring town , but the explosive action and comic relief make it watchable .", "it 's not that story conflicts are n't desired but here , with so many problems -- some more implausible than others -- this iron man becomes a victim of its own heavy metal . yet downey still soars .", "this may not be quite as good as the original , it does n't actually need to be over two hours long , you could avoid the sag in the middle with judicious editing of the screenplay by justin theroux . but there 's still a lot of joy to be had here .", "MOV is as good as the 2008 original and may be even better .", "entertaining ... but long stretches of the movie are more fizzle than sizzle .", "the best part of MOV is gwyneth paltrow , and not just because of her energy and wit , or even her chemistry with the leading man . she 's also the film 's beating heart .", "a problematic yet still quite entertaining sequel", "everything fun and terrific about iron man , a mere two years ago , has vanished with its sequel . in its place , MOV has substituted noise , confusion , multiple villains , irrelevant stunts and misguided story lines .", "the inevitable iron man 3 needs a better screenplay than this .", "it concentrates on being lighter , more fleet-footed and more consistent than its predecessor .", "many people will probably not find this one up to par with the fun of the original , but personally , i ended up having more fun with this movie , so while i gave the original a mild recommendation , i can give this one a slightly stronger one .", "MOV rocks . it does so literally and loudly , thanks to lots of licks interspersed through the soundtrack from metal mavens ac/dc . no slow spots . no sequel let down .", "successfully fits the summer blockbuster mold , but holds out just enough surprises to make it a worthwhile diversion", "rourke puts a human face , albeit a bashed one , on comic book villainy .", "fans of the comic book might well be satisfied . anyone else will find moments here - it certainly looks cool - but might , like me , leave the cinema feeling a little undernourished .", "fails to resolve the fascist implications of stark 's claim to have ` privatized world peace ' ; here , stark 's human and machine sides correlate to klaatu and gort in ` the day the earth stood still , ' who demanded the world accept a robot police force ...", "the over-hyped jon favreau movie , `` MOV , '' is a downer and a disappointment , especially when compared to the entertaining first movie that came before it .", "recognizes and repeats a lot of the things that made the original great , but also falls victim to many of the pitfalls of past superhero sequels .", "not a bad followup to the original iron man . good performances and plenty of first-rate action . MOV is great fun . paul chambers , cnn .", "i can not imagine that anyone intimately involved with the making of MOV would ever , on their own dime and their own time , ever go to see a movie like MOV .", "a republican fantasy of big guns , cool gadgets , fast cars , non-threatening women to objectify and the corpses of cold war bogeys propped up like ideological scarecrows .", "rusty first act ca n't slow MOV .", "aesthetically , ` MOV ' is a polished flick . plot wise , it 's almost as bad as ` catwoman . '", "-lrb- ... -rrb- um pouco frustrante que o roteiro sinta a necessidade de tornar o protagonista um pouco mais atormentado nesta continua\u0437\u0433o , j\u0431 que o filme realmente ganha vida quando o sujeito se entrega ao narcisismo , \u0430 irrever\u043ancia e ao sarcasmo .", "robert downey , jr. reprises his role as the genius , billionaire inventor with a superhero alter ego .", "MOV injects more heroes and villains without losing sight of what made its predecessor a surprise smash hit in 2008 .", "a sequel that more than matches the original 's impact .", "though not as turbo-charged as the original , it 's funnier and less politically off-putting .", "MOV is a great way to kick off the 2010 summer movie season .", "it does n't come close to the emotional heft of those two rare 2s that outclassed their ones : superman 2 and spider-man 2 . but MOV hums along quite nicely .", "-lsb- director -rsb- favreau pleases with yet another solid exploration in to iron man 's universe ...", "MOV feels less like a proper sequel and more like an extended , very expensive infomercial for marvel 's future superhero movie slate .", "to find a comic-book hero who does n't agonize over his supergifts , and would defend his constitutional right to get a kick out of them , is frankly a relief .", "it 's a solid blockbuster with a few faults that you just do n't mind overlooking .", "even in the face of this dazzling ensemble and deeper budgetary pockets , favreau keeps his wits about him , embarking on a snappy second round agreeably mindful of what clicked before .", "this sequel was an improvement in many ways . i preferred don cheadle as tony 's friend rhodey , the two seemed to have a better rapport , and mickey rourke just ca n't be beat as a villain", "like so many sequels based on a rich and abundant source material with rabid fanboys to please , MOV bites off a bit more than it can convincingly chew .", "we soon realize that fight scenes involving faceless actors in big titanium battle suits sound like nothing so much as a multi-kettle kitchen accident .", "both the movie franchise and tony stark the alter ego are more self indulgent than putting your picture on a restaurant wall after downing a 5-lb . bacon cheese burger , then getting that burger named after you . and naming it awesome .", "this one may provide some temporary thrills but they are empty ones that will largely be forgotten within a couple of days .", "this is the very definition of slam-bang entertainment , beating one over the head with as much potential amusement as possible until they surrender with a stunned if satisfied popcorn smile .", "downey 's head and heart are in the right place , but the movie is more in pieces than whole , and more about iron than about men .", "the movie is fun , but not as much fun as it could be because it feels like it 's so busy enjoying its own cleverness it does n't even need an audience .", "it 's a rush , but it 's more like taxiing than take-off .", "this mega-mecha melee manages to give short shrift to both the airborne action set-pieces that define iron man 's zoomy panache and incoming supervillain whiplash .", "parental content review -lrb- all the details you need to know -rrb-", "it 's the tenuous chinks in stark 's personal armor ... as well as downey 's captivatingly honest examinations of his character 's inherent flaws , that permit the actor , and not the effects , to carry the drama", "not better but pretty good nonetheless .", "all of the charm and romance of the original has been ironed out by excess .", "tony stark is dick cheney 's foreign policy driven by grover norquist 's fiscal policy , sold to the public by ari gold . very confusing .", "you wo n't find a more overqualified cast this year . then out come the cgi effects and everything becomes a yawn .", "MOV suffers from typical sequelitis . it bites off more than it can chew and feels drowsy as a result .", "a mild improvement over its lackluster predecessor ...", "sometimes simple is better . the original thrived on few integral characters and a world-wise approach to storytelling . this feature seems to think action is more important than story and an overabundance of characters is a necessity .", "don cheadle , samuel l. jackson , scarlett johansson , sam rockwell and again gwyneth paltrow are gladly on hand , but only robert downey jr. can so comfortably guide us through the conspicuous outlay .", "take all twelve plots , set your ipod on shuffle , and watch as the franchise deteriorates into a shallow pool of half-baked ideas and detached snark .", "downey 's stark was a human hero . but the dude in `` MOV '' has gone superhero and the synthetic construction does n't offer the same fullness of character it once did . still ...", "downey jr. makes it all worthwhile .", "the substance of the original iron man , the brain and the soul that set it apart from the typical seasonal fare and made it one of the best films of 2008 , also have been blown to bits ." ], "summary": "it is n't quite the breath of fresh air that iron man was , but this sequel comes close with solid performances and an action-packed plot .", "id": "770800493" }, { "movie": "the_last_waltz_2002", "reviews": [ "for all the superstars who appear on stage in this landmark rock-umentary , it is the offstage interviews that really star . the camera is a fly on the wall ... . each time we return to the stage after hearing what the band members have to say , scorsese wants t", "a brilliant dvd does justice to the greatest rock-and-roll film of all time .", "the greatest rock concert movie ever made -- and maybe the best rock movie , period .", "scorsese actually scripted and storyboarded the film ... remarkably , the performances show no signs of being reined in or rehearsed . in fact , as scorsese 's cameras swirl around the musicians , all we see is joy and high spirits .", "MOV is our best insight to a moment when the giants of the previous decade raged against time , in the shadow of an age that changed them all inalterably .", "martin scorsese 's giddiest , most euphoric film .", "this classic is one of the most well realized and musically satisfying rock movies ever made .", "... exposes the spuriousness of cameron crowe 's almost famous once and for all .", "the result is one of the best concert films in rock music history .", "... no mere loud rock concert . it 's a work of art . ... a celebration rather than a farewell , and scorsese 's direction always puts the music first .", "the rock documentary by which all others are measured", "there is a dazzling array of talent on display here , and the film surely has its memorable moments . but it articulates so little of the end-of-an-era feeling it hints at .", "it 's arguably the most beautiful of rock movies , while the musical highlights - ` the weight ' with the staples singers , van morrison 's firebolt ` caravan ' , every levon helm vocal - still astound .", "overlong but enjoyable documentary ...", "the filmmaking is superbly controlled yet spontaneously alive .", "with all the powder that 's said to have been tooted at the band 's 1976 `` farewell '' show , filmed by martin scorsese in his goodfella-against-the-helicopters period , you could make a line from oak street cinema all the way to the mayor 's office .", "a heady time capsule .", "an essential document of american music at its unbeatable best .", "it might be the best concert film of all time .", "this 1978 labour of love , one of the most immaculately filmed rock concerts , preserves for posterity the final appearance of the band , the great group led by robbie robertson that had been on the road -lrb- often with bob dylan -rrb- for 16 years .", "it reinvigorates and refreshes while giving the audience a microphone 's - eye-view of legendary rockers .", "a mesmerizing time capsule that captures the voice of the '60s counterculture at the very moment it was about to pass from the center stage of american life .", "an unusually dignified portrait of rock excess .", "this is one of the great movie experiences .", "still sounds powerful , vibrant , imaginative and adventurous .", "seeing MOV again after many years is like revisiting an old passion and realizing the heat is still there .", "MOV seems more than ever an act of musical mourning .", "it 's a joy to hear again the scruffy , rough-hewn music of the band .", "a revealing document of a time .", "compared to the sort of mindless ego-massages and jump-cut filled exercises that would follow in its concert film wake , it still stands alone .", "still matters and still moves ; it even serves to wash away two decades ' worth of bad vibes .", "-lsb- gathers -rsb- so much talent into one theater that the stage buckles and the subject drops out of sight .", "leave your inhibitions in the daylight -- MOV will make you want to sing and dance .", "the boys in the band were the real stars of the show , and seeing MOV again is to remember just how versatile they were .", "not just perhaps the greatest concert film ever made , but one of the best films ever made , period ." ], "summary": "among one of , if not the best rock movie ever made , MOV is a revealing , electrifying view of the classic band at their height .", "id": "120399668" }, { "movie": "gueros", "reviews": [ "more than perhaps any other country , mexico has lobbed some real cinematic intelligence onto the world stage in recent years . `` g\u00fceros '' continues that salutary tradition .", "there 's no reverie alonso ruizpalacios 's g\u00fceros ca n't shatter , no presumed truth it ca n't complicate , no expectation of closure it wo n't dash .", "every five minutes or so , ruizpalacios comes up with something strikingly expressionistic .", "even if g\u00fceros does n't entirely work , it feels worthy : a film made independently and without interference whose reverence for the past thankfully does n't result in too much solemnity or seriousness .", "as a whole , MOV does not hang together at all . but its pieces are intriguing enough to warrant a look for fans of stylish visual filmmaking .", "agreeable this film certainly is , but the shagginess never seems to take shape .", "great screenplay ; highly recommended . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "whimsical , mysterious and subtly tragic ...", "quite unique , nothing we have seen before in mexican cinema .", "`` g\u00fceros '' is like a flip-book history lesson , one that evokes the pain and comedy - the pop , the politics , the tedium and the momentousness - of a particular moment in the endless , cyclical chronicles of youth and disillusionment .", "a witty , emotionally authentic comedy/drama that heralds the arrival of a true filmmaking talent in first-time feature director alonso ruiz palacios .", "the film 's droll humor and unexpected twists go a long way towards sustaining audience interest , even if the film goes from homage into self-conscious parody territory several times ,", "one of the most enjoyable mexican movies in recent memory . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a movie with a very particular tone , it really does its own thing . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a very well told story with lots of memorable dialogue . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "g\u00fceros is more than a movie , it 's an event . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "handsomely shot by damian garcia in full-frame black-and-white , g\u00fceros is at times both painfully arty and arbitrarily plotted .", "as self-aware black-and-white , nouvelle-vague-tribute fever dreams go , g\u00fceros is surprisingly beautiful , inventive and convincing .", "`` g\u00fceros '' is brutal , ironic , madcap , and grim .", "palacios deftly navigates the landscape , seamlessly switching tones , moods and paces , rendering MOV a film full of rich emotions , raw settings , and a unique portrait of youth in rebellion .", "... shows the influence of the french new wave and fellini , even dipping into david lynch territory with its unique sound design", "ruizpalacios ' intention is to put on the spot the generations of our fathers , and their fathers , and their fathers ' fathers , saying they all had the same goal : to find our place in the world . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "by all indications , ruizpalacios still seems to be finding his voice , and yet this modest little movie does seem to have its finger on the pulse .", "prone to fits of playfulness and oddball poetry reminiscent of past no-budget greats , but it has its own specific shade of weird .", "g\u00fceros summarizes the spirit of freedom that fosters a poetic quest intermittently thanks to a script loaded of expectations -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the story is quite naive to fascinate the audience but it 's also quite brilliant to make us talk about it long after watching it . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "ruizpalacios debut is one of the best in mexican cinema in the past century .", "`` g\u00fceros '' is definitely a good mexican cinema 's bet , you have to go see it .", "even with its striking compositions and embrace of visual disorder , `` g\u00fceros '' gets hung up on its own cleverness .", "with `` g\u00fceros '' , alonso ruizpalacios , succeeds to find a place between artistic and commercial cinema .", "the film 's social commentary unspools quietly in the background while the narrative focuses on the ennui , free-floating anxiety , and inchoate longing for meaning experienced by two or three privileged young people from the middle - to upper-middle classes .", "it 's larky , and therefore likable , although the youthful spirit rarely deepens into anything beyond that .", "it 's never clear about what its intentions are , but it opens up a dialogue , something rare in movies these days . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "shot in glorious black-and-white , alonso ruiz palacios ' g\u00fceros follows the indie-slacker template to the letter , but it ultimately meanders too much for its own good .", "a unique , fresh and original masterpiece . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "risky , fresh , irreverent and visually clever . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it touches on real issues like student strikes and class disparity , but does so with whimsical flexibility and self-aware humor .", "it 's an utterly refreshing cinematic romp , oozing style , substance and grit .", "alive with personality and humor to spare .", "`` MOV '' is bound to frustrate conventional filmgoers looking for a more tangible story , as well as the art house audience unconsciously looking for the same stylistic indie product that has been cranked out for decades ." ], "summary": "a striking effort that synthesizes disparate influences with inventive flair , g\u00fceros marks a bold step forward for modern mexican cinema .", "id": "771376363" }, { "movie": "pontypool", "reviews": [ "tight as a drum and the most inventive spin on a zombie-plague premise in years .", "with any luck , it will develop the cult it deserves because while its urgency makes it an easy target , MOV 's new ideas are commendably gripping .", "as a horror fan , this high-minded talk radio of the living dead left me as cold as a MOV winter .", "MOV at least manages to amuse -lrb- a spur-of-the-moment on-air obituary is priceless -rrb- as well as consistently intrigue , right up to a bizarro post-credits epilogue that seems beamed in from sin city .", "a a genre-busting maverick of a movie , guarenteed to infuriate and astonish in equal numbers ... if you like your shocks laced with brain-teasing creepiness , MOV is the way to go .", "hemmed in by theatrically bound staging , `` MOV '' is an overly inflated zombie flick that makes overtures to a weighty theme of social consciousness that the screenwriters are ill-prepared to fulfill .", "think of this witty , economically gory little tour de force as 28 days later written by linguist noam chomsky .", "this is the sort of film that warrants a second viewing .", "` MOV ' succeeds where many a less intelligent , purely visceral-visual movie leaves us cold .", "mcdonald propels things at a velocity that keeps you watching long after it 's stopped making sense .", "in bruce mcdonald 's suitably weird zombie movie , the coin of the shock jock 's own realm -- language -- is the source of all the trouble .", "the latest evidence that you do n't need a lot of money to make an effectively chilling horror movie .", "a small canadian horror film that makes the most of its minuscule budget .", "a frightening little canadian chiller", "sometimes gets bogged down in its own weirdness , but a genuinely unique piece of horror filmmaking .", "the kind of heady independent horror that scares critics more than fans , starts with the cocksureness of talk radio and heads for the seismic territory of something like tracy letts 's psychomeltdown bug .", "the film works as a tour de force for mchattie -- a veteran character actor making the most of his character 's long , fluid monologues -- and as a sly commentary on journalistic responsibility .", "an utterly baffling and stunningly boring zombie horror thriller .", "it 's always an unexpected bonus in a zombie film to find the brains evident in the screenplay rather than splattered all over the scenery .", "mcdonald 's limiting the action to the radio studio induces claustrophobia and then devolves into staginess .", "as much about ideas as it is about generating scares , the film is an arresting linguistic mystery .", "inventive and genuinely suspenseful , this is a welcome addition to the expanding zombie/virus canon .", "an original take on genre movies of its kind .", "the judicious use of humour makes the fear seem all the more real .", "... ultimately undone by its increasingly outlandish premise ...", "for a while , this claustrophobic little horror movie is a dark little treat .", "it 's perfectly modulated horror of the imagination , \u0155 la orson welles ' adaptation of the war of the worlds , with potent ideas about what corrupts , inspires , subverts , and engages us .", "... most of the pleasures the movie offers are visceral , from the silken roar of character actor mchattie 's fm shock jock voice and the bloody meltdown of a production assistant to the bizarro epilogue appended to the credits .", "MOV loses what easily could have been a great story .", "big on atmos , low on incident , this claustrophobic chiller captures the hysteria of a town flailing on the frontline of disaster .", "however shrewdly contrived to keep its budget low , MOV , set almost entirely in a basement radio station , is a zombie flick sans bite .", "throws up so many freudian slips , mixed metaphors and free-associative leaps that in the end the main characters ' -lrb- and our own -rrb- grip on reality comes unstuck , and the unfolding apocalypse takes on a positively saussurean aspect .", "MOV is a gripping thriller , juiced up by macabre humor and intelligent social commentary .", "compellingly apocalyptic .", "an entertaining cerebral chiller .", "no mere make love not war mantra , while gritty and conceptually hard core , this is masterfully unbridled reality check get even gore targeting media propaganda in collusion with manipulative government agendas .", "riddled with nail-biting tension and scenes that are quite simply scary as hell , MOV as of now is on my best of list for 2009 .", "this unsettlingly quirky account of semiological breakdown and small-town apocalypse plays like my winnipeg for fans of intellectual horror . MOV is as astonishing as it is original , and amply repays multiple viewings .", "a winning combination of shuddery suspense and intelligent observations .", "alarmingly intelligent and deeply disorienting , MOV plays as a radically different film upon subsequent viewings , its metaphor-filled dialogue seeming to shift and alter in meaning with every scene .", "its a mighty strange beast , an intellectual b-movie that offers equal parts semiotics and projectile gore .", "if you 're a devotee of the deranged mind of canadian indie auteur bruce mcdonald , then i can just tell you that he 's made a horror movie -lrb- kind of -rrb- and that MOV is it .", "interesting zombie flick . a little too claustrophobic with all of the scenes in a makeshift radio station . too much description and not enough action , almost like war of the world 's radio broadcast . still , worth watching once . paul chambers , cnn .", "laurie anderson would be proud : language is a virus in -lsb- this -rsb- zombie -lrb- - esque -rrb- thriller set almost entirely within the walls of a basement radio station .", "this low-budget picture is a little too claustrophobic , and it grows tedious . the ominous , overbearing musical score tries but fails to jack up the tension .", "this year canada 's MOV ranks as high as any united states science fiction films i have seen .", "talk radio meets 28 days later . somehow MOV makes it work - if you do n't mind the lack of gore .", "... poses some interesting ethical issues on the responsibility of the media , but like many a stephen king novel -lrb- `` insomnia '' comes to mind -rrb- , solid characters and a great build are undone by a silly underlying premise .", "bruce mcdonald 's ingenious little horror playlet is more like a particularly claustrophobic episode of the original twilight zone , with flashes of absurdist humour .", "an immersive film built on inference and interrupted signals rather than cheap shock-jock tactics . but the question remains : why the hell did n't they call it dead air ?", "this cerebral horror movie plays scrabble with the genre 's cinematic lingo .", "i have to give kudos to mcdonald and burgess for refreshing the zombie genre in ways i never thought possible .", "what 's a zombie movie without zombies ? a dull zombie movie .", "there are dozens of zombie films worse than MOV and hardcore genre fans may find something to like , but casual aficionados of the undead should shuffle on .", "part of a new breed of highbrow ` concept ' horror that shrugs off and/or embraces the constraints of limited production means and instead picks at the nasty mental scabs of what truly unnerves , MOV has the twin advantages of a provocative prem", "a horror flick that 's all talk and -lrb- almost -rrb- no action ? the risk pays off better than you 'd think .", "wildly entertaining and inventive . it 's a clever and thrilling combination of horror and satire .", "MOV is a sinister symphony told in three distinct and very diverse macabre movements .", "gore fans hoping for buckets of blood will be disappointed ; thoughtful horror fans who appreciate that a truly scary movie is mostly in your head will love it .", "effective and spooky and definitely smarter than your average studio fare , MOV is an off-the-wall little offering that rewards viewers looking for something different .", "a film that wrings its terror not from gruesome imagery or sudden visual jolts but through a smart psychological rendering of our universal fear of the unknown .", "ignore the shaky tongue-tied opening fifteen minutes ; when MOV gets its words in order it reminds you how much creepy fun can be had in keeping the horror tantalisingly offscreen .", "if it was n't so boring , the dialogue would be a laugh a minute . the acting is so abominable that the cast is better off unmentioned .", "for a film about the perils of too much talk , there 's quite a lot of babbling presented as profundity .", "MOV is , in all senses , brain food -- and juicy .", "MOV is ultimately a testament to its frequently besieged director 's audacity and vision .", "in an era of generic horror films , this has enough ideas to stand out .", "while MOV is a thought-provoking and suspenseful film , some of the flaws will really take the audience out of the movie .", "it 's movies like MOV that give the term ` psychogical thriller ' a good connotation . all in all , destined to be one of the best indies of the year .", "blending elements of ` talk radio ' with '28 days , ' it 's not your usual zombie picture .", "mchattie and houle are terrific as the besieged duo .", "MOV is an absolute treat , thanks to an original , offbeat premise , a clever script , great direction and a terrific central performance .", "this is one of those little films that proves that you do n't need a blockbuster budget to make a high-concept movie . mcdonald and burgess create a mass-chaos apocalyptic thriller with essentially just three characters in a windowless room .", "a masterclass in building horror atmosphere . finally , it 's a zombie film with the one thing zombies have been crying out for all these years : brraaaiiinnnss .", "talky and claustrophobic , MOV is a mash-up of orson welles ' notorious the war of the worlds radio broadcast and george a. romero 's night of the living dead , with a tone and cast that 's reminiscent of john carpenter 's assault on precinct 13 .", "too much jaw , not enough gore .", "in its best moments the film offers an entertaining throwback to the seventies heyday of john carpenter and david cronenberg , when a creepy situation could be just as effective as a burst of stomach-churning special effects .", "bruce mcdonald directs a tiptop cast . tony burgess , scripting from his own novel , clearly saw the grand guignol potential in the computer virus , in the way great plagues can be planted in tiny units of understanding ." ], "summary": "witty and restrained but still taut and funny , this MOV is a different breed of low-budget zombie film .", "id": "770790948" }, { "movie": "amistad", "reviews": [ "MOV tells a compelling story and it tells it well .", "MOV succeds in delivering a powerful message while never being dull .", "spielberg nearly capsizes the story with his customary emotional overkil ... still , the story of cinque ... and the rest of the africans trying to get home is powerful .", "what is most valuable about MOV is the way it provides faces and names for its african characters , whom the movies so often make into faceless victims .", "thematically rich , impeccably crafted , and intellectually stimulating , the only area where this movie falls a little short is in its emotional impact .", "although not the grandiose epic it strives to be , MOV is still a good film , with solid , but not superb , acting , and competent , but not transcendent , direction .", "the jewish steven spielberg has now made two stirring films on black history and one on jewish history . if he can manage to reconcile tensions between those two communities he will be deserving of more than oscars .", "MOV is a solidly made film . it 's just no ... well , you know -lsb- schindler 's list -rsb- .", "despite some unevenness it is a good show indeed .", "spielberg is the master of telling a visual story , and here he is in top form .", "aiming to instruct and entertain , and often struggling to reconcile these goals , MOV lacks the subtlety of tone and simplicity of form that made schindler 's list one of spielberg 's very best ; here , however , every idea and image are too explicit .", "MOV is worth seeing just for people to know about this important story , this moment in history . but from the world 's most powerful , successful and famous director , we expect more .", "in short , a wordy courtroom drama which seldom progresses beyond ciphers , stereotypes and salutary slogans .", "powerful story for mid-teens and up .", "as with schindler 's list , spielberg allows his subjects to be remote and somewhat unknowable human beings , creating an air of documentary-like authenticity .", "this is the most straightforward , understated , and powerful big-screen representation of the gospel in recent movie history . and for that , MOV should be recommended to everyone .", "MOV is the telling of an interesting event in american history , but does n't draw its audience in to the heart of the story .", "fortunately , the dry , courtroom banter is interjected with powerful accounts of the violent , inhumane atrocities inflicted on the slaves by spanish merchants .", "just when you thought you had seen the best movie there is about a historic seagoing vessel , along comes MOV .", "MOV is the kind of movie that makes a tired topic seem fresh and entertaining again .", "this is as stark and unsentimental -- in other words , the most unspielbergian -- a film as i 've seen in a long time .", "MOV is a good , but not great film .", "-lsb- spielberg 's -rsb- cold calculation does n't work well with the hot injustice of slavery . MOV would have been a better film from someone less thoughtful and more emotional ...", "MOV is a picture you will not want to forego .", "steven spielberg 's MOV is a potent , finely crafted drama that explores -- better than any film to date -- the injustices and horror of slavery and the seeds of american civil rights legislation .", "spielberg errs on the side of right and moral decency , and as a cinematic essay on a subject of universal validity plus eternal currency , it deserves -- and justifies -- genuine praise both as entertainment and as history lesson .", "MOV is prestige filmmaking bereft of inspiration -- sometimes even of the nuts and bolts of craft .", "MOV is an excellent story , poorly told .", "however imperfectly , -lsb- speilberg -rsb- has crafted another eloquent reminder that although goodness lives with a perpetual sense of weariness in its battle with the self-renewing power of evil , it can never retreat , never sleep .", "MOV is educational , powerful , and intriguing throughout .", "good-to-middling courtroom drama , period playacting , and civics lesson , animated by perhaps two oscar-noteworthy performances .", "spielberg seems to be dividing his filmmaking output into two distinct halves : in the summer months cranking out no-brainer dinosaur flicks ... in the winter season unveiling his serious artistic stuff to edify the adults and woo the oscar crowd .", "the essential commitment to freedom is so much a part of the story that , at least in this one brief moment , justice triumphed .", "falta alma ao filme .", "despite its occasional imperfections ... MOV must be regarded as a monumentally impressive achievement and further proof of spielberg 's ongoing maturation as an artist .", "in MOV , an admirable but disappointing effort ... -lsb- speilberg -rsb- veers between stoic political correctness and mushy hollywood platitudes .", "steven spielberg 's engaging , heartfelt and well-made drama delves into a critical incident in the history of slavery in america .", "spielberg 's films never lack a certain degree of narrative and visual force , but his tendency toward sentimentality , a strictly antipodal , good-vs . - bad conception of character , and an insensitivity to structure have consistently marred his work ...", "the best parts of MOV are those that simply bring their pride , fear and outrage to life .", "as spielberg vehicles go , MOV -- part mystery , action thriller , courtroom drama , even culture-clash comedy -- lands between the disturbing lyricism of schindler 's list and the storybook artificiality of the color purple .", "despite its many shortcomings , MOV has the energy and earnestness of most spielberg pictures .", "halfway into MOV comes the point where steven spielberg pulls the lever , and the stink and horror and bestialities of slavery spill around our ankles . we ca n't look away .", "the whole historical untouchability of a very important film & the incredibly dry nature of the facts was what made this production a lose-lose proposition for spielberg .", "celebrates the holy grail of freedom and how the quest for justice is supported by the spirits of ancestors .", "while the africans -lsb- in MOV -rsb- are tremendously sympathetic , the film maintains a distance from them , granting emotional access instead to the well-intentioned white guys .", "dry and dawdling , haphazardly structured , and grindingly obvious .", "steven spielberg shows the same kind of fire and passion he did in directing schindler 's list as the horror of slavery is laid bare in the crucible of the courtroom .", "MOV is an earnest examination of one race 's fight for their rights and their freedom .", "brief moments of visceral fire allow glimpses into the rousing movie this could have been .", "spielberg 's considerable talent is not quite enough to unearth it", "scenes go on and on in endless , witless dialogue , ever accompanied by john williams ' hideously gushing music .", "strip it of its historical trappings , and MOV is really just another courtroom drama -- a particularly manipulative one to boot .", "a true MOV movie should be a highly emotional tale about the courage and will of the africans themselves not the american-centered courtroom drama that spielberg has made .", "MOV is a maddening film because it comes so close to greatness ." ], "summary": "heartfelt without resorting to preachiness , MOV tells an important story with engaging sensitivity and absorbing skill .", "id": "13122" }, { "movie": "maze_runner_the_scorch_trials", "reviews": [ "this is n't anywhere strong enough to make you forget the hunger games series .", "wo n't win any awards for originality , but it carries the familiar adventure along efficiently , generating sufficient excitement to keep one from dreading the next chapter .", "it 's exhausting , yet emotionally unengaging .", "none of these characters receives enough screen time to develop relationships with us or each other .", "this middle chapter can not quite escape the feeling that it is pre-finale filler .", "action overflows , some of it neatly staged but none of it telling us anything beyond `` go ! go ! go ! run ! run ! run ! '' stay home , stay home .", "this is supremely silly stuff , and overall a much lesser version of teens versus the titans of post-apocalypse industry -- a copy of a copy of a copy .", "the young leads lack charisma , and the veteran supporting players seem to be phoning it in .", "after an hour and a half of mechanical 10-minute action cycles that start with , `` maybe we 're safe now , for the moment , '' and end with `` aaaah ! run ! '' the pattern gets as wearying as the level of emotional brutality .", "the material may be cardboard , but the actors do what they can .", "an efficient yet uninspiring sequel to last year 's successful young adult novel adaptation the maze runner .", "lacks a ... sense of originality and urgency , undercut by overly familiar characterizations and dilatory pacing .", "the scorch trials is n't nearly as original or groundbreaking as the maze runner was .", "you 'll have to go a long way to find a better film coming out this year in this over-crowded genre .", "the plot is a junior jumble of hack mysteries and largely unremarkable characters , but the experience of watching it unfold is so downright electric that you never quite give a damn .", "the teen dystopian franchise continues to play rough , and now even rougher , with satisfying results .", "this one is a lean , mean look at a dystopian future run by an evil entity with noble intentions . those are , of course , the worst kind .", "the specific details about ` the scorch trials ' world , its protagonist 's backstory , and its david-vs . - goliath plot are of little actual consequence .", "fresh . barely . better than the original but there 's very little fire and what does burn is n't that original . maybe that 's why the scorch title is such a perfect fit .", "with minimal plot development and far too much running around in dark corridors , the scorch trials has a poor story : filler ratio . and much of what happens is poorly thought-out .", "the dumber games ? derivative and unintelligent .", "genre fare of this kind can prove satisfying if made by people who understand that there 's really no excuse for screwing up a movie with abandoned cityscapes , secret armed rebellions and screeching zombie-things .", "dystopian sequel has lots of thrills , violence .", "it 's not anything groundbreaking in the young adult genre , but these films make the questions tangibly teenage and an absolute blast to watch .", "the world is bigger , the stakes are higher and there 's a lot more to sink your teeth into .", "overall , this is a worthy addition to what is shaping as one of the better youth-centric series of its kind .", "these maze runner movies do n't eff around .", "ball makes assured use of the wide screen : much of the film 's interest lies in the different types of terrain covered , from cramped corridors and air vents to barren desert to a ruined city that might have been designed by m. c. escher .", "maze runner : the scorch trials is a movie that combines the weaknesses of the book it burst forth from with a whole new set of problems of its own .", "rather than maze runner 2 : we 're gon na need a bigger maze , scorch trials ambitiously opens up its world with mixed results : gripping action , so-so script .", "director wes ball returns for the follow-up , delivering a slicker and more confident product , full of grander set-pieces and tougher themes .", "pushing the ya franchise even further into sci fi b movie territory , maze runner : the scorch trials is blatantly derivative but enjoyably silly throughout .", "nicely dark , doomy and creepy , more graphically violent than the first film , and more grown-up .", "this polished sequel lacks the forward momentum of its predecessor and ends up running in place .", "the latest ` maze runner ' movie succeeds well enough as derivative survival-horror-action thrillers go , but makes for an unsatisfying , confusing sequel .", "this story was better off back in the maze .", "the sequel is terrible and all my original criticisms for the first film still stand , but at least it 's a more entertaining kind of awful .", "just a prolonged series of mediocre action scenes cobbled together . -lrb- full content review - sex , violence , profanity , etc. - for parents also available -rrb-", "it 's still exciting and well produced , but it 's not as compelling .", "none of the virtues of the first installment are here , except the charisma of their protagonists . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "setting its sights firmly on taking the best ya film series crown once ` the hunger games ' ends , `` the scorch trials '' is another exciting entry in a thrilling saga .", "there 's no flare of strangeness or freshness here , just a pile of images and ideas stolen from smarter people 's second-hand bin banged into each other for a numbingly dull 132 minutes .", "i do n't think this movie could have stood up to the behemoths of summer , but in mid-september , surrounded by cinema 's semi-annual stink bombs , it does n't look half bad .", "more video game than story , raising questions that are more `` how does this make sense ? '' than `` looking forward to the answers in part three ! ''", "the scorch trials has an impressive level of intensity thanks to some effective action set pieces .", "a ca n't miss for fans , confusing for newcomers , and exciting for those looking for more than just another teen survival movie . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "with so many high-octane thrills , fans will be left breathless ahead of the final leg of the journey , the death cure , due out in 2017 .", "the movie lacks emotion ; it needs that `` epic '' feeling this type of movie should have . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "an agile , captivating story with great action scenes and twists around every corner . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "a good transition movie that does n't deliver the same punch as the original . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "an exciting adventure with a charismatic cast that makes you care about the characters . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "working with a bigger budget this time , returning director wes ball pumps up the action , delivering exhilarating sequences of flight and fight .", "packed with high-quality action and superb direction by wes ball -lrb- who did the first maze -rrb- , the film does not feature any of the plot potholes , infuriating inconsistencies or maddening logical leaps that riddle its rival dystopian franchises .", "the latest maze runner is n't a patch on its near cousins , the hunger games and insurgent .", "the only slightly original element of the first film - the maze - is gone , and now we 're in not simply a generic afterscape butevery sci-fi afterscape .", "the film rushes around thereafter in 3d thriller-chase mode in devastated cities , melted to lumps of concrete and twisted metal , and desert landscapes .", "by about halfway i had stopped counting the cliches , tropes and derivative lifts because there were just too many and it was starting to distract me from the thready story .", "a sand-castle of a movie .", "this is solid , grittily effective stuff ...", "a better sequel than expected , even if its mid-series stakes never truly seem serious .", "it 's only recommended for those who have seen the first film and plan on seeing the third , but as middle instalments go this is an entertaining one that 's all the better for being unfaithful to the book .", "the universe created in the scorch trials is full of nonsensical and unsurprising revelations . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's unlikely the scorch trials will be remembered long into the future or make as much of an impact as the hunger games has , but it makes for a fun ride .", "this film is making a wheezing , spluttering sound : the sound of a profitable ya franchise running out of steam .", "a well paced movie with non-stop action that really makes you care about its characters . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "the scorch trials maintains the semi-successful bar of intriguing movie escapism set by the maze runner .", "when the young fans start watching more movies , they 'll recognize all the things the scorch trials rips off .", "the second maze runner is an entertaining action-adventure that not only stands on its own , but surpasses the more limited rewards of the first film .", "scorch at least feels more like a feature-length film than the maze runner , which played like a sizzle reel for another film that would eventually follow it . it does n't shed all the problems of that prior installment , but it 's a start .", "the scorch trials is at the very least and entertaining film , and sometimes that 's all you need it to be .", "unlike the second hunger games movie , which largely felt like retread , the latest maze runner opens up its world and actually contextualizes the motive behind the bad guys .", "derivative , dystopian sequel , ending with a formulaic cliffhanger .", "the scorch trials is trying to pack a lot into its running time but it still feels like a bridge between two better movies .", "for all the running that goes on in `` the scorch trials , '' the continuation is strangely inert .", "not only a massive step up in every way it 's also the best ya genre adaptation since beautiful creatures . hopefully audiences do n't screw up and avoid this one too .", "the scorch trials wanders between ya cliches - there 's a resistance , but it 's unclear what they 're resisting - and zombie movie tropes , with the obligatory a zombie bit our friend scene .", "this has moderate work from the youthful stars and rather more scary stuff than part 1 , and yet it all feels unfocused , protracted and somewhat less than exciting .", "director wes ball 's film is a mad dash from one place to the next , with little time in between for rest , recuperation or plot development .", "just throws together a bunch of overused post-apocalyptic elements and careens haphazardly from one to the next .", "o'brien is so fully , physically committed that you ca n't help but believe in him , and he 's surrounded by a winning supporting cast of young actors who are a pleasure to watch .", "yes , these `` trials '' go on too long . but they 're never dull , and the kids are always good company .", "utterly generic adventure features lots of running , with zombies thrown into the mix .", "end . end . please end . come on . enough . oh my god , i 'm going to have to live in this theater because this freakin ' movie has a running time of infinity .", "`` maze runner : the scorch trials '' crams in more lore , supporting characters , backstories and motivations to the extent that it becomes difficult to get a grasp on anything .", "this time around , the kids have been turned into wind-up figures whose only function - taking the title a tad too literally - is to run !", "aidan gillen works his sublimely suspicious swagger as the clearly untrustworthy janson , while patricia clarkson goes once again for ice queen , even in the midst of a battlefield .", "the action is strong but it lacks narrative and character intrigue although fans of the books by james dashner should be happy .", "whether or not you saw the first instalment of this latest young adult dystopian fantasy trilogy , it 's unlikely your understanding of what 's going on in this second offering will be enhanced or impeded .", "`` scorch trials '' works as filler and setup to the finale , nothing else . -lsb- full review in spanish", "essentially , the scorch trials makes up for the humdrum yapocalypse of its first half by going a little bonkers in its second .", "every set piece brings to mind an epcot center attraction built from borrowed parts , geared toward reinforcing the young audience 's belief that adults just do n't understand them .", "when the endless chases stop , it 's just another zombie movie .", "but with the grander scale , `` the scorch trials '' trades that intimate mystery for more bullets , explosions , and unfortunately more similarity with its ya peers .", "builds and enhances its world and characters impressively . new ties are created , surprising conflicts emerge . you 'll be invested enough for the final installment ,", "as we begin maze runner 2 : still runnin ' , these rapscallions have escaped the maze and they can finally stop running . but safety makes for a boring movie and running is the only thing they do well .", "dumbed-down science fiction", "maze runner : the scorch trials delivers more and bigger sci-fi action-adventure thrills than the original maze runner .", "if it sounds like there is n't an original thought in the scorch trials ' scripted head , you 're right . but at least you wo n't be smacking yourself in the head trying to figure out what 's going on .", "this sequel drops the maze and loses its identity . the mystery at the heart of the original is replaced with something far more generic here .", "the maze runner saga is not at the level of other ya adaptations like harry potter or hunger games , but it works as light entertainment . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "as derivative as the first movie .", "perhaps the next installment will actually provide the real thrills instead of postponing them .", "effective , quirky and even downright strange , this sequel overcomes a bumpy start to become a minor delight of the fall season .", "... it all feels like setup for part three , `` the death cure , '' due in february 2017 .", "after the rather lacklustre teen-dystopia adventure the maze runner , the action continues in this equally gimmicky sequel .", "sadly , the promise built up the first time around devolves into the typical dystopian vision , including bombed out cities , random zombie hordes , and a government cabal that ca n't decide whether to save mankind or doom them", "the movie may feel tonally consistent with the first , but it 's also overlong and thoroughly routine .", "maze runner 's action , suspense and twists give movie fans of all ages a chance to embrace their inner on-the-run teenager .", "director ball understands action and also casting .", "the first `` maze runner '' film was a wilderness saga refitted with robotic monsters . `` the scorch trials '' is a `` mad max '' film on foot .", "the many chases and ludicrous narrow escapes offer respectable doses of adrenaline .", "it can be cheesy and trite and predictable at times , but the sheer breakneck pace and frenetic energy of these trials are more than enough to whip the movie along the rails of a well-done , generic , teen-centric action flick .", "everything that worked in the first film -- the isolated locale , the details of a makeshift society , the aura of mystery -- is tossed aside here .", "resist the temptation to count the number of times people urge each other to `` go , go , go ! '' and `` come on ! '' it will only lead to grief .", "to wait a movie and a half for a big reveal and have it turn out to be a zombie plague is like waiting until march for your christmas present , and it turning out to be a three-pack of white hanes t-shirts ." ], "summary": "maze runner : the scorch trials is an action-packed sequel at the cost of story , urgency , and mystery that the original offered .", "id": "771390260" }, { "movie": "black_hawk_down", "reviews": [ "it is n't so much a yarn as an immersive experience , an attempt to convey the foot soldier 's viewpoint in the most primal and immediate manner possible .", "action is n't enough to propel this blessed-with-fine-timing war adventure into anything more than a high-testosterone snoozer .", "if it 's action you want -- action is what MOV has . once begun the combat never stops . but as for story telling and tying up loose ends -- MOV loses its battle .", "the script does n't provide background information about each of the 40-plus characters , and so the audience has no emotional connection with these beleaguered men .", "a stunning depiction of war . so much so that you have to keep reminding yourself that this is not a documentary .", "MOV is a good movie , to be sure , but its timing is better than the movie could ever be .", "MOV stands as one of the most gripping accounts of combat ever committed to celluloid .", "director ridley scott has done something very intelligent here . faced with a story that 's bound to challenge and confuse viewers , he has embraced the chaos .", "invokes a ferocious cin\u00e9ma-v\u00e9rit\u00e9 style to make us not only see , but also feel , the destructive power of modern warfare .", "this huge $ 90 million undertaking is a personal best for producer jerry bruckheimer , a triumph for scott and a war film of prodigious power .", "as an action movie , it is an exercise in excess , albeit one with a knockout color scheme .", "scott has a talent for creating a polished , photogenic vision of battle that still gets across the blood and guts of it all .", "the names and dates might not be 100-percent accurate , but this is as true a tale of soldiery as there ever was .", "ridley scott 's look at combat finds a simple , potent approach - it portrays earth-bound hell as both meaningless and uncompromisingly ferocious .", "one big shiny but empty bullet shell .", "scott and his cinematographer , slavomir idziak , take an already incredible true story and imbue it with a global view and an aesthetic sense that even the soldiers who were there did n't enjoy .", "suffers from all the same old war movie clich\u00e9 's -lsb- and -rsb- the same old character stereotypes ... thankfully , most of the cast is up to the job", "has the pointless verisimilitude of an expensively rendered computer simulation .", "the immediacy and realism of bhd is the key to its success , largely constructed through superior direction and a good cast , elements that ensure the viewer a harrowing yet enjoyable cinematic experience .", "the tools for making high-end action movies have never been put to better use than in MOV .", "MOV is a superb example of its genre .", "scott wins points for realism but the overall effect is like watching a two-hour version of the opening 30 minutes of saving private ryan .", "while the film succeeds as a visceral testament to all the servicemen who fought in mogadishu , particularly the nineteen who lost their lives , MOV is more punishing than anything else .", "bhd captures the adrenalized excitement of armed conflict ... and the horror of it .", "take away its timely guise of patriotism , and it 's a real horror show , more about murder than military prowess .", "MOV is a riveting action film . but as a cautionary tale about conflict , it is more vain than glorious .", "a riveting , incredibly detailed , semi-documentary-style re-enactment of a notorious 1993 incident in somalia .", "driven by scenes of gripping , unflinching battle , touched by the director 's talent for communicating through the colors he chooses .", "it 's certainly -lsb- scott 's -rsb- most athletic outing as a director and , save for the few chatty bits , among the strongest depictions of war in an era increasingly rich in such movies .", "MOV , for all its elegant copter views , has its heart on the ground and inside the men .", "MOV sees its job as putting us in the center of combat , and it never lets up . it remains visceral and raw until the very end , impressively so .", "superb from a technical sense but lacking somewhat in the all-important human element , ridley scott 's war film is riveting , disturbing and likely to stick with viewers long after seeing it .", "i can think of no other instance when a country at war has presented on its movie theater screens such an excruciating account of battle , or such a sobering one .", "MOV was never meant to be an easy film to watch , but it is an important one .", "as there is no character development , it is difficult to care about anybody in the story .", "... a film that needed to be made and needs to be seen .", "as with the real life operation , the movie was not very well thought out .", "one helluva war film .", "it 's a rather shrewd move to not develop the characters beyond the most limited degree ; the cold , wasteful machine-like quality to the destruction comes across all the better without forced melodrama .", "` MOV ' jerks you around , slaps the side of your head , and kicks your butt back up to keep moving on . -lsb- published 1-26-02 -rsb-", "war is inevitable , and often gruesome , but it also turns brave soldiers into heroes .", "-lsb- scott -rsb- does a reasonable job sketching the complicated and contradictory political context , but attempts to bring in the odd somali perspective are grossly inadequate .", "though visually awesome in its gritty portrayal of combat , the film is marred by lack of coherent or engaging story and distinguishable characters to anchor the tale .", "it would 've been nice to get to know a few of the men we 're meant to care about .", "ambitious , sumptuously-framed and frenetic , MOV occasionally errs on the confused , but is nonetheless a rare find of a war movie which dares to turn genre convention on its head .", "a good , intense war movie that falls short of being a great one : once the adrenaline wears off , you realize it 's as dramatically satisfying as an mre food ration .", "MOV superbly visualizes journalist-author mark bowden 's bestselling ` tale of modern war , ' detailing a u.s. military misadventure in the somalia of 1993 .", "the boldness of the firefight and scott 's ability to get us close to the action makes MOV an important war film .", "pulse-pounding , action piece .", "one hell of a ride . for better or for worse , it will leave you stunned and reeling .", "this is a story of brave men and heroes , self-sacrifice and honor under fire .", "a stark , gritty motion picture that is more interested in the details of the story than character-developing .", "scenes encapsulate thrills and adrenaline rushes but our lack of emotional investment in the characters leaves an empty , hollow feeling .", "whenever the battle stops for even a moment to focus on characters , just about every john wayne war movie cliche imaginable takes over .", "director ridley scott clearly wants this film to do one thing : drop the audience in the center of a massive , confusing and ultimately meaningless battlefield .", "a memorable paean to the human spirit .", "we 've seen most of this before in countless films , but scott finds something more than the sheer confusion of the celebrated normandy battle scene in saving private ryan -- he finds a coarse , hypnotic rhythm all his own .", "after a while , the movie begins to resonate in surprising ways .", "scott boils down the war film genre to its purest , most devastating essence .", "what is it that a film like this offers us in times like these ? understanding ? catharsis ? perspective ? the words seem irrelevant .", "a terrific ` trip ' movie that -- like private ryan -- plops us right in the middle of a harrowing combat situation , and forces us to ` experience ' it for ourselves , as if we were one of the jangled participants .", "the technical language , weaponry and pounding exchange of gunfire contributes to a gruesome realism without sensationalizing it .", "while certainly , at times , an entertaining action picture , those touting it as an oscar-worthy contender seemed more influenced by its timing than its quality .", "the action is so rivetingly orchestrated , the crazed chaos of it so palpable , that the movie sucks you in .", "compelling account of the 1993 battle of mogadishu .", "often moving , always gripping .", "is there an actual character in MOV ? the story stars a battalion of ` our boys , ' depicted only as stereotypes by screenwriter ken nolan .", "MOV , the unflinching depiction of the raid , is a noble victory .", "a non-stop buffet of patriotic carnage with enough enemy carcasses to plug a landfill .", "one of scott 's most accomplished pieces of direction .", "a vivid , gruesome depiction of a savage , bloody carnage .", "i am proud of those men , and i am grateful to the filmmakers for bringing this story to my attention .", "judging the film on what it is , rather than what it is not , i 'd have to say this is one of the best films of 2001 , and the best war movie since `` saving private ryan . ''", "the next worst thing to being there . that 's how real it feels .", "it represents a particularly limiting application of hard-bitten manly values to experiences that ca n't help but transcend them .", "in gladiator and hannibal , ridley scott gave us shrewd , witty entertainments ; this is macho obtuse posturing , puffed up with ersatz valour .", "whatever level of sympathy is evoked is not enough to counter balance the sheer resentment some of us might feel at this attempt to make commercial hay out of a huge military tragedy of our time .", "ridley scott 's directorial achievement is nothing short of awesome", "a studied composition in flying debris , fleeing crowds , and detached limbs .", "pow ! boom ! bang ! crash ! welcome to war , as envisioned by producer jerry bruckheimer , in which flash wins over substance every time .", "MOV is both brainless and punishing , worth taking in solely for being less entertaining than your usual bruckheimer dud .", "the battle/rescue is something people will be talking about for a long time .", "while visually commanding as a painstaking re-creation , it 's a major letdown as a motion picture .", "the definitive war movie for the post-vietnam generation .", "dramatically taught , crisply shot and vibrantly visualized , this film deserves a place in the war film pantheon .", "a raw war movie with little aim other than its obsessive urge to put you in the moment", "like one of the soldiers , we are plunked right into the middle of battle and it 's all we can do is to find a way out of the maze", "one of the best depictions of the outright lunacy inherent to battle i have ever seen .", "this is a movie that understands the american fighting man .", "it 's a heroic movie about an unheroic moment in american history .", "beautiful and harrowing , but , curiously , does not resonate", "incredible and horrifying to look at , but it stops short of mining the real-world situation in somalia for any meaning .", "-lsb- d -rsb- efinitely worth seeing for those amazing battle sequences .", "MOV , boasting the most authentic depiction of contemporary warfare ever filmed , belongs in a time capsule . it 's a classic .", "except for the opening 20 minutes of saving private ryan and the middle 45 of pearl harbor -- produced , like this film , by action overlord jerry bruckheimer -- no film has ever dropped us so convincingly into combat .", "MOV sends you away impressed , properly horrified and then thoughtful about the lessons ignored from the battle it exhaustively describes .", "scott keeps bringing home the shocks , using light and sound to underscore the visual tumult .", "MOV is all dazzling craft and no redeeming art ; it 's simultaneously a superb piece of filmmaking and a highly suspect film .", "MOV has a relentless force that makes character development almost beside the point .", "despite all the hard work by an army of craftsmen working on location in morocco , the film takes the easy way out , subsiding into a thing of technical challenges met rather than attempting to probe the events at a deeper level .", "makes you believe you are watching a documentary or live cnn war footage by one of those crazy reporters .", "what this film accomplished was show some 100 brave army rangers and elite delta force soldiers in action surrounded by about 5,000 heavily armed somalis ...", "director ridley scott and his team have recreated combat as realistically as any film ever .", "films like this are more useful than gung-ho capers like behind enemy lines . they help audiences understand and sympathize with the actual experiences of combat troops , instead of trivializing them into entertainments .", "it is really a long , expensive video game .", "a film of astonishing power .", "i imagine most people will find something to like in MOV , but i do n't know why they 'd want to be bothered with a picture that puts the audience through so much to give so little .", "everything in this movie looks great , right down to the actual ranger extras and real black hawk helicopters .", "a biased historical reconstruction of extreme physical peril .", "it 's just chaotic .", "it 's frightening and disorienting and amazing .", "the scenes of combat make MOV an experience that you wo n't be able to shake too easily .", "the somalians feel like props , something to be plugged at a shooting gallery .", "scott 's approach is so mired in convention that half of his images could have been lifted from war-story comic books of the 1950s .", "`` MOV '' ... merely tries to convey the feeling of inadvertent heroism , and in that area , it succeeds beautifully .", "scott 's tendency to trumpet his own significance keeps it from greatness , but it 's still better than jingoistic stuff like behind enemy lines .", "a beautifully filmed , scrupulously authentic but strangely evasive exercise in combat ultra-realism .", "viewers who wander into the theater looking for a good old-fashioned shoot - 'em - up will get a lot more than they bargained for : this is an emotionally draining experience along the lines of `` the killing fields '' and `` saving private ryan . ''", "it is a tale told by an idiot , full of sound and fury , signifying nothing .", "no war movie i have ever seen so vividly shows battle from differing perspectives .", "o filme acaba se resumindo a uma longa seq\u044c\u043ancia envolvendo trocas de tiros , explos\u0445es e mortes , sem se preocupar com o lado humano da trag\u0439dia .", "deja mucho que desear y muestra como su director ha optado , conforme avanza en edad , en cambiar la calidad de la historia por un exceso de violencia injustificada .", "limbs explode , guts spill and blood splatters in an endurance test that is numbing , but nothing new .", "although technically superb , this film left me exhausted , confused , and angry .", "MOV now becomes the gold standard for war films and i would have no problem with this flick being nominated or even winning best picture at the oscars .", "the movie seems at all times to be an honest , even-handed version of a terrible incident .", "a uniquely visceral and immersive cinematic experience that places the viewer in the warzone .", "MOV is beautiful in its ugliness , and sad in its beauty .", "moviegoers will undoubtedly leave the theater feeling pulverized , shell-shocked , and overwhelmed , but that 's precisely the point .", "the nobility and inspiration are in the action . it is in that sense a film very much in tune with america 's mood : practical , resolute , fierce .", "it gets top marks for the action ; zero marks for the message .", "it 's every bit as harrowing -- and also every bit as pointless and misguided -- as the botched military mission it depicts .", "look out , everybody : two of the most pandering , tactless filmmakers in hollywood history are now teaching us about honor among soldiers .", "long on action and short on sap , this retelling of 1993 's botched and bloody battle of mogadishu in somalia is patriotic yet honest .", "no doubt captures some of the horror and the chaos of the actual situation , but it makes for a loud , often confusing , and always bloody two and a half hours .", "like mr. scott 's g.i. jane but this time with an all-boy cast .", "a triumph of pure filmmaking , a pitiless , unrelenting , no-excuses war movie so thoroughly convincing it 's frequently difficult to believe it is a staged re-creation .", "far and away the action movie of the year .", "as a cinematic exercise it 's breathtakingly brilliant ; as drama , however , it 's not nearly so successful .", "a war movie so unflinching and so real there are scenes here and effects here that would make george s. patton wince .", "gunfire . lots of gunfire .", "pulsating and puissant , stripped of sentimentality , this bellicose blockbuster fixes america 's logo firmly on mogo .", "is it entertaining ? yes . is it interesting ? pretty much . is it redundant ? yes .", "remains consistently stimulating for its entire running time .", "director ridley scott is back with another very well-crafted , thoroughly entertaining film ... that only hints at what 's going on beneath the surface .", "something is lost in emotional power with a collective , almost abstract hero with whom one can not make eye contact in the way one does with single-hero narratives .", "neither a jingoistic exercise in military muscle -lrb- a la top gun -rrb- nor an existential parable about the futility of war -lrb- as in the thin red line -rrb- .", "while it 's based on fact , and it goes a long way to document the circumstances , the film is not about the incident as such . it 's about the men .", "what 's important here is the choreography and textures of modern warfare , the nuts and bolts of killing and dying ...", "this film made me sick . i mean that as the highest compliment .", "a first-rate war movie that presents its subject so horrifyingly well that it does n't need to probe or preach .", "intense , realistic battle sequences power this movie , magnifying the difficulty of the choice between valuing life and valuing war efficiency .", "it 's hard to walk out of this movie without feeling shaken .", "` the prettiest darn war movie you ever did see . '", "violent depiction of a risky rescue ; adults only .", "no film from the zeroes - hell , maybe ever - more forcefully imparted the horrors of war as thoroughly , coherently and hauntingly . even justified wars run rampant with monstrosities , and this showed just how critical camaraderie can be in conquering them .", "MOV '' is a precise vision of how little war has changed in spite of america 's high-tech equipment and extensive vocabulary of modern tactics .", "a relentless immersion in combat strikingly realized but none too pleasurable to sit through .", "a lean , mean war movie will astonish you with its stark realism and exhaust you with its intensity .", "i also do n't know how well this 2001 drama represents the events of october 3 and 4 , 1993 , though i can see that it represents them in a realist vein , referring to other war movies without becoming frivolous .", "MOV makes that point without preachment , in precise and pitiless imagery . and for that reason alone it takes its place on the very short list of the unforgettable movies about war and its ineradicable and immeasurable costs .", "it looks fantastic , not least because it boasts helicopter scenes to rival those of apocalypse now .", "a typically soulless bruckheimer film rife with the dazzling visual flourishes of a ridley scott film -- in essence , a movie that plays like a two-and-a-half hour television commercial for itself .", "while fine films like saving private ryan depict warfare at its worst , they do not depict warfare in modernity . i can not imagine a better representation of war , with all of its urban complexities , than MOV .", "action masters ridley scott and jerry bruckheimer prove that it is possible to extend the opening twenty minutes of saving private ryan to two full hours . now all they have to do is spend some of that time creating characters to care about .", "a gruesome , blood-spattered piece of work that captivates for a couple hours , then completely disappears ." ], "summary": "though it 's light on character development and cultural empathy , MOV is a visceral , pulse-pounding portrait of war , elevated by ridley scott 's superb technical skill .", "id": "12917" }, { "movie": "whats_eating_gilbert_grape", "reviews": [ "there is a warmth and wit and insightfulness here that brings the film significantly up a few notches from the usual fare on this subject , and the performances are all excellent .", "well-written -lrb- albeit a little too long -rrb- and competently acted .", "with an eccentric charm that falters only in a few places , the movie makes a strong statement against conformity and the franchising of america by celebrating a cast of characters and a storyline that do n't fit into a mold .", "small-town drama has big moments thanks to johnny depp , juliette lewis and a superb leonardo dicaprio .", "an overrated film . dicaprio gives a great performance as a mentally retarded boy . it 's so good , in fact , that 's it 's difficult to watch .", "a quirky study of altruism that it shows how love in a family context can be transformed and renewed again and again .", "hallstr\u00f6m 's finally struck a chord with the americans , though it 's much the same cocktail of whimsy and worry , the eccentric and the banal , that he 's been mixing all along .", "fine performances by all , with leonardo dicaprio a stand out .", "one of the best dramas ever . in a small town where nothing happens , every scene is an event as gilbert deals with life .", "particularly impressive are the sweet , weirdly idyllic tone of mr. hallstrom 's direction and johnny depp 's tender , disarming performance as the long-suffering gilbert grape .", "as a formula movie , it is a failure . as an interesting and likeable piece of offbeat filmmaking , it 's a very pleasant -- if modest -- success .", "a fantastic look at the anachronisms of small-town life and the myriad problems of coping with a go-nowhere existence .", "all tics , flailings , and full-open , drooling laughter , dicaprio seems to have captured the damaged heart and soul of arnie grape .", "there is a good idea for a movie hiding here , but halstrom has buried it beneath a load of charmless shtick .", "a story that could easily have been mishandled by making gilbert too sugary noble , but hedges and hallstrom create characters of depth and resonance .", "one of the most enchanting movies of the year .", "director lasse halstrom and cinematographer sven nykvist do their best to disguise the predictability with their own grace notes . but all the music in the world ca n't hide a tone this false .", "first , the good part . there is a 20 second clip of an architecturally interesting courthouse . the rest of the show is either boring or unbearably depressing .", "it 's expertly handled , well-written material that knows and understands its many different characters . there are moments in this film that cover the entire emotional spectrum , and not a second is wasted on insincere emotion , making it a real winner .", "the grapes are as authentic , and as flat-out weird , as any real family i know .", "dicaprio is perfect to the last twitch and squeal , and anyone who has ever spent time with mentally challenged kids will be hard-pressed to spot a flaw .", "swedish director lasse hallstrom and his fine cast have endowed the story with a good deal of behavioral truth and unstressed comedy .", "even if you have a taste as i do for movies about dysfunctional families , you may be a little put off by the grapes .", "suggests that the true heroes are those people who day by day must tend to misfits , and do so with love , tenacity and a determination not to go terminally sour in the process .", "depp is subtly winning as a man-child oblivious to his own pent-up rage . but the performance that will take your breath away is dicaprio 's .", "a challenging look at the ups and downs of family .", "quite wonderful character study , great acting turns by depp and dicaprio , among others .", "there is not much plot to speak of , but the film instead presents a moody , elegiac atmosphere of longing and desperation that is powerfully tangible ...", "it 's endearingly loopy without degenerating into a carnival tent show .", "it 's as fascinating to see dicaprio before he became a bona fide star as it is to watch depp at the very moment he cemented his reputation for coolness .", "hallstrom finds the right bittersweet tone for his dysfunctional family tale -lrb- and one of hollywood 's few films about obesity -rrb- , marvelously acted by johnny depp and particularly leonardo dicaprio in his second outing as a retarded adolescent .", "depp 's sincere , subtle performance is certainly a big reason for the movie 's success ..." ], "summary": "it 's sentimental and somewhat predictable , but those are small complaints , given the tender atmosphere and moving performances at the heart of what 's eating gilbert grape .", "id": "10139" }, { "movie": "1058516-street_fighter", "reviews": [ "ooof !!!!!", "... the film has been infused with a myriad of shamelessly over-the-top elements that inevitably become quite tough to take .", "even at eleven years old i could n't understand why this was so bad while the games were so incredible .", "the story of MOV is a mere trifle , but who cares ? the real problem is that ... the visceral impact is practically nil .", "campy video game-derived action-fest .", "far less captivating than the videogame that inspired it .", "in its noisy , pointless way , MOV does come close to the frenetic meandering of a video game scenario -- which is precisely the problem .", "julia -lrb- in his final role -rrb- hams it up shamelessly as the camp commandant , but not even his suave presence and throwaway quips can save this noisy , brainless mess .", "well , video game movies all do suck", "if you grew up playing MOV 2 , you must see this movie . if not , stay far , far away .", "a dreary , overstuffed hodgepodge of poorly edited martial arts sequences and often unintelligible dialogue .", "fun van damme silliness", "game over .", "bizarre , surreal , and ultimately less engaging than playing pong with a blind man ...", "offers an uneasy mix of off-the-wall farce and violent mayhem in its first half and then gives way to heavy-handed gunplay and a ridiculously high body count during its second half ." ], "summary": "though it offers mild entertainment through campy one-liners and the overacting of the late raul julia , MOV 's nonstop action sequences are not enough to make up for a predictable , uneven storyline .", "id": "11290" }, { "movie": "1084878-supernova", "reviews": [ "MOV meekly goes where other sci-fi flicks , such as alien , have gone before .", "avoid .", "hill disciples will no doubt find it a fascinating film .", "if the 20 minutes of deleted scenes on the dvd had been inserted back into the actual film , MOV would have been much better .", "one suspects that most of the people associated with this film will be filled with regret that they ever had anything to do with it .", "a half-baked science fiction rip-off that manages to be both excruciatingly simplistic and utterly incoherent at the same time", "the script probably got sucked into a black hole .", "it 's hard to watch MOV without recalling that wonderful israeli definition of a camel - a horse that 's been assembled by a committee .", "a super bore .", "a crash course from the start .", "light on originality and low on suspense .", "MOV , though predictable , is n't half bad .", "MOV is boring .", "a waste of time and talent .", "looks and moves like a film whose vital organs were yanked before shooting commenced .", "often , it can be argued that there 's the kernel of a good story buried somewhere in a bad screenplay . not here .", "a frankenstein monster , with more obvious story patches , post-dubbed exposition , and missing money shots than most straight-to-video fare .", "a mission that should have been aborted long ago .", "murky and dull .", "incredibly choppy .", "a decent enough thriller .", "fails on almost every level .", "MOV is so absolutely traditional that it voyages into the realm of idiocy .", "... a flatulent space bomb . there may not be air in outer space , but you can smell this one a galaxy away .", "goes nowhere and when it gets there , it 's not anywhere .", "honestly , though , what do you expect from a film with about a dozen writers and a director who had his name removed and replaced with a pseudonym ?", "one super mess !", "... a very derivative and extremely routine would-be sci-fi thriller . the direction moves like lead in water .", "surprisingly watchable , considering it was seemingly edited with a weed-whacker .", "` it 's a bomb ! ' dr. evers gasps when she first realizes the potential power of the alien force . any audience member will agree whole-heartedly .", "you can either get angry at having part of your night wasted , or you can heartily laugh and make fun of it on the drive home from the theater .", "this big budget mish-mash is almost unbelievably derivative and shockingly cheap looking .", "incomprehensible but blessedly brief .", "most reminiscent of certain old star trek episodes , the especially horny ones in which kirk spent most of his time in his quarters with some busty alien .", "appears headed for a deep-space rendezvous with audience indifference .", "a victim of sphere syndrome .", "this tepid trek makes saturn 3 look like 2001 .", "not a good movie by any stretch of the imagination .", "desarrolla pr\u00e1cticamente el mismo gui\u00f3n que otras realizaciones de ciencia ficci\u00f3n recientes", "as lost as the audience gets , no one in the auditorium can come close to the bewilderment exhibited by the cast .", "script goes MOV , black holes abound .", "a perfectly enjoyable sci-fi thriller .", "simple , but well paced ." ], "summary": "this is an insult to the sci-fi genre with no excitement and bad fx .", "id": "15140" }, { "movie": "deck_the_halls", "reviews": [ "watching `` MOV '' is like getting a lump of coal in your stocking . except receiving a lump of coal takes only seconds , while this awful movie goes on for an hour and a half .", "a few laughs are sprinkled in this equivalent of a lame sitcom holiday episode , but the broad comedy and treacly ending are unlikely to put anyone in the christmas spirit .", "in essence a title and release date in search of a movie , MOV is a lifeless , workmanlike comedy conceived to provide holiday shoppers an inoffensive respite from the mall .", "how come the talk-radio blowhards never bring movies like this up when they 're inveighing against the war on christmas ?", "got any kids who 've been naughty this year ? here 's their present .", "` my stupidity astounds me ! ' chortles danny devito in MOV , a line that pretty much sums up this tale of warring neighbours with very different ideas about celebrating christmas .", "not that we expect much from a holiday movie about neighbours competing over christmas lights -lrb- how familiar is that ? -rrb- , but john whitesell 's film is so lacking in any plausible plot that i squirmed in my seat throughout the entire duration of the screening", "this one follows the depressing pattern of surviving christmas and christmas with the kranks : enforced holiday cheer gives way to bilious hatred , then hollow forgiveness .", "deck the screenwriter , deck the director -- then go and deck your own halls .", "seems to have only been greenlit because producers know that families need pg-rated dreck to occupy the kiddies while mom is out shopping for christmas presents .", "caso voc\u05da seja diab\u05d9tico -lrb- a -rrb- , cuidado ao assistir a um natal brilhante , pois h\u05d1 um grande risco de vir a sofrer uma hiperglicemia provocada pelo excesso de \u05d1gua-com-a\u05d7\u05eacar .", "the lights go off pretty fast on this one .", "what 's plentiful are stupid pratfalls , obvious plotting , cozy homilies and a big helping of saccharine moralizing .", "it 's a holiday ritual : each year , american moviegoers get the misanthropically stupid , plastic-satire-of - a-plastic-society christmas comedy they deserve .", "there is something about the holiday season that brings lazy filmmakers to pitch meetings with frank capra knockoffs clutched in their sweaty paws .", "i love the christmas season , but there are times when i wish it would go away if only to save audiences from horrific experiences like this .", "as long as atrocious , fake-pine duds like this keep making their money back , there 's no such thing as a christmas that 's too commercial .", "filled with forced yuletide cheer and mixed messages about the true meaning of christmas , this loud and obnoxious holiday comedy boasts a fine cast and little else .", "i literally did not count a single laugh in the whole aimless schlep , except for the hucksters who made it , on their way to the bank .", "in the tradition of christmas with the kranks and jingle all the way comes MOV ; another christmas lump of coal sure to dampen the yuletide glee of anyone pumped for the holidays .", "MOV strains to be both naughty and nice with much clamor and not much conviction .", "the word ` comedy ' only applies loosely ; the laughs are strictly sporadic , and not even danny devito 's gruff appeal is enough to overcome the soulless cynicism at the heart of this paint-by-numbers exercise .", "the raw ingredients of this crass holiday comedy include an inept stab at home alone-style slapstick , sitcom-thin characters , a snickering attitude about tacky yuletide decorations and a good helping of smarmy sentimentality . merry christmas !", "a one-part mean-spirited , one-part saccharine , all-parts forgettable piece of fluff .", "so bad it almost makes me renounce christianity altogether .", "mr. broderick and mr. devito look tired and out of sorts , and you can hardly blame them , given the picture 's inept , curdled mixture of sappiness and crude humor .", "... MOV has a cute , if ho-ho-hum story , which makes it more like getting that nice sweater from grandma -- again .", "... a mirthless comedy with danny devito and matthew broderick as warring neighbors , can be described as whatever is the opposite of a christmas classic .", "ok , yes , i laughed . i 've seen so many awful movies this year that i think i 'm punch-drunk .", "looking for some early holiday cheer ? look at anything but MOV .", "what 's interesting about typical hollywood christmas movies is that regardless of how crass , vulgar , or mean-spirited they may be , by the last scene they will inevitably try to wrap viewers in a blanket of warm seasonal cheer .", "even the most dimwitted of kids will see through this poorly made mishmash of every other holiday film .", "banal", "a bit too faux-humbug for me", "laden with false climaxes , the overstuffed plot leaves you exhausted well before the movie ends , and the amiable actors sleepwalk through their uninspired roles .", "when matthew broderick and danny devito team up for a comedy that ca n't even deliver one well-oiled joke , that 's a big problem .", "the gags land like lumps of coal , but at least the unnatural mounds of fluffy white snow remain unsullied in the dreck .", "makes us miss those home alone days ...", "the distasteful formula is even more sour and ham-handed than usual ; broderick 's and devito 's natural likeability never stands a chance .", "ah , another lifeless comedy for the holidays . it 's just super to be reminded how mean-spirited and grotesquely commercial the christmas season can be , is n't it ?", "it 's not horrible , but every sight gag and ` real meaning of christmas ' speech has been seen and heard before , and it steals gratuitously from chevy chase 's masterpiece national lampoon 's christmas vacation .", "after seeing the trailers and commercials for this one , i was convinced it would be utterly detestable , but it turns out MOV is only majorly annoying . i guess that is a step up .", "nothing says christmas quite like incompetent slapstick , saccharine sermonizing , and cavernous cleavage .", "as good-hearted as it may be , MOV is too lightweight to leave more than a fleeting impact .", "another year , another cheesy , hypocritical movie about how the true meaning of christmas gets lost in the madness of christmas . except that this movie is , in itself , exhibit a in the christmas madness category .", "... one of those dreadful , pandering , seasonal pictures that sneaks into theaters , grinch-like , and makes off with tons of cash each year .", "... this sour eggnog combines bad taste with ersatz holiday cheer .", "... MOV has little to recommend it .", "flimsy and fumbling - bah , humbug !", "... the film equivalent of a fruitcake or snowman sweater you do n't want but ca n't regift .", "you might be wondering just when the heartwarming spirit of the season is going to come crashing down upon these boy-men .", "you ca n't even say MOV lacks the courage of its convictions , because it does n't have any", "although it borrows ingredients from many familiar christmas flicks , it 's got a sly twinkle of its own .", "MOV muddles along with rote characters and unimaginative gags that will amuse very few .", "it 's bottom ten bad , destined to wind up on end-of-the-year ` worst of ' lists . it may still be there at the conclusion of this century .", "ca n't we just deck director john whitesell instead ?", "like that holiday fruitcake that nobody wants , here 's another stale and joyless christmas comedy .", "a holiday farce that pairs a colorful cast with a generic filmmaker .", "... so contrived and utterly stupid in every way that it surely must be the nadir of the genre .", "i 'm tired of filmmakers , screenwriters , directors and studios that believe every holiday is its own excuse for making films .", "does anybody in hollywood celebrate christmas anymore ? you have to wonder , with the woeful christmas fare that has been hurled at us the past few years .", "when you 're starting to think that maybe sneaking out and going to see `` the santa clause 3 '' would be a better use of your time , you know you 've stumbled upon a truly wretched film .", "the quintessential hollywood christmas movie . it 's grumpy old christmas .", "as reliable as your aunt harriet 's sweet potato casserole , every holiday season brings a movie just like john whitesell 's MOV , in which otherwise sensible actors commit themselves to a cheerless exercise in jingle bell hell .", "MOV , a flabby attempt at false holiday cheer opening in theaters today , resembles an inflatable santa after vandals have gotten to it .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- wants to be both naughty and nice , but just ends up feeling deeply confused .", "movies like MOV should make us all thankful that christmas only comes once a year . what other season could possibly inspire a story as insipid as this ?", "like a fatally snarled string of christmas lights , MOV promises holiday cheer but delivers only frustration .", "broderick and devito must be mentally , physically and spiritually exhausted by the sad , tired quality of these lame gags .", "the ending is so sweet that it 'll send your family out of the theater for 3 1/2 solid minutes of smiles before everyone starts drinking and pointing fingers again .", "at least it is n't offensive .", "has no real heart and certainly not a trace of warmth . you may leave the theater with a strong desire not to decorate a tree , but to deck the person who talked you into seeing this turkey .", "there must be an underground contest in hollywood to see who can make the worst christmas movie ... hang the crepe would be more appropriate .", "MOV seems to have been conceived on the back of a snot-soaked tissue by a none-too-bright second grader .", "deck the theatres with mediocre material ... fa la lame .", "a box of christmas movie clich\u00e9s wrapped in tired slapstick and tied up with a bow made of trite lessons about the ` true meaning of christmas . '", "MOV is no classic , but it has its amusing moments and its tender ones ...", "it 's not enough to be set at christmastime . MOV has no christmas spirit .", "you can not believe how excruciatingly awful this movie is .", "a low in soulless hollywood christmas movies , and more celebration of consumerism than condemnation .", "it 's disappointing to see broderick and devito try to make mediocre material work .", "since this is ostensibly a holiday family picture , things never get so nasty as to be bad santa-style outrageous , unless you think a rigged speed-skating competition or a cross-dressing local sheriff is the height of hilarity ." ], "summary": "relying on flat humor and a preposterous plot , MOV is an unnecessarily mean-spirited holiday movie that does little to put viewers in a holiday mood .", "id": "377767376" }, { "movie": "cats_and_dogs", "reviews": [ "the film 's bark is better than its bite .", "high-end family entertainment .", "this `` spypets '' is no `` spykids . ''", "a fun summer diversion for the family .", "i started to wonder if beating a joke to within an inch of its life constitutes cruelty .", "its characters , the two and four-legged varieties , are too lazily drawn for the film to register as more than a pleasant time-killer .", "aimed at kids but does n't dumb things down to the preschooler level .", "while i did n't laugh that hard during cats & dogs , i did chuckle a fair amount .", "`` cats & dogs '' is reasonably entertaining kids ' fare , but it might have been even more worthwhile if it had a little more human heart and reason behind it .", "`` MOV '' is a movie that blurs the lines between cartoons and live action and between animals and humans .", "an all-around fun movie for kids .", "a synthetic creation , a calculated combination of knockabout farce and cheap sentiment that ... lacks heart .", "the actors voicing these four legged adversaries ... throw themselves into their work with suitable fervor .", "as the perfect antidote to dr. dolittle 2 's sappy blandness , the relentlessly inventive and entertaining MOV comes along at just the right time .", "the animatronic talking dogs and cats resemble the talking dolls on the boat ride at disneyland 's ` it 's a small world . '", "inoffensive fun that kids will love and adults will likely love too .", "the script by john requa and glenn ficarra has many funny moments .", "it 's not derivative so much as an homage - and it is this that saves the film from being just another talking animal movie .", "after a while , the film 's massive explosions make swordfish look like a chick flick .", "an inventive and fanciful children 's movie that will more than adequately entertain the kids while amusing adults , too .", "cats & dogs is adorable , and at times quite clever , but is strictly for the kitties . er , kiddies .", "a surprisingly ill-advised misfire that surely wo n't be garnering many devoted fans above the age of single-digits .", "no es una gran pel\u00edcula ni seguramente har\u00e1 historia , pero si ofrece un muy buen rato de esparcimiento familiar", "so much fun you may want to lick yourself .", "succeeds both as a parody of the spy genre , and in stretching the boundaries of what you believe is possible .", "uma distra\u0437\u0433o de f\u0431cil esquecimento .", "MOV may be playing the same game as spy kids , but it is n't in the same league . what it does have is a comparable level of rollicking energy", "what begins as a mildly amusing joke eventually blooms into full-fledged lunacy , as sky-diving ninja cats duke it out with dogs who have `` mission : impossible '' - style computers hidden inside their doghouses .", "perros y gatos es una pel\u043dcula 100 % para ni\u0441os ; me refiero a verdaderos ni\u0441os , es decir , menores de diez a\u0441os .", "a surprisingly witty and sophisticated spy movie spoof that will tickle adult pet lovers and still capture kids 6 and older with its boy-and - his-dog love story and pet slapstick .", "an enjoyable movie that uses special effects with some interesting twists", "image how great this movie would have been had joe dante directed it .", "this movie almost went to the dogs .", "the 90 minutes go by fast , and this is adequate family entertainment", "often lots of fun for kids and pet lovers of all ages .", "harmlessly pleasant and goes down easily enough .", "kids , i suspect , will love the movie and most adults will find it moderately entertaining .", "nowhere near as good as babe , and only slightly better than a meow mix commercial .", "at its best , MOV is a series of missed opportunities that represents adequate entertainment for the age 5-9 crowd . at its worst , this is another example of why so many pg-rated films fail at the box office .", "a migraine-inducing , furniture-upending jumble .", "consistently amusing and sometimes hilarious , cats & dogs uses animatronics and computer animation , much like babe , to pull off a convincing illusion of animals talking , playing and waging war .", "`` they stack the doggone deck against the sneaky felines but it 's frisky , furr-ocious family fun for a matinee . ''", "the filmmakers seem more worried about their 6,700 latex mice and gallons of food coloring than their characters .", "maybe not purrfect , but tail-waggingly fun .", "good quality kiddie fare and well worth the price of a matinee on a hot summer 's day .", "a great movie for all pet lovers as well as all ages and types .", "silly summer fun .", "a warning for those who belly-laughed the first time they saw ninja cats in matrix-style combat and canines playing with james bond 's toys during the trailer for cats & dogs : the film 's bark is better than its bite .", "with the human actors marking time at best -lrb- and that best is rare -rrb- , cats & dogs becomes a series of expensive special effects in search of a scenario worth the price tag .", "i kept being reminded of annoying pet-food commercials .", "this clash of the titans is delightful .", "there is enough dopey , exuberant fun to delight children without driving their parents completely crazy .", "cat people and dog people of all ages will enjoy the tactics of this interspecies war , though the film makes the somewhat exaggerated assumption that cats are selfish and fascist and that dogs are selfless and humanist .", "overall , there is a welcome feeling of innocence throughout this pg film , which makes it a great movie to share as a family -- if your brood is old enough to sit still for 90 minutes .", "monotonous and mangy .", "cats & dogs has none of the intriguing charm of the babe films -- it fails to establish animal characters we can care about . with few exceptions , the pets are nothing more than furry pawns .", "cats & dogs needed to have more gags and punchlines than dr. dolittle . unfortunately , all it has is a great concept .", "the jokes are staler than day-old fancy feast .", "except for a fine slapstick chase sequence before the opening credits , every good joke in the movie is to be found in those trailers .", "while the flatness of characters may bore grownups , it 's an entertaining flick for kids .", "so advanced are the special effects techniques that the filmmakers even combine animated faces with real animal bodies , with such uncanny skill that after awhile you give up trying to find the seams .", "a treat to watch .", "it ca n't overcome an easy predictability and its humor is hit-and-miss at best .", "an hour and a half of giddy , ridiculous fun .", "rather than offer a pedigree blend of comedy and action , cats & dogs is just another summertime movie mutt .", "even at a chihuahua-sized 83 minutes , the movie begins to feel funny in the same way that having the neighbor 's dog attach himself to your leg is funny . you laugh while you 're wishing you could pull yourself away .", "not exactly high-concept , but it is silly enough to be amusing .", "there is some mild language and lots of animal slapstick -- \u0155 la wile e. coyote vs. roadrunner -- that may be a little much for small children . but most kids will find the action fun and the animals hilarious .", "in spite of its anti-cat sins and lame-o people , the action sequences are still clever enough to make it worth your while .", "clever , technically accomplished , and consistently amusing -- it 's a sunny summer treat .", "getting past the blatant canine bias ... the movie turns out to be an inventive all-ages comedy .", "an ingeniously executed combination of puppetry and digital effects .", "though its furry cast members are sometimes cute , the movie systematically converts babe 's tender , talking-animals appeal into just another soulless gadget-fest .", "i could n't be cattier - `` cats & dogs '' should be relegated to the pooper scooper .", "whoever created the theatrical trailer should be applauded -lrb- or disdained -rrb- for doing such a great job in making a bad movie look good .", "the best way to enjoy cats & dogs , like puppy love , is to go into it with lowered expectations .", "a gross insult to any human being with the intelligence of a pound mutt .", "rarely has the time-tested battle between MOV felt so good .", "clever , witty and simply a joy to watch , the film may drag a bit here and there and should have included a least a few good cats . nevertheless , it 's still a terrific and imaginative film that the whole family can enjoy together .", "ultimately the filmmakers have relied on premise rather than plot , and the device wears out despite the spoof 's brevity .", "the perfunctory plotting , clunky staging , and hayes 's decision to play mr. tinkles for camp rather than menace help condemn this mutt to the doghouse .", "i doubt i 'll be as pleasantly and heartily amused by any other movie this summer .", "yet another so-called `` family film '' that will only hold some appeal for the youngest segment of the household -- granted they 're dog lovers .", "a tale so monumentally silly that the only recourse is to sit back and laugh .", "the critters eventually outstay their welcome because there is not nearly enough plot to warrant all the effects .", "there are movies intended solely for kids and movies intended for kids but also enjoyable for adults . MOV falls into the former category .", "it 's tough to warm up to a pig , or a goose , or an orangutan for that matter . therefore , `` cats & dogs '' is the `` babe '' of the summer , only it 's more familiar , more action-packed and just plain funnier !", "plenty of heart and hijinks mixed with litter box humor .", "... juvenile caricature the whole way , so adults had better beware .", "cats & dogs is , at its absolute peak , faintly amusing .", "mr tinkles has to endure the humiliation of being dressed up in ridiculous outfits by his eccentric owner , meaning that he gets to deliver lines such as `` evil % u2026does not wear a bonnet ! ''", "those incredible animals steal the show here -- just like in ` babe . '", "on paper , it may have looked like ` MOV ' would prove a winner with both children and adults . maybe even another ` babe ' . something , however , obviously went seriously wrong between the drawing board and the transformation to celluloid .", "a mediocre movie that will appeal only to less discriminating kids .", "falls victim to a common pitfall of special-effects movies : the technology takes precedent over the characters and story .", "even the handful of good ideas that the movie works are n't enough to compensate for its overall formulaic , repetitive , chase-and-fight approach .", "a piece of formulaic fluff that will no doubt draw lots of families to the multiplex this fourth of july holiday .", "most of cats & dogs boils down to an expensive tom & jerry cartoon , with the impressive effects from jim henson 's creature shop too frequently called upon to pump up uninspired storytelling .", "spends too much time chewing on its computer effects or purring over its animatronic puppetry and too little taming its amusing premise .", "the story barely matters , and it smartly takes a backseat to the picture 's surprisingly well-done special effects .", "might not be the greatest movie you and your family see this summer , but it 's still worth a look-see at a matinee .", "some of the animals are simply fake , and even when they 're real , their actions are so fakey that they might as well be toys .", "grown-ups and children alike will find much to laugh about .", "once you 've seen the gimmick and gadgets , the movie begins to feel like it 's stuck in a loop ; it has n't enough wits or smarts to wring more than a few decent jokes and observations out of its one-note set-up .", "is about as original as , well , your typical summer assembly-line family entertainment ." ], "summary": "a great concept , but the movie fails to develop the characters and some of the jokes are hit-or-miss .", "id": "11574" }, { "movie": "wild_thornberrys_movie", "reviews": [ "passable but otherwise forgettable .", "it all adds up to a cheekier lion king on a lower budget . but what you miss in spectacle you will make up in laughs .", "if i have to choose between gorgeous animation and a lame story -lrb- like , say , treasure planet -rrb- or so-so animation and an exciting , clever story with a batch of appealing characters , i 'll take the latter every time .", "the soundtrack features some terrific music from paul simon , peter gabriel , youssou n'dour and others , and the widescreen animation is a vividly colorful translation of the thornberrys ' distinctive tv style .", "the soundtrack , thick with catchy tunes by artists ranging from p.diddy to paul simon , is a fine counterpoint to the story and visuals .", "the soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission .", "outstanding entertainment for little ones but just as rewarding for their adult companions .", "the animated redhead is the gutsiest young female heroine to hit the big screen since the live-action ladies in crouching tiger , hidden dragon .", "this is a children 's film in the truest sense . it 's packed with adventure and a worthwhile environmental message , so it 's great for the kids . parents , on the other hand , will be ahead of the plot at all times , and there is n't enough clever innuendo to fil", "does n't do more than expand a tv show to movie length . however , it 's pleasant enough and its ecological , pro-wildlife sentiments are certainly welcome .", "the script is a dim-witted pairing of teen-speak and animal gibberish .", "despite the 2-d animation , the MOV makes for a surprisingly cinematic experience .", "-lsb- has a -rsb- mediocre script ... but the movie 's visuals are surprisingly stunning .", "as half-cracked , action-loving and humane as its eponymous family , the MOV marks another consistent advance from the tube to the bigscreen for animation studio klasky csupo .", "a competent but mediocre animated adventure .", "safe family entertainment for the holidays .", "never more than an extended tv episode , the originality of its heroine and messages merit a recommendation for families seeking slightly more thoughtful animated fare .", "too often feels like a glorified tv episode .", "fans of the show , their parents , and even kids not privy to the nick channel will find this a rousing venture about a dolittlesque girl named eliza who talks to the animals .", "an entertaining feature-length version of the nickelodeon tv cartoon .", "the MOV is n't going to make anyone 's head explode with joy , but it is sweet and sporadically funny in its own loopy way .", "hooray for eliza !", "thumbs up for the MOV .", "the people may be drawn comically , but the animals are rendered with skill and grace and the action scenes achieve true excitement .", "with little wit and a routine story , it 's hard to imagine any reason to get wild about the MOV .", "there 's nothing particularly exotic about `` the MOV , '' but it 's an enjoyable-enough romp through africa .", "lions , tigers and baboons , oh , why ca n't there be more family fare like this ?", "there 's barely enough plot here for a 22-minute tv episode and not nearly enough for an 88-minute movie .", "it 's a kids ' movie that wo n't cause parents extreme pain ; they may even enjoy it .", "the MOV is a jolly surprise .", "an adventure families can enjoy together .", "on the whole , it delivers what it advertises .", "with its familiar lion king setting , feminist-environmental message and cute animals , the movie should keep children amused , while remaining bearable to adult gamekeepers .", "an average kid-empowerment fantasy with slightly above-average brains .", "jeff mcgrath and cathy malkasian direct by staging one action sequence after another : trains and rhinos and helicopters and suvs and elephants become indistinguishable , and the few moments of peace are welcome oases in this skein of chases .", "fans of the animated wildlife adventure show will be in warthog heaven ; others need not necessarily apply .", "a decent soundtrack rounds off a surprisingly engaging and energetic little-kids ' adventure .", "great fun for animal lovers .", "the film 's draughtsmanship is more than adequate , the voicing of the characters excellent , and the songs are way above average for such fare .", "better-than-average .", "nickelodeon 's animated explorer family runs into poachers in africa in a sometimes-fun adventure that occasionally collapses into flat , savanna-like stretches .", "screenwriter kate boutilier provides plenty of sharp patter .", "wholesome but also has kid appeal .", "splendid entertainment for the 8-12 age group and good fun for just about everyone else .", "amenable parents can watch this with the little ones instead of just using the dvd or vhs tape as a virtual nanny ...", "adults will be bored into slumber , and even kids deserve something with a little more bite .", "despite the mumbo jumbo about eliza carrying on conversations with chimps , the movie has a strong foundation of humor and warmth , making the thornberrys ' african journey a most enjoyable excursion .", "smart , funny and good-looking animation guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages .", "bland but harmless .", "this is the first nickelodeon big-screen spinoff that will leave you feeling as if you 've been through a real movie instead of an expanded tv segment .", "well-executed kiddie fare that should n't bore the grown-ups .", "kids who are into this thornberry stuff will probably be in wedgie heaven . anyone else who may , for whatever reason , be thinking about going to see this movie is hereby given fair warning .", "charming graphics , great music and an ingratiating save-the-animals plot all recommend it as appealing family fare .", "bursting through the constraints of its source , this is one adapted - from-television movie that actually looks as if it belongs on the big screen .", "the MOV has all the sibling rivalry and general family chaos to which anyone can relate .", "the greatest strength of the MOV is its ability to relate basic truths -- poachers are bad , respecting wildlife and native peoples is good -- in a way that is fun , fast-paced and accessible without being patronizing .", "this ecologically minded , wildlife friendly film teaches good ethics while entertaining with its unconventionally wacky but loving family", "the feature-length stretch ... strains the show 's concept .", "unexpectedly rousing ... can be easily appreciated even by those unacquainted with the four-year-old series .", "all but the most persnickety preteens should enjoy this nonthreatening but thrilling adventure .", "a magical blend of wit and a big-hearted view of the world and all its creatures makes the film more than a good bet to bring in family audiences during the holidays and beyond .", "like the rugrats movies , the MOV does n't offer much more than the series , but its emphasis on caring for animals and respecting other cultures is particularly welcome .", "any movie with a lovely new paul simon song ... ca n't be all bad .", "talk about a fun , intelligent kids ' flick with both ecological and political awareness , humor and heart .", "move over bond ; this girl deserves a sequel .", "this lively klasky csupo production is a convincing amplification of the popular nickelodeon series .", "eliza repeatedly proves herself as an exemplary avatar of the right stuff . you go , girl !", "the drumbeat behind the thornberrys ' energetic exploits may not be as explosive as its celebrated disney counterpart the lion king , but it certainly gives off a similar rhythmic radiance nevertheless .", "it 's a fun family safari chock full of environmental lessoning .", "evokes a little of the fear that parents have for the possible futures of their children -- and the sometimes bad choices mothers and fathers make in the interests of doing them good .", "pretty good half-term holiday fare .", "it may not pull off any state-of-the art animation coups , but the MOV understands that strong characters and involving storytelling are still the bottom line in a quality kids ' film .", "the animation may not be in the same class as the lion king , but co-directors jeff mcgrath and cathy malkasian deserve praise for their attempts to render africa 's wildlife as authentically as possible .", "this is thoroughly entertaining with an important message . and with its above-average animation it 's also well worth seeing on a big screen .", "one of the more intelligent children 's movies to hit theaters this year .", "engaging .", "the MOV makes a witty and delightful christmas present for the entire family .", "just as entertaining as the hit nickelodeon series on which it is based .", "surprisingly , the film is a hilarious adventure and i shamelessly enjoyed it .", "while it was n't a movie i 'd rush out to see on my own , it did n't bore me either .", "if it sounds like the wild thornberrys might be a downbeat drama , think again . there 's ample humor to balance the serious themes .", "the quality of the animation is only a shade better than can be found on television , but the big-screen version has heart , especially at the end .", "the MOV is pleasant enough and the message of our close ties with animals can certainly not be emphasized enough .", "you will be seeing it on your dvd player soon enough .", "the movie fart jokes are n't $ 8.25 funnier than the tv ones .", "far more imaginative and ambitious than the trivial , cash-in features nickelodeon has made from its other animated tv series ." ], "summary": "a pleasant enough kids flick that adults may even enjoy .", "id": "11231" }, { "movie": "city_island", "reviews": [ "de felitta knows how to depict family dysfunction , but he lards his film with asinine quips and too many headache-inducing dinner-table shouting matches , and the humor is so contrived , garcia 's bronx accent sounds channeled through fred flintstone .", "the movie too often equates drama with volume , and agita with authenticity .", "a treat for movie lovers everywhere -- even if you 've never heard of the community where it takes place .", "MOV scrapes by and delivers a smile or two because it does contain a fundamental understanding of the rot that sets in when people hide their true selves from the ones they love .", "the movie 's comic machinery never stops clanking long enough for us to relax and genuinely enjoy the silliness . but the actors are enjoying themselves , and that goes a very long way .", "garcia and margulies , who worked so well together in george hickenlooper 's man from elysian fields , show a sure feel for comedy here ...", "the outer-borough oddities of MOV are hard to resist .", "> MOV is so beautifully cast and so warmly , gently amusing that the contrivances go down easy .", "another expertly written joyride through the confines of narrowminded provincialism to cleansing self-awareness from indie director de felitta .", "the complications have the appeal of a classic farce , and if the movie 's humor requires a suspension of disbelief , the actors are terrific , and there 's much pleasure in watching the way the drama redoubles and resolves .", "i wo n't make great claims for raymond de felitta 's film - it hardly makes them for itself - but i will say this for it : as an ensemble acting workout , it exceeds expectations from the top down .", "there 's nothing earth-shatteringly new , but you do end up wishing the characters well , and i was happy to have spent time with them .", "melding the abundant misunderstandings of a shakespeare comedy with the new york wit of a neil simon play , MOV is a boisterous charmer with a big heart .", "de felitta chose well by casting 24-year-old actor steven strait , who gives the exasperated convict humor , charm , and sex appeal - something that does n't go unnoticed by joyce , or many of the women in the audience as well .", "this feature might work better as a television series , but garcia himself gives the picture some much-needed ballast .", "everybody has a secret and is too dumb to work out what those secrets are , a specious bit of plotting designed to pad out the running time of this shrill farce beyond its natural sit-com length .", "an enjoyably offbeat slice of amusingly dysfunctional family life", "andy garcia is a pleasant enough guide to almost rate a visit to this city , but all the conflict here lies on the surface .", "wacky film makes smoking , teen fetish part of the joke .", "an enjoyable film .", "MOV does n't achieve a secure heartfelt resonance , and while i do n't fault it for trying , it 's not easy to watch the film strain so hard to achieve so little .", "an immensely entertaining film about family secrets and the many roles we play in our private and public lives .", "overflowing with ethnic energy .", "an indie of the sort that achieved popularity during the 1990s but which has since fallen out of favor , MOV offers jokes worth laughing at and characters who earn their good turns of fortune .", "who would think that a sleepy seaside snippet of the bronx could foster a faulkner novel 's worth of family skeletons ?", "everybody 's got their secrets in MOV , something we 're reminded of early and often by writer-director raymond de felitta .", "deceptively funny , a blithe mix of smarts and feeling that never panders to the audience .", "an affectionate portrait of a lower-middle-class , outer-borough clan , MOV works best as an actor 's showcase , with margulies 's aggrieved , simmering wife the stand-out .", "andy garcia demonstrates real comic chops in this charming comedy of family dysfunction .", "this drama feels a little contrived due to the sheer number of issues faced by one family over a short period of time . but it 's so refreshingly well-acted , with lively characters and some fairly outrageous situations , that it keeps us fully engaged .", "this is n't a revolution in filmmaking , but a rare kind of comedy where the actors keep it real .", "an at-times marvellous muddle of high farce and low-brow chuckles .", "garcia 's gift for comedy is a true revelation .", "the script , by dyed-in-the-wool new york indie filmmaker raymond de felitta , is like someone 's homework for a screenwriting course . the secrets are n't interesting and you know a big showdown at the end is a given .", "impressively directed and superbly written , this is an emotionally engaging , warm-hearted and frequently funny family drama with terrific central performances from andy garcia and julianna margulies .", "sweet and satisfying .", "in real life , i find relationships with loud , argumentative people exhausting . in the movies , though , they can be a lot of fun to watch .", "its revelations come too early , and many of its scenes are too long , but MOV is kept afloat by its unusual location and fine-tuned performances .", "MOV offers few surprises and is content to leave audiences with a tidy , unquestioning view of traditional family values .", "all the family secrets must come crashing together , of course , in an implausible , if impeccably crafted , collision of botched confessions , mistaken identities , handcuffs and risqu\u00e9 outfits .", "MOV runs through its stockpile of impossibly melodramatic scenarios and manages to make them , and the respective rizzos in their throes , feel genuine .", "MOV is a relief for filmgoers dulled by hollywood formula . despite lapses into overstatement , it 's nothing but good , sweet , breezy times .", "i can think of far less pleasant ways to pass 100 minutes -- many of them playing now at a theater near you .", "writer-director raymond de felitta understands that a proper farce , like a good campfire , needs plenty of friction to get started .", "the movie does n't always make sense , but it 's very funny and seems to charm viewers wherever it plays . and the performances are terrific . garcia is particularly good as a blue-collar guy with acting aspirations .", "-lsb- it -rsb- wo n't put -lsb- garcia -rsb- back on the main road , but he tries some new things in it , and it 's fun to watch him work .", "i was won over by this movie 's affectionate , silly spirit .", "feeble but well-stuffed comedy .", "it has a basic goodness of heart that counteracts , if not entirely cancels out , the film 's broadness and busyness .", "some situational humor is predictable : with hunky tony walking around shirtless , both wife and daughter feel a close , um , kinship . well , of course they do . because there 's chemistry ... and then there 's dna .", "the slice-of-life comedy MOV is a charming throwback filled with authentic characters .", "a funny , heartfelt look at families , relationships and the lies that prop them up as much as tear them down .", "a crowd-pleaser indie with comic chops and charm to burn", "just when MOV makes you want to say `` enough with the yelling already ! '' it does , and the characters ' stories get softer , less wacky , more nuanced -- and more interesting .", "the sentiment feels real and the payoffs feel earned , and those things are worth the price of admission .", "writer-director raymond de felitta is essentially offering a kinky-comic new yawk version of a greek tragedy here , and even if the whole thing is pretty implausible , it 's also fairly entertaining .", "writer/director raymond de felitta has an uncommon talent for creating simple but compelling characters .", "a sparkling example of independent filmmaking at its finest . this delightful family-oriented movie wears its heart on its sleeve .", "raymond de felitta 's sweet little comedy is all about putting up appearances as opposed to following your muse .", "in spite of an overly elaborate series of mix-ups that are revealed in a paroxysm of absurdity in the final scene , the movie has a genuine heart and a delicate earnestness that is as amusing as it is affectionate .", "one of the best films of 2010 . it finds the absolute magic of family life gone right , even as it seems to be going very , very wrong", "in a season dominated by loud 3-d cgi flicks , this ethnic family comedy may be old-fashioned and too much like a tv sitcom , but it exudes charm and is very well acted by andy garcia , alan arkin and the rest of the ensemble .", "andy garcia , comedy cutup ? MOV gives the intense actor a fine comic showcase .", "-lsb- a -rsb- noisy , eccentric , bizarrely lovable film .", "all the performances are warmly engaging , even though the characters are broad and scenarios occasionally extreme . for those tired of clashing titans or weepy teen romances , MOV is a breath of fresh air .", "a very funny film , and one that operates at the sea level of humanity . quaint . slightly peculiar .", "the performances are absurdly broad , and each story line is more outlandish than the last . but de felitta 's approach is so easygoing , and the waterside setting so irresistibly charming , you 're bound to walk out in a great mood .", "the cast proves game for anything , from emily mortimer as vince 's floridly english acting-class partner to a beleaguered , bewhiskered strait , here displaying a comic prowess and fond knack for exasperation .", "i would say that if you have a distaste for indie comedies about quirky families that co-star alan arkin , think twice .", "MOV contains a lot of warmth and good humour making it an unexpected delight .", "there 's a beating pulse to this emotionally complex story and writer director raymond de felitta has created a wonderful , involving film with flawed characters we understand and with whom we empathise . when the secrets start to unravel like a tightly coil", "contrived soap-opera , delineating yet another dysfunctional family - and woefully underutilizing its interesting locale .", "the film has a likable , warm-hearted compassion for its characters . this generosity of spirit won my affection .", "the sense of humour threaded through de felitta 's writing is infectiously sarcastic enough to silence any cynics who might be watching , but also warm and wise enough to give the feelgood crowd the fuzzy feeling they are after .", "garcia gives a wonderful impression of a life-hardened non-actor finding his voice by drawing upon his own experiences .", "is mildly entertaining until it sinks from sentimentality .", "for most of its 100 minutes , MOV is smart entertainment . the characters are involving , and the dialogue has snap . before the ending falters , MOV has a personal , enjoyable verve .", "-lsb- h -rsb- ilarious and witty portrait of a functional dysfunctional new york city family ...", "consider the unpretentious ` MOV ' fine counter-programming to the cgi monsters , bland romantic comedies , randy teens and spandex superheroes that clog the megaplex .", "it just wants to entertain , and on that score it succeeds better than a lot of comedies with 10 times its budget .", "according to writer-director raymond de felitta 's blog entries on salon.com , he has worked a long time to get his new movie MOV to the screen , maybe a little too long .", "parental content review -lrb- all the details you need to know -rrb-", "strangely , this comedy-drama works pretty well a great deal of the time . the good cast certainly helps in that regard .", "... the movie has a good heart , and that 's what we respond to .", "resembles a norman lear television comedy , for better and worse ; it 's ` realistic ' but not exactly naturalistic .", "... MOV can be a moving piece of filmmaking when it gets serious and focuses on real people who are having real-life problems .", "writer-director raymond de felitta has cut together a frustrating comedy , with the misunderstandings piling up like kindling for a bonfire that his movie never lights .", "this is the kind of movie that could easily sink into comedy hijinks as broad and flat as pappardelle . but it does n't . de felitta ... makes no apologies for the outrageousness of the coincidences and gloriously knotty relationships and secrets .", "there are some capable actors here , working very hard with very little .", "garcia delivers a nerve-jangling tour de force tryout that will be appreciated by out-of-work actors for years to come .", "a professionally executed farce of the yelling-family variety .", "de felitta , who directed the wonderful two family house -lrb- 2000 -rrb- , has a great feel for new york city 's further reaches and a very sure hand with actors .", "warm , broad and uneven , MOV almost thrives in the lite entertainment zone where ethnic family dramedy meets mildly raucous farce .", "MOV is pure entertainment in the vein of moonstruck . star andy garcia has never been better or , surprisingly , more in his comedic element .", "andy garcia reminds you of what a cunning , likable actor he can be .", "... the film keeps clicking largely due to the very appealing performances of garcia and margulies ... , who not only are believable as a long married couple , but a couple that still has simmering chemistry beneath the simmering hostilities", "it feels natural that the actors are what keep the more superfluous scenes from weighing down de felitta 's film", "charming and funny ... obviously a labor of love that turns out to be worth every ounce of affection the cast and crew lavished on it ." ], "summary": "raymond de felitta combines warmth , humanity , and a natural sense of humor , and is abetted by andy garcia and an excellent ensemble cast .", "id": "770806313" }, { "movie": "contagion_2011", "reviews": [ "by the time this globe-hopping , movie-star-crammed disaster saga - directed with petrifying efficiency by steven soderbergh - comes full circle , you 'll never want to touch a subway pole or elevator button or atm again .", "all this germ procedural offers is the sight of people behaving badly , willing to do their worst to get first dibs on a vaccine . sadly , that 's no surprise .", "as ruthlessly effective as the malady at its cool , cool center .", "makes unflattering comparisons between the rampaging virus and the toxic spread of unreliable information via the internet .", "this may not fit any conventional definition of entertainment , but it certainly keeps your eyes on the screen .", "the traffic of outbreak movies", "an absorbing , nuanced , and intelligent film about a global pandemic in which soderbergh shows how the battle against a deadly virus draws out the best and the worst in human beings .", "soderbergh himself has modestly likened `` MOV '' to a '70s - style , star-driven disaster film . but it 's smarter than that , and a lot closer to medical thrillers like `` the andromeda strain . ''", "`` MOV '' will do for hand sanitizer what `` jaws '' did for shark repellent .", "while it 's fleet on its feet and steady in its tension , MOV is an exceptionally dry-eyed movie about mass death , interested more in how the structures we 've built to keep order deal with the disaster than how people handle it emotionally .", "while the movie is undeniably riveting , it 's a little too precisely engineered and emotionally detached for its own good .", "another soderbergh studio job well done .", "if you 're looking for some kind of poetry-some exalted dramatic arc that lifts this narrative out of the ordinary-you wo n't find it here . MOV is ... gripping from start to finish .", "MOV becomes a battle between what it is and what it could have been . it satisfies just enough to warrant its existence while frustrating one with its potential .", "there 's something very clinical about the way soderbergh presents the story . but , just when you think it 's going to become some kind of docu-drama , the director slams you back to the ground with human emotion and suffering . paul chambers , cnn , atlanta .", "it seems we have had this plot a million times before and this movie offers nothing new or involving .", "`` MOV '' is a strong film to kick off the end of summer ... just make sure you know who you 're sharing your popcorn with !", "why did MOV have to be such an antiseptic thriller ?", "MOV has one goal in mind , and it meets this goal fantastically well , but it does virtually nothing else .", "writer scott z. burns has fashioned a reality-based thriller that could easily come true . . casting is superb , from fishburne , cotillard and winslet to biologist ehle and snaggle-toothed misinformation blogger law , who gives my profession a very bad name .", "strong acting , atmospheric direction , and a nail-biting premise add up to a movie whose impact is hard to ignore .", "it 's like wolfgang petersen 's outbreak minus the monkey and with more than two functioning brain cells .", "soderbergh keeps the incessantly yellow-tinted film lithe and jaunty , moving us quickly amid various subplots while also racheting up the tensions .", "watching this film is as uncomfortable as expected , so if you have even the slightest tendency towards hypochondria , you should stay far away .", "MOV is a clear-eyed vision of a potential , modern horror that shows science in battle . the direction by steven soderbergh is deft and sharp . the screenplay by scott z. burns is intelligent and not exploitative .", "a bit emotionless and clinical , but MOV is a pretty spot-on blow-by-blow of what it would be like if a real viral epidemic were to break out .", "if you 're a hypochondriac or paranoid -lrb- or both -rrb- , do n't watch this film .", "soderbergh , who is as skilled as they come at uplifting routine templates , gives the infection movie \u00fcber-a-list treatment .", "the fiercely intelligent MOV outdoes its genre competition precisely because it does n't dumb itself down for our sake .", "a first-rate cast , excellent acting , and a reasonably taut pace help a somewhat lackluster and sometimes melodramatic story line over its more-predictable soft spots .", "at the heart of MOV is the fear of a disease that can send the world into anarchy , a scenario which seems extreme but is actually dangerously realistic .", "a supercharged cross between an episode of csi and a world health organization infographic .", "no one becomes a zombie as in 28 days later but the trajectory here is about the same and 10 times more frightening because of its true-to-life , very probable scenario .", "steven lederberg 's realization of scott burns ' original screenplay is more interesting for its statistics and protocols than gripping drama as the world comes to terms with a virus that threatens to remove one-in-twelve from the planet .", "the disease/pandemic movie has grown up .", "MOV is compelling .", "a portrait of the terrifying fragility of the tangled biological , social and emotional networks that govern our lives .", "unlike slasher films which may or may not raise the hairs on the back of your neck , `` MOV '' is frightening because it is totally possible -- it all comes down to the `` wrong pig and the wrong bat '' .", "this movie will do for bar peanuts what `` jaws '' did for swimming in the ocean .", "a horror film without a safety release valve , because the fears it plants in our brains are n't the kind that can be chased away by the light of day .", "for patient viewers , prepare to let this film infect your nerves .", "it 's an adult movie that will make you not want to touch any adults when it 's over .", "the presence of movie stars helps : their authority is part of what keeps us fascinated by the gruesome fable , juicing it a bit , so that we can actually enjoy it .", "a thinking person 's disaster movie .", "steven soderbergh 's lean , fast-paced medical thriller ` MOV ' does n't have much heart , but it has plenty of suspense and drama .", "offering the best thrills of 2011 , `` MOV '' will have audience viewers rapidly spreading the word , much like the virus .", "if sound it out never really digs its claws into its material , it at least approaches it with a careful level of thought and commitment .", "with so many tales to tell , MOV just ca n't possibly deliver on every one of its promises .", "i was shuffling nervously in my seat , edging away from the sniffling man next to me . nobody shook hands or embraced after this screening .", "gripping from start to finish .", "though timely and realistic , MOV is a mediocre thriller-disaster film , largely due to the gap between the sophisticated filmmaking and the routine -lrb- borderline banal -rrb- storytelling .", "an all-too-terrifying bio-thriller that realistically taps into our most primal fears and survival instincts .", "a movie so real it 's frightening -- hypochondriacs may collapse from shock .", "though far from a likeable movie , MOV is admirable as a highly controlled , verging-on-kubrickian exercise in directorial vision and style .", "for a good hour , a very good first hour , the film efficiently accumulates small , terrifying incidents and images .", "the most gut-grabbing non-zombie pandemic thriller i 've seen , and that 's aside from feeling a tickling sensation in the back of my throat through the first two acts .", "if MOV truly is the first leg of soderbergh 's retirement victory lap , this harrowing film is a potent reminder of what we stand to lose .", "though paling in intensity to traffic , soderbergh ' apocalyptic cautionary tale nevertheless presents a chillingly-plausible peek at how quickly civilization might unravel in the face of a rapidly-accelerating , extinction-level , biological event .", "a disaster movie without tension or humor .", "MOV is certainly the most realistic portrayal of a global pandemic i 've seen , but that does n't make it the most entertaining , or even all that intellectually interesting .", "you 'll want to make a beeline for the nearest restroom to wash your hands ... plays like a feature-length public service announcement , a duck-and-cover-your-mouth drill .", "as he did in his 2000 film `` traffic , '' director steven soderbergh weaves together multiple perspectives in a seamlessly edited collage .", "` MOV ' is an ambitious and well-meaning film . however , despite some fine performances , it fails to deliver the type of thrills and suspense promised in those exciting previews .", "`` MOV '' is a brilliantly executed disease outbreak movie .", "soderbergh 's cold style is oddly suited to this kind of story , that of a virus impersonally killing a hefty percentage of all who come into contact with it", "chilly , but not chilling , steven soderbergh 's story of a worldwide pandemic is oddly antiseptic .", "uneven nightmare disaster thriller .", "steven soderbergh 's feature-length purell advertisement is short on human interest and long on explanations of a pandemic through analogies and generalities .", "soderbergh 's MOV offers little new about fear and horror but his behind-the-camera ability to be fresh -- along with help from an all-star cast -- elevates his thriller from boredom , if only just slightly .", "a gripping movie , but the things that make it good also limit how good it can be . as engaging as it is on an intellectual level , the film sometimes fails to grab us emotionally .", "plays like a humorless send-up of all-star disaster pictures", "MOV is , by and large , about as enthralling and compelling as a typical episode of csi : miami .", "soderbergh applies his brainier brand of filmmaking to the global outbreak thriller genre , and the result is a hugely gripping blockbuster that never talks down to its audience .", "as an intellectual exercise , it remains compulsively fascinating .", "compelling and terrifyingly real , MOV balances its multitude of characters , scenarios and fascinating ideas with steadiness and lethal efficiency .", "though the ` case study ' approach may not be satisfying for all , MOV offers a fresh look at the way in which our fragile ecosystem teeters on extinction , without resorting to overblown theatrics or skyscraper-demolishing pyrotechnics .", "MOV offers a healthy dose of smart filmmaking while most of hollywood is serving up cinematic placebos .", "a starkly effective ensemble drama which could well do for the sniffles what jaws did for great whites .", "i did n't care about any of the characters , especially happy-go-lucky patient zero .", "shot with documentary grimness , the movie 's relative realism is less dramatically persuasive than the go-for-broke b-movie hysteria of such hydrophobic predecessors as romero 's ` the crazies ' and cronenberg 's ` shivers . '", "elliot gould !? what , were george segal and ryan oneal unavailable ? was it `` free cheese day '' at the celebrity shelter ?", "by focusing in on just a few individuals and letting the rest of the story unfold in the background soderbergh makes a micro experience into a macro one .", "even though it deals with a serious subject seriously , this is an entertaining , believable movie .", "the pressure cooker plot calls for intense performances all around but first among equals are winslet and ehle .", "it 's a cut above most hollywood thrillers , and i 'll certainly remember it the next time i use the tube .", "soderbergh , with a budget to roam the world , gives us genuinely creepy moments as information and misinformation spread as fast as the mutating virus itself .", "soderbergh is always intriguing , but this plague thriller should have been more than an all-star health warning . the banal screenplay suits some cheapo cable movie .", "a powerful ` what if ? ' that leaves you reeling from the implications that something like this could very well happen exactly as depicted .", "a masterpiece bound by the genre it lives in , but a masterpiece all the same .", "` MOV ' is masterfully competent filmmaking ; even on its worse day it 's a good movie . ''", "-lsb- video -rsb- ... there 's nothing here to make you feel like you 've had a meaningful cinematic experience . what a waste .", "a well-made , effective chiller ... i would have admired and respected it better , though , if it was n't so subtly judgmental toward -lrb- gwyneth -rrb- paltrow 's `` patient zero '' character .", "MOV demonstrates that science fiction can be used in film for a more serious purpose than telling a superhero story .", "gets off to a very strong start , but eventually gets bogged down in questionable plotting and weak characterization .", "if hollywood and b-horror films sensationalize the problem of a global outbreak of a lethal virus , MOV brings a calm reasoned voice to the subject .", "steven soderbergh 's viral `` who brung it '' is a mostly style-over-substance affair .", "MOV could have been a blood-curdling scream ; instead it comes off as soderbergh 's star-powered science project .", "this is sophisticated , 21st century filmmaking , with a probing techno score - yet there is an unmistakable '70s disaster flick feel about it .", "MOV shows us that `` working together '' is still possible , still necessary . and in a world as divided and partisan as ours , that 's an encouragement we need to receive .", "it 's the dark comic moments and the film 's sci-fi , b-movie , race-to-develop-a-vaccine subplot that prevent MOV from being a gloomy two hours in the dark . that and soderbergh 's delight in characters .", "seeing MOV in a crowded theatre is like watching jaws on a life raft . bring hand sanitizer . or bleach . and maybe soap and a bucket of warm water .", "the rest of this steven soderbergh movie is a chilled down , anti-hysterical , smartly-schlocky shout-out to '70s disaster/paranoia films .", "a frighteningly realistic depiction of just how fast a new form of an old plague can take root and spread -- and how all our know-how can be caught off-guard .", "MOV is the best movie made to date about an epidemic/pandemic .", "this is solid , intelligent filmmaking that will have you on the edge of your seat ...", "although it 's slickly paced and strikingly shot , this is a thriller for procedural junkies and conspiracy buffs", "an entertaining if unwieldy cross between a psa and one of those all-star idiocies from the 1970s -- those disaster flicks involving hijacked planes , hurtling meteors or towering infernos .", "... a paranoid disease thriller for our glocal age .", "... only a few of the stories compel and even the reliable matt damon fails to make a strong impression . `` MOV '' is an ok medical thriller , but there 's something off about it .", "much more compelling when showing what it takes to confront a huge , unexpected problem , not merely how susceptible we are to sickness and chaos .", "with MOV , soderbergh empties his entire bag of tricks and keeps this lean , emotional thriller from turning into an unwieldy , clunky mess .", "no science fiction bulls ** t !", "it feels very stripped down and authentic and finely crafted .", "killing off one of your marquee actresses appeals to that not-insignificant portion of the moviegoing population that is , shall we say , weary of paltrow .", "the first hour of steven soderbergh 's MOV is so tense that you can almost forgive the second half for getting bogged down .", "along with the stars , MOV has plenty of scares , though in contrast to matt damon and kate winslet , they 're things you encounter every day .", "soderbergh places a queasy emphasis on the way the things that make the world we live in smaller make us that much more vulnerable .", "it proves the creepiest movies are also the quietest . although `` MOV '' is a horror movie , it 's also a response about a viral apocalypse . the end arrives with tiny coughs ...", "the result is not quite medicine and not quite cotton candy . but it works . it 's made for grown-ups .", "the all-star disaster-movie genre is taken out of the 1970s and given a stylish and largely persuasive 21st century makeover by director and cinematographer steven soderbergh .", "MOV presents a frightening reality , and leaves you with something to think about .", "steven soderbergh 's well-researched , convincing , courageously bleak drama about how a lethal virus could decimate the human race .", "more likely to cause an outbreak of yawning , heavy eyelids and a compulsion to keep checking the time .", "it 's terrific . i was really impressed with this film and i think it 's one of the best things he 's done actually .", "this almost documentary-like film is dramatic without being melodramatic . i was impressed with the almost existential approach of soderbergh and screenwriter scott z. burns .", "an intelligent , emotionally driven ensemble film that we have come to expect from soderbergh .", "the film wraps up tightly and somewhat too quickly , but it 's a delight to experience soderbergh at the top of his game .", "think of wolfgang petersen 's magnificently entertaining 1995 virus-on-the-rampage adventure outbreak , take out the drama , excitement and involving characters , and that 's MOV in a nutshell .", "the film addresses its grim subject in a cool , matter-of-fact way .", "MOV is effective because it plays not on our fears of fictional boogeymen and monsters , but on actual threats .", "it 's the most fun you 'll have involving something deadly and contagious .", "it 's hard to know just what director steven soderbergh was thinking in making MOV . the movie , about the outbreak of a mysterious and deadly new disease , feels oddly mistimed .", "MOV keeps us at a distance : rarely has the death of millions seemed so inconsequential .", "the rush of a-listers combined with apocalyptic dread creates its own kind of dizzy pleasure : who 's going down next on this poseidon adventure ?", "for the most part , the movie is like the virus it depicts : once this queasily entertaining movie grabs you , it has you in its power .", "steven soderbergh is given the opportunity to scare us and it is the calm with which he does it that should frighten us all the more .", "MOV may be the most expensive public-service ad ever filmed , but it 's also a surprisingly light-on-its-feet action thriller .", "scarier than any traditional horror film you 're likely to see .", "-lsb- an -rsb- intellectually stimulating new drama about the terrifyingly rapid spread of a lethal virus .", "the film resembles its viral subject a little too closely : an intricate , formidable mechanism with no evident purpose .", "MOV is a movie about flawed people doing their jobs , and doing them well , under unspeakable conditions .", "steven soderbergh 's MOV , written by scott burns , begins on a state of high alert and stays there for the rest of the movie .", "i ca n't call MOV as a feel-good movie . in fact , you wo n't want to be feeling anything-or anyone-after seeing this cautionary tale about the spread of a deadly virus . but you wo n't be able to take your eyes off the screen ...", "without fully rounded characters , it 's hard to care who lives or dies in what amounts to an extended procedural on how disease prevention orgs might respond to such a scenario .", "-lsb- a -rsb- curiously inert new thriller from steven soderbergh .", "a level-headed take on a topic that 's often an excuse for madness and melodrama .", "a chilling , meticulously researched thriller ...", "simultaneously gripping and emotionally engaging thanks to pacey direction , a smart script and terrific performances from a fine ensemble cast .", "... low-key in its approach with an unforced ring of truth ...", "a highly watchable film , terrifying in its realism . we can just imagine these events panning out .", "lean and fast-moving , soderbergh ratchets up the tension without straining credibility while the days tick away and the body count rises .", "while MOV would never be classified as entertaining or enlightening , it does make an impact .", "MOV is what happens when a disaster movie gets sent to the headmaster for bad behaviour .", "the movie fights for something important : the right of stars to look worse than we do .", "ever the cerebral essayist , soderbergh is n't in this for edge-of-your-seat thrills - his approach is more cold sweat than burning fever .", "a very entertaining , well-acted and palpably taut piece of propaganda that leaves too little room for interpretation .", "if MOV is a `` horror movie , '' as soderbergh has described it , then you can think of it as the most believable zombie movie ever made .", "all-star virus thriller is intense , uncompromising .", "decent , but not completely viral .", "an unusually immersive filmgoing experience , no 3-d effects necessary .", "you 'll never hear a cough the same way again .", "if you 're the type of person who finds the opening credits montage the most frightening aspect of romero 's original dawn of the dead , you will absolutely lose your mind during MOV .", "the movie plays as if the national institutes of health hired director steven soderbergh to direct a health warning public service announcement that would scare the heck out of everyone .", "MOV is an exceptionally well-crafted film , one that feels frighteningly realistic despite the movie star cast .", "very effective , mixing science and timely issues into one terrifically compelling drama ... -lsb- with an effective -rsb- emotional payoff .", "MOV is just about as exciting as your last inoculation but makes less sense .", "the whole thing feels maddeningly incomplete . we get only the sketchiest of characters . -lrb- parental movie review also available -rrb-", "if this is an action-thriller , it 's one that makes med school look sexier than the marines .", "what we end up with is a film that is not particularly bad , just one that seemed unnecessary since it 's a story we 've already seen many times before .", "`` as slick and polished as this `` real '' version of `` 28 days later '' is , it 's an utterly heartless affair . ''", "a drama of this magnitude deserves memorable , nuanced characters . -lsb- but -rsb- as a reminder that a single gust of panic can bring down civilization like a house of cards , it works .", "MOV may be a case of feverishly good filmmaking -lrb- and an excellent , if slightly more high brow , addition to the disaster movie genre -rrb- , but ultimately it will leave you with little besides an admiration for soderbergh 's artistry .", "as a thriller that threatens a quick and gruesome demise behind every expended breath , MOV does a workmanlike job .", "what it is , is a hypochondria-inducing thriller that will likely have you keep off the handrails as you exit the theater , head straight to the nearest duane reade and stockpile bulk-size surgical masks , latex gloves and hand sanitizer .", "this is a movie that will pound your pulse without having a pulse itself . it 's quite proud of it .", "this high-stakes drama is infected with too many characters and a silly subplot .", "the scariest cinematic image of the year is a lingering shot of a grimy pole on a public bus .", "MOV is satisfying and spooky and a total thrill to watch .", "soderbergh 's detachment actually creates an effective air of understatement when working in tandem with the contrasting warmth and commitment of his cast .", "before MOV is anything else , it 's a master class in filmmaking - shooting , editing , making a movie move .", "it 's purell for the disaster movie movement . you may find yourself wishing for a little more grime and viscera .", "-lsb- t -rsb- errifyingly credible ... foremost a detective story , with a science-positive bent ...", "i 'm not making this up : i had a coughing fit during ` MOV . ` luckily , i was sitting at the very back of the theater , so i was less likely -lrb- i hope -rrb- to add to the tension unfolding on the screen .", "MOV is a reminder that we 're hardly in as much control of the globe as we think .", "as soon as you hear gwyneth paltrow cough , you know where you 're headed .", "todo luce muy cool , demasiado para un film en el que la gente muere como moscas y en el que se pretende alertarnos sobre una inminente crisis global . pero no hay tiempo para desarrollar inter\u00e9s emocional por ninguno de los personajes .", "a paean to death by bat droppings mixed with a bit of pork .", "a methodical exploration of the threat of pandemics and how we share space with our fellow human beings . if you are n't chilled by the potential , you should be .", "star-studded and well-directed pandemic story that offers style at the expense of thrills , any emotional connection , and at times , logic .", "in an exemplary cast , matt damon stands out as paltrow 's seemingly immune husband , as does elliott gould in an understated cameo .", "steven soderbergh 's grim and gripping medical thriller has arrived and it 's guaranteed to turn you into a hypochondriac .", "if this truly is the beginning of the end of soderbergh 's career , it tells you all on its own how big a loss that will be to the cinema .", "though modern in its style and gloss , steven soderbergh 's `` MOV '' has the feeling - the welcome feeling - of one of those epic disaster movies from the 1970s .", "unnerving imagery and an a-list ensemble boost the disease pic 's potency , but MOV is n't immune to the unfocused , overambitious story , which diminishes its impact .", "soderbergh takes the unusual step , for a big hollywood production , of killing off gwyneth paltrow very near the beginning of the story .", "more a cinematic autopsy than an affecting drama -- a cool , detached dissection of an enormous human tragedy ; and while it certainly succeeds as a semi-documentary account , it fails to deliver a strong emotional punch .", "a tense , first-rate thriller that will have you running for the soap and water once the end credits start rolling .", "hypochondriacs might want to steer clear of `` MOV . '' others should find this procedural thriller about the outbreak of a deadly disease to be an informative , disquieting and mildly entertaining experience .", "a smart , spare and well-crafted adult-oriented drama that never takes the intelligence of its audience for granted with phony scares , goopy gross-outs or a storyline that requires its participants to act like idiots in order to keep things moving along .", "i could n't look away , and neither did i touch my face with my hands .", "big ideas and small-mindedness threaten to turn `` MOV '' into unwieldy world-affairs and family-values allegories , but soderbergh and burns are moving too fast to think .", "soderbergh knows exactly how to dredge up the dread , showing us in several scenes the many things we touch - including our own faces , noses and mouths - during the course of a day and the dangers they contain .", "there 's a sense of dread in `` MOV , '' but it never spreads to us . when day 1 is finally shown , it makes you want to eat better , which is n't the same as saying this is a great movie .", "-lsb- it -rsb- ca n't exactly be called a pleasure of any kind , but it is quietly compelling , building the tension as methodically as its characters chip away at the medical puzzle .", "taut with energy from start to finish , MOV 's portrait of a global epidemic is just the right mix of scary , informative and emotionally powerful .", "`` MOV '' is a thoughtful , provocative and ultimately chilling film .", "part human drama , part mystery , and part technical babble about viral mutations , and , with that wide breadth of concentration , each element falls short .", "the images of doomsday are quite vivid , requiring nothing more than a close-up of a peanut dish at a bar to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up .", "this paranoia-fest is , at its heart , a straightforward ticking-clock thriller . and it generates about all the suspense you can hope for from a movie with a faceless , microscopic antagonist .", "running less than two hours but as packed with incredible actors and subplots as an irwin allen disaster pic , and yet soderbergh never lets it get away from him . we always care . we 're always interested . we 're always terrified .", "telling a complex story in a coherent narrative arc has never been one of mr. soderbergh 's strengths , and chronicling the day-by-day panic of a killer virus jumps all over the place .", "soderbergh takes us from suburban living rooms to labs at the centers for disease control to remote asian villages with equally clear-eyed realism .", "thanks to MOV , i used a paper towel to open a bathroom door the other day and now i 'm washing my hands more often . one of the scariest movies in years !", "adopting a clean , chronological and punchy approach , soderbergh holds a steady eye on panic and chaos . it 's a disaster movie with a brain and conscience .", "for the most part the star cast inject this with everything it needs to take root in your brain and have you edging away from anyone who coughs on the bus .", "there is only one voice in MOV and it is a rather empty one .", "a concise and complex screenplay that is circular in structure and rarely lags as it canvasses the natural unravelling of society and the glue that bonds humanity together", "a surprisingly clinical work ... . it asks each of us : what would i do , and would i be proud of it ?", "MOV 's not the feel-good movie of the year , but it 's effective , compelling and smart and will have you twitching at every cough you hear for days afterwards .", "this is slick , watchable stuff performed by an all-star ensemble ...", "tension is palpable from the opening frames .", "a stunningly-made film guaranteed to send hypochondriacs into a frenzy .", "in the end it feels a little like a fincher wannabee , rather than boasting its an identity in itself .", "soderbergh keeps a cool head throughout , refraining from the tear-jerking storylines and cheesy emoting you typically get in disaster movies . you might not be groping for tissues , but you 'll definitely be reaching for the anti-viral gel by the close .", "the most terrifying aspect of MOV , ultimately , is the plausibility of its premise . meticulous and low-key , the film reminds us that disaster lies in the most mundane interactions .", "delivers the gripping , tick-tock tale of an epidemic that threatens to destroy civilization , but presents it virtually without comment .", "the third act will seem anticlimactic by comparison , but it 's tough to fault a movie , especially one about a deadly virus , for being too grounded .", "frighteningly believable , businesslike , super-smart and never less than riveting .", "MOV is more unsettling than 1995 's outbreak or the disaster movies of the '70s .", "while the all-star cast and the story , about a deadly virus , sounds similar to 1995 's outbreak , ` MOV ' is more insightful , moving , and disturbing with first rate entertainment .", "the film plays like a hi-tech version of cheesy 1950s sci-fi fare of the quatermass or invasion of the body snatchers variety .", "takes great pains to present its situations realistically , and includes a lot of intelligent speculation about what sort of political , economic and ethical questions would be raised by such a disaster .", "sobering reality for our interconnected world .", "you will want to bathe in hand sanitizer for a week after seeing MOV .", "`` MOV '' deserves praise for taking the scientific method seriously when so much hogwash is floated about regarding vaccines .", "MOV is one of the most informative , talk-heavy , films since inception and the social network , but it is n't the most entertaining from a blockbuster standpoint .", "MOV is a thrill that gets under your skin and keeps you on your toes . in fact , you may start curling up in your seat just to keep a distance from the person sitting next to you ." ], "summary": "tense , tightly plotted , and bolstered by a stellar cast , MOV is an exceptionally smart -- and scary -- disaster movie .", "id": "771041155" }, { "movie": "1194522-how_to_train_your_dragon", "reviews": [ "some pixel-enhanced fantasy adventures are crude , untrained and head-butting . others are well-mannered , nourishing and pretty to look at . dragon dragon is in the second category ...", "in short , it 's avatar for children -- the flying scenes are even better and it comes minus the bad language and violent gun battles .", "the visuals are striking , the script sharp and well paced and it all wraps up with a breathtaking aerial battle sequence .", "the start wobbles , but once boy and dragon connect , this becomes a thrilling flight .", "MOV is an enchanting and touching family film .", "after a slow start , this becomes a really good adventure flick . there are n't many laughs , but the father-son , and son-dragon relationship will appeal to everyone .", "dragon lands on its feet .", "is it breaking new ground , the way pixar does ? no , it 's not quite that ambitious . it just wants to entertain for 98 minutes . i was wowed . that 's what i was hoping for and that 's what i got .", "full of wonder , charm and dragons not doubling as stand-up comics", "the filmmakers show a keen understanding that this is a tale of high adventure and magical wonder", "although it 's an exciting ride to an easily predictable yarn , this is one kids ' movie that is fun for everyone .", "a rousing adventure for families , but it 's the animation that truly makes the film fly higher than others in the genre .", "a soaring , endearing adventure feature that plays smart and fierce . now stop giving your money to tim burton 's wheezy imagination and see something with genuine magic . an actual , effective , multi-dimensional wonderland .", "what gives -lsb- this -rsb- story emotional heft has to do with a different kind of dimension : a depth of feeling surrounding the black stallion-style bonding of boy and beast .", "MOV has terrific action sequences , compelling 3-d , personality-filled character voices , a lively story , credible moral lessons , and wondrous cinematography .", "a sweet david vs goliath tale that has the heart that most animated films do n't bother to attempt to find .", "dragon 's tolerant heart brings back new life to the otherwise stale dreamworks animation department .", "thrilling 3-d adventure sends brains over brawn message .", "with its messages about acceptance , respect and tolerance , MOV also brings some lessons of its own , including some valuable tools for doing battle with dragons , should the need arise .", "it 's a flick full of adrenaline , and it rushes straight for the heart .", "dragon has a timeless quality , which is a good thing because we 're probably going advertisement quantcast to need its hopeful message even more 10 years from now than we do today .", "it all adds up to a pleasant adventure , and one that does n't insult parents or children . lucky kids will find someone to take them this weekend . even luckier adults will find someone to take .", "adults and children alike will fall in love .", "at a time when hollywood seems to be releasing everything this side of dead sea scrolls documentaries in 3-d , MOV is a briskly paced computer-animated entertainment that uses the format to maximum effect , the way avatar does .", "the one interesting aspect of the movie , apart from the design , is that it puts so much effort into projecting a moral , such as it is .", "the production 's magnificent vibe of friendship and the power of teamwork harkened back to the timeless relationship forged between henry thomas 's eliott and steven spielberg 's e.t.", "the adventures of hiccup and toothless will excite and entertain kids while its clever script and gorgeous visuals will amuse and delight their parents . i feel a franchise coming on .", "an exciting , thrilling , soaring adventure with the rare combination of dazzling visual effects and a heartfelt story that 's captivating for everyone both young and old .", "with ` real ' harry potter fighting wizards all over the planet , what fun it is to have animated characters take on the big bad dragons that plagued vikings for years .", "htyd takes a bold chance , and attempts to entertain adults not by being cute , gimmicky , thematically challenging , or infused with pop culture shout outs ; it does so by being imaginative , heartfelt , and beautiful in fiery flourishes .", "swooping visuals and knockabout comedy blend in a family entertainment that should be the easter weekend treat .", "like up , it knows when to be funny , when to lay on the action and when to be moving .", "the humor , while quite often aimed at children , is light and funny enough , but without hurting the action at all .", "the result is fun and thrilling , and plenty of snappy jokes and sight gags will keep audiences of all ages entertained .", "neck and neck with `` toy story 3 '' as the finest animated film of 2010 ...", "it has some fun character designs , a good message , and some fairly typical jokes , and then last of all is the characters and the story .", "technically proficient and featuring a witty , intelligent , surprisingly insightful script , MOV comes close to the level of pixar 's recent output while easily exceeding the juvenilia dreamworks has released in the last nine years .", "those who were enchanted by the flying sequences in avatar will experience the same exhilaration here as hiccup rides toothless between mountain peaks . equally uplifting is the father-son reconciliation which is handled with just the right emotional heft .", "not only one of the best animated films in years but one of the best i 've seen . james cameron should take story-telling pointers from this flick .", "there 's a level of purity to the storytelling of MOV that 's rather refreshing .", "the concentration is n't on comedy -- and thank goodness there are no farting dragon jokes -- but on the drama that comes with an underdog going against the grain and standing up for what he believes in .", "MOV is family-friendly , funny , touching , entertaining , and may be the best animated film dreamworks has made to date .", "parental content review", "baruchel gives hiccup just the right level of emotion when dealing with his father while butler is in full `` 300 '' mode , bellowing his orders loud and clear .", "it 's a thrilling action-adventure saga with exhilarating 3-d animation , a clever comedy with witty dialogue , a coming-of-age tale with surprising depth and a sweetly poignant tale of friendship between man and animal .", "where this highly appealing comedy adventure really excels is with awesome visuals that rival avatar 's .", "the movie is in stunning 3d but it is the 4th dimension -- heart -- where it truly excels .", "blends the mythic-culture awesome of kung fu panda , the geek chic of cloudy with meatballs and the dragon-riding euphoria of avatar -lsb- without matching -rsb- the soulfulness of lilo & stitch .", "... a heck of a lot more fun than `` avatar . ''", "it 's a familiar story of friendship between man and beast , but it 's also one that never grows old .", "smartly dispensing with the usual hubbub of pop references that dot many of these films , the movie offers touching , quiet moments and imaginative , high-flying beauty . it 's fantastically entertaining .", "exuberant execution , infectious humor , and overwhelming charm .", "we may have seen such a story before , several times before actually , but somehow the creative team behind this film still manages to make it feel fresh , while keeping us engaged in its plot .", "toothless has the one precious ingredient that 's missing from so many of hollywood 's contemporary animated characters : an air of mystery .", "a soaring , roaring triumph when it comes to head-spinning visuals , MOV keeps things simple .", "a fun if lightweight adventure comedy that flies highest when it 's putting the studio 's patented 3d technology to striking use .", "on sheer visual terms , though , MOV more than delivers ; it 's the kind of movie that will stick in the memory of kids who might want to make movies when they grow up .", "it 's a harry potter-meets-avatar adventure that should delight most children and adults .", "a totally enthralling movie that despite using well-worn themes seems totally fresh . beautiful to behold and always witty , this is what i would have nominated as best film of 2010 had i seen it in time .", "though the 3-d effects are awesome , this movie also succeeds in two-dimensions because it is driven by the story and not by effects .", "has all of the right amounts of sweetness and fun , even if the story is simple .", "there are times the action lags , and when the dialogue falls back on pop cultural references it feels contrived and forced but , mostly , like the mythical creatures at the heart of this tale , the movie soars .", "MOV is a visual marvel , and not just because it 's in 3-d .", "take your kids and start saving up for the dvd , because i suspect they 'll be asking you to buy it as soon as they leave the theater .", "though the dragons are cool in their various forms and the battle scenes are epic and exciting , watching two former foes become friends is what really makes the story fly .", "-lsb- it -rsb- the notion of having a pet dragon -- just like a pet whale , or a pet lion -- is a scenario that should appeal to children of all ages .", "for its handful of faults , dragon is one of the better movies to emerge from this still-young year .", "by odin , they make it work .", "while the 3d-animated experiences ranks among the best of them , MOV is otherwise unspectacular . it 's a very solid `` it 's not pixar , but ... '' animated flick .", "it 's been a long time since i had to stifle the urge to shout , ` no no no ! ' at a movie screen in order to ensure that everything turned out okay in the end .", "baruchel , ferguson and butler supply a contagious sense of eccentricity that spreads to the supporting cast , especially the viking teens played by america ferrera and jonah hill .", "craig ferguson contributes some good moments , and how odd is it to see gerard butler involved in a film that does n't suck ?", "dreamworks sometimes manages to give pixar a run for the money . here they simply come up with a good commercial product .", "the tone moves smoothly from cartoony humor to exciting action , and the visuals - including some soaring flight sequences , augmented with subtle 3-d - are wondrous .", "it is , quite simply , a good story told in an entertaining , imaginative and heartfelt way . now come on , dreamworks ; was that really so difficult ?", "great characters , a snappy script and some dazzling aerial animation do much to elevate this film from your standard kids ' fare .", "those who enjoyed flying on dragons in 3d in avatar can do it again . the plot is overly familiar but still effective .", "dragon is n't an instant classic , but there 's emotion and darkness in it .", "here 's a smart tale with a social conscience that just happens to be told with animation - and it 's in 3d , to boot .", "deserving of the highest praise for a family film : i walked out ready to see it again , but with my kids in tow the second time around .", "the dragon designs are wonderful , the action is exciting and the anti-warmongering message is timely and persuasive .", "a visually stimulating , but slightly inconsequential `` how to '' tale .", "like james cameron 's landmark achievement , this 3-d spectacle from dreamworks is a thrilling feat of imagination and technical ingenuity .", "for the most part , the film does not put a foot wrong -lrb- though it would be interesting to learn why the adult vikings speak with thick scottish accents , while their offspring yabber away with an american twang -rrb- .", "the swarming dragon attacks may truly frighten the littlest viewers , but the depiction of the pleasures of flight and the conquering of one 's fears should make MOV a perennial delight .", "it 's a brisk , amusing piece that does n't have the weary sarcasm that besets a shark tale or kung fu panda . who needs a plastic toy and plastic meal when you have a genuinely good movie ?", "here , viking life is grim , hostile and heavy with social pressure -- kind of like gossip girl , only with dragon heads instead of handbags .", "a magnificently entertaining , beautifully rendered 3d adventure from dreamworks ...", "what saves the movie is the principal dragon , whose nickname is toothless . he 's sleek , black and powerful , with extraordinarily expressive eyes and a real sense of grandeur .", "codirectors dean deblois and chris sanders understand more about visualizing the joy of flight than james cameron ever will .", "MOV retains a dash of the modern , winking attitude that 's served as the not-always-welcome trademark of dreamworks animation , but its emphasis falls squarely on heartfelt storytelling and sumptuous images .", "the title creature in MOV is an object lesson in how to entrance a young audience with animation .", "the problem with dreamworks animation 's latest foray into soulless smirking anachronism is n't the training , or the dragons -- it 's the how to part that kills it .", "each time i go to the movies , i 'm dying to feel once again like my seven-year-old self ; overcome with exhilaration . for a few brief , shining moments , MOV was able to do that .", "snappy one-liners , interesting side characters and cracking action scenes - including a thrilling final battle - elevate this above its slightly corny premise .", "the film does n't tread any new ground , at least in terms of the narrative , but the breathtaking visuals , heartwarming themes , spirited action and energetic voice cast make this one animated title audiences of all ages should check out .", "sanders and deblois have given dreamworks animation their best entry to date .", "fun , exciting and inventive . with more films like this and kung fu panda , dreamworks could become a serious competitor in the animation field .", "there is depth to its dazzle , with a great story filled with memorable characters top lining what is sure to be the feature animation film to beat thus far this year .", "full review at movies for the masses", "... delightful and appealing , rousing and friendly , thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end .", "an upbeat , energetic and thoroughly enjoyable exercise in animated fun .", "this thing works on many levels , and it 's pretty darned cute .", "knowledge is power in this film , and i always love a good pro-intellect story ; even better , this is a pro-animal , pro-empathy story , as well . deep love of toothless the dragon as well .", "the 3d is justified , mostly by flying sequences that are certain to fuel the dreams of many a child .", "an enjoyable ride if your brain wants some time off . come for the occasional high-flying adventure , snooze for everything else .", "the incredible design and visual spectacle of dragon is its biggest asset ; the soaring flight sequences in particular rival the avatar banshee rides for airborne thrills .", "MOV does n't have the depth and resonance of a classic , but the picture 's modesty is refreshing , and its artistry is awe-inspiring -lrb- the lighting and cinematography are particularly impressive -rrb- .", "in steering a course between the rock of rude humor and the hard place of perilous drama , MOV flies high .", "it respects its audience enough without sticking to cheap shots and bad jokes .", "beautifully animated cgi adventure for youngsters has dragons and vikings and characters with names like snotlout . a decent little coming-of-age tale with parts more excellent than the whole .", "the classic `` fish out of water '' plot has been charmingly and effectively retooled for vikings and dragons - in a word , it 's adorable .", "dragon burns to satisfy a broad audience with a searing blend of rollercoaster action , winning comedy and actual emotion .", "it 's the friendship between a boy and his beast that 's at the warm heart of this film , and what a beautiful friendship it is .", "a visually spectacular boy-and-his-dragon tale that 's a thoroughly winning combination of action , humor and uplifting messages , all delivered with a happily light touch .", "do you hear that sound pixar ? it 's MOV , a lavish , thrilling , emotionally resonant film , nipping at your heels . the other studios are finally waking up to the gauntlet pixar threw down more than 15 years ago .", "following a slow , overly verbal start , this dragon tale takes flight .", "at last , dreamworks animation has made a great animated film ; a pixar-quality film , if i dare say it .", "an enjoyable family movie , with some great flight sequences - and there 's an interestingly realistic sense of the dangers involved in risking your neck for others .", "the film looks terrific . the colours burst out of the screen like fireworks and the opening dragon attack sequence is genuinely exhilarating .", "dreamworks ' latest venture into animation is thrilling for children -lrb- though too scary for under-sixes -rrb- and extremely tolerable for adults .", "magical storytelling that makes perfect family entertainment for the easter holidays .", "MOV has invention and emotion in abundance and will delight audiences of all ages with its lush visuals and smart script .", "think of the fun , wit and exhilaration of kung fu panda meeting the utter charm and cleverness of cloudy with a chance of meatballs and you 've got MOV .", "tras las \u00faltimas cintas fallidas de dreamworks animation , \u00e9sta es una realizaci\u00f3n mucho m\u00e1s fresca e inteligente .", "beautifully animated , genuinely touching and with a terrific climax , it 's the perfect family film .", "better than avatar .", "honestly , it would take several more dimensions to craft something special out of this adequate but unremarkable animated tale .", "it 's more coming-of-age dramedy or `` everything about your world view is wrong '' message movie than it is a comedy . and that seems like a waste of a funny book , some very funny actors and some darned witty animation .", "directors dean deblois and chris sanders , working from a script based on cressida cowell 's books , should be credited for the way they develop the friendship between hiccup and toothless .", "it devotes a great deal of time to aerial battles between tamed dragons and evil ones , and not much to character or story development . but it 's bright , good-looking and has high energy .", "the superb cinematographer roger deakins served as a visual consultant , pushing the palette to an unusually burnished and sophisticated level . kids may not notice the visual texture consciously , but adults will . or should .", "MOV is , like kung-fu panda , an exemplary , confident , streamlined piece of entertainment ...", "MOV takes its audience on a fire-breathing , dipping , diving ride and never looks back .", "embedded among the standard platitudes of parental tolerance and teens finding their own way , is the notion that we should try to understand our ` enemies ' instead of engaging them in perpetual , passed-through-generations warfare .", "dragon is a solid comedy-adventure , though a few more laughs would have been helpful . it will delight kids and amuse their parents .", "the most important message of -lsb- MOV -rsb- is from dreamworks to their rivals pixar . it simply reads , `` we 're baaaack . ''", "a winning combination of vivid imagery , snappy writing and a strong narrative", "parents should enjoy it , and kids will absolutely love it .", "this dog can hunt . on the ground . way-way up in the air . swimming through clouds breathing fire . imagine old yeller on a hundred pep pills .", "it is the story and characters that is the draw to me , not the 3d .", "training dragons never looked more fun .", "the film 's ethical structure is not hammered onto the narrative , but rather flows effortlessly out of it , merging story and theme in ways that are both exciting and deeply touching", "you ca n't fault a movie with the message : ` do n't kill . learn instead . '", "great fun for kids .", "deblois and sanders did a fine job with their last outing lilo and stitch , but they 've really outdone themselves with this newest creation and should give pixar a run for their money come awards time .", "with aspirin by your side , if you are a parent who does n't mind your children dreaming nightly of battling gargantuan , carnivorous , fire-breathing lizards , MOV is a comparatively cheap babysitter .", "it 's not only better than i thought it was going to be , it 's a lot better than i thought it was going to be .", "the characters are the strong suit of this film , and the story is very good as well . the animation and 3d effects are excellent , especially the flying scenes , which are reminiscent of those in ` avatar . '", "i did n't love it , but i certainly did n't hate it . there are a far worse ways to spend a saturday afternoon with your kids than seeing this movie .", "with breathtaking animation -lrb- about the best i 've seen in recent years , certainly on par with `` up '' -rrb- and a very sweet tale , `` MOV '' is one of the best films of the year thus far .", "while not quite up to the bar set with kung fu panda , dreamworks animation again proves that pixar no longer stands alone at the top of cg animated storytelling .", "the critters in ` MOV ' may not be as cuddly as the ones in ` up ' or ` the lion king , ' but in their own way they become just about as lovable .", "fanciful family fun - with lots of heart .", "a lively though disjointed 3d cartoon that never quite entices an audience to invest emotionally in its fantasy world .", "a thrilling drama interspersed with amusing comedic elements -lrb- rather than the other way around -rrb- .", "kid stuff ? maybe . but MOV , from the book by cressida cowell , works enough miracles of 3-d animation to charm your socks off .", "the plot is pocahontas , but with dragons instead of native americans . our hero befriends a dragon and discovers that flying over-sized , fire-breathing reptiles are , well , people too ...", "dreamworks has created a state of the art family movie with a young hero and all the exotic elements of a fairy tale that seems far removed from our daily life . or is it ?", "the characters are a wonderful mix of 18th century caricatured viking pirates with impressively thick beards , horned helmets & broad scottish accents with 21st century teens with american accents and plucky , adventurous dispositions willing to take risks", "kids will absolutely adore and thrill to this adventure , but it will sneak up on grown-ups who will eventually be dazzled both by the beauty of the visuals and the masterful storytelling .", "with MOV , the filmmakers tone down the glib factor and tell a pretty good action yarn , a boy-and-his-dragon story filled with fiery viking battles , swordplay and dazzling aerial imagery aboard the flying reptiles .", "dreamworks may have topped itself with MOV , an exciting , fun and sensationally entertaining movie for everyone , a thrilling action adventure fantasy that should slay the competition and grab great word of mouth .", "it has winningly potteresque teen-dragon-slayer classes , a queen-bee dragon as grand as godzilla , and a layer of age-of-terror allegory about the ignorance bred by jingoism .", "a fast-paced , funny adventure , offsetting its more grounded scenes with some breathtaking flights of fancy - and in an age when fundamentalism and secularism are constantly at war , it teaches children never simply to believe what they read .", "a boy and his dragon . what kid with a library card or kindle has n't daydreamed about that ?", "all of this is presented in a charming , generally amusing fashion .", "with the most striking 3d yet produced for an animated film , perfect voice work , and a lovely script , MOV proves that the breakthrough year for the form in 2009 could be a breakthrough era . it 's not over .", "beautifully animated and superbly written , this is a hugely entertaining , frequently funny and emotionally engaging adventure with thrilling action sequences and a terrific voice cast .", "brightly colored , beautifully directed , exciting , entertaining and charming -- with little hint of postmodern smugness .", "a film that makes family night at the movies worth the price of admission again .", "a perfectly entertaining movie enhanced by the 3-d effects . sure to become a classic for the kids -lrb- and adults -rrb- .", "tenderness , beauty and exhilaration are the movie 's great strengths .", "the film truly starts to soar when hiccup takes his first ride on toothless .", "the 3-d throughout MOV is perhaps the best match with animation yet -- exhilarating when it 's supposed to be , yet integrated into the film rather than seemingly pasted on .", "one of the pleasures in this wise , emotionally bold pg ride is there 's nary a wink , nudge or nod to popular culture .", "there are only a couple of quiet moments ... but the movie makes the occasional calmness count .", "an animated movie with the courage to take itself seriously and entertain you by being genuinely good , as opposed to tricking itself out with pointless hipness .", "MOV uses its whiz-bang technology to amplify feelings as well as dimension and scale . the big optical wow is only the half of it .", "swift action , a smart script , stunning animation and capable set of voice actors come together for a movie that soars .", "the surprise of the 3d animated adventure MOV is n't that once again the digitally-rendered creatures dazzle -- it 's that the movie does too .", "what we have here is an exhilarating epic that mixes comedic and touching moments with some of the best action sequences ever created with cgi animation .", "MOV is one animated movie where the background images are at least as interesting -- and sometimes more interesting -- than what 's in the foreground .", "it looks very cool , especially in three dimensions .", "the humour is delightful and consistent ... all age groups might equally appreciate the film 's pertinent point that learning about a perceived enemy is more valuable than fight-or-flight .", "MOV may be the most emotionally satisfying boy-meets-creature movie since e.t. - and that 's not a comparison made lightly .", "happily , toothless , like stitch , combines affects of cats , dogs , bats , lizards , and other independent-minded creatures , known and unknown .", "there 's lots of action but there 's even more heart .", "it 's all right .", "beautifully crafted and effortlessly entertaining , this is an unexpected triumph .", "MOV glossily repackages two of the most common themes echoed in animated family movies : embracing uniqueness and rebelling against conformity .", "three cheers to dreamworks for zipping it , at long last : in laying aside the post-modern quips , they 've rediscovered an airborne sense of joy .", "instead of relying on dizzying gimmicks , dreamworks ' new animated feature simply revels in the sheer heart-pumping pleasure of watching action unfold through those buddy holly-style glasses .", "it 's a foolproof scheme for picture making : take the plot elements of favorite movies , paint the concoction with bright colors so it looks like the zazziest customized car , set it running at nascar speed , and you have MOV .", "it 's charming , funny and a lot like avatar , though less solemn and an hour shorter .", "based on the book by cressida cowell , the movie from writer-director dean dubois is funny , well-drawn and imaginatively structured so that adults need have no fear about taking the kids to it .", "what helps elevate MOV above the glut of other recent animated fare is its message about tolerance and realizing that your enemy may not be as different as you think .", "this is the best animated film since coraline . it proves that adventure can be fun and still say something .", "undoubtedly dreamworks ' best film yet , and quite probably the best dragon movie ever made .", "everything from the angle of the shot to the speed of the editing projects an end visual that feels like you 're either on toothless ' back or you get an outsider perspective of just how fast he 's flying ." ], "summary": "boasting dazzling animation , a script with surprising dramatic depth , and thrilling 3-d sequences , MOV soars .", "id": "770782733" }, { "movie": "mommy_2015", "reviews": [ "boasting dynamite performances , `` MOV '' excels as a confrontational , compassionate melodrama about the anguishing dilemmas of caretaking . it 's a revelation .", "though not a musical , `` MOV '' often feels like one as it swells and ebbs on the melodramatic currents of love , pain and frustration . it is also , within its very modest means , formally audacious .", "every step it makes - right down to , but especially , its final scene - it makes both instinctually and with utter , disarming confidence .", "-lsb- dolan -rsb- 's found pilon as -lrb- an exaggerated ? -rrb- stand-in to honor unconditional maternal love in a bravura film which won the cannes grand jury prize . the 139 minute movie never lags , by turns exhilarating and exhausting .", "love or loathe -lsb- dolan -rsb- , it 's difficult not to be dazzled .", "dolan is not going to let you forget who 's boss . as for myself , i quit .", "-lsb- it -rsb- can be seen as a tribute to maternal devotion , though i saw it for a long time as a study in perilous self-delusion .", "though dolan is guilty of inhaling the fragrance of his own artistry , his unfiltered sincerity is often piercing and never less than riveting , even when it 's all too much to take .", "clocking in at an unfiltered - some would call indulgent - 129 minutes , MOV gives the impression of having burst straight from dolan 's instincts onto the screen .", "startlingly original , compellingly watchable character study that is simultaneously hilarious , appalling and sad .", "a missed opportunity where subject matter and approach clash more than they complement .", "MOV is first and foremost a mother-and-son story , but it 's also a surprisingly delicate exploration of lonely lives , and the temporary islands of companionship that make them bearable .", "riveting lead performances make it understandable why this overlong abuse melodrama was n't cut to a more manageable length", "cinema does n't come much more exuberant and raw .", "when xavier dolan 's tremendous empathy for the abandoned , medicated , and economically stressed is given full visual flight , it 's easy to get lost in the rush .", "you feel the movie closing in on you the same way that life is closing in on the characters .", "a montage to `` wonderwall '' -lrb- every last note of it -rrb- seems to sum up the movie ; too much , but exhilarating all the same .", "even when director dolan gets self-indulgent , he 's a one-man fireworks display . his images jump off the screen . and just watch anne dorval . she practically dares you not to .", "tragic yet luminous , MOV is a film of astounding violence and grief punctuated by bursts of unmitigated glee .", "watch sparks fly when sonny and MOV are in a room .", "the outsized gestures often land with genuine emotion .", "dolan does n't play anything half-assed .", "subtle it is not , -lrb- there are suicide attempts and straitjackets and glassings and excruciating karaoke -rrb- but subtlety can suck it when the result is this vibrant and vital .", "it comes at you baying and rattling like an early pedro almod\u00f3var comedy , threaded through with an infectious love of full-throttle melodrama , and flinging its energy right back to the cheap seats , thanks to dolan 's customarily zippy design choices .", "a film of suffocating power and surprising warmth .", "MOV is simply terrific , already one of the best films of the year . it 's a film of rare poignancy and insight told with a delightfully nasal qu\u00e9bequois timbre .", "the cinematic frame might have contracted , but there 's a kind of ferocious compassion in dolan 's vision , and its embrace is startlingly wide .", "unsettling drama from prolific canadian director xavier dolan tells of the troubled relationship between a feisty , attractive middle-aged single mother -lrb- anne dorval -rrb- and her unbridled , attention-deficient teenage son -lrb- antoine-olivier pilon -rrb- .", "recalling andrea arnold 's similarly angst-ridden teen drama fish tank -lrb- 2009 -rrb- , MOV blazes across the screen thanks to dolan 's impeccable taste in pop music soundtracks and visual compositions .", "MOV is a film about love and compassion , and it is wonderful . see it .", "french-canadian director xavier dolan reveals stark new energy in his fifth film .", "MOV is going to linger . the love , the laughter , the anger and the sorrow -- it sticks .", "intense tale of unstable teen is full of profanity , violence", "like so much cinema , MOV functions at a gut level - you either instinctively get it or you do n't . as to whether or not it amounts to much more than a french-canadian , adhd-style instagram film , i 'm unconvinced but fascinated as to dolan 's next move .", "many words describe the canadian film , `` MOV . '' unpleasant , violent and heartbreaking are just a few .", "a work of haunting power .", "it succeeds because it manages to fill every frame with the stuff of life , suffuse every scene with the wonderful horror of being .", "MOV feels like a quantum leap in empathy from dolan 's previous films .", "it begins at a fever pitch and maintains that degree of in-your-face intensity for well over two hours , to either exhilarating or exhausting effect , depending on one 's tolerance level .", "MOV is a film of big emotions and despite the use of the unconventional 1:1 format , dolan has made a film that positively explodes off of the screen . like each film in this canadian wunderkind 's filmography , this is a work of vital immediacy .", "MOV certainly does not lack for energy , particularly when pilon is throwing one of his fits ...", "heartbreaking , joyous , sad , and glorious , MOV is pure exhilaration .", "dolan 's previous four films established him as an original and exciting voice . with the wildly funny , emotionally messy and wholly wonderful MOV the filmmaker steps into the big league - aged just 25 .", "dolan is an excellent manipulator of melodrama , which is in no way offensive until his film makes strong , dangerous statements about mental health and institutionalization .", "thrust into the icy blond landscape of steve 's violent mind , these two women create the internal tension that winds the movie .", "dolan 's fifth feature feels like a strong step forward , striking his most considered balance yet between style and substance , drama-queen posturing and real heartfelt depth .", "this is a mature , funny and tragic mother 's tale . the real feast lies in the performances .", "there are moments of great tenderness in this study of an inextinguishable toxic love .", "MOV is unbridled brilliance , dolan is one of the world 's most exciting filmmakers .", "mixing the brash brio of pedro almod\u00f3var and the deep intimacy of an ingmar bergman chamber drama , xavier dolan 's MOV is a riveting character-driven film , and his finest yet .", "there 's potential in dolan 's beautifully-styled visuals , sure , but at a certain point , a really pretty tracking shot does n't count as a narrative choice .", "the trademark dolan stylistic flourishes are still on display , but they 're all there this time around to support the emotional narrative .", "defiantly a movie for the here and now , something so immediate , its very form resembles instagram photos or smartphone videos .", "the most accomplished consummation yet of -lsb- dolan 's -rsb- thematic fascinations , cinematographic realisations , and pop art aspirations , which is a long way of saying it 's f *** ing excellent .", "MOV is a heart-swelling , heartbreaking , breathtaking piece of cinema .", "you may have to brace yourself for it , but it is a rewarding experience . that is what we ask of cinema , to take us difficult places with the trust that the filmmaker will take care of us .", "a blast of pure cinema , an intense , intimate drama ... that vividly captures a range of exhilarating emotions from elation to despair .", "a sweeping drama , funny , wild and heartbreaking . also shot in a square 1:1 aspect ratio , and what could have been a gimmick is used to great effect .", "dolan fully embraces his melodramatic tendencies ... this is a gaudy , exuberant film , as messy as it is astounding .", "although the performances are outstanding , and there 's plenty of dolan 's trademark vigour , it 's a long and at times overindulgent examination of a hyperactive teenager , his white-trash mum and their kindly neighbour .", "dolan loves close-ups and he gives his actors every chance to demonstrate their talent for ringing the emotional changes in a single take .", "as outrageous as it is insightful , MOV is a mother-and-son melodrama taken to operatic heights .", "the plotting is wayward and haphazard but the film is made and performed with such frankness and emotional intensity that its occasional stumbles never seem a problem .", "dorval and cl\u00e9ment are both exceptional , their brilliantly controlled performances contrasting with the explosive energy of rising star pilon , who looks set to burst out of the screen and into the auditorium .", "it 's a heartbreaking film that leads us to the edge , but along the way , there is humour , hope and a compelling raw energy that bonds and divides mother and son", "MOV is a thrilling if overlong experience , as often funny as horrifying , its emotions dizzying and its climax miraculously both bleak and hopeful .", "a hugely emotional film that makes no apologies for its engagement with the ripest melodrama .", "a funny , heartbreaking and , above all , original work from canadian enfant terrible xavier dolan .", "i suppose the relationship is oedipal or primal or something or other , but mostly it 's just an excuse for dolan to stage a series of gaudy shout-fests .", "the film 's ostentatiousness never overshadows the brilliantly complex lead performance by dorval , who runs the gamut from tacky gusto to cynical calculation .", "one of the most jaw-dropping movies in recent years , this blackly comical drama is the most audacious work yet from canadian filmmaker xavier dolan ...", "offers up a rash of extraordinary performances , dialogue and direction as it tells a tale of a hard-living mother who loves her teenage son , who 's a rather at-times charming , intermittently violent , skateboarding typhoon of a challenge to live with .", "you 'd think twice about providing steve a foster home , or an aperitif .", "MOV is an unabashed melodrama that 's constantly swinging for the fences , and the emotional force of the picture is irresistible .", "this is easily dolan 's best film , and it 's exciting to think how many times we might have to revise that statement over the years to come .", "not exclusively a love-it-or-hate-it proposition - even its admirers will have moments when they ca n't stand to watch .", "it borders on pretentious but never is , thanks largely to dorval 's wonderful , authentic performance as the titular everywoman .", "dolan has previously been accused of style over substance but here he draws both magnificently together . it 's perhaps a little too long , but MOV is a movie to make you feel alive .", "knockout performances from a trio of dolan regulars create vivid , complex characters that sustain us through a rollercoaster ride between extremes of joy and pain .", "it 's an uproariously emotional movie , to all appearances painfully personal and featuring performances which are almost operatic in scale .", "these three performances are simply perfect .", "edgy and emotionally explosive , it individualizes an exhausting struggle many parents are forced to endure .", "a story of the combative relationship between a mother and her son filled with delirious swells of effusive love and sudden plummets into madness and hate .", "raw performances and stylistic experimentation enhance the fifth feature from 25-year-old director xavier dolan .", "dolan is able to weave dialogue , camerawork , a fluid yet urgent editing style , and a magpie 's ear for pop music into a cinematic world that you can almost hold in your hand before it starts spilling over .", "anne dorval , antoine olivier pilon and suzanne cl\u00e9ment give scary-good performances .", "there 's not much more to MOV than these anguished character studies . they go round and round , yet a narrative never coalesces .", "the movie 's overlong , underpopulated and often devastating to watch . but it 's told with an uncanny realism , and when it 's over you feel shaken and a little sick - and realize that you can finally exhale .", "mother and son gesticulate wildly but remain undefined ; dolan 's blandly showy aesthetic matches the vainly hectic action .", "xavier donlan extracts astounding levels of emotional depth from his trio of lead actors , all of whom respond to his direction with revelatory performances .", "the volatile , unbridled emotion of `` MOV '' - its sheer life force - makes up for its structural weaknesses ...", "the movie 's rhythm is jumpy , accelerated and alive .", "that the result is a film that feels intimate and genuine about these characters is a testament to how well dolan exploits the phony trappings .", "`` MOV '' is a tour-de-force , and xavier dolan is a force to be reckoned with .", "`` MOV '' is a serious movie for serious moviegoers . the characters are so well constructed that we feel compelled to await the outcome of their fates .", "the picture can be a frustrating sit as it reaches an indulgent run time , but it 's also dolan 's best feature to date , showcasing exceptional performances from the cast .", "a portrait of familial crisis so pointed and wrenching that though nearly two-and-a-half hours long , it rarely fails to engross -- and to an extent -- exhaust .", "dolan is only 25 , and though he does n't have orson welles beat , this has to be one of the best films ever written and directed by a 25-year-old .", "`` MOV '' is a shockingly honest , nerve-wracking and dazzling piece of cinema . if this does n't rattle your soul , you do n't have one .", "scary and wild , forthright and furious .", "often intense but thoroughly likable and relevant . -lrb- writer-director xavier -rrb- dolan 's best film out of the five he has made to date . it is likely premature to call it his masterpiece though , since he is all of 25 years old .", "dolan 's enthusiasm jolts the film with energy at almost every turn . ultimately , however , it 's the performers who keep the material emotionally grounded .", "left me not unmoved but mostly annoyed .", "`` MOV '' is a passionate and generous portrait of three intersecting lives on the drab outer margins of middle-class society , told without condescension or sugary coating by an artist taking full command of his powers .", "like the bastard child of john cassavetes and ingmar bergman , prolific french canadian film director xavier dolan has made an exhilarating , intimate family drama that digs deep and plays dirty .", "heartbreaking , if you can get past all the yelling .", "not since the coen brothers ' blood simple has a movie confirmed a voice this fresh and visual .", "MOV is dolan 's own problem child . consequently , it proves fitting that his evident love for it not only saves it but establishes it as a potent reminder that sometimes cinema feels most vital when it 's this raw and messy .", "xavier dolan ranks as the most accomplished young dramatic filmmaker in north america , and this engrossing character study , his fifth feature , demonstrates an emotional perspicacity one might expect from an artist many years his senior .", "even with its disconnects , MOV is an ambitious film about the dark side of family , and it wants to connect . perhaps it even might ." ], "summary": "as challenging as it is rewarding , MOV finds writer-director xavier dolan taking another impressive step forward .", "id": "771379421" }, { "movie": "1003361-cabinet_of_dr_caligari", "reviews": [ "a seminal horror movie , the cabinet of dr. caligari was hailed upon its initial release as the first film to elevate the cinema from the realm of popular entertainment to that of high art .", "the influence of robert wiene 's caligari is so great that it threatens to obscure the work itself .", "even if taken as social or freudian statement , caligari 's real star attraction is in the visuals .", "pre-dating even early genre landmarks nosferatu -lrb- 1922 -rrb- and metropolis -lrb- 1926 -rrb- by some distance , robert wiene 's silent film is both influential and one of a kind .", "a classic . visually stunning and more experimental than anything coming out today .", "still creepy good entertainment on a rainy day", "a foundational nightmare vision", "this film has madness running all the way through it , a madness that seeps from story into reality and back again .", "with its unusual look and neatly folding method of storytelling `` the cabinet of dr. caligari '' is an artistically uninhibited silent horror film that still sends chills .", "a case can be made that caligari was the first true horror film .", "the story is a revolution of wickedness : a wheel of bizarre occurrences and unsettling characters that engulf the peaceful serenity of a small , oddly designed town .", "caligari , however edited , is still a powerhouse of a horror film , a significant breakthrough in style and in expression : a poetical vision .", "a simple , subversive film made all the more interesting because of its style .", "it is difficult to imagine the film done better with the benefit of sound , colour , or any innovation since .", "one of the great-grandfathers of horror cinema ... and it 's still pretty darn creepy today .", "surrealist cinema begins right here", "a still-breathtaking exploration of visual possibilities that set a template for terror , which many modern films still follow .", "curiously , though it is considered a milestone in film history , its technique is rarely imitated .", "the sheer audacity of the film 's physical and psychological conceit will haunt you forever .", "-lsb- that wiene , -rsb- this outsider , with no knowledge of studio customs , no reverence for studio traditions , should have turned out the cabinet of dr. caligari seems a thing almost too strange for belief .", "the cabinet of dr. caligari illustrates something more eternal : about great manipulators , and the underlying anxiety that either society has gone mad , or we have .", "thrilling , chilling , electrifying .", "the vertiginous sets synthesize with the film 's more rudimentary narrative of doubling to achieve radically luminous social ends .", "a twisted tale of murder , kidnap , madness and an ancient book , all told in flashback by a young man from a park bench .", "the mother lode of the horror genre , this german expressionist movie is directed by robert wiene and presents a full smorgasbord of pop-eyed terror , lunatics , murderers and possessed somnambulists in its eerie shadows .", "just as dreams take complex personalities and boil them down to friend or foe , so too the MOV brims with archetypes : the demented doctor , the handsome hero , the innocent ing\u00e9nue .", "warped in all senses , fascinating and bizarre ...", "other areas of innovation and influence are often overstated , but its silent scream still registers .", "this freshly 4k-ed masterpiece of german expressionism deserves to be seen on the big screen . track it down and be rewarded with possibly cinema 's first ever twist ending .", "wiene 's expressionistic masterpiece is required viewing for lovers of the gothic and the weird .", "a landmark of expressionist cinema and contains many dazzling set pieces .", "well crafted mystery thriller that is far more satisfying than most modern hollywood formula fare", "groundbreaking , but less a good film than a good idea for one .", "this is more than just a textbook classic ; the narrative frame creates ambiguities that hold certain elements of the story in disturbing suspension . a one-of-a-kind masterpiece .", "one of those rare , amazing technical accomplishments that also succeeds as art .", "robert wiene has made perfect use of settings designed by hermann warm , walter reimann and walter roehrig , settings that squeeze and turn and adjust the eye and through the eye the mentality .", "undoubtedly one of the most exciting and inspired horror movies ever made .", "set a standard for creepiness that has never been matched .", "you have never seen anything like it ." ], "summary": "arguably the first true horror film , the cabinet of dr. caligari set a brilliantly high bar for the genre -- and remains terrifying nearly a century after it first stalked the screen .", "id": "17201" }, { "movie": "bridge_of_spies", "reviews": [ "sober but stirring ...", "if you can overlook the three or four endings , each more overdone than the last , there 's a lot to like here .", "`` MOV '' is a neat encapsulation of america 's great commercial director pushing for sophistication while sticking to familiar beats .", "hanks has never seemed more like a modern jimmy stewart , drink in hand , just looking to get home to his bed , as the script leans into its cavalcade of slightly bizarre negotiations with eastern european goons .", "a quaint and a romanticized look at largely unsung american heroes .", "the film has a streamlined efficiency , but it feels like the work of a master who wants to please rather than probe .", "what really manages to standout is the impeccable and sensational performance of emmy award nominee mark rylance , who steals and owns every scene he 's present .", "MOV is good , just not `` steven spielberg good . ''", "confirms that when it comes to historic dramas , steven spielberg is still the best .", "this is a handsome and mature entertainment , rich with novelistic intrigue .", "spielberg 's best film since saving private ryan .", "steven spielberg 's casual excellence has reached a point where we take it for granted . the overwhelming success of a film like MOV shows why we do so to our detriment .", "steven spielberg reteaming with tom hanks and with help from the coen brothers and a great team has made a masterful film that ranks high on the list of anything he has ever done .", "folks will go to MOV for -lsb- tom -rsb- hanks , but will stumble out stunned by -lsb- mark -rsb- rylance .", "a terrific example , like ` lincoln , ' of the perennially underrated darker and conflicted side of spielberg .", "a crackling cold war espionage thriller that thrums with suspense and fleet precision .", "its earnestness and wry , folksy humor seem to come moseying in from the past , from the film days of old , when politics did n't have to be so dang murky or pointed .", "entertaining and thought provoking , MOV gives real historical events a human face , and rates as a surprising crowd pleaser in the process .", "hanks does this sort of thing so well that it 's mostly a pleasure to go along for the ride .", "does n't manipulate us nearly as well as its hero manipulates russia and east germany .", "a riveting , feel-good time for the whole family ...", "MOV has a brassy and justified confidence in its own narrative flair .", "an absorbing true-life espionage tale very smoothly handled by old pros who know what they 're doing .", "re-invoking his 1990s reputation as the baby boomers ' james stewart , hanks gives good value as the increasingly furrow-browed brooklyn insurance claims lawyer james b. donovan .", "in every single moment you feel like you 're in the hands of an absolute master of the cinematic form .", "there are moments of pure genius , and scenes that miss their mark . the end result is a fine film , but not a major achievement .", "when steven spielberg and tom hanks get together the results can be harrowing and epochal like in saving private ryan or they can be desultory and dull like in the terminal . MOV sits at an unsatisfying spot in between ;", "in its unexpected way , MOV is quite the patient and special piece of work .", "co-scripted by the coen brothers and british writer matt charman , it is a consummately crafted , richly layered affair , with fine performances from tom hanks and mark rylance . the one hitch is that it is just too wholesome ." ], "summary": "MOV finds new life in hollywood 's classic cold war espionage thriller formula , thanks to reliably outstanding work from steven spielberg and tom hanks .", "id": "771379326" }, { "movie": "ordinary_people", "reviews": [ "an uncomfortable film , one that leaves you aching for its characters . expect a bit of a funk afterward .", "directed by robert redford -lrb- who won an oscar , as did the film itself -rrb- , in his dazzling directorial debut , MOV is at once stuck in the late 1970s and impeccably timeless .", "redford never has topped his directorial debut .", "... an uncommonly rich and rewarding cinematic experience .", "a moving , intelligent and funny film about disasters that are commonplace to everyone except the people who experience them .", "a sensitive portrait about a young man struggling to regain equilibrium after his brother 's death that helps us gain a fresh perspective on adolescence and adulthood .", "the 1980 drama has n't aged well .", "it is redford 's ability to let the movie breathe ... that forces the viewer to experience the film on a visceral level .", "an intelligent , perceptive , and deeply moving film .", "it works fairly on the screen , but holds none of the effectiveness of guest 's novel .", "despite its flaws , MOV is a powerful depiction of the damage done when human beings can no longer communicate with those closest to them", "this is a film that will ring true many viewers . the ability of the film to touch ` ordinary ' folk so strongly and honestly is the mark of a true classic .", "it would be unfair to blame MOV for the culture from which it springs ; and , within its limits , this is an entertaining and skillful film .", "despite the sponginess of the content , hutton 's extraordinary film acting debut ought to assure his famous novice director a long , successful career behind the camera .", "under redford 's direction , even the smallest scenes practically leap off the screen .", "with the skill of a practiced surgeon , redford gradually peels away the protective layers of his characters , exposing their flaws , their darkest fears and ultimately , their innermost feelings .", "it is an extraordinary achievement in an unforgettable film .", "this is still an auspicious directorial debut that stands as one of the first films to deal intelligently with the role of therapy .", "better than forever being dismissed with a huffy `` i ca n't believe that beat raging bull '' .", "a masterpiece .", "what redford accomplishes is to provide an excellent portrait of how well families can hide their inner turmoil from the prying eyes of outsiders .", "story of emotional honesty is best for older kids .", "an actors ' movie and an advert for therapy , extremely bitter , but handsomely directed in its elegant pretentiousness .", "a beautifully acted film about the impact of a family tragedy on those who blame themselves and others .", "this dissection of family mores in upscale suburbia is emotionally powerful , decidedly unsentimental , and the suitable text for the feature directorial debut of robert redford .", "for an oscar-winner it 's unusually bleak but the power is very carefully controlled .", "the film looks austere and serious , rather as if it had been shot inside a frigidaire , and the oppressiveness of the images tends to strangle laughter , even at the most absurd excesses of alvin sargent 's script .", "robert redford chose to adapt judith guest 's novel as his first directorial effort , with impressive results .", "only reaching chekhovian heights in its dreams .", "an austere and delicate examination of the ways in which a likable family falters under pressure and struggles , with ambiguous results , to renew itself .", "a powerfully intimate domestic drama .", "fully deserving of its many accolades ." ], "summary": "though shot through with bitterness and sorrow , robert redford 's directorial debut is absorbing and well-acted .", "id": "13029" }, { "movie": "national_lampoons_animal_house", "reviews": [ "director john landis made a film that will probably remain fresh and fun for as long as kids go to college .", "almost everyone else has at least one funny scene to equal belushi 's greatest moments .", "see website for more details .", "arguably the most influential comedy of our time .", "obscene , absurd and hilarious , animal house is a genre classic .", "while the low comedy is undeniably effective , the film leaves behind a bad taste of snobbery and petty meanness .", "i never liked this . i never will . my apologies to all its diehard fans .", "the lampoon people understand the darkest secret of an american college education : one of the noblest reasons to go is to spend four years studying sex .", "there 's enough bite and bawdiness to provide lots of smiles and several broad guffaws .", "`` animal house '' never settles for just funny . it always strives for double-secret funny .", "a masterpiece in anarchy .", "growing old disgracefully , animal house is every bit as good as you remember .", "easily one of the best teen sex comedies of all time and quite possibly the best frat comedy ever made .", "john belushi 's raucous toga party is n't for young kids .", "the spirit of national lampoon , as well as the voice of a generation ...", "a nice piece of counterculture which takes place at a time when there was n't much counterculture out there", "endlessly quotable , populated by endearing and unique characters , and blessed with a great score that mixes elmer bernstein 's orchestral maneuvers with catchy oldies , this riotous comedy has lost none of its appeal over the years .", "you may not care to take up permanent spiritual residence at animal house , but it 's funny place to visit .", "animal house is a self-congratulatory mess ; but it 's also spattered with terrific one-liners and sight gags , and it 's the best showcase extant for john belushi 's subversive , attention-grabbing screen presence .", "animal house brandit le titre de film culte avec honneur .", "a gem .", "ramis , landis and their colleagues created a party film that 's deeply rooted in the soil of popular culture .", "an unashamed sense of its own fantasy is coupled with classically mounted slapstick ; nostalgia mixes with cynicism in seductive proportions ; and john belushi 's central performance as brain-damaged slob-cum-thief of baghdad is wonderful .", "great fun", "national lampoon 's animal house is by no means one long howl , but it 's often very funny , with gags that are effective in a dependable , all-purpose way .", "the movie is vulgar , raunchy , ribald , and occasionally scatological . it is also the funniest comedy since mel brooks made the producers .", "matheson e riegert s\u0103o pobres substitutos para chevy chase e bill murray - e , embora belushi esteja hil\u00e1rio como de h\u00e1bito , o filme tornou-se fatalmente anacr\u00f4nico .", "gonzo made manifest , aided by massive amounts of alcohol and an astringent stupidity too calculated to be stupid .", "one of the all-time classic movies , and a career-defining performance by belushi make this mandatory viewing for any movie lover .", "... incredibly well cast , a fact that might have as much to do with it 's persistence in the collective imagination as anything else .", "animal house is as funny today as it was 25 years ago .", "a dated , rarely funny celebration of being spoiled and white .", "what 's not to love about this movie ? its got frat parties , beer , good music , full frontal nudity , and john belushi dressed like a pirate", "-lsb- an -rsb- eternally inexplicable hit about out-of-control fratboys in the early sixties .", "this was the first of those crazy-college-antics films and remains , in most ways , the best .", "it serves its purpose by entertaining us ." ], "summary": "the talents of director john landis and saturday night live 's irrepressible john belushi conspired to create a rambunctious , subversive college comedy that continues to resonate .", "id": "16577" }, { "movie": "1019641-splash", "reviews": [ "a sweet good-hearted romance , and the first real sign that both star and director were here to stay .", "overlong , but makes a comedic ` MOV ' anyway .", "MOV may feature a heroine with fins , but it 's mostly a standard love story , albeit one with some delightful new twists .", "it 's also very funny , thanks largely to candy in the lecherous fat sidekick role , and a string of set pieces that show hannah as , quite literally , a fish out of water .", "ideal sunday afternoon entertainment", "the movie is cute , light , and fluffy , perhaps not the laugh-fest i had remembered but enough to get by .", "MOV is probably the ultimate fish-out-of-water film , primarily because it literally features a fish out of water .", "MOV is a light-hearted comedy directed by ron howard that sparkles here and there thanks to its fairy tale elements .", "very dated , but still fun", "it 's too bad the relentlessly conventional minds that made this movie could n't have made the leap from sitcom to comedy .", "it 's all been downhill from here for ron howard", "howard demonstrates exactly the correct soft touch , skirting the myriad problems of taste .", "a romantic comedy that is as salty and bracing as a plunge in the surf .", "fishy fairy tale the wrong hook on relationships .", "this charming romantic comedy touched a chord with audiences around the world and propelled its stars tom hanks and daryl hannah , along with director ron howard , to hollywood 's front rank .", "line up a row of howard 's films and ask someone to choose . chances are , their hands will fall to MOV as often as any other", "hannah does wonders with her thankless job , flitting tiny moments of joy and confusion across her face .", "although film is a bit uneven , production benefits from a tasty look , an airy tone , and a delectable , unblemished performance from hannah .", "the movie that really showed tom hanks ' promise as a deliverer of great comedy and heart-warming pathos .", "director ron howard has a good sense of the whimsical , and his film is sweet and unpretentious , though somewhat ribald when one realizes the studio from whence it sprang .", "its appeal is based almost entirely on regression -- a thematic regression to infancy and a stylistic regression to the most lulling kind of tv blandness .", "a wonderful , comic fantasy that helped launch hanks to stardom .", "bizarrely overrated gimmick comedy" ], "summary": "a perfectly light , warmly funny romantic comedy that 's kept afloat by ron howard 's unobtrusive direction and charming performances from tom hanks and daryl hannah .", "id": "12345" }, { "movie": "secretary", "reviews": [ "goes to extremes , but it takes slow , purposeful steps to get there .", "both lead performances are earnest in the extreme and that the psychological explanations for what 's shown on screen are facile , at best .", "it is truly original in its tone , its choices made and paths taken .", "a good piece of writing .", "depending upon your reaction to this movie , you may never again be able to look at a red felt sharpie pen without disgust , a thrill , or the giggles .", "the director , steven shainberg , has succeeded by focusing intently on his characters , making them quirky individuals rather than figures of fun .", "a different kind of love story - one that is dark , disturbing , painful to watch , yet compelling .", "MOV manages a neat trick , bundling the flowers of perversity , comedy and romance into a strangely tempting bouquet of a movie .", "an edgy , cleverly written indie that simply derails shortly before the final stretch .", "one of the best of a growing strain of daring films ... that argue that any sexual relationship that does n't hurt anyone and works for its participants is a relationship that is worthy of our respect .", "provocative , funny and one of the more offbeat love stories you 're ever going to see .", "MOV operates on a level devoid of any plausibility or satisfaction . it 's cold , overly-calculated , tasteless and meaningless in nearly every way possible .", "silliness pervades the movie , even in small details .", "a sly female empowerment movie , although not in a way anyone would expect .", "playfully subversive and oddly life-affirming .", "MOV might be too hot to handle for prudes and fuddy-duddies . but then again , it 's the kind of film they might enjoy the most .", "it has an integrity to the kinkiness of its theme that does n't shake loose but you 'll get more out of it if you bring your analyst along with you .", "a grande proeza do filme \u00e9 mostrar que , para os personagens de gyllenhaal e spader , seus desvios de personalidade n\u0103o s\u0103o defeitos , mas um caminho diferente para a felicidade .", "if there 's a joke here , it 's on anybody who 's too uptight to groove on the whatever-gets-you-through-the-night love story MOV envisions .", "contradicts everything we 've come to expect from movies nowadays . instead of simply handling conventional material in a conventional way , MOV takes the most unexpected material and handles it in the most unexpected way .", "its rewards are small , and not commensurate with its potential ... in the end , much of what makes MOV so interesting is ultimately confounding , and vice versa .", "if you like your comedy dark and slightly freaky , then steve shainberg 's film deserves your attention .", "i found the movie a bit of a bore .", "the graduate by way of humiliation and water sports .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- about as compelling as a corn flakes commercial .", "this is one of those movies that could have gone all wrong , but it hits all the right notes .", "if s&m seems like a strange route to true love , maybe it is , but it 's to this film 's -lrb- and its makers ' -rrb- credit that we believe that that 's exactly what these two people need to find each other -- and themselves .", "the characters in MOV never feel the least bit human .", "MOV is weird , but it works .", "for all its bunuellian pretensions , MOV is deeply conventional : edward and lee accept their bondage as the way to a more fulfilling life . it 's the filmmakers who need to be spanked .", "for grownups only , this is a sort of ... romance .", "gyllenhaal is so winsome , so self-possessed , so knowing in her innocence , that she makes bondage seem -lrb- pardon the pun -rrb- captivating .", "it 's an interesting exploration of people finding and accepting themselves and then finding the puzzle piece that fits this new shape .", "even as the stakes are raised in MOV 's sexual give and take , the movie retains its detached , private mood .", "sure , its artistic porn , but porn , nonetheless .", "anybody remember shannon tweed ?", "even though MOV goes down an uncomfortable road , it does so in a way that is refreshingly honest , intelligent , and eminently watchable .", "the film was cute and well-acted and tastefully directed and its humor well-placed , but it went nowhere with its muted story .", "it does what good films do best ; that is to provoke us , push our buttons , make us think and maybe even entertain us in the process .", "suspend your inclination toward the politically correct for a couple of hours and i bet you 'll find yourself , as i did , rooting for these two loonies to live slappily ever after .", "what keeps the movie going is the riotously funny and supremely self-controlled performance by gyllenhaal .", "MOV is a piffle . i did n't hate it . and i would n't have been upset if the film had broken and the last 30 minutes were forever lost to me .", "a fairy tale romance wrapped within the fantasia of sadomasochistic games , steven shainberg 's MOV takes devious routes only to arrive at an old-fashioned finale .", "the movie seems to lurch at times from light to dark , from happiness to horror , from merely sinful to downright savage . intimacy and s&m tastes have that effect on people who are playing out such a strange story .", "MOV is one of the rare films that knows how to make fun of fetishes while having fun with them , and all the while taking them as seriously as the people on screen surely do .", "for all the dolorous trim , MOV is a genial romance that maintains a surprisingly buoyant tone throughout , notwithstanding some of the writers ' sporadic dips into pop freudianism .", "makes s&m seem very romantic , and maggie gyllenhaal is a delight .", "disturbing yet engrossing .", "MOV is a love story in very much the same way that schindler 's list is a comedy .", "with its rushed pace and is n't - this-wacky soundtrack , the film exudes tv shallowness , and by the time it arrives at its absurdly happy ending , it has all the impact of a pinch .", "MOV explodes with juicy innuendo , even from its opening moments .", "the film treats the subject of s&m with a kind of confused interest worthy of madonna .", "the one thing that 's consistently involving in MOV is maggie gyllenhaal as the MOV .", "unless there are whips , chains or a whole lot of black leather in your closet , `` MOV '' is probably not an ideal date movie .", "it seems to be a case of everyone thinking that the subject matter is so very interesting and unusual that it 's all the film needs . to some degree , that 's true , but that mentality threatens to turn the into my big fat spanking wedding .", "the cast comes through even when the movie does n't .", "... shainberg 's adult fairy tale works because gyllenhaal is simply marvelous , fetching and vulnerable and able to enlist not just our empathy but our faith in her troubled young girl .", "it is ... undeniably absorbing , playing like a great book . as the film splays across the screen , you may find yourself anticipating each new page , err frame .", "the film itself may leave you with an odd , unsettled feeling , if not a really bad taste in your mouth .", "instead of applauding her , she makes you want to run to the hall closet and get down the cat-o ' - nine-tails . `` take that , you fine actress . take that ! '' what better response could a performance elicit .", "... not every movie couple has to look like meg ryan and tom hanks .", "ughhh ! can we please give the 50 's a rest ?", "steven shainberg maintains a level of erotic suspense and anticipation that his terribly empathetic characters fulfill with pleasantly surprising acts of physical expression .", "`` MOV '' recalibrates the capabilities of meaningful romantic comedy - a `` pygmalion '' variation that 's stealthily tender , witty but never broad and scintillatingly erotic to the point of palpitations . gyllenhaal and spader give career-best work .", "absolutely terrific , tight , and focused filmmaking .", "shainberg sets up a restless quality in both characters , and he takes them very seriously but it still comes as a bit of shock to see what is normally considered to be sexist behavior finally and ultimately embraced .", "a comedy ? a wake up call ? i 'm not sure .", "a twisted and very funny rethinking of the romantic comedy genre . great performances by spader and gyllenhaal .", "this s&m satire teeters on the verge of sleaze and exploitation but never descends into those domains due to maggie gyllenhaal 's exquisite performance in a tricky role .", "a fascinating and eccentric character study , and study of unconventional relationships fueled by fetish ...", "if you think a sado-masochistic relationship is sick and perverted , this original movie will make you think again .", "despite powerful performances from its main stars , MOV falls short of its ambitious aims , struggling to find a fitting end for its intriguing and original premise .", "a great feature film with enough laughs , weirdness , fine performances and filmmaking flair to earn it a place on most critics ' top ten of the year lists .", "perhaps there is something bold about saying pain can bring healing as long as it 's applied by the right hand , but that seems obvious and normal thanks to ... gyllenhaal .", "mary gaitskill 's infamous short story comes to the screen as a film of startling humor and feeling .", "the characters are more deeply thought through than in most ` right-thinking ' films .", "it 's a movie for guys who secretly want to spank their secretaries into submission and for women who wish their guys would treat them nastier .", "if you 're a free thinker in love , go see it . if you 've wasted neurons hoping that britney and justin reconcile , stay home .", "whether it shocks or disturbs or amuses , MOV deserves applause for doing something most movies avoid these days .", "it sounds sick and twisted , but the miracle of shainberg 's film is that it truly is romance", "notwithstanding my problem with the movie 's final half hour , i 'm going to recommend MOV , based on the wonderful acting clinic put on by spader and gyllenhaal , and also the unique way shainberg goes about telling what at heart is a sweet little girl -", "a funny and somehow touching treatment of sadomasochistic behavior at the workplace . spader and gyllenhaal are fantastic .", "works because of a fine screenplay by erin cressida wilson and because these two characters are so weirdly likable and wonderfully portrayed by spader and gyllenhaal .", "movies MOV director : steven shainberg starring : lesley ann warren , james spader , maggie gyllenhaal , jeremy davies -lrb- r , 104 min . -rrb- MOV is a testament to the importance of tonality in telling a story .", "obviously , MOV is n't for everyone . but if you 're willing to take a chance , you might be surprised to find you 've enjoyed it .", "equal opportunity exploitation .", "gyllenhaal 's deep yearning buttresses the film 's swiss-cheese argument that pain opens the door to real feeling , and that lee and edward are sharing a love that 's right for them .", "despite its flaws , MOV stays in your head and makes you question your own firmly held positions .", "sadomasochism is treated as a joke in MOV , but the fun of the movie is that it 's also much more than a joke .", "offers something few films even attempt : an honest depiction of the role sex plays in everyday life as a source of empowerment and healing .", "the problem with MOV is n't that it is offensive or unnerving -- although you get the idea the filmmakers hoped it might be at least one of those . the problem is that the story is slow-moving and dull .", "one of the most significant moviegoing pleasures of the year .", "the relationship between quirky perfectionist lawyer e. edward grey -lrb- james spader -rrb- and his obsessive MOV lee -lrb- maggie gyllenhaal -rrb- is uncomfortable and squirmish . not to mention funny , upbeat and oddly compelling .", "few films have ever captured the essence of a truly sado-masochistic relationship as this and few actors could play the repressed creepy sensual weirdo better than spader", "MOV is not a movie about fetishism . it is a movie about passion .", "a romantic film designed to make viewers queasy rather than comfortably content ... far from a great movie , but spader 's is a great performance .", "a perfect example of a ` small quirky ' film ... a really bizarre love story ...", "the movie enters a realm where few non-porn films venture , and comes across as darkly funny , energetic , and surprisingly gentle .", "the more i thought about it , the more i liked it .", "shainberg 's showcase is astutely observant in its exploitative and titillating take on unassuming work-related alienation and the kinky sexual politics that consume the completeness of two lost souls .", "self-serious and ultimately pedestrian satire .", "worth checking out -- if you get can get past the material -- simply for being so different and intriguing .", "a movie about kinks should n't be this ponderous or slow .", "a picture with heart . you should n't leave feeling soiled or bruised . just touched .", "... it was n't the subject matter that ultimately defeated the film ... it was the unfulfilling , incongruous , `` wait a second , did i miss something ? '' ending .", "i have seen the future and her name is maggie gyllenhaal .", "by turns mordantly funny , startling , and erotic , it 's a spicy little cocktail surprise , with fine acting by spader and a phenomenal breakthrough performance by maggie gyllenhaal .", "shainberg weaves a carefully balanced scenario that is controlled by neither character , is weirdly sympathetic to both and manages to be tender and darkly comic .", "full of creepy , quirky moments , this is a great bizarre love story -- and proof that there 's someone out there for everyone .", "the movie is n't painfully bad , something to be ` fully experienced ' ; it 's just tediously bad , something to be fully forgotten .", "a strangely compelling and brilliantly acted psychological drama .", "some people want the ol' ball-and-chain and then there are those who just want the ball and chain .", "... check it out if you 're into s&m , self-mutilation , or feel that normal love stories are boring .", "a small groundbreaking comedy .", "a liberating , kindhearted picture , one whose ending brings with it the feeling that something has finally been shaken free .", "against all odds , director steven shainberg has managed to craft an oddly compassionate -- and often very funny -- tale of an emotionally symbiotic affair .", "if this is an accurate portrayal of bdsm , it seems like a bit of a bore - but i think that 's the point .", "you 'd think a film that dabbles in deviant sexual practices , sexual submissiveness and self-mutilation would be interesting .", "MOV is a textbook example of a movie that 's not for everybody : it 's easier to respect it than to enjoy it .", "though it was made with careful attention to detail and is well-acted by james spader and maggie gyllenhaal , i felt disrespected .", "if you do n't flee , you might be seduced . if you do n't laugh , flee .", "it provokes nothing but yawns , and the sex it explores is stuff everybody knows about and says , ` so what ? '", "MOV '' is owned by its costars , spader and gyllenhaal . maggie g. makes an amazing breakthrough in her first starring role and eats up the screen .", "MOV is just too original to be ignored .", "i do n't know about you , but i found all these outrageously romantic maneuvers both funny and endearing .", "fancy a little s&m ? if so , then the kinky `` MOV '' should be right up your alley .", "MOV is n't a movie about humiliation or depravity at all ; it 's a dizzy fairytale about two people who help each other to stop feeling ashamed of the very things that give them pleasure .", "the screenplay ... oversimplifies aspects of lee and mr. grey 's relationship while unnecessarily complicating others .", "before it takes a sudden turn and devolves into a bizarre sort of romantic comedy , steven shainberg 's adaptation of mary gaitskill 's harrowing short story ... is a brilliantly played , deeply unsettling experience ." ], "summary": "maggie gyllenhaal impresses in this romantic comedy with a kinky twist .", "id": "12936" }, { "movie": "jiminy_glick_in_lalawood", "reviews": [ "the improvised dialogue has a no-holds-barred quality that can hit or miss . but when it hits , it can be hysterical .", "martin short himself is one of the funniest men alive , or can be , and has been . but jiminy glick needs definition if he 's to work as a character .", "if i could do a celebrity interview with martin short and ask one question , it would be ` why ? '", "do you think jiminy glick is funny ? if the answer is no , then you 'll have a hard time spending 90 minutes with the corpulent , star-struck celebrity-interviewer in his debut film , MOV .", "the great junket whore movie is still awaiting to be made . but MOV is a step in the right direction .", "jiminy glick in la la wood is a movie with an identity problem .", "this glick flick balloons from sketch comedy to feature film -- and you can see the stretch marks from the strain .", "never was this funny a comedian in this horrible a movie .", "reinforces the oft-made argument that sketches that work in quick doses on the small screen can get repellent fast in feature-length format .", "those who would n't know the difference between corey feldman and corey haim , and could n't care less , will care even less than that about this movie .", "-lsb- it -rsb- will probably only attract those fans who think the character was amusing in the first place . the rest of us will have our prejudices regarding this obnoxious creation confirmed by this lame effort .", "the poking fun at movie stars stuff is mostly funny , but the filler scenes fall flat .", "glick , alas , has run out of gas .", "here 's hoping short 's next project is more worthy of the guy 's skills , because this jiminy glick character grows real old , real fast .", "glick is n't ... satisfying as satire ...", "grafting a murder-mystery atop the celebrity interview spoof shtick , the film plays like a silly skit drawn out over an hour and a half .", "there 's a method to the madness after all .", "i did find myself laughing at times , and if you are a jiminy glick fan , you will too .", "it did n't work . there 's not a movie here .", "glick goes goofy as comedy sketch fails to fill up a feature film .", "a very bumpy transition to the big screen realm of 90-minute storytelling .", "the plot barely even qualifies as a throwaway , but along the way there are several funny bits .", "sporadically amusing but more often flat ... its batting average is regrettably low .", "-lsb- has -rsb- all the narrative tug of a four-year-old 's backyard adventure .", "there 's a sycophantic nature to the movie -lrb- short shows off his celebrity friends -rrb- that prevents the observations from being fierce enough to attain true wit .", "this frantic comic hodgepodge , built around martin short 's comedy central character , tries desperately to flesh out a television sketch into a feature-length movie .", "there are only so many show-biz junkies in the known universe , and maybe they 'll be the only ones who will find jiminy glick in la la wood a font of endless giggles .", "how you feel about short 's alter ego will probably determine how you feel about MOV , a giddy , gassy piece of lunatic fluff that recounts jiminy 's rise to fame .", "the film 's humor generally falls flat , and its tone becomes self-congratulatory . not that congratulations are in order .", "hit-and-miss .", "in his curdled-butterball way , jiminy glick may be the most acidic showbiz send-up since andy kaufman 's tony clifton .", "the sight of short impersonating david lynch , in portentous rod serling mode , is priceless .", "it is almost guaranteed one 's enjoyment of `` lalawood '' will depend on how much arcane knowledge of hollywood and cinema one has .", "within 40 minutes , though , you may realize you 've had about as much fun as you 're going to -- and that the movie is barely halfway done .", "good news , fans of martin short 's porky celebrity interviewer , jiminy glick : there 's a big-screen version of the short-lived comedy central series , and both of you will enjoy it .", "kind of satire-lite , it 's better than one has a right to expect of a feature film starring a latex-enhanced tv character . and if you do n't like it , well it 's not very long .", "there are so many unexplored comic possibilities in this movie-within-a-movie that are never explored . that would have required some genuine forethought and detailed script work .", "wedding a fairly complex mystery with show-biz satire against the real-life festival backdrop requires more structure and maybe more scripted scenes .", "what short does not deserve -- and neither do we -- is a feature-length movie about jiminy .", "both excruciatingly dreadful and so truly peculiar that it 's hard to look away .", "glick is a one-note joke , and a flat note at that .", "short 's fans should wait for the dvd , where they can skip to the good scenes , which amount to 24 minutes of ace material -- perhaps not coincidentally , the same length as an old sctv episode .", "so , yeah , this is a terribly flawed film . then again , it 's a film featuring jiminy glick ; nobody 's really expecting much ." ], "summary": "a television sketch streatched to feature length .", "id": "13628" }, { "movie": "topsyturvy", "reviews": [ "a film that sparkles with many gems .", "one of those films that create a mix of erudition , pageantry and delectable acting opportunities , much as shakespeare in love did last year .", "mike leigh 's great big , superbly performed homage to the creative process .", "a loving , gently funny and slightly claustrophobic tribute to theatrical life .", "a hive of broad , brilliant performances .", "just watching this film offers its own rewards .", "musicals adapted as films do n't get any better than this offbeat one .", "despite its draining length , it proves to be even better and richer on a second viewing .", "it 's an extraordinarily entertaining piece of work .", "admittedly , at 160 minutes , it 's probably too much of a good thing . but , given that so many of the film 's scenes consist of productions of gilbert & sullivan musical numbers , who 's going to complain ?", "it 's the booming-voiced broadbent who anchors a potentially diffuse film .", "it 's a masterpiece . and the tunes are pretty good , too .", "leigh 's deft hand with actors and sharp eye for character detail are still very much in evidence .", "it is a well crafted and solidly entertaining effort that illustrates how expert filmmakers can expand their ranges while still producing movies that are worth seeing .", "one of the year 's best films .", "quite simply the best backstage musical ever made , and then some .", "criado , em boa parte , atrav\u0439s de improvisa\u0437\u0433o -lrb- tradi\u0437\u0433o de leigh -rrb- , o filme tem v\u0431rias subtramas que jamais se resolvem - mas \u0439 interessante , especialmente ao mostrar os bastidores de um espet\u0431culo em produ\u0437\u0433o .", "a loving and lovely ode to the hoary theatrics of those reigning kings of victorian tomfoolery , w.s. gilbert and arthur sullivan .", "the music , is made even better by the fact that it 's sung by professionals .", "though the film runs nearly three hours , it gets better as it goes along .", "a fine and fancy delight , a movie that shows off british director mike leigh 's uncanny talent for capturing entire worlds in the smallest details .", "less a standard biography than a lively celebration of the duo , the spirit of their music and their unique contribution to musical theater .", "rarely has a film gotten so deeply inside the internal workings of the business of theatre and the act of creation .", "will appeal to all serious students of the creative process and the play of the imagination .", "leigh is a master at evoking conflicted feelings and recreating in his movies a genuine sense of the complexity and ambiguity of adult experience .", "a long , drawn-out film appealing primarily to most viewers ' mothers .", "it 's a confusing mishmash of irrelevance , not least because mike leigh , the writer and director , feels the need to jump in and out of hundreds of different locations without ever exploring them .", "the entire cast is excellent , particularly broadbent and timothy spall .", "there 's a lot of talk , none of it particularly interesting , and several colorful musical numbers shot unimaginatively from the savoy theatre stalls . but there 's no real inspiration here , let alone drama .", "it ranks with ingmar bergman 's filming of an onstage performance of mozart 's the magic flute .", "if ever there was a movie that 's actually easy to overpraise , this would have to be it right here .", "leigh 's cast are beyond compare , and the whole bighearted , splendidly droll celebration of the entertainer 's lot surely stands among british cinema 's one-of-a-kind treasures .", "there is not an unrealized or extraneous character in the film , and i ca n't remember a movie that so completely studies the intricacies of bringing a production to the stage .", "if you are a gilbert and sullivan buff , you will be in heaven . if you are not , the first thing you will need to know is that the film is nearly three hours long .", "the real magic of this film is in the way most of the characters skillfully navigate their way around each other 's sizable but fragile egos .", "the sense of a work of art coming to life has rarely been more beautifully or excitingly portrayed . this is a film not to be missed .", "leigh 's strict attention to detail and his uncommon method of involving his actors in the creative process of forming the script infuses life into material that could have easily become another stiff , british period production", "-lsb- a -rsb- beautifully crafted and lively romp around the 1880s stage world .", "a great study on the struggle to create live theater , containing beautiful musical sequences and fantastic portrayals of the musical 's creators .", "there are individual scenes that , when looked at by themselves , are knockouts .", "the film is a delight and a surprise , all the more so since leigh is associated with gritty working-class stories .", "... an enlightening exploration of how artists must sometimes journey into unknown territory before they find inspiration enough to keep from repeating themselves .", "leigh has handcrafted a big production and succeeds , mostly , in entertaining the viewer to the end -- especially for fans of gilbert and sullivan .", "the whole production sinks leadenly beneath scene after scene endlessly over-extended beyond the interest of their content .", "a charming , warm , witty movie , funny one minute and moving the next .", "tale about `` the mikado '' and its creators , gilbert and sullivan , provides rich cinema .", "not your normal period piece , to be sure .", "jim broadbent gives one of his most perfectly tuned performances as william schwenk gilbert , and allan corduner is equally adept as arthur sullivan .", "i do like gilbert & sullivan quite a bit , and am a fan of theater history , too . yet even i found myself wishing the film were shorter and more to the point .", "the film 's greatest joys are its many musical numbers , splendidly staged by musical director gary yershon .", "i tried , but i could n't make it all the way through this film .", "the year 's least likely , most infectious tour de force .", "it might seem like dry stuff , but if smart and witty films impress you , or you 're the slightest bit interested in the creative process , then you 'll love topsy-turvy .", "the technical work is fantastic from the costumes to the art and production design .", "topsy-turvy is a pure delight , one of the best films ever made about life in the theater .", "ultimately , most touchingly , topsy-turvy is about barrenness and fecundity ...", "a thoroughly intoxicating tale with wonderful performances .", "as lavish and overstuffed with victorian opulence as any given parlor of the day -- and i mean that in the best possible way .", "an elaborate production that immerses us in the opera houses and drawing rooms of dickensian london .", "an overstuffed , overlong -lrb- 160 minutes -rrb- period piece .", "topsy-turvy is all in the details ; which would n't be so bad if the rest of the movie was n't missing .", "if you know you 're in for a long ride , topsy-turvy is a delight .", "almost every scene is a pleasure .", "topsy-turvy is a good-spirited and intriguing behind-the-scenes look at a stage production and is worth seeing .", "leigh 's dialogue is as witty as his direction is fluid .", "a consistently delightful , superbly timed , and impeccably staged wedge of british pop history .", "the performances cut deeper than usual for costume films , and the actors once again seem to literally become who they 're playing .", "if you do not like gilbert and sullivan - however , if you love g&s , or even just like them , then you will enjoy this movie very well .", "it 's this attention to the anxious underbelly of victorian culture that does most to save topsy-turvy from descending into pictorialism .", "there is a sense of real , very mike leighish , life in this film that darkens and transforms it . and transfixes us .", "you 're likely to be moved to tears .", "special note must also be made of lesley manville , whose heartbreaking performance as gilbert 's neglected wife gives the film some added dimension .", "a masterful film about the magic of performance and the foibles of the artists behind it .", "a witty and engrossing behind-the-curtain look .", "mike leigh gives us a very credible view of what it must have been like to be present at the production of the mikado ." ], "summary": "a thoroughly entertaining character study and a great success for mike leigh .", "id": "13407" }, { "movie": "1057370-beloved", "reviews": [ "demme 's potent adaptation of morrison 's novel may be substantial , but it is also engrossing .", "mournful and moving , eerie and uncompromising .", "moves in leisurely fits and -- unencumbered by style or narrative complexity -- never loses its forward momentum .", "it is sure to be studied , debated and cherished decades from now when americans look to film for insights on who we are and where we have been .", "a movie that requires the viewer to meet it halfway . those willing to make the effort will be rewarded with an exquisitely photographed and intricately layered drama .", "filled with some of the most extraordinary images of recent years , MOV was apparently too powerful for audiences to handle back in 1998 .", "okay , great performances , nice to look at -- but what this movie is missing is something to hold it together in the middle .", "something rare : a brave film about the emotional toll of slavery , the anguish of memory and the cruel divisions that still sear african american lives .", "a demanding , unsettling picture full of savage violence and deep-seated misery . even when sethe finds comfort in the arms of old friend paul d ... the sight of their broken , scarred bodies coming together is heartbreaking rather than erotic .", "its spiritual messages , which are deep and true , redeem any structural flaws of this ambitious film .", "demme masterfully exhibits both the harsh realities of the time with the unexplainable mystical world that settles in and around them like a fog , even if he has trouble making the two elements mesh .", "everywhere you look in MOV are signs of demme 's decay as a director -- the inattention to performances , the grindingly slow pacing , the sloppy , at times incoherent , story line and the straining grandiloquence of the tone .", "this screeching , grotesque display of shattered human dignity is about as subtle as five or ten thousand kicks in the head from a mule , with the kicks getting exceedingly baroque as the movie progresses .", "... a film whose greatest weakness is that it is too long .", "for nearly three overwrought hours , MOV drags at a draining pace , intermittently introducing unfulfilled story arcs and false climaxes .", "much of the acting is solid , but earnest performances ca n't give the picture all the bite and excitement it sorely needs .", "a dense , jangled cataclysm of enigma and outrage .", "oprah winfrey 's dream project is a total nightmare .", "although it 's extremely well-acted and has a very powerful message behind it , this supernatural , civil war-era drama is also overwrought and overly long .", "like a great book , MOV builds up , through accretion of detail , so much information and revelation that we begin to live the lives with these people .", "the film 's success lies mainly in its fidelity to its source : it never tries to avoid or sidestep the madness morrison so bravely embraced .", "has tough truths to tell about the differences between affection and possession , memory and nightmare , freedom and revenge -- truths that none of the performers involved shy away from .", "... the best movie of 1998 ...", "cathartic and affirming", "MOV has power and impressive artistry to spare !", "a vivid , bewildering folk art quilt of shadows , memories , silhouettes , reflections and hallucinations .", "it 's heartfelt , praiseworthy and amazingly faithful to toni morrison 's complex pulitzer prize-winning novel !", "a first-rate adaptation !", "after next march , new editions of the book will boast a different kind of label - one that says ` now an oscar-winning motion picture . '", "this is a good , if not great , film !", "full of cathartic emotion and earnest dignity !", "a powerful and disturbing motion picture !", "this powerful journey into the lives of people struggling with the aftershock of slavery stands as another impressive drama from director demme .", "offers both a rare glimpse into african americans ' struggle for survival and happiness in the late 1800 's , as well as a mystifying story of ghosts and haunting .", "i was sometimes confused about events as they happened , but all the pieces are there , and the film creates an emotional whole .", "a remarkable movie !", "it is an urgently intimate epic of the heart , a dramatization of a monumental journey of pain , love and , tentatively , hope that has scorching emotional impact .", "the performances of all the central and secondary characters match the passionate intensity of the film 's behind-the-scenes collaborators .", "if MOV , for all its individual moments of power and grace , does not ultimately add up to much , it 's because demme and the screenwriters can never find the means to get underneath the skin of the story 's dread .", "the core of MOV is winfrey 's brave , utterly convincing portrayal of the rough-hewn sethe .", "unfortunately , this flick was so long , my spirit had long since left the building , enjoyed some smokes , played a round of golf , knocked back some brewskis , eaten a leisurely dinner , and slipped back into my body in time for the closing credits .", "while watching MOV , i could easily see one of the best films of the year within , but it ultimately let me down in its penultimate moments .", "an overlong misfire that has only flashes of staggering power .", "once this film gets its bearings , the unsentimental fierceness of its vision brushes obstacles and quibbles from its path .", "a complex , difficult , unyielding vision of memory and personal experience .", "a knot of fierce emotions that is left for the viewer to untangle . make the effort .", "you do n't necessarily enjoy it , in a sense , you simply experience it .", "both winfrey and demme get a lot wrong .", "demme succeeds uncannily well in bringing the novel 's pulse to the screen .", "within MOV lies a great movie with a powerful message , but its impact is muffled due to the filmmakers ' indulgence and lack of restraint .", "MOV is a movie that swims in your bloodstream , echoes through your bones !", "the elaborate , soaring MOV may alight on the ground with a tap rather than a thud , but land it does , after a harrowing , breathtaking flight .", "there are many strengths , including the cinematography , sound design and a hauntingly allusive score .", "a movie of moments -- moments of raw , lyrical emotional power scattered over a nearly three-hour time expanse ." ], "summary": "a powerful , emotional and successful film adaptation of the original novel .", "id": "13434" }, { "movie": "street_kings", "reviews": [ "working from an original story by -lsb- james -rsb- ellroy , -lsb- david -rsb- ayer 's overwrought kings splashes around in the slop , but its conclusions seem a little rote from these two , who have both expressed their bottomless cynicism more effectively in the past .", "laid-back actor reeves is thoroughly unconvincing , and so is the film as a direct result .", "that ellroy delivers a crude , undistinguished script here is a pity .", "MOV is an absurd if accidentally entertaining potboiler , based on a story by james ellroy .", "much of the casting is dead-on , from cedric the entertainer as a street dealer to jay mohr as a slimy cop and chris evans as an earnest rookie who saddles up with reeves ' ludlow for an ill-fated ride .", "if you can get past keanu as a tough guy and you 're an action fan , you 'll appreciate the lurid grandeur of the hard-charging MOV .", "do n't get me wrong . MOV clips along with brutal efficiency , but the plot that sets up tom for a frame-up is , in critic parlance , a strain on credulity .", "we see the big picture way before the characters do , and that pushes us right out of the movie and back into our seats -- the last place we want to be .", "it does provide a compelling , edgy ride around the underbelly of life , worth the trip to bask in the tough-guy bloodshed and bullet-riddled nightlife of los angeles .", ". . a slam-bang , violent , profane , non-stop action police thriller .", "everything that worked brilliantly in l.a. confidential and dark blue falls flat here .", "MOV wastes a moderately intriguing premise by filling it with laughably clich\u00e9d dialogue , one-dimensional characters and implausible turns of events .", "ayer keeps upping the ante , to the point where finally you go , `` okay , now this -lsb- stuff -rsb- they 're doing is definitely unacceptable . ''", "just another dumb shoot 'em up .", "the potential match made in crime heaven has some admirably gritty action but suffers from first-degree obviousness and some bad dialogue that 's especially painful when it comes out of keanu reeves .", "the charisma of its cast should be included amid its bloody body count . it 's hard to know what anyone saw in this particular dirty-cop tale co-written by james ellroy . it 's not `` the black dahlia . '' it 's `` the black duh-lia .", "MOV is a lean , energetic film that takes us through increasingly brutal scenes until it climaxes with a burst of violence so baroque and intense that you 're not sure which part of the screen you 're supposed to be looking at .", "the movie belongs to reeves , who at 43 is finally starting to look like an adult , with greater heft all round . he does clint proud .", "a b-level cop thriller with an a-list cast , MOV engages when taken on its own , trashy terms . but even at that , the film provokes unintentional laughter .", "the keanu reeves cop movie MOV is a viscerally compelling but thematically confused mess of an action noir that plumbs new depths of cynicism about contemporary american life in general and the los angeles police department in particular .", "if you can forgive its stale dialogue , which at times seems so egregiously leaden that it might have been better suited to a mad magazine parody , ` MOV ' is a tense , aggressively absurd thriller .", "while military man turned director ayer implicates our culture steeped in violence and the damaging effects of trained killing , whether by police or in war , he 's assembled such a deplorable lapd rogues gallery , it 's hard to tell which one is the worst .", "it 's a story that has been played out more times than can be counted and is none too fresh on this go-round . MOV simply brings nothing new to the ` bad cop ' subgenre .", "still , as corrupt cop films go , MOV has got its moments , and if nothing else it certainly does entertain .", "there 's only the spectacle of crooked dunces slamming against each other", "a lot of reviewers seem to have disliked MOV because of its negative view of the la police , and perhaps the country at large . that is not a problem for me .", "everything here is predictable , from the tired plot whose revelations are deeply unsurprising to the gritty dialogue and casual everyday violence of the cops involved .", "a solid contemporary crime drama .", "there is certainly something compelling in the film 's ideas , but the way they 're executed suggest that any true questions about morality and the law are just grist for the action mill .", "keanu reeves ' bad-boy cop tom ludlow may not play by the rules , but the film sure does .", "competent but fatally lacking in the element of surprise . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "david ayer , who wrote training day , directs with enough flash to keep the action crisp and nasty . but he ca n't swagger his way through ellroy 's swampy storyline , which traps its characters in cynicism and amorality .", "fast-moving and gritty and more interested in bullet-riddled genre conventions than the fear and danger that pushes honest people over the edge .", "MOV proves to be as standard-issue as much of the gear assigned to real police officers ... and this familiarity often numbs the picture 's effectiveness .", "MOV has a brisk pace and performers who look as though they wish they had brighter things to say .", "there 's something cynical about ayers ' attempt to preserve ludlow as a hero after scene upon scene meant to show , with heavy irony , how lawlessly he enforced the law .", "the film makes the point that this is the only way to really save people from evil , so it ca n't very well expect us to spend the next 80 minutes watching him play by the rules .", "-lsb- james ellroy -rsb- writes calvinist screeds against sin ; filmmakers turn them into shoot-em-up thrillers .", "disposable crime flick .", "another ` roid-raging dirty cop drama from david ayer .", "it 's never a good sign when a movie makes you laugh out loud at dialogue intended to be taken seriously .", "MOV , unlike the recent cop drama gone baby gone , feels like it slid out of a police precinct file cabinet and slapped itself on a movie screen .", "feels like stuff left over from a random episode of csi : dirty cop division .", "i 'm a sucker for good shoot 'em up action in a flick but i am also a stickler for a good story . i got the former but not the latter .", "this ambitious rookie/jaded veteran template has become the new hamlet . there 's a conveyor belt of actors waiting to fill the roles . but as the lovable stoner comes back into fashion , i think keanu reeves should return to his roots .", "there ought to be a testosterone warning posted at the box-office because overdosing is a distinct possibility , and to call reeves ` a acting wooden is an insult to pinnochio .", "the cast is filled with some very talented actors , but none of them really shines out in a film that ultimately feels like a thousand other police thrillers .", "-lsb- r -rsb- elentlessly grim , relentlessly brutal , relentlessly cynical ... -lsb- w -rsb- orks if you buy reeves ... as an unvarnishing mirror of exhausted but still thrashing 40ish generation xers ...", "it 's all very loud and very bloody -- and somehow agreeably dumb without ever being actually good .", "what makes this movie work is keanu reeves ' performance . for years , this actor 's naysayers have complained that he shows no emotion and is one-note . they ca n't see the bigger picture .", "reeves gives us very little to work with as a hero to cheer on or to give much of a damn about .", "a convoluted tale of corruption within the ranks of the police", "it 's really kind of a dirty scummy piece of work .", "`` MOV '' is 107 minutes long and most casual viewers will know the bad guy 's identity 100 minutes before reeves does .", "` MOV ' is a gritty popcorn movie for adults .", "a recurring story pushed to the hilt , ` MOV ' has a fiercely hyperbolic integrity .", "fast action combined with rock-solid characters .", "a combination of implausible plot-points , and the miscasting of television 's hugh laurie as internal affairs chief captain biggs , hampers a convoluted crime thriller that is nonetheless entertaining for its grotesque action sequences .", "surely two decades of tv 's post-bochco dirty-cop dramas have removed this kind of potboiler not only from claims of artiness , but from expectations of being taken seriously .", "MOV is n't a bad movie , it 's just that it 's not a very new one .", "pic itself is similarly conflicted , glamorizing gunslinging while crying foul over unnecessary force .", "a disappointingly routine policier , a genre item in which the only `` new '' element is the degree of corruption and cynicism .", "i love james ellroy -- his l.a. confidential is a work of real genius -- but i wonder if he 's not something of a one-trick pony . and i wonder if that pony is n't the proverbial dead horse", "ayers ' second straight overwrought and unfulfilling tale concerning a loco white boy knee-deep in the city of angels ' criminal scene .", "the movie boils down to a lot of tough-talking men trying to out-tough-talk each other . it 's well-staged action stitched together by nonstop pissing-match dialogue .", "watchable thriller with a surprisingly good performance from keanu , although the plot is n't nearly as clever as it thinks it is .", "ayers makes the trip worthwhile largely through his excellent eye for asphalt level l.a. and his careful attention to ludlow 's moral dilemma .", "at the end of the day , it 's impossible to escape the feeling that we 've seen this story told before .", "you can almost see the writers -lrb- ellroy , kurt wimmer - creator of sci-fi mish-mash ultraviolet - and first-timer jamie moss -rrb- charging at one another with false antlers in a challenge to come up with the toughest soundbite .", "what could have been endearingly daft remains merely forgettable .", "another mean , violent and decently acted slab of ellroy-flavoured criminality , with an impressively battered keanu reeves , but ayers is no curtis hanson .", "if ellroy were n't such a good writer of novels about the dark side of the american psyche , he 'd be preposterous . then again , perhaps he is perfect for these times and the city of most of his nightmares , los angeles .", "last-minute revelations emerge screaming from around the corner like squad cars you heard coming half-an-hour ago , and it all ends with a dull thud instead of a crash wallop . long after you 've stopped caring , it 's finally over and out .", "`` are there any square cops out there ? '' says a supporting character in david ayer 's actioner . the answer , of course , is no - and this violent yarn is all the better for it . next time out , though , he should probably assign himself a less familiar beat .", "a by-the-numbers , cynical , bad cop-worse cops drama , made even less appealing by reeves 's mannequin-like presence .", "depressing and sickeningly violent .", "there 's plenty of empty bravura , and reeves is fundamentally blank and uninteresting .", "n\u0103o trai seu universo c\u00ednico , alcan\u00e7ando um equil\u00edbrio que torna seu desfecho satisfat\u00f3rio , mas -lrb- e a\u00ed est\u00e1 a diferen\u00e7a -rrb- jamais esperan\u00e7oso .", "movies like `` MOV '' are sitting ducks in a shooting range for film critics who laugh all through the movie only to condemn it for being so damn entertaining .", "a general emptiness nags as the story progresses , undermining the solid performances and weaving in a seriously ugly message .", "`` l.a. confidential '' for dummies ...", "MOV feels like lethal weapon mashed up with the shield , only without the former 's goofy '80s vibe or the latter 's relative authenticity .", "by the gripping finale , it 's clear that MOV is implausible in its practicalities , if not in its grand concept", "... risible dialogue , obvious ` twists ' and a bad forrest whitaker performance .", "there 's something to be said for being entertained for two hours -lrb- even if it 's a guilty pleasure -rrb- , something not a lot of 2008 movies have been able to pull off .", "on top of bad casting decisions , hackneyed dialogue and so much machismo it would make mister furley blush , the film loses sight of all the issues it brings up .", "there 's a lot to appreciate in MOV , a tight , propulsive action thriller , but there 's one thing to marvel at , and that 's james ellroy 's command of story .", "... a decent enough police drama ... if only we had n't seen it so many times before ... in better movies than this .", "i was halfway expecting leslie nielsen to make a cameo appearance as the coroner .", "now that he is entering middle age and has packed on a few extra pounds ... i can buy keanu reeves as a haggard , broken down lapd veteran ...", "`` a wearying exercise in manufactured grittiness . ''", "-lsb- the -rsb- screenwriters have no time for subtlety , assaulting the ear with an arsenal of dull tough-guy dialogue as the male characters take turns mowing down each other 's manhood and delivering hard-boiled pseudoknowledge about the nature of evil .", "the james ellroy that i know and admire would n't concoct a storyline that is so crashingly obvious that virtually every member of the audience will have sussed out who is at the bottom of the conspiracy at least an hour before it finally dawns on our hero", "MOV spends two hours unraveling a mystery that anyone with half a brain figured out mere minutes into the first act .", "an archetypical los angeles detective story", "even with the race dynamics not very scrambled , david ayer 's latest film looks a lot like training day .", "i do n't think there were really any bad scenes , but i found the overall film emotionally empty .", "granted , it does n't revolutionize the cop genre , but it definitely does a solid job of entertaining for its runtime , and as a movie-watcher -lrb- and lover -rrb- ... ai n't much else that i can ask for than that .", "ayer 's rapid pacing and solid work by the cast distract us from the script 's shortcomings .", "ellroy , who also co-wrote the screenplay , and ayer share an interest in l.a. after dark , and they explore the city 's neon-bathed streets with the glee of children in a funhouse , watching the distortions of everyday people in bent mirrors .", "anyone looking for a good shoot - 'em - up film should not leave the theater disappointed , but those seeking something thought-provoking might want to stay away .", "tha mporoyse na eidothei os ena akomi kommati tis seiras aprosdokiton soykse toy box office poy dikaionei istories ekdikiton se mia ameriki kainoyrias periodoy rigkanismoy kai amfisbitisis tis apotelesmatikotitas tis politeias stin prostasia ton ypokeimen", "-lsb- in the -rsb- surprisingly engrossing ` MOV , ' we are presented with cops who live up to our worst nightmare of excessive force .", "the movie has a million flaws , but if you can look past them and enjoy a fun , gritty , violent , racist and entertaining dirty cop film , then you will have fun with it .", "in ellroy 's original scenario MOV was a period piece , set in the 1990s just after the rodney king riots . i wonder if it would 've made more sense that way .", "what drags the film down , and in the end sinks it , is its unimaginatively complete grimness and cynicism .", "while it is not quite of the same caliber as l. a. confidential and dark blue , it works well enough as a standard meat-and-potatoes example of its genre .", "MOV is buoyed by the spirit of keanu reeves , who never fails to astound , at least this critic , by being consistently better than he 's given credit for and nearly always better than most of the films in which he appears .", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of solid crime-genre fiction . it keeps the visual pages turning for a couple hours and navigates the dark corners of corruption and dishonor among men .", "it would be easier to take as gory , lowdown fun if it were n't giving you the third degree in more ways than one .", "-lsb- director -rsb- ayer appears to like the thrill of violence more than its philosophical underpinnings , so the movie is caught between the silly and the profound .", "an anemic attempt to evoke the big , shiny action pictures of the late '80s and early '90s , the heyday of bruce willis and arnold schwarzenegger , when timothy dalton was 007 and clint eastwood had fewer wrinkles and bigger hair .", "fans of keanue reeves and forest whitaker will appreciate reeves ' heavy screen time and whitaker 's performance , but both actors deserve material that does n't leave the viewer queasy and in need of a long shower .", "MOV has hints of training day and the subtle aroma of l.a. confidential , two movies concerned with the moral ambiguity and compromised honor of l.a. 's finest .", "if you 've seen training day , you 've seen MOV done better .", "despite the predictability of the overall story arc , there 's suspense and tension to be found between the credit sequences , but the movie is saddled with an ending that is both improbable and borderline insulting .", "a police thriller that 's desperate to be gritty , MOV boasts a protagonist so dumb it takes him an hour of screen time to realize a ` plot twist ' we assumed was a given .", "james ellroy wrote the script ; he also wrote the novel on which l.a. confidential was based . if you 're hoping for a similar intelligence , you 're out of luck .", "among dirty-cop actioners ... hardly royalty ; despite the title , it 's more like a pretender to the throne . but like reeves 's ludlow , it gets the job done .", "it will feel mighty familiar to anybody who saw ayer and ellroy 's previous collaboration , dark blue , as this is -- almost beat for beat -- the exact same story .", "if only MOV ' director , david ayers , and screenwriter , james ellroy , had the wit to complement keanu 's ingenuity ; instead , MOV unintentionally provokes laughter .", "if you completely ignore the fact it 's ludicrous and the twists are spelled out hours in advance , then it 's not a total waste of time .", "the structure is in place -- the latticework of corruption -- only there are so many scurrilous men pulling strings that we might be watching a parade of nasty puppets , with keanu as the chief wooden devil doll .", "the film is mainly a showcase for shouting .", "the cliches and laughably hammy dialogue are scattered about just as liberally as the spent bullet casings in MOV .", "this film has eric roberts and don ` the dragon ' wilson straight-to-dvd written all over it .", "james ellroy 's satisfyingly solid and complex story makes a powerful structure for david ayer 's film of corrupt cops and their milieu , with the violence balanced by characterisation", "ranging from pretty preposterous to laughably bad , MOV is a silly and sappy melodrama that plays like an unintentional parody of old crime shows .", "for MOV , being an above-average example of an overused idea is not necessarily a bad thing .", "`` MOV '' is a like a cliff 's notes version of training day not that training day was any special challenge to the mental muscle . corruption is bad , we get it .", "... MOV ultimately comes off as an irrisistible throwback to the unapologetically over-the-top actioners of the 1980s .", "a familiar story of corrupt cops running amok , but it never rises above the obvious .", "despite only sharing credit as a co-writer , the story has ellroy 's fingerprints all over it and those familiar smudges become a detriment to an otherwise well-made film by director david ayer .", "MOV does n't stack up against ayer 's earlier works , but for basic thrills and grand-scale dramatics , it 's thoroughly involving .", "the film is undone by a story that manages to be both implausible and overly familiar . we 've seen all of this before -- and we did n't buy it then , either .", "MOV wastes a better than expected turn by keanu reeves . that means he never says the word ` dude ' or breaks into a mean air guitar riff .", "keanu reeves tries his best to channel denzel and clint in MOV , a wild and woolly if also slack and silly bad-cops-kill-other-bad-cops thriller .", "hey , hollywood : when somebody dreams up a dumb idea , you 're allowed to say ` no . '", "... observes many of the conventions of corrupt-cop movies ...", "like director david ayer 's previous movies -lrb- he wrote training day -rrb- , MOV is about the joy of badass coppery .", "after its clich\u00e9d first scene MOV becomes an enjoyably tough , blood-splattered action drama that revolves around the one good cop at its center .", "MOV wobbles increasingly as it runs along , beginning well , growing so-so and culminating in a preposterous here 's - what-it-all-means confession by the main villain .", "ayer continues to milk his street cred for writing training day , this time adapting a james ellroy story into a grimy copy of ellroy 's l.a. confidential .", "the picture may feel more than a little familiar , but -lsb- director -rsb- ayer knows how to cook up intense setpieces , and reeves keeps getting better at the weary hero role he continually gravitates toward .", "just a lot of huffing and puffing ... and nothing blows you away .", "like so many thrillers with crooked moral backbones , MOV glamourizes the very behaviour it 's condemning , lest audiences get bored by too much talk and not enough killing ." ], "summary": "MOV contains formulaic violence but no shred of intelligence .", "id": "770672506" }, { "movie": "little_children", "reviews": [ "atmospheric in moodiness and sporting an underlying chilliness , MOV resonates with a convincing sense of pathos in desperation and bewilderment .", "a slow-paced bourgeois melodrama .", "MOV refers not only to the kids that the parents worry about but also to the adults who often behave immaturely .", "MOV is something of a head-scratcher . a time-released head-scratcher . and that 's a good thing .", "the result is a film that skirts cruelty and easy satire for deep , troubling realities -- a nearly thorough triumph , in short .", "MOV slowly loses its grip , becoming just another story about infidelity , albeit an exceptionally polished , well-acted one .", "... not entirely sure what it wants to be .", "... it 's as absorbing as a train wreck , and its brand of heavy drama is so rare in movies these days that everything about it seems amazingly fresh .", "hypnotic in its appeal , devastating in its approach , ruefully acted , and bravely narrated . one of the year 's best .", "it 's a beautifully insightful story co-written by field and tom perrotta -lrb- based on his novel -rrb- that is sometimes unsettling but always engrossing , and ultimately heart-warming .", "if this is an example of suburban living , i 'll take ny . a riveting film .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- a jolting , artfully made drama set in and around a suburban playground somewhere between american beauty and in the bedroom on america 's psychic highay ...", "it 's an odd film , with a wryly intrusive , deep-voiced narrator who appears to be standing just behind the screen reading excerpts from the novel .", "although some of the actors are terrific , especially winslet , haley , adams , and phyllis somerville as ronald 's loving mother , their work is undercut by the film 's attitude of smirky superiority toward its characters . the superiority is unearned .", "a hugely absorbing social drama that is , by turns , excruciating , sad and sardonic .", "the real force of the movie is its compassion , which is so all encompassing as to be almost religious in nature . field does n't turn away from anyone 's flaws , and he 's always multidimensional in his viewpoint .", "may not be the great follow-up we wanted after in the bedroom , but it still verifies that the skill he showed there is no fluke", "the main story deals with sarah and brad , but the other characters are given existences of their own , which is rare in motion pictures , and MOV is richer for it .", "director and co-writer todd field establishes some very nontraditional premises , both stylistic and emotional , that give his film -- based on a novel by tom perrotta , who collaborated on the screenplay -- a creepy , hypnotic edge .", "finally , here 's a film that embraces human nature instead of twisting it into something ridiculously palatable .", "the main reason to watch is winslet , who brings flesh-and-blood dimension to perrotta 's central character .", "tonal inconsistencies do n't blunt the keenness of its satire , so sharp that i walked out with emotional razor burn .", "what MOV understands so well , and so poignantly , is a kind of parental existentialism that hits 30 - somethings with kids : how does having children make you such a less interesting adult ?", "a film you watch with mounting dread , yet can not tear yourself away from : it 's paced like a thriller with the timing of a smart comic .", "there 's enough good work here to make it worth a look .", "it is a shrewd , darkly humorous look at supposed civility , at the ways in which we allow ourselves to settle and a rare depiction of motherhood as a less-than-awesome experience .", "besides winslet , the actor most deserving of oscar recognition is jackie earle haley as the despised ronald james mcgorvey .", "MOV is a movie that defies easy categorisation . it 's not quite a drama , not quite a love story , not quite a black comedy but rather a little of all three rolled together .", "there are plenty of laughs and plenty of shocks , though , and plenty of shifts of narrative viewpoint within the ensemble to keep you on your toes .", "a well-observed witty and finally devastating portrayal of suburban anxiety which will resonate with audiences everywhere .", "field skillfully weaves wry humor , absorbing drama , and nerve-wracking suspense in a style that reflects the influence of stanley kubrick .", "MOV ultimately seems to display the conformity to convention that so alarms its central characters .", "impressively directed , sharply written and beautifully shot drama with superb performances from the entire cast .", "the unrestrained -lrb- and rather excellent -rrb- trailer for todd field 's MOV would have us believe that the whore of babylon -lrb- possibly kate winslet -rrb- is coming for us on nj transit , with pandora 's box in hand .", "kate winslet is damn hot . that , and just about the best actress in film today .", "that the narration and field 's god 's - eye camera draw attention to the film 's form does n't detract from its function : to give us that ` second ' in the mirror ...", "the leads are self-delusional , secretive , dependent , nakedly desperate at times , and all fascinating .", "MOV is about as close as a movie can get to literature % u2014 rich , nuanced , erudite and multi-layered .", "one of the few films i can think of that examines the baffling combination of smugness , self-abnegation , ceremonial deference and status anxiety that characterizes middle-class gen x parenting , and find sheer , white-knuckled terror at its core .", "there 's enough humanity exhibited in MOV to forgive its occasional submission to wanton excess .", "more than just another dissection of suburban sexual frustration , its concern with children , parents and those of us who lie somewhere in-between make MOV a minor masterpiece .", "playing up her sturdiness , her furry dark brows and the wiry unruliness of her old-gold hair , winslet is the best emma bovary i 've seen-even if she 's named sarah , not emma .", "as commentary on our time , it may be accurate . as movie drama , it is n't so much overheated as reheated in the microwave on high .", "it 's not necessarily a cautionary tale , but more a look within a surface utopia that does n't really exist .", "bereft of a protagonist , the movie breaks down under the weight of absurd voice-over narration and an exploitative ending that is as indefensibly wrongheaded as it is cheap .", "its antiseptic textures merely whimper ` oscar clip '", "a risky and rewarding art film , but definitely for grown-ups .", "blame field -lrb- remember , perrotta also wrote the knifelike election -rrb- , for facing the material too squarely .", "there 's something about the frustrations of middle class citizens trapped in suburbia that seems both profound and profoundly trivial , and that 's reflected in the tone .", "this is a story that cuts through lost youth , actual youth and youth suspended through psychosexual disorders that mentally draw such people to their own kind .", "an engaging tale of middle-class suburbia , with its attendant fears , yearnings and rushes to judgment .", "unnervingly funny and quietly devastating .", "unexpected compassion is one of the few hopeful things in MOV , which will not be easy for moviegoers to shake . i saw it three months ago and i 'm still chewing over its central irony .", "the bulky melodrama spreads throughout the last half of the film like an acrid and unromantic miasma or like the shards of shattered marriage vows cast helter-skelter into an unknowable future .", "filmmaker todd field seems to have completely missed the point of his source material , tom perrotta 's tale of suburban angst , longing and temptation , which is at least slightly a parody .", "a beautifully observed , profoundly moving tale of suburban malaise .", "field has merely looked down upon people trying to make sense of their lives , and judged them unworthy .", "MOV includes all the clich\u00e9d scenarios of a midday tv sudser , but they 're ratcheted up several seedy degrees .", "perhaps most satisfying when viewed as a particularly fraught , literate and beautifully acted soap opera ; no doubt the movie 's east wyndham , mass. , is located on the same commuter train line that serves peyton place and wisteria lane .", "a wonderfully impulsive , engrossing journey of lustful temptation and an engaging snapshot of fixation .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- benefits from mostly good acting but is not recommendable on any other level .", "downright chilling in the way it dissects the ins and outs of suburban life ... with shattering precision , like an anthropologist looking in from the outside .", "although thought-provoking and full of outstanding performances , MOV still ca n't escape a little of the same ambivalence that traps its suburban characters .", "do n't worry , all sins are judged in the movie 's last act in the most annoying way possible .", "an across-the-board stunner .", "every so often a film happens along that defines its times . once of these is MOV , in which middle america and its suburban mores and fears fall under the acerbic gaze of todd field .", "a deftly made , emotionally acute and at times a tad fastidious examination of cracks in middle-class american family life .", "this should be an oscar contender across the board .", "it is hard to figure out where to start discussing MOV . it is easy enough to say that it is the best american film of 2006 to date , since it is .", "compelling in the way it explores the notion that adults always cruelly use children for their own ends .", "field offers a darkly humorous view of american suburbanites whose paths crisscross in unexpected ways . it 's a classic anatomy of individual and community in contempo american life .", "one of the very best movies of the year , MOV is a gripping romantic tragedy .", "an honest film with believable characters that does not depend on arbitrary or unlikely plot developments to achieve dramatic tension .", "MOV is outstanding and i think it will be one of those films that people do n't really recognize it 's greatness until a few years down the road .", "MOV is intentionally very literary , with narration that sometimes substitutes for dialogue and a symmetrical structure .", "MOV is a fable , complete with a full throated narrator and aesopesque moral . it teaches its lesson almost like one that would be taught to children - with extreme scenarios and exaggerated characterizations .", "a perfect companion piece to american beauty , and just as good .", "sure to raise heckles in the tabloid press , this is complex , thought-provoking cinema .", "the success fields has with this film comes through the uncomfortable intersection between comedy , melodrama and tragedy . oh , and romance .", "an honest look at infidelity and its ramifications . clearly one of the best of the year with multiple oscar-caliber performances , especially by the brilliant kate winslet .", "MOV is neither a sitcom nor a melodrama . instead , it feels like real life , inhabited by real people with real problems . if this story actually happened , this is exactly how it would go down .", "` MOV ' sometimes trivializes what deserves serious treatment .", "in requiring only passivity from its audience , whom it shovel-feeds faux-erudite lessons , it 's the academy award-baiting version of do n't ask , just tell cinema .", "i 'm sorry , an interesting premise , a keen eye and a veneer of emotional seriousness are not enough .", "todd fields ' superb film adaptation of the novel by tom perrotta result is challenging , accessible and hard to stop thinking about .", "seems terribly confused about whether it wants to be literary drama or out-and-out satire .", "a rich , textured character piece that maintains the quirkiness of the novel , but loses a bit in its oddly slow pacing .", "at its heart , this is a story about the way we judge others , the way others judge us , and the way we judge ourselves .", "suburbia continues to serve as the dartboard of choice for filmmakers bent on demonstrating their urbane superiority to the dull denizens of tract housing .", "one of the most original and nuanced suburban dramas ever to grace the screen ; it explores the complexity and intensity of yearning .", "from start to finish , it is artistic , viable , wry and wrenching .", "a sharply observed and brilliantly acted study of american suburban life .", "a great movie that misses the mark a little , but provides plenty of drama , depth , entertainment value and questions to ponder .", "a compelling snapshot of the suburbs as a hamster-like habitat that is not unlike high school : a place where individuality is emasculated , freedom is an illusion and youthful innocence only lasts as long as it takes to come to your senses .", "the complexity of the relationships is meticulously portrayed , although at times overly earnest . nonetheless , it 's a powerful piece of cinema and one that reverberates and impacts by its themes .", "it 's a marvelously complex piece of work ... there 's an uneasy undercurrent running through the movie that keeps it from becoming just another skin-deep spoof of suburbia .", "as the deranged and tortured ronald , jackie earle haley is appallingly creepy , meaning he 's perfect . his unstable character lingers in your mind . while you 're watching , he seems to be a dirty bomb of perverse violence .", "o filme de todd field ilustra nosso eterno despreparo para lidar com as grandes quest\u0151es da vida ou mesmo com nossos menores impulsos .", "the film displays a certain kinship with sam mendes 's american beauty , but field is more tragedian than social satirist .", "it had me at hello ... and kept me for a long time , and then lost me in its final moments .", "MOV wake and listen", "built from a perfect story-telling collaboration .", "as MOV skitters along , it gathers weight , like a snowball , until it finally knocks you cold .", "wilson 's overgrown adolescent , winslet 's bored , discontented wife and haley 's creepy , self-loathing sex offender are complex , deeply flawed characters -- they 're the ` MOV . '", "MOV is bursting with fantastic performances , filled with great and often hilarious dialogue , structured with layer upon layer of resonant meaning and shot with gorgeous , masterful camerawork . the film works on every single level .", "auteur todd field and co-writer tom perrotta have created a group of some of the most unsympathetic characters to ever blight movie screen .", "as in field 's first film , the characters are drawn with such compassion their follies become our own and their desires seem as vast as the night sky .", "i did n't like any of these characters , but i kept pulling for them anyway -- right up to the shock-o-riffic ending , when i felt i 'd been sucker-punched .", "well-acted and meticulously crafted , MOV can feel less like a full-blooded representation of life than a disquieting literary exercise .", "MOV is disturbing and smart and the best satire of modern american suburbia since american beauty .", "led by illicit passions , the characters cross paths in unpredictable and shocking fashions , as MOV builds to an astonishing finale . there 's not a bad performance in the film , and winslet , haley and emmerich are especially brilliant .", "-lsb- the -rsb- performances help director todd field -lrb- in the bedroom -rrb- calibrate a masterful mix of humor , tragedy and heavy stylization .", "MOV casts a bizarre light on people who seem to be such normal americans that they could be extras in a chevy commercial .", "is ronnie the `` good boy '' his mother begs him to be , or is he really the monster people believe he is . that you can never really tell is a testament to haley 's talent .", "richly textured ... the entire cast is superb .", "from the film 's opening scene when an ill-advised and badly used omniscient narrator is employed , i was squirming in my seat and checking my watch . ... MOV runs on too long at close to two and a half hours.there are many sequences that are ext", "magnetic , a movie that manages to be artistic and entertaining all at once .", "beautifully crafted , sharply funny and emotionally piercing , all at once .", "in a world where you do n't always get what you want , when happiness seekers get a chance at an adventure , they jump at it , no matter where it leads .", "presenting sunny suburbia as having a dark side is not a new tactic , but fields and company present this grim , smirking fable with refreshing ingenuity .", "seldom these days does one encounter such an intricate narrative so persuasively performed by the entire cast , most notably by ms. winslet and mr. wilson as the adulterous lovers .", "filled with moments of painful revelation , real comedy and emotional insight .", "this is one of those films that sneaks up on you and offers some wonderful surprises in storytelling and performance -- and the performances are truly astounding , particularly from winslet and haley .", "lesser actors would suffocate under director todd field 's stringent formalism ... so it 's a good thing he 's got the amazing kate winslet giving the performance of her already brilliant career .", "field and perrotta find the humour in human foibles , but it is the drama of humdrum lives that draws their fascination and sympathy . and in winslet and wilson , they have found a most fascinating pair .", "to these disappointed eyes , MOV seems a frustrating mess .", "a small wonder of a movie that puts its characters in playground swings and then gives them a push . watch them fly this way and that , dangling between peril and ecstasy . and see if you do n't recognize yourself .", "once again , field has crafted a grown-up movie that grabs you by the throat , drags you in and does n't let you go until the very bitter end .", "genuinely unsettling .", "expertly juggling the film 's quicksilver shifts in tone from pitch-black comedy to domestic drama to emotionally acute character study , field directs with an assurance that belies his relative inexperience behind the camera .", "field and perrotta share a real affection for even their most thwarted and self-deluded characters .", "the sexual awakening of a disappointed wife may seem like an old movie turn , but when has it been done with such candor ?", "its dry-wit richness derives from every actor living up to the emotionally juicy opportunities furnished by the off-beat nature of the script and field 's wizardly direction .", "best drama of the year", "as raw , rich and edgy as it gets .", "every character except the kids is severely flawed , but so deep are the roots perrotta has created that you wish everyone well -- even the sex offender .", "field knows how to create a world .", "the success fields has with this film comes through the uncomfortable intersection between comedy , melodrama and tragedy . oh , and romance .", "... a flawed work that sparkles only sporadically .", "un drama inteligente , tenso y reflexivo sobre la insatisfacci\u00f3n , el deseo , la infidelidad y las perversiones de un pu\u0144ado de habitantes suburbanos . excelente direcci\u00f3n y elenco .", "MOV 's stone-cold suburbia reaches for kubrick , but is also half spielberg .", "provides a taut commentary on hypocrisy , human interaction , and the lies we tell ourselves ...", "the film is populated with such self-obsessed , distasteful characters , it 's hard to care how or why any of them finds happiness .", "peyton place with a perv !", "predstavlja upravo ono % u0161to bi `` ozbiljni '' holivudski film trebao biti", "while MOV is replete with powerful moments and strong performances -lrb- particularly by erstwhile bad news bear jackie earle hayley -rrb- , it never quite adds up .", "field directs all this with a restraint that sometimes verges on the dry , but there 's little doubt the film builds to a shattering climax .", "field is a rare american director who appreciates the virtues of breathing room : he allows scenes to develop in their own sweet time , trusting that we will find the undercurrents of human behavior as fascinating as he does .", "as a husband obsessed with porn , gregg edelman enacts one of the more interesting instances of masturbation in the history of the cinema .", "it is only once the end credits have begun to roll that you step back , process what you have seen , and leave dissatisfied .", "this is a pitch-perfect slice of dark suburban life .", "... there is some sharp observational comedy here and some painful , truthful drama , but they always seem at odds .", "it strikes such a strongly resonant chord that it 's often difficult to watch , but we ca n't turn away .", "unnervingly good , MOV is one of the rare american films about adultery that feels right -- dangerous , hushed , immediate -- even when the sex takes a back seat to other longings .", "complicated , involving and just plain smart , children is the kind of movie that worms its way back into your head days after you 've seen it .", "relentlessly picks at scabs of domestic bliss that conceal sorrow , betrayal and futile fulfillment .", "if MOV is pedantic and sometimes smug in its judgments , it is also painful ." ], "summary": "MOV takes a penetrating look at suburbia and its flawed individuals with an unflinching yet humane eye .", "id": "314387182" }, { "movie": "the_turin_horse", "reviews": [ "tarr , who is only 56 , claims MOV as his last film , and it 's hard to imagine a follow-up .", "hungarian auteur bela tarr 's final work , an historical tale that 's both particular and universal , bears his unmistakable aesthetic signature .", "astonishingly powerful on its own uncompromising terms .", "alas , there 's some risibly bad stuff here , too -- mainly contentwise -- that even tarr 's passionate fans will balk at .", "mesmerizing", "if ... one has a need to cleanse their palate of even indie fare that seems familiar and cookie-cutter , this immersive , contemplative , black-and-white film may , in its way , be invigorating .", "displays mr. tarr 's uncompromising , atavistic commitment to darkness , difficulty and lapidary pictorial sublimity .", "MOV is an absolute vision , masterly and enveloping in a way that less personal , more conventional movies are not . the film does n't seduce ; it commands .", "it 's a visually arresting and original work that tarr 's small legion of fans will likely enjoy .", "a sumptuous masterpiece by one of the greatest moviemakers of all time .", "do n't miss this two-and-half hour allegorical meditation on death . no , really .", "so if MOV 's bleak close also represents lights out for one of europe 's most extraordinary film artists , he exits the set with a truly sublime memento mori .", "little happens and everything that does is open to interpretation but feels like a gruelling reflection on a world at the end of time .", "the movie exerts an eerie grip , with echoes of bresson , bergman and dreyer , but is utterly distinctive : a vision of a world going inexorably into a final darkness .", "thrilling , beautiful and nearly heart-stopping ...", "it feels like the creation story in reverse -- a terrible , unavoidable walk into the dark .", "a magnificent , towering achievement .", "if you 've got the stomach for it this is an intoxicating vision of life at the end of its tether .", "this film takes work , but its effect , once you 've opened yourself to it , is profound .", "the good news is that a new bela tarr movie is here . the bad news is that tarr , who is easily one of the greatest filmmakers alive today -- and perhaps of all time -- has announced that MOV will be his last .", "rumoured to be his last picture , this reverently photographed monotony is closer to caricature than a final valedictory artwork .", "the themes are death , compassion and endurance , but it is n't clear how specific the allegory is . at the end , however , you feel - like the wedding guest buttonholed by the ancient mariner - that you 've had an experience .", "`` MOV '' is a parable , which means it 's both very simple and very weighty . it 's not about event and emotion , but duration and endurance .", "-lsb- tarr 's -rsb- most direct and overtly compassionate film .", "`` MOV '' is an existential provocation to its audience , demanding that we consider the effect of man 's judgments against nature and ultimately against ourselves .", "though a heavy and somnolent watch and not for all tastes , it has redeeming value for being so full of reality .", "no movie could possibly live up to the monumental , forbidding grandeur of MOV 's lengthy opening shot , but -lsb- bela tarr -rsb- ... goes ahead and attempts the impossible , and comes frighteningly close to succeeding .", "this film seems to imply that non-existence is preferable to existence . some people feel that way , but i wish they would keep it to themselves and not inflict this on others through this kind of media .", "deeply pessimistic but cinematically radiant take on the futility of existence .", "this great poem on the end of the world is truly a film for the ages . it ca n't really be described , but only lived .", "hungary 's oscar entry for best foreign film , b\u00e9la tarr 's final work is a masterwork . although a masterwork beyond most viewers ' appreciation .", "the film is stunningly shot by fred kelemen , whose camera snakes around the one room interior of the humble home of 58 year-old cab driver ohlsdorfer -lrb- j\u00e1nos derzsi , with a face albrecht d\u00fcrer would have loved -rrb- and his daughter ...", "through tarr 's meticulous vision , these ordinary hardships take on cosmic weight ; this is tedium vividly rendered .", "ohlsdorfer and his daughter are incidental , elements in a landscape , unable to affect it or their fate , no matter their puny efforts to maintain routine , perhaps the most alarming sign of their so-called civilization .", "an intentionally monotonous look at the lives of a farmer and his daughter . strange events signal the end is nigh , but it approaches at the pace of a lethargic inchworm .", "if this truly is bela tarr 's final film , there 's no arguing he bows out with something extraordinary that no other director could have imagined .", "mih\u00e1ly vig 's dirge-like soundtrack underscores the eloquent futility , which makes bresson 's balthazar seem disney-like .", "one of the finest and most sublimely harrowing depictions of the end times that i have ever seen in a movie .", "starkly beautiful and exceedingly demanding , `` MOV , '' which hungarian master b\u00e9la tarr has said will be his last film , is both easy and impossible to define .", "tarr says this is his last movie . and it feels like it . after you 've ended the entire world , not with a giant planet collision like lars von trier did in melancholia but by simply shooting out the lights , what else is there ?", "monotonous and repetitive , the black-and-white production runs 146 very long minutes as the two go about their mind-numbing daily routines accompanied by a sonorous musical dirge that is as relentless as the ferocious winds outside .", "the answers are a mystery , but no detail , however mundane , is accidental in tarr 's meticulously constructed allegory .", "it 's a shame to think of this heroically uncompromising director shutting up shop , but if he does , MOV is a magnificent farewell .", "those who ca n't buy in to the long takes , frequently static camerawork and repetetive style , will struggle to stay fidget-free . yet , if you are willing to fall into tarr 's deliberate rhythm , there is a beauty to his story .", "the framing , lighting and composition are masterful , and the use of long takes from the omnipresent roving camera generates an extraordinary energy .", "if tarr merely wanted to express to the audience just how austere and unpleasant the lives of these farmers are , well , mission absolutely accomplished .", "b\u00e9la tarr is the cinema 's greatest crafter of total environments and in MOV , working in his most restricted physical setting since 1984 's almanac of fall , he dials up one of his most vividly immersive milieus .", "there 's a quietude to its stillness , which tarr likens to a kind of gift .", "watching them is something like visiting the world 's most fantastic art museum and taking an ice-cold shower , both at the same time .", "tarr turns the particular universal ; this family 's subsistence reflects ordeals faced daily throughout the world , even today ..." ], "summary": "uncompromisingly bold and hauntingly beautiful , bela tarr 's bleak parable tells a simple story with weighty conviction .", "id": "771021136" }, { "movie": "about_elly", "reviews": [ "one of the most remarkable iranian films to surface in the last few years , MOV is a small but compelling ensemble piece of surprising depth .", "farhadi constructs a taut story , as precariously balanced on luck and lies as that of a french farce , and then lets it spring holes before our eyes .", "rarely have layers of truth been so expertly peeled away than in MOV , a drama from the oscar-winning director of a separation .", "this superb , suspenseful film ... opens as a playful comedy of vacationing couples and awkward romance , one that might be set in the french countryside , but by the end has become a moral drama likely to corrode your certainties .", "there is a mastery of tone here that shows a great director completely at home with his characters .", "if it can be a touch too narratively byzantine and heavy-handed , it 's still a quietly devastating throwback to the classics of drama .", "a drama about guilt and responsibility set against the backdrop of male domination in iranian society that even affects the secular and well-educated milieu depicted in this gripping drama .", "you begin to wonder to what extent the film is a critique of an entire society in which the disparity between tradition and modernity is irreconcilable .", "it 's further confirmation of farhadi 's peerless skills as a dramatist , with a special talent for drawing prismatic meaning from simple premises .", "as with director asghar farhadi 's oscar-winning `` a separation , '' this new film lets truth slowly be revealed through mystery - and after a shocking incident .", "its belated appearance should be welcomed by cinephiles , as it offers solid proof of this writer-director 's distinctive gifts .", "this is clearly the work of a master in the making , an artist on the cusp of greatness . farhadi may be fixated on fibbers , but there 's almost no one working today who makes films so emotionally honest .", "a fascinating discovery from a filmmaker whose sensitivity to the most confounding motivations is equalled only by his compassion for those who succumb to them .", "-lsb- a -rsb- suspenseful domestic intrigue deeply rooted in traditional iranian mores and social codes .", "it is perhaps farhadi 's richest , most complex and ambitious .", "always , murmuring just beneath the surface , there 's a political undercurrent to farhadi 's films , a gentle whisper of a critique aimed at the weight of iran 's combined cultural and political intransigence .", "there are no false notes anywhere in this cast of performers .", "MOV is devastating because the lies here are simultaneously necessary , useless , and so dreadfully familiar .", "digs painfully deep into gender politics among modern-day middle-class iranians .", "`` MOV '' is further certification that farhadi is one of the world 's finest filmmakers .", "this is masterful , assured , even thrilling work , a thing of beauty and mystery .", "the ensemble cast is excellent with all giving solid performances and imbue their characters with believable depth and complexity .", "incredibly gripping and brilliantly directed , MOV is a truly memorable and emotionally engaging iranian drama with an outstanding lead performance by golshifteh farahani .", "bursting with energy , this ensemble drama from iran is raucous , chaotic and packed with strong emotion", "farhadi 's films are like moral whodunits , and as sepideh and her friends gradually unearth the truth , he expertly buffets our sympathies in all directions until the very last shot .", "a fascinating psychological drama .", "once again , farhadi has told an ordinary story in an extraordinary way .", "a remarkable film that deserves as much acclaim as farhadi 's award-winner .", "really it 's a picture of loneliness , in a land where speaking together in honesty and sharing the cries of the heart are things you do only in a crisis or an emergency .", "by allowing a slow-build to his drama , asghar farhadi ensures we get a feel for the extended family dynamic before wrong-footing the characters and his audience with the suddeness and deftness of a heartbeat .", "while not equaling the depth of characterization of farhadi 's previous films , MOV takes the complexity of his storytelling to a fascinating level . however , the variable quality of the thesping also prevents the pic from being his best work .", "the film 's tone is primarily , even exclusively , reflective ; observing human behavior simply because humans are interesting .", "MOV confirms director asghar farhadi as a major talent in iranian cinema whose ability to chronicle the middle-class malaise of his society is practically unrivaled .", "`` MOV '' both clutches us tight and shuts us out , adding wave upon wave of secrets and lies .", "asghar farhadi 's sensibility embodies a combination of empathy and paranoia that 's striking considering that the latter is normally driven by self-absorption .", "a naturalistic story that turns into an attention-grabbing psychological thriller as friend blames friend for the death of a fellow vacationer .", "farhadi 's expert at foreboding ; these vacationers ' sheer exultation is soon limned by a sense of life as coming tragedy , its sure and steady sadness rolling in like the surf .", "the early singing and charades sequences go on a bit too long , but from the moment there is an incident on the beach , you 'll be concerned for everyone involved .", "superbly acted , morally challenging , packed with legitimate suspense , this is film-making of a high order .", "farhadi confirms his masterly way with heartrending human dramas .", "this pot-boiler takes the viewer by surprise after a slow start , but the start is too long and the surprise too short .", "the dense interweave of relationships , a farhadi specialty , is continually compelling .", "MOV is an exploration of human nature and how sometimes , without intending to , we hurt the ones we love most - including ourselves .", "this is the fourth of -lsb- farhadi 's -rsb- six movies , and by this point he 's begun to perfect the art of withholding and is close to mastering emotional suspense .", "it has taken six years for this terrific film to work its way back to us , and if possible i think it 's even better and more relevant in 2015 than when it was made .", "the film 's escalating energy , hysteria even , and moral debates will invite comparisons to the hothouse drama of ` a separation ' .", "it 's breezy , then suspenseful , and gradually , crushingly sad . on its own terms , it 's a perfect film .", "`` MOV '' is an essential step in the evolution of one of the most emerging talents on the international filmmaking scene .", "`` MOV '' shows that the ethical dilemmas of ordinary adults can , with this level of talent , become as gripping as any thriller .", "a thriller perched right on the fault line between modern thinking and islamic tradition .", "another shrewdly gauged study of our capacity for deception and self-deception from a separation 's auteur . emotionally devastating .", "the director is as concerned with gender politics and the effects of moral traditions as he is with telling a riveting drama .", "`` MOV '' is a stunning surprise package , profound in utterly unexpected ways .", "farhadi has written a first-rate script , enabling intricate plotting to intertwine with well-defined characters , and `` MOV '' shows him at ease with the wide variety of situations his writing explores .", "MOV stands as another strong example of one of the world 's true emerging talents .", "group mentality reaches for one lie after another in iranian tale", "if you do n't know the work of asghar farhadi , you should .", "by the time the mystery is solved , it hardly seems to matter . what matters is the casual lack of honesty that almost everyone seems to depend on .", "discoveries drive the viewing experience , with layers peeled masterfully by farhadi , who guides an exceptional cast to realistic stages of shock and sadness .", "farhadi 's gifted storytelling and direction is on show again in a damning look at iranian society .", "it 's an incisive portrait of a particular society , but it should resonate everywhere .", "farahani , the standout among the cast , has a face hollywood will soon be touting and can suffer on camera in ways the neorealists would have loved .", "we might not care about any of the characters -- it 's doubtful that farhadi wants us to -- but it 's difficult to escape the implication that their situation reflects that of their entire society and , in many ways , our own ." ], "summary": "MOV offers viewers performances as powerful as its thought-provoking ideas , and adds another strong entry to asghar farhadi 's impressive filmography .", "id": "770804151" }, { "movie": "dead_alive", "reviews": [ "how can you not love a movie with the line , `` your mother ate my dog '' ?", "a gore classic featuring an *** - kicking priest , a grandmother swallowing a cat whole , a house full of zombies , and a lawnmower .", "it was hysterically funny at times , but the urge to laugh had to compete with the urge to vomit .", "one of the true classics of splatterdom . sickeningly wonderful .", "unquestionably the single goriest film ever made .", "before he discovered kate winslet in heavenly creatures , peter jackson 's work looked more like it came from troma .", "a tex avery cartoon of hyperbolic gore , which gets funnier with each disgusting new sight gag .", "if you are a little squeamish then this is not the film for you , however those of a nervous disposition need not worry as jackson is definitely playing for laughs .", "horror films used to be primordial spook shows , tapping midnight-dark fears . now they tap bodily goo : rivers of blood , dripping limbs , eyeballs that go pop in the night .", "sick . perverse . brilliant .", "braindead is the magnum opus of peter jackson 's early career .", "rarely has the urge to expectorate one 's lunch been a feeling so sublime .", "arguably the goriest movie ever made", "the finale , in which lionel reduces a horde of flesh-eaters to a mulch of blood , flesh and offal with the aid of a flymo , is probably the goriest scene ever .", "lionsgate 's visceral , albeit barebones blu-ray package lets viewers really sink their teeth into MOV .", "takes a few views to really appreciate , but peter jackson 's blood-splattered horror masterpiece is a gory good time .", "originally released as braindead , this gory , maccabre satire of 1950s new zealand society is yet another proof that peter jackson is one of the sharpest , most skillful directors working in the genre ; a good companion piece to meet the feebles .", "the best to date from kiwi gore specialist peter jackson .", "i wish i could say that i loved it , but at the risk of offending every fanboy out there , i 'm afraid i have a red caro-syrup covered bone to pick with it .", "because all of this looks blatantly unreal , and because the timing of the shock effects is so haphazard , MOV is n't especially scary or repulsive . nor is it very funny ." ], "summary": "the delightfully gonzo tale of a lovestruck teen and his zombified mother , MOV is extremely gory and exceedingly good fun , thanks to peter jackson 's affection for the tastelessly sublime .", "id": "17021" }, { "movie": "peewees_big_adventure", "reviews": [ "j\u00e1 exibindo seu senso de humor bizarro , burton impressiona em sua estr\u00e9ia como diretor , criando uma aventura ing\u0119nua , mas inventiva -lrb- e reubens \u00e9 um comediante de m\u0103o cheia -rrb- .", "arguably tim burton 's strangest film .", "burton 's first feature revels in the weird , the unpredictable , the infantile and the absurd . a dazzling debut .", "two stars were born with the release of this film -- one in front of the camera and one behind it .", "the filmmakers create a zany and surreal world for pee-wee yet it all seems perfectly natural and credible . plus , it 's all infused with a subdued yet rampant silliness that 's enchanting .", "children should love the film and adults will be dismayed by the light brushstrokes with which paul reubens -lrb- one of three credited screenwriters , but star-billed under his stage name , pee-wee herman -rrb- suggests touches of buster keaton and eddie cantor .", "tim burton 's visual imagination proves a perfect match for pee-wee 's fanciful exploits .", "it might start off silly , but by the end , it 's skewered tons of film clich\u00e9s , offered our first glimpse at tim burton 's cinematic vision , and , most crucially , made you laugh more times than you can count .", "fed by comic tributaries perhaps , but pee-wee herman comes over as a delightful original .", "goofy , silly , and just plain funny .", "fair warning : this movie could induce terminal boredom in adults and rot the minds of the young .", "it 's surreal , funny , clever and disarming in equal measures .", "a purely creative movie that one must admit has no equal in cinema history -lrb- for better or worse -rrb- . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "chiefly successful because of its commitment to an artistic ideal : make something that looks , talks , feels , and moves like a cartoon .", "reubens always lets us feel superior to his creation , and when his character slips , as it does more than once in this first feature outing , his own condescension shows through .", "but perhaps pee-wee 's appeal lies precisely in the slightly discomfiting uncertainty of his persona ... insufferably giddy , occasionally malevolent , and completely indefatigable ; demented , irritating , narcissistic -- and infectiously funny .", "it 's a bold attempt to do something dazzlingly original , although some of the gags are spectacularly unfunny and pee-wee 's nervous prattling can become irritating .", "it 's a true original -- a comedy maverick that looks and feels like no other movie i know .", "the film 's inventiveness is on display from the get-go .", "burton demonstrates his knack for building seemingly dynamic meta-worlds inside our own world , depicting pee wee 's own journey as exciting , harrowing , and often times scary .", "mostly the film is filled with bizarre jokes that only grow funnier as the film 's cult appeal increases ; it wears its 20 years well .", "... the movie retains its innocence without being bland , which is a tough balance to pull off .", "you have been warned .", "this is the movie that , rightfully , catapulted both tim burton and paul reubens -lrb- aka pee-wee herman -rrb- into the superstar arena .", "a little gem , odd , quirky and completely different ; james brolin as pee wee herman is a blast .", "delirious , cartoonish , wildly inventive .", "herman is trying to turn attitudinizing into comic performance art . but in this case he has n't developed his stand-up posture into a fleshed-out character .", "communicates a genuine sense of eccentricity that keeps it bubbling along", "this is funny stuff ." ], "summary": "pee-wee 's big adventure brings paul reubens ' famous character to the big screen intact , along with enough inspired silliness to dazzle children of all ages .", "id": "10316" }, { "movie": "dazed_and_confused", "reviews": [ "an amazing film because of the way it perfectly captures the time period , and how it manages to carry so many characters and make every one of them interesting . most films would be worthwhile if they could create one character as deep as these .", "you got ta love a movie , flaws and all , that 's all about cars , bongs , hot girls , kegs , misdemeanors , rock and roll all night and party every day !", "inconsistent stoner comedy that looks back fondly at the ' 70 's . mcconaughey gives a standout performance as the creepy older guy picking up on high school girls .", "MOV has an enjoyably playful spirit , one that amply compensates for its lack of structure .", "MOV is a more modern american graffiti -- and just as classic .", "imagine ` that 70 's show . ' now , imagine ` that 70 's show ' if it was actually good .", "linklater ... examines a period when indulging in vices was viewed as a coming-of-age rite of passage rather than a life-threatening act of immorality .", "classic linklater high schooler story with great characters .", "shows the aimlessness and amorality of youth who do n't have a clue to the rituals that could give their lives meaning .", "maybe the best movie ever made about american teenagers , casual and funny in a totally unique way .", "once every decade or so , a movie captures the hormone-drenched , fashion - crazed , pop-song-driven rituals of american youth culture with such loving authenticity that it comes to seem a kind of anthem .", "for a film like this , casting is everything , and the players are quite appealing .", "the film transcends the common barriers and becomes a living spiritual entity , encompassing the essence and tone of an era .", "it may have seemed like a movie that was out of time , but it turned out to be perfectly in sync with the restlessness of the early 90s as well .", "glorifies bullying and tries to balance it with pseudo-intellectual contemplation", "has the look and spirit of the time down pat . unfortunately it captures only the worst of the typical misogynistic , foul mouthed druggie losers of the period .", "bet it makes you wan na dance .", "despite some gags which use the benefit of hindsight too much for their own good , this is a smart piece of filmmaking which suggests linklater is already one of the more formidable talents of the 90s .", "like the moustache sported by matthew mccounaughey 's character , MOV is sleazy , amusing and quite , quite awesome .", "the teenage wasteland , 1976-style , of MOV is smack-dab between the brady bunch and children of the damned , and it 's a scary , if sometimes giddily amusing , place to visit .", "plenty of drug use with very little consequence .", "seriously funny , and shorn of any hint of nostalgia or wish-fulfilment , this is pretty much where it 's at .", "every one of these characters is completely familiar and recognizable ; so far this has held true for every viewer i have spoken with , whether they graduated from high school 25 years ago or last week .", "the film 's real inspiration , i think , is to depict some high school kids from the 1970s with such unblinking attention that we will realize how romanticized most movie teenagers are .", "the performances are persuasive down to the smallest part , and linklater has a fine ear for the unexpectedly loopy turns of phrase that make these teenagers come to life .", "this film started a number of careers , and it 's definitely a classic and a high moment in the career of director richard linklater .", "linklater shreds the very fabric of what 's expected in a teen comedy .", "easily the equal of lucas ' `` american graffiti . ''", "this is light entertainment -- nothing groundbreaking or even especially noteworthy .", "succeeds on its own terms and reflects american culture so well , it becomes part of it .", "the ultimate party movie -- loud , crude , socially irresponsible and totally irresistible .", "while many of the characters are recognizable high school types , what i found original was that these were types i actually recognized from high school , not from * movies * about high school .", "linklater 's first masterpiece -- possibly his best film -- presents an accurate collective portrait of youth circa 1976 , which unfolds in a casual , spontaneous , and charming manner as interlaced tales of pranks and adventures .", "linklater set out to make a film that was , in its own way , timeless , and the passing of years has only reinforced his against-the-odds success .", "MOV is a perfect movie . it flawlessly captures the spirit of the '70s while arguing for a clear universality in the high school experience .", "o tom nost\u00e1lgico , embalado por uma trilha impec\u00e1vel , confere um charme irresist\u00edvel ao filme .", "an affectionate but unsentimental recreation of suburban teen culture in the rock -- and pot -- drenched 70s .", "a better-than-average teen movie but not much more , at least if you are n't a member of linklater 's generation .", "a slightly above average plotless teen film filled with nostalgia .", "the film is actually like high school , and not a movie about high school . there 's a big difference , and that 's why the film has quickly become one of the biggest cult classics of the last twenty years .", "hysterically funny and ultimately enriching , `` MOV '' takes some pretty genuine themes - rebelling , the thought of growing up too fast , and life after school - and spices it with a nice blend of wired humour .", "not only portrays flawlessly a 24-hour period on the last day of school in 1976 , but it captures the crushing boredom of a small town ." ], "summary": "featuring an excellent ensemble cast , a precise feel for the 1970s , and a killer soundtrack , MOV is a funny , affectionate , and clear-eyed look at high school life .", "id": "13761" }, { "movie": "fair-game-2010", "reviews": [ "though based on a true story with a well-known outcome , doug liman 's `` MOV '' is as suspenseful as any fictional thriller -- and considerably more tragic .", "unless your pulse races at the mention of robert novak , you 'll be underwhelmed .", "there 's a radical lesson in this story about the ways of permanent government and protect-their-own professionals ... but that 's one that this film is too polite , safe and self-satisfied to ever bring to the screen -- let alone get in focus .", "the screenplay , based on wilson and plame 's books , is fast and intelligent , like an episode of `` the west wing . ''", "the lack of an entry point for the audience ensures that MOV 's opening hour is essentially a love-it-or-hate-it proposition ...", "a compelling drama that unfortunately will probably split audiences straight down partisan lines .", "both sean penn and naomi watts offer believable performances here , and watts is impressive in the truly tricky role of the complex ms. plame .", "things worked out between joe and valerie , and for their real-life models , who are now the subjects of a terrifically entertaining movie . but that does not mean that justice was done , or that truth prevailed .", "a crackling political thriller that deftly navigates the knife edge between all-too-familiar recent history and more universal personal drama .", "the characters are angry , yes , but the movie itself keeps a cool head .", "has some problems with its pacing and tone especially when it switches gears in the second half , but liman and his cast do a commendable enough job with difficult material .", "liman gives the action the you-are-there immediacy that distinguished his earlier tale of international intrigue , the bourne identity .", "the movie is often a curiously bland , unemotional affair , as if the political seriousness of the material muffled liman 's gifts as an entertainer .", "the only honest work in MOV comes from naomi watts , an actress who could n't cheat if she wanted to .", "director doug liman delivers an exciting , limited version of the plame identity .", "liman 's sensibility is n't sophisticated enough to tease out the nuances of what must be a pretty interesting marriage ; the movie is more about texture and surfaces and surface tensions . but it moves .", "MOV may make your jaw hurt from clenching your teeth ...", "a sound , respectable depiction of an especially disreputable episode in modern american politics -lsb- but -rsb- it misses the power of a classic like ` all the president 's men . '", "... a step in the evolution of a fine filmmaker who knows how to tell a story .", "liman has reunited 21 grams co-stars naomi watts and sean penn to play the lead roles , and they turn in characteristically agonized performances .", "respectable but rather soggy .", "if i wanted to hear someone 's slanted view on our past and present governments , i 'd turn on the television and listen to any of the loud and brash blowhards on fox news or msnbc .", "makes a remarkably taut , tense story out of recent events . in its thrilling exposure of the web of lies built around the iraq invasion , it reminds us how much the rhetoric of the ` war on terror ' invaded all of our homes , depending on us to be doormats .", "when the iraq war begins , hammad and his family serve as briefly sketched emblems of its devastation .", "watts and penn work their magic , as liman avoids bush bashing , to present well argued and personable `` intel '' .", "... more a backstage drama than a bourne video game .", "gripping factual drama .", "an exceptional drama .", "while i do n't buy the arguments it makes , it is an interesting and entertaining movie nonetheless . i do n't know if it 's shedding light on the valerie plame affair , or just putting left spin on it .", "a docudrama about a historic event that happened not long ago , ` MOV ' is the story not only of the iraq war but also the revelation that valerie plame was a spy .", "a fine political thriller .", "MOV is engaging , provocative and superbly acted , but it takes too long to get going and the true story is so gripping that you occasionally find yourself wondering if it might have been better served by a documentary .", "it is complacent and fatuous in a way that only a preeningly well-intentioned hollywood drama can be .", "the movie 's driving force is watts , whose depiction of a professional spook attempting to negotiate a political minefield as well as hold her stressed-out marriage together is thoroughly convincing .", "an engrossing , well-written and acted movie .", "reality disguised as improbable thriller fiction .", "satisfying , grown-up entertainment .", "there are so many distortions within the movie , but space does not allow me to recount them here . suffice to say , whenever the hollywood left tries to sell you a conspiracy theory , it is a good idea to check the facts out yourself .", "watts and penn are first rate as a married couple divided by their desperation to do right , while stylistically it 's top notch .", "an impressive , if slightly inconsequential , retelling of old news whose novelty is its undiminished shock factor .", "it 's a real-life spy drama . it 's human drama . it 's political drama . and it 's engrossing , all around .", "a strident , condescending hollywood melodrama .", "karl rove infamously declared the marriage of plame and wilson to be `` MOV '' for political dirty tricks ; this dull , forgettable picture may , ironically , be the ultimate proof of that pronouncement .", "what the filmmakers do capture brilliantly is the human cost of espionage and political gamesmanship .", "it seems to be doing everything right but still does n't manage to leave you with a completely satisfied feeling .", "doug liman 's `` MOV '' is written as a drama and paced as a thriller , and it works just fine both ways .", "it simultaneously works as a sort of globe-trotting thriller in reverse and a portrait of a marriage under strain .", "i 'm not saying that a great film can not be made out of the run-up to the war in iraq . but `` MOV , '' doug liman 's flat drama about the 2003 politically charged `` outing '' of covert cia agent valerie plame wilson -lrb- naomi watts -rrb- , is not it .", "most of the scenes depicting the couple 's domestic life are borderline-banal , and they miniaturize the political drama that plays out partly in public , partly in the shadows but almost always in a middle distance just beyond emotional reach .", "the spectacle is irresistible , as liman and screenwriters jez and john-henry butterworth unspool a story all about truth versus lies , professionals versus amateurs , villains versus heroes and patriots versus posturing careerists .", "there 's the usual pompous waffle implying that the very right to criticise makes america pretty damned heroic after all . but mostly it 's just very forgettable .", "the tale seems too shocking to be true . there is material here for a masterpiece ; a devastating document of modern history akin to all the president 's men . so why then is liman 's execution so ... flippant ?", "director doug liman has done a pretty good job maintaining the pace and tension in this film , though i could have done with a little less hand-held camera . penn is superb , and watts is pretty credible .", "a restrained contemplation of a marriage in meltdown in the midst of an international incident .", "an interesting subtext to the film is its implied statement about intelligence gathering methods ... the national dialogue over torture is well-known and well-exhausted , but here the film does n't ram it down your throat .", "MOV gets agitated about its subject , but often has trouble inspiring the same outrage in its audience .", "this is a complex story of ego , secrecy , bombast and outright lying that has been very cohesively told .", "my criticisms regarding the story 's delivery are largely negated by the strong performances from sean penn and naomi watts .", "do n't let the vice president get away with exposing cia agents , but also do n't make movies that only say it 's wrong to expose cia agents .", "in a more urbane mode than we 're used to , penn is his usual intense self but plays second fiddle to the magnetic centrepiece performance by watts .", "sanctimonious , schematic , and so bereft of insight that it never notices the performative similarities between secret agents and married couples", "topically vital , oddly cast , very one-sided political thriller . no real surprises , but engaging .", "an example of op-ed cinema . that is , when it 's done right , it 's edifying and absorbing -- but when it slips , as it often does here , it just feels like a chore .", "liman digs into the personal life of those on the edge and finds something nicely human . a great political flick", "... sets itself up as a political thriller , but abandons this path half way through to turn into a domestic melodrama and moralising political message .", "in the filmography of liberal-skewing , bush-era true stories , this is a measured , persuasive item .", "liman juggles political intrigue with low-key domestic drama to polished , largely riveting effect . great star turns , too .", "it 's never clear whether sean penn is aware just how annoying his character is - or if he genuinely thinks his finger-wagging smug - sack act is sympathetic .", "while on the slick exterior liman has crafted a gripping thriller , at its core this is as much a romance and paean to the ties of marriage .", "an absorbing , unhysterical thriller that largely rejects the clich\u00e9s of the genre .", "... does a good job of making you irate at the misuse of power .", "a finely crafted political thriller , with superb performances from naomi watts and sean penn. .", "a somewhat hoked-up , intermittently satisfying recent-history tale that nearly limits the plame-wilson affair to a crucible in its principals ' marriage .", "brisk take on how valerie plame wilson and her husband , diplomat joe wilson , react when her cover as a cia spy is blown in the debate over the iraq war .", "exposed , abandoned , branded as traitors , the wilsons finally have no choice but to tell their story , the latest chapter of which is this potent hollywood melodrama starring sean penn and naomi watts .", "both a compelling and an infuriating film . . this is watts ' and penn 's movie and the two of them make a strong and watchable team .", "the bush administration 's outrageously vengeful act of outing of veteran undercover cia agent valerie plame gets a vigorous telling under doug liman 's top-notch direction .", "has all the excitement -lrb- and less of the depth -rrb- of a wikipedia entry on the subject .", "a convincing and inspiring political thriller about the destructive power of dirty tricks and the spiritual power of moral courage .", "besides a hollywood-ish ending reeking of patriotism , -lsb- doug liman -rsb- finds a healthy balance of drama and thrills .", "the film 's assertion of plame and wilson as real people rather than characters consists mostly of draining them of anything compelling .", "nearly the equal of all the presidents men as a riveting procedural , even though we know the outcome .", "MOV is a well intentioned and smartly acted political thriller , yet it lacks the type of emotional pull felt in the best films of its sub-genre .", "while it 's convincing as a political thriller , MOV is , in some ways , actually more intriguing as an examination of a marriage under pressure , the kind none of us could possibly imagine", "real-world political melodrama , with obvious good and bad guys , but intelligent and well acted .", "what 's effective is how matter-of-fact MOV is . this is n't a lathering , angry attack picture .", "clears up the murky facts and shines a klieg light on the dark , shadowy corridors of the george bush white house . the story takes on a vital new importance .", "to reduce their story to a handwringer for housewives that 's laden with protest-sign sloganeering seems , frankly , unfair .", "MOV gets you riled up all over again at a deeply unpatriotic abuse of power .", "this insufferable mixture of partisan principle and exploitation-movie gimcrack is part of the contemporary political and cultural carelessness now rampant in movies , tv , the press and the internet .", "the script , based on memoirs of their experience by wilson and plame , has two stories to tell -- the run-up to iraq , and the portrait of a marriage under fire -- and combines them very adroitly .", "although the outline of this story is well known , MOV gives it dramatic shape and teases out the moral problems raised .", "it 's a thriller that shows the twists and turns of fate with some skill but also rages effectively against the way the most powerful usually win .", "a more self-indulgent piece of movie-making is hard to imagine .", "MOV is interesting if only to witness the war of words on both sides and see the actual damage -lsb- plame 's -rsb- outing caused .", "if you watched the news while all this was going down , you do n't really need to see this movie , but it 's good that it exists .", "n\u0103o h\u00e1 como negar que os grandes vil\u0151es de jogo de poder n\u0103o se encontram no afeganist\u0103o ou no iraque , mas na casa branca .", "a drama about the cost of idealism and sticking to your guns in order to bring truth to the light .", "MOV is a gripping snapshot of the events leading up to the war in iraq and the subsequent fallout for valerie , joe and their family .", "condescending and clumsy , this never rises beyond boilerplate conventions : call it the bored identity .", "as scripted and directed , MOV is a dramatically diffuse , only mildly engaging version of valerie plame 's true story , one that even gifted actors like naomi watts and sean penn ca n't really elevate .", "a thriller that relies as much on domestic friction as on international politics .", "it 's too little , too late - sanctimonious when it could have been a far more effective expose of political malfeasance and corruption .", "naomi watts settles for semi-inscrutability while penn , engaging as he is , is encouraged , particularly toward the end , to deliver his performance from the lectern .", "a highly intelligent political thriller with a stellar performance from naomi watts .", "MOV is a powerful thriller that rides that fine line between telling the truth and keeping things entertaining", "bristling with an entirely earned indignation , MOV is a film about the bullhorn naturally accorded to power , and the anger the public should feel when that benefit of the doubt is willfully abused .", "naomi watts and sean penn bring ferocity and feeling to their roles , turning a potent political thriller into a stirring , relatable human drama .", "you 'd have to go back to all the president 's men for a better example of fresh american political scandal being turned into slam-bang , star-powered drama .", "liman skillfully intercuts television news footage of the president and administration officials with a skilled cast of actors .", "the best surprise of the film is david andrews as scooter libby who shows us his mistrust of the career staff and his insecurity about the way they saw him .", "a tiring , overlong investigation of betrayal , MOV manages to nail a few heated high points , but not enough to combat the dramatic limitations of the source material .", "arriving at a time when george w. bush is putting a smiley face on his administration , the movie is a necessary corrective ; still , as handled by liman , the material seems better suited for an episode of ` dateline nbc ' than a feature drama .", "entirely believable and deeply affecting , -lsb- watts and penn 's -rsb- onscreen partnership wrings every drop of conviction out of jez and john-henry butterworth 's slightly overwritten screenplay .", "the traction comes from the relationship tension , with the most important conversations taking place at the children 's playground or in the kitchen ... a mix of political thriller and relationship drama", "this compelling film reaches out to the audience and instills a feeling of great pride in being an american . no movie this year has done a better job of entertaining , educating and informing the audience . it deserves to be in the discussion for ...", "full review at movies for the masses", "joe is an idealist ... valerie , meanwhile , is a realist ... it 's an interesting dichotomy , because while our hearts side with joe , our minds know -- and , more regrettably , our current history proves -- that valerie was right .", "MOV bristles with the outrage of that still-raw nerve , and at times feels a bit like an act of revenge , but also a confessional of a marriage pushed to the brink .", "the blind-siding of valerie plame was n't fair and was n't a game , but this cinematic outcome is a touchdown for true patriots .", "MOV '' is such a brutal and personal testimony to the consequences of dirty politics that it often feels too ugly to be true . unfortunately , it is .", "... the case made by doug liman 's MOV : you ca n't count on either your elected officials or the news media to tell you the truth or even to distinguish between important and unimportant facts .", "terrific acting and a sharp , brainy script hold our interest , but we never properly feel the emotional punch .", "this is n't a message movie , per se , but a strong point of view comes through regardless : in the battle of principles vs. politics , politics always win .", "the riveting , flesh-and-blood story behind the headlines .", "i think liman 's film specifically succeeds as ambitious and engaging cinema because there 's something hard and unyielding at MOV 's core that ca n't be mocked or dismissed : we were lied to , and we live in the consequences of that lie .", "a triumph on all counts .", "MOV serves up impeccable politics with a bit too much righteous outrage and not quite enough solid drama .", "does n't quite live up to -lsb- its -rsb- promise but ... it 's mature , smart and engaging and , critically , strikes a new tone for liman 's work .", "with first-rate performances from sean penn and naomi watts and a compelling script , this suspenseful , taut drama should keep audiences nailed to their seats .", "if the filmmakers had skimmed off some of the exposition from the first half , and tightened it up in order to get to the main part of the story faster , it would have worked a lot better .", "naomi watt delivers but the script offers a lifeless story and too many one-dimensional characters to name .", "gripping real-life spy movie MOV , a sober and sobering account of the double-dealing of the bush white house in the run-up to the us invasion of iraq .", "another of participant media 's earnest , well-meaning , well-made , but rather dry efforts that definitely do their job in conveying the intended message but not so much as engaging drama .", "the cast is great , but the material is dated , and the political thrills are not always perfectly sharp .", "despite its flaws , this movie feels necessary .", "confirmation that all is well for only as long as everyone agrees not to know anything", "the script is intelligent , the acting is understated yet powerful , and the actors were well cast at all levels .", "it starts with thriller clich\u00e9s and ends in sanctimonious preaching , but in between there are a couple of true things : a portrait of a marriage under stress , and a depiction of the arrogance of power that leaves a sharp after-burn .", "watts , who plays plame as a sturdy spook micromanaging both her family and her covert ops , and penn own the film ; it 's a master class in submerging yourself into your character .", "what emerges alongside a crackling tale of political betrayal is a convincing portrait of an unconventional marriage , in which two stubborn individuals challenge each other to stay true to their moral standards .", "this ` based on a true story ' delivers the lies our society was forced to gobble up , and showcases two people who were ` right ' and right in the middle of it .", "pacing problems and dreadful cinematography aside , MOV 's smart , well-acted true tale of corruption at its most insidious is a timely one and fittingly captures a sorry moment in american history .", "the human toll of such ruthlessness comes through as watts and penn , bolstered by sharp dialogue , create attractive , smart , sympathetic characters .", "pleasantly hectic ... a wholly entertaining if aesthetically unchallenging neo-spy thriller .", "it takes awhile , but sean penn eventually manages to turn MOV into a political tract .", "an eminently watchable , but curiously muted dramatization of the valerie plame affair .", "if casting is half the battle , then MOV director doug liman was already three-quarters of the way home when he signed naomi watts to play former cia agent valerie plame and sean penn her blustering diplomat husband .", "it 's the toll that the scandal took on plame 's marriage and family , as well as the collateral damage to plame 's cia contacts , that gives `` MOV '' its pulse .", "up until the moment the msnbc/fox news tv trial of the truth begins , MOV is gangbusters", "moral : if you 're going to defy the white house , be prepared to have your life taken apart brick by brick .", "not likely to get much of an audience beyond those who have long suspected the worst of the george w. bush administration . but they 'll bristle with outrage again .", "for every spycraft scene , every illustration of the deadly blowback from the leak that liman dramatizes , the movie has half a dozen scenes of a delicately balanced home life turned on its head by a government bent on destroying one of its critics .", "doug liman -lrb- the bourne identity and mr. and mrs. smith -rrb- paces the movie like a thriller , without unduly cranking up the action in the manner of those earlier entertainments .", "working for the cia can be a real drag . naomi watts and sean penn bring valerie plame and joe wilson vibrantly to life , and doug liman steers clear of pedantic politics .", "whether or not you buy into the fictionalized true-life events will vary , but MOV makes a compelling case thanks to a pair of solid performances from its two leads .", "what makes the film work is that it never underestimates the audience .", "MOV feels like two very good movies mashed together to create merely a good one .", "MOV is almost more interesting as a portrait of a marriage under fire than it is as a thinking man 's political thriller .", "the film is ok , but with more nuance and less message-hammering it could have been great .", "MOV is a detailed , habitually accurate and surprisingly moving film . like the documentary the tillman story earlier this summer , you will likely leave MOV fairly angry .", "ignoring the political bias of two leftwing filmmakers , penn and liman , this reverse roman \u00e1 clef is a rip snorting political thriller , probably close to the truth .", "that may be exactly what happened , but it 's not dramatic , no matter how hard liman tries to invest the proceedings with jittery energy .", "admirable rather than exciting .", "the backbone of the film is in the portrayal of the two targets .", "a respectable workman 's performance where everyone is trying hard , technically fulfills the script and the story 's needs , but does n't excel or blow you away .", "... should infuriate its audience all over again at the administration that keeps on giving ... penn and watts , playing their second on screen married couple , are terrific together .", "the film may ultimately not have the consistent dramatic impact it ought to , but it 's a mature , important one all the same ." ], "summary": "it struggles with the balance between fact-based biopic and taut political thriller , but MOV brims with righteous anger -- and benefits from superb performances by naomi watts and sean penn. .", "id": "770809925" }, { "movie": "this_is_spinal_tap", "reviews": [ "quite possibly the funniest spoof of all time .", "one of the funniest films of the 1980 's .", "duas d\u00e9cadas depois de seu lan\u00e7amento , o filme continua a funcionar maravilhosamente bem em seu humor inteligente e sua cr\u00edtica \u00e1cida sobre os bastidores do rock 'n' roll .", "simultaneously created the genre and broke the mold", "a towering achievement in cinema , music , and life art . funnier and more prescient every time i see it . any time they tour i will be there .", "a mediocre satire of heavy rock bands .", "mock `` rockumentary '' is wildly funny and deeply influential .", "the film is a composite of classic moments , all of which we sense could have happened to any of the classic heavy metal bands -- or at least to those whose members combined delusions of greatness with low i.q.s.", "it stays so wickedly close to the subject that it is very nearly indistinguishable from the real thing .", "a hilariously scathing indictment of the rock and roll lifestyle , and all the egoism and shallow philosophising that goes along with it .", "... it probably helps not to like the music in order to appreciate the satire more .", "the satire has a deft , wicked touch .", "reiner 's brilliant `` rockumentary '' sends up its subject matter and the documentary form , with such deft perception that confusing it with the genuine article is an easy mistake to make .", "perhaps the reason for the film 's acceptance in rock 'n roll ` insider ' circles is its ultimately affectionate vibe . reiner obviously loves his leather-jacketed bunch , even as they walk into one land mine after another .", "it hardly ever gets more spot-on than this .", "MOV , `` the funniest rock 'n' roll movie ever made ...", "it 's a milestone in american comedy cinema .", "perhaps the first , and certainly the best , entry into the mockumentary genre .", "first of all , let 's just clarify something : MOV is the funniest film ever made .", "one of the funniest movies ever made", "the bad-luck bad boys still do n't disappoint in this ultimate roast of the music industry .", "perhaps the best known mockumentary of the 1980s ...", "although the movie is hilarious , i think it is the undeniable human nature of the loser characters that has kept the movie alive for so long .", "MOV about as funny and on-target as parody gets .", "there have been plenty of mockumentaries since 1984 , but ... none has come close to matching this one .", "MOV is simply one of the greatest rockumentaries ever ...", "it was the first , and it remains one of the best , as reiner 's shots at the big egos , small minds and incredible self-indulgence of overpaid rock stars consistently hit the mark .", "MOV does n't pull punches ...", "... a superbly executed , whimsical fit of improvisation and cinema verite pastiche that so convincingly created an awful '70s - '80s heavy metal band that the band itself lived on beyond the movie .", "this is spinal tapa comedy , but its consideration of the transience of fame and the band members ' denial is ineffably and movingly sad .", "this superb satire became the standard against which all mockumentaries are evaluated . the film was so successful that the fictitious group reunited for a series of live concerts and a tv special , further blurring the line between real and reel .", "the material is consistently clever and funny , though ultimately the attitudes are too narrow to nourish a feature-length film .", "hilarious pseudo-documentary spoof of a british rock group that was so on-target in its satire , many viewers took it for the real thing .", "there had been countless documentary spoofs before MOV , but this inspired put-on was the first to actually capture the texture and style of real documentary .", "mildly funny , not a whole lot better than the best christopher guest mockumentary i 'd seen before this , ` best in show . '", "hilarious , bitingly perceptive and cinematically assured .", "for all its japes and jokes , the movie is really about exhaustion of the spirit : sitting in a bleak hotel suite at 4 a.m. with the bad taste of last night in the mouth and the feeling that tomorrow will not be a better day .", "scores an 11 -lrb- out of 10 -rrb- for sheer inspired lunacy but it 's the writers ' unexpected fondness for their subject matter that puts the film in a class all its own .", "reiner 's brilliantly inventive script and smart visuals avoid all the obvious pitfalls , making this one of the funniest ever films about the music business .", "the satire is ever so refreshingly played straight , is seemingly benign and dead-on funny .", "-lsb- video -rsb- although examples of the mockumentary genre existed before `` spinal tap '' this heavy metal comedy is considered an epitome of cinematic satire .", "returning to spinal tap always brings with it a pronounced sense of discovery , a freshness that is uncommon with movies generally and unspeakably rare in a comedy .", "consistently funny , with sheer brilliant turns from every performer on the cast ...", "yes nigel , you did go to 11 . where would cinematic comedy be if you had n't ?", "the original suffers upon review simply because its novelty has worn off . but being the first mainstream feature of its kind , it deserves due reverence .", "hilarious , ribald , drug-filled rock send-up .", "... a sporadically amusing but all-too-uneven piece of work ...", "if you did n't know this was a fake film , you could easily believe it 's real .", "for music biz insiders , MOV is a vastly amusing satire of heavy metal bands .", "the story of an embarrasingly inept heavy-metal band called spinal tap , rob reiner 's film set the mockumentary standard that has come to define much of modern screen comedy . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-" ], "summary": "smartly directed , brilliantly acted , and packed with endlessly quotable moments , MOV is an all-time comedy classic .", "id": "15894" }, { "movie": "larry_the_cable_guy_health_inspector", "reviews": [ "-lsb- a -rsb- rattletrap star vehicle .", "when lists of the 10 worst movies of 2006 start coming out , you 'll know it 's been a truly abominable year if larry the cable guy : health inspector does n't rate a slot near the top .", "ok , are you eating anything ? potato chips , breakfast cereal ... anything at all ? please stop , if you plan on reading any further in this review of `` larry the cable guy : health inspector , '' because this movie is so revolting .", "not one gratuitous ` git-er-done ! ' was uttered during the composition of this review .", "the very existence of larry the cable guy would seem like a pretty good argument against the concept of intelligent design .", "it 'd be tempting to call larry the ernest of his generation , but that 'd be a grave insult to jim varney 's enduring legacy .", "movies like larry the cable guy : health inspector may be critic-proof , but even die-hard fans of country crude will have to admit that a little larry goes a long way .", "flatulence ensues .", "unpleasant , uncouth and painfully unfunny , larry the cable guy attempts lowbrow humor with neither the wit of the farrelly brothers nor the raunchy inventiveness of keenen ivory wayans .", "what is surprising and worth noting , though , is the quality of talent that 's sadly squandered in comedian larry the cable guy 's feature film debut .", "it 's a free-for-all in comedy 's gutter , a ` bad ' movie that still manages to keep you giggling convulsively , even though you know you should n't .", "larry is n't an evil movie , but it is a symptom of the problems inherent in gross-out humor .", "it was only a matter of time before -lsb- larry -rsb- got his own critic-proof movie .", "whenever larry is n't pensively biting on his chaw , he 's barking out obscene one-liners in a guttural , noxious stream of little nasty explosions . he 's a greasy , oil-burning joke jalopy .", "somewhere in this film is the germ of a really good comedy , but they blew it .", "team cable guy has made a junky , throwaway comedy that will almost certainly appeal to his fans , for at least the first half hour . then it runs out of gas . or jokes . the gas larry seems to have in no short supply .", "it 's admittedly gross and poorly scripted , but amiable enough for those who enjoy dumb southern-fried fun .", "more depressing than unfunny .", "envision what food poisoning does to a gastrointestinal tract . now think of that substance as fodder for the lowest aiming standup act in america .", "it 's not a movie ; it 's a cause for dismay .", "larry 's routine becomes considerably more embarrassing the longer it continues .", "the film is a toxic stew of stupidity that is so foul and rank that even the most forgiving fans of such corn-pone humor are liable to slink out of the theater .", "at least larry the cable guy 's brief movie career kept hollywood 's fart-sound proprietors in business . what , you thought an opening shot of his bared plumber 's crack was an arbitrary artistic decision ? that there 's foreshadowin ' right there !", "dumb comedy should be cited for bad taste .", "though some of his one-liners are pretty good , his shtick ca n't sustain this dutifully scripted comedy .", "poor joe pantoliano , kid rock , and joanna cassidy get mixed up in the flatulence .", "virtually unwatchable and laugh-free .", "the job involves an upcoming cooking contest , a sleazy mayor , a corrupt restaurateur and a supporting cast of characters so ugly , stupid and hygienically revolting that they make larry seem almost tolerable .", "the low road always wins out .", "if the movie 's witless , it 's also pretty harmless .", "toilet humor , jokes about paraplegics and serious overacting make this lowbrow comedy an irritating watch .", "i 'd pay to see `` ron white : health inspector and his stupid sidekick larry , '' but larry alone just cai n't `` get-er-done . ''", "-lrb- an -rrb- 85-minute tribute to flatulence , vomiting and the ample rump of its star . ... ` wake up and smell the catbox , ' larry declares ... buy a ticket to ` health inspector , ' and you 'll know exactly what he means .", "it reeks of desperation , among other things .", "that 's how awful this picture is . it ca n't even come up with new diarrhea jokes .", "shoddy screenwriting devices simply pass the time for whitney to sling hillbilly-isms at admirers of his stand-up comedy ." ], "summary": "an aggressively lowbrow vehicle for its titular star , this gross-out comedy fails to `` git-r-done . ''", "id": "147058736" }, { "movie": "dance_with_me", "reviews": [ "will someone please get rid of this genre of dance films ?", "a sufficiently ebullient piece of eye candy that can stand on its own two nimble feet .", "throughout the film , haines treats ... banal moments as epiphanies , telegraphing every feeling and thought with annoying coyness .", "the movie is largely gimmicky melodrama lathered with cheap , feel-good sentimentality .", "although the movie bubbles occasionally , it never boils .", "a romantic drama that makes the most of the many fine dance sequences in the storyline .", "competent but predictable soap opera .", "two hours-plus of melodrama and dancing dancing dancing danczzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz ...", "too heavy on talk and too light on fancy footwork .", "this film 's storyline could n't be more pedestrian if it tried .", "when it turns its attention to bodies in motion , writhing across the floor to a salsa beat , the film is a joy to watch . when drama takes center stage , which is all too often , ` dance ' drags its feet .", "a great big summer cheeseball of a movie that mildly entertains but does n't stimulate .", "sparkles just like an old-fashioned musical -- it 's beautifully designed and skillfully directed .", "the use of plowright as a middle-aged frump wanting to get in on the sexy action is deeply patronizing .", "a quality film .", "what is it about dance , that most joyous of arts , that inspires so many bad movies ?", "upbeat dance-romance is fine for tweens and up .", "the real creative opportunities lie in visual and choreographic options , and haines does n't miss a beat in either department .", "for every clich\u00e9 embraced in its entirety , another is subverted just enough that you 're pleasantly surprised .", "too insubstantial to rise above being anything other than feel-good fluff ...", "a crowd-pleaser which just might encourage some viewers to get up and frolic in the aisles .", "this is a adequately enjoyable date flick , a lesser semi-precious gem .", "director randa haines is generous with the dance content -- and the choreography by daryl matthews and liz curtis is imaginative .", "it comes alive periodically but spends way too much time with low-grade soap opera material . say what you will about the film , its two stars are charming .", "kris kristofferson was actually cast as an experienced dance instructor -- and a man with actual emotions .", "just what you want for a couple of hours of mindless fun .", "promises to be one of the summer 's best date movies .", "offers an energizing burst of sweetness that delights the palate before fading quickly away .", "muddled , cliche-ridden soap opera ...", "MOV sells its simplicity almost entirely on the strength of chayanne 's appeal .", "the movie sees ruby , the williams character , clearly and with surprising truthfulness ; she has a depth associated with more serious movies .", "although MOV disappoints on almost every level , it still leaves you mildly elated ...", "the downsides have to do with plot and stereotyping ...", "as far as feel-good movies go , this one works in spite of a bloated running length -lrb- over two hours -rrb- and a plot that could use an injection of originality ." ], "summary": "shallow script , weak direction .", "id": "10407" }, { "movie": "shotgun_stories", "reviews": [ "-lsb- star michael shannon is -rsb- one of the most formidable unsung actors working today in american movies .", "it 's rare that a picture that deals with as much tragedy as this one also manages to convey as much warmth to its characters .", "MOV defines the classic western phrase ` doing what a man 's got to do ' as both a moral imperative and a biological compulsion .", "... here there 's also an undercurrent of biblical revenge that lends the narrative a sense of violent menace and an almost continuous tension .", "yes , it 's a mite pretentious and on the slow side . but debuting director jeff nichols has an eye for small-town america and a sensibility that he shares with fellow north carolina school of the arts alumnus david gordon greene .", "though none of the boys , now young men , talks about it , they all bear burdens of rejection and rage .", "well-plotted , with a strong lead performance by michael shannon , and a fair amount of authentic regional flavor . it is n't really meant to be a treatise on southern life . at heart , it 's a country-fried genre film , minus the peppery white gravy .", "this promising debut feature is remarkable for its use of inaction , the threats , standoffs , aborted shoving matches , but very little actual violence .", "an austere rural landscape , festering hatred , class tensions , terse dialogue -- these are common currency in indie movies these days . MOV uses them all , but manages to stand out from the crowd .", "no question , it 's a humorless downer , but also an impressive character study , with depth proportionate to the tragic nature of its theme .", "an interesting first effort from nichols -- making him a director to look out for in the future .", "MOV is a cautionary tale about revenge , but more than that , it is a beautiful , authentic-feeling portrait of a family and a place .", "simple lives can have complicated histories , and MOV has a hard , lived-in understanding of how the past is a monkey that 's firmly attached to your back .", "never manages to be fully convincing .", "the end reveals just how poetic , shifting and dazzling nichols ' touch was all along . that 's because MOV manages to pull away from a hair-trigger resolution with the same inherent right-ness that loaded the story with such tragic force .", "director jeff nichols lets the action unfold slowly following an impromptu insult , but the escalation of hatred and pain feels natural .", "i 'm sick of the kind of exceptional that MOV represents .", "the real key to the film is the commanding michael shannon .", "few films are so observant about how we relate with one another . few are as sympathetic .", "jeff nichols modern western is laconic and lazily captivating , its silence slowly building to rage .", "this low-key yarn about lowbrow men is n't for everyone . but whatever its faults and limitations , MOV casts a spell unlike any other movie we 've seen in ages .", "tyro writer-director jeff nichols shows promise in his striking feature debut , a haunting saga about rage , revenge , and violence in one peculiar family , that does regional independent cinema proud .", "an allegory of our times , MOV is a tragedy of biblical scale and an intimate family drama .", "it 's clearly a labor of love and no doubt true to some regional ways and attitudes . but jeez , it 's self-parodic , and all the more so for taking place in some uncharted corner of dixie where nobody has the slightest sense of humor .", "MOV is , at heart , a film about people who discover what they have to let go of , and who confront the terrifying possibility of hope .", "... a simple human story with the archetypal power of greek myth . it feels like an american classic .", "there 's no escaping the fact that the film , well-crafted though it may be , is ultimately just as slow as the proverbial molasses .", "breathtaking and stands out from the herd .", "MOV has a flawless cast , but it 's the peculiarity of michael shannon that keeps it from becoming too obvious .", "alternately terse and elegiac , MOV works best when it observes the lives of its main characters , three lower-class brothers from southeast arkansas .", "... at once a small , regional tale and something mythic .", "there is indeed something mythical , even scriptural , about the struggle among the seven hayes brothers in jeff nichols ' remarkable MOV .", "there is much to `` MOV '' that elevates it above the fray of green derivatives and unflattering categorizations , bolstered by a roster of naturalistic , fully assimilated performances , led by `` bug '' 's now ubiquitous michael shannon .", "good natural performances .", "the credentials of many festival screenings might suggest to alert viewers that this is n't a shoot 'em up between two hill billy clans", "like malick , nichols knows that the sight of a combine transforming an arkansas cotton field into an apocalyptic dust storm is as eloquent as anything his characters might say .", "set in rural arkansas , jeff nichols ' relaxed , distinctive debut revels in the milieu of its redneck characters , but injects their rural half-blood feud with an almost mythic quality .", "brilliantly acted , superbly directed and beautifully shot , this is a gripping drama that really gets under your skin and marks writer-director jeff nichols out as a talent to watch .", "a precisely modulated yet cumulatively forceful story of a rural family feud turned deadly .", "writer/director jeff nichols is one to watch . he has fashioned a simple but powerful cautionary tale , equal parts southern gothic and greek tragedy , and has given a familiar kind of material a fresh spin .", "like his fellow mason-dixon minimalist david gordon green -lrb- the film 's producer -rrb- , -lsb- director -rsb- nichols favors mood and ellipses over momentum and explanations , which gives this contemporary hatfields-versus-mccoys narrative a beguiling , drifting atmosphere ." ], "summary": "thanks to a talented cast and its uncommon depth , nichols ' debut manages to rise above its overly familiar plot .", "id": "770672407" }, { "movie": "lady_in_the_water", "reviews": [ "peevishly defensive , intransigently personal and serenely indifferent to critical -lrb- and audience -rrb- reaction", "once again shyamalan is a maddening storyteller , by turns inspired and insipid , and he still manages to conjure some odd , unnerving moments .", "... to put it bluntly , badly paced and completely trivial , not to mention utterly juvenile .", "while the film 's performances are intriguing and the direction tight , shyamalan 's fairytale ends up being more interesting than the actual film .", "what is most annoying about `` lady '' is that no one ever considers the possibility that nothing magical is actually occurring.the film starts out silly and just gets sillier .", "this could have made a decent movie but the mythology comes so thick and fast that it mixes to a slurry as you watch .", "ignore the critics on this movie . yeah , i am one . which means i 'm telling you to ignore me , too .", "while i love where night 's head and heart are at , i think he tried to communicate them in a way that was clumsy , cumbersome , lacking in suspense and menace , and frankly , unexciting .", "it 's a fairy tale that never flies the way it should .", "the film is a mess , a ramshackle affair . its silliness can not sustain itself .", "un \u00e9chec d\u00e9solant qui avait tout pour ne pas en \u0119tre un .", "... shyamalan tries here to take a storyteller 's approach to telling what should be a visual tale , thus violating one of the chief tenets of filmmaking : show , do n't tell .", "shyamalan 's skill as a director of action -lrb- and inaction -rrb- finds a really good match in ace cinematographer christopher doyle 's moody camera fu .", "as a comedy it 's hugely optimistic and as a drama it 's wonderfully emotional and that we 're afforded the opportunity to make the call for one or the other for ourselves makes this a very clever film .", "a young woman named story -lrb- bryce dallas howard -rrb- is rescued from an apartment complex pool and a ferocious creature by building superintendent cleveland heep -lrb- paul giamatti -rrb- . story is a magical narf who must return to the blue world . the monstrous scrunt h", "MOV sounds wacky but it 's mostly just boring .", "MOV is ludicrous , drowning in its astonishing premise and irritating by its failure to connect on any level", "guaranteed to have a life long , long after its cinema obituary has been written .", "there 's no twist in MOV , but that 's not to say it does n't possess an abundance of cleverness .", "the film could be one that lingers , that gets better upon further reflection and improves upon repeated viewings . but for most , shyamalan 's next film could n't come too soon .", "has m. night shyamalan lost his damn mind ?", "... MOV does n't have even the village 's slim virtues .", "maybe the theme is that you should try to score some of that stuff shyamalan must be smoking .", "a gaping psychic wound , a blood-spattered , pulsating tumor ripped violently from both its creator 's head and , more fascinatingly , his heart , then planted onscreen , raw and unfettered , for all to come and see .", "m. night 's self-absorption is approaching the level of irritation -- here it has all the subtlety of a brick applied to the head .", "if you can get over your grown-up complex and lose yourself in the story , you just might find an enchanting blend of ancient and modern storytelling .", "MOV is unmistakably a setback , as well as a warning to potential detractors . you are , it seems , either with m. night shyamalan or against him , and this time i must take up residence in the latter camp .", "unless he retains the poise and cool that made sixth sense stand out so conspicuously amid his body of work , we 're not going to care about anything in his head .", "performances are bang-on and characters fascinating right across the board , even shyamalan 's own -- but ultimately MOV capsizes under the weight of its own goofy story .", "for a movie constantly explaining itself , m. night shyamalan 's MOV does n't make a drop of sense .", "-lsb- i -rsb- t 's easier to appreciate MOV than it is to embrace it emotionally ... -lsb- it -rsb- wants us to be sad and hopeful and in awe about a lot of things , but it did n't make me actually feel much of anything .", "MOV appears to be a creepy fairy tale , but it 's really a psychological thriller . trouble is , the psychology involves the mindset of its writer-director .", "shyamalan 's plodding script spends all its time explaining -lsb- its -rsb- complex mythology , drowning MOV in a sea of talkiness .", "not only shyamalan 's scariest and funniest movie to date , but also his most accomplished .", "this misbegotten project is shyamalan 's weakest thriller -- senseless , verbose , convoluted . it might be remembered for featuring the director himself as a wannabe writer , and a film critic from hell who complains , there are no original stories left ...", "-lsb- s -rsb- ome critics are failing to notice that this rather flawed film is set on the shoulders of paul giamatti who , with impressive stamina and spirit ... commands our attention more effectively than any other hollywood leading man could .", "it is possible to wrestle yourself from the movie 's hokey ambitions . there is a good chunk of MOV that is simply too well made and affectingly acted to dismiss as a mere exercise in arrogance .", "at best , shyamalan 's genius for melding the fantastic with the mundane rivals that of steven spielberg or stephen king , but that gift fails him here .", "the story is exceedingly dull ; to become involved in it would require not just a suspension of disbelief , but a suspension of mental faculties altogether . -lsb- a -rsb- bewildering misstep for a director of shyamalan 's caliber .", "who am i to knock the work of the man who , in his own film , casts himself as a writer whose ideas will inspire a future leader who will save the world -- an artist whose work will not be fully understood in his own time , but only many years later ?", "these days , movie fans have grown accustomed to being force-fed a film 's reality , to having it hammered home from first loud frame to last . MOV offers more subtle submersion , a baptism of soulful quirks and daringly sweet imagination .", "while giamatti does yeoman 's work in his latest everyman role , the lady herself is a cipher with zero substance or appeal .", "this is n't nitpicking . every bit of the tale is as full of holes as a wool sweater at a moth convention , and shyamalan telegraphs each potential surprise .", "there are some laughs to be had , albeit not always in the right places . a resounding plop .", "i have n't come across a fairy-tale premise calling for such childlike wonder and acceptance since the taxation of trade routes was in dispute and the greedy trade federation set up a blockade around the planet naboo .", "what was -lsb- shyamalan -rsb- thinking ? this is n't just duff , it 's career-threatening catastrophic .", "paul giamatti is superb ... and his performance single-handedly rescues MOV from one star ignominy . frankly , you 'll marvel at his ability to keep a straight face as he delivers shyamalan 's pretentious dialogue .", "if you place a premium on original vision and creative risk , then there is much pleasure to be had watching a born storyteller juggle more balls than even he can carry .", "there are so many things wrong with lady that there just is n't enough space to go into them here .", "this pretentious , humourless -lrb- except for a joke-about-a-joke centring on the film critic -rrb- movie is breathtaking in its absurdity .", "there is something enchanting about shyamalan 's childlike wonder at the mysteries of the universe ...", "like splash reworked by a grandiose sunday-school teacher .", "it 's finally happened -- m. night shyamalan has lost his damn fool mind .", "`` MOV '' can be summed up thusly : hook , line and stinker .", "MOV is n't just another disappointment . it 's a jaw-dropping catastrophe -- a picture so wrong-headedly intoxicated with itself you view it through an embarrassed haze .", "any magic lurking in this fairy tale is smothered by shyamalan 's need to play everything straight .", "cobbled together , ramshackle fantastical nonsense .", "shyamalan is too gifted a filmmaker to waste his time , and ours , on such twaddle . the best thing that could be done with MOV is to deep-six it and hope that his next project does n't occur to him over milk and cookies with the kids .", "if the ultimate goal is entertainment , then MOV enthusiastically rises to the task .", "concludes with a big ` huh ? ' that leaves one questioning what the point was .", "maybe if m. night had cast virginia madsen as the lady and filled the pool with a crisp chardonnay , paul giamatti would n't have been so thoroughly beached at ` the cove . '", "why should the gifted shyamalan even waste his time trashing critics ? his attitude should be : if they 're too cynical to believe , it 's their loss .", "all -lsb- shyamalan 's -rsb- films , to their credit , have been unswervingly sincere . but the primary problem is that this movie is so earnest , you ca n't help but gag on it .", "just when the story begs for some clean lines and a sense of direction , we get dithering and misdirection and another confused-tenants sequence .", "the surprise here is that he 's created a story mythology for this fantasy/thriller that 's so ludicrous and convoluted that it 's almost laughable . at times it seems his cast members are making up the story as they go .", "lady is not likely to convert critics who believe shyamalan is only a one-trick pony . those willing to risk a dip in this pool , on the other hand , may be refreshed , if not reborn .", "m. night shyamalan does n't have an ego problem . he 's just a humble screenwriter and director who makes himself a star of his own movie -- as a character who is a writer , whose words will save the world from despair and destruction .", "hey , wanting a movie to compute is not the same as resisting fairy-tale eloquence .", "the result is a soggy swamp of nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyahing , its only grace notes are giamatti 's fine , nuanced performance as heep and christopher doyle 's handsome cinematography .", "it is a lovely , sincere movie with a nice message about believing in both otherworldly magic and the more mundane power of a community .", "none of this is fun to report from a critic 's perspective . i 'm a shyamalan fan who greatly admires what he 's trying to do , but shyamalan 's desperate desire to be the next steven spielberg has grown painful to witness .", "not to put too fine a point on it , this is one nutty movie .", "its strange , entrancing , mystical and sometimes frightening events occur in everyday surroundings and elevate the lives of deserving , everyday people .", "the movie is a muddle , burdened with too many characters and a sorry lack of thrills , flair and coherence . yet shyamalan 's talent is real .", "the critic in me wants to boo and hiss and cry in disappointment . the 5-year-old in me wants to stand up and applaud .", "far-fetched is the kindest thing to say about MOV , a disjointed and mind-numbing story .", "crazy as this might sound , it turns out that self-indulgent ramblings designed to put your children to sleep are pretty much the opposite of art .", "an act of spectacular -lrb- if unwitting -rrb- self-immolation .", "you wo n't see anything else like it this summer , and you 'll be really glad about that .", "... a rambling mess that takes 110 minutes and an obscene amount of money all to let shyamalan live out a revenge fantasy and to obsess over howard 's legs", "entertaining enough for those of us who appreciate magical realism , but i suspect that mainstream audiences will be disappointed by this convoluted and pretentious film .", "for the most part , however , MOV comes across as a movie that 's too bad to be good , and not bad enough to be so bad that it 's good .", "the movie makes direct fun of standard hollywood storytelling conventions , and that 's enjoyable . but its utter lack of narrative discipline is just plain amateurish , not subversive .", "turns out those disney executives who refused to make m. night shyamalan 's latest film , MOV , knew exactly what they were doing .", "i enjoyed every moment , from the pictographs that set up the ancient legend to the emotional climax .", "the only frightening thing about this horror fantasy film was in how bad it was .", "the story is so convoluted and ultimately preposterous that you 're almost embarrassed by the earnestness of the actors trying to carry it off .", "shyamalan is mystically assuming that any idea or image that pops into his skull will make a shapely tale , no matter how much cock-and-bull logic he has to invent to gorilla glue it together .", "despite the childlike nature of the story , MOV will prove too confusing for most kids , which is a shame , since they 're also the ones most like to greet that giant-eagle business with something other than a derisive laugh .", "shyamalan has a well-deserved reputation for pulling rabbits out of a hat and calling it magic . it 's the talent for doing so that fails him here .", "narf , scrunt and tartutic may sound silly , but i was interested in the story . if j.k. rowling can make up muggle , m. night can have those three . it 's a far more involving than the manufactured tales of da vinci scholars .", "i just want to punch this movie right in the face .", "when it 's over you think : ` really ? that was it ? ' maybe that 's the twist .", "the new film by m. christ shyamalan .", "when film historians discuss what happens when a filmmaker of limited talent has a huge success and then goes out of control , this is the movie that will be cited .", "it 's silly . it 's just silly , and it 's a shame .", "if shyamalan wants to slap around film critics , hey , fine by me ; but to sacrifice your entire film to do so reeks of a director who could stand to hear a little more `` no '' in his life .", "not bad , full of odd holes and plot troubles , but rich with beautiful ideas -lrb- and dark , shimmery cinematography by the great christopher doyle -rrb- .", "shyamalan might 've been onto something if MOV were , say , a satire of scientology ; instead , it 's a mission for a bedtime story , a badly told fairy tale .", "you wonder if shyamalan has crossed from mere self-regard into actual mental illness .", "-lsb- perhaps it 's -rsb- improvised and protracted , nonsensically and unnecessarily , just for the sake of stringing us along . and , maybe , putting us to sleep .", "i 've not been overly impressed with shyamalan 's last few films , but this one is better .", "review in greek", "MOV exposes hollywood 's master of suspense as a wet noodle .", "it lacks the heart that made you care when you realized sixth sense 's secret . it lacks the connection with the characters that made signs ' ending feel so triumphant .", "el director toca fondo con una f\u00e1bula para adultos tan rid\u00edcula como pretenciosa . solo paul giamatti logra mantener a flote este fiasco .", "high on talk-heavy exposition and low on actual scares and thrills ...", "we get it . we just do n't want it . because this lady is the showgirls of fantasy films .", "once the filmmaker spells everything out for us in the first fifteen or twenty minutes , the rest of the plot simply unfolds in a jumbled series of incomprehensible events .", "a return to storytelling in the first order , `` MOV '' is highly recommended .", "in MOV , shyamalan 's descent into self-parody is complete .", "lady is the height of folly , an endeavor as wrongheaded as the postman , as foolish as any ` vanity ' project of the past 20 years .", "you win points for sticking with vision only if the vision adds up , but despite fine imagery by the hong kong ace christopher doyle , we get trite monsters and cheesy spooks .", "viewers may see religious implications in the movie , with its messianic mermaid and chlorinated holy water , but it really is n't worthy of such deep analysis .", "it 's a busy made-up universe -- with rules , rituals , and a deity-tree that could give the hindu hierarchy a run for its rupee . and it 's extremely silly .", "much narrative energy is devoted to the arcane details of the narf mythology , and those familiar with the director 's methods grow impatient waiting for the air to clear .", "once the plot is actually engaged , all it really is , is a basic damsel-in-distress story with a lame stab at magical realism thrown in .", "if moviegoers are willing to go with the movie 's questionable , sometimes painfully self-conscious flow , shyamalan 's new tale may once again sweep them into his idiosyncratic world .", "it is yet another of shyamalan 's attempts to wade into the deep end of the profundity pool , where not even chlorine can kill the brackish residue of his design .", "with his work beginning to seem as insular as the communities he 's imagining , shyamalan really needs to try directing someone else 's screenplay .", "hollywood can not pollute the ozone with anything more idiotic , contrived , amateurish or sub-mental than MOV .", "silly and sappy ... shyamalan continues on his steady descent in quality .", "a genre-defying , form-snubbing plunge into an overly sentimental , proudly nonsensical world .", "story 's whiter-than-white skin , bloody cuts , color-shifting hair , and need to keep wet make her a bizarre amalgamation of fantasies , alternately `` male '' and `` childish . ''", "somebody might want to mention to shyamalan that taking potshots at critics in films rarely works . remember roland emmerich 's lame attack on siskel and ebert in his awful reworking of ` godzilla ? '", "based on a bedtime story the filmmaker told his young daughters , ` water ' will certainly put many moviegoers to sleep . ... an endurance test rather than an ethereal fable .", "MOV has some interesting moments , but fails because the story is so uninspiring . it simply does not achieve the greatness that it thinks it deserves .", "the fantastical MOV , shyamalan 's most wildly imaginative yet obscure work to date , will probably disappoint those looking for that certain shyamalan je n'sais quoi . still , you ca n't fault the guy for being an original", "a flaky ego trip disguised as a fairy tale .", "with lady , it appears as though shyamalan has completely jumped ship into a pit of egocentrism , and it ai n't pretty .", "m. night shyamalan does n't provide us with a big twist , but he does need a new writer . the movie is silly and funny in the wrong places", "all ` MOV ' lacks is a narrator ending the tale with ` and they lived happily ever after . ' this is a shyamalan flick ?", "it 's thin stuff , stretched out to nearly two hours by shyamalan 's faith in his own abilities , but not much else .", "a bedtime story that succeeds in putting its audience into dreamland well before the tale is finished .", "the premise -- a mystical water nymph living under the swimming pool of a drab apartment complex -- is intriguing , yet the mythology shyamalan builds around his main characters is forced , pretentious and outright silly at times .", "all throughout it 's running time , MOV tends to make up its rules as it goes along ... out of a sheer need for plotting or cleverness .", "lady is a solipsistic and sour fairy tale that sets out to be about the value of community and magic , but ends up as the director 's somber celebration of himself .", "shyamalan 's latest exercise in foundering pretension may be the silliest movie of all time . seriously . ... will someone please lock up this pompous stiff in johnny depp 's dead man 's chest and throw away the key ?", "if shyamalan is going to use his kids as a focus group for future projects , maybe he should start making movies for nickelodeon already and stop wasting our time .", "the director 's job is to cast the best available talent in each key role . shyamalan has done that with giamatti , balaban and jeffrey wright -lrb- as a crossword-puzzle lover -rrb- . but he took this audience member out of the story by putting himself in .", "` you are all connected ... one act can one day affect all , ' says narf , causing us to wonder if the blue world 's mission will become redundant after enough humans watch ` the lion king ' and ` jurassic park . '", "i 'm sure it was n't night 's intention to make a crappy movie , but it 's what he has done .", "this is a story that we hope will put the little ones to sleep long before their questions become embarrassing and unanswerable .", "MOV marks m. night shyamalan 's official leap off the deep end . not everyone agrees on shyamalan 's talent as a filmmaker , but few , up till now , have questioned his sanity .", "there 's something exhilarating yet corny about watching all the pieces snap into place , even if you saw the pattern a mile away . it feels like you had to figure out some great mystery , even if m. night did all the work for you .", "a spiritual story that challenges us to deeply listen and to let its mysteries work on our hearts and souls until we discover what part is ours to play .", "unless i 've totally miscalculated the audience appeal of this stinker , the executives he pummeled in that book are going to look more like astute visionaries than back-stabbing traitors , and should be wearing very big smiles come monday morning .", "the tension between his eagerness to please and his resolve to make the film inside his head have resulted , with MOV , in a major misfire .", "this creative dream-like summer pic is sure to entertain sci-fi junkies , but will become a big turnoff for many audiences expecting a modern thriller/horror flick with a shyamalan twist .", "i suspect audiences will see shyamalan 's portentous doodle for what it is -- the height of arrogance and a bad night out at the movies .", "as with all of his other films , MOV offers plenty of grist for after-movie dinner conversations . the film is not without merit , just difficult to figure out . maybe that 's the way shyamalan wants it .", "m. night shyamalan 's MOV is one of the more watchable films of the summer . a folly , true , but watchable .", "MOV is not a good movie - not by some mythical ` shyamalan ' standards , but by even the most basic standards of proficiency .", "i guess the best thing to call this is a `` mackrel in the moolight . '' that means it looks shiny and beautiful , but stinks to high heaven .", "though originating as a bedtime story for his children , it functions less as a morality tale and more as an egotistical salvo toward his critics .", "a screenplay so eye-rollingly dippy that it plays out like something a bunch of second graders cooked up on a rainy day playing fort in the living room .", "embarrassing . stupid . incomprehensible . a mess . absurd . fake .", "... it seems churlish to resist believing in a movie that 's about the power of belief .", "mundane , preachy , self-indulgent .", "stunningly self-indulgent claptrap", "shyamalan will have to settle for another curmudgeonly critic giving him another negative review .", "not without its magical moments , but you really have to want them .", "what the hell do i know -- i 'm a lowly scrunt-bait critic deigning to question the very vessel of story .", "murky like the water in the pool , or like christopher doyle 's cinematography .", "it 's an ambitious mess at best , and the invented mythology is delivered to the viewer with the subtlety of a sledgehammer .", "the one prescient thing associated with the soothsaying around his self-appointed savior character is that if he continues along the path he 's on now , someone is going to take him out and it wo n't just be a film critic .", "a tedious , astonishingly irritating march through scene after scene of quasi-jungian horse flop .", "mysterious and sweet . it 's scary and it 's funny , and it 's deeply moving , too . that makes water a rare exception in terms of cinematic hybrids , but it also represents shyamalan 's best effort since 2000 's unbreakable .", "pretentious poppycock ! given the expectations of m. night shyamalan , it 's this summer 's most surprising disappointment .", "MOV challenges us to believe in the power of myth . but the big challenge here is surviving the tedium of shyamalan 's meandering inventiveness . what 's supposed to be fanciful storytelling is really just audience punishment .", "though the result is too idiosyncratic to be regarded as just one more summer-movie whiff , those who see it may feel a need to act like a pool lifeguard and blow the whistle on shyamalan .", "it 's hard to think of a deadlier shotgun marriage than jacques tourneur 's poetry of absence and spielbergian uplift , but shyamalan has patented the combo , adding pretentious camera movements that are peculiarly his own -- even the jokes are pretty solemn .", "for weeks the web has been rich with rumors that MOV is a dog . the noble truth is that m. night shyamalan 's new thriller is n't half bad . the awful truth is that it 's not really half good , either .", "breaks new ground in shyamalan 's cinema of looniness ... the present of the movie is never interesting ; meanwhile , its past is never illuminated and its future never arrives .", "fanciful , whimsical , and delightfully implausible .", "what should be a wondrous excursion into shyamalan 's version of a modern fairy tale is undermined by the writer/director 's bitter tone .", "... turns on a convoluted fairy tale and makes a few crucial missteps ... yet -lsb- also is -rsb- an enchanting exploration of storytelling magic .", "the story is n't exactly watertight , but it has a beautiful warm heart .", "the saddest thing about `` MOV '' is that it 's more than just a bad movie . it 's a career-destroying act of vanity by its director .", "... ultimately feels like the sort of movie that 'll improve immeasurably on repeat viewings ...", "beautifully made and thoroughly intriguing , but it feels made up as it goes along .", "shyamalan has followed the village with another disappointment -- a ponderous , self-indulgent bedtime tale .", "never has the evidence been so clear that a once-promising director has gone completely insane , yet seldom has said proof been so all-fired dull .", "shyamalan does project genuine menace and suspense into this mundane location , especially in nighttime scenes . but the magic that would transport you from reality into fantasy is missing .", "shyamalan 's most alienating and self-absorbed project to date .", "this movie is not as bad as it 's being made out to be . but it is n't really good either .", "apologists for the categorically inadequate m. night shyamalan have their work cut out defending yet another cinematic killjoy from the ` auteur ' whose high box office receipts do not reflect the ineptitude of his filmmaking skills .", "its official now . the sixth sense was a fluke . shyamalan pompously gives himself the role of ` the intellectual future christ . '", "a well-crafted and well-intentioned misstep .", "the m stands for `` miserable '' ...", "i hated MOV , but not because shyamalan took a sophomoric potshot at critics . i hated MOV because it 's ... stupid .", "i laughed , i cried , i jumped in my seat , i dreamed . it 's e.t. all over again .", "unless you 're an m night shyamalan fanatic aching to see the writer/director play one of the film 's main characters , there 's no reason to endure MOV .", "it 's a dud , at once ridiculous and risible .", "blessed be the filmmakers who take chances with original stories , but just because something 's better than the village and not as bad as most critics say does n't mean it 's good .", "the marketing campaign is superb for this movie : it shows the beauty and the mystery of the story without the actually incredibly complex structure of it ... full of magic and beauty .", "a case study of an increasingly defensive filmmaker falling off the auteurist deep end .", "have you ever been approached by someone who was really drunk , and they tell you some rambling , incoherent story ? well , that 's what watching this movie is like .", "i 'm inclined to think that we 're seeing the expression of an artist who knows he has something to say , but has n't been able to quite come to terms with what that something is", "lady would be nothing without the man that rides to her rescue , paul giamatti .", "a watery , ladylike , and extremely tall tale indeed , but one well within the reach of its fine cast -lrb- which this time includes its director -rrb- .", "open to it , and it 's engrossing : funny , scary , unexpectedly poignant .", "more than anything , MOV is a work of great hubris -- a jaw-dropping exercise in which a populist artist tests his audience 's limits . will they swallow this pill whole or spit it back only halfway down ?", "in the end , shyamalan 's stumbling lady never gives us a reason to believe ." ], "summary": "a far-fetched story with little suspense and unconvincing scenarios , MOV feels contrived , pretentious , and rather silly .", "id": "190815951" }, { "movie": "heavenly_creatures", "reviews": [ "reveals how pernicious fantasy can become when it is based on a deep-seated hatred of the world .", "the single best film in jackson 's filmography , and a compliment to new zealand cinema .", "powerful", "a beautiful , haunting masterpiece from peter jackson , and proof that the lord of the rings is n't the only rabbit in his hat .", "17-year-old kate winslet made her film debut in this compelling blend of true crime and dark fantasy ...", "MOV is dazzling ; a perversely original psychodrama .", "taut , clever , and fronted with two excellent performances , this is a clever choice for jackson 's first step into mainstream filmmaking .", "1994 spellbinder .", "a movie that begins with high tension gradually fizzles out .", "... the writer and director , peter jackson , could not decide what kind of movie he wanted to make ...", "the acting by winslet and lynskey is superb .", "jackson -lrb- who wrote the script with frances walsh -rrb- evokes the girls\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- fantasy world with scenes featuring plasticene figures , creating an eerie , metaphysical dimension to the movie .", "the film 's structure demands rational and beautiful segues from the real world into fantasia , a ballet of sensibilities that jackson pulls off without a misstep .", "a dark , astounding film from peter jackson , showing his mastery of blending fact and fantasy . a deserved winner of venice festival 's silver lion and toronto fest 's critics award . along with tarantino 's pulp fiction , this is 1994 's most audacious film .", "this incredible film may be director peter jackson 's masterpiece .", "the first peter jackson film to show his interests go beyond simply splatter and gore . magical .", "gruesome yet imaginative teen psychosexual drama .", "it remains , two decades on , a vertiginous , surreal psycho-portrait of adolescent girlhood 's dramas and despairs -- little town on the prairie gone badlands .", "... a profoundly misguided endeavor that squanders a seemingly foolproof premise ...", "unlike the campy excess of jackson 's earlier dead alive , deliberate overkill ltimately points toward a dearth of ideas rather than a surfeit .", "combines original vision , a drop-dead command of the medium and a successful marriage between a dazzling , kinetic techno-show and a complex , credible portrait of the out-of-control relationship between the crime 's two schoolgirl perpetrators .", "the inner tension of the film emerges from jackson 's enjoyment of the girls ' bustling insanity and then his gradual withdrawal from it .", "lynskey and winslet are extraordinary actresses .", "the two leads play their parts brilliantly , convincing in both their innocence and their malevolence .", "... a work of remarkable clarity and vision , as well as one of the most original pictures of this or any other year .", "MOV is definitely one of the most engrossing and best films of the 90s .", "an unforgettable experience .", "powerful , evocative movie .", "what makes jackson 's film enthralling and frightening is the way it shows these two unhappy girls , creating an alternative world so safe and attractive they thought it was worth killing for .", "despite the undeniable merits of jackson 's other works , MOV strikes me as the best film he has made .", "one of the most genuinely disturbing films i have ever seen .", "beautifully , horribly passionate .", "stylish and eerily compelling before it overplays its campy excesses , MOV does have a feverish intensity to recommend it .", "an odd , but mostly effective mix of melodrama , fantasy and voice-over .", "a disturbing , boldly conceived story .", "peter jackson creates a rich , haunting atmosphere , deftly juggling the eerily giddy fantasy world of the girls and their harsh , violent reality .", "revealed in unforgettable fashion by a capable director , the events that unfold in this film are not easily forgotten .", "acted with conviction , and directed and written with febrile vibrancy .", "the movie that first got jackson & winslet noticed", "fantasy and reality blur in a chilling film that shows jackson 's limitless potential", "this is a film with more visual creativity than many fantasy films ." ], "summary": "dark , stylish , and captivating , MOV signals both the auspicious debut of kate winslet and the arrival of peter jackson as more than just a cult director .", "id": "22544" }, { "movie": "the_man_who_knew_too_much_1956", "reviews": [ "one of hitch 's best from his '50s period ... and his only one with a hit song -lrb- `` que sera '' -rrb- .", "each version has certain elements superior to the other , but both films rank as minor hitchcock works .", "even in mammoth vistavision , the old hitchcock thriller-stuff has punch .", "starting slowly amid colourful but rather superfluous travelogue-style moroccan footage , the film improves no end as it progresses .", "bloated remake of the superior original , but has its moments .", "understated tension from the master of overstatement .", "has a number of great moments , but as a whole it never feels like a truly great film", "it 's hugely entertaining and exceptionally involving .", "a road trip with james stewart and doris day traipsing from morocco to london , it 's two hours of red herrings and intense scenes , one of the least apologetic adventures he ever made .", "the result is a typically memorable hitchcock thriller , with great dialogue , building tension , and innocent people forced to get themselves out of trouble on their own .", "hitch 's remake of his own film results in an equally compelling action thriller with sterling performances from stewart and day .", "this version lacks some of the economy of the first , and , unusually for hitchcock , it sags in the middle . fortunately , there 's a marked improvement as it reaches the last third .", "the film is uncharacteristically rigid and pious for hitchcock ; it feels more like a work of duty than conviction .", "hitchcock 's scenes are beautifully framed and tautly directed .", "making marvellous use of settings and locations , hitchcock treats the viewer to superbly choreographed set-pieces .", "james stewart is superb , and bernard miles and brenda de banzie make admirable adversaries .", "... a decent thriller that 's ultimately saved by its stellar performances and absolutely enthralling last act .", "even middling hitchcock is a cut above most thrillers .", "far superior to the 1934 version , MOV , underestimated at its 1956 release , should be considered as one of hitchcock 's masterpieces .", "while drawing the footage out a bit long , he still keeps suspense working at all times and gets strong performances from the two stars and other cast members ." ], "summary": "remaking his own 1934 film , hitchcock imbues MOV with picturesque locales and international intrigue , and is helped by a brilliantly befuddled performance from james stewart .", "id": "10334" }, { "movie": "red_hill_2010", "reviews": [ "however arguably noble his film 's intent to redress historical grievance , a poorly filmed shoot-out is never more than exactly that .", "if only all thrillers were this rich , stylish and intelligent .", "a serving of true blood 's ryan kwanten in his native accent is the chief selling point of this picturesque , contentedly imitative australian western/thriller/coen-brothers homage , the feature debut of writer-director patrick hughes .", "nothing fresh or original here , but director-writer patrick hughes enjoys a heightened sense of detail , making the most of dark bars and the interiors of stalled vehicles .", "the influence of numerous film legends ... burdens material that already feels derivative and uninspired .", "a stylish cross between the classic `` town with a secret '' movie bad day at black rock and aboriginal-rage picture the chant of jimmie blacksmith", "hughes does n't redefine the genre to make his mark , but he assembles clich\u00e9s with a sure hand , contemporizing a western showdown through skillful , genuinely appealing grit and gun-totin ' poise .", "aside from splicing together a policier and a western , there 's no spin here , just a checklist of clich\u00e9s ...", "like the best westerns , MOV is a stripped-down morality tale ; like the best horror movies , its true monsters remain cloaked until the final reel .", "morally simplistic yet viscerally effective , `` MOV '' is an australian tip of the stetson to the vengeance western ...", "MOV is another heartening sign that the new generation of young local filmmakers have genre audiences clearly in their sights .", "... a missed opportunity of disappointingly demonstrable proportions ...", "a thoroughly entertaining western revenge thriller .", "simple , yet complex , this striking contempo western about revenge , is an impressive calling card for patrick hughes in his writing and directing debut", "classically photographed for the scope screen , the film is a cleverly conceived genre piece and centres on a star-making performance from ryan kwanten .", "tight , economic , exciting and strongly performed , MOV is a truly auspicious debut .", "former commercials director hughes probably relies a tad too much on his old job for the whiplash editing ... but there 's a lot going on here that 's worth a look .", "MOV starts brilliantly but tails off halfway through and fails to deliver on its initial promise , despite a strong performance from ryan kwanten .", "hughes 's direction is sly without being smug , and kwanten grounds the movie with a square decency that 's never too pumped-up or cartoonish .", "kwanten makes for a likeable hero , although steve bisley steals the show as the hard-bitten police chief old bill .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- saved by no-nonsense acting , and kwanten stands firm as the moral backbone of the story ; a young cop transferred from the city to a dustbowl town .", "how much of a western is MOV ? the fact that at one point the bad guy shoots someone off a roof and he somersaults face-first into the street should answer that .", "though hughes overplays his directorial hand occasionally , MOV is still the finest australian western since the proposition .", "a solid but wayward b-movie that falters just when it should be flying . still , the premise intrigues , kwanten 's got presence to spare and hughes is definitely one to watch .", "the film does n't pretend to be a moral sermon , but like all good westerns , it has a heart and a soul", "a stylish and moody modern day western , MOV also features one of the most interesting antagonists seen this year .", "from its wide panoramic vistas to its tight close ups , hughes has created a suspenseful setting .", "there are moments of low comedy , well handled moments of homage to other westerns , and a well entrenched australian rural myth makes a surprise appearance .", "though some of his writing is fractionally out of whack , hughes ' understanding of how to extract maximum adrenaline with minimal resources is always bang on the mark .", "MOV only truly works when it retains a hard edge and a straight face . so why does hughes insist on blowing so many raspberries ?", "the suspense that director patrick hughes manages to mount remains low-grade throughout and the plot never becomes entirely plausible .", "under writer-producer-director-editor patrick hughes , the suspense level is high and the action constant .", "the australian high-country setting of this blood-soaked western , brimming with jagged edged rock faces and menacing mountainsides , evokes the genre universe of director anthony mann .", "-lsb- robert -rsb- rodriguez has made stuff like this work by demonstrating a healthy sense of self-parody . hughes has yet to master that .", "patrick hughes 's bloody , brutal australian thriller handles its b-movie premise with surprising precision , though the inclusion of several befuddling elements annoyingly puncture the suspense .", "you 've seen every bit of the modern-day australian western MOV before , but writer-director patrick hughes plays the notes well .", "if MOV is n't quite a classic , it surely is a work of genuine passion for a genre that 's unmistakable , and unkillable .", "it may sound like a backhanded compliment , but i simply ca n't resist a suitably r-rated and rather dark action film that 's also so oddly innocent .", "an australian thriller that 's never quite as clever or original as it seems to think ... as a movie , it 's decidedly unthrilling .", "-lsb- c -rsb- ontemporary western ... in s. australia ... spins new suspense ... in a familiar story ... with a stunning setting , compelling characters , and post-colonial guilt .", "it wants to be a claret-stained , muddy nod to the westerns of anthony mann and sam peckinpah , infused with a strine sensibility .", "hughes finds a way to make his imported tropes -lrb- from the oater and ` nature 's revenge ' horror -rrb- reflect upon a nation 's unresolved issues with its colonial past , as well as upon the disruptive dangers of introduced species ...", "an homage to american western movies with an australian aboriginal standing in for a wronged indian `` revisionist '' style . would have benefited from more dialog written for the anti-hero .", "the western lives ! ... in southeast australia .", "morally simplistic yet suspenseful , visually evocative thriller .", "MOV might be a bit of a mixed bag , but as a striking introduction to patrick hughes and a big screen ryan kwanten , it 's certainly an exciting new frontier for australian cinema .", "this is a fun film that introduces hughes as a director to look out for .", "an ambitious aussie western with a chilling edge , MOV aims high and almost hits its target .", "wonderfully bitter .", "rehashing the cliches from several beaten-to-death movie categories does n't add up to much .", "as short on originality and sustained tension as it is long on striking widescreen vistas and impressive technical smarts .", "this hugely entertaining cross-genre tale of a rural manhunt contrives to meld cop and cowboy elements into a rattling nail-biter .", "yes , this is the land of mad max , so the stunts and explosions are of the highest order .", "hughes shows chops in setting a mood and carrying out the grisly business of shotgun showdowns and torturous mano a mano sessions ... -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "first time writer-director patrick hughes shows great promise as a genre filmmaker .", "what an effective calling card for debut writer-director patrick hughes this is - if not for the australian tourist board .", "an `` all in one night '' crime thriller that 's equal parts old-school western and grimly intelligent horror film .", "the production values are first rate and the action , heavenly influenced by old-fashioned westerns , is brutal and perfectly staged .", "the movie is extremely well staged and the young hero 's dramatic lineage is established by his resonant name - shane cooper .", "MOV has an imagination and intelligence that stays long in the mind .", "starts off like a lean , mean walter hill movie but ends up going a bit blazing saddles .", "powerful central performances drive this impressive oz thriller which features death by boomerang .", "the film just about transcends its abundant clich\u00e9s . it 's coen brothers lite but made with some panache .", "rip-off or homage , it all adds up to an enjoyable stew of a film , even if you find yourself playing ` name that movie ' for most of the running time ." ], "summary": "though its attempts to rework genre conventions may fall flat with some , MOV is a beautifully shot , tightly paced thriller that marks a strong debut for director patrick hughes .", "id": "771200717" }, { "movie": "1058966-red", "reviews": [ "... the most densely and deftly woven of the three films .", "a beautiful film both emotionally and philosophically , not to mention aesthetically", "it 's a marvellous culmination of the trilogy , which together make some of the most fascinating stories in film .", "explores fraternity in large part as much through the dynamic of neighbors and community as through potential one-on-one friendships or romances . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the third and best feature of krzysztof kieslowski 's highly ambitious three colors trilogy .", "a superb example of french arthouse which is also very watchable .", "no better swan song to such a rich , weighty career has yet been filmed .", "-lsb- kie\u015blowski 's -rsb- microcosmic scrutiny of the world , sans judgment , suggests all things happen at once .", "another deft , deeply affecting variation on krzysztof kieslowski 's recurring theme that people are interconnected in ways they can barely fathom .", "the narrative seems delicate but precise , and it is difficult to say why the story and the images are so captivating , except that the film 's modulation of revelation , beauty and anticipation is exquisite .", "this is a rare film that employs the most redeeming quality of film : MOV is transcendent .", "MOV will convince you of the importance of chance encounters in the quest for love and meaning in life .", "nothing quite captures the chills quite like the way the closing shot does", "undaunted by the tremendous emotional and moral valence he has by now invited us to expect , kieslowski controls the film magnificently , putting to use the shapely formal precision he took an entire career to work out .", "MOV is not a movie by a filmmaker who has run out of ideas , but one by an artist at the height of his powers .", "in this final installment of a glorious trilogy ... -lsb- kieslowski -rsb- has saved his greatest for last .", "this is the kind of film that makes you feel intensely alive while you 're watching it .", "what makes MOV watchable is kieslowski 's arresting visual sense .", "a masterful film of chance encounters , parallel lives , mysterious coincidence , and mutual wonderment .", "a subtle masterpiece .", "a beautiful , resonant work that is the best of three very good films .", "MOV succeeds so stirringly that it also bestows some much-needed magic upon its predecessors .", "this is the director at the top of his game .", "jacob is so good in the role , so effective at suggesting a mingling of innocence and intuition , that it 's easy to imagine why MOV was written with her in mind .", "visually and emotionally , this is the director 's warmest film .", "a satisfying conclusion to krzysztof kieslowski 's spectacular polish - french - swiss three colors trilogy .", "they do n't make movies like this anymore .", "the writing is crisp , and the pacing is deliberately and correctly slow .", "with MOV , kieslowski pulls together in a wondrous way his posturing about where human life fits into the greater scheme of things in this vast universe .", "a truly remarkable film -- nothing short of a masterpiece .", "the most complicated and most celebrated of the trio .", "stunningly beautiful , powerfully scored and immaculately performed , the film is virtually flawless , and one of the very greatest cinematic achievements of the last few decades . a masterpiece .", "an engrossing meditation on fate , chance , and parallel lives .", "the last segment of kiewsloski 's three color trilogy -lrb- blue , white -rrb- is the jewel in the crown , meditative and mystical as the others yet warmer and more accessible in large part due to jacob and trintingnant 's appealing performances .", "the finest of three classic films , `` MOV '' is unforgettable .", "not an earth-shaking theme , to be sure , but this is art-house cinema of a very traditional kind , and its pleasures are familiar rather than compelling .", "he cumulative punch of kieslowski 's achievement -- a narrative , visual and aural knockout -- sends one staggering out of the theater , dizzy with the delight of being challenged to think and reeling from the artistry of a master filmmaker at work ." ], "summary": "a complex , stirring , and beautifully realized portrait of interconnected lives , MOV is the captivating conclusion to a remarkable trilogy .", "id": "266746773" }, { "movie": "songcatcher", "reviews": [ "as bossy and joyless as its title character .", "filled with an infectious love for the region 's songs .", "it allows mcteer to make another cherishable but not sappy portrait in her remarkable gallery of women .", "the cast -lrb- which includes folk singer iris dement -rrb- is superb , and the music is its equal .", "begins with noble intentions before getting sidetracked by a sappy storyline .", "your enjoyment of the MOV will pretty much depend on your predisposition to like it .", "perhaps too laden with messages for its own good , but it has many moments of musical beauty .", "as captivating as it is earnest and off-beat .", "muddies the waters with a bogus villain and melodramatic subplots .", "made for the lowest common denominator .", "MOV is better than 75 % of films in theaters today , blending the earthy integrity of the rural poor with the honest performances of a talented cast .", "such a lyrical , moving independent film is a rare thing to find ; MOV is gorgeously made , perfectly cast and thoroughly engaging .", "like the main character , it 's stodgy and didactic -- and full of grace and surprises .", "an uneven path , like the mountainous scenery itself", "never overcomes its overly familiar story and structure , even with some catchy traditional music generously spread throughout .", "MOV unfolds at a leisurely but enjoyable pace , its dramatic contrivances never pushed too hard by director maggie greenwald .", "in this exceptional film , mercifully free of the usual warm and fuzzy movie sentimentality , director maggie greenwald and her fine cast shatter most hillbilly stereotypes .", "this slice of trenchant americana , grabs you by your lapels , churns you up a bit , and soon has you slapping your knees with blissful exuberance", "the presentation -lsb- of mountain music -rsb- evokes its deep emotions and a beauty that comes from life experience , not the pre-packaged pap courtesy of slick marketing types .", "buy the soundtrack . skip the film .", "the solid performances and that musical selection should manage to hold most viewers ' attention .", "a pleasingly solid period drama .", "the novelty of -lsb- greenwald 's -rsb- premise , and its essential humanity , shine through the sermonizing .", "pays sweet tribute to the folk music of appalachia .", "it 's powerful and powerfully musical .", "a sweet , soulful and satisfying film .", "a beautifully crafted story about a time and place rarely captured on film .", "this film is like a good read , as disarming in its predictability as it is in its assorted surprises and colorful ambience .", "if you 're going for the music , you wo n't be disappointed , as the characters belt out bubble-sounding songs that contain some seriously dark material ... but there is n't much going on other than the music .", "there are several transfixing musical moments .", "`` an intelligent , extraordinary period drama , transported by the transcendent power of song . ''", "at times the film 's themes are tired , but greenwald 's eye for atmosphere and fine musical performances more than compensate .", "what you 'll take away from the theater is the memory of superb renditions of traditional scotch-irish mountain music .", "tall , big-boned janet mcteer ... is the ideal actress to play lily penleric .", "leaves you in a state of bliss as the music floats through your mind like a billowy cloud on a lazy summer day .", "its trite romance is distracting , and eventually overtakes its more intriguing themes , having to do with music and feminist issues . sometimes , less is more .", "every time it raises up its voice in song , the period drama MOV comes very close to achieving greatness .", "a wonderfully crafted movie in a minor key .", "there 's a quaintness to MOV that keeps it from truly expressing the power of these songs , and how they voice the hardscrabble life eked out on the beautiful but harsh mountainsides .", "no matter how purely sung , the music keeps getting lost in the melodrama .", "the music really is amazing , and so i do recommend this one .", "no better guide to this musical legacy could be imagined than mcteer .", "MOV is a cinematic symphony .", "beautifully photographed , brilliantly performed and richly textured .", "for all the didactic clumsiness of her story , greenwald understands the richness and uncanny beauty of appalachian music .", "mcteer 's indomitable spirit towers over the movie .", "the music , lovingly performed by such paragons as alison kraus , emmylou harris , taj mahal and iris dement , takes on the importance of a character in the movie .", "the movie becomes more than just a story about the music , of course , as mcteer 's musicologist comes to understand and appreciate the locals ' way of life ... and maybe there 'll be a little romance along the way ?", "though writer/director maggie greenwald wraps her story around a wincingly trite yarn ... she keeps her film afloat by focusing on the music . but , when the tunes stop , so does the magic .", "forget the silly plot ; see this for the music .", "such a lyrical , moving independent film is a rare thing to find ; MOV is gorgeously made , perfectly cast and thoroughly engaging .", "the film is beautifully photographed like a hallmark tourist postcard ...", "promising but ultimately disappointing historically derived \ufb01ction .", "... like its prickly heroine , the film does n't always achieve its goals ...", "rated s , for soulful .", "it 's MOV 's songs , not its story , that linger .", "it 's refreshing to see some straight musical numbers , uninterrupted and unadorned .", "predictable , well-intentioned indie riddled with every clich\u00e9 in the sundance handbook .", "this is very pc and almost ruins the music .", "a painfully earnest but dramatically feeble feel-good fable about cultural diversity , sexual tolerance and gender equality .", "an absolute treasure trove of old-timey , traditional folk music .", "it 's anthro-fiction as lifetime original .", "mcteer and the transporting music hold you in thrall .", "a mite melodramatic and a tad predictable , but the melody is pretty enough to keep one listening .", "the purely wrought mountain music , as yet untouched by corrupt urban commercialism , in effect draws the characters together beyond what alienates them .", "writer and director maggie greenwald has done a marvelous job creating a diverse group of women characters .", "so relentlessly , goddamn worthy that you long for some cheapness and dirt , some energetic pop trash to liven it up .", "... eerily reminiscent of those made-for-tv disney movies of the 50s and 60s .", "as good as the acting is , it 's music that propels this story of life cloistered in the blue ridge mountains .", "has moments of great poignance , which outnumber the moments of predictable melodrama often enough to make the film compelling .", "a lot of backwoods clich\u00e9s involving pickin ' -lrb- if not much grinnin ' -rrb- , moonshine , adulteries and , in the final third , an overdose of melodrama .", "at one point , greenwald 's momentum-starved narrative almost gives out altogether , and the immediate effect is rather delightful .", "essential viewing for anyone who cares about american popular music and its roots .", "though janet mcteer cuts a dashing and intrepid figure as the title character in MOV , this period drama lets both her and an impressive supporting cast down by opting for network-movie melodrama and bathos .", "a sweet , lyrical ode to rural america in the early 1900 's .", "catch it .", "the music is truly the thing in MOV and it 's awesome , haunting stuff .", "the music is absolutely hypnotic .", "i found myself so disappointed by the formulaic elements , which all but take over the narrative , that my enthusiasm became more and more diminished the longer the movie played .", "the story plays like a giant clich\u00e9 .", "there are mountain tunes as powerful as moonshine to be enjoyed in MOV .", "mcteer reaches for grand effects even when her characters are small-time .", "an assured period piece and an entertaining exploration of the origins of folk music in america .", "well-served by its stars .", "a refreshing glass of lemonade in contrast to the rest of the stupefying summer fare .", "call me a reactionary but after i saw this i wanted to turn back the clock to the days of pete seeger and the weavers ." ], "summary": "the story may be a bit too melodramatic , but great performances abound in MOV . the real reason to see the movie , however , is the hypnotic music .", "id": "10339" }, { "movie": "inception", "reviews": [ "a huge movie full of meaty ideas and eye-popping special-effects , yet much like dark knight , the go-for-broke ambition becomes a bit of a grind .", "this is a drama built around ideas and images ; it is a cinematic maze that nolan makes his audience traverse in order to follow , understand and appreciate his world .", "it 's hard to connect with a movie when it tries so hard to fool you ; is this a dream , is it not , is it a dream within a dream ? who cares ? just commit to something and get on with it . a crushing bore .", "it makes ` the matrix ' look like a dick & jane book .", "it requires more concentration to just figure out what 's going on than most summer blockbusters do .", "in its perfection MOV is unsurprising - it 's about what i expected , and that 's good enough .", "if you recall the scene in dahmer -lrb- 2002 -rrb- where jeremy renner as the deranged killer drills holes into his victims ' heads , you 'll know what watching this freudian claptrap of a thriller is like .", "nolan has basically done the impossible . he 's taken $ 200 million and , instead of coming up with a highly generic product , he 's made a real movie .", "there are plenty of reasons to like MOV , whether you found it obvious or impenetrable . you 'll wish you could dream as lucidly as this , but be grateful here you have nolan as your tour guide .", "it is a fascinating visual feast , the matrix with heart and soul , a rollercoaster ride into layers of the subconscious mind that challenges our ability to keep up .", "what it is -lrb- an action-heavy heist movie with several mind-blowing setpieces -rrb- is an entirely pleasant substitute for what it is n't -lrb- a psychologically complex investigation into dream logic -rrb- .", "nolan 's film delivers on all scores . the writer/director of memento continues to show that action blockbusters do n't have to check their brains at the door . ... lots of directors blow stuff up real good ; but nolan blows stuff up real interesting .", "mind-bending and time-twisting , it 's the most exciting thrill-ride of the summer .", "it was a brave move to follow the dark knight , one of the biggest hits of all time , with something so incredibly complex , but nolan can relax -- it 's worked like a dream .", "a marvelous , highly enjoyable film that continues nolan 's climb toward the very top of the list of the best filmmakers working today .", "is the movie over-thought ? sometimes , yes . but challenging material is rarely as satisfying as in this blockbuster from one of the dream factory 's most gifted artisans .", "nolan 's script keeps the parallel narrative threads concise , and through gorgeous cinematography by wally pfister and sharp editing by lee smith .", "a classic-in-waiting that will keep you guessing and thinking while you pick your jaw up off the floor .", "conceptually alluring but laborious and visionless", "full review at movies for the masses", "nolan gledateljima prua zabavu za osjetila i intelekt na na\u010din koji se \u010dini iznad mogu\u0107nosti najve\u0107eg broja njegovih kolega", "nuevamente nolan nos sorprende con un ejercicio inteligente y vibrante , con un dicaprio maduro y un cast perfecto . la cinta del a\u0441o para hollywood .", "i 'm somewhat disappointed that nolan did n't make a different movie , i heartily enjoyed the one he did make .", "see it more than once , you 'll see something different every time .", "nolan handles the mechanics of his russian-doll worlds expertly , but it 's not clear whether he 's taken his own advice and put a single , simple idea at the center of his elaborate labyrinth .", "i did n't get my mind blown by MOV but i enjoyed it . i mean , it 's no total recall .", "i expected a lot , but still walked out hypnotized . here 's a movie that 's 3 steps ahead of you , on 4 different levels , at 5 blinding speeds . best of 2010 thus far . -lrb- no spoilers -rrb-", "with physics-defying , thunderous action , heart-wringing emotion and an astonishing performance from dicaprio , nolan delivers another true original : welcome to an undiscovered country .", "nolan 's most personal and daring film , `` MOV '' contains some of nolan 's most innovative ideas since `` memento . '' it 's also his most successful movie in terms of being able to fully realize every nuance of such a rich concept .", "it is hugely impressive that , given what was at stake , nolan has managed to not only pull this out of the bag , but to absolutely nail it . the film is as all-encompassing as the concept of its title : grand , epic , smart and unforgettable .", "more admirable in intellectual ambition and technical execution than in emotional impact , MOV is an unusual blockbuster , driven by ideas rather than cgi action , but also excessive and overwrought in the last hour .", "MOV does n't just dream bigger than most movies even dare , but it leaves the audience feeling inspired to do the same .", "a sublime brain-twister of a movie that plays out so intricately on so many levels simultaneously that a bathroom break comes at your own peril .", "MOV could very well be nolan 's masterpiece .", "beyond a taut suspense thriller , MOV is also a moving love story .", "this seems to be the year of taking visuals in movies up a notch . cameron did it with ` avatar , ' nolan does it with ` MOV . '", "once in the dreamspace , nolan 's command of multi-layered storytelling is nothing short of astounding .", "cinematically , this is a keeper , a fireworks grand finale that goes on flashing and booming for two hours and twenty-eight minutes . but , oh , for some genuine heart .", "MOV is a diverting gambit , but you might want to check your watch a few times to see when the dreams are going to be over .", "i thought this film was going to be a real brain-twister like `` memento '' or `` the prestige , '' but `` MOV '' is not all that complicated , which is helpful , given all those special game-type rules you have to keep track of .", "nolan clearly has great fun with the action stuff - zero gravity fights in a hotel corridor , an assault on an artic fortress and a car chase through a dreamed city are all cracking - and it all looks as spectacular as you 'd hope .", "even its flaws are brilliant -- and without its flaws and a few evidences of self-mocking humor , i 'm not sure i 'd like it nearly as well as i do .", "nolan borrows from classic heist and caper movies to design the clockwork tension but this particular clock is more like dali 's dripping watch .", "indeed , hollywood 's obsession with 3d has extended to the storytelling process , and with MOV , it also reminds us that story and characterization still rule in the land of a thousand digital vistas .", "a scintillating exploration of dreams , reality and the fine line that divides them , MOV toys with our minds on a massive scale , sending us on a dizzying trip which makes all our preconceptions spin relentlessly", "the film 's promise is watered down in the execution by a sense of it being a novelty , a plaything for nolan to bamboozle his audience with his clever mind trick", "MOV is a masterpiece . making a huge film with big ambitions , christopher nolan never missteps and manages to create a movie that , at times , feels like a miracle .", "i suspect even repeat viewings wo n't be enough to nail this one down : like 2001 , it 's both knotty enough and ambiguous enough to lead to conflicting opinions . besides , our dreams are open to different interpretations , so why not some of our films as well ?", "as engrossing and logic-resistant as the state of dreaming it seeks to replicate , christopher nolan 's audacious new creation demands further study to fully absorb the multiple , simultaneous stories nolan finagles into one narrative experience .", "even minor roles are filled by sterling talent -lrb- including michael caine as cobb 's mentor -rrb- , which is testament to the originality and precision of christopher nolan . his is a mind that 's definitely worth getting lost in .", "MOV is a boldly constructed wonder with plenty of -- as one character describes it -- `` paradoxical architecture . ''", "a trippy , complex , thrill-driven action-adventure that demands -lrb- and rewards -rrb- repeat viewings .", "un thriller inteligente aunque algo menos complejo de lo que aparenta , que cae en varios excesos narrativos y visuales . probablemente la pel\u00edcula m\u00e1s ambiciosa de nolan hasta la fecha .", "the final half-hour alone is a miracle of clockwork-precise showmanship .", "i found myself admiring the movie 's stubborn adherence to its own universe and logic .", "it 's a bold , stunning feature of impossible technical virtuosity . it also has the tendency to be about as emotionally stimulating as a college lecture .", "this is architecture as cinema , on every level : narrative , conceptual , symbolic , visual ...", "what is the point of having an imagination , i ask you , if the only thing that can be imagined is mayhem , perpetrated without regard for even the appearance of human life ?", "a brain-twister to be sure . but the fact that the plot demands attention only adds to the exhilaration . this is a story about dreams that requires the audience to stay awake .", "the reality is n't quite as enthralling as one would hope .", "the action set pieces are deliriously spectacular ; one involving a gravity-impaired gordon-levitt in an ever-rotating hallway is wondrous to behold .", "christopher nolan has created a lynchian fantasy set in the mind that is devastating in its originality and innovation ...", "... there 's no denying those special effects . they are spectacular and creative in the extreme .", "MOV is an exhilarating cinematic experience that suggests there is still room , even in the blockbuster world , for big ideas and dangerous emotions , and that may be the single most thrilling thing about it .", "a stunning achievement and the most completely entertaining film i 've seen in years .", "... part heist caper , part jungian fugue-state where dreams stack up inside each other like russian nesting dolls .", "personally , i got more thrills out of the simple animation of richard linklater 's waking life .", "if movies are shared dreams , then christopher nolan is surely one of hollywood 's most inventive dreamers , given the evidence of his commandingly clever MOV .", "a wildly entertaining and dazzling mind-trip not to be missed . kubrick would have been proud .", "it 's a long movie -lrb- 2.5 hours -rrb- but does n't feel so , and is the rare would-be blockbuster that demands close attention and would surely reward rewatching .", "with MOV , writer/director christopher nolan not only cements his status as hollywood 's most innovative filmmaker , he has created a daring genre : the surrealist heist thriller . or , maybe he has developed the dream invasion action epic .", "at the end of MOV , i had n't lived through the grueling emotional journey nolan seemed to think i had , but i 'd seen a bunch of cool images and admired some technically ambitious feats of filmmaking .", "plays like ocean 's 11 on elm street as written by philip k. dick , and that 's mostly a good thing .", "writer-director christopher nolan swims into the swirly sea of the subconscious in this beautiful , blindingly clever film .", "a conceptual coup that , in dealing with the shifting logic and fractured reality of dreams , frees itself from the need to satisfy any conventions , formulae or expectations .", "the idea of moviegoing as communal dreaming is a century old . with MOV , viewers have a chance to see that notion get a state-of-the-art update . take that chance : dream along with christopher nolan .", "MOV may have been directed by christopher nolan , but nolan 's dreams are apparently directed by michael bay .", "a patently-preposterous , endlessly-elliptical mindbender that 's worth the investment just to be able to say you sat through it , even if you ca n't follow all of its meandering machinations . it 's that hip !", "despite the fact that some details of the labyrinthine plot are simply too obscure to comprehend on a first viewing , nolan sells the emotion -- and the consequences -- visually .", "cinema is rarely this engaging on so many levels .", "this is the kind of film studios need to green light more often ... all orchestrated by the crafting hand of a director who knows what he wants and makes it happen .", "the balance of philosophical ideas and narrative tension are more than enough to keep the film not just engaging , but utterly riveting for its entire duration", "MOV is the exception to a boring summer !", "a well-constructed , narratively audacious blockbuster released at a time when such things are in depressingly short supply .", "an astonishment , an engineering feat , and , finally , a folly .", "preposterous , but so ingeniously done that it 's an entertaining ride .", "just like a spinning top , you keep hoping christopher nolan 's movie will last a little bit longer .", "more filmmakers need to abandon the ikea guide to making hollywood movies -lrb- step 73 : keep hammering clich\u00e9 -rrb- and close their eyes for a little nap .", "surely the most intellectually and viscerally engaging action film in years .", "the dream logic of MOV -- which deals , like nolan 's far more intriguing memento , with the architecture of memory and the nature of reality -- is stymied by a clunking script , crammed with expository exchanges and urgent blather .", "MOV is that rare film that can be enjoyed on superficial and progressively deeper levels , a feat that uncannily mimics the mind-bending journey its protagonist takes .", "it 's gratifying to experience a summer movie with large visual ambitions and with nothing more or less on its mind than -lrb- as shakespeare said -rrb- a dream that hath no bottom .", "flaws aside , there 's a lot to like about MOV and nolan keeps his eye on the ball throughout , offering up a lush treat of a thriller with nerve and wit", "it 's intentionally , thrillingly , disorienting .", "a film trying feverishly to spin your head whilst feverishly trying to explain how it 's spinning it .", "taken at theatrical value , director/writer christopher nolan 's tale of purposeful memory-travel is a fun and exciting trip into the creative subconscious .", "ambitious , sure , but ultimately too far-fetched for its own good .", "despite its two - and a half-hour length , it flies by and just like a great dream you do n't want to wake up from , even after the end credits start , you 'll desperately crave five more minutes .", "the technical virtuosity pouring from every frame is astounding .", "rangy and intellectually muscular , MOV is flawed in the ways that only a brilliant , overreaching work can be .", "so now i 've watched MOV , had my mind splattered all over the theater just like i knew it would be , and i still do n't really know what it 's about . that 's just how amazing this movie is .", "it is the film by which to measure the density of all others .", "an excellent example of a great summer blockbuster .", "the first of many major achievements in this memorable and haunting film is to render other people 's dreams - not the most interesting of topics normally - absolutely riveting .", "the first of -lsb- nolan 's -rsb- films that i would call flat-out fun .", "nolan 's concept is as irresistible as its execution .", "christopher nolan 's films are things of beauty , precisely constructed and expertly executed . but you would n't want to live there .", "the visual effects are outstanding , including a fight scene that rivals any ever put on film .", "-lrb- s -rrb- tories should show , not tell , and nolan keeps telling us that he ca n't tell this story .", "MOV is often thrilling to watch , but there 's something hollow at its center .", "t has all of nolan 's strengths , and some of his weaknesses , and it is undeniably his . it is a $ 160 million action film about loss and regret , and it is exciting in part because of its flaws .", "does the long-anticipated christopher nolan film MOV deliver what we 've been hoping for ? in a word : yes .", "this truly remarkable movie represents imagination of the highest order conducted by a true master of the art of motion pictures .", "leonardo dicaprio 's new thriller is as good as live action cinema gets ... and you 're about to have some very deep dreams to prove it .", "in a decade dominated by the three dreaded rs of remakes , reimaginings and reboots comes a truly original blockbuster .", "without a substantial story to support the whole , the piece is as weightless as the ` zzzzzz team ' itself , floating through the multiple levels of dreams within dreams .", "MOV is one of the most original , thought-provoking , intense , mind-blowing pieces of entertainment i have ever seen . i would pay money to watch people 's reactions .", "MOV may be the brainiest hokum ever released in a cinematic summer . imagine last year in marienbad wandering into the orbit of producer jerry bruckheimer .", "after thinking it 'd take `` a couple months '' to ink , director christopher nolan took eight years to painstakingly write the `` MOV '' script . and you can tell . it 's his first pure masterpiece .", "emotional intimacy is lacking , with some characters functioning merely as devices to explain an increasingly complicated scenario , but there 's no doubt that nolan knows how to craft an enthralling brainteaser .", "MOV , the latest in nolan 's long list of awe-inspiring films , proves to be his most ambitious and satisfying project to date .", "nolan hypnotizes us with his elegant dreamscapes , but uses them to draw attention back to the figures at the heart of it all .", "like his protagonist , nolan excels as an implanter of subversive ideas . this time , alas , he did n't dig quite deep enough for them to take root .", "the good news is , i 'm not going to give away any of the mind-bending twists at the center of MOV . the bad news is , that 's because there are n't any .", "mixes arcane talk about dreams with traditional action sequences resulting in strange and ineffective hybrid .", "MOV is so slow and so confusing that you may actually fall asleep . or wish you were really dreaming and could wake up and dream another movie .", "can a summer blockbuster with a multi-million dollar budget really be this smart , moving and intellectually thrilling ? pinch yourselves , we could still be dreaming .", "dicaprio is his usual terrific self . he is the paul newman of this generation .", "there are so many dreams within dreams , i thought i might 've been dreaming . ` MOV ' is n't a bad movie , but i could never sit through it again . it 's up to the viewer to decide whether or not they will ride it out with prince valium .", "at first , MOV left me cold , feeling as if i 'd just eavesdropped on somebody 's bad acid trip . now i find i ca n't get the film out of my mind , which is really the whole point of it , is n't it ?", "in this wildly ingenious chess game , grandmaster nolan plants ideas in our heads that disturb and dazzle . the result is a knockout . but be warned : MOV dreams big .", "huh ? beautifully executed with dicaprio 's intensity but what does it mean ?", "it is not that i do n't understand -lrb- well , pretty much , anyway -rrb- or appreciate the intense ambition of christopher nolan 's trip into the world of dreams . but why did a movie designed to blow your mind , leave mine , while originally tickled , ultimately unmoved", "it 's obvious that nolan either ca n't articulate or does n't believe in a distinction between living feelings and dreams -- and his barren MOV does n't capture much of either .", "watching MOV is like striking a match and setting your brain on fire .", "my mind is blown . it is . just not quite as blown as i was expecting it to be .", "an imposing , prismatic achievement , and strongly resistant to an insta-reaction ; when it 's over , nolan still seems a few steps ahead of us .", "do n't be surprised if your brain hurts . in a good kind of way .", "a heist film of thrilling , almost delirious complexity .", "even as you tick off the film 's overload of references , though -- a matrix here , a james bond there -- the amazing effects and cobb 's quest carry you along .", "MOV is a complicated film , but it follows its own logic so seriously and insidiously that we are completely drawn into its point of view .", "mercifully , MOV is short on `` is-this-a-dream-or-is-this-reality '' pseudo-philosophizing , allowing the near-kubrickian visual stimuli to drive the exposition and action . and it works .", "in its final hour , MOV becomes more conventional and less imaginative . the rules of the dreamworld still frame the action , but they provide fewer surprises , for the team or the audience .", "MOV is the best film of the year and one of the best films of the decade , this is nolan 's masterpiece and it is perfect in every regard .", "nolan 's eyes here were a little too big for his stomach .", "a smart and inventive thriller , this drama is one of the year 's best movies .", "it 's the kind of thing that only comes along once every few decades .", "an intellectualized action flick or an action-packed intellectual film ? the answer , of course , is that it 's both .", "like any traditional narrative , it starts at point a and ends at point b . it just goes backward through the alphabet to get there .", "the most intelligent and visually stunning film of the year . literally mind-bending .", "all it asks of viewers is that they do something rare : engage the intellect .", "in it we see the promise of a brilliant career realized undeniably . it 's a great achievement , and , yes , a great film .", "a grandiose exploration of the subconscious and a blazing piece of puzzlemaking .", "in this smart sci-fi puzzle box , director christopher nolan transports the audience to a dreamscape that begins with the familiar and then takes a radical , imaginative leap .", "like a dream , nolan 's film fades swiftly in the light -- but while it lasts , it feels like there 's nothing more important to decipher .", "mr. dicaprio exercises impressive control in portraying a man on the verge of losing his grip , but mr. nolan has not , in the end , given cobb a rich enough inner life to sustain the performance .", "MOV is the rare blockbuster entry as sophisticated and intelligent as it is exciting and spectacular .", "beautiful and bloodless . like a dream , it does n't implant ideas you 'll carry with you outside of the multiplex", "with its cityscapes hinged like drawbridges , `` MOV '' resembles something dutch illusionist m.c. escher might have conceived . at other moments , the film invokes the great stanley kubrick , another artist specializing in chilly mind-mazes .", "one way to salvage some fun with this blunderbuss would be to fall asleep while watching and dream up a better movie yourself . try it . you 'll avoid a headache .", "the fact that it manages to be both unmissable and maddening does n't kill the immediate buzz , since half the film 's thrills consist of simply keeping up with it .", "if the career of christopher nolan is any indication , we 've entered an era in which movies can no longer be great . they can only be awesome , which is n't nearly the same thing .", ". . it all becomes a bit too much , a little exhausting , even a little boring ... gets by on its escher-esque visuals which nolan tries to give more import to by cranking hans zimmer 's doom laden , fog horn score .", "by turns overpowering , spectacular and truly awe-inspiring . nolan has just taken it to the next level .", "awesome design , effects and stunts , but where 's the story ?", "a what 's on your mind invasive sci-fi noir specializing in homo sapien interior decorating , that operates at a level way beyond viewer comprehension . though this messing with your head nap time thriller boasts intermittent mind bending imagery .", "this is a movie people will go see and then argue about and then , very likely , go see again . it is instantly the must-see film of the summer .", "the most audacious and multifaceted hollywood entertainment for grown-ups i 've seen in years .", "it wins points for trying to convey difficult , ambitious themes , and even more points for actually succeeding .", "by convoluting the various planes of experience , by overlapping and obscuring ostensible realities and ostensible dreams , mr. nolan deprives us the opportunity of investing emotionally in any of it .", "you know how much of a cheat it is when a movie concludes with a character waking up and realizing it was all a dream ? MOV goes another way : its characters wake up from their dreams to figure out what 's real .", "brilliantly directed and superbly conceived , this is a genuinely exciting , intelligent thriller with stunning visuals , gripping action scenes , a brilliantly constructed script and terrific performances from a note-perfect cast .", "none of this prattling drivel adds up to one iota of cogent or convincing logic . you never know who anyone is , what their goals are , who they work for or what they 're doing .", "wrapped up in the logistics of various dreamscapes and the technical details of dream sharing and MOV , the picture all but abandons its most essential thread .", "a master stroke from a director in his prime . MOV is leagues above any live action film released in 2010 .", "how can it be that a bunch of people sitting around scheming nonsense can prove so compelling ? only david fincher knows how to take a studio 's money and spin it as stylishly as nolan .", "a remarkable achievement in ingenuity and storytelling .", "like grand theft auto 's quasi-cinematic extension of noir and action-flick plots , MOV manipulates the digital audience 's delectation for relentless subterfuge .", "while the mind-bending story might not be as cerebral as it seems , it completely envelops us", "for a motion picture set within the boundless reaches of the subconscious , MOV is depressingly lacking in imagination .", "the visuals , with their sweeping grey-blue gotham-like cityscapes and preference for real-life stunts over computer trickery , are jaw-past-yer-knees outstanding .", "a singular film that seeps into your brain so much so that you might leave the theater looking at the world differently .", "this is a popular entertainment with a knockout punch so intense and unnerving it 'll have you worrying if it 's safe to close your eyes at night .", "one of the year 's best films , one that will surely get even better upon repeated viewings .", "writer/director christopher nolan is too obsessed with the mechanics of the gimmick and plot of MOV to make any intellectual leaps off the screen .", "MOV is as wildly visionary as it is smart . if only all `` big '' movies could be this haunting . we can dream , ca n't we ?", "it 's one of the most beautiful , well written , and fully realized high dollar films of the last five years . MOV , is close to perfection .", "the real cause of wonder , though , is why nolan should have embraced technocratic complexity in the service of such a puny story .", "dicaprio manages to put that fever -lrb- ed -rrb- dream behind him to tap a well of melancholy yearning that keeps MOV anchored .", "the result is something almost as thrilling to contemplate as it is to watch .", "directors have been trying to replicate the world of dreams since the beginning of cinema ... with his ingeniously inventive psychological thriller MOV , christopher nolan stakes his claim on this ambitious cinematic territory .", "this is tremendous , full-throttle filmmaking .", "if it 's the dreamer whose subconscious fills in the details , as the film claims , why the absence of silliness , sex , horror and general abandon ?", "i 'm looking forward to seeing MOV again .", "MOV is as exhilarating as any movie we 'll see this summer -- and twice as exhausting .", "pretty good , not bad , but brilliant it surely ai n't .", "nolan is a thinker , all right , a very busy explorer of mind functions , but capable merely of diagrams when it comes to the heart and soul .", "MOV delivers dazzling special effects and a boatload of stars , but it sags and eventually buckles under the weight of its complicated premise .", "MOV is the blockbuster we 've all been thirsting for , a sleek brain-twister that makes the other 2010 mainstream releases look puny , drab and empty-headed in comparison .", "this is what movies can be like if you try .", "as the dreams build upon each other and cobb 's past creeps through , nolan has us just where he wants us -- deliriously lost in a world where dreams and reality are indecipherable , and curious enough to stand in line for another showing .", "unlike anything you 've seen", "with its james bond-on-acid action scenes and puzzle-within-a-maze-within-a-puzzle mind games , MOV is certainly the most daring and original blockbuster of the year , as well as a visual tour de force . if it only had a heart .", "meanwhile , explanations are offered , buildings collapse on themselves , dicaprio frets moodily , henchmen fall over and that white van keeps falling off that bridge ... it 's all very beautiful , and mostly very empty .", "arguably the best film of the summer and most likely all year , the latest film from writer/director christopher nolan is a heady trip that comes off as a thinking person 's action flick . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "MOV is an extraordinarily ambitious work . it 's a bit overlong at 148 minutes , but i could n't tell you what i would have cut out of it .", "it 's just streets ahead of anything i 've seen in a long time .", "a masterpiece on a grand scale that is not just an ingenious work of science fiction but may be the best film since rear window to play along with your mind 's eye on how we view movies altogether .", "nolan is having the time of his life in his own personal playground and , for all its heavy technical and narrative machinery , MOV remains one of his lightest films .", "it is irritating for an hour , being so gloomily lit that you need fog lights , then it opens up into a marvellously inventive , somewhat silly but enjoyable heist movie , with a good cast doing things i doubt even they could explain .", "a heist movie about manipulating dreams , MOV could well be the summer 's smartest film -- and surely is the one you 'll fight about most .", "one of the most intoxicating , challenging and beautiful movies of the 21st century , deserving of multiple oscar nominations .", "this metaphysical ` mission : imposible ' is motivated by a challenge as great as that facing its heroes : it 's nolan 's attempt to crack the great film vault . mission accomplished ? yes -- and more crucially -- no .", "MOV a dynamic , moving mind-bender .", "the simplest way to sum up the greatness of MOV is to identify it as a new classic of science-fiction cinema -lrb- and , for that matter , the heist genre -rrb- .", "MOV is instruction manual cinema , a film that spends so much time explaining the rules of its narrative conceit that it fails to either emotionally engage or , except in a few notable spots , viscerally thrill .", "-lsb- nolan -rsb- has planted the idea that his film is the most brilliant , original and smart film in years . and everyone thinks they realized this on their own .", "and -lsb- nolan -rsb- said , `` let there be originality '' , and there was originality . he called it MOV and audiences and critics alike saw that it was good .", "visually stunning MOV trips on its own cleverness , sacrificing character development in the pursuit of ingenuity . one can forgive its hubris and give it credit for being a thinking man 's action movie .", "the only thing for sure is that this MOV was nothing but a stratagem , a cheap trick , if you will . leading me to wonder : where are the dream police when you need 'em ?", "MOV is a grown-up thriller ride through the dreamscapes of the mind , with leonardo dicaprio in the lead . the movie is a sign that hollywood retains some intellectual oomph .", "MOV is n't a dud but nor is it a masterpiece . it 's like a very ambitious , overlong potboiler : visually beautiful , ingenious in parts and dragging in others .", "it 's an exceptional effort , so dense , it practically demands a second viewing to suss out whether the film is just a bunch of high-concept psychobabbled hooey or a profound sci-fi excursion into the human psyche . i 'm banking on the latter .", "MOV is the kind of information-packed movie that creates the painful/pleasurable sensation that there 's no time to think .", "MOV nails you to your seat for two of the best hours of cinema you 'll see this , or any , year and there 's never a dull moment .", "MOV is dark , thrilling and bold , and most importantly , it will reach well beyond your highest expectations and wildest dreams .", "the central concept affords the director some splendid opportunities for visual chutzpah .", "this is finally a big-budget film where the money feels well spent .", "nolan makes his far-fetched -lrb- and even occasionally ridiculous -rrb- dialogue and plotting utterly , absolutely believable within the film 's finely structured framework , while never losing his grip on the dense , multi-layered narrative .", "nobody can deny that christopher nolan 's `` MOV '' is a thinking man 's blockbuster .", "there are times in christopher nolan 's somnolent crime caper where you 'll find yourself recognizing moments from your own subconscious on the screen , to a thrilling , frightening and ultimately inspiring effect .", "worth every penny spent in the making , and worth every dollar forked over for a ticket , MOV may just be the best movie of 2010 .", "a smartly scripted , big-budget action/heist movie of the sort you 'd expect from the director of the dark knight .", "a heist picture at heart , the dream-world-set thriller harkens back to the reality-shifting days of `` the matrix , '' but edges toward intelligence in all of the places the wachowski brothers opted for visceral popcorn thrills .", "rule of thumb : if a movie uses the word `` deep '' as much as this one does , it probably is n't .", "i absolutely loved every minute of it .", "the ambition on display is so huge , and the filmmaking so intelligent , you 'll emerge feeling as if you 've just watched an entire season of the greatest sci-fi series never made .", "you have to love a movie that dares people to think big .", "nolan has cemented himself among the great filmmakers of our time , not only with this film , but with most of his other works as well .", "nolan 's film is surely the most ambitious psychological thriller ever , and yet also the most personal . his baroque imagination makes most directors ' efforts look like beach-pail sand castles alongside mad king ludwig 's neuschwanstein castle .", "a superior summer movie , one with heart and brains and loads of razzle-dazzle .", "nolan 's greatest aspect might be his own ability to show restraint when he could easily over blow everything . it worked miracles in dark knight and it has crafted a masterpiece in the form of MOV .", "visually spectacular , without resorting to 3-d .", "`` hooray ! ''", "this is a long film with a lot of fiery explosions , intelligent ideas , sputtering machine guns , and violent car crashes .", "nolan has spun an elegantly cerebral story that is primal , compelling , and as visually disconcerting as it is completely captivating", "an at-times dizzying mobius strip of a sci-fi thriller , it 's both a tremendously challenging and tremendously rewarding movie , the type that will have audiences talking -- and debating -- long after the credits roll .", "the best , most believable entry to date in an inherently imaginative genre . excellent cast .", "MOV may be the most intelligent action film you will ever see .", "inspired at times by movie classics , modern and otherwise - ` dark city ' and ` minority report , ' but also ` metropolis , ' ` citizen kane ' and the best 007 adventures - it earns its place in the same conversation , a tribute to nolan 's ingenuity .", "nolan repousse les limites de son cin\u00e9ma pour nous offrir - une fois de plus - son oeuvre la plus dense et stimulante \u0155 ce jour .", "the film has a dark , sad emotional puzzle at its core , and the suspense of this held me as much as the planning of the ultimate caper . dicaprio and cotillard between them resonate grief .", "MOV is an elegant , portentous ride , though i 'm not sure nolan is any closer to visualizing the real -lrb- dream -rrb- deal than hitchcock was .", "christopher nolan 's existential sci-fi heist flick is always riveting , if not always comprehensible .", "consider this as a form of MOV from a film review : see it again , and while you 're at it , see it a third time .", "no matter how high your personal expectations for `` MOV '' may be , the film not only meets but wildly exceeds them .", "it 's a challenge and a minor chore to follow nolan 's cerebral lead , but anyone complaining that hollywood lacks bold inspiration can shush for a while .", "`` MOV '' is a sci-fi psychological thriller that does n't always know when to coast or how to take emotional advantage of its over-the-top visual effects .", "MOV is either a great , mind-bending movie or one big swindle . let 's go with the former .", "it 's an affecting movie ; quite a piece of art in a world of also-rans and marketing plans .", "a devilishly complicated , fiendishly enjoyable sci-fi voyage across a dreamscape that is thoroughly compelling .", "for all of its capacity to bewilder and befuddle , MOV still must be endorsed purely on the strength of its ambition , and the awesome heights to which it sometimes soars .", "roll with the journey and trust that it will take you where you want to go .", "a film erupting with ideas , ambition and intelligence , one that credits the viewer with the capacity for some mental heavy lifting .", "nolan dares the viewer to jump into his multi-layered world , his own maze , and dedicated moviegoers will not be able to resist - even for a second , third , or fourth time .", "MOV is a film about a man who wants to implant an idea in another man 's mind . the reason it 's a masterpiece is because christopher nolan somehow found his way into mine .", "i wanted to surrender to this dream ; i did n't want to be out in the cold , alone . but i truly have no idea what so many people are raving about .", "MOV becomes its own nightmare by trying to be `` too '' smart .", "MOV is the first masterful video game movie -lrb- never mind that it is n't based on a video game -rrb- .", "the best major release of the summer , the most fully imagined , dramatically enthralling piece of sci-fi movie-making since the matrix .", "dicaprio and co. manipulate thematic fetishes like a dream of mission impossible envisioned by phillip k. dick", "this sophisticated and uniquely clever cinematic concoction is a refreshing change from the usual lineup of mindless summer fare . the acting and dialogue take a back seat to the mind-blowing action that is ...", "more time wasting than time bending , MOV is a shoot 'em up masquerading as a thinking person 's sci-fi film .", "MOV is an intense , complex story , but it 's always coherent , imaginative , and entertaining .", "after a couple of days ' reflection , while i still would happily recommend the film as one of the best blockbusters i 've seen this year , the flaws of the movie became increasingly apparent .", "MOV is elegantly realised . dicaprio powerfully embodies a tortured soul while gordon-levitt has all the fun in the best action sequence .", "the movie is almost hypnotic -- a mind-bending experience laced with palpable tension and fueled with drama . sweet dreams .", "who are we to complain when a filmmaker lets his thoughts get the better of him , especially when most summer blockbusters are n't thinking at all .", "a groundbreaking , intriguing , exhilarating and brilliant sci-fi thriller that 's destined to become a timeless classic . mark my words : it will be remembered for years to come .", "MOV is a nightmare for audiences looking for coherent fiction .", "it is that rarest of beasts : a slippery , cerebral summer blockbuster that slaloms from illusion to reality and back again and leaves its viewer bewitched , bothered and bewildered .", "the less you know going in , the better you will appreciate the unfolding , doubling-back , and overall mind-bending stories within stories in one of the year 's best films .", "whether -lsb- dicaprio -rsb- confronts lost love or the dream world crumbles in a glorious symphony of exploding fruit and buildings , MOV is beautiful , high-class chaos .", "MOV is the most astonishing thing you will see all year . it may be one of the most astonishing things you will ever see .", "this is not only the best movie ever made about dreams , it is also one of the best films of 2010 , and certainly one of the most entertaining pictures i 've seen in a decade .", "only someone who never saw -lrb- or appreciated -rrb- dark city would be able to call it visionary .", "the movies have produced one of their rare works of great art , disguised as an action thriller -- a thoughtful and thought-provoking meditation disguised as a con game carried out in a dream ... within a dream ... within a dream .", "it 's said that christopher nolan spent ten years writing his screenplay for MOV . that must have involved prodigious concentration , like playing blindfold chess while walking a tight-wire .", "... one of the strongest science-fiction concepts to come along in some time ...", "the complexity of the plot works to make the film a must see , but it also ends up frustrating the audience because it all ca n't be figured out on the first viewing", "the ending will leave you debating in that glass half-full , half-empty kind of way . let 's just say , it 's a movie that needs to be seen more than once .", "one of the best things about nolan as a director is that he 's not self-conscious . his movies unfold and fold in on themselves without the strain of labor or flash . but that lack of self-consciousness is also nolan 's downside .", "it 's bold . it 's exciting . it makes you think . it engages . it impresses . it frustrates . and it does it all a helluva lot better than shutter island .", "it 's heartening to see that the quirky sensibility nolan brought to ` memento ' has never left him .", "a dream within a dream .", "the first masterpiece of 2010 . a perfect blend of performance , story , music and effects .", "a rather juvenile brain-teaser lacking an effective emotional core but bursting with cool visuals . unlike the most powerful dreams it does n't stick with you .", "one of those films , like blade runner or 2001 a space odyssey , that will repay many viewings in order to grasp all the intricate details of these multi-layered trips into the dreams and nightmares of the central characters .", "a giant win for audiences and the degree to which filmmakers can respect their intelligence .", "nolan is a very clever fellow , no argument there . he 's skilled at juggling big ideas and making us think . now if he can just make us feel .", "are they handing out joints at the box office for this ?", "you will no doubt need to see MOV more than once to appreciate every nuance of nolan 's carefully balanced ambiguities - but , more importantly , you will also want to .", "the next step in -lsb- christopher -rsb- nolan 's evolution as one of the master filmmakers of our time ... combines the jaw-dropping action of the dark knight with the ingenious plotting of memento .", "nolan does here for the heist film what he did for the comic book movie in his 2008 hit the dark knight . he layers a fantasy premise with provocative ideas and serious intent .", "brain , meet spasm . MOV is the cleverest , most original use of a blockbuster budget we 've seen in years . shame some of the characters are a bit underdeveloped .", "christopher nolan proves himself as both a man of action and ideas , as he delves into the male psyche and enriches the soul in MOV .", "if you think `` lost '' was complicated , let 's just say it 's kitten chow when compared to this .", "MOV made my brain hurt . and it hurt in the most wonderful way .", "must-see ? absolutely . but let 's not get carried away . primer was every bit as challenging but populated with characters who seemed real and spoke like human beings .", "especially recommended for diehard film lovers , this cinematic archaeological dig will interest anyone fascinated by one of filmdom 's great might-have-beens .", "intelligent and imaginative MOV is eye bending and mind bending in equal measures .", "it 's too easy to see not only that mal is trouble , but also that dom will walk right into that trouble she is .", "uma fic\u0437\u0433o cient\u043dfica que faz jus aos melhores do g\u043anero , apresentando-nos a conceitos intrigantes e dedicando-se , ent\u0433o , a explor\u0431-los at\u0439 suas conseq\u044c\u043ancias mais extremas .", "MOV , which has been talked up to crazy heights and showcases the best , as well as the most problematic , aspects of nolan 's directorial chops .", "nolan , like cobb , is an assiduous extractor , and he knows how to wow audiences . but scaling big and thinking big are not the same thing . and dark , just because it 's dark , is n't more artistic than light .", "nolan 's tale is not only a trip through mental labyrinths but a reminder that memories may cripple us , unless we learn to let them go .", "what 's exciting about the movie has nothing to do with content , or a coherent style ; it has to do with watching a master crafts person conjure tricks with the best the modern movie tool box has to offer .", "we can only marvel at what writer-director nolan has thought up and executed so well . but he does n't know when to stop . every level leads to another level .", "nolan is so eager to make the movie work as an action blockbuster that he sacrifices storytelling to set pieces . still , what set pieces .", "like memento , the most intellectually demanding of nolan 's previous films , MOV demands and rewards our total attention as well as our emotional engagement .", "MOV is as lucid and heartfelt as summer blockbusters get these days .", "it 's only the latest indication that christopher nolan might be the slyest narrative tactician making movies today .", "a spectacular fantasy thriller based on nolan 's own original screenplay , MOV is the smartest cgi head-trip since the matrix .", "it 's just grade-a filmmaking .", "invention runs lower once we 're on those snowy slopes , and the hard narrative punch keeps disintegrating into a floating cloud of pixels . but what a display they make .", "the film 's imaginative freefall is ruinously anchored to a bogus sense of deep feeling ." ], "summary": "smart , innovative , and thrilling , MOV is that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually .", "id": "770805418" }, { "movie": "promises", "reviews": [ "for one moment , the patience of documentarians nurtured understanding among strangers accustomed to being enemies -- for which a prize is surely in order .", "it 's the secular israeli kids -lrb- yarko and daniel -rrb- and especially a graceful young palestinian refugee -lrb- sanabel -rrb- who offer the most hope .", "this is a raw and disturbing tale that took five years to make , and the trio 's absorbing narrative is a heart-wrenching showcase indeed .", "at times an almost unbearably moving portrait of innocence lost and how ideologies easily infect young minds .", "gives us a view of life in and around jerusalem that is intensely personal and immensely heartbreaking .", "... devastatingly direct to the heart of the matter , demonstrating that there is no easy walk toward peace in a region with such strong conflicting traditions", "though the focus strays at times , this oscar-nominated doc makes good on most of its MOV .", "takes a simple idea and just about breaks your heart with it .", "many insightful moments .", "if you like peace , you 'll like MOV .", "a marvellous journey from childhood idealism to adolescent self-absorption .", "an earnest , roughshod document , it serves as a workable primer for the region 's recent history , and would make a terrific 10th-grade learning tool .", "this illuminating documentary transcends our preconceived vision of the holy land and its inhabitants , revealing the human complexities beneath .", "goldberg -- a secular jew who grew up in jerusalem -- appears genuinely interested in what the youngsters have to say , and out of their conversations comes an even-handed portrait of a troubled land .", "significant for the chilling moments when the children echo the very sentiments that continue to fuel the middle east conflict .", "it 's worth seeing just on the basis of the wisdom , and at times , the startling optimism , of the children .", "a stunning and informative nonfiction drama that looks at the arab-israel conflict from the mouths of babes .", "a gripping documentary that reveals how deep the antagonism lies in war-torn jerusalem .", "what 's so extraordinary about this oscar-nominated work is that it shows us that conflict through the eyes of seven bright , funny , thoughtful kids , ages 9 to 13 , on both sides .", "a profoundly moving document ... the filmmakers ' refusal to downplay the situation 's intractability makes the glimmer of hope the film offers that much more powerful .", "if nothing else , this balanced and moving film is both informative and entertaining .", "beautifully explains the ongoing middle east conflict .", "if there 's one big point to MOV , it 's that nothing can change while physical and psychological barriers keep the sides from speaking even one word to each other .", "too sincere to exploit its subjects and too honest to manipulate its audience .", "what emerges is an unsettling picture of childhood innocence combined with indoctrinated prejudice . MOV is a compelling piece that demonstrates just how well children can be trained to live out and carry on their parents ' anguish .", "the children are all so beautiful and smart and it 's heartbreaking when they talk about death as casually as they talk about soccer .", "give shapiro , goldman , and bolado credit for good intentions , but there 's nothing here that they could n't have done in half an hour .", "keeps its word .", "this insightful , oscar-nominated documentary , in which children on both sides of the ever-escalating conflict have their say away from watchful parental eyes , gives peace yet another chance .", "beautifully crafted and brutally honest , MOV offers an unexpected window into the complexities of the middle east struggle and into the humanity of its people .", "a soul-stirring documentary about the israeli/palestinian conflict as revealed through the eyes of some children who remain curious about each other against all odds .", "a diverse and astonishingly articulate cast of palestinian and israeli children .", "unexpected , and often contradictory , truths emerge .", "demonstrates the unusual power of thoughtful , subjective filmmaking .", "i wonder what the reaction of israelis will be to this supposedly evenhanded presentation .", "a powerful and heart-rending documentary .", "every individual will see the movie through the prism of his or her own beliefs and prejudices , but the one thing most will take away is the sense that peace is possible . that , in itself , is extraordinary .", "it 's sobering , particularly if anyone still thinks this conflict can be resolved easily , or soon .", "a decent and decidedly neutral documentary .", "beautifully crafted and brutally honest , MOV offers an unexpected window into the complexities of prejudice .", "MOV is one film that 's truly deserving of its oscar nomination .", "even these tales of just seven children seem at times too many , although in reality they are not enough . every child 's story is what matters . this film can only point the way -- but thank goodness for this signpost .", "it deserves to be seen by anyone with even a passing interest in the events shaping the world beyond their own horizons ." ], "summary": "a heartbreaking and illuminating look at the israeli and palestinian conflict through the eyes of children .", "id": "19266" }, { "movie": "the_host_2007", "reviews": [ "bong joon-ho 's MOV is the best kind of genre film , a movie that delivers the conventions audiences expect from a horror flick while also offering surprising new variations on the formula .", "MOV is wildly entertaining ; people who love the genre will get their geek buttons pushed hard by this flick . but what makes the movie an instant classic is that it 's also , in its dark heart , a furious lampoon .", "bong 's supreme achievement is that he has made his many messages fun .", "if this madly entertaining movie has a fault , it 's that it 's too ingenious for the genre it ostensibly inhabits .", "you 'll laugh , you 'll gasp , you 'll jump , you 'll ask hollywood for your money back . seek it out .", "retains a quirky charm that can not be discounted . recommended not just for what it achieves , but for what it attempts to .", "a great piece of filmmaking and a legitimate science-fiction/horror classic .", "the problem with the film is that the sum is n't greater than the parts and the pieces do n't fuse in a way that 's consistently pleasing or cinematically satisfying .", "what a pleasure to watch an ambitious horror film that not only frightens but also surprises and engages us completely with its artful shifting of tones .", "boon 's film is both funny and heartbreaking , a supremely confident mix of political satire , free-floating paranoia , fractured family dynamics and the kind of comedy that regularly reconfigures itself into tragedy .", "joon-ho is more skilled with his monster action scenes than with his virus conspiracy ...", "because this movie was made in korea , and not in the focus group fancying us of a , MOV tends to avoid most of the genre 's obvious stumbling blocks .", "part social satire , horror , comedy and family drama `` MOV '' is an exciting example of cinematic bravura that signals a new day for asian cinema .", "this is a portrait of a country 's deepest anxieties , which just happen to be distilled into a mandibled squidlike reptile . it has the tang of social realism .", "its brilliance as an original piece of filmmaking makes it evidently clear how much genius is at work behind every single frame .", "with unflappable confidence , bong joon-ho grafts droll humor and sly political commentary onto the dna of a classic hollywood creature feature .", "a colorful dissection of the fiendish creature genre that touches on a number of contemporary themes .", "MOV begins with a dry , frequently absurd comic sensibility , but steadily grows darker , more intense and truly thrilling .", "head and shoulders above its sf/action competition .", "the creature is aquatic , acrobatic but definitely not angelic , in this idiosyncratic mix of creature feature and horror thriller , with a dash of slapstick , and a pinch of black humour .", "monster movies tend to be as misunderstood as their creatures , but dating back to 1931 's frankenstein , some have n't been about scaring us so much as enlightening us . MOV does this while disgorging a lizardlike carnivore .", "packed with politics , family conflict and satiric references to some of the more absurd aspects of korean cinema , MOV never forgets to be a scary , icky , over-the-top fright fest , either .", "at heart , it 's a monster movie , but it 's one creature feature that refuses to settle into a mold , and that 's precisely why it deserves a look .", "one of those rare movies that actually transcends all genres and just becomes a great movie , period .", "MOV is a loopy , feverishly imaginative genre hybrid about the demons that haunt us from without and within .", "the first good horror movie of the year .", "bong joon-ho 's cheerfully outrageous monster movie is set to attain instant cult status .", "MOV is a horror movie with a difference . south korea 's biggest box-office hit ever , the thriller -- by director-writer bong joon-ho -- is a fantastical genre-buster .", "a horror thriller , a political satire , a dysfunctional family comedy and a touching melodrama , bong joon-ho 's MOV is also one helluva monster movie .", "MOV is at best a well-made entertainment mixing drama with humor , with enough populist touches to endear itself to audiences .", "one helluva monster movie -- a giant-tadpole flick that melds chills , heart and humor into one gloriously wild , weird package ... an immediate oddball classic .", "... relentlessly entertaining .", "i hesitate to use the word ` rollicking ' for any reason , especially in the context of a horror film , but that 's what MOV is : rollicking , thrilling , scary , funny , and satirical .", "a thrilling ride and a sometimes dry , sometimes sweet comedy , but beneath all that is a humane and tragic view of life worthy of the greatest films . even those without rubber monsters .", "an absolutely corking giant monster movie , told with more panache and verve than anything since the lean and hungry glory days of spielberg .", "-lsb- this -rsb- wildly entertaining saga should become the hip , thinking-person 's monster movie of choice .", "both smashing entertainment and snarky geopolitical allegory , this godzilla vs. little miss sunshine is the wildest and weirdest movie to hit screens in quite some time .", "like a delightfully unhinged version of a 1960s japanese monster movie , this korean thriller piles on character detail , political comment and comedy asides .", "what makes it so enjoyable is how much stuff it contains while never losing sight of its prime directive , which is to thrill and terrify .", "MOV , bong joon-ho 's giddy creature feature , has an anarchic mess factor worthy of a pile of old mad magazines .", "MOV is a decent little monster movie that fans of the genre should enjoy .", "like a mutant hybrid spawned from the improbable union of little miss sunshine and godzilla ; for in this family comedy and political satire an unnaturally evolved tadpole just happens to loom -lrb- very -rrb- large .", "m\u00e1s que una simple pel\u00edcula de monstruos , un raro ejemplo de entretenimiento , drama familiar , cr\u00edtica pol\u00edtica y social y humor muy , muy bizarro .", "if the slow pacing and gawky acting seem typical of low-budget monster movies , so much the better .", "in spite of its assorted lumpy bits , this is a far more successful monster movie than any creature feature hollywood has churned out in a long time", "click for full review", "a terrific popcorn movie that ... contains equal parts humor , horror and drama and turns out to be a thoroughly enjoyable `` creature '' movie that also contains an underlying environmental message .", "i was disappointed what started out as a very promising genre pic became weighted down by its own pretensions .", "mixes the chemically enhanced intensity of a godzilla sequel with the single-minded mission status of harold and kumar .", "a self-aware throwback to the giant ants and nuclear-spawned mutant movies of the 1950s ...", "MOV mixes bittersweet humor and horrifying monster antics in a way that would be almost unimaginable for any modern american film .", "MOV is a mesmerizing , occasionally gangbusters dark ride that invigorates the long dead genre 's potential for scares and composite storytelling .", "the mix of dark humor , creeping suspense , and a sort of apocalyptic tenderness makes this the best horror flick in years .", "it 's godzilla with a severe case of murphy 's law , and it is never less than bizarrely delightful .", "in the tradition of its underfunded forebears , `` MOV '' does have its flat moments , most of them huddled together in the middle of the movie ; but it also has true genre fizz and conviction , and some interesting ideas .", "godzilla lives in MOV , a south korean monster movie that combines contemporary technique with the social commentary of those old giant lizard films from japan .", "pure genre entertainment , featuring great special effects .", "a spirited endeavor at enhancing the signal sent from godzilla so long ago , for even then , under the atomic bomb fallout , governments were not to be trusted .", "the most dynamic and vital creature feature to invade american screens in years ...", "exactly what our western shores need .", "i never thought i 'd crack up watching a family mourn the death of a beloved daughter . but i 've never seen a film quite like MOV , and that 's far from the most bizarre thing in it .", "comes up with not only a fistful of nervous pools of fear but also a heady wellspring of classic monster-movie matinee fun .", "as ebullient and bizarre as a monster that can do back flips , leaving the viewer in a shock of delight .", "a horror thriller , a political satire , a dysfunctional family comedy , and a touching melodrama , bong joon-ho 's MOV is also one helluva monster movie .", "a delirious mix of scares , laughs and surprising political critiques , a movie which always seems to be running ahead of the audience and daring us to keep up .", "in the end , the real monster is not the slithering beast we 're there to watch , but the weight of an entire society . and we 're left believing that a ragtag bunch of misfits can overcome that too .", "it packs an emotional kick that we do n't expect from a movie where a giant iguana is running around with human legs dangling out of his mouth like stray pieces of linguini .", "monster movies do n't often stomp their way into theaters these days , and the entertaining yet vacant korean film `` MOV '' provides a reason why : even when they 're well executed , they 're still sort of lame .", "both fun and thought-provoking , but it 's just not the instant classic it 's being hailed as .", "the origin of the film 's amphibious creature may be firmly planted at the doorstep of u.s. hubris , but MOV is strictly populist fare , ironically owing much to the best of american blockbusters .", "a beautifully made , thoroughly enjoyable monster flick with moments of comic genius . it 'll be interesting to see what the pleasingly-named bong joon-ho comes up with next .", "like wes craven , -lsb- director -rsb- bong recognizes the possibilities for artistic and editorial expression that lie in the fertile ground of the thriller/horror/slasher genre .", "MOV is first and foremost an ecstatic monster movie , as terrifying as it is funny .", "not just a monster movie , it 's a movie about family , and it 's a movie about the lengths we 'll go to to save our loved ones .", "it 's a comedy , it 's a vivid evocation of a dysfunctional family that comes together in crisis , it 's a wondrous homage to the courage of children , it 's a biting critique of the government .", "a film that will catch you leaning in one direction and abruptly pull you in another , all the while building to a surprisingly emotional climax .", "a cross between godzilla and jaws , it manages to be both truly scary and truly funny -- sometimes all at once .", "MOV works on so many levels simultaneously that it 's like getting a film series for the price of one . you must , must , must see this movie .", "throws a lively party with a little of everything : scares , laughs , politics and a bit of archery .", "-lsb- director bong joon-ho -rsb- brings to his subject a humanistic affection and expansive knowledge of the real world rarely found among filmmakers who single-mindedly nourished their childhood imaginations on things from black lagoons .", "implausibles become inane in this godzilla jr. jubilee , something just right for the dvd cheapie bins .", "not a cheery movie , but it is a frequently hilarious one . the monster , as terrifying as it is , also has the timing of a crack comedian , and filmmaker bong joon-ho sees no contradiction in interrupting a tense chase scene for a wayward bit of comedy .", "maybe this is actually a treatise on the dissonance between east and west , science and nature , promise and tragedy . nah . it 's just a dumb , crappy horror movie that wants to be celebrated as such .", "rarely plays out the way you expect . director bong is careful to deliver the promised scares , but he is also willing to overlook plot formulas to explore his own interests .", "when the toothy petals of its slimy flower mouth unfold to engulf an unlucky victim , the giant river monster in ` MOV ' looks like something imagined by h.p. lovecraft and painted by georgia o'keeffe .", "bravely shifting tones from the horrific to the slapstick and back again , bong joon-ho has made a movie that 's comprised almost equally of family sitcom , political indictment , high-urban paranoia and maximum-geek , monster-movie delight .", "this is not your standard monster movie and , i must admit , it caught me off guard .", "i have never seen anything like `` MOV , '' a terrifying east asian monster movie that is as funny as it is grotesque % u2014 almost a subversion of the entire genre", "MOV is that rare movie that fulfills the old movie-trailer promise : `` you 'll laugh ! you 'll cry ! '' you 'll do both , and then some .", "a throwback to the uncensored `` godzilla , '' a anti-american broadside with a scary monster and off-kilter humor . what more can you ask for in a movie ?", "MOV is not about politics or pollution , but an evocative and often rollicking throwback .", "MOV has a rather playful sense of humor . that helps keep the audience off balance -- at least long enough to be startled and jolted .", "what distinguished this horror pic is its emphasis on the personal -- on love of family rather than the fight against the beast", "the thinking person 's giant mutant tadpole pic , and just how many of those have you seen lately ?", "one simply dreads the inevitable hollywood remake ...", "a wonderfully weird , and hugely entertaining , genre exercise that should please all sorts of audiences , whether art-house types or fanboys .", "o talentoso joon-ho utiliza o g\u0119nero `` godzilla '' para contar uma hist\u00f3ria intimista que , no processo , faz pesadas cr\u00edticas \u0155 submiss\u0103o sul-coreana aos interesses norte-americanos . e tudo isso levando o espectador \u0155 tens\u0103o , ao riso e ao drama .", "MOV evolves into that rare horror film that becomes inconsolably poignant .", "the movie pops up out of nowhere , grabs you in its big , messy tentacles , and drags you down into murky depths , where social satire coexists with slapstick , and b-movie clich\u00e9s mutate into complex metaphors .", "can 93 % of american movie critics be wrong ? on the soft and squishy rotten tomatoes website , an amazing 70 out of 75 critics gave a thumbs up to MOV , a hokey south korean monster movie that makes godzilla look like the godfather .", "MOV is many things , some of them icky . above all , though , it is the story of how these slapstick figures rise painfully to the level of competence , and beyond .", "our quirky family of ordinary heroes is on the march , fighting bad guys and bad monsters . and so the movie begins . have fun .", "barely five minutes into MOV , it 's already clear that a classic movie monster has been superbly unleashed . its introductory rampage on the banks of the han river instantly qualifies as one of the best monster attack scenes ever .", "individual stories bog down the film 's pace , but MOV recovers quickly to redefine horror for the new millennium . this you have to see .", "the film 's limber and inventive director joon-ho bong keeps MOV creeping and leaping for its entire two hours , which are filled with incident after incident , alternately terrifying , ridiculous , suspenseful and wry .", "slightly subversive but entertaining , MOV is a south korean creature-feature import that 'll get the godzilla juices flowing again .", "sort of scary ? maybe . gleefully humorous with a wink toward the tradition of bad monster movies ? not enough .", "a monster movie for those who like a little meat on the genre 's bones .", "pic , which is not even in widescreen , will be best appreciated by auds who just go with the quirky flow rather than expect regulated , u.s.-style thrills .", "bong has worked a tonal miracle here - he 's made a movie that elicits laughs , groans , screams and winces yet never lets one upstage the others .", "bong joon-ho 's MOV delivers high-octane thrills while cannily exploiting contemporary political fears .", "a well-calibrated mix of suspense , comedy and political satire .", "bong 's typical satirical , almost absurdist humor is in evidence here -- most vividly in a funeral scene that disintegrates into hysterical fisticuffs -- along with a touch of socio-political comment .", "... filmmaker bong joon-ho bogs the proceedings down with an egregiously overlong running time and an unwarranted -lrb- and unwanted -rrb- emphasis on the political ramifications of the monster 's existence .", "MOV may be lumpy and bumpy , but it 's also one of the freshest monster movies we 've had in decades -- and , to any creature-feature buff , a rocket-ride blast of the highest order .", "the special effects used to bring the creature to cinematic life are really quite excellent , and the frequent beastie bites should tickle even the most jaded horror freak .", "unlike spielberg of late , -lsb- it does n't -rsb- cop out", "a great monster , strong performances and unexpected humor .", "bong still offers a powerful rejoinder to his hollywood counterparts : anything you can do , i can do better .", "a creature feature of a different stripe . an oddly funny , scary , politically potent tale .", "wickedly sardonic and fiercely fiendish in its perky presentation ... a smart and simmering creature feature that crackles with percolating weirdness and wonderment .", "a perfect mixture of the silly and the grave .", "it 's unlike just about any other monster movie i 've ever seen .", "boon shows that he has the film grammar of a spielberg in how well he conveys his story cinematically ... boon will go places that spielberg wo n't though .", "without a lot of chills , and not much in the way of humor , i would n't say rush out to see this .", "i always love it when i 'm pleasantly surprised by a film i was not excited to see -- ` MOV ' is a highly entertaining testament to the genre of ` monster movies ' .", "slapstick and godzilla-inspired histrionics go -lrb- skillfully -rrb- hand-in-hand in this hugely entertaining creature feature from south korea .", "some of the film is a lot of fun . the rest is way too long .", "a cineaste well versed in film history , bong joon-ho blends effectively the conventions of the horror creature flick -lrb- with echoes of jaws and alien -rrb- and those of the family in peril , fighting dangers from within and without .", "joon-ho bong effectue un pied de nez pour le moins renversant \u0155 une formule attribuant ordinairement une force psychologique surhumaine \u0155 ses protagonistes", "a rather tender-hearted , often sorrowful , more often hilarious view on the familial conflicts between generations and between siblings .", "imagine little miss sunshine and alien mixed together and you 'll have an inkling of what south korea 's MOV has in store for you .", "a fantastic satire/monster movie", "minor flaws in a film destined to be embraced by genre fans worldwide .", "this monster movie from the republic of korea is one of the best films of its kind .", "a subversive blast", "a pleasant reminder of the pleasures in the low-budget quickly made monster b-film of the 1950s .", "a livid bureaucratic satire , berserk creature feature and surprisingly somber drama , `` MOV '' is a convulsive , wild ride - simultaneously eliciting squirms and giggles by mashing up finger-pointing anger with `` the thing 's '' wiseass wickedness .", "joon-ho bong 's MOV is a very different kettle of mutated fish ." ], "summary": "as populace pleasing as it is intellectually satisfying , MOV combines scares , laughs , and satire into a riveting , monster movie .", "id": "330424823" }, { "movie": "get_smart", "reviews": [ "you 'll have a better time if you do n't expect this re-imagined work to resemble the original . the phone shoe does fit carell , and he wears it well .", "a dumbed-down version of a belovedly lowbrow 1960s tv series .", "what do dithering tv weathermen do when they retire ? they must take their lame , witless banter and their awkward timing to hollywood to write and direct movies . that might explain MOV , one of the latest in a long line of humid , mediocre , tire", "... a manufactured piece of work that 's been geared towards the lowest common denominator .", "without anne hathaway , MOV might have been a one-note comedy ; with her , it 's super spirited and super fun .", "not funny outrageous or funny gross , but funny cute , funny nice , funny mild .", "the movie is a time-killer without a killer instinct .", "smart summer entertainment that retains the likeability and wit of its source material but brings it into the 21st century with a perfectly cast steve carell .", "MOV is happy enough to play for straight laughs rather than truly subversive wit .", "the stage is clearly set for a sequel , but god help them if they stuff that movie with even more clutter than they stuffed into this one .", "a lot of the comedy seems to have been lost in the translation .", "although its chemistry never gels , MOV pulls off a sufficient number of goofy action set pieces to earn its entertainment value .", "silly without being stupid", "the success of the tv series was due to the brilliance of don adams , barbara feldon , and edward platt . carrell , hathaway , and arkin miss the mark by miles .", "far from the mensa candidate it should have been . in spite of its appealing leads , `` MOV '' is consistently led down by a bum script .", "the smartest thing about the movie is the way alan arkin and terence stamp inject a little bit of that 1960 's spirit .", "MOV is likable and very funny -- at least a two-to-one ratio of excellent gags to clunkers -- but it 's not , for better or worse , MOV .", "... a MOV for the big screen : a feature length spy spoof with up-to-date gags , some thrilling stunts , and a top-notch cast .", "it 's not going to redefine comedy as we know it , but it 's amusing and briskly paced , busy with an engaging mix of supporting actors .", "the amiable deadpan comic steve carell was a good choice to take the part of the inept agent that stand-up comedian don adams played .", "MOV is an example of getting the right actors and taking the right approach ... it gave me one of the most fun times i 've had at the movies all year .", "along with ` speed racer , ' ` MOV ' is the movie adaptation of a tv-show that nobody was particularly waiting for .", "MOV features near-perfect casting with steve carell and anne hathaway , and it largely captures the spirit of the original show . but it 's just not funny .", "a feature-length elaboration on its own hilarious trailer .", "carrell delivers a winning performance in the summer 's first must-see comedy `` MOV '' and one of the best tv-to-film efforts yet .", "silly and fun , but not quite mission accomplished .", "`` MOV '' offers some pleasing homages to its predecessor and an adequate amount of laughs . but what the feature sorely needed was more chaos and less control .", "in a current comedy climate where such scant superficiality just wo n't cut it , MOV is nothing but shallow .", "it 's funny , exciting , preposterous , great to look at , and made with the same level of technical expertise we 'd expect from a new bond movie itself . and all of that is very nice , but nicer still is the perfect pitch of the casting .", "MOV may share a name and concept with the iconic 1960s television series , but beyond that , this frivolous and unamusing mess so mangles its source material that it does n't deserve to be called an homage .", "the new MOV does n't miss it by that much .", "MOV is made up of feeble and funny jokes , brand actors and enough special effects to give you some bang for your summertime buck .", "it wisely does n't try to duplicate the orginal series , but it retains much of its flavor .", "it all works because it is heartfelt and fun . they are sincere about this , not condescending to the masses . they even have the most sensitive fat joke i 've ever seen . even a pee joke is funny because it 's steve carell doing a pee joke .", "MOV got stupid .", "this retro-espionage spoof is more giggles than satirical grit , and simply lacks the comic punch and charisma , along with the pungent cold war flavor of the times that energized the original .", "a mishmash ... looking more like a roger moore bond parody . there are numerous airplane stunt sequences , explosions and gunfights ... -lrb- that -rrb- fatally bleed the character-driven humor of the original series .", "the main problem with this remake is that it does n't know if it wants to imitate the style of the original show or break free and create something wholly its own . the result is an awkward straddling of the two .", "is it too late to go back and make the whole thing about bill murray in that tree ?", "... -lrb- after -rrb- adams ' well-meaning but inept maxwell smart ... it 's interesting to watch -lrb- carell 's -rrb- well-meaning but capable maxwell smart overcome both adversity and absurdity .", "in terms of reaching a 21st century audience , MOV was about as good as it could be .", "this is not your father 's MOV ; it is a revved up , turbo-charged version for the silver screen that appeals directly to the younger age cohort .", "it ca n't decide whether it wants to be a thrilling action movie or a quirky comic spoof . the elements seem in conflict , rather than seamlessly blended .", "an unwieldy spoof-thriller of clashing styles that undermine each other like a parade of double agents .", "a spunky and delightfully silly screen adaptation of the classic-cult television series .", "it shrewdly tweaks the original , making smart smarter and more capable and ramping up the action , and the result is a refreshingly entertaining summer popcorn movie .", "carell delivers the laughs", "... an awkward amalgamation of well played characters working with wildly uneven material that references newer films like `` point break '' and `` entrapment '' as much as the original series .", "however , while it may not be particularly original or inspired , it does contain the one ingredient that has been largely missing from most american comedies of late -- actual laughs -- and it provides enough of those to make it worth a look .", "carell fills the shoes of don adams with great talent , and proves himself to be much less the clumsy idiot than i remember from the old show .", "if you can look past the formulaic plot , predictable jokes and sometimes awkward chemistry , you will find yourself slapping your knee a couple of times during the film .", "the main characters themselves -- max and agent 99 -- and their relationship receive a rather disappointing stock treatment that lacks creativity .", "hiring 50-year-old madonna to sing out MOV 's end credits is a nice touch - given the film is one long joke almost as old as the queen of pop herself .", "entertaining , smartly acted spy comedy that delivers thrills and laughs in equal measure , while throwing in enough material to keep fans of the tv series happy .", "overall this is a limp parade of recycled gags and gadgets : an action movie with no surprises and a comedy with nothing like enough laughs .", "despite a plot that should be simpler , MOV is as big on action as it is on laughs and works because it 's less a tired spoof and more a quality comedic adventure movie in its own right .", "from this distance it looks like a rejected chapter from the naked gun franchise , and infinitely more wooden .", "if you really want to MOV , you 'll avoid this tiresome time-waster like the proverbial plague .", "this is a spy comedy which seems entirely unaware of the new genre of jack bauer or jason bourne , and instead looks more like a roger moore-era 007 knockoff .", "peter segal 's film is only occasionally funny .", "a film with great flair . another hit for carell and a great summer hit for all that is a must see !!", "a slight positive check mark in the history of television adaptations .", "this is one instance when a tv series-based movie rewards nostalgia without demanding it . MOV is funny enough in its own right to attract younger viewers while paying homage to its 40-year old predecessor .", "the catchphrases remain , but the love is gone .", "while steve carell is a natural as secret agent maxwell smart , pairing him with 20 years younger anne hathaway is a major miscalculation . and the humor just misses by that much .", "to really do its source material justice , MOV needed to get a whole lot smarter .", "-lsb- i -rsb- f director peter segal and writers tom j. astle and matt ember did n't want maxwell smart to be a bumbling boob , fine , but they have n't given him much of a personality to substitute for the old one .", "segal certainly has great ideas for bullet-dodging set-pieces , but the picture indulges mayhem much too often , inadvertently handicapping carell and the cast .", "with comic resources like this , MOV should have been a hoot , not just satisfactory . missed it by that much .", "no knockout , but carell wins on a rock-solid technicality -- he 's funny .", "ultimately , MOV succeeds as a tribute to the original series and as a funny movie in its own right .", "consistently entertaining , the movie turned out to be much better than the excessively silly 1965 television series upon which it is based .", "though these adaptations usually produce horrific results , MOV is a cut above thanks to some fun performances and preposterously entertaining action .", "in updating a beloved tv show , the filmmakers have gone out of their way to excise everything that was fun about it .", "MOV is like overripe , low-hanging fruit . not being rotten does n't make it edible .", "it 's a trailer .", "as a reworking of one of the great 1960s tv comedies , you 'd think being funny would be its main goal . but you would be wrong . very , very wrong .", "we sit back and wait for the laughs . which come pretty slow and infrequent , though carell does his straight-faced best to act out the a-z of hilarious .", "the film does n't have the sharp hysteria of the series , and it gets a bit over-serious at times . but it 's still a thoroughly entertaining film with terrific characters all its own .", "MOV wo n't change the world but it is the most fun movie out this weekend .", "the film is about as funny as a 3 am cold call , and if you are a critic you can not slam down the phone before you have heard it out .", "stunts , gadgets and bill murray in a tree : MOV hurls everything at the screen in the hope it 'll stick . shame all the money went on the dopey action finale instead of some halfway witty gags and a decent script .", "the picture works best as a comedy , and early on it 's consistently amusing , with a refreshingly witty script and skilful actors in carell , arkin and , more surprisingly , johnson , to put across the verbal and sight gags with brio .", "steve carell is reliably funny as an accident-prone special agent in MOV , but he 's funny on his own here - without a good script or a zingy supporting cast to help him along .", "yet while it 's as novel as a second-hand ejector seat and hits the groin more often than the funnybone , MOV still registers enough clicks on the giggle counter to make its mission passable .", "uses the old show merely as a springboard for a fairly conventional comedy-action movie that 's louder , more frenetic and , ultimately , dumber .", "all that 's missing is the spirit and the anarchic humor of the sitcom created by mel brooks and buck henry . the result is an overdressed , carefully stitched scarecrow of a comedy .", "despite its classic-tv pedigree , MOV is just another big , dumb summer movie and should have heeded its title 's advice .", "missed it by that much . actually , the new version of MOV misses by a fair-size margin . it 's too bad . it 's just trying to give us a good time at the retroplex .", "missed it by that much .", "steve carell is still searching for the knockout role that fits , but smart 's suits come yards closer than bruce 's almighty robes .", "a spy comedy that is n't clever enough to get many chuckles and is n't over-the-top enough to work as prime lampoonery . it 's dull , forgettable and uninspired .", "as i say : darned funny ! weightless as froth , forgettable as dew , but pretty darned funny .", "a smart update , with a hero who has transformed his humiliations and frailties into , of all things , maturity and empathy .", "... if the shade of the late don adams will forgive me for saying it , the original MOV should have been this good .", "it might have worked had MOV simply dropped carell into don adams ' tapered suit . for the big screen , though , writers have tried to pump max up and flesh him out , giving him a backstory that makes him more dimensional but somehow less appealing .", "you should n't make time to see it , but if you wander in you wo n't be irate .", "even if you 've never watched the tv show in your life , you 'll have the nagging feeling that you 've seen it all before .", "its sin is that it does n't live up to expectations and is unsure as to how to bridge the gap between the t.v. show 's cold war sensibility and today 's terrorist paranoia", "i actually sort of liked this .", "which words describe this movie version of one of the funniest television shows ever made ? terrible , puerile and a travesty are close , but not angry enough .", "una comedia de acci\u00f3n irregular aunque pasable , que no llega ni por asomo al ingenio de la serie original pero que se puede ver gracias a steve carell .", "the aughties equivalent of the dan aykroyd/tom hanks stab at dragnet .", "hollywood has no idea what to do with steve carell .", "the track record for movies based on old tv shows has n't been pretty ... happily , the new movie MOV survives the transition , maybe not with flying colors but at least with a respectable amount of wind in its sails .", "MOV does all it can to please ; thanks mostly to carell , it just barely succeeds .", "for the summer months , it 'll do nicely , and we can all thank our lucky stars that we get steve carell as maxwell smart ...", "MOV is by no means a great movie . would you believe ... a good movie ? would you believe ... a passable couple of hours with a decent laugh thrown in here and there ?", "it acts like most comedies these days . when it 's funny , it 's actually really funny . and when it 's stupid , it 's actually really , really stupid .", "yes , there are a lot of us baby boomers who will want to see `` MOV '' for the nostalgia factor.and a lot of us will wish we 'd watched re-runs instead .", "suffers from unfortunate delusions of being an action movie that quickly overtake its potential as a comedy .", "MOV might be funny to a 10-year-old but adults need smarter humor .", "carell is charming as the nerd spy who wants to fight and there are goofy moments , even if the film struggles to maintain balance between its comedic and action elements , between paying homage to the iconic tv show and bringing a fresh contemporary angle", "written and directed with efficiency , cheer , and a refreshing lack of look-how-meta-clever-we-are egotism , the movie references just enough of the original touchstones and punchlines to please those who lived it the first time .", "the popular deadpan comedian -lrb- carell -rrb- is only funny about 60 percent of the time.would you believe 50 percent ?", "carell draws laughs because he stays true to the character . he is self-deprecating as he throws himself into every gag .", "combining dull action-movie elements , badly cast movie stars and an uncomfortable romance , MOV has forgotten all about its tv roots and most of the humor . steve carell is clearly not up to the challenge of filling don adams ' phone shoe .", "missed it by that much . not that anybody will pay much attention to the many ways in which the new big-screen MOV plays dumb -- and fails to capture the delirious slapstick lunacy of its small-screen inspiration .", "chipper , energetic and unimaginatively plotted re-do .", "the humor in MOV is more likely to make you smile or snicker rather than laugh out loud .", "a movie without a context , as useless as a shoe phone in an iphone era .", "it 's a light , silly instantly forgettable comedy peppered with action set-pieces and affectionate nods to its fondly remembered predecessor .", "rather than the laugh a minute promised by old comedies , MOV generates approximately one laugh per hour , and i ca n't remember either one .", "another pop-culture icon lazily mined for ready cash . mission accomplished .", "uma \u00f3tima releitura da s\u00e9rie de tev\u0119 , o filme traz carell em momento inspirad\u00edssimo .", "you ca n't go home again , but giving an old favorite a new spin around the block is n't so bad .", "a mess with no clear idea , not quite salvaged by some very charasmatic actors .", "much like peter sellers did in the '60s , and jim carrey in the '90s , carell uses a savvy , comedic intelligence that befits today 's entertainment world .", "oh thank heaven MOV is funny . it 's a genuine easy-going , whiz-bang spy comedy with the comedy trimmings .", "a must-see for fans of carell . no classic here but not an embarrassment either .", "offering a little bit of everything but not quite enough of any one thing , MOV is a likable jumble of genres that would have benefited from being less ambitious .", "i often wondered if the filmmakers were n't trying to fix something that is n't broken .", "MOV tempts one toward the cynical thought that summer entertainment is deliberately meaningless . should hollywood ever grow up , carrell and hathaway would be ideal for another remake : god forbid it 's tv 's moonlighting , but how about the thin man ?", "smart 's enthusiasm and core goodness holds an appeal no superb assassinatrix can ignore . with that , the mission to accomplish hilarity at the expense of action drama pays off .", "MOV is sort of mildly amusing , and if you were a fan of the original series you might love it , but a lot of the jokes are weak .", "carell 's wacky presence uplifts the modern-day gizmo-crazed smart to a passable parade of pure inspired silliness that pays adequate homage to the iconic tv series .", "purists may be disappointed , but i must admit that the film is nevertheless a lot of fun .", "MOV , which began its life on tv as a classic sitcom that cleverly satirized cold war espionage , has been transformed for the big screen into just another standard action picture .", "these amiable actors elevate what may otherwise have been a rather ordinary exercise in nostalgia .", "this comedy does not need to `` MOV ; '' it is smart .", "a succession of tepid gags tethered by a flimsy narrative .", "this is a slap-dash effort whose producers threw money and stunts onscreen instead of the satirical gags and one-liners that made the old spy spoof so memorable .", "the big-screen MOV aspires to being an action movie . big mistake . but raising maxwell smart 's iq ? and transforming him into a post-20th century sensitive guy ? even bigger mistakes .", "despite what seemed -lrb- in the trailers , at least -rrb- like inspired casting of steve carell , the perpetrators of MOV almost entirely miss what made the cold war tv spy comedy funny .", "you can not expect a bunch of vacationing kids to remember , let alone revere , a cheeky little tv half hour that entertained the old folks almost a half century ago .", "although it 's ideally cast and consistently semi-amusing , MOV takes its cue from the wishy-washy lead character .", "a washout plot places the emphasis , by default , on the film 's uneven action sequences and the faulty chemistry between carell and anne hathaway .", "surely after the speed racer fiasco , warner brothers was ready to say ` sayonara ' to lame 1960s tv adaptations . but plainly there was n't time for the studio to , ahem , MOV about that .", "remaking MOV for the big screen might have sounded like a bad idea , but the movie shows it to have been something else : a really bad idea .", "MOV could have been smarter . but like the show that inspired it , it 's still smarter than it looks .", "is it catastrophic ? no . but in a summer of pretty decent action movies , it 's a paltry treat indeed .", "it has the old lines , and the funky props that fans remember . but it also has some decent new ideas , too . and thanks to steve carell and anne hathaway , a bit of a new vibe .", "-lsb- s -rsb- o few movies make me laugh out loud , and i did do that more than once with this one , and that 's reason for a minor celebration ...", "after four decades of technological improvements , the cone of silence still does n't work , but MOV still does - mostly .", "the producers got smart with MOV would you believe , and with good reason . they decided to give the audience what it wants .", "considering the talent involved , it 's a shame that MOV is n't just a tad bit -- well , smarter .", "... an uneasy amalgam of slapstick comedy , half-hearted romance and , most desperately , rampaging action .", "in ` MOV , ' steve carell does n't do anything to acknowledge don adams or make the maxwell smart role his own .", "one of the more pleasant surprises of the year .", "the erstwhile 40-year-old virgin proves he 's a major comedy star , with a true gift for silly slapstick that remains grounded in a recognizably vulnerable way .", "i challenge anyone to stifle the snickers and not laugh a lot during this hilarious action-packed take on the '60s show .", "a pleasant surprise .", "perhaps if the action sequences were more skillfully woven into the proceedings , we 'd get less of a sense that they 're included solely as a means of satisfying the summer blockbuster crowd .", "just good enough to make you wish it was a lot better .", "breezy summer fun .", "in this distressingly generic spy spoof , it 's not maxwell who 's clueless , but the filmmakers .", "one of the better tv adaptations to come along in recent years .", "carell is quite likable at times , but for the most part , this is just a safe , mediocre comedy that is n't good enough for the summer movie season .", "MOV works well enough on a surface level to get a lot of laughs . what else do you want ? it 's a comedy .", "MOV needed to be a lot smarter . and funnier . the movie stands as proof yet again that hit television series do not make for good movies .", "instead of the show 's wacky , slapstick tone , MOV presents itself as an action-filled spy movie that just happens to be really funny . and for the most part , it succeeds .", "by movie 's end , we can imagine spending some more time with agents 86 and 99 , and liking it .", "a little more unabashed silliness might have made MOV a better movie . as is it 's a chuckly comfort-food film that you neither love nor hate , serviceable fare for a warm summer daze .", "steve carell is square-jawed-deadpan perfect as the title character .", "-lsb- director -rsb- peter segal smoothly transitions between slapstick , banter and stunt-work .", "all this plays like a pale retread of a mission : impossible script . which would be fine if MOV were actually funny .", "it 's a movie that spoofs intelligence in the most unintelligent way possible and stretches the boundaries of plot-free filmmaking into frontiers until now explored only by former cast members of saturday night live .", "although carell is never less than likable , he 's funnier in any random scene of the office . here 's hoping some misguided team does n't try to turn that series into a quick grab at box-office bucks 40 years from now .", "would you believe the new version of the '60s spy spoof MOV , starring steve carell , is n't awful -- like almost all tv-to-movie transfers -- but instead , that it 's actually pretty funny -lrb- if overlong and overproduced -rrb- ?", "the hostile repartee between the characters is as ungainly as director peter segal 's lumbering action sequences", "it has at least five undeniable laughs .", "there 's enough packed in there to warrant a viewing if you fancy a bit of fun .", "MOV is a nice afternoon diversion . there are no big laughs to be had , no matter how hard it tries , but there are lots and lots of chuckles , and that 's probably good enough .", "for anyone who entertained hopes for MOV and has not been entertained back , the film 's main fault will lie in its wobbly translation .", "MOV certainly has its moments , but suffers badly from an inability to balance the surreal humor and life-threatening terrorist threat .", "the movie is hurt more than helped by having to carry over character names and shoehorn in the show 's greatest hits , carell and hathaway 's rhythm faltering with every recycled catchphrase .", "in a year where even ghost rider gets a sequel , MOV makes you actually want one .", "... a film that would make creators buck henry and mel brooks shout into their shoe phones with joy !", "while i think ultimately this film is unnecessary , it 's still fairly entertaining and it 's certainly better than the recent pink panther reboot with steve martin .", "the term laugh-a-minute is a bit hackneyed for my taste , and MOV comes closer to several laughs-a-minute .", "in the land of bad comedies -- which this summer truly seems to be -- its serviceable workmanship reigns supreme .", "if there is anything that will save MOV from the same mindless fate as the rest of director peter segal 's blandly funny oeuvre , it 's the presence of steve carell .", "a pleasingly drowsy summer action comedy .", "maxwell smart is back with a vengeance . although this vintage mel brooks shtick will mean a lot more to those who saw it first hand in the 1960s , it is still headed for one of the top notches in the usually doggy summer film season .", "it is , as of right now , my favorite film of the summer .", "an affable pile-up of action-comedy climaxes .", "i kept wanting something more from this pleasant enough flick .", "yes , there are a few laughs to be had here and there , but the filmmakers unfortunately did n't follow the advice of the title in making sure this big screen update was smart enough to warrant its existence", "in between all the gags and all the action scenes , there 's an identifiable human element at work , and this empathy prevents this from being just another big , dumb summer comedy .", "`` MOV '' largely sinks because it 's an `` action comedy '' in which neither the action nor the comedy particularly works .", "MOV makes rudimentary efforts to update , with passing references to terrorists , profiling , and inter-agency competition .", "wait until you see the look of chagrin on carell 's face when he holds a shoe phone to his ear .", "MOV , version 2008 , surrounds skilled , likable players , and a handful of solid belly laughs with $ 80 million worth of formulaic summer-movie mediocrity . a lot of things explode , but the movie never detonates .", "per the latest intelligence report : for a grown-up summer comedy , MOV gets merely a passing grade .", "the truth is that MOV is one of the year 's sharper comedies , and if it contains any wmds , that stands for ` wit of major delight . '", "dedicating this film to don adams is like killing seeing-eye dogs as tribute to the american council of the blind . lest insults not be spread to the deaf , it 's cruel irony that beethoven 's `` ode to joy '' is an integral part of a dreary , dismal and soulless", "MOV is n't funny . and the action scenes are n't thrilling enough to make up for the lack of laughter .", "retains the likeability and wit of its source material but brings it into the 21st century .", "MOV has it all - the cone of silence , the shoe phone , the familiar one-liners . but the re-imagined maxwell smart is n't nearly as funny as the original .", "MOV manages to combine slapstick , wit , action , and a bit of romance in a package that will leave you smiling even after you leave the theater .", "frantic action with about as much verbal wit as found in ` the love guru ' -lrb- not a compliment -rrb- .", "i did n't mind the movie , though many of its effects struck me as laboriously overproduced ." ], "summary": "MOV rides steve carell 's considerable charm for a few laughs , but in the end is a rather ordinary summer comedy .", "id": "770669966" }, { "movie": "1080990-fallen", "reviews": [ "MOV aims to be a classy thriller , but it never gets under your skin the way it should .", "unfortunately the film wafts toward seven turf soon afterward and stalls on a heavy burden of metaphysical chitchat . washington 's dazzling good looks are the only reason to stick with it .", "a pretty silly ride despite the film 's obvious strengths and some genuinely eerie scenes .", "this film is essentially god told me to with a new paint job .", "MOV is one of those ` possession is 9-10ths of the law ' ghost stories that takes itself too seriously to be taken seriously .", "somewhere in here , a cracking 90 minute horror-thriller is struggling to get out but amid the mire of confusing , messy goings-on , it gets lost completely .", "a movie that never compromises its own principles , no matter what audience-unfriendly path its original premise may eventually lead it down .", "MOV is not perfect , and eventually it even becomes frustrating . threads remain loose , and the movie does n't fully exploit its premise . still , it would be churlish not to appreciate the ride .", "an interesting , occasionally suspenseful supernatural thriller .", "like hoblit 's primal fear , MOV is a well-made and well-acted film which too often settles for the easy or obvious way to handle a situation .", "despite the negatives , i 'm still recommending MOV on the strength of its complex plot and especially its ending , which i loved .", "MOV would love to be considered this year 's seven , and co-opts a lot of that hit 's murky style . it falls short of such a lofty aim , coming off as more of a lesser derivative than a legitimate expansion .", "movies need story . MOV has it , but not in a way for us to understand .", "denzel 's noir-like voiceover seemed like an imitation of how a real noir film does a voiceover .", "MOV will sell tickets on the strength of its appealing cast and high-impact camera work , but will probably fade from the scene more quickly than its demonic villain does in the story .", "the moment this movie began to go wrong , so wrong , was when the word ` angels ' started working its way into the script .", "must-see for fans of satanic creepiness , the rolling stones , and sly tabby cats .", "all style and no substance .", "god -lrb- or the devil -rrb- is in the detail : every time a fluid is taken into the body , the fidgety camera zooms in , fascinated , suspicious .", "a high-concept mating of the police thriller and the supernatural , gregory hoblit 's movie -lrb- sophomore jinx ? -rrb- will disappoint afficionados of both genres .", "the first half of this movie holds some promise , but time is not on its side .", "director gregory hoblit consistently opts for an atmosphere of gloomy malaise rather than going for the cheap shocks .", "denzel washington has the almost impossible task of holding together a convoluted picture that 's only intermittently suspenseful and not very engaging emotionally or intellectually .", "... an erratic yet rewarding thriller ...", "a stylish if seriously far-fetched nightmare .", "an effective genre film that leaves an unmistakably good impression , which is something most of hollywood 's supernatural thrillers usually fail to do .", "not everything in this film works as well as it might , but MOV does build to a nice keep-em-guessing finale .", "a mostly unsuccessful thriller whose good cast ca n't overcome a bad script .", "ultimately , MOV fails to spook , and creepiness is what it should have had to offer in the first place .", "on the whole it 's too serious , even pompous , for its own good .", "sometimes deliciously creepy but mostly boring .", "with a smartly written script by academy award nominee nicholas kazan and deft direction by gregory hoblit , MOV tells a detective story with a different solution but classic police tracking .", "if you have an interest in capital-letter good and evil , in the abstract-theological sense , MOV could engross you .", "despite the dimly-lit scenes , i found the story intriguing right up until the very unsatisfying conclusion .", "-lsb- an -rsb- awfully stupid and ultimately pointless thriller .", "an effective chiller that entertains and leaves audiences plenty to think about .", "despite stylish direction and some strong performances , the film ultimately becomes just another formulaic thriller -- and one with a very disappointing ending .", "punctuated by endless voice-over narration and totally lacking in suspense , MOV lives down to its name .", "too creepy for mainstream moviegoers and too tame for genre audiences .", "a solid , smart , gripping tale of terror with the wit to scare us silly .", "a masterful supernatural thriller , using simple techniques to remarkable effect .", "despite a lackluster performance by washington and a long dead spot in the middle , it does not fail to thrill and chill , and if that is your cup of tea , it comes highly recommended .", "maybe the devil made the filmmakers do it . although the acting and production values are good , do n't be tempted to see this tedious film . it only reinforces society 's fears that evil is everywhere -- and no one can do anything about it .", "a human trifle that can be safely ignored in this eschatological genre .", "` possu\u00eddos ' \u00e9 um filme surpreendente . na verdade , \u00e9 t\u0103o surpreendente que voc\u0119 s\u00f3 percebe que havia algo a descobrir quando o filme acaba .", "none of the protagonists are humanized enough to elicit our concern for their well-being , and a puzzlingly sporadic narration takes audiences out of the moment .", "a crafty piece of work , ending with a pair of marvelous twists .", "had the filmmakers taken a little more time to think the story through and flesh out the supporting cast , MOV could have been a real corker instead of just another january throw-away .", "a tense and compelling supernatural thriller .", "an unholy union between seven and the exorcist .", "the idea is better than the execution ." ], "summary": "has an interesting premise . unfortunately , it 's just a recycling of old materials , and not all that thrilling .", "id": "13474" }, { "movie": "mary_poppins", "reviews": [ "a wonderful film for the whole family . julie andrews is a delight .", "classic disney musical", "effortlessly charming . it 's a true family classic .", "disney had done a magnificent job of adapting the pl travers character to the screen , using cinematic effects to the full in creating an enchanting story .", "with all the subtlety of battleship potemkin , a queue full of sour-faced old school nannies is shown blowing away into thin air to make way for the embodiment of modern female assertiveness .", "arguably , it already seemed dated by the early 1970s , within a decade of its 1964 release . yet still , somehow , the substantial charms of MOV live on .", "the entire set was constructed indoors and it shows : the `` outdoor '' scenes are bathed in a dull gray light", "world 's coolest nanny celebrates family and fun .", "one of the best films ever produced by disney , indeed one of the best american films of the 1960s ... a fantasy of the most delicate touch and charming disposition .", "the sets are luxuriant , the songs lilting , the scenario witty but impeccably sentimental , and the supporting cast only a pinfeather short of perfection .", "van dyke 's energy is prodigious -lrb- especially when he leaps around with a gang of sooty chimney-sweeps on the london rooftops -rrb- and the songs are classics .", "van dyke -lrb- exaggerated cockney accent and all -rrb- and andrews have great chemistry together , but it 's really her interaction with the children and the magic of the story and the visual effects that charm audiences .", "one of the great movie musicals and of that rare breed of deathless family entertainment that 's guaranteed to transfix children , well beyond this , its fiftieth anniversary . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "whether the movie 's message is travers-approved or not , the emphasis on joy and empathy proves heartening , even today .", "one of the most loved disney movies that has delighted families since it was made in 1964 , MOV , like its central character , is practically perfect in every way .", "there are few things in this world as sublime as watching dick van dyke dance with penguins .", "mixed bag of great sequences and cutesy overkill .", "a lot of fun -- for kids and adults , alike .", "sophisticated yet wide open to its audience , with exciting dance sequences and inviting performances .", "even better than you remember , better than anyone could have hoped , better than almost any other movie of its kind .", "disney classic musical even concludes with a strengthened family flying kites together . uplifting !", "the message is clear : everyone should take care of their jobs and responsibilities , but have fun as well .", "MOV is definitely worth popping for . -lrb- 40th anniversary edition -rrb-", "it 's truly supercalifragilisticexpialidocious !", "compared to even ` sophisticated ' juvenile fodder , the sheer exuberance of disney 's adaptation of pl travers ' children 's classic should tickle the most jaded fancy .", "practically perfect in every way .", "one of disney 's greats .", "the first disney movie ever to be nominated for the best picture oscar , the musical received 13 nods . setting a record for musicals ; my fair lady earned 12 nominations .", "one of the greatest children 's films ever .", "julie andrews ' first appearance on the screen is a signal triumph and she performs as easily as she sings , displaying a fresh type of beauty nicely adaptable to the color cameras .", "the film was deservedly a mega-hit .", "the grace of the effects makes it some kind of classic .", "classic disney at his most lavish .", "at her most startlingly beautiful here , julie andrews does not play the chipper , loving nanny people might expect or remember . she carefully layers a distantly dangerous and even spooky side to her character ." ], "summary": "a lavish modern fairy tale celebrated for its amazing special effects , catchy songs , and julie andrews 's legendary performance in the title role .", "id": "9909" }, { "movie": "austin_powers_the_spy_who_shagged_me", "reviews": [ "full of sex and bathroom humor . not for kids .", "... does n't so much try to send up other spy films as it tries to one-up its own predecessor in this second go-round .", "it 's gone from being a hip little party to being a big bash where the stars turn out .", "... the people who seemed to be having the most fun at a recent screening were the 14-year-old boys giggling over the libidinous bits and the bathroom jokes .", "by the end , spy recycles its own gags , not just ones from the first movie .", "in ways better than the original , ` the spy who shagged me ' is a rehash of the same story with new cast members and new takes on familiar jokes .", "something of mixed reaction , a movie in which myers remains an influencing screen presence , but the script does n't do him justice .", "packed with gags - some clever , many lame and almost all puerile - the film has too many dead spots between the laughs , and i caught myself checking my watch almost as often as i chuckled .", "much of austin powers : the spy who shagged me feels recycled , but audiences who dote on multiple viewings are n't likely to complain .", "where 's wayne 's world when you need it ?", "myers and michael mccullers ' script just does n't have it in terms of fresh narrative developments or individual gags .", "a funnier , tighter film than its predecessor !", "scatological does n't even begin to describe it . heather graham is crap too .", "another scattershot adventure with a few good chuckles but not quite as funny as it believes it is -- or should be .", "outstrips the original for goofy fun and for-the-birds horniness !", "too many scenes end on a flat note !", "absent are the freshness and spontaneity that characterized the original .", "recycled ideas and a weaker plot", "what defeats austin and dr. evil in the new movie is what brought them down the last time : myers ' inability to know what jokes need to be taken further , and what jokes should be cut short .", "most of this freakishly dull mess fails to even raise a chuckle !", "after seeing his second adventure , you have to wonder how many times the same jokes can be played out before they start to overstay their welcome .", "when a satirical comedy loses its sense of discovery , there 's not much reason for it to exist .", "the script is not up to the acting ability of mike myers .", "i laughed like a fool !", "one of this year 's ` must see ' summer films !", "star wars take heed , there is a disturbance in the force , and it has bad teeth .", "a howling good time !", "austin powers : the spy who shagged me is the type of fall-out-of - your-seat-laughing comedy that only comes around on the rarest of occasions .", "clever , witty , enjoyable , fun and almost as fresh and original as the first one !", "really , really funny !", "shagged serves up at least 25 guffaws and a lot more mojo than most comedies !", "despite an oversupply of bathroom jokes and scattered scenes that play like outtakes , this is still a crafty , intermittently hilarious comedy .", "actually more fitfully silly fun than the original !", "it 's a summer flick that more than delivers on its promise , and becomes a better chapter than its predecessor .", "a large portion of the audience fall-down , roll across the rug , honk till they hurt hilarious .", "goofy , sporadically funny , silly !", "overall , actor mike myers did an absolutely smashing job with this light-weight script while playing three roles to boot .", "to the short list of movie sequels better than the originals , we can add another name : austin powers - the spy who shagged me !", "there is a shageriffic bonus : not just a return by robert wagner , but a dead-on parody of wagner by rob lowe .", "if you do n't care for one gag , there 'll be another one in a minute , just like a london double decker .", "the sequel is funnier than the original because it has more silliness , more smut and more ` yeah , babies . '", "given the choice between a movie that 's better structured and only half as funny , i 'd take the spy who shagged me any day .", "an action-packed and energetic ode to the 60s , and every spy movie ever made .", "a strong stand alone comedy , and a welcome return to the screen for fans of mike myers ' work !", "amusing but ultimately disappointing .", "one of the more painful movie-watching experiences i have experienced in recent years !", "do n't think , just laugh .", "too much of the new powers looks like bad tv and sounds like old burlesque !", "the picture strives for comic points mostly with that excruciatingly gross potty humor and with industrial-strength sexual innuendo .", "too long even if it were twice as funny .", "the bulk of the humor - sex and bathroom jokes - is adolescent , like the target audience .", "packs as many jokes per minute as the original !", "if anyone can give star wars a run for its money this summer , it 's the horny hero of this very funny comedy .", "there is just enough joy in the spy who shagged me to make you wish there had been more of it .", "fast-paced , nonsensical , and often hilarious !", "what makes some of this stuff work is not its cruelty but its audaciousness !", "there is a striking lack of craft in the spy who shagged me ." ], "summary": "provides lots of laughs with myers at the healm ; as funny or funnier than the original .", "id": "10667" }, { "movie": "good_girl", "reviews": [ "white has n't developed characters so much as caricatures , one-dimensional buffoons that get him a few laughs but nothing else .", "an absorbing , slice-of-depression life that touches nerves and rings true .", "you walk out of the MOV with mixed emotions - disapproval of justine combined with a tinge of understanding for her actions .", "enjoyable black-comic romp .", "it 's soulful and unslick , and that 's apparently just what -lsb- aniston -rsb- has always needed to grow into a movie career .", "an unconvincing generalization about people the filmmakers never care enough about to understand .", "jennifer aniston bursts into serious acting prominence .", "delivers a realistic but familiar opera of forbidden courtships and wasted dreams .", "it 's a more believable scenario for infidelity than most such movies , and aniston gives her all to the role .", "the performances are uniformly good .", "i wish i could say i liked it more , but despite a smattering of priceless moments , the MOV gets bogged down in the very narrowness that afflicts justine .", "after languishing in second-banana roles in such films as picture perfect and rock star , ms. aniston here creates a fully realized character of surprising nuance and depth .", "aniston shows promising signs of a post-sitcom career with her convincing and understated dramatic work .", "in the long run , the MOV will be remembered more as a chance for jennifer aniston to wet her acting chops than for anything else .", "jennifer aniston is excellent in what is the best performance of her career , yet .", "arteta 's third feature is good step in the right direction , for him as a disrector and for jennifer anniston as an actress", "in miguel arteta 's quirky indie feature , jennifer aniston searches for meaning and passion in a swirl of suburban malaise and ironically may have finally found a character who can reveal the shades of her talent .", "a warmly satisfying comedy about dissatisfied people seeking to escape from the personal prison of their mundane lives in soulless suburbia .", "a creepy , funny , steamy , oddly touching movie .", "aniston impressively handles a wide range of emotions -- from alienation to lust to fear to resignation to despair to sadness to hope -- she 's also good , as would be expected , in some of the film 's lighter moments .", "-lsb- e -rsb- ach of the characters , really interesting . and jennifer aniston , a wonderful performance .", "jennifer aniston is the essential girl next door in this down-to-earth , witty film of small town desperation .", "white , who has a knack for imparting a sense of humor to his screenplays , created several minor characters who lighten the retail rodeo 's claustrophic atmosphere .", "a droll , well-acted , character-driven comedy with unexpected deposits of feeling .", "feels like a composite of several other slightly more assured indies of recent years .", "a neurotically charged post-millennial take on the trailer-park comedies that jonathan demme once claimed for himself .", "wins the independent movie derby this year .", "successfully making the stretch from her hip , glam tv image , ms. aniston embodies the emotionally exhausted cosmetics clerk who is weighted down by dullness , drudgery and desperation .", "aniston has at last decisively broken with her friends image in an independent film of satiric fire and emotional turmoil .", "not a complete success but enchanting performances and one especially superior showing by aniston make it a decent watch .", "jennifer has left behind her friends , the staring never ends , deep in the heart of texas ... it 's not ed , but something decent instead , set in the heart of texas .", "idiosyncratic and highly original .", "the film is very funny at times , and it takes some surprising turns , but it 's also slow-paced and glum ... a fine feel-bad comedy .", "an unlikely black comedy where the humor is relentless , the satire is grim and the jokes are born out of inertia .", "aniston was brave to accept this dark role , which may win her an oscar nomination and certainly proves she 's an actress of substance .", "chuck and buck , director miguel arteta and writer mike white have crafted an insightful portrait of inertia , and offer a complex look at the fine line between victim and victimizer .", "sometimes the little things are worth the price of admission .", "funny in the most squirm-inducing of ways .", "aniston is a revelation ; she shows more range and depth here than in any of her previous films , and far more than she 's ever shown on friends .", "the script , by mike white , who also wrote `` chuck & buck '' for arteta , adds lightness to the mood whenever things become too intense .", "the actors are offering first-rate work to a second-class script .", "in the end , the MOV is about the way we all delude ourselves into believing those things we need to believe in order to get by .", "is it possible that jennifer aniston has now out-performed and out-classed gust star sean penn or lisa kudrow 's performance in the crazysitter ?", "an intimate , funny portrait of post-teenage apathy , handled with a sensitivity that rarely veers toward exploitation .", "often extremely funny -- it 's like a vintage sally field movie reshot by some twisted minds ...", "what i bought into was the way jennifer aniston handled herself , as i found her to be very appealing in this `` aw shucks , i 'm so ordinary '' role .", "good movie . good actress . but if you expect light romantic comedy , good gosh , will you be shocked .", "treads a fine line between wry satire , black comedy , and vaguely unsettling melodrama .", "first good , then bothersome . excellent acting and direction .", "while disappointing , the MOV does give aniston the chance to prove she can carry a film .", "it boasts a superb cast and features an excellent performance from jennifer aniston .", "aniston defines the term `` bored to tears '' with her portrayal of the morose `` justine . ''", "... too depressing , too lacking in bite , and too slow -lrb- for -rrb- an outright recommendation .", "-lsb- an -rsb- astute and askew look at human behaviour .", "... una suburbia americana que no suele mostrarse en el cine actual , un mundo alejado del que com\u00fanmente se asocia al bienestar clasemediero de los eu .", "not entertaining , but good writing , direction , and the performances are outstanding .", "while many questions and motivations are left unanswered , overall the film wins out with its stark truths and slightly twisted pay off 's along the way .", "the filmmakers are playing to the big boys in new york and l.a. to that end , they mock the kind of folks they do n't understand , ones they figure the power-lunchers do n't care to understand , either .", "the movie is a dark comedy about false dreams and lost illusions -- and , thanks to a fine cast and a smart script , it 's an effective one .", "... skirts the edges of snide condescension only to then abruptly catch the viewer off-guard with lightning strikes of genuine emotion .", "dead end until death -- ` the MOV , ' the bad boy and the ugly lives they lead", "adequately funny and reasonably well-executed , and nothing more .", "the MOV is a film in which the talent is undeniable but the results are underwhelming .", "it 's a prickly little gem of a film .", "ultimately , -lsb- aniston 's -rsb- justine last ends up as the poster girl for unnecessary self-pity and relentless self-doubt . unfortunately , this makes her a needlessly naive bad girl in a preachy and unresolved film .", "where chuck & buck considers childlike `` innocence '' -lrb- even in manipulation -rrb- , the MOV looks at goodness as another form of innocence , equally imposed and equally costly , a means of wreaking havoc , of shaping fragile and necessary bonds .", "a very well done character-driven tragic comedy . aniston shines !", "all the characters are clinically depressed and have abandoned their slim hopes and dreams .", "there 's a lot of sadness , but the film 's grasp of small human truths and sense of low-key humor keep it afloat .", "white usually goes beyond the surface veneer of his characters , finding a lurking humanity to those that society might easily dismiss .", "starts off well , but gets derailed just when it could be going somewhere .", "once fans recover from the shock , they 'll discover that this sitcom actress has the chops to tackle some pretty heavy stuff .", "jennifer aniston shines in a sincere and funny film from the writer and director of chuck and buck .", "jennifer aniston removes her hollywood glamour to convincingly play a drab texas cashier teetering on the edge of depression . it 's one of the best performances of the year .", "the MOV never achieves a fargo-like balance : it ca n't decide whether its characters should be treated with dignity or with derision .", "something in this film sticks to you more than you think it will while you 're watching it . and i think that something is the superb , jarringly resonant central performance by jennifer aniston .", "almost immediately , you sense this is going to be one of those small , carefully realized gems that exposes something true about the human experience . and it is .", "bleak and astringent indeed , yet suffused with almost radiant compassion for its poor , mixed-up characters .", "at its best , the MOV is a refreshingly adult take on adultery ...", "it does feel lazy , like a collection of plot points and performances that ca n't quite be bothered to form a whole .", "the movie loses some momentum at the end , but overall it 's worth a trip to the retail rodeo to check it out .", "reward the studio for making an intelligent film about intelligent persons in sad circumstances that keeps you engaged .", "aniston 's performance conclusively proves something she had only hinted at before : she 's the friend most likely to become a bona fide movie star .", "a small , smart indie pic with a twisted sensibility .", "these people have funny/awful lives -lrb- as opposed to funny/upbeat -rrb- , and they could seem like objects of scorn if the people playing them did n't do it with such affection and grace .", "long after you leave justine , you 'll be wondering what will happen to her and wishing her the best -- whatever that might mean .", "think of a small-town cliche or a patronizing stereotype , and you 'll find it here .", "how america responds to the concept of its funny girl , drained of her effervescence , wearing bad sneakers and slumming it with the ordinary people , remains to be seen , but it 's heartening to see aniston challenging herself .", "aniston inhabits this role .", "it 's tough , astringent , darkly funny and ... well , it 's also generic , untidy , condescending and mild of impact rather than stunning .", "` the MOV is like visiting a peculiar island ... -lsb- with an -rsb- amusingly twisted script .", "the cast ... is uniformly terrific , but that ca n't save the MOV from sinking into a funk .", "mike white 's deft combination of serious subject matter and dark , funny humor make '' `` the MOV '' a film worth watching .", "arteta directs one of the best ensemble casts of the year", "an effective portrait of a life in stasis -- of the power of inertia to arrest development in a dead-end existence .", "-lsb- aniston is -rsb- so good , she manages to overcome the occasional nuggets of preciousness and self-consciousness in the story .", "this film has plenty of bad attitude for sale , but the black humor only delivers sporadically on the laughs .", "a fine cast ca n't quite rise above a story without enough heart .", "one of the year 's best films .", "leaves me craving for the entree .", "gyllenhaal is great as a troubled soul , but it 's aniston who pulls out everything un-rachel-like for a performance that 'll leave most amazed and many shocked .", "the friends star announces herself as a true big-screen talent , channeling despair , hope , confusion and wry humor as the narrative oscillates wildly between greek tragedy and acrid comedy .", "you would n't call the MOV a date movie -lrb- an anti-date movie is more like it -rrb- , but when it 's good , it 's good and horrid .", "there 's some good material in their story about a retail clerk wanting more out of life , but the movie too often spins its wheels with familiar situations and repetitive scenes .", "even during the most intense moments , it 's hard to shake the impression that the conspicuously buff-and-polished justine is only visiting this drab world , her miserable life an interesting career move .", "the characters may be lost , but viewers will be grateful to have stumbled on this darkly comic and well-told story .", "jennifer aniston and jake gyllenhaal are electrifying .", "a shrewd , observant ensemble comedy-drama ... a little film that cannily melds edgy satire with a degree of warmth and even a touch of profundity .", "a smart , arch and rather cold-blooded comedy .", "for the most part -- and especially thanks to aniston 's performance -- it works more than adequately .", "a portrait of the mundane humor and horror of everyday life , it scalds nerves you may have never thought existed .", "justine 's smartness reeks of self-loathing and moral vacancy . is feminism this comatose in texas ?", "aniston maintains the character 's superficially simple patina even as she communicates her churning inner life . it 's an appealing , highly disciplined performance .", "what a fresh and interesting take on the drama that lurks beneath the numbing fa\u00e7ade of empty small-town american life .", "after a series of lame romantic comedies , jennifer aniston finally proves herself to be worthy of a leading role on the big screen .", "mike white 's script for the MOV is outstanding because of its combination of wicked mainstream humor and an independent film 's dense sense of drama .", "the title of the film comes across like a back-handed slap to the character mike white -lrb- `` chuck & buck '' -rrb- not-so lovingly created .", "the MOV is more marketable than chuck and buck . it is also more forgettable .", "o humor \u0431cido e a sensibilidade do filme com rela\u0437\u0433o aos seus personagens merecem aplausos - assim como a bel\u043dssima performance de aniston .", "-lsb- aniston -rsb- manages to reveal layers of depth audiences have yet to see from her .", "maybe aniston should stop trying to be serious and stick with being funny , which is something she can certainly do .", "aniston may not have received her much-touted oscar nomination , but this brilliantly funny and often touching film should assure her a solid post-friends career .", "moving , insightful and thoroughly entertaining , the MOV takes us to the crossroads of the human heart . the question is which way to turn /", "the MOV belongs to aniston , who buries rachel in style with a sweet , soulful , hangdog performance that you will be thinking of long after you leave the cinema . .", "` si bien no logra desarrollarse como un gran drama , tampoco es tan superficial como muchas cintas que pecan de pretenciosas y que resultan totalmente banales . '", "... another showcase for aniston 's considerable talent as well as another triumph for -lsb- writer -rsb- white and -lsb- director -rsb- arteta .", "a watchable and competently acted drama ... it 's all very much out of the american beauty rulebook .", "wraps itself in the guise of a dark and quirky comedy , but it is n't as quirky as it thinks it is and its comedy is generally mean-spirited .", "-lsb- aniston 's -rsb- approximation of a woman on a slow-drip nervous breakdown has a universal , sleepwalking quality to it that clearly took a lot of thought and craft .", "the MOV only pretends to care about good people who sometimes do bad things . in fact , it has n't got time for the pain .", "i 'd love to see aniston receive an oscar nomination for her performance .", "... a turgid little melodrama which unfolds with slow , methodical pacing amidst a laconically dismal southern backdrop .", "a funny and well-contructed black comedy where the old adage `` be careful what you wish for '' is given a full workout .", "working with emotionally dangerous material , mr. arteta sails through without undue malice , reminding me of the late , great rainer werner fassbinder .", "what 's impressive about the MOV is that it 's likely to escape the trenches of the art-house circuit and put arteta on his own star map .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- gratifying to see -lsb- aniston -rsb- play a woman who 's had it up to here with making nice , and making do .", "justine is flawed like all the rest of us , and aniston brings this humanity to the forefront , creating one of the most realistic heroines in recent history .", "a deep , complex look at the almost insurmountable task of finding happiness from complete discontent", "the MOV remains so shockingly drained of verve that it actually renders the audience into a numb stupor .", "aniston rises to the level of the material , creating a character of remarkable breadth and depth .", "a mopey , dull , american beautyish suburbia-is-hell story .", "a sad , superior human comedy played out on the back roads of life .", "the honesty , restraint and emotional power of aniston 's performance help overcome the film 's snobbishness .", "by turns very dark and very funny .", "here is a modest little film that is about something .", "i liked individual moments in the MOV , but it takes an illogical approach to its storyline .", "succeeds as a moody , evocative , and pleasing film , one that underscores its indie roots in sentiment as well as style .", "-lsb- jennifer aniston 's -rsb- exquisitely modulated and heartbreakingly understated performance is a revelation ... easily one of the year 's very best motion pictures .", "truth be told , this may be aniston 's best work on either the big or small screen , and it 's certainly a far cry from her character on the hit nbc sitcom .", "does n't have the daring lunacy of chuck and buck ... yet it gets closer to the troubled , lonely soul of its main character ." ], "summary": "a dark dramedy with exceptional performances from jennifer aniston and jake gyllenhaal , the MOV is a moving and astute look at the passions of two troubled souls in a small town .", "id": "13289" }, { "movie": "1152191-strangers_with_candy", "reviews": [ "certainly the first 30 minutes of this film are among the most hilarious first 30 minutes of any film . pity it could n't last .", "diehards will rejoice , while haters will probably not be converted .", "absolutely hilarious ... at first . then the story kicks in .", "inspired jokes run neck-and-neck with flat ones . still , the faux ` instructive ' tone -lrb- full of ostensible life lessons that could n't be more amoral -rrb- and rack of offbeat characterizations keeps things diverting .", "at once wholly silly and delectably bizarre .", "like that after school special some of us were secretly hoping would happen one day . . where it all goes horribly wrong in delightfully interesting ways instead of sticking to the moral high ground with a prissy and predictable moral lesson to be learned", "if you loved amy sedaris before in a golfer-lady wig and inbred chump 's grin , you 'll maybe love her again here , while wishing she had another tv-episode-size venue for her talents .", "like the classic comedies of chaplin , hawks and woody allen , MOV is more than just a good subjective comedy -- it 's a great objective film .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's demented , and then there 's the plain sick and twisted tastlessness and hilarious audacity of this afterschool special gone horribly , wonderfully wrong .", "whether you guffaw , giggle or sit stone-faced through MOV will depend on your reaction to sedaris as jerri and her freak show of over-the-top bad taste .", "this plays like a ` season one ' dvd , silly moments interspersed with lots of dull plot and lame high-school send-up situations .", "walks a fine line of comedic self-awareness , and only on occasion loses us in a haze of condescending wit .", "colbert steals scenes as chuck noblet ... the cracked , sordid style of MOV half-bewilders and half-appalls you into laughing .", "connoisseurs of the show likely relish the induced awkwardness and off-kilter rhythms of the piece ; a good part of its appeal was the blank and baffled looks it induced in the uninitiated .", "a raunchy , subversive little satire about unlikely redemption .", "amy sedaris suits up as everyone 's favorite former-prostitute/drug addict-turned-high school student in the long-awaited -- and quite funny -- big-screen version of the cult tv series .", "clever and undeniably peculiar , MOV suffers from both a complete lack of focus and a terminal case of self-satisfaction .", "despite its faithfulness and frequent funniness , jerri 's big-screen -lrb- mis -rrb- adventure never provides more laughs than one of comedy central 's tv-on-dvd compilations .", "this movie is worse than flying from jfk to singapore in the middle seat between two chatty scientologists . it 's worse than do-it-yourself rhinoplasty . it 's even worse than college improv .", "the worst movie of the summer", "like many feature films based on small-screen , short-form comedy , MOV feels more like a long , sloppy ` very special ' episode than a movie .", "what was subversive on the tube feels muted at feature length .", "it does n't live up to the premise of an after-school special parody , but neither fans of the tv series nor newbies with an appreciation of absurd comedy will be disappointed .", "MOV regularly lampoons junkie-reparation melodramas and after-school specials , but with so little focus it 's never clear what the film , or even sedaris 's vaudeville buffoon incarnation , is supposed to be parodying .", "did you ever hear a joke that everyone else finds hilarious and you just do n't get ?", "easily the most quotable movie of the year .", "completely over the top and proud of it .", "a subversive confection , MOV sends up after-school specials , cheerfully debasing the genre .", "quickly , no taste leads to bad taste , and dumb leads to dumber .", "i 've got something to say !!! while the occasionally hilarious big-screen candy should amuse hardcore fans , it may leave casual audiences confused or disappointed .", "dreadfully unfunny .", "sedaris is scary brilliant at inhabiting jerri 's lost soul . it 's just that a little jerri goes a long , long way , and at feature length , that is too long .", "either sedaris and company have lost their will to truly outrage , or they 're hoping to reach a wider audience with less offensive material .", "the offbeat film starts off hilariously . but as the very thin plot , centering on a science fair , unfolds , and celebrities such as sarah jessica parker , matthew broderick , allison janney and philip seymour hoffman arrive , everything becomes less funny .", "the jokes are so sketchy and silly it quickly passes the point of wretched excess .", "the outlandish gags are usually good for at least a chuckle , and colbert 's left-field satire classes up the enterprise , but multiplying the tight sitcom half-hour by four may not be a science experiment worth repeating .", "MOV was an atypical sitcom , but like so many television adaptations , its big-screen spin-off is just like the television show , only not as good .", "this prequel does n't take it much further than the expected offbeat grossness , strident political incorrectness and moments of pleasing -- if uncomfortable -- weirdness .", "obnoxious and rude does not equal funny .", "it all works because of the whip-smart dialogue and the great performances .", "... intermittently hilarious ...", "a deliciously quirky , laugh-out-loud pleasure for anyone with a taste for the absurd .", "it 's worth catching the film just for sedaris ' performance . surrounded and sparked by all the show 's familiar characters -lrb- most played by the wonderful tv cast -rrb- , she 's a marvel of inspired grotesqueness .", "easily the wittiest , most ridiculous and best-written comedy of the year .", "if MOV teaches us all a lesson , it 's that a 28-minute free-for-all ca n't be stretched to feature length .", "unlike many movies based on tv shows , MOV feels like an actual movie -- it has shape , and the clever dialogue goes deep .", "i liked this movie better when it was called rock 'n' roll high school and starred the ramones and mary woronov .", "this camp farce has its moments of high hilarity , and sedaris is a spark plug , but it 's wildly uneven .", "occasionally takes a step in the direction of the after-school specials it 's trying to twit ; you 'll catch it trying to make you feel warm and fuzzy about jerri .", "the movie would be hilarious if it had the courage to really wallow in the dysfunctional dementia it pretends to champion .", "the gags are many , and more often than not they work .", "there 's plenty to laugh at here -- the sauna with an open bar in the school 's faculty lounge , for instance -- but there 's also a misanthropic tone to the entire thing that reeks of smugness .", "a film that never quite manages to justify its existence .", "amy sedaris is a dementedly funny horror as jerri blank -lrb- in -rrb- the aggressively politically incorrect prequel to the cult comedy central series .", "filthier and more offensive than you can imagine , so i laughed . i laughed alot .", "the show 's brilliant conceit seems mild . in its own way , this is just another teen movie .", "MOV is nacho libre for the self-proclaimed cool kids .", "flaws and all , MOV has one invaluable thing going for it : the utterly fearless and downright brilliant comic performance of amy sedaris .", "to the uninitiated likely to be ... one of those supposedly hip movies that you 'll probably leave with a distinctly sour taste in your mouth .", "maybe a half-hour dose was just right , because the film 's pacing is torpid and many of the jokes fall flat .", "smirky , gum-in-your-hair humor dominates this dreadful 2005 feature .", "thanks to the comic genius of sedaris , MOV is a good thing -- as long as your taste buds can handle the politically incorrect aftertaste .", "it 's carefully constructed to set up and deliver laugh after laugh .", "i would rather be abandoned in the fiery -lsb- heat -rsb- of death valley than be subjected to MOV again , even in an air-conditioned theater !", "sure , you may cringe , or shudder , or even wonder when your tastes became quite this puerile , but MOV is a long-awaited treasure of ludicrousness with very few dead spots .", "sedaris ' candy caricature is a poor candidate for big screen expansion .", "it 's so brilliant in places that it can make a viewer root for it , but that 's not exactly the same as enjoying it , not really .", "it roars along with reckless abandon , skewering everything in its path .", "... for the most part is not particularly funny .", "there 's nothing sweet about this very strange character , jerri , but you still ca n't wait to see what outrageous thing she 'll do next .", "after a bracingly funny beginning , the film gets bogged down in silly plot permutations and repetitive humor , which was more effective in half-hour television doses .", "-lsb- r -rsb- eplicate -lsb- s -rsb- in a raunchy cartoon how the chaos of our experience correlates more than we may care to admit to the chaos of our personalities .", "in spite of its demented flavor , the movie surprisingly does n't push the envelope the way the series did .", "jerri may be a freshman here , but sedaris , grotesque and fearless , is already lowbrow homecoming queen", "the movie never makes good on its promise of unbridled humor , but nonetheless connects with enough stabs of parody to keep it mildly entertaining .", "a bizarre mixture of streetwise raunch and starry-eyed ingenuousness .", "what separates MOV from other high school comedies , or from most mainstream comedies in general , is the cast 's total dedication to their parts .", "jerri up close , with her geek grin and potty mouth , is testing .", "that the filmmakers struggle dragging the idea out to feature length is hardly surprising .", "we get colbert , and we get sedaris as jerri blank for just a little while longer . that 's enough for us .", "some things were meant to be seen in small doses or on small screens . for all its subversive perks and quirks , strangers is one of them .", "everyone but the terminally tight should find themselves laughing . and all should be awestruck by star amy sedaris .", "not surprisingly , the film version contains about 30 minutes of hilarity , and they 're stretched out at least as far as jerri 's ill-fitting slacks .", "some funny moments keep the movie from becoming unbearable , but they ca n't turn 22 minutes into 87 .", "if steve martin was right , and `` comedy is not pretty , '' then amy sedaris ' jerri blank must be the funniest character on the planet .", "the series ' unflagging cynicism was a dead end that now seems callow and perhaps even insincere , considering the political engagement displayed by co-creator stephen colbert in his new persona as a faux conservative news commentator .", "the school is like none you 've seen on screen before . mary katherine gallagher would ` love , love , love ! ' it , as do i.", "stretched to feature length , it 's not consistently funny , but there are inspired moments and whipsmart lines that suggest how good the show was .", "i laughed my gluteus maximus off while watching .", "fans of the show will rejoice and a few newbies will become converts .", "the key to its success -- at least whatever success it can muster -- is the manic work of amy sedaris .", "a half-hour sketch with an hour of padding .", "the highlight is sedaris , unflinching as she throws herself into jerri 's clueless optimism .", "the film is probably destined to be a cult success at best , since the tv program was an acquired taste and could be a little much , even when limited to 30 minutes .", "audiences should find the film brilliant or repellent . at the most interesting moments , it 's a bit of both .", "there are some giggles here , but much as i wanted to , i did n't find this anywhere near as funny as it should have been .", "it 's a one-joke film that thinks its joke is funnier than it is and runs it into the ground , but not before getting a few laughs ." ], "summary": "occasionally funny , but little more than a jumbled , overextended episode of the tv show . still , candy devotees wo n't be disappointed .", "id": "155655225" }, { "movie": "1003757-cat_people", "reviews": [ "ladies who have such temptations -- in straight horror pictures , at least -- should exercise their digits a bit more freely than does simone simon in this film .", "female sexuality is a rich source of a certain kind of horror - the kind of horror that plays upon the anxieties that prudish bourgeois men have about their wives ' sex lives .", "no mere creature feature , this 1940s classic offers more subtle chills .", "as well as being scary , the film deals intelligently with sex and the psyche .", "the result is a haunting and subtle film , filled with desires gone awry and everyday settings turned inexplicably nightmarish .", "this is a weird drama of thrill-chill caliber .", "magnificent .", "its techniques would be adopted by noir , its themes are aped by horror films and thrillers today .", "MOV was n't frightening like a slasher movie , using shocks and gore , but frightening in an eerie , mysterious way that was hard to define ; the screen harbored unseen threats .", "more a film about unreasoning fear than the supernatural , this work demonstrates what a filmmaker can accomplish when he substitutes taste and intelligence for special effects .", "a thinking man 's supernatural thriller .", "first in the wondrous series of b movies in which val lewton elaborated his principle of horrors imagined rather than seen , with a superbly judged performance from simon .", "handled more with shadow and suggestion than the outright statement found in the horror pictures that surrounded it .", "tourneur splendidly visualizes immigrant dislocation and marital anxiety as spiritual states suspended between planes of light and shadow", "based on a deceptively simple story , this understated but scary horror film benefits from the collaboration of producer val lewton and director jacques tourneur and the touching performance from simone simon", "produced by val lewton and directed by the great jacques tourneur , this was one of the first hollywood horrors to play on the audience 's fears rather than expose it to ghouls and monsters .", "the scariest american horror movie of the 1940s .", "... a startling , psychosexual horror picture - especially for its time .", "val lewton 's most brilliant and subtly sexual horror films ever made .", "scenes where irena shadows her rival are burned into cinema memory .", "it 's psychological horror at its finest : timelessly terrifying and absolutely purr-fect .", "unpleasant film argues we should be afraid of people who are different .", "in its complexity , it functions as a sharp , canny blueprint for the rest of lewton 's pictures .", "it 's what you do n't see in a val lewton production rather than what you do see that makes it frightening .", "the way it messes with your head -- and jacques tourneur 's deft ability behind the camera -- make it quite the '40s standout .", "pretensioso , artificial e com uma p\u00e9ssima atriz como protagonista , o filme empalidece frente \u0155 refilmagem comandada por paul schrader .", "beautiful and strange film , a timeless classic .", "seminal , understated horror that retains the power to frighten still today .", "atmospheric , chilling tourneur classic", "one of the creepiest horror films ever made .", "high-contrast frightfest with nervy lighting and production design and a well-maintained air of dread .", "MOV -lrb- 1942 -rrb- is a low-budget horror classic from rko radio pictures , inc. - the haunting , low-key story", "a val lewton classic that proves in horror , the less you show , the scarier the movie ." ], "summary": "influential noir director jacques tourneau infused this sexy , moody horror film with some sly commentary about the psychology and the taboos of desire .", "id": "185962182" }, { "movie": "sketches_of_frank_gehry", "reviews": [ "a lovable softball documentary on a lovable acclaimed architect famous for his controversial unique looping indescribable structures .", "... it 's probably the best movie pollack has made in awhile .", ". . curious and sometimes magical .", "sketches is n't for everyone , as enjoyment requires at least an elementary interest in architecture or art . anyone who meets that requirement will receive not only a nice portrait of gehry the person , but a great survey of his work .", "pollack 's documentary is a friendly affair that presents some stunning footage of several gehry projects .", "the film is a credit to sydney pollack , whose warm and intelligent style infiltrates this fascinating documentary allowing us the pleasure of spending some time with an architect whose approach to design is as fundamental as to life itself", "watching frank work in his studio is a lesson in creativity . he seems to pride himself on buildings with no right angles ; it all comes together to create facades that stand out in a skyline .", "-lsb- pollack -rsb- and gehry share a long friendship , which is evident in this elegant , diverting , affectionate documentary .", "the film has lovely moments -- gehry buildings can be extremely photogenic , after all -- but it does n't sink its teeth in the way it probably should .", "an allusive and elusive tracing of the man and his work that also offers a rueful rumination on the artistic process .", "it 's really a compelling homage with insight into the creative process .", "the questioning is skin-deep and pollack 's handheld dv approach does n't show the buildings at their best .", "while pollack continually favours celebrity gush over objective analysis , the shots of gehry 's buildings - the guggenheim in bilbao being the centrepiece - and his stunning use of light do make a case for him as a genuine visionary .", "the result is a persuasive movie which proves beyond doubt that at least some geniuses are intensely practical as well as intuitive .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- un documental que deber\u00eda ver todo aquel que alguna vez haya sentido la necesidad o las ganas de crear algo , ya sea una pieza de cer\u00e1mica , un edificio o una pel\u00edcula .", "a fond and always accessible portrait , but the lack of objectivity and drooling images of gehry 's work deprives this documentary of any objectivity .", "ultimately the picture is as revealing about the director as it is about the subject . but it wo n't appeal to those who like their documentaries to come armed with teeth .", "an intelligent piece of partisan adoration - although he gives some space to gehry 's detractors , too .", "what 's missing is a critical edge .", "too vague for real insight , too conventional to match its subject 's iconoclasm , and too affectionate to offer a truly critical account of the gehry phenomenon .", "more a thumbnail than a full portrait .", "we get a fascinating glimpse into gehry 's design process , which always begins at his sketchpad .", "pollack is too friendly with his subject -lrb- almost to the point of having a man crush on gehry -rrb- , so the theme of MOV is reduced to , ` i think frank gehry is super awesome , and you should , too '", "a riveting portrait of an american icon .", "how much more persuasive MOV might have been had pollack differentiated degrees of achievement in gehry 's work .", "this is the real art school confidential .", "MOV respects the essential enigma of its subject even as it illuminates his ways of thinking about form , space and construction .", "an overly reverent but intermittently compelling homage to an iconoclastic genius ...", "there 's a casual informality to pollack 's documentary technique ... results are semi-revealing .", "less a documentary than a self-important tribute to a longtime friend .", "it 's a low-key , intimate conversation between two buddies who , as pollack -- the oscar-winning director of out of africa -- puts it , are ` trying to find ways of creative expression within industries that make stringent demands . '", "gehry 's theory -- the less technical the approach , the more human the end result -- is proven time and again in this diverting portrait of america 's most famous living architect .", "the movie turned out about as well as you might expect from something that dares to open with a frank declaration of the director 's incompetence and lack of insight .", "the parameters of gehry 's genius , as suggested by pollack , are essentially the same as those captured in generations of cliched artist biopics .", "it meanders agreeably , through some striking buildings and pleasant conversations , and by its end you feel as if you 've met somebody .", "look at gehry . look at the work . neither he nor we can be sure precisely how so many glorious buildings came into being . that 's the beauty of transcendence . right there in front of pollack 's camera .", "genius is complicated . but it 's also simple , and director sydney pollack bounces us back and forth between those indisputable truths with intelligence and flair .", "pollack uses the film to show the a wide sampling of gerry 's stunning work , buildings that seem to defy the laws of gravity .", "danged if the seductive documentary -- pollack 's first -- does n't come to resemble a gehry building itself , all brash , eye-catching , a tad vain , and attractively neurotic .", "because the two men are long-time friends , viewers get a sense of openness and like-minded artistic attitudes that far exceed what you might get from a more conventional documentary .", "the film is almost entirely a love letter between similarly minded colleagues of different disciplines . they do n't speak the same language , but the admiration is mutual .", "a refreshingly small-scale film , almost a home movie made by the director of such films as tootsie , out of africa and the way we were .", "though a little more depth would have been appreciated , there is just enough of it on display in this film to inspire those to do what i did and begin looking up gehry and his work for themselves .", "what 's most interesting about this coffee-table book of a movie is its exposure of the media-architectural complex .", "what the filmmaker omits are precisely the laymen the movie set out to explain gehry to .", "not just instructive , but reassuring for anyone who does creative work , and who worries , as everyone does , about being equal to the task .", "as fascinating and faceted as its subject .", "whatever you think of his legacy , pollack 's film makes a firm case for gehry 's complexity and the power of his ideas .", "what benefits the picture early on , giving it a casual air , becomes cloying in the later going , making it feel like a smug exercise in mutual admiration .", "the film works because gehry is what everyone wishes celebrities and artists to be : down to earth", "we are seduced by the rules-busting fabulousness of gehry 's output -- all a-tumble with cubist edges , spirals and crinkle-cut effects , done up on a massive scale . but we are also disarmed by the architect 's persona .", "pollack 's savvy camera work lets us walk in and around -lsb- gehry 's -rsb- designs ... presented such that they seem the perfect external manifestation of being in this guy 's head", "sketches ultimately allows the controversial , breathtakingly unusual buildings themselves to make the case for the architect 's inimitable greatness .", "agreeably educational and delightfully illuminating .", "even the professional critics who take part have been rendered toothless by pollack 's approach to the subject -- or simply by karen schmeer 's editing .", "... a brief but marvelous digest introduction to the sculptural art and artist .", "a number of interesting questions go unasked and some only unanswered , but what is there is still more that is worthwhile .", "gehry , a cheerful , energetic , self-deprecating man closing in on his 80th birthday , makes for an engaging subject .", "perhaps less a form-giver than a brash structural animator , gehry has made edifices both exquisite and exhibitionistic .", "pollack directed with mixed results this adulatory documentary about his famous architect friend .", "it reveals a little about an architect 's craft and thought process , but mostly it 's about gehry himself , the man , the myth , the legend .", "though gehry and pollack have long been friends , the veteran hollywood director confesses early on to being an architecture neophyte , and so much of the film 's sprightly energy stems from its combination of expert research and amateur enthusiasm .", "-lsb- an -rsb- enjoyably breezy portrait .", "an intelligent , lucid and affectionate sketch of one of the world 's leading architects .", "rescued from its inclination to smug , celebrity-testimonial - driven hagiography by gehry 's own considerable charm and infectious enthusiasm .", "even if you know nothing of gehry 's designs , you 'll be immediately and completely engrossed in the story and the images .", "in its own relaxed , meandering way it offers valuable insights into how a major artist thinks and works .", "an engaging , if incomplete , tribute that gives the director , as well as the subject , the opportunity to shine .", "lucid and engaging , MOV provides the enormously gratifying opportunity to spend an hour-and-a-half with an artistic giant .", "i think every time gehry comes into a city and adds his signature , it just makes the people in the city proud of it .", "director sydney pollack tries to pry open gehry 's head and allow the audience to see the world from his perspective .", "there are also a few critics brought in to provide balance , although pollack 's opinion is clear : gehry is a genius . having gazed upon the guggenheim and the disney and sat happily on the grass beneath the spider 's web , i think so , too .", "if MOV fails to reconcile these extroverted buildings with their apparently introverted maker , it offers some heartfelt appreciation .", "even nonfans will find something interesting in the conversations with pollack , in which the architect comes off as curious , funny and willing to reveal his own doubts .", "it is a few meaningful glimpses into the mind and life of a man who resists being seen as complex and singular .", "pollock , who narrates , admits he knows nothing about architecture , which accounts for the film 's shapelessness .", "while gehry the man is worth the investment of time in this film , it 's his singular buildings that we really want to get to know better than just sketches ." ], "summary": "this affectionate , casually framed portrait of the acclaimed architect reveals him to be an engaging , likeable subject .", "id": "155654913" }, { "movie": "1159177-free_zone", "reviews": [ "a rambling road movie with noble intentions and an excess of speechifying .", "the elder actresses simmer as they warily interact , but the dialogue is more schematic than dramatic ...", "the milieu he chooses -- essentially one long , queerly prosaic car ride to nowhere -- robs the film of much of its dramatic force .", "portman and the audience are stranded in the middle , on the outside looking in , with nothing to do and patience increasingly wearing thin .", "there 's an art to ambiguity -- there really is ... left to their own devices , viewers will fill in the blanks , but when the movie starts filling them in itself , you have to wonder about the mismatch .", "while portman does outshine everyone and everything on screen and though she certainly gets credit for making the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 sacrifice in the spirit of embracing her heritage , MOV does nothing for her in return", "without much effort you can imagine the corkboard littered with index cards mapping out the political clashes this cast is asked to act out in their robotic interactions .", "much of it is labored and overemphatic .", "an exceptional new film .", "a minor movie on a major subject , a drama with an almost unbearable lightness .", "much of the dialogue is didactic and pedantic . and when not didactic and pedantic , it 's plodding and dull .", "maybe being stuck in the car is supposed to give you that claustrophobic feeling that you 're in the middle of this , but it feels like a low-budget home movie from a vacation you would n't want to take .", "MOV has a somewhat challenging narrative made more problematic by the difficulty involved in caring about the characters .", "too slight as a metaphor for the larger catastrophe of the mideast , too preachy to work as an emotionally compelling drama .", "shot mostly in close-ups , it 's a fascinating road movie with an absurdist allegorical finale .", "without fail , gitai 's determination to churn everything into metaphoric mud prevails .", "the movie -- a metaphor for the tangled , impossible state of israeli/palestinian relations -- only intermittently clicks .", "... never seems to gain much emotional traction throughout its meandering female road trip , despite some provocative subject matter .", "in a film that is so concerned and in love with its female characters , gitai sort of leaves them in a lovable sing-along", "amos gitai 's long-winded essay revolves around the interaction of three women , an american , an israeli and a palestinian , on a car trip from israel to jordan .", "gita\u010f has no real interest in who these women are beyond their symbolic resonance .", "this is not a geat film , but an extremely good one ...", "the meeting of three women -- an american , an israeli , and a palestinian -- in jordan and their struggle to overcome prejudices and their communal histories .", "per usual , gitai largely eschews exposition , but his reticence sits awkwardly beside his penchant for saddling his deliberately stereotyped figures with trite , unwieldy speeches and symbolic-ironic biographical data .", "despite dealing with a journey , this confused and confusing movie seems to go nowhere .", "a vague and underdeveloped story that makes a tired point about the ability of female relationships to rise above hatred and conflict .", "an often excruciating 134 minutes that could have been trimmed to a tidier 10 minute short", "... an unquestionably awful , awful film .", "with characters more often than not functioning as mouthpieces , audiences might feel like involuntary passengers trapped in the backseat .", "an intriguing allegorical road-trip movie about 3 women in search of an identity .", "gitai 's films are unabashedly political , tackling controversial issues . they are often more interesting intellectually than artistically . freezone is no exception .", "addressing conflict by conflicting itself , MOV 's effect is almost avant-garde .", "judging from her heartfelt turn as rebecca , portman seems much more at home in character-driven , art house fare than in her usual studio extravaganzas .", "the film is diluted by the use of flashbacks superimposed over present-time scenes . the result is visual chaos .", "rebecca -lrb- natalie portman -rrb- is the quiet american who stands on the sidelines while the israeli and the palestinian bicker and argue in this intriguing middle eastern travelogue .", "-lsb- a -rsb- fractious film from thorny filmmaker amos gitai .", "the message is made clear within the first 10 minutes , leaving us with about 80 minutes of thematic repetition .", "the film is about their journeys , separate and together , and only nominally in hanna 's car .", "it 's a nice crying jag by natalie portman , but there 's not much else here to recommend .", "MOV suffers from too-much-information syndrome , stalling out now and again from its tangled narrative wiring and an overload of emotional freight .", "despite a handful of quietly affecting scenes , the film mostly fails to delve beneath the surface of either its gritty narrative or the three protagonists , who mainly come across as cultural archetypes , rather than multi-faceted characters .", "unfortunately , the characters feel more like symbols than people , despite strong performances , including what might be portman 's finest work to date .", "the deeply allegorical ending may provoke political discussions , but as drama , MOV has lost its way long before then .", "visually , MOV resembles a home movie in which an overly enthusiastic vacationer records every moment of a mundane trip .", "it 's a frustrating experience .", "-lsb- the -rsb- set-up is given a human face by fine performances and a physical journey that 's often more interesting than the characters ' emotional ones ." ], "summary": "the symbolism in this cinematic metaphor on conflicts in the middle east becomes so overbearing that it 's hard to care about the characters or their plight .", "id": "140952630" }, { "movie": "take_shelter", "reviews": [ "-lrb- director -rrb- nichols creates the kind of quiet malevolence that roman polanski used to excel at .", "there 's a strong , unsettling sense of disease that runs through MOV , the best drama of the year so far .", "shannon wonderfully modulates nichols ' portrait of a man whose mind and life seem to unravel before our eyes .", "on rare occasions , a movie comes along that does genuine honor to alfred hitchcock . MOV is such a movie . it could be subtitled `` MOV with hitch . ''", "are his dreams a sign of things to come or are they simply the creation of an individual who is teetering on the brink of insanity ?", "in an era of empty entertainments , `` MOV '' is built to last .", "MOV is a deeply unsettling movie .", "michael shannon 's spectacular performance grounds MOV with a haunting realism .", "life is a double-edged sword . be careful how you hold it .", "shannon is astounding , playing a good man pushed to the brink of sanity , maybe beyond . he portrays a sense of quiet desperation -- a feeling recognizable to many .", "nichols approaches his subject with thoughtful empathy , and while his themes are enormous - he 's addressing no less than the state of our nation - he wisely underplays even the most important moments .", "as a portrait of a man on the verge of losing everything , shannon is remarkable . his stoicism feels environmental , rendering his withdrawal naturalistic rather than manufactured .", "nichols builds unease from small , repeated details , and he has a terrific asset in shannon : no modern actor seems as likely to snap and explode .", "nichols takes this 21st century fear of losing everything you have and makes it physical . it 's a portrait of destructive behavior that is motivated by the purest of intentions : wanting to protect your family .", "rod serling would have been proud .", "this unsettling , hypnotic drama boasts a quietly powerful performance by michael shannon as curtis , a man succumbing to apocalyptic visions .", "regardless of how things play out , you 'll leave the movie feeling curtis ' twisted worldview eating away at you .", "even though the film unravels , the performances by michael shannon and jessica chastain make this film worth it .", "this is the movie m. night shyamalan wishes he could make , a thriller set in the twilight zone of a disturbed mind . quite simply , it is one of 2011 's best .", "`` MOV '' is one of the best movies of the year . in its own understated way , it also is one of the most frightening", "... an exercise in extended dread .", "terrific . michael shannon delivers a fractured everyman who 'll stay with you long after the final frame .", "a movie born from the atmospheric pressure of the national mood , from the sense that danger is lurking around every corner . the star is michael shannon , the human storm front -- he 's a brooding , intense presence that occasionally thunders and explodes .", "an intense drama of mental meltdown and domestic apocalypse for an age of anxiety .", "a sensitively constructed , if somewhat protracted metaphor for mental health and its frightening onset that remains with you long after viewing .", "it 's also very moving , showing how paranoia pulls the man away from the people he loves and the people he thinks he needs to protect .", "an intense drama of mental meltdown and domestic apocalypse for an age of anxiety .", "could also have lost half an hour yet still maintained the momentum towards a powerful climax ...", "it 's the collision of shannon 's reality and dementia that 's the driving force propelling a drama that is dark with foreboding .", "when future film historians look back at the cultural fallout from america 's financial collapse , ` MOV ' will be a key text . that is , if the storm does n't sweep us all away .", "michael shannon gives the performance of the year", "with its uncertain resolution and lack of concrete answers , this may be the kind of movie that 's easier to admire than enjoy . whatever you make of it , though , it 's gripping .", "a highlight of the sundance and cannes film fest , this is a powerful , eerie film , grounded by a great performance from michael shannon", "what you think may depend on your tolerance for movies that openly flaunt their metaphorical ambition .", "the film 's greatest strength though is the way it combines hints that we 're watching a parable of the new us climate of anxiety with an unflinching dedication to the reality of its characters ' plights .", "shannon makes the man 's dilemma plain and moving , and that gives MOV a resonance that last long after the final fade out .", "shannon gives one of the best performances of the year , in a film that manages both white-knuckle intensity and tender drama . watch it as a double feature with roman polanski 's repulsion .", "you have to have the capacity to deal with ever-increasing bleakness and quite a big dose of it in these two hours of running time . it 'll be worth it .", "this indie is all about ambiguity and is anchored by michael shannon 's awards-worthy performance .", "MOV -lsb- is -rsb- successful as both a kitchen sink drama and supernatural thriller .", "a riveting genre blend of thriller , domestic drama and supernatural horror propelled by a brilliant lead performance .", "the supernatural horror/suburban drama mash-up does n't always sit well , but there 's no need to MOV from the shannon/nichols partnership .", "a kind of inverted version of `` close encounters of the third kind '' with an end of the world obsession by a joe lunchpail type guy rather than ufo 's . my pick for best movie of 2011 .", "like a laissez-passer to our apocalypse sensors .", "an impressively sustained slow-burn parable from writer-director jeff nichols , shot with ominous beauty , guarding its mysteries with care .", "a film for troubled times , MOV taps into current anxieties about economic meltdown and climate change disaster with its scarily apt depiction of a man driven to the edge by apocalyptic fears .", "an intriguing , painful film about the angst that 's currently in the air , about misreading the runes , about embarking on actions that might make us laughing stocks , about taking wagers with and against history .", "the performances and themes of this psychological drama are all in five-star territory , it 's just a shame all the good work is let down by a seriously drawn-out plot .", "as in todd haynes 's 1995 masterpiece , safe , we are in a world that ca n't be pinned down .", "fear is the american vice ... MOV latches on to something deep and true within many of us .", "the film 's power should reside in this agonised human dilemma , but in the end it becomes a rather self-important shaggy dog story .", "michael shannon is brilliant . one of the big discoveries of this year 's sundance .", "it 's ultimately a bleak vision , and a circumscribed one , but remarkable all the same , and proof that mr. nichols is ready for much bigger things .", "MOV is a dark mystery that remains dark and mysterious , and harrowing , right up to the end , when it knocks you sideways .", "michael shannon is at his best as a man plagued by apocalyptic dreams that start to bleed into his everyday life . it 's one of the best independent american films of the last decade , playing on current concerns about the future of the planet .", "there 's something about michael shannon 's looming height and malleable features that makes him a natural fit for playing tortured souls .", "the dread in this slow simmer of a film comes not from a clearly definable sense of danger , but more from a sense of simply not knowing .", "a richly drawn , and at times disturbing , portrait of one man 's descent into madness .", "eksetazei to thema toy me to sebasmo , thn aisiodoksia , alla kai thn apeiria toy dhmioyrgika kai koinwnika anerxomenoy , oi rizes toy sth bathia amerikh de toy epitrepoyne kan mia `` atheh '' proseggish", "a film that 's easier to admire -lrb- at least in part -rrb- than actually like , but it 's also a difficult film to ignore .", "the role of curtis in this film is a perfect fit for shannon 's intense and slightly unhinged screen persona .", "as a director , nichols creates such an intense aura of dread and impending apocalypse during the visions that when curtis simply describes one that is not shown in the film , we shudder at the mental image it paints .", "nichols has nothing positive to say , and spends more than two hours saying it . it 's a superficial movie pretending to be deep .", "parlays contemporary fears into the kind of relatable apocalyptic drama that relies less on big special effects and more on the ambiguous mental state of its protagonist .", "there is so much empathy and understanding in the way MOV creates an engaging story out of a widely misunderstood condition .", "it 's compelling in many ways , but ultimately not 100 % satisfying .", "shannon 's performance is exceptional and the character is terribly moving .", "it explores something deep in us which is our anxiety in the world today from so many different angles and i think it 's a very unsettling film for that reason .", "the really chilling thing is how believable it is .", "when the movie stays with its strength - the family members and their doubts about how well they know the people they love - it is riveting .", "a rod serling-esque social allegory for these days of economic collapse , environmental sea change , and increasing talk of `` end times . ''", "relies on a mounting atmosphere of slow-burn intensity and an attention to people rather than plot points .", "taut , unsettling , haunting and powerful , `` MOV '' stars michael shannon in a shattering performance as a man caught up in forces beyond his control .", "jessica chastain has some fine moments as his confused wife , but shannon 's wrenching performance is the film .", "nichols is still concerned with family legacies , and the ways people in smaller communities relate to each other , but MOV is slower and smoother , deliberately developing a mood of creeping dread .", "even the more peaceful sequences - like the one in which samantha and her young daughter gaze out the window while a rainstorm rages outside - are draped with ominous portent .", "writer-director jeff nichols builds his elegantly shot , weather-sensitive horror story in waves of tension that crest as if pulled by tempests .", "in many ways a small film , but the stakes could n't feel bigger thanks to the deeply affecting family at its center .", "there 's a specificity to his film that roots it in the here and now , acknowledging not just free-floating unease but everyday fears over the price of gas and insurance co-pays .", "it is a quiet , relentless exploration of the latent -lrb- and not so latent -rrb- terrors that bedevil contemporary american life , a horror movie that will trouble your sleep not with visions of monsters but with a more familiar dread .", "michael shannon gives himself over completely to a complex role and leaves you shattered . director jeff nichols throws curveballs , but his film is unique and unforgettable .", "highly satisfying and frustratingly open-ended", "-lsb- video -rsb- a carefully modulated study into the psychology of fear and premonition , `` MOV '' captures a macro-micro snapshot of america 's post-911 zeitgeist at a moment when a decade of fatigue from fear-mongering has left the country numb .", "daring thematically and striking aesthetically , even as it pierces at the heart of the most relatable , everyday anxieties we all experience .", "while MOV is n't by any means perfect - writer/director jeff nichols could use a refresher course on editing - it 's a powerful film , displaying a devolvement into insanity that ultimately proves to be quite visionary .", "i could watch michael shannon stare at a wall for 90 minutes and still be captivated .", "MOV writer-director jeff nichols takes great care in detailing curtis 's journey and surrounding him with concerned loved ones .", "the riveting performances turn what on paper is a fairly simple climax into quite the emotional wallop .", "there 's no suspense and little surprise . just a long . slow grind to ruin .", "tight editing and pace make for a careful and thoughtful film that is a very strong piece of cinema .", "in my estimate , this unique and frequently arresting film suffers from the monotony of the lead players ' affect , and from the film 's urge to have its gloomy cake and eat it .", "director nichols walks a tightrope between giving us a dark , gothic tale of misunderstood prophecy and a sobering lesson on the state of mental health care in rural america .", "all in all , this is a movie that confronts its own hard challenges - and feels utterly , uncomfortably relevant in this new age of anxiety .", "quietly spellbinding until the film 's astonishing final 20 minutes which make it one of the year 's best .", "a hallucinatory thriller anchored by a deeply resonant sense of unease .", "a raw , sympathetic tour de force , maybe shannon 's best screen performance to date .", "a terrific thriller about a man who is increasingly plagued by apocalyptic visions", "wavers between the terrifying stasis of the birds and the bogus theatrics of the happening .", "a compelling character-driven piece that offers a beguiling , unsettling inside view of a troubled mind .", "nichols is interested in more here than one man 's sanity , and that coming storm -- real , dreamed , or hallucinated -- packs the metaphorical wallop of a category five hurricane .", "when its last , proudly ambiguous note is struck , one leaves convinced only that there exists a greater exploitation of this same concept yet to be made , one with sharper contrasts and more starkly defined stakes .", "shannon 's intense here , as he is in many of his roles , but it 's jessica chastain who really promotes the film 's anxiety ...", "the movie makes you uncomfortable , but in a good way . nichols has turned the current moment of american unease into a powerful metaphor .", "the story of a man afflicted with fearful visions , MOV is a film that 's hitting the right apocalyptic trumpet call at the right time .", "... a consistently watchable yet pervasively uneven drama .", "there 's absolutely nothing affected about the film 's perspective .", "nichols has a genius for making landscapes and everyday objects resonate like crazy , for nailing the texture of dread .", "playing like the excruciatingly long first act of a better movie , MOV long overstays its welcome while confusing narrative indolence for tension .", "michael shannon and jessica chastain give compelling performances in this eerie drama about an ohio father beset by premonitions of doom .", "despite a few missteps , MOV powerfully lays bare our national anxiety disorder -- a pervasive dread that curtis can define only as `` something that 's not right . ''", "a trenchant portrait of america 's poverty-line-treading middle class .", "nicols and his regular collaborators are exciting filmmakers , and i ca n't wait for whatever else they have planned .", "alternately heavy-lidded and wide-eyed , shannon has the coiled potential of a venomous snake ... he paints a portrait of paranoia and fear with great skill .", "michael shannon 's haunting performance as a blue-collar ohio man victimized by schizophrenia carries this dread-infused character study .", "jeff nichols has arrived , proving he has what it takes to deliver on far bigger ideas than his indie roots have shown so far .", "shannon 's talent can be hard to control - it can burst the containment of his character and destabilize a movie - but in `` MOV '' it is expertly deployed by writer-director jeff nichols .", "the chilling genius of `` MOV '' is n't that the threat is never specified but that it does n't need to be .", "a movie for this moment in time , this moment in our lives .", "relentlessly sinister , filled with an eerily ambiguous sense of unease .", "an engrossing , quietly unnerving film that 's one of the year 's best ... with an astonishing performance by michael shannon .", "it 's so stunningly effective at establishing a sense of dread that it 's almost impossible to recommend it without reservations .", "the film has the form of a little domestic drama , but it 's intense enough to , perhaps , cause you to start watching the skies yourself .", "is curtis a prophet or is he just crazy ? the script , by tyro director jeff nichols , does a good job keeping you guessing and still surprises you in the end .", "shannon reteams with shotgun stories writer-director nichols for another exploration of one man 's wobbling mental state . but this time the story is much more introspective , and watching it is thoroughly unnerving .", "a dread-inducing and sometimes downright creepy exercise in hitchcockian paranoia .", "here is a frightening thriller based not on special effects gimmicks but on a dread that seems quietly spreading in the land : that the good days are ending , and climate changes or other sinister forces will sweep away our safety .", "a molar-grinding performance from michael shannon anchors this slow but ultimately haunting drama .", "it 's a film without suspense and with a slow-moving story that unfolds without surprise or embellishment .", "the end is a head-scratcher , destined to provoke late-night pondering . but for anyone grappling with what it means to be a citizen of the 21st century , it 's required viewing .", "-lsb- has -rsb- the power to make you tense up and freeze with dread .", "the film does n't work so well for me , although i recognise some of its strengths .", "there 's a storm coming in MOV , a gripping and moody thriller that marks the emergence of michael shannon as a leading man .", "this movie played me like a fiddle . a quivering , covering-my-eyes-because-the-movie 's - too-scary baby-shaped fiddle .", "writer-director jeff nichols , whose previous film shotgun stories also starred shannon , has the rare ability to think big and work small .", "a beautifully assured work of art that doubles as an up-to-the-minute portrait of the country 's mood .", "a work of hushed and persuasive emotional veracity .", "out of his ` tree of life '", "while MOV is a marvellously composed film , it is also one that holds you at a distance", "michael shannon gives his best onscreen performance ever ... and creates what might well be the finest male character of 2011 .", "with that frowning face - including a right eye that looks sleepy and a left one that looks crazed - michael shannon could play jekyll and hyde at the same exact time .", "those who 've never understood -lsb- anxiety -rsb- could do to see MOV as a total immersion virtual reality experience .", "MOV is paced slowly and deliberately , which is necessary to make believable whatever is tormenting curtis .", "powerfully emotional and extremely tense , this is an impressively directed and superbly written drama with a riveting central performance from michael shannon .", "it would be possible to appreciate shannon 's fabulous work in `` MOV '' far better if the filmmaker lost a quarter of the two-hour running time -- there are many overlong scenes that make this a needlessly tough sit .", "nichols ' formally assured direction exhibits dawning-dread restraint through slow zooms and tense framing .", "beautiful and insinuating , with a killer sound design and accomplished performances by shannon and jessica chastain as his wife .", "`` MOV '' may be the most powerful american film i 've seen this year .", "MOV is a provocative original from writer-director jeff nichols , built on the foundation of a searing performance by michael shannon . it 's a film i respect ...", "frightening , moving and thought-provoking by turns . i think master of suspense alfred hitchcock would have approved , especially with its visual allusions to `` the birds '' and its beautifully ironic finale . one of the ten best films of 2011 .", "it 's creepy and enigmatic , but there 's an odd sense of enlightenment as well , making the effort valuable , even if nichols gets lost in his own material at times .", "the movies have long been mad about the onset of madness ." ], "summary": "michael shannon gives a powerhouse performance and the purposefully subtle filmmaking creates a perfect blend of drama , terror , and dread .", "id": "771224184" }, { "movie": "22_jump_street", "reviews": [ "no , the film 's not as funny , or fresh as the previous version , but it 's charmingly aware of said fact . it 's a film that says `` fuck it '' and does it anyway , throwing caution to the wind and yelling `` something cool ! '' along the way .", "... coarse , anti-intellectual , and extraordinarily unfunny ...", "when the film turns to new material and characters , it 's fun to watch . there 's just not enough of those new comic moments .", "this sequel 's spoof of its predecessor 's riff on the original 1980s-era buddy-cop tv show coalesces into a raucous , raunchy , irreverent , imperfect riot .", "lord and miller are on a roll , and there may be no better moviemakers at playing to our modern need for irony - at giving us the entertainment we crave while acknowledging our distrust of it .", "`` 22 MOV '' is preposterous in the best possible way .", "from its ` previously on ... ' opening recap through its hilarious closing credit push for the animated series , video game and sequels which move their address up through 40 , this meta in joke has the good sense to keep its audience in on it .", "just think back to everything that was funny in `` 21 MOV . '' it 's exactly the same .", "tatum and hill are just a really great double act , as different and thus well matched as laurel and hardy , complementing each other perfectly .", "explosive stunts aside , it 's the chemistry between the guys that really sets the screen alight .", "even if 22 MOV feels 22 minutes too long , chances are you\u00edll be laughing hysterically though 12 of them , and fighting to find your breath during the rest .", "this is one of those movies you forgive its plot holes and lazy scripting , because the laughs are so prevalent and the chemistry of the cast remains so spot-on . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "i particularly enjoyed the description of schmidt and jenko , dressed for spring break , as the stars of a sitcom called `` hawaiian dads '' .", "... this will be the most `` meta '' movie ever made ...", "after the triumphant surprise that was 21 MOV , it feels a little too calculating .", "it 's this summer 's comedy sequel without equal -- but tatum steals every scene here , like a walking golden retriever who 's just happy to be so happy .", "in a summer of sequels , the most laughs so far , and by far , come from a raunchy retro repeat that makes plenty of fun of its own recycled folly-and expense .", "begins with a clip of a professor discussing the meaning of yin and yang , and that symbol of apparently opposing but in fact complementary forces becomes a kind of theme .", "all you really need to know is that it 's the cleverest sequel to a dumb movie of all time .", "the jokes are fresh and more often than not manage to produce some big laughs .", "this is a film that is creative enough ... to mock its own lack of creativity .", "proving that sometimes the same joke is funnier the second time around , jonah hill and channing tatum return for a major serving of big , broad , stupid laughs .", "subversively satisfying , if senselessly silly sequel .", "in fact , much of the bawdy humor in 22 MOV comes from its makers ' staunch refusal to take anything about the venture seriously .", "'22 MOV ' tries to catch a meta-wave on the shoulders of its stars , jonah hill and channing tatum .", "while much of this is pretty standard stuff , it 's all easy to take thanks to the engaging performances from the two leads . the screenplay contains quite a few funny lines , and the direction by phil lord and christopher miller is crisp and efficient .", "for once , cranking out a play-it-safe sequel yields something satisfying .", "sometimes the good-natured self-referencing gets in the way , but at its heart the film is a real pleasure , brimming with visual gags , clever word play and breezily silly action scenes ...", "`` we 'd happily watch a ` MOV ' movie every couple of years for the foreseeable future . ''", "there 's enough goodwill to balance out the clunky bits .", "a wildly entertaining feel-good movie that not only rates as one of the best mainstream comedies of the year but also one of the finest sequels you are likely to see .", "sticks snugly to the prior film 's winning formula , mining the resultant doublings and repetitions for maximum absurdist hilarity .", "uproarious . undermines everything we think we know about comedies , sequels , and two-year-breaks", "the best bromantic comedy since 2009 's i love you , man .", "the movie is crammed with jokes about how bad sequels are . and guess what ? exactly .", "a worthy successor to the first movie with exactly the right combination of jokes and action that it 's not likely to disappoint too many people .", "a fitfully funny sequel that lacks the surprise factor of its predecessor .", "it works well enough , more often than not , though heightened levels of raunch and chaos seem not so much meta as frantic .", "channing tatum again proves to be the funniest person on-screen , nailing the sweetly dumb act -lrb- `` i 'm the first person in my family to pretend to go to college . '' -rrb- .", "it 's the sequel to end all sequels . the only problem : it 's so irresistibly funny it 'll probably spawn a trilogy .", "22 MOV may be the most arbitrary sequel since bad boys ii . if it 's not the worst , that 's strictly because of channing tatum .", "the creative team behind this , including the two leads , end up giving far more than the minimum they could have gotten away with -- which results in an unusually fun and funny film .", "comic genius that does n't let up until well into the credits . all hail lord miller as they single-handedly attempt to usher in a smarter , funnier wave of hollywood comedy .", "the movie always operates on two wavelengths - one a dumb movie sequel full of dumb movie clich\u00e9s and the other a movie mocking those very clich\u00e9s .", "since this genre has more than exhausted itself over three and a half decades , writers michael bacall , oren uziel and rodney rothman are smart to hold a mirror up to the buddy cop genre , generating the comedy through self-awareness and self-deprecation .", "the gags in this follow-up to 21 MOV are wildly hit and miss , but its sense of glorious self-referential goofiness proves to be infectious .", "suffice it to say that it is a cannily-constructed film , and it does have a bigger `` movie '' feel than the first film . there are places where they swing for some big jokes that do n't quite work , but the ambition is dizzying all the way through .", "bigger and better - 22 MOV joins the exclusive list of sequels that out-gun their originals . we 're already knocking at the door of no. 23 ...", "a movie that made me feel guilty for laughing quite so much .", "22 MOV is the kind of funny that leaves your stomach sore and face hurt .", "bigger , sillier ... and as on the money as anything five credited screenwriters have collectively come up with in years .", "lord and miller have their cake and eat it . again . will they now go for the threepeat ?", "funnier , cleverer , wittier , and snarkier , than the first film . it is nonstop self-deprecation that doles out well-deserved smacks to about 817 hollywood things that desperately deserve it .", "-lsb- lord and miller -rsb- are fast becoming the handiest duo to share a viewfinder since the coen brothers .", "tatum is , predictably , adorable . his jenko is a pumped-up na\u010ff bumbling through life with a crooked smile , and hill again makes a great sparring partner .", "for all its self-reflexive jokes , 22 MOV is a very traditional affair that offers audiences the same pleasures as laurel and hardy , abbott and costello or even jerry lewis and dean martin films .", "while 22 MOV becomes a little too self-aware for its own good , tatum and hill 's bromantic chemistry delivers an acceptable amount of laughs for your typical summer blockbuster .", "22 MOV squeezes every last drop of comic inspiration it can get from tatum and hill , as well as the very notion of a sequel to such a superfluous enterprise .", "there 's something brilliant in the way directors lord and miller subvert hollywood , studios and even their own audience in the rare sequel that is equal to its predecessor .", "`` 22 MOV '' realizes its main goal is to be ridiculously fun and that to do so it must be utterly ridiculous , as well as in on the joke .", "what 's the difference between `` 21 MOV '' and `` 22 MOV '' ? same as the difference between getting a 21 and a 22 at blackjack .", "hill and tatum ... have a laurel-and-hardy-like implausible chemistry that keeps you laughing pretty much no matter what they 're doing .", "... a movie that spends its entire second act trying to coast on a single joke ; that joke being , `` ha ha ! those best friends are accidentally acting gay ! ''", "the movie features a good , though eventually tiring and self-defeating , gag about the inherent lameness of sequels .", "it 's really all about how these two build a joke on camera . they get it . they top it . then they get the hell out before you get stop laughing .", "hill 's neurotic-motormouth act and tatum 's lovable-lunkhead shtick still shoot giddy sparks .", "this is the ultimate meta movie . the repetition is exactly the point .", "sometimes it 's good to be wrong ... twice .", "an at-best-mediocre comedy with a few more laughs than the limp 2012 film . . like so much contemporary comedy , is n't really about anything , except its own meta-ness .", "the the picture is more than a wink-fest -- it 's often blazingly funny .", "... a rather worthless followup that makes the lackluster original look polished and captivating by comparison .", "it takes the homoerotic energy bubbling under the surface of buddy action pictures and raises it into the sunlight , where it can flex its pecs and growl .", "that stoner no. 3 from knocked up and the tank top from step up have become hollywood 's freshest comedy duo is impressive .", "the pacing has improved , even if the story coheres less , and bell makes a hilarious and malevolent irritant : she 's like the quieter white female counterweight to ice cube .", "at what point is sarcasm just a cheap substitute for wit ? exactly when does joking about how all sequels are just lame , repetitive cash-grabs start to suggest that maybe yours is , too ? actually , in this case , about 40 minutes in .", "there 's no real reason `` 22 MOV '' should work . yet it does .", "does the meta-acknowledgment that everyone 's in it for the bucks give a purposefully dopey sequel more cred ? ... you bet .", "tatum and hill are able to sell the revision because they 're playing it straight up . moreover , they actually have chemistry together -- and using their thespian skills , they turn every bonding moment into a romantic soap opera climax .", "maybe this is product , maybe this is art , and maybe it 's both .", "by doubling down on the chemistry between tatum and hill -lrb- and by giving ice cube a lot of room to be amazing -rrb- , 22 MOV gets deeper and funnier than the first movie . it is , simply put , absolutely awesome .", "maybe not up there with gremlins 2 : the new batch but certainly one of the funniest sequels ever made .", "more money , less funny .", "overcomes the limitations of a sequel by facing them head-on , doubling down on the meta-references and staying a step ahead of us with multi-layered jokes and split-second sight gags .", "just because i was n't in stitches watching this sequel does n't mean the general public wo n't bust their collective guts at the mayhem .", "every bit as enjoyable as its predecessor , because , it does n't take itself too seriously .", "like they say , if ai n't broke , do n't fix it .", "repetitive , juvenile and asinine . yet another example of the decay of american comedy .", "tatum and hill generate chemistry aplenty in a laff-a-minute , ` bro ' - mantic adventure every bit as funny as the first .", "as funny and batshit insane as the movie often is , the fact that the film knows it 's a tiresome sequel does n't save it from being a tiresome sequel .", "why fix what is n't broken ? 22 MOV is , for a very specific reason , the exact same movie as its predecessor , and for once that is n't a criticism .", "a consistently hilarious stream of in-jokes keeps the audience in fits of laughter even if there 's virtually no plot to this follow-up to the 2012 hit 21 MOV .", "it takes a little more than a new address and a vietnamese jesus to present the film with its own identity , and it 's a shame the sequel barely makes an effort to expand the series beyond a few cosmetic changes .", "it may be `` exactly the same '' as the first film . but it has the biggest movie laughs of the summer .", "22 MOV is a hilarious continuation that successfully builds on what the first started .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- the filmmakers could at least have had the decency to create a new macguffin . no such luck .", "as brash , rehashed gag-fests go , this easily passed the six laugh test - even before we got to the end credits .", "the meta jokes are n't there because the film is being hip ; they 're all borne out of anguish . it does n't want to be another dumb sequel .", "it 's so self-aware that it goes from being clever to annoying and then , thanks to a laugh-out-loud closing credit sequence , back to brilliant .", "a 90 minute gay joke interrupted by 15 minutes of other stuff . the same movie as `` 21 MOV , '' but not as funny .", "in tv parlance , this is classic jump the shark criteria , and 22 MOV leaps and bounds away .", "though i enjoyed enormously this latest offering in the rebooted jump franchise , it 's the effortless , unexpected bromance/partnership between the two unlikely undercover cops is what makes this franchise work .", "consistently funny , even though it tallies fewer laughs compared to its predecessor .", "there 's something going on at the edges of the frame in practically every scene of 22 MOV , a testament to the care and attention to detail directors lord and miller bring to this potentially silly material .", "the only problem is , the doubts the characters jokingly express turn out to be all too valid .", "it works by correctly realizing that the most absurd thing about 22 MOV is the fact that a movie called `` 22 MOV '' is even being made at all . this is a grand feat of self awareness .", "they get to poke fun at sequels and simultaneously make sequel money , which is a great frigging gig if you ask me .", "22 MOV jumps off where 21 MOV ended . when it 's funny , it 's really funny . when it 's not , it 's really not .", "the loopy , satirical commitment with which -lsb- the filmmakers -rsb- have approached this second part gives it a slight edge over its predecessor . a likable , unapologetically r-rated slice of lunacy but a hair 's width away from something greater .", "an exploding pi\u0144ata of gags , pratfalls , winking asides , throwaway one-liners and self-reflexive waggery .", "a dumbed-down comedy that descends into a bad soap opera .", "`` 22 MOV '' is exactly what comedy is today . it 's coarse , free-flowing and playful .", "22 MOV is damn funny , sometimes outrageously so . it laughs at its own dumb logic and invites us in on the fun .", "a self-aware sequel has to hop over hurdles to keep from swallowing its own tail , but the sharp writing and tag-team antics lift `` 22 MOV '' to a high level .", "with lord and miller reminding everyone that they might be america 's best comedy directors , 22 MOV succeeds by bro-hugging its own absence of originality or innovation and partying with it at spring break .", "MOV knows you know about the predictability and cheapness of sequels and rip-offs -- and in this case , to avoid the downfalls of other summer comedy sagas , embracing that problem might have been the best move for this absurd , unique franchise .", "nearly two hours of rationalizing repetition , even by winking at it , can get wearying .", "22 MOV has the same writers and directors as the first film . but it 's not smart this time as much as it is clever , and that cleverness tips into spottiness and cynical self-congratulation .", "filmmakers phil lord and chris miller -lrb- who are themselves impressive partners at this point -rrb- know enough not to mess with a successful formula .", "22 MOV is so embarrassed of its own existence that it lacks the conviction to actually do anything .", "not only is this sequel every bit as funny as the original , it is even more inventive . success apparently allowed everyone to feel comfortable going for bolder , crazier ideas this time around , and that approach pays off .", "just because you know you 're a lame retread does n't mean you 're not a lame retread .", "with a new title , some new faces and an insane amount of action , the story never runs out of steam ; which is good enough for an evening 's entertainment .", "tatum can be naturally funny on-screen , but hill makes him doubly so , emphasizing his slow-to-awareness takes on one end , and his physical prowess on the other .", "a rambunctiously generous , relentlessly goofball mass of laughter . i 'm not sure what hit me so hard , but i became the incarnation of the legendary inappropriate laugher . everything is awesome .", "22 MOV pulls off the comedy sequel balancing act better than just about any comparative franchise - with extra points for skewing its own sequelness .", "i was let down by 22 MOV , and it once again proves that sequels are often inferior to their predecessor for a number of reasons .", "the rare follow-up that improves on its predecessor ... consistently amusing and sometimes hilarious .", "hill and tatum remain a hilarious , unusually winning combination . they 're two different flavors of nonsense , worth ordering twice .", "pointing out the emptiness of a cash-in franchise sequel does n't excuse that very same emptiness .", "purposely blurs the lines between the actors and their characters for ` meta ' gags , but it does n't change what the movie is : just another dumb sequel .", "what makes it all work is the chemistry between hill and tatum , which in turn , of course , is a rich source of the film 's humor .", "a genial class clown of a movie .", "let 's just say that the prospect of a 23 MOV seems more like a favor than a threat .", "wild , fast , fun and , in the service of comedy , bromantic .", "self-referential irony is hardly a new gimmick , having served as the underlying premise for such franchises as scream and austin powers , but rarely has it been indulged with such fervor .", "the plot is n't original but the humor is fresh and the humor is the reason we see these movies .", "phil lord and christopher miller 's second-best film of the year -lrb- behind the lego movie -rrb- .", "i have a hard time believing the movie had a script that included dialogue . the movie has no character development . it 's an embarrassment .", "funny sequel is just as crude , over-the-top as the first .", "22 is as much about making sequels as it is one-to hilarious effect .", "expect the same easy chemistry between the two main leads and the kind of silliness we have n't seen since the glory days of leslie nielsen .", "22 MOV could be the greenest comedy sequel of the new century so far , a movie that takes recycling crime caper clich\u00e9s to absurdist extremes .", "if you liked 21 MOV , you 'll like 22 MOV , because it 's pretty much the same movie .", "... raucous , goofy fun that does n't assume the people who are watching are idiots .", "ironically , 22 MOV is kept together by the formula it ceaselessly mocks .", "the action 's bigger , ice cube 's angrier . another silly treat .", "how low will they go ? pretty low , but the more outrageous the indignities , the funnier the film gets .", "22 MOV is pretty much the exact same movie as 21 MOV . it knows it , you know it , and it knows that you know it . and that is why it 's brilliant .", "what can you say about a movie that pokes fun at itself except ` pass me the popcorn ? ' because '22 MOV ' is great grownup popcorn-movie fun !", "abundant in charm and loose-limbed energy , it 's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser , possessing everything one wants from a big hollywood studio action-comedy .", "you 'll be laughing too damn hard to care that sometimes 22 MOV feels a little familiar", "they do n't just repeat themselves , they become the idiotic platonic ideal of repetition .", "the beauty of the MOV franchise is its inherent reasons to be lousy , that everyone involved brazenly embraces . seldom does any movie series so freely and hilariously point out what a bad idea it seems to be .", "22 MOV takes hollywood comedy to a whole new place - a neat trick for a picture whose business plan is revisiting the past .", "the sequel to deconstruct all sequels", "i 'd like to report a murder . the buddy-cop comedy is dead , drowned in a sea of d *** jokes by directors phil lord and chris miller . hey , at least it died doing what it loved .", "hill and tatum make a classic and highly successful comedy team , balancing a series of amiable running gags and the most familiar kind of slapstick .", "prepare to fall in love all over again as schmidt and jenko go to college .", "it does n't have the pleasant surprise factor of the first film , but it 's actually even better .", "22 MOV is hardly fresh , but the picture has enough energy to get by .", "`` 22 MOV '' is n't a deep , meaningful or original movie . but it 's a lot of fun , and sometimes that 's enough .", "22 MOV goes further than any other mainstream hollywood comedy in normalising the emotional transactions between men .", "this sequel to the hit action comedy 21 MOV is better all around : the pacing is more consistent , the sight gags more imaginative , the self-referential jokes sharper .", "it 's lightweight instead of high-concept . silly instead of crass . it 's the funniest spoof movie i 've seen in a while .", "it 's the easy chemistry between tatum - who gets funnier the dumber he acts , and here he 's playing a character who ca n't remember what a library is called - and hill that makes sure this is never less than entertaining .", "you 're here -lrb- or should be here -rrb- for the hill & tatum show , which worked so well first time around and is just as good this time .", "perfectly satisfying ... betting everything on hill and tatum being delightful to watch in their little platonic romcom and winning that bet .", "most stars are terrified of looking like fools but tatum runs head-on into his dumb jock visage .", "22 MOV is not just a sequel , it is a 112-minute running gag about sequels , including the adaptation of the title .", "while this film is dominated by vulgar , slapstick humor , it is not exactly brain dead . there is a certain self-aware , self-mocking quality to it . it also helps that the characters are basically good guys .", "it does n't disguise its intention as a blockbuster summer sequel that 's more financially than creatively motivated .", "better than the original , funnier than the original , and suddenly imbued with a fiercer intelligence , albeit filtered through a whimsically insipid concept .", "it 's the back and forth between tatum and hill that is the secret weapon , here , and they 're firing on all cylinders .", "this is n't quite as funny as the original . it does , however , come pretty close . by poking fun at the whole idea of a comedy sequel , lord and miller have hit on a new vein of comedy gold .", "a film that , despite deliberately following its predecessor 's formula exactly , feels even more fresh and just as ludicrously funny .", "a sequel that 's just as funny , heartwarming and well-crafted as the original .", "22 MOV ups the bromance between channing tatum and jonah hill to a new level , yet forgets that a great buddy cop movie needs quality action to go along with the gut busting laughs .", "22 MOV belongs to hill and tatum . thankfully , their offbeat , odd-couple vibe is still ridiculously entertaining .", "magnificently stupid with flashes of brilliance . `` 22 MOV '' is a zany action comedy that fizzles a bit at the end , but generates enough laughter to make it a very worthwhile sequel .", "while `` 22 MOV '' may not be quite as funny as its predecessor , it still manages to deliver a multitude of laughs over its stretched runtime , all while using pretty much the same premise .", "if there 's a funnier comedy this year , it 'll have to be something quite special .", "provides another showcase for the ever-shlubby hill and the ever-hunky tatum", "despite some inevitable lulls , several scenes are as consistently funny as anything we 've seen for years . and , like sandra bullock and melissa mccarthy in last year 's the heat , the dialogue between the two leads makes up for the holes in the plot .", "full of inside jokes -lrb- hey , we 're making a sequel -rrb- and fantastic performances , `` 22 MOV '' is everything you want in a sequel and more .", "its adhering to formula nearly kills the film for that middle hour while the bromance plot thread is arguably based in latent homophobia .", "a brazen sequel that 's both slightly disappointing and a reliable , often riotous `` laffer '' in the old variety trade-magazine parlance .", "enjoyably light on its feet , even when it 's self-consciously treading old ground .", "if 22 is n't as trim and tight as its predecessor , it 's certainly smarter and more heartfelt . whether this sequel is better than the original is up for debate , but the franchise has definitely grown up .", "lord and miller continue to mine a similar vein of absurdist gags , boosting the laughs-per-minute ratio of its predecessor .", "like its stars , `` MOV '' gets extra credit for getting by on charm while sticking to the rules .", "remember that feeling when you realized the hangover ii was a sequel that has as many laughs as a texas spring has tornadoes .", "not what you would call fully formed , but it 's still fun . channing tatum keeps getting better and better .", "what separates 22 MOV from sequel mediocrity is that everyone 's in on the joke .", "if it seemed channing tatum and jonah hill could n't possibly exceed their over-the-top buddy cop antics of 21 MOV , you lost that bet .", "22 MOV might not be as consistently funny as its predecessor , but it is twice as clever .", "hill may still be the experienced rib tickler , but tatum may soon take his crown and together they make 22 MOV a real treat ." ], "summary": "boasting even more of the bromantic chemistry between its stars -- and even more of the goofy , good-natured humor that made its predecessor so much fun -- 22 MOV is the rare sequel that improves upon the original .", "id": "771355226" }, { "movie": "trespass_2011", "reviews": [ "the plot is overly complex and the tension frequently abated by the introduction of unnecessary flashbacks .", "cloth-eared dialogue saps the tension , while the plot twists with the likelihood of a brett ratner rehearsal session . leave your disbelief at the door .", "cage performs with the conviction that comes from a long experience in bad movies . but kidman seems totally uninterested .", "someone should have told writer karl gajdusek that if you 're going to pilfer it 's best to take the gems , rather than filling your movie with stuff you found in the drawer marked `` clich\u00e9s '' .", "it 's so routine that it 's as if joel schumacher showed his final cut to producer avi lerner and said , `` avi , look , i put together a thing ! '' `` you mean you finished the movie ? '' `` no , it 's not a movie , it 's a thing .", "do n't spend thirteen bucks on MOV unless you 're running from the cops and you need a place to hide , wait for it to hit vod .", "people have been strung up for lesser crimes than this ...", "ektos apo trypes , aythairesies , kai amhxanes prospatheies sygkalypshs dolofonikwn nekrwn xronwn , pasxei thlibera sto basiko dramatiko ths aksona", "MOV is a crime , and so is this movie .", "laughably bad thriller that teeters on the edge of so-bad-it 's - good territory , thanks to pointlessly flashy direction , a dreadful script , a ridiculous plot and some reliably bonkers over-acting from nicolas cage .", "a thriller where the rich prove their survival skills in a clash with thieves who invade their luxurious home .", "schumacher makes it all look good - he ca n't help himself - but somehow that just makes it nastier .", "-lsb- a -rsb- putrefying piece of genre junk .", "looks like it has the nugget of a good idea that could have led to a good movie , but this is n't it .", "i never thought i 'd say this about a joel schumacher project , but this thing could use some neon .", "an overheated mess , a thriller with no thrills that allows everyone involved to play up their worst tendencies .", "it 's sloppy and obvious , with curves so un-serpentine they might as well be straightaways", "as things fall apart , the bellowing starts and MOV turns into a repetitive cycle of characters being dragged around at gunpoint and occasionally beaten , it grows numbing and difficult to invest in the fate of anyone on-screen .", "unbearably bad", "i wished a bottle would roll by so i could stick an s.o.s. in it .", "is `` MOV '' the moment when we give up , and accept the path nic cage has chosen for himself ? or should we just keep averting our eyes , until he 's done cashing easy checks ?", "look , i do n't want to be mean , but you 've got people in this movie who ca n't move their upper lips . it 's bizarre .", "an astoundingly senseless thriller featuring nicolas cage , nicole kidman , and a band of masked goons . -lrb- the word thriller is used very loosely . -rrb-", "can someone explain what nicolas cage and nicole kidman are doing in a chaotic and sadistic home-invasion thriller , shot in digital colors so radioactive they appear to have leaked out of the fukushima nuclear plant ?", "one of those movies that an audience knows is terrible the minute it starts .", "the film is fairly typical of the genre .", "a home invasion thriller that may set a record for the number of times the characters point loaded pistols at one another 's heads .", "the way -lsb- nicolas cage -rsb- chews into the hysterically overwrought dialogue qualifies as a guilty pleasure in its own right .", "when he 's not yelling , cage for some reason speaks as if he has peanut butter in his mouth , which is hilarious even when he 's not talking about the etymology of the word ` diamond . '", "MOV is still something of a dog ...", "reeks of desperation , of careers in free-fall and of a movie company shoveling product out the door like so much manure . even at 85 minutes , it feels interminable .", "with such talent at work , one might figure it would be a halfway decent movie . well , think again .", "a home-invasion flick that grabs viewers by the throat and only stops squeezing long enough to wipe sweat from its palms ...", "` MOV ' is a pointless movie that does nothing to further the home invasion subgenre .", "generic but effective home-invasion thriller .", "something odd is happening to mr. cage 's face . his skin is yellow , his cheeks are swollen , and his head is too big for his body .", "addled by uninspired dialogue and hammy plot twists , it could have used some anti-corporate demonstrators looking for economic parity to add interest .", "sprinkle on a helping of the aforementioned crazed cage , and you have a pretty delicious little snack to stave off your hunger until the holiday movie season buffet arrives .", "hokum that belongs on dvd rather than in theaters . a sad comedown for cage , kidman , and schumacher .", "MOV gets a little too campy , offers nothing in the way of subtext and ultimately leaves you a little unfulfilled-but frankly , it 's fun that delivers on the promises of its premise .", "while working entirely within genre conventions and expectations , scripter karl gajdusek nonetheless manages to spring a few surprises while revealing character motivations , often suggesting that nothing , not even flashbacks , should be taken at face value .", "the opening 20 minutes are enjoyable enough , but then pure lameness causes the whole thing to come to pieces .", "it 's the worst nicolas cage film ever . which is saying something .", "yes , it 's a mess .", "in the end , `` MOV '' steps all over its own genre strengths .", "a thunderously stupid home invasion thriller about a diamond dealer who has a wall-safe with the password ` diamond . ' yes , seriously .", "as terrible movies go , it 's not unentertaining - once you surrender to its trashmeister idiocy .", "why does nick cage do these films ?", "... a missed opportunity of distressing proportions ...", "first-time screenwriter karl gajdusek 's attempts at making timely observations about the dangers of living beyond one 's means are drowned out by the howlers coming out of the characters ' mouths .", "MOV is assembly-line product through and through -- unabashedly mediocre and instantly forgettable . a joel schumacher joint , in other words .", "it 's movies like this that make the star-rating system inadequate to really explain how much pleasure there can be in 90 minutes of bad cinema .", "nothing about MOV works .", "a belabored , often laughable melee of sound , fury and unnecessarily frenzied cinematography in which everyone yells , screams and threatens while any sense of dread quickly drains away .", "it 's a strange variety of entertainment that hooks you throughout and then leaves you nothing but glad that it 's over .", "if , by the time characters resort to nail guns and gasoline cans to confront the villains , you 're not laughing uncontrollably ... you might be charged with having no sense of humor .", "it 's a terribly funny movie , and it 's clear the humor that rises out of karl gajdusek 's screenplay is unintentional .", "85 % material that 's been lifted from hostage , panic room , whatever , and 15 % plain old stupid .", "though hardly indispensable , MOV is an agreeable time-waster distinguished by one good performance and enough clever twists to keep you , if not on the edge of your seat , at least happily alert , guessing along with the plot .", "schumacher directs like he 's on amyl nitrite , flinging the camera around the rooms of his gargantuan set to establish a tone of frantic tension .", "it simply aims to keep us on the proverbial seat edge , and it mostly succeeds , even if gajdusek 's twist-filled script has more turnovers than a closely fought football game .", "you wonder what on earth inspired cage and kidman to sign on for this dreck , as you ponder how long schumacher can possibly string this out .", "MOV begins loopy and mounts in craziness until it 's frothing-at-the-mouth insane .", "i forgive nicolas cage his trespasses -lrb- and MOV -rrb- .", "the script has `` insert clompingly stupid backstory '' written into every speech .", "intense yet atrocious wannabe thriller with ludicrous , laughable dialogue", "-lsb- video -rsb- joel schumacher continues on his career-long habit of hits and misses with a home invasion suspense thriller that signifies yet another dip .", "trust me , a little of this numbing picture goes a long way -- it 's only a matter of minutes before the viewer feels like a hostage too .", "some are labeling MOV a b movie , but that 's hardly the tone that comes across ." ], "summary": "another claustrophobic thriller that joel schumacher can churn out in his sleep , MOV is nasty and aggressive , more unpleasant than entertaining .", "id": "771208334" }, { "movie": "aimee_and_jaguar", "reviews": [ "while at times a bit too slow , especially during a handful of love scenes that verge on being gratuitous , the strength of the two lead actresses as desperate , devoted lovers is enough to engage audiences throughout the entire pic .", "a sophisticated and beautiful feature debut from german television director max f\u0441rberb\u0448ck .", "it 's a breathtakingly beautiful film , never mawkish , never less than vibrantly real and never more affecting than when it explores the nature of a love that ` dare not speak its name ' , not in nazi germany", "a well acted , sensual tale of lesbian romance set against the tumultuous setting of wwii and the holocaust .", "powerful and touching . good touching .", "startlingly poignant , aim\u0436e and jaguar is a story about dreams . if you have ever dreamed , do n't miss it .", "theatre director max f\u0441rberb\u0448ck could hardly have picked a more intense and heartbreaking story for his cinema debut .", "a hist\u0437ria -lrb- real -rrb- \u0436 interessante , mas o roteiro e a dire\u0443\u0441o s\u0441o enfadonhos . grandes atua\u0443\u0448es em um filme que n\u0441o causa impacto , apenas sono .", "... a rich melange of tumultous and sensual events . the story , acting , direction , set design and costuming fluidly combine to give a passionate portrait of living and loving on the edge of despair in a place and time where there was no tomorrow .", "an enchanting and provocative love story .", "a striking , poignant , and seductive saga of a jewish lesbian in love with the dallying wife of a nazi officer and mother of four .", "a gripping espionage yarn , an overwhelming love story and a devastating history lesson .", "director max f\u00e4rberb\u00f6ck showcases this wonderful eye-candy with noirish lighting but some overdone dramatic pauses .", "there is surprisingly little emotional amplitude .", "i was so busy trying to figure out what the hell was going on that there was just no way i was going to enjoy it .", "its series of quiet but moving realizations of the utter ubiquity of the nazi horror in every single aspect of life , even something as hidden as a sexual sub-culture , is powerful indeed .", "f\u00e4rberb\u00f6ck 's adaptation relies on the hefty talents of its two leading ladies .", "... a fascinating , bold , and deeply personal story of a woman 's empowerment .", "f\u00e4rberb\u00f6ck 's engrossing debut conveys the devotion between aim\u00e9e -lrb- juliane k\u00f6hler -rrb- and felice schragenheim -lrb- maria schrader -rrb- .", "what we have here is not just a story of love , loss , and discovery ; it is a piece of history .", "schrader plays felice with a kind of doomed and reckless bravery .", "this is a showcase for the two female leads , who are superb .", "we are lucky that , at 80 years of age , wust decided to share her experiences -- they are pretty incredible to behold .", "rewarding viewing , evocatively re-creating a narrative milieu and war-time berlin rarely seen on screen .", "the film ... is n't up to the complexities the story raises , but it 's a consistently engrossing piece of work .", "this is more than a same-sex success , it 's a most affecting , most sensual on-screen love affair , period .", "with a solid support cast , this is always an engaging and moving drama .", "a vivid slice of life -- and love -- during the 1944 allied bombardment of berlin .", "certainly this is great dramatic fodder , and first-time feature film director max farberbock has given a terrific visual style , resonance , sense of hope and power to the material .", "watching MOV is like having your eyes anxiously affixed on a cracked mirror on the wall , delicately held together , yet on the brink of violently shattering to the ground .", "based on a true story , though that does n't really make it all that compelling .", "an immensely affecting period drama .", "it reminds us that the holocaust continues to be a vital source for singular , inspirational stories .", "a lustrously shot , well-acted and immensely moving romantic drama .", "a reminder that truth never ceases to be stranger than fiction .", "f\u0441rberb\u0448ck does a great job at capturing lilly 's first nervous foray into lesbianism , as well as felice 's cautiousness at becoming involved in a potentially dangerous relationship .", "in the midst of all the chaos of war , how people chose to live and how they survived emotionally is conveyed well and without the usual cliches .", "f\u00e4rberb\u00f6ck 's film is ambitious and tells a fascinating story about the unlikeliest of relationships , but it 's unfortunate that there was n't a bit more bite .", "k\u00f6hler gives a strong performance with equal measures of fiery passion and frightened vulnerability ." ], "summary": "a gripping examination of sexual taboos , set against the backdrop of nazi germany , bolstered by a subtly shaded script and a strong cast .", "id": "17209" }, { "movie": "blame_it_on_fidel", "reviews": [ "-lsb- director -rsb- gavras has undeniable skill as a screenwriter , suggesting that the production might have benefited from a more experienced helmer .", "one of those rare films that maintain unwavering fidelity to a child 's view of the world .", "ridiculously charming .", "gavras 's style is already as assured as her father 's , and her ability to balance the audience 's understanding of grown-up beliefs with that of a rapidly maturing girl is deft .", "... an adult-level film that does a great job of giving a child 's view of a world in the throes of change .", "gavras uses anna 's precocious reason to tackle a generation 's idealism head-on .", "a wrenching , funny and wise little picture , with a diva-like junior star at its center .", "the film lacks a sympathetic character even in its eternally petulant child protagonist and is lax in differentiating who 's who .", "politics -- hardly a movie audience 's immediate choice when it comes to entertainment -- becomes a deeply engaging subject in MOV thanks to a 9-year-old charmer who steals our hearts .", "it 's all too easy to read MOV as a simple morality tale , an allegory comparing conservatism to childishness , and political awakening to emotional maturity .", "the film contains a surprising amount of understated humor .", "gavras does not impose a political viewpoint upon her material , but respects the convictions of her various characters .", "a little gem with a wonderful performance from little nina kervel .", "illuminating , witty and touching , MOV is a gem just awaiting discovery .", "a deft , original , entertaining and thoughtful look at that moment when we realise the world 's just that bit more complicated than we thought .", "cleaving to a child 's - eye-view of a time of significant social change , documentarist-turned-feature director julie gavras elicits excellence from kervel as the stubborn schoolgirl struggling to deal with the lack of certainties in her new lifestyle .", "what makes this film a real gem is kervel 's brilliant performance , personifying this stage of growing up with a perfect balance of bratishness , bright intellect , humour and innocence . she 's a revelation .", "a smart , amusing take on some serious issues that 's fortunate in its excellent young leading lady and its ability to laugh at its own political excesses .", "gavras is an experienced maker of documentaries , but this assured , intelligent film marks an auspicious beginning to her career in fictional features .", "french director julie gavras neatly side-steps the cliches of 70s radicalism with her terrific debut .", "gavras maintains a light touch throughout that allows us a rare chance to emphasize with both the radical and conservative elements at the family dinner table .", "the young heroine is rather humorless , but gavras 's intelligence and skillful touch are evident throughout .", "strange , bearded house guests shake up a peeved little girl 's life , infusing it with political imagination and wonder .", "it offers a coming-of-age tale told unflaggingly from the point of view of a pouting , humorless and unsympathetic nine-year-old .", "the comedy always feels enriching rather than demeaning .", "a smashing , funny and politically sophisticated feature debut from julie -lrb- daughter of costa -rrb- gavras .", "a wry and observant film with plenty of understated humour .", "MOV ! is a knowing lesson in film and history that often makes its serious point with a dose of wise humor .", "... simply one of the best films ever from a child 's point of view .", "the film beautifully captures the interplay between self-involved parents who expect their children to embrace their beliefs and the free-thinking young girl with a mind of her own .", "a lively , perceptive and historically intriguing coming-of-age story .", "watching the dawn of anna 's political consciousness is a delight .", "julie gavras 's wonderful film , MOV , is a deeply political movie that sidesteps strident polemics by viewing the ideological conflicts within a french-spanish family through the eyes of a smart , willful child .", "that -lsb- kevel 's -rsb- in almost every frame , with the entire film resting on her shoulders , makes documentarian gavras 's first feature even more remarkable .", "what is it about little girls and franco that brings out the best in filmmakers ?", "-lsb- director -rsb- gavras knowingly handles -lsb- protagonist -rsb- kervel 's little flashes of sympathy for the cause .", "a remarkably assured and elegant debut , MOV is the kind of smart , sophisticated and fiercely humanistic film that all movies should aspire to be , but seldom do .", "gavras ' film captures both the time period and the queasy inconsistencies of childhood . and in kervel , gavras has found a real gem .", "an extraordinary french drama about the reactions of a conservative nine-year old girl to the radical politics and changes brought into her life by her parents .", "from solemn little kervel , gavras has drawn one of the great child performances on film .", "julie gavras , offspring of famed greek-born filmmaker constantin costa-gavras , makes an assured feature-directing debut with MOV .", "kervel-bey gives anna an appealing combination of bewilderment and a determination to fight back , and , besides the humor of anna 's cultural clash , the film shows her growth in beginning to understand her parents and her new world .", "wonderfully engaging ." ], "summary": "MOV is a charming comedy of manners , class , and politics , elevated by a remarkable performance from lead child actor nina kervel .", "id": "528343561" }, { "movie": "1004186-cinderella", "reviews": [ "when those little mice bust a gut trying to drag that key up hundreds of stairs in order to free MOV , i do n't care how many kubrick pictures you 've seen , it 's still exciting .", "disney , while sticking to the particulars of the most famous rags-to-riches story of them all , also introduced a host of delightful new characters .", "one of the greatest of the great old disney classics .", "while it has its charms , i never considered disney 's 1950 take on the fairy tale to be worthy of the ` masterpiece ' label the studio slaps on all of its animated features .", "far from the peaks of pinocchio or sleeping beauty , but still a solidly enjoyable disney venture .", "a true cinematic fairytale", "the story has great charm , wit , humor , and zip , everything to entertain kids and adults alike .", "the musical numbers woven into the fantasy are generally solid , with at least two or three likely hit tunes standing out in the half-dozen songs .", "MOV is beguiling proof that walt disney still knows his way around fairyland .", "yes , it 's beautiful , and yes , it 's classic . but it 's also got rather a bland pair of lead characters . that said , it 's still enjoyable family entertainment , and shall remain forever so .", "great animation , but not quite as great as the pre-war standard ; deeply problematic gender issues in a reed-thin story ; some brilliant characters , a lot of fairly dull ones .", "sweet fairy tale classic for little princesses .", "it 's not all action , and while there 's plenty to keep the kids entertained , there are also nice poetic touches of animated artistry that will appeal more to adults .", "one of disney 's most admired feature animations , MOV was nominated for several oscars .", "one of the best animated features in the disney stable , this was also the box office smash that saved walt 's studio during the precarious post-war period .", "this 1950 effort shows disney at the tail end of his best period , when his backgrounds were still luminous with depth and detail and his incidental characters still had range and bite .", "excellent animation , marvelous color , and lovely music make MOV a delight all the way around .", "a trim hour and change worth of gerber life lessons .", "the 1950 classic arrives on dvd for the first time with its charm enhanced and plenty of extras to delight fans of the fairytale .", "represents , alas , the early stages of disney-itis ... follows the fairy-tale template -lsb- but -rsb- does n't do much to elevate the material the way -lsb- disney 's -rsb- earlier features did .", "disney films have lasted for years by those good-natured moments and the superlative animation ...", "of all the MOV stories on film , this one has the most villainous stepmother -lrb- voiced by eleanor audley -rrb- and the most charming mice .", "... there 's no denying the overall effectiveness of this familiar tale .", "as usual , everything is slightly glossy , soppy and hearty , yet not a string is left untwanged .", "considering the army of craftsmen who work on a disney cartoon film , it is hard to give individual credits , for the memorable qualities .", "it 's lynchian -- bu\u0144uelian , too .", "the mice are the reason to see this movie" ], "summary": "the rich colors , sweet songs , adorable mice and endearing -lrb- if suffering -rrb- heroine make MOV a nostalgically lovely charmer .", "id": "9371" }, { "movie": "jauja", "reviews": [ "a hallucinatory trip down the rabbit hole that summons memories of gus van sant 's `` gerry . ''", "alonso 's audacious leaps of time , his incisive view of the wiles of combat and the rigors of survival , and his ingenious reflection of present-day splendors in past plunder lend the visually sumptuous experience a haunting depth .", "even if director lisandro alonso meanders a bit , he pulls a rabbit hole out of his hat in the end ...", "revisionist westerns are usually dour affairs , foregrounding guilt over the imperial legacy of runaway expansionism , but MOV is refreshingly absurdist , consistently including shots for seemingly no reason other than to be dry punchlines .", "alonso 's most narratively knotty film yet ...", "beautiful , haunting and hypnotic , MOV sees its own legend grow disproportionately , until we all , in our search for sense , get lost on the way .", "challengingly spellbinding .", "though admiring the filmmaker 's innovation and inclination for minimalism , the lack of linearity and narrative structure is to the film 's detriment .", "` MOV ' is a film to make you wonder .", "miraculous . blithely does its own thing , but with staggering assurance and artistry .", "`` MOV '' makes one cryptic leap too many at the end , but until then it evocatively confounds .", "in his latest feature , the breathtaking MOV , argentinian director lisandro alonso demonstrates that he is the rare filmmaker who trusts his audience enough to winnow his films down to the bone .", "those open to other possibilities in cinematic language may marvel at alonso 's ability to hold a viewer rapt through little more than landscape , movement and sound , and ideas that emerge implicitly rather than being directly stated .", "MOV may not be for everyone , but those who give it a chance will find a complex , beautiful film .", "a ponderously paced but artistically sure journey ; it 's a film that finds strength in the universality of its ideas and its spiritual dimension , one that 's enlivened by instantly iconic imagery and a keen sense of the strange .", "there 's so much to take in here that at times i almost felt as if i were absorbing it through my skin .", "there 's a line between artfully contemplative and just plain boring . this film eventually crosses it into snoozeville .", "mysteriously opaque and thrillingly spooky , lisandro alonso 's MOV evokes what many films aspire to yet rarely achieve : a genuine lucid state of cinema-as-dream .", "mortensen injects the director 's esoteric , anti-psychological themes with a psychological reality that makes them all the more tantalizing .", "alonso sustains an atmosphere of otherworldly immanence in a vivid setting , with a style involving long takes with characters posed as if in tableaux vivants .", "with its richly saturated , meticulously composed sublime landscapes , this might be the year 's best-looking film .", "experimental filmmaker lisandro alonso moves further toward narrative in the gorgeous , elusive MOV with producer-composer viggo mortensen a dream figure at the center of a restlessly unfamiliar , even radical nineteenth-century argentine western .", "viewers who can accept a defiantly slow pace , a few loose plot threads and a directorial style that works by intimation , will be rewarded .", "if the idea was that getting into the mental hell of these characters that are caught in a dry landscape would suddenly give good pictures of wild nature devouring characters who deserved no better fate , MOV falls short , a lot . -lsb- full review in spanish -rsb-", "it 's a puzzling head-tripper .", "if you miss 1980s-era werner herzog , see this .", "this fifth feature by the brilliant argentine filmmaker lisandro alonso is his first with professional actors and a period setting , yet it meshes thematically with his other work .", "shot in an almost square ratio by finland 's minimalist cinematography master timo salminen , MOV is a harsh , gorgeous dream that defies resolution .", "alonso 's films are as much about men moving through the landscape , leaving behind the rules of civilization to become lost in the wilderness .", "mortensen is meticulous and mesmerising , as a man who simply keeps going when all logic seems to be deserting his experience .", "it is undoubtedly beautiful , brooding and enigmatic , with mortensen 's grizzled presence holding the attention , but quite what it all means leaves you scratching your head in puzzlement .", "when inge elopes with a soldier , dinesen searches across the unforgiving but beautifully shot landscape , in a sort of western that turns into a surreal exploration of his existential angst , then segues to his descendants in the present day .", "for all its evocation of the ` classical ' western , MOV also , at moments , conjures a chilled-out alejandro jodorowsky -- less obviously surrealistic but no less provocative in its core propositions .", "mortensen has just the right class of vacant charisma for such a gouged-out protagonist and timo salminen 's photography bathes every image in surprising lights .", "in abstract western in which the harsh but claustrophobic beauty of the landscape is intensified by the confines of academy ratio framing ...", "all in all , a quietly magical piece of cinema , a mind-bender of the subtlest kind .", "entrancing , inventively shot and played with a wonderful sense of bizarro metaphysics", "if you applauded the genre-tweaking twists of gus van sant 's `` gerry '' and kelly reichardt 's `` meek 's cutoff , '' you may have a good time -lrb- or at least an interesting one -rrb- at acclaimed argentine director lisandro alonso 's latest puzzler , `` MOV . ''", "the performances mesh beautifully with the filmmaking , which is more keenly attuned to fluctuations in the natural world that all but a handful of modern motion pictures .", "i never once doubted that i was in the hands of a master filmmaker .", "staggeringly beautiful movie with almost no story , a representative `` new argentine film ''", "where ` MOV ' winds up is bizarre , even for an argentine art-western , but the move makes sense if you catch on its wavelength , a task made all the easier due to not only to its gradual , hypnotic pace but also its playful tone .", "the rounded-off corners of the almost-square frames evoke early movies and antique photographs , and there is wit and mischief in the way mr. alonso plays with the relationship between what we see , what we do n't see and what we expect to see .", "the film is expansive , pushing the ideas that alonso has probed in the past further than he has ever taken them .", "at its most powerful , MOV suggests the surreal western violence of cormac mccarthy 's blood meridian in the way alonso gradually folds the action into a waking nightmare .", "intriguing , if opaque .", "an extremely enigmatic work that dangles possible meanings before viewers , who are forced to put their thinking caps on .", "-lsb- MOV features -rsb- some gorgeously observed tableaus but also stretches of dry tedium , hemmed in by a layered and mannered aesthetic .", "it 's a film of fussy , cultivated austerity ; alonsolytes will debate what it 's hiding , while others will suggest `` an actual movie '' as the answer .", "... we felt set adrift , marooned in a vast endless void of narrative nothingness .", "it 's a movie designed for maximum intellectual appeal , even if the emotional impact is slight .", "a quest saga whose metaphysical digressions and dream interludes will fascinate and frustrate in equal measure ." ], "summary": "MOV will prove haunting for those lured in by its deliberate pace and lovely visuals , though it may test some viewers ' patience .", "id": "771379776" }, { "movie": "ai_artificial_intelligence", "reviews": [ "the best fairy tale -- the most disturbing , complex and intellectually challenging boy 's adventure story -- mr. spielberg has made .", "the first really strange , risk-taking , hollywood movie i 've seen in 2001 .", "jude law 's gigolo joe -lsb- is -rsb- a jiminy cricket with a libido , even if it is mechanical .", "an often disjointed melange drawn from classic stories and old movies .", "haley joel osment and jude law make this into a must-see experience .", "it 's the kind of screwup you get only from a master filmmaker .", "a haunting and wondrous story about the thin and rapidly blurring line between reality and illusion .", "aside from the tantalizing moral questions , a.i. is a delight visually .", "you 're encouraged to ponder complex questions while enjoying an amazing ride .", "at best it 's brilliant , but lukewarm -- lacking spielberg 's emotional heat and kubrick 's icy intellect .", "filled with endless imagination and wonder ... sure to go down , in time , as one of the brilliant achievements in modern moviemaking .", "the most philosophical film in kubrick 's canon , the most intelligent in spielberg 's , and quite possibly the film with the most contemporary relevance that either one has made since kubrick released dr. strangelove in 1964 .", "`` you 'll either love it or hate it . ''", "a.i. will have you leaving the theater shaking your head in disbelief .", "while it does not coalesce perfectly , the movie does offer some disturbing images .", "a.i. artificial intelligence is both ambitious and intelligent , not to mention lengthy -lrb- 145 minutes -rrb- . it 's not spielberg 's best ... but that 's good enough for me .", "the most puzzling , trippiest piece of pop fantasy of spielberg 's career .", "the film is very long , almost three hours , and it seems that a quasi-happy ending was tacked on . be that as it may , it 's well worth the price of a ticket .", "the result is less than a masterpiece but much , much more than the typical movie fare .", "mostly overburdened by the responsibility to stand as an adult fairy tale that integrates the visions of two very distinct filmmakers .", "a spellbinding , challenging , and frustrating future-shock epic .", "a master work that will haunt and inspire filmgoers for years to come .", "a film of style , substance and some subtle wit that dares to ponder the future of the human species .", "for every moment it frustrates , there are a dozen that amaze and provoke us , asking us questions about the meanings of life and love .", "if only spielberg 's faith in movie magic were n't linked -- biochemically , it now seems -- to a lack of faith in the potential of humankind .", "the real joy of the movie for me , and why i recommend it despite everything , was watching spielberg salute kubrick , his friend and mentor , while at the same time defy him .", "seriously flawed but provocative and fascinating nonetheless .", "2 hours and 24 minutes of concept stretching and heart massage , a long campaign of total manipulation .", "the structureless , meandering , slow-motion endlessness of kubrick combined with the fuzzy , cuddly mindlessness of spielberg .", "a frustrating but ultimately boring experience that i kept wishing was more exciting and engaging .", "bizarre , upsetting , wonderful .", "the kind of film that ... haunts your thoughts after you leave the theater", "a.i. 's success rests entirely on the narrow shoulders of haley joel osment , and he is astonishing - the finest child actor since jodi foster .", "a sad , strangely fascinating story that holds a viewer 's interest but mostly leaves his emotions alone .", "a.i. is a modern fairy tale for the more computer savvy audience .", "spielberg atraviesa por el mejor momento de su carrera al realizar la que es , por mucho , su pel\u00edcula m\u00e1s arriesgada y ambiciosa hasta la fecha", "it will probably please neither lovers of the late film maker 's cerebral work , or fans of the incorrigible populist 's crowd-pleasing blockbusters .", "spielberg never surmounts his inability to avoid sentimental diatribes .", "spielberg , like his young hero , reaches beyond himself with this dark but transcendent exploration of the fate of the human spirit .", "... here is the ideal summer motion picture : the one in which style and substance work hand-in-hand to encourage lengthy discussions amongst its viewers .", "packed with freaky , haunting , generally amazing images .", "it ends up a glorious failure , an impressive mess .", "ambitiously intriguing ? yup . absolutely insightful ? sure . almost intolerable ? yes .", "even if you do n't much care for the experience , a.i. will ... plant ideas in your brain that ca n't be easily shaken loose .", "-lrb- 1 -rrb- yes , it is worth seeing and worth the price of admission . -lrb- 2 -rrb- no , do not bring the kids .", "a mesmerizing journey into the very soul of what it means to be human .", "it falters in trying to accomplish its primary objective and that is to make us feel for david swinton .", "a mixed bag of science-fiction contemplations .", "an undecided sortie down the middle of the road , urged from within toward both the light and the dark but lacking the spirit to give itself over to either .", "it 's astounding because , like so much of kubrick 's work , it resurrects the sense of cinema as an ongoing emergency .", "the combination of genres -- science fiction with fairy tale -- often triumphs but sometimes misfires .", "not nearly spielberg 's best , a.i. is a smart and entertaining piece of escapism ... surely better than anything else littering your local multiplex screens this summer .", "even though spielberg 's heart is beating throughout a.i. you still feel the ghost of kubrick watching from hidden vantage points", "a.i. artificial intelligence movie review", "temperamentally , spielberg and kubrick are such polar opposites that a.i. has the moment-to-moment effect of being completely at odds with itself .", "the blending between spielberg 's childish sentiment and kubrick 's cold , hard stare is remarkable . it 's so expertly made that it takes the breath away .", "my wish would have been for a story line and a central character that were less unsavory in spirit and unlikely in motivation . which is not to say there is n't a vision here worthy of our support .", "technically it is well-made ...", "it 's an almost laughably creaky museum piece .", "a.i. is an enthralling piece of filmmaking , and the least flabby spielberg picture in several years -- until the ending .", "the fissures lurk throughout the film , but a.i. works around them quite admirably ... until the unfortunate concluding sequence .", "a film that is as haunting as it is painfully messy .", "this is spielberg 's loving tribute to stanley kubrick and a bloated tribute to himself .", "deeply thoughtful and thoroughly fascinating .", "never less than fascinating .", "there are some very nice sequences in this film , but overall it is stylistically uneven .", "a.i. is certainly more thought provoking than any summer blockbuster we 've been presented with yet this season , but it leaves us wishing spielberg had applied more of kubrick 's obsessive fine tuning .", "spielberg laid the burden of the film on osment like a backpack , and the young trouper carries it .", "a.i. exhilarates , frustrates and provokes : it 's the most ambitious hollywood movie in sight .", "a. 1 : artificial intelligence is another spielberg exercise in b.s. : big statement .", "it 's a hollywood film that defies what a hollywood film is about , while in essence still being a hollywood film of excesses and special effects .", "fascinating , if uneven and ultimately rather silly .", "if you enjoy good thought provoking sci-fi then you should really enjoy this movie .", "a seething psychological bonanza .", "spielberg fans will be shocked that a.i. does n't deliver all the warm fuzzies and easy answers of e.t.", "spielberg combines thought and vision , mind and heart , to create an entirely engaging movie .", "at least it restates hal 's case with commendable vehemence and a kaleidoscopic ingenuity .", "the first movie of the summer worthy of serious debate", "my first impression of the ending was that it was too sentimental , yet upon another viewing , i had a completely different reaction -- utter appreciation of a work of beauty .", "a sometimes uncomfortable , often brilliant and visionary blending of ... two vastly different styles .", "a movie with complex and rich themes - but a surplus of them . apparently little time was spent shaping them into something multi-dimensional but eventually cohesive .", "mr. spielberg , your love is real . your movie , sadly , is not .", "what makes this world so compelling is that spielberg shows us , as few others could have , how ordinary people like ourselves feel living in it .", "it will leave you feeling disturbed , distraught , confused , and more than a little emotional .", "a.i. is a great yarn , a fantasy-filled sci-fi adventure with a heart .", "because audiences are so predisposed to a 1-2-3 style of storytelling , one viewing may do an injustice to convince someone of its power .", "we become truly human only when we can both give and receive love : also sprach spielberg .", "a good deal of a.i. is striking and memorable , but it 's a distinctly uneven picture whose reach exceeds its grasp .", "parts of the film get phantom-menaced down a bit , especially in one scene that features the voice of robin williams , but for the most part , it 's all good .", "it is n't every day that you get to watch a movie and think about how great it is while you 're actually watching it .", "the film is neither too cold nor too sentimental for its own good , and its ambitions remain fitfully engaging while its promise goes mostly unachieved .", "a really interesting and thought provoking story .", "for all of its underdeveloped potential and truncated subplots , there 's still enough of value in a.i. to make it a captivating experience .", "a.i. is a clash of the titans , a jumble , an oedipal drama , a carny act . i want to see it again .", "-lsb- a -rsb- fascinating wreck .", "... it leaves us wishing spielberg had applied more of kubrick 's obsessive fine tuning .", "a disappointment of unsuspected proportions .", "for its first three-quarters , `` a.i. '' is science-fiction at its most provocative and chilling . ... but then , `` a.i. '' takes a disastrous turn .", "los sue\u0144os de un visionario en las manos de un genio ... i.a. inteligencia artificial : el choque y la sinergia de dos leyendas : kubrick y spielberg .", "love it or hate it , it 's a triumph of innovative film-making , a blend of science and humanity , and a brilliant collaboration of two acknowledged masters .", "one of spielberg 's most thought-provoking efforts .", "spielberg has never walked such a dangerous tightrope , never made a movie so fearless .", "spielberg should thank the heavens that haley joel osment exists . the movie 's success entirely depends on his performance , and his performance is incredible .", "a very long , bizarre , and paranoid movie ...", "the acting throughout is confident and spot-on .", "there 's no question that somehow , some way , director steven spielberg figured out a way to channel the talents and advice of his mentor stanley kubrick as he compiled the incredible , intriguing sci fi stor", "no film scholar would pick the populist spielberg as the esoteric kubrick 's successor . it 's as unlikely as orson welles collaborating with walt disney .", "spielberg 's sci-fi fable is haunting , disturbing , flawed -- and unforgettable .", "bursts under the weight of a tidal wave of ponderous schmaltz .", "it bumps and thumps a bit , more simulated than real , but this odd blending of `` moulin rouge '' and `` bicentennial man '' eventually makes a spectacle of itself .", "is n't half so intriguing as the alliance that created it .", "involving and exasperating , stressing that the desired fusion of two spirits could , in this case at least , generate only friction .", "a cold , boring retread of pinocchio with no characters to grab onto .", "does what truly great science fiction does , which is get you to think about what it means to be human .", "an ambitious , complex , provocative movie .", "if you 're up for something as dark as the brothers grimm can truly be , a.i. 's a trip worth taking .", "a not quite seamless , not completely satisfying but invariably attention-grabbing combination of divergent themes , genres and even story lines .", "during this summer of replicants , it shines as an original work of art .", "a long-winded film , which takes its time to come to the point -- any point .", "too personal and too reckless , but that 's a welcome change in a time of bland and anonymous studio films .", "spielberg crafts a haunting opening and an elegantly ironic ending .", "the most densely layered science fiction film in years : a visionary bedtime story for adults .", "some of a.i. works , some of it fails miserably . half brilliant , half crap .", "a movie to be knocked , chewed and gummed , but not dismissed .", "a.i. is beguilingly enervated by a terror of its own darkness , a frenzied chase down too many separate rabbit holes in an attempt to escape its troubling implications .", "a.i. stands as a work that allows us to see ourselves in the things that we have created . for good or for bad , it is eye opening experience .", "an apt tribute to kubrick , blending a fascinating subject with unsettling imagery .", "spielberg 's insistence on labouring the pinocchio resonance becomes extremely jarring , and nostalgia for the wide-eyed charm of his 1982 masterpiece ` e.t. ' strengthens as the film staggers to its over-wrought climax .", "a.i. is not perfect , but see it ; if you get tired of sitting , hit the concession stand during the third section .", "unquestionably worth seeing ...", "a project nursed for years by kubrick and bequeathed to his friend , a.i. is not only spielberg 's least-pleasant film , it 's a willful self-deconstruction that will make it impossible to look at the director 's films the same way again .", "this could have been a great spielberg movie . this could have been a great kubrick movie . it is neither .", "a scary , exhilarating , disturbing ride into the murkiest celluloid tunnel of love ever filmed .", "a movie in which the intelligence is supposed to be artificial , but it 's the emotions that feel that way .", "too engaging , too ambitious and too bizarre to dismiss .", "a provocative , personal and intensely engaging picture made with big-studio resources and technical magic .", "a film to see with friends . you 'll want to talk about it afterward .", "a gripping return to classic form for a director whose sense of adventure has always been rooted in the mythology of the suburban american family .", "its heart is in the right place . but the intelligence behind the rest of the movie is , well , a little too artificial .", "a picture that entertains , touches the heart and digs below the surface .", "technically dazzling yet emotionally accessible to the inner child in everyone from 9 to 90 .", "while not quite fulfilling , the trip is more than a little intoxicating .", "the most controversial conversation-piece to hit the dumbed-down american movie scene since heaven knows when .", "spielberg . osment . two excellent reasons to sit in a movie theatre .", "while the end of the film seems contrived , it is also brimming with delicious irony concerning david 's previously unrecognized humanity .", "the first two acts of a.i. comprised of an engaging , spooky and somewhat smart story .", "until the gatorade cooler of sappy sentimentality is dumped over the audience 's collective head , a.i. is an admirable cinematic feat .", "for spielberg to take on a downer of a story like a.i. is like santa claus taking charge of the irs .", "a slickly crafted fable , however dark , but it 's shot with haunting poetry .", "striking in looks but peculiarly disturbing in tone , the futuristic tale that began as a kubrick project and finished under writer-director spielberg is more nightmare than feel-good fantasy .", "from kubrickese to spielbergian , something got lost in the translation . what could have been a dark but brilliant film drags on until it finds some kind of happy ending", "it turns out that kubrick was right . the problems this story presented could n't be solved after all .", "a.i. is a different kind of spielberg film , and some audiences may not be ready for it .", "-lsb- the -rsb- middle section -lsb- of a.i. -rsb- contains perhaps spielberg 's finest work , ever .", "although the film itself and its immaculate pacing keeps us believing his love is real - it is impossible to be intellectually honest and come to that conclusion .", "one of spielberg 's most ambitious and problematic films , a result of trying to blend two divergent sensibilities , his and kubrick 's , but as a sci-fi , it has both thematic and visual merits .", "the demands of the story would have been better served by kubrick .", "at heart it 's a terribly anguished expression of rejection , loneliness and love . if only it knew when to stop .", "steven spielberg 's a.i. : artificial intelligence is a return to sci-fi in true form .", "a `` good '' a.i. would be of infinitely less value than the a.i. that we have ... a staggering creation .", "steven spielberg tries to rescue the world 's most elusive filmmaker from an unhappy ending .", "shows a more complicated understanding of childhood than you would expect ...", "at heart it 's a terribly anguished expression of rejection , loneliness and love . if only it knew when to stop .", "flawed , to be sure , but beautifully crafted , unimaginably complex , visually dazzling , rich with metaphor and deeply affecting .", "a confined domestic drama , a considerable morality tale , a fleeting futuristic noir , a persecution parable , an on-the-nose fairy tale adventure ... and then it keeps going .", "an unsettling sci-fi fairytale m\u00e9lange of `` pinocchio '' and `` the wizard of oz '' that 's elegantly written , visually opulent and thematically challenging and discontented . one of steven spielberg 's finest , and most fiercely misread , films .", "provocative movie suitable for teens .", "this may be the first solipsistic epic since 2001 , but it has none of that film 's wonder or mystery .", "it 's odd to see the nearly infallible steven spielberg so visibly unsure of himself .", "stuffed to the gills with sacchariney melodrama meant to tug at all the requisite heartstrings and get us to contemplate ` the bigger questions . '", "a muddled , messy disaster of a film ... cut down to incomprehensible levels with whole sections missing .", "an elusive , spellbinding , and visionary film that tutors us in the spiritual practice of ensouling the world of things through love and imagination .", "the film 's interests are becoming exponentially spielbergian , that is to say , sentimental and soggy .", "the most astounding effect of all is not mecha , but orga : haley joel osment 's transcendent performance .", "if a.i. is sometimes maddening in its circuitous approach to the subject , that is only because it is filled with big ambitions .", "a boldly challenging and abundantly rewarding masterwork .", "are all the a.i. fans out there completely unfazed by the absolutely ludicrous turns this story takes ?", "a sweet , profound fairy tale .", "the ambition lends it nobility , and for once the awe-inspiring visual effects serve the story rather than vice versa .", "i did n't love it , but i have n't been able to stop thinking about it , either .", "fascinating , frustrating , absorbing and exhilarating , a.i. is one for the ages , a transcendent movie that achieves the level of art .", "happily , the beauty shows up before the frustrations set in .", "a movie both wonderful and maddening .", "the boldest go-for-broke film released by a hollywood studio since apocalypse now .", "however you take it , the film works from an immensely challenging and rewarding text .", "it could bear the initials ` e.d. ' -- emotionally deficient .", "takes more chances than any recent movie -- especially those of the science-fiction genre .", "kubrick and spielberg produced the perfect baby .", "a posthumously completed step for kubrick and a step forward for spielberg .", "an awkward , unimportant movie so firmly convinced of its own importance that it borders on vanity .", "uma grande frustra\u0437\u0433o para os f\u0433s de steven spielberg e tamb\u0439m para os de stanley kubrick ." ], "summary": "a curious , not always seamless , amalgamation of kubrick 's chilly bleakness and spielberg 's warm-hearted optimism , a.i. is , in a word , fascinating .", "id": "10652" }, { "movie": "behind_the_sun", "reviews": [ "a tragedy shot through with moments of blinding brilliance .", "provides a window into a radically different time and place .", "-lsb- an -rsb- example of how old-fashioned cinema can still be quietly thrilling .", "salles ' movie taps into matters that are at once ancient and mythical and , needless to say , headline-fresh .", "the first time i saw the brazilian MOV , there were no subtitles , and i could n't understand a word . the second time , it had subtitles , and , to tell you the truth , the first time was better .", "poignant and touching .", "a bleak , beautiful cinematic fable driven by the brutal logic of blood feuds and transformed by an overpowering sense of wonder .", "gets away with its shortfalls almost solely on the basis of its cinematography .", "a sumptuously filmed parable on the futility of violence .", "a family blood feud between neighbors over land in the rural sugarcane fields of the brazil of 1910 .", "the appearance of circus performers in any film not by fellini usually bodes ill , and it does so here .", "a family saga told with all the muscle of the best sergio leone western .", "salles shows us through this powerful parable that true peace will come only when individuals disarm their hearts and act in love .", "MOV is a glorious revelation....critics-and audiences-will welcome this to their top ten lists .", "a stunning tale of revenge and family rebellion in the brazil of 1910 .", "salles ... has crafted a compelling existential tableau .", "salles ... has found the beauty not only in this terrible place , but in a story by novelist ismail kadar\u00e9 that originally was set in albania .", "at once sharp and hallucinatory and , though deliberate and self-consciously ` artistic , ' quite affecting .", "arthouse fans hunger for a lot more than tortilla chips for an appetizer .", "a rewarding parable on the futility of revenge and the redemptive power of self-sacrificing love .", "turns a potentially interesting story into , well , refined sugar .", "despite its bleakness , this sun shines .", "you 're always aware ... that you 're watching a quaintly middle-class , museum-poster notion of an ` elemental ' peasant fable .", "the trajectory is grimly inevitable , and yet its final descent still manages to startle .", "salles has the confidence of a storyteller too entranced by his tale to worry about the resistance of his audience , which he thus effortlessly overcomes .", "a gorgeously photographed , sun-baked fable about a rural vendetta .", "salles is a master storyteller , and the film 's pacing is flawless .", "a dreary aristotelian tragedy whose contemporary geopolitical relevance can not compensate for the lack of gripping protagonists .", "salles and carvalho turn every moment of MOV into a sumptuous feast for the eyes .", "the film is striking , with painstaking attention to historical detail and excellent cinematography that stands out in addition to the stunning brazilian vistas .", "salles starts with the loudly trumpeted theme , then tacks on a slim plot to justify the clamour .", "as a story about two warring families , it is poignant , beautifully shot , and powerful . as an allegory reflecting on the cycles of violence that threaten all of our futures , it is absolutely necessary .", "becomes nothing more than a waiting game -- an annoying , endless deathwatch .", "full of poetic imagery , dazzling photography and heartfelt performances from a mostly unknown cast .", "there is n't a line that does n't echo with heavy meaning or a character that has a life outside his or her dramatic purpose in this allegory .", "a lovely journey , but it 's like a picture book whose text is merely incidental .", "salles is a fine director with the ability to invest moments with a sense of tragedy and inexorable fate .", "salles here gives a story of inter-familial feuding and violence the kind of resonance that readily invites a leap to wider implications .", "poignant and wrenching .", "after a certain point , no one is right and no one is wrong , both sides have boundless grievances , and it 's the audience that wants to run away with the circus .", "a worthy but somewhat less-than-satisfying follow-up to the oscar-nominated central station .", "it 's a fine movie , but it 's not quite dynamic enough to earn much more than your respect ." ], "summary": "visually poetic , MOV is a powerful statement about cycles of violence .", "id": "11998" }, { "movie": "inside_deep_throat", "reviews": [ "financed by the mafia , always there when you need them most .", "at once amusingly entertaining and yet searingly revealing , MOV is documentary gold", "as an exercise in nostalgia ... MOV is amusing", "funny and saddening .", "a sharp documentary that has comedy , tragedy and , yes , a glimpse of linda lovelace 's party trick .", "well-crafted and , in places , highly informative , but with the exception of some of the original film 's hardcore sex scenes and the aforementioned mob angle , there 's little we have n't been exposed to before -lrb- no pun intended -rrb- .", "three days after president nixon brought a halt to military operations in vietnam , another offensive maneuver was just beginning in minneapolis .", "this keen look at the most successful independent film ever made describes how the film 's distribution and profits were taken over by the mob , and how its director and actors were affected be the social and political powers that sought to use it as a tool", "a polemic on america , and its incapability to be accepting of sexuality by demonizing and stigmatizing the act ...", "move over , alfred kinsey . apparently the unusually avid sex researcher 's knack for shaking up the gatekeepers of traditional moral values , may have been a mere dress rehearsal for deep throat a few decades later .", "its aim is to entertain and to recount a chapter in pop-culture history . it does this reasonably well , though its winking , tongue-in-cheek attitude wears thin after a while .", "unfortunately , just when the film really starts to explore an idea , it moves on to the next one . and the bit about how the adult-film industry has changed since the 1970s was done more effectively in the fictional boogie nights .", "hugely entertaining , but as its smarmy male-centric title implies , ` MOV ' swallows whole the idea that the film was some kind of milestone of free expression .", "it just does n't go deep enough .", "-lsb- a -rsb- wildly , relentlessly entertaining documentary .", "bailey and barbato are n't as interested in the picture itself as they are in the people who made it , a collection of hustlers , crackpots , cranks and stooges colorful enough to inspire elmore leonard .", "MOV is pleasurable but may leave you feeling unfulfilled .", "a class act about a crass act . but how come porn persecutors keep turning out to be the biggest criminals in america ?", "almost everything you 've ever wanted to know about its subject , even if you were afraid to ask .", "it 's weird at first , listening to all these grandfatherly gentlemen talk about the good ole days of porn , but it just adds a surreal element that makes it all the funnier .", "what makes MOV not so easy to swallow is the way it forces us to take a good hard look at our own voyeuristic reflexes or snap moral judgments .", "the documentary works best when exploring how deep throat came to be and what led it to become a financial success and cultural lightning rod .", "it makes a convincing case that the flick that made linda lovelace a household name was a major cultural event .", "bailey and barbato are , as always , master showmen , fixing their story in time with a rhinestone-flashing flair that 's both vividly remembered and relentlessly motive .", "the absorption of deep throat into the political melodrama that was watergate seems to have led to some grandiose statements in messrs. bailey and barbato 's documentary .", "bailey and barbato assemble their material with a sharp eye for detail and bracingly hilarious wit .", "MOV works best as a capsule of an era , using response to the porn classic as a model for national reaction to sexual liberation .", "... a fascinating visit to a period of recent history that now seems unutterably remote .", "hardly a revelation .", "if i did n't know better , i 'd almost think it was made to serve as a high-gloss but insubstantial extra for a dvd release of the hardcore blockbuster that inspired it .", "an entertaining moustaches-and-all documentary that tells an engaging story and draws some thought-provoking parallels .", "interviews with the surviving players , including porn stud harry reams ... make for entertaining viewing .", "-lsb- a -rsb- valuable document of a cultural shift .", "an interesting , but rarely moving , film .", "an engrossing journey into a bizarre moment in american culture .", "... with its 1970s-style groovy graphics and tittering adolescent 's view of sexuality , -lsb- it -rsb- has a willfully disreputable tone , but it provides surprising insight .", "bailey and barbato can only scratch the boogie nights-influenced surface , but they cover the abcs of pornography with undeniable zip .", "clunky and forgettable as a documentary , MOV succeeds entirely thanks to its subject matter", "deep throat was of its era and important to it -- but the film did not , as this documentary would have you believe , create that more permissive era .", "fascinating social criticism and a witty and relevant take on american sexual history .", "plays like a giddy prance through the minefield of the last three decades of american sex and politics .", "if their new film never quite makes the case that one dirty movie set off the culture war that rages across america today , it is a highly entertaining and informative look back .", "bailey and barbato draw a convincing line between the social and political atmosphere of the film and the culture wars of today . the issues are still very much alive .", "things get fresher , funnier and , inevitably , more poignant when we meet the people involved in the making of the movie .", "informative and wickedly entertaining . if you 're into `` hot button '' freedom-of-expression issues , this is a must see !", "smart , high-minded documentary about stupid , low-minded filmmaking has delusions of gravity , but still satisfies .", "the film leaves no doubt that the movie was an important cultural lynchpin in the '70s , but its import beyond those crazy , heady days may have been swept away by the home video revolution .", "an entertaining and moderately informative documentary by fenton bailey and randy barbato .", "still capable of generating controversy .", "MOV may boogie across this scorched terrain to an assortment of period pop songs , but it never lets you forget that that there were a lot of people who got burned .", "if you have n't seen the iconic deep throat , it hardly seems necessary after seeing the documentary .", "the movie uses new and old interviews and newsreel footage to remember a time when porn was brand-new .", "what 's lacking here is a clear point of view .", "a thorough but highly entertaining documentary .", "fenton and barbato also place deep throat firmly in the context of a turbulent time , when making a sex movie was an act of rebellion -lrb- however quixotic -rrb- , rather than a mercenary grab for the goodies .", "makes a diverting case for deep throat as more than just a shadowy cinematic footnote .", "eager to tell one story , MOV neglects the more compelling story within it .", "balanced enough to serve as a cautionary tale that cuts in several directions at once .", "colorfully entertaining , sexually explicit and occasionally insightful .", "a funny and largely fascinating take on one of the film industry 's milestone productions .", "the movie is pornographic . the documentary about the movie is pornographic . is the review of the documentary pornographic ?", "the documentary has no great overriding argument it wants to make -- neither about the politicians-turned-censors who thought the world was coming to an end nor about those who saw deep throat as the apotheosis of american liberty .", "the free-speech agenda is so entrenched that the concept of pornography exploiting women seems to catch the directors flat-footed .", "dr. ruth notes the glaring problem at the film 's center , noting , `` sex is not only for penises . ''", "this trip down memory lane seems to have no agenda and treats principals on both sides of the conflict with respect .", "no matter how far you think it will go , it keeps probing deeper , until it turns your perceptions inside out .", "to me , at least , MOV felt drearily long -lrb- it 's only about 90 minutes -rrb- , and anyone who survived the anti-porn crusades of the '80s or the ` sex positive ' porn of the '90s will find the arguments on all sides depressingly familiar .", "this feeble documentary ends up perpetuating the very hypocrisy it means to probe .", "the contemporary interviews , for the most part , are notable for their wit , but it 's the historical record that makes MOV so fascinating .", "an accomplished , if often slow piece of work and a serious examination of american culture and censorship .", "bailey and barbetto have mined this all-american circus for all its mindbending absurdity and legitimized it with a who 's who of cultural critics .", "amounts to little more than the making-of-featurette to a bad porno .", "it 's a good blueprint for people who do n't know about the movie and what a huge impact it had . it does n't do much more than that .", "... if you are an adventurous filmgoer and can stand the challenge of the controversy , you 'll get an eye opener .", "while brisk , informative , and entertaining , feels frustratingly sketchy .", "a revealing and intelligent commentary on america 's obsession with sexual morality .", "fascinating and funny film", "bailey and barbato are n't interested in classic documentary filmmaking . they 're trendy dabblers in waste management , picking through the pop-culture trash to see what they can recycle for kitsch value .", "a history lesson that challenges many preconceptions .", "a good movie about what appears to be a very bad one .", "historically interesting , surprisingly humorous , and at times , sad .", "a bubbly but superficial documentary that tells you what you already know -- there was a sexual revolution in the '70s , and its influence on society was both liberating and corrupting .", "provides a lot of background information and period color , while arguing for the film 's place as the breakthrough sex movie of all time .", "although the film starts out with a clear thesis , by the time its 90 minute running length has expired , it is grasping at themes and topics that are beyond the limited scope of what a superficial documentary can achieve .", "might be more entertaining than instructive , but it manages to return us to a time when the world seemed crazy in a different sort of way .", "the movie will set off a slew of new questions .", "a deliriously entertaining field report from a historical moment when porn darned near became mainstream .", "it 's funny , unnerving and sad .", "a fascinating look back both at a time when sex was n't discussed in polite circles , and at deep throat itself .", "offers a diverting tale of erstwhile indie filmmaking and the power of porn to generate change -- both at the box office and in the bedroom .", "the doc is longer on historical interest than original insights or analysis .", "it 's extremely entertaining .", "it 's a fascinating story but not so fascinatingly told .", "this lively , if maddeningly reductive documentary examines the influence of the low-budget 1972 film deep throat .", "nimble , engrossing , and journalistically eye-opening .", "exquisitely crafted , fast moving indictment of american prudery and prurience .", "funny and fascinating , MOV illuminates the dusty and dark corners where major aspects of american culture converged .", "a fast and loose documentary that grabs you in the moment but leaves a distinct emptiness the morning after .", "beneath these cartoon floats marches a parade of greedy goodfellas , scheming exhibitors , idiot politicians , swanning celebs , and frothing religious fundamentalists .", "moves like a bullet , running through its subjects with punch-drunk glee and stitching it all together with a pounding k-tel super hits of the seventies soundtrack", "a showy , entertaining , and informative documentary", "a little lovelace and a lot of 85 year olds talking about it . it ai n't pretty .", "the disconcerting examples of damiano , reems , and lovelace-each , in his or her way , regretful-are the hardest pills to , um , swallow .", "what makes this documentary infinitely entertaining is the opportunity it affords to get reacquainted in '04 with guys who were at the top of their game back in ' 72 .", "it 's a treasure trove of kicky archival footage -- and a pointed look back at the opening salvo in a culture war that still rages today .", "a documentary which , though hardly perfect , is a lot better than the movie it 's about .", "above all , the film is a lively , music-filled social history .", "a better film than its subject .", "one thing `` MOV '' proves is that americans can get nostalgic over just about anything .", "deep throat bore an x certificate . MOV is an nc-17 . neither is suitable for grownups .", "tracking down everyone possible involved in making the film , a raft of intellectual commentators and key participants in the lengthy legal battles , the filmmakers successfully place deep throat in the context of its time .", "the salient point here is that deep throat can be seen as one of the first battles of the culture wars that still divide this nation .", "bailey and barbato have made an entertaining and significant , if flawed documentary . however , for anyone who has lived through the 70s , MOV is a must-see", "the filmmakers ' attempts to link deep throat 's lasting impact to every sexually charged facet of contemporary american life reaches too far .", "a piquant and incisive sociological treatise on the societal attitudes towards sex and sexuality and how those attitudes have n't changed much even with the sexual revolution", "a grown-up and eminently entertaining reflection of where we were in 1972 - and how one little porno flick caused such an astonishing uproar .", "besides fresh and funny insights from the likes of norman mailer and john waters , it shows how little censorship politics have changed from nixon to bush ." ], "summary": "a documentary on the film that brought smut mainstream , MOV is gaining praise as an entertaining look at a pop culture milestone . however , some critics say the film could have gone a little deeper into the people involved .", "id": "16957" }, { "movie": "batman_begins", "reviews": [ "in a year when the franchise watchword is ` dark ' , this delivers the full noir with a side order of dementia .", "should we comment on the horrendous batmobile ? you probably saw the trailer , so there is no need .", "there 's a great actor around every corner in this film .", "the muscular grit of the action sequences is leavened with nicely judged sarky banter .", "a fully formed batman , fleshed out in a glossy veneer .", "dismissing this as merely escapist entertainment would ignore the myriad adult themes that bulk up the picture , issues ranging from the duality of man to the politics of fear .", "the dark knight is redeemed in MOV . this is the best batman movie of all .", "calling -lsb- it -rsb- the best comic-book movie ever is n't enough . it 's more ... a dark and resonant drama of one man 's tortured path from guilt-ridden victim to conquering avenger .", "nolan takes the comic book film and crafts a zinger of an art-house film .", "a confidently original , engrossing interpretation , with a seriously thought-through -lrb- but never self-serious -rrb- aesthetic point of view that announces , from the get-go , someone who knows what he 's doing is running the show .", "apart from the lumbering pacing and embalmed tone , the movie is densely forested with oaken dialogue , wasteful in its casting ... and incoherently over-edited in its action sequences .", "nolan creates here a rich , imaginative world that will fascinate you for the full two hours .", "say goodbye to ` pow ' and ` zowie . ' say hello to a level of raw excitement that at times makes batman look like a predator for justice .", "nolan 's too good for bat business as usual . his secret for making batman fly is as basic as black : keep it real .", "the plot is pretty ridiculous and logic is never even tried . even though it 's 138 minutes of nonsense , it 's action-packed and fun . the set design of gotham is oscar-caliber .", "fortunately , the film 's cruddy action sequences and over-reliance on fireballs and explosions do not diminish the rock-hard depiction of its central character .", "finally , i can wash the taste of tim burton 's batman out of my mouth .", "the movie slowly moves away from being an engaging film about people and starts to fit itself into the mold of every other dumb action movie you 've ever seen .", "in his best , and darkest , outing to date , the masked avenger 's personal ` issues ' reflect those of the world in the wake of 9/11 .", "la se\u0144al es clara en las alturas , la figura en las nubes no miente : batman est\u00e1 de vuelta , m\u00e1s firme y m\u00e1s fuerte que nunca .", "-lsb- bale plays -rsb- a batman who , even demystified , still manages to cast a long , dark , mythic shadow .", "it 's all about fear and loathing , this high profile , big-budget product of a post-millennial united states -- and it 's about as good as it gets .", "brilliant .", "the attention nolan gives to the characters and the storyline brings batman back into focus as an inventive heroic figure .", "une des meilleures adaptations de bandes dessin\u00e9es \u0155 ce jour , sinon la plus accomplie .", "this is how you make a superhero movie .", "nolan has created a dark , realistic and believable hero who fights personal demons like the rest of us . burton 's fantasy was fun but nolan 's is better .", "artful , daring and wise , it 's one of the best anti-summer popcorn movies ever made .", "christian bale and company delve into the darker side of the caped crusader as MOV", "all the good intentions in the world do n't change the fact that the new batman is a bit of a bore .", "a rousing , reverent , often brilliant re-creation of a seminal comics character .", "burton 's work checks in as the better movie , both aesthetically and artistically , however , and please hear me out , MOV is the better batman movie .", "-lsb- t -rsb- his is the movie that loyal and long-suffering batfans have been waiting for ... it 's artful and fun ... ` MOV ' really is a new beginning .", "you 're just not going to find `` popcorn entertainment '' of a higher caliber than MOV . you 'll pull your hair out trying , so do n't even bother .", "the class dynamics of MOV are just insufferable . thank heavens we have our incorruptable masked moneybags to keep the criminal poor in line .", "christopher nolan 's reinvention of the dark knight gives this fabled franchise a sturdy , stylish structure that should last for years .", "this may be the best batman -lrb- he certainly has the best costume and the best excuse for dressing like a bat -rrb- .", "... more ` sin city ' than saturday morning cartoon .", "MOV comes rushing off the screen like a long-delayed form of enlightenment , finally realizing the full potential of its center .", "nolan fails to bring grace or sweep to the action ; he stages and edits it too tightly . it 's punchy , all right , but not pleasurable .", "a movie that comic book fans can point to as the perfect adaptation of their beloved medium .", "it seethes and it revs and it truly does rock ; it rocks intelligently , but it is still very cool and even cerebral .", "nolan and goyer go beyond the studio 's call and treat batman as a flesh-and-blood character , not a marketing concept .", "if you love batman , then MOV will the best batman movie ever made . on the other hand , if you love batman movies , MOV may leave you wondering where the joker went .", "not bad for summer jollies , but -- `` holy raised bar , batman ! '' -- let 's pray that the next installment measures up to the sequel summits of spider-man 2 and x2 .", "self-help for superheroes", "could be called batman is back , and it 's about time , too .", "the batman saga , once thought to be dead on screen , was only hibernating . with a dynamic new approach , MOV revives the once-proud franchise .", "an impressive achievement that gives its hero a whole new lease on cinema life .", "MOV leaks existential phoniness from the first frame .", "this new batman is thought-provoking , certainly , but rarely fun .", "is it too much to ask that the action sequences not be monotonously , narcotizingly dull ?", "director nolan remains true to his own vision , which is largely that of the original batman comics . as a result , MOV has a unity not often found in these extravaganzas .", "MOV storms along , with a few welcome catches of breath , though it has the climax overdose of the modern action whoppers .", "when you shine too much light , you take away the shadows . and without those , the dark knight is just a guy in a rubber suit mugging muggers .", "a mature take on material often relegated to the kiddie file , and it 's simply the latest proof that , when treated properly , comic books are a viable art form for all ages . bring on the sequel .", "it knows what this character is about , and crafts an ode to everything that 65 years worth of fans have come to love .", "but there 's no auteurist signature , no idiosyncratic imprint , on the film that distinctly marks it as a work of nolan 's , and thus it feels vaguely impersonal and remote .", "and now a simple appraisal for the fanboys : darkity-darkity dark-dark-dark ! happy now ? you should be !", "strong writing , acting , directing . a surprisingly very strong film . you 'll get your money 's worth .", "buoyed by a crackerjack script , a horrifying villain , and a dramatic momentum that pulls like a dark , deadly undertow -- this is one summer blockbuster to be reckoned with .", "the boy in the bestial batsuit is bigger and better than ever thanks to a dark veil of secrecy and the menacing genesis of family skeletons .", "this movie opens with batman in a chinese prison ! how did this happen ?! did he try to dry clean and dash ?", "an engaging super hero flick that is both realistic and fantastic .", "a deep , meaningful , fully fleshed out film that just happens to be about a comic book superhero .", "mtv editing and an awful plot turn make MOV an entertaining diversion , rather than a classic adventure .", "a fragmented tale with a disconnect between sulking mood pieces and hi-tech urban warfare , whose logic always seems to be beside the point .", "both in and out of the suit , bale owns the role in a way none of the previous three batmen did .", "here 's how any great franchise should start : with care , precision and delicately wrought atmosphere .", "easily the best batman film by far , the most accurate to the comic , pretty much the best comic adaptation ever , the best film so far this year", "fans of the dark knight , finally feel proud again", "this is a gritty and smart personal drama more than an action film . and it is what a batman film always should have been .", "it 's passable entertainment that our culture has wildly overrated .", "where the movie fails , ultimately and sadly , is in its capitulation to conventional action movie wisdom .", "a nonstarter .", "se trata de un filme oscuro pero muy humano y , por lo mismo , inolvidable . un digno renacimiento para un gran h\u00e9roe .", "the dark knight gets a much-needed reboot . as long as the franchise remains in the capable hands of nolan and bale , i think we can expect great things in the years to come .", "this , dear friends , is how to do it right .", "`` MOV '' is christopher nolan at his best . it 's his movie all the way .", "nolan brings the bat out of bale and makes him the ultimate caped crusader .", "those looking for a thoughtful , poetic fable about what 's most frightening in our lives today may not be fully satisfied either , but this is the movie for them .", "delivers pretty much everything you could hope for from a batman movie , unless you think that MOV and ends with adam west in tights", "nolan steadfastly refuses to turn this film into the special effects catastrophe it could so easily be .", "... MOV is generally an extremely entertaining , exceedingly well-acted summer movie . unfortunately , that 's all it is .", "chris nolan has earned his place in the hollywood hall of fame with this film .", "nolan tackles MOV with the wonderfully naive notion that he could give batman a blank slate , which is probably why he succeeds .", "a more realistic but still stylish kind of comic book movie .", "gothamly speaking - the batman rules . the cast is like a checklist of talents ; from christian bale , to michael caine , to gary oldman for crimeny ! ...", "the superhero icon has been retooled and supercharged , roaring to ferocious new life for a new generation .", "director christopher nolan brings plenty of action , character and atmosphere to the first worthy film adaptation of the classic comic book .", "psychology of a knight . batman finally gets worthy back-story .", "` MOV ' may be the best comic book adaptation i 've seen .", "for all the hype about exploring batman 's damaged psyche , nolan and goyer have n't added much beyond a corny opening in which he falls down a well and is attacked by bats .", "for a movie that engages in the daunting task of handling the entire exposition of a superhero and crafting an airtight adventure for him , it 's quite an accomplishment .", "it is difficult to rate a film with such virtues and which also has such glaring faults . on balance it does enough that is impressive .", "there 's nothing particularly wrong with begins , but in a way , that 's exactly what 's wrong with it .", "MOV does all the standard things beautifully , then adds several additional layers of quality via the story and the themes . this is why i go to the movies .", "it 's tempting to call MOV the citizen kane of super-hero movies ; at any rate , it 's the closest thing so far .", "offers much to admire , but it 's shrouded in the pall of the comic book industry 's hard-won ` respectability ' ...", "smart and precisely crafted , MOV is the most accessible comic film ever made .", "the analysis of bruce wayne 's character puts this ` batman ' ahead of the others .", "aims for mythical grandeur , underlined leadenly by a pseudo-wagnerian orchestral score , only to become mired in pretension to jungian psychological veracity", "bale brings a solemnity and a gravity to bruce and to batman that simultaneously creates a protomythic superhero and undercuts the idea ...", "an exhilarating picture that is almost operatic in scope and impact .", "what makes this batman so enjoyable is how the director christopher nolan arranges familiar genre elements in new , unforeseen ways .", "MOV is involving and skillful , more so as a drama than as an action film .", "they finally got it right .", "MOV is n't perfect , but it 's one heck of an improvement over the films in the past - and it 's a great way to welcome the dc heroes back to the silver screen .", "i have always been a superman guy - after all , flying trumps rappelling , and heat vision can do more damage than a batarang any day - but then came this new batman movie .", "a solid and frequently very good superhero flick , though it does n't quite measure up to 2002 's spider-man , a film which follows a surprisingly near-identical template", "sua maior virtude \u00e9 n\u0103o obrigar batman a ser um centro de raz\u0103o em um universo absurdo ; desta vez , \u00e9 a hist\u00f3ria que se v\u0119 obrigada a se adequar ao humor sombrio do her\u00f3i .", "nolan has outdone both burton & schumacher and resurrected the franchise ... bless you christopher nolan .", "it 's not the villains , but batman who is the movie 's scariest , unpredictable force .", "has a ball reinventing the mythos . nolan 's full-blooded , bleak-as-all-get-out reinterpretation of the caped crusader is so satisfying that it 's a little scary .", "works splendidly because it dispenses with the idea that batman 's archenemies have to be quirky , colorful , superficial savants , \u0155la the campy television series from the sixties .", "mr. nolan 's assured direction and pacing keep the movie feeling brisk even at its two-plus hour running time .", "a defining batman .", "its edgy tone and dark atmosphere coupled with its comic-book theatrics make it a winning combination for older children and adults alike .", "there has never yet been a batman story with quite this kind of psychological trauma . if ingmar bergman had ever directed a superhero movie , it would have looked quite a bit like this .", "the movie takes such time and care to set up bruce/batman that it 's a bit of a bummer when it launches into summer-movie overdrive .", "not only do we see gotham in the daylight , but christian bale may also be the first bruce wayne who 's more at home crouching in a monastery with his hair in his eyes than attending a dinner party for which he 'd have to trim his nails .", "a blast of energy that reinvents the dark knight for a new generation of film-goers .", "an utterly amazing and riveting start to a brand new beginning ...", "sweeping all questions aside , MOV does rekindle the franchise : it will be commercially possible to remake batman stories with this persona and this set of psychological principles underpinning a new series of films .", "an impressive cinematic renaissance for dc comics ' dark knight , and a blockbuster with more intelligence than most .", "... never before has the costume worn the actor ; bale is batman with or without it .", "not only is it the best batman film , it is possibly the best superhero movie ever and one of the best pictures of the year .", "MOV is for morons .", "MOV is an overwhelming success that will please fanboys foremost and average , patient moviegoers second .", "aims to return batman to his darker roots and also align more clearly with the character-driven graphic novels that resurrected the character in the mid-1980s", "who knows where it may lead , but compared to other batman movies , ` MOV ' is a stupendous start .", "a very successful attempt to resurrect the nearly-defunct batman franchise by starting over .", "the movie has an impressive solidity that is lacking in nearly all such films of recent vintage .", "riveting and refreshingly somber , this is the amazing story of the man behind the mask .", "batman is reborn .", "holy gratuitous prequel , batman !", "it 's awesome .", "there 's so much going on , and so much to take in , that it leaves you winded . but that 's origin stories for you . no one ever said setting up a savior would be simple .", "MOV at last penetrates to the dark and troubled depths of the batman legend .", "it 's still an old-school superhero summer movie , the plotting tortuous , the characters relegated to one-scene-one-emotion simplicity , the digitized action a never ending club mix of chases and mano a manos .", "simplement , le meilleur film de batman jamais produit .", "which , incidentally , could also be theme of the franchise.what has been corrupted has been restored , in a movie which encourages us that we have the power to make things better", "no fan of cult director christopher nolan is going to regard this respectable effort as anything but a comedown from 2001 's memento .", "not only easily the best batman movie to date , but also one that will be nearly as entertaining to audiences who 've never cracked a comic book as it will to fans .", "accessible smarts , rousing action , one of the year 's finest acting ensembles . this great film proves entertainment with a brain as big as its budget is n't dead this summer .", "this is a movie i can get behind , a scary , exhilarating flurry of conflicting ideals , dark heroes , darker villains and good old-fashioned bang-up action .", "it 's about the birth pains of a superhero , with the emphasis on those pains as much as on superheroism .", "nolan turns MOV into something much closer to miller 's ` dark knight ' interpretation than the glamorous , slam-bang hollywood jokefests into which the series had slipped by batman and robin time .", "in MOV , christian bale gives us the best bruce wayne that has ever graced the screen .", "bruce wayne 's invention of batman is the story of MOV , and it 's an epic one , with a suitably epic cast of a-list actors .", "the pragmatic reinvention ... is countered by several equally pedestrian blunders that hold the film back as if nolan and goyer were standing on the back of batman 's cape .", "nolan takes batman back to basics ... this is batman for adults , a fascinating thriller that 's grounded in angst . ... a superb start to a new volume of the batman chronicles .", "it 's the best of the `` batman '' movies and a thorough surprise in just how darn good it is .", "there 's just the pleasure of seeing something that 's both fantastic to the eye and emotionally dimensional . this is how to make action movies .", "a superhero saga grounded in the real world .", "a part of a laudable trend to give comic-based movies a kind of cinematic upgrade -- using actors instead of stars , and giving the material to interesting directors .", "batman -- the grittiest and most intriguing of all classic comic book heroes -- has found new and improved life in the latest film version , MOV , with christian bale as the best dark knight yet .", "MOV , in its restraint and seriousness of purpose , so envelops the audience in its world that even the most outrageous developments seem perfectly reasonable .", "christopher nolan has loaded the story with enough myth and emotion that it would not be silly to compare it with the samurai tales of akira kurosawa .", "christopher nolan has gone back to basics , jettisoning both the silliness of the tv incarnation and the gothic and fetishist elements of the '90s version . this is a hard-core , down-and-gritty origin story .", "MOV rocks .", "MOV is certainly a solid restoration for the dc franchise , but it is flawed .", "this film is serious , real , and most of all believable . this is both why it 's amazing and fails to elicit a `` strong '' emotional attachment . almost too serious .", "a batman for action movie fans .", "turgid ... tiresome ... it 's the lack of a dynamic villain that kills MOV .", "instead of filling time with meaningless action , MOV sets its sights on developing fearful moments .", "intriguing , insightful - it 's a journey of the imagination , exploring the nature and power of fear .", "a guy who would dress up like a bat , as christian bale says , `` has issues . '' does he ever . and we become acquainted with many of them in this incarnation of the caped crusader .", "if not for `` spiderman , '' i would argue , there 'd be no beginnings of batman .", "it 's a wake-up call to the people who keep giving us cute capers about men in tights . it wipes the smirk off the face of the superhero movie .", "an undeniable return to good form for the enduring comic book hero , an industrial-strength summer-action flick fantasia that manages to capture the excitement of the early batman films while working in a decidedly darker tone .", "MOV delivers enough action to please saturday-night crowds , if not the surreal wit that made the first two batman movies , directed by tim burton , so entertaining .", "with christian bale in the title role , this is a film noir batman , a brooding , disturbing piece of work that starts slowly but ends up crafting a world that just might haunt your dreams .", "it 's all a little disappointing , particularly given the talents involved .", "the action sequences feel like generic studio product , frantically and confusingly edited , and the lengthy batmobile chase scene feels like a good opportunity to take the kids to the bat-room .", "dark , dazzling and engagingly original .", "like a just-unearthed song by the clash or a swell new way to mix peanut butter and chocolate , MOV is a thrilling combination of discovery and familiarity .", "maybe , now that this version of the franchise has drained itself of explanatory residue , the next chapter will have more bounce .", "the earlier batman movies were charades . with bale , it 's a biopic , filled with nuance , emotion and contradictions .", "schumacher had suffocated the franchise with so much cheese and camp that even adam west wanted to give the director a wam ! pow !! sok !!!", "bale makes the best batman to date .", "this 140-minute movie proves to be fitfully engaging but neither as entertaining nor as brainy as it needs to be .", "batman 's fights are blurred , incomprehensible flurries . you need a garmin navigator just to make sense of them .", "the best thing about the film is also its most nagging liability , which is its absolute commitment to the addled past and continued unwellness of bruce wayne .", "all the bad ideas like robin , batgirl , mr. freeze and the suit with the bat nipples are gone , only to be replaced by awesome ideas and lots of brooding .", "a great movie , the best of the summer and the year so far , assuring that the trend of comic-book-to-screen adaptation trend will not only continue , but continue vigorously .", "for the most part , this film is a rousing success -- it 's a clever reimagination of tired material and it 's a great action film .", "a welcome new beginning .", "even though the film does come down on batman 's ` side , ' it raises as many questions about fear as political weapon as it answers .", "... completely dispenses with the camp -lrb- no nipples in this bat-suit , folks ! -rrb- and goes for the straight story ...", "if warner brothers hoped that nolan would reanimate the corpse of what should have been their most lucrative franchise , it has got its wish", "bale is excellent . he does looks a bit podgy and uncomfortable in the batman mask , but this is the first film the wayne persona does n't seem as messed-up as the dark knight .", "the curse if lifted , but who cast blank slate katie holmes ? the bottom line is batman is n't gay anymore but the homoerotic tradition lives on in scarecrow .", "` the best action film of the summer , so far ... '", "for you comic book fans out there , this is what you 've been waiting for .", "in memento , nolan and his editor , dody dorn , created a new syntax for movies . it 's depressing to see nolan now relying on the same fakery as everyone else .", "tim burton 's batman could probably lick nolan 's MOV . but in a fight between nolan 's batman and burton 's , i know who 'd kick whose cape-draped *** .", "if comic books must be a staple of our movie diet , please let them be as thought-provoking and thrilling as this .", "for all the effort and expense that went into this salvage job on an old , abandoned property , i would have preferred that batman -- now past 66 years old -- be given his pension and sent on his way .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is without a camp bone in its body ; it is as self-serious as a self-flagellant penitent , begging forgiveness for past sins .", "a new vision of the hero and a thoroughly enjoyable film .", "holy rebirth , batman , they 're making good movies about you again .", "thanks to bale 's multi-layered performance , this is the best , most complex character to put on the bat-cowl .", "relentlessly moody , colorfully chaotic and symbolically transfixing , MOV is definitely a new chapter that 's instilled in the same old reliable book", "MOV is a remarkable movie . in making it , nolan swept aside not only the other batman films but the whole over-burdened shelf of previous super-hero flicks .", "here 's a legend sometimes proved true : sharp writing and thoughtful directing make the oldest tales seem new .", "bale , in his first venture into superhero status , hits just the right balance between bruce 's uncertainty and the intensity of his alter ego . besides , caine and freeman elevate any project in which they appear .", "MOV is obsessed with fear from its opening frames , and it manages something that no other film version of batman has so far : it 's scary .", "so much is rich with ingenuity and daring that its constant missteps are exceptionally glaring .", "drained of its color , the franchise rediscovered its valor , landing the caped crusader his finest motion picture effort to date . and the ending ? oh , that ending .", "i 'm being hard on the movie because i care . on balance , it 's still a lot closer to the essence than burton or schumacher came .", "for christopher nolan to turn MOV into such a smart , gritty , brooding , visceral experience is astonishing .", "nolan takes an admirable stab at developing a character-driven drama , only to give in to generic action-movie conventions with a blinding , deafening , explosion-laden finale that could have capped off any number of interchangeable jerry bruckheimer flicks .", "it 's a refreshing approach to the genre , even when revisiting years later , in an era inundated with superhero movies where each tries to better the last 's visual effects budget .", "if there is one batman film anyone should see , this is it . it 's a superhero film with a dark tone that 's very well-written with nothing but incredible actors involved .", "MOV summons up moments of great eloquence and power . if only its cast of characters was as fully inhabited as its turbulent city .", "it 's not just the birth of batman we 're seeing in this triumphant interpretation , it 's also the dawning of gotham city 's age of greed .", "every so often , it 's time to re-boot batman .", "a moody and visually stimulating superhero film , MOV sees the dark knight finally giving the treatment and respect he deserves , in what can only be described as one of the greatest re-vamps given to an enduring character .", "it may be too scary intense for younger children , but for everyone else MOV is just about the perfect summer movie .", "quite good but not truly great ...", "the ne plus ultra of comic-book films ... an appropriately tough movie , busy but efficient , rich and thoughtful , and ornamented with visual appeal and exciting action .", "the hardware , relationships and story all feel fully real , and that 's a rare achievement for a comic book adaptation aimed squarely at the pocketbook of the american public .", "... finally provides us with an actor who is completely believable as both bruce wayne and bathead himself , christian bale .", "until the overblown , chaotic finale obligatory in hollywood action movies nowadays , it 's an abundantly moody , amply exciting exercise in cinematic resuscitation .", "a ponderous , deeply unironic psychological portrait with such a pervasive sense of gravitas that it borders on self-importance .", "christopher nolan and david goyer 's somber prequel puts the darkness back in the dark knight 's corner of crime-fighting hell .", "... the best comic-book superhero movie since the original x-men , and that 's saying something", "MOV is one of those rare action films that i found myself eagerly anticipating the sequel ... even before the first film had ended .", "superhero pictures require certain conventions : a romance , a sidekick , cool weapons , a juicy but inconsequential bad guy who answers to the master villains . nolan and goyer meet these expectations in unexpected ways .", "MOV is the kick-butt movie of the summer . it will lure you back to the multiplex to see it again .", "this stunning new effort from director christopher nolan does n't merely resurrect the franchise , it positively reinvents it .", "finally , a batman movie that 's actually about batman .", "a smash , one of the finest comic book adaptations of all time and one of the best films of 2005 .", "definitely a comic book movie for adults ... of course , i 'd let my kids see it if i had any . i ai n't raising no sissies .", "after much unnecessary padding and delay , the film settles down to ... a thinly veiled and thoroughly trivialized reworking of 9/11 .", "like nolan 's cult classic memento , it 's full of flashbacks ; like his last film insomnia , it digs deep into its characters ' psyches .", "never boring enough to dislike ... never interesting enough to be engaging", "the most freudian comic strip movie in history , this psychologistic epic favors dialogue over action , relationships over rousing set pieces , characterization over visuals .", "i expect MOV to make most fans of the caped crusader very happy . memorable ? i 'm not sure yet .", "the best batman movie since michael keaton 's first -- and this new one is unique in many ways .", "hooray . zip-a-dee-doo-dah . great day in the morning . jumanji !", "batman never once seems to be in real jeopardy -lrb- though you can hardly tell from his voice , which makes it sound like he 's undergoing a perpetual colonoscopy -rrb- .", "a defiantly adult film that succeeds where four predecessors have failed : remaining true to the mythology it creates without enslaving itself in comic-book silliness .", "this is the best batman movie ever by far .", "bale is perfect as the conflicted batman ...", "it 's a violent and truly scary film and definitely not one for the kids . for grown-ups , though , it could well be the ultimate superhero movie .", "-lsb- nolan 's -rsb- effort is not dishonorable , but what it needs , and does n't have , is a joker in the deck-some antic human antimatter to give it the giddy lift of perversity that a bunch of impersonal explosions , no matter how well managed , ca n't supply .", "perhaps one of MOV biggest joys is the casting against type of gary oldman -lsb- who -rsb- makes his piloting of the batmobile one of the film 's biggest rushes .", "misses being the definitive take on the character precisely because helmer christopher nolan is no action director .", "a bold and brilliant superhero movie , MOV is the best outing ever for the caped crusader .", "along with the fun , and there 's plenty of that , there 's a level of sophistication not seen before in this film franchise , a willingness to ponder the big questions", "it 's a new beginning for the bat ... and a must-see summer movie for 2005 .", "without the biff ! bang ! pow ! of pop signifiers , this intelligent , well-made film is too heavy to transport us anywhere but down the dark hole of its good intentions .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- feels less like comic fantasy and more like serious drama , albeit one depicting the exploits of a psychotic ninja billionaire .", "christopher nolan , at the tender age of 35 , has created a true summer blockbuster in what is probably the best of all the caped crusader films .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- se ubica en un muy digno punto intermedio entre el pasatiempo comercial promedio y el cine de autor hollywoodense -lrb- si es que algo as\u00ed todav\u00eda existe -rrb- .", "the word that popped into my head most often during the awesome experience that is MOV was : wow .", "out of the tibetan mountains comes a new , more inventive version of the caped crusader 's story than we 've ever seen before !", "while the dark knight 's return is not quite triumphant , and is bloated at 140 minutes , the filmmakers have retooled the black-caped crime-fighter with an eye to these perilous times .", "MOV is n't a case of dc setting a new level for comics onscreen , but rather a memorable example of how to keep up with the competition .", "the new adventure - bathed by rain and darkness much of the time - combines action with a clever gathering of all the now-familiar batman elements : the suit , etc. .", "there is talent and cleverness here , but not much excitement .", "... -lsb- christopher nolan -rsb- has officially recharged the moribund batman franchise with a top-of-the-line popcorn movie ...", "a knockout ." ], "summary": "brooding and dark , but also exciting and smart , MOV is a film that understands the essence of one of the definitive superheroes .", "id": "1122" }, { "movie": "amarcord", "reviews": [ "fellini 's whimsical and tender semi-autobiographical film is one of his best works .", "images of such stunning beauty that you feel you 're actually inside fellini 's mind , seeing the things he remembers -- in a highly colored fashion -- from childhood .", "when mr. fellini is working in peak condition , as he is in MOV , he somehow brings out the best in us .", "makes me feel like a boy everytime i see it .", "what positions the film among fellini 's greatest are its punctuation points of mysterious beauty .", "MOV could be viewed as one of the most humane films of 20th century , and it keeps its general feel good atmosphere despite depicting having many uncomfortable , melancholic and even tragic moments .", "it 's the more fanciful and lighthearted first half of the film -lrb- obviously a big inspiration for some of woody allen 's work -rrb- that works the best .", "it 's one of the noted italian directors more vibrant films that captures him at his most playful and incisive .", "orthodox fellini lovers will give primacy to la strada or la dolce vita , but MOV has its fans , and it 's easy to see why .", "MOV is fellini 's scrapbook of memories culled from his own life and it is completely engaging and delightful .", "federico fellini 's films beg to be seen on a movie screen . their panoramic , overstuffed frames and larger-than-life characters overflow the boundaries of home theater ; their exuberant , generous humor is best enjoyed in a packed auditorium .", "uneven , loosely structured , and at times pretty vulgar as well as sentimental , but with some touching and lovely episodes .", "this fellini opus is his most accessible to mass audiences since la dolce vita .", "what 's so surprising about this film is just how loose and effortlessly enjoyable it is , despite all its ideas and images . it 's one of the director 's very best .", "he -lsb- director fellini -rsb- leaves us with the hope that the human comedy just may be able to survive everything .", "MOV will make you howl with laughter and then choke back a tear . and all the while you 'll be building your own memories of this landmark movie .", "bloated , overblown and essentially empty , fellini 's last hit movie skims over the surface of the lives it depicts , substituting manufactured sentiment for genuine feeling or understanding .", "fellini is so bountiful with incident and observation that he makes most other film makers seem stingy .", "-lsb- s -rsb- imply nonsensical to me . fascists are idiots , catholic priests are clowns -- i agree with this . so why do n't i feel it ?", "seen today , MOV is something of a disappointment , clever and moving in places , but also sprawling , undisciplined , clumsy in patches , and decidedly overlong .", "continues to resemble something a lewd , grouchy , fitfully indecent silent-movie director might have made for his first time using color and sound . that , at least , would explain the shouting .", "sweet and endearing for many , irritating and tedious for others .", "fellini 's ability to compose a frame that oozes baroque drama and vitality is almost unparalleled and MOV more or less succeeded for me in evoking a time period through the eyes of a young boy ...", "i 'm not sure how MOV played in the '70s , but now it feels like an affectionate parody of italian movie conventions .", "watching the movie feels like flipping through a cartoon sketchbook of fellini 's vivid remembrances and formative experiences .", "... for long lasting imagery this nostalgic remembrance is highly entertaining and just may hook a newcomer to foreign film .", "in his own unique style , federico fellini has created a beautiful work of art that is as amusing as it is inspiring .", "a pictorial weaving of the bizarre fragments of fellini 's imagination and memory .", "the bawdily amusing MOV dispenses with a traditional plot in favour of a series of communal set-pieces .", "a totally accessible film . it deals directly , hilariously , and sometimes poignantly with the good people of this small town .", "one of fellini 's wisest , warmest and most wonderful .", "this veers from the heartfelt to the satirical , the scathing to the loving , the funny to the melancholy -- in short , it 's everything that great cinema should be .", "a vulgar , crassly funny , tender , always affectionate nostalgia trip , fellini style .", "fellini at his ripest and loudest recreates a fantasy-vision of his home town during the fascist period .", "a memorable last chapter to fellini 's nostalgic screen reminiscences that began in 1953 with i vitelloni .", "MOV , easily one of fellini 's masterpieces , is at once a personal memory film and a more detached social scrutinization of italian society , specifically the political isolation and cultural provincialism that helped fascism rise to power ." ], "summary": "ribald , sweet , and sentimental , MOV is a larger-than-life journey through a seaside village and its colorful citizens .", "id": "13841" }, { "movie": "hot_rod", "reviews": [ "andy samberg falls down a lot in this high-concept , low-witted comedy .", "no one seems to have told the lonely island boys that the stakes are a little higher in features than they are in music videos , and that underlighted shots and sloppy editing are more distracting on the big screen than the tv monitor .", "there are perhaps 10 to 15 minutes of good , gag-worthy material here stretched out to interminable lengths .", "there 's no question samberg has a future in movie comedy , but this caper amounts to a false start .", "like a stuntman , MOV is willing to screw up big time in its pursuit of total awesomeness .", "aims to be goofily anarchic ... but it 's sloppily written , lazily staged and annoyingly dumb ... like a home movie slapped together by a bunch of half-addled bar pals .", "the absolute dregs of american comedy .", "... just the sort of stuff an unapologetically idiotic comedy needs .", "here 's a comedy with a napoleon complex .", "it is n't just throwing joke darts at a board in the hopes that a few stick . it 's throwing them at the pool table , the bartender , your face , then dynamiting the wall to go after the building next door .", "silly but funny .", "prepare to be dazzled , we are told in the first few minutes , as fireworks are lit in eager anticipation . but the fireworks fizzle big time , as does this tedious , tired comedy that is short on appeal and laughs . wacky and low-brow it is , but fun it ai n't", "it remains nothing more than the silliness of napoleon dynamite -lrb- only not nearly as offbeat -rrb- combined with the failed stunts of jackass -lrb- only not nearly as dangerous to the star -rrb- .", "it 's a simple comedy that tries to be nothing but . at times it is simple hilarity , other times it 's a little too `` napoleon dynamite '' for its own good .", "if you 're looking for plausibility , this is not your movie . if you 're looking for laughs , this is not your movie . if you like seeing delusional overgrown adolescents fall down a lot , then this one 's for you .", "though it 's as disposable as a plastic razor , MOV is not without a few good yuks .", "dumb comedy in the napoleon dynamite mould with a better-than-average gag rate .", "well worth checking out , then , if you like your comedy supremely silly , but ultimately memorable only as a series of great skits mixed in with some dead patches .", "through MOV 's manic weirdness , its take on young suburban males is completely authentic . it 's the summer 's happiest screen comedy .", "here 's a strange , hit-and-miss approach to the kind of movie in which will ferrell usually stars .", "ultimately it 's samberg , whose youthful enthusiasm and infectious goofiness has been one of snl 's strongest assets of late , who makes the whole thing work .", "the movie resorts to ripping off gags and jokes from other people and does n't seem to be able to come up with anything on its own .", "samberg 's penchant for subversively silly asides certainly hints that he 's capable of being more than a will ferrell or adam sandler clone . now he just needs to find a film that wo n't fall apart around him .", "silly at best , stupid at worst , and surprisingly unfunny overall , MOV is a classic example of what 's wrong with ` snl . '", "those hoping for feature-length doses of samberg 's lazy sunday wit will have to settle for just plain lazy , as MOV aims low and still manages to miss its target .", "cell phones , the internet , '80s fashion and '70s style are all thrown together for a winning combination .", "... comes off as precisely the sort of silly and nonsensical piece of work that one might 've expected ...", "MOV emerges as a daffy , dorky summer surprise , a silly comedy of non sequiturs that feels like a cockeyed collaboration between will ferrell and mel brooks .", "... comedy is a subjective thing , and what makes one person laugh may simply bore someone else . hod rod bored me .", "oh , napoleon dynamite ! what have you wrought ? -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "what works , wonderfully , are the falls , the punch-outs -lrb- his brawls with stepdad are brutal throw-downs -rrb- and waiting for that next accident to happen .", "the results are barely worth an illegal download .", "awesomely dumb slapstick is for teens and adults only .", "a perennial problem with comedy from regular collaborators is that the results feel too much like friends ' in-jokes .", "people like me who are fans of sophomoric humor , it 's a hoot .", "... cheap and clumsy ...", "we know from the lazy sunday bits samberg 's a funny guy , but he does n't have enough to work with here .", "`` MOV '' suggests what `` napoleon dynamite '' might have looked like under the direction of hal needham", "at times , `` MOV '' seems to park itself on the viewer 's head and refuse to budge until it gets a laugh . and it does , sometimes .", "while certainly not on the same sub-level as the other snl flicks , MOV is more like 25 % inspired weirdness and 75 % recycled stuff .", "uneven but often funny .", "even the funny bits are ruined by overemphasis .", "andy samberg is tolerable in a 90-second digital short on saturday night live , but very , very far from tolerable in a 90-minute feature film .", "more like lukewarm rod .", "samberg proves to be less than big screen-ready -lrb- hardly surprising , given his most notable snl work has come in music video shorts and not any sketch work -rrb- .", "blissfully liberated from logic and reason , it plays by its own twisted rules and , surprisingly , comes up a winner .", "as messy and as playful as a box of puppies .", "there really is a fine line between clever and stupid , and the MOV guys are on the wrong side of it .", "truly funny , even though most viewers -lrb- who are as much the movie 's targets as the characters we see onscreen -rrb- just are n't going to get it .", "the movie may be a bizarre goof , but the effort -- second-hand material included -- is utterly sincere .", "started to go bad about the time someone in casting said , `` you know what ? i 'll bet america is just about ready for the comedy stylings of sissy spacek . ''", "a silly , sputtering , goofball comedy gone gooey .", "if this film somehow manages to become a hit it will be a bigger feat than anything this dumb dude tries on screen !", "it 's sad when the most interesting part of a film is a dream sequence involving a large taco fighting an equally massive grilled cheese sandwich .", "samberg 's debut feature shows real promise for the rising star , and though MOV is n't for everyone , it is a nice reminder that a movie does n't necessarily have to be good to be enjoyed .", "things that crack up these guys leave other people straight-faced . some of the mugging and quirky line readings probably should have been excised .", "so lazy and so void of even the most rudimentary sense of storytelling that it showers the viewer with contempt ... i 've never felt as abused by a filmmaker as i did in MOV .", "imagine a stand by me on wheels , with dialogue spoken by 20-something actors instead of 12-year-olds , and you have the essence of the script .", "there 's a pretty good chance you 'll find at least some of it pretty funny .", "there 's something that seems almost important about this picture . the creators have harnessed everything that 's good about youtube , and translated it into a big-screen movie .", "a perfect storm of absurdist sight gags and sketch-comedy consciousness . somewhere in there is the wobbly shape of a story , which schaffer and company stretch to its limits without entirely losing the movie 's cartoonish premise .", "samberg and schaffer just did n't provide enough gas for this groaning moped of a movie , and it fizzles out before rod even gets to the ramp .", "samberg ca n't carry this , though director akiva schaffer supplies some hilarious , jackass-style wipeouts .", "... hands-down the funniest , laugh till you cry and your cheeks hurt comedy of the year", "MOV is probably going to be like billy madison where it grows on me after multiple viewings .", "you need to see MOV just so you can say you were on the danny mcbride bandwagon a year early .", "once again , something that might have been a faintly amusing sketch on saturday night live -- maybe even a tolerable 30-minute short , had the writing been more clever -- gets tortured into the shape of a feature film .", "it 's funny pretty much all the way through , even in the final showdown between rod and his stepdad . i have seen countless movie fights that stagger the imagination , but this one goes over the top and comes down on the other side .", "director akiva schaffer apparently thinks that by adding stupid stunts to the formula , MOV also can attract the jackass crowd .", "consistently laugh-aloud funny , a guilty chucklefest of ridiculous stunts , gleeful pummelings and questionable jokes that looks as if it were made by high school buddies who had a few weeks to kill .", "a lasting problem with so many snl-populated movies is the ingrown clubbiness of its humor -- the suggestion , whether overt or implied , that comedy is nothing more than a funny idea flogged to death by a fraternity of late-night wags .", "my dog has the common sense to know his limitations . but then he 's probably got an iq point or 50 on poor andy , if MOV is indicative of how deep the waters of lake samberg go .", "with a little help from his friends , -lsb- samberg -rsb- has landed his jump with ease the first time on the ramp . rod would love it . hells yeah .", "most of the jokes either drag on endlessly or are cut short without a real punch line .", "there is nothing remotely ` worthwhile ' in this mix .", "the film 's low-key wayne 's world vibe takes it only so far . i laughed , then i wished it was funnier , then i just wished it would end .", "that the movie begins with samberg barely managing to jump the bike off a curb , freeze-framing him in mid-hop while the retro graphics flash the title onscreen is pretty much all you need to know .", "ferociously stupid and often very funny .", "the presence of a relatable hero would go a long way towards making this feel like a real movie rather than a collection of skits .", "as a director , schaffer has a cool , punchy style , but his full-length movie dead-ends . the flavor runs out .", "you may enjoy the way schaffer and samberg prolong rod 's pratfalls to absurd length , but the pleasure fades because there 's no skill to the slapstick , only glorified amateurism .", "MOV might be called the poor man 's eagle vs. shark . poor certainly describes the quality of the filmmaking .", "the film steals one of the best laughs of jon heder 's surprise 2004 hit , the scene where napoleon nosedives over a bicycle jump , and stretches the gag into an 86-minute movie .", "a fitfully funny comedy that 's neither a must-see nor a must to avoid .", "a good time flick , one that did n't really blow me away , but featured a sweet loser chasing a cutie-pie chick with a number of laughs and a quick pace .", "MOV is a fresh , hip take on the bumbling idiot genre that made will ferrell a superstar , and samberg throws himself into the role with an amiable mix of birthday-entertainer goofiness and klutzy bravado .", "-lsb- samberg -rsb- falls a lot in MOV , but this stuntman farce simply is n't worth falling for .", "MOV is n't so much a comedy as it is an exclusive clubhouse for those who define their existence by the articulation of their zany . it 's a wild one , but not without its charms .", "MOV is further proof that the primary aspiration of the male snl cast member is to make 90-minute sketch films about dense man-children who ca n't or refuse to grow up .", "chock-full of references to bad teen movies from the '80s and saturated with sarcasm , MOV is a cheekily fun sendup of gen x iconography .", "if you want to see the outcome of rod 's stunt jump wait for the video and skip to the end .", "about half of the jokes in it made me laugh or at least giggle , while the other half of the jokes fell flat on their face . the movie is funny , but not consistently so .", "some hilarity does , in fact , ensue , but the laughs are interspersed with long stretches of dead air .", "you 're either going to wet your pants laughing , or you 're going to scratch your head and wonder if you 're getting too old .", "at least MOV proves one thing : even with the lowest expectations , it 's possible to be disappointed .", "an oddball comedy that only seems to be funny for the people who made it . the audience , unfortunately , is left out on the joke .", "wait until the best parts pop up on youtube .", "MOV is pretty dumb , and a good half of its gags fall flat -- but homages to cheesy '80s cinema and television are worth a couple of chuckles .", "makes the biggest error a random , moronic , absurd comedy can make by trying too hard to be random , moronic , and absurd .", "... a cousin to the comedies of will ferrell with a younger skew , a kooky '80s nostalgia ... and a low-key amiability ...", "samberg 's fans may enjoy this comedy , but this outsider found it rather limp .", "you can actually see the actors straining to figure out how to play this stuff .", "dementedly random moments make up for some of the more sluggish , thuggish elements .", "a mashup of the random violence of adam sandler movies with the dimwittage of will ferrell 's - and lacking the charms of both - MOV never establishes its own personality .", "still , MOV keeps a sweet tone that 's filled with affection for its characters , and enough laughs to become this summer 's most mildly recommendable comedy ." ], "summary": "a few funny scenes ca n't save the disjointed MOV , which is too silly and sloppy to hold up .", "id": "761762299" }, { "movie": "down_with_love", "reviews": [ "good cast chemistry and a wonderfully colorful 60 's styled backdrop makes this retroactive romantic comedy the best madcap sex romp around so far in this hyper-techno movie year .", "whaddaya know -- here 's a doris day movie starring ren\u00e9e zellweger .", "a finger-snapping , knowingly artificial romantic comedy romp with a wink in its eye and a spring in its step ... easily the most unabashedly mirthful film in ages .", "i love this film .", "amazingly simple and breezy stuff but how completely and unexpectedly refreshing it is .", "i 'm not sure i can retrieve the words required to describe how colossally awful this movie is .", "what 's refreshing is that MOV neatly sidesteps the superior ` modern ' tone that creeps into other notable recent films that depict that era -- think auto-focus and catch me if you can .", "both ewan mcgregor and renee zellweger do better than expected - but nothing will ever make us forget doris day .", "`` there wo n't be a dry panty in the house ! ''", "... bubbly and cute , but instantly forgettable .", "a scrumptious piece of cinematic fluff .", "those familiar with the era to which reed aspires will sit through MOV enveloped by a feeling of fondness and affection .", "actually gets stronger and funnier as it goes on . ... everything here is highly stylized . ... well-stocked with double-entendres and innuendo , just as it should be .", "an orphan of both mod and the post-mod with nothing at all to say for itself .", "what starts as freshly spun cotton candy ends as something pink , sticky and indigestible .", "airbrushed to innocent perfection , this kitschy tale speaks volumes of a bygone era when role-reversal was a fresh and illuminating concept .", "-lrb- director peyton -rrb- reed packs love with ribald innuendo and zealously embellishes every aspect of '60s cinematic ambiance .", "eve ahlert and dennis drake 's coy , flabby script is woefully lacking in the one indispensable ingredient of urbane comedy -- great banter .", "there 's more wit in the decor than in all of ` how to lose a guy in 10 days . '", "if you 're a heterosexual male and your significant other wants to drag you to this one ... run .", "begins to sizzle at about the halfway point", "after 10 minutes of getting poked in the ribs with every shot , i thought , ` is it going to be like this for 90 minutes ? '", "visually , it 's a sweet treat . but retro eye-candy alone just does n't leave you feeling satisfied .", "oh , for the days when the cads wore tuxes , had delicious accents , and were as all-around scrumptious as ewan mcgregor .", "a buoyant , witty , and thoroughly charming film that brings you back to a 1963 that we can only wish existed", "and this one should be the sleeper hit of the year , the `` my big fat greek wedding '' of this summer , the `` sleepless in seattle '' romantic comedy with an edge", "screwball romantic comedy lovingly made in the style of doris day and rock hudson comedies of the 1950s and 1960s .", "those of us who have made motion pictures a passion will find extra joy in all the little cinematic in-jokes .", "we want to love it , but like a rock hudson rake , we keep finding fault in its allure . we want to hate it , but like doris day , we finally ca n't say no .", "director peyton reed delights in the candy-colored possibilities of the soundstage sets and outlandish fashions .", "the nostalgic stuff is funny , but the movie turns into one note at parodying the stuff .", "one of the most vivid , funny and slyly penetrative romantic comedies in years so get down with it before it goes down , sucks out the balls of creative hollywood executives everywhere and leaves nothing more than a spurt on the cinematic radar .", "-lsb- revels -rsb- in its own convoluted plot , manically wielding sexual politics like a foam bat , up-playing its retro art direction , and shamelessly getting high off of its own silly , witty dialogue . it 's great .", "the inventiveness does n't work . it 's dragged down by zellweger and mcgregor 's self-consciousness , as they mug and overact their way through a film whose style relies on lightness of touch .", "the supporting players , sets , and costumes are so vivid that they make the main characters seem a little bland .", "i 'm not totally down with MOV , but it 's easy entertainment and an alternative for the non-matrix crowd .", "not bad , but could have been something smashing .", "faux - '60s sex comedy is bright , charming and smart in a million different ways -- especially casting ewan and renee as rock and doris .", "by the end , you 'll probably be whistling a happy tune .", "a good-natured but fairly clumsy and increasingly tedious lampoon .", "a not-so-innocent romp that is part mills & boon and part hustler .", "what would rock hudson think of the nickname , `` ladies 's man , man 's man , man about town '' ?", "` divertida , encantadora , nost\u00e1lgica y deslumbrante . una verdadera delicia que no se pueden perder . '", "it 's no small task to make a picture this ambitious and detailed feel like anything but hard work . director peyton reed delivers again ...", "like a strawberry shortcake made with frozen fruit and artificial sweetener - it does n't look quite right and has a plastic aftertaste , but it 's better than no dessert at all .", "MOV 's recreation of an older movie genre is little more than a stunt . however , it 's a stunt filled with fun and a seemingly endless supply of wit .", "stay through the credits for the song and dance number by mcgregor and zellweger . it is the best thing in -lsb- `` MOV '' -rsb- ...", "it 's trendy to complain that movies are n't as good as they were in the past , but there 's usually a reason why conventions evolve .", "the same kind of artless , airless studio product as the hudson/day films and will no doubt age just as badly .", "i think it compares favorably with pillow talk and lover come back in its well-timed gags and verbal dexterity .", "the blushing-red double entendres are more colorful than the sets and costumes .", "MOV 's affection is tainted with condescension , and the movie becomes a charade of winks and nudges .", "a dazzling tribute to the squeaky-clean romance films of the 1960s , complete with double entendres , split-screen phone conversations , and constant flamboyant costume changes .", "beneath its color-drenched images and vintage wide-screen cinematography lurks a flatly written script directed with a lack of gracefulness and imagination .", "the film is juvenile when it should be adult , coarse when it ought to be bubbly , and upfront when witty circumspection is indicated .", "reed never quite decides if his film is an homage to the pre-ratings code ingenuity and fabulous '50s design of those films or a parody of their dated silliness .", "it 's pure pleasure to watch zellweger and mcgregor bound across a set with the swinger confidence of frank sinatra taking the stage of the sands hotel .", "director peyton reed gets the film 's look and , in moments , its disingenuous innocence , but you have to wonder what he and the screenwriters , eve ahlert and dennis drake , thought they were parodying .", "it 's so faithful that it 's mummified and , because the movie has nothing to add to what '60s films already gave us , we begin to wonder what the point is .", "explicitly invites us to mock its artificiality and giggly cluelessness , but beyond its attractive shell the film rings hollow .", "all artifice , so little art . does this film have anything new to offer ? if not , why bother ?", "como esfor\u00e7o saudosista em recriar as ing\u0119nuas com\u00e9dias rom\u00e2nticas dos anos 60 , o filme \u00e9 bem-sucedido - mas n\u0103o se destaca muito em seus outros aspectos .", "zellweger and mcgregor have only their dimpled cuteness to get them through this movie , which you sense , at least from their mugging , that they believe is enough . it is n't .", "... as light , cheap , and ultimately as insubstantial as cotton candy . and yet , it inadvertently strikes some resonant chords .", "as it is , ` MOV ' seems forced , with the principals looking like youngsters dressing up and over-acting to impersonate grown-ups .", "bright and very funny ... manages to recreate a filmmaking style that was practically a parody of itself in the first place .", "hilarious spoof on '60s comedies for mature 14 + .", "director peyton reed keeps this fizzy comedy in an alluringly goofy tizzy from start to finish . this is undoubtedly the skillful battle-of-the-sexes laugher rock hudson and doris day would have made were they able to naughtily quip about bitches and hose .", "while the movie definitely has tongue lodged firmly in its postmodern cheek , every detail looks and feels authentic .", "takes a creative concept and never knows how to handle it with a less than top-notch script and terrible delivery .", "like the old films it mimics , MOV plays with sexual double entendres but never , ever shows any hints of actual sex .", "beneath the wingtips , pointy shoes and '50s sexual politics ... MOV is light , airy and fun - almost to the level of cheap laughs . it 's all surface spit and polish .", "the ensemble 's comedic timing is impeccable .", "if you 're looking for some 21st century screwball comedy drenched in campy attitude and gaudy duds , you 're pretty much primed for the inane but spirited excesses of MOV .", "it works so hard at being so silly that silly seems smart , making MOV simply lovely .", "my only complaint ? ` MOV ' should have been a musical .", "-lsb- i -rsb- f someone tries to sell you a bootleg copy of MOV , there 's no need to call the police . you may , however , wish to notify the bomb squad .", "en alg\u00fan momento , los guionistas eve ahlert y dennis drake se olvidan que m\u00e1s que un ejercicio de estilo abajo el amor es una comedia que deber\u00eda divertir . y m\u00e1s a\u00fan , es una historia que deber\u00eda entretener .", "MOV is animated and diverting ... -lsb- but -rsb- nonetheless , there 's the sense that no one quite believes in what they 're doing .", "mcgregor and zellweger obviously relish playing these roles , and their gusto is infectious .", "reed never quite decides whether to play the genre straight or spoof it . he winds up doing some of both , maybe not enough of either .", "even if you did n't know what happens in pillow talk , you 'd be hard-pressed not to know what happens next . even so , MOV lurches from couple-making moment to moment , the innuendo now splashed all over the surface .", "a silly , fun piece of cinema .", "it 's like a saturday night live sketch on a $ 60 million budget .", "expertly mimics a disreputable midcentury movie subgenre , then imbues it with the kind of upfront sexual knowingness that could never speak its name back in the just-starting-to-swing 1960s .", "go for the clothes , and stay for the cotton-candy silliness .", "as the ultimate new frontier swinger , mcgregor is the smoothest , coolest cat to hit the screen since the pink panther .", "the only modern romantic comedy to merit the term ` exciting . '", "it 's cute fluff and there is enough there to make up for the weight that keeps it from flying .", "MOV does n't have a serious bone in its artificial body -- it does n't penetrate -lsb- wink , wink -rsb- any myths as much as it wallows in them .", "the movie turns mod in its last act , and it does so in a way that does n't feel smug .", "despite the movie 's cinemascope playfulness and cranked-up pace , most of the jokes fall utterly flat .", "it is cute , and good fun most of the way .", "sinks to unspeakably vulgar depths with nary a clue to how far it 's falling .", "-lsb- zellweger 's -rsb- trademark squint and complete-me bewilderment dissolve her considerable stylized armor and scan as sad , table-scrap hunger .", "david hyde pierce playing a guy who is n't sure if he 's straight ? groundbreaking cinema , that .", "enjoyable enough as a lark and lovely to look at , but totally synthetic and artificial .", "it 's at once shrill in its brightness and stultifying in its hermetically sealed , self-conscious campiness .", "in the spirit of the film 's buoyant campiness , may i say , up with MOV ?", "it is more than apparent that sex is the topic and they almost slap you in the face with it .", "this might have worked if love triumphed , but mush gets lost in the crush of labored mocking and gleeful artifice .", "what should have been funny comes off as being silly .", "we have a really screwed up script that even the best of directors and casts ca n't save .", "if you want to experience nostalgia , rent pillow talk -- it does a much better job .", "sweet , smart , stylish and , most of all , sexy .", "the complete lack of authentic feeling in this film as well as its obsession with period without finding any meaning in that period doom it .", "no better or worse than the movies that inspired it , but that is a compliment , i think .", "while you were hypnotized by the bossa nova and renee zellweger 's form-fitting pink givenchy and the rat-a-tat dialogue of the gender wars , the writers and the director tricked you into caring about the plot .", "makes the fatal mistake of so much middlebrow satire : it becomes that which it mocks .", "i 'm unembarrassed to say i enjoyed myself a lot , even if this giddily retro renee zellweger-ewan mcgregor vehicle shifts tone the way a bicycle skips gears .", "a bright , fizzy candy shell , the cinematic equivalent of pop rocks . and who wants to snack on that for two hours ?", "if you want to see retro done right , rent far from heaven .", "a light-as-helium storyline and oodles of cutesy dialogue .", "features more innuendo and corny dialogue than any film since the '60s . that 's the point , but that does n't make it entertaining .", "there were some laughs along the way , but not enough to wholeheartedly recommend MOV .", "the best and only really funny character is david hyde pierce , . . no one does hopeless longing better , tranforming himself into a veritable limp dishrag of desire .", "once the film gets rolling , it 's irresistible .", "both leads bounce and bubble . but they seem too often to be playing at being 1960s archetypes instead of rendering characters .", "it underlines everything with a smirk and a wink and a too-hip - for-school swagger , its affection for its genre no more honest than the adoration some people profess for tiki lights or bobby darin .", "it 's too dull and hackneyed for the satirical spoof it intends to be , and the actors and director miss the charm and humor of the old doris day movies by a margin so wide it does n't add up to a respectful homage , either .", "it really is pretty funny , and i 'll admit i was transfixed by ewan mcgregor 's collection of rat pack sport coats .", "the dialogue is n't as witty as it is fast , but the speed with which the stars exchange lines covers up the enormous loopholes in the plot .", "its jokes are funny and its affections are heartfelt .", "reminded me of a handsome , expensively dressed person with bad manners and no real sense of style .", "what 's so tiring about MOV , beyond the excess of giddy contrivance , is that it feels pointless .", "a very smart , very shrewd movie , and the smartest , shrewdest thing about it is the way it masquerades as just a fluffy comedy , a diversion , a trifle .", "not quite as fluffily enjoyable as some of its predecessors , but a fairly entertaining and terrific effort of paying homage nonetheless .", "like a champagne bottle left uncorked , it 's not as fizzy as it should be .", "the flick 's jaunty outlook , splashy set design , period-perfect costumes and cutting wordplay carry the day .", "mcgregor is divine as catcher block and zellweger plays her part to pouty perfection .", "intelligent and amusing , even if it never achieves the full-tilt zany desperation of delbert mann 's lover come back .", "good for a laugh and even better for mining fashion tips .", "unlike day and hudson , who inhabited their characters with an effortless charm , zellweger and mcgregor appear to be straining for effect , conveying little of the natural sexiness of their predecessors .", "a succulent piece of postmodern fluff .", "to its credit , the script does n't call for them -lrb- zellweger and mcgregor -rrb- to sing and dance this time", "appallingly terrible from start to finish .", "MOV does n't even possess the dippy level of misunderstood sexual mischievousness so pronounced in a predictably heavy-handed '70s double-entendre three 's company rerun .", "an irresistible throwback to the glamour , wit and style that used to characterise hollywood .", "effectively satirizes and pays homage to the ditzy romantic comedies of the fifties and early sixties .", "one of 2003 's most refreshing surprises .", "it is not as funny as a satire of this nature ought to be , but satire is tricky , comedy is hard , and MOV occasionally gets them both sort of right .", "this pitch-perfect imitation of a rock hudson-doris day nonsex comedy features renee zellweger , ewan mcgregor and a passel of visual delights . but why should we care ?", "MOV is a lightweight trifle to be sure ; but it 's a lightweight trifle that kept me laughing and smiling for 100 minutes .", "MOV is a fluff film that sparkles despite its main leads having no chemistry .", "luscious , inventive , and always dreamy .", "it 's a cute premise , and several co-stars help keep the fun going for a while .", "zellweger and mcgregor both know where their characters come from and play along admirably .", "a fluffy ` make believe ' romantic comedy .", "zellweger and mcgregor obviously had a blast making this movie -- and you 'll have just as much fun watching it .", "hammy , campy and gloriously cheesy .", "these folks clearly had a lot of fun making this movie . almost as much fun as you 'll have watching it .", "an irritation , more fizzle than sizzle .", "this goof of a movie is more winning than you 'd imagine .", "its thudding sex jokes make benny hill look like the importance of being earnest .", "if you love those old movies , you 'll probably adore this new one .", "feels less antic than frantic , semi-glossing over a 40-year-old cultural dust-bunny to create soggy , ersatz fluff ." ], "summary": "looks great , but zellweger and mcgregor have no chemistry together , and the self-satisfied , knowing tone grates .", "id": "11057" }, { "movie": "tomboy_2011", "reviews": [ "this charming , delicate and wholly captivating story of a ten-year-old girl who just wants to be one of the boys will get a big boost from positive responses from critics and audiences alike .", "two feature films into her career , writer-director c\u00e9line sciamma has proven unusually skilled at making short , plot-light movies about budding adolescents discovering themselves .", "a sensitive study of pre-teen sexuality and confused gender roles , from a director who knows how to draw flawless turns from young ` uns .", "celine sciamma is a filmmaking force to be reckoned with in the coming years . her story-writing ability , deft hand at directing and understanding of her young actors makes her someone to watch .", "a melding of youthful allure , keen dramatic structure and the delicate art of directing the young", "the awful inevitability that laure could be found out at any moment -- by her parents , by her friends -- renders MOV an excruciating viewing experience .", "sciamma has wound back the clock to childhood to show us , with taste and sensitivity , something we have not seen .", "there 's an absolute naturalism to all the performances here . that 's crucial , especially from heran , who 's playing a character who does not yet know herself .", "its young heroine is proud to be herself ; there 's just not much for her to do beyond that .", "a beautiful , matter-of-fact french drama about a young girl who wants to be a boy - and for one singular summer around her 10th birthday passes as one ...", "each day is a suspenseful challenge of how -lsb- the kid -rsb- keeps up a freeing masquerade ; it 's striking to see how gender casually figures into the daily life of children at play .", "`` MOV , '' a brief and sweetly refreshing french film , is the story of a lie .", "`` MOV '' is tender and affectionate .", "the film 's greatest accomplishment is writer/director celine sciamma 's stunning ability to draw natural , believable performances from her adolescent cast , who never hit a false note in this moving film .", "modestly conceived and executed .", "open-minded and open-ended , MOV is a portrait of pubescence on the brink of chrysalis .", "MOV captures a delicate moment in time before issues of sexuality so much more complicated and calculated .", "`` MOV '' is so specific and intuitive that i kept thinking , `` how do the filmmakers know this stuff ? ''", "sciamma pictures the story in dappled sunlight and wooded fields that , though not far from dull apartment blocks , have an out-of-time seductiveness .", "sciamma 's careful and detailed portrayal of a confused kid trapped in gender purgatory never lunges for the easy gag at the expense of psychological credibility .", "provocative yet utterly sympathetic , this is an engrossing study of what it 's like when you do n't quite fit into any of the available gender roles .", "... a well-intentioned yet hopelessly inert piece of work .", "as the sisters come to see that dresses and haircuts and behaviors are a means to create a self , to communicate with others , MOV does n't offer an easy answer ; instead , it lets you wonder why gender must be so definitive .", "an interesting miniature .", "there 's a real feeling here for the doubts of the young and for the way an initial fib grows and grows .", "a must-see if you 've ever felt ill at ease with expectations tied to your gender , and a beautifully performed and intriguing drama even if you have n't .", "although only a small film and one that barely runs to feature length , it raises some unique and thought-provoking ideas .", "zo\u00e9 h\u00e9ran , in the lead role , is a marvel , her pact and whole relationship with her younger sister utterly convincing .", "a tender , sensitive french drama rich in hazy atmosphere .", "writer and director celine sciamma adorns the thorny dilemma with resonant allusions to gender roles ...", "brisk , precisely observed , and bracingly non-preachy in its examination of a very tricky subject .", "sciamma 's capturing of children at play is disarmingly accurate , perfectly showing the freewheeling nature of prepubescence in all its glory .", "sweet and well observed , the film takes us inside a typical family in a typical paris suburb - and gives us a spin", "this exquisite film is as pure as you can get ; it 's observational , it 's minimalist , there 's no intrusive music except where it is part of the action .", "` MOV ' makes its points about gender identity and confusion without resorting to cheap laughs or overwrought drama .", "the director 's low-key approach to such a seemingly complex topic really illuminates the subject in both very basic and rather profound ways .", "far from surprising at any point , MOV nonetheless holds one 's attention though its sheer force of observation .", "MOV is a lovely reminder that the french have long been famous for a quite different sort of film-about children .", "since we are dealing with fresh-faced tweens , we are spared the gender histrionics to be found in the likes of the crying game or boys do n't cry . those are indeed bigger films . but sometimes small things can pay off quite nicely .", "MOV was the deserving jury winner at the berlin film festival of the teddy award for the best gay or lesbian film .", "quiet and naturalistic in the best way , the french film `` MOV '' rolls out a tale of malleable pre-adolescent identity with a marked absence of sensationalism .", "seems like the first episode of a tv mini-series rather than a stand-alone feature film .", "against a backdrop of overly programmed ` issue dramas , ' this superb movie is notable for its strong foundation in character and wholesale investment in psychological motivation , rather than salacious plotting .", "sciamma -lrb- water lilies -rrb- deserves great praise for what she has accomplished with a simple film addressing a complex subject .", "`` MOV '' is as visually beautiful as its 10-year-old heroine is defiantly plain .", "MOV is a charming film about childhood and identity .", "MOV reveals a side of pre-adolescence rarely -lrb- if ever -rrb- depicted on the big screen , yet it never feels like a curiosity piece , nor is laure -lrb- zo\u00e9 h\u00e9ran -rrb- , the titular character , portrayed as an outsider from a troubled home .", "there are nevertheless some marvelous moments .", "coming-of-age tale tackles gender confusion with humor and heart .", "the sense of a long , hot , unending summer is well caught , the children are excellent and zo\u00e9 heran is wonderfully natural and touching .", "confirms sciamma as one of the brightest young voices in contemporary french cinema .", "MOV astutely explores the freedom , however brief , of being untethered to the highly rule-bound world of gender codes .", "francophone cinema knows a thing or two about the erotic possibilities of moving .", "MOV has a restrained style that results in something very touching and beautiful .", "beautifully directed and superbly written , this is an emotionally engaging coming-of-age drama with a terrific central performance from young zo\u00e9 h\u00e9ran .", "c\u00e9line sciamma 's film is titled MOV , but the gender issues it delves into are more complex than any supposedly unfeminine preferences for sports and pants-wearing and other associations that linger around that antiquated term .", "sciamma draws wonderfully natural performances from her young cast , and does n't shy away from an uncomfortable or pensive silence .", "MOV may add little to conversations about gender or sexuality . it has everything to say , however , about that period of childhood when identity is at its most malleable .", "the story that emerges is programmatic and largely unsurprising , but these children give it messiness , joy and life .", "exquisite . young lead actress zoe heran gives one of several beautifully-nuanced performances in this sensitive , compassionate movie . the best glbt-themed narrative film of 2011 .", "-lsb- video -rsb- c\u00e9line sciamma 's sophomore effort is a tour de force chamber piece of childhood cinema that confirms her status as gifted filmmaker with her finger on the pulse of youthful development .", "a film that will resonate with anyone who can remember awkwardly leaving their childhood behind ." ], "summary": "in tune with the emotion and tribulations of childhood , MOV is a charming movie that treats its main subject with warmth and heart .", "id": "771238362" }, { "movie": "easier_with_practice", "reviews": [ "just because a story is true does n't mean it 's interesting .", "-lsb- brian -rsb- geraghty anchors the film with a dedicated performance of sincere tenderness .", "geraghty renders a gutsy , extraordinary portrayal that fully reveals his potential as a sensitive , risk-taking actor with leading-man confidence .", "geraghty 's performance is harrowing : clinging to the phone and tortured by his ecstasy , he weaves empathy out of a flawed loner 's dysfunctional fetish .", "MOV reveals the sense of loneliness and isolation that permeates modern life and the lure of fantasy in filling its emptiness .", "geraghty 's wounded-pup appeal keeps the movie alive even as it heads for a dreary , even-more-implausible-than-the-setup third act . writer-director kyle patrick alvarez , though , usually finds the right tone and appears to have a promising future .", "MOV is an intimate drama about a fledgling author with a sensitive soul .", "love stories do n't come much squirmier than this one , and alvarez plays it with honesty , insight , and the awkwardness inherent in this blindest of blind dates .", "alvarez 's sincere , probing look at male inexperience creates a modest but bold contrast to the age of snark . his shock of recognition is a humanist landmark .", "the weird turns that davy 's life takes always feel emotionally honest , thanks in no small measure to geraghty 's achingly true performance .", "what could have been a film that exploits a potentially salacious premise for artificially comedic or edgy effect , feels instead like an honest and truthful dissection of the sometimes-strange way modern relationships can work .", "... an erratic yet rewarding little indie .", "the film is a slow-burner : a study in loneliness and alienation , whose unexpected ending and ambiguous aftermath require us to reassess all that has gone before .", "based on a men 's mag article , kyle patrick alvarez 's debut feature is an honest , funny-sad portrayal of emotional dysfunction .", "kyle patrick alvarez 's movie stands out as one the year 's as-yet-undiscovered gems .", "it is a cool , funny , mischievous movie , with a stand-out , even break-out , performance from geraghty ...", "there 's no doubting alvarez 's promise , as he weaves familiar indie elements into a film that is likeable , insightful and compelling .", "an engaging and moving tale .", "what might sound like the set-up for a particularly bawdy judd apatow comedy is actually a deceptively sweet tale of twenty-first century alienation .", "excellent american indie that tugs hard on the heartstrings .", "geraghty relies too heavily on facial expressions and mannerisms , but those who appreciate visible effort may be seduced .", "endearing and wise with a captivating and emotionally raw , brave and honest performance by brian geraghty . it 's one of the most refreshing , heartfelt and unforgettable american films of the year .", "for any film , let alone a debut , to address difficult subjects with this much insight , humor , and humanity is almost miraculous .", "MOV is such an assured , solid and just plain good film , it 's going to be a tough act to follow .", "amusingly predicated on the romantic possibilities of phone sex , MOV pushes past its titillating premise to become a quietly provocative love story about emotionally stunted manhood and the risks some guys will take to connect .", "an unexpectedly stirring first feature by kyle patrick alvarez about the challenges of making human connections in the weird and wired 21st century .", "if you give geraghty some time , and you give alvarez some time , you can see that they 're getting at something by letting it play out .", "the genre of road-trip-leading-to-self-discovery now has another masterpiece in its cinematic vault .", "davy 's experience never plays out precisely as you would expect and i , for one , guessed wrong just about every time right up to the poignant , perfectly-acted finale that does provide some closure while opening up a whole new set of life questions .", "do not have a relationship over the phone unless you know the person at the other end . you never do", "superbly directed , brillliantly written and featuring a terrific central performance from brian geraghty , this is a thoroughly engaging drama that packs a powerful emotional punch .", "not much seems to have changed in the world of urban heterosexuals since hal salwen 's 1995 techno-prophetic classic denise calls up ." ], "summary": "this promising debut from writer-director kyle patrick alvarez is anchored by a startlingly honest and tender performance from brian geraghty that helps make MOV more than just another road trip drama .", "id": "770809990" }, { "movie": "hot_tub_time_machine", "reviews": [ "MOV , which wants nothing more than to be a screwball farce , succeeds beyond any expectations suggested by the title and extends john cusack 's remarkable run .", "if the title makes you want to see the movie , you 'll get what you 're hoping for .", "a handful of good one-liners means MOV has its moments ; it 's the rest of the movie that 's the problem .", "a chlorinated , r-rated back to the future , MOV accomplishes what snakes on a plane did not : it offers a merrily idiotic movie to go with its willfully idiotic title .", "this is a lot of fun . cusack 's funniest film in many years .", "this raunchy , 80s-soaked comedy is every bit as funny as a movie called `` MOV '' should be . which is to say , quite a bit .", "MOV is n't a good movie , but like a bubbling bath it keeps pounding at us until our resistance wears down .", "balances middle-age angst with adolescent idiocy and embraces the ridiculous while playing it absolutely straight", "MOV has enough genuinely funny moments to make it worth checking out .", "what could be a platform for retro fun , inventive plotting , and outrageous humor instead becomes mired in tired time travel clich\u00e9s , trite '80s shtick , and lazy comedy .", "... when all of a studio 's hopes and dreams are pinned on a movie as insignificant and tossed off as this , maybe the lion 's got no more roar left in it .", ". . just about everything its title suggests . and more . and less .", "i can understand why john cusack would like to find a time machine to take him back to 1986 . that was the last time he was making popular movies .", "for hilarity , characterization and clever structure , the hangover is far superior . still , there are some laughs in this uneven but good-natured raunchfest .", "the movie 's as casual as its lead characters ' approach to changing history ; it 's also lewdly and frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious -- especially if you wasted any of your youth watching a certain brand of '80s comedy schlock on hbo at 2 a.m.", "MOV should have been better than this .", "rob corddry becomes a certified star . this is perfectly vulgar fun . the only misstep is casting chevy chase .", "hot tub machine might be ridiculous , but john cusack & co. know that there 's still life in those acid-wash jeans .", "i am genuinely saddened not to have enjoyed MOV .", "-lsb- a -rsb- tediously familiar collection of pointlessly crude moments drunk on their own cruelty ... they should have titled it tucker max to the future ...", "a waste of time and talent . has john cusack invested himself in a career that ends up with this ?", "it has not the slightest whiff of self-importance .", "comedy is hard , real hard . making stupid funny is even harder . not nearly as good as `` the hangover , '' but i really laughed a lot . nicely done and really gross . paul chambers , cnn .", "sloppy and needlessly smutty though it is , MOV is funny when it does n't try so hard and sincere in its themes of friendship and middle-age malaise .", "proof that there is occasionally truth in advertising , MOV is exactly the movie its trailers and title promise : a pretty dumb-and very funny-comedy .", "this hot tube is lukewarm .", "rather hit and miss , but it did make me laugh quite a few times , most often courtesy of rob corddry .", "the level of hatred directed against women in this movie is mind boggling .", "with its broadly drawn characters , dated pop-culture humor and tired gags , MOV comes off like the edgier gen x edition of wild hogs .", "cusack seem -lrb- s -rrb- like a casting error -lsb- in this hilarious comedy -rsb- , a cameo miscast into a lead .", "a reverent , foulmouthed , shoddily shot ode to the bottom-feeding cinema of the reagan era .", "hot tub is the gross-out-comedy equivalent of spaghetti-testing . many jokes are hurled against the wall . only a few stick . yet the sheer number and velocity of the pitches made me giddy .", "a sort of over-heated alternative universe where a funny-again chevy chase shows up as the hot tub repair man , the band poison is all the rage and the '80s kitsch is outstanding .", "there are some laugh-out-loud moments , for sure . but it 's easy , nostalgic humor about oversized cell phones and how kid 'n play are really two different people .", "it 's a reminder of how good it is to be able to laugh at the passage of time , because otherwise , you 're crying .", "the '80s references , the profanity , the time-travel gags , the gross-out humor - it all comes sloshing together like one of those frat-party cocktails where they dump in everything they can find from the bar . and yet it tastes really , really good .", "as an admitted old fogy , i hated this movie , an ultra-raunchy , raucous gross-out comedy ... but if you 're among those who enjoy ... slob farces , -lsb- this -rsb- is for you .", "MOV is a surprisingly enjoyable way to waste 90 minutes if you 're into dude humor and penis jokes .", "MOV proves that just because you have the power and money to make a movie , it does n't mean you should .", "feels like a movie that pays off on revisits , and like the kind of film that holds laughs that only get unlocked on a third viewing .", "the story is interesting enough , but the characters are so shallow and venal i could n't work up any interest in what happens to them .", "... clich\u00e9d but gets mileage out of the many absurdities and trends of the mid-80 's .", "john cusack 's response to the canonization of john hughes .", "MOV represents an example of the phenomenon known as great title , middling execution .", "more vulgar than it needs to be , but frequently very funny -- and even suspenseful : you 'll cringe every time you see crispin glover and his destined-to-be-amputated arm .", "yes , there are some laugh-out-loud moments , but this is a one-joke movie .", "a winning , almost totally successful comedy that works as an uproarious homage to 1980s movies .", "sound like guy-oriented wish fulfillment ? it is . sound like the hangover ? that too .", "witness an absurdest buddy comedy throwback with a paper-thin premise and no justifiable reason why it should succeed at all -lrb- which is exactly what it does . -rrb-", "... a guilty pleasure in spite of itself ...", "how bad must a movie be to be good fun ? how dumb to be smart ? whatever the case , MOV does n't make the cut .", "like the wonky jacuzzi that gives the film its title and nutso travel mode , MOV operates in fits and starts .", "only time will tell if MOV is the dumbest premise for a time-travel movie of all time .", "john cusack et al. are loud , obnoxious , juvenile and ... wry", "corddry , duke , robinson and glover steal the show in this absolutely hilarious comedy that has a great joke every five minutes . you will have to see it twice to catch it all .", "for those who elect to ride out the booze-soaked , forked-tongued storm , they receive a startlingly alert , good-natured , borderline poignant slapstick comedy that makes the most out of a one-joke premise .", "MOV simmers right along like so many jacuzzi bubbles popping with a carefully calibrated mix of sight gags , sex jokes and baby boomer references .", "how seriously are we supposed to take MOV ? well let 's see . it 's a movie about a time machine . in a hot tub . beyond that , MOV is actually surprisingly , if sporadically , funny .", "cusack , who self-deprecatingly mocks his iconic presence in '80s films like say anything , is terrific -- with an especially wonderful , demented monologue in which he explains why he and his sister are so screwed up .", "it sounds crazy , and it is crazy , vulgar , over-the-top and very , very funny .", "sure , the premise hobbles our heroes a tad , but MOV is a cute and silly romp through dudesville worthy of an evening with friends and goodies .", "this is one trip down memory lane that few viewers wanted to take , and it is easy to see why : MOV is an unwieldy welding-together of sentimental soul-searching and gross out humor .", "finds a host of familiar faces performing below their best on a time-warp trip .", "it 's coarse , rowdy and filled with vulgarities , yet MOV is genuinely funny , original and dare i say rather endearing , as four down and out friends find themselves flung back to the 80s after a night of disorderly drinking .", "MOV wo n't change your mind about this type of comedy if it does n't appeal to you , but you could do much worse than choosing to see this if comedy is what you 're after .", "there is fun to be found here , but not that much .", "it 's just a theory , but an educated guess would be that some hollywood wiseacre came up with the title MOV as a half-drunk joke at a party , scored a huge laugh , then thought , `` hmm , i think i 've got a killer pitch . ''", "MOV is amiable nonsense that somehow overcomes most of its own mediocrity through sheer energetic self-belief .", "savagely raunchy , completely ridiculous and outrageously entertaining , ` MOV ' could be this year 's ` the hangover ' % u2013 a comedy strictly for grownups .", "it 's where the film gets wrapped up in its own plots and character arcs that the comedy suffers the worst", "too much slapdash raunchiness and not enough sweetness .", "what we have here is a fun ride that will bring back memories for some , and bring laughs because of the ridiculous clothes and hair for others .", "it is this year 's funniest film so far . and it 's probably even funnier after a couple of bartles & jaymes .", "at the offset , MOV comes off as yet another tale of obnoxious men-children stuck in their own world of self-created misery ... yet ... this one is pretty funny .", "none of this sloppiness matters if the movie is funny , of course , and it is , for the most part .", "in the end , it turns out the funniest thing about MOV is its inspired title . and you can enjoy that without paying to see it .", "while i do agree with those who have already started to call MOV this year 's hangover , in no way do i interpret that as a compliment .", "a film that contains some big laughs here and there but which is finally brought down by the inescapable fact that it is neither as smart as it thinks it is nor as dumb .", "very funny and very clever , especially for older viewers who grew up on the many `` teen party '' movies of the 1980s .", "parental content review", "you might not fall out of your seat laughing , but the film is consistently enjoyable from start to the very clever and amusing finish and with its brisk 93 minutes , it 's worth taking a dip in this tub .", "what MOV critically lacks is any sense of wit in its humour . vomit , urination , male nudity and gay panic jokes take up a large amount of the film 's time .", "like most guy-centric films these days , this film is ragingly homophobic and misogynistic , and you know what ? these are some of the best parts . it is a testament to the wit of the writers and the charisma of the cast that we are never turned off .", "if the filmmakers had thrown in some variety , it might have worked , because i 'm sure they were going for more than just a feeling of indifference .", "those drawn in by the name will surely get exactly what they expected and then some .", "it not only wears its absurdity as a badge of honor , but quite literally looks us in the eye and dares us not to laugh .", "well played , MOV , well played . you defied expectations , in a good way , and managed to evolve from `` potentially silly concept '' to `` fairly funny film . ''", "yes , it 's funny . often really funny .", "through its slack editing and direction , MOV gives the impression of a halfhearted effort , as if the film 's name and story were wacky enough that any old gag would do .", "it has the timing and insight of a borscht belt comic from the 1930s .", "corddry 's obnoxiousness gets a trifle wearing , but cusack is as reliable as ever , duke gives good geek , and robinson makes the most of his biggest screen role to date .", "this film is flat-out , choke-on-your-popcorn comedy genius .", "as amusingly stupid as advertised .", "likeable , well acted and frequently funny comedy but its occasionally sloppy script and an over-reliance on lowbrow humour prevents it from becoming something really special .", "MOV is an amiable time-waster but , given the concept , it could have been rather more than that .", "someone in particular really lifts the movie % u2013 his name is crispin glover and he is a comic genius . you might remember seeing him in a more exciting and more humorous time-travelling movie from another era .", "youth is wasted on the young , or so the saying goes , and MOV is a comedy that concurs , with a twist .", "it 's crude , inane and manic , but boy is it funny .", "an amusing comedy that actually exceeds the genre 's low expectations .", "MOV , like an actual hot tub , is kind of fun to muck around in , but far less exciting after an hour and a half .", "more concerned with grossing out the audience rather than making them laugh .", "this is a movie whose sole purpose is to make people laugh . the really funny thing ? despite that ridiculous title and ridiculous setup , it often succeeds .", "sure , MOV is goofy , but it 's fun . and the filmmakers and players , led by producer-actor john cusack , are game , jumping in feet first .", "homosexual hijinks and poorly executed slapstick punches and pratfalls attend this sloppy comedy that could have at least been made bearable with a soundtrack of cool music . you 'd think that cusack never even heard of the replacements or iggy pop .", "tough going , for sure .", "the results , though , are simply crass .", "MOV is funnier than any movie called MOV has a right to be . and how funny is that ? not very , but a little .", "the whole point is to just be silly and irreverent with time travel and midlife crisis movies . for it to devolve into gay jokes and f words is a sad disappointment .", "the crude humor and over-the-top language sabotage what could have been a very funny movie .", "`` MOV '' could have been amazingly hilarious had director steve pink not gotten lost along the way with projectile vomiting and near misses in the oral sex department .", "a wild , hit-and-miss stab at high-concept comedy . most moviegoers will deeply feel at least some nagging lack of narrative underpinning and infrastructure , which crucially undercuts momentum and goodwill .", "the name says it all .", "-lrb- rob -rrb- corddry 's performance is so aggravating that he makes steve urkel seem tolerable .", "a sloppy , raucous , time travel farce in the grown-men-gone-wild hangover style , it 's a surprisingly satisfying , if not exactly lmao , riot .", "the kind of crummy-looking , exploitative , childishly gross and pointedly homophobic teen-sex comedy that was ubiquitous in the 1980s .", "pink 's derivative vision plays out like a mullet in the new millennium .", "the story rests too often on easy '80s potshots -- look , a jheri curl ! check out those leg-warmers ! can you hear me on my brick cell phone ? -- and today 's parlance falling on deaf '80s ears -- e-mail ? what 's that ?", "a fundamentally lazy comedy that will probably make you laugh like an idiot .", "every once in a while , a comedy comes along that 's so outlandish and ridiculous you have to take notice ... the emphasis is on the first word of ` high concept . '", "i wish the screenwriters had been 2010-minded enough to leave out the crappy gay jokes . then again , as directed by cusack 's longtime pal and collaborator steve pink , and performed with manic energy by this guys-among-guys cast , the movie bops and honks .", "a potentially wry comedy about time travel plunges into a hot tub of tepid juvenilia .", "the most attention-getting , stupid/brilliant high-concept title since snakes on a plane turns out to be the first and last memorable thing about MOV .", "a movie much different from what its title would suggest , which is kind of a shame , because the title is so super-awesome .", "this is undeniably an amusing movie , but it falls well short of time-twisting comedy classics like back to the future and groundhog day .", "robinson and duke are terrific , and while it 's fantastic to see cusack back doing all-out comedy , truly outstanding is daily show veteran rob corddry , who has to make horrible jerk lou likable and funny .", "if you 've seen the trailer , you 've seen the best bits .", "no masterpiece , perhaps , but MOV is post-pub perfection .", "it 's exactly the sort of film that the title would suggest , but it 's also disarmingly fresh and very funny .", "the film is ugly , gross and obnoxious , with all the vulgarity and vomiting you might expect .", "as far as time-travelling farces go , file this under john and chev 's sucky adventure .", "say what you will about the hangover , but at least it had structure . at least it felt like an actual movie .", "after he was forced to labour through the special effects in 2012 , it 's good to see john cusack returning to form amid the constant silliness .", "hot tub 's humour revels in political incorrectness , and that may put some off , but there 's no doubt it 's an effective nostalgic trip supported by a cracking soundtrack .", "it constitutes a bizarre blend of the incredibly smart and the very , very stupid , laden with ridiculous in-jokes that somehow coalesce into a clever -lrb- if simple-minded -rrb- comedy .", "do n't try to teach me about life in a movie called MOV . stick to the sex , drugs and rock 'n' roll . it 's your destiny .", "it 's fun , it 's sad , and it 's kind of sad that it 's so much fun .", "the mystery is n't that it took three credited writers to come up with this material , it 's that they could find three writers willing to take credit for it .", "the nonsensical-as-sarah palin-quotes comedy zaps you straight to the mid-1980s , when cinematic orgies of pure hyperactive insanity such as weird science were not only possible but commonplace .", "the chemistry that makes this particular hot tub fly is more than just some magic gunk that 's been added to the water", "best title since `` snakes on a plane '' and consistent laughs throughout .", "a classically stupid-funny teen comedy with a retro twist .", "i laughed -- but after next week , i might not remember why .", "hugely raunchy and undeniably funny , with cusack adding just a hint of sweetness .", "MOV winds up begging the central question that it was never ready to answer : why idolize the '80s yet again ?", "MOV is ` the hangover ' lite . very lite .", "there 's a fair amount of genuine retro fun to be had here .", "steve pink manages to connect self-conscious cinematic nostalgia to middle-aged anomie with rowdy affection .", "director steve pink offsets the satire with moments of genuine warmth .", "this movie does the most it can with such a thin premise . in fact , the thin premise is what makes the movie work .", "i ca n't believe i 'm saying this , but MOV is a smart comedy .", "you can treat the movie 's devolution into sheer ridiculousness as either an homage to that era 's high-concept absurdism or just whatever-dude laziness , but watching cusack revive his trench-coated cool-misfit persona will stir fortysomething hearts .", "although they 're more often paired off than grouped together , the guys ' chemistry is what really keeps the number of chuckles elevated .", "it is crude , raunchy , full of bad behavior , and extremely funny .", "the ` hangover ' of home-appliance time-travel comedies .", "as feel good farces go , MOV is a mindless minor masterpiece", "like the comedies of the decade it returns to , hot tub is a balls-to-the-wall hard-r comedy complete with tasteless humor , nudity and foul language . and thank god . it 's about time we put those p *** ified , lame pg-13 teen comedies to bed once and for all .", "it 's not high brow stuff , but MOV is a comedy with genuine laughs and surprising personality .", "absurdity is what hot tub does , and does well .", "for cusack and pink , this is kind of the conclusion of their trilogy of films about the depressed cusackian hero escaping into past simplicity .", "it 's the sort of film cusack probably would n't have been caught dead in a few years ago , which is a sad , if perhaps a truthful reflection of what happens when people hit their 40s and resign themselves to the way things are .", "a missed opportunity .", "eighties nostalgia has never been so disgusting , or funny .", "it 's passably funny in spasms , but in the end the outright vulgarity palls and you wonder what the two leading ladies in the cast , collette wolfe and lizzy caplan , thought of it all . not much , i 'd say .", "think of it as the bastard punk offspring of back to the future and groundhog day .", "what transpires during the course of 100 beautifully deranged minutes is lewd , crude and delightfully funny . trying to make sense of it would be missing the point .", "... swaps out clever plotting and smartly-tuned dialogue for horndog humor , excrement gags , drunken shenanigans and , of course , wanton sex ...", "no real sparks of genius , but some reasonable laughs .", "star power and a quirky premise alone are not enough to sustain a feature length comedy when too many of the gags are inadequately developed .", "there 's not one believable character in this fantasy comedy .", "for the most part , this is a really goofy and fun piece of work , and cusack has n't been this good in years .", "surprisingly funny and consistent MOV , a crowd-pleasing ode to the days of `` miami vice '' and `` alf '' that delivers on multiple levels .", "after i finish writing this film criticism of MOV , maybe i 'll do a hooter 's restaurant review or give the business to a `` choose your own adventure '' book . seriously , what the hell is the point ?", "shaggy , subversive , surreal time-travel adventure , evoking nostalgia in baby-boomers and grossed out , politically-incorrect , r-rated guffaws from others .", "a serious disappointment ...", "a kinky cross of caligula and back to the future !", "anyone who spent any number of his or her formative years in the reagan era and still harbors some sense of arrested development will find much to appreciate in steve pink 's cheerfully vulgar , nonsensical time-travel comedy", "crispin glover steals the show in a movie with good self-awareness , and enough laughs to make the price of admission worthwhile .", "once viewers get past the obligatory raunch -lrb- a necessary salute , i suppose , to such atrocious '80s comedies as private school and porky 's revenge -rrb- , they might be surprised to discover the level of genuine wit on display .", "it 's a bro-down , and every second has been calibrated for maximum bro-fficiency .", "utilizing pervasive social media and numerous promo screenings , the movie looks to open well . it 's just too bad pink and company declared open season on an embarrassing decade then armed themselves with a urine-filled squirt gun .", "at its best the film is blissfully , anarchically funny , and director steve pink keeps the pace crackling .", "... unhinged , unrepentant and hilarious , unequivocally the best american comedy we 've had in a long time . ... as a popcorn pop-culture snack for aging gen-x ` ers with their own memories and regrets , it 's a fun , fast , fearless comedy .", "oh , to have access to an actual MOV . then i could flash back a few hours , sprint to the theater , and prevent myself from wasting time on the disappointing MOV .", "MOV zooms right by , barely pausing on its way out -lrb- like , mercifully , the '80s hair it depicts -rrb- , forgotten almost before it 's over .", "machine is engaging enough , but its characters ' path to redemption would be more satisfying if it were n't greased with authentically '80s - style casual sexism , gay panic , and frat-comedy clich\u00e9s .", "a perfect collision of high-energy and high-concept , hot tub benefits from near-complete lack of inhibition and a total immersion in dude-centered shenanigans .", "a triple threat : completely raunchy , completely idiotic , completely funny . craig robinson is the standout in this f-bomb-laced , sex-fueled , 80s-time-warp comic misadventure .", "a slapdash , gross-out good time if you 're up for some rude ` hangover ' - style shenanigans to go with your heaping helpings of '80s nostalgia .", "hollywood nam ovim filmom pokazuje da , s vremena na vrijeme , zna stare ideje iskoristiti na svje i zabavan na\u010din", "it does n't care to explain how a jacuzzi becomes a de facto delorean ... nor does it get too bogged down in its butterfly effect meddlings -- it just wants to be a piece of good-times stupidness .", "the hangover meets back to the future in this hilarious and unapologetically adult buddy chuckler .", "MOV is rough around the edges ... -lsb- but -rsb- it offers us closure on a decade of great comedy -- from the very silly anchorman to the deathly serious funny people -- in which childish men are forced to grow the hell up .", "full review at movies for the masses", "greed is still good for these children of the 80s in the high concept mess MOV .", "despite the naff-sounding name which could easily have been a throwaway offering , it 's actually one of the more fun comedies which sees grown men reduced to acting like teenagers .", "despite being more muddled than a frat house ` cocktail ' , still manages to maintain a level of charm .", "admirably turns a potentially one-note joke into a consistently funny package .", "mindlessness done pretty well . three middle-aged friends and a gen next tag along whose lives have n't turned out as they 'd hoped travel back to 1986 via the titular device . stupid fun ensues , some of it involving crispin glover .", "it 's hilarious . it 's also completely mindless , but as it cheerfully celebrates its own awesome idiocy rather than pretending to be something it 's not , you can only love the thing ." ], "summary": "its flagrantly silly script -- and immensely likable cast -- make up for most of its flaws .", "id": "770813651" }, { "movie": "everything_must_go", "reviews": [ "rush draws on the intense attachment we can feel for the mundane objects in our lives . for nick , these things are talismans from a past that promised a lot more than it delivered .", "the best that can be said about MOV is that it 's slightly less nauseating than the beaver .", "this is n't ferrell 's first dramatic role ; he played seriocomic leading men in stranger than fiction and woody allen 's melinda and melinda . but it 's the first one that provides a glimpse at his possible future as a bill murray-style character actor .", "... might as well be called everything must be explained . ... it 's ferrell who shoulders the load , delivering a poignantly subdued and richly layered performance .", "will ferrell 's brand of comedy does n't appeal to me , by and large . my favorites of his films are not the crowd-pleasers , but stranger than fiction , an offbeat comedy-drama , and elf ...", "funnymen seem to have a secret desire to play drama.at least will ferrell has the chops for it .", "the raymond carver story ends on a note of cruelty and ambiguity . the movie ends with a reassuring twilight hug , scored to the band 's performance of ` i shall be released . '", "in the end , MOV is something of a consciously static study in sadness , both well-made and wearying .", "smart , poignant dramedy puts alcoholism front and center .", "... details are acutely observed , and performances are excellent ...", "i found this a delicately observed , satisfying movie and greatly enjoyed it .", "ferrell is far more impressive in a straighter role ... as he controls his own brand of zaniness and channels it as bittersweet irony and humour into ordinary events .", "good performances by ferrell and wallace and fantastic cinematography make MOV an enjoyable watch .", "the best movie will ferrell ever made", "a gratifying story with a quietly powerful performance from funnyman will ferrell .", "has a similar problem to its protagonist : it just sort of sits there .", "for a film that preaches giving it all away , MOV could have done with being a little more bold .", "cue self pity , followed by despair , followed by resignation , hope and redemption ... screenwriter/director dan rush ... opts for this standard redemption arc .", "gentle understatement that stealthily but surely gets under the skin and touches the heart .", "MOV is a pleasantly engaging , entertaining human portrait - a journey that does n't physically stray very far , but which treads a million metaphorical miles within its main character as he attempts to go from broken man to redeemed man .", "... the results are cliched and too emotionally restrained to make much of a mark ... christopher jordan wallace , who got his start portraying dad 's younger years in `` notorious , '' walks away with the whole movie .", "what now , and what next ? the answer unfolds in comically spare , emotionally rich fashion , in an adaptation of a raymond carver story by video music director dan rush making his feature debut .", "`` MOV '' is not all the film it could have been , but is more worth seeing than a lot of other recent releases .", "rush could 've approached this material in dozens of ways , but the way he chooses -- turning it into an occasionally wry , ever-earnest dramedy -- is precisely the wrong one .", "it lives up to its title in ways its maker never intended .", "in truth , this would be rather familiar indie fare without its perfectly-cast star , who fearlessly alternates between bitter humor , aggressive desperation , and gentle helplessness .", "rush extrapolates a narrative that is less jarring and more familiar than anything in carver , but nonetheless true to the writer 's tough , compassionate and intimately knowing apprehension of masculine defeat .", "if he is n't careful , will ferrell is going to become a bona fide actor .", "there 's nothing terribly surprising about this movie 's dramatic arc , but it 's nicely executed , and ferrell 's restrained , almost gentle performance is a revelation .", "will ferrell is evolving as an artist . welcome to his blue period .", "will ferrell delivers a performance of implosive intensity that rings true in every detail .", "MOV is n't a comedy , but it 's not entirely a tragedy , either , and it straddles this razor 's edge with a deeply nuanced aplomb .", "the big picture is famil iar -- busted middle-age man , suburban alcoholic despair -- yet the details are so finely rendered that the overall impression is potently strange .", "surprisingly , ferrell underplays it nicely , neither milking nick 's misfortunes for laughs nor asking for our pity .", "ferrell 's credible performance notwithstanding , it 's as if raymond carver 's minimalism has overtaken the show . no 4-page short story here , we 'll need a little something more for a 96-minute film .", "a superstar like ferrell could coast through disposable comedies , but `` MOV '' is a keeper .", "writer/director dan rush takes one simple concept from raymond carver 's spare , evocative , and extremely short story - a sad alcoholic with his furniture on the lawn - and fills in the blanks . too many of them , as it turns out .", "it 's nice to see someone try to find the positive in a situation rife with sadness . most indie movies work the other way around , which is why most people do n't bother watching them .", "everything can go . sometimes it does go . the movie tells a pertinent story about what happens next .", "no great epiphanies , just a few days , a little perspective , nicely told .", "glides along a relaxed , non-pushy vibe that does n't overwork to be funny or genuine . MOV feels natural and vulnerable .", "it feels slight and heavy-handed at the same time , and ends with a half-hearted shrug .", "there are moments of heartbreaking humanity , moments of bitter irony , moments of self-discovery , and a very realistic inconclusive ending .", "a refreshing change of pace for ferrell and a delightfully dark change of mood in the doldrums of the summer blockbuster .", "no film has asked -lsb- ferrell -rsb- to delve into the kinds of deep , dark places required of him in `` MOV . '' and he more than rises to the challenge .", "if life , as john lennon said , is what happens while you 're busy making plans , it 's also the sheer accumulation of stuff . pleasantly offbeat but not aggressively so , this film showcases that axiom in both the material and figurative senses .", "an engaging character study , solidly handled by rookie writer/director dan rush , that gives a little insight into the sort of career ferrell might have had if he had n't made his bones playing nincompoops and running around bare-assed .", "will ferrell shines as the central character in dan rush 's surprisingly touching debut feature , MOV .", "MOV sounds touchy-feely but writer-director dan rush sets a darkly serious tone that seldom wavers . ferrell gives himself over to the vibe , creating a character both pitiful and redeemable with the subtlest acting choices .", "i ca n't dismiss the desperate social realism of a movie offering the solace of a bromide found in a fortune cookie .", "script has some major problems , but it 's not enough to smother the final work , which finds a powerfully human note to play , fashioning a credible look at a life slowly sliding down the drain .", "this poignant indie has a lot going for it . not only is there a finely wrought slice-of-life lesson here , but there 's also a wonderful cast playing it out , lead by a surprisingly wonderful will ferrell .", "just when will ferrell was beginning to wear out his welcome with his buffoonish man-child act , he dials it down to deliver a surprisingly tender and moving turn in the drama MOV .", "i adored these characters , thanks in part to director dan rush 's deliberately labored pacing . he gives them room to find themselves within the story , and ferrell and wallace in particular develop chemistry before our eyes .", "the result is a sad suburban pastoral , a strain of film you do n't see much of , or not enough ; it may feel somewhat stretched , and rush 's additions to carver barely push it past ninety minutes , but anything hectic or hasty would have spoiled the mood .", "like bill murray and greg kinnear before him , this funnyman reveals serious acting chops .", "the individual performances are solid and ferrell clearly has dramatic chops . somehow , though , it turns out to be less than the sum of its parts .", "will ferrell is n't stunt casting -- his size and deadpan are essential to the character .", "a pleasing , satisfying chamber-piece .", "like a bad date ; it 's attractive , clever , but lacks a sense of humour .", "it ca n't escape the crippling clich\u00e9s of similar films that have come before it , and there are far too many cameron crowe-ian platitudes littered throughout the screenplay to remind us that we are indeed watching a movie .", "everything here 's too indie-sanitized to even be properly sad . it certainly is n't funny .", "the laughs are gentle , nick is a pleasingly ambiguous character and the anti-materialism message is admirable .", "a well-controlled film with a portrait at its centre that is astonishingly complete .", "it may stray into a few redundant subplots along the way but MOV succeeds as a plaintive portrait of a man cast adrift from all the past certainties of his life .", "too insubstantial to be a full-length feature .", "anyone who 's ever hit a low in their own lives can find inspiration in how will ferrell 's character overcomes obstacles and pulls himself up from rock bottom .", "rush shapes carver 's fable -- a quick and resonant read -- into a flimsy hour-and-a-half tale of rebirth rather than a piercing character study .", "a suburban sales executive reaches a dead-end and must re-evaluate his life while practicing the salutary art of letting go .", "will ferrell manages to keep this rolling , though rush 's corny narrative devices could n't be less consistent with carver 's stubborn minimalism .", "ferrell fits uncannily well into carver country , and in this small but sturdy film , he challenges any assumption that he might be limited to comedy . certainly this is the first time he 's moved me to tears that were n't produced by hard laughter .", "as a showcase of ferrell 's acting potential , this impresses ; otherwise , MOV .", "it 's a genuinely unexpected performance , one of those things that you never would have predicted , but once you see it you realize it 's perfect .", "constantly treads the fine line between `` incredibly engaging '' and `` uniquely underwhelming ''", "a sharply drawn study of down-and-outness that dovetails neatly , alas , with the great recession fallout that 's raining across the land .", "the real draw of the movie is : see will ferrell downplay it . i 'm up for that so i liked MOV .", "dan rush has created a vacant character that represents everything wrong with america in 2011 .", "this is a bittersweet , quietly powerful drama about a man at the end of his rope who must decide whether to start climbing or let go .", "if will ferrell 's charisma is directly proportional to his absurdity , then it 's little surprise that he fares relatively poorly as a sad sack in MOV ,", "the result is a simple , unassuming movie that 's grounded in reality and is every bit as likable as ferrell himself .", "this slow-paced indie about a suburban alcoholic is surprisingly gentle considering its subject matter , but that 's not entirely a good thing .", "that lawn with its scraps of a ruined life is a setting both satirical and poignant , and will ferrell gives a performance of chekhovian depth .", "rush respects carver 's slim , vinegar-tinged story while creating new characters and new -lrb- and somewhat artificial -rrb- situations . the results go only so far .", "director dan rush guides the material with a gentle hand . it 's just overwhelmingly basic , a descriptor that should never apply to a comedic beast of ferrell 's caliber .", "this better-than-average indie effort-a first feature from dan rush , an accomplished commercial director-is a dramatic change-of-pace for the former snl star ...", "first-time writer and director dan rush seems aware of the generic obstacles he has set for himself , and takes a headlong run at both before clearing them in the critical moment .", "mr. ferrell holds back the comic condiments long enough to paint the portrait of a man lost in low self-esteem with nice pastels of realistic restraint . but the crossroads he faces are paved with potholes ...", "ferrell makes it watchable .", "engaging , deceptively low-key indie with a terrific dramatic performance from will ferrell and a sharply written script .", "a nicely observed film with a terrific performance by ferrell .", "this is not a film that takes itself too seriously , but it is also not a ` comedy ' in the strictest sense .", "ferrell gives a performance most dramatic actors could only dream of - restrained , nuanced , enormously moving - in this uneven yet finally eloquent little indie .", "the film just does n't mine enough humor or drama from this situation . meanwhile most of the developments are wholly predictable .", "this is an old-school independent film that wo n't make a zillion bucks or win major awards , but it 's refreshingly honest , depicts the kinds of american lives not often seen on-screen and shows us a familiar star in a striking new light .", "... ferrell 's personable and charismatic performance certainly -lsb- proves -rsb- instrumental in initially capturing the viewer 's interest .", "a sweet -- and often very honest -- look at life , and another example of how criminally underused will ferrell 's talents are .", "this adaptation of a raymond carver short story is a gem -- perhaps more of a diamond in the rough than a polished jewel , but still .", "this leading role is quite a departure for ferrell who most often appears in comedies . he does an admirable job , but it makes you appreciate even more nicolas cage 's oscar-winning performance as an alcoholic in `` leaving las vegas '' -lrb- 1995 -rrb- .", "-lsb- the -rsb- small interactions between characters -- that 's what i really like about it", "will ferrell plays a grown-up and proves maybe he should do it more often .", "well , if anyone can make alcoholism and loneliness relatable , will ferrell can .", "MOV 's minor flaws serve to accentuate just how precise and moving the rest of it is .", "it feels a little odd to watch ferrell play an alcoholic for drama and not laughs . not enough happens with that drama to pull me in .", "... to ferrell what `` punch-drunk love '' was to adam sandler : a gutsy change of pace that reminds us the class clown , deep down , is a tangle of neuroses .", "after a strong first half , MOV ends up selling its leading man short .", "i was not waiting for a punch line . i was not primed to laugh . i accepted ferrell as nick and , because of that , i was able to enjoy MOV on its own terms .", "though the actor is famous for his outrageous roles , he delves deep into this troubled character and nails the quieter moments .", "reaching for the funny as well as dramatic pathos , ferrell is acting on a high wire .", "MOV is not a bad movie , but saying that it 's based on a story by raymond carver is like saying a ham dinner is based on hamlet .", "this low-key dramedy paints a cinematic portrait of self-destruction with , perhaps , a hopeful glimmer of redemption .", "will ferrell shows that he could have a career beyond stupid comedy . . it 's nice to see ferrell stretching himself . time for more of that career yoga , will .", "while mildly interesting and sporadically amusing , does n't manage to use carver 's story as a springboard for something really remarkable .", "MOV is a fine film on it 's own , though the resolution , a happy ending of sorts , is far too clean and tidy considering its inspiration .", "MOV is an intimate and engaging affair , anchored by a fine performance from ferrell in a role that required a surfeit of subtleties .", "-lcb- a -rcb- triumphant performance that promises much range from what seemed a one-burner hot plate of an actor .", "ferrell steps more fully and confidently into dramatic terrain with a performance that reveals heretofore unplumbed depths", "the unlikely combination of will ferrell and author raymond carver pays off beautifully .", "it 's a nice change-up to see will ferrell starring in a straightforward drama .", "the challenge of adapting carver 's spare story has led rush to conjure a bit of melodrama the movie does n't need , but in the last few seconds the movie rights itself with an appropriate note of ambiguity and poetry .", "the world of `` MOV '' is n't the easiest one to visit , but when it comes to the work of ferrell , it 's perhaps the most relatable one .", "with a likable will ferrell as its lead , the film offers an incisive personal spin on these tumultuous economic times .", "will ferrell proves to have a way of turning fortune-cookie platitudes into something that , if not especially deep , is at least enjoyable and buoyant and entirely watchable .", "wastes a good will ferrell performance by elaborating on raymond carver 's short story in ways that go very wrong .", "it 's worth going to see MOV just to watch ferrell in action .", "do not get me wrong , there is comedy galore throughout this dramedy , but it is based on the realty of one man coping with a life gone sour .", "fairly effective in a diminished capacity . it aims lower , but still hits its target .", "it 's a low-key movie that sneaks up on you gradually until , by the end , you realize you would n't mind spending more time with these characters .", "taking stock and letting go -- of superfluous things , of worn-out love -- is a strong theme . but the progression of the script is like nick 's self-help program . we 're familiar with the steps .", "by filling in the backstory of carver 's nameless central character , a typically morose drinker who has moved all his possessions to the front yard of his house , the movie diminishes the magic inherent in the vagueness of the original ." ], "summary": "it may not improve on the raymond carver short story that inspired it , but MOV resists cliche and boasts a pair of magnetic performances from the perfectly cast ferrell and wallace .", "id": "771205671" }, { "movie": "upstream_color", "reviews": [ "you have to work a bit harder to put the pieces together and you 're responsible for the answers , but the effort is paid back with an exhalation , a single expression on kris ' face and the recognition of it in your own .", "it 's not that it 's not intriguing , but carruth has withheld any sense of glue or cohesion or even a clue as to what he 's getting at .", "thematically rich , layered and hypnotic , MOV is a maddeningly abstract and romantic examination of love , who we are as lovers , what our love does to one another , and how that 's connected to the nature of all things .", "by abandoning the need for specific interpretation , carruth nails the fundamental inscrutability of the universe while remaining in awe of it the whole way through .", "carruth deserves kudos for trying to stretch the language of film , and kris and jeff have some interesting moments of self-discovery , but the fragments never add up to much .", "clearly , the film is intended as a tactile experience of poetic ideas , of modern disconnection and biophysical insecurity and existential doubt , and the clarity of these anxieties is bruising and stunning .", "iit 's a film that i 'd like to go back and look at again and give it a second go .", "mystifyingly cryptic yet oddly hypnotic .", "should you see MOV ? a better question may be : how many times should you see it ?", "if the movie is a bit of a mystery , so is carruth .", "the movie 's deep emotional underpinnings are compromised by too many images that skew toward a dense , abstract sensibility .", "this is a very sensory world , and it 's demanding we interpret its tactile realities to understand it .", "taken as a whole , it 's an impressive piece of filmmaking that shows carruth 's talents as director , actor , cinematographer and composer .", "whatever it is carruth 's doing , it reminds you of what movies can do .", "for me it was a great success , a success resting on both in its refusal to be overly conventional while not going completely off the rails just to say tell the audience to go fuck themselves .", "carruth may be something that the movies have n't yet seen , perhaps the first great realization of the democratization of filmmaking that digital technology and the internet promised .", "this i do know - as abstract and surreal as it is , i like it about a million times more than primer .", "MOV is an admirable workout for the mind that regrettably falls short -- try as it might -- in offering the heart a similar trial .", "MOV is a deliberate exercise in swooning obscurity . you either go with its considerable sensory powers or you scratch a groove on your head .", "being completely understood at first glance is not on creator shane carruth 's agenda , but while this may sound upsetting , it turns out to be quite the opposite .", "those who require a beating pulse to set the tempo for jigsaw puzzle moviegoing are hereby warned , as carruth is n't interested in making things easy . he wants to squeeze your mind , not hold your hand .", "it 's not designed to stump or baffle but to beckon you into its wondrously chilly gray world . if it takes a few viewings to unlock -lrb- most of -rrb- its secrets then lucky you ; you spent high-quality time you might have wasted on pain & gain .", "if shane carruth 's time-traveling debut primer was about outthinking what you might do in the future , his second movie , MOV , is about deciphering why you feel the way you do right now .", "`` MOV '' is splendid , transcendent weirdness .", "i have no idea what it was about , and i ca n't wait to see it again .", "i loved it .", "my immediate desire when it ended was to stay in my seat and watch it all the way through again .", "swooning , frightening , intoxicating , and a cinematic experience that feels genuinely new .", "... works on its own idiosyncratic wavelength , one that is n't alienating , but is n't quite approachable either .", "its plot is n't particularly complicated , but it is undeniably weird . if you accept the movie on its own terms , you 'll feel like you 've been pulled into a creepy yet compelling dream .", "however you watch it , it 's a movie that will mean more for you if you do n't worry about what 's happening minute-by-minute and , instead , just let your mind wander as its muted images and snippets of dreamy poetry flow .", "the miracle of MOV is that a film so carefully and exquisitely composed can yield so many moments of open-ended cinematic rapture .", "the remarkable amy seimetz is as central to the film as women in krzysztof kieslowski 's late films , like ir\u010dne jacob in `` three colors : red '' and `` the double life of v\u00e9ronique '' or juliette binoche in `` three colors : blue . ''", "an equally frustrating and rewarding experience .", "MOV is a trippy and enjoyable exploration of connections both direct and indirect .", "no amount of concentrated analysis can really explain the level of deep emotion that MOV effortlessly evokes .", "it 's evocative , but beneath the stylised direction and the mesmerising soundtrack , perhaps a little cold , like a concept album without a fully formed idea to drive it .", "what the movie points to is worth following until you 're left with an enormous map that you spend the rest of the drive trying to refold .", "carruth 's visual approach , saved from abstraction by his own rapid , forward-leaping editing , is extremely assured . seimetz is a fine and expressively haunted actress . i look forward to the enigmas in carruth 's next picture .", "an assured and artfully ragged mosaic of glassy nonlinearity .", "a bold , imaginative , poetic and , admittedly , frustrating piece of filmmaking that 's always engaging and frequently beautiful .", "a 96-minute therapy session where discomforting symbology and gross human abuse create a framework for powerful , all-consuming love .", "meanings are multiple , debatable and ultimately pointless . what really impresses about MOV is carruth 's confident navigation of this fast river of ideas ...", "while i feel compelled to see it again , i do n't have high hopes that it will make any more sense .", "here is a movie you have n't seen before . if you think you have , it 's probably because you swallowed a white worm that turned you into a pod-person subject to total mind control and now you 're having flashbacks .", "pretentious hogwash -- sometimes literally . coherence is not your enemy , buddy , but you and your movies are why some people hate independent cinema .", "visually and sonically hypnotic , it 's an intensely sensory blend of internal monologue and unsettling mystery , draped over a thin skeleton of plot approached so obliquely that it seems almost inconsequential .", "a reminder that cinema can still challenge you , rather than just placate you .", "no one else today approaches the genre in quite this way ; the only precedent i can think of is nicolas roeg 's the man who fell to earth .", "like primer , MOV was written , directed , produced , edited and scored by its star . so there is at least one person out there who presumably knows what it all means .", "for all its impenetrable possibilities , the most obvious thing one can say about MOV is that it is great .", "there 's some sort of genius buried within MOV , but it 's so enigmatic and obscure that by the time you reach it after digging through its countless layers you 'll likely never find your way back again .", "i found it one of the most invigorating and intoxicating movie experiences of the year .", "shane carruth continues to grow as a filmmaker even as he remains keen to puzzle and perhaps frustrate . MOV is , above all else , an unforgettable experience .", "carruth 's mesmerizing , confounding film is full of overwhelming sensory splendor and ripe with multiple meanings .", "baffling from beginning to end , but also woozily beautiful .", "meticulous and abstruse , shane carruth 's MOV is an idiosyncratic film that invites explication but defies total understanding .", "sci-fi might have been too familiar a word , for what may induce a kind of hallucinatory melancholy in its viewers .", "like primer , MOV will benefit from repeated viewings , from the ability to rewind , review , rethink . dive in .", "elliptical and utterly fascinating adventure in cinema , one that defies simple explanations , but worms its way into the brain .", "carruth 's film plays like a glass harp which has been smashed and reassembled with missing pieces but unbroken sound .", "it 's a bloodless movie , and its ideas are n't as tricky or complex as carruth 's arch , mannered approach might suggest .", "a vision as vast and as natural as it is reflexively cinematic and fiercely compassionate .", "the artistry on display is indisputable , and thrilling .", "MOV is one of the greatest realizations of the digital dream , which was supposed to allow filmmakers to express a full , idiosyncratic vision from outside the system .", "`` MOV '' is weird , but it 's worth the time .", "no one is going to explain any of this for you-and the slightly snobby implication of MOV is that explanations are for suckers .", "a romance , a thriller , and a science-fiction drama , `` MOV '' tantalizes viewers with an open-ended narrative about overcoming personal loss .", "if it 's something different you 're after , MOV is your movie . but be careful what you wish for . it 's a film about having pig dreams , and the courage to follow them .", "i 've seen MOV twice and liked it enormously while never being certain of anything .", "if `` primer '' was a rubik 's cube , `` MOV '' is a poem or a half-remembered dream -- or , more accurately , a nightmare .", "a deeply sincere , elliptical movie about being and nature , men and women , self and other , worms and pigs ...", "if writer-director shane carruth were to ever find a way to get his audience to feel as well as he gets them to think , he might be truly onto something extraordinary .", "what i discern here is the work of a unique visual stylist and collage artist who 's creating obsessive-compulsive allegorical puzzles , whose underlying philosophy is deliberately unclear .", "`` MOV '' lacks both a clear point and , more crucially , a point of view .", "... a tremendous return by a gifted filmmaker , and one of the real highlights of this year 's sundance film festival .", "anybody haunted by primer 's creepy overtones will instantly recognize it as the work of the same director .", "this enigma-delivery system from a sharp mind has enthralling moments but becomes a bit enervating in its self-seriousness . by the end , the whole thing feels more academic than mind-bending .", "... another unclassifiable and unique piece of quasi-science-fiction paranoia .", "so soft-focus is shane carruth 's praised anticipated ` MOV ' that any adjectives might be applied except ` coherent ' and ` bearable . '", "MOV is a stimulating and hypnotic piece of experimental filmmaking .", "as visionary and beautiful as it may be , MOV wears its pretensions a little too proudly .", "a baffling , opaque mess . but at least it 's got a baby pig .", "MOV is a very layered and complex movie . but it 's also rich and beautiful . i expect nothing less from the crowded and radiant mind of shane carruth .", "a dramatically obscure , technically brilliant experiment in speculative fiction from shane carruth .", "a lush , deeply felt , very modern exploration of the need to find genuine connections in a cruel and -lrb- very -rrb- unusual world .", "it will leave you giddily befuddled . i 've never been so swept away by being so lost .", "much like the worm that 's forced into kris 's body , you ca n't wriggle free from this film and it wo n't stop growing inside you as time goes by .", "gorgeous , transcendent and affecting , just watch it and argue the toss later .", "MOV 's mystery paralysed me .", "ultimately , carruth 's tale expresses that , despite the complexity and mutability of human beings , their essence persists .", "a visceral , mind-bending curio ... a film that leeches into you like watercolour on canvas ; the less you know about the story going in , the better .", "discussing it with people who got different things out of it has made me eager to reexamine it .", "the dialogue is sparse and much of the imagery and action is open to interpretation . i was intrigued , frustrated , repulsed , bewildered and ultimately bored", "this genre-defying oddity , this magnificent cinematic poem , is also quietly a brilliant and moving love story .", "at times the movie has a stunning george saunders-level sci-fi blues . . . but really , it 's nyc hipster existentialism .", "too-clever filmmaker shane carruth ` sfascinating 2004 time-travel thriller primer was confusing enough , but he goes a step further with this utterly impenetrable freak-out mystery .", "upstream colour has the makings of a cult movie , though it 's not a cult i feel inclined to join .", "the themes may be numerous and varied - concerns about drugs , surveillance , disease , alienation - but the story does have an impeccable -lrb- albeit deeply buried -rrb- logic to it .", "in the best possible way it 'll get under your skin like the parasitic worms dispensed by the thief .", "baffling , intoxicating , elegant , shane carruth 's long-overdue follow-up to primer is among the year 's best .", "in a world where there are music stores that sell cds of worm music , telepathically connected worm people and pigs commune on a farm and plot their revenge against a mad scientist . well , not really , but sort of .", "intriguing and enigmatic .", "more a series of obtuse moments loosely connected by the most threadbare of plots , it 's unfortunately one of those films some will praise merely because they do n't want to be left out in the cold .", "upstream colour appears to have been made by a terrence malick fan injected with a david cronenberg parasite .", "mind-blowing . it 's confusing , but you 'll love being confused . a sure-fire conversation starter . like classic david lynch mixed with a dab of cronenberg .", "a relatively straightforward story steeped in abstract concepts upon which carruth hangs themes of love , hope , fear , fate , free will , memory , identity , creativity , spirituality , the control of nature and the nature of control like so many paper chains .", "the film has been very divisive at sundance but i think i adore it . it 's daring , gorgeous , beautifully shot , and thematically fascinating .", "the subject of understanding and mystery prove a sticking point , with the film remaining so wilfully opaque that it is more frustrating than rewarding by the end credits .", "MOV builds a stunning mosaic of lives overwhelmed by decisions outside their control , of people who do n't understand the impulses that rule their lives .", "` MOV ' is disorienting and heavy , but it earns every bit of mental energy you 'll put into it .", "MOV is lush , rhythmic , and deeply sensual , a film of exceptional beauty .", "a baffling experimental movie that shuns interpretation as a narrative but makes sense as a work of artistic merit .", "MOV is cinema as art and it 's the type of art that can lead to lots of conversations , presumably intelligent philosophical ones .", "one eventually grows so weary of discerning the signal from the noise that it all blurs together .", "it presents us with a glimpse of the vastness of existence , of our inner nature , and of nature without that is as equally dreadful , enveloping , and terrifying as it is beautiful .", "very few movies actually invite us in , meet us halfway , or offer us something . MOV does that in such a unique , singular way that it 's unlike almost any other movie i 've ever seen .", "shane carruth 's MOV might even be better than his previous effort , primer ... -lsb- it 's -rsb- a marvel of sci-fi storytelling .", "for those prepared to go with the abstraction , MOV is a rewarding and mind-blowing experience .", "a sumptuous enigma that 's intricately constructed and beautifully shot , a film that would make terrence malick blush", "carruth 's experimental style has a certain level of artistry , and the film contains enough ambitious ideas to make it worthwhile .", "carruth 's complex and muted thriller is exquisitely made and acted . it 's a film that challenges the viewer provoking fine existential questions .", "it 's no surprise that MOV is a head-scratcher , but its untrammeled emotionalism comes as a shock to the senses .", "may represent a milestone in modern indie cinema , or at least a steppingstone between the smart microbudget work signified by star amy seimetz and the more grandiose aspirations associated with someone like -- dare i invoke the name ? -- stanley kubrick .", "a cerebral , mournful mystery that resonates like a tuning fork struck on a far-off star .", "it 's a film that audiences will either loath or admire ; i doubt it can be loved , too austere and distant , too dissonant , too incoherent in fact", "carruth 's second feature proudly follows his debut primer -lrb- 2004 -rrb- in its audacity , intellect and astonishing originality . carruth does not make films for fools , but nor does he try and fool anyone ; if you 're willing to look , it 's all there .", "even if you do n't know what 's going on , you rarely doubt that carruth knows exactly what he 's doing .", "a perfectly judged , strikingly beautiful film , but also a lunatic enterprise which invites - even welcomes - befuddlement as much as wonder . a true original .", "this gorgeous , unknowable , deeply affecting film makes primer look almost conventional , given time travel is a genre filmgoers know a little something of .", "the most visually imaginative american film since david lynch 's eraserhead .", "carruth 's mindmelt of mesmerism , metempsychosis and micro-organisms will leave some a little cold , most bemused if not utterly baffled , and near all needing to see it a second time .", "if MOV is not quite the masterpiece we were hoping for , it 's a film with its own affectless mystery and chill .", "a confounding intellectual mystery , an enigmatic philosophical science fantasy that 's like a cinematic moebius strip .", "the danger with a style that is this closed-off is that it can repel our pleasure as well as our understanding ." ], "summary": "as technically brilliant as it is narratively abstract , MOV represents experimental american cinema at its finest -- and reaffirms shane carruth as a talent to watch .", "id": "771322544" }, { "movie": "green_street_hooligans", "reviews": [ "charlie hunnam turns in an utterly dreadful , line-mangling , squirm-inducing performance -lrb- reputedly redubbed , but still atrocious -rrb- , whilst the voice-over narration is staggeringly appalling .", "the script is a jumble of caricatures and cliches .", "approaches the sociologically poetic sloganeering of the smiths at morrissey 's most hooligan-lovestruck .", "-lsb- alexander -rsb- is a better anthropologist than dramatist and her snapshot of this culture is more revealing than the story crafted around it .", "it swims and sinks in melodrama .", "german kickboxer-turned-director lexi alexander 's brutal , unsparing portrait of disaffected youth running rampant amid the football stands and terraces of jolly old england .", "there 's a good movie to be made about the violent world of british soccer , or football , as it 's called on the other side of the pond . this is n't it .", "MOV loses any credibility it might have had the minute it tries to pass off elijah wood as a tough guy .", "hunnam e wood exibem imensa seguran\u00e7a ao carregarem o filme , que tamb\u00e9m desperta nosso interesse atrav\u00e9s da an\u00e1lise dos motivos que levam pessoas comuns \u0155 viol\u0119ncia das torcidas organizadas .", "at least three writers collaborated on a script that drums out loudly its themes of loyalty , honor and revenge , and the finished product dances quickly enough between cliches to make for passable entertainment .", "nothing hits harder , or with less tact , than the overriding message , that matt is really looking for a surrogate family .", "football-and-fighting drama shows elijah wood in a new light -- and marks the debut of a major talent .", "viewers hoping to understand the senseless phenomenon of football hooliganism would do better to rent alan clarke 's nearly 20-year-old the firm .", "hooligans truly is an ode to the punch , a love letter to the stomp , an embrace of the head butt .", "works resoundingly well as a spotlight onto another country 's sports-obsessed culture , plus it 's just a damn well-made piece of storytelling , period .", "as the film progresses and as matt falls deeper and deeper into the firm , you can honestly believe that the transformation is real .", "a colossal misstep at every turn ; the sort of film bound to appeal more to one who knows not a thing about football and the uk than one with even the slightest knowledge .", "a well-intentioned but ultimately calamitous attempt to analyse the so-called ` english disease . '", "alexander creates characters that are much more three-dimensional than your classic villain .", "authenticity lends a sharp edge to what would otherwise be yet another gritty drama about british yob culture .", "an energetic mix of fight club 's adoration of violence and west side story 's popularization of gang warfare .", "... a mess of romanticized notions of street honor and camaraderie in combat , pushed into hollow melodrama ...", "though the film begins with the promise of dissecting the origins and politics of the firms , the neighborhood turf wars , and the general attraction towards football-hooligan culture , it quickly abandons those aims .", "although the central message is questionable and the plot is packed with contrivances , the film makes for an engaging treatise on a subculture .", "soccer needs this movie like georgia needed deliverance .", "we learn that violence is bad , except when it feels good , or helps solve our problems .", "pic amply demonstrates that alexander -- director of johnny flynton , 2003 oscar nominee for dramatic short -- has the chops to bring a fresh take to onscreen rough stuff .", "it 's what you thought fight club was going to be , before it went in a whole other -lrb- and far more interesting -rrb- direction .", "this is a brutal , insightful look at a side of sports most americans do n't even know about .", "goes soft and mushy in personal terms even as it ratchets up the violence and decibel level .", "-lsb- the director -rsb- and her team get some things right ... but there are weaknesses where it counts most .", "i would n't exactly say i liked this movie , but i guess you could say they do a good job capturing this element of society . the violence is appalling , extreme , and relentless .", "drags and drags , almost entirely absent of tension", "the world of football riots seems rife with potential for the big screen , but MOV only periodically rises to it .", "at its best , the movie navigates an intriguing moral tightrope between the fetishization of bloodshed and the outright condemnation of it .", "hooligans loses the plot late though -- in the filmic and brit-speak sense -- revealing hollywood , not hooligan , roots .", "suggesting hooligans is just too darned real for the entertainment industry to fathom would make a lot more sense if the movie were n't so mind-numbingly derivative .", "the steady diet of brutal street fighting makes it all but impossible to connect with this picture , despite whatever visceral appeal it may offer .", "you watch the movie clutched in a defensive position .", "too bad it 's saddled with a predictable storyline and such feckless dialogue that you ca n't help but view the whole thing as an exercise in stupidity .", "this is fight club without the irony or the metaphysical gaming .", "the message is that violence is hard-wired into men , if only the connection is made .", "a feature-length folly about the terrors and self-affirming joys of football -lrb- that is , soccer -rrb- hooliganism .", "alexander 's techniques occasionally get a bit too fancy , but the movie has a kinetic energy and intelligence that score .", "terrific because director lexi alexander , a german , brings an authentic feel to english hooliganism -- this is a brutal yet tremendously entertaining film -- and treats it very seriously .", "pretty-boy-turned-gang-leader charlie hunnam offers a career performance ...", "as a dissertation on suppressed male aggression , it 's a compelling movie . as entertainment , it 's visceral but mildly unfulfilling .", "once it puts up its dukes and stops with the philosophizing , the thing intrigues .", "it 's a visceral , macho film , and if the message seems to be that violence is the answer , it 's hard to resist the grimy , eloquent way that the point is made .", "sure to please fans of action-adventure flicks , footballers , and teenagers entranced by macho violence , MOV also offers up ... morsels for ethical meditation .", "the movie forces you into primal alertness , its effectiveness enhanced by exceptional casting and escalating tension that plays on your emotions .", "unfortunately , the beatings are often more interesting than what 's caused them .", "a movie about english football -lrb- soccer -rrb- hooligans should n't be too hard to pull off ... but MOV manages to botch it up .", "director lexi alexander wants to make a message movie yet also seems attracted by the firms ' macho ethics .", "hooligans delivers two main points - that family is where you find it , and that violence can be as intoxicating , to some , as a drug .", "the fundamental idiocy of the whole business keeps the movie from scoring any serious goals .", "at best a mediocre to slightly above average fish-out-of-water tale .", "director and co-writer lexi alexander choreographs the fight scenes with thrilling chaos , and the plot unfolds expertly if melodramatically ." ], "summary": "when it comes to the subculture of soccer thugs , MOV lacks sufficient insight , and instead comes off as a fight club knock-off .", "id": "6934" }, { "movie": "talk_to_her", "reviews": [ "almodovar beautifully evokes trust and sacrifice .", "almodovar continues to refine the form of melodrama ... without sacrificing one iota of emotional texture or resonance .", "humanity is intricate , contradictory , fathomless here , and the filmmaking just as rich .", "no other current director blends comedy and drama as smoothly or with as much flair", "it 's almodovar 's most mature and mysterious movie .", "almodovar uses the characters ' unlikely predicaments to show how we define ourselves by narration , but his story is so overdetermined that ultimately the two men seem as constrained as their brain-dead sweethearts .", "i found it slow to get into . but i hung in there and am glad i did because eventually it grabbed me and i ended up enjoying it .", "the film combines sensuality , spirituality and sheer joy in storytelling in marvellously harmonious proportions .", "it 's a brave movie and a mature undertaking .", "very few directors could get away with making a film like this , but almodovar not only gets away with it , he delivers a masterpiece .", "initial strangeness inexorably gives way to rote sentimentality and mystical tenderness becomes narrative expedience .", "at heart , it 's a sick , scandalous joke , but you ca n't quite bring yourself to laugh at something so deeply felt and so gravely elegant .", "almod\u00f3var spins a tale of passion , loneliness and human communication in a lyrical , magical film .", "MOV is so darned assured , we have absolutely no idea who the main characters are until the film is well under way -- and yet it 's hard to stop watching .", "the kind of film that grows on you upon reflection", "if you 've cared for almodovar 's previous work , you should like it ; if not , it may strike you as equally contrived and vaguely unpleasant .", "a movie of technical skill and rare depth of intellect and feeling .", "it would be interesting to hear from the other side , but in MOV , the women are down for the count .", "almod\u00f3var 's most ruminative movie in years ; in many ways the antithesis of similar american counterparts , the story of a troubled soul unwilling to cry out or make a big deal of his own misery .", "almodovar has said that maybe maturity is what made him write male characters . whatever it is has worked wonders to make this his most confident work .", "while ultimately not as satisfying as all about my mother , MOV is a moving portrayal of relationships affected by injuries both physical and emotional .", "this has to be one of the most bizarre love stories ever to be filmed , not since nine 1/2 weeks has anybody done this much pampering for his ` girlfriend ' .", "a deliciously precarious balance between comedy and drama , MOV is ultimately a tribute to the balm that words provide , and to the infinite variations of love .", "complex , affecting and uniquely almod\u00f3var , the film evokes strong emotions and pushes viewers to question their deepest notions of moral right and wrong .", "a quietly reflective film , one in which the play of emotions , expressed on the actors ' faces , tells us what we need to know .", "one of the finest films of 2002 , the work of a master who shows no signs of slowing down .", "a powerfully moving film about men who think they want to lose themselves in their women , then are startled to realize that they 're the ones who have been comatose .", "this is almodovar 's stab at serious drama , and the result is bizarre and affecting but also unsettling in ways that the filmmaker may not have intended .", "compelling , engaging and thought-provoking , with superb work in front of and behind the camera .", "occasionally funny , always very colorful and enjoyably overblown in the traditional almod\u00f3var style .", "as subversive as any of almod\u00f3var 's early films , but in an infinitely more thoughtful and mature manner .", "combines improbable melodrama -lrb- gored bullfighters , comatose ballerinas -rrb- with subtly kinky bedside vigils and sensational denouements , and yet at the end , we are undeniably touched .", "sad and beautiful , sly and funny , clever and controversial .", "the best film of the past year , MOV is adventuresome , sad , hilarious , odd and completely at peace with its own admittedly mad premise .", "haphazardly blends drama and comedy into a heap of discomfort .", "almodovar 's latest warms the cockles of your heart while putting knots in your stomach , no small feat .", "fans of -lsb- almod\u00f3var -rsb- will enjoy the themes he has recycled and revisited .", "the most beguiling amalgamation yet of almod\u00f3var 's pet themes .", "MOV is vintage almodovar .", "MOV manages to be female-centric even as it explores the lives of men .", "it 's unmissable and unforgettable .", "a drama of great power , yet some members of the audience will leave the theater believing they have seen a comedy .", "when it 's over , the realization of how much the movie means to you really sinks in ; you ca n't get it out of your heart .", "open-ended and composed of layer upon layer , MOV is a cinephile 's feast , an invitation to countless interpretations .", "almost operatic in its execution , ` MOV ' packs quite an emotional wallop .", "wise and darkly witty , MOV is often humorous , but not always comforting .", "filled with wondrous surprises .", "MOV is a sad falsetto ballad , holding onto hope like a dove cupped in two gentle hands in the midst of blood-splattered bullhorns and slow death .", "you 'll end up moved .", "a rich and complex melodrama in which the director 's sensibility is borne out by even the smallest details .", "almodovar walks an unsteady line and he knows it , showing us that compassion and delusion are n't too far removed , and powerfully , lend a surreal richness and beauty to life .", "somewhere along the line , critics , even the good ones , started to adore pedro almodovar with wide-eyed lenses ; having never washed them since --", "funny , sexy , devastating and incurably romantic .", "elegant and eloquent -lsb- meditation -rsb- on death and that most elusive of passions , love .", "gorgeously surreal and delicate .", "it 's a melancholy film , but with wry , comic touches .", "a complex , amusing , insightful 10 .", "even more than usual for almod\u00f3var , it feels like an adult fairy tale , with an indefinable sense of the magic that both wondrously and hideously lurks beneath everyday reality .", "there 's no doubt that pedro almod\u00f3var is a twisted master , but his newest gender-bending romp stumbles over itself .", "this ode to the peculiar strength and flexibility of love , romantic and platonic , is simultaneously perverse , overwrought , deeply creepy and truly moving .", "definitely worth taking about .", "pedro almodovar 's latest masterpiece .", "another knockout from almodovar .", "admirers of almodovar 's best pictures , such as all about my mother and the amazing women on the verge of a nervous breakdown , will find him again at the peak of his powers .", "a simple plot description sounds bizarre and off-putting , but the movie , in spanish with subtitles , is anything but .", "the spanish master redefines love in all its weird and surprising permutations with this characteristically eccentric tale involving a lady bullfighter , a male nurse , a ballet dancer and a journalist with hyperactive tear ducts .", "the movie is the strangest experience : a matter-of-fact thing that swallows you whole .", "MOV is just plain great cinema that we could use more of .", "it 's a stunning masterpiece .", "there is no preaching to be found here , only a heart-touching embrace of life in all its flawed glory .", "sizzling with emotional undertones , the film is held back only by a lack of urgent pacing .", "a rumination on love that becomes more twisted as it goes .", "it is a singularly impressive work , able to generate laughs one moment and tears the next .", "a memorable experience that , like many of his works , presents weighty issues colorfully wrapped up in his own idiosyncratic strain of kitschy goodwill .", "-lsb- has -rsb- moments of almost unbearable beauty .", "this is a complex , beautiful film that is , in the end , more warming than chilling , one that people will be talking about for a long time to come .", "MOV is outrageous , cruel , and appalling .", "a singular film , one that captures everything about almod\u00f3var 's career to this point , but also transcends it through the simple beauty of its idealism", "this remains minor almod\u00f3var , despite a few funny jabs at his favorite targets : the church , the media , macho behavior .", "challenging yet strangely moving .", "with `` MOV , '' aldomovar crafts an amazing tender homage to his favorite theme , leaving behind the kookier elements and instead focusing on his characters ...", "this film , which is much better than my previous almodovar experiences , still makes me wonder a little about almodovar .", "unnerving and comforting at once ... a sublime and rich film about bodies and the spirits that animate them .", "crosses the line from ` morally ambiguous ' to ` morally depraved , ' and no amount of technical proficiency or clever story-telling can save it .", "re-imagining the spanish cinema", "... about the art of caring -- and the danger of caring too much .", "as downright peculiar and possibly offensive as it is at times , the film is truly unique , a refreshing original .", "i miss the pedro that would have turned a giant vagina into great comic possibilities . the new , serious pedro in MOV makes it represent the worst of literal metaphors . the world loses .", "almodovar suggests the need for spiritual invention regardless of the nature of one 's crippledom .", "no es que peque de purista o que insista en que las cintas deben tratar de algo , pero la profundidad es una cosa , y el tratar de cubrir cosas de m\u00e1s es otra ...", "almod\u00f3var 's delectable choice of music , the roving camera , and his eye for detail give the movie a supremely graceful feel .", "what should a man do with a woman ? MOV !", "an effortlessly accomplished and richly resonant work .", "there are lots of odd sequences that add texture -lrb- abstract ballet sequences , an extended silent movie scene that goes very surreal -rrb- , and so much going on beneath the surface that you can hardly take it all in .", "transcendent .", "amold\u00f3var is a master of emotional texture , peeling away layer upon layer of the feelings ... until he reaches benigno 's troubled psyche and marco 's benevolent soul .", "the results are poetic , beguiling , elusive and definitively almod\u00f3varian .", "this is a movie of great , rending compassion and artistry , and the ease with which it invites tears or laughter along with the hypnotic quality of the storytelling are the signs of a true master .", "some movies are like a tasty hors-d'oeuvre ; this one is a feast .", "pure cinematic intoxication , a wildly inventive mixture of comedy and melodrama , tastelessness and swooning elegance .", "there is much to admire in almod\u00f3var 's technical proficiency , but his quirky movies make little emotional impact .", "passions , obsessions , and loneliest dark spots are pushed to their most virtuous limits , lending the narrative an unusually surreal tone .", "as intense as it is meditative , as disturbing as it is passionate .", "MOV is excellent movie-making and much of it is wondrous , but my conscience wo n't allow me to be devoted to unconditionally singing its praises .", "no wonder they 're talking about `` MOV . '' it 's astonishing .", "the offbeat beauty of almodovar 's script lies in its seductive combination of grieving , sensuality , fantasy and passion . almodovar is incapable of creating dull characters ...", "after an interminable wait , in which it seemed that nobody in hollywood would have the nerve to make a film about brain-dead ballerinas , gored female bullfighters and the men who love them , finally there 's one to recommend - pedro almodovar 's `` MOV", "` almod\u00f3var logra un filme entra\u0144able , lleno de compasi\u00f3n , comprensi\u00f3n , amor , amistad , esperanza y humanidad que es sencillamente inolvidable . '", "even when aldomovar is obviously showing off , we 're convinced that he cares .", "it 's another wild yet thoughtful look at the meaning of life and sexuality from almodovar .", "like all his -lsb- pedro almodovar 's -rsb- work , it 's jarring and provocative to say the least .", "good , but not classic almodovar .", "almodovar is an imaginative teacher of emotional intelligence in this engaging film about two men who discover what william james once called ` the gift of tears . '", "-lrb- un cineasta -rrb- para no entender del todo y para seguir esperando .", "one of the strangest , most heavily layered and assured films that almodovar has ever made -- possibly his masterpiece -- sly , funny , incredibly convoluted and , ultimately , almost devastatingly moving .", "thoughtful , intelligent film .", "MOV sneaks up on you and then refuses to let you go . you find yourself absorbed in the lives of these characters , anxious to see what happens next and stunned by the emotional complexity of what almodovar has achieved .", "i was really blown away by this movie .", "there 's so much going on beneath the surface that you can hardly take it all in .", "... the two protagonists in MOV are among the most compelling committed to screen all year .", "like other almod\u00f3var films , it delights in its scandals . but its sensitivities are extravagant , which means it 's one of the most beautiful black comedies ever made .", "call him twisted . call him sick . but call pedro almodovar a master . and call ` MOV ' a masterpiece .", "MOV is very much a subversive film , one that takes its time creeping in under your skin . but once there , it 's determined to stay awhile , to entice the mind into playing seditious games .", "hypnotic , graceful , and mysteriously moving . it 's another worthy addition to almodovar 's ever deepening filmography .", "arguably -lsb- almodovar 's -rsb- finest film to date .", "by the end of his crazy , heart-thrilling tale , almodovar has delivered us through bawdy humor , art appreciation , specific human connections and fascinating philosophy to a state resembling spirituality ." ], "summary": "another masterful , compassionate work from pedro almodovar .", "id": "13142" }, { "movie": "city_of_ghosts", "reviews": [ "a bit of exotic neo-noir , clunky in parts and long , but often engaging and artfully atmospheric as well .", "while it wo n't be remembered as great cinema , it is actually a tight piece of film noir .", "in the end , it becomes clear that the missing ingredient in MOV is nothing more than some additional directing experience on the part of dillon .", "while the film is not short on ideas or implications , none of them is fully developed , leaving us little but atmosphere and warm whiskey to drink in .", "MOV dons a facade of independent filmmaking , but the core screams hollywood rehash .", "a long , winding , but decently layered modern film noir .", "MOV does n't quite work , but it has its moments , and some of them just may be worth the price of admission .", "it 's the only film in which james caan attempts karaoke in cambodian . you 'll want to plan your bathroom break for that scene .", "fortunately , dillon was smart enough to hire one of our best living crime authors barry gifford to co-write the screenplay .", "though he has evolved beyond his star peak , -lsb- dillon -rsb- remains a strong actor and is a gifted director .", "for the most part , dillon has skillfully captured the sojourn of a stranger in a strange land .", "i did n't believe in james caan 's cons , but i believed him , and at times like that it 's helpful to stop keeping score and live in the moment .", "MOV drips with mood and atmosphere , augmented by a beautiful score from tyler bates .", "you do get a sense of estrangement and noirish atmosphere , which may be close to justifying the effort , if not the price of admission .", "the story is typical , but it 's done intelligently and with evocative backgrounds in cambodia .", "dillon found something that captivated him more than being just a movie star , and flawed though these results may be , they were certainly worth his time .", "... the plot is as murky as the nefarious goings-on depicted and the running time tests the patience of even the most patient of viewers", "this one should disappear down any of the many holes in its plot .", "it 's slow , but on the other hand , it 's not interesting .", "long on atmosphere -lrb- not to mention running time -rrb- and short on just about everything else .", "dillon makes an assured directing debut , neither indulging in unnecessary stylistic flourishes nor allowing scenes to run too long , a tendency in actors-turned - director .", "dillon directs at a lazy lope , but what he lacks in narrative expediency , he makes up for in the atmosphere of exotic squalor .", "eventually , the plot chokes and stumbles on its atmospheric effects . but dillon has an encouraging affinity for landscape , tension and eccentricity .", "hard to say why MOV found the need to take us all the way to cambodia for this small story -- and harder still to say exactly what we 're taking with us when we leave .", "it been over 20 years since matt dillon made his mark as an actor in `` the outsiders '' and now it 's his turn to do the same as a writer-director with directorial debut , `` MOV . '' while his visionary aspects to the film are impressive due to its loca", "a supple , intriguing , and beautifully staged movie .", "a southeast asian thriller that positively reeks of atmosphere -- but is woefully lacking in narrative credibility or character development .", "richly atmospheric and suspenseful .", "turns disappointingly generic , a series of scams and double crosses among greedy men .", "an unnecessarily long , confusing vanity project .", "a triumph of place over sense .", "in the end , you only have cambodia to watch .", "the film makes other revelations about its characters , but given how remote they remain from us , few viewers are likely to care .", "MOV is trying so hard to be an epic tale of crime and intrigue , but it just does n't quite succeed .", "the picture looks good and dillon does a nice job behind the camera . on the other hand , the film needs to be cut by no less than 20 minutes .", "trades more effectively in states of alienated atmospheric delirium than it does the specific mechanics of plot .", "dillon does n't quite pull it off , but you 've got to admire the guy 's chutzpah .", "the story never feels as if it manages to climb free of the thick atmosphere -- that the film so easily and proficiently exudes -- and stand on its own .", "a hyper-real portrait of life -- a vision as experienced during an adrenaline rush .", "goes a good way toward reinvigorating a forgotten genre , fashioning a movie world that 's not quite real , but not strewn with slam-bam car chases and meaningless intrigue , either .", "despite setting a nicely taut and tense mood throughout this psychological thriller , dillon ultimately fails with the story .", "it 's the usual murky affair , which has the unfortunate side-effect of pulling dillon 's direction down into the mire .", "it 's an actor 's film , all right -- peppered with rich supporting performances but unconvincing in the telling .", "matt dillon is a hero worried about his karma", "the movie fairly oozes with atmosphere , and its cast contains enough colorful characters to make casablanca blush .", "dillon is so eager to show the duality of cambodia , the grace and the grime , that he sacrifices major story elements to do so .", "longtime actor , first-time director matt dillon relates an urgency and passion behind the camera , intent on telling us one story while showing us another .", "the surprise is not necessarily that dillon has a unique voice , but rather that the voice is so bizarrely dark and uninhibitedly exotic .", "can be criticised of many things , but wasting locations and local talent is not one of them", "there 's nothing interesting about this half-baked noir plot ...", "shows some promise in that it wants to say something , but there are plenty of forgettable moments to go along with it .", "though ` MOV ' ca n't match its models , it takes us close enough to greeneland to be a worthy homage and an impressive , though flawed , debut ... well worth a look .", "there is so much to admire in matt dillon 's MOV that the feeling left over after watching it is an unsettling sense of disappointment and unfairness .", "a good thriller that lacks the flamboyance to be truly great .", "what audiences have to handle is a lot of murkiness .", "dillon 's film musters gobs of atmosphere and touristy menace without attending much to story or character .", "ghosts is narcissistic and lacks a sharp focus .", "smashing cambodian scenery makes this mundane story eminently worthwhile .", "in the end the images of cambodia are what you 'll hold onto as you walk out of the theater . they 're almost as memorable as the sight of the shockingly enlarged depardieu .", "the film has plenty of shortcomings , but it 's fun to see caan back in action .", "once in phnom penh , jimmy meets up with the usual suspects -- some human wreckage in a soiled tropical suit , a mysterious beauty with a modigliani neck -- but , more encouragingly , tumbles into a story that does n't succumb to its more suspect clich\u00e9s .", "a hypnotic film that 's as much about the mystique of southeast asia as it is about the insurance-scam plot .", "dillon does n't yet possess the directorial chops to give his story the necessary snap ; the action too often feels poky and muffled ." ], "summary": "atmospheric , but that 's about it .", "id": "15063" }, { "movie": "persona", "reviews": [ "this is a picture which demands , and rewards , repeated viewing .", "bergman at his most atypically sensual , playful -- even godardian .", "miss ullmann and miss andersson just about carry the film -- and exquisitely , too .", "in MOV bergman explores the cinematic medium and the remote depths of human subconscious , having abandoned the question of faith that had hitherto preoccupied him .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is persistently compelling , primarily due to its contemplative thematic structure , partially devoid of language that allows the spectator to inscribe meaning .", "... bergman 's penchant for strangeness eventually undercuts the effective elements .", "there are so many stunning monologues and unforgettable set-pieces in MOV that even at a modest 80 minutes , it feels fuller on the surface than most movies twice the length .", "corajoso em sua abordagem narrativa , bergman cria um dos mais densos dramas psicol\u0437gicos do cinema , quebrando as conven\u0443\u0448es da linguagem para expressar id\u0436ias e sentimentos .", "one of ingmar bergman 's most beloved films .", "bergman at his most brilliant .", "not a movie , but a film . and a great film it is . as good as any .", "one of the most chilling , disturbing , and even erotic films to ever be made .", "wonderfully complex but warmly human , bergman 's drama is one of his very best .", "-lsb- a -rsb- masterpiece .", "it 's not a horror story but a poem , and remarkable for that . this is one of the director 's masterworks .", "maybe one 's quarrel with bergman has to do with a feeling that even austerity begins to look like a special kind of emotional self-indulgence .", "this is the ultimate celluloid rorschach test , where the production refuses to offer a straightforward solution to the maze of thorny challenges .", "one of the most complicated and radical films even bergman ever made .", "-lsb- ... -rsb- MOV marks a radical break for bergman , an acknowledgment up front of the illusion and fundamental artifice of making movies .", "the intimacy and the intensity of the camera 's focus and the increasingly naked confessions and accusations in the dialogue create one of the most intense character pieces put on film .", "MOV probes the depths of the human psyche , even as it examines the ways in which people tell stories and create new realities . its themes are timeless , and it still holds up today .", "one of the screen 's supreme works and perhaps ingmar bergman 's finest film .", "one is forced to spend much more time in examining these women than in getting to understand them . they are treated as objects not subjects -- an attitude which , whether intentionally or not , is relevant to contemporary corruption .", "director ingmar bergman is modern cinema 's most persistent observer of the human condition .", "ingmar bergman 's haunting masterpiece explores the gulf of communication that exists between a nurse and her silent patient .", "bergman blends a theatrical subjectivity with a tactile visual intimacy , with his characters , the objects close at hand , and the superb coastal landscape .", "MOV is made up of clinical compositions , austere acting and stark lighting courtesy of legendary lensman sven nykvist . yet it 's this very severity that gives the film its crisp beauty .", "ingmar bergman 's best film , i suppose , though it 's still fairly tedious and overloaded with avant-garde cliches .", "bergman has come up with probably one of his most masterful films technically and in conception , but also one of his most difficult ones .", "bergman 's clear-eyed artistic study of the rules of interplay between opposite , ill-equipped dominant and submissive characters , expresses universal ideas about human compatibility .", "a work of many possible readings -- any of which provide deeply disturbing looks into the psyche of the characters or character .", "you might not understand it all right away , or even after multiple viewings , but there is nothing about MOV that is forgettable . it is an experience that sticks with you and gnaws at you , compelling you back to it again and again .", "a film we return to over the years , for the beauty of its images and because we hope to understand its mysteries .", "an intense , challenging and complex experimental psychological drama .", "one of bergman 's undisputed masterpieces is a seminal work of psychonalayis and metacinema , raising more complex questions about identity and role-playing than it could possibly answer , thus deliberately encouraging ambivalence and ambiguity .", "made in the mid-60s , his film 's intensity and mysteriousness remain undimmed despite the passage of time .", "somewhat dated today , but one of bergman 's greatest works .", "it is a beautiful and moving work of art .", "ingmar bergman 's most actively astonishing film ." ], "summary": "arguably bergman 's finest film , MOV explores the human condition with intense curiosity , immense technical skill , and beguiling warmth .", "id": "18771" }, { "movie": "listen_to_me_marlon", "reviews": [ "director/writer/editor stevan riley lets marlon brando speak for himself .", "if you 're already steeped in brando history , then the recordings will seem like a fresh page .", "at some point in his life , marlon brando lost the will to be a contender . `` MOV , '' while rough in its assembly , is a gripping picture of the rise and fall of that will .", "a n impressionistic portrait of marlon brando that approaches the condition of autobiography , having been drawn from a previously unheard trove of audiotapes the actor recorded for purposes of self-documentation and self-hypnosis .", "so you think you know everything there is to know about marlon brando ?", "it 's a thoroughly subjective and effective attempt to capture how it must have felt to be marlon brando .", "an unprecedented portrait of the actor , culled from 200 hundreds of hours of recordings that brando made by and about himself .", "the acting legend speaks from the grave via revelatory self-recordings in this striking documentary .", "a fascinating portrait of one of the 20th century 's greatest artists .", "thanks to the candid quality of those recordings and some excellent production from riley , MOV is a powerful and insightful experience .", "a mesmerizing and intimate portrait of the actor/enigma that -- in true brando from -- stands apart as a decidedly unconventional but undeniably magnetic study of celebrity .", "it 's as if riley has ushered us into the darkened chamber of the actor 's memories , where brando himself can whisper in our ear .", "using a ghostly digital rendition of the actor 's face on a computer screen to embody his words , the filmmakers make brando eerily come alive at times to tell his story . wow . it 's nothing short of transcendent .", "`` MOV '' is an invaluable contribution to the appreciation of a figure who , over a decade after his death , seems more irreplaceable than ever .", "it 's an offer you ca n't refuse : nearly two hours of marlon brando talking about marlon brando .", "even when it periodically loses itself to artful digressions , `` MOV '' remains absorbing and intensely intimate , miraculously discovering a new marlon brando over a decade after his death .", "the man who emerged as a robust but sensitive star in the 1950s offers much frank introspection , some of it no doubt inspired by the late-life family tragedies with which riley bookends his film .", "the definitive portrait of a man still frequently cited as the world 's greatest actor .", "not a new official look at -lsb- brando -rsb- . instead it 's another key piece to a vast puzzle .", "a wondrously sly , moving , odd portrait-perfectly befitting its subject .", "although movies about celebrities are often fatuous and superfluous , that 's anything but the case with stevan riley 's `` MOV . ''", "autobiographical in nature , unconventional in structure , this is the story of marlon brando not as the world saw him but as he saw himself .", "the personal tapes , as well as interviews in which the other party 's voice has been excised , have been chopped up and remixed into a long-form soliloquy . it 's an impressive feat of editing .", "part of riley 's achievement is a simple matter of assembly . his editing manages to find a movie amid all of brando 's raving , pontification , and truly deep thinking . the enlaced audiovisual material becomes as intoxicatingly impressionistic as 3-d brando .", "stevan riley finds fascinating ways to put all of the video and audio footage together to suggest , among other things , how marlon brando 's personal life affected his method approach to acting .", "a first-rate , first-person dissection of his life by the talented , charming and oft-troubled actor , brando .", "something of a masterpiece ... electrifying .", "hypnotic , energizing , and astonishing , MOV speaks in eloquent ways to the complex talent that was brando .", "a fascinating sort of posthumous self-portrait assembled from the brando 's estate artifacts .", "the result is fascinating . that goes both for acting students , since we get insights into brando 's craft , and those looking for gossip .", "it 's like a tone poem drawn from the actor 's inner and outer life , narrated by the man himself .", "much of the visual footage here -- the film-highlights reel , the sacheen littlefeather incident at the 1973 academy awards -- is already so familiar that it dulls the pleasure of hearing brando 's unfettered thoughts .", "whatever the motivations , the movie gives you the opportunity for its loquacious title subject to pour his thoughts into your ears for some 100 babbling minutes .", "it 's doubtful that brando ever thought the revelatory tapings would one day provide fodder for a documentary , but thanks to his recordings riley has managed to construct a tribute to the actor that his fans have long deserved .", "stevan riley 's MOV is the greatest , most searching documentary of an actor ever put on film , and it 's no coincidence that it 's about film 's greatest and most searching actor .", "it 's not simply a recounting of his life , though ; brando already did that himself , in the book `` songs my mother taught me . '' this is a mistier , moodier enterprise than that , matching brando 's own oral histories with images .", "the actor 's ruminations are sometimes barely coherent but more often delightful : by turns bawdy , sentimental , self-pitying , self-lacerating , philosophical and bewildered .", "a haunting documentary about a haunted man ...", "if the raw audio from any celebrity 's in-depth playboy interview were illustrated with still photos , home-movie footage , and talk-show appearances , it would look more or less like this movie .", "a portrait of the artist as increasingly uncomfortable with his talent and his hollywood milieu .", "you think the man could act ? you should hear him talk .", "the actor suffered deeply , and however much he 's responsible for that , it 's hard not to feel some compassion for a bright and sensitive artist who , at least early on , seemed full of life .", "like kapadia 's `` amy , '' `` MOV '' restores the subject 's actual persona from the dinged and dented media creation in his own words .", "brando reflects on his contribution to the art of the movies ; his view seems to shift over the years from pride to cynicism , but riley does n't identify the recordings by date . rather , he melds them into a banal concoction that 's unworthy of their source .", "the film is unique in that it is all brando all the time , so we get to spend a couple of hours -lrb- and a lifetime -rrb- with the man .", "these nighttime musings of the greatest and most influential american actor of the 20th century .", "... a personal fever dream ...", "riley 's film brings the american icon 's career back into sharp focus .", "i was torn watching this film . you feel brando 's pain , and yet it is the fundament of all those great performances .", "riley cuts it all together impressionistically . if sometimes the loose-limbed film threatens to drift into incoherence , that 's also quite fitting for a story told by marlon brando .", "MOV is an offer so intimate that no film fan should refuse .", "it 's a story that has the grandeur and the contours of greek tragedy , but the beauty of `` MOV '' is that the documentary presents him as an intensely human person , full of contradictions and inner pain .", "stevan riley 's look at the life and career of marlon brando is far more personally revealing than any previous biography .", "it 's a one-of-a-kind film about a one-of-a-kind screen legend , a man who transformed acting without ever really knowing what he thought of it .", "an intimate glimpse into the mindset of an exasperatingly brilliant talent .", "a fascinating and extraordinary journey .", "we do come away with some sympathy for his bitterness at feeling that the world has used him badly , even if the opposite would seem to be closer to the truth .", "the film is a portrait of an artist as a man throughout the course of his life .", "it 's a pleasure to watch , serving up brando as a model for other artists who aspire to sincerity and honesty in their work .", "more than a hollywood bio , MOV is a story of demons being passed from one generation to the next ." ], "summary": "MOV offers a fascinating look at the inner life of a hollywood icon , told in his own words .", "id": "771412072" }, { "movie": "anatomy-of-a-murder", "reviews": [ "moviegoers never had it so good .", "the film breezily wears its two-hour-and-forty-minute running-time .", "courtroom histrionics given sizzle and sex by otto preminger and duke ellington 's jazz .", "sensational courtroom drama is masterminded by otto preminger and a terrific cast .", "all the principals are fantastic , with the possible exception of remick , who just does n't fit the part nearly well enough . duke ellington 's score is a classic .", "courtroom procedurals this nimble do n't come along often , but with MOV , preminger showed how it could be done .", "it 's almost jimmy in a hitchcock film , but it 's not", "one of stewart 's best performances .", "hot stuff in its day and still a solid courtroom shocker", "it is the best courtroom melodrama this old judge has ever seen .", "even with the glut of crime-related tv dramas that pepper today 's screens , you 'd be hard pressed to find a courtroom story that does n't have you rooting one way or the other with a heavy-handed pov . this one does n't it 's way ahead of its time .", "simultaneously plays by and punctures the expectations of the courtroom thriller", "as courtroom thrillers go , it has few peers .", "at 160 minutes , anatomy is longer than the subject warrants , but the pace seldom slackens -- thanks to the competence of director otto preminger .", "otto preminger 's cynical view of the judicial system is curiously contemporary and still serves as a blueprint for numerous tv ` tec shows .", "this is probably the greatest courtroom drama ever made and it features james stewart 's finest screen performance .", "-lrb- stewart 's character -rrb- finishes the film an enigma , possibly the good go-getter of capra but too much of a shadow .", "otto preminger , no stranger to ruffling moral-watchdog feathers , never succumbs to the sleaziness inherent in the material , instead turning out an intelligent and tightly controlled drama that ranks as one of the all-time great courtroom procedurals .", "the picture is superbly photographed by sam leavitt in black and white , though there 's nothing black and white about the movie 's morality .", "to me remick 's damaged , dysfunctional presence is the really subversive thing about the picture . and stewart 's grandstanding attorney propels this long film to its final verdict .", "credit stewart again for doing the film 's dirty work : holding our attention as a sweet-natured defense attorney and then shocking us with how hard-edged and aloof he can become .", "preminger takes a while to set up the story , but his pacing and style are perfection .", "the strengths of the film are too numerous to mention . the story is fascinating , the script well constructed , and the performances fabulous .", "time has blunted much of the film 's daringly ironic take on notions of guilt and innocence . yet it still stands as a telling commentary on 50s america .", "packed with astonishing dialog and bristly performances , this is essential cinema .", "brilliant from start to finish , this flawless courtroom drama is exquisitely acted by jimmy stewart , lee remick and ben gazarra .", "the screenplay , from a novel by john d. voelker , drips with the smoke-drenched taste of 1940s noir , stinging the eyes and lungs .", "it 's simply the best trial movie ever made .", "otto at the top of his game .", "as an entertaining look at legal process , this is spellbinding all the way , infused by an ambiguity about human personality and motivation that is preminger 's trademark , and the location shooting is superb .", "coolly absorbing , nonchalantly cynical .", "from the stylised saul bass credit sequence to preminger 's assured direction , this is a thought provoking , superbly acted drama that simply oozes class .", "preminger purposely creates situations that flicker with uncertainty , that may be evaluated in different ways . motives are mixed and dubious , and , therefore , sustain interest ." ], "summary": "one of cinema 's greatest courtroom dramas , MOV is tense , thought-provoking , and brilliantly acted , with great performances from james stewart and george c. scott .", "id": "17143" }, { "movie": "doors", "reviews": [ "kilmer is convincing in the lead role , although he never allows the viewer to share any emotions .", "not exactly stone 's finest hour , but a worthwhile portrait of 1960s -lrb- counter -rrb- culture and the self-destruction of an icon .", "the attempts to plumb morrison 's sensitive side , his -lrb- pretentious -rrb- philosophical bent and his struggle to channel his considerable talents positively are something of a blur in the trippy kaleidoscope .", "whatever reservations one may have about this exhausting , dark-side-of-the - '60s epic , there can be little doubt that stone has captured a particular , bombs-away brand of rock & roll excess with definitive candor .", "the film really proves only that jim was a bad drunk and a worse friend , and that in no way was his life exemplary .", "intense biopic full of drugs , sex and rock 'n' roll .", "val kilmer gives the performance of his career as jim morrison in oliver stone 's biopic , so it 's a shame the surrounding film lets him down .", "val kilmer does , however , pull off a remarkable impression of the troubled vocalist , although he 's more convincing on stage than he is in his drunken , drug-fuelled reveries .", "stone is not the most subtle of directors , but he has the ability to translate his passion for subject matter -lrb- he 's an unabashed admirer of morrison -rrb- to the screen with a strong visual flair . that talent in evidence here .", "after the first hour or so of the MOV , the only door i wanted to see was the one marked `` exit . ''", "a strong film from oliver stone that captures the stoned out thrill of truly groundbreaking music that provided the backbeat for a tumultuous time in american history .", "oliver stone 's psychodelic vision of jim morrison 's long strange trip", "the whole style of the film seemed oddly anachronistic .", "it is made by a morrison groupie for other groupies , a film that leaves the rest of us locked outside wondering what the fuss is about .", "typical stone bloating applied to a mystfyingly legendary band .", "kilmer and ryan may have never been better than in the hands of stone .", "worth watching for val kilmer 's excellent performance .", "one of the great rock 'n' roll documentaries . val kilmer is astounding .", "kilmer 's performance alone is worth the ticket . oh , and the music .", "i loved the film as a rockumentary , but the private life of morrison is less interesting .", "for a while , the obviousness and flat-out vulgarity are sort of entertaining , and it might be possible to enjoy the movie as a camp classic if you could ignore the mean-spiritedness that keeps breaking through .", "morrison is played with uncanny authenticity by val kilmer . the performance is utterly convincing without being terribly illuminating .", "while it has its moments , taken by itself , the MOV amounts to little more than an impressionistic look at a boy and his death wish .", "hysteria , however skillfully maintained , should never be mistaken for art -- a caution that applies equally to stone and his subject .", "the flaw in the film is its unrelenting tone of bombast . it never gives you a break . you ache for a moment of quietude , an escape from the lizard king 's cranium .", "insidiously funny and remarkably truthful about the psychedelic rock scene in the late 1960 .", "the much-anticipated film is a psychedelic circus that turns into the worst nightmare of a bad trip . it ` s an experience .", "the whole movie is white hot , lapped in honeyed golds , evilly blue and black or drenched in those swoony , fiery reds . the MOV blasts your ears and scorches your eyes .", "the movie is weighed down by its enchantment with the mythology , as opposed to the reality , of morrison 's life -- a mythology that needs to be explored , not simply reproduced on the wide screen .", "both a vibrant tribute to rock cult figure jim morrison and to the decade in which he flourished .", "ultimately , it 's the music that tells you more about the nihilism of jim morrison than oliver stone ever could .", "much of the movie is ridiculous : stone has never known restraint . but it 's also enjoyable in a jittery , hyperbolic way , and parts of it are undeniably moving .", "stone sometimes loads the narrative with too much sub-freudian baggage about morrison 's childhood , but the music , the excess and the excitement come across well .", "tedious and self-important", "as great a jim morrison as val kilmer may be , stone 's hallucinagenic excess becomes dull swiftly", "stone 's film is a lengthy , appropriately trippy , drama chronicling the sudden rise of the band , the MOV , and how their lead singer jim morrison -lrb- a terrific val kilmer -rrb- was instantly recognized for his eccentricity and god-like presence", "by recreating things too well , the film itself becomes as boring , indulgent and over-stuffed as its hero .", "the movie does a pretty good job with period ambience . but it 's a long haul waiting for the hero to keel over .", "val kilmer gives an amazing , almost pathologically correct performance in oliver stone 's excessive but highly enjoyable biopic about jim morrison .", "the MOV plays out like an epic hangover one expects to never recover from .", "it seems more the glorification of an alcoholic jerk than a cautionary tale .", "watching the movie is like being stuck in a bar with an obnoxious drunk , when you 're not drinking .", "you get a buzz , all right , but you 're left woozy and hung over , and probably wo n't remember much of what you 've seen .", "the film is an absurdity -- muddled , self-serious , alienating , a stone drag .", "a pretentious movie about a man haunted by a naked indian", "kilmer as the lizard king !", "i ca n't recall a film that evokes the myth of the sixties more potently .", "lumbers semi-coherently through morrison 's life , touching only tangentially on those who were most important to him ." ], "summary": "val kilmer delivers a powerhouse performance as one of rock 's most incendiary figures , but unfortunately , oliver stone is unable to shed much light on the circus surrounding the star .", "id": "16699" }, { "movie": "grapes_of_wrath", "reviews": [ "the MOV -lrb- 1940 -rrb- is director john ford 's most famous epic drama - the classic adaptation of john steinbeck 's pulitzer prize-winning , widely-read 1939 novel .", "the MOV is not only one of john ford 's greatest films , it documents an american social tragedy , giving the victims a voice through art .", "this brilliant film shows us a family of enormous dignity and commitment .", "john ford 's adaptation of the john steinbeck novel is moving and heartfelt , despite its random structure and rambling , overwrought -lrb- and overly political -rrb- narrative .", "director john ford keeps the action moving while using strikingly poignant images and staying true to the novel 's political message .", "a perpetual elegy", "cinematographer gregg toland perfectly captures the wide open spaces and big skies of rural america , while the normally conservative ford puts forward a sympathetic but radical plea for workers ' rights and freedom for the common people .", "stunning masterpiece about poverty in california is still relevant today", "like a grand biblical epic , john ford 's film is a triumph on both the political and personal levels .", "ford delivers steinbeck 's message intact .", "what really solidifies the greatness of the MOV is ford 's ability to blend the personal and political without causing damage to either characters or themes .", "... it proves that a hollywood film can be both socially engaged and a work of lasting , entertaining art .", "captures the stark plainness of the migrants , stripped to a few possessions , left with innumerable relations and little hope .", "john ford won a direcing oscar for this adaptation of john steinbeck 's pulitzer prize-winning novel , which features great cinematography by toland and one of henry fonda 's most iconic roles .", "the MOV is possibly the best picture ever made from a so-so book .", "it is an absorbing , tense melodrama , starkly realistic , and loaded with social and political fireworks .", "movies will probably go on improving and broadening themselves ; but in any event , the MOV is the most mature picture story that has ever been made , in feeling , in purpose , and in the use of the medium .", "back when they adapted serious literature for the big screen , the results were equally impressive .", "powerful look at the depression and the poor .", "the MOV is hollywood 's most distinguished offering .", "this 1940 film is one of the best literary adaptations ever -lrb- and one of the quickest too -- it was in theaters within a year of the book 's publication -rrb- .", "ford 's admirers have rightly tended to play this down in favor of his later and more personal westerns , but there 's much to admire here in gregg toland 's sun-beaten photography and henry fonda 's meticulous performance .", "classic john steinbeck adaptation is still powerful .", "the MOV is flawed , but it captures that shiver of panic that grips anyone for whom the money for the next meal is unknown .", "a superb film .", "the MOV , whether in novel or movie form , remains a shockingly potent work of social criticism to this day .", "a solid and moving adaptation of the steinbeck novel .", "john ford transforma a trajet\u00f3ria da fam\u00edlia joad em um poderoso manifesto pol\u00edtico que , mais de 60 anos depois , mant\u00e9m-se tragicamente atual .", "as if ford had actually photographed the human spirit .", "despite an occasional excess of sentiment and politics that are sometimes naive , ` wrath ' remains essential viewing ...", "... one of the most powerful films hollywood ever made , and just as moving today as it was all those years ago .", "like to kill a mockingbird , -lsb- it 's -rsb- one of those rare motion pictures that perfectly captures the essence of its source material without compromising it in any way .", "the MOV was often named the greatest american film , until it was dethroned by the re-release of citizen kane .", "the MOV is just about as good as any picture has a right to be ; if it were any better , we just would n't believe our eyes ." ], "summary": "a potent drama that is as socially important today as when it was made , the MOV is affecting , moving , and deservedly considered an american classic .", "id": "18139" }, { "movie": "1189344-lovely_bones", "reviews": [ "so infuriatingly coy , and so desperate to preserve the modesty of its soulful victim that it amounts to an ongoing clean-up operation .", "it 's a great shame because sebold 's book showed us a world of pain , loss and love . that sense has been lost in translation .", "jackson undermines solid work from a good cast with show-offy celestial evocations that severely disrupt the emotional connections with the characters .", "jackson 's newest is his worst .", "the MOV is -lsb- jackson 's -rsb- most mature , self-assured and visually dazzling release .", "MOV is a touching , at times distressing film . it deals with loss , grief , rage , familial breakdown and love , most of all love . but it 's also energetic and entertaining .", "when else has the obscenity of child murder been the cause of such gravity and grace ?", "jackson captures the grim essence of the novel even while compressing much of its character development and plot detail .", "the MOV is definitely worth watching with your book group to discuss with the novel , and to enjoy tucci 's performance and the delicate membrane between life and afterlife , but hbo will suffice for your investment in it .", "despite significant cuts and instances of condensation , the plot 's skeleton tracks well with sebold 's book , but therein lies the roots of a problem : the movie features wild swings in tone and fails to draw the viewer into the story .", "director peter jackson is superb when he sets up susie 's world , but once she 's killed , just about nothing works well afterward .", "not nearly as much a detective story as it is a film representation of a teen girl 's idea of heaven . a cross between a hallmark card and the disney channel .", ". . this means that if jackson has n't left his scrotum in a shoebox somewhere , he 's doing a pretty good imitation of someone who has .", "call it a good movie -- sure , even a lovely one -- that does n't quite find what it 's searching for .", "-lsb- peter -rsb- jackson 's directorial abilities have failed him entirely .", "it defies most conventions and it defies most categories too . it is part ghost story , part romance and part murder mystery .", "the film certainly plays well enough as a melodrama-cum-revenge thriller .", "it is the kind of film that falls over itself trying to dazzle us , and makes an unholy mess of the vital workaday stuff . it is silly , tedious , tasteless and utterly false .", "jackson 's version achieves a different , less palatable kind of novelty . it is a `` heart-warming '' film about murder .", "jackson 's dayglo cgi vision of the afterlife tries to strangle a terrific crime thriller - and pretty much does .", "no bones about it , jackson looks like he 's spent so long in front of a computer he 's forgotten how to tell a story .", "the MOV marks a new low in cinematic adaptations . back in 1989 , peter jackson made a trashy horror film called bad taste . even that was in better taste than this banal monstrosity .", "the finale - though tense - lacks that visceral gut punch . ultimately , jackson spends too long in the clouds and loses touch with the real drama on ground level .", "jackson seems more at home in the afterlife than in this one , rendering this off-kilter project creepy and pretentious .", "themes are blurred , character motivations largely unclear and the novel 's central justification , and subsequent pay off , are hugely disappointing .", "the imagery kills the fear . in a film which is essentially about a child serial killer , the constant blossoming of visual possibility leaves the reality of what happened to susie both hidden and cold .", "a beautifully made but often uneven film with a luminous central role from ronan .", "peter jackson 's elaborate visualization of the alice sebold best-seller fails to capture the poignant power of the original .", "scene by scene , the movie alternates between prurient violence and sentimental uplift .", "while it may be a film worth seeing , it 's not a film that can not be missed", "the movie strikes clashing tones , veering from lightheartedness to heavy-handedness .", "it seems that years of making unconstrained , sprawling fantasy epics have completely eroded -lsb- jackson 's -rsb- ability to construct a tight narrative . real pretty to look at , though .", "for all its successes , bones remains more crafted than sincere , more meant to look achingly pretty on the screen than to resonate in the heart .", "jackson 's adaptation sacrifices the family at the heart of the story , giving more time to the sensationalistic serial killer and a raft of special effects work that renders heaven as the inside of a mac program busy graphing robert zemeckis 's `` contact '' fi", "jackson 's film takes us on a journey of loveliness , but without the hard , stark strength of bone beneath it to give it the direction and purpose sebold used to drive her story into the heart .", "a hard subject beautifully handled , with an artistry that makes the MOV a memorably intelligent and emotional experience .", "i 'd say watch with the sound off , but then you 'd miss the brian eno score . try the blu-ray but toggle the audio to a language you do not speak .", "it 's a competently made movie -- in jackson 's hands it could hardly be anything but -- yet rarely a moving one .", "jackson overwhelms the thoughtful , introspective nature of the material with whistles and bells -- heavenly effects that scream `` overkill . ''", "... a murder drama made from cotton candy .", "i find it hard to believe that jackson , who has dealt with all manner of death and mayhem with a healthy sense of twistedness and/or morbidness in his filmography , decided to soften up this time .", "the MOV is a deplorable film with this message : if you 're a 14-year-old girl who has been brutally raped and murdered by a serial killer , you have a lot to look forward to .", "it looks like a piece of cake , but i still prefer dante .", "-lsb- jackson 's -rsb- priorities dwell more with bringing susie 's so-called ` in-between ' to vivid life rather than grounding the lives of those left behind .", "we really do n't want to wander the celestial landscape with susie forever . it is a maudlin place where everyone resembles relieved sufferers from a pharmaceutical commercial .", "an epic snuff flick which fails to engage the viewer on an emotional level .", "misbegotten adaptation", "jackson takes a more scenic route . it looks like a new zealand tourist poster animated with cgi and touched up with borrowings from dali and magritte .", "a movie with tons of possibilities , 3 or 4 awesome scenes , some great tension , and lots of filler .", "at once both one of the most conceptually daring films of 2009 and one of its biggest train wrecks .", "the movie is often wise .", "this is a distractingly busy movie , so in love with its own considerable craft that it ca n't stay still long enough for anything to settle in .", "... the movie veers off into whimsical imagery entirely incongruous with the tone of every other scene .", "understand , the film still has power , just not as much as it should .", "it 's like they tried to accomplish everything , but ended up forgetting to have a purpose .", "while the film contains storytelling issues and an inconsistent tone , the intensity of stanley tucci 's character blew me away . the film is visually stunning and worth seeing .", "performances become almost inconsequential when the roles are so superficial .", "a story about the unbreakable bonds between parents and children , a story about thwarted justice and monstrous revelations is diverted by jackson into a story about the cgi wow factor of his netherworld .", "a film that shines only in short , erratic bursts . it can be an emotional film , a disturbing film , a romantic film , a funny film and a breathtaking film , but never a seamless blend of each .", "there are some terrific moments here , but jackson seems mostly caught in an in-between world himself .", "peter jackson 's heavy-handed direction snuffs out any emotion struggling for oxygen as mercilessly as george harvey did young susie in .", "the story shuttles back and forth between a placid 1970s suburbia and an afterlife that looks disconcerting like the cover of a yes album ; both are bloodless , all look and no vitality .", "while the actors deliver fine performances in ` the MOV , ' they ca n't save this overblown film .", "misses the nuances and emotional hub of the bestselling novel by concentrating on the crime and psychedelic shots of heaven .", "i 'd prefer bones based on a graphic novel - or jerry bruckheimer bones starring johnny depp .", "a striking , surreal , melancholy meditation , based on alice seabold 's best-seller .", "peter jackson 's the MOV is a beautiful , thoughtful film , full of dark mystery and life affirmations , yet somehow it 's lacking a certain inner strength .", "more than anything , the MOV feels like a film circling the book , eyeing it uncertainly and trying different kinds of styles and moods to see if anything fits .", "... an admittedly uneven yet utterly engaging piece of work that outshines its literary predecessor in every way ...", "peter jackson is an infant sitting at the grown-ups table , and this proves once and for all he has no business making movies for adults .", "uludo potro % u0161ena sjajna gluma % u010dka ekipa u djelu % u010diji zbrzani scenarij luta izme % u0111u depresivne drame , krimi-trilera i crne komedije", "artistically and technically , this film is superb , rich in excellent performances , wondrous visuals and compelling ideas . yet for all its brilliance , the MOV remains elusive .", "peter jackson nails the dreamy atmosphere of a film straddling life and death in this story of a teenager caught between earth and heaven .", "click to read full review", "for all the efforts of a fine cast , jackson never gives his human drama the desperation and frustration it calls for ...", "pet peeves and stylistic differences of opinion work against heavenly creatures director", "i never read the novel , so i have no idea if it is as tedious as peter jackson 's movie .", "interview with rose mciver of the MOV : `` it was terrifying to see -lsb- stanley tucci -rsb- transform on screen into someone so utterly different from himself . ''", "the MOV is a film in cinematic limbo -- caught between heaven and earth . the MOV is another movie that makes me fear hell . but it does n't make me want to go to heaven .", "the fancy visuals serve only to distract from the emotional impact .", "jackson 's grand , computer-generated vision of susie 's dali-like `` in between , '' while occasionally gorgeous , leaves the viewer feeling stuck between two worlds , too . the story suffers .", "it 's difficult to understand how jackson could have gone so far wrong with his conception of the material .", "tone is the first thing sacrificed in this shapeless , overlong , mawkishly muddled pop-up illustration of a movie .", "most often , jackson 's magical other world resembles the land of oz on steroids or , in one scene , a feminine hygiene ad .", "the new peter jackson movie , `` the MOV , '' is a head trip for audiences , a trip to hell for the family featured , and a plunge into purgatory for another .", "the locale is pennsylvania , but jackson seems reluctant to leave middle-earth and skull island behind . he guides us through tediously inventive cg heavenly landscapes , when what we really want is more of the mundane interior of the killer 's suburban home .", "susie 's concerned that that the penguin trapped in the snow globe is all alone . the toy 's ok , but the multiple souls scattered throughout the film are having a hell of a time surviving in their respective prisons .", "it 's a mark of jackson 's lack of restraint as a filmmaker that the mystery-thriller elements and fantastic visualizations overtake the domestic drama that is the novel 's true raison d'\u0119tre .", "jackson 's efforts to translate the graceful , lucid prose into images loses all of the story 's delicacy and becomes cloying and dissonant .", "who would think that a movie about the murder of a 14-year-old girl would be , at times , beautiful and comforting ?", "peter jackson has successfully filmed hobbits in middle earth and aliens in south africa , but struggles to combine the visuals of a teenage girl in limbo with the ordeals of a family in hell .", "... ranges from being sometimes moving to being sometimes absurd .", "a fussy , artificial piece of work drained of emotion and humanity by extravagant effects and directorial flamboyance .", "it is unusual , emotionally satisfying and , in an echo of his early exploitation splatterfests , darkly funny .", "it 's an ethereal if not exactly spiritual adventure , in which we can feel jackson urging us to soar in a realm we can not know ... the nether world which can only be presented in tangible visuals on the screen . it 's not your average film .", "it grabs you by the shirt tails , delivers shocks and surprises and paints an effective and often thrilling juxtaposition of the real world beside an uplifting and perfect one beyond the grave .", "you would expect better from peter jackson . beautiful images , at times . paul chambers , cnn .", "a confused genre mess ...", "... contains more awful scenes than any film by a gifted director in recent memory ...", "the strangest thing about jackson 's approach is how chaste it is . the whole film is just a bit too tasteful to achieve real catharsis .", "peter jackson is anything but a good fit to direct this story , as his well-intentioned efforts at conveying transcendence sometimes look and feel phony .", "moviegoers who have n't read the book and accept the picture on its own terms -lrb- which , ultimately , is how any artistic interpretation should be judged -rrb- will be greeted with a powerful viewing experience .", "the real let-down is its heavy reliance on overblown special-effects sequences to represent the celestial limbo .", "it 's a great deal of effort by a lot of talented people that results in two-plus hours of tepid clockwork blandness .", "while it has moments that soar both visually and emotionally , it ultimately feels torn and unwieldy", "the cinematic equivalent of that big farm your childhood dog allegedly went to .", "lush cinematography combined with first-rate acting and a valuable story make this a great film for the whole family .", "... often visually striking but emotionally baffling , and ultimately seems stuck in the same sort of purgatory as its young heroine .", "jackson and his usual screenwriting collaborators ... have simplified and amplified sebold 's text , turning it from a meditation on the interior politics of family into a supernatural revenge story .", "because peter jackson is willing to wrestle with challenging material , it 's easy to forgive him if he does n't create additional masterpieces every time he steps behind the camera .", "acting laurels belong to tucci as the unrepentant killer . he shows chameleon-like qualities with wild personality shifts . ronan makes good use of her large , expressive eyes . it is only a matter of time before she becomes a big star in hollywood . mciver is", "in spite of its inherently eerie themes - homicide , phantoms , and vengeance-fueled grief - george is the only truly scary thing in the movie and -lsb- stanley -rsb- tucci thankfully makes the most of him .", "a chilling performance by tucci , whose versatility is more evident with every film he makes , and an eerie portrayal by young ronan .", "when i read peter jackson was handling the story , i figured if anyone could do it , he could . i was wrong .", "ultimately , the MOV works best when ronan simply reads sebold 's simple yet evocative prose .", "`` the MOV '' is a skeleton of a movie , lacking any sense of life and vitality .", "a muted tragedy about a murdered girl who watches her family and killer from a place between heaven and earth , the MOV remains oddly remote .", "the first 45 minutes are great . the last 30 minutes are also great . the problem is the 45 minutes in the middle , which are bogged down with unnecessary visual effects .", "succeeds as a taut , `` will-he-get-caught '' mystery as it also explores the notion of acceptance following the loss of a loved one .", "some books should stay between their covers , and the MOV may well be one of them .", "it might take you a while to see it , and maybe more than one viewing , but in the end , the MOV becomes a heartbreaking , harrowing expression of love and loss", "taken on its own , it 's a mixed bag of grief and visual magic tricks that provides pleasant enough passive viewing , but does n't do the greatest job of putting flesh on its characters ' bones .", "your own peace will come after you walk out , trying hard not to laugh at how crazy-bad it all is .", "this movie has about seven different tones it hops around , and it does so at all the wrong times .", "the MOV is probably a much better idea for a book than it is a movie , but it 's still a very good one , and those do n't come along too often .", "unshackled by earthly restraints , jackson shifts his weta toolsets into overdrive in a more-is-more free-for-all frenzy .", "i had a few bones to pick with the story .", "the talented cast struggles with , and is eventually failed by , the material . they are not aided by their director either , who seemingly stood slightly off screen and urged them to ` act bigger ! '", "no hay manera de tomarse en serio , al menos no en el marco de una pel\u00edcula que debi\u00f3 ser perturbadora y conmovedora en partes iguales , la serie de momentos kodak imposibles con que peter jackson intenta retratar la vida despu\u00e9s de la muerte .", "the film is such a misfire , such a disappointing collection of failed attempts at emotional affect and confounding storytelling choices , that it seems more like a bad director 's attempt to rip off jackson 's style than his own work .", "the whole plays better than that would suggest , largely due to jackson 's imagination and commanding skill .", "only tucci 's chilling , truly scarier than hannibal lechter psychopath holds the far too fanciful scenario together , bolted to planet earth as best he can .", "there 's a blinkered quality to the film that might have been more intriguing had the story been given a stirring political context .", "the main problem with the film is the extremely bloated script , which slows to a crawl immediately after the murder and then meanders all over the place .", "an entertaining but strange hybrid -- part murder mystery , part gooey teen romance/coming of age story , part philosophy lesson , part family drama", "too often , though , it feels like another unwanted m night shyamalan movie , with wahlberg again looking stunned , as if he still ca n't believe he starred in the happening .", "the MOV is hampered by wahlberg 's inability to convey genuine emotion .", "you wan na know what purgatory feels like ? sit through all two-plus hours of this lurid mush and you 'll have a fair idea .", "although ronan and tucci offer up beautifully nuanced performances , it 's still not enough to stop the MOV from floundering about . unfocused and often gaudy its most certainly not as lovely as it wants to be .", "it 's completely overwrought . every single moment in the film is an emotional climax of some kind . at no point is there any kind of middle ground .", "jackson takes a bloated approach to what should be a quietly emotional drama .", "very much a film of mood where emotions run deep and devastating , and those emotions are the most potent special effect in a work that is sometimes a bit top heavy with them", "alice sebold 's evocative best seller proves to be more unfilmable than tolkien 's sprawling fantasy trilogy - a disappointment , yet it 's impossible for anyone to do it better", "loved the book by alice sebold . admired the bold effort by peter jackson , even if the otherwordly scenes sometimes miss the mark .", "the opening scenes promise one thing , and the rest of the movie is spent contradicting it .", "those who have n't read the book may actually get more enjoyment out of the feature film adaptation than those who have read sebold 's novel", "before adding to the pre-existing heap of critical disdain for peter jackson 's take on alice sebold 's much-adored 2002 novel , is it possible to admit the book might have been a tad overrated ?", "the MOV is an uneven offering with under-written characters that alters some of the book 's better moments with no real rewards .", "it showcases jackson 's uncanny visual sense , but it 's time he unleashes the frustrated writer lurking beneath .", "well-acted , visually stunning and initially intriguing , but it quickly falls apart into an uneven , convoluted and unfocused mess that 's neither gripping nor emotionally stirring . its fatal flaw is excessive style over substance .", "everything that 's good is undermined by an overemphasis on one part of the story that is essential but has been allowed to overflow its boundaries .", "jackson is too enamored with the idea of mixing heaven and the heebie-jeebies , so he 's made the skeevy equivalent of a mitch albom book with some pulp fiction pressed between its covers .", "the result is dumbfounding and ludicrous in equal measure , a too-muchness that makes the excesses of what dreams may come seem downright spartan .", "peter jackson frees himself from the yoke of lotr . stanley tucci abandons himself into a frightening character . a triumph .", "the new zealand director 's trademark recipe of fantasy , realism and computerized visual effects turns the MOV into a thrilling adventure .", "the MOV has been fashioned as a holiday family movie about murder and grief ; it 's a thoroughly queasy experience .", "for most of the running time of the MOV i thought the film was bad , but when the movie entered the final twenty minutes i realized my mistake : it 's a disaster .", "a movie that has been tinkered and fussed with until there is no spontaneity left -- no warmth or life or messiness .", "jackson crafts lovely but ineffectual dreamscapes of the afterlife that eviscerate much of the human side of the story .", "part disney 's alice in wonderland , part fritz lang 's m , the movie is horrific yet cloying , alternately distended and abrupt , sometimes poignant and often ridiculous .", "slipping past sebold 's quondam feminist protest -lrb- briefly glimpsing germaine greer 's the female eunuch , for example -rrb- , jackson goes to the edge of lurid sentimentality .", "peter jackson 's adaptation of alice sebold 's best-selling novel hovers just this side of ghost whisperer kitsch but remains compulsively watchable .", "tonally , visually , conceptually , the MOV is all wrong .", "jackson encourages bones to radiate more artifice than emotion , condensing a frightful story of loss into something balanced precariously between a hitchcockian thriller and an enya music video .", "so much about the MOV is so skillfully orchestrated , from the chillingly methodical villainy to the thrillingly paced manhunt , we can accept that we 're in the hands of a higher power .", "the changes jackson and his collaborators make to sebol 's novel do n't serve the material in any meaningful way . but the film is n't simply a failure as satisfying adaptation , it fails on its own terms .", "the miscalculation on almost every level is perversely thorough . it 's as if the filmmaker , faced with an endless series of daunting creative choices , proudly took the wrong road each and every time .", "the afterlife , it turns out , is cool , but not as cool as avatar .", "it 's as if -lsb- jackson -rsb- spent too much time in the clouds . the result is a motel-room portrait of the world to come .", "`` somehow the depth of the novel has become nothing more than an exercise in producing a polished , beautiful-looking fantasy . ''", "despite its visually remarkable attempts to engage the film is an utter loss .", "the story is just told very poorly ... what is this movie ? a thriller ? a ghost story ? a police procedural ? a tearjerker ? it 's all of those and none of them .", "the sum of the parts of this film while tantalizing and worth a watch , leave the viewer , like its lead character , lacking closure .", "thematically muddled , the film nevertheless has a strong sense of visual presence and features a handful of strong performances .", "the MOV demeure un film aux id\u00e9es intrigantes et aux intentions fort honorables , mais dont l'ex\u00e9cution s ` av\u010dre trop souvent d\u00e9ficiente .", "an okay movie hampered by wahlberg 's sleepy performance and sarnadon 's visit from another planet", "learning to live beyond grief is the heart of the story and the performances bring out that premise beautifully .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- remains a mystery -- not a mystery as in who committed the crime , but a mystery in its intended theme and why that theme did n't unite the film at all .", "it is hard to know what jackson was intending to do with this film . instead of telling the earth-story he seems to have wanted to give us some indelible images of heaven", "sometimes a major director becomes enthralled with the cinematic prospects of material for which he is not ideally suited .", "color me relieved . there is no need to fear death , even the most horrifying kind of murder . because the afterlife is exactly like the album cover for a 1970s progressive-rock band .", "the novel never flinched , the movie does . but jackson , who builds jolting suspense when susie 's sister enters the killer 's lair , is drawn to a spiritual dimension .", "with his garish , pointless and downright inept rendering of alice sebold 's 2002 novel , the MOV , peter jackson has hit a new low in the annals of movie adaptations .", "if someone like jackson could only manage mediocrity , one shudders to think what a less talented filmmaker would have produced .", "a victim obsessed with the lives that go on without her is at the center of the MOV .", "haunting mystery-drama examines a child 's murder .", "despite good performances and slick design , its confused perspective leaves bones as emotionally engaging as a visit to a particularly well-maintained kitsch shop .", "this is a movie in which wonders truly never cease .", "as for the excess of jackson 's creative predisposition , heaven help us .", "a heartfelt film loaded down with an almost pornographic emotionality .", "peter jackson rounds out a fairly amazing decade as a filmmaker by anyone 's standards with this sad , dreamy , hopeful film that defies easy genre classification or even summary .", "a singular art film , MOV shows , for better or worse , jackson 's determination to put his signature on each frame with surreal dreamlike meditation and special effects wizardry .", "the film is a triumph of visual imagination over any story or substance , over-directed and over-acted and completely absent a beating heart .", "peter jackson returns to the engrossing and poetic imagery that earned him his name more than a decade ago .", "a beautiful piece about how we love and the horrors of life that get in the way .", "how do you literalize heaven ? it 's a problem moviemakers have struggled with forever , and jackson has n't solved it .", "there was no reason to make this book into a film -- and many reasons not to -- so you have to admire peter jackson for trying . unfortunately , he 's the wrong director for the job .", "jackson and company 's take on the best-selling alice sebold novel is lovely looking -- it 's visually stunning , really -- and it is sometimes disturbing . but more often than not it 's too aloof and distanced for its own good .", "i found jackson 's film soulful , respectful , masterful , horrifying , rending and emotionally true . it may not be the MOV that you have in mind , but it 's a fine and powerful one .", "the result is like watching an overindulgent parent buy his kid every toy in the store , when what is needed is discipline and restraint .", "rarely has a film launched by a killing seemed so insistently alive .", "the MOV is difficult viewing , a meticulously crafted experiment that , it turns out , was n't worth it .", "following a devastatingly beautiful first act , the film goes downhill in unfathomably fatal ways . the MOV is a startling mess of near-epic proportions , one of 2009 's very biggest disappointments .", "... the best film of 2009 ...", "parental content review", "an astonishingly tone-deaf work that is one of the most utterly misguided literary adaptations to hit the big screen in recent memory .", "-lsb- ronan -rsb- captures the uncertainty and intensity of thwarted teenage passions perfectly but , set against the artifice and the manipulative tendencies of the story , her admirable performance is rather swamped .", "under the hammy direction of peter jackson the MOV has lost its poetic bone structure . what was a complex , quirky novel has been turned into a movie mishmash of lord of the rings and high school musical , with a serial killer thrown in .", "instead of a compelling nightmare , he has created a bland , girly-sparkly dream .", "it 's an extraordinary folly . a turkey , a pig 's ear , a mad cow of a film . its treatment of bereavement and familial grief is crazier than anything lars von trier came up with in antichrist .", "the delicacy and finely-wrought characterisation of alice sebold 's novel has been removed in favour of a beyond-the-grave whodunit , subtlety be damned .", "the script races off in three directions . ... these elements may have intertwined more elegantly in sebold 's writing , but on film they rub against each other awkwardly .", "is there an iphone app for the afterlife ? if not , the celestial cgi that peter jackson deploys to cringe-worthy effect in the MOV could probably suffice .", "uma experi\u0119ncia entediante cujos personagens , supostamente humanos , jamais chegam a exibir um mil\u00e9simo da complexidade e do apelo dos hobbits , elfos e gorilas gigantes presentes nos filmes anteriores de seu antes infal\u00edvel diretor .", "the MOV does a fantastic job with revered , complex source material . as terrific on terra firma as it is audacious in its astral plane , it is doubtful we 'll see a more imaginative , courageous film in 2010 .", "in spite of its obvious flaws , `` the MOV '' carries an inertia of unmistakable tension , care of peter jackson , that makes it a suspenseful and entertaining film .", "it 's not -lsb- jackson 's -rsb- technicolor screensaver design for heaven that really dents the credibility of the film . it 's that he glosses over those parts of story which made sebold 's book so relatable for us mortals .", "jackson 's candy-coloured fantasias - reminiscent of 1970s concept-album artwork - are no substitute for actual drama . there 's nothing at stake .", "the repulsive yet redemptive story is harrowing , but director peter jackson 's visions of heaven feel like a my little pony version of lord of the rings .", "one gets the impression that jackson was enchanted by the idea of getting to create limbo as imagined by a 14-year-old girl -lrb- all verdant landscapes and pretend photo-shoots -rrb- but did n't know what to do with the rest of the movie .", "in jackson 's simplified , sweetened , and cgi-besotted telling , the MOV is a sad-but-hopeful , dramatic-but-gentle fairy tale intentionally made less upsetting for teens .", "when i first heard peter jackson was to direct the film version of this delicate best seller , i was , shall we say , surprised . however , when i saw the actual movie , i got it . jackson wanted to play with heaven .", "jackson 's transformed a serious , unsettling story into a reductive thriller-cum-special effects display .", "ghost-story emphasis deflects from what made the book so powerful : earthbound melodrama surrounding grieving parents and tender insights into the arrested blossoming of a teenaged girl .", "akin to taking a shot of morphine and watching someone play myst for two hours .", "your reaction is likely to hinge on how well you think he pulls off the intercutting of worlds . it works , but just barely ; for many , the cgi fantasy elements may prove a deal breaker .", "it 's a tough subject , but elegant , smooth filmmaking keeps us comfortable when we know bad things are going to happen .", "it may not be perfect , but susie 's story will surely resonate for a long time ." ], "summary": "it 's stuffed full of peter jackson 's typically dazzling imagery , but the MOV suffers from abrupt shifts between horrific violence and cloying sentimentality .", "id": "770675616" }, { "movie": "unreasonable_man", "reviews": [ "a thought-provoking documentary about ralph nader as a zealot for justice , consumer rights , and meaningful democracy .", "an MOV , easy on the eyes and stimulating to the mind , is well worth the two hours plus .", "for liberals , an MOV delivers an exciting look back at heady times .", "an unflinching look at the rise and fall of one of the most influential figures of our times .", "it does vividly capture the ambitious advocate as not just an outsider , but a stymied and stunned political pariah .", "the documentary an MOV is an admiring but hardly uncritical portrait of ralph nader and his 2000 presidential campaign .", "ultimately , mantel and skrovan achieve the goal of reminding a generation that grew up enjoying the protections that nader had spearheaded . but they also frankly acknowledge that the very qualities that made him an incorruptible activist also blinded him .", "if the film shows that few men are as unreasonable as ralph nader , it also shows that few have so succeeded in shaping their world : his legacy of progressive legislation will affect generations to come .", "the film , directed by henriette mantel and steve skrovan , does a brilliant job of putting his 2000 run for president in context -- to show how consistent it was with everything he has stood for in his remarkable career .", "a good mixture , but it all comes back to nader 's disputed sainthood and the debate is heavily stacked . it seems easy to like nader and that 's the problem : there 's no serious conflict .", "a requiem not for nader but for a time when politics was n't a dirty word ; for that reason it is required viewing for all citizens , concerned or no .", "nader haters may not be mollified , but an MOV , like its subject itself , is a one-stop civics lesson no one should miss .", "eschewing narration or direct questioning , the directors instead employ a vast archive of consistently engaging clips from nader 's many congressional battles .", "by presenting both sides , even if unequally , the film manages to do something like justice to an important if controversial figure .", "surely , ralph nader deserves better press than he 's been getting ever since the 2004 elections -- and the legendary consumer advocate and so-called presidential spoiler receives his due , from both sides , in the documentary an MOV .", "the movie is lively and informative , but -lrb- in ways the old nader might have appreciated -rrb- it made me feel like arguing with it . frustratingly , the film avoids as many issues as it raises .", "though filled with talking heads and clocking in at two full hours , it 's thoroughly involving , and its two-part structure explicitly balances nader 's phenomenal career as an anticorporate gadfly in the 60s and 70s with his role in the election of -lsb- bush -rsb- .", "every time a belt gets buckled or an airbag inflates , the movie argues , somebody somewhere has nader to thank for it .", "the film contends admiringly , and convincingly , that ralph nader 's authentic sense of outrage is the reason he persists when he ca n't prevail .", "structured chronologically and somewhat dryly , an MOV makes a strong , nonhagiographic case for nader 's impact : maturing under the influence of a verbal immigrant father .", "an MOV pays true homage to a man of vehemently held ideas by forcing us to engage our brains at the same high level of consciousness .", "an MOV shows us how one individual , albeit a very special one in ralph nader , can change the world .", "compelling nader docu is n't just for lefties .", "... the career of consumer advocate ralph nader , in an adoring hagiography ...", "this fascinating documentary examines the issues raised by nader 's runs for the presidency ... that shone a powerful light into our grubby political shadows , and also played a part ... that twice put george w. bush into the white house .", "it ca n't help but remind us that the man nader prevented from becoming president has since been more instrumental in the war on environmental pollution than any other public figure . irony abounds .", "ralph nader gives and he takes away .", "... the not-so-subtle message of the movie is that the unreasonableness that gave us seat belts and clean air also gave us bush , iraq and the neo-conservative nightmare .", "you may walk away from it still wondering why nader persisted in running for president in 2004 after being repeatedly begged not to . but , whether or not you admire the decision , the film forces you to admire the determination with which nader made it .", "it 's that willingness , even eagerness , to put in such passionate contrary viewpoints that distinguishes `` an MOV '' from the usual political documentary .", "an MOV doubles as both a thinkpiece and a sympathetic portrait of its subject . but like nader , the film is a little long-winded and infuriatingly single-minded .", "the filmmakers present compelling evidence of nader 's legacy ... but they also let nader off the hook -lsb- for his role in allowing -rsb- the bush administration 's dismantling of that very legacy .", "a spellbinding cautionary tale about the dangers of purity and the ugly necessity of compromise and pragmatism .", "filmmakers henriette mantel and steve skrovan sense the inherent drama in such a story of triumph and betrayal , and in their long-winded fashion , they manage to capture something tragic in the unflappable nader 's uncompromising commitment .", "an MOV takes the story of a man usually associated with being an egomaniac , megalomaniac and even psychologically disturbed and creates a fascinating account of a man typically known just for rabblerousing two elections .", "stirring documentary about an unlikely politician , one who puts principles above personal gain .", "a substantive and fairly balanced overview of ` citizen nader 's ' decades-long rise and sudden , precipitous fall from liberal political grace .", "i did find an MOV informative , a bit infuriating and also a bit tedious . ... still , this is worth a look for a portrait of a very unique voice in america and american politics .", "an MOV 's allowance for differing viewpoints becomes a bit of a smokescreen , with the film revealing its true goal of reputation restoration .", "an MOV ? or an extraordinary american ? mantel and skrovan 's partial documentary ends up a complex portrait of a man who is both .", "the first hour is so stuffed with gushing accolades from a career of consumer advocacy that it could pass for a long-form political ad for a future campaign .", "what an MOV does best is rehabilitate nader 's career prior to the election and remind us of an unparalleled public-interest legacy stretching over four decades .", "-lsb- the film -rsb- finds more than enough absorbing material to hold interest through nearly three-hour runtime .", "a heroic crusader to some and the spoiler who betrayed the democratic party to others , ralph nader emerges as a dedicated , controversial and flawed figure .", "this incisive and often surprising documentary captures a man of true and deeply held convictions without creating a hagiography", "shows nader in all his scuzzy glory . worth the bucks .", "this documentary starts out as a fascinating profile of consumer advocate ralph nader , but it ends up getting derailed by a political discussion marked by an abundance of whining .", "unlike most recent documentaries , an MOV does n't just preach to the choir .", "manages to launch a heated argument between nader 's supporters and a few detractors .", "the compelling documentary an MOV carries the tag line , ` ralph nader : how do you define a legacy ? ' but it might just as easily have asked , ` who gets to define the legacy ? '", "the first half of the movie is an absorbing study of this part of nader 's public life , and then it switches -- as he did -- to politics , where the results for both him and the picture are less cheerful .", "a perceptive and beautifully made documentary portrait of nader .", "despite mantel 's ties to rader , the film seems fairly balanced .", "a worthy and compelling look at a unique and essentially american figure .", "if you can detach yourself from the back-and-forth vituperation -lrb- perhaps an impossible project -rrb- , the nader story begins to resemble a grand tragedy about the american left .", "an MOV wears away at preconceived notions , reminding you that , whatever conventional politicians may promise , they do n't move anywhere unless uncompromising people such as nader keep pulling their lapels and prodding their consciences .", "an entertaining tour of this endearing , infuriating absolutist 's life and legacy .", "to the documentarians ' credit , you will leave the film pondering the one big question : did nader do the right thing to stick by his principles , or should he have held his nose and supported the lesser of the two evils ?", "for most of an entertaining 122 minutes , the film simply tells the story of nader 's life and chronicles his struggles and crusades .", "-lsb- k -rsb- ind of sad , and kind of telling -- this truly is a man who has dedicated his life to his work , and his work is us ..." ], "summary": "a compelling documentary that humanizes the controversial , polarizing politician .", "id": "351527960" }, { "movie": "1000085-2001_a_space_odyssey", "reviews": [ "perhaps the beauty of 2001 is appreciating that some of the best stories are the ones that are half-told .", "as close to perfection as one movie can be .", "2001 will doubtless retain its mythic resonance -- an optimistic prediction of first contact with other , presumably wiser , life forms -- long after we 've stopped scribbling that cluster of numbers in our checkbooks .", "the movie is so completely absorbed in its own problems , its use of color and space , its fanatical devotion to science-fiction detail , that its is somewhere between hypnotic and immensely boring .", "the film creates its effects essentially out of visuals and music . it is meditative . it does not cater to us , but wants to inspire us , enlarge us .", "i assumed that this was what all movies ought to be : treasures for moral and aesthetic contemplation that did not provide all their answers on first contact .", "2001 compares with , but does not best , previous efforts at science fiction .", "a cold , majestic motion picture , a movie that seeks to remind us of the vastness of space and our relatively insignificant place in it .", "it 's a film based on self-discovery and intellect and contemplation .", "it still makes a spectacular impression today , and we can easily see how it influenced future films ...", "you can watch 2001 as a visual journey with nary a thought for what 's under the surface or you can plunge into this vortex of interpretations . the great thing about 2001 is that either approach works fine . that 's why it endures .", "few works in cinema can prudently and soberly be described as religious experiences : MOV is one of them .", "awesome , influential , mind-blowing , cool , obsessional , pretentious -- 2001 is all of these .", "kubrick 's sci-fi masterpiece is still relevant .", "with his virtuosic adaptation of arthur c. clarke 's novel , stanley kubrick invented the modern science fiction film .", "if i were pressed to come up with the best film from my favorite director , it could well be this one .", "those who love it as passionately as i do realize this film is about more than dialogue , plot , or space ships . its uniqueness permits it to transcend the ordinary , becoming a movie not about one human but the entire human species .", "-lsb- 2001 -rsb- might be best described as a factual philosophical speculation , rather than as the drama it sets out as but never develops into : and like all good speculations , it leaves the spectator up in the air with a tantalising vision as food for thought .", "though it fails as drama , stanley kubrick 's venture succeeds as dazzling visual art .", "arguably the greatest science fiction movie ever made .", "2001 lingers on the mind like a tall , black riddle : where are the new bones , the new tools , that will take us higher ? do we even deserve them ?", "matched kubrick 's photographic eye to a story about watching , transformed him into a director of the epic , and made one giant leap in sci-fi cinema that 's never been matched .", "stanley kubrick 's 2001 : a space odyssey is some sort of great film , and an unforgettable endeavor . technically and imaginatively , what he put into it is staggering .", "the most influential sci-fi film ever made , 2001 caused culture shock when released , forever changing the conventions , style , and prestige of the previously debased genre", "stanley kubrick 's 2001 : a space odyssey is one of the greatest films of all time and it is the director 's most profound and confounding exploration of humanity 's relationship to technology , violence , sexuality and social structures .", "central to the profundity of the film is the notion that few things are more meaningful than a child 's first steps , the emotive impact of this scenario manifest in every one of the film 's dizzying set pieces , albeit multiplied to epic proportions .", "part space opera , part cinematic symphony and part horror story , the film is a shape-shifting painting .", "this is the way this ground-breaking monument was meant to be seen : in mind-boggling 70 mm .", "a beautiful , confounding picture that had half the audience cheering and the other half snoring .", "now , seen in the actual 2001 , it 's less a visionary masterpiece than a crackpot looney tune , pretentious , abysmally slow , amateurishly acted and , above all , wrong .", "with the release of stanley kubrick 's enigmatic space spectacle in 1968 , the science-fiction film finally came of age .", "it 's a must-see if you never have , even though its visual impact is seriously hampered by the small screen .", "2001 alters the relationship between sound and the image , expands the technical possibilities of the medium and exists , in simple terms , as an example of cinema in its purest yet most optimistic and limitless terms .", "2001 will emerge from its initial long-run cinerama engagements and subsequent extended runs as one of mgm 's all-time box office hits ...", "notoriously baffling yet oddly compelling ...", "extraordinary filmmaking , creating intellectual arguments mostly through image and music .", "one of the true monoliths of all cinema .", "it 's an overpowering experience , awe-inspiringly photographed by geoffrey unsworth , groundbreakingly enhanced by douglas trumbull .", "... reaches for the stars and finds itself , against all odds , on the other side of them .", "kubrick leaves usual considerations behind with his readiness to imagine a post-human future .", "top marks for craftsmanship is an understatement .", "there is simply no substitute for the cinema experience", "its intelligent attempt at exploring human development is as relevant today - long after the date the movie 's climactic events are set - as when it was released in 1968 .", "a celestial alignment of man , medium , and material .", "does n't just depict a quantum leap forward in human consciousness -- it practically requires such a leap , on an individual scale , from the viewer .", "pure unadulterated sci-fi and there 's nothing like it and probably never will be again .", "brilliantly conceived", "it could be the greatest freak-out of all time .", "its triumph lies in its scope of cinematic splendour and the attempt to marry some of man 's most beautiful music to the infinite mystery of space .", "if you can surrender to it , stanley kubrick 's 2001 : a space odyssey is a mind-shaper .", "2001 speaks by monolith -- that is , by image , metaphor , poetry , and suggestion .", "kubrick 's spaceships are perhaps little more than airfix models , but he makes them majestic , even awesome in the proper sense of the word .", "it is an extraordinary , obsessive , beautiful work of art .", "if you ask me , kubrick 's effects in 2001 : a space odyssey , which were made by human hands , are still unsurpassed .", "yup , you guessed it -- a religious experience .", "works best if viewed as a symphony .", "une le\u00e7on de cin\u00e9ma par l'un de ses plus grands artisans .", "2001 : a space odyssey -lrb- 1968 -rrb- is a landmark , science fiction classic , an epic film containing more spectacular imagery than verbal dialogue .", "what else can such a film be called but art ?", "still one of the best", "it expresses the hope that we 'll soon be done with being idiotic ape creatures and can look forward to superior incarnations .", "the film 's projections of the cold war and antiquated product placements may look quaint now , but the poetry is as hard-edged and full of wonder as ever .", "it was a freshening attitude then , though its long-term effects have n't been all to the good .", "for all the essential coldness of kubrick 's vision , it demands attention as superior sci-fi , simply because it 's more concerned with ideas than with boy 's own-style pyrotechnics .", "it has reached the status of art , meaning that it 's going to go on provoking strong opinions .", "kubrick set out to make `` the proverbial good science-fiction film , '' but he came out the other side with something far more ornery and profound .", "one of the most mysterious , talked about , and intellectually stimulating films of all time .", "2001 certainly is a colossal bore , unless you 're on its wavelength , in which case it 's one of the greatest films of all time .", "prepare to be dazzled ." ], "summary": "one of the most influential of all sci-fi films -- and one of the most controversial -- stanley kubrick 's 2001 is a delicate , poetic meditation on the ingenuity -- and folly -- of mankind .", "id": "9917" }, { "movie": "pollock", "reviews": [ "jackson MOV may have been the wild beast who broke through the ice , but ed harris proves to be a tame animal indeed .", "most of MOV , save for the last act , feels refreshingly different from most other bio-pics . outstanding .", "only seems straightforward because the complexity of its relationships and intelligence of its details have been handled with such ease .", "harden deserves recognition more than her co-stars , if only because she creates the sole sympathetic character .", "harris spent most of the past 10 years trying to bring MOV 's story to the screen , and his passion is evident in nearly every scene of the film .", "... ca n't ever seem to find its way out of denis leary 's all-purpose tortured artist biopic template : ` i 'm drunk , i 'm nobody . i 'm drunk , i 'm famous . i 'm drunk , i 'm dead . '", "it tracks a mythology of creativity which runs from caravaggio to patti smith , and is running still , unended .", "harris as an actor does justice to his long-term passion to play MOV .", "a highly personal , rigorous , and thoughtful analysis of a truly troubled genius .", "the honesty and integrity that have always distinguished harris ' acting are reflected in every element of this extraordinary film .", "the pleasure of watching these two superb actors -lsb- harris and harden -rsb- play figures of such stature without a trace of sentimentality is enormous .", "if harris the actor has been a talent to cherish for several years now , the arrival of harris the director makes the future appear twice as bright .", "it 's almost like MOV has come back from the dead and that we 're watching a recently made documentary instead of a fiction film .", "the production , like pollack 's life , feels truncated and unfulfilled .", "it all seems in retrospect like more than what you 'd expect in a 2-hour film , but somehow , harris gets it all in there .", "other than depicting his wild mood swings , there 's not too much to this cinematic representation of MOV .", "a reasonably entertaining -- and occasionally very moving -- picture of one of the 20th century 's greatest artists .", "a passionate , shrewd , and well-cast biopic of 20th-century america 's favorite tortured painter .", "brawls and bravado aside , MOV has the stiffness of an official biography .", "harris 's intensity in the role and commitment to it is ferocious .", "this is a superior film based on the troubled life and career of abstract expressionist artist and manic-depressive jackson MOV .", "a riveting biodrama that presents ten years in the turbulent life of the controversial and self-destructive founder of action painting .", "ed harris has the opportunity throughout the two-hours to deliver nothing short of an athletic performance well suited for oscar consideration .", "the emotional interplay between harris and harden is electric , crackling with authenticity .", "a great film for people unafraid of tough , melancholic films that plumb the depths of human experience .", "harris ' portrayal -- that rare specimen that deserves the plaudit ` tour de force ' -- holds to a world-wise respect as the story dangles maudlin indulgence in front of him .", "harris does a brilliant job playing the tortured , uncommunicative painter .", "that rare breed , a biopic that makes you want to learn more about its subject , as much as you can , as fast as you can .", "harris ' painting technique is so convincing you really think you are watching MOV at work . the rest of the film works well enough , but it is fairly slow going .", "a brilliant acting exercise for its incredible cast .", "as acted and directed by ed harris , the scenes of the painter in action work brilliantly .", "the enthusiasm harris devotes to his subject matter leaves one with a positive impression of both the film and himself .", "that altogether rare movie about an artist that works because it takes the art itself for granted .", "this may not be exactly the movie MOV deserves , but it 's the one he got ; and , reservations aside , it 's pretty darn good .", "harris ' oscar-nominated performance is quite moving , making MOV a better movie than the predictability of its story arc would indicate .", "a difficult and demanding movie , one that rewards the persevering moviegoer just as MOV 's difficult and demanding paintings ultimately reward the steadfast .", "filled with fine performances .", "harris , harden , and madigan are all outstanding , and the film , while flawed , is engrossing and impressive .", "harris ... gives perhaps the performance of his screen career , making the most of his physical resemblance to MOV while bringing a scary , single-minded intensity to the part .", "an intelligent , engrossing , finely tuned period drama .", "a ruddy little movie with a seething core and a chill in its bones .", "you can believe that ed harris was born to play artist jackson MOV . you can almost believe that MOV died so that some day he would be acted by harris .", "ed harris gives a commanding , potent performance in MOV that is a torrential mix of the artist 's chaotic talent and his more chaotic psyche .", "many films about artists indulge opportunities to depict people behaving recklessly . harris seems more interested in showing us the nature of creativity .", "in the same way a tap dancer innately understands the percolating syncopation of all jazz music , ed harris identifies character rhythms and physical possibilities in drama .", "wonderful movie , but for adults and older teens .", "a plodding glimpse of the latter part of jackson MOV 's life", "more than a straightforward biography charting jackson MOV 's rise to prominence , ed harris ' film is a penetrating study of the work ethic as it applied to one of america 's great post-war painters .", "passion can easily lead to self-indulgence , and that is certainly the unfortunate case here .", "you can decide for yourself if MOV was a great artist . he was n't such a great man , but at least he got a pretty good movie .", "not a review , but an interview with ed harris , who discusses MOV among other roles .", "if ever there were an artist to prove that the art is bigger than the artist , it was jackson MOV . like him , this film embraces pain and chaos and self-loathing and returns beauty .", "harris has created an enduring portrait of this man , self-destructive , violent and difficult , who changed the face of american abstract expressionism .", "it 's the same movie we get every time hollywood tackles tortured geniuses .", "one need not be a fan of the audacious style of jack MOV to admire ed harris ' journeyman effort to bring the tortured life of one of america 's true originals to the screen", "only the artwork and scenes focused on the process of painting get near the truth . the rest is hazy bluster .", "just -- yes , just -- one more film about that perennially obdurate subject , an artist .", "you root for MOV despite its shortcomings .", "almost good enough to transcend the typical tale of a tortured artist .", "while ed harris captures the all the surfaces of jackson MOV , his subject remains an enigma .", "thanks to some terrific performances and a solid debut from harris behind the camera , the film turns out to be an interesting and engaging experience .", "succeeds in capturing a personality with all its infuriating and inspiring facets .", "a remarkably detailed , emotionally layered , deeply affecting film .", "ed harris has always been a great actor in search of a role that could match his haunted intensity , and in MOV ... he finds it .", "the movie 's best moments evoke the thrill of doing something new .", "harris delivers an intense and credible performance that effectively portrays MOV 's anti-social nature , his intensity and his seemingly desperate drive .", "repeats the same old stereotypes of ` artistic greatness , ' and ends up feeling a little bit worn out .", "like its subject , MOV is a messy creation , but one whose depth of commitment and high attack keeps it on track .", "ed harris ' filmmaking deserves praise despite the story 's glitches , and marcia gay harden stands out in a star turn as the artist 's wife .", "harris is always a good actor but here seems possessed , as if he had a leap of empathy for MOV .", "a precise , deliberate movie , so carefully calibrated in its tone and structure that , as a whole , it ends up reading like a completely well-intentioned lack of guts .", "a series of flashy scenes that work on their own histrionic terms but add up to nothing you ca n't predict in the first five minutes .", "flat and uninvolving , flash cards from a life but with no life itself .", "the best film ever made about a painter .", "reds , yellows , blues , and grays come alive in MOV , letting viewers exhilarate in the glory of creating great abstract art .", "this is a towering performance of bruising inspiration .", "the artwork that is shown on screen is so utterly fascinating and spectacular that one need n't be an art aficionado to appreciate the splattered canvases .", "although a novice director , harris orchestrates his work masterfully .", "distinguished by its quiet , intelligent , admirably restrained approach and by two finely wrought performances from harris and marcia gay harden in the leading roles .", "feels like a visual sampling of the artist 's life , rather than a revealing exploration of the person behind the creative and cultural legend .", "a harrowing film , impossible to ` like ' in any conventional way , hypnotically impossible to turn away from .", "it 's a fiercely concentrated work , totally committed , somberly truthful .", "among the many pictures made about painters ... it stands out for its intelligence , economy and superlative acting .", "it 's the stuff of exciting moviemaking , but MOV is decidedly underwhelming .", "is at once intriguing and insightful as well as boring and baffling .", "the movie forces you , as few of its kind ever do , to see the fruits and spoils of genius framed against the gritty , banal canvas of normal life .", "conveying all the artist 's rage , ego and madness , -lsb- harris 's -rsb- MOV packs a wallop .", "there are few more thrilling sights around than watching the great ed harris furiously hovering over a canvas in MOV .", "we end up caring enough to follow him through his short life , glimpsing what it might have been like at the birth of great 20th-century art .", "stands out among creative bio-pics for an ability to show art being made in a way that 's as realistic and exciting as it 's ever been on screen .", "a smart but disappointingly conventional portrait of an artist who had little use for convention .", "the core of the film are the performances of harris and hardin . he brings the intensity and insanity the part requires , and so does she .", "it 's a well-told , well-mounted movie , though not one that challenges the standard diagnosis of the creative personality ." ], "summary": "though MOV does not really allow audiences a glimpse of the painter as a person , it does powerfully depict the creative process . harris throws himself into the role and turns in a compelling performance .", "id": "13382" }, { "movie": "girl_with_the_red_riding_hood", "reviews": [ "tepid , twisted re-imagining of charles perrault 's medieval fable - but the melodramatic script never makes much sense and chemistry is entirely lacking between the heroine and her suitors .", "this movie is terrible .", "just when you think you 've finished with one of these annoying franchises , another one pops up to plague you .", "my , what big eyes seyfried has , the better to see -- what ? like hardwicke 's previous films -lrb- even ` the nativity story ' -rrb- , this is an extreme coming-of-age story about young people coping with extraordinary circumstances . yet the focus is unclear ...", "... for all of red riding hood 's $ 42 million budget hollywood still ca n't create a convincing werewolf ; so far , cgi has yet to surpass the practical make-up effects employed by an american werewolf in london or the howling 30 years ago .", "despite the ill-advised advertising , this is not a horror film or a twilight knock-off . it 's a mystery , and a good one with fine acting , pace , and ambience .", "not as awesomely awful as twilight , though director hardwicke dwells in the same overwrought , teenage fever-dream , while her cast embraces the campiness as if knowing they 've signed up for a giant blot on their cvs .", "taking a bloody dagger to centuries of folklore , the producers of red riding hood have shamelessly turned the little red riding hood legend into a carbon copy of the twilight movies .", "it 's a safe bet that if the volume of the laughter in the theater is amplified in direct proportion to how serious any given scene was obviously meant to be , then you 've probably got a failure of notable and classic proportions on your hands .", "this shameless , joyless affair hinges on a whodunit mystery that is so obvious in the first reel , it leaves you wondering : is that all there is ? unfortunately , it is .", "acting 's awful , storyline 's messy and unengaging , and there 's not a trace of authentic passion anywhere in the movie 's picture-pretty production design .", "a clunky mess with no tension . the servicable script needed to be directed with great flourish , but hardwicke walks us through , so the film hits us like a snoozy lullaby .", "a movie that has little reason to exist , other than as a showcase for seyfried 's uncannily beautiful face , framed prettily in red , and as the latest in a line of fairy tales on the big screen .", "while red riding hood never pretends to be anything other than red meat for its ravenous teen base , it 's more sturdily constructed than it was required to be , and thus , more engrossing .", "like an idiot , i came to this movie hoping that director catherine hardwicke might engage in a feminist interrogation of the old fairy tale .", "directed by twilight franchise launcher catherine hardwicke and shot on clunky-looking sets embellished with garish digital effects , red riding hood is a cheap attempt to cash in on that vampire series ' massive success .", "red riding hood does trot out the classic what-big-eyes-you-have routine . it 's a pretty amusing moment , and it makes you wish the rest of the film had that same sort of knowing sense of humor .", "poor amanda seyfried . one of today 's most lively and expressive young actresses , she finds herself stuck between two lifeless pieces of wood .", "according to legend , a silver bullet can kill a werewolf . too bad it ca n't slay bad writing , without which the ill-conceived red riding hood would not exist .", "hardwicke helms red riding hood with a clear vision for her target audience : young teens . there 's violence but little blood , some chaste sexy bits and a few , swift scares .", "is this supposed to be funny ?", "red riding hood is a fantasy fairy tale with a twist of twilight , but it does n't quite come together , despite some striking images and a strong performance from seyfried .", "the company of wolves did it so much better back in 1984 .", "who 's afraid of the big bad wolf ? no one who sees the specimen in red riding hood , that 's for sure .", "really , werely disappointing .", "the plot proves surprisingly suspenseful as , agatha christie-like , the culprit could be anyone .", "grim not grimm .", "there is no sexual or romantic chemistry .", "twilight without any heat , feeling , fun or sparkly skin . yes , it 's that lame .", "at once a lacklustre tale of star-crossed lovers and a whodunit of staggering mediocrity .", "intermittently enjoyable hokum at best .", "it 's shocking that for all of the advances in computer generated imagery , they still ca n't make a realistic looking werewolf . lon chaney 's original 1941 werewolf far outshines the hairy beast here .", "` a silly mockery of a classic , ' say the three little pigs .", "a strange , dreary and stubbornly un-entertaining reboot of the fairy tale , where ancient forebodings about creatures of the night are used as grist for the mill of angsty teenage lust .", "if , by chance , you 've missed `` twilight '' and its sequels , do n't worry . shiny , moody , moon-faced and dumb , `` red riding hood '' pretty much replicates the experience entirely .", "fattening fairy tales for the screen is tricky , and hardwicke gets it half right , valorizing romance over duty , integrity over tyranny .", "here 's hoping hardwicke can top this masterpiece with her inevitable adaptation of jack jumps over the candlestick .", "adapting a fairy tale would seem to offer plenty of room for creative freedom , and maybe that 's what went wrong here .", "truly dreadful ... hardwicke has n't offered a competent directorial effort to date , with hood a new low for the filmmaker . not only is the feature a total eyesore , but one perfectly content to pilfer from a fad .", "hardwicke 's blatantly twilight-esque revamping of the popular fable succeeds only as a nonsensical and offensive grab for more teen dollars .", "a passable young-adult thriller .", "can not find the sting of longing sexuality even when the heroine essays a literal roll in the hay", "oh , the smoldering glances , the trembling fingers and that blood red cloak , signaling valerie 's readiness to enter womanhood . there might as well be flashing arrows on the screen .", "red riding hood is like 2010 's the wolfman covered in teenage bubble gum schlock .", "red riding hood has the added inconvenience of being dreadfully serious about a plot so preposterous , it demands to be filmed by monty python .", "red riding hood is pretty decent , considering it 's , you know , red riding hood .", "you 'll howl alright ; this is the funniest movie i 've seen all year . yes , it 's supposed to be a horror flick .", "hardwicke does succeed in creating a dark , claustrophobic atmosphere over the proceedings , even in daylight .", "about as bad as it could be . gary oldman chews a bit of scenery , but even he ca n't save this disasterous new spin of the brothers grimm classic .", "adolescent melodrama curdles into gooey , processed cheese in this fangless fairytale adaptation .", "dismal failure is redeemed only by the occasional inadvertent laugh", "we always suspected the kid in the red cloak had a dark side . the new `` red riding hood '' starring amanda seyfried confirms our suspicions .", "the whole twilight lusting-to-lose-her-virginity-to-her-true-love story falls even flatter in a grimm historical setting . anachronistic , true-romance clich\u00e9s sap the plot 's strength , while the visuals get more and more predictable .", "neither a horror film nor an effective teen-skewing romantic fable , red riding hood fails to find the teen lit niche it seeks .", "evokes less menace than a teddy bear 's picnic and is as disappointingly reactionary as the bella swan brigade .", "social and sexual tension is nil , thus making a perfect fit with the clawless drama .", "the heart of the teenage girl may well be a dark forest - but never one quite so naff as this .", "a boring mess , neither scary nor sexy enough to justify its innovations .", "the result is a curious beast , part whodunit , part teen romance , and all of it a clunker .", "every time hardwicke 's film threatens to veer into dark , unsettling territory , it 's sweetened with sickly sweet romance .", "adamantly refuses to provide any wit , humor or fun , concerning itself mostly with the heroine 's taxing dilemma of picking between the rural village 's two best looking boys .", "at least twilight has something resembling passion -- red riding hood is barely a sheep in wolf 's clothing .", "even with the always excellent julie christie doing grandma , there is n't much director catherine hardwicke can do with writer david johnson 's soap opera script .", "twilight-esque fairy-tale thriller mixes sexuality , horror .", "the unfortunate combination of a hackneyed script and inexperienced acting makes the film feel like the big-budget version of a bad high-school play .", "this is n't your typical fairy tale version of little red riding hood.actually , it 's hard to tell just what this film by catherine hardwicke is meant to be .", "red riding hood is truly film at its worst . except gary oldman . he 's awesome .", "red riding hood is basically a beautifully photographed episode of ` days of our lives . ' the script is laughably bad .", "though it 's directed by twilight 's catherine hardwicke , its target teen audience is likely to find the period trappings and timid bloodletting silly and irrelevant .", "another idiot child of `` twilight , '' `` red riding hood , '' directed by original `` twilight '' director catherine hardwicke -lrb- `` thirteen '' -rrb- , arrives , and the twi-hards are about to get hoodwinked .", "while it may be little more than a disney princess movie with a body count , i 'd take this goofy period whodunit over brooding vampires and modern teen angst any day .", "the suspense generated by this weary plot device is on the level of wondering whether or not it 'll rain tomorrow .", "what is going on with this fairy tale thing ? first ` beastly ' and now this .", "red riding hood clearly aims to scare , yet hardwicke 's direction is about as tense as a broken rubber band .", "gets dumber and dumber as it sinks further and further into a story that makes less and less sense as it tangles itself up in more and more inconsistent ` folklore . '", "hardwicke and screenwriter david johnson reduce the ` blossoming womanhood ' symbolism of the age-old fairytale to hoary , muddled werewolf-bloodline malarkey .", "once it finally gains momentum , it 's not too bad . it 's a bit like an old-fashioned whodunit but with werewolves . if only it knew what it wanted to be .", "the finale is almost laughable . even hardcore goths will be bored .", "more `` twilight '' than grimm , and a terrible mess .", "by the time the narrative segues into its seemingly endless witch-hunt phase , red riding hood has certainly established itself as a turkey of almost impressive proportions .", "say what you want about red riding hood , but it 's the best sexy psychoanalytical soap opera fantasy you 'll see all year . in fact , it may well be the only one you 'll ever see .", "the trouble with the film is that there seems to have been no attempt to ground it in any sort of reality ; even the celebratory bacchanal is just plain weird .", "hardwicke , whose first `` twilight '' film looks like `` citizen kane '' with fangs compared to this , takes things sooo seriously , which translates as buffoonery .", "`` red riding hood '' has absolutely no sense of humor about its own ridiculousness , and when it 's so busy taking itself seriously , there 's no reason the rest of us should .", "following the red riding hood screening , i expressed my feelings about the film to a colleague who was lucky enough to have been otherwise occupied . `` was it really that bad ? '' she asked . `` bad ? '' i replied . `` hitler was bad . this was awful . ''", "`` red riding hood '' is such a sorrowful attempt to resurrect the marketing magic of `` twilight '' that it ought to be titled `` career eclipse . ''", "in spite of all the twilightery , the movie shows just enough interest in its fairy-tale inspiration to make its failure frustrating .", "like listening to an alcoholic deadbeat dad read a knock-off version of the famed fable to his inattentive , angry offspring , red riding hood is no fun .", "what big eyes and lips amanda seyfried has . and what nice cheekbones julie christie , who plays her grandmother , has . unfortunately , these are about the only outstanding features in red riding hood .", "if they had just picked one way to go with it -- mystery , monster story , inquisition metaphor -- it would have probably worked . instead its trying to go in a lot of different directions at once and ultimately gets nowhere .", "just icky .", "a ridiculous teenybopper-geared retooling of the fairy tale .", "with this film and the first `` twilight , '' hardwicke has shown that she does n't have much talent for direction and that she is n't that good a judge of material if this is the kind of film she keeps choosing .", "catherine hardwicke , what the hell happened ?", "the cgi wolf would have been rubbish a decade ago , the clearly indoor village set looks like it once featured in an old episode of star trek and the central love story is lacking in bite .", "for all the heaving bosoms , the big-eyed flirtation and the cool medieval fairytale hair products , it does n't work .", "` beware the wolf , ' warn red riding hood 's posters and television ads . be even warier of this movie .", "trite dialogue , poor special effects and an insubstantial storyline make this one a bit of a dud .", "while it 's nice to see renewed interest in genre fiction from a teenage girl standpoint , these new monsters do n't have much bite to them .", "gary oldman is the one bright light in this tired drama that deserves neither his talent or your time .", "it perfectly sums up the muddled feeling of a gothic horror romance that never feels all that romantic nor particularly scary .", "sexualising a beloved children 's fairy tale seems an odd move , but when flanked by an unoriginal story and lacklustre performances , that appears to be the least of the film 's problems .", "the red riding hood trailer was roundly mocked by some sceptics , who said it looked like twilight in a puce cloak . a disgustingly cynical notion ... that 's turned out to be one hundred per cent correct .", "oldman and seyfried prove to be the big attractions , but hardwicke 's riding hood legend still lacks bite .", "red riding hood is actually a fun , goofy ride , albeit one lathered in chintz and froth .", "it feels like a mopey medieval twilight flashback livened up by the odd bit of overacting .", "best trip to grandma 's house ever .", "yes , there 's enough connection with the source 's underlying issues of repression and desire to give this reason to exist , but , boy , does hardwicke labour in getting from fairy tale to would-be psycho-thriller .", "the village looks like an amish suburb of la peopled by dentally-perfect specimens with hollywood hair and rustic smocks by donna karan .", "disappointingly , once again hardwicke relies more on visual appeal than decent dialogue . but teenage girls , for whom this movie is made , will lap it up .", "if you 're watching any big hollywood movie that thinks it 's smarter than you , you can generally figure that kind of thing out all by yourself long before the protagonist .", "it 's the seriousness with which hardwicke treats the tale that proves its undoing .", "the wolf attacks , few and far , are roughly the equivalent of a bedtime story that puts the adult to sleep while the six year-old gives the finger to the monster under the bed for looking so fake .", "oh , grandmother , what a big , bad movie you have .", "-lsb- hardwicke -rsb- has a gift for taking situations of bloodcurdling thrills and investing them with all of the drama of a sophomore fussing over her prom date .", "a lurid , loopy , utterly ludicrous enterprise that seeks to twist the ultimate fable of feminine fear and victimhood into an allegory for finding your inner bad girl .", "but , my , what sharp teeth ms. hardwicke does n't have .", "`` red riding hood '' has some moments , but overall it is plodding and dull .", "hardwicke 's `` red riding hood '' proves the `` twilight '' formula is n't always a surefire bet . while it was n't a comedy -lrb- and should have been -rrb- , its only redeeming quality is it 's funny to mock .", "an often suspenseful , visually stylish and atmospheric whodunit despite a hackneyed romantic subplot and plenty of stilted dialogue to boot .", "hardwicke 's envisioning rarely achieves the sort of nightmarish quality the material suggests .", "it 's a complex story with a good deal of subtext ... explor -lsb- ing -rsb- numerous issues from loveless marriages to oppressive authority to parents and children .", "against the phony sets and effects , valerie 's world seems more like a cheap stage rather than a realistic fantasy world , making the film 's own flaws and missed opportunities clear as day even in the dark of night .", "... hilariously awful ...", "unmistakably indifferent to everything she 's forced to chaperon , hardwicke 's direction is mostly lazy , and tremendously derivative .", "hood a real howler .", "catherine hardwicke is anne rice with a camera .", "too bad hardwicke did n't adapt the scarlet letter -- better yet , she could have transformed the asinine easy a.", "this red riding hood loses sight of the forest for the trees on its way to grandma 's house .", "what big clich\u00e9s you have !", "a grim fairy tale full of beautiful young people and make up perfect older ones", "better than just another imitation twilight , but that 's all it really is .", "the girl who does n't know how to handle two suitors and dithers between them as a means to prolong the agonies of young love has seen its day . it was brought to the point of exhaustion in the movie hardwicke modeled so much of this on .", "aside from a few arresting visuals , red riding hood is just a slog through the woods .", "catherine hardwicke has , either by intent or by executive order , made a film which makes a far too heavy-handed bid for some of those big box office bucks that the twilight franchise has been pulling in .", "overheated yet underpowered .", "while the twilight films strive for straight-faced grimness , red riding hood often verges on outright florid hilarity . it is n't laughing at itself , but that need n't stop the audience .", "the result is a dolled-up , overblown , pandering romantic costume drama that 's not only sillier than the filmmakers surely intended but also , if you follow the plot implications all the way to the end , way ickier , too .", "was red riding hood masterminded by a cadre of particularly silly eleven year-olds undergoing withdrawal from twilight ? that 's the only excuse for a movie this dopey .", "horribly written ; horribly performed -lrb- but they did n't have a chance -rrb- ; directed by someone that cameras should file a restraining order against ; edited by a cast-iron moron", "hardwicke was able to curate her main characters into delivering enjoyable performances , but everything else is kind of a mess .", "a foolish story , marred by a strange blend of overacting and bland , offhand performances .", "red riding hood is sort of like a hook-up that you remember more or less fondly but still would never tell your friends about .", "the idea of updating a children 's story into a adult nightmare is a good one , and someone could still do it with this story , because ` red riding hood ' fails .", "hardwicke directed twilight , you 'll recall , and would apparently like to continue directing it , over and over again .", "red riding hood proves to be a bloodless supernatural tween drama , which revolves around a laughable love triangle and some of the worse acting seen thus far this year .", "have you spent years wondering what the whole story was behind the fable of little red riding hood ? have you had questions about the motivations of the wolf , or", "if production design and cinematography were enough , this would be a striking success", "seyfried gets by on three expressions -- wonder , bewilderment and a frozen-faced commingling of both .", "the explanation takes away a good deal of the mystery and menace , not to mention the comic energy , of the original story and the many versions it has inspired .", "the poster 's tagline promotes the film as `` a breathtaking vision of a 700 year old legend '' -lrb- note that the legend is ' 700 years old ' and not ' 700 years long ' as i had begun to suspect midway through the screening -rrb- .", "the once promising filmmaker has created two of the worst supernatural thrillers in recent memory in twilight and now the excruciating red riding hood .", "i saw red riding hood with a theater full of high school girls . i think they liked it , because there were whole three minute stretches when they were n't texting .", "a dreary tale of love and lycanthropy set in a muddied past , it affords neither the titillation of sex nor the thrill of violence .", "a movie in which the command `` run ! '' means turn on the slo-mo ... a scary forest is trees with tusk-sized thorns and nobody getting impaled . victims die solely from facial scratches , except for a sliced-off arm dropping bloodlessly to the snowy ground .", "both better made than twilight and far less entertaining , red riding hood could easily lure the same crowd , but does n't offer much to anyone not entering the theater ready to swoon .", "its wtf factor is off the charts , beginning with hardwicke 's all-too-obvious attempt to avenge herself upon the `` twilight '' franchise .", "seeing the plot of ` twilight ' get stuffed into little red 's riding hood is a painful business . but look for a fat box office .", "shot on chintzy soundstages that look like the sets from `` fraggle rock , '' the film does n't work as horror , as whimsical folk tale , or as a romance . it does , however , work on occasion as bad dinner theatre .", "hardwicke repeats many of twilight 's design elements ... but the story , written by `` orphan 's '' david johnson , is a ludicrous pageant of brown-eyed suspects .", "red riding hood is just another movie about a girl pining for a boy , defined by a boy , held back by a boy . and that 's not pretty .", "for a while the joke seems intentional .", "mixes the melodrama of twilight with the hokey horror of the village but falls short of being ` so bad its good . ' it 's just not good .", "this movie is just a lot of people staring at each other by the light of a fire .", "`` oh my god , you can talk , '' valerie exclaims at one point when confronted by the wolf -lrb- he ca n't -rrb- . oh my god , i 've wasted almost two hours of my life in this theatre .", "have you had questions about the motivations of the wolf , or suspicions about grandma ? have you pondered the sexual connotations of this age-old fairy tale ? me neither . just the same , someone has made a movie about ...", "like twilight , makes the shallow desire to run away with a boy the heroine 's main concern .", "bloodless on every level .", "what truly needs abolishing is the notion that the wretched twilight saga is worth emulating .", "this one 's a retake on ` twilight . ' i 'd hang out in a different hood if i had the chance .", "... this gorgeously-mounted production fails to rouse the primitive ferocity of the primal beauty and the beast tale .", "mildly diverting if you 're curious , but do n't expect to be blown away .", "the most unintentionally hilarious movie to come along since `` burlesque '' and at least in the case of that film , the wolves on display were far more convincing .", "they live outside a forest ruled by a werewolf . just move ! it 's only thatched huts we 're talking about . it 's not like they 're locked in with property values like we are today . they can build more thatched huts be another forest .", "my husband insists that ` red riding hood ' is a ` lifetime ' flick set in medieval times . he could be right .", "it 's hard to bury oneself in the picture 's moody period setting when the central thrust remains that valerie basically has to choose between justin bieber and a jonas brother .", "if you 're a twilight fan , you may feel as though you 've already seen this . and if you 're not , well , why would you be interested in something like this at all ?", "this suspense-filled mystery keeps the audience guessing as to the human identity of the werewolf . this crowd-pleasing guilty pleasure will exceed all your expectations . it turns a familiar children 's bedtime story into a. . .", "grandma 's house exudes the fairy-tale atmosphere hardwicke strived for , but it 's too little too late . by then it 's clear that seyfried 's leading men are bland , the pacing plods , and the story needed more development .", "hardwicke directs the film as if it were one long music video or medieval rave .", "not nearly suspenseful enough to pass as a horror film , red riding hood is an awkward supernatural whodunit weighed down by banal dialogue more suited to a teen soap and hardwicke 's clumsy direction .", "what do you get when you cross ` twilight ' with a cherished children 's story ? do n't ask .", "what the twilight saga : new moon might have looked like had catherine hardwicke stayed on to direct", "hardwicke shows a strong grasp at epic fantasy with red riding hood ; her nemesis is not a man-eating wolf but an unsurprising script .", "gorgeously shot , smartly conceived , cleverly cast , badly executed -- the lush medieval beauty here is at best only skin deep .", "what big eyes you have , amanda . and what trouble you seem to have finding a movie that can put them to good use .", "seyfried holds the camera 's attention , playing this storybook business pretty much straight , although david leslie johnson 's script puts the actress sorely to the test .", "`` twilight-lite , '' a reduction of primal impulses into monosyllabic and mono-symbolic teen-speak .", "a muddle of woozy romance and horror-movie cliche ... of course , pictures about werewolves involve the full moon , so it 's only appropriate this one should reek of lunacy .", "a laughably inept series of adolescent poses trying to pass itself off as a movie .", "gary oldman , bless his heart , chews scenery faster than a wolf chomping on a villager , but even his fangs are n't sharp enough to puncture the layer of cheese hardwicke coats atop her dreadful film .", "`` red riding hood '' is entertainment for the village idiot ." ], "summary": "amanda seyfried is magnetic in red riding hood 's starring role , but she 's let down by her uninspired leading men and a painfully cliched script .", "id": "771039609" }, { "movie": "moonrise_kingdom", "reviews": [ "i really wanted to like this film . i respect wes anderson and his distinctive voice as a writer-director -lrb- ` rushmore ' is one of my favorite films of the 1990s -rrb- , but this latest endeavor is so precious and self-aware that it nearly smothers itself .", "no one has an eye or sensibility like anderson 's , but this is a chilly disappointment . the unaffecting kids are meant to be the emotional center , yet the adults steal the film .", "among the all-stars , edward norton made me repeatedly chuckle , and it 's always a pleasure to see bruce willis when he 's not operating in paycheck-whore mode .", "anderson and his actors are able to convey more genuine feeling through these devices than most filmmakers can with more-traditional means .", "i loved every second of `` MOV . ''", "the usual complaints and caveats about anderson - he 's precious , his characters have no grounding in the real world - can be made about MOV , but so what ?", "the latest unadulterated delight from wes anderson , director of `` rushmore , '' `` the royal tenenbaums '' and `` fantastic mr. fox . ''", "this is a wes anderson film . it 's gon na be quaint . it 's gon na be wry . it 's gon na look just like anderson 's other features . but is that such a bad thing ?", "one knock against some of anderson 's previous efforts is that they 're too clever - so clever , in fact , that the humanity gets sucked out of them . that does n't happen here .", "MOV 's heartfelt search and rescue of a feel-good result provides a perfect , even musical counterpoint to its regimented summer camp .", "thoroughly well scripted and well-acted . may be the greatest work to date from one of the greatest directors working .", "despite the star power on display here , the movie is not for everyone", "a marvelously funny , wry script", "wes anderson 's fable of misunderstood youths is a meticulously made , overly calculated art film in which the director controls every element", "a very charming , beautifully wrought , if somehow depthless film - eccentric but heartfelt , and thought through to the tiniest , quirkiest detail in the classic anderson style ...", "a living storybook with the emotional depth to boot .", "resembles a novelization of godard 's pierrot le fou as conceived by storybook artist richard scarry .", "this is anderson being anderson . i 'm quite happy with that . it 's realistic imagination overload .", "just when you think the story might suffocate in pastel post-modern twee-dom , anderson will add a a bold stroke of dark comedy or blunt violence .", "as in fantastic mr. fox , anderson is able to express sincere personal connection and compatibility while employing a highly artificial style .", "the enchanting sweetness of `` fantastic mr. fox '' has been transplanted into `` MOV , '' a delicate period love story whose slightness is mitigated by its deep feeling .", "moonrise is a typical wes anderson production , quirky to the point of becoming irritating .", "director wes anderson releases a quirky , almost storybook tale of adolescent love in a bygone era .", "MOV is anderson 's most completely satisfying film since the one-two of rushmore and the royal tenenbaums , in part because it 's the perfect distillation of both .", "this gently engaging adventure is his warmest , wittiest film since the life aquatic . it keeps us smiling all the way through .", "MOV is a deeply romantic film , perhaps the sweetest and most compassionate anderson has ever made .", "wes anderson 's fanciful , heartfelt tale of two 12-year-old runaways will delight his fans and may even win some converts among those who 've resisted his hermetic style .", "anderson has n't lost his puckishly charming genius for cinema-as-diorama visuals . yet a lot happens in this film , and not a lot of it matters .", "as per the director 's norm , the film offers a triumph of style over substance . but sometimes , when it 's not just typical summertime bombast , that 's what you need .", "the adventurous circumstances and sensations of young love permeate MOV .", "it 's the filmmaker 's best piece of live-action cinematic art since ` rushmore ' and nicely joins ` fantastic mr. fox ' in his return to fine form . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "MOV might be wes anderson 's purest work yet -- a tender tale of longing and melancholy as seen through the eyes of a handful of people on an isolated -lrb- fictional -rrb- island off the coast of new england .", "last time out , in fantastic mr. fox , wes anderson adapted a children 's book by roald dahl . now , in MOV , he 's made one of his own .", "anderson 's most involving and sardonically funny movie since rushmore -lrb- and maybe better -rrb- .", "another great film from anderson , and the beginning of a fantastic career for hayward .", "anderson 's best feature since rushmore , in part because , like that film , it takes as its primary subject matter odd , precocious children , rather than the damaged and dissatisfied adults they will one day become .", "wes anderson 's best work in a decade , as he returns to the nimble territory precariously balanced between fairy-tale whimsy and genuine emotion", "there 's no denying the extravagant pleasures `` MOV '' affords as an erudite wish-fulfillment fantasy of empowerment and autonomy .", "a tad too twee for its own good .", "it makes you nostalgic for the pangs of young love .", "MOV represents a sort of non-magical neverland -- that momentous instant when the world can seem so small and a naive crush can feel all-consuming .", "anderson 's film breezes irresistibly on style , charm , a lovely score by alexandre desplat and that winning indie ensemble .", "hugely charming , and featuring both typically excellent cast performances , and some wonderful technical flourishes .", "anderson throws so much non-sensical stuff at the weaker-than-normal script that MOV feels like a giant waste of money and a cach\u00e9 of squandered talent .", "anderson aficionados are bound to warm to MOV . non-fans may take more persuading , but should enjoy themselves in the end .", "those who find the director 's work flawed by preciousness , however , may grow impatient well before the movie reaches the 90-minute mark .", "an absolute smash . it 's a gloriously overemotional tale of two pre-teen lovers full of lime-soaked scenery and pleasingly stilted 1960s telephone conversations .", "the film is almost unfailingly funny , but it also has a rapt quality , as if we are viewing the events through suzy 's binoculars or reading the story under the covers by a flashlight .", "a worthy addition to anderson 's canon -- his deadpan wit meshes nicely with a generous view of human imperfections .", "the biggest coup here is that anderson has finally managed to anchor his trademark whimsy with a sincere and heady romanticism , and by the end , you may even be reaching for your immaculately embroidered handkerchief -lrb- or neck scarf -rrb- to wipe away the tears .", "a continuously surprising and delightful adolescent romance set in 1965 , in what appears to be a dollhouse .", "its portrait of young love is both mature and defiantly utopian .", "it 's an extraordinary thing , from start to finish .", "there 's a certain giddy airlessness to MOV ... and yet that cinematic hypoxia creates its own kind of high , if you can adjust to the altitude .", "a wonder-inducing film from wes anderson about the authentic quest of two oddball teens who just want to be free .", "only die-hard curmudgeons will remain unmoved .", "wes anderson 's seventh feature is a delight from start to finish , thanks to a wonderful script , a typically fabulous soundtrack , achingly stylish direction , gorgeous production design work and terrific performances from a superb cast .", "the most extraordinary usage of mise en sc\u010dne i 've seen . by that i mean", "if you love wes anderson , you 'll love this : the best of what he can do is vibrantly on display .", "it left me bemused instead of moved , but true andersonites will likely float away in a state of nirvana .", "it 's a collection of cockeyed ideas compressed into a narrative that 's utterly devoid of any actual attachment .", "the brush strokes are uniquely anderson", "a hit of nostalgia in 50 shades of brown", "MOV is an extremely sweet and heartfelt portrayal of young love and how such love inspires the lives of others who encounter it .", "a complex set of cinematic pleasures , ranging from its vibrant , eccentric visual presentation to its deadpan humour and superb performances . oh , and the music !", "around the time of his disappointing and detached the life aquatic , i wondered if wes could still tell real stories . he can . his way . that is all we can ever ask of a filmmaker .", "there are many echoes of anderson 's earlier films , particularly rushmore and tenenbaums . he 's an unapologetic romantic and MOV is a study in wish-fulfillment .", "his singular take on young love on the run from any sort of authority has moments of sheer oddness , but it 's all of a piece with his other work and you are either an anderson fan or you 're not .", "most will happily accept , and be truly enraptured by what unfolds .", "let the haters hate , but anderson continues to build a distinctive filmography on par with any of his contemporaries .", "the auteur 's calculated quality persists in his latest film , but MOV exudes a warmth and innocence generated by the earnest adolescent romance at its core .", "in this tale about growing up and falling in love , it seems anderson has found his true heart .", "the quirk might be laid on a bit thick ... -lsb- but -rsb- the andersonian humor is also laid on pretty thick in a good way , and most of it comes at the expense of the adults .", "... a courtship both innocent and precocious .", "beautifully written , amazing to look at , funny and moving , fans of anderson will have a ball with this truly wonderful film .", "visually striking and boasting beautifully measured central performances , this tale of love , redemption and dissipating innocence should delight viewers of every age .", "a gorgeously shot , ingeniously crafted , \u00fcber-andersonian bonbon that , even in its most irritatingly whimsical moments , remains an effective deliverer of cinematic pleasure .", "the director 's best film since 1998 's rushmore , it has none of the self-conscious smugness of the life aquatic or the empty eccentricity of the royal tenenbaums .", "beguiling and endearing ...", "`` MOV '' breezes along with a beautifully coordinated admixture of droll humor , deadpan and slapstick .", "its childishness , sense of innocence and eye for fun all make it a very easy film to love .", "cheers for a cannes director who has infused his technical mastery with radiant life . in the museum of the world of wes anderson , the dolls are dancing .", "as funny , bittersweet and as distinct as you 'd expect from wes anderson , a director who helps you know you are not alone .", "this jaunty romp , written by anderson with roman coppola , is a delightful succession of sombre pronouncements and sight gags in the service of a tale with a bittersweet emotional core .", "if you hate wes anderson , this movie wo n't change your mind , but believers should be enchanted .", "fleet , funny , impeccably orchestrated : whimsical wes returns on top of his game .", "terrific work by an enviably talented filmmaker , with a wistful poignance that will stick with you .", "wes anderson 's seventh film feels like a greatest hits package . which if you 're a wes fan will make you very happy .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- wes anderson has honed his formally composed vernacular of kitschy nostalgic magic realism cinema to a super fine point .", "for the first 15 minutes or so , MOV feels like the movie wes anderson 's detractors have always accused him of churning out . then it finds its footing and becomes a film that only anderson could have made .", "MOV , which the director wrote with regular collaborator roman coppola , feels like his most emotionally honest work since his 1998 breakthrough , rushmore .", "it 's not my favourite wes anderson film but i do like it very much .", "from the opening shot of a cross-stitched house hanging on a wall of the home it pictures , `` MOV '' is unmistakably a wes anderson film and it is his best film since his best film `` rushmore ... ''", "MOV is a totally charming and enchanting piece of work from director wes anderson , who along with a great cast provide one of the delights of the year .", "MOV is enchanting and warm like fond memories of your first love ; but with a self-awareness that sees the hilarity in the eccentrics that abound .", "wes anderson 's refreshingly original `` MOV '' is an unconventional children 's adventure for adults , filled with with striking colors , textures and humor , and teeming with childhood innocence .", "... it reminds us of the way we -lrb- mis -rrb- apprehended the world when we were children , the way we strained to hear the adults in conference , the way we looked for clues in their manner and fastened our attention on ... random or inconsequential details .", "the reputation of wes anderson as one of america 's most consistently over-rated directors gets another boost with his latest exercise in stylistic posturing and forced whimsy .", "the divide between childhood and adolescence as a nature stroll", "so many scenes will leave you with raised eyebrows and a wry smile .", "the most wes anderson-ish film wes anderson has ever made , ` MOV ' wo n't convert any naysayers to the cause , but fans of his work will have a ball .", "tender , melancholy and nostalgic , it 's one of wes anderson 's best fantasy films .", "a whimsical tale about a different kind of storm - adolescence before adulthood .", "`` MOV '' takes place in a world where everything seems pleasantly faded , where people read crackly-covered library books rather than e-books , and where young people are allowed to be genuinely innocent .", "a remarkable story , stopping to survey the author 's superlative descriptions and attention to the tiniest fragments of heartbreak . it 's a treat to watch unfold , sweetened gorgeously by anderson 's magical manner of thinking .", "it 's sweet , charming , quirky , imaginative , poignant , and whimsical . just what a wes anderson film should be .", "anderson has trouble sticking the landing , but `` MOV '' is in many ways the most satisfying flight he 's taken us on in years .", "phonies may complain that anderson 's island of misfit toys is a retreat from the real world , but for pure-hearted adventurers who share the secret map , `` MOV '' is a joy that can not be eclipsed .", "the hilarious and heartfelt MOV is a consistent pleasure . by evoking the joys and terrors of childhood , it reminds us how to be alive .", "exactly what you expect from anderson , and also dangerously close to overstaying its welcome .", "a literate , knowing and sweet-hearted reverie about adolescence , that strange gap between childhood and adulthood . it 's beautifully rendered by a filmmaker very much in touch with his inner rebel kid .", "did you think wes anderson had no more tricks up his sleeve , that he was just showing us the same thing over and over again , that he could n't surprise us ? wrong .", "it 's never hugely funny or moving - anderson 's movies are too stylised and detached for that - but it has charm and a lovely performance from willis as a weary local cop who 's never found true love .", "undeniably the work of a director with a very specific and pointed comic style who 's not for every taste . those who succumb to its charms will be transported .", "for all the movie 's technical meticulousness , the storytelling still has a wiggly-waggly quality , like a dangly loose tooth .", "`` MOV , '' which could be anderson 's most honest movie yet , also contains arguably his two most mature characters , who both happen to be 12 .", "how wes anderson stitches it all together is far beyond the reach of most filmmakers . his approach is artful without pretension , gorgeous and composed without feeling forced , charming and innocent but never trite .", "if you can fully get on anderson 's wavelength you may find this film transportive . i , however , thought it was far too quaint .", "films that can charm kids and adults in equal measure are rare . this is one of them .", "it 's like a picturesque , ride down a long countryside road in autumn bursting with wonderful imagery ; richly developed characters complimented by an excellent score that quickly brings you into this small in scope , but big on brilliance effort .", "a farce of whimsical philosophical import", "another quirky comedy from wes anderson who is an acquired taste i have not acquired .", "MOV remains - for the most part - a gem of a film , and clear indication that wes anderson is only getting better with age .", "with its deadpan dialogue and damaged characters , MOV casts a unique and charming spell and is surprisingly hopeful .", "this is the best film i 've seen so far this year .", "so precise it could be alien , so raw and aching it has to be human . competes with the best of anderson . a film to be celebrated .", "only anderson could find the subtle brilliance in a shirtless , ax-wielding murray dejectedly declaring `` i 'm going outside to find a tree to chop down . ''", "when the storm arrives , it 's a doozy , especially as it intensifies a final , thrilling chase sequence .", "a bittersweet and evocative period piece that 's both a visual and narrative delight .", "typically quirky wes anderson dramedy has lots of heart .", "if the deadpan sensibility of the film ultimately leaves it feeling a tad lightweight , that is n't to say that MOV is n't a funny , witty and well-crafted film .", "capturing our inner children", "MOV is a delight ... stuffed full of the quirky details and gags that are anderson 's trademarks , but it also possesses an emotional undertow that will tug at those viewers in tune with its singular sensibility .", "one is at times reminded of ae housman .", "as fussy as anything anderson has ever done , but instead of being overstuffed , as virtually all of his movies have been , for good and ill , -lsb- the film -rsb- is mostly delicate .", "anderson never loses his core themes - young love , the need to escape , the bind and bluster of family . his `` kingdom '' may not be large , but it is perfectly appointed .", "anderson 's latest effort is like an instagram photo - a nostalgic snapshot that seems to be of different time and place but is really the twee affectation of a world that never existed .", "a sometimes precocious but mostly whimsical and artfully fluent evocation of adolescent enthusiasm and adult ennui .", "anderson 's films have been described as quirky , eccentric and whimsical . but there is also a genuine charm and heart that is driven by the anderson 's love for his characters , and the love those characters have for one another .", "-lsb- anderson -rsb- may make it look easy because of how firmly his mannerisms are established at this point , but it takes a real artist to evoke the rocky emotional storms of adolescence and adulthood with such clear eyes and precise voice .", "more unbearable anderson whimsy .", "wes anderson , at 43 , is still grappling with adolescence .", "anderson 's woodsy thought process ... elicits a thorough batch of the rainy summer daydreams where most grand childhood adventures and romances are so often had : in heads and hearts , if not in flesh .", "wes anderson remains trapped in the aquarium of his own imagination .", "all the grounding you need comes from the performances of hayward and gilman as the young runaways . they seem to have internalized anderson 's wonky worldview completely .", "it 's wes anderson 's dollhouse as a home for wayward boys . turns out , it 's a safe place for adults to hide as well .", "the script may be the film 's greatest strength : the movie is probably anderson 's most quotable .", "MOV may be a light summer entr\u00e9e , but it rewards us by serving up a rich romantic fantasy and is n't afraid to share its sweet , beating young heart .", "it 's anderson 's most carefully constrained , painstakingly overdesigned movie , yet also his most gushing and emotionally accessible .", "endlessly subjective to the kids ' fantasy of the world around them , a memory in mind compacted from impressions half-glimpsed , anderson confects and even perfects a headlong heaven 's - to-etsy esthetic , in hothouse glory .", "the film is frequently funny , always elegant -lrb- or mock-elegant -rrb- , and something that would make humbert humbert laugh all the way to his asylum .", "anderson delivers a magnificent blend of artistry , humor and emotional resonance .", "people who enjoy being immersed in his singular vision wo n't be disappointed at all .", "anderson 's manner becomes a second skin and essential to the script , making MOV a most comfortable way to watch matters uncomfortable .", "at its heart , MOV is a sweet and surprising love story with a healthy twist of typically warped humour .", "the houston native and university of texas graduate beautifully blends humor and pathos to create what 's bound to be one of the best movies of the year .", "wes anderson 's darkest movie yet retains his whimsical sense of humour and fantastic mr fox-styled absurdity .", "one of the ten best films of 2012 .", "to date my favorite wes anderson and i do n't characterize myself as an anderson fan .", "it 's doubtful this will win over any outright anderson sceptics , but ... this is an exciting reaffirmation of talent .", "with lots of good jokes and very funny child actors , plus adults who carry the emotional weight the children can not , MOV has elements that hold up to the best of what anderson has done", "easily among the best of -lsb- anderson 's -rsb- works , it 's a technically marvelous film with spot-on performances , a gorgeously realized score , and impeccable production design .", "in the summer of big , expensive superhero flicks , MOV evokes awe , wonder and the magic of escapism in a much smaller and more precious way .", "anderson has imagined the '60s on the east coast as if from an eddie bauer catalog and boys ' life , with the sensibility of the new yorker .", "kingdom benefits as well from a better designed story that does not weave restlessly the way his last did , but it 's still not going to convince anyone who does n't already like what anderson does to follow along .", "this film contains some of cinema history 's best lightning strikes .", "wes anderson 's films are stylistic carbon copies of each other , merely swapping out storylines and characters . it 's like going to a bunch of different restaurants and ordering the exact same meal -- you walk in knowing what you 're going to get .", "the plot is n't as fetching as the presentation , starting with the tersely whimsical dialogue . there are n't punch lines for big laughs , but rather a seamless series of non sequiturs for smiles .", "it 's funny , it 's touching , it 's anderson doing what he does better than he 's ever done before .", "wonderfully inventive and entirely immersing .", "the great thing about wes anderson , other than his fabulously childlike imagination , is his deep attention to the smallest details .", "there 's a whole lot wonderful running around this particular kingdom ... once we embrace the tongue-in-cheek firmly hammered into place .", "` MOV ' made a believer out of a long-time naysayer , and that 's really something .", "most of wes anderson 's previous pictures came from the head ; MOV is one from the heart .", "MOV is a charming reminder of anderson 's particular talent for spinning fantasies about the collective childhood we all wish we had .", "like many holiday locations , you would n't want to live there , but a mini-break from the norm can be a real tonic .", "this is an adult film about children rather than a children 's film , per se . youngsters should , however , love it and their parents be pleased they 've seen it too . very rare , that .", "only now and again does one get a wash of something unifying , deep - a suggestion of adult depression and disillusion .", "for all the self-conscious distancing techniques and quirky humor anderson employs , when he 's at his best , his work can be surprising in its disarming emotion .", "a sweetly kooky ode to the intensity of young love . the movie balances broad comedy with occasionally surreal quirk , while still holding the emotional center .", "this is n't wes anderson 's best effort by any stretch . however , any anderson is better than no anderson at all .", "anderson 's movies work best if they 're about kids or cartoon animals .", "MOV left me thunderstruck . ... anderson contrasts a world in disorder with a well-pitched campsite , where everything is in its right place .", "intermittently amusing , distinctive , not always easy to digest", "sweet , not saccharine", "magical moonrise a romantic delight .", "it 's hard to judge a movie as a movie when you want to live inside it .", "i normally end up liking wes anderson 's films , but i love this one .", "a sweet , charming and altogether delightful bit of whimsy from writer/director wes anderson .", "the frustrating anderson is improving , and he may one day shed the collegiate hipster aura that infuses his work .", "the adults who are so desperate to return the kid fugitives to their care actually envy the children 's freedom , irresponsibility and , yes , love -- in a word , their youth : the kingdom that makes exiles of us all .", "`` MOV '' is anderson 's seventh movie , and it 's the first since `` rushmore '' that works from the opening shot to the final image .", "has individual moments that are alluring to the eyes , but like the aforementioned dollhouse where suzy lives , take a closer look inside and it becomes obvious how artificial all the parts are .", "if you can meet with realism and surrealism and treat those two impostors just the same , then yours are the movies and everything in them . i 'm paraphrasing emilio estevez but i think you get the idea .", "who else can capture with such chilling accuracy that fragile period between childhood and disillusionment , the time when the novelty of true love overwhelms the heart with its immensity and futility ?", "wes anderson films are not so much directed as curated .", "MOV feels like a culmination , like anderson has been working towards this one movie .", "it 's an adventure , a love story , a biblical allegory complete with approaching storm , a mash note to composer benjamin britten and a profoundly touching discourse on the needs of troubled children .", "funny and heartfelt in equal measure , `` MOV '' is a top-to-bottom charmer and one of the most heartfelt peans to the power of young love that you will see anytime soon .", "the delightful MOV marks a career high for offbeat auteur wes anderson .", "a true delight - a fun , clever , and , of course , whimsical tale about the days when love seemed worth running away from home over and getting a scout badge meant the world .", "it 's a fable about what it feels like to be 12 years old and afflicted , from head to toe , by a romantic crush the size of a planet .", "MOV is bewitching .", "what makes it an anderson movie are the things he adds which mark all his films - the pop-cultural obsessions and excruciatingly detailed set decorations , overarching thematic concerns and little stylistic tics .", "though undeniably smart and charming , `` MOV '' loves itself the way the callow holden caulfield loves himself : unconditionally . salinger understood the problem with that . anderson may not .", "i liked this one because of its young performers , the evocative island setting -lrb- filmed in rhode island -rrb- , alexandre desplat 's lovely score and robert yeoman 's slightly grainy cinematography .", "quirky , random , and surprisingly endearing for a wes anderson film -- likely his best .", "funny , touching , sweet and drenched in '60s nostalgia , but reverberating with distant , haunting echoes of adolescent longing for practically anyone who grew up anytime , anyplace , anywhere .", "as detached as the filmmaking sometimes appears , i daresay you can feel something pure coming off of the screen . MOV is a stellar film .", "summer lovin ' just got a whole more stylish thanks to wes anderson .", "a sweet love story .", "pure joy . this film 's heroes may be pint-sized but their emotions and dreams are larger than life .", "`` MOV '' is the type of movie that is charming for the soul and makes your brain happy in the process . all in all , it 's just a heartfelt and well-written experience that will appeal to everyone .", "these charming kids give `` MOV '' the warm glow of a summer fairy-tale , one you 'll want to hear again .", "my immediate response is that it 's a masterpiece and the best film to come out so far this year .", "the offbeat , pixilated universes created by writer/director wes anderson -lrb- rushmore , the royal tenenbaums , fantastic mr. fox -rrb- are an acquired taste .", "even as anderson pushes us away , the kids - and a wonderful willis , as their self-appointed protector - reach out and pull us back in .", "a gossamer fable of adolescent romance , played out with the cheekily whimsical , visually delicious style for which anderson is famous .", "we may look back on anderson 's works as we do on the boxes of joseph cornell -- formal troves of frippery , studded with nostalgic private jokes , that lodge inexplicably in the heart . in MOV , that lodging is already under way .", "hayward and gilman are newcomers who are asked to carry much of the film and pull it off with lovely understatement and extraordinary believability .", "its moments of transporting beauty and visual brilliance overcame my growing aversion to wes anderson 's brand of ultra-stylized archness .", "wes anderson 's mind must be an exciting place for a story idea to be born .", "wes anderson 's most intimate film since bottle rocket -lrb- 1996 -rrb- and maybe his most deeply felt overall .", "anderson 's most delightfully bittersweet live-action movie since the royal tenenbaums .", "like all wes anderson movies , it is na\u010fve , mannered , pretentious and incomprehensible .", "wes anderson 's most sartorially significant film yet .", "at once funny and melancholic , whimsical and poignantly true .", "the performances from hayward and gilman , as runaways , are at the heart of the film , and they manage to seem both innocent and powerful ." ], "summary": "warm , whimsical , and poignant , the immaculately framed and beautifully acted MOV presents writer/director wes anderson at his idiosyncratic best .", "id": "771242131" }, { "movie": "the_invisible_war", "reviews": [ "any attempt to look at deeper-rooted causes behind these assaults is completely awol .", "this eye-opening documentary turns a glaring spotlight on sex crimes in the american armed forces , and on the military establishment 's astonishing insensitivity to the issue .", "an extremely emotional film , but another terrific investigational expos\u00e9 by one of the more underrated doc filmmakers out there .", "kirby dick 's spartan use of graphics and statistics conveys arguments with little grandstanding .", "MOV is a crushing indictment of a system that is way off the rails .", "this is one of those documentary films that makes me so angry i could just chew nails . this is because of the awful way the victims of sexual assault are treated by the military establishment .", "makes a compelling case that the military is , as a retired army general says , `` a target-rich environment '' for sexual predators . it is a difficult film to watch , but it should be harder to ignore .", "MOV presents 98 minutes of outrage , delineating in painful detail how our country 's military has failed so miserably in protecting the women and -lrb- in some cases -rrb- men who made the choice to serve this nation with courage , pride and dignity .", "even if you do not see this movie yourself , please encourage any young woman you know who is considering enlistment to watch this movie first .", "kirby dick has again shown great restraint in presenting such inflammatory material , betting a clear-eyed approach will have an inflammatory effect on his audience -- and it does .", "basically , the message from the military to potential rape victims is : if you get raped , it 's your own fault ...", "one of those documentaries that you watch both fascinated and repulsed - and one of those films that you sense just might be instrumental in helping to change an utterly unacceptable status quo .", "what happened to these women after the rape often shocks and disturbs them as much as the physical act itself .", "an aptly infuriating expose of sexual abuse within the u.s. military .", "for sheer infuriation value , you ca n't do much better than kirby dick 's quietly scathing documentary on rape in the us military .", "dick , whose films include a revealing expose about the movie industry 's film ratings board , has created yet another galvanizing call to action with `` MOV . ''", "the movie depicts the military 's culture of intimidation and assault as global , not as an aberration that might be explained by the pressures of combat or the tedium of life on secluded posts .", "MOV , though revelatory , is perhaps the most straightforward film yet from a director who likes to broach the fault lines of sex and society .", "this is not a movie that can be ignored .", "presents a sickening chorus of accounts not just of rape but of institutional betrayal , of a system that 's utterly failed to protect or serve those who 've joined it .", "one of the most important films of the year ... a strong and quite damning expose .", "every adult who owes a debt of gratitude to american soldiers should see kirby dick 's heartbreaking documentary about sexual violence in the military .", "we learn that a military court has determined that rape is ` an occupational hazard ' of serving in the military .", "seeing kirby dick 's shocking expose about rape in the u.s. military is a civic obligation !", "so powerful it 's apt to change minds", "a disquieting investigative essential documentary that sheds light on the massive problem of rape and the systemic cover-ups in the us military .", "this travesty has been encouraged by a military culture that blames the victim and a policy directing soldiers to refer complaints to their commanding officer , which typically results in no action or even reprisals against those speaking out .", "i can hardly wait to see which closet dick will throw open next .", "addressing a rarely discussed social problem , kirby 's shocking docu could function as an agent of real change .", "a must-see expos\u00e9 of the abuse of power in an institution that is supposed to serve and protect .", "the film delivers a sledgehammer blow to the audience , with an experience every bit as shattering and overwhelming as one might infer from the subject matter .", "it 's an important , infuriating work . the testimonials from assaulted servicewomen and men should be screened on a loop in recruiting offices around the world .", "i have rarely been more righteously riled up than i was while watching the documentary MOV .", "let 's hope the film causes enough change that we do n't have to `` discover '' such abuses in yet another decade .", "interview after interview , statistic after statistic , dick 's advocacy project thoroughly incenses -- and appears to be having results .", "one hearing noted that the victim was dressed provocatively . in her official uniform .", "if this enrages you , it should .", "... totally serious but , still , incredibly informative and quite shocking with his plethora of data .", "... one of those few films one sees in a year that deserve the label `` important . ''", "-lsb- p -rsb- owerful rage against system carried by victims who detail sexism , harassment , stalking , rape , reprisals , and rebuffed complaints -lsb- whose -rsb- attackers have n't been punished .", "the film is persuasive and infuriating without leaving much hope for change .", "agonizing , infuriating - and effective .", "if it does n't make you angry , you 're not human .", "powerful , provocative and deeply moving . one of the most vital and enraging documentaries of the year .", "convincing look at how the military ignores rape and sexual assault within its ranks .", "this powerful doc is surpisingly only the first to attack the victimization of tens of thousands of women in the armed forces by their own fellow soldiers .", "consisting primarily of interviews with the victims ... -lrb- director kirby -rrb- dick 's film is hard-hitting and upsetting . -lrb- includes interview with kirby dick -rrb-", "kirby dick 's devastating documentary about the u.s. military 's systemically endorsed sexual abuses against its own soldiers , puts yet another puzzle-piece in america 's horrific reality ...", "... an erratically-paced yet often harrowing documentary that shines a light on an important -lrb- and under-reported -rrb- topic .", "this is an enraging film , as it is meant to be , -lsb- and -rsb- not just because it is a microcosm of rape culture , the collection of pervasive attitudes that rule our society that deny and dismiss men 's violence against women .", "a disturbing , hard-hitting , and emotionally-shattering documentary about the rapes of women serving in the u.s. military .", "what calibre of male personnel is the military attracting ? and how will this dysfunction affect its relations with foreign civilian populations ? it is a grim picture .", "the film works both as advocacy and as a very moving study of women -lrb- and one or two men -rrb- whose idealism and patriotism have been utterly shattered .", "that the pentagon has , since the making of this documentary , revamped its rules to try to improve things - in particular , offering immediate transfers for those who allege abuse - is testimony to the power of dick 's work .", "tears are not hard evidence , but they are hard to resist as anecdotal testimony .", "where this picture is truly triumphant , is within the significance of its very existence . this film simply needs to have been made , and it needs to be seen .", "MOV is as compelling as silence in the house of god , alex gibney 's study of abusive catholic priests .", "kirby dick 's typically insightful and compassionate documentary presents a harrowing picture of an epidemic of sexual assault and rape within the us military .", "directed with straightforward economy , MOV sheds much-needed light on a very dark secret .", "`` MOV '' makes all too clear that the military is n't very good at justice .", "in the end there is something to cheer about - vindication for some victims , and proof that a film can make a difference .", "the intense interviews and damning statistics -lrb- 20 percent of all female personnel have experienced sexual assault -rrb- do the work of whipping up outrage .", "tough , heroic stuff - heroic on the part of the women who are brave enough to come forward to speak to dick 's camera .", "there 's a sense that dick would rather be effective than fair , but MOV wants to tear down walls , and sometimes a sledgehammer comes in handy .", "it is far too difficult to watch . which means we must .", "dick 's films often strut with a lilting impudence , but his new work is dead-serious , as suits the subject ." ], "summary": "MOV is a vital and frank expose on sexual assault in the u.s. military , shot by master filmmaker kirby dick -lrb- this film is not yet rated -rrb- .", "id": "771266110" }, { "movie": "turtles_can_fly", "reviews": [ "we realize how pitiful the situation is , how hopeless and desperate life has become for these people . no matter what we thought about iraq , we see things a little differently .", "an emotional triumph .", "gripping and sobering stuff .", "MOV is the first feature shot in iraq after the fall of hussein , and writer/director ghobadi , an iranian , melds grimly authentic settings with a peculiar type of magic realism .", "a grim and less than subtle anti-war piece that does n't tell us anything we did n't know , but does make it more visual and therefore more immediate than many might wish to see .", "a lyrical and heartbreaking reminder of the human toll of war .", "director bahman ghobadi takes us into the day-to-day despair of youngsters pinned down by war and poverty .", "a welcome , even essential adjustment to the images of iraq seen in daily news reports .", "too often makes you wish the movie theater was equipped with a fast-forward button .", "a painful blend of the abuses of war -lrb- and of dictatorship -rrb- and the hope of the kurdish people for a life free of such abuse .", "ghobadi 's genius seems supercharged rather than weighed down by his higher calling , and his imagery is so boilingly alive that we come away from it feeling exhilarated rather than depressed .", "ghobadi has little use for sentimentality , and never flinches from the fate of these children .", "riveting , depressing and eye-opening , MOV is a movie about an iraq that the news has n't shown us .", "... painful , despair-filled film .", "one of the most heartbreaking , unforgettable dramas in years .", "MOV is humane , funny , and visually acute , but it never shies away from the ugliness that mars these innocent lives .", "bahman ghobadi works best on pain and suffering ; he 's passionate about filming his people -lrb- kurds -rrb- from the inside of the society , with the focus on their miseries", "despite its fanciful title , MOV leads viewers into a slough of despond , one in which not just hope is strangled but virtually any possibility for simple human kindness .", "intends to let the world know something about the kurdish people and their suffering .", "una pel\u00edcula conmovedora , sugestiva y po\u00e9tica , donde gran parte de la convicci\u00f3n proviene de sus incre\u00edbles actores no profesionales .", "it 's a political work , but ghobadi 's film is more in search of the common experience of humanity .", "visually beautiful and acutely observant , this iran-iraq co-production presents a compelling , sentiment-free drama that moves on a human level well removed from the usual liberal rhetoric .", "a powerful , prophetic , and utterly mesmerizing iranian film set in 2003 iraq about the fallout from both dictators and liberators on the torn lives of refugee children .", "a deceptively modest and extraordinarily moving picture .", "the perpetual motion only temporarily staves off a pervading , self-evident despair .", "this is one of the most enlightening depictions of war i 've seen .", "it hits and hurts the eyes -lrb- the rainy days are lousy enough , but the skies of royal blue , above such grief , feel especially insulting -rrb- , and it also seems to bleed straight out of the headlines .", "it belongs on movie lovers ' must-see list .", "ghobadi casts his pint-sized protagonists as metaphors for the disenfranchised kurdish minority that struggles to accept and deal with their imposed political alienation .", "perhaps , at this time , there 's nowhere else on earth that could produce a picture of these wartime realities within the native population of northern iraq .", "if only it were n't such a patchy mess of a movie .", "there 's no refuge in this uncomfortably realistic movie , and that is its strength .", "further proof that ghobadi is one of those great artists that comes forth during his people 's time of crisis .", "ghobadi , a native of iranian kurdistan who studied under abbas kiarostami , delivers a movie that illuminates in different , more subtle ways .", "the movie has something to say , but director bahman ghobadi has n't gotten a handle on how he wants to say it , which is why he tries to disguise his movie 's blunt messiness with a tricky structure that takes us nowhere .", "turtles is ultimately a bleak , disturbing film . yet , it 's a portrait that provides a needed break from the rising tide of suffocating media .", "MOV is an astonishingly accomplished third feature , the work of a mature and visionary writer-director .", "offers a sometimes lyrical , sometimes gut-turning portrait of war seen through the eyes of children .", "you 'll see more accomplished films , but you wo n't see many that have more heartbreaking impact .", "with his third effort , ghobadi has bridged that distance and delivered his most heartbreakingly touching and profoundly humanist film .", "MOV is an assured piece of artistry and craftsmanship and a pleasure to watch .", "ghobadi magically transforms modern-day kurdistan into a grotesque wonderland and the raw material of the bloody conflicts in iraq into a fairy tale that is tragic , haunting and often oddly beautiful .", "take peter pan and his `` lost boys '' and subject them to the worst realities facing children in wartorn iraq , and you 'll have something of the incongruous mix of whimsy and horror that is MOV .", "relentless , bleakly funny , thoroughly remarkable drama", "... the movie is , on the whole , just not that interesting .", "a story that renders into poetry the sad facts of survival for child victims of war .", "superb acting and authentic details energize this rare iran/iraq coproduction .", "it 's a soaring achievement , without ever leaving the ground .", "... the circumstances of -lsb- MOV 's -rsb- children and ghobadi 's poetic presentation of them can not fail to move .", "ghobadi in this pic displays a complete command of his art as he shifts between -- and even blends -- wrenching tragedy and amusing comedy .", "whatever your feelings about the war in iraq , it 's impossible to not be moved by the displaced , maimed and killed children left in the conflict 's wake .", "for its charged political-humanitarian context , the filmmaker relies on a moving story .", "a film whose strength derives from the stark power of its cinematic imagery .", "there are limits to this approach , both as a strategy of emotional exploitation and an instrument of political analysis . it is simply too easy to weep over maimed children .", "bahman ghobadi 's third film presents a harsh account of war , displacement and deprivation that is saved from utter bleakness by a tough , earthy lyricism .", "its sophisticated world-view is a gentle rebuke to provincial views of the world in american cinema .", "bahman ghobadi 's new drama about iraq 's children of war shows us the scenes lurking behind the headlines and sound bites .", "shamelessly manipulative .", "the youth here are tragic figures as opposed to fully developed characters .", "as real as you can get in showing war 's devastations .", "by showing image after startling image , bahman ghobadi makes us question everything we think we know .", "a story of wounded children , a devastating reminder of the costs of war .", "a well-made but harrowing and extremely downbeat coming-of-age drama .", "a tragic yet bittersweet , simple yet spellbinding slice of life 's uncertainty ... an unpretentious , understated tour de force of middle eastern cinema .", "ebrahim 's expressive eyes and mobile face capture the youth in the act of strategizing .", "-lsb- ghobadi 's -rsb- use of children in peril ... crosses the uneasy line between realism and overt manipulation . still , it 's impossible to deny the sheer shivery force of the film .", "i wish everyone who has an opinion on the war in iraq could see MOV .", "the tragedy of these lives is moving , but , to some small extent , the tragedy is counterbalanced by ghobadi in showing that somehow humanity survives in these kids", "as beautifully shot , by cinematographer shahriar assadi , as it is sensitively written and directed and wonderfully acted ." ], "summary": "set in iraq after the fall of saddam , MOV is being hailed as extraordinary , moving , and lyrical .", "id": "10444" }, { "movie": "mysterious_skin", "reviews": [ "a fearless , challenging film with terrific performances .", "as tough as it is to take in , and perhaps even tougher to contemplate , MOV demands serious consideration and appreciation for araki 's evident maturity . he 's a grown-up , finally .", "heim wrote a killer tale with skin , but in giving it to araki , the power of the words has been dissolved into mush , or , in many instances , simple shock cinema .", "the film has a weird buoyancy .", "gregg araki shows skill in adapting another 's work and he marshals his youthful cast with a deft hand .", "starts to play like dada .", "you 're likely to be bruised by its truths . to his credit , araki has made that a risk well worth taking .", "an exploration of child abuse that reflects grim , unrelenting intelligence .", "of all the recent films about child abuse , MOV stands out as the one that most directly and eloquently addresses the emotional toll of the experience .", "just another trashy look at america as the land of imbecilic perverts .", "even though it takes you to places you may not want to go , the film never loses its human touch -- that feel of skin on skin or of the past inescapably invading the present .", "this is easily the best , most accomplished film araki has done to date .", "this is the film that really sticks with you after you seen it .", "so profoundly unsettling that i ca n't imagine watching it again -- except that it 's also so finely acted and sharply constructed that i want to see it again immediately .", "viewers showing up for the recognizable actors or for araki 's regular tongue-in-cheek day-glo coyness , may be moved , but they 'll also be taken aback .", "a powerful and intriguing experience that signals araki as a director who is finally demonstrating that there is some talent behind his hype and flash after all .", "it 's a film that deals with childhood sexual abuse in an original and dry-eyed manner rarely seen in our culture today .", "remains elusive on some levels but it does one remarkable thing : it allows us to understand the high price that the victims pay .", "corbet and gordon-levitt set up the tone of penetrating sadness , and even though the sense of doom is overbearing , the film is artful and measured enough to stay compelling .", "the adult neil is ably incarnated by joseph gordon-levitt , and the same is true of brady corbet as the grown-up brian .", "this is a challenging and ultimately moving film that deserves to find a like-minded audience .", "gordon-levitt and brady corbet deliver - they give you every ounce of what they 've got and even when they 're not speaking , you get who their characters are .", "a very well acted film with a tremendous ensemble cast . my problem stems from how araki chose to tell the story .", "araki 's best film in a long time .", "the audience has gotten the point roughly 90 minutes before the characters do .", "manages to deal with its raw , awful subject matter in ways that are both challenging and illuminating .", "araki 's discovered a mellower mood , and who ` da thunk it ? silence suits him .", "the perennial golden touch in hollywood is to make old stories seem new . in MOV -lsb- writer-director gregg -rsb- araki `` achieves '' the opposite .", "filmmaker gregg araki , heretofore best known for his numerous ragged and nihilistic coming-of-age , gay melodramas , here crosses over from the fringes to make his most mature and penetrating drama to date .", "araki takes on child abuse and a few other institutions with a sledgehammer . the image of a `` shattered kaleidoscope '' is mentioned . the perfect representation for this america .", "a disturbing and oddly beautiful movie .", "by the time the climactic revelation finally comes , it 's such old news that all the scenery chewing that accompanies it seems alien .", "a tough but rewardingly original child abuse drama , centred on levitt 's brave and compelling performance . a rising star for sure .", "MOV is a disturbing , difficult to watch film , but one every adult should see .", "it 's not enough to call MOV one of the best films of the year . it is one of the best gay-themed movies ever made .", "does n't manage to get much beneath the surface of its provocative topic , but gordon-levitt compensates considerably by digging deep into the soul of his character .", "araki , who has shied away from nothing in his previous films and , indeed , made explicitness the seeming core of his aesthetic enterprise , balances a genuinely touching story of confused heartland teens with sometimes brutal , sometimes fanciful material .", "there is a terrible , terrifying honesty at the core of MOV that will make it chillingly recognizable to some viewers and important to recognize for others .", "while watching this movie , i scribbled the word ` whoa ' five times into my notebook .", "the usual araki elements are here -lrb- hustlers , rebels , uproar , the absurd -rrb- , but now he appears to be working with focus and compassion .", "pop iconography typically signifies the alienation of araki 's characters from the world , but in MOV it ushers in their salvation .", "dramatically shows how some victims of sexual abuse are affected .", "araki has put a protective , shimmering patina on a story of abuse and emotional dissonance and the result is an otherworldly , painfully honest movie .", "as a filmmaker , araki , always brash , has rarely been so confident , creating a shimmering mood that allows for multiple shifts in perspective and register .", "MOV is infused with remarkable tenderness and beauty .", "this thoughtful , troubling drama is leagues above the sensationalistic stuff araki peddled in earlier films .", "this beautifully made and haunting film is ultimately explicit without being exploitative .", "araki has continued to turn out fringe films ... to diminishing results ... his first adaptation of a novel ... is a serious , if somewhat flawed , return to form .", "undermined by a startling change in tone a quarter of the way through the narrative .", "director araki is able to fashion an intimate tale that generates genuine engaging credibility .", "by the end of MOV , i felt physically exhausted but i also felt satisfied at the way it all falls into place .", "after several disappointments , araki is on terra ferma with MOV , yet another study of of youth anomie , a theme explored in his previous , more personal films .", "compelling , impressively acted film that is by turns moving and horrifying - one of the year 's most controversial films .", "gregg araki delivers his most challenging and arguably most mature film .", "gregg araki ? more like gregg hack-raki .", "... the whole thing just feels flat somehow .", "gordon-levitt 's performance is nothing short of astonishing .", "sens\u043dvel e tristemente tr\u0431gico , o filme \u0439 um doloroso estudo de personagens beneficiado por uma atua\u0437\u0433o estupenda de gordon-levitt .", "araki has given us his most mature work yet , a fiercely focused yet oddly dreamlike meditation on innocence and loss .", "a raw and unadorned look at child abuse and its idiosyncratic repercussions .", "a riveting original that some may find almost too agonising to experience", "a superb achievement .", "delicately balances the sordid and rough with the childlike and fantastic ...", "sweet and disturbing at the same time .", "from a moralistic point of view , is it good that araki is exposing the awful horrors of sex abuse ? ok , i 'll buy that . as a pedophilic expose , is it too much ? for me , yes it was .", "gone is the gloomy nihilism of the doom generation and the living end , replaced by a melancholy , but hopeful , affection toward people with the capacity to overcome tremendous psychological trauma .", "araki 's film is a wrenching examination of childhood trauma and abuse .", "treads harrowing ground without falling into the pit of clich\u0439", "even with the numb dialogue and trite characterizations we 've come to expect from araki , MOV might have worked with the right actor in the charismatic role of neil .", "`` MOV '' is a devastating yet beautiful film that honors its fragile characters with vital respect .", "contains a few flat notes of community participation , but araki locates all the necessary surges of hopelessness and misguided desire , ending victorious in his quest to adapt scott heim 's provocative novel .", "-lsb- ... -rsb- for a movie about something as painful as child sexual abuse , MOV does n't repel . there 's an allure to the images , which are as carefully posed and framed as figures in a softly illuminated dollhouse .", "a bizarre , beguiling coming-of-age drama", "by exploring the taboo topic of paedophilia in a humanist manner that avoids sensationalising or heavy-handed verdicts , araki 's eloquent , sensitive film actually presents an indictment far stronger than any moral grandstander ever could .", "gregg araki nous offre son % u0153uvre la plus mature \u0430 ce jour .", "this one clearly has more meat on the plate than araki 's earlier more shallow and sensationalistic films .", "araki seems to have finally taken in a few todd solondz movies , then realized that abusing actor james duval delivers nowhere near the shock value of abusing children .", "this is a serious piece of work that 's even better the next day .", "it gets at something deeper , darker and much more enlightening than anything araki has attempted before .", "even with all of that going on , there is never a false move from anyone , especially gordon-levitt , who will completely wow you .", "parts are beautiful , other parts are brutal -lrb- like a rape scene that oddly evokes the psycho shower scene -rrb- , but it does n't jell into a satisfying whole .", "a complex and challenging emotional experience .", "pushes the audience out of their comfort zones without being pushy or manipulative , and journeys into a world that only the bravest of filmmakers dare to explore", "MOV , for all of its depictions of atrocities and human sadness , is a rarified thing of vulnerable beauty .", "araki embraces the mysteries of human sexuality with a refreshing lack of hysteria and a brace of empathy .", "it 's hard to imagine a more serious or persuasive indictment of the horrors inflicted on children by sexual abuse .", "reveals the pain and suffering wrought by sex offenders who prey upon children .", "given his penchant for the outrageous , araki handles the film 's most difficult scenes with remarkable sensitivity .", "a well-conceived story that is very hard to shake .", "MOV dawdles more than it flows , but it comes alive whenever araki , hovering between tragedy and voyeurism , reveals how sex can tear lives to pieces .", "beyond gordon-levitt 's revelatory work , MOV features intense but gorgeously restrained performances by corbet , shue , jeffrey licon as neil 's effeminate pal , ellison and george webster as the boys , and michelle trachtenberg .", "this is like almod\u00f3var , with a tarnished american flag in his hand : controversial , illuminating , deeply affecting and highly recommended .", "the only thing MOV will do is make yours crawl .", "a warped , but beautiful and strangely hopeful , coming-of-age tale about two young men struggling to overcome childhood scars .", "not for the squeamish , but it is a beautifully crafted and thoughtful film that genuinely provokes .", "MOV makes midnight cowboy look tame in comparison ." ], "summary": "bold performances and sensitive , spot-on direction make watching this difficult tale of trauma and abuse a thought-provoking , resonant experience .", "id": "16956" }, { "movie": "days_of_thunder", "reviews": [ "days of heaven is a compelling adventure story and a riveting meditation on the soulscape of america .", "don simpson . jerry bruckheimer . bad movie .", "fun racing movie . cruise in top melodramatic form with duvall as an anchor .", "it 's one thing to market a film solely on the strength of its star . it 's quite another to go ahead and make the film that way .", "gentlemen , start your clich\u00e9s .", "in MOV , tom cruise tries to do for nascar racing what he did for bartending in cocktail . which is to say : nothing .", "an entertainment of great skill but predictable construction .", "cars . cars cars cars cars . vroom ! vroom vroom vroom ! crash ! tom and nicole have sex ! cars cars vroom vroom ! crash ! vroom !", "exactly what it promises to be : not much -- but at dizzying speed , stripped down and free of wind-resistant subtlety . there 's a certain integrity to that . a certain deafening integrity .", "there 's no sin in a movie that 's just flat-out entertainment , but with some care this movie could have been much better -- instead of just aspiring to be better .", "absolute rubbish .", "a top gun for the nascar set .", "producers don simpson and jerry bruckheimer have raised formula films to a science .", "an earthbound top gun . in circles .", "the film 's whole narrative structure begins to disintegrate on the second viewing , if it has n't already done so on the first .", "in 1990 the people who brought you top gun -- tom cruise , director tony scott , and producers don simpson and jerry bruckheimer -- figured out a way to take more of your money , and it involved stock-car racing .", "the racing sequences lack the adrenaline-inducing thrills of maverick and goose 's antics , but the chemistry between kidman and cruise is heady .", "if you liked top gun , you stand a good chance of liking MOV .", "an unofficial `` sideways sequel '' to top gun ... except with national treasure robert duvall in the role of crusty mentor .", "when it 's on the racetrack , it 's thrills abound as the big sound and fast-moving cars make for sensory overload . however , when the action fades and it 's time to give the characters some meat .", "no one really expects an action movie to resonate with profound meaning , but the shallowness of MOV is extraordinary even by genre standards .", "there are plenty of soulless movies around . what 's special about MOV is that it works overtime trying to convince you it 's not one of them .", "MOV zigzags between exploiting cruise 's likable grin and charming vulnerability and portraying him as an emotional loser . it 's an uncertain and unsatisfying mix .", "for die-hard cruise fans and car mechanics only .", "it ought n't be good , at least . not with that script . and yet it 's so much better than the combined quality of its elements .", "a sad example of hollywood at its weakest and a reminder that even today 's pabulum , spoon-fed as it is in multiplexes , is rarely as bad as the early roaring 1990s .", "MOV retains a few moments of startling competency , though overall it 's an inconsistent feature film -- not always providing the thunder , though the cruise is well taken care of .", "the plot is like a comfortable old pair of blue jeans . it may not be very challenging , but you can feel right at home with it .", "okay action film in cruise control .", "incredibly uneven yet basically entertaining ...", "the story is predictably pedestrian , the conflict laughable and the dialogue too lifeless to be laughable , but closer to that than convincing or compelling .", "a flashy , pre-packaged racing picture featuring stock cars and stock situations .", "completely preposterous -lrb- i had no clue that nascar allowed essentially bumper car antics -rrb- , but nevertheless entertaining .", "the beginning of the tom & nicole saga .", "trashy , formulatic thriller actioner , directed by tony scott , who had earlier helmed the 1986 top gun , which catapulted tom cruise to stardom .", "MOV lives up to its title in one respect . it ` s big-time noisy . it ` s also as empty as the stands at the daytona 500 an hour after the race .", "worse films than this have been smashes , so give it a spin .", "MOV wants to be an action drama , but it 's really just a star vehicle of the most rudimentary sort , with nothing to offer cruise except a chance to look pretty and chant time-tested punchlines .", "it 's hard to enjoy a movie that is so predictable . every time there 's a race , you know who 's going to win . every time there 's a knock at the door , you know who 's going to be standing on the other side .", "not only does MOV disappoint on the basic narrative level , it is also a peculiarly thrill-less action movie . shot from the driver 's point of view , the race sequences lose their novelty as swiftly as a video game .", "MOV does accomplish the job it sets out to do . it 's sometimes funny , sometimes exciting and never too boring or offensive . in a disappointing movie season -- as this one has started out to be -- that can seem like quite an accomplishment .", "good writing by robert towne and a host of strong supporting performances complement the on-the-track visuals of director tony scott in giving us a sense of the leap of faith that is required by drivers at this level .", "the original script must have been truly atrocious if towne 's contributions can be considered an improvement .", "dispensing with all notions that MOV is a critical work of any sort reveals its hollow and misogynistic underpinnings .", "like the previous simpson-bruckheimer pictures , it 's designed to give audiences an overdose of the thrill of victory ; it wants us to jump out of our seats , pumping our fists in the air and roaring for the hero to pulverize his opponents .", "this is the kind of monstrously overgrown commercial movie that depends entirely on the microscopic pleasures of having one ` s most routine expectations fulfilled .", "whoosh !! MOV just streaked in , fast as a race-car paint job and about as flat .", "the nerve of these people , recycling that story . no , the shrewdness of these people .", "whatever they call this movie , it 's nothing more than a puffed-up sequel to top gun . if you saw top gun , you can anticipate every twist and turn , every screeching spinout of MOV .", "the flash is still there , but towne has added a layer of substance underneath , and in generous enough helpings that you can let the picture vamp you , ravage you , without hating yourself afterward ." ], "summary": "MOV has tom cruise and plenty of flash going for it , but they are n't enough to compensate for the stock plot , two-dimensional characters , and poorly written dialogue .", "id": "10704" }, { "movie": "trials_of_henry_kissinger", "reviews": [ "may not be a breakthrough in filmmaking , but it is unwavering and arresting .", "while the filmmaking is standard documentary fare and the approach overtly biased , the narration , with tales of intelligence intrigue and ruthless foreign policy , is compelling and convincing .", "a muckraking job , the cinematic equivalent of a legal indictment , and a fairly effective one at that .", "for those who are intrigued by politics of the '70s , the film is every bit as fascinating as it is flawed .", "the film is insightful about kissinger 's background and history .", "fascinating to watch as a portrait of political celebrity and ego .", "a stunning and overwhelmingly cogent case for kissinger as a calculating war criminal .", "the film is a blunt indictment , part of a perhaps surreal campaign to bring kissinger to trial for crimes against humanity .", "the documentary gains its edge and its substance by allowing figures on both sides of the debate to present their claims .", "the MOV is a remarkable piece of filmmaking ... because you get it .", "... the implication is kissinger may have decided that - when it comes to truncheoning - it 's better to give than to receive .", "it makes compelling , provocative and prescient viewing .", "like the best 60 minutes expos\u00e9 , the film -lrb- at 80 minutes -rrb- is actually quite entertaining .", "not everyone will welcome or accept the MOV as faithful portraiture , but few can argue that the debate it joins is a necessary and timely one .", "a fast-moving , fluidly told tale , eugene jarecki 's documentary certainly will likely inflame kissinger 's ardent cronies . and yet , as one-sided as its story is , the movie also manages a measured disposition .", "both damning and damned compelling .", "a passionately inquisitive film determined to uncover the truth and hopefully inspire action .", "gibney and jarecki just want to string the bastard up .", "you may feel compelled to watch the film twice or pick up a book on the subject .", "watching this film , one is left with the inescapable conclusion that hitchens ' obsession with kissinger is , at bottom , a sophisticated flower child 's desire to purge the world of the tooth and claw of human power .", "efficient doc .", "deploying a seamless blend of talking-head interviews , trenchant archival photographs and newsreels , topped off by a sheaf of newly declassified u.s. government documents , gibney and jarecki are smart enough to let the evidence and experts do the talking .", "even if you do n't think -lsb- kissinger 's -rsb- any more guilty of criminal activity than most contemporary statesmen , he 'd sure make a courtroom trial great fun to watch .", "this documentary , far from a trial and not for geeks only , presents a focused , ferocious attack on a beloved target long overdue for his comeuppance .", "at best , the MOV constitutes an indictment , not a conviction .", "takes a fresh and absorbing look at a figure whose legacy had begun to bronze .", "much of kissinger 's career has been spent smoothing the way for rich industrialists , ambitious rightwing politicos , military men , and , of course , himself .", "an incendiary piece of a rather innocuous order", "a fast-paced documentary that entertains as it informs .", "provocative study", "the strange and engaging tale of this deepvoiced -lrb- deep-throated ? -rrb- diplomat .", "directly charging him with mass murder , the film colors kissinger as a secretive , paranoid , duplicitous megalomaniac who rose to political superstardom while literally -- the movie claims -- getting away with decisions that left hundreds of thousands dead .", "in a larger sense , this powerfully muckraking film is about the accountability of public figures and about how , in regard to international justice , there can be no exceptions .", "um retrato fundamental do homem que certamente deve ser uma esp\u00e9cie de ` mentor espiritual e intelectual ' de genocidas como rumsfeld , rice e cia . .", "even if the case against kissinger is not fully convincing , the documentary keeps you glued to your seat and thinking long after you 've left the theater .", "whether you buy hitchens ' arguments , one leaves the MOV seeing him as a man who viewed international diplomacy as a game , blithely ignoring the human toll of his gamesmanship .", "it 's not helpful to listen to extremist name-calling , regardless of whether you think kissinger was a calculating fiend or just a slippery self-promoter .", "jarecki 's film is jampacked with information -- both fact and opinion -- utilizing news and interview footage , archival photographs and talking heads .", "the bigger question it raises now is what to do with his ideological disciples in the bush administration .", "jarecki and gibney do find enough material to bring kissinger 's record into question and explain how the diplomat 's tweaked version of statecraft may have cost thousands and possibly millions of lives .", "eugene jarecki amasses a compelling body of evidence suggesting that kissinger should be formally investigated for a possible role in the cia-supported coup .", "it 's both a necessary political work and a fascinating documentary ...", "a fascinating , bombshell documentary that should shame americans , regardless of whether or not ultimate blame finally lies with kissinger . should be required viewing for civics classes and would-be public servants alike .", "a solid piece of journalistic work that draws a picture of a man for whom political expedience became a deadly foreign policy .", "haunting music , the seriousness of the allegations and riveting interviews with alexander haig , christopher hitchens and others give kissinger extra drama and urgency .", "lucid , entertaining and journalistically intact .", "a compelling film .", "it 's an engrossing and thought-provoking examination of the overriding will to power and the morality of its application .", "it 's better suited for the history or biography channel , but there 's no arguing the tone of the movie - it leaves a bad taste in your mouth and questions on your mind .", "scores by marshaling facts that speak for themselves . and they do n't speak kindly .", "enjoyably fast-moving , hard-hitting documentary .", "we still live under the kissinger doctrine that , as one british observer puts it , ` international law applies to everyone except americans . '", "although the filmmakers attempt to provide balance , evidence against their subject is overwhelming", "though an important political documentary , this does not really make the case the kissinger should be tried as a war criminal .", "the case is a convincing one , and should give anyone with a conscience reason to pause .", "the structure of the documentary is routine but the scathing indictment of kissinger is a real eye opener ." ], "summary": "this compelling unauthorized biography takes a muckraker 's view of the controversial diplomat .", "id": "21271" }, { "movie": "recruit", "reviews": [ "for the most part it 's a completely ordinary , completely familiar , professionally executed film .", "do n't confuse the MOV with an intelligent thriller just because its explosion count is low and it stars al pacino . quiet moments can be dumb moments , too .", "the MOV manages the commercially savvy trick of being both insolent and patriotic about the cia .", "the MOV falters after it leaves the farm , throwing in unbelievable plot devices and losing its high-wire tension .", "unfolds more like a 100-minute game of gotcha ! than a conventional spy drama , and , depending on your tolerance for such things , this will either thrill or bore you .", "the MOV feels like a training exercise , for a star who 's still in the making .", "the MOV is one of those thrillers whose own internal logic assumes that viewers have none of their own .", "the plot is convoluted , the villain is predictable , and too often logic is a lost cause .", "an entertaining ride .", "taut psychological thriller .", "the MOV is little more than a fairy tale , one in which the prince gets to shoot the ball to smithereens .", "fun but make few demands on moviegoers .", "a de-fanged xerox of tony scott 's vastly underrated spy game , with shades of the lame training day tossed in for good measure ...", "apparently making a spy thriller that amounts to something more than james bond clich\u00e9s taken seriously is indeed mission : impossible .", "sure , it 's the cia , but how about declassifying a few plot points ?", "if you dig on stuff like spy game and enemy of the state , chances are that you 'll also have a decent time watching this .", "although segmented and overly plotted , `` the MOV '' still maintains its suspense long enough to engage .", "you 've seen this before , but probably not done this well .", "a gaudy , contrived bit of cinematic legerdemain thick with style and atmosphere but distinctly short on logic and sense .", "it is an extended two-hour head game , and it works so well because it keeps the audience in the same position as james clayton -lrb- colin farrell -rrb- , always unsure of what 's fact and what 's fiction .", "because it deals with the machinations of the cia we are told , ad nausea , that `` nothing is what it seems . '' this message is sledgehammered home every 10 minutes or so throughout the film 's nearly 105-minute running time .", "strong acting , a fine patient pace at the outset , a clever ending , but nonetheless lacking something meaty .", "slick , suspenseful ... aimed at those who relish cloak-and - dagger mind games .", "i liked all those set pieces where they set up these elaborate schemes , and you 're not sure who the good guy is , and the bad guy .", "to get your money 's worth from this film , i suggest you walk out before the last 15 minutes .", "... long before any real intrigue begins , the film 's litany of elementary plot twist are stretched out on the screen like a road map .", "how shocked can you be by the eventual deceits and betrayals when you 've been endlessly warned that nothing is what it seems ?", "time wondering if saddam watches spy movies like these to try and get some insight into the cia : 105 minutes .", "it 's not good enough to like , but it 's not bad enough to dislike either . it 's simply an adequate two hours of mildly entertaining professionalism that scales the heights of so-soism .", "... cinematic comfort food , filling us up until more nourishing fare comes along . it 's a pity the filmmakers could n't do more with it .", "the MOV weighs in like a porous brick of recycled polypropylene .", "-lsb- donaldson -rsb- has done a remarkable job in keeping the suspense constant throughout the whole film .", "when it comes to action and suspense , the MOV delivers .", "namby-pamby criticisms of omission aside , the MOV is a solid and enticing little thriller , a fun and engaging movie .", "the story is almost to the point that if you saw the trailer - you saw the film .", "the MOV is slick entertainment that 's surprisingly restrained .", "we 're in serious trouble if the MOV even approaches accuracy about cia operations .", "roger donaldson 's the MOV represents the cool , jaded spy flick our dissatisfied generation needs today . and that 's a good thing .", "farrell nearly perfectly portrays this role , capturing the intelligence , physicality , sex appeal and wit of the character .", "tries hard to work its audience into a second-guessing frenzy just for the sake of doing it .", "two acts in search of a third .", "its intense storyline and engaging characters gradually manage to enthrall you up until the clumsily orchestrated climax .", "the pleasure of watching two alpha males -- al pacino and colin farrell -- circling each other mano a mano substantially beefs up this otherwise routine spy thriller .", ". . here is a film whose taut and intelligent script is well realised by a director who knows exactly where he is going and what he is doing . this is a collaboration of top talents , and al pacino . elevates the project immediately by his presence alone", "there 's a nifty little spy thriller secreted somewhere in this bloated picture .", "farrell ... holds everything together with sheer star magnetism .", "your average generic action programmer , made a bit more interesting by the addition of some good actors .", "a prime example of first-class , audience-friendly escapism .", "pacino gives the film its juice by arching his eyebrows and delivering his lines as if they were birthday presents , making the most of every wisecrack and innuendo .", "it 's hackwork -- competently crafted and sufficiently fast-paced to keep your attention , but rendered forgettable by the absence of depth and ambition in the writing .", "its screenplay keeps us on our toes in terms of plotting and expectations , which makes it easier to forgive all the questions the lackadaisical finale brings up .", "an enjoyably forgettable espionage thriller marked more by these two actors going toe-to-toe as if they 're in an acting masterclass rather than a hollywood movie .", "for a ringside seat at the secret cia training process , the MOV delivers a somewhat fascinating view . yet , if not powered by colin farrell 's strong performance , the predictable film would ultimately fall flat on its face .", "a tense and twisty espionage thriller that tests your wits for the bulk of its run time .", "the mind game can be a great asset to any movie that chooses to apply it correctly , but when it 's labored beyond measure and plausibility , the result is a product like the MOV .", "watching james tap on a computer is n't so exciting . and neither is the MOV .", "unlikely to be the only example of slam-bang popcorn fluff with so despairing a demeanor we 're likely to see in the near future . it 's pre-cynicized for your protection .", "beyond the opening frames , the whole movie has an altogether musty odour , as if those up-to-the-minute lines had simply been tacked on to a mothballed script .", "welcome to the cia where a zeal to battle against evil doers is grounded in role-playing , smooth deceptions and frequent danger .", "the movie works best when the action is at ` the farm ' and the recruits are learning what it takes to play spy .", "all sound and fury , signifying , it turns out , not a hell of a lot .", "slick enough to be entertaining to the end , though it 's never hard to guess what 's really going on , and despite all the twists there are few surprises .", "why ask an audience not to believe what they 're seeing when they 've already seen it . give me 24 's ctu any hour of the week .", "it does n't know how to finish in a satisfying fashion , thus dragging the rest of the film down with its conclusion .", "a little bit of nixon-era government conspiracy trickery polished up for the new millennium", "rather predictable but slick entertainment .", "here i suspected the ultimate villain almost from the very beginning -- and , if i was n't fooled , i ca n't imagine anyone else will be , either .", "the inherent talkiness of this kind of story is mitigated in the MOV by various exercises in which things get blown up and mock houses are invaded entertainingly .", "without the propulsive thrust of either spy game or enemy of the state , two far more engaging movies about government skullduggery , the movie gets bogged down in the same types of twists that carried it through the first half .", "suspenseful and secretive throughout . the audience finds itself questioning the motives of even its favorite characters .", "... the film wins for its story , camera work and farrell 's performance .", "although it 's always kind of a bummer when a film lets me down with a lame ending , i have to admit that everything preceding the ending was fun .", "in this tepid spy thriller , everything is pretty much what you would expect .", "if cia agents are really so hung up on father issues and rocky romances as they always seem to be in the movies , the so-called free world is in dire straits indeed .", "i did n't groan once , and i left with a smile on my face . that 's all i can ask .", "it 's the kind of movie you can sit back and enjoy , as long as you do n't make the mistake of thinking too much .", "the MOV may have a storyline as generic as its title , but in the explosive pacino and the smoldering farrell , it has a pair of stars who are not as easily dismissed .", "the MOV adds little to the already overworked espionage genre , but it completes its mission , working quietly and stealthily , without drawing too much attention to itself .", "all in all not a bad film , it just left me wanting more .", "may be a little too clever for its own good .", "the first half packs some clever surprises , but eventually you 'll wish you 'd signed up with another movie .", "the movie 's so busy creating twists and turns that it never finds a rhythm .", "a cia thriller that plays some very tricky and entertaining spy games .", "i 'm still hoping pacino will dazzle with a great performance eventually ...", "above-average thriller , but not very memorable .", "while the MOV is fast and slick enough to carry us along during its setup scenes , the screenplay is n't witty or tricky enough to sustain the payoff .", "watchable only for its star power and scarce caffeine kicks ... awfully predictable . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "pacino 's puppet-stringing of his MOV is reminiscent of peter o'toole 's manipulative character in 1980 's ` the stunt man . '", "the film still makes a diverting entertainment in spite of its obviousness .", "pacino does n't upstage farrell , but there 's the sense he 's daring him to keep up , and farrell does . their scenes together crackle .", "director roger donaldson ... again shows a knack for creating intrigue and paranoia .", "a standard-issue spy game with all the layered complexity of ludo .", "interessante at\u00e9 o terceiro ato , quando se perde em ` reviravoltas ' completamente previs\u00edveis .", "probably better than anyone else working today , donaldson knows how to knit a thriller . each time you think this taut yarn is about to unravel , that 's when he pulls the wool over your eyes .", "you can get more dramatic complexity , excitement , jaw-dropping plot twists , inter-agent romance , and cool gadgetry for free by looking to tv 's alias and 24 for your next espionage assignment .", "colin farrell 's wild-eyed intensity manages to cover , for a good long time , the fact that the film 's plot is going nowhere .", "the MOV may not bring anything new to the spy genre , but it passes the test as entertainment .", "even if you have n't seen the commercials , the ending should n't surprise you .", "we 've seen movies like the MOV before , but this one is fun .", "many would believe pacino could do no wrong but he has . the MOV serves only to ignite a pilot light in the imagination of espionage lovers everywhere .", "for more than an hour , the MOV is slickly entertaining escapism that deftly plays into common fantasies about what training to be a cia op might be like .", "with a tone and moral similar to last year 's spy games , the film spends too much time rehashing very familiar material .", "it 's just never as gripping as it needs to be .", "everything else in the MOV may be tiresomely predictable , but -lsb- pacino -rsb- , at least , is not .", "the MOV epitomizes the phrase ` genre filler . '", "a movie sort of paints itself into a corner when characters repeatedly look directly at the camera and yell none of this is real ! it 's all just a test !", "in what used to be the tom cruise part -lrb- supremely talented but hot-headed kid with father issues -rrb- , we have the supremely talented and magnetic irish actor colin farrell .", "like cotton candy , it all evaporates right after it 's over .", "a less-than-middling melodrama whose subject matter and talent never click as much as its credits portend .", "` the major twists and turns are relentlessly predictable and register as sharply as being poked by a stick of margarine . the MOV needs to undergo some more training from the hollywood creativity department . '", "a film like this also needs a great deal of double , triple and even quadruple crossing and confusion to be effective . yet , it never really utilizes enough of that type of material to create the sort of experience for which it 's obviously aiming .", "preposterous cia thriller .", "should find the film provides a couple hours of solid amusement .", "although the MOV is n't len deighton or robert ludlum , it is enjoyable until the screenwriters develop a collective brain cramp .", "it 's hard to tell which brand of coffee they 're plugging in the MOV but they sure drink a lot of it . which is a good thing . a vicarious caffeine buzz is better than nothing , and you 're going to need something to keep you awake .", "repeatedly rewritten to within an inch of its life and showing it .", "the MOV is a big-time , star-driven hollywood thriller that turns out to be a bit of a sham .", "this is donaldson 's third thriller set amid washington 's powerful . they 've all been winners -- smart , taut and more satisfying than anyone has a right to expect .", "too transparent to produce nail-biting suspense .", "strictly paint-by-numbers .", "the MOV is serviceable spy fodder made a great guilty pleasure by pacino 's ` ok , no oscar here , let 's have some fun ' performance .", "there 's a decent little thriller trying to break out of the messy tangled plotting and shallow , scenery-chewing character development that makes up much of the MOV .", "director roger donaldson is so preoccupied by mood that he forgets about story .", "the MOV delivers some enjoyment if you do n't think about it too hard .", "a conjurer 's trick that delights for about an hour , then spirals into idiocy .", "the MOV is tense and smart -- perhaps too smart for its own good .", "somewhere in al pacino 's contract there must be a clause that says he must have a 10-minute speech somewhere toward the end of the movie that allows him a super-dramatic moment and gives him an ultra-dramatic speech .", "pacino is brilliant as their up front and cagey cia instructor .", "a compelling , if throwaway , drama .", "it 's nothing but style and noise , threadbare of content , empty of ideas .", "spare , sleek and coolly entertaining , even if there 's less to this game of true lies than meets the eye .", "the MOV manages to be almost utterly without innovation apart from its heroic determination to make matinee idol material out of a spy agency that pioneered the process of extra-legal bureaucratic sociopathology known as ` black ops . '", "what you think you know and what is actually true is what makes this one watchable .", "... can be as seductive as the lies its spooks tell .", "you want originality , you 're in the wrong movie -- ` the MOV ' only has leftovers .", "it could have been a much better movie . but , unfortunately , al pacino can only play one character at a time .", "plot-wise , there is n't great depth to the MOV .", "the foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed , but the writers and director largely manage the tension and mystery tactfully .", "a serviceable spy thriller that stumbles over one too many plot twists , one too many shots of its hero typing desperately at his computer , and a romantic subplot that 's nice to look at but awfully silly .", "this mystery does n't amount to much .", "the grizzled veteran and gullible trainee routine has been done before , and done better .", "while the spy games at the beginning of the film are plenty of fun , once james is on his covert mission , the story gets embarrassingly silly .", "this suspense-challenged spy opera nonetheless can serve today 's cia recruitment program with its look-see into the training program at ` the farm . '", "since ` nothing is what it seems , ' all you need to do is negate everything you are told , and you 'll figure out every twist .", "too often , farrell cedes the dramatic high ground to pacino , who grabs it with both hands and yanks the movie off its axis .", "even al pacino can not save -lsb- `` the MOV '' -rsb- from its mediocrity .", "the top-billed al pacino and colin farrell bring plenty of emotional oomph to their shallow and routine characters , but audiences may find these spy games somewhat disappointing .", "... a waste of time that would have seemed more pleasant had it not retained a whiff of something better - we get the queasy feeling there was once an idea for a movie here , an idea that was eventually subsumed by hollywood positioning and base-covering", "the MOV is not a bad film , it 's just not a very good one .", "` what keeps the MOV from being a waste is good chemistry between al pacino and colin farrell . it is by no means a great film but not a half bad way to sepnd a couple of hours . '", "while you do n't exactly need secret agent talents to work out the twists in the MOV , it 's pacy and fun .", "though short on car chases and bombs bursting , director donaldson keeps the tension crackling with tight close-ups , skilled editing and a screenplay that treats its fine actors with respect .", "a spy thriller with more twists in its plot than a sailor 's knot .", "-lsb- farrel -rsb- , who seems to be trying to salvage his dignity , ... gets points for keeping a straight face as pacino constantly beetles in on him to deliver his lines .", "the plot announces that it 's going to gyp us around , not because it has other things to offer , but out of the hope that we will let it off the hook .", "... plays like one of those underwhelming straight-to-video flicks that usually stars either eric roberts or dean cain ...", "chris owens : you 're onscreen for about half a minute of the MOV , but that half a minute was the most enjoyable experience i had all evening .", "... the film ends as a nonentity , arriving at a conclusion that is not satisfying and completely nonsensical because it preys on our stupidity rather than that of the characters .", "... so dependent on plot contrivances and so altogether preposterous , it seems an unfortunate waste of pacino 's and farrell 's acting talents ." ], "summary": "this polished thriller is engaging until it takes one twist too many into the predictable .", "id": "10608" }, { "movie": "angelas_ashes", "reviews": [ "lacks the magnificence of his book , but it is worth seeing .", "there 's a compelling momentum to angela 's ashes , alan parker 's very faithful , if poetically subordinate , version of mccourt 's book , which imposed elegance on squalor and intelligence on the indolence cultivated by poverty .", "if parker had aimed more at capturing the author 's unique voice , and worried less about getting the details right , his movie might have been extraordinary .", "the cinematographers are brilliant in their quest to evoke cold and cruel atmosphere .", "a well-crafted look at the hard childhood of irish author frank mccourt and his family .", "despite its harsh scenes , angela 's ashes will leave you with lovely memories .", "though the story and mood are dreary , the fundamental human traits of struggle and family shine brightly .", "a grim but fascinating tale .", "visually immaculate but unaffecting .", "few other films have had the courage to tell a tale of childhood hopelessness so honestly .", "parker 's adaptation wants not for guts or heart , but mccourt 's passionate ramblings , so adored on the page , prove a bit unwieldy for the screen .", "while director alan parker manages to capture the book 's abject poverty and misery , his rather superficial adaptation too often fails to convey mccourt 's wry humor .", "the movie makes the odd and ultimately fatal mistake of leaving mccourt out of his own story .", "it is an anecdotal , nostalgic , crowd-pleasing coffee-table book of a film , neither shocking nor challenging .", "probably -lrb- alan parker 's -rrb- best movie after the commitments .", "the script by parker and laura jones also borrows massive chunks of mccourt 's narration , in voice-over style , but the result is constantly to tell us rather than show us , or worse , tell us what we 've already been shown .", "parker has honored the core of the work and in the process turned a great memoir into a memorable movie .", "watson , the queen of suffering-female roles , is as good as ever .", "of course , the movie is a thinner version of the novel , but you still get a drama that has you laughing and brokenhearted , often at the same time .", "angela 's ashes is n't a movie for cinema buffs , but for the many fans of the pulitzer prize-winning book .", "a moving , passionate drama that echoes with mccourt 's distinctive character and glimmers with obstinate hope .", "mostly it 's a series of visits to the welfare line .", "the story of frank mccourt 's triumph makes it to the screen intact . it 's the lyricism , the heartbeat , that seem to be missing .", "too much of it is admirable without necessarily being engaging , serving as a mere litany of childhood miseries .", "sometimes humorous and wholly inspiring tale .", "a tedious , vastly disappointing film that does not do justice to the wonderful and touching book upon which it is based .", "misses the mark as an exceptional drama yet manages to vividly convey the soul-shattering effects of poverty .", "i enjoyed the relentless gloomy realism , the refusal to put a happy face on mccourt 's miserable childhood .", "a dreary , ultimately punishing adaptation of frank mccourt 's memoir , where every other scene has somebody either getting sick , puking or dying .", "like bread without yeast , ` angela 's ashes ' minus the author 's wit ca n't rise to meet expectations .", "alan parker logra uno de sus mejores trabajos en lo que es un tributo al esp\u00edritu humano que ofrece lo mejor de s\u00ed en medio de las peores adversidades", "i am pleased to announce that this film is a fine , a beautiful presentation of a painful story .", "it feels like it is going nowhere very slowly .", "a long , exhausting , almost completely humorless chronicle of misery , shame , and hardship", "the last and least of the season 's overlong , oscar-reaching prestige productions .", "admirably performed .", "angela 's ashes is just too darn wet to catch fire .", "all this misery crammed into 145 minutes makes for one rough sit .", "the filmmakers have managed to take an anecdotal work and shape it into a film with a particular story arc .", "the story lacks focused character conflict that would make it a truly fine cinematic experience .", "-lsb- alan parker -rsb- has treated mccourt 's pulitzer-winning book respectfully without embalming it .", "there is something so compelling , so forceful and even so humourous about mccourt 's life journey that the film lifts us out of the limerick gloom it depicts .", "angela 's ashes does n't work as entertainment , and since it does n't cure anything , it ca n't qualify as medicine , either .", "i 'm sure the producers of angela 's ashes meant well , but they got the wrong guy to direct it .", "angela 's ashes is the soggiest dud of all the major holiday releases .", "like a good potato , angela 's ashes is heavy on the starch and light on the protein .", "i 'm not sorry i saw it , but i would n't see it again .", "the film lacks development and dramatic coherence .", "for all its fidelity to the spirit and , in extended passages , to the letter of mccourt 's book , however , parker 's film falls short .", "parker has gotten the dreariness of the material right , but he ca n't really give us a reason to care about the film 's characters .", "lacking a heart .", "the film is too often trapped in its own reverence and solemnity .", "faithful to the letter of mccourt 's book but miss the spirit entirely .", "the two and a half hour duration goes at the rate of a leslie nielson death scene .", "as well-crafted and sensitive as it is , the movie remains one step removed from inspiration .", "this one will disappoint fans of the book and repulse those who have not read it .", "despite the grievous mood integral to telling the story of the mccourt family , angela 's ashes never descends to a level of complete despondency .", "and if misery per se were an interesting topic , this adaptation of frank mccourt 's book might be too .", "the two and a half hour duration goes at the rate of a leslie nielson death scene .", "there is in the film a beauty and ambition rare in most current movies .", "constantly intriguing and gorgeously crafted .", "meticulous , unsentimental , beautifully acted .", "angela 's ashes is a gem for the sort of audience that needs no fast-cutting and no contrived conflicts .", "possesses an impeccable honesty and humanity that speaks to our hearts and our minds .", "primitive peoples , or so it 's said , resist being photographed , believing that the creation of an image robs them of their souls . a quaint notion , perhaps , but how else can you explain what 's happened to angela 's ashes ?", "larded with folksy humor and patronizing empathy .", "beautifully acted .", "mostly misses the humor , lyricism and emotional charge of frank mccourt 's magical and magnificent memoir .", "a quietly triumphant experience .", "emily watson and robert carlyle are the near-perfect embodiment of mccourt 's troubled parents .", "the young actors playing frank at various ages -lrb- joe breen , ciaran owens , michael legge -rrb- are all excellent .", "careful avoidance of overly melodramatic performances in spite of the highly dramatic scenarios .", "the film is n't wrenching enough to do it justice ." ], "summary": "in spite of its attempts to accurately record frank mccourt 's memoirs , the onscreen adaptation fails to capture any of the drama or humor of his life .", "id": "14147" }, { "movie": "waking_sleeping_beauty", "reviews": [ "a documentary about the lucrative rebirth of disney 's animation arm between the years 1984 and 1994 , it 's a warts-and-all tale of clashing egos and the eternal war between art and commerce .", "the joy of cartoons meets the agony of office politics in this fascinating , inside - hollywood-baseball documentary about how disney , against all odds , revived the art of feature-length drawn animation .", "just extraordinary enough to make you really long for all the stuff that it 's too-short running time and too-tight focus had to leave out .", "the entire story is worked into a perfect success story package , concluding right before the studios more controversial period begins , which just goes to show , you can always have a happy ending , if you know where to stop the story .", "the film feels too often as though it is pulling some punches so as not to enrage its corporate parents .", "a few too many industry asides , but filled with behind-the-scenes moments .", "MOV will matter only to those who grew up on walt disney 's animated films . in other words , all of us .", "it 's a not-so-great movie about some great movies .", "it 's a must-see for any disney purist , but is also an emotive , stunningly valuable documentary in its own right .", "feature animation had an explosively great year in 2009 , so it 's startling to be reminded in MOV that it was all but dead 20 years ago .", "as consistently funny as it is illuminating .", "whatever happened , happened . the fact remains that those years were revolutionary , and if not for them , it 's a good question whether pixar , dreamworks and the other animation production sources -- and disney animation itself -- would still exist .", "fantasy vs. fiscal considerations -- the eternal struggle between art and commerce . in the end , art triumphed and business -lrb- and the personal conflicts -rrb- won out .", "it could have been comfortably twice as long . but what 's there is an unusual peek inside the mouse house , one delivered by a director who seems to love the studio without letting that cloud his judgement .", "objectivity is impossible under the best circumstances , and perhaps hahn comes as close to `` fair and balanced '' as possible . but unavoidably there 's a sense of untold stories and elided details lurking right beneath the surface .", "all too often the movie 's breadth comes at the expense of its depth .", "the story we get is compelling stuff , a testament to artistic perseverance and the legacy of the disney brand .", "the movie turns from good to great as the layers are peeled away and director hahn provides an insider 's look at the creative epicenter of the studio .", "instead , it 's a fascinating look at how a group of talented , flawed individuals managed to pull together for a while and make some beautiful and lasting films . there 's something kind of magical about that , too .", "-lsb- it -rsb- may not be thrilling , riveting viewing for some , but for animation fans , and for aficionados of disney , the movie is must-see .", "carries the mystique of walt disney , whose animated features can be regarded as a genetic line with ups and downs as compellingly dramatic as the history of royal families .", "an intriguing yet uneven documentary ...", "-lsb- director don hahn 's -rsb- interviews are used as voice-over to a lively mix of disney film clips , behind-the-scenes footage and rare home movies taken by disney staffers .", "combining honest commentary with archival footage , MOV offers a refreshing look at a side large companies often steer clear of .", "a subpar movie about exceptional ones , and you wo n't really care who was responsible .", "featuring interviews with such luminaries as tim burton , john lasseter , don bluth , michael eisner , the late howard ashman , the irascible roy disney and others , the film is a self-congratulatory dud .", "it 's not one of those documentaries whose appeal stretches beyond people who are already interested in the subject , but animation buffs will eat it up .", "more belle , more ariel , more simba -- and less of eisner and co. -- would have made a more interesting movie .", "disney-approved", "it twists , turns , and avoids unpleasant aspects of the disney company , both immediate and historical .", "the contrast between these more candid moments and those of the polished professionals is evocative , reminding us that this is a story about how the development within a corporation affects the individuals inside .", "a must see documentary , as it pulls back the curtain on one of the most enigmatic periods in disney history and allows you to enter a world very few ever get to experience .", "a sometimes plodding but often vibrant look at the fall and rise of walt disney pictures", "essentially a jeffrey katzenberg take-down piece , don hahn 's fragmented documentary about the massive changes at disney studios between 1984 and 1994 does n't dare go near touchy subjects like disney 's blood-draining takeover of manhattan 's times square .", "the film 's tendency to wax sentimental occasionally undermines its authority , but you wo n't find better behind-the-scenes looks at the era 's mouse-eared power struggles or at the making of modern disney classics .", "MOV covers a dream era in the history of animation , but it could have delved a little deeper to keep us wide-eyed and engaged .", "it 's got a terrific inside hollywood sensibility plus an unblinking candor that lets the chips fall where they should . which , given who made it , is something of a pleasant surprise .", "` MOV ' is less of a documentary and more of a goldmine for animation geeks .", "this eighty-six-minute feature falls far from the enchantment most of the public will enter expecting .", "MOV does n't have as much behind-the-scenes juice as you 'd hope .", "-lsb- the -rsb- film manages to appear satisfyingly objective and observant , rather than just an official studio document patting itself on the back .", "marginally fascinating and well-edited , but has too much potatoes and not nearly enough meat for audiences hungry for insight about the second golden age of animation .", "sly retrospective exercise in corporate self-congratulation masquerading as an insider 's tell-all .", "although fun to watch , it will take a princely kiss to make a legitimate documentary out of this disney vehicle .", "even in its sanitized state , this movie about the generational revolt that reinvigorated disney 's animation department in the 1980s and '90s is fascinating" ], "summary": "it does n't probe as deep -- or tell as many hard truths -- as it could have , but don hahn 's look at disney 's rebirth offers a fascinating and surprisingly candorous glimpse into the studio 's past .", "id": "770816316" }, { "movie": "deer_hunter", "reviews": [ "a brilliant war movie with stunning performances .", "one of the greatest war films of all time .", "cimino 's blistering and psychologically gripping account of the vietnam-era damaged psyche . the MOV is an astonishingly potent and towering exploration on the war experience to ever be intensely filmed", "long but effective vietnam drama . the russian roulette scenes are haunting .", "its feelings for time , place and blue-collar people are genuine , and its vision is that of an original , major new film maker .", "quite possibly the most overrated movie ever .", "an emotionally devastating meditation on war , masculinity , and the human psyche .", "draggy and devastating by turns", "brutally memorable .", "overlong , but with moments of greatness .", "largely ambitious , and not without flaws , cimino 's oscar winning film is nonetheless an effective chronicle of the impact of vietnam on a clique of close friends", "held together with a phenomenal cast , the MOV is a powerful film but also controversial in many ways .", "the film 's depiction of a senseless war remains relevant as long as power-hungry leaders continue to play russian roulette with the lives of young soldiers .", "is it as good as its advance word and nine academy award nominations suggest ? yes .", "michael cimino is better remembered for bankrupting united artists studios with `` heaven 's gate '' -lrb- 1980 -rrb- than he is for making the highly-praised war picture that put him in a position to do such a thing in the first place .", "robert de niro is , once again , explosive in this stunning vietnam movie .", "this multi-oscar winner from michael cimino remains one of the finest and most controversial movies about the vietnam war .", "it 's an american tragedy indebted to russian literature , alive with detail and ritual and embedding viewers in the souls of men , the heart of a community and the spilled guts of a nation .", "this excruciatingly violent , three-hour viet nam saga demolishes the moral and ideological cliches of an era : it shoves the audience into hell and leaves it stranded without a map .", "the friendship between the three central characters , as well as their shared association with the men from their small hometown , is truthful and realistic in a way that most guys will find impossible to resist .", "a simultaneuosly touching and harrowing experience that puts the audience directly in the shoes of one man 's experience of vietnam .", "a hollow movie that only play-acted at meaning ; the sucker was us .", "like an honorable soldier , cazale gave everything he had for a cause in which he believed .", "gauging the shifting moods of the 1970s , this tale of life and love disrupted by war is as arresting as a bullet to the brain .", "the first half and second half of the film could n't be more different but that is the genius behind the film .", "the film is ambitious and it succeeds on a number of levels and it proves that cimino is an important director who deserves to be watched carefully .", "this is probably one of the few great films of the seventies .", "it is a heartbreakingly effective fictional machine that evokes the agony of the vietnam time .", "a disgusting account of what the evil vietnamese did to poor , innocent americans stands at the center of this oscar-laden weepie about macho buddies from a small industrial town .", "a visceral film that says volumes about the horrors of war and its impact on the lives of typically well adjusted people .", "a cinematic triumph and a powerful celebration of the dignity of ordinary individuals in peace and war .", "it is clearly shown that even these close friends could n't save each other from the tragic events of the war .", "a lyrical , slow-to-unfold story of the devastating effects of a tour in vietnam on three close friends .", "the actors in the principal roles are so convincing and the movement of this story , told on such a grand scale , is so compelling that its greatness is undeniable .", "the MOV -lrb- 1978 -rrb- is storywriter/producer/director michael cimino 's epic , only his second film - a powerful , disturbing", "-lsb- it dwarfs -rsb- almost any other film that deals with the ugly reality of war .", "in trying to measure the devastating impact of vietnam on the lives of three american soldiers , cimino brings home the true horror of that senseless conflict in a way that the 6 o'clock news never could .", "it has no more moral intelligence than the clint eastwood action pictures , yet it 's an astonishing piece of work , an uneasy mixture of violent pulp and grandiosity , with an enraptured view of common life -- poetry of the commonplace .", "the MOV is a rich and powerful picture that without a trace of patronisation or the slightest touch of cultural superiority , speaks eloquently for the inarticulate .", "the movie won five oscars and , if anything , improves with age .", "heart-on-sleeve stuff that works despite some of its more egregious impulses .", "the idea of sacrifice permeates everything , along with the cruelty and horror . this is cimino 's masterpiece .", "michael cimino 's oscar-winning epic the MOV brought the emotional , homefront legacy of the vietnam war vividly to life for audiences around the world .", "a powerful film made with impressive style , and one of the key films of the decade .", "art is long , we cimino champions go on hopefully asserting . life and injustice are short .", "impressively , cimino manages to fluctuate involvingly between cynicism and compassion in what feels like a three hour cinematic ache ." ], "summary": "its greatness is blunted by its length and one-sided point of view , but the film 's weaknesses are overpowered by michael cimino 's sympathetic direction and a series of heartbreaking performances from robert de niro , meryl streep , and christopher walken .", "id": "12994" }, { "movie": "away_from_her", "reviews": [ "what distinguishes MOV , and elevates it from the mawkish , is its perfectly chosen cast -- especially julie christie .", "the movie , -lsb- sarah -rsb- polley 's feature d\u00e9but , is a small-scale triumph that could herald a great career .", "under polley 's polished direction , the actors deliver superlative performances .", "straightforward but not detached , touching but not maudlin , it 's an honestly moving , if modest , portrait of a marriage affected by a terrible wasting disease .", "as terrific as christie 's performance is , it 's the superb pinsent who 's left to register most of the internal emotional turbulence as a reserved man who no longer shares a past with the woman he 's spent his life with .", "there is real grace in polley 's portrait of a couple that stays together long enough to forget .", "for a story with only one possible outcome , -lsb- i -rsb- MOV -lsb- / i -rsb- is full of twists and turns .", "when it comes to MOV , the overused , abused adjective can not be avoided : it is a great film .", "a feature film that 's often astringent on the surface , yet deeply and memorably stirring .", "mostly , it 's a subdued , well-shot character study that observes rather than dictates emotions .", "julie christie as an alzheimer 's afflicted wife achieves the perfect psychological mixture of despair , mystery , rebellion against the unappreciated devotion that has been her lot in married life , and an ultimate odd but eloquent personal liberation .", "hallmark card presentation of the onset of alzheimer 's . totally sincere and totally unrealistic .", "a beautifully acted , poignant film about a man who slowly loses his wife to alzheimer 's .", "a complex series of relationships revolve around a nursing home romance .", "christie is brilliant as steely but brittle fiona , a woman who knows her mind completely and yet , in the end , can not hang on to it , while pinsent eloquently portrays the gradual ebbing away of a partnership , as delicate and unstoppable as snow-melt .", "it 'll make you cry a lot , for sure , but with much beauty and brightness through the sadness .", "no one dreams of the twilight transpiring in `` MOV , '' but , in its words , it 's not bad luck . it 's just life . you ca n't beat life . a tenderly told tragedy about alzheimer 's disease 's erosive effects , sarah polley 's film avoids movie-of-the-week sap .", "too content with its own `` maturity '' and `` restraint , '' yet it invaluably offers christie for audiences in delicate contemplation , and chaste consummation", "an outstanding film .", "a sincere but doomed attempt at a sort of alzheimer 's love story .", "christie -lrb- with whom polley acted in hal hartley 's no such thing -rrb- is still a radiant presence at 66 and she rivets us to the screen .", "memorable alzheimer 's drama ok for teens and up .", "the revelation is pinsent ... , who has the tougher acting job - to react to christie 's performance and carry the plot as well - and delivers beautifully .", "spare and poignantly bittersweet , sarah polley 's wrenching romantic drama ... delves into the painful effects of alzheimer 's disease .", "even if the rest of the film was a complete dog , , i > MOV would be worthwhile simply because it gives julie christie so much screen time .", "the whole film grows on you . polley 's trademark as an actress is that she gives nothing away at first ; you have to watch an entire movie to know everything she 's thinking and feeling . MOV unfolds with that kind of restraint .", "it is a compassionate portrait of alzheimer 's as an impenetrable cocoon of the unknowable , as seen through an emotionally eloquent prism .", "sarah polley gives us one of the year 's best films .", "beautifully written , from an alice munro short story , this movie directed by an actress rarely missteps , even when it bravely includes the dark humor inherent in this situation .", "it 's a fine and big-hearted debut , but it falls short in ways that make me unable to repay its generosity .", "a profound and poignant requiem for our preferred human conditions .", "probes those two impossible and sometimes incompatible organs -- the human heart and the human brain -- with a scientist 's curiosity and a poet 's empathy .", "the writing and the peformances are intelligent enough to make this a rare if difficult pleasure , and christie especially shines .", "it 's sarah polley through and through : slightly too glum for its own good , but reeking of quality and feeling .", "this is a difficult watch .", "what is lost in realism is made up for in the power of the drama .", "a heartbreaking and memorable cinematic experience .", "i have seen few films in recent years as emotionally engrossing and edifying . it is not to be missed by any moviegoer professing to be looking for something different .", "a straightforward but engrossing drama about what love is worth when memory is gone .", "actress polley makes a remarkable feature debut with a subtle , complex , beautifully acted tale of the effects of alzheimer 's on one durable marriage ; it 's an honorable addition to classic anatomies of marriage by bergman , cassavetes , and others .", "a low-key yet powerful and uplifting story of love renewed amid the ravages of old age .", "a remarkable character study from actress-turned-director sarah polley , MOV is a triumph for christie , who like helen mirren and diane keaton , grows lovelier and more compelling with every performance .", "`` MOV '' is one of the great love stories of recent movies , striking because it takes place near the end of a love affair 's long journey , rather than at the beginning as so many romances do .", "both careful and contrived , MOV paints marriage as a series of losses , fulfillments , and compromises , infinitely rewarding and painful .", "this very personal film is a deeply affecting work from sarah polley , a good actress becoming an even better writer and director .", "at the heart of sarah polley 's impressive directorial debut is that luminous iconic figure of the 1960s , julie christie .", "MOV should be required viewing for caregivers , and perhaps for all of us who have aging relatives .", "sarah polley , a terrific actress , now serves notice that she is a director to watch .", "MOV is a phantom of a movie whose beautiful flakes fall into the deep crevices of memory long after the seasons change .", "MOV offers a moving , thoughtful drama for adults who have felt abandoned by the movie industry .", "the deeply affecting situation is explored with lyrical artistry , touching drama and remarkable performances in MOV , the impressive directorial debut of canadian actor sarah polley .", "with MOV , christie , pinsent and actress-turned-filmmaker sarah polley have crafted an intensely moving portrait of a marriage .", "as this intimate , beautifully observed film unfolds , you realize that the story 's themes are relevant no matter what age you happen to be .", "sarah polley 's sad , wise and simply dazzling directorial effort beams with warmth .", "MOV deals with a subject that easily could have turned maudlin . but the performances in MOV are pitch-perfect throughout , and polley never begs for an emotional response she does n't try to earn .", "upon seeing MOV again , i 'm content with my sense memory . i 'm even more pleased with how much of this fine film 's nuance and detail feel fresh .", "the film 's sharpest performance comes from dukakis , who marries hope with resentment into a prickly yet pliant concoction ... marian is more clearly drawn that the more opaque anderssons .", "superb , from its subtle atmospheres to its fine performances . julie christie is exquisite as ever purveying the spirit of a woman whose radiance remains even as it dims like the glow of sunset on a snowbound lake .", "MOV got to me in a way no other movie has this year , eliciting copious tears .", "polley , borrowing from a story by alice munro , and maybe some of its wisdom , gives us more . here , time rewards compromises and commitment to a flawed arrangement , and we get a rare portrait of the intimacy that can come with endurance .", "watching grant and fiona , you may see your own loved ones again in your mind 's eye . anyone who has gone through this kind loss knows the immeasurable value of that .", "MOV is n't just a portrait of alzheimer 's . for a generation that does n't have a lot of marital role models , it 's also a lyrical portrait of what it means to stick with a person for the long run . there are no easy answers .", "this is a most adroit , confident film , calmly understated and never sentimental . it supports the argument that short stories and novellas are the best source material for feature movies .", "powerful . writer-director sarah polley rightly deserves the kind of praise heaped upon sofia coppola for the lousy `` lost in translation . ''", "as much as it is a poignant story of love and loss , ` MOV ' is also a modern-day horror tale .", "polley has constructed a complex film about love , relationships , honor and commitment . it is a beautiful thing to watch .", "indelible and uncompromising , this powerful drama about the grace and the cruelty of aging is a sensitive testament to emotional endurance .", "`` MOV '' is at once one of the most romantic love stories and most frightening horror films i 've ever seen .", "portrays the ravages of -lsb- alzheimer 's -rsb- with clear-eyed honesty , tracking not only the effects on its victims but also on the caretakers who provide support even as their loved ones are fading away right before their eyes .", "the delicate and dignified way that director sarah polley treats munro 's story is worthy of high praise .", "it 's heartening that a movie so wise , patient and thoughtful can come from a filmmaker so young .", "sweet and delicate , a promising first effort by writer/director sarah polley .", "julie christie is as lovely as ever , and this may be a bit of a snag , as she does n't really look old enough for the part .", "christie has rarely been lovelier -- and that 's saying something .", "one of those ` small ' movies that , because it 's uncompromisingly honest , risks being inflated into something more than it is .", "polley is starting from a very lofty place . we can only marvel at what she might do next .", "polley manages it all nicely in her feature debut , confidently relying on the strength of her actors , but with a strong visual sense .", "polley captures the brisk , cheerful fascism of nursing-home existence with merciless clarity ; if you 've visited a parent or grandparent in one of those places , you may want to laugh and cry in the same moment .", "sensitively and engagingly well written , directed and acted , this is a remarkable little film .", "polley creates a portrait that might be dubbed scenes from a marriage 's end .", "with more than half a year to go , one can scarcely imagine a better set of awards-worthy performances than those of gordon pinsent and julie christie .", "christie , a sixties screen goddess in darling and doctor zhivago , shows that her spirit and grace are eternal . she 's a beauty . so is the movie .", "a subtle , poignant , and superbly acted drama about a long marriage that is tested externally by disease and internally by the chords of attachment .", "bergmanesque and beautiful , set in a wintry landscape fitfully lit by one woman 's flickering awareness and one man 's long-term , stubborn love , MOV is one of the most remarkable and moving love stories the movies have recently given us .", "-lsb- a -rsb- modest yet infinitely moving film of love , loss and memory .", "heartrending , elegant and restrained , MOV is a wonderful showcase for not just christie and the rest of its powerful cast , but for polley 's multidimensional skills .", "a wise and tender alzheimer 's drama .", "represents one of the few clear-headed , uncompromising looks at -lsb- alzheimer 's -rsb- and its impacts .", "-lsb- a -rsb- superbly tacit chamber piece .", "will make even the coldest hearts believe in love .", "rarely has love at any age been depicted so honestly on screen . for such a fully realized portrait to be created by a 28-year-old first-time director is even more remarkable .", "i think it 's one of this year 's finest and most memorable films .", "polley gets great work from the entire cast .", "sarah polley is that rare flower , a genuine canadian star . she 's well-regarded everywhere yet chooses to live and work at home . naturally her first feature as a writer-director has garnered scrutiny . the news is all good .", "sarah polley does well just to not let her devolve into a canadian version of the notebook .", "sarah polley 's directing debut is an assured , moving look at coping with alzheimer 's .", "a gracefully wrought study of a long-term marriage being wedged apart by alzheimer 's .", "how invigorating it is to see portrayed such a range of complex , intelligent women , each of whom is surviving in an independent orbit rather than joined at the hip in some gooey movie idyll of sisterhood .", "MOV is cause for celebration if only because it stars the great julie christie in her first lead role in many years .", "a twilight-of-life love story , one that harshly demolishes our romantic notions of love and loyalty , then replaces them with something deeper and , finally , more consoling .", "a tremulous adaptation of acclaimed canadian storyteller alice munro 's much-tougher-minded short fiction about love and alzheimer 's , the bear came over the mountain .", "MOV is a film of piercing clarity , one that knocks you out over and over again with its beauty and generosity .", "it 's christie who places this powerful love story about the cruelties of aging within hailing distance of leo mccarey 's sublime make way for tomorrow .", "maybe the point of this alzheimer 's movie is not to devastate the emotions of an audience", "this is a graceful , astonishingly brave film from actress sarah polley , making her directorial debut .", "in MOV , four of the best actors in the world turn material worthy of their talents into the best movie of the year so far . the result is moving the way the best-written literature can be , telling us something about ourselves .", "... less a drama about alzheimer 's disease than a cinematic poem of love and loss .", "love has rarely seemed as fragile and precious as it does in MOV ...", "a moving meditation on what love looks like after it 's had more than 40 years to grow . it 's a love with deep scars , but roots that go deeper still .", "it 's a gorgeous acting job from christie , striking those moods of frustration , depression , and infirmed calm so vividly .", "una bella historia de amor a merced de una enfermedad , filmada con delicadeza por sarah polley y sensiblemente interpretada por julie christie , gordon pinsent y olympia dukakis .", "this cautionary tale of making the most of life during our winter months successfully lodges itself into the memory .", "i 'd just as soon seek such material out in tv land when i 'm more in the mood and less inclined to be irreverent .", "strong performances from the inimitable julie christie and the lesser known gordon pinset ca n't compensate for the overly-sentimental reasoning behind a husband 's inability to make peace with his wife 's alzheimer 's disease .", "tackling a sorrowful subject with compassion and even an occasional laugh , actress sarah polley makes an impressive full-length debut as writer and director ...", "a magnanimous and devastating directorial debut from the young canadian actress sarah polley .", "this is a really wrenching film , and all the better for it .", "there 's not a genuine moment to be found in this film .", "something of an antithesis to the fake fuzziness of any hallmark movie of the week .", "the strength of MOV rests on the laurels of an excellent director and julie christie whose demanding role is interpreted with subtlety , humor and wisdom . polley said she only had christie in mind when the film was to be cast .", "MOV is that rare movie that breaks hearts with finesse and reserve , not through brute force .", "it 's nice to see serious issues other than crime and drugs in the movies and even nicer to see a filmmaking talent like sarah polley blossoming .", "if the oscars were really looking for best actress , it could n't go wrong looking this way .", "lovely and cold as a nordic winter sky , MOV is a lacerating , tough movie that 's sometimes hard to watch - and impossible to forget", "does the finest job of any film in painting a believable portrait of aging , capturing the sadness , confusion , anxiety and defiance of the early stages of dementia .", "polley reveals herself to be a true talent . she 's an intelligent , sensitive filmmaker who clearly belongs on both sides of the camera .", "every actress who 's ever frozen her emotions with botox should be forced to watch this film before returning to the plastic surgeon 's office . it 's the lines in christie 's face -- deeply etched , deeply earned -- that make her so heartbreakingly lovely .", "with luck , -lsb- more -rsb- skills will develop in polley , and we 'll have the opportunity to watch them . for now , though , we have christie to look at . and the heartbreaking slow-motion tragedy of a vibrant woman being buried alive under the shifting sands .", "MOV is poignant , wise and unafraid -- just the sort of film for a young person , or any person , for that matter , to make .", "so beautifully , delicately and completely about relationships , their strengths and weaknesses and unavoidable changes , that the illness aspects of the story , key as they are , play secondary roles .", "it 's all good . actually , it 's way better than good . this is a film for anyone who 's almost given up on the movies .", "in a refreshingly direct , unassuming manner , MOV considers two great human mysteries : the persistence of love and the workings of the brain .", "in its wobbly whole , MOV lingers as a hazy , blurry account of fading moments .", "one of the most confident and unforgettable directorial debuts i have ever seen ." ], "summary": "an accomplished directorial debut by sarah polley , MOV is a touching exploration of the effects of alzheimer 's , in which the tender wisdom of polley 's script is beautifully complemented by a wonderful performance from julie christie .", "id": "460317124" }, { "movie": "gangs_of_new_york", "reviews": [ "` visceral , salvaje , visualmente arrebatadora y con una historia que atrapa , pandillas de nueva york es un nuevo triunfo en la carrera de uno de los grandes genios incomprendidos del cine . '", "a great big , sprawling mess of a movie that depicts a melting pot not of hopes and dreams , but of vicious differences that clash and butt up against one another .", "as you watch it unfold , you find yourself understanding exactly why the man behind the camera remains such a significant influence in modern cinema . this is n't just a movie you watch , after all , but one you experience .", "an ironic , emotional , gory revision of the american experiment , marred by narrative problems but sufficiently awesome in its ambitious scale and intentions to rate as a must-see .", "martin scorsese cria um espet\u00e1culo visual que n\u0103o possui alma - um filme esteticamente belo , mas emocionalmente frio .", "gangs of ny es enorme , no s\u00f3lo en su colosal y ambiciosa producci\u00f3n , sino tambi\u00e9n en su \u00e9pica y en la brillante incorporaci\u00f3n de elementos cl\u00e1sicos de la narrativa universal .", "scorsese 's new york tale is a curiously cramped epic , roaring with blood and thunder -- but with nothing to say .", "welcome as it is to see scorsese -lrb- somewhat -rrb- back in the groove , it 's even more welcome to see day-lewis burning up the screen once again after a five-year absence .", "a lavish folly that suffers from an odd downscale effect .", "a work of staggering ambition , grandeur and terrible beauty . in a word : majestic .", "bill the butcher is one of the most indelible characters in screen history and day-lewis can make one laugh out loud in admiration", "scorsese recreates mid 19th century new york in this epic story of revenge that sports strange accents and bodacious mustaches .", "you 'd have to look back to apocalypse now to find a film on so grand a scale so warped by its creator 's obsessions ... gangs is history written in blood .", "a powerful , compelling and intelligent if imperfect work ... a film of enormous ambition which realizes its aims more often than not .", "scorsese needs to be satisfied with his place as one of the most talented filmmakers instead of worrying about accolades he has n't received .", "it 's only because scorsese serves a lavishly enthralling revenge thriller to cover his thematic hollowness that the film works .", "a historical epic with the courage of its convictions about both scope and detail .", "wavers between being about the big picture and a character study -- only to get lost like so many huddled masses .", "the spasmodic spectacle fails to develop any narrative or visceral momentum -- it has no cumulative effect .", "darkly operatic and brilliantly realized .", "it 's as if -lsb- scorsese -rsb- preferred to concentrate on the production ... rather than on the dramatic issues and , oh yeah , taking up the rear , the human beings who live them .", "there 's too much great filmmaking for it not to be worth seeing , warts and all , but i ca n't help but feel this is a missed opportunity .", "if MOV is n't considered an immediate classic , it will be someday . like scorsese himself , this is the type of work that will only get better with age .", "there 's blood on the streets of new york . and we 're not talking 2002 .", "MOV is flawed and has several slow patches , and that is the bad news . the good news is that , on every other account , it is a remarkably ambitious and deeply powerful masterwork .", "when the film reaches and stretches its narrative boundaries and epic ambitious , it 's about as powerful and awe-inspiring a film as has graced the screen this year , and this makes the flaws much , much easier to endure and overlook .", "une fresque impressionnante par moments , qu'il faut voir pour le d\u00e9but et la fin , en pardonnant scorsese pour le centre .", "a simple vengeance picture inflated to serious epic status by its rich set design and stunning period detail .", "for all its lack of breathing room ... it realistically puts you into the civil war north as much as gone with the wind does with the romantically idealized south .", "a work of battered brilliance .", "brilliant but devastating . high schoolers and up .", "scorsese scores some fine political points along the way and demonstrates the mastery of his craft in every scene , but the underlying theme of brutal revenge at any cost loses its way too early on ...", "a fever-sprawl of a movie , a melting-pot panorama , brought to full boil .", "one of scorsese 's weakest films , a wannabe historical epic that 's essentially a formulaic revenge saga ; the only reason to see it is daniel day-lewis ' compelling performance as bill the butcher .", "it 's a story of such relevance to new york , to america and even to the rest of the world , that just had to be told on film with as much impact as a filmmaker can muster . and martin scorsese musters much .", "even at a disturbing 168 minutes , the big , bold , bloody `` gangs '' and its eloquently quiet ending likely will leave audiences with more goosebumps than scars .", "why did scorsese spend three decades thirsting to make this movie ? it 's nowhere clear on the screen .", "the impact is all in the broad strokes of scorsese 's design : the corresponding coming-of-age stories of three confused and violent adolescents : amsterdam vallon , new york city , and america . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "it 's a story of violence , revenge , racial intolerance and class struggle , and it 's a story told extremely well .", "gangs becomes a standard revenge opus . and a long one at that .", "a muddle splashed with bloody beauty as vivid as any scorsese has ever given us .", "the tag line for this film is ` america was born in the streets , ' and the dark , unspoken truth of that notion comes through quite definitively in gangs .", "like many operas , this is long , overwrought , sprawling , and more than frequently brilliant . it also hits just enough discordant notes to keep it from greatness .", "all of this is a triumph for scorsese , and yet i do not think this film is in the first rank of his masterpieces . it is very good but not great .", "day-lewis keeps you awake whenever the story loses steam during the film 's 2 hours and 48 minutes .", "a film that suffers because of its many excesses .", "as it is , the film is always watchable , occasionally riveting , but ultimately a disappointment .", "the acting is extraordinary .", "its accomplishments are astounding , as are its flaws , but even its shortcomings are worn as proudly as scars from a bloody street battle .", "as wild and complex and as attractive as the city it celebrates .", "scorsese has rung frighteningly real performances from his large cast .", "the story ... ranges so widely that it sometimes gets away from scorsese and his tag-team of strong screenwriters .", "there is greatness in martin scorsese 's MOV : titanic acting , violent poetry , moviemaking on a grand scale , a real air of daring . and there is flab in it as well , and confusion .", "gangs , for all its bloodletting , is the aberrant case of a movie that needed more violence to make its moral point .", "it vividly and energetically evokes a fascinating time and place that has never before been the subject of film , and presents a powerful if imperfectly coherent vision of urban politics at their most primal .", "an endlessly fascinating , landmark movie that is as bold as anything the cinema has seen in years .", "despite some reservations , however , the movie never lost my interest , and i consider it to be worth a trip to a theater to see .", "i 'm not convinced that there 's anything more at the center of the finished picture than the director 's own interest in the subject matter .", "it 's a shame , really . i was looking forward to this one .", "there is something heartbreaking about my final conclusion . `` MOV '' could have been brilliant . the way it stands now , it is a towering accomplishment , albeit a bit watered down and , tragically , unfocused .", "gangs can be riveting , but for all its violence , it fails to land a knockout blow .", "MOV offers technical proficiency and narrative mediocrity .", "a very good film sits in the place where a masterpiece should be .", "take a handful of good-looking actors and dirty them up , add an epic-loving story-telling director and an intriguing revenge-filled story and `` MOV '' is the most entertaining movie of the year .", "without a strongly-told story , MOV feels more like an over-stuffed history lesson .", "-lsb- scorsese has -rsb- mounted a decadent diversion , a compromised , bloated comic strip that suggests his age of movie innocence is over .", "this is scorsese 's finest work , and one of the best films of 2002 .", "MOV is , quite honestly , nothing short of a masterpiece % u2013 a big , sprawling epic of a film with a recognizable yet extremely complex human center .", "i 'm going out on a limb and predicting that MOV will win best picture , best director , and a boatload full of other oscars come late march . not because it deserves all of them , but , as is the case with so many other oscar-winning movi", "scorsese 's film is a real epic , and it 's clear that the director has a passion for the subject .", "it 's hard to imagine that the young scorsese , a daring and innovative film stylist , would have settled for such a sodden and blandly archetypal treatment of such incendiary material .", "scorsese does n't give us a character worth giving a damn about .", "apart from the scenes of brawling and violence , scorsese 's energy flags ; he and his writers neglect to populate these muddy mean streets with vivid characters ; nor is there a compelling story , and the dialogue is portentous and magniloquent .", "even if you do n't believe that `` america was born in the streets , '' it 's a great yarn just the same .", "`` MOV '' falls short of the mark of such greats by the director as `` raging bull '' and `` the age of innocence ''", "it 's a glorious spectacle like those d.w. griffith made in the early days of silent film .", "-lsb- a -rsb- flawed masterpiece .", "scorsese 's best fiction film since goodfellas .", "a sprawling , rhythmless , exploitatively violent folly , studded with shallow characters .", "... not quite the masterpiece we 've been hoping for .", "scorsese gives us an education in the history of crime and corruption in new york city .", "a rousing , robust and thought-provoking history lesson disguised as an epic piece of entertainment .", "for almost the first two-thirds of martin scorsese 's 168-minute MOV , i was entranced .", "daniel day-lewis is seemingly possessed by his character , bill the butcher . his imposing presence onscreen overshadows every other actor , consuming the screen and reducing all other characters to mere side notes .", "until the director 's cut comes along one day , MOV represents the best scorsese we 've seen in a decade .", "it 's a beautifully mounted period piece whose highlight is a fire-breathing performance by daniel day-lewis .", "the streets , shot by cinematographer michael ballhaus , may be as authentic as they are mean , but it is nearly impossible to care about what happens on them .", "both flawed and delayed , martin scorcese 's MOV still emerges as his most vital work since goodfellas .", "one of the darkest visions of humanity i have ever seen .", "while scorsese 's bold images and generally smart casting ensure that `` gangs '' is never lethargic , the movie is hindered by a central plot that 's peppered with false starts and populated by characters who are nearly impossible to care about .", "a stunning re-creation not only of period places but also of the period mindset .", "an elaborately worked-over opus that 's as tarted-up and artificial as scorsese 's '70s classic mean streets was gritty and real .", "the story 's scope and pageantry are mesmerizing , and mr. day-lewis roars with leonine power .", "martin scorcese delivers an enormous blowout of a film , a biopic of new york in the 1800s ... but it 's too much bombast and far too loose .", "martin scorsese has landed back onto uk cinema screens with a resoundingly hollow thump .", "gangs is scorsese 's impassioned , elegiac portrait of a time when blows were delivered with fists , bats , and blades rather than airplanes , anthrax , or keyboard strokes ; it 's his look back at a lost world , his urban western .", "daniel day-lewis ' magnetic portrayal of a 19th-century ganglord who butchered his enemies as readily as he carved up a freshly killed hog .", "MOV is a very good film striving desperately to be great .", "it will be a film that , in decades hence , will only grow in stature and importance .", "it 's never less than compelling , driven by an overwhelming , larger than life performance from day-lewis and by scorsese 's grandiose historical imagination .", "martin scorseses dream project finally explodes on the screen after years of planning and another year of delays .", "it is unrelentingly gritty and tense .", "day-lewis 's sneering , roaring , monstrous performance as the butcher will remind you of the seemingly superhuman work robert deniro performed in his prime .", "add these pieces together and the sum is something amazing : a living , breathing , bleeding portrait of old new york , as colorful and violent as the old west .", "a brilliant film that allows scorcese to explore the roots of the conflict in his other films .", "gangs did n't really live up to the hype .", "epic in virtually every sense of the word , the film is nonetheless slow and awkward in telling its revenge story", "entertainment in the grand if bloody style -- and the performance of day-lewis alone makes this film worth the effort .", "the movie is so over the top and silly , that you 'll find yourself thinking of the sets as a prototype for a new gangland area of disneyland .", "MOV is an unapologetic mess , whose only saving grace is that it ends by blowing just about everything up .", "it 's a magnificent achievement -- holes , tatters , crudities , screw-ups , and all .", "for all its grandeur , gangs is still missing something .", "daniel day-lewis gives a performance that can only be called magesterial .", "if scorsese has been brooding on the subject this long , the MOV should be a transcendent work .", "this is historical filmmaking without the balm of right-thinking ideology , either liberal or conservative . mr. scorsese 's bravery and integrity in advancing this vision can hardly be underestimated .", "fatally overlong , filled with haphazard history lessons and half-drawn conclusions , never jelling into a cohesive film or possessing the energy to move its great bulk forward .", "... brutally captures the manic cultural carnival of young new york city .", "MOV starts out an epic and ends up an epic mess .", "never before has scorsese been so willing to let his naked enthusiasm -- his love not only for the history within the film and its characters but also the purity of cinema -- reveal itself in all of its unabashed glory .", "this overlong and bloated tableaux about corruption , politics , cultural clashes and personal revenge is impressive overall . only when you return to the light of day do you realize the flaws that weigh down scorsese 's would-be epic .", "it 's something of the ultimate scorsese film , with all the stomach-turning violence , colorful new york gang lore and other hallmarks of his personal cinema painted on their largest-ever historical canvas .", "the movie 's an epic , but that 's just a nice way of saying it 's boring and lasts forever .", "despite its faults , gangs excels in spectacle and pacing .", "missteps aside , this is moviemaking of real ambition .", "scorsese 's congested , conflicted , entrancing achievement .", "visually stunning , ` gangs ' one of the year 's hottest tickets . scorsese 's years of vision will become etched in our hearts and minds for all time .", "you have to honor its mad ambition . but sadly , it feels like a dream too long deferred .", "after all the expectation , it is surprising how absorbing `` MOV '' is as a playing movie , rather than an event or a mark in the evolution of scorsese 's career .", "what we 're left with has the patness of a history lesson about our roots and the melting pot and what it means to be an american .", "the best part about `` gangs '' was daniel day-lewis .", "the result reverberates on the screen with a deadly force and fury more intense than anything mr. scorsese has yet achieved on the meanest and most beloved streets he could imagine or recall .", "only lightly scarred by its troublesome post-production , scorsese 's historical epic triumphs , moving seamlessly from intimate characterisation to a grand stage of riot , corruption and murder .", "wonderful spectacle , terrific acting and toweringly great film-making .", "it brings a brute freshness to the hollywood epic and confirms scorsese 's abilities as a master storyteller , a director capable of managing both scale and precision , spectacle and depth .", "the story drags on and the drama only comes to life when the astonishing day-lewis is on screen .", "who 's it gon na be this year ? jack nicholson or daniel day-lewis ?", "belongs to daniel day-lewis as much as it belongs to martin scorsese ; it 's a memorable performance in a big , brassy , disturbing , unusual and highly successful film .", "there 's no emotion in this movie . there 's no real connection to the lead character .", "to better understand why this did n't connect with me would require another viewing , and i wo n't be sitting through this one again ... that in itself is commentary enough .", "what ultimately gives MOV its power is less its storytelling than its grand , bracingly radical vision of american history .", "gangs ... could eat charles dickens ' oliver twist for lunch and have the artful dodger turning tricks by sundown .", "beginning as martin scorsese 's apocalypse now , by the end of the auteur 's thirty-year dream of MOV , it more resembles his titanic .", "he 's at once terrifying , hilarious , honorable and vicious . it 's a magnificent reminder of what a great actor lewis is .", "like new york during the 1863 riots , ` gangs ' goes up in flames , leaving us with a broken vision of what could have been .", "a magnificent throwback to an almost vanished era of epic filmmaking by great filmmakers in thrall to their own passions , rather than to the studio bookkeepers .", "epic , meticulously researched and ultimately disappointing .", "scorsese 's long-awaited epic is ultimately disappointing -- it 's messy , much too long and incredibly violent , but worth seeing for a staggering performance by daniel day-lewis .", "this is scorsese so with the great vision we also must take muddled plot developments , heroes we do n't cheer for and romance without soul .", "one decision MOV can never quite make is whether its primary disposition is toward punctilious social history or operatic amplifications of reality .", "... a big , baggy , sprawling carnival of a movie , stretching out before us with little rhyme or reason .", "the greatest living american filmmaker returns to form in a triumph of raw cinematic power .", "just as day works his mojo to hide these flaws , so does scorcese with a strong fiery visual style , driving pace , passionate characters and a simple unabashed belief that this film is to be awesome . you will almost believe it 's awesome too .", "a triumph of pure craft and passionate heart .", "a blood-and-thunder american epic , audacious in its ambition and awesome in its achievement .", "this is a spacious , robust movie that grabs hold of us and does n't let go for nearly three hours .", "day-lewis ' larger-than-life bill is one of the great characters of movies .", "daniel day-lewis should start writing his oscar acceptance speech right now .", "ironic how a film about the struggle for independence in america would succumb to a director losing his artistic freedom to recount it .", "not bad enough to dismiss but too dense and boring to praise , let 's just call martin scorsese 's MOV the year 's longest and most expensive cinematic disappointment .", "the 1860s new york sets in MOV are amazing . too bad the dull characters keep blocking our view of them .", "at its best , the movie gives you a taste of the epic scorsese intended , an epic that , sadly , will forever remain in the filmmaker 's imagination .", "an operatic , sprawling picture that 's entertainingly acted , magnificently shot and gripping enough to sustain most of its 170-minute length .", "a misfire of monstrous proportions , the worst large-scale epic since michael cimino 's heaven 's gate .", "scorsese 's passionate and laudable intent is to show young america at its most elemental , boiling over with bigotry and resentments , free of the idealistic gloss our fiction often gives our history .", "scorsese is at the peak of his powers .", "not surprisingly , director martin scorsese delivers an ambitious spectacle with jaw-dropping sets and bone-crunching battles .", "a mightily impressive recreation of a fascinating piece of history .", "`` less is more '' is not a thought that seems to enter the scorcese framework .", "if MOV was a musical , you 'd leave the theater humming the sets .", "a feast for the eyes and a history buff 's dream , but not a cinephile 's .", "if scorcese had n't directed it , no one would even pretend to like it .", "-lrb- ... -rrb- ser\u00eda otra pel\u00edcula , quiz\u00e1 no menos interesante pero s\u00ed menos hipn\u00f3tica , si no fuera por daniel day-lewis .", "n the end , you 're left feeling that scorsese has put on a great show . as to what he means by it , i doubt he knows .", "gangs ' editing , suspense , and overall visual style all are evocative of classic scorsese greats , but rarely has the filmmaker 's thematic eye been so carefully trained .", "... beautifully photographed , vividly presented , brutally engaging .", "MOV is a magnificent film , and is challengingly about more than the sum of its ' parts .", "a disappointing entry in the scorsese canon .", "there 's only one question when it comes to gangs ' acting : which oscar is daniel day-lewis going to win - actor or supporting actor ? once the studio decides which category they 're going to push him in , ampas may as well just mail him the trophy .", "in trying to create the ultimate vision of his city , martin scorsese has created a masterpiece .", "a richly impressive and densely realized work that bracingly opens the eye and mind to untaught aspects of american history .", "scorsese 's long-delayed epic finally arrives on-screen ... and it was worth the wait .", "a gritty and epic history lesson about one of the most notorious cities in the world -- you may have to take notes for the test afterwards .", "if scorsese ever puts out a director 's cut , that will be the film to watch ...", "it was the best of films , it was the worst of films ...", "... a product of supreme confidence and sublime cheek .", "the world needs more filmmakers with passionate enthusiasms like martin scorsese . but it does n't need MOV .", "everyone is a cutout , attached to simple idea balloons , though scorsese shows a ripe , splurging love of the milieu .", "a film that overflows with passion , artistry and vitality .", "a good film , but a letdown .", "bill the butcher is a coiled monster with a guttural voice and a sharply thrown knife ; day-lewis brings him to glittery , intense life .", "we expect filet mignon when we dine at trattoria scorsese . MOV is more like good hamburger .", "i doubt i 'll ever be able to look at a smirking fellow in old daguerreotype , with rolled-up sleeves and a mustache , and not think of daniel day-lewis and all that vitality lost to time .", "the film is obviously an accomplished product from the hands of a master filmmaker at work .", "the brilliant martin scorsese has created a phenomenal work that plunges us deep into lower manhattan in the 1860s .", "gangs , despite the gravity of its subject matter , is often as fun to watch as a good spaghetti western .", "it 's a gruesome masterpiece , savage and majestic , unbearable and irresistible all at once .", "daniel day-lewis sure looks dandy in his plaid pants . ` add a set of callaways and a green blazer , and i could win the masters ! '", "whether or not a longer version would have given the film more texture and dimension , this one presents a blinkered vision of american history .", "the whole may not add up to the sum of its parts , but it 's difficult to dismiss the brilliance of those parts ." ], "summary": "though flawed , the sprawling , messy MOV is redeemed by impressive production design and day-lewis 's electrifying performance .", "id": "13106" }, { "movie": "12_monkeys", "reviews": [ ". . less an essay on the nature of madness than a crazy person 's poem . it is wild and beautiful and deeply disturbing all at once .", "dark and somber like blade runner , this sci-fi is a spectacular mess , a convoluted film with too many ideas for its own good , blending -lrb- among other things -rrb- the virus thriller with the post-apocalyptic genre .", "a messy m\u00e9lange of action , adventure , sci-fi , romance , horror , and comedy .", "oh my !", "gilliam has taken on a conventional hollywood sci-fi thriller with big stars and turned it into his own rough beast .", "neither as visually compelling as brazil nor as emotionally gripping as the fisher king .", "12 MOV seems to go down smoothly without compromising anything or dumbing itself down .", "gilliam gives the material a lunatic poetry of his own , but remains impervious to the requirements of narrative pacing .", "as an entertainment , it appeals more to the mind than to the senses .", "an intoxicating blend of existential sf and unrequited romance .", "in some ways , 12 MOV is the end-of-the-world thriller that kathryn bigelow 's strange days wanted to be .", "at one point cole says that viewing the past is like watching a good movie , ` every time you see it it 's different , because you 're different . ' 12 MOV is a film that will do that , change as you change .", "a clever , complex , and poignant success is as astonishing as it is satisfying .", "an antithesis of how the terminator handled time travel .", "mystifying , intriguing , even infuriating , it shows what happens when an unconventional talent meets straightforward material .", "the whole scope of 12 moneys is completely insane , often confusing , sometimes almost unintelligible ; but somehow at the end it all comes together and everything makes sense if you look at it closely enough .", "this film hits a nerve a lot more effectively than either the director 's brazil or the fisher king .", "a movie that is about as much fun to watch as getting your teeth pulled .", "willis gives a quietly intense performance , looking like he 's trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle in his head .", "willis and pitts 's performances , gilliam 's atmospherics and an exhilarating momentum easily outweigh such trifling flaws .", "aside from his trademark visual style , gilliam generally handles the chaos he depicts quite well , and he 's come up with a marvelous cast .", "despite my beef with the interminable convolutions of 12 MOV , the film has one major thing going for it : put simply , it 's very , very cool .", "it has a story -- and a good one at that -- with characters one cares about and is n't just a flashy display of what today 's special effects teams are capable of . anybody out there in hollywood listening to any of this ?", "this is action movie-making at its most suave .", "the acting is good , and the visuals are sharp . but at two hours long , they should have just settled for six MOV .", "bruce willis , in an eruptive performance of startling emotional intensity , stars as cole , a prisoner tagged for an experiment that may get him killed .", "it often seems as though gilliam is the least prolific of fantastic directors working today -lrb- with the possible exception of alejandro jodorowsky -rrb- , but once again , it was worth the wait .", "terry gilliam 's most mature film to date demands rigorous analysis from the viewer . add to this the director 's grotesquely comic hallmarks , and the resulting film is a complex and rewarding fantasy .", "the more i see this film , the more i 'm impressed by it . i love movies that are rich and complex , filled with different layers of reading .", "weird meditation on time and apocalyptic possibilities .", "there 's always overripe method to his madness , but in the new 12 MOV mr. gilliam 's methods are uncommonly wrenching and strong .", "distinctly lacking in sentiment . give me cataclysm , but at least act like you care .", "disorientating , but good performances all round . will have you thinking for days afterwards .", "the film is intelligently written , and deserves more than its guaranteed cult-film status .", "a pretentious and self-indulgent piece of oppressive and cheerless filmmaking , but for mavens of time travel stories it delivers the goods .", "one of the qualities that makes 12 MOV so good is the fact that it is almost too complicated to explain .", "a densely plotted , visually dynamic post-apocalyptic thriller .", "the sort of movie that disappears on you as soon as you leave the theatre , but it 's a great ride while you 're there .", "what 's remarkable about 12 MOV is that , despite its decade-hopping abandon , the film makes a chilling kind of narrative sense .", "a consistently engaging motion picture .", "overwrought .", "in its frantic mix of chaos , carnage and zoo animals , 12 MOV is jumanji for adults .", "it will keep you thinking long after you watch it .", "-lsb- gilliam -rsb- turns a world falling apart into a funky , dizzying spectacle .", "a potent glimpse of doom with a jarringly familiar ring .", "i 'm pleased beyond words to find a movie that cares deeply for its characters even as they fall under the wheels of destiny , instead of killing them just to be clever .", "though it takes a while to get moving , twelve MOV becomes a thrilling , haunting and exceedingly well-acted film .", "gilliam 's polarizing style is at its near-best ... a dazzling feat of storytelling that bristles with provocative ideas . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "a dark and gritty sci-fi thriller , 12 MOV stands apart from other sci-fi films , due to its unique and twisted concept on the future of mankind .", "one of the best-looking and smartest sci-fi films of the modern era .", "constantly surprising and consistently unsettling .", "gilliam goes on to deliver a movie that is not only rich in visual detail but offers an involving , occasionally baffling storyline and builds the tension to positively unbearable levels during the final reel .", "terry gilliam has seldom been more inventive or more compelling .", "gilliam 's greatest all around film .", "while all of gilliam 's movies are worth seeing , there 's a fair amount of his designer grimness here mixed in with the cabaret comedy .", "terry gilliam 's violent dystopian masterpiece .", "speculative fiction at its best in that it does n't just trifle with science fiction concepts , but rather tells a grander story with characters and world disasters" ], "summary": "the plot 's a bit of a jumble , but excellent performances and mind-blowing plot twists make 12 MOV a kooky , effective experience .", "id": "15508" }, { "movie": "breach", "reviews": [ "a very good movie with great acting , but it needed a bit of pizzazz to make it a movie you ca n't miss .", "an actor who excels at what i call `` quiet strength , '' cooper often says more with his eyes then with his mouth", "the picture is suspenseful where it counts , and at times , it 's truly terrifying . there were moments that made my skin crawl .", "it 's smart , it does n't pander , and it keeps us intrigued from start to finish .", "it is refreshing to see a film centered on intelligent adults .", "while possibly too early to create the needed oscar buzz for 2008 , cooper deserves to be remembered at this time next year . he 's that good .", "cooper is superb , hard as granite , dense as an imploding black hole .", "the cast exquisitely play the complete and complex characters with chris cooper at the top of his game .", "the script is intelligent and ray 's direction solid ... performances are top-notch , especially from cooper ... and the low-key cinematography and music serve the material well .", "-lsb- i -rsb- f writer/director billy ray was looking for someone to show how the in-over-his-head o'neill contrasted the wily hanssen , phillippe ends up being a perfect choice .", "it 's stunning how much drama MOV is able to evoke with only a few , angry words .", "the spy who catechized me", "a compelling character study of a man whose ego took down his career , and very nearly much more .", "compulsory viewing .", "much like hanssen himself , MOV , which was co-written and directed by billy ray , remains cool to the touch , and all the more queasily fascinating for it .", "... suspenseful and calculating . as a stimulating thriller padded with cynical mind games , MOV flourishes with its vivid dosage of prestige and paranoia .", "this unconventional thriller tells us up front who the bad guy is and what happened to him in 2001 . then we puzzle out bits of his personality while watching eric o'neill , the agent assigned to catch him , go through a crisis of conscience .", "set in a fantasy vision of the corridors of power , billy ray generates a hollow spy drama based on the true story of the capture of the fbi 's most detrimental traitor .", "MOV becomes a one-man show , and even though , thanks to -lsb- chris -rsb- cooper , it 's quite a show , spy thrillers depend on the kind of give-and-take conspicuously missing here .", "a member of the religious right involved in something duplicitous sexually and politically , while shrouding themselves in a holy water-soaked american flag ? i know , it seems impossible .", "a quietly fascinating and intelligent story about betrayal .", "you begin to suspect the fbi may be the world 's most boring bunch of crime busters during MOV , a movie that urgently asserts itself as a spy thriller .", "after the lumbering self-importance of the good shepherd , this lean , self-effacing portrait of an organizational black sheep is welcome .", "if you do n't see enough of personality-deficient paper-pushers and sterile office environments on your daily rounds , this film will offer just what you 've been missing .", "MOV is competently made but , aside from cooper 's performance , there 's nothing here worth getting excited about .", "with the war in iraq still raging and general international unrest looming around every corner , audiences are less interested in glib , glossy , brawny takes on the spy world .", "the gamesmanship going on in the heads of cooper and phillippe makes MOV intensely involving .", "chris cooper 's performance stands out in MOV .", "-lsb- director -rsb- ray -lrb- `` shattered glass '' -rrb- made the paper pursuit of plagiarism more thrilling than espionage .", "with remarkably simple and effective performances by ryan phillippe as o'neill and chris cooper as hanssen , MOV is a slow , thoughtful duet for two very different , but equally impressive men , both complex and ` real . '", "ray 's careful emphasis on authenticity over thrills and psychology over action is impeded by this narrative 's narrow window : there 's so much we ca n't know about what hanssen did and why .", "when your false spy rings the truest , there 's a problem .", "ray 's impression of the real hanssen remains frighteningly opaque .", "chris cooper 's portrayal is so touching that one can not help feeling sympathy for the man .", "the film informs us that most of the information is still classified , so perhaps the filmmakers should have waited until they had more to work with .", "reese witherspoon has already done what would need to be done to make MOV a better film : kick ryan phillippe to the curb .", "though director ray provides a few choice moments of psychological tension , nothing in his film can hope to outpace the anxiety caused by the appearance of former attorney general john ashcroft in its opening scene .", "this is one smart thriller : it lets you draw your own conclusions , assumes you 're connected enough to current events to understand the context in which it occurs ...", "MOV is the strangely punchless story of a sting operation aimed at netting the biggest traitor/spy in recent u.s. history .", "without cooper 's performance , MOV would have been a good , workmanlike thriller . his presence lifts it to a whole new level .", "tense , well executed psyhcological thriller .", "chris cooper is the whole , haunted show in MOV .", "as he proved with shattered glass and as he proves again with MOV , director billy ray has become the john ford of washington culture .", "because this espionage thriller is based on true events , it 's a given that the bad guy will be caught . but -lsb- director -rsb- ray builds an intriguing maze around the how , seen through the eyes of the audience 's proxy , a young fbi man sent to spy on a colleague .", "MOV is a movie tailor-made for the age of intelligence failure .", "when cooper is on screen it 's mesmerizing .", "one of the best elements of this lean , tense and coolly believable story about the internal hunt for fbi turncoat robert hanssen is how its visual style and dearth of formulaic structural ingredients run counter to almost any other spy movie .", "subtle , complex , bleakly funny at times , but always utterly enveloping , one of the great studies in profoundly abnormal psychology .", "a well-paced , intelligent thriller that 's easily the most pleasant surprise of the year so far .", "a subtle , suspenseful espionage thriller", "though you know from the start just how it 's going to end , MOV , based on the true story of a treasonous fbi operative , is an edge-of-the-seat thriller .", "an uncompromising study in the gradual decay of a soul .", "despite limits , the story has traction and grip . as hanssen plays out his fate , truly worshipping nothing but his own importance , we enjoy the pressures so bracingly incarnated by chris cooper .", "MOV suffers from lavishing so much attention on a relatively minor figure .", "much of the movie is suspenseful and director billy ray deserves credit for getting such a challenging espionage tale through the hollywood studio system with so few compromises to the current dictates of big-budget filmmaking .", "a restrained and respectable look at what might be the single least interesting aspect of a stunning true story .", "MOV rarely treads new ground , but the set pieces are used so sparingly and with such focus on the central characters , the movie reaches a degree of tension you might not think possible .", "MOV is slow , but never ponderous , and not at all like your average spy thriller . it has less obvious thrills and more depth .", "enjoyable , slow-burning thriller with an intelligent script and strong performances from its two leads .", "this is one of the more engaging spy stories to come along over the past few years and genre fans should eat it up .", "MOV , a slow-burn thriller told from the inside out instead of the outside in , is not a great film . but it could have been . it will have to settle for being simply a very good film .", "stvarni svijet se u `` pukotini '' , kao i u mnogo drugih slu % u010dajeva , pokazao previ % u0161e kompliciranim za dogmatsku jednostavnost i nedostatak suptilnosti dana % u0161njeg hollywooda .", "muffles suspense and dilutes tension without turning into a distanced approach", "... a slow-paced character study that benefits substantially from chris cooper 's downright astounding performance ...", "an espionage thriller which focuses on strong character development , performances and setting , MOV could have been a contender had it not been for the ill informed depictions of the characters catholic faith .", "the pulse of spy films so rarely comes from such meticulously detailed verbal and body-language suspense . here , every conversation is a possible trap , inquiries feel like interrogations , responses and reactions could be lethal tells .", "a movie of rare integrity , designed and staged with a plain naturalism that , in the early stages of the film , may be mistaken for a lack of imagination .", "ray is n't beyond teasing out implications from his true stories , but he 's also smart enough to know where to quit , allowing the viewer to resolve the whys and wherefores .", "... the first really interesting film of this still new year .", "powerhouse performances by chris cooper and laura linney highlight this taut political thriller .", "there 's precious little espionage where we can see it , and that 's what makes the movie such a compelling and eerily effective little drama .", "rather than being a high-action thriller , MOV is more of a slow burn through the night .", "tersely written and directed ... although there are suspenseful sequences in this compelling story , ray and cooper concentrate on the moral confusion surrounding the key players in the hanssen scandal .", "cooper captures all of -lsb- hanssen 's -rsb- complexities and more , encapsulating in one performance a hard-assed boss , exasperated techno geek , amusing old-fashioned conservative and loving family man .", "the thriller MOV manages to excite and unnerve despite our knowing the ending .", "a finely crafted work that combines a quiet , conversation-rich spy thriller with a pair of solid character studies by cooper and phillippe .", "an interestingly told tale : melancholy , thoughtful , and very un-american .", "intriguing and intelligent , MOV may be too understated for its own good .", "a sombre game of cat-and-mouse . what it lacks in genuine tension it amply compensates in the understated performances of the two leads .", "cooper is always dead-bang on", "an effective and meticulous character drama , MOV does n't quite make the most of its story but still tells a fascinating tale , aided by chris cooper 's magnetic central performance .", "in the face of such a towering performance from cooper , phillippe keeps his end up while laura linney , as his handler , delivers the kind of turn we 've come to expect from one of america 's finest movie actresses .", "despite a couple of tense set pieces , the suspense needed to ignite this film is disappointingly lacking .", "chris cooper , who won an oscar for his supporting role in adaptation , gives a brilliant poker-faced performance as hanssen and ryan phillippe is also convincing as o'neill .", "tense , fascinating , worthwhile .", "slow-burning and sombre , MOV wo n't be for everyone . but it 's worth catching for cooper 's performance , while its fact-based tale of treachery will strike a chord in today 's climate of suspicion .", "tense , understated and often funny spy thriller about a real-life cia traitor .", "MOV is the sort of studiously serious , well-made , based-on-fact film that critics go crazy for and audiences find earnestly dull and eminently avoidable .", "MOV is a good cloak-and-dagger tale and telling this complex story through o'neill proves a brilliant way to watch hanssen 's schemes unravel .", "a spellbinding real-life suspense thriller so incredible that even hollywood could n't make it up .", "better-focused than the good shepherd , and its story is more interesting .", "we know from the outset that hanssen , brilliantly played by chris cooper , is guilty . what we do n't know is how the fbi caught him , and that 's what director billy ray 's carefully detailed and absorbing movie tells us .", "it 's not just that MOV looks terrific compared with the dreck hollywood has thrown on screen so far this year , though there is that . no , MOV has the early-season intelligence and intriguing casting of last year 's inside man .", "this is n't one of those labyrinthine works of deception that doubles back on itself at every turn . MOV is content to tell a strong story with the utmost efficiency and let its cast do the heavy lifting .", "about the only thing ineffective about MOV is the humdrum title . everything else in this smart thriller works like a perfectly crafted latin square puzzle .", "former fbi agent robert hanssen is now serving a life sentence for his long career as a russian and soviet spy , but this rote thriller implies he should have done prison time just for being catholic .", "a sharp cat-and-mouse game between hanssen and eric o'neill -lrb- ryan phillippe -rrb- , the agent/trainee assigned to spy on him .", "MOV is never less than interesting , engaging and intelligently told .", "just when you 're thinking every new american film belongs in the bomb squad , along comes MOV to win one for our side .", "MOV gets considerable power from the brilliant cooper , who generates an incredibly complex and multi-layered portrayal of hanssen . it 's the first great performance of 2007 .", "a solid feat of filmmaking across the board , MOV brings a long-awaited end to the drought of good movies at the multiplex .", "a riveting true-life thriller about the young fbi specialist who got the goods on the veteran agent selling secrets to moscow .", "the movie gives us counter-espionage without the bourne or bond embellishments , and superb acting from cooper , phillippe and linney .", "smart , plausible , well-crafted and filled with moments of real drama .", "cooper 's performance is fine . the script , however , is filled with dead-end tangents and unanswered questions .", "though it 's being dumped in the wastelands in february , MOV is better than many of the pack of so-called prestige movies that were released at the end of last year .", "ray r\u00e9ussit \u0155 traiter d'une fa\u00e7on terre-\u0155-terre , mais n\u00e9anmoins fort efficace , ses enjeux sociaux et politiques sans jamais les ensevelir sous une inutile couche d'artifices .", "ultimately , the movie soars because of the inspired casting of chris cooper as hanssen .", "its title reads like a john grisham pot-boiler , but it 's much more than that . along with a good sized dollop of intrigue , we are also treated to a fascinating character study .", "get ready to hold your breath - this intelligently told story is filled with tension and fascinating at every turn .", "general audiences might find the film too cerebral or talky , but it was refreshing to finally see a spy film that was n't trying to be bourne again .", "a more subtle character study about the inexplicability and inevitability of the darker of human tendencies .", "oferecendo uma performance densa e repleta de complexidade , cooper ajuda o filme a se recuperar de uma estrutura narrativa que parece ter o prop\u00f3sito de minar qualquer tens\u0103o ou surpresa .", "click for full review", "despite a career-best turn from chris cooper , however , MOV is a weirdly muted affair .", "cold and cerebral , with simmering suspense rather than outright excitement , this is a feel-the-quality-of-the-acting movie . it ca n't answer all sorts of questions , but does take a scary mug shot of a subtle monster .", "a thriller with no thrills , a true story minus a single interesting truth , a real-life tale with all the fascination scraped off to leave only a residue of tedious facts .", "it 's all about chemistry , and cooper and phillippe have it .", "as a follow-up to shattered glass , this fact-based thriller is a logical step for billy ray since both films deal with trust and betrayal , except that here the scope is wider and the goal more ambitious and political .", "filled with tension , deception and bravura acting , MOV is a crackling tale of real-life espionage that doubles as a compelling psychological drama .", "this tale of betrayal and loyalty , of spiritual awakening and the subtle encroachment of evil , and of bureaucratic foul ups is laid out in a sober and detailed structure , though it lacks the tense-filled moments needed for a thrilling spy drama .", "it feels like a taut spy thriller , the intellectual answer to the bourne identity .", "the enigma of hanssen keeps the film as fresh and crisp as an fbi agent 's white dress shirt .", "i can imagine no better man -lsb- than chris cooper -rsb- to play the enigma at the center of MOV .", "MOV , not unlike the good shepherd , is a flat film . all the action plays out in the same grey fashion , with few emotional ups or downs , little tension and no real surprises .", "phillippe and cooper remind us that real espionage is n't about chases and gunplay but about the duplicity of the human personality .", "a rare spy thriller , one that is more about true psychological suspense than espionage games .", "we get bits and pieces of hanssen 's personality -- his suspiciousness , his need to test everyone around him , his dual penchants for both rage and self-righteousness , and his condescending arrogance -- but it never fully comes together .", "something like the devil wears prada for boys , MOV boasts terrific acting , a deftly written screenplay , and all the visual pizzazz of a made-for-cable movie .", "an entertaining character study and a glimpse at history as well , `` MOV '' will intrigue even viewers who normally are n't drawn to stories of , well , intrigue .", "... it is cooper 's brilliance , letting us see the uncontrollable rage behind a controlled fa\u00e7ade , that makes director billy ray 's spy flick so engrossing .", "MOV builds toward a few crucial moments where we get inside the mind of a turncoat long enough to sense his arrogance as well as his acrid despair .", "the best thing to happen to chris cooper since he lost his teeth .", "MOV has the facts and shape of real events ; it also has real excitement and true craft behind it , which is just one part of the reason why it 's such a pleasure to watch .", "slow and steady , sure-handed and gripping .", "how much of this script is fact and how much dramatic license is not known , but what is known is that MOV is riveting cinema .", "would have benefited from more character development and visual drama -- a psychological thriller that rarely provokes the intellect and offers little pulse-racing action .", "... has a mole of its own , someone working against the movie right under its nose .", "as he proved in shattered glass , ray has a talent for nailing the essence of an ecosystem .", "the unexciting look and feel of the movie would n't have bothered me if the filmmakers had penetrated hanssen 's skull a little .", "it 's not interested in cheap thrills or playing gotcha with the audience . -lrb- which is n't to say parts of it are n't exhilarating . -rrb-", "he was a dangerous traitor , but more important , a stiff-necked , blowhard bore .", "the best thing that can be said about MOV is that it is n't directed by tony scott .", "a wonderfully taut cat-and-mouse thriller . it features a performance by chris cooper , as the eccentric , contradictory hanssen , that ought to be remembered as one of the year 's best come december .", "two men playing off each other , everything they say working on more than one level and those levels changing with every exchange , sometimes with every line of conversation is where the film is at its best and most engrossing", "an exciting thriller of the mind-game variety played vigorously by an exceptionally smart ensemble without blood , bombs or bombast .", "just as somber as the good shepherd , the most recent domestic spy drama , but more tightly focused , MOV absorbingly zeroes in on how the fbi nailed the most damaging turncoat in american history .", "MOV , based on actual cia and fbi history , meticulously scrutinizes the real world of spies to draw scary portraits of deadly , unpleasant people .", "chris cooper is amazing as always : amusingly grumpy , increasingly creepy and , ultimately , oddly affecting .", "turns the espionage thriller into something that stresses the quiet moments over superfluous explosions", "cooper -lsb- works -rsb- hard to provide any psychological subtext to the story behind the headlines .", "MOV is a very good film with a lot of strong elements ; had it exploited those elements a little more , it would have been a great film .", "it 's a daunting task , but ray manages to keep the entire affair focused on unraveling thread after thread of hanssen .", "chris cooper playing the traitor robert hanssen is most of the show . he gets an excellent opportunity to show off his fine talent as a very strange man who is a mass of contradictions .", "-lrb- chris cooper -rrb- is the principal reason why this unspectacular , low-key study of the hanssen national security fiasco is so effective .", "MOV follows the good shepherd as the second outstanding spy-thriller released by universal within the last two months . shepherd was terrific . MOV is even better .", "it 's spy vs. spy in the new thriller `` MOV , '' though only one spy knows that something truly is afoot . the other is left to suspect , with the film 's formidable tension mounting from his growing suspicion .", "... a showcase for its two main actors .", "a riveting fact-based drama about an american spy who betrayed his country and at the same time was a devout catholic .", "the `` big picture '' hanssen sees is informed by deep convictions regarding patriotism and ethical order . it 's the same picture his fellows see , just slightly adjusted .", "absolutely fascinating and completely engrossing .", "heavens , this is a film about two guys in suits talking for 110 minutes . how could there be such tension ? MOV is something of a cinematic miracle in the way it uses silence as a deadly weapon .", "expertly crafted , if slightly pedestrian , docudrama , more quietly intriguing than compellingly dramatic -lsb- but -rsb- sparked by cooper 's bravura turn .", "a compelling piece of fictional journalism , blending real elements and storytelling with a rare finesse .", "in truth , the movie leaves us scratching our heads . and yet , for most of it , i was held -- by chris cooper 's dour portrayal of walled-off demons , by the director 's fascination with a deception that , on the surface of it , does n't add up .", "MOV , a movie about trust and betrayals and one where you know what happens in the end , still keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time .", "an unusually smart , tense and engaging film amid the usual dreck that lands in theaters this time of year .", "cooper gives a great performance as a man now spending 23 hours a day in solitary confinement , serving a life sentence without the prospect of probation .", "MOV is a tough , bare-knuckle look at the new cyber-terrorism that holds you captive from start to finish .", "what really animates MOV is the question : how much wrong are you willing and able to do in order to uncover somebody else 's wrongdoing ?", "being an fbi agent is mostly slow , detailed , boring , monotonous , tedious work , which aptly describes watching this film ." ], "summary": "powered by chris cooper 's masterful performance , MOV is a tense and engaging portrayal of the fbi 's infamous turncoat .", "id": "520613707" }, { "movie": "lawrence_of_arabia", "reviews": [ "if one can continue to see a work such as this 35 years later and still remain entranced by its spectacle and its drama , then surely , that is a classic indeed .", "-lsb- it -rsb- remains one of the most intelligent , handsome , and influential of all war epics .", "riveting from beginning to end , featuring stellar performances , amazing cinematography , and a story without a trace of fat , the film does everything an epic is supposed to do -- and more .", "elegant and literate .", "approach it from whatever angle you like , performances , script , cinematography , score ; david lean 's sweeping biography of t.e. lawrence is unarguably magnificent .", "the only way to properly see lean 's overstuffed epic is on the big screen , the better to appreciate the glorious desert vistas , maurice jarre 's soaring score and the glowing performance by then-unknown peter o'toole as a messianic t.e. lawrence .", "the passage of time has only proved how difficult it is to run ideas , history , characterisation and landscape in harness on this sort of scale .", "lean 's epic biography of the enigmatic and complex british hero is visually mesmerizing , even if it omits crucial aspects of lawrence 's life , and it boasts a radical , riveting performance from peter o'toole .", "a gorgeous epic with an outstanding performance from peter o'toole .", "one of the rare instances of `` oscars '' ending in right hands .", "it 's probably heresy to suggest it 's overlong , but if lean 's epic outstays its welcome , there are more than enough magical moments to explain why it enjoys its lofty reputation .", "still looks awesome and packs a tremendous punch .", "grand in every sense , david lean 's film is an example of an established director full of confidence and ambition .", "one of those rare films that runs on all cylinders", "at the center of lean 's superbly sun-drenched , 70 mm canvas is peter o'toole 's eccentric but magnificent portrayal of the erudite , oxford-educated lieutenant .", "even the flies in the opening cairo scene jump out at you .", "it 's a truly magnificent film .", "-lsb- video essay -rsb- celebrated british director david lean 's `` MOV '' is a textbook example of `` epic '' cinema .", "this is movie-making on the grandest scale .", "despite the film 's technical wizardry , the seven academy awards and the expansive budget , this time-honored epic is ultimately a testament to something elemental : the ability to make an audience gasp as a story is told .", "i epics are your thing , they do n't come much grander .", "of all miracles readily apparent on screen , perhaps the greatest is that the film even got made in the first place .", "how did david lean and star peter o'toole achieve such perfection ? if we could define and distil it , we would n't need a special category for those flicks we call ` classics . ' MOV is that , and then some .", "this is a movie with the excitement of a cavalry charge .", "to appreciate the film fully , lawrence must be seen in a cinema , in 70 mm on the widescreen and in stereophonic sound , and the present theatrical revival is not to be missed .", "this seven-oscar wonder remains exhilarating thanks to freddie young 's majestic desert lensing , maurice jarre 's gorgeous score and peter o'toole 's career-defining portrayal of the feted but flawed protagonist .", "it may be legend , and it may be romanticized , but `` MOV '' feels authentic . it 's as stirring an epic as hollywood has ever produced-one reason why the american film institute has named it the number 1 epic of all time .", "if ever there was a movie worthy of restoration and reissuing it is MOV .", "this is that rare film whose weaknesses are not only swallowed up by its vast , disturbing ambition , but somehow become part of its strengths .", "lawrence luxuriates in the tremendous .", "there are great action scenes , and the photography by lean regular freddie young is , i believe , is the best ever put on film .", "sweeping , epic , majestic , awesome , sumptuous , you name the grandiose superlative and you 'll be right , with amazing performances and gorgeous visuals , although very , very long .", "it was a big bold project and has turned out a big bold film .", "... an overlong yet watchable epic ...", "mature teens will appreciate this gripping epic .", "o'toole , all piercing blue eyes and steadfast idealism , buzzes with charisma in the role of a lifetime .", "does it really matter that the sun that rises in the film is a ` real ' sun as opposed to a cgi sun ?", "one of the cinema 's grandest spectacles , MOV is at turns exhilarating , devastating , and puzzling as it ponders the mystery of a man who was a mystery to himself .", "spell-binding cinema .", "the performances , the script , the directing , the cinematography , the musical score is all memorable and has n't aged much , though at 3.5 hours there are some times -lrb- especially in the last hour -rrb- that the story begins to drag .", "it is o'toole who continually dominates the screen , and he dominates it with professional skill , irish charm and smashing good looks .", "both the man and the movie , are treated with a detached reverence that keep them essentially unknowable ... as glorious but inscrutable as the dunes .", "best appreciated on the big screen .", "the sweeping sands and landscapes in this film are breathtaking and that 's what puts david lean as one of the great epic filmmakers of all time .", "stirring historical biography is epic , intimate and awe-inspiring .", "for all the stunning shots of windswept dunes and battle sequences featuring a cast of hundreds , this is the study of a man in deep conflict .", "MOV is a stunning ` classic . '", "the english-language cinema 's exemplary historical drama , gorgeous , complex , passionate , vivid and engrossing a full four decades after its premiere .", "MOV -lrb- 1962 -rrb- is the filmic retelling of t. e. lawrence 's heroic , autobiographical account of his own arabian adventure , published in `` the seven pillars", "the only thing that really dates it is the awful makeup , orangey pancake for lawrence , a gray-green nose for quinn and cordovan shoe polish for guinness .", "this is a film for the ages .", "we remember the quiet , empty passages , the sun rising across the desert , the intricate lines traced by the wind in the sand .", "lawrence is too emotionally overpowering for critical reservations .", "a very good film .", "a movie with scope , tremendous clarity of vision and purpose ; simply put , it is a film for the ages , an epic in every sense .", "... the best epic the screen has ever seen . in terms of sheer sweep , intelligence , and star power , nothing much comes close .", "i am convinced that it is simply one of the finest works of cinematic genius to ever illuminate the big screen .", "a cracking good adventure yarn , as well as a disturbing psychological profile of a man destined to become a great leader but an even greater dupe .", "an epic achievement in filmmaking .", "a shining example of a vanished breed of epic filmmaking .", "it reduces a legendary figure to conventional movie-hero size amidst magnificent and exotic scenery but a conventional lot of action-film clich\u00e9s .", "it 's an astonishing , unrepeatable epic .", "released in 1962 , it was pretty clearly the most intelligent spectacular within living memory . on its 40th anniversary , it 's even better .", "in the power , sweep and realism of its story dealing with the legendary war hero , the picture has rarely been equalled .", "if nothing else , this film is absolutely gorgeously shot ." ], "summary": "the epic of all epics , MOV cements director david lean 's status in the filmmaking pantheon with nearly four hours of grand scope , brilliant performances , and beautiful cinematography .", "id": "10348" }, { "movie": "1084153-elizabeth", "reviews": [ "dank interior castle settings create a claustrophobic intensity that underscores the growing sense of paranoia and people 's sinister machinations in this battle for england .", "kapur cunningly confuses gender roles , equates sex with death , and rattles through dark , stony passions with some considerable panache .", "more often than not , it 's a watchable and thought-provoking history lesson rather than the captivating , revealing , intimate portrait it wants to be .", "drama of the ascendancy of england 's most powerful queen brims with great acting , brilliant direction .", "shekhar kapur gets particularly good work out of blanchett , who invests MOV with a disparate mix of naive vulnerability , tart wit and steadfast resolve , sometimes all within a single scene .", "without -lsb- blanchett -rsb- , kapur 's extravagant history lesson -lrb- written by michael hirst -rrb- blurs into dark doings among men in tights .", "cate blanchett gives a bravura performance in this dark and lurid account , which is done from a contemporary standoint as a conspiracy thriller , emphasizing the violent actions", "`` MOV '' is superior historical soap opera that shrewdly sidesteps all the cliches of british costume drama with its bold , often modern approach .", "historians will take issue with some of the filmmakers ' choices , but fans of juicy historical drama will just hunker down for the feast .", "blanchett is the shining jewel in an otherwise dull and tarnished crown .", "a powerful , arty production , with a strong cast -lrb- with a couple of exceptions -rrb- , perfoming well .", "as MOV , cate blanchett has a fierceness about her , an intensity that wo n't quit .", "... a grand visual delight and liberating sixteenth century costume tale .", "this is blanchett at her best , responding to kapur 's lucid and firm direction , as he raises the film well above standard ` costumer ' levels to an intricate , intelligent human and historical drama .", "junkyard filth masquerading as an important history lesson .", "`` MOV '' is history rendered with enough brains and imagination to more than make up for its fewstumbles .", "a well-done drama about power politics and the cult of personality .", "an excellent film , it does not warrant a higher rating because it assumes the audience is very familiar with MOV i 's rise to the throne .", "\u00e9 como um livro de hist\u00f3ria - mas sem a did\u00e1tica que tornou admir\u00e1veis outros exemplares afins produzidos pelo cinema .", "blanchett never curtsies to caricature . her interpretation is complex , restrained , warmly sensual .", "it 's almost guaranteed to get a couple of oscar nominations in the technical categories , and i think blanchett deserves one , too .", "a decent period suspense thriller and an inaccurate history lesson that could have been a masterpiece", "i ended up liking it , even though i kept wishing it was over .", "not only makes the traditionally stuffy and aloof british costume drama accessible , but entertaining and exciting as well .", "with style , passion , and intelligence , MOV answers the question lurking silently amid mounting slag heaps of cheesy princess di memorabilia : what is this thing we have about royalty ?", "shekhar kapur is not a native of great britain but was raised in india , who admittedly knew little about MOV when assigned this film .", "this historical drama is more concerned with showing tawdry sex , convoluted conspiracies and surprisingly violent killings than it is with telling the real story .", "the film cries out for a one-word review : confusing .", "kapur draws the best from an outstanding cast and delivers both an atmospheric romance and a mature exploration of a big theme - the dark duplicity , betrayal , and grubby ambition that runs through britain 's bloodthirsty history .", "kapur certainly throws a lot her way , but such is blanchett 's ability that she carries it all off .", "this is a fine piece of filmmaking that gives you history but still contains the right elements of sex , intrigue and suspense to keep it from being starched .", "this is the best film ever made about the subject of a british ruler ." ], "summary": "no mere historical drama , MOV is a rich , suspenseful journey into the heart of british royal politics , and features a typically outstanding performance from cate blanchett .", "id": "16306" }, { "movie": "but_im_a_cheerleader", "reviews": [ "crushingly obvious and abysmally unfunny .", "ungainly sentiment and unnecessary stylization .", "... the film plays gay stereotypes as broad farce and middle class fear as frantic panic , but there 's no bite beyond the cartoonish laughs .", "any self-respecting lesbian should rear up in horror at -lsb- this movie -rsb- .", "something needs straightening out here .", "but i 'm a cheerleader is funny .", "it 's the year 's funniest , most absurd sight gag .", "cheerleader is certainly refreshing .", "the edgy dialogue keeps the film fresh , lively and light .", "it is just as torturous watching this film , as it probably is going through such an indoctrination program .", "most of the film 's imagination and energy seem to have gone into the clever casting .", "but i 'm a cheerleader plays a lot like a sitcom , only not a very funny one .", "too often she substitutes petulance for the curiosity and determination the role requires .", "the way the film handles how gay and lesbian stereotypes ... is both charming and funny .", "the struggles of gay teenagers are handled with vast humor , insight and honesty .", "the movie blows it by -lrb- a -rrb- trading in witless stereotypes and -lrb- b -rrb- not being remotely funny .", "broadly conceived and schematically directed -lrb- or is it non-directed ? -rrb- , this is a shallow satire , basically a short extended into feature length movie , about a rehabilitation camp for gays and lesbians that wastes the talent of natasha lyons .", "gay love satire for mature older teens and up .", "very quickly grows repetitive and groan-inducing .", "a trashy , pandering camp homage to the cute quirks of homosexuality .", "dumb , heavy-handed satire .", "but i 'm a cheerleader may seem too elementary to a sophisticated crowd", "will put girls off the proffession forever . an utter mess of a movie .", "a candy-coated , completely negligible bit of fluff that plays like emasculated john waters .", "the one-joke movie is cute but rarely funny ." ], "summary": "critics think that but i 'm a cheerleader could have been better . the acting is stiff at times and the plot is surprisingly unoriginal .", "id": "14580" }, { "movie": "the_science_of_sleep", "reviews": [ "a charming , inventive , ambitious , surreal mess .", "un spectacle extravagant dont m\u0119me les quelques imperfections respirent la grandeur d'un cin\u00e9aste qui se trouve toujours en pleine possession de ses moyens .", "a sweet , charming , stylish movie that reflects well on the magnificent career of michel gondry", "instinctively and ecstatically captures the freeflowing , stream-of-association nature of the cluttered unconscious mind .", "suffers from weak character development and mashed plot continuity , but offers a handfull of beautiful , fresh imagery to make up for it .", "MOV has some magical moments , butjust as the protagonist struggles with finding a place that can integrate his dream life with reality , the movie fights against itself and eventually leaves the audience as the loser .", "although it has its moments to delight the eye , in the end the movie is neither very cerebral nor very charming but more like weird and wayward .", "i 'm not sure i would have recommended it in the theater % u2013 where you 're paying full ticket price and therefore expect a cohesive experience % u2013 but on dvd it 's worth a look .", "credit should be shared with the leads ; together they 're silly , giddy , irrepressibly inventive - a lot like the film itself .", "it suffers occasionally from self-consciousness and over-indulgence in its own oddity , but gondry 's grasp of emotion and visuals is enchanting . even if he seems several sandwiches short of a picnic .", "mischievous and magical , gondry 's bizarro movie offers visual pearl after visual pearl but no string to tie them together . o\u016f est kaufman ?", "to me , the movie feels like a small but ingeniously crafted gift , like the stuffed horse st\u00e9phane outfits with a tiny motor for his beloved 's pleasure .", "michel gondry 's beguiling new film is so profoundly idiosyncratic , and so confident in its oddity , that any attempt to describe it is bound to be misleading .", "considering how wacky this zig-zag movie often is , it 's surprising to discover how touching it is , too .", "eternal sunshine was about memory , love , loss , and so on ; science tinkers with being about at least love and loss , but mainly ends up being about the contents of michel gondry 's head .", "perfectly charming but suitably strange ...", "could have used more science and less sleep .", "in the end , there 's so very much that 's charming and inventive about gondry 's highly personal film that you 're willing to forgive its storytelling lapses and immerse yourself in MOV .", "gondry 's vision is a little more hermetic than kaufman 's , as well as less cynical and world-wise . those differences give MOV an air of breathless wonder , but they also make it feel a little immature as well .", "all of this sometimes feels just a bit self-indulgent , and more than a bit random -- but then again , is n't that exactly what dreams can be ?", "science may be a little too out there for people used to linear movies . the story does n't make much sense , but it 's not supposed to any more than a dream does .", "with science , -lsb- gondry -rsb- conjures up some of the most surreal visual images you 'll see in a movie this year .", "the soul of gondry 's work , it seems to me , is neither its soaring flights of visual fancy nor its sometimes crude slapstick , but rather its pained understanding of a generation hopelessly tongue-tied when it comes to matters of the heart .", "the movie does have a dreamlike quality . but it 's like one of those dreams where you 're late for work and you ca n't find your shoes .", "an endearing , beautiful , hopelessly honest mess that 's supported by a pair of performances so unnaturally natural that they draw you in and clutch you , struggling , to their flipping , flopping hearts .", "MOV is like a weird dream that tugs at the memory throughout the day with its intriguing , misshapen pieces .", "to borrow one of stephane 's malapropisms , by the last half hour you feel positively schizometric , which i take it refers to that discombobulated state of being nowhere in more than one place at the same time .", "MOV is a collection of lovely little moments and inspired effects with not much holding them together .", "-lsb- gondry -rsb- understands the bittersweet pleasures of unrequited love , how love unattained is always love untainted . possibility perpetually exists . dream logic ? perhaps .", "beautifully directed , charmingly surreal and genuinely romantic , this is the perfect offbeat date movie and easily one of the best films of the year .", "in the moment , gondry and bernal almost manage to give quirky a good name .", "it 's whimsical to the point of maddening . bernal does his best , but there 's only so much fawning any man can get away with .", "it 's all lovely to look at , but becomes progressively wearisome .", "another comic love story that takes us inside a character 's psyche , but kaufman 's rock-solid jokes are replaced by whimsy .", "gondry always manages to maintain a childlike wonder in the magic of creating a moving image , and never is it more evident than in this film .", "there 's a very thin line between amusingly quirky and just plain pretentious . i 'd say this falls somewhere in the middle .", "as the movie progresses , we 're presented with one of the best portrayals of the innate awkwardness of first love i can ever remember seeing .", "dreams are easy to invent , and as easy to forget . the real challenge is to invent stories that have a stake in logic as well as truth .", "a thwarted love story that does not trade in the degraded cliches either of romance or conventional sexiness .", "michel gondry 's follow-up to eternal sunshine of the spotless mind is n't as cohesive as that much-loved hipster head trip , but it 's a wildly imaginative picture in its own right .", "while this is obviously inspired stuff , and while gondry 's cardboard-and-scissors , pop-primitivist sensibilities result in some fetching hand-carved wonders , the movie itself is as oblivious and hermetic as its love struck , fantasy-prone hero .", "MOV is an interesting visual experiment that tries really hard to be something unique , but it just spins its flashy wheels and eventually goes nowhere .", "this is a sometimes brilliant , occasionally infuriating , visually astonishing extravaganza of embarrassing self-pity .", "it 's busy , charming , stimulating and packed with heart and soul .", "ever surreal and intensely visual , director/screenwriter michel gondry 's MOV proves nearly impossible to describe in mere words .", "what do you do when you 're confronted with maybe the most wonderfully strange , most magically enchanting , most heartachingly romantic movie you 've ever seen ?", "possibly a very shallow work , but it 's also exhaustively imaginative and bustles with wit and invention .", "MOV is a creative effort that is well crafted and visually amusing to watch .", "for all its lighthearted flights-of-fancy , MOV turns out to be a surprisingly heartbreaking affair .", "MOV is a frantic and funny diversion , but it pales and tires before its time is up . it does n't know the meaning of enough .", "a richly imaginative and enchantingly playful work of onscreen art , MOV is not so much a straightforward narrative as it is a pastiche of fanciful reveries , brightly-colored visuals and childlike innocence personified .", "michel gondry makes more interesting films when he 's chasing through screenwriter charlie kaufman 's playful thoughts than his own .", "sweet , crazy , and tinged with sadness , michel gondry 's new feature MOV is a wondrous concoction .", "the flying sequences , though extremely lo-tech , succeed in stirring that feeling of flight , stirring a few stomach butterflies .", "gondry 's hallucinatory brilliance holds you in thrall .", "kind of all over the place and self-indulgent , but that 's what 's so great about it . when 's the last time you saw a movie that was truly unpredictable ?", "even though the visual fireworks of gondry 's mind keep you attentive , his clumsy stutterings about love and honesty are painfully underdeveloped .", "MOV is probably not a film for everyone , but in a perfect world where dreamers and artists were celebrated , it would be .", "gainsbourg has anti-film presence . why is she in movies hiding from the camera and not wearing makeup or combing her hair ?", "gondry seems preoccupied by his technical wizardry rather than making sure his story is keeping perfect time .", "... without screenwriter charlie kaufman , gondry is more stylistic flash than substance .", "michael gondry seems to know what he is doing , layering the gael garcia bernal charm factor with some edge .", "michel gondry 's introverted and untethered whimsy becomes oppressive , and very quickly boring . ... ` MOV ' drifts away into woozy inconsequence .", "the film has no shape , but while we watch , gondy makes sure we 're lovingly distracted with his individual , inventive moments .", "a decent portrait of a shy man whose dreams liberatehim from the everyday .", "ultimately , MOV is about the dividing line between whimsy and simple immaturity .", "the most definitive , most expressive , most imaginative , most thorough , most beautiful cinematic cogitation of romance , ever . and a big middle finger to everyone who disagrees .", "it remains a testament to the triumphant nature of gondry 's imagination that reality in this movie feels less real than the fantasies . you 're encouraged to mistake one for the other . in some circles , that 's called cinema .", "that the film does not have a coherent narrative to sustain it is not as unforgivable as the fact that there is no emotional entry point .", "gondry 's effort here is much more reminiscent of his earlier music video work .", "like the best dreams , it 'll leave you a little dazed , and wishing you could close your eyes and put yourself back in its world .", "it 's a tonic to see a film , however uneven , obsessed with the question of what young love is , exactly , while detailing the stupid stuff that makes people act like jerks over someone .", "an exceedingly fanciful film that 's both more provocative and less successful than the carrey piece .", "more exhausting than illuminating .", "a peculiar ditty about the way that life and love are made up of sane moments and surreal moments of craziness , and the crazy ones are always better .", "a painfully bad film ... this ridiculous art-house nonsense is supposed to be a comedy , but i never laughed nor did i ever even come close to smiling .", "... a burst of creativity that only an art student on copious caffeine - or something even stronger - could handle .", "gondry 's film certainly looks at life in a different way , and it refreshingly allows you to do the same , so long as you keep your eyes open .", "through gondry 's eyes , the experience is not the story but the sensation of a dreamscape unlike any we have experienced before -- the place where fear walks hand-in-hand with hope , joy and imagination .", "what eternal sunshine did with magic and whimsy , MOV accomplishes with confusion and pretentiousness .", "... between the chaotic zigs and creative jags , it proclaims its own kind of messy authenticity and a bittersweet beauty .", "-lsb- its -rsb- surreal reach is unfettered , and as with stephane 's dreams it defies its own boundaries , mirroring a distressed human being 's attempt to get a grip on wildly passionate emotions .", "one of those movies art house lovers will champion , but the film drives me mad with efforts that end up being too cute by half , if they were ever cute in the first place .", "never achieves the emotional depth of eternal sunshine , but it 's a merry lark full of off the wall humor and offbeat imagery", "the film 's wild images and sense of fun are fleeting at best , and start to leak away the second the credits begin to roll", "gondry does wonders with the inventively low-tech dream sequences , creating sets and toys out of cardboard any craft-minded kid would envy .", "it is captivating , but confusing and a bit scattershot , like a patchwork quilt of idle thoughts , fantasies and reveries .", "nothing much happens , but a lot goes on . it perfectly captures the feeling of what it 's like to be young , creative , lost , idealistic and maladjusted , and it recognizes the overlap between the urge to create things and the longing for love .", "the shadow side of imagination is revealed through the adventures of a batty young man who lives in his own little dream world .", "-lsb- gondry 's -rsb- passion for cinematic invention is giddy and palpable , with the rudimentary charms of fellow frenchman and turn-of-the-century filmmaker georges melies .", "visually , the movie is childlike -- ornamented with the oddments that a little girl might keep in a box under her bed and decorated with the fancies that a boy might draw in the margins of a school book .", "the sum of gondry 's parts may be a hole , but the parts can be pretty darn clever and captivating .", "boundless in its visual imagination but exacting in its emotional explorations , `` sleep '' is one of the best and certainly most distinctive films of the year .", "we see the world as stephane sees it ... this world is a surprising and sweet place to be , kind of like when you 're driving and you switch on the radio and the perfect song unexpectedly comes on .", "as charming and inventive as gondry 's fanciful visions are , they are n't enough to substitute for the lack of an involving story .", "i loved science , but in its final minutes i felt that i had a one-way ticket to a cul-de-sac . the scenery is something , though .", "the film is wonderfully innovative .", "pouring every impulse , inspiration and outlandish image at hand into his project , -lsb- gondry -rsb- creates a dream world as visually delightful as it is merrily illogical .", "the filmmaker , working from his own script for the first time , is so joyful , so ebullient , that he manages to skirt pretentiousness even when the movie becomes oppressively whimsical .", "a creative , original work by a filmmaker with a fantastic visual flair who refuses to stick to any typical cinematic patterns , even if it 's sometimes to a fault .", "MOV is gondry 's loosest , most confident movie journey into the imaginative mind .", "more amazing work from gondry . if you 're interested in a basic narrative , look away ; if you prize inventive filmmaking , do n't miss it .", "MOV is truly a delight at times , a startlingly original piece of work that 's not as accessible as eternal sunshine but is every bit as magnificent when in full flow .", "it 's kind of weird and very french , but do n't let that scare you . MOV is well worth your time .", "a nightmare", "it 's not that MOV is a terrible film . it 's not . it 's just that it does n't operate properly and there 's nothing worse than seeing a film in which obvious design and potential is ultimately unfulfilled .", "something like a luis bunuel film , but with politics replaced by fashion . it is , essentially , a hipster wet dream .", "a visual treat from beginning to end .", "a wondrously baffling jigsaw puzzle where dreams and reality struggle to find a fit , MOV is the dream you wish you could have , if you could only remember it", "there is nothing scientific about this enchanting little story , but it does create a dream world pretty fascinating to visit .", "the eye is given plenty to enjoy , but the heart goes wanting .", "this determinedly nonlinear filmmaking tells the story more accurately than cin\u00e9ma v\u00e9rit\u00e9 ever could .", "although the diminutive -lrb- 5-foot-6-inch -rrb- bernal emanates an infectiously playful and energetic charisma , there comes a point when you just want to slap him with a big hand for being such a petulant baby .", "the whimsy gondry whips up soon goes wispy as we wait in vain for all this sweet-natured silliness to reveal a meaning that is n't transparently obvious .", "gondry 's creative breeze of a movie is fun while it lasts , and that 's more than you can say about a whole lot of movies .", "in the end , after your time with it , you 'll recall it with a smile , remembering its childish wonderment and mischievous sense of humor .", "it 's all very cosmopolitan -lrb- the dialogue is english , french and spanish -rrb- , very independent , a wee bit juvenile and very confusing , of course . but MOV is also remarkably magical and desperately romantic beneath it all .", "the result is a portrait of your brain on imagination and joy . it 's not rocket science , but it would be hard to dream up a more satisfying experience .", "this may be the cinema 's most sustained depiction of a dream state . but after the first five minutes you ca n't tell if what we 're seeing is really happening or just another of stephane 's rem moments .", "the movie plays like an exhausted hallucination , disjointed and frustrating , much of it owing to the lack of chemistry gondry allows between his stars .", "-lsb- stephane 's -rsb- merely one more guy with a peter pan issues , which does n't quite rise to the level of tragedy , much as gondry wants to suffuse the third act with sadness .", "if cinematic weirdness is your bread and butter , MOV is a feast for the imagination and a triumph of creativity .", "i doubt any other movie of 2006 will inspire as many walkouts as MOV , a declaration which in itself should function as a no-holds-barred recommendation for those seeking something unusual in their moviegoing diet .", "michel gondry is to visual art as van gogh is to post-impressionism ; vivid bold and fearless , the seam of reality is present but you 're never quite sure where they will lead your emotions , while taking an established artform to a different level .", "really nothing more than a phantasmagorical reworking of the secret life of walter mitty using lots of tacky effects and goofy imagery .", "as was famously said , we 'll always have paris . very few , even the makers of amelie , have paris quite like gondry .", "MOV does n't tell a story so much as it unravels . a journey through a young man 's dreams and desires , it 's at once lyrical , strange , and resistant to interpretation .", "comes off as frustratingly surreal and even a bit pretentious .", "gondry fails to come up with a story to support his visual whimsy . but his flights of fancy are intriguing on their own , and his two lead actors captivate throughout .", "a whimsical , irrepressibly creative and playfully childlike confection .", "the difference between eternal sunshine of the spotless mind and MOV is the difference between a good pop song and a great punk record .", "there 's no question about it-the mind of michel gondry is a weird , wonderful place .", "as weird and playful as eternal sunshine , but not as romantic or engaging , this structurally messy , visualy busy film is a reflection of gondry 's unbridled imagination -- it 's the first film based on his own script .", "a visual and emotional masterpiece , the type of dream you never want to wake up from .", "like eternal sunshine and gilliam 's brazil , it demands to be seen more than once and is impossible to sum up in one review .", "it 's a textural mindblower and a lot of fun .", "the hyperactive juvenile whimsy and the stoner dream theories are out of control -- and fascinatingly close to pathology .", "every element of the set design , cinematography , dialogue and sound blurs the line between realism and fantasy .", "maybe gondry should have put more science in his fantasy of unrequited love , because little about it feels grounded in anything real ... like most dreams , you 're liable to forget about it in the morning .", "even the most experimental moviegoers , though , may wish for more of a story than what 's provided .", "MOV is an odd combination of elements , a misty-eyed and even mystical romance with a core of painful emotional realism .", "... . wacky and tacky fantasy film .", "the backloading of the film 's intelligence is n't sufficient reward for having made it through 100 minutes of capricious indulgence .", "as for bernal and gainsbourg , they sell their unconventional romance convincingly . and in support , french character actor alain chabat steals a couple of scenes as stephane 's piggish co-worker .", "the most strikingly original film to hit movie screens this year -- or practically any other year for that matter .", "gondry manages to keep his balance for most of the film , deriving humor and pathos from st\u00e9phane 's difficulties with his waking life .", "navel-gazing director michel gondry -lrb- `` eternal sunshine of the spotless mind '' -rrb- wears his developmentally arrested heart on his sleeve , on his pants , and on his forehead in the most self-indulgent movie of 2006 .", "writer/director michael gondry bets his film that the viewer will be so engrossed in his characters and images , they will not mind having the rug pulled form under them time and again . he loses that bet .", "MOV , his latest effort , continues in the same singular direction as its predecessors ; simultaneously confounding , fascinating and enchanting , the movie does not quite find the populist pulse that did its predecessor , but as the fir" ], "summary": "lovely and diffuse , sleep is n't as immediately absorbing as gondry 's previous work , but its messy beauty is its own reward .", "id": "263042951" }, { "movie": "year_one", "reviews": [ "MOV is a good short skit drawn out far , far too long , another big , dumb offering to the summer movie gods that is unlikely to appease or please anyone .", "the big , blustery physical comedy of jack black makes for an amusing fit with michael cera 's quiet , self-deprecating humour in MOV .", "MOV has one joke , but it 's a good one , played for many variations over the course of an often very funny comedy .", "black and cera posed in cave-man outfits for an amusing poster . then the movie was brought forth and things went downhill .", "stuffed full of comic bits that do n't work .", "-lsb- a -rsb- sloppy , joke-poor mess of a pre-historical romp .", "it ambles along uncertainly , hobbled by the lack of chemistry between its two lead actors , and by gags that either try too hard or suffer from being barely there .", "an inexplicably unfunny comedy made by two people who have proven they can do much better : director/co-writer harold ramis and co-producer judd apatow .", "-lsb- harold -rsb- ramis and co-writers gene stupnitsky and lee eisenberg mostly avoid the easy anachronism jokes , to their credit , but instead they wind up plumbing the depths of poop , fart , urine , foreskin and gay-panic humor .", "MOV is a horse designed by committee to make a camel , and harold ramis , as much as today 's comedy stars owe him , is an unadaptable species .", "now , i know what you 're thinking ... any film featuring tribal girlfriends in animal skins and a trip to sodom ca n't be all that bad . well , trust me , it is .", "a thoroughly , sometimes gaggingly broad and sly conceptual laugh-in .", "MOV is so dedicated to being historically accurate that it only uses jokes that are at least two thousand years old .", "need your fix of black and cera ? we recommend renting school of rock and superbad instead of heading to the theater for this one .", "it 's a potentially funny , tricky premise , and in the hands of someone as talented and slightly skewed as writer-director harold ramis and a pair of writers from the office , it should have worked .", "ramis ' best may be behind him , but luckily , MOV is not one of his worst .", "the filmmaker imbues MOV with all the creative energy of a middling , time-filler saturday night live skit .", "black and cera are caught in a witless abbott-and-costello situation ... the comedy-team rhythms are there ; the material is not .", "unfortunately , consistent laughs were n't discovered until year two .", "a pointless endeavor which eventually ends in a relatively half-hearted meander off screen .", "an awkward bust , a raucous costume party held at a funeral , and the more it sinks lowbrow to obtain laughs , the easier it is to bid adieu to harold ramis as a trustworthy comedic filmmaker .", "if this all sounds familiar , it 's because you 've seen this all before in carl gottliebs ' `` caveman . ''", "jack black plays bud abbott to michael cera 's lou costello in a movie about as relevant to today 's audiences as the abbott and costello show .", "MOV makes will ferrell 's land of the lost look like a masterpiece .", "this is no masterpiece , but i 'm really fond of michael cera . i think he 's got something on screen that 's very sweet .", "the story feels like the pitch developed during a long drinking session - what would you get if you took one of the great comedic filmmakers of the 1980s and put him together with apatow 's superbad generation ?", "just like the stunt fudge on which black chows down in his signature scene , MOV is unmistakably crap .", "MOV is a slapdash film in desperate need of more authoritative stewardship .", "post-modern awareness is mixed with an ancient setting , but the humor still manages to be prehistoric . if you 've always wanted to see smart comedians revert to grade school hi-jinks for cheap laughs , then this is the movie for you .", "when ramis went home every night from filming , did he honestly think he 'd shot anything funny ?", "the jokes are obvious and tend towards the scatological . the rambling dialogue also makes this an endurance test . MOV , audience enjoyment nil .", "wit occasionally gets a look-in but it is n't often , while black 's ebullient over-playing and cera 's nervy wimpishness make a partnership that often seems about to make you laugh .", "a goodhearted , sometimes funny spoof of early human history .", "ramis has got his comic premise , but instead of constructing a plot , he and his co-writers work up only some feeble vignettes .", "throws its comedy around with semi-reckless abandon , but never quite achieves more than a few good chuckles", "this is shtick that 's minimally a generation past its expiration date .", "there 's no reason to see MOV , at all . consign this cack to the history books . pronto .", "a primitive comedy in more ways than one .", "platt , more than anyone , is the soul of the movie , because he makes even the most primitive perversity sound ... well , civilized .", "just because the picture 's setting is ancient does n't mean the humor has to be , too .", "on the surface , it resembles monty python 's life of brian . yet underneath , there 's cheap material . sometimes , it briefly gleams ; but in the final reckoning , it 's dull .", "MOV is this summer 's the love guru , this weekend 's land of the lost .", "has its moments - especially black and cera 's knockabout pairing - but MOV sidesteps greatness by allowing too much filler and swill to plug the gaps .", "targeting with surgical precision the teenage market with a keenly juvenile sense of humour , MOV brings together every manner of silliness that can be crammed into the concept .", "an amiable stroll through biblical times featuring jack black and michael cera as exiled neanderthals , MOV lacks seismic guffaws but elicits many mild smiles .", "director harold ramis knows enough about comedy to keep things ticking over nicely . that said , there 's something undeniably lazy and tossed off about MOV : everyone feels like they 're cruising .", "not much more than another raunchy , adolescent boys-out-on-the-town farrago , even if the boys are dressed in animal skins and the town is sodom .", "this gambit is a catastrophic failure . cera 's loveable puppy-dog schtick is already tired , and black can no longer carry a dud with likeability and energy alone . as for ramis , well , perhaps he 's not the messiah after all .", "made with such laziness of invention that everyone involved deserves a whack on the head with a club .", "twenty times longer than its -lrb- excellent -rrb- trailer , and with about the same number of decent jokes , this underachieving effort boasts another brilliant michael cera performance , plus jack black licking a turd . or is he polishing it ?", "perhaps it should n't come as a surprise that a comedy about a couple of cavemen trades in primitive humour , still it 's tough to imagine even the most monkey-brained of filmgoers getting a kick out of MOV .", "` MOV ' wants to be seen as a freeform , knockabout trawl through biblical history , perfect for an undemanding saturday night . there are only two problems : it 's kind of dull and just is n't funny .", "the film is lumpy and self-conscious , the dialogue not very witty .", "too silly to be smart , too timid to be subversive about religion - it 's hard to believe it 's directed and co-written by the once great harold ramis", "all hail michael cera , worker of unprecedented movie miracles ! the 21-year-old canadian comic takes a weak concept and some weaker material and , wherever possible , adds some much needed flashes of comedic genius .", "comprised of jokes that would n't amuse a five-year-old , and looking as if it was knocked together over a weekend , MOV delivers about as many laughs as i spit on your grave .", "a script this lousy should never have gone into production , and should have been abandoned as soon as anyone with any influence witnessed the rushes . the final result is a disgrace to everyone involved . please god , let there be no year two .", "creatively it 's a giant step backwards , with jack black and michael cera playing to the kids as inept hunter-gatherers who stumble across various old testament characters .", "the problem is not the historicity , or lack thereof , in a comedy , but the uneven pace of the humor .", "dudley moore once made a pretty forgettable comedy giving various well-worn bible stories a light irony wash by reacting to them with the skepticism and confusion a person of today might . MOV is basically that , but dumber .", "from its ill-concieved concept to its timing-free chemistry and embarrassingly-bad characterisations , MOV is a major misfire in every respect .", "in the beginning there was light , which was closely followed by the fart joke .", "stretched painfully thin to feature length , it 's a concept that 's gestated for 34 years but has n't evolved a microbe . it also proves that the harold ramis of '09 has nothing on the harold ramis of ' 75 .", "what 's even more depressing than the never-ending stream of sub-sixth-grade toilet humor is the sad fact that MOV is helmed and co-produced by two of the best laughmeisters in the business .", "not everything judd apatow touches is gold .", "a lazy excrescence of a film . crude , sloppy , flat , and singularly uninspired , its only redeeming virtue is proving that michael cera is capable of rising above even this abominable material", "only big fans of cera and black need catch this film , and even then , it 's far from a must-see .", "the actors make a surprisingly effective comic team , with black 's manic energy trampolining off cera 's deflated passivity .", "MOV -- a film so simple-minded that even a caveman could have written it . or could have directed it ...", "what life of brian did so well , was take a strong narrative and dress it up with silly humor and a naked man with a long beard . MOV has nothing to fall back on here . it 's like they were n't even trying .", "about as funny as watching black and cera darning socks . no , i take that back , i think either of those men could make darning socks look pretty amusing .", "-lsb- MOV has -rsb- some very funny moments but not enough of them .", "this is a significant notch below the great monty python films that tackled religion with intelligence and wit .", "in the beginning , there was the dud .", "MOV is quite a mixed bag of nuts ... which could repulse -lsb- some -rsb- viewers ... but if you can supress your gag reflex ... it ascends to hyperventilating levels of hilarity .", "i expected more from veteran comic filmmaker harold ramis -lrb- groundhog day , analyze that -rrb- , who does little with the loss of innocence idea , and does n't really find the laughs to make the premise go the distance .", "MOV is an enjoyable knockabout comedy , but as a satire on human folly it 's a disappointment ; ramis could have gone much further underlining the parallels between ancient and modern religious wars .", "while ... the filmmakers had a good time making the movie , not enough of it translates into a successful film ... the script could have used a lot more divine intervention .", "blessed are the cheesemakers ? not this time .", "any good will the movie generates is grated right back off by black , whose obnoxiousness has lost whatever charm it once possessed .", "cecil b. demille meets monty python meets superbad , MOV has some funny moments , but it eventually flops .", "this uninspired torah-lampooning sketch comedy is as arid and empty as the landscapes which the protagonists wander across .", "how long can a numbskull comedy about primitive dudes sustain itself before the laughs run dry ? MOV has the answer : about ten minutes .", "unless you pine for second-tier mel brooks , you 'll find more laughs in the old testament itself .", "this is every bit as disastrous as that other jungle-based comedy - when peter met katie on i 'm a celebrity .", "this strategy -- cutting away before a likely punchline -- is MOV 's preferred mode .", "a buddy comedy that takes a relentlessly lowbrow look at the book of genesis .", "the filmmakers and cast find a few great laughs in this flimsy premise , but the whole film is so underdeveloped that it hardly seems to be up there on screen at all .", "thou shalt avoid it like the plague - at least until the dvd is released .", "black and cera produce yawns of biblical proportions .", "far too witless to even be considered distasteful or disturbing -- it 's more like watching with pity as a dorky fifth-grader tries to shock adults with a string of profanity .", "mostly MOV moves along ploddingly , stepping frequently into bathroom humor and never quite funny enough to justify its high concept ; when it 's over , it quickly slips away .", "if harold ramis ' MOV were a bowling match , it would lurch between gutter balls and spares , with some scattered lucky strikes .", "a lowbrow , only fitfully amusing comedy .", "`` MOV '' is the kind of stuff mel brooks would have whipped up back in the day -- and , frankly , whipped through in about a half-hour .", "harold ramis ... serves up some low brow humor in a fitful script , but his film is elevated into the ranks of pleasurably stupid humor by terrific comic turns from cera and a game oliver platt", "when did comedy writing become such a lost art , replaced by the improvisational byplay of talented but increasingly familiar players left to think up funny lines for an amusing situation ?", "MOV seems destined to earn the dubious distinction of being the one movie released in the summer of 2009 that made another trapped-in-time adventure , land of the lost , seem like a masterpiece by comparison .", "there is plenty of lowbrow , knuckle-dragging humor ; coupled with all the gay jokes , poop jokes , jewish jokes and you 're - stupider-than-i-am jokes , the arrested-development crowd will no doubt be thoroughly entertained .", "black , who has been hilarious elsewhere , is working so hard to be funny that it 's exhausting .", "has neither wit nor wisdom nor charm nor beauty .", "this lame biblical/caveman jokefest fails to elict many laughs .", "harold ramis ' comedy is more evolved than the trailers let on , but after a solid hit to the popcorn audience 's vestigial funny bone , the humor retreats into a lazy , generic swamp .", "cut it into small pieces and many bits are a giggle : string them all together and it starts to wear thin . strangely for ramis , it 's not aggressive enough .", "you heard it here first : MOV is the best prehistoric comedy of 2009 .", "there 's no shortage of anatomical jokes , scatological jokes , and fart jokes , toilet humor being the last refuge of a spent comedy writer .", "at its best , `` MOV '' is offensive . ... at its worst , however , it 's downright repulsive .", "the picture 's desperate , teen-baiting assemblage of fart jokes , dick jokes , poop-nibbling and urine inhalation are a constant reminder that no matter how ancient the setting 's supposed to be , the land of lame hollywood japery is always near .", "talk about a disaster of biblical proportions .", "often drags and should have been retitled as the neverending , painfully unfunny story . it falls on its face both a comedy and as a satire with a lazy , asinine and mean-spirited script . even the outtakes do n't induce any real laughs .", "it 's a bit flabby and careless , but it 's also gleefully stupid , and it has the ability to knock you off guard and make you giggle helplessly .", "instead of anything clever or original as one might expect from harold ramis ; we 're subjected to gross-out jokes . note to mr. ramis ; the fountain of comedy youth is probably not located in a sewer .", "the people who made MOV seem to think that all you have to do to make a hit comedy is get a bunch of jokesters together . but where are the jokes ?", "rarely in the history of cinema have so many genuinely funny people come together to make a film that is so painfully unfunny to watch .", "if you ca n't take this premise and these actors and come up with anything funnier than jack black eating poop , then you have no business making comedies .", "MOV is scattershot and silly , squandering its potential by relying on juvenile bawdy humor .", "black 's biggest idiot in the village , overly flirty heathen turned moronic messiah tries to hunt and gather copious hairy bodied babes who really know how to stroke their spears , while a shackled cera pees upside down through his collar .", "films like the hangover and superbad have proven that you do n't need a big budget and lavish sets to make people laugh . for a comedy , MOV feels dated .", "pointless and droll ? definitely , but ` MOV ' still has its moments .", "might not be jack black 's best film , but it 's definitely his worst !", "ramis aims for a satirical old testament spoof akin to monty pythons life of brian , but the one-liners and grossout jokes are cribbed from the gospel according to mel brooks .", "MOV contains a few jokes that work but what is really bothersome is that cera and black play the exact same roles they always play .", "a weak comedy that overly relies on jokes from the unholy trinity of p - penises , poop and pee pee .", "it is so bad , in fact , that not only do i feel as though i have sullied the fine reputation of `` life of brian '' by mentioning it in the same paragraph , i fear i may have also sullied the reputation of `` wholly moses '' as well .", "parental content review", "this is jack black and michael cera doing jack black and michael cera , the problem is that that was funny about three years ago and now it 's just kind of predictable and boring .", "-lsb- the writers -rsb- appear to subscribe to the ` if it sort of works once , let 's beat the audience over the head with it until we 've driven the life out of the joke ' philosophy .", "the obligatory gross-out moments function as camouflage for what proves to be a surprisingly trenchant critique of the human penchant for violence , greed , deceit , hubris and , especially , religious superstition .", "MOV is little more than religulous with fart jokes .", "somehow , despite the presence of those reliable actors and the highly advanced skills of comic veterans harold ramis and judd apatow behind the scenes , MOV manages to be a dud .", "-lsb- s -rsb- et -lsb- s -rsb- back the noble causes of blasphemy , rational thinking , and humanism about a century ... does n't even have the nerve to be profane ...", "the jokes are so laden with groaners you almost expect to hear rim shots after every line .", "MOV is nowhere near as funny as the ancient-civilization movies i saw in high school : life of brian , history of the world part i , caligula . its script is n't worth the papyrus it 's inscribed on .", "there 's no point to it , just a series of gags -- in both senses of the word .", "MOV is a slapdash concoction with an overreliance on scatological gags and a long lag time between laughs . i freely admit that . yet i have a certain affection for this movie , if only because of its conceptual simplicity .", "let 's start with the praise because there wo n't be much : as comedy pairings go , you could do a lot worse than jack black and michael cera .", "expect to be amused , not hilarioused .", "MOV is a dreary experience , and all the ending accomplishes is to bring it to a close . even in the credit cookies , you do n't sense the actors having much fun .", "full review | original score : 2/4", "the problem with MOV is that all the best jokes have been used in the promos .", "on paper , ramis and producer apatow set themselves up for success : the cast is a who 's who of funnymen . unfortunately , the script does n't give them a whole lot to work with .", "audiences get clubbed by some pretty old shtick in MOV", "ramis seems paralyzed from the get-go , ineptly grappling with an overgrown saturday night live routine that squanders every chance at clever humor it gets .", "ramis ' challenge in MOV , which he wrote with gene stupnitsky and lee eisenberg , is to keep the vibe loose while delivering the laughs . they come in fits and starts .", "if you have n't found yourself laughing during any of the commercials on television , then i assure you not a whole lot will change if you decide to swap your couch or recliner for a theater seat .", "devoid of any energy or enthusiasm either in front of or behind the camera .", "boy , does this stink - and i mean almost literally .", "even more embarrassing considering the talent involved . where art thou monty python ?", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- feels lazy : there 's no cheap joke mr. ramis and company did n't go for , no gag-worthy gag they did n't include .", "if there is any justice in the world , there will never be a year two .", "... a near-total disappointment ... it never manages to sustain any momentum from joke to joke or scene to scene or even shot to shot at times .", "an experience likened to repeatedly playing with a whoopie cushion for an hour and a half ...", "producer judd apatow has gone from comedy gourmand to mcdonald-izing in four years . and when in doubt , director harold ramis makes jack black eat his own feces and michael cera pee in his own mouth . yes , this is at the level of youtube monkey comedy .", "this one is destined to take its place alongside films like evan almighty and wholly moses ! .", "as underwhelming as its buzz might have indicated ...", "if there 's anything sadder than an unfunny comedy , it 's an unfunny comedy that tacks on an equally unfunny blooper reel over the closing credits .", "MOV is easy to hate , especially if you loathe jack black 's hammy shtick , think michael cera peaked in arrested development or you have a worn bible in your bedroom ... and you 're not living in a super 8 . but i loved it .", "creative desperation leads to slapdash boredom in MOV , a substandard monty python wannabe that has n't a story so much as a series of bad , barely connected sketches ." ], "summary": "MOV is a poorly executed , slapdash comedy in which the talent both in front of and behind the camera never seem to be on the same page .", "id": "770684022" }, { "movie": "1065598-babe", "reviews": [ "a charming and ingenious hit .", "this is a good family film .", "the characters -lrb- both animal and human -rrb- are solidly conceived , and the storytelling and visuals are expertly fashioned .", "australian director chris noonan and producer george miller show what real talent and imagination can do , even without big-name humans as costars .", "it 's a clever , witty , touching piece of work that , coincidentally enough , is also a decidedly excellent date movie . really .", "so bloody loveable that even the worst cynic will be hard-pressed to condemn it .", "the underlying tricks are never allowed to upstage the story in all its humble sweetness .", "a hilarious fantasy , about a plucky piglet that learns how to tend sheep , MOV is a barnyard charmer .", "heartwarming farm story touching and a bit scary .", "the movie is at times raucous , but its spirits could n't be higher , and the tale teaches a good-natured lesson about why cooperation is better than coercion .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- a comedy of animal manners that is much funnier and much cannier than any recent movie about human relationships : a lovely , stubbornly idiosyncratic fable of aspiration and survival .", "it 's a delight from start to finish that will captivate children and melt the heart of even the grumpiest adult .", "it has a surprising charm .", "it 's enough to turn you vegetarian .", "this reviewer for one , has n't been able to face a pork chop in the months since , and is still laughing at the vibrant joyousness of this delicious comic fable .", "every movie for children should be made with this much care , expressing this much unparalleled richness and beauty", "thanks to well-trained live animals , clever voice characterizations and a big dash of muppetry from henson 's creature shop , MOV and his barnyard friends not only walk the walk and trot the trot , they also talk the talk .", "he 's brave and bright , good-natured and ambitious , naive and vulnerable . all in all , he 's probably the most winsome orphan to appear on the screen since freddie bartholomew impersonated david copperfield 60 years ago .", "wise , captivating and thoroughly loony , this artful little farm fable is one of those rare films that works for all age levels .", "much to my surprise , i found MOV charming in an eccentric , oddly tough-minded sort of way . and if it is n't quite good enough to change my mind about the entire critter-chat genre , it is certainly good enough to recommend .", "for children , the movie will play like a storybook come to life . adults , at first , will marvel at the special effects and puppetry . but ultimately , they 'll be won over by the nuances of a story that finds a fresh way to deliver a timeless message .", "the hero of the children 's movie MOV is probably the summer 's most likable character -- a pig so appealing he may have your family swearing off hot dogs .", "MOV is not , strictly speaking , a kid 's movie . it is a preposterously funny fable that strikes a chord with adults , too .", "here 's the summer 's sleeper for kids and their parents , a terrific picture that takes a lot of risks and makes them all pay off in a charming story about a pig who fancies himself a sheepdog -- or sheep-pig .", "the plot provides a worthy lesson for kids , but it plays out like george orwell 's animal farm as retold by barney . kinda weird .", "a film that is exceptional in its technical effects and its graceful ability to entertain .", "though the filmmakers romanticize farm life , they do n't sugarcoat the realities .", "a dazzling family entertainment with enormous charm that utilizes breathtaking technical innovation .", "its seemingly effortless synthesis of humor and pathos -lsb- is -rsb- almost as wonderful as is its ability to capture the sense of awe and fear that attends youth 's initial exposure to the big wide world .", "MOV provides a stunning revisionist take on barnyard politics , and may change the whole way we view pigs politically .", "this australian-made movie has a darker edge than most american kiddie films , but a perfectly contrived happy ending should soothe juvenile sensibilities . adults , meanwhile , may find themselves enthralled .", "charming , eccentric and very amusing .", "one of the five greatest family films ever made . possibly the best . pure magic .", "this enchanting , cleverly made fable , brings freshness and charm to the premise of talking animals . a sleeper , the picture was nominated for 7 oscars , including best picture , winning one for visual effects .", "this flick brings home the bacon", "click to read the article .", "a delightful family treat .", "all aspects of the movie are top-notch , especially the digital and animatronic effects used to bring the animals to life .", "if only people would be more like these animals , the world , though hardly saner , would certainly be a lot more fun .", "the movie , directed by chris noonan , who wrote the screenplay with george miller , takes a child 's - eye view of a world that is photographed to look like a storybook come to life .", "in the end , the most impressive moments in the film seem to be the technical ones , rather than the storyline .", "the heartwarming MOV does for pigs what lassie did for dogs : it leaves you cheering for more .", "unlike subsequent talking-animal pictures , MOV is a movie in which the human leads matter as much as the animals , or more so .", "as zany movies go , this one goes whole hog .", "this is the ultimate family film , offering all ages a fun ride with something to say buried nicely in the depths of its accessible script .", "it 's rare to see this kind of care expended on any movie ; on a family picture , it 's a small miracle .", "through a mixture of imaginative storytelling , impressive animatronics , and irresistible cuteness , MOV casts a spell over all viewers -- young , old , or somewhere in between .", "MOV is a movie made with charm and wit , and unlike some family movies it does not condescend , not for a second .", "the world of MOV is n't a seamless one , but it 's surely inviting and rewarding .", "the story should be enjoyable for anyone in a wide range of ages .", "that little pig is so darn cute .", "a silk purse among children 's entertainment .", "it has been so long since i 've genuinely cared about movie characters in a lighthearted story like this that i nearly wept with joy .", "this little piggy is a very big deal", "entertaining and moving .", "it 's a great story -- tender without being sentimental , great for kids , engaging for adults , and with a four-legged protagonist who 's as good and decent a hero as you could ask for in hollywood .", "one of those rare family films that refuses to talk -- or rather write -- down to the viewer .", "a wonderful family movie ; one of the best of the 1990s , and all time .", "... brought home the bacon at the box-office .", "MOV is a weird and wonderful charmer based on dick king-smith 's popular children 's story .", "a sweet , surprisingly moving little fable .", "a lovely , intelligent gem of g-rated entertainment that is also rib-tickling funny .", "a little moral masterpiece with its honoring of the values of hospitality , empathy and service of others ." ], "summary": "the rare family-friendly feature with a heart as big as its special effects budget , MOV offers timeless entertainment for viewers of all ages .", "id": "9898" }, { "movie": "diamonds_are_forever", "reviews": [ "... a bit sillier than most bond adventures but probably not as bad as it could have been .", "the ending , while high on pyrotechnics , is low on tension , bringing connery 's era to a rather dissatisfying conclusion .", "classic bond .", "sean connery playing bond at his best .", "this film is as over-the-top as they come .", "we see different movies for different reasons , and MOV is great at doing the things we see a james bond movie for .", "it seems that the only legitimate attack that is made on bond 's character comes from his male enemies .", "arguably the least memorable bond film , it 's still exhilarating fare and good to see connery in the role one more time .", "maybe not in the top five bond adventures , but it comes pretty close .", "big , silly and essential bond .", "makes the disastrous , franchise-altering decision to underscore how fusty bond is by diving right into campines .", "the clumsily executed climax reduces the quality of the film considerably .", "bond looks better than ever , partly because sean connery has returned to play him .", "next door to glass , but aided by the return of connery .", "connery 's last official bond film is energetic but violent .", "after an hiatus , sean connery was lured back to the series with a huge paycheck but the end result is decidedly a mediocre feature .", "after struggling with a few films to find the right vibe and tone for a bond film , MOV finds a nice balance that would work for a while .", "thanks to the clarity and cut of past 007 films , sean connery will sparkle forever . but with a dearth of action and only a fat paycheck as motivation , `` diamonds '' feels less like a triumphant return and more like a cheesed-up cabaret version of bond .", "connery has a ball with great stunts , snappy dialogue and a bevy of typically bondish beauties .", "fairly forgetable addition to the 007 series , bringing connery 's tenure to a unsatisfying close .", "after the disastrous george lazenby , sean connery , definitely the best bond ever , comes back again to act his signature role of james bond .", "the worst of the connery bond films .", "the movie 's momentum is such that one never has much time to react to its lack of reason , only to its sensations of speed and narrow escape , and to the splendor of its crazy gadgets and d\u00e9cor .", "a wry and exhilarating bit of entertainment .", "30 years later , connery is still bond !", "le premier faux pas d'une s\u00e9rie culte qui ne sera malheureusement pas le dernier .", "more than a little bit embarassing .", "the funniest bond movie", "a gentle burlesque of the story elements established by the first six entries ...", "MOV does n't carry the same quality or flair as its many predecessors .", "assorted ladies , a few quick lines , and one good chase , making for a mediocre entry in the series ." ], "summary": "MOV is a largely derivative affair , but it 's still pretty entertaining nonetheless , thanks to great stunts , witty dialogue , and the presence of sean connery .", "id": "10559" }, { "movie": "color_of_money", "reviews": [ "the MOV is a good movie , but perhaps not a good sequel .", "a bit slow at times , but great watching cruise and newman .", "gritty , weary and blue , it 's a worthy successor to `` the hustler . ''", "a adequate fulcrum for getting paul newman his long-deserved oscar . but everyone involved has been better .", "slick and intriguing , cruise and newman shine", "scorsese gets you inside the game in a way most sports movies never hint at .", "in the end , money is a scratch , a contrived cliffhanger that sets us up for hustler iii .", "it does n't have the electricity , the wound-up tension , of -lsb- scorsese 's -rsb- best work , and as a result i was too aware of the story marching by .", "if you 're going to make a sequel to something as beloved as `` the hustler , '' make sure you get a brilliant director to handle the project .", "as atua\u0443\u0448es seguras do trio principal e a dire\u0443\u0441o en\u0436rgica de scorsese transformam o bilhar em um jogo t\u0441o fascinante quanto o futebol ou o p\u0437quer .", "a stunning vehicle -- a white cadillac among the other mainstream american movies of the season .", "for the bulk of the run time , the MOV excels on its intended terms as a sexy genre picture , mostly thanks to an energetic star turn courtesy of tom cruise .", "the film is carried by paul newman 's intelligent performance .", "the new version has a tension all its own .", "undernecessary sequel . cinematography was incredible , though .", "a solidly crafted entertainment that , for the most part , strikes a successful balance between commercial necessity and personal expression .", "scorsese 's direction at its most downmarket and upbeat -- never have pool tables , balls and cues looked so rich and strange .", "boasts two bravura performances -- from newman , who finally -- and deservedly -- won an oscar for best actor , and cruise , who is a joy to behold . watch for forest whittaker and iggy pop in colorful bit roles .", "pic has a distinctive pulse of its own with exceptional performances by paul newman and tom cruise .", "as a standalone movie , it is a memorable entry in scorsese and newman 's filmographies . but as a companion piece to the hustler , it is an exceptional example on how to revisit an iconic character with respect , and above all , with a healthy new vision .", "a joy to see two masters -lrb- scorsese and newman -rrb- at ease with their work , and one , cruise , in the making .", "a hard act to follow , but scorsese does it in style .", "we are not on rocky 's side of the street , but in martin scorsese country , where bent character , not sentiment , shapes destiny , and the best the struggling human spirit can hope for is a split decision .", "there 's nothing -lsb- martin scorsese -rsb- made so achingly generic and impersonal as this .", "it 's entertaining and at times even insightful , but nowhere near as powerful-or memorable-as `` the hustler . ''", "working with his crack technical team , scorsese turns the film into a high-wire act , using everything from the crack of the balls to the soundtrack -lrb- best bit : cruise playing and preening to warren zevon 's `` werewolves of london '' -rrb- to pump up the action .", "a gamble that teens will get this adult 's movie .", "lacking the urgency , dramatic momentum , and mood of the wonderful 1961 the hustler , scorsese 's sequel is an enjoyable but ultimately disappointing sequel , and one of his most generic and least personal works .", "word is that paul newman gave iggy pop the cold shoulder during the filming ." ], "summary": "that it 's inferior to the original goes without saying , but paul newman and tom cruise are a joy to watch , and martin scorsese 's direction is typically superb .", "id": "13091" }, { "movie": "plagues_and_pleasures_on_the_salton_sea", "reviews": [ "-lsb- a -rsb- charming , yet sad documentary .", "if metzler and springer were on path to becoming environmentalists and their documentary was their thesis , they 'd get an a.", "california dreaming meets good old american eccentricity and ecological emergency in the story of the salton sea .", "it 's a human freak show of sorts , but metzler and springer never expose these folks in a way that derides their way of life , but rather let 's us admire their unbroken , adventurous spirit .", "although the lake may be slowly dying , it is still beloved by a motley bunch of eccentrics who are profiled in the highly entertaining documentary MOV .", "jaunty and fun for a while , with a cast of colorful locals who make the residents of vernon , florida seem normal , pic ultimately overstays its welcome and overstates its case .", "amusing , interesting and odd , then begins to drag .", "historically thorough and thoroughly hysterical .", "even if the salton sea itself stinks , chris metzler and jeff springer 's documentary about the improbable body of water where , the witty waters deadpans , ` utopia and the apocalypse unite to dance a dirty tango ' certainly does not .", "an often-fascinating document of change -- incremental as evaporation , or catastrophic as flooding .", "both a history lesson on the birth and death of an american city and a portrait of people who refuse to give up on a dream . it is also a grass-roots ecological tract made up of equal parts science , folklore and kitschy nostalgia .", "-lsb- provides -rsb- a funny , poignant tribute to a most unusual place and the people who somehow call it home .", "if it 's not likely to send you scurrying off to the place on your next vacation , it 's still a fascinating , nutty story , a kind of chinatown gone wrong -lrb- or gone more wrong -rrb- .", "takes a light-and-lively approach to the local population , consisting of transplanted oddballs and stubborn survivors drawn to the sea 's calm , sunny environs and isolated , crime-free lifestyle .", "-lsb- an -rsb- occasionally lighthearted but always affecting cautionary tale .", "this is a startlingly funny portrait of gothic americana .", "because of metzler and springer 's appetite for raw experience , what could have been a depressing horror movie is wildly funny and enraging . it 's the rare documentary with something for everyone .", "the documentary is informative and entertaining and gives you both sides of the great debate . you may not want to take a vacation to the salton sea , but you 'll enjoy the visit there .", "chris metzler and jeff springer 's ` sea-umentary ' is a compelling tale of human foible , greed and inertia .", "plagues and pleasures is simultaneously fun and creepy , best appreciated by those who enjoy similar profiles of detroit 's crumbling grandeur .", "plagues and pleasures of the salton sea can best be described as an inconvenient truth with a stronger sense of humor , a keen sense of the cost of neglect and with a cast of characters who 'd make the residents of twin peaks seem mundane .", "if divine were still alive today , he-she might well be wintering on the edge of the salton sea .", "the ridiculous and the sublime collide , with tragicomic results , in plagues & pleasures on the salton sea , chris metzler and jeff springer 's lively , fascinating chronicle of `` paradise lost '' in the southern california desert .", "ecological disaster meets greed and a desperate bid for human salvation , in this metaphorical meditation on the forecast apocalyptic doom of america .", "kudos to the directors for painting such a lavish , involving portrait of a fascinating town .", "we 've seen movies about eccentrics before , but few of them have much to do with anything actually important .", "MOV is an engaging , entertaining snapshot of a long , tragicomic moment in american history .", "plagues and pleasures is the best kind of short vacation ; you get to lounge with some interesting people , plus you get to learn a little something about the local environment and what can be done to keep it going .", "the movie is engaging for the way it documents the rise and fall of a semi-natural landmark , and especially for the way it shows how people still come to california to remake themselves .", "funny , tragic , and informative plagues & pleasures on the salton sea is an unforgettable portrait of a desert town turned into a sewer .", "it makes for a strange , but somewhat endearing , melange of the grim and comic .", "-lsb- a -rsb- thoroughly engrossing documentary .", "while the doc flounders as a coherent story of human folly , it 's a cheeky travelmercial guaranteed to get the curious to make the road trip to this near-abandoned resort .", "a one-off kinda film that is worth seeing for its sheer jaw-drop factor", "MOV is funny and compassionate , but it shows us a future that could befall any american community that suddenly becomes economically unsound , or politically inconvenient .", "narrated by john waters , MOV is an odd bird -- wacky and poignant , funny and sobering , but this portrait of a forgotten paradise is a must-see .", "chris metzler and jeff springer found a strange place -- in california , of all places -- and made a video postcard about its colorful denizens and ecological calamity .", "a smart and engrossing film that illustrates in sharp and convincing detail how ecological accidents can mushroom into full-blown disasters as long as people are willing to turn a blind eye to their ongoing impact .", "a sad but interesting sociological study of a not completely abandoned desert outpost that seems to be saying , `` where there 's water there will be humanity . ''", "MOV is a sort of ecological morality tale . this film is fascinating like a slow motion road accident .", "a stunning documentary that combines elements of an inconvenient truth and vernon , florida .", "plagues & pleasures on the salton sea is funny , enlightening , informative , and most importantly of all - admiring .", "humorously narrated by cult filmmaker john waters , plagues & pleasures on the salton sea evokes both laughter and tears .", "it 's an absorbing , frightening witness to nature 's final hours , filled with strangely enlightening accounts of life on a lifeless terrain .", "as documentary subjects go , the salton sea was ripe for the plucking : this man-made phenomenon is one of the weirdest stories of the west .", "narrated with morbid relish by john waters , this witty doc chronicles the rise and ruination of the salton sea , a tiny inland ocean once promoted as ` california 's riviera ' but now a festering , apocalyptically hideous ecological disaster zone ." ], "summary": "plagues and pleasures is a thoroughly engrossing account , both humorous and disheartening , of a once bustling community ravaged by ecological change and human greed .", "id": "599791365" }, { "movie": "infernal_affairs", "reviews": [ "recalls classics like serpico and the french connection , but features a contemporary sophistication and of-the-moment vivacity that sets it apart .", "gritty and noirish", "MOV could be the syllabus for `` the effects of michael mann , tony scott , and the american police procedural on asian cinema . ''", "cop thrillers do n't come much more polished , or enjoyable , than MOV .", "as cops and robbers dramas go , this is an original .", "superbly honed at both script and performance levels , with character taking precedence over action .", "this is a movie that gets its hooks into you early , and no chance is it letting go .", "this is a real grabber .", "i was certainly happy to be trapped in the film 's conceit , and the directors , andrew lau and alan mak , manage to convince us that we have witnessed an action movie , although in fact the quantity of violence is so minimal .", "it offers a fairly fresh variation on a done-to-death genre .", "it 's amazing there have n't been a dozen movies like it .", "a high tension police drama set in hong kong where the operations of both the police and crime syndicates are hobbled by moles within their organizations .", "one of the truest american gangster films of all time .", "the performances and plot make it worth seeing , and the film presents a valuable opportunity to sample the original while we wait for what will surely be a must-see remake .", "-lsb- MOV -rsb- is n't a good guy versus bad guy film but one that shows good and bad , both , in the makeup of the players .", "asia is seizing another of our taken-for-granted , creatively neglected staples , the cop movie , and again shows us how relevant and entertaining it can be when given proper respect .", "building to a darkly ironic conclusion antithetical to anything hollywood would produce , MOV vividly illustrates the buddhist concept of `` continuous hell . ''", "skilfully directed by cinematographer andrew lau wai-keung , MOV has the feel of a made-for-prime-time u.s. police thriller .", "a great cop yarn .", "potboiler hong kong cop drama with a fairly interesting plot about moral dilemmas and mixed allegiances .", "everything you 'd want in a police action thriller : powerhouse performances , grade a production values , a good script and suspenseful direction .", "far too light on action to be very exciting , and far too generic and familiar to be genuinely intriguing , infernal affairsis ultimately a forgettable affair .", "um inteligente drama policial que se preocupa mais com o desenvolvimento de seus personagens -lrb- e com as rela\u0443\u0448es entre estes -rrb- do que com tiroteios e reviravoltas .", "ultimately quiet tepid .", "well-written , well-directed and well-acted genre film", "this intense , explosive hong kong thriller ushers in a new era of hyper-intelligent action .", "seductively shot and beautifully acted , this is like a summation film , bringing together all the themes , motifs , mood , and style of the gritty policier hong kong thriller , one that will make john woo and michael mann proud .", "... has an intensity usually reserved for greek tragedy .", "solid character-centric piece that 's more interested in psychology than in gritty action sequences .", "twists and turns galore , but finally , one or two too many .", "it 's refreshing enough to make up for its occasional missteps in the storytelling department .", "even when the film is in danger of getting bogged down in its own complications , the hard-boiled poetry of its images is arresting .", "it 's a cop movie that 's constantly trying to convince you it 's not just a cop movie", "it 's all made artful by tense direction , gleaming cinematography and a complex performance by the never-disappointing leung , who takes a stock character and fills him with brooding life .", "driven by two great performances surrounded by solid supporting acts , MOV is the rare testosterone movie that is also mature and thoughtful .", "this stripped-down noir , about a pair of detectives leading undercover lives , signals a new era for hong kong filmmaking .", "... furiously paced , full of drama , and as tense as elevator cable ...", "-lsb- d -rsb- iabolically clever ... the apotheosis of the hong kong police thriller ...", "smart , snazzy entertainment .", "this is what movies are supposed to feel like -- provocative , exciting , chilling , complex and fully engaging .", "MOV is the combustible hong kong fever dream that would emerge from a night spent watching heat and donnie brasco back to back .", "a consistently engrossing thriller .", "it overflows with psychological intrigue , something often missing from such offerings .", "ranks at the top of the list of the best action dramas to emerge from hong kong since the glory days of john woo .", "the movie 's engine is the relationships and the characters ' inner lives , all of it boiling with emotional intensity .", "more reasonably plotted than most films of the action genre .", "what makes it special is the inner turmoil caused by living a lie . if everyone you know and everything you do for 10 years indicates you are one kind of person , and you know you are another , how do you live with that ?", "beauty in its consistent , washed-out blues and silvers , grace in its understated , intense male performances and energy in its unyielding commitment to tone and tension .", "i appreciated the filmmakers ' conviction to keep the story as gutsy as possible . the film does n't flinch .", "a beautifully crafted , exciting story that keeps on surprising you to the very end .", "the twists offered in MOV ... take the genre to enthralling new heights , guaranteeing that any future such efforts will have an entirely new bar for which to aim .", "this is the type of movie asian action fans talk about when they say they love the genre .", "a blistering thriller and an intelligent character study and a comic take-off on the conventions of thrillers .", "what gives MOV its heat is the friction of who-am-i psychology and cool hong kong-style action .", "spins in place with aplomb , generating exponentially more vertiginous doublings with each sweaty-palmed set piece .", "it 's hard to resist the charismatic teaming of tony leung and andy lau as a cop and a criminal wearing like hats for cross purposes ." ], "summary": "smart and engrossing , this is one of hong kong 's better cop thrillers .", "id": "13489" }, { "movie": "willy_wonka_and_the_chocolate_factory", "reviews": [ "the passages in the mysterious factory , which should be charlie 's and our release from the oppression of the earlier scenes , are just as ugly as everything that 's come before , so there 's no contrast .", "it 's all wonderfully colorful and imaginative , and filled with a multitude of references and jokes that will be understood only by adults .", "with a single gleam of his eye , wilder pulls off more hints at a devious personality than all johnny depp 's white make up , and bad wigs combined .", "it 's gene wilder , at the top of his form , who makes this uneasy amalgam work , but -lsb- mel -rsb- stuart must surely deserve some of the credit ...", "a polarizing , but classic piece of children 's entertainment filled with whimsy , horror , comedy and imagination .", "when the movie does actually reach the factory , and gene wilder takes the stage , the movie is saved .", "... that rare breed : an imaginative live-action kid 's film that engages and delights adults .", "starring gene wilder , this offbeat comedy-fantasy for children has achieved a status in pop culture", "this is gene wilder 's legacy . he was perfect for the role , and it was his mixture of childlike wonder and bitter , deserved vengeance that made the character so compelling .", "pure , sweet imagination for both kids and adults .", "just a frolicking wonka visionary schnozberry flavored delight !", "it has a huge following , though i 've never understood why .", "ainda que um ou outro n\u044amero musical comprometa o ritmo , o clima de fantasia e a atua\u0437\u0433o calorosa de wilder conquistam o espectador .", "aspires to the whimsy and fantasy of the wizard of oz but does n't really capture the magic ... more a fond tribute to ` pure imagination ' than a triumph of it .", "... filled with good humor , good acting , and good songs ... and it 's just off kilter enough to keep everyone 's attention .", "great fun , with wilder for once giving an impeccably controlled performance as the factory 's bizarre owner .", "weird and wonderful", "a strange , semi-sweet kiddie fantasy .", "the movie bursts with creativity , deep thought and comedy .", "probably gene wilder 's finest , most manic hour .", "the original feel good film from 1971 , is back in a special new dvd edition for its thirtieth anniversary with some great special features .", "a timeless family film that will continue to endure as long as people love chocolate .", "anyone who does n't like the oompa-loompa song simply is n't human .", "if `` creepy '' can be an asset , then this is the best kind of creepy you 'll ever find .", "the zany factory 's imaginative gimmicks , and that vivid color scheme , will keep even the youngest kids alert .", "brings joy to adult and child alike ." ], "summary": "MOV is strange yet comforting , full of narrative detours that do n't always work but express the film 's uniqueness .", "id": "9897" }, { "movie": "girl_cut_in_two", "reviews": [ "sex , murder , insanity , perversity -- a MOV has it all , yet it stands as a singularly classy and sophisticated drama .", "chabrol has always been more interested in sensibility than sense , in discourse on fashion and form than in the narrative possibilities of function , and on the rich hypocrisies of the wealthy .", "this is one of mr. chabrol 's strangest films , but he still makes a ripple in his ocean .", "it 's a very long way to go for a punch line , but claude chabrol fearlessly meanders along for the two hours it takes him to get there", "a pitch-black fusion of dark comedy , icy melodrama and satirical sideswipes at the class system , held together with an absorbing lead performance .", "one keeps hoping that some of that sinister chabrolian wit will enliven the film 's smooth surface , but alas , it never does .", "bordering on the surreal , chabrol 's latest film investigates conflicting desires in a woman in love . the old meets the new and the quandary remains unresolved .", "never more than semi-plausible .", "most people wo n't care enough about these people or believe in their relationships to sit out all 115 minutes of this icily mannered film that continually hints at darker , more subversive themes of sado-masochism than it dares to explore .", "an elegant , darkly amusing effort that relishes taking digs at the middle-classes while leaving its characters ' supposedly perverse acts firmly to our imaginations .", "by the time the story springs to life and becomes the thriller , of sorts , that it seems set up to be , we have had to sit through 90-odd minutes of turgid melodrama .", "heavy-handed french drama is a clumsy affair .", "with elegance and despatch , veteran new wave master claude chabrol has brought off his most enjoyable film for some time .", "the performances drip with clich\u00e9 , while the narrative is all over the place : plot developments are either clumsily telegraphed or given the flimsiest of dramatic explanation .", "patronising , unsexy , and heavy with the musty smell of a director past his sell-by-date , you 're advised to cut this off at the ankles .", "chabrol may be one of the great survivors of the new wave , but this is an old man 's film .", "more than a century later , this is still a juicy story , and the actors do n't back away from its more hysterical flourishes .", "while not one of the director 's best works , it 's a classy , sophisticated entertainment with a typically rich subtext .", "at age 78 , director claude chabrol is more than capable of giving us a completely realized world .", "while the movie 's main concern -- skewering bourgeois hypocrisy -- is not particularly fresh or innovative , chabrol 's craft is so precise , his way with actors and the camera so sure-handed , even this ordinary story is often immensely enjoyable .", "spectacularly assured , a MOV keeps you off-balance as it establishes a world where every conversation is a flirtation , and trouble and heartbreak sneak in on little cat feet when no one 's looking .", "... hopelessly stale ...", "the result is a film too cold for melodrama and too restrained for tragedy .", "in the end , we care little about any of the primary characters or what happens to them .", "one of those chabrol productions perched awkwardly between thriller and comedy .", "in a MOV , sagnier is yummy as a local tv weathergirl caught between a womanizing older novelist -lrb- fran\u00e7ois berl\u00e9and -rrb- and a nouveau riche playboy -lrb- magimel -rrb- used to getting his own way .", "under the cool tone is a devastating portrait of an unapologetically sexual woman treated more as an object than a person .", "... the film 's pleasures come from the wit with which chabrol assembles it as each scene glides sedately into the next one .", "chabrol 's familiar critique of the bourgeoisie is dispiritingly lethargic and simple .", "masterfully focuses a keen eye on the misogynistic convergence of entrenched private emotional exploitation of women , and their objectification in public entertainment . bravo , claude , a rare man in profound touch with the darker impulses of his species .", "this latest skewering of the privileged , tragically flawed and selfishly driven makes it clear that there is no other filmmaker to better tell the eliot spitzer story .", "chabrol was never as groundbreaking formally as his peers , but usually his films can be counted on for a craftsmen-like level of polish . here , though , even that falters .", "a MOV is a rich , textured divertissement from claude chabrol , a sinister master of the art .", "snappy timing , focused writing and pitch-perfect acting .", "a cynically effective look at the suffocating lives endured by some of the rich and famous .", "an ill-fated love triangle with a surprising twist and a chilling message for shameless gold-diggers and suave casanovas alike .", "notice how nimbly chabrol glides through his establishing scenes , and how adroitly he introduces other characters .", "a cool study of erotic longing , misguided love and class warfare in the civilized spheres of french society , claude chabrol 's a MOV , despite its high melodrama and wicked humor , delivers a real emotional wallop .", "... a deeply cynical film that makes no pretense about the status of women in society .", "as is nearly always the case with chabrol , a special pleasure pervades the picture .", "although a minor work by chabrol , it would be a major work by most directors , and one that 's still fascinating even in its flaws .", "chabrol is a past master at visual storytelling and a stiletto wit .", "chabrol 's fluid camera and less-is-more storytelling is thrillingly hitchcockian , and his lack of judgment regarding the sexuality of his characters is refreshingly french .", "veteran filmmaker claude chabrol 's icy tale of love , lust and self-delusion is an elegant exercise in corrosive psychological suspense .", "claude chabrol 's newest foray into darkness and bad behavior emerges as less of a murder or suspense story and more of a black comedy .", "chabrol has made a career out of savage class warfare , and a MOV fires off another bitter salvo .", "all of the characters are walking contradictions , each pulling and pushing away the viewer . part of the film 's tension derives from what the audience clearly sees and what gabrielle does n't .", "a tasty cocktail of romance and jealousy", "the pacing has a tendency to downshift from deliberate to meandering at crucial moments , and though the trio of actors is on point\u00e2 `` especially magimel , a master at smug menace -- chabrol\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s digs feel frustratingly halfhearted .", "claude chabrol shows he still has it as ludivine sangier shines as the girl in the middle aided by sparkling performances by benoit magimel and francois berleand .", "gabrielle is more than a MOV by this ambience , she 's pulled every which way , a situation that the director investigates with the subtlety and complexity only a lifetime behind the camera can provide .", "a MOV '' is fatally self-serious and plodding , a rare misfire from a filmmaker as usually reliable about this stuff as chabrol .", "chabrol does his best work in the thriller genre , but he seems colder and frankly humorless when he works with real-life stories -lsb- as he does here -rsb- .", "there are some good performances . and it 's definitely nothing like what we 've come to expect from claude chabrol , a filmmaker who 's been called the french alfred hitchcock .", "chabrol keeps such rigid formal control of the material that it feels more momentous than such a tawdry tale has any right to .", "enjoyably dark , superbly acted french drama that proves veteran director claude chabrol has n't lost his touch .", "still , watching a claude chabrol film is watching a master at work and this is an example of such .", "a MOV is hitchcock sans the whodunit , essentially a long preamble of seduction and spiritual ruin , capped by a crime everyone saw coming -lrb- and an eye-dazzling coda that twists the title from metaphor to ... something else -rrb- .", "it 's billed as a ` hitchcockian thriller , ' but frankly i see nothing either hitchcockian nor thrilling this same-old gallic tale ...", "a fine character study with some exceptional performances ... but there 's no getting around the fact that it 's a saggy affair in places .", "MOV is less interested in forensics than in the perplexities of violent acts , those that happen behind closed doors , inspired by the insanity of desire .", "an exploration by french director claude chabrol of the illusions of love in the magical worlds of publishing , the media and old money .", "it 's cynical business as usual for claude chabrol , who offers plentiful style and psychological finesse , if few surprises , in his latest jaundiced and sophisticated entertainment .", "while not a classic , this is a pleasantly disturbing , nominally voyeuristic romp in the territory chabrol knows best .", "along the way , a powerful spectacle unfolds with serious class and feminist implications .", "chabrol is approaching the big 8-0 , yet he continues to do quality work , as shown by a MOV .", "claude chabrol 's capacity to make shopworn material seem almost new is especially evident in this 2007 drama .", "the film 's cerebral affectations unravel because neither one is ultimately able to carry the film 's disjointed plot .", "chabrol 's astute dissection of sex , class and show business . bravo , claude , a rare man in profound touch with the darker impulses of his species .", "another patented chabrol commentary , not a morality play but something far more worldly and difficult to ignore .", "talk is everything , with action hinted at the edges , as chabrol 's camera sidles off to look at a casually thrown book , or skates away from anything salacious .", "it 's not fresh material , but in the hands of a master like chabrol it appears like a fresh breeze .", "this description may make this movie sound much more interesting than it is .", "though the performances are all first-rate , the film is let down by weak characterisation . still , it 's enjoyable , if not exceptional .", "the relationships are never completely convincing and there are too many unresolved questions to create an entirely satisfying tale .", "one 's final impression is that aging legends make unreliable puppet-masters . and that it 's all too easy for a desirable young actress to be left dangling in mid-air .", "too cold and cynical to be truly enjoyed but the old dog still has a few new tricks up his sleeve .", "this is one of chabrol 's most elegant , acerbic and heartfelt entertainments in years .", "a MOV is a spry piece of work . chabrol uses this sinister clown show as a means to puncture the media world 's hot-air balloons -- as well as to highlight the hypocrisies of his favorite target , the haute bourgeoisie .", "the film intrigues throughout , although suffers from an opaque performance from sagnier and a capper of such literal symbolism it blunts what came before it ." ], "summary": "nouvelle vague master claude chabrol balances subtle stabs of humor and biting class criticism to explore a love story and the seedier side of the haute bourgeois .", "id": "770676929" }, { "movie": "unaccompanied_minors", "reviews": [ "designed only for the youngest of children , who might be roused by the silly action , or perhaps for john hughes , who might delight in the fact that his influence continues to color the landscape .", "feig 's sympathies toward young misfits are still thankfully evident , but the mature , realistic approach that made ` freaks and geeks ' so refreshing is missing here .", "the kids in the film behave badly . the adults behave worse .", "unexpectedly warm and huggable , and far funnier than you 'd ever guess ... one of the wittiest , most endearing holiday films in recent memory .", "why , and at what point , did feig choose to ally himself with the bullies of the world and substitute broad stereotype for insight into character ?", "predigested drivel .", "mixes youthful angst and hilarious hijinks in a way you 'd expect from the creator of freaks and geeks .", "there are fragments of good comedy packed amidst the many forgettable scenes that you 've seen a dozen times before in a dozen other forgettable comedies", "irresponsible content notwithstanding , it 's the low standard of filmmaking that really defies belief .", "it 's clear very early on that warner bros. wanted less a thoughtful film about divorce or coming of age than a chipper family pick-me-up . and thus we have MOV , which is one-third heart and two-thirds cheese .", "MOV is packed with talent in front of and behind the camera , which makes its bland mediocrity even more unforgivable .", "now director paul feig , and writers jacob meszaros and mya stark have managed to make something which could be very tired , something rather cute .", "a film that 's funny and entertaining for kids and adults and does not involve moronic warring neighbors .", "it 's just another loud , hyperactive home alone rip-off , and how many of those does the world really need ?", "MOV is a christmas headache looking for an audience .", "the pg rating for MOV does n't stand for pretty good .", "there 's some amusing mischief as the underage passengers outsmart the grownups , but the picture also features mean-spirited stereotypes that kill the festive mood . talk about holiday blahs .", "a lot of crotches get abused in the kiddie comedy MOV . and as a viewer , i felt a lot like a crotch .", "` it 's like lord of the flies in here ! ' cries nerdy teen spencer -lrb- dyllan christopher -rrb- when he sees the film 's quarantined crew , which is as clever as paul feig 's movie gets .", "produzido para funcionar como com\u00e9dia leve e divertida , menores desacompanhados s\u00f3 conseguiu me deixar de mau humor .", "why is the christmas message in `` family movies '' repeatedly reduced to splats , farts , bruises , and winky-wink sex jokes ?", "most saturday morning cartoons are more realistic , and actually funnier .", "a ghastly rip-off of the john hughes genre , `` MOV '' is so awful that it should be accompanied by a warning : may insult your intelligence . proceed at your own risk .", "... another indigestible holiday turkey ...", "a 90-minute succession of jokes , set pieces and false sentiment that , unless you 're extremely young or undiscerning , has a distinctly been-there-done-that whiff about it .", "`` more airport action than die hard 2 . ''", "it 's a prefab slapstick - 'n' - pathos stew that does n't taste like anything .", "most of the comedy consists of one-liners and wacky slapstick .", "sputters to the end credits on autopilot .", "there is n't a single original plot development in MOV , which is why it 's a surprise that the movie is so much fun .", "just another lame tween screwball comedy -lrb- emphasis on the ` screwball ' , not so much on the ` comedy ' -rrb- .", "nothing more than home alone in an airport .", "a gently toned but ultimately trifling caper .", "though it does n't reek of originality , MOV manages to keep familiar routines entertaining and find fresh ways to revive the laughs fossilized inside old gags .", "a pretty agreeable farce but it could have done with sharper lines and more spontaneous kids .", "a ragged but extremely amiable family comedy .", "for a movie funded by an npr personality , it also has a nasty anti-environmentalist streak .", "the film has an excellent pedigree , but when it poops it stinks of a tim allen movie .", "though -lsb- director -rsb- feig has said he was aiming for the spirit of films by john landis -lrb- animal house -rrb- , MOV more closely resembles the lesser movies of director-producer john hughes .", "the film wastes the talents of such funny people as lewis black and teri garr , as well as cast members from tv 's arrested development , the office , the daily show and kids in the hall .", "anyone who has ever actually been stuck in a terminal with rowdy youngsters will not likely choose to pay money to revisit that experience on-screen .", "maybe MOV are the only ones who should go see this movie . give them some soda , popcorn and milk duds , then let them rip up the theater , while mom and dad see something good", "what these kids really need for christmas is acting lessons .", "where 's john hughes when you really need him ?", "brash , annoying juvenile slapstick comedy ... once word gets around , these minors probably wo n't be as much unaccompanied as unattended .", "the movie keeps on its toes from the cast 's enthusiasm .", "MOV may not be the worst holiday comedy ever made , but frankly i ca n't think of something from that genre that sinks lower than this frighteningly bad movie .", "not for the faint of heart , the movie is unsettling and startlingly true to life .", "if you really must find something to distract your children from christmas shopping and material yearning , this one gets top recommendation for happily occupying 90 minutes at the mall .", "there is n't an original moment in the mix , but it 's not as crass or vulgar as much of what passes for ` family friendly ' entertainment , and it keeps the precocious pop-culture references to a blessed minimum .", "it is not a holiday classic on par with a christmas story . but it does provide a lot of laughs and does do exactly what a yuletide movie should : it makes merry .", "filmmaker paul feig has proven his creativity directing the office and freaks and geeks -lrb- which he created -rrb- . with MOV , he piles on one unfunny gag after another , leaving little room for character development .", "a noisy , not particularly charming collection of skits and skirmishes .", "a bouncy mix of slapstick humor , shrewd character details and a poignant take on bringing the christmas spirit to frequent fliers and children of divorce .", "... features more smart , funny people than any other dumb , unfunny film i 've ever seen .", "it 's a holiday farce in a minor key , suitable for the not-ready-for-pg-13 crowd , too boring for anybody else .", "this is a silly , moderately funny fantasy fit for kids whose parents care about them too much to ever let them run around unsupervised at an airport .", "neither good enough to be an instant classic nor bad enough to disappear from video stores ' seasonal rental shelves for many christmases to come .", "a christmas lump of coal .", "the dialogue is truly painful . the situations are so contrived they make `` spongebob '' seem like a nature documentary . but what 's more annoying about minors , is the calculation behind it .", "frenetic and forced", "this romp just is n't funny or original enough to become a holiday classic . although the solid cast makes it watchable .", "... moves the film along with a modicum of snap and manages to keep the kids ' performances from sliding into complete sentimental mush , if only barely .", "it 's the sort of movie that shortens your life and makes you doubt the existence of god .", "it 's a hodgepodge of spills , pranks , and wide-eyed reaction shots , sold with feig 's fine-tuned , hughesian comedic voice .", "a new generation of kids gets its john hughes on ... surprisingly bearable .", "if feig is working below his usual cleverness level here , at least he and the kids seem to be having fun doing it .", "it plays like a cross between home alone and the breakfast club . pre-teens are sure to have a great time , and accompanying adults will , too .", "tedious at 89 minutes , the entire concept could be subtitled : the joy of vandalism . it 's a terminally boring layover .", "why bother suffering through 90 minutes of bad company for a few moments of holiday cheer ? especially when you can still stay home alone and watch a charlie brown christmas somewhere on tv .", "a clumsily made but disarming enough movie about the joys of getting away with everything .", "cycles of escape , recapture and punishment ensue , though a climactic infusion of christmas spirit helps keep results merry .", "it 's the breakfast club for middle schoolers with slightly lower-grade angst and a less memorable soundtrack .", "in the context of comedy films , MOV is probably mediocre at best", "why does the token black kid have to be comic relief ?", "younger kids probably will dig minors like we dug the goonies .", "a winsome blend of home alone and the breakfast club , it 's unabashedly silly kids ' movie .", "how do you defang and declaw caustic standup comic and commentator lewis black ? stick him in a pg-rated holiday family movie , then stand back and watch the laughs not pile up .", "anyone old enough to go see this without a parent or guardian will have seen it all before ." ], "summary": "MOV , while featuring credible performances by its mostly young cast , is simply a rehash of other , funnier movies .", "id": "387310978" }, { "movie": "the_devil_wears_prada", "reviews": [ "streep rules ! this doyenne of the designer dress turns fashion obsession into fun .", "MOV tells a familiar story , and it never goes much below the surface of what it has to tell . still , what a surface !", "-lrb- the cast -rrb- take their characters as far as possible in the film 's opening act but are required to hit the same notes over and over in the limited , repetitive screenplay .", "the storyline sets itself up for plenty of phony pay-offs , but thankfully does n't deliver on them . it actually knows better .", "MOV is primarily an occasion to celebrate meryl streep as a grand comedienne .", "a slick but flimsy knock-off , almost as superficial as the industry it pretends to dress down .", "streep 's expert comic timing is also on display in MOV an otherwise bland small-town-girl-in-the-big-city story that 's enlivened by her performance as a domineering magazine editor .", "the biggest problem with the movie , however , is that it tries to make a big deal out of a subject that has been beaten to death in the tabloids and the media .", "for the life of me , i ca n't understand anyone not liking this movie !", "move over , julia roberts -- here comes anne hathaway .", "it 's streep who pops our flashbulbs .", "this comedy for adults -lrb- no children , animals , or f/x -rrb- offers an inside , nasty look at the fashion world that 's vastly entertaining , with the glitzy glamour and bitchy women fights that would make cukor proud .", "nimbly assembled and tartly performed", "if hathaway 's andy drives the pedestrian narrative -- idealistic girl learns the value of staying true to herself and her `` real '' friends ; snore -- then streep is the movie 's soul .", "just another formula mediocre dramedy ...", "an ironic measure of the film 's research into the fashion-mag scene is the fact that there 's almost no journalism in it .", "an agreeably shallow comedy .", "there are some must-have luxuries here , first of which is meryl streep 's fascinating performance as the fearsome miranda priestly .", "an ideal movie for dvd : you can pick and choose moments and lines to revisit while ignoring , or trying to ignore , the thematic compromises , hectoring impulses , and structural handicaps that start to engulf the film .", "MOV is n't a brilliant film , but it certainly is an entertaining one .", "it 's to the film 's credit that i still found it an enjoyable satire , as glossy and superficial as the industry it purports to skewer .", "streep is a far better reason to see MOV than the movie itself .", "MOV has the look of many studio movies . but if you pay heed to the craft in the details , there 's satisfying quality here .", "malice sparkles in MOV . the fashion-world comedy achieves this plum by resuscitating the almost-dead virtue of dynamic dialogue .", "slight but entertaining , MOV is an ugly duckling-cinderella tale set in the fashion industry , in which the wicked stepmother is far more interesting than the princess-to-be .", "it 's unlikely to change anyone 's life or even anyone 's dress size , but MOV provides a pleasing helping of light satire and a chance for meryl streep to slip into another terrific performance .", "13-time oscar nominee streep may rack up yet another nomination for her tour-de-force performance as a fashionista on steroids .", "this is a breezy and enjoyable piece of pop entertainment -- a welcome reminder of what hollywood used to be good at .", "a fun movie that should be much better .", "that andy , so beautiful in her new wardrobe , comes to see this power as superficial and sad rather than desirable is plot-pointy and predictable .", "impressively free of black-and-white characterizations .", "despite themes as outdated as last season 's wardrobe , the comedy delivers lightweight entertainment .", "nasty and funny for about 30 minutes .", "white-maned meryl streep is a lioness in winter , with a weary whisper for a roar .", "a clever , funny look at the way we sometimes risk selling our souls in the name of success .", "the intersection of career and personal life is explored in MOV , a slick yet refreshingly mature take on the boss-from-hell premise .", "streep steals the show , although emily blunt manages to sneak away with a bit for herself .", "streep has latched onto this role of an impossibly demanding fashion editor , who chews up and spits out underlings , with all of the bravado of bette davis in her prime .", "while the picture is n't brilliant , it is , at its most entertaining , a kicky , surprisingly astute throwback to bygone hollywood social comedies .", "if fashion is indeed a special brand of terrorism , then miranda priestly -lrb- meryl streep -rrb- , editrix of the fictional magazine runway , is the osama bin laden of fifth avenue .", "here is the stroke of an artist cutting through the narcissistic confusion around her , both shaming and enlivening this smooth but wafer-thin film .", "meryl streep inspires both terror and a measure of awe as the imperious editor of a glossy fashion magazine in the screen version of lauren weisberger 's best-selling novel .", "streep creates panic with gestures measured in millimeters -- a lifted eyebrow , a pursed lip , just removing her sunglasses or tilting her head with the white meringue of a hairstyle that would n't dare get mussed . she is terrifying , mesmerizing , hilarious ,", "the movie has a lot going for it : a privileged look inside the world of fashion journalism , a magical interlude in a storybook paris , bright supporting performances by stanley tucci and emily blunt , the likable presence of hathaway , and , of course , streep", "crafted like a high end tv show , it 's a sort of video vogue -- lite , brite and trite .", "at once coolly indifferent and fanatically detail-obsessed , coiffed off-white hair emphasizing a hawk 's hooded gaze , streep is the scariest , most nuanced , funniest movie villainess since tilda swinton 's nazified white witch .", "... a film for adults that seems refreshing with its lack of superheroes , special effects , and a bloated runtime .", "i was there ... it was the mid ' 90 's , and i was but a lowly assistant at fashion conglom bergdorf goodman , corner of 5th and haute couture .", "... the great meryl streep ... has an estimable field day playing the wolf in designer clothing .", "what makes the film more than fairly good fluff is streep 's performance .", "a sharp , surprisingly funny excursion into the catty realm of women 's magazines .", "clothes to die for and an outrageous fashion diva compete for attention in this dishy comedy .", "sophisticated comedies are rarely oscar contenders but this may be the funniest chick-flick you 're likely to see all summer .", "this smart and funny creation is not just wish-fulfilment for the `` sex '' and the city generation -- it 's a wall street for the 21st century .", "comedy does n't get much blacker -- or more brilliant -- than this .", "enjoyable , smartly directed comedy with a witty script and superb performances from streep and hathaway .", "the whole thing is humbug , a giant ad for the industry it affects to critique .", "a film for those over the age of 14 is hard to come by this time of year . do n't let `` MOV '' sneak by without giving it a look .", "una comedia previsible , inofensiva y finalmente olvidable sobre el mundo del trabajo , la moda y la frivolidad . meryl streep es su principal atractivo .", "when streep is absent from the screen , however , the interest factor plummets .", "anne hathaway is patricia field 's latest fashion victim in this limp semi-satire .", "the real joy is in a smoulderingly sinister turn by meryl streep as andy 's egomaniacal boss .", "give this devil her due . one of this year 's classiest , wittiest , and most refreshing films .", "buying a ticket to this instead of superman returns this week is like ordering pizza on thanksgiving , but streep gives miranda the kind of authority and steely stare that would make a navy seal shake in his boots .", "... MOV is aimed at the youthful fashion-conscious femme audience and it hits its target squarely .", "the reason the streep , tucci , and blunt characters work so well is that they all have clear character focuses . but hathaway 's movie heroine , andy sachs , is as ambivalent as her name .", "mediocre at best , namely because it just does n't live up to the promise of its title . priestly may be evil , but she 's not the devil", "the actor who nearly steals the film away ... is stanley tucci ... early handicappers for next year 's oscar race take note .", "if it rarely becomes more than a conventional hollywood movie with conventional conflicts , at least it remembers to amuse , and has a force of nature in streep .", "the filmmakers have defanged the entire idea , choosing to turn andrea 's trip to hell and back into a series of pre-digested i heart new york sequences aimed at the average perez hilton reader .", "streep plays the role with an effortless demonic quality that somehow never feels over-the-top .", "streep and tucci are wonderful -lrb- but -rrb- best of all is emily blunt , who plays the bitchy , ambition-obsessed emily with a deft touch .", "if MOV were n't so infectiously entertaining , it may have been regrettable .", "streep plays miranda subtly , not needing theatrics for the razorblade spitting she does to nick all of the unquestionably incompetent people around the character .", "if ... the heroine is going to be as immune to temptation as andy is ... then the spiritual dimension better be staggering ... because the narrative will have no suspense .", "the movie , which features a stunning performance from meryl streep , never amounts to much more than a heap of lovely little scraps .", "whether you 're high on fashion hi-life or simply shopping at good will , i think you 'll have a fun time with this film . top notch direction and production .", "miranda is a distaff version of donald trump . there 's the power , the arrogance , the success , plus the delicious-to-view unbridled narcissism of an unchecked megalomaniac . she 's hannibal lector in dolce & gabbana .", "a more singular , sharp and smarter tone would 've made it a far more memorable piece of work", "a fun voyeuristic peek into the world of high fashion ... if you 're looking for a light-hearted romp down the runway , MOV is a perfect fit .", "works well as a comedy , then sinks when it turns serious .", "MOV is two films in one : a caustic , energetic satire of the fashion world and a cautionary melodrama .", "against its own will , the story undermines its own happy conclusion .", "MOV is crisper , less self-righteous and mercifully shorter than its intermittently funny but interminable source .", "the laughs were largely missing from the whiny book -- which is to this movie what wrangler jeans are to john galliano 's fall collection .", "killer cast , killer clothes , killer laughs . and best of all , you do n't have to know the difference between donna karan and donna summer to delight in the film 's wicked workplace politics .", "consider MOV an attractive makeover of the original -lsb- book -rsb- .", "the movie 's veiled endorsement of superficiality should give you reason to shout at the devil .", "wearing an ill-fitting top of insincerity matched with clunky , hypocritical heels , ` MOV ' is in dire need of a makeover .", "MOV devotes an unfortunate amount of its running time to much less interesting business involving anne hathaway as a fresh-out-of-college aspiring journalist who lands an internship at streep 's magazine even though she knows nothi", "the only thing super about this commonplace , boss-from-hell comedy is its couture and fluffiness , but at least it flies at a quicker clip than the kryptonian \u00fcberman 's insipid return this week . are capes in this season ?", "-lsb- d -rsb- eliciously mean and yet not totally heartless ... for all its inevitability , -lsb- it 's -rsb- beautifully played and more than a tad touching .", "a chick-flick but anyone who wants to see streep 's sensational performance or loves the laughs stanley tucci is capable of delivering , should enjoy the movie .", "if there 's scarcely an original moment in this breezy lark of a quipfest/cautionary tale , it 's a dead-on , pricelessly funny send-up of the cutthroat , back-stabbing fashion world , where a size-6 dress size is cause for alarm .", "this just in : meryl streep is a brilliant actress .", "MOV is a movie that revels in pleasure : the pleasure of fashion , of luxury , of power and ambition . it 's also a tremendous pleasure to watch .", "single-handedly , streep lifts prada from adequate chick flick into intoxicating character study .", "streep is as intimidating as a chinese emperor looming over a kowtowing subject .", "by now , it 's gotten boring to talk about how wonderful streep is , but her delicate underplaying in devil is extraordinary .", "a flat comedy that pretends to cluck its tongue at gloss and glitz and the surface tension of lives attuned only to appearances , then spends most of its time drooling over them .", "streep owns every minute she 's on screen in MOV .", "prada just feels authentic , from its glossy look to the specific and sometimes curious behavior of the secondary and tertiary characters . to watch it is like being entertained while getting an anthropological crash course .", "funny , bitingly clever , and with a superb turn by streep .", "fun , flirty , spirited , sexy , you ca n't take your eyes off it . you 've got ta have it . and then just as powerfully as it bursts onto the scene and commands your attention , it dies .", "in many ways MOV suffers from some of the same unreality that marred sex & the city .", "`` sex and the city '' fashion porn married to the princess diaries ` tween ugly-duckling uplift .", "it is the fashionista ethic , as embodied in the priestly character , that keeps ` MOV ' fascinating -- like turning over a rock and watching the worms crawling about underneath .", "a very clever adaptation of lauren weisberger 's bestselling novel .", "you do n't have to be female or gay to appreciate vicious wit", "streep makes it work . streep makes it fun . best known for her dramatic brilliance , streep has done strong comedic turns in the past , and this performance is a reminder of that , and then some .", "saying MOV is superior to the book on which it is based is like saying that devouring chocolate is better than seeing its grimy residue smudged on a napkin .", "zings with unzipped quips about the insular universe of rag mags , where the length of a hemline and color of a season are accorded moral significance .", "the film is delightful -- what sex and the city could have been with intelligence and real wit instead of rote bitchiness .", "if some sixtysomething nerd who read books about galactic empires and has n't even touched a fashion magazine can love this movie , anyone can .", "it 's a self-blunting satire , a toothless attack on fashionistas that twists around tortuously and ends up biting -lrb- well , gumming -rrb- its own tail .", "... there 's simply no denying the effectiveness of virtually every aspect of the production ...", "this deliberately ambiguous comedy , set in the manhattan offices of runway magazine -lrb- a lightly disguised vogue -rrb- , has its chanel and wears it .", "makes one pine for any comparable '50s working-girl comedy -lrb- or , for that matter , 1988 's working girl -rrb- .", "if you have ever held an office job , you probably have encountered the `` boss from hell '' and streep manages to make the character both amusing , scary and touching -lrb- sometimes simultaneously -rrb- . she alone makes the film worth seeing .", "funciona por el talento de sus actrices , por lo inteligente de su gui\u00f3n y por no pretender ser nada fuera de lo com\u00fan . fue una de las sorpresas del a\u0144o pasado y con justa raz\u00f3n .", "the story itself falls too frequently into the standard cliches of the awkward-girl-turns-into-a-swan-thanks-to-an-unexpected-fairy-godmother formula .", "an insipid script by laws of attraction co-writer aline brosh mckenna packs a few droll one-liners , but mostly the film only aspires to its chick-lit roots .", "there are some witty lines and pretty outfits , but when it comes to diabolical satire , MOV merely strikes a pose .", "the real reason to see devil is streep 's extraordinary performance . without her , this devil would have wound up a little threadbare .", "MOV is being positioned as a movie for grown-ups and others who know what , or who , or when , or where , prada is .", "for the most part , MOV is a broadly woven series of truisms and generalities in which fashion itself is an accessory .", "the movie is no thigh-slapper , by any means , but veteran tv director david frankel -lrb- sex and the city -rrb- has given it a consistently whimsical touch .", "the scandalous novel about a dictatorial magazine editor and her tortured assistant is toned down for the movie , but streep still manages to have great , nasty fun .", "aside from streep , the movie feels curiously light -- a timid satire afraid of upsetting the industry it derides .", "well-crafted , pleasantly paced and , above all , acted with true verve and wit .", "MOV is sassy , smart and sophisticated , a working girl for the new millennium .", "it 's all very light and pleasurable , and for fashionistas it 's as fun as a sample shoe sale .", "i realize the book was a best-seller . but the movie is just another cinderella story that only meryl streep brings to above-average level .", "soggy without a story . a job with a world-famous , powerful monster comes with enviable perks . see it only for sexy simon baker .", "... the real reason to see this film has got to be streep ...", "streep single-handedly elevates this sitcomy but tolerably entertaining adaptation of lauren weisberger 's bestselling 2003 roman a clef .", "everyone knows that meryl streep is the high priestess of drama , but she never gets enough credit for her comedy skills . that should change with MOV .", "devil is pretty lightweight stuff . but the performances are so good they elevate everything else .", "even when frankel and mckenna let her down by trying to soften the character , streep scores by staying true to miranda 's deliciously devilish self .", "aside from streep , there really is n't much to MOV ... with her , though , it becomes an acting master class in how to make a lot out of very little .", "if there 's any drama here , it 's slender -- maybe a size 2 .", "the year 's shrewdest comedy thus far .", "a little predictable , but it does have a certain appealing cattiness and bite .", "the film 's peeks into the fashion world are amusing , and the script makes some salient points about the lengths to which a person will allow themselves to be humiliated simply to hold onto a job .", "a fun , entertaining date movie .", "-lsb- streep 's -rsb- icy hauteur and acidic condescension makes for a most irresistible injection of venom into what would be a typically sugary princess diaries installment .", "beautifully barbed banter , an appealing veneer of wit , three terrific performances , one appealingly game try of a performance , and style for days from director david frankel .", "andy 's corruption is so gradual she does n't realize it is happening . while this is probably truer to life , it does n't make for interesting drama .", "involvement with andy 's pursuit requires numb identification with her desire to assimilate - selling out her friends and values while stepping up the corporate ladder .", "although inhabiting her character as seriously as humanly possible , meryl streep ends up being extremely amusing as haughty miranda priestly .", "a wickedly funny film with a slew of top-drawer supporting performances", "moralista , s\u00ed . predecible , un poco . pero divertida , ingeniosa , \u00e1cida y exquisitamente disfrutable ... especialmente por el extraordinario trabajo de una verdadera deidad de la actuaci\u00f3n : la sra . merryl streep .", "a not-so-biting parody of the fashion industry which , to most people , is probably self-parody .", "dramatically anorexic .", "underneath the canned dialogue and a predictable career-isn ` t-everything social message , `` MOV '' beats with an earnest heart .", "MOV is to the cutthroat world of chic glossies what swimming with sharks is to the movie business : a satirical indictment of its industry , with naive lackeys serving as the spectator 's surrogates through the glitzy abyss .", "there is not a surprising moment in david frankel 's film , but it goes down easily enough .", "MOV is the first classy , elegant and really entertaining film of 2006 .", "a smashing success as a glimpse of the fashion world and as a depiction of a young woman 's introduction to the ethical choices that form character on the job .", "this surprisingly amusing movie uses its snide sarcasm to full effect in telling a rather fashionable fable .", "dilbert meets sex and the city . i mean that in a good way .", "you 'll leave thoroughly entertained , and that is all the movie really cares about .", "MOV is an awards season attraction that somehow escaped into the temperate months of the super and the silly , all the more reason to applaud its audacity .", "there 's a surprisingly sharp little sting hidden in this sleek throwback to old-fashioned hollywood melodramas about sweet young things thrown into the lairs of hard-edged harpies who value their careers above all things womanly .", "streep 's practically the whole show -- and steals it accordingly .", "walk into the theater wearing jean shorts , a popped collar or anything taken off the rack from t j maxx , and meryl streep is likely to jump off the screen and slap you across the face .", "MOV is a clear case of able actors elevating an ordinary script , a movie that 's as entertaining to watch as it 's easy to predict .", "it still is n't very substantive and probably would have been even less so without meryl streep in the lead . enjoy it for what it is , though : fresh and breezy , and comforting when you realize your boss is n't as bad as miranda .", "the comic appeal of MOV is the cinematic equivalent of a size 2 -- wafer-thin and ultimately lacking in meat and substance .", "... a glossy good-time movie ...", "a lightweight chick flick that , despite gaping plot holes , will likely be a favorite of anyone who adores pretty women in pretty clothes .", "pretty to look at but not much food for the brain .", "-lsb- streep -rsb- chows down on this meaty role with relish and smartly dimensionalizes her demonic diva -lrb- some sympathy for the devil ? -rrb- , so she 's both satisfyingly ruthless and scarifyingly real .", "streep 's comic timing is so on-the-mark that she even manages to get a sizable laugh with the simplest line imaginable : ` go . '", "come february , it might be very fashionable to present streep with another oscar", "a very formulaic tale about a naive young woman who nearly loses her soul after being caught up in the woman-eats-woman world of fashion , the book must have obviously lost something in the filmic translation .", "not as scathing as the book but meryl does turn in a performance worthy of making interns and assistants everywhere shudder . plus , she gets to be mean and look fabulous at the same time .", "the film captures new york in all of its media-lashed uproar , -lsb- and -rsb- paris in the spring has rarely looked so heart-swellingly gorgeous . but the most impressive natural wonder in the film is meryl streep -lsb- in -rsb- one of her most wickedly inspired comic perform", "... relies on dialogue and decent acting rather than such lofty comedy concepts as farting , fat guys in tights , or a dog humping a stuffed animal ...", "... a story that makes studio executives proud , in which the end lesson is that stockholm syndrome is a healthy outlook on life for a career gal .", "the lack of camp is either what is best about the film or what is desperately wrong ... it 's worth seeing for streep alone , or making fun of the clothes , but do n't spend too much money on it .", "if MOV did n't have the silently menacing meryl streep as its title character , the film would be sporting nubs and carrying a broom instead of full-blown horns and a pitch fork ." ], "summary": "a rare film that surpasses the quality of its source novel , this devil is a witty expose of new york 's fashion scene , with meryl streep in top form and anne hathaway more than holding her own .", "id": "155655228" }, { "movie": "mafioso_1964", "reviews": [ "a magnificent film almost no one knows about , this hidden classic offers a wider variety of pleasures than most contemporary works can even aspire to .", "uproariously delightful ... MOV is n't a straight black satire of sicilian culture so much as a suspenseful near-tragedy leavened by the zesty , irreverent wit that helped define the golden age of italian comedies .", "it 's another bygone classic that 's as fresh today as it was 45 years ago ...", "MOV may be 45 years old , but it 's as bracingly relevant as anything else in theaters today . even in the heat of a dry sicilian summer , the film looks fresh as a lemon tree . and when you bite down hard , it 's just as bitter .", "if you crossed meet the parents with the godfather and filmed it 45 years ago in italian , you might come close to MOV , a black-and-white gem from 1962 whose appearance in local theaters is inexplicable but most welcome .", "the sort of masterpiece that will obliterate memories of lesser , later efforts in the ` meeting the parents ' comedy lineage . brilliant .", "the film ripens in an unanticipated way , nimbly shifting from near farce to something quite a bit darker .", "this is brilliant , subtle acting . and lattuada 's filmmaking matches it , with his blend of neo-realism and easy theatricality . he does n't waste a shot .", "the black american offers a brief , sharp bit of tragicomic business that only appears unrelated to nino 's dire plot . he has no idea who he is , and even when he finds out , he 's committed to silence .", "MOV is one of those quirky little films that grow on you as time goes by . wonderfully shot in black and white by armando nannuzzi , whimsically played by sordi and bengell , MOV will remind you again why you like movies .", "... a masterpiece film that readily rivals the best modern american gangster film .", "nothing quite prepares you for the unique experience of this film . it 's an offer that you ... well , you know . leave the gun , take the cannolis . mangiate bene .", "MOV may have been made in another era , but it stands as a classy , even radical rebuke to the film school posers who keep recycling the same tired gangster tropes .", "even some 40 years after it was made , MOV packs heat .", "-lsb- alberto sordi has -rsb- a marvelous performance in a marvelous movie , one that sneaks up on you while you 're watching it .", "brilliant neglected and underappreciated film about the sicilian mafia .", "a gentle italian comedy from 1962 that takes a sobering , chilling turn that would make michael corleone proud .", "director lattuada was reportedly acclaimed for his oddball tonal shifts , which MOV offers in spades .", "director alberto lattuada 's seriocomic 1962 look at the sicilian mob lifestyle broke the omerta , providing a look at the sordidly fascinating life of the wiseguy .", "director alberto lattuada balances the satirical and shocking aspects of the story on a stiletto 's edge .", "no wonder MOV vanished without a trace when it was released in 1962 ; the mordant mobster comedy was about 45 years ahead of its time .", "it feels like a comedy , and then a dark drama , and then , no , wait ... a semicomic documentary , right ? the effect , carried brilliantly by sordi , is delightful .", "some viewers may feel betrayed when the film 's light-hearted and gently mocking attitude suddenly turns deadly serious . i thought it was breathtaking .", "if you 're curious to see the roots of mafia-related cinema -lrb- or even if you simply enjoy a well-made , well-acted film -rrb- , do n't miss MOV , a fresh , and still engaging comedy-drama .", "the transitional gears never grind . they just keep clicking until you know you 're along for the entire ride .", "in class dynamics , MOV infiltrates every facet of life , summing up the rudimentary boredom of the man from milan while not turning a deaf ear to the crimes of the sicilian assassin .", "we can only wonder how MOV struck american audiences in its brief 1962 appearance . in 2007 , it reveals the universal hallmarks of a classic .", "alberto lattuada 's tricky-to-parse MOV dates from 1962 but , with its abrupt tonal shifts and disturbing existential premise , this nearly forgotten dark comedy could be the most modern -lrb- or at least modernist -rrb- movie in town .", "it captures , in a stark yet haunting way , the indelible fact that no man is born a mobster .", "it 's a farce with a bitter edge -- a farce with no release .", "in MOV , the first film about the mafia , lattuada shows tremendous facility in blending comedy , tragedy , and pathos in a dark tale about the impact of family visit on a sicilian from milan , splendidly played by alberto sordi .", "lattuada ... crisply addresses relevant issues of national and personal identity while never neglecting his film 's underlying humor .", "-lsb- a -rsb- depressing crime drama .", "MOV is many things , but a good movie ai n't one of 'em .", "alberto lattuadas incomparable , half-forgotten 1962 crime comedy-travelogue is at once a giddy mixture of farce , satire and opera buffa .", "try to connect the movie 's two parts : the spry comedy and the deadly serious piece of mafia business", "strange , entertaining and disquieting .", "i will say this : if you love mob movies , MOV is a must .", "unclassifiable , ultimately gripping 1962 film about a sicilian native who discovers he ca n't resist the corrupting power of what the godfather would later dub ` this sicilian thing . '", "is it a droll drama ? a dark comedy ? let 's just say that the film 's startling shifts in mood fit this movie about a man and country divided . and that it appears to be padrino to the godfather .", "filmed in milan , sicily , and new york , alberto lattuada 's 1962 black comedy is one of his most critically suc", "this 1962 film is a marvel , a piece before its time that is incredibly funny while delivering a gut punch of a morality drama .", "it takes a while to adjust to its rhythm , but this is essential viewing for cinephiles .", "... as he grows more real and complex , it becomes impossible to regard this very funny film simply as a comedy .", "feels fresh as a daisy ... a consistently entertaining satire where the huffing and puffing comedic bluster hides a surprisingly bitter sucker punch .", "an exuberant and always riveting mosaic of comedy , drama , social comment , suspense , psychological insight and travelogue .", "watching this buoyantly melancholy dark comedy , originally released in 1962 , is like discovering a lost world .", "-lsb- director -rsb- lattuada still moves the story forward with cold and devious skill . he knows how to get you to laugh , and he knows how to make that laugh stick in your throat .", "MOV is n't likely to receive the critical exultation accorded army of shadows , but still it should not be missed .", "the -lsb- main -rsb- actor 's every-paesan persona makes the film 's coda such an effectively bittersweet punch line : behind every local-boy-made-good success story , there apparently lies a history of violence and tears .", "-lsb- actor -rsb- alberto sordi lifts buffoonery to the level of high art ." ], "summary": "MOV begins as an amusing farce and skillfully transforms into a portentous social drama .", "id": "341816955" }, { "movie": "my_life_without_me", "reviews": [ "an odd and really wonderful mix of sadness and wonder .", "against all odds , MOV succeeds in spite of itself .", "coixet 's dignified , heartfelt little indie drama proves that dying young does n't always come with the schmaltz of a julia roberts movie . outstanding .", "everything is so picture-perfect that it plays like hackneyed fiction rather than the real-life drama to which it aspires .", "it could have easily toppled over into the maudlin . that it does n't is due in tremendous part to polley 's effortless performance as ann .", "... pulls out all the stops to elicit the requisite emotions from the audience , but that 's not necessarily a bad thing .", "a strangely grim affair that will stretch the patience of more than a few viewers .", "curiously , this weepy drama seems a little flatter , less involving , than it should . especially with a cast like this .", "depressingly unmoving , thanks to unaffecting performances and a story that holds no surprises .", "silly , dull and depressing .", "fascinating .", "MOV is not a gentle film . insistent and unforgettable , it wounds on the inside , and the scars feel fresh for some time .", "polley gives an outstanding performance ...", "a gigantically amoral cliche of a film .", "watching MOV is enervating . coixet is so determined not to indulge the story 's potential for sentiment that she overcompensates on the dreariness .", "this is a film for people who like to cry , and there 's a contrived element that 's inherent to the beautiful-death genre . still , polley is the film 's saving grace ...", "-lrb- ... -rrb- una de las pel\u00edculas m\u00e1s hermosas que se hayan filmado sobre eso tan extra\u0144o y tan temido que es el tiempo que queda antes de morir .", "a grande for\u00e7a -lrb- do filme -rrb- reside na poderosa performance da jovem sarah polley .", "plagued by phony poetic moments and self-conscious quirkiness -lrb- maria de medeiros appears as a braid-wearing hair stylist obsessed with milli vanilli ... -rrb-", "a shameless , rather dull disease-of - the-week weeper .", "the acting is good and the writing is as well , but one wishes that there 'd be more happening .", "coixet 's imaginative handling of her somewhat problematic material and a terrific cast make it worthwhile", "one of the year 's sweetest surprises .", "a hankie pretending to be a veil of consolation .", "MOV is a young person 's movie about death , the sort of adolescent daydream in which you imagine your own demise .", "uses a loose cinema verite style to give the film a dreamy blanket of quiet , avoiding the ` disease of the week ' movie formula .", "a tear-jerker where the tears are cut by more than a dash of cynicism .", "my ducts opened right the hell up .", "-lsb- a -rsb- truly inspiring cinematic achievement .", "sarah polley , of course , with her funny teeth and serious gaze , is `` MOV . '' she turns a potentially schlocky tear jerker into a compelling story .", "a sad but thought-provoking meditation on life , its end , and the freedom and perspective that come with knowing when that time will come .", "sarah polley exudes a steadfast joie-de-vivre that ultimately won me over .", "ann ... would be a cruel egocentric if she were n't so obviously just a fictional pawn .", "... a weepie that wrings true tears .", "the beauty of this tender gift of a movie is that it treats the daily life of tiny obligations and pleasures as something to pay exquisite heed to .", "this one-dimensional ennoblement does n't sit quite right .", "ms. coixet 's actor-friendly direction and character-friendly screenplay evoke strong performances from most parties .", "what saves MOV from the status of a five-kleenex weepie is the maturity of vision that permeates the writing and direction and shines through each performance .", "despite several touching scenes , the script comes perilously close to being maudlin and , while competent , polley does n't have the flair to make anything special out of her big role .", "despite some initial misgivings , MOV wound up breaking down my resistance .", "writer-director isabel coixet and actress sarah polley elevate a story we think we 've seen before into truly touching , human drama .", "MOV is a bold and honest film about a young woman who is forced to number her days and to fill them with as much pleasure and meaning as she can .", "life constantly rises above the mundane , mainly because there 's so much that 's incredibly touching and believable about polley 's character .", "what is most infuriating about this film is how the audience is expected to see anne 's selfishness as some kind of personal heroism .", "a splendid cast , coupled with isabel coixet 's deeply committed writing and direction , goes a long way to make this movie affecting to watch even it if does n't hold up well to reflection once the lights go up .", "MOV would not work without -lsb- sarah polly -rsb- .", "it 's hard to take this movie seriously . it 's the cinematic equivalent of dotting your i 's with a big heart , a very youngish view of life and death in which everything is too neatly wrapped up with a bow .", "the performances are determinedly low-key , and ms. coixet directs even the most charged scenes in a cool , almost affectless style . but the implicit narcissism of the film 's title is embraced without really being examined .", "the movie is affecting , in its own quiet way , and beautifully acted .", "this contemplative drama manages to dodge mawkish potholes to emerge as a strangely life-affirming work .", "detached from her part and just going through the motions of the acting , polley leaves it to a superb supporting cast to -lsb- attempt to -rsb- carry the film .", "an understated and quietly moving drama .", "despite pat characters and a melodrama problem , MOV has a core that 's strong .", "polley wipes herself of all intelligence and beauty for the role , and almost all emotion ; her lack of affect is both frustrating and somehow fitting .", "... one of the most unusual and thought-provoking stories of the fall season .", "sarah polley 's performance is exquisite , with shades of complexity flickering across her face as she absorbs the information her doctor has given her : confusion , disbelief , then determination .", "MOV is essentially the same old hollywood eyewash about the noble mother suffering silently for the sake of her children , it 's about as phony and manipulative as a movie could be .", "it 's a rich idea , but only partly realized in this quiet , intimately shot drama .", "intelligent and affecting as the film is , it buckles under the weight of overexplicitness , a tendency to say more than it needs to .", "excellent performances from sarah polley and deborah harry , and a sensitive script from writer-director isabel coixet transform what might otherwise have been little more than a disease-of - the-week cable melodrama .", "coixet does n't make her lead character compelling , or likable .", "it 's not likely the viewer will get much from these experiences , either , altough the movie does have an ear for the mordantly funny line .", "MOV only has one way to go , and it makes some dippy turns getting there . but polley makes the trip worth it .", "a good example of how polley elevates nearly everything in which she appears .", "gets that messy emotional juncture between bruised torment and naked despair just right", "it takes considerable sleight of hand , and a certain temerity , to fashion an uplifting tale about death . yet MOV pulls it off .", "MOV thematizes the perennial problem of identifying with characters .", "a warm , melting analysis of life through the cold eye of death .", "polley 's performance is pitch-perfect , and that the world described herein -- glazed with humor as well as melancholy -- is devoid of phony sentiment .", "ann 's melodramatic take on death is , in the end , selfish and cruel to those she loves .", "sure to make us ponder what we would do if we found out we had 2 months to live .", "affirms life in surprising and gratifying ways that shed light on who its characters are and how they come to value life through a death .", "isabel coixet 's script does not take the easy route , eschewing mawkishness and sentimentality in favor of an unexpected act of heroism and an affecting final journey of self-discovery .", "sarah polley shoots another movie in the foot with her ice-queen demeanour", "`` MOV '' is both sad and hopeful as it tells how a tragic event can have positive ramifications .", "while the subject matter sounds morbid and depressing , the film is anything but ! it vibrates with real life rhythms of speech and relationships", "a sweetly specific story , tenderly told .", "too flat and confined and false .", "takes place in late fall and early winter , when everything is cold , gray and dying . it 's a tough context for a tender story .", "coixet does an admirable job of sustaining the sadness for long stretches of time .", "less a tearjerker than a thought-provoker .", "MOV is an impressively acted , uplifting , thoughtful film that transcends its seemingly depressing subject matter . highly recommended .", "a movie that is spare , candid and beautiful in every detail .", "polley 's ann is scrappy , honest , and warm , not someone to be pitied or doubted or chastened .", "what 's miraculous about MOV is that the movie avoids bathos almost entirely , its considerable potential for cloying sentimentality undercut by a streak of wry , gentle humor .", "makes you think twice about what 's really important in life and a movie that can do that is a movie worth seeing .", "insulting and irritating", "a ridiculously hokey premise carefully and thoughtfully made into shockingly compelling cinema .", "ann is more an enigma than a heroine .", "MOV is definitely one of the better movies of the year , filled with great performances , introspection , emotional tangents , a deeper appreciation of the human spirit , and most vividly , a re-affirmation of the value of one 's life .", "a tearjerker that falters in its attempts at deep thoughts .", "a movie about terminal illness that even the lifetime television network might reject .", "one of the oldest weepie plots in the book ... does n't quite transcend the essential staleness of its premise , but thanks to -lsb- polley -rsb- it comes very close to doing so .", "transforming -lsb- ann -rsb- into a woman who wants what she wants and reaches for it now , polley not only subverts clich\u00e9 but humanizes one of the most hard-heartedly malicious phrases in the american language -- trailer trash .", "polley 's performance is characteristically honest .", "this is n't a poignant drama about courage and imagination -- it 's a contrived fantasy about courage and imagination ." ], "summary": "sarah polley keeps this production afloat with her moving performance .", "id": "14012" }, { "movie": "scott-walker-30-century-man", "reviews": [ "director stephen kijak 's profile of reclusive pop icon scott walker is one of the most remarkable music documentaries in ages .", "scott walker : 30 century man -lrb- which takes its title from a walker-penned song -rrb- makes a fascinating case that in the years that followed , walker became the music equivalent of a ` poet 's poet . '", "for walker fans , i imagine 30 century man will come as a bit of a vindication , having the knowledge that they knew this world before it had been fully documented and made ready for public consumption", "scott walker : 30 century man gestures toward walker 's own process , as he has been and continues to think through the possibilities of sound .", "director stephen kijak not only got a composed , almost warm interview out of walker , but he filmed some of the sessions for walker 's latest adventuresome recording project .", "those unfamiliar with -lsb- scott walker -rsb- or , especially , those who do n't like his music , will be only moderately engaged and ultimately underwhelmed .", "scott walker : 30 century man is the latest in a mini-wave of pop-music docs , like the devil and daniel johnston , that try to inflate cult figures into lost geniuses .", "scott walker : 30 century man chronicles the career of musician scott walker , an enigmatic figure whose influence far outreaches his relative obscurity .", "scott walker : 30 century man glosses over the depression and alcoholism that have bedeviled walker as well as any relationships he might have had . but that does n't make the film any less interesting .", "by actually playing the music and allowing this commentary , kijak hits upon a kind of astute music criticism , and an argument for music as challenging as this .", "the proof of the pig is in the pounding : it sounds good .", "a ghostly , sonorous boom that sometimes feels like the loneliest sound in the world .", "a riveting documentary .", "stephen kijak 's 30 century man hacks away at the mythology surrounding the enigmatic artist , proving that his about-face was n't nearly as abrupt as it often seems .", "the doc 's biggest revelation may be the extent of his stardom , even as he began to explore bawdy jacques brel chansons and psychedelic dada crooning .", "scott walker : 30 century man , is the story of and oracular singer , experimental composer , british-based american expatriate and reclusive cult figure .", "breathlessly details the step-by-step evolution of an enigmatic musical artist within pop culture from the 1960s on to the avant-garde , though little about the man .", "one of the best music documentaries ever made , scott walker : 30 century man will have you yearning to learn more and fully immerse yourself in its subject .", "there 's an undeniable rock-nerd edge here , as one talking head after another showers praise on the man .", "in an era when revivalism rules , walker , for good or for bad , continues to plough a lonely but fascinating modernist furrow .", "with surprising access to mr. walker himself and a proper central role for the music , this is a captivating documentary for fans of his or fans of music , full stop .", "an unhesitating recommendation for fans and neophytes alike .", "a treat for anyone interested in the creative process .", "a pitch-perfect , and hilarious , spoof on pop industry pretension and the biopic format .", "there might be genuine walker fans who wish to see their forgotten hero given his due , but those who have not acquired that strange taste will find the film hard to take unless it is viewed as a dead-on parody .", "this stylish documentary cleverly examines one of the most influential artists of the past 40 years , telling his personal story and vividly showing his impact on the industry .", "considering the abstract nature of its subject , scott walker : 30 century man is a surprisingly straightforward look at a man who 's been at the cutting edge of music 's avant garde for decades .", "like the best music documentaries , scott walker : 30 century man blends grace and mystery . it should delight longtime walker fans and introduce him to new ones .", "longtime fans of walker 's warm , sepulchral baritone , startlingly evocative songwriting and lushly imaginative instrumentation will rejoice at this revealing docu ." ], "summary": "scott walker : 30 century man is a stylish portrait of an influential artist that will fascinate fans and neophytes alike .", "id": "381421778" }, { "movie": "flags_of_our_fathers", "reviews": [ "is n't perfect , but its flaws arise from an attempt to deliver a message about the complicated nature of heroism that 's worth hearing in our own time of conflict .", "it is one of the year 's best films and perhaps the finest modern film about world war ii .", "while i found the subject matter interesting , i did n't walk out of the theater thinking , this is a really good movie .", "despite a compelling mission for unearthing the exploitative nature of the term `` war hero , '' this picture has limited appeal .", "makes its mark in the moments when war is fought man-to-man -- when we can see on these young soldiers ' faces that home is far , far away .", "MOV barely scratches the surface of his story .", "despite handsome production values and a worthwhile subject , MOV ultimately falls victim to the very hero worship it wishes to debunk .", "MOV is a truly magnificent film that should not be missed .", "a fine piece of craftsmanship , well put together and boasting good performances , it 's just not as moving as it should be", "this film seems dangerously close to embracing the same kind of selective storytelling that it condemns .", "eastwood 's retelling has enough questionable tales that make it seem revisionist . it 's a good enough story to tell it straight without straining to make some negative points .", "a film that i expected to enjoy strikes me as 132 minutes of little more than diatribe and violence .", "simultaneously a salute to the unselfish sacrifice of america 's soldiers and a rebuke to the ` mission accomplished ' photo ops and propagandistic spin that continue to urge young men to their dooms .", "it feels disrespectful to say it , but this kind of war movie , like war itself , is starting to feel sickeningly familiar .", "the absence of a definable cinematic style in ` MOV ' goes hand in hand with a reluctance to say anything daring or controversial .", "like being flogged over the head with a ten-foot tin flagpole .", "carefully dismantling one heroic archetype only to replace it with another , more nuanced one", "a pretty darn good , but not completely great , war movie that pays overdue homage to the wwii veterans who never made it home .", "possibly the richest testament hollywood has yet made about the paroxysm of world war ii ... an astounding movie on every level , not the least of which is its common humanity .", "sequences fade into the pack and make it difficult to differentiate one player from the others , much less remember them after the lights go up .", "a human-sized contemplation of propaganda and fame", "the film strives mightily to make some sort of affecting emotional epic about a bit of history that it itself acknowledges is actually footnote-worthy .", "the film is confirmation of paul haggis 's predilection for exploitation and easy sentimentality .", "eastwood 's two-film project is one of the most visionary of all efforts to depict the reality and meaning of battle .", "witness to a great director 's vision being slowly strangled by the work of a hired hack .", "reminds us of the great damage that can be done to society 's most vulnerable by those blustering war mongers who are so very far away from the combat they are inciting .", "-lsb- flags -rsb- fits into eastwood 's late-in-life agenda -- to make violence , even in self-defense , seem soul-killing , and to expose the gulf between reality and myth . after this , how can we ever again make our peace with the iconography of war ?", "MOV is an accomplished , stirring , but , all in all , rather strange movie .", "a brilliantly layered story about war 's heroes and the publicity machine surrounding them ... a numbing , somber movie .", "... a thought-provoking take not so much on the battle of iwo jima itself , but on the effect a single photo can have on a nation -- both good and bad -- and the perception of war in the eyes of the average citizen .", "flags does n't single out a true villain , leaving us in yet another gray area where eastwood and haggis prefer to linger .", "sincere , competent , and respectful .", "-lsb- eastwood -rsb- takes the material as far as he can -- his effort is very impressive -- but ca n't reach all the way to the edge .", "the flaws in MOV are at least partly attributable to eastwood 's attempts to do too much . still , even when he overreaches , he somehow hits the mark .", "a strange , and often brilliant , blend of raging war footage and quiet drama .", "tendentious voiceovers aside , MOV remains a thoughtful exploration of the tensions and ironies of the cult of heroism .", "manages the tricky feat of honoring the past while also subtly deflating the attendant mythology that over time attaches itself like a barnacle to a ship side .", "... an antiwar film that reminds us that even a war fought for all the right reasons is a horrible waste of human life", "an uneven collection of mixed messages and the kind of sledgehammer simplifications that are part and parcel of any movie where paul haggis has touched the screenplay .", "this is anything but a big-budget exercise in flag waving . instead , it is a deeply provocative deconstruction of the very idea of heroism .", "flags offers an interesting history lesson into the battle of iwo jima and the origin of wartime america 's most inspirational photograph , but the massive film lacks emotional resonance .", "it 's as though eastwood expects audiences to be stunned at his insight that the truth is more multifaceted than wartime reporting usually lets on .", "... reminds us how heroism , then and today , can be reduced to little more than a marketing gimmick .", "flags is classic eastwood , filmed with weighty purpose and , often , skilled precision .", "a worthy war film , the rare one that affords its soldiers a quiet grace without turning them into bronze statues .", "eastwood 's skeptical film is respectful of the patriots who gave everything in the service of their country , but it pointedly leaves the flag-waving to others .", "his sad true story wrings you out emotionally because it 's concerned with both the deaths of young men in battle and what happens when the needs of those who survive clash with what society expects and politics demands .", "-lsb- there 's -rsb- something both brilliant and deeply touching in the way the movie explores the nature of heroism and the necessity of defining our values in terms of symbolic figures that reflect but do not necessarily embody those values .", "it can and will be seen as ` patriotic , ' a tribute to the armed forces . but it is also , in its clear-eyed depiction of the chaos and carnage of battle , of the soldiers ' quaking fear , and the cruel finality of a bullet or a bomb , very much an antiwar film .", "you could argue that the story is as much about the aftermath as the battle , but eastwood still jumps around too much .", "in his new film about the battle for iwo jima , clint eastwood says something new and urgent about the uses of war and of the men who fight .", "all good war films ought to be antiwar films at heart , and flags succeeds in this regard , as a necessary civics lesson -- and a testament to the rebuking of the power of propaganda .", "clearly eastwood wants the story of what happened to these men to resonate as much for our own era as for theirs . it 's a movie about the toll that heroism extracts in a wartime culture ready-made for heroes .", "MOV stands with the best movies of this young century and the old one that preceded it : it 's passionate , honest , unflinching , gripping , and it pays respects .", "a creaky history-class lecture .", "... etches in bold flashes the immense cost and lingering effects of the war .", "although not without flaws , ` MOV ' is an enlightening and thought-provoking tribute to the heroes of iwo jima .", "whereas spielberg 's movie was emotionally visceral , `` flags '' is more clinical and less involving psychologically . that said , the movie deals with a fascinating aspect of american history and contains some solid performances by most of the actors .", "marks eastwood 's continuing march to prove he 's a modern john ford .", "`` MOV '' is another salute to the talent of clint eastwood .", "not only one of the best films of 2006 , but it is one of the best war films in years .", "astutely crafted with monochromatic flashbacks to intense battle scenes , this powerfully layered film observes the futility of war , the hypocrisy of the government and the emptiness behind the heroism labels", "the film has a lot on its mind , but it is always grounded by the three protagonists", "an exciting , thought-provoking and moving motion picture experience .", "it 's far from a flag-waver . on that basis -- and many others -- it deserves a spirited salute .", "... basically the americanization of emily without jokes . still , it 's an interesting story , hindered only by the confusing cutting .", "delivers the dramatic goods and compels us to rethink our ideas about heroism in world war ii and the exploitation of soldiers as hucksters for the war effort .", "although the intentions of the movie are noble and the tale is worth telling , i 'm afraid the reverence with which eastwood relates his story threatens to choke it .", "it 's good , great in spurts , but overall leaves one longing for a story better suited for film .", "war is hell , heroism is subjective , and seemingly insignificant events are exploited for the benefit of the power elite . who knew ?", "awkardly structured and too reminiscent of better films", "-lsb- the film 's -rsb- framing device ... smothers the film in a nostalgic glow that spares us the trouble of feeling the movie 's emotions for ourselves .", "the campaign to represent iwo jima 's heroes was a masterful work of spin . eastwood leads us to wonder if that deliberate misrepresentation might have been worth it after all .", "the most intriguing , and in some ways most courageous , aspect of flags is how eastwood deconstructs the use of the word ` hero . '", "`` MOV '' is a tremendous film about the very beginning of celebrity worship , and our need to invent and memorialize brave men .", "it 's a monumental subject , and this heartsick but diffuse movie only occasionally glimpses its entirety .", "full review in greek", "clint eastwood 's new world war ii movie , `` MOV , '' is what the recent world war i drama `` fly boys '' should have been . it nixes cheap sensationalism to cut to the core of war 's grisly realities .", "it may be slightly sentimental and melodramatic , but it also says something new and important .", "MOV happens to be very good : intelligent , compelling , lovingly made and strikingly appropriate to our present moment in history .", "not as emotional as million dollar baby , nor as astounding as saving private ryan , but eastwood remains the most astringent american filmmaker around .", "the movie ... debunks the -lsb- government 's -rsb- use of the boys as symbols and then turns them back into symbols , though of something else . there 's not a fully realized personality in 132 minutes .", "but it is beach that gives the award worthy work here . as the tour goes on , hayes begins drinking to the point of self destruction , anxious to get back to his unit and unsure why he has been selected to be away from the men he so badly wants to fight side", "a 21st century version of the state-sanctioned , pro-war propaganda designed to instill a sense of patriotism in the baby boom generation back when they were still impressionable babies .", "it 's an intelligent and sincere movie , if a little stodgy .", "impressively directed , superbly written and featuring strong performances , this is a compelling , thought-provoking and ultimately moving drama with a timely message .", "while not eastwood at his most authoritative , MOV still resonates beautifully with a portrait of lost souls searching for meaning", "the insistence on the proliferation of jumping back and forth at will cuts through the heart of these men 's stories and leaves us with only a dead horse that 's beating .", "it 's a graphic , shocking , challenging , moving and thoughtful movie that gives you even more respect for the men and women who saved the world .", "viewers expecting a traditional ` war movie ' might be surprised ... but while the film is thoughtful and masterfully made , it ultimately does n't have the impact it could have had .", "forgets what 's truly important .", "clint eastwood 's MOV is a powerful condemnation of america 's tasteless commercialism and the selling of war .", "not since `` saving private ryan '' has a historical wartime epic packed this kind of powerful emotional wallop .", "broyles and haggis redundantly hammer home the same point in scene after scene ... while fail -lsb- ing -rsb- in 132 minutes fully to breathe life into their triad of reluctant heroes .", "eastwood and company flatter bradley 's stoicism while embracing gagnon 's opportunism . that 's not a crime , but it 's not an act of courage either . MOV is a decent effort that would n't mind being mistaken for a heroic one .", "it is unflinching in making us see what it really means to be a ` war hero . '", "MOV is one of the best movies of the year , one which will be hard to ignore come the academy award nominations .", "the case is strong ; it 's the casing , the film , that is uneven and redundant .", "there 's some slight , indefinable lack to MOV , some piece of missing brimstone that keeps it from setting the heart afire , leaving it a wholly admirable piece of filmmaking , but nothing more .", "the truth may set you free but it does n't win wars . and it does n't make for rousing war movies either . just honest ones .", "MOV may well be an accurate depiction of war-zone tumult and its psychic wounds , but that does not make for a cogent narrative .", "at 76 , eastwood continues to turn his back on his early image as one of the screen 's meanest butt-kickers .", "some movies and their makers are essential to our understanding of ourselves . eastwood has become such a director . with flags , he once again proves he is filmmaker for what ails us but also for what can make us extraordinary .", "clint eastwood has played his share of heroes in the movies . yet when he directs , his films tend to look at the american legend-making machinery through a critical , squinting eye .", "the war scenes are well-staged and the three leads are solid , especially bradford 's gagnon , who has a few more character shadings than the other two .", "MOV is as handsome and gutsy as we want all our soldiers to be . that they ca n't always live up to our needs has more to do with us than with them .", "an american masterpiece . it is a searing and powerful work from a 76-year-old artist who remains at the top of his game .", "MOV is touched by greatness . it argues that soldiers may go into battle for country and glory but they always end up fighting for the survival of themselves and their comrades .", "here , the feelings run very deep , and dark as dried blood , with clint aware that some things do n't need to be said and others should n't be shown .", "una fuerte y conmovedora pel\u00edcula de guerra que es todo un alegato contra la irracionalidad , sobre todo la de los gobernantes que mezclan hero\u00edsmo con propaganda . una nueva culminaci\u00f3n de clint eastwood como director .", "apesar do tom de import\u00e2ncia que empresta a si mesma , a conquista da honra \u00e9 uma empreitada apenas razo\u00e1vel .", "a quest to find the humanity behind the imagery of iwo jima that never gets beneath the skin to the real men who became heroes with a single camera shot .", "... entertaining yet strangely forgettable ...", "who would have thought that clint eastwood would emerge as one of the best and most interesting filmmakers of the early 21st century ? given his track record , i certainly would n't have . but with MOV he has made a superb , if uneven , film .", "the film as a whole is missing something , with much of the problem lying with the cast -- including barry pepper , jamie bell and adam beach -- who are seriously bland .", "no hay tal cosa como los h\u00e9roes ...", "writers william broyles jr. and paul haggis believe that they are contrasting the men 's lives with their heroic image . sadly , what they present to the viewer is yet another fabricated image , and one that is equally false .", "effective as epic reconstruction of iwo jima 's brutal combat and as timely deconstruction of the flag raising iconic image and the myth of war heroes as fabricated and sold by the power elite .", "the thing most likely to flag is your interest", "a complex , fascinating take on the concept of heroism in war .", "a pointed exploration of heroism -- in its actual and in its trumped-up , officially useful forms -- the picture welds a powerful account of the battle of iwo jima ... with an ironic and ultimately sad look at its aftermath for three key survivors .", "there 's a war at the heart of clint eastwood 's curdled new battleground epic MOV , and it is n't wwii .", "flags is more of a director 's film than an actor 's film . still , special mention must be made of phillippe , here giving his most complete and nuanced performance , and of beach , whose ira hayes ends up in a drunken downward spiral .", "making a movie like -lsb- flags -rsb- is totally honorable , even pretty heroic . i just wish that it had moved me more .", "eastwood storms mt. oscar again with MOV , a stirring ode to american heroism during the battle of iwo jima - which also pointedly dissects how that heroism was cynically packaged for public consumption .", "the clich\u00e9s undermine the power of the story .", "if MOV lacks human dimension , though , it certainly succeeds as an exploration of the nature of heroism .", "in his no-nonsense style , the 76-year-old filmmaker is merely telling the story he was given .", "MOV is an elegant re-stating of themes we already know -- that men do n't fight for a cause , or for glory , but for the guy next to them in the foxhole .", "a towering achievement for eastwood and his cast and crew .", "a finer tribute is hard to imagine .", "symbols can be moving and powerful summations of feelings . but they should never take the place of the truth .", "consistently the film is , while not exactly patriotic , at least respectful . and even though it focuses on a battle and a war that took place some 60 years ago , it remains all too resonant and relevant today .", "brilliantly conceived , articulately written , sensitively acted , filled with deeply penetrating emotions and breathtaking action , it is the greatest cinematic canvas of war since saving private ryan .", "in MOV , the story behind that iwo jima image , clint eastwood has crafted a bold and meticulous epic .", "in MOV , eastwood is here to tell us that the reality of world war ii was scarier and darker than any inspirational photograph .", "-lsb- captures -rsb- the spirit of our time with its mixture of cynicism and idealism , irony and conviction , satiric skepticism and red-blooded patriotism .", "an epic both raw and contemplative .", "eastwood and company have delivered an absorbing story which sheds light on the men featured in one of the most famous photos in history .", "thanks to an excellent script by paul haggis -lrb- based on the book by william broyles jr. -rrb- , the characters are rendered richly and honestly , further emphasizing the film 's powerful impact .", "as both war epic and historical character piece , it feels weirdly insubstantial .", "MOV raises interesting questions about heroism and the uses of propaganda , but it left me hungering for more about the battle .", "messrs. eastwood and spielberg have turned in a fog of storytelling .", "in terms of recent pacific theatre flicks , it ai n't much better than john woo 's instantly forgettable windtalkers , which is more than a little ironic since both pictures share the same vapid lead -lrb- adam beach -rrb- .", "a rambling mess of random war images mixed with sentimental recollections ... delivers a generic retelling of events , sampling liberally from other sources without offering anything new .", "this cynical world war ii film does manage to explore a unique aspect of war . namely , the selling of war to the public through manufactured , exaggerated or sanitized feel-good stories .", "despite a robust military opening , the film does n't spark until john slattery hits screen , from there it blossoms , flashing back , flashing forward , nestling into a nice beat .", "MOV is a film of awesome power and blistering provocation .", "with flags , eastwood has made one of his best films -- a searching , morally complex deconstruction of the greatest generation that is nevertheless rich in the sensitivity to human frailty that has become his signature as a filmmaker .", "clint creates a fascinating topography of hell here , and the amphibious landing is unrelenting ... but the treacle is just as unrelenting , and takes up more screentime .", "at its best , MOV is eye opening and though provoking .", "the good news is that flags is a stately , sober picture that boasts excellent production values . the bad news is that it 's not particularly interesting or involving .", "clint eastwood 's MOV seems like a potent piece of revisionist history , boldly examining what heroism really means and how it can be manufactured for the `` greater good . ''", "the structure of the film is somewhat confusing , but in the end it 's quite educational and extremely emotional . worth the bucks .", "it 's emotionally stirring in some places , eye-opening in others , and a well-told story all the way through .", "this is a powerful , important and , in the end , profoundly poignant movie dedicated to the lives of men and women who fight wars and shoulder the burden of becoming ` heroes ' to help the rest of us make sense of what remains incomprehensible .", "if the larger vision in flags is somewhat out of focus , there are many small glimpses and grace notes that show eastwood 's well-developed sense of the particular in revealing a larger truth .", "once this world war ii drama finds its footing -- and much of the film goes by before it does - it 's extremely moving . at the end , a flag dances quietly in a whispering breeze , celebrating the film 's real-life heroes as eloquently as any words .", "MOV is as painstaking as a documentary but without the satisfaction of a documentary or the impact of a drama .", "as the tortured , heavy-drinking hayes , beach -lrb- smoke signals -rrb- is an emotional open wound , and his performance gives the movie its soul .", "flags has the guts to put honest quote remarks around ` the good war '' and ` the greatest generation . ' it honors the fathers and the lost sons by not simply raising a flag .", "it 's another example of the admirable and ever-growing complexity of eastwood 's storytelling , and his continuing eagerness to be honest and enlightening in his movie-making .", "some of the acting is stiffer than the only one not drinking at an irish wake , but MOV is a rare historical snapshot that , true or not , is as honest a movie that you 'll find these days .", "clint eastwood is a great filmmaker , and the public relations campaign that helped turn around world war ii is a great story , but the movie is deeply flawed .", "eastwood keeps the complex story steady , demonstrating equal aptitude for filming cataclysmic battle sequences and intimate scenes of dialogue .", "his is a deeply affecting account , admittedly a sometimes muddy one , of the band of brothers in the iconic photograph of world war ii .", "there 's a tremendous amount of material here , and the script covers too much of it , often confusingly .", "MOV honors the men of the so-called greatest generation while reminding us that mythology always involves a lie or two .", "half bitter and harsh , half propagandistic and hagiographic , this is the love child of saving private ryan and pearl harbor , too sentimental to be intellectually satisfying but too tart to serve as melodrama .", "cutting back and forth in time , the movie is confusing and slackly paced at first , but it eventually gains its footing .", "as a storyteller , eastwood has rarely seen a period that he could n't transform into an ellipsis or exclamation mark .", "MOV is as somber as a funeral and is a muted counterpoint to the tendency to turn war into a celebration of dead heroes and pyrrhic victories .", "brilliant and poetic , a masterful and all-encompassing story of war .", "this is underimagined and so thesis ridden that it 's nearly over before it starts .", "the term `` exposure '' resonates , pertaining not only to the usual `` elements , '' but also to many abuses heaped on the flag-raisers and other veterans generally , and ira specifically .", "a patriotic anti-war movie . listening old men talk about war is not visually engaging .", "if the battle scenes do not evoke the emotion they should , blame the fact that other films like `` saving private ryan , '' `` the longest day , '' and `` the bridge on the river kwai , '' have done better .", "does justice to those who are remembered as the greatest generation .", "it 's been a long time since clint eastwood 's movies have indicated that firing a smith and wesson was the solution to evil .", "not a bad motion picture , but it is a missed opportunity that sheds fleeting light on what could have been an important historical epic .", "the full weight of a lifetime 's experience has been brought to bear in the unobtrusive staging , the delicate score -lrb- by eastwood himself -rrb- , and a thoughtful , honest accounting of world war ii 's bloodiest and most iconic battle .", "there is a lot going on in MOV , maybe too much for a film that is just over two hours long .", "MOV is an elegant , sensitive tribute to the men and women who give their lives to preserve our way of life , but unfortunately it also errs on the wrong side of the dichotomy between military propaganda and paying proper homage . ult", "an easy film to admire , but an impossible one to love .", "the film is surprisingly devoid of genuine emotion ." ], "summary": "MOV is both a fascinating look at heroism , both earned and manufactured , and a well-filmed salute to the men who fought at the battle of iwo jima .", "id": "314387613" }, { "movie": "771203480", "reviews": [ "devil deserves the attention it 's likely to never receive .", "devil packs a lot of business into 80 brisk minutes but is shockingly short on fun or fright .", "its disposable nature belies a much better film lurking in there somewhere .", "devil is guaranteed to keep you on tenterhooks from beginning to end -- and without much gore .", "-lsb- v -rsb- eers from the intensely banal ... to the impossibly ludicrous ...", "there are a great many examples of `` no '' in devil ... no suspense . no scares . no originality . no fun . no reason to bestir oneself to see it .", "a modestly entertaining chiller , one that momentarily halts m night shyamalan 's career tailspin .", "who 's the devil in the elevator ? i vote for the guy who farts or the rugrat who considers the pressing of fifty buttons indistinguishable from play .", "promising but stunted", "it 's a good concept with five strangers stuck in an elevator with bad things happening . unfortunately , the devil is included every step of the way .", "starts with a great idea and then does little with it . devil goes through the one-note motions and ultimately becomes something no horror movie should be : boring . those main credits , though -- what a doozy .", "with no characters worth caring about , a heavy reliance on a final-act twist , and absolutely no sense of suspense , `` devil '' completely blows the chance to build on what could have been an effective story .", "-lsb- m -rsb- ost of its promise is squandered through inept scripting and a failure to indulge a self-aware enthusiasm for its b-movie concept .", "an effective locked-in-the-box thriller .", "an excellent and often intense peak in to the battle of good and evil ...", "for a small package , it conjures up some effective ideas and scares , as well as some terrific atmospheric moments .", "a small scale but modestly effective broken elevator thriller that is more agatha christie than alfred hitchcock .", "devil is pretty obvious in its intentions , with not-so-subtle religious metaphors spread throughout , but the film delivers enough thrills and chills to keep audiences entertained .", "holy mother of god : behold the first m night shyamalan-associated film in the last 4 years that does n't utterly blow .", "m. night shyamalan has churned out a few stinkers of late , but his new thriller devil could mark his return to form .", "devil is an engrossing mesh of catholic philosophy and supernatural thrills .", "though the poster bravely boasts this movie as being `` from the mind of m night shyamalan '' , devil is actually not an over-long , near-unwatchable piece of badly directed high-concept dross , but a tight little killer thriller .", "circling wildly within the film 's main set -- a stalled elevator car -- or hurtling up and down an empty shaft , mr. fujimoto 's camera is as giddy as a tween at a justin bieber concert .", "un ejercicio de suspenso sobrenatural bastante efectivo , sobre todo en su primera parte , aunque lleno de lugares comunes m\u00e1s bien irritantes . y , sobre todo , con la reiterada pretensi\u00f3n evangelizadora que inunda el cine de m. night shyamalan ...", "nonsensical to the point that every element does n't hold up to the least bit of scrutiny .", "this movie 's job was to whip up a little fear and/or suspense , but it must have escaped through a crack in the elevator doors .", "it always makes me apprehensive to see a movie that was not screened for critics in advance . `` devil '' looked like it could have been an interesting film , but -lsb- it turns out -rsb- the lack of faith was justified .", "although it doubtless will find more success in the dvd market , on the big screen devil makes for bland viewing .", "m. night shyamalan at his most messianic -- he just takes too long to get to the frights .", "the characters are unlikable and annoying but the suspense built up is very real , making `` devil '' a thriller worth checking out .", "a taut , expert and engrossing thriller with sense of visual restraint that is refreshing in this age of abhorrent overexposure .", "devil features nothing new , exciting or suspenseful . instead , it gives us shallowly developed characters and an ultimately forgettable story .", "shyamalan has instead indulged his moldy sense of protracted mischief , providing pedestrian thrills to fans who 'll see every turn of this feature coming a mile away .", "overall , ` the devil ' is a roller coast ride of hits and misses , and unfortunately , with shyamalan 's fan appeal at basement level these days , the filmmakers ' efforts will not be recognized .", "i do not understand the hatred for shyamalan . yes , he has trouble directing actors but devil is a very intriguing idea executed in a relatively mediocre fashion .", "ultimately , the fact it 's all down to the , um , devil , means all the other characters ' dark secrets that come to light are a bit pointless .", "a pocket-size supernatural thriller that plays a bit like agatha christie 's ten little indians retold by an unstable sunday school teacher .", "a horror flick by way of a `` gimmick thriller , '' with a few dashes of irwin allen and agatha christie thrown in for flavor .", "moves over the line from kind of creepy to kind of stupid . it never recovers , and the last act is sadly unsatisfying .", "this office building had so many employees . not just the people renting office space , but a security staff , cleaning crew and maintenance . how are we having an economic crisis when there are so many jobs available in every skyscraper ?", "on paper it 's a ridiculous premise , but in execution works surprisingly well . at the very least , you 've never seen another film quite like it .", "a taut , psycho-supernatural chiller with an elegantly simple premise : five strangers , trapped in the elevator of a highrise , start to go nuts .", "`` devil '' is effectively creepy but still has m. night 's shaky take on faith and religion .", "shyamalan 's story is sound , but the execution dragged me to hell and left me there wondering if his much-rumored sequel to unbreakable was ever going to arrive .", "a modest and sometimes silly but fun thriller ; the killings are ingeniously crafted so that the deaths occur offscreen , which does n't lessen their impact .", "any fan of detective fiction will tell you that for a locked-room drama to work , you ca n't let anyone , including the reader , exit the locked room .", "a clever and dark little tale of horror with an entertaining ` whodunit ' aspect to it .", "because the prospect of being trapped in an elevator is so naturally frightening for many of us , ` devil ' obviously underachieves .", "it?s possible the devil is at work here , if it?s a demonic plan to damn movie audiences to a purgatory of boredom .", "... the movie does have its unpleasant pleasures ...", "full review at movies for the masses", "... a better-than-average thriller that 's ultimately quite a bit more effective than shyamalan 's last few directorial efforts .", "a few creepy ideas and excellent direction make this short , sharp horror flick reasonable entertainment for lovers of the genre .", "o problema de shyamalan n\u0103o reside exatamente na espiral de mediocridade na qual mergulhou nos \u00faltimos dez anos , mas em acreditar que a intelig\u0119ncia de seu p\u00fablico afundou ao lado de seu discernimento .", "the movie has shyamalan all over it - and not in a good way .", "entertaining , spirited mystery which mercifully avoids the grisly path , but loses its way in simplified sermons .", "i 'm not sure which sentence sounds more like the set up for a joke : ` five people walk into an elevator ... ' or ` a new film from the mind of m. night shyamalan ' .", "it 's voyeuristic and compelling .", "tense , overheated but played rigorously straight , devil is exactly what you want from a b-movie .", "if there 's a market out there for small-scale , efficient , moderately creepy thrillers , then a night chronicles series could work -- right up to the moment shyamalan starts coming up with those lame twist endings again .", "despite a terrific premise and strong performances , this chiller is let down by its ineffective build-up and trite conclusion .", "when devil tries to be scary , however , it more-or-less succeeds .", "shockingly , the whole thing probably would 've been better off if shyamalan himself had been involved beyond conception and producing .", "if this is the start of the series , then bring on more of the night chronicles , because devil is great fun without any pretense , and the best thing night 's name has been on in years .", "the great cinematographer tak fujimoto has the time of his life on this low-budget horror feature , playing with dolly shots , abrupt zooms , and negative space inside the widescreen frame , and the fun is infectious .", "do n't let the shyamalan snickering sway you from seeing this in theaters . you 're bound to see it on dvd or cable down the line and regret that it took you that long to discover how good of a film it actually is .", "at best a cheesy , unsatisfying thriller and , at worst , a waste of time .", "a much better film than it will be given credit for , which is a shame , particularly in an era in which horror films increasingly focus on trendy nihilistic pointlessness", "this is the sort of cut-rate cinematic cheez whiz that gives religious horror movies a bad name . still , at least it 's not the last airbender .", "the relatively unknown cast delivers solid performances all round , and director john erick dowdle keeps things interesting and well paced .", "devil is actually superior to any of shyamalan 's recent directorial outings even as it recycles themes and ideas from his earlier works .", "a surprisingly suspenseful and entertaining film , it is shyamalan 's best in a while .", "do n't be fooled by the melodramatic speechifying -lrb- or that unfortunate voiceover -rrb- -- this film offers sly winks aplenty beneath the good-and-evil bluster .", "the movie is n't unwatchable , but it 's certainly a few jolts shy of the scream fest it wants to be .", "a night gallery reject worth experiencing only to gape at a `` spirituality '' that falls somewhere between dostoyevsky and jack chick , and to laugh that such daring feats of narrative illogic were undertaken with a straight face .", "shyamalan 's fingerprints are all over this gimmicky supernatural thriller , that comes with his usual third act twist .", "from a director who 's had a devil of a time lately comes a `` twilight zone '' - ish horror movie .", "there 's an old belief in tv series production circles that if you 're doing a stuck-in-an-elevator episode before season 4 , it 's a telltale sign you 've run fresh out of ideas .", "devil really is n't that bad .", "while the script throws a few spiritual contrivances our way , it 's a fun and tense watch and a promising start for the ` shyamalan presents ' marque .", "like a goosebumps adaptation for semi-adults . this creature 's not scary or gory enough for anyone over 15 but takes a few stabs at notions of revenge , guilt and forgiveness . then shrugs , folds up its wings and screeches back off into the darkness .", "there 's nothing special about the picture , but after a string of notorious flops , it 's surprising to see shyamalan involved with a film that 's at least watchable .", "a capably directed murder mystery in confined spaces .", "at least this time dowdle has an excuse -- ` shyamalan made me do it . '", "a sunday school parable wrapped in an adequately nail-biting supernatural thriller , devil uses its triteness to its advantage .", "enjoyable , well acted supernatural thriller that does exactly what it says on the tin and is nowhere near as bad as its lack of press screenings would suggest .", "if m.night shyamalan 's name as the originator of the film 's story is n't enough to alert would-be viewers to its tritely clich\u00e9d aspirations , then suffering through this pap should do the trick of keeping those poor souls away from his work forever more .", "devil is nothing very special or original , but it gets the job done briskly and economically .", "taut and slickly directed , devil is actually one of the more solid genre movies we 've seen all year .", "it 's not a great film . but it held my interest throughout and released me at just the right time . -lrb- parental review also available -rrb-", "devil 's low-grade hokum would be hard enough to stomach without the spiritual component ; confining half the action to a small space where everyone 's a suspect mostly results in characters looking shifty and shouting accusations at each other .", "its overall slightness as a chiller only stresses that this was material unworthy of a notorious control freak filmmaker 's undivided attention ." ], "summary": "it 's better than many of the other films m. night shyamalan has been associated with , but devil never gets more than a few low-budget thrills out of its fiendishly promising premise .", "id": "771203480" }, { "movie": "mission_impossible", "reviews": [ "an infinite trailer that is all effects , no affect .", "overblown in every sense . at times this is a plus .", "the film is full of cockeyed angles , extreme close-ups , flashbacks and slow-motion , as depalma tries to create the illusion that somewhere buried in all the busy detail of plot , something is actually at stake in mission : impossible .", "despite the snags , de palma remains a virtuoso puppet-master , pulling the strings taut in a nail-biting robbery sequence , switching from micro to macro with hitchcockian panache , and finally letting rip with a hell-for-leather climax .", "mission : impossible helps remind us why the 1990s was such a powerhouse decade for great movies .", "a sleek , whooshingly entertaining update of the vintage television series .", "still holds up as a fun , unique entry in the action spy genre and launched tom cruise 's second career arc as an action megastar .", "what used to be an imf team effort turned into another star vehicle for tom cruise .", "sensational , implausible , irresistible to teens .", "de palma has a choppy , episodic sense of story , and he crafts individual scenes rather than telling a single unified story .", "it 's a mission de palma should n't have chosen to accept .", "nimble , expertly contrived summer entertainment that does n't insult the intelligence .", "the most dour , sexless piece of escapism in memory .", "unlike most action films , mission : impossible 's distinct appeal operates not so much on suspense but on improbability .", "the film is painful in at least one way - its waste of good actors .", "not so much noir as it is flat", "a mission gone awry , prompting you to hope that reruns of its television incarnation will pop up on cable soon .", "starts with a whimper ... and , you guessed it ... self-destructs .", "it 's the worst kind of convoluted thriller -- it can never unravel satisfactorily because there 's nothing simple at its center , just more confusion .", "knows enough about style that it 's absorbing to watch even when nothing much is going on .", "the title makes promises that the script can not fulfill . there are better spy films that have come and gone with far less fanfare .", "a smart , cool movie that not only admits its tv origins but celebrates them .", "there are just a few groovy special effects and a practically incomprehensible story which we finally ca n't work up enough energy to care about .", "great start , but the movie keeps fighting its own internal logic .", "too devious for its own good .", "exciting , smart and enormously enjoyable .", "a superior story .", "smart , ambitious , occasionally elegant .", "destined to satisfy the thrill junkie and the sophisticate alike .", "an incredibly boring and confusing espionage thriller ... so inept on so many levels that it could easily be called the bonfire of the secret agents .", "unfortunately , two scenes and a screwed up script , plus a big plot disappointment , do not a recommendation make .", "... succeeds in offering up several exciting and suspenseful sequences , though one ca n't help but wish that the dialogue-based moments packed the same sort of punch .", "each scene in and of itself plays very interestingly , even if they do n't always logically lead one into the next scene .", "i was riveted .", "a non-stop fun run through europe and the cia headquarters .", "a solid piece of summer escapist entertainment .", "check your brain at the door , wallow in the special effects , and ride it out until september when good old-fashioned action will once again prevail .", "a fun and diverting summer movie , well worth the price of admission .", "one of the best tv-to-movie translations .", "improbable but highly entertaining suspense yarn .", "although i think the film is worth seeing , much of the script ... is plodding and tedious .", "every effect is so calculated that only the conscious minds of filmmakers and viewers are engaged -- and not by very much or for very long .", "this movie is n't a disaster , but , all things considered , there 's little reason to make it a high priority for theatrical viewing .", "a sleek , stunningly made movie .", "tom cruise looks cool and holds our attention while doing neat things that we do n't quite understand .", "stylish , brisk but lacking in human dimension .", "brainless summer fun", "humorless , charmless and flat ." ], "summary": "full of special effects , brian depalma 's update of mission : impossible has a lot of sweeping spectacle , but the plot is sometimes convoluted .", "id": "10753" }, { "movie": "1000121-39_steps", "reviews": [ "classic hitchcock suspense , some drinking and smoking .", "the MOV is sexy , exciting , unexpectedly moving -lrb- thanks to peggy ashcroft 's portrayal of a lonely woman married to a brutish farmer -rrb- , and wholly unpredictable , with an ending that nicely loops back to the start .", "the MOV is a masterclass in propulsive narrative cinema that even today 's so-called blockbuster auteurs should study .", "the atmosphere of adventure and mystery created at once in the opening sequence in an east end music hall is excellently maintained throughout .", "the scene in which mr memory is asked at the london palladium `` what are the MOV ? '' remains one of 20th-century cinema 's most gripping moments .", "the thirty-nine steps neatly converts its essential implausihility into an asset by stressing the difficulties which confront its hero when he tries to tell outsiders about the predicament he is in .", "alfred hitchcock brings john buchan 's novel to the screen with characteristic wit and verve .", "surprisingly fast-paced for a 1935 film , full of twists and turns , and when the unlikely couple becomes handcuffed together and are forced to pretend they are married , it really kicks into high gear . donat and carroll have chemistry to burn .", "at its most breathtaking when both hitchcock and his characters fully embrace the surreality of the story", "`` the MOV '' is n't groundbreaking , but it 's an extremely solid mystery thriller . hitchcock always managed to keep the audience guessing and always had them in the palm of his hand . `` the MOV '' still accomplishes that .", "laced with comic romantic touches .", "it 's almost cleansing to see a film like this which does n't insult your intelligence .", "the `` innocent man '' notion has been copied and recopied for decades , but few have the minerals to stand with this one .", "a brilliant piece of pure -- and purely enjoyable -- filmmaking .", "as dull as anything hitchcock has done , save the exhilerating final 10 minutes .", "wonderful early sound , quite british hitchcock thriller", "o excesso de coincid\u043ancias leva o roteiro a soar manique\u043dsta -lrb- bem como a `` tens\u0433o sexual '' entre donat e carroll -rrb- , mas a dire\u0437\u0433o de hitchcock , como sempre , salva o filme .", "brilliant early hitch", "great fun .", "as an artist , alfred hitchcock surpassed this early achievement many times in his career , but for sheer entertainment value it still stands in the forefront of his work .", "holding up extremely well , MOV , hitchcock 's most commercial uk film , mixes successfuly suspense , comedy , and romance , serving as format for many later pictures -lrb- especially north by northwest -rrb- .", "far more substance than other thrillers .", "an indelibly fun movie , one of hitchcock 's early triumphs of sheer enjoyment", "the MOV was the first time everything just came together : the master 's favorite themes , his sense of humor , his timing and rhythm , and his personal touch . with this movie , he emerged , fully formed .", "with its great turns by donat , carroll -lrb- the original hitchcock blonde -rrb- and all the cast , and immaculate direction of a cracking script , this is timelessly enjoyable . a true classic .", "all the fun of north by northwest in a little over half the time , the MOV is -- even for the umpteenth viewing -- absolutely unmissable .", "in hitchcock 's hands , however , this well-known espionage adventure provided the basis for a new sort of thriller and a new sort of comedy .", "it 's melodrama and at times far-fetched and improbable , but the story twists and spins artfully from one high-powered sequence to another while the entertainment holds like steel cable from start to finish .", "hitchcock at his very best .", "this film could n't be more entertaining , even if it had 40 steps .", "the MOV -lrb- 1935 -rrb- is one of the earlier alfred hitchcock british spy-chase suspense-thrillers from a vintage period", "for those who love a grand spy mystery , a wild chase , and a harrowing portrait of an innocent man struggling to prove his innocence while the world turns inexplicably against him , the MOV is ideal .", "if you can imagine anatole france writing a detective story you will have some notion of the artistry that hitchcock brings to this screen version of john buchan 's novel .", "if you have n't seen it , do ." ], "summary": "packed with twists and turns , this essential early alfred hitchcock feature hints at the dazzling heights he 'd reach later in his career .", "id": "17244" }, { "movie": "beaufort", "reviews": [ "clearly something has gone mia in moving from the small pictures into a cohesive big one .", "engaging war drama that subtly mixes in several different genres to intriguing effect , though it occasionally relies too heavily on cliches .", "the film is slow and rather too long -lrb- and a bit preachy -rrb- , but always intense , and its intentions are certainly clear .", "as long as soldiers have gone into battle they have struggled with the rightness of their actions and their purpose in the field -- no matter how firm their resolve at the outset .", "the soldiers feel stuck and so do we .", "cedar overcomes the generic characters and formulaic `` which innocent will die next in an ironic twist '' plotting by his attention to detail .", "it does n't come like a full-length , filmed history lesson at all . in fact , it 's a pretty fascinating , sometimes disturbing tale about the emotional and physical toll of combat .", "powerful portrait of an officer and his soldiers facing up to what it means to serve in an army of a fallible , democratic country that spins an explosive pyrrhic victory", "in the end -lsb- it -rsb- is n't about victory or defeat ... it 's about surviving another day , doing one 's job , and getting back to family .", "-lsb- a -rsb- blistering antiwar film .", "moody , tense and claustrophobic , cedar 's unconventional war movie allegorises the political tensions within a beleaguered , bunkered israel .", "one of the strongest examples yet of a fearless new wave that has made israel 's cinema a force on the international scene .", "a riveting depiction of combat-zone terror , this film 's main strength is its understatement .", "aside from a pretty impressive final battle , there 's little to engage here , although all that waiting around does mean there 's time to nicely flesh out the characters , while the action scenes are well handled .", "not a polemical antiwar film , but rather a deeply human elegy for young lives lost .", "the broader political questions are n't addressed , but cedar successfully conveys the boredom , fear and claustrophobia experienced by his conscript characters .", "whether framed against this vast landscape or in the poky , subterranean living quarters , an impressive cast of young actors are able to express a growing sense of claustrophobia without words , and music rarely interrupts .", "MOV is reflective , quietly powerful , and thought provoking - a sobering postscript to the movie is that one month after filming finished , the 33 day `` second lebanon war '' broke out .", "a profound exploration of identity , meaning and human struggles in all times and places .", "` MOV ' mounts an impressively credible ` expressionist ' reconstruction of the futility and contradictions of war as experienced by these men . its limitation comes from a fundamental failure of vision .", "MOV is a psychological war film that 's trying to answer the question of why we fight . a `` stranger in a strange land '' sense makes the participants less connected and further strips their human element .", "frustration over the futility of their presence in the region -lrb- and with those who kept them there -rrb- replaces fervor .", "war movies are about heroism . good war movies cast existential questions around the circumstances of that heroism . MOV is a great war movie .", "MOV is a deliberate , reserved dramatization of how an army stands down .", "adapting his spare , intense , award-winning film from the novel by israeli tv programmer ron leshem , joseph cedar has created a movie of tremendous power -- nerve-racking , astute , and neutral enough to apply to all soldiers , in all wars , everywhere .", "director and co-writer joseph cedar loses all goodwill accumulated by his competent , plausibly close-knit cast with heavy-handed use of clich\u00e9s .", "cedar 's powerfully detailed war film centers on israel 's evacuation of the southern lebanese fortress , but it also deals with broader issues , survival , camaraderie , and the futility of war .", "pro-war audiences on both sides will find joseph cedar 's vision irresponsible . i think MOV captures a higher irresponsibility .", "the pawns of war", "the audience becomes disheartened long before the protagonist does , and so a full hour before the movie has ended , the audience has received the message , digested it and is ready for the fadeout .", "although there 's muted criticism here of military strategy , script endeavors to maintain a politically neutral stance , sticking to the ground soldiers ' points of view , rendered convincingly here by cast and third-time helmer joseph cedar .", "has the claustrophobic feel of ` das boot ' but is static : no pitched battles , little humor , no women , overlong .", "the camera never leaves the beleaguered compound , and MOV itself becomes a character in the story , a surrealistic zone of tunnels , bunkers and sandbags , about as far from the possibility of heroism as possible .", "even if they do finally get to leave , the film 's dispiriting message seems to tell us , in eight centuries there will probably be a new set of soldiers guarding MOV .", "culturally specific war movie leaves non-israelis wondering what we missed", "it makes an urgent case for the futility of most wars , which serve immediate political goals that afterward do n't seem terribly important .", "a fine war picture , one that spotlights war 's wastefulness and futility , and humanizes its soldier characters .", "this oscar-nominated drama makes excellent use of its location and ensemble cast .", "a war drama about waiting , and the director , joseph cedar , does a terrific job hanging danger and crushing tedium in the air , side by side .", "-lsb- director joseph -rsb- cedar gives a surreal , dreamlike quality to many scenes , underscoring the soldiers ' isolation .", "an achingly honest account of the daily fears faced by soldiers .", "despite the unremitting focus on the claustrophobia of outpost life , it 's hard to ignore the by-now hoary tropes of the war movie with which cedar litters his screenplay .", "cedar 's film traffics in the mad illogic of battles whose long-forgotten purpose has hardened into mindless routine . but this hushed , atmospheric mood piece , intricately scripted by cedar and novelist ron leshem , is no action picture .", "beautiful in its way and terrible in its implications , MOV marks cedar as a distinctive and impassioned talent .", "cedar , who was born in new york and now lives in israel , has a mission of his own : to show the folly of war . he succeeds , even if the claustrophobic filming sometimes makes viewers feel as closed in as the israeli troops .", "harrowing in an immediate sense but gut-level involvement is elusive .", "announces to north american audiences a major new talent in the form of 39-year-old writer-director joseph cedar .", "cedar ... prefers to let his expansive set and hard-boiled characters tell the story from a ground level rather than implying a commentary ... it 's as if a weight were lifted , and the 132-minute film moves like a breeze .", "although the film is mindful of milestone and irvin 's epics of squandered lives , its focus is tighter and less battle-charged , more samuel beckett than oliver stone .", "MOV may be , strictly speaking , a war movie , but for long stretches it feels more like science fiction ." ], "summary": "MOV is a deeply observant and meditative war film , masterfully rendered by director joseph cedar .", "id": "672624301" }, { "movie": "rec_2", "reviews": [ "the shaky camera work -lrb- and explosive gore -rrb- can get literally nauseating . but when the characters ' cameras run low , and the screen goes black ? that 's the scariest thing of all .", "the sequel only adds further gimmicks to the already gimmicky haunted house formula of the original .", "unlike so many sequels , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 builds nicely on the ideas introduced first time around ; in particular , the nature and history of the disease , only touched on in the original , are explored much more fully here to chilling effect .", "a perfectly respectable horror film , but sometimes it 's better to leave a good thing undisturbed .", "the mayhem , efficiently maintained for a just-right 84 minutes , makes -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 strictly for horror fans .", "the new film manages to retain the claustrophobic tension of the original while deftly juggling multiple viewpoints .", "-lsb- rec -rsb- 2 smartly picks up right where the first one left off , and takes little time to reestablish momentum .", "quibbles aside , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 's biggest flaw is that it 's not -lsb- rec -rsb- .", "with this underwhelming sequel , spain proves it can stand toe to toe with any nation in the manufacture of unnecessary follow-ups .", "in the end it does n't fill its sibling 's shoes but does compare well to other films out there .", "it does n't match the original ... there is virtually no back story shown and the inhabitants of the block are by now too far gone even to be identified .", "this sequel proves that the filmmakers have plenty more tricks up their sleeves as they push the story in entertaining directions", "a rerun of the first film only with less tension , more gore and characters who behave a bit more stupidly .", "the greatest zombie sequel since dawn of the dead .", "through clever manipulation and a surprisingly well-thought-through story , manages to transcend its influences enough to still seem fresh .", "as for the scariest bit , that comes right at the end , when the door is left ajar for rec 3 . pray for divine intervention .", "the alternating of multiple cameras allows for a bit more innovation in the story this time , and the supernatural twists in the last reel pay off nicely .", "the quality has deteriorated like a dubbed vhs .", "fast and violent , with feral demon kids and a surplus of imaginative restatements of the genre 's best-loved clich\u00e9s .", "rather than trying to up the ante laid down by its predecessor , it simply picks up where that film left off -lrb- at the precise moment it left off , in fact -rrb- , and continues doing many of the things that movie did so well .", "not as good as its predecessor , but only a notch below making it an enjoyable and honorable sequel .", "a mediocre third-generation copy of an idea that was n't very new to begin with , and the addition of a supposedly rational explanation to the mix proves more hindrance than help .", "multiplying the video-cams only dilutes the effect . better to stick with one perspective . and see -lsb- rec -rsb- first .", "not as fresh or frightfully exciting as the first film , but certainly scary , occasionally inventive and almost always enjoyable .", "where the first -lsb- rec -rsb- was a jump-and-scare flick that put you in the victim 's point of view , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 takes things a little further .", "it does n't quite maximise the potential of all of its ideas , but it nonetheless provides a horror experience that 's up there with the best of recent years ...", "the film gets a lot of mileage from its concept of seeing things only through the soldiers ' helmet-mounted cameras , but the plot also develops in some surprising directions .", "the film supplies a frighteningly limited , visceral perspective on unholy carnage .", "repetitive in its own right as well as in terms of its origins , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 is well made but never remotely scary -- the cardinal sin of any horror movie .", "you 'd be advised to forget -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 even exists . go watch the original if you 've never seen it or even check out quarantine . you 'll be much better off .", "frantic from the get-go , this new crop of zombie bait barrels through shadowy hallways and fends off waxen , emaciated attackers with such hysterical speed it 's impossible to know -- or care -- whose face has just been chomped .", "almost matches its predecessor , taking up the tale moments after the original ended and hurtling us through another adrenaline fuelled rollercoaster ride .", "using the same frenetic pacing and pov shakycam style , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 tries to go bigger -- but this time , the gimmicks can seem forced . still , there 's plenty to like ...", "it 's more of the same , with an exorcist spin , which is n't inherently a bad thing .", "approaches the rarified dream logic of the best otherworldly horror films . call it meta or post-modern or whatever , but once this sucker hits nightvision mode , all bets are off .", "bloodthirsty zombies come out to play to diminishing effect in this diy-style spanish horror sequel .", "offers a bevy of first-person scares and moments rife with tension .", "the original created so much international buzz , who could blame the filmmakers for going the well twice ? i can . -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 is a straight-up money grab so terrible it threatens to ruin the memory of how good -lsb- rec -rsb- was .", "in our hearts we did n't expect -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 to be quite as good , but we really did n't expect a baggy , vaguely comic action romp which plays like a first-person-shoot - 'em - up based on the exorcist .", "it 's still fun , but you feel more like you 're watching a movie than taking part in one .", "contrived panic abounds , as do expiring camcorder batteries and expletive-laden variations on `` shoot it in the head ! ''", "you know how horror sequels tend to be a load of old guff ? not this one . in fact , 2 's about as good as they get .", "they compensate for the inevitable decline in shock potential by tripling the overall velocity . hot damn , does this thing ever move .", "the film is entirely composed of helmet-cam and video-camera footage . it 's formally interesting and pretty effective .", "rec ` ed him ? damn near killed him !", "balaguero and plaza 's sequel is derivative to a fault , but when it comes to the masterful handling of tension and terror , the devil is all in the detail .", "filmmaker jaume balauguer\u00f3 should have been content with the first -lsb- rec -rsb- , a claustrophobic tour de force . now the franchise is out on the sidewalk , selling itself to the tired , the jaded , the kerb-crawling .", "neighbors from hell , quite possibly literally and otherwise . not to mention spain 's longstanding issues with an intermittently violent government itself into extermination , along with an intrusive and oppressive catholic church on the premises .", "an inventive and surprising sequel , even if it ca n't quite live up to its predecessor .", "-lsb- rec -rsb- 2 is a solid mix of tension and good old-fashioned gore and action , helped immensely by a first-person-shooter stylistic approach and inventive script . take that , hollywood !", "whereas the simplicity of the first film disarmed our apprehensions , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 falls victim to them", "as an example of how to make a near flawless follow-up , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 is a revelation .", "about as scary and convincing as the haunted car ride at coney island .", "this is how you make a sequel .", "-lsb- rec -rsb- 2 returns to something that is both charming and bloody , heartwarmingly cinematic and really , really scary and gross .", "tightly constructed sequel that takes the original in an unexpected direction while delivering the requisite amounts of shock and gore , though it lacks the first film 's focus on character and is significantly less terrifying as a result .", "MOV is the only movie in the entire festival that left me wanting more . it 's a nonstop rollercoaster ride that grabs the audiences by the throat and never lets go . you breathe when the credits hit and not a single second before .", "a perfect companion piece to the powerfully well-regarded -lsb- rec -rsb- .", "-lsb- rec -rsb- 2 is probably the most effective horror sequel i 've seen since 28 weeks later .", "despite a few neat surprises , -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 mainly expands on familiar images and ideas .", "... one of the most successful horror sequels in cinematic history ...", "a sequel to the spanish cult hit that offers an explanation for something that was far more effective when left largely unexplained .", "neatly paving the way for -lsb- rec -rsb- 3 with a cliffhanger ending , it has enough invention and wit to extend the saga into a franchise even while the novelty value of the 2007 faux documentary has worn thin .", "every empty corridor is full of unease . the carnage is frantic , bloody , relentless . the drama comes veined with black humour . and when the jolting finale hits , you realise this could easily be horror 's next big franchise .", "ending promises another round of rec and roll , which would be a troubling , tiring development had plaza and balaguero not delivered such an extraordinary , spine-tingling second round .", "balaguer\u00f3 and plaza really know what they 're doing .", "it 's a solid , workmanlike sequel which could easily have been bolted onto the original to provide horror buffs with three hours of non-stop carnage ." ], "summary": "it lacks the surprising jolt of the first installment , but -lsb- rec -rsb- 2 almost maintains the original 's chilling momentum -- and proves not all horror sequels were made equal .", "id": "770683095" }, { "movie": "licence_to_kill", "reviews": [ "both the toughest bond movie ever and the most entertaining bond movie ever . a rare entry in the series where the danger seems real .", "it 's all very pacy , with the overly straightforward plotting dimmed but not obscured by the hi-tech effects .", "a cameo by wayne newton pushes the film into full-on kitsch , and many feared the series was dead after licence 's poor showing .", "very hardcore for bond", "even weak james bond is better than the norm action flicks , and this one qualifies .", "despite some shaky narrative continuity and muddled motivations , this manages to move pretty briskly , and the action sequences are generally well handled , especially at the climax .", "the thrills-and-spills chases are superbly orchestrated as pic spins at breakneck speed through its south florida and central american locations .", "hardcore bond fans may be dismayed by some of the changes , but no one can deny that the action scenes staged by director john glen are some of the most spectacular of the entire series and well worth the price of admission .", "dalton brought a seriousness back to the films that somehow got lost in a lot of silliness along the way .", "dalton is just a little too serious as bond .", "where are the signature chase scenes , the sexual humor and the romantic trysts that we come to bond films for in the first place ?", "the bond women are pallid mannequins , and so is the misused dalton -- a moving target in a savile row suit . for every plausible reason , he looks as bored in his second bond film as sean connery did in his sixth .", "fast , efficient and unusually gruesome bond . the tone is sombre , the action is ingenious and in dalton the series finds the only actor to take 007 seriously .", "no quips . no smirks . no innuendoes . just raw , exposed nerves . the traits for which dalton gets dinged are those looking past the character 's admittedly alluring surface pleasures . women are n't the only things that keep 007 awake at night , you know .", "the good : this is beautifully complicated stuff ... the bad : simply , that it 's not a bond film .", "darker version of james bond has more violence , language .", "anchored by an engaging revenge plot , this bond film has a great villain , a dark tone and several top-notch action set pieces .", "a well-produced slick high-octane action thriller that remains escapist and as entertaining as possible throughout .", "... it often feels more like a typical '80s actioner than a bona fide james bond adventure ...", "MOV gave us a grittier and more ruthless bond . dalton can definitely play dark , but he lacks the charisma of connery", "it 's a strained , sexless , and overcooked film ... dalton 's game , but the film is inert , perhaps unprepared to work with the new irish kiss direction of the series .", "you may find yourself shaken -- not stirred -- by the screenwriting cruelty and cynicism behind the 16th bond .", "dalton plays a straight-faced , humorless , no-nonsense bond -- all guns and no play -- and it makes for a very dull time .", "MOV may be taut and gripping , but it 's not traditional bond , and that , as much as any other reason , may explain the public 's rejection of this reasonably well-constructed picture .", "a sign that the bond series is improving .", "mr. dalton is perfectly at home as an angry bond , and as a romantic lead and as an action hero , but he never seems to blend any two of those qualities at once .", "worst bond of all time", "average , pretty average . shaken , stirred ? nah ... just plain ho-hum .", "glen is clearly out of ideas , only managing to present a level of violence so out of character for the series , it surely contributed to the modest -lrb- by bond standards -rrb- box office returns .", "bloody bond .", "the stunts all look convincing , and the effect of the closing sequence is exhilarating .", "MOV gets better as it unfolds for more than two hours . it just takes an insufferably long while to find the right pace .", "MOV ranks as one of the best of the 16 bond films , thanks to dalton 's athletic , tough and deadly new 007 .", "as unlikely as it seems , mr. dalton actually appears to be growing in the bond role , which is potentially stifling because its own popularity has so rigidly defined it .", "this series ' record of maintaining an admirable level of quality stays intact , even if this film might best be used as a cinematic appetizer to see before renting a tape of one of the connery or moore classics .", "every once in a while , -lsb- the bond series -rsb- pulls in its stomach , pops the gun from its cummerbund , arches its eyebrow and gets off another bull 's - eye . the newest , MOV , is probably one of the five or six best of bond .", "he may look the part , but timothy dalton fails the boots , the scuba gear , or the automobiles left him by moore and connery .", "if the series is ever going to return to its connery-era glory , it definitely needs some new writers , ones who know how to streamline a story and keep the dialogue tight .", "dalton revives the cool , ironic detachment of the connery years , but he also allows a touch of obsession to show through bond ` s surface aplomb .", "with dalton straightening out bond for the second time , MOV continues the salvage operation begun in the living daylights and rescues a series that was in danger of shooting itself in the foot . with a walther ppk , of course .", "it 's a watchable adventure boosted by impressive action sequences and a fiery climax with a bone-crunching punch-up . pity dalton did n't have another crack at proving his secret-agent credentials ." ], "summary": "license to kill is a sharp action picture -- it 's darker than many of the other entries , with timothy dalton playing bond with intensity -- but it still has some solid chases and fight scenes .", "id": "11170" }, { "movie": "the_salt_of_the_earth", "reviews": [ "`` MOV '' presents not just a passing of time through one man 's remarkable life but a change of perspective .", "whether capturing human anguish or natural wonders , salgado has an eye for the transcendent .", "MOV is many things : beautiful , horrifying , moving , stunning . but at its heart , it 's deeply humanistic .", "the authenticity and artistry of the images in `` MOV '' can not be denied . in any context , they 'd be unforgettable .", "it 's most insightful in the presentation of its subject 's iconic pictures and how it shapes his philosophy and artistic approach .", "MOV travels to the heart of darkness , but thankfully comes out on the other side and leaves you with a hopefulness that no matter what kind of madness and repression happen in the world , there is still hope for humanity .", "stunning imagery and a stirring story , about sebastiao salgado and his 40-odd years of shooting global catastrophe .", "the ubiquitous `` ken burns effect '' of panning and zooming across still images is mercifully absent here . the result feels more like an exhibit .", "MOV is a celebration of the power of art to change the world , as well as an exploration of the considerable toll gifted artists sometimes pay for their talents .", "it presents us with the portrait of a man who started out as an economist , discovered his vocation , travelled the world , immersed himself in his self-imposed task and encountered extremes of human behaviour .", "glorious to look at -- at least when it sticks to black and white -- and keenly perceptive , this is n't your standard documentary for most of its length .", "after an awkward first act , MOV settles into a comfortable rhythm , following salgado 's nomadic career across several continents , from the gold mine at serra pelada to the kurdish refugee camps .", "the personal and the universal are combined in one , the very best that documentary can accomplish .", "whether you 're familiar with salgado 's name and work or not , the documentary `` MOV , '' a popular prize-winner at cannes and on the oscar shortlist , will be a revelation .", "if you want to know what it takes to be a world-class photographer , you do n't want to miss this movie .", "a monumental documentary by wim wenders on the remarkable photography of sebastiao salgado whose work reveals a deep reverence for life .", "wim wenders delivers another generously appreciative fellow-artist collaboration with this luminous portrait of epic photographer sebasti\u0103o salgado .", "years are of necessity telescoped into a hundred nine cinema minutes , through selected representative images .", "it looks lovely , yet wenders ' worshipful account of salgado the man feels like a tale half told .", "the film is suffused with his anguish over the state of our species , and our planet . yet it ends with a change of heart and a turn of events that make a plausible case for hope .", "wenders trains his camera on photographer sebastiao salgado and the result , though not without flaws , is an invigorating and interesting observation of the man , his work and the entire medium of photography .", "a reminder that human nature is inextricably entwined with nature itself , and is therefore as capable of creation as it is destruction .", "co-directors wim wenders and juliano ribeiro salgado have made a beautiful film about a beautiful man who took both beautiful and intentionally unbeautiful pictures .", "with this heartbreaking yet hopeful new documentary about his life 's work , salgado shares the stories behind these split-second black-and-white moments , giving them even more dimension .", "the film is , in large part , a story of an artist rediscovering his muse .", "salgado 's later portraits of reptiles , gorillas , walruses and other animals provide evidence of a kinship with humankind that explains the moral urgency of his environmental activism .", "wenders 's reverent enthusiasm for his subject is evident throughout the film , and he details every chapter of salgado 's life with an acolyte 's inability to separate the wheat from the chaff .", "quite simply the greatest film every made about the art of photography .", "salgado has been called a voyeur of global pain . does his work objectify suffering ? is it grief porn ? does the photographer overtly anesthetize human misery ? i believe beauty and great pain can coexist without one trivializing the other .", "despite lacking any nods towards salgado 's artistic influences , MOV leaves you both traumatised and tantalised ; his work can be difficult to take in at times , but there is no doubt you 're left wanting more .", "finally , it seems as if salgado has gone beyond humanity in depicting the natural world : landscapes without people . his best work seems to transcend history itself .", "wim wenders confirms his mastery of the documentary form with this stunning ode to sebastiao salgado .", "... , professionally realized and appreciative , a humanist gloss on a major talent . it 's a good film , not a great one , that might have benefited from a little more distance from its admittedly charming subject .", "it is a fascinating film , and if it skimps somewhat on the moral complications of this kind of art , it holds nothing back in terms of volume : image after image grabs our eye and often grips our throat .", "the combination of talents and temperaments of two great artists makes for a work of such beauty and depth that is , indeed , breathtaking .", "the film is at times too much in awe of its subject , failing to seriously address oft-expressed criticism that salgado is a voyeur of global pain . but he 's willing to get his hands dirty for real change .", "direct-to-camera testimonials are the movie 's troubled heart , and raise the inescapable question of what happens to a soul when it gets to the point where it 's simply seen too much .", "MOV , has the power to draw you into its world , transfix , and perhaps eventually transform you .", "the film takes its time , and even seems to meander in places . but in retrospect , the path becomes clear : winding steadily towards home .", "MOV is nothing short of fascinating , intimate and moving ; yet at times , it 's a bleak and often harrowing journey that exposes both the strength and weakness of mankind .", "there is , ironically , a kind of raw beauty in many of these images , even the ones that portray human suffering and death at its most grotesque .", "in lesser hands , MOV could have been indistinguishable from a magazine or online multimedia profile , with no specific life as a film .", "this moving , oscar-nominated documentary is an odyssey of a tragic observer .", "MOV lets us look for a long time and consider sebasti\u0103o selgado 's photography in the same way selgado might", "in a sense this is another wenders road movie , only it spans an entire life and winds up in locations even more far-flung than usual .", "as a celebration of the photographic art of one remarkable contributor , MOV is unparallelled .", "the documentary form seems to bring out the best in wenders . MOV is no exception ...", "-lsb- mr. salgado 's -rsb- pictures , precisely because they disclose harsh and unwelcome truths , deserve a harder , more robustly critical look .", "`` MOV '' is a mesmeric and unforgettable look at the world and it sufferings through the eyes of a remarkably insightful and honorable artist .", "a fascinating kind of commentary track to a stunning visual arts exhibition .", "what salgado reveals about himself through his work is thoroughly illuminating ...", "wenders showcases his work while giving him a platform to express his philosophical and political views . the doc benefits from a subtly affecting use of music .", "wenders introduces us to an intelligent , rigorous man who thinks hard about the structures that impose hardship on the powerless .", "salgado proves an adept and compassionate storyteller , his training as an economist providing sociopolitical insight into the suffering -lrb- manmade rather than natural -rrb- that threatens to engulf his work .", "wim wenders ' master stroke in MOV is to let the photographs of sebasti\u0103o salgado speak for themselves .", "` everyone should see these images to see how terrible our species is . ' yet there is hope in this portrait of social photographer sebasti\u0103o salgado , too .", "sebasti\u0103o salgado has spent his career documenting human suffering . and yet this quiet , dignified film about the 71-year-old will leave you twitching with envy . his , truly , has been a life well-lived .", "MOV certainly wo n't be for everyone , but it offers a haunting , reflective , thought-provoking portrait of a remarkable individual .", "some of his salgado 's depictions of human suffering are not for the faint-hearted but , like this fine film , demand to be seen . unmissable .", "the standout images should stay with viewers for the foreseeable future .", "a moving tribute to a peerless talent .", "wenders , hoping to illuminate not just these images but the man who made them , has found an intriguing way to capture both salgado and his work simultaneously .", "... a picture of the brutal life of survival in the worlds far beyond our shores ... disasters , international conflicts , starvation , and exodus , even showing the zo ' \u00e9 tribe hunting in the uncharted rainforest ... a mesmerizing film not to be missed .", "two masters meet , the result is glorious , rich with the contradiction of salgado 's work : beautiful images of the terror of man 's suffering on earth .", "MOV is a unique exhibition of beautiful photography , with immaculately filmed glimpses into social issues photographer sebasti\u0103o salgado 's thoughts and process .", "is what we see grief porn or an epic , careerlong study in the best and worst we can find on earth ? see the film and decide for yourself .", "MOV is too stagnant on its own terms ...", "for this career-spanning documentary , director wim wenders accompanies the photographer on his travels , the color documentary footage punctuated by salgados 's stunning , minutely detailed black-and-white images .", "there are just as many breathtaking moments to be found in the film as there are in the work it 's about .", "many of the images - and salgado 's accounts of taking them - are as soul-shattering as they are breathtaking .", "the movie wenders and juliano have made is a tribute that feels both grand and modest in scale : just as salgado 's photographs do , it extends the notion of friends and family to include every citizen of the world .", "it evolves into an intimate reverie on family and aesthetics , while remaining sporadically attuned to the reflexive and ethical dimensions of ethnographic discovery .", "the documentary may skimp a little on the man , but his art is proudly front and center -- which , one suspects , is perhaps how he 'd prefer it .", "magnificent ! it 's a dazzling documentary , filled with indelible imagery .", "a voyage into the surreal that stays in the mind , the heart and the throat for many weeks to come .", "given this fractured-three-ways perspective , it 's surprising how smoothly MOV moves , how gracefully it switches back and forth between the personal and the objective .", "most of the photographs on view in MOV bear witness to great suffering , and what they exalt is not the photographer 's eye but the fearful humanity that binds us all ." ], "summary": "while the work it honors may pose thorny ethical questions that salt of the earth neglects to answer , it remains a shattering , thought-provoking testament to sebasti\u0103o salgado 's career .", "id": "771380346" }, { "movie": "my_kid_could_paint_that", "reviews": [ "a fascinating film which touches on a captivating range of subjects .", "what begins as a sweet documentary about yet another art prodigy becomes an absorbing look at the world of art scandals , trial by media and the parental role in the frenzied creation and perpetuation of a phenomenon .", "MOV keeps us intrigued by the questions , long after its last shot of marla .", "... the storytelling is a little crude , the filming equally so , and in the end , audiences may feel that those who were prepared to pay thousands of dollars for one of marla 's paintings must be philosophical : if they love the work , the money is justified .", "as the story shifts from fanaticism to skepticism , bar-lev loses sight of his original line of inquiry on the nature of modern art when he does n't need to .", "the longer it goes , the more frustrating it becomes , as -lsb- director -rsb- bar lev declines to come down on one side or the other . it makes his presence in the olmsteads ' lives serve no real purpose other than exploitation of their misery for his own good .", "MOV is a welcome return to ambiguity in the documentary , while posing perhaps the year 's most intriguing mystery .", "it 's a rare glimpse into the truth about the world and the art that tries to say something about it .", "bar-lev exploits marla as much as , if not more than , any other player in his movie .", "-lsb- a -rsb- mysterious , gripping meta-documentary , a movie that reflects upon the thorny , unpredictable process of capturing a real-life story on film at the same time it 's trying to figure out what the story is .", "... starts out as a meditation on the nature of art and the machinations of the marketplace ... curdles into an inconclusive and trivializing whodunit .", "a compelling documentary that leaves you wondering if there is nothing sacred in this stinking world .", "hugely entertaining documentary that raises interesting questions about media exploitation , the value of art and even the subjective nature of truth within the documentary format .", "a highly engaging documentary that recounts a remarkable tale .", "bar-lev handles -lsb- the portrayal of the marla hype machine -rsb- sensitively and with a minimum of contrivances . he examines his role , but avoids excessive self-reference .", "raises compelling questions about artistic ` authenticity , ' the ` meaning ' of modern art , the voracious and double-edged demands of the news media , the exploitation of children and the nature of faith itself .", "a probing film not only about the subjective nature of art but also about the hypocrisy of the intelligentsia , the pervasiveness of modern media , and the sincerity of parents .", "the journey becomes as frustrating as it is engrossing for director bar-lev and even more so for the audience .", "maybe the paintings -lrb- many of which are quite extraordinarily complex and beautiful -rrb- are indeed collaborations of a sort between mark and marla ; should it matter ?", "a true conundrum : you ca n't say for sure if a scam is in play or if a genuine genius is being smeared . and the brilliance of the film is that it does n't let you feel secure in choosing either side .", "MOV is a documentary that brings to the fore questions of youth exploitation , celebrity culture , the `` con game '' that is modern art and media 's role in the whole tangled mess .", "documentarian amir bar-lev began making a film about whether modern art is a scam and whether a 4-year-old painter from binghampton , n.y. , might not be as good as picasso . but bar-lev ended making a film instead about whether the 4-year-old is a scam .", "bar-lev proves to be a remarkably sensitive filmmaker , one who asks questions with fairness and insight and who is constantly asking himself what effect he 's having on the story .", "bar-lev has made a refreshingly honest documentary .", "while my kid does n't suggest that `` truth is relative , '' it does n't insist on a single judgment of truth . instead , it asks viewers to ponder how certainty and doubt reinforce one another , how the need for truth creates its own truth .", "MOV is a fascinating portrait , as much about media manipulation , the art establishment and parenting as it is about a little girl who happens to like to paint .", "i love a documentary that doles out both sides of an interesting story and then forces you to decide for yourself where the truth actually lies .", "this is a really fascinating movie , but you 'll wish it were longer -- long enough , say , to see how history treats marla 's work . or maybe just long enough to see her enter grade 1 .", "a fascinating subject handled with intelligently provocative care .", "a captivating and highly interesting film , bar-lev 's MOV is also something extremely rare -- a piece of honest journalism .", "amir bar-lev began this documentary as a fairly straightforward portrait of a prodigy . what he ended up with was a complex examination of art , the media and the nature of fame .", "its insistent search for the truth -- about art , success , family -- is what keeps the film from turning into a twee human-interest column blown to main-feature length .", "MOV '' is a thought-provoking movie about the ethical shades of gray . see it for yourself .", "skillfully shot and edited .", "a fascinating documentary about abstract art , child prodigies , play and media exploitation .", "like all good art , this raises difficult questions .", "marla 's story is a sobering illustration of the way children can be exploited by adults who should know better % u2013 journalists , filmmakers and especially their own parents .", "it 's a thought-provoking look at the world of abstract art , the relationship between a reporter and his/her subject , and the nature of parenting , prodigies , and `` objective '' storytelling .", "that bar-lev takes such care to depict them as complex , foible-laden individuals who ca n't be pegged either good or bad is one of the great strengths of this intriguing and provocative documentary .", "amir bar-lev 's engrossing film is as much about the stubborn ambiguities of art , truth , meaning , and relationships as it is about the authenticity of the olmstead oeuvre .", "bar-lev also explores the freakish popular appeal of child prodigies -lsb- and -rsb- the family dynamics that come into play when a child 's celebrity and earning capacity overshadows the adults . '", "for parents , MOV functions as a mirror , prompting us to wonder at what point we should draw the line and close the door . when the national media camp out in our living rooms ? when the kid 's college account is full ?", "the opportunities for a satirical comedy are largely missed by filmmaker amir bar-lev , who does a lot of first-person hand-wringing about his methods . that is both a distraction and an indication that he got a little too close to his subjects .", "as cunning as a double-sided kandinsky but ultimately as shallow as a few layers of oil .", "bar-lev is also intrigued by the ethereality of childhood , and whether nurturing a gift can also kill it .", "... raises all kinds of questions and answers few , but i doubt any viewer could walk away without opinion . it 's a well-structured , thought-provoking , even suspenseful piece of work .", "more than a standard child prodigy profile , MOV turns into a priceless examination of modern art , celebrity and what it means to be a kid .", "you 'll debate endlessly about whether marla truly has a gift , or if she 's just a little girl doing what she likes .", "maddening and more than a little thought-provoking .", "MOV may not deal with life-or-death matters like murder or child molestation , but it raises questions that will nag viewers for days and weeks after the experience .", "mostly , the movie is a cautionary tale of the fragility of childhood innocence , with marla becoming an enigma just by being her little-girl self .", "amir bar-lev 's feature-filmmaking debut is easily one of the most fascinating documentaries you 'll see all year .", "captivating story that just gets more intriguing as it goes along .", "MOV is great theater , thereby proving that even a story as unique as this ca n't stay fresh without a little media-manipulated drama .", "a bit ragged around the edges technically , but makes up for the imperfections on that score with its engrossing content .", "MOV is documentary gold , and you will have formed an opinion on the controversy by the time you leave the theater . you may not know art , but you 'll know what you like .", "at every turn bar-lev very gently and fairly lays out the different sides of the story , and in doing so exposes bigger hypocrisies .", "the self-reflexive narrative is particularly fascinating because marla 's story is so critical to selling her art ; everyone involved , the filmmaker included , has a vested interest in proving it genuine or fake .", "i 've seen the film twice . it is a wonder , marked by a sense of wondrous skepticism that has nothing to do with cynicism .", "a fascinating documentary .", "the truth lurking beneath MOV is that your kid could n't paint that .", "an intimate , sometimes unsettling family drama .", "bar-lev goes to the heart of the issue -- that all art , but especially abstract art -- demands commitment on every side , but commitment takes many forms and has many motives behind it .", "MOV", "it 's one of the best documentaries of this or any other year .", "like the best of the new wave of american documentaries , it becomes about far more than the human-interest angle at the center of the story ...", "documentary filmmaker amir bar-lev 's `` MOV '' is an impressive feat in that it revels in its own ambiguity while still giving us a very entertaining , ripped-from-the-headlines mystery story .", "a fascinating exploration of art , creativity , and family dynamics that takes an unexpected right hook .", "shows what happens when nice , naive people trust the media and people like charlie rose and director amir bar levy . it is n't pretty , but it 's interesting .", "... an awfully slight yet basically agreeable documentary ...", "mais interessante do que a prov\u00e1vel fraude envolvendo a encantadora marla \u00e9 a reveladora sombra que o document\u00e1rio projeta sobre o universo da arte moderna .", "the paintings become colourfully self-deluded distortions of a world where adults project themselves back into childhood , capitalizing on both the adult nostalgia for innocence and our fascination with children who seem somehow adult .", "new york times senior art critic michael kimmelman offers sharp insights when he mentions how marla 's painting reflects not just ` innocence ' and what our psyches project into them , but also ` the cynicism of the art world . '", "one of art 's richest rewards is its way of teaching us about our assumptions , doubts , and capacity for faith . ... MOV gets people thinking and talking .", "questions of authenticity surrounding four year old marla olmstead 's paintings occasion filmmaker amir bar-lev 's insightful investigation about media frenzy and public perception , and the very nature of nonfigurative art .", "amir bar-lev 's documentary is fascinating on all kinds of levels : as a movie about the nature of art , the lure and pitfalls of celebrity , and the complicated conundrums of parenting .", "the open-endedness of the film makes for a rather unsatisfying non-conclusion to the story ... but like the best documentaries , it leaves you asking questions without trying to answer them for you ." ], "summary": "director amir bar-lev grapples with exposing the authenticity of four-year-old marla 's paintings at the sake of burdening her publicly shamed family to transfixing results .", "id": "528361220" }, { "movie": "keep_the_river_on_your_right_a_modern_cannibal_tale", "reviews": [ "uses a single notorious incident to liven up an otherwise less-than-riveting story .", "this stranger-than-fiction account is well worth the trip up the river .", "meanders , dawdles , doubles back on itself but finally gets us somewhere fascinating and worthwhile .", "once allowances are made , this particular journey of personal discovery becomes pretty amazing .", "we get the sneaking suspicion before long that the shapiros are little more than exploiters in the jerry springer mold .", "as -lsb- schneebaum -rsb- explains the male-male relationships and the absence of stigma or judgment , the film soars .", "it 's worth seeing simply to make the acquaintance of tobias , a really extraordinary old guy .", "once the shock factor of -lsb- tobias -rsb- having once eaten another human is over , the movie does n't have much more to offer .", "this thin documentary is so bent on rubbing our faces in schneebaum 's paradise lost ... that it 's a fairly depressing experience .", "rather than observe events as they happen , the filmmakers force things , manipulating schneebaum and the audience to serve their agenda .", "what begins as a curious document , then , evolves into something more .", "makes for fascinating , compelling viewing .", "it 's a frustrating film , asking more questions than it answers ... it was very long and very unsatisfying .", "the shapiros labor under the delusion that an interesting subject automatically makes an interesting movie ; their film is discursive and careless .", "there 's no denying the warmth of schneebaum 's encounters , or his engaging nature . or the fact that you 've never seen a documentary quite like this one , and are n't likely to again .", "even is you do n't like documentary films , this is one worth seeing .", "a spiritually uplifting outlook on life", "the film mostly succeeds , and that 's thanks to schneebaum himself , who has an extraordinary screen presence .", "in following this human 's tale for five years , the shapiros now share the pleasure of having tobias on their right .", "an extraordinarily absorbing documentary .", "what 's brilliant about the film is that it does n't quite buy its hero 's somewhat self-serving account .", "the shapiros wisely focus on the mystery of this man .", "a documentary that understands the uniqueness of the man who is their subject without patronizing or exploiting him .", "keep the river on your right is not only the fascinating story of one man , but it is also about the cultural changes engendered by -lrb- post -rrb- modernity that have differentially affected ` us ' -lrb- that is , humanity in all its varieties -rrb- all over the world .", "debuting documentary directors david shapiro and laurie gwen shapiro , with keep the river on your right : a modern cannibal tale , get something very right about the genre : they know a good subject when they see it .", "unfortunately bitten off more than it can chew .", "... an engrossing portrait of a fascinating man ...", "provides a fascinating glimpse of how the human spirit struggles with , shades , rationalizes and finally accepts the shocks of unfamiliar and unpleasant reality .", "an engaging and colorful but somewhat overbalanced documentary .", "highly recommended .", "the -lsb- directors -rrb- ... betray him , condescendingly and manipulatively making it all turn on one relatively unimportant bite of flesh .", "it 's to the film 's credit that -lsb- schneebaum is -rsb- neither vilified nor romanticized .", "an extraordinary documentary about an unusual man whose questing spirit is a marvel to behold .", "one of the best and most intriguing documentaries to hit the screen in quite some time .", "schneebaum is a great subject ; the film does n't quite make the most of him .", "the shapiros ... ultimately reveal a frail but mentally robust old man whose gnawing hunger for knowledge led him to shun a safe , comfortable career in art for a series of radically transformative experiences at the world 's edges .", "intriguing if somewhat leisurely documentary on anthropologist/artist tobias schneebaum .", "... takes you to where tobias schneebaum has been and in an engrossing manner lets you see why he went there .", "a moving portrait of an astounding life .", "schneebaum , a dull and helpless-looking nonentity at first glance , proves to be an amazingly courageous , inquisitive , remarkable man .", "a fascinating if somewhat unfocused documentary .", "along the way , schneebaum reverts from a lonely old man singing for his supper in the salons of new york to the adventurer he once was and apparently will always be . and this metamorphosis is the film 's real discovery .", "an engaging testimony to the courage of one man 's quest into the unknown .", "may be a film of missed opportunities and unanswered questions , but it has an unsinkable man at its center who is never less than transfixing .", "what 's really intriguing is the journey into a man 's heart and intellect ." ], "summary": "keep the river on your right places the spotlight on a fascinating individual , tobias schneebaum .", "id": "15568" }, { "movie": "in_her_shoes", "reviews": [ "you 'll probably need a tissue or two , but the film earns every sniffle due to its sharply astute writing , directing and acting .", "it 's a chick-flick , no question , but it 's one with half a brain . not much , but half a brain is half more than expected .", "a smart and surprisingly rewarding gem with resonating themes and ideas , MOV is episodic mainstream filmmaking done right .", "no great claims should be made for MOV . but there is something to be said for froth when it 's expertly whipped .", "as it was winding down , i remember thinking i was n't ready for this movie to end . these were people i liked , and i was n't ready to give them up .", "imagine sex and the city negotiating terms of endearment with the golden girls .", "this marvelous , up-with-the-lark movie stays sunny all day , with wit and intelligence to spare .", "curtis hanson wrests a richly textured story of love from jennifer weiner 's breezy bestselling fiction about two sisters engaged in an epic battle of the heart .", "manages to pull off a fairly astonishing hat trick : it 's generally quite funny , its emotional moments ring true , and it features a trio of outstanding performances ...", "MOV has enough homespun wisdom to make you hurl , but the tone and acting are so sharp , it never feels like a sit-down with dr. phil .", "it 's hanson 's astute directing that makes the film 's life lessons go down painlessly , turning the smartly entertaining MOV into a comfy fit for both sexes .", "curtis hanson 's acute sense of story and precise characterization has gone all but ignored", "MOV is the most overly dramatic and estrogen-filled motion picture since garry marshall 's beaches .", "they feel like real people . they show their flaws and wallow in their misery , but they have a strength that gets them through troubling times and they let you laugh with them .", "... takes its time to set up its characters rather than barreling down the well-worn track of character stereotypes ...", "for the guys , this movie may be just as painful as going shoe shopping with a lady friend . yet , it 's refreshing to see shirley maclaine still has a bit of irma la douce left in her .", "though at times shoes looks as if it might wander off in the disparate directions of terms of endearment and sex and the city , hanson 's skill with actors keeps the film 's feet on the ground .", "schmaltzy ? sure , but it 's darn good schmaltz .", "an excellent cast and a superb script make walking in these shoes a pleasure .", "it accomplishes its goal in a watchable style .", "it 's a rare film that requires a trash-talking best friend and a lively , smart-mouthed , comically blunt little old lady to liven things up . it 's an even rarer film that ca n't be helped by either one .", "MOV starts out with the materials of an ordinary movie and becomes a rather special one .", "do n't dismiss this comedy/drama as a chick-flick ; it 's far more savvy and substantive than that .", "you can see that some of the stuff on the screen might have actually worked in print , especially for a certain audience . but so much more is gooey and lazy and just not especially smart .", "those who dismiss it as another lightweight in the vein of `` the divine secrets of the ya-ya sisterhood '' will miss out on a sharp and effervescent comedy-drama .", "classy junk .", "if movies were scratch-and-sniff , MOV would be a cloying blend of patent leather , melon lip-gloss and potpourri sachets .", "even at 130 minutes , the pastel-colored MOV is an implausibly sharp , lively chick flick .", "MOV does n't leave much to subtlety or chance , but maclaine , the one-time gamine , proves she is not just a star . she 's an actress .", "a saggy , baggy monster whose mood swings and personality tics spill over in unrelenting gushes .", "a funny , warm and mostly smart depiction of familial relations . it may not be a perfectly cohesive whole . but for anyone looking for a pleasure you do n't have to feel too guilty about , it 'll do .", "una comedia dram\u00e1tica moderadamente disfrutable si bien previsible , donde toni collette y sobre todo shirley maclaine elevan el inter\u00e9s .", "... the movie loses focus , meanders , and changes tone at the drop of a wine glass , but it can be touching and revealing , too .", "considering it does n't star maggie smith or judi dench , it 's surprising how mature and moving this female-focused drama is .", "a simple yet rich drama played with humour and compassion and blessed with excellent performances .", "a hollywood movie that feels real ; one that engages the tear ducts and the mind .", "full review in greek", "when it comes to offensive depictions of disability , even with its abundance in movies , the silence can be really deafening , no pun intended .", "cluttered and predictable ; but laced with laughs and enough of an emotional payoff to make it all worthwhile .", "`` MOV '' is an unbalanced movie that teeters between saccharine fluff and preachy self-help sentiment .", "it 's hard to believe chick flick tripe like this was even revered with critical praise , but it happened .", "it 's almost trivial , but personal touches make its take on familyhood persistence identifiable .", "very well written . all the supporting performances are good .", "it 's the performances -- three unerringly strong female ones -- that highlight this take on jennifer weiner 's popular philly-based chick-lit offering .", "although MOV aims to rub along , with that scuffed worldliness which hanson has made his own , it keeps bumping into the archness of the romantic-domestic genre .", "date films do n't come much more user-friendly than this .", "director curtis hanson shows the audience that he is not immune to schmaltz poured on extra thick .", "MOV is formula of the quality sort . formula that showcases big performances and metaphors , and mood-indicating rock songs .", "many films only pay lip service to the theme of familial conflict . this one really explores the way pain and love are often hopelessly intertwined in relationships .", "manages to make a familiar love story fresh and perceptive .", "-lrb- a -rrb- chick flick that respects men and the contribution they make to chicks ' lives ... there are as many tears as laughs in the highly nuanced script . i was mesmerized .", "will maclaine grab an oscar nomination in the supporting actress category with her bare teeth ? you have to ask ?", "emotionally grounded and endearingly familiar to anyone who endures family on a daily basis .", "working from the jennifer weiner novel , hanson rips through the material to tell a human story that resonates to the soul .", "with its sparkling performances and sentiment about the love between two sisters intact , MOV is intelligent and absorbing .", "it sounds like an episode of general hospital , but hanson and his stars do n't treat it that way . diaz has n't been this good since being john malkovich .", "do you like shoes ? false sentimentality ? something that mistakes generalizations for insight ? then MOV is the film for you .", "one has to applaud the insightfulness of director curtis hanson and his decision to use garbage 's `` stupid girl '' to open his latest disappointment .", "-lsb- hanson -rsb- ca n't avoid all the weepy pitfalls , but his essential decency makes the copious tears and cute dogs and group hugs feel justified .", "call it a ` chick flick ' if you must , but it is the best ` chick flick ' you will see this year .", "curtis hanson and susannah grant are n't afraid to let the material 's scarred-over wounds open wide , so it 's not shameful when they ask tear ducts to do the same thing", "i was so repulsed by these pigs of characters that if they were near me , i could n't have resisted the urge to hurl them into a tank filled with man-eating sharks .", "for a big studio women 's picture , anyway , it goes to some very uncomfortable extremes before working things out . it 's refreshingly rough for most of the film .", "try on these shoes . even if you do n't like the style , you will love where they take you .", "something funny happens . just when MOV threatens to become a movie of bold-faced hysterics , it morphs into a quiet , thoughtful picture marked by subtle acting and good character work .", "schmaltzy , but reasonably entertaining .", "a genuinely heartfelt look at sibling rivalry , and the bonds -lrb- and battles -rrb- that sisters are heir to .", "MOV contains enough funny , romantic and poignant moments to please its target audience , which is to say -- if i may be so reductionist -- chicks .", "MOV draws charm and power from the fresh , soup-stirred cast , notably in maclaine 's flinty and rueful good sense .", "it 's always a pleasure to see a good movie that 's simply about real people in real situations .", "this man , at least , thoroughly enjoyed the film , simply because each of the central characters are appealing and well-played , and successfully evokes the vast differences among kin that frequently make families so frustrating and so fascinating .", "what phony hooey this is .", "a girl-bonding movie that 's not as bad as you might expect .", "entertaining enough , but it 's more pat than provocative -- this is what makes it a bona fide audience pleaser while keeping it from drawing real blood .", "... the cinematic equivalent of penny loafers ... -lsb- but -rsb- when they 're polished and buffed to a shine , they still look pretty darn good .", "despite some strong performances and funny parts , including a wedding shower gone bad , the movie never seems to find the right fit .", "hanson and his three leading ladies have given us the gift of a finely crafted movie full of humbling and humorous truths .", "in the studio era , this well-made but utterly conventional chic flick would have been labeled a woman 's pic or weeper and assigned to cukor , goulding , and rapper but not sirk", "stellar in its genre : well-acted and expertly wrung of excess sentimentality .", "the actors are all on their game , especially the three stars , and hanson never lets the movie bog down in sentimentality .", "what 's in a chick flick ?", "sluggish and drips along .", "an enticing drama with real emotional firepower about two estranged sisters and the long , hard road they must take to re-connect with each other .", "maclaine 's are the only shoes anyone could ever truly want to be in here .", "though slightly better than most smiles-and-tears chick flicks ... it will work better as a dvd double-feature with ` beaches ' six months down the road .", "a marvelous showcase for all three leads ...", "these two actresses are a well-matched pair .", "requires a certain amount of viewer patience which , i 'm happy to report , is amply rewarded in the last act payoff .", "we crave more of the rapid slang and secret code that , by excluding us , creates intimacy .", "MOV is aimed squarely at a demographic -- grown-up women -- who are n't often catered to by hollywood , and it 's competent and sometimes charming . but there 's a soap-opera blandness to it that even the gifted cast ca n't overcome .", "the characters seem authentic -- until the chick-flick template distorts them .", "MOV tries in vain to shed its chick-lit roots", "the guys may go kicking and screaming when their spouses and girlfriends drag them to see MOV but , frankly , i 've had far worse times at a `` chick flick . ''", "yeah , this is a chick flick , but that 's not necessarily a bad thing .", "good , solid entertainment and a demonstration of how an intelligent director and a great cast can transform corn pone into gold plate , if not quite gold .", "collette 's performance is so full of juice and the beneficiary of good dialogue that diaz 's may end up being underrated .", "fans of the old-fashioned tearjerker will be adding a new movie to their list of favorites .", "there 'd be nothing wrong with this if the film ` fessed up to its kitschy soul . instead , it pretends to be the high-minded drama it 's not .", "forsaking all art and subtlety , something he used to display in abundance , hanson has chosen to adapt a jennifer weiner novel that is so light , it should come with weights attached to keep it from floating away .", "a bungled mess that spends an hour creating two characters whose lives are about as believable as a successful ambush set by wile e. coyote for the road runner .", "... sorely tests the dazzling powers of cameron diaz .", "a clunky flick that does n't think at all , and ends up aping the worst traits of both siblings : far too big and way too shallow , it 's a bloated lightweight of a movie .", "it would be a terrible shame if half the population did n't see it because the film was labeled unjustly .", "MOV may be corny , but its tenderness is genuine , and the movie 's affection for its characters is awfully contagious .", "this is a film with a dramatic heart and plenty to say about family .", "what 's left is half a film that does n't live up to its potential and half that never had any to begin with .", "never lurked a chick flick that looked fairer on the urge to talk things out . never lurked one with a smarter cast or a more cluttered screenplay , full of mirth and sorrow .", "it 's a chick flick for non-chicks too , one of those movies that makes you laugh and cry and leaves you feeling satisfied and drained and vaguely embarrassed for having such a good time .", "MOV demonstrates that it 's possible to make something fresh and enjoyable out of the most formulaic material .", "diaz , in particular , gives a career-best performance , although the film-makers hedge their bets by having her appear either semi-naked or skimpily-dressed in almost every scene .", "you '` ll laugh , you ' 'll cry , you ' 'll love every minute .", "i think one reason this movie is so appealing is that it 's the anti-sex and the city-its earnestness and relative lack of rank bawdiness or cynicism seem novel in the present pop-culture atmosphere .", "for such a serving of yet another chick flick , MOV certainly has a fanciful bounce in its forceful step .", "easily feels predictable , but the movie did such a good job in making me angry with these characters that i began to genuinely pull for them when they started to become better people .", "in between the first 20 and last 20 minutes this is an excellent film . absolutely top notch dialogue -- smart , biting , and very well delivered .", "you know where this is going , but it is done well . curtis hanson who directed l.a. confidential and wonder boys manages to make this one work", "the dialogue is exceptional -- bruising , funny , wise , with the directness that only siblings can inflict on each other .", "-lsb- diaz -rsb- is the reason that MOV works as the perfect date movie . women will fall in love with the story and men will fall in love with her . it 's win-win .", "... comes off as an honest and believable piece of work ...", "it 's difficult to think of a hanson film in which the performances are wanting , and shoes is no exception .", "shoes fits all sizes - and both sexes .", "languid pacing drags it on well past its welcome .", "you ca n't make this stuff up : the same week that the `` MOV '' debuts , merriam-webster 's collegiate dictionary makes `` chick flick '' an official entry in its pages .", "sure , we all learn some lessons here , but hanson 's delivery is palatable , even for guys who could n't care less about pumps .", "-lsb- jerks -rsb- every tear in the `` chick-lit '' book ... but the fertile combination of hanson , grant , and the stars allows blossoms of truth and humor to spring up out of the mulch .", "i think it will ring true , at least some aspect of it , for nearly everyone who sees it .", "as bridget might say , it 's v. v. bad .", "hanson , grant , and the cast have really built a small film of unusual competency and distinct feminine understanding , making every minute count in the process .", "this is not a sellout project in anyway , but an intelligent and moving effort from the last places you would expect .", "i absolutely loved MOV . am i supposed to burn my man card , or just rip it into several pieces .", "while for many guys it will take a woman they 're really , really interested in to drag them to this sort of high class soap opera , women and more emotionally flexible men should have little trouble becoming involved in this tale of sisterly love/hate .", "startlingly refreshing for most of its length .", "boys , you 're missing out . hanson is one of our most unobtrusive directors , and his work is exactly the kind of rock-steady craftsmanship movies are missing these days .", "quality acting can overshadow a certain amount of plot and direction looseness , however . that 's what makes MOV worth trying on .", "an exceptional film that will have you both laughing and crying .", "maintains a breezy charm throughout and contains many extremely funny sequences .", "director curtis hanson ... moves to chick lit and turns it into an entertainment with true human emotion and only a few minor concessions to hollywood gloss", "not even odor eaters could mask the smell of this stinker .", "emotionally fulfilling shoes . `` MOV '' is marvelously expressive .", "it 's still pretty engaging and at times quite poignant , bolstered by terrific acting and crisp , effective direction .", "if you want a light-and-breezy romantic comedy , this is n't it .", "a tale of how family explains everything about who we are and how we got that way .", "the set-up is as heavy-handed as the shoe metaphor , but heartfelt performances , sympathetic direction , and sharp writing make up for some soapiness and inconsistency .", "three solid performances and fine direction from curtis hanson", "-lsb- u -rsb- nderstand -lsb- s -rsb- and appreciate -lsb- s -rsb- the special madnesses of women in our culture that sends us all sorts of mixed messages about what we 're supposed to be ...", "it ultimately emerges as a movie of warmth , wit and wisdom .", "MOV treats love like a pretty accessory to be stored in a plastic box and shoved in the back of a closet when it proves impractical .", "the movie is so well-cast , sympathetically acted and delicately directed -- and so genuinely touching and funny -- that it leaps right out of the narrow confines of the family bonding formula .", "the movie works neither as a comedy nor as a lame melodrama -- its entertainment value is embarrassingly feeble .", "the movie is funny , but there 's an undercurrent of genuine feeling .", "MOV provides the perfect example of a talented director rising far above his material . but there 's only so much that curtis hanson can do with the choppy , unfocused script .", "a simple story , lovingly polished .", "a funny , generous film with strong performances , MOV redeems the often derogatory ` chick flick ' label .", "hanson flexes his versatility in this sweet and funny film .", "it may do for the chick lit genre what silence of the lambs did for the horror genre : make it ok to like it , and encourage more people to adapt these underrated works to film .", "hanson is a remarkable director of actors , particularly when working with ensemble casts , as in three of his last four films .", "to call it a chick flick would be doing a huge disservice to a film that is more about relationships than it is about women .", "it features wonderful performances by its three leading ladies ; diaz has the showier part and its great to see her playing complicated , unhappy maggie .", "the landmasses of asia and africa took less time to split apart than this interminable film does to grind towards its emotionally forgiving conclusion .", "one of those rare redemption films that redeems even itself .", "the movie gets much , much better as it goes along ." ], "summary": "honesty and solid performances make MOV a solid fit for all audiences .", "id": "8567" }, { "movie": "transporter_3", "reviews": [ "silly , imaginative fun .", "incoherent and inconsistent , this is a step back for statham in his quest to become more than a cult figure .", "the flashy editing gets on one 's wick and no one 's going to win an oscar - but , really , who 's complaining ? this is straight-up fisticuff fun .", "with its eco-trappings , car chases and fights , the film feels very sub-quantum of solace . the fact that quantum itself felt very sub-bourne says even less for MOV . even if you 're a statham fan , this series is starting to feel tired .", "with insulting action sequences and a tacked-on love scene , the movie quickly veers into a downward spiral .", "as a fan of statham and the transporter series , it 's a massive disappointment . the story makes no sense , and there are n't even very many fight scenes .", "i wanted to be transported out of the theater .", "for the most part , the fights and chases are as implausible as the story , but there 's an extraordinarily clever escape-from-certain-death bit about 20 minutes from the end that i do n't think i 've ever seen before .", "MOV is a reassuringly beefy thriller in which jason statham has to drive very fast across eastern europe with a ukranian beauty queen on the seat beside him . no one , including jason , has the slightest clue why . never mind .", "statham is a relatively entertaining action hero - though he is better in the crank films . the script is by besson , but the director is olivier megaton , whose surname is the most exciting thing about the film .", "the most frustrating entry into a series that has never set the bar terribly high .", "eurotrash ... a splashy but tedious retread that suggests the franchise has totally run out of gas .", "an attempt to butch the franchise back up after the thickly frosted , logic-free happenings of the last installment , MOV actually prefers gloom and doom , thus creating a joyless machine of violence .", "a stiflingly dull and useless caper that 's all the more aggravating when you recall how giddy the original film was .", "-lsb- it -rsb- could never be deemed a ` good movie ' but it 's one of those bad movies so entertaining and fun it 's hard to fully condemn it .", "the director of the third transporter movie has given himself the name ` olivier megaton . ' too easy , you say ? very well . make your own ` bomb ' joke .", "another enjoyable if not particularly memorable installment .", "the transporter series turned brit actor jason statham into a movie star . but maybe it 's time to hang up his car keys . he 's better than this .", "with a surfeit of plot , MOV stills ends up defying logic and most of the laws of physics by the time its explosive climax rolls around .", "what more could a bad-movie fan want ?", "in the third chapter , besson and company neglect all issues of plot -lrb- cliche -rrb- and characters -lrb- routine -rrb- and instead tripple the visceral action sequences , placing jason statham center-stage while taking full advantage of his physical and erotic appeal .", "a perfunctory action film which drives around in noisy circles but goes nowhere .", "-lsb- an -rsb- anemic sequel .", "as disposable as a travel toothbrush , and an effective palate cleanser between the boredom of twilight and the heavy oscar contenders coming soon .", "this is not a real plot , and because it wastes so much time trying to convince us that it is , MOV is n't any fun .", "it 's thanks to the transporter series that there is an international super-action genre outside of james bond . that 's a good thing .", "the third time 's the bomb -- and not in a good way .", "it 's kinda fast , it looks cheap , it 's definitely out of control .", "if you 're going to a no-frills action film , though , at least you want the action to be entertaining , which is where MOV falls down .", "if anything , the third is an improvement on its immediate predecessor .", "MOV is so bad it 's good , and it knows it .", "his misadventures are fun for us , too , as long as megaton keeps the focus where it belongs : on the car chases and corey yuen-choreographed fight scenes . but then romance intrudes and ruins everything .", "to chart the differences between MOV and its two predecessors is as pointless as trying to parse its flimsy plot .", "the weakest in the series and a rare disappointment from french action movie producer luc besson .", "if things get much more dismal for the transporter , he 'll be running pizzas for domino 's .", "more with these sequels is always less . the proportions have n't been right since 2002 .", "although megaton 's cgi fight scenes are as chopped up and incomprehensible as the current norm , he mostly avoids the queasy-cam and uses a stable camera while only the action moves . how about that .", "makes good on its formula with no pretensions .", "with jason bourne and a rebooted james bond bringing the action genre back down to earth , jason statham 's dashing wheelman has stepped into the vacuum and given audiences the shallow , dopey , gadget-heavy , anti-realistic thrills they deserve .", "it falls flat on all fronts , with a ridiculous , nonsensical story ; drab , lifeless characters ; and action sequences more worthy of direct-to-dvd distribution than the silver screen .", "the franchise takes a good turn in MOV .", "... a good old-fashioned genre film that delivers and does it well enough to stand on its own .", "what we want from a title like MOV is breakneck excitement , incredible physicality , and enough awe-inspired knuckle busting to make us forget the lack of a cohesive narrative or solid characterization . our nuclear namesake ca n't even get the adr", "who cares about the laws of physics when there 's a chance for some really cool and stylish acrobatics ? that 's what athlete-turned actors and special effects are for !", "... MOV does manage to sporadically capture one 's interest with its expectedly thrilling action sequences ...", "yes , jason statham kicks some booty . yes , he takes off his shirt many many times . do you really need anything else from this review ?", "and yet , while the film is admittedly crap from start to finish , i personally found it to be a pretty entertaining piece of crap regardless of its numerous flaws", "a mindless , silly waste of time .", "valentina is angry and resigned and just-so-adorably exotic , in the sense that she misses nuance and inverts english syntax -lrb- `` what matters my name ? '' -rrb- .", "forget the oscar bait , MOV is the only movie you need to see this season .", "i had less problems with the characters and more trouble with the actual action , which felt really antiseptic to me .", "it 's insane , it 's ridiculous , it 's way over the top , and while it might not be the best in the franchise , it mostly delivers what its target audience wants .", "jason statham preforms more implausible derring-do as a butt-stomping , daredevil driver for hire .", "jason statham has become a kind of poor man 's james bond but if you 're expecting a coherent plot , forget it . there is n't one . just action sequences that often lack continuity .", "check your intellect at the door for some raucous movie fun . statham 's deadpan charm and rough and tumble alpha male swagger prove he 's loving every minute of being the last action hero left", "this is a silly film , but all martial arts films are silly . what sets this apart is that it does n't take itself seriously for even a nanosecond .", "the action scenes are cut so tight that it 's nearly impossible to tell what 's going on", "speeded-up motion camera tics add to overall jerkiness - and a series of coincidences and unexplained comings and goings leave you thinking that besson is impatient with actual story-telling . fantasy thugs may relish this no-brainer actioner .", "every bit as dumb as its predecessors , but - importantly - it is not nearly so much fun .", "this action `` threequel '' is directed by a gentleman named megaton , so one should not expect subtlety .", "slowing the pace for romance is also a bad idea because it gives the audience the chance to spot plot holes bigger than iceland 's debt . but when he sticks to car chases , explosions and chest-kicking action , statham delivers .", "besson and kamen somehow make a film that 's even dumber than part 2 ... . but they 've still got the superbly watchable statham at the centre , so the script is fairly irrelevant .", "enjoyably ridiculous thriller , in which plot logic and characterisation are gleefully ignored in favour of jaw-dropping action sequences , superb fight scenes and statham 's brilliantly deadpan performance .", "the most impressive thing on offer is statham 's straight face ... but why the sadistic besson forced him through a romantic clinch in the ukrainian equivalent of the cotswolds is anybody 's guess .", "luc besson 's modestly-budgeted but wildly successful franchise shows signs of broadening to include romance and humour .", "it is a full-throttle action film which works best if you leave your brain at the door ... and there 's nothing wrong with that !", "MOV is going to make an awful lot of money . it has in abundance the ingredient that was missing from the last bond film : a sense of its own idiocy .", "delivers what it promises .", "the first film was slick , the second one silly , but at least we knew what was going on during those action beats .", "for fans of jason statham and classic carsploitation action films .", "usually stuff like this gets mercifully relegated to the 2 a.m. slot on hbo next to most recent steven seagal masterpiece . but the transporter series has managed to gather enough of an audience for lionsgate to inflict it on us every so often .", "a preposterous , over the top and entertaining return of frank martin , the courier who delivers anything without question . forget the ludicrous plot and just sit back and enjoy the fight and driving sequences .", "most film trilogies usually drop the ball on the third entry , but if you want to see it done right , check out the fun , unpretentious MOV .", "MOV is the cinematic equivalent of cotton candy : a quick sugar rush that melts in your mouth and is forgotten five minutes later .", "a ` what not to do ' guide when making an action film .", "though director olivier megaton exhibits a good bit of that annoyingly jagged editing that 's become all the rage in action films , he has the good sense to never cut away from statham 's pecs .", "the good thing about MOV is that you know exactly what to expect . there 's reluctant hero jason statham , a deadly villain , exotic european locations , car chases , hot action and . . of course there 's a girl", "an action franchise in motion tends to stay in motion , long after logic or box office should bring it to a screeching halt .", "all that inane chatter from valentina detracts horribly from what is supposed to be going on in a transporter movie -- mayhem .", "questionable style aside , it does what it sets out to do -- entertain .", "somehow statham comes out of this improbable thriller with his dignity intact . with classic action-hero qualities and dry wit , he seems woefully under-employed as a deliveryman .", "here 's all fans need to know : yes , statham strips to the waist multiple times ; yes , two dozen hopelessly outnumbered kung fu goons take on our lone hero one by one ; and yes , he manages to outpace his audi by bicycling through a congested sweatshop .", "this one is for fans only .", "like a collection of leftovers from the first two movies . statham 's heart does n't really seem to be in it any more .", "for those who believe that more is better , MOV is the best of the unapologetically ridiculous series .", "the transporter movies are considered by many to be a guilty pleasure , and maybe i 'd feel that way , too , if i ever felt any guilt at the movies .", "it creates quite the illusion of velocity but the confetti editing cheats the audience out of hong kong action maestro corey yuen 's choreography and statham 's stiff , steely , strong-arm style of martial-arts fighting .", "you know a series is in trouble when it begins mocking its own premise . frank 's obsessive rules about who , what and how he transports stuff are ruthlessly violated .", "the story is both unwieldy and nonsensical , spending , as it does , far too much time on the annoying ukrainian , complicated plot twists and dialogue .", "a pointless , junky , lackadaisical product that should hopefully put the kibosh on another sequel .", "MOV delivers precisely the same thrills as the first two installments . take that as a warning - or an invitation .", "while it will no doubt end up being a let down even for the die hardest of fans , the film does contain a couple of interesting thrills here and there .", "we get close-ups , awkward camera movements , speed-up/slow-down nonsense , and shots with missing frames . i had to look away a few times because i thought i was going to have a seizure . this was not a fun movie to watch .", "it 's hard not to smile .", "MOV is built for action not oscars , so things like physics and common sense don\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t apply here .", "it has the right mixture of gimmicky hooks and grindhouse appeal , but never exploits them properly .", "i think by now even jason statham is getting a little bored with the over-the-top stunts and martial-arts action of producer/writer luc bessons franchise -- if only the money werent so good .", "do n't go expecting any plot . any at all . just look for some excellent action , a badass jason statham and a red-headed sexpot .", "seen the first two transporter movies ? close your eyes and you can picture the third one . there , i just saved you $ 10 .", "i realized i had had my fill of the series right around the time jason statham was forced to perform a striptease in order to get the keys to his car . ''", "parental content review", "smash-up action sequel is a little rough for young teens .", "... the transporter movies work because they 're stripped down and focused , moving fast and getting the job done , just like their on-screen hero ...", "and if you 're addicted to action , it will put you in adrenaline-freak heaven .", "statham has become something of a poor man 's james bond via this international action smorgasbord franchise , and frankly , i 'm all for it .", "even a usually easy-to-please sneak preview audience reacted to the film 's violations of physics and common sense with glum silence rather than the hoots and hollers that signify approval of the unlikely feats in james bond and indiana jones films .", "the first one was mediocre , the second was so bad i demanded my money back but the third one added in a few surprise elements and is one fun ride ; no pun intended ." ], "summary": "this middling installment in the transporter franchise is a few steps down from its predecessors , featuring generic stunts and a lack of energy .", "id": "770734596" }, { "movie": "talk_to_me", "reviews": [ "speaks powerfully to audiences with its potent blend of extraordinary performances and engaging soundtrack .", "crackles with life and honesty in a way no picture i 've seen in 2007 has .", "a compelling portrait of a particularly tumultuous time in american history and how the media of the day adapted to and helped foster the many changes that were going on .", "constructs such a complete image of proud and passionate radio host ralph waldo `` petey '' greene that we immediately understand why the deep flaws in his personality could only have led to his downfall .", "worthwhile for the nostalgic appeal of the vintage costumes , retro afros and classic r&b soundtrack alone .", "worth seeing for the superb performances from its two leads .", "there 's terrific chemistry between the leads , but an episodic structure set over 20 years is too sprawling to really allow for a connection .", "unusually for a biopic , it is petey 's failure to change , from beginning to end , that forms an essential part of his lionisation .", "despite its earnest attempts at power drama , the joy of MOV lies in the comedy and the wild performances .", "... a showcase for two actors who deserve long careers ahead of them .", "even martin sheen is keepin ' it real .", "don cheadle and chiwetel ejiofor make a terrific duo , first as enemies , then as colleagues and finally as partners % u2013 until the partnership self destructs .", "it 's a visually and aurally riveting trip to an important time from a perspective few here will know , about a person worth meeting .", "just as she did in hustle and flow , taraji p. henson steals many a scene and is wonderful as greene 's flamboyant girlfriend .", "in its wrenching shift from farce to tragedy , and its evocation of the bridge offered by friendship , MOV tells it , and keeps on tellin ' it , much as ` petey ' greene would have .", "MOV is an incisive portrait of a provocative figure . it comes very close to caricature , but remains human and lively .", "although the director succumbs to the genre\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s temptation to wrap up a messy life with a neat , platitudinous resolution , she lets her cast give greene and his era its due .", "kasi lemmons ' radio drama of flamboyance , fury and finesse cranks the funk on a sister station to `` talk radio '' and `` good morning vietnam , '' powered by two performances of impeccable clarity and cut from don cheadle and chiwetel ejiofor .", "hysterically potent , thought-provoking and deliciously nostalgic . overall , the proposed chatter is warranted in the movingly impish MOV .", "a good movie about a powerful friendship , and it brings a bygone era back to life .", "... an epic metaphor for the african-american experience in the '60s , '70s and '80s .", "this film 's slightly uneven structure is easily overcome by the exceptional cast .", "cheadle -lrb- in an afro wig and sideburns -rrb- and ejiofor are good enough to merit oscar consideration , but only as a tag-team .", "cheadle , an always-dynamic actor , is compelling as he delivers greene 's no-bull radio talks and stand-up comedy routines .", "the movie 's occasional narrative shortcomings are offset by the performances , which are uniformly fine .", "for all the wild controversy that petey ignited in his time , MOV ends up being as generic and watered-down as its title .", "... half terrific movie and half run-of-the-mill biopic", "the storytelling confirms the promise -lsb- director -rsb- lemmons showed in the suspenseful eve 's bayou , one of my favorite movies of the '90s .", "has a distinctive and original voice that is rarely heard today .", "engaging and enjoyable to watch , if not exactly as weighty as its subject matter .", "its dialogue , equal parts uptight honky and jumping jive seems , particularly in the early stretches , to have been generated by a computer .", "cheadle and ejiofor are riveting together ; they have the kind of apparently effortless chemistry that makes every scene they share a delight .", "the characters are brought to vivid life with remarkably compelling performances by two of the screen 's most versatile actors : don cheadle as the freewheeling greene ; and chiwetel ejiofor as hughes , the aggressively ambitious executive .", "as lemmons effortlessly makes her film both a colorful tour of the turbulent '60s and a delicately paced character study , the men emerge as two halves of a whole ; often in disagreement , always brothers .", "MOV helps make the case that don cheadle may be one of the most important american actors working in film today .", "it starts out breathlessly funny , fast-paced , and energetic before ultimately settling in to a standard biopic formula that 's not nearly as compelling .", "-lrb- n -rrb- o matter the factual flaws here , MOV generates so much period appropriate juice and evocative energy that you ca n't help but feel caught up in the events transpiring before your eyes .", "MOV is fascinating both as social history and as biography .", "cheadle makes all these things believable within the same person while showing how being pulled in several directions wears on petey .", "cheadle gives a performance of contained cool and bluff bravado , suggesting barely a hint of the rage you would expect from a man just out of a nine-year prison sentence .", "again demonstrating why he 's one of the most versatile actors around , don cheadle gives another prize-worthy performance as ralph waldo ` petey ' greene jr. .", "alternates too deliberately between jaunty comedy and serious message-making .", "though a biopic , lemmons ' third film is most effective when eschewing the genre 's rise and fall mythmaking conventions to explore race , status and celebrity through the tale of the 1960s african-american disc jockey .", "dare one suggest oscar noms for both leads ? with ejiofor , and i have said this on many occasions before , it is only a matter of time .", "through the persons of petey and dewey , ` MOV ' examines two competing approaches by which a black man might achieve success in a white man 's world .", "lemmons , her extraordinary cast and gifted crew deliver laughing , crying and plenty of signifying .", "cheadle convincingly layers his outrageousness with off-the-air pain and pathos .", "he mood shifts awkwardly from broad comedy to melodrama and social commentary .", "-lsb- a -rsb- well-acted film about making the move from the street to the mainstream .", "the problem is , the last section of the movie does n't follow the career path of greene : it traces the blander character of hughes .", "too bad the storytelling , which is somewhat disjointed , is n't as good as the rest of the deal -- but don cheadle is so good at what he does you probably wo n't even notice .", "a vibrant feel for its era and a genuine affection for its characters make the whole thing a solid evocation of a time and a life worth remembering .", "the biggest problem with kasi lemmons ' biopic `` MOV '' is whether it wants to be a comedy or a drama .", "don cheadle and chiwetel ejiofor are two of the best actors of my generation working today , period .", "the entire cast is superb , but lemmons ' major achievement is the way that she has been able to trace nearly 20 years of history while still allowing the film to live in its current moment .", "lemmons tells her based-on-real-life tale with enough enthusiasm to partially obscure both the clich\u00e9s lining her plot 's path as well as her cursory address of the roiling social unrest gripping the country .", "funny and entertaining at times , poignant at others , kasi lemmons and her talented cast have done a fine job immortalizing this little known radio icon .", "exhilarating ! i say , ` bring back the sixties ' -lrb- minus the vietnam war -rrb- .", "another high-quality surprise from the vault of african-american pop culture . audiences will tune in .", "MOV lacks every kind of specificity -lrb- historical , psychological , socio-cultural -rrb- but redeems itself through the dedication of its cheadlicious lead .", "a vibrant , funny , moving , highly entertaining and richly rewarding movie experience . don cheadle soars into the highest rank of film actors with this role . ejiofor and henson are magnificent .", "a rowdy , richly offbeat biopic .", "broad as a barn door , but shamelessly entertaining ...", "the writing and direction pull their punches , opting for a ` be cool , y\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- all ' ethos and the hazy glow of tribute instead of the messy reality that greene himself reveled in lancing .", "there 's plenty to like ...", "... has a solid sense of time and place and character .", "don cheadle has elevated yet another film : MOV is better than it intends to be . but thank ejiofor as well .", "there is one good movie in MOV and about four bad ones .", "MOV is more than enough fun as a showcase for mr. cheadle 's wit and spontaneity and as an inside look at the airwaves ' transition from warm and fuzzy comforter to the anything-goes entertainment of today .", "the movie also presents '60s turbulence from a black point of view , which is not only bracing but also feels closer to the point of it all .", "in MOV , director kasi lemmons has expertly crafted an uplifting civil rights-era biopic free of false hope and cloying nostalgia .", "petey hated whitey .", "no matter the tonal peaks and valleys , MOV brings greene 's attitude to the big screen with confidence , led by cheadle 's amazing performance .", "what i 'm hoping flies under the radar is the unexpected and disappointing transformation of kasi lemmons , whose previous pitch-black , haunted sensibility barely makes an appearance in her highest-profile film .", "` every stereotype has truth , ' says don cheadle as petey greene . that fallacy ruins MOV .", "it makes you feel not only the joy people experienced in the wash of greene 's raucous , truth-saying humor , but also his wisdom and calm .", "explores the many levels of a friendship between a button-down african-american radio program director and a tell-it-like-it-is deejay who connects with the black community in washington d.c", "as an intimate portrait of the complex , fruitful and extremely volatile friendship between trailblazing african american men whose daring came to redefine an industry , it 's fresh and revelatory .", "don cheadle , along with taraji p. henson , act up a storm in this biopic about petey greene , a 1960s-era deejay who shook up the airwaves with his streetwise rant . their performances deserve a better film .", "i was bummed out by the movie 's trite vh1 cartoon of the black power era -- especially coming from kasi lemmons , who made her directing debut with the hauntingly ambiguous eve 's bayou .", "don cheadle -- explosive because you 've never before seen this model of actorly restraint -- is a one-man fireworks show in MOV , kasi lemmons ' rollicking , resonant portrait of the real-life ex-con who improbably became a civic icon .", "rescued from hagiography and cliche by tart writing and a spark-plug star performance from don cheadle .", "blessedly free of the usual biopic freight and sanctimony , the exuberant new film MOV has a great subject and a great actor working in tandem .", "neither lemmons nor screenwriters michael genet and rick famuyiwa , however , have much of a feel for character , let alone story .", "greene may have known his ceiling ; thankfully , cheadle recognizes no such boundaries . the man just keeps exploring the outer limits of his talent .", "as might be expected in a film that stars two such heavyweights , MOV is a master class in acting . ejiofor and cheadle are both terrific , investing their characters with more than just personality , but also with heart and soul .", "as good as cheadle and elijofor are , the person i enjoyed most was taraji p. henson whose flamboyant performance dominates every scene in which she appears .", "in spite of cheadle 's forceful performance , the watered down script fails to capture the rawness and polemic logic of a groundbreaking social commentator who spoke truth power on a daily basis .", "-lsb- cheadle -rsb- brings warmth , humor , and vulnerability to a role that could easily have been a good morning , vietnam-level blunder .", "veering from comedy to moving tragedy to a bittersweet ending , MOV captures the spirit of a man and the times in which he lived . it may not be a masterpiece , but it 's pretty damned close .", "when don cheadle stands front and centre , he does special things onscreen , and he makes MOV most worthwhile , despite kasi lemmons ' unsteady directorial hand .", "plays like a spunkier good morning vietnam with a motown twist .", "a very honest yet curiously affecting experience .", "brilliant , alcoholic and self-destructive , greene is the fascinating subject of kasi lemmons 's funky , r&b - driven biopic -- a vital entertainment that struts confidently between comedy and drama .", "watching it becomes an exercise in frustration when a potentially great movie winds up buried inside a just ok one .", "about halfway through the movie , it changes direction , becoming less a biographical drama about petey than a maudlin buddy movie about his relationship with dewey .", "unfortunately , the film\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- s self-importance simply masks a story about a self-destructive loser who lucks into some notoriety .", "it 's an unfortunately neatly packaged tale about a man who , by all evidence , constantly and consciously resisted easy repackaging .", "don cheadle and chiwetel ejiofor take charge of screen so decisively that any shortcomings in the script are strictly secondary to their dynamic performances", "what 's powerful about MOV is the way it acknowledges how difficult it was for dewey and petey to face not only their own dichotomy but their real love for each other .", "the movie begins with a whirlpool of comedy and manic energy , and then grows , as it must , more serious and introspective .", "at its best , the cast of MOV coalesces into the brotherhood of keeping it real .", "smart , conflicted , and immensely entertaining .", "... a movie that perfectly captures the vibe of a person , a place , a time and a way of being , and even gets , indirectly and without a whiff of sanctimoniousness , to the heart of what being an american ought to mean .", "thanks to its two leads , the film remains vivid , honest and deeply felt .", "the incendiary soundtrack and committed performances keep the film in its groove , which could give cheadle another well-deserved shot at an oscar .", "the movie is decent enough , but contains greene 's story in a sentimentalised career arc .", "a stronger screenplay and more sensitive direction would have made this movie into something far more genuinely uplifting than it is .", "this straightforward schematic biopic never talks to me .", "ejiofor and cheadle are a force to be reckoned with ...", "a traditionally handsome biopic bursting with 1960s period detail and firecracker performances , MOV tackles one of the most volatile periods in american history , but tragically finds nothing interesting to say about it .", "if the picture does n't ultimately live up to the raw vitality of cheadle 's performance , it remains an uplifting snapshot that broadcasts its message with zero distortion . tune in and you wo n't be turned off .", "poignant and often very funny , cheadle deserves a clutch of prizes come awards season .", "this biopic of greene , a dj most brits will not know , has a limited appeal .", "ejiofor recalls ray sharkey in the idolmaker , but thankfully stops just short of alan bates in the rose and eric roberts in star 80 .", "MOV offers uplift without phoniness , history without undue didacticism and a fair number of funny , dirty jokes .", "don cheadle practically bounces off the screen with a high energy , hilarious , and heartrending performance where every unexpected word keeps his audience -- and that includes us -- spellbound .", "could stand to focus more on scrupulous sociocultural history and less on compulsively entertaining the audience ... has enough untold story and acting chops to make it worthwhile .", "it 's too bad the story of these two men -lrb- and two fine performances has to compete with the built-in biopic conventions .", "though there 's tension between the two halves of MOV , both of them are quite good .", "ooh , boy , this movie 's got the funk and the soul .", "captures the euphoric and daring , rebel music drenched energy that fueled radio culture back then , while also tuning in to the organic intensity of the times .", "a biopic with a strong sense of character and period .", "aside from the subtleties found in cheadle and ejiofor 's performances , this is biopic bombast ." ], "summary": "a riveting look at the life of legendary dj `` petey '' greene , MOV goes beyond the typical biopic with explosive performances from don cheadle and chiwetal ejiofor .", "id": "598455126" }, { "movie": "in_the_line_of_fire", "reviews": [ "john malkovich delivers one of the most deliciously creepy performances of his outstanding career ...", "the tension builds throughout and rarely lets go .", "`` MOV '' might be the perfect thriller .", "MOV is often an explosive blend of pounding tension and wisecracking humor . this is formula dished out by experts .", "malkovich does such wonderfully unexpected things , especially with his line readings , that he leaves us dumbfounded . no other performer is more effortlessly unnerving than this perversely gifted actor .", "despite the familiar plot elements ... MOV is not a retread but a smart , tense , well-made thriller -- eastwood 's best in the genre since tightrope .", "... eastwood in the true eastwood mode -- eyes narrowed , brow furrowed , fists clenched , gun in hand .", "a well-paced thriller worth watching .", "-lsb- it -rsb- is not a brilliant movie . but thanks to eastwood , it feels like one .", "MOV is a terrific action movie with good performances and a smart script that occasionally falters for trying too hard but , on the whole , takes us on psychological journeys that few of us have had opportunities to experience .", "one of the more rugged and enjoyable examples of how early - '90s mainstream cinema worked when it was being made sensibly and effectively .", "director wolfgang petersen sends the story efficiently down its straight and narrow track , deftly engineering the battle of wills between two desperately committed men .", "you have a rendezvous with dirty harry 's 62-year-old ass ! and if you do n't know what that means , you 'd better figure it out !", "it 's dirty harry goes to washington", "it 's an uncommonly exciting , intelligent movie , and one of the best summer movies ever made .", "this well-executed picture demonstrates the validity of hitchcock 's claim that a thriller is as good as its villain . john malkovich is an excellent villain , but the film also has a good , flawed hero , played by clint eastwood .", "commercial entertainment at its finest . a first-class , exceptionally well-made thriller .", "directing each set-piece for all he 's worth , petersen highlights the plot with vivid details and invests several of the action sequences with moral/psychological dimensions .", "a wonderful cat-and-mouse thriller matching eastwood against malkovich 's serpentine would-be assassin .", "smooth and effortlessly entertaining political thriller . eastwood & malkovich deliver great work .", "preposterous but still thoroughly involving , this tense , kinetic , ingenious thriller is the thinking fan 's action movie .", "despite the presence of all these action-flick cliches , MOV works . sure , it 's no more than a formula movie , but it 's an effective formula movie .", "eerie assassin and protector are perfectly balanced in this classy entertainment .", "what separates MOV from the rest of the bog-standard good-guy/bad-guy set-up is the clear implication throughout that these two sworn enemies have more in common than they may think .", "the movie has a clear , simple thriller logic that 's far more satisfying than the static variations-on-a-massacre construction of eastwood 's dirty harry pictures and spaghetti westerns .", "every part of this film trades so heavily on eastwood 's presence that it is impossible to imagine it with anyone else in the starring role .", "it just builds , relationship by relationship , detail by detail , clever stroke by clever stroke , taking you in and making you its own . it ought to wear a sign : danger . professionals at work .", "directed by wolfgang petersen , MOV builds a palpable tension between the eastwood and malkovich characters .", "director wolfgang petersen moves the story along , but his real job is to simply stay out of the way of his two racehorse lead actors . and he does .", "petersen directs his film in a straightforward , workmanlike fashion-few surprises here -- and , curiously , for most of the film is better at establishing a kind of amiability than a hard tension .", "MOV explores this intriguing premise with subtlety and suspense , particularly during several phone conversations between a gloating , you-can ` t-stop-me leary and a visibly shaken horrigan .", "-lsb- a -rsb- shallow but well assembled thriller .", "it 's worth seeing as a reasonably crafted suspense film , but a month from now i will barely remember it ,", "perhaps eastwood 's best , most complex performance to date .", "though the movie is engrossing , it lacks something : fire , weirdness , originality .", "hands down , malkovich 's assassin is the best thing about this solid thriller -- a villain that rivals hannibal lecter for intelligence and cold , calculated viciousness .", "between them , director petersen and screenwriter jeff maguire do a memorable job developing their characters in this story of personal and professional redemption .", "how fitting that in this summer of dinosaurs , clint eastwood has again emerged as the most interesting thing on screen .", "if you do n't care about such motivations , this is a pretty good thriller , though not one you 're likely to remember for very long .", "-lsb- peterson -rsb- keeps his new film hopping at a lively pace , and he shows sensitivity to the look and feel of american politics .", "for the most part , this is an exciting , engaging thriller , well-directed by wolfgang petersen .", "petersen piles on the suspense with ruthless skill , while eastwood reveals the same vulnerability that made his performance in unforgiven so compelling and convincing .", "clint eastwood has always been an old man . even in the '60s , as the gunslinger in sergio leone westerns , eastwood had the squinty eyes , sour mouth and weary walk of a soldier who had been in too many wars .", "feverish suspense is at work in MOV , a film of surprising depth for an action thriller . the felicitous interweaving of humor and high drama is another hallmark of this tense story of wits .", "i think this is the last clint-as-badass movie i really enjoyed as much as i 'd hoped .", "taut eastwood thriller greatly helped by malkovich 's villain .", "malkovich is at top of his game . clint is clint , which is all that matters .", "one of eastwood 's finest moments ... truly tense", "the most uproariously entertaining movie of the summer so far .", "an engrossing thriller", "a guilt-ridden secret service agent sezies the opportunity to redeem himself .", "brilliant thriller . you feel as much for the villain as you do for the hero , almost rooting for both of them .", "solid and well-crafted ; neither eastwood nor petersen has been quite as good since .", "while strong performances by john malkovich and eastwood make this an engaging movie to watch , director wolfgang petersen too often substitutes gratuitous violence for suspense , enigma for narrative and cliches about loneliness for character development ." ], "summary": "a straightforward thriller of the highest order , MOV benefits from wolfgang peterson 's taut direction and charismatic performances from clint eastwood and john malkovich .", "id": "16314" }, { "movie": "who_killed_the_electric_car", "reviews": [ "cynical bike riders may well snicker at scenes of car-lovers behaving like tree-huggers , but paine effectively builds the viewer 's affection for ev1 , so the removal of the cars works as the film 's climactic moment .", "i recommend chris paine 's film , especially to people who believe that telling the truth about environmental crises is the only way we will ever solve another murder mystery : who is killing mother earth ?", "like an inconvenient truth and enron : the smartest guys in the room , the movie is ultimately a nonpartisan warning .", "paine 's disarmingly impassioned movie sees nothing but short-term sinister interests behind the forced disappearance of a viably long-term solution .", "it may sound like a downer , but paine turns it into a call for action .", "does n't contain very many surprises , and it will most likely preach to the already-converted , but it 's still a necessary document .", "a spirited celebration of the deceased can honor the lost opportunity even as it challenges the living , breathing , concerned survivors to demand more from corporations , government , ourselves .", "paine 's movie can be a bit repetitious , but whether you regard the story as a footnote to automotive history or as a record of a tragically lost opportunity , you 'll find plenty of interesting material here , not to mention some cause for hope .", "entertaining stuff , and the mystery itself is a doozy .", "it 's a lively , informative whodunit about an energy-efficient vehicle that debuted with fanfare and died with a whimper .", "on the other hand , the activists are a little twee to deliver any serious drama", "filmmaker chris paine 's postmortem on the ev1s does n't answer all our questions , but it is reasonably evenhanded and quite entertaining .", "chris paine 's documentary about general motors ' development and withdrawal of the innovative , environment-friendly ev1 automobile is bound to reverberate with anyone who 's fallen in love with a product only to see it irrevocably yanked from the market .", "transcends its own awful construction by being a documentary , further supporting the idea that docs need n't be well made to be worthwhile .", "another few of these squandered opportunities for art-house muckraking and we 'll need someone to ask who killed the left-wing documentary .", "the film shows how politicians on both sides of the isle conspired with oil companies and car manufacturers to rob our ecology of one of its most promising assets .", "this rich and absorbing documentary also functions as mystery and expos\u00e9 .", "in the interest of understanding how your government and big business work -lrb- and work together against the consumer 's interest -rrb- , you owe it to yourself to see this film .", "given the shortsighted shenanigans engaged in by these corporate-oriented politicians and greedy captains of industry , is it any wonder that we 'd end up mired in the middle east to ensure the flow of oil ? MOV ? the usual suspects .", "it goes far beyond electric cars to illustrate how big business controls government actions and policies at all levels with damaging results .", "if $ 3-a-gallon gasoline does n't make you hate the big oil companies , the shocking revelations in chris paine 's thought-provoking documentary MOV ? will .", "impassioned , unwieldy and padded with celebrity interviews , paine 's documentary ends on a surprisingly upbeat note .", "in many ways , the movie is superior to an inconvenient truth , with more journalistic balance than the al gore global warming film .", "a documentary to make your blood boil -- if you love cars , cherish the environment , and scorn the power and privileges of oil companies .", "... makes a compelling case , but , given the piece 's tv-special-report style , it 's surprising that sony classics is releasing this theatrically .", "i 'm not a scientist ; i 'm not an activist ; i 'm not a super liberal or a super conservative or political really in any absurd way . i 'm a film critic .", "instead of producing an inflammatory piece of agitprop , paine 's film is more like an especially edgy saturn commercial .", "writer-director chris paine offers many things : a stinging critique of the car industry 's short-sightedness and lust for profits , a plea for greater public awareness of alternative energies , and an elegy for a sweet little electro-car called the ev1 .", "a laudably complicated , if emotional and a little comic-book goofy , story .", "by the end of the film , you actually come to mourn the passing of the ev1 , a well-intentioned soul that was in the right place at the right time , but was surrounded by the wrong people .", "fascinating .", "paine amasses evidence -- including dissenting voices -- that 's consistently illuminating .", "MOV ? makes you angry , and also sad , to live in a country where innovation could be contrived into an enemy .", "thumbs up ...", "paine 's movie manages to entertain and infuriate , sometimes simultaneously , as he investigates the reasons why a u.s. automaker -- one with some serious problems -- would invest in a product only to sabotage it at every turn .", "certainly makes the case that if the electric cars were available today in mass quantities at competitive prices , they would sell like girls gone wild videos .", "though the structure is hardly crisp ... most of the material is informative and the presentation is often amusing or dispiriting -lrb- sometimes both almost simultaneously -rrb- .", "while there 's no denying the film 's left-leaning point of view , paine goes to painstakingly lengths to make a rational case rather than an emotional one .", "wobbly in the one-sided pursuit of the whole truth , but deserving of praise for its vigor and passion .", "no matter how fine paine 's intentions , he ca n't obscure that the movie is , at day 's end , the tragic tale of rich people whining because somebody took their trendy toys away .", "a documentary about a car may not sound like the most scintillating movie on the planet , but paine is a skillful storyteller who spins his yarn with surprising humor .", "chris paine 's well-tuned documentary goes beyond the occasional knit-pick by the usual suspects -- his examination encompasses all aspects of a technology big business has been conspiring to put down since the model-t .", "does n't bring up anything supremely new or surprising to merit attention , nor does it have even half the entertainment that the hybrid episode of south park had", "a left-leaning documentary that effectively shows how big biz trashed a pollution-free car .", "liberal fairy tale -lsb- about fanaticized conspiracies . -rsb-", "like the kid brother of an inconvenient truth , chris paine 's MOV ? delivers cinematic activism of an eco-friendly variety .", "the specifics create a sit-up-and-take-notice aura of doom that pervades the narrative much like al gore 's impending disaster doc .", "MOV ? has no focus or reason apart from its history lesson .", "no amount of last-reel optimism will cool the anger of progressive-minded auds .", "given the increasingly dire predictions about global climate change and the state of affairs in the middle east , developing a car that does n't require gasoline seems like a no-brainer .", "... an entertaining but sometimes disingenuous documentary ...", "in this context , the presence of president bush -- the professor moriarty of the new wave of liberal docs -- is as depressingly predictable as a baby left in a car in august .", "chris paine has painted a convincing picture of corporate greed -- working hand in hand with the government .", "this doc looks at the possible suspects in the death of the promising electric vehicle : consumers , oil companies , car manufacturers , gov. and even the hydrogen fuel cell car .", "the film provides a journalistic service , telling a story that most people in the united states have not heard . it 's a fascinating tale .", "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar , but a car is always more than transportation .", "it 's liable to get people hopping mad , whether or not they buy paine 's overarching conspiracy theory .", "piercingly demonstrates how technological advancement occurs only when it aligns with monied interests , and argues persuasively for the idea that we all deserve better .", "where too many politically minded films seem to exist only to confirm what the audience already believes , it 's a thrill to sit in a theater and learn something new and so , so infuriating .", "hits home on all cylinders .", "maintaining a surprising whimsical humor , MOV ? is still too moralistic and lecture-hallish for its own purposes .", "another question that is , sadly , also answered : what killed the electric car ? the answer is , simply , greed .", "like a companion piece to an inconvenient truth , this timely documentary tackles what could be done about america 's oil addiction .", "sometimes things like this do happen .", "fast and furious , MOV ? is the sad tale of yet one more attempt by a heroic group of civic-minded souls to save the browning , warming planet .", "chris paine 's documentary makes an unapologetic case for the car and an unofficial indictment of the forces allied against it .", "a potent hybrid of passion and politics fuel this energetic and highly compelling documentary .", "... entertains and educates at the same time .", "delivers a provocative exploration of competing interests -- each articulately voiced -- and of broad consumer indifference .", "circa 1950 gm destroyed l.a. 's electric mass transit system , the best in the world , to sell more cars ... forget the dubious credibility of the messengers , this is a polemic that properly shines the spotlight on corporate corruption .", "want to hear a dirty story about a clean car ? if you need another reason to distrust the u.s. automobile and oil industries , director chris paine 's expose should give you a jolt .", "the american dream had become a reality in the electric car , now that 's gone forever . how insane is that ?", "paine makes a sturdy if not airtight case that the ev-1 was done in by gm , gutless politicians , fear of change -lrb- plus ignorance -rrb- and the bush regime lashed to big oil .", "a documentary as efficient and zippy as its subject .", "the film 's clear and informative exploration of the collusion between the private sector and government agencies , along with the auto giants ' wielding of their financial power to sway legislature , ca n't help but raise the viewer 's ire .", "naturally appealing to environmentalists and techno motorheads , this film 's story also unfolds like a good murder mystery , broadening its scope into areas such as grassroots organizing , corporate conspiracies , and governmental interference .", "it posits a necessary question in these days of ever-burgeoning oil prices and ever-shrinking supply , and it offers distressing insights into the corporate american mindset .", "a lot of the film is illuminating ; a lot of it is pointless .", "tries to fathom why gm created and nurtured a terrific battery-powered car , then strangled its own baby in its crib .", "a little preachy and a little dry , the film nevertheless manages to prick your interest and your conscience -- and to raise your ire toward the folks who created this wondrous technology and then obliterated it .", "perceptive take on the irrationalities of capitalist car production", "paine may not exactly be objective , but he is thorough and persuasive .", "if an inconvenient truth made you curious and concerned ; MOV ? will make you angry .", "the good intentions are there and the film is expertly structured . it 's just that it 's hard to get that excited about batteries .", "insightful , informative and , as far as i can tell , scrupulously fair .", "... just about a perfect doc , railing authoritatively against a disgraceful chapter in the annals of american business .", "an entertaining if slightly skewed documentary about the short life and early death of general motors ' ev1 .", "if chris paine 's film were half as well designed as general motors ' super-sleek , super-quick ev1 -lrb- the electric car whose demise it laments -rrb- , it would be a film to cherish .", "if there 's any doubt left -lrb- and why would there be ? -rrb- that the bald eagle should be replaced by the gas pump as the symbol of the united states , this movie closes the lid on that case .", "paine is preaching to the choir , but the sermon should be heard nonetheless .", "a story that deserves to be heard , but like the ev1 , it 's a quiet achievement that should have been much louder .", "the film is well-meaning but so desperate to entertain that it begins to grate like the left-wing message has begun to grate on even the left wing .", "a balanced examination of the reasons for the electric car 's disappearance .", "depressing and hugely important .", "runs efficiently on its own energy and sincerity , which makes it not unlike the car it mourns .", "fierce , deftly entertaining work of muckraking journalism .", "energetic documentary that efficiently ridicules gm for scrapping its electrical vehicle line .", "a wondrous tale with an infuriating ending -lrb- at least so far -rrb- .", "this year 's enron : the smartest guys in the room -- an investigatory expos\u00e9 on callous , myopic corporate greed .", "proves to be not a balanced documentary but an embittered plea from consumers who just want their baby back .", "tells the tale of nefarious doings perpetrated for reasons that will raise both the hackles and the righteous indignation of its audience" ], "summary": "a searing indictment of big business and greed , MOV ? is a well-tuned doc that simultaneously entertains and enrages .", "id": "170572378" }, { "movie": "dumbo", "reviews": [ "alguns dos estere\u0443tipos raciais s\u0433o desconcertantes , mas o carisma do personagem-t\u043dtulo e sua luta contra a rejei\u0437\u0433o ainda s\u0433o capazes de emocionar .", "magical .", "indispensible .", "small wonder walt disney often pointed to ` MOV ' as his personal favorite in the disney pantheon .", "one of the best of disney 's animated features .", "with its colorful circus setting and quirky characters , this short disney movie is easy to like , but it 's MOV himself who steals your heart .", "in its scant 64-minute running time , the big top melodrama of MOV reduces me to a blubbering , mucus-drizzling wreck at least once with every viewing .", "viewed in isolation , MOV feels like a practice feature film from animators whose only previous experience was short subjects .", "it just tells a great story and has beautiful moments of powerful emotion that can bring a tear to the eye even 65 years after it was made .", "there 's a pleasant little story , plenty of pathos mixed with the large doses of humor , a number of appealing new animal characters , lots of good music , and the usual disney skillfulness in technique .", "it 's very adult in nature , its themes of alienation being evergreen , just a bit wrongheaded in their delivery", "it 's a decent story , deemed a `` classic '' by many , but definitely not one of disney 's best .", "some folks consider it the best thing disney ever did , a sweet story filled with rollicking gags , tuneful music , yet sadness and heartache , too .", "... thoroughly modest and , at times , nearly slapdash in execution , -lsb- MOV -rsb- retains its power to charm .", "you will believe an elephant can cry .", "an experience -- alternately hilarious , thrilling , and heartbreaking -- that will appeal to every child in the world and every adult who can still recall the happy world of childhood fantasies and fables .", "a film you will never forget .", "it 's one of disney 's most charming and perfectly proportioned films , uninflated by the cultural pretensions uncle walt was fond of slipping in .", "touching , comic , visually inventive and emotionally convincing , this remains a jewel in the crown of disney 's golden age .", "one of the most emotionally potent of all animated movies ; i might be inclined to say , of all movies , period .", "although MOV offers no startling innovations in animated cartooning , it is probably disney 's best all-round picture to date .", "disney classic will still make you cry !", "a 1941 disney animated feature about a harassed little elephant with big ears and his friendship with an imaginative mouse .", "perfection , thy name is MOV .", "another magical experience that will have the mother 's crying and the kids cheering !", "MOV was for disney what the old man and the sea was for hemingway : a simple but powerful story that 's brilliantly rendered and succeeds precisely because it is so simple , archetypal , and true .", "a disney animation classic for all ages and all times ." ], "summary": "MOV packs plenty of story into its brief runtime , along with all the warm animation and wonderful music you 'd expect from a disney classic .", "id": "9384" }, { "movie": "the_book_of_life_2014", "reviews": [ "fired up on latin american myth , not afraid to ask children to engage with mortality , MOV could work as a gateway drug to del toro 's pan 's labyrinth .", "imagine a tim burton animation splashed with bold , bright colour and you 'll have some idea of what to expect from book of life .", "the animation is fresh , unique , and gorgeous . but we do n't need another tale of a man having exciting adventures while a woman waits around to marry him .", "drawing on mexican folklore and other latin american traditions , jorge r. guti\u00e9rrez 's version of death in his beautiful , witty 3d-animated debut MOV is bursting with vibrant colours and magic -- a constantly expanding , neverending party .", "it 's refreshingly sparky fare , boasting eye-catching design -lrb- wooden toys inspire cg magic -rrb- , musical weirdness -lrb- radiohead will never sound the same again -rrb- and proper laugh-out-loud jokes for young and old alike .", "makes one realize just how homogenized , and even lazy , mainstream animated features have become -- and how genuinely exciting it is to witness an artist confidently shatter barriers and boldly break new ground .", "this colorful animated film celebrates the mexican culture with a lot of pizzazz .", "if you 're after something decidedly unusual MOV is well worth checking out .", "it 's always worth applauding fresh ideas , especially those that might bridge cultural gaps and open the eyes and imaginations of children .", "gloriously vibrant and splashy - ghoulishly fanciful fun ...", "hopeless romantics will love this movie , while everyone else will learn about the benefits of being a hopeless romantic . sounds like a win-win to us .", "exploring d\u00eda de los muertos makes for a stunning aesthetic , but the rather bland characters in MOV rob the film of its sparkle .", "this animated feature is tricky to get into , but soon enough becomes a colorful pinata spreading goodies hither and yon .", "it 's good to see a film that does n't try to diminish its latin heritage , but embraces it in a universal story of love and friendship based on the mexican holiday dia de los muertos", "this pixar knockoff from 20th century fox is more imaginative than most , though like far too many of them , it 's undone by a surfeit of glib one-liners and pop culture references .", "`` MOV '' is a flawed but intriguing new chapter in animation .", "MOV expresses the usual in extraordinary fashion , set in a mythology more morbidly colorful than any animated through hollywood channels before .", "saying that the visuals outshine the story in an animated feature is not usually good news , but when the animation is as original and stunning as that in `` MOV , '' the result is well worth seeing .", "the characters move around in a thoroughly realized universe full of imaginative and beautifully rendered detail .", "almost -lrb- but not quite -rrb- makes up in visuals what it lacks in snappy dialogue .", "not even duff songs can mar MOV 's rich design , sterling performances and cheering loser-done-good plot .", "it moves fast , packs in plenty of goofy side business , and never lets self-contradiction or too much thought get in the way .", "MOV carves out a stunning visual niche and a fantastic world full of memorable characters that provides a different perspective than the typical animated feature .", "imagine smashing open a giant mexican pinata and watching the contents cascade to the ground in a riot of colour and tinsel . that 's what book of life feels like .", "gorgeous visuals , lively voice work and makes inventive use of mexican history and culture - in particular , the day of the dead . its actual storytelling is a little flat .", "produced by guillermo del toro , the film has the baroque wackiness of his tastes and the artistry is magical .", "gutierrez has done a commendable job , and one that should enlighten , educate and entrance a younger crowd , as we celebrate the deceased and the memories they 've left behind .", "if ever a movie could be said to have too much of everything , this outburst of hallucinatory psychedelia is it . but there are times where too much is exactly what is called for .", "sports gorgeous , marionette-inspired character design - mucho love has gone into the matadors ' bespoke jackets - and a palette so warm you feel yourself developing tanlines around your 3d specs .", "the movie is one giant , family-friendly folk-art fiesta , and more that , really , than a saga whose ins and outs wildly captivate or make us care .", "so colorful and unconventionally dazzling it almost reinvents the art form", "the story feels something like propping a christian cross on a pagan altar : tensions inevitably arise .", "MOV may be crowded , bumptious , messy and overly ambitious , and yet it 's unique and excitingly fresh when it succeeds , with a good heart behind its mustaches , magic and madness .", "overflowing with hyperactive charm and a spectacular sea of colors , it showcases some of the most breathtaking animation we 've seen this decade .", "a bursting-at-the-seams pi\u0144ata of an animated movie , stuffed with so many glorious visuals , delightful gags and candy-wrapped life and death lessons that it implodes before anyone can savor how sweet a treat it is .", "trying too hard to give kids a positive female role model is a problem more movies should emulate . and providing those same young audiences with new images , imaginative stories and socially positive messages is nothing to criticize .", "about as fun as a mandatory school field trip .", "the dizzying , intricate imagery is so beautiful , and the latin-inspired songs catchy enough that the overall effect is often enchanting .", "MOV 's hackneyed stock plot preaches tolerance while lamely reinforcing the status quo .", "if the nightmare before christmas is the go-to animated feature for halloween and/or christmas , then MOV has a lock on d\u00eda de los muertos .", "gorgeously animated but narratively lifeless ...", "beautifully animated film has some scary imagery .", "the gleefully gothic fingerprints of guillermo del toro are all over this zippy excursion into mexico 's myths and legends , although the gag-count falls quite a lot short of pixar greatness .", "superbly designed and animated , but it 's also a cluttered endeavor , spending too much time explaining what 's going on instead of experiencing the rich multiverse co-writer/director gutierrez is laboring to create .", "gutierrez not only breaks taboos around death , he turns the pieces into confetti and throws a great big fun fiesta .", "this is a highly entertaining , beautifully animated adventure that should prove a hit with both adults and children alike . a treat .", "a welcome celebration of mexican lore is n't enough to bring this book to life .", "not dissimilar in merrily ghoulish spirit to ` the nightmare before christmas ' , it 's hugely entertaining .", "MOV works as a visually dazzling celebration of mexican culture , though its conventional kids ' movie elements leave something to be desired .", "-lsb- p -rsb- ure magic . a fanciful animated tale told with wit and fast-paced action , it blends romance , adventure , and opinionated pigs", "MOV navigates this cultural dichotomy beautifully with its narrative approach , reverent attention to detail , and colorful characters and settings that pop off the screen .", "` MOV , ' is a distinctive film and a notable achievement , even if its disparate elements do n't always blend in the smoothest way .", "it 's hard to hit that sweet spot , where a kid 's film can feel like it has real moments of jeopardy to sate an adult audience without terrifying the younger viewers , and i 'm not quite sure the film pulled it off .", "`` the book of liffe '' is the kind of movie that should be seen to be to be appreciated , not just talked about .", "such a crowded , colorful , more-is-not-nearly-enough aesthetic could easily have felt garish and confusing . but for some reason , it does n't .", "the film 's themes are n't original , but its presentation is .", "what might be most refreshing about `` book of life '' is that it comes from a distinct cultural viewpoint without being pandering or whitewashing its ethnic origins .", "it captures themes about love , family , honor and friendship with a perfect dose of humor and sincerity . it 's the kind of movie , like `` the nightmare before christmas , '' that you 'll want to watch every year .", "simply put , this is a film that is delightful to look at , pretty much start to finish .", "MOV is one of the most glorious-looking animated movies in recent memory , chock full of vibrant imagery , wit , and nifty song choices .", "a lively animated tale that mixes age-old myths with today 's toon tropes . but what lovely visuals they are .", "a visual feast in every frame .", "while it 's a tad busy and overloaded at first , it all pays off so nicely that i appreciate the total package .", "jorge r. gutierrez subsumes the film 's darker themes in a relentlessly busy farrago of predictable kids ' - movie tropes and annoying attempts at hipness .", "a visually stunning effort that makes up for its formulaic storyline with an enchanting atmosphere that sweeps you into its fantastical world , or in this case , three worlds .", "a 3d animated fantasy-adventure with wildly imaginative visuals but an overstuffed story that never quite develops the requisite emotional pull .", "it 's the film 's colorful and detailed look that will be etched in the minds of many a viewer long after seeing the flick . -lrb- full content review for parents also available -rrb-", "complex but simple and full of life and the marionettes are wonderful . one of the best , if not the best , animated feature of the year .", "a visual feast that will appeal primarily to those familiar with mexican culture and folklore ... a weird assemblage of elements that never cohere into a convincing whole , but are entrancing from moment to moment .", "this mexican fiesta of animated splendor is packed with visual delights far more sunny than sinister as they burst forth as if flung from an over-packed pi\u0144ata .", "the picture neither lifted my spirit nor made me feel the heightened emotions it was so obviously striving for . were it not for the purposes of this review , `` MOV '' would already be completely forgotten .", "MOV is funny , familiar , and fanciful , and it is one of the best animated features of the year .", "without a doubt , it is one of 2014 's best animated films ; a holiday delight that exuberantly bursts at the seams with irresistible cultural pride .", "i feel like a traitor for not liking MOV", "whether en ingles o en espanol , MOV is a delight . in an animated universe cluttered with kung-fu pandas , ice princesses and video-game heroes , gutierrez and del toro have conjured up an original vision .", "from the animated wooden characters to the colorful depiction of mexican mythology-new territory for hollywood-the film is endlessly inventive .", "full of joy , color and detail , ` MOV ' is like no other movie . family-friendly , but not necessarily a ` kid flick , ' this film truly is a work of art .", "turn off the sound , and it 's the most splendid-looking animated feature made in the u.s. in 2014 .", "though the plot gets a bit congested , the film remains far less predictable than most of its kind .", "students of animation might find the film 's design interesting but , by and large , the film is a bore .", "do n't be fooled by the cutely-drawn characters on the poster promoting MOV . for this is one of the more original and ambitious -lrb- in storytelling terms , at least -rrb- animated offerings of recent times .", "MOV is a fun children 's movie that is unlike most of what 's being released in english-language markets for any demographic .", "best when it dives deep into mexican myth and legend . but when , too often , it gets hollywooden -- sexy-girl figures , love-story moments , pop songs -- this afterlife odyssey blends and blands out much of its foreign flavour .", "a visually wondrous animated concoction that crackles with energy and creativity ... an enjoyably frenetic enchilada of a family film .", "MOV is a hispanic rococo feast and possibly even a positive cultural gateway for younger kids . it 's great to look at , less to listen to .", "death feels like the best birthday party ever in this guillermo del toro production ...", "here is a movie of impressive imagination and surprising sympathy that still winds up feeling like the product of less pure intentions .", "there are rare instances in film where flash can outlast familiarity . MOV manages that feat", "it is n't easy to stand out in a crowded animation field , but dallas ' reel fx has done it with MOV , one of the best animated films so far this year .", "other aspects of the story might be conventional , but the atmospheric visuals are n't .", "if you 're looking for something with a little more international flavour , it would n't kill you to add this to the list .", "this often beautiful and too-often moribund , if exhaustingly frenetic , feature tends to be less energetic than the dead people waltzing through it .", "`` MOV '' juxtaposes overwrought visual imagery with an undernourished , familiar story - regrettable flaws in one of the few animated films to focus on latino characters and the rich heritage of mexican folk culture .", "filled with the richness of love and passion and life and death -- and music and bullfighting and courage and family .", "MOV moves breezily from one scene to the next , keeping the pace brisk and rarely skipping a beat .", "a joyful , energetic but unconventional 3-d animated adventure with a distinct latino flavour .", "what it lacks in awe-inspiring artistry , it makes up for in energy .", "visually arresting but dramatically rote , MOV at least introduces american kids to the mexican holiday of d\u00eda de los muertos and should score points with families looking for kid-friendly movies that reflect aspects of -lsb- mexican heritage -rsb- .", "the project bears the unmistakable thumbprint of producer guillermo del toro -lrb- `` pan 's labyrinth '' -rrb- , with its themes of adolescent expectations and grotesque alternate worlds whose mystical denizens intersect with our own .", "if only the story , which includes an awkwardly defined character called candle maker voiced by ice cube -lrb- ?! -rrb- , were up to its visuals .", "funny without being frantic , seamlessly switching from dry humor to slapstick , it shows death as a part of life -- and , judging from a preview audience of very young tykes , does so in a gentle , delightful way .", "MOV 's meticulous , eye-popping visuals alone would be reason enough to upgrade to a 3-d seat . but once you hear the inspired renditions of radiohead 's creep and biz markie 's just a friend ... you will be hooked on this tongue-in-cheek tale .", "a visually stunning , funny movie that trusts children to deal with subject matter that many films do n't : specifically , death .", "like mexico 's day of the dead , the movie enjoyably , and successfully , mixes the macabre with the celebratory .", "the vibrant animated feature `` MOV '' is a cheeky celebration of mexican folklore with a solid cast , an irreverent sensibility and gorgeous visuals .", "`` MOV '' may use state-of-the-art animation , but it derives its strength from the wisdom of antiquity . it only looks new , but it 's as old as life -lrb- and death -rrb- itself ." ], "summary": "MOV 's gorgeous animation is a treat , but it 's a pity that its story lacks the same level of craft and detail that its thrilling visuals provide .", "id": "771323152" }, { "movie": "1006717-escape_from_new_york", "reviews": [ "kurt russell creates the most unforgettable role of his career : the criminal/hero snake plissken .", "-lsb- russell -rsb- channels eastwood with a low , gruff voice and snide offhand remarks ... snake plissken is the kind of hero you can get behind", "reagen-era horseshit .", "boasting one of the most iconic characters ever in plissken , and an effective sci-fi set-up , this is entertainment of the highest order .", "i remember it being a lot better than it actually is . so if you have fond memories of a long-ago viewing of efny , i 'd suggest not ruining them by revisiting the film again .", "gloriously cheesy post-apocalyptic fun with kurt russell at his grizzled best .", "cult classic that earns its status .", "when the final credits roll , you can be forgiven a vague sense of dissatisfaction , because the creativity that went into formulating the premise was never extended to the script writing stage .", "it 's a rare film that has so many ideas and yet fails so consistently to make use of them .", "this almost forgotten film reveals a near-visionary workmanship , a low-budget film heavy on atmosphere and playful of character .", "its influence can not be understated .", "viewing the film today is akin to having one 's sense of youthful nostalgia violated . ... the terrible dialogue , patchy pacing and silly costumes , so easily overlooked during one 's wild-eyed teen years , now seem so much more obvious and distracting .", "the plot gradually winds down into predictable though highly enoyable histrionics .", "com exce\u0437\u0433o de seu interessante anti-her\u0443i , \u0439 um filme med\u043docre : pouco imaginativo , com cenas de a\u0437\u0433o frouxas e uma trilha amadora -lrb- marca registrada de carpenter -rrb- , \u0439 um daqueles exemplos de longas que se tornam cult sabe-se l\u0431 por qu\u043a .", "a solidly satisfying actioner .", "a generally gripping actioner , the film can also be read as a percipient satire of a society irreparably split along lines of class and race .", "john carpenter 's apocalyptic thriller has aged remarkably well ; its vision of manhattan as a giant maximum security prison anticipates better-known dystopias like blade runner and brazil .", "a superb action adventure , movie that makes us nostalgic towards the times when the future looked bleak .", "overall the effects and sets are quite realistic and director carpenter keeps the whole stew boiling to make a rather enjoyable dinner .", "john carpenter imaginatively -lsb- sketches his -rsb- high concept premise in this cult classic .", "great b-movie fun .", "though it 's not the best movie to emerge from the carpenter/russell partnership -lrb- that remains the thing -rrb- , it 's an awfully close second .", "i love this movie , yet i 'm not sure if i respect it .", "russell 's iconic character is so enjoyable to watch that it 's a shame his only other screen appearance was in the dim-witted sequel escape from l.a.", "the oppressive power of carpenter 's scope framing is matched only by his ability to speak to contemporary affairs .", "you ca n't think too much about any of the details of the story because it is , after all , a comic-book adventure .", "MOV moves swiftly and succeeds as taut drama .", "it 's a toughly told , very tall tale , one of the best escape -lrb- and escapist -rrb- movies of the season .", "vicious scenes are often juxtaposed with comic sequences in a tap dance of contrasting tones that is both bizarre and grandly entertaining .", "extremely dark '80s sci-fi classic is too intense for kids .", "has a surprisingly measured pace , its set pieces choreographed with a deliberateness at odds with the frantic nature of snake 's quest .", "most of the images are elaborate confections of urban blight , etched against a nearly unlit soundstage , and the sound mix , until the finale , is rarely louder than snake 's elbow busting out an old windowpane .", "the movie proudly wears its affection for crusty sergio leone archetypes and countdown-clock suspense sequences ; carpenter was tarantino long before tarantino was .", "the genius of john carpenter includes his subtlety in composition . the man has always known that the best special effects are invisible and never detract from the story .", "snake is carpenter 's fantasy alter ego , a man of uncompromised anti-authoritarianism . ` i do n't give a f -- about your war , or your president , ' snake tells the police commissioner , voicing a sentiment that was hardly unusual during carpenter 's usc days .", "a one of a kind apocalyptic epic that has yet to be rivaled in action and storytelling quality .", "the pic functions well as both a prison escape drama and as an escapist film . it 's far from a great film , but is entertaining and pleasantly cynical despite being so bleak .", "new york is the ghost town and van cleef the corrupt sheriff in MOV 's thinly disguised postmodern western , with ex-soldier russell as the anti-establishment hero who wo n't cotton to anyone 's code but his own . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "an enthralling , if sometimes inadvertently cheesy adventure yarn , an intriguing window into the fears and anxieties of the early reagan years , and a film-lover 's cavalcade of genre mash-up", "this is n't a brazenly colourful futuristic landscape but a grimy portrait of a city not far from the down-and-dirty real new york of the late '70s and early '80s ." ], "summary": "featuring an atmospherically grimy futuristic metropolis , MOV is a strange , entertaining jumble of thrilling action and oddball weirdness .", "id": "14097" }, { "movie": "gigi", "reviews": [ "MOV is all style , and zilch in the way of substance .", "this time hollywood 's chastity beat out cultural accuracy .", "chevalier and caron 's charms and a bubbly score -- tres chic", "all charm and champagne , but a feminist nightmare .", "a charming delight .", "with so many outstanding performances in the film , it is to maurice chevalier 's great credit that he is able to steal the show .", "there 's a fine bittersweet air to this tale that leaves you longing to see it again .", "given the shortage of dancing and soaring vocal melodies ... minnelli must lean heavily on personality and a spectacle defined by the pageantry of historic locations , sets and costumes . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "the performances are well nigh faultless .", "MOV is dressed to kill , but if all the french finery impresses the customers , it also smothers the story .", "the great minnelli was surely one of the masters of the american musical , but MOV was one of his misfires .", "... one of hollywood 's most celebrated classics from an era when studios were still making meticulous , tune-filled musicals .", "feminist musical , with minnelli 's taste and visual style , makes for an involving experience .", "how much one likes it , depends on how much french pastry one can eat during one sitting .", "splendid mgm lerner and lowe musical classic in all areas : stars , music , and overall production .", "it 's easy to drift away from the story and become absorbed in minnelli 's impossibly delicate textures , but there is a little something here for everybody .", "a gorgeous musical that lacks the nuance and emotion of other films in its genre .", "one of the last great musicals to be written especially for the screen .", "overbaked but enjoyable , and a banquet for the eyes .", "in the hands of a master craftsman , even this otherwise iffy musical becomes lively , lovely entertainment .", "a charming entertainment .", "a quintessential minnelli musical , a morally ambiguous , sophisticated tale of parisian decadence , done in sumptuous mgm style , MOV is the biggest commercial hit of minnelli and arthur freed 's lengthy collaboration .", "it 's like a meal consisting of cheesecake , and one quickly longs for something solid and vulgar to weigh things down .", "a silly feel-good film , nothing that happens is in the least bit surprising .", "so artificial it threatens to collapse , but nice to look at" ], "summary": "it may not be one of vincente minnelli 's best , but the charming and flawlessly acted MOV still offers enough visual and musical treats to satisfy .", "id": "9930" }, { "movie": "show_me_love", "reviews": [ "the two lead performances by dahlstroem and liljeberg are entirely naturalistic .", "high school , small town , teenagers in hormone hell -- or is that heaven ?", "it 's an awkward , unapologetic , unconventional -- and ultimately winning -- look at first love , one that unabashedly portrays the complications and confusion that result from those first crushes and rushes of attraction and passion .", "it 's just an incredibly insightful character drama about true , awkward , beautiful first love , and it 's all the better for it . oh , and that last shot is as cute as it gets .", "liljeberg is a talented young actress , perceptively playing all of agnes 's moods .", "it 's worth going out of your way to witness one of the year 's best films .", "el t\u00edtulo original -lrb- en los eua se exhibi\u00f3 bajo el nombre de MOV -rrb- es llamativo : fucking \u013am\u013al no s\u00f3lo sugiere indirectamente el sexo ...", "... a warm coming-of-age story that happens to be a coming-out story .", "it tells this story with complexity and emotional truth , something that strikes me as a rarity in the genre .", "a completely charming reality-based romantic fantasy , both sweet-natured and sympathetic .", "i must have missed what the swedes see in this film . i found it mildly interesting at best .", "moodysson 's story may be an old one -- the taboo romance between lovers from different ends of the school spectrum -- but his sharp script refreshes old themes .", "unfortunately , as the plot develops , it shies away from exploring that discontent , in favor of demonstrating precisely the kind of naivet\u00e9 and sweetness that one would expect to find in any teen romance .", "dahlstr\u00f6m and especially liljeberg are first-rate .", "nobody can deny the honesty or the outright sincerity this film has .", "while the storyline has few surprises , the central performances create a touching relationship , despite the suspicion that the male writer/director 's interest in the subject is slightly dubious , or at least tokenistic .", "a simple , charming , and slightly edgy romance between two teenage girls .", "this powerful , funny romantic drama neatly integrates the dilemmas of a girl in love , the girl she loves , a boy who also loves that girl , and that girl 's sister .", "lukas moodyson 's debut feature has a grainy , immediate feel that nicely enhances the story 's emotional honesty -- a quality that our own popular teen movies have only just begun to embrace .", "a charming teen comedy from sweden .", "what keeps us watching are liljeberg and dahlstr\u00f6m , both beautifully natural , and the hope that we 'll get to see them together .", "written and directed by moodysson with charm , a sense of fun and no condescension .", "the film has some charm and a winning simplicity but not an iota of depth .", "i 'm tired of teens talking about make-up and making out . a lesbian twist to an otherwise standard story just is n't enough to make it compelling .", "this lively comedy should strike a chord with bored teenagers everywhere .", "the movie is funny , gentle , and true .", "what makes writer-director lukas moodysson 's work head and shoulders above similarly-themed movies is the sheer unaffectedness of it .", "moodysson creates a fictional world that has all the aesthetic rawness and grittiness of a documentary .", "convincingly delivers a universally appealing lesson about the joy that results from the mature determination to be free .", "successfully captures the frenzied angst and boredom of youth , as well as the powerful , unbridled emotions of first love .", "right away this film grabs attention with documentary-style close - ups and upends teen movie cliches .", "a poignant exploration of the cruelty and anguish of teenage existence .", "incredibly fun , incredibly entertaining , and worth watching in all respects .", "moodysson thrillingly captures the brusque , prevaricating way teenagers talk and act among themselves as well as with adults .", "a breath of fresh air in a genre too often controlled by hollywood teen-pap .", "surprisingly poignant and unflinchingly honest .", "one of the most honest and heartfelt teen dramas ever to grace the screen ." ], "summary": "a naturalistic depiction of teenage life , MOV has a charming , authentic feel .", "id": "17294" }, { "movie": "batman_returns", "reviews": [ "exhaustingly inventive .", "it 's a triumph of style over substance , a romantic tragedy both as a story and as a movie .", "o design de produ\u0437\u0433o \u0439 inspirado e keaton busca conferir peso dram\u0431tico ao her\u0443i , mas o roteiro \u0439 pedestre e ping\u044cim jamais se torna um vil\u0433o interessante . por outro lado , a sensualidade de pfeiffer quase redime o filme . quase .", "bigger , better and more sophisticated than the first outing .", "a step up from `` batman '' but not by much , unfortunately ...", "batman was no longer torn from the pages of a funny book , but peeled off the bottom of a pair of dr. martens .", "a darkly violent take on the comic-book hero .", "something about the filmmaker 's eccentric , surreal , childlike images seems to strike a deep chord in the mass psyche : he makes nightmares that taste like candy .", "absolutely the best of the `` batman '' flicks , which is to say that it 's just a little bit better than burton 's original and light years better than the wretched parts 3 and 4 .", "darker , and better than its predecessor", "the best of the batman movies , not that means much .", "the best of the batman films . burton is in control here", "more of the same , but nowhere near as good -lrb- funny , disturbing , obsessive -rrb- as the uneven original , revealing arrested development on every level .", "the fights and chases are incoherent and over-the-top , with the result being confusion rather than suspense .", "a fast , funny , exciting assault on the senses that outshines the overrated original .", "because the film 's predominant motif is that of wounded individuals re-inventing themselves as wily villains , its most memorable episodes are early ones explaining each main character 's transformation .", "-lsb- burton 's -rsb- dark , melancholy vision is undeniably something to see , but it is a claustrophobic conception , not an expansive one , oppressive rather than exhilarating , and it strangles almost all the enjoyment out of this movie without half trying .", "there are flashes of commercially oriented action and humor , but the overall feeling is one of a languid depression sprung straight from the heart of its author .", "among the 1990s ' most fruitful marriages of high-brow auteurist style and pulp source material . a burtonesque layer cake : at bottom , his take on german expressionism ; then the gotham grotesquerie ; topping it all off is a fissuring , fracturing fairytale .", "director tim burton , apparently given a free hand to create a follow-up to the hugely successful 1989 batman , marshals all his forces to create an elaborately melancholy ode to alienation .", "even though fans of the 1960s tv show may reject its brooding atmosphere , this is still impressive stuff .", "MOV , though , is full of grim , dostoyevskian undertones , not to mention a multitude of bloody , violent scenes .", "devito and pfeiffer make formidable foes and formidable fun .", "if christopher nolan never decided to direct a batman movie , ` MOV ' would easily reign as the best film starring the caped crusader .", "as beetlejuice and edward scissorhands reminded us , burton always has been more absorbed by what his audience sees than by what his movies say .", "batman has begun to exhibit more of the qualities burton finds so interesting .", "the last great batman .", "burton continues to capture the essence of the batman legend and more importantly his audiences imagination .", "burton uses the summer 's most explosively entertaining movie to lead us back into the liberating darkness of dreams .", "kind of a lousy batman film , and also kind of a great burton film .", "retains the original 's dark currents while adding some colorful new characters .", "most of what we see is simply entertaining as hell , even if it falls short of brilliant .", "burton and company return to the prickly humor that gave such a jolt to the earlier film -- frequently finding it in unexpected places .", "as in the first movie , burton gives the material a luxurious masked-ball quality and a sly contemporary wit without violating the myth 's low , cheesy comic-book origins .", "this time the richness of the batman movie is not in its production design but rather in burton 's and screenwriter daniel waters ' freudian view of adult human behavior .", "MOV is as bitter as it is biting . ingenious though it is , it makes you squirm as often as it makes you laugh .", "it 's the kind of film which has great stills but never quite comes alive when it actually moves -- likely to win at the box-office quicker than it does in the mind .", "it 's not really a movie . it 's a painting and burton is a painter , a hieronymus bosch for our time . the thing seems to come straight from his subconscious and unspool in dream-logic .", "burton , once an animator at disney , understands that to go deeper , you must fly higher , to liberation from plot into poetry . here he 's done it . this batman soars .", "MOV is the rarest of hollywood beasts -- a sequel that 's better than the original", "burton -lsb- 's -rsb- staging is expert , and his character conceptions are distinctive and gratifying .", "the movie in which tim burton mostly fixes what he got wrong ... unfortunately , he also screws up the stuff he got right .", "while the film offers plenty of exhilarating action and features one of the best acting trios of the decade , it still falls short of what moviegoers have come to expect from one of the biggest comic book icons of our time .", "michelle is just amazing . every move is unpredictable , every line is said perfectly and she makes her character so seductive , she could make uma thurman 's poison ivy look like mr. freeze .", "of all the batman pictures , this is the most striking , atmospheric and effective .", "bigger , louder , more relentlessly action-packed than its predecessor , MOV batters its audience into submission .", "this is less of a sequel than reworking of the first film 's themes , with greater attention paid to the villains -lrb- all colorful and more intriguing than the hero -rrb- and more visually inventive set pieces , albeit contained in a less coherent work .", "like a hyperactive 11-year-old , the director seems both uncomfortable with adult emotions and unable to focus on the overall portrait .", "darker , more brooding and weirder than the first batman . it 's also funnier and layered with more texture .", "this dark , brooding film , directed by tim burton , is no ordinary movie .", "the last good batman movie thanks to mp", "atmospheric and utterly barmy .", "where burton 's ideas end and those of his collaborators begin is impossible to know , but result is a seamless , utterly consistent universe full of nasty notions about societal deterioration , greed and other base impulses .", "once again , tim burton ruins the batman series with overly-campy crap . michelle pfeiffer 's catwoman is the only saving grace .", "a bizarre mixture of poetic brilliance and clumsy ineptitude .", "comes closer than ever to bob kane 's dark , original strip , which began in 1939 .", "a masterpiece .", "there is a surprising richness of themes in this film .", "odd and sad , but not exhilarating .", "about the only thing it had going for it was pfeiffer in a catsuit , stiletto heels , with a whip . wowsers ." ], "summary": "director tim burton 's dark , brooding atmosphere , michael keaton 's work as the tormented hero , and the flawless casting of danny devito as the penguin and christopher walken as , well , christopher walken make the sequel better than the first .", "id": "10598" }, { "movie": "seraphine", "reviews": [ "it 's even-tempered , evenly-paced and decidedly middlebrow .", "provost has made a picture that is almost biblical in its simplicity and its passion .", "s\u00e9raphine is a rare example of a film that does justice to the mysteriousness of artistic invention .", "during the film i craved energy , but by the end i realized that i just wanted a story that stood a bit closer to its interesting , well-played title character and a bit further from the time-marking events of historical drama .", "MOV arrives from france as the year 's most honored film , winner of seven cesars from the french academy , including best film and best actress .", "a list of the striking images that provost composes would be long and enticing , even though words can not do them or the movie justice .", "beyond a must for those interested in art and women 's history are moreau 's brilliant performance , brunet 's luscious cinematography and galasso 's lovely score .", "yolande moreau 's MOV , all doughy and unreadable at first , lets you see how the passion that enriches her work might also upend her life .", "the film is a commendably worthy endeavor , and i am almost ashamed that my ingrained hedonistic attitude toward movies prevents me from recommending s\u00e9raphine more enthusiastically .", "... the audience is brought increasingly closer into the heart and mind of a genius whose turbulent inner life eventually envelops her conscious being .", "french filmmaker martin provost 's fictionalized biopic s\u00e9raphine introduces the painter to generations that never knew her .", "the long french tradition of thoughtful , intelligent films of quality for adults is alive and well here , and that is reason to rejoice .", "as the works of MOV the artist have stood the test of time and grown in value , i expect this account of her little-known life to do the same .", "boasts a raw and convincing performance by yolande moreau along with exquisite cinematography , but it often drags and suffers from lack of insight into the life and mind of s\u00e9raphine which keeps it from being an emotionally resonating experience .", "s\u00e9raphine is far more powerful when it lingers on louis at work . her canvases -- mostly nature studies -- were cluttered with colorful shapes and filigree , clearly arranged by an obsessive personality .", "an extraordinary french film about a deeply religious cleaning woman with a passion for creating luminous paintings .", "the energies of s\u00e9raphine are devoted to examining the alchemy by which perception is transformed into vision .", "moving historical drama brings a fascinating chapter of art history to life .", "like amadeus , s\u00e9raphine wants to get its hands dirty with the work itself . the movie understands creative types and their whims , even if it tips toward a long-telegraphed retribution .", "if the french town of senlis really looks like provost 's beautiful and painterly world as he depicts it in s\u00e9raphine , no wonder s\u00e9raphine louis went nuts .", "the characterization is deft , the acting is superb , and the production values are high . if there 's a dryness to the way the story is told , that 's because director martin provost has shifted his focus toward intellectual , not emotional , satisfaction .", "we are ... made privy to the very reverie , that state of almost beatific hypnosis , where artists find sanctuary and are compelled to create .", "here 's one that feels like homework .", "the film 's complex portrait of MOV -- who is alternately angry , bewildered , funny , belligerent and tender -- feels as fresh and alive as her work still does .", "s\u00e9raphine may be one of the spookiest , most unsettling films ever made about the hazy line between art and madness . that 's a theme the movies have done to death , yet it finds new life in the title performance by yolande moreau .", "the painterly images afford a brooding , sometimes luminous setting for yolande moreau , who conveys s\u00e9raphine 's weird and saint-like turmoil without sentiment or stereotype .", "the euphoria , lunacy and transformative intensity of art receive passionate , perhaps immortal treatment in MOV , martin provost 's quietly magical and urgently moving film .", "moreau gives a dominating , award-worthy performance . the combination of the beautiful scenery , musical score and art work resonate into a sensory epiphany for the audience .", "the film belongs to moreau . half-derided , half-protected by her village neighbors , her s\u00e9raphine is dowdy , willful , gruff , determined : a blend of singing mystic and muttering madwoman .", "relies heavily on moreau 's gripping , continually surprising performance to effectively convey the oracular urgency and fractured , dionysian mentality of MOV de senlis and her work .", "it 's also a comforting story that allows us to elevate the notion of purity above success .", "an uncommonly moving and wonderful experience : it is a cinematic depiction of a mindset , and a quiet and especially internal mindset at that .", "rather painterly and a bit distant . it never digs into the messiest of either the artist 's or her patron 's lives .", "... a mesmerizing portrait of an artist that gives exposure to beautiful work too little known , but it makes it audience work for its art .", "yolande moreau is a revelation in the title role ; a part she plays without vanity and sneaking humour .", "MOV is a fascinating story -lrb- and the film is beautiful to look at -rrb- , but in the end , the movie leaves a lot of questions about the real-life MOV unanswered .", "to look at the almost religious ecstasy on moreau 's face is to feel the artist 's passion and be inspired by it .", "director martin provost has brought the true story of s\u00e9raphine de senlis to to the screen with elegant simplicity . a gorgeous film to watch , thanks to cinematographer laurent brunet , the pastoral settings are especially satisfying .", "the character 's fleeting success in the art world , her moody naivete and childlike reverence for both the natural and religious worlds , is conveyed with such tenderness and totality that it 's almost heartbreaking to behold .", "the triumph and fascination of yolande moreau 's performance as the french painter s\u00e9raphine de senlis -lrb- 1864-1942 -rrb- is in the way she makes us believe -- completely and without questioning -- that s\u00e9raphine is some kind of divine vessel .", "it 's like reading the introductory essay in an exhibition catalogue , except that it takes two hours . personally , i could n't stop thinking of susan boyle on britain 's got talent .", "s\u00e9raphine is a deceptively subtle tale .", "gives testimony to the human spirit .", "provost 's film has few equals in depicting the dangerous territory between artistic inspiration and madness .", "engrossing , well-shot bio-pic ... which won seven cesars , including best picture , from the french academy in 2008 , has a gorgeous antique look and a surfeit of empathy . a lovely , lingering film .", "thoughtful as it is , the movie lacks the poetry or point of view to see its idea through with force .", "a naive , between-the-wars french painter is brought to vivid life in the satisfying fact-inspired drama MOV .", "what makes this slow , intense film so compelling is its persuasive creation of complex characters : you scarcely believe moreau is an actor and that the film is n't , on some level , archival footage of the real painter .", "it 's a plodding film in its storytelling , but with a sensitive attitude to its subject . in its best moments , it simply wonders at the rapturous state in which this devout christian creates her art .", "provost and cowriter marc abdelnour explore the mutable boundaries between spirituality , naivete , genius , and madness , showing how the two outsiders and polar opposites cultivated a mutual understanding .", "scores points for actually investing time in scenes depicting the extent to which she worked on her art .", "where the film scores -- and scores very highly -- is in the characterizations of s\u00e9raphine and uhde , both of whom emerge as wholly formed complex creations .", "it has a lyricism , passion and beauty unmatched in cinema this year .", "whimsical but wonderful - and very worthy of those awards .", "moreau 's stellar performance and the astral intensity of the paintings keep taking us where this story belongs , up into the skies .", "the story is both genuinely fascinating and utterly heartbreaking , whilst also making pointed observations about the nature of art and art versus commerce .", "the film ends up something of a muddle that strives too hard to wear a ` quality ' tag upon its sleeve .", "moreau 's marvellous performance captures the vulnerabilities of a woman who never dares to dream that her work might be taken seriously and who seemed to spend a lifetime poised between the call of greatness and the threat of madness .", "a tender and intelligent glimpse of a life enriched both by her nascent talent and the affectionate devotion of uhde 's protector .", "an exceptional and exquisitely photographed depiction of artistic taste , social snobbery and transient celebrity .", "MOV is rare in its sympathetic focus on a laborer , yet refined in its execution .", "MOV , a biopic of the early-20th century french painter MOV louis aka MOV de senlis , is among the best of its kind , thanks in no small part to the utterly believable , vanity-free performance of yolande moreau in the title role .", "... s\u00e9raphine 's art , religious fervor and mental breakdowns are all accepted as facts which may be witnessed but not explained .", "may be about a minor artist , but it 's a major success .", "as far as biopics of painters go , s\u00e9raphine is one of the very best", "a moving , distinctly french tale , this sumptuous production is made complete with a brilliant performance by leading lady yolande moreau .", "if you 're in the mood for a gentle , unsentimental film , where the director has made choices that are intelligent and thoughtful , seek this out .", "yolande moreau plays the industrious but touched washerwoman-turned-painter s\u00e9raphine de senlis with an open-faced conviction that is almost unnerving in its intensity .", "moreau 's nuanced turn as the title character ensures that the film is not a complete loss . she 's very convincing , especially when there arise some questions regarding her mental stability .", "s\u00e9raphine , an outsider artist before the term was invented , is both a cautionary tale for contemporay artists of all and sundry media and a genuinely moving portrait of the artist as a young -lrb- ish -rrb- scullery maid .", "lyrical but bracing .", "in consistently erring of the side of subtlety , moreau 's performance also proves a perfect tonal match for provost 's subtle , meticulous , and frequently beautiful compositions .", "moreau is bewitching -- she simply breathes her role , without a hint of vanity .", "next to demme 's expressionism and troell 's realism , provost 's good film is banal .", "yolande moreau captures both the purposeful , single-minded woman who does other people 's laundry to support her painting , and s\u00e9raphine de senlis , whose secret life of fervid creativity drove her to madness .", "click for full review", "s\u00e9raphine is one of the most evocative films about an artist i 've ever seen -- and in its treatment of madness one of the least condescending .", "an endearing example of religious passions that turn a cleaning woman into a near-great painter .", "this utterly beguiling biopic about a cleaning lady with the artistic gifts of a van gogh is just a bit special .", "superb central performance in this original take on the art biopic .", "a classy drama and a sympathetic portrait of two outsiders and the vibrant , unsettling work that binds them .", "depends on your levels of christmas spirit . nativity either glorifies the charming amateurishness of the british school play or celebrates the slapdash incompetence of the british film industry .", "this true story dragged out for so long that i ceased to care .", "this biopic , which swept the board at the c\u00e9saires , is somewhat over-inclined to reverence and simplification ; but it is also , some of the time , rewarding and touching .", "made with a remarkable attention to detail that makes the characters and period spring vividly to life", "s\u00e9raphine does n't mess with the formula but the script allows plenty of awkward details to remain and we 're allowed to decide for ourselves if fame was a godsend for her .", "a little long , but quietly rewarding .", "a measured , soulful and tactile work ; a film with gouache beneath its fingernails ." ], "summary": "MOV is a well-crafted french film that effectively captures one woman 's experience with art , religion , and mental illness , and features a brilliant performance from yolande moreau .", "id": "770798728" }, { "movie": "karate_kid", "reviews": [ "a legitimate crowd pleaser .", "a terrific underdog story", "the MOV exhibits warmth and friendly , predictable humor , its greatest assets .", "the MOV belongs so irredemiably to its time that you ca n't feel anything other than affection toward it .", "wax on , wax off , wax nostalgic .", "the movie birthed three sequels and features the sweet relationship between macchio and morita .", "an ok underdog story that did not deserve any sequels .", "a warm-heartened riff on the tried-and-true rocky formula , and one of the better cinematic icons of the 1980s .", "it 's primitive , predatory stuff .", "tells the engaging story of a handyman at a housing complex who teaches martial arts to a boy yearning for mastery of self .", "a great underdog story , and you got ta love the flying crane .", "ok in itself , but guilty by association with its spawn .", "morita is simply terrific , bringing the appropriate authority and wisdom to the part .", "a surprise summer hit in the states , this is another film-making-by-numbers exercise in teenage wish-fulfilment .", "morita 's work in the MOV is iconographic .", "while this may be as soppy and predictable as they come , it still reminds you why you used to enjoy '80s teen flicks so much in the first place .", "formulaic , manipulative , hokey -- and thoroughly rousing ... the film 's sincerity and poignance have a way of steamrolling over gaps in plausibility and logic .", "a teenage rocky for the 1980s .", "all hail the crane kick , liberator of self-doubting wimps over bullies , redeemer of lost causes , winner of elisabeth shue 's heart .", "an exciting , sweet-tempered , heart-warming story with one of the most interesting friendships in a long time .", "perhaps a touch on the corny side and undeniably broad , kid is a ridiculously rewarding drama that puts pure sincerity to marvelous use , inflating a mild underdog story into an inspiring tale of education and developing friendship .", "'80s classic is still fun for families with older tweens .", "irresistible wish fulfillment .", "the MOV brought something fresh to the table and proved exceptionally skilled at reaching its adolescent audience . -lsb- blu-ray -rsb-", "predictable yet satisfying ...", "avildsen crafted an inspired movie with the perfect mix of 80 's bravado and 70 's artistic integrity .", "macchio rises above the trite script to deliver a sympathetic and believable performance . morita is equally good value and look out , too , for elisabeth shue in an early role .", "upbeat , sentimental and predictable tale , but the acting of ralph macchio and pat morita -lrb- who was oscar-nominated -rrb- is good and their friendship charming .", "this film 's art consists entirely of hiding the cynicism of its calculations under an agreeably modest and disarming manner .", "this is the kind of movie where you find yourself cheering even though you know you 're being hoodwinked ." ], "summary": "utterly predictable and wholly of its time , but warm , sincere , and difficult to resist , due in large part to pat morita and ralph macchio 's relaxed chemistry .", "id": "12780" }, { "movie": "waiting_for_guffman", "reviews": [ "a sly , gleeful and subtle comedy that pokes fun at american musicals , amateur theatricals , and the culture of celebrity-the universal wish to be famous -- set in the small , provincial town of blaine about to celebrate its 150th anniversary .", "the comedy has the slow burn of a richly nuanced and non-judgmental character study .", "frequently funny -- sometimes very funny indeed .", "this 1997 comedy may be amusing if you feel a pressing need to feel superior to somebody , but the aim is too broad and scattershot to add up to much beyond an acknowledgment of small-town desperation .", "fab small-town spoof ; subtle humor may bore kids .", "the songs -lrb- co-written by guest and tapster harry shearer -rrb- are suitably ridiculous and the deadpan gags come thick , fast and too numerous to mention , all delivered with knuckle-gnawing subtlety by the c-list cast with a-list style .", "a madcap gem .", "trabalhando em um subg\u0119nero que praticamente ajudou a crier -lrb- o do pseudocument\u00e1rio -rrb- , guest cria mais um filme que diverte por compreender t\u0103o bem seu tema e seus personagens .", "raucous , outrageously funny , and filled with many zany scenes .", "one of the funniest movies ever made , ` MOV ' spoofs everything from documentaries and talent shows to local politics and alien abductions .", "attention is paid not simply to funny characters and punch lines , but to small nudges at human nature .", "this is a very funny film with a daring difference : it lets us laugh at the characters without malice .", "though the movie is all heart like corky st. clair , there 's really not too much else there .", "it is at its funniest skewering small-town america in all its cockeyed optimism .", "it 's smart , witty , goofy and hugely entertaining .", "one of the greatest comedies of all time , a perfect satire .", "be sure and stay for the film 's closing credits , which contain some of the movie 's funniest moments .", "guest has fashioned the film with a great deal of affection . the charm goes a long way toward making the material amusing instead of insulting .", "everyone will think it 's funny ; people who 've actually done community theatre will laugh themselves into a coma .", "the characters and scenario are memorable , the film rather less so .", "the humor is implied but never over-explained , imparting a sense of intelligence rarely achieved in movie comedies .", "hilariously satirical yet affectionate and upbeat about its rosy-cheeked , anti-hip characters .", "it 's corky 's movie .", "guest 's satire of small-town america and amateur actors has a sly edge , it 's not mean , and guest never strips his characters of their dignity .", "where this is spinal tap took rock music and the media as its focus - fat , juicy targets just asking to be lampooned - guest 's target here is small-town provincials .", "it keeps you laughing from beginning to end .", "it often equals and sometimes surpasses the deadpan humor of -lsb- spinal tap -rsb- -lrb- save the grinding guitars and leather pants , of course -rrb- .", "a sly and gleeful comedy showcase that pokes clever fun at the american musical , amateur theatricals and anything else that 's not nailed down .", "priceless .", "guest 's comedic sense of timing combined with the hilarious script had me laughing so hard i thought i would burst .", "though each of the actors generates moments of hilarity , guest 's corky st. clair is clearly the film 's most memorable character .", "a very funny , very unusual ensemble comedy that falls somewhere between slapdash and brilliant , an improvised comedy with more hits than misses .", "an ode to the hopes and dreams of every performer and a send-up of every bad performance around .", "guest is the best thing in this slight , sometimes strained , but often quite funny film", "bizarre .", "MOV is worth a little chuckle , but that 's about it .", "ignorance truly is bliss , sometimes .", "there is such a thing as comic momentum , and guest has a good sense of what that means . comic momentum does n't refer to nonstop jokes , but to an atmosphere that is always ripe for humor .", "their characters needed an air of authenticity and credibility that these actors simply lack .", "fans of this kind of deadpan humor are guaranteed to get a few chuckles out of this one . all of the actors are marvelously horrible , and in this movie , bad equals good .", "the nonstop amusing mockumentary MOV does to small-town acting troupes what this is spinal tap did to heavy-metal bands .", "the originality and audacity of the film , written by guest and levy , is what holds us . they never lose the conceit that the documentary filmmakers , and not themselves , are the ones who made this movie ." ], "summary": "this riotously deadpan mockumentary about aspiring community theater performers never stoops to ridicule oft-ridiculous characters .", "id": "13152" }, { "movie": "colombiana", "reviews": [ "a movie so addicted to the crack pipe of delirious cinematic badness that it has real potential as a camp classic .", "is saldana the new schwarzenegger , only leaner , meaner and much better looking in spandex ? i think so .", "genre action at its most generic , a thick pudding of all the usual rooftop chases , martial-artsy slap-ups , and improbably huge weaponry .", "all killers should look this good doing their dirty work . it 'd be a better world .", "as a solidly entertaining piece of trashy exploitation its only drawback is a pg-13 rating .", "despite its borderline campiness and arrested adolescent mentality , MOV succeeds in delivering the goods as a fun albeit formulaic action flick that 's most notable for zoe saldana 's stone-cold yet still sexy performance .", "along with a spectacularly physical performance by zaldana , MOV features some of the best frame-for-frame shots you will see this year .", "nothing in MOV feels remotely original , from the initial , unexplained killings to the string of bad supporting actors with indeterminate accents who are periodically shot , knifed , garroted , run over , blown up and eaten alive .", "the results are so clumsy and over-the-top that they should have just called the movie panty assassin and played the whole thing for laughs .", "while most action films fall apart because they succumb to stupidity , MOV suffers most because it tries to be too smart .", "even the talented saldana ca n't make a silk purse out of a sow 's ear - much less a dog 's dinner .", "MOV is every bit as slick and silly as you 'd expect , but saldana pulls off her far-fetched assassin with panache , whether wriggling through a police station 's air ducts in a latex cat suit or dispatching a crook with his own pet sharks .", "the latest disappointing actioner from producer luc besson ...", "click for full review at movies for the masses", "overall , the movie has enough clever chases , break-ins , and escapes -- not to mention a sweet , small tragic romance -- to make it worthwhile , but this is n't one of besson 's stronger efforts .", "MOV has one true asset -- the seminude sight of its star , zoe saldana -- and milks it for everything it 's worth .", "a cynical mash-up of besson 's leon and nikita , though without their depth of character or emotional warmth .", "it 's as slick as an oil spill in the gulf of mexico , as fast-moving as hurricane emily and as memorable as an episode of the a-team .", "half the dialogue between these dirtbags is devoted to her near-invisibility , and all of it 's awful : `` she 's like mist , '' apparently .", "you 'll find yourself laughing , then realise that it 's not meant to be funny .", "the movie is like a lady who ca n't choose between two suitors : the campy and fun one , or the serious and clich\u00e9 one .", "often improbable , sometimes ludicrous , but frequently exciting .", "... predictable from first frame to last .", "MOV , despite its many explosions and some howlingly wooden dialogue , is an eminently forgettable actioner .", "MOV never successfully builds off the emotions established in its strong opening .", "the promise of the borderline-priceless early scenes with amandla stenberg as the 10-year-old cataleya are n't quite fulfilled by the more predictable set pieces with the adult assassin .", "poorly directed and badly written , this is a disappointing and increasingly bloated thriller that fails to sustain any actual thrills , despite a decent early set piece and a solid turn from zoe saldana .", "MOV fofana , zoe saldana banana . c'mon , sing it with me ! c'mon ! it makes more sense than the movie , and it 's more entertaining to boot .", "a generic time killer that does n't leave any kind of lasting impression .", "gets off some fire-flashes of interest but nothing more sustained . the romance subplot is rote and there are some ludicrous moments . ultimately , it seems hollow-point .", "it desperately wants us to feel for cataleya 's lonely lot in life , especially when it trots out johnny cash 's cover of `` hurt . '' but if it ca n't even spell the word `` personal '' correctly in its end credits , how can it possibly understand the definition ?", "we all love a steamy pile of frivolous nonsense now and then , but it has to move quickly or we lose interest , like a joke that stops being funny .", "the star 's dangerously low weight is only the start of its problems .", ". presumably slapped together in a whirlwind of utter indifference while besson was otherwise preoccupied , `` MOV '' is a bitter bon-bon of a film that even the most dedicated members of his cult will find difficult to swallow .", "it works well enough as a revenge movie , thanks to some good performances , some good action sequences and some mission impossible-like tactical operations .", "when shortly into the film , cataleya is escaping from a jail cell through an unsecured ventilation vent large enough for a person to easily fit through and that leads to the outside , i knew we were in trouble .", "luc besson 's pulp-fiction assembly line churns out another adequate ass-kicker with MOV , which boasts many of the french producer-director 's favorite tropes .", "oozing female empowerment , acrobatic zoe saldana is the new action star to watch .", "there 's a reason this clunker is being buried at the end of august and was n't screened for most critics -- it should n't screen for most audiences either .", "the film is undercooked as a script , but zoe saldana commits to it with such ferocity that she makes it feel like everything matters , even when the script does n't lay out a case for what that is .", "saldana has star quality and action chops but the script is laughable and boring .", "occasionally enjoyable in a silly way , but i have to say besson 's preoccupation with the little-girl-becomes-killer trope is looking a little unwholesome .", "in MOV , a basic formula is reduced to a few broad strokes : she 's skinny , she 's lethal , she 's desperate .", "MOV wants to be bourne with boobs , but its connect-the-dots narrative and silted script means it ca n't quite reach those bone-crunching heights .", "a far-fetched disappointment considering it was co-written by luc besson , the director of leon .", "columbiana piles on so many ludicrous events , puzzling plot points and fake accents that it loses any chance to be a halfway decent pulp mix of beauty , bullets and bad guys .", "the movie delivers slam-bang action , so much so that we 're reminded that movies have to move to carry us along , and with ` columbiana , ' we 're along for the ride , baby .", "it makes virtually no sense if you think about it , and the writing and direction are mostly incoherent . but it 's also guilty good fun .", "with no sense of humour and long lulls between action , director megaton appears primarily concerned with coming up with as many different ways as possible of getting saldana down to her skimpies .", "tiresome and unconvincing .", "MOV is n't the last word in action movies , but it 's a fun ride .", "wrapped in b-movie trappings from its clich\u00e9d script and implausible scenarios to less than thrilling action , the best thing MOV has going for it is the lovely ms. saldana , who deserves much better than this .", "there 's bad acting all around , but you ca n't fully blame the performers . the dialogue needed a writer to come in and punch it up - the lines sound like placeholders .", "saldana is in a jolie mood and shows what a tough gal she can be . what we never get is enough knowledge of her character .", "possibly worth seeing if you are 13 .", "director olivier megaton has mastered the art of balancing absurdity with conviction , both in his montages and his choices on the soundtrack .", "we could be talking up zoe saldana as the next angelina jolie . but she 's going to need a stronger vehicle than this to end angie 's reign .", "if you go into `` MOV '' expecting a glorified student film you will not be disappointed .", "MOV is n't completely dreadful , if you ignore the holes in its swiss cheese of a plot .", "megaton blows things up , demolishes a fruit market , and throws in some parkour foot-chases as if he 's completing a checklist .", "luc besson has decided to make one for the girls .", "put zoe saldana in a catsuit and have her slithering around air conditioning ducts while techno music pumps and , basically , you 've most of my attention .", "luc besson keeps ralphing up scripts about beautiful lady killers , but that does n't mean you have to keep seeing them .", "zoe saldana makes being an action hero look so easy in `` MOV , '' you have to wonder why more actresses do n't try it .", "after opening weekend , ` MOV ' will more than likely be buried in the shallow grave of other femme fatale action duds like ` aeon flux , ' ` catwoman ' and ` elektra . '", "MOV is often preposterous but never boring .", "a waste of time , talent and resources on a movie that would feel more at home in the direct-to-dvd aisle of your local big box store than on a multiplex marquee .", "there 's little to no care paid to anything outside of three or four action sequences -- and those will look just as good on home video . in five weeks .", "this is a showy flower of an action film . saldana does n't get much of a chance to emote , but her action skills blossom .", "there are some early comic moments that have you laughing along with the movie , but eventually the clashing tones and preposterousness just have you laughing .", "ranks as one of the more eco - and econ-friendly projects of recent memory , what with producer/co-writer luc besson recycling many elements from his prior successes .", "the action set pieces are elaborately staged and sometimes exciting , but the dull script , overcooked direction and wonky editing damage this otherwise enjoyable b-movie .", "MOV is caught somewhere in the middle of an engaging character drama and a brainless action extravaganza .", "with a tighter story and structure , most of the film 's problems could have been easily fixed , resulting in a film that does n't feel like a build-up of superfluous events .", "MOV contains some thrilling scenes as well as an interesting sense of twisted humor , but there 's not enough here to really keep us engaged .", "laugh out loud exploitation ... see zoe shoot . see zoe kill . see zoe strip -lrb- pg-13 style -rrb-", "a guilty pleasure film that is more fun than it deserves to be .", "you keep wanting `` MOV '' to go all the way in one direction , or all the way in the other . instead , it just sits there , content to give saldana a lollypop .", "`` MOV '' never even considers that what cataleya has devoted her life to doing might not be entirely justified and that what she does might make her just as evil as the people who wronged her .", "a fast-paced tale of revenge , ` MOV ' is a better-than-average actioner made all the more interesting by its female lead . zoe saldana -lrb- ` star trek ' and ` avatar ' -rrb- follows the path of ` hanna ' and ` salt ' as a tough-as-nails assassin .", "for the most part , it 's all big and silly , but at least it 's enjoyably staged and crafted .", "MOV may not be the brainiest of actioners , but one of the merits of producer luc besson 's latest brainchild is that fanboys worldwide will come away with a scrap of horticultural knowledge as well as a pretty good time .", "there are guilty pleasures to be had in this frenzied b starring zoe saldana , who gives an acrobatic performance that makes the overcooked material watchable .", "an action-packed distraction for popcorn munchers who found the dialogue and plot points in transformers : dark of the moon too subtle .", "escapism as exaggeration", "if you like stylized fights , spent shotgun shells hitting the floor in slow-mo , and things done blown up real good , megaton 's your man and this is your film . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "deprived of details , megaton expects us to subsist on action alone , but it 's not enough to fill the void left by the absence of story .", "breaking no new ground , `` MOV '' more or less plays it straight .", "the best way to describe the action packed film ` MOV ' is to say to that it 's mindless , unpretentious , very stylized , and entertaining . it 's your typical b film brought to the big screen by the power and influence of luc besson .", "focused primarily on the sex appeal of the actress , trusting that particular feminine posture will distract from a wobbly picture that consists of a series of vicious sketches bound together by a vague interest in revenge .", "there have been some successes in the last few years following besson 's formula of stale dialogue , light character and strong action . but there have been far more misses than hits . MOV does n't even stand out among those .", "columbiana is stupid , listless and too shy to be any fun . when you fail to make a well-armed , underwear-clad zoe saldana interesting , it seems almost intentional .", "it turns into the same silly stuff we 've seen before , a dish of revenge served not so much cold as reheated .", "thinly textured and technically proficient , with a cartoonishness that takes it out of the real world ." ], "summary": "zoe saldana has the chops but she 's taken out by erratic and sloppy filmmaking .", "id": "771205891" }, { "movie": "wolf_creek", "reviews": [ "killers do n't need motivation anymore , just opportunity . and despite game efforts to throw us off the scene , to surprise us into who will live and tell the tale , there are n't any surprises .", "what is the point , other than to show up the director 's technical skill at presenting mutilation ?", "the four actors fit into their respective roles nicely , though in the case of jarrat 's bushman mick , nice is n't quite the right word .", "this is some horror flick .", "there 's no suspense , really , and the movie is carelessly vague about the victims , who have as much personality as lambs lining up for the slaughter .", "the even pacing and attention to character detail is what makes that harrowing second half so effective .", "there 's no substitute for bad taste . and this one has it double-barreled , both in the timing of its release and as a movie , one said to be loosely based on fact .", "hey , here 's an idea for the new year . what if a bunch of us get together somewhere and burn all copies of movies like `` MOV ? ''", "... the ordeal is excruciating -- for the audience and for the victims ...", "MOV is wicked and witless -- cruel for the sake of cruelty .", "... its debt to ... texas chainsaw massacre is obvious . still , this is a gritty flick that must be giving australia 's outback tourism industry a bad case of heartburn .", "in this era of horror films soullessly carted out of hollywood , MOV immediately stands apart from the pack .", "un des films d'horreur les plus m\u00e9chants et cruels des derni\u010dres ann\u00e9es .", "mick taylor should be in the pantheon of classic horror characters along with leatherface and freddy krueger .", "a loathsome low-budget thriller that 's only distinguished by its ability to juggle grotesque sadism and stultifying boredom .", "MOV bills itself as `` based on real events , '' a dubious claim since the film is rife with the sort of boneheaded plotting that can only be found in sub-par thrillers of this nature .", "a vicious torrent of blood-letting . what more can we want ?", "an austere descent into inexplicable , unbridled mayhem .", "MOV is unimaginative , light on the grue and heavy on the faux-serious desperation .", "MOV is an unrelenting , grueling experience .", "inhumane ? yep . sadistic ? sure . but it works where countless others of the genre have failed , by introducing people we get to know and care about before all hell breaks loose .", "MOV is a well-made film , but its technical merits are overwhelmed by the disgust registered as it wallows in some of the nastiest human behavior imaginable .", "the transference of nail biting insanity from screen to ticket holders is what ultimately drives the picture and makes it almost an interactive experience .", "what MOV offers is a competently made horror excursion with an unfortunate reliance upon clich\u00e9s balanced off by some legitimate shocks .", "once you wade through a deathly long setup , it delivers the cinematic equivalent of watching a public execution , and then it 's over .", "well , there goes my dream of driving across australia .", "greg mclean , who has many shorts and commercials under his belt , makes a significant feature debut here , with unapologetic horror that does n't compromise .", "an unusually crisp and boldly shot texas chainsaw massacre knockoff .", "low-budget horror does n't get much better than this .", "this violent horror picture is gratuitously vicious , gruesome and repulsive . do n't say you were n't warned !", "a fairly effective slasher movie , equal parts tense set-up and horrific prolonged climax .", "mclean has crafted a skillful thriller that will likely invade the minds many mainstream and cult horror fans .", "mclean 's film will have wes craven bowing his head in shame . it 's that good . one of the most well-written and entertaining films in years .", "one of the most viciously nasty horror thrillers in recent memory . but the extreme grisliness is purely gratuitous .", "interesting , though always difficult , viewing .", "-lsb- it 's -rsb- scary cinema pushed to the brink of punishment . but there 's no question that what it sets out to do , it does alarmingly well .", "MOV is well-made and well-acted but it 's also a horrific , downbeat and viciously nasty horror flick that 's often extremely difficult to watch % u2013 you have been warned .", "relentless as the midday australian sun , MOV is an assured debut from writer director greg mclean , although explicit violence and downbeat themes will deter some .", "nothing more than the australian man 's texas chainsaw massacre ; another film that 's a little to liberal with a certain title card ...", "the film 's preference for female suffering gives it a misogynist undertow that 's even more unsettling than the gore .", "australian writer and director mclean produces what is likely the most riveting horror movie you will see this year .", "mr. mclean uses all sorts of storytelling tricks to keep you guessing while the quartet of unknown actors deliver deeply affecting performances .", "the film will probably be too much for the majority of audiences . as for hard-core horror fans , they may become a little restless themselves during the first half of the film .", "while the movie is certainly unsettling , and even repulsive in parts , it 's not actually frightening ; graphic depictions of mindless cruelty are more revolting than scary .", "... it 's only a movie -- one the australian tourism commission probably does n't want you to see .", "a repulsive and forgettable serial killer movie from down under , without a trace of plot , character or theme that would take us beyond the ... gore .", "to call MOV 's u.s. christmas opening counter-programming surely understates the strategy .", "unlike so many of its slick counterparts , MOV is genuinely unnerving and sometimes upsetting .", "i found myself genuinely admiring the skill both behind and before the camera , while simultaneously searching for a blowtorch so i could destroy the negative .", "the gritty , starkly uncompromising MOV comes as a breath of fresh air -- or , a breath of freshly coughed-up blood .", "a very unpleasant movie .", "director greg mclean -lsb- takes -rsb- the plot in unpredictable directions , but the brain-dead characters continuously fail to use their heads .", "there is a line and this movie crosses it . i do n't know where the line is , but it 's way north of MOV .", "the vogue for retro-horror , particularly the stripped-down shivers of 1970 's slasher flicks , continues apace in this nasty little piece of work from australia .", "and that 's it : the bad guy with the sideburns tortures them and lets them have it one at a time .", "a shade better than a lot of the current crop of hollywood horror movies -lrb- saw ii -rrb- and remakes and redos of japanese terror films .", "consummately well-crafted , unapologetically vicious and leavened with moments of humor that merely intensify the horror .", "a lo-fi masterpiece , an intense ride through your worst nightmares .", "only a slight cut above the run-of-the-mill american slasher picture .", "devastatingly real .", "there are many things both slapdash and screwy with creek , but mclean 's biggest sin is the 60-minute set-up before the horror kicks in .", "you want to close your eyes but ca n't -- a sure sign the horror is working .", "wolf provides some scares , but the audience is the biggest victim of all .", "an initially promising horror film that turns exploitive , MOV fails to deliver the requisite payoff considering its leisurely pace .", "disappointingly formulaic .", "made with the intention to scare moviegoers silly , and it succeeds .", "as the situation grows more dire , and the film turns the screws , you remain thoroughly invested in the plight of its protagonists , because mclean has taken the time to make you care about each of his three main characters .", "jarrat 's jolly-creepy performance might place mick in the pantheon of great movie killers .", "just because dimension considered greg mclean 's nasty exploitation flick worthy of their time and money does n't mean it deserves yours .", "as a purely visceral -- in both senses of the word -- exercise , australian import MOV is extremely effective .", "` based on a true story ! ' - except for all the nasty stuff we just made up .", "esta \u00e9 a refilmagem que o massacre da serra el\u00e9trica merecia .", "it 's competently made , but that alone does n't make it a good film .", "i just wanted the damn thing to end ...", "gets under the skin", "for all its efforts at avoiding the usual slasher movie nonsense , it does fall back on some familiar , lame plot devices .", "despite the obvious influences of the original `` chainsaw , '' `` hills have eyes , '' `` last house , '' and other kidnap-terror films , you ca n't predict what is going to happen in this film .", "a sustained plunge into abject horror that is n't meant to be laughed at or shaken off easily .", "it is almost as if a hardcore survival horror film had been infiltrated -lrb- and slyly undermined -rrb- by the quieter mysticism of peter weir 's picnic at hanging rock ...", "a solid flick that was robbed a bit in its theatrical release", "... an effective and thoroughly tense horror flick that 's stylish without being obtrusive .", "at least as unnerving as it is gratuitously sadistic , skin deep , and full of plot holes the size of ayers rock .", "you may need to squirm and recoil a fair bit to get through the film , which involves graphic , sickening violence .", "writer/director greg mclean shows a deft hand setting up the audience and terrorizing us , but does n't do it enough or early enough in the film .", "that 's not a horror flick . this is a horror flick .", "the movie descends into a pool of bloody entrails , with lurid and sadistic killings that are more likely to nauseate than entertain .", "no new ideas , and runs out of old ones fast .", "as horror movies go , this is a pretty good one , at once a tense , visceral and tightly woven tale .", "it 's the quality of MOV and power of both its explicit and suggestive content that make it a standout .", "shoehorning predictable parable and pallid allegory into a hobnail boot full of horror and sadism .", "a gorily effective australian variation of the texas chainsaw massacre .", "it 's not your typical holiday attraction , but it should lift the spirits of horror devotees , if no one else .", "a patient , naturalistic white-knuckled ride of terror .", "it 's boring , then it 's nasty , then it 's over . that last one is its only saving grace", "MOV is another one of those formulaic horror movies that 'll have you screaming at the screen . not out of fright mind you , but out of the desire to make the characters hear you yelling at them to stop doing stupid things .", "the darkest lump of coal ever dropped down a moviegoer 's throat on christmas day , bought by the weinsteins for $ 3.5 million . next time , could we get a gift certificate instead ?", "one of the more disturbing horror films i 've seen in quite some time .", "viewers eager to embrace 90 minutes of footage featuring women being brutalized , beaten , stalked and slaughtered may want to consider some serious introspection .", "the film is okay , if you 're into that sort of thing , but it 's an acquired taste .", "a fine , gritty , suspenseful , and yes , enjoyable genre piece .", "it 's a depressing exercise in just mutilation and torture .", "it 's a story bound to give even the most seasoned thrill seeker nightmares ." ], "summary": "though MOV is effectively horrific , it is still tasteless exploitation .", "id": "24474" }, { "movie": "1174399-in_the_shadow_of_the_moon", "reviews": [ "it shows how great we were , once upon a time .", "it seems more like a television program one would see on the discovery channel than a movie .", "the heart of sington 's film is the dry humour and boundless humility of his interviewees .", "a bunch of old guys talking about the old days - but what old days . an absorbing doc from a filmmaker who knows a good story , and a handful of men who 've lived the best story of all .", "david sington more than makes up for the straightforward nature of his film with the quality of its interviews and plenitude of staggering archive footage .", "this wonderful documentary succeeds as a reminder of human endeavour .", "there is something thrilling and moving in this documentary about the great era of the nasa moon landings .", "you probably wo n't find a more comprehensive document of space exploration on film .", "a solid , engrossing affair intercut with footage from the time , including live coverage of that famous day in july 1969 when armstrong and aldrin first walked on the lunar surface .", "a timely tribute to the 12 men who landed on the moon during the 1960s and 1970s . the remastered , rediscovered documentary footage is incredible , although the absence of neil armstrong is disappointing .", "the shots of the moon , even after so many effects-heavy studio films have tried to recreate the look , are uncanny .", "stirring stuff , packed with as many beautiful images as portentous outbursts .", "i would n't have missed this chance to revisit one of earth 's most significant encounters with deep space for anything .", "at the heart of the film is the beautifully remastered footage of the 1969 apollo 11 moon landing -lrb- some previously unseen -rrb- , interspersed with testimonials from not only two of the men who were there , who describe their innermost thoughts and feelings .", "lofty recap of the apollo moon program .", "it never hurts to be reminded of our potential and our insignicance , and who better to do the reminding than clean-cut american boys who 've covered up the entire world with their thumbs .", "inspiring .", "respectful , enthusiastic and occasionally rather touching as the men , now in their seventies , recall how it felt up there . yet the really important question never gets asked : what was it all for ?", "the crowd-pleaser has enough ambition to pitch a one-size-fits-all philosophy based on the apollo crew 's revelation that looking down from space , our problems seem trivial .", "thoroughly engaging documentary that takes a fascinating look at the moon landings using some breathtaking never before seen footage and some remarkably candid interviews with the surviving astronauts .", "i came out giddy , feeling lighter -- by about five-sixths -- than i did when i went in .", "documentaries these days tend toward doom and gloom , so moon is a welcome relief .", "for all its swelling soundtrack and magnificent imagery , it leaves its most compelling story unexplored .", "if you can appreciate the incredible bravery and intelligence exhibited by these talented men , and if you want to see some glorious shots of our planet from 240,000 miles away , this is your ticket .", "it 's so simple , so obvious -- and a revelation .", "a researcher for this production spent years screening nasa footage that was still , in many cases , in its original film cans and had never been seen . the film was cleaned up and restored , the color refreshed , and the result is beautiful and moving .", "it has the air of an officially sanctioned tribute rather than a probing study , but it 's stirring all the same .", "now , finally , we know what it was like to walk on the moon : unbelievably cool . amazing . fantastic . scary .", "it has taken a british director , david sington , to do what nobody has done before : sit down with surviving apollo astronauts and get them to talk us through what was , in retrospect , the happiest public event of an unhappy century .", "poignant but never sappy , moon is also very timely , documenting universal achievements at a time when america is n't exactly seen as a team player .", "david sington 's MOV moved me to the extremes of nostalgia , regret and outright admiration as no other movie has moved me this year , even though -- or perhaps because -- it is a mere documentary .", "a stirring documentary about the experiences of the ten astronauts from every single apollo mission that flew to the moon .", "with humor , humanity , and staggering images , MOV brings home the sheer guts it must have taken to ride a rocket to a barren rock in the sky .", "MOV recalls the wondrous moment when america had the entire world looking up , up , and not away .", "those old enough to remember optimism and expectancy , and to retain the child 's wonder at the authentic universe , will find inspiration here .", "this magnificent documentary about the apollo missions to the moon contains oodles of original , beautifully remastered nasa footage that has never been seen before .", "a film full of wonders .", "such an elegant enterprise you might say it has gossamer wings .", "a gorgeous , powerful and moving film ... not only the best documentary of the year , but possibly one of the best films period .", "MOV reminds us of a seemingly distant time when the united states was not so alienated from the rest of the world .", "an enthralling documentary .", "rather than an in-depth political look at what the space program meant then and now , sington instead concentrates on getting us as close as we 'll ever get to taking the trip ourselves .", "it 's a well-timed tribute to american initiative and courage ...", "there 's vibrant visual poetry here .", "the film is a history lesson , certainly , but history as seen through the eyes of the men who made it .", "the contrast between the near-surreal space footage and the down-to-earth men who were actually in those spacesuits is awe-inspiring .", "it certainly is fascinating .", "a fascinating , funny and moving documentary -- possibly the best screen exploration ever of the apollo program .", "fills you with pride for your country and your species ...", "this is an enthralling documentary even if you have seen the story told before .", "moon is a deeply respectful motion picture , clearly endeavoring to shift the moon landings back to cultural regality , away from all the naysayers and cruel conspiracy theorists .", "MOV touches on the tip of a great and still virtually unexplored iceberg , and one that not only can melt our hearts but our currently frozen imaginations .", "this sundance film festival winner will give you a lump in your throat and a sense of pride reliving a great moment the whole world once shared that now seems virtually forgotten . this movie guarantees it wo n't be .", "ten astronauts try to tell it like it was , but weighted down by the heaviness of the politics that created the lunar exploration program , the best stories will have to wait for later", "an awe-inspiring film suffused with reverence and wonder ... with the power to coax tears and goosebumps from even the most jaded viewer .", "MOV is a morale booster . the power of its archival images has n't diminished with familiarity .", "that human touch is what distinguishes MOV from run-of-the-mill documentaries and is a timely reminder , in these dark days , that mankind is capable of much that is good .", "MOV stirringly relives the moment and points the way toward a future when the feeling could again be achieved .", "thanks to who they are and what they 're talking about , the ten talking heads of MOV are more dramatic than the heroes of most dramas .", "might also be called in the shadow of neil armstrong because the absence of his towering presence in the film is a big , gaping hole in the narrative", "a rousing achievement that makes us wish we could once again reach for -- and touch -- the stars .", "the documentary would play well in a double feature with something on the four food groups .", "a stunning artifact , a reminder of a time when americans of all stripes could look up to the sky and feel uncynically patriotic .", "... an entertaining and informative film that reveals so much about an event you think you already know about .", "successfully recaptures the feeling of what made the apollo missions so special .", "the movie fills us with wonder , and pride , and a tugging sense of loss .", "... a moving reminder of an impressive achievement ...", "a fascinating , surprisingly funny and extremely moving new documentary about the apollo space program that really does have the right stuff .", "it 's a satisfying and heartening reminder of what a glorious thing a small group of men once contrived to do .", "the astronaut interviews are fun and occasionally moving ...", "though shadow could use a bit more confessionals and a bit less history , it still succeeds as a reminder of america 's can-do spirit at its best .", "a movie about the space race , MOV recalls a different kind of sixties high , the out-of-planetary experience of landing on the moon .", "if an inconvenient truth was the hard lesson about what we 've fouled up on earth , MOV is the gentle reminder of what we 're capable of achieving and what truly matters .", "in our own time of war and discord , this movie offers the rousing gallantry of peaceful risk and sacrifice -- and hope .", "the story -lrb- even more so if you were n't around in july of 1969 -rrb- is gripping , eloquent , and powerful stuff , the right stuff right down to its pioneering heart , taking manifest destiny to the stars themselves .", "i sat riveted watching david sington 's `` MOV , '' a documentary where 10 astronauts recall a time and era that made america , and the world , proud .", "by 2020 , when nasa 's orion lunar spacecraft is scheduled to launch , it 's unlikely that any apollo veterans will still be alive . sington has done us a service in helping preserve their memories .", "the real selling point is an astonishing wealth of footage from the nasa warehouses .", "an active and engaging look at the human side of the apollo program .", "seeing ` MOV ' brought back all of the excitement i remember experiencing in 1969 when neil armstrong and buzz aldrin took those first steps on the moon . what a fabulous achievement that was -- for them and for all of us !", "-lsb- b -rsb- ittersweet ... chock full of funny , warm , human memories of the moonshot astronauts ...", "to say these guys still have the right stuff is an overwhelming understatement .", "MOV tells a riveting story , even if we know how it ends .", "when it comes to the apollo program , nobody relates the saga of men going to the moon quite like the corps of 24 who actually made the trip .", "for those of us old enough , it is another magical reminder of how these missions gave us some hope in very challenging times . for those of us too young , this will give you an idea of what it meant to watch those baby steps that led to one giant leap .", "if you 've seen such nasa boosters as for all mankind , apollo 13 and from the earth to the moon , do you really need to catch the latest one , MOV on the big screen ? in a word : yes", "a moving and masterful documentary by british filmmaker david sington .", "at a time when our space program is mostly distinguished by its tragedies , we may need this more than we know . for 90 minutes , at least , the gee-whiz pioneer spirit proves alive and well .", "a striking and moving narration-free documentary about the apollo program .", "MOV is , quite simply , a revelation .", "the excitement , majesty and extraordinary human accomplishment of the american lunar program of the '60s and early '70s is rousingly captured in MOV .", "it 's hard not to see the magic in the science .", "absolutely awe-inspiring , it manages to be almost as naturally funny as it is uplifting . it offers viewers a nearly perfect ` you are there ' experience .", "MOV finds new resonance in the moment when america redefined progress -- but also when it heeded the siren song of a world so desolate it reminded you what a paradise ours truly is .", "it 's thoroughly crowd-pleasing , although it 's weakened by a relentlessly earnest tone .", "this exquisite documentary about the apollo program takes the magic of moon flight and miraculously makes it downright down-to-earth .", "oh , what stories these heroes have to tell .", "it feels good to remember those days , even now . especially now .", "imagine a time when we actually could set ourselves a national goal -- and meet it within a decade . imagine an era when the whole free world cheered us on to do it , and then celebrated with us when we did .", "it 's a stirring reminder of a time when anything seemed possible .", "want to know what the ` right stuff ' really is ? take a look .", "one of the best documentaries of the year .", "david sington 's stunning documentary sweeps away the layers of cynicism and familiarity , giving nine men who were there the opportunity to tell their riveting stories .", "one small documentary for a filmmaker and one giant leap in inspiration for audiences .", "a beautiful , exhilarating , and sometimes deeply moving documentary about those long-ago apollo missions of the late 1960s and early 1970s .", "these are old stories told with minimal artistry , and the film lacks the vision that might separate it from a crowded field ." ], "summary": "director david sington poetically interwove 20th century 's cosmonautic history with its effect on the public 's view of their country , their heroes and their future .", "id": "528348208" }, { "movie": "kites", "reviews": [ "MOV is an aromatic , cinematic indian mutton stew -- if that sounds different from usual movie fare , it is . it 's a bollywood mixture of romance , violence , action , music , and differing cultures and languages . MOV flutters and plummets .", "to anyone versed in bollywood conventions , it 's a natural outgrowth of the genre , and a comically overwrought but still generally fun time .", "a straight-to-video tale that somehow mysteriously managed to find its way to the silver screen .", "not even the incoherent mishmash of plot ... can entirely dim the appeal of this match-up between a blue-eyed punjabi and a blue-eyed mexican of almost equal comeliness .", "often terrible , yet completely engrossing film from indian director anurag basu .", "a lush , lavish bollywood-meets-hollywood fantasy , available for viewing in both a shorter and longer version , courtesy of brett ratner .", "the pulp is served thick , with so much sincerely purple passion it 's disarming .", "it 's a film that proves the concept `` overwrought '' is the same in every language .", "by the third act , you find the characters and story growing on you and the romance , despite the histrionics , moving .", "the result is a lovers-on-the-lam blast of pure pulp escapism , so devoted to diversion that you probably won\u00e2 -lrb- tm -rrb- t even notice the corn .", "MOV morphs into an action picture , complete with unfathomable chase scenes and a thelma & louise ending that is laugh-out-loud hilarious .", "it tells a simple story -- an almost archetypal story -- but it does so with a lot of passion and technical sophistication .", "an intense , exciting and highly entertaining film .", "in its telling , the love story draws from westerns , musicals , film noir , chase thrillers with stunts so preposterous they verge on parody -- and it gets away with everything because of basu 's visual bravura and unstinting passion and energy .", "MOV is , essentially , a love story . with exploding cars .", "director basu also has a tendency to backlight scenes , giving them epic , otherworldly glows that become all the more distracting with their increasing predictability .", "a weird fusion of romantic excess , overwrought violence and crudely-staged action , all played to the rafters , filmed in garish colors and accompanied by a bombastic background score .", "there are many words that could be used to describe `` MOV '' in a review -- indeed , even the trusty oxford english dictionary almost seems inadequate for such a task -- but `` boring '' is most definitely not one of them .", "MOV pulls no punches in its histrionic story of love and revenge . it also spares no expense in the telling with the cast of primarily hindi actors gnashing their way through a beautifully stylish production and several large-scale action set pieces .", "basu strictly observes the b-movie convention of giving the audience an embrace , explosion , or chase sequence at regular intervals . if you do n't like the genre , wait three minutes .", "bollywood 's widest u.s. release to date , hitting 215 stateside screens , is ironically atypical : a romantic melodrama in english , spanish and hindi , with nary a dance number .", "not even the incoherent mish-mash of plot -lrb- mostly faux sergio leone by way of tarantino and rodriguez , with periodic car-flipping chase sequences -rrb- can entirely dim the appeal of this match-up ." ], "summary": "thoroughly overwrought in true bollywood fashion , MOV is deeply flawed -- and too effervescently charming to resist .", "id": "770873765" }, { "movie": "gremlins", "reviews": [ "i do n't find the movie the least bit scary or horrific anymore , but i do think it 's entertaining .", "MOV hosts the perfect blend of capraesque christmas spirit , humorously tainted by stinging horror and hilarious offbeat comedy .", "it certainly displays a nasty streak , although that 's not one of its problems .", "a comic horror movie classic .", "an enchanting yet savagely funny movie , MOV belongs alongside ghostbusters as an enduring mainstream masterpiece from the summer of 1984 . just do n't watch it after midnight .", "the 1984 creature feature in which a capra-esque idyll is besieged by ravening beasties .", "director joe dante tells a simple story with anarchic spirit , rabid humour and painstaking puppetry to delightfully messy effect .", "a subversive parable on the dangers of irresponsible pet care that doubles as an antidote to small-town americana and yuletide sentimentality .", "a wholesome christmas family flick that veers over to the dark side .", "there 's a mischievous playfulness about MOV , and that 's its most endearing quality , but i found it grating on me early on and soon turning to mean-spiritedness .", "dante thrives in the spaces between comfort and terror : that mischievous place where you 're never quite sure if the monsters are kidding or not .", "a wildly original roller-coaster ride of hilarious mischief .", "there is satire here : a sense of silly but thoughtful consideration on the christmas traditions and how easily all the relatable facades crumble as a consequence of simple illusions being so easily shattered .", "an entertaining and original horror film with top notch effects , a great villain , and a brilliant score ...", "a horror-comedy about cute little christmas toy/pets who turn into murderous monsters wreaking havoc on a norman rockwellian town .", "this postmodern , endlessly referential , utterly ruthless film is an ingenious , delightfully scary fairytale horror flick ...", "here 's the season 's most delicious and unexpected surprise . despite the horror-flick title , MOV is a movie of wicked wit and startling invention , and it has a heart that 's at least a match for the special effects .", "think of a christmas carol visited by the birds . think of the muppet movie run amok . imagine a berserk film editor splicing it 's a wonderful life to invasion of the body snatchers , with quoting from snow white and a nod to the texas chainsaw massacre .", "phoebe cates 's admirably straight-faced christmas speech should be compulsory viewing during the festive season .", "brilliantly potent social critique of reagan-era fear-mongering and consumerism .", "gleefully mischievous and full of dark , magical energy .", "dante gleefully sinks his teeth into the kind of fluffy , sugary , sickly small town fantasy beloved of his pal and sometime producer spielberg .", "dante is perhaps the first filmmaker since frank tashlin to base his style on the formal free-for-all of animated cartoons ; he is also utterly heartless .", "what 's confusing yet ultimately illuminating is the way his MOV function as a free-floating metaphor , suggesting at separate junctures everything from teenagers to blacks to various freudian suppressions .", "taking a second look back at joe dante 's career , i realize he was actually one of the most interesting american directors working .", "yes , dante gleefully trashes cliches and sentimental capra-esque notions , but one should not forget this movie was given a `` pg '' rating and cynically aimed to draw an audience of small children who would no doubt be terrorized by this myth-shattering film .", "it appealed enormously to its target audience because it 's just the kind of violence kids would like to get away with if they had no consciences nor fear of adults at all .", "see website for more details .", "an unexpectedly successful skit on spielberg/disney movie culture -- that itself became something of a franchise .", "the humans are little more than dress-extras for the mechanics .", "-lsb- contains -rsb- moments of delicious black humour and satire .", "this film was always a favorite of mine as a kid and i 'm happy to report that it still comes through today as an adult . a top-notch movie which effectively balances various elements .", "crazy joe dante at his absolute best .", "`` it is probably a surefire hit with popcorn and a six-pack of beer on saturday night . ''", "gizmo rules !", "the pitch black comedy works , and it makes you wonder how a generation of parents took their kids to see this -- as children 's entertainment -- without question . ah , salad days .", "devilishly dark humour and mischief romp .", "this film is still good piece of cinema .", "a tribute the 1950s matinee genre , MOV never eases up on the action or its sense of suspense .", "good , goofy fun .", "fun horror comedy .", "great fun .", "joe dante 's most successful film , like william castle crossed with looney tunes .", "lot 's of fun from start to stop , though cate 's creepy santa story is a downer .", "at the level of serious film criticism , it 's a meditation on the myths in our movies : christmas , families , monsters , retail stores , movies , boogeymen . at the level of pop moviegoing , it 's a sophisticated , witty b movie .", "there was a kid who went to my high school who looked exactly like gizmo . thus , we called him ` gizmo . '", "MOV is far more interested in showing off its knowledge of movie lore and making random jokes than in providing consistent entertainment .", "a movie that lives inside our memories of movies , and tramples all over them with a crazed , subversive joy .", "pretty neat fantasy comedy with just enough edge ." ], "summary": "whether you choose to see it as a statement on consumer culture or simply a special effects-heavy popcorn flick , MOV is a minor classic .", "id": "12357" }, { "movie": "porn_star_the_legend_of_ron_jeremy", "reviews": [ "for those of us who have n't previously been witness to adult film star ron jeremy 's , ahem , body of work , scott j. gill 's porn star : the legend of ron jeremy is a strangely fascinating experience .", "a lively , ultimately sad portrait that asks a very good question -- how can someone who looks as bad as jeremy be a porn star ?", "porn star is destined someday to double-bill with sex : the annabel chong story .", "if ron jeremy , the subject of scott j. gill 's porn star : the legend of ron jeremy , did not exist , somebody on saturday night live would probably have invented him .", "manages to be quite entertaining , offering a look into the porn business that most films only manage with a certain amount of awe or disgust .", "ends up telling even more than anyone would possibly want to know .", "there are conflicting thoughts you can take away from this . you can be turned on or appalled . you can find jeremy lucky or pathetic . you can laugh with him or at him .", "there are many profound things to regret on this freighted earth , and who am i to suggest that jeremy 's failed quest is n't one of them -- or that having to watch this movie is n't another .", "ron jeremy is not without fascination , and he makes good company -- up to a point . but like someone who stays until the end of a party , he wo n't go away .", "could have used more hog and less hedge , if you catch my drift .", "flips through the chronology of jeremy 's paradoxical persona , stopping for reflection at the major milestones in his life .", "-lsb- y -rsb- ou come away with the impression that it actually does make his father proud .", "if you want a cautionary tale about the evils of porn , this ai n't it .", "yes , it 's about what you 're expecting , but it is also wildly funny , one of the most sheerly entertaining documentaries since crumb .", "definitive documentary about the porn industry", "porn star runs out of insight and surprises long before the closing credits roll .", "this film is surprisingly interesting and funny , and more than a little poignant .", "this all comes through demented editing and a great funky score , which makes watching this documentary a consistently enjoyable and often hilarious experience .", "it 's a rough -lrb- but fascinating -rrb- life , and it could n't have happened to a nicer guy .", "few of the recent spate of porn docs offer up the truthful duality of scott gill 's porn star , which examines the daydreams and hard nights of the world 's most improbable sex symbol .", "more than i needed to know , yet i learned nothing .", "comical and at times poignant .", "what that says about america comes down to whether you view jeremy as a fleshpot hero or simply as the ultimate lucky putz .", "entertaining , lightly mocking documentary .", "a hilarious film in places , paced perfectly for laughs , but it 's also a poignant portrait of a guy who just wants to be a more conventional kind of movie star .", "so intent is gill on presenting jeremy as a virtually flawless human being that he may be doing him a disservice .", "too full of worship and the culture of celebrity to ever pose the questions that should be asked .", "-lsb- jeremy 's -rsb- articulate , funny and -- in a weird way -- almost endearing , like a libidinous sancho panza .", "it 's refreshing to see a porn documentary that 's not a total bummer , cautionary tale .", "though generally sympathetic , the film manages -lrb- without stooping to clich\u00e9d moralizing -rrb- to suggest that being ron jeremy is n't the non-stop paradise his fans imagine .", "jeremy is merely treated as a curio , with much of the commentary by him and others taken at face value .", "a lumpy and disorganized film that remains unsatisfying .", "the critiquing by best friends/porn-hangers-on is often funny as hell .", "might not meet the needs of the fans who 've made jeremy a big shot in his field , but for the first time it might help him find a more mainstream audience .", "though sharp and funny , porn star is -lrb- ahem -rrb- not very penetrating .", "as porn star makes clear , for all the sex and parties , very little in ron jeremy 's life is either sexy or fun .", "a sympathetic look at a regular guy who reached the peak of his profession .", "a documentary portrait that is as sad as it is funny .", "hey , big surprise : ron jeremy craves attention . that 's the revelation in porn star : the legend of ron jeremy .", "what hath boogie nights wrought ?", "it 's a bizarre , informative , and , above all , comical take on one of the most recognizable and enduring performers in show business .", "a fascinating if finally familiar portrait ." ], "summary": "porn star is both an entertaining and poignant documentary on the life of ron jeremy .", "id": "17439" }, { "movie": "country_bears", "reviews": [ "it 's hard to understand why anyone in his right mind would even think to make the attraction a movie . and it 's harder still to believe that anyone in his right mind would want to see the it .", "although i did n't hate this one , it 's not very good either . it can be safely recommended as a video/dvd babysitter .", "the disney picture is much more like an extended music video , with real people and people dressed in bear suits singing hurtin ' songs . truly .", "after a while , the only way for a reasonably intelligent person to get through the MOV is to ponder how a whole segment of pop-music history has been allowed to get wet , fuzzy and sticky .", "harmless fun .", "a mixture of old-time kitsch and bewildering mtv-influenced digressions .", "the disarming cornball atmosphere has a way of infecting the entire crowd as the film rolls on .", "the formidable technical skills in the MOV must not be allowed to distract from the film 's terminal inanity .", "it 's just that it 's so generally mediocre , bland and predictable that i found myself moaning every time i looked at my watch , which was often .", "so awkward , so leaden , so virtually laugh-free that it 's guaranteed to bring down the happy meals it 's being marketed with .", "if you 're looking to take your children to something harmless , that does n't embarrass anyone , this light comedy ... is your next outing .", "the MOV wastes an exceptionally good idea . but the movie that does n't really deliver for country music fans or for family audiences", "unlike kermit & co. , the MOV are completely devoid of charm .", "the MOV has no scenes that will upset or frighten young viewers . unfortunately , there is almost nothing in this flat effort that will amuse or entertain them , either .", "the film delivers what 's expected of it , but unfortunately that 's not much .", "the tots at a recent preview screening made little response to the bears , but audibly appreciated a human character who made noises come out of his armpit .", "goes wrong fast , and it goes wrong hard .", "a dumb story about a bear adopted by humans .", "click to read review", "... the movie just might be worth a rental if only for the sight of watching christopher walken belt out a musical number using only his hand and his armpit .", "it 's like an all-star salute to disney 's cheesy commercialism .", "kids will probably enjoy the sight of huge , bumbling teddy bears ... parents will exit wondering why this piece of unnecessary cross-promotion was n't released straight to video .", "' ... both hokey and super-cool , and definitely not in a hurry , so sit back , relax and have a few laughs while the little ones get a fuzzy treat . '", "bearable . barely .", "functions more as a product than a movie .", "by turns numbingly dull-witted and disquietingly creepy .", "too damn weird to pass up , and for the blacklight crowd , way cheaper -lrb- and better -rrb- than pink floyd tickets .", "like a bedtime story on acid , or a chuck e. cheese restaurant that 's been commandeered by teen ravers ...", "the result is nearly un-bear-able .", "bears is bad . not ` terrible filmmaking ' bad , but more like , ` i once had a nightmare like this , and it 's now coming true ' bad .", "many went to see the attraction for the sole reason that it was hot outside and there was air conditioning inside , and i do n't think that a.c. will help this movie one bit .", "the film has a childlike quality about it . but the feelings evoked in the film are lukewarm and quick to pass .", "to call this movie ill-conceived and poorly structured is to vastly understate its shortcomings .", "the movie left me feeling that i never wanted to see another movie in my life . yes , it 's that bad . it 's worse than that bad .", "this ingrown mutant is easily the most bizarre children 's film made in this country since 1982 's lab-rat apocalypse the secret of nimh .", "it 's fitting that a movie as artificial and soulless as the MOV owes its genesis to an animatronic display at disneyland .", "it 's mildly amusing , but i certainly ca n't recommend it .", "pic as a whole is a gently and genuinely amusing treat that should bring smiles to target auds .", "... a plotline that 's as lumpy as two-day old porridge ... the filmmakers ' paws , sad to say , were all over this `` un-bear-able '' project !", "how on earth did disney manage to convince these talented people to get involved in this monumental suck-fest ?", "good music , creative twists and a moving performance by freaky christopher walken saved this potentially stinky kiddie film", "stuart little , on a neighboring screen , realizes his situation for what it is . are mice smarter than bears ?", "despite yet another endearingly eccentric turn by christopher walken , this is as bad as anyone could possibly imagine .", "someone get the tranquilizer gun - the MOV needs an early hibernation .", "when it gets right down to it , the story ca n't keep pace with the music .", "the movie is not as terrible as the synergistic impulse that created it .", "an outdated , chuck e. cheese-quality disneyland attraction ... turn it into a trite , cliche-packed embarrassment of a feature film .", "disney 's first attempt to make a disney world attraction into a film -lrb- the haunted mansion and pirates of the caribbean are soon to follow -rrb- is n't great , but it 's surprisingly unwretched .", "an `` o bruin , where art thou ? '' - style cross-country adventure ... it has sporadic bursts of liveliness , some so-so slapstick and a few ear-pleasing songs on its soundtrack .", "this film is fun for kids and tolerable for adults .", "is it really an advantage to invest such subtlety and warmth in an animatronic bear when the humans are acting like puppets ?", "less behind-the-music than after school special , the MOV is thoroughly embarrassing .", "it 's an ok family diversion , but afterwards you 'd be forgiven for wondering what 's next from disney : pirates of the caribbean ?", "stuart little 2 and lilo & stitch were respectable ... in their own right , but the MOV is the most satisfying family film of the summer .", "it 's a diverting enough hour-and-a-half for the family audience .", "entertains not so much because of its music or comic antics , but through the perverse pleasure of watching disney scrape the bottom of its own cracker barrel .", "trying to figure out the rules of the country bear universe -- when are bears bears and when are they like humans , only hairier -- would tax einstein 's brain .", "do n't tell anybody , but i 'm going to buy the soundtrack to the MOV .", "while obviously aimed at kids , the MOV ... should keep parents amused with its low groan-to-guffaw ratio .", "there is n't enough irony or sly humor to keep adults interested , and there is n't enough adventure in the plot to keep children over the age of 4 from squirming in their seats .", "the mark perez script lacks the clever humor and odd twists that can help a family film transcend age .", "i want to make a lame joke that ends with does a bear crap in the woods ? , but all the bear crap is up on the screen .", "lighten up everybody ! the bears are cute , the music is good , and christopher walken is a gas !", "... all about concept and nothing about forethought ; it walks and talks like an endearing fable , bankrupt of the realization that it can be creepy and unsettling on the eyes .", "true to its animatronic roots : ... as stiff , ponderous and charmless as a mechanical apparatus ... ` the MOV ' should never have been brought out of hibernation .", "bears is even worse than i imagined a movie ever could be .", "an unintentionally surreal kid 's picture ... in which actors in bad bear suits enact a sort of inter-species parody of a vh1 behind the music episode .", "the whole talking-animal thing is grisly .", "warm , funny and works as a musical , too .", "basing a feature film on a theme park attraction provides a flimsy foundation , and most of the film feels like padding .", "could the MOV really be as bad as its trailers ? in a word -- yes .", "how good can a movie be when it 's based on an attraction at disney world - the country bear jamboree ? the answer is not very good .", "all of the bears are engaging characters and the cameo singing voices fit well into the film .", "the message becomes the savior for `` the MOV , '' an equal parts silly and sweet tale that wears its great big ol' heart on its grizzly-sized sleeve .", "the plot combines the blues brothers and almost famous -lrb- but with bears , and a g rating -rrb- , with an excruciating dollop of disney sentimentality mixed in for good measure ." ], "summary": "despite all the celebrities on hand , this spin-off from a theme park attraction still feels tired and hokey .", "id": "9578" }, { "movie": "flash_point", "reviews": [ "if you 're a fan of hong kong police flicks , then you know that at any given moment , it seems like 50 percent of the force is deep undercover in the triads .", "i really wanted to see a fun mindless martial arts film . but the story is so familiar that it beoomes boring .", "it 's all about the extensive climax , a gunfight turned mixed martial arts throwdown .", "insensible .", "those with a taste for bone-crushing martial arts executed with real skill and flair are not likely to find anything better on american screens for some time .", "considerably more importance is placed on the chops and the socks than the story , and yet the action sequences are n't terribly memorable .", "catch this one in theatres while you have the chance . the breathless , breakneck action of MOV can only truly be appreciated 40 feet high .", "there 's nothing that i dislike about MOV , but i do wish it could be even more than it is", "donnie yen is famous for combining martial arts traditions into his own unique fighting style and collin chou , who studied with sammo hung , is up to the task of holding his own .", "yen has developed a recent passion for mixed martial arts , and his more traditional punches and flying kicks are supplemented by some close-quarters muay thai kicks and even some jujitsu submission holds . ultimate fighting championship fans will be happy .", "like the mixed martial arts it showcases , MOV espouses the belief that there 's nothing quite as entertaining as uninhibited brutality .", "finally -- with barely a half-hour left to go , donnie yen does his thing .", "MOV comes loaded with cliches and immediately starts blasting them in every direction .", "outside of the fights , the film is by the numbers , but it 's an okay set of numbers to be guided by .", "not even a choice ass-whupping can make up for the plodding familiarity that precedes it .", "MOV plays like the last hurrah of a criminal underclass facing the inevitable shrinking of its bottom line .", "what we have here , from the chop-socky point of view , is n't a feature film ; it 's a youtube video .", "nothing more than a dumb action picture with delusions of johnnie to-dom .", "fans of the genre will likely leave it satisfied , although it 's not as likely that they 'll feel satisfied the whole time they 're watching .", "a plot of nail-biting tension" ], "summary": "MOV features some nice mindless martial-arts action , but too much of the already thin story treads familiar ground .", "id": "770673130" }, { "movie": "rubber", "reviews": [ "amidst all the exploding heads and modernist trickery , dupieux is not just inviting us to roll with his surreal detours , but setting us on a collision course with the absurdities of cinema itself .", "few nice ideas . should 've been a short .", "dupieux 's idea , apparently , is that movie audiences are so stupid they 'll consume anything , and the more tickets he sells for this arch little piece of junk , the more he 'll be proved right . if i were you , i 'd refuse to give him that satisfaction .", "an april fool 's prank so audacious and unrepentant that even its failures become a part of the bigger joke .", "it goes to every length to be the anti-horror film and merely just a form of performance art ...", "part slasher-movie spoof , part self-reflexive theater of the absurd .", "surprisingly watchable for a one-joke time-waster .", "picture monty python writ ing an unusually odd `` twilight zone '' episode directed by surrealist luis bu\u0144uel . or just empty your mind of all sense : this is `` MOV . ''", "nobody 's safe -- least of all moviegoers -- with a killer tire on the loose .", "spielberg announced his arrival with a killer truck . by making us believe in a thinking tire , dupieux has outdone him . appropriately , in this film 's parting shot , the hollywood sign beckons .", "your enjoyment of french filmmaker quentin 's dupieux 's movie depends in large part on your capacity to enjoy the absurd . i enjoyed it quite a bit .", "look at it this way , it 's the first movie ever to dare to pose the question , ` if a killer tire explodes your head and there 's no one there to see it , has it really happened ? '", "if you see only one film this year about a psychokinetic tire that roams the dusty american southwest exploding the heads of those get in his way , it should definitely be quentin dupieux 's MOV .", "holy luis bunuel . not nearly as clever as it thinks it is , `` MOV , '' a movie about movies from french musician/writer/director quentin dupieux , would have worked much better as a short .", "kitschy is a good word to describe MOV , a film that will garner love it or hate it responses from its audience .", "if `` MOV '' was half as smart as it is clever , we might be talking gonzo midnight four-star classic here .", "MOV will undoubtedly be the best film about a round , hollow serial killer released this year .", "unapologetically bizarre ...", "weird does n't quite cover it , but fans of the surreal will find MOV - drumroll , please - a gripping experience .", "silly and slight , but definitely a curio worth catching for arty horror fans .", "more a deadpan art provocation than a real movie , MOV is spun out like a musical theme through a series of variations .", "dupieux 's work has more in common with that of david lynch and luis bu\u0144uel than your average monster-on-the-rampage flick .", "an exercise in horrific absurdity that is neither as scary nor as amusing as it hopes to be .", "sometimes i sensed something a little conceited about MOV . but it 's a road movie with a difference , that 's for sure .", "goofily amusing for 85 minutes , and a fitting b-feature to the e.t. comedy `` paul . ''", "a film brimming with comic brilliance and manic originality .", "this is a french new wave film about the phenomenon of visual entertainment ... you can feel the satisfaction behind the scenes as writer/director/editor quentin dupieux invents a new film language .", "dupieux 's third feature -lrb- and first in english -rrb- is a surrealist comedy with a singular sensibility .", "it 's an inventive , silly film when it hits a demented stride , supplying a fascinating blend of bloodshed and ludicrousness , making for a memorable romp with a most improbable killer .", "` MOV ' will not wear out its welcome among viewers who find amusement in filling in dots prompted by suggestions .", "while it 's admirably perverse for a `` killer-tire movie '' to be this snooty , it 's about half as clever as it thinks it is .", "this film sucks !", "barebones and overly literal . with respect to its initial ambition , it 's also terribly boring , stretched to the brink at 80 minutes .", "though the film is a bit of a tour de force and certainly original , it is never quite funny enough to sustain even its short length .", "it has ` cult ' written all over it - and like most cults you 'll either get it ... or you wo n't .", "describing or discussing MOV , a film about a telekinetic killer automobile tire , is apt to make it sound like an inspired bit of absurdist lunacy .", "a strikingly clever parody of bloody road thrillers of the nineteen-seventies ...", "but the movie is short on surprise-it 's not really wild enough . and well before its 85 minutes have elapsed , it runs out of gas .", "with playful self-reflexivity , dupieux uses his central gimmick to satirize the nature of cinematic conceits .", "`` MOV '' has anthropomorphic , head-scratching fun with its gory b-movie trappings , silly music cues , self-referential comedy and deliberately off-kilter acting .", "operates as actively on a metaphorical level as a visceral one , provides commentary in addition to compelling visuals , and ultimately exceeds the value of its central conceit thanks to execution that seamlessly merges form and content .", "the potshots made at horror film audiences , and/or film audiences in general , are ... slipshod .", "pic offers auds few reasons to want to see it beyond its one-joke premise .", "by embracing irrationality as his operating principle -lrb- or at least by pretending to -rrb- , mr. dupieux lets himself off the narrative hook .", "it 's arch , quirky stuff and , approached in the right spirit , rather entertaining .", "the act of watching MOV is reminiscent of attempting to eat an unpeeled orange in its entirety", "without a doubt , the best killer tire movie you 'll ever see .", "the movie takes that old genre into such consistently thoughtful directions that i was constantly amused .", "the picture thrills in large part because the filmmaker so gleefully indulges in the craziness of the conceit .", "`` MOV '' is a silly thing . but it does n't stop at silly .", "... plays like a drunken mash-up of beckett , troma and hitchcock . dupieux knows how to riff on the behavior and language of cinema but is n't clever or outlandish enough to sustain his film 's 85-minute running time .", "writer/cinematographer/editor / director quentin dupieux has joined together the hilariously stupid story of a tire who becomes a supernatural serial killer with a deconstruction of the movie itself", "MOV turns out to be rather redundant , and the audience-within-the-film angle is milked to death , with its employment serving as a wink-wink meta-theory on the nature of filmmaking as well as a commentary on the voyeuristic nature of audiences .", "if nothing else , fantastic fest 2010 fave MOV will give the executives at firestone nightmares for years to come .", "be afraid ... . be also amused , in a deeply weird , weirdly deep sort of way ... by how quentin dupieux gives us this unlikely tale , through a lens of cinematic quantum mechanics , a we-view-it-therefore-it-exists sort of thing .", "either of the film 's sides - the horror comedy or the post-modernist commentary - probably would n't be enough to sustain the movie on its own . but with both facets taken together , writer/director quentin dupieux can have his cake and deconstruct it too .", "the inventiveness starts to fade after the first hour but there is enough originality and winning humour in that hour to make MOV a great guilty pleasure movie .", "it 's grand , mindless fun that makes a thoughtful point .", "people talk about the line between laughing with or at a movie . you do n't laugh with or at MOV . it laughs at you .", "the joke is spread far too thinly , but the deadpan style and witty movie references are very funny .", "gleefully absurd horror-comedy that has a lot of fun with its comments on genre filmmaking and builds to an enjoyably bonkers climax ...", "tyresome .", "the most certifiably insane , gut-bustingly funny horror comedy since shaun of the dead . it 's best experienced late at night with a rowdy audience .", "whether you choose to perceive it as a goof , a satire , or a little of both , MOV is undeniably audacious .", "personally , i 'm all for any movie with the nerve to demand that you take it seriously and unseriously at the same time while it anthropomorphizes a slab of MOV and creates a cuddly empathy for its urge to kill .", "an essay on storytelling and spectatorship within when inanimate objects attack schlock -- one infused with the haunting aura and disillusionment of a post-easy rider road movie -- MOV is some kind of miracle .", "it should n't have been more than a short . . an ode to self-involved silliness and audience -lrb- and critical -rrb- gullibility .", "the amplified sound effects and the remarkable mobility displayed by bob without resorting to computer-enhanced special effects are the film 's greatest strengths . if you have 82 minutes to kill , you may derive a. . .", "this movie is totally fantastic .", "pleasure is derived strictly from bearing witness to such devilish and well-executed nonsense .", "a hipster movie , affectedly exhausted and cocksure with no justification for it . and like anything hipster , you sort of want to kick it in the teeth .", "the 82-minute film feels a bit stretched , but not as much as you 'd expect with a premise this odd .", "audicious and wonderfully offbeat ... it 's a fun one to talk about -- if only for the opportunity to shake your head in amused disbelief at what you just saw .", "the result is something akin to luis bunuel or samuel beckett making a 70s exploitation film .", "the killer tire concept is great and the bizarre humor works very well , making this a wholly enjoyable film .", "the greatest meta movie about a killer tire ever made .", "MOV wo n't be everyone 's cup of tea , but as curios go , it 's among the more watchable movies about killer tyres you 're likely to see this year .", "this is a movie about how watching movies is stupid ." ], "summary": "a clever premise gets plenty of comic blood and violence , but its hampered by some questionable storytelling techniques from director quentin dupieux .", "id": "771040725" }, { "movie": "eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind", "reviews": [ "it 's a scruffy , blurry puzzle to put together , and well worth the effort -- just be sure to clear a tabletop for it in your mind .", "MOV is appropriately memorable .", "dazzles as its predecessors did , but its core of melancholy and heartbreak makes it a harder experience to shake off .", "brilliant , an endlessly clever , funny and strangely moving story that will leave viewers with a warm heart and smoke curling out of their ears .", "it cheerfully dives down the rabbit hole while other films are searching for the exit , reminding us that happiness -- true happiness -- has no easy answers .", "for all its weirdness , eternal sunshine is easily the most accessible , affectionate and satisfying of kaufman 's clever films .", "at once heartfelt and hilarious , another kaufman-esque mix of black comedy , shaggy-dog romance , retro sci-fi and metaphysics .", "it 's giddy and groundbreaking , a feast for the head and the heart .", "the real breakthrough comes from kaufman , whose absurdist sensibility has finally coalesced into narrative maturity .", "the hiccups and eccentricities that define a kaufman script -- the anguished neuroses , the narrative kinks -- are firmly in the service of a touching love story , not the other way around .", "michel gondry 's angular and intelligent romantic comedy is n't entirely consistent . even as you laugh , it 's a movie you admire more than love .", "most hollywood films tell us we have everything we need within ourselves . -lsb- this movie -rsb- indicates that we need each other , even ... when togetherness disrupts happiness .", "like in the best sci-fi , it 's primarily a metaphor for a deeper dilemma : the question of whether or not we 'd really be better off eliminating heartbreak from our lives .", "an unusual one but a great one , it will have you asking questions about the true nature of love for some time afterwards .", "... aligned with the nietzschean idea that we are doomed to be ourselves , that the `` eternal recurrence of the same '' has a gravitational pull on our hearts .", "hollywood 's most adventurous architect of mental space takes us on another head trip .", "without a connection to the central relationship , all of kaufman 's musings and gondry 's visual frills would be for naught , but ... it all fits into place .", "maybe this is n't for everyone , but it 's so well written , directed , and acted that i found it beguiling , thought provoking entertainment .", "dense , complex and moving .", "eternal sunshine is undeniably ambitious filmmaking and a feather in this year 's cap of indie movies", "a clever and offbeat romance .", "it 's best not to try to make too much sense of it but rather to let it work its quirky magic on a purely entertaining level .", "two mad geniuses and a lot of other talented people transform the crazy ideas embedded in MOV into a shimmering work of sheer brilliance .", "a thoughtful , audacious meditation on love and relationships that finds a group of wildly disparate talents clicking together in perfect unison .", "what 's lacking is what the movie is ostensibly about : the heart that so often leads us to fall in love with the wrong people at the wrong time .", "carrey and winslet have a distinct chemistry , their coming-together scenes unfold with a tender credibility and their problems evolve with a poignant inevitability .", "begins as another one of kaufman 's trademark head trips and takes a leap into the sublime .", "it 's both a brilliant piece of visionary filmmaking and a deeply romantic love story , and while charlie kaufman 's script will undoubtedly become required film-school reading , it 's the performances that really make it play .", "a poignant story set in a clever plot amidst exceptional performances .", "in its clever dystopian conceit , the film hides an astute analysis of , to borrow a phrase from mandy moore , how we deal .", "the most emotional movie i 've watched in a while because it reveals the true , priceless value of memories , and makes their loss worthy of panic .", "another home run for charlie kaufman ! carrey and winslet are fantastic ! 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 !", "daffy , gratifyingly inventive .", "... un hilo conductor que juega con el espacio y el tiempo , construyendo y deconstruyendo una historia que s\u00f3lo puede ser entendida al estilo kaufman ...", "movies this brilliantly designed and executed are rarities .", "brilliantly original and ingeniously revolutionary , gondry and kaufman could n't be better paired .", "eternal sunshine provides a fascinating , utterly captivating education in this curious thing called the power of love .", "es una de esas pel\u00edculas donde la risa , el humor , la locura y la emoci\u00f3n te producen , al final , ganas de salir y enamorarte .", "carrey gracefully paints the neuroses of a man who has no security or intimacy beyond the close grip of his gloomy knit hat .", "breaks the mold , harnessing some of the same energy and imagination to create a highly original love story .", "it 's the kind of film that could mean more to people after they 've left the theater and thought about it awhile .", "capturing the joys and pains of romantic obsession as few filmmakers have before , gondry and kaufman have come up with a masterpiece .", "love must flourish in the heart and soul of every romantic and emerge without trepidation or doubt .", "a remembered place can enter someone 's living room with a camera pan", "one of the deepest , most moving dramas in years .", "just your everyday , surreal , sweet , old-fashioned , science-fiction-flavored romance that tugs at your heart as it blows your mind .", "writer charlie kaufman spins another tale of the search for love among the maladjusted , this one a head-spinning combination of groundhog day and memento , featuring jim carrey 's best performance to date .", "it 's an equally sad , sweet and strange head trip you ca n't miss .", "start with an absurdity , a clinic where memories are erased , then try to conceive of the logical consequences . then take same and create a romance . voila !!!", "another brain tickler from the creative mind of screenwriter charlie kaufman .", "it 's an out-of-body experience that you 'll find hard to erase from your memory .", "if this one does n't make my year-end top 10 , that means we 're due for at least ten more movies as brilliantly entertaining as this one . somehow i doubt that 's going to happen .", "kaufman 's previous screenplays have always been intellectually rigorous , but you would n't necessary say they have a lot of passion . this one is different .", "at last kaufman allows his characters to lift their heads out of the fog of narcissism and solipsism and dare to hope , to engage one another .", "it 's a strange trip , to be sure , sort of like what fantastic voyage might have been if some acid-gobbling metaphysicians had been at the helm .", "the fantastical conceit at the heart of esotsm envelopes an effective drama about relationships .", "if this is n't a great film , it 's still a winning cerebro-fantasia that is entertaining and occasionally poignant in its depiction of the callings of the heart .", "brilliantly written , emotionally mature , moving film with terrific performances all round -- this is easily one of the best films of the year .", "a sort of existential love story in reverse ... a white-hot starburst of extravagant emotionalism ...", "fascinating story about love and how our memories define us .", "ao contr\u00e1rio da t\u00e9cnica que apresenta em sua trama , certamente ser\u00e1 lembrado por muito tempo .", "some people may find the early going tough , but this remarkable movie is in possession of a serious mind and a rare , true heart .", "while i admired the clever screenplay , i found something to be lacking in the movie ...", "ultimately a sentimental romance - but never cloyingly so thanks to a mood of melancholy which none of the madcap mindgames ever quite manages to erase .", "vibrant , warm and deliriously inventive .", "joel and clementine are played with such human believability by carrey and winslet that we feel a real stake in their finding each other again , either in memory or in the real world .", "the charm and subtle heartbreak of sunshine is watching how it unlocks secrets and little truths about love .", "charlie kaufman has succinctly combined his innate quirkiness with his intuitive imagination to create one of the more ingenious yet simplistic love stories ever written .", "-lsb- h -rsb- ow does kaufman keep coming up with these things ? how does he keep remembering to forget all the rules ?", "the most daring and bizarre in a string of daring and bizarre films penned by kaufman .", "the cluttered direction by michel gondry -lrb- who made a botch of another kaufman screenplay , human nature -rrb- keeps this story from soaring higher than it does .", "this is the kind of film that warrants repeated viewings just to discover the nuance and subtlety of kaufman 's story .", "exhilarating cinema - entertaining and challenging , bizarre yet truthful . in many ways , it works like a dream .", "intellectually demanding but ultimately satisfying , `` eternal sunshine '' plays to the strengths of its cast and well-bred creative team .", "jim carrey finds a muse who combines the subversiveness of andy kaufman , the imagination of dr. seuss and the fearlessness of the farrelly brothers .", "it 's if salvador dali went to bed with heartburn , woke up in the middle of the night and designed a computer game , then tried to erase it all the next morning .", "festive like happiness , buoyant like romance , fiery like a new love , and shattered like a broken heart .", "vividly and graphically illustrates calderon 's de la barca 's maxim , ` life is a dream . '", "part science fiction , part romance , part nothing you 've ever seen before , MOV is a fresh spin on love and all things rosy and scary .", "... one of those movies that dares to be about something", "-lsb- while -rsb- not as good as the kaufman films directed by spike jonze ... it 's touched by aspects of greatness .", "if films about coping with memory loss and/or reverse-order storytelling now constitute a mini-genre , then pic is arguably the best of the lot .", "michel gondry 's visual ingenuity is superbly suited to charlie kaufman 's cleverly intricate and ambiguous narrative on love it 's a seductively spellbinding mind-trip !", "electronic alteration of memory cells allows writer kaufman full liberty to play with flashbacked time warps within a zany conceptual framework .", "it 's not a movie that you experience with others . your reaction is personal .", "character arcs leap , plunge , spiral , and tie themselves into knots , yet somehow they still emerge as definable arcs , with real emotional punch ... a rare and precious thing .", "it is not as fiendishly cunning as being john malkovich or as savage as adaptation , but the surreal romantic twists are pure kaufman at his neurotic worst", "fascinating , perplexing , occasionally confusing , and often extremely funny . and ultimately , it 's also touching .", "significant performances from carrey and especially winslet highlight charlie kaufman 's latest brain tease , which might have worked a little better with concept set to medium .", "carrey can play heartbreak with the same conviction that he can perform a fart gag in one of his regular comedies .", "... a wonderful little motion picture that perplexes and baffles the audience almost as easy as it charms them .", "-lsb- t -rsb- here 's something warmly , recognizably , ubiquitously human in sunshine , cuz do n't we all fall in love and sometimes love it and hate it at the same time ?", "the twists here are the rare sort that seem both narratively surprising and emotionally engaging , particularly the one that boxes us into this interrogative corner .", "this mind-bender is both funny and touchingly romantic .", "eternal sunshine of the spotless min feels like writer charlie kaufman going back to the same well one too many times .", "gondry still lags behind jonze in rendering cohesive stories and human connection from kaufman 's adventures in self-analysis .", "dizzying , dazzling , smart and , most importantly , honestly struggling with the variables of love , MOV is a mesmerizing mind game that still manages to find perfect pitch while pulling heartstrings .", "the effort can fascinate , even if the result does n't always match .", "the pairing of carrey and winslet may sound like a stretch , but both make it work with terrific performances .", "a unique romantic comedy , unfettered by the normal expectations of the genre , is a rare and wondrous thing .", "despite jumping through the deliberately disorienting hoops of its story , eternal sunshine has an emotional center , and that 's what makes it work .", "a loving , often rigorous look at love gone awry .", "charlie kaufman knows how to write mind-benders . ... in MOV , however , kaufman makes the crucial jump from mind-bender to heart-render .", "hectic , muffled , maddeningly near-brilliant .", "this is quite probably the best new science fiction film i have seen since minority report and well before . it is demanding , but delightfully engaging , and intelligent .", "there is little charm in the coupling and almost no erotic intimacy , just a series of nerve-racking conversational collisions .", "misery wants company .", "michel gondry 's MOV is a comedy that has the bracing fright of an identity-crisis horror film .", "a provocative , intelligent romance that is as challenging as it is saddening", "a mind-bending , heart-tugging ode to the highs and lows of romantic love", "kaufman is one of the most ingenious screenwriters in hollywood ... the clouds gather with michel gondry 's breathlessly hyperactive direction .", "every bit as unapologetically old-fashioned and romantic as is it chronologically and visually twisted .", "being the best film of a year this early on is no gargantuan feat ; eternal sunshine , however , stands a good chance of still holding that accolade by year 's end .", "it 's expressionistic and impressionistic , even if gondry goes so far in that direction that the film gets a little too complex to follow easily .", "MOV continues to come up with such amazing visuals , but its real trick is that it makes us care for joel and clementine .", "this is a real science fiction double feature , with the love story and the adventure tales superimposed . i simply adored it both times .", "a remarkable film that can coax a smile about making the same mistakes in love and then sneak up and quietly break your heart .", "an ambitious , spellbinding and fascinating mind trip of a movie .", "both embraces and transcends the quirkiness of kaufman 's previous efforts , forming a moving , inspired mediation on the funny-sad nature of love .", "-lsb- carrey -rsb- adds an ineffable sweet sadness to this complex tale of love found , lost , and then rediscovered in kaufman 's suitably novel way .", "may be the first movie i 've seen that bends your brain and breaks your heart at the same time .", "a dizzying film that pulses with confusion , fantasy and heart , asking questions about memory and the nature of love that one ca n't help but apply to his own life .", "another unpleasantly glib , shallow demonstration of kaufman 's self-satisfied cleverness , further marred by failed pretensions to profundity about romantic destiny .", "easily the most captivating couple of hours you 're likely to have at the movies all year , `` MOV '' is brilliant cinema - do n't miss it", "by its delightful end , MOV will have you , heart , mind and soul .", "kaufman cooks up a fascinating premise of mending broken hearts , but gondry deserves extra credit for conjuring the right images to match the story 's wickedly clever asides .", "... le premier excellent film de 2004 et une exp\u00e9rience unique au cin\u00e9ma ...", "charlie kaufman and michel gondry 's second collaboration is a mind-melting , dramatic masterpiece .", "an exciting , thought-provoking , and overall weird experience at the movies .", "a one gimmick affair that 's periodically touching and clever but never the heartbreaking work of staggering genius its reviews would lead one to expect .", "joel 's head is like dante 's -lrb- or matt groening 's -rrb- rings of relationship hell", "a wildly imaginative , hugely entertaining tour de force that asks big questions about life and love and fate while never ceasing to fully engage the viewer .", "like footprints in the sand of a montauk beach , no one leaves much of an impression .", "... the story 's brilliance shines through despite some minor problems .", "michael gondry uses new wave techniques to craft a clever , philip k. dick version of love and the human condition . the best stuff charlie kaufman has done thus far .", "not just brilliant , but also as emotional and heartfelt as gondry and kaufman 's previous collaboration , human nature , was shallow and crude .", "an odd sort of love story , a melancholy rumination that 's as much about the head as the heart .", "works mostly as a showcase of visual wizardry .", "a happy collision of cutting-edge writer , stars up for a challenge and a director with a taste for the symbolic .", "an amazingly complex and yet strikingly affecting look at love , life and memory that gives us one of the great movie love stories ever told .", "one of the most realistic movies ever made about the unpredictable impact our experiences have on our sense of self .", "audacious , thought-provoking and ruefully funny .", "a masterpiece ? probably . ingenious ? absolutely ! unforgettable ? i 'll see you at the 10th-year anniversary .", "do you feel clever , punk ? well , do you ? because that 's the only way to get your head around the latest charlie kaufman flick .", "even if the script had been more accessible , it 's doubtful whether its ultra-high concept will connect with general audiences .", "a special meeting of minds between kaufman -lrb- who seems to represent at least 80 per cent of the imagination in hollywood 's screenwriting gene pool -rrb- and gondry . the fact that jim carrey gives the best turn of his career so far does n't hurt either .", "ingenious , eccentric and very moving .", "... a strange , sometimes confusing and often brilliant black comedy .", "works like a visual poem with razor sharp writing and some of the best acting yet from a powerhouse cast .", "a seductive , intelligent , and engrossing love story that has the viewer in love with its quirky concept .", "as techno-wacky and surreal as the movie gets , what gives it a genuine , beating heart is kaufman 's insight about relationships .", "you constantly appreciate kaufman 's intelligence and gondry 's lively filmmaking .", "in addition to matching kaufman 's wild imagination with equally startling visuals , gondry has also managed to get the best , most mature and sharply focused performance ever from jim carrey .", "eternal sunshine never betrays its ambitions and never lets you down , offering a complex message about love and human relations that 's as universal as it is refreshing .", "as a friend joked , ` if you peel away the movie 's postmodern tricks , what you 're left with is about as profound as a hugh grant movie . '", "ingeniously idiosyncratic charlie kaufman wraps his head around themes of lucid-dreaming and lost love in eternal sunshine , and once again hits the freudian jackpot .", "while kaufman has sprung some world-class brainteasers on us before , ` sunshine ' is the first screenplay he 's written that hits the heart .", "delightfully demented and edgy enough to sustain interest .", "by the third act , the glow has worn off , and the film plods towards its inescapable finale with deadly familiarity .", "a bold and venturesome trip down memory lane as only writer charlie kaufman could imagine it .", "manages to present romantic relationships in an incredibly passionate yet astoundingly pessimistic way , and i think that screwed up my equilibrium , or something .", "kaufman 's scripts have always centered on human vulnerability and neediness , but this is his most mature and genuinely affecting tall tale to date .", "deft , witty , and vastly enjoyable .", "wholly romantic , but kaufman focuses less on the grand and sappy , and more on those moments where a heartstring tug is inexplicable to anyone besides those doing the pulling .", "great concept but mediocre movie .", "perhaps the ultimate head trip flick .", "it 's as astounding as its title is unusual .", "aptly reflects joel 's spastically sensible perspective .", "a mind-blowing romantic comedy .", "i fully expected a trippy experience . what i did n't expect was to be so moved by the film ... beautiful and life-affirming .", "... festive identity-crisis romancer ... a durable love story that 's surrealistic in its compelling and cockeyed wonderment . adventuresome cinema ... intelligent and taut", "like other kaufman screenplays , this one is devilishly hard to make both lucid and entertaining , but gondry succeeds on both counts , pulling the audience into an increasingly dark , suspenseful and even touching psychological adventure .", "blisteringly funny , thought-provoking and heartfelt romance .", "carrey is essentially the straight man , yet he 's rarely been funnier . and winslet is perfect as the model of an unstable woman who 's bad news but irresistible .", "the movie 's tone -- which is as naturalistic as the plot is fantastic -- heightens the tantalizing sense that maybe , finally , this is the real carrey we 're seeing .", "the thinking is shallow . the emotions are tepid . but the creativity is dazzling .", "the filmmakers do n't just create a puzzle that begs to be solved , they also compose a metaphysical poem that delights in the evanescence of experience and mourns it , a poem that ponders the solitude of the individual and finds it pitiable and immense .", "this is the best movie i 've seen in a decade . for once it 's no hyperbole to say , ` unforgettable ! '", "utterly original , brilliant and complex .", "gets it more than right by stripping the science down to its laptop basics -- it 's a ` simple ' memory-erasing process -- and by putting greater emphasis on the humanity behind the diodes .", "the perfect movie about love 's inevitable imperfections .", "walking into a theater with charlie kaufman on the screen is like volunteering for that wacky boat trip willy wonka took through the chocolate factory tunnel ...", "kaufman and gondry bring out all the weirdness of the premise , sometimes eliciting disbelieving laughter , sometimes taking us to odd , chilly places .", "... a romantic date movie alternative ...", "a surprisingly bittersweet love story at heart , eternal sunshine values the sum of experience , which in this case means a thorns-and-all openness to romantic possibilities .", "imaginative , loopy romance is for adults only .", "do n't be fooled by the glib , offhand nature of the film 's surface demeanor . kaufman 's endearingly off-the-wall antics are pronounced as ever , but he 's finally learning how to temper his humorous sport with something called humanistic spirit .", "kaufman 's latest is a weird , visually woozy rom-com-in-reverse that charms , amuses and moves .", "most imaginative and impressively executed ...", "the film entertains for the most part and gives us a set of marvellous performances from this outstanding cast , even if it does n't quite reach the near-genius of kaufman 's other writings .", "this is a wonderful , often beautiful , heart-wrenching story .", "michel gondry tries to channel fellini and ends up irrigating faulty plumbing .", "this outing from kaufman 's oddball imagination is wonderfully intriguing , often touching and typically convoluted .", "the latest and loveliest alternative universe created by charlie kaufman , america 's most -- we should probably say only -- intellectually provocative screenwriter .", "it 's a very kaufmanesque narrative experiment , technically ingenious and sophisticated . it also looks like some lost comedy idea by philip k dick ; you could call this film we can forget it for you retail .", "pretty fancy stuff , for a sci-fi romantic comedy .", "the result is a cinematic vagueness that makes the film less aesthetic yet more persuasive . this is how dreams really look : like reality , only less so .", "at its core , MOV could have been just another love story . refracted through kaufman 's wonderfully weird prism , it 's something truly memorable .", "MOV goes by like a fevered dream of love , but one you remember vividly , with profound pleasure .", "one of the most insightfully sad explorations of the human drive for love since annie hall concluded that we need the eggs .", "spreads the brightest cinematic sunbeams of the season .", "although the characters are unremarkable , kaufman and director michel gondry ... have some thought-provoking things to say about the nature of memory .", "i 'm haunted by its ability to formulate the impossible complexity of the will to love to the screen .", "it 's a beautiful , sad , profound film and , although parts of it may remind you of other works of art ... it is like nothing you 've ever seen .", "kaufman , who is by far the most exciting screenwriter working today , has taken his trademark loopy storytelling and transformed it into something more mature and wonderful .", "MOV is a fascinating psychological drama exploring the manifold meanings of memory , love , desire and disappointment .", "what follows will knock you silly , upending every single concept of storytelling that you 're probably used to .", "this movie does n't even try to be for everyone , but it will pierce some of you right in the heart . give it a shot .", "it 's a trippy but tender examination of human emotions , relationships , all-consuming love .", "... this is n't a romance about the flowering of first love , but about learning how to make a mature love stay in bloom .", "a delightful little wormhole that takes us on a journey to another dimension of consciousness .", "feels like something entirely brand-new ; such are the gifts of kaufman and gondry , inventors and magicians .", "MOV wants to be a bittersweet comedy about erotic loss and memory loss . but it does n't have the heart or brain .", "brilliantly constructed and engagingly executed , this has quite a few tricks up its sleeve -- the most impressive being that all concerned trim their talents to the particular needs of the movie .", "with a few adjustments of plot and premise , gondry and kaufman might have made their masterpiece here .", "the disappointment i felt at the end of eternal sunshine was almost crushing , simply because there were sections of it that were as daring in their emotional directness as anything i 've seen in years .", "the movie is so inventive and beautiful that i do n't see how it can be overlooked when next year 's awards are given out .", "-lsb- jim -rsb- carrey and -lsb- kate -rsb- winslet exude just the right chemistry -- a destined connection -- to make the love story between them ring with emotion and vitality .", "once again , charlie kaufman takes us down the rabbit hole in a way that only he can .", "kaufman has here dug into a deeper , more heartfelt core and come up with one of the best films ever made about memory , its importance and malleability .", "neither wholly cynical nor wholly romantic , kaufman 's story is a balance of smarts and sentiment .", "though certainly elliptical and challenging -lrb- and it moves well past the typical romantic notions it gently attacks -rrb- , it 's kaufman 's most universal and accessible film to date .", "next valentine 's day , there 's room on the cross for one more .", "you wo n't soon forget this walk down memory lane . actually , make that a run down memory lane .", "odd but compelling ; one of the year 's 10 best", "jim carrey and kate winslet are perfectly cast in this movie , and winslet 's oscar nomination was well-deserved . the writing , direction and acting are all top-notch .", "the kind of movie that only gets better the more you think about it and i think it cries out for repeat viewings .", "a unique deconstruction of man 's innate desire to avert heartache .", "romance was never this stark or twisted .", "the reality is that hollywood is such an idea poor place kaufman tends to get more credit than he deserves for work which only occasionally rises above the level of mind games and showy sleight of hand .", "it is an enchanting clutter of love and reason that will only appeal to the audience willing to take the time to see the movie and then think about it later .", "works marvel after marvel in expressing the bewildering beauty and existential horror of being trapped inside one 's own addled mind , and in allegorising the self-preserving amnesia of a broken but hopeful heart .", "eternal sunshine is fresh , heartfelt and ultimately heartbreaking in its honest portrayal of a modern relationship ." ], "summary": "propelled by charlie kaufman 's smart , imaginative script and michel gondry 's equally daring directorial touch , eternal sunshine is a twisty yet heartfelt look at relationships and heartache .", "id": "12860" }, { "movie": "hannah_arendt", "reviews": [ "a mildly intriguing drama of the often unavoidable and contentious intersection of intellectual analysis and personal prejudices .", "totalitarianism with sinful intentions versus bureaucratic compliance is what is on the menu - the result is more interesting on an academic and intellectual level than in actual engagement and entertainment terms", "it is as a piece of drama about the human condition that this film needs to be assessed , and on that score - with a few quibbles about structure and flashbacks and occasional lack of clarity - it is successful , in its own rigorous way", "it 's refreshing to find a film inspired by challenging ideas , and von trotta and her team are to be congratulated for bringing arendt 's story to the screen", "i really like this film . i like the milieu that 's created of this intellectual life in new york during the 1950s . i think sukowa is fantastic in the role .", "von trotta 's style is pretty stolid . she aims for documentary thoroughness rather than exhilarating drama . nonetheless , it 's good to see a film that gets its narrative charge from the ferment of intellectual debate . it 's a rare breed .", "sukowa is a supple and brave actress ; getting inside arendt 's arguments is the hardest and if the film only succeeds sometimes , that is still a major achievement . very few films in this era would have dared .", "von trotta does n't do justice to this strong woman and her contribution to thinking about the nature of evil .", "... actors in supporting roles telegraph the controversies surrounding arendt 's personality as if they were attempting to literally touch the viewer 's nose .", "a dramatically solid , if talky , account of the controversial episode in the post-war world that spawned the phrase `` the banality of evil '' , with strong performances from barbara sukowa and janet mcteer .", "a crisply measured character study with plenty of intriguing ideas , elevated by a terrific , finely calibrated performance by sukowa .", "veteran german director margarethe von trotta has perhaps her strongest film to date with MOV , yet another of her works about historically important women . also notable is the superb cast led by barbara sukowa .", "once we get to the eichmann trial and its aftermath , it 's mesmerizing .", "it 's the actual courtroom footage that 's the most effectively deep and ambiguous thing in this well-crafted but static biopic .", "MOV 's problem is the evil of banality : the gnawing away of drama by platitude and pedestrian mise-en-sc\u010dne .", "my only real problem with `` MOV '' is that it 's not a mini-series .", "a trivial take on a profound thinker .", "an involving and important drama which provides excellent insight into the life of political theorist MOV during the time she reported on the adolf eichmann trial , only sadly marred by some bad acting and poor dialogue .", "von trotta includes actual footage of eichmann 's trial , simultaneously trivializing it and diminishing the rest of the movie to the vanishing point .", "though growing considerably tedious in parts , and lagging somewhat in the middle stages , MOV picks up once again for what is an immensely engaging climax .", "it 's both an amazing piece of impersonation and a subtle , canny performance that suggests the sharpness of arendt 's thinking .", "not really an edifying episode in intellectual history , but an interesting story told with appropriate restraint .", "for those who value the life of the mind and the responsibility of the public intellectual , it 's an engrossing -- indeed important -- film .", "von trotta 's direction is assured and the film has an incredibly strong performance at its core , and it asks a number of important questions , even though it does n't dare to answer them .", "like a hidden method , david cronenberg 's drama about sigmund freud and carl jung , MOV takes seriously the life of the mind .", "not for everyone , but the character is very much worth investigating for her own sake .", "mixed bag , fascinating in its treatment of the eichmann case , but stilted in its treatment of arendt and her coterie .", "fifty years later , von trotta 's given us a reminder that what we now accept as proven and basic facts and concepts caused outrage in their time ...", "a fascinating character study of an arrogant , cold-hearted , self-hating jew who had the nerve to blame 6,000,000 of her own people for their extermination in concentration camps .", "an engrossing drama about the controversial comments by the philosopher MOV on the adolf eichmann trial in 1962 in israel .", "riveting biopic about the first target of the israel lobby .", "barbara sukowa 's performance in the title role is the kind that reverberates long after the screen goes black .", "an emotionally compelling and provocative character study of a brave , intelligent woman . barbara sukowa delivers a bravura performance .", "it 's involving , as biopics go , but the shattering debates that still swirl around arendt 's view of the holocaust are relegated to walk-ons .", "a watchable , even suspenseful portrait of a woman who spends most of the film smoking cigarettes , sitting at typewriters or sparring at dinner parties .", "sukowa , who is very appealing in some personal moments in the film , makes arendt strong in a cool , logical , but humanly unrealistic position .", "while it could easily be shorter and move a bit faster , especially at the beginning , it appears to move at a speed that 's true to the heroine 's thought process ... if this portrait is true to arendt , then let it stand .", "-lsb- sukowa -rsb- and von trotta accomplish something unusual in a movie : they make thinking dramatic .", "the film 's point is made in the contrast of staunch stick-to-her-guns individual MOV as against the personality-less bureaucratic nazi official .", "forceful portrayal by sukowa humanizes an intellectual whose persona is remembered as grim as her philosophical observations ... without her key controversial claims .", "this is an interesting film about ideas , and how explosive they can be .", "the period is subtly rendered and the climactic defence of her ideas before a class of students and critics is a stirring and thought-provoking coda .", "the chick flick gets a magnificent makeover , so to speak , for something other than the usual sex and romance . delving into the intellectual life of the defiant philosopher and provocative theorist of the ` banality of evil , as politically potent today .", "hey , who does n't love a good retrospective courtroom drama , or a tasteful picture about a smart writer having a think ?", "from watching MOV , we learn that it is possible to make a taut , compelling film about intellectuals , their opinions and discourse .", "arendt , through the film 's glamorizing lens , becomes a character impossible not to identify or agree with .", "an intelligent film for open-minded thinkers .", "barbara sukowa delivers a beautifully modulated performance , showing the rigor of arendt 's thought and convictions while revealing the contours of a passionate woman with complex relationships .", "thinker and writer adds an intellectual footnote to the holocaust", "the banality of evil is examined in this solid and intelligent account of arendt 's controversial conclusions on the trial of adolf eichmann .", "-lsb- barbara sukowa -rsb- invests arendt with a steely fury , but the film , set during and after the 1961 trial of ex -- nazi official adolf eichmann , has an entertaining cocktail-banter superficiality .", "a film that ultimately says more about banality than evil .", "arendt is so measured and elegant that the filmmaking seems effortless .", "balanced portrayal , makes a persuasive case that arendt was a valuable voice , whose dedicated work in trying to unravel the causes of europe 's moral collapse was worthy of study and consideration .", "in an era of sleepwalking surrender , `` MOV '' is a welcome wake-up call , a ringing reminder that warring forces first assemble on the battlefield of conscience .", "you 'd be better off reading arendt 's work .", "while MOV is commendable work , sukowa makes it a necessary sit , watching the actress slip into the skin of a thrillingly sophisticated woman , flawlessly communicating every single beat of her intellectual firepower .", "-lsb- a -rsb- moving examination of the limits of human understanding when confronted with evil .", "barbara sukowa is powerful as the chain-smoking and independent hannah and inhabits her character with passion .", "the film 's most striking quality , and it 's not insignificant , is director margarethe von trotta 's refusal to fossilize the controversies she dramatizes .", "MOV is hagiography of the most egregious kind . it makes lincoln look like a smear job .", "MOV succeeds at articulating the complex ideas that defined the subject 's life , which makes the movie a lingering intellectual exercise as well as an eye-opening examination of 20th century thought .", "the writer-philosopher MOV is brought to life by a mesmerizing barbara sukowa in margarethe von trotta 's film .", "being accused of rationalizing the third reich and disowned by zionist friends does n't provide a lot of drama , but the relentless focus on figuring out how we are to think about the final solution can be compelling ." ], "summary": "led by a powerful performance from barbara sukowa , MOV does a commendable job of dramatizing the life of a complex public figure .", "id": "771315443" }, { "movie": "dracula_2000", "reviews": [ "a thudding , suspense-free montage of unshocking shock effects and more severed heads than toppled during the french revolution .", "not only is d2k wretchedly written ... and laughably acted , but its pacing is lugubrious .", "any new vampire film needs fresh blood , and this one is clotted with clich\u00e9s , including its matrix-style acrobatics .", "long stretches of nothingness and plot where there should be flesh-ripping violence and gore .", "the film concentrates more on the gore and less on fright and suspense .", "director patrick lussier has a keen eye for color and knows how to compose a great-looking shot ; unfortunately , lussier also co-wrote and edited the film , effectively undermining his talent .", "anyone not high and surrounded by thirty of their closest friends would be well advised to leave this MOV entombed .", "unable to add a single new thought or shot to the tired vampire genre .", "there are precious few good performances in this movie , and it would be really great if the title character were one of them .", "there 's enough holes in the plot to drive a 40-foot hearse through .", "while not a truly terrible vampire movie like the forsaken , MOV 2000 could have been so much more .", "the filmmakers were stuck with a script containing good ideas poorly executed .", "an entertaining excursion into the cheap thrills of second-rate horror , with plenty of bloody mayhem , kitschy crucifixes , and heaving bodices for the nosferatu inside you .", "this bloodsucker is , well , kinda sucky .", "a bloody mess as a movie , one with acting so lame it 's likely to prompt shrieks , not of horror but of derisive laughter .", "butler 's MOV might be the worst ever committed to film .", "its screenplay is so rudderless and random that it might just as well have been written by the vacuous pre-teens that most likely comprise its key demographic .", "this is a jejune hack-drac .", "into this way-overkilled fray leaps yet another vampire flick , carefully timed for maximum suckage during this holiday season .", "vampire movies are on the comeback . but like any genre , the offerings to hit our screens vary in quality .", "neither a comedy nor a horror picture , MOV 2000 plays more like a bad industrial video for vampire exterminators .", "MOV 2000 is nothing more or less than pure popcorn filmmaking , with an emphasis on the ` corn ' , and ... apparently ... proud of it .", "almost drained the life right out of me .", "just what we need : another MOV movie !", "considering that it arrives a week before going stale-dated , one should n't expect much electricity from MOV 2000 . and shocking it is n't .", "the picture 's roughly the equivalent of one of those cruddy , direct-to-video horror flicks broadcast on the scifi network in the wee morning hours .", "without a single scare to its credit nor a particularly inspired storyline , this film fails to justify its existence .", "-lsb- it -rsb- will be consigned to the bin with all the other MOV rejects .", "one half-expects a sexually subversive , blood-soaked gay carnival . instead , simon makes the effete MOV -lrb- butler -rrb- suck on some abuse .", "it does n't always work , but it does manage hold our interest .", "it 's still a fun bit of `` matrix '' lite horror fare ...", "a fast-paced and captivating exercise in gory action-horror , \u0155 la wesley snipes 's 1998 bloodsucker epic , blade .", "you 've got the usual blood and gore , paired with low-cut dresses and heaving bosoms .", "too scary , too gory , too gross .", "mary , a descendant of the prototypical vampire slayer , works at a virgin megastore in new orleans , and the gratuitous use of the city during mardi gras is the least of this movie 's unoriginal sins .", "while the result certainly does n't suck , it does lack any real bite .", "we 're talking 5,940 seconds better spent doing anything else under the sun , including but not limited to pulling out one 's toenails one by one .", "the use of craven 's name in the title is a cheesy marketing ploy and the secret to the fanged suitor 's aversion to all things christian is an even cheesier hoot .", "bargain basement horror .", "lussier seems to find his choice of decor and special effects far more interesting than directing his charges or telling a story .", "not only is the guy playing MOV not terrific , he barely even registers on screen .", "what MOV 2000 lacks in innovative filmmaking , it gains in giggle fun . this is an `` old-school '' vampire movie .", "not the worst romanian count we 've seen , but certainly not the best , MOV 2000 is a middling film through and through , despite the occasional shocks it tries to earnestly achieve .", "MOV may stay undead in the new millennium , but there 's not a sign of life -- oh , that bloodless acting -- in this sorry mess .", "MOV 2000 is an update of the classic story that unfortunately drives several nails into the coffin of the vampire genre .", "this is occasionally entertaining stuff , but deeply silly .", "... thanks to hollywood , MOV really is eternal . with those kind of odds , i suppose eventually we 'll get a vampire flick worth watching . but this ai n't it .", "bad in just about every way .", "the slapdash pic appears to be the work of folks who made things up as they went along .", "there is ... very little that this film does right , and i can identify nothing to justify its existence .", "enough cheap scares for pretty much anyone looking for some enjoyable bloody fun .", "a perfect example of the kind of rigidly conventional vampire movie that wearies contemporary horror buffs .", "wilts when compared in the light with other MOV films .", "to my surprise MOV 2000 , was n't all that bad and i actually found myself largely enjoying it .", "even true believers will have a hard time sinking their fangs into this thoroughly perfunctory affair .", "so hip and happening , it grooves .", "strip away the MOV plot , and this is essentially just a stupid slasher movie .", "the special effects , which owe a debt to the vastly superior nightmare on elm street series , are bargain basement , at best .", "essentially a load of extremely familiar riffs .", "-lsb- MOV is -rsb- never a force of evil of mythic proportions ; he seems small-minded and even whiny .", "clearly comes off as the weakest of any recent vampire flicks .", "lots of classic vampire lore is minced and forced into a shiny new casing in this glossy shocker , but in the end it 's the same old blood pudding .", "the movie is n't even worth the time in line for popcorn , let alone in the theatre ." ], "summary": "this retelling trys to offer a different spin on the origin of MOV . unfortunately , there 's nothing here audiences have n't seen before .", "id": "13199" }, { "movie": "fried_green_tomatoes", "reviews": [ "more dizzying than the jumps between past and present is the speed with which consciousness-raised evelyn swaps caricatures , evolving from frump to fighter .", "the picture is about gender politics and a legacy of communal repression that is itself too embarrassed to port over a nearly-platonic-anyway love story between two women .", "there 's just enough human feeling here to make it transcend the feel -- good chick-flick genre .", "an enjoyable if sentimental chic flick that sanitizes flagg 's novel in two major respects , glossing over the lesbian relationship between mary louise parker and mary stuart masterson and underplaying the blatant racism in the trail of a black man .", "a wonderful cinematic valentine to the life-enhancing and soul-stirring powers of friendship .", "memorable ensemble , dead-on dialogue .", "one of the strongest things in the film is ms. masterson , a magnetic , wildly defiant actress with so much energy she often seems to be bursting at the seams of her role .", "bates and tandy shine in what is essentially an extended flashback with the occasional present day bookends .", "MOV is fairly predictable , and the flashback structure is a distraction , but the strength of the performances overcomes the problems of the structure .", "this film is at once wise , funny and very moving .", "MOV is a thoroughly enjoyable movie-going experience , replete with laughter , tears , triumph , and tragedy .", "please no .", "an immensely likable , wonderfully-performed film .", "MOV is a cut above superficially similar ` women 's pictures ' .", "the fine performances and worthy themes are sold short . there are two films here , neither one of which is as fully developed as it could be .", "the script plods . tandy looks as though she 'd rather be elsewhere . the desire is understandable .", "the characters are engaging , but the story is hackneyed and the filmmaking is dull .", "after all , it 's not every day that one encounters a sensitive tale of sisterhood that also contains an element of cannibalism . for that alone , the movie deserves respect .", "this dish turns out to be palatable , even enjoyable , though a little light for my taste .", "mary stuart masterson , as idgie , keeps us guessing . one of hollywood 's best young actresses , she fairly sets off sparks as the tomboy next door , a distaff huck finn .", "while MOV often veers between being too pat and too vague , too obvious and too unclear , too much of the `` i laughed , i cried '' school of storytelling -- it still has a charm that stems from its vivid and unique characterizations .", "essentially a story about friendship between two pairs of women , then and now , it could be classified as an intelligent woman 's picture , but this truly uplifting and gratifying movie can and should be enjoyed by all .", "MOV is a case of a film acted with such skill and conviction that glaring problems of narrative , pace and structure seem like minor slips .", "MOV is gosh-darned lovable , even if it does get downright sugary at times .", "directed and co-written by first-timer jon avnet , the episodic production manages to capture the fried-tomato flavor of the deep south without becoming too pushy or patronizing about it .", "it 's a nice , pleasant celebration of friendship , but without much meat to chew on .", "stirring , sizzling serving of female empowerment .", "-lsb- a -rsb- clunky , fraudulent , yet apparently crowd-pleasing laugh-and-tear-jerker .", "when a group of actors this gifted and lively tries so good-naturedly to deliver such an obvious message , the audience is left in the position of trying to stop a tidal wave . you may hate yourself for responding , but you 're smothered before you know it .", "tandy is at her sparkling best as the endearing old story-teller . bates is also terrif in a funny and sympathetic turn . director jon avnet , in his feature film debut , gets first-rate work from the featured performers .", "the movie never quite shakes its stiff , studied feel , just as the town of whistle stop never stops seeming the quaint creation of an art director .", "MOV is an engaging if sentimental tale , charmingly handled by producer-turned-director jon avnet and flawlessly acted by its four female stars .", "the movie left me wishing its sterling cast -- including a radiant jessica tandy -- had been better served .", "an enjoyable film for the steel magnolias crowd , though a bit grittier .", "it does n't quite have the courage to face its own implications and so leaves the story that follows in a kind of blur apt to offend no one but equally incapable of moving anyone ." ], "summary": "MOV ' tearjerking drama is undeniably manipulative , but in the hands of a skilled cast that includes jessica tandy and kathy bates , it 's also powerfully effective .", "id": "10104" }, { "movie": "take_the_lead", "reviews": [ "think of it as the fictionalized version of last year 's engaging documentary mad hot ballroom , with teen dancers and sexier moves . it is also more formulaic and clich\u00e9d , thanks to the predictable plot and theme .", "a predictable and yet thoroughly enjoyable drama about the redemptive power of dance for a group of inner-city teenagers .", "although based on a true story , MOV continually strains credibility .", "lean on me meets strictly ballroom . tough two-step replaces tough love .", "feels like a product , with decisions made for audience appeal rather than creativity .", "for the most part , liz friedlander 's direction and frenetic pacing mitigate any real performance opportunities .", "a fun romp of a flick that showcases the power of dance and the human spirit .", "the poster says ` never follow ' , while the movie itslef follows every cliche in the book .", "a feel-good story using music and dance to guide problem kids onto the straight and narrow ... entertaining , although not the showstopper we might hope for", "a bogus , trumped-up ` inspirational ' ending goes on forever and all but ruins everything .", "while their transformation is predictable , it 's quietly enjoyable , and the teen angle opens the door to romance and gritty gang-war subplots .", "a scattering of dance sequences that fuse hip-hop and classical beats provide a few shots of energy , but MOV otherwise plods through the motions .", "it 's still enjoyable , but never as strong as it should be .", "friedlander knows visual filmmaking , and only here does she shine . when time comes to address the secret lives of her dancing delinquents , the film grows two left feet .", "ultimately MOV is content to follow the footsteps of a dozen other movies , and there 's another thing ; for a movie about dancing , there is a lack of dynamic choreography to the final showdown .", "it 's a ballroom/hip-hop mash-up that , although at times discordant and at all times familiar , moves with banderas ' brio and bounce .", "despite the fact that MOV gets the cliche-o-meter ticking like a geiger counter at hanford , the movie is very entertaining . the kids are gorgeous . the dancing 's fun to watch . banderas is compact and cool .", "cute as a boutonniere and bouncy as a swing beat , MOV is an ` inspired by a true story ' spin on mad hot ballroom .", "like the recent glory road , MOV tweaks a true story to sell more tickets . but at what point do movies like this one begin to fuel the racial hatred that they ostensibly deplore ?", "the performances deserve applause . the script is another story .", "it 's a pleasant destination , to be sure , yet familiarity ca n't help but breed a bit of -- well , if not outright contempt , then ever-so-slight disdain .", "MOV is like that -- it may seem hokey , but it uses the tried and true to get a smile out of you every time .", "MOV is one of those inspiring teachers in the ` hood tales . and it 's ` inspired by a true story , ' which translated means ` as hollywood cornball as humanly possible . '", "MOV is equal parts to sir with love and fame and it 's a surprisingly effective mix .", "in a genre that 's been ground into dust , MOV pretty much succumbs to its every pitfall . but the film has some aces that , while not fully emerging from its sleeve , do manage to peek out from the cuffs .", "good-hearted , energetic but preposterous .", "the dance remains the same ... MOV has exactly two things going for it -lrb- each worth one star -rrb- : the always entertaining antonio banderas and a lot of ballroom dancing .", "for the first time , i related more to the instructor than i did to the kids .", "like the footprints you follow during dance lessons , this movie ... lays its predictable moves right out there .", "because it 's a semi-fictionalized uplifting dance movie , the movie ends in a tidy but irresistible finale , with lots of dancing of course - by golly i defy you not to want to shake your booty after seeing it .", "to sir with love with dance lessons ... this rainbow coalition of sassy students appears to be the only troublesome pupils in the inner city high school", "a surprisingly good watch , predictability notwithstanding .", "in short , if you 're looking for banderas to get eaten by sewer alligators , better luck next time .", "although the film is entirely watchable , the director carelessly exploits the potential for race drama .", "it 's just ridiculous , it 's just ridiculous . one clich\u00e9 right after another . not for one second did i believe any of this .", "it certainly helps that banderas plays dulaine . in fact , the film would fall to pieces without him .", "MOV takes viewers on a straightforward journey , but there are some pleasant sights and sounds along the way .", "after a few lessons in tough love , these kids all start to act like transfer students from fame .", "while we may be able to pretty much guess everything that 's going to happen in MOV , its considerable charm lies in the way it fulfills , rather than bucks , our expectations .", "this handsomely lighted movie has the craft to make the dances vivid but not too spectacular , the dancers eager but not just showbiz animals . MOV merits taking the lead for a weekend or so .", "maybe they should have titled the hackneyed MOV something like shall we dance ... in detention ?", "an assortment of every dance movie cliche from the last decade .", "banderas and crew make it an entertaining , even if predictable , ride", "MOV is pure entertainment , if only for the endless amusement of watching banderas spread the gospel of ballroom like he was born wearing a tuxedo .", "a showcase for triumph-of-the-underdog sports-movie cliches and coming-of-age-through-adversity moral lessons . but thanks to banderas ' understated sophistication and the efforts of the attractive young cast , it 's still a charmer .", "instead of the authentic excitement of last year 's documentary , mad hot ballroom , MOV presents contrived teen melodrama .", "as it twirls and dips , MOV leaves no clich\u00e9 unturned .", "all the kids are given their chance to dominate in at least one scene , and the acting is amost good as is the dancing .", "hot dance sequences with a life lesson thrown in ... i will follow that lead .", "one of the year 's most uninspired inspirational stories .", "what redeems this film somewhat are its plentiful dancing scenes and a charismatic lead performance by antonio banderas as pierre dulaine , a former professional dancer .", "you could go out and see this feel-good facsimile and be moderately entertained , or rent mad hot ballroom and feel yourself becoming genuinely moved by the real thing .", "what slop . MOV is a rotted ground chuck of a movie , made up of the rancid processed parts of a plethora of films , good and bad , that have come before it . at first it seems awfully familiar , and then it just seems awful .", "a well-made if utterly unsurprising movie , which has its feet and its heart in the right place .", "like its star , the movie verges on hooey but cuts too stylish a swath to dislike for long .", "si , antonio is a charming man , but by the final bows the movie around him is all left feet and bruised angles , and much more of a farrago than a fandango .", "even the dancing feels phony in MOV , a movie most successful at reminding us of just how good mad hot ballroom was .", "the film is over-long , plot heavy , needlessly complicated and lacklustre , but the moments of dance and music keep it from being a total waste of time .", "there 's nothing in this amiable slice of education porn -- oh man , check out the hot awesomeness of a teacher who cares ! -- that we have n't seen a hundred times before ...", "despite banderas ' charm and convincing performances from rob brown and yaya dacosta as his most difficult trainees , the dramatic portions of ` lead ' are as corny as the hammer dance .", "a movie about hoofin ' it is only as good as its choreography , and here , MOV scores : these dance numbers will make you want to take up the fox-trot .", "ballroom dancing ... is there anyone else out there who things we should give it a rest ?", "banderas is so charming he almost makes the old claptrap work . but even his powers are useless against the , how you say , clich\u00e9s .", "in refusing to sugarcoat the harsh realities of an impoverished region , the filmmakers make the ultimate message of hope that much more genuine and stirring .", "MOV is the latest example of a silly and utterly predictable movie where the kids dance in the streets and we pray for a fleet of humvees to come along and run them out of town .", "in the end , this peppy number does n't know which way it should swing .", "liz friedlander 's `` MOV '' is a fine example of how all the good intentions in the world ca n't make a poorly conceived movie good , though a good central performance can at least make it bearable .", "the commercial compromises of MOV make it less accessible , not more .", "MOV offers few if any surprises to anyone who 's seen either the aforementioned breakin ' , beat street , or , most obvious of all , dangerous minds .", "the energy and rhythm keep it moving along gracefully .", "this is never less than watchable but it 's shockingly cliched throughout and let down by a badly directed , disappointing climax .", "banderas , sans zorro mask but still dressed in black , goes gamely into a screenplay and film that , frankly could be better .", "... it goes through it 's checklist , epitomized in 80 's inspirational student-triumphs-over-socioeconomic-pseudoreality films like `` lean on me '' and its lesser-known predecessor `` stand and deliver '' ...", "as even the film 's dance students note in an aside designed to preempt exactly this criticism , this michelle pfeiffer plot is corny .", "as sweet and well-meaning as parts of the movie are , the filmmakers do n't appear to trust their teenage audience to take this world seriously .", "with very little dancing , this is a highly entertaining , feel-good ` blackboard jungle ' .", "this conventional cross of dangerous minds and mad hot ballroom can be beholden to the inspiring teacher movie formula , but banderas ' quiet grace keeps the film from pushing the motivational message too insistently .", "a modest but enjoyable entertainment with handsome antonio banderas as the dance instructor .", "since the movie does its job well in playing out its formulas , it becomes an effective endorphin rush at the time .", "their acceptance of the tango and foxtrot never seems like much of a dance dance revolution ; if you 're looking for more than just impressive dancing , well , you got served ." ], "summary": "banderas is charismatic in the lead , and the dance sequences are captivating , but the story is too familiar and predictable .", "id": "140952560" }, { "movie": "beasts_of_the_southern_wild", "reviews": [ "really the lifestyle of these people takes center stage . it 's hard not to appreciate their joie de vivre , or the believable performances these non-actors give . they 're both `` beasts '' !", "without trem\u00e9 , beasts would not have worked for me , and compared to trem\u00e9 , beasts is little more than a slight , forgettable diversion .", "i doubt anyone is going to watch MOV and understand it immediately ... but it 's still a fascinating movie .", "the film with the biggest heart of 2012 .", "MOV is sheer poetry on screen : an explosion of joy in the midst of startling squalor and one of the most visceral , original films to come along in a while .", "in his willingness to ignore convention , zeitlin does reveal a confidence that few first-time directors display . he 's made a film that 's the antithesis of hollywood 's summer mind-set .", "a startling debut feature - this year 's `` winter 's bone , '' but a film all the more magical because we sense that even zeitlin , as sharp as his eye undoubtably is , will never be able to duplicate it .", "for all its curiosities and loose ends , MOV casts a formidable spell .", "fully formed and beautiful whether you like it or not .", "this movie has to be seen to be believed , and to be believed , it simply has to be seen .", "it 's hard to get the essence of beasts without accepting that zeitlin cares less about coherence than transcendent formalism . there 's plenty to marvel at , but far less to feel .", "beasts teeters on the edge of embracing the clich\u00e9s of `` lyrical poverty '' movies , but is anchored in complex reality by the performance of non-actress quvenzhan\u00e9 wallis .", "beasts is striking and affecting in all kinds of ways .", "a visually-enchanting fantasy shot from the perspective of a na\u010fve waif miraculously untainted by the 21st century .", "benh zeitlin 's lived-in , almost abstract sense of social realism is partly what makes the film so refreshing and uniquely affecting .", "a feeling of genuine enthusiasm and ingenuity ... as if everyone involved was truly discovering the power and potential of filmmaking for the first time .", "an extraordinary movie about a fearless six-year-old african-american girl who tutors us in the art of survival ; one of the best movies of 2012 .", "few more brazenly cinematic pieces will come our way this year .", "evocative and filled with magnificent sights and spirit ... as wide-eyed and imaginative as its pint-sized heroine .", "a love letter to the people of the bayou state , who have persevered in the face of apocalyptic tragedy .", "a stunning debut that finds its dandelion-haired heroine fighting rising tides and fantastic creatures in a mythic battle against modernity .", "zeitlin has created an imaginative and bold vision , filling his movie with plenty of memorable images .", "it 's undoubtedly something extraordinary : like a live-action miyazaki film , with days of heaven narration , set in a dirt-poor community at an unspecified time of crisis .", "an exceptional american independent feature that deserves the best efforts to tap audiences that would surely embrace it .", "allegorical , wild and sometimes unfathomable ... a perfect festival film in that it experiments with cinema in its exploration of man 's universe - from a rather doomed point of view", "a piercing arrow to the heart as he makes his poetic statement about the plight of the changing world and the integral meshing of all the pieces of the universe which need to fit t", "`` MOV '' is an odd , poetic and singular vision .", "post-katrina wreckage as libertarian playground", "by the time a herd of godzilla-sized hogs - the aurochs - arrive on the scene , it might as well be a cajun-styled cloverfield .", "full of images that weave , fade , and flicker among each other , it 's visually one of the most beautiful of the year , holding you in the palm of its tiny child-sized hand , floating through the chaos .", "if i did n't see it with my own eyes , i never would have thought it possible to make a fairy tale out of hurricane katrina , but that 's exactly what first-time director benh zeitlin has done in MOV .", "a lot of interesting ideas that were never successfully brought together in a cohesive whole .", "the best i can do is to say that it 's interesting and i respect the attempt .", "zeitlin 's poetic fantasy never wavers from the child 's rationalisation of the coming catastrophe and its aftermath , or her niggling belief that deep down , she might just be responsible .", "exquisitely lyrical , poetic in tone and epic in scope .", "here is a unique place , filled with characters whose infinite sadness is matched only by their resolve to endure by any means necessary .", "part cinematic tone poem , part portrait of society 's marginalized , part painful domestic drama and part southern-fried hokum .", "its fertility and its terror stem from the same truth : to the young mind , there is no sealed barrier cleaving reality from fantasy . not yet . the wall has n't been built .", "`` MOV '' stays with you long after you 've watched it , like a vaguely troubling but beautiful dream .", "`` MOV '' brings you into a world you did n't know existed with a closeness that the movies almost never achieve .", "a film that plays less like a grounded , human-scaled story than a dilettantish piece of cultural tourism .", "only the movie 's last stretch manages to get to the place the movie seems to want to go : a weird balance between imagination and reality .", "it 's a stunning movie , filled with unusual images and completely engaging characters , chief among them the child actress quvenzhane wallis , who plays hushpuppy .", "with no recognizable faces to distract us , we end up completely immersed in this gritty but beautiful and fantastical world . an impressive debut all around . -lrb- full content parental review also available -rrb-", "the acting is brilliant and the story is truly original -lrb- though i think some of the fantasy elements do n't quite gel in the end -rrb- , but the shaky cam technique needs to be put out of its misery .", "MOV marks one of the most auspicious american directorial debuts in years .", "hushpuppy exists fully in whatever moment she happens to find herself in . it 's a jaw-droppingly good performance from this pint-sized , first-time actor .", "beasts is film as natural mystery museum .", "zeitlin 's grainy , hypnotic feature film debut offers a child 's fantastical perception of life at nature 's edge .", "to appreciate beasts one must relax their expectations , allowing the feature 's sputtery sense of momentum to generate a feeling of detachment and parental love .", "this kind of -lsb- shaky -rsb- camerawork smacks of outright laziness , and there is n't a single scene where it does n't distract from the many lovely things the film gets right .", "director behn zeitlin and co-writer lucy alibar crafted a small miracle here , a delicate mix of hardscrabble fact and childish fantasy , tapping the poetry of ignorance from the perspective of a child .", "if you see it , you 'll never forget it .", "the distinction between the sacred and the humble is irrelevant : fried alligator functions as a sort of eucharistic sacrament , and a boat contrived from the back end of a pickup truck becomes a viking funeral barge .", "magic and realism meet in this transporting , immersive tale set in the wilds of south louisiana .", "a beautiful , strange tone poem about childhood and innocence .", "`` MOV '' develops characters the likes of which film rarely sees , features strong performances , has an impressive score , and a pretty powerful message . unfortunately it comes off a little too artistic for it 's own good .", "the film might be a bit too harsh for small children . that 's a shame , since , like whale rider , it offers some valuable life lessons for kids , ones far more heady than the usual `` be yourself '' mantra repeated ad nauseam in countless animated features .", "when zeitlin zeroes in on the father and daughter , MOV sucks us in and makes us care .", "the atmosphere zeitlin develops here is moist with promise and danger , and he moves back and forth between outright fable and pungent reality with an astounding sureness of vision for a first-time director .", "the contemporary world is smitten with `` reality shows . '' MOV should fit right in . it could be called `` louisiana shore . '' it has a crowd of noisy people , who swill beer and nonsense .", "without wanting to be too effusive , `` MOV '' is a momentous experience in filmmaking -- at the same time humbling and exhilarating .", "it 's as if you 're looking out at new land you 've never seen before , or an old one you have n't really paid attention to .", "the event of the summer for movie audiences hoping to escape the overly familiar .", "it 's unlike any film you 've seen .", "wallis gives one of the all-time great child performances .", "MOV is like outsider art : patched together with found materials , conjured up by untrained artists -lrb- the actors -rrb- , and evocative of a truly american attitude of eccentricity , boldness , transcendence .", "it hews to no aesthetic or political party line . it is simply life , seen through the kaleidoscope eyes of a brave , imaginative child .", "this may be zeitlin 's first feature but you would n't know that by watching it -- this is the work of a born filmmaker .", "at times , there is practically no dialogue , but the movie still maintains its appeal because of an almost mesmerizing performance from the tiny wallis .", "at best a bit of indie-film eye candy , at worst an art-house minstrel show ...", "this is a film that manages that rare bridge between end-of-days epic and intimate humanist storytelling - fantastical but still just rooted enough to be depressingly plausible .", "you 'll admire the powerful music and the stunning cinematography but it 's the emotion of the film 's final scenes that will make the biggest impact .", "an ambitious love letter to a louisiana way of life that 's being literally washed away .", "... beasts is set in a world bordering on the fantastical : this is a film of unbridled imagination .", "beautiful , funny , timely and tender , this is the american arthouse movie of the year .", "enormous levels of conceit betray marvellous performances and evocative cinematography , but MOV just about does the job .", "a dreamy but strikingly immediate and frayed-at-the-edges , child 's - eye view of life on the margins of america .", "a film like nothing else you 'll see this year - but it 's also an eccentric , hyperbolic , soulful mess .", "few american debuts in recent years have announced a talent as singular as that of behn zeitlin , the blazingly gifted director and co-writer of MOV .", "this is a film that weaves its fascinating magic and leaves all other questions for another time .", "here is why some of us love the movies : they let you see with brand new eyes .", "a truly beautiful , original film , one that looks and feels absolutely nothing like any movie you 've ever seen .", "movies that mix magic and gritty realism almost never work , but zeitlin , who is making an auspicious feature directing debut , pulls it off with awesome results .", "spielberg will love this film , if he does n't already . zeitlin 's ability to create a believable world out of seemingly impossible ingredients is just that good .", "director benh zeitlin , working from a script by lucy alibar adapted from her stage play juicy and delicious , ca n't seem to get a visual rhythm going .", "MOV is remarkable , bizarre and beautiful .", "there 's no trace of calculation , only artistic ambitions and hopes that have come to fruition in the year 's finest film thus far .", "it 's not a perfect film , magical realism perhaps being a bit too pat for its location ... but he 's gotten true performances from wallis and henry , created a unique world to set them in and given them dialogue rooted in reality yet ofttimes poetic ...", "at times it feels like not much holds this world together ; at others it seems nothing could possibly tear it apart .", "the images recall terrence malick , but the film fills `` atmosphere '' into dry narrative holes where a story should reside .", "there 's no denying that zeitlin is an emerging artist of serious talent .", "MOV is a game-changer that gets you excited about movies again . star quvenzhan\u00e9 wallis is a flat-out amazement .", "-lsb- an -rsb- extraordinary southern gothic .", "wild is ... a visual tone poem . to try to impose any orthodox sensibility , much less political correctness , on the film is close to blasphemy ... something more than the ordinary miracle that is your average well-realized movie .", "a remarkable cinematic experience that is both profound and immensely moving .", "in filmmaking , as in hushpuppy 's world , everything must fit together just right . and in `` MOV , '' everything does .", "an extraordinary film of raw , subtle power that blends jagged reality with elements of myth and moments of magic ... easily qualifies as one of the most remarkable and unexpected films of the year .", "a wonderful debut feature directed by benh zeitlin .", "to put this film in the category of mere narrative is to do it a disservice , it 's a wonderful mix of social realism , magic realism and at the heart of it is an extraordinary performance from young quvenzhane wallis .", "well , despite the camera work , i 'm giving it three and a half .", "filmed with an amateur cast and staged with astonishing imagination and emotion , this is undoubtedly one of the great movie happenings of the year .", "MOV is raucous and deliberately affecting - the talent lies in making that transformation appear offhand and improvised , as if it 's unfolding on the spot .", "a visually sumptuous , thematically astute , heartwarming triumph .", "MOV is an unforgettable film , filled with piercing ideas and images , even if it does n't always have control of them .", "a strange marvel that offers an unusual blend of stark realism and carefully framed cinematic poetry .", "the filmmaker comes from a perspective of great empathy and considerable skill . but he 's a pile driver as a dramatist .", "yearns to find eternal truths under impossible circumstances , and succeeds with flying colors by my watch .", "MOV is the reason we go to movies .", "yet another poster child for how much can be achieved with shoestring funds , and how the beauty of a good screenplay is more important than anything money can buy .", "-lsb- zeitlin 's -rsb- as enraptured by his own imagery as by the poetry of the settings but never finds a distinctive form for his ambitious vision .", "it plays like days of heaven by way of the road warrior .", "in a time when the cynicism of the real world often mandates the tone of our films , here is one that acknowledges it all with unwavering joy .", "what is also extraordinary is that almost all the people we see are actors . so this is not a documentary but a moving enactment by people who are themselves moved .", "as wink , hushpuppy 's father , dwight henry is one of the greatest finds in hollywood in years . henry shows a depth and range that made actors like denzel washington so great .", "one of the ten best films of 2012 .", "working with a cast of unknown , inexperienced actors , zeitlin presents viewers with a poetic journey to a corner of the country that 's not often seen on film , certainly not with this degree of artistic integrity .", "prepare to be moved and inspired by this unique masterpiece .", "a strangely different and slightly magical film .", "a cute , but meandering story of growing up alone and having to fend for oneself even when there 's help to be received .", "a portrait of intestinal fortitude in the face of enormous change , zeitlin 's surrealist fairy tale doubles as a tribute to the back-bowing determination of fringe-dwellers everywhere .", "variously poetic , mysterious and opaque , a bit like the work of the african director souleymane ciss\u00e9 but without the depth .", "there 's poetry , tough love and , above all , a fierce stoicism on the bayou in benh zeitlin 's strikingly beautiful and haunting debut .", "beasts is an extraordinary , deeply moving film that 's one of the best of 2012 . when the end credits roll - just like hushpuppy - you 'll feel like the king of the bathtub .", "when can we watch it again ?", "depicting a person 's connection to the land he lives in is not easy to do , but this film does it better than any other film i can remember .", "a wondrously weird slice of cajun magic realism ... MOV explodes with energy and colour . the cajun rock score soars . and the film 's young lead is astonishing .", "when you live in the city and you buy your meat wrapped in cellophane , it 's a pleasant fantasy to believe that people who sleep in the dirt and gut their dinners are possessed of a spiritual richness that you 've always felt you 're somehow lacking .", "the strangest , sweetest coming-of-age flick you 'll see all year .", "`` MOV '' is one of the worst films to come out of 2012 .", "it 's a human drama which stays with you for quite some time afterwards .", "the movie comes across as a collection of competing themes and ideas that collide more often than complement one another and never fully gel .", "there 's an exhilarating originality to this gritty and evocative drama .", "the film does n't self-righteously revile these characters , which is fine . but perhaps worse , it loftily treats them like something out of rousseau ...", "do n't miss this one . a brave and inspired antidote to time-wasting mainstream movies , it is unlike anything you 've seen before or will likely ever see again . in short , it is unforgettable .", "their surroundings-decimated cars converted into boats , kindly neighbors , a complete lack of pop detritus -lrb- save a bulls jersey -rrb- - shriek of screenwriterly poetic conceit .", "an extraordinary new drama whose fierceness , like its 6-year-old heroine hushpuppy , grabs on and wo n't let go .", "it is a beautifully acted , gorgeously shot work of potent emotional resonance , with a superbly evocative musical score .", "in trying through incessant narration to make a six-year-old a prolix sage , zeitlin ca n't avoid falling into sticky sentimentality .", "it is strikingly hardheaded in its perception that the picayune dilemmas hotly debated on the media-mommy blogs are completely beside the point for a whole underclass of kids who must be brought up tough and self-reliant in order to survive .", "this movie is a blast of sheer , improbable joy , a boisterous , thrilling action movie with a protagonist who can hold her own alongside katniss everdeen , princess merida and the other brave young heroines of 2012 .", "benh zeitlin 's debut feature is part film , part hallucination : a ripe and gamey piece of what you might call apocalyptic southern gothic , ambitious and flawed but sprinting with energy .", "like a series of dippy postcards sent by an enraptured child from a disaster zone .", "it 's absolutely dreadful , but will appeal to the prejudices of anyone who found terrence malick 's the tree of life a timeless masterpiece or david gordon green 's bore-athon george washington life-affirming .", "an idiosyncratic salute to an indomitable human spirit .", "as well as being dramatically and visually engaging , the film conjures a living ecosystem that pulses , grips and ultimately enchants .", "it does n't ultimately make any sense at all and , for me , its charm was n't enough to sustain the whole ramshackle structure .", "it 's too sentimental about the unsentimental .", "lushly imaginative filmmaking and strong performances more than make up for newcomer benh zeitlin 's indulgent flourishes as a new writer-director .", "a startlingly original indie production that will stay with you for years , a film so intense you can almost feel the heat of the swamp in which it was filmed .", "original and aesthetically unique , MOV is almost impossible to categorise .", "... a post-katrina fairy tale made from real mud .", "treat yourself to the experience of this perfect storm of a film , and the tiny force of nature that is quvenzhan\u00e9 wallis .", "one of the most assured debuts in years ... a portrait of the wonder and heartbreak that comes with being too young to understand what you experience .", "fiercely original , richly imagined , and blessed with one of the great child performances ... it may be the first great new fairy tale on film since ` city of lost children . '", "the resolution between father and daughter ... is wrenching and beautiful", "zeitlin 's adoring gaze on the bathtubbers ' chaotic-yet-joyous way of life smacks of anthropological voyeurism : rousseau 's `` noble savage '' nonsense all over again , but with crawdads and zydeco .", "beasts moves with a dreamlike pulse , and is never better than when it does n't feel the need to move much at all .", "devastatingly moving drama has harsh truths , whimsy , wisdom .", "the director captures the racing mind of a child confronted with a situation she ca n't fully comprehend .", "from the opening scenes prior to the sparkling credits to the final de -lrb- construct -rrb- evolution scene , the crew and cast have made a film that will be talked about this summer , in future film/ethnography classes and at the upcoming awards season .", "the movie is small , local , and idiosyncratic . then again , it 's also a thing of beauty and originality - and for that , sustained huzzahs are in order .", "as neo-realism dissolves into magic , `` beasts '' becomes a work very much of our time , a cry for the handmade in our chilly digital era .", "all of the unique elements here never add up to a cohesive or satisfying whole .", "`` MOV '' is a film to get lost in .", "a daring , lyrical and challenging piece of folk art that defies easy explanation .", "where so many emerged feeling a kind of euphoria , i left discouraged . the music that those closing moments demand -lsb- should be -rsb- troubling and tragic , not a triumphant anthem .", "thrilling and transfixing , it 's an evocative , contemporary allegory .", "-lsb- quvenzhan\u00e9 wallis -rsb- gives a terrific performance . she 's not merely natural , like many good child actors ; she inhabits this indomitable girl , who 's innocent and philosophic and primal by turns .", "trying to describe MOV seems fruitless , like trying to describe the quality of moonlight -- suffice it to say that it 's lovely to behold and somehow magical .", "one of the best performances by a child actor , in a movie that feels wonderfully created by that child .", "`` MOV '' is as unique as it is uneven , as unforgettable as it is uncomfortable , and it trembles with the energy , bravura and passion of director zeitlin , his cast and his crew like some rough animal .", "this film is a remarkable creation , imagining a self-reliant community without the safety nets of the industrialized world .", "it 's the extremely loud and incredibly close of hurricane katrina .", "seek this one out though , because it 's too unique and too defiantly strange to survive for long in today 's darwinian and consumerist exhibition environment .", "a uniquely poetic view of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances whose artistic , ideological , and visual loveliness will stick with me for a long time .", "amazing to behold , with a knock-out performance by young wallis , it 's as if the spirit of maurice sendak got loopy on a little too much rum while hanging around the bayous and barges of cajun country .", "MOV is an incredible debut film - overwhelming , engaging , beautifully entertaining , and it deserves to be shared .", "MOV is a sublime , dark , audacious , modern fairy tale . and it 's all the more exciting that it 's the premiere of a rare talent of filmmaker ben zeitlin . see it , get lost in the wilderness .", "both quixotic and brutally blunt , this mini-masterpiece bewitched me from the opening moments to the last .", "poetic without being pretentious , evocative without being sentimental , this stunning debut feature about a lifestyle that does n't exist anymore gives good name to both american indies and sundance film fest .", "the main performances , by non-professionals , would be stunning in any movie , but here they are the icing on a strange and eccentric cake . it 's a film so completely unique that it 's hard to imagine how it was even made .", "it 's in the small space between words and feelings that the film 's most touching moments lie .", "ebullient and brimming over with imagination , this is easily one of the most unapologetically -lrb- and earnedly -rrb- joyful films you 'll see this year ." ], "summary": "MOV is a fantastical , emotionally powerful journey and a strong case of filmmaking that values imagination over money .", "id": "771267232" }, { "movie": "1158528-goal", "reviews": [ "even though MOV ! takes its own sweet time getting there , the story of santiago munez -lrb- played by spanish-language tv star kuno becker -rrb- finally arrives at the heartwarming uplift to which all sports movies are required to aspire .", "MOV ! the dream begins is an inspirational sports movie , but i liked it anyway .", "uma goleada de clich\u0119s e estere\u00f3tipos em um roteiro espetacularmente ruim .", "hard to ignore the cliches and the in-your-face uplift . but the details , gritty and otherwise , feel right .", "the combination of button-pushing uplift , sundry sweeping helicopter shots and a bombastic score that sounds like it came on a free transfer from a tony scott movie proves as resistibly synthetic as the cgi-enhanced heroics on the pitch .", "... engaging and fun to watch , thanks mainly to kuno becker in the title role -lrb- he 's such a nice kid , we ca n't help but root for him -rrb- .", "it is constructed of sports movie clich\u00e9s but built on an unshakable foundation of earnestness .", "director danny cannon -lrb- `` i still know what you did last summer '' -rrb- captures every bit of kuno becker 's star quality although the committee-written script remains slack .", "the script is about as solid as a penalty kick with a deflated ball .", "everything here is beyond predictable .", "a predictable mishmash of sports underdog cliches with a domestic release timed to capitalize on anticipation for the world cup . accordingly , expect plenty of elbow room at the local multiplex .", "the action on the field wo n't be enough to sate the most soccer-crazed viewers .", "each obstacle is brought up and then dealt with in such a rushed and perfunctory manner that you wonder they even bothered to introduce them in the first place .", "a soccer-themed soap-opera that misses the net as an insipid , if inspirational , underdog tale .", "con un ritmo que nunca decae , un s\u00f3lido elenco , una emocionante banda sonora y un mensaje de amistad y superaci\u00f3n personal , es sencillamente inolvidable .", "enjoyable in parts , there are simply too many implausibilities , too many predictable outcomes and the film never fulfils its promise . but get ready to hear more about mexican television heartthrob kuno becker ...", "a cliche-a-minute howler .", "by the final whistle you end up feeling as battered by the banalities as some of the on-screen players are by the nasty hits they endure on the field .", "still works reasonably well in spite of itself , mostly due to the damnable reliability of these clich\u00e9s when they 're put across with enough skill and conviction .", "it 's more exciting on the field of play than off , but when he shoots , he scores ... and we 're the winners .", "fortunately , the direction and performances are good enough to get us through the progressively hackneyed storyline .", "hardly a winner , but far from a bore draw .", "... as if we have n't seen every twist and turn in `` MOV ! '' a hundred times before in other movies , MOV ! itself is pleased to repeat things two or three times for our benefit .", "MOV ! the dream begins -lrb- the title makes one think that a sequel is pondered -rrb- is well produced and crafted but shackled by the routine story that has no surprises", "MOV ! is dippy and predictable , and it never once surprises .", "handsomely shot and with a likable lead in kuno becker , it also suffers from a script so outrageously generic you could buy it at costco .", "the soccer drama MOV ! the dream begins is so formulaic and rambling that you ca n't help but get a little tired of it less than an hour in .", "emotionally , MOV ! does n't score any points .", "for all its familiar ticks -- of which there are many -- MOV ! works some underdog magic in taking aspiring footballer santiago munez from mexico to los angeles and then across the big pond to newcastle , england .", "the story of a single-minded young man whose dream of making it on the international stage of soccer comes true thanks to the enthusiasm of others .", "in the end , i ca n't think of a movie that matters less than just my luck . it 's just negligible .", "... it is good and caring work , with more human detail than we expect .", "the father-son tension comes to a head when -- as must happen in an inspirational sports drama -- santiago gets his big chance .", "while the movie is a thoroughly generic sports movie , there 's no denying that it works as a rousing example of the genre .", "heck , we even call soccer by another name , christening it football even though foot actually seems to touch ball maybe a dozen times a match , if that .", "MOV ! is filled with cringe-inducing scenes we 've seen before many , many times .", "there is n't one three-dimensional character or convincing line of dialogue , and the plot is simple-minded to the point of imbecility .", "... loses points for its disjointed script and fumbled field photography .", "a slickly mounted slice of can-do nonsense set in the world of british soccer .", "it all turns out to be a modest success because of its cliches rather than in spite of them .", "predictable MOV ! the dream begins may not be the stuff of everyone 's reveries , but the film is capably acted and somewhat inspiring .", "this is n't just a great soccer movie ; it 's a great movie , period .", "obvious ... all -lsb- but soccer fanatics -rsb- can pass on MOV ! the dream begins and make plans now to avoid its two upcoming sequels .", "the movie is hokey , predictable and not original in any way , but darned if it does n't slash through your defenses like a david beckham corner kick .", "aside from a flirtation with the hot-button immigration issue , this inspirational movie about an underdog soccer player from tough east los angeles is pretty standard stuff .", "no points for originality , but MOV ! scores three valuable stars for its warmth and wit .", "complaciente ... cierto ; pero culpablemente emocionante e inspiradora . una cinta s\u00f3lo para quienes aman el f\u00fatbol soccer .", "enough sports cliches to fill a soccer field make MOV ! the dream begins stumble .", "there 's no question that becker 's charisma and impeccable good looks play a part , but it 's director danny cannon 's sleek and sexy stylization that really works to pump up the sport 's sizzle factor .", "where MOV ! really scores , however , is in the impressive football sequences , with shots from premiership games cleverly spliced together with footage of the actors filmed in close-up .", "as the opening chapter of a franchise it 's somewhat disappointing .", "... embraces its feel-good cliches with an enthusiasm that 's embarrassing .", "MOV ! the dream begins follows a young mexican soccer whiz from los angeles to england and a tryout with newcastle united .", "for an inspirational story set in the world of soccer , you could do a heck of a lot worse .", "with any luck its sequels will fail to garner a stateside release due to that most dependable of domestic attitudes : american apathy toward soccer .", "sometimes the first movie in a trilogy is n't that good , but it fails just nobly enough to still make you curious enough to maybe see the sequels .", "this young footballer had more people pushing for him and more hand-given opportunities for stardom than ben affleck .", "the movie is variously a dewy plea for tolerance , a sporting cinderella story , a father / son reconciliation drama and a ` will success spoil rock hunter ? ' cautionary tale . in other words , it 's four movies you did n't especially need to see again .", "there 's plenty of fat to cut from MOV ! , which would have been a stronger story at a lean , mean 90 minutes .", "backed by dillane 's hangdog wistfulness , becker 's performance is earnest enough to win us over .", "but other than a flicker of something interesting in the performance of alessandro nivola as a hard-partying star player there is always something distant and antiseptic about it all .", "the film is a bit of a cheat .", "mandatory viewing for anyone who 's able to spell zinedine zidane on the first try , and an essentially painless two hours for anyone else who gets dragged along .", "at the end ... you 'll be buried by that big ball of cliches , wondering how the movie squandered its potential , its viewers ' faith in the story , and all of its credibility .", "predictable , but a likable and uplifting film .", "it 's a very nice movie , completely harmless but completely useless , too .", "if you 've ever seen another sports movie , you 've seen MOV !", "a movie iconizing a sportsman for his improvisatory flair should not be so boxed in by pat devices .", "utterly predictable from the first frame , but nevertheless , a real crowd pleaser .", "no matter where the film carries you , it always gets back to the love of the game .", "the best american-made sports film since miracle .", "it 's hard to make bend it like beckham look like high drama , but this movie almost manages .", "the pro-soccer circuit is convincingly portrayed , and at its best moments the dialogue is as bright as newcastle 's skies are n't .", "disney goes to the sports-movie-formula well once too often with MOV ! the dream begins , which is essentially the rookie or the greatest game ever played on a soccer pitch .", "there 's enough realism to keep a soccer buff like me happy , but the film is aimed at the young at heart , and i think they 'll love it .", "danny cannon 's MOV ! the dream begins is a sports movie for people who may not care about sports but ca n't resist a heart-tugging underdog story .", "MOV ! is right up there with the terrific akeelah and the bee -lrb- another underdog now in theaters -rrb- in the way it draws you in and keeps you rooting for its lower class but highly talented hero .", "MOV seems destined to be an ongoing soccer-themed soap opera , but it 's one that only the game 's biggest enthusiasts likely will find compelling ." ], "summary": "impressive sports action sequences are the highlight , as the run-of the-mill story invokes every known sports movie cliche .", "id": "155654940" } ]